A/N: Thanks goes to Jennaya for allowing me to mention her OC Captain Fritz Fuchs in this story. He may also be mentioned in subsequent chapters when needed.

Chapter 4

Recap: "Just answer the question, Schultz," Hogan said. "Who did you tell?"

"I think I mentioned it to Corporal Langenscheidt and Sergeant Snyderman and…." the guard murmured avoiding all eye contact.

Hogan brought his head close to the guard's. "Who else?"

"I told the Kommandant before I came here. But nobody else. I swear!"

Hogan bowed his head and sighed wearily.

"In fact," Schultz explained. "The Kommandant wants me to bring you to his office right away, Colonel Hogan. He is very upset." Then Schultz faced Hogan at a three-quarter view with wide eyes. "You are Colonel Hogan, aren't you?"

With an exhausted sigh, Hogan could only hang his head and shake it. He knew this was only the beginning of the questions to come and secretly hoped he could contain it somehow before it spread like wildfire throughout the camp.

Klink was busy signing some papers when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," he announced not looking up for the moment; then as the door opened, he raised his head and saw Schultz stand in the doorway; the guard saluted.

"Herr Kommandant, I brought Colonel Hogan as ordered."

Klink returned the salute. "Excellent, Schultz. Send him in and then you may leave us."

"Jawohl." Schultz stood inside the office holding open the door. "Come in, Colonel Hogan, bitte." He waited until Hogan casually walked into the office before he left, closing the door behind him leaving the two men alone.

"Schultz said you wanted to see me, Kommandant," Hogan said standing in front of the German's desk, tossing his crush cap onto the spike of the Pickelhaube on the corner of the desk, then wrapped his arms around himself. The Kommandant, grabbing the crush cap, tossed it back at the American who caught it against his chest and held it in one hand partially under his arm. "You have a good pitching arm, sir. Ever think of pitching for the New York Yankees after the war?" (1)

Klink slapped the palm of his hand onto his desk. "Silence. I didn't order you here to discuss sports."

"Sorry, sir. Just trying to offer you a possible career after the war. I'd be willing to recommend you."

"Hogan, I warn you! Stop trying to change the subject!"

"I was just so in awe of your ability, sir." Hogan then pasted on his best cowed expression when he saw Klink about to say something. "Sorry, sir," he said contritely with a slightly bowed head.

"That's better." Klink leaned back in his chair with hands clasped in his lap. "Now Hogan, we seem to have an unusual situation here at Stalag 13. It has come to my attention that the new prisoner has informed Sergeant Schultz that his name is Colonel Hogan. Now, how would you respond to that news?" The German watched Hogan's face intently for any indication he already knew about the information.

Hogan, sensing Klink was looking for his reaction, keep his face impassive. "That's funny, sir. The new prisoner is claiming to be me?" He chuckled. "That's a good one. Is Schultz sure he heard right?"

"Schultz is positive he heard correctly. In fact…." Klink got to his feet and walking around the desk, slowly circled Hogan, his eyes never leaving the American. "….this prisoner indicated to Schultz that you may not be who you claim to be. What do you have to say about that?" Klink now leaned against his desk facing the American with his arms folded across his chest.

Hogan shrugged his shoulders. "I'd say this guy has a serious problem if he thinks he's me, Kommandant. I mean, with your cunning German mind and all, would I have been able to fool you?"

"You couldn't," Klink agreed.

"That's right, sir," Hogan added. "You would have seen through me like that," he snapped his fingers for emphasis. "I had no choice but to be honest with you. And now this guy comes here claiming to be me? I mean, who does he think he is anyway? Thinking he can fool the devious and cunning Colonel Klink. If you don't mind me saying so, sir, but that takes real guts on his part."

Klink seemed caught up in what Hogan was saying and rubbed his chin as he stared into space. "You know, you're right. He couldn't fool me at all." He then straightened up and walked around his desk and sat back down. "Very well, let him claim to be you. The Gestapo will be here tomorrow and they'll find out who he really is."

