A/N: Lance Kristoff is my own OC.

Chapter 39

Bluebird continued driving along what he knew to be a lonely, seldom-used stretch of road after leaving Stalag 13, occasionally glancing back at Gower to make sure he wasn't up to something. Smirking, he turned his eyes back to the road. Knowing Gower wouldn't talk voluntarily, Fuchs decided he'd have to try a different tactic other than the usual interrogation method to find out what and how much Gower knew about the goings on at Stalag 13.

"Tell me, Corporal," Fuchs began casually. "Why were you spying in Stalag 13, and in Luftwaffe guard uniform? I know for a fact that Major Hochstetter has not authorized any espionage operation at Stalag 13 while he was out."

"You don't know what you've done, Captain," Gower sneered.

"Then why don't you tell me?"

Despite knowing Fuchs was Hochstetter's second-in-command, Gower still decided not to tell him anything. Afterall, the Major had made it quite clear that nobody was to know anything about the plan, and that included his second-in-command, Captain Fuchs. And although he had been told by others the Major never kept anything from Fuchs, the fact that he was this time had him suspecting the word had come from higher up than Hochstetter. The higher ups figured the fewer people who knew, the least likely chance of a slip-up happening. Gower snickered.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you, Captain. If you were suppose to know, your boss would have told you. Based on that, I figure you weren't suppose to know," Gower smirked.

Fuchs let his own smirk appear. "Then I will tell you. I am willing to venture a guess that this was the Major's plan. I also suspect to involve an American named Captain Wylie who knew Colonel Hogan well, he very well couldn't have the good Captain deposited into Stalag 13 without the Colonel recognizing him immediately. So plastic surgery was required to change his appearance. But something that involved would have to be approved by those in Berlin who obviously sanctioned the Major's plan. How am I doing so far, Corporal?" Fuchs glanced over his shoulder and spotted the stunned expression on his prisoner's face and chuckled.

"How…how do you know all this?"

"You're Gestapo, Corporal. You know nothing remains a secret from us. But tell me, when did things change and the plan come about to kill Colonel Hogan? I mean, the Major has been suspecting him for years of being the infamous Papa Bear of which there is no proof so far. But the Major has never given up hoping that eventually he will find the proof and show everybody he was right all along. So, seeing as none of his regular tactics have worked, I suspect the Major decided to try a different tactic this time to prove Hogan is the spy and saboteur he believes him to be. He probably felt that if he brought somebody into the camp claiming to be Colonel Hogan, stir up the prisoners by causing suspicion among them, then get the Gestapo involved and have both Captain Wylie and Colonel Hogan removed on the premise that the real Colonel Hogan was a Gestapo plant was ingenious. This way the Gestapo would keep and interrogate the real Colonel Hogan, and send the plant back to Stalag 13 claiming he is the real Colonel Hogan to take his place and expose his so-called operation. But let me assure you, Corporal…" Fuchs, now several miles from anywhere, had turned off the road and stopped his car. "…you will never succeed with this plan; I will see to that."

"What do you mean by…" Suddenly Gower's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "You are working with Hogan! You're a traitor to the Fatherland!"

Fuchs turned in the front seat and faced his prisoner, a sad smile on his face. Remaining silent, he got out of the car, removed his sidearm, and as he opened the rear passenger-side door, pointed his weapon at Gower. "Not a traitor, Corporal. Just a German who is loyal to his country, but not to Hitler nor his methods. Now, I suggest you get out of the car very carefully; then, we are going to take a walk." As Gower slowly got out of the back seat, he suddenly tried head-butting the Gestapo officer, but Fuchs was ready for him. He shoved him back against the car and held him in place by pressing his forearm against the man's windpipe cutting off his breath. He placed his Luger against Gower's temple. "I suggest you don't try that again, Corporal." He then roughly seized the Corporal's uniform collar and roughly shoved him in the direction of the woods.

