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 8:
MacGyver saw Hochstetter practically running towards the truck as he climbed into the passenger seat. He ignored the major until he finally came to a stop beside him, only then did MacGyver even turn to look in his direction. He had to suppress a laugh when he saw the major's expression; Annoyance because he didn't get his own way, excitement that he may finally get to the truth about the sabotage, and a slight fear. At least, that's what MacGyver assumed.
"Just in time Major, get in the back before I change my mind." MacGyver didn't wait for an answer, he indicated to Newkirk to start the engine. Hochstetter hurried to the back and climbed in just when it started to move forwards. Newkirk pulled out of Gestapo Headquarters and sped down the road following the same roads as when they first arrived.
"You sure 'bout this mate?" Newkirk asked 20 minutes later as they drove down a dark road. The noise of the engine meant their voices couldn't be heard from inside the truck. "Isn't a bit risky to bring him along?"
"Yeah, but what's the fun of living risk free?" MacGyver grinned as Newkirk slowed the truck and rounded a sharp bend in the road. "Oh come on, We've made it this far, why not try our luck a little further?"
The only roadblock they had passed, they had been able to get through without any trouble. MacGyver's ability to speak German helped quite a bit during those few minutes. Another 5 minutes past. // So far it's worked like a charm. // MacGyver thought as Newkirk navigated the truck though the narrow winding roads.
It all happened too quickly. The sound of screeching tires filled the air as Newkirk suddenly lost control of the truck. It spun out of control until the front wheels ran off the road and into a large ditch just off the main road. MacGyver and Newkirk were thrown forwards with force of the sudden stop. In the back, he could hear the others being thrown against the front of the truck as well. MacGyver stepped down awkwardly and went around the back of the truck, making sure everyone was okay. Hogan, Pete and LeBeau had been thrown to the floor and were only just righting themselves again. Kinch, Carter and Hochstetter were still seated but looked visibly shaken. Jack was still unconscious lying on the long seat that lined one side of the truck. Newkirk came into view a few short seconds later, he shook his head. There was no way to get the truck out of the ditch without help from another vehicle. // Now or never, I suppose. // MacGyver thought as he caught Hogan's eye and nodded.
Taking the opportunity while Hochstetter wasn't looking his way, MacGyver grabbed his gun and pulled him out of the truck. Passing the gun to Newkirk, MacGyver pulled out his own gun – with the blank bullets – and held it towards Hochstetter who was trying to get back on his feet. Hogan, Carter, and LeBeau jumped out of the truck and came to help while Pete stayed with Jack. The struggle between Hochstetter and MacGyver didn't last very long although he put up a very good fight while he had the chance. Before he knew what had hit him, Hochstetter fell to the floor, just as unconscious as Jack. MacGyver looked up and saw Kinch standing in front of him, a smile starting to appear. "I'd always wanted to do that." He laughed. "What now? We can't get the truck out can we?"
"Too deep to get it out by ourselves. We'd need another truck to pull it out for us." Newkirk informed the rest of what MacGyver already knew.
"Okay, we go on foot from here." Hogan sighed and climbed back into the truck to help Pete lift Jack up and out of the truck. Kinch bent down and picked up Hochstetter.
The sun was just setting when they reached stalag 13. Hogan and Carter took Jack and Hochstetter – who was still unconscious, thanks to Kinch – down into the tunnel while the rest of them stayed hidden in the bushes. Ten minutes later the tunnel entrance opened and MacGyver saw Hogan climb out then close the hatch. Once the searchlights had passed he hurried over to where MacGyver, Pete, Kinch and LeBeau sat waiting for them.
"Any trouble with Hochstetter colonel?" Carter asked from behind Pete.
"None" Hogan glanced over at Kinch. "You must have hit him harder than we first thought. He didn't even stir when I dropped him halfway down the ladder."
"Can we go now? Please?" Pete asked the group. It seemed to MacGyver that he was even more anxious than when they first stated out on the rescue mission.
