Chapter 19

Lying in bed that night, Maisie couldn't sleep. Her mind was just too full of thoughts and worries about Colonel Hogan. In her heart, she knew something wasn't right, and she could make a good guess at what was causing his problems. The same things she'd had to deal with after she'd had her encounter with the Gestapo. The nightmares, the constant feeling you weren't safe. The feeling of always being on edge and nervous, trying not to go over the edge, yet being pushed closer and closer. It had taken her months for the repercussions to go away, and they hadn't fully left her, either.

Quietly, she slipped out from beneath the covers and made her way over to the window, opening it and the shutters just a crack so she could look out. Clouds drifted lazily over the moon, a soft breeze blowing, and she shivered in the cold. Tonight was definitely not a good night for stargazing. She closed the shutters and the window up once more, moving back to her bed. The feeling that something was wrong with Hogan was getting stronger, and she sighed softly. Perhaps it would be best if she went and made sure he was alright. Just for her own peace of mind.

Picking up her flashlight, she left her room and made her way into the living room, quietly moving the stove aside. After a couple moments, the tunnel entrance was opened, and she climbed down onto the ladder. Closing the entrance behind herself, she flicked the flashlight on, then climbed down the ladder and made her way through the tunnels.

She could hear Kinch on the radio as she continued past, wondering for a moment what message would be so urgent he was up at this hour. But her worries for Colonel Hogan kept her moving on. She climbed up the ladder into the barracks, closing the entrance behind herself. Everyone else was asleep, her bare feet padding quietly across the floor to the colonel's room. She stopped at the door and wondered if she should go in ,then frowned. She could hear something. Something that sounded like crying?

She opened the door, slipping silently into the room. Oh Papa… Her heart broke hearing his soft sobs. Hogan never cried. She flipped a light on, seeing him on the lower bunk with his face in his hands. Oh Papa…

Maisie hurried over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. His sobbing was abruptly cut off as he looked up, realizing who it was.

'What are you doing up at this hour?' He questioned, struggling to get the words out. 'You should be in bed.'

'I couldn't sleep. I felt something was wrong.' She replied softly, as she took a seat beside him on his bed, wrapping her arms around him. 'My feeling was right. Are you okay?'

Hogan couldn't answer her, his reply was a slight nod of his head.

'Papa, please don't lie to me.' Concern and sympathy was in her tone as she looked up at him. 'I can see you're hurting, you don't have to hide it from me.'

'Maisie…' Oh, baby girl... He managed to get the word out, holding on tight to her. Thank God you're alright, thank God.

She smiled sadly, kissing his cheek. 'It's okay, Papa. You don't have to talk. I'll just sit here with you.'

Fresh tears welled in his eyes as he lay his cheek against her head.

Neither of them spoke, Hogan holding onto the teen as if his life depended on it, and Maisie trying to bring what comfort she could to her papa. She couldn't begin to imagine what he'd been through during those two months, and her heart ached for him. If only she could do something, anything, to ease his pain. She could see in his eyes he was scared, the same look he'd had when she and Wolfgang had gone to rescue him. Hogan wasn't one to be scared, but everyone had a breaking point. 'I'm here, Papa.' She said softly, her head on his shoulder. 'You're not alone.'

'Oh, baby girl…' He held onto her tighter, tears dripping down into her hair.

'It's alright, Papa, you're safe now. I'm not going to let anything bad happen.' She could hear the crack in his voice, wishing there was something she could do to make him feel better. 'Let it out, you'll feel better.'

He couldn't hold it in any longer as much as he tried, breaking down in her arms. He sobbed all the stress and worry of the last few weeks out. He held tight to her, kissing her head as the tears ran down his cheeks.

Maisie felt tears sliding down her own skin as he cried. Oh Papa, I wish I could make you feel better. I wish there was something I could do- 'You're alright, Papa, it's alright.'

Minutes slipped by, both of them holding onto the other, and finally, Hogan had no tears left to cry. He looked down at Maisie, the girl looking up at him with glistening eyes. 'I-I'm so sorry-'

'There's no need to be, Papa. God only knows how many times you've seen me crying. It's my turn to be a shoulder to cry on.' She replied softly. 'You don't have to be strong all the time.'

