Takes place after the events of Little Bear: Mission Impossible.

Reading Mission Impossible prior to this isn't required. It's a stand alone short story that includes the OC of Maisie. Maisie is staying at Stalag 13 under the care of Colonel Klink, being his 'niece'

This is the story of how Hogan's Hero's found themselves with a new member of their team, albeit, a furry little feline...

This is my first shot at writing comedy.

Hope y'all enjoy

You've Gotta be Kitten Me

'How'd it go out there?'

'Didn't have a single problem, Colonel-' Newkirk replied, as he climbed into the barracks, turning back to give Maisie a hand up. 'Met up with Mayflower, and the Underground are ready to assist as soon as we give the word.'

'Good.' Hogan poured himself another cup of coffee, his third for the night. There was going to be an escape attempt of fifteen men from Stalag 4 in a couple of days. He'd only been given warning the day before and had been scrambling to get everything organized for their trip back to London. 'Coffee?'

'Sure, wouldn't mind a mug-' He rubbed his hands together as he sat down at the table. 'Bloody cold out there tonight. Those flyers sure picked a good time to decide to escape.'

Filling another mug, Hogan handed it to the corporal, then looked over at the teen. 'What about you, Maisie? Coffee?'

She nodded, hugging her arms close to her chest. 'Ja, bitte. I'm surprised it hasn't started snowing yet-'

'Don't you dare say that.' Newkirk grumbled, savoring the feel of the warm mug in his hands. 'Soon as you do, we'll get a bloody snowstorm.'

'You don't like snow?'

'Mate, when the walls are paper thin and you only have two blankets, yes. I bloody hate the snow. Least you'll be warm in that fancy room of yours. Spare a thought for your ol mates when your snuggled down beneath goose feather quilts-'

Maisie snuggled up to him with a giggle. 'Oh Newkirk, don't be such a grump. I'd be happy to share my room with all of you, but I think Uncle Klink might have a few words to say about that.'

'Probably a few more than a few.' Hogan commented, placing a mug in front of her. He sat down across from the two of them, taking a sip of his own coffee before he continued. Maisie's coat pocket moved. He frowned, watching closely-

'If it does snow, how are you going to get those men to London, Papa?' She asked.

'I'll figure something out.'

Newkirk blew on his hands again, rubbing them together. 'He always does.'

Maisie's coat pocket moved again.

'Maisie, have you got something in your coat?' Hogan asked.

'No.'

'Your pocket just moved.'

'No, it didn't.'

'Yes, it did.'

'No, it didn't.' She replied, with a perfectly blank poker face expression. 'You've been staring at your paperwork for too long, Papa. You're starting to see things.'

Hogan sighed. 'Maisie, you might be able to pull the wool over Klink's eyes, but you're not even close to fooling me. What's in your pocket?'

'Nothing.'

'Maisie-'

'Fine, fine.' She threw her hands up in surrender, then took off one of her gloves, reaching into her pocket. In her hand was a tiny black kitten with four little white paws and a little white bib under its chin. Its eyes were scrunched tightly shut, the kitten so young it wasn't even a week old. It squeaked gently, wriggling around in her hand.

Hogan turned to the englishman. 'Newkirk-'

The corporal held up his hands. 'I am not getting into this. It was Maisie, and Maisie alone.'

'Maisie…'

'I couldn't just leave it, Papa-' She replied, cradling the kitten against her. 'Mrs. Gustavsson said if I didn't take her that they were going to put her down. I couldn't let them do that. The mother cat abandoned it, this little one's an orphan. I said I would look after it. I know how-'

Hogan sighed. 'Maisie. You know you can't have pets here.'

'I know, but can't you make an exception for this little one? I'll take good care of it, promise.'

'What about Klink?'

'If I can convince you to let me keep it, then Uncle Klink will be no problem at all.' Maisie put on her most innocent face as she looked at him with sad puppy eyes. 'Bitte, Papa? It won't be any trouble at all, promise.'

