After Schultz did bedcheck, Newkirk slipped off his bunk. Hogan and Kinch headed into the tunnel. "I'm off," Newkirk said.

"Where are you going?" Carter asked.

"My weekend, mate." Newkirk slipped into the tunnel.

Carter and LeBeau scrambled after Newkirk. Hogan and Kinch looked up as Newkirk passed them. "What's going on?" Hogan asked. God, I'm getting tired of asking that!

"My weekend pass," Newkirk explained. He headed for the clothes.

"You're going out?!" Kinch asked.

Newkirk nodded and disappeared. He reemerged, dressed in tight black jeans and a red sweater. He pulled on a black overcoat. "You're going out as a girl?" Carter squeaked.

"Why not? I won't 'ave to pay for a drink all night."

"Newkirk!" Hogan exclaimed.

"What?" Newkirk gave his friends an innocent look. Hogan studied the large eyes and groaned. "See? The gov'nor agrees."

"But it's wrong!" Carter blurted.

"Why? I'm not going to promise anything, Andrew. If someone offers me a drink, I'll accept. That's it."

"That's leading them on," Carter earnestly said.

"No it's not," LeBeau said. "It's just a drink."

"See? Louie has the right idea."

Carter looked at Hogan. Hogan shrugged. "It's flirtatious, I agree. And risky." He looked at Newkirk.

"I'm not flirting. Just going to meet people." Newkirk smiled. "And act like a woman."

Kinch's lips tightened. "I said I was sorry."

Newkirk nodded and walked off. "What was that?" LeBeau asked.

"Nothing, it's over," Hogan said. "LeBeau, dress and follow him. And stay out of sight."

"Sure thing, mon Colonel. But pourqoui? Pierrin can handle herself."

"Just do it."

LeBeau nodded and left.

LeBeau followed Newkirk through the forest. LeBeau knew he was the best woodsman and tracker in the unit, yet Newkirk moved deftly through the snow clogged woods, trying to avoid the deep drifts. Then Newkirk stood on the road and headed for the Haufbrau.

LeBeau trailed Newkirk. The busy Haufbrau crowd absorbed Newkirk and LeBeau slid in after. He ordered a beer and spotted Newkirk sitting at the bar. A tall German soldier talked earnestly to her. Newkirk cradled a mug of beer and sipped it while listening with wide eyes. LeBeau rolled his eyes.

After a few long hours, Newkirk left and LeBeau quickly followed. Newkirk walked through the forest slowly, stopping at a small bluff the men knew well. LeBeau watched him sit down and noiselessly walked towards him. Newkirk looked up when he was about ten feet away, hand slipping to his waist. "C'est moi, Newkirk."

"Why are you here, Louie?" Newkirk sighed. He moved his hand from where LeBeau knew Newkirk had a pistol. "Let me guess, the gov sent you."

"He was worried."

"'Course. After all, I'm just a ruddy girl. Never mind I've been doing this since the beginning!"

LeBeau sat next to him. "Newkirk, I once asked you if you ever think of yourself as a woman. I think you are perhaps doing so."

"A little and it isn't easy, Louis. I was going to fight Mueller but Colonel Hogan said I was too small and Kinch said I should act like a woman and it's getting to be a pain. I thought the information I got at the party would 'elp but it seems to make it worse. You and Carter at least see me as a man."

"I think you frighten Kinch and you are too pretty for the Colonel. At the party, he thought you lovely."

Newkirk chuckled. "Thanks for the compliment, LeBeau, but 'you'll do' isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of my looks."

"But it is. I think he's slipping, too, mon ami. Perhaps we all are, a bit. Tiger said all that makes you a man are memories. Mon Colonel saw a beautiful woman and not Pierre. Maybe you see yourself as Perrin, too."

Newkirk shuddered and LeBeau wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I can't," Newkirk whispered. "I can't care, can't allow myself to think... Never mind, Louie."

"Mon frere, it's all right."

They sat quietly until Newkirk finally stood. "Better get home, mate."

Hogan paced his office. A soft knock and Carter stuck his head in. "They're back, sir."

Hogan exhaled in relief. He stepped out and watched LeBeau and Newkirk slide into their bunks. Newkirk murmured to Carter, hanging over the bunk. Then he looked up and Hogan locked gazes. Newkirk studied him and Hogan finally looked away. He went to his cot and laid down.

When Schultz woke them, Hogan hadn't slept. He yawned as he stood in formation and noted Newkirk doing the same as he took his spot beside Hogan. Newkirk looked at him appraisingly and Hogan blinked. He looked away and then back. Newkirk still watched him with that thoughtful expression. Hogan twitched and he turned to Klink. As the Kommandant spoke, Hogan felt Newkirk's gaze almost like a sunbeam. He squirmed slightly, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder.

