Chapter 34

Hogan pulled the plug from the coffeepot and exchanged looks with Carter, LeBeau and Olsen.

"Boy, you sure called it, Colonel," Carter said looking up at his commander with a smile leaning forward on Hogan's desk. Olsen and LeBeau chuckled.

"What do we do next, Colonel?" asked LeBeau.

Hogan, with both arms straight, leaned forward on his desk. "Now we wait until our friend heads back here and then I'll put in an appearance in Klink's office and plead Newkirk's case."

Just then, the door to Hogan's quarters opened and Baker's head appeared. "Colonel, the phony just left Klink's office and is heading this way."

Olsen quickly put the coffeepot speaker back together as Hogan pulled his door open all the way. "Carter, back to being a traitor. LeBeau, you and Olsen out."

The minute the three men left Hogan's quarters, Hogan put the coffeepot back on his footlocker and exited his quarters closing the door behind him. He entered the common room just as the barracks door opened and Hogan number two walked in. Ignoring the man, Hogan number one walked past him and grabbed the doorknob, opening the door.

"Going somewhere, Hogan?" asked Hogan number two sarcastically with a sneer on his face.

Hogan number one looked over his shoulder. "Not that it's any of your business, but I have to see a Kraut about a prisoner." Not waiting for a response, he exited the barracks and closed the door behind him. Hogan walked briskly across the compound and up the steps of the Kommandantur, glancing at the guard on the porch before going inside where he found Hilda seated behind her desk typing. She looked up hearing the door open and smiled warmly upon seeing the American Colonel.

"Guten Morgen, Colonel Hogan," she said still smiling as she paused her typing.

"Morning yourself, pretty Fraulein," Hogan remarked with a smile of his own. He approached Hilda's desk and leaned forward. "I uh, saw our friend come in here earlier," he began in a low voice. "How did the Schultz protection plan work?"

Getting to her feet, Hilda walked to the file cabinet and opened the top drawer. "It worked just fine, Danke." Coming up behind her, Hogan rested his hands on her slender hips.

"I'm so glad to hear that," he murmured nuzzling her neck. "I do so love when a plan works well."

Hilda found it difficult to concentrate on what she was looking for in the filing cabinet as she thumbed through the alphabet index cards. "Um-hmm. In fact, I think he was more than upset by the guard coming inside with him and watching his every move."

Hogan kissed her cheek. "I do like a satisfied customer," he said before releasing the blond and stepping back, thus allowing her to return to her desk. "Is the man who would be General in his office?"

"He is. But I don't think he's in a very good mood right now. The other Hogan was in there earlier."

"Oh, well then, I'd better go cheer Klink up." Hogan hurried to the inner office door but paused before grabbing the doorknob, returned to Hilda's desk, kissed her forehead, and then returned to the door and opened it without knocking. He let the door close behind him.

Klink looked up when his door opened. "What do you want, Hogan? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Standing in front of the Kommandant's desk, Hogan number one wrapped his arms around himself and stared at Klink with a blank expression. "Kommandant, I'd like to speak with you about Newkirk. I'd like you to release him from the cooler."

Klink leaned back in his chair and holding his pen in both hands, rolled it between his fingers. He stared at Hogan with a smug look on his face; he was going to enjoy this. He figured he would make Hogan beg for the Englander's release now that he knew what Hogan number one wanted to see him about.

"You do, eh? And why should I do that?" Klink asked. "Why should I release that hotheaded, trouble-making Englander? Give me one good reason why."

"Well, there's one very good reason why. Newkirk didn't try to kill anybody. He just lost his temper is all. And given the circumstances, can you really blame him? Besides, he's been punished enough. And knowing what a kind, compassionate and understanding Kommandant you are, I'm sure you can find it in your heart to release him."

Even though he knew better, Klink couldn't stop his chest from puffing out at the compliments. "Hogan, all the begging in the world won't convince me to release Corporal Newkirk. So save your breath and get out. I have work to do."

Hogan shrugged his shoulders, hooked his thumbs in the side pockets of his jacket, and started towards the door. "I guess you won't win then. Besides, it's probably just a rumor anyway."

"Wait a minute. Won't win what? What's probably a rumor?"

Hogan grabbed the doorknob. "Doesn't matter. Besides, it's not important. And you're right, you're busy so I'll just be on my way." He opened the door and started walking out.

"Hogan, come back here this instant," said Klink, now completely at Hogan's mercy. He watched the American close the door and approach the desk again.

