A/N: A big thanks to GSJessica for her help with beta reading and ideas. I appreciate your help.

Chapter 8: Ambush

Hogan checked Wright's restraints to make sure they were uncomfortably tight. "If you make one sound or do anything to draw the attention of a passing patrol, I will put a bullet in your head. Nod if you understand."

Since Wright was gagged, all he could do was nod.

Hogan, Christopher and Wright traveled quietly through the woods. The temperatures had risen to 45 degrees during the day causing most of the snow to melt. Good thing was, it kept patrols from seeing their tracks. Bad thing was, it also brought out more patrols.

Every little sound caused Hogan to stop. For the first time in a long time, his senses were on high alert. Even though taking someone to be picked up by London was routine, Hogan felt as if he was on his first mission. All Wright had to do was make a noise at the wrong time and they would be caught. Hogan and Christopher both prayed Wright valued his life more than trying to close the operation.

Because of dodging all the patrols, it took them three hours to reach the rendezvous. Hogan was glad he decided to leave early or they would have missed the plane. They stood on the edge of the woods and looked into the large clearing. The silhouette of a plane could be seen in the moonlight. Hogan peered around to make sure all was as it should be. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. His gut was telling him something was wrong. Hogan held his breath, listening for anything out of the ordinary.

Hogan quickly flashed the signal letting the pilot know they were there. A few seconds later, Hogan saw the return flash signaling all was okay. A man appeared in the doorway of the plane, motioning for them to come forward.

Hogan nodded to Christopher for him to bring Wright. As they neared the plane, Hogan noticed Wright do a double take at the person standing in the doorway and stopped. Before Hogan could say anything, the man on the plane pulled out his pistol and shot Wright in the head. Hogan and Christopher returned fire but the man ducked into the plane.

Bullets whizzed by them as SS started coming out of the woods toward them. They were trapped in the open with nowhere to run or hide. Both men flung themselves to the ground. Hogan saw the panicked look in Christopher's eyes. His mind frantically raced to come up with a plan to get them both out alive.

The man in the plane stepped out, signaling to the others to cease-fire. He swaggered over to the two men. "On your feet."

Hogan nodded to Christopher and stood. Hogan raised his hands over his head. One of the SS men relieved Hogan and Christopher of their weapons.

"I am Captain Kuntz of the SS," Kuntz said circling the two men. "Which one of you is the leader of this group?"

"I am," Hogan answered.

Kuntz scrutinized Hogan up and down. "You do not look much like a leader." Hogan remained silent under the icy blue stare. Kuntz eyed Christopher. "What is your name?"

Christopher swallowed hard, but didn't answer. Kuntz nodded to one of his men standing behind Christopher. The guard took the butt of his gun and hit Christopher in his back a couple of times, sending him to the ground.

"Christopher, William, Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps, serial number 0915257," Christopher recited.

Kuntz nodded to the guard to stand Christopher up. "An American sergeant out of uniform. I think you are a spy." Kuntz glared back to Hogan. "Is there anything you want to tell me or should I force the information out of you?" The captain delivered a punch to Christopher when he didn't receive an answer from Hogan.

Flashes of Koch beating his men came to his mind. It could mean disaster if he told who he really was, but he couldn't watch another one of his men beaten and probably killed again.

Hogan opened his mouth to answer, but what he wanted to say didn't come out. "Unless you are planning on dating me, you don't need to know."

Kuntz put his arm around Christopher. "I think that is the wrong answer." Kuntz took out a knife and stabbed Christopher in the ribs. "Care to answer again, or should I continue to use him as a pin cushion?"

"Smith, John, U.S. Army Air Force," Hogan answered, hoping to buy them some time.

Kuntz smiled evilly. "Don't you mean Colonel Robert Hogan? Better known as Papa Bear. Leader of the Hammelburg unit of the underground."

"Don't know what you are talking about," Hogan answered evenly. Inside Hogan burned knowing he couldn't stall. Kuntz knew everything. No matter how much time Hogan wasted, everyone involved with the operation was doomed.

Hogan was determined to not let Kuntz rattle him or cause him to make a mistake. Now more than ever, Hogan needed to maintain control of his emotions.

One of the SS hit Hogan in the back with the butt of his gun. Hogan hit his head on the ground when he fell. "Come now Colonel. Don't play dumb with me. Wright told us everything." Kuntz laughed

Hogan tried to stand, but the dizziness in his head would not let him so he sank back down. "Answer me this. Was he one of ours or yours?"

