A/N Thank you again to all the lovely readers, favourites, followers and reviews, I really do appreciate all of your support.
LolaJGreen- Thank you, I'm so glad you're enjoying the story and I have lots in store still!
Luckylily - We're coming out of the twists and turns now! Hope you still enjoy!
Lt. M - I was actually close to Shifty and Fin having a fling, but as her character developed I don't think they would have been right for one another. She is cocky and a bit out there, where Shifty is gentle and soft. In the long run I don't think they would have worked. Speirs I think was more suited to handling her and their personalities go hand in hand sometimes, even if Speirs doesn't like it! I'm glad you're enjoying the story though.
I'm guessing some of you may not like this chapter! but I hope you do.
Enjoy.
...
Tab and More raced back, Tab was still fighting his guilt for leaving Fin, but she had shocked him, she spoke with such hostility that she almost scared him. She was a medic and a spy, she knew what she was doing didn't she? He tried to convince himself. They drove faster all the way to the Aid station. Tab and More carried Grant into the Aid station shouting for a doctor. "Go get Captain Speirs!" Tab shouted at More.
..
"Ma'am the area is secure" Wilson replied returning from disposing of the German body, his hands and clothes covered in blood. It was a messy, brutal task, but he had no choice, the body could never be recognised if found or linked to either one of them.
"Good job Corporal, we're going to Safehouse Baker" Fin ordered, desperately trying to talk through the pain. She was still lying where she had been since getting shot, she couldn't move on her own and was thankful no other vehicles had come past. Her side arm at the ready, she wouldn't have hesitated again.
"Baker? But there is no doctor at Baker!" Wilson exclaimed
"No, but the next best thing"
"Not really!" Wilson argued
"It's an order Wilson!" Fin strained to shout, she couldn't go to a doctor, it was too obvious, the mission was compromised, Tab wouldn't keep his mouth shut for long and after what Ron said about not being able to stand seeing her in front of a firing squad, well if he had any feelings left for her at all, she couldn't let him see her die.
Fin let out a cry as Wilson picked her up and placed her in the back of the American shooter's jeep.
...
Speirs looked down at Grant, it didn't look good, it filled him with rage, they were still dying, too much alcohol, free time and weapons and this is what you get. He held Grant's hand, patting it as a father would do to comfort his son.
The doctor looked down under Grant's bandage his cigarette dangling from his lips "Jesus!" he said looking back up and carefully replacing it.
"What?" Speirs asked quietly
"He's not going to make it"
"You can't operate on him?" Doc asked in his gentle cajun accent.
"Not me, you'd need a brain surgeon and even if you had one, I don't think there's any hope!" the doctor said taking a drag from his cigarette and walking away.
"There might be one in the town" Tab offered Fin's information over to a puzzled Speirs.
"You find the shooter I want him alive!" Speirs instructed Tab "Come on help me"
"What are you doing?" the doctor called as Speirs, Tab and Doc moved Grant to the door.
"We're gonna go find a brain surgeon!" Speirs shouted..
...
Wilson erratically pulled the shooter's jeep to a halt. They did have fuel, Wilson had taken the jerry can without the American noticing when he heard him ask Fin for gas, what a big mistake that was. He jumped out and ran round, Fin had been in and out of consciousness the whole journey, every now and then letting out a painful cry, Wilson could hardly bear to hear her in such pain. He gathered her up in his arms as she let out another pained cry and jogged gently over to the secluded wooden house at the dip of a small grassy hill, obscured from those on the road. Upon reaching the door, Wilson lifted his leg and kicked it open to a startled balding, portly, middle aged man sitting in his armchair. "Clear the table!" Wilson ordered waiting for the man to spring into action. The man heaved out of his chair and swept the wooden table with his arm, clearing the crockery onto the stone floor with a crash.
Wilson carefully placed Fin down as she raised her knees up and rocked onto her side, releasing an agonised groan.
"What happened?"
"She got shot, help her Edbert" Wilson demanded
"Why did you bring her to me? I'm a butcher! I can't help!"
"You know how to cut, now cut that bullet out!"
"I'll kill her! I don't know how to cut a bullet out!" Edbert protested
"If we don't get that bullet out, she will die!"
