A/N Thank you for all the readers, favourites, follows, alerts and reviews. I'm really pleased the story is being enjoyed.

Please forgive me, if I have the incorrect German translation, please feel free to correct me if I have it wrong!

Hope you like this chapter.

...

Shifty watched on as Fin, Winters, Nix and Dike huddled at the edge of the forest looking across the field towards Foy. He watched intently as Fin filled the Officers in on whatever it was she knew about the German position, she'd place binoculars over her eyes, lower them, say something, pass the binoculars, the officers would take it in turns to look and then hand them back to her. He observed her pointing to a map and then drawing something to the nods of agreement from the officers.

She was unlike anything he had ever known. Right now she looked like an experienced General instructing her officers on how to carry out the assault. Other times she looked like she should be dead, covered in blood, cuts and bruises, then there were the times she was the caring nurse with her gentle soothing voice and touch. His favourite type was when she was happy, joking around, laughing and singing, that's when she seemed to be the most normal, but she was never a normal girl. That's what he liked, she was unique. Even without a war he didn't think she would have been a normal girl. Her looks would always attract attention, but her personality out shone her looks and that took some doing.

He wondered if he ever could be the one for her? He didn't want to be her friend too much, but he wanted to be close to her all the time, it was a fine line that he battled with daily.

He didn't think he was the only one to notice, but he had suspicions that Lieutenant Speirs had a thing for her and maybe she had one back for him. A few of them had seen her when she came back from Bastogne after the bombings, curled up in the arms of Speirs in the back of the jeep. It looked more than an officer comforting an enlisted soldier. Shifty wouldn't have been so suspicious if Speirs was in Easy company, everyone in Easy company had probably hugged Fin at some point. He wasn't though, he was a platoon leader in Dog company, at what point should he have ever gotten close to Fin?

There was definitely more to this girl. She wasn't just a medic, her marksmanship skills proved that. They all had their guesses, but as long as she was on their side, it didn't matter. Shifty knew he'd find out what she was really about before this war ended.

Shifty looked caringly at Fin again. He knew she'd be going into Foy with them. Dike would definitely be demanding her by his side. Shifty looked at the field again. There wasn't much cover, there were some large hay bales, but nothing really until they would reach a building. Was there any way he could make sure Fin got to a hay bale, it was a hell of a run through open field up to that point though.

They had finished, Fin walked over to Shifty's position. "Everything ok?" he asked.

"Yes, I think so, it's heavily protected, it's going to be a hell of a fight" Fin replied.

"Your intel any good?"

"Not sure, I've drawn a map and positioned the German artillery I know about on it, but I'm guessing they would have moved it"

"Minus the ones you sabotaged!" Shifty smiled.

Fin cocked her head, surprised that Shifty was aware of the guns she disabled.

"We saw the explosions Fin!" Shifty replied seeing Fin's confused look.

"Why would you think that was me?" Fin asked

"It wasn't us!"

"They've got us heavily targeted here" Fin informed Shifty changing the subject.

"Are we moving back?"

"No we're to hold the line"

Just as Fin finished her sentence, the shelling restarted. "FIND COVER!" Fin shouted to the men as she dived into Shifty's foxhole with him.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Fin and Shifty ducked down as far as they could. Dirt and snow splattering over them. Fin felt the heat of a burning tree near their foxhole, the warmth would have been welcome if it wasn't so dangerously out of control. "We may have to move!" Fin shouted at Shifty drawing his attention up to the flames. He nodded in acknowledgement.

The shelling subsided. Fin popped her head out "Get down!" Shifty shouted grabbing her arm "It's temporary! They just want us to think it's over and then they'll hit us again when we all get up!"

"I need to listen out Shifty, someone might be hurt!" Fin replied breaking free of Shifty's grip and peeking out again.

"Help!"

Fin listened carefully, she thought she heard something but it was quite faint.

"Help!" it was louder, Fin sprang up and ran in the direction of the call.

"MEDIC! Help!"

It was Toye! Fin picked up her pace. The shelling started again. It whizzed over her head towards Toye.

"Fin! Get down!" Buck screamed as she came into view of his foxhole.

