Chapter 7

'Mmm, that smells really good-' Maisie said, looking over LeBeau's shoulder at the pot on the stove. 'What is it?'

'I don't know, yet. Not until I'm finished.' He replied, with a smile. 'Are you hungry?'

'Slightly. I think I'm starting to get my appetite back. Just a little.'

'Excellent. I'm glad to hear it.'

'I'm sorry about me not eating what you cook lately. I hate good food being wasted.'

'Oh, it wasn't wasted-' He assured her, adding a sprinkle of salt to the pot. 'Schultz has been eating rather well lately.'

'So, he'll be the only one disappointed that I have my appetite back?' She asked, with an amused giggle.

'You might say that.'

'I'm sure one of my little chocolate cakes will take care of him later.'

'You feel up to cooking?'

'No, not quite. Maybe in a few more days.' She'd looked around the barracks, noticing that Newkirk wasn't there. 'Where's Newkirk?'

'With Klink organizing some work detail. What's wrong with my company?'

'Oh nothing. It just comes second to his-'

LeBeau playfully hit her over the head with a tea towel. 'That's enough out of you, scamp.'

'Yeah yeah.'

'I won't bake any oatmeal cookies…'

'Okay, okay. I apologize.'

'Better.'

'So-' She took a seat at the table. 'Have I missed anything important?'

'Nothing except for an exciting round of laundry washing. Morale is at an all time low.'

'I hadn't noticed.' She replied, with a touch of sarcasm.

'You seem to be better, though.'

'I'm trying. Wilson says my arms will be healed up in a few more days.' I still can't believe I did what I did, she added in her mind. It had been a few days since Newkirk had walked in on her cutting herself and frankly, she was relieved he had. Her secret being revealed was like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. 'And that will be a relief-' The sound of a car arriving caught her attention, and she went over to the window, a shiver running up her spine as she saw the black uniform.

LeBeau looked over, frowning. 'Something wrong, Maisie?'

'Gestapo.'

At that word, he hurried over to join her at the window, watching as a uniformed man was taken from the back seat of the car and marched into Colonel Klink's office. He noticed the teen shaking and placed his arm around her. 'I'm sure they're just dropping off a new prisoner.'

'I hate them.'

'I don't go much on them, either.' He guided her away from the window. 'But don't think about that. You best go down into the tunnel until they leave.'

'What if they're here to take someone else?'

'I'm sure they're not.' LeBeau tried to reassure her, pushing her in the direction of the bunk. 'But you're going down there right now.'

Maisie nodded somberly as he hit the bunk mechanism.

'Try not to worry-' He patted her shoulder as she started down the ladder. 'I'm sure everything will be alright.'

The entrance closed up again above her, the teen glancing up worriedly. What if they were here to take someone else? She felt herself starting to panic as she reached the floor and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. It's alright, you're alright. She tried to calm herself down before her anxiety turned into a full blown panic attack. LeBeau's right, they're just here to drop off another prisoner. Nothing more than that…

Once she'd gotten her emotions in check, she started through the tunnel again and found her way back to the underground room she had stayed in. Her picture she'd drawn for Hogan was still lying on the cot and tears began to fill her eyes as she picked it up. Papa, why did you try to escape? You were smarter than that. You knew it would have been sucide. Why, Papa? Why?

The urge to cut herself became stronger as she sank to the floor beside the cot, sobbing quietly. She rolled up her sleeve, looking at the bandages wrapping her arms. No. Her wounds were healing. I won't do it, she resolved firmly, covering the bandages up once more. Papa wouldn't want me to hurt myself anymore.

Her gaze fell back to the picture and instead of taking her pain out on herself, she tore the page from the notebook. Tears fell onto the paper as she tore it up, tearing the picture into a thousand tiny pieces. She looked at the pile, the torn pieces reminding her of her shattered heart. No one could put the picture together again. No one could heal her heart, either. And she cried.

There, alone in the room where Colonel Hogan had saved her from taking her own life, she broke down. Sobs wracked her body, her hand covering her mouth as the tears flowed. Pain, grief, anger, flooded through her. Why had he been taken from her? Why did he have to die? This damn bloody war had taken everything from her. Her home, her family, her homeland had turned into an unrecognizable nightmare and now Hogan… It just wasn't fair!

