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Tom Hogan strolled casually towards his brother, intending to remain calm and in control, but when he looked into the eyes of the brother, whom he hadn´t spoken to for over a year, he threw his coolness to the winds and pulled him into a bear hug.
When they let go, Hogan had to voice his surprise. "How come your here? I thought you were in a POW camp?".
Tom grinned. "I was, until yesterday. The camp Kommandant told me that I was going to be transferred to another Stalag. On the way our truck was attacked and I was brought here by your men.".
Hogans gaze wandered over his men and he said threateningly. "So you lot attacked a truck to get me a birthday present?".
Carter beamed at him. "At least it´s better than last year when we wanted to give you that ammunitions factory, isn´t it?".1
Hogan let go of all feigned anger and laughed. "Indeed, Carter.".
Tom slapped Hogan on the shoulder. "I knew that you must be involved in something crazy and this looks as if it´s the height of craziness.".
As if to answer this comment the radio flashed to indicate that someone was transmitting a message to them.
Hogan practically jumped at the headset for it would either relieve him from a lot of problems or heavy the burden this mission placed upon him.
"Papa Bear, here is Goldilocks, over.".
"Goldilocks, here´s Papa Bear. over.".
"Permission granted, Papa Bear. Send message when packages are to be picked up, over and out.".
Hogan sighed with relieve. All anguish and fear of the last twenty-four hours were present in that sigh.
Thank God I don´t have to become a murderer of my own brother.
"Hey, just a second. Packages? Permission? What are they talking about? And who are you talking to anyway?".
Hogan picked his crush cap from the ground, put it on his head and tilted it backwards, giving him a somewhat boyish appearance. A cocky grin flashed across his face. "Tom, I´ll give you a tour of Papa Bears den.".
"Boy, I knew this was crazy, but this is absolutely mad!". Toms voice was filled with enthusiasm. "We never managed to build a single tunnel at Stalag 6. Either they were discovered or almost crashed down on top of us.".
Hogan frowned. "Stalag 6? Do you know a Colonel Crittendon by any chance?".
Toms eyes widened. "Yes, he was our senior POW, how come you know him?".
"Let´s say he has been here for a short time and as he outranks me, I experienced what it is like to have him as a senior POW...".
Tom grinned and let his gaze rest on his brothers wings. "So you´re a Colonel now, Rob?".
"I was, last time I checked. Corporal.".
"Hey, why do you put so much emphasis on that?".
"Because,". Hogan slapped his brothers hat over his eyes and grinned, "if you attack me now, I´ll have you court martialed.".
"Hey, that´s not fair, but wait.". Tom looked around the tunnel and found what he´d been searching for. On the cot in the far side of the room lay a pillow. "There´s no allied High Command around now, so...".
Seconds later, the pillow flew through the room and hit Hogan straight in the face. Hogan was just about to take revenge when someone shouted from above: "Klinks coming!".
While Hogan climbed the ladder, he shouted: "Wait until Klinks gone, I´ll have you!".
Kinch and Newkirk exchanged joyful smiles. He seems to have forgotten some of his worries at least for a short time.
Hogan threw Klink his usual sloppy salute, but Klink ignored this completely.
"Colonel Hogan, General Hochman wants to see you.".
"So why does he send you to get me? Schultz would do nicely. Kommandant, I don´t understand why you allow yourself to be pushed around by that bully. Someone in your position-".
Klink interrupted him with an angry swipe of his hand. "My position does not matter. He is a General, I am a Colonel so if he sends me, I go. And now, Colonel Hogan enough of this, you will come with me!".
"As you wish, Kommandant.". And Hogan followed Klink, handing him the riding crop, which he had left on the table.
"Tss, Colonel, must be something in these Barracks that everyone forgets their stuff here or has Schultz infected you, perhaps?".
Klink glared at him questioningly. "What do you mean?".
Hogan shrugged. "Never mind.". When he closed the door behind him, he heard his men laughing.
Rob, looks like you´ve found yourself again.
His good mood sank as soon as he entered Klinks office, where Hochman was waiting.
He´s still not in London. I
have to think of a plan first. But I will not let him push me around again. I want answers, now.
Hogan threw his casual salute at Hochman and dropped himself into a chair. Hochmans eyes flickered angrily.
"Colonel, is this the way you salute an higher ranking officer?".
"I told you before, this is my way of saluting enemy officers.".
Hochman got up and began circling Hogans chair. Hogan got to his feet again. He didn´t like the way Hochman was staring down at him.
"So Colonel, you do not think it appropriate to salute a General.". Hochman looked at Hogan as a predator gazing at his prey.
Hogan faced Hochman and gazed into his eyes. "I said no.".
Hochmans lips twitched as if to repress a smile. "I thought you would say so. Klink, leave. I will call for you later.".
