"Utivich!" Omar yelled to the door to the small study where the Little Man was writing in his journal "You better go check on Donny's nurse."
Smithson quickly scrambled up from the entryway to the study where Aldo had placed him to ward off Donny flying in and killing Hicox. He jogged into the parlor where Omar and Hirschberg sat "What happened to her?" He asked his eyes filled with worry.
"Donny just fuckin' chewed her out, he's in one of his moods and he yelled at her. She ran past us and it looked like she was crying." Omar explained
Hirschberg nodded verifying the story and he mumbled to himself under his breath "He's a fuckin' idiot sometimes... She's way too sexy to yell at..."
Utivich felt himself get hot with anger at Donny, he had no right to speak to her like that, she was already too good for him anyways. He took in the story then started up the stairs to go find Nili.
Nili dropped on the bed and tried to wipe the tears away with quick swipes of her hands. She wasn't going to cry over his temper. She wasn't that kind of girl. She head a soft knock on the door and she knew it was too light to be him so she bid the person enter quietly "Come in..."
The door opened and Smithson walked in his eyes concerned as he plopped himself next to her on the bed. "You okay Nil?" Smith had taken up calling her Abe's pet name when they were kids and she didn't mind him using it, it felt like home.
"I'm fine, he's just a big jealous idiot..." She said sniffling and wiping at her nose. She felt very unladylike but Smith had seen her playing in mud before, so she wasn't self conscious around him.
"What started it? Hicox?" He asked rubbing her back lightly before reaching around and pulling her head down into his shoulder. She settled herself there and then took in a shaky breath finally calming herself.
"Yes, he blew up and said I was embarrassed to admit our relationship. He got so self deprecating and had a fit at me. I don't know why he would think I was embarrassed of him. I love him so, Smithy. He was just being ignorant."
Smithson took a deep breath, he knew he couldn't tell Nili what Hicox had told them all earlier, that was Donny's right. "He's got a lot on his plate Nil. Donny's not too good with dealing with feelings. Before you came here I was the only one that knew about you. He's very, very protective of you. He loves you too, I think so much that it might even scare him, and Donny Donowitz will never admit to being scared."
Nili nodded and knew Smithson was right, he always had such a good head on his shoulders. Abe had been smart and athletic, Smithson was used to living in the shadow of his best friend, he'd been happy there; but truth was he was brighter.
"I know, I know how he works. He has a temper." She said waving her hands while she took comfort in the warmth of Smith's arm around her. It was almost like having Abe back again.
"I know he has a temper but he has no damn right to take it out on you, the one person who cares about him most of all. I'll go have a talk with him and sort him out."
She sat up quickly and shook her head "Oh no, no. Don't do that Smith, he's in such a mood. He'll come back to me in a few hours and I'll chew him out enough, you don't have to step in."
Smithson stood up and pushed his shoulders back "Abe wouldn't allow anyone to speak to you like that. I won't either, he told me to take care of you and Rosie and I'm going to damn well do it."
"No, please Smith. Just let him be, I'll sort him out."
Smithson looked down and sighed, he had to admit that she was right. If they were going to be married they'd have to sort through their problems themselves. "Alright, Nil. I suppose you're right, but I'm not happy with him at all. No one treats my girl like that." He kissed her forehead chastely and got up leaving her alone in the room.
Donny kicked at the ground outside sending a spray of gravel up around him. He ran his hands through his hair and grunted in fury. He was mad at Hicox, mad at himself and how he'd acted, mad at this whole fucking war and how it was destined to all turn out.
He wasn't mad at her though, no at all. He felt so horribly that he'd exploded at her. His hand ached and he looked down to see his knuckles oozing thick red blood. He kicked at the ground once more and steadied his breathing before going back inside.
He entered the kitchen and he saw Utivich standing leaning against the counter holding the silver necklace in his hand. Donny eyed him and moved over to the sink where he began to wash his hand wincing as the soap stung the wound. He was not ready to speak to anyone about his actions, let alone the Little Man who thought himself a big brother.
"What the fuck do you think you were doing?" Smithson's voice was hard as he rubbed over the ring.
Donny turned to him wrapping a rag around his hand and he gave him a hard look. He didn't answer him though, he just leaned back on the countertop himself.
"I asked you a question Donny, who do you think you are to talk to her like that? She loves you, you ignorant asshole. I can't see why but she does."