Hogan looked from the little kitten to Maisie then back to the kitten. I can't believe I'm about to say this- He sighed. 'Alright, you can keep it.'

The teen's face lit up. 'Danke, Papa.'

'Mind you, there are a couple of conditions for you to keep it.'

'Conditions?'

He nodded. 'One. You're going to tell Klink about it, no argument. Two, when Schnitzer comes to change over the dogs, you get him to take a look at it and make sure it's not sick. It could be diseased, and if it is, it goes. Understood?' She nodded. 'Three, you do realize what you're getting yourself in for, right? An orphan kitten isn't easy to look after, especially when they're so young. There's no point in getting attached to it, at least not yet. It might still die.'

'I know.'

And there was no point in that warning at all; you've already fallen for it. 'And where are you going to get milk to feed it?'

'I'll 'borrow' some from the kitchen, and I've got my allowance. I can buy some milk in the village-' The kitten began to squeak again, and she glanced around the dimly lit barracks. 'Speaking of milk, this one needs a feed. Is there any canned milk here I can borrow? I'll replace it, of course.'

The things I do for you- Hogan stood and went into his room, taking a can of milk from his last Red Cross package. Upon returning to her, he placed it on the table. 'Have you got anything to feed it with?'

She grinned, pulling a little bottle from her pocket as she stood. 'Mmmhmm.' She walked around the table to him, handing him the little kitten. 'Hold onto it. I'll just heat up the milk.'

Newkirk chuckled with amusement as Hogan sat back down. 'Colonel Hogan and a kitten. I've got to get a photo of this-'

'Don't you even think about it.'

'Come now, don't be like that. I think you look adorable with it.'

Hogan glared at him. 'Newkirk, it's past your bedtime.' Still grinning, the corporal got up, heading into the colonel's office to change since Maisie was present. He looked back down at the kitten, the little thing nudging his pinky finger with its tiny nose. His heart melted as it tried to suckle on his finger. Alright, alright. Yes, you are adorable.

Maisie looked over as she warmed the milk on the stove, a smile coming to her face as she saw Hogan's grin. You devil, you really are a big marshmallow. Despite his bluff, she didn't doubt for one second he wouldn't let her keep it. After all, at the end of the day, Hogan had a kind heart. Her smile grew wider as she saw him gently stroke it with a finger.

'Would you like to feed it?'

Hogan looked up as Maisie sat on the bench next to him, holding the bottle out to him. 'I've never bottle fed something before-'

'I'll teach you. It's easy enough when they're as hungry as this little one.' He took the bottle from her, and she helped him hold it properly, the kitten latching onto the teat and began to drink. She looked at Hogan, a cheeky glint coming to her eyes. 'Where's a camera when you want one?'

'Don't you start.'

She giggled. 'You are a big softy, Papa.'

'Yeah, yeah.' The kitten took hold of the bottle with its front paws. 'Don't tell anyone. I'll never live it down.'

'Your secret is safe with me.'

By morning, the word had spread like wildfire that Maisie had smuggled a kitten into the camp, both Maisie and her kitten quickly becoming the center of attention. Barracks Two was inundated with men wishing to see the kitten, and Maisie found herself with a supply of milk for the little one that she couldn't possibly drink through in a lifetime. It was something new, something exciting, something that broke up the boring routine of prison camp life. Of course, none of them wanted to admit that it was the kitten they'd come to see. They had their manly pride to maintain, after all, and Hogan found himself with the most crazy of complaints from men wanting to catch a glimpse of the kitten.

The vet arrived that afternoon to change the dogs over ,and afterwards, he gave the kitten a look over. Much to Maisie's relief, he declared the kitten healthy, though a little underweight and gave her a couple suggestions on what to add to her feeding.

