Resistance

Disclaimer: Colonel Hogan was unharmed during the commission of this chapter. To ensure his safety during some of the scenes, the author employed a stunt double. However, Hogan fans might wish to skip this chapter as Hogan's code name may cease to be 'Papa Bear' and change forever to 'Butt Monkey'. Management assumes no responsibility for any resulting angst.

Gertrude stood on the bridge overlooking the Danube near the town of Ingolstadt. She watched as the river floated the fallen leaves downstream and wished it would carry her away. This was a time when the Earth rested after the spectacular show she had put on during the spring and summer. As a child, she loved this time of year, the expectation of change, the promise of renewal. This air had a special smell to it. She inhaled its aroma as a faint smile played across her lips. She glanced down at Drei, whose nails click-clacked on the wooden bridge as he chased and snapped at some flying insect that had caught his attention. It eased her spirit a little to know the dog was dealing with the loss of its master. She would be greatly distressed to know she had failed her mother in the care of her beloved pet.

When the first wheel of the bicycle crossed over onto the bridge, she felt the ripple in the wood before she heard the sound of the cyclist as he made his way towards her. She looked over her shoulder and saw an old man on what appeared to be a Genial-Lucifer of undeterminable age. He smiled as her as he neared, stopping a few feet away. Drei stopped his play and greeted the man with a tail wag that wagged the little dog's entire body. He leaned down and gave the dog a little scratch behind the ear, before straighting up and addressing the woman before him.

"Good morning Fräulein," the elderly man said as he tipped his hat.

"It has been a long time since I was a Fräulein, mein Herr" she replied good-naturedly.

"You couldn't tell it by me."

"Ack, you are such a flirt Odie. You need to find yourself a nice Fräulein, one closer to your own age."

"Ah, but then I would be deprived of your company," he said as he propped the aged cycle against the wooden railing.

Gertrude gave him a friendly rap on his chest. "Rapscallion!"

A chuckle echoed from deep in his throat. Placing his arms on the railing, he looked out over the water. "Why so far from home M'lady?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she replied.

"Trying to set up a new cell nearby. You?"

"Albert had a meeting in town regarding a mobile rocket factory they are trying to hide from the Allies," she said as she pushed back an errant lock of hair, freed by a gentle gust of wind.

"And your brother just happened to let you know about it? I thought you said he was suspicious."

"He is and no he did not just let me know. In fact, the information came from our agent in Hanover, Hummel. Unfortunately, while obtaining the information he tipped his hand and now the Gestapo is looking for him. Will we be able to get him out though our usual channels?"

"I am afraid not," the erstwhile actor replied. "We lost the safe house in Hamburg. The Eickes were able to escape before the door was figuratively, kicked in. Without that needed link, any hope of getting anyone out of the country is next to impossible." Odie paused a moment in thought and then turned to Gertrude, "Of course Papa Bear might be able to smuggle him out."

"Papa Bear….When were you going to tell me he was Colonel Hogan?"

"When you asked me. You know as well as I do the less known; the better."

"I cannot believe Colonel Thornley did not tell me about his operation."

"Let me tell you a secret about operations such as ours. As civilians, we fall under the SOE. Colonel Hogan operation, on the other hand, is a military one. Often one hand does not know what the other is doing."

"Jurisdiction issues?"

"Exactly."

"Does he know about me?"

"Not to my knowledge. As far as he is concerned, you are just General Burkhalter's sister."

"Good, I can use that to my advantage," replied Gertrude.

Odie raised one inquisitive eyebrow and waited for her to continue.

"I think I can get our agent out of the country and teach Hogan a lesson about a woman scorned."

Odie frowned at Gertrude. "Colonel Hogan is a good man. I know he has not exactly treated you as he should but he did not let any real harm happen to you."

"And I do not plan to let anything happen to him. I just want him to know what it feels like to be a puppet dancing to someone else's tune."

Her friend leaned closer to her. "What is this really about? It's not like you to be petty or spiteful."

"I am tired of being the butt of the joke. Whenever he wants a distraction, he launches me at Klink. And Klink…."

"What happened?" the younger man whispered with concern for his dear friend.

"Apparently not only am I the homeliest woman in the Third Reich but my personality left a lot to be desired," Gertrude said, twisting her handkerchief in her hands. "Klink said he would rather have someone weak and stupid than be with someone like me. I know Hogan put him up to it."

"Why do you care? It is not like you see him as husband material, or do you?"

"Of course not," Gertrude said, sighing in frustration. "It is just that….I do not know…for some reason it is different when he says it. Not like Bussey or the other fool my brother tried to get me to marry. They can say whatever they want and it does not faze me in the least. For some ungodly reason, it matters with Klink."

"I think I know why."

"Why? And if you say it is because I am in love with Klink, I swear I will push you off this bridge myself."

"No," he chuckled. "You are just starting to accept Otto's death."

"Believe me Odie, I know my husband is dead and not coming back to me."

"You know it here," he said gently touching her forehead with his index finger. "But you are just starting to accept it here," he said as he touched the spot over her heart.

"And you think Klink means something to me?"

"I think he represents future possibilities. There is something in his character you like, something you are connecting with."

"Thank you Sigmund Freud," she said without any real rancor. "But I think we need to get back to getting Hummel out of the country."