"You're right, sir. Let him be their problem," Hogan drove in the nail. "Besides, he's probably claiming to be me just so he can get better treatment. I bet he's probably not even a real Colonel."

"You could be right," Klink said looking up at his American counterpart. "You know, I'm somewhat surprised to hear you so readily agree that one of your fellow countrymen should be turned over to the Gestapo."

"Well, Kommandant, it's like this. While I don't want to see anybody turned over to those people, I will make an exception in this guy's case, only because he's shown he's gonna be a troublemaker, and we don't need troublemakers in Stalag 13."

"You're absolutely right," Klink agreed with a smile. "That'll be all. Dissss-missssed!"

"Yes, sir," Hogan replied donning his cap on his head, giving Klink a sloppy salute, and exiting the office. He saw Klink give a salute in return as he closed the door and exited the building.

The minute Hogan re-entered the barracks and saw his men's faces, he knew they had been listening, and smiled.

"Beautifully done, sir," Newkirk replied with a grin.

"So I gather you guys heard everything," said Hogan with a smirk. He sighed wearily. "It wasn't easy, though. For while I was concerned Klink might want to toss me in the cooler as well. He still could if I'm not careful how I play this."

"Sir, what happens when the Gestapo show up?" asked Newkirk.

Hogan placed one foot on the bench and leaned over with both arms resting on his thigh with hands hanging over the sides. "I have no idea," he said thoughtfully. "We're gonna have to play this by ear until we can find out more about this guy. But I would like to talk with my namesake again before the Gestapo arrive, feel him out. Maybe I can get something out of him that we can use to figure out who he really is and what he's up to."

"Think Klink will let you talk with him, mon Colonel?"

Hogan smirked. "Who said I'm going to ask his permission?" He then looked at his radioman. "Kinch, radio the Underground and set up a meeting for 1800 hours this afternoon. Ask for Otto." He looked at LeBeau. "LeBeau, I want you to meet him and bring him here. Be careful, and take Carter with you."

"Oui, Colonel."

Kinch hesitated a moment as he glanced at the others. "But Colonel, 1800 hours is this evening."

"I know that. It can't be helped. We only have tonight to see what we can find out before tomorrow and I'd rather not be blindsided. Now go."

"Yes, sir," Kinch replied getting to his feet.

"What if you can't find out anything about him, Colonel?" Carter asked, worry etched on his face. "What then?"

Hogan sighed. "Then we're gonna have some hard decisions to make."

"But Colonel," Newkirk's eyes narrowed. "What do we do if the Gestapo decides to take both of you from camp?"

Hogan exhaled deeply. "That will be one of the harder decisions that may be out of our hands."

Their attention was suddenly drawn by the rising on the lower bunk in the corner. The head of one of the newer prisoners who'd only been at Stalag 13 for three months, Corporal Simpson, appeared.

"Colonel, there's a call coming in for Klink on the phone. Baker's been stalling it until you can listen in."

"Thanks. Tell him to put it through." Hogan said as he and his remaining men quickly jumped to their feet and hurried into the Colonel's office shutting the door.

Klink, having returned to his paperwork following Hogan's departure, was busy signing several reports when the phone rang. He didn't immediately pick it up as he knew his secretary would get it. When it continued ringing, he slammed down his pen, annoyed, and got to his feet. Walking around the desk, he pulled open his office door. "Fraulein Hilda would you please…." He noticed her desk was empty, and then remembered she had not yet come back from lunch.

Sighing with annoyance, Klink closed the door, marched back over to his desk and grabbing the receiver, pressed it against his hear.

"Hello. What is it?" Klink hissed, the annoyance in his voice evident.

"Colonel Klink?"

"Yes. Who is this?" Annoyance more evident.

"This is Captain Fuchs, Gestapo."

A nervous smile suddenly appeared on Klink's face and all annoyance was gone. He plastered a nervous smile on his face as if Fuchs could see it through the phone.

