Note: Underlined sentences are Pau and Snefrid speaking in Dutch. Pau's 10-years-old in this and learning English.
TWs: Slight arguing/disagreements, hypothermia/freezing, near drowning, removing/changing clothes

"You're not bringing a child on this trip."

Snefrid crossed her arms, "I can, and I will."

"Do you realize the importance of classification in this mission? If information gets out by a child-"

"Relax, Major General Kirillovich." Snefrid rolled her eyes, "He can't speak full English yet."

"This is not a daycare, Lieutenant General Larseing." He scowled.

"Do you think I don't know that?" Snefrid glared at him, "Look at who you're talking to, Kirillovich. I'm in charge; therefore, what I say goes."

Kirillovich scowled yet didn't say anything as he boarded the military plane. Snefrid huffed as she followed him, her eyes softening when she saw Pau sitting by the plane window. She sat across from him, watching the kid look out the window as the plane was ready to depart.

"Nervous?" She spoke.

Pau glanced at her, "I've never been on one of these..."

"That's understandable." Snefrid nodded.

Pau grabbed his notepad and a pencil, "How do you say airplane in English?"

"Airplane."

"A-Aer... play-ne?" Pau looked confused.

"A-i-r-p-l-a-n-e." Snefrid spelled it out for him.

Pau wrote it down, still looking stumped, "A-i-r... sounds like 'Aer?'"

"Exactly," Snefrid confirmed.

"English is confusing," Pau mumbled, peering out the window again.

The plane jolted to life, startling Pau as he held onto the seat with a yelp.

"It's alright, Pau; the plane is getting ready to lift off," Snefrid spoke, trying to calm him down.

Seeing that the older one wasn't freaking out, Pau slowly relaxed, ensuring his seatbelt was tight around him.

Pau tensed as he felt the plane move, seeing the plane pick up speed as he looked out the window.

Then, he saw the plane gradually lifting off the asphalt ground.

The kid stared in awe as the airplane soared above the trees and the training ground, everything looking miniature.

"Cool..." He spoke, eyes wide as he gazed at the bare trees, some of which were covered with snow and frost.

Snefrid watched him with a small smile, sighing as she remembered she was spending time away from her son for a few weeks. Hopefully, the babysitter she hired could handle it.

'Tord will be fine.' She assured herself, 'How much trouble can one toddler be?'

"Remember to stay close to me, and don't talk to anyone you don't know," Snefrid said to Pau as soon as they made it to England.

"Yes, ma'am." Pau nodded as he looked around England's Red Army base. It seemed to be concealed in a warehouse of sorts.

As soon as Snefrid was done talking to Kirillovich and the head of England's Red Army base, she quickly noticed that Pau was straying from her side.

She kept an eye on him as she filled out some paperwork. Pau was writing down unfamiliar terms in his notebook, opting to ask what they meant later as he walked back to Snefrid.

"Can I go outside?" Pau asked, wanting to have a look around.

"Wait for me," Snefrid spoke, finishing up her papers. Pau bounced in place, grabbing the older's wrist when she was done, "Woah-!"

"Lieutenant General Larseing, where are you going?" Kirillovich called out, stopping the duo in their steps.

"Ah, Pau and I were going outside for some fresh air." Snefrid smiled. Kirillovich peered at them, his eyes squinting, "We'll be back inside by sundown."

The Major General nodded, "I would hope so."

Pau tilted his head at the conversation, knowing a few words yet not understanding clearly. Snefrid turned to the kid, smiling, "Let's go."

Pau nodded excitedly.

"Remember not to wander off too far," Snefrid called out as she watched Pau exploring near the underbrush.

"Okay!" Pau examined a few of the trees, bare with leaves and snow-covered. He hadn't seen snow in a long time; it was all new yet familiar. He placed his hands on a tree, the cold from the frost seeping into his glove.

Taking out his notepad, he wrote down a few things he wanted to learn later. He ripped out the paper, wanting to hand it to Snefrid.

He felt a strong gust of wind picking up as he turned toward the older. He braced himself against the wind, his face stinging. His eyes widened as he noticed he had let go of the paper. He watched as it flew through the tree line. Pau sprinted forward, following after it. He could barely hear Snefrid's voice as the wind whipped around him.

The paper continued to fly overhead, twirling around in the wind, tossing and turning until it soared downwards as the wind parted.

Pau grunted, nearly hitting his head on a low-hanging branch. He broke through on the other side of the trees, seeing that the paper landed in a clearing on a heap of snow.

Huffing, Pau went to pick up the small paper, slipping slightly on the snow.

"Pau, what'd I say about running off?" He heard Snefrid yell as she stepped into the clearing.

"Sorry!" Pau frowned, about to walk back.

Crack...

Pau heard something underneath him as he took a step forward. He hummed, looking at the snowbank he was walking on. Or what he had assumed was a snowbank. He shuffled his feet, noticing the cracks in the ground.

Cra-ack...

The ground fell out from under him.

Snefrid's eyes widened as she saw the kid plunge through the ice. She rushed forward.

Snefrid slammed open the HQ doors, holding Pau close to her chest, droplets of water dripping off them. She walked up to someone, ignoring the stares of others.

"Where are the medical staff?"

"Uh- they're out on the field." The person answered.

"All of them?" Snefrid glared.

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

"You're all useless." She spat, glaring at him, "At least one nurse should be here at all times!"