"Ok," Odie said as he turned back to the railing and looked out over the river. "How are you going to get Papa Bear work for you?"

"You look nice in that outfit Odie. What is the identity what goes with it?"

"I am Herr Professor Walter Riefenstahl, retired," Odie said as he turned to her, removed his Homburg and bowed slightly.

Smiling, Gertrude fingered the brightly painted geometric patterns on his hand-painted silk tie. "Would you like to go to a wedding with me Herr Professor?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Do we have two male agents that Papa Bear and his men have never met?"

"There is Gustav and Klimt, not their real names of course."

"Good. Can we get two Gestapo Carnes and warrant discs?"

"Difficult but not impossible."

"I will send a message to my handler saying we have an agent who has information concerning the rocket factory and will only give the information to Papa Bear. Do not worry," Gertrude said, forestalling Odie's objections. "I will come up with a plausible excuse. Papa Bear will find him in the possession of the Gestapo and next thing we know, Hummel is in London."

"And if something should go wrong?"

"That's the best part. We will have all this set up at the Hauserhof Hotel where my niece, Freida, is getting married. If anything unforeseen happens, we will be there to do damage control."

"So you want me to come as a wedding guest?"

"I was hoping you would escort me to the wedding. I was thinking at your age Albert will not try and be a matchmaker and I can enjoy the evening in peace."

"I'd be honored," Odie said, smiling broadly.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Gertrude stood in the hotel vestibule and watched as Schultz, Hogan and two other prisoners filed into the lobby. Many of the hotel's guests stopped to look at the sight the four men presented. Schultz looked, as usual, nervous and flustered. Hogan, on the other hand, was cool and collected as he had just as much a right to be there as any of the Teutonic people standing there gaping at him. She had to hand it to Hogan; he had an amazing amount of moxie. If their circumstances were different, she doubted she had the stamina to pull off his cool, detached look.

She looked at the other two men. The taller man wore the blue of the RAF. The Corporal had green eyes that seemed to compliment his cat like movements. She noted how they were continuously scanning his surroundings; noting the exits and alert for any unseen danger. He was carrying an armful of fabrics and sewing implements, while loudly complaining to the smaller man about having to do all the work. He did not fool Gertrude. Under the constant complaining, she could hear the tone of immense regard he had for the diminutive prisoner.

Her gaze traveled to the little French Corporal. So much kinetic energy, almost if he was afraid if he stood still for too long people would forget he existed. He looked at the people in the lobby like a feral animal ready to launch a fatal attack, only to be restrained by the gentle tether of his loyalty to his Colonel.

She watched as they got on the elevator to go up to Fredia's room. Gertrude shook her head at the preposterousness of the scheme. How Hogan was able to convince her brother that one of his men was Yvette of Paris was beyond her. She had actually met the real Yvette on one of her visits to Gregor years ago. She could swear without a doubt, the little Frenchman was not Yvette. So this is what it is like to be Hogan, she thought to herself. I like it.

Ten minutes after their ride up the elevator, the foursome came back down. Hogan wore a look of castigation on his face. She turned and hurried up the steps to talk to her agents. Gustav could barely contain his mirth as he told her about his handcuffing Hogan. She thanked the both men for their assistance and reminded them to be back on Saturday for the wedding. Something in her bones told her that was when Hogan would try again.

HHHHHHH

The wedding went off without any problems. The poor Count looked shell shocked as he repeated his vows. She did not approve of Albert's, as the Americans put it, shot gun wedding but Frieda looked so happy. Gertrude only hoped the happiness would remain long after the vows were just a fond memory. She enjoyed dancing with Odie. He was light on his feet and his company, without the pressure of marriage, was delightful. She thought the evening could not get any better when Albert had to ruin it by presenting a Luftwaffe Officer to her with the direct implication that she was to get to know him better. Odie's face took on a grim look as he observed the slimy Major Karp try to slither into Gertrude's good graces. As for Gertrude, she could not stand the man's touch. There was not a genuine bone in his body. She soon found herself fleeing and requesting Klink to dance with her just to get some relief from his presence.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Major trying to work up the nerve to cut in on her and Klink. Fortunately, for her, the air raid alarm sounded and she was able to slip away from him in the confusion. Finding Odie she said, "Colonel Hogan?"

"I think so," he replied above the wailing sirens.

It seemed like forever before order was restore but in fact, it had only been a few minutes. When the lights were restored, she looked around but did not see the Major and sighed a breath of relief. Moments later Frieda came down and joined the Count as they left together on their honeymoon.

"Your niece seems to have grown several inches," mused Odie.

"Yes she has. I cannot believe no one has noticed. I guess people see what they expect to see."

"I suppose so. Look there is Colonel Hogan."

"Looking entirely too pleased with himself," replied Gertrude. "I guess Hummel is on his way to London." She looked across the room and saw the two 'Gestapo' men. Gustav smiled and tipped his hat, the prearranged signal that everything went as planned.

She smiled up at Odie and took his arm, "Care to drive your date home? We both have a big day tomorrow.

Odie smiled down at her and replied, "It would be my immense pleasure to see you home, lovely lady."

Next: Kommadant Gertrude

A/n:

Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Thornley was the head of SOE operations in Germany until after D-day.

Homburg was a wide brimmed hat that was popular in Germany at this time.

The events depicted in this chapter are from Gowns by Yvette.