Strittmatter had found the cottage hidden beneath huge pine trees and hills of snow.
Napoleon had been impressed, but the Swiss girl seemed to have a hand in finding shelter anywhere she went.
It was her special talent.
Cho had smiled softly as he had followed the Swiss woman into the abandoned hut.
He had only shrugged at Napoleon and Illya.
The team had quickly fixed the little cottage, which was just one huge room.
Soon they had a fire roaring in the fireplace and somehow Cho had a goulash bubbling on the stove, which filled the room with its mouthwatering smell.
The almost light mood turned all of a sudden, when Olsen and his English partner joined them.
Only Solo's presence kept the big Russian fellow on his leash.
Illya had spent the evening leaning against the wall, glaring at the American Agent and left Solo on his toes.
Napoleon knew if Illya decided to attack Olsen and get even with the Agent nothing except Solo would keep the tall Russian from killing the CIA agent.
Solo knew that seeing Olsen again and without Gaby made things worse.
Way worse than he had loved it to be.
It brought painful memories up in Solo as well.
Warily Solo glanced up from the map they had spread over the old wooden table.
Illya's gaze could have killed Olsen right on the spot, but as the two friends gazes locked the hardness disappeared for a short while out of Illya's.
Solo remembered the dreadful mission with Olsen all too well.
Illya wasn't the only one struggling with not killing Olsen.
"I think we are set! Everyone has it's job and knows what to do?" Olsen's voice let him snap back and drew Illya's gaze on him.
A mask slipped over Illya's face.
"Don't get an idea to abandon this mission or betray us, Olsen!" Illya growled and pushed himself from the wall. "If you do I will kill you this time and none will hold me back!"
Solo sighed heavy. "Let this end swift and quickly!"
He nodded at all agents and followed Illya to prepare their part of the unlikely mission.
Gaby woke with a jerk and blinked into the harsh light of the garage.
They had thrown her into a cage earlier.
It had felt like an eternity when the soldier had finally put her down on her own two feet.
Gaby had swayed dangerously, but had caught herself before she could have fallen.
Without another word the man had pushed her into a cage close to the cars.
Gaby didn't want to know the reason why there was a cage in the garage.
Carefully she got up.
The ground underneath her was freezing and as she rose it seemed like every inch of her body was filled with pain.
Her throat still felt soar from all the screaming.
She looked around.
The garage was filled with cars and tools.
There was only one way out and the gates were locked.
The little mechanic had tested the cage for its weaknesses almost the whole night before she had fallen asleep on the icy floor.
But that thing was well made and would probably withstand a bombing.
Once again desperation raced through her and she quickly tried to push down the knot forming in her chest.
All of a sudden a door opened and a group of soldiers emerged.
The men placed themselves around the cage and the little German couldn't help but roll her eyes at the dramatic entry.
One of them stepped forward to the door, but didn't open it yet.
They were waiting.
It seemed like they were puppets, but that wasn't really weird, she thought, because if they wouldn't act like that her uncle would shoot them in a blink of an eye.
Another door opened and the soldiers immediately stiffened and grew taller.
Soon her uncle rounded the corner with a triumphant smile on his face and more entourage.
"Meine liebste Nichte, es schmerzt mich dich so zu sehen." (My lovely niece, it pains me to see you like this)
Her uncle opened his arms as if he wanted to give her a hug, but he stopped just inches away from the cage.
"Aber es bleibt mir keine andere Wahl. Mr. Solo hat mir einen Deal vorgeschlagen, den ich einfach nicht abschlagen konnte. Doch sehe dies als eine Gelegenheit, dich mir zu beweisen!" (I had no other choice. Mr. Solo proposed the perfect deal and I couldn't say no to him. But take it as an opportunity to proof your loyalty to me)
Gaby starred at her uncle not sure how to react.
One side of her desperately wanted to spit in his face, but her cautious side – even though it was mostly quiet – told her to sit back.
"Mich dir beweisen? Wie?" (Proof myself to you? How?) She asked confused.
Her uncle took his glasses down and cleaned them furioulsy on his shirt.
"Nun ja, du wirst meine kleine Spionin sein. Blut ist immer dicker als Wasser nicht?" (Well, you are going to be my little spy. Blood is thicker than Water, isn't it?) A smile crept on his face, which revealed his yellow teeth.
"Aber sicher, mein liebster Onkel. Ich habe nur darauf gewartet, dass ich mich dir endlich beweisen kann!" (Well of course, my dearest uncle. I've been waiting for the opportunity to proof myself to you!) Gaby said in her sweetest voice, while she inwardly wanted to through up.
The little mechanic hid her left hand behind her back, because she had to ball it into a fist from preventing it to shake in anger and disgust.
"Du warst immer meine Lieblingsnichte! Ich bin mir sicher, dass du mich nicht erneut enttäuschen wirst!" (You were always my favorite niece! I am certain you won't disappoint me another time!)
He reached through the cage and cupped her cheek.
Even though everything inside of her wanted to jump back, she stood still and let him have this moment.
His thumb brushed over her cheek and immediately goosebumps rose all over her body.
"Es tut mir leid, dass ich dich diesem dreckigen Pack übergeben muss. Glaub mir es fällt mir sehr schwer. Doch vertraue mir. Ich werde deine Ehre wieder herstellen!" (I am really sorry to give you to that filthy pack. Believe me it is very hard for me to do. But I will restore your honor!) He whispered and Gaby felt ice spreading over her body.
"What do you mean?" She asked dread twisting through her and making her body numb.
"Okay, Aufbruch!" (Okay, let's go!) He let the hand drop and ordered his man around.
Moving came into his soldiers.
One swiftly opened the cage and grabbed Gaby on the arm.
The little mechanic easily threw him off and walked after her uncle, who hadn't come far.
"Was meinst du damit?" (What do you mean?) She repeated and bit back a cry of pain as the soldier grabbed her arm, pulling her away from her uncle.
Uncle Rudy turned around slowly, his tongue flicking out and wetting his lips slowly.
Almost like a reptile.
"Meine kleine Gaby" (My dearest Gaby), he looked at her and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, "Ich denke, du weisst ganz genau was ich damit meine… denkst du wirklich ich werde den Russen hierher mitnehmen?" (I think, you know exactly what I mean.. do you really think I will take the Russian back here?)
He rose his eyebrows and waited for a few seconds.
Too short for Gaby to answer him.
The grip of the soldier behind her was like steal wrapped around her arm and the pain searing through her made it hard for the little mechanic to think.
"Ich werde ihn gleich an Ort und Stelle erschiessen lassen" (I will shoot him right there), he made his hand like a gun and pointed to his head as if he would shoot himself, "Mehr hat er nicht verdient und ich halte meine Versprechen. Ich hoffe, dass du deines auch halten wirst!" (He didn't deserve more and I keep my promises. I hope you will keep yours!)
Her uncle winked at her and turned.
Gaby stared after him.
She felt like someone just pulled a rug underneath her feet.
Illya wouldn't even see that coming and this was all her fault.
She felt all of a sudden small and helpless.
She had to find a way to warn them.
The little mechanic didn't even put up a fight as the soldier pulled her along to the waiting car and pushed her in.
She didn't feel the handcuffs tighten over her raw skin.
The door slammed shut and the Jeep drove into another snowstorm.
An icy storm.
Like the inside of Gaby, who stared out of the window not aware where they were even going.
But desperately making up a plan to safe Illya.
