Author's Note: I don't own Hogan's Heroes. This is a fictional story any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

Emma: Since you're a guest it won't let me send you a message. So, I'll do it here. I'm so glad you enjoy it! You're idea is interesting, however, I'm not sure how to write it into the plot-line. I do hope you enjoy where I take the story next. :D


Klink hurried Hogan down to the cooler. Schultz took hold of his arm to place him back in the cooler when Klink stopped him irritably.

"Nein, dummkopf. Hogan is coming with us."

"Us?" Schultz asked, a look of confusion on his face, "Begging your pardon, Kommandant. Where are we going?"

"Colonel Hogan claims to know where Carter is." Klink turned to the American, "I still think this is all a trick."

"Careful, sir." Hogan said, his usual confident smile spread across his face, "You're starting to sound like Hochstetter."

"Major Hochstetter to you." Klink snapped.

Hogan shrugged, "As you wish, Kommandant."

"Langenscheidt is returning to guard the cooler." Klink informed his sergeant, "Upon his return, you and a squad of men will take Hogan and wait for me at the truck."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Schultz said, snapping a salute.

Klink saluted and marched toward his quarters.

Hogan grinned, "Poor kommandant."

Schultz chuckled, "Colonel Hogan, one of these days you will get into something and will not be able to out talk the enemy."

"Don't admire me yet," Hogan responded, his grin vanishing, "The game's just begun."

Schultz frowned, "We are about to do monkey business?"

"Something like that." Hogan opened the door to the cooler.

"Colonel Hogan, where are you going?"

"I need a quick chat with the boys." Hogan brushed the sergeant's hand off his shoulder.

"You don't want to follow. You might hear something." he said, with a wink.

Schultz whined, but let the American go. Hogan shut the door behind him quietly and moved over to LeBeau and Kinch's cell. Hogan smiled as he slipped a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.

"Gee, Colonel." Newkirk sulked, "What do you need me for?"

LeBeau and Kinch stepped out and moved over to Newkirk and Olsen's cell. Hogan opened it and they all stepped in.

"Newkirk and LeBeau, use the emergency tunnel and go to the farmhouse." Hogan directed. Grabbing the Frenchmen's arm, he added, "LeBeau, you will wait until I get there with Klink. If you so much as peer in the window, I'll see to it that you get a court-martial. Got it?"

LeBeau nodded reluctantly, "I'll try."

"Don't try...do." Hogan then turned his attention to Kinch, "If anything goes wrong you get the rest of the men out of here. Tell London to be on stand-by then get back to your cell."

Kinch nodded and disappeared into the tunnel. Olsen watched him go before asking for his orders. Hogan pointed to the cots, "We'll need two dummies, one in RAF and the other French."

Olsen saluted, "I will question each dummy thoroughly to ascertain their country of origin."

As the sergeant went to the tunnel, Hogan rolled his eyes. What am I going to do with them? He thought and then looked heavenward saying, softly, "Keep them safe."

1**************************************1

Carter, completely hidden in the shadows, watched as feet and then legs appeared on the stair-case. One set of legs was definitely feminine. A good lookin' bird as Newkirk would say. Carter thought, almost cracking a smile. A gruff voice ordered the other man to light the lantern. The entire room was engulfed with light, except Carter's hidey-hole. Carter blinked furiously as his eyes adjusted. Lutzen. Just like I thought.

"My tools, Wilburt."

The other man looked down at the floor, "Please, Herr General, don't do this."

Lutzen shoved the girl into the chair, "My tools, now!"

Wilburt moved over to the worktable and picked up the case, "Nein." he whispered.

Lutzen turned to look at his subordinate, "What?"

"Nein. I have lied to mama for too long." Wilburt straightened and looked Lutzen in the eye. "You will not hurt that girl, not while I'm here."

Lutzen contemplated him for a moment before saying, "All right, Wilburt. You win. Go get her something to eat and drink."

"We're taking her back to Hammelburg?" Wilburt questioned.

Lutzen smiled softly, "Of course. As soon as the truck returns from Dusseldorf."

