Chapter 17

Several hours later, Hogan opened his eyes just a bit and looked around. At first, he didn't recognize where he was; but slowly he came to realize he was in the infirmary. Then, his eyes fell on the sleeping form of Sergeant Wilson seated in a chair beside his bed, snoring lightly.

"Joe…" he said softly, noticing his voice was barely above a whisper, and his jaw hurt. Raising a hand to touch his face, he winced at the pain the movement caused, and then saw his heavily gauze-wrapped hand; spots of blood on the back of it. As his mind cleared a bit, most of what happened began to come back to him. He groaned.

"Colonel? You okay? Are you in pain?" asked Wilson, awakened by the groans.

"Thirsty. Water." Hogan's eyes shifted to the medic, and watched him get to his feet, and grab a glass and pitcher before returning to his seat. He poured a glass of water, put the pitcher down on the empty chair beside his, then carefully slid a hand under the Colonel's head and raised it slightly while putting the glass to his lips allowing him to drink the cool liquid. Hogan started coughing causing the medic to take the glass away for a few seconds.

"Don't gulp it, Colonel," Wilson said. When the coughing stopped, Wilson tried again. "Sip it slowly, sir."

Hogan drank until he indicated he didn't want anymore. Wilson sat the glass on the chair beside the pitcher, and lowered his patient's head back onto the pillow. "How do you feel?"

"Like I've been run over by a Tiger tank," Hogan's voice was a bit stronger now.

"Do you remember what happened, sir?"

"Mostly. A few of my men attacked me. I remember Captain Horner intervening on my behalf. After that, the rest is kind of hazy. How is he? Is he all right?"

Wilson leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "Horner? He's fine. A few bruises and some sore ribs is all. Colonel, I won't lie to you. If Captain Horner hadn't gotten involved when he did, you might not be here now. He told us by the time he got to the rec hall, one of the attackers was about to beat you with a baseball bat.

"I remember that. I also remember this," Hogan held up his wrapped hand.

"It took a lot of stitches to close the wound as it was deep. But it was a clean cut, and there's no sign of infection. You should recover completely, but you might have a scar."

Hogan seemed to take the news in stride. "Will I be able to use my hand?" he asked.

"You'll retain full use of it, Colonel, I promise you."

Hogan's eyes narrowed for a few seconds. "I seem to remember Kinch and Newkirk being there. Or did I imagine it?"

Wilson smiled. "They got there later to help Captain Horner save your life; then, they stayed while I treated you and helped get you here. They refused to leave your side until I chased them out." The medic paused at this point. "Klink's had all the prisoners confined to barracks as a result of what happened. Colonel, I need to ask you a question. It's about Carter." The medic noticed Hogan's face changed, taking on a look of sadness.

"What do you want to know?" Hogan asked swallowing hard.

"The men asked me to keep Carter away from you because he no longer believes you're Colonel Hogan. Is it true, sir? I mean, I can't see Carter…."

"It's true," was all Hogan would say. He then looked away. "And I really don't want to discuss it if you don't mind."

The medic decided not to push the issue anymore. He started to get to his feet. "I understand, sir. Get some rest." Wilson started walking away when Hogan turned his head back towards him.

"Joe." He saw the medic pause and look back.

"Sir?"

"How soon can I get out of here? I really need to return to the barracks."

Wilson exhaled. "Colonel, you were assaulted and nearly killed. You were badly injured. I'd like to keep you here and…."

"How soon?" Hogan repeated in his best authoritative voice.

Wilson sighed. "Probably tomorrow. Just try and get some rest for now, sir. Are you in pain? I can give you something for it."

Hogan turned his head away again. "Joe, where I have pain no amount of meds would help."

Newkirk, Kinch and LeBeau had just returned to the barracks and sat around the table staring into space. They were still in shock over the recent events. Even the usually unflappable Kinch was shaken. None of them had ever thought things would become this volatile this quickly. Newkirk pulled out a pack of smokes from his pocket and removing a cigarette, shoved it between his lips and lit it.

"Hey, is it true?" Olsen asked jumping down from his upper bunk.

"Is what true?" asked Newkirk taking a drag on the cigarette.