"Right... sorry, ma'am."

"I can help." A voice spoke behind Snefrid. Turning, her silver eyes landed on another woman. She had dark skin and brown hair that almost appeared black. The first thing Snefrid noticed about the stranger was her lack of eyes.

"Are you a doctor or nurse?" Snefrid asked, glimpsing at the lab coat the woman wore.

"I know my way around a scalpel if needed." She smiled.

Snefrid hesitated, glancing down at the unconscious figure in her arms. It was better than standing there, freezing, "Okay, fine."

"Follow me." She walked off, Snefrid following. They came across a door, the dark brunette unlocked it with her key and turned on the light, "Sorry, it's a bit of a mess- you can lay him down on the bed over there."

Snefrid placed Pau down on the bed, watching as the woman retrieved towels and blankets from a cabinet.

"I can handle it from here." She spoke as she started removing Pau's coat, "You also might want to change, ma'am."

"Wha-" Snefrid held her arms close to her, feeling somewhat hot despite shivering, "Right... I'll be right back."

The Red Lieutenant left, leaving Theresa to take care of Pau.

She bundled him up in a few layers of towels then placed blankets on top of him, making sure to tuck. She warmed up a rag, placing it lightly on his forehead. She took out a bottle of water and set it next to the bed.

Theresa sat down in her chair, taking a breath as she relaxed. She still wasn't used to exerting herself that much, especially since she had a baby on the way.

'I still need to think of names...' She thought, her hand going to her stomach, 'Eh, I have plenty of time.'

She heard a shuffling noise and a mix between a cough and a groan. Turning her head, she noticed the kid moving around, writhing in the sheets.

"Take it easy, little man," Theresa spoke, wheeling her chair over there to sit next to the bed.

Pau looked at her with wide eyes, spinning his head around as he took in his surroundings, 'Wh-Where am I!?'

He sat up, making sure to cover his body with the blankets.

"Let me find something you can wear." Theresa stood up, going over to her cabinets.

Pau sat there, confused, as he watched the strange woman. He noticed a computer across from the bed, facing away from him. There was also a door on the same wall, presumably the exit. There was some kind of board on the left wall, with pictures and words scattered across it.

"What happened...?" Pau uttered.

"Say something?" Theresa asked, handing him a decent pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweater.

Pau shook his head, inspecting the pink sweater in her hands.

"Sorry about the color..." She shrugged, "It's the only pair I have."

He took the clothes from her hands and Theresa turned around to give him privacy, shuffling her feet on the floor as the kid got dressed.

"Uh... ready?" Pau spoke in English.

Theresa turned around, smiling lightly when she saw him, "Good. Now, do you remember what happened?"

"Uh..." Pau looked at her with a dumbfounded expression, "Sorry, but I don't know what you're saying..."

Theresa raised her eyebrows, "Ah... you're Dutch."

Pau nodded, understanding that statement.

"Well-" Theresa got cut off by a knock at the door. She went over to open it, nearly being knocked over by the Red Lieutenant as she made her way inside the room.

"Sorry, I got distracted with a phone call." Snefrid explained as she hurried over to Pau's bedside, "How are you feeling, kid?"

"Better." Pau smiled.

"Good! That's good..." Snefrid breathed out a sigh of relief.

Theresa sat in her chair, watching the interaction, "Is he yours?"

Snefrid's eyes widened, "Huh- oh no, no, no! He's not my kid; I just took him in."

"Oh, alright." Theresa nodded.

"I do have one though; a kid. He's a year old." Snefrid smiled.

"So I've heard. Rumors travel fast even across the ocean." Theresa said, standing up to get her stethoscope, "Anyway, I should check his vital signs."

Pau reeled back when the strange woman came close to him with a weird instrument around her neck. He glanced at Snefrid for reassurance.

"It's okay, Pau. She's only here to help." Snefrid told him slowly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Pau nodded hesitantly, freezing up as the woman placed the knob end against his chest.

"His heartbeat is irregular, but that must be because of me," Theresa spoke, moving the scope around. She took off her stethoscope, gently taking Pau by the wrist and looking at the clock, "Hm, he seems fine. Though, he feels a bit warm. He might come down with a small fever, so I would suggest keeping him inside for a few days."

Snefrid nodded, "Thank you, Doctor..."

"Theresa."

"Your last name is Theresa?"

"I don't have a last name, ma'am."

"Eh- call me Snefrid." The Lieutenant grimaced, "Ma'am makes me feel old..."

Theresa nodded, glancing at the ruffled brunette who stared at them, lost and confused, "And what's his name?"

"Pau." Snefrid called, "He's still learning English."

"Yeah, I can tell."

"We should go. I still have paperwork I need to do and I should get Pau settled in." Snefrid spoke.

"Right." Theresa nodded, "It was nice to meet you, Lieutenant."

"You too. Come on, Pau." Snefrid guided Pau out of the room, holding his hand.

"Interesting..." Theresa uttered. A ping sounded from her computer. Wheeling herself over in her office chair, she took a glance, huffing at the text.

Henry: How is the first month?

Theresa: I hate you

Henry: Ow
Listen
You wanted exciting
I gave you exciting

Theresa sighed. Her friend was right, unfortunately. She got herself into this mess. There was no way out of it.

She looked at the research board across from her.

'No way out.'