Wilburt hesitated, "We should probably take her back upstairs."

"Be my guest."

Wilburt set the tools back on the work bench and went over to the girl. He took her hand and started to lead her to the steps when he let out a cry and crumpled into a heap on the floor. The girl shrieked and ran for the steps. She had just made it to the landing when Lutzen caught her by the hair.
"Where do you think you are going?" he growled and shoved her back down the steps. After he secured her to the chair, he went to the table and grabbed the case.

Carter felt ill. He knew what was in that case. Newkirk had mumbled in his sleep about that case. Carter remembered what Newkirk looked like after Lutzen was done. He remembered the guilt he felt believing it was supposed to be him, not Newkirk. Finally, he remembered what his parents had taught him about standing up for those who are weaker than you. Carter had no idea what happened next, just that he and Lutzen where now on the floor. They struggled over the small, surgical blade that was in the German's grasp.

1*****************************************************1

Hochstetter walked out of Klink's office while the fool was still trying to explain his latest idiotic comment. Hogan has gotten his way, once again. Hochstetter thought, bitterly.

He soothed his anger by reassuring himself that once Lutzen was taken care of he could return to finding proof of Hogan's espionage. Hochstetter climbed into his car and drove through the gates. After almost a half hour of driving, he rejoined his platoon troop. The troop had detained a group of three S.S. soldiers. Hochstetter spoke with Freidmann and then approached the leader, a sergeant.

"Seargent, we know that you are under General Lutzen's command." Hochstetter spoke smoothly, "We also know that your career, thus far, has been excellent. If you and your men help us then no discipline will befall you."

The sergeant shifted, erratically and glanced at his companions, "I'm sorry, Major. General Lutzen out ranks you and we've been ordered to absolute secrecy."

Hochstetter's composed glance changed to anger, "Your precious general is guilty of murder and I will find him with or without your help." seeing the surprise on their faces, he added, "If it's without your help, I will see that you are punished as an accomplice."

"We know nothing about that!" one private shouted, fearfully.

"Shut up." The sergeant hissed, "Major, do you have proof? Or is this another one of your wild claims?"

Hochstetter turned purple, "How dare you! I am a major of the Gestapo and I..." he paused and attempted to regain control, "A sergeant under my command was alive when General Lutzen entered the cell block and he was dead when the general left. He killed my sergeant and stole my prisoner. When we find him he will be taken back to Berlin."

The private that had shouted paled, "The woman witnessed it, didn't she?"

Hochstetter shifted all his attention to the younger man, "Yes, I believe she did. Where is she?"

The private looked away from his comrades, "In a farmhouse, about a kilometer west of Stalag Thirteen."

"You fool!" the sergeant yelled, "Lutzen will kill us all."

"Lutzen will kill no one." Hochstetter growled. He spoke passed the prisoners to his lieutenant, "Freidmann, take one of the squads and escort these men back to headquarters." Hochstetter took the rest of his men and set out for the farmhouse.

1**********************************************1

"Kommandant, we have to leave the truck here." Hogan argued. They were about five minutes from the farmhouse. Hogan knew that if they used the truck Lutzen would hear them, but persuading Klink to walk through the woods was not an easy task.

"Hogan, you cannot escape in a truck." Klink reasoned, "However, if we walk through the woods, you could easily vanish in the brush. Nein, we use the truck."

"I won't risk my men's lives." Hogan said, caustically, "Carter will hear us coming and escape out the back-door."

"Hogan, we are not...How do you know there's a back-door?" Klink asked, suspiciously.

"All farmhouses have back-doors." Hogan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, "German farmhouses are no exception."

Klink appeared pacified. "Look, Kommandant." Hogan tried again, "I just want all of my men home safely. You want all the prisoners accounted for. I will get Carter back, but we have to go about it gently."

"Nein, we use the truck." Klink insisted.

Hogan threw up his hands in defeat, "As you wish. I'll make sure the boys write you very week. Just around the bend, Schultz." he pointed ahead of them then settled down into the seat.