"I dispose of bodies, not save them! Edbert hollered "We need an officer. It's a code red situation, go and get one!" Edbert urged.
"You help her! I'll be back soon!" Wilson called running out the door.
Edbert leaned over Fin and affectionately stroked her hair as she continued her groans. He could see that they were against the clock on this one.
Fin could barely hear Wilson and Edbert arguing. From the tone she could pick up from them, things weren't looking good for her. She should have kept the bracelet Ron gifted her, some luck was certainly needed now. Ron Fin needed to stay conscious, let me see him one last time She was having difficulties though, she couldn't concentrate very well.
...
"Hey Lieb" Tab called walking with conviction down the corridor of Easy's accommodation "he wants a nom com guarding each road block and at least two men watching every road out of town. Bull, Malark, you each take a squad on a house to house search!"
"Do we shoot this bastard on sight?" Malarkey asked.
"Try and take him alive" Tab sighed knowing that it would be a different story if Speirs knew he had shot Fin as well.
"Where's Grant now?" Webster asked
"They've taken him to a Kraut hospital, see if they can drum up any good doctors"
...
Speirs banged on the door to a large house in the town. He banged again before a light went on and a curtain pulled back.
"Open up!" he ordered pointing his pistol at the glass.
The door opened.
"Come with me"
"Why?" he asked tentatively in his thick German accent.
"Get in the jeep"
The German grabbed a coat and put it on over his nightwear "Where are we going?"
"To the hospital, get in" Speirs said pointing his pistol at the German surgeon
"If you're going to shoot me, shoot me, if you're not put the gun away" the surgeon said nervously.
"Get in the jeep now!" Speirs ordered shaking his head.
The surgeon turned and looked at Doc then back down at Grant "What happened to him?"
"Got shot in the head" Doc replied
The surgeon looked under the bandages around Grant's head.
"Half hour ago" Speirs sighed. "Come on" Speirs shoved the surgeon's arm with his pistol.
"If you want him to live, you will help me, first by putting that away!" he said eyeing the gun.
Speirs opened his mouth, thought better of it and put his pistol back in it's holster instead. "Come on"
"Let me drive, we'll get there faster" the surgeon stated. Speirs hesitated for a split second then walked round to the passenger side.
...
Luz lit a cigarette and eyed the cards spread out in front of him as Tab shifted nervously opposite Tab looked over his shoulder towards the sounds of punching and groans coming from the closed door behind him "Jesus" he muttered.
"Who's taking a bigger beating? Me or him?" Luz gently joked as Tab looked towards the sounds again.
"Do ya want to play a different game?" Tab asked uncomfortably, placing the cards in his hands.
"Nah, just shuffle them up good""
Tab aggressively slammed the cards in his hands, agitated by the beating going on in the next room and that the bastard wasn't being punished for all his crimes.
"You ok?" Luz asked, his cigarette dangling from his lips.
Tab nodded "Yeah I'm alright"
"You want to go in there and join in?"
"No, I should stop this, he's not being punished for all his crimes" Tab looked back at the door where the punches being thrown could be heard. "It's...it's Fin" Tab mumbled quietly, refusing to make eye contact with Luz.
"What about Fin?" Luz asked confused "Is she back with Easy?"
"No, she...SHIT!" Tab cried "I left her, she was bleeding, she's hurt bad!" Tab blurted out.
"What the fuck do ya mean Tab?!" Luz was now worried, none of those words should be spoken with Fin in the equation.
"He shot her too, he shot her first, I left her lying in the road!" Tab stood up pacing the floor.
"What! Why did you leave her?" Luz joined Tab on his feet, placing his hands behind his head.
"She ordered me to, I think she was on a job"
"Shit, Tab, you still shouldn't have left her! Did she have help?"
"She said she had help on the way!"
"We've gotta go..." Luz was interrupted by the door swinging open and a foreboding presence from Speirs stalking in.
"Where is he?"
"How's Grant?" Tab asked
"Where is he?"
"Is he ok?"
"WHERE IS HE?" Speirs shouted stopping to look at Tab before hearing the commotion behind the closed door.
Speirs walked over and opened the door, the crowd of men parted each one looking at Speirs to reveal the perpetrator sat, tied up in a chair, his face or bloodied from the volley of punches inflicted on him. He coughed and choked on his blood.
