Chapter 4-Afternoon Delight

Soon the kiss shared by Hogan and Frau Linkmeyer went from passionate to hot and extremely heavy, and hands began unbuttoning shirts and raising skirts. She then took his hand in hers and led him willingly in the direction of her bedroom. Once there, he bent his head and pressed his lips to her throat. Her hands were moving over his bare chest as he removed her blouse while at the same time she pulled his leather jacket and shirt off letting them drop to the floor. Then Gertrude ran her fingers through his thick black hair as she began placing kisses across his chest. Hogan continued nibbling on Gertrude's neck causing her to feel weak in the knees. Then he gently laid her down on the bed. He proceeded to kiss every inch of her body which reacted to his gentle touch, just as his own body reacted to her gentle embrace. They kissed each other repeatedly as the rest of their clothes fell to the floor. Gertrude then ever so gently raked her short nails down his bare back and buttocks pulling his body closer to hers, as his hands worked their magic across her body. She marveled at what his hands could do. They slowly began to move in unison before a regular rhythm was established. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist bringing his body even closer. Their lovemaking continued until both were sated. Afterwards, a tired Gertrude lay her head on Hogan's chest as he lay on his back, one arm wrapped around her body, his hand resting on her shoulder. She let one hand lay on his chest feeling his heart beating. For a while, the war had been pushed away just a bit in exchange for a few moments of happiness.

"You are truly an amazingly passionate woman," Hogan told the woman seriously with a grin.

"Want to hear something funny?" Gertrude asked snuggling closer against Hogan's body, feeling safe and warm in his embrace.

"What?"

"After last night, I kept telling myself that what had happened could not happen again."

Hogan chuckled. "I kept telling myself the same thing all morning." Hearing Gertrude laugh at his admission reminded him how much he actually enjoyed hearing her laugh. She did it so seldom. "So much for not letting it happen again," Hogan joked kissing her forehead. He was equally tired, but knew he could not fall asleep, else his men would become worried regarding his long absence and might come looking for him. He heard Gertrude sigh contentedly and turned his head to look at her.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked shyly her eyes studying his face.

"Of course."

Gertrude smiled. "Where did you learn to use your hands like that?"

"I read a lot," Hogan joked. He heard her chuckle softly as he inhaled and exhaled through his mouth. Gertrude raised her head this time to look at the American with knitted eyebrows and concern on her face.

"Is something wrong, Robert? You sound as if you're upset." She paused momentarily, afraid of the question she was about to ask. "Do you regret what just happened between us?" She held her breath waiting for his answer.

Hogan looked at her and lifted her chin to him, kissing her. "No, I don't regret what just happened. I guess I was thinking exactly what is this between us. To call it an affair would cheapen it somehow, and I don't want that. And I don't think either of us would call it love. I just wonder what you would call what is taking place between us?"

Gertrude, leaning on bended elbows, bent her head and kissed the end of his nose. "You're right when you say it is not love that we share. I can never love or be in love with another man as long as my Otto is alive somewhere on the Russian front. If I had to name what is happening between us, I would say it is simply fulfilling a need. A need of two people who share a similar problem and are dealing with it together in order to help each other."

"Problem?" Hogan's eyebrows arched upward. "I don't have any problems except being stuck in this camp and thousands of miles away from my loved ones back home."

"Robert, that is a problem for you I agree. But you have an even bigger one whether you want to admit it to yourself or not." She noticed Hogan looking at her, puzzled. "You and I share loneliness. Me from my husband being missing in action for the last three years; and you, you are the only officer in a camp full of enlisted men. You can't deny that there is a loneliness that only you feel in this situation despite being surrounded by all the men in camp. Who do you turn to when you need comfort or someone to talk to? As an officer, there is probably nobody because it is your rank that prohibits this. Am I right?"

