Disclaimer: CSI: NY and all the characters from the show are owned by CBS, Paramount, Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony Zuiker, and other people who are much more creative and wealthier than me. Any other characters are my own and resemblance to any other person is a pure coincidence. Well mostly. Probably. No wait, mostly.

Thanks as always for all the kind reviews, alerts, and everything else. This is it, Chapter 28. Enjoy.

Chapter 28: Operation Royal Flush

While Isabella Fernandez or "Jess my Angell" as Flack calls her finishes up her performance, Doc Hawkes quickly and quietly heads into the kitchen. One or two Kraut soldiers notice him but pay him no attention. After all, he's just a cook. It's logical that he'd be in a kitchen and besides, the Krauts are much more interested in the performance going on

Inside the kitchen, Hawkes looks around for the stuff that Jess left behind. The grenade and the flask are pretty easy, but it takes him some time to find the gun. He finally finds it in one of the pots, only because the lid on the pot was slightly off. Hawkes stuffs all three items into his pockets, positioning them carefully so it doesn't look like he is carrying anything.

That part of his job accomplished, Hawkes also goes over to where the milk is stored. He takes out some bottles of milk from the spot where they were being cooled. With any luck, by the time that Hawkes comes in for the morning to cook, the milk will have become spoiled. Now that the German cooks trust him, they won't object to him mixing the milk into German food.

When all this is done, Hawkes heads out of the kitchen, his initial part in the Major's plan is done.

Early the next morning, long before anyone, especially First Sergeant Niepper is awake; Stella and Jess get in her car and head to San Giovanni's Church. There, a gift from Nurse Lindsay is waiting for them. A nondescript car is parked outside. Nurse Lindsay, dressed in the habit of her alternate identity of Sister Genevieve comes outside to meet them. She hands Jess the keys to her car.

"Good to see you Lindsay." Jess says happily. It is an enormous relief for Lindsay that Jess got in and out of the camp unharmed.

"Is this it?" Stella asks looking at the car.

Lindsay nods. "Yes, the OSS decided to provide the men of Camp Percival with a car."

"What about you? How are you getting back?" Jess asks.

"Stella and I decided that this would be a good rendezvous point. She will bring the men here in both cars and we'll head to the Allied lines from there."

"Sounds like a plan." Jess nods.

"We should head out Jess." Stella says.

Lindsay waves to them as the other two women head out.

Later that day, in fact around sunset, Stella and Jess prepare to once again head out. Earlier that afternoon, Stella had visited Sal and he shared with her the lie he told Niepper about where she was going. Thinking quickly, Stella realizes what an opportunity this could be. If she can somehow make Niepper believe that she is leaving for Naples now, then they could force the Germans to lose their eyes and ears in Umberetto.

Jess leaves first from the local hotel and heads towards the base. Stella meanwhile, drives out of town heading towards Naples.

First Sergeant Niepper smiles as he watches the troublesome Italian woman leave, heading north towards Naples. With Sal's information, Niepper has no doubts that she is heading to the city. Niepper starts up his car and drives off. He isn't concerned when he doesn't see her car. "Woman driver" he mutters to himself. He'll be in Naples in a few hours; there he can contact the extensive German spy network in the city. He'll find that woman and arrest her in Naples. She won't get away from him this time.

In a strange reversal of roles, Stella finds herself watching as Niepper drives off towards Naples, blissfully unaware that his prey has completely eluded him. Stella waits until he drives off out of her view before she heads back to Umberetto. From there, she goes towards Camp Percival, and into the woods surrounding the camp. Near the edge of the woods with the camp in sight, she finds Jess waiting. The car from Lindsay and the OSS is parked in a secluded area that the men inside will be able to find. The keys are left in the ignition and with the fuel left in the tank plus the oil in the flask, there should be enough for them to get to Umberetto, the first rendezvous point.

With everything in place, the two women take Stella's car back to town. There they will wait.

The tension in the air is palpable. Tonight is when I've decided to give the go ahead. No backing down, no more waiting. Tonight is when we pull off Operation Royal Flush.

