Despite how worried Newkirk and LeBeau were, they still managed to enjoy the train ride to Hammelburg. It had been 5 years since they had been liberated, and though they had kept in contact, it was nice to actually sit and talk again. When they had separated in England 5 years earlier, each man had gone his own way, ready to start over and try to find a place to belong again. LeBeau had done well during the last 5 years, opening his first restaurant a year after the war ended. Since then he had opened 5 more restaurants and was known as one of the finest chefs in all of France. LeBeau was also presently engaged to Marie, a former french underground agent that they had worked with on occasion.

Peter, though not as well off as LeBeau, was doing well. After moving back to England he found himself a job as a security officer at a local bank. Though it was not the best paying job, it did allow for him to move his sister out of the East End to a better section of London where they lived comfortably. His sister had not stayed with him long though, since she got a job at a local dress shop and then, a year later, married her Boss' son who happened to be one of the men that Hogan and the rest of the boys at Stalag 13 had helped escape years before. She was now the mother of twin boys and Newkirk couldn't be a prouder uncle.

The two men continued to talk about their lives back home for a while before the topic began to stray toward the other men they had served with at Stalag 13.

"Have you heard anything from Colonel Hogan recently?" LeBeau questioned.

"Well, he's actually a General now, but I recon you knew that."

"Yes, but he will always be Colonel Hogan to me." LeBeau laughed. "I can't help it."

Newkirk nodded. "I know what you mean. I talk to him about once a month or so and he keeps telling me to call him Rob, but no matter what I do, I still call him colonel. Anyway, 'e is doing well. He and Kinchloe and still working on helping to rebuild Germany, but I believe they are back in the US right now. They needed a break. Kinchloe is a Captain now you know."

"Yes, he mentioned that in his last letter about two months ago. He is working hard."

"Besides that there really isn't much knew with the two of them." Newkirk continued softly. "But at least they write or call even if there isn't much going on."

LeBeau sat quietly for a moment before responding. "You thinking of Carter?"

Newkirk nodded. "It's been five years since we left the camp, and not once has Carter written or called. 'e was the one that I was sure would try to keep up with the rest of us, but no one 'as 'eard from 'im until this note came." He said, patting his jacket pocket. "I don't understand it."

"Perhaps it was not easy for him going back home." LeBeau whispered.

"He never went."

"What do you mean?" LeBeau questioned.

Newkirk raised his eyes to meet LeBeau's before he began speaking softly, his voice filled with worry. "After the war, Carter decided 'e didn't want to go back 'ome. He was in love with Mady and wanted to stay in Germany with 'er. Carter made me promise not to tell anyone till everything was settled. I didn't think much of it at first. For a while I got letters from Mady telling me how she and Carter were doing, but after the first year I stopped hearing from her. I figured they had moved on and didn't want me butting in. Now I wonder if maybe it was something else."

"Why didn't you tell us?" LeBeau asked, his voice filled with anger over the secret Peter had been keeping all these years.

"I made a promise. I had to keep it. I owed 'im at least that much."