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Chapter 9: Anatomy of Courage

Gale Cleven × Hope Armstrong (ofc)

Series Masterlist

This story is based on on the fictional portrayal of these men from the MOTA to series.

Summary: After their plane crashes in enemy territory, the flight nurses must face the harsh truth of the German regime.

Collab: A Pair of Silver Wings by @major-mads

September 20th: 07:20AM

"We're going down and we gotta bail out, girls. Grab your chutes now!" Frank yelled, the veins in the pilot's arms bulging as he fought to keep the plane level. Hope remained frozen, staring at Billy's lifeless body... he was only twenty one years old.

"Hope?" Frank called out. "Hope, look at me! You've gotta go, get yourself and Ruth out, I'll keep the old girl steady until you're both out, then I'll be right behind ya."

Hope shook her head, tears building in her eyes, "No!, We're in this together! I'm not leaving you, not now. Not after everything!"

"For pete sake Hope, will you do as you're told for once and stop being so God damn stubborn," Frank snapped with his eyes still trained ahead, and Hope noticed how the veins on his temples pulsed angrily, and his face grew redder by the second. "Now, please just go, I'll be behind you, I promise!"

"Okay," Hope nodded solemnly, climbing from the copilot's seat and hurrying towards Ruth, who was already shakily trying to put on her parachute. Hope helped her do up the straps and buckles before she did the same with Hope.

"I can't do this. I only jumped once in training. I-I can't jump out of a plane. I'm a teacher, not a paratrooper. I-I..." Ruth continued to ramble, her panic-stricken features breaking Hope's heart, and her tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Hope grasped hold of Ruth's shoulders, pulling her shaking frame against her chest.

"It's going to be okay. We're gonna be just fine but we've got to do this. We can't stay here, Rue. I need you to be strong for me now, okay? I need you to be strong for both of us," Hope tried to encourage the girl towards the door but she froze, riveted to the plane.

"But Hope, we're over Germany. The-the Kraut's will get us and then...then I don't know what they'll do to us." Ruth's bottom lip began to tremble, her breath coming out in short, sharp gasps.

Hope nodded solemnly, "I know we are, Rue, but this is our only option. I promise you that I will be with you every step of the way, no matter what, okay?" Hope squeezed Ruth's hand and she returned the sentiment, allowing Hope to lead her towards the door.

Both girls hooked up to the static line, checking their equipment quickly. "Are you ready?"

Ruth nodded, swallowing the bile that threatened to creep up her throat as the plane shook violently beneath them.

"See you on the other side, Rue."

"See you in a minute," Ruth threw her arms around her friend, squeezing her tightly before stepping into the door, pausing for a moment before throwing herself out into the clouds. Hope watched as her static line unhooked and Ruth's parachute blew upon, billowing into the sky.

Hope turned to Frank, giving him one last longing look, she raised her hand to her forehead, saluting him. Frank's eyes creased at the corners as he gave her a small smile, nodding curtly in response. Hope moved to the door, feeling the harsh, bracing wind against her cheeks.

It was now or never.

Hope stepped one foot out of the plane, allowing gravity to pull her the rest of the way. The static line unhooked, creating a ricocheting effect and pulling her upwards by her chute before releasing her into the sky. She'd jumped from a plane before, having taken a training course run by some paratroopers prior to qualifying as a flight nurse, but nothing compared to this. She was dragged through the sky, spinning as she frantically tried to gain control of her parachute.

Looking up, she caught a glimpse of another parachute above her, thankful that Frank had managed to get out safely. 'The Angel' continued its descent through the clouds, swooping low over the farmland and disappearing behind a clump of trees in the distance before it exploded.

Boom!

The plane erupted into flames, the explosion searing the air and the surrounding earth. Large black clouds began rolling up from the scene, blowing like a giant beacon into the sky. It would send a smoke signal for miles and there was no way the Krauts would miss it.

Hope swallowed hard, thinking of what awaited them once they landed. At least up here, for a moment, they were safe. She'd heard of the pilots that had been shot down, none of them were seen again, and she wondered what fate would befall them on enemy territory.

She clung tightly to the risers, pulling them sharply as a strong gust of wind took her away from her desired drop zone which was a small clearing, and roughly in the direction she'd seen Ruth land in a patch of trees. She worried if she'd landed okay.

Hope had several more months of jump training than Ruth had, when Hope was training they had taken more time, and given more instructions, but when Ruth came to her training a few jumps and you were qualified.

The wind whipped harshly across Hope's cheeks, making her glad she'd worn her padded flying jacket on this flight. She was sometimes in the habit of leaving it back at The Grove, finding it was more a hindrance than a help at times, but something had made her bring it with her. She was thankful for that incline.

As the ground approached quickly, Hope braced herself for the impact, rolling with the parachute as she connected with the ground. It was a rough landing, rougher than any of her ones during training and her ribs felt grazed and bruised. Her back creaked, groaning as she stood, straightening herself out and ignoring the throbbing pain in her right arm. All in all the landing had been less than pleasant.

She gathered up the pale, silk fabric quickly, cutting the lines with her bandage scissors and stuffing it beneath the nearby hedge. The last thing she needed was a Kraut patrol stumbling upon it so soon, although seeing as 'The Angel' erupted into flames, it was only a matter of time before they came looking.

Through the tops of the trees, she could just make out another parachute descending. It's a white canvas billowing above the speck of a person. It must be Frank.

Hope scrambled through the trees, prickly branches and hawthorn bushes scratching at her skin and uniform. The parachute disappeared from view, crashing through the trees ahead. The ground was rough, tree roots littered the path and Hope found herself stumbling along like Hugh after a good night out.

A flash of white from the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she moved cautiously forward, watching her every step to avoid breaking twigs.

She called out softly, trying to catch Frank's attention without attracting anyone else. She knew they'd landed in Germany and from their last bearing they were just over the Maginot line into Germany. Hope had never dreamed of setting foot in occupied Germany, it was never a thought that had entered her mind but now they were truly here she could only fear the worst.

"Frank?" She hissed, watching as the white fabric on the ground stopped moving, followed by silence. "Frank?"

"Hope?" Came the reply, before Frank's head popped out from behind a tree, looking far more battered and bruised than when she'd last seen him. "Hope, that you?" His thick New Jersey accent was strained as he struggled to move further from his hiding place.

"Frank!" She rushed over to him, throwing herself into his arms, to which he squeezed her close to him, ignoring the way his ribs screamed in anguish. "Thank God you're okay, Frank."

