A Friend Closer Than A Brother

A/N: My take on an already made episode : "Request Permission to Escape"

Carter sat on his bunk and stared down at the letter he held in his hands. His mind refused to comprehend the words neatly written on the paper. The first few sentences spoke volumes.

Dear Andrew,

I'm so sorry to have to be writing this letter to you. However, there is something I need to tell you. I can no longer continue the relationship between us.

A sick feeling filled Carter's stomach as reality began to sink in. Mary Jane wasn't going to be his girl anymore. How could this have happened? He forced himself to read the next sentence.

I have become engaged to another man. The wedding is set for the end of the month.

Carter couldn't read anymore and angrily threw the letter to the floor. How could Mary Jane have done this to him? Hadn't they promised that they'd be married as soon as the war was over? Feelings of anger and deep hurt wrestled within him. The thought of his girl getting married to someone else made Carter sick. Mary Jane was his hometown sweetheart, and practically everyone had known it.

"Fine then, Mary Jane!" Carter shouted. "I hope you'll be happy!"

It was lucky that no one else happened to be in the barracks at the moment. Carter balled up the awful letter and shoved it under his mattress. He sat for a long while on his bunk, seething inwardly. Boy, would he tell her off in his final letter to her. He'd let her know what a mistake she was making.

The door opened then and Newkirk strolled in, whistling a jaunty tune. He came over, and casually leaned against Carter's bunk.

"Hello, mate. What are you doing in here? Thought you'd be outside with the rest of us."

Carter glared at the Englishman, "Leave me alone!" he ground out.

Newkirk was taken aback by Carter's response. It wasn't like the American to get in a foul mood. He was about to ask what the matter was when Carter abruptly got up and stormed outside, slamming the door shut.

Lebeau was just heading towards the barracks when he spotted Carter sitting on the bench outside. The Frenchman noted a despondant look on his face and wondered what was up. Had something happened? He went over to the American.

"Carter, you all right?" he asked.

"Fine." came the curt reply.

Lebeau, hearing the anger in Carter's voice, figured that Newkirk and he had been fighting again.

"What did you argue with Newkirk about now?" he asked.

Those two were always getting into some sort of disagreement. How many times had Lebeau had to play peacemaker between them?

"I didn't fight with Newkirk. Just leave me alone!"

The Frenchman felt his temper rising. "You don't have to yell at me. I was only asking."

Carter, thoroughly annoyed, rose up from the bench and stormed off towards the back of the barracks. Lebeau watched him go and shook his head.

"Good riddance." he muttered.

Carter stayed away from the barracks until after dinnertime. He wanted to be left entirely alone but roll call forced him to go inside finally. As he came in, Colonal Hogan was addressing the others.

"We will destroy the bridge with explosives, placed strategically in these two locations and then we'll radio London for more instructions."

Carter made his way over to his bunk and felt everyone's eyes on him.

Hogan looked rather annoyed, "Good of you to join us, Carter. Where have you been for the last five hours?"

"I was outside, sir. I apologize for coming in late." Carter muttered.

"See that it does not happen again. I don't like having to repeat myself."

"Yes, sir."

Hogan turned back to the map and started again with explaining the plan of attack. Carter barely heard a word he said. His mind was thinking of one thing. Mary Jane's betrayal.

"Carter!"

Hogan's raised voice brought Carter out of his thoughts. He started and snapped back to attention.

"Sir?"

"I asked whether or not you have any explosives ready to go yet? You should have been working on them today."

Explosives! Carter gulped. He'd completely forgotten he was on bomb detail. Great, how could he get out of this mess? Carter thought fast and blurted out a white lie.

"I was working on the last one, sir. But I had to stop. The chemicals I was working with gave me a headache."

Would Hogan buy his excuse? Carter held his breath, hoping desperately he wouldn't get another lecture. Hogan raised his eyebrows slightly and stared long and hard at him.

"I see." was all he said.

