Chapter 16

It was late. Very late, with visiting hours long over as Klink walked down the long hallway of the hospital to Hogan's room. Despite the fact that just Hogan's presence irritated him on most days, much to his surprise, he'd come to begrudgingly admit that he had missed having him around at Stalag 13. Much as Hogan was annoying, he had to hand it to him. While he had been at camp, things had run smoothly. Well, not always smoothly, if he was being honest, but a hell of a lot better than since Crittendon had arrived. It had only taken three days of Crittendon arriving in camp before he'd been requesting they send him another officer. And much to his annoyance, they didn't have another officer to send.

Something just didn't sit well with him about the whole situation. He couldn't place his finger on it, but he just knew that there was more to the story than his brother had told him. When he'd seen Hogan for the first time earlier that day, he'd been horrified at his condition. Whatever grudge that Langer had against him must have been bad, if Hogan's injuries were anything to go by. He was disgusted at how the American had been treated. Hogan was a thorn in his side at the best of times, yes, but even he didn't deserve to be treated worse than a dog.

Klink tipped his hat and smiled at a pretty nurse he walked past, his thoughts turning back to the colonel as he headed up another flight of stairs. He'd spoken to the doctor in charge about Hogan, and what he'd been told sickened him. Beaten, starved, electrocuted- He didn't wish to go over the list in his mind again. It was a miracle in itself that he'd survived this long, and he knew that if Wolfgang hadn't interveined, he had a feeling Hogan wouldn't be breathing now.

Coming to Hogan's door, he opened it quietly, an eyebrow raising as he walked into the room. Someone else was already here with Hogan, fast asleep. He closed the door behind himself and tip-toed into the room. As he approached, his eyebrow raised higher. What on earth was Annika doing here?

He took a seat in the chair opposite of the young girl, the child sleeping on. If he'd been suspicious before, now he was intrigued. Just what on earth was going on? What was his niece doing here, and more importantly, how on earth did she know Colonel Hogan?

Running a hand wearily over his head, he rested his elbow on the arm of the chair, his chin on his hand. Both Hogan and Annika slept on, completely unaware of his presence. Somehow, he felt there was so much more to this story than what appeared on the surface. His niece's hand was intertwined in Hogan's hand, her head resting beside his as she slept on. Something funny is going on...His gut was telling him that he hadn't been told the truth. I have half a mind to wake her and ask what on earth she's doing here-

Even though he wanted to find out what was going on, he made no move to wake the sleeping teenager. Annika looked so peaceful and calm he was loath to disturb her. He watched on, watching both of them as they slept. Hogan must know her somehow, he thought, observing the colonel closely. His face was covered in varying shades of black and purple, except for what was covered by dressings and beneath the covers. He wondered what the rest of him looked like. He was sickened just by the thought of what had been done to Hogan by the Gestapo major. You really have done it this time, Hogan. You couldn't talk yourself out of this one.

What to do with Annika, though? He had the distinct feeling that whatever was going on, his brother was heavily involved. He'd been told that they were going out for dinner and a movie, then spending the night in town. Why then was his niece here, sleeping beside the American colonel? What she'd said earlier came to mind. He's still human, isn't he? He might be the enemy, but that doesn't make him any less human.

Yes, he decided. There was more going on than they'd told him.

Perhaps, I don't wish to know. He came to the conclusion the more he thought about it. His brother was a Gestapo general, after all. It would be best for him if he didn't mention his suspicions. Yes, I think it's best if I forget that this happened. Besides, he looked over at the girl. What harm can possibly come of her being here? She's only a child.

He lingered awhile longer, neither of them stirring, and took a look at his watch before raising his eyebrows. It was close to midnight. He looked back at Hogan, the colonel still with them even though the doctor had said that he wouldn't see out the day. Perhaps, just maybe, he could prove him wrong. You sure do like to prove people wrong, he thought, a sad smile coming to his lips. Prove all of us wrong, Hogan. You can beat this.