Twenty minutes later, Fuchs, his handsome face grim, walked back to his car alone and slid behind the wheel. He didn't like having to do what he'd just done, but it was a necessity in order to protect Papa Bear, the operation at Stalag 13, and the underground of which he was a member, as well. He rested his hands on the steering wheel and bowed his head as a single tear rolled down his cheek. I wonder if my soul will survive this war? he thought. Then with a sigh, he put the key in the ignition, turned on the motor, and drove away from the location. Now he had to put his plan in motion in order to deal with van Kueren. But first, he needed to meet up with a member of the underground.

Lance Kristoff, a member of the Hammelburg underground, was donning a slightly soiled and dirty Luftwaffe guard's uniform, and paced endlessly in his living room, periodically going to the window and pulling aside a corner of the pulled down window shade to look out. Becoming concerned, he looked at his watch again; the man he was expecting was cutting it awfully close. Suddenly he heard three knocks, one knock, followed by two more knocks. That was the pre-arranged signal.

With a relieved sigh, Kristoff approached the door and opened it, smiling, and ushering his guest inside.

"I was afraid you weren't coming," he said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry, but I was detained unavoidably," said Bluebird. He walked slowly around Kristoff, inspecting the uniform with approval. "Excellent. As long as nobody gets too close, you will pass for Gower." He saw Kristoff about to say something and held up a hand stopping him. "I wouldn't worry. Van Kueren won't be in the office. I've seen to that. Besides, people see what they want to see. You'll have no problem. Now, you remember what it is you have to do?"

"Yes. Don't worry."

Fuchs smiled as he opened the door. "After we get to Gestapo headquarters and plant the lure for van Kueren, I'll offer to drive you home so you can change clothes. This way I can drop you off before I head to the rendezvous spot and wait for van Kueren."

"Understood. Let's go then." Kristoff followed Fuchs out of the door and into the night.

Nearly two hours later, Fuchs and Kristoff walked into Gestapo headquarters. Both men noticed a Sergeant, whose name Fuchs couldn't remember at that exact moment, was seated at the information desk appearing to be handling paperwork of some kind. Both men warily approached the desk. The Sergeant looked up smiling, but his smile quickly turned to a frown when he noticed the Luftwaffe Corporal's uniform.

"Corporal Gower, what happened? Are you all right?" he asked.

"I am fine, Danke. Just had a bit of an accident with a car. Captain Fuchs was nice enough to bring me here since he passed me on his way home. Is Captain van Kueren in?" Kristoff asked in his best German accent.

"Sorry, you just missed him, in fact. He left here about ten minutes ago. He got a phone call from somebody and left, but said he should return in an hour or two. Can I perhaps help you with something?"

"No. I need to meet with the Captain. But I can't see him looking like this. I need to return home, clean up, and change into my Gestapo uniform. But you can do something for me." Reaching into his inner jacket pocket, Kristoff removed a sealed envelope and handed it to the Sergeant. "Would you make sure Captain van Kueren gets this as soon as he returns? It's quite urgent."

The Sergeant took the envelope and looked at it. "I'll make sure of it the minute he returns." He then turned and slipped the envelope into the Captain's empty mail slot in the mail box on the wall behind him.

Fuchs arched an eyebrow and grinned. "Hans, if you don't mind, I can drive you home. We can then have somebody get your car in the morning."

"Are you sure it isn't out of your way?"

"Not at all." He nodded to the Sergeant behind the desk. "Auf Wiedersehen. Heil Hitler."

"Heil Hitler, Captain."

The two men turned and quickly walked towards the exit maintaining their neutral expressions until they were outside and away from the building. Once they were inside Fuchs staff car, only then could they relax and allow smiles to form.

Fuchs checked his watch for the umpteenth time as he waited, crouched down behind some bushes. His legs were aching from remaining in one position for nearly three hours, but he didn't want to risk standing and walking around, and chance revealing his location in case van Kueren was approaching on foot. Checking his watch, the Captain wondered if van Kueren was running late; and wondered how much longer he would be able to remain out in the woods waiting. But Fuchs wasn't overly concerned. Like Hogan, his gut told him van Kueren would show once he read that letter. He stifled a yawn then stood up slowly, and stretched to relieve the cramping in his legs when he spotted the headlights of an approaching car in the distance. He quickly crouched back down, and tightened his grip on his Luger.

