Hi, my dear readers!
Just like promised, here is the next chapter. It's a more fluffy and funny one in the beginning, just to 'make-up' for the last two dark ones. Our boys really need a break for once, and even if Hogan lives in his own quarters again now, he and Will find enough chances to see each other in private – sometimes with a crazy outcome. Parallel they're acting officially like they had done before – by bickering, yet sticking in an odd way together; not knowing that the Heroes know about them as good as everything.
In this chapter I also refer to a historical detail that will be the base for the original episode "Rockets and Romance", the last one of the TV-show. And the following two chapters will approach this episode, yet it won't be a retelling, but rather the whole adventure is written with additional scenes and mention of filmed sequences. The whole thing begins at the end of this chapter, and I really hope you're going to like it.
Have fun,
Love
Yours Starflight
Chapter 54 – Hide and seek
Klink was more than happy to find Robert in his quarters after he finished his duty for today and walked with dread to the little building. He was even more surprised to find his beloved sitting there, waiting for him – with a set-up chessboard and two glasses of cognac no less.
"I told them that I owe you a revenge for the lost chess game of yesterday night." He smirked.
Wilhelm, beaming like mad, began to chuckle. "Chess game. This is how you Americans are calling a passionate love night?"
Hogan's grin became even more broad. "Well, preparing everything, planning the seduction, and winning in the end is a certain kind of strategy – just like you need it to win a chess game."
Klink began to laugh and closed the distance to him. "You and your excuses. I think you'll never run out of them." He pulled the younger man close to him and whispered, "I'm glad that you're here. Then the separation isn't…that hard."
Rob smiled and captured the older man's lips with his own. The chess game was instantly forgotten.
*** HH ***
He returned far too late at night and faced a not too amused Kinchloe, who had been waiting for him. After all, Kinch couldn't ban his superior from the Barracks by closing the secret entrance. "Anderson sleeps in my bed." He grumbled, referring to the flyer whose bed built the hidden door to the tunnels.
"Sorry, Kinch. Klink and I got carried away." Rob murmured, making certain that the collar of his leather jacket was turned up to cover the hickeys.
"This, I'm believing," the radioman deadpanned, avoiding to look at Hogan. He knew that, otherwise he would give away that he knew exactly what was going on between the two colonels.
Smiling sheepishly, Hogan gestured to him to go first and followed him, tiptoeing to his quarters to not disturb the others. He knew that he had to be more careful, or his friends would get suspicious sooner or later. Yet, he couldn't help the grin that spread over his features as soon as he was back in his own quarters. He and Will had made love in almost desperate urge, and it had been wonderful – until Hogan had to get dressed again and vanished in the tunnels. He would have paid a whole month's salary to stay with his secret lover for the rest of the night, but these times were over for now. Those stolen hours were all that was left for them.
And as he climbed up the stock bed and lay down on the hard mattress, he felt the cool air coming partly through the wooden planks the hut was made of, and he knew that he wouldn't get used to this again.
*** HH ***
"Why are you sleeping in Anderson's bed, Kinchloe?" Schultz's loud and distrusting voice woke Hogan up the next morning. For a moment, he was absolutely disoriented as he saw the wooden ceiling so close to his face, smelled the damp material of the bed cloths, and heard noises from the room next door, then he remembered: he was back in his own quarters, separated from Will.
Dammit!
He was really missing what he had had during the last few weeks.
"I've had nightmares during the last few nights and almost fell out of bed a few times. Anderson was nice to switch beds with me so that I don't get hurt should I really fall out of it," Kinchloe's voice sounded from the next door, and Hogan chuckled quietly; betting that Schultz wouldn't buy this one.
He was right.
"Nightmares? Falling out of bed? You? After more than three years? Don't tell me fish tales here, young man. You're up to some new monkey business! I knew it. Colonel Hogan is barely back here, and you boys are giving me the greys again."
Hogan jumped down from the upper bed and walked to the door, bare footed and clad in his usual pajamas. "Good morning, everyone," he greeted casually and smiled at the large Bavarian. "Schultz."
"Good morning, Colonel Hogan," the Sergeant of the Guards answered, looking rather irritated with him. "Please tell me that you don't plan any monkey business again, Herr Hogan. I'm already punished enough with the Big Shot having a mood that is in the lowest cellar level."
Surprised, Hogan cocked his head. "What got knickers in his boxers? Does he miss me already this much?"
