Disclaimer: I own nothing but the original characters in this story. I have great respect for the real men of Band of Brothers.

Spoken German is written in Italics so nothing is lost in translation. :)

I know I've been so hard on you
I know I've told you lies
If I could have just one more wish
I'd wipe the cobwebs from my eyes-"Close My Eyes Forever", Lita Ford

Chapter 10

He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd been this content. The thought of her still asleep in his bed had him smiling, something that had caused more than one soldier to jump out of his way. He could feel his heart pounding as he headed down the hallway; he really hoped she was still asleep; the thought of waking her up slowly had his pants feeling a little tight. Besides, he owed her for the sweet way she'd let him take her this morning. Yep, she was definitely smiling now.

The smile slid from his face almost as quickly as it had came, his room was completely empty and the sheet lying in the middle of the floor gave him pause. He'd really expected her to still be here. Shrugging he gave himself time to clean up and straighten the room before he headed over to hers.

His mood though turned for the worse when he found the door to her room partial opened and nothing inside. She'd disappeared without a trace in the span of a few short hours. Trying to reign in his temper he head to the battalion to talk to the one person who had the best chance of telling him where she was; Nixon.

When the door to his office was thrown open slamming it against the wall he swallowed the sigh he was ready to release. He'd known it would only be a matter of time before Ron found out she was gone, and damn here he'd been hoping it would be a little later at least. Holding his hand up he tried to stop the tirade before it began, "look, before you start, yes I knew she was leaving, she told me she would talk to you and no I don't know where she is. Does that answer all your questions?"

Ron felt all the anger he'd developed on the walk over flow from his body leaving him empty. He knew that if Nixon had no idea where she was the chances of him finding out were almost zero. "Well can you at least tell me what she failed to?"

Waving his hand at the chair beside his desk, Nixon moved to close the door. "Look yesterday she got a telegram from Colonel Decker; he's the guy who has been handling her. Anyway, she wasn't very happy, but I think she had a pretty good idea that he was going to want her to go back. Ron if it helps, she really didn't want to, she wanted to stay here with us, with you."

Rubbing his hand across his face, the feelings of frustration were overwhelming. He felt like he was reading a book with several pages missing. "Look, do you know what she is doing?" Holding his hand up he tried to stop the speech of classified that was about to come from Nixon. "Can you tell me anything that won't cause a problem?"

Nixon studied Ron for a moment, the lines of stress on his face had deepened and if Nixon could put a name to the look on his face, it would have been the word miserable. "Alright I'll tell you what I know. I know that she's been working with the this Decker guy since 1941 and apparently for some reason took this assignment in 1943. She's working for some German General."

"Yeah I'd heard the rumors she was his mistress, is it true?"

Nixon shook his head, there was no way he was going to answer that. He knew that she had been, but something was off with Ron and well, he and Mandy needed to discuss that little detail. "I don't know would it make a difference if she was?" Curiosity got the better of him and he had to know, that might explain Ron's reactions to her being gone.

Ron shook his head, "no probably not. However, until I know for sure either way, I'm not going to let it bother me. I think what we have or could have deserves a chance and I find it hard to believe she would willingly walk away on that."

"I don't think she did. Look, I don't know everything but there was something else, something that Decker knew about and I think he might be using it to get her to do as he wishes. That's all I know."

Ron didn't look any happier but he didn't look nearly as dangerous as he had when he walked in. "Yeah well if you hear anything would you at least let me know she's okay?"

"Sure, will do. Hey don't worry the war can't last all that much longer and then you two can work this out." Nixon watched Ron nod and leave quietly. Despite his positive words, Nixon wasn't sure about anything he'd just said. Something was going on with Decker, he didn't know what, but he had the gut feeling that the man knew something and was keeping it to himself. Moreover, with the end of the war coming, there couldn't be a worse time for Mandy to be behind the lines again.

Berlin-March 1945

She watched the rain drops chase each other down the glass and did her best not to think. Thinking caused problems, problems led to mistakes and right now, a mistake would lead to her death. Chasing one of the drops with her finger, she longed deep inside to be free, for one more night with him. Clenching her hands by her side she turned away from the window, nope dangerous thoughts, remember he was a problem that would lead to a mistake.

