It's been a busy week, but here's a new chapter! Thank you to all you reviewers, you're grand!

Chapter 14

This night it was Kinch waiting until the rest of the barracks went to sleep. He'd left most of his regular clothes on, in case he needed to retrieve Newkirk from outside. Sitting up in his bunk, he let himself relax but stayed awake enough to listen. Soon enough, he heard the slight noise of Newkirk climbing out of his upper bunk.

Kinch stood up and watched Newkirk wander aimlessly around the barracks. If he waited long enough, maybe he would discover how the Brit was escaping the building.

Newkirk paused by the door briefly, his hand gently touching the chair wedged into place before he roamed on, softly padding about while Kinch stayed out of his way. The man stopped at Colonel Hogan's door but then moved on, shuffling around the table twice more before approaching a bunk set in the far end of the barracks. Kinch shook his head as he watched Newkirk crawl under the bunk without rousing the occupant. It seemed they wouldn't discover Newkirk's exit tonight.

As Kinch got on his hands and knees to retrieve Newkirk from under the bunk, he whispered softly so as to not startle him too badly. "Hey Peter... come on, let's get you back to bed. Newkirk?" His eyes widened as he looked at the empty space. "What the?" He just barely caught a glimmer of light through a crack in the barracks wall before it disappeared. There was some sort of small door or loose board in the little space and Newkirk was now outside. Kinch jerked himself up and rushed to move the pans off the chair. As soon as he stepped outside, Schultz jumped up from the bench.

"Halt!" said Schultz loudly. He immediately relaxed when he recognized the prisoner. "Sergeant Kinchloe! What are you doing?"

"Newkirk just got out." Kinch motioned for Schultz to follow and walked quickly around to the far end of the barracks where Newkirk had to have exited. "There." Sure enough, Kinch found the Englishman wandering off.

Schultz started forward. "Newkirk! Wake up!" He stopped when Kinch put one hand on his chest.

"Easy Schultz. Why don't we let him go?" Kinch shook his head when the guard began to protest. "Not let him escape, just let him work out whatever he's dreaming that he's doing."

"Nein. It is too cold. He will freeze to death out here." Schultz headed for Newkirk again.

"Just a few minutes Schultz. If we don't figure out a way to stop him, he will get out and freeze one night." Kinchloe was walking alongside the guard as they slowly followed Newkirk. Kinch watched the wanderer pause and then change direction. "Look, he's going somewhere. We'll just find out what he thinks he's doing. Maybe then he'll stop sleepwalking."

Schultz thought it over for a moment. Sergeant Kinchloe rarely ever seemed to participate in the monkey business around camp. Schultz gave in. "Okay... but only a few minutes." They followed along as Newkirk wandered, stopping occasionally to mumble to himself. Finally he went to the pile of split firewood.

"What is he doing?" Schultz watched as the Brit grew agitated, pacing back and forth around the pile. "I cannot allow him to take the firewood."

Kinchs hushed him, pointing. "He isn't taking any, Schultz." Newkirk suddenly let out a soft cry of dismay and bent to begin moving chunks of wood aside. Kinch moved closer and had to dodge thrown firewood. "See? He's looking for something. I'll bet anything that's it. He's lost something and can't find it."

"And he is walking around in his sleep looking for it?" Schultz spread his hands. "Why does he not search for it during the day then, Kinchloe?"

"Please!" pleaded Newkirk clearly. "Someone 'elp me!" His efforts became more frantic.

Kinch put a hand up to block a chunk of wood as it came flying near him. "Newkirk, I'll help you look. Just tell me... what are we looking for?" When Newkirk didn't answer, Kinch repeated the question louder. "Peter, what are you looking for?" Newkirk suddenly stumbled in the pile of firewood and Kinch reached to catch him. "Peter! What did you lose?"

"MAVIS!" Newkirk's eyes flew open and he gasped. "Me sister is gone!" He blinked suddenly, looking confused. "Wh-where am I?"

"You're outside, it's okay, we'll take you back to the barracks." Kinch lifted him to his feet while Schultz tugged his arm to help him out of the pile of scattered wood.

"Schultz? Kinch? Wot 'appened?" Newkirk began to shiver. "Was I... 'ow'd I get out 'ere?"

Kinch urged him to walk. "Why do you think Mavis is missing?"

Nwkirk stopped in his tracks. "I 'aven't 'eard from Mavis in two months. But 'ow did you know?" His face crumpled and his hands reached to cover the stricken expression. "Kinch! She could be dead! The bloody Krauts keep bombing London and they been 'itting Stepney really 'ard!"

Kinch urged him towards the barracks again. "Let's get inside, we'll figure something out. I'm sure Mavis is okay." He kept a firm grip on Newkirk's elbow.

Schultz followed, trying to help. "I am sure your schwester is not dead!"

Newkirk whirled on the guard. "It's you lot what are dropping the bombs on Stepney! Don't you talk to me! I should beat you bloody, you great fat sod!"

Recoiling from the uncharacteristic vicious attack from the Englishman, Schultz apologized softly. "I am sorry, I did not mean to upset you."

Kinch pushed Newkirk to the barracks door. "Schultz isn't the one to be angry at." He stepped between the two, giving Schultz an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Schultz, he's just worried. We don't blame you for everything the Nazis are doing."

"Ja." Suddenly looking every one of his many years, Schultz nodded a little but his face still showed the hurt. "Try to make certain that he stays inside the barracks, bitte, Sergeant Kinchloe?"

"I will Schultz, danke." Kinch got the angry Brit inside before he could snap at the guard more. "Newkirk, calm down." Kinch's grip on his elbow guided him to the false bunk. LeBeau was unceremoniously poked awake.

The Frenchman sleepily followed them down into the tunnels. "What is going on? Did he get out again?" LeBeau wiped his face, trying to wake up.

"Yeah and not only did I find out how he's getting out... I found out why!" Kinch spared a glance for Newkirk as the Brit slumped onto one of the benches in the tunnel. "Why didn't you tell us about Mavis?"

Newkirk inhaled sharply. "I didn't want to make it real. I kept thinking that next mail call, there'd be a letter. There's nothing that any of you can do to 'elp anyway." He leaned his elbows onto his knees and rubbed both hands over his head. "She's never not written me and the damned Krauts hit Stepney. They keep bloody well bombing Stepney!"

"Why would they target Stepney?" Kinch tried to put a hand onto Newkirk's shoulder but he suddenly stood and paced away. "I know they're hitting London but..."

"Stepney 'as factories. That's why only poor folks live there. Why we live there." Newkirk stopped pacing and looked up at the ceiling with haunted eyes. "Why Mavis lives there."

LeBeau spoke hesitantly. "We can call London... ask them to look for her for you."

"Don't you think I've bloody tried?! I called them... begged them. They said they wouldn't be able to find one unimportant civilian what with all the mess of the Blitz. There's too many buildings that came down... too many people displaced..." his voice cracked. "Too many casualties..." He slumped back onto the bench. "She's all the family I've got left. It isn't bloody fair. She's supposed to be safe..."

His two friends hovered close, trying to give what comfort that they could. It was hours until they returned to the barracks to sleep.

End Chapter

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