Chapter 8: Wedding Bells
Over the next few weeks, running the camp kept Hogan and his men busy. Thankfully London didn't give them any more assignments. The war was getting close to an end and because Berlin had made tremendous cutbacks concerning the POW camps and Klink had to let Helga go. By now, the Allies were knocking pretty much at Hitler's back door. Hitler decided to go ahead with his initial plan.
Kommandant Klink sat at his desk re-reading the order he received from Berlin. I can't believe he has given this order. Soon the war will be over and we can start to rebuild. Everyone except me that is. I will probably be tried for war crimes. If I live that long. "Shultz please ask Colonel Hogan to come here." While waiting, he took out a small box out of his desk.
Hogan walked in and noticed the sad expression on Klink's face. "Something a matter Kommandant."
"Have a seat Colonel. I want to know the truth about you and Maria."
"What do you mean Kommandant?"
"I am not blind Colonel. I can tell by the way you two act, that there is something between you. I want to know how much do you care for her?"
"Isn't that kind of personal Kommandant?"
"This is my camp and I will get as personal as I want."
"I believe you already have the answers you are looking for."
"Colonel, I want to know if you love her enough to marry her?"
Hogan was completely caught off guard by that question. "Isn't that a bit unusual for you to ask?"
"Just answer the question before I change my mind."
"I never thought about it. It is hard being in an all male POW camp with only one female who stays in your barrack, and you see her day after day. I kept telling myself that it wouldn't work out right now. Maybe after the war."
"If you keep pulling crazy stunts like when I caught you in my quarters a couple of weeks ago you won't make it to the end of the war."
"Why didn't you turn me in that night or question me about the tunnel?"
"I figured as long as it stayed in the camp I wouldn't worry about it. Colonel you are changing the subject."
"If things were different I might consider it."
"Does she feel the same way about you?"
"I suppose. What are you getting at here Kommandant?"
Klink handed Hogan the box "Open it." Hogan opened it. Inside was a beautiful ring. The light danced like fire in the diamonds. Hogan just stared at Klink. "It was my mothers. I know this is unusual, but I have ultimate authority around here and besides being a kommandant, I can also marry people. If you want, I will marry you. You can propose to her at roll call. Besides, I believe a child's parents should be together."
"You mind repeating that Kommandant."
"Colonel I did some research into Maria's pregnancy and found out the specifics. The Nazi's were conducting experiments with genetics. They were trying to get her pregnant and see if they could alter the genes to produce the perfect race. You had many qualities they like and used you to be the father. Robert is your son."
Hogan didn't know how to respond. "Does Maria know?"
"No."
"I don't know what to say Kommandant. Why are you doing this?"
"Maybe once you are married you wont be so reckless in your actions, especially with a family to take care of."
"Thanks Kommandant." Hogan stood at attention and gave a proper salute. Klink returned it with a smile.
When Hogan left the office, Klink's smile faded. At least they will have one night of happiness together.
Hogan went back to the barracks looked for Kinch. "Can we talk in the tunnel?"
"Sure." The both of them went down into the tunnel and down one of the side branches. "So what's on your mind?"
"This stays between us for now. Klink asked me if I loved Maria enough to marry her. Helga and I had this discussion once. Do I love her because I want to spend the rest of my life with her, or is it more likefriends or is it because I feel sorry for her?"
"Well Colonel, that is something only you can answer. Just before I got shipped out, I decided to marry Tiffany, my high school sweetheart. I often wonder if that was the right thing. The more I think about it, the more I think that I wasn't being fare to her. Don't get me wrong, I love here with all my heart. Its just that being a new bride and getting left behind all alone while I am here."
"I didn't know you were married."
"It isn't something I ever talked about. It helps me not to miss home as much. So what are you going to decide?"
"I believe I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but there is a war going on. How is it going to work?"
"I don't know, but the way you two fight, it might not be that long."
Hogan laughed. "Yea we have had some good fights. Klink told me something else. Thanks to the Nazi's, Robert is mine."
"Oh my. Talk about instant family. Always pictured you as a lifetime bachelor though. It will take some getting use to." They both laughed.
The next morning at roll call, everyone could tell that Hogan was nervous. Hogan had hardly said a word to Maria. She was wondering if she had done something wrong.
"Reeeeepoooooort!"
"Herr Kommandant all present and accounted for."
"Thank you." Klink looked at Hogan to see if he was still going through with it. Hogan gave a slight nod. "Colonel Hogan and Maria can you please come forward." They stood on either side of Klink. "It hasn't been easy here for either one of you. However, I hope to make it a little bit brighter for you. Colonel."
As Klink took a step backwards, Hogan stepped closer to Maria. He took the box out of his pocket and got down on one knee. "Maria I love you with all my heart. I pray you love me the same. I can't promise you much, but I do promise you that I will love you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?"
