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Daggers Through the Heart
By
Jennaya
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and places are the property of CBS and Ryscher Entertainment. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes and no infringement on copyrights or trademarks was intended. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Authors note: This is a bit darker of a story than I usually write. Thought I'd try something new.
Hogan pushed the French scientist into a doorway out of the main hall as bullets filled the corridor. Firing his weapon towards the onslaught of SS soldiers, he glanced to see Carter across the hall taking refuge in a small alcove. He jumped back as a bullet slammed into the wall, shards of plaster exploding next to his head, a mere inch from Hogan never breathing again.
"Sir," Carter whispered loudly getting Hogan's attention as he produced a hand grenade out of his pocket, pulling the pin, then loping it down the hall. Instantly Carter turned facing the wall as Hogan shoved the scientist against the door covering him with his own body. As the grenade exploded, screams could be heard down the hall, instantly the bombardment of bullets stopped.
Hogan couldn't be concerned for the welfare of enemy soldiers determined to kill the trio as he detangled himself from the scientist pointing him in the direction to go. His only thoughts were getting them all out safely, "Carter, you okay?"
"Yes, sir," he answered shaking his head from the sound of the explosion, following behind the Colonel making sure no one was shooting at them.
When they made it to the main passageway, Hogan moved forward, his senses on high alert. Instinct made him fire his rifle down the clearing, although he didn't see any soldiers. Then the unmistakable sound of men hit by bullets with a universal cry of pain pierced the night air. Warily he fired again and a body fell into the hall. Satisfied it was safe he continued at point, sandwiching the rescued scientist between him and Carter. Carter fired down the hallway behind them deterring any followers. As they made it to the front door, Hogan thought a shadow moved. Uncertain but determined to make it out alive; he fired in the direction of the shadow which fired back at him. Once again, he pulled the trigger letting multiple rounds leave the gun. Watching as the shadow became a man falling in front of the door; his eyes filled with terror, his body riddled with lead. A rasping cough was the last sound made by the man as Hogan climbed over the body, shoving him out of the way, ushering the others out to safety. When outside, Carter tossed another hand grenade down the hall they'd just exited dissuading followers at least temporarily.
The trio ran through the compound watching for combatants putting as much distance between them and the SS as possible. Prior to entering the building on their rescue mission, Hogan and Carter had taken care of the two outside sentinels, although replacements would soon be pouring out of the structure. Hogan drug the scientist along fearing, if he didn't start moving faster, the man would get them all killed. Hearing voices, his head jerked in the direction from which they came. Three men were making it to the machine gun turret, but they'd soon learn it had been permanently disabled. Bullets once again whizzed by some hitting mere feet from them as they continued to run. The scientist stumbling fell just before they made it to the bridge of safety. Hogan reached down grabbing him by the back of his coat collar pulling him up pushing him forward.
"Light it up," Hogan yelled as he helped the scientist across the bridge.
Carter fumbled for the matches out of his uniform pocket. Finding them, he dropped to the ground on the far side of the bridge. Holding the burning match to the rest of the pack, it lit up like a torch then he put the entire burning contents on the explosives wire watching as it started to burn. "Fifteen seconds," he yelled out running to catch up with Hogan and the scientist. "Five, four, three," he counted out as they all fell to the ground covering their heads with their hands. The force of the explosion from the bridge rocked the earth beneath them.
Angry, confused voices could be heard in the distance, unsure how long that would delay their pursuers, Hogan ordered them to move on. The scientist ran in the direction in which he was pointed stopping just short of the wall of earth built up around the ravine. "Climb! Our car is on the other side," Hogan shouted. The scientist did as he was told climbing up using his hands and knees to make it to the top, then disappeared down the ravine. As Hogan reached the top of the ravine, a piecing cry all to close made Hogan stop turning around as his heart sunk. Carter lay face down on the ground with bullets flying all around. Hogan shot back in short burst in the direction the offending fire came from running to his downed man. "Carter!" A moan answered him as he turned the young man over, blood pouring out of his upper left thigh. Hogan tore a part of the uniform off tying it around Carter's leg. "Can you walk?"
