Bates rubbed at his eyes and tried to read the file again.

"Maybe if you weren't up so late with Monday every night you wouldn't be so tired when you come to work."

Bates glared across the short space at Mary, typing at top speed on her typewriter. "Maybe if you minded your own business, Friday, I might not mention that I know Tuesday ruffled your hair."

Mary reddened and scowled back, pulling a mirror from the desk drawer to set her hair right. She replaced it, sitting straighter, "A woman can have her needs met occasionally, Mr. Bernhard. You and Monday know that from experience."

"Yes but Monday and I are both fully invested. You're stringing Tuesday along."

"What I do with Tuesday is none of your business."

"Then stop trying to give me advice about Monday." Bates raised the file to block Mary from view.

"You know," Bates lowered the folder as Mary came around her desk to sit in the chair in front of his, "I have nothing against you pursuing my friend in any romantic sense, Mr. Bernhard."

"Thank you for your approval Friday but I didn't need it."

"No, you don't, but I think you need to be a little less enthralled with one another." Mary pointed to the door, "The Admiral frowns on that sort of thing."

"He already spoke to us." Bates flipped the page in his file, "You should know, you were listening in."

"I heard you tell him it wasn't romantic." Mary shook her head, "We both know that's a lie."

"Do we now?"

"Monday never gives over control and she ceded it to you like it was nothing."

"And?"

"That's romance for her, Mr. Bernhard."

"Then what is the problem?"

"If the Admiral knows you could have a romantic entanglement he'll force one or both of you to resign. Probably her."

"Why and why?"

"To the first because the risk that you'll be distracted, putting her above the mission, is high. Second because he needs you for your connection to your wife and he doesn't need Monday for that."

"Monday's his best agent."

"Monday's not the ex-husband of a known German spy." Mary stood up, "Just think about what matters to you and to Monday. This is not the time for games."

"Then you should tell Tuesday that." Bates stood up, shutting the file on his desk, "I'll see you tomorrow Friday."

Entering the lift Bates waited for the grate to close before slamming his fist into the wall. He punched the wall again, watching the paint flake and the wall buckle slightly under the force of his blow. Stepping back, breathing hard, he slumped against the wall.

One the lift reached the garage Bates held his throbbing hand, keeping the handkerchief in place over his bleeding knuckles. He was so occupied by this he almost ran into Branson, pulling himself out from under the nearest car. Bates tripped slightly and caught himself on the side of the car.

"Sorry I didn't see you." Branson stood up quickly, putting a hand out toward Bates but the other man waved him off. "You alright there Mr. Bernhard?"

"I'm fine."

"Your hand's bleeding."

"It's nothing." Bates kept his hand close to his chest, walking out the garage doors, "It's nothing."

The train back to his flat lulled Bates to a thoughtless state. Buildings and houses whizzing by him numbed all thought and he lost himself in those sights. Even walking to his flat left him undisturbed in the drizzling rain. His mind kept coming back to one fact: if he stayed with Anna, she would lose all that mattered to her and he would not be the one to do that to her.

He resolved to break it off over the phone, calling her the minute he reached his flat. What he did not expect was to open his door and see Anna at his kitchen table, studying something in a larger book while making notes on the pad beside her. She smiled up at him as he entered and immediately returned to her reading. He stumbled toward her, only conscious enough to shut the front door, before approaching her.

"What are you doing here?" He worked his jacket off, pulling at his tie before wincing at the pain it sent up his hand to move his fingers like that. He was not ready to tell her to her face. This would destroy her… and him if he saw her cry.

"I wanted to check a few things." She turned the page, "Your German books are better than the ones headquarters gave me."

"Why are you learning German?"

"Something over the wire got me thinking about it." Anna turned in her chair, putting her hands on the backrest, "How are you?"

"I'm fine." He moved to the sink, turning on the water while pulling a pot from one of the shelves. Just a moment of distraction, to build up his resolve, and he could say it to her. A noise behind had Bates turning to see Anna walking toward him, grabbing his hand before he could move away.

"This is fine?"

"It will be." He filled the pot and turned on the stove, setting it to boil. "I just need to ice it."

"How'd you get that John?" She crossed her arms but Bates ignored her.

