May 27, 1944

"How long we're going to keep at this, Kate?" Victoria asked, lifting her eyes from the viewfinder.

The petite woman lying next to her remained silent. Instead, she looked off into the distance with her binoculars securely on her face.

"Apparently, a while longer still," Victoria sighed as she focused her lens onto a bunker and took a shot.

"Will you keep it down?" Kate breathed firmly. "Or do you prefer that the Jerries hear us instead?"

Victoria didn't answer. She pointed her camera at another part of the fortification and took another shot.

They were lying in the bushes, maybe a mile from the beach in Pas-de-Calais. They'd managed to find a sheltered spot that gave them an unhindered view over the German fortifications. As they laid there now, Victoria couldn't help but think about how lucky they'd been to elude every German patrol and arrive at their destination. She also kept wondering when their luck was going to run out.

Victoria caught a coastal gun into her view and pressed the shutter button. She had seen a good number of aerial photographs of the area, but she felt that the images did not fully capture how heavily fortified the shoreline actually was. The Allied forces were in for a struggle if they were going to land here.

She lowered her camera and turned to look at Kate, who meticulously kept scanning the area. Victoria couldn't help thinking that Kate was intentionally trying to avoid making eye contact with her.

Not that Victoria could really blame her. In retrospective, Victoria was ready to admit that she could've handled things better with Max and Chloé. It's just that she couldn't let go of the idea that they had a traitor amidst them, and that traitor couldn't be anyone else than Max. How else would the Krauts have known that they were trying to capture the loot train? There just wasn't any other logical explanation. Victoria knew the Abwehr did collaboration with the IRA. What prevented them from recruiting common people?

Well, traitor or not, Victoria had ended up at odds with Chloé and now she and Kate were on their own. Kate had obviously not been happy with this turn of events, and the bicycle ride to their destination had been queasy, to put it mildly. Victoria knew Kate well enough to tell when she was mad at her and this occasion certainly fit the bill. They'd barely exchanged half a dozen words during the ride. Kate's stern expression had made it pretty obvious for Victoria that she wasn't in the mood for banter.

"I think we've got enough pictures," Victoria said, putting the lens cap on and began to reel in the film.

"Very well," Kate responded. "Let's pick up our gear and get the hell out of here!"

Once the film was fully reeled back into its can, Victoria opened the camera, removed the can and stuffed it into her pocket. She placed the camera into its case.

They both checked out their surroundings carefully for any of their belongings and brushed the ground to clear their tracks as they slowly crawled back to their bicycles. Victoria cast a wistful glance at the camera case, as she laid it into a small hole and begun to cover it with sand and brushes. She memorized her surroundings carefully, swearing to come to retrieve the camera once the war would be over.

"Are you done with paying respects to that thing?" Kate asked impatiently. "We have a long way to go, and I'd rather make it back before than after the curfew."

They got on their bikes and set off. Thanks to the intel they'd gathered together with Chloé, Max and Rachelle, they had a pretty good understanding of where the Germans usually patrolled and knew which roads to avoid.

The awkward silence between them continued as they cycled along one back road. Victoria looked at Kate's back. She wondered how long Kate was going to stay mad at her.

Well, maybe it's for the best, Victoria thought. Our mission is nearly complete. She'll go back to SOE, and I'll return to my post at OSS. The war will end sooner or later and I'll return home. I'll go back being a socialite in the Seattle circles. But that was not what she wanted. But what do I want?

Victoria looked at Kate again, then she shook her head. I think I blew that one spectacularly.

She noticed that Kate was suddenly slowing down. She raised her glance and saw that some vehicle was approaching them. She squinted her eyes, and her heart missed a beat. A Kraut half-track!

"Keep pedaling!" Kate turned to look at her. "They're probably just on their way to somewhere."

"What the hell are they doing here?" Victoria said as they resumed their normal pace.

"Not the faintest idea, but if they stop us, try to keep your cool and let me do the talking!"

For a moment, Victoria thought that they might just pass them, but her hope faded, when the half-track slowed down and stopped maybe ten yards from them. A couple of Wehrmacht soldiers jumped down from the bed and one of them raised their arm.

"Halt!" the other soldier commanded.

Victoria and Kate complied and unmounted from their cycles. The door of the half-track cabin opened and a Wehrmacht officer stepped down. He walked slowly to the two women, staring at them sternly.

"Ihre Ausweise, bitte!" He ordered. "Votre carte d'identité, s'il vous plaît!" He repeated in French, resting his hand on the holster of his Luger.

