Hiya guys!

Oh ho, so we left a rather pissed off Molly back in the last chapter. This chapter made me smirk while I was typing. I really hope you guys enjoy it!

-Anna

Upon leaving the tent Molly stormed from the camp and did not look back at the basterds that were gathered at the legendary scene of the fight. She walked for a while, trying to spot somewhere far enough from camp because she wanted to roar out her anger and she wanted to roar very loud. She hiked up a small hill and saw two trees set apart by a surprising distance compared to the other trees around it. It was strange because it seemed to be a dead end.

It looks like an arch, she thought.

She quickly moved the hanging branches out of the way and looked at what was beyond them. What better to place to yell than a large lake? The sky seemed coral above the clear waters. She could see over the entire body of water just by standing at the arch. When she looked down she could see that to get there, the stepping would be steep but not impossible. It was only eight feet or so off the ground so it would be simple. Molly decided to take off her boots and toss them down ahead of her before attempting to scale down for if she had tried to walk down she would just land on her face. She dug her foot into the first hold she could find and began descending the cliff.

Once she hit the muddy ground she smiled as wide as she could and left her boots were she had thrown them. Her feet were taking in the way the mud felt between her toes splendidly. There was a giant boulder of some sort sitting by the shore and she climbed it until she was standing on the top. There was where she finally released her yell. She put so much into it that she could barely stand. Birds that were just innocent by standers were so frightened that many of them fled their branches. She moved the wisps of her ear and merely slumped down onto the rock out of exhaustion.

"You're not used to being told to get lost are you?"

Molly turned her head quickly and found Donowitz standing at the bottom of the cliff. His arms were crossed and a passive look on his face. She didn't even have the strength to come up with a witty reply, she merely turned her head back to the lake and rolled her eyes.

"If it's another round you're looking for, I'd honestly rather you look elsewhere."

Molly's head was pounding and she honestly did not want to use any of her strength to battle him or his ego. She did not want him there, she wanted to the sweet solitude she had just gripped onto. From the sound of boots being tossed against hers, she could tell her hopes of him leaving were slim to none.

"Move over."

Molly turned back and watched Donowitz begin making his way towards her rock. He had moved the hair from the front of his face and his suspenders where now adjusted on his shoulders. She could spot the makings of a bruise on his cheekbone and the beginning of a fat lip. He casually licked the side of his lip and looked at Molly with a stern gaze.

"Come on, Heathcliff. Let me up."

She wasn't sure what it was that made her do it but the lieutenant moved to the side and watched him toss his canteen first then finally himself. He let his legs dangle from the side of the rock and Molly had brought her knees up to her chin. He was only a few inches away from her and she could practically feel the heat radiating off of him. They sat in silence for a while, just staring out into the water. When Molly turned her head to look at him, she found his eyes staring back. He broke his gaze away from her and shrugged his shoulders.

"So, your lieutenant's an asshole. Welcome to the club."

Molly sighed and looked at her knees before shaking her head.

"You don't understand."

"I understand a lot. First you think they're alright people. You drink with 'em, you talk to 'em about everything. Only by the end of the day, the truth stays the same: You follow their orders. They're rank is up there and yours is down there. Sometimes being an asshole just comes with the job."

Molly strangely felt herself release a small chuckle and looked up.

"You mean to tell me that sweetheart with the scar is friendly?"

She could swear she saw a hint of a grin on Donny's face as he leaned back on his palms and ran his hands through his hair.

"Well yeah, the lieutenant has his moments. They may come every once in a blue fuckin' moon and he may have taken a little too many hits from his snuff box but they do come."

Molly couldn't contain her laughter and soon they were both snickering like children. Suddenly her head began to pound mid-laugh and she hissed while holding the side of her face. The Bear Jew took a cloth out of his pocket and wet it with water from his canteen but before pressing it to her face, he hesitated.

"Do ya mind?"

Molly was hesitant as well but decided that her fingers would only shake if she had tried to press the very fabric of that cloth against her face. She nodded once and just as quick felt cool soothing drops of water go down her face and fall alongside her chin. Donny leaned in and his eyes were studying her wounds and her eyes were set on him. She wasn't sure what it was, but from a certain light, The Bear looked quite handsome. Until her eyes came across her 'work', she was sure the first emotion she should have been feeling was pride. That's what Archie would be feeling. Except she wasn't proud of what she had done to him, she felt guilt. Massive amounts of guilt. His hand slowed its movement and he exhaled loudly before pulling away slightly.

"I'm sorry by the way, I uh, I guess I'm not used to being around- you know-"

"A woman?"

Donny shook his head quickly and scoffed as if the very idea was absurd. He looked away for a moment, Molly could tell he knew he wanted to say something but couldn't figure out what it was. His brown eyes returned to her face after a few moments of looking at the sun disappear into the lake.

"Nah, just- a girl like you."

A look of confusion spread across Molly's face and she felt herself begin to stiffen. She was wondering what he meant but at the same time felt she knew it already. Donny must have sensed something as well because he quickly corrected himself.

"What I meant is I don't know how to act around ya. The only woman who put me on the spot like that was my ma. Where the rest of us are from, the man's usually the one with the power ya know?"

"So you thought I was crossing into the wrong territory and you'd teach me a lesson?"