"Yes, Captain. What can I do for you and the Gestapo?" Klink said as pleasantly as possible. He remembered the blond-haired Gestapo officer and shuddered. Fuchs frightened him more than Hochstetter.

"The Gestapo has been informed there is a new prisoner who was captured by the Luftwaffe in the vicinity of Stalag 13 earlier today. Have you been able to get anything out of him?"

Klink thought it best not to disclose the fact that the man claimed his name was the same as his Senior POW. "Nothing, Captain. He refuses to speak despite all my attempts and threats. He is currently locked in solitary awaiting the Gestapo's arrival."

"I see. You might not have gotten anything from him, but I can assure you that we will get answers. A Captain Josef van Kueren will arrive tomorrow to interrogate the prisoner, and if necessary, escort him to Berlin. That is all. Heil Hitler."

"Yes, sir. And may I say…." He heard the click on the other end. "Heil Hitler," and hung up. He then nervously sat back down behind his desk wondering what would this van Kueren say when he found out the prisoner and his Senior POW officer had the same name? Would he end up taking both men to Berlin for more 'extensive' questioning? What would happen if Berlin decided the man he knew to be Hogan really wasn't the real Hogan? Would they blame him? Klink shuddered as his mind ran rampant with possibilities; none of which would result in a good outcome for him.

"Blimey," was all Newkirk could utter as he unplugged the coffee pot. He glanced around at his friends all of whom appeared lost in thought.

Hogan, both arms straight and palms flat, one on each side at the far end of his desk, sighed. "Newkirk, go below and tell Kinch to contact Bluebird and have him give us the lowdown on this Captain van Kueren. Oh, and Newkirk, have Kinch tell Bluebird about our prisoner. Maybe he can help us somehow."

"Yes, sir." The Englander quickly exited the small room leaving Hogan, LeBeau and Carter alone.

"What do you think, Colonel?" asked LeBeau quietly.

"I don't know," Hogan replied. "But I can't shake this feeling of impending doom is about to happen and we're gonna be caught in the middle of a firestorm."

The prisoner was laying on his back with hands under his head, when the sound of a cell door opening caused him to look sideways. He saw the guard Schultz unlocking the cell door and holding it open, allowing the Kommandant to enter first. He sat up on his cot and waited.

"To what do I owe this visit, Kommandant?" he asked with a grin.

"I thought you'd want to know I just received a phone call from the Gestapo. A Captain van Kueren will be here tomorrow to interrogate you and decide whether or not to take you to Berlin for more intensive questioning."

The prisoner leaned back on his bed with one foot on the edge of the mattress and a hand on his knee. "I see. And what about the other Hogan?"

Klink, standing on one side of the prisoner, looked at Schultz who stood on the other. "What about him?"

"Well, it seems to me, Kommandant, that as he's insisting he's the real Hogan and I'm not, maybe he should come with me to Berlin and let them figure it out." He noticed Klink stiffen. "What do you think?"

"That will not be up to me. Besides, the man I know as Colonel Hogan has been here for awhile. If he was not who he claimed to be there is no way he could deceive me."

"Exactly, Kommandant," the prisoner continued. "But apparently he has. And I bet anything, he hasn't even tried to escape, has he?"

Klink made a bit of a face. "Not really," he remarked.

"I thought so. Colonel, don't you think the real Hogan, being a valuable asset to the Allies, would do everything he could to escape from this hellhole and get back to England? I mean, that's what I'd do."

Klink rubbed his chin as he thought about what he had just heard. When he thought about it, the man he knew as Hogan had never tried to escape; not once since his interment. And he had always thought it was because Hogan had been cowed by him. But what if it was all an act to deceive him into accepting him as Robert Hogan? Klink needed more information first. He took a few steps towards Schultz and stopped. "Tell me something," he asked the prisoner. "Why should I believe you are the real Colonel Hogan and the other isn't? You could be lying to me just as easily." He made a mental note that if the prisoner somehow ended up staying at Stalag 13, and since he had intimated it, measures would have to be taken to ensure the prisoner did not escape.