"It's Toye!" Fin screamed

"I know, Bill's gone to him, I can't let you go while we're under attack!" Buck grabbed Fin as she ran too close to him, she tried to side step him but to no avail. He pulled her in. The shelling continued. The ground shook violently. Once again the earth flew up, spluttering up all over them. Fin peeked out "I'm going!" she shouted, jumping out of Buck's foxhole. She had a knack of escaping the men's grasp when needed, much to their annoyance.

"She ran towards where she last heard Toye's voice coming from. She saw Bill! He was dragging a bloodied Toye. The dirt flew up in front of Fin pushing her back. Bill looked up at her "Come on!" she shouted. They weren't far from Buck and she could hear him shouting for all three of them over the noise of the German artillery exploding all around them.

"Come on Bill!" Fin begged. She could hear Buck screaming for Bill behind her. Another explosion nearby caused Fin to stumble back further away from Bill, who was struggling with Toye. "Bill!" Fin screamed as the dirt flew up into Fin's face temporarily blinding her from the sight of Bill and Toye. She sat on the ground and wiped the dirt from her face. The shelling stopped. Buck appeared by her side, helping her to her feet. They both looked at each other before running to Bill and Toye. They were just a few feet in front of them. They were both lying on the ground, the snow had turned red around them both. Fin stood in shock for a matter of seconds, staring at them both, there was so much blood. Neither of them were moving, both with a serious leg wound.

Doc arrived as Fin jumped into action. "I got Toye!" Doc shouted. Fin nodded, grabbing Bill. She pulled him and sat him up against a tree.

"You two just have to do everything together don't you!" Fin said trying to distract Bill from his leg. Fin observed it was both of their right legs!

Bill mumbled, he wasn't quite fully conscious. Fin quickly assessed his condition, he was breathing, his leg! there was far too much damage. It couldn't be saved. The most she could do was stop the bleeding and make him as comfortable as possible until he could be evacuated.

Bill came to suddenly grabbing Fin's shoulder and darting his eyes down to his leg. Fin stuck the syrette in, Bill slowly untensed releasing his grip. "You're doing great Bill, I've got you!" Fin gently, reassured him. He managed a strained smile.

He looked at Fin again, their eyes met. Fin smiled at him stroking his face lightly. "You're going home my darling" she said softly. She returned her attention to his leg.

"Do you think you could ever love a man with one leg Fin?!" Bill gasped desperately looking at Fin securing the bandage.

Fin continued to concentrate on Bill's leg "Sorry Bill, no I don't think I can!" Fin quipped.

"Shit Fin!" Bill coughed "Don't make me laugh until the morphine has kicked in!"

"How's Toye doing?" Fin called over to Doc

"Just fine!" Doc replied.

"Tell me one thing Fin" Bill asked "What are you?" Regaining Fin's attention.

Fin looked at him forcing a puzzled expression.

"I know you're more than a medic"

"British Special Forces" she replied thinking the morphine and shock was enough for him not to remember anyway.

"Shit Fin, you be careful without me!"

"Don't worry about me, get yourself well" Fin demanded.

"Thanks for the good times, I'm gonna miss ya doll!" Bill murmured

"I'm going to miss you too, thanks for taking me to my first brothel!"

"No one can ever say I don't know how to treat ya right!" Bill spluttered trying not to laugh too much.

Fin pulled Bill's head into her chest and held him tight until the stretcher arrived. She was crushed, Bill was leaving her.

...

Fin watched Bill and Toye being carried away. She fought back the tears, she couldn't believe she had lost them both for the rest of the war now. Her Bill she would miss him terribly.

"Fin!" Doc snapped Fin out of her thoughts. "Would ya go talk to Buck, he's... well he's not himself"

Fin turned to Buck's foxhole, before even seeing the full emptiness on his face, she knew he was lost and there was no turning back. It had got him, he'd seen and dealt with too much. Fin was too late. She crawled into his foxhole and pulled him in tight to her small body. He wrapped his arms round her. She didn't know how long they stayed wrapped up in each other, but before Fin knew it, Buck was gone, he was off the line.

Fin was informed that the official reason stated a severe case of trench foot.

...

