Hi, my dear readers,
Thank you so very much for the feedback. I'm glad that you liked the last chapter so much, especially the more funny and sweet moments. Yes, our lovebirds have to be carefully or they really get caught – despite the fact that the 'Heroes' already know about them.
Like I hinted in the last epilogue, this and the next two chapters are about "Rockets or Romance", but only a few scenes from the original episode are there, I rather wrote some3 background or things which hadn't been shown, added a few more happenings following the original scenes and also put some thoughts into details, which maybe happened this way. I also tried to explain why Burkhalter all of sudden is so icily and hostile towards Hogan. There are more certain scenes, which I wrote from another point of view – for example the quarrel in Klink's office. I hope, you're going to like it.
Have fun,
Love
Yours Starflight
Chapter 55 – The first quarrel
Just before roll call happened, Hogan got the message from the Underground concerning the facts that the Nazis were obviously planning something 'big' in the area of Hammelburg, but what this was no one knew. Everything depended on Hogan getting in contact with the defecting Luftwaffe major to learn what this 'big thing' was at all and to act on it afterwards.
Robert groaned. Great. He had a few hours to get out of Stalag 13 and meet the major, which meant that there was only one chance to get the very needed information. And this outside of the camp.
Okay, the latter was no problem given the fact that Klink was on their side. And the damaged roads outside of Stalag 13 came in very handy. Yet Hogan was aware that he had to be careful. He and the major would meet in the open, and absolutely no one should get suspicious that this wasn't a pure accident. Otherwise he, his men, and Klink were done for. Even with Hochstetter out of commission, it was deadly to underestimate the Gestapo and their paranoia.
Visiting Will in his office after roll call, like he did almost regularly even as they hadn't been lovers, Robert heard the older man agreeing to something on the phone with a sour face.
"Yes, I understand the importance of it. I'll do my best." He put the receiver back on the phone hard and glanced up at Robert; hands flat on the desktop. "Now the damn SS demands that I shall support them by repairing the main roads coming from Hammelburg to the south and the Hoffenstein pass. I'm running out of men, and the blasted SS thinks I have an endless reserve here. Ha, those who are here, are greenhorns or grandfathers, and the few which are still trained, are good men and are needed to keep the POWs in check. No offense, Rob." He rose and began to pace. "The nerve! As if…"
"We'll repair the damn road – at least the Flensheimer Road," Hogan interrupted the beginning tirade.
"You will?" Wilhelm asked surprised, stopping his movements.
"Yes. My men, a few dozen other POWs, and I volunteer for the job."
Klink cocked his head as he became suspicious. "There is something in the bush, Rob. Only because we two are the newest children of Amor, doesn't mean that you offer your men's strength out of kindness."
Hogan sighed. "No, there is indeed something 'in the bush' – or in this case, on the road."
A groan escaped the Kommandant. "I knew it. Let me guess: a new mission that requires you out of the camp – officially, for once."
Hogan glanced quickly over his shoulder before he stepped beside Will and murmured, "I got news from the Underground. The Nazis are planning something big within this area, and I have to meet someone around midday to get more information. I was informed that the man in question is coming down the Flensheimer Road, and said road is in need for repairs, isn't it?"
Worried, Wilhelm put a hand on his arm. "Yes, said road is lined with holes, but…how do you want to speak with him? Schultz will look away, but the other guards…"
"The Underground contacts him while we're speaking here. He's going to have a car breakdown, which will give him and me a few moments to exchange the necessary information while my men repair his car."
Lowering his head, Will said quietly, "And you think our guards will not get suspicious that you and him are talking?"
Robert grinned. "Oh, we exchange pleasantries of the nasty sort, and he's going to teach me some lessons while my men work." He turned serious again. "Don't fear, Will. I'll be okay."
Klink nodded slowly. "I hope so. Don't risk too much, do you hear me? I don't want to lose you." He took a deep breath and moistened his lips. "Concerning your men's work – I can't offer a lot as payment, Robert. Nourishment becomes more and more rare and…"
"For three nights longer light and two warm, extra showers for the men will do it," Hogan bargained. He couldn't help himself; he loved to strike deals with Will like this.
"You bankrupting me!" The older man groaned, throwing up both hands, then he gave in. "Okay, we have a deal."
"Thanks," Hogan smiled at him and turned to leave.
"Be careful, will you?" Wilhelm called after him, worry in his voice and on his face.
"Always," Robert answered over his shoulder, touched by his secret lover's deep care for him. He winked at him, put his cap back on the head, and left the office.
"Good morning, Hilda," he said cheerfully, loud enough to be understood in the office and signaling like this that the young woman had arrived.
