A/N: I DO NOT own Inglourious Basterds.
Sake
I glanced up sharply, all but twisting my neck as the sound of gunshots accompanied by two flashes in a window drew my attention. Staring up at a room two floors above us I cricked my neck then turned to Aldo who seemed to be thinking the same thing I was.
Without thinking, I took off running towards the house as the guys shouted my name. Behind me, Aldo's footsteps pounded the pavement and I had no time to avoid his blow as he grabbed me and shoved me against the side of the house, pinning my with an arm against my neck.
"Easy there Donowitz!" he exclaimed and I struggled against him, thinking of nothing but Annabelle with a bullet in her head. And what about Archie? What was the fate of the two people I had trusted my life with? We all leaned on each other. Granted, this was a war but that sure as hell didn't mean I wanted to lose those who had become like family.
And Annabelle? We had only just come to terms with our feelings for one another. It couldn't be so soon that tragedy struck, as if fate's sick sense of humor wanted nothing more than to taunt me. After the friends and family I had lost in the war I wasn't certain I had any more heart to break.
"Let go of me!" I screamed, wrestling against him as the guys ran up.
"STOP!" Aldo screamed as I tried to wrench myself from his grasp. Even as I panted and grunted I could hear voices around me as they all spoke about the source of my angst.
"It could've just been someone drunk letting off a few. You've seen people running in and out all night like animals." One of the guys exclaimed.
"You want to find out? Archie's in there!" someone else exclaimed, and I finally managed to break free from Aldo's grasp, running towards the front doors of the mansion as Aldo screamed for me. On his command the rest of the group grabbed me, tackling me to the ground. Staring up at the empty sky my heart pounded and I imagined Annabelle laying on the floor with a bullet through her skull, a bloody halo spread about her as Archie's wounds took his life.
Or would they torture them for information? Both were tough, though it was only a matter before one broke. More than likely Annabelle. She would cry and scream and tell them everything before they killed her, taking out two birds with one stone.
"You think running in like the goddamn Calvary is going to help? We need a plan!" Aldo exclaimed, and I relaxed slightly, staying up at the window again as I let myself come to rest on the floor. Coming to kneel beside me Aldo leaned over and helped me up, brushing the dirt from my back. For the first time since this petty show of dominance for Annabelle's affection I felt as though Aldo was my brother once again.
"I have to get her…it's her. I know it's her." I shook my head and Aldo sighed, turning his head and whispering something to one of the guys.
"Gut feeling between the both of us. Well, we got one shot at this. We gotta make this quick and efficient. Bullets came from up there, library. We need to get in there, get them, and get out. Omar, you and Utivich go grab some gents, get us a couple of tuxes. Stay out here, we'll need saturation to help get those two out. Donny come here…let's get ready to go get our people."
I opened my eyes, staring up at a glaring light as I felt an overwhelming pain traveling in waves through my body. Turning my head I opened my mouth, my throat dry while I tried to talk only to couch, warm metal liquid seeping past my lips.
"Am I dying?" I tried to say, only hearing a mumble come out as the bullet lodged in my stomach tore anger through me. I could feel myself moving, see the sky overhead with voices around me that clouded my ears as I tried to ease the pain which refused to subside. Instead it only grew in intensity and I closed my eyes, a voice suddenly clear in my ears.
"Annabelle, honey it's me. It's me Donny. It's alright just stay with me the Doc is going to get you all fixed up you just gotta stay with me."
Donny. How could I forget him? How was it that he wasn't my first thought when I opened my eyes? After all, he was currently the only person in the world I had that gave a damn about me, and the feeling was mutual. Blinking I tried to place him through blurry eyes but could not as the blaring sound of a gun going off continued to play over and over again in my head.
And each time I could feel the bullet penetrate me, sending my body back in pain as Archie screamed my name. I felt myself fall to the ground, black silence taking over while sharp lead burned inside me creating a hurt so intense I was sure the very sun was burning inside of me.
I didn't know where I was or how I had gotten there. All I knew was that with a shot to the stomach, I was uncertain of how I was still alive. There probably was not much time left for me either, and something told me to say my final prayers as I prepared myself for finality. Strange how easy it seemed, to say goodbye to such corrupt and dying world that was the only thing I knew. Still, I was ready to accept death and all it meant so long as the pain stopped.
