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"Mon Colonel has never been gone this long before," Le Beau fretted when Hogan had not returned two days later.

"All we can do is wait," Kinch said, not liking his answer any more than the others did. "The Colonel said to hang on till he comes back. We just don't know when that is."

"And in the meantime that filthy Bosche Hochstetter can do whatever he wants to Colonel Hogan."

"We don't even know for sure that's where he is," Newkirk put in. "If we did, we could spring 'im."

"The Colonel said to wait," Kinch insisted. "If we go in half-cocked, Hochstetter's going to know the Colonel's been playing him for a fool, and that might make it worse. All we can do now is make sure everything is ready when he comes back. Carter, are you sure those explosives are out and ready?"

"I sure am," the Sergeant answered. "Louis and I brought them to the bridge night before last. I checked them last night; they haven't been touched."

"So Hochstetter hasn't totally given up yet," Kinch surmised. "That means he still needs Colonel Hogan."

"And that at least means he's still alive… somewhere," Newkirk said.

"What does Klink have to say about it?" asked Carter.

"Not much," said Kinch. "You saw him at roll call this morning, all edgy, wouldn't tell us anything. Coffeepot's not giving away any secrets. I don't think Klink knows any more than we do…and Schultz keeps asking me, so I don't think he knows anything either."

"We'd better make an appearance outside, or the nice Germans will get suspicious," Newkirk said, heading out. But his eyes stayed on the Colonel's closed door. "Can't afford to have that now, can we?" Where are you, Colonel? Why don't you come home?

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Hogan finally arrived back at Stalag 13 three days later, this time dumped roughly outside Klink's office from the back of a truck. The meeting went as he had expected: a few minutes of token discussion about the next escape attempt, followed by an extended session of exquisite agony. As before, Hochstetter had made sure to tell Hogan that it was all a necessary part of the deception of Klink, so no one would think there was any sort of collusion between the two. Also as before, Hogan had tried to control his temper as it started. But this time, Hochstetter had seemed to be determined to show Hogan who was in charge, and the battering was longer, and relentless, until Hogan was nearly driven wild with pain.

Klink had come out of his office when he was told of Hogan's return, and quickly dismissed the Corporal who had accompanied the POW back to camp. Kneeling beside Hogan, who was convulsing in the dirt, Klink had called for Schultz to help the man get to his quarters, and to call for the medic to attend to him at once. Hogan staggered along, half carried, comprehending very little, his thinking unclear. Every part of his body hurt. Every ragged breath was an effort, every step a fresh cruelty. He had screamed shamelessly when a club cracked viciously against his kneecap and had nearly passed out from the pain. But that comfort was not to be his, and even now he was wishing for oblivion that refused to come.

"Wilson is coming," is all Schultz managed, when he brought a nearly senseless Hogan back to the barracks and the angry men inside. He let Hogan's closest companions take their commander from him and lead him to his quarters, and the guard disappeared to fetch the medical man.

Relieved at his return, but panicking at his condition, Hogan's men stumbled over themselves trying to make him comfortable while they waited for Wilson. Le Beau offered quiet words of reassurance while Kinch took the damp cloth offered by Carter and gently ran it over Hogan's drawn face and parched lips. Newkirk carefully removed Hogan's shoes, drawing back when Hogan cried out at the unexpected movement of his swollen left leg. Hogan couldn't seem to be still, his eyes scanning the room unfocused, his body arcing, unable to bear contact with the bed. He tried to form words that came out only as whimpers.

Wilson arrived minutes later, and once again took over. Disregarding past orders, he administered pain relief immediately, then began his examination as Hogan quickly fell into the drug's embrace. He catalogued a host of indignities that the Colonel had suffered, including what appeared to be exposure, and a flogging, then pronounced Hogan's kneecap unbroken, but severely bruised inside. "You'd better finish this mission up soon," Wilson warned. "People aren't made to take this kind of punishment on a regular basis."

"We should have tried to get him out," Le Beau lamented. "He must have thought we abandoned him." He had turned away during the assessment, unable to stomach the images that came with it.

"We didn't know, Louis," comforted Newkirk, anger creeping into his distressed eyes. "Hochstetter's never gone this far before. We had no way of knowing he'd do this."

"We should have known. We should have known," Le Beau repeated quietly. Newkirk exchanged glances with Kinch, who put his arm around Le Beau's shoulders and led him out of the room.

Carter was standing shell-shocked near the doorway. "W—what do we do now, Newkirk?" he asked shakily.

"Pray," Wilson answered for him. "And keep watch. I'm going to get a compress for that leg. And I'll be back every couple of hours to make sure he's staying under. He doesn't need to be awake right now; he needs to be kept as far away from reality as possible until some real healing starts." He very gently pulled a blanket over Hogan's still body. "I'll be back in a few minutes with some things I'm going to need. Someone stay with him."

Only when Wilson had left did Carter seem able to move. He edged closer to Hogan's bunk. "So what happens now, Newkirk? What do you think happened?"

"What do I think happened?" repeated Newkirk. "I think Hochstetter's cheese finally slipped off its cracker and he took it out on the Colonel. 'E wasn't after information from the gov'nor, at least not before now. It was just convenient to take out his frustrations on 'im. After all, who was gonna stop 'im?"

"Louis's right," Carter mumbled, despondent. "We should have tried to get the Colonel away from him." He tried not to look at Hogan, but found he couldn't help searching for a sign of guidance from the man, even though he knew it wouldn't be coming soon.

"Andrew, we couldn't. Kinch was right; the Colonel wanted us to stay out of it. He knew it was risky and he didn't want to take any chances."

Kinch came back into the room. "Klink's coming."

Newkirk didn't leave Hogan's room to greet the kommandant, even though Carter stood up and hesitantly moved away. Poor Carter, thought Newkirk. 'E's like a lost lamb.

Klink was suddenly standing apprehensively in the doorway. "I saw Wilson leave," he said without preamble.

"He'll be back," Newkirk replied coolly.

"How is the Colonel?"

"I think he'll want a holiday when he recovers. Whenever that happens to be."

"Major Hochstetter wants to be kept informed of his progress," Klink said warily.

"Why?" Newkirk retorted. "So he can do it again? When are you going to stop this, Kommandant?" he demanded.

"I did not come here to discuss the powers of the Gestapo," Klink said, suddenly defensive. "I came to check on Colonel Hogan."

"Yeah, for the goons," accused Newkirk.

"No; for myself," Klink denied. "I am not as heartless as you think, Corporal. If it was within my power to stop this, I would." He took a few steps in and studied Hogan's pale face. "Bring an end to this, Hogan," he whispered, not aware he was speaking aloud. "Tell him whatever it takes to stop this madness." He turned to Newkirk. "Tell Sergeant Wilson that he has my authority to get whatever medical supplies he needs from the supply hut. He is excused from normal duties while he has Colonel Hogan under his care."

"Yes, sir," Newkirk said, surprised.

"And I presume you and Colonel Hogan's other men will want to be with him as well; very well, you may, but I expect all but one of you to be showing up for every roll call, you understand? Someone will come to check on your whereabouts each time. There will be no escape attempts."

"Sure, Kommandant." Newkirk exchanged looks with Le Beau and Kinch, who had appeared in the doorway when Klink moved into the room. Now Klink turned and they parted to allow him through.

"I have a call out to General Burkhalter," Klink said abruptly, addressing no one in particular. He looked like he was about to say more, but decided against it. "Keep me informed of any changes." And he disappeared before Wilson returned to continue his work.

"I think we just got Plan B," Newkirk mused. The others crowded in to listen.