Chapter Twenty-Six: Departure

The next day started out slowly and mournfully. Mostly everyone slept in, and then had a hardy breakfast, compliments of Analiese. Afterwards, a small funeral was done in honor of Geoff. Franz and Pepin set about digging a grave underneath an oak tree behind the barn. For the funeral, everyone except Newkirk came out. Johann and Karl said a few words, and then the grave was filled and they returned inside. The morning mocked them. The storm which had passed through the day before left a beautiful spring day in its wake. Water dripped from the trees, and the wet grass glittered in the rising sun. The golden fields became oceans as the breeze picked up.

The windows in the house were opened, as if the wind would cleanse the house of the sorrow and pain. They all breathed in the fresh air, feeling more content after the stressful days which were now behind them.

But it was back to business after the funeral, though. The first order of business was to have everyone checked up on. Karl checked up on everyone, making sure no one had some unexpected injuries from the day before. Fortunately, there were no surprises. Carter's knee was on the mend still, but getting better steadily. Karl was sure that after it was completely healed, it wouldn't bother Carter much at all. Then, he looked over Newkirk. The reports were the same as the previous day. Swelling was going down around his broken or strained bones, though his back was healing the slowest. Karl re-wrapped the wounds.

After Karl was satisfied that everyone was okay or on the mend, the next order of business was taken care of. Hogan and Kinch went down to the cellar to call the camp. Kinch flipped on the radio.

"Jaegar to Goldilocks, Jaeger to Goldilocks."

There was static at first, and then Baker's voice came through the speaker.

"Goldilocks to Jaegar. Go on Goldilocks."

Kinch handed the microphone to Hogan.

"How's it going over there, Goldilocks?"

There was a pause, then, "Papa Bear? That you?"

"Yep, it's me, Goldilocks."

"Well, sir, it sure is glad to hear your voice again. That we had ourselves done in there for a bit."

"Me too," said Hogan. "We're just calling to give you fellas an update. Everyone's fine here. The two wounded cubs are doing better. We'll be home tomorrow."

"That is good news, sir," replied Baker. "And we have some good news of our own for you: Big Bad Wolf got in a car wreck, which gets him off our tail."

"A car wreck," said Hogan, disbelieving. "Is he dead?" He had mixed emotions over how he would feel to find that his favorite Gestapo Major had finally bought the farm.

"No, sir," said Baker with slight disappointment in his voice. "He's not dead, but was badly injured. He was actually on his way to look for all you guys, and on the right track from what we heard."

"And then he got in a wreck," asked Hogan.

"Right," answered Baker. "I know what you're thinking, but no one helped him get into a car wreck. It was a real one. And bad. His aide got killed."

Hogan frowned, remembering the young face that was always around Hochstetter.

"Well, that was a stroke of fate, I guess," he said.

"Suppose so, sir," said Baker.

"Okay," said Hogan. "Well, I guess we won't have to worry about him on our way home. Thanks."

"Don't thank me, sir," said Baker. "Thank that awful weather and poor driving."

"Yeah," said Hogan with a small smile. "Okay, Goldilocks, Jaegar signing off."

"Don't you mean Papa Bear signing off," asked Baker.

"Right," said Hogan. "Papa Bear signing off."

Hogan handed the microphone back to Kinch, who set it back on the radio. He stood up. "So how are we getting back to camp?"

"I have an idea," said Hogan. "But let's go upstairs and discuss with everyone else."

They went back upstairs, and got everyone concerned into the den, except Newkirk and Carter. Carter could come but had elected to keep Newkirk company.

"I think that I should take Fleischer and his men back to England before you go back," said Johann, once everyone was settled in. He had not said much the entire day. He continued, "Not all the way to England, but at least a day away. That way we will be out of the area whenever you go back to Stalag 13. That is, I am assuming you will have to turn yourselves in?"

"Yes," said Hogan. "That's a part of the plan. And what you're saying makes sense. The problem with us getting back to camp, though, is that with two injured men, we need an explanation as to why they are injured. Especially Newkirk."

"Well, what was your original pan," asked Karl.

"I was thinking that you could call in that you had found us," said Hogan.

"Ja," said Karl. "That would be the logical thing to do. However, Andrew and Peter's injuries do present a problem."

"We just need to come up with a legitimate reason as to why they are injured," stated LeBeau.

"Right," said Hogan.

"Well," said Pepin. "We could just say Andrew was shot running from a patrol or something. That would make sense."

"It would," said Franz. "But if the Nazis got into an investigation, which we know they will, they will look for the unit who was supposedly on patrol. And when they realize there was no patrol that shot at someone, they will know that that story is not true."

"Oh," said Pepin, defeated.

"Besides," said Hogan. "Carter is easier to explain than Newkirk. There are thousands of ways to get shot from accidentally to on purpose. But there aren't many ways to get busted up like Newkirk is."