Newkirk coughed, while LeBeau quickly began to search his bunk for something, hiding his smirk. Schultz gaped at him for a second before he laughed loud and far too faked. "In your dreams, Colonel Hogan," he said, shaking his head.
It told Robert everything he needed to know. Will was angry with the whole situation that he woke up alone, and that they both couldn't share their lives together anymore…at least until the war ended. He could understand Wilhelm; he himself had slept miserably and missed the older man to an extent that was almost laughable. But they had to keep up the charade, or they would be in deep water.
"Well, I'll talk with him later. Maybe I can cheer him up," he said, returning towards his quarters.
"I'll bet my last shirt that you can cheer him up," Kinchloe whispered under his breath and caught the suddenly sharp gaze of the large Bavarian.
"What was this, Sergeant?" Schultz asked formally.
"I said that the Colonel certainly can cheer up our Balding Eagle. He always could." He shrugged, looking harmlessly at the older German.
Hans grumbled something and turned towards the door. "Hurry up, boys! Roll call is in a quarter hour." He raised his voice. "The same goes for you, Colonel Hogan!"
"I know," came the slurred reply from the tiny quarters at the end of the hut, showing that Hogan was brushing his teeth.
Gripping his rifle more tightly, Schultz left the Barracks knowing that something was going on.
*** HH ***
The next few days went by in relative peace…at least within the camp. Outside, the war continued with all its cruelness. The troops of the West Allies conquered most parts of the German area at the left side of the Rhine River. The US Air Corps and the RAF flew strong attacks against Nürnberg, Dortmund, and Duisburg to destroy more weapon factories. In the east, the Red Army enlarged the liberated parts.
In the very early morning, even before roll call, Kinchloe heard the peeping of an incoming radio call and hurried down the ladder into the tunnels. He affirmed the message and climbed back upwards into the Barracks, closing the entrance the moment Schultz came in to shoo them all outside.
"One moment, Schultzie," he said, almost running to Hogan, who just came out of his quarters. He looked a little bit tired, which was no wonder after another 'chess marathon' with Klink. This time, it had been officially with Hogan going to the Kommandant's quarters after dinner and being accompanied back by him at almost midnight. Kinch asked himself how long those two would be able to keep on going like this, because the little sleep they were getting was plain to see on both their faces by now.
"Colonel, message from London. They advise us to stay during the later morning in our Barracks. The weather is finally good enough for a certain mission of the British boys they planned for a few days now."
Hogan frowned. "Here – in the area of Hammelburg? What is so important here that…"
"A large, wide-spread air raid over all of Germany, aiming only for road and rail junctions," Kinch said quietly under his breath. "They say they sent approximately 3,700 bombers. They are already over the north and west of Germany."
Robert gaped at him and shook his head. "Bravo. A super idea – destroying the roads and rails we need for our own troops," he commented sarcastically. "I ask myself whom of those desk-jockeys came up with that splendorous plan!" He placed the cap on his head and left the Barracks, waving Schultz off, who was complaining about Hogan and Kinchloe's delay.
"Ah, Colonel Hogan and Sergeant Kinchloe." They were greeted by an already waiting Oberst Klink. "How nice of you two to finally join us."
For a moment, Robert felt thrown back in time to those days he and Klink were simply opponent officers, their friendship barely in progress to becoming real. Then he saw the hidden question in his secret lover's eyes that was masked so perfectly with a scowl on his face.
"Sorry, Kommandant. I simply hang too long at the phone while talking with Mom. And she so wanted to have an advisory from Kinch concerning her radio. She loves those broadcasts about the baseball team of…"
"HOOOGAN!" Klink bellowed, swinging his fist with a huff. "The day you speak with your 'Mom' via phone from this camp is the day I grant you this little consolation, because you Allies lost the war."
Robert tore his eyes wide open in faked shock. "What…I shall never talk with Mom again because we win the war?"
Many of the POWs were laughing by now, relieved to hear the familiar bickering between the two highest ranking officers again. In their eyes, normality had finally returned to the camp. Robert only grinned at his German counterpart, answered with a tiny nod from the older man. Message received.
Raising his voice, Klink called, "Diiiiissmissssed!" Then he addressed the colonel. "I think your time off as the senior POW officer made you lazy, Hogan. Into my office. Now!" He pointed a strong finger at the Kommandantur, and Hogan made a big show of frustration and half-hearty protest, but obeyed.
Kinch stuck his fists into the pockets of his jacket, while Newkirk, LeBeau, and Cater closed the distance to him. "I'm really at a loss here," Kinch said quietly, with barely hidden amusement in his voice.