'Oh, my girl…' He stroked her cheek gently. 'You shouldn't have seen this.'

'Papa, it's alright. Honest. You're only human.'

'I'm sorry-'

'Don't be.' He was vulnerable, frightened, scared. It's alright, Papa, really, it is. 'You have always been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, you need someone to be here for you.' She looked up at him, smiling sadly. 'Do you feel any better?'

'Slightly.'

'Good.'

Silence fell upon them both again. Maisie glanced back up at him after some time. 'Do you want to talk about it?'

'I'll be fine now, sweetheart.' He was touched at the concern she was showing. 'What about you?'

'I'm alright. Just worried about you.'

'What is it, honey?'

She bit her lip, turning away from him. 'I'm sorry, Papa. We should have done something sooner. We should have come for you sooner-'

'No, sweetheart, it's not your fault, or anyone's fault.' He soothed gently. 'You didn't know.'

'But we should have. We should have questioned what they told us. We would have been able to find you sooner. We didn't, though, until it was almost too late. I'm sorry-' She shook her head, looking back at him. 'Are you really alright, Papa?'

'I will be. In time.' Hogan replied softly. 'None of this was your fault. Not at all. You can't blame yourself.'

'They were so horrible to you, though-'

'Sssh.' He kissed her head gently. 'Don't think about that, honey. What matters is that I'm here now.'

Maisie snuggled closer to him, her head still resting on his shoulder. 'I thought we lost you, and I didn't get the chance to say 'goodbye'. I was so worried… I didn't want to believe you were dead, but everyone thought you had been killed. Then Crittendon turned up-'

'Crittendon?'

'London sent him as your replacement. How on earth he ever became a colonel is beyond me. He's not even an eighth of who you are.'

A slight smile tugged at his lips.

'He's the reason, though, I went looking for answers. I moved out of camp and stayed with the Gustavssons. That's how I got in touch with General Klink. I just wish we had done something sooner. We might have been able to spare you all this-'

'Maisie, sweetheart, we've been through this before. It's not your fault.'

'I know, but I wish I had done something-' Her eyes glistened with tears once more as she gazed up at him. 'I love you so much, Papa. I didn't want to lose you, and I thought I had… We all did.'

Hogan kissed her again, unable to find any words to reply with.

'Your my best friend. My world. When we were told you weren't going to make it-' She paused, swallowing back the lump in her throat. 'I felt like the world was going to end. I'd only just found you, and to think I was going to lose you again… Please don't ever leave me, Papa.'

'I won't, sweetheart. I won't.'

'I'm sorry…' She apologized, wiping her cheeks. 'I came in to make you feel better, and I offloaded onto you instead. You have enough of your own problems without me adding to your burden.'

'Maisie.' He placed his hand under her chin, making her look back up at him. 'It's going to take time for all of us. Each of us has to deal with what happened in our own way. In our own time. But we can't shut each other out. We have to speak about how we feel.'

'You know that goes for you, as well.'

'I'm aware of that. It's not going to be easy, but I know we can get through this. Together.'

Maisie smiled sadly.

'And I'm proud of you.'

'Proud? Of me?'

'I'll be the first to admit it, you saved my life, little one. I know how scared you must have been, but you carried on as best you could. That is exactly what courage is; facing your fears and danger bravely.'

'I sure didn't feel brave. All I could think of was you. I still don't know how we managed to pull that rescue mission off.'

'Neither do I, my girl.' He winced, feeling his ribs starting to ache once again.

Maisie caught the look of pain on his face and let go of him, looking at him with concern. 'I didn't hurt you, did I?'

'You didn't, sweetheart. It's just these ribs. I still can't sit up for long without them starting to get sore.'

'You better lie back down, then.' She moved off the bed, helping him lie down and covered him with the blankets. 'How long until those casts can come off?'

'I'll be stuck with them for a few more weeks yet, I'm afraid.' He frowned as she brought the chair from his desk over beside the bed, then turned off the light. 'Shouldn't you be getting back to your room?'

