Author's note:
This story is in response to two challenges.
The first is Hexiva's "Pushing Rank" challenge where Carter is to be put in charge when something happens to Hogan and tell what would happen then. Question posed: "Would Carter start out with good intentions of being able to manage it, and then suddenly realize he hasn't the foggiest idea what to do and turn to one of the other Heroes for advice, or would he discover that he's unexpectedly good at it?"
The second is Tirathon's "Eagle in Two Cages" challenge where the Heroes must keep Hogan a prisoner for a week or so.
Under Suspicion
Chapter 1: Orders From London
Kinch had been manning the radio. He climbed the ladder to the top of their bunk entrance to the tunnel system. "Carter, London wants to talk to you," he stated. Carter got up from the table where he was sitting with Newkirk and LeBeau and followed Kinch below.
A few minutes later, he returned and started pacing the floor in front of the table. "Andrew, will you calm down," insisted Newkirk. "You're making me nervous just watching you. What's got you so riled, anyway?"
Carter kept pacing. "Boy, London's really gone and done it this time," he squealed. "They put me in charge."
Newkirk leaped to his feet and stared at Carter. "They what!"
"Put me in charge."
"You've got to be kidding," declared LeBeau, who was sitting in the chair next to where Newkirk was standing.
Carter stopped his pacing near the table, just opposite from the others. His eyes registered his panic. "I wish I was," he squawked. "And that's not the worst of it. They expect us to keep the Colonel a prisoner here in the barracks. Preferably, without him or the Krauts knowing about it. How are we supposed to manage that?"
"You're the one in charge. You're supposed to tell us," Newkirk replied, not helping matters any.
LeBeau was livid. "Why do they want him a prisoner, anyhow? Did they say?"
Carter was even more furious than LeBeau. "Because three people accused him of being a traitor. We're to keep him under barracks arrest for a week or so while the charge is investigated. Then, if they find any proof, we're supposed to ship him back to London for trial."
Kinch had come up and was standing by the bunk entrance. "And if he's found guilty, we know what that means," Kinch solemnly said.
LeBeau's eyes practically glowed. "Execution. Probably by hanging."
"Maybe we should all just escape," suggested Carter.
Newkirk sighed in frustration. "To where? Nearly every country that isn't Axis is Allied. Just where are we supposed to be safe, Carter?"
"If we don't carry out orders under these circumstances, we'll find ourselves charged with mutiny--if not treason," Kinch reminded them. "We'll find ourselves right there along with the Colonel. And that's not going to do any of us any good."
"But the Gov'nor a traitor?" protested Newkirk. "Has London gone balmy?"
"We're talking about the people who made Crittenden a Colonel, remember," LeBeau replied.
Carter was worried. "London wants him taken prisoner, immediately. Any suggestions?" Carter looked at the others. All of them were shaking their heads.
The four of them contemplated the problem silently for a few minutes. Then, Carter suddenly got an idea. He figured it was probably a dumb one, but he hoped it would work. At least till they could come up with a better one. He walked over to a place near their tunnel entrance and lay down on the floor.
"Carter, what do you think you're doing?" Newkirk asked.
"LeBeau came in. He didn't know I was standing behind the door. I got hit in head. I stumbled over here and passed out on the floor," Carter explained.
Newkirk wasn't impressed. "It didn't knock any sense into you, obviously. Andrew, that's a stupid idea."
"Anyone else have a better plan? I'm open for suggestions." Receiving no answer, Carter declared, "Then, I guess this is it."
"I think I'll just go back down and man the radio some more," Kinch decided, grabbing for the ladder and heading back down.
From his position on the floor, Carter ordered, "Okay, Newkirk, you go find Colonel Hogan and have him come in."
"Yes, Sergeant," acknowledged Newkirk, still looking doubtful about the viability of the plan as he headed for the door.
"LeBeau, close the tunnel entrance."
LeBeau moved to obey Carter's latest order as Newkirk opened the door and walked outside.