"I said, it's nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

"Maybe we should stop lying to ourselves then." Bates rounded on her, "Maybe we need to come clean."

"About what?"

"About the fact that if the Admiral finds out we're in a relationship he'll sack you without another thought."

"I'm sure he'd think about it." Anna tried to shrug but Bates shook his head.

"I'm not joking Anna."

"Neither am I." She put her hands on her hips, "Admiral Crawley won't sack me. Not after all the work I've done for him and for headquarters."

"If he thinks it'll interfere with our work he won't hesitate to put the mission first. Maybe we should think like that before we risk the mission by what we're doing."

"Has it?"

'Has it what?"

"Has it risked the mission yet?"

"The better question is 'will it'?"

"Then answer the question," Anna held her hands up, "Will it be a problem John? Will us being in a relationship be a problem?"

"Our opinions don't matter."

"Yes they do, John." Anna walked to his icebox, pulling out a chunk of ice and wrapping it in a cloth to hold over his hand. He tried to pull away but she jerked his hand back. "Our opinions always matter."

"We need to think about what we're doing."

"I am. I want this."

Bates finally broke, his voice straggling slightly, "I can't be the reason you lose your job Anna."

"Who says I'm losing my job?" She stared at him before frowning, "Did you talk to Friday?"

"She warned me off what we're doing."

"Friday's just scared we'll lose one another the way she lost Matthew." Anna pulled the ice up, pressing on Bates's skin. He hissed and she shrugged, "Serves you right for punching an inanimate object."

"How'd you know it's inanimate?"

"There are paint flecks on your skin. They match the paint in the lift. I can tell you that Mr. Carson won't thank you for that repair." She replaced the ice and nodded at the pot, "What are you making?"

"Hot water."

"For what?"

"I-" Bates shrugged, "I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"How far ahead did you think?"

"To ringing you and saying we needed to end it."

"Were you really that concerned?"

"This means the world to you Anna, I wouldn't take that from you." Bates used his good hand to cover hers. "I'd rather die than take away your dream."

"Then isn't it a good thing, John, that my dreams changed?" Turning off the stove she pulled him to a seat.

Bates sat as she dug in her bag and removed the ointment. Slathering it over his hand she worked it into the skin. When she finished she wrapped it in a cloth for a moment before taking her own seat. They stared at one another a minute before Bates chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"The last time we were in this position you took liberties with me."

"I don't remember you complaining." Anna smirked at him, "Are you complaining?"

"I don't think I could ever complain about that."

"Good." She unwrapped his hand, "It'll bruise but you'll be alright."

"Are we alright?" Anna did not look at him, gathering the cloth and almost melted ice from the table and taking them to the sink. Bates turned in his chair, "Anna?"

He watched her hands go to the counter, leaning her over the sink, with her shoulders rising and falling. "I don't want you to leave me John."

"Anna?"

She turned to face him, tears just working over her cheeks. She rubbed them away with the back of her hand, "I can endure a lot. I've endured a lot. But I can't bear the thought of you leaving me."

"Even if it was so you could go and dream of a better man?"

"I can't," She shook her head, "Because there isn't one."

Bates stood up from his chair, walking to her. His hand on her shoulder was met with one of her own as she stroked over it. Turning to smile at him Anna kissed his hand. He put his other hand on her cheek, "Are we fine?"

"We're fine, John."

"Anna, I don't want to leave you either but," He hung his head, "I don't want to stand between you and your dreams either. Like I said-"

"I remember saying I have different dreams now-"

"I wasn't finished." Bates put up his other hand and Anna nodded. "I'm going to the Admiral tomorrow and I'm resigning."

"Why?"

"Because if he'd get rid of you then I need to make sure he can't do that."

"I don't need you to step in for me."

"That's not the plan," He grinned at her, "If I resign then he'll do whatever he can to get me back."

Anna broke into a smile, "You'd manipulate the Admiral to allow our relationship?"

"I'd do more than that but, for right now, that's all we'll need." Bates cringed, "I hope it's enough because I don't have any other ideas."

"I think it's good enough." Anna turned fully to face him. "But I think I should tell you something."

"What?"

"Well," She took his hand from her shoulder and unbuttoned the cuff, "I was over here learning German because the phrase we caught on the wire today translates to 'I love you' and I was thinking about learning it for you."