'I'm staying right here.' She wrapped her night robe tighter around herself, then sat down on the chair, tucking her feet up beneath her legs. 'I'll keep watch. Keep the nightmares away. You can sleep, Papa, you're safe here. I won't let anything bad happen.'

You sweet girl. Her words brought a smile to his tired face. 'Keep the nightmares away, hey?'

'I always feel better when you're around after I've had a bad dream. So now it's my turn to watch over you.'

His smile widened. 'You don't have to do that, sweetheart. I'm fine now. Promise.'

'I'm staying, and that's the end of it.' She replied, with a tone of authority. The same tone she used when directing an assignment.

He sighed, looking at the bottom of the mattress above him. 'When did you get so bossy?'

'Someone has to keep the boys in line while you're away.' Maisie replied, with a cheeky grin. 'Besides, I learned from the best. Now, get some sleep.'

'Yes ma'am.'

She could almost hear him rolling his eyes in his reply and giggled softly as she kissed his cheek. 'That's better. Gute nacht, Papa. I love you.'

'I love you too, sweetheart.' More than you'll ever know.

Time slipped by, and after a while, he could tell by the sound of Maisie's deep breathing that she'd drifted off to sleep. He looked over at her, moonlight filtering in between the shutters, and he smiled sadly. She'd given up her nice comfortable bed in the Kommandant's quarters to stay here with him and keep 'watch' while he slept. You really are something, sweetheart. You really are.

Maisie had kept her promise. She'd stayed beside him the rest of the night and had only snuck out of his room seconds before Schultz walked in to announce roll call. As Hogan struggled to get himself dressed and ready for inspection, he took a moment to look in the mirror. The man in the reflection might look like the same person before he'd had that encounter with the Gestapo, but Maisie had been right when she said that it changed a person. How couldn't it? When he'd been shot down and captured, he'd been interrogated back then. But he had never been savvy to such methods as those he'd recently become acquainted with. While he knew the Gestapo could be cruel and inhumane at the best of times, he'd never imagined the lengths that one person would go to in an attempt to get information from him. Thank God they took care of that man- he thought, gripping onto the sink to steady himself. If I ever saw him again, I'd have strangled him to death with my bare hands.

He took a deep breath, pulling together the broken pieces as best he could and finished buttoning up his shirt, struggling a little since his arm was still in a heavy cast. Finally, he'd managed to get himself ready for the day. Gathering his crutches, he hobbled to the door as Schultz yelled out the last warning for roll call.

'G'vnor, you shouldn't be out of bed!' Newkirk protested, hurrying over to his side when Hogan emerged from his room.

'I'm alright-' He waved off his concern. 'Just give me a hand to get out for the roll call. I've had enough of sitting around doing nothing to last me a lifetime.'

'Are you sure?'

A look of cold determination came into his eyes. 'I'm sure.'

With a raised eyebrow, the corporal gave in to his wishes and offered him an arm, helping him out of the barracks where the rest of the men had already lined up. Head held high, he took his place once more in the line up.

Hogan's men looked at each other, but didn't say anything as Klink came out of his office.

'Reeeport.'

'All present and accounted for, Herr Kommandant.' Schultz said loudly, then his eyes almost fell out of his head when he turned to see Colonel Hogan standing in the line up. 'Colonel Hogan, should you be out of bed?'

'That was the exact same question that Newkirk asked me this morning.' Hogan replied. 'I'll give the exact same answer. I've had enough of lying around doing nothing-'

'And doing nothing is exactly what you're going to be doing.' Klink interrupted, as he marched up to the American. 'You are confined to the barracks until such a time as the doctor says you're clear to return to your duties. Do I make myself clear?'

Hogan swallowed down the bile rising in his throat, ignoring the looks he felt coming from his men.

'Don't be so hard on him, Uncle.' Maisie joined them, looking up at Klink. 'He's been away so long he's bound to want to get back to his duties.'

'Yes, yes, you're right.' He sighed. 'I am ordering you to get some rest, Hogan. If you don't, I'll send you to the cooler if I need to, and that will not change. Schultz-' he turned back to the sergeant. 'Dismiss the prisoners.'

'Jawohl, Herr Kommandant.' He looked back at the men. 'Dismissed.'

