Chapter 2: The Big Game

Later that day while Carter was washing his socks, he saw Christopher walk up to Corporal Muller, one of the gate guards. He just stared in their direction trying to figure out why Christopher was talking to a gate guard. LeBeau walked up to Carter and noticed his stare. LeBeau waved his hand in front of Carter's face trying to get his attention.

"Andre, what is the matter?" LeBeau asked, concerned for his friend.

Carter nodded his head in the direction of Christopher and Muller. "Over there, Christopher is talking with Corporal Muller. I wonder why?"

LeBeau looked in the direction of the front gate. "I don't know, ask him."

Carter shook his head. "It's none of my business. Maybe he is finding out about what is going on in town?"

They both looked back toward the front gate and said "Maybe."

HH HH HH

Hogan walked out of his room a little while later and saw Knox writing again. As soon as Knox saw Hogan, he scrambled to hide the paper he was writing on.

"Hey, Knox, are you going to write a novel home to your wife? Every time I see you, you are writing, or are you also writing your girlfriend?" Hogan joked walking toward him.

"Something like that, Sir. Is there something you wanted?" Knox asked nervously.

"I was just thinking. You have been living here for six months now, and we have hardly talked. All I know about you is that you are married and have two kids."

Knox shrugged "What would you like to know, Sir?"

Hogan thought a moment "I don't know? Do you like to play chess? Kinch is getting to predictable and Klink isn't a challenge."

Knox shook his head. "No, Sir. I only play checkers. Never learned how to play chess."

"Maybe sometime when you are not busy, I can teach you." Hogan answered taking careful notes on Knox's actions and body language.

Knox didn't show much reaction. "That would be nice, Sir. Is there any thing else?"

"Na, I will let you get back to your writing." Hogan walked outside. He seemed pretty nervous and anxious to hide from me what he was writing. I wonder…?

HH HH HH

The next day, Kinch emerged from the tunnel. "Sir, London wants to speak with you again in private."

Without a word, Hogan went down to the radio room and put on the headphones. "Goldilocks this is Papa Bear. Go ahead."

"Any progress on your assignment, Papa Bear?" Goldilocks asked.

Hogan hung his head down angry with himself for not having any answers for London. "No, Sir. I haven't found any evidence to help identify the traitor."

"We just got word, that the Germans know about the bombing raid we had planed for Hildburghausen. Your group was the only one with the information. We wanted to make sure none of your men would be in the area when it happened. Until further notice, no information is going through your network and all operations suspended. We want this traitor found out by the end of the week. Your unit is very important to the war effort and the longer it is down; the more we lose our advantage. We don't want to shut down your operation permanently, but we will do what we must. This isn't like you to not have come up with something by now. Have you recovered fully from the flu?"

Hogan thought about the story Kinch had told London to explain why he couldn't come to the radio when Koch transferred him to Stalag 1. "I have, Sir. I am still checking out the suspects."

There was some static on the line. "We have faith in you Papa Bear, you will find the traitor so operations can resume. Goldilocks out."

It was hard for Hogan to tell if it was meant for comfort or an order. He threw down the headset in disgust and sat with his head in his hands as he thought about the possibility of the operation getting shut down. Nothing was said about ordering everyone home though. Hogan looked up at the ceiling as he thought about what life would be like as an ordinary POW. Everyone would get up, get in formation a few times during the day, eat lousy food and have basket weaving contests to keep busy.

That was something that no one here, if he had anything to say about it, would ever experience. If the operation closed, he would…Hogan wasn't sure what he would do. If he evacuated the camp, those who were recaptured would be killed. Faces of his core team and others in camp came to his mind. No, he didn't want to be responsible for their death.

"Problem, Colonel?" Came a voice from behind him.

Hogan jumped. "Christopher, what are you doing down here? Didn't the guys tell you I was on a private call with London?"

He shook his head. "No. There was no one upstairs. They are all outside. The football game is about to start between Barracks 2 and 6."

Hogan looked at his watch. "Is it time for the game already?"

Christopher nodded his head. "They are waiting for you. Can't start the game without their star player."

Hogan waved his hand dismissively "Tell them I will be up in a minute."

Christopher nodded and went back upstairs. Hogan leaned back in the chair and ran his hands through his hair as he thought. With the operation closed, the traitor will have nothing to report. I wonder if they will think his usefulness is over and arrest us? Hogan was having so many different emotions going through him he didn't know what to do. He knew he had to find the traitor before it was too late. Why did I ever agree to quarterback in the place of Martin when I have a job to do?

HH HH HH

It was the final five seconds of the football game and the score was tied seventeen to seventeen. Barracks 2 has the ball.

"Set. Hut one. Hut two. Hike!" Hogan said as he received the snap.

"Go Barracks 2!" Martin cheered from the sideline. While helping LeBeau fix the roof, he slipped and fell off the ladder and sprained his arm so he was helping the only way he could by cheering. "Common Carter, get away from him and go deep!"