"I heard some prisoners attacked the Colonel in the rec hall. Tried to kill 'im."

"Yeah it's true," Kinch replied weakly as he and LeBeau returned to staring at the table. "But he's alive thank God."

"Who did it? Do you know?" Olsen asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Stoddard, Gifford, Rowland, Hill, and Brisbane," LeBeau answered looking up at the man. "Why do you ask?"

"No particular reason," Olsen said putting the coffee pot back on the stove. "It's just that I noticed Hill talking to that phony earlier, then running off. And the others, except for Rowland, are all newbies. And Rowland himself has only been here for a month and I know for a fact doesn't like Colonel Hogan at all."

"Sacre Chat," the little Frenchman muttered with a look at the others. "Olsen is right. They are all new prisoners. He is targeting the new prisoners."

"And convincing them to do his dirty work for him," Kinch added.

"I know the Colonel doesn't want anything to happen to the blighter, but he needs to be stopped and the sooner, the better," Newkirk said.

Just then the barracks door opened again and Carter, followed by Hogan number two, calmly walked in. Carter immediately saw the looks he was receiving from the others. He let a weak smile appear as he jammed his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Hi, guys," he said nervously.

"Well look who's here," Newkirk remarked sarcastically. "The Marta Hari of barracks two."

Carter shifted on his feet, apparently stung by the remark. "How's Colonel Hogan?" he asked innocently.

"Why should you care?" asked the Frenchman giving Carter a filthy look.

Carter shrugged. "I do still live here, y'know," he said, hurt. "And I'd really like to know."

Kinch glared at the younger man. "You lost that right when you teamed up with him." The radioman's eyes shifted to Hogan number two.

Carter bit his lower lip. "Is it okay if I at least see him?" he asked.

"Non. Wilson's been told to keep you away from the Colonel," said LeBeau.

Carter was stunned that his friends didn't trust him to be around the Colonel. "But I'd really…."

"You keep the bloody hell away from 'im!" Newkirk sneered jumping to his feet. "You go near the Gov'nor and I just might…."

"Corporal Newkirk, are you threatening someone who outranks you?" asked Hogan number two stepping up beside Carter.

"And why don't you just shut your trap!" Newkirk hissed. "This is all your bloody fault! I'm gonna straighten you out right here and now!" He started around the table, but his arm was grabbed by Kinch. "Let go of me arm, Kinch. Somebody needs to straighten out this bloody bastard before he gets the Gov'nor killed! Now let go!"

"No," Kinch replied. "We all know how the Colonel feels about us taking matters into our own hands."

Hogan number two smirked. "Imagine that, a Nazi spy with ethics." He chuckled.

Newkirk saw red then. Yanking his arm free from Kinch's grasp, he lunged at Hogan number two. Carter jumped in front of the man in an attempt to keep the Englander away from him, but was roughly shoved out of the way by Newkirk whose fist then connected with Hogan number two's jaw. The man stumbled backward, the back of his head striking the frame of the double bunk beds before he fell on his back onto the floor with Newkirk on top of him with his arm drawn back ready to deliver another blow.

"Newkirk!" Kinch shouted as he and LeBeau both grabbed their friend and yanked him off of the man. "Calm down! Newkirk!" They dragged the enraged Englander away while Olsen knelt down beside the unconscious prisoner who's head was now lying in a small pool of blood. He pressed two fingers against the man's throat.

"He's alive," Olsen said looking up at Kinch.

"He won't be for bloody long!" Newkirk shouted struggling against being held.

After awhile, Newkirk seemed to calm down just a bit, but both Kinch and LeBeau still held onto him tightly. Carter stood nearby with mouth open in an 'O' and eyes wide. He had never seen his friend so enraged before.

"Olsen, get one of the guards and then have them get Wilson. Go!" Kinch shouted. He watched Olsen leave the barracks. He then looked at Carter who hadn't moved. "I suggest you make yourself scarce," he suggested. He noticed Carter hadn't moved. "Carter!"

The young American, as if awakened from a dream, looked at Kinch, and then at the unconscious man on the floor before nodding and moving around the man, exited the barracks. Once he was gone, LeBeau and Kinch focused on Newkirk who now had calmed down and was breathing heavily. It seemed at last he had come to grips with what he had done and knew he was in deep trouble.