"About what?" Peter wanted to know.
"Which of those two is going to win the Oscar this year."
His friends began to chuckle and walked back towards the Barracks, curious of the reason London had called them before roll call happened.
*** HH ***
The office door had barely closed as Klink's eyes already hung questioningly at the younger man, whose dark circles under the eyes betrayed how tired he was. Well, he – Klink – was tired himself, but for nothing in the world he would miss the opportunities he and Robert got to be together in the late evening.
The last three days, mainly the mornings and the early evenings, had been anything but pleasant. He missed his beloved fox sharing his quarters with him terribly. Okay, Hogan had come on Monday and Wednesday evening, and they had made intense love; laying together afterwards entangled on Will's bed. Their fooling around first and the aftermath later had been mingled with relief to be together again, but the two times Robert had been forced to leave in the late evening had showed them the harsh truth. And even worse were the mornings. To wake up cold and alone in his bed had almost pained Will. And to smell Rob's scent in the bedclothes had only strengthened his longing for his American counterpart's presence.
He also skipped from having lunch in his quarters. He preferred to stay in his office. Like this, he was less reminded that his 'flat' was empty now – with no one waiting for him. Robert at least had his friends to distract him, while Wilhelm had no one to keep him company. Yet, the Oberst had learned from his beloved that Rob missed the simple sharing of each other's life just like he did. Not that this was any comfort. It was the proof that they both were more or less miserable, but there was no way to change the current living arrangements back to what they were during the last six weeks.
And when the war was over, they would really be separated, only for much longer – a prospect Klink did not want to think of.
Concentrating on the reason for Robert being in the Kommandantur, he said quietly, "Alright, spill. What's going on? Who was the real 'mom' at the radio?"
Hogan sighed and watched Will removing his cap and gloves. God, how much he loathed to see the older man only sporadically besides their stolen hours in the evenings. As much as it was fun to be with his friends again, he simply missed the calm time in the morning together with Wilhelm, the comfortable talks and discussions during lunch, and the cozy life in the evening.
Rob rebuked himself. Hell, when the war was over, they certainly would be separated at first. Not for long – for this Hogan would take care of – yet rationality told him that his wish for them leaving Germany together for the US was illusory. So, he could regard this new-old status of their position as a 'training' for later, but it didn't mean that he had to like it.
Turning his thought to the new information he got from his superiors, he began. "You should order that all prisoners are restricted to their Barracks until the later morning. Come up with an excuse for some inspection of the wires and the watch towers, or something like that, or…"
"What for?" Klink asked, perplex. "You know how much this would make them all even grumpier than usual and…"
"I think 3,700 bombers are reason enough to rather bear the men's grousing then presenting them to danger," Robert interrupted him, frustrated.
"What?" Klink breathed. "And they're flying to Hammelburg?" His voice became alarming shrill.
"No, they'll try to break down the traffic in Germany by attacking important roads and rails," Hogan huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Like this, your Wehrmacht and SS can't transport supply to the fronts, but the plan will also result in the fact that we'll have a problem to make advances into Germany as quick as it was done until now. Super plan, if you ask me," he grumbled, rolling his eyes.
"And two roads which come from Hammelburg and leading to the east and to the south are one of the more used traffic ways of the SS," Klink nodded in understanding. "One mislead missile, and it can get very uncomfortable in our camp." He threw up his hands. "Great. Your Air Corps really knows how to begin a day."
"Thanks for the compliment, but this strike is done by the Brits," Hogan corrected with a grimace.
"And that makes which difference exactly?" Klink snorted and leaned against his desk, his right hand almost shoving the Pickelhaube away as he braced himself at the desktop. "I'll give the order in half an hour. Is it early enough?"
Hogan shrugged. "I hope so. As we were summoned to roll call, London just radioed us and told us that their boys are already over the north of Germany."
"In other words, in less than an hour they'll be here." He shook his head. "Dammit, that interrupts breakfast." He straightened his shape before he stopped dead in his tracks. "Oooh Mist (shit)! Fräulein Hilda!"
Hogan gasped. Sweet Lord, in half an hour, Hilda would come to the camp. And if the air fighters were quicker, then she was in real danger to be hit on accident.
Klink already had the phone receiver in his hand, demanding of the telephone exchange in Hammelburg to be linked to the Schneiders, priority one. Both looked at each other, deeply worried that the call could be too late.