In a matter of crazy moments Fin had lost Bill, Buck and Toye. Fin was in a daze. She carried out her duties professionally and perfectly, but she did it on auto, she feared she might lose the plot like Buck did. She couldn't do that. She could handle this, she had dealt with worse and dealt with loss. These men were special though, they had grown so close. She wiped away the tear that escaped. Pull yourself together girl!

Fin wandered. She bumped into Winters. He hugged her. He knew she'd be ok, she needed a bit of time. The Foy assault was soon. "Take a breather Fin" he said gently. He had watched her closeness to the men increase, they were her brothers, he even suspected more so than the Red Devils. Fin pulled away "Thank you Sir"

Fin walked away

"Don't wander too far" He called.

Fin wandered close enough to reach Easy company quickly, but far enough to be alone. She really needed to see Ron right now, she'd take the chance and head in Dogs direction in the hope that he might be out walking his line. He may have this scary exterior, a natural killer, but he had a softer side and Fin had begun to experience that side of him a lot more. Just to be in his arms for a few moments would be all she needed.

"Fin!"

Fin turned to see Shifty approaching her. "What ya doing out here?"

"Just going for a walk, clear my head"

She was walking to Dog Company, Shifty wasn't stupid. He could see she was upset at losing Bill, Toye and Buck, he was too. "Come here" he said pulling Fin in for a hug. Fin accepted. Shifty was a good lad. He was a comforting , gentle soul.

Speirs had seen Cara coming through the trees, he had heard what had happened on Easy's line after the barrage from the Krauts. He wanted to hold her, he knew how close she'd been to those men. Shifty got there first though. This pissed him off, she was his to console not Powers. She wanted him why else would she have been walking towards Dog company. Why did Shifty follow her? He would definitely be keeping a closer eye on that trooper. Speirs painfully watched as Shifty turned Fin around and put his arm around her shoulders as he directed her back to Easy. Fin briefly looked over her shoulder in the vain hope Ron might have been there, just a glimpse would have to do, but she couldn't see him.

"I'm fine Shifty, losing three men in one go like that...well it's not great for morale."

"I hear ya Fin" Shifty squeezed her "Are you going to be ok for Foy?"

"Most definitely!" Fin said surprisingly spritely she wondered if Herrick would still be there, it didn't matter though.

...

Days later Fin was back in the game and concentrating on the task ahead. Fin and Easy stood at the edge of the Forest while Winters briefed Dike.

Speirs slowly made his way over to Fin, drawing no attention to himself, he needed to speak to her before the assault, just to hear her voice if anything, to check she was ok, this was the only opportunity he had since seeing Shifty console her. She was stood slightly away from the rest of Easy company, her arms folded across her chest, staring out across the field at Foy. She had her red cross patch on and no rifle. He hoped this meant that she would be going in at the rear.

"When are you going in?" Speirs asked, he stood along side her, dreading her answer.

"I'm with Dike" Fin replied looking up at him.

Speirs sighed.

"Although it was suggested at one point, that I stay behind and paint everyone's nails" Fin added.

"I'd prefer that!" Speirs smiled, looking into her once again twinkling blue eyes.

"But don't worry about me, I know exactly where each German gun is, so it's just a walk in the park!" Fin reassured, turning her gaze back to Foy.

"Thought you said it was likely they fed you neg intel?"

"There is that too" Fin smiled teasingly.

Speirs shook his head "You're not very good at comforting me on your welfare"

"You really have no need to worry, I have a fool proof plan"

"And what is that?"

"Close my eyes and leg it!" Fin smiled at him. " You know, hope for the best and all that poppycock!"

Speirs looked around to make sure no one was listening, he leant in "Blow jobs hey?" he questioned with a knowing look.

"Corporal! Get over here!" Dike shouted interrupting them.

Fin turned to Speirs grinning "Hold that thought Poppet!" she said before jogging off to Lieutenant Dike.

Speirs grinned to himself as he slunk back into the tree line with Dog company. Cara looked confident and ready, but Dike didn't look like he would ever be ready, Speirs scowled, Dike had better not put Cara in any more danger than she would already be facing.

...

"Keep it moving!" Lip shouted " Keep moving!"

