REPOSTED CHAPTER

New A/N: New scenes added.

A/N: I found this. Thought it was interesting:

Q: You got to be a little bit of everything. You got to speak many different languages. You got to be funny. You got to be scary. You got to be romantic. What is it like taking on absolutely everything all at once?

Waltz: I disagree entirely. It's not a little bit of everything. It's all of that character, and I insist on the unity. That's what makes it interesting. A little bit of this, a little bit of that sounds very post-modern. Zzzzzzz (makes a snoring sound). No, no, no, it's very definitely one line down the road. This character is very, very integrated. That he has many interesting little strands and fibers, sort of mental, intellectual kind of varieties that are really rare in its multitude, that's a different story. But it's still one character.

Chapter 8- Mixed and Moved

"I cannot stay here today," he said and pushed the hair away from my neck with a gloved hand. "I have to go into the city and arrange things for our move tomorrow."

"Move?" My voice echoed in the toilet. I felt a fresh patch of sweat begin to chill against the back of my neck as I lifted my head from the cool porcelain.

He leaned back and regarded me from his position. "I told you the day before yesterday."

"Hans, we haven't spoken in days," I said. "I think I'd remember if you suddenly said something, especially if it was about moving."

"I apologize," he said with a smile. "It must have slipped my mind."

"Would you like to tell me about it now?" I asked as I flushed the toilet and began to rise. I walked over to the sink and rinsed out my mouth before he spoke. He was more silent that usual and seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

"I received a letter from the Fuhrer that ordered me to make a more permanent residence in the city." He fingered the rim of his hat before placing it on his perfectly combed head of hair.

"And I'm still expected to stay with you?"

"Precisely," he said. He studied the look that registered on my face with some trepidation. "Ada, we've been through this. You know I can't very well set you back onto the streets alone while your predators lurk. After all, you would be valuable to any foe. You know where I live."

"If you let me go now, I won't because you're moving," I countered. Somehow his excuses to keep me under his watch didn't appease me. There seemed to be some underlying ulterior motive and I'm certain with him there was always an ulterior motive. However, for me his reasons did not suffice. Call it what you will—women's intuition, third eye, sixth sense—but I felt something pulling beneath the surface when it came to Hans Landa.

It had strayed into my thoughts at numerous times that he might be a very lonely man. He had never mentioned a wife. Then again, he never mentioned hardly anything about himself. I was naive enough to think that perhaps he simply enjoyed my company. I only thought these things because I wanted to. I wanted him to feel that way about me since I had grown to feel that way about him regardless of his fierce reputation.

I was curious about that reputation though. I had only ever heard stories, I had never seen it for myself and consequently wondered if any of it was true or to the extreme that people claimed. Yes, he was cold and possessed a darker aura at times but was it all just another act? I wanted to see the real Hans Landa and in order to do so, I had to stay with him. What better way to be acquainted with someone than to live with them? Share their meals?

He never gave a response to what I had said. Instead, he simply nodded in a firm gesture that suggested finality and left the bathroom. Though I did feel better I couldn't help but be peeved by his sudden departure. There were no words of sentiment or even a 'rest and feel better.'

Back in Regensburg, there was a girl I went to school with named Ellie. She used to always swear to me that men with what she termed 'butt chins' were assholes. I never saw the connection or understood why she made the claim. However, I could see that Hans had one of those 'butt chins.' Its subtlety mimicked how well he could hide it but this time it was more pronounced than usual. Ellie was right. Like his so-called 'fear,' it was there, hidden beneath the facade of charm and charisma.

As the day passed, my mood progressed and I felt silly for assuming that the infamous Hans Landa would just toss away a day of work to nurse me back to health. Besides, I didn't want to fall into the trap of depending on him. I was repulsed at how quickly I forgave him when he walked through the door and the first words that left his mouth were, "Feeling better?" And he followed it with his trademark lop-sided smirk that could probably make the stars fall from the heavens.

It was stupid to be upset over something so trivial but I was a female after all and I blamed my moodiness on my stress and frustrations. Even I knew I was crumbling. I could feel myself fraying at the edges from being locked inside this tiny hole of a room and I dreaded the next visit to the doctor.

