Chapter 2

"How did you get here? When? I thought I'd never see you again." Hogan held on to her inhaling her fragrance, and never wanted to let her out of his arms again.

"Mon amour, I have missed you so." Tiger kissed him deeply. "I too feared I'd never see you again."

"I have so many questions I don't know where to begin." Hogan led her over to the couch where he could look at her and talk.

"There is much I have to tell you to Robert."

"What happened after we sent you to England?"

"I stayed in there for months after the Americans liberated France. I did not return immediately because I couldn't."

"What did you do there?"

"I met Peter's sister Mavis and lived with her until I went back to Paris. She is a wonderful person and a close friend."

"I met her before I flew back to the States; she seems like a really nice person."

"She told me of your meeting. Robert, do you remember the last night we saw each other?"

"I'll never forget it. The most glorious night I ever spent in Germany."

"Oui for I too, I feared your men would come and take you for some mission."

"I threatened their lives if we were disturbed for anything less than the end of the war."

"I believe you would do that." Marie smiled at him.

"Trust me they weren't going to interrupt us."

"For that I am thankful. Something else happened that night." Marie stood and walked a few steps away. "There is…something…I must tell you."

"What is it?" Hogan went over and put his arms around her. "You're trembling, what's wrong?"

"Did you know that even after the American's liberated France, there was much confusion? Many Germans still there, the Gestapo had an underground presence and many were afraid of them still. Even today not all the Gestapo has left, most have been rounded up but a few have hidden themselves."

"I heard that there was a lot of clean up work to do in France, but it will happen."

"I know it will. I only pray it is not too late." Marie turned towards him with mist in her eyes.

"Marie, tell me what's going on?" He led her back to the couch. "Tiger, talk to me."

She reached into her handbag and pulled out a picture and handed it to him. Confusion clouded Hogan's face as he looked at the photo. Finally able to speak he asked, "Is she yours?"

"Ours, mon amour, ours."

Hogan looked back and forth from the picture to Tiger several times before he found his voice. "Ours? I'm a father?"

"Oui, Robert."

"I never…I never thought." Hogan stammered. "We have a child, I couldn't be happier. What did you name her?"

"Her name is Abella Nicole."

"She's as beautiful as her mother. Where is she?" Hogan looked up from the picture to Tiger only to see tears streaming down her face. "What is it?"

"I came here to get your help. As I said there's still some Gestapo in Paris and she has been taken from me."

"Who Marie? Who took our daughter?"

"Major Hochstetter has my Abella."

"I should have killed him months ago." Hogan yelled as fury ran through his veins.

"He says he will only give her back, if you will meet him near Stalag 13 in the next ten days. For him, the war is not over. What are we to do?"

"We're going to get our daughter back. And I'm going to take care of him once and for all!"

"Oh, Robert," Marie cried, "I knew you would help me get her back. Peter and Louis are gathering information for us now."

Hogan walked over and opened the parlor doors calling for his parents. "Dad, Mom something has come up and I have to return to Germany now."

"Why son?" The general asked. He'd never seen his son so angry, determined, and with vengeance in his eyes.

"Mom, would it be all right if Marie stayed here until I get back?"

"Robert! If you think I'm staying here while you rescue our daughter you've misjudged me. I will kill that pig myself. I am going with you to find our Abella." Tiger threw at him with as much determination as he showed.

"Tiger it could be dangerous."

"I was the leader of the French underground for four years, and you think that wasn't dangerous! Je suis sa mere!" I am her mother!

"Oui, I know it was we will find her together." Hogan said softly looking into her eyes.

"Your daughter?" His mother asked not believing her ears.

"Mom, there's a lot to go over and very little time. Right now I have to call the Airbase and get us transportation to Europe." Hogan hastily explained as he pressed the picture of his daughter into his mom's hand and left the room.

Mrs. Hogan looked at the smiling baby and could see her son in the child's face. Her first grandchild looked like her eldest. "Tiger, how old is she?"

"My name is Marie or Tiger. She is now nine months, in that picture she was six months."

"Do you have anymore pictures?" Mrs. Hogan was trying to get her mind around what was happening.

"Oui many more, would you like to see them?" Marie took the pictures from her handbag and gave them to Mrs. Hogan.

"Who has my grandchild?" General Hogan asked.

"A pig Gestapo agent named Hochstetter. Many times he tried to catch Robert's group in sabotage activities, but they were too smart for him. Mon Robert made him look like a fool and cost him a promotion. He has a personal vendetta against us and has stolen Abella from me."

"I knew it."

"Knew what, dear?" Mrs. Hogan asked half still in a daze.

"The article, our son was running that rescue and sabotage group Hobson wrote about. I'm going to see if Rob needs any help."