A Night of Shadows, a hogan's heroes fanfic

The evening was cold, as if mother nature herself had decided to ravage the countryside with an un-earthly chill, but chills do not stop shadows. No, shadows always play within the night, lurking... ever so quietly, following their master's commands at every step taken, forever obedient even when darkness engulfs them completely. In the case of this particular night, 3 shadows slipped through the dark, completing the night-shift that was tasked before them by their master. And just like shadows, they were forever obedient.

Elsewhere in the countryside, shadows that were seemingly darker than the night also prowled about, as predators hunting down their prey. The aura of the darkest of emotions ever known to man surrounded them all, as if it was glued to the very heart of their damned souls by iron and blood.

And then all the way towards the outskirts of a town, lay a camp, used to house men who saw themselves as fighting for freedom for the oppressed against the oppressors. Indeed, this sentiment was definitely felt by all the prisoners throughout the camp, but for the oppressors, this feeling was never reciprocated. The shadows that guarded under the glaring search lights held high doubt within their hearts and minds, doubt that their futures were fully secured, doubt that their families would be safe in the coming storm... doubt that the shadow with a golden eagle would be able to protect them. Though it did not show through faces of even the ones who tried to not let it show the hardest, it was felt the deepest for them, especially the one who lived alone in a hut, surrounded by all the fineries of life, for he too, held the most doubt of them all.

And such was that, on that cold February evening, in 1945.

1... 2... 3... 4...

The sound of Schultz's boots could make one think that a clock was ticking somewhere in the distance. Indeed, there were many, though none could make such a grim effect as Schultz marching on guard did.

The mood of Barracks 2 was one of many different emotions; worry, hope, determination... it was all there. 3 men out on one of the coldest nights of the month did nothing to sooth the thoughts of all those present, especially those that were held by Robert Hogan. It was him who gave the "okay" for the sabotage mission to proceed, but he did it with great hesitation.

For one, evening rollcall a few hours earlier had welcomed all the men to a cold that had swept in right out of the blue, and with each passing minute, the temperature only further dropped. Secondly, word from the Underground had suggested that the Gestapo was out in full force on that night. If it hadn't been for the insistence of London, Hogan would've put the operation on hold until a better day, but as the diligent officers in London reminded him, one less bridge for the Germans to bring supplies over means a shorter war for everyone.

If it had been earlier in the war, he would've tried to postpone it as long as he could've, but with the Allies driving closer and closer towards Berlin with each passing hour, he conceded to the wisdom of London, as their point held strong. And with that, the risk was taken... sending Newkirk, LeBeau, and Carter out to take care of the bridge that needed to be blown up.

At that present moment, it had been almost two hours since they had gone, and still no explosion was heard or felt by the men of Barracks 2. Thoughts began to once again pummel the mind of Hogan.

"What if they had been caught?"

"What if the charges were duds?"

"What if there was an accident?"

The what ifs seemed to go on for an eternity, but then subtle vibration and ear bursting explosion finally came to fruition, letting the pent up air in all of the men release itself from their lungs. Now all they had to do was wait, all the while shadows prowled about the forest with rage in their heart as the flames of sabotage lit up the night sky.

The routine continues... thought a man in his office. If it had been only a few years prior, the explosion would've thrown him from his chair and into the wall, but those days had since passed. Despite what people saw of him, despite what they thought of him, he always made sure that they never truly knew him. Indeed, only a few people in and around Stalag 13, and such people did not include a certain American.

They all thought that they knew everything about him, whether they saw it from up-close or from some dossier, they all thought they could always get a read on him, and truth be told... they knew nothing of such things that were close to him, despite what they all thought. Von Richter, Hogan, they were all the same in that mindset that they held. That Colonel Wilhelm Klink was a man who held too many fears for his own good, a man who loved to flaunt his life's story and all of his supposed achievements, a man who was a loyal pushover. That was all that they saw of him, but none of it was true.

The explosion had sent the guards into some confusion, but just like him, they had all gone back to doing their duties. It was none of their business, as they needed to know nothing of anything that had just happened. Anyone who did try to make such knowledge known to themselves had already been shipped out to wherever the glorious fatherland needed them, and life at Stalag 13 had continued on with only the occasional disruption occurring.