Schultz started the car forward, but stopped when Klink said, "Wait a minute, Schultz. Why would the boys be writing me? They see me every day."

Hogan gave him a half smile, "You can't expect to take us with you. We'll miss you, won't we, Schultz?"

"Oh boy, will we." Schultz said, "Where are you going, Herr Kommandant?"

"Going?" Klink said, confused, "I'm not going anywhere. Hogan, what are you talking about."

"When you fail to bring Carter back, Burkhalter will pretend to be furious." Hogan leaned closer to the Klink, "But that will be just what he wants."

"It will?" Klink asked then nodded, "Yes, it will be just what he wants."

"Why is that what he wants?" Schultz asked.

"Dummkopf!" Klink rolled his eyes, "General Burkhalter wants that because... Hogan, you tell him."

"It's easy, Schultz." Hogan replied, not looking at Klink but knowing that the German officer was eating up every word. "If Carter hears the truck, he'll bolt. Carter is part Indian. It won't be hard for him to disappear in the woods."

"I see." Schultz said, "Why does General Burkhalter want Carter to escape?"

Hogan shook his head, "Burkhalter doesn't care who escaped, just that the Kommandant's record was broken."

Klink gasped, "My record!"

Hogan continued, "With Colonel Klink's record broken, Burkhalter will simply replace him."

"Maybe I'll be moved to another camp?" Klink suggested.

Hogan shook his head, "No, I think Burkhalter will give you a front-line assignment."

"Russia." Klink whispered.

"Oh, Kommandant, I will be sorry to see you go." Schultz said sympathetically.

"Shut up, dummkopf!" Klink hissed, "Get out of the truck. Hogan, if this is a trick, I will turn you over to Major Hochstetter."

They left the road and Hogan lead them through the woods until a farmhouse appeared. Quietly, they snuck up to the door. Klink motioned for Schultz to enter first. Schultz turned the knob slowly and pushed his girth through the door way. Klink motioned for the rest of the squad to follow.

Hogan and Klink waited for several minutes before Schultz returned saying, "There is no one here, Kommandant."

1**************************************1

Although Lutzen was originally surprised by the blur that attacked him, he recovered quickly. The younger man was intent on trying to remove the scalpel from his fist. He was so focused that he didn't notice Lutzen ball up his other fist. Lutzen delivered a sharp, accurate blow to the attacker's jaw. Seeing his opponent stumble back, Lutzen stood and retrieved his Luger from it's holster.

"Stop!" He commanded. The man stopped and rubbed his jaw. He was dressed in an American uniform. Sergeant...but he looks so familiar. Lutzen thought, racking his brain. "How did you get here?" Lutzen asked, "Who are you?"

"Technical Sergeant Carter, Andrew J. 35-598-115." was the stony reply.

Lutzen studied him closely, "Have we met before?"

"Technical Sergeant Carter, Andrew J. 35-598-115."

"All right, Technical Sergeant Andrew Carter." Lutzen derided, "Perhaps, I'll have time for you after I'm done with the lady."

Lutzen motioned for Carter to turn around. Carter complied and a moment later Lutzen had him securely bound. Lutzen pushed Carter into a seated position against the cellar wall.

"You get a good view." Lutzen whispered in his ear then he straightened and moved over to the table. "You see, Andrew." He turned slightly, "You don't mind if I call you Andrew, do you?"

"Technical Sergeant Carter, Andrew J. 35-598-115." Carter said, between clenched teeth.

Lutzen smiled, "This young lady is a member of the French Underground. She has information that I want."

"I told you where the film was." She cried, "The information is of a kind you don't want revealed."

Lutzen walked over to her with his scalpel, "As our American friend would say, 'This will hurt me more than you.'"

Carter's mouth dropped open and he said the first thing that came to his mind, "I sure hope the Red Cross investigates you."

Lutzen stopped dead in his tracks as the recognition hit him, "Carterheim? It is you!?"


P.S. Hey, here is the next chapter for you guys. I hope you find it suspenseful :D I'll be starting the wrap up soon, so prepare yourself for the end. haha... Much love!