This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any actual resemblance to persons or historical persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The Hogan's Heroes characters, settings, ect. are owned by other entities who have not endorsed this fic nor have they given permission for their use. Author makes no claims to these characters and is not making any profit off their use.

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© Copyright: ­2004. Lisa Philbrick

Stalag 13

November 1944

Day 2

When the heroes all gathered back in Barracks Two, Hogan filled the men in on how Miller had been captured, that he was physically okay and then told them of the Major's request.

"He does realize what the Germans could do to him if those broadcasts resume, doesn't he??" Carter asked, concerned.

"He knows perfectly well," Hogan said.

"Wow..."

"You sure he didn't take a hit on the head or somethin', Colonel?" Newkirk asked. "I mean, that's quite the sacrifice to make just for some broadcasts."

"But think of how many of our troops listen to those broadcasts," Kinch said. "A silent radio doesn't do much for morale."

"Exactly," Hogan said. "And demoralized troops make for a weak fighting force. The Germans knew that capturing Miller wasn't enough to stop the broadcasts, they also have to hold his life in the balance. London doesn't want to be responsible for the Major losing his life, but Miller doesn't want his life to stand in the way of the possibility of preventing the loss of hundreds of lives."

The heroes paused in consideration of what the Colonel just said. There was a heavy, awe struck silence that surrounded the table for a moment. With the Major's request put into perspective, they now understood and respected the situation. And they realized that the Major understood there was a bigger picture that he was a part of.

"Well," Newkirk said soberly. "When you put it that way..."

"It is a true patriot, that puts the welfare of others and of his country, before his own," LeBeau said.

"Miller's been doing that for two years..." Hogan said. The door to the barracks suddenly opened and Shultz came in.

"Colonel Hogan, I request your assistance."

"What do you need, Shultz?"

"Maj---uh, that is the secret prisoner needs a kit."

Hogan heard Shultz's slip. "Major who?" he asked.

"Ah ah, I know nuthin'. But he needs a kit." Shultz handed the pack he had started to Hogan. He had gathered the basic toiletries, comb, razor and soap. "I need a few more items, plus cigarettes."

"I'm not givin' up some of my cigarettes for just anybody," Newkirk said.

"You would for this fella!" Shultz said.

"Who is it, Shultz? C'mon...real big shot?" Hogan asked.

Shultz chuckled. "Big shot...perhaps."

"He's a Major...right?"

Shultz hesitated. So he let slip the rank, he had given no name. "Jawohl."

"A Major in which army? American? British? French?"

Shultz chuckled again. "Heh heh...I know nuthin'."

"C'mon Shultzie," Newkirk said. "We gotta know. Did he specify a preference between English or American cigarettes?"

"He did not."

"Well I guess we give him a little of each," Hogan said. "Thing is Shultz, it's going be hard to convince the men to give up something from their Red Cross packages if they don't know who they're giving it up for."

"I'll give you a hint..." Shultz then made a motion with his hands as if he was playing a trombone.

"A musician?" LeBeau asked.

"Ja."

"Oh that narrows it down a lot!" Newkirk muttered.

"Well, it's a trombone player," Carter said. "That only narrows it down to a couple hundred guys I suppose." He paused. "Wait a minute! The Germans captured Tommy Dorsey?!"

"Tommy Dorsey?" LeBeau said. "He's not in the Army!"

"No, he's not," Hogan said. "Which is why I can narrow it down even further." He looked at Shultz. "The only Major I know of that plays trombone, is Major Glenn Miller."

Shultz said nothing, neither confirming nor denying it. He looked at the kit in Hogan's hand. "I will need those items as soon as possible..." He turned to the door but was stopped by all of the heroes as they sprung up from the table, expressing their shock and disbelief.

"Wait a minute, Shultz," Hogan said. "Is that who they got? Glenn Miller?"

"I know nuthin'..."

"A bloody likely story!" Newkirk said.

"One of the most popular band leaders in the world and the rotten Krauts have him right here at Stalag 13!" LeBeau added.

"Awright, awright.." Hogan said, calming his men down. He looked at Shultz.

"Colonel, please," Shultz said, "you did not hear this from me. I only give the hint because they are keeping him isolated. He is not being classified as a POW. I think the kit would mean a lot if it included some other items..."

"Okay, Shultz," Hogan said. "We'll put together a special kit for the Major."

"Danke, Colonel. Ah, and no monkey business...?"