Fin ran across the field towards Foy, she was close to Dike, he wanted her by his side, it was down to her possible accurate intel, specialised training and the fact she was a medic. Bullets zipped passed them and mortars exploded all around, this is pure fucking luck Fin thought amazed that she hadn't been hit yet.

Speirs watched with his heart in his mouth.

"Covering Fire!" Winters ordered.

Fin looked across to Luz who was on Dike as well, his radio strapped to his back, at least he had a rifle though. Winters and Nix had decided Fin was officially only a medic on this assault. Fin looked up to the buildings in Foy, she could see some of the guns were where she had said, they hadn't moved too much then, obviously not worried about any intel she took with her.

A bullet whizzed by Fin Snipers! She looked around to see men going down, they were being picked off one by one!

"Keep running! Keep running!" Lip shouted again

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Fin stumbled as she felt the first of the eighty-eight's fire on their line. She'd only managed to disable two of them during her escape. She should have stayed and taken more. Dirt flew up into her face, regaining her balance she narrowly missed a crater.

"Krauts in the open!" Lieb shouted, Fin and Luz looked over to see German troops running towards a hut, Easy opened fire on them as they closed the door behind them.

Dike turned to Fin slowing down, "Keep with me!" he yelled

"I'm right here Sir, but we've got to keep going!" Fin urged.

Dike erratically started to turn his head in all directions, practically coming to a standstill "Where's Foley?" he shouted as they ducked down from the German gunfire.

"Where's first platoon?" He shouted at Fin but before she could answer, he held up his hand "Hold up!" he shouted over the noise of the artillery. Fin crouched down along side him " We can't stop here Sir!" she advised sternly.

"We're sitting ducks here Fin!" Luz shouted at her

"I know Luz!" Fin exclaimed " Sir! Please, we've got to go!" Fin turned to Dike almost on top of him now. Bullets peppered to the right of them, Fin grabbed Dike and pulled him out the way. He was completely oblivious, still wildly snapping his head around.

"Keep moving!" Lip shouted again

Dike was screaming now, Fin was no longer feeling confident, this man was going to get them all killed "Easy Company! HOLD UP!" Fin and Luz pulled in their position to a motionless Dike. Fuck this is not good! Fin thought as Easy company just squatted in the grass out in the open awaiting orders from Dike.

Speirs edged forwards, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Easy Company had stopped in the open! Cara was crouched next to Dike, she wasn't shouting but she was speaking to him with urgency from what he could tell. It was taking every bit of his will power not to run out there. He held his breath hoping he wouldn't see a bullet rip through her.

Winters, Nix, Sink and Strayer stood there in disbelief at the sight of Easy all crouching down. Winters moved forward of his position in the tree line. "WILL YOU MOVE!" Winters shouted, "MOVE! GET OUT OF THERE!" He waved his hands at Dike, but Dike wasn't paying any attention.

Speirs looked over at Winters shouting and waving his arms wildly at Dike. His heart skipped a beat, they all knew what would happen if Easy didn't get moving.

Fin didn't dare look over her shoulder back at the tree line. She could imagine what they were all thinking. "Fin get me Luz!" Dike shouted at her

"He's right here Sir" Fin replied gesturing Luz closer.

"Get me Foley on the radio!" he shouted.

"We need to take cover!" Fin shouted as an explosion hit just in front of them covering the three of them in dirt.

Fin grabbed Dike's arm and pulled him up "Come on Sir!" she shouted. The three of them ran and took cover behind one of the large hay bales.

Luz handed Dike the radio "Foley Sir"

"Foley!" Dike screamed "Foley you get back here where I can see you God damn it!" Dike threw the radio back at Luz.

Fin looked up, she was just able to make out Winters waving at the tree line.

First platoon moved their position closer to Dike attracting the attention of the Krauts.

Fin saw Foley and Lipton make it over to their hay bale "What are we doing Lieutenant?" Foley asked Dike.

Lip turned to Fin and Luz "Why have we stopped?" he demanded

Fin couldn't answer, she actually didn't fucking know " I have fucking no idea!" she replied.

Dike flinched, sinking lower as the barrage bombarded them all around, the Krauts knew exactly where to target.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Dike panicked "Fall back! Fall back!" he screamed.

