Kandahar, Present Day

Anna tightened the blanket around herself as Gwen zipped the remainder of her clothes into a bag. "That's the last one."

"And the kit?"

"I did all the necessary bits for it." Gwen removed her gloves and tossed them before grabbing a new pair. "Now for the cosmetic damage."

"None of it's cosmetic."

Gwen paused, an alcohol swab in her hand before she leaned down to address the cuts on Anna's face. "These I can at least help a little. The rest of it… That only heals with time, medication, and things I don't know if I can give."

"What?" Anna tried to turn to her but Gwen put a hand under her chin and forced her to look forward as she cleaned the scrapes on Anna's face.

"Something like this…" Gwen shrugged, sighing as she ignored Anna's slight twitches at the alcohol stinging in the wounds. "You need to find someone you can tell about it."

"I can't tell you?"

"It's not something I'm trained to handle." Gwen finished at her cheek and opened Anna's mouth. "It won't need stitches, so that's a good thing."

"I guess." Anna pulled the blanket around herself again and drew her legs toward her chest. "Did Tom find the man?"

"He says he saw a uniform and the MPs are sure it's a military boot." Gwen finished checking over Anna. "The local police aren't too happy about one of ours killing an Afghani citizen in the street."

"Did they explain-"

"They did." Gwen put a hand on Anna's shoulder. "I'm getting you a shower so you can wash off now. It might even help with your sore muscles a bit."

"Will it help us process the rape kit?"

Gwen raised an eyebrow at Anna. "Are you going to get weird about that?"

"What's weird about wanting it processed and-"

"We don't have the resources to do it here and you know it." Gwen chewed the inside of her lip before speaking again. "You could take it with you and test it at Harrogate."

"That's months away."

"Not anymore." Both woman tried to get to attention, Anna almost slipping off the bed in her haste to salute as General Crawley entered the room. He waved them both down. "I'm sorry to interrupt, ladies, but this is urgent."

"What is it, sir?" Anna held the blanket over her, noting how it dragged over the floor to keep her completely covered but General Crawley refused to look at her.

"Lieutenant Dawson's correct. I'm sending you back to Harrogate on the next flight we can manage."

"I'm not incapacitated sir. I can still do my job." Anna turned to Gwen but she did not meet her stare. "Did you tell him-"

"Doctor Branson and my daughter were the ones who filled me in."

"Sir, whatever they told you-"

"Is enough to make me think about resigning my own position." General Crawley took a breath. "This is on me, Anna, and no one else."

"I disagree sir." Gwen tried to argue, "This is all about the prick who-"

"A prick, Lieutenant, wearing a uniform that I represent. A uniform that killed an Afghani man with children and a wife at home. A uniform that has, according to your records, done this to no less than five other women." General Crawley worked his jaw. "I've already requested a replacement for myself as I'm resigning this command to try and answer for my actions in London."

"But if you leave sir-"

"Then the stigma goes with me." General Crawley stood taller. "I've mustered the base and we'll find the guilty party when we determine where everyone was."

Both women nodded and General Crawley finally turned to Anna. "I'm so sorry, Anna."

She nodded, not meeting his eyes. "So am I."

"I've called John to-"

"What?" Anna's head flew up. "Did you tell him what happened?"

"I told him you were injured and I was sending you home but-"

"He can't know."

"Anna," Gwen tried to put a hand on Anna's shoulder but she backed out of her grip, impacting on the bed. "He's got to know."

"If he knows then he'd track the man down and kill him."

"I'm sure he wouldn't-" General Crawley when to argue before a knock came at the door. "One moment."

He left and Anna faced Gwen, shaking her head. "He can't know."

"And what's he going to think when you won't let him touch you?" Gwen put her hands on her hips. "Or when you might contract syphilis?"

"You've already given me my rounds of penicillin and if I keep taking it, with consultation at the hospital, then it'll be fine."

"And if you get pregnant?" Anna froze and Gwen folded her arms over her chest. "I know you got your period twice since John's been gone so it wouldn't his and he's not stupid."

"You've already given me something for that."

"You know that nothing's a hundred percent effective, right?"

Anna swallowed, "I'll take my chances."

"Anna," Gwen closed her eyes, turning to the floor a moment before looking at Anna again. "He deserves to know."

"It's not for him to worry over."

