Chapter 12

When Schultz opened the door to barracks two the next day, he was shocked to see the prisoners were already up and getting dressed for roll call without him having to awaken them.

"Mornin', Schultzie," said Newkirk despite the lines under his green eyes being more pronounced from a restless night.

"Was ist los?" asked Schultz suspiciously.

"Nothing, Schultzie," LeBeau said sweetly. "We just wanted to surprise you by showing you what good prisoners we were." He glanced at Hogan's closed door worriedly.

"Yeah, Schultz," added Kinch. He also glanced at the smaller room. "And that we didn't need our mommy to wake us up."

Schultz fumed. "Jolly jokers!" he hissed storming back out of the barracks.

"I wonder what's wrong with him?" asked a wide-eyed Carter looking at the others with a tired smile.

"Should somebody wake the Colonel and tell him it's almost time for roll call?" asked LeBeau.

"No need," a voice said. The men looked over and were dismayed to see the new prisoner zipping up his leather jacket. He looked up at the others as he put his crush cap on his head and pushed it back. "Let's not be late for roll call, gentlemen," he said cheerfully.

"Where's Colonel Hogan?" asked a suspicious Kinch. The radioman paled at seeing the devious smirk on the man's face as he didn't respond, but instead, walked calmly towards the barracks door. As his hand gripped the doorknob, Newkirk lunged at the man and roughly seized him by the front of his shirt with both hands and pulled him so close their noses nearly touched.

"I believe me mate, Kinch, asked you a question?" he hissed.

"Newkirk!" a voice of authority said.

The men all looked and a collective sigh of relief was heard when the figure of Colonel Hogan, zipping up his leather jacket, stepped into the common room. He had opened the door just in time to hear Newkirk ask his question. His dark eyes stared hard at the Englander.

"Sorry, Gov'nor," Newkirk replied shoving the new man away from him.

With eyes focused on Newkirk, the new prisoner smoothed his shirt and opened the door of the barracks and walked out. He was shortly followed by the other Colonel Hogan and the rest of the prisoners.

Schultz silently breathed a sigh of relief at seeing both Colonel Hogans, standing side by side, had survived the night and not killed each other. As soon as the prisoners were in formation, he began his count, finishing just in time as Kommandant Klink stomped down the steps and marched quickly to the formation.

"Schultz! Repooooooorrrrttt!" he bellowed loudly, his eyes focused on the two Colonels.

"Herr Kommandant, all prisoners present and accounted for," Schultz reported after exchanging salutes with the Kommandant.

"Very good, Schultz. Oh, Colonel Hogan?"

"Yes," both men replied simultaneously. Each American gave the other dirty looks before turning their attention to the German.

Klink exhaled through his nose and shook his head grimly. "I meant you," he said pointing to the Hogan with the black hair.

Hogan chuckled at his namesake as if to say 'I told you so.' He smirked at the Kommandant. "Sir, I think to avoid confusion, you should refer to me as Colonel Hogan number 1 and him as number 2."

The other Hogan glared at the man beside him. "And just why are you number one?"

Hogan arched both eyebrows. "Because I've been here the longest in case you haven't noticed." He then looked at his German counterpart. "What do you think, Colonel?"

"It makes sense to me, Colonel Hogan number one," Klink replied. It was quite evident the animosity between the two men.

"Sir," said Hogan number two with hands clasped behind his back. "Both of us wish to speak with you in your office." He glared at Hogan. "You have something to say to the Kommandant, don't you?"

Hogan smirked at his namesake. "I don't recall having anything to say to the Kommandant. It's the Kommandant who wants to speak with me," he said sweetly as he faced Klink. "Isn't that right, sir?"

"Stop it!" Klink shouted waving both hands in the air. "Schultz, dismiss your men. Hogan number one in my office, now. Dissss-missssed!" He turned abruptly and stormed away.

Schultz faced the prisoners. "Dissss-missssed!"

As the prisoners dispersed, Hogan number one strode quickly in the direction of the Kommandantur while Hogan number two glared at his receding back. He ground his teeth so hard he suspected his jaw might break. Looking around, he noticed several of the prisoners still outside; one of them was Andrew Carter which brought a smile to the man's face. He approached the young Sergeant as he headed towards the barracks.

"Sergeant Carter, can I speak with you a minute?" he asked putting a hand on the man's shoulder. He saw Carter look over his shoulder at him.

"Sure," Carter replied innocently. "What do you want to talk about?"

"C'mon, let's walk and talk," Hogan number two told him as he led Carter away from the barracks and out into the compound.

Hogan bounced into the Kommandantur and smiled sweetly at Hilda as she sat at her desk going over some paperwork in front of her. She glanced up for a split second before turning back to her paperwork. Hogan walked around her desk and put one hand on the back of her chair, the other, palm flat, on top of the desk. He was a bit perturbed by the indifference of the blond towards him.