"Get her on the table here. Archie how's your neck doing?"
"I'm fine just get to work on her." A voice came from worlds away and I closed my eyes, flexing my hand with all the strength I could muster. A foreign weight fell into it and I felt the distinct contact of calloused skin as Donny clutched my hand tightly in his own, leaning forward and whispering in my ear. His words were gentle and tender, yet still managed to resonate through my fog as I clung to whatever life I had left.
"Annabelle please, don't leave me. You can't. Just stay with me baby everything is going to be alright I promise." He pleaded and I wanted to apologize to him. I wanted him to know what I was feeling and tell him I couldn't fight anymore. I needed to let go so I formed what words I could through my mouth not knowing if they would come out properly or not.
"I have to go." I breathed then closed my eyes, shutting everything out as everything went numb.
I looked up from my magazine as Annabelle stirred in her bed, mumbling something for the first time in two days since she had been laid to rest. The Doc kept visiting to clean and care for her wound, making sure she didn't bleed anymore or slip away from us. And Annabelle continued to sleep. Once in a while she would turn her head or her eyes would flutter, before she sunk back into a seemingly-eternal sleep.
But now, I had proof she really would make it. The Doc assured me she would be fine, but I had nothing but pessimistic thoughts while I watched her sleep day and night, showing no signs that she was going to recover at all.
Setting the pulp down I rushed across the room, leaning over the bed as I grasped Annabelle's hand. Turning towards me she moaned and struggled to say something, forcing me to lean forward as I struggled not to grab her and swing her around the room like a ragdoll.
"Annabelle? It's me, Donny." I whispered, and she continued to mumble as though trying to speak to me. Opening her eyes slightly in hazy confusion I remembered she was being kept on a cocktail of antibiotics and a sedative to still her pain after she came in screaming. Bending down I brushed a watery tear from the side of her face then pushing her head back as her eyes searched and seemingly found me.
"…Donny?" she breathed, her voice soft and childlike and I nodded, feeling as though an enormous weight had been lifted off of my chest. It was unreal the way it felt, seeing her laying there in complete sorrow as I wondered if she was going to make it. This girl I had known for a couple of weeks suddenly became one of the most important things to me and I couldn't even name why.
Was it because she understood me? Or because I pictured some sort of future with her? I had been stupid as a kid but I knew I couldn't possibly be in love, not after knowing her for so little a time. Still, the thought of losing her plagued me for the last two days and I prepared myself for the worst knowing I'd be broken.
"Yeah it's me. I'm here." I whispered and she breathed heavily, each inhale and exhale congested through what I assumed to be a fuzzy tongue. I knew she would only be awake for a few moments before the drugs took her again though still, I didn't want her to return just yet.
"…W….Archie? Is Archie alright?" she asked slowly, slurring each word and I bent down, bowing my forehead to her own and running a hand through her hair. Glancing down, I eyed the bandage around her abdomen who sported blood. She was clad in nothing but a brassiere and panties to retain her modesty, though I knew she couldn't care less. Still, it seemed irresponsible to leave her naked while we all looked after her. Pulling the sheet up over her I held her hand tightly as I whispered to her.
"He's fine, he's fine. He got knocked out but he's fine. Do you know anything? Do you know what happened?" I asked softly and she swallowed with difficulty, closing her eyes again.
"Shot. I can't open my eyes." She breathed.
"You're a little drugged up, you'll be alright. I'm right here next to you baby." I whispered and she said nothing else, sinking back to sleep so that I could finally breath again for the first time in two days. Stroking her hand gently I watched as her chest rose and feel in deep increments, signaling that she had entered a deep sleep.
Despite their well-placed protests, Aldo respectively let everyone know that my hunch had been right. Frantically, he and I made our way through the house after knocking out a few partygoers and haphazardly blending in. Dodging the questioning drunks and suspicious houseguests who someone knew we didn't belong, we made it to the library just in the nick of time.