Donny felt his rage bubbling again, he was not used to dealing with so much and he was angry at his inability to reconcile himself with it. "I don't know. I was wrong. I know I fucked it up with her, I know. She threw down my ring and I ran off."
Donny sighed and ran his uninjured hand through his hair. He didn't know if he could face her now, not after he'd said that to her. He was scared she would scorn him.
Utivich shook his head and toyed more with the ring "You're a real idiot if you think her little huff means she won't marry you. She was just spouting off as much as you were. She loves you, she'll marry you. You just have to go apologize, that's all she wants; for you to admit you were wrong."
Utivich reached out the ring and dropped it into Donny's hand "Go up there and be a man and tell her you were wrong."
Donny looked down at the old ring, it was dull and tarnished. Not nearly what she deserved. He felt the sting of Hicox's comment, he couldn't even put a ring on her finger.
"Maybe she's better off without me Utivich. I'm as good as a dead man."
Utivich shook his head "No, you're the only man she loves. Don't be stupid. You go up there and you apologize and let her take you back. You never know how this war will turn out, but don't you deny her the right to love you. She won't take anyone else."
Donny sighed and gripped the old silver ring digging it into his palm. He nodded at Utivich and took off towards the stairs.
He rapt the door with his good hand and waited for her to tell him to come in. He did not hear her voice, yet he heard her stirring with in the room. "Nili, baby, let me in. Please?"
He heard her come to the door, yet she still did not open it, he sighed again and leaned his face on the door "Please sweetheart, I'm sorry. Just let me in so I can talk to you."
He heard the click of the lock and then he stepped back as the door opened. She was standing there with her handkerchief in her hand and the ghosts of tears in her eyes.
"Come in then."
He stepped in and he felt a nervousness he was not used to where she was concerned "Nili, I'm so sorry sweetheart. I was an idiot for blowin' up at you, I just..." He ran a hand through his hair again, it calmed him a little "I need you so much." He went to her and took her hand trying to find the right words to express his grief "I'm not used to this, I'm still learnin'." He loosened his grip on the necklace and held it out to her "Please?"
She just nodded and grabbed him 'round the waist holding him close and letting him slide the necklace over her head and put his arms around her. He kissed her head and her face, thankful that he had been forgiven.
"You'll never speak to me like that again." She said pulling him away laughing a little. "Or else next time I won't be this forgiving. I love you so Esa, always remember that. There will never be anyone else. Not now, not ever."
"Of course not baby, you're my heart. I won't ever hurt you again." He went to take her chin in his injured hand but winced when he tried to move it. She took note and grabbed at it quickly
"What've you done now?"
"I was stupid. I picked a fight with the kitchen counter when I should have picked a fight with my own fuckin' head." He unwrapped the cloth around his hand and let her see the mangled knuckles.
"Good God, am I going to spend the rest of our lives together patching you up?"
He shrugged and smiled "Probably, good thing you're a nurse then, huh?"
She smiled and set to work bandaging him up with her medical kit and she kissed his hand once she was done.
"I love you so much." He whispered as he rubbed her cheek, she flushed and smiled back kissing him and perching herself on his lap. "I love you too, sweetheart."
He woke the next morning with her bare chest draped across him. He looked down at her and smiled seeing her sleeping soundly with a smile. She stirred a little and he watched her eyes flutter open.
"Good morning."
"Hey gorgeous."
She kissed him sweetly and writhed a little on top of him, feeling him grow hard beneath her. "Mmm, someone's having a good morning."
He smirked and kissed her deeper "Come on baby, I just can't help it around you. Especially not wth you lyin' here on top of me naked. I can't get enough of you." He flipped her over and began laying kisses on her neck and collarbone.
She giggled and ran her hands through his hair "Darling, I need to shower and go back to the hospital, I can't stay here forever."
"No, Aldo wired the hospital that you would be here for 3 days, you're here until tomorrow. We're going out again tonight and we may need you here." He ran a hand over her breast and she shivered as her nipple hardened under his touch.
"You men are certainly utilizing my services." She giggled as he ran his thumb over her other breast.
"Oh sweetheart, I'm the only one utilizin' you." He moved his kisses down to her breast and took on of her nipples into his mouth flicking it with his tongue and gently nipping with his teeth.
She gasped and tugged at his hair sending a shock down his spine. "Let me fuck you in the shower" he said against her breast as he laid his kisses there.
