And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest

that my heart will lie will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest…

Hogan pulled her away as fast as he could. He was sorry about Emil, but surely the man understood that the two of them would be joining him if they didn't hurry up. All of this was for nothing if Louisa didn't get out in time, and his adrenalin wasn't being sympathetic to their heartfelt but highly impractical farewell.

He almost picked her up and carried her; she wasn't going nearly fast enough, and she couldn't go any faster if she didn't stop looking over her shoulder. He could tell she was angry with him, but one of them had to pay attention. He tried to ignore the jealousy that was making him sore all over as she longingly stared back the way they'd come.

It wasn't that he didn't like Emil; if they'd met under any other circumstances they would probably have been – well, not friends, but comrades. They would have understood each other. But as it was, one couldn't possibly look at the other without thinking about Louisa. And now…

He stopped short as they almost ran into another patrol, barely keeping Louisa from knocking them both over. She glared at him, but he only motioned her to be quiet. When it was clear they continued on as quickly as possible.

Had she ever felt anything for him at all? He wasn't sure anymore. He'd seen the look in her eyes when she called out. She wasn't worried about him. She wanted Emil out. But he was in the more precarious position, he reminded himself. I could have gotten out. I did get out. She didn't need to warn me.

The soldiers were coming closer. He looked around for the cave Emil had mentioned, but Louisa found it first. She apparently knew this place better than he did. They both tumbled in as the patrols came so close Hogan could have touched their boots from where he lay, barely breathing. When it seemed like they were alone again the situation became awkward, and both scooted to opposite ends of the small cave. Even sitting down he had to duck his head to keep from hitting it, the ceiling was so low.

They sat there a second, their breath sounding harsh in the sudden quiet. Finally Louisa broke the silence. "What are you going to do about Emil?"

He didn't look at her. "Nothing."

"What? You're just going to leave him, after everything he's done for you?"

"Done for me? He's gotten me pegged as Papa Bear by the Gestapo. He's put my men in danger. He's exposed a double agent in the Gestapo. He's gotten himself killed. He hadn't done one thing for me!"

She was quiet a long time. Then, "Why did you disappear?"

"I was getting you out. Emil would have done the same thing if that major hadn't kissed you. It was… imprudent to dash across a clearing filled with soldiers trying to attack their commanding officer. It wouldn't have worked."

Her eyes flashed. "You wanted to say 'stupid,' didn't you?"

He said nothing.

"Emil would risk his life for me. He just saved my life. Don't you ever, ever speak about him that way again! To think you would… you would suggest that I leave him for you. You didn't risk a thing out there."

"Discretion is the better part of valor," Hogan offered drily.

From the look in Louis's eyes, she was about to tell him what he could do with his discretion, but before she could open her mouth he heard another familiar sound – the patrol being relieved by a Gestapo unit. He stole a look out of the cave to see them several yards to his right, about to go over the area again. This might be their only chance.

He pulled Louisa out of the dip as quickly as he could, and they slipped quietly away from the others. Hogan glanced over his shoulder the whole time, breath held, sure that they would be caught, but for the first time something went right, and they made it away without being seen. He could hear the Gestapo begin to search the area; soon their tracks would be discovered. They had to get to Newkirk and Carter, and fast.

They went as quickly as they dared and soon caught sight of the clearing where the two men were waiting with the underground contact. Just before they reached the three both stopped and looked at each other, something keeping them from rejoining the others just yet. Hogan saw the anger flash in Louisa's eyes, but this time he saw something else as well: pain.

And suddenly he remembered she wasn't as brave and defiant as she had been acting all this time. She'd just been captured by the Gestapo and had her two best friends killed. She wasn't a warrior anymore. She was a woman who'd seen more in the last week than anyone should see in a lifetime. He felt all his anger and jealousy melt away as a single tear trickled down her cheek and fell silently to the ground.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, pulling her to him, holding her against his chest as he would hold a child. She began to sob softly, and he held her for what seemed like hours as he felt the dampness of her tears spread over his shirt and didn't care one bit. Rubbing her back, he tried to come up with something comforting to say, but he could think of nothing, so instead he simply stood there with her, holding her protectively until she finally quieted.

She finally started to breathe normally again, and he gently drew her away from him. Cupping her chin in his hands, he said nothing as she gazed at him, her eyelashes laced with teardrops. Finally he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, feeling no urge to do anything more, and then backed away, still looking into her eyes.

And for that second the world was perfect. There were still many unanswered questions – what was going on at the stalag, what would happen to Emil, what Hochstetter would do if Papa Bear returned to his operation – but for a while all the clamoring, anxious voices in his head were silent. It was only the two of them. And in that moment, everything was right.

"Goodbye, Louisa."

"Goodbye, Robert."

She walked into the clearing toward the underground agent, and for once she didn't look back.

A few explanations:

1. As there is only one chapter to go, all these questions obviously won't be answered. They aren't my emphasis for my story – but they probably will be for my next one, which also means I'll probably have less OC and more canon in the next one. We'll see what happens; I've got a few ideas, but I'm not sure myself yet, and am certainly open to suggestions!

2. I would just like to clarify that there was no way to rescue Emil. Hogan and Louisa didn't just decide to give him up for lost because they wanted more time to say goodbye. The area is virtually swarming with troops, and with the Gestapo around there was no way Hogan could risk going in after Emil with only himself and his men. His priority was getting Louisa out. Also, the last few paragraphs took place in a relatively short period of time, before the Gestapo finished searching the area, and they will have transportation away. This is all the closure there will be for Hogan and Louisa until my next story; the last chapter is Emil's, and I'm not planning on writing an epilogue.

3. Please read and review! I appreciate it!