Things begin as I hope. Doc Hawkes has done something to their food and combined with the heat of the summer, the Germans are definitely less attentive and focused than usual. Flack, Messser and Hayes have shadowed the Germans they have found, and I've been watching Kressing. I decide to call my men together for one final talk before we begin.

Everyone is here; Flack, Messer, Ross, Hayes, Hawkes, Hammerback and me.

I start whispering and saying what I feel needs to be said. "Alright this is it. After this, we commence Operation Royal Flush. I know we have a plan but things never go exactly as planned. If things start to change, then change with them. Do whatever you have to get out, but if you can avoid killing anyone then do. Good luck and see you on the other side."

They nod and we start splitting into our different groups. This is it.

Adam goes to the garage. The guard who should be there is stuck in the German medical barracks. He's out with food poisoning. Inside the garage, Adam finds one of the trucks and he gets it prepared for Major Taylor.

After getting out of the garage, Adam goes to where Hawkes is. Now they have to wait for Danny and Flack.

Flack and Messer head back to following the soldiers they had been shadowing.

"You ready for this Don?" Messer asks.

"Yeah, let's do it Danny. We're getting out of this damn camp."

The two German soldiers head to the space between the American barracks and the mess hall. Flack and Messer walk up behind them in lock step. The two Germans are talking with each other and laughing about something. They never hear the Americans coming up behind them. It takes one blow each and the Germans are unconscious. Flack and Messer drag the two away and begin to get as much of the German uniforms as they can, essentially putting the German uniform over theirs.

Flack and Messer head out to find Adam and Hawkes waiting for them. The two not dressed in German uniforms put their hands on their heads. Flack and Messer point the machine guns they stole from the Germans at the two and go to the gate.

The gate guard looks at the foursome curiously. He is a newer guard and doesn't seem to recognize the two would-be Germans.

"Where are you taking these prisoners?" One of them asks.

Hayes's lessons pay off. Messer understands what they ask him. Now the real trick; responding to them in the Kraut language.

Messer tries to act nonchalantly, but with a serious tone. "Captain Kressing's bestellungen. Wir sind zu pflegen diese beiden nehmen." Captain Kressing's orders. We are to take care of these two.

The guard nods and opens the gate. The two Americans and their 'prisoners' head out and Flack shoves Ross for emphasis.

"Position in den wald." Heading into the forest. Flack says back. The guard nods again.

Flack, Messer, Ross and Hawkes maintain the illusion of guards and prisoners until they are sure that the Germans in Camp Percival can't see or hear them.

"All clear?" Ross asks nervously.

"All clear." Flack says relief clear in his voice.

"We need to find that car quickly." Hawkes says.

The four of them spread out and look for the car. Eventually after a brief search they find it. Adam digs out the flask full of car fuel and pours it into the gas tank. The keys are still in the ignition.

"What now?" Flack asks.

"Now we wait." Hawkes says.

Things go smoothly for Staff Sergeant Hayes and Doc Hammerback. Since the translator only needs to get rid of one soldier, Major Taylor felt they would be okay together.

To the soldier that he had been shadowing, Hayes calls out in the German language.

"Help! An American is out of barracks after curfew."

The soldier runs over to where Hayes and called from. The moment he turns the corner, he is met in the face by a medical bag. The German staggers back and Hayes smashes a rock on his head. The German is knocked unconscious.

"Not bad Doc." Hayes comments as he puts on the German outfit.

"You weren't too shabby yourself Staff Sergeant."

My part in Royal Flush begins when I see Kressing come out of the headquarters. I notice the light from the Commandant's window is off; he must already be asleep.

I follow Kressing at a distance. I need to get him alone and get him quiet fast, otherwise he'll alert the whole camp. It takes some time and my patience is tried as I wait for that sadistic son of a bitch to be alone. Finally, he's alone, heading up to our barracks. I need to act now. I'm right behind him. Kressing opens the door and discovers the barracks empty.

"Kressing." I exclaim trying to surprise him and get his attention before he can sound the alarm.

The Captain turns around. He offers a vicious smile. "So Major, trying to escape tonight are we?" He draws his gun and to my surprise, tosses it aside. "I don't need this. I want the joy of killing you with my bare hands."