He was silent for a little before nodding and shifting his position by bringing one knee up to his chin and leaving the other to dangle.

"Geez, make me feel more like a jack ass why don't you? If anybody was taught a lesson here it was me alright? I admit it."

Molly felt herself begin to grin and felt her insides warm. She watched him closely and could practically feel his pride shatter although he did not show it. He took his stance like a man and waited on what she had to say. She hid her grin and nudged Donny in the shoulder. The least Molly could do was make it a little less hard on his ego.

"Apology accepted. I was out of line to insult you in the open that way in front of your men. It was rude and I apologize."

He nodded and they sat in silence until the sky had turned a deep navy and she could barely see her new friend's friend hear through the darkness. The negative air between them had seemed disappear and was replaced with comfortable silence. She inched a little closer to his thigh and felt herself shiver. She could smell his sweat and all of the feelings of wanting that she felt during the battle came back. Donowitz looked down at her and she could feel her heart quicken.

Not him, not him, she thought.

"We should get back to the assholes. They're probably done talking by now and the first watch should be happening soon."

They both tied their boots tight and stared at the amount of wall scaling that they had to do. The climb up the hill took Molly less time than it took her to go down. Although it did help that Donny had offered her an arm up, which she took gratefully. His grip was strong but steady and Molly felt had never felt so secure. The walk back to camp was full of chatter mostly pertaining to Lieutenant Raine and Archie. Molly still wasn't sure what she would say to him when she saw him but she was dreading seeing his face again.

"You sure you can take standing next to that guy for your watch without killing him?"

"He's different when it's just the two of us. He's always been able to keep the professional to one side and our friendship to the other. Now the prat's mixing the two together and I can't say I'm fond of the combination."

Donny nodded slightly and lightly patted her shoulder a few times.

"Happens to the best of them. You just let me know and I'll work something out."

Upon reaching camp, the grounds were lit up by moderately sized campfire and where there was a fire Molly knew Archie would be the first to complain.

"A fire? Really Lieutenant Raine? What if we're spotted by the enemy?!"

"Don't worry about a thing Hicox, we got men around the perimeter on watch protecting two weak spots which I found myself. A fire's fine, plus we could all use some hot grub can't we?"

Instead of presenting themselves to Lieutenant Raine, they headed towards the privates on the far left side of the camp. Upon seeing Heathcliff arrive, Omar took an extra bowl of stew and a spoon and made his way towards her.

"Hot bowl of rabbit stew for the champion?"

Molly graciously accepted the bowl before Donowitz swatted Omar at the back of the head.

"What about me you tard?"

"You know where the fire is. Go get yourself some."

Molly chuckled and stood against a nearby tree watching Donny slap Omar behind the head a few more times before finally going to get a bowl of his own. Omar leaned parallel to her and slid his hair back a few times as Molly learned was usual for him. He had left his coat off since their last encounter and she rather it that way. As if reading her mind he inched forward a little and bit his lip slightly.

"How's the stew?"

Molly took a spoonful of the brown goop that seemed to be sitting in her bowl and hoped for the best. At first it tasted salty until she tasted the oiliness and the savory goodness of the rabbit itself. She swallowed and nodded in approval.

"Not too bad Omar. Only, if this is my reward for beating Donowitz, you're going to have to do better than that."

"What kind of reward are we talking about here? I have a few scalps in my bag if you want 'em."

Molly blocked out the last words he had said because she wanted to be able to finish her meal without having it come up again. As strong as her stomach was to parachute, it was nothing compared to seeing a dead man's scalp when eating meat that could be just like it. She merely finished her bowl and gave it to him before squeezing his shoulder and raising her eyebrows slightly.

"Surprise me."

"Alright, you'll have your reward."

Heathcliff left Omar looking slightly devious, it was as if he was immediately planning something diabolical when she left. She found Donowitz standing beside Wilhelm Wicki and Hugo Stiglitz and stood beside him only to be faced with Archie across from her. He looked at her for a moment and she could swear she saw her Archie again calling out to her. His gaze was one she knew too well and she was sure that if she were to keep watch with him tonight, she would give into it completely. She turned her head to Donny and he nodded. He put down his bowl and stretched his muscular arms a few times.

"Hicox, you and I are taking the first shift. Let's go."

Molly could hardly believe it the look on Archie's face. Donowitz picked up his rifle from behind a tree and waved at the Englishman to follow him. She would probably pay for it later but right then all she could do was thank Aldo for picking such a man. Archie quickly finished his bowl and looked at Molly one more time.

"I suppose I won't see you till later in our tent?"

"No, not till tomorrow morning actually. I believe I was the one who brought the tent material so technically, it's mine isn't it? I mean, since you are one of the official officers here you should sleep alongside your men."

Archie's eye twitched and Molly was trying desperately to suppress her smile and he walked off after Donowitz. When she turned back to see who was around her she found herself alone. Hugo and Wilhelm must have had to watch the second weak spot Aldo had found. She found Omar sitting on the ground, sharpening a stick into a stake.

"Who's your watch partner tonight Omar?"

Omar looked up and shrugged.

"It was Donowitz but he just left with your boy so it'll be me and you."

"How many hours till our watch begins?"

Omar checked his watch and stood up.

"About two, why?"

"I could use your help setting up a tent."