Speaking of such a disruption, one notable one had just pulled in through the gates, as described by a very winded and very worried Sergeant of the Guard.

The shadows of death, had begun to claw their way in.

"Bad news Colonel, Hochstetter just rolled in, and it looks like he's brought an entire army with him." The look on Kinchloe's face held shadows that looked like they were ingrained deep within his very soul, and it only served to make Hogan worry a bit more.

"Have they made it to the tunnel yet?" Hogan asked.

"Garlotti and Olsen are at the entrance waiting for them to drop in." Kinch relied.

"What about the radio, have we gotten any messages on that yet?"

"Baker's gotten nothing Sir."

"Alright... someone else, watch the door! Lets get to the coffee pot Kinch." Hogan ordered.

While the sounds of men shuffling their feet towards the Barracks door filled the entire room with sound, not a word could be heard in Hogan's office. Only the buzzing of the small light held by a thin wire above Hogan's desk made any audible noise, as Kinch tried to set the coffee pot up without making too much noise.

Under the soft glow of the light, the shadows under the eyes were made even more evident as neither men had gotten much sleep within the last 24 hours, and for as much as they wanted to just lie down and let it all slip away, their duty was called upon them, and the shadows only drew deeper. When Kinch finally got the coffeepot hooked up, a storm was fully underway, even as the night sky remained clear under the gaze of the moon.

"Klink, where are your prisoners?"

"Major Hochstetter, for the last time... I have already informed you. All of my prisoners have been in here, within this camp, for as long as they themselves have been captured. Why do you care so much about my job if the Gestapo does not do its job properly?"

"Do not speak to me about Gestapo business!"

If the twilight of the gods were to ever happen, Hochstetter would have to be on both sides. It just wouldn't make sense if otherwise... at least in the mind of Kinch. For the last 10 minutes, him and Klink had been going back and forth with each other, and surprisingly... Klink had not backed down and was actually standing up to Hochstetter, but that didn't do anything to help the Major's mood.

"Major, for the last three years, I have dealt with your insults, your inspections, your failures... and each time you have not suffered anything for such matters. YOU, intend to school me on how I must do my duty properly, how to bow down and lick the rear of your boot, how to ensure that I do not fail in my duties? Major Hochstetter, you must be mad then, and therefore, I shall no-longer bow to down a mad dog like you and toss you a bone. You will not be present here in such a matter again, or rest assured... you will regret it... Major."

If Klink could see it, he would've found two Americans huddled around a coffeepot with their mouths open as wide as a tank barrel, and indeed... they probably weren't the only ones. The coffeepot had gone silent for a whole thirty seconds while Kinch and Hogan stared at it in aw, waiting for any sort of reply. Indeed, the reply that they were expecting was one that would probably be one that could destroy the whole entire camp, but what they had got instead was something even more surprising.

"What... did... you... say..."

"I believe you heard me very well Major, or did all of your shouting leave you deaf?"

"Kl-... Well then, Colonel Klink... would you be obliged to allow me and my men to conduct an inspection of the barracks?"

"Very well Major, you may... but under my orders and my rules of conduct. Have I made myself clear Major Hochstetter?"

"You have..."

"I am sorry, you have... what?"

"You have... Colonel Klink."

"Much better then, now... go outside, and form you men up Major."

1... 2... 3... 4...

The sounds of Jackboots kept every man alert within the formation. With a small army already surrounding them, and the cold bighting at the tips of every exposed part of their bodies, all of the prisoners kept themselves at pristine attention, as if a General within their own army were present to inspect them all. Instead of an allied general however, they were now being inspected by the venerable King of Shadows, whos face was stained with a mark of eternal irritation, as if it were a bomb teetering towards the edge of exploding and unleashing hell and darkness on all of those who are present.

For the guards of the camp, they themselves kept at their best, for the shouting within the den of their eagle could be heard through the wooden walls that made up the main building. Indeed, when they had heard their commander fight back against the man who tormented them all, they presented their admiration in the form of a show of discipline that could rival that the old Prussians. Indeed, even Sergeant Schultz harkened back to his days in the Kaiser's army, and his voice was not that of a fat man trying to get through his menial job, but that of an old Drill Sergeant, whos voice could command a force of thousands of raw recruits and turn them into the best of soldiers. But discipline alone would not make things better if all the prisoners were not to be present.