"Is this him?" Speirs spoke calmly
Silence fell on the room
Bull looked over at Speirs "That's him"
Speirs crept forward glaring deathly at the soldier who was still coughing.
"Replacement, I company" Bull added.
Speirs glared straight at the soldier "Where's the weapon?"
"Wha...what weapon?" the soldier gasped looking up at Speirs.
Speirs raised his arm and struck the soldier hard across the face, blood splattering out of his mouth.
"When you talk to an officer you say Sir!"
The soldier coughed and spluttered, Speirs cocked his pistol, then raised it, pointing it directly at the soldiers head. The men stepped back. Perconte's mouth fell open. None of them would stop Speirs though, the bastard had it coming.
Speirs stood for a few seconds more, the rage causing his hand to shake. The soldier gasped and struggled for breath, Malarkey closed his eyes as Speirs' hand shook some more. Suddenly Speirs lowered his pistol and turned his hand to see the blood on it from where he struck the soldier. He wiped it on his shoulder as the replacement sighed in relief. Speirs turned and removed his cap, walking away. "Have the MP'S take care of this piece of shit"
"Grant's dead?" Tab asked as Speirs stopped
"Nope, Kraut surgeon says he's gonna make it" he replied putting his pistol back in it's holster.
"Tell him!" Luz urged Tab
Speirs stopped again, but kept his back to them.
Tab stepped forward "...Sir, I saw... I saw Fin!" Tab blurted "He shot her too and a kraut that was with her!"
Speirs didn't think, he shot her too ripped through his head like a bullet. He didn't even look at Tab and Luz, he turned positively psychotic, turning around without a word he stalked back to the piece of shit he didn't shoot.
"She's alive Sir!" Tab shouted stopping Speirs dead in his tracks.
He whipped round "Where is she?"
Tab lowered his head "I left her on the road"
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"She ordered me Sir, she was angry, so angry! she said I had no time to lose and had to get Grant to a surgeon, she told me there was one in the town" Tab replied sadly, he had made a mistake, he should have ignored Fin's order.
"Outside now!, you're taking me to where you left her!" Speirs ordered
...
Speirs and Tab pulled up to where the shootings took place. There was nothing there. They both jumped out and did a quick search of the verge at the side of the road. Nothing. Tab walked to where he had left Fin lying, Blood, a lot of blood.
'Is this hers?" Speirs asked standing at Tab's side
"Yes Sir"
Speirs cupped his hands over his mouth Fuck that's a lot of blood "I want you all back out, road blocks, house to house searches, look everywhere!" Speirs would concentrate on finding Cara, he wouldn't let his worry and anger take control, he wouldn't give up on her.
...
Speirs burst through the front door of Nix's quarters interrupting the meal him and Eve were enjoying.
"How is Grant?" Nix asked ignoring the intrusion
"Cara got shot and now she's missing!" Speirs blurted out.
Eve jumped up almost knocking the dinner off the table "What do you mean she's been shot and is missing?"
"Grant got shot because he confronted a replacement that had shot a British Officer and a German. The British Officer was Cara. She ordered Tab to leave her. We went back and everything had gone, including Cara, there was only blood on the road." Speirs quickly brought Eve and Nix up to speed.
"The mission is compromised, they cleaned up" Eve sighed shaking her head, pacing the floor. Nix stood up no longer hungry.
"Have you been to the hospital?" Nix asked
"Of course" Speirs snapped a glare at Nix for the stupid question, "no sign of her there or ever being there"
"They've gone to a safe house, if the shooter saw Fin with the German, then he can identify them both. T Force can't be identified, the immunity for the Nazi scientists is too controversial. They will go into hiding until something can be done" Eve revealed.
"He'll be executed for what he's done, but not without a court martial first" Nix added.
"Where would they have gone Eve?" Speirs urged
"I...I don't know, I don't know Fin's safehouses in Austria" Eve looked worried, she brought her hands to her face and slowly dragged them down while she tried to think.
"Won't she go to a doctor?" Speirs asked.
"Ok, she wasn't alone, she was with Corporal Wilson, therefore we have good news and bad news." Eve informed the two American Officers as she calmed and composed herself.