"The same to you, Colonel," Hilda answered formally, for the case that some of the guards heard through the window she had opened after her arrival. She and her parents – and Little Manfred – had weathered the attack against the traffic lines two days ago well; sheltered and safe in the deep cellar the old farmhouse her family offered.
Robert left the Kommandantur and called for Schultz, who was just on his way to the cantina. Because the large Bavarian wasn't alone, Hogan couldn't tell him what was really going on and stuck completely to the official reason for him and a few of his men leaving camp to repair the road: an order of Klink.
Sighing, Schultz assembled a few guards, while Hogan talked with his men.
"I said I wouldn't move one finger for this damn road ever again!" LeBeau began to swear, all but scowling at his CO.
"And I said we have to do it to get in contact with a defector of the Luftwaffe. A Major Heintzen. Something big is going on and only he can tell us what it is."
Newkirk clapped his French friend on the shoulder. "Head up, Louis; like this we're coming out of the camp for once. I really began to feel like a POW."
"You are a POW," LeBeau answered, making a face.
"Come on, fellas, we don't have all day. The said informant will try to reach us during early midday, so hurry up." Hogan interrupted the beginning bickering and looked at his wristwatch. Two or three hours until the man would show up on the road. So, there was no time to waste.
*** HH ***
Half an hour later, Hogan and his team, a few other POWs, some guards and Schultz were at the main road towards the south and began their work. Well, the colonel watched the POWs, Schultz watched Hogan, and the guards watched everyone.
They worked for more than two hours, and Robert was beginning to worry while he listened to a further bickering between LeBeau and Schultz. Sometimes he asked himself if the two were married with each other – a funny thought, given the fact of LeBeau being one of the most devoted Casanovas in the camp, and Schultz being after every pretty skirt that distracted him from his wife home in Heidelberg. Hogan had only met Frau Schultz once, and – from man to man – he could understand Hans of why he spoke of his 'shrew' at home.
Finally, as Hogan already thought that something must have happened to his contact, a staff car of the Luftwaffe neared the working group with a flat tire at the front left side. 'Very originally,' he thought with some black humor, but at least the little plan was succeeding.
The man of middle age, clad in the major uniform of the Luftwaffe, left the car, and Schultz hurried towards him to greet him respectfully. Acting with the typical arrogance of a German officer towards anyone who wasn't at least of his own rank, an important industrialist, or a pretty woman, the major demanded that his tire would be replaced with the spare. Hogan had closed the distance to the major and Schultz; realizing with rising tension that the sergeant made no move to leave him and the major alone. And giving Schultz's absolute lack of acting talents, any open talk between him – Hogan – and the major would certainly elicit reactions from the large Bavarian the guards couldn't miss.
Knowing that every captured officer would try to refuse to accept order from an opponent officer, which gave him the perfect reason to 'irritate' the major, Hogan engaged the German officer into a short verbal quarrel until he was 'threatened' to get shot. To his frustration, Schultz instantly volunteered to change the tire, and only after the major pointed his pistol at Hogan, the sergeant became silent, and the colonel gave the signal to his men to begin with their own part of the distraction: to change the damaged tire. The show had been good enough for the German guards to not get suspicious, and, to Hogan's relief, Schultz went with Newkirk, LeBeau, and Baker to watch them.
"Three mobile rocket launchers have been moved to this area," the German murmured, pistol still aiming at the colonel to keep up the pretense.
Hogan, playing along, stemmed his hands onto his hips and replied quietly, "Any idea where?"
"No," came the answer Robert had already anticipated and feared, And again, Great. Why was he always the one who had to find the pearl in a bowl full of peas?
"I knew the general location of two, but they have been moved. You are to find them and report it to London," Heintzen added.
Hogan almost grimaced. "There had been easier missions."
The major didn't react to this, but continued. "There is a spotting check on the top of a hill near Hammelburg. One of our agents, Frankel, is there to help you."
Frankel…Hogan controlled his features. The major couldn't refer to Lily Frankel, could he? The young woman who had covered her spy business as a singer and dancer in the Hofbräu had been one of Hogan's best informants. But he had helped her get to England after her last mission. That had been last summer, and he had hoped that she would stay in London until the damn war was over.
And not only her safety was of his concern. He had flirted with her a lot – well, even more – and he had really taken a liking to her. She was smart, courageous, pretty, and could be cold-blooded like he was. She had tempted him once, and he worried what would happen if he saw her again. Yes, he loved Will. Dearly, he loved Will. And he knew that his feelings towards Lily wouldn't be the same like all those months ago. Yet, he asked himself how to explain to her his lack of interest in her if they would meet again…if this agent Frankel was Lily at all.
