So here's chapter three... I hope you will enjoy it!

Thanks again and again to my prereaders Franziska and Elizabeth ^_^

Usual disclaimers here.

Vienna, January 7th, late at night

Instead of leading him in a state of drunken oblivion as he expected it, his fifth drink gave more strength to his most inner demons, exactly the ones he did not want to awake at all... Stefan, Isaac, Ivan, Friedrich, Kurt, Karel, Johannes, he... They were eight... Eight teenagers who wanted to see the world, sailing all around it endlessly... They shared the same room at the Academy in Trieste, learned to know each other and became like brothers. Now, there were only four left. Well, better say three and a half for Stefan had lost his two legs and was a serious gas victim. "Damn it, I don't wanna remember, lemme alone" he said between his clenched teeth, causing a customers to look at him curiously. He cast a furious glance at him. The other spat, outraged: "What the hell d'ya want, man?" Then he shouted, attracting other customers' attention: "Look at the remains of the once glorious Austrian Navy! Look at him! He's just a wreck and wanna look strong... What..." The drunken man did not have enough time to finish his sentence because the officer lurched at his throat furiously, forgetting his injured shoulder. He tried to fight back vainly but the other one was too outraged. The first strike caught him off guard and broke his nose. He began to fell down but the officer hit him with his knee right in the stomach then grabbed him by the hair. The young man hissed in his ear "A wreck, ya said. You'd better watch yourself before talking too much, bloody asshole!" before throwing him across the room with an incredible strength regarding his current physical condition. Then, the officer angrily watched the others customers, the light in his blue eyes bordering on madness: "Another competitor then?". Nobody dared to talk. Stumbling a little, he proceeded to pay for his drinks and went out the bar not without giving one last vicious kick in his opponent's stomach.

The little girl stood up a little as she was hearing voices approaching. A couple was walking up the street hastily, talking vehemently. "How are going to manage! You could have taken precautions! I can't find a job, bloody hell! How can I feed another mouth! It is impossible, we must get rid of it! I just can't, Kathrin, you must understand" said desperately the male voice whereas the other one was crying soundly. "I know that, Karl, I know... But..." the female voice answered between sobs... The blond little girl sat down again out of despair. This world was definitely not a place for children... It was so cold out there. She was so hungry. She missed her parents so much. Now, she was looking forward to joining them. Maybe there was a better place to be out there... Soon, she knew that, peace would claim her and there would be no more suffering... "Mama, Papa..." she whispered before losing conscience.

The young officer wandered unsteadily across the streets. The cold air had helped him to regain his spirits a little but now his shoulder was aching horribly. "I am such a jerk..." he thought bitterly as he leant against a wall, holding tightly his left arm. His first idea after he had left the bar had been to go to Max's place. But it was too far and he did not know if he would be able to walk up there... Besides, at this late hour of the night, his friend must have gone to bed and he did not want to wake him up. He deserved rest as much as he, or even more, after their long walk across Serbia, after four years of detention in this bloody country... The best solution was then to return to the place he rented in town, even if he was afraid to have to face his demons alone in that small room. If only somebody was here... Somebody to share his fears, his anger, his frustrations... Somebody to look after him...

A faint voice caught suddenly his attention: "Mama, Papa..." He looked frantically around him, searching where it could come from. Another light moan, fainter this time. He began to search furiously. Then he saw a small form curled up in a foetal position between garbages. He approached hurriedly and leant towards it. It was a child with blond tresses. She wore just a coat and was probably suffering hypothermia. He reached her and tried to wake her up. "How long could she have been there?" he thought worriedly. She did not stir immediately so he shook her more firmly.

Somebody was trying to wake her up, she could feel it. "Why can't they leave me alone?" she dreamed. "Lemme alone please" she muttered faintly. "No way, kid, don't let yourself go... Wake up..." said a male voice. The man didn't seem to want to let her alone... But nobody wanted her, cared for her, right? So, why did a stranger pay attention to her? "Hey, kiddy, open your eyes! Can you hear me?" he repeated... Suddenly, she felt warmer as he put his coat upon her. He went on shaking her still: "Damn it! Hey kiddy!" The man would definitively not leave her alone. Besides she felt a lot better with the coat around her. Slowly, she opened her eyes, coming back to the bitter reality.

Worry was killing him. He could not let this child dying here right in the street, could he? Not after what he has done... Not after having sold his soul... He went on repeating endlessly: "Hey, kiddy..." After a while, the little girl started to open her eyes slowly, her gaze full of fear. The young officer let out a breath of relief then talked to her gently: "Hey, you almost killed me, kid. How d'ya feel now?" The girl did not answer immediately. So he went on: "What's your name? What are ya doin' here? Are ya alone? Where are your parents?"

Too many questions... She anxiously looked up at the man. He had a beard and his dark hair was ruffled : his whole thin appearance did not reassure her at all. Nevertheless, his bright blue eyes had a kind but worried, expression. His voice was soft. She felt good now in his coat and relief began to fill her soul. Maybe there was somebody to look after her out there... She managed to smile a little and finally let out: "I'm fine now, sir. " Then, after a long pause, "My name's Maria..."

She spoke with a faint and fearful voice but she seemed to feel better. So the young officer proceeded to take her with his valid arm and spoke softly: "Come, Maria, I am taking you to a warm place. You will be able to rest as much as you want. Then we will look for your parents, right?" As he began to walk unsteadily to his place, the young officer felt that little Maria was clutching tighter to his shoulders, waking up the ache he had forgotten, but he did not really care. His demons were gone now, defeated by the sleeping little angel he was carrying carefuly. A little angel who would help him to forget everything for a while, he hoped. He reached his place without realizing it and tried to open the door without waking little Maria up vainly. As she stirred, she asked softly, "Ya didn't tell me your name, sir, it is not very polite..." Smiling, he put her gently on her feet while he was searching for his keys. "My name's Georg, little Mademoiselle" he said kindly. Then he opened the door and let her come in.