"What?"

"I told you my dreams changed." Anna stopped, her eyes widening slightly, "Is it too soon to tell you that you're my dream?"

Bates lifted Anna off her feet and kissed her. She returned the gesture, wrapping her legs around his waist and he moved them to the table. He set her down on the surface and she worked at the buttons of his shirt. Without giving her too much of a chance to fight them apart, Bates tore his shirt and sent buttons flying all over the kitchen.

Sliding her fingers into the hair at the back of his neck with one hand and the hair on his chest with the other, Anna pulled his mouth back to hers. He struggled a moment, working his now ruined shirt off his shoulders, and tossed it on the floor. The table under Anna thumped into the wall when he grabbed her back, pulling her toward him, but Bates no longer cared.

He broke the kiss, holding his hand to the back of her neck, "Ich liebe dich."

"What?" Anna gasped back as Bates attacked her throat, kissing his way to her collar before he wrenched the sleeve of her shirt down to reach her shoulder.

"Ich liebe dich," Bates paused, raising his head to see her face, "That's 'I love you' in German."

Anna tugged him forward by his trousers, working his belt free and throwing it behind her as he raised her skirt. Shifting her hips, Anna moaned as his fingers molded into the skin of her waist. Within seconds his fingers worked her knickers and stockings down, caressing back up to stroke over her center.

"Can you-" Anna bit back the rest of what she was about to say when his fingers entered her, stretching as far as she could go. "Say it again?"

"In German?" Bates sucked where her neck and shoulder met, holding her firmly to him with one hand at her waist and working the other inside her.

"In English please." One of Anna's arms latched around his shoulders, digging her fingers into the back of his head while her other hand fumbled to unfasten his trousers.

Bates risked losing his hold on her and unbuttoned his trousers enough for her to work her hand into his underwear. They sighed in unison as her hand wrapped around his erection and he jerked his hips in her direction. Gathering his breath Bates curled his fingers inside her, scraping down just as their eyes met.

"I," He worked a third finger inside her, using his thumb to caress the bundle of nerves just under her hood, "Love," Her hand gripped him harder and he grunted a moment before finding his breath, "You."

Anna's head went back as he found the right spot. Her soprano cry almost had him losing control but he gritted his teeth, determined to keep steady until her body stopped shaking. When she finally looked at him, her legs wrapped around his waist and she guided him where his fingers were only just slipping out.

Bates almost lost himself when she slid him home, pulling his fingers to her lips and sucking as her inner muscles contracted around him. His eyes rolled back into his head and he rutted into her without a second thought. Sharp pain at his back opened his eyes and he realized Anna dug her heels, still in shoes, into his back as her fingers scratched down his sides.

"John," Her voice caught, panting for air as he worked into her, "Ich liebe dich."

His fingers came around to bring her over the edge with him as he kissed her again. She cried out and stabbed into his side with her nails but he was too far gone to care. A moment later he finished, still holding her to him as his other hand gripped the table. They both shook a moment, coming down from their highs and Anna giggled.

"What?"

"I don't think we can ever eat in your kitchen again John."


Bates waited. Admiral Crawley's face ran the gambit of emotions and then colors before he finally spluttered out something to say.

"You're resigning?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Friday indicated that you would not approve of an interoffice relationship that could possibly threaten the operations of this office and since I already helped you infiltrate the division you needed to take down I don't see a reason to stay. I've got a command waiting for me and since I wish to pursue a romantic relationship with Ms. Monday, outside this office, I need to put those priorities in order. Therefore I handed you my resignation."

"But I need you Bates."

"I'm sorry sir but I've got to follow my conscience." Bates held his hands behind his back, scanning the room a moment to guess where Mary hid the microphones she used to record them. He also hoped she enjoyed what she was hearing.

"I-" Admiral Crawley shook his head violently enough to risk breaking it from his neck as he stood, "I don't accept your resignation."

"It is already there sir." Bates pointed to it but Admiral Crawley tore it to pieces like a rabid dog.

"If keeping a relationship with Ms. Monday won't interfere with your work then have the damn thing. What difference would it make?"

"None at all for us sir."

