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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"The Allies will come soon, and Paris will be free," Le Beau said. He took Jacinthe's arm and led her across the street to a small park where they were continuing their stroll while ensuring they were in full view of the front of the hotel.
"That would be a dream come true," Jacinthe answered, turning to the Corporal with a pretty smile as a soldier on patrol passed them.
Le Beau let put on a wry smile. "I think I need to keep those Boches in tow when I am with a pretty girl from now on," he said in a low voice. "It is very good for me."
Jacinthe smiled again and then linked Le Beau's arm in hers. "You would not need a German soldier to give you good luck with les femmes." She looked around at the park, which, despite all attempts to keep it looking lovely, had suffered in the war. "How long do you think it will be before the Americans show up here, Louis?"
"Very soon," Le Beau answered immediately. "The Allies will come, and the Germans will run like the cowards they are."
"It is a wonderful thought," Jacinthe said. "But you sound like you are trying to convince yourself." She wandered with her companion toward a large tree that offered some respite from the hot sun. "Do you not believe it can happen?"
"Of course it can happen!" Le Beau protested. Then, in a softer voice, "I just wish it had happened so much sooner."
Jacinthe nodded. There was nothing to say.
Le Beau suddenly pulled away, straining to see across the street. "What is it?" Jacinthe asked, coming up beside him.
Le Beau leaned forward, took another couple of steps. "L'hôtel," he said briefly. "Look who is coming out."
"Soldiers," Jacinthe breathed, uncomfortable seeing the sheer number of men in those glaring black uniforms.
"Oui. And Tiger."
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Weary, Hogan sat down heavily on a bench and closed his eyes, his tight muscles easing up as he sank further back on the seat. He could afford to stop for a few minutes now; he'd been walking for a solid two hours at a fast clip, wandering aimlessly up and down the city streets, making sure no one was following him or trying to see where he was going, or who he was meeting.
The encounter with von Choltitz had left Hogan feeling drained. Talking with the enemy was nothing he hadn't done before; indeed, it was almost a regular occurrence when running the operation. But he rarely had to confront the Germans as an American, even more vulnerable to the whims of the Nazis and any ideas they might have about what to do with him.
And he had never used a man's family to accomplish his objectives.
Hogan had expected von Choltitz to be concerned about his wife and three children. But the accusation that Hogan was as bad as the people he fought had stung him. Hogan had never even considered the possibility that to von Choltitz, the Colonel was doing the exact same thing that Hitler was doing—using his family against him. While Hogan knew that he would never order any harm to come to the von Choltitz family, until the General had accused Hogan, the American, perhaps naively, had not even dreamed that anyone would think he might. And his assurances to the German, coming from the man who had clearly had a part in his wife and children's disappearance, could hardly be thought of as reliable.
Hogan now had little confidence that his appeal to von Choltitz had had the desired effect. If the German officer had even the slightest doubt that Hogan was telling the truth, there would be no reason for him not to obey Hitler's orders to make Paris burn before the Allies were allowed to take it. And with the bombs already in place, it would just be a matter of time.
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Hogan and Le Beau found themselves once again standing before Charles and Jacinthe in the dimly-lit cellar, this time getting ready to head back to Stalag 13. "Thank you for everything you have done, Colonel," Charles said, extending his hand.
Hogan accepted the gesture, and watched silently as the Frenchman enveloped the Colonel's hands in his own. "I don't know if we've accomplished anything," Hogan said, almost in a whisper.
Charles understood. "There was no chance at all before, Colonel Hogan." He shrugged. "Now, there is at least hope."
Jacinthe came forward and laid her hand on the men's. "We will contact you if we hear anything, Colonel," she promised.
Hogan nodded and looked away. He could see Louis hovering in the shadows, unwilling or unable to come forward. He pulled his hand away gently, and went to the Corporal. "Louis?" he prompted gently.
Le Beau nodded, his eyes full and his voice untrustworthy. He thought of the Paris he had grown up with, full of beautiful gardens, laughing people, music, and a carefree quality that had made being in the city such a joy. And then he thought of the city he had seen today—one of deprivation, of fighting, and of fear among the tarnished beauty. It was more than he could bear to see. "I am ready to go, mon Colonel," he choked, and he lowered his head.