Dr. Kirsch would only confirm what I didn't want to know. I was ten days late and I'd never skipped before. I wondered what Hans's reaction would be as I was disgusted with my own reaction. I didn't want it. As if my stomach wasn't already a terrible reminder. No matter what, I would be stuck in this part of my life forever or at least that's how it felt. Everything that had happened to me before the accident was a happier time. All of my memories were bright and now when I thought about things, a blanket of gloom shrouded them. My thoughts were dark and increased in intensity as the days went by without a word from Hans about my captors.

"I'll have tomorrow off due to the move," he said while hanging his coat near the door and removing his hat. "It is about time that we take you back to Dr. Kirsch. Afterwards, we can stop by your old place if you feel fit."

I felt my face lift and my heart jump at the mention of my home. Had he reconsidered my offer? Did I want him to reconsider my offer? Could I ever expect to leave this man, forget about him and never have him be part of my life?

No.

"Oh?"

"I had promised you earlier that we would take a day and collect some of your things. I am a man of my word, Ada." He stepped closer to me and placed a sturdy hand against my forehead. "Still no fever," he said. "How is your stomach?"

"Fine. It must have been something I ate," I said, smiling half-heartedly. He frowned. I needed to work on my lying skills.

"Hmm. Perhaps," he said. "I didn't pick up dinner tonight. I thought we could go out if you feel up to it? It might be nice for a change of scenery."

I was barely able to contain my glee.

It was nice for once to be chauffeured by him. We did attract a few stares throughout the evening but no one dared bother us. He picked a quiet corner at a smaller venue and mentioned that it wouldn't hurt his investigation if we were seen together in public. In fact, he rather seemed to prefer the idea. He said that a person's initial, unguarded reaction to something could tell him a lot about what they thought on the subject at hand. Though he seemed focused on me enough throughout our excursion, I could tell that he was also focusing on passersby. In my opinion, any investigation that involved me being escorted by Hans Landa was worthwhile.

Though it was frightening how I found myself attracted to him, I kept trying to tell myself that one could not help who they loved or why they loved them. It just happened. Did it not? And how did I go from 'attracted' to 'love' so quickly? I tried to erase the thoughts from my head but how could I ever erase any part of him? He was in my skin, underneath it even. My respect for him began to grow, as did my trust in him. Regretfully, I was falling for a murderer. But was he that? Or was he just a man who was doing his job?

I hoped that the next day would keep my mind busy enough to mute these never ending thoughts. I would address them at a later date when my mind was less jumbled.

I sat on the examination table and waited for Dr. Kirsch to enter. Hans stood in the corner and surveyed his surroundings, occasionally peeking behind cabinet doors. He seemed to have a child-like curiosity about things that could never be satiated. The more he explored, the more he wanted to learn.

I couldn't help it but he caught me smiling. He furrowed his brow in confusion but before he could say anything the door opened and Dr. Kirsch stepped into the room.

"Ada," he greeted. "Lovely to see you." He smiled widely and crossed over to Hans. The two men said their silent 'hellos' and he placed his clipboard on the counter.

"It's lovely to see you too, Dr. Kirsch," I said, mirroring his smile.

He approached me and pulled his glasses from his coat pocket. He lightly tapped my chin and turned my face from side to side.

"That eye seems to have healed nicely. How does it feel?"

"Wonderful."

"Any complaints? How are you handling the pain?" He lifted my right hand and removed the splint from my finger.

"Um, no. There's no pain."

"Amazing," he said and turned to smile at Hans. "Your age is on your side, Ada. I knew you'd bounce back nicely. He turned back to Hans and said, "I'd like to take some x-rays of this finger to check healing progression, if you wouldn't mind."

Hans waved his hand and smiled pleasantly. "By all means, do what you must. I will wait here." A look of fear must have passed over my face. After all I had never been alone with anyone but Hans since the incident.

"We'll be just across the hall," Dr. Kirsch said. I cleared my thoughts and with a parting glance towards Hans, left the room.

I sat in a small chair with my arm elevated upon a table, a lead mat beneath it and another resting over my shoulder and chest. "Dr. Kirsch?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you about something while Hans is in the other room?"

At the mention of this, he placed his pen down upon the clipboard and removed his glasses, turning all of his attention towards me. "What is it?"