Hogan's eyes shifted as he rested an arm under his head. Up until this moment, he had never thought that he was lonely, never even considered it. Or had he and just chose to ignore it because of his responsibility to his men? If he was honest with himself, Hogan had to admit to himself that what Gertrude said had been true. He was often lonely and kept it to himself because he had to be strong for his men. And as the only officer in the camp, other than Klink, he never realized much less admitted to himself just how lonely he truly was. Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose with his other hand.

"Robert? Are you all right? I hope I didn't upset you?" Gertrude explained as she began stroking his hair gently.

"No. No, you didn't upset me. You're right. I just never thought about it until this very moment. I guess I didn't want to think about my feeling lonely because I don't want my men to worry about me. It's my duty to worry about them. And sometimes being the only Allied officer in an enlisted man's camp really sucks." He noticed the distressed expression on her face and allowed the corners of his mouth to curl upward as he cupped one cheek in his hand. "It's okay. Really. You just gave me something to think about that I never did until now." He exhaled deeply. "But I think I'd better return to my men before one of them or a guard comes looking for me, and that would not bode well for either of us to be caught in this compromising position."

Then with a smile on her face, Gertrude leaned forward, and pressed her lips firmly against Hogan's and plundered his mouth. When they pulled apart for air, Hogan ran the pad of his thumb down her jaw line.

"Do you want me to come back tonight after lights out and continue our discussion?" he asked her.

Gertrude smiled. "I'll keep a candle burning in the window for you."

Hiding a yawn with the back of his hand, Hogan entered barracks two where he found his core unit all seated at the table; Newkirk, LeBeau and Carter were playing gin, while Kinch was playing solitaire. The men looked up as Hogan entered, grabbed a coffee mug from the table and walking to the potbelly stove, poured himself half-a-cup of coffee. He noticed a covered tin plate sitting beside the coffee pot.

"I saved you some lunch, mon Colonel," LeBeau advised him.

"Thanks, LeBeau," Hogan answered grabbing the plate, and after sitting the pot back on the stove, sat down beside Kinch and took a drink of coffee.

"You look beat, Colonel," Kinch remarked, worried. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Hogan answered. "Just tired." He began to eat his food.

"What did Burkhalter's sister want to see you about, Colonel?" LeBeau asked as he threw out a card then looked at Hogan.

"Did she want to know about ole Klink and Bertha like you thought?" asked Newkirk asked glancing at the Colonel.

"Yep," Hogan lied. "Everything from how they met to how serious they are. But then she told me something that caught me by surprise."

"What would that be, sir?" asked the Englander.

"I'm not sure I believe her, but she was awfully convincing. She told me she has no romantic interest in Klink whatsoever and wishes him well in his relationship."

Newkirk picked up the card Carter had discarded then laid down his hand. "Gin," he announced with a smirk.

LeBeau mumbled a string of French obscenities as he disgustedly threw down his cards, and muttered something about Newkirk having won three games in a row.

"Boy," Carter muttered throwing down his cards as well, watching Newkirk gather up the discarded cards and begin reshuffling them.

Hogan and Kinch exchanged looks, then, Hogan eyed the Englander. "Newkirk, are you using your special deck again?"

"Who? Me, Gov'nor? I swear, sometimes I think you enjoy hurtin' me bleedin' feelings." Newkirk looked at Carter as he dealt out the newly reshuffled cards. "I'm beginnin' to think the Gov'nor needs to get some rest. He's losin' his bleedin' mind." Carter chuckled at the remark.

Hogan finished his coffee and food, then slowly got to his feet. He walked over to and placed his plate and mug in the sink. Turning, he failed at stifling another yawn. "Unless there is anything else, gentlemen, I am going into my quarters and take a nap. If anybody needs me, you guys handle it." Without waiting for a response, the Colonel turned and walked in the direction of his private quarters. The men watched their commander's receding form quietly until he had disappeared into his room and closed the door. It was only then that the silence was broken.

"The Colonel looked exhausted," LeBeau said as he picked up the cards the Englander had dealt him. "I hope he is not becoming ill."

