Well, here it is. The "epilogue" turned into something a bit longer. Haha, whoops. I got going and got some good inspiration, so here you go. This is definitely the end of this story, as I am moving on to an Avengers story that I recently got inspiration for. It'll have some nice Irondad/Spideyson and some good Peter!Whump. With that out of the way, enjoy the conclusion to Deadly Facade.
With Carter taken care of, and wrapped in a multitude of blankets to keep warm, Hogan assigned his men various tasks to keep them busy and out of trouble. Not that he didn't trust his men to stay out of trouble, but everyone's tempers were high. He didn't need any "incidents" with a Gestapo agent. He went to Klink's office to straighten things out.
"Did you need something, Hogan?" Klink spoke anxiously.
"Yeah," said Hogan. "Is General Schmidt still around?"
"He is resting in m- his quarters," Klink looked unhappy at the mention of the man. "Please, Hogan, Schultz will get you whatever you need."
` "Why?" Hogan's tone held suspicion and a darker quality than usual.
"What do you mean, why, Hogan? Just because I run this camp with an iron fist does not mean I am cruel, or that I don't have a heart."
"Oh yeah? So you feel guilty then."
"Hogan, what are you talking about? I knew nothing of Sergeant Carter's condition until you did. What reason would I have for feeling guilty?" Klink looked truly perplexed.
"You mean you didn't know Schmidt was torturing him?"
"Torture! Impossible," Klink replied. "The General only spoke with him once, and never laid a finger on him! Hogan if this is one of your tricks I-" He stopped suddenly at the presence of another man in the room.
"Vhat is a trick?" Schmidt gazed coolly into the room.
"Nothing, Herr General," Klink quickly reassured the Gestapo. "Nothing. I was er, just having a little conversation with Colonel Hogan."
"Perhaps I should haff a little, conversation as you say, vis zhis man."
"Go ahead," Hogan scowled. "That will be all the proof I need." The look that darkened the man's face was almost proof in itself.
"If you want to ask Hogan something, you have my permission," Klink seemed to be certain of his idea that the General was innocent. Either that, or he was afraid of the man. Or both. Probably both.
"Hold on," Hogan protested coldly. "I want to ask him a question first."
"Vhat is it zhat you vould like to know?" Schmidt's face lit up with a predatory grin.
"Was it fun?" Hogan stared into the man's eyes.
"Was what fun?" Schmidt calmly maintained the eye contact.
"Torturing my sergeant," Hogan spoke as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Ah," the general looked thoughtful. "Torture is a very strong vord. I vouldn't necessarily use it to describe Sergeant Carter and I's interaction."
"What word would you use," the Colonel managed to keep his cool, despite wanting to do unspeakable things to the man.
"We were haffing, as you say, a conversation. If your sergeant got injured in the process, perhaps he should haff talked more." The smirk that he wore spoke volumes. He was baiting the Colonel, hoping to be given a reason to strike out at him. Hogan refused to rise to it. He may be reckless sometimes, but he was not stupid. To engage the Gestapo agent in an attack either verbally, or physically would almost certainly end with him being sentenced to the cooler. That, however, wasn't really what he was worried about. Time in the cooler, he could handle, but it would also greatly decrease his chance of bringing the man to justice for his actions toward Carter. He was definitely set on bringing the man to justice.
"I see," was Hogan's response. "What was it you were going to ask me?"
"Nothing, you may go now," Schmidt feigned politeness.
"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to stay and have a word with the commandant. Alone," Hogan mirrored the polite tone and smile of the agent. "That is if it isn't too much trouble."
"No. No trouble at all," the general was barely able to conceal his anger. He stiffly raised his arm in the air. "Heil Hitler."
"Heil Hitler," Klink quickly stood, raising his arm in response. Schmidt stalked off, and a door was heard shutting, rather loudly in the distance.
"You see, Hogan," Klink spoke tiredly. "All he did was have a conversation with Sergeant Carter. He did not torture the man."
"Oh come on," Hogan exclaimed. "That was a lie, and you know it!"
"Hogan, are you insinuating that I should believe your word over the word of a German officer?" Klink was indignant.
"Colonel, I'm hurt," Hogan protested. "When have I ever lied to you." When the colonel started to respond, Hogan interrupted him. "I mean when it's important." There was silence. Got him hooked, now to reel him in. Hogan thought to himself. "I would think that someone like you could tell that the general was lying through his teeth."
"Someone like me, Hogan? What do you mean?"
"Well, you're just, so good at reading character. My men and I have stopped even trying to lie to you," Hogan asserted.
"Really?" Klink's interest was piqued.
"Yeah," Hogan worked his moment. "The men even have a nickname for you."
"And what is that?" Klink may have tried to hide his excitement, but if so, it was vainly.
"'Ol No Wool," Not his most creative name, but it would do. At Klink's look of confusion, Hogan elaborated. "You know, 'cause we can't pull the wool over your eyes, sir."