"Can't the agent handle it alone?" He asked softly. Usually he didn't try to shake off a task, but this whole thing was more than delicate. As soon as 'rockets' came into the picture, the Nazis became even more paranoid than usual. And to operate outside of camp during day, with him well-known by many higher ranking German officers now, was almost suicide. And if said agent really was Lily, he would prefer to avoid her. Better to say the problems she presented with him no longer interested in her and him deeply in love with a guy.
"Unfortunately, Frankel hasn't operated a radio before."
Hogan swore beneath his breath. Yep, this 'Frankel' was certainly Lily.
"I'd do it myself, Colonel, but I'm afraid the Gestapo is following me." The major added hastily, seeing that the American was irritated about something.
"Major," Schultz's voice interrupted them. "The tire is changed."
"Sehr gut, Sergeant. Danke schön," (Very good, Sergeant. Thank you.) the major answered, putting his pistol away and beginning to head towards his car.
Again, going on with the show, Hogan made a sarcastic, rude comment that was answered with a sneered, "Cease your sarcasm, Colonel!"
The senior POW officer simply shrugged nonchalant. "This all belongs to the service," he deadpanned, and added another snide remark while the major stepped into his car. Hogan watched him go and hoped the man would make it to Switzerland or one of the Allies' camps before the Gestapo got a hold of him. He really didn't want the major going through the brutal torture he had endured more than six weeks ago at Hochstetter's hands.
Without any hesitation, the German drove away, Hogan's men scowling after him. While Schultz urged them to return to their original job, Newkirk sauntered to his CO.
"What did he say, sir?" He asked quietly.
Hogan was anything but happy with the new mission. "We got some rocket launchers within the area, and we're gonna have to find them," he grumbled, hands still akin on his hips. Damn, how should he fulfill this task? The cursed launchers could be anywhere! The woods around Hammelburg were tight, the hills were high, and there were so many possible hideouts he felt dizzy only to imagine them all. To find them in time before they could do harm would be pure luck.
Newkirk knew what went through his friend's head. "Well, this is like finding a needle in a bloomin' haystack."
Robert nodded, but before he could say something, engine drones neared, a deep rumbling accompanied by howling motor noises. Looking up the road, he couldn't believe his eyes. Promptly his face lit up a little bit. "But we got a break," he said, with hidden amusement. "There comes our needle."
The other men on the street turned around, and Newkirk wasn't the only one who glanced flabbergasted at the truck that transported something very big on a trailer: a mobile rocket launcher including a rocket.
*** HH ***
The Heroes and the other POWs returned to Stalag 13 in the afternoon. They had repaired a great deal of the road and were tired and hungry. Yet Hogan knew that there was no rest for him until he had spoken with London. He had barely washed himself and was ready to go down into the tunnels as a loud rumbling was heard nearing the gates.
Thunderstruck, he and the others watched the mobile rocket launcher they had seen on the road a few hours ago brought into the camp, parking in front of the Kommandantur and near Barracks 2.
"Are they crazy to bring such a beast into our camp?" Newkirk raged.
"This is against any rule of the Geneva Conventions." Kinchloe nodded, who coughed again and wrapped his blanket tighter around himself.
"This goes too far!" LeBeau groused. "If this thing goes off, the camp is history – or at least the buildings around this damn missile."
"And with them, we and our Balding Eagle," Baker agreed, who had accompanied the others to Barracks 2 to take over once again Kinchloe's place as the radioman.
"Look, who comes there." Newkirk sneered, pointing at the staff car with the double axe. "Of course he is behind this mess. After all, it ain't the first time that Burkhalter used our camp for some bloody Nazi nasties."
"That almost sounded poetically: Nazi nasties." Carter teased him.
"This is no reason to joke now," Newkirk rebuked him.
Hogan shot them a glare over the shoulder. "Listen to the coffee pot," he ordered. "I'm sure Burkhalter has brought this devil thing not for naught into the camp and will boast about it towards Klink. Maybe we'll finally learn what Berlin is really up to."
"Aye, Colonel," Baker nodded, and hurried with the others to Hogan's office to activate the hidden bugs in Klink's office.
Robert's concentration was fixed on the launcher and the rocket, while he tried to store as much information in his mind as possible. Every detail could be important for London, and so he eyed the weapon intensely. He knew that he had to voice official protest against the weapon's presence in a POW camp and that Burkhalter would try everything to keep him and the others away from the missile afterwards. So he observed the device as good as he could before he finally walked towards the Kommandantur, minutes after Burkhalter's arrival.
Hilda was already home (after all, it was Saturday), but Burkhalter's driver was in the anteroom. The young man looked almost curiously at him, but made no move to stop him as Hogan headed to Klink's office, barging into an obviously heated discussion between Burkhalter and Wilhelm, who walked around the staff officer that had sat down in one of the visitor chairs.