Maisie stepped up to Colonel Hogan as the men fell out, concern evident in her brown eyes. 'Papa, you should be resting.' She said softly, placing her hand on his arm. 'Do I need to stand guard over you twenty-four seven?'

'I'm alright-'

'No, you're not.' Kinch interrupted. 'Let's get you back inside.'

Begrudgingly, Hogan allowed them to help him back into the barracks. 'The table will do just fine,' he said, before they could take him into his room. 'What's for breakfast, LeBeau?'

'Coffee is heating up now, mon Colonel. Breakfast will be a bit longer.' The Frenchman replied. 'I don't know what it will be, yet.'

'Would you like some help?' Maisie offered.

LeBeau shook his head. 'I'll manage. You keep an eye on Colonel Hogan. You're the only one he listens to around here.'

Hogan rolled his eyes.

The teen took a seat at the table beside him, pulling something from her pocket. 'I have something to return that belongs to you.'

'My insignia,' he said, as he took the pins from her hand. 'How did you get those?'

'I gave them to her, Colonel.' Newkirk joined them at the table. 'When your uniform was sent back here, Maisie wouldn't let your coat out of her sight. She took it everywhere with her-'

Hogan looked over at Maisie, the teen dipping her head.

'Even slept with it. I gave her those pins when she left camp. She couldn't take your coat with her, but I wanted her to have something of yours to take along. I hope you don't mind, sir.'

'Not at all.' He placed an arm around her, dropping the pins back into her hand. 'You hold onto those, Maisie. You earned them.'

'You mean I can keep them?'

'That's what I'm saying, sweetheart.'

'Danke, Papa.' She tucked them back inside her pocket, then rose. 'I better go. Uncle Klink will be wanting to eat breakfast. I'll be back soon, though, and I might even bring something back for you.'

Hogan smiled as best he could as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and left.

'Here you are, mon Colonel.' LeBeau placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of him. 'Careful, it's hot.'

'Thank you, LeBeau.'

The men began to go about their day as usual, Hogan remaining seated at the table, nursing his cup of coffee between his hands. I never thought I'd see this place again, he thought, taking a glance around the barracks. Kinch had disappeared down the tunnel to check on the radio, Newkirk and Carter were arranging the mending that needed to be done, and LeBeau was at the stove, stirring something in a pot. You don't know how much something is worth until it's taken away.

A shiver ran up his spine as he thought of that day when Major Langer had burst in and arrested him. The look of hopelessness on the faces of his men had haunted him since. He knew they would have done what they could if they stood a chance of stopping the Major, but nothing could have been done. They'd been riddled with bullets before they'd taken two steps. He closed his eyes, bowing his head as the day played over in his mind once more.

He'd been taken to Dusseldorf Gestapo Headquarters, left in a locked cell for hours without food or water. That had only been the very beginning of his troubles. That was mild compared to what had happened in the following weeks… He'd wondered what game the Major was playing when he'd taken his jacket and cap, along with his dog tags and insignia, then had heard the sound of a gunshot coming from a cell not too far from his. The Major had returned after some time, carrying his jacket with dried blood and bullet holes and threatening to send it to camp if he didn't speak. He hadn't.

He lifted his head again, looking at his team. Carter and Newkirk were messing about again, the corporal hitting him over the head with a sock he was mending. Nothing has changed there, he thought, turning to LeBeau. The cook was muttering something as he tasted whatever it was he had cooking before returning the pot to the stove. Everyone appeared to be carrying on business as usual. Everyone, except him.

How could things be the same again? Every time he closed his eyes he could see Major Langer in his mind laughing. He brought his fist down on the table, trying to block the laughter from his mind. There had been an evil in that man like he'd never witnessed before. That man had stood there and laughed as he'd supervised the 'interrogation'. Laughing like some deranged lunatic. Just the thought of him was enough to make his stomach churn, and he pushed the cup of coffee away from himself.

LeBeau glanced over, frowning slightly. 'Something wrong with the coffee, mon Colonel?'

'Pardon?'

'The coffee-' He motioned to the cup. 'You haven't touched it, sir.'