"Hilda, what's wrong?" Hogan asked, concerned, wondering if his namesake had done something to the woman. "What happened on your date with my namesake?"

Hilda turned her head and looked up at the American. Hogan was somewhat surprised at the look of contempt in her eyes. "None of your business, Colonel Hogan, or whoever you are."

Hogan was taken aback. He stepped backward in surprise. "What are you saying? What did he do to you? Did he hurt you?"

She got to her feet with a handful of papers and walked over to the file cabinet, pulling open the top drawer. "Not that it's any of your business, but he was a perfect gentleman."

Hogan grabbed her by both shoulders firmly but gently and turned her towards him. "Hilda…."

The blond stared hard at Hogan. "Take your hands off me or I'll scream," she said so coldly that Hogan sensed she wouldn't hesitate to do as she threatened. He dropped his hands, and his jaw dropped.

"And just so there's no misunderstanding," Hilda explained. "That is the last piece of information you'll get from me. Find another little bird to sing for you." She then turned her back on Hogan and resumed filing her papers. "The Kommandant is waiting for you," she announced equally as coolly.

Hogan's eyebrows arched and his eyes widened. He was still in total shock at the woman's behavior. But he didn't have time to try and straighten it out now. Instead, he left her desk and reaching the Kommandant's door, knocked on it while his eyes were still on the woman.

"Come in," a voice said from the other side. Hogan opened the door and started inside.

Hogan number two kept his arm wrapped around Carter's shoulders as they slowly walked around the compound. They encountered several prisoners watching them as they walked, but Hogan number two's sole attention was focused on the young Sergeant.

"You said you wanted to talk to me about something," Carter reminded the man with both hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. "But so far you haven't said anything."

"I know. I was trying to organize my thoughts."

Carter looked into the man's face. "So have you?"

"Have I what?"

"Organized your thoughts?"

"Yes I have. Carter, I've been watching you since I was assigned to barracks two, and you seem like you're wondering if you really belong." He smiled affectionately at the young man. "Am I right?"

Carter shrugged his shoulders. "I guess. I mean, don't get me wrong. Colonel Hogan's great and all. But sometimes I do have my doubts about whether or not I really belong."

"And what exactly does this imposter do to make you feel you belong?"

"Colonel Hogan's not an imposter," Carter replied pausing only to stare at his companion. "He took me under his wing the minute I got here and made me feel welcome and that I was a part of things. He made sure to include me in the goings-on around camp so I wouldn't feel left out."

"I stand corrected," Hogan number two said. "But, he could just as easily helped you escape and return home. Wouldn't you have preferred doing that? That's what I would have done. A youngster like you belongs home, not in this cesspool." He gently motioned Carter to continue walking with him.

Carter shrugged. "Sure I'd like to go home. I mean, I got a girl waiting back home for me. Mary Jane. I sure miss her. But Colonel Hogan needs me here."

Hogan number two's eyebrows arched. "He needs you here? What about Mary Jane? Doesn't she need you back home?"

"Sure. I mean, I guess so."

"What do you mean by you guess so? You know so. And just what does this man want you to stay here for exactly? He must have a reason?"

Carter, his head bowed, looked at the ground as he walked. "Well, he…." he suddenly stopped when he realized he was about to admit why Hogan wanted him and the others to stay.

Hogan number two noticed the young man was about to say something as well. "He what? Why did he want you to remain here rather than go home and be with the girl you love?"

"He didn't say," Carter finally said hoping the man beside him bought his story. He was wrong.

"Carter, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't believe you. Believe me, you don't have to protect this man anymore. He's making you risk losing the woman you love by staying here for some selfish reason of his own." He grabbed Carter by both shoulders and turned him around to face him. "You don't need to fear this man anymore. Once I become the Senior POW officer here and get rid of this imposter, I will see that you go home….home to Mary Jane. And that's a promise."

Carter stared at the man in front of him but remained silent.

"You wanted to see me, Kommandant?" Hogan number 1 asked as he closed the door to Klink's office and sloppily saluted.

"Yes, Hogan." Klink gestured towards the chair facing his desk. "Please sit down."

Hogan immediately became suspicious as he slowly sat down in the chair. Klink's asking me to have a seat? It's a world gone mad, he thought to himself. He waited patiently as Klink opened his humidor and removed a cigar. Hogan also reached for a cigar only to yelp as Klink shut the humidor catching his fingers in the process. Hogan shook his hand while watching Klink casually lighting his cigar with his desk lighter and then lean back in his chair facing the American Colonel. Removing the cigar from between his lips, Klink held it between two fingers as he blew smoke out.

"Now Hogan, you're probably wondering why I asked you here?" Klink asked calmly.

"The thought has crossed my mind, sir," Hogan replied.

"I have to update General Burkhalter on the situation, but first, I'd like you to tell me how things are having two Colonel Hogans in the same barracks?"

