"Carter?" Carter turned as Newkirk picked his way to him. "You would pick the worst ruddy spot," Newkirk muttered. "Why did you have to volunteer to clean the kitchen?"
"I was assigned," Carter said. "What's up, Newkirk?"
"Look, don't worry about what he said." Newkirk leaned against a wall. "You know it's not true."
"That's just it. He thinks you're with all of us!" Carter glared at his friend.
"So what?"
"It's not true. You're not---you're not like that."
"Andrew, what does it matter? He's out in a day or so and that's that."
"You deserve better than that. Your reputation could be ruined!"
Newkirk cocked an eyebrow. "Mate, my reputation isn't great, no matter what."
"But you're not a floozy!"
"Floozy?" Newkirk blinked. "I'm a bloke, remember? This body is just a disguise."
"You're woman enough."
Newkirk sighed, rubbed his neck. "Look, Carter, I'm sorry. I gave him the idea when I ruddy said I could be shagging the lot of you and it wouldn't change what he did."
Carter stared at him. "You said something?" "It wouldn't. Change anything, I mean." Carter looked at him. "Just forget it. I'll help you clean."
Carter watched him for a moment. "Who would you date?" he asked. "If you were a real girl, I mean. Of us."
Newkirk blinked. "I'm not answering that," he quietly said. "That's a ruddy trap. But any girl would be lucky to have you, mate."
Carter smiled. "Thanks," he said. They continued to clean. Colonel Hogan soon joined them.
"Looks good," he said.
"Thanks, sir," Carter said.
"Carter, you, myself, and LeBeau are taking Drake and his men out tomorrow night." He raised his hand. "Don't start, Newkirk. You and Kinch are staying here."
Newkirk's eyes narrowed. "Gov'nor, I can..."
"No, Newkirk! Just stay here and work on the plans for the factory!"
Newkirk dropped his gaze and stared at the floor. "Yes, sir," he growled.
Colonel Hogan watched them for a few minutes. "Come on," he said. His men followed him, Newkirk glumly kicking at the dirt.
The next night, Kinch and Newkirk watched their colleagues leave. "This stinks," Newkirk growsed.
"Welcome to my world," Kinch said.
"Sorry, mate," Newkirk muttered. "I know it's hard on you."
Kinch nodded. Newkirk paced the radio room and Kinch finally sighed. "Newkirk , I get enough of that from Colonel Hogan. Go do something."
Newkirk snorted and walked to the uniform room. He repaired a uniform, worked on the forged factory papers and then he paced around the tunnels some more. When Hogan, LeBeau, and Carter returned, he practically leaped at them. "Everyone all right?" he asked.
"We're fine," Hogan said. "Nice to know you care." He smiled.
"I was bored ruddy mad."
"It was easy," Carter said.
"Did you make coffee?" LeBeau asked.
"I think Kinch did," Newkirk said.
"Bonne."
"Why didn't you make it?" Carter asked.
"Because he makes tar," Kinch said. "Everything ok, sir?"
"Fine. Drake is on the sub with his men." He clasped Kinch's shoulder. "They should be in England soon."
"Long as they're gone. The Underground really needs to figure out what to do about Belinda. They radioed again."
Hogan sighed. "Damn. All right, I'll get on it. You were too good, Newkirk."
Newkirk grinned and his hair fell over his eyes. LeBeau and Carter rolled their eyes. "You are not that pretty, Newkirk," Kinch said.
"You didn't see her in the dress," LeBeau said. "Newkirk was tres belle."
"And it was slit up to here!" Carter touched his hip.
"It was not," Newkirk said. "And I was passable, nothing more. Just like the gov'nor said."
Hogan flinched minutely. "Enough talk about Newkirk. Let's plan on how to get Belinda married."
"And to whom ."
"Why not Klink?" Carter suggested.
"Because I'm not ruddy desprate," Newkirk snorted.
"You're not really Belinda," Kinch reminded. Newkirk shrugged.
"Has to be someone the Field Marshall will respect."
"Like Georing," LeBeau suggested.
"He's married," Hogan murmured. "We need a SS man. High ranked, perfect Aryan."