"No monkey business." Hogan smiled. "We know nuthin'."

Shultz nodded and left the barracks.

Hogan turned to his men. He handed the kit to Carter. "I want you fellas to get this kit together. Despite what Shultz didn't tell us, remember we know nothing. I don't want our little discovery here to leave this barracks. They find out we really know Miller is here, they could move him and then we're out of luck."

"What are you going to do?" Kinch asked.

"I'm gonna go bug Klink some more."

"But, Colonel, you just said--" Carter started.

"I know what I just said, but if I don't show my natural curiosity about all of this, Klink might get suspicious." Hogan turned and left the barracks, leaving the heroes looking at each other.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive..." Kinch said.

Hogan got pretty much what he expected from Klink. More stonewalling. Klink wouldn't take any argument from Hogan about having to help with the kit and told him...no, ordered him, to assist Shultz in putting the kit together. Klink did allow one piece of information to Hogan, that being the special prisoner would probably prefer American cigarettes. When Hogan vocalized his conclusion that the prisoner was an American, he was immediately dismissed by Klink.

When Hogan returned to the barracks he found the wooden table was full of packs of cigarettes, matches, chocolate bars, coffee, candies, a deck of playing cards, a couple of pads of paper with pens, crackers, cookies, a couple cans of SPAM...

Hogan looked at all of the stuff. "What did you guys do? Knock over the canteen?"

"No, sir, we merely took up a collection," Newkirk said with a grin. "Everybody in the barracks contributed. Charitable bunch, wouldn't you say?"

"Very," Hogan said with a chuckle. "Only problem is we can't give all this stuff to Miller."

"I know sir, I was just contemplatin' that little fact meself..."

"I bet you were." Hogan looked at Newkirk with a knowing eye. "Let's dwindle this down to something less obvious and return the remaining items to the rightful owners..."

Newkirk cleared his throat. "Uh, right sir..."

The kit was completed with at least one item of everything, although there were a couple of extra chocolate bars, packages of crackers, cookies and cigarettes that were added. The kit was then delivered to Shultz and inspected and the Sergeant of the guard found everything to be satisfactory. He thanked the Colonel and all of the heroes for their help.

Shultz then delivered the kit to Major Miller, telling him that Colonel Hogan and his men from barracks number two had put the kit together for him. Miller had to hold back a smile and he nodded. He took a moment to inspect the contents and was pleasantly surprised by what he found. He was especially surprised to find not just a few cigarettes or just one pack of cigarettes but two packs of cigarettes. Thank God... he thought. The thought of facing the remainder of this capture with one cigarette left in his pocket was distressing to say the least. However, Miller knew that cigarettes were about equal to money to a serviceman and the fact that someone had given up a whole pack of cigarettes for him, was not lost on the Major. He appreciated this, and the other items, greatly. He held the two packs of cigarettes up for Shultz to see and smiled.

"Tell Colonel Hogan and his men that I'm very appreciative," Miller said.

Shultz smiled. "Jawohl, Herr Major." He gave a smart click of his boots and saluted, before turning to leave the quarters.

Miller observed the noon roll call from the window of the guest quarters that looked out onto the compound. The drapes had been pulled to prevent anyone on the outside to look in and to keep Miller from looking out but it didn't stop him. The small space between where the two pieces of drapery came together in the middle of the window were parted just enough for Miller to peer through without having to disturb the drapes too much. He watched as the men from Barracks Two filed out into formation, hearing the heavyset sergeant of the guard bellowing "Roll call! Roll call!! Rouse! Rrrrrrouse!"

When the men were lined up, Shultz started to count.

"C'mon Shultz," Newkirk said. "Haven't you got us all memorized by now?"

"Ha, jolly joker...." He pointed to Newkirk. "Zwei..." and continued down the line. "...drei, vier, funf...."

A moment later, Klink was coming out from his office. "Repoooooooooooooorrrrt!"

Shultz had just counted the last prisoner for the barracks and he came around from behind Colonel Hogan to stand before the prisoners and face the Kommandant, giving a salute. "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant! All prisoners present and accounted for!"

"Good." Klink looked at the men of Barracks Two. "Prisoners, I want to thank you for assisting Sergeant Shultz here with the kit for our...special guest. Your generosity is noted and I thought you would like to know that the special prisoner has expressed his gratitude for the items that some of you had to give up for this kit."