Deciding he'd imposed long enough, he stood and quietly made his way to the door once more. Looking back, both of them slept on. I don't know what game you're up to, Annika, but I hope you know what you are doing. For now, he wouldn't mention what he'd seen. Perhaps, though, in the future, he'd figure out what was going on. Until then, he made up his mind that he was content with not knowing. For her sake.

Voices. He could hear voices. His mind tried to register what he was hearing. Footsteps; coming closer.

'Hey, Papa.'

Maisie!

'I'm back, like I promised.'

Then nothing.

Come on, Robert- He begged his body to respond, but it felt like a heavy fog was over his mind. Over his body. He couldn't talk, he couldn't move-

'You look so much better with that beard gone,'

She was speaking again.

'I don't think having a beard suits you.'

She was right there. He couldn't remember a time when he wasn't clean-shaven.

He heard something moving beside him, then felt something touch his hair, realizing after a moment that it was her hand.

'I'm so sorry, Papa. I should have done something. Anything. I thought you were dead…'

No honey, no, it's not your fault, he wished he could tell her, hearing the emotion in her voice. It's not your fault, baby girl-

'I'm so sorry I didn't get to you sooner. It's all my fault. I should have tried to find out what had happened weeks ago...I shouldn't have waited…'

Maisie, sweetheart, it's not your fault!

He felt her kiss his cheek, but to his surprise, her touch didn't bring any pain.

'Please get better, Papa.' Her voice was husky and soft, closer to him. 'I need you. We all need you. Newkirk, Kinch, Carter, LeBeau. Heck, even Schultz and Klink are missing you, you old grizzly bear.'

Old grizzly bear. So that's what she thought of him, hey?

'You've just gotta get better. Please.'

He could hear someone else come into the room, his mind not registering who it was, and he heard Maisie leave.

Come on, Robert, do something. Anything.

He willed his body to cooperate with his mind, but for some reason, he just couldn't. He tried to open his eyes. Nothing happened. Tried to move his lips again, nothing happened. There was a heavy weight, like a blanket of fog over him. Suffocating him. Making him unable to do anything.

'I'm back, Papa-'

She had come back.

'And I've got something to say to you. Don't you dare give up now, Colonel Robert Hogan. You've made it this far, don't you dare throw in the towel, now.'

I'm still here. I'm not giving up, he wanted to say, but the words just wouldn't come out. He couldn't do anything. Couldn't move, couldn't speak…

Maisie stayed with him. He could feel her presence beside him, her holding his hand and again, there was no pain. Why don't I feel anything, he wondered, trying to figure out what was going on. Where was he? How did he get here? And Maisie, what was she doing? The last thing he could remember was her in the cell, saying she was getting him out of there. Had she succeeded? Where was he-

A male voice cut through the fog, but he ignored it, only concerned with listening to Maisie.

'I've got to go, Papa.'

No, don't go-

'You're not going to believe it, but I'm going back to Stalag 13 as a general's step-daughter and niece to your Kommandant Klink.'

General?

'Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, doesn't it? Me, the step-daugher of a Gestapo general-'

WHAT?

'But Wolfgang feels it's the best way to keep me safe if everyone believes I'm his daughter and Klink is my uncle.'

Okay, who on earth came up with that idea?

'Almost sounds like one of your crazy schemes, Papa.'

No, no it didn't. How could she think that his plans came even close to this, this insanity.

'Almost as nuts as the time we kidnapped that general then bombed the refinery with his own plane.'

No, this was way worse than that.

He heard her giggle softly, and he would have chuckled along with her if he could. Maisie had insisted on going along with them on that mission. She caught the flying bug from the experience and had been reading anything and everything on aviation ever since.

'I have to go now-' She was speaking again. 'But I'll be back. I promise. Wolfgang, that's the general. He's been taking good care of me, so you don't need to worry.'

