Chapter 10:

Hochstetter and his men stood there watching Hogan carefully. Ever since standing up and his random burst of diabolical laughing had began, they were observing to see if the American served as any threat to them. They were also concerned as to why the man was no longer crying and screaming for his men.

"Ah, yes! After all these years, I'm free!" Hogan cried victoriously. They was an edge in his voice and still had the same creepy smile on his face. He started laughing again.

"Hogan," Hochstetter said. He took two steps forward, waited a few moments, then made his way closer to his prisoner. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I haven't felt any better in a long time, Major," Hogan said friendly.

"I see." Hochstetter stepped back. He was curious to know what the man was thinking currently. He did not seem upset with the situation at hands. In fact, he seemed joyous about the occasion. It intrigued the Gestapo officer, yet at the same time, it terrified him just as much. "Hogan, what are you thinking of right now?"

"Oh, nothing but my beloved Fuhrer, Herr Major." He answered, grinning.

"That's nice, Hogan. Now…" Hochstetter's mouth dropped from his hinges as soon as he registered what it was the American had just said. The Fuhrer?! Did he just praise over Hitler?! The Americans hated Hitler! He stopped his pacing and turned to look back at his prisoner stunned. "Did you just mention the Fuhrer?"

The American beamed like the sun hearing Hitler's name.

"Not just your Fuhrer, Major...mine as well." Hogan snapped into attention and held his arm out at an angle. "Heil Hitler!" He cried triumphantly.

Now Hochstetter was unsure of what to think. There was his arch enemy, a man that was sneaky, deceptive, under-handing, a man he hated and wanted dead and to suffer, was standing before him now in what he guessed was a glazed over stage of praising the Nazis, the Gestapo, and the man he hated most in this war. He raised an eyebrow, suspicious of his prisoner, and took a step back towards his men.

"Uh huh...I see," said Hochstetter carefully. He did not know whether Hogan was acting or not. He knew the man was gifted in manipulating people and getting them to think what he wanted, but at the same time, he knew that if something ever happened to Hogan's men, the American would be destroyed. He had to see whether what Hogan said was true or not...but how? If he truly had converted sides, Hogan could be a major asset to the Nazis. He knew this supposed 'operation' inside and out, possibly every contact in the underground, he could help the Germans win the war and defeat the Allied Powers in doing so! He could prove Hochstetter had been right all along and as a result, gained one of the strongest and intelligent man of the Allies as an ally for himself. Hochstetter grinned at this revelation and spun back to face Hogan again.

"Alright, Hogan," Hochstetter said. "I'll make you an offer. If you successfully complete your side of it, I will make you an official colonel of the Gestapo. If you fail to do so, I will shoot you on sight the next time I see you."

The man in question crossed his arms and chuckled faintly.

"What do you want me to do, Major?" He asked, intrigued.

Hochstetter thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers, a light bulb turning on in his brain.

"Get me secret military plans for the Allies newest attack they have planned for Germany. You manage to bring me those, I will set you free and make you an official member of the Gestapo."

Hogan smiled with pleasure and smirked.

"Gladly," he said, his eyes filled with callousness.

Newkirk, dressed as an old, ornery Gestapo colonel, and LeBeau dressed as a young captain entered into Headquarters. Both were focused only on getting their colonel out of Hochstetter's hands, setting the score even, and taking their beloved commanding officer home where he belonged.

Making sure no one was in nearby hearing distance, Newkirk pulled LeBeau aside near the door to give a quick debrief of what was about to go down.

"You know the plan, Louis?" He whispered.

"Oui, Pierre. We demand entrance into the holding cells down in the basement, find which cell the filthy bosche are holding mon Colonel, demand him turned over under orders of General Kinchmeyer, humiliate them for disobeying a Gestapo general, and bring Colonel Hogan home." The little Frenchman answered.

"Good...you ready to save our Gov'nor?"

"I thought you would never ask."

Newkirk gave a grin of mischief, and the two of them made their way into the building.

"What is this?!" The Englishman snapped angrily. "What kind of running establishment is this?! I've never seen such destruction and chaos going on in a building!"

