1944 -

Present

Annabel had been working like mad to pick the handcuffs that bounded her to the headboard. Feeling sweat drip down her face in the darkness, she ignored the burning pain flaring up from her wounded shoulder. Instead she kept focus, twisting her head slightly as she held the hairpin within her teeth. Her neck stung, as did her insides. She knew she had to get out of here before Landa returned. The Jew Hunter... She had heard Aldo speak of him from time to time, so much that he seemed almost like some sort of boogyman that would come for her in the middle of the night. Thinking to his stone set eyes when he grabbed her back in the tavern basement she felt sick. No, she couldn't stay here. She rather kill herself. Here was one of the head masterminds behind the war. A monster of a man who found and murdered innocent people for a living. A man who snatched her up and raped her, treating her like an object. Knowing she rather die than have him take her again she tried not to panic. Instead she closed her eyes and tried to think calm soothing thoughts. In fact, her thoughts went back to yesterday morning... Yesterday morning When Abby awoke it was just a little past dawn. Usually an early riser, she blinked the sleep from her eyes before looking out the window at the breathtaking countryside. The sky was a stunning purplish gold color, and off in the distant fields she saw horses and cows. Smiling, feeling a warm gentle breeze blow in through the window she stretched before sliding off the bed and cracking her back. This had been one of the most comfortable nights of sleep she had ever gotten. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept in a real bed, let alone out of the rain and mud. Gathering her clothes, she slipped out before heading to one of the bathrooms at the end of the hall. Lucky for her it was empty. She heard a few voices downstairs coming from the kitchen and she figured a few of them had gotten up early. Aldo claimed he was a bit of a night owl and didn't sleep that well nowadays. Heading to the bathroom, Abby was surprised to see that the tubs had showerheads.

When they arrived last night she was thrilled to see that the house had indoor plumming, but this was treat. Taking one of the towels, she turned the cool refreshing water on and stood underneath. Washing herself, she couldn't believe how such simple things like sleeping in a real bed, and being able to fully clean herself changed things. By the time she left the shower, she dried quickly and dressed, pulling on the torn tights she worn, hemmed skirt, and button down shirt. Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed wishing she knew how to paint her face like those French models she remembered seeing on billboards years ago when Philip and her visited the city.

Sighing she combed her hair and used the few hairpins she had to put her hair up into a bun. She didn't look dazzling, in fact she found herself rather plain. Sighing again she stood back and couldn't help but think of the kiss she received last night from. Lt. Hickox. In fact, the whole night she laid awake feeling giddy and silly as she replayed the moment over and over again in her mind. Touching her cheek where his lips and stubble had briefly brushed, she couldn't help but smile. Heading downstairs, she was surprised to find only a few of the men downstairs in the kitchen eating. The old vet was sitting aside sipping a cup of tea and looking through a book. At the main table sat Aldo, Donny, Wicki, Stiglitz, and Hickox. The men all sat around drinking coffee and talking. Stepping in, Aldo smiled.

"Morning sleeping beauty, pull up a chair and get yourself a cup of joe."

Right away her eyes went straight to Hickox who sat between Wicki and Donny. He was freshly shaven and looked even more handsome than he looked the night before. Smiling, he nodded to her before she sat down across from him and poured herself some coffee.

"Where is everyone?"

"Utivich, and Omar are out back checking supplies. We're heading out after dark tonight. Now you four will be meeting up at the tavern in Nadine, what's the girl's name again...the actress?"

"Bridget Von Hammersmark."

"Well, look at that a German traitor, wonder how that's going to go over after we win the war."

Donny smirked as he gulped his beer. "Just as long as you can trust the dame, you don't wanna be wandering in a trap or something."

"I'm sure she'll be fine, she's a British spy. We'll suit up an hour before hand and duck away, the village is mostly abandoned since the war started, there will be plenty of empty houses and buildings to hide in. We go in, have a drink...meet the actress and then all come back here."

"Sounds like a plan."

Aldo said as he took a cigarette out and lit it. When Anna raised her eyes again she noticed Wicki giving her a calm, comforting smile. Dropping them, she took a second before her eyes drifted back up to Hickox who was watching her and smiling. Smiling back, she sipped her coffee before she sat up straight.

"What's the name of the tavern?"

Hickox locked eyes with her.

"La Louisiane, it's in the village. We should be in and out. Tonight we'll dress as officers in the uniforms..."

Hickox then motioned across at Anna.

"You wear your dress and we go down posing as some German officers on leave. You'll be either Wicki or Stiglitz's date. Just a woman from Paris we met at one of the local clubs if anyone happens to ask. I'll do all the talking. Say your German isn't great and just sip your drink. We'll meet with the actress, talk things over then leave...simple."