"He's right. We can't stay out here for long." Hogan led the way, doubling back to the edge of the main road just out of sight from the camp. He smirked gesturing for him to go first. "Lead the way Field Marshal."
Jack Dalton lay on a bed which was normally used for escaped POW's who couldn't be sent off straight away. The light in this section of the tunnel wasn't the best but it was enough to see by at the very least. Spare oil lamps had been brought down into the tunnel for extra light. It had been 3 days since they had returned to Stalag13 bringing Jack and Hochstetter into the tunnels below the camp. – Hochstetter was tied to a chair so he couldn't go anywhere if they had to leave him alone for any period of time.
"How's he doing?" MacGyver sat down beside Sgt. Wilson, the POW's medic. "Has he come around?"
Wilson sighed. "He came round a couple times but didn't say anything that I could make out. You mind staying with him. I gotta go check on a couple guys in my barracks."
"No problem." MacGyver took the chair Wilson had been sitting on. Everyone had turned in early for the night while MacGyver volunteered to keep watch over Jack and Hochstetter in the communication room. MacGyver fell asleep within an hour of watching over his old time friend.
"MacGyver?"
"Huh?" MacGyver started as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Andrew Carter was standing over him, calling his name quietly and trying to wake him up. "What's going on?"
"It's almost roll call." Carter glanced over his shoulder at Jack while he spoke. "You'd better get back upstairs before Schultz comes barging in again."
Kinch was waiting for them at the top of the ladder, while LeBeau was standing watch by the door. After they had climbed out of the tunnel, Kinch closed the hatch and sat back down on the bed. Not even a minute later LeBeau hurried away from the door "Schultz is here" He called quietly as he made his way to his bunk and pulled his jacket on.
"Roll call!!! Everybody..." Schultz stopped mid sentence as he saw the men in the room was either already dress or had started to get dressed.
"What's wrong Schultzie?" MacGyver heard Newkirk ask as if the whole thing was just the normal routine.
"Wh- Was is los?"
"Morning Schultz." Hogan appeared from the doorway of his quarters, fully dressed. "Something wrong?"
"You are all dressed. Why are...?" Schultz sounded even more confused than he looked.
"Wait a minute." MacGyver cut off Schultz's confused rambling. "You just said that it was time for roll call right?"
"Ja but but ..."
"Well there's your answer." Carter continued for him, reminding him of the way Pete often did back at the Phoenix Foundation. "You know, for once you're the one holding us up – what'll Klink say about that?" Schultz looked as though he was going to say something but the words just didn't come out so he stepped aside and let the men get outside for the morning roll call.
The constant searches and raids in the local area caused by Hochstetter's disappearance had finally died down enough to get him England where he couldn't do any more damage to the underground or the operation at Stalag 13. Pete and Carter were waiting for the all clear from Kinch so that they could take Hochstetter to the meeting place. They both wore Luftwaffe uniforms while the major wore a civilian suit which Newkirk made from an old blanket that had been replaced by new ones from the Red Cross.
"Well major." Hogan said as he met up with them by the tunnel's exit. "I guess it's time for you to see how we get people like you out of the country and back to England."
"We may need LeBeau's help colonel." Kinch turned to look at Hogan. "Schultz and the dogs are out on patrol again; right by our exit."
"I'll get him." MacGyver headed for the opposite end of the tunnel and back up the ladder into the barracks. He found LeBeau standing by the door keeping watch and making sure no one uninvited was about to storm into the room and discover the entire operation. "Schultz and the dogs are on patrol by the exit."
"Say no more." The little Frenchman grinned. "Newkirk watch the door for me."
Confused by LeBeau's reaction, MacGyver followed him over to the stove where a shallow pot sat with a lid covering the food inside. Taking off the lid, LeBeau showed him the apple strudel he had made earlier that day. "I had a feeling we might need to distract Schultz and there is no better way than with food." They made their way down into the tunnel laughing at the almost certain reaction LeBeau would get from the sergeant and just how easy it would be to get past him.