"Sir?"

Klink slowly got to his feet and walked around his desk until he stood beside Hogan, making the American beg for Newkirk's release now completely forgotten. "You said it's probably just a rumor. What have you heard? Tell me."

"Well, as I said it could only be a rumor, but I don't think so. I mean, old Bubble Head wouldn't spread a rumor like that."

Klink's jaw dropped and his eyes widened. "What did old Bubble…I mean, what did the Fuhrer say?"

"Well, I heard that he's looking for the most compassionate and forgiving prison Kommandant who will make him look good when Germany loses the war and he needs to look good to the Allies. In fact, all the prisoners in all the prison camps are suppose to vote for their Kommandant for the most humane and compassionate. I can guarantee a sure victory for you, but with Newkirk staying in the cooler for simply losing his temper won't help you win, sir. But that's okay…." Hogan turned towards the door again and grabbed the doorknob again, twisting it. "…I mean, you might get an honorable mention when General Eisenhower and his tanks roll through the front gate when the liberation happens. But I suppose you know what you're doing. And honorable mention really isn't that bad." He opened the door and started exiting again, but paused when Klink's expression changed and waited.

Klink strode over to his window, opened it, and looked out. "Schuuuuulllltz! Release Newkirk from the cooler immediately!" He closed the window.

Hogan smirked. "Thank you, sir. I'll make sure to tell the men to stuff the ballot boxes in your favor." He gave Klink a sloppy salute when the Kommandant turned and looked at him having forgotten he was still there. Klink returned the salute as Hogan exited the office closing the door. Now alone in his office, Klink shook his fist.

"Hrmph!" he muttered realizing Hogan had done it to him again.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, Newkirk, who had been laying down, sat up on the bed with both feet on the floor. Despite being tired having worked most of the night on the antenna with Kinch, he smiled when he saw Hogan and Schultz appear outside the cell door.

"Morning, Schultzie. Colonel. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?" Newkirk asked with a smile. To Hogan, other than looking tired, the Englander looked and sounded better than he had in a while.

Hogan stood beside Schultz as the rotund guard reached for the key to the cell hanging from his belt while looking in the cell. "On your feet, Newkirk," Schultz said wearily. "The Kommandant is releasing you."

With a smirk, Newkirk's green eyes looked in Hogan's brown ones and noticed the subtle nod of his head. He grabbed his cover and got to his feet quickly.

"It's about bleedin' time, mate." He stood by the cell door waiting until the door was unlocked and held open, allowing the Englander to step outside. "I was about to write a letter to the Fuhrer complaining about me accommodations here. They really are deplorable, y'know."

Schultz smirked. "Good luck with that," he muttered with a chuckle.

"C'mon, Newkirk," said Hogan draping an arm around his friend's shoulders and led him out of the cell area. "LeBeau might be able to prepare something for you."

"Believe it or not, Gov'nor, right now even that French swill Louie makes would look good."

Hogan winced. "And here I thought you couldn't be broken," he teased. He grinned when he saw Newkirk smile. When they were out of earshot of Schultz, Hogan turned and faced Newkirk putting both hands on his shoulders. "I need to bring you up-to-date with what's been going on, and why I had you sprung from the cooler now," he said seriously. He then set about explaining to Newkirk everything that had happened since Bluebird's visit. Hogan could see the anger in his friend's green eyes as he talked. When he was finished, Hogan waited to see what Newkirk would do or say.

"That bloody, no good blighter!" he hissed. "You just leave 'im to me, Colonel. I'll straighten 'im out but good. Him and that Gower both."

"No," Hogan emphasized. "Unless you can control your temper around these people, I'll have no choice but to have Klink lock you up again, but this time in a cell without a back door. It's important that you control your temper. Promise me, Newkirk."

The Englander exhaled deeply and let his eyes roll upward to the heavens before he focused on Hogan again. He knew Hogan needed him right now and he needed him with a clear head, and not one obsessed with plans of committing assault or murder. "I promise, Gov'nor. It won't be easy but I'll give it me best effort. You have me word."

Hogan nodded and let his arms fall to his side. "I need you and Kinch to search Gower's room and find where he's hidden those weapons and switch the live ammo with blanks. I also need you to see if you can find any proof of his Gestapo affiliation. He has to have something proving he's working for them."

Newkirk smirked. "Leave it to me, Colonel. Me and me ten magic fingers."

As they resumed walking, Hogan glanced at the Englander. "How did things go with the antenna last night? You and Kinch make any progress?"

