Chapter 2 – Tally Ho

Newkirk slept through what was left of the night and well into the next afternoon. He awoke to a gentle swishing sound, like leather brushing against leather. His head and nose were completely stuffed up, he had a sore throat and felt achy all over. Bloody Nora I do have a cold! He cracked one eye open to see Carter sitting beside the bunk, playing with a string.

"Andrew? Wot're ya doin' 'ere?" His voice came out sounding hoarse and raspy.

"Oh hey buddy! Just trying to get this Jacob's Ladder thing down. I came by to check on you and since you were still asleep I thought I'd wait for you to wake up."

Newkirk tried to sit up a little. "Well I'm awake now." He sneezed violently. Cor, that hurt! "Sorry."

Carter handed him a handkerchief. "Hey don't apologize! We're all just really glad to have you back safe and sound. Well, safe for now anyways cuz you sure don't sound so good."

"Thanks mate." He blew his nose noisily. "Don't worry. I'm alright. Just a ruddy cold."

Carter knew a bad cold when he heard one. "We don't want your 'ruddy cold' to turn into 'ruddy pneumonia' Peter."

He shot Carter a sideways glare. "Did the Colonel put you up to this mate?"

"Up to what? Jeez can't a guy be worried about his best friend? The Colonel didn't ask me to do anything. Though goodness knows we owe him."

Newkirk forgot his next retort, "Owe the Colonel? Wot d'ya mean Andrew?"

Carter dropped his head. "Well, I don't know if I should tell you Peter…"

"C'mon Andrew. Give over."

"Well everyone was real worried about you and what was going to happen to you at Gestapo Headquarters. When North Star, I mean, Myra met with us down in the tunnel…"

"You let that Mata Hari in the tunnel?" No one had bothered to tell him that.

"Yeah well of course that was before we knew she was Gestapo! Anyways she gave us a plan to break you and the others out and the Colonel nixed it right off the bat. We thought for sure he was going to leave you to the Gestapo and we got really upset with him." The unfortunate words spoken that night were still ringing through his mind.

"What about her plan Colonel?"

"Fine. Except it's not for us."

"What?"

"Why not?"

"No plan is what I mean. Forget it."

"What are you talking about Colonel?"

"We can't leave him there!"

"Newkirk would lay himself on the line for us Colonel."

"And he has, more than once!"

"Well he's not in command! I am. Which means I'm the lucky one that has to make the rough decisions."

"Where does a guy go to resign?"

"I'm with you Kinch!"

"Whatever the Colonel says, it's his war."

Newkirk knew that wasn't the end of the story and prompted Carter when he paused, "We?"

"Yeah, me, Louis and Kinch."

Newkirk sat back, a bit gobsmacked. Carter and LeBeau he could understand. But Kinch? Kinch never lost his composure, especially when the Colonel's orders were involved. He was glad he had pressed Carter for an explanation. He suddenly turned away to sneeze several more times. "Sorry. Go on Andrew."

"Are you sure? I can come back later."

"Andrew I'm fine! Keep goin'. Please?"

"Well…" Carter was obviously reluctant to continue. Truth be told, he felt ashamed of himself for his words and emotions that night. He focused his attention on the floor.

A soft knock came at the door. "Pierre? Are you awake? May I come in?"

"Yeah LeBeau. Go ahead." The diminutive Frenchman entered the room with a tray.

"I thought you might be hungry. Oh André, I did not know you were here!"

"It's okay Louis. I was just leaving."

Carter was relieved to get an opportunity to slip out the door before he finished the conversation. Newkirk made a mental note to get the rest of the story out of him later, and turned his attention to LeBeau.

"You sure are susceptible to colds mon ami!" LeBeau set the tray down and bustled about, a steaming bowl in hand.

"Leave off Louis! See 'ow chipper you feel after sittin' in a bloody Gestapo cell for that long, eh?"

LeBeau rolled his eyes, secretly relieved beyond belief that his English friend was here in front of him, safely and comfortably ensconced in the lower bunk of the Colonel's quarters. He allowed Newkirk the luxury of grousing, especially as he really was sick.

"I know, I know. I have something to help you feel better."

"Blimey Louis! Is that real chicken soup?"

"Oui, it is. Orders of Kommandant Klink."

"What pony and trap did the Colonel give 'im, Louis?"

"You should have seen it mon ami. He had Klink in the palm of his hand. Which reminds me…" he reached over and unceremoniously stuck a thermometer in Newkirk's mouth.

"Wot's that for…? he sputtered.

"Le Colonel convinced the Kommandant you had a temperature of 102!"

"I'll admit I'm not feelin' me best right now but I don't think…"

LeBeau cut him off with a smile, "Oui mon ami. I agree, most of the time you do not think."

"Louie…" growled Newkirk.

"Please mon ami. Humor me. You feel feverish, no?"

"Yes mum", Newkirk rolled his eyes. "When can I 'ave a go at that soup?"

"As soon as you keep your mouth closed long enough to take your temperature! Do you not want to continue to be excused from roll call?"

LeBeau got the trademark Newkirk smirk in reply. Oh well at least it kept his mouth shut long enough to take a temperature.

"See Pierre? You do have a fever, 100˚!"

"Nothing to worry over Louis."

"Nothing to worry over he says! You should've been in the tunnel when that Boche spy was here! We were so worried for you we almost…" LeBeau stopped there, realizing he nearly went too far. He busied himself with the soup, placing the tray on Newkirk's lap. "Eat mon ami."

