A/N Thank you so much for the reviews, favourites and follows, they really do help me write the next chapters and make me think more about the characters. Please keep them coming. I have already started on the next chapters with the promise of more Fin and Speirs trysts! With Foy coming up at some point, does anyone want to guess Fin's involvement? And how do you think Speirs will react to the truth about Fin when he becomes Easy CO? (I've already written these bits by the way!)
I like the comment about Fin having wonder woman moments! In all truth, SOE agents were better than wonder woman haha! They were incredible, brave women. Here's some examples of what they did, one SOE agent said the best way to kill a sleeping Nazi was to ram a sharp pencil through their ears! Another SOE agent said she was being interrogated and tortured on the top floor of a hotel when one of her torturers asked if she could lower the sound of her screams so she didn't upset the guests on the lower floors, she did! And she said they all laughed about it as they continued to beat the shit out of her! Female SOE agents would parachute into France, Germany etc... One parachuted into the middle of 22,000 German troops on D-Day. She evaded them and then cycled between allied troops delivering radio equipment. They were trained to do many things including unarmed combat, silent killing, escaping, sabotage etc... I could write so much about them!
Anyway I hope you like this chapter.
...
Nix walked over to Winters after receiving orders from Battalion CP. "It's not quite how they wanted Fin to get herself captured, but as long as the end result is the same, then it won't matter." Nix said looking at the papers and flicking through them.
"No one predicted Hudson getting blown into the open like that though" Winters sighed, another man lost "I don't think Fin meant to get captured the way she did either, she was not in control like she said she'd be"
"It was convincing though and near perfect timing"
"Convincing?! Walking towards the Krauts? It looked like she was on some sort of suicide mission!" Winters exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter the men all think she was just pissed off because of Hudson" Nix reassured Winters "Tell you what though, these orders are strange. Surely she could just keep gathering intel the way she had been?"
"I don't know, but I agree, right now though my priority is keeping the men away from any rescue attempt ideas"
"Well, as long as Lieutenant Dike keeps disappearing as usual, you can just keep sending them to him." Nix passed the papers over to Winters.
"It's going to drag, waiting for her to come back." Winters said full of concern.
"Yeah I don't like this, not at all, the whole mission just doesn't make sense." Nix replied taking out his flask and swigging deeply. "Even Fin thought it was strange, she said her underlying orders were always to evade capture"
"We have a problem with Speirs as well, the man's ready to take on the whole German Army" Winters added. "That's the trouble with having women on the front line, the men want to protect them"
"Leave him to me" Nix replied tucking his flask back in his jacket and walking away towards Dog company. He had received a letter from Eve (well Penny the nurse as Eve said any mail from her would definitely be intercepted). Eve explained her suspicions of a relationship between Fin and Speirs, then the revelation that Speirs had married and was expecting a child. Eve was worried for Fin's wellbeing, she might not think through the danger of her job properly if her mind was clouded. Nix wasn't quite sure how he was going to approach Speirs, he wasn't nicknamed 'Sparky' for nothing.
...
Fin had been in and out of consciousness since the Krauts had carried her to their line. Even when conscious she pretended not to be, she had accidently let out a groan and they dropped her to the floor, kicked her in the stomach and dragged her by her hair. She had killed a few of them, so she didn't expect to get out of this without a scratch. Fin was confused, she'd never been ordered to be captured before. She knew they might be reaching an important point in the war though, therefore maybe her superiors were willing to take more risks, but she wasn't supposed to be carrying out missions normally left to operative SOE agents. She had hoped this didn't mean that SOE agents were short on the ground.
She opened her eyes, just a tiny bit. From where she lay, she could maybe make out that she was in some sort of out building, cold dirt floor covered in straw and stone walls, she was alone. Hopefully it was Foy, it would make this mission a lot easier. She was in quite a bit of pain, she'd lie here a little longer before getting on with things. She closed her eyes fully again and took a deep breath.
Her mind kept drifting to Easy lads and Speirs. She hoped to God no one was going to try anything to help her. Winters, Nix, Buck, Harry and Dike needed to control them. She should have kept calm and got herself captured another way, not in front of them all, she was a bloody fool! This war was definitely making her think differently the longer it went on, even the Red Devils wouldn't have stood for her getting deliberately captured. She was becoming erratic, she needed to pull herself together. What was Speirs thinking right now? She dreaded to think. He needed to concentrate on his new family he had to return to. It hurt deep for Fin to think of him like that, but he was a brave, damn good soldier and deserved a normal life after all this. She couldn't want him for herself. The odds were only slightly in her favour for surviving this mission as it was.