- - -
Newkirk found Hogan near the corner of the building, leaning against it. Hogan was observing the activity around the camp. "Colonel, you've got to come quick," Newkirk insisted. "It's Carter. He's been hurt."
A concerned Hogan started following Newkirk towards the door. "What happened?" Hogan wanted to know.
"Carter was standing behind the door. He got hit in head when LeBeau entered. He's out cold."
Newkirk opened the door and he and Hogan entered the barracks. Carter was still lying on the floor where he'd been earlier. LeBeau was kneeling beside him. When Hogan joined them, LeBeau looked at his Colonel with pain-filled eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt him," he said mournfully. "I didn't know he was there."
"It was an accident," Hogan declared. "Newkirk explained what happened." Carter started to stir. Hogan tried to rouse him. "Carter. Come on, Carter. Wake up."
Carter stirred some more. Then, he faked shivering. "I'm cold," he complained.
Newkirk bent down and took hold of Carter's shoulders. "LeBeau, grab his feet," he ordered. "Let's get him off the floor before he gets pneumonia."
They lifted Carter onto the bunk, effectively sealing off their tunnel entrance. Hogan grabbed a blanket from one of the other bunks and covered Carter with it. "Feeling warmer?" he asked.
"Yes," agreed Carter, pretending to become more alert. He opened his eyes and stared at the three men standing nearby. "Who are you guys?" Then, he looked even more puzzled. "Who am I?"
"Must be amnesia, Sir," Newkirk suggested.
"Go get Wilson. We'll have him take a look at Carter," Hogan ordered.
Newkirk and LeBeau exchanged worried glances. Then, they both looked at Carter. Carter had evidently overplayed his part.
"You going to get Wilson?" Hogan prompted.
"Yes, Sir," Newkirk acknowledged, and left to get the medic.
- - -
A short time later, Newkirk returned with Wilson. On the way back, he quickly explained London's orders about Carter being in charge and how they were to keep Hogan prisoner for a week or so. He deliberately left out the part about the treason charge. No one else needed to know.
Wilson walked over to the bunk and examined Carter.
"How is he?" Hogan asked.
"It appears to be a mild concussion," explained Wilson. "Keep a close eye on him for the next twenty-four hours. Don't let him get up before roll call tomorrow. And no excitement."
"What about his amnesia?"
"It should go away in time." Wilson looked back at Carter. "Carter, do you have a headache?"
"Yes," replied Carter quite honestly, as the whole situation had given him a huge one. Then, Carter faked a puzzled look. "Everyone keeps calling me Carter. Is that my name?"
"Newkirk, bring me a glass of water, please," stated Wilson. While Newkirk went after the water, Wilson answered Carter's question. "Yes, your name is Carter. Andrew Carter."
Newkirk returned with the water. Putting his arm under Carter's back, Wilson helped Carter sit up a little. "Take these," he ordered, putting two pills in Carter's mouth. Then, he held the glass up for Carter to take a few sips. When Carter had finished, Wilson lowered him back down. "I want you to stay here the rest of the night. No wandering around. If you get to feeling poorly, have one of the others send a guard for me. If you're feeling up to it, you can report for roll call in the morning. Understand?"
"Okay," Carter agreed.
Both Newkirk and LeBeau cast fretful looks in Hogan's direction. Their tension diminished as they realized that Hogan was too concerned about Carter to notice that he hadn't questioned 'guards' or 'roll call.'
Wilson looked at his watch. "I'd better be going. It's almost time for curfew. Look after him and I'll check back by in the morning."
As Wilson left, Carter felt a sense of relief. Not that Wilson was leaving but that it was nearly curfew. Without tunnel access, the curfew should keep Hogan indoors. And, per Wilson's instructions, he would be on the bunk all night, keeping Hogan from accessing the tunnels. Now, all they had to do was decide how to detain Hogan tomorrow and days following while London conducted their investigation. Yes, that was ALL they had to do. And he was in charge. Suddenly, he didn't feel quite so relieved.