In her anger, she picked up the notepad, hurling it as hard as she could against the opposite wall. The pillow on the bed was what she took her anger out on next, repeatedly punching it over and over again as hard as she could. As exhaustion overtook her, she began to calm down and shakingly got to her feet. She stood, leaning against the wall as she wiped her face. Somehow after that outburst she felt a little better. A little smile graced her lips as she sniffled. Bet Papa would have had something to say about that little expression of temper, she thought, and a little chuckle followed. Least only the notepad and pillow got hurt this time.

Taking her anger out on something other than her own body did feel good. For the first time since Hogan's passing, she felt a little peace. Like she had come to terms with his death. Finally accepted the reality that he was gone. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and allowed peace to flood her soul. Sometimes healing came in the most unusual of ways.

'Maisie?'

Maisie heard LeBeau calling her and left the room, walking back out into the tunnel. 'They're gone?'

He nodded. 'Just dropped off a new prisoner and left. It's safe to come up now.' In the dim light he could see tear stains on her cheeks. 'You've been crying?'

'Yeah...feel a little better now.' She replied softly, as they started back to the ladder into the barracks. 'But the pillow took a beating.'

'As long as you feel better, that's the main thing.'

'I do, a little. It's strange…' She shrugged. 'But I feel more at peace, now.'

'I'm glad to hear that.' He smiled, stopping beside the ladder and letting her go first. After a moment, he followed her into the barracks and closed the bunk up behind them. 'You had us worried.'

'I know.' The smell of oatmeal cookies wafted through the air, and she smiled a little. 'You did make cookies.'

'Just for you, ma petite.'

'Thank you, LeBeau.'

He smiled as he handed a warm cookie to her. He watched as she devoured it with gusto, and his smile widened, handing her another one. 'You seem to have gotten your appetite back, too.'

'Hey, crying is hungry work.'

'I know.' They took a seat at the table, and she ate through the cookie at a slower pace this time. 'It just doesn't feel real that he's gone.'

'I know.' Maisie sobered once more. 'It just doesn't make sense, now that I can think about it. Papa never put himself in more danger then he had to. It just doesn't add up that he'd try to attempt an escape while being held by the Gestapo.'

'I've thought about that myself, and I agree, I don't think they told us the full story.'

'When has the Gestapo ever been truthful? They're not known for their honesty.'

'No, you're right there.' He agreed.

Maisie helped herself to another cookie from the plate. 'What do we know about Colonel Hogan's death?'

LeBeau shrugged, not comprehending exactly where she was going with what she was saying. 'That he was shot in the back while escaping.'

'Mmhmm. But other than that, what proof do we have?'

'They sent his dog tags.'

'I know, but I've been thinking.' She replied between nibbling at her snack. 'I'm not completely satisfied with their story-'

He knew that look she was wearing on her face. 'Oh no. Don't tell me. You're planning on finding out what happened.'

'Are you happy with the explanation we have been given?'

'Not… exactly.' LeBeau replied, after a long pause. 'But what can we do? London have written the Colonel off, if we bought it up to them they would think we've all gone nuts.'

'I don't know.' She sighed. 'I've just been thinking that it doesn't make sense, that's all. I mean, I just don't believe Papa would have tried something so reckless and dangerous as trying to escape from the Gestapo, when he would have known that he didn't stand a chance against them.'

'You might have a point there.'

'It just doesn't add up. I mean, I know they sent Papa's things... ' She sighed again. 'I just don't know what to think.'

LeBeau placed his arm around her. 'You're within your right to question, but I don't think you'll find any different outcome.'

'You're probably right. It's probably just wishful thinking. Wishing there was some way Papa could still be alive…' Her voice trailed off, and she reached for another cookie. 'Forget I said anything, okay?'

Before LeBeau could reply, the front door opened, and a new man walked into the barracks. Maisie looked up at him in shock, cookie halfway to her mouth.

'Colonel Crittendon-' Newkirk started with a tone of disdain, closing the door behind them. 'Meet Colonel Hogan's daughter, Maisie.'

'Colonel Hogan's daughter?' The colonel exclaimed, with surprise, wheeling back around to face him. 'You've got to be joking, man. A girl, in a German prison camp-'

Maisie stood, looking the stranger up and down. He appeared to be about Colonel Hogan's height, but a little heavier than him with dark hair, brown eyes, and a mustache. From the first impression of him, she was hardly amused. He's no Colonel Hogan, that's for sure.