Carter needed to get back in the Colonel's good graces fast and quickly spoke again.

"I'm sure they'll all be ready to go by morning, sir."

"They'd better be. London's counting on us to get that bridge destroyed. If those new tanks get delivered to the Krauts, we can kiss our dreams of victory goodbye."

Carter felt the heat rise in his face. He was going to have to pull an all nighter tonight. Last bomb? Who was he trying to fool? There wasn't a single explosive made yet.

Hogan soon wrapped up the brief meeting just before roll call. Carter breathed a sigh of relief when Hogan headed to his room afterwards. Looked like he'd gotten out of a lecture. When Schultz was finished with roll call, Carter would make a fast beeline down to the lab to get those bombs made.

Time ticked by slowly and Carter couldn't wait for roll call tonight. He thought Schultz would never show up. The German sergeant finally made his appearance.

"Roll call, everybody out!"

They all filed outside and stood in usual formation. Carter shivered slightly in the chilly night air and hoped Commandant Klink wouldn't have a long speech to make. That was the last thing he needed to happen. Schultz went down the line, counting off every man. Klink came out of his barracks, and waited for the report from the sergeant.

"All present and accounted for, sir." Schultz announced.

Klink gave a slight motion. "At ease, men."

He looked ready to launch off into a long speech and Carter groaned aloud. Klink started and stared at the men.

"Who made that noise? Schultz, bring the man forward who did that!"

Carter felt the heat rise in his face and panicked. Luckily for him, Hogan spoke up

"I think it was the wind howling, sir. No one made any noise."

Klink made a noise of irritation and waved his hand dismissively.

"Never mind, Schultz. Very well, now where was I? Oh, yes. Men, I am here to share wonderful news with you. Our great Third Reich is making progress in the war. We are getting new tanks and will soon drive out our opposing forces."

The men all booed and shouted out at this announcement. Klink held up his hand.

"Never mind your protests. It will do you no good. Just for that, there will be no baseball game on Saturday. Dismissed."

He turned and strode off just amidst the cries of protest. Newkirk snorted and kicked at a piece of gravel.

"Rotten Krauts. We'll show them."

Lebeau muttered something in French under his breath and stared after the retreating Commandant. Hogan removed his hat and smoothed back his hair.

"I'll see if I can change the Commandant's mind. The rest of you head back to the barracks. Carter, I want to see all those explosives finished tonight."

"Yes, sir."

They all went their separate ways then and Carter lagged behind the others. Lebeau and Newkirk were arguing over the upcoming baseball game but Kinch stopped and waited for Carter.

"What's with you today?" he asked.

"Nothing, just some things on my mind."

"Colonel almost bit your head off today. He doesn't go for anyone skipping meetings. I hope you can get the explosives ready to go in time."

Carter nodded, "I'll have them all set to go."

For the next several hours, Carter feverishly worked to make the necessary bombs. Luckily he still had the supplies he needed. He was nearly finished with the last one when Hogan came in. The colonel leaned against the worktable and surveyed the explosives. Carter finished tightening a wire and set down his pliers.

"All done?" Hogan asked.

"Yes, sir."

Hogan glanced at his watch, "It's nearly midnight. I thought it didn't take you four hours to make an explosive."

Carter's breath caught. His lie threatened to be exposed. He thought quickly.

"I had trouble finding some of the supplies. It took a while to get extra wire."

Hogan straightened and then picked up one of the explosives.

"Where's the timing device for this one?"

Carter took the bomb from the Colonel and groaned inwardly.

"I forgot to put one on. I'll do that right now. Sorry, sir. I must have been too focused on setting up the fuses."

Hogan cleared his throat and looked straight into Carter's eyes.

"It's not like you to be so absent minded. I need you to stay focused on this mission. If these explosives don't work-"

Hogan purposely left his sentence unfinished and then left the laboratory. Carter groaned and rested his head atop his arms. Great, just great. Why couldn't this day end?