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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Klink held the small box with a slightly trembling hand. He didn't even think of opening it. "Thank you, Hogan," he said, softly.

Hogan nodded. "It's okay," he replied, also quiet.

"You know, these small things, Hogan, are all that a man has to depend on in difficult times," Klink said. "A few memories. A few names. That is all we are in the end."

"You're sounding rather morose, Kommandant," Hogan observed, not unkindly.

"I have been under the ground for...how long?... weeks," Klink replied. "And while your men have not been cruel, Hogan, you must admit it is not the same as being with your own people. And I was in command of a prison camp. A Colonel in the Luftwaffe reduced... to..." He did not finish, letting a tiny gesture of his hand taking in his surroundings finish for him.

Hogan understood. "It's not the same," he agreed. "Sort of like being in solitary for a month," he said.

Klink's eyes widened as he started to absorb the implications of what Hogan had said. Yes—he, Klink, had sentenced men to as much time away from the only life they knew in the prisons. No wonder Hogan had pushed so hard to get them out! "It was so easy to mete out punishment," he said ruefully. "Now I am being punished myself." He sat down, disheartened.

"It wasn't meant to be a punishment, Kommandant. It was meant to save your life."

Klink nodded listlessly. "I know, Hogan. And believe it or not, I am grateful."

"You don't need to be."

"Oh, yes, I do," Klink countered. "Because no matter how much I play the loyal, willing soldier, Hogan, the truth is I am scared of dying. I do not wish to be shot down as a traitor. Nor do I wish to be shot trying to escape."

"I won't let anyone shoot you," Hogan answered matter-of-factly.

"I have had a lot of time to think down here, Hogan, and I have sadly come to the conclusion that you are by far the better man." Klink looked up at the man who only weeks earlier he had considered to be his prisoner. "I have tried to avoid that deduction, but everything points to it. You fight for your beliefs. I hide mine. And that makes me nothing but a coward." He shook his head. "I could have lived without knowing that for a little bit longer."

Hogan shook his head insistently. "You didn't hide from them the day you warned me about the order to execute officers."

"One moment of glory," Klink laughed without humor. "And look where it got me!"

"Next time you're near a mirror, Kommandant, take a look at what looks back at you. I'll bet you can look yourself in the eye." Hogan came forward and gently tapped the box he had handed the German. "You didn't get those for nothing."

Klink stared hard at the box, unwilling or unable to look at Hogan's face. Then Hogan hopped up the ladder and headed upstairs.

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"Your uniform is here and ready to fit you just nicely, Colonel Hogan," Eichberger announced a few days later. He nodded toward a smart-looking jacket hanging on the coat rack in near the door. "I think you will find it to your satisfaction."

Hogan glanced briefly toward the clothing. "Okay. You'll have to get someone to bring it to the Barracks and tell us it needs altering by our tailor, Newkirk. I can't just walk it back there. And make sure you hide the pips—there are no German Majors wandering around Stalag 13 so it would look pretty suspicious otherwise. We don't tend to run an alteration service here."

Eichberger smiled. "You think of everything."

"I stay alive."

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"London on the line, Colonel."

Hogan looked up from the papers on his desk inquisitively. "London?" he echoed.

"They say they've got information for you."

"Thanks, Kinch." Hogan got up, frowning in thought, and headed down to the tunnel. He glanced around; Klink was nowhere in sight. He picked up the microphone and a headset as Kinch manned the controls. "This is Papa Bear, repeat Papa Bear. Over."

He listened. And as he did, his eyes widened. He motioned to Kinch for the clipboard and a pencil, and he started scribbling down some code that Kinch couldn't translate offhand. Obviously, Hogan could, since his face was paling slightly and his expression, which had started as stunned, was quickly changing to concerned and determined. He pressed the clipboard back into Kinch's hand. "Repeat it back," he said hoarsely.

