CHAPTER 12.

The truck ride was silent…save for the constant ramblings from Landa about how the Kino Operation would have went by now up front with the driver. We were well into some forest waiting until we reached the boundary lines Aldo talked about. From there we would most likely kill Landa and the driver or just take Landa hostage. Right now I think Landa was aiming to be our hostage. We were still in our party clothes, or what was left of them, and were bound to make it look like we were prisoners should we come across any other army Nazi vehicles.

I leaned against Uti's shoulder as Aldo tried to ignore the stench of blood on us. I bumped heads with Uti as we ran over a bump and slowed down. Landa was talking to his driver loudly as he undid the fold to let us out from the truck. I blinked as dim sunlight filtered through and hit me in the face softly. Landa's driver, Hermann, helped us down and lead us a bit ways away from the truck as Landa caught up, holding Aldo's beloved knife, his German knife and a gun. I stood next to Uti as Hermann undid my bonds. Landa handed Aldo the pitch black gun who only check the ammo then stared at Landa as he handed him the German knife.

"I am officially surrendering myself over to you, Lieutenatn Raine." Landa smiled as Aldo tucked the knife away. I folded my arms as Uti rubbed his wrists for a moment, "We're your prisoners."

I scoffed, noone should sound so happy to merealy be a 'prisoner'. Granted, Landa still thought we were 'playing' along with him but still…seriously? I touched Hugo's dog tag and looked up to the sky.

"How 'bout my knife?" Aldo prodded, Landa chuckled slightly then reached into his leather coat for Aldo's beautiful silver knife. It gleamed as Landa handed it to him in the casings. "Thank ya very much…Colonel. Utivich, cuff colonel's hands behind his back. Rhia, guard that Nazi driver"

Uti moved forward to cuff Landa as I twisted Hermann's hand behind his back softly. Landa shifted as Uti cuffed him.

"Is that really necessary?"

"'M a slave to appearences." Aldo answered back as he re-checked the black gun then inconspicuously pointed it at Hermann. He nodded to me. I stepped back, releasing the German and moved to stand next to Landa as a shot rang out. Hermann's body flew away from us and dropped to the ground with a soft thud. Aldo reloaded the pistol and gave Uti his knife, "Scalp Hermann."

"A-Are you mad?" Landa cried out as Uti went to Hermann's body. I gripped Landa's cuffs, pulling his hands up higher as the colonel looked to Aldo then to Hermann, "Oh my god! I made a deal with you gentleman for that man's life!"

Aldo smiled and twisted from side to side for a monet.

"Yeah, we made that deal but they don't give a fuck 'bout him. They need you."

"You'll be shot for this!" Landa yelled, I smiled and pulled his hands up a bit higher.

"Nah, I don' think so. More like chewed out, but I've been chewed out before." Aldo gave another smile, "You know, Utivich 'n myself heard that deal that you made with the Brass…'n the award 'night…I'd make that deal. How 'bout you Utivich? You make that deal?"

"I'd make that deal." Uti nodded as he scalped Hermann, his black gloves glistened slightly from a stray blood drop, "You make that deal, Rhia?"

"Hell yeah I would." I grinned, snarling as Landa gave a helpless outburst of rage.

"I don't blame ya. Damn good deal." Aldo nodded forcefully as he turned back to Landa, "and that purty little nest ya' feathered for yerself…well, if yer willin' to barbeque the whole hot command…I suppose that's worth some consideration. But I do have one question…when you get to that little place on Nantuckett Island…I'm betcha you gonna take off that handsome lookin' SS uniform of yours, ain't 'cha?"

I smiled and my mind drifted back to when I was rejoined with the Basterds…this all depended on Landa's mind now. Landa locked eyes with Aldo for a minute as his lip twitched in uncertainty. Aldo gave a lsight nod.

"That's what I thought. Now that I can't abide…how 'bout you Utivich you abide?"

"Not one damn bit sir." Uti pulled the scalp off Hermann with a swift rip.

"I mean," Aldo leaned in next to Landa's ear, his voice was low, "my way, you'd wear that goddamned uniform for the rest of yer pecker-suckin' life…but I don't wear any practical on me and at some point yer gonna have to take it off..."

Aldo tookout Landa's German knife and raised it to his forehead.

"So, I'm gonna give a li'l somethin' you can't take off."

