Author's Note: I don't own Hogan's Heroes. This is a fictional story any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.
They stood there, both had a gun trained on the other. Carter studied her face. She looks the way the Colonel described her. She's beautiful.
"I won't ask again." She said, breaking the silence.
"Well, he isn't coming." Carter said, he took a step closer, "I'll help you get out of Germany, if that's what you want."
She considered what he said before she spoke, "How do I know I can trust you?"
"Well gee, lady, how do I know I can trust you?" Carter responded.
She looked unsure, " I must see Papa Bear."
Carter shrugged, "I'm what you have. You can tell me your name and come with me or you can stay here and I'll leave." He started to take a step backwards, when she stopped him.
"Wait. I..." She stopped, staring into his eyes.
She must have trusted what she saw there, because she puts her gun into her purse and continues, "My name is Lisbeth Kramer. I am the niece of General Dietrich Lutzen. I've been a member of the underground for several months. He's suspicious of me. I must get out of Germany tonight."
Carter's eyes widened, "Kramer? We thought your last name was Lutzen."
Lisbeth smiled, "No, he is my uncle on my mother's side."
Carter nodded putting away his gun, "Okay, Ma'am, we need to get..." He stopped suddenly spotting a set of headlights coming down the road. He reached over and shut off the lights. Grabbing her by the arm, he moved toward the kitchen door. She pulled her arm from his grasp, running towards the parlor, she opened the door and stepped in. Carter started to follow her when she suddenly appeared with a toddler in her arms.
"Let's go, quickly." She urged.
Putting aside his surprise, Carter pushed her ahead of him. They had just made it out the back door when they heard the front door open. They ran for the woods, Carter pushing her in the direction of the rendezvous with Kinch and Newkirk. They heard a loud boom that filled the air. There goes the train. Carter thought, briefly glancing at his watch. Seven fifty. He urged her to move faster as they heard the sounds of pursuit behind them.
1********************************1
Kinch and Newkirk were moving as quickly and quietly as they could through the forest. They were about half of a mile away from the rendezvous when they heard,
"Schauen Sie sich dort über."
A shot rang out and narrowly missed them. They took off at a run. Kinch zigged to the right of the path, and Newkirk zagged to the left. They each ran as quietly as the could, with Kinch picking his way towards the rendezvous. He only slowed for a moment to listen for his pursuers. Hearing nothing, he slowed down to a brisk walk. He reached the rendezvous less than a minute later. Kinch stepped into the bushes and looked at his watch. seven fifty-eight. He settled down to wait for Carter, Newkirk, or eight ten.
Meanwhile, Newkirk, knowing the patrol had followed him and not Kinch, ran dodging around trees. He slowed down, slightly, as he hit difficult terrain. He could still, faintly, hear the sound of the patrol behind him. He stopped, looking around, he noticed a tall tree with a low hanging branch. He ran up to it and grabbed hold, pulling himself up. He had just pulled himself into the thick of the greenery, when the patrol ran underneath. Newkirk held his breath, releasing it only when they had moved on.
He peeked at his watch. Eight o'clock. I have ten minutes to get to the rendezvous. He eased himself out of the tree and started to step forward. He heard footsteps approaching quickly, stepping into the shadows he waited, pistol drawn.
1*************************************1
Hogan had just finished his squab, when a boom was heard in the distance and the room shook.
Hochstetter and Klink jumped to their feet.
"What was that?" Klink said, peering out the window.
Hochstetter spun on Hogan, "You did this!" He accused, "You are behind this!"
Hogan held up his hands, "I was with you the whole time, Major."
"That's true you were." Klink put in helpfully, "It's true, Major."
"SHUT UP, KLINK!" Hochstetter hollered, angrily. He stormed out the door, got into his car, and ordered his driver to take him to Gestapo headquarters in Hammelburg.
"Schultz, order a roll call." Klink said.
Schultz started to do as he was told when he stopped hearing the shout of fire. Turning, he spoke to the Kommandant,
"Herr Kommandant, I beg to report there is a fire in the compound."
"Schultz, you dummkopf! Don't just stand there, put out that fire." Klink shouted at the poor sergeant.
Hogan came out and stood on the porch, looking at his watch. Ten minutes 'til eight.
"May I go?" Hogan asked, the Kommandant.
"Dismissed, Hogan." Klink waived him on without much notice. He was too busy shouting orders at the guards.
Hogan hurried over to barracks two, meeting LeBeau and Olsen at the door. Hogan walked over to the bunk, "Watch the door , Olsen." He said, before he disappeared down into the tunnel with LeBeau at his heels.
