(*Author's note: Well, this story is getting a bit longer than I had anticipated. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not. I'm sure someone will make me aware if it is. Since I am as fallible as the next author, I would like it if you find any mistakes (continuity, character, whatever-wise) that you let me know. That way I can fix it and make my story better. Oh, and if anyone would be interested in beta reading this for me (before I post it) I would really be grateful. Thank you)

***

After being abruptly dismissed by Klink, it took Hogan a few seconds to take it all in. First Kink wandered out of his office without his gloves, riding crop and monocle. Then Klink preceded to snap at him before he had even done anything. Finally, to top it all off, Klink suddenly rushed back to his office. It was odd, even for Klink. Something in Hogan's gut told him that something was going on, and he had no intention of missing any of it.

Hogan looked around to see if he was being watched. Satisfied that no one was paying him undue attention, he sneaked under Klink's office window. Luckily, the window was open enough for Hogan to hear what was happening inside. However, he couldn't really understand what he was hearing. It sounded like Klink was talking to and answering someone who wasn't there. Hogan chanced sneaking a look inside. Sure enough, there was Klink, talking to thin air.

"It's October? The calendar I found said that it was September." Then there was a pause and Hogan thought that he heard Klink sigh. "What am I supposed to do, Al? I don't know how to act like a Nazi. I haven't been here more than ten minutes and someone's suspicious already." Before Hogan could even try to make sense of that last bit, he heard words that he wished he hadn't. "What kind of person is Klink?" What was that supposed to mean?

Hogan didn't have a chance to hear anymore. He noticed a guard coming his way and he was in no condition to make up a probable reason for him to be hanging around under the Commandant's window. Trying to look more nonchalant than he felt, Hogan made his way to Barracks Two as quickly as he could without arousing suspicion.

When Hogan arrived at Barracks Two, he found his men hard at work. Well, working hard to win at cards. However, Hogan had no time to waste. Maybe there was a chance to hear some more of the strange one sided conversation Klink had been having. "Kinchloe, I need you on the bug in Klink's office."

Kinchloe nodded, putting down his cards. No one asked questions as everyone else abandoned their cards as well. No doubt there were many that they wanted to ask and Hogan was grateful that they were able to contain themselves.

After finally getting into the radio room, they managed to catch a tinny sounding Klink say, ". . .soon." A short pause and then, "You bet I will, Al." Then nothing.

"That's enough." Hogan told Kinchloe. Turning to the rest of his men, he told them what he had heard and what he had seen earlier.

"I think that we can all agree that there is something very wrong in Denmark." Hogan finished looking meaningfully at is men. When no one seemed to be taking the cue to make observations or suggestions, Hogan took the initiative. "I think that there are a few possibilities. One, that Klink has taken leave of himself-"

"Yeah," Newkirk quipped, "'e's 'taken leave' all the way to the loony bin."

Everyone thought it was pretty amusing except for Hogan who was slightly miffed at being cut off in the middle of a sentence. "If I can continue?" Feeling assured that he wasn't going to be interrupted, he went on "Two, this is some sort of weird hangup- an invisible friend, maybe."

Carter raised his hand as if he were in grade school. "Yes, Carter?"

"But if he has an invisible friend, well, wouldn't we have heard about it before now?"

Hogan nodded, "Which is why I'm inclined to dismiss it, but we must have all of our options on the table before we make any decisions. The third possibility is that this person, whomever he is, isn't Klink."

LeBeau gasped, "Sacre Blu! That is incredible. But who would want to pretend to be Klink?"

"And why would anyone want to spy on a Stalag? Besides, how could they find someone who looked so much like Klink.?" Kinchloe asked reasonably. "And so quickly? Klink was himself at roll-call, how could they sneak him out and a replacement in between roll-call and now?"

Hogan sighed, "I know that too." Leading the way back up to the Barracks, he continued. "I don't know what is going on, but I think that we all should keep an eye on Klink." Everyone nodded solemnly before going back up to the Barracks and, most likely, back to their card game.

