MISSING IN ACTION

AN: 'ello, mate! This story is going to be a tad scary but the end will very nice. This is based on a dream I had. Oh, by the way, later in the story some people will be talking but you will not know who it is. Oh, poor Newkirk!

The stars sparkle through the pitch-black night. Four men in dark clothing run swiftly through the woods. They arrive at the ammunition factory.

"Are you ready, Carter?" Newkirk asks.

"Almost, I just have to attach this wire to the dynamite." Carter smiles.

"Well, hurry up," Kinch says, "We have work to do when we get back."

"Oui." LeBeau joins in. "Lots of work."

"What sort of work?" Newkirk inquires.

"Uh, I'm giving Carter a cooking lesson, Kinch is helping." LeBeau stammers. "I didn't think you'd be interested."

"You're right, I wouldn't." Newkirk grins, then turns to Kinch, "I'm glad you're 'elping, Carter needs lots of 'elp."

"Hey!" Carter yells. "You're just a corporal, remember."

"Just work on the dynamite, Carter," Newkirk says, "Leave the teasing to us professionals."

"Okay." Carter says, subduing to the other man's friendly fight. "Well, it's all set."

"Let's blow this factory sky high!" LeBeau cries, happily.

"Quiet Louis!" Newkirk scolds. "If the ruddy krauts find us, we'll be the ones blown sky high!"

"Sorry." Whispers LeBeau.

They push down the plunger.

BANG!

Newkirk rises of the ground. "LeBeau, Kinch," Newkirk calls, "Carter, where are you?"

Newkirk wanders around, calling their names. A few minutes later he hears German voices. "Blimey, the krauts must of 'eard me!" Newkirk thinks, looking around for somewhere to hide. He sees a tall tree, looks around, and then scrambles up it.

"The explosion was over here!" Yells a heavy German accented voice. "Look around!"

"Jawohl!" Another voice says.

The air gets colder and colder as the German soldiers search. Newkirk pulls his jacket close up to his neck. Eventually the Germans leave.

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"We almost blew it."

"I know."

"At least we got away with it."

"Yeah, lets get going."

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Newkirk looks around from up in the tree. The coast is clear. "Kinch!" he calls weakly. "Louis, Andrew, where are you?"

His voice gets weaker and weaker. He pulls a compass out of his pocket. He heads west to get back to camp.

It takes about twenty minutes to get back to camp. He opens the emergency tunnel entrance. Hogan meets him in the tunnel.

"What took so long?" Colonel Hogan asks. Newkirk doesn't say anything. "Where are the others?" Hogan asks, looking Newkirk in the eye. "I don't know, colonel." Newkirk finally replies.

"Huh?"

"I don't know." Newkirk says again.

"Did you blow up the factory?" Hogan inquires. Newkirk nods. "Go upstairs and get some rest." Hogan says, putting his hand on Newkirk's shoulder.

Newkirk climbs up the ladder and into the main part of the barracks.

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"How's it going?"

"Fine."

"How much time will you need?"

"A few days."

"Hurry it up, he looks worried."

"How worried?"

"Ever seen a basset hound?"

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Newkirk slams down his cards.

"Bad hand?" Sergeant Olsen asks. Newkirk doesn't reply. Hogan climbs up the ladder into the barracks.

"How do you feel, Newkirk?" Hogan asks.

Newkirk buries his face in his hands.

"Don't blame yourself." Hogan says, putting his hand on Newkirk shoulder.

Newkirk looks up. "C'mon, colonel, you know as well as I do that this operation can't work without them."

"I know." Hogan agrees.

"Then just let me blame myself." Newkirk groans.

"Listen, Newkirk," Hogan starts, "You're they only person I have left and you're not helping much by blaming yourself."

"Sorry." Newkirk apologizes. "Do you need me to do anything?"

"At the moment," Hogan starts, "Get some rest."

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A\N: How did you like it?