"Herr Schneider?" Will spoke up. "Is your daughter still at home?" The seconds Hogan didn't know what the other man answered seemed to crawl like a snake, then he saw the utterly relief on his lover's face and sighed deeply. "She's still at home? Very good. Please let me talk to her. Thank you." He grinned at Robert and waited a moment before he continued. "Fräulein Hilda? Oberst Klink here. Sorry for the early call, but I'm glad that I could still reach you. We have to make an inspection of the wires and the gates here, and we have to shut down energy for it. That means that a little chaos is to be expected. It will be better if you stay home today." He listened and forced a laugh over his lips. "Don't fear, my dear, the work on your desk will not run away. Take the day off, okay? Robert suggests the same."
At home, Hilda knew instantly that the 'inspection' was an excuse and that her boss wanted her to stay at home for her own safety. 'Robert', spoken in German, meant nothing more than something was about to happen. From the Underground or the Allies. And as Klink added an, "How is your father's work at your cellars proceeding," warning bells rang in her head. The danger that telephone lines were intercepted by the Gestapo – even lines of the Luftwaffe – was nothing new, so the Oberst had to speak in riddles. And 'cellar' obviously meant that she, her parents, and Little Manfred should make themselves ready to find shelter in the cellars. In other words, he expected an air raid over this area. She felt her belly clenching.
"Oh, thank you for your polite question, Herr Oberst. He was able to repair the wooden beams and wires."
"That's good to hear. Please give him once again my greeting. I'll see you tomorrow. Auf Wiedersehen." The link went dead, and Hilda looked at her parents.
"Make yourself ready to go to the cellars," she said strongly, walking towards the stairs to go to her room where the baby rested. "I'll get Manfred."
"What for?" Her father asked, alarmed.
"The Herr Oberst gave me a warning. He got information that an air raid over this area is about to happen."
*** HH ***
"They'll do what?" LeBeau stared with big eyes at his superior and friend, while Newkirk, who nipped at the bitter tasting coffee, snorted.
"Blimey, first we shovel this damn road and pass free, then our boys damage it, and then we're going to have it to repair again. I understand something different under the word 'hobby'."
"They can wait until they turn blue," Louis said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I won't move one finger for one of those damn roads here ever again."
He couldn't assume how wrong he was about the latter. That exactly this would become a part of their next mission.
The door opened, and Schultz stepped in. "Every POW is restricted to the Barracks until midday!" He announced, receiving protests for it. "RUHE (silence), it's an order from the Big Shot. The energy will be cut down for an hour or so to make a check on the wires' function and therefore none of you troublemakers can be outside."
He shot Hogan a glare, knowing deep down that the American colonel was responsible for this 'test' Klink had ordered. He only didn't see the reason for it, but he was, after all, only a simple sergeant with too much responsibility and too low of a salary, while Klink and Hogan were the officers. So…
Alarm sounded all of sudden. Not the alert of escape, but the up and down for an air raid warning.
Schultz whirled around surprisingly quick for his large belly. "Was zum Teufel… (What the heck)?"
Hogan grimaced and looked at his wristwatch. Damn, the British bombers were quick that they were already so near. Slipping out of the Barracks, ignoring Schultz's order to stay inside, he looked up into the skies from where the first noises were to hear.
Klink left the Kommandantur, clad in coat and cap, riding crop and his beloved Pickelhaube under his arms. With a loud voice, he gave orders for most of his men to seek out cover, while he hurried over the compound. From afar, the first whistle of falling bombs were to hear, followed by loud detonations.
"Are your comrades attacking now even POW camps?" He shouted from afar, keeping up the façade he and Hogan had agreed on.
"They're bombing something a kilometer away or so," Hogan called back with loud voice. "I didn't know that our camp is THIS large that you assume they're attacking us. You should consider to encircle the new Barracks with our wires, too. Otherwise the new POWs could get the wrong idea of being in a camp at all."
The joke was not lost on Klink, while he stopped beside his American counterpart. Sweet Lord, was there ever something this man could take serious?
"Very funny, Hogan," he answered, loud enough for the others within a range of a few meters to be heard, and flinched heavily as several more detonations were heard. "Damn, they've come even nearer!" He growled.
With worry, Robert saw stones and ripped off branches flying through the air not far away. "Blast it!" he growled, gripped Klink at the collar and pulled him with him into the Barracks, pushing Schultz into it, too.
