No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is inferred or implied in this fiction. I have simply borrowed them for dramatic purposes. The copyright is owned by others and no infringement is intended.

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Colonel Klink sat at his desk, trying to concentrate on his paperwork. But he was distracted by the idea of the General's visit. ~~Face it,~~ he thought to himself, ~~it's your ancestors who were great German officers, not you.~~ He didn't like thinking this way, but he also didn't like how he couldn't help being kind to his enemies. Take Hogan, for instance. The American Army Air Force Colonel was one of the most irritating men he had ever met-constantly outsmarting him, commanding a loyalty from not only his own men but from the German guards, something Klink with all his German rank could not do. Hogan was an inferior chess player; maybe that was some type of redeeming quality. Americans have no sense of strategy anyway. So why was it that he liked this man, his mortal enemy? Why was it that he was worried when he noticed Hogan looking less than his usual self at roll call? Why was it that when Hogan didn't follow him to his office this morning with his usual list of demands for and complaints from the prisoners that Klink wondered if the man was in need of medical attention, or in some sort of trouble?

~~You don't need this today, Wilhelm,~~ he said, shaking the thoughts from his head. He sighed, then tried to refocus. He hated these visits from headquarters. General Burkhalter was always threatening to send him to the Russian front for incompetence. And yet Klink knew that no one escaped from Stalag 13. He snorted in derision. Of course he knew that once again it was Hogan who was responsible for that. Why was this man so nice to him, so helpful, when he should by all rights be thrilled whenever Klink was dressed down?

Sergeant Hans Schultz came in just as Klink was about to smash his monocle in frustration. "Herr Kommandant!" he barked, almost jolting Klink out of his chair.

"What is it, Schultz? I am trying to get ready for the General's visit."

"Well that is just it, Herr Kommandant. General Burkhalter has just-"

"Arrived," completed the General himself, coming into the room. "I realize I am early, Klink, but it never seems to make a difference in the presentation of your camp."

Klink shot to his feet, ready to fumble himself into the General's good graces-if that were at all possible. "General Burkhalter, what a pleasure to see you here at Stalag 13. You know we always look forward to having you here." He made almost frantic motions for the General to make himself at home, and offered Burkhalter a drink.

"Brandy, Klink," he said. Klink waved Schultz away to get it.

When Schultz returned, Klink dismissed him quickly. "Very good, Schultz, now back to work. You know we have to keep an eye on the prisoners, especially those working on the gardens today."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," said Schultz. "Ah, but Kommandant, um-one more thing if I may, Herr Colonel." He paused. Well, he had promised to try. And the thought of Le Beau's cooking..... He took a cursory glance at Burkhalter before launching into his request. "The prisoners are requesting some extra blankets and some penicillin for Barracks Two." There. It was out. Firing squad material, perhaps? he thought, as he watched Klink's face. But his commanding officer was apparently determined to keep a good show up for his visitor. Schultz took mental note to perhaps make all his requests in front of people who terrified Klink.

"And why do they need that, Schultz?" asked Klink.

"Well, Herr Kommandant, it appears that Colonel Hogan is unwell and the prisoners would like to speed up his recovery."

"Unwell in what way, Sergeant?" asked Burkhalter.

"I believe it is the flu, General. He looked unwell this morning at roll call, and said he was coming down with something," said Klink. He turned to Schultz. "Very well, Schultz, get them what they need." He waved Schultz away. "Must have the senior POW in good condition, according to the Geneva Convention!" groveled Klink to Burkhalter.

"Mm, Geneva is the last place you should think of being, Klink," said the General. "My ideas for you are much colder than that." He finished his drink and slammed the glass on the desk. "I have come today, Klink, because Stalag 13 is the closest prison camp to a munitions shipment being transported tonight, and you need to be aware of the procedures if the men accompanying the shipment have any special needs or requests on the way through. This is," he said, pausing for impact, "if you understand how to follow Luftwaffe procedure."

Klink bowed his head. He hated the humiliation that always came with Burkhalter's visits. So, Hogan was unwell-unfortunate for many reasons, thought Klink. Including that if this had been a normal day, the POW would have probably been in Klink's office when Burkhalter arrived, and that would have diverted attention away from Klink. And Hogan never failed to have something good to say about him to his superiors. A good sport, really, thought Klink, considering he was a prisoner of war.

"I am ready to do whatever the General considers necessary in light of this important stop," is all Klink responded. They both had pause when they heard a truck pull up.

"Expecting company this morning, Colonel Klink?" asked Burkhalter.

Klink went to the window and nearly sank to his knees as he saw Major Hochstetter disembarking from the truck. Gestapo, he trembled inside. ~~Another fine moment in my life.~~ Klink feared the Gestapo for more than one reason. First and foremost, he worried about the possibility that someday they might want him for not being strong enough-or perhaps hard enough-to treat his prisoners the way the Gestapo seemed to treat everybody. But he also disliked how they abused people in most cruel ways, to get answers that may not even be reality. Men who were taken to Gestapo headquarters never came back the way they left. Even when the physical wounds had healed, the mental scars remained forever.

Klink shuddered and waited for the small man to burst in, as he always did. He was not disappointed. "Klink," said Hochstetter in greeting. "I need to see one of your men." He turned to Burkhalter. "I did not know you were at the Stalag this morning, Herr General."

Burkhalter always had a bad taste in his mouth when Burkhalter was nearby. He let that taste show on his face. "Mmm. Major Hochstetter, that may be because I don't feel it necessary to have my secretary check my movements with you in advance." That man likes his job too much and thinks he has more power than he really does, thought Burkhalter.

Hochstetter shared the distaste of his superior. But for him it was not just Burkhalter, but everyone who dared question the methods of the Gestapo. Of agents for the Fatherland, there was no one better to follow through with interrogations till the bitter and often bloody end. Hochstetter knew that what he was doing was right and necessary, and he approached his job with obvious relish. ~~Too obvious,~~ thought Burkhalter. "Of course you are right, Herr General," said Hochstetter with false sweetness. "Please excuse the intrusion, gentlemen, but the Gestapo cannot afford to wait. Klink, I need your Colonel Hogan."

~~Not again,~~ thought Klink. ~~He's always trying to pin something on Hogan.~~ "Colonel Hogan is unwell today, Major Hochstetter. What is it you need him for?"

"Last night my troops found out about a secret meeting that including the handing over of names of some spies posing as German officers. While on patrol they encountered a lean dark-haired man making a break in this direction. In the bright moonlight last night the men were quite specific in their description, and I could think only of Colonel Hogan when they told me."

"A lean, dark-haired man?" scoffed Burkhalter. He was no fan of Hogan, but he could not resist the opportunity to bring Hochstetter down a peg. "Surely there would be many men who fit that description, Major. And why did your fine patrol not hunt down its prey? One man, escaping an entire patrol?"

Hochstetter pasted a not very convincing smile on his face and turned to Burkhalter. "One deals with humans, Herr General, and humans are bound to be imperfect once in a while. Even SS guards." He turned his attention back to Klink. He hated Burkhalter being here; somehow he didn't have the control he wanted when the General was present, and he was a good enough officer not to disobey orders from above. Klink would normally be jelly in his presence. But not with Burkhalter there making it difficult. "Now, Colonel Klink, I'm sure Colonel Hogan could spare the SS some time this morning to discuss his whereabouts."

"I assure you, Major, Hogan was at bed check last night. But if you insist, we can go over to Barracks Two at once."