Chapter 25: Hogan's Return
A/N: Caution, minor swearing.
It felt good to be back in his old uniform again. He removed all bandages and signs he had been treated for his injuries. Somehow he was also going to have to manage without Klink discovering all his injuries. Didn't want some wise guy in Berlin to somehow make a connection between his injuries and the lieutenant's he was impersonating when he reads the reports. No matter how slim the chance, the way his luck was going, he wasn't going to take any chances.
Kinch handed Hogan two pain pills. "The directions say one and I didn't get them for me, I got them for others…" Hogan was cut off.
"You look like you could use it. Besides, what you're proposing is going to put you in more pain, not to mention you have to act extremely sick. We're not leaving until you take them," said Kinch.
Hogan was in pain and he feared the pain he would be in trying to walk without the cane the doctor gave him. Kinch was right though and he had to trust his men in this circumstance. Reluctantly, he took the two pills.
The men smiled at him. "See you back at camp, Sir." Kinch motioned for the others to move out.
HH
The pain pills were doing some number on him. He felt oddly detached from his body as he only felt his body moving around, but that was all. He couldn't feel anything except the nausea and dizziness. Must have given me the good stuff. How nice of them.
He was thankful the men laid him on his good side, however when your hands and feet are tied, there really isn't a comfortable position and no way to keep yourself from bouncing around every time Oscar hit a bump in the road. After what seemed to be forever and a thousand bumps in the road later, he felt the truck stop and heard Schnitzer talking. Must be at the gate.
Sounds faded in and out. The darkness in the back of the truck seemed to spin. Suddenly, bright light intruded the dark truck as the spotlights shown on it and the doors were opened.
"You have been a naughty boy, Colonel Hogan," said Schultz as he untied Hogan's legs and hands.
"Good job, Herr Schnitzer. I will be sure to include your name as well as the names of the others in my report to Berlin." Klink stood toe to toe with Hogan, who was having a hard time standing up or keeping his eyes focused. "Take him to the infirmary and stand guard. Then once Hogan is cleared, he's to be escorted to the cooler to start his punishment of thirty days for the escape attempt. Hogan, when are you going to learn no one ever escapes from Stalag 13?"
"Never." With that final word, Hogan's eyes rolled back as he collapsed in Schultz arms.
HH
Hogan came too the following afternoon. He was met with the grinning faces of his men. He smiled at them weakly and closed his eyes again.
"How is the patient this afternoon?" asked Wilson as he motioned to them they were dismissed.
"Sore and tired," replied Hogan in a tired voice. "So are the Kraut doctors right and I'm going to live?"
"Looks that way…At least until you pull another stupid stunt like that. What were you thinking?" scolded Wilson.
"I was only thinking about my men and would have gladly done it again to protect them." Hogan sighed as he tried to get more comfortable. "What have you told Klink?"
"Nothing so far. I told him I had to wait until you were conscious before I can complete my evaluation. I wasn't sure what all you wanted me to tell him," said Wilson.
"Only mention the concussion, scrapes, bruises and leg. I want to keep my arm and ribs quiet," said Hogan.
"As you wish as long as you take it easy for a while and give yourself time to heal completely. I recommend though your ribs stay wrapped until they heal. It will make it easier for you to hide the pain. You need to be careful with your arm; keep it as still as possible. I think you might have a fracture. I don't believe it's broken, but it will give you some trouble for a while," said Wilson as he stared at Hogan. "Take these aspirin; they'll help some. I understand you have stronger pain medicine, but knowing you like I do, I know you won't take them unless necessary. Just know if you find yourself needing them, don't be afraid to take them."
"Keep them for emergencies. The aspirin will be fine for now." Hogan swallowed the aspirin. "Seeing as I have a thirty day stint in the cooler coming up, I should get plenty of rest. Now go make your report so I can get some sleep." Hogan had drifted off before Wilson left his bedside.