From day one Frank had been there for her, encouraging her, teaching her, while she had also taught him. People say that you only have one soulmate in life and rightly so because her soulmate was Gale. Yet if it came down to platonic soulmates, well hers would be Frank. He was the older brother who'd stepped up when Hugh wasn't around, becoming her greatest friend.

Frank huffed, shifting painfully to sit up straight, leaning his back against the tree he'd fallen through. "Yeah, you can't get rid of me that easily, Armstrong," he chuckled, wincing.

"Where does it hurt?" Hope instinctively raised her hand, brushing her fingers gently over the deep abrasion on his forehead and the bruising around his left eye.

"It's mainly my ribs, took a good beating from that tree on the way down, and my chute got stuck in its damn branches." He pointed his thumb aggressively upwards, cursing the tree under his breath.

Hope lifted Frank's shirt gingerly, trying to hold in the gasp that formed on her lips when she noticed the deep purple that was already growing up on his right side. She traced her fingers over them slowly, watching as Frank sucked in a quick breath.

"Looks like you've broken a few ribs, Frank. I'm no doctor but that would be my guess," Hope glanced around, she still had her musette bag, but it held only limited supplies of small bandages and she needed something larger. Her eyes trailed over Frank's parachute and she shuffled forward, cutting a long, thick strip out of the material.

Frank eyed her suspiciously, "I know it's silk and all, Hope, but I don't think now is the time to be gathering fabric for your wedding dress."

She glared at him and he smiled weakly at her. He knew her dress was already finished, but in typical Frank fashion he wanted to make light of the situation. She pushed the image of her wedding dress from her mind. Now was not the time to be thinking of such things, and instead, her training kicked in and she began wrapping the rudimentary dressing supportively around his injured ribs.

Frank hissed and whined at the contact, trying to remain stoic but the pain was unbearable.

"I'm sorry Frank, but I've got to do this," Hope smiled sympathetically at her pilot, who only nodded in response, allowing her to finish her job.

Here," Hope motioned to the syrette of morphine from her musette bag, "This should help."

"No, no, Hope I'm fine, it's not that bad, and I don't want you wasting it on me," he pushed her hand away, levering himself against the tree to try and stand.

"Here, let me," Hope wrapped her arm around him, avoiding his ribs, and allowed Frank to lean his large frame against hers. It wasn't easy, trying to guide the tall man through the bushes, whilst trying to maintain a reasonably quick pace.

"Did you see where Ruth landed?" Frank asked quietly, looking over at Hope who chewed her bottom lip nervously.

"Roughly. It's in the group of trees ahead. I don't think she had a soft landing either."

Hope's mind couldn't think straight, couldn't concentrate without Ruth by her side. She was a constant throughout all the chaos and confusion of love and war. The sooner Ruth was back beside her, the sooner things would start to be a little bit better.

Frank's eyes darted back and forth, his body tense as his survival instinct began to work overtime. He knew that they were in Germany, they're plane going down and leaving a huge smoke signal meant that every Kraut from miles around would be looking for them. His priority now was keeping his girls safe, and busted ribs or not, that's what he intended to do.

They made their way further through the trees, following a slightly worn path. Normally, the first rule of landing in enemy territory would be to stay off any main roads or used paths, but in Frank's condition, Hope couldn't drag him through anymore thick bushes. The weight of him leaning against her already dragged her down, causing her aching body to slow.

She slowed a little more temporarily, listening to the rustling noise that...

Hope stopped dead in her tracks, the noise ahead of them causing both their hearts to quicken, as Frank looked down at Hope, their eyes meeting in silent fear. He pulled his pistol free from its holster, motioning for Hope to stay behind him. She linked her hand with his, allowing Frank to lead her towards the noise. She prayed that it was Ruth. Hope had to admit that she rarely prayed, unlike Ruth who took her faith very seriously, but Hope was praying now, praying that Ruth would be alright.

"Come out, nice and slow," Frank raised his gun at a small scrub of bushes, waiting for the occupier to vacate their hiding place. A pained whimper followed before a familiar nest of blonde curls came into view.

"Ruth!" Hope gasped, falling beside her friend and throwing her arms around her neck, squeezing her close. "You're okay."

"Hope," Ruth whispered in response, hugging her friend back the best she could with one arm, her left remaining close to her chest.

Hope hands fell instinctively to Ruth's injured arm, despite her friends small protest. She ran her fingers up and down the limb, noticing the evident swelling around the wrist and elbow joint. Rummaging in her musette bag, Hope pulled free some bandages, wrapping the affected limb tightly to provide some support and help reduce the swelling that was already growing along Ruth's arm.

Hope sat back on her feet, scanning the area for the blonde's parachute. Finding it a few feet away, she quickly grabbed it and pulled it over to the bush. She cut out a large triangle, folding it in half, and placing the injured limb inside of the makeshift sling. She worked swiftly, no words were exchanged between the three until Hope was finished.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Hope asked, tying the knot securely at the base of Ruth's neck. She cupped her friend's cheek tenderly, and relief flooded through her as those bright blue eyes she'd grown to love so much blinked tearily back at her. Other than her arm, along with numerous cuts and scrapes on her arms, face, and legs, Ruth was okay, to Hope's relief.

She was okay.

Ruth stood to her feet with a wince. "My chute got shot up and I-I hit the trees...fell on my arm," she paused, her voice dropping to a pained whisper as the mere thought of the crash brought the pain crashing over her again. "Hope, I think... I think it's broken."

"Yeah, at least fractured," Hope nodded with a concerned frown, wiping away some of the blood dripping from a cut on Ruth's temple. "When we-"

Before the nurse could continue, Frank's hand landed on her shoulder and his eyes scanned the forest around them. "I'm sorry, but we've gotta get going. The krauts are probably on their way as we speak."

Hope quickly stashed the parachute behind the bush and took her place under Frank's arm, allowing him to lean against her while Ruth watched with furrowed brows.

"What did you do?" she asked worriedly.

The pilot shot her a pained grin. "I'm alright," he gritted out as they started walking slowly. "Hope, we've gotta go faster. I don't care about my ribs. Let's go."

Picking up the pace, they made their way through the hilly forest, eyes scanning the surrounding trees. Frank and Hope led the way and he held his pistol at the ready, nothing but the quiet sounds of their footsteps in the air. Ruth trailed right behind them, no less than an arm's length away at all times. Her arm throbbed where it sat in the sling but she could only imagine the pain Frank was in. The nurses had seen a few grown men cry from the pain of a few broken ribs.

The sun sat high in the sky when they finally reached the forest's edge, and more rolling hills and patches of forest stretched on in the distance, the only building in sight a small house in a clearing ahead. Hope panted from under Frank's arm as the trio debated their next move.