She gasped again as he took up with her other breast. "Oh Esa, we couldn't..." He swirled his tongue around her peak.
"We could... I want to baby." He grabbed up her thighs and pressed himself between them "You know you want to..."
She moaned against him and tried to guide him inside of her but he pulled back "Come on baby, it'll be fun... No one else is awake yet, it's barely 6 o'clock." He pressed himself close to her again and heard her gasp "Let me make love to you in the shower."
"Mhmm..." She moaned out nodding her head as she felt him press close to her. His smile grew wide as he rolled off of her and sat up.
"Come on girl, put on your robe." His excitement was apparent as he pulled on his pants and an undershirt. She smiled a little blushing like mad at the idea of making love to him in such a risque place. She walked the short distance to the chair where her robe lay and she pulled it on. When she turned back she saw that he had been watching her intently.
"You're so fuckin' sexy. I need you." He grabbed her up and kissed her roughly, his need for her very apparent. He kneaded her breast through the silk of her robe and pressed himself against her. "You better run down that hallway." He let go of her and opened the door smacking her butt to send her down the hall. He followed closely behind her keeping his hands on her hips.
He was right, the hall was quiet and not a soul was stirring. She worked hard to keep from laughing as he maneuvered her down to the bathroom. They entered quickly and he locked the door behind him as she turned the faucet.
He whipped himself around and grabbed her up untying her robe and exposing her body to him. She undid his belt and let his pants drop then moved to his undershirt making short work of it.
Once they were both nude he picked her up round the waist and carried her into the bath and set her under the warm spray. He roved her form with his hands as the water engulfed them. She moaned as he teased her, the warmth of the water adding to the feelings of his touches. She moved her hand down to his cock and rubbed him up and down letting the water lubricate her motions. He groaned out and grabbed her by her thighs lifting her up to allow himself to slide into her.
He pinned her between the wall and his body as he pumped into her. He wanted his tempo slow and warm as the water that trailed over them.
Hicox rose early, he had always been prone to it. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he moved from the large bed. He'd never been one for whorehouses, but it was a treat to have a bed aside from a cot.
He pulled on a pair of civilian trousers he had been provided and moved for the door of the room, he fancied a shower and he figured at this hour no one else would be awake to commandeer it.
As he stepped out of the room he looked across the hall to the room he knew the Nurse was staying in. He grimaced thinking that the large oaf was probably in there with her. He'd certainly gotten an earful last night from almost every direction, but he thought he'd recognized the slight airy noises of her voice through the moans and grunts of the other men and their whores.
He felt himself bubble with jealousy. She was so delicate and lovely, something that should be kept in a gilded cage. Not something to handle with large rough hands. He shook himself as he moved down the hall to the bathroom. He reached the door and stopped just short of it when he heard a grunt from the other side of the door. He eyed the wood and moved a step closer listening hard.
He could heard muffled slaps of skin on skin and stifled moans. He was about to turn around when he heard a low grunt of a name "Nili..."
He could not bear the envy. That big ogre was in there making love to the little nurse that had struck him so. He moved on impulse grabbing the door knob roughly and pushing it hard hearing the feeble old lock give way underneath his momentum. He pushed the door wide and the sight that met his eyes made him seethe.
He watched as they made love up against the wall of the bath. They were sideways to him and he could see the glory of her body as he pinned her to the wall with his big vulgar frame. Her eyes were closed in ecstasy as he pumped into her. It was she that Hicox was focused on. His eyes took in the lines of her body, her flat stomach and her full breasts. It took them only a half a second to realize he was there and she gasped loudly moving feebly to cover her exposed breasts.
Donny's eyes shone with fury "Get the fuck out!"
Hicox played the part of the sorry intruder well and he closed the door quickly behind him as he exited the bathroom, not before sneaking one last peak at her and giving him a well hidden smirk.
Nili was bright red as Donny held her up against the wall of the bathroom. He was still buried deep inside of her. He could kill Hicox, why on earth would he force open the door when it was clearly locked. He must have been eavesdropping and decided to sneak a peak at his woman. He growled in anger and dropped his head into her chest which she still covered in a vain show of modesty.
"Let me down Esa," She said shakily as she ran her hands through his wet hair.
He raised his head up and shook it furiously, "No, no, come on baby, let's finish." He rolled his hips into her and pumped himself back in.