Both Victoria and Kate dug out their papers quietly and handed them over to the officer. Victoria felt her heart pounding rapidly, as he slowly and meticulously inspected their papers.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, continuing in French.

"We're going to Licques," Kate answered with the same language. "We delivered some wine bottles to the market in Guînes, and we're heading back home."

"The market, you say?" the officer asked curiously. "And you didn't buy anything?"

"We were specifically instructed to deliver the wine and nothing else," Kate explained.

"Besides, what is there left to buy when the local garrisons hog practically everything there is," Victoria added sardonically. She swore she could hear Kate's heart missing a beat in horror when she said that, but Victoria kept her slightly hostile expression.

For a fleeting moment, the officer looked at her straight in the eyes, before bursting into laughter. "Touché, Fräulein!" He said, giving them their papers back. "Carry on!"

Victoria and Kate got back on their bikes and began to roll forward, when the officer said: "One more thing, Fräuleine!"

"Oui?" Kate said as they stopped and turned to look at the officer?

"I'd suggest you hurry. It's two hours until curfew," he said, letting out a short laugh. "Weiter!" he ordered as he climbed inside the half-track cabin. The two other soldiers followed suite and climbed onto the bed as the half-track engine roared to life and continued its journey.

Victoria and Kate also continued their ride to the opposite direction. Victoria turned to look that the half-track was out of sight. "Whew! I thought for a moment that we were done for," she said, relieved. Kate didn't respond. She just pedaled forward with a stern look on her face.

"All right! I've just about had it!" Victoria snapped, stepping on the brakes. "You've hardly spoken to me since yesterday, when we got our orders!"

"You know perfectly well, why!" Kate barked in response. "You almost jeopardized the mission with your irrational accusations!"

"Irrational? I'm not wrong, and you know it!" Victoria countered. "At least I'm not completely wrong! How else could the Krauts have known about the heist? Someone sold us out!"

"Be that as it may," Kate argued back, "you still didn't have any proof that Max was the traitor! You were just acting based on your dislike on Max! And don't try to deny! All this time, you've acted more reserved towards her than you have towards Rachelle and Chloé!"

"Well, can you blame me? What do we actually know about Max? She could be an Abwehr agent for all we know!"

"If Max doesn't want to talk about her past then that's her business!" Kate said, unmounting from her cycle.

"Don't you think it's a little bit suspicious that you don't hear from someone for five years, and then all of sudden she appears on your doorstep, in a middle of a war?" Victoria unmounted from her own cycle, standing right in front of Kate.

"Well, if you put it that way, I do have to admit that it does sound a bit suspicious," Kate admitted. "But, if Chloé and Rachelle trust her, then it's good enough for me!"

"But you don't trust my instincts, is that it?" Victoria stepped closer to Kate.

"That's just daft, of course I trust you!"

"Yet you see fit to give me the silent treatment!"

"It's because you can be so bloody pretentious and stubborn at times!" Kate looked Victoria straight in the eyes.

"Well, look who's talking, miss goody two shoes who's perfect at anything she does!" They were now mere inches away from each other.

Afterwards, there would be no end to the playful bickering between them about who made the first move. The fact remains that they found themselves in passionate embrace, their lips clashing together and their tongues exploring each other.

"Victoria..." Kate panted, catching her breath between kisses. "Shut up!"

They barely managed to let go of each other to hastily hide their cycles behind a bush, before they began to tear each other's clothes off, their lips being in constant contact. Their arms were entangled around each other as they unclasped each other's bras. With a quick sweep, Kate laid Victoria on her back on the grass. Victoria arched her back as Kate's hands reached under her girdle and pulled her panties down as far as the garters allowed them.

Kate crawled slowly on top of Victoria. She let out a lustful moan as Kate's lips landed on her nipple and sucked on it vigorously.

"Would..." Kate asked between sucks. "...miss goody two shoes..." Her hand found itself between Victoria's legs. "...do this?"

"Oooohh!" Another moan escaped through Victoria's lips when she felt two fingers enter her slit.

"I think you need someone..." Kate leaned forward, capturing Victoria's lower lip between her own lips and pulling it slowly until it wouldn't stretch further and it slipped back. "...to show you your place, princess."

"Aaaahhh!" was all Victoria could say as Kate's thumb found her clit and began to rub in rhythm with the other two fingers that reciprocated inside her.

"Shush!" Kate silenced Victoria by placing her hand on her mouth. "We wouldn't want anyone to hear us, would we?" She thrusted her other hand even deeper.