"Well wait a minute," said Analiese. "That could be the answer. What if you just say that he was on the train when it blew up?" Everyone looked at her incredulously. "Well, it would make sense for a POW to hide out on a train, because it would take him far away from the camp. So, it would make sense that you were all hiding out on the train when it exploded."

"Except one thing, Analiese," said Karl. "They are not injured as well."

"Unless," began Kinch, and everyone looked to him. "The train stopped, and we got out, right before it blew, but Newkirk didn't in time. That makes sense."

"Oh boy," groaned Hogan. "Even if Hochstetter is injured, he'll have a field day with this. Just being near the train would be enough for him to say that we were involved in its being destroyed."

Kinch chuckled, receiving an annoyed look from his commanding officer. "Sorry. But, sir, I'm pretty sure that this is going to all work out."

"So," said Karl. "We call in that we have found you, and the reason you were still around was because you had two injured men. You were all hiding in the train, hoping for it to take you out of the area."

"Right," said Hogan.

"And when will make this call," asked Franz.

"Tomorrow morning," answered Hogan. "That way, we can send Johann onto England with Fleischer and the other two. Malte, you will take one other person, and help Johann escort the prisoners to the rendezvous point with the sub. So, by the time we call and the goons come and swarm this place, you all will have a good head start."

Everyone nodded as the plan was concluded on that note.

So, that evening, Johann, Malte and Ambros stood outside, with Fleischer and two of his men tied up in a line. They stood outside the kitchen, looking up at those who were staying. Good-byes had already been said. Johann was glad to be leaving Germany for now. Enough had taken place there for him to be ready to get out for awhile. He knew he would return, after the war ended. This was, after all, his home. However, he felt now that his part was over, and he would take a break from it all, for now, and then come home to rebuild his country.

They all waved one last time, and then Johann, Ambros, and Malte turned away pulling their prisoners along, and began their trek to the coast. The other Underground members who had been around the Bachmeier house the past few days also left. They had been away from their other lives long enough, and now it was time to return, now that everything was getting to be okay again.

After everyone was back inside, and the house locked up, Newkirk finally got everyone around to tell him what exactly had gone on while he was out. Everyone told a good bit of it, because several pieces needed to put together for complete comprehension. When the story was finally told, there was long moment of silence, as they all thought about how close they had come to getting killed.

The following morning, everyone woke up earlier than they did the previous day. Analiese once again made a very good breakfast, while Karl checked up on Newkirk and Carter again. The reports were the same, as they both continued to heal.

The only thing that seemed different with Newkirk from the day before was his attitude. He was frustrated, and on edge. He became more restless with every passing hour. He denied his breakfast, claiming he was not hungry. This thoroughly annoyed Analiese. Hogan and the others became concerned. After they pushed him to eat something, he nibbled on some toast and drank some cocoa. He wouldn't speak, except when someone asked him a question, and his tone was sharp. After a particular smart retort to Carter, Hogan was fed up with the Corporal's attitude and sat down to talk with him.

"Okay, Newkirk," he said, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "What's up?"

"What do you mean wot's up," asked Newkirk.

"You know what I mean," replied Hogan.

"Nothin's up," said Newkirk quickly. He frowned and looked away, towards the window.

"Hey," said Hogan. "I know something is up."

"Well, I tell you one thing," said Newkirk. "I'm certainly not up." He was still looking away from Hogan.

"That's true," said Hogan. "Is that why you're mad?"

Newkirk looked back at him quickly, his eyes narrowed. "I'm not mad."

"Okay," said Hogan. "Frustrated"

"Maybe," said Newkirk. "I mean, is your back broken?"

"Ah," said Hogan knowingly.

"Not so much that," said Newkirk. "But I can't do anythin'. Wot if somethin' were to 'appen? I can't defend meself, an' certainly can't 'elp any o' you guys."

Hogan grinned. The response was so typically Newkirk. "Look here, Newkirk. I don't think anything is going to happen between now and getting back to camp. We'll call them, and Schultz will probably be the one who ends up bringing us back. Fleischer is gone, Hochstetter's in the hospital, and everyone else is going to treat us like the escaped prisoners we are. So you see? Nothing to worry about."

Newkirk eyed him carefully. "You think so?"

Hogan nodded. "Yeah. What made you think about all of this anyway?"

"Well," said Newkirk. "It was last night, when you were all tellin' me about wot 'appened 'round 'ere while I was out. I mean, everyone could've gotten killed, an' I still would've been lyin' in this bed without a clue."

Hogan sighed. "May I remind you that we thought you were going to die? Or how about the fact that I thought you were dead? Twice?" Newkirk sort of flinched at that, and Hogan patted his knee. "Newkirk, you're a regular ole nanny."

"Excuse me," said Newkirk.