"I'm sure, General, that Colonel Hogan will have something to say about this rocket launcher…"
"I have a lot to say," Robert used the cue to voice his anger as he stepped into the room, his crush cap in hands.
Burkhalter felt irritation rising in him. Of course Hogan had to bust into Klink's office – without being called. This damn Ami really knew how to get onto his nerves. Sitting with his back to the door, Albert didn't spare him even a glance. The shock and fury after Berlin and Dresden, now Duisburg and Dortmund, made him forget for once that somewhere, deep down, he respected the colonel usually. Taking a deep breath, he tightly addressed his inferior, "Klink, tell this man to leave."
Will blinked. What the hell was the matter with Burkhalter? He sounded like Hochstetter. Hell, he even acted like the poison gnome did so often. Hogan stood beside the general, a meter away at best. Why didn't he speak with the American directly? What had Robert done to deserve Burkhalter's sudden loathe? Hoping to prevent an escalation, Klink decided to play along for now and simply saluted the younger man with an easy, "Dismissed, Hogan!"
Hogan wouldn't dream of doing so. Burkhalter broke the law the moment he brought the damn rocket into Stalag 13, and Robert wouldn't stand aside doing nothing against it.
"One moment, General. According to the Geneva Conventions, you cannot bring an assault weapon into a POW camp," Hogan refused to follow the order, eyes small. Yes, maybe to have this damn thing here was a good thing for the mission, but – blast it! – the rocket was dangerous like hell, and he had to think of his men. And Wilhelm!
Again, Burkhalter didn't look at him. Maybe the damn troublemaker would go if he ignored him long enough. "Klink, tell Colonel Hogan I'm not listening," he ordered icily.
Klink felt real irritation – not only with his superior, but the whole situation. For God's sake, what had gotten into the fat Austrian? He never had ignored Hogan or had treated him this rudely. Why all of sudden this unpolite behavior? The last time the two men had seen each other had been after Burkhalter intervened with Hogan being held captive by Hochstetter. So why was the general this angry with Robert?
He saw the rising anger on his beloved's face and to take some sharpness out of his superior's words, he 'translated' the order more politely. "Hogan, General Burkhalter says he does not want to discuss this with you."
Robert stared at his secret lover, who seemed to be serious for once and stressed. Of course. Hogan knew that Will was falling between two stools right now. Being on his side, but having to obey his superior. Hogan growled inwardly, ready to fight. If Burkhalter was stubborn, he could be, too. And, after all, here was the safety of his men – and Will's – at stake. His voice lowered in a dangerous way, as he answered, "Tell the general that I will report him to the Red Cross."
Klink stared him. Now he should be the messenger for Robert, too? What was he? A damn mouthpiece?
Glancing down on the stoic face of his superior, he knew that he had to be careful to prevent a real quarrel breaking lose. "General Burkhalter, Colonel Hogan says that he will report you to the Red Cross." Usually this was a kind of threat Burkhalter always reacted to. Berlin simply didn't want to irritate the Red Cross, but Klink couldn't know that Switzerland's decision to freeze Germany's money in the Swiss banks had changed a lot of the Führer's and the other staff members' opinion about the international accepted organization for human help and first aid. The regime in Germany was so cornered that no one on the staff wanted to take consideration of a single organization anymore – as big and neutral it was.
So for now, Burkhalter couldn't care less what the Red Cross would think of him. He had his orders. The whole situation in Germany had become a fight 'til the end. Former regulations be dammed! How dare this man – a prisoner! – blackmail him. He was responsible for the newest development of the Luftwaffe. The whole staff in Berlin counted on him, and he should step back because of a silly threat of a captive? And why the heck didn't Klink put Hogan into place? This here was a prisoner camp, and not the Reichsrat, dammit!
"I'm not discussing this with Colonel Hogan. Why are you?" The general sneered at Klink, refusing now to even look at him.
Will threw his hands up in frustration. God, what had crawled up Burkhalter's ass and died to have him in such a foul mood? Of course, he would discuss something like this with Hogan. Even if Robert wouldn't be the man he loved more than life, he would have to speak with him about something this important for all habitants of the camp, because Hogan was the senior POW officer and had a right to take care for his men's safety. This was protocol, dammit! "I'm…"
"STOP talking to him!" Burkhalter all of sudden almost exploded, glaring from the edge of his eyes towards the Oberst. He knew exactly how big Klink's weak spot for the witty American was, but this had no room here in the moment. If this fool treated the Reich's enemies with velvet gloves, then it was his decision. At least as long as he held the camp together and could keep his cursed 'zero-escape-rate'.