"Are you all right, mon ami?" asked LeBeau, worried, standing in front of his friend with hands pressed against his chest.

"I'm okay now, Louie," Newkirk replied. "I lost me head when he said what he said about the Gov'nor." He turned his head to the side enabling him to see a bit of Kinch. "You can let go now, mate. I'm all right now." Kinch, feeling that the Englander had calmed down sufficiently after getting the anger out of his system, released his arms and clapped a hand on his shoulder. Newkirk hung his head sorrowfully.

"I've really gone and done it now. I'm sorry, Kinch," Newkirk said shamefully. "I truly am. I just hope the Gov'nor won't be too upset with me when he finds out what I done."

They heard a loud groan and noticed Hogan number two starting to stir and make an attempt to sit up touching the back of his head. He winced.

Before the radioman could answer, the barracks door opened and Olsen, followed by Wilson carrying his medical bag, and Langenscheidt behind him, entered the barracks. The medic immediately knelt beside the injured man.

"Olsen told me what happened," the medic explained as he began his examination. The entire time he was treating his patient, Hogan number two glared at the Englander with intense hatred in his brown eyes. He winced again and jerked away while the medic was treating him.

"Watch what the fuck you're doing, will you!" he snapped at Wilson causing the medic to pause momentarily, unaccustomed to being snapped at in such a fashion. A brief glance in the direction of the others told him they were just as surprised.

"Sorry," the medic said as he resumed his treatment of the injury. It was then he noticed something familiar during his examination and subsequent treatment; but he remained mum on his findings. As soon as he finished, he helped the man to his feet and then to sit down on Carter's bunk when the man swayed on his feet. "You only have a mild concussion," he explained. "You'll have a headache and some dizziness for a few days. I suggest you put an ice pack on the back of your head where it struck the post. Make sure to get plenty of rest for the next three days at least. And no strenuous physical activity until further notice." Reaching into his bag, Wilson removed a bottle of aspirin and handed the man two. "Take these now for pain." He watched the man swallow the aspirin dry before handing him four more. He watched the man put the aspirin in his jacket pocket. "Take two more in four hours and the others four hours after that. If you need more come see me." He looked at Olsen and Kinch. "Help him into his quarters so he can lie down."

"I don't need to lie down, thank you," Hogan number two announced harshly still glaring at Newkirk. "I'll be all right."

"You can lay down in your quarters now, or in the infirmary. Take your choice," said Wilson."

Hogan number two sighed. His head hurt a lot right now. "I'll take my quarters," he said.

"I thought so," Wilson said with a smile. "Colonel, if you experience any other unusual symptoms let me know right away. Kinch, Olsen, help him to his quarters. Then, make sure he has an ice pack to put on the back of his head." As they watched the two men lead the injured man to the smaller room, Wilson leaned forward with both hands, palms downward, on the table with narrowed eyes and knitted eyebrows.

Hogan number one, feeling somebody was nearby, opened his eyes and slowly turned his head to find Andrew Carter seated in the chair beside the bed. "Carter, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

"I just needed to see for myself that you were all right. How do you feel, Colonel?" His eyes fell on the wrapped hand laying on top of the man's body and winced at the blood-stained gauze. "How's the hand?"

"Painful," Hogan replied. "What are you doing in here? Wilson was told to keep you out of here. And Sergeant Anderson is in the back room. If he finds you here…."

"I know, the guys told me. But when Wilson came to our barracks and I was told to leave, I took a chance I could get to see you, sir. But I made sure the guards didn't catch me as the prisoners are confined to barracks. I kept close to the sides of the buildings." Carter hung his head. "I'm sorry, Colonel."

Something in Carter's tone gave Hogan pause. And despite his anger right now, he found himself still concerned over the young man. "Sorry for what?"

Carter looked up and at Hogan. "For this and those," he said pointing at Hogan's injured hand and the bruises on his face.

Hogan licked his dry lips. "Carter, I know you're sorry, but I'm afraid that doesn't change the fact that you betrayed me; you betrayed us. You now believe this imposter is Colonel Hogan and not me. Tell me, Carter, what exactly did he promise you to buy your loyalty?"

