Newkirk pulled himself onto his bunk. Carter flopped beneath him. LeBeau and Kinch settled down and Hogan briefly touched Newkirk's shoulder before going to his quarters. Carter listened to Newkirk toss and turn before finally falling asleep.

Carter had both an older and two younger sisters. He used to have a girlfriend. Yet he'd be the first to admit he knew little about women. Therefore when he woke and Newkirk still slept, he helped LeBeau make breakfast and watched Newkirk closely. Parker smacked Newkirk's shoulder. "Come on, Newkirk, let's go. Roll call then trash detail."

"Hey!" Carter protested. "Let him alone!"
 "He's got trash detail," Parker said.

"I'm up," Newkirk mumbled. He stood and pulled on his overcoat. He pulled on his cap and slouched outside. LeBeau poured a cup of coffee and took it to him. "Thanks."

Schultz counted the men. After breakfast, Newkirk disappeared briefly and reappeared for trash detail. "Let's get this over with," Parker muttered.

"You got it."

Hogan grabbed Carter as the lanky Sargent started to follow. "Leave it, Carter," he said. "He's fine."

Carter frowned but followed his CO.

Over the next week, everything went fairly smoothly save for the increase in German patrols. That meant the bomber crew stayed stuck below. Newkirk stayed away from the crew after Kinch had to prevent him from attacking Captain Evers yet, Newkirk seemed like...Newkirk. He pulled his weight and complained just like usual. And strangely enough, none of the men seemed to suspect anything.

"How is he doing it?" Kinch watched Newkirk work on a truck at the motor pool. Hogan glanced at his second in command.

"He's simply being Newkirk."

"But look at him. Look at his face and why can't anyone tell?'

Hogan chuckled. "You seemed to be watching that face a lot." Kinch glared at him and Hogan laughed. "Look, he's passing and that's what counts. He even got a reprimand from Klink."

"But he's not a man. Sir, it worries me."

"I know." Hogan paced a few feet. He glanced at Newkirk then gestured. The Brit came over, wiping his hands on a oily rag. "Newkirk, tonight you and LeBeau scout out the woods and look for patrols. We have got to get that crew out."

"Sure thing, gov."

"Tell LeBeau."

Newkirk nodded. He turned and headed for the barracks. Carter fell in beside him.

That night LeBeau and Newkirk headed out. "Be careful," Hogan warned. His Europeans nodded.

The two slipped through the night. LeBeau watched his friend, caught a faint smell of lilacs. "Newkirk, if you don't wish to be seen as la fille, why are you wearing perfume?"

"I'm not," Newkirk said. "I just keep clean."

"You smell like la fleur."

"I'm not wearing perfume." Newkirk deftly avoided a thicket. "I'm not a girl."

"Stubborn." LeBeau froze and both men slunk back to the trees.

A German patrol crunched through the woods. LeBeau hunched, Newkirk beside him. The patrol missed them and Newkirk touched LeBeau's shoulder. "Let's get back, Louie. There's no way we can move the crew out this way."

"Oui."

It took far longer than they thought. Heavy patrols flooded the woods. Newkirk and LeBeau pressed together in a small hollow as the Germans roamed past them. Side by side, LeBeau couldn't help but notice the lilac scent again. Fleeting, alomost teasing, it seemed buried in Newkirk's skin. He felt Newkirk shudder as a pair of boots stopped in front of them. Side by side, they waited until the boots disappeared. LeBeau sighed and Newkirk nodded. Silently LeBeau pointed and they crept off. They eventually reached camp and snuck into the tunnel.

Kinch met them, relief all over his face. "You're late," he simply said.

"You try 'urrying through the woods when the Krauts are everywhere!" Newkirk shrugged off his overcoat. As he washed, LeBeau watched, interested in seeing Newkirk's female face. Newkirk wiped his face dry and LeBeau mentally smiled.

"Oui, the Boche are busy tonight." LeBeau took off his coat and washed his face.

"I'll tell the Colonel and Carter. Colonel Hogan is wearing a hole in the floor." Kinch left and Newkirk rubbed his eyes.

"We have to get those flyers out. Just how can we get through the Krauts?"

"Mon Colonel will come up with a plan." LeBeau pulled off his black shirt and pulled on his red sweater. Newkirk started to pull off his turtleneck then sighed and walked into an alcove. "Your modesty becomes you, Perrin."

"I'm going to deck you, frog!"

LeBeau laughed and turned as Hogan and Carter came down the hallway. Hogan exhaled noisily. "Where's Newkirk?"

"La petite is changing," LeBeau said with a smile.

"Louie!" Newkirk walked into view, dressed in his uniform. "Hello, gov, Carter. No way we can get through the woods. Krauts are everywhere."

