A/N: Hey wow I'm updating fairly quickly. Guess my muse and time were both with me.
Disclaimer: I do not own Band of Brothers and mean no disrespect to anyone. I'm being as historically accurate as is possible in keeping with my plot line.
Fort Capuzzo
Libya
September, 1940
Rodger Graham had not fought in World War I. He'd been in school at the time and thus exempt, but he'd had friends and relatives who had fought and then come home to share their stories. This was as close to actual war as Rodger had ever expected to me, but fate apparently had a different plan. And that plan included a jail cell in the town of Fort Capuzzo. When he'd entered the city in search of Jan Klein it had been under the control of the British, but the Italians had won it back and that had been when his captivity had begun.
"You look a little worse for the wear my friend." Rodger's head snapped up to find Klein leaning against the doorframe of his prison cell. "Though I would suppose that prison has that effect." Klein sauntered into the cell. "I wouldn't know since I've never been in prison of course."
"When did you arrive?" Rodger asked, bewildered by his friend's sudden appearance.
"Oh, the same time as you."
"Then why didn't you meet me as planned?"
"I sent someone to meet you." Klein replied; Rodger frowned, his confusion growing.
"What do you—" The dots suddenly connected in Rodger's head and his frown turned to a glare. "You're the one who had me arrested?" Klein nodded.
"I did indeed."
"But why?"
"I have my reasons." Klein replied cryptically. "But enough talk about me, how is your dig in Sidi Barrani going?" Rodger narrowed his eyes.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Any sign of the Staff of Sekhmet?" Rodger snorted.
"That's a myth and the only artifacts we've been finding at that dig site have been of Bedouin tribes. You know that." Klein knelt down before the chained man.
"The Füehrer believes that the Staff is very real and that it is somewhere in your dig site." Rodger blinked in surprise.
"The Füehrer?" He repeated. "You're working with Hitler?" Klein got to his feet.
"Not with," He corrected, "For."
"With, for, the point remains the same. How can you work for that invader who calls himself a leader?" Klein shot Rodger a warning glare.
"Be careful what you say. I wouldn't want to have to kill you." Sensing that he was stepping into dangerous territory, Rodger decided to change tactics.
"I'm an archaeologist, Jan, nothing more, nothing less. I pose no threat to the Füehrer or anyone else."
"Be that as it may, I believe that you're more useful to me here than you are in Sidi Barrani."
"How do you figure?" Klein paused at the door, turning to look at him.
"Well with you in my prison, I have leverage with your daughter in gaining her help to find whatever the Fuehrer wants." Rodger's eyes widened in horror.
"You leave Danica out of this."
"No one will be left out of this war, least of all Danica. You've kept me so well informed of her progress as an archaeologist that I believe she'll prove most beneficial."
"She's just a girl, Jan."
"She's twenty years old, Rodger, she is very much a woman. And if you want her to remain as beautiful as she is in the pictures you've sent me, you'll be a passive prisoner and do as you're told." It was a vaguely disguised threat and it certainly wasn't lost on Rodger; he nodded. "Good," Klein smiled, "I'm glad we understand each other. I shall give Henrietta and Danica your regards. Auf wiedersehen my old friend."
Outskirts of the Dig Site
Ten Miles Outside of Sidi Barrani
Danica shielded her eyes from the blinding afternoon sun, bringing her other hand up to rest on her hip. Her eyes scanned the horizon and while she could see nothing out of the ordinary, she still felt like there was something lurking.
"There's a bad feeling in the air Wasi." She commented. The Bedouin next to her nodded as his dark eyes scanned the horizon along with hers. Danica lowered her hand to glance at him. "Any new rumors from your family to report?" Wasi shook his head.
"No." Danica sighed.
"Alright, let's head back to camp." Wasi nodded, following after the twenty year old as she climbed down from the sand dune. The air was full of rumors lately and had been for several years, but as of late the rumors had taken on a more impending nature. The Italians had entered the country in the beginning of June, bringing the war that was growing in Europe onto Egyptian soil. By all accounts the Italians showed no signs of stopping their invasion. Sidi Barrani would undoubtedly be a stop along the fascist's way and Danica was wondering just what they would have in store for her family and their friends.
"Have you heard from your father?" Wasi asked as they mounted their horses. Danica turned her horse towards the dig site, hiding the worried look that crossed her face.
"No." She replied after a minute. "Not since August." Rodger Graham had gone to meet up with a friend of his-a friend whose name he had not shared-weeks ago and had yet to either send word or return. His absence was nagging on Danica's mind constantly and she wasn't sure how much longer she could take without doing something. Her tone made it clear that she didn't want to talk so the trip back was a quiet one, but the chaotic noise of the dig site overtook them soon enough. Leaving the horses with Wasi, Danica headed towards her tent, pulling off the scarf that adorned her head as she did so.
"Ah," Derrick Wheeler greeted with a large grin as she walked into the tent, "There you are. I was beginning to wonder if the desert had swallowed you up."
"Not yet." Danica sighed as she shook her hair free of sand.
"How was your scouting mission?"