'I just don't feel like drinking it right now.' Hogan replied, getting to his feet with effort. He picked up the crutches, hobbling back towards his office. 'I think I'll lie down for a bit.' He closed the door behind himself.

LeBeau, Newkirk and Carter all looked at each other, then cast a worried glance towards the Colonel's closed door. Maisie had been right. Something was definitely wrong with their colonel.

Newkirk knocked on the door a little while later, then poked his head into the room before walking in. 'You okay, G'vnor?'

'Just fine-' Came the reply in a harsher tone than Hogan usually was accustomed to using. 'Why does everyone keep asking that?'

'We're just worried about you, sir.' He took a seat in the chair beside the colonel's bunk. 'You hardly touched your breakfast or lunch.'

'I'm not hungry.'

'Pardon me for being so bold, sir, but you need to eat. I don't think you wish to lose any more weight.'

'Did you come in here just to talk about my weight, Newkirk?'

Newkirk took a moment to take a deep breath before replying. 'No, Colonel. I just wanted to see how you were doing.'

'Well, now that you've been and seen, perhaps you might want to leave? I'd like to get some sleep, if you don't mind.' Hogan suggested, without looking at him. 'Close the door on your way out.'

If that's what you want, fine. He rose and left the room, glancing back at their colonel. Hogan kept staring at the wall, and he sighed inwardly. Looks like we're going to have a repeat of Maisie on our hands.

'How's mon Colonel?' LeBeau questioned, as Newkirk closed the door to the colonel's room behind him.

'Wishes to sleep, apparently.' He pulled a packet of cigarettes from his pocket and took one out to light. 'He almost bit my head off when I asked him how we was doin.'

'That's sure not the Colonel Hogan I know-' Carter spoke up, looking over from the model plane he was working on. 'The only head he normally bites off is mine.'

'He, and the rest of us.' Newkirk sat down at the table again. 'I guess we'll just wait and see how things go.'

They didn't have much longer to wait, when Maisie made a hasty exit from the colonel's room a few days later. It confirmed something was definitely wrong with their commander. Newkirk got to his feet quickly, stopping the teen from bolting out of the barracks. 'What happened, hon?'

Maisie looked up at him, tears running down her cheeks. 'He got cross with me. He never got mad with me before. Said I was a menace and a nuisance, amongst other things.'

'He said what?' Carter said, joining them at the door. 'That's not true-'

Of all the- Newkirk's mouth was set in a hard line as he wrapped his arm around the crying teen. 'Come here, love, let's go for a walk, shall we?' She nodded, and the two of them walked out of the barracks, making their way over to a vacant seat outside barracks nine. 'You're not a menace or a nuisance, you know that, right?'

She nodded again, wiping her cheeks with a handkerchief. 'But why did he say I was? I only want to help him… It's like he's a different person, now. He gets angry with me, he scares me, now.' She sniffled, swallowing the lump in her throat. 'His eyes went really cold, and he glared at me. He really scared me, Newkirk. That's not the person who is my Papa…'

'I know, sweetheart, I know.' He drew her in for a hug, Maisie burying his face in his jacket. A week had passed since Hogan had returned to camp, and with each passing day, he was becoming harder and harder to deal with. He had a bad temper that he'd never let out on them before, but only the day before he'd roared at Carter when the sergeant had gone in to talk to him. He looked down at the teen, stroking her hair softly. I think a little talk with our Colonel is in order. This has gone on long enough.

'I hate that Major Langer. I'm glad he's dead.' She hissed angrily, after a moment of silence. 'He's turned Papa into a monster.'

'Colonel Hogan isn't a monster, sweetheart. I'd take a guess he's dealing with a lot of ruddy demons right now-'

Maisie looked up at him. 'But why take it out on me? I only want to help him.'

'I know that, but I don't think he does.'

'I want the old Colonel Hogan back. I don't like the new one.' She whimpered softly.

'Don't you worry, now-' He rubbed her back, kissing her head. 'Ol' Peter Newkirk will make everything alright again. Promise.'

'How are you going to do that?'

'I think a little chat with the G'vnor is in order.'

'The mood Papa's in, he'll have you court martialed, shot, and sent to the Russian Front. In that order.'