It was best to get it over with. "I think I might be pregnant," I said. His expression barely registered surprise. "Hans doesn't—or well at least I haven't spoken to him about it but I'm sure he knows. The man knows everything."

Dr. Kirsch laughed and scooted his chair closer to me. "That he does," he said. He lifted my right hand away from the x-ray machine and held it within his. "If you want an abortion—"

"—No," I said. "That isn't what I want. I couldn't do that. I'm just not positive. Is there any way that you could tell me today whether I was really pregnant or not?"

He nodded. "I'll need a urine sample. We can take care of that before you go back into the examination room. I'll wait until the test is done before I come back with the x-rays. If the test comes back positive though, I won't be able to put you back on those medications."

"Well, I do feel a lot better in the mere two weeks I've been on them. I think the worst may be over with and perhaps after you assess the damages, you'll agree that I can do without them."

"With the injuries I saw two weeks ago, I think it would be a mistake if we did not continue with a smaller dosage of the medications. It would be inadmissible for me to not take proper care of a patient especially one so heavily under the watch of a colonel." With that he stood, removed the lead mats and handed me a small cup from a cabinet. He led me out into the hall, "Second door on the left," he said. "I'll wait right here."

This was ridiculous. I knew I was pregnant yet I was hoping he could prove me wrong. My fear of telling Hans was absurd. It was as though he was my husband and I was afraid of his reaction but it really had nothing to do with him. Or did it? I guess it all depended on how long I'd be staying under his guard.

I made quick work of the sample and handed it to Dr. Kirsch when I exited into the hall. He directed me back into the examination room with instructions to inform Hans that he would only be a few moments.

"You look nervous," Hans said as he helped me hop back up on the table. He left his hands on either side of my hips. His face had never been so close to mine but I did not find him intimidating. The brim of his hat cast a subtle shadow over his eyes and still I found comfort there. "Everything all right?" he asked, lop-sided smirk in tow.

"Yes," I said with all the firmness I could muster. "I'm just dreading the rest of the examination if you know what I mean."

I frowned and looked away from him. He placed a hand on my shoulder and said, "It should be the last time anyone has to look there if that is what you mean. You were brave enough to do it before. You can do it again," he said with a simple shrug of the shoulders. He stepped back and walked towards the opposite wall as Dr. Kirsch entered with X-rays in his grasp.

I was beginning to hate how Hans just stood in the corner or against the wall, acting like he wasn't there when it was completely obvious that he was. I often wondered what he was thinking while standing there, making his quiet observations.

Dr. Kirsch's social personality helped the rest of the visit go by quickly. Though I couldn't see them, he assured me that the burns were healing nicely and that all traces of infection had vanished. The examination of my insides wasn't as bad as before. I knew what to expect this time around. However, Hans did not hold my hands. I didn't realize how much I appreciated that small gesture last time. I glanced over towards him as I lay on my back and he stared back intently. Butt-chinned asshole. I had to remind myself that he wouldn't be here all the time and I shouldn't want him to be.

Dr. Kirsch put the stirrups away and frowned. "I have some good news and some bad news," he said.

I pulled my legs back together and propped myself up on my elbows, listening intently.

"What is it?" asked Hans.

"Well, there is no infection inside," said Dr. Kirsch. "Which is wonderful. However, the largest wound is not healing as fast as it should. In fact, it hardly seems mended at all."

"What can we do?" I asked.

"It is a difficult spot to get to but there is one thing we can try. I didn't suggest it last time because, Ada, I felt your mental state was a bit fragile and you were barely acquainted with Col. Landa. I trust that you both have developed some sort of understanding with one another?"

I looked at Hans, unsure of what exactly we had and he looked back at me before turning his attention back to Dr. Kirsch and nodding. His crooked smile stopped short of meeting his eyes.

"What's the solution?" I asked.

Dr. Kirsch inhaled deeply. "There is a cream," he said. "It's a fairly new development amongst medicine but it should do the trick. The problem is that it has to be injected every night and it won't be very comfortable."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The cream must be injected every night as you are horizontal. If you should get up after it is put in, it will fall out and that will be a night of wasted medicine."

"Ok," I said. "Go on."

"It will sting," said Dr. Kirsch. "Badly. You could even say it's a burning sensation but this is good. This means it's working. The only problem is that as you start using it, it may sting so badly that you, Ada, may not wish to put it in all the way or at all. This is why I am suggesting that Hans inject the cream every night."

