Part Ten:

There was a deadly silence hanging in the air between Hans and Catherine. Hans stood near her left, bent low with his hand over his chest in a show of trust and submission whilst Catherine stood at his right lingering by the door ready to run. Her breath was hard in her throat, her palms felt sweaty and stiff, a cold shiver falling down her arms and neck.

"Who are you really?" Catherine finally spoke though her words still did not properly suit what she wanted to ask.

Hans grinned slightly letting out a light breathy laugh, he straightened his posture opening his arms wide in a innocent gesture. His arms fell to his sides as he raised them, smacking the sides of his uniform lightly.

"Are you asking in the sense of a more personal nature mein liebe?"

"Yes, you know my name, where I'm from but I am at a disadvantage as to I only know your name." Catherine worded her reply plainly, as to avoid anymore toying on Hans' part.

"Well seeing as it interests you I'll tell you," said Hans, "I am originally from Vienna, Austria; I only left due to a direct order from the Führer."

Catherine turned more around, looking Hans in his eyes, he was cooperating too easily for her tastes. She took in a steadying breath, trying to alleviate some of her anxiety. Catherine heard Hans shift over to her side, feeling his hands grasp her shoulders.

"Now for this to work I must get something in return as well schatz." Hans nuzzled his chin in the crook of her neck letting his hot breath fall over her bare skin.

"Of course," said Catherine shakily as she bit her lip. She peered over at her shoulder seeing Has stare up at her, un-moving from where he was.

"Now answer me this, what do you have to do with The Basterds?"

Catherine tensed up, there was no backing out now, she took in a deep breath forming her words in her mind. Part of her was screaming, telling her to still protest against Hans, but still there was the other half fighting with it.

"I-I'm an informant."

Hans smiled his grip on her shoulders tightening slightly, she could feel his chest tighten up as he began to speak, pressing his medals into her back as he did. He moved from her back slightly, moving more towards her front, his smile was unmistakable.

"Now that wasn't so hard," he said teasingly.

Catherine took in a sharp breath feeling regret crawl over her like a dark fog. The relief she felt from finally telling Hans what she did dulled in comparison to the amount of guilt welling up inside of her.

"Now as we agreed, its your turn to ask a question." Hans moved from her shoulder but he still stood very close.

"Why did you decide to take me in instead of letting your men take me away?" This question had bubbled in her mind many times before, and as the opportunity presented itself she couldn't help but ask it.

"Oh come now schatz, I am a detective, its my job to know about individuals such as yourself, so naturally I took it upon myself to question you," said Hans rather smugly as a deeper smirk crossed his lips.

"That's besisdes the point there was no need for you to take this so far, wh-"

"Ah, ah, ah mein liebe its my turn to ask a question, you already had yours." Hans cut Catherine off with a quick abruptness that took her by surprise.

"Now, how long were you an informant for The Basterds?"

"Almost a year now," she replied feeling that guilty weight above her grow even heavier now.

"Not too long it seems," Hans commented idly running his hand over his lips.

Hans moved from Catherine, there was something he needed to look into now, and with Catherine finally cooperating things would now be easier to deal with. He walked back to the door, stopping for a moment. Looking over his shoulder he gave Catherine a quick look over, silently mulling over a few thoughts in his mind. He turned back around, pressing the palm of his hand into the threshold of the door looking down at her.

"I have a few things I need to do before I continue with you, it seems you'll be alone for a while."

Catherine couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she doubted his absence would give her any room to escape after all he was not a stupid man and would not let something as simple as this get in the way of his investigation. Hans let out a brief chuckle, pulling a key from his pocket, resting his other hand on the door knob.

"Now you will be locked in this room, so really your options of escape are quite limited." Hans began to step outside of the room and close the door, "Do try and behave yourself while I'm gone."

He gave Catherine another teasing smirk, locking the door the rest of the way. The door gave one firm click as Hans locked the door, followed by the echo of his footsteps down the hallway. Catherine let out a deep sigh, at least she wouldn't have to divulge anymore information, for now.

Hans walked outside of the house, pulling another key from his tunic locking the outside door with another firm click. He took in a deep breath of the cool fresh evening air, feeling an exhilarating sense of contentment as the air filled his lungs; it seemed he had been spending far too much time inside for his own good. Hans gave a quick look around, there was almost no one out as of right now, this made him feel even better. He began to walk down the street, his bootheels digging deep into the gravelly road with each step. The slow monotonous motion was almost calming as the constant sound of crunching gravel filled his ears. Hans continued to walk a few blocks, turning the corner and arriving at another small town house. Before knocking at the door, Hans gave his uniform a quick but careful look over, brushing his fingers through his caramel hair. He knocked firmly at the door, bouncing on his heels as he waited to be answered.

