Hollywood was waiting by the car for them when they finally ventured back. He didn't ask where they had been. He could tell Anna had been crying, and for the first time ever, seemed content to let her be. They pressed on toward the main camp.

Anna tried her best to psyche herself up for what she was about to see, but luckily for her, they arrived at an open space just passed it. It made sense that they would stay relatively close to it so they could use its resources. It was hard to be in close proximity to it though; she was glad of Elli's absence in that moment. As they arrived at the space, the nurses seemed to have set up a small administration block in a building on the outskirts of the enclosure. Passed that were tens upon tens of huge white tents.

"What's your friend's name, again?" asked Abe.

"Miriam Boehler," confirmed Anna. "She is thirty-three, has dark hair and dark eyes. We were detained in the sorting area together."

Abe smiled and left.

Anna kept her head down, trying to hide how nervous she was as Abe and Hollywood went to talk to the nurse on duty. She glanced around at the hive of activity. Every nurse was working overtime, trying desperately to get to everyone that needed them. There were a few doctors here and there, all just as busy.

Abe came back over to her, her heart pounding in her chest. She was so scared he would tell her that Miriam hadn't made it. "She's alive and well."

Anna let out a long sigh of relief. "May I see her?" asked Anna eagerly.

Abe nodded and placed his hand on her back to guide her forwards.

They followed a nurse who took them passed several huge tents and finally stopped at one. "She's in there," said the nurse, nodding, and leaving them to it.

Anna dashed in excitedly, Abe and Hollywood following her. Her eyes darted round. This seemed to be for more healthy patients, everyone congregated in the middle so they could chat, basic collapsible beds lining either side.

"Anna?" called that wonderfully familiar voice. Miriam was running over to her, Anna doing the same. They embraced each other tightly, Miriam crying as she held her. "I thought you were dead!" she sobbed. "You didn't come back! I was so worried! Where's Elli? Oh no, Anna, is she..."

"Calm," hushed Anna as she wiped Miriam's tears. "Elli is fine. She's back in the town."

"The town? Did you escape?"

"No." Anna's gaze drifted back to her two escorts.

Abe smiled at them both whilst Hollywood clearly translated the gist of what the women were saying. He gave a small wave, and Anna returned it.

"Let's sit down, then we can talk," Anna said gently. Miriam guided Anna to her bed. They sat down and Abe and Hollywood stayed just out of earshot. Abe was clearly trying to ensure their privacy.

"Anna, the Americans," said Miriam, her voice hushed, "they shot all the remaining SS on sight. I've been trying to find out if any made it out, but I'm worried about Freddie."

Anna's eyes grew sad. "Freddie was already gone before they got here," she said, her voice thick.

Miriam gasped. "What?"

"Keller took me and Elli to the death pits. He made it so that we found Freddie's body. He'd shot him." Anna's voice was despondent when she said it. It was almost easier to pretend it had happened to someone else; just a story that needed to be told.

"Oh, Anna," said Miriam softly, their heads resting against one another's. "I'm so sorry. He was a sweet man..."

"Yes he was," whispered Anna, no longer wanting to dwell on it. "Then Keller took us to a satellite camp to rot. We were there for a few days when the guards upped and left. And then the Americans liberated us a few days ago. I think ours and the men's camp just down from ours was the first they had found."

"I'm just so glad you're safe."

"Margot was at the final camp. She didn't make it." Miriam nodded, bowing her head for their fallen inmate. "What happened to you?"

"Well, Keller never returned after he left with you. Things just descended into madness after that. We weren't pulled out to work, they barely fed us. I don't think we left the bunk house for days, in the end." Miriam shuddered, her free hand balled to a fist. "Then we heard shouting and gun fire. The Americans had stormed the barracks, I think. They found our bunkhouse and kicked the door open. When they found us, they herded us all out, helping us and giving us water. When they took us out to trucks to bring us to this Red Cross camp, we saw all the guard's bodies, scattered about. I think they had just shot anyone in a uniform."

"Good. Shame that Keller wasn't one of them."

