Newkirk leaned against the barracks, watching the guards march through the snow. Sunlight splashed the ground, a welcome sight despite its lack of heat. He grinned as LeBeau walked over. "Hey, LeBeau."

"Good afternoon, Newkirk. You look even worse than last night."

"Just bruises."

LeBeau snorted. "It is obscene." Newkirk shrugged.

"Where's Carter? I haven't seen him all morning."

LeBeau looked quickly at Newkirk then away. "I think he's in his lab."

Newkirk straightened up. "What's wrong?"

"You are a fille. That is difficult for him."

"What?!"

LeBeau sighed and looked at his friend. "You are Pierre. You are also Perrin." He curved the air in an hourglass shape. "I think he finds it difficle to tell the difference at times."

"Bleedin' 'ell! I'm me, damn it!"

"Who is also a lovely woman."

Newkirk slammed a fist into the barracks wall. "I 'ate this!"

"Newkirk!" LeBeau grabbed Newkirk's hand. He peeled off the glove and sighed with relief.

"I'm fine, Louie. I wouldn't damage me hands." Newkirk flopped back against the barracks, eying the barbed wire.

"Non!" LeBeau said. He grabbed Newkirk. "I know that look. Forget it!" Newkirk sighed and LeBeau shook Newkirk lightly. Newkirk looked at him. "Come, let's have some coffee." Newkirk followed him to the barracks. LeBeau poured coffee and Newkirk stared into his mug. "He'll be fine. Give him a day or two."

"Bad enough I'm halfway to ruddy losing my mind now I'm losing me mates, too!"

"I'm right here."

Newkirk looked at his friend and clasped LeBeau's arm. "Thanks, mate," he gratefully said.

"We're all here." Newkirk smiled a little. "Drink."

Newkirk sipped his coffee. As he finished his coffee, LeBeau pushed another mug at him. "No thanks."
 "Drink, mon ami. I even have some cookies."

"You have biscuits?" Newkirk's eyes gleamed.

"Oui. Schultz brought me some flour and molasses."

Newkirk munched happily, drinking his coffee. LeBeau watched him, sipping his own coffee. Soon Newkirk began yawning and he laid his head on the table. A gentle snore told LeBeau his drugged coffee had worked. LeBeau stood and stroked Peter's hair once, gently. "Sorry, mon ami," he whispered. "I couldn't think of anything else."

He tried lifting Newkirk but although he was lighter because of his female form, he was still too heavy. LeBeau tucked a pillow under his head and covered him with a blanket. He began making supper. Carter came up from below.

"What's wrong with Newkirk?" he blurted.

"Shhh. He's simply tired." He looked at Carter. "Can you help me put him in your bunk?"

"Sure."

Carter took Newkirk's torso and LeBeau took his feet. Together they lifted him and tucked him into Carter's bunk. "What happened?" Carter asked.

"He asked why he hadn't seen you. I told him the truth, that I thought you were have difficulty with the fact he is a woman. He was very upset. I drugged him."

"Heck, Louis, I'm not upset! Sure it bugs me he's a girl but it's not his fault." Carter looked stricken. "I do kinda find difficult to see him as a man when he looks like he does." He fiddled with his hands. "And Simmons--heck, I still want to go hit him just for what he did. You don't hit women!"

"I know, mon ami. But mon Colonel has said no."

"So what was he doing that you drugged him?"

"Before you or Colonel Hogan came, we all tried many times to escape. Newkirk is stubborn.. I got so I could look at him and tell when he was going, how you say, stir crazy. Once Colonel Hogan came and we all worked together, that look disappeared. He looked the same today, as if he would charge the wire. He said he is losing his friends and perhaps he fears losing his mind."

"What? We're his friends! And we're not going anywhere!"

"He is a fille, Andrew, despite all her protests. And women are tres complicated."

"So what do we do?"

"I do not know." LeBeau looked at Newkirk, face concerned. "For now, we make sure she rests."

"Does the Colonel know what you did?"

"Non. He will be upset but I did not know what else to do."

Carter sighed. He studied Newkirk worriedly. Newkirk slept through dinner. Hogan watched LeBeau and Carter. "What did you do?" he asked.

"Nothing, Colonel. Newkirk is simply sleeping."

Kinch and Hogan exchanged looks. "Shouldn't you wake him?" Kinch asked.

"Non. He is tired."

Hogan drank his coffee. He looked at Newkirk and said "You can sleep in his bunk, Carter."