"Because he won't be worried as to why his wife won't kiss him or touch him or have sex with him? Because he's not going to worry if she's pregnant or taking drugs to prevent that? Because he's not going to worry when you're taking penicillin for something but you've not told him why? Because he's-"

"Stop." Anna put up hand. "Just… Just stop."

"As your doctor-"

"Don't."

"As your friend-"

"That's an order, Lieutenant." Anna bit out and Gwen froze, her mouth halfway open. "Don't say another word."

Gwen nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"I'll take that shower now."

"Probably for the best." Gwen led Anna to the stall and took the blanket. "I've laid out clean clothes for you. Take as long as you like."

"Thank you."

The hot water scalded her but Anna kept it turned up as far as she could. A vague voice, at the back of her thoughts, considered saving some water for the rest of the base but she turned the heat higher. And when it turned her skin red, if not already raw and almost bloody from the force of her scrubbing, Anna finally shut off the water.

She sank to the floor of the shower, drawing her legs back up to her chest and sniffing as she tried to hold back her tears. They came all the same and Anna finally let it out. All the emotion building up since Amooz fell to the bullet poured from her to join the rest of the water flowing down the drain.

When they finally finished, Anna wiped at her eyes and reached up to turn the water on cold. By the time shivers took over her body, her skin now tinged blue instead of red, she shut off the water. The towel abraded her skin and Anna finally took stock of her injuries in the mirror. Injuries John would notice the first time he saw her naked.

Anna swallowed and grabbed for her clothes, hurrying into them as if they could offer the comfort and shielding she needed. The weight settled like a familiar friend or comforting responsibility that gave her purpose. Something to give her a distraction from the reality of what happened.

Coming from the stall, Anna saluted to General Crawley before taking 'at-attention' stance. He turned to Gwen, who only nodded, and addressed Anna. "We took muster and Sergeant Green is missing."

"Sergeant Green was at the bar tonight." Anna bit at her lip, "He was someone Amooz thought might be our perpetrator."

"Major Bryant could not find him and, all evidence, says he's gone AWOL."

"And how do we find him?" Anna asked but General Crawley shook his head.

"We're looking everywhere we can but we've received reports that he's got… friends."

"Less than savory?" Anna took a deep breath, "Then he's as good as gone."

"He'll be found, Anna."

"No," Anna shook her head. "I don't think he will be."

"He'll answer for what he did." General Crawley put a hand toward her but Anna stepped out of his reach. "We'll make this right Anna."

"It's too late for that." Anna saluted him. "I'd like to be dismissed, sir, so I can prepare for the flight home."

General Crawley went to say something else but stopped and returned Anna's salute. "Dismissed, Major."

"Thank you sir." Anna dropped her hand and pivoted to Gwen, "I need that kit in my things as soon as you can manage it."

"But…" Gwen pointed to General Crawley. "We know-"

"It's proof, Gwen, and I need it if… If the opportunity ever comes to actually do anything with it."

"Not that you sound every convinced."

"I'm not overly optimistic, no." Anna squared her shoulders, "But there's no harm in being prepared."

"If you're sure-"

"I am." Anna turned to the door, "I'm very sure."

Scotland, 1946

John smiled, watching Johann run over the stairs and hearing his calls through the corridors. He laughed, turning to Anna as she took her slower perusal, and smiled even wider as she turned to him. Her eyes narrowed and she wagged a finger at him.

"What's got you so happy Mr. Bates?"

"I've got to have an ulterior motive to smile at my wife?" John risked the step closer to her, wrapping his arms around her, and leaned back to analyze everything about her. "You're radiant and I can't help looking at you."

"You're only saying that because I'm getting larger."

"You're carrying our child." John put a hand over her swelling abdomen. "That makes me think you're even more beautiful."

"It did take a bit longer than the first time." Anna put her hand over his, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. "But it's been no less beautiful."

"I hope you still think that when we're snowed in here come winter." John laughed and then cringed as something crashed in a distance. "I do hope that wasn't valuable."

"He'll come out in a moment." Anna warned, slipping from John's grip to lead them down the corridor to where Johann, with hung head, skulked out of a room. "What broke?"

"The vase. I wasn't-"

"English, Johann." Anna warned, "We're practicing for when you go to school. Remember, English when we speak English to you."

Johann nodded and scrunched his face as he worked through his slow, but correct, phrasing. "I was in the room, running, and I did not stop in time. I hit the shelf and the vase fell."

"You must've been moving very fast." John responded in German, peeking into the room and exchanging a look with a very relieved Johann. "That shelf is larger than you."