"That's not fair, Colonel," Carter announced, stung by the question.

"Isn't it? But you haven't answered my question. What did the phony promise you to buy your loyalty?"

Carter hung his head. "He promised to send me home so I could be with Mary Jane. As soon as I help him convince other prisoners he's really Colonel Hogan and as soon as he takes over as the Senior POW officer."

Hogan shook his head and winced. "And exactly where am I suppose to be while all this is happening?"

Carter raised his head and had a sad look on his face. He shrugged. "Once he takes over, he says he'll get rid of the phony."

Hogan swallowed the lump in his throat. "I see. Get out, Carter," he said softly. "And don't come back here."

Carter's jaw fell. "But Colonel…."

"I said get out! I can't stand looking at you right now."

"What are you doing here," a male voice said. Looking over, Carter spied Sergeant Paul Anderson, Wilson's assistant, standing in the infirmary area glaring at the young Sergeant. "Now I don't know all the particulars as to why, but you were ordered to stay away from the Colonel. So I suggest you leave and do it now."

Carter, with a forlorn look on his face, hung his head. "Yes, sir," he said sadly as he got to his feet. He turned and with hands stuffed in his pockets and slightly hunched over, walked away without a look back. Hogan watched him walk away with a bit of sadness in his heart, feeling badly for the young man somewhat. He then looked up at Anderson.

"You all right, sir?" asked Anderson. "Did he harm you in any way?"

"No. I'm fine," Hogan stated. He paused for a moment. "Y'know, I feel kind of badly for Carter," he said.

"Why's that, Colonel?" Anderson asked sitting down in the chair Carter had vacated. "He betrayed you and the others and just might have had a hand in what happened to you. How can you feel sorry for him?"

"I don't know, Paul, I just do. And despite his betrayal, I don't want to believe that Carter had a hand in what happened in the rec hall. It would be too heartbreaking if true. But regardless, he's still one of my men."

Anderson shook his head in amazement. "You're a better man than I am, sir," he said admiringly.

Olsen and Kinch emerged from the smaller room to find Wilson appearing to be lost in thought and looking as if something was deeply troubling him.

"We gave him a towel with some ice in it to put on the back of his head," Olsen said. "Right now he's sleeping."

"Newkirk, you shouldn't have hit him," Kinch muttered. "You could be in big trouble as he just might be a Colonel even if not Colonel Hogan. Hopefully the Colonel can do something when he finds out."

Newkirk shrugged. "I told you he deserved it, Kinch. He shouldn't have said what he said about the Gov'nor is all."

"Just what did he say about the Colonel?" asked Wilson curiously.

"He called the Gov'nor a Nazi spy," Newkirk said with disgust. "I lost me temper again but this time I couldn't hold back anymore."

"Ouch," was all Wilson said regarding what he's heard. "He certainly knows how to aggravate people, doesn't he?"

Needing to change the situation, Kinch looked at the medic. Joe, what's wrong?" he asked. "You looked troubled by something when Olsen and I walked into the room."

Wilson scratched his chin. "I'm not sure," he said. He glanced back at Langenscheidt who was standing near the door. The medic then motioned with his head for LeBeau, Newkirk, Kinch and Olsen to join him. The men moved off to the side where they could talk with ought being overheard.

"What is it?" asked the Frenchman with knitted eyebrows.

"When I was examining his injury, I noticed a few scars in the area of behind his ears, the base of his skull at the hairline, and on his temple near the hairline. They're very faint and one needs to really get up close in order to see them, but they are there. I've seen those type of scars before."

"So what?" asked LeBeau not comprehending. "A lot of new prisoners have scars on them. The Krauts aren't exactly gentle when they question a person."

"Yeah, but we don't know if the Gestapo ever had this blighter as a prisoner," said Newkirk.

Wilson shook his head. "These aren't the type of scars a person would have from being beaten or tortured."

"Joe, what are you saying exactly? Just what type of scars are they then?" asked Kinch.

"They're the type of scars a person would have who's undergone plastic surgery," the medic answered.