Tiger nodded to Hogan as he came into the small underground hideout. Rapunzel, Hansel, Snow White, and Briar Rose all muttered greetings. "Hello, Papa Bear," Briar Rose said.

"Hello." Hogan nudged LeBeau. "This is Baby Bear." LeBeau nodded. Despite the feminine names, only Briar Rose and Tiger were women. "Let's get this going."

Hansel took over. He quickly and concisely conveyed his information. He explained of a great meeting, a party for the oncoming New Year which would gather top Nazis. At these parties, much information would be discussed. Hogan and LeBeau exchanged startled looks. "How can we get in?" Hogan asked.

"It will be almost impossible," Briar Rose stated. "Everyone is being checked out thoroughly." She brushed back her inky black hair. "There is only one idea that Tiger thought of, Papa Bear."

"We need a woman," Tiger said. "Fleunt in German, of course, pretty, intelligent. She must be British or American. There is a slim chance she can brought in to escort Field Marshall Schiff."

"Why British or American?" Hogan demanded.

"Schiff prefers women of countries that the Nazis are fighting." Rapunzel studied Hogan and LeBeau. "He has no need for French women since France is under control of the Nazis." Hogan gripped LeBeau's shoulder to prevent the fast tempered Frenchman from breaking out in outrage.

"What about a Russian?" Hogan asked, thinking of Marya.

"No. Schiff lost his son on the Russian front. British or American." Hansel looked at Tiger. "Tiger and Briar Rose both volunteered but as both are French, it is no use."

"The intelligence of the woman is primary," Snow White stated. "She must think fast, respond quickly. And she must be able to listen and remember."

"We have a background prepared," Hansel said.

"We can contact London," Hogan said.

"Merci," Snow White said. Hansel slid a file to Hogan.

"For the agent and you. A file on Schiff."

"Thanks." Hogan placed the file under his coat. Hansel looked around. "Good luck all."

The group dispersed. Hogan and LeBeau headed back to Stalag 13. Hogan could feel LeBeau's gaze on him from time to time yet they didn't talk until they were in the tunnel. LeBeau removed his coat. "She would be perfect," he said.

"No."

"Mais pourqoui? Mon Colonel, Perrin est belle. And she knows allemand. And she is somewhat smart."

Hogan glared at his French corporal. "No. This party is New Year's Eve, remember?"

"But this is tres important! If Perrin must be a woman for a few more months, what is the problem? The Boche will not guess."

"And what about Newkirk? He's having a hard enough time as it is!"

"Newkirk is strong. He can handle this!"

"It's not fair to ask him, Louis. Are you willing to become a woman for six months?!"

"For France, yes! But Schiff does not want the French."

"I said no, LeBeau! Six weeks is enough!"

"Think of what she could learn!"

"Think how she could die!"

"If you could get in, would you?"

"Of course. But I'm not Newkirk and I'm not a woman."

"Colonel, what she could learn!"

"Most likely, just what General is cheating on their wife." Hogan shrugged out of his overcoat.

LeBeau sighed. "Oui. Besides, this agent must be lovely and smart and feminine. Perrin is not a true woman."

Hogan frowned. "Perrin--I mean, Peter--is a true woman."

"Well, thanks, Colonel." Newkirk, Kinch, and Carter came into view. Each wore blacks and greasepaint and were covered with dust. "May I ask why my womanhood is being discussed?"

"Later. Get the train?"

"Did we! We got the train easy as pie!"

"Good job. Roll call's in a hour. Get cleaned up. I'll fill everyone in then."

As the men washed, Newkirk eyed Hogan and LeBeau. Hogan saw the questions all over his face but he turned and left, ordering LeBeau with him. Once in the radio room, he relieved Baker and waited for his men. Newkirk was first. To Hogan's surprise, he said nothing, just watched him and LeBeau intently. When Carter and Kinch joined them, he explained the situation quickly. He finished with saying "Kinch, you'll radio London tomorrow for possible agents."

Newkirk glared at LeBeau. "And you wanted me to be the agent? I can't, mate! I'll be a man by then."

"He's right," Kinch said.

"I know. Besides, you are not a real woman."

"Hey!" Newkirk's glare turned up several degrees.

"Well, he said the same thing you do," Carter defended. "You keep saying you're not a real woman."

Hogan felt a twang of sympathy mixed with amusement. Newkirk looked frustrated yet unable to deny what LeBeau and Carter said. "This bird has to be British or American?"

"Oui," LeBeau replied.

"It shouldn't be a problem." Hogan shuffled the file. "Let's get to roll call."