A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Forty-One

It took Markus barely a moment to spring from the truck and into the house when they got back. He didn't wait for Aldrik. Didn't wait for Lotte. His mind was on two places and that was Mina's baby and Mina, herself.

Finding Lotte, bribing the guard by telling him that all he could think about was getting his hands on the woman, and sneaking away with her to meet up with Aldrik had taken its toll on making the day go by faster. He'd barely had a chance to think of how incredibly amazing it was that any of those things had worked out. A miracle really. Aldrik owed him money after what he did — a lot of it! A guard was not cheap to bribe. Yet that wasn't even on the top of his mind right now. It had all been worth it though and that was undeniable.

"Analiese. Analiese?" He yelled out as soon as he was in the door. He didn't hear the neighbor anywhere. Tossing his gloves on the kitchen counter, he didn't even bother taking his boots off.

"Mr. Hirsch. I just got the baby down. Are you really going to yell through the house like an animal?" The older woman walked in the room, baby in arms, and a look that could shatter glass.

"I am sorry, Analiese. I just didn't hear anyone and was worried. It has been a long day." He reached out his arms to scoop up the baby.

"Nein!" She snapped at him, pulling the baby out of his reaching hands. "You get those boots off and take off that uniform."

"Yes, ma'am." He nodded, pulling off his boots as fast as he could. He couldn't help but growl when the lace got stuck and wouldn't pull free. Sighing, he took a moment to calm down. Within seconds he'd freed the rebel lace and pulled off his boots. Taking off his uniform jacket was much faster. He hung it on a hook and reached for the baby once again.

"Wash those hands, Mr. Hirsch. This baby is clean and susceptible to germs. You be clean before you hold him." She watched him, carefully making sure he did everything he was supposed to do.

"How is Mina, Analiese? Please tell me she is alright." He glanced back at her as he washed away all the dirt and grime that had managed to sink through his gloves. A twinge of worry pulled at his heartstrings, but he forced himself to remain calm. He had to own his emotions, not let them own him instead.

"I think she is going to be all right, Mr. Hirsch. She has woken up several times and has been eating. She is sore, but that is to be expected after delivering a baby." She nodded, smiling at the little bundle in her arms. Slowly, she handed him over to Markus. "I am going home. If you need anything, please do not hesitate in coming to get me."

"I won't. Thank you, Analiese." He carefully handled the bundle in his arms. The baby was almost snoring. His lip wriggled randomly as if he was dreaming about eating. Markus couldn't help but smile as he found his way to Mina's room. He had hardly eaten all day, but the idea of food was the last thing on his mind.

Sitting, he winced as the chair squeaked louder than he thought was possible. The baby still didn't wake, not that he would have minded much if he had woken up.

A quiet giggle pulled his attention over to the bed. Mina was rubbing her eyes. "I was just resting, not sleeping."

"I'm sorry if you were. I definitely did not want to wake you." A smile slowly spread across his face. "It is good to see you awake, Mina. We weren't sure what was going to happen to you."

"Mmm." Her eyes still expressed the exhaustion he could only imagine she still felt. "I thought you knew I was much stronger than that?"

He shook his head, quietly laughing. "You are right. I should have known better." He sobered up, fixing her with a much more serious look. "You scared me though."

"I thought you hated all Germans." He loved the way she gracefully arched her brow at him. It was beautiful. She was beautiful.

"There are some exceptions." He responded calmly, savoring the fact that she wasn't snapping at him for something. The sass was fun to see from her, but it was nice to have just a normal, friendly conversation.

She gave him a tired smile as she fixed her eyes on the baby. "His name is Hans Amell Zwick."

"You named him hands? Isn't that a little weird, Mina?" He tilted his head and just blinked at her.

"If you were just a little closer I would smack you." Mina gave him a short-lived glare.

"I can do it for you." Lotte came walking in the room. A smile fixed on her face, and happiness lighting up her eyes.

Markus couldn't help but notice Mina's eyes grow wide. Surprise filled her face intermingling with shock. "Lotte! How? How are you here right now?"

"Your little dare devil here found me." She glanced at Markus. He couldn't help but flash her a quick smile before refocusing on little Hans.

"No! How did you even know it was her?" Mina's focus quickly jumped to him. Confusion and relief were two things that were easily noticed in her expression.

"I didn't. I heard someone say her name and remembered you guys talking about her. I pulled her aside when nobody was looking and questioned her." He shrugged like it was no big deal. It could have been a very big deal if he would have been caught.

"He started out the conversation in French by asking if he could talk to me. I do not know where you found this guy, but not many Americans speak fluent German and a little French." Lotte looked mildly impressed.

"Very little French. I am not that good at it." Markus was quick to remind them of his lack of skill.

"How do you know French? No, no, how did you get her out of there?" Mina had curled the blanket in between her arms and cuddled it as she waited for the answer.

"I was wondering the same thing." Aldrik crossed his arms. It was his typical stance, one that didn't surprise anyone.

"I bribed a guard." He said simply, carefully propping Hans into the grip of one arm and swinging his other around Lotte's waist. "I told him I fancied this lady and wanted her. You owe me a lot of money." He let Lotte push his arm away from her as he looked up at a glaring Aldrik.

"I smacked you once, Markus, I will do it again. You do not seem to heed warnings very well." Lotte glared at him, standing her ground firmly.

"It was just for the story, Lotte. Calm down." He rolled his eyes, sobering up quickly. "We have another problem though."

"What problem?" Mina pulled herself up a little bit in the bed. Wincing as she moved.

"She figured I was both American and English in seconds. What if she's not the only one to figure it out?" His jaw hardened. He hadn't had time to ponder the concern earlier, and now, hearing her mention it again, it worried him.

"We will kill anyone that finds out." Mina's voice had grown low and dangerous. Perhaps the protectiveness came from just having a baby, but nobody would touch her family. She wasn't messing around. "In the meantime, I want you to work harder at speaking more fluent German. Perhaps someone will just think your speech is sloppy."

"Gee, thanks. That doesn't seem like it should be much of a compliment." He sighed, blatantly annoyed with the idea that his speech was far from being ideal.

"I am not joking." Mina watched him intently, clearly searching for any defiance. "No more of those... those... no more isn't or doesn't or she'd or any words like that. We do not speak like that. Americans speak like that. Perhaps the English speak like that. We do not. Fix it."