LeBeau carefully added cinnamon to his strudel. At the radio, Kinch muttered over loose wires. "Are you all right?" LeBeau asked.

"Fine. Except for my chest."

"Still hurts?"

"Just stings. Whisper knows how to slice, I'll give him that."

LeBeau sighed. "Is she that pretty, Kinch?"

Kinch looked up. "This had nothing to do with Elsa."

LeBeau laughed. "Really? It has everything to do with her. Newkirk would not have been so furious had you two not been with her."

"It's not Newkirk's business."

LeBeau eyed his packmate. "Of course it is. He leads us." Kinch twitched. "I know it bothers you, James."

"It's just-weird."

"That I agree," LeBeau said. "Do you like her?"

"Does it matter? Newkirk hates her."

LeBeau sighed. "I can help, if you like."

"Thanks but no. I can talk to Newkirk by myself."

"Kinch, do you wish to be pack leader?"

Kinch stared at him, smelling of shock. "No. It's bad enough being in charge of the barracks sometimes. I admit it tempts me at time but no. I'll leave that to the Colonel."

"Then bargain with Newkirk." LeBeau looked at Kinch. "Tell him you promise not to challenge him and in return you want to be able to see Elsa."

"What?"

LeBeau smiled. "It is simple. Newkirk worries over you and the Colonel because you and he are the most likely challengers to his leadership. That is why he bit you and why he nipped your chest. So make a deal. You will not challenge him and you see Elsa."

"I won't challenge him anyway."

"He does not know that, mon ami."

Kinch thoughtfully studied the wiring of the radio. "You think he'd go for that?" he finally asked.

"Oui. He would like the chance to worry about one rather than two."

"Why would you help?"

"For l'amour? Of course I will help!"

Kinch laughed then stared at his hands. "Louis, I would rather have Ghost lead," he said suddenly.

LeBeau nodded. "I know."

Kinch looked at him. "You're not upset?"

"Because you have an opinion? Why would that upset me?"

"It's just-Whisper is good but-it's unsettling having two leaders." LeBeau nodded again. "What about you?"

"I understand your point."

"That doesn't say much."

LeBeau sighed. "I will not challenge Whisper. And Pierre has done a very good job. It is hard for me to say I would support someone else. I do not want to see Ghost challenge Whisper. It will not be an easy fight."

"Peter never wanted to lead," Kinch said. "I can't see why he'd care."

"Perhaps because he created us and the pack. There, too, I feel guilty. I believe it would hurt him very much to think his friends would betray him."

"It sure would!" Carter stormed into the alcove.

"Calm down," Kinch said. "No one is doing anything wrong."

"You're talking of betraying Newkirk!"

"We are talking about the pack and who leads," LeBeau said. "There is nothing wrong with that."

"Newkirk leads the wolves. Colonel Hogan leads the unit. What's wrong with that?"

"Because it's not easy," Kinch said. "Look at yourself, Carter. Sometimes, when you get an order, you look at Newkirk as if he needs to agree too. We run along as wolves, Whisper leads, then we change back to men and we have to automatically think Colonel Hogan is in charge. It would be easier if one was in charge. And heck, look at Newkirk and the Colonel. You don't think there's tension? Two leaders of the same group of people. What happens when they disagree?"

"Then they figure it out, Newkirk's not stupid."

"I didn't say he was."

"You just want Colonel Hogan to lead," Carter said angrily.

"I would prefer Ghost, so? It doesn't mean Whisper is bad."

"Well, I like Whisper in charge." Carter glared at Kinch. Both then looked at LeBeau. "Well?"

"I am not saying anything. I can see either as leader. Besides, we are forgetting a point. Why did we become werewolves?"

"He's right," Kinch said.

"I was turned to save my life. You guys changed for France and to help the war effort," Carter said.

"Oui. And so the pack must run smoothly."

"It is," Carter said.

"I know. But James is bringing up some serious points. Ultimately, the decision of pack leader is between Newkirk and Colonel Hogan."

"You mean a fight," Carter said.

"Oui. And that is what worries me."

"Newkirk is your best friend and you want him to fight?"

"Non! I do not want them to fight! And they will. Because Pierre will not simply hand over control and mon Colonel will not be satisfied being ordered for long."

"I still don't get why Peter wants to lead," Kinch said.

Colonel Hogan walked silently beside Newkirk. The Englishman eyed him but said nothing, seemingly content to walk quietly around the camp. "Well?" Newkirk finally asked.

"Hmm?"

"You wanted to talk to me, gov."

Hogan nodded. "Kinch's chest," he said. "Did you do that?"

"Whisper did, yes, to Goliath."

"For God's sake, why?"

"He allowed Elsa and Heinrich to follow him. Don't tell me he didn't know."

"So did Carter."

"Joker apologized," Newkirk said. "Goliath didn't."

"He apologized?"

"Of course. I don't see why you're concerned, gov. It's all done with."

"You disciplined someone," Hogan snapped. "A little beyond your duties, Corporal."

"I disciplined a werewolf, sir. One of my pack."

Hogan bit back his temper. "You hurt him."

"I corrected him. As a wolf does."

"Elsa followed him."

"He led her and Heinrich right to our door." Newkirk's eyes glittered. "I seem to recall when I brought Gretel here, I bloody got punished. And a lot more than a mere cut on the chest."

"Gretel was Gestapo!"

"And Elsa? 'Ow do we know she wouldn't turn us in?"

"It's not the same."

"Begging your pardon, sir, it bloody well is!"

"Elsa is a werewolf."

"So is Lisel but I think you'd be worried if someone brought 'er here and exposed us!"

"He didn't know she was following them."

"He did or he should have known. I found them immediately."

Hogan took a deep breath. He knew Gretel was a sore spot. Newkirk had accepted his punishment and worked his way back into the unit's trust but it obviously still stung. "You're right," he said slowly. "Kinch should have been disciplined. "

"He was."

"We have an issue here, Peter."

Newkirk looked at him calmly. "I lead the werewolves, gov. We'll follow you into hell and do whatever you order but the pack is my responsibility." Hogan twitched. "I know it bothers you, gov, but that's the way it is." Simple. Direct. Absolute.

"Damn. We're werewolves, Newkirk, not wolves and men. I mean, Whisper is not separate from you. We carry over in both forms."

"I know. But the wolves are mine." Hogan frowned. "I warned you, gov, that this wasn't going to be easy. This is part of what I was talking about."

"I know. I'm not blaming anyone."

"If it helps, I try to be fair," Newkirk said. "I was bleedin' angry but I'm over it. I was over it when Goliath backed down."

"God."

"Sorry, gov, just me. Although God is all right as well."

Hogan glanced at his Corporal, stared for a moment, and burst into laughter. Newkirk grinned and the scent from both men eased. "Getting a little delusional, aren't you?" Hogan asked as he calmed down. "All right, we'll figure it out." He dropped an arm over Newkirk's shoulder and they walked towards the barracks.