"We can't go out into the open. They'll see us for sure," Hope whispered, gesturing with her free hand for Ruth to come up beside them.

When she only replied with a small gasp, Hope craned her head to look over her shoulder at the blonde, her heart dropping at the sight before her. Ruth stood a few feet away, her blue eyes wide and terror-filled as a German held a luger to her temple, his hand over her mouth. Three more krauts stood behind him with their rifles trained on the bruised and battered crew.

She met Ruth's terror-filled eyes and helplessness coursed through her. She opened her mouth to speak but the German beat her to it, his heavily accented voice harsh and guttural.

"Drop your weapon or I'll shoot," the soldier commanded, his words cutting through the silence of the forest.

Ignoring the pain in his torso, Frank spun around with his gun raised. His grip on the pistol tightened for a moment as his jaw clenched. With a gruff sigh, he slowly lowered the weapon to the ground, his eyes never leaving the soldier who held Ruth against his chest.

"Drop it!"

Tossing the pistol to the forest floor, Frank raised his hands to the best of his ability and Hope did the same, unable to tear her gaze away from Ruth's. Her eyes seemed to tell her friend, 'It's okay. Just look at me. You're alright.'

The three Krauts brushed past Ruth, making a beeline for Hope and Frank, and they began to roughly search the pair, rummaging inside their uniforms. Hope flinched as she felt the soldier behind her, feeling along her ribs and running his hand inside her overalls, fumbling in the pocket above her breast and pulling free the content. The photograph of Gale and her at Dye's 25th party fell free, fluttering to the ground where it came to rest. Gale's smiling face looked up at her and she had to fight the urge not to reach down for the picture. His letter soon followed suit, falling into the dirt.

The Krauts stripped them of everything they had, including pulling the silver chain from around Hope's neck that contained the ring Hugh had given her for her 18th and her engagement ring. Seeing her ring resting in the palm of one of the soldiers made her sick to her stomach. How could they just take their things like this? Hope wanted to fight back, wanted to protest but she couldn't find it in herself to drag her eyes away from the photograph. She watched one of the krauts pick it up, mumbling something to the other two before handing it off to the officer who remained at the back of the group. He smiled smugly, shoving it deep into his pocket. Would she get it back, she wondered? Would she ever see Gale's smiling face again? Ever be held in his arms? Ever kissed again?

"That's enough," Frank's voice rang out, his eyes blazing with anger. "She's not armed." Hope's head snapped up, her eyes instinctively meeting Ruth's who looked on the edge of tears.

The hands that had been roaming Ruth's body paused and the man stepped back, seemingly satisfied with the search. Hope resisted the urge to lurch forward and punch that satisfied smirk off his face, but it wouldn't do any of them any good. Ruth's shaky hand remained in the air. Hope watched as her face morphed into a horrified expression at the sight of the bright red swastika glaring back at them. Hope had seen pictures of the Nazi symbol in newspapers, but to see it up close and on the arm of a Nazi officer made everything they were fighting for seem even more important.

'We're fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves,' Hugh had always said and the phrase resonated with Hope more now than ever.

Hope was cut from thoughts of her brother when the officer spoke up, muttering harshly under his breath and motioning to his soldiers who stepped up. One of them reached out to Hope, grabbing harshly at her shoulder and shoving her forward. She tripped stumbling into Frank's back before steadying herself. Ruth fell in bedside her, sharing an anxious look before they began to move forward.

Two soldiers stood on either side of them with rifles drawn as the officer stood before the Americans, an unsettling smirk on his lips.

"For you, the war is over."

...............................................................................………

The cool morning breeze whipping through the torn canvas walls of the truck sent goosebumps across Ruth's body, and she tugged her flight jacket closer to her body. She sat between Frank and Hope, her good hand now securely in her best friend's. No words had been exchanged between the crew since they'd climbed in, and with the piercing eyes of three soldiers sitting across the truck from them, their rifles sitting on their laps, the Americans were terrified.

Exhaustion wore on them, but they could not sleep or close their eyes as adrenaline still coursed through their veins. The Germans had forced them through the dense, mountainous forest for half a mile before reaching a winding road among one of the hills where a troop transport truck awaited them.

Hope's body almost gave in as they climbed aboard the truck, her muscles aching after supporting Frank for so long. Ruth had tried to take her place multiple times but was waved off due to her injury. And that's where they found themselves, in the back of the truck driving through the German countryside.

The landscape was beautiful. Ruins of old castles atop mountaintops, picturesque villages, and lush green forests filled with tall spruces and pines caught the women's attention through the opening in the back of the truck. Frank could've cared less and stared straight ahead, trying to focus on breathing and pushing through the pain radiating from his ribs.

Before long, the truck rumbled to a stop and they all shared a worried glance when the officer appeared at the tailgate.

"Out."

Ruth carefully hopped out first, holding her throbbing arm tight against her chest while Hope helped Frank down. Their eyes widened in awe as they were met with a scene straight out of a storybook. If it weren't for the Nazis pushing them along the road and the rifles pointed at them, they could've been on vacation, sightseeing in the beautiful town before them.

The narrow cobblestone streets wound their way through a maze of old buildings, each one with intricate timber frames and colorful exteriors. Some even had window boxes overflowing with vibrant flowers, adding to the warmth and color of the village.

A rough voice broke them from their awestruck gaze, and the soldier behind Hope nudged her with his rifle. "Walk!"

As they marched through the town, bloodied and looking worse for wear, residents became aware of their presence and peered cautiously from the sides of the street. Shopkeepers paused in their tracks, their hands stilling in their work as they watched the prisoners pass. Hope and Ruth drew more than a few puzzled looks, and some townsfolk whispered among themselves with expressions mixed with confusion and concern.

"Frauen? Was machen die denn hier?" muttered a woman passing them on the road, her words carrying over the murmurs of the crowd. An elderly woman beside her shook her head, her wrinkled brow furrowed in disbelief.

The group continued through the village, and just ahead, a few children played in the street. A barely perceptible smile played on Ruth's lips as the kids' laughter echoed off the buildings. Hope couldn't help the weak smile she sent Ruth's way. The sound of children playing in a place like this seemed like such a foreign thought. It reminded her of the image of her future with Gale. She could see him now, cradling a baby in his arms while he ruffled the blonde lock of a toddler. Her eyes drifted to the children playing, envisioning their round, smiling faces but the mood quickly changed when the children turned to look at them with pure disdain on their features.

