Between The Lines WWTF book 5 (if you are following my series) Chapter 10, a hogan's heroes fanfic

belongs to others and no infringement or

ownership is intended.

belong to ML Breedlove.

Between The Lines

Chapter 10

Now, more than ever, Hochstetter was determined to find Hogan before Klink. "We're looking for five escaped prisoners. Find their trail. Fan out!"

The soldiers did not waste any time following orders. Lieutenant Dresdner placed the men in a wide arch and they began a pristine search. "Do you think it was the prisoners that did the ambush back there, Major?" Dresdner dared to ask.

Hochstetter looked at the young Lieutenant and scowled. "I find it hard to believe that escaping prisoners would be carrying a machine-gun with them. But I wouldn't rule out their involvement completely if they are, somehow, connected with the underground."

Left unsaid was that in order to prove that connection, he needed to find Hogan first to get a confession out of him.

Hochstetter was still studying the ground when a sudden burst of machine gun fire sent him and his men crashing to the ground. Realizing there were no cracking branches or debris raining down on them, they could clearly see it wasn't aimed at them. They waited for another round to get a direction.

The smell of gunpowder began to permeate the air.

"Follow me!" Hochstetter yelled, as he jumped to his feet and began following his nose.

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Tiger stared at the carnage from the edge of the clearing as Dirk and Lutz examined the bodies. "Do you see anything to indicate what happened?"

"Those soldiers over there were machine gunned." Lutz answered, as he walked over to Dirk and looked down on the woman.

"Maybe that was the machine gun we heard," Dirk suggested.

Looking closer at the woman, Lutz frowned. "Isn't she's the one who got in the car with the Gestapo Major."

Dirk shook his head. "I can't tell, possibly. I can tell you, it wasn't a sniper that got her; she was obviously shot at close range. There are powder burns on her back and neck."

Lutz scanned the area one more time looking for Hegel. "I don't see the Major's body here. Maybe he got away."

"Maybe," Tiger answered, as she looked into the forest for direction. "We aren't going to figure this out now. There's a barn further down on the Hammelburg road. If there was a meeting between Hegel and Colonel Hogan around here, I'm guessing that would be the spot. Lets check it out."

Before they could move, there was another round of rapid fire in the distance.

Tiger froze. Looking at Dirk and Lutz she softly uttered one word…

"Machine-gun."

They all knew the possibility.

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Guardedly pushing himself up on his side to look around, Hogan waited, ready to drop again if another hail of bullets started. "Is everyone all right?"

Talking all at once, the voices of his men mingled together but he was able to discern they were all in one piece.

Rolling over on his back, Newkirk stared at the dust still lingering in the air. "Blimey, what made Klink bring a machine gun?"

"Holy cow!" Carter exclaimed, pushing Newkirk's foot off his shoulder. "I wasn't expecting that!"

"None of us were, Andrew," Kinch agreed.

A moment of stillness followed.

The continued silence lured Hogan to stand. Looking toward the barn door he waited and listened. A lot of chaos began outside. "Nobody go near the door. Wait for Klink to make the next move."

"Oui." LeBeau looked at his comrades wondering what to expect next.

It was a short wait. The door to the barn suddenly slammed open

Four armed guards entered, their guns ready. Seconds later, Klink came barreling to the front of the group, frantically scanning the barns interior.

Relief flooded his face when he saw his prisoners were all on their feet…or getting there.

"Anybody injured?"

"No, we're okay." Hogan answered, half puzzled and half angry and still trying to process what just happened.

"Then put your hands up!" Klink ordered, his demeanor changing.

Before Hogan could demand an explanation, Klink caught him with a stare and demanded, "I want the wire-cutter. I told you to leave it at the fence!"

Hogan turned to Newkirk and held out his hand as he directed his next question at Klink.

"What happened out there, Kommandant?" Taking the wire-cutter, he laid it in Klink's hand.

Klink shoved it in his pocket and waved his gun at Hogan motioning for him to put his hands up.