Hogan number two kept in the shadows with a hand patting a portion of his jacket where his inside jacket pocket was. He smiled as he felt their shape beneath his hand. He now had the weapons tucked safely inside his inner jacket pocket, and marveled at Gower's ingenuity at where he had hidden them. Even he had to admit nobody would have considered looking there; not even that stupid Englander Newkirk. He recalled when he visited the man in the cooler. He made sure Gower informed him where he had hidden the box containing the Lugers, and how to retrieve them. So he did so immediately after lights out. Now that Gower was gone he was on his own and would have to rely on himself to carry on with the plan.

He chuckled when he thought about seeing Hogan's expression when he saw Sergeant Carter pointing a gun at him and then pull the trigger. And he also knew he would leave Carter no choice; either kill Hogan, or have him watch the Frenchman's brains be splattered all over the floor. And if Carter tried to kill himself to avoid killing Hogan, then he would simply kill Hogan himself and then LeBeau. But he would make sure that Carter never found out that LeBeau would die despite Hogan being killed. The little frog had to pay for throwing that water on him, and pay he would.

Avoiding the searchlight, he slipped into the barracks. The room was dark and the only sounds were the soft snores of the men in their bunks. He carefully maneuvered his way in the dark until he came to the door of the Senior Officer's room. Opening the door, he entered and quietly closed the door. Using the thin sliver of moonlight coming through the slim gap between the shutters, he made out the sleeping form of Colonel Hogan lying on the top bunk, facing the wall. He stared at the man's back and smirked. "Enjoy your final moments of life, Hogan," he told himself. He carefully peeled off his leather jacket and carefully picked up his paper-thin pillow and laid the jacket in it's place then placing the pillow on top of it. This, he figured, would keep Hogan or anybody else from searching his jacket. With the safeties on both weapons, he wasn't concerned. Then, he laid down on the lower bunk on his back with both hands clasped behind his head, and a smile on his face.

Fuchs kept his eyes glued on the black car as it pulled to a stop a few yards from where he was crouched down and a figure climbed out of the driver's side. It was Captain van Kueren.

The Captain looked around warily as if expecting somebody to leap out at him at any moment. He began to wonder why Gower wanted to meet way out here in the middle of nowhere. Reaching into his outer coat side pocket, he removed the folded envelope and after opening it, removed the paper and unfolding it, read it again.

'Captain….

Meet me in the woods about six miles from Gestapo headquarters in Hammelburg at 2345 hours where the road divides. We need to discuss our plans for us to be able to get credit while making sure Major Hochstetter doesn't, and is seen as the fool he really is. Gower.' Van Kueren returned the letter to the envelope and folding it, stuck it back in his side pocket. He then removed his sidearm and walked tentatively in the direction of the dark woods.

"Hans?" he called out in a low voice. There was no answer.

Looking around, a sixth sense was telling van Kueren something was amiss. He kept walking when he suddenly stopped and stared, lower jaw dropping. Laying within plain sight a few steps in front of him was the body of Gower, laying on his back, vacant eyes devoid of life staring up at the dark sky above, a dark stain in the chest area. Van Kueren didn't have to approach the body to know that the man was dead.

Hearing the sound of a twig snapping behind him, van Kueren suddenly spun around only to have a bullet make contact with his shoulder causing his own shot to go wide, and for him to drop his weapon and clutch his injured arm. He found himself face-to-face with Fuchs.

"I should have known you'd be involved somehow, Fuchs," van Kueren hissed, his eyes darting to his dropped weapon, then back to Fuchs. "Tell me, does Major Hochstetter know that you are a traitor and in league with Papa Bear? Or should I call him Colonel Hogan?"