Langenscheidt had already informed him of the 3 missing men in Barracks 2, and that 2 more were staying behind in the barracks for reasons that they did not wish to know of. The look on the Corporal's face was that of pure fear as he tried to explain it all through the cold dark night, under the shadow of Hochstetter and the Gestapo. Indeed, this fear was reciprocated when other trusted ones heard of it, and asked Schultz of what to do.

Normally, the answer would be to "know nothing", but that answer would never work... not now, not here. If there was anything that he could do, he would've done so... even if it meant pushing himself towards cardiac arrest to do such a thing, as long as it kept everyone else out of harms way... but there was nothing that could be done at all, not with this situation. It hurt him to say it, but it was all he could order.

"We must wait." He said with a strong voice, trying to hold back the fear that was boiling and spreading throughout him like steam in a boiler.

The looks he got were skeptical, and if they were anyone else, they probably would've killed Hochstetter out of desperation... but they weren't anyone else... they were his boys, all of them. He made sure that he took care of them, and for that... they would make sure that they listened, and faithfully followed their Sergeant's orders.

1... 2... 3... 4...

The shadow of Hochstetter inspected every man from each barracks, with each barracks guard yelling with their best voice that all prisoners were accounted for. If it were any normal inspection, Klink would've held his usual smug look for appearances, but when he saw the look on Grubers face after the Captain had spoken with Sergeant Schultz, he knew that things did not look too good.

Inwardly, he began to curse at Hogan, for it was because of him and his men that such a situation was occurring, but then as soon as he started streaming out curses at his fellow Colonel, he began to direct curses towards himself. He thought himself stupid for not refusing Hochstetter's request for an inspection, for not ordering Gruber to Schultzs line up machine guns and fire on the trucks and Hochstetter's minions. He kept cursing himself all the way to Hogan's Barracks, where all the men who were present were lined up at full attention. Silently, he prayed for a miracle as Hochstetter made his way up to Langenschedit.

"Corporal, what is your report?" Hochstetter yelled.

"He'rr Major... all prisoners-" Dammit Langenscheidt, lie if you must!

"Well, Corporal?"

"He'rr Major, all prisoners..."

"Major, all of my men are accounted for, it is just that we have a few sick men and I have sent two to stay in the barracks to keep them company, Sir." Hogan replied, saving Langenscheidt from having to nearly vomit out the next words in his statement. Klink almost was pleased with the answer and silently hoped that Hochstetter would believe it, but the look on Hochstetter's face pushed down any thought of that being so.

"So... you have a couple of sick men Hogan?"

"Yes Major, that is correct."

A smile worthy of the devil creeped up Hochstetter's face as the major drew out his luger and placed it firmly between Colonel Hogan's temple.

"Well then, we shall see if you are telling the truth then Hogan. Guards, bring them men out, now!"

The sound of boots cracking on the hard winter surface drew fear from all prisoners and guards within the camp, as Gestapo men rushed towards Barrack's 2, all the while Hogan began to spill out whatever excuse he could think of.

"Major, my men are in no case to wal-"

"Quiet or I will shoot you were you stand Hogan!" The major snarled.

If there was ever a definition of eternity, Klink felt it right at that moment... for it seemed like forever until the Gestapo men made it to the door. And just as he thought that all hope was lost, the door opened, and five men, three of them who looked and acted (very well) sick came hobbling out, all to the inner joy of the prisoners and guards to the camp, but to Hochstetter... silence only reigned from him.

And then came a sound they all would never forget.

Gruber did not know what had happened at first. Everything seemed to move so fast, but once it had all settled, it could all be described in full detail.