Anna smiled before nodding, sitting back holding her tin mug.

"Okay, sounds good. I'll be Stiglitz' date, we met a few hours earlier at the Verre rose, it's a small club. I'll say I just started to waitress there, you men bought me a drink and I came with you."

Wicki smirked. "Stiglitz's date, what am I chopped liver?"

Smiling, Wicki popped a cigarette into the side of his mouth. Feeling another small wave of anger settle down into her she glared back at him. She loved Wicki, but still that night he turned her down in the tent kept replaying over in her mind.

"Well, I would prefer Lt. Hickox, but something tells me for the movie premiere, you'll be the the actress' date?"

Hickox blushed deeply before he cleared his throat.

"Um, right..." Aldo sat forward. "What is the deal with this premiere?"

"The explosives you have, our plan is that we take them, posing the three of us as German film crew members with the actress, we plant the bombs and get out...hopefully killing as many high ranking officers as possible. She's thought up of the whole thing. We go over details tonight."

Annabel chewed at her bottom lip.

"Sounds dangerous..."

"We'll, I'm still on the fence on taking Stiglitz in case anyone notices him. We'll discuss that further."

"You think this might really work?" Aldo asked taking out his can of chew and sticking a wad in his mouth. Hickox sighed.

"I certainly hope so." They sat a bit longer, drinking coffee and talking among themselves. Finally Aldo stood and told them he was going to try and catch some rest. To keep around the grounds, and to meet up for lunch later. Annabel saw Hickox staring again and couldn't help but smile. At that same exact moment, she saw Wicki staring. Walking past them, she pulled the back screen door open and stepped out into the sunshine. Over towards the side of the old barn, she saw the others mostly standing around the truck smoking, and talking. Waving to Utivich, she smiled before heading down towards the hills that opened up into the woods. It was a beautiful warm morning and all ready she could see there wasn't going to be a cloud in the sky. Feeling the tall grass of the fields, she continued walking down, picking blades of grass and humming to herself. Finally she made her way partly into the woods where it was much cooler.

Walking about, she gazed at all the beautiful wild flowers growing about. Finally she stopped and saw a small pond. Smiling, she made her way down before sitting down next to the shore. The grass was soft and cushioned. Sitting, she looked up at the trees looming over her. It was getting hot, and slowly she rolled up her sleeves. She was nervous about tonight. Gazing at the crystal clear water, she sat forward and looked over her shoulders. Nobody was in sight. Smiling, she looked and saw a thick branch of a tree stretching over the pond. Jumping up, she circled around to the large tree and ran her hands over the rough bark. Grabbing hold, she pulled herself up and slowly slid herself down on the branch that was thick and carried her weight. Slowly she inched herself along until finally she was sitting on the branch, legs dangling over the water. The branch almost dropped right above the center of the pond. Swinging her legs, she held on and stared down at her reflection. Somehow this way, looking down at herself with the sun shinning down above she didn't think she looked so plain. Smiling she looked down.

"Annabel?"

The voice caught her off guard. Looking up, completely startled she saw Hickox watching her from the shore when suddenly she lost her balance. For a second she tried to hold on, but she felt her weight carry her forward.

With a single yelp she fell forward and crashed straight into the water. Hickox's eyes widened watching her fall, and seeing her hit her head before she went down underneath the surface. She fell down with a single splash. "Annabel?!" Kicking his boots off, he didn't even bother stripping off his clothes. Running, he dove head first right into the cold refreshing water. Underneath, he swam franticly searching for her. In just a moment, he saw her underneath the murky water surrounded by weeds. Swimming forward, he grabbed hold of her, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist and pulling forward to the surface. The moment he broke up, he gasped for air struggling to keep her head above water. Kicking his feet, he held onto her making sure her head was up as he swam to shore. Within seconds, he felt his feet touch the bottom as he dragged her up on shore and laid her down into the grass. Soaking wet, his hair dripping and hanging in his face he stared down at her pale face and her eyes closed.

"Anna?! Anna?!"

Her eyes fluttered as she choked, water spitting up. Turning her head to the side she coughed again as Hickox gently tapped her cheeks.

"That's it, breath...just breath..." Anna took a second, her eyes looking around confused before she stared up at Hickox hovering above her, water dripping off his bangs onto her. He looked worried sick.

"Oh Jesus, I'm so sorry..." Annabel took a second before she reached behind and felt her head.

"Did I hit my head?" Hickox nodded.

"You hit it on the branch before you fell in, Jesus you could have drowned...I'm so sorry..."

Annabel took a second, both of them laying in the grass soaking wet before she stared up at him. "You saved me." Hickox raised an eyebrow. "No, I could have killed you..."