One of the boys' small hands formed into the shape of a gun and he pointed it straight at them. There was no playfulness in his gesture, no hint of amusement. Instead, his eyes contained a disturbing intensity as he mimicked the actions he had likely seen performed countless times by soldiers and adults around him.

Hope couldn't help but feel hatred towards the children's parents for turning them against the people who were trying to help, but she couldn't blame them. The air felt cold and stiff as she exchanged a glance with Ruth and they all recognized the chilling reality of the situation. This was not a child playing a game...this was a child who had been taught to see them as enemies, as symbols of everything that stood against the beliefs instilled in him by the governing regime.

Glancing around at the faces of the townspeople, Hope couldn't help but wonder how many others harbored similar sentiments. How many of them would kill them on the spot simply for the country they served, for the freedom they were trying to protect?

"I wonder where they're taking us," Hope whispered to Ruth.

The blonde bit her lip, her worried eyes flicking around them. "I don't kn-"

"Ruhig! No talking!" the guard behind Hope spat, shoving her forward roughly, making both her and Frank lose their balance and fall to the cobblestone street. The Captain fought to contain a groan as his knees collided with the stones, sending a shockwave of pain through his torso.

Hope scrambled quickly off of Frank's back, ignoring the agony she'd felt as her knee had connected with the cobbled street or the way the large abrasions on her hands seeped red blood to the surface. She pushed her hands beneath Frank's armpits helping to tug him to his feet but she couldn't support his weight.

"Help me," she pleaded, her dark eyes looking through tears at the soldiers who merely smirked. "HELP ME!" She cried. She'd seen Ruth dragged backwards in the corner of her eye and the pent-up rage was growing within her chest. Any second now...

She reached forward again, pulling Frank to his feet, mumbling soft apologies as he whined in protest, clutching his broken ribs. She turned to glare at the officer, resenting the way his lips curled up into a grin. How did he have the nerve to smile at them?

"Move!" One of the soldiers shoved the barrel of his MP40 into Hope's back, prodding her harshly, "Schnell."

Hope reached behind her, gripping Ruth's hand tightly and giving it one squeeze before releasing the blonde's shaky hand. The group moved forward in a single file line, careful as they stepped down the stone street. Their eyes glanced around at the German villagers watching them like hawks. One wrong move and the group knew that this town would be their final resting place.

The guards led them along the river, the water rushing passed loudly as it wound its way through the village. It was idyllic really but Hope couldn't bring herself to find any beauty in it, her mind too focused on the hatred in the child's eyes and the pain in her knee.

A large white building on their left caused Hope to pause, her eyes falling upon the painting on what looked like the town hall. There were four figures on the wall, two men on the outer edge and two in the middle. Hope's chest tightened as her eyes fell on the large red flag bearing the swastika, it seemed so out of place being painted so proudly for all to see.

"Move, bitch," one of the soldiers sneered, pushing the barrel of his gun into her back once more. Hope's jaw tightened, she knew resisting wasn't going to be good for any of them but she couldn't help the urge to slap that stupid smirk on his face. How did they have the nerve to treat officers in such a way, even if they were on opposing sides?

She turned on her heels just as Ruth caught her arm, sending her a pitiful look that instantly caused Hope to soften. She nodded once in a silent promise that she'd behave despite the anger rising within her. Frank nudged his shoulder into Hope, encouraging her to keep moving. It was a team effort for them all to survive, each having to bite their tongue and remain calm for their friends.

All too soon the trio were ushered into a large building beside the train track that they could only assume was the station.

Large letters hung above the door, the dark wood in contrast with the off-white stone of the building.

SCHILTACH

Hope couldn't help the anxiety that grew in her chest at the thought of climbing into the rail car.

How far would they be taken? Clearly they were being transported much deeper into German territory, which was not the news they'd been hoping for.

It was a rundown building with cracks streaking up the walls, and any recollection of its pre-war days had long been extinguished. The walk through the building was short, and the soldiers quickly filed them through a single door and out onto the platform where a cargo train was stationed. Several more German soldiers and officers lined the platform, two with Alsatian dogs on leads that somehow looked even more menacing than their handlers.

The officer that led them to the station stepped away, talking in hushed tones to another officer before nodding to his men. Frank was the first to be pushed forward, moving him towards one of the carriages, the door being slid open with a loud clang. The carriages were old, their outer wooden slats rotten and falling easily from their frames. They hardly looked worthy of a people who thought of themselves as the "superior race."

Frank glanced back at the girls before stepping inside, disappearing into the darkness. It occurred then to Ruth that this might be the last time they were all together. What happens if they get split up into different carriages or different trains? The thought of being all alone and without Hope and Frank filled Ruth with more anxiety, and she grasped Hope's arm.

On the other hand , Hope had never seen Frank not put up a fight. It was so unlike him to not even have a clever come back or to throw some sarcasm their way but he just disappeared. Hope worry grew regarding Frank's condition, clearly he was in far more pain than he was letting on.

The soldier behind Hope chuckled, leaning close to her ear and whispering, "You go next bitch." Hope's whole body tensed as she stepped forward, feeling the grip that Ruth had on her arm disappear. She couldn't see into the train carriage and stepped in blindly, fumbling around until her hands fell onto a warm chest that smelt like the all too familiar aftershave.

"I've got you, Hope," the strong New Jersey accent replied, cradling her close to him. Ruth soon appeared behind them, joining in on the group hug.

"We're gonna be alright," Frank assured them, rubbing their arms gently.

For some reason now that they were away from the prying eyes of the Germans they somehow felt safer, like they could breathe easily for a little while. The carriage door slammed shut, plunging them into darkness. It was then that Hope noticed the smell, a strong stench of stale urine mixed with sweat and vomit filled her nostrils, turning her stomach as she fought to keep her breakfast down. Who knew when she would eat that well again?

The floor was damp beneath their feet and she could only imagine what they were walking on. It was best not to know.

The trio settled down in the corner of the train where a small beam of light pierced through the darkness, illuminating just a small amount of the cramped quarters. Sighing, Hope slipped down the wall, nestling between Ruth and Frank. They all looked far worse for wear than earlier, and Hope wished she still had her musette bag of supplies. Reluctantly, she peeled the blood fabric of her overalls away from her right knee, examining the deep, angry gash that ran across the joint. She hissed, pulling the fabric back down and meeting Ruth's eyes.

"It's not that bad," she whispered, placing a comforting hand upon Ruth's, smiling through gritted teeth.