"True," the man answered calmly. "But from where I sit at the moment, I have nothing to lose by lying. Besides, your cunning German mind would see through a lie in a flash." Both he and Klink looked up hearing Schultz chuckling.

Klink stomped his foot angrily. "Schultz!" he bellowed. "I hear they need sergeants at the Russian Front."

Schultz choked on the next chuckle about to come forth and straightened his face remaining quiet.

"That's true," Klink said to the prisoner. "Now answer my question."

The prisoner sighed knowing he had to play it carefully. "Well, for one thing, if I was lying, why would I come into camp as a prisoner claiming to be someone who was already a prisoner? I mean, what would I have to gain by that? I bet anything when you asked the other Hogan about me he denied even knowing anything, didn't he?"

"As a matter of fact, he did," Klink said.

"Thought so."

"But it doesn't matter," Klink said. "Tomorrow they'll take you to Berlin and that will be the end of it."

The prisoner sat up on his bed and smirked. "But will it really, Kommandant? I mean, even if I'm taken away, you'll be left wondering if the man you know as Colonel Hogan is really who he says he is, or am I the real Hogan."

Klink walked slowly away from the prisoner and talked to the open air. "But what can I do about it? I suppose I could let the Gestapo take both of you away and figure it out. Or, I could lock up both of you until I know."

"I have an idea which could work, Kommandant," the prisoner explained calmly. "That is, if you want to try and resolve this yourself. You'd be doing the Luftwaffe a great service. In fact, you might even make General if it works."

Klink turned and looked back at the prisoner, interested now. He knew how much General Burkhalter would be grateful if he, Klink, kept the Luftwaffe from being embarrassed if knowledge they were fooled for a few years by somebody claiming to be Hogan got out. He might even make General at that. "What did you have in mind?"

"It's very simple, really," the prisoner said. "All you have to do is find a way to convince the Gestapo to let me stay here in Stalag 13. Then, you convince your superior officer to let me out of solitary and release me into the general population here. Once among the prisoners, I'll find out who he really is and let you know immediately. But believe me when I say, he's the phony, not me."

Klink slowly took a few steps away from the prisoner as he mulled things over. Finally, he turned sharply and faced the prisoner. "We shall see. And while I can't promise anything, I'll think about what you've said. That's all I can do. Schuuuuulllltz!" He turned away and followed by the guard, exited the cell while the prisoner lay back down on the bed smiling. He waited until the two Germans were gone.

"You call yourself Hogan but I'll put a stop to that. You managed to pull the wool over everybody's eyes, but not me." the prisoner said softly. "And if things go well, I'll soon be among the camp population and prove that I belong here instead of you."

Kinch, followed by Newkirk, soon climbed back up into the barracks; neither man seemed very cheerful.

"What happened?' asked Hogan sensing problems.

"I spoke with Bluebird, Colonel," said Kinch. "Seems this Captain van Kueren is new to the Hammelburg Gestapo and not much is known about him. He was recruited by Hochstetter years ago and after coming to the Hammelburg Gestapo, was assigned to work with the Major. He's not married, has no children, and no problems they could find. He is also very ambitious and eager to rise within the ranks. And considering his expertise at interrogation, he's been sent here to question the prisoner."

"What did Bluebird say when you told him about my namesake?" Hogan asked.

Kinch smirked. "He said don't worry. As far as he's concerned, there's only one Papa Bear, and that's you. But he'll help us if you ask."

Hogan smiled. "What about Otto?"

"He'll be waiting at the usual place at the requested time, sir," said Newkirk.

Hogan nodded and exhaled deeply. "Until then, gentlemen, we wait." He check his watch. "Before dinner, I'll visit our friend again and try and get something out of him, but I'll be back in time to meet with Otto."

(1) New York Yankees were founded originally in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901 and were known as the Baltimore Orioles. They were moved to New York in 1903 and renamed the New York Highlanders, but were later renamed officially the Yankees in 1913.