"Dull and unproductive." She replied. "I can't see anything—"
"Like what?" Derrick interrupted. "Like the Italian army bearing down on us, pistols blazing?" His lips were curled up into a smile, but Danica scowled at him.
"That isn't funny."
"I'm sorry," Derrick apologized, putting his arms around her waist to pull her closer. Danica continued to glower, but wrapped her own arms around his neck, "But you've been so serious lately that you have me worried."
"I don't mean to make you worry." She stretched her neck up to plant a soft kiss on his lips.
"Well I'll forgive you—this time." Derrick wriggled his eyebrows playfully before pressing their lips together once again. The line between tutor and pupil had blurred into romance two years ago, on the eve of Danica's 18th birthday, and it hadn't taken long for the pair to become intimate. As far as the Graham parents were concerned, the relationship was one of only intense friendship and both Danica and Derrick agreed that this was for the best. "I missed you." Derrick murmured against her lips.
"And I you." Danica admitted in a breathless sigh. "When did you get back in Sidi Barrani?"
"Three days ago." She pulled away abruptly to give him an annoyed look.
"And you're just now coming to see me?"
"I had to check on your mother first." Danica completely detached herself from Derrick's hold and moved over to the table to rifle aimlessly through the papers there.
"How is she?" She asked, her voice feigning disinterest.
"She misses you." Derrick replied, his eyes narrowed in concern as he watched his lover. "She wants to know when you'll be heading back into town."
"When I need to order supplies."
"Dani—" Danica whirled around and pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Don't you dare lecture me on this again Derrick." Derrick sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"She wants to see you Danica. You need to go to her."
"I don't have time." Danica snapped.
"Yes you do."
"She can come see me. She's the one who has all the free time."
"Danica, you know she can't travel easily anymore. Why are you being so stubborn about this? It happened almost a year ago." When Danica's shoulders sagged, Derrick knew he'd gotten to her. He closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her shoulders, pulling her back up against him.
"She was the one who cut off communication." Danica muttered dejectedly. "I tried to reason with her. The woman's unreasonable."
"Well now you're the one who's being unreasonable." Derrick pointed out as he pressed a kiss to her temple. "She's your mother and she isn't well. You need to end this feud." Danica leaned her head back.
"Will you come with me if I go?" Derrick shook his head.
"No." Danica pouted.
"Why not?" Derrick stepped away from her.
"Because this is something that needs to be settled between the two of you. I'd only be in your way." A seductive smile came over Danica's face as she moved over to Derrick so that she could run a finger down his chest.
"But you're never in my way." Derrick chuckled and grabbed her hand.
"It won't work." Another pout came over Danica's face. "And you're wasting that pout on me as well, but since I have you so conveniently within reaching distance…" He wrapped his arms around her again. "Have you thought anymore about my proposal?" Danica stepped away quickly, trying to still the panic that suddenly filled her.
"Honestly things have been so busy here at the dig site that I, well, I haven't really thought about it at all." Derrick frowned.
"You can come up with a better lie than that Danica Graham." She shot him a hurt look.
"I'm not lying."
"Yes you are. I spoke with Muhammad when I first arrived and he said that there hasn't been any change since I left."
"Did you hear anything about my father?" Derrick sighed.
"No, but I heard plenty about the Italians. They're definitely heading this way." Danica snapped her head up in alarm and Derrick nodded. "We have cause to be worried."
"What are we going to do if they arrive?"
"When, not if."
"Fine, when they arrive." Derrick shrugged.
"Talk with them, I suppose. I don't remember the Italians being unreasonable people." He shot her a dark look. "Unlike others." Danica scowled.
"Don't rush me Derrick."
"Rush you?" He exclaimed with a bitter laugh. "I asked you two months ago!"
"Yes and things have been just a little tense around here. What with the Italian army approaching and my father missing!" There was a tense silence in the tent as the two stared at each other. Finally, minutes later, it was Derrick who broke.
"I love you Danica and I want to be your husband. Is that really so bad?" Danica shook her head.
"No, it isn't." Derrick took a step closer to her.
"Then why won't you say yes?" Because, Danica mused inwardly, I'm not in love with you.
"Can you give me until my father returns?" Danica asked instead of answering his question. Another sigh escaped Derrick's lips, but he nodded.
"Yes, but I want an answer the moment he does." Danica nodded.
"Of course." She sent him a smile. "Thank you Derrick. For being so understanding." He reached across the space that was between them to grab her hand and pull her to him.
"I've always had a weakness for you." He admitted, his fingers picking up the shard of pottery that was resting against her skin. "Do you remember when I gave this to you?" He asked, the corners of his lips curling up into a smile.
"How could I forget? It was my 16th birthday party and a girl never forgets her 16th birthday." Derrick chuckled, letting the shard drop.
"You were so surprised when I gave it to you."
"Well I thought it was going to be a in museum somewhere!"
"It's just a broken piece of pottery with a cobra on it. What would a museum do with it?" Danica frowned.
"I'm not sure if I should be insulted or not." Derrick sent her a look.