1************************************************1
Carter looked back behind him, he could hear the people following him, but couldn't see them. His thoughts were pounding in his head like a sledge hammer,
Who is chasing us? Is Lisbeth involved with them? No, why would she be running if she was involved? Who's the kid?
He was thinking so deeply he failed to notice the figure in the shadows.
"Carter!" The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a relieved Newkirk.
"Shhh!" Carter hushed him, "We've got someone behind us."
Newkirk started walking quickly, matching steps with Lisbeth and Carter, his gun in his hand, "How far behind us?"
"I don't know." Carter whispered, "I can hear them."
Newkirk nodded, he could also hear them. He looked over at the woman carrying a child in her arms, "Is she alright?"
Carter shrugged, "Didn't have enough time to talk to her. But the way I figure it she wouldn't be running if she was with them."
Newkirk rolled his eyes, "Or 'er job is to lead them back to Papa Bear."
"I'm still here you know." Lisbeth puffed, struggling under her burden.
They were close to the rendezvous point. Hogan's words played in Newkirk's mind, 'Your job is to make sure they get back home safely' A decision needs made. "We can't let 'em follow us back to camp. You take 'er and the kid back to camp with Kinch. I'll see if I can lead our friends off. Then I'll lose 'em and double back to the camp." Newkirk said.
"Newkirk, what about what the Colonel said?" Carter asked.
"I'm doin' exactly what 'e said." Newkirk replied, "Gettin' all you 'ome safe and sound. Now, go on." He gave Carter a shove, then he turned back the way they came and disappeared into the darkness.
Carter hesitated a moment before he urged Lisbeth to push on. In a minute or two they hit the rendezvous. Kinch stepped out to greet them. Carter opened his mouth to say something when they heard gunshots ring out. Kinch started towards the sound of the gunshots, when Carter stopped him, "Newkirk said he was going to lead them off. We need to get back to camp. It's almost eight ten."
Kinch looked hesitant, then he nodded putting an arm around the sleeping toddler and lifting the child into his arms. Lisbeth started to protest, but she was cut off by Carter who told her to move out.
1*****************************************1
Down in the tunnel, Hogan was pacing. I shouldn't have sent them. This is all my fault. I should've called the meeting off after Hochstetter invited himself to dinner. Hogan glanced down at his watch. Eight twenty. They should be back by now.
"It is not your fault, mon Colonel." LeBeau broke into his thought, "You shouldn't punish yourself."
"Why shouldn't I?" Hogan said tiredly, "It was my call. I've put all my money on the table and the Germans are getting ready to call my bluff."
He was about to say something else but they heard noises in the tunnel. Hogan pointed to the pistols sitting in the rack by the radio. He, LeBeau, and Baker all picked up a pistol and pointed them at the emergency exit tunnel. They didn't have to wait long as a Carter, Kinch with the toddler, and Lisbeth stepped into view. Hogan relaxed, putting his pistol on the table.
"You're a sight for sore eyes." He said with a smile. He put his hand on Carter's shoulder. He turned to Lisbeth, "Miss Lutzen, we have..."
"Kramer. Her name is Kramer." Carter interrupted.
Hogan lifted his eyebrow, "Well, that explains why London hasn't a thing on Lisbeth Lutzen."
"Where is Pierre?" LeBeau asked noticing his absent friend.
Carter and Kinch looked at each other. Hogan seeing their hesitation guessed, "He got caught?"
"We don't know." Kinch stated, "I got separated from him after the rail line exploded."
"We were leaving the farmhouse. I had no sooner got there then the krauts showed up. I grabbed the lady and the kid and ran." Carter started to explain, the story pouring out of him faster, "Well, we were on our way to the rendezvous, and I was wondering how we were gonna lose them when Newkirk appeared out of nowhere. He said that he would lead the krauts away from us, then he would try to double back."
"Didn't you try to talk him out of it?" LeBeau asked, "He shouldn't have done something so foolish."
"He said he was following orders, getting everyone home safe and sound." Carter said look down, he was almost in tears.
Hogan groaned, silly Englishman, that not what I meant.
"That's not all." Kinch said solemnly, "We heard shots"
Hogan looked away, This is my fault, all my fault. Hogan stared at the wall of the tunnel for a moment. Pull yourself together, Rob. Turning back, he looked at Lisbeth. She had taken the child from Kinch and was holding the toddler tightly. "Are you a member of the Gestapo?" He asked, bluntly.
She looked surprised, "No, of course not."