She gasped and arched against him "Esa, we can't..."
He pumped into her again "He's already gone, let me make love to you." He rolled his hips into her roughly and kept pace as she nodded and ground against him again.
They were cautious when they exited the bathroom, Donny let her go first out into the hallway and he waited a few moments before following. He found her in their room stil in her towel staring down at the green dress she had been wearing before.
"Sergeant, you left a stain on the dress." She pointed angrily to the side of the dress where there was indeed a large mark, he must have grabbed it up to wipe her off while they made love in the night.
He ran a hand through his hair and tried not to laugh "Sorry sweetheart, I didn't know."
She cocked her head to the side and sighed frustrated "It wasn't even mine. I'll have to wash it for Adele, but now I have nothing to wear."
"I'm perfectly fine with you wearing nothing." He said huskily coming up behind her, she gave him a half smile and a sweet kiss
"I'm not, I'm hungry and I'd like to be able to walk about today and I certainly can't do that nude."
He shrugged and kissed her neck before pulling away. He remembered he'd seen some women's things in the closet earlier and he went to see what he could find for her.
"Here sweetheart, Marie said the girl who used this room is gone, we could find you something." He opened the closet and saw all manner of slinky lingerie and only a few articles of sutable clothing. He pulled out a brown skirt that looked as though it would be a bit big on his little woman, but it would do, there were no appropriate blouses to be found though. "Here, I found this and I have a spare shirt you could borrow, it'll be huge on you but you can belt it"
She eyed the clothes a little disgruntled, but it was all she had aside from the badly stained dress, and she could not face the other men in that, they would know exactly what it was. She sighed and pulled on the clothes hastily as Donny dressed himself across the room. When he turned around he had to stifle a laugh, she looked a little ridiculous in his huge airmen's shirt. She'd tucked it into the brown skirt and she had pulled a leather belt around the waist to keep it on.
She looked up to see him working not to laugh at the sight of her. She sighed and shrugged as he wrapped her in his arms and he laid kisses on her nose and forehead. "You still look beautiful."
She smiled and rubbed his arms before they parted. Her heart warmed and her teeth shown bright as she looked into the honest eyes of the man she loved.
He chuckled a little and grinned mischievously as he pulled the shirt aside and he buried his face in her chest kissing her there before she pushed his head away laughing with him.
"Come on, let me make you some breakfast." She grabbed his hand and lead him downstairs to the little quiet kitchen.
Donny sat down at the table and watched as she went into the ice box to get eggs. She bustled about the old stove and he sat by at the table and watched her intently. She was unaware of him as she was focused on her task at hand cracking the eggs and chopping vegetables and cheese to add to them.
She hummed an old tune he remembered from somewhere he couldn't place as she stood in front of the stove. He smiled and watched sipping the coffee she had set out for him.
For a moment he wasn't sitting in a whorehouse kitchen in France, he was home with her in their own little place, soon he would leave to go to work, but he'd be back to her before dinner and they'd make love all night.
"Baby, you ever think about after the war?" He asked after a moment.
"Hmm?" She was pulled from her tune and she turned a little to glance at him from the stove "Sometimes." She answered quietly
"Do ever think about what you'll do if I don't come back?" He didn't know why he said it. It just came out without any sort of censor or control.
Her back went rigid and she turned to him sharply "What do you mean by that?" She asked her voice rising an octave
"I mean, I've been meaning to say to you..." His mind was working furiously, trying to figure a way to word what he knew he needed to tell her
"What have you been meaning to say to me?" She was standing in front of him now wringing her hands
He breathed hard and took her hands and pulled her on to his lap "I just, I need to tell you, if anything happens to me..." He sighed and kissed her clenched fists "I don't want you to do anything stupid. I don't want you to ruin your life."
"Sergeant, don't talk like that." She said her eyes filling "I can't bear it."
"Nilli sweetheart," He said pulling her into his chest "I just want you to be happy is all. I swore I'd come back to you, but if I don't I need you to promise me you'll be happy. Can you just do that?"
She sniffled and got off of his lap abruptly "My omelets are burning." She said stiffly as she went back to the stove. He saw her wiping furiously at her eyes and he felt like the biggest dunce there ever was. He had ruined their perfect little moment. But he had needed to tell her that. He needed her to know.
He sighed and stood up and put his arms around her from behind. He kissed her neck gently and took in a long breath of her. "I'm sorry to have said that. I love you."