I knew my eyes must have been wide as saucers. I glanced at Hans. His expression unreadable, as always in these intense situations. I adverted my eyes back down to the floor then to Dr. Kirsch as he began speaking again.

"As you continue to use the medicine, the burning sensation should gradually fade and when it does, it will be time for another visit to see how much has healed. As I said before, I didn't suggest it last time because of your mental condition. Not to say that what happened to you would be easily forgotten, but I doubted you trusted Hans enough to have him insert a foreign object inside a very sensitive area. I also was not sure if you would need the medicine or not. I had hoped what I gave you would heal that large cut as it did all the smaller ones. Since that didn't work we need to use more extreme measures," he said.

I nodded, staring blankly at the floor.

"I'm not going to ask whether this is an option or not for you both. It must me done," he said with a tone of finality that only Hans could mirror.

With that being said, he stood from his stool, leaned over my torso and asked me to unbutton my dress. As he examined the scratchy scrawl on my tummy I looked up at his eyes, hoping for some sort of sign, affirming or denying the results of the test. I caught his eyes first and he cast them away then looked back with a subtle nod of the head. I turned my head away from both men and closed my eyes, trying to keep my composure.

"Well, I've always said the youthful are resilient," said Dr. Kirsch. "Landa, you must have worked some magic on her. She has healed better than I anticipated."

"I have taken good care of her," he said, stepping away from the wall.

"Well, it looks as though we can cut back on the old medication. In fact I think it might be best if the rest of her injuries healed naturally on their own, with the exception of your insides. The infection is gone and as long as she claims to not be in any physical pain she can go without treatment for the less severe injuries. However, I will need to rewrap this finger."

"How much longer will it need to be braced like this?" I asked, trying to push the future of what I must endure with Hans out of my head.

"Good question," said Dr. Kirsch. "Let's have a look at those x-rays."

Hans stood next to me as Dr. Kirsch moved across the room and lifted the pictures to the light. Afterwards, he handed them to Hans who did the same, neither of them allowing me a glimpse.

"What would you say? Two weeks?" asked Hans.

"Yes," said Dr. Kirsch as he re-wrapped the finger. "Two weeks it is. If all goes well you should have your finger back." He smiled at me and Hans handed the x-rays back to him. The gentle pressure on my waste alerted me to the fact that he was helping me down from the table.

"Now was that so bad?" he asked quietly. "Roderick, I was wondering if I could have a word with you in private?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," said Dr. Kirsch.

"Ada, if you wouldn't mind waiting here, we will just be a moment," said Hans.

"Actually," said Dr. Kirsch, "I was hoping to have a private word with Ada first. I will join you in just a moment."

Hans nodded in agreement and left the room, giving me one last glance before he exited into the hall.

"Ada, I know that this new treatment might be invasive but that wound is not healing and if you're going to have this baby then it must be healed. There is a sense of urgency here," he said. "If it doesn't get treated properly, the wound may reopen during labor even though that is months down the road. It needs to be healed completely."

"I understand," I said.

My responce seemed to be satisfactory, as Dr. Kirsch grabbed his clipboard from the counter and walked out of the room. I moved next to the door to see if I could catch an idea of what they both needed to discuss out of my presence.

"—do you think it might be something else?"

"It's possible," Dr. Kirsch said. "But only Ada knows what is going on inside of her. If she says she ate something perhaps that is all."

"I trust your medical opinion, Roderick," said Hans.

"Why don't you ask her yourself? She is staying with you, is she not?"

Hans must have nodded. I heard no reply.

"How is her stress level?" asked Dr. Kirsch. "Any post-traumatic-"

"-Nightmares," Hans interrupted. "She's had some frightful dreams it seems but other than that I think she is tired of me," he said with a hint of humor.

"You are a good man, Hans, but if you insist on keeping her with you can you at least not treat her as your personal prisoner? Get her out of the house. Her mental state is crumbling. Instead of getting stronger, she is growing weaker."

"You think I can't see that?" said Hans. His tone was icy and angered.

Dr. Kirsch took a deep breath. "I know the girl is in good hands but I also know a man who gets off on being in control. Between friends, let her breathe, Hans. You're going to suffocate her."