"I was going so fast you wouldn't believe-"

"John," Anna hissed and both John and Johann hushed. "I was trying to help him practice his English."

John winced, trading a look with Johann, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Johann brightened a moment, "Perhaps you should speak German and I should speak English since we both need the practice."

"Thank you very much." John ruffled Johann's hair. "My German-"

"Everyone needs to practice their language." Anna cut between them, pointing toward the mess. "And you can both practice while cleaning that."

"And where'll you be?" John urged Johann into the room as Anna walked down the hall.

"Taking a nap." Anna waved him off, "Go on. You've got cleaning to do and German to practice."

John huffed and joined Johann in cleaning up the mess. As they bent together, carefully chucking pieces of shattered ceramic into a bucket, John chuckled. "I remember doing this exact same thing when I broke a similar vase that belonged to my mother."

"Was she angry?"

"Oh no." John shook his head. "She got her vase from an aunt she wasn't particularly fond of and, since it was a wedding gift, didn't think she could just toss it in the bin."

"What about this vase?"

"This?" John inspected the pattern closely and then scoffed. "It's a matching vase. Must've been this aunt that gave one to my mother."

"Then they won't mind?"

"My aunt passed away a long time ago." John collected more pieces of the vase. "And my uncle spends more time in his cabin at the far end of the estate than he does here so I doubt he even knows the vase exists, much less cares about whether or not it's still sitting on his shelf."

"But you don't mind?"

John paused, meeting Johann's eyes. "Why would you think I'd mind?"

"My father…" Johann stopped himself, swallowing. "My fake father thought I never behaved like I should. Said I had too much spirit and not enough respect. He thought I wasn't going to be a good child for the Führer and-"

"You," John put his hands on Johann's shoulders, "Don't need to worry about any of that anymore."

"No?"

"No." John shook his head, holding Johann's gaze. "I'm proud of you being who you are. And here you can run to your heart's content over the moors and hills until you don't have the energy for it anymore."

"But my behavior-"

"You're very well behaved and you make your mother so proud."

"Do I make you proud?"

John smiled, "You make me very proud." He ruffled Johann's hair again. "Let's finish cleaning up this mess and you can take that wolfhound down there for a run through the gardens."

Johann brightened and worked faster.

They finished and John took Johann out to the garden to run with the wolfhound. It outpaced the smaller boy but its training forced it back to Johann until the younger boy realized there were sticks to throw. The game occupied both energies until Johann could only sag with his throws.

John took them both back inside and tucked Johann onto the sofa, the wolfhound curling on the rug in front of him, before going upstairs. He found the room where Anna retreated earlier and knocked softly on the wood. When no one answered he pushed into the room.

Half-darkness from the closed curtains kept her shadowed but John watched Anna's steady breathing beneath the blankets. He towed off his shoes and removed his jacket and tie before crawling onto the bed behind her. His arms wrapped over her, stroking over the evidence of their next child, and kissed her neck when she murmured something in her sleep.

"Go back to sleep love." He soothed, running his hand over her abdomen to caress her and the baby. "It's alright."

"If you're here then I don't want to go back to sleep." She adjusted to look at him over her shoulder. "Where's Johann?"

"Sleeping on the sofa with the Bonny Prince keeping guard over him."

"That huge dog?"

"Of course." John rested his chin on her head. "They'll be alright."

"Johann is small enough for that thing to eat him."

"The Bonny Prince has never even bitten anyone." John shook his head, "He loves Johann already. They're fine."

Anna pursed her lips before running her finger down John's arms as she half-turned in his grip. "If they're sleeping then perhaps we could do something else."

"Use our time more wisely?" John wagged his eyebrows at her, drawing his hand lower to take the blanket off her body so his hands could move over her nightgown. "I like the suggestion there."

"Then-" Anna bit her lip as John's hand smoothed up her thigh to tease toward the nerves that made her writhe.

"Is that what you mean?" John trilled in her ear, kissing there as his fingers worked between her legs to glide through her folds. "Because it's exactly what I had in mind."

Anna sighed, resting her head back on his shoulder, and rolled her hips against his fingers. John shifted forward to gain a better hold so his fingers could move deeper inside her. Her hand latched around his and guided him deeper, setting the pace faster, and rocked hard onto him until she came in a rush.

John drew his fingers out slowly, working through her contracting muscles to feed her climax, and left her only long enough to rid himself of his clothes. They landed in a mindless heap on the floor as Anna sat up enough to toss her nightgown aside. She looked at him over her shoulder and John stalked back toward the bed to let his hands wander over the expanse of her back.