Instead of answering, I rush forward and tackle him, sending us both to the ground. Kressing brings up his leg and harshly knees me in the stomach, winding me. Kressing then punches me in the face, and I feel blood in my mouth. I retaliate by hitting him with my elbow and he starts bleeding as well. He grabs my throat and starts trying to choke me. I feel my airway being cut off and I punch him again in the face. His grip strengthens on me and I desperately hit him again. He knees me again in the stomach and I can do little except keep hitting him. Finally, I land a firm elbow to his temple and Kressing's grip starts to weaken. Another elbow and he releases my throat. The Captain has a dazed look on his face and I give him one more punch.

Kressing passes out and collapses on the floor. I grab the knife from his belt. It will be so easy to kill him. A simple maneuver with the knife and he'd be dead. The bastard deserves it more than any other person I've met. I can't do it. Something in me won't let me. Maybe it's my conscience, but I just can't do it, and I curse myself for my weakness.

I sit here and cough for a minute until my breathing returns to normal and my blurry vision clears up. My breathing is short and my lungs are exhausted, my ribs sore. Then, I take the Captain's coat and hat and make my way to the garage.

Hayes and Hammerback are there waiting for me. Doc Hammerback looks concerned when he gets a good view of me.

"God Major, what happened?" He starts to look at whatever cuts and bruises I have.

I brush his medical prodding aside. "It doesn't matter. I said things wouldn't go completely according to plan. Let's go."

We get into the truck and Hayes starts it up. We make our way to the gate. The gate guard looks completely confused.

"What is this?" He asks. I mentally congratulate myself for understanding him.

Hayes starts taking saying that Captain Kressing is personally escorting out one of the prisoners that two of his men had earlier forgotten to take for execution.

The guard looks skeptical and turns to me. "Seems rather trivial for you to be worrying about Sir."

I talk in my most authoritative, harsh, German voice. "You are not trained to question the orders of your superior soldier. Open the damned gate or your next!" I sound eerily like Kressing when I talk like this.

The guard nervously mumbles some kind of apology and opens the gate. He gives me the Nazi salute and I return it with feigned enthusiasm. Even faking that salute disgusts me.

We head out of the camp. I feel some excitement building up in my chest. We're almost out.

Hayes drives the car into the forest. The others must be around here somewhere. I decide to try and call out one of our code words.

"Clubs."

A few moments pass, then another, very welcome voice calls back. "Spades." It's Flack.

The other four rush up to us, everyone looking relieved and thrilled. Flack and Messer have already shed their German uniforms.

"Major we did it!" Ross says excitedly.

"We aren't out of this yet Private. Get in your car. Stella told me that she will meet us in Umberetto. It's due east of here a couple of miles. Remember, this isn't over until we are back behind Allied lines. Let's get going."

A dazed and in pain Captain Kressing wakes up in a confused state. For a brief moment he doesn't remember anything. Then he realizes his coat and hat are missing. Taylor. Kressing remembers confronting the American, fighting with him and then passing out. He has been beaten in this round, but Kressing is not about to concede defeat.

The Captain brushes himself off and storms out of the deserted American barracks. He rounds up his men, including the three that were also attacked by the Americans.

Kressing's voice quivers with rage. "Men those Americans have escaped! Mobilize search parties! Go in groups of four. Sound the alarms! Wake the Commandant! Use deadly force! We are not taking any prisoners! Except one; leave Major Taylor to me! MOVE OUT!"

The German soldiers scramble to follow the Captain's orders. Kressing goes to the radio room and orders the soldier manning it to turn to a set frequency. That frequency being the radio in the car that First Sergeant Niepper is driving.

"Niepper speaking."

"First Sergeant, get that damned woman!"

"Sorry Sir but I can't find her."

"What the hell do you mean?" Kressing is almost purple with anger.

"Sir, Naples is a big city. It will take some time."

"YOU IDIOT!" Kressing explodes. "You were duped Niepper. She is helping these damn Americans out right now. Get back to Umberetto! These bastards are on the run! Find her! Find them all!"

Good? Bad? This one is a lot longer than my other chapters but please don't let that stop you from submitting a review. Don't worry, we still have a ways to go and our heroes are not out of danger yet. Stay tuned.