"This they're already doing – blasting things," Carter deadpanned, but stopped his smirk as he received a few glares, including from the two officers.
"You should use this instead of carrying it," Kinchloe said to Klink, pointing at the Pickelhaube. "If the ceiling should come down, there is at least the chance that this pointy end pierced the wood before it can reach your head."
The Oberst didn't know if Hogan's second in command was pulling his leg or was serious, so he only grimaced at him and went deeper into the Barracks. The same moment the ground began to shake, and dust fell down on them.
"Beneath the table!" Klink and Hogan shouted parallel, exchanged a quick look, and went for cover. The others, including a wheezing Schultz, followed them.
Huddled up like a bunch of ferrets, the men cowered under the table, Robert and Will side by side. Rob felt the soft tremors that went through his secret lover's body and glanced shortly at him. Klink's face was pale, his eyes were wide and dark. There was no question that he remembered the air raid in Berlin twenty days ago. He laid one hand on Wilhelm's hand and squeezed it, trying to comfort him while outside, detonations ripped through the air accompanied by the booming of the bombers.
The attack was over as quickly as it had begun. As the noises vanished, Klink and Hogan exchanged another short glance with each other, checking if the other one was okay. Then they crawled out from under the table. Helping each other to their feet, the two officers went to the door to have a look at the camp.
Behind them a loud 'bang' was to hear, some chuckles and Schultz's swearing as he obviously hit his head at the table plate. At least he wore his steal helmet so that there was no damage done beside to his pride.
Stepping out on the compound, both colonels glanced carefully around, but it seemed the camp was still completely intact. From afar, they saw dust filling the air and some smoke that build a line towards the south. One look to the north, where Hammelburg was located, and they became aware of a far more alerting smoke rising into the skies.
"Not the rail station again!" Klink groaned. "Dammit, how shall we get enough food for the town and the camp if your damn flyers destroy all the rails and roads?"
"Well, this is the other side of the coin of hindering the Wehrmacht and SS of transporting supplies for themselves," Hogan murmured, knowing that the rationed food could bloom into a real problem for all of them within the following weeks.
One by one the other POWs left the Barracks and stepped onto the compound, while in the watch towers, the guards rose from their cowering position, looked warily around, and pointed some rifles at the prisoners, but there was no need for it. Most gathered in groups and began to talk, pointing to the dusty and smoky tracks the attack had left.
"Herr Kommandant, shall we begin with the wire tests?" Schultz asked quietly from behind the two officers.
Klink went rigid. "Now – after a nearby air raid?" He snapped. "There are more important things to do now, Dummkopf!"
"Will, this surprise package from our boys isn't Schultz's fault – or your jumpiness," Robert whispered. "He is your friend and had the same nasty experience in Berlin like you. Don't forget this, please."
The Oberst rolled his eyes. Yes, he and Schultz had been through the same thing in Berlin, and the large Bavarian was his friend; but sometimes the man's stupidity really got on his nerves. Yet he knew that he shouldn't be too harsh to him. Schultz was no officer who was trained to adjust decisions to changed situations. He was only a sergeant – and someone who kept his and Robert's relationship a secret. Looking over his shoulder, he said kindlier now, "Take a few of our guards and the truck and have a look if people were hurt around the camp. And check the roads. As it seems, the Allies attacked the traffic lines now."
Hans nodded, saluted and walked away, shouting for a dozen men to accompany him.
Hogan pushed his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Well, if our flyers were successful like they were obviously here, Goering and Himmler have a new big problem at hand."
"I couldn't care less," Klink scoffed beneath his breath. Then he turned around, voice louder and formally now. "Continue whatever you're doing, Hogan. You and your men. The order to be restricted to the Barracks is ceased."
Robert saluted casually to keep up the pretense for the guards in the watch towers. Klink returned the military greeting before he stomped towards the Kommandantur.
"Sir, Colonel Klink forgot his Pickelhaube beneath the table," Carter said, offering his superior the old fashioned helmet.
Hogan hid a smile as he saw it, grateful that fate had presented him with another reason to seek out his secret lover in the evening.
*** HH ***
The attack of the Allies, which was meant only for the traffic junctures in Germany, hit more than 9,000 targets. 90% of every traffic possibility within the country was interrupted or delayed any transportations for many days.
While Klink had worried for the replenishment of nourishment for the camp, General Burkhalter in Berlin was furious for another reason. The test of the mobile rocket launchers should have begun the next day. The weapons were already on their way to North-Bavaria, but were now stuck near Fulda. This meant a delay of two or three days until the road they had to use would be drivable at all.