A couple days passed (Klink still unaware that Stalag 13 was hosting another visitor), and the kitten began to put on weight and grow. By the time that its eyes were finally open, it had doubled in size, and when they were able to tell if it was a boy or a girl (it was a girl), Maisie decided it was time to name it. After much debating amongst the men in Barracks Two, the little girl was christened 'Buttons' after the cat Maisie remembered her mother having when she was little.

Buttons continued to grow as the days passed by, the kitten quickly becoming the star attraction of Barracks Two. When she had taken her first steps, all the men had been there to watch and cheer her on. For the men in the middle of a war, Buttons became a symbol of hope. Everyone, not just those who shared the barracks with Hogan and his men, adored the kitten, and when Maisie went out about the camp, she was frequently stopped by the other prisoners to talk and see the little one.

Klink was still none the wiser when she was four weeks old, though he had begun to wonder what was going on. His guards were acting very strangely, whispering amongst themselves, and Schultz declared that he knew nothing, but there was definitely something going on in his prison camp. He watched more closely, taking notice of the fact that Maisie seemed to be more popular than usual. Both guards and prisoners would spend a lot of time speaking with her, but yet, he couldn't figure out why. Another thing that concerned him was that the teen hardly came around him anymore. It was like she was avoiding him at all costs, and he decided that during dinner that night, it was time for them to have a little talk.

'Maisie, have I done something wrong?' Klink questioned, over dinner that night, the teen looking up from her meal. 'I mean, the last few weeks you've hardly been around. I haven't said something to offend you, have I?'

Maisie shook her head. 'No, of course not, Uncle. I've just been busy, that's all. Colonel Hogan has been teaching me how to play the drums and helping me with my homework. I've got some tests coming up soon. I need help with my studying.'

He wiped his mouth on a napkin and placed it aside. 'You know, I could give you a hand with your studies. I was quite the student in my younger years. I got straight A's for math class all the way through.'

'Really?'

'I wasn't so bad at music class, either-' A soft squeaking sound came from across the table, and he frowned. 'What was that?'

Be quiet, Buttons! 'Nothing. I didn't hear anything.' Her coat pocket began to move, and she clasped a hand over it to stop the kitten from escaping. Buttons protested loudly.

'There it is again.'

'You know-' She started as innocently as she could. 'I've heard of this, hearing things that aren't actually there-'

Meow

'Ah ha-' He stood, listening closely. 'I know I heard something that time young lady, you can't fool me.' The sound was coming from Maisie, and he walked over to her, noticing her coat pocket moving. 'Alright Maisie, empty your pockets.'

'Empty my pockets, Uncle?'

'You heard me. Empty your pockets.'

You've done it now, Buttons.

Klink raised an eyebrow as a squirming, wriggling kitten was pulled out of her coat. 'Where did that come from?'

'I found her.' She replied, with a big grin, holding the kitten up to her cheek. 'Isn't she cute? Colonel Hogan thinks she is.'

Hogan! Of course he was involved, why was that any surprise? 'You can't keep it.'

'Why not? She's no trouble, and I've had her here for almost three weeks, and you didn't even notice.'

He felt a migraine coming on as he returned to his chair. 'Maisie, this is a prison camp. We do not keep animals here.'

'You have the dogs here.'

'They serve a purpose. They have a job.'

'Well Buttons has a job, too. She looks adorable.'

'Buttons?'

'That's what I named her. Mama had a cat named Buttons when I was really little. I named this one after her.'

'I'm sorry, Maisie, but it's going to have to go-'

Maisie bit her lip as Klink rose, going over to the phone. 'Who are you ringing?'

'The vet. He'll be able to find her a good home with a nice family-' No sooner had the words left his mouth, then Maisie sprinted from the table, disappearing out the door. He sighed, placing the phone back on its holder without placing the call. Returning to the table, he sat down and sighed heavily, looking over at Maisie's uneaten meal. He wasn't the bad guy in this, was he?

'Colonel Hogan, Colonel Hogan, you've got to do something-'

'Ay, what's the matter, little one?' Newkirk questioned, as the teen burst into their barracks, interrupting their quiet supper.