Maria was floored by Hogan's actions. She looked to Klink and he just smiled in return. "Yes I'll marry you." Hogan placed the ring on her finger and stood up. He looked at Klink to see if it would be okay to kiss her. Klink smiled that they were both respecting his position finally and nodded his approval. Hogan took Maria in his arms and kissed her as all the prisoners cheered.
"That's enough Hogan. Save the rest for the wedding. The ceremony will be at two."
After they were dismissed, Misty walks up to Hogan, "Can I call you dad?"
That sounded so weird. Hogan smiled, "Yes liebchen you may."
Everyone ran around getting things ready. LeBeau was getting stuff together for the food and cake. Newkirk and Carter were going around trying to come up with decorations. Misty and Maria worked on getting their hair done and make up on.
Eventually the moment came. Everyone looked the best they could. Klink stood in the front of the Kommandantur with Hogan and Kinch. Carter, Newkirk and LeBeau played music on the instruments furnished by the Red Cross. Misty walked down the isle the prisoners had made first. Then Shultz escorted Maria down the isle.
"Do you Colonel Robert Hogan take Maria Crockett to be you wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward, through good times and trials?" Klink asked
"I do."
"Do you Maria Crockett take Colonel Robert Hogan to be your wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward through good times and trials?"
"I do."
"By the power invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Hogan kissed Maria passionately as everyone cheered. Everyone ate, danced and had a good time. For a brief moment the war went away. "As Kommandant I will have the first dance." Maria and Klink danced for half the song when Hogan tapped Klink on the shoulder. "My turn" When they danced, it was like before. Those two are meant to be together, Klink thought. "May I have your attention?" Klink announced when the song ended. "As my wedding gift, I am going to let the two of you spend the night in the guest quarters."
"Thanks Kommandant." They said in unison. Maria went up to Klink "Thanks for everything." And gave him a kiss on the cheek.
When Klink went to exit, it took one last look at the happy prisoners. Enjoy it, for today may be your last.
That night after everything had setteled down and they were alone, Maria asked "Colonel…I mean Robert. That is going to take some getting use to. Why is Klink doing this for us? In all the excitement, I forgot to ask.
"Klink said that he believes that a child's parents ought to be together."
Maria just looked at him questioningly "A child's parents? Is he trying to say that Robert is yours?" Hogan just nodded "I trusted you!"
"No, no it's not like that. The Nazi's got you pregnant using me as the father."
"I am glad he is yours." Maria kissed him.
In the wee hours of the morning, Hogan and Maria were lying on the bed. The moon cast a soft glow in the room. Hogan noticed a mark on the back on Maria's arm and turned the light on. "What is this? Why do you have the mark of the Gestapo tattooed on you?"
Maria hung her head down. "I forgot all about it. Hochstetter wanted to make sure everyone knew that I belonged to him and put the Gestapo mark on me with his initials." Tears started to come to her eyes. Hogan just held her. Now that they were married, when she hurt, so did he. There are still alot of theings we don't know about each other. Hogan kissed her and turned out the light and they went back to sleep.
That morning at roll call, Klink had a sad yet serous look on his face as he stood in front of the prisoners. "Report."
"All present for" Shultz responded.
"I want all guards in formation behind me." Klink yelled. The guards came out of the towers and out of the barracks and stood behind Klink at attention.
"I don't like the looks of this." Newkirk commented.
"Moi ausi" LeBeau agreed.
"Colonel Hogan please come here. Prisoners of Stalag 13, I have a letter from the Führer that I would like to read to you. To all POW camp kommandants. It is becoming too costly to maintain the POW camps. We are wasting valuable resources on the swine that can be used to benefit our troops. Your orders are to secure all prisoners in the barracks and burn the camp." Klink had to stop reading and waited for Hogan to settle the prisoners down. "Failure to do so will result in court-martial and firing squad. Sincerely your Beloved Führer; Adolf Hitler. I have no other choice."
Klink pulled out his Lugar and pointed it at Hogan. Have faith he kept telling himself. "Colonel Hogan I surrender Stalag 13 to you. Guards lay down your weapons." Klink let his pistol turn upside down as he handed it to Hogan. "I ask that you show leniency toward the guards. I accept full responsibility for their actions."
Hogan was in shock at Klink's actions. "Colonel, I accept you surrender." Hogan took the gun. "Newkirk and Kinch collect their weapons. LeBeau organize men to be stationed in the towers and at the gates. I also want a patrol going around the wire. No one is to go into Colonel Klink's quarters, or leave camp. Colonel I will see you in my office. Maria can you please assist me?"
Hogan, Klink and Maria went into the Kommandantur to sort out the details of the surrender. "Colonel…I mean Kommandant Hogan, I request permission to remove a few of my belongings before you take over my quarters." Klink asked as he stood at attention in front of Hogan.
