Nothing Better

The warm wind whipped at her face as the jeep jostled and bumped along the winding countryside roads. Maria tightened the scarf around her head, and inhaled deeply as the late summer breeze filled her senses. She let it fill her lungs, and imagined it spreading down here veins soothing and calming her, because she was anything but calm. She looked to the left she and looked to the right at the greenery she passed, as the car she was in sped along. She looked anywhere but at the two men sitting in front of her.

The first man, the one driving, had short cropped blond hair that stuck out under his gray cap. She didn't know his name, and truthfully she didn't want to know his name, it was better not to. To the left of the driver sat a dark-haired man that she knew very well. She tried not to look at him either, but she imagined his pale face as every jostle bump that the road took caused him unbearable pain. Earlier in the drive she chance to look at him and indeed saw him clutching his ribs, but that was all his physical stance betrayed.

The driver, was taking Georg and Maria east to the newly captured France. There, Georg would have to start a new dangerous mission. Barely a few months since he almost died, Georg would have to once again risk his life. Only this time it was not only his life at risk but Maria's as well.

They had left that morning the port city of Bremenhaven and have driven nonstop for hours- only

stopping to refill their the jeep with gas.

It it was dusk now, and they were a few kilometers from the rest area where they would stay the night before continuing on.

Georg muttered to the driver, "I'd like to stop to use the bathroom."

Despite the warm breeze, Maria shivered, she could not help but think what Georg would have to do to save their lives. She knew the risks they were about to take, and though she trusted him it was hard to accept what they were about to do.

The driver pulled over to the side of the road and after Georg has left the car he took the opportunity to relieve himself as well by a nearby tree. Georg then took his chance, two hits with the butt of his gun had rendered the driver unconscious.

Without wasting a moment, Georg undressed, gagged, and bound the driver. Dumping the unconscious man along the shrubbery and quickly returned to the jeep where Maria was anxiously waiting. Wordlessly he jumped into the driver seat and handed Maria the drivers uniform. Not wasting a minute Maria quickly changed clothing and climbed over the seat taking her place beside Georg.

Through the night the Georg furiously drove, putting as much distance as he could between him the coast; no doubt someone has realized by now that he defected. Instead of heading towards the coast under German control, Georg and Maria drove east where the French resistance still battled on. It was with the hope, that that when they reach the allies side they could defect and find political asylum in England.

At noon, the car ran out of gas.

"This is as far as the car will take us," Georg said grimly.

The two gathered their belongings and their provisions. Maria stood at the side of the road as Georg steered the car off to the side hiding it amongst some bushes.

Silently they walked in the woods till nightfall. When walking became no longer possible they found a soft patch of ground and laid huddled near each other but not touching.

"Do you think they'll know that we've gone?" Maria asked, gazing at the sky above.

"By now I'm sure that," he whispered.

"Do you think they will find us?" Maria asked, with her voice laced with concern.

"I hope not," was his simple reply.

Maria chanced to look at him. His eyes were locked with the sky above. Georg seemed so distant the last few days, focused only on the tasks in hand. She couldn't help but need some reassurance from him beyond the terse and quick replies he gave. Maria knew that he was in physical pain, and she knew that he concentrated only on their survival. But she needed some comfort and he didn't seem able, or willing to give it.

She turned away from him as her eyes stung with tears, not wanting him to see her cry. She shut her eyes against the tears, as her body and mind began to drift to an exhausted slumber. In her sleep she stirred as the weight of his coat covered her still form, unaware of a ghost of a kiss, and a whispered "I'm sorry."

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Her senses first became aware of the birds chirping above. Her eyes still bleary from sleep noticed the faint light, as dawn had just broken above the plane. Then Maria became aware of warm and heavy coat resting on her body. Shifting into a sitting position, her eyes searched for Georg nearby. She found him,awake but his back towards her as he fumbled with the bandages around his waist. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she crawled close to him. She sighed as she felt his body tense at the sound of her movement. He did not turn around.

From behind she fingered the bandages and wrapped them around his ribs.

"Thank you, I didn't want to wake you." He whispered, while eyeing her bleary and red eyes- a telltale sign of crying. He hated himself so much for complicating and risking her life.

When she was done she leaned before him and took in his haggard appearance. His face was ghostly pale in the soft light of dawn, gray stubble covered his chin and cheeks, and he slumped slightly forward. They briefly made eye contact before he broke it.

They silently ate the provisions and began their trek. They walked at a slower pace than the day before for Georg sake. Much to his frustration, they stopped often to let him rest.

At nightfall they once again found refuge deep in the woods. Exhausted, Georg lay down on the cold hard surface, leaving his coat next to Maria.

"You need your coat to sleep," Maria pointed out.

"It's warm tonight," he replied wearily.

"Georg-" she began.

"It's really fine, Maria."

"You really are stubborn man," she muttered.

"Please," he sighed.

"Fine," she said angrily. "Sleep in pain on the cold hard ground. You look awful, you feel awful and you're much too stubborn for your own good." With a huff she grabbed the coat and turned away from him. Finding a soft clear patch, Maria laid to sleep with her back towards Georg. Once again it would seem the night would be lonesome and dark.

Concentrating on calming her emotions, Maria failed to notice Georg come closer.

"Your patch of ground, seems softer than mine," he said gently.

When she heard his voice she turned to find him kneeling very close to her.

"Mind if we share each other space?" He asked softly.

Wordlessly she nodded and lifted the two coats wrapped around her to make room for him to lay down right next to her. Draping both coats above them he wrapped his arms around her and to laid down to sleep.

"I'm sorry Maria," he whispered.

"Stop apologizing," she replied with a sigh. "Your guilt is getting tiresome, and it wears upon my nerves."

"I have a lot to apologize for."

"Maybe, but for now I'm just too tired to hear it." She said she said she snuggled deeper. "Hold me close, that is all that matters. You are here near me and we are together, that's all I really need."

"Yes my dear," he said with the ghost of a smile as he drew her even closer.

"Good night Georg."

"Good night Maria." He said placing soft kisses on her head. Having her in his arms seemed to ease his pain. His exhaustion overtook his weary body and Georg was left with only that thought. She was here in his arms and nothing at that moment could be better.

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