Victoria panted and moaned against Kate's palm as she felt the heat building up inside her with each and every thrust. Not in her wildest dreams could Victoria have thought that Kate was a lesbian. Sure, there had been signs during the months they'd served together, but Victoria had simply brushed it off as her imagination running wild. Surely, a vicar's daughter couldn't be a Sapphic, could she?

What surprised Victoria even more was how receptive she was for what Kate was doing for her. Hard as she tried, Victoria couldn't remember a time when a man had been able to excite her at the level as this small woman was now doing. Part of her regretted not jumping to the chance when she had been studying at Smith, other part rejoiced that it was Kate that got to pop her Sapphic cherry.

AAAAAAHHH! Victoria's thought was cut short as the waves of orgasms ran through her body.

"There, there, now," Kate soothed Victoria, stroking her hair gently as she slowly fell limp on the grass. "Was this your first time with a woman?"

"Yes..." Victoria managed to pant. "I could've never imagined that it could be so wonderful. She turned to kiss Kate. I take this wasn't yours?"

"I've had a few..." Kate admitted, blushing slightly. "I guess I've always known I'm a lesbian. That's one reason I went to study at Oxford. The academia certainly offered better opportunities for self-discovery than a small Lancastrian village ever would."

"Well, I'd say Oxford has taught you well," Victoria said, grinning.

"I'd be happy to-," Kate began, but then she jumped up after having caught a glance of her watch. "Oh, bloody hell! The curfew is almost upon us. We'd better get going!"

They got hastily dressed. Twilight was beginning to settle in as they picked up their cycles and walked back to the road.

"Roughly six miles to go," Kate noted as they mounted their cycles and began pedaling. "It'll be dark before we get to the barn."

The rest of the trip went uneventfully. They both cast impish glances at each other on the way. The awkward silence that had prevailed on their way to the target area, had now turned into inane and cheerful banter.

"You know, I'm going to apologize Max and the others," Victoria said to Kate. "Hopefully, they will relent and give us a hand in getting back to England." She looked into the sky and sighed. "Thinking about it, it feels silly that I doubted Max. She's been nothing but kind to us."

"Well, I'm glad you see it that way," Kate said. "Getting back to England would certainly be easier with their help than without."

"I can't say that I'd be looking forward to another trip on that Lysander," Victoria noted. "Although, I have to admit I've grown to like the seating arrangement." She cast a smile to Kate.

"Let's hope the channel crossing will be less eventful this time," Kate said, but stopped suddenly. "What's that racket coming from the farm?"

"I don't know," Victoria said, trying to glance into the darkness. "Sounds like yelling and engine noise."

"We'd better head for that patch and check out the situation."

A few moments later, they were at the patch, looking down to the farm. The yard was swarming with German soldiers that had unloaded from the two trucks were blocking the entrance. An officer, standing in a Kübelwagen was yelling orders. A group of soldiers were bursting inside the barn.

"Damn! They've found the hideout!" Kate said, putting her binoculars down.

"Can you see Chloé or the others?" Victoria asked.

"No, maybe a platoon of Jerries, but no sign of them."

"Maybe they weren't there."

"Or they're still inside," Kate said, lifting the binoculars up and scoping the barn.

"What are we going to do?"

"What can we do?" Kate cast a grave glance at Victoria. "There's only two of us with pistols against a platoon armed to the teeth. We have our orders: We need to get that film back to the Allies no matter the cost."

"And leave Chloé, Rachelle and Max at the hands of the Nazis, after all they've done for us?" Victoria asked.

"Victoria..." Kate looked her straight in the eyes. "I hate to leave them as much as you do, but they knew what they signed up for when they joined the resistance." She placed her hand on Victoria's shoulder. "If we don't deliver that film, then their sacrifice would've been in vain."

Victoria clenched her fist in frustration, wanting to object to Kate's argument, but she understood that her partner was right. "So... what next?"

"Our radio is inside that barn, so we need to find another way to contact London," Kate said thoughtfully. "Let's wait and see if the others are indeed inside the bunker and whether the Jerries can find them. Once we have some kind of certainty, let's try to get in touch with Joyce. She needs to know what's going on, and hopefully she can point us to where we can contact London."

They watched quietly as the German soldiers ransacked the barn. They couldn't make out the words, but they determined from the commotion that the bunker had been discovered, and more soldiers stormed inside the barn. They waited desperately to hear gunshots, but not a single shot was fired, and their desperation was beginning to turn into a tentative optimism. Maybe Chloé, Rachelle and Max had slipped away from the Germans. Their nascent optimism faded somewhat when all the soldiers ran outside, and an incendiary bomb went off inside the barn. The yard turned almost as bright as by day when the flames began to engulf the barn.