Her mind drifted to Buck, she'd been keeping an eye on him, what if she didn't make it out of this? She'd asked Doc to keep an eye on him just in case, although Doc wasn't aware of Fin's orders to be captured, he didn't ask questions, thankfully. Oh! Shifty, Luz, Tab and Bill, they'd become really close. She couldn't think of what they maybe thinking, if it was the other way round she'd be doing everything she could to get them back, they just couldn't do the same.
She had to put the Easy lads and her love for Speirs to the back of her mind now and mentally prepare herself. Interrogation came with beatings. She was scared, but they'd keep her alive for now.
The door opened, Fin shut her eyes. Someone walked over to her and picked her up.
...
Nix walked towards Dog company, Speirs would find him before he probably got even close, the man had a knack for creeping out on you. Nix didn't have to wait long, although Speirs was quickly walking towards him instead of appearing from the shadows. Speirs held out his packet of cigarettes, Nix took one, Speirs took one and then lit them both.
"News?" Speirs asked
"None yet, but a rescue mission has been strictly denied by battalion" Nix replied dreading Speirs' reaction.
Nix watched as Speirs' eyes narrowed and turned black, Nix stepped back, unsure of what Speirs would do to alleviate his aggression.
"What the fuck is going on?" Speirs muttered turning his head away from Nix "We don't just fucking leave one of our own to the Krauts!" Speirs barked.
"Speirs, you have to drop this" Nix said taking another step back.
Speirs snapped his head back to Nix glaring at him.
"This is much bigger than you know, you need to drop it" Nix repeated asserting his authority.
"What is it?" Speirs demanded, lowering his tone, but not a great deal, in response to the superior Officer.
"If I could say, I would." He was saying too much already he thought. "I received a letter from Eve" Nix added, raising Speirs' eyebrows.
"She said she has suspicions that you and Fin are in a relationship, but you recently married someone else and are now expecting a child..." Nix paused gauging a reaction from Speirs, but he remained stiff and expressionless. This made Nix angry, Fin was a good girl and anything that upset Eve, upset him. "Fucking with her like that! What frame of mind have you put her in!" Nix snapped, immediately regretting it.
"Don't you think I've fucking thought about that!" Speirs growled, before turning around and stalking off. Speirs stopped suddenly before Nix had a chance to move " Any news, let me know a-sap" he commanded before continuing on his way.
...
Fin started to come to after passing out again, but kept her eyes shut. She could hear voices... She monitored her situation. She was sat up in some damn uncomfortable wooden chair, her hands tied behind her back. She concentrated on her body, the most painful part was her head.
She listened. Two Germans talking. One sounded familiar.
"Ein Wächter an der Tür genügt, es wird keinen Rettungsversuch geben." (A guard at the door is enough, there will be no rescue attempted) The familiar German voice ordered "Informieren Sie die Gestapo." (inform the Gestapo)
"Jawohl" (yes Sir) the other German replied.
Fin heard the heavy boots of one German leave slamming the door behind him. She waited a few minutes before starting her fake stir.
Fin squinted her eyes open. She looked ahead, the light was bright, a Nazi SS uniform leant against a table in front of her. It was Herrick! they had met a few times already. Not a very pleasant man, he would seem ok one minute and then not the next minute, Fin considered him as borderline psychotic. War was obviously taking its toll on him, he didn't look as good as he once did. He was tall, with greying hair for a young man and a big build, his face was hardened, but cleanly shaven. Fin was slightly relieved, she could stall him for a little bit.
"Ema!" he said in his thick German accent, noticing Fin stir, raising her head slightly.
Fin hadn't been called Ema in a long time.
Fin looked up slowly.
"I hope you are not feeling too bad" he said
"I would have felt better waking up to the King's rather than German!" Fin said her voice croaking.
"Well, it was good for us that your temper got the better of you...again!"
Fin groaned.
"I am sorry to see you like this though, in that uniform! Especially with no winter coat? It's freezing out there!"