"You heard the Colonel," Newkirk examined the cards in his hand. "He's just bloody tired is all."

"I still find it hard to believe that Frau Linkmeyer's not interested in old Blood 'n Guts," Kinch replied exchanging looks with Newkirk. "It's a world gone mad."

"You heard the Colonel," Carter explained tossing out a card. "If that's what Burkhalter's sister told 'im, than it's gotta be true. I mean, why would she lie about a thing like that?"

"That's the Colonel's bloody problem," Newkirk replied picking up the card Carter tossed out. "Gin," he announced again laying down the cards in his hand.

Hogan, stretched out on the bottom bunk, turned onto his side facing the window, one arm bent beneath his head. His mind was replaying the two hours he had spent with Gertrude and a smile slowly came to his face. God, it felt so good when her hands touched my body. A chuckle broke out. He never knew a woman's hands could elicit such a response from him much less make his body do the things it did. Even he had to admit no woman got his body to respond quite the way it did when Gertrude used her hands the way she did. Hogan was never one to take a nap during the day, but he also knew if he was going to be ready for another go after lights out, he needed to recharge his batteries and be fully rested, or as rested as he could get. And as strange as it was to him, he found he couldn't wait to be with her again. His eyes drifted shut, and as sleep overtook him, he had a smile on his face which nobody but him would know the reason why.

Gertrude lay on her side in bed, running her hand over the indentation on the mattress where Hogan had lain not that long ago. The spot had turned room temperature a while ago, but it didn't matter. The spot still held his scent so it was like having Hogan still there beside her. Knowing who had laid in that spot brought a feeling of warmth to it again. A smile came to her face as she recalled watching Hogan as he got out of her bed and got dressed. And after giving her a peck on the lips, he quickly left her quarters this time out the front door. She admittedly had enjoyed watching him get dressed; more so, she enjoyed watching his body, marveling at what excellent condition the American kept himself in. In fact, she was willing to bet there wasn't a single inch of fat anywhere. Having been unable to sleep after Hogan had left, Gertrude decided simply to remain in bed resting. And that had been at least an hour ago. Then with a satisfied and contented sigh, she rolled over onto her back looking at the ceiling as a thought suddenly came to her. In bed, Hogan reminded her of her Otto; they were so much alike in how they both made her feel and respond. Also, she smiled broadly as she realized just how good it was to have a man share her bed again.

Burkhalter let out a deep sigh of frustration as he slammed shut one of the ledgers. He found he couldn't concentrate as his mind was too focused on his sister and her problems. He thought for certain that Gertrude would perk up even just a bit when she spotted Klink yesterday, but she hadn't. But strangely enough, she seemed to be a bit more relaxed and perkier this morning. But with Thursday nearly here, her mood and depression were bound to change for the worse. He massaged his forehead as he tried to think of something he could do to boost her morale. He truly believed if she would just accept the fact that Otto was more than likely not returning, things would be so much easier for her, and him as well. Seeing her married again would give him one less thing to worry about. There had to be something he could do; then, a Cheshire cat smirk appeared on his face as an idea came to him. And if things worked out as he planned, he could not only break up Klink and Bertha, but change Gertrude's fortunes at the same time.

Getting up from his seat behind the Kommandant's desk, Burkhalter walked around it to the door and pulled it open.

"Klink! Get in here at once!" he bellowed and turned away with hands clasped behind his back. He turned around when Klink nervously entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"Yes, Herr General?" Klink stammered, preparing himself for the order to begin packing for the Russian front. Burkhalter stood close, staring him in the face.

"Klink, I told you this Thursday would have been my sister's thirty-second wedding anniversary."

"Yes, Herr General. But I'm afraid I don't understand wha…."

"Just shut up and listen."

"Yes, sir," Klink nodded nervously. "Shut up and listen."

"Good. Now, except for this morning, Gertrude will probably become quite depressed as that day gets closer. And I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to take her mind off of that day, and I believe I have come up with a solution."

