Chapter 8: Bad News

"Shultz! Please ask Maria to come to my office." I am not looking forward to this, but as Kommandant of this camp it is my responsibility.

BARRACK 2

Shultz walked into the barrack. "Hi Shultz, what can we do for you?" LeBeau asked

"Kommandant Klink would like to speak with you Maria. You haven't been doing something you shouldn't."

"No Shultz. Whats up?"

"Klink seemed sad. Just please come with me."

"OK"

After Maria shut the barrack door, the men rushed into her room and plugged in the coffee pot to listen in.

KOMMANDANTUR

"You wanted to see me Kommandant?"

"Have a seat please. When the doctor treated you some time ago, she took a blood sample. She wanted to make sure that you didn't have an infection or any other problems. However one of the test results came back positive. There is no other way to tell you this, but to come strait out and say it. Maria, your pregnant."

"WHAT?" Exclaimed the men listening in, in unison.

Tears came to her eyes "This cant be happening. Not again." Maria put her head in her hands and started crying. "Now what I am going to do. It was hard enough being a single parent when I wasn't a POW, but now?"

"You have a child already?"

"Yes, but I don't know where she is. She was taken from me four years ago."

"Where was your husband at this time?"

"Lets just say, like this time, I had no choice in the matter and was not married at the time."

"I'm sorry, Maria."

"So what happens now? Do you turn me over to the authorities?" Maria was scared of the answer she would get. The possibility of being sent to a breading camp terrified her.

"Is that what you want?" Maria just shook her head to answer. "There is that choice or you can have the baby here and try to raise it. But if you are caught, all three of us will be in trouble. On both of those accounts, the child will be taken from you and given to a Nazi family to raise. The third choice is you have the child and I find a nice German family to raise it?"

Maria didn't like any of the choices, but she decided to accept the lesser of the three evils. "I'll take door number three."

"I will find a good family, one I would trust my own child with. I will see to it you get a few extra rations. You're dismissed"

"Thanks Kommandant." Maria hung her head down and went back to the barracks. She just wanted to be alone.

The men could not believe it. "Colonel, cant we get the baby to London?" Carter asked.

"It will be tricky, but it will be up to Maria though." Hogan answered. If she didn't have bad luck she wouldn't have any luck at all.

Maria walked into the barracks "I take it you heard?"

The men nodded. "If you would rather us get the baby to London, we can try and arrange something." Hogan informed.

"Thanks Colonel. Right now I just want to think and be alone." Maria walked into her room and shut the door.

Baker came up from the tunnel and went over to Hogan. "Colonel, urgent message from London." Baker handed Hogan the message.

"I had a feeling Buttons would be trouble. Different members of the underground are being picked up in the area, and London believes that Buttons is turning them in. We are to capture him and get as much information out of him. They want to know his contacts, who else he has turned in, and any German secrets he might be able to give us. Get in touch with the underground and get his whereabouts. No one is to apprehend him. They are to let us handle it."

"Colonel, the underground says that he lives in an apartment just outside of town. He is in room 315." Kinch informed.

"Newkirk and Carter, dress in SS uniforms and pick him up. Tell him that you are taking him to a secrete meeting place and they figured it would be better to do it this way incase the underground was watching. That way they wouldn't get to suspicious."

A few hours later, Carter immerged from the tunnel. "Got him Colonel."

"How did things go?"

"Your plan made it a piece of pie."

"Carter will you ever get it right? It is cake not pie." LeBeau corrected.

Carter just looked at LeBeau. "You say what you want and I say what I want. Plus I like pie better than cake."

LeBeau just rolled his eyes and threw his hands up. He knew it was no use in arguing. Maria came out of her room and went downstairs with Lebeau, Kinch and Hogan.

"Now Buttons, do you mind telling us a few things?" Hogan asked calmly

"I don't know what you what you want me to say?"

"How about the little chats with you have been having with the SS for starters"

"I haven't…"

"Don't lie. We have witnesses who have seen you."

"Let me have a crack at him gov'ner. I'll make him talk." Newkirk asked

"Do what you want to me, but I will not tell you anything."

"Colonel, let me have a try at getting information from him." Maria asked as she stepped from behind the men.

"Neblig is that you?" Buttons asked "I was wondering where you went to? I thought the SS had picked you up. I'm glad you are safe."

Neblig IS my daughter she thought "No, I'm not Neblig. Was she one of the names on the list you gave to the SS?"

"I'm not saying a word."

"Of course not." Maria walked up to Buttons and bent down so she was staring him in the face. "I have spent three months being constantly tortured by the Gestapo. I took careful notes on everything they did to me. I perfected their techniques to make them more effective, and less visible damage. But causing great pain nonetheless. For example one of my favorite methods is using pressure points." Maria pushed on a pressure point that she new would cause pain. Buttons let out a stiffeld scream as it caught him by surprise.