If Hans made any response it was inaudible.

I walked over to the x-rays that had been left on the counter and held them each up to the light. I didn't know exactly what to look for but it was obvious where the bone had been snapped. Satisfied, I carefully slid the x-rays back into the folder they came in as the men walked in from the hall.

Dr. Kirsch handed Hans a large leather case, filled with my new medicines and bid us goodbye.

Before I could see our new place of residence, Hans promised a lengthy trip to Strasbourg where we would fetch lunch in the city and stop by my 'former' place of residence. Both he and Hermann stood outside the front door as I rushed around to gather things. I dug my father's old suitcase from his closet and filled it with my favorite clothes. I stared at my nightgown debating on whether to pack it or not. Though perhaps not entirely appropriate, I had grown accustomed to his shirts. They were comfortable and scented with a hint of aftershave around the collar. With that last thought I tossed my night dress back where it came from.

That aftershave was heavenly.

Make-up and other beauty necessities went in next and I closed the suitcase satisfied that I had everything I might need. I knew that he had no reservations when it came to providing me with food or anything else I might need.

On my way out, I passed by the room my father used as his office. I stepped in and hastily grabbed some favorites from the shelves. Books in one arm and suitcase in the other, I exited the house.

Hans raised an eyebrow at the books in the crook of my right arm. "You are more than welcome to peruse my books," he said.

"Now you tell me?"

"As if that would've stopped you. Besides, I daresay you've taken to my shirts for night clothes." His eyes were filled with laughter as he smirked. "Ada," he started to explain, "we will be living together. That in itself is an intimate gesture. We can't stay strangers forever. What is mine is yours."

"Thank you," I said as he took my suitcase from me and placed it in the back of the car. "But your books are boring," I said.

"My books are not boring," he said and yanked my books from the crook of my arm. "My Antonia, and Dante's Inferno?"

"It beats Codes and Ciphers, Reading Between the Lines, and An Encyclopedia of Weapons. Don't you have any fiction?" I asked, surprised at my own playful tone. The bastard was rubbing off on me.

"Why? So you can keep your head in the clouds all day?"

"You don't ever want to get away from your real life?"

"And dive into Dante's Inferno? No."

"That's my favorite," I whined and Hermann opened the back door for us.

"You really are full of surprises," he said and we both took our seats. Hermann shut our door and circled around to the front. "I try not to fill my head with fictitious nonsense."

"Sorry. I forgot. You're not stuck inside all the time. You have contact with other humans."

"Ada, where is all this hostility coming from?"

"You know damn well where it's coming from." I regretted the tone I had taken with him instantly. He face fell and there again his eyes were cold. The wall inside had been rebuilt in an instant.

Lips tight, he spoke through his teeth. "It would do you good to not speak to me in such a tone."

I lifted my chin and glared back at him. "I will speak to you in which ever tone I see fit."

He wrapped a gloved hand around my chin and pulled me closer. His voice remained silky as he replied, "Without me you would be dead."

"I can see what you're doing but I'm not afraid of you," I said.

With haste his hand left my chin and moved directly to my neck. There was no denying his physical strength against me. "I'd really like not to hurt you, Ada. I can squeeze harder if you'd like."

I shook my head and he eased his grip but still did not remove his hand. I had half the thought to shove it away but knew that would only raise his temper. It's like Dr. Kirsch had said—he gets off on being in control. Butt-chinned asshole.

"I don't want us to be enemies, Ada but I can't understand your sudden disposition. One minute you smile at me, the next you bite my head off. I am used to being respected. If I let go will you play nice?"

I nodded and he removed his hand from my throat. We repositioned ourselves and I spent the rest of the car trip trying to act like I didn't notice him staring at me.

Lunch was rushed and eaten in a painful silence. He tried to prompt conversation twice but it seemed that neither one of us was fond of small talk so eventually he directed all of his attention towards Hermann.

I barely listened as the two soldiers chatted amiably. Instead, I picked at my meal, intently focused on the ringing in my ears. I was pregnant. Pregnant. Not only was I fully unprepared to raise a child on my own but I didn't want any children. And what would people say as time passed and my stomach began to show? Would they assume I was some unlucky whore? Would they assume that I was impregnated by the Jew Hunter? And on top of this I was subject to humiliation by him every night because of this stupid wound. I knew he was capable of being gentle but all the same, I didn't want him down there. Not yet...not like that.