'No joke.' Newkirk continued, with a smirk. 'You're looking at one of the best Underground agents to ever fight against the Germans.'

He looked back at the teen, his eyebrows raised. She was a little thing, dressed in an old USAAF uniform. It did the trick though, from a distance he wouldn't have thought she was anything but another prisoner. 'An underground agent? Sure doesn't look like much of one.'

'Thank you. Thank you very much,' Maisie remarked, snippy.

'Oh, a touch cheeky, too, I see.'

She strode over to him, none the least intimidated by his uniform or his height. 'I'll have you know-'

Newkirk quickly got between the two of them, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Uh, Maisie, Colonel Crittendon is here to take over Colonel Hogan's position.'

She frowned, looking past Newkirk to the new man. 'You?'

'Yes, that's right.'

'You?' She repeated, unable to believe her ears. She started to laugh.

Crittendon frowned. 'What's so funny?'

'You, take Papa's place? Why didn't London just send a monkey instead?'

'Why you-'

'Maisie, respect,' Newkirk warned.

'Respect? Unlike you, I don't have to listen to him. He's not my commanding officer!'

'Maisie-' Newkirk replied firmly. 'Like it or not, he's here now, and we're stuck with him.'

Crittendon crossed his arms in front of himself proudly. 'Thank you for that, old chap.'

'It wasn't for your benefit, believe me.'

The teen looked him up and down once more, then moved away without another word, marching over to the tunnel entrance. The banged the hidden mechanism, and she crossly disappeared from sight down into the tunnel.

'And can I ask what she is doing here?' Crittendon questioned, after she left. 'A civilian in a prison camp, and a German at that. Where'd she come from, anyhow?'

'She's an orphan, and make that German American.' LeBeau spoke up. 'She's been through a lot in her short life.'

'I take it not only Colonel Hogan was running a sabotage unit, we have Hogan's orphanage, too.'

Newkirk strode over to the colonel. 'Look here, Colonel. Let me make one thing clear. Maisie was placed in my care by Colonel Hogan before his death, and I am responsible for her now. Like it or not, she's here.'

'And she's saved our hides more than once.' LeBeau added. 'She's just as good as any one of us.'

'I do declare.' Crittendon frowned, trying to make sense of the situation. 'What an unusual turn of events. A German girl, adopted by a group of POW's. Remarkable.'

'German American,' Newkirk corrected. 'Her mother was American.'

'And what happened to her parents, pray tell?'

'They were killed by the Germans.' LeBeau replied, going back to the stove. 'And her Uncle and his family, too, by the Gestapo.'

'I say. Bloody rough for a young tyke like her.'

'Exactly,' Newkirk agreed. 'Which is why you need to understand a few things. Colonel Hogan meant the world to that little girl, and she's devastated that he's gone. I expect that you'll treat her kindly, if you understand what I'm saying.'

'You mean, not tell the Kommandant.'

'In addition to other things, yes.'

His mustache twitched. 'It is most unusual…'

'You tell on her-' LeBeau interjected. 'And you won't live to see what happens to her.'

'Tad bold, don't you think?'

'Maisie stays, got it?' Newkirk questioned.

Crittendon nodded after a moment, knowing when he was beaten. 'I get the general drift.'

'Good.' The Englishman started to the tunnel entrance. 'Now I'm going to explain to her what exactly is going on.'

A little while later, after Newkirk had words with headquarters in London, he returned his attention to Maisie. After a short search, he found her in their storage room, sitting on a crate with her knees drawn into her chest. She glanced up for a moment when he walked in, and he took a seat on the overturned crate beside her.

'New Colonel, hey?'

Newkirk sighed heavily. 'Just got off the radio with London. Apparently, he's all they can spare.'

'What? They want us to lose the war?' She scoffed. 'Have they lost their bloody minds?'

'That was my thought, too. Colonel Hogan would be turning in his grave if he knew who they sent to take his place.' He saw the look on her face and placed his hand on her shoulder. 'Sorry. I shouldn't have said that.'

'It's alright.' She smiled sadly. 'I think he would, too. Did Papa know him?'

