I know this is really, really short, but it came as a sudden inspiration from "Carter Turns Traitor" and a screenshot I saved. I fixed up the screenshot as a title card to go with the story, image linked below. Please tell me what you think of this one-shot. All critique is welcome. And thanks for stopping by!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hogan's Heroes or any of its characters.


A Pensive Thought

It was when they had to leave the tunnels in broad daylight. It was when they had to risk everything just for a slip of information. It was whenever he miscalculated or misjudged, whenever he almost thought it was all hopeless this time.

It was at times like these that he gave himself a moment of silence, a moment to think, to reflect. Just a little.

They were his men, his responsibilities. They were the ones to undergo the consequences of his rough decisions. He couldn't take them for granted; he couldn't let himself for one moment stop thinking of them as his own, a part of himself. He owed them that much.

And yet he knew he had to let them decide for themselves whether they wanted to take the risks demanded of a mission. "A strictly volunteer status," he told them. And yet he always knew they would be there for him. Yes, even Newkirk. They saw him as a part of themselves, too. They were loyal. They trusted him to be just as dedicated to them as they were to him. Yes, he knew London called him home once and he wanted to go. But just to feel that hope of freedom again, to play along, to feel it real for even just a day. In the heart of his mind, he knew he'd never leave them. They needed him; he needed them.

Dedication wasn't the word.

Now as they stood at the foot of the ladder to the tunnel exit above, risking everything once more to save Carter from a trip with the Germans, he looked each one in the eye. This was for volunteers only.

"So what?" Kinch asked.

"Just want to make that plain."

Kinch kept his gaze on him. "Let's go get Carter."

"Now, Colonel," Newkirk said softly, "now."

Lebeau looked up at him. "Why are we standing here?"

He couldn't help but smile. His men. They would always be there. No matter how hopeless, how far-fetched, how dangerous the task – whenever he asked, they would be ready. He could trust them.

And that, he could never take for granted.


The closing scene was transcribed from "Carter Turns Traitor." I felt the dialogue encapsulated the gang's loyalty well. Too bad Carter wasn't there!

Making the title card was actually quite fun. I almost want to do them for any other stories I do – or to some other people's great tales here! Anyway, here's to anyone interested: link