'Uncle Klink found out about Buttons-' Maisie was near tears as Hogan stood, placing a hand on her shoulder. 'He's going to ring the vet to find her a home. Please Papa, please talk to him. I don't want Buttons to leave.'

Hogan sighed, looking down at the kitten in the teen's arms. 'Alright, alright. I'll go have a talk with him.'

'Danke, Papa.' She wrapped an arm around him, Buttons purring loudly as she nudged him. 'Danke.'

'It's alright, little one,' Hogan said. 'You sit down and have supper with the boys, and I'll go speak to Klink.' He gave the kitten a scratch under the chin. 'I don't want her to leave, either.'

'Come sit down here, love-' Newkirk patted the spot beside him as Hogan walked out. 'LeBeau's made some strudel for dessert.'

'Colonel Klink, can I have a word with you?'

'What is it, Hogan?' Klink questioned, though he had a very good idea of the reason the American had walked in.

'I've come to ask you not to get rid of Maisie's kitten.'

'How did I know she'd come crying to you?'

'That's a bit unfair, sir. She's quite upset about you saying it has to go.'

'Oh, is she now? Did you know she's had it here for three weeks?'

'And it wasn't any trouble at all, if you don't mind me saying.'

Klink sighed, placing his fork and knife back onto his plate. 'Why didn't she tell me about it when she first found it?'

'She was worried that you would make her get rid of it. I said she could keep it, and the men have enjoyed having the kitten around. It's quite good for morale-' He helped himself to a chicken drumstick from Maisie's leftovers. 'Not to mention the mouse problem. You wouldn't want us making a complaint to the Red Cross about the mice, now would you? It'll be a mark against your name-'

'Alright, alright, she can keep the kitten.' He interrupted, even if it was just to shut up Hogan's incessant chatter.

Hogan grinned. 'She'll be happy when I tell her that.'

'I'm sure she will be. Now, may I eat the rest of my dinner in peace?'

'Of course. Sorry for the interruption, Kommandant. You may continue.'

'Thank you, Hogan.'

The colonel offered a sloppy salute before heading out of the room, and Klink sighed with relief after he'd left. After all, how much trouble could one little kitten cause?

A lot of trouble.

'Catch that cat!' Klink cried.

'I'm trying-' Maisie lunged for the kitten again, but missed, Buttons leaping onto Klink's desk. The girl fell flat on her face as papers went flying-

~ A loud crash came over the speaker, Hogan raising an eyebrow as loud shouts of both Klink and Maisie followed.

'Sounds like a bloody party in there,' Newkirk said, with a chuckle.

'Either that-' Carter added. 'Or the elephants from the Hammelburg Zoo are in his office.'

Another loud crash came, mixed with more shouts from Klink.

'I wonder what I'm missing out on,' The colonel remarked, leaning against his bunk with his cap covering his eyes.

'It's better than listening to the German radio.' LeBeau commented.

'Hey Colonel-' Kinch walked into the office, Hogan placing his cap properly on his head as he turned to him. 'Hochstetter just turned up.'

The shouts continued coming over the speaker, mixed with another heavy thud.

'Looks like I'll get to visit the party after all.' He remarked, heading for the door. ~

'Buttons, come here Buttons.' Maisie crouched down next to the filing cabinet, trying to coax the kitten out from her hiding place. 'Come here, girl.'

'That cat is a menace-'

'Uncle, lower your voice!' She hissed, looking back at Klink. 'It's not her fault, she's scared. You'd wake the dead when you get cross-'

'Maisie-' Klink shook a fist at her. 'Just get that kitten, and get out.'

The door opened, and Hochstetter walked in, his eyebrows raising as he looked around Klink's office. Papers were everywhere, pictures were off the walls, vases were shattered on the floor- 'What is going on here?'

