A/N: I'm finally back! Sorry to have been away so long. I want to give a heart-felt thanks to all you readers who voted for my stories in the 2011 Papa Bear Awards. When I started this series I never could have imagined that any of them would win any sort of award! I am amazed and humbled.
Anyway, this chapter stays with Hogan. I know I usually alternate, but, due to what happens, I'm sure you can see that Hogan's is the best POV from which to observe…..
Also, I've changed some of the dialogue from the original episode.
Warning: Some mild sexual content ("dirty" dancing)
Top Hat, White Tie, and Bomb Sights – 6
"Waiter! More champagne for everybody!" called Burkhalter imperiously.
"Jawohl, Herr General," replied a red-jacketed waiter, hurrying over with a bottle.
I better start looking for Willie, may as well start with this guy.
"Oh, thank you," I said to the waiter as he filled Gretchen's and my glasses, "by the way, do you know Lili Marleen?"
"No," replied the waiter, "but I'll ask the orchestra leader."
"Forget it," I said dismissively. I didn't know how many waiters I was going to have to ask, and I didn't want to listen to the orchestra play it repeatedly while I searched for the right one.
Klink had been shooting agonized glances between Gretchen and me ever since sitting down, but hadn't done much other than attempt to join in the conversation from time to time. He seemed to suddenly pull himself together, getting out of his chair and presenting himself in front of Gretchen with a formal heel-click and slight bow.
"Gretchen, my dear, would you care to dance?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, Liebchen, I'm a little tired tonight," Gretchen replied, turning away from Klink and leaning in toward me with a smile.
Something inside of me snarled at her inability to even feign politeness to the man who had invited her out for the evening. I quickly pushed it down. My concern for Klink's feelings couldn't distract me from completing my mission.
"It's been years since I've done any dancing," I said wistfully.
"I thought you'd never ask me," Gretchen immediately said, standing up.
I quickly rose with her and led her to the dance floor.
"Either you've got it or you haven't," I chirped at a clearly dismayed Klink as I walked by him.
Once on the dance floor Gretchen and I melded seamlessly together. I can't deny that I enjoyed it. She had an exquisite body, and it felt lovely pressed against mine, all willing curves and seductive swaying. It was clear we both had something more intimate than dancing on our minds. However, the distressed face of Klink was occasionally visible from our position, and it was a bit of a mood killer.
"Careful honey," I murmured in Gretchen's ear as she rubbed suggestively against me, "you're going to melt Klink's monocle."
She chuckled; a warm, throaty sound then murmured back, "The Colonel doesn't know what he's jealous over."
I didn't understand her response and wondered if it were due to the language difference.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She glanced at Klink then arched an elegant brow at me and purred, "You dance very well, Colonel."
I was still puzzled, but decided to drop it. Gretchen and Klink were not my problem.
"Thank you, I used to take notes at Fred Astaire movies," I joked back.
I steered us over to the bar in my continuing search for Willie.
"Excuse me. Do you happen to know Lili Marleen?" I asked the bartender.
"Is that made with gin or whiskey?" he asked.
"Thank you, and goodnight," I replied as I swung Gretchen back out onto the dance floor.
"You seem to be very interested in this Lili Marleen," she remarked curiously.
"I'm taking a survey. It's a love song, you know."
My explanation seemed to satisfy her and we went back to dancing.
After a few seconds, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Klink.
"May I?" he asked, clearly wanting to cut in.
"Oh, by all means!" I said politely, handing Gretchen off to Klink. He immediately trod on her foot.
"Aii!" she exclaimed in pain.
"Oh! I'm terribly sorry, my dear," exclaimed Klink.
"Well, it's her fault for having a leg on that side," I said with sarcasm, then left them on the dance floor.
I questioned another waiter on my way back to our table, but still didn't find Willie.
I sat back down with the general and Elsa, who seemed to be enjoying themselves. I sipped my drink and scanned the room for waiters I hadn't questioned yet.
Suddenly, Burhalter was leaning toward me and speaking, "You and the colonel seem to have something in common."
"You mean Gretchen? Good kid – good little dancer, too," I smiled.
"Isn't there something more?" questioned Burkhalter.
"Come on General, I just met the girl," I protested with a knowing smile.
Burkhalter laughed heartily at that, but said, "No, no, I mean you and Klink see things eye-to-eye the German way."
"I try to be realistic," I shrugged.
"Excellent attitude! I take it you like to be on the winning side."
I looked over at him and was a bit startled at the change that had come over him. Gone was the indolent playboy. In his place was a man of keen intelligence, evaluating me as thoroughly as I was him.
"General, what's on your mind? I mean, besides Elsa?"
I was wondering how much Burkhalter would say in front of a civilian. It would be a good indication of how important he thought my information might be.
Burkhalter chuckled again, seemingly genuinely amused, "Cards on the table, hmm?"
Then, he was back to being a serious military man, pinning me with a steely gaze, "All right, we're interested in the Norden."
Something about Burkhalter appealed to me. Maybe it was his appreciation of my humor, or that he seemed to be unusually patient with Klink's shortcomings. I decided I would give him a chance to save himself from embarrassment, if he could pick up on my hint.
"Oh, that old thing? Is that all?" I exclaimed in derisive puzzlement. Now, if Burkhalter were smart, he would question why I would be so dismissive about something so important.
"Excuse me," I continued, "Gretchen wants to be rescued." And, I still need to find Wille.
I left the table, Burkhalter's eyes following me in a calculating stare.
I tapped Klink on the shoulder, "May I?"
Gretchen immediately turned away from him and into my arms. Klink made his typical annoyed grunt and stomped away.
I scanned the room, looking for a waiter with whom I hadn't yet spoken. I saw a nervous-looking man serving coffee at one of the tables. He looked like someone with a lot on his mind. It could be Willie.
"Honey? Why don't you go back to the table. I'll be with you in a minute."
"Something is wrong?" Gretchen asked, clearly disappointed at me for cutting our dance short.
"I want to say hello to an old friend – I hope."
"Don't be long. I will miss you."
Gretchen then kissed me. I didn't respond, feeling that would be crossing a line, even for me. Klink had suffered enough. She smiled and left. I rolled my eyes at her retreating form.
I went and intercepted the nervous waiter as he balanced a bread-basket on a tray.
"Excuse me," I said.
"Yes sir?"
"Do you know Lili Marleen?"
Immediately he began to tremble, "Yes, YES!" he exclaimed, dumping the basket of rolls on the woman behind him.
I removed the basket from her head and handed it back to Willie.
"Do you know Lili Marleen?" I asked again. He still hadn't given the counter-sign.
"Yes," he repeated as we knelt to pick up the scattered rolls.
"Yes what?" I asked impatiently.
"Yes, can you spare a cigarette?" he gasped sounding as un-casual as possible.
"Here," I said, taking the pack out of my uniform, "keep the pack."
He promptly stuffed it into the basket with the rolls.
I sighed and took it out and put it into his jacket.
"Don't forget to read it," I murmured to him as we stood up.
"You're all right," I assured him as he looked shiftily around the room, "I like a spy with nerves of steel."
He nodded anxiously and walked away. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The poor man would probably be dead within a month if he didn't pull it together.
I looked around and saw Klink waving at me from our table. Apparently, it was showtime…..
A/N: The next chapter will be the last, and it will be from Klink's POV….Please drop me a line and let me know what you think of this chapter…..