"Hegel is dead."

Hogan exhaled. One problem was solved, but there was still one more to go.

"I need to talk to you, alone, Kommandant."

Hogan's men looked at him surprised. What was the Colonel up too, now?

Turning to his guards, Klink motioned toward the door, "Take these men and put them in the truck. Hogan, you stay."

As the last man exited Klink turned back to face Hogan who had, casually, put his hands down.

"Well, Hogan, what is it now?"

"We can't tell anyone what Hegel was doing." It was not a question, it was not a request, it was said with the air of someone in command.

Klink's jaw dropped. "What do you mean? We have the goods on him! It's extortion."

Crossing his arms across his chest, Hogan asked, "How are you going to explain a million dollars in diamonds, Kommandant?"

"You got them!"

Hogan laughed, "Me? How would a prisoner get a million dollars in diamonds?"

"That's what I'm going to find out!" Klink looked unwaveringly at Hogan.

Seeing the determination in Klink's face, Hogan began to back-peddle. "I already told you, I can't tell you that! And nobody is going to believe you, anyway.

Klink's face began to turn an unnatural shade of red.

Sizing up the situation Hogan quickly continued talking, before Klink had him hauled away.

"Come on, Kommandant. I've been securely locked up in the toughest POW camp in Germany for going on two years. How would I have any connections to get diamonds and beyond that, for what reason? You know it is much more likely that they will focus on your involvement in this. It would be more believable that Hegel had something on you. Either way neither one of us is going to come out of this unscathed…unless."

Klink's hostility over Hogan's blatant boldness began to dissipate as he began to realize that Hogan might be right. This could end up very messy.

Klink warily asked, "Unless…what?"

"Unless this was just a simple escape attempt and Hegel just accidently ended up getting killed as you were apprehending us. Then you would not be held responsible."

Shocked at this proposal, Klink asked, "Do you understand what you are asking to do, Hogan? A Gestapo officer is dead. This could go very hard for you and your men."

"Believe me, Kommandant, the other way would be worse."

Klink stroked his chin. "I'll think it over."

Hogan unfolded his arms and shifted his weight impatiently. "You said the same thing before you finally went to hear Hegel make his demands! "

"Exactly, and you see where that got me!" Klink made an all-encompassing gesture with his arms taking in his surroundings.

Hogan took a step forward. "Kommandant, you don't have time for a leisurely decision. This is our only way out."

"Hogan! That is enough." Klink motioned toward the door. "Outside—now. This meeting is over. –And put your hands back up!

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Major Hochstetter led his men straight to the barn. The ensuing commotion drew him like a moth to a flame and he rushed onto the scene.

"What is going on here?" He quickly took in the truck full of prisoners and the machine gun. Looking down at the ground something else caught his attention.

"Who is underneath that blanket?"

At that moment the barn door opened, and looking up, any hopes he had of it being Hogan under the blanket were shattered, as Klink and Hogan exited the barn.

"Arrest that man." Hochstetter pulled his gun. "Hands up."

"They are up!" Hogan growled.

"Higher." Hochstetter demanded.

Hogan slowly complied as several more guns came to bear on him.

Klink stepped between Hogan and Hochstetter. "Put your guns down. Colonel Hogan is my prisoner, I recaptured him and I am taking him back to Stalag 13."

Klink looked to Schultz.

"Schultz, put Colonel Hogan in the truck."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."

"Wait a minute." Hochstetter stammered. "There are several soldiers up the road that were gunned down tonight, Colonel Hogan is a suspect."

"Major Hochstetter, I have been on Hogan's tail all night, He has not had time to gun down anybody. Besides he would need a gun to do that and he is unarmed. If you don't believe me—search him."

Hogan stiffened. Clenching his teeth, he held his breath. This could get ugly. The gun Hogan had brought was still in his pocket and was beginning to feel like a red-hot poker. Looking straight at Hochstetter, he waited.

