Author's Note: I don't own Hogan's Heroes. This is a fictional story any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

The men were buzzing as they filed into the barracks. Klink had given them the good news that, after a long week, Doctor Voll had cleared Newkirk to return to camp. Schultz would be bringing him back after the midday meal.

"Oh, boy, maybe he'll be well enough to go on the mission." Carter said, excitedly.

LeBeau rolled his eyes, "He was shot and beaten, I very much doubt if he'll be up for it." he quickly set about making breakfast. He never admit it, but he had missed the pessimistic Englishman.

Hogan smiled as he went into his quarters, everything was getting back to normal. Why, if this streak of good luck held, the mission tonight should go off without a hitch. He had just sat down, when he heard a commotion outside. Standing quickly, he walked back into the common room.

"Back. Back. Back. BACK!" the rotund guard was saying, pushing the men away from him. Schultz pushed the men of barracks two back into the common room, so that he and his ward could enter.

"Did ya miss me?" The cockney asked, with a grin on his face.

Hogan flinched when he saw Newkirk. The bruises on the corporal's face were fading, but still there and his limp, though not pronounced, was also there. "You're early." Hogan said, gruffly, trying to hide his surge of emotions.

Still grinning, Newkirk said, "The Doc 'ad a 'ard time keeping me still." he shrugged, "Guess, 'e was sick of me."

"Gee, Newkirk, takes a special kind of talent to make a doctor sick." Carter said, laughing at his own joke. Newkirk rolled his eyes, as the rest of the men groaned.

"I have to report to the Kommandant." Schultz said, extracting himself from the crowd, "I'm glad you are back, Newkirk." He exited the barracks, leaving the men to fuss over their friend.

As soon as Schultz had left, Newkirk's smile vanished, "What 'appened with the girl?" his gaze turned to Hogan.

Hogan motioned for Newkirk to sit down, "Well, she and her brother are down in the tunnel." he said, with a smile, "We are waiting on London to tell us when they'll pick her up. Carter, go down to the radio room and see if Kinch as heard anything from London."

LeBeau poured everyone a cup of coffee, "Oh, and she is most helpful. She knows the locations of several factories, a handful of secret laboratories, and three rocket test sites." he said, as he set Newkirk's cup in front of the surprised man.

"Blimey!" Newkirk said, "Guess you were right, Guv. She really was worth the gamble."

Hogan was about to reply, when the bunk opened and Kinch and Carter appeared. Kinch had a note pad in his hand which he handed to the colonel, "London said that Lisbeth and her brother will be picked up at the usual spot by nine, tonight."

Hogan nodded, "You and Olsen make sure they don't miss