But he, Albert Burkhalter, had to defend this country and had no time for foolish games. Not after what happened within the last two weeks. Berlin and Dresden – he wouldn't forgive this that easily. Goebbels had said it: there was no mercy to expect from the Allies. This much Burkhalter had 'learned'. The last two large attacks had opened his eyes, and the two air raids on Wednesday against Duisburg and Dortmund, and the destruction of the most important roads and rails on Thursday, had intensified his decision to fight 'til the end. So why should he take any consideration of captured enemies? The shock and wrath sat still too deep in his bones to treat any members of the Allies neutrally at the moment.
Klink balled his fists. No one would forbid him to speak with his Robert! But to direct Burkhalter's obvious bottled up anger towards himself too was no solution. Not when he wanted to support the mission Hogan had received. For this, he had to show the general that he was fully on his side to keep the staff officer's trust. He glanced at Robert and saw the mute prompting in those dark eyes to DO something.
Well, Will would do something, and he was certain Rob wouldn't like it. "Schultz!" He addressed his Sergeant of the Guards, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Closing the distance to the large Bavarian, he said strongly, "Tell Colonel Hogan that I don't wish to discuss this with him."
Hogan controlled himself in the very last second not to gape at his secret lover. What the hell…were they all crazy here at that moment? He continued to look at Wilhelm, who stood at his desk and had wrapped both arms around himself, obviously very uncomfortable with the whole situation. He didn't even look at him, but turned half his back towards him.
"Colonel Hogan, Colonel Klink doesn't wish to discuss this with you," Schultz repeated obediently, thinking of being in a madhouse.
For a second, Robert was lost for words. Will wouldn't give into this craziness, would he? Hogan spared a side glance at his German counterpart, who still avoided looking at him. Okay, two could play this game. "Tell Colonel Klink that he is going to be in the same trouble like General Burkhalter," he instructed Schultz, looking back at the Austrian, whose face he could only see from the side had become sourer and sourer.
"Klink!" Burkhalter snapped. "Tell Schultz to tell Hogan that I'm in no trouble."
It was at the tip of Klink's tongue to ask his superior if they were now in a Kindergarten class, but one look at Burkhalter's expression, and he skipped the idea. The words 'court martial' seemed to hang in bright letters over the general's bulky figure.
"Schultz, tell Colonel Hogan that General Burkhalter is in no trouble," he ordered, gesturing with his hands. Good God, he was asleep and was caught in a silly theater production. This was the only explanation for this all here.
Hans groaned inwardly. They called him a 'Dummkopf', but acted like little schoolboys. Hell, his youngest son was more reasonable than the three other adults in the room – and they called themselves 'officers'. This was something for the memorials. Yet, he knew he had to obey, so he began. "Colonel Hogan, Colonel Klink says General Burkhalter is in no tro…"
Hogan had enough. That Germans could behave crazy was nothing new for him, but this here was the top of nonsense!
"You both will be in trouble because of this damn rocket launcher!" He addressed Burkhalter forcefully. Hell, Wilhelm really would face trouble if the heavy weapon's presence in the camp became knowledge to the Red Cross. This was no empty threat, damn it!
Finally, Burkhalter reacted like he was ought to do. Almost whirling around on his chair, despite his fat figure, he glared with daggers at Hogan while he pointed a finger at the colonel, hand shaking with fury. "Klink! Tell him he can't threaten me!" He shouted.
Klink was aware of the fact that the situation was about to get out of control. For the love of God, couldn't Robert shut up for once and let him handle the whole affair? There was no advantage to making the general even angrier than he already was. This would only lead to Rob being locked up in the cooler (at best), hours of grousing from Burkhalter, and a mission unfulfilled.
"Schultz!" He snapped, shaking a warning finger at his American counterpart in the hope that Robert would finally get the hint to stay out of this. "Tell him he can't threaten him." Well, technically Hogan could, but in this situation, it was insane to do so.
The large Bavarian was frustrated by now, too. He recognized that Hogan's mulishness worsened everything, but what should he expect of a man whose middle name was 'troublemaker'? With a dark face he began, "General Burkhalter told Colonel…"
Hogan ignored him. He had to keep his men and Will safe, no matter what. Enraged he pointed his own finger at the German staff officer, eyes blazing. "This is my last warning!" He snarled, meaning it.
Burkhalter harshly waved it off. "I don't need warnings from prisoners!" He spat, face turning red with anger.
"Neither do I," Klink stated with an elegant gesture of his hand, hoping to calm down his superior by agreeing to everything he said…for now.
"You will this time!" Hogan said strongly to Burkhalter, and felt Will closing the distance to him.
"Hogan, listen," the Oberst began, and Robert turned sharply around towards him, staring at him. For once, the American was really angry with his secret lover, who should demand from Burkhalter to follow written law and not play along with the dangerous, mad idea to keep a rocket launcher with a rocket ready to be shot off in the middle of the camp. The colonel didn't hold back as he demanded once again that the rocket launcher had to be removed from Stalag 13.