Luz held up the radio to Dike " What's the plan Lieutenant?"

"I don't know! I don't know! I don't know!" he screamed

Not a time for indecisiveness! Fin thought as another barrage of eighty-eight's hit nearby.

BOOM! BOOM!

Suddenly all the men started shouting at Dike, Fin could see him slowly withdrawing into himself, not being able to answer any of them.

"Captain Winters Sir!" Luz shouted holding up the radio receiver to Dike.

"What's going on?"

"What's the plan?"

"Lieutenant Dike Sir!"

The questions and shouting continued.

"Ok, ok! Foley, you take your men around the back of the village" Dike ordered "and attack it from the rear!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"You want first platoon to go around and attack the back of the village by itself?!" Foley asked.

"We will provide suppressing fire!" Dike shouted.

"We're gonna be kind of alone out there, Lieutenant" Foley snapped back.

Dike looked at Foley for a split second "Fin!" he screamed

"Right here Sir!" Fin replied.

Dike grabbed Fin ripping off her red cross patch and chucking it away, he then slammed his rifle into her arms " There, you've got an extra one!" he screamed at a shocked Foley "We will provide suppressing fire!" he repeated screaming once again.

Foley looked at Dike in disgust then turned to Fin, "On me!" he said as Fin got up with another first platoon trooper and followed Foley.

Winters, Nix and Speirs couldn't believe what they had just seen! Dike ripping off Fin's patch and giving her his rifle, they then watched as she moved out with Foley, as soon as they were clear of the hay bale, Fin was shot by a sniper, she went down, Foley continued without her. She got up and ran after Foley again. Speirs almost lost it, she got up, she got up!

Absolutely livid, Luz shouted at Dike " You need to speak to Captain Winters Sir!"

Dike remained motionless and unresponsive.

Winters was raging, his anger increasing tenfold by the second. He watched as Foley and his men now with their extra trooper made their way to the back of the village, being targeted and picked off by snipers.

Oh how I love a suicide mission! Fin could all but entertain herself through the pain of the bullet in her arm. She had managed a quick look. She wouldn't be bleeding out thankfully.

Foley turned to her "You ok?"

"Dog's bollocks Sir!" Fin winced through the incredible ache.

"Not sure what that means Corporal, but I'm gonna take it as you're ok!" Foley replied amused.

Fin gave Foley the thumbs up as she ducked from a peppering of bullets by their feet. Foley motioned for them all to move forward. Fin aimed Dike's rifle up, spotting a sniper. She took him out and followed. They rounded more buildings, being pinned down every now and then. They moved when the Krauts concentrated on Dike and his hay bale. Foley pulled them to a stop by a wall. He looked over, Easy were on one side of Foy in the field and they were now on the other side. There were Krauts and a Kraut tank between them.

Foley turned after receiving a message via the radio. "Snipers in the building with the caved in roof!"

Fin manoeuvred herself and began firing. Her arm was killing her, she'd need to treat it soon before it was fucked.

"We need to keep moving!" Lip shouted at Dike, but it was to no avail, Dike was well and truly out of it, clinging onto his coat, his helmet now lying on the ground. Their Officer was of no use. Shellshocked

Speirs watched as Dike slunk further to the ground, flinching every time there was an explosion. He moved himself closer to where Winters stood. He was itching to get out there, they were lambs to the slaughter, how long could they all still stand here watching it?

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

"You've got to keep moving!" Winters shouted aimlessly, he marched forward with his rifle at the ready, he was going to go...

"Captain Winters!" Sink shouted preempting Winters move towards Easy "God damn it you cannot go! You are the battalion commander! Now come back here!" He barked.

Nix watched as Winters hesitated at Sink's command, then just as quickly as Sink finished speaking Winters shouted "Speirs! Get yourself over here!"

Speirs was there in a flash

"Get out there and relieve Dike and take that attack on in!" Winters ordered

Without hesitation Speirs ran out of the tree line straight across the field towards Dike.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Speirs ran through the gunfire like he was bulletproof, a mortar exploded right in front of him, he didn't stop, jumping through it and emerging through the smoke to the amazement of the men taking cover behind the hay bale. He didn't slow, he sprinted all the way, skidding to a stop by Dike.