Worry? Of course, he was going to worry. What on earth were they thinking-

'You just focus on getting better, okay? We need our Colonel back. Things just aren't the same without you around.'

I'm still here.

'I love you so much, Papa. I just wish there was some way you could know that.'

I do know that, I do, he wished he could tell her, feeling her again press a kiss to his forehead.

''Don't you dare give up, Colonel-'

I'm NOT GIVING UP!

'You didn't give up on me, and I'm not about to give up on you.'

It's not from lack of trying, sweetheart. I'm trying, I am.

'The Colonel Hogan I know doesn't let anything keep him down for long, and I know you can get better if you have a mind to it.'

Ouch.

She left. Time passed.

'Hey, Papa-'

She was back.

'I'm back, and I've bought company.'

Oh swell.

'Newkirk, Kinch, LeBeau, Carter and Schultz, too. They've all come to see you.'

You brought the whole crew along.

'You've got yourself into a ruddy spot of bother this time, G'vnor.' He could hear Newkirk say, his voice coming in the direction Maisie's had. 'I hear this little one's been looking out for you again.'

Thanks. Thanks, Newkirk.

'Yeah, Maisie's been busy saving your hide.' It was Carter speaking now. 'I think we owe her big time.'

And when I can actually speak to all of you, Maisie, you are in for a strict talking to-

'It was nothing, honestly.'

Maisie was speaking again.

'All I did was what Papa would have done for me if I were in his situation. We all know Colonel Hogan would go to the ends of the earth to rescue one of us, if he had to.'

Yes, yes, I would. Don't you think for one moment that's going to get you out of trouble, young lady. Just you wait until I can get this brain and body of mine back into working order.

'I just wish he could think of a way to get rid of Crittendon.'

WHAT? Crittendon?

'He's driving us crazy, Colonel-' LeBeau continued. 'We've tried everything we can think of to get rid of him, and he's still in camp.'

'Yeah-' He heard Kinch speak up next. 'Strutting around like a proud peacock. He and Klink suit each other. We really could do with one of your great ideas.'

What on earth is that bumbling excuse of an officer doing, running my camp?

'I came up with a few, but we decided that they'd turn out too messy.'

Maisie was speaking again.

'You've got to get better, Papa. You can help us come up with some way to get rid of him.'

Oh, I can think of a few ways. Namely, a few words with the person who thought it was a great idea to transfer him there in the first place-

They stayed for a while, speaking amongst each other and to him, though he couldn't reply back. After some time, they said their goodbyes. Even Schultz came in, to his surprise, then they left.

More silence. More fog. More darkness.

'Colonel Hogan-'

Klink? What on earth was he doing here?

'I hear you haven't been well.'

That's the understatement of the year.

'I don't know what to say, honestly, so I guess I'll just keep it short. We've missed you at Stalag 13-'

Oh, you have, have you?

'It just hasn't been the same without you. Colonel Crittendon, he's making me pull my hair out, and I don't even have enough to do that.'

Oh really?

'I guess what I'm trying to say is, I hope you get better. Your men need you, and if I'm being honest, even I have missed having you around.'

That's the first time you've ever said something that nice to me without some ulterior motive.

'My cigar box might be full, but the camp feels empty.'

Who knew Klink was so sentimental?

'So… I guess that's all I have to say.'

Silence fell, but he could still feel Klink's presence. After some time, he heard him leave the room, and he was left alone again.

Nurses came and went. More time passed. The door opened and closed again. Maisie and a man speaking. The man left. Maisie started speaking to him again.

'I don't know if you can hear me-'

Yes, yes, I can hear you! I just can't do anything about it.

'But, Papa, you need to get better. You have to get better.'

I'm trying, my little one. I'm trying, but I just can't seem to get past this fog-

'We need you, Papa. Me, Newkirk, Kinch, Carter, LeBeau. I heard even Klink came in earlier to see you.'

And I'm sure going to pick on him about that later when I can.