"What's the good news?" Nix asked
"Wilson is very good at his job, She'll be in good hands."
"What's the bad news?" Speirs dared to ask
"Wilson is very good at his job" Eve repeated
"You just said that was the good news Eve" Nix said confused, placing a hand on Eve's shoulder.
"He's very good at his job as in he will follow Fin's orders to the letter, meaning if she orders him not to take her to a doctor, then he won't" Eve explained.
"Shit" Speirs rubbed the back of his head, the more time they lost looking for her...well he didn't want to think about what would happen. "I have ordered more road blocks and door to door searches."
"That's a good start" Eve replied "Go see Taylor, Fin's superior Officer he may know her safehouse"
"Right you stay here Eve, in case she comes to you" Nix said rushing to kiss her cheek before darting out the door with Speirs.
...
British Base
"Where is she?" Speirs demanded bursting into Taylor's office at the British base, he had located SOE after his investigations into trying to find out if Cara was heading to the Pacific. It wasn't hard to find, maybe they had relaxed with the war now over. "I know who you are!"
Taylor looked up from his paperwork and lowered his glasses, peering over the top of them at Speirs, undeterred by the sudden intrusion, at this late hour "I presume you're talking about Fin or Eve or both?" he asked calmly.
"You know I'm asking about Fin!" Speirs hissed bearing down over Taylor's desk,
"She's temporarily working for T Force, they have different protocols" Taylor replied matter of factly not letting on any sign that he was slightly intimidated by the obviously raging yank officer.
"She's hurt and missing where would she go?" Speirs demanded.
"A Safehouse I presume, that's what I would do"
"I want a list of all SOE safehouses now!" Speirs growled slamming his hand down on the table, Taylor felt the wave of the violent vibration.
"Agents have their own safehouses, they are unknown to HQ in case there is ever a double agent. I don't know where Fin's are"
"You must have some idea!" Speirs shouted standing up and backing off a bit from the table.
Taylor got up and walked over to his filing cabinet "Look. If she lives, I'm sure she'll come and find you, if she doesn't, well...well she made an excellent contribution to the war."
Without hesitation, Speirs stalked forward and punched Taylor straight on in the face for his coldness towards his best agent. Taylor buckled down, grasping the cabinet for support. Nix grabbed Speirs and pulled him back, restraining him from punching Taylor again. He easily broke free from Nix and stormed out.
Nix glared at Taylor then quickly followed after Speirs, he hoped Easy company's door to door search was fairing better.
Taylor sighed and sat back down in his chair, he didn't care he was punched. He did care for his agents though, he just didn't show it. How could he break down over every dead agent? He'd never get up again.
...
Wilson parked his jeep away from the house and jogged up under the cover of darkness. Upon reaching it, he scoped out to see if Eve was alone or not, she was. He walked round to the back door and found that it was open. He walked in to find Eve pointing her pistol at him.
"Bloody hell Wilson! You gave me a heart attack sneaking around like that!" Eve exclaimed lowering her pistol away from Wilson. " Where's Fin? Is she ok?"
"Code red Ma'am"
...
Fin thought she heard Eve, but she couldn't be sure. Fin couldn't be sure of anything. As much as she tried, she just couldn't think straight. A blackness was descending and Fin couldn't get away from it. The light was fading, Fin wanted to keep the light, but the blackness was encroaching more and more.
Where did she go wrong? Could she have changed anything? She made bad decisions.
...
Nix burst through the front door of his living quarters, followed closely by Speirs " Eve!" he called but received no answer. Nix ran around the house looking for her, knocking several pieces of furniture over in the process.
"Nixon!" Speirs shouted bringing him back to the lounge, he held up a note.
Nix grabbed it and read it out loud.
Lew, darling
I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I'm hoping it's for a recoverable while. I will be doing my upmost best to see to it.
All my love
Eve
"She's gone to Cara!" Speirs shouted slamming the palm of his hand into the wall.
"She didn't know where she was! Wilson must have come for her" Nix defended Eve, although right now, Speirs didn't care, he needed to find Cara. His Cara, he needed to hold her hand, entwine his fingers in hers. She needed his touch and he needed hers.
...