Will saw the true irritation in those brown eyes, but for now he couldn't act on it, but had to keep up the pretense that he wanted to put him into his place. Gesturing wildly, he hissed back at Hogan, trying to reason with him. Burkhalter joined the verbal quarrel, and within seconds, all three yelled at each other without listening.
Schultz stared from one colonel to the next, then to the general, and back. The furious voices of the three men rang in his ears, fingers were shaken warningly at each other. And for God's sake, he couldn't follow anything they were hurling at each other. Schultz had enough.
"PLEEAASSE!" He shouted, which indeed shut up the officers. Being confronted with three angry gazes, which were now directed at him, he put on his best innocent expression to prevent him from being in trouble for snapping at them, and said quietly. "Wait for me."
*** HH ***
In Barracks 2, Baker unplugged the coffee pot. He and the others couldn't believe what they just witnessed. Three high ranking officers screaming at each other like in a catfight after they had addressed each other via the other one like offended girls in a schoolyard.
"They're worse than my little sister and her friends," Kinchloe said hoarsely, who had joined them. Then he had to cough.
LeBeau had crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Trouble in paradise." He commented. "I think this is the first time the two love birds had a fight since they stepped on l'amour's way."
"Love birds?" Carter blinked like an owl at them, received nerved glances, and pushed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "You mean those two…" He gestured towards the coffee pot, and Newkirk let his head sink into his neck with a groan.
"Andrew, don't tell me that you really didn't get it as we spoke about the 'sparks' between the gov'nor and our Balding Eagle."
Andrew chuckled nervously. "You mean…" He shook his head. "You can't be serious. The colonel – both of them – are after every skirt that comes along the way, and you think they have…feelings for each other?"
"Now he understands the 'sparks'," Kinchloe grinned. "There is still hope for him."
The youngest of the Heroes scratched his head, moving his furred cap back and forth in the process. "You mean, Colonel Hogan and Klink are…a couple?"
"He really is a quick thinker," LeBeau grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Newkirk clapped a hand on his shoulder, strong enough to make Carter almost stumble. "Welcome to the world of grown ups, mate. You just learned the last secret of 'sharing a bed' can also be between two guys."
Blushing, Andrew looked first at him, then at the others. "I don't believe it," he murmured. "I…I mean, the Colonel flirts with every woman he meets, and Klink…Okay, that he wasn't thrilled Burkhalter's sister was after him is understandable. If I would have been in his place, I would have run until there was nothing else to see of me anymore than dust at the horizon, but…the red haired girl last summer, the new land lady of the Hofbräu two years ago, Lily Frankel, or even this witch from the Gestapo…Klink tried to woe them, and in truth he…"
"Think about it, mon ami. Distraction is the best way to keep something secret," LeBeau said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "For almost three years, the two colonels dance around each other, always bickering, teasing, and irritating each other without becoming too serious. And the many times Klink let mon colonel off the hook – especially last summer as he caught him running around in a German uniform. Then he risked his life to save Colonel Hogan and even started a fight with the Gestapo to keep mon colonel safe. Do you really think this is all platonic?"
Carter bit his lips and laughed softly for a moment before he gulped. "It's forbidden, isn't it? I mean that two guys are…"
"Love knows no border," Kinchloe cut in, hoarse voice gentle. "They already grew close before the colonel realized Klink's true feelings for him…and his own in this matter. They are not only together, they're in love. There is absolutely no doubt about it, if you know which signals you have to look for."
Again, Carter snickered before he took a deep breath. "Who had ever thought…" He shook his head before he turned suddenly very serious. "You know what this quarrel from a few minutes ago means, right?"
"Yes, the gov'nor will be in a hell of mood," Newkirk sighed.
"But the making up is the best thing after a quarrel. I know this from a friend of mine back in the States," Andrew grinned, which made the others groan. Why was the boy always so damn optimistic?
*** HH ***
It was later in the evening. Hogan had returned to Barracks 2 furious and grumpy. He controlled himself around his men, but his friends could clearly see the deep irritation shimmering in his eyes, recognizing his set yaw and his flushed face.
Carter watched his superior and father-figure closer. Hogan and Klink had had their differences in the past, and there had been a few times the colonel had been highly irritated with his German counterpart. But never before he had been this seething. And Andrew simply knew that this had nothing to do with the rocket launcher in camp, but rather with the whole quarrel that happened in the Kommandantur. You can only be really reared up by someone if you care about said someone a great deal. And Carter realized that this was exactly the reason for his CO fuming with anger.