"Good." Admiral Crawley evened his breathing, "That was a close call Bates."

"I'm sorry sir but I had to be sure."

Admiral Crawley leveled a finger at Bates, "I know what you did. You played to my need for you and Monday in this office."

"I'm getting the hang of the manipulation required in intelligence work, sir." Bates tried to keep his smirk to himself but Admiral Crawley caught it.

"For that I feel far less bad giving you this order," The envelope crossed over the desk and Bates picked it up, using the decorative letter opener designed like a Nepali kukri to split the seal. "They want you and Ms. Monday in France."

"For?"

"They think they found the man your wife reported to here in London when she was still active in their network." Admiral Crawley took his seat again, "Problem is we need to draw him out without spooking the Jerries."

"So you need-" Bates stopped himself as he read the words. He shook his head, slowly at first and then building up speed, "This is a mistake sir."

"It's already set in writing and Friday's holding the tickets for your train out there." Admiral Crawly pointed to the door, "Think what you like but she's the only one who can pull this off."

"You can't put her in this situation sir."

"It's done, Bates." Admiral Crawley stood, "This afternoon you and Ms. Monday go to Lancaster to give the news to the former Mrs. Bates."

"I can't see that woman, sir."

"You'll have to because the way we've arranged it only you can. She's not allowed any visitors, she doesn't see any of the other inmates, and the guards that work with her are deaf mutes."

"You made up that last part sir."

"I did," Admiral Crawley shrugged, "Point is, you and Ms. Monday need to get her on board with this plan."

"And you're willing to do what if she agrees?"

"It's in this letter," Admiral Crawley handed over another envelope, "For her eyes only, Bates. The War Office doesn't want anything getting out until we've got the confirmation we need. If she agrees and signs then all promises made therein are binding and valid."

"You can't trust that woman."

"I don't." Admiral Crawley pulled at the edges of his coat, "But I trust her survival instinct is strong and she's not so foolish as to give up an opportunity like this."

"I still think it's a mistake."

"And your arguments are noted but the fact remains, this is what the men upstairs want and this is what we give them." Admiral Crawley opened his hand toward the door, "To your orders Commander."

Bates saluted and left the office. He did not look at Mary, merely holding out her hand with the tickets in it, and snatched the envelope.

"Could be worse you know," Mary rolled another paper into her typewriter, "You could have to actually be married to her again."

"That would be simple," Bates stuffed the tickets into his jacket pocket, "I'd hang myself."

"What are a few words between unhappily divorced couples?"

"Poison. I'd rather drink the Thames."

"That toxic?" Bates turned to see Anna, holding two cases. She held one out to Bates, "We might be there a few days."

"You knew?"

"I received orders this morning." She pulled his lapel tighter in his naval jacket. "I thought I should leave you to your task."

"And not warn me?"

"It'd take the fire out of your impassioned speech about loving Monday more than your job." Mary commented, hitting the end of the line and waiting for the typewriter to reset. Bates glared at her and she shrugged, "I thought it was rather beautiful. All that about priorities and having a command… very romantic."

"It's all true."

"Even better." Mary typed another line, not looking at them as she referenced her notes to the side and her fingers moved faster than Bates could believe with accuracy he only ever mastered in firearms. "I've had speeches like that from people who didn't mean it and I believe them. I like this one better."

"Are we going to always get your opinions on our love life Friday?" Anna stole a mint from Mary's desk, popping it into her mouth.

"As long as you continue to flirt in my vicinity, yes." She smiled up at them and pushed the typewriter back into place, "Hurry or you'll miss your train."

Thanks to Branson's driving they just made their train. The second-class carriage was mostly empty, since it was the early afternoon, and Bates was grateful none of the people in the carriage were in uniform. All the salutes and salutations of "sir" or "commander" drove him mad as they tripped over themselves at the platform.

He sighed, sinking into the seat and closed his eyes. They cracked open again when he heard Anna laughing at him. "What?"

"You." She settled into the seat opposite him, "You wear your uniform and yet you always seem surprised when people see you in it."

"It's not why I wear the uniform." Bates adjusted in the seat, "They're just clothes to me."

"But they're not just clothes to them." Anna pointed to the people whizzing past them as the train picked up speed out of the station. "It means something to see someone wearing a representation of sacrifice."