She sighed and put down her spatula and held his hands against her "I know, I just can't think about it. I can't think about losing you. Please, just let's have these few days."
He nodded against her neck and she turned to meet his lips. He let her go and sat back down as she scooped the omelet out of the pan and onto the two plates she had set out.
They'd only just started eating when the heavy trods of tired boots began to rattle the ceiling. The men began to file down one by one.
"Morning Don... Missus." Aldo rasped out his eyes were slit and he looked older than he had the night before.
"Lieutenant." Donny nodded to him and pulled Nili's chair closer to his as the other Basterds began to sit around the table. Nili nodded to them all and smiled as each took a seat. Kagan. Smith. Omar... Just the thought struck her that Hicox would no doubt be joining them.
The thought had barely taken root when he filed in behind Hirschberg, a slight grin on his face that seemed a little dark.
"Good Morning chaps, and the lady of course." He said tossing around a nod and then a clandestine wink towards Nili. Donny caught the look and his fists balled into white knuckled boulders.
"Mornin' Hicox." Aldo said gruffly as he poured out a mug of coffee and gestured to the seat next to him. Hicox sat down with a cat's smile and placed himself directly across from Donny and Nili at the table. "How you like havin' a bed to sleep in 'stead the ground. Preddy damn nice ain't it?" Aldo asked trying to spark up conversation, for once his perceptive nature did not pick up on the air of tension hanging thick as a wool blanket.
"I dare say the bed was indeed quite nice, but I enjoyed a hot shower more. The bathroom window has the loveliest view I've ever seen." He made sure to make his eyes smolder as he dared his comment and then he casually began adding cream and sugar to his coffee.
"Huh, I reckon I've never really cared to check out the view." Aldo said finally looking up from his coffee and newspaper, he didn't read a lick of French, but he coud figure what he needed to know about the occupation from the pictures.
"Oh you should chance a look Lieutenant, I assure you it's fantastic."
Nili was holding one of Donny's large hands fast but she could feel him vibrating with rage. She herself was a little insulted but she knew she had to try to keep him in check.
"You better shut your fuckin' mouth." Donny said deadly quiet.
Hicox looked up unaffected and cocked an eyebrow "I haven't the foggiest what you're talking about chap, I was only commenting on the view in the shower."
Aldo narrowed his eyes and looked between Donny and Hicox sensing that something was about to blow. "What the fuck are you talkin' on about Donowitz, don't start this shit again. You two've had yer words now be done widdit."
Donny didn't speak again, just dug into his omelet with a force that near cracked the plate.
"Easy sweetheart." Nili whispered quietly rubbing her thumb soothingly over the back of one of his massive hands.
Hicox watched her run her delicate porcelain fingers over his large calloused hands. She dipped her head to speak quietly to him and her perfect onyx spirals shook as her head moved.
He wanted to wrap those long curls about his hands and run his lips along that marble smooth neckline. He let his mind wander to the image of her naked in the shower. He tried to remove the ogre from his mental image and implant himself holding her against the wall of the shower. He tried to imagine himself running his hands along her perfect breasts and making her whinny out his name as she came.
He tried to get ahold of himself as he felt a stirring in his trousers and he focused again on her face. As he studied her he heard a rough clearing of a throat and he looked up to see the bear staring at him with a vicious look in his eye.
"Now the mission for tonight is to secure the Nadine Road. We gotta see what kinda barn dance these fuckers are puttin' on along the way and find an exit strategy for tomorrow night. Lord knows someone's gonna noticed a blown out bar before we'd like 'em to so we gotta have a quick way out and back here." The Leuitenant's drawl pulled the two out of their stare down and brought Hicox out of his lusty fog.
"Alright Lieutenant, whadda say me an' Wicki take Utivich, you take Hirschberg and Kagain and Stiglitz and the Brit make another group and we split to the tri-roads and see which offers the best cover?"
The Bear's rough accent grated at Hicox's nerves, and he had refused to address him by his rank and name, Hicox was an officer, and he wasn't about to let that uneducated bar rat demote him.
"I believe you neglected my name and rank, Sergeant." Hicox's voice was butter smooth and he smiled with only half of his mouth "And by God could you at least speak the King's english when you address your company?"
Donny's spine when straight as a rail and he shot out of his seat pushed far past the point of no return "I'll fuckin' kill you."