The door opened slightly, and the man on the other side gave has a tight but genuine smile. He opened the door fully, gesturing his hand towards Hans.

"Hallo, Hallo Hans," said the man shaking Hans' hand.

Hans smiled briefly, bowing slightly, "Hallo Mathias."

"Komm, komm was ist es Si)e müssen Hans?" (Come, come what is it you need Hans?) The man gestured Hans inside quickly, looking out past him cautiously.

Hans smiled walking inside, though part of him didn't want to just yet. The man closed the door behind him, turning the lock. Mathias was a much older man, one who had grown to be extremely cautious over the years. He had thin salt and pepper hair and a beard of the same color; relatively tall but very lanky in his military uniform. The olive green tunic and jodhpurs looked like a sheet on him more than anything.

Mathias sat down at his chair, pulling a pipe from the table near him, placing it at his lips. Smoke slipped from its end, twirling into a cloud around the aging man.

"Was bringt dir hier?" (What brings you here?) He asked moving his pipe slightly from his lips.

"Ich habe ein Mädchen in mein Pflege," (I have a girl in my care) said Hans in reply.

"Was ist ihr namen?" (What is her name?)

"Catherine Elliot Albrecan." Her name practically danced off his lips, Hans couldn't help but grin slightly.

"Ich weiß von ihr," (I know of her) said Mathias.

"Tun Sie?" (You do?) Asked Hans, admittedly surprised at this.

"Ja, und Ich weiß von ihr vater Benedict." (Yes, and I know of her father Benedict)

Mathias had Hans' attention now. Hans leaned forward in his own chair, resting his elbows in his knees, interlocking his fingers with a intense look of concentration etched in his face. Mathias smiled, puffing his pipe.

"Sagen mich," (Tell me) Hans hid the longing in his voice but his curiosity was insatiable, he couldn't help himself.

Hans felt his breathing rush in his throat, he had been so close to the information for so long and he hadn't gone to find it. He couldn't believe how much he knew now, oh he was not mistaken when he thought of Catherine as an interesting little puzzle. Armed with new information to use, he walked into the town house, his blood pumping rapidly in his veins. It had been quite sometime since an investigation gave him this much a rush or even ever, oh what other information could be hiding within Catherine?

Hans walked down the hall thrusting the key to her locked room into the door. With one steadying breath Hans calmed himself, but on the inside he was bursting at the seems with anticipation. He looked into the room to much of his disappointment to find her fast asleep, her arms tight against her chest. Hans felt like almost like a child who hadn't gotten his way, he tensed up tightly almost running towards Catherine. He stopped himself mid-stride, trying to recollect himself. Hans turned on his heel, walking back out of the door, though he still felt that pull act on him again.

As Hans left the room Catherine opened her eyes, letting out a sigh sitting up. She ran a hand through her messy black hair, frowning disapprovingly as her fingers caught on a knot. Catherine growled lowly, sleep had escaped her once more.

Hans laid fast asleep within his bed, calm and comfortable, the same could not be said for Catherine. It was the middle of the night, her eyes were wide open in a sleepless daze. No matter what she could not sleep. Her insomnia had been getting worse, and now that one thought she had been mulling over refused to go away. She couldn't help but think of Hans, it made her sick that she was so compelled by him. Everyday this feeling had grown, it was hardly bearable now, she could hardly stand it any longer. Catherine pressed her face into her pillow, trying to snuff out her thoughts and sleep, but it was no use. Her eyes flashed open once more despite her vain attempts to fall back asleep. She tossed her sheet from her legs, planting her feet onto the cold ground. Goosebumps covered her flesh as the cool air from the hall hit her bear skin. She walked down the hall not sure what she was looking for. There was a light groan in a room to her right, there was no doubt that it came from Hans. Catherine moved near the sound looking right at the entrance of his room, and the door that had drifted open.

She stood by his door, her hands grasping hard on the side of the wall. Her entire body shook as that pull acted on her again, she could clearly see the outline of Hans' figure in the dark room. She took another step forward, feeling her knees grow weaker with each weary step. Her cobalt eyes tore into the dark room, with each step she became more sure of what she wanted. Catherine crawled onto Hans' bed, walking on all fours. She moved on top of him, breathing heavily. Catherine slipped under his covers, pulling his arms around her. Hard tears fell from her eyes as he grasped her tightly in his sleeping state.