Ruth's eyes drifted back down to Hope's knee, eyeing the growing crimson patch suspiciously. She'd known Hope long enough to know when she was lying, but knowing Hope, she wouldn't admit how much pain she was truly in. Her blue eyes rose to Hope's dark ones, "It looks pretty bad to me, Hope. I..."

"Hey, don't worry about me, alright? Everything's going to be fine, I promise." Hope felt guilty, she knew she shouldn't make promises she couldn't keep, but seeing how Ruth visibly relaxed a little made the lie worth it. What good would it do to make her best friend more worried?

The train rumbled to life, pulling slowly away from the station, sending a domino effect of shakes and shudders down the carriages as it pulled out of the station. The rocking was oddly comforting, like how a baby likes to be rocked in its bassinet, and after the trauma of the day, they needed any ounce of comfort they could get. Ruth finally relaxed into Hope's side, burying her head into the crook of her neck as Frank sat quietly on the other side clutching his ribs, his breathing quieter now. Wherever they were going, it was probably a long ride, and for a moment they took comfort in the solace.

They must have drifted asleep because the next thing Hope remembered was the large container door being swung open, flooding the carriage with a bright white light. She squished herself back into Frank, who had his arm protectively around her shoulder, trying to bury her head from the blinding light. Four figures stumbled through the light, disappearing into the darkened end of the carriage before the door was swung closed once more. Everyone in the carriage remained silent, only the noise of Frank's heavy breathing could be heard.

"Is someone in here?" A rather posh English accent was emitted from the darkness. Nobody spoke, too afraid of what more people in the carriage meant for them. "Hello?"

"What do you want?" Frank spoke up, his voice gruff and hoarse from the dusty air within the carriage.

"Nothing," the man replied, "Other than to know where they're sending us."

"Your guess is as good as mine," Hope replied, shuffling forward until Frank's hand came across her chest, stopping her movements. She could see the whites of his eyes in the darkness looking at her sternly and beside him Ruth's eyes stared wide and frightened.

"Is that a woman's voice?" Another man asked, followed by a shuffling noise. It sounded as though the men were approaching them and Hope held her breath until her hand came into contact with a warm body.

"I'm Wing Commander Jones, this man to my right is Squadron Leader Colman and the two on my left are Flight Officers Carter and Williams. Were with the RAF," Jones spoke up, reaching his hand out for Hope to shake. Her eyes were adjusting to the darkness and she could make out the rather battered features of the Wing Commander. He was a handsome fella, only in his late twenties with sandy blonde hair. The other three men looked no better off, all bloody and bruised.

"I'm First Lieutenant Hope Armstrong, I'm a US Flight Nurse. This is my colleague Second Lieutenant Ruth Morgan and our pilot, Captain Frank Martin."

The men all nodded in greeting, and Frank and Ruth greeted them in turn before the pilots took their seats on the rough wooden floor, huddling together like the trio had when they had first boarded.

The locomotive soon rumbled to life again, pulling away from the station with its wheels clattering loudly against the tracks. The wind whooshed past the engine, creating an eerie whistling noise between the carriages. The occupants remained silent, all too deep in their own thoughts to talk amongst themselves.

Ruth moved to rest her head against Hope's chest, snuggling into her friend's flight jacket, enjoying the familiar smell of Hope's soap. She felt safe, warm and familiar, something that the blonde clung to as they rocked to and fro in the dark. Ruth's heart rate slowed a little in the familiar embrace. She just wanted to sleep, the pain in her arm having ebbed to a dull ache for the time being, as long as she didn't move the limb it wasn't too bad.

"You okay?" Hope whispered, pushing a few wisps of blonde hair from her friend's forehead. Ruth looked up at her, large blue eyes reflecting in the dim light. They looked tearful, and Hope drew her arm up around Ruth, pulling her against her body. She hated seeing Ruth so forlorn, it was so different from her normally bubbly personality. It was strange really that Ruth was the older one and yet Hope felt like an older sister to her.

"It will be alright, Rue. You'll see. We'll be okay," she mumbled, pressing her lips to Ruth's forehead.

"You can't promise that," Ruth mumbled, snuggling her head further into Hope's chest, hearing her heart beating strongly against her ear reminding her that they were still alive. "Are you scared?"

Hope nodded, letting a few tears slip silently down her cheeks, the image of her best friend looking so broken and forlorn hurt more than she could bear. "Course, I'm scared, Rue, but we've got to be strong. We've got to get back to John and Gale, remember? And Hugh too." It felt strange to speak their names now, especially as they seemed so far away from the men they loved. Hope wondered what Gale was doing now, maybe he was writing her a letter, or preparing for a mission. The more likely answer was that he was trying to keep John and Hugh out of some kind of trouble. Hope couldn't help the smile that grew on her lips at the thought of her troublesome brother.

A small smile spread across Ruth's lips too amused that she mentioned Hugh as an afterthought, her mind clearly preoccupied with Gale as of late.

"If I remember rightly, I have a wedding to get to and I need my maid of honour there with me," Hope glanced down at Ruth, looking upon the mass of blonde curls that now lay in her lap. Hope wished that she could let herself be as scared as Ruth was, she truly was terrified but something in her stopped her from panicking. She wasn't sure whether it was her training kicking in or her natural response to freeze, but something in her made her stay strong. She couldn't afford to give up hope yet.

Ruth rolled onto her side, looking up at her friend, a small smile playing on her lips, "I can't wait for your wedding. You're gonna look so beautiful, Hope."

Ruth had to admit that she'd been a little more than excited about the prospect of a wedding. They had so little to look forward to in this darn war that it was the highlight of Ruth's year, well maybe after meeting John of course.

Hope smiled weakly, "Thanks, Rue. That's why I need my best girl there beside me. I can't do it all alone," she shook her friends' shoulders playfully, careful to mind her injured arm. Hope tried not to think about her vacant wedding dress hanging in the Red Cross Nissen hut. She'd tried it on the last time she was there, spinning happily as the white material flowed around her. Everything had felt so perfect back then. Gale had waited for her outside the hut, promising he wouldn't peek through the window at the dress. He'd swept her up into his arms, his hands resting on her hips as he'd kissed her so gently.

"You won't be alone, you'll have Gale," Ruth corrected her, "And we all know that you won't be needing me after you're married. You two will be having too much fun," Ruth smiled sadly, the reality of them splitting up hitting her more than she'd ever realised. They'd taken for granted everyday they'd been able to spend together, and the thought of not seeing Hope's smiling face everyday made her heart ache a little more.

Noticing Hope's strained expression she piped up. "I don't know if John would like the idea of me being your best girl instead of his."