Fin rolled her eyes "Christ's sake not you as well with the damn coat!" she muttered.
"I much preferred you in those evening gowns" Herrick grinned as if he was picturing a memory.
I much prefer you in a wooden box, Herrick" Fin grumbled in pain from her throbbing head. They hadn't cleaned her, she could feel the crusting of dried blood on her face.
"Oh!" Herrick tutted "and here I was thinking that you may have missed me!"
"Like a hole in the head!" Fin smirked.
"Speaking of holes in heads, I'll get our doctor to take a look at yours"
"Won't be necessary I won't be staying long" Fin promised
"No Ema, I insist you stay!" Herrick knew that this would actually be very plausible coming from Ema. She had developed a skill for escaping, which is why he had already sent for the Gestapo. Intel had suggested that the Americans wouldn't be launching a rescue and it wouldn't matter if he put 50 men guarding the door, if Ema planned to escape then it was just a matter of time.
"Maybe for a little while" Fin teased. She had already started to plan her strategy and escape. There was a tiny incision underneath her watch strap where she kept a razor blade. She had been working the blade out of the strap each time she had regained consciousness and would then begin working on cutting her wrist restraints as soon as it was free and in between her fingers.
"You do not know how happy I was when I realised it was you running to that soldier! We've been looking for you for a long time!"
"You're not very good, I haven't even been hiding" Fin replied "Ooh! Does that mean I made the list?"
Herrick sighed "Yes you made the list"
"Now there's a life achievement ticked off!" Fin said sarcastically "What number was I at?"
"Two"
"Fucking two?! What kind of sick joke is that?" Fin said sarcastically, she sighed "Who is number one?"
"Churchill!" Herrick smiled making them both laugh.
"You have a sense of humour at last!" Fin laughed some more.
"I do miss our time we had together" Herrick said stepping closer and crouching down, he placed his hands on Fin's legs, fondling her inner thighs.
"Me too, all that precious information you gave me, I take it your CO is still unaware of your mistakes?" Fin replied in a cocky tone. Fin's time as an operative SOE agent hadn't been fully released to the Americans.
Herrick jolted upright, clearly angry, he turned and walked back to the table.
"Demoted! I see Corporal, I am a superior Officer, you will address me as Sir!"
"Officer, yes, Superior no!"
"I should kill you right now! We both know it's the only way to deal with you!" Herrick snapped
"That's true, but I'm number two on the most wanted list, so that means the Gestapo are definitely going to want to speak to me!"
...
Speirs sat in his foxhole, he didn't know if he could do nothing, all he could think about was Cara in the hands of Nazis. He couldn't help but think the worst and that wasn't her being killed. They had lost quite a few men for one female medic, they would be pissed off. They knew though, capturing her would affect the morale of the men. Easy were already walking around in a daze. Lip, Buck and Doc were constantly checking on each man consistently. Why did she walk towards the Krauts! What the fuck was she thinking! There was something more to her, that's why. When he got his hands on her again and he will, he wasn't giving up on her, he'd wring her fucking crazy, beautiful neck! Who was he kidding, he'd hold her tightly and never let her go, no matter how much she struggled. He'd make it all right. He'd divorce Edie, but still provide for the baby, by the time the divorce went through, the baby would be born and wouldn't be a bastard, he'd thought it all through now, he could only hope it wasn't too little too late for Cara. She had to forgive him, let him explain. He was in love with her and he would do anything for her. It was his fault she was there and not here. He stood up and climbed out of his foxhole, he'd walk the Dog company line... again, distract himself or at least try to.
...
Fin was slowly making progress on her restraints. She knew she'd have to make a move soon, nobody would be coming to help her. If the Gestapo got to her before she escaped, then her chances of survival would drop drastically, she did not want to be left in their hands, she was well aware of what they were capable of. She wouldn't talk and they wouldn't give up. The only unfortunate thing about being an inoperative SOE agent is she didn't have an L tablet.
Herrick had been in and out of the room for the past 30 minutes. Fin knew they were in Foy now, she'd overheard two soldiers outside the window discuss preparations to defend the town. They were reckless with their loose lips, although Fin was aware it could be false information. Herrick and an orderly had brought papers in and out of the room, she knew these would be worth taking, she was definitely in Herrick's office.
Herrick came and leant back against the table.
"Ema, one thing I have wanted to ask you for a while, would you answer?"
Fin shrugged her shoulders.
Herrick continued anyway "What were you doing at Dulag Luft in '42?"
"I was thinking of buying a house in the area, thought I'd see what the neighbours were like" Fin replied smirking. That was a treat of a mission. The British government had sent her in to retrieve intel off a POW gunner. She snuck into the prison, locating the British Officer in command first and asked for the gunner. They all thought she was some sort of apparition at first! Until Freddie stepped forward seeing her. They had never finished their relationship properly, both letting the war dictate it. She kept to the mission and asked for the gunner. They sneaked her over to his bunk in a separate building where she gathered the intel needed. She then left as quickly as she had arrived much to their astonishment. She thought the Germans had no clue, until now.
Herrick stormed over to Fin and slapped her hard across the face. That's the first of many Fin thought, she would need to make her move. Her face hurt like hell, but she tried not to show it too much, managing to only let a slight grimace escape.
"Not long now Ema! The Gestapo will be here!" Herrick winked.
Fin stretched in the chair, circling her head and flicking her hair, letting out gentle moans.
"I think we have a few minutes, I will take what you never gave me" Herrick said undoing his trousers and walking over to Fin, falling for her trick to arouse him.
"I get a few minutes? Oh you spoil me Herrick!" Fin quipped receiving another hard slap from him as a result, Fin tasted blood, he's split my lip!
He pushed Fin off the chair so that she fell on her side, she had freed her hands now but kept them behind her back, so that Herrick didn't suspect. Herrick rolled her onto her back and parted her legs, pulling and ripping at her clothes, Fin would wait until he was in a vulnerable position before making her move. Fin waited, she pretended to struggle, receiving a few more blows to the face. He had pulled his trousers down fully now and was working on pulling hers down, while he lowered them, Fin slowly brought her hands round, he climbed back up to rip her underwear off...
"Herrick?" Fin said gently.
Herrick looked up at Fin. With one swift, violent move, Fin drove her knuckles into Herrick's left temple. He collapsed, out cold on top of her, Fin rolled him off and quickly pulled her trousers back on. She could hear that the shelling had started again. It was the perfect time to make her escape and get back to the American line, very dangerous, but she'd rather be blown up than face the Gestapo. Fin grabbed the papers from Herrick's desk, she quickly searched his drawers before creeping to the window and looking out, it was pitch black, rubbish for memorising Kraut positions, but much better for escaping. She would sabotage what she could.
...
Shifty peered out of his foxhole watching the Kraut line. He was going crazy thinking of Fin over there. He knew she was pretty good at looking after herself, but this was something even beyond any of them. He couldn't understand why she walked towards the Krauts, if only she had walked in their direction, there was a chance they could have got to her first. The only explanation was that she was angry because they killed Hudson when she was trying to save him, still why walk towards the Krauts?
She definitely couldn't credit him for her shooting out there either. There was definitely more to her, maybe the Red Devils taught her a few things? Shifty looked over to Bill in his foxhole, he was still seething, they had all approached Winters to launch a rescue, but he had dismissed them to Lieutenant Dike, who of course couldn't be found as usual.
He had feelings for her, beyond friendship, but he hadn't seriously let her know because she seemed so focussed on her job and he didn't want her to have any reason to leave Easy. They'd grown close those times they spent together at the shooting range, she'd lay her head on his shoulder and he'd tell her about his family, she liked hearing about normal things. Shifty smiled remembering.
Now he wondered whether he'd ever have a chance with her. They all knew the longer she was with the Krauts, the less likely they'd see her again.
"Hey" Luz climbed down next to Shifty, just in time, the shelling had started again. At least Fin was safe from the shelling Shifty thought.
BOOM!
"TAKE COVER!" Bill shouted, he was fighting every inch of himself not to crawl out and find Fin. He threw his hands over his head and ducked down more as debris from the trees shattered all around them. He desperately missed her too much already. That afternoon they first met her, flashing her thigh, sliding that knife out! The same knife she used on the Kraut before they took her... she knew what to say or not to say, just what he needed when he found out about his brother. She was never offended by him and just about matched his potty mouth, he was proud to consider her as his sister, which made it all the worse for him, he'd lost his brother, had he lost a sister? Why couldn't they try and get her? It didn't make sense. The only explanation was that there wasn't enough of them for the front line as it was to allow for a rescue squad. Why did she walk towards the Krauts? She had a temper, just like him the damn broad.