Klink dismissed them and Hogan whirled. Newkirk and Carter watched him. "Something wrong, Colonel?" Carter asked.

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

"Nothing with me, mate." Newkirk grinned.

"Not me, either."

"I did find somethings out, though, gov."

"Inside."

In his quarters, the men gathered around the table. "I was at the bar and a solder was telling me all about his duty," Newkirk started. "Nothing much interesting until 'e mentioned a new security detail and that new rockets will be built there." He smiled. "He said the factory is nearby. I think it's under the ruins of the ball bearing factory or nearby." His smile disappeared. "It's underground which will make it tough."

"Did your new boyfriend mention security?" Kinch asked. Newkirk flashed him a smile.

"No. And I didn't know 'ow to ask without being too suspect."

"Let's check it out tonight," Hogan said.

"The snow will make it tough. We'll have to follow the road," LeBeau said.

"We'll have to risk it. Carter, you, me, and LeBeau in Gestapo under our coats. Carter, get two cameras ready. Kinch, have Baker man the radio. We leave after lights out. Newkirk, are uniforms ready?"

"Yes. Papers, too."

"Good. Get some rest, everyone. Your weekend pass is revoked, Newkirk. Sorry."

"That's ok, gov. No one there real interesting anyway. Only two birds."

"And you made three?" Carter asked. Newkirk snorted and pushed Carter's shoulder.

"All right, go on," Hogan said affably. His men left. Newkirk lingered a moment, gazing at him again and Hogan jerked. "Problem, Newkirk?"

"No, gov." Newkirk smiled and left with a quick wink. Hogan stared at the closed door. Suddenly he opened it and called LeBeau. LeBeau hurried inside.

"LeBeau, how's Newkirk doing?"

LeBeau's gaze darted away then back. "I think he is slipping some, mon Colonel." He inhaled. "Like you and Kinch. Kinch has to be reminded Pierre is Pierre and you see Perrin as well as Pierre. When you saw her dressed up, you were attracted to Perrin. She was beautiful. And he is slipping occassionally into she. It worries me, mon Colonel. He is frightened, I know."

"Frightened?"

"He's afraid of losing his mind, mon Colonel. He knows he can't let anyone guess and he's not. He won't talk about it but I can see he needs us."

"Damn. I can have him stay here..."
 "Non! He needs to keep busy."

Hogan nodded. He paced his room once, arms crossed. "Who said I was attracted to her?"

LeBeau snorted. "You are not dead, mon Colonel. In that dress, everyone was attracted to her. "

Hogan flushed quickly and decided to ignore that comment. "Thanks, LeBeau."

"You're welcome. I don't how we can help except by asking Newkirk. Even then, I don't think he knows."

Hogan nodded. "I'll see what we can do."

"London doesn't know about Perrin, do they?"

"No. I told them he was a man again." Hogan sighed. "Otherwise, they would have ordered him home. He told me quite clearly he wouldn't go, that he'd team up with the UG and Tiger." LeBeau frowned and nodded. Hogan looked thoughtful. "How are you doing, LeBeau?"

LeBeau jerked. "Fine," he exclaimed. His cheeks reddened. "I find Perrin lovely at times, too, mon Colonel. At those times, it is best that I don't think of Perrin as Pierre." Hogan chuckled.

"Send him in, LeBeau." LeBeau nodded again and headed to find Newkirk. A moment later, Newkirk stepped into the room. Hogan studied him. "Newkirk, are you all right?"

Newkirk stared. "I'm fine. Why?"

"These past few months have been taking a toll. I just thought I'd ask."

"I'm fine. Thanks, gov." Newkirk gave Hogan another odd look and Hogan felt the heat again.

"What is that for?" he asked hastily.

"What?"

"That look," Hogan blurted. To his horror, he felt heat running up his neck. Newkirk looked at him in innocent confusion.

"I don't know what you mean, mate."

Hogan stumbled a moment. "You were watching me," he stammered. What the heck is wrong with me?

"Gov?"

"You just seemed to be..." Hogan inwardly shook himself. "I'm just glad you're all right."
 "Begging your pardon, gov, but are you?"

"Fine." Hogan studied Newkirk. "Be ready for tonight."

"Of course." Newkirk smiled and left.

Hogan breathed deeply. He sat down and fussed with his papers. Slowly the pieces came together. He groaned. LeBeau was right. In certain situations, he was reacting to Newkirk as a woman. And Peter was responding as a woman, as Perrin. Slipping was showing as subtle flirting, apprective looks that Hogan wondered if Newkirk was even aware he was doing. Hogan rested his head on the table. He's a man! Everyone treats him, knows him as a man. But he knows he's not, at least not physically...

"He'll be fine. Remember, he's just acting. He's not a woman," Hogan reminded.

"But he is," Tiger said. "Physically. Biologically. The only thing Perrin has that makes him a man are memories."

-----------