'We all need you, Papa. You mean everything to each of us. You're our Colonel, you're my papa. I love you so much-'

She paused, and he could hear the emotion in her voice.

Oh, baby girl-

'More than you could know. You're my whole world, Papa. I don't know what I would do if you weren't in it. When I thought you had been killed… It was like my heart had been crushed. I've already lost so much. My family, my home, my friends, to lose you, too-'

I'm not going anywhere, my girl. I already promised you that, and I intend to keep that promise.

'I don't want to lose you, too, Papa. I can't lose you. I love you so so much…'

It's alright, my girl, it's alright- He longed to be able to tell her that it was okay. That he was okay. That he was alright.

'I don't know how to tell you just what you mean to me, but you mean everything.'

I know, honey, I know. You don't have to worry, sweetheart, I know.

'You saved me. You pulled me out of the darkest time of my life, and you refused to let me go. You didn't give up on me, and I'm not going to give up on you. I'm not leaving here until you get better, so you'd better fight, Papa. Fight to live. I know you can, you can't give up now. You just can't.'

She fell silent, and listening closely, he could hear the sound of gentle sobs.

I'm not on my deathbed here, Maisie.

He felt something resting beside him and could hear someone breathing gently beside his head. Maisie had fallen asleep.

You poor girl. He knew how worried she must be. If only he could tell her-

The door opened again, and he wondered who had come in. It didn't sound like a nurse, for they sat down beside him, but they didn't speak. He tried to figure out who it was, but couldn't, and they left after a little while without a word.

Maisie slept on. Time slipped by. Hogan willed his mind and body to work together again.

Morning came, Maisie waking at the sound of the door opening and looked up. A nurse came in, giving her a brief smile, then changed the IV to a new bag and left again. She looked down at Hogan. He still appeared asleep.

At least he's still alive. He's proved the doctor wrong by one day, so far.

Her neck was sore, and she rubbed it, trying to get the cramp out from sleeping the way she had. Her arm was sore, too. A painful reminder she'd been neglecting her exercises again. Guess that's what I get for sleeping in a chair, she thought, rubbing her arm instead. But that's the best sleep I've had in a long time.

Despite her sore neck, she felt the most rested she had in weeks. Guess I could sleep because Papa's here.

Hogan was still motionless except for him breathing.

She stifled a yawn, running her fingers through her hair. The nurses must have seen me sleeping.

'Hey, Papa. It's morning.' She whispered gently, turning her attention back to him. 'I don't know what time it is, but I'm pretty sure it's close to breakfast. Guess I'll just have to eat your share, then.'

No response.

She sighed gently, taking his hand in hers again. 'Wolfgang will be here soon. I want to stay, but I'm probably going to have to go. I guess I shouldn't complain. I'm lucky I can be with you as it is.'

A long pause followed. 'Newkirk was quite upset when I turned up at camp with a Gestapo general. He thought I'd gone traitor. Me? Traitor? No way. Well, not to you guys, anyway. To the Germans, yes, but not to you. He was fit to be tied until I told him what had been going on…' She sighed again. 'When are you going to wake up, Papa?'

Her hand was squeezed ever so slightly. Maisie gasped.

'Papa?' She questioned, looking at him with hopeful eyes. 'Papa, can you hear me?' She waited, waited… Yes! This time she definitely felt his hand being moved. It wasn't just her imagination. 'You can hear me! Come on, then, open those pretty eyes of yours-'

He didn't, but he squeezed her hand again.

'It's alright. You don't have to. I know you need to rest.' Her heart was overflowing with joy, a giant smile on her face as she stroked his hair gently. 'Oh Papa, I knew you'd be alright…' She kissed his cheek gently, then stood. 'I better go tell the nurse to get the doctor. He's going to be so surprised-'

Wolfgang strode quickly down the hallway towards Hogan's room, Maisie's excited chatter still fresh in her mind. Something about Hogan waking up? He hadn't been able to catch two words together. She'd been so excited she'd rattled off at a million miles an hour, a mix of both English and German, but he caught the general gist of her phone call. He just hoped for her sake it wasn't a false alarm.