Klink turned around, turning into jelly as he saw the major standing in the doorway. 'Major Hochstetter, a pleasure to see you-'

Maisie looked around, not pleased at all to see the Gestapo officer. Of all the days he chooses to show up…

The major slammed the door behind him shut, stepping closer to Klink. 'What is going on here-'

Buttons took use of the opportunity to make a run from her hiding place, running for what appeared to be a nice, cozy, dark place…

'OWWWWW!'

Hogan chose that exact moment to walk into the office, an eyebrow raising as the major hopped around yelling and screaming.

'There's something in my trousers!'

The color drained from Maisie's face.

The colonel took a quick assessment of the situation, wondering just what on earth was going on. 'If this isn't a good time-'

'HOGAN!' Klink exclaimed.

'WHAT IS DIS MAN DOING HERE?' Hochstetter roared, frantically trying to get whatever it was climbing up the inside of his trousers back out.

Klink had gone as pale as Maisie.

Hogan covered his mouth to stifle his laughing. 'You trying to audition for a place with the Duesseldorf Schuhplattler dancers, are you, Major?'

Buttons decided that this place wasn't the best place at all to hide and quickly retreated, scratching Hochstetter's legs all the way down as she fled.

'OWWWWWWW-'

Seeing the kitten zipping out of the majors trousers was more than Hogan could stand. He was unable to contain his laughter any longer.

Hochstetter's face was as red as a stop sign, steam radiating from his ears as he saw the culprit responsible for his predicament get caught by the girl. A, a,a ccccatttt? He HATED cats. 'What is this cat doing here?'

By now, Maisie wished she could find the nearest hole to hide in, her kitten tucked away back in the pocket of her coat. Hogan had completely lost it, a hand on the wall to steady him as he laughed, tears running down his cheeks, and Klink appeared like he was going to faint. Hochstetter, well, Hochstetter was furious.

'Klink! This is a prison camp-' He took his anger out on the Kommandant, Klink meekly sitting back in his chair. 'Not a zoo.' He turned to the girl, marching over to her. 'And you, where did you put that, that menace-'

Hogan's laughter was cut off abruptly when he saw Hochstetter advancing on Maisie and hurried over to them, stepping in between the major and the teen. 'Don't take it out on her, Sir. It couldn't have happened to anyone-'

'I will have you all shot!' He roared angrily, glaring at Hogan. 'Give me that cat-'

Maisie peaked around Hogan, her eyes blazing angrily. 'Touch my kitten, and you'll be sent to the Russian Front faster than you can blink. I mean it.'

'And just how would that happen?'

'One phone call to General Wolfgang Klink.'

Hochstetter swallowed hard. 'You know the General?'

Maisie didn't reply. Instead, she stepped out from behind Hogan, walked over to where the phone had been knocked off the desk, and picked it up. 'Hello, operator-'

'There's no need to be so hasty-' The major took the receiver from the girl, placing the phone back on its holder. 'Just how do you know the General?'

Without missing a beat, Maisie replied- 'He's my father.'

It was Hochstetter's turn to pale. 'F-father?'

She nodded. 'And you are one phone call away from the winter wonderland. I can already hear the sleigh bells...'

Hogan had to cover his mouth again to stop himself laughing. He'd gotten Hochstetter frazzled on some occasions, but this was absolute gold. You tell him, Maisie.

'Well… in that case…' Hochstetter was lost for words, his pride as hurt as his legs were. He looked around the room, deciding his business could wait until another time. 'I have some business to attend to back at the office…' Before he was humiliated any more, the major hurried out of the room, the front door slamming loudly as he left the building.

Hogan again burst with laughter, quickly being silenced by the glares that both Klink and Maisie shot at him.

'This is no laughing matter-' Klink growled, as he looked around at the chaos one little kitten had created. His office looked like a war zone, and he turned to Maisie. 'Get that, that thing out of my office this instant! That kitten is going to go-'

'It's not her fault, Uncle, you scared her-'

'I don't care whose fault it was, but that kitten has got to go-'

Maisie glared at him. 'She goes, you go. Joining Hochstetter on a one way train ride to the snowy wonderland.'