It was at that point, when all men were proven to be present from Hogan's barracks, did Hochstetter finally snap. Immediately, the major let out a screech fit for a servant to the devil himself, his eyes so full of rage, they looked like they were about to pop out of the Major's skull. In the midst of that rage, his focus had directed itself from those within the camp itself and then to a new, singular target... Hogan. If Hogan hadn't moved quick enough, there would've been a bullet in the American's face, but thankfully, the latter did not prevail and Hogan managed to move out of the way right as Hochstetter shot his weapon.

What happened next was a bit of a blur... there was a lot of fleeing on part of the prisoners, and quite a lot of shooting from Hochstetter, but what stopped it all from going even further downhill was Klink, holding a gun to Hochstetter's head, with all the other guards right behind him, ready to shoot the Gestapo if proved necessary. Even Gruber had his sidearm out, though he never remembered taking it out of its holster.

The standoff endured for what seemed like hours, though it only took a few seconds before all the pent of rage in Hochstetter caused the major to try and strike Klink with his sidearm, only for Schultz to quickly knock out the mad major with his rifle. Eventually, the Gestapo men did leave, though under heavy guard and escort from a detachment sent out by Klink, and only then... when the shadows had cleared themselves from the camp, did peace once again reign.

If there was any reason to continue the inspection, no one saw any such purpose in doing so... neither prisoner, nor guard. And as such, the prisoners were ordered to return to their barracks. The order was received, and it was definitely understood, but it was not immediately implemented, for only a few seconds after it was given, Hogan shouted over his men to snap to attention. And in all that, they presented with their captors with a salute fit for a great general inspecting over his army, and yet... it was all given towards the officers and men guarding a prison camp meant to drain all hope and pride from its prisoners... to reduce them to men without any sort of pride or determination. Yet here they all were, saluting their captors and giving them only the best that military courtesy could ever offer. The gesture was one that no one present on that day would ever forget, for even Gruber was surprised, if not touched by it all.

As the men were dismissed and marched back into their barracks, Klink called out to Colonel Hogan to come join him in his quarters, and while they both made their way to the Kommandantur, Gruber caught Klink glancing at him. The look on his face said it all, and Gruber knew what to do. With both of them sharing a quick, but discreet nod, they parted ways to fulfill their respective duties.

Later that night, four calls would be placed on a private line that only a few people knew about. One was to a certain general who was lodging in Hammelburg for the night. The other was to a few men and women in the shadows, for they were to receive a gift by way of delivery. The third call went towards men who wore suits and ties, for they were now to let off a load in the city in which they governed over. The last call was made not by phone, but by radio; for a long planned affair was finally to be implemented, forever removing dark shadows from the likes of Hammelburg for good.

Klink was silent as they made their way into his quarters, and while there was so much that Hogan had wanted to say then and there, he oddly could not bring himself to do any such thing. Klink of all people, had just saved the life of not just himself, but that of his men as well. Klink, Schultz... all of them, they all stood up for them despite the consequences of it all. For all they knew, they all could've been in their final hours, and yet it seemed like that sentiment had fallen short of Klink.

Hogan's counterpart directed him towards one of the seats in the small dining room before he disappeared into the kitchen... the sounds of pots and pans being rummaged around making it evident that Klink intended for food to be served. How well Klink cooked, Hogan didn't know, but he wasn't about to just leave right then and there, not after all that had happened. No, he was just going to sit there as an officer and a gentlemen, it was the least he could do to the man who just saved his life. A man who at any other point, would've blabbered his way to nearly being put in front of a firing squad. A man who was a completely different person than he had known after all the hours that they had shared together in their encounters over the past 3 years. A man who apparently knew how to tell the difference from a pot and pan, given the sounds that were coming from the kitchen. Had Hogan underestimated Klink after all of these years? Was it Klink who duped him each time he thought he got a one-up over the German?

All the thoughts began to circle around as if they were a moon in orbit around the planet that was his head, and they were only broken by the sound of Klink's voice calling out from the kitchen.

"There are some records in the cupboard under the china cabinet. Would you please put on a record Hogan?" The tone of Klink voice never made it sound like an order, only that of a request... though Hogan was in no place to refuse such a request from this new Klink. Wordlessly moving over towards the cupboard, Hogan indeed found quite a lot of records and their slips all neatly arranged under the cabinet of china. On a whim, he pulled out a random slip and was greeted with a recording of Beethoven's 6th, his pastoral symphony. Hogan had heard it before, and indeed it was something nice to listen to, so he decided to pull out the record and place it in the record player. The only issue was, for some reason, there were two records placed within the slip. Why that was the case, Hogan didn't know. Maybe they were two different recordings? It wasn't Hogan's place to ask why at this point, so he just pulled out a random on and set it in the record player.

