Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Hogan's Heroes. This story is strictly for the enjoyment of others. Is the sequel to A LIFE BLOWN APART. The characters of Sergeant Christopher Tucker and Corporal Martin Benson are my own.

The Long Road Back

Chapter 1

"Raus! Everybody fall out for roll call! All prisoners out of the barracks!" Schultz's loud voice boomed.

The men of Barracks two exited the barracks into the bright sunshine. The last man to leave the barracks was Colonel Robert Hogan. Gripping the wheels of his wheelchair, Hogan maneuvered his chair out of the door and into his usual spot in the formation. Since the explosion in the tunnels which had left him paralyzed below the waist three weeks ago, Hogan had struggled to maintain his position as Senior POW officer. It hadn't been easy. Despite his injury, Hogan felt at times he was completely in control. At others, like now, he felt completely out of control. He massaged his forehead as a headache was beginning.

"Colonel Hogan?"

Hogan looked up at Schultz. The rotund Sergeant was looking at him, concerned.

"Yeah, Schultz?"

"Are you all right, Colonel Hogan? You don't look well."

"I'm okay, Schultz. Just tired. I don't get around as well as I use to." Hogan patted the wheels on his wheelchair.

"Schultz! Repooooorrrrrttttt!" Kommandant Klink's voice was heard as he approached.

Schultz turned and saluted the Kommandant.

"Herr Kommandant, all prisoners present and accounted for."

Klink saluted his Sergeant. "Very good, Schultz. You can dismiss your prisoners."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz turned towards the prisoners. "Dissssmmissssed!"

As the prisoners dispersed, Klink found himself watching his Senior POW officer. He noticed Hogan didn't seem his usual self, and hadn't been the same since his injury, even though he tried hard to cover it.

"Colonel Hogan, a moment please," Klink said softly.

Hogan turned his wheelchair around and faced Klink. "You wanted something, Kommandant?" he asked.

"Yes, Hogan. It seems to me that you have not been quite yourself since your injury. Are you feeling all right?"

Hogan sighed. He wasn't in the mood to play twenty questions with Klink. "I'm not sure, Kommandant. How am I suppose to feel being confined to this chair? Please tell me."

Klink didn't respond. He didn't know what to say. It was obvious to him that Hogan was having a hard time adjusting to his situation. If he could only think of some way to help him.

"Colonel Hogan, I'd like to speak with you in my office, if you please." Klink turned and waited for Hogan to join him.

Sighing with obvious annoyance, Hogan maneuvered his chair and followed Klink to his office. As Klink walked up the steps, Hogan hesitated at the bottom of the wheelchair ramp. He hadn't used it but one time and he had difficulty getting his chair up the ramp alone. He didn't move.

"Kommandant?" he said.

Klink turned. "What is it, Hogan? Are you coming or...oh. Just a minute." Klink walked back down the stairs, and gripping the back of the wheelchair, wheeled Hogan up the ramp and into his office. Once inside, he positioned Hogan's chair so that he faced his desk before Klink himself sat behind it.

"Now, Colonel Hogan, it's apparent you are not all right, despite what you tell me. Is there anything I can do for you to help you?"

"Unfortunately, the one thing you could do for me you can't. So, to answer your question...no, there's nothing you can do to help me."

Klink sadly shook his head. "Hogan, there must be something that I can do. Just tell me what it is."

"There's nothing." Hogan eased his chair away from the desk. "Can I go now?"

"Yes, Hogan," Klink said sadly. "You are dismissed." He saluted Hogan who gave a sloppy salute in return. Hogan then opened the door to Klink's office and tried to hold it open and maneuver his chair through it at the same time. He was rapidly becoming frustrated.

Klink jumped to his feet and held the door open. He watched as Hogan wheeled himself out the door into the waiting room. Closing his office door, Klink folded his arms and made his way to the window. Opening it, he watched Hogan roll his chair down the ramp and head across the compound in the direction of Barracks two. This Hogan definitely was not the same man he knew prior to the accident. Klink felt he had to find someway to help him. But how?

Hogan could feel Klink's eyes on him even though he had his back to him. As Hogan was halfway to the barracks, he noticed Kinch coming towards him. Hogan's eyes were bright with unshed tears as the radioman got behind him and started pushing the wheelchair the rest of the way to the barracks.

"I'm sorry, Colonel," Kinch said. "If I had known Klink wanted you to come to his office I would have..."

Hogan swallowed the lump in his throat. "It's okay, Kinch," he said, his voice strained. "I can't expect you to be my nursemaid. I have to be able to do things myself only in a different way."

"I don't mind, Colonel. None of us do. We're glad to do it."

Hogan turned his upper body enough to allow him to look at Kinch over his shoulder. "Don't you know better than to try and con your commanding officer, Sergeant?"

Kinch stopped. Walking around the wheelchair he knelt down on one knee and looked Hogan directly in the eyes. He could see the emotional pain the Colonel was feeling. He only wished Hogan would talk about how and what he was feeling. If not with him, then with somebody. "Colonel. I'm not trying to con of us mind picking up the slack until you get better." He watched Hogan hang his head as he let out a deep breath. "Colonel, what's wrong? Talk to me."

Hogan didn't raise his head, nor did he look at his radioman. "Kinch," he said softly. "I want you to send a message to London."

"Okay, Colonel, sure. What do you want me to tell them?"

"Tell London...effective immediately...I'm resigning my command of this unit at Stalag 13 and to send a replacement to take over."