June 1964
Paris, France
"But, Louis, you can't be serious! You cannot be involved in anything like this. I understand they're your friends, but this could ruin you."
Louis LeBeau turned from where he had been gazing out the window watching the evening traffic to stare at his friend and long-time political advisor, the telegram still in his hand. "Michel, this from you, who know me so well? These men are like brothers to me. You were not there. You cannot understand. They are in trouble. And I will not fail them, no matter the cost. Understand that. If you do not wish to be involved, so be it. I am going to help them. Walk away if you must," Passion vibrated from his every pore. "but whatever you do, Michel, do not try to stop me."
And LeBeau walked to his desk and punched a button. His secretary's voice came over the intercom. "Oui, monsieur?"
"Giselle, come in here please. I know it is late, but I need to send some urgent messages. I also need to have you make some immediate arrangements. I need you to charter a hospital ship for me…an ocean liner preferably. I will also need helicopters. A fleet of them. Armed helicopters. I will give you all the details. Merci." He broke the connection in the middle of Giselle's startled gasp and turned back to face Michel, who stood staring at him.
"Louis, you are the Mayor for God's sake! Of Paris! Not like before…not just a little province full of vineyards! Paris! You have political enemies. If you mix into Southeast Asian politics right now, they will crucify you. This could destroy everything we have worked for."
Louis stood staring at Michel impassively. He was silent for a moment. "In. Or. Out?"
~HH~
It took a bit of doing, but after Pete and Andy Carter had finally discovered what had happened to their father, they had both gotten leave from their respective academies. It helped that their father's boss was a general, and a bona fide war hero, and that their own father was no slouch himself. A trunk call to Jamie Newkirk in London found the three boys all bound for Paris a few days later. They were going to meet with another of their best friends, Yvette LeBeau. Perhaps if they all put their heads together, they could help bring Andrew Carter home.
Thus it was, that when Louis returned home on the evening his political advisor had walked out on him, he discovered eighteen-year old Yvette had received three visitors in his absence. The young people were currently installed in the courtyard, lounging in chairs and enjoying a bottle of his finest vintage. His daughter always had known how to impress. The boys stood immediately, nearly dropping their glasses in their haste. Louis nearly chuckled. God help him, she looks like her mother…Had he ever been that young? No, he realized sadly. Probably not.
"Good evening, gentlemen. It is good to see you again. I assume you are not here strictly to sample my wine? What have your fathers been up to lately?"
~HH~
Haneda Airport, Tokyo
Hogan herded both Newkirk and Tiger over to the center of the hangar. He stood, keeping an eye on the chopper while the Brit lowered himself onto the edge of one of the chairs, and Tiger sank onto the sofa. Hogan stood in front of the two of them, with his arms crossed. He looked at each of them in turn.
"Okay, I have no clue what is going on between you two. But, I want the air cleared. We are going on an extremely dangerous mission and we have to be able to rely on each other 100%. Right now, I don't know that I can trust either one of you to look out for each other. Me, yes, each other, no. Whatever is eating you, let's get it out in the open. Before we get in the air." He looked at his watch. "That means you have about two minutes to start talking."
It took him less than ten seconds to realize that was not going to work. "Okay then. We'll do it this way. Marie, what is going on?"
"Ask him! All I did was ask him at the bar to tell me a little about you and he acted like a jerk! And he's been horrid ever since!"
He turned to Peter, who had patly ignored several posted "No Smoking" signs and was nearly halfway through another cigarette. "Well?"
"Yeah, she asked. An' I told her. See, I had got to thinkin'. I knew she was gonna want to pick up right where the two of you left off. An' I know you, Rob. You wear your heart on your sleeve. You allus have. An' I was there when you thought she was dead. I was the one pulled you through it…" Peter stood suddenly and began pacing. He whirled on Hogan, and was suddenly right in his face. His voice was low, and somehow nearly dangerous, and yet, almost broken. "I…was…there. I saw what it did to you. Do you think I don't know why you chose Marilyn?"
Suddenly Hogan was the one in Newkirk's face. "Shut up, Peter! I loved her!"
And Peter suddenly backed down. "I know, guv. I know you did." His face was full of pain, and grief. "But you can't deny that you chose Marilyn because she looked exactly like Marie." He turned and looked directly at Tiger for the first time in hours. "And beggin' your pardon, Tiger, but I cannot go through it again. I cannot watch you hurt 'im again. I wanted to drive you away. Because, God forgive me, I would rather he be alone, then hurt like you hurt 'im before." And with that, Peter Newkirk strode to the chopper, and continued his flight check.
~HH~
Camp 208, North Vietnam
Troop carrier. Tank at the very least. Possibly both. Whatever had run over him, Andrew Carter really wished it hadn't. He sighed and turned painfully onto his side. He was getting way too old for this. Note to self: The next time you see the colonel, ask for a raise.
He rolled to his feet. "Okay, fellas, we've got a lot to do today."
Anton was at his side almost immediately. "Mornin' boss. You look like you tangled with a lawnmower and lost. You okay?"
Carter "I'm fine. Did Duffy get the special tea into the commandant's office last night?"
Anton nodded. "Fields sent him in with it. Mission went off without a hitch. He was only in there for about five minutes. He was able to replace the contents of the whole tin."
"Good. Maybe we should take the good tea to Taffy. He could probably use it."
"What do you think will happen to Taffy and the orphans after we escape? The Viet Cong have left them alone for a long time. I'll bet they'll think they had something to do with all this."
Andrew ran his hand through his hair. "I'm an idiot! Of course, they will. They'll execute Taffy and conscript all those boys into the Viet Cong army, unless they decide to kill them outright." He shrugged. "Somehow, we'll just have to take them with us."
"Take them with us? Major, has it escaped your notice that we don't even know how we're getting out of here?"
Andrew sighed. "Anton, would it surprise you if I told you that this whole thing is shaping up an awful lot like one of Colonel Hogan's plans?"
~TBC~
A/N: You didn't think I was going to leave LeBeau out of the fun, now, did you? And if there is anything about his plan that stretches credibility, just attribute it to a bit of creative license on my part…and long-term exposure to Robert E. Hogan on his!