Placing the pin over the record, Hogan waited for the soft violin melody to begin to play from the record, only to be greeted by a harsh entrance led by cellos and bass. As the recording continued, Hogan could tell that this was definitely not Beethoven's 6th Symphony, but instead something entirely different. Its chords and melodies did not flow with cheerful harmony, but rather stark tension, as if the man who composed it was inflicted by a plague of rage.

Lost in the music, Hogan did not notice when Klink came out of the kitchen with a simple, yet modest dinner on two small plates, complete with a bottle of wine that Hogan had never seen before being placed on the table. It was only then, when Klink called out to him, did Hogan lose focus of the music, and finally sit down for a meal prepared for him by his German counterpart.

Half-expecting it to be somewhat bland in taste, Hogan was surprised to find that the food itself was well-prepared and full in taste, something he thought that Klink would never be capable of. Then again, the night was full of surprises for them all, so why not just another surprise then?

As the dinner dragged on in silence, Hogan's mind was full of questions with regards to Klink, and yet he could not bring himself to ask any of them. It was only until all that was left was the bottle of wine did Hogan finally bring himself to ask at least one question.

"Kommandant, that isn't Beethoven's 6th Symphony, is it?" He asked, nervously waiting for whatever reply Klink would come up with, for even that was uncertain anymore. Silence reigned for only a few seconds before Klink did answer.

"No Hogan, no it is not. It is actually a 6th Symphony though, but it is not the Pastoral." Klink replied, his head focused down on his wine glass.

"Who composed this one then, Kommandant?"

"It was composed by a man named Mahler... someone who has been banned for quite some time."

Mahler... Hogan had heard that name before, but he didn't know where from or why. Klink did say it was banned though, but how did Klink have a banned piece?

"How did you ever get this then if it had been banned, Kommandant?" Hogan asked.

"It was given to me a long time ago Hogan, and it is because of that person which is why I shall never get rid of it." Klink answered, the lines in his face tensing as he said it.

"Who were they, if I may ask Kommandant?" Hogan pressed.

"Hogan, I ask that for at least tonight, you stop calling me Kommandant. Call me anything else you would like, but do not call me Kommandant for the rest of the night. I do not want to hear it." Shadows began to run deeper into Klink's face as he nearly almost pleaded with Hogan to stop. On any other day, Hogan would've joked around with it for one of his schemes, but tonight was no such day, and as such, Hogan releneted.

"Alright, I will stop... but could I know who possibly gave it to you Klink?" The answer seemed to please Klink, as the shadows were released from Klink's face, though his mood became more solemn and almost depressed.

"They were given to me by a person who I shall forever cherish and miss Hogan."

"Were they close?"

"We were the closest. She was the only reason why I learned to love these pieces."

She... Did that mean what Hogan thought it meant? No, don't push in that direction... something obviously happened to her if he misses her.

"You said you miss her... what happened?" Hogan asked.

"Nine years ago she passed away, but I think of it more as a blessing rather than something sad, as much as I miss her and the times we all spent together. She would've never been able to survive this war... all of it, the bombings, the killing, the sadness... it would've killed her soul. So I think it is good that she is in god's hands now for at least she is forever safe."

"How long did you know each other?"

"Up until then, it had been nearly 10 years Hogan. Almost 10 years with her, and each day I loved it all."

10 years with a woman...

"Did you both ever..."

"We did... and it was one of the best days of my life. That was 18 years ago Hogan... 18 years..."

"Did you two have children?"

"Twins, and my god Hogan, they have some of the reddest hair you would ever see. Oh, I love those two so much..."

2 children and a wife... how much do I not know about Klink? Hogan thought. Indeed, all of this came as a surprise to him, as he never thought that Klink was anything but an eternal bachelor.