Hitler demanded that the next counter strike against England should be done within the next two or three days as vengeance for Dresden, yet to use the V2 of the main base in Peenemünde was difficult. Peenemünde, on the island Usedom, where the large test area was located, had been spotted by the Russians and had suffered serious damages. To attack from there was out of question. Therefore, the Führer demanded that the test of the mobile rocket launchers was also the ordered counter attack, together with squadrons of the Luftwaffe. In other words, the tests had to be done within the next few days, no matter what – and damaged roads be dammed.
The leading staff of the Reichs ministry for traffic and rail was called to the Führer, who demanded impossibilities. The most important roads and railways had to be repaired within a week – and those between Hessen and North-Bavaria within two days.
Already in the evening, an official 'requirement' was broadcasted asking the people to support the repairs by 'swinging the shovels'. Parallel, Himmler ordered SS-members, who didn't have other tasks, to do the same.
Burkhalter was relieved that the tests maybe still could happen in a short range of time. Where he earlier had still believed that an agreement could be made with the Allies, he had given up any faith after Dresden. For the moment, he was convinced what the government in Berlin said: that the his people couldn't expect any mercy from the Allies. Okay, he was Austrian, but he lived for more than thirty years now in Germany, felt like a German, and had sworn to protect 'his' people. And if this meant to fight 'til death, so be it. The period of grace he always had followed was over.
The more he was enraged as he received a call from SS-General Freiberger at his flat in Berlin-Kreuzberg, informing him that a higher ranking officer of the Luftwaffe in Berlin Headquarters was under suspicion of being a spy and was on the run now. Burkhalter cursed. If this traitor knew details about the upcoming project, then the Underground and London would learn about it, too.
Therefore, the whole start of the project was even more urgent – and swearing under his breath, he continued to pack his luggage to travel to Hammelburg. Given the damaged traffic-net, he would need many hours to reach his destiny: Stalag 13.
Sighing, his gaze found the bag in which Klink's, Schultz's, and Schmidt's belongings were packed, which had been retrieved from the bunker they had slept in the day prior to Hochstetter's trial. He hadn't found any time to send them to Stalag 13, and so he gestured to his ordonnance to take the bag to his staff car. He hadn't forgotten that Klink's foresight had saved his and the others' life, and to play the deliverer for once was the least he could do.
An hour later, he was on his way to North-Bavaria, hoping that everything would run to his satisfaction and that this blasted 'Papa Bear' wouldn't get into the way for once.
*** HH ***
Klink obviously didn't miss his Pickelhaube the whole day – or he simply realized that Robert could use this as an excuse to visit him in the evening. Saying 'until later', Hogan slipped into the tunnels after dinner, the helmet beneath one arm. The radio station was unmanned, and only a few petroleum lights were on as he walked beneath the ground towards the Kommandant's quarters. For the darker parts, he used a hand lamp that enlightened the last remaining part of his way.
Klink offered him a helping hand as he climbed out of the hole beneath the furnace in the living room. "Ah, I knew you would bring it." He smiled, taking the beloved helmet his father once wore to the dresser at the wall.
"I thought you would miss it." Robert smirked, pushing the furnace back to its original place; cursing as he almost burnt his hands.
"Yes, but I knew that I would get both things I miss if I left it in your Barracks: the helmet AND you."
Hogan laughed. "Who is the fox here?"
"It's still you – but a phoenix is clever, too. After all, to burn only to be born anew is a clever way to escape death." He cocked his head. "And that's what happened to me. I burn in your love and passion – and since then, I'm reborn."
The younger man smiled, his eyes full of warmth and tenderness. Closing the distance to his secret lover, he pulled him into his arms. He didn't want to think of how close to death they had come to in their camp today. If only one bomb had missed its target, then…
No, he didn't want to think of it. And the same went for Klink. He had faced death within the last six weeks so often, he wouldn't allow the Grim Reaper's shadow to intrude his mood and those hours in which he could hold his beloved in his arms.
Their mouths met first gently and almost teasingly, then more firmly and heated. It didn't last long until they made their way to the bedroom, pulling off each other's clothes and letting them fall where they were.
*** HH ***
"And you're certain that this big thing, whatever it is, is planned for the Hammelburg area?" Hans Wagner, one of the leading Underground members in North-Bavaria, listened closely to his contact in Berlin via the radio. They had to keep the talks short to hinder the Gestapo from finding out their location.
