Chapter 26

After a long day at the office, with only breaks and lunchtime spent working on Hotch's case, everybody went home exhausted. But despite his exhaustion, Hotch found himself tossing and turning and unable to sleep. He kept picturing himself in his grandfather's place in a cell in Gestapo Headquarters. When the door to his cell opened, he jumped upright in his bed, breathing hard and noticing it was still nighttime. He decided then and there he wouldn't get anymore sleep this night. So he got out of bed, and walked into the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. While waiting for it to be ready, he decided to read more of the journal.

(May, 1944 – Roll Call in the Morning of the Same Day):

The prisoners of Barracks two followed Hogan out into the compound. The morning was a bit on the chilly side, but not that uncomfortable. The men formed two rows, and stood at attention in front of a panicky Schultz who kept staring at the American officer the entire time. The officer didn't seem, to him, that concerned by the expression on his face. Then again, Hogan never appeared worried about anything. The obese sergeant began to count each prisoner ending in front of Hogan.

"Colonel Hogan, the Kommandant is never going to believe me when he finds out four prisoners are missing."

The officer sighed. "Well, he won't if you carry on like you are. You need to be more convincing."

"Colonel Hogan, I am not a good liar like you." The minute the words were spoken, Schultz's mouth dropped open in shock. He just realized he had called the man he respected more than he ever did Klink, a liar to his face.

Hogan feigned being hurt by Schultz's words. He hooked his thumbs in the side pockets of his leather jacket and bowed his head.

"You really hurt my feelings with those words." Fact is, it hadn't bothered Hogan one bit.

"I'm sorry I called you a liar." Schultz truly was sorry.

The officer raised his head and looked at the large man realizing he spoke the truth and felt badly for him.

"Have I ever told you that you worry too much?" Hogan suddenly snapped his fingers as an idea came to him. "Maybe you should take a vacation. A trip to the Russian Front will do wonders for you. Make a new man out of you…if you survive, that is," he added with an amused grin and arms wrapped around himself.

"Jolly joker," the guard growled.

"Schuuuuuultz, repooooorrrttt!" bellowed a loud voice approaching from behind the guard. Klink had left his office, and was marching toward the prisoners, his riding crop tucked under one arm. He was not in the mood for any of Hogan's games this morning. And it wouldn't take much to toss the man in the cooler until the end of the war.

"Oh boy," Schultz muttered nervously momentarily closing his eyes.

Hogan shook his head, chuckling. "Relax, will you? Everything's going to be fine. Besides, would I lie to you?"

"Jawohl." This time Schultz didn't realize he had called the American a liar again.

Hogan feigned his feelings being hurt again. "Well…" he huffed.

Schultz suddenly spun around saluting his colonel. "All prisoners present and accounted for, Herr Kommandant." He gulped hoping he sounded convincing.

Klink's eyes narrowed as he glared at his Sergeant-of-the-guard. Something felt off to him, and he would bet his next leave that his Senior POW had something to do with it.

As he stared past his obese sergeant, Klink started silently counting each man himself. As he counted, a frown appeared. When he finished, he stomped his foot and glared at the senior POW officer before he marched directly up to and stood toe-to-toe with him.

"Hogan, four prisoners are missing!"

Hogan's eyes widened and he looked further down each of the two rows.

"Really? Huh. How about that. They were all here earlier. Who's missing, Kommandant?"

Klink balled his fist and shook it in the American's face. Hogan didn't bat an eye, and maintained his cool exterior.

"You know very well who's missing! Now where are Corporals Newkirk and LeBeau, and Sergeants Kinchloe and Hotchner?"

"Oh those four. For a moment I was afraid there were four others missing."

Klink stomped his foot with frustration. "Don't toy with me, Hogan! I am in no mood for your games! Now where are they?!"

"Hold onto your swastika, Colonel. They're all inside the barracks and ill. Wilson is with them."

Klink stared at his guard harshly.

"Did you know about this, Schultz?"

The large man opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. Klink rolled his eyes skyward for a moment, and then eyed his guard.

"Why am I asking you? The only thing you'd see missing is food!" He turned back to Hogan again. "Sick, eh? I'll just bet they are! They've escaped, and you're covering for them!" He stormed toward the barracks, and grabbed the doorknob. "We'll see just how sick they are!" He started to turn the doorknob and open the door.

Hogan hurried toward the Kommandant with the other prisoners behind him.

"Kommandant, I don't think you want to go in there, sir," he said nervously.

"Of course you don't because I'll find them gone!" Klink smirked. "When are you and your men going to realize you can't fool me, Hogan? I'm onto you and can read you like a book!"

Hogan feigned defeat. "I can't get anything past you, sir. Your genius at being able to see right through me is uncanny. But I'm not lying. I'm trying to warn you, sir." With a sigh, he shrugged his shoulders. "But if you want to expose yourself to influenza, be my guest."

