Code Name Angel

By

Jennaya

"Colonel, I assure you, I didn't intend on falling in love with him. As far as my mission goes, that's on a need to know basis," Angel was all business tonight.

"I have a need to know. I have to protect my men and this will endanger them," he was adamant about getting the information.

Angel laughed lightly shaking her head at the irony, "Colonel, my job was to protect a highly valued asset of the Allied High Command."

"What asset do you mean?" Hogan thought he knew who she was going to say, Nimrod.

She looked at him for a moment deciding how much to tell him, and concluded he'd only accept almost all of it, "You and your men, Colonel. My mission was to find a way into Gestapo headquarters to retrieve and destroy all information related to your unit, also to dissuade or handle any persons with intimate knowledge of your activities. Hochstetter was my way in, whom better to allow me access?"

Hogan wasn't sure he wanted to believe her; she was an agent and an assassin. He'd never met a female in that line of work. It took him a moment to respond, but it still didn't match up with what the General had told him. "Why didn't London inform me you were here?"

"They didn't want you to know in case either of us was captured," Angel tried to keep her explanation as simple as possible.

"London gave me a different version; said that Nimrod asked for you to be dropped in," he was determined to get to the truth.

Angel nodded her head, "Yes, he did. Do you remember when he brought you the plans for the new Messerschmitt plane? After his visit here, he convinced the High Command that I would make an excellent guardian angel for you. I have been that person for months now. Don't be angry with them, they were only trying to protect you and your organization. And before you ask, I won't tell you who he is. That's for his protection as well as yours."

"I don't like it, but I understand the reasoning. I'll curb my curiosity for now," he gave her one of his lopsided grins. "The paintings you gave us to take out of the hotel room, you said they contained plans and maps. I couldn't find any in them, care to explain?"

"The information is painted on the canvas, and the top paint has to be removed using a delicate chemical process. I used the rouse of being an artist sketching to be able to move into places that wouldn't normally be allowed to civilians. It also allowed me to be out in public observing movements without fear of harassment from the Gestapo."

"What about the ones you have in your bag? Why didn't you want me to see them?" Hogan cocked his head sideways, indicating the backpack she had brought with her.

Angel picked it up and pulled out three paintings; two were of Wolfgang and one of them together. "These have no military information and would have tipped you off. I'd hoped to keep the truth from you."

"And when Hochstetter found out about the bombings while he was here that blew your plans. I knew something was up and I was damn suspicious. In Düsseldorf, you said you had things to do, but never left your hotel room. What changed your plans?"

"I did run my errands. I found a place where I could observe and sketch. I was counting the number of Gestapo Generals in town to see who we had a chance to destroy."

"Newkirk and Carter said you never left your hotel room." Hogan had gut feeling she had left, his men were good but she was better.

"They did they're best, but I managed to get by them. It wasn't easy, but I couldn't have them following me for their own protection. I didn't want my Gestapo detail to think they were underground or detain them."

"So the reason that the underground had to appear not to be involved in your death, was so Hochstetter wouldn't take it out on any members he captured?" Everything was beginning to make sense to Hogan now.

"Yes it was. I wanted to minimize the danger my death would put on the underground and you. So now you know my secrets Colonel."

"Thank you for explaining, I need to get back upstairs now. Is there anything you need?" Hogan felt better with some the pieces filled in, but wasn't naïve enough to believe he knew all her secrets.

"No, I have everything I need. I hope you sleep well Colonel." Angel said goodnight as Hogan left. She thought after he left, Colonel, please don't give your new guardian angel the trouble we've had. She's a good agent and will protect you well. I've given her all my information and contacts, but you never make it easy on any of us. You wore my predecessor out in less than six months. How many more angels will you have before this forsaken war is over? Hopefully, it will be over before MI5 runs out of agents to send over here to protect you and your men.

Hogan went back upstairs and said goodnight to his men, trying not to show his concern. They were still playing cards when he closed his door. He paced around his room. Hochstetter was definitely going to be more troublesome after losing Lisal. They'd have to tread lightly for a while, and he wondered how long before Hochstetter was back to finish the conversation they were having earlier. The bombers had destroyed the Düsseldorf Gestapo headquarters, but it was late at night around nine pm. So how many people could have been at work that were killed? Could someone still be alive that might be able to tell Hochstetter that Hogan and his men were never there? Granted, with Himmler in the area, the top brass would be either at the hotel or in their offices. Himmler wasn't a man they'd want to upset by going home early, and that hotel did house most of the men who worked in Düsseldorf if any had gone to their rooms. He'd have to find out what he could on any survivors through the local underground. He stuck his head out the door, "Kinch, I need you to contact the Düsseldorf underground, and get the status on any Gestapo who weren't killed in the bombing raid. I need it as quickly as they can get it to us."

"Yes sir," Kinch responded and went down into the tunnel to make the call.

Hogan closed his door, and continuing to pace his office. He still didn't know how he felt about Angel and Hochstetter being a couple. Personally he thought it was repulsive, but Carter was right, she wasn't marrying the man. He never gave it a second thought about Frau Von Schneider's marriage to the General, although he suspected she had feelings for the man even if she denied them. Wasn't Angel going home more honorable? But Frau Von Schneider did what she had to do to keep sending intelligence to London, and there was nothing wrong with that. Was Angel running away and not helping her country? No, he didn't believe that for a moment. He saw how hard she worked to make sure the people in attendance in that meeting were destroyed, and his team was safe from the Düsseldorf Gestapo. Hochstetter couldn't verify or disprove where they'd been. She did get him to go on a wild goose chase out to that bridge which allowed him to get out camp. Hogan was sure there were other reasons for that action, but he'd never know them while he was in Germany. Angel was a good agent and person, who had been assigned as his team's guardian angel. Did that mean there were others before her, or another one in place? He knew he'd never know for sure, she wouldn't tell him and London didn't want him to know about her so they'd never confirm it. What he did know is that she put everything into protecting his team, and he'd never forget it. He and his men owed her a huge debt of gratitude.