Hope chuckled, "Hey, I claimed you first. You'll always be my best girl, Ruth." She brushed her fingers softly over the older woman's forehead, tracing the worry lines with her index finger. "Love you, Rue."

Ruth wasn't sure why Hope had suddenly turned so sentimental, normally she was the levelheaded one of the pair, the quick thinker, the reliable one, but now..

"Love you too, Hope," she replied quietly, her eyes drawing closed as she slipped out of consciousness again as the rocking of the carriage sent her to sleep.

Hope grazed her fingers over Ruth's cheeks a few more times, admiring how peaceful she looked now she was asleep. Beside her Frank was talking quietly with Squadron Leader Colman, their hushed tones being the only noise filling the carriage, other than the rattling of the train chasing along the tracks.

Frank's arm had slipped around Hope's shoulder and she lay back against his arm, careful to avoid his injured ribs. She found her own eyes growing heavy and she fought against the sleep that threatened to take over, the events of the day finally catching up with her. She raised her hand, feeling for the necklace she always wore, knowing that the familiar feeling of her brother's ring and her engagement ring would bring her some comfort. The emptiness reminded her the Krauts had taken it when they'd caught them. The lack of the familiar ritual caused large tears to slip down her cheeks.

Ever since Hugh had given it to her on her eighteenth birthday she'd worn that necklace, never once taking it off. It had become her safety net, whenever she was worried or scared she only had to touch it and know that Hugh was with her. She had worn it through all of her training and every mission after that, it was her good luck charm. When Gale had given her the engagement ring it had gone right alongside it so that Gale and Hugh were always with her. Hope could picture Gale's face now, the beaming smile he'd sent her way as he gave her the ring.

"Hope Armstrong, will you marry me?"

Hope's throat was tight, her mouth suddenly dry and her mind paralysed from any other thought than yes. Yes. She nodded quickly, throwing her arms around Gale before hissing in pain. He quickly helped her up, carrying her over to his own bunk where she could lay comfortably against his pillow. He lay beside her, clutching the ring between his thumb and forefinger.

"So is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes," she leant forward quickly, sealing her lips to her fiancé's with a smile. Gale's hand moved to cup her cheek, stroking it lovingly as he held her close.

It seemed like a lifetime ago now that they had been so happy, so in love with their whole future planned out together. That dream seemed so far away, like a distance memory that threatened to taunt her of how good life could have been.

The tears came more freely now, no need to hold them back now Ruth wasn't awake to see them. How could she let this happen to them? She was the senior officer...she was supposed to look after Ruth.

Hope could see it now, John's disappointed face looking down at her. She'd lost his girl, how could he ever forgive her for that? And Gale. Poor sweet, kind, loving Gale. She couldn't have asked for a better man as a husband, but now...now that she'd failed so miserably. Hope's chest grew tighter and tighter as the tears flowed. She was glad everyone else in the train was too preoccupied or asleep to notice her falling apart. How could she be so weak? So helpless? She was supposed to be strong. She was supposed to...

The train shuddered to a halt, jolting its passengers forward before slamming them back against the hard, wooden wall of the carriage. The large door on the side swung open, filling the carriage with bright light once more.

"OUT! OUT! OUT!"

Hope jumped up with a start, her legs carrying her against her will to the doorway. She climbed down first alongside one of the RAF pilots that she thought was called Colman. She turned to Ruth who had been right behind her, wanting to help her down but she was pushed forward. She felt hands wrapping around her, pulling her away from Ruth who desperately searched for her through the crowd.

"RUTH! FRANK!" She screamed, fighting against the soldier's tight grip, his fingers digging mercilessly into her sides. "RUTH!" Hope found herself slipping free from his grip, ignoring the angry shouts that followed her.

She couldn't see Ruth or Frank through the sea of people, all pushing and shoving her in the opposite direction to where she'd last seen her friends. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She'd never felt so claustrophobic as she pushed through the frightened bodies. People were shouting, calling out against the Wehrmacht soldiers. She saw the odd flash of blue, and wondered if it was the RAF men they'd shared a carriage with. It was then that Hope realised that there must have been more people in the other carriages, watching them flood out onto the platform, all panicked and scared.

How many people had been through this before them?

How many of them were still alive?

She caught a flash of the familiar blonde bob, fighting to keep her head above the crowd as she felt like she was drowning, drifting further away. "RUTH!" She cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks. She could make out Frank too near Ruth, he was shouting something above the crowd that she couldn't make out. Was he calling for her?

A hand gripped Hope's throat, spinning her round harshly. The fingers pressed against her windpipe making it difficult to breathe, difficult to fight against her capture. Her vision blurred with tears as all the oxygen seemed to leave her lungs in one gasp. The soldier's fingers dug in, leaving dark purple marks against her skin. Hope could feel her nails clawing at his hands, digging into his flesh but he only smirked back at her.

"Du kleines bisschen n," the German spat, tugging Hope aggressively towards him. Hope's vision blurred as she felt his fist connecting with her cheek and she stumbled forward, falling onto a pair of black boots. Through tearful eyes she glanced up, her eyes meeting those of a Luftwaffe officer. His bright blue eyes seemed kind and concerned, far kinder than any of the other German's she had met.

His hand reached down, pulling Hope up by her flight jacket harshly, setting her right before turning to the soldier that had stroked her. He leant forward, whispering to the soldier, whose face fell quickly and he nodded, hurrying away through the crowd.

He turned to Hope smiling softly, his hand reached up to brush against the cut above Hope's eyebrow but she hit his hand away.

He shrugged his shoulders, seemingly indifferent about the whole encounter and took Hope by the elbow, leading her back through the crowd.

There were several large green army trucks waiting the other side of Frankfurt station, lined up against the damaged outer wall.

The officer pushed Hope towards the furthest one, offering out his hand but Hope ignored him, climbing up into the truck herself. She wasn't about to take any help from a Germany, even if he seemed like a half decent person.

The second she was on the truck, Ruth shot to her feet and enveloped her into a tight embrace, ignoring the pain shooting through her arm at the movement.

"I-I tried to get to you," Ruth whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm so glad you're okay."

Hope returned the hug, pulling back with tear-filled eyes. "It's okay, Rue. I know."

From beside them, Frank's brows furrowed as he caught sight of something on her neck. He gently reached out and brushed aside Hope's dark hair, revealing a series of finger-shaped bruises along her throat. Anger flared within the man at the sight, and his fists clenched at his sides.