Newkirk realized he might be able to get the rest of Carter's tale from LeBeau. He took a cautious sip of the hot soup. "You almost what Louis?"

"Nothing mon ami, nothing. We are just so relieved and grateful that you are back here with us. We were very worried about you being in Gestapo hands."

"I appreciate that mate. I was a bit worried meself. When Andrew was in 'ere he let on that you all were upset with the Colonel. Why was that Louis?"

LeBeau sighed. "I am ashamed to admit it mon ami. I was so angry with Colonel Hogan. We all were. We thought he was going to abandon you to the Gestapo."

Newkirk was shocked to hear the same line of thinking he had heard from Carter. "Louis! You know the Colonel would never leave one of us behind! Don't you?" He never had any doubt that the Colonel would come for him. As soon as Papa Bear realizes what's happened, he'll come for us!

"Oui. I do. But you were not there Pierre. He seemed so adamant that we were not going to rescue you."

"Louis, I know there's more to it than that!" He felt his anger rising and turned to sneeze yet again. He blew his nose, ears ringing with the effort.

LeBeau patted his arm. "Do not become upset mon ami. Rest. We want you to get well. Do not concern yourself."

He began to feel drowsy. Oh bloody 'ell! "Louis, what'd ya put in the soup?"

"Nothing Pierre. Go to sleep."

"Louis…", he trailed off, eyes closing against his will. He'd get to the bottom of this. After the nap, that is.

LeBeau collected the empty bowl and tray, then left quietly. He saw Carter standing close by as he gently shut the door to Hogan's quarters.

Carter's eyes were wide. "Did you really put something in the soup Louis?"

"André, did you know eavesdropping is not polite?"

"I'm sorry but I don't want Peter to get all riled up. He needs to get well."

"I agree wholeheartedly mon ami. The last thing we need is a sick and upset Pierre."

Carter followed him as he made his way to the stove to check on the next batch of chicken soup.

"Well? Did you put something in the soup or not?"

"No I did not! Though it is not a bad idea…hmm. I may keep it in mind." He sighed. "No André, Pierre's body is simply telling him it needs rest and the chicken soup helped."

"He never listens anyway does he?"

"No. He is as you Americans say, stubborn as a mule?"

"Yeah. Exactly. Though sometimes he can be more of a hard headed English jackass."

LeBeau stared at Carter, surprised to hear such a comment from him. He chuckled. "André! Do not ever let him hear you say that!"

"Are you kidding Louis? I value my life."

Hogan had approached to pour himself a cup of coffee just in time to catch Carter's 'jackass' remark. "Carter you'd better be ready to escape if Newkirk ever hears you say something like that."

Carter nodded solemnly, "My lips are sealed Colonel." He suddenly took on a worried expression. "This is just between us, right?"

Hogan chuckled and turned back to LeBeau. "How is our favorite patient doing Louis?"

"It sounds like his cold is getting worse mon Colonel, plus he is running a bit of fever. He did eat all of the soup and fell back asleep shortly afterwards. He even accused me of putting something in the soup to knock him out!"

"That's our Newkirk. Suspicious to the last."

"Ah oui."

"Oh, by the way LeBeau…"

"Oui mon Colonel?"

"Did you put something in the soup?"

"No! Colonel!" LeBeau threw his hands up in frustration, cursing under his breath in French, while Carter and Hogan laughed.

The door cracked open and Schultz walked in.

"Hallo Schultzie, what can we do for you?" called LeBeau from the stove.

"I am here to check on the Englander per the Kommandant's orders. How much longer will he be missing roll call?"

Hogan put his arm around Schultz's shoulders and drew him aside. "He's still pretty sick Schultz. As a matter of fact, he's sleeping right now. Can't you come back later?"

"Nein! The Kommandant expects a report from me on the Englander's condition. Orders, please, Colonel Hogan?"

"LeBeau?"

"Come on Schultzie. Quiet, okay?"

Schultz nodded as the Frenchman led him to the Colonel's quarters. LeBeau opened the door quietly and stood aside as the German guard stepped into the room.

"He is not snoring as loud as before. Is that good?" whispered Schultz.

"His fever is slowly falling. I think that helps a lot." Hogan said.

Newkirk sneezed in his sleep and muttered something unintelligible, then shifted his position on the bunk.

"Shhh! I do not want him to wake up. Visiting hours are over Schultzie. You can see he's still too sick for roll call." LeBeau nudged Schultz out of the room and closed the door.

"Ja. I will tell the Kommandant. Danke cockroach." He headed for the door and turned. "Oh, before I forget, the Kommandant wanted to make sure you are still giving him the chicken soup?"

"Yes. As much as possible."

"Das ist sehr gut." Schultz left.

LeBeau shook his head. "I am glad we no longer have to try to fool Schultz with that dummy. He can plainly see for himself how sick Pierre is."

"Yeah." Hogan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If only I hadn't sent him out, he wouldn't've gotten captured and he probably wouldn't be sick right now."

"Mon Colonel, you cannot blame yourself. You could not have known what would happen. It is just one of those things. Pierre is here safe with us and he will be back in good health in no time."

"Sure Colonel!" Carter piped in. "Leave it to Louis and me. We'll have Peter up and at 'em before you know it."

"Thanks guys. I'm going to hold you to that promise!" he grinned and walked out the barracks door.

Carter glanced at the closed door of the Colonel's quarters and turned to LeBeau. "Boy Louis I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!"