She shuddered, leaning into his hold, and he laid them back onto the bed with her back to his chest. Taking slow motions that stroked and caressed every bit of skin available to him, John handled her breasts. Anna whimpered slightly, thrusting herself forward so he held more of her, and John bit back his groan when the motion rubbed her ass over his growing erection. It took a moment, forcing his breathing to slow, before John could move again.

But Anna offered no pity as she twitched and moved against him. Her body slid along his and each sound from her mouth just stoked him higher and higher. And when John could take it no more he slipped a leg between hers to open her to him.

They shifted together, fitting like pieces, and John moaned into Anna's shoulder. She clutched him closer, her fingers in his hair and her vaginal muscles tightening around him, before finding the leverage she needed to set the pace. It was all John could do to follow her lead so they moved and flowed as one.

Between her gyrating hips, the sight of her ass in the cradle of his hips, the weight of her breasts in his hands, and that sound she made at the back of her throat, John could do nothing but fly into a frenzy. She matched him beat for beat until they both went over the edge together.

Dozing together, clinging tightly to one another, John almost did not hear the knock at the door. On the second round he kissed Anna's shoulder and slipped away from her. She rolled into the blankets, burrowing there as John fumbled for a dressing gown in the darkening room before opening the door.

"Mrs. Hughes," John pulled the dressing gown closed. "Is something wrong?"

"Johann was begging me for supper and I was curious if you, and Mrs. Bates, were hungry." She jerked her thumb behind her. "I could bring you both a tray if you like."

"I understand you used to be my uncle's housekeeper, but doesn't Uncle Charles want you at the cabin with him?" John waited, noting the hint of red over Mrs. Hughes's cheeks. "I'm sure you'll enjoy the company more."

"So we both would, I'm sure, but I do still maintain the house here and when Mr. Carson decides his cabin is too stuffy then we'll all be in this space together." She pursed her lips at him, "Unless you don't like dinners made for you."

"Mrs. Patmore still works here."

"But I'm the one who chooses the meals and I'm asking you want to eat with your son before he eats you both out of house and home."

John laughed, "Mrs. Bates and I will be down shortly. She was feeling tired from this afternoon."

"Having a baby can be hard work." Mrs. Hughes eyed him over, "So can making one."

John swallowed, "I'm sure-"

"I'll have Mrs. Patmore keep some extra servings hot for you." Mrs. Hughes managed a hit of a smile. "I'm sure you'll've worked yourselves up a nice appetite."

"I'm sure we'll devour whatever Mrs. Patmore provides. Thank you Mrs. Hughes." John shut the door and turned to where Anna faced him on the bed. "What's got you smiling?"

"It's not like she's never had married couples stay here before." Anna shifted, the sheet slipping down her as she sat up. "There's no need to be embarrassed."

"Having someone know, in theory, what goes on between a couple and actually knowing are two separate things." John left his dressing gown on the chair and came back to the bed, laying out on it. "I forgot what a hassle living with other people in a house is."

"If we're a hassle-" Anna went to move but John tugged her arm so she bent to kiss him. "Are we a hassle, Mr. Bates?"

"My favorite hassle." John grinned at her before turning on his side and putting a hand to move her legs apart.

"John," Anna reached a hand for the headboard. "What are you-"

His tongue and fingers buried themselves in her and Anna grabbed the headboard with both hands as her legs widened. They shifted so her legs were on either side of his head and he could lick and lap to his heart's content. And to her orgasm. One he followed quickly with another round of ardent sucking and slurping.

But she stopped him turning them. Her legs ran down his sides as she dragged a wet line down his chest. A line she licked up before kissing John as she slid down him. They rode together, Anna taking control of her rise and fall while adding occasional bouncing motions to take him deeper. But it was when her fingers teased to play at his sack that John finished.

Her voice peaked a second later and Anna rode the last of their motions until both of them slumped together on the bed. She rested her head near his shoulder and John's fingers trailed patterns over her back. Tipping down his head, John kissed her again before sitting up.

"We'd better go eat before Mrs. Hughes decides to explain why we're not down there." John eased off the bed to hand Anna her dressing gown before taking his own. "I don't think I'm ready for that."

"In English or in German?"

"Either." John pulled Anna close, kissing her one last time before leading them to the door. "I'll leave that all to you when the time comes."