"What happened?" Frank asked, his voice low and protective

"I fought against the kraut that grabbed meâ€¦he didn't like that." Hope didn't really want to say anymore and Frank seemed to realise, instead he gave her hand a tight squeeze. She reached up, rubbing the bruises that had formed over her neck and collar bone. She felt stiff where she'd been thrown to the floor but she knew that the full extent of her bruises would be evident until tomorrow.

The guards soon climbed on board, glaring silently at them and the trio sat along the wooden benches in silence. The truck rumbled to life, taking off down the road at a slow pace before it picked up some speed, bumping along. The prisoners rocked from side to side, trying to remain upright on the rough wooden benches. Hope intertwined her hand with Ruth's and offered a comforting squeeze while Frank stared daggers at the Luftwaffe airmen in front.

Merley twenty minutes later, the truck rolled to a stop in front of two large wire gates, surrounded by barbed wire and guard posts. A large wooden sign with white lettering stood at the entrance, and they all stared at the words as if they could possibly decipher the sign's meaning despite not speaking a word of the language. The trucks drew to a haunt and Hope could make out four large wooden buildings.

The officer reappeared at the tailgate, gesturing his head to the side. "Get out."

They all followed the orders and hopped down, their boots squelching in the mud beneath their feet. Each person helped the person behind them down, until the four were led into the camp. The barbed wire stood tall above them as they silently walked through the gate and into a nearby wooden building.

A few desks were scattered about, and the multiple windows allowed the bright sunlight to illuminate the otherwise dark room. Without a word, they were directed to stand in a line, their backs against the wall. Hope pressed her back firmly against it, glancing anxiously along the line as the Luftwaffe airmen on either end shared a look. It felt like they were in a lineup and Hope couldn't fight the anxiety that returned at this action. They were POWs after all and despite the Geneva Convention she knew in the back of her mind that if they wanted to the soldiers would kill them all.

One by one, they were called forward, the officer's harsh tongue causing them all to jump. Ruth was called up first and sent Hope a nervous glance before following the Luftwaffe officer around the corner and out of site.

Hope shuffled nervously back and forth, pressing the toe of her boot against the damaged wooden floorboard, as she tried to catch a glimpse of where Ruth had disappeared to.

"She'll be alright," Frank reassured her, squeezing Hope's hand from where he stood in front of her. She knew Frank was probably as worried as she was, but despite everything he remained stoic which was exactly what Hope needed right now.

"I'm worried, Frank. She's injured and... and..."Frank turned around, wrapping Hope tightly to his chest as she let out a small sob. Ruth was all she had when they were in the air. They needed each other more than they would ever truly realise.

Everything ached, her body screamed for her to lie down and rest. Her chest felt tight, like a weight was crushing her ribs and it had finally flattened her. Frank's hand rubbed small circles on her back, an act that Gale had always done and it only made Hope cry harder. She wished more than anything for this all to be a bad dream and that any moment she would wake up in Gale's arms. He hold her close, whispering sweet nothings into her hair.

All too soon Frank was dragged away from her and disappeared around the corner, she lurched after him but the American pilot behind her grabbed her arm.

"Hope, no!"

She stopped. "How do you know my name," she sniffled, rubbing the sleeve of her jacket over her cheeks. She probably looked like some sort of damsel in distress, a weak woman, but at this precise moment she didn't care how terrible she may have looked.

"I'm Bob Wolff. I was in the 418th, I knew your fiancé, Buck Cleven."

And just like that time stood still as Bob spoke his name. Gale. Her Gale.

"You knew my Gale," she whispered, her voice barely audible, and Bob nodded, bringing his hand up to rest on Hope's shoulder.

"I sure did. He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He talked about you a lot," Bob smiled kindly, sensing Hope's distress. "He's gonna give those Krauts hell until he finds you."

Hope knew that was probably true. Gale wasn't a violent man but she knew he would volunteer for every mission he could. He'd want revenge and to add to it so would John. She could only image the chaos that their crash would have caused at Thorpe Abbott.

Before Hope could reply to Bob, a Luftwaffe officer appeared beside her, grasping her arm and pulling her in the direction that Ruth and Frank had disappeared. Bob smiled reassuringly at her before he vanished from view.

Hope couldn't help the butterflies that flipped around her stomach, eating away at her stomach and causing bile to rise in the back of her throat. She could feel the acid burning at her tongue but swallowed it down, wincing at the taste.

The room she was lead into was small and smelt of damp, stale air. It was thick and hard to breathe as Hope's lungs struggled to keep with up her rapid inhales and racing heart.

There were three soldiers in the room she was taken into. The first grabbed her hand, pressing her fingers firmly into an ink pad before pressing them onto a document. She felt as though she was some sort of criminal but fought the urge to withdraw her hand. It would only cause more trouble.

She was then pushed forward, where the other two soldiers stood with a camera mounted on a stand. The taller of the two pushed her in front of the white background, barking for her to stand up straight. She did as she was told, waiting for the blinding flash that was to follow. She couldn't smile, this was not the sort of picture you smiled for.

The bright flash made her wince, shying away from it slightly. She felt as though she was being scrutinised, as though she was some inhuman creature to be studied. She wondered what the Krauts would do with all their photographs, whether they would hang them on a wall as trophies or make them prisoners' identifications. She didn't like to ponder on the thought for much longer.

The last picture she'd had taken was with Gale at Dye's 25th mission party. This picture was a far cry from how happy she had looked that night, wrapped up in her fiancé's arms, their love there for the whole world to see. And Hugh.. her heart ached at the thought of her brother. The longest they'd been apart was the months Hugh had spent away training. Who knows when or if she would ever see him again?

"Move," one of the soldiers shoved her away from the white wall and Hope realised that she'd been frozen to the spot. "Move over there," he pointed towards a bench hidden in a darkened corner.

Hope's eyes adjusted to the light and she could make out the figures of Ruth and Frank waiting silently on the bench. She sat beside Frank and he placed his good arm around her shoulder, his eyes laced with concern and she gave him a small smile. He wanted to ask her about her sudden breakdown, but with a quick glance at Ruth's worried expression he knew now was not the time.

Once they were all finished, the group was escorted from the intake building to a much smaller one across a large, muddy courtyard. A wall of warmth hit them as they shuffled into the room, and Ruth's stomach growled at the smell of food being cooked. Hope couldn't help but inhaling deeply, relishing in the smell of warm food. The small piece of toast she'd grabbed from the mess hall before their flight that morning had done nothing to sustain her. They'd planned on having a proper breakfast when they got back to base later that day.

That plan went up in smoke the second their plane did.

They walked further into the room and sat at one of the long tables set up, Hope found her mouth watering. The four Americans shared confused glances while waiting for someone to speak. They stared at the officer expectantly, but he just nodded at something behind him and moved to stand by the door.