Annabel now this much closer, studied his face. The lines in his forehead, his blue eyes, his reddish brown hair... Smiling, she slowly slid her hand up into his shirt and felt his heart pounding beneath the skin. Just by the feel of her touch, Hickox seemed to stiffen above her before Annabel raised an eyebrow. She felt something through his soaked slacks, pressing up against her leg.

"Did...I do that?"

Hickox right away looked like he could die. His face blushed a deep red as he began to move off her. Reaching up, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him back to stay on top of her. Staring up, she licked her lips.

"Make love to me." Hickox did a double take.

"What?"

"Please, make love to me..." Pulling him down, she held onto the sides of his face and pressed her lips roughly against his, feeling every inch of her body begin to feel as if it was on fire. Never before had she felt this way. For the first time in her life, she didn't think about Philip dying, or those officers having their way with her. She didn't think of Wicki, or how lost she felt even though she finally found a place she thought she belonged. At this exact moment, all she could think about was him. Tasting tobacco and coffee, she began feeling the strangest sensation in parts of her body she had never felt before. Right away Hickox began to respond, his lips opening and closing against hers. His tongue darting in and out of her own lips. Smiling through the kiss, she stared up at him and saw the hunger in his eyes.

"Are...you sure?"

Annabel nodded, she knew she couldn't wait any longer. Within seconds, almost in a complete and frantic motion, Hickox began to fumble with his belt. Yanking down his fly, he worked himself out and Annabel saw it. Laying back, she stared up at the sky and couldn't seem to control her racing heart. This was really happening, right here and right now. Laying back she felt him begin to rip her tights open. Nervous, she laid there as he adjusted himself and laid between her two spread legs. Staring down, he looked as nervous as a young boy.

"Your sure?" Annabel nodded, holding onto him and staring up. Leaning down, Hickox stared forward, trying his hardest to adjust himself before he pushed forward and entered her. Right away Annabel's entire body stiffened as she clung onto him, grasping his shoulders. Instantly he withdrew and stared down.

"Did I hurt you?"

Annabel caught her breath before she shook her head.

"No, don't stop..."

He pushed into her again, it hurt worse than anything Annabel had ever felt before, but she braced herself and laid there in the wet grass as he lowered himself and grabbed onto her. Kissing, he began moving inside of her, pressing her body down as his lower body lifted and fell in a frantic rhythm. Annabel laid there starting to feel a heat of it's own down below start to rise, it started as a tingling and got stronger and stronger with each push he made inside of her. Clinging onto him, Annabel began to shutter all over before Hickox moaned loudly and finished, dropping and collapsing his entire weight inside of her. Laying there, she felt him still deeply inside of her, his breath going against her neck. Laying there, she held onto him before he turned his head and looked down at her.

"Are you okay?"

Annabel ran her hands down the sides of his face before smiling. Staring down, Hickox pressed his forehead against hers and smiled before kissing her. Slowly, he lifted out of her before rolling over to the side. Sitting up, Annabel caught her breath before smoothing out her hair.

"You sure your okay?"

Annabel was sore, but besides that she felt wonderful. Looking at him, she watched as he zipped himself up and fixed his slacks.

"I'm fine, you?" Hickox looked across at her.

"Would..." He stopped shaking his head. Annabel cocked her head.

"What?"

"It's stupid."

"No what?"

"I...I don't believe this war will go on forever. You don't have any family do you?"

Annabel shook her head.

"No, after my brother was killed there's nobody."

"Well, I made a pretty good living as a film critic and between the books I wrote...I have a small flat in London, it isn't huge but...I was wondering if you..."

"Are you asking me to go back with you?"

Hickox dropped his eyes. "I'm so sorry..." Shifting over, she gently took his hand.

"I would love to." Turning, Hickox smiled as the two sat together on the edge of the pond.

Present.

Annabel couldn't believe it when she heard the lock click. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt one of the cuffs release as her sore numb wrist fell. Quickly she undid the other, wiping tears in complete disbelief.

"Thank you..."

She muttered before she slid off the bed. Standing, she felt dizzy. Her shoulder felt as if it was about to fall off. Quickly she ran across the bedroom, nearly knocking into furniture when she stared down and saw that Landa had left something behind. They were ticket stubs of the film premiere in the city tonight. Looking at the address, she snatched the paper and stared at it. She didn't think after the shootout any of her team would be there, but even if there was a chance... She thought of running into Landa and her stomach turned. She could run back to the farm house, but what if they were gone?" Never feeling more alone in her life, she held herself and willed the tears back down. Looking, she saw Landa's leather coat thrown over the chair. Quickly she ran and reached into one of the pockets. Right away she found what she was looking for. A small pistol. Holding onto it, she looked around before her face crumbled. "I'll get them back for you...I promise..." With that, she ran out.