HH
Wilson cleared Hogan a few days later to start his stint in the cooler. The excuse he told Klink as to what happened was Hogan's fever spiked, causing him to be delirious and not in his right mind, then the fever broke signaling the worst was over and he was no longer contagious. The only injuries mentioned to Klink were what Hogan said could be mentioned.
During the week he spent in the cooler; Papa Bear did a few small jobs. Hogan was nervous about sending the others out without him, but having him being locked in the cooler gave him a good alibi incase Hochstetter wanted to nose around.
Not once did Klink come to see him so he could try to talk his way out of the other three weeks. As a matter of fact, the only time he saw his men is when they snuck in to see him. Hogan was thankful he didn't have a guard standing watch constantly, but one who only made rounds every so often to check on him. The guards Klink chose were not the worst ones at camp, but they weren't Schultz either. Was this Klink's way of reminding him he was in fact a prisoner and not the commander of the camp and things could be a lot worse if foolish stunts like this continued?
Hogan remembered the conversation he had with Klink not to long ago. Hanging his head, Hogan understood Klink's strange behavior. As long as he takes his anger out on me, that's fine. I deserve it. But so help him if he takes it out on my men.
The outside door opening got Hogan's attention. To his dismay, he saw Hochstetter walking down the hall with Klink. "I told you, Major, Hogan's been here the entire time and couldn't have done whatever it is you think he's done. I have a guard check on him every half hour for the last two weeks to make sure he hasn't gone anywhere and he hasn't been in contact with any of his men."
Was Hogan mistaking or did he see shock in Hochstetter's face. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be dead."
Something else odd; the way Hochstetter said that, it wasn't in his usually bully way or not in the 'How could I've been wrong about Hogan being Goldilocks' type of way. It was the same way Schnitzer said it; almost with relief. It must be the concussion.
"So you say he's been locked up for an escape attempt that occurred over two weeks ago after suffering some side effects from a fever spike?" asked Hochstetter. "And your report to Berlin reflects the same story."
"Yes, Major. He had been quarantined to his room for a couple days prior to the escape attempt because he was contagious. He was checked on regularly by my guards who will verify he was in there as well," said Klink.
"You are lucky it was the locals who caught you Hogan and not me. If it would have been me, you wouldn't be sitting here now," growled Hochstetter. "You are also lucky Klink has the paperwork in place to back up his story or I would be able to challenge this whole tale and arrest you on suspicion of sabotage. I supposed you've heard Goldilocks was killed while committing an act of sabotage. I guess since he's dead and you're not, that must mean you really weren't him. However, you still could be an accomplice of his and I intend to prove it."
Hogan remained silent. His head still hurt too bad to argue with Hochstetter.
"Nothing to say Hogan? Maybe I should have had the locals beat you some time ago," said Hochstetter.
"What is there to say, Major? Goldilocks didn't die in vein. He still succeeded in taking out the plant. You can come up with all the theories you want. The more you focus your attention on me, the more the real saboteurs can get away with. On behalf of the Allies, I thank you for helping us win the war," said Hogan
Hochstetter slammed his hand against the bars of Hogan's cell. With a huff, Hochstetter stormed out. Klink turned to Hogan, who put on his most innocent looking face. "Drop the innocent act, Hogan. We both know he's right and we both know there is nothing innocent about you."
"Why did you lie to protect me?" asked Hogan flatly. Did I just say that thought out loud?
"In my haste to catch up on my weekly reports to Berlin that I was behind on, I must have made a mistake in filling it out . Maybe I looked at the wrong date on the calendar or something. If I admitted I made a mistake, Hochstetter would assume I'm trying to cover for you and there's a chance we could be arrested or I could be transferred to the front for incompetency." Klink paused to regain his composure and to change the subject. "How's your injuries doing?"
"Have a constant killer headache, but other than that, okay," said Hogan, choosing to not mention how sore he still was.