"I think so," Carter hissed out. Hogan placed an arm under the young man helping him to his feet. Carter fell before taking a step. "Go, get out of here. Just leave me."
"Get to your feet soldier, that's an order!" Hogan shifted more of Carter's weight onto himself making the slow journey up the side of the gorge. As they made it to the top, Hogan felt the sting of a bullet bite his shoulder. Trying desperately to stop their tumble, unfortunately there was nothing to grab onto; they rolled down the ravine finally coming to a stop at the bottom.
"Mon Colonel! Carter!" LeBeau cried as they came to a stop rushing over to the men.
"Watch out for Krauts, and let's get out of here." Hogan ordered as he picked Carter up carrying him to the car with LeBeau following close on his heels. The scientist was already in the front seat when Hogan put Carter in the back seat. "Drive!"
LeBeau didn't have to be told twice as he put the car in gear and took off down the road in a preplanned escape route that wouldn't lead any followers directly back to Stalag 13. "How bad is he?"
"Losing a lot of blood. Carter, can you hear me?" Hogan tried to keep him conscious but it was a losing battle. "I need something to tie around his leg to the stop the bleeding."
"Give him your scarf," LeBeau ordered the scientist pointing to the fabric, afraid if he turned around and looked at Carter again, he'd pass out.
François Barrett, the scientist, looked at LeBeau uncomprehending for a moment then snapped out of it. "Oui." He handed it back to Hogan who tied it tightly around Carter's leg.
"What happened in there? Why so much gunfire?" LeBeau asked maneuvering around a corner at high speed.
"I don't know; we ran into more resistance than expected. Carter, stay with me!" Hogan demanded, worry filling his voice. He slapped the sergeant's face not getting much of a response as he kept pressure on the leg, the blood flow slowing. The moments seemed like hours until they arrived as close as possible to the emergency tunnel entrance. "LeBeau, explain to him in French what we need him to do," he ordered pointing to the scientist as he picked Carter up carrying him to the entrance.
As they approached the tree trunk entrance, it opened a fraction of a second after the searchlight flooded the area with Newkirk's head popping out. "What happened?" He carefully took Carter from Hogan carrying him below, where Kinch aided in getting both men down the ladder.
"Unfortunately he was shot rescuing me," François answered climbing down into the tunnel looking around with wide eyes. Newkirk and Kinch were already carrying the unconscious Carter to the infirmary. The others following close behind once the entrance was secured.
Arriving at the tunnel infirmary, they gently laid him down on the table with Wilson cutting open the German uniform pants Carter wore instantly. "He's lost too much blood. Someone look at his dog tags and get blood donors," Wilson ordered not looking up from his patient. Kinch ran to the radio room, grabbed Carter's dog tags out of the box, and took off upstairs in search of volunteers.
"Why is there so much blood?" Wilson questioned aloud digging into Carter's leg. "I need more light!" LeBeau took off in search of flashlights returning with an armload. He handed two to each man who held the lights up allowing Wilson to see the wound better. "I need another medic down here."
"I'll get Anderson," LeBeau answered, unsure how he'd been able to be around that much blood and not pass out yet. A few more seconds and he'd be on the floor not useful to anyone.
Kinch and three others came running into the infirmary, all four blood matches for their injured comrade. Corporal Dunning rolled up his sleeve as he lay down, while Newkirk hooked him up starting the blood donor process. Wilson continued to work on the young sergeant. "Will he live?" Newkirk asked, fear in his voice.
"Was his femoral artery hit?" Hogan asked while holding up a flashlight making sure the others kept their beams where needed.
"Will he live?" Newkirk asked again, insisting upon an answer.
Wilson replied looking up at both men, "I don't know."