Miriam nodded in agreement. "So, how come you're in town and not here?"

"They're using me to identify any collaborators or hiding SS. I'm the only one that has seen both sides."

Miriam managed a small smile of encouragement. "Of course. I'm happy that you're out. And safe. And with Elli. Are they treating you well?"

"Some more than others," mumbled Anna, glancing back at the men.

Abe watched them patiently as Hollywood chatted away to him.

"This big one seems to care for you," commented Miriam.

Anna turned back to her. "That's Abraham," smiled Anna. "He heard me calling for help with Elli and came straight to find us. He's been looking after us ever since. He's not judgemental like the rest of them." She winced at Miriam, humiliation woven into her expression. "The other one thinks I was whoring myself out to the SS."

"No! That's not fair!"

"It's what I expected," sighed Anna, resigned. "Most of the inmates think the same."

"I'm not having it!" insisted Miriam, who was now waved to catch the American's attention.

They both came over, curious as to what she wanted.

"Do you speak German?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"I do," said Hollywood.

Abe just looked confused.

"What is wrong with you?" asked Miriam.

Anna looked at her in shock. Miriam had always just kept her head down, but now she was seeing her spirit return.

"Excuse me?"

"Why would you think that Anna would willingly give herself to the men that killed her family and friends? And more to the point, do you think any of the other women would have been close to her if she had? Don't you know what they did to her?"

Hollywood looked shocked.

Anna grinned up at Abe. "She is scolding him for his behaviour with me," explained Anna.

"Oh!" he said, then looked at Hollywood. "Damn straight."

"Abraham agrees with you," Anna said to Miriam.

"I did not have the full facts," murmured Hollywood. "I was too quick to judge."

"Yes you were," said Miriam.

"Be fair to him, Miriam," said Anna. "How would you feel if you stumbled upon this place and were told someone was working alongside them?"

Miriam's eyes narrowed, Hollywood surprised that Anna would leap to his defence. "Yet this one was kind to you?" she said, gesturing to Abe. "So it is possible to just be a nice person."

"True," said Anna, looking at Abe. "Miriam said you are a good person for looking out for me." Abe's chest puffed out with pride, his eyes warm and inviting.

Miriam sighed heavily. "You're going to find many instances like this as you travel through Germany. You need to act with kindness. We all need it."

"I will," Hollywood promised. "I am sorry."

"Now to Anna," she said.

Hollywood and Anna's eyes locked. He seemed remorseful but was still filled with dignity. Apologising was clearly not something he liked doing. "I'm sorry Anna," he said, switching to English so that Abe could understand him.

"'Bout time," sighed Abe.

"Thank you, Hollywood," Anna said gratefully.

He nodded at her, then moved away out of embarrassment.

"Tell her from me, that was a mighty fine thing to do," grinned Abe. "LT needs a good tongue lashin' every now and then."

"I will," smiled Anna. He touched her shoulder lightly, smiling at Miriam before he went after Hollywood. "He says well done to you for standing up for us."

"Well, I worry for you," said Miriam. "You're doing them a favour; least they could do is treat you nicely."

"Thank you," whispered Anna as she pulled her into another hug. As she did, they began to call the women for food.

"I should go," said Miriam looking up. They stared at one another. This was likely to be the last time they would ever see each other, and both of them knew it.

Anna's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so lucky to have known you Miriam. You were kind to me when no one else was. I'll always be grateful to you."

"You're welcome," smiled Miriam. "I'm lucky to have known you too. You are a wonderful person to know."

They surged forward and embraced tightly. They had been through so much together, even if they had spent a long time apart. In truth, they barely knew one another. Yet they had depended on one another so much. Anna hadn't considered this type of goodbye, or what it would be like. It was happy. They were going to return to their lives.

"I'll never forget you," whispered Miriam.

"Nor I you," returned Anna.

"Give Elli a hug from me."

"I will," promised Anna. "I hope you find happiness."

"And you." They got to their feet, hugging one last time, happy tears spilling down their cheeks. "Goodbye," said Miriam, then left with the line of women that were going for food.

