DISCLAIMER: I forgot to put a disclaimer on the first two chapters, but I think it is obvious that I don't own, Inglourious Basterds. However, Quentin, if you want to sue me. I accept, if that means I get to meet you. Could also bring along the Inglourious Basterds' cast? :D

A/N: I have read all the reviews and replied to the ones I could. I have to say that I am absolutely floored by the response for this story. I never expected so many readers. I did a little happy dance every time my phone buzzed, alerting me that I have a new review.

I am sad that I couldn't reply to all of the reviews because a lot of you were guest, but I appreciated every one of them. Hope you like it!

Lena

Chapter 3: The Crush and Baum Mann

I stood there screaming, but the man had yet to turn around. I realized I was just standing there with my mouth hanging open and I was only internally screaming. I beg for my legs to run while they still had the chance, but they were frozen solid from fear. Then man seemed to looking for were the thump had come from.

The man started to turn and it jolted my body awake. I took off like a bullet through the trees. I cursed my stupidity. I should have never left my hideout during the day. I knew the man was following. I could hear his orders for me to stop. Due to my panic, I did not realize how familiar his voice was. I moved through the trees in a sharp zigzag formation in attempt to lose him. I heard gunshots. He was now shooting at me. One of the bullets hit the tree on my right. I prayed that this was not how I would meet my fate. Too die in the forest that three years prior saved me from death. What poetic irony.

I turned back to see how far away he was. I couldn't see him, but I could still his deep baritone yell. He had stop shooting. He had either ran out or he was saving ammo till he caught up to me. I ran into something hard that temporarily winded me. At first, I thought I hit a tree, but trees don't cover your mouth and drag into undergrowth for cover. I glanced up at the Baum Mann. He was ruggedly handsome, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He could be the poster subject for Hitler's Aryan race.

I was drawn from my blatant ogling, by the footsteps and the harsh for voice of my pursuer. He was only a couple feet from our hideout. He had seemed to realize that I have stopped running and I was now hiding somewhere in the area. I now had time to listen his voice properly. It was so familiar, but I couldn't place it. Like a distant memory that was just out of reach. I watched him survey the forest for clues. When he turned our way, I got an apt look at his handsome face. If it wasn't for Baum's hand I would have given away our location.

Dieter! The boy of my many daydreams during my school days. I was so in love with him in school. He was so smart and fetching I couldn't help but be smitten with him. My heart sped as I stared at the once dashing boy that became a handsome young man. My eyes grazed all over his form, but his most striking feature was the red armband showing the swastika insignia that has haunted my nightmares. All I remembered was my vision turning black and slumping in Baum's arms.

-o-

"Wow, she is really pretty."

"Dammit, Hirshberg. Leave the woman alone." I tried to rub my eyes, but my hands were tied behind my back. My heart raced and panic consumed me. My worst nightmare was coming true. I tried to steady my breathing, despite my panic, so I did not lose consciousness again. I looked around at my captors and they were all looking at me intently, especially two in particular. One of the two looked at me with dreamy eyes, while the other stared at me before pulling out a spice box and snorting some. When we made eye contact, he came over and bent down to my level. "English?" He asked me in a think American accent.

"Non."

"Oh, she is a French girl," said the one addressed as Hirschberg. The surname was Jewish. But what was a Jew doing in Nazi occupied France and not trying to get to a safer country, like Switzerland or Spain? Was he a prisoner too? No, he can't be. He is carrying a gun.

"Well this is this just grand. We ain't got nobody that speaks French. Hugo! You were the found her. What do ya know about her?" This was all very confusing and terrifying for me. I had no idea what the rough American was saying. For all I knew he could be ordering Hugo to kill me. Wait, Hugo is a German name! Why is a German with an American and a Jew? All my thoughts and questions were making my head spin. I turn my head to get a glimpse at Hugo.

"Baum Mann," I said before I could stop myself. The man looked surprised at the title I had given him and I heard someone chuckle behind me.

"That didn't sound French," the American said, but I did not understand him.

"It was German. It means Tree Man. She basically called Hugo a human tree."

"But what the fuck is she? Is she French or is she German?"

"Hello, I am Wicki. What is your name? Are you German or French?" a dark haired man asked in my native tongue.

"Lena. I am German." I listened as the man repeated my words in unfamiliar English so the rest of them could understand.

"What are you doing in the woods Lena?" Wicki asked me and I answered with a question.

"What did she say?" asked Aldo.

"She wants to know if we are going to kill her."

"Tell her that depends."

"Depends on what?" Wicki said translating my answers and questions.

"On if she is a Nazi groupie."

"She says that her family was killed by Nazis. She has no love for them," Wicki said. I asked him a question and at first, he was shocked then he laughed.

"What'd she say?"

"She wants to know if we are the Basterds?"

"Now how the hell does she know about us?"

"She says that she has lived in this forest for over three years after her family was killed. She over hears the Nazi patrols and we are a popular subject for discussion. She also asked again if we are going to kill her." Aldo pinched the bridge of his nose and gave a frustrated sigh.

"Lieutenant, you got to be fucking kidding me! What if she is some Kraut spy? We can't let her live."

"Donny, now I have done things that have most likely given me a one way ticket to Hell. However I refuse one of them to be killing this girl. I am not sayin' what she is sayin' is true, but I sure ain't riskin' it. So, we can't kill her. If what you're sayin' is true then we can't exactly let her go. Now gentlemen, we have found ourselves in a bit of a bind! We are gonna keep this girl! But if any of you sons of bitches touches this girl inappropriately I will personally make sure you never touch anything else again! Do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes, sir!" everyone yelled.

"Now, she will have to be under 24 hour watch…"

"Lieutenant! I will do it! She will be safe with me!" Hirschberg offered quickly in a rush and excited manner.

"Thank you for volunteering, Wicki and Stiglitz!" Hirschberg slumped back down, his mood deflated. "It seems you two have a new German buddie!"

A/N: I know it is super duper short. I just really wanted to get this out to ya. I bet the suspense was eating ya up. Lol I hope you liked it! And again, thank you for all the wunderbar reviews! :D Till next time! -Macbeth