He pushed up Landa's colonel hat with the knife until his forehead showed. I let Landa go as Aldo forced him onto the ground, Uti helped and we watched with glee as Aldo carved the swastika into his forehead. Blood trailed down the German's temple and head in a mighty gush as Aldo pressed another line to the side. Landa gripped the dirt in his hands as his legs kicked out. His screams echoed through the forest loudly. Landa gave a pained growl as Aldo finished his work.

Aldo sat back with Uti and me croding around him, staring down at the Colonel's head.

"You know somethin'...I think this just might be my masterpiece."

Uti and I nodded as Aldo tucked the knife back into it's smooth sheath. Aldo justted out his chin proudly as he stood up over the stunned Nazi on the ground, he took a deep breath.

"Would you please escort this Colonel into the back?" Aldo looked around him as Uti and I forced the man to his feet. Uti was standing by Aldo when I came back to them.

Aldo wrapped an arm around my shoulders, squeezing softly as I leaned into his side. I sighed.

"Utivich, son. start the car, we're goin' home."

What do people do after the war? Do they go back to being the same man or woman that they were before? Would they remain the same warrior? Would they wake up at night grasping for a gun and dry leaves that wasn't there? Would they stop every day when they spot the gun lying on the counter top? Would they remember what they did, or would they block it out? Where would they go? Home? What was home? Home was with your men, your comrades and your commander. Home was waking up in the middle of the night to see your comrades still around you…alive.

I didn't have a home, not anymore.

When Aldo, Utivich and I arrived in theU.S. had been bombarded with reporters, photographers and the whole damned media. Landa had been taken away but we could care less what the government did to the Nazi, we had marked him; we were satisfied.

I could remember stepping off that plane two years ago still dressed in a torn and bloodied dress with dog tags bumping against my collarbone along with a lone necklace. Aldo had tucked me under his arm and tugged me through the throngs of people as I locked hands with Utivich and pulled him along as well.

Then there had been those giant conferences regarding our missions. Those had scared me so much I had reverted back to pure German for a month and spoke no other language. I could remember walking up to that podium and trying to smooth my hair and the newly ironed clothes. I had to tell the translator of my time in the German army and who I was. I was more scared of that crowd of people than I had ever been in my life.

Aldo spoke of the Operation to the world, getting medals upon medals for it as well as Uti and me. I had listened to him speak of his men, his exploits and the other cooperatives inEuropethat helped them. Aldo told the stories of his men and their bravery in the war…he told the world of how I was his daughter and how I was the wife of Hugo Stiglitz. He had looked so much different. Long gone was the brave, cocky Tennesee man from the war. The man that stood in his place, in his skin, was a man of perfect posture, witty remarks, and not one trace of an annoying accent.

Lieutenant Aldo 'The Apache' Raine was gone.

U. Aldo Raine from the Second world War stood in place. I was finally looking at my father…but…I missed the strong man I had first met in that old house inFrance.

I had watched Aldo shave his face, his trademark Apache beard fell to the ground at his feet and became dust in the wind. I had watched him fold his War clothes and put them in a bag as he changed into his military clothing.

Utivich had changed as well. Uti wasn't normal after we got back…he just wasn't the same. The entire plane ride back he kept shifting in his seat looking out the window with his brows pushed together. Aldo had to spike his drink after an hour so he could sleep.

When we got back I had crept into his hotel room and curled up besides him as he stared at the ceiling with those electric blue eyes. Uti had grown silent, nearly mute when the conferences started. I was right there with him though; every loud sound or sudden movement made us flinch or reach for the gun that wasn't at our hips. The War had shaken hi to the core. Uti and I had been inseparable though, obsessingly so during those times.

But then the conferences, the photos, articles and magazines came to an end.

Utivich had gone back to see his family inNew Yorkbefore he got cold feet and ran.

Aldo wanted me to go back home with him, to live on some far off farm to be with my real mother…to finally have a safe and secure life…I agreed. I began my new life with my mother and father.

No longer were we in the army, no longer could I call him Lieutenant. No longer was I Rhiannon Tchaikovsky or Rhiannon Raine. I was Rhiannon Stiglitz, daughter of Aldo Raine and wife of Hugo Stiglitz.

I had turned twenty a month ago, now it was the day before New Year's. I was out in the field behind our house as Aldo read the paper on the porch and Maria cleaned the front patio. I was messing with a stick I had found a while ago, sharpening it with a long, silver knife slowly as I stared up into the sky. A lone luger gun lay next to my hip that once belonged to a kind and sweet Austrian man a few years ago.