Anna dabbed her eyes, turning back to Abe. He was right beside her now, his hand resting on her back to comfort her.

"Y'all right?" he asked.

Anna nodded. "I hate goodbyes," she said, "even if they are nice ones." He led her out of the tent, Hollywood walking closer to her now. "Thank you for your apology," said Anna, trying to put him at ease.

"Shouldn't've needed it," he said gruffly. "I was bein' an ass."

"Yes," agreed Anna. "But we all make mistakes." He smiled thankfully at her, Anna returning it.

Just as they began returning to the car, a gang of children ran past them.

Anna watched them, smiling, when it occurred to her. "Do you think the children are all housed in one place?"

"Dunno," said Abe. "Why?"

"There is one more person I want to find," she explained.

They led Anna back to the administration desk. The nurse looked up and smiled politely as they came in.

"I'm looking for a young boy named Tadeusz?" she asked the nurse.

"Last name?"

"I don't know. But he can't be older than 13?"

The nurse sighed heavily. "I'll see what I can find," she sighed, and began rifling through the papers she had. "Take a seat."

"Is he one of Elli's friends?" asked Abe, as he allowed Anna the one chair that was there and sat on the floor beside her.

"No. I only met him a few times in the barracks when I worked there. But he was sweet. I would like to know if he is all right."

"That's cute." They smiled at each other, before Abe cleared his throat. "Are you happy you came to see your friend?"

"Very," she sighed. "I know she can go and live her life now. It is one less uncertainty."

"I get that. She seemed nice."

"She looked after me when I first arrived at the camp," explained Anna. "I had just lost my mother when the guards had beaten her to death and torn Elli from me. She let me share her bunk with her and took care of me as well as she could."

Abe looked pale. "That's how your Mama died?" he asked.

She nodded. "She was trying to save me," said Anna, that same deadpan voice returning. "I suppose it worked in a way."

"Well it was good of Miriam to look out for you then," he said, refocusing the conversation away from her mother. He could tell she didn't want to talk about that anymore.

"I do not know what I would have done without her," said Anna wistfully. "She used to hug me when I cried, tended to my wounds, looked after Elli when Keller..." She paused.

"Keller," repeated Abe, Hollywood now clearly listening too. "Was that the man that... erm..."

"Yes." There was a long silence.

They didn't know what to say to each other now. Abe seemed both in awe and devastated at the same time.

"Is it true they shot all the SS at the camp?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah," said Abe, looking at her sheepishly. He was never quite sure how she was going to react.

"I am pleased," she mumbled, Abe raising his eyebrows. "Did they find Doctor Grüber?"

"Yeah," said Abe again, his eyes darkening.

"Why did you not tell me?"

"Sorry darlin'," he said earnestly. "I know you mentioned him, but he didn't seem that important to you. Was he?" Anna paused. Should she tell him? "Y'all right?" he asked, seeing her twisted expression.

"That Doctor," began Anna, "I have explained that he was not a nice man. But it was far more personal. You see, in order to keep Elli safe, I bargained with the Commandant. He had her kept in the medical wing as a healthy patient to test the others against." Anna looked up at Abe.

He was trying to remain neutral, but she could see the anger in his eyes.

"He used to hit her, bully her. It is why she was so scared to see the Doctor when you rescued us."

"Poor Elli," murmured Hollywood.

"I'll let the higher ups know," promised Abe. "He'll hang for what he did."

"I hope you are right," she whispered, just as the nurse came bustling back out.

"Found someone matching the description," she said. "I'll get someone to show you to where he and his mother are staying."

Anna's whole face lifted. "His mother?"

The nurse just nodded, hailing down another to lead them to where they needed to go.

The three of them followed her, Anna's heart thumping all over again. She really hoped it was him... truly, desperately hoped it was him. They finally entered the tent, Anna's eyes scanning for him. Everyone in this tent seemed more lethargic, most of them all sat or lain on their beds. There was a small amount of chatter, but it seemed to die when she walked in. Then she saw him. Sat against his mother, who was stroked his head, was Tad.