'Maisie, don't pull that threat on me-' He started, then stopped when she picked up the phone. He pointed a finger at the teen's jacket where the kitten was wriggling around in the pocket. 'You had better make sure that it never comes back into my office.'

'I'll only bring her in when Major Hocstetter is here-'

'Maisie!'

'Alright, alright. Come on, Buttons; we know when we're not wanted.'

'Not so fast-' Klink hurried to the open door, shutting it before she could walk through. 'You are going to tidy up the mess that the kitten made before you go anywhere. I am going to take the rest of the day off while you clean up.'

Maisie knew when to not push her luck and nodded. 'I'll get to work right now.'

'Kommandant-'

'Not now, Hogan,' Klink said, angrily picking up his cap and coat off the floor. 'Diiiissssmmmmiiissssddddd.'

'Well….' Hogan raised his eyebrows as the Kommandant stormed out of the office, and he turned back to Maisie, the girl kneeling down on the floor picking up papers. 'What just happened?'

She looked up at him sadly and sighed. 'Don't ask.'

'And then, Buttons crawled up Major Hochstetter's trousers.'

The barracks erupted with laughter as they listened to Hogan's retelling of Buttons' little 'adventure' later that evening.

'I'd have paid good money to see that one.' LeBeau spoke up between laughs. 'It sounded like all of World War Two in there over the coffee pot.'

Carter looked back at the colonel. 'What happened next, Colonel?'

'Well, Hochstetter started jumping around. He'd get himself a spot on a Schuhplattler dance group with the performance he put on. Klink and Maisie, they were both white as sheets, and me-' He laughed, shaking his head as the scene played over in his mind again. 'I nearly wet my pants from laughing. I've never seen Hochstetter so enraged, then Maisie turning him into a quivering coward with a mention of who her 'father' was.'

Newkirk grinned with pride. 'Atta girl. That's our Maisie.'

'I would have loved to have seen that,' Kinch said, with a chuckle. 'Hochstetter sure was furious when he stepped out of the Kommandant's office. He looked like he was about to go on a warpath.'

'Him and Klink both. The mess that one little kitten made-' Hogan shook his head, a grin on his face. 'Oh, it was really something.'

'So when ol Hochstetter turns up again, we turn Buttons loose?' Newkirk questioned, with a mischievous smirk.

'Apparently, she doesn't like him anymore then we do.' LeBeau commented.

'Boy-' Carter chuckled at the image he had in his mind. 'Hochstetter won't live this one down.'

'No-' Hogan grinned. 'He won't.'

'I can see someone is taking after her owner-' Hogan said, with a grin, he and Maisie sitting together on his bunk that night talking, Buttons purring away on the teen's lap. 'Utterly and completely cheeky and mischievous.'

Maisie giggled. 'I'll take that as a compliment.'

'Just make sure you don't let her loose in my office. I won't be as forgiving as Klink.'

'Uncle Klink? Forgiving? Papa, my arms are still aching from scrubbing that ink off his desk.'

Hogan chuckled, rubbing beneath the kitten's chin. 'Can you imagine if you turned her loose in Gestapo Headquarters?'

'Major Hochstetter would have a heart attack on the spot.'

'Would that be a bad thing?'

'No-' She smiled as Buttons purred loudly, rubbing her little head into Hogan's hand. 'You wouldn't have to worry about him, then. At least she likes you.'

'Everyone likes me.'

'Oh, haha. Very funny, Papa.'

The colonel chuckled again as he gave her a kiss on her forehead, then looked back at the kitten. The kitten got to her feet, padding up his chest to rub her head against his chin.

'So, what award does she get for giving Major Hochstetter some new battle scars?'

'I don't think they give awards out for cats, but I think she'll make a great mascot.' He replied, with a grin, the kitten's tiny whiskers tickling his skin. He picked her up, patting her gently.

'Welcome to the team, Buttons.'