Klink saluted, but in his haste to get out, his salute was even sloppier than Hogans had been. Hochman snorted. "No wonder Colonel Hogan that you´ve never learned any respect. It seems to me that Kommandant Klink needs to learn his share as well...".
At these words, Klink turned a deeper shade of purple. He saluted again, now perfectly and hurried outside. Moments later, he came back and grabbed his monocle and riding crop from his desk. Muttering an apology, he vanished again, ignoring Hogans comment that was thrown after him about him resembling Schultz.
Once Klink was gone, Hochman positioned himself directly in front of Hogan. Both men were standing now, gazing into each others eyes, waiting for the first one to pull his gaze away.
Hogan said, still not unlocking his gaze: "I thought we have passed beyond the age that we were playing "coward" only with our eyes, George.".
Hochman made a small noise as he was addressed by his first name, but he did not pull away. "Which method would you prefer Colonel Hogan?".
Hogan shook his head slightly. "Why don´t you say my first name? Afraid to recall the times when we were brothers, when sides did not matter? Afraid that you won´t be able to pull the trigger if you think you have to?".
Hochmans head turned away. Gazing out of the window, he answered. "I already told you ten years ago that I am not afraid and a General does not talk about his feelings least of all with the enemy!".
"Enemy? Is that all I am to you? I recall the words allied swine coming from your mouth isn´t that what I am?".
Hochman turned around, his eyes flashing aggressively. "Don´t tease me! I wil not be addressed like this, Colonel Hogan! I am no Klink, you can not fool me like you can do to him."
"If I am worth nothing, why do you still address me formally, why George, why can´t you say my first name?".
Hochmans head turned red, his fists clenched and unclenched. It was clear, that he was about a second from hitting Hogan, but still Hogan would not let go.
Let´s see how much of this "nasty Kraut General facade" is really there.
"George-". Hogan was interrupted by Hochman, who seemed now beside himself with rage.
"Do not call me George! I am not George anymore, I am Jörg!". He reached for his gun and aimed at Hogans chest.
Hogan shook his head. "Can you shoot me? Killing is much harder than some people think and killing a person with whom you share so many memories is even harder. What is worth more to you, George, the Führer or your brother?".
Hochmans gun fell out of his hands. With a trembling hand, he picked it up, his eyes softened for a brief moment, but when he looked at Hogan again the ice cold glare had returned.
"Colonel Hogan, enough of this insubordination. I could have you thrown into the cooler or even have you shot for this. How come you have survived for so long with this mouth of yours? I promise you, some day your mouth will kill you.".
Hogan shook his head wearily. "The time is over George. The time that you could tease me with this facade of yours, the time you could hurt me with your words. Tell me what you want and do what you wanted to do. Make your decision, George, the Führer or your brother.".
Meanwhile in the tunnel, Carter was showing Tom his laboratory. It turned out, that Tom had a lively interest in chemicals and shared Carters passion for explosives. The fireworks which Carter had prepared for the evening made him almost jump with excitement.
"Boy, they will be marvellous tonight. Can I come upstairs to see them?".
Kinch, who had appeared in the doorway grinned.
This boy just looks so much like Carter. He´s way too young to be here, too young to have already been in a POW camp.
When Tom saw Kinch, he asked: "Hi Kinch, do you know where my big brother´s gone?".
Kinch nodded. "He went with Klink, there´s a Kraut General here who wanted to see him.".
Tom looked questioningly at Kinch and the latter had the feeling as if the green eyes could see right through him.
"There´s more to this than just a surprise visit, isn´t there?".
Kinch nodded. "Yes, there is, but it is not up to me to tell you about this, you´ll need to ask Colonel- I mean your brother.".
Tom again threw this look full of questions at him. "Why don´t you call him by his first name? You lot seem to be so close and yet you always talk about him as "Colonel Hogan".".
"I guess it´s respect and also some military protocol still left over from training I think.".
Tom grinned. "That´s why I was always in trouble. Old Rodney didn´t like the breach in the protocol.".
Kinch laughed. I guess I found a bit of Newkirk in him to.
While laughter echoed through the tunnels beneath Stalag 13, above them in the Kommandantur, tension made the air heavy. Neither Hogan nor Hochman spoke a word. Hochman would not meet his brothers eyes.
Suddenly, George began pacing the room and his brother could not help but say: "There´s still Hogan left in you, George.".
Hochman looked up, anger flared in his eyes again, but he did not say anything, nor did he do anything that would indicate that he would soon become violent. He only stopped pacing and let his eyes travel over his brothers figure.
Then, his eyes turned towards Hitlers picture on the wall. Respect suddenly walled in his eyes, which made Hogan almost shout at him, shout for not understanding what was going on here, shout at him for not being able to make the choice he himself had long since made.
When after a time that seemed eternity George had not answered, Hogan could do nothing else but build up the pressure.
His voice was soft, almost pleading when he said: "George, the Führer or your family?".
AN:
1. Episode 118: Happy Birthday, Dear Hogan
