Ten months earlier...

Aldo sat casually picking his nails with one of the many switchblades he carried with him. It was a crisp early autumn morning and the first signs of the cooler weather were just beginning to set in. The trees were staring to change color, and a gentle breeze was blowing through the air.

Just then the rumbling of the truck they had been using for the past week filled the air. They usually hot wired trucks that they found in old junk yards. Trucks that wouldn't be traced, and could drive through the forest. Just then the sound of the doors slamming shut were heard as Donny, Stiglitz, and Utivich came over. Donny still had his wife beater on, his trusty baseball bat laying against one shoulder.

They had just ambushed their third squad this week, and so far the collection of scalps that were beginning to build. They had just driven their latest marked witness thirty or so miles away. With new information, they were planning on making their next attack in just a few days.

A small camp had been set up. Hirschberg and Omar were stoking a small fire, opening cans of the few supplies they all had.

A few of the others were scattered about. Wicki was sitting on the gentle slope of the hill which looked down at the driver. He was having a cigarette in silence.

Even though Aldo hated Europe for all it was worth, he still didn't mind the countryside. This spot in particular. It over looked a pretty good size river, that didn't seem to be on the map. All this morning after they had been finished with their business, they simply sat watching the guzzling water flow over the rocks below.

Aldo turned, returning his pocket knife and cracking his back.

"Done?"

Stiglitz simply grunted before nodding and heading towards the fire. Donny and Utivich both strolled over, tiny splatters of blood had stained the side of Donny's undershirt. Cracking a grin, Donny tossed his baseball bat to the side where it rolled to a small pile of rolled up canvas and supplies they had stored.

"Should have seen him, crying like a little baby!"

Aldo smiled, placing his hands on his hips as Donny and Utivich continued telling him of their journey back. At that exact moment, Wicki raised his eyebrow, staring down at the river. Squinting, he looked and saw that something wasn't right. Leaning forward, flicking his smoke to the ground he saw something bobbing up and down from the racing water.

That's when he saw it clearer.

It was a body.

Shooting up like a bullet, Wicki stared down, completely speechless.

It was a girl, a young women in fact. She was floating face down, knocking violently against the rocks.

"Was ist das?"

Without even another second to think, he quickly started to run down the steady incline of the hill, straight towards the river. His boots skipped over the large massive overgrown roots and stones. His forward motion made him race down there like a bullet, straight towards the water which was twenty or so feet straight down.

Right away Aldo and Donny turned, watching just as Wicki disappeared straight down the slope of the hill. Both men seemed puzzled as they hurried over looking down.

"What the hell?"

Both quickly ran to the ledge, looking down just as Wicki climbed down to the rocky shore and dove right in. Donny and Aldo turned towards each other, both stunned. Right away both began climbing their way down the hill, racing towards the water. Right away, they watched as Wicki resurfaced, fighting the currant as he swam across towards what appeared to be a bundle of washed up rags. Both stopped, nearly falling into the water themselves as Wicki took hold of the bundle and made his way to the shore.

Without even thinking, Donny walked straight into the water which right away went nearly up to his chest. Aldo, who wasn't exactly the greatest swimmer, stayed on the other side staring across as Donny quickly swam, reaching the other side and climbing up to where Wicki knelt. Trying to gain his footing, he looked over and saw that it wasn't a pile of rags...it was a girl.

She was wearing a soaked brown dress, her tights were torn, and she had a few layers on. Her dark hair was thrown over he face, and she looked lifeless like a doll.

"Fuck a duck..."

Donny whispered as he stared down.

Wicki's hair was dripping wet as he stared down at her. Panic flickered in his eyes as he hovered over her.

"Is she breathing?"

Donny asked as he walked closer. Wicki shook his head, slowly feeling her chest with his hands.

"I...don't know..."

That's when the girl coughed, water spurting out of her mouth. Staring down, both Wicki and Donny sat back slightly surprised. The girl snapped her eyes shut, turning over slightly before coughing again as she gasped for air. Wicki took his hand and slapped her on the back, not knowing exactly what to do. The girl coughed louder before she laid still for a second and sat slightly up. Her hair was dripping wet, and her clothes were soaked through. Sitting there, she blinked. Her eyes were a stunning shade of light purple, her skin fair, and her hair so dark it almost looked black.

Staring, the girl looked around with wide doe eyes. She was frightened, and confused.

Wicki exchanged a look with Donny before gently touching her arm. Flinching, the girl jumped back and stared at the two of them.

"Qui êtes-vous ?"

Donny raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

The girl blinked.

"Are you American?"

Donny straightened up.

"You speak English?"

"Oui...I mean yes."

Wicki cocked his head to the side.

"What's your name love?"

The girl stared at them before swallowing hard.

"Anabel..."

"What happened?"

Anabel sniffled and pointed up towards the river.

"I was...up the river with my brother Phillip...we were just picking berries when a group of soldiers came..."

She then looked up at them, eying Wicki's old tattered green jacket.