"Are they still-"

"Hogan, I would not be here if they weren't. I honestly would've shot myself if they weren't." Klink snapped, his eyes finally darting up showing the number that the night did on the man.

"Where are they?"

"In a boarding school in Switzerland. Safe from the horrors of war." Klink's response was akin to that of a father who dearly loved his children, and Hogan knew that there we no lies being told... everything Klink was saying was absolutely true.

"What about other family?" Hogan asked.

"My father passed away in 1919, my mother... I do not know. Ever since the bombings in 1943, she was living in a shelter in Dusseldorf... but now, I do not know. It has all been uncertain anymore. I don't even know where my brother Wolfgang has been during all this time."

"What about on your wife's side?"

"Anastázie, or Anastasia in English, came from a family in Prague. The last I heard from them all was in 1942... right before your commandos killed Reinhard Heydrich. I only hope they are all in a better place now."

The aura of silence once again fell on both men, as much was revealed that night. Hogan was shocked at what he had heard, as much of what was said was things he had not known. If he were in any other mood, he would've thought it an insult to his intelligence... but then he realized it all. It was never any sort of thing... rather, it was just that he never saw Klink as anyone but a stooge... without a private life. He never thought that Klink had ever experienced such a thing, and yet there it was... all laid out in front of him. All he had to do was accept it.

When the silence passed a few minutes, Klink decided to speak again.

"Did you know Hogan, that I did try to go see them during that two week leave I took to the alps?" Klink asked.

"No... I did not."

"Well, if it hadn't been for your antics and those two scheming officers, I probably would've been able to see them... but you managed to get me called back just a few hours before I could see them and take them skiing."

"Well, I woul-"

"You do not need to say anything Hogan-", Klink cut him off, "after all... I was the one who was dodging General Burkhalter's phone calls."

"Did he know?"

"He was my best man at my wedding Hogan. Despite what you always see, me and General Burkhalter have been friends for decades, despite all that I have done and what he has put up with." Klink admitted, a short chuckle enveloping his reveal of that revelation.

"Sounds like you like the old tub of lard." Hogan chuckled. Surprisingly, Klink shared it with him.

"Indeed I do... he is one of the only things I have left in this world. Save for my daughters, my command, and all that is in these quarters."

"Wait, what do you mean 'all that is in these quarters?'"

"Hogan... I do not have a home. I sold it years ago to pay for Janika and Kateřina to stay in Switzerland. Why do you think these quarters are so heavily furnished with things you would find in someone's home? Hogan... these are all that I have left."

All that he has left... just to keep his daughters safe...

"Do... do you have any photographs?" He asked.

"Tons of them, though I do not know where they are. I left them with a man that you and I both trust deeply... and needless to say, that man has not ever betrayed my trust, despite what others in both our nations may think of his kind." Klink stated.

Hogan almost asked who this person's identity was but a loud explosion rocked their surroundings. Rushing towards the window, Hogan saw a column of fire rise above the trees in the direction of Hammelburg. One by one, the lights in each hut turned on and men quickly filed out of their barracks without any protest from the guards, as they too looked off in awe of the explosion.

Klink on the other hand just stood there in silence, gazing into the flames souring into the night sky. Hogan thought he heard Klink mutter something under his breath, but he couldn't even ask the man that before Captain Gruber came rushing towards Klink with a radio in hand.

"He'rr Kommandant, the Bürgermeister has called to confirm that it is done." The winded Captain said.

"And Langenscheidt?" Klink asked.

"The hand off went without issue. No one was injured." Gruber replied.

"Good, you may return to your post Gruber." Klink said with a quick salute, which Gruber returned before rushing off into the dark.

Whatever happened was obviously known, if not planned out by Klink, but Klink did not anything slip from his mouth or show in his face. When Hogan asked him about it when they went back inside... all Klink said was that he had simply "Tied up loose ends". That was when the call from Burkhalter came, and Klink rushed Hogan out of his quarters, passing on a very good bottle of wine that he had never seen in Klink's cellar with him as he went on his way, before rushing back in and shutting the door, leaving his American counterpart alone in the shadows of night, wondering how much else, was buried deep within the shadows.

Fin