"I'm sure they weren't inside," Kate tried to reassure Victoria. "They're more valuable alive than dead."

"I certainly hope so," Victoria said, staring at the flaming inferno.

"Now, let's get the hell out of here, before they begin to sweep the surroundings."

Victoria and Kate retreated slowly from their position, staying low, as the burning barn illuminated the small patch of forest like the sun. They had just reached their bikes when they saw a solitary figure approaching them. They both reached for their pistols when the figure raised her arms and said: "Ne tirez pas! C'est moi, Rachelle!"

"Rachelle!" Kate said in relief and gave the blond woman a hug. "We're so glad to see you!"

"I'm glad to see you too," Rachelle replied. "I was hoping I'd find you here."

"What's going on?" Victoria asked. "Where are Max and Chloé?"

"Oh, Victoria! You were right after all!" Rachelle said gloomily. "Max is the traitor!"

"What?" both Victoria and Kate blurted incredulously.

"What happened?" Kate asked.

"Max set us up," Rachelle began. "She'd arranged a pickup of supplies from another resistance group. Turns out it was an ambush. She basically handed us to the Boches on a platter. Chloé managed to hold them off so that I made it out, but she was captured."

Victoria clenched her fist again, this time in anger. Her gut feeling had been right. Max had told about the heist to the Germans, and now she had set her own team up. Why didn't you listen to me, Kate?

"Where are they keeping Chloé?" Victoria asked. "We need to get her back!"

"No!" Rachelle opposed. "Before we were separated, Chloé specifically asked me to help you back to England. Once you're safely out of France, I'll organize a rescue attempt."

"Very well," Kate agreed after a moment of hesitation. "What do you have in mind? We were planning to get in touch with Joyce."

"The tavern isn't safe right now," Rachelle said. "The Boches are aware of your presence and are keeping an eye on the place, but I've already arranged a rendezvous with another group, who will be able to contact the Allies. There isn't much time, though!"

"Okay, lead the way, then!" Kate said.

Rachelle grabbed her own bike, and all three headed down the road, leaving the burning barn behind.

"Jean-Claude is the leader of the other resistance group in the area," Rachelle explained as they cycled along the moon-lit road. "We've co-operated with them from time to time. I contacted him right after my escape and arranged a meeting. I figured you'd come to the forest patch when you'd realize that the barn was compromised, so I came to look for you there."

"We're both grateful to you," Kate said. "I just hope you can get Chloé free."

"What about Max?" Victoria asked.

"God knows," Rachelle answered. "She could be on her way to Berlin to receive her reward from the Führer, for all I know."

They had arrived to the outskirts of the town. Victoria felt that was eerily quiet, but that was to be expected since the curfew was in effect. Luckily, no German troops seemed to be patrolling either. They must be all at the barn, she thought.

Rachelle led them into a narrow alley between two larger buildings. Victoria got an uneasy feeling as they got off their bikes and walked deeper in the alley. It was filled with piles of crates, making the advancing a zigzag. The alley seemed to narrow into a tight passage at the other end. Even though it was almost pitch dark, Victoria could see a lone shadowy figure standing further back.

"There he is," Rachelle said, hastening her pace. Victoria and Kate followed suite. Within seconds, they had reached the figure who was standing alone, wearing a black leather trench coat and a dark fedora.

"Guten Abend, Fräulein Marsh und Fräulein Chase!" The mysterious figure said. "I've been expecting you."

Victoria stared at the stranger dumbfounded upon realizing that he was speaking German, before matching the face to a photo attached to one dossier that she'd studied in the bunker.

"Bauers!" Kate beat Victoria to acknowledging him.

They both reached for their pistols, when a loud "Hände hoch!" echoed in the air, accompanied by clopping of boots and the rattle of guns as they were surrounded by German soldiers. Realizing that they had walked right into a trap, Victoria and Kate exchanged glances, and slowly raised their arms.

"Well done, mein Schatz!" Frank Bauers said, watching past them.

Victoria didn't need to turn her head to know that it had not been Max who had betrayed them.

"Zu Befehl, herr Kriminalrat!" Rachelle answered.

AN: Welcome back! The plot thickens. What will happen to Kate and Victoria? It's been a while since I posted an update and the progress has slowed, mostly due to lack of mental energy fight the writer's block. Luckily I've been able to find my inspiration again. Thanks at least some extent to LiS Double Exposure. While the game was a bit of disappointment, it rejuvenated my creativity.
A long overdue thanks to Lyta Halifax, who has been patiently reading my writings. A good beta reader is simply priceless, and Lyta is just that. Thank you!