Old Friends...Usual Trouble
A/N: I don't own any of the characters that appear in Hogan's Heroes or MacGyver. The story and any other characters are mine.
Chapter 7:
Newkirk led the way into Gestapo headquarters, Hammelburg; MacGyver was by his side but slightly behind. Hogan, LeBeau, Kinch and Pete were between himself and Carter. They stopped when they reached the main desk. Their orders had been checked before they were anywhere near the front doors – as expected – and they had been good enough to get them through the first section. // Now comes the real test. // MacGyver thought as he looked around the main entrance of the building. The walls were painted a dull grey colour, Pictures of Hitler hung on the walls here and there, and a two flags hung on either side of the doors they had just walked through.
An older looking major – in his late 30's at the youngest – sat behind a desk on the right hand side of the room, typing up some kind of documents. He looked up when they approached the desk and immediately stood and came to attention at seeing a Field Marshal – all the way from Berlin – standing in front of him. "How can I help you Sir?" He spoke confidently but looked slightly nervous none the less.
"I am looking for the officer in charge of questioning a new prisoner that has been brought here recently. Captain...What is his name?" MacGyver questioned Newkirk without taking his eyes off the major.
"Major Hochstetter, Herr Field Marshal."
"Well? Is he here or not Major?" MacGyver questioned him again.
"He is interrogating a prisoner at the moment, however if you care to wait a moment I will see if..."
"No I do not care to wait Major. He will see me now." MacGyver cut in arrogantly. "I need a place to keep these prisoners while I speak to him, you will have one of your guards show me the way and then find the Major before I send you to the Eastern Front."
"I will show you myself Field Marshal." The Major called over a sergeant at another desk and instructed him to take over until her got back. "If you would follow me sir?"
They walked through another set of double doors and down a long hallway. The walls were stone and bare. Only the light bulbs above their heads gave any light to the room. There were no windows or doors leading to any other rooms. They came to a flight of stairs leading down into the basement where the cells were located. They went through yet another door at the bottom of the steps and then were led through a narrow corridor which had heavy steel doors on either side of them. They came to the end rows and the major opened the last door on the left.
"I'm sorry sir but this is the only one left where we can fit four more prisoners. There is only one other man here." The major said apologetically. He turned and hurried away in the direction they had just come.
Without a word, Hogan, Newkirk, Kinch and Pete stepped inside. Although MacGyver closed the door, he did not lock it. Newkirk stood to one side of the door, looking alert and ready to move at the slightest possibility of trouble. MacGyver, seeing that there was only one way anyone could approached was from the way they were facing, lent against the door for a moment before the sound of footsteps could be heard coming towards them. Two guards came into view, following behind was an American captain; he looked like he was in his late 20's. He had a fair few bruises along his jaw and a split lip, his left eyes was slightly swollen and an ugly purple colour.
Coming to a stop in front of MacGyver and Newkirk, the guards saluted. The higher ranking guard was a major. He was tall and roughly in his 40's with dark brown hair and a menacing look on his face. The slightly younger guard was only a captain. He looked as though he wanted to be anywhere else but there. He was shorter than the major by, maybe, three inches. MacGyver returned the salute and stepped aside for the guards. Only then did he realise that the American was actually Jack Dalton. He had to stop himself from saying something or reaching out to catch his friend when he tripped over the small step into the cell. // Hogan will do what he can till we're out of here. //
MacGyver stood in front of the closed door to Major Wolfgang Hochstetter's office. He had waited for the major for 20 minutes; expecting that Hochstetter would arrive any minute. Now MacGyver stood there, listening to the raised voice of Hochstetter, assuming he was on the phone – no-one was answering the questions that were being thrown to the room. Eventually he heard the sound of a phone being slammed on the table, then silence. Taking a deep breath, MacGyver pushed open the door and stormed into the room.
Hochstetter jumped to his feet as soon as the door burst open and started to yell at the intruder only to stop mid threat and change to muttering apologies after seeing that he was speaking to a Field Marshal. "... H-How can I help you sir?" He finished lamely.
"I am here because of your reports Major." MacGyver glanced around the room quickly, then continued "It is – at the very least – and interesting idea you have about the men of Stalag 13 and, more recently, a Captain Dalton."
"Field Marshal, I realise that it seems strange." Hochstetter started defending himself, growing more determined and arrogant by the second. Despite the present company. "If you had met the commandant of that Stalag and seen the things that happen in the camp itself when Sabotage has occurred or is just about to, you would understand the..."
"Major, I did not come here to listen to reasons you have already given in your reports. I have met Commandant Klink and I happen to agree with you. There is something strange about Stalag 13 and I intend to find out the truth for myself."
"Field Marshal, I assure you that Dalton will..."
"There is no need for Dalton to say anything more Major." MacGyver cut across the bumbling officer. "I have Hogan and some of his men with me. I have come to take over the case of these men and Captain Dalton. You have bigger things to worry about at the moment."
"But Sir I..." Hochstetter tried to argue with him.
"I am not interested in what you think you can achieve in the next few weeks Hochstetter. These men are coming with me and that is the end of this discussion." MacGyver turned to leave the room. He was about to close the door behind him when an idea came to him and he turned back to the stunned looking Major. "Perhaps your way of getting information could be of use. Be ready to leave in 15 minutes, you are coming with me."
Hogan, Kinch, LeBeau, and Pete looked up as the door to the cell opened suddenly and Newkirk followed MacGyver inside the small room. Jack was lying, half unconscious, on the only bed in the cell. He didn't look so good. Newkirk just shook his head and shrugged; answering the unasked question between him and Hogan. Newkirk stayed close to the door so they could have warning if someone came down the corridor towards them. MacGyver on the other hand came to kneel beside him on the floor.
"I have an idea but you'll have to play along for a while longer." He announced to the room. "If this works, Hochstetter will be out of your way for good."
MacGyver explained his plan and at first there was a stunned and disbelieving silence. It was such an absurd plan and Hogan could see that MacGyver knew how it sounded, but it was worth a try – they didn't have anything to lose. "Can't get much worse than this...Can it?" Newkirk spoke up from the doorway.
"Okay, we really don't have any other options." Hogan gestured towards the bed where Jack was lying. "We have to get him out of here and the sooner the better."