'All too well. He's been here twice before. He's definitely not Colonel Hogan's favorite person.'

'Oh, I feel a story coming on.'

'Let's just say we got him transferred out as soon as we could.'

She giggled, wondering what had happened between Hogan and Crittendon. 'I'd have loved to have seen Papa deal with him.'

'He's the only person, besides a Russian spy woman, who successfully managed to get him in such a tizzle. It was pretty funny to watch, I'll admit.'

'I guess it would have been.' Maisie paused, resting against the dirt wall of the tunnel. 'So, if this new colonel is to take Papa's place, what happens, then? To the operation? To me?'

'Unfortunately, as much as we don't like it, he's staying here for the foreseeable future.'

'Well, that's just great.'

'I'm not jumpin for joy either, believe me.' He looked down at her. 'But like it or not, he's in charge now, and you were rather disrespectful, I might add. I think an apology is in order.'

'Me, apologize to him? Newkirk-'

'Ah ah ah.' Newkirk interrupted, as she went to complain. 'What would Colonel Hogan think if he knew about that little incident?'

'I thought you said he didn't like him.'

'That's beyond the point.'

Maisie sighed heavily. 'Alright, alright. I'll apologize to him. Happy?'

'We have to live with him, don't forget. We can't afford to have you losing your head at him. Much as I'd like to join you in that.' He added, after a moment.

She giggled. 'I take it he's pretty bad, then.'

'You don't know the half of it.'

'And we're stuck with him.'

'Afraid so.'

'Forgive me for not being overwhelmed with happiness.'

Newkirk chuckled. 'I can't argue there.'

'I guess I'd better go get this apologizing taken care of sooner rather than later-' She stood with a weary sigh. 'Do I really have to?'

'Yes.'

'Are you sure?'

Newkirk glared at her. 'Maisie-'

'Going, going.' She backed down with a sigh and made her way through the tunnels back up the ladder into the barracks. Carter was at the table whittling something from some wood as she climbed out from the bunk. 'Where's Colonel Crittendon?'

Carter motioned towards the colonel's room with his knife. 'Setting up shop in there. Anyone would think he owned the place the way he waltzed right on in…'

Maisie didn't pay heed to the rest of what he said as she stopped at the closed door. She knocked firmly.

Crittendon looked up at the sound. 'Enter.' The door opened, and he looked at the young girl as she walked in. 'Oh. It's you.'

'I came to apologize about my behaviour earlier-' She started, closing the door behind her. 'I was rude, and it was uncalled for. I'm sorry.'

'Apology accepted. Don't worry about it, my dear, I've had worse said to me before.' He motioned about the room. 'What do you think? Thought it could do with a little spring cleaning. I'm surprised you chaps didn't already clear this out. Didn't you know I was coming?'

Maisie's eyes stung with tears as she looked about the barren room. It wasn't Colonel Hogan's room anymore. Everything had been tossed into boxes, and the trash can was full- her eyes fell on the crumpled picture of the bomber plane she'd drawn for Hogan, and she pulled it out from the trash. 'Do you mind if I take this?'

'Oh, that old thing? It's just trash.'

'I drew it for Colonel Hogan.'

'I didn't realize. My apologies.'

She took another deep breath. 'What are you going to do with this stuff?'

'I don't need it.' He shrugged his shoulders. 'It's just taking up space. Throw it out, most likely. If you wanted to keep it, you should have cleaned it out earlier.'

'We didn't realize we were getting another Senior POW Officer so soon, sir.' She bit her tongue so she didn't say something she'd need to apologize for. 'If you give me a little time, I'll finish packing up the room for you. I'll even get rid of everything, too.'

'You would? Jolly good show.' He picked his cap up off the table and placed it back on his head. 'I'll be off, then. Go introduce myself to the rest of the men. Cherio.'

You think you can just walk in here- she seethed at the door he disappeared out of, biting her tongue until it bled. You aren't fit to polish Papa's boots!

Maisie looked about the room, tears coming to her eyes once more as her temper cooled. They'd left the room just as Hogan had left it, and it had become a comfort to her, being in a familiar place. She could hear his laugh, see them in her mind at the table playing chess together… She wiped her cheeks dry and took a deep breath. It really was time to say 'goodbye' and move on.