Nightmare-

Summary: The men are captured by Hochstetter when they are out blowing a bridge. Now they must face their final moments together. Can all this really be true?

…

They sat in the cell together all four of them. Hogan, Newkirk, Lebeau, and Carter.

"Do you think Kinch got everyone out in time?" Carter asked his knees against his chest to try and stay warm.

None of them had the heart to tell him that they had all been killed. How could they? They couldn't tell him that the entire camp was destroyed. That the German bombed their own camp. They killed Klink for his incompetence along with the other German soldiers. They killed the prisoners. The only proof they had was Hogan and his team with the dynamite and detonator in their hands. What more proof did they need. And Hochstetter of all people had to catch them. If it was any other German officer they might have gotten away. But not from Hochstetter.

No one answered Carter's question. It the only way to tell him. Hochstetter had left it up to Hogan to tell his men; a torture in itself. He was able to tell Lebeau and Newkirk while Carter slept. But he didn't have the heart to tell Carter what happened. None of them did. It was hard enough to just think about it. They were doing it to save him from the grief.

They were going to be shot and killed as spies. There wasn't any escape. Hogan was sure Carter knew that but was relying on the tiny flicker of hope he had left. Hogan noticed Carter was shivering. "Come over here. We'll keep each other warm."

They all moved together to stay warm.

They weren't sure how long they sat together but when the heavy steel door opened the guards hauled away Newkirk and Lebeau.

Hogan tried to fight them off and keep his men alive for as long as possible. He offered his own life in place of their's but the guards would have none of it. No doubt more torture for Hogan to endure. The steel door closed in his face. In his rage he flung his fists at the door screaming and yelling at them. Calling the Germans everything imaginable. Eventually he was tired out. But that didn't stop him. He panted and pounded on the door. What did stop him was the softest touch of a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw Carter's misty eyes.

What good was screaming and pounding on the door anyway? He and Carter walked back to the wall that they were resting against before. Everything felt so empty and cold without the other two. They rested against each other grieving for their lost friends, and lost hope.

It was the final day they had left. Carter was taken at dawn. He went without a fight. Hogan again tried to take his place but Carter just smiled sadly, understanding. "It's okay, we're all going to be together in the end anyway. We'll always be together." Carter knew by now that everyone had been killed that all hope was lost. So why was he smiling? "Don't grieve, it was worth it, Colonel, we did so much good for the war effort, so don't cry about it." His voice was soft and kind, and in the softest whisper said, "I'll see you soon."

Hogan didn't know what to say. The door slammed shut and all he could do was sink down onto the ground. He didn't cry. He didn't even think really. Before he knew it the day was coming to an end and he heard the footsteps coming down the hall for him. He stood ready to be taken. Ready for the firing squad, it was what he saw as he stood on the firing squad that he wasn't ready for. On the ground next to him were the bodies of his men. He kneeled next to everyone of them only to see they were dead. He saw Carter's corpse. A faint smile on the lips, barely noticeable, maybe even his imagination.

"As a last request I'll let you see your men before you die." Hochstetter's voice was dripping with cruelty.

Hogan didn't even look at him ."I'll see you soon." He whispered to the bodies of his friends. Standing up he heard the guns click as they readied to shoot.

He closed his eyes.

The guns went off…