"Denied." Klink remained looking forward but Hogan could tell that he was disappointed in the answer. "Because you are going to remain in your quarters. You can continue to call me Colonel. I don't like the sound of Kommandant Hogan. However Maria, Misty and I will move into the guest quarters. Is there suppose to be anyone who is going to come by and see if you followed noodle brains order?"
"I don't know sir."
"Colonel Klink will you please have a seat. I am not use to all of this standing at attention."
That's obvious. "Yes sir."
"Is this why you wanted us to get married?"
"Yes sir. I wasn't sure how things wouldplayout today. I didn't know if Hitler was going to send someone to make sure I followed orders or not. Even though we are enemies, if things were different I would like to think that we might be friends. Also I don't agree with the order. It is one thing to die in battle, but not like this. There is no way I could carry out the order."
"Nice to know I am not the only one who picks and chooses what orders they want to fallow." Maria said with a slight giggle.
"Anyway, you took a big gamble by surrendering to me. How do you know I wont throw you and the guards into the cooler until the Allies get here?"
Nervously Klink answered, "Since you are now running Stalag 13, it is your right do with us as you wish. I only beg leniency on my guards, and I accept full responsibility for their actions."
I can't believe after all the times I sat in that chair and showed Klink everything but respect, he is showing respect to me. "You can relax Colonel. Unless some one breaks the rules, no one is getting thrown in the cooler." Hogan could see a smile and look of relieve appear on Klink's face. "However when the Allies arrive, I can't guarantee anything. I shall put in a good word for you and your men though."
"That's all I ask Sir."
Hogan hung his head down in guilt. The respect that Klink was showing him was eating away at his conscience. Hogan looked at Klink with sorrowful eyes "Kommandant, I am truly sorry for how I acted in the past. You never did anything to deserve it."
Klink had never expected an apology form Hogan for his actions. This moved Klink. "There is something I should tell you but it stays in this room and between us. Do I have your word Colonel?"
"Yes sir you do."
"Mariado you mind?" Klink said as he pointed to the picture of Hitler.
"No sir." She responded as she went to the picture of Hitler and put her hand over the microphone."
"What? But how…"
"Colonel Hogan I have known about it for a few years now. Just like I have known about the tunnels and your operation."
"Operation? What operation?"
"You can stop playing games Papa Bear." Hogan could not hide the look of shock on his face. Did he know or was he guessing Hogan thought. "Yes I know you are Papa Bear. You don't know it, but I have been helping your operation. I'm Cottontail."
Hogan was still trying to digest what he was hearing. "Who? What are you talking about?"
"Colonel, I mean Robert, he is telling you the truth." Maria responded while looking at Klink to see if it was okay to support him. Klink nodded.
"Not to long after Hitler came into power I saw him for what he was really trying to do. I love my country and didn't want to see it get distorted by that mad man. I decided the best way for me to help fight against him was to join the underground. I had heard of the abuse going on in many of the POW camps and figured I could help the Allies by running one. At least while I was in control I did my best to adhere to the Geneva Convention and to treat the prisoners like I would want to be treated if I was in their shoes. I hope I have done that. When I discovered that you were running an espionage and sabotage operation from here, I did my best to help you without it looking too obvious."
"That's why everything seemed so easy." Hogan's ego was completely deflated. All this time I thought that I was outsmarting and using Klink and to find out that it was Klink that was outsmarting and using me, this is hard to accept. He looked at Maria "And you knew about this?" Maria nodded her head "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I ordered her not to. I had to keep this a secret at all costs. You can understand the need to have, as few people as possible know your true identity. If it looked like anyone was going to tell or if they found out and I didn't want them to, I would not hesitate to kill them. When I found out that Maria knew my secret I almost killed her to keep this secret. However, I figured she would be more useful to me alive though."
"Why did you go along with it?"
"I had to. He said that he would make life here very difficult for everyone. I had no choice but to do what he wanted." Maria answered.
"Any other secrets I should know about?"
"None you need to know about right now."
"Why didn't you tell me that you were Cottontail sooner."
"Simply put, because you were too arrogant. I first wanted you to learn how to show other people respect and not to judge them by what is on the outside. Since you have finally learned that, I decided to share."
"How many others here know about the operation?"
"Just Shultz."
"That is obvious. Do I have your word Kommandant that you will not show the rest of the prisoners the tunnels or try to escape?"
"Yes Colonel you do. I would not have surrendered the camp just to escape from it. Not that I might not go for a stole now and then outside the wire." Hogan got a surprised expression on his face. "Just kidding Colonel. However you know what they say about paybacks? Now you know how I felt sitting behind the that desk dealing with your smart please don't call me Kommandant any more. I no longer hold that tital."
"Some habbits are hard to break. This is going to defiantly be interesting. Once the Allies know this information, they will excuse you from all charges."
"Colonel I have your word that this information will not leave this room, or be told to anyone. No mater my fate is after the Allies arrive here, you are not to tell. Please honor my request?"
"If that is the way you want it Kommandant."