Maisie was waiting in the waiting room for him. She got up from her chair and hurried over. 'He's waking up. I was talking to him, and he squeezed my hand-'

'Slow down, little one,' he said ,with a little smile. 'Repeat that. Slower.'

She sighed with exasperation. 'Papa's waking up. I was talking to him, and he squeezed my hand. Three times! The doctor is with him now. Oh, I hope he's going to be alright.'

Wolfgang guided her back to a chair, and they sat down together. 'I pray so, too. Did you get some sleep?'

She nodded. 'Best sleep I've had for a long time.'

'That's good.'

They sat in awkward silence, not sure what to say next, and waited for the doctor to come out. Maisie tried to amuse herself with the supplied reading material, but tossed the book back after a little while with a sigh.

'What's taking so long?'

'Patience.'

'That has never been one of my virtues.'

The general smiled a little. 'Why don't we talk to pass the time, then?'

'About what?'

'About how you came to meet Colonel Hogan. The Underground just said you were a member of his team.'

'There was a raid-' She started after a pause. 'My Uncle, who I was living with at the time, was killed, as well as my aunt and cousin. My Uncle was to meet that night with Colonel Hogan's men to exchange information, so I carried the information instead. My Uncle had given me a letter, too, that I had to give to Colonel Hogan. He asked him in the letter to look after me-' She shrugged. 'And here I am now. He let me decide what I wanted to do: go to England, or stay here- I chose to stay.' Footsteps sounded down the hallway, and she stood as the doctor joined them. 'How is he? Will he be alright-'

He held up his hand to interrupt her questions. 'He's not out of danger yet, but the fact that he's responding to stimuli is a great encouragement. I honestly didn't expect him to make it through the night, but he's proved me wrong.'

'Papa loves proving people wrong.' A wide grin was on her face. 'But will he be alright?'

'It's too soon for me to be able to give you a definite answer, but I am more hopeful than I was yesterday that he'll pull through. He is still very weak, and we've got him on strong painkillers, so he's still going to be out of it for a few days yet. If he continues to show improvement, we'll slowly reduce the amount of medication.'

'How long until he'll wake up?'

'That's hard to say. As I said, he's still weak. He might wake up for a couple minutes here and there, but his body has to recover. It's just going to take time.'

'Can I go see him now?'

'Of course. We've finished with him for now. You can go stay with him again.'

'Danke, doctor.'

The teen disappeared out of the room without another word, and Wolfgang turned back to the doctor. 'What do you think his chances are now?'

'Better than yesterday, but still not great. There is a possibility he could relapse, which we will do our best to prevent from occurring, but it's just going to take time. I will say, however, he's lucky to have made it this far. I honestly didn't think he would.'

'Have you got any idea at all of a timeframe when you might be able to give a definite answer?'

'Two, three days perhaps. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.' He looked down at a clipboard he was holding in his hands. 'Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go attend to the rest of my patients.'

The doctor left, and Wolfgang made his way to Hogan's room. Maisie was seated beside the bed as he walked in, speaking softly to him. 'Maisie, we're going to have to leave soon.'

'Alright.' She replied, without protest, the general patting her shoulder. 'Will we be able to come back?'

'Maybe this afternoon. If not then, definitely tomorrow. I know his men will be anxious to see him again.'

'I'm surprised they didn't sneak out of camp to come see him last night.'

'I warned them not to. I'll arrange for them to come in today-' He looked at his watch. 'It's time to go. Wilhelm will be wondering where we are.'

Maisie sighed heavily, then kissed Hogan's cheek gently. 'Seems like I've got to go again, Papa. You rest up. I'll be back soon.' She felt him squeeze her hand ever so slightly again and smiled. He'd heard and understood what she'd said. 'I knew you were going to get better, I just knew it.'