The tangle was short, Aldo and I dispatching of the guards in time to allow The Russian to escape through the window and into the night. I know Aldo blamed the guys for letting him get away, just as I did though when I saw Annabelle bleeding out on the floor with Archie passed out a few feet from her I could say he was the least of my worries. Here I had two fallen comrades who could've been presumed dead. There was time to hunt The Russian, but very little time to save my friends.
Archie had just been knocked out cold with a concussion and a few bruises. Annabelle had the worst of it. With a gunshot to the stomach that barely missed her internal organs. It was a lucky shot, perhaps an act of God that had spared her life, and made me realize just how I felt facing the prospect of being without her. I cared about her…a lot.
The sound of a knock on the door drew my attention and I glanced up, letting go of Annabelle as I stood and walked across the room, opening the door to find both Aldo and The Doc, standing with a tray with a needle and medication on it. Peeking past me, Aldo crossed his arms to glance at me and I stepped aside, opening the door wider for the two to come in.
Aldo's concern for Annabelle was certainly warranted, though I couldn't help but note the way he looked at her. It was different from the way he looked at everyone else, the casual sly glances he exchanged with both friend and foe. Aldo stared at Annabelle with the swelling emotion of a man who was looking at something he prized deeply.
Spinning around, after moving Annabelle up to her room for the first time The Doc had rolled her onto her stomach, running some sort of tests that I would never understand while I walked around the room, straightening and bringing blankets and sheets into the room. And it was then that I saw Aldo, bent over as he traced his knuckle down Annabelle's back gently like the sweet caress of a lover.
He'd spoken about her of course. All the guys had. It was to be expected, being with a girl such as herself that she'd be the object of desire. They joked about her, they made their moves with scandalous comments that Annabelle could laugh off. But Aldo looked at her as though he wanted something more; he looked at her the same way I looked at her.
"How's she doing? Any change?" The Doc asked and I moved aside for Aldo as he sat down on the bed. Leaning over, I quickly grabbed the sheet and pulled it over Annabelle's half-naked body feeling my face flush at the thought of someone else seeing what I worshiped. Her body was mine, my playground and my temple. There was no way in hell I'd let Aldo slobber all over her when she couldn't even cover herself up.
"You know I need to get under there Donowitz. You have a towel or something to cover her up?" The Doc asked, and I nodded feeling suddenly foolish as Aldo simply stared at me with accusatory eyes. Of course he needed to get there. That didn't mean I couldn't preserve my girlfriend's modesty did it?
"Yeah I'll get a hand towel." He grumbled, then stormed to the bathroom and ripped one off the towel rack before returning. Pulling the sheet down I rested the towel lengthwise across Annabelle's breasts and avoided Aldo's eyes, knowing he would have taken a peek at her body.
"Something on your mind Donowitz?" he finally said and I stood up, turning on him.
"Why are you even here?" I demanded and The Doc glanced at us for a moment, sighing and shaking his head audibly then returning to Annabelle.
"She's a member of my team. I'd like to make sure she's alright?" he replied indignantly and put his hands on his hips.
"Yeah I'm sure." I snapped then looked back down at her as Doc gave her a shot, more morphine to keep her asleep and out of pain as she healed. Setting the syringe down on his tray he grabbed a thermometer and began to take her temperature as Aldo and I faced off.
"May come as a surprise to you Donowitz but Annabelle's ain't yours. She ain't nobody's. She belongs to herself so why don't you think about that before you play the role of guard dog when the girl can't speak for her damn self."
"You know, there's probably a part of her that can hear you right now, and it's best not to stress her out so gentlemen please take your quarrel elsewhere or settle down." Doc said, and I rolled my eyes turning away from Aldo. Taking Annabelle's pulse, he checked her vitals then stood up and rubbed his hands together.
"You said she woke up? How long?" he asked me.
"About a minute or so."
"Did she say anything?"
"Yeah…..my name…." I trailed off, finally realizing the magnitude of the statement. "Then she asked about Archie and went back to sleep."
"Well that's a good sign. She knows where she is and what's happened. Well, I'll be back to check tomorrow morning then, this should keep her for the rest of the day. If not I left a vial downstairs. I'll just change her bandage and check the wound then get out of here." He clasped his hands together and I nodded as Aldo moved to the door slowly.