Hogan faked a pass to Hopper, then faked another pass to Baker. This gave Carter enough time to make it to the end zone. When Hogan saw Carter was open, he threw the ball just before Tapscott tackled him. The whistle blew just as Carter caught the ball for a touch down.

Tapscott helped Hogan up with a grin. "Gotta love playing football against your CO. The only time you can tackle him without the worry of a court martial."

Hogan smiled back. "Just take it easy on this old man on any future games okay?" Hogan said as he rubbed his now sore back.

"Yes Sir." Tapscott moved out of the way so he wouldnt be trampled by the winning team who wanted to congratulate their quarterback.

Everyone started cheering and a few of the prisoners lifted Hogan and Carter up. The prisoners cheered and jumped up and down with joy. Barracks 2 was the official Stalag 13 football playoff champions.

"I shall make a victory dinner." LeBeau said as he ran inside and started to get things ready.

Hogan looked at the little Frenchmen as he ran inside. Yep they look for any excuse to celebrate, but I guess this is for a good reason.

HH HH HH

After the delicious dinner LeBeau had fixed, they sat around talking about the game and how amazed they all were when Carter caught the ball.

"See, I told ya I can do something right." Carter stated proudly as he reenacted the catch and touchdown.

Newkirk patted Carter on the back. "I knew it was bound to 'appen sooner or later."

Christopher raised his cup. "A toast. To Carter for winning the game."

Everyone raised their cups and said "To Carter."

Carter started to blush. Never before had anyone ever made a big deal about him doing something right. "Gee fellas, it was nothing."

"Nothin' 'e says." Newkirk pointed his thumb at him while talking to the others. "Mate, around here braggin' rights is everythin'."

Kinch finished his drink and set his cup in the sink. "Despite the victory, some of us still have work to do. I am going to check on the radio to see if there are any messages." He walked over to the bunk, tripped the latched and went below.

HH HH HH

After Kinch had gone in the tunnel, everyone sat around talking "I 'ope we get a mission soon. I am goin' crazy around 'ere with nothin' to do, well except brag. I would even be 'appy to be in a book reading contest." Newkirk got his deck of cards out and started shuffling them. "Anyone for a game?"

LeBeau shook his head. "Non, monsieur. I have dishes to clean." He went to the sink and started washing the dishes from the victory dinner.

"I'll dry." Knox said as he picked up a towel and headed for the sink.

"Yea, Colonel, we have been sitting around here for a week now with nothing. Heck, Klink hasn't even bothered us." Carter added as he went to his bed and started to read his new comic book 'The Muck Monster of Goose Lake' for the twentieth time.

LeBeau looked up from the sink in a thoughtful manner "Coming to think about it, I haven't seen him other than roll calls. Do you think everything is okay?"

"Who cares about things bein' okay with 'im. I am just glad we don't 'ave 'im botherin' us." Newkirk answered. "Then again, at least a work detail would give us somethin' to do." Newkirk put his cards back since he didn't have any takers on a game. "I am going for a walk if anyone needs me."

Hogan stood up and stretched. "I am going to go downstairs and see if Kinch has gotten any messages." On the way over to the bunk, he patted Carter on the back. "Good job again," and headed down to the tunnels.

HH HH HH

Hogan turned the corner leading into the radio room just in time to see Kinch quickly turn the radio knob to another channel. Hogan continued like he didn't see anything. "Heard anything Kinch?" Hogan asked, testing him. He knew there wouldn't be any messages from London, but he had to act otherwise.

"What? Um, no, Sir. All quiet today." Kinch stumbled over his words. He and Hogan were as close friends as two people could be. He hated going behind Hogan's back and it scared him on how it would affect their relationship if Hogan caught him, but this was something he felt he had to handle himself.

Hogan could tell Kinch was hiding something, but didn't know what. He prayed Kinch wasn't the person he was looking for. He really needed him as a voice of reason and logic. He started to fill a pang in his heart at the possibility his right hand man, second in command, but most importantly his best friend, might turn out to be an enemy. Hogan thought a moment how he would approach the subject. "Kinch, we have been friends for a while right?"

Kinch nodded nervously, knowing his fear had happened. Hogan had caught him. "Yes, Sir, we have."

Hogan looked Kinch in the eye and held his gaze. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and the easiest way to tell if a person is lying or hiding something. "You know if there is something bothering you, you can come and talk to me. No mater what the problem is, I am sure we can work it out."

Kinch looked at Hogan with an eyebrow raised. "Sir?"

Hogan waved his hand dismissively. His gut was telling him the man he trusted with his life and his command on more than one occasion was not the person he was looking for. "Never mind. Just know you can always come and talk if you need to."

Kinch nodded, still unsure what Hogan was talking about. "Okay. Thank you, Sir." Kinch was relieved Hogan didn't push the issue. He wasn't ready to confess everything just yet. He couldn't help but wonder how things would change between them though. He knew that Hogan knew he was trying to hide something and the secrecy was killing him, but he didn't want to deal with it right now.

HH HH HH

Hogan walked back up stairs. I ought to have been able to figure it out by now. I am smarter than this. Hogan looked at his watch I have two days four hours and ten minutes left to find the traitor.