A/N: From Hogan's POV.
Chapter 5 - Is General Hammerschlag Burning?
Unfortunately for Hogan, Kinch didn't confide in him for several more weeks.
Hogan was surprised by this; usually Kinch was extremely forthcoming. And Hogan needed Kinch to be forthcoming for Hogan to trust him with such a key role in the operation.
Hogan had reassured a worried Schultz that Kinch wouldn't try to escape. Hogan believed that Kinch took his role with Hogan's group extremely seriously. He remembered how Kinch had reacted to Carter's possible departure.
At first, Hogan accepted the quietness on Kinch's part rather calmly. He hadn't seen any more crying episodes and Kinch acted the same. If something was bothering Kinch, he obviously did a good job at hiding it from Hogan and the other men. There was the possibility that Kinch was choosing to confide in someone else in camp such as the chaplain. Although that wouldn't have been Hogan's preferred option, that could be a suitable solution to his issue.
After a while, Hogan began to get bitter about being left in the dark. It wasn't only because he considered Kinch a friend and colleague- he was Kinch's commanding officer, damnit! The feeling of bitterness only increased when the French Resistance had a job to be done in Paris, and they wanted Kinch to be the one in charge.
The mission was not turning out to be one of Hogan's favorites. Hogan had received enjoyment from throwing water on Klink, but the positive vibes ended once they were in Carol Dukes' dressing room. Hogan wondered what on earth he ever did to Kinch to warrant being made a mute. And when Hogan asked him why, Kinch merely shrugged.
Once the General and the entertainer left her dressing room, Hogan peeked around the slightly open door to look at them. They had chosen to stay in the club and were immersed in a conversation over a glass of wine at a far end. Hogan knew he and Kinch had a chance to talk.
Hogan closed the door and folded his arms. "You never told me why I have to be a mute."
Kinch's eyebrows raised slightly. He refused to answer Hogan again and this only made Hogan more agitated.
Hogan began to pace the room like a caged tiger. "Can you blame a guy for wanting to know his motivation? I'm already feeling less comfortable about the mission as it is. This role seems a bad fit because you took away my voice—you have realized how many jams I've been able to talk us out of with this voice?"
Hogan was trapped in his rant so much that he nearly missed the disrespectful remark from Kinch that followed:
"At least you can talk."
Hogan whirled around mid-pace. He looked Kinch straight in the eye. He couldn't believe his radioman would say something like that. Kinch looked back at him with wide eyes. It was obvious by the look on Kinch's face that shouldn't have slipped out.
"What did you say? Who can't talk? Who are you referring to?" Hogan questioned.
Kinch sighed deeply. He remained silent for several moments. "My nephew Billy."
Hogan's ears perked up. He had a nagging feeling this was the issue that Schultz wanted him to talk to Kinch about. The role of a mute for Hogan began to make more sense. "You mean the baby? Babies develop slowly. I'm sure it's nothing. He probably started chattering after your last letter home," he said.
Kinch looked sad. "He's older than two now, sir. The boy isn't interested in communicating."
The look on Kinch's face was breaking Hogan's heart. It made Hogan want to lighten the mood. Surely the boy's condition wasn't that bad? "He'll never get to comment on the music of Gene Krupa?"
Kinch didn't seem to appreciate the remark. "Who's Gene Krupa, sir?"
Hogan sighed as the attempt backfired. He should have known his jokes in this mission would be off-balance, too. "Just some drummer my relatives back home in Connecticut are raving about. Poor joke."
A distracted Kinch tried to smile but failed. He appeared to become emotional by the minute. Hogan needed to get to the bottom of this. "It's that bad?"
Kinch closed his eyes briefly and Hogan wondered if Kinch was keeping the tears at bay. "I'm worried something's wrong with him. Recently, Billy has been throwing very long temper tantrums. He's having such a hard time communicating that he's…even injuring himself sometimes. Sometimes my sister Josephine wonders if Billy even knows the world is around him. She is desperate for him to communicate and now the damn doctor appears to be blaming her! I don't blame her for being worried – how would it feel to you if you didn't have the ability to say anything? What would your life be if you couldn't ask for food or drink, warmth or comfort? He can't even let her know he's sick, for Christ's sake! I apologize for my remark, but now you see why I reacted that way when you said that, sir. Some of us have it easy in life—and it appears Billy does not so far."
Kinch's passionate speech stunned Hogan. Kinch was right—it would be hard to go through life like that. Hogan couldn't believe that Kinch would keep this from him. He wondered if Kinch would become either distracted or an emotional wreck when he thought of Billy, and either of those traits in a radioman would be risky for Hogan's operation.
"Why wasn't I notified?" Hogan asked.
Now an obviously frustrated Hogan was struggling to keep his own emotions in check. "I didn't need to know? An issue which could cause problems with our operation and I didn't need to know? Well this is great, great! Not only am I in the middle of a mission from Hell, but now I have to hold a court-martial for my second in command right now in this dressing room, too?"
Kinch sighed. "I had a feeling this would happen. It wasn't personal, sir."
Hogan stared down Kinch. "Why didn't I need to know? This better be good."
"I was fairly sure that you would think even less of me," Kinch said.
Hogan could feel a headache coming on. "Think less of you? Kinch, has it occurred to you that I may receive flak from headquarters about appointing a Negro as my second in command? And the only way they tolerate my team the way it is configured is due to my reputation for the offbeat? Your skin could be purple for all I care and you would still be my radioman. Look, if I thought less of you, you wouldn't be in that post. I picked you because you are the most qualified—end of story."
Kinch puffed with pride. "Thank you, sir."
Hogan looked at him solemnly. "But it does mean I have certain expectations about how you will do the job. How will the thought of Billy being in the back of your head affect you? I need someone who can neither be distracted nor be an emotional wreck. You need me to send you home?"
Kinch looked at him, in surprise. "No."
Now Hogan looked back, in surprise. Even Hogan himself felt the desire to leave every once in a while. "Why not?"
"I consider myself a core member of this little group. I'm proud of our work. The group works great together and it wouldn't be fair to go out without anyone else," Kinch said.
Hogan smirked with envy. "That's the other problem with you, Kinch…you're too dedicated."
Kinch puffed with pride, once again. "Well, the team needs me."
But there might be a little boy in Detroit that needs you more, a worried Hogan thought.
"Promise me if it gets too tough, you'll tell me. And please don't ever think that the team or I wouldn't be there for you or this poor little boy. There is nothing wrong with asking for help," Hogan stated.
Kinch looked ashamed. "I promise."
And with that, Kinch left the dressing room. He needed to finalize some arrangements to obtain the General's plans.
Hogan watched him leave. He was glad Kinch did not ask him to go home. Hogan dreaded the thought of asking London. London had firsthand knowledge of Kinch's skills and would fight any change in personnel. Currently there were not enough reasons to make them receptive to it. Hogan himself did not want to make a change. And who would replace Kinch? He knew it only made sense for Kinch to stay at Stalag 13.
The only problem was that Hogan had this annoying feeling that this wouldn't be the last time he'd hear about Billy. What if the situation with the boy changed? And changed for the worse?
Hogan grimaced.
If that time comes, I'll think of something.
Inside Joke: Gene Krupa is the drummer who inspired Bob Crane to take up drumming.
