Three days passed at a snail's pace. Maria in that time never left Georg's side she stayed in constant attendance. Dr. Skinner was as frequent a presence at the Captain's bedside as Maria was. The dedicated physician left only to make rounds and attend the other wounded under his care. Otherwise, he was at Maria's side caring for the Captain.
Late on the third night of their vigil as Maria rocked Lucas and hummed a lullaby Dr. Skinner felt it was time to reveal his intentions to Maria. Maria's cooperation would be essential if he was going to succeed in getting the family out of Austria before Admiral von Schriver sought to finish what he started. He hoped he'd won her trust, because she needed his help.
Maria stretched her sore back and fussed with her husband's covers. She was aware his condition was improving but he'd yet to recover his strength and he often slept for hours on end.
"Maria," Dr. Skinner began. "These next few days once Captain von Trapp begins to heal, you and I as well as your family will be closely watched by Frau Schreiner and your butler."
"Our butler? Franz?" Maria was surprised.
"Your butler has been a member of the party for some time and we've discovered that he and Frau Schreiner were partly responsible for your family's situation here."
"Wladyslaw," Maria began. "I'm not sure how you have this information. I'm not even certain I want to know, but how does this situation affect my family."
"The Captain's loyalties have never been a secret. The party knew his feelings long before the Anschluss that's why he was so quickly put in a position to either commit to service where he could be watched or easily eliminated. Obviously, the Captain is even more stubborn than the Reich anticipated," Dr. Skinner stated. "It's my job to make sure men like him and their family's are given safe passage."
"Your job?" Maria was growing confused.
"Yes, Maria, my job. I think it is finally time for you to be made aware of my true identity, so I may be of service to you and your family," Dr. Skinner explained.
Maria looked confused and held Lucas closer to her breast. "Your true identity?"
"Yes, Maria. You see, I'm not…I'm an American," he finally stated.
"An American?" Maria repeated.
"Yes. I'm Dr. Wladyslaw Skinner, medical doctor and special intelligence agent with the OSS," he declared in a whisper.
"The OSS?" Maria repeated in disbelief.
Again, Dr. Skinner nodded. "Yes and I've made arrangements for you and your children as well as the Captain to be given sanctuary in the United States for the duration of the war."
Marie stared in disbelief. This man, a man she'd feared, then trusted and befriended was telling her he was in a position to end her family's terror. Maria didn't know how to respond to that, it sounded to good to be true.
"What's the catch? There has to be a catch?" Maria asked.
"There is. They border passes I've obtained are only good until precisely ten days from now," Dr. Skinner explained.
"And Georg's injuries…"
"May not have healed enough in that time for it to be safe for him to travel," Dr. Skinner finished.
Maria was silent as she absorbed the information the doctor just gave her. She had two obligations here, on to her husband and another to their children. It was a decision she should have to make on her own. She wanted and needed Georg's assistance, but he was still weakened and tired from his injuries and the demands healing them was making on his body and slept deeply. Maria was loathe to wake him up for any reason. Even when he was awake, Georg's mind was muddled by the medication to relieve the pain he was in.
Maria put Lucas down and sat with her face in her hands, shoulders quivering with the force of her sobs. It was too much, it was all too much.
Dr. Skinner moved in and put his arms around Maria, holding her to him as she cried. Both people were temporarily oblivious to Captain von Trapp's eyes drifting opened and to Franz's shadow retreating from the doorway.
"Ssh, Maria," Dr. Skinner comforted. "It'll all work out."
"I thought I could do it. It thought I had everything under control but I didn't and this family is counting on me, Georg is counting on me, and everything is just falling apart. I don't know what to do," Maria cried. "I don't know what to do."
The Captain head awakened from his sleep, but instead of being greeted by his wife's smile he was being greeted by her sobs. Her voice was muffled and he couldn't see her because Dr. Skinner was blocking her from view.
"I don't know what to do," he heard her cry.
Maria's uncertainty was not something that the Captain was used to. Even when she was just his governess, a young inexperienced postulate she had always been confidant and self assured, he'd never seen her so upset or insecure. But here she was reduced to tears from fear and uncertainty. Georg couldn't bear Maria's tears when she was crying out of happiness, thus he certainly couldn't bear them when she was crying out of pain.
"Maria," he said softly to catch her attention. "Maria."
Dr. Skinner heard him and moved aside so Maria could go to her husband. It was his comfort she needed after all.
Maria hastily wiped at her eyes to hide her tears. She frowned when the Captain shook his head. "It's no use, Maria. You can't hide your tears from me."
"Oh, Darling," she sniffled. "I don't know what to do. I'm so sorry I let you down. You were counting on me…"
"Hush," the Captain commanded. "You have nothing to be sorry for and you could never let me down. You are the best wife and the best mother there is an anyone would be overwhelmed under these circumstances."
"But I can't decide Georg. I know what's right and what's best…"
The Captain cut her off. "What's best is for you and our children to leave Austria as soon as you can."
"Dr. Skinner was able to secure us passage to Switzerland, but we have to leave in ten days. I won't go without you," she declared.
"You have to Maria. I may not be able…"
"Then we'll stay together, Georg. No matter what it means, we'll stay together," Maria vowed.
"A slow wry smile crossed Georg's features. "That what I hoped you'd say," he told her and leaned up for her kiss.
Franz in the mean time had placed a phone call to Reich officials in Salzburg. Herr Zeller and other and revealed to them Dr. Skinner's plan. A hot head Zeller wanted to seize Skinner and the von Trapps immediately, but a cooler headed Herr Mueller convinced him to wait and watch so the von Trapps would could make their move. Then they'd have the traitor and his brood right where they wanted them.
A/N: Only three more chapters to go!!