"You know what I mean." He glanced at the silver of a tent opening and sighed.
"What?"
"If you're going to make it back to Sidi Barrani before nightfall, you need to leave now." Danica pouted.
"Can't I just stay the night?" Derrick shook his head.
"No. You are going to speak with your mother tonight if it kills me." Danica sighed.
"Fine. I'll go, I'll go."
"Good." He smacked her ass as she started to walk away and chuckled when she sent him an annoyed look. "Have a safe ride back and I love you." Danica blew him a kiss before letting the tent flap fall shut.
Sidi Barrani
He hadn't been to Sidi Barrani in years, not since Danica had concluded her math studies, but as Jan Klein expected nothing had really changed. It was still a stark little town in the middle of nowhere. Still as he watched Danica ride up on her horse, Klein couldn't help but believe that the scenery had changed for the better. He let the curtain drop back over the window and turned to face Henrietta Graham, who sat motionless at the small table in the middle of the kitchen motionless.
"I do wish you'd relax Henrietta. We're old friends, aren't we?"
"Old friends don't imprison one another." Henrietta snapped.
"It's for Rodger's own safety." The only response he got from Henrietta that time was a snort and he sighed. "Very well, continue to be hostile. You aren't the one I'm here to speak with anyway." Both turned their heads towards the door as they heard the front door shut and Danica's footfalls as she approached the kitchen.
"Mr. Klein?" She asked in surprise as soon as she stepped into the room. Klein sent her a smile.
"Hello Danica."
"This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"
"I'm on official business, I'm afraid." Danica frowned, glancing towards her mother.
"Official business?"
"He's here on the orders of Hitler." Henrietta explained.
"Hitler?" Danica repeated.
"Well actually it was Reichsführer Himmler, but since he takes orders from the Füehrer I suppose I am here on his behalf as well."
"Since when do you work for Hitler?"
"I've been working for the Füehrer and his party since my position here was terminated." Danica shook her head. She didn't know much about Hitler or his Nazi party, but she knew enough to realize that they were not a nice government.
"You certainly went down in the world." Klein scowled slightly. "What does your Fuehrer want here in Sidi Barrani?"
"The Staff of Sekhmet." Danica laughed.
"You have to be joking." She continued to laugh, but when she caught the pained look on her mother's face she realized that something was up. "Mom, what is it?"
"The reason for your mother's discomfiture is that I have your father in my custody." Danica's jaw dropped.
"Custody? Does that mean jail?" Klein nodded. "Why? What could he have possibly done?" Klein's boots clunked against the concrete floor as he walked to the table and took a seat.
"What discoveries have you made recently at the dig site?"
"Why is my father in jail?" Danica shot back.
"Danica, the sooner you cooperate with me, the sooner your father may be released."
"Danica," She turned her head to find her mother staring at her with wide, pleading eyes, "Please." Clenching her jaw, Danica turned back to Klein.
"The last big find was a stone pathway." She informed him.
"A pathway?" She nodded.
"But it appears to lead to nowhere."
"The Egyptians always were a fan of misleading those who came after them." Klein commented softly as he rubbed his chin. Danica frowned. "What?"
"Well, that's just it, the pathway doesn't appear to be entirely Egyptian." Now Klein was the one to frown.
"What do you mean?" Due to the archaeologist in her, Danica couldn't help but get excited about what she talking about.
"The markings on the stones are Egyptian, but the craftsmanship is Bedouin."
"But the Bedouin's are a nomadic people."
"Exactly." Klein leaned back in his chair.
"Interesting." Remembering who he worked for, Danica chided herself mentally and quickly said,
"But again the pathway leads to a dead end. There is nothing else at the dig site. Father and I discussing about packing up and leaving." Klein shook his head.
"Oh no, there will be none of that now. What do you need?" Danica frowned, confused.
"What do you mean what do I need?"
"What resources do you need to speed up the dig?"
"I'm telling you that there's nothing to find there." Klein shot her a glare.
"And I'm telling you that there is. We have reason to believe that the Staff of Sekhmet is there and Himmler is very interested in finding it."
"I've been at this dig site my entire life and we've never found anything that would lead any reasonable person to believe that the Staff of Sekhmet-if it even exists outside of myth-is here." Klein leaned forward.
"Except for that necklace around your neck." Danica frowned.
"What?"
"That's the symbol of the Goddess."
"No," She countered, "It's the symbol for any goddess."
"You will find the Staff of Sekhmet, Danica, or you'll never see your father again." Henrietta gasped as Danica leaned back in her chair, feeling as though the wind had been knocked from her. She was quickly realizing that she had no choice in the matter. "You are now working for the Nazi party."
A/N: And so things begin to come together…slowly. Still no Speirs, but he will show up eventually and once he does there'll be no escaping him (as is his fashion). Reviews not only make me smile, but feel me with a need to update quicker. The more I get, the more pressure I feel, lol.
On an unrelated side note, came up with an alternate Band of Brothers version of the game Duck, Duck, Goose…ready for it? Buck, Buck, Moose.
Yeah, I know, I have issues, but it's fun to say! Thanks!