Anna was so happy, her eyes filling with tears. Not wanting to disturb him, she turned to leave.

"Anna?" he cried. He had noticed her.

She turned back, seeing the boy now dashing over. He flung his arms around her, Anna squeezing him back too. "Hello Tad," she said quietly, now cupping his face to look at him. "You're a lot taller than I remember."

He grinned, his teeth dirty and damaged. "I saw you by the medical bay."

"Yes," she smiled. "I was going to save my sister."

"The little girl you left with?"

"That's right," she said. "It was good to see you as well."

"I wanted you to see that I still had the mittens!" he said, brandishing them again.

"Is that your mother?" Anna asked, pointing to the woman watching them.

"Yes," he said happily.

Anna's thumb stroked his cheek. Anna could hear Hollywood translating for Abe behind her, Tad's eyes wandering to them.

"Who are they?"

"These are my American friends," she said, looking at Abe who, when prompted by Hollywood, gave a small nod. "They saved me from my camp."

"You were in a camp too?" asked Tad.

She nodded grimly then forced a smile. "But none of us are now, so that's all right."

His mother had now made her way over, standing with her hands resting on Tad's shoulders. "Are you the one who gave my boy his mittens?"

Anna nodded.

The woman surged forward and hugged her, Anna returning it. "You were one of the only nice stories he had to tell me," she breathed. "He said you saved him from a beating as well?"

"Yes," said Anna drawing back.

"He said you worked at the barracks though, but you just said you were in a camp?" she asked.

"It's complicated," mumbled Anna.

The woman's eyes studied her. "You're the Cuckoo Bird, aren't you? The one everybody talks about."

Anna felt tense. She was waiting to be berated, or to look up and see distain in the woman's eyes. She simply nodded.

"She did all of those things to save her sister," interrupted Hollywood, Anna shocked that he was intervening. "And by the sounds of things, she always helped where she could."

"Yes," said the woman. "Tad told me that you were marched away from the medical block by the Commandant himself, with a little girl in tow."

"We heard him shouting at you," admitted Tad. "In the medical block. It was good. Everyone told me I shouldn't be your friend. But I was right, and they got to see that."

Anna's eyes flooded with warmth. "Thank you, Tad," whispered Anna. "I'm so glad you have found each other."

"We might not have if you hadn't looked after him," said his mother. "I will always be in your debt."

"No debt necessary," said Anna. "To see he's all right is all that I needed." There was a pause. "I should go. I've taken up enough of your time." She looked at Tad again. "You go and live a full, wonderful life. Don't ever look back."

He hugged her again, Anna resting her cheek on his head. "I hope you and your sister are happy," he said.

Anna kissed his forehead, then let him go back to his mother, who was smiling at Anna. "I'll make sure people know the real you," she promised.

"Thank you," said Anna. "Take care."

Then she stepped outside with the Americans.

As they did, a nurse was dashing over to them. "Lieutenant Whiting?" she asked.

"Yeah?" said Hollywood.

"There's a Private Cope waiting for you at the front desk... says its urgent."

Hollywood sighed. "Coming," he assured the nurse, then looked at the two of them. "Meet y'all up front."

Abe nodded as he dashed away. Anna and Abe stood in front of one another in an awkward silence. "Just when I think you couldn't get any braver," he said finally, "I hear another story like this."

"I do not think giving a boy a pair of mittens is brave," she mumbled.

He lifted her chin. "You know it is," he said. "It amazes me how much you do even when the world is beatin' you down. Heck, you've even won over the LT."

Anna held his hand to her cheek. It was warm and comforting and she liked it so much. Abraham was the only constant she had right now. He was always her champion, and she truly appreciated it. He pulled her a little closer, both of them happier for the close proximity.

When they heard the thudding of boots on the ground. They turned curiously to see Hollywood pelting towards them.

"What the hell-" Abe began.

"Anna, we have to get back to town," he said breathlessly.

"Why? What is wrong?"

"It's Elli," he breathed, Anna's stomach churning. "Those fuckers at the church thought she was an unattended child. They've taken her... and won't give her back."