Chapter 37---Let The Healing Begin

Come morning in the infirmary, Wilson hung a new bottle of saline solution, the fifth, then checked the line that ran from the bottle to the needle inserted into Hogan's arm. Everything looked good. He then gave Hogan another injection of penicillin in the hip. The Colonel, though still asleep, seemed to be resting peacefully. He then looked around the infirmary and noticed the others were still sleeping with the exception of LeBeau and Carter both of whom were gone. Wilson smiled knowing they were probably back in the barracks preparing breakfast.

"Ummm," Hogan suddenly murmured as he shifted his position. Wilson immediately sat down on the edge of the bed. He felt Hogan's forehead with the back of his hand; it was still warm. Producing a thermometer, the medic slipped it under the Colonel's tongue and checked his pulse. He was pleased that the Colonel's pulse had slowed down close to normal. He removed the thermometer and after reading it, a small smile appeared.

"What does it say, Joe?"

Looking up, Wilson saw Prust standing before him.

"His temperature's gone down to 100."

"That is good news. It means the penicillin is doing it's job. Have you checked his blood pressure yet?" Prust sat down on the chair beside the bed.

"I was just about to do that after I took his pulse." Wilson got up and walked to his desk and got his blood pressure device. After a short time, he looked up and smiled. "His blood pressure is still a bit high, but much better than its been. I've just given him another injection of penicillin and hung a fresh bottle of saline solution." He sighed wearily as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I hope things break soon."

"Well, major withdrawal peaks between forty-eight and seventy-two hours after the individual receives his last dose. The symptoms then begin to subside after about a week. So far, this is only the third day."

"To be perfectly honest, Michael. When they brought the Colonel in, I didn't think he'd make it through one night much less to this point. I had conditioned myself to accept the fact that he was going to die."

"A lot of those in his condition do, Joe," Prust explained. "But Robert's Irish origins make him the stubborn man he is. And it's that stubborness that has kept him alive." He noticed the exhaustion on Wilson's face. "When was the last time you slept?"

Wilson rubbed his tired eyes. "I caught a cat nap a few hours ago. I'm okay."

"Go lay down and get some sleep. I'll keep watch over our patient."

Just then the bell on the door chimed. Looking around, both men noticed LeBeau carrying a tray with hot coffee. Behind him was Carter with another tray filled with breakfast plates. The aroma of the food soon filled the infirmary and awakened the others. Moments later, everyone was eating breakfast which consisted of crispy bacon, scrambled eggs and toast with butter on the side. There was an extra cup half-filled with hot coffee which LeBeau had brought especially for the Colonel.

"How is he, Michael?" asked Kinch in between bites of bacon.

"His temperature's down to 100, and his vitals are still a bit high but are slowly returning to normal."

"That's good isn't it?" asked an excited Carter.

"It's promising," Prust replied with a slight smile. "But the Colonel still has a long way to go before he's over the hump as they say. I was just telling Joe that the withdrawal peaks in forty-eight to seventy-two hours, and then begin to subside after about one week."

"Ummmm," Hogan moaned again. Prust hastily put down his plate and approaching the bed, sat down on the edge. He saw Hogan looking at him through barely open eyes. "Michael…" he whispered.

"Robert. How do you feel? Are you in pain?"

"Hurt…all over…feel hot…"

"You have an infection that caused a fever to develop. But your fever is slowly coming down."

"Feel weak…." He suddenly gritted his teeth as a cramp came, but somehow with less intensity than the others. Prust gripped Hogan's hand tightly.

"Robert, your men are all here. They have been here since you were brought back to camp."

Hogan appeared confused. "Brought back? Brought back from where?"

"You don't remember what happened to you?" asked Prust, not seemingly concerned.

Hogan weakly shook his head. "Last thing I remember is being in Klink's office. Everything after that…" he gritted his teeth again as another spasm hit. "…is a blank. What happened…to me?"

"We can discuss that when you're stronger, Robert. Would you like to see your men? I know they would like to see you very much."

"Yes," he whispered.

Prust looked over at Hogan's men and waved them to come over. Kinch and Newkirk each sat on the opposite edges of the bed while LeBeau, holding a cup of coffee stood beside the bed. Carter sat in the chair. Hogan looked at each of them and saw the smiles and tears.

"Why the tears?" he asked, puzzled.

"You were so ill, Colonel," Kinch explained. "For awhile we didn't think you'd survive. You had such a high fever."

"For some reason I thought I'd never…see you….guys again. Don't know why…I thought that."

"Must've been because of the high fever, sir," Newkirk added. "I wouldn't worry about it none, Gov'nor."

Hogan's eyes fell on the little Frenchman. "Smell coffee…" Hogan said.

"Oui, mon Colonel. Would you like some?"

"Yes."

LeBeau cradled the Colonel's head and put the coffee cup to his lips. After a few sips, Hogan indicated he didn't want any more. LeBeau laid the Colonel's head back down on the pillow.

"Feel so sleepy. So…sleepy." Within minutes, Hogan was asleep again. LeBeau looked over at Prust, concern on his face and in his eyes.