"Okay, we'll arrange the meeting. Roger and out," he said after half a minute, and put the headset down on the table while switching off the radio.
"And?" Little Red Riding Hood leaned against the wall and watched him, her eyes firm, yet soft.
"They said that something big from the Luftwaffe is planned for Hammelburg. General Burkhalter is in command of the project."
"Burkhalter?" The woman frowned. "I thought he is only responsible for the POW camps."
Wagner shrugged. "Obviously they're running out of generals – or Stalag 13 is involved." He sighed. "Major Heintzer of the Luftwaffe, a defector, is on his way to Hammelburg to give more details to us. The problem is that the Gestapo is already after him. So the meeting has to be done quickly and secretly. That screams for Papa Bear. Hogan must find out what's going on." He glanced at his wristwatch. "It's past midnight. None of his men will be down in the tunnels now. I'll call him tomorrow early in the morning. Major Heintzer will reach the area during midday. This means that Hogan would have to leave the camp during the day…no easy task. But knowing him, he'll come up with an idea. Maybe he and his men can volunteer for the job of repairing the roads. They said at the radio that everyone who can hold a shovel is required to help with the repairs. Like this, he can contact the major. I'll clear the details in the morning."
*** HH ***
Morning came, and for once again, the weather wasn't snowy or windy. The sun that had shone here and there the last few days had melted some of the snow, yet spring was still far away.
Hogan woke up with a weight lying upon him and a long arm around his waist. A smile played around his lips, while he tightened his own arms around the lanky form of his secret lover, happy to feel Will's proximity, and content with the soft mattress and warm blankets which covered them. This was a far better way to wake up instead of turning around over and over again on the bunk in his own tiny quarters, sans the older man in whose closeness he drank now like a starving man. This here was far better, and…
One moment!
There was some light that shone through the closed curtains, which meant that it was morning…and he was still in Klink's quarters?
Opening his eyes, he quickly glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand beside him. A half hour prior to roll call.
SHIT!
"Will," he whispered hurriedly. "Wake up!"
Klink grumbled something and snuggled closer to him. Not that Robert minded it. Not the tiniest bit. But just right now, it came anything but in handy.
"Will, we fell asleep, and it's already morning," he said, louder this time.
"'s okay," the older man mumbled, obviously still more asleep than awake.
"Oh, for the love of God!" He gently, but firmly pushed Wilhelm down from him and sat up. One glance on the floor where his and Will's clothes lay wide spread, and he groaned loudly. Great! He had fallen asleep after their love making, giving into his lover's plea to stay a little bit longer, and now look what that led to: he had slept the whole night through.
Well, he had needed a good and restful night's sleep, because it was the first one since he moved back into his own quarters. But how he should explain his absence during the whole night to his men was a miracle for him.
Klink finally woke up. Blinking into the semi-darkness, he glanced at his beloved who sat beside him; hair tousled, fingerprints on his back, and obviously unsettled. "What's the matter, hon?" He asked, still too satisfied with the current situation to think clearer of it.
"I slept the whole night here! Pray to what I'm going to say to my men?" Hogan sighed and scratched his head, which messed up his hair even more.
Will smiled from half-hooded eyes at him, loving the sight Hogan gave in the moment as the oversized boy in the well-built body of a handsome man. "The truth," he shrugged. "The half-truth. We had a game – of chess, of course – you fell asleep and only woke up now."
"And they're so going to believe that," Robert scoffed.
"Why not? Don't forget, they have no clue what's going on between us. Why should they not believe you if you tell them that you fell asleep on the sofa and woke up this morning? Maybe you should complain about a stiff neck and back, then they certainly won't doubt any word from you."
Looking down on his lover, Rob began to chuckle and shook his head. "Never tell me again you're at loss for excuses." He sighed agin. The damage was done; all he could do now was try to wriggle himself out of the mess he brought himself into. "But one thing we can't do now, and I really will miss it."
"And what is it?" Will asked, pulling the blanket higher above himself.
"To have a shower with you. They're never going to believe the story of 'falling asleep' if I come back from here freshly washed and neat."
Klink began to chuckle, feeling absolutely glorious after having a full night with his beloved beside him again. "You're the expert of masks, pretends and covers, my witty fox. I'm sure you can fool them." He winked at Hogan, who rolled his eyes before he bent down and stole a kiss from the older man before left the bed.