With both hands shoved in his pants pockets, Newkirk shrugged. "Not good, sir. That thing is really bent and jammed against the inside edge. I somehow doubt we're gonna get it fixed in three days. Kinch thinks we might have to remove the damaged end completely. It may even take a day or two just to do that and get the bloody radio working again on time." He sighed. "Sorry, sir."

The corners of Hogan's mouth curled upward ever so slightly. "It's okay. Just do the best you can. Regardless whether or not you and Kinch can get the radio working on time, we still have to sabotage Captain Wylie's plans for this Friday."

"Don't worry your head about it, Colonel. We'll stop that traitorous blighter for sure."

Hogan number two was seated at the table in the common room reading the paperback he had been reading the night before when the barracks door opened and in walked Newkirk followed by Hogan number one. He grumbled something under his breath as the other prisoners surrounded the Englander welcoming him back with pats on the back and a chorus of 'welcome back.' Smiling, Newkirk accepted the greeting from his friends except for Carter who sat on his bunk looking up at him. The Englander's eyes fell on his friend and saw the greeting that was in his eyes. He nodded discreetly to the younger man indicating he acknowledged his silent greeting. It was then that Newkirk's eyes fell on the only other person that hadn't greeted him…Hogan number two. The two men glared at each other while Hogan number one put a steadying hand on Newkirk's shoulder. Newkirk glanced back over his shoulder at his commanding officer and nodded he was all right.

"What possessed you to get that hothead released?" Hogan number two hissed glaring at Hogan number one slamming his paperback shut. "He's a homicidal maniac, and you getting him released just shows what kind of person you really are."

"Oh?" Hogan number one replied, his face neutral, slowly stepping in front of Newkirk who kept his hands stuffed in his pockets and remained quiet. "And just what kind of person am I?" He hooked his thumbs in his jacket pockets.

Hogan number two grabbed his paperback and hastily got up from the table and stormed in the direction of the smaller room. Grabbing the doorknob, he turned and glared at the American officer again with a smirk. "It goes to show you prefer surrounding yourself with undesirables like yourself." He then glared at Newkirk. "Just make sure to keep that maniac away from me before he gets hurt." He then entered the smaller room slamming the door behind him.

Hogan number one stared at the closed door for a few seconds before sitting down at the table with Newkirk across from him. As the other men went back to what they had been doing, LeBeau approached and gripped the Englander by both shoulders and smiled widely.

"Forget about him, mon ami," he said as Newkirk looked into his face. "It is good to have you back again where you belong. You must be hungry. I will fix you something." He quickly went to the potbelly stove, grabbed the coffeepot and poured what was left of the warm coffee for Hogan and Newkirk, and then set about preparing a late breakfast for his friend, having saved some eggs, bacon and bread from earlier.

As Hogan took a drink of coffee, Newkirk leaned forward and kept his voice barely above a whisper; in fact, the Colonel had to lean forward to hear him.

"What's the plan, Colonel?" Newkirk asked.

Hogan glanced at the closed door to his quarters then turned back to Newkirk. "We'll keep Gower occupied while you and Kinch search Gower's room tonight."

"Just how are you going to accomplish that, Colonel?" asked LeBeau softly placing a plate in front of Newkirk who began to eat hungrily.

"Easy," replied Hogan. "I'll convince Schultz to assign him to patrol outside the fence tonight. That will leave his room empty."

"But what about the antenna?" Newkirk asked in-between bites.

"Unfortunately, whatever you find regarding Gower's Gestapo connections, give it to Kinch and have him return straight back to the infirmary. Then have him send Wilson to come and get me and I'll come to the infirmary. Our friend will be watching you closely so you'll have to come back to the barracks and Kinch will have to work on the antenna alone tonight. We need to get rid of Gower first; that'll eliminate one problem. One more thing Newkirk. When you find the weapons, don't remove them from his room. Just replace the bullets with blanks and return them to his hiding place. We don't want the good Captain Wylie and Corporal Gower to know we're onto them."

In the small room, Hogan number two was stretched out on the top bunk reading his book, a smile on his face. The Englander Newkirk was back in the barracks just as he had told Gower. And if he knew Hogan as well as he believed, he would have the thief search for the weapons and had no doubt he would find the package. He wished he could see the looks on the faces of Newkirk and Hogan when that package was opened. He also couldn't wait to see the shocked expression on the Englander's face when he discovered the part he would play when Hogan died.