A/N: RHIP is US military slang for rank hath its privileges.

"Wobert? I'm scared."

"It'll be okay. See? I've got you."

Hogan jerked out of the dream. He didn't want to repeat it again. He had been his entire life. But not today. He just wasn't up to it.

He went over and sat at his desk. But as he started some spare paperwork, the images popped into his mind again. He held his head.

"I hurt, Wobert. I want Mommy. *sniffle* I've got an ouchie."

"I know, Penny. Just hold on. Hold on. I promise, Mommy will be here soon."

Hogan jerked as he felt pressure on his shoulder.

"Colonel? Roll call in ten," Kinch said softly. Hogan looked up into Kinch's eyes. He cringed inside at the trust he saw in them. He didn't deserve it. On the outside, however, he smiled.

"I'll be right out," he assured Kinch. Kinch gave him a slightly worried look, but left.

Hogan quickly got dressed and launched into the barracks with his usual gusto. Then, everybody lined up with their customary jibes at Shultz. Hogan looked down the line.

"Sir, are you sure we want to make another pass? It's suicide!"

"Yes. We have to get that factory bombed. If it's not us, it's somebody else. Now do as you're told!"

"Yes, sir!"

Hogan shook his head. He then joined his men in their jibes as he did every morning. He, however, went straight to the top dog and needled Klink himself. After a couple of minutes, Klink dismissed the men and shook a fist at Hogan before twirling back into the kommandantur. Hogan smiled at the familiarity of it all. Klink always helped him get his mind off his thoughts.

"Sir? Any new missions?" Carter asked eagerly once they got back into the barracks.

"None that I'm aware of," he said. And thank goodness. The flood of guilt and worry he always kept at bay was pretty close to the surface today.

"Penny. Don't you dare go to sleep."

"But I'm sweepy."

"Don't. Or I swear I'll tell Mom about the time you ate all the cookies."

"But you pwomised not to!"

"And I won't, if you stay awake."

"You're mean, *yawn* Wob."

He started as Kinch spoke close to his ear. When had he gotten there?

"Actually, I just got one from London. And it's going to be a doozy. They want us to sabotage a factory just outside of Hammelburg—"

"Gee! But that's easy. We could do it in our sleep! What's so hard about that?" Carter interrupted.

"It's hard because..." He paused for emphasis, eyeing Carter, who blushed. "they want us to sabotage another factory that same night. To avoid an influx of guards that would make it impossible to sabotage for a while."

"Okay, we've done similar things before—" Hogan started to say.

"And... the Underground can't help. London says they're all tied up for the next two weeks."

"Penny? Penny! Wake up! Don't die on me; you can't. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I thought we could do it. I really did!"

"So le' me get this straight. Without the Underground's 'elp, we're supposed to waltz into two factories—at the same time—tell the guards to grab a kip while we adjust this fuse 'ere, and then whistle and wave goodbye as we get in our stolen vehicles to make our merry way back 'ome, all before roll call?" Newkirk asked skeptically.

"I'm afraid so," Kinch said.

"SIR! The tail's been hit and three engines are out! What are your orders!?"

"Bail! We can't limp this thing back to base! Not this time! Everybody, OUT!"

"Well, tha' would be the perfect end to a bloody wonderful day in me eyes," Newkirk said sarcastically.

"It's not that bad! We can do it, right, Colonel?" Carter turned to him.

"We *cough* got the factory, didn't we?"

"Yes, Powell. We did."

"Good. Tell... tell my wife I love her. I love her so much it hurts."

"Paul, no! Tell her yourself. I promise, when we make it out of here—"

"We both know I'm a goner. Please, do this for me?"

"...Yes."

"Colonel? Sir?" Everyone was looking at him with concern.

He looked into the eyes of the men around him. The men under his command. The men he ordered into danger every hour of every day.

He pushed down his worry.

He pushed down his guilt.

"You heard London. Let's get started. It'll work. I promise." Everybody nodded. Everybody split. Everybody did exactly what he said.

Sometimes, he hated being in command.