"Herr Colonel," a young man said, worried. It was a Gestapo sergeant. "What's a man of your ranking doing out here at this hour?"

"You questioning a colonel, Sergeant?!"

"No, Herr Colonel! I would never do such a thing!"

"Then why are you still talking?!"

"I don't know, Colonel. I was just answering your questions."

"WHY DOES THIS MAN KEEP TALKING?!"

The sergeant shivered under Newkirk's glare and yelling. He was utterly terrified of the man.

"Herr Colonel," LeBeau said softly.

"What is it, Captain? Can't you see I'm busy questioning this man?!" Newkirk remarked, harsh.

It was then Gilbert came running upstairs and made his way quickly towards both of Hogan's men.

"Sergeant, I need to speak with these men in private for a moment." Gilbert ordered.

"Herr Captain, I, I, I was just talking to the…" Newkirk cut off the stuttering sergeant.

"You're dismissed! I've had enough of you!"

"Jawohl, Herr Colonel."

"WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING STANDING THERE?! GET LOST!"

The sergeant nodded rapidly and ran off to other duties.

Gilbert escorted Newkirk and LeBeau over to a corner to speak in private.

"You two need to get out of here! He's gone mad!" Gilbert hissed softly.

"Who's gone mad?" LeBeau asked, curious.

"Papa Bear...he's mad, Corporal LeBeau! Hochstetter's drove him insane!"

"I wanna see for meself, mate," Newkirk said coolly.

"He'll kill you! I know what I've heard, Newkirk! He is not Papa Bear any longer!" Gilbert protested.

"I'd oughta kill you for saying such a wretched thing! He'll always be Papa Bear! Now I wanna see him, now!"

Gilbert pulled out his gun and pointed it at the hot headed Englishman.

"If you care about Papa Bear as much as I know you two do, you'll leave...now!" He ordered.

LeBeau suddenly realized just how severe this situation was. Gilbert never pulled out a gun unless it was in self defense or to protect someone he cared deeply for. Hogan and his men were just a few of those he cared for. The little Frenchman swallowed a sudden knot in his throat.

"What have...what have they done to him, mon ami?" He trembled.

Gilbert lowered his gun and shook his head sadly.

"I don't know...one minute he was screaming out in agony...next minute he was cackling like the Wicked Witch of the West." The Gestapo captain answered meekly.

"Impossible. The Gov'nor would never do such a thing." Newkirk remarked. He was unconvinced still that Hogan had gone mad. His commanding officer was too strong to crack like so...unless he had been pushed to extreme measures...which would mean...it would have to do with something regarding them!

"Leave," Gilbert begged. "If you two are wise, you will leave here."

"What about Colonel Hogan?" LeBeau asked softly.

"Forget him. Our Papa Bear is gone...a demon has come out of him. He is not Papa Bear anymore."

It was then Newkirk started feeling the same bad energy LeBeau was having. Something was wrong...very wrong. He knew Gilbert, and he knew that the man did not mess around. If he said something, it was dead serious. The Englishman swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded shaky.

"Forget him." He croaked.

Gilbert gestured to the door very subtle, then the two of Hogan's men walked outside and down to the staff car they had 'borrowed' from Klink. Once they got there, Newkirk and LeBeau turned to face one another.

"What do you think he meant by 'a demon has come out of him'?" The Brit asked, worried.

"You don't think the Colonel's gone…" LeBeau could not finish that thought. What he assumed was worse than treason. It would kill him if it were true.

"God, I hope not," Newkirk said pleadingly. "If he has, we're finished."

"We're as good as roadkill."

"Come on, mate. Maybe Kinch'll have an idea."

"But...what about Colonel…"

"We can't help him now. If he truly has gone batty, we're gonna need a bigger plan than the one we've got now. Come on."

Newkirk and LeBeau got in the car. They sat there for a minute, then turned to look at the building in front of them. For about four minutes, they sat there and wondered whether or not they should go back in and take Hogan home anyways. Was it true? Had their American colonel been pushed so far that he had snapped and gone mad? Had they lost Hogan completely?

Deciding it was too risky to go back inside and retrieve him, Newkirk sighed sadly, turned the key in the ignition, and headed back for Stalag 13.