Newkirk chuckled as the teen pulled away from him. 'Don't you worry about me. It won't be the first time we've locked heads, and I can guarantee it won't be the last. Dry those tears off now. There's no need for cryin. I'll take care of things. Everything will be alright, you'll see.'

'Danke, Newkirk.' She smiled sadly. 'I sure hope so.'

'How is ma petite?' LeBeau asked, as Newkirk walked back into the barracks. 'She alright?'

'She'll be alright, but the G'vnor-' He shot a look at the colonel's office. 'Has a few things to answer for. He scared the poor thing out of her wits, and she was crying her eyes out over him. Wish me luck-' He went to start for the door, when the bunk lifted, and Kinch came up from below.

'Message from the Underground.' Kinch announced. 'They want us to make contact with an agent tonight.'

'Tonight?' Carter questioned, with surprise. 'But Newkirk and I are going to blow up that railway bridge tonight.'

'And I can't go.' Kinch added, glancing over at LeBeau. 'What about you, LeBeau?'

'Go on my own? Non, merci.'

'Someone's got to go.'

Newkirk thought for a moment. 'What about Maisie? I'm sure she'd be happy to go out and take a break from this place.'

'I thought we weren't going to send her out on any missions. Not until the Colonel says she can go.' Kinch spoke up, with a frown.

'Well, we don't have much of a bloody choice now do we,' he sighed. 'LeBeau, go ask her if she wants to do it. Kinch, give him the details to pass on to her. I'm going to go have that word with the G'vnor.'

Newkirk stepped into the colonel's office, closing the door behind him, and walked over to the window, opening the shutters. 'It's time you and I have a little chat, Colonel.' He turned and took a seat in the chair beside the bunk. Hogan gave no indication that he was paying any attention, but he continued nonetheless. 'I think it's a bloody disgrace how you've been acting the past couple of weeks.'

Hogan turned, glaring at the corporal. 'Oh you do, do you?'

'I've been biting my tongue the entire time, sir, but I won't remain silent any longer. You had Maisie in tears just now. She's terrified of you, and I won't stand by and let her be hurt by you.' He returned the colonel's intense gaze, not backing down. 'Don't you care that you made her cry?'

He shrugged. 'She'll get over it.'

It was Newkirk's turn to glare at him now.

'What?'

'You might have forgotten, Colonel, but that little girl out there saved your ruddy hide. She doesn't deserve to be treated the way you've been with her lately. That's not who you are. Now I don't know what you went through, I don't know what you're going through now, but what I know is this; you need to snap out of whatever this is and soon.'

Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has nightmares every time you close your eyes. 'She's just a filthy German like the rest of them.'

'I don't believe I'm hearing this.' Newkirk scoffed. 'That girl risked her own life to save yours.'

'I never asked her to. I'd have been better if she hadn't bothered wasting her time with me.'

'She worships the ground you walk on, Colonel.' Where on earth is this coming from, he wondered, with disbelief. 'She's bloody devastated by how you've been treating her.'

'Has anyone given a thought to how I'm coping?'

'That's the thing; you haven't told us. Have you thought about what we went through, thinking that you were dead?' He rose, walking away from Hogan with his arms crossed. Regaining his composure he turned back to the colonel. 'No? I'll tell you.'

'I don't want to know.'

'I'm going to tell you anyway.' Newkirk replied forcefully. 'We were bloody gutted when we heard the news. We didn't know what to do-'

'I don't have to listen to this.'

'Yes, you do. Like it or not. What you do with what I tell you is up to you, but you are going to listen.' He shot daggers at him. 'Understood?'

Hogan glared back at him and replied with a growl. 'Loud and clear.'

'Good. Maisie wasn't here the day we received the news. She was out blowing up the refinery, for you, I might add. Your things were sent into camp the day she arrived back. She was so proud of herself carrying out that mission. You should have seen the look on her face when she realized something was wrong. I won't forget it. Poor girl broke down when we told her you had been killed. In this very room. We spent the entire night trying to calm her down, and the next two weeks trying to keep her alive.'