That was another thing that had been brought up to the media's attention. Where were the bodies of our fallen brothers? For twelve days the army pin-pointed where our men laid in death over inFrance. Hugo, Wicki, Archie, and Bridget's bodies were recovered easily as well as…identifying, Shoshanna's body. Omar…Omar had an empty casket but we knew he was there in spirit. Donny's body…strangely, wasn't found in the theatre when our men scavenged it. Kagan, Sakowitz, Zimmerman and Hirschberg's bodies were harder to find and dig up but we got them back eventually. There had been a grand burial inWashingtonD. after they were recovered.

That was the last time I saw Utivich.

We were free now, free because we were safe…but we weren't truly safe or free, not us. I had nightmares of getting killed, of killing everyone myself. I had nightmares of twisted-garbled faces laughing down at me.

I opened my eyes as I heard boots crunching over soft grass. I gave a smile as Aldo stood looking down at me softly, he held out a hand and helped me up as I grabbed the gun and tossed the stick away.

"You've got a call inside."

"From who?"

I frowned as I followed Aldo into the house and then into the kitchen where the phone was resting on the table. Aldo took a seat as I picked up the phone, twisting the cord in my fingers.

"Hello?"

"Rhiannon Tchaikovsky?" a rough male voice answered back. I cleared my throat.

"It's Stiglitz." I raised an eyebrow, "Who's asking?"

"Your father's commander and your higher up." He responded, I held the phone out to Aldo so he could listen as well, "I'm calling in behalf of your Operation two years ago. My apologies that it's taken so long to reach you but the President would like to formally thank you."

I stared at Aldo as he stared at the phone.

"Why now?" he spoke up, there was a shuffling of papers on the other end.

"The Nazi Colonel you…brought to America has received word somehow of a Brigade that's reforming in Germany…trying to rebuild the Reich again. There's a lot of uprisings for it and he wants you to inform our men on how to deal with this…"

"When?"

"Today. You fly out and meet the President tomorrow or the day after…oh, and Lieutenant Raine? I'd like to have a private word if you don't mind."

Aldo motioned for me to go upstairs and start packing as he took over the conversation. I dragged an old duffel bag down from my closet and began to throw clothes into it. This was…weird. Why, after all this time, is he contacting us? And why does he need Aldo to talk to the men? Granted, this was the President but still, why now? Why us again? My mind briefly flitted to Utivich inNew York. Would they contact him as well? He was in the Operation all the way. I sighed and reached into my closet for a jacket, it didn't make sense.

Wicki's jacket fell into my hands as I tugged on it.

I rqn my hands over the soft material as I sat back on my bed, it seemed so long ago…I shook my head and slipped the jacket into the bag as I pulled on some jean pants that fit me well. I jumped as a knock sounded on my door.

"Come in…"

Aldo came through with a bag on his shoulder as two other men in pitch black suits followed. I slowly slipped the bag around my shoulders as I pocketed the small gun in the middle of my back.

"Aldo what's-"

"Looks like we didn't have much of a choice." He interrupted, he jerked his head to the men, "They'll be escortin' us."

"…Lucky us."

Aldo gave an amused snort and I followed after him down the stairs and to the kitchen where Maria hugged and kissed us goodbye. We loaded into a small black van, a car that was dangerously close to the ones inFrance, and took off down the dirt road. I huddled against Aldo was the men talked into their small wrist walkie-talkies. I felt…angry. Aldo had his arm around me as the men in black stared.

"Who's tags are all those?" one asked as I tried to close my eyes.

"…why would you care?"

He just stared for a minute before finally turning away as I buried further into Aldo. It was happening all over again but this time it seemed like we were the enemies.

We were standing in a room, the only light we had was dying above our heads from the flickering lights. We were in a recruit bunk room, the beds were empty and the door was locked shut as we waited for the President. Aldo was re-dressed in an ill fitted uniform as was Utivich and me. Meet the President he had said, yeah right. Meet the fucking wall and gain nothing from this visit I say. I groaned in impatience and flopped back onto the bed as Aldo opened his eyes on the bunk next to me.

"This. Is. Annoying." I growled as Utivich sat up next to me.

Uti had arrived here a day earlier so I wasn't able to sleep for the past night because we just talked. The happiness went away when the waiting for the President began. The blue eyes man laughed at my annoyance.