Without a word he ducked out and I peered after him before turning to face Annabelle. She looked so peaceful, laying there without a worry on her face. She was angelic, innocent, and overwhelmingly beautiful without all the makeup or the façade of the tough gal who was ready for just about anything. It was nice to see her stripped down, as though I was looking at her true self.
After changing her bandage The Doc gave me a reminder to give her food then departed, closing the door behind him and leaving us alone once more. Slipping into bed beside her I simply stared at her, stroking her hair as I thought about any other girl I had been with and how they made me feel. I didn't want to say it was love, there was no way I could admit it to myself but still I couldn't deny that Annabelle definitely made me feel different than any normal girl.
And that was enough to worry me more than I could ever imagine.
I swallowed the last soft peach in my bowl then set it down, grabbing for my book as I settled back down into the bed. Feeling my stitches pinch I winced as Donny grabbed the bowl quickly and looked down at me with a worrisome expression.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? I can stay with you, it'll be alright." Donny offered and I stifled a chuckle as I glanced up at him in my bathrobe, shaking my head.
"Are you kidding Aldo will shoot you before he lets you stay here. Don't worry, I'll be fine. Go out. I'll see you tomorrow night. Don't worry I'll be fine here, The Doc said he'd come check in on me."
Donny frowned, then leaned down and kissed me on the forehead tenderly, pushing a strand of hair from my forehead.
"I'll be back, I promise." He whispered and I nodded, giving him a small grin and a wave. Sighing, he turned towards the door then gave me a last look and closed it behind him, leaving me in bed as I pushed back the covers and swung my legs over the edge. Standing up slowly, I felt my legs shake weakly from days in bed and walked around the room on spaghetti limbs, attempting to familiarize my body with movement once more.
Listening for any movement downstairs I grabbed a book then returned to the bed, tapping my foot anxiously as I stared at the rectangular prison. After spending so much time trapped in the bedroom I didn't want to sleep another day of my life. Unfortunately, at the moment I didn't have much option.
Donny and the rest of the guys were forced away despite his protests against leaving my side. I knew very little about the mission, except that it involved extracting a German traitor who had been caught feeding information to the Allies and now needed protection. He had been promised Amnesty by all three countries, and sought refuge in an unsafe place until the war was over.
The time spent drifting in and out of morphine-induced sleep remained a muddy haze. I knew Donny had rarely left my side, helping care for me and clean my wounds while I dreamed of bloodied unicorns and dizzying spirals. The dark depths of the drug riddled my mind, leaving me both in need and afraid of it. I wanted to reach out and feel the amazing emptiness again, though my dependence frightened me.
I knew it had been to shield me from the pain which I remembered all too vividly. Getting shot was undoubtedly the most excruciating pain I had ever felt. The hot lead both burned and stung, all while torn flesh screamed in an unforgettable combination I would not soon forget. A subtle throb of the wound forced my hand down to the stitched skin and I felt it beneath my fingertips, the flesh still itchy and inflamed.
Donny told me the story over and over again though I could say I still remembered none of it. Up until hearing the gun fire my mind was a black fog with occasional warped voices. The very little I did remember however, involved Donny at my side each and every time I resurfaced to the world of humanity, only to fall back into the pit within a matter of seconds.
It was overwhelming to think that he refused to leave my bedside. Never in my life had I had someone care about me enough to watch while I was in pain, worried enough that they refused to leave me alone. But there was Donny each and every step of the way and I realized that I cared about him as well, despite the confusion that muddled my mind. Having someone care about me was still a foreign feeling and reciprocating was even more perplexing.
I listened to car doors slam and got up, walking across the room as quickly as I could before drawing open the curtains. Looking down, I watched as the guys climbed into their cars and bid Donny I silent farewell like some silver-screen starlet saying goodbye to her lover just as the war started. As the guys pulled out, I watched until I could see them no more then closed the curtains and returned to my bed, settling down into a failed attempt to read a book once more.
"So how's she doing? I haven't had a chance to drop in and check on her."
