No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred. Copyright belongs to others and no infringement is intended.

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"Why aren't you joining in the game, Kinchloe?" asked Hogan. The two were leaning up against the wall of Barracks Two a couple of weeks later, watching a football game in progress. In the late afternoon sun, the men were working themselves into quite a lather, expending their energy to try and forget their mundane existence, at least for awhile.

"Thought I'd take a break today, Colonel," the black Sergeant answered. "Every time I play the ball goes over the wires."

Hogan squinted to see the barbed wire glimmering in the sun, twelve feet high and watched by armed guards. "What happens then—forfeit?" he asked.

"If we ask nicely the guards'll let us go outside the fence to get it. With their machine guns aimed at the back of our heads the whole time, of course."

"Real sports," Hogan retorted. He watched in silence for a minute or two longer, then said, "Thanks for all your help the last couple of weeks. I know I wasn't the most sociable person in the world when I first arrived."

Kinchloe shrugged. "You had your reasons, Colonel. We understood. By the way, sir, call me Kinch; everyone else does."

"Thanks," Hogan said. "At least I've gotten to meet most of the men. Been listening to some pretty big problems. Sounds like there's been no one to sound off to in awhile."

"There hasn't. Not since Captain Hayes left." Kinch paused, then changed the subject. "Feel like you're getting into the routine here now?" asked Kinch.

Hogan nodded. "Takes some getting used to. But I think I've slept more in the last two weeks than I have in the last two years. And if Wilson pokes and prods me one more time…"

"Well, you had it pretty rough before you got here, Colonel; he just wants to make sure you're all put back together again."

Hogan had known that what he told Newkirk that first day would spread around the rest of the camp, and he preferred to have the details circulate that way, instead of him having to face countless pairs of curious eyes, or worse, having to tell the story of his capture over and over again. That was something he would just as soon put way behind him, if he could. He could only hope that his instincts about Newkirk had been right, and that some of the story had been left out of his re-telling. In what he perceived to be his own weakness that day, Hogan had told the Corporal more than he had intended, and had, indeed, exposed more of his own self than he would have liked. "He's done his job," was all Hogan said now.

Hogan observed with interest as the football bounced its way between a small guardrail fence and a double barbed wire perimeter fence. From the guard tower above, a man was singled out, and slowly walked past the first fence to get the errant ball. The guard in the tower turned fully toward the man, with his back away from the fence behind him. Then his attention was brought back inside the camp as the prisoner returned to the unsecured area, and everyone visibly relaxed.

"You fellas have a Camp Escape Committee around here?" Hogan asked casually.

Kinch looked at Hogan. "Sure, Colonel. But it's been dormant for awhile, since Captain Hayes…" Kinch trailed off, not willing to continue.

"I've been hearing a lot about the famous Captain Hayes," Hogan said. "What's the story, Kinch? Where is he?"

Kinch studied the ball game. "Hayes was never really part of the team. Always a head above the rest of us, you know? I think he resented being shot down, and he never got over it. It showed in the way he treated us, the way he talked to us. Always put his own interests ahead of his men… it made for a pretty uncomfortable existence."

"Abusing the privilege of rank," Hogan said.

"And we all knew it," Kinch said. "Anyway, one night he just… disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"Escaped. Went over the wire. Didn't consult the Escape Committee or anything. Just left us to fend for ourselves."

Hogan raised an eyebrow.

"He got recaptured the next day. It got worse and worse for us here. Increased guards, low morale. Hayes wouldn't give up. He tried again, and again, said it's every officer's duty to try and escape. But he put all of us at risk, involved us without our even being aware of it. Eventually, he was stopped-- permanently. He didn't have a lot of friends here, but it was still a bit of a shock. That was about three months ago."

Hogan exhaled loudly. "And since then no one's tried?" he asked.

"Just haven't had the heart, I guess."

"After listening to that story, I can see why," Hogan acknowledged. "He handled it badly, I'll admit, but no one deserves that." He paused. "What would it take to get that committee in gear again?"

Kinch studied Hogan carefully. "Probably one successful escape. One good swipe at the Germans. This camp's never had one."