"You worry about everyone," exclaimed Hogan, chuckling. "Why can't you just lay back and worry about yourself for a change."

"Well I do that too," said Newkirk. "I distinctly remember everyone tellin' me to stop complainin'. An' not just once, but several times over."

"So you're just a worry wart," said Hogan. "Nothing's ever perfect for you."

"In a war, mate," said Newkirk. "Nothin' is ever perfect for anyone."

Hogan nodded. "I guess that's true. So did you worry a lot before the war?"

"Yeah, I did," admitted Newkirk quickly enough. "But those days weren't exactly a cake walk either. I guess you could say, Guv, that I was brought up to worry. To worry about myself, or my family, or both. I never 'ad it easy, an' I don't think I ever will."

"You'll get it easy one day," said Hogan. "No one goes through all of this trouble, to not get it easy. I would just be worried that you'd screw it up."

"'Ey," exclaimed Newkirk. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well," said Hogan. "You and Carter do have a tendency to screw up everything good."

Carter came into the room just then. "What about me?"

"I'm not takin' you back to London with me," said Newkirk. "Ever."

"Well, gee," said Carter. "A man thinks he's wanted and then all of the sudden they turn their backs on him."

Newkirk chuckled. "I was jokin', but the first sign of trouble, and you're out."

LeBeau and Kinch came in.

"You and Carter are the signs or trouble," said LeBeau.

"Yeah," agreed Kinch. "I see you two walking together so I start walking the other way."

"Wasn't it you Kinch, who said they were Laurel and Hardy," asked Hogan.

"I'm proud to say that it was me who made that perfect observation," said Kinch.

"See," said LeBeau. "You could both go back to London and perform a Laurel and Hardy act. I can see it now: Peter and Andrew." He moved his hands through the air, picturing a flashing sign over the theater. "Maybe Peter and Andy. That sounds better."

The others laughed as Newkirk threw a pillow into LeBeau's face. "Thanks a lot, Louie."

"Anytime, Pierre," replied LeBeau.

The laughter died off and Hogan stood up. "I'd better go get Karl to make that call. It's time we went home."

Everyone nodded, and Hogan left the room.

"Home," murmured Kinch. "It seems a long way off. And not in miles. It's like I haven't been there in twenty years."

"Yeah," said Carter. "And it's only been one-and-a-half."

"Almost four," murmured Newkirk.

"I cannot really say I 'ave not been back," said LeBeau. "I 'ave not seen my family, but I 'ave been back to Paris on a few occasions."

"Lucky dog," said Newkirk. "Wot I wouldn't give to step foot back on English soil right now." He closed his eyes, imagining it.

"But really," said Kinch. "They say home is where the heart is. And I've always thought that's where my family is. And I've got family here. So, I guess, in a way, I do have a home here."

Newkirk opened his eyes and smiled. "True."

"And after the war," said Carter. "I'm going to come back one day."

"Why, exactly, would you do that," asked Newkirk. "If we're all gone?"

"Well," said Carter. "Schultz will still be here, and so will Miss Analiese, and Mr. Karl, and Franz, and Pepin, and Johann will come back, and Schnitzer will be here too, and maybe I'll even visit Klink."

Newkirk rolled his eyes. "I'm just glad you didn't say somethin' about Burkhalter or 'Ochstetter."

The others chuckled.

"I think I will go visit 'Ochstetter," said LeBeau. Everyone looked at him stunned. "In prison," he quickly added.

They all laughed.

Then, Hogan came back in. "Okay you laughing hyenas, the cavalry is on their way. We need to get changed into some Allied uniforms, so they don't wonder about the civilian clothes."

"There are some spares downstairs in the cellar," said Karl, who had followed Hogan in. "I'll bring them up here."

Soon after, they were in their proper Allied uniforms, though not exactly what they would normally be wearing. Not long after, Schultz arrived with several guards from Stalag 13.

Analiese opened up the door for them to come in, and led them to the guest bedroom. Franz and Pepin 'stood guard' with rifles inside. Newkirk was still on the bed, although fully dressed. The others were seated in chairs lined up against the wall.

Schultz acted very angry with them, fussing at them for trying to escape. When he saw that Newkirk and Carter were injured, he fussed even more, reprimanding them for the fact that they might have all been killed. They all took it in silence, knowing that Schultz was fussing over them simply because he cared about their well-being. Karl and his family acted as if they were glad to be rid of the prisoners. Indeed, they were glad to see them finally returning to the Stalag, but not in the way they were presenting to the guards. A stretcher had been brought on Karl's request. Newkirk was put on it, and loaded onto the truck that way. Everyone else climbed in, and the guards after them. Schultz got up front with Langenscheidt who drove them back to camp.

As they drove away from the Bachmeier farm, Hogan kept his eyes on the house, until they turned onto the road, and he could no longer see it. He longed for a home like that.