Speirs looked directly at Dike who stared straight ahead, he grabbed his coat "I'm taking over" he informed calmly. Speirs immediately turned to Lip "First Sergeant Lipton, What we got?"

"Most of the company is spread out, first platoon are trying a flanking position, but they're now pinned down by a sniper, I believe he's in the building with the caved in roof"

Speirs quickly within a matter of seconds assessed the situation, scanning his eyes around "I want mortars and grenades on the building till it's gone, when it's gone I want first to go straight in, forget going around, everybody else follow me!" Speirs stood up and ran towards the village.

"Yes Sir!" Lip smiled, at last a good leader!

Speirs ran and dived down the side of a building, the Krauts targeting where he was. Lip caught up with him.

"What do you see Lipton?" he shouted.

"Infantry…a lot of infantry!" Lip shouted back.

"I Company is supposed to be on the other side of the town, do you see them?!" Speirs shouted

"No Sir! I think they're gonna pull back if we don't make contact somehow" Lip replied.

"Wait here!" Speirs ordered, without hesitation he ran out into the open, he needed to get to I company and knowing that a wounded Cara was with them, he needed to see that she was still ok.

Lip looked on in awe as Speirs ran through the Kraut line towards I company to make contact.

The Germans didn't fire at him at first, they were too shocked at his bravery and audacity.

Speirs ran past the Germans standing with their mouths open, he kept his gaze straight towards where I company was. He threw himself over the wall and made contact. After delivering his instructions, Speirs looked round quickly, searching for Cara, he saw her further up, firing on some snipers in another building. "Is Corporal Finney wounded?" he asked Foley.

"Yes, but she's ok"

Then the most remarkable thing happened. Speirs jumped back over the wall and ran back. The Germans shot at him but nothing hit him.

...

They had taken Foy. Speirs stalked through checking on the men, a few were gathered on a tank singing and being filmed. He was looking for Cara, but he couldn't see her anywhere.

"SNIPERS!"

Fin pressed her back against the building away from the gunfire with Shifty and Lip. "We need to get both of them at the same time!" Lip called

"I'll take this one!" Fin said pointing to the sniper closest to their location in the top window of a small house. "Shifty can take that one" Fin pointed to the other sniper further away in the top window of a larger house.

"Are you sure Fin?" Lip asked

"Absolutely"

"Signal when you're ready and I'll run out as bait, don't you both miss now!" Lip instructed.

Fin hunched down, ran across to her target, Lip watched her before suddenly realising. "How the hell is she gonna take out the sniper?" Lip shouted at Shifty "She ain't got Dikes rifle any more!"

"Her side arm?" Shifty shrugged concentrating on his target.

Speirs watched in shock as he witnessed Fin climb up the side of a small house with ease despite the bullet wound to her right arm. Swinging and throwing herself up the wall. She reached the roof in seconds and then crouched down moving silently to the dormer window where the sniper was. She nodded her head and Speirs followed her line of sight down to Lip. Lip then ran out into the open, in a synchronised action, Shifty stepped round the corner of the building he was behind and fired a shot killing his target as Fin holding onto the window frame swung into the window where her target was, a shot fired out and Fin appeared in the window waving her arm signalling it had been a success. Lip sat down on the ground relieved.

Speirs immediately walked out towards the building Fin was in, only to be stopped by Winters and Nix. "We have some good news for you Lieutenant" Winters smiled immensely proud and pleased to have found a decent CO for Easy finally.

Spiers smiled then looked back up to where Fin was, but she had left the window.

Nix noticed "Oh and we have some information to fill you in on, regarding Corporal Finney"

Catching his attention back, Speirs nodded and followed the two men.

...

"Congratulations Captain Speirs!" Winters and Nix shook his hand. Speirs was very pleased at the promotion to Easy CO.

"You have information about Corporal Finney?" Speirs enquired.

"Ahh yes, well you may want to sit down for this!" Nix smirked gaining a smile from Winters as well.

"I'll stand" Speirs stated unimpressed, folding his arms across his chest.

"Well, Fin didn't come to us as a medic, that's just her cover to the enlisted men, apart from Doc, although a very useful one as she is a trained medic" Nix began.

Speirs remained expressionless, still not impressed .

"Fin is British Special Forces. She was working with the Red Devils on covert reconnaissance missions and that's what she has been doing for us amongst other things we haven't ordered!" Nix laughed.

Speirs finally raised an eyebrow that explains a lot he thought, walking towards the danger! God damn woman! he always knew there had to be more to her. British Special Forces he could deal with that. She was obviously the masked American soldier taking out snipers and jumping out of buildings as well! Oh what a fucking conversation they were going to have, she was in so much fucking trouble when he got hold of her!

"Just to top it all off, Fin started her career as an SOE Agent, although at present she is inoperative." Winters added. "And her capture was an order, she let the Krauts take her prisoner"

Speirs shook his head in disbelief "She fucking what!' he snapped.

"We weren't happy about it either, it hadn't gone how we planned." Nix replied.

"No one predicted Hudson getting hurt" Winters chipped in. "And Fin said she'd be in control and no danger"

"We were reassured by Baker Street that she's quite the escape artist, so not to be concerned" Nix informed trying to placate a fuming Speirs.

Speirs was raging how could she let herself get captured and beaten! He had been beside himself and she had walked towards the Krauts intentionally knowing that he could do nothing but watch!

"I know it's a lot to take in, but she's not to carry out any SOE missions while under contract with us." Nix reassured knowing that Speirs' reaction was probably more to do with the fact he was in love with the girl more than anything else.

"Will she be operative again?" Speirs enquired trying to suppress his anger

"I doubt it, she disobeyed orders on a mission and they were pretty pissed about it" Nix replied.

"What were the orders?"

"To sleep with an SS Officer for information and once she had the intel to leave quietly" Winters replied.

"She extracted the intel without sleeping with the Nazi and well, she didn't exactly leave quietly, she stabbed him and he stabbed her in the leg!" Nix concluded.

Speirs was seething how could she not have even hinted at this to him! "That scar at the top of her thigh and her demotion?" Speirs stated managing to keep his rage inside his head.

"You got it" Winters confirmed.

My God that woman was going to find out how fucking angry he could get! A fucking agent! He thought they had something! and she didn't even feel it appropriate enough to mention that she's an agent! He'd heard rumours about SOE and what they got up to!

Nix could see Speirs' eyes darkening and his face fighting the anger that was obviously building up, He felt that maybe he should try and diffuse the situation.

"Her SOE training does come in handy, she's very good at acquiring Kraut alcohol!" Nix laughed

"Oh so that's where all those bottles came from!" Winters smirked shaking his head.

Nix's little Kraut alcohol revelation didn't seem to appease Speirs. In fact Nix sensed it could be making his anger worse.

The door burst open "Sorry Sirs!" Luz said breathless

"What is it?" Speirs snapped.

'Fin's missing!" Luz replied.

...

Herrick and a small squad of six men had been waiting downstairs for Fin. If she didn't know any better, she would have said her sniper was a trap. She looked at them all, Herrick stepping forward smiling. "We meet again so soon!" he smiled, removing Fin's helmet.

"Who are they?" Fin demanded looking at German dead bodies in the corner of the room.

"They were sent by the Gestapo to arrest you. You are mine to deal with, no one elses" Herrick grinned "Now put your hands up where I can see them Ema!"

...

Fin was marched through the building out towards the rear. They walked through the kitchen and out the back door. Herrick held the barrel of his Luger painfully into Fin's back as she walked in front of him with her hands held up high, her arm throbbing, but her adrenaline keeping her going. Three troops marched in front of them and three behind them. Fin wondered how she was going to get out of this one. They continued walking until they reached a stone out building on the edge of Foy, well away from any attention she could get from the Americans.

Herrick finished tying Fin's wrists, tighter this time and he removed her watch as well, after the tip off he had received. He looked at her, she just smiled sweetly at him. The girl was insufferable! He whipped out a bandage and tied it tightly round her eyes.

"I am actually saving you Ema, this way is much kinder than what the Gestapo will do to you" Herrick informed Fin. He was aware now that her name wasn't Ema, but to him she would always be Ema.

"Duly noted" Fin replied "Is the blindfold really necessary?"

