Part VIII

Wilson cleared his throat.

"I still need to check Carter's eyes. The information they sent along with him is confusing."

The time for being quiet was over, so Hogan spoke up from the door.

"Carter? Would you prefer some privacy while Wilson checks you out?"

Carter squirmed a bit.

"Well - I wouldn't want him to do it in the middle of the barracks or anything, but I'd rather not be alone either, sir."

"Go ahead then, Wilson. What was so confusing about his write-up?"

"They couldn't find anything wrong with his eyes to account for the blindness, but testing showed that he wasn't faking it either. They attributed it to a blow he took to the head. Nothing about whether they thought it was permanent or will clear up on its own."

At those words, it was Carter who has taking hold of Newkirk's arm and holding tight. Newkirk just gave him a light pat.

"No worries, me lad. I'm not goin' anywhere unless you want me to."

All five men waited patiently as Wilson unwound the gauze from Carter's head. As he finished, Carter gave a pained wince. Wilson tossed down the gauze and looked him over.

"Talk to me, Carter. I can see it hurts, but I need to know where it hurts."

"Eyes. The light is too - hey! It is too bright!"

Giving a relieved sigh, Wilson handed Carter a washcloth.

"Here, hold this over your eyes to help block the light. Colonel? We need to either take him somewhere with less light or make it darker in here. He needs time to adjust, but if he can tell light from dark, I have to consider that a positive sign that his vision might be alright."

Rubbing his right palm against his pants, Wilson sighed then extended that hand to Newkirk.

"I understand if you don't accept it, but I'd like to apologize. I'm too used to thinking about you as a troublemaker and I jumped to conclusions. You'd think I'd know better after experiencing Fetherston's antics for myself, but I reacted without thinking."

Newkirk considered for a moment, then took the offered hand.

"I won't deny that I can be a bit o' a pain in th' arse, but 'ow about next time, you just ask? I generally ain't a bit shy about givin' me opinion."

"There's another understatement."

Kinch's dry remark got a laugh out of all of them. Carter wasn't positive what about that was so funny, but his laughter now was like his sobs earlier - a sign of release of built up tensions.

"So - does this mean you aren't in trouble?"

"Don't think so, Andrew. No more'n I usually am at least."

Hogan spoke again.

"He wasn't in trouble before. I was trying to get you some privacy for Wilson to check you over. Not one of my better attempts at my men's welfare since all I did was upset things. Speaking of which, Newkirk's been showing symptoms with his head wound. Nausea."

Ignoring Newkirk's grumbling, Wilson took a look over the head wound.

"The advice to take it easy obviously hasn't been the easiest for you to follow, but try? I think it's just your body telling you to slow it down and give it a chance to mend, but you might want to avoid heavy food for while."

"I will take care of that detail. I have dealt with ses nausées before."

"Ah - you're the reason he's not skin over skeleton any more. I'd wondered."

Looking from the thin Brit to LeBeau to Wilson, Hogan frowned.

"You mean he used to be even thinner than this?"

"I'm downright chubby these days, Guv."

"That's why the Red Cross read Burkhalter the riot act, Colonel. If you couldn't count all his bones, it was just because clothing was in the way."

Considering Kinch's words, the frown got deeper. Hogan was reminded that there was something he'd meant to ask about that he hadn't gotten around to yet. Now seemed to be the time.

"Wilson? You need to do anything else or -"

The Sergeant took the hint and picked up his things as well at the spent gauze. Supplies weren't plentiful and the gauze wasn't bloody, so he planned to boil it then save it against future need.

"Just let me know if either of them show any new symptoms and I'll come back over."

Kinch closed the door after Wilson left, then looked to Carter. Hogan caught that glance and nodded.

"Newkirk? This will be about you, so would your prefer -"

"I don't mind talkin' around Carter, sir. In fact? Carter? Th' Colonel 'ere needs t' 'ear your story as well. You can tell it or if you don't feel up t' it, I could condense it for 'im."

Carter flushed a little and mumbled something the rest of them couldn't make out, but apparently Newkick understood and nodded.

"Right then. What is it you were wanting t' 'ear about, Guv'nor?"

Instead of directing the first question to Newkirk, Hogan looked to LeBeau.

"Once when I asked if you'd be willing to risk Cooler time for Newkirk, you said it would be only fair. What did you mean by that?"

"Pierre confessed to a theft he did not do to keep me from going to the Cooler."

"That the incident that Schultz referred to in Klink's office?"

"That it was, Guv."

"Who did steal the food then?"

"No-one, mon Colonel."

"Possibly Kommandant Lange did."

Hogan had all of their attention with that statement.

"I told you I read the Red Cross report on this Stalag? Well, it made mention in there of a rumor that Lange had been selling food on the black market. Rumors of that is what brought Burkhalter down for that surprise inspection in the first place. Although his intent was to have the Red Cross there to disprove the rumors. Didn't quite work as he planned as we all know."

Hogan took a moment to cover the window and put out the other light to dim the room before settling into a seat himself. He gestured for LeBeau and Kinch to do the same.

"Okay, let's hear your story, Carter."

"If Newkirk's still willing to give you guys a rundown, I'd appreciate that, sir."

"Not a bit o' problem, Andrew. Well, seems our lad 'ere knows 'is way around explosives. 'e an' his officer got into a bit o' an argument about a bomb that was bein' made. Well, 'e ordered Andrew 'ere t' leave him alone an' seems Andrew was right about 'im not gettin' 'is measures right. Since all these men we got in are from Stalag 9, I'd 'ave t' guess that all o' 'em were injured in th' blast 'at went off."

Newkirk gave Carter a light pat.

"Light's dimmer, mate. Give it a try."

There was a slight hesitation as Carter slowly lowered the washcloth. Then a smile broke out.

"Boy - you have no idea how worried I was. Everything's a little blurry, but I think that's just because my eyes are watering."

Then he turned his head and took his first look at Newkirk, who quirked a half-smile at him.

"Disappointed, mate?"

"Gosh no. So - you must be LeBeau - Kinch - Colonel Hogan. Boy, it's nice to actually see you guys. Er - sir."

Carter had started to offer his hand then started to salute only to just give up and let his hand drop. Hogan just chuckled and offered his hand over which Carter took with a sigh of relief. The Colonel then looked to the other three men.

"Next step is up to you guys. In or out?"

"In, mon Colonel. We could use ses capacites."

"In. LeBeau's right."

"Just look at 'im. 'ow could I say no t' those big grey eyes? In."

"I agree - but now it's up to Carter."

Looking completely confused, Carter looked from one man to the next.

"What's up to me, sir?"

"How would you like to be part of the war effort again, Sergeant?"

"Well, gee - I'd like that, but to be honest, sir, I'm a little leery of escape attempts. The last one didn't go so well."

"Not escaping ourselves. Helping other people get out of Germany. And if you really can work with explosives, we might consider stirring up a little mischief here and there as well."

Kinch gave a small smile.

"Are you talking sabotage, Colonel?"

"I am indeed. If Carter's with us - and if you men are willing."

"Colonel Hogan?'

"Yes, Carter?"

"I'm with you, boy! Err, sir."

"Beggin' th' Colonel's pardon, but 'ow are we goin' t' manage that trick while we're still POWs?"

That smile that would have done a snake-oil salesman proud formed on Hogan's face again.

"I'm glad that you asked that."