Disclaimer: see chapter three.

Author's note: thank you for the reviews. Special thanks to ML Miller and jb burns. Sorry to all that it's taken so long for me to get this chapter posted.

Kinch woke with a jolt as he heard his radio come to life. Quietly as possible he crept down into the tunnel under his bunk. When he reached his radio set he sent through a repeat message request. A few minutes later the radio started up again. Kinch quickly wrote down the coded message. He confirmed that he received the message and signed off. He grabbed the decoding key from the table next to him. There were two separate messages, the first was information about the General and the second was about the operation in regards to Conner. Kinch couldn't believe what he was reading. He had to wake Carter and LeBeau they had a big problem and Hogan was the one man that really needed to know the messages.

***

"Where're we going Colonel?" Newkirk called out to the man a few feet in front of him. The three had been walking for at least an hour and half.

"There's a old barn up ahead that's been abandoned. We'll stay there tonight and move on before the sun comes up tomorrow." Hogan called over his shoulder without turning.

"I wonder what Kinch told the Bald Eagle?" Newkirk asked quicken his pace to catch up with Hogan.

"Bald Eagle?" Conner shouted far behind the two.

"Shh!" Hogan warned, waiting for the other man to catch up. "Do you want every German from here to the Russian Front to hear you?"

Hogan was starting to dislike Conner there was something about him. In his line of work gut feelings are the difference between life and death.

"Sorry, sir," Conner said putting the bags he carried onto the ground. "Can we stop for a few minutes, sir?"

"We can have all the rest needed when we reach the barn," Hogan told him. Looking Conner and the bags over. He noticed something shining on the ground.

"What's this?" Hogan asked picking up a coin next to Conner's bags. He then grabbed Conner's bags; one was empty. 'There's a rip in the bag, we've lost half our food."

"A rock must have ripped the bag, sir," Conner said shrugging his shoulders.

"Lets get going," Hogan ordered. Keeping his feelings to himself. "We're not far away."

***

Hogan kept a lookout as the two Englishmen slept within the barn on a pile of hay. Hogan leaned against a tree that gave him a view of the barn and surrounding area. He checked his gun making sure it was in working order. He also checked on the small knife, he kept hidden near his belt. His shoulder was a little stiff but it was healing quickly, he was lucky.

The more time he spent with Conner the stronger the feeling of walking into a trap became. Hogan pulling himself to his feet as fatigue over took him. He silently walked through the woods surrounding the barn.

A loud squeal broke the silence of the night. Hogan dropped to the ground gun in hand.

'It was only the barn door,' he thought sighing in relief.

He watched as a figure emerged from the barn, it stopped, looking around. Hogan crept closer unsure why he didn't show himself. The figure walked forward then stopped again as if looking for some thing 'or some one' Hogan added silently.

He watched as the figure pulled out a cigarette and lit the end. The light brought the man's face into sharp focus.

It was Newkirk. Hogan crept closer to the other man.

"Nice night, it's it?" Hogan whispered. Newkirk dropped his cigarette fumbling for his gun. "Newkirk calm down it's me."

"Gov'ner, you scared the 'ell out of me. I think I need a change of pants." Newkirk whispered looking around. "Where are you?"

Hogan stepped out from the tree he was hidden behind. He leaned back against the trunk as Newkirk fumbled around looking for his lost cigarette.

"Keeping you on your toes." Hogan told him.

After a few minutes of silence Hogan asked a question that had been plaguing him lately. "Do you trust Conner?"

"Not for a second," Newkirk replied as they made their way back to the spot Hogan had been standing before. "Are you-"

"Look," Hogan pulled Newkirk down behind a bush, another figure had appeared out of the woods heading towards the barn. "You go to the left I'll go to the right."

Hogan crept to the right keeping low using the trees as cover. The gun in his hand felt heavy as he came closer to the figure. He stopped as his cover ran out. The figure grabbed the door handle to the barn.

"Stop right there!" Hogan yelled to the figure in German.

"It's Major Conner, sir." the figure yelled back.

Hogan frowned, what is he doing? Why is he out? Where did he go? Conner lit the flashlight he held, showing his face.

"What you doing out here Colonel?" Conner yelled.

"Keeping a lookout," Hogan replied walking towards him gun still drawn. "Why are you out here Major?"

"I needed toyou know" Conner waved his hand vaguely at the woods.

"What's that Major I couldn't hear you over the silence," Hogan asked stepping closer.

"Going to the toilet, sir." Conner finished looking down at the ground, Hogan was sure if he could have seen the other man's face it would have been red in embarrassment.

Hogan laughed maybe Conner was innocent after all. Conner joined in with Hogan, as Newkirk came up to them.

"Come on lets go back inside," Hogan suggested as Newkirk walked beside him and Conner behind them.

Conner's lips turn up in a slanted smile as he looked at the officer's unprotected back.