Ich Steige Auf und Ich Falle

by rose-colored-sunset

He had been mocked and belittled his whole life...by his family, his friends, and even his colleagues. Perhaps his confidence and leadership ability did leave something to be desired. He could admit that, to a degree. But why did no one seem to give a damn about his *good* qualities? (A collection of inter-related stories and brief character studies, focusing on Colonel Klink.)

1. Anxiety

"Ich Steige Auf und Ich Falle"

(I Rise and I Fall)

...

I. Anxiety

Despite all of his willpower, Klink couldn't stop his hands from shaking. He couldn't recall his nerves being this rattled before. He was, of course, used to General Burkhalter's visits by now. He was even learning to prepare himself for whenever that awful Hochstetter from the Gestapo appeared at his stalag, too - a particularly singular achievement.

But he could never have imagined the way Burkhalter had stormed into his office just moments ago, red-faced and shouting with fury.

"You bumbling fool! How could let a dozen prisoners escape right under your nose? You are a disgrace to the Third Reich. I should have sent you to the Russian Front long ago! How can I trust you to rule this stalag efficiently when such a disaster is allowed to happen?"

Klink could do no more than bow his head. Shame and panic set his already rapid heart beat to a painful rhythm. He had no answers to give his superior, no simple solution to provide. He suspected that Colonel Hogan was somehow involved in this whole mess, and that notion made him want to drown out his growing anxiety with a whole bottle of schnapps.

"H-herr General, I can...I will get those prisoners back," he stuttered. "My guards are searching for them now, as we speak..."

Burkhalter turned away from him, grumbling darkly under his breath. He inhaled through his nose and faced Klink again on the exhale.

"Why I ever thought to entrust you with the responsibilities of this camp is something I'll never understand," he growled. "If those guards return empty-handed, Klink, you are finished. Do I make myself clear?"

Klink nodded distantly. He thought he heard Burkhalter's heavy footsteps as he left the room, along with the door slamming behind him. But his anxiety chose that moment to boil over, and a crushing weight filled up inside his chest like he was drowning. Oh God, it was happening again. No, no, no, he had to get a grip on himself, he couldn't lose control like the last time...

Breathe, Wilhelm, just like you've practiced, reminded a voice in his head, a voice that tried desperately to sound soft and calming. In through the nose, out from the mouth. In...out...in...out...

But it was too late, and Klink knew that nothing could be done about it now. He sank down to the floor, hugged his knees tightly to his chest, and prayed that this moment of weakness would soon pass.

...

Notes

Thank you so much for reading! My apologies for not updating my other Hogan's Heroes story in a while. Real life got in the way, of course. To help me *try* to get into a routine of writing, I thought I'd try to bring a few other ideas (like this one) to life.