So, the others were right. Hogan and Klink were together, and now there was trouble for the first time in their self-created little paradise. Andrew was curious. What would happen next to the two men? He knew how stubborn Hogan could be, and the same went for Klink. It was a topic worth to make a wager about.
Robert was outraged. How could Will give into Burkhalter's obvious mad plan to test a damn rocket launcher in the middle of the camp? How dare he to tell him off, not considering the danger and that he broke a dozen laws. Burkhalter had threatened to send him, Hogan, to the cooler until he would rot. Or worse. And Klink had finally pushed his American counterpart out of the office, snapping at him to obey for once. Robert felt angry and betrayed. Yes, of course Wilhelm had to obey direct orders from his superior, but law gave him the right to demand changes of the current situation concerning the assault weapon in the middle of his camp. Why did he play along?
Sweet Lord, usually Hogan would have no other choice than to inform the Red Cross for real. Okay, he would have to wait until the next exception of the organization to voice his accusation, but this would mean trouble for the responsible German officers. He could care less about Burkhalter, but he couldn't bring Will into trouble. Even if this damn guy seemed to have lost his backbone all of sudden and even played the general mouthpiece. Hogan was too proud to admit it, but the moment Will didn't address him personally, but via Schultz, had hurt! Good God, he trusted Wilhelm with his life, his heart, and his soul, and then this crazy monocle on two legs dared to treat him like a king would a stable boy.
He was glad to be distracted, as his men told him what they had heard by eavesdropping in Klink's office before he entered the Kommandantur. So, the two further mobile rocket launchers were still heading towards the south to be tested in the area. That made three of them, of which one parked twenty meters away, and two were hidden somewhere in the woods as soon as they reached their destiny. And they would shoot their deadly missiles tomorrow at England – parallel with a planned lightening attack of the Luftwaffe. Hogan asked himself how many aircrafts the German still had left after the disaster 'Bodenplatte' in January. Yet, if the mobile launchers worked flawlessly, it wouldn't only mean that many, many people would die, it would also mean that Hitler had a new way to haul deadly strikes against the Allies…even without so many aircrafts.
Had he already mentioned that this whole mission was 'great'?
Evening roll call was skipped on Burkhalter's order. Different sergeants counted the prisoners in the Barracks and reported their complete presence. Obviously the general wanted to prevent any chance that some POWs could get closer to the rocket in the compound. Parallel, it was ordered that on the next day dozens of POWs should work at the mess hall and the cantina. Like this, guards were spared, which had to watch the rocket launcher. Hogan could understand this measurement and also that Klink obeyed this order, yet it didn't soothe his anger.
After dinner, Baker finally was able to reach London. With his friends around him, Hogan listened to London's instructions as the radioman switched on the little speaker Kinchloe had installed months earlier. It was rarely used, but now it was easier if all the Heroes heard what 'Mama Bear' ordered them to do.
Of course, it was up to Hogan to find the two hidden launchers, and – to add a further 'thrilling' task to the whole mission – he should radio London their exact location as soon as he found them so that the air forces could destroy them. To top everything was the 'nice' answer that Hogan and his men had to take care of the rocket in the camp all by themselves. After all, an attack on the camp was out of question.
Hogan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, lips pressed into a small line, and expression dark. Taking the microphone from Baker, he affirmed the given mission and closed the frequency.
London became more and more crazy. First he had to delay a whole division, what was only possible because the heavy snow and the avalanche seven weeks ago. And now he should find two mobile rocket launchers, give their location to London – as if the Gestapo wouldn't listen to every single whisper of any possible radio in the area! – and then it was up to him to sabotage a rocket in the middle of their camp. And above all, Will had suddenly lost his backbone and this now, in this situation.
Hogan cursed inwardly. He was tempted to throw in the towel!
His men began to discuss the mission with him – a mission that was more or less suicidal. Whoever would meet with the Underground agent tomorrow to watch the main roads coming from Hammelburg was in the open like on a serving plate. And there was no doubt that the Gestapo would send radio detectors everywhere. One or two radio signals would be enough to lead them directly to the place where the Underground hid. And, regrettable, the Gestapo and the Totenkopf-SS were even better now after they had mixed their organizations to an extent you could call them almost one and the same club. The chance to get caught was incredibly high.
Hogan was well aware of those facts and insisted that he would go. He wouldn't send one of his men, his friends, into mortal danger. Of course they protested, arguing that he was the most important man of their little group, but he remained hard. If there was the tiniest chance to protect his friends, he would do it. No matter what.
He climbed back into the Barracks while Newkirk and LeBeau exchanged addresses of girls they had promised each other to give should one of them not make it back from the mission. A mission not they, but Hogan, would go on. He heard them almost squeaking one and the same name and felt a short wave of amusement. Obviously, both had fallen prey to one and the same 'lady' in Paris. A part of the colonel felt the short urge to laugh. Even in the most serious situations those two were able to lighten the mood.