"I can keep doing this all day long. Are you ready to answer the questions?" Buttons just sat silently. Maria pressed on a different pressure point. He let out another scream.

"All right. All right. No more please. The names I have given to the SS are Rosewood, Repunzel, Zeus, Tinker, Doc, Starlight, and Neblig." Upon hearing Neblig, Maria almost lost her temper. " My contact is Captain Mertz. In return for the information, they let me do what I want with no questions asked. That is all I have told them and know now please no more."

Maria glanced at Hogan to see if he was satisfied with the answers. Hogan was staring, lost in thought. I'm glad she is on our side. How can she cause such pain by just pressing down?

"Ahem. Colonel. Earth to Colonel Hogan."

Hogan shook his head as if coming out of a trance. "Um yea that's fine for now."

Maria went back to join the rest of the men.

"Kinch, stay here to keep an eye on the prisoner.

After every one got back upstairs. They sat around the table trying to figure out what to do next. "I am sorry about Neblig." LeBeau said as he offered his condolences.

"Thanks Louis, but I don't think the SS have her. Buttons thought I was her, and he acted like he didn't know where she was at."

"Maybe she knew that Buttons was going to give the SS her name and she went into hiding. If she is in the area, we will find her." Said Hogan as he looked into her eyes. He could see the pain that she hid deep inside. Getting so close to finding her daughter and not knowing if she is ok. I don't know how you keep going on. "Does Neblig look like you?"

"People use to think we were twins instead of mother and daughter."

"Newkirk, tell Kinch to get a description out to the underground and see if any one has seen her. While he is doing that, keep an eye on Buttons."

"And tell Kinch, if they do find her, tell her that Momma Bear is at the cottage waiting."

Hogan just looked at her. "Momma Bear?"

"Her favorite story growing up was Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She liked it so much we use to play it. I was Momma Bear. She was Goldilocks. She might have heard that there was already a code name Goldilocks floating around and that's why she didn't use it."

"Why not Baby Bear?"Asked Carter.

"Dont know might have to ask her about that."

"What are people going to think when they find out Papa Bear is working with Momma Bear?"

"What about when Momma Bear has Baby Bear? Are you worried about your reputation…Papa Bear?"

"No its just… its just…"

"Cat got your tongue Colonel?"

"I don't believe it! The gov'ner is lost for words. Never thought I would see the day that a dame could make him speechless." Newkirk laughed.

"Keep it up Newkirk and you might find yourself facing a court marshal."

That got the entire gang laughing. "Keep laughing. I will get even. All social trips to town are canceled." Hogan ordered trying to regain control of the barracks.

"Colonel Hogan doesn't have to go into town for his social." LeBeau said as he was grabbing his sides.

"That's quite enough." Hogan started to warn.

"Aw come on Colonel, they are just having some fun. Give them a break. Colonel, are you ok. You look like you are blushing?" Maria asked while trying to be serious. This caused everyone to laugh so hard, that tears were coming out of their eyes. It wasn't everyday they could do this and get away with it.

"Now you have gone too far. This isn't fair. Fifteen against one." Hogan now started to lighten up, but was still upset that they were laughing at him. I don't know why I get so tongue tied around her. And why can't I keep my feelings under control. This relationship will never work. I can't let my judgment get clouded. But then again, she is very attractive and nice to be around.

"Why is everyone laughing?" Shultz asked as he entered the barracks.

"Nothing important. Something we can do for you?" Hogan answered.

"Kommandant Klink would like to see you in his office."

"Thanks for the rescue Shultz."

KOMMAMDAMTUR

"Hello Kommandant. What is on your mind?"

"You are too casual for one thing. A SS Captain Mertz is coming here tonight. I would like LeBeau to cook. He has also requested that you be present."

"What for?"

"He didn't say. He would also like the company of a young woman. Could you please ask Maria to come? I think we have a nice dress in the closet in the Rec Hall that is from one of the plays the prisoners put on."

"I'll think about it. What do we get out of all of this?"

"Half hour moreof electricity for a week."

"Deal." Hogan agreed. This could be our chance to get rid of one problem.

No haggling Hogan? You are slipping. Having your mind that preoccupied might get you killed. You make it too obvious that you want Captain Mertz here. "Very well Hogan. Dinner is at eight. Dismissed."

Hogan went back to the barracks with a smile on his face. "Men, things might finally be looking up for us. Captain Mertz is coming to dinner tonight. LeBeau you are going to cook. Maria, do you mind being there also? You might be able to get some more information from him. Preferably not the way you got it from Buttons."

"You can count on me. What am I going to wear?"

"Go to the Rec Hall and chose one of the dresses. The rest of you be ready to move out when Mertz leaves. We will nab him on the road."