I couldn't help but notice some of the reactions we received the previous night. Hans was right; catching people off guard was an interesting way to see their true feelings regarding the matter at hand. Some of the townspeople I saw sported a look of disgust which was quickly replaced with a blank stare or a flash smile before they looked away.

Certainly, he was a well-mannered man when it came down to it and who was to say that he couldn't be married? Or have a family? Hans Landa creating another life would be like the Grim Reaper having a child. It just didn't happen. That's what the townspeople saw. They saw him as some sort of super villain or a great evil force that lacked a pulsing heart. But I saw so much more than that in him.

Our new home was one story but it was plenty big for the two of us. There was a small vestibule that led into the kitchen. With a large window over the sink, there was a nice view of a small porch and yard. Left of the kitchen was a small den, furnishings still intact. The wood and walls were dark but cozy.

On the right side of the kitchen was a narrow hall that led to one bathroom and two bedrooms. His desk had already been moved into his room. The walls in those bedrooms were green and throughout the house, minus the kitchen and bathroom was lush cream carpeting. All in all, it felt very welcoming and homey.

"Let's not go through another silent phase," he said, sitting next to me on the glider.

"I thought you would have enjoyed the last one, what with me not pestering you."

"You don't pester me," he said softly. "You've got your health and your much desired fresh air yet you are more on edge than ever. Want to tell me why?"

"Not really," I said. He responded with a nod. He continued to sit next to me in silence and though I pretended to focus on something in the distance I could tell he was staring at me. No doubt, if I ever had the option to read someone's mind it would be his. And right as ever, one minute I hated him, the next I realized how silly it was to hate him. You should be able to trust the one who saves your life.

"I'm pregnant," I said barely above a whisper. "Please say something."

"What would you like me to say? That I knew? That I saw it coming?" He readjusted his position on the glider and turned himself more towards me. "Most women would be beside themselves to know that they are with child and while I understand that you are not like most women and that the given circumstances wouldn't make you overly excited to be pregnant, that doesn't mean you have to go through this alone."

"What are you saying?" I asked, chancing a look at him.

"Ada, we will be living together until the threat is gone and there is no telling how long this might take. Don't stress yourself out so much over something we both know very little about. The future can only be tackled one way," he said lifting a single finger.

"And that way is?"

He tapped the finger upon my nose as he said, "One day at time." A small smile graced my lips which provoked a bigger one to appear on his. "Are you still mad at me?"

"No."

"This is good," he said, moving his hands a lot as he spoke. "From now on I think its best that if there is something worrying you or on your mind that you tell me. If we live together and we don't communicate it creates unnecessary tension and then we're both miserable."

"I think if you loosened up a bit it would help me relax," I said.

"Likewise," said Hans. "Now," he stood and offered his hand. I took it graciously. "It's getting colder. Let's go inside before we both become ill."

Charming as ever, he opened the door for me and led me inside then started a nice fire in the den. He asked me to sit and draped a blanket over my legs before he vanished behind me, into the kitchen. Minutes later he came back into the den and handed me a white mug filled with hot cocoa. How could a man so full of evil be so full of happiness and chivalry?

I studied the mug as he took off his uniform jacket and took a seat next to me. The white mug sported a drawing of Mickey Mouse as 'Steamboat Willy' with the year 1928 neatly printed at its side. Though it felt odd drinking out of someone else's belongings it still evoked a small chuckle.

"I thought that might make you smile," he said, kicking off his shoes.

"You don't have work to do in your office? Not that I want you to go," I said immediately, regretting having asked in such a tone. "You just always seem so busy and now you're relaxed."

"The last two weeks have been taxing," he said. "At work and at home." He gave me a pointed glare then broke into a smile. "You asked me to relax and you're right. I don't do it often."

"This is nice," I said, taking another sip of the cocoa.

He stretched his legs out in front of him and let his head fall back upon the seat. "I can be nice."

"I never said you couldn't," I said and a devilish smile graced his features. If I wanted to survive this tryst, I'd have to maintain a healthy distance even though I'd constantly be in his proximity.