"Your uncle missed tonight's little dinner party due to the fact he was 'catching a spy'." Hogan said, his voice full of suspicion.
"He meant me. I have been working with the underground for ten months. I joined after my father was killed by the Gestapo. He was also part of the underground." She paused to catch her breath, " My mother moved in with her brother. She is a Nazi sympathizer, I have often wondered if she was the one who turned Papa in." Her eyes took on the pain of loss and betrayal.
Hogan studied her for a moment, "I believe you, however, is it possible that your uncle brought you here in hopes that you would try to contact Papa Bear?"
Lisbeth looked at the ground, "I don't know. He is a devious man. He had Mama, myself, and Peter come to Hammelburg. I overheard him talking about suspecting someone in particular." She looked at Hogan, the fear still in her eyes, "I thought he meant me. I asked the Underground to help me escape. They told me to get to Stalag Thirteen and the Senior POW also know as Papa Bear, would help me. The only way I could think of to get to Stalag Thirteen was to accuse you of sabotage. I knew you couldn't have blown up the bridge so you would have an excuse."
Carter laughed, "But we did blow up the bridge, you almost ruined the whole operation."
She paled at that, "I'm sorry, I did not know."
"Colonel, London's on the line, wants to know if we still need to evacuate." Baker interrupted, "What do you want me to tell them?"
"Lutzen only met me, even if Newkirk got captured, it's unlikely Lutzen would connect him with this place." Hogan paused for a moment, "However, once Hochstetter sees him we're done."
"He won't be taken to headquarters." Lisbeth broke in, "Uncle Dietrich will take him back to the farmhouse."
"How do you know?" LeBeau asked.
Lisbeth looked away, "I...I have seen his methods of 'interrogation'. They are frowned upon by even the Gestapo."
Hogan sighed, "Tell London to keep standing-by. We might have had the operation compromised."
"Non! Pierre will not give us up!" The Frenchman said with confidence.
"All men break under torture, It's a matter of time and strength of will." Lisbeth stated looking Hogan in the eyes, "Your man may last longer than others, but he is not unbreakable."
Hogan swallowed the lump in his throat and turned to Baker, "Send the message to London. Also, tell them we'll need to get Miss Kramer and her son out of here."
"Brother. He's my brother." Lisbeth broke in.
"You kidnapped your brother?" Carter asked in confusion.
"I cannot allow him to be raised to hate." She defended, "My father's memory will be honored through his son."
"It doesn't matter." Hogan snapped, "Get it transmitted. I'll be in my office." Hogan turned and climbed the ladder, disappearing into the barracks above.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble." Lisbeth said.
"Non, Cheri, he does not blame you." LeBeau reassured her, "He is blaming himself."
Carter looked at LeBeau, utterly confused, "Why? He didn't know her uncle was crazy."
"Le Colonel found out that Lutzen was hunting a spy ten minutes after you left." LeBeau answered. They all looked at one another. They all had a different scenario playing through their minds, each one as bad as the other.
"Alright, LeBeau, get Miss Kramer something to eat and drink." Kinch said, taking control, "Carter, take her and the child to their sleeping quarters and stay with them."
Carter and LeBeau nodded, following his commands, they dispersed.
1******************************1
Newkirk picked his way through the forest, the sounds of the pursuers getting closer. He paused as he spotted an S.S. private approaching. He aimed his pistol and sent a shot over top of his head, within seconds they were returning fire. Newkirk fired a couple more shots then he took off in a run. He had to pull them farther away from Carter and the woman. Sure, enough, they were following him.
Unfortunately, in his efforts to lead them off he got turned around and ended up in the clearing, at the rail line. He paused as he saw two full kraut patrols heading his way. Turning, he took off in the only direction that didn't have any Germans. He was about a hundred yards ahead of the Germans. He heard them shout for him to stop. Then the bullets whizzed passed his ears. He made it across the tracks and was headed back to the woods. He was about fifty yards from the edge of the trees when he felt the ground give way beneath him, turning his ankle sharply. Just my luck. A blasted mole tunnel. He tried to stand but a shooting pain running up his ankle made him sit back down.
"Hände hoch. Bewegen sich nicht"
"Oh, 'ello, mates!" Newkirk said, dropping his pistol and putting his hands above his head.
Translation:
Schauen Sie sich dort über.- Look, over there
Hände hoch. Bewegen sich nicht. - Hands up. Don't move.
P.S. I shouldn't be gone for more than a week. I really hope you're enjoying the story. I enjoy hearing from you, so, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions feel free to speak. Much love.