"Hochstetter stared at Hogan, considering the offer and then…

"Bah, put him in your truck. I doubt very much I will find a machine gun in his pocket!"

"A machine gun?" Klink and Hogan repeated at the same time.

Hogan sarcastically continued, "You'd have to look to the Kommandant for that!"

Klink looked at Hogan and sharply ordered, "Stay out of this, Hogan, you're in enough trouble already. Schultz, put him in the truck."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."

Hochstetter followed Hogan with his eyes. "It may be better if you hold him for now, anyway. I need to search the woods for more evidence."

Klink looked back at Hochstetter, "What are you talking about?"

"I don't want to go into that right now." Again looking at the body under the blanket, Hochstetter asked, "What prisoner did you kill tonight, Kommandant?"

Klink stalled for time. He had to decide which scenario he was going to run with. Looking at the truck loaded with his prisoners, he decided to remove them before Hochstetter changed his mind.

"Schultz, take the prisoners back to camp and put them in solitary confinement in the cooler. I'll finish up here."

"Solitary, Herr Kommandant?"

"Schuuultz! Do it, now!"

Hochstetter nodded, approvingly. "Finally. I was beginning to wonder if you ever used your cooler for anything other than storage."

Looking down his nose at Hochstetter, Klink offered, "Oh, I use it. Come by sometime and I will happily give you a demonstration!"

Hochstetter glared back at Klink and then watched as the truck pulled away. Tiring of waiting, he went to unveil the body.

Klink's time was up.

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Tiger looked at Lutz, "Did I hear right? Did they just say Hegel is dead?"

Lutz nodded as he continued to watch Hochstetter jumping, screaming, and making, unbridled, accusations.

Dirk's common sense was shouting at him. "Come on we've seen enough. Let's go before we get caught."

Fading back into the woods the three circled the barn, and began walking in the direction of Stalag 13 before they would eventually turn north to head back to the farm.

Tiger's relief was evident.

"What are you thinking, Marie?" Dirk asked, always preferring to use her given name. Code names were for the enemy.

Tiger smiled. "I'm thinking how thankful I am, but I'm also wondering what effect Hegel's death is going to have. I'm afraid this may not be over yet."

Looking back at Lutz and Dirk, she hoped to get their opinions of the situation. Instead, she stopped walking when she saw Dirk's smile fade as he looked off their path into the woods. Pulling her gun she followed his gaze.

"What is that?" Dirk asked, and began walking toward a black object just barely sticking up over a hill to their left.

Lutz followed. "It's a machine gun." Bewildered, he rushed up to it and looked it over. "It hasn't been out her long. The legs haven't settled far into the ground and it's clean."

Then it dawned on him. "I think we've found out what Hegel had planned for Colonel Hogan and his men."

Tiger's eyes grew big as she realized things could have ended a lot differently. If this machine-gun had been placed here by Hegel, they could have been looking at another killing field like the one they came across earlier.

"I think we now know what happened to those Gestapo soldiers and the woman," Lutz announced, as he began folding up the gun.

"What are you doing?" Dirk asked.

"I'm taking this with us."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Tiger asked. "How will they know what Hegel had done, and planned to do, if we take it?"

"You don't really think they would contribute this to Hegel do you?" Lutz looked up at Tiger and Dirk, who stared questioningly back at him.

Lutz continued explaining as he kept working. "They would say the machine-gun belonged to the underground and Hogan and his men used it to commit the carnage on the road. And that Hegel escaped the attack and got the drop on them later at the barn. It would follow that, because Klink caught Hogan and his men, they were prevented from removing the gun from the woods, and that was why it was still here to be found.

But, if they can't find the machine-gun used to gun down the woman and those soldiers, then there is room for doubt. Someone else could be responsible. The underground may even be solely responsible. That lets Colonel Hogan and his men off the hook. Or at least gives reasonable doubt for their involvement."

Lutz looked at them and smiled. "And…we just gained a machine-gun!"

Tiger and Dirk quickly moved to help.

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