Klink swallowed the large lump in his throat. "Yes, sir?"

"You will call your lady friend at the Ratskeller and arrange for a dinner for the four of us on Thursday at 1830 hours. Understood?"

"Yes, sir. The four of us, sir?"

Burkhalter rolled his eyes. "Yes, Dumnkopf! You, me, Gertrude, and Bertha. That will give my sister and I a chance to meet this young lady of yours, and for my sister to have a nice dinner and some company instead of moping around and being alone."

Klink suspected what the General was up to and was worried that he might chase Bertha away. He had to come up with a way to dissuade the General and Bertha from meeting.

"But, Herr General, I'm not sure Bertha will be available for this week. She's been extremely busy as she recently bought the place and…"

Burkhalter smirked. "Then you better make sure she is available and not so busy come Thursday."

"But sir…"

"Klink, let me put it this way. You either make this arrangements for Thursday, or I can have you en-route to Stalingrad within the hour. Your choice." He saw the Kommandant's body stiffen. He then watched Klink walk to his desk and pick up the receiver of his phone, pressing it to his ear.

"Hello, this is Kommandant Klink. Please connect me with the Ratszeller at once."

Sometime in the afternoon, Kinch and Newkirk were seated at the table playing cards, Carter was sitting on his bunk writing a letter, and LeBeau was busy washing the lunch dishes when the door opened and a tired Schultz waddled inside, letting the door close. The prisoners, for the most part, ignored the obese guard. Looking around, Schultz spotted the Frenchman at the sink. He smiled eagerly.

"Any leftovers?" the guard asked hopefully.

"Sorry, Schultzie," LeBeau answered not stopping what he was doing. "All gone. I am just cleaning up the Colonel's dishes."

Schultz looked around the room glumly, not only from discovering there were no leftovers, but at not seeing who he was looking for. "Where is Colonel Hogan, cockroach?"

"He's in his quarters resting, Schultzie," Newkirk answered without looking at the guard.

"And he doesn't want to be disturbed," Kinch added glancing up for a quick moment.

Suspicious, Schultz started towards Hogan's quarters, only to find his path suddenly blocked by the four men who stood in front of the closed door. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"We told you…" Kinch repeated. "The Colonel is resting and doesn't want to be disturbed."

"But I must see him right away! It is of the utmost importance!"

"Important enough to wake the Gov'nor and have 'im rip your bloody head off?" asked Newkirk with a smirk. "I mean, you know what a foul mood he gets in when he's tired."

Schultz ran a hand over his lips as he recalled the one time he woke Hogan up when he was taking a nap, and ended up fearing that the American officer would somehow arrange for him to be sent to the Russian front after near biting his head off.

"I'll take that chance. Now stand aside." The men refused to move.

"Listen, Schultz," Carter said. "Why don't you tell us what's so important, and let us decide if it's important enough to wake up Colonel Hogan."

Schultz rolled his eyes "The Kommandant wanted me to remind Colonel Hogan that he is expected to join him and General Burkhalter for dinner this evening, and to inform him that he wants him there at 1800 hours."

"We'll give him the information when he wakes up," Kinch replied as he and the others spun the obese guard around and began pushing him toward the door.

"Wait a minute! Why are you pushing me?"

"We have things to do for tonight," said LeBeau.

"Stop pushing me!"

The men stopped pushing the guard and stood looking at him.

"That's better!" Schultz frowned. "Now, just what are these things you have to do, eh? Are you planning an escape?"

The men exchanged looks, then looked back at Schultz. "You'd better tell 'im, Louie," Newkirk replied looking at the diminutive Frenchman.

"Fine," LeBeau replied, annoyed. "We'll just tell the Kommandant I can't prepare dinner tonight because Schultz hung around the barracks and wouldn't let us arrange things for tonight."

Schultz studied the Frenchman's face. "I'm leaving," he said before walking toward the door and exiting.