Kuntz let out a hearty laugh. "You mean the great Papa Bear could not figure it out?"

Hogan gave Kuntz a disgusted look. "Humor me."

Kuntz calmed his laughter and answered, "He was yours."

"If you knew all about the operation, how come you never arrested us?" Hogan asked, rubbing his head.

"It was more profitable for me to let you continue. Since we no longer have our traitor, I have decided to shut down your operation for good," Kuntz said with a shrug.

Hogan looked around at the dozen or so SS guarding them. The dizziness in his head eased enough for him to stand. He climbed to his feet slowly, so as not to alarm anyone into shooting. "What did you offer him to turn traitor?

Kuntz grinned. "Our little secret."

"So what happens now?" Hogan asked.

"Colonel, you will accompany me as I arrest the men of Barracks 2. I want you to have a front row seat for the downfall of the underground. I am going to make sure everyone knows you are the one who turned them in."

"That is a lie," Hogan defended himself.

Kuntz shrugged. "Who cares if it is a lie or not? They will believe whatever we tell them to believe." Kuntz stood in front of Christopher. "You, however, are no use to us. Kill him," Kuntz ordered his men

"NO!" Hogan tried to reach for Christopher but was restrained by two SS guards. "Let him go. You have me. I am the one you want. You don't have to kill him." Hogan's mind flashed back to his time with Koch. He remembered the same scared look in his men's eyes when Koch put a gun to their heads.

"You are right. I don't need him. That is why I am having him killed," Kuntz answered.

Hogan saw Christopher stricken with panic. He was not going to watch someone execute his men again. "I SAID NO!" Hogan jabbedone guard with his elbow and kicked the other.

"Fire!" Kuntz yelled.

Hogan grabbed a gun and stood beside Christopher shooting the SS who had their guns trained on him.

Christopher dropped to the ground and used one of the dead SS guards as a shield while he grabbed a gun and shot at the remaining SS.

An SS guard snuck up behind Hogan, putting his arm around his throat. Hogan pointed the gun at the guard and pulled the trigger. When the guard let go, Hogan quickly turned around and grabbed hold of him, using him as a shield while he continued shooting. Hogan ordered, "Get out of here. I will hold them off."

"Either we both go or we both stay," Christopher yelled.

"Now is not the time to discuss or disobey an order, Sergeant," Hogan yelled back. Getting to the plane was their only chance. "Run to the plane. I will be right behind you."

Hogan noticed Kuntz aiming his gun at Christopher. Hogan turned his gun toward Kuntz, but it was knocked out of Hogan's hand before he could fire. The SS men surrounded Hogan, preventing him from stopping Kuntz.

HH HH HH

Christopher took off toward the plane, shooting those in his way. CLICK. CLICK. The gun was empty. Christopher turned around to see if Hogan had any more bullets, but Hogan wasn't there. He was in a fistfight with a couple of SS men. Before he could help Hogan, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. When he pulled his hand away, it was covered in blood.

HH HH HH

Hogan saw Kuntz pull the trigger. Hogan looked at Christopher and watched him fall to his knees, then face down on the ground. "NO!"

Hogan felt a surge of power run through him. He knocked out the SS guard standing next to him. He quickly grabbed the man's gun and shot him along with every SS man he saw. When he got the chance, he fired a few shots at Kuntz.

Kuntz ran behind the plane. "Remember, I want Hogan alive," Kuntz yelled in warning.

HH HH HH

Soon, Kuntz was the only SS left standing. Hogan ran behind the plane and stood face to face with Kuntz, each man pointing his gun at the other. Hogan pulled the trigger. CLICK. His gun was empty.

Kuntz grinned. "Did you loose count? I didn't. Look's like I win, Papa Bear." Kuntz pointed the gun at Hogan's leg and pulled the trigger.

Hogan yelled as he fell to the ground when the bullet hit his leg. Hogan grabbed his leg as he fought to not cry out again. His leg felt like it had a hot poker stuck in it.

Kuntz stood over Hogan with his gun pointed at him. "I underestimated you before. A mistake I shall not repeat again. Don't worry; I am not going to kill you just yet. I just want to keep you from running away."

The quiet night air was filled with the crack of a round being discharged. Hogan flinched at the sound. When he realized he wasn't shot, he stared at Kuntz for answers. Kuntz glared at Hogan in shock then fell to the ground.