Hogan considered, his eyes focused on the game. They both watched in silence as the prisoners tackled one poor soul to the ground before he gave up the ball. "I'm tired, Kinch," Hogan said. "I don't want to be questioned any more." He turned to Kinch. "Let's get that committee active again. Soon."

Kinch nodded. He knew Klink was still at Hogan twice a day, every day. And while he was aware that Klink's methods weren't harsh, he also knew that the continuing interrogation would have to be a constant reminder to Hogan of what he had already suffered, and what he could face at any time if the higher-ups weren't happy with Klink's progress. The brief bits that Newkirk had shared were enough to give Kinch nightmares. And then there were the rumors of what Wilson had found when he examined the Colonel; the fact that Hogan had had to visit the medic several times in the last two weeks had loaned credence to that gossip. Who could begrudge this man the chance to get away?

"The committee seems at a loss at the moment. New blood might bring new ideas." Kinch paused. "How would you do it?"

"I need a little more time to study it… but it seems like our dear Mr. Kraut up there leaves a great big gap behind him when that ball goes over the fence. He's got those guns and his eyes trained completely in the opposite direction."

Kinch's eyes widened. "Are you suggesting a daytime escape?" he asked, astounded.

"One hop over that fence…using the tower as a ladder…and you're free."

"It's a twelve foot drop!"

"A bit of shouting from the boys would cover the noise."

"And what about the broken leg you'd get from the fall?"

"Kinch," Hogan said, patting him on the shoulder, "didn't they teach you how to drop and roll in parachuting training?" And he walked off toward the players, to join in the game.

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"I think 'e's slipped a gear," Newkirk declared. "A daytime escape?"

"That's what he said. Right over the fence." Kinch relayed the conversation with Le Beau and Newkirk later in the day, while Hogan was again in an interrogation session with Klink.

"Well good luck to 'im," Newkirk said. "I'd like to get out, but I think that gives me too high a chance of being shot!"

"And the timing is bad," Le Beau put in. "We are supposed to be getting the last of our transmitter from the Underground soon. If he escapes, the security around the camp is going to be worse than ever. How will we get the parts in without being noticed?"

Kinch nodded. "Well, he hasn't really said anything yet. He just wants the committee to be resurrected. Maybe he's just talking out of his hat. But we'll have to delay any escapes until we get our last shipment."

"We will have to tell him," Le Beau said. "Can we trust him?" Le Beau thought fleetingly of Captain Hayes. How betrayed he had felt when the officer had abandoned them without warning. Was Hogan saying he wanted to do the same thing?

"I think we can," Newkirk said. Le Beau's eyes didn't lose their anxiety. "Louis," he said gently, "Hayes was different. He was only out for himself. Didn't care about any of us. A spoiled prat who didn't think any of us was worthy of 'im. Colonel Hogan's different. He's been good to us so far, treats us all the same. But you know what the Krauts have done to him. We've got to get him out of here or he'll go mad. If they don't take him out and shoot him first."

"Are you saying that it is our duty to leave the camp without a senior officer again?"

"I'm saying that if anyone deserves a chance to get out, it's Hogan. And he should be able to count on us for help."

Le Beau looked at Kinch for direction. Kinch was silent in his own thoughts. "We'll have to lay it on the line," he said finally. "I don't think he'll betray us." Le Beau still looked unconvinced. "He was tortured by the Gestapo and didn't talk. Klink can hardly be as frightening to him."

"You have a point," Le Beau conceded. "I guess we can trust him."

The barracks door opened and Hogan walked in. Without speaking he went to the stove, picked up a cup, and poured himself a serving of old coffee. He took a sip, then rejected the rest. The trio watched, now used to the mood Hogan would be in after yet another grilling. Hogan sighed and rubbed his temples, then headed for his office. "I've gotta lie down for awhile," he said, stopping at the door.

"Sure, Colonel," Le Beau said. "We'll wake you up in time for mess."

Hogan nodded and slipped into his room, closing the door behind him.

Newkirk shook his head. "We've gotta get him out of here."