"I'll let you chew on that," Newkirk said. "Mind if I go ramble a bit?"
"Yes. The woods have patrols. You're in for the night," Hogan said.
"Feel like a blooming prisoner," Newkirk muttered.
When the men settled in for the night, Newkirk slipped off to the showers. Quietly he picked the shower lock and slid inside. As he dried off, he heard footfalls approaching and he inhaled in terror. Hurriedly he dressed, not bothering to bind his chest and silently tiptoed off, locking the door. He spotted Schiller and Mueller walking to the showers and he crept to his barracks. He opened the door and a hand yanked him inside. "What were you doing?" Hogan hissed.
"Showering," Newkirk whispered. His furious CO dragged him to his quarters.
"Why now?" Hogan snapped as he closed the door.
"I have to do it sometime," Newkirk snarled.
"You could..." Hogan stopped and blinked. "You--didn't dress." He swallowed hard.
"Didn't have time. Mueller and Schuller walking around." Newkirk ran his fingers through his damp hair. "Give me a few minutes and I'll be back to normal."
"Use my quarters," Hogan muttered. "I'll wait outside."
"For God's sake, Colonel, I'm Newkirk. Just turn your back," Newkirk said.
"I'll wait outside," Hogan repeated. He stepped outside the door and waited. Newkirk emerged a few minutes later, looking male again.
"Thank you, sir," he said.
"You're welcome."
The next night, Kinch sat by the radio. Hogan walked into the room, muttering to himself. "Everything all right Colonel?" Kinch asked.
"Just trying to figure out how to marry off Belinda." Hogan rubbed his temples. Kinch nodded. Hogan cocked his head. "You all right Kinch?"
"Can I ask you something sir? Between you and me?"
"Of course."
"What are you going to do about Newkirk?"
Hogan blinked. "I'm sorry. Lost me there, Kinch."
"Colonel, she's a woman." Kinch inhaled. "This incident with Drake--I wondered when this would occur. Women don't belong in a war, sir. Especially not in a POW camp."
"He's a man, Kinch."
"He was a man. She shouldn't be in a such a risky job. I mean, what happens when a similiar incident occurs? What happens when she can't react in time? None of us are capable of working with that kind of trauma."
"I think Newkirk can take care of himself."
"Like she did with Drake?"
Hogan smiled grimly. "I think he did just fine."
"But had he been a man, it wouldn't have happened. Women don't belong on the front lines."
"Tell that to Tiger," Hogan said.
Kinch nodded. "That's true," he admitted. "Then perhaps she should go to the Underground. We still have three months. Sooner or later, the Krauts will discover her here. And what about our own men? Can we protect her from everyone?"
"I hate to think about one of my men attacking another," Hogan said.
"Colonel, she's a woman. She doesn't have a man's strength, quickness, or stamina."
"It's Newkirk, Kinch."
"I know that, sir. That's what makes this so hard. Newkirk's one of us but she's a woman."
"You find him different from before?"
Kinch just stared at Hogan. "Don't you?"
"Just physically."
"Maybe I see her more as a woman than you," Kinch chuckled. He sobered quickly. "It worries me, Colonel, that's all. Lord knows, she tries, but she is an increased risk just by being female. Let's face it, women don't belong in certain places."
"It bothers you that much?"
"Do you want your sister fighting like Newkirk does?" Kinch toyed with his coffee cup. "Whatever you decide, I'll do, sir. I just wanted you to know my concerns."
"I appreciate it, Kinch. Anything else?"
Kinch fiddled with his headphones. "She's too pretty," he finally stated. "I see Newkirk but I see the woman--Perrin--more."
Hogan nodded. "She is attractive."
Kinch glanced at him. "Was she really that good looking at the dance? I mean, you said she was passable, right?"
Hogan groaned. "I said, she'd do." Kinch cocked an eyebrow expectedly. "She was pretty."
"Sorry I missed it," Kinch said. Hogan looked at him. "Sir, for you to say she was pretty in that tone meant she was a knockout."
Hogan rolled his eyes.
Newkirk silently walked away.
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