"Well, I do pride myself on judging whether men are honest or not," Klink agreed. "But I still don't see how that relates to me believing you over the Gestapo."
"I was sure you would have recognized the signs," Hogan looked thoughtful.
"What signs?" Klink gazed at Hogan intently.
"Surely you saw them," Hogan began his often used ritual of placing thoughts into the man's head. "You know, the way his right eye twitched whenever he talked. The shine of his forehead, that showed he was starting to sweat."
"I didn't see any of that," Klink insisted.
"Really?" Hogan pretended to be surprised. "I saw them pretty clearly, and I'm nowhere near as observant as you are. Maybe you're losing your touch. I'll have to let the men know. They'll sure be glad to hear that!"
"Hogan," Klink shook his finger warningly.
"Wait a minute!" Hogan exclaimed, pretending to have come to a sudden realization. "I see what you're doing, Colonel."
"What am I doing, Hogan?" Klink wondered.
"Trying to lull us all into a false sense of security. Making us think you've lost your touch so that we'd try to lie to you again, and you could catch us," Hogan looked hurt. "That isn't very nice you know."
"Well, you know, there is a war on," Klink decided he would accept that explanation as what had really happened.
"Still, it isn't very nice," Hogan frowned exaggeratedly. "Well, are you going to do anything about General Schmidt?"
"What do you mean?"
"You told me you saw all of those signs that he was lying," Hogan said. "Aren't you going to do something about it? And do something about the fact that he nearly killed Sergeant Carter?"
"Did I tell you I saw the signs?" Klink questioned.
"Yes, don't you remember?" Hogan replied. "You said his right eye was twitching, and that he was sweating."
"Oh, yes," Klink laughed awkwardly. "I forgot."
"So?"
"I will try to figure out some way of punishing him," Klink promised.
"I know what you'll do," Hogan proclaimed.
"You do?" Klink asked.
"Of course!" Hogan snapped his fingers. "Why it's brilliant!"
"What's brilliant, Hogan?" Klink looked even more confused than usual if that was possible.
"Your idea, of course!"
"Yes, of course, my idea," Klink agreed. There was a moment of silence. "My idea?"
"To get him in trouble for selling secret military plans," Hogan described. "It's simple, and beautiful sir, I couldn't have thought of a better plan myself."
"Well, I always have been a bit of a strategist," Klink boasted, then paused again. "But, Hogan, how would I get evidence against him?"
"Easy," Hogan explained. "You catch us prisoners with some top secret info, and when you ask us where we got it, we'll say it was from Schmidt. I'll bet you could get him sent to the Russian front for something like that!"
"Alright, Hogan," Klink nodded. "I will accept your, er, little addition to my plan. But, I am to receive all recognition. Understand?"
"I wouldn't dream of taking your due credit," Hogan marveled, not for the first time at how easy it was to get the colonel to decide that he had come up with a plan, not the other way around. "So about fifteen minutes after I leave here, you'll send Schultz to "catch us red-handed" with the information, and then you'll call Gestapo headquarters to turn Schmidt in for treason?" Hogan finalized the details of the plan.
"Yes, yes, of course," Klink waved his hand. "Dismissed." After Hogan left the room, he heard a loud Schultz.
Everything was set. Supposing the commandant didn't completely mess things up, the General was in for a rough time soon. He really hoped the commandant didn't mess things up.
As it would turn out, General Schmidt of the German Gestapo, was already under close investigation by his peers on possible grounds of embezzlement. Selling military secrets to POWs? With proof? That was all they needed to send him to the Russian front. That and the fact that he wasn't even supposed to be at Stalag 13. Apparently, he had been told to "take a vacation" which was to give time for a thorough investigation of their concerns. He had decided to come to Stalag 13, probably to try and save himself. If he could come back after his "vacation" with proof of spy work by the prisoners there, perhaps the embezzlement charges would be dropped. No one was sad to see him go.
After the excitement died down, Klink paid a personal visit to Sergeant Carter. When he saw the condition the prisoner was in, he had him moved to his private quarters immediately, and made sure he was well taken care of, even going so far as to give LeBeau free reign in his kitchen so the chef could make a nourishing soup. Everyone apologized profusely for ever doubting Carter's loyalty. He just told them all not to worry about it. If he was in their positions, he would have done the same thing. They all accepted his forgiveness, but secretly made plans of how they would repay him for all that he'd endured for them, despite their mistreatment.
Hogan may have been the most regretful of them all. He was their Colonel. He was supposed to be observant, and protect them all under the rules of the Geneva Convention. Now, his sergeant was sick and wounded, and it was his fault. He knew Carter would disagree, but couldn't quite bring himself to break the loop of negativity playing through his head. He dulled it with fierce resolve and ray of hope. Sergeant Carter would recover, and he would rectify his actions somehow. Maybe he'd even figure out a way to give him a vacation. He was sure Klink wouldn't mind a tagalong for his next trip into France. Especially if he had no idea the man was there.