"You bastard." She sobbed, holding his arm tighter to her.

She never would imagine herself like this, once before he repulsed her but now she didn't know what to think. What kind of man was he to make her jump so easily to the other extreme so easily? Tears continued to stream from her cheeks, her fingers gripped tighter on the sheets as her thoughts began to boil over. Catherine buried her face in his chest, muffling her harsh sobs. Her hand gripped his nightshirt tightly between her fingers, jerking it toward her damp eyes. She could hardly control herself any longer, and there she laid sobbing roughly as her eyes of cobalt blue hid from the world as tears filled them.

"W-Why did I-I have to f-fall in l-love with the likes of y-you," sobbed Catherine as she buried her face deeper in his shirt. There she laid for hours on end, just to make that damn feeling she felt for him go away, she didn't want it but still it lingered. Her sobs lulled her to sleep, laying there in a tattered mess in Hans' arms.

Her breathing slowly became steady as she slipped into deeper sleep. Hans opened his eyes slightly, peering down at the sleeping figure curled in his arms. For a moment he swore to be dreaming, but as he felt her move and her hand tighten he knew this was no dream. He could hear her whispering ever so slightly, ever so silently. A smirk played at his lips, she actually looked peaceful in her sleeping state, her closed eyes fluttered slightly and a small happy smile danced on her lips. Hans ran his hand along her back, letting his arm wrap fully around her. His gaze shifted towards the ceiling, his grey eyes searching into the darkness for some hint of structure for himself. Hans looked back down at Catherine, feeling something of a pull towards her that he couldn't quite explain. He released a deep breath, leaning his head back and closed his eyes, he could think on this no longer.

Catherine opened her eyes, she could see a wide vineyard though it hadn't been used for many years. There was a distinct smell of morning tea flowing through the air, with the light hint of strawberry jam mixed in. She looked over her shoulder, and there standing in the door was her father, a brief smile stretched on his face.

"Catherine come inside," he called out to her.

"Just one moment," said Catherine calling back. She picked up her book from the ground, sprinting towards her father.

"You know you can't avoid your French lesson forever," he said teasingly, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Papa I already know two languages what do I need a third for?" Asked Catherine in protest.

"Oh you know fully well why," he gave her a playful smack on the arm pulling her inside.

Catherine simply shook her head, reluctantly taking a seat at the table. It had been four months now that they had been in France, and it seemed with everyday the Germans grew closer to the borders. Catherine could tell this unsettled her father but she knew he would never, could never return to England.

She took her French book into her hand trying to mouth the first few phrases while her father corrected her.

There was a knock at the door, though from her knowledge they were expecting no one. Her father stopped speaking immediately, his gaze shifting over his shoulder. He stood up from his chair, slowly walking over to the door.

"Who is it?" He called out from behind the door.

"It's me Tomas, look I need to talk to you," said the man behind the door.

Catherine's father opened the door a crack, speaking in a hushed whisper to the man behind the door.

"Why did you travel all the way from England to find me?"

"The Germans are going to take over France, France has surrendered Benedict." The man was almost in hysterics as he spoke, he could hardly get out his words quick enough.

"What?!" Benedict could hardly believe what he was hearing, her shot a worried glance at Catherine feeling almost lost.

"What about my daughter, I must get her out of France!" Cried Benedict taking a step outside.

Catherine could no longer hear what they were saying, in fact she could hardly understand what was going on right now. She got up from her chair, about to approach the door when her father came rushing back in. He grasped her by her shoulders tears falling from his cobalt eyes.

"I have to go away my darling," he said, choosing back a sob. He moved one arm into his coat pulling a notebook from it. Taking her hand in his he placed the notebook in her grasp.

"Now you find the people in this book, they will help you, after I'm gone you'll have to carry on in my place alright."

"I don't understand," said Catherine as tears streamed down her cheeks, "where are you going papa?"

"I can't explain it to you now, its complicated." He took in a breath trying to pull himself together. "If I don't come back look for a man who goes by the name Remi Lefévre, he will be able to help you."

Her father moved from her, walking out the door. Catherine couldn't let him go so easily, she sprinted to the door, throwing it back open. Running back out onto the gravel she looked out hopping to catch her father, but he was already gone.