The trip across Germany had been one long living nightmare, transferred between underground supporters numerous trucks it had taken a month to arrive in Berlin, only to find the once beautiful lady nearly on her knees with the endless bombing raids by the Americans and British. Then there was Kurt. Sighing she glanced at him slumped over his desk in the adjacent room. He seemed to have aged a lifetime with the death of his children. Her heart had broken when he recounted their deaths to her.

His stupid wife had insisted on staying in Berlin, believing that Hitler would save them all. Her foolish blind faith had not only cost her life but her children as well. The man once known as being powerful and unshakable was suddenly old and broken. He'd been elated when she dragged herself back into Berlin and he hadn't let her leave his side. Good for the spying, bad for her state of mind. It was hard to try to hold everything together when all she cared about was being free.

"Darling can you come in here for a moment?"

Thankful for a distraction she quickly moved to the other room. Kurt's animated expression giving her hope that his mood might have shifted. "Is there anything wrong my love?" Just saying those, words nearly had her gagging. While she might have grown fond of the man over the years, it was still a long way from love.

"Yes, I want you to pack your bag, I'm sending you to Berchtesgaden, it's no longer safe here and I won't lose you too."

Gritting her teeth, she had to think fast. Leaving Berlin would mean she was useless; she had to find a way to either stay or get him to leave with her. "Kurt, I won't go without you, besides, I have nine lives. Look how many times I've returned to you when you thought I was lost. You need me here Kurt and if you won't let me stay go with me." Watching his face, she thought she might have overplayed her role, lately Kurt had been much more volatile and she'd had to be careful when speaking.

Kurt moved so fast for a moment she had doubts as to what he was about to do but then he pulled her into his arms, his large hand stroking up and down her back as he held her to him. Forcing herself to relax into his embrace she waited, she had a chance that he would go with her or there was the chance they would both stay here and die.

Every day the reports coming in had the Red Army drawing closer and soon Berlin would be surrounded. She knew if she didn't make her escape soon there was a good chance she never would leave.

"Alright my love, I'll come with you. The high command has been after me to take over the defense of the Ober Saltzburg so yes; we'll leave as soon as it can be arranged."

Lifting to her toes, she kissed him tenderly on the lips. "Thank you for understanding. At times like these I feel better knowing I'm with you and that we are both safe."

Kurt dropped another kiss on her head and returned to his desk, "yes, I suppose you're right. With things as they are it would be better for me to go and prepare for Hitler to move south. Yes, I believe that will be best. Now go and see what is keeping dinner."

Nodding her head, she left the room and closed the door behind her. Leaning against it, she allowed herself to relax for a moment. The first goal accomplished with little effort getting out of Berlin. Now the second goal; surviving the war might just take a little more effort.

Berchtesgaden-April 1945

Here in this secluded part of Bavaria, one could forget there was a war going on, well with the exception of all the SS in the town. They had been here since late March and Kurt's mood had improved, he was almost back to his old self. Unfortunately, he'd begun to give hints that he wanted more than what life currently had to offer. The latest news from the underground had told her that the Americans were drawing closer by the day and that Berlin was in serious jeopardy from the Russians.

Turning her task back to overseeing the dining room she thought about the party being hosted here tonight. I was a celebration of Hitler's birthday, or at least that was the excuse given, but all the senior ranking officers attending tonight knew this was more of a farewell party. The Third Reich couldn't last and she was going to be caught in the middle of it when it fell.

While Kurt's mood had improved and he was sharing more with her, he'd become very secretive the last couple of days and for the first time she'd been unable to get a sense of what was happening. She sincerely hoped it wasn't anything like she thought it was.

"Ah, there you are, I should have known. When there are details that need perfection you my darling are always there."

Smiling at Kurt's praise, she was shocked when he lifted her and kissed her passionately in the middle of the dining room. Pushing back, she slapped his arm, "Kurt please, you'll embarrass me."

He chuckled and pulled her closer, "after tonight my darling, you'll have no need to be embarrassed by my public displays." Patting her on the back, he left her standing alone in the room with a feeling of dread overtaking her.