Klink's hand released the doorknob as if it was red hot, and looked at his guard again.

"Schultz, I want you to check on the prisoners and make sure they're all present."

Schultz's eyes widened in horror and jabbed a pudgy finger into his own chest.

"M…m…me, Herr Kommandant?" he stammered.

"Yes, you! You're not scared are you, Schultz?"

"N…n…no, Herr Kommandant." He understood there was no influenza, but still he was afraid for some strange reason. What if he was wrong?

"Then go do your job!"

"Ja…ja…Jawohl…" Schultz slowly waddled toward the barracks and hesitantly grabbed the doorknob. He looked at Hogan who had a blank expression on his face giving nothing away.

"Don't look at me, Schultz. I didn't order you to confront those germs," he said.

"Besides, what are you worryin' about, big fella," said Carter with a childish grin. "Wilson is in there anyway."

"That's riiiiiggggghhhht…" Schultz said with a big smile. He turned toward Klink. "Herr Kommandant, Sergeant Wilson is in the barracks checking on the prisoners. Why not wait until he comes outside and get his report?"

Klink stomped his foot angrily. "Dummkopf! Now, you will either go do your duty, or I'll have you march a post outside the fence until the end of the war…as a private!"

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." The large man turned the knob and opened the door slowly. He hesitantly entered the barracks and closed the door behind him.

He stood over Carter's bunk where Kinch was resting, Wilson looked up when he realized someone had entered.

"Something I can do for you, Schultz?" he asked. "You really shouldn't be in here. There's influenza in here, and you know how highly contagious that is."

"I…I know. But Kommandant Klink wants to know if Sergeants Kinch and Hotchner, and Corporals Newkirk and LeBeau are really here or if they have escaped."

Wilson shook his head understanding Klink could sometimes be a pest, and wondered how his commanding officer tolerated putting up with the German officer.

"C'mon, Schultz…."

"Sergeant Wilson, please…"

Wilson sighed. "I can tell you they're here but it wouldn't be true." He loved teasing the man. He felt sorry for the large man and smiled. "Think positive, Schultz. Kinch is here. And the Colonel promised LeBeau, Newkirk, and Hotchner would be back in a few days, didn't he?"

"Ja."

"The colonel has never broken a promise yet to you. If he says they'll be back in a few days then they'll be back. You have his word."

"They'll be back in a few days," Schultz repeatedly told himself as he turned around and left the barracks. He found the others and Klink waiting.

"Well…" said Klink with a smug expression on his face. "They're gone aren't they?"

"Herr Kommandant, I report that the four prisoners are inside the barracks just as Colonel Hogan said. And Sergeant Wilson is inside as well examining them."

Klink's mouth formed a perfect 'O' proving he was surprised. He had convinced himself the four men had escaped, and he had finally caught Hogan in a lie. He looked at the American officer, and noticed him staring at him with arms wrapped around himself with an arched eyebrow.

"Satisfied, Kommandant?"

"I'm sorry, Hogan. But can you blame me for being suspicious?"

"I accept your apology."

"My apology?" Klink gasped. "Oh never mind. Has Sergeant Wilson told you how long it will be for the men to recover completely?"

Hogan shrugged noncommittally. "Not really, sir. They are pretty sick men. Why?"

Klink became uncomfortable and didn't hide it at all.

"Kommandant, what's going on?" asked the American officer. Klink's expression bothered Hogan, and the American didn't like that feeling.

"I need those men to get well by the end of this week. General Burkhalter phoned this morning and said he was coming next week to inspect the camp. I need LeBeau to cook one or two fabulous meals for him, and I need Kinchloe, Newkirk, Hotchner, and Carter to act as waiters."

Hogan felt a coldness run through him at this news. He had enough problems without Burkhalter causing more.

"I'm sure the guys will be much better by then, sir," the officer reported with a smile.

"Excellent. Schultz, dismiss your men!" Klink turned abruptly and marched away, not waiting for the guard to return his salute.

"Prisoners, dismissed!" Schultz glanced at Hogan briefly before he turned and walked away.

Hogan let out a deep breath as he turned toward the barracks, shaking his head grimly. The other prisoners gathered around him.

"Sir?" asked Carter fearfully. "What do we do now? We have no idea how they are or if we can get them back before Burkhalter shows up here."

Hogan ran both hands down his face. He did not need Carter pointing out the obvious.

"They're going to be fine, Carter, and we're going to get them back in plenty of time…" he said looking at the younger sergeant. "…I hope," he added quietly enough so nobody would hear, and hoping it wasn't a lie.

(Current Time)

After arriving at the BAU, instead of working, Hotch sat behind his desk and massaged his temples with his fingertips, elbows on the desk. Rossi still sat on the couch, but was now leaning backward with his arms stretched out on the top of the back of the couch, palms downward.

"Headache?" he asked the younger man.

