Another short one! I accidentally labeled my initial one-shot "A Pensive Thought" as an "in-progress" story, so I thought I'd challenge myself by adding a part 2 to it. Hope it turned out all right! The first scene, by the way, is from "Carter Turns Traitor," if the plot seems unexplained. All review and critique welcome.
Their steps were heavy and hurried on the German road skirting the woods.
"What's the plan, Colonel?" Kinch asked.
At the start of this whole thing, he'd wanted the location of that new factory. Things were changed now. One of his men was in danger. And if he couldn't be faithful enough to at least attempt a rescue . . . well, that would never cross his mind.
The German staff car emerged, and they bluffed their way into taking it. Carter stumbled between the German officer and the guards. He might have looked frightened, but there was a flicker in his eye when Hogan approached. Something told him Carter knew that somehow he was going to be safe.
They managed to send Carter off with Schultz, then made their way independently back to Stalag 13. Hogan tipped open the emergency tunnel. Carter was smiling up at him at the foot of the ladder. They slipped down into the tunnels.
Carter paced up beside Hogan. "Sir," he said.
Hogan was taking off the Gestapo jacket he was wearing. "Yeah, Carter, what?"
He mushed his hands in his pockets the way he did when approaching some important topic. "Just want to say, uh, thanks. For getting me back."
Hogan quizzed him with his eyes. "Course we'd get you back."
"Oh, well, I know that. But it's just, you know, getting carted off like that and all. I knew it wasn't in your plan. Kinda makes a man think, you know. A guy's lucky to have friends. Real friends." Carter looked at Hogan for a moment, then got a little pink and turned and smiled at the group behind him. "Real pals."
"You talkin' to me, Carter?" Newkirk asked, struggling out of the black uniform.
Carter smiled, saying nothing. Hogan slapped his arm around Carter's shoulder. Somehow, words escaped him, too.
Lebeau stepped in suddenly. "We'll always be there for you, Andre. And don't you forget it."
Kinch and Newkirk finally gathered around, with Newkirk smushing Carter's cap. The words finally formed in Hogan's mind, and they were the ones that told him, yes, how he felt for them was reciprocated in their loyalty for each other. They were a team, each one of them, a rich, crossing thoroughfare of dedication and trust. It was much more than his devotion to them or theirs to him. It was all of their commitment, all of their fidelity, and as Carter said, all of their friendship, combined. And he smiled knowing that, with this kind of loyalty behind him, they could make it through this war.