"Yes"

"It's just all getting a bit kinky and I'm not that kind of girl!"

"Shut up Ema!" Herrick barked pulling Fin roughly back against a wall "Stay still!"

"Don't I get any last words?" Fin enquired.

"No!"

"That's not fair! Don't you want to hear what I've got to say?"

"No!" Herrick barked "Not really"

"But I've been perfecting what I've wanted to say for years!" Fin whinged "Just in case I was ever given this opportunity!"

"This is an execution Ema! Not a job interview!"

"Please!"

Herrick was curious "Fine, be quick!" he barked. "I'm only humouring you because we are old friends!"

"Thank you Herrick, although, personally I would use the word 'friends' very loosely!"

"Do you want to speak?" Herrick threatened.

Fin straightened herself up and cleared her throat. "For today's execution, I would like to recite a poem" Fin began.

Herrick sighed loudly.

"I will first recite it in English and then for those of you who don't speak English, I will then recite it in German..."

"Ema!" Herrick shouted. "What are you doing?!" he shouted continually throwing his arms up in disbelief at her stalling.

"Need I remind you that this is my execution Herrick, not yours! Pipe down and stop trying to steal my thunder!" Fin scolded.

"Continue" Herrick sighed putting his head in his hands, he didn't know why he entertained her lack of respect, it was an unspoken game they had always played. He would 'capture' (another word to be used loosely he thought!) her, she would irritate him, he would beat her. The same old cycle. Maybe he let it happen, maybe he wanted her to escape each time. Not this time though... the game was over.

"Thank you Herrick" Fin acknowledged calmly "The poem has taken a great deal of time to perfect and memorise, therefore I hope I don't make any mistakes now that I'm in the spotlight! I have to say I am a little nervous!" Fin giggled.

Fin cleared her throat again.

"Does anyone speak Latin?" Fin asked " It sounds musical in Latin"

"Ema!" Herrick was getting annoyed, he only let her continue out of his insatiable curiosity for her.

"Ok, Ok!" She cleared her throat a third time, just for effect and to annoy Herrick.

"Roses are red

Violets are blue

I've been using my fingers

But thinking of you!"

Fin took a bow. "Thank you, you've been a wonderful audience!"

Fin heard some muffled laughter Ahh! Some of Herrick's men understood English!

Herrick's men exchanged glances, grinning at each other, but none of them dare laugh out loud and face Herrick's anger.

Seething with rage, Herrick closed in on Fin and punched her hard in the stomach causing her knees to buckle and she fell to the ground. She choked and spluttered from the blow. Herrick grabbed her hair pulling her up, forcing her to stand. Once on her feet, she struggled to breathe properly, but refused Herrick the satisfaction and hid her pain from him.

"Ema! Do you not take anything seriously? I'm going to execute you!" Herrick shouted angrily.

"Of course I do Herrick, but, you do realise that if you kill me, the Gestapo will kill you." Fin gasped catching her breath.

"That is true, but I think it's our time now Ema" Herrick replied gently, he had given up on surviving this war for some time.

He stroked her hair, running his hand down the side of her face "Good bye Ema" Herrick walked back towards his men. He admired her, even in her last moments on this earth she showed no weakness, she stood there with dignity. It was a shame it had finally come to this.

"See you on the other side bud!" Fin replied trying to sound cheerful, she composed herself.

"BEREITMACHEN!" (Make Ready!)

Fin heard the German squad lift their rifles.

"WAFFEN BEREITEN!" (Present Arms!)

"Good bye Ron" Fin whispered bravely, her thoughts taking over and her regret of not having Ron washed heavily over her. Was she going to die happy? No, she hadn't even had him! Her dying thought would not be of the mind blowing sex she had hoped for but of only a few stolen kisses, a rub up in a foxhole and a fondle! Bloody hell woman, you're not even going out in style. You didn't even get as far as telling him you love him!

Fin felt a great sadness overcome her, eventually to him she would only be a distant memory, someone he once knew...

Fin stood tall, her head held high, she silently thanked Herrick for the blindfold, it hid her tears, not tears of fear, but tears of regret.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

"ABFEUERN!..." (Fire)

Pop!