"No. I'm just tired," Hotch lied.

"That's because since you began reading that journal, you haven't gotten much sleep." Rossi knew his friend was lying but decided he wouldn't press him.

"I'll be all right…" Hotch replied clasping his hands together on top of his desk. He looked at his friend and sighed. "I'm still finding it difficult to believe an underground operation was taking place beneath a prison camp without the Germans knowing about it."

"I find it difficult to believe as well," Rossi agreed. "But it obviously happened from what we know from Garcia's research and the journal. And Hogan and his men came and went freely and had many tunnels underground. Also, they manipulated the Kommandant and the guards easily. Let's face it, I have a sneaky suspicion we may be on the verge of finding out why everything about the men at Stalag 13 is classified."

During their lunchtime, Garcia and Morgan sat side-by-side in front of her main computer screen. With Morgan observing over her shoulder, the tech analyst typed away on her keyboard.

"Dammit!" she muttered in a low voice. Morgan stared at her with wide eyes. He had never heard her swear, and it stunned him. For her to swear meant things must be really frustrating her.

"Garcia, chill." he muttered. "You're freakin' me out."

"I'm freaking you out!?" she responded staring back at him. "In case you haven't noticed, my sweet, I have a right to be freaked out. I want to find answers for Hotch, but…hello…what do we have here?" she added when something popped up on her main screen which caught her eye.

"What is it? What d'ya see?"

"Derek, I need you to contact Hotch and have him come to my lair. Right now. I think I might have just found the answer to a mystery for him."

Hearing the urgency in her voice, Morgan pulled out his cell and placed a call to their Unit Chief.

The door to Garcia's office opened, and a determined Aaron Hotchner accompanied by Dave Rossi, strode inside with Rossi closing the door. The two men stood behind the blonde, staring at the screen over her opposite shoulder.

"What have you got, Garcia?" asked Hotch with narrowed eyes.

"A real biggie, sir. Feast your eyes and prepare to be amazed." The tech analyst moved a bit sideways so Hotch and Rossi could see unobstructed.

"Is that a newspaper article?" asked Rossi, not getting it right away.

"Give that man a cigar. It's an article written by Walter Hobson who was a correspondent on-board a plane covering the war up close and personal." (1)

The door opened again, and Reid, Prentiss, and JJ entered and approached the others.

"We got here as soon as we could," said Reid. "What'd Garcia find?"

"A newspaper article written by Walter Hobson," Rossi explained.

"Who's Walter Hobson?" asked JJ as she, Emily, and Reid leaned over Garcia from behind and to get a good look at the screen.

"He's a correspondent who flew with a bomber crew covering the war," Reid explained. "I read about him in a book he wrote after the war. This article was originally printed in an American newspaper. It was then sent to Spain, then Portugal. From there it was forwarded to Switzerland, and finally to Germany by a German spy in the United States."(2)

"Wonderful," Prentiss said sarcastically. "If the Gestapo saw that article that must've made Hogan's life happy."

"It probably did, Princess," Morgan replied. "Since it was sent to Germany by a spy in the US, I bet it was forwarded directly to Major Hochstetter who was already suspicious about Hogan. That article must've been like gettin' a Christmas gift. I bet he was overjoyed."

"Get a load of this…" Rossi said as he began to read the article out loud. "…For security reasons I cannot tell you the exact location. The request was no names please. But somewhere in Germany, an American officer is operating a sabotage and rescue unit from of all places, a German POW camp. These men saved my life. To me they are among the unsung heroes of this war." (3)

Hotch shook his head. "Damn stupid man," he growled. "He did everything except give their names. He's lucky he didn't get them all killed with his carelessness."

"Wait a minute," Reid began. "Look how he begins the article. 'For security reasons I cannot tell you the exact location.' "

"I don't understand," said Penelope looking over her shoulder at Reid.

"He's telling us that he was saved by Hogan and his men after his plane was shot down by the Germans."

"How can you tell?"

"He was asked that no names be given.' That means he had to have made contact with Hogan and his men. I'm willing to bet he intended to do a story on their operating an underground unit right under the German's feet. My theory is that Hogan refused because revealing that would have exposed them as spies, and gotten them all killed."

"That's not all, Kitten," Rossi continued. "Hogan refused to let Hobson publish a story about his underground activity. But despite Hogan's refusal, Hobson did it anyway except he didn't use any names believing it was safer for them."

"But he didn't consider that what he wrote would further arouse the suspicion of those who already suspected Hogan of being involved in the underground," said Hotch grimly.

"Like Hochstetter?"

"Like Hochstetter," added JJ.

(1)The episode with Walter Hobson is NO NAMES PLEASE, Season 4.

(2)Walter Hobson, according to the episode, never wrote a book. It was something I made up for purposes of this story.

(3)The article read aloud by Rossi, was quoted directly from the episode word-by-word.