BOOM!
Doc prayed that Fin was ok and they'd be no casualties after tonight's shelling, he needed Fin, he needed her to help. He hoped there was some underlying plan to her capture, although a stupid one if there was. He hadn't got round to telling her about Renee. He wanted to take Fin to the hospital in Bastogne to meet her. Fin and Renee could have met if Winters hadn't asked for Fin that day they were both sat in the jeep. Renee and Fin could have been friends and Fin would have had another female to talk to. The sad thing was, he'd found her a winter coat and now he couldn't give it to her. He hoped she wasn't cold. He hunkered down deep into his foxhole clutching Fin's coat tight to his chest.
BOOM! CRASH!
Tab looked at Buck, he had slipped into himself even more than before. Since Fin was captured, he'd noticed Buck had spent a lot of time with Winters and Nix, which was unusual, he normally spent most of his time with the men.
Out of everyone, Tab thought he was the most optimistic about Fin's return. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling, Fin would return. He refused to believe they had seen the last of her. There was something about her, she was no ordinary medic, no ordinary girl, in fact the Krauts were probably trying to make her leave, she's a handful that's for sure!
She was fun, dancing on tables when she drank too much, unable to walk though! Tab smiled to himself, Setting them up with girls, even chatting the girls up for them! Her beautiful, sexy singing voice, she certainly was great to have around when trying to get a dance or a date. She had to come back, he wanted to invite her to America, take her to see the sights. He ducked his head, pulling Buck with him, fucking Kraut shells!
BOOM!
Luz for once had not much to say. What could he say? there nothing good about this situation. Fin would have something to say, she'd think of something. She hadn't been herself recently, losing weight and not sleeping, he could tell from the dark circles appearing under her now dull blue eyes. Why didn't he check on her more, checked her mental state. She was obviously having a tough time, that's why she walked towards the Krauts. Everyone was asking that question, but no one had realised they weren't looking after her. He had and done nothing, letting her walk the line continuously for days. This place was tough on all of them, they should be looking out for each other more. Lip looked out for everyone, why hadn't he noticed a change in Fin?
BOOM!
Luz laughed to himself, The funny doll had brought that lingerie he left on her cot that morning with her, said she was going to wear it, teasing him! He laughed to himself, she got them back good, old school style! A bucket of water over the door!
He fucking missed her.
BOOM!
He grabbed Shifty's jacket again and pulled him back into the cover of the foxhole, staring out into the empty field wasn't doing anything and Shifty looking for what wasn't coming was starting to piss him off. If she some how managed to escape, did he really think she was just going to stroll across an open field while the Krauts shelled their position?!
...
Fin strolled towards the open field, the other side of that open field was Easy company. She was so close but so far. She'd attacked a couple of cannon fodders and relieved them of their grenades sabotaging a couple of guns. Now the hard bit, to get across the field. Her plan was to just commando crawl and take all night if that's what was required. She could see the trees on the American side exploding from the shelling, I hope they're all ok. She needed to get moving, the grenades had gone off, it wouldn't be long before they would find Herrick and for all she knew the Gestapo had arrived. Her head hurt, her body hurt, she would have to work through the pain, get to Doc. She hit the ground and started her journey back.
...
The next morning, the Easy men, gathered around for something that resembled some kind of edible-ish breakfast and some iffy coffee. The mood was quiet and sad. A couple of new replacements had joined them, ripe for the picking Luz thought dishing out the food, but Bill was quiet, they all were. Everyone felt the same. They mulled around aimlessly, mumbling about the mess the Krauts had caused last night. No one mentioned Fin, it was like they were all too scared to say her name out loud, but she was on all their minds.
Luz looked up to dish some food into Lip's mess tin, he dropped his ladle, his mouth hung open. Lip looked at him, complete bewilderment across his face. "Luz?" Lip turned to the direction of his stare.
Fin strolled past them all on her way to Winters and Nix "Morning lads! I still don't know how you can drink that brown shit!"
Oh how she loved to make an entrance! Although she knew they would definitely give her a right bollocking for it later.