"Are you German soldiers?"

Donny glanced at Wicki who simply shook his head.

"Not exactly..."

Anabel curled herself up, her legs tucking underneath her dress. Staring up at them she shook, her eyes coming glassy with tears.

"The men came, they tried to force me into their truck and have their way with me. My brother fought them and called them out as cowards and they..."

Lowering her head she stared at her all ready bruising and wet hands. Trying to control herself, she hitched her chest in and looked up.

"They shot him and tried to shoot me...but I jumped into the river and blacked out. I must have floated down a ways...I don't know these parts..."

Wicki cleared his throat.

"Did they kill your brother?"

Anabel nodded.

"Yes, I saw it. He was...all I had in the world. Our parents died last Spring and we were trying to keep our cottage going...I..."

Right away her words broke off as she covered her face with her hands and began to weep.

"Are you French?"

"Oui...my father warned us about these damn Germans..."

"Amen to that sister."

Donny said as Anabel lowered her hands and stared up at him. The two stared at each other before Wicki offered his hand.

"Come...we have a small camp, we'll get you warm."

Anabel looked at him uncertain before she very slowly took his hand, which was nearly five times the size of hers. She wore a few tin bangle bracelets that jingled as he slowly pulled the two of them up to stand.

Wicki stared down at her legs which were cut.

"We'll fix you up, you'll be safe."

Donny stared at her before leaning towards Wicki, making sure he whispered in his ear.

"Are you sure about this?"

"She's a child Donny...look at her."

Donny turned, looking down before simply shaking his head.

"All right fine..."

"What are your names?"

Anabel asked, drenched and still shaking. Both Donny and Wicki glanced at each other before Wicki spoke first.

"Sgt. Donny Donowitz..."

Wicki bowed his head slightly.

"Cpl. Wilhelm Wicki."

Anabel stared at them before lowering his head.

"Thank you very much, you both are very kind."

Nodding, Wicki motioned towards her.

"Climb up on my back, we'll swim across."

Anabel stared at the water with uncertain eyes before nodding. Very carefully, Wicki hunched over as Wicki took hold of her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Using his arms to hold her up, he waded into the water before sinking in. Aldo and the others continued to watch from across the way. Taking a deep breath, Donny dove in following. They crossed the river slowly before reaching the other side. Dripping wet, Wicki lowered Anabel before Aldo walked over, chewing on a piece of grass.

"So what's your story squirt?"

Anabel stood between Wicki and Donny, shaking, wet, and frightened. From that point onward, even though it was never said...both became her protectors.

Present

Landa liked what he saw. In fact...he liked it a lot.

Anabel laid unconscious across the back seat of the car that was driving them. Her head in Landa's lap. Their driver...Herman or whatever his name was drove silently up front to the apartment in the city Landa was staying in.

Dawn that began to peek up past the buildings as they drove along. The sky a stunning shade of pink and orange.

Landa stared down at her. He would summon a doctor as soon as they stopped to see to her neck and shoulder. The bleeding had slowed down to a trickle. She laid there in her torn dress, her face paled and hurt in it's troubled slumber.

His hand very slowly traveled down the side of her body, feeling the smooth texture of her dress beneath his fingers. Yes, she would make a fine wife. He would see exactly how things panned out tonight, and if all went well...he would have somebody to take with him.

She was young, but that meant he had much to teach her.

The fact she belonged to them made it even better. Smiling, his hand gently swept across the curve of her breast and he chuckled lightly. Yes indeed, he was going to have a good deal of fun.

Muttering in her sleep, Anabel's face crumpled in disgust as she rolled over, almost slinking away from his touch. Hans smiled warmly, touching her face gently before sitting back. He felt himself growing excited, but he fought the urge. There was much business to intend first.

Much business indeed.

Three hours away...

Donny stood outside of the small farm house in the countryside. It was dawn now and the vet had just finished wrapping up Bridget's leg in a cast. She had been pretty drugged up last time he saw her as Aldo paced nervously back and forth.

In a few hours the tailor would meeting with them to fix them for the tuxes. The plan seemed so half baked, he somehow sensed failure the instant they scrambled to put it all together. Hicox, Stiglitz, and Wicki, and Anabel were all dead. Gunned down in that basement like dogs.

He hated himself for letting them walk down into that deathtrap.

Tonight was the night. They were going to walk straight into that theater on a complete suicide mission. He knew there was no other way around it. Tonight was the night they were going to die.

He knew it wouldn't work, and more than likely they would get caught.

Still, there was a faint chance. The TNT was boxed up and as they spoke Utivich was practicing driving with the others down the dirt road. Standing there looking out at the vast fields as the sunlight touched it, he never felt more alone in his entire life.

He wanted to die.

Thinking of Anabel, his heart ached deep inside his chest.

He thought of Anabel and at that very instant he snapped his eyes shut and slid down the length of the stone ball. Crumbling down, he sat there and began to loudly weep, putting his head in his hands.