"It doesn't matter, Captain, you won't be telling anybody. You see, I know all about the plan to frame Colonel Hogan as a Gestapo plant and have Captain Wylie replace him claiming to be the real Hogan. And, I also know about the plan you, Gower, and Captain Wylie have to murder Colonel Hogan. I cannot allow that to happen. So you see, you are going to die, and it will appear that you and Corporal Gower disagreed on the plan to dispose of Colonel Hogan. You and Gower will both appear to have your own agenda, and end up killing each other in a dispute about diverting from the Major's plan once that letter is found in your side pocket."

"You prepared that letter instructing me to come here?" van Kueren asked with raised eyebrows. "But the Sergeant who gave it to me said Corporal Gower came to headquarters with you and handed him the letter with instructions to give it to me." He glanced back at the body. "When did you kill him?" he asked turning back to Fuchs.

"He was already dead before I arrived at Gestapo headquarters," Fuchs explained calmly. "The man with me was not the Corporal but a friend of mine. He was actually quite convincing."

Van Kueren snorted. "No doubt one of your underground friends," he said as a statement. Fuchs didn't respond, but only smiled. He again let his eyes dart to his weapon believing if he could reach it, he might be able to get a shot off killing Fuchs, or at least wounding him.

"You are a disgrace to your uniform and your country," van Kueren managed through gritted teeth. "And the sooner Major Hochstetter knows it, the sooner you and Papa Bear can be exposed for the enemies of Germany that you both are." That said, van Kueren left his feet and dived for his weapon as Fuchs' shot whizzed past his head. Van Kueren's fingers wrapped themselves around his own weapon, and managed to swing the weapon around in Bluebird's direction, firing, but missing his target as Fuchs dived out of the way just in time. Fuchs returned fire and a bullet struck van Kueren in the chest just missing his heart. Feeling his life leaving his body, he aimed his gun at Fuchs again and fired, but again his shot went wide this time due to the unsteadiness of his arm. He never got to fire another shot as a bullet tore into his brain as the shot from Fuchs gun caught him between the eyes. He fell backwards onto the ground, dead, his weapon lying in his open hand.

Bluebird approached the man cautiously, knelt down and pressed two fingers against van Kueren's throat; there was no pulse. Knowing he had to work quickly, he then went about moving the bodies and arranging them to add credence to the web he had spun. He then switched their weapons as van Kueren's had three cartridges missing from the clip while Gower's only had one. He also knew nobody traveled along this road which was why he chose it; therefore, nobody would find the bodies until he wanted them found. And that could not be for another twenty-four hours. Now, the rest was up to Hogan and his men.

"Raus! Raus! Everybody out for roll call!" Schultz bellowed flinging open the door to the barracks two only to find the men already awake and in the various stages of getting dressed.

"Can't you knock, Schultzie?" Newkirk ordered with a smirk. "We coulda all been in here stark naked and here you come walkin' in just as nice as you please."

"I apologize. Next time I will knock. Everybody outside. Now raus!"

"We're rausin'. We're rausin'," Newkirk mumbled. "Just keep your bloody knickers on."

Ten minutes later, Hogan number one and two were standing in formation with the other men as Schultz counted each man, pausing in front of Hogan number one. The American could see the worried look in the German's eyes and allowed the corners of his mouth to curl upward. "It'll be all right, Schultz," he said in a soft voice. The guard continued with his counting before he made his report to Kommandant Klink who was leaving his office.

After roll call, Hogan and his men, except for Carter and Hogan number two, re-entered. Kinch, who had returned to the barracks the evening before only because it was too risky to keep him in the infirmary any longer, immediately informed Hogan that the men needed to speak with him in his office. Hogan nodded and led the way into his office. After closing the door, Hogan turned and faced his men and wrapped his arms around himself.

"Okay. What did you fellas need to speak with me about?"

"Gov'nor, what are we gonna do with this bloke?"

"Oui, mon Colonel," LeBeau added. "We must get rid of him."

"Colonel, why don't we just tell Klink what this phony is planning, and let 'im toss 'im into the cooler," said Kinch.

"And what good would that do, Kinch?" asked Hogan with a sigh. "We know what he plans to do, but Klink's gonna want proof and we don't have any. Not yet anyway."