Kinch did as ordered immediately, nodding as confirmation was given. Yes, it was all correct. And yes, it needed Hogan's attention as soon as possible. Hogan signed off and sat down, nearly colorless, on the cot near the radio.

Kinch waited a long minute before speaking. "Colonel Hogan, are you all right?" he asked simply.

Hogan didn't answer right away, his mind obviously still working on something else.

"Colonel?"

Hogan snapped to reality. "What?"

"Are you all right?" Kinch repeated.

Hogan nodded absently. "Yeah. Yeah I'm fine." He chewed his bottom lip. "Kinch," he started. But he didn't continue.

"Yes, Colonel?"

Again Hogan remained silent. Kinch knitted his brow and waited. Finally, Hogan said, "Kinch, that mission to blow up the railroad track just got more involved."

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"Blimey, you must be kidding!" Newkirk exclaimed when Hogan broke the news to the men a short time later. "That kind of makes getting Abington a bit of a side job, then, doesn't it?"

Hogan nodded. "They're both pretty important. But if Hitler's train is scheduled to be running on that track the same night, then it takes number one priority."

"Every inch of that railroad's gonna be under heavy guard, Colonel," Kinch said.

"It's gotta keep moving, Kinch, and there are only so many people they can have watching the train when it's not at a station. We'll just have to make sure we don't lay the charges too early, and make sure we get out of sight, fast."

"Is London sure about this, Colonel?" asked Carter, whose mind was already running toward ways that he could make his explosives better, faster, smaller.

Hogan picked up the coded message he had scribbled down earlier and nodded grimly. "Underground reports credible source informs that Fuhrersonderzug is traveling along targeted railway line same night as Abington party, twenty-two hundred thirty hours. Priority one."

"'Credible source.'" Le Beau pursed his lips. "I wonder who that is."

"Probably someone closer to the action than most of our regular contacts. Whoever it is, we're not about to be given their name. London obviously considers it reliable enough to go with. So we've gotta go with it, too."

"But, Colonel," Le Beau said in a hushed voice. "Hitler!"

Hogan nodded. "I know. It's big. Probably the biggest. And the train is Hitler's traveling headquarters, so there might be others on board who are worth getting rid of, too. We've got to get this right. Carter?"

"Yes, sir?" The young man's enthusiasm nearly bowled Hogan over.

"You're going to have to refine. And we're going to have to play it close to the mark. If we're going to try something this bold, we're going to have to cover every angle."

"I'm your man," Carter declared. "I'll go downstairs right now and start plotting."

Hogan allowed himself a brief grin. Then he said, "Just make sure you keep Klink out of it. I'm not sure he'd be thrilled to hear about our plans for the Fuhrer."

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"Colonel Hogan, I have just been told the most amazing news," Eichberger said.

"What's that?"

"Tomorrow night, while we are at the party, Hitler's special train is supposed to be traveling through the area on its way to a private meeting!"

Hogan tried to look astounded. "Hitler? So the party's being called off?" he asked.

Eichberger shook his head, smiling. "No, no—not for a five minute passing by. I was just thinking that it might make for a marvelous opportunity! Imagine—getting that mad Corporal!"

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Hogan asked. "In case you've forgotten, I'm supposed to be at the party with you."

"Of course, of course," Eichberger admitted. "But you must have people who can do something!"

Hogan paused to think. Eichberger was sharing sensitive information, information that had already been independently confirmed. He had been straightforward and helpful throughout his tenure at the camp, and although a couple of things hadn't rung genuine in Hogan's head, Eichberger had done nothing but what he promised from day one. Hogan knew he had been more cautious than normal all along, and he had always put it down to his horrific experience when Hitler's execution order was put in place.

But now he knew it was time to trust again.

"We can do something. Just leave it up to me."

Eichberger smiled broadly. "Thank you, Colonel Hogan. I can't tell you what this will mean to me."

Hogan nodded. "It won't be bad for my morale, either."