He heard Carter following him while he stepped out of the tunnels. The same moment Olsen, who watched the door, called, "Colonel? Klink and Burkhalter are leaving the Kommandantur, and they are arguing."
'Maybe Will came to his senses,' Robert thought with a mute growl.
"And they're headed towards here," Olsen added, and closed the door hastily.
"Newkirk, LeBeau, get your asses up here! Quick!" Hogan called down into the tunnels and waved at Carter, who hurried to the table to set up some fake card gambles. Olsen and three others joined him, and a few seconds later, Newkirk and LeBeau, too. Hogan clapped forcefully at the hidden mechanism at the upper bed frame, and the entrance closed, leaving nothing but a normal looking lower part of the stock bed.
The door opened, and they heard Klink calling, "Don't bother with driving your points home once again, General. I'll make certain that Hogan will behave and gives you no trouble anymore until your mission is fulfilled."
"I hope so, Klink," Burkhalter's voice sounded from afar. "Otherwise I'll put not only him, but also you into the cooler."
Klink stood on the threshold, but turned around again towards the compound. "But my dear General Burkhalter, I'm responsible for the rocket launcher's safety, you said. How shall I do it if I…?"
"Maybe you guarantee better for its safety when being locked away," the general sneered, but headed further towards Klink's quarters.
Klink faked a laugh. "A good joke, my dear General. Just give me a few minutes, and then we'll cost this super cognac I've gotten from my brother as a Christmas gift."
Burkhalter's answer was not understandable anymore, as the fat Austrian vanished into the semi-darkness of the compound towards the separate little building.
Watching him go for a moment longer, the Oberst finally turned around, thunder on his face. His gaze found his American counterpart, and he pointed a finger at. "Hogan, into your office. NOW!" He gestured towards the separate room, his other hand tightening around the grip of his riding crop he carried under his left arm.
"The politeness in this country lessens more and more," Hogan drawled, with a stern expression around his mouth. "What about the word 'please'?"
"Hogan!" Klink snapped and shut the entrance door forcefully. "This is no joke, but damn seriousness." He closed the distance to the younger man, gripped his arm, and pulled him along with him. "Into your office, verflixt noch mal (damn it forth and back)!"
A few of the POWs began to protest at the rough handling of their superior, while Hogan stopped and stemmed his feet on the ground, giving Klink a hard stare. "Hands off," he said dangerously quiet.
Will realized that this was no pretense, but reality. Hogan was really, really angry with him. He groaned inwardly. "Robert, stop being a child. I had enough trouble to calm General Burkhalter down and to prevent him from sending you to the cooler – or worse, to arrest you for threatening a staff officer of the German Reich and transferring you to a camp that is known as hell!" He lowered his voice. "I'm here to help you, dammit! You and your mission, of which I think I know what it is. And you need to get any support you can get, believe me. So don't play the offended diva and let us talk! Now, as long there is time for it. General Burkhalter will get even more suspicious if I don't show up within the next ten minutes in my quarters serving him my last cognac."
Something on Will's face and his voice told Hogan that he better listen to Klink. Shrugging his arm off the older man's grip, he went first with firm, wide steps, the Kommandant followed him.
"No disturbance…except Burkhalter's fat belly rolls into the Barracks," Klink ordered and closed the door to Hogan's quarters behind him.
For a moment, the other POWs were silent before Kinchloe smirked. "I so want to be a mouse right now so that I can hide in there." He nodded towards his friend's office while he ignored the irritating tickling in his throat he felt for hours now. "I would pay a whole month's salary to witness that talk!"
TBC…
Yes, trouble in the lovers' paradise for once, yet Hogan is going to learn that Klink more or less saved his neck by remaining 'iron' for once. And Carter finally got it, what is going on between the two colonels (as brilliant as he is with technics, concerning inter-personal affairs he really can be naïve sometimes).
I hope, you liked the additional or completive scenes of "Rockets or Romance", and how I changed the undercurrent to let everything fit in our lovebirds' world.
In the next chapter, Hogan and Klink trying to smooth out their first quarrel, before our colonel – of course – meets Lily Frankel, and he will learn something very important about himself because of her presence. Parallel the episode continues like you know it, only with further additional scenes, which will lead to more in the end. Hogan's short interaction with the German Luftwaffe-Major hasn't been unnoticed, and will make Schmidt ask himself very interesting questions, which will lead to more thinking because of everything that happens afterwards.
I wish you a nice weekend – and please don't forget to activate the 'review-button' (*wink*).
Love
Yours Starflight