Fin could hear whispering, the voices were talking about her. The ache in her side was now dull, Fin was unsure if it was a good or a bad thing, she was still having trouble concentrating. Did they give me morphine? Fin has had morphine before, but right now she couldn't remember what it felt like. This feeling in her body was unknown to her.
"Her skin looks a bit grey" Wilson said to Eve, stroking Fin's hand.
"We need a doctor, a surgeon" Eve replied fighting through her tears. Her friend, her dear best friend, she looked... she was fading.
"There is one at the D.P. camp" Edbert said re-joining the conversation "Rumour has it that he didn't declare his profession in case he's kept here instead of being sent home"
"Why are you just saying this now!" Wilson snapped
"I...I don't...everything has moved on so fast!" Edbert stuttered feeling the guilt.
Eve jumped to her feet "What does he look like and whereabouts in the camp will we find him?"
...
Fin heard silence, can one hear silence? She doesn't know why, the blackness is nearly all here now, maybe that's why it is silent. It's all too confusing for her. She wants to cry, but she doesn't know how to.
There is something the blackness doesn't like, it's trying to get rid of that last bit of light. That light was someone special, Fin is sure. Who though? Someone she loves? A man? His name? Fin can't remember. The blackness doesn't like that little bit of light.
The blackness is lonely, but now it will have her... it won't be lonely any more.
...
Speirs and Nix returned to the CP to see if any of the men had reported any findings back to Winters. As they approached, footsteps came running up behind them.
Ron!" Antonia called breathlessly, unaware of the evening's events so far. She held up her hand urging the men to stop.
Speirs turned around.
"The surgeon from the camp has been abducted!"
"What surgeon? When?"
"Not long ago, an eye witness said a man and a woman came, they were dressed as locals but had British accents" Antonia informed Speirs trying to catch her breath. "Is he in danger? his wife is beside herself!"
Wilson and Eve! Speirs knew it had to be them. They'd kidnapped the surgeon for Cara. They all had to be close by.
He could feel the panic starting to set in, Grant survived because he heard voices fighting for him. Cara needed to hear his voice, no one could fight for her like he could. Speirs drove off with Nix and Winters now joining the search, they would start house to house as well.
...
"How bad is it?" Eve asked tentatively, impatiently pacing the stone floor of the little wooden house.
"She is in a bad way, I can't promise anything, if at all" The Polish surgeon said shaking his head at the mess of the poor girl lying in front of him.
"You will do everything in your power to save her!" Eve snapped.
"I can only do my best in such barbaric conditions, a kitchen table and little surgical tools! don't hold out much hope for her!"
"It's not the first time she has survived on a table in less than favourable conditions, she will survive again" Eve replied not as convincingly as she had hoped.
"Fin stopped whimpering some time ago" Edbert sighed wiping a tear from his cheek
...
Creak...Creak... Creak... Creak...
"Cara" the melodic voice said softly.
"Yes?" Cara answered, rocking in her Grandmother's rickety old rocking chair. She is home. Cara stood and walked over to the window. Her brothers are in the garden playing football, they will both be leaving soon to join the war effort. She will miss them terribly.
"Cara" the same melodic voice said softly again.
Cara turned, it's her mother, her beautiful mother.
"Yes mother"
"It's not time to come home yet"
"Oh but I'm here now mother"
"I know my sweet, sweet girl, but it's not time"
"Can I stay for a little while?"
"No my sweet"
"But I'm tired"
"I know you are my daughter, but you need to be stronger now, more than you have ever been before"
"But, I don't want to"
"Somebody very special wants you to"
"You?"
"Think my sweet, try to remember"
Cara watches as her mother walks towards her, something isn't right, her mother doesn't look like mother any more. Her beautiful face is burnt, burnt beyond recognition. Her melted skin, her head caved in, her hair has gone. Mother holds out her arm, the burnt flesh and muscle sag off the bone Cara isn't afraid though.
Mother points her bone finger. Cara looks through the window again, her brothers are not playing football any more. They are standing still. Her brothers don't look like her brothers. Their faces are burnt too. Cara can't tell which brother is which. They point their bloodied, stubby arms at her, they have no hands. They fall down, they have no legs.
Cara turns to her mother, she is beautiful again.
"It's not time to come home yet" mother says.