"You're all right?" Hogan looked at both of them.

"Oui."

"Fine." Hogan and Carter watched Newkirk. "What?" Newkirk asked.

"Your face," Carter said. "It looks different."

"His makeup is off," Hogan said. He gave Newkirk a quick up and down and then looked at his face again. LeBeau swore pink tinged Hogan's ears and neck.

"I'll put it on before I head up." Newkirk stretched.

"We have to get these flyers out of here." Hogan paced.

"We could try the dog truck," Carter suggested.

"Too many. We'd have to do two truck runs at least."

"How about drawing off the patrols?" Kinch asked.

"Too many, mate. It's like a conventation." Newkirk frowned. "What are these Krauts looking for?"

"Does the bomber crew know anything?" LeBeau asked.

"Not that I can find out." Hogan drew his eyebrows together.

"Maybe the Germans have a new bomb or rocket," Carter said.

"We can pump Schultz, Colonel. I have soup and some bread."

"I don't know if he knows anything but it's worth a shot. I'll work on Klink." He glanced at his watch. "Roll call in ten. Put on your makeup, Newkirk."

"Sure, gov."

"Sounds like he's going to a party," Carter said.

Hogan's eyes lit. "That's it! Klink can host a party. And our bomber crew can be the honored guests."

"What?" LeBeau blurted.

"Klink would never turn down a party with five gorgeous women. Newkirk, can you make five dresses?"

Newkirk's eyes widened. "You're joking, right? I can alter dresses and make them, yes, but not in the amount of time I know you'll want them in."

"I'll work on that. Come on."

A few nights later, as patrols lessened slightly, Tiger managed to arrive at camp through the tunnels. "Bon soir, Colonel."

"Tiger. Glad to see you made it through!" Hogan grinned.

"You said you needed dresses, material. I have some in a nearby barn. Why do you need them?"

"We have female visitors," Kinch said.

"Although none so belle as you." LeBeau kissed both of Tiger's cheeks.

"Where are they from?"

"You won't believe us." Hogan smiled wider.

"I can believe a lot."

LeBeau rapidly spoke in French. Tiger listened with widening eyes. As LeBeau finished, she glanced at Hogan. "Are you all ill?" she asked politely.

"I am well," LeBeau said. "I can prove it. Carter, is Perrin near by?"

"You better hope that he doesn't hear you." Carter stood up. "I'll tell him you're here."

Tiger glanced at Hogan. "Elves," she said.

"They're real." Hogan shrugged.

Tiger gave him a skeptical look then turned as Newkirk came in with Carter. She smiled. "Hello, Newkirk."

"'Ello, luv." Newkirk grinned. Tiger studied him curiously. She reached out and stroked his cheek. "Had to tell her, didn't you, Louie?"

"C'est impossible!" Tiger ran her fingers over Newkirk's face.

"It 'appened." Newkirk twitched as Tiger gingerly traced his jawline.

"But you are truly a woman! I can see your makeup this close. C'est magnificent!"

Newkirk rolled his eyes.

Tiger glanced at him then at Hogan. "These men became women?" Hogan nodded. "And you wished to dress them and send them out?"

"They're women, Tiger. That's all Klink will see."

Tiger closed her eyes. "Hommes. Newkirk, walk with me please?"

Hogan watched Newkirk walk off with Tiger. "Girl talk?" he asked.

LeBeau shrugged. "When should we get the dresses?"

"Tomorrow night." Hogan poured a cup of coffee. "Carter, you, Newkirk and I will get them."

"Sure."

When Tiger and Newkirk returned, Newkirk walked past his friends with a set, grim face. "Newkirk?" Carter asked.

Tiger stopped Carter with a gentle hand.

"Let her be a moment. She has much to think about."

"What's wrong?" Kinch asked.

"Nothing." Tiger smiled. "She is a woman. And I reminded her of that. Colonel Hogan, may I speak to your bomber crew? They need to be aware of a few things."

"Girl talk?"" Hogan asked.

"If you say so," Tiger said. "You and your men can not explain everything."

Hogan escorted Tiger to the bomber crew. "We may have a way to get you out," he told the crew. "Tiger here is esstential."

"Colonel, we need to speak to that crazy woman. We have to find a way to turn us back!" Evers gestured to his crew. "We can't live like this. We're not women!"

"I went over this with you. I don't know how to turn you back or convince her to do so." Hogan glared at Evers. "May I remind you, my man got caught in this and he wasn't even to blame!"

"My men deserve better."

"We're going to get you back to London."

"And what can they do for us?"

"There are fey in England, too." Hogan looked at Tiger. "All yours, Tiger."

Tiger nodded and waited for him to leave. Hogan joined his men. "Does anyone know where Newkirk is?" he asked after around 30 minutes.

"Non."