The sun had set, it's magnificent rays disappeared over the horizon and the stars shone brightly. Klink watched idly from his quarters. He knew he should be going to bed, but something kept him up. It was warm enough, he supposed, and he had already drank his warm milk, but a nagging feeling wouldn't allow him to sleep. Maybe it was because he couldn't understand the absurdity of the Gestapo. The two prisoners they had brought were spies! And Hochstetter refused to think of having them shot before they were questioned all too thoroughly. In Klink's mind, the longer the spies were alive, the longer they had to make contact with the Underground or the Allies. Stalag 13 may be the toughest POW camp in all of Germany, but rumors always find their way out... And somehow the Allies will get those spies' information, Klink thought.
Standing swiftly, Klink put on his greatcoat and cap, and walked out into the compound. His original intentions were to simply take a walk around camp, but he found himself walking in the direction of the cooler. Gestapo guards eyed him suspiciously, but let him pass. Two other Gestapo guards were posted outside the cells.
"I wish to speak to the prisoners," Klink said quietly.
"They are not your prisoners- you have no need to speak with them!" The first guard said with force.
"As long as these prisoners are in Stalag 13 they are under my care! I demand to speak to them!" Klink replied.
The two guards glared at him, and Klink faultered slightly. But the first guard held out a key stiffly, a scowl evident on his features. Klink snatched the key.
"You both are now dismissed," he said.
"We have orders to stay right here. We will not leave," the second guard said.
Klink let the matter drop and turned to the first cell. Walking in, he closed the door behind him. His eyes landed on a figure in a corner of the cell. The Gestapo guard tapped the cell door and passed Klink a lit candle.
With the glow iluminating the room, Klink could make out the feature's of Chait, who now stood half way between Klink and the corner he had previously been in. His angular features and vivid green eyes gave the redheaded Highlander a cat-like appearance. The two men stared at each other a moment before Chait ran a hand down his throat. Klink glanced at him strangely, but seemed to understand as Chait then ran a finger across his throat and shook his head. Klink nodded, and his eyes flicked over to where the guards were posted.
The moment that Klink looked at the guard was the moment the Chait decided that he didn't want conversation, and the mute slipped silently back to his little corner of the cell. With annoyance at the man's simple impudence, Klink stepped out of the cell and locked it behind him, turning to the second occupied cell.
"And now the great Kommandant visits," Camden remarked idly as Klink entered.
"Who are you- and your comrade in there?" Klink asked, the glowing candlelight flickering across his face.
Camden's sad face and big eyes gave him a deerlike expression as he looked to the wall seperating he and his brother. "The Gestapo didn't tell you? The lad in there is my brother Chait, I'm Camden Kerr. And who might you be, O Great Kommandant of the Escape Proof Camp?"
Klink ignored Camden's look of complete disgust and supplied an answer with pride for himself. "I am Kommandant Klink, spy, and I will have you know- There has never been an escape from Stalag 13. So you and your brother should throw out any ideas of an attempt."
Camden stood and walked over to Klink slowly. "No escapes, eh? Then we'll be the first."
Klink smiled cockily," Ah, but you will not get so far as a few steps out of this cooler- and both the Gestapo and myself will see to that."
Camden growled softly and walked back to his original place on the bunk. Klink smiled smugly and left the cell, making a big show to lock it, and gave the key back to the that he would be able to sleep, Klink walked back to his quarters, unaware of a pair of eyes watching his every move.
The eyes belonged to Newkirk, who stayed in the shadows a while before walking casually out as Schultz passed, carrying a tray of refreshments for the Gestapo guards.
"Evening, Schultzie," The Englander said, circling the rotund Sergeant smoothly.
"Newkirk? Back to the barracks with you, Englander, you are not supposed to be out here!" Schultz said, his eyes trying to follow Newkirk's quick movements.
Schultz's eyes weren't quick enough to see Newkirk drop tablets and sprinkle powder on the various contents of the tray. Once Newkirk figured that the food was thoroughly tainted, he made his leave, patting Schultz on the back and uttering a 'Good Night', before going back to his barracks. Once back inside, he made his way to Hogan's quarters.
"Well?" Hogan asked.
"All done, sir. Those guards'll be sleepin' like babes in a few minutes," Newkirk replied with a grin. Hogan patted him on the back.
"Good. Kinch is out picking up the parts for the coffee pot, he should be back soon. We'll give those guards ten minutes and make our move," the Colonel said, taking a glance at his watch.
Hogan and Newkirk made their way to the false double bunk and went down into the tunnels. Once down, they met up with Kinchloe, who had just gotten back. Hogan motioned for him to follow, in case he was needed. And indeed he was.
The tunnel they went through led out into the main section of the cooler, where the doors to the cells were. Knowing that the two guards would have already passed out, the three men made their way carefully up. Since Klink's visit, both Camden and Chait had drifted off to sleep, and neither woke up as Newkirk and Kinch unlocked their cells, Hogan keeping watch. Apparently, Schultz had given the two outside guards some of the tainted food, as they were curled against each other snoring quietly.
As Newkirk silently made his way into Chait's cell, the other two men heard a slight gasp. Both Kinch and Hogan slipped into the cell. The once peacefully sleeping man was now having either a panic attack of some sort or a horrible nightmare, and was fidgeting, his pulse like that of a panicked horse.
Chait's eyes were wide, though he was still asleep, and his breath came out in haggard gasps as he groped for anything to hold on to. Newkirk, Hogan and Kinch managed to hold him down as his body went into spasms. Once he was somewhat calm, the three men released him. Chait was still fidgeting, eyes wide and pulse racing, and a light froth flecked on his lips.
"Wake up," Hogan whispered, slapping Chait lightly on the face.
Slowly, the panicked man woke, and when he did, he leapt back at the sight of Hogan and his men. Still panting, Chait gave the three men a questioning look and motioned outside the cell where the Gestapo guards were snoring softly.
"Don't worry, mate, they won't be waking up anytime soon," Newkirk said, thrusting a hand forward before introducing himself. "Peter Newkirk."
Chait was still confused as he took Newkirk's outstretched hand.
In the woods outside Stalag 13, a dark figure prowled. It crept as close to the fence as possible without being seen or scented by the guards or their dogs. His eyes strained to see anything of interest, and he saw Klink on his midnight escapade, and Newkirk's hassling Schultz. But neither of these things interested him. Sighing, he turned and slipped through the forest back to the small cottage where he had made his base.
A/N: A short chapter, I know. I tried to keep everybody in character and believable, so please warn me if I didn't manage to do that. As for LeBeau and Carter, They should *finally* make their way into the story soon, but I keep forgeting them. (Don't know how- they're my favorite) And I reread this chapter for spelling errors, but my word pad doesn't run spell check, so I can't ever be too sure.