"Remember what happened to the last Senior POW Officer and Kommandant?" Hogan nodded. Now he knew why Klink lied. "I don't want that to happen to me. Don't ever think about escaping again. So help me Hogan, if you do, I will make you regret it…If we live long enough. You're to return to your barracks to finish your sentence as barracks confinement." Klink marched out of the cooler before Hogan could say anything.
Schultz came down the hall and unlocked the door. "You made him very angry and you almost got him into trouble. Shame on you. Please be good and don't cause any more trouble."
"I won't." I'm going to have to be more careful. Almost blew it this time. Hogan carefully put his bad hand in his pocket as he limped to Barracks 2. Standing in the compound, he glanced around. He didn't think he'd ever see this place again.
Over the last week, he thought about what went wrong with the last mission; he got too cocky and thought he was invincible. It was a good thing a dose of cold water was dumped on him to bring him back to reality. There were so many ways the mission could have gone more wrong.
It was sad to think Goldilocks was gone. It had been a lucky name for him. His plane, Goldilocks, saved his butt more times than he could count and she always got him home safe, even risking her life to do so. Now her legacy was gone as well.
Papa Bear wasn't that bad of a code name. In some ways, it suited him better.
HH
Kewpie was relieved to discover Robert Hogan was alive and couldn't wait to inform London. It seemed a bit odd to have the death of Goldilocks, but not see a report stating Hogan was dead. The only conclusion he could come up with is the body that was identified as Goldilocks was that of the guard who had captured him…thought he had captured him. It was also a bit of information he'd share with no one.
Pausing as he picked up the radio, Kewpie realized he couldn't just tell London the news about Hogan over the radio. The last thing Hogan needed was for the Nazis to find out.
I've got some time saved up; now might be a good time to take a vacation. I doubt my superiors would understand why I need to go to London so I'll tell them I'm going camping in the Black Forest to rest.
HH
Klink sat at his desk, staring out his window toward Barracks 2. He noticed how badly Hogan was still limping. It would take time, but eventually his wounds would heal. From some of the reports he's heard about what happened to some of the other escaping POW's who were caught by the locals, Hogan got off lucky…If indeed that is what really happened. One thing Klink has learned since taking over command of Stalag 13; nothing is what it appears, but trying to discover the truth could be hazardous to his health. Too many people who got too nosy seemed to almost always reach an untimely death or they just disappeared. Klink wanted to avoid that all together and learned it was much easier to go along with whatever excuse Hogan came up with to keep him out of trouble.
Since Hogan's arrival, Klink has gotten the chance to get to know Hogan. He's learned how to tell when Hogan was lying and when he's telling the truth. It was evident in Hogan's eyes, he was in a lot of pain still, but at the same time, he could tell he was also hiding something. Other injuries…perhaps. The truth…diffidently.
Why did you lie to protect me? Klink thought about the short question Hogan asked him. He gave Hogan an answer to just shut him up. Even though Burkhalter assured him he wouldn't be out and out executed, he did promise a transfer. Wonder if I could request my old combat assignment back to fly over England?
But that didn't answer the question as to why I really did it. Klink thought about how he despised all Americans because of the way they treated him while he was their prisoner. On top of that, Hogan treated him with blatant disrespect. Okay, so maybe he was supposed to since they were enemies, but he should still respect the rank. Not to mention he takes Klink for an incompetent fool. Well this incompetent fool just saved your ass you ungrateful bastard. Would it kill you to show a little gratitude or respect?
Klink sighed. So why did he save Hogan's life and risk his own by lying? The bottom line is he really didn't know why. Maybe it was because Hogan is the only man in camp of equal rank and the only officer he could force to sit and listen to his problems and if he refused, he could have him shot.
Or maybe, it's because he desired to have a friend and part of him deep down wanted to be accepted and would do anything for both. Only time will reveal the truth behind Klink's motives.
The End
A/N: The story continues on in Broken, Brainwashed, Reliving the Past and coming later this year, Guardian Angel. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed.