I arrived just in time for morning roll call, a little later than the usual dawn roll call. On the way back, I was almost caught, once more, by Gestapo agents and Hochstetter almost shot at me (I can tell he was enthusiastically shooting, but kept missing me in his sheer excitement). I was very tired when I arrived. Schultz was still trying to count our group and figuring out why I was missing. But I had the other men in my barracks confusing him, just so that I can come in undetected.

Newkirk was fooling with Schultz's head. "Oh, come on, Schultzie, there are sixteen of us here and if you're countin' fifteen, then you're countin' wrong. You don't count by ones, you count by…" And so it went until Rob signaled for him to stop as soon as I snuck next to him in formation. Newkirk then stepped back into the line, just as the Kommandant came out for his usual report and Hochstetter rolled in through the Main Gate with a few Gestapo goons in toll in the truck that came with him.

Klink jumped back from his usual spot in front of formation as Hochstetter came out of his car and started yelling. "Klink, what is the meaning of this? You know that the prisoners are guilty in the bombing of the General Hozellenan's home and in the bombing of the rocket base this week! I saw Colonel Hogan outside of camp last night. When I have the evidence, heads will roll!" Klink was babbling again about there never being an escape from Stalag 13 but was led to his office by an angry Hochstetter, almost by the collar. Schultz sighed and just dismissed us, signaling the other barracks dismissed too, and left.

As we scattered among the camp, Rob caught up with me as I, too, walked away from the heat of the arguing. Again, it was just Hochstetter imagining some things. "Anything from London?" he asked.

"No, just a word for a mission well done and many thanks," I said. I wasn't really paying attention to much of anything beyond what Rob had asked, but was more concentrated on the unread letter from Father. I just stared out beyond the wired fence and wondered how Father was right now. What is he doing? What is he thinking about right now? And Nancy…where is she buried? Her body deserves to be home and not in a mass shallow grave somewhere. She deserves that much and the proper respect she wasn't given in the last months of her life.

I wasn't aware that Rob was gone and that Newkirk and LeBeau were leading me back to the barracks. Everything and everyone in the barracks were unusually quiet and the usual buzz from the other prisoners was gone. All I was aware of afterward, in seeing myself in the barracks, was breaking away from the two and heading to Rob's quarters with a thought in my head. I had to get that letter done to Nancy's family. The letter was long overdue and I was the person to tackle the job. My letter from Father can wait. I can read it anytime I wanted to at this point. I had all the time in the world.

~00~

That same evening I emerged for dinner with two letters in my hand. One was for the Allied Headquarters on Nancy's death (my version of the story and they probably have whatever else Rob told them) and the other for her family. Many eyes looked to me as I came out, but not one of them belonged to Rob. Otherwise, as I looked to them, I saw that it was a normal evening for us prisoners, with men reading letters, sleeping or complaining about the food which was just about to be served. I searched for Kinch and found him standing next to LeBeau and Jerkins, who was cooking dinner and was ready to serve it. I grabbed Kinch's attention and asked, "Kinch, could you reply this to London please?" I handed him the brief note and watched his eyes scan its contents. He noted the urgency of the message and nodded his head. There was another thing I had to do though.

I sighed and went to sit back down at a table. I hadn't seen Rob all day, not since roll call, and I didn't wish to see him right at that moment because I wanted to let myself learn trust in what I must do. So, I asked out loud to everyone in the room, "Where is Colonel Hogan?"

Everybody just stopped what they were doing and the complaints for food were silenced. Carter, who popped his head out of his bottom bunk, said, "He's in Colonel Klink's o-office asking about our Red Cross p-packages. They were due last week."

"Good," I answered shaking slightly. "I want you all to hear this letter I was writing. The Colonel can read this later." I heard many groans from many prisoners, who just went back to what they were doing, but at least Rob's crew of four was always there. Kinch moved in closer to table and sat down.

"We're listening, Colonel," Kinch said. Newkirk, who had been one of those who complained about the food earlier, jumped to his bunk and leaned forward. LeBeau and Jerkins were serving dinner to those who wanted it, so they stood in awareness by the table as they were serving. Carter got out of his bunk and sat next to Kinch. Most others ignored me and when back to their activities.

I cleared my throat and started. "This is a letter that I have written to the family of Major Donovan-White's family. They have had no word about her…after her capture by the Germans and only have an M.I.A. notice. I feel, as many others do, that I should break the news to her family about what the Gestapo did. I was the last person to be with her and to know of her demise." I shuddered at the word "demise" and I still do today. But at that moment, and even right now, I could still feel the pain I felt when I lost her and I wanted to get this letter out and done with. Besides, I also didn't want Rob to read this yet, or even be there when I read this out loud because I knew his worry. I still don't know why I did this, but rationalized it with wanting to trust everyone, especially Kinch.

I began to read the letter out loud.

To the family of Major Nancy Donovan-White:

I cannot express the extreme sorrow and pain in telling you of the death of your beloved family member – mother and wife – Major Nancy Sarah Donovan-White. I cannot also convey the courage she has shown in the last moments of her life, to me and to those around her.

I stopped and gazed up. They were still listening, so I continued.

She died graciously in the hands of the Germans on May 4 of this year, a mere few months ago. In my own grief in losing her, I still cannot comprehend why she chose the path that she went down. Her actions have saved me and those around her that she barely knew.

Nancy, my mentor for many years, was a shining light in this bleak war. She has also meant the world to me since I was a child. I am proud to have served and worked with her for the time that was given to me. And it was not just I that was proud to serve with her, but all of those around her. She has proved to me, and many others as well, her strength, determination, courage and duty, as an officer and a gentleman and a human being, to work for those around her. She has also proved to us her part as a humanitarian and healer and her additional duty, as an officer and a gentleman, to serve those around her that she loved or was commanding, in the face of danger. Her last words were that she loved her enemies, no matter what they did to her. She faced them with dignity and grace

I'm sorry to have confirmed the Army's claim that Nancy has gone. My condolences go out to you and your family in these times of troubles. I hope that this war cannot last any longer and that we meet again to talk. I hope that, as you do, we will all come home soon enough.

Sincerely,

Colonel Nikola A. Michalovich
U.S. Army, Stalag 13, Hammelburg, Germany

I finally finished reading the letter and looked up to see the same serious faces around me. I put the letter on the table next to my plate, which LeBeau had put down for me when he was serving dinner to the other prisoners. But at the point, I had tears fill my eyes and then, suddenly, I put my knuckles to my mouth to suppress a sob. I finally let myself go and cried. I had not cried about Nancy in months, and kept my grief so quiet, but then, with the letter out of my way, I let it all go.

I then felt what seemed to be a thousand pair of arms around me.

~00~

It had taken quite a number of days, but I felt myself slowly adjust to prison life and turn back to normal, or close to what was normal for me. I let myself, slowly as first, out of my shelter and talked to the other prisoners of the camp. So far, most had treated me with respect and gave me distance and privacy. Most knew that I was in a horrible place before Stalag 13 and never asked what had happened. Rob said that, someday, when I was ready, I can tell him about my misadventures. I have had too many of them and they will not end anytime soon.

Which reminds me…the picture that Newkirk took from Hozellenan's black bag came back to haunt me. Now everyone in the camp knows of my relationship with Rob except the Krauts (let them speculate), which has never bothered me until now. This is all in thanks to Newkirk, who has graciously passed it around and started this gossip. Most just scowled at me and walked off. They don't care about my life or even the picture. Others inquire, especially for the embarrassing stories. Mostly, it is just Carter and Newkirk asking and teasing us, those devils! Now I wish that it was never found.

My wounds never exactly healed, but since Klink allowed exercise, I, as time went on, went out of the barracks and join in a game of basketball or baseball or whatever the guys were playing. I had also learned, through the help of my friends here, to try to let go of my guilt for the deaths I had learned of. I still feel the hurt each event gave me, even now. In turn, I have made myself available to anyone who needs to talk to me. I am always there to listen, console and offer advice when it's wanted. Plus, being a nurse is an advantage, for they all trusted me when they fell sick. I'm a woman, they miss them and so, there I am. I think Wilson is somehow relieved.

Best of all (to me, at least), Father was safe, Rob was alive and I had the respect of many men in this camp, even Schultz and Klink (Schultz has told me that he often thinks of me as his daughter, which I took to be a compliment, which surprised him), who keep away from me as much as possible, if necessary. It's all I can be thankful for.

Nancy's husband, Stephen White, had received word from High Command about her fortune and the letter I had sent to him earlier. He and his children, who are still living in England, are in extreme sorrow in Nancy's death and have asked (especially the children, who are about a decade younger than I am) that I talk to them in person after the war because a letter cannot say and express the words and pain in her untimely death. Mr. White has also asked that I met him back in Bridgeport, whenever I am back stateside, and take a walk with him. He wants to know everything about his wife's death and I am willing to tell him everything if I could manage it.

More importantly, I had joined the Underground operation here on a permanent basis despite the danger it will be causing me and Rob's operation here. I had no special talents but am always there for anything Rob, the Underground and London throw at me. I had more ideas on destroying the Axis Powers in Europe and was excited about their downfall. Hopefully, this war will be over soon. Already, there are secrets shrouded from us that indicate that he war would be over sooner, if not within a few years' time. We have figured them, somehow – Rob and I speculate all the time – and only help in bringing it to an end and stop the Nazis from their journey to conquer the world.

And so it goes.

~00~

What was so funny about being here is the way I was always eager to accomplish my duties to the Underground and London. I always was aware of the camp more and paid more attention to the bugs around camp, especially the one in Klink's office. Even Schultz has given more than enough information about what goes on around here with the help of some chocolate bars from the Red Cross packages (either that or he "sees nothing, hears nothing and knows nothing"). This has made it easier for me especially when he falls to a sweet person like me or when he falls for a bar of chocolate, which is equally sugary to him.

I even almost went giddy with glee when our next mission against Germany came from London. Kinch took a message from Headquarters in London to photograph and send the next war plans of Germany, which will be displayed at a party in Paris for the top generals. Rob, Kinch and I were to go tomorrow, after convincing Klink to go to Berlin for vacation and getting one of our own to replace him. Our mission is to distract (me), photograph (Rob) and relay (Kinch).

I was ready and willing to go back to where I started, in this game of spying, even if it brings me back more memories. I'm feeling almost as ready and willing to put my past behind me and move on with my life. I have mostly accepted what has happened and am more than happy to save those in Germany's tight hands (anybody away from them makes me happier). Someone is being saved from the clenches of what we call evil. The feelings of depression will always remain, but the feeling of hope will always flutter someplace.

Nancy is dead, but her spirit and courage will always live in me. And someday I will learn that perhaps, even in the toughest years of my life that I'm sure are ahead of me, to acknowledge what they did. I also need to find out more about George and his turncoat actions. Or was it all a mistake?

I went to Rob's quarters to prepare for the mission.

~00~

The Colonel put her pen down and looked out the slightly opened window. The day was going to be long and hot and the dawn's sun was already proving it. Maybe Klink would let roll call be short today, she thought to herself. Maybe we can open the windows to the barracks this time, too. Klink can't be all that inhumane and cruel. I can't be out of uniform – neither can the other men, for that matter – but it helps.

Her companion on the top bunk, Colonel Robert Hogan, had stirred from his sleep and rolled over in the direction of Colonel Michalovich. He looked down and smiled at her. "Been writing your grand speech to Klink about this heat?" he joked. She nodded her head, smiled and tilted her head to laugh. She felt closer to Colonel Hogan and the men in this camp more than before. The trust was there.

Hogan even jumped from his bunk and opened the window some more. He let the small breeze that come through miraculously and let it comb his hair. He grabbed Colonel Michalovich and held her in front of him to the breeze, enjoying another small moment with her. Shortly afterward, within their moments alone, the bell rang for roll call. Both colonels quickly left each others' grasps and went to get dressed, ready to put on another stoic face to their Germans captors.

As she watched Colonel Hogan leave to rouse his men in the next room of the barracks, Colonel Michalovich looked back to her thick account. She took it, suffering thin cuts o her hands, and stuffed it hurriedly in her footlocker. She left the room, confident that the Gestapo will never find her confession. Outside she went, to join the others at roll call.

As the Colonel was walking out the door, she softly sang a song that she and Colonel Hogan had written together when they were in Bridgeport:

Oh, but does she call to me from a feather in the meadow, "Fly to me"
You can dance and sing and walk with me
And dreams will fade and shadows grow in weed
She does as she pleases, she waits there for me
She does as she pleases, her heels rise for me

My love, she talks to winking windows
As she murmurs to her feet, thoughtfully
She separates in laughter to my side, caught for me
She does as she pleases, she waits there for me
She does as she pleases, her heels rise for me

Afterward: Again, I am grateful to those who have created these characters and the musicians who have written these lyrics, for the story will never be the same without them. Also, I want to apologize for those I offended in writing this story, for history is never the same, nor is it as vivid, as those who have witnessed it firsthand. I'm sorry that I have not gotten everything accurate or have invaded a part of history that should remain private. For all those who have read it, thank you! If you enjoyed this, I do have another story being written as we speak. Again, thank you to all who have read this!