"Do not worry, Corporal LeBeau," Prust explained. "He will fall asleep quite often until the fever's gone and he's over the withdrawal. He might even fall asleep during a conversation without warning."

"What about his not remembering what happened to him?" asked Kinch. He too, was worried.

Prust folded his arms. "That also is not unusual," he explained. "His mental functioning became so clouded and confused, that he may never remember what happened to him. That is why when you tell him the truth, you must keep in mind that to the Colonel, he will be hearing it for the first time. Don't push him and don't lay everything on him at once. Explain it to him gradually and then give him time to digest everything. Also, if he has any questions, try to answer them as honestly as you can."

The black Gestapo staff car, it's red flags, one on each side of the front of the car with the swastika emblazoned on them, flapped in the breeze. The driver got out and opened the front passenger side door and saluted as Major Hochstetter exited the car. Hochstetter returned the salute. The guard then opened the back passenger door and saluted as Captain Fuchs got out. Fuchs also returned the salute.

"Captain, I want you to check on Colonel Hogan while I meet with General Burkhalter and Kommandant Klink. Afterwards, I want you to come to Klink's office."

"Jawohl, Herr Major. At once," he replied, saluting; Hochstetter returned it half-heartedly. Fuchs hurried in the direction of the infirmary as the Major slowly walked up the steps of the Kommandantur.

As he made his way across the compound, Fuchs was worried about his friend. The last time he had seen Hogan was the day he and the Major had brought him back to Stalag 13. Things were so bad with Hogan, Fuchs had mentally and emotionally prepared himself for the worst. Reaching the infirmary, he took a deep breath before entering after exchanging salutes with the two guards posted outside. He looked up upon entering when he heard the tinkle of the small bell.

"That's our warning system," Kinch said with a smile approaching the Captain and greeted Fuchs. "It was installed in case we were talking about something we didn't want overheard. How are you?"

"I'm fine. How is the Colonel?"

"Come see for yourself," Kinch told him, leading him in the direction of the bed where Hogan was sleeping. Fuchs couldn't help but stare. LeBeau was busy shaving the Colonel having just finished combing his hair. Pausing for a brief moment, he looked up and smiled before resuming what he was doing.

"The Colonel always likes to look his best at all times," the little Frenchman explained without looking up.

"He looks much better than the last time I saw him," Fuchs remarked. "What's his condition?"

"His temperature's gone down from 103 to 100," Prust explained. "The infection in his arm is healing and he's responding to the penicillin. Also, he has no memory of what happened to him."

Kinch looked at Fuchs. "Where are my manners. Bluebird, meet Doctor Michael Prust. Doctor, meet Captain Fritz Fuchs, also known as Bluebird."

The two men shook hands. "I've met the doctor before, Kinch," Fuchs responded, smiling. "You couldn't have a better man working on the Colonel."

Prust motioned for Fuchs and the others except for LeBeau to the other side of the room, out of Hogan's hearing range.

"We've made a decision, Captain, and that is that Colonel Hogan, when he's well enough, will be told what happened to him as well as it being heroin he was given."

Fuchs didn't respond immediately. He clasped his hands behind his back. "What is your reasoning behind this decision?" he asked.

"He has a right to know," Kinch said. "He deserves to know."

"Also," Newkirk added. "He'll know right away if we keep it from him that we're hiding something. And knowing the Gov'nor, it won't take him long to find out what it is and he'll be bloody mad as hell."

"Are you prepared for the fallout that might come from telling him the truth?" Fuchs asked.

"Whatever the Colonel's reaction might be," Carter explained. "We'll be there for him and help him through it. But I do have a question for you, Captain?

"And what would that be?" asked Fuchs with a raised eyebrow.

"What are you gonna tell the Colonel if he asks you about what happened with Captain Diels?"

Fuchs let out a deep breath. He noticed everyone staring at him, waiting. Finally, after a long moment, he spoke.

"Should Colonel Hogan ask me, I will be as honest with him as I can. You're right. He does deserve to know and has the right to know. Lying to him would do more harm than good."

"Just out of curiosity," Kinch chimed in. "You said Diels is dead. What happened to the two guards who came here with him when he took the Colonel away?"

Fuchs sighed. "They're dead as well. Seems Diels got rid of the two guards and the driver. We suspect he didn't want anybody around who could turn on him so he eliminated his men. Personally, I believe he was probably going to leave Germany after getting all the information he could from the Colonel about his operation. And I also suspect he would've more than likely killed the Colonel before he took off."

The men exchanged looks but nobody said anything for a long moment.

"Blimey," Newkirk uttered softly, shaking his head.

"Well at least this Captain Diels can't hurt Colonel Hogan anymore," Carter replied positively. "We can at least be thankful for that."

Bluebird sighed as he lowered his head, lost in thought.

You're right that Diels can't hurt Colonel Hogan anymore, he told himself. But the damage may already have been done. All any of us can do is wait and see how much, if any of it, can be repaired.