Newkirk walked over to the dresser where Hogan's razor sat, picking it up. 'I walked in on her one day, sitting in that corner, blood pouring down her arms. That little one was so full of grief and sadness she cut herself with your own razor. We're all bloody lucky I walked in when I did. I don't think she'd have stopped if I hadn't intervened.' He watched Hogan's face closely, a slight expression of concern coming into his eyes. 'Yes, that's right. Maisie almost did herself in because she thought you were dead, and then you go and treat her the way you did. You should be bloody ashamed of yourself.'

'...I didn't know…' Hogan said softly, after a long pause.

'That's right, because she's thrown herself into tryin to make you feel better. I tell you, she came close to dying of a broken heart. She barely ate for two weeks. Your just lucky Crittendon turned up when he did. It was from his arrival that gave her her fire back. She defended you to the ends of the earth to him.'

What Newkirk was saying slowly began to sink in.

'And then the little one, by herself, mind you, made the trip to Berlin on a whisper that you were alive to help you. I don't know how she did it, but you're here now, and this is what you're doing with the second chance she gave you? You and I both know you wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for her dogged determination and grit, not to mention love. I think you've got a bloody lot to answer for, Colonel.'

The taste of Newkirk's reprimand was hard to swallow, but he knew what he'd said was the truth. He had treated Maisie quite badly, and she most certainly didn't deserve it. Not after what she'd done for him. 'I-I didn't know.'

'Of course not.' He returned to his seat, a kinder tone to his reply. 'Colonel, we don't want you feelin bad about how things were here while you were gone. You had no control of that. Maisie begged me to promise her no one would know what she had done to herself. I've broken that promise to make you realize just what she went through. I know you got dragged through bloody hell and back-' he motioned at the cast that was still on his arm along with the one on his leg. 'But we've been through our own hell, too. We want to help you, but we can't if you don't let us.' he stood, starting for the door. 'Think about that, Colonel.'

'Are you sure you're up to this?'

Maisie nodded bravely, pocketing the pistol that Newkirk handed to her. 'I can do this. You need me to go, and I'll go. It's as simple as that.'

He smiled, caressing her cheek with his rough hand. 'I'm proud of you. You're a brave girl.'

'I don't think I'm brave. Stupid, yes, but not brave.' She glanced down the tunnel to the one leading up into the barracks. 'Do you think Papa will be alright?'

'I had a talk with him. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.' He looked around for Carter. 'You ready to go yet, Andrew?'

'Coming, coming.' The sergeant hurried towards them, carrying a pack containing the explosives required for the job. 'All set.'

'About time.' He replied, with a growl. 'Your holding up the bloody war Carter. Get up there-' He swatted his backside as Carter began to climb up the ladder, then looked back to Maisie. 'You be careful out there, sweetheart.'

'Promise. I'll probably beat you back to camp. The meeting place is only three miles away.'

'You took care of Klink?'

'He's out for the count. Slipped some of those pills Wilson gave me into his coffee. I left my pillows inside the bed, too, if anyone happens to look in.'

'Good girl.' Carter was finally out of the tunnel, and he stepped back to let her get in at the ladder. 'Try not to worry about the G'vnor while you're out there. Focus on the job, and worry when you get back.'

'I'll do that.' She remarked, climbing up the ladder. With her arm still not completely healed, it took her longer then it had Carter, but finally, she was up. She slipped into the trees to wait with Carter for Newkirk to join them.

A couple minutes later, Newkirk emerged from the tunnel and hurried over to them, ducking down into the bushes as the spotlight swept past. 'Now you know where you're going, Maisie?'

She nodded. 'You've told me twice already. The barn three miles south, along the road towards the village. Recognition code, Blue Bird.

'Correct. Glad to hear you were payin attention'

Maisie shook her head with amusement, then gave both Newkirk and Carter a hug each. 'Be careful out there. Take your time. I've got a bet with LeBeau that I'll be back before you two.'

'Oh, you have now, have you?'

'Hey, you want to bet with us that we'll make it back before you?' Carter questioned enthusiastically.

'Two chocolate bars?'

'Your on.'

Newkirk rolled his eyes. Trust Carter to turn the evening into a competition. He turned back to the teen. 'Good luck.'