Five minutes later, he climbed back into the tunnels, called a "And once again, thank you for your kind hospitality, Kommandant!" before he closed the furnace. Should someone who didn't belong to his inner circle being down here, his formal addressing of the Oberst wouldn't wake any suspects.
The tunnels were quiet and dark. Thank the Lord that he had taken a hand light with him as he brought back the Pickelhaube yesterday evening. He crept down the underground halls, hoping that maybe his men were already up and not down here.
Then he heard it: the unmistakable noises of someone morsing the radio, accompanied by silent voices.
"And you're certain the Underground tried to contact us?" This was Baker.
"Yes, I heard the radio spring alive while I shaved." This was Newkirk.
Hogan groaned inwardly. He already could imagine their faces. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the radio room, and was instantly in the focus of Baker and Newkirk.
"'morning, gentlemen," he greeted.
"Good morning, Colonel," Baker replied, surprised to see his superior coming not from Barracks 2 above them, but from the tunnel system.
"'morning, Gov'nor," Peter said, casually straightening his shape. "Sleep well?" He asked neutrally, hiding his amusement.
"Yes and no," Hogan sighed, moving his shoulders and rolling his head. "I fell asleep on Klink's sofa while our Balding Eagle was preparing some tea. I only woke up now."
Newkirk nodded very seriously. "That certainly wasn't very comfortable," he faked sympathy.
Hogan snorted. "You can say that. My back and my neck are giving me hell," he complained.
Peter had stuck his hands into his trouser pockets and cocked his head, still very 'sincere'. "It was nice for Klink to let you sleep there instead of kicking you out."
"Yeah, he even spread a blanket over me. He really can be like a father sometimes." He came nearer and directed his attention on Baker, missing Newkirk's barely hidden grin.
'Like a father indeed. Rather like a lover. And I guess this 'blanket' was our Kommandant himself,' he thought, laughing his head off inwardly. He really asked himself how long Hogan wanted to keep up the pretense until he would admit the truth.
Robert glanced down on Baker, ignoring the smirk that lingered around the radioman's mouth. "Some news?" he asked.
Richard sighed. "That's what I just tried to find out. Newkirk informed me that he heard some noises from the radio ten minutes ago, and I sent a message to the Underground in Hammelburg and to London, asking whom of them tried to reach us. No answer until now. They're more than careful in the moment."
Hogan nodded, then he looked askingly at Newkirk. "What about Kinchloe? Why did you need to get Baker down? It's not his shift and…"
"Kinch coughed almost the whole night," Peter explained. "He caught a cold, we think. To send him down here would be…"
"… more than unhealthy, I understand," Robert agreed. "Well done, Newkirk." He glanced at his wristwatch. "Twenty minutes 'til roll call. About time I make myself presentable. Keep me updated, Baker." He smiled at the radioman, clapped his shoulder, and climbed up the ladder into the Barracks.
"Bonjour, mon colonel," LeBeau greeted him, slipping into his sweater. "Had a pleasant night?" He made certain not to look in Hogan's direction, as he couldn't help himself but ask this double meaning question.
"As pleasant as you can sleep on a sofa," Hogan groaned, staying true to the story. "My back is giving me hell," he added and rolled his head for good measurement.
"Poor colonel," LeBeau teased, smirking at him. "I'll give you a back massage later," he offered with a far too kind smile Hogan simply ignored.
"That would be nice, Louis, merci," he replied and headed to his quarters. He was not aware of the amused gazes on his back, as LeBeau and Kinchloe watched him go before they glanced at each other. Newkirk climbed out of the tunnels at the same moment, saw the door to Hogan's office closing, and turned his attention to his two friends. All three had real problems to not burst out laughing, while Carter glanced with confused innocence at them.
And down in the tunnels, Baker answered the incoming hail, not knowing that this would be the beginning of a chain of events that would steer all their fates within the future until the end of the war.
TBC…
Yes, you really could ask yourself, why Hogan doesn't realize that his friends know more than they let on. But what you don't want to see, you simply don't see – that goes even for clever-scheming Underground-agents.
Like I said in the little prologue, the next chapter will refer to the first part of "Rocket and Romances" – a mission that will lead to much more and is going to have a lot of ramifications.
I hope, you liked the new chapter, including the 'fooling-around' of our two lovebirds in secret, while they in public act as if nothing happened – at least on the surface. I really would love to get some reviews about it, so please tell me if you liked it or not.
Have a nice rest of Friday and a beautiful weekend,
Love
Yours Starflight