I turned to Archie for a brief moment then peered over the bushes, glancing back at Aldo who continued to pace up and down the street as we waited for our targets to arrive. Crouching down, I held my rifle in my hands tightly and nodded slowly, turning to Archie for a fleeting moment then returning my attention to the road.
"She's better. All awake now and everything. A couple days ago when she first woke up you were the first thing she asked about." I responded and Archie swore under his breath, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry. It's driven me crazy I wish it would have been me and not her. Everything happened so quickly I never got the chance to apologize."
I bit my lip, turning to Archie. Hicox was a good man, and though he could be a cocky son of a bitch most of the time it was irrefutable that he was nothing short of a hero. He was the man pulp characters were made of, brave and fearsome, selfless and compassionate. I tried to think over these qualities but ti still didn't change the fact that he had almost gotten Annabelle killed, and it was a pretty hard fact to overlook.
"You should apologize to her, she's the one who got shot. You know, you were supposed to protect her." I breathed easily and Archie gave me a hard look which I ignored, still staring at the road. In the darkness, the only thing that could be seen was the flicker of a far-off street lamp and the burning of Aldo's cigar, which was nothing compared to the fiery gaze I could feel Archie cast.
"Yes, I know. I also know that somehow they saw right through us. Most likely from the moment we walked through the door somehow, they knew. The soldiers never mentioned how or who but they made it pretty clear they knew who we were upon our arrival. Of course I feel like shit about the whole thing but I don't think it would have gone any differently had it been someone else. The important thing is that Annabelle is alright."
I snorted, biting back the insults which crawled towards my mouth. It was just like Archie to play it off, using the end outcome as an excuse to rectify his mistakes. Yes, Annabelle was now alright. That didn't change the fact that she had almost died.
"I'm glad you can just pretend everything is alright." I commented, then busied myself with my rifle, letting Archie know the conversation was over. I had nothing left to say to him, and decided it would be better to keep my mouth shut until I could get over it.
The sound of a whistle drew both our attention as we glanced across the street at Aldo who disappeared into the shadows. The signal that our moment had come, and I leaned forward, positioning myself as I clutched my rifle tightly. Archie did the same, and lights appeared as a car pulled forward.
Quietly, Archie began to count as we waited for the car to pass our line of vision. Steadying myself, I tuned everything out until I could hear only the sound of my breathing as I pulled the trigger along with Archie as the car pulled past us. Immediately, both bullets found their way into the tires and we jumped back as the car spun off, sparks flying as it tilted to the side with a violent crash then skidded down the road.
"Move!" Several of the guys cried and I jumped out of the bushes, rushing towards the car along with the rest of the group. Immediately, a soldier climbed out and Archie shot him from behind me as Aldo climbed on top of the car, opening the doors.
"And here we are. Nice to see you Jameson." He spoke as he pulled a handcuffed man from the car, patting him on the back. He fell to the ground and Aldo lifted him up, grabbing him by the shoulder as he began to usher him towards our car. Following behind quickly I jumped in beside him as he shoved our target in the backseat and started the car before anymore arrivals could show up.
Without another word we pulled off into the night, seeking the refuge of an abandoned warehouse where we had stationed ourselves or the brief operation. Next would be getting the soldier to safety with the French Army until he could make it to the United States.
"I thank you for your service." He said gratefully as Omar removed his handcuffs and Aldo shook his head as we continued to drive, peering in the rear hand mirror to make certain we weren't being followed.
"Well I could say the same to you. Done a real service to all of us in this war. Means a whole lot to a lot of countries. Time to get you to the next drop off before they realize you didn't make it to the German place."
"Thank you." He said and I nodded in agreement as Aldo turned sharply.
I ran a towel through my hair as the sounds of running footsteps echoed through the hall. Pulling a long bathrobe, I pushed my hair behind my ears wishing it was long enough to plait like I had growing up. Sighing, I leaned over and wrung out several wet strands once more then began to walk towards the door just as it flew open.
Donny stepped inside and I immediately threw my arms around him, ignoring the pain in my side.
"Well hey there." He chuckled, a rumble moving through my body as I clutched him tightly after spending an entire night alone.
"Get the hell in here." I grinned, grabbing him by the label of his jacket and pulling him into the room.
