Hi! Welcome back! This is a chapter from Colonel Hogan's perspective.
I'm going to be honest, I said I would post this today, but completely forgot. Then I'm just like, Oh! It's Wednesday, I promised I'd update!
So here it is.
Let me know what you think!
~TH-
Colonel Hogan's POV
Carter had been gone for almost six hours. I Looked out of the window for what had to be the millionth time that day. What did the Gestapo want with Carter? Klink hadn't given him any answers and Schultz knew nothing. For once his ignorance was aggravating. Everyone was tense; not that I could blame them.
Kinch was in the tunnel, waiting to make contact with London. After giving them the basics of Carter's arrest, we had been ordered to maintain radio silence until they contacted us. That had been four hours ago.
LeBeau was cooking and spontaneously shouting in French. No one dared to stop him. Even I wouldn't dare to interrupt the Frenchman's outbursts.
Newkirk was attempting to play solitaire but kept getting distracted. I don't know how many times I had seen him reshuffle his deck of cards. I saw him glance down at his watch.
"What time is it, Newkirk?" I said not turning from the window.
"'Bout six o'clock Sir. Don't you think they're 'oldin 'im a bit long?"
"A 'bit' long is an understatement! He left at noon," LeBeau replied, then started to mumble in French.
"London's on the line, Colonel," Kinch said popping up from the bunk entrance.
I quickly followed him down into the tunnel.
I picked up the microphone as Kinch made sure everything was set to go.
He nodded. "Papa Bear to Mama Bear. Papa Bear to Mama Bear. Come in Mama Bear. Over."
"We're reading you Papa Bear," Came the staticky reply. "Request to rescue your man denied. Carry on as usual. Over."
My eyes narrowed as I answered back. "I can't carry on as usual when one of my men is sitting in a Gestapo jail! He's vital to this operation!"
"Understood, Papa Bear." The calm voice came back. "But we cannot risk losing you to the Gestapo. I'm sorry Papa Bear, but your orders are to stay put and wait for now. If he's not returned within the next forty-eight hours we will re-evaluate the situation. Understood? Over."
I clenched my teeth as I quietly responded, "understood. Papa Bear over and out."
I slammed down the microphone and began to pace angrily. We had to do something! I couldn't just let the Gestapo torture Carter. He was so innocent, so hopeful. I couldn't, wouldn't let those monsters take that away.
"Carter will be fine, Sir." Kinch's voice startled me back to reality. "He may be a goofball, but Carter is loyal. He won't tell them anything. He'll be fine."
I nodded slowly. Carter would be fine. He would have to be. I'd never forgive myself if he wasn't.
~HH~
"I need to see if there's anything Klink hasn't told us," I stated abruptly later that evening. "He wouldn't give me anything useful last time. But that doesn't mean he doesn't know."
The men all looked at me. "But Colonel, what makes you think Kilnk will tell you even if he does know," LeBeau said, glancing between the others. Their anger had been replaced by fear somewhere along the way, and I was determined to make sure that changed. My men don't wear helplessness well.
"Because," I put on a fake smile and grabbed my crush cap, "He's Klink! He tells me everything!"
And at present, he was my last hope.
~HH~
"Colonel Hogan, I really don't have any time for you today, Diiiiismissed." Klink gave me a half salute then went back to writing something on his desk.
"What are you writing, Colonel?" I asked putting on mock cheerfulness. I went over to the side of his desk and tried to catch a glimpse of the paper. He covered it away quickly.
"That is none of your business, Hogan. I…"
"A book! You're writing a book! Oh, Colonel, you've been holding out on us. Am I in it?" I asked, still trying to peak around his hand.
"No Colonel Hogan, I am not writing a book."
"You know, you should write a book. I bet it would be on the New York Times bestsellers list!"
"I have little interest in your American humor, Hogan." Klink was usually a little bit more friendly. Apparently, this ordeal was affecting Klink more than I thought.
I decided that if flattery wasn't working then I should just go for it. "Sir, I want to know what's going to happen to Sergeant Carter," I finally stated.
"Hochstetter..." Klink mumbled distractedly looking at another piece of paper.
"Hochstetter?" Now we were getting somewhere.
Klink shook his head. "Oh, it's nothing. Dismissed Hogan." Klink replied as he looked at his watch. He stood up to shew me out the door.
"Colonel, you look stressed. Is something bothering you?" I said standing my ground.
"Right now, you are."
I looked offended, "You wound me, sir. What's really wrong?"
"I'm fine now go!"
"I'm not leaving until I find out about Carter!" I was done with my nice guy routine. I wanted answers. Something was obviously up with Klink, but that could wait. I needed answers.
Klink looked at me and then sighed. He opened his mouth and then closed it.
"I don't know anything about your sergeant. And I doubt I'd be able to get any answers even if I asked."
Now I was really worried. Something was seriously wrong. Something more than even I realized.
"Colonel Klink, it's me, Hogan! We're pals. If something is wrong, you can tell me!" I tried to get the desperation out of my voice and offer him a reassuring smile. I was once again reminded of the corrupt way the military in Germany worked. Klink and I were enemies; there was no doubt about that. But Klink wasn't a cold-blooded Nazi. Sometimes I wondered if he even knew what he was fighting for. Did he actually believe what Hitler actually believed? I didn't think so. Klink was no monster. But, the words that came out of his sent a chill down my spine.
"Hochstetter said he had proof that could end me. Colonel Hogan, my job, my life, is on the line."
~MF~
Did Carter talk? Or is Hochstetter bluffing? Is Klink really going to be replaced? Or is this just another open threat?
Let us know what you think!
As always, please comment and vote.
And be sure to check out my new Hogan's Heroes stories "Home" and "Lead".
God bless,
Trekkiehood