"That just goes to show you, Kommandant," Hogan spoke up, "even though we don't know who he is...the Allies take care of their own." The gathered prisoners murmured their agreement.

"Well that's very noble of you, Colonel. However, this will be all you, and the Allies, will be able to do for this prisoner. In fact...you may come to find yourselves regretting having been so generous."

"What kind of crack is that?" Hogan asked.

Klink ignored him. He turned to Shultz, saluting. "Shultz, dismiss the prisoners!"

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant!"

Klink turned and headed back to his office. Shultz dismissed the prisoners and the assembled men departed. Hogan stood pat, watching Klink walk back to the office. The heroes gathered around the Colonel.

"If there's one thing I can't stand it's the sight of a gloating German," Hogan muttered.

Across the compound, Miller was still watching from the window. He had heard the Kommandant when he spoke, but couldn't make out what had been said. He now saw Hogan standing with four other prisoners. He wondered if this was the group the Colonel had spoke of earlier, the ones that worked the covert operations. If it was, whatever it was the Kommandant had said to them was apparently not well received, judging by the looks on their faces and the looks they directed toward the building where Klink's office was located. After a moment, the group headed for their barracks and Miller stepped away from the window.

A little while later, with the heroes providing a sufficient diversion for him, Colonel Hogan went to pay a visit to the Major, to see if everything in the kit was satisfactory and if there was anything else he would like or needed.

Miller had no idea the Colonel was coming. The Major had managed to distract himself from his current predicament with a game of solitaire. He hardly registered the bump sound of the window being opened but soon had the sense there was another presence....right at the same time the bedroom door opened.

Miller looked up in a shot, startled. Hogan gave a sheepish grin. "Did it again, didn't I?"

Miller sighed but gave a chuckle. "Do you prefer to get the drop on people, Colonel?"

"I'll admit it gives me an advantage," Hogan replied, approaching the Major. "But I don't mean to startle you when I come in like that."

"It's okay. However, I think I'll sleep out here because if you come through that window during the night, that's not going to be pretty..."

Hogan laughed. He then sat down in a chair across from the Major and eyed the kit on the table. "So did you find everything you ever wished for in our little kit?"

Miller smiled. "I found enough to tie me over. And I do appreciate it, Colonel, very much."

Hogan nodded. "We would have given you more but we're all out of the champagne and caviar," he said in a pseudo-serious tone.

Miller looked at the Colonel, believing for a split second that Hogan would have champagne and caviar normally in stock but then he smirked and the Colonel chuckled.

"Why do I get the feeling you could get champagne and caviar if you really wanted to?"

"Oh we can get anything you want," Hogan replied. "Might take a day or two but we can get it. Why, you want some?"

"No," Miller said with a chuckle. "No, that's fine. Don't care for caviar anyway. And I'm quickly discovering I don't care for sauerkraut either."

Hogan smiled. "That's why we put extra cookies and crackers in your kit. Give you something different for a side dish."

"Side dish? The sauerkraut's the main course."

Hogan's expression dropped. "Don't tell me that's all they're giving you?"

"For the most part. I had something last night I couldn't identify, but for two days I've had sauerkraut."

Hogan rolled his eyes. "I didn't think they'd try to damn near starve you."

"They're just making sure I behave. The Gestapo Major and I don't exactly get along very well."

Hogan smirked. "Hochstetter. Yeah, he's a piece of work, but he's dangerous." Hogan's expression was warning. "Watch out for him."

Miller nodded. "I think the only reason he doesn't like me is because I'm taller than he is."

Hogan chuckled softly.

"I noticed the roll call a few minutes ago. I didn't hear what the camp Kommandant had to say but I could see the looks on the faces of you and your men. I take it he said something you didn't like?"

"Yeah...." Hogan told the Major what happened and what Klink had said.

Miller paused. "Sounds like they expect me to commit treason."

"Of course they do. I figure the Propaganda Ministry is going to be looking to showcase you very soon."

"Well, try as they might, they're going to find me to be the most uncooperative SOB they've ever met."

Hogan softly snorted. "I would say that you better get used to eating sauerkraut then, but you're not staying."

"How do you plan to get me out of here?"

"I'm not completely sure yet. I've got a few ideas, but the tricky part is they have you so secluded. None of us are even supposed to know you're in camp. If they had thrown you with the rest of us, I could have had you out of here by now. But I'm working on it." He smiled. "You won't be here long enough to get used to eating sauerkraut."