"What exactly are we even here for Lieutenant?" Utivich asked, "I thought we had answered everything when we got back."

"It's a surprise Smithson." Aldo closed his eyes again, "Let it eat ya for a bit."

"Well I'm eaten down to the bone Aldo." I cut in as a door opened down the hall, "I'm a skeleton!"

"Go turn to ash."

"Why don't you go turn-"

"ATTEN-HUT!"

We jumped to our feet in unison as a man entered the room, holding the door open with his body as another man came in after. Our arms were raised in a tight salute…it felt odd. Aldo never required us to salute him, matter of fact he had hated it. My arm ached.

"At ease." The Officer smiled softly at us as a man in a light blue suit entered the room with grace and power.

Presdient Roosevelt had arrived.

He moved forwards slowly and shook Aldo's hand with great pride. Aldo shook it back and offered him one of his best from ear to ear.

"My apologies Lieutenant for taking so long. President's have no off days so it seems."

"Perfectly understandable Mr. President. Better late than never." Aldo nodded along asRooseveltclapped him on the shoulder. He turned and shook Utivich's hand as the blue eyed man gave a nervous him.

"I heard you're the one that got the last scalp from France…that true?"

"Y-yes sir…Got one hundred of them." Utivich releasedRoosevelt's hand as the President smiled fondly. He turned to me.

"…So you're the Apache's daughter and the famed German's wife…now I've heard stories and I've heard you tell them but…if I was your age and if I had been taken prisoner, tortured, then set free? I would have been a bawling mess."

"Oh, believe me I cried my heart out over there." I laughed as he shook my hand softly and let it go. Utivich's hand wrapped through mine for comfort as Roosevelt turned back to Aldo.

"Lieutenant Raine I understand you had two men carry out bombs with them? Contributing to the destruction of the theatre?"

"Yes sir. Donny Donowitz and Omar Ulmer."

"Well, then it's…relieving news to say that one of your men survived the fire but he's just been recovering his legs for the past year and a half."

We stilled and gaped as the President let the news sink into our minds. It couldn't be…two years ago…Omar's body had been destroyed…and Donny's…Donny's body had been…Donny…

"That can't be true…"

Aldo and Utivich stared at me as did the President. I shut my mouth and dropped my gaze to the floor.

"My-my apologies Mr. President, I didn't mean that you were lying but…but….I'm sorry…"

"No, no I understand Child." He smiled and motioned for the Officer to go outside of the room, "I would have said the same thing. Bring the loudmouthed man in now; I think he's waited long enough."

I heard the small clicks of what could only be crutches across the floor before they stopped. I held my breath and closed my eyes as a figure's shadow loomed into the room. It's not real, it couldn't possibly be real.

"Donny."

I opened my eyes as I heard a deep rumbling laugh fill the room. There he was, in all his pride and glory stood Donny Donowitz.

His head was slightly bandaged up as well as his right leg. His left arm was wrapped in bandages but other than that he seemed perfect. He wore a pair of loose jeans that hung on his hips and a white wife beater that I had seen many times. He smiled wildly as Aldo went up, gripping his shoulder before just pulling him into a tight hug. Aldo's shoulders heaved forward a bit as he pulled away and shook Donny's good hand. Donny had a small tear in his eye.

"It's…damn ya Sergeant."

"It's good to see you too Aldo." Donny smiled as Utivich ran forward and hugged him for all that he was worth. Donny just hugged the Little Man back, "Same to you Uti'ch."

"Good to see you in one piece." Utivich clasped him on the shoulder as Donny's eyes trailed to me.

I stumbled forward and buried myself in Donny's chest as the larger man wrapped his arms around me tightly as I cried tears of joy into his shirt. He let his crutch fall to the ground as he supported himself on me and his better leg. He ran a hand through my hair, calming me down as he pressed a kiss to my nose. I cluthched him tightly as I traced the bare skin that wasn't covered up. This was Donnny…This was home.

"I guess Hitler was right about one thing." I smiled as I pulled away from his chest. He grinned down at me.

"What's that'?"

"The Bear Jew truly is an unbeatable golem."

His laughter filled the room pleasantly as he pulled me against him once as Uti put a ahdn on my shoulder.

"Well, then let's go back and show 'em." Aldo voiced, "A Basterds work is never done."

END.