Hogan stayed behind for a moment, thinking. He was just as mystified as everyone else and he had heard it all first hand. Forget Denmark- there was something rotten at Stalag 13 and Hogan was determined to find out exactly what it was.

Don't worry, Klink, he thought, I won't keep an eye on you; I'll keep both eyes on you.

***

Following Al's departure, Sam took a moment to collect himself. He finally had a whole name and he knew exactly where and when he was. What he didn't know was why he was there at all and how on Earth it was possible. 1943. So much for the String Theory.

But as there was nothing to be done for it, at least, not at the moment, Sam pushed the matter back in his mind and tried to think. God-Time-Whatever usually sent him to places where people needed his help. Ergo, since he was here, someone needed help. Being 1943, Sam could think of thousands of someones that could use help, but he knew that he probably wasn't here for them. After all, what can one man do? Granted, Sam had performed amazing feats, but this was too much to expect from anyone- even a time traveler.

Besides, the changes he made usually didn't have much of an affect on the larger picture of history. He usually helped individuals make something better of their lives and sometimes he just saved their lives. He couldn't think of anyone specifically that he could help where he was and who he was. He had leaped into a Nazi who ran a little POW camp; what could he change that would stick after he leaped out?

Sam closed his eyes, feeling tired. There really was no point in trying to figure out what his mission was until Ziggy had her data together. He wouldn't know anything until Al returned and who could say when Al would show up again. Al was a good friend, but he never seemed to arrive when Sam wanted him to and when he did, he usually didn't have anything useful to say.

That's not fair, he thought, Al's there when you really need him. That was true; but that didn't change the fact that Sam was feeling bored out of his mind. He briefly considered picking up the mess he had made in his earlier search for a calendar and rejected the notion quickly. For one thing he had no idea how to organize the papers and for another thing- he just didn't want to do it.

What he did want to do was investigate; look around the camp; find out what, if anything, was happening. Maybe there was some secret for him to unearth or some dirty dealings to put a stop to. Sam frowned slightly. He had the uneasy feeling that perhaps he was getting too used to being the universal good Samaritan. When all of this leaping had started, as far as he could remember, all he wanted was to avoid conflict. He didn't want to fight anyone. Lately, it had been as if there was this part of him that craved the conflicts; the battles of will and fists. Sam wasn't quite sure what it all meant, but he did know that he didn't like the change.

All of which had no bearing on the fact that Sam was getting ready to ignore Al's advice on keeping a low profile. There was work to be done and Sam was more than reasonably certain that none of that work would be in the office.

But before Sam had a chance to implement his plan of action, there was a knock on the door. Automatically he said, "Come in, Shultz." Sam was at once grateful and annoyed by having enough of the host to be able to identify people. He was grateful because he didn't have to worry about tricking people the host knew into giving him their names. He was annoyed because, as a scientist, he didn't like not being in complete control of his own mind.

The door opened and in stepped a large and plump man in a Sergeant's uniform. Beside him stood Colonel Hogan who smiled broadly and, at least it seemed to Sam, predatorily.

"Yes, what do you want?"

The Sergeant, Shultz, swallowed and didn't look Sam in the eye. "Colonel Hogan wanted to see you, Herr Commandant."

Sam tried to think of a proper response. On the one hand, he didn't want to talk to Hogan. Hogan suspected something, and while Sam knew that Hogan had no way of knowing what was really going on, Sam couldn't afford a lucky guess. On the other hand, what would it look like to refuse to see him? Wouldn't that make Hogan more suspicious?

These thoughts went through his mind in no more than a second or two. At length, he nodded, "Show him in."

When he and Hogan were alone, Sam motioned to the chair on the other side of the desk. "Have a seat?" He decided that snarling and unprovoked anger wasn't in character for Klink- at least, judging from Hogan's reaction when he had tried it earlier. Instead, Sam decided to try being a bit calmer and a bit nicer. With luck, it would dissipate what ever suspicions that Hogan might have had. If not, well, maybe Al could be help him with it when he came back. "And what can I do for you?"

***

TO BE CONTINUED

(in the near future)

(with luck)