Behind Kuntz, Hogan saw Christopher move. Hogan quickly hobbled to him and held him in his arms. "You're alive!"

"Going to take more than that to get rid of me, Sir." Christopher held his chest as he coughed. "Gun wasn't empty, only jammed."

"Hang on William, I am going to get us out of here." Hogan heard a groan behind him. He turned to see Kuntz get up. In the distance, Hogan heard reinforcements coming. If he took time to kill Kuntz, there wouldn't be any time to make it on the plane. "Come on, I need you to stand. We have to get into the plane."

Christopher tried to stand but fell back down. "Sorry, Sir. Leave me. You go."

Hogan glanced back at Kuntz and saw he was searching for a gun that was still loaded.

"The shots came from over here," Hogan heard someone yell in the distance.

"Our gun fight must have alerted a patrol." Hogan stared at Christopher with determination. "No one gets left behind. I gave you an order soldier. On your feet now."

Hogan stood, putting all of his weight on his good leg. He grabbed Christopher's hand and pulled him up. Together, they made their way on the plane. Once inside, Hogan quickly shut the door. He started toward the cockpit when he heard the ping of bullets hitting the outside of the plane.

Hogan removed the bodies of the pilot and co-pilot from the cockpit and scrambled intothe pilot's seat. Hogan started the engines as a bullet came in through the windshield. "Crap!"

"What is it?" Christopher asked.

"He shot my shoulder, I need you to come up here and help me," Hogan ordered.

Christopher made his way toward the cockpit and climbed into the co-pilot's seat. Before Hogan could tell him what he needed him to do, Christopher was doing it.

"You know how to fly?" asked Hogan.

Christopher ducked as another bullet crashed through the windshield barely missing him. Christopher managed the controls while Hogan took the stick.

"What about Kuntz? We can't leave him alive. He knows everything?" asked Christopher.

Hogan glared at Kuntz standing in front of the plane. "I don't intend to leave him alive. Full throttle."

Christopher didn't hesitate or question the order. After a thud, they were headed down the makeshift runway.

Christopher glanced over at Hogan who fought to pull the stick back. Christopher reached forward, grabbed his stick and pulled. They were running out of space. Lord, HELP!

The plane leftthe ground, barely clearingthe trees. "Thanks," Hogan said. When he didn't hear anything from Christopher, he looked toward him. Christopher had slumped in the seat.

Hogan felt for a pulse. "Thank God," Hogan said as he found one.

"Now what do I do? I can't land this plane at Stalag 13. That would be something even Schultz would notice." Hogan's question was soon answered as the fuel warning light went on. The right engine started to choke, causing the plane to vibrate badly. "Wake up, Christopher."

Hogan remembered a ball-bearingfactory south of town needing to be taken out. Hogan figured since the plane was going down, have it take out the factory as well. He glanced at Christopher. He felt tightness in his chest as he realized his decision to take out the factory not only affected his life, but Christopher's as well.

He'll probably die anyway. Hogan looked at his shoulder and leg. His injuries were not life threatening, but he could not live with himself knowing he let Christopher die without trying to save him. He wasn't yet ready to die himself, but his mind couldn't come up with an answer. "Might as well make this trip useful." He spotted the factory as the left engine sputtered. Hogan started to quote Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…"

"What happened?" asked Christopher weakly as he came to.

"We're going down," Hogan said as he fought to keep the plane from crashing too soon.

"Sir, we have to bail out while there is still time," Christopher said, struggling to stay conscious.

"You jump, I am going to make sure this plane takes out the ball-bearing factory," said Hogan, not taking his eyes off of the instrument panel.

"We will take out the ball-bearing factory. I am in no shape to jump by myself. I am hardly able to stay conscious," Christopher said.

Hogan couldn't let Christopher make this decision. "Fine get the chutes ready," Hogan ordered. "Come on girl. Stay up a little longer."

Christopher checked the chutes. "Oh, no. Sir, there is only one chute with no holes in it. We have to jump tandem."

The plane vibrated violently. The left engine stopped. The plane dropped sharply as Hogan tried to keep her level. "We can't jump tandem at this altitude. Those chutes are not designed for two…" Hogan was cut off.

"We might die one way or the other… at least this way we have a chance… Just because I am prepared to die, doesn't mean… I want to… Sometimes, Sir, you got to… have… faith." Hogan flicked a glance at Christopher and saw he was unconscious again.

