A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Forty-Six

Hans stared up at his mother with his murky gray eyes. He had only baby fluff to be considered hair on top of his tiny head. His little expression brought a smile to her face. He was the only piece of happiness to her. The thought that only months ago she had figured he wasn't alive inside of her was such a crazy thought now that the little bundle of impossible cuteness was lying in her arms.

Nursing her own child had been out of the question given their trying schedules and round the clock planning. Thankfully Analiese had a source for goat's milk and Hans had quickly caught on to drinking it. She bounced the little guy calmly in her arms, waiting for his heavy eyes to drift asleep.

She didn't want to think about if one day she wasn't allowed to come home to him. The thought had never really crossed her mind until lately. The risk of getting caught or killed was a risk that happened every single day. The thought that she might not be able to watch him grow up, help to guide him to be the man that he should be, meet the woman that he may fall in love with one day, see the children that he'd father when he grew up... those thoughts and those thoughts alone made her second guess her plan. The mission she'd dedicated herself too. Yet going to work every day and seeing how many people didn't get to be with their children and didn't get to watch them grow up made her realize how much more help they needed. How much more important it was that she succeeded in this.

Markus drifted through her thoughts. He was so gentle with Hans. He held him, and fed him, and changed him at every chance he got. Eventually she knew she needed to tell him that she forgave him, but the desire to hold back was still there. In her heart she knew that she forgave him, even warmed up to having him around, but there was no way she was going to tell him that. Perhaps she just wasn't ready, or perhaps she was scared of what would happen after those words would leave her mouth. Whatever the reason, she knew that one day she'd have to take that step and say what she knew in her heart was true. Right now though, she was perfectly content keeping him on his toes and watching the love that shined through him for her baby continue to warm her up. He was melting her frigid exterior and changing her just a little each day.

"Mina, Aldrik needs to speak to you." Lotte popped her head in the doorway. She was trying to keep her voice calm, but Mina could see there was something off. Carefully she laid the sleeping baby down in Aldrik's old baby crib. The thing was ancient, yet still served its purpose well. She kissed his forehead and tiptoed away, quietly closing the door behind her.

"What is it?" The words slipped out of her mouth faster than she had expected. "Did he get word from Decker? He has only been gone a few days."

Sighing, Lotte stopped walking to face her friend. "Markus did not show up to meet him after work."

Mina's heart felt like it sunk to the bottom of her feet. Her eyes were wide as she pushed past Lotte and ran down the stairs to find Aldrik. "What do you mean Markus did not show up? Where is he?"

She watched her friend's stiff stance barely loosen at her presence. "We waited almost an hour for him to show up. There was no sign of him. Schmitt brought me home."

There was something he wasn't telling her. She could feel it. Maybe even see it hiding in his eyes. "He would not abandon us. What are you not telling me?"

He looked to the floor, shifting his position uncomfortably. Swallowing hard, he finally looked back up at her. "There was word that a few of the guards in Buchenwald thought they found a traitor and..."

"And?" Mina took another step toward the man. Her eyes just as intense as her expectant voice.

"And they made an example of him." He hefted out a heavy breath, shaking his head. "Nobody knew who the supposed traitor was or why he was suspected."

"Do you know where they took him? We have to know what happened, Aldrik. We have to find him." She couldn't keep the nervousness from her voice. What if he'd been found out? What if this really was something that happened to him? At this point she wished he had just run away. She could be angry with him then, not worried.

Breathing out harshly he fixed his eyes on her. There was a depth in them that she couldn't quite place. It scared her. "Mina, word is they brought him to a suburb outside of Nuremburg that had been destroyed."

Her eyes grew wider. She needed something to lean against, something to sit in, something for support. She found her way to the wall and just breathed in and out. Swallowing, she forced herself to look up at him. "Do you think they know?"

"I do not know. Nobody said anything. The only reason I know is because some young, punk guard came over to Nordhausen after his shift at Buchenwald to meet up with a friend. I overheard their conversation when I was leaving. I do not know more, Mina." He shook his head, shrugging nervously.

Finding her feet, she stood up. "We have to find him, Aldrik. We have to bring him home." She couldn't hide the desperation in her voice. She'd reserve her strength for when it was more imminent. Right now she could be as weak as she needed to be. She was surrounded by her family.

"It is already dark, Mina. I do not know if we can find him."

"We have to try, Aldrik. We do not know how bad his injuries are. He might still be alive. If we leave him overnight, he will die by morning." Sliding on a warm coat, she looked at him expectantly. She needed him to drive. He couldn't let her go alone.

Sighing, Aldrik buttoned his coat. "Come on. If we hurry we can be there in fifteen or so minutes."

"I know the distance, Aldrik." She grabbed a large flashlight, waiting for him to do the same.

He stared at her for a moment. His blue eyes unreadable. "I was reminding myself."

"Mmm, I see." She nodded before turning her focus over to Lotte.

"You do not even have to ask. I will watch over Hans. Just bring him home, okay?" She gave them a reassuring smile, hugging her arms around herself.

"That was not what I was going to say." Mina glanced up at Aldrik, allowing him to read her worried thoughts.

He caught the drift. "Lotte, keep the lights off downstairs, and keep them very dim upstairs. If anyone tries to get in the house other than us... do you remember that place I showed you? That place that leads into a secret spot in the wall?" He waited for her to nod. "Get Hans and hide in there. If word got out and that is why Markus was brought to Mina's hometown, then we are all in danger. Just to be safe, grab some food and water, and stash it in there, okay?"

"Okay, I will. We will be alright." She walked over to her man and hugged him. "Do not worry about us. Get your friend. Stay safe."

He pulled her face back enough to kiss her. "I love you."

A smile of relief lit up her face. "I love you too. Now go."

A smile cracked Mina's worried expression before she walked out of the room and to the truck. She had no idea of what to expect. Maybe he was fine, but the likelihood was slim. This felt personal, even if it happened to be an act of randomness. She could only pray Markus wouldn't say something he shouldn't. She could only pray.