The RAF men that had been with them on the train soon appeared in the doorway and were ushered towards their table, all sharing confused looks until a door opened at the other end of the room. The group watched in confusion as several weathered looking men walked in. They were dressed in air force blue that the RAF was known for, their hair a little longer and shaggier than the pilots they had arrived with. Many of them had beards or some other variation of facial hair and they looked tired, dark circles under most of their eyes.

One of the younger men set out a bowl in front of each of the people sat around the table. Hope glanced over at Ruth who shared her confused expression. Were they going to feed them?

The other two prisoners pushed a stainless steel trolley with a large, silver pot on top. They opened the lid, revealing a steaming, brown liquid inside that was quickly slopped into the bowls. Hope grimaced at the chunks floating in the watery, brown soup. She decided not to ask what it was made of.

"How long have you been here?" Wing Commander Jones asked the youngest prisoner, grabbing his arm to stop him as he tried to retreat away from the table.

"I don't know," the young man admitted, his pale blue eyes casting a quick glance over the table. "Welcome to Germany, Sir."

"Welcome to hell, more like," one of the older men serving the soup spoke quietly, glancing over at the two Luftwaffe officers that had remained in the doorway. "Just keep your heads low and keep out of trouble until they move you on. You shouldn't be at Dulag Luft too long."

"Move us on?" Frank spoke up, "Where do they move us to?"

The man shrugged, his uniform slipping a little on his thin, boney shoulders. The girls shared a look, a silent question.

How long would they be here?

"No one knows. Dulag Luft is where they hold you until they decide where to send you for the rest of the war. Some are here a few days, others a few weeks. Depends how long it takes them to place you," he secured the lid back on the now empty pot. "You're lucky if you get one run by the Luftwaffe, I hear they treat prisoners better than the Wehrmacht."

The three prisoners retreated back through the doors at the end of the hall, followed by one of the officers, and the group was left in silence. They all shared the same anxious look, even the Wing Commanders dark eyebrows were pulled tightly together.

"We should eat up," Squadron Leader Colman interrupted the silence, digging his little spoon into the soup. He swallowed the liquid quickly and Ruth wondered whether that was a good or bad thing but they all followed suit, eating the bland soup quickly. Hope relished at the feeling of the warm liquid slipping down her throat, soothing her nerves slightly. It didn't taste good, but it was warm and that was all she could ask for.

As soon as they finished eating three Luftwaffe officers strolled into the room, their long boots tapping harshly against the wooden floor of the hut.

"Up. Up," the first one ordered, pushing several of the RAF men out of their chairs, before moving round to the Americans. They formed an orderly line, no one dared speak. The German officer at the front spun on his heels, marching loudly up the hall to which everyone followed.

Hope glanced nervously behind her, catching Ruth's wide eyes as she sent her a reassuring smile. Frank was in front of her and she kept her walk in time with his, ensuring she didn't fall behind the other prisoners.

They were led out of the mess hut building and into a courtyard where they followed the officers round to another long, wooden building resembling the other three buildings on site. The air was now bitterly cold as the evening drew in and Hope pulled the collar of her flight jacket tightly around her, shielding her neck from the harsh conditions. Her fingers frozen and she dug them deep into her pockets as they trudged through the mud.

The officer swung open a wooden door, leading the prisoners into the long wooden building, which was connected to the building beside it through a narrow passage.

The prisoners continued to follow the officer down the hall. Hope could feel the nervous butterflies growing in her stomach once more but this time they performed summersaults. She fought the urges to turn back to look at Ruth, knowing that the officer behind would not act kindly towards it.

Her feet got heavy with each step that she took and she wondered how much further they would have to walk until the whole column came to a stop. Hope held her breath, watching as the officer had one of the guards unlock one of the wooden doors that ran along the hall and opened it.

"In," he commanded Wing Commander Jones, who glanced back at the other prisoners before stepping inside before the door was shut firmly behind him.

They moved to the cell next door and repeated the same action with Squadron Leader Colman. He'd sent Hope a reassuring smile before he disappeared but nothing could help the anxiety that was evident on her face. She chewed her bottom lip, reaching cautiously behind her until she felt a familiar hand grasping her own. She squeezed Ruth's hand reassuringly, a silent promise that everything would be okay, even if she didn't believe that herself.

It only grew harder as the line of prisoners became just a few and as Frank sent the girls a pained smile, Hope knew that she was next. As the Luftwaffe officer neared the door a few down from Frank and stopped she had to fight every instinct she had not to turn and run. It would do them no good and would only make the whole situation worse for everyone.

The door was unlocked slowly and it swung back with a eerie creak to reveal the small cell within. It held a small cot pressed against the back wall, a table and chair in the other corner and upon the table was an electric bell, which Hope could only assume was used by the occupant to call the guards.

Hope couldn't step forward. She couldn't bring herself to leave Ruth. They only had each other. She wished that Gale was here, he'd know what to do and he'd tell her that everything would be alright. She scolded herself for that thought. How could she wish the man she loved so dearly to end up in a place like this? She shook the thought from her mind, silently praying that Gale would never have to see such a place as this.

A firm hand on her back pushed her into the cell and before she realised what was happening the door had swung shut behind her.

"No! NO! RUTH!" She cried, hammering her firsts against the wooden door. She could hear the muffled cries of her friend disappearing from ear shot and the only noise left was the repetitive dripping noise from a leak in the roof directly above the cot.

Hope's eyes began to adjust to the light and found herself slipping to the floor in front of the door. Her whole body sagging beneath her as she finally gave in. There was no use in fighting anymore, she was locked in a cell and there was nothing she could do. The image of Ruth's worried face haunted her as her eyes slid shut and she snapped them open once more. How could Ruth ever forgive her? She was supposed to keep her safe and now they were POWs. She wondered if she would ever see Ruth again and she promised herself that if she did she'd apologise for everything. She just had to hope that they all lived long enough for that reunion.

…………………………………………………………………………….

Tags: @georgieluz @docroesmorphine @major-mads @violetdaze25 @bcofl0ve @precious-little-scoundrel @blurredcolour @artlover8992 @b00ks1ut @xxluckystrike @hockeyboysarehot @groovin2beats @kmc1989 @ginabaker1666 @hesbuckcompton-baby @beebeechaos @forsythiagalt @hesbuckcompton-baby @vera-keller @blueberry-ovaries

#masters of the air #gale cleven #hope armstrong #on a wing and a prayer #buck cleven #hbo war #john egan #Ruth Morgan #mota #austin butler

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