Hogan looked at Le Beau, concerned and saddened by his obvious misery. Paris was no longer what Louis Le Beau remembered it to be, and they could all only hope that it would be able to recover once the war was over, if there was anything left to work with.
Fast footsteps on the stairs broke the tension. "Colonel, Charles—you will not be able to believe—"
Frederic moved aside as the group almost as one moved to head upstairs. Hogan was in the lead and was about to bound up the steps two by two when he found himself frozen in place by the sight that suddenly appeared before him, and he stared, unable to move, as the others behind him backed off and watched.
"Von Choltitz… he let us go," Tiger whispered, as though still bewildered, as she looked into Hogan's startled eyes. She stepped slowly down to the cellar.
Hogan stared unblinkingly as the woman came toward him, robbed of his voice, and even his ability to think. Could it be?
"He said… he wanted us to try and restore peace in the streets if we could... and so… he released us."
Hogan nodded once, somewhere deep inside registering the words, but too overwhelmed to respond. Could what I said to von Choltitz have made a difference?
Now directly in front of him, Tiger continued to look deeply into Hogan's eyes. "Colonel Hogan…?"
Unable to express himself the way he wanted to, and yet unable to do nothing, Hogan suddenly pulled Tiger to himself and kissed her, thinking of nothing but her, seeing nothing but her, feeling nothing but overwhelming relief, and something else that he could not—or would not—define.
For her part, Tiger accepted the gesture, and reciprocated willingly. As they finally, lingeringly, separated, Hogan continued to look at her intently. But now his voice had returned, and he announced, "We'd better go." When he broke Tiger's gaze it was to look up at Frederic, who was trying to hide his satisfaction behind a serious face but failing. "Is the car ready?"
Frederic nodded. "Waiting now, Colonel."
Hogan turned again to Charles and Jacinthe. "Thank you. Thank…" His voice trailed off as his eyes once again drifted to Tiger, who was watching him with open fondness. He nodded and shook himself back to focus on his hosts. "Keep in touch," he said to Jacinthe.
The young woman smiled softly. "I will, Colonel," she replied. "And we will tell Tiger everything that happened today."
Hogan nodded. "Keep yourselves safe," he implored. One more glance toward Tiger. "All of you."
Jacinthe looked from Hogan to Tiger and back again, knowingly. "Merci, mon Colonel. Bon voyage."
"Thank you," Hogan said, and, making eye contact with no one, he bolted up the stairs.
Jacinthe turned to Le Beau. "Louis… merci for your company today," she said almost shyly.
Le Beau smiled and took her hands in his. "The pleasure was mine," he said, as she flushed with quiet happiness. He kissed her on both cheeks. "Au revoir."
"Au revoir."
Le Beau farewelled Charles, then faced Tiger, who smiled down at him, slightly puzzled. "Le Colonel, he met with von Choltitz today," he said to her. "He asked for your release. I am glad the General listened."
Tiger had no chance to respond, as Le Beau kissed both her cheeks, then followed Hogan up the stairs.
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"And then Tiger appeared on the stairs, and the Colonel was so stunned he could not do anything but kiss her!"
Carter and Newkirk were huddled in close at the common room table, taking in the stories that Le Beau was relating and wishing they had been there to see it all. "Blimey," Newkirk remarked softly. "I'd love to have seen the look on her face."
Carter smiled slyly. "I wanna hear more about Jacinthe."
"Oh, yeah!" agreed the Englishman. "Leave it to you to find romance outside SS bloody Headquarters!"
Le Beau shrugged. "For a Frenchman, any place is a fine place for l'amour."
Kinch chose that moment to come up from the tunnel under the barracks. The others turned to him and slowly lost their light looks as they could see the Sergeant was in a serious mood. "What's going on, Kinch?" asked Le Beau.
Kinch ignored the question. "Where's the Colonel?" he asked.
"He's in his quarters," Newkirk answered, frowning. "I think 'e's having a bit of a kip."
Kinch nodded and headed for the Colonel's door. "Thanks."
"Is everything okay, Kinch?" Newkirk called after him, as Kinch knocked and then entered. "Kinch?" he called. But the door had been shut behind him. He, Carter and Le Beau were left to look at each other and worry.