Hogan shrugged. "It's not easy, Kommandant. But then I'm sure you knew it wouldn't be. He's been trying to uh, take over so to speak."

"I see. Are you still convinced he's a phony or a spy I think you called him?"

"Yeah, I do." Hogan's eyes narrowed and his eyebrows knitted. "Kommandant, exactly what are you trying to ask me? What's going on?"

"Nothing, Hogan, nothing at all." Klink took another puff on his cigar. "How are the two of you getting along if I may ask?"

Hogan wasn't sure but he could have sworn he noticed a smirk on the Kommandant's face when he asked that question. "We're not," he replied. "In fact, he's a big, fat, pain in the…."

"Hogaaaaannnnn!" Klink interrupted. He then chuckled. "So, in other words, the two of you haven't yet decided which of you is the real Hogan?"

"As far as I'm concerned, Kommandant, the problem has been resolved. I am who I said I am and that's all there is to it."

Klink took another puff on his cigar. He was enjoying Hogan's obvious discomfort immensely and knew he did not often have the upper hand with his American counterpart; but, should one such opportunity present itself, he was in no hurry to see it end anytime soon. "I only have your word on that, Hogan," he said smugly. "And unfortunately, that is not sufficient this time."

Hogan sighed wearily. This entire sit-down meeting was, in his opinion, a complete waste of his time, which he felt, could be better spent watching his namesake and seeing what he was up to. He hated to think what trouble the man was causing right now.

"Whatever," Hogan replied, bored. "Will there be anything else, sir?"

"No. That was all. You may go."

Hogan got to his feet and walked towards the door; as he opened it, he heard Klink call his name.

"Yes, Kommandant?" he said with a sigh.

"I'd like you to have Hogan number two report to my office so I may speak with him."

"Yes, sir." Hogan gave a lazy salute before he closed the door. His eyes then fell on Hilda who was busy typing. He debated as to whether or not to approach her but quickly decided now was not the time. He strode past her desk and left the building.

"Well?" asked Hogan number two, studying Carter's face and could see the young man's inner turmoil and was pleased. However, he kept his own face unreadable. "What do you say?"

Carter chewed his lower lip. "I'd love to see Mary Jane again. What would I have to do?"

Hogan number two smiled. "Just three things. One, come with me to Klink's office and tell him you no longer believe that other man to be Colonel Hogan; two, back me in becoming the new Senior POW officer here; and three, help me convince the others so we can get rid of this imposter. Help with those three things, Carter, and after the dust settles, I'll see you get sent home. Now, how about it?"

The look in the young man's eyes told Hogan number two this young, naive, simple, impressionable kid would be the first of the other man's men to switch allegiances. So certain was he of this that when Carter spoke, he nearly fainted.

"I can't do that. I mean, as much as I would love to see Mary Jane again, I can't abandon Colonel Hogan like that. He needs me here. I'm sorry, but I just can't do what you're asking me to do."

"Carter, that man is not Colonel Hogan!" Hogan number two said a bit harshly as he shook the young man. "He's a phony! A spy! And he's using you! Can't you see it?" He suddenly felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder and spin him around only to be confronted by Newkirk with Kinch standing just behind him, both of whom were staring hard at the officer.

"Still spreading your rubbish, mate?" the Englander asked coolly.

"No rubbish," Hogan number two replied glaring at Newkirk. "I was just telling young Carter here the truth."

"Your version of the truth?" asked Kinch just as coolly.

"It's not my version. The other Hogan's got all of you so conned you can't even see it. If I'm going to succeed with my plans to start an operation here…."

"I wouldn't count on you startin' anything here, mate," Newkirk jabbed a finger in the man's chest. "Y'see, you won't be here long enough to do anything. That I can promise you."

Hogan number two knitted his eyebrows. "Are you threatening a senior officer, Newkirk?" he asked.

"Take it anyway you want, mate," Newkirk told him. He then looked at Carter and draped an arm around the younger man's shoulders. "C'mon, Andrew. LeBeau's got breakfast ready for us and we were wonderin' where'd you'd gotten off to." He glanced over his shoulder at the radioman before he led Carter back in the direction of the barracks.

Hogan number two then turned his attention to the radioman. "You have something to say also, Sergeant Kinchloe?" he asked.

Kinch smirked. "Yes I do. Just a small warning which you can take whichever way you wish. If I were you, I wouldn't even think of trying to oust Colonel Hogan as Senior POW officer. You might live to regret it."

"He is not Colonel Hogan. I am."

"You can call yourself Marta Hari for all I care," Kinch said. "Just keep in mind what I said." Kinch then calmly walked in the direction of the barracks leaving Hogan number two glaring after him. The scowl on his face suddenly turned to a smirk.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Sergeant," he murmured. "I wouldn't be so sure about that at all."