As the party progressed, Amanda flitted around the room entertaining people and ensuring the food and drink flowed. She also did her best to stay away from Kurt. The meeting with him earlier that afternoon had her wondering how she was going to handle what was coming coupled with that she was worried that Berlin would fall. Then what would be Kurt's reaction? He was a diehard fanatic when it came to Hitler; if something happened to him, there was no knowing what his reaction would be. The tapping of something on a wine glass drew everyone's attention to the front of the room where Kurt was currently standing.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you all for coming and propose a toast to the Fuehrer, Heil Hitler."

Watching everyone around her toast and drink was like some surreal dream, her sister's voice echoing through her head, 'this is why I left, and this is why I died.' Momentarily closing her eyes she tried to block Marga's voice, the voice that up till now had been silent.

"Everyone, now I have an announcement to make. As I'm sure many of you here know, my lovely friend Marga put all this together and to remember the Fuehrer's birthday, I'd like to ask this lovely lady to marry me."

The resounding cheers in the small room were deafening and the pounding of her heart blotted out everything else. She knew her face had to register the shock she was feeling, good that would make all this believable. She felt herself pushed forward by the crowd and suddenly she was standing next to Kurt, being wrapped in his arms and kissed.

The low hum of planes had everyone scattering and rushing to the bunkers. As she was pulled along, all she could think of was how the Air Corps was on her future Christmas list.

On the road to the Eagle's Nest

Ron rechecked his weapon again, the only sign that he was the least bit tense or worried. He didn't like the fact they were moving slowly along this narrow winding road but this had turned out to the be the only way to get to the Eagle's Nest. The rest of second battalion was staying behind to set up security it Berchtesgaden and await the arrival of regiment.

When he'd left Nixon had been reading the hotels sign-in book and mumbling to himself, apparently some high ranking Nazis had been there as recently as two days ago. None of them knew what would await them at the top of this road; he could only hope he wouldn't lose any more men.

Eagle's Nest

"Kurt please stop you have to listen to me. I know if you surrender to the American's it will be okay, you don't have to do this, don't be stupid like Hitler." Amanda watched Kurt pace the room the Luger in his hand waving between the two of them. From their vantage point, they'd seen the Americans enter the town and now Kurt knew the war for him was over.

When he stopped pacing and faced her, she had hopes that she'd gotten through to him finally, but as he raised the pistol she knew it was over for her as well.

"My darling Marga, how I wish there'd been time to marry, I'd have loved to have called you my wife. Now I know like any faithful German woman you wouldn't want to live and surrender yourself to the invaders. As for me, I'll follow you my dear and know that I love you very much."

The sound of the shot echoed in the room as the pain in her chest drove everything else from her mind. D-Day was happening all over again except this time she was sure that she would die. As she dropped to her knees, she could have sworn she heard the elevator return to the bottom of the shaft, but the sound of the Luger firing again covered everything.

Closing her eyes, she lay on the cool stone floor feeling the blood warm and thick slip between her fingers. She wished that she'd not listened to Matt, she had so many regrets and now they were all slipping away.

Kicking the heavy wooden door open, Ron and three others quickly entered the large open room and scanned for any possible threat. Not immediately seeing any, they spread out and began to look around. It only took seconds for him to see the feet with their high heels peeking from behind the couch.

Saying a silent prayer, he rushed around the couch and stopped dropping to his knees. The last person he expected to see was Amanda. Her face pale, her eyes closed and the entire front of her dress covered in blood. Pulling her into his arms he began he searched frantically for a pulse, finding it shallow but there.

"Amanda, open your eyes for me." His voice so choked with emotion he was barely able to force the words past his lips. The hoarse gasp that eased from her throat had him shaking; the blood had coated her lips and was beginning to drain from the side of her mouth. He might not be a medic, but he knew that was never a good sign.

"Ron, I'm sorry…wanted to explain…"

"Shh, you can explain later, save your energy." The sight of her pain-filled eyes caused him to shake. She was going to die in his arms and he could do nothing. When she shook her head, he decided to let her finish.

"Always seem to find me at my best." Her words gasped in between her shallow breaths. "I wanted to tell you…I love you."

He was shocked when her cold hand brushed against his face and dropped back to her side. He watched as her eyes began to slip closed and he knew this was probably the end.

The last words she heard was Ron scream for a medic.