"You mean to see someone in uniform when so many of them probably know someone hanging gold stars in their windows?"

"That's only in America Mr. Bernhard."

"I wish we did it here."

"We've got the poppies."

"Yes," Bates shook his head, bending down to grab their cases from the floor, "I saw too many of those the first time around."

"What's different?"

"What?" Bates turned to Anna, hands on his case to lift it to the rack above their heads.

"What's different about this time from last time you fought?"

"Honestly?" Bates settled their cases and took his seat again, "This time it's bigger. We're blowing one another to hell all over the place."

"And you weren't last time."

"You don't remember?"

"I was a child, Mr. Bernhard," Anna stared out the window, "I only remember rationing and how my mother worked in service to a family that lost both of their sons. They had a time trying to find the heir to their estate after that and a whole generation of men was just gone."

"Nothing else?"

"I remember the Armistice." Anna crossed her legs, "I remember gathering with everyone at the center of the village as the chimes of our church tower rung out in time with the remembrance. All the adults were crying and some of the children were. But what I remember most was looking around and feeling like more people should be there but wouldn't be there ever again."

"Seems incredibly in tune for a child."

"I was always observant and precocious." Anna winked at him, "It's why I joined Naval Intelligence when Friday asked me to."

"To use your skills?"

"I was wasting away in my village."

"You mentioned that milquetoast boy you left there." Bates grinned at her and Anna raised an eyebrow. "Would you rather I call him vanilla?"

"Some people are built for the places they grow up and some aren't. I wasn't."

"I wasn't either."

"Really?"

"My mother moved to London after my father died. Can you imagine how difficult it was for a single mother with an accent as thick as hers, worshipping as she did, to raise a son in London?"

"No," Anna shook her head, "But I'm glad she did."

"Why, especially?" Bates leaned forward and Anna shrugged, struggling to look aloof. "Why are you glad Ms. Monday?"

"If you'd grown up in Ireland you might never have joined the Navy. Since I don't see myself having traveled there to the sheep farm or the factory where you worked I don't see us ever having met."

"No," Bates blew out, "I think I'd have married a village girl and have five or six children by now."

"Would that make you happy?"

"What? The children?"

"No," Anna denied but he saw something at the corner of her eyes, "Living on a farm with a village girl."

Bates leaned his head back, thinking, "I've never thought about it."

"Never? In all the time you traveled the globe on board those ships you never once thought about what it might mean if you'd grown up in Ireland and lived another life?"

"No." Bates clapped his hands together, "When I was old enough I thought about University but I realized as much as I loved reading I didn't like education so I actually believed a recruiter."

"You were fodder weren't you?"

"That was the intention but I was lucky." Bates tapped his head, "I was bright, quick, and above the average urchin they scraped off the street. My commanding officer saw it and recommended me, above all opposition, to a commission he financed."

"Why?"

"He said I reminded him of his son, who he lost in the Boer Wars." Bates shrugged, "I owe my life and livelihood to that man."

"And so do I." Anna reached over and put a hand on Bates's. He pulled it to his lips, kissing her knuckles.

They sat in silence awhile before Anna spoke again, "Do you think it's better this time?"

"No," Bates chewed the inside of his cheek, "It's worse."

"Because it's bigger, like you said?"

"Because we've gotten worse." Bates met her eyes, "You've heard the rumors from Poland about the camps?"

Anna nodded, "I didn't believe them at first but a contact I met in Paris gave me photographs."

"That's how you got your garrote scar?"

"Yes." Anna ran a hand over the scar just edging on her neck, "They killed my contact and I barely escaped with my life and the photos. It was almost as bad as the moment the boys at Bletchley saw a version of that machine they're trying to break."

"Science and innovation used for its most dastardly purposes."

"I think it just gives people the chance to be better heroes."

"If only we didn't need them."

"We always need them, Mr. Bernhard," Anna laid back on her seat, closing her eyes, "We just don't always recognize that we do."

"Called forth for such a time as this?"

"I didn't think you read the Bible, Mr. Bernhard."

"I did once," He pouted, "I liked the Book of Esther. A woman taking the power to save her people… it reminded me of someone."

Anna only blushed and smiled.