With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26, a verse Christopher would always quote when it seemed like they faced the impossible came to Hogan's mind. Hogan debated to either accept the inevitable or have faith in the impossible.

In the distance Hogan spotted the factory. He lined up the plane with the building. As quickly as possible, he carried Christopher to the exit door. Hurriedly, he put the one goodparachute on. Hogan attached Christopher to the harness with some rope he found.

"Lord, I'm counting on you to do the impossible like your word says. Don't let us down." Hogan took a deep breath and jumped out the door. When they were clear of the plane, he pulled the chute's cord. To Hogan's relief, the chute opened, slowing their decent.

As they were plummeting to the ground, Hogan saw the big explosion as the plane crashed into the factory. He thought about the dead pilots and MPs he left inside. Taking out the ball-bearing factory somehow gave their deaths meaning.

Hogan realized they were headed for some trees and braced for impact as best as he could. A sharp pain in his arm and leg caused a cry to slip from his lips. Pain? I feel pain! Hogan opened his eyes and looked around. When he looked down, he noticed they were a few feet off the ground. "I don't believe it. You kept your promise." Just like He has on all of our missions.

Hogan unhooked Christopher and gently lowered him as far as he could with his good arm. The only way for Hogan to get down was to drop. He held his breath as he unlatched the harness and dropped to the ground. He quickly bit down on his arm to muffle his cries of pain.

Hogan knew the explosion would soon have patrols on their way to the crash site. The last thing he wanted to do was inconvenience the patrols by giving them a reason to stop. He checked Christopher's vitals again. They were getting weaker. "Hold on, William, we are almost home."

Hogan knew this area well. If conditions were normal, it would take him an hour and a half to walk the five kilometers to camp. Since he was injured and had to carry Christopher, it was going to take a lot longer. Hogan wondered if they would make it to camp before morning roll call.

Hogan made a make-shift splint to help brace his leg for the long journey. He grabbed Christopher's arm and pulled him to a standing position. He threw Christopher over his good shoulder as he asked God for strength to get them both back to camp.

As Hogan walked, his own wounds cried in pain. He pushed himself harder than he ever thought possible to get them home. His body protested the abuse. Every time he took a step he expected his leg to give out. Hogan felt he couldn't walk any longer and gently set Christopher down.

Hogan was resting beside Christopher, when he heard a twig break. No, not now. Hogan searched around for a place to hide. Nearby he found a pine branch lying on the ground. It was just big enough to cover Christopher. Hogan quietly laid the branch across Christopher. Hogan crouchedin a stump hole near where he found the pine branch. Lord, if it isn't asking too much, we could use some good luck down here.

There was a flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder. Rain started pouring from the sky. The rain got heaver and heaver. Hogan stared toward the sky. You must not like me. I thought I was going to have a difficult time before, but now that looks like a walk in the park. Can you at least ease the rain up some? It is so loud I can hardly hear… myself…think. Hogan smiled, realizing God was helping them. Thanks.

Hogan went back to Christopher. The rain seemed to renew his strength. He checked Christopher's vitals again and smiled. "Keep hanging on,Sergeant," Hogan whispered. He once again hoisted Christopher over his shoulder and headed for home.

A few hours and many stops later, they made it to the tree stump. Hogan gently laid Christopher down and took a minute to catch his breath. He looked at his watch. There was an hour left until roll call. He forced his sore leg to keep going a little bit longer. Once the searchlights passed, he quickly climbed down the ladder "Anyone down here?"

"I'm here," Kinch yelled down the tunnel. He ran down to the stump entrance. "Where have you guys been? You should have been back hours ago. Where is Christopher?"

"What's going on?" asked LeBeau as he ran down the tunnel

When Hogan saw him he ordered, "LeBeau, get Wilson. Christopher is hurt bad." Without hesitation, LeBeau ran to do as asked.

Kinch stopped Hogan as he climbed up the ladder. "I'll get him and lower him down to you." Hogan nodded in response. He was afraid he would not be able to make his leg go up the ladder. When the all was clear, Kinch climbed out, lifted up Christopher and quickly handed him down to Hogan. Hogan gently eased Christopher to the floor then collapsed beside him. Christopher was still and pale.

Wilson arrived shortly to check on Christopher. He removed Christopher's black sweater and tried to wipe some of the blood wiped away. It was no use, there was too much. "Is he going to make it?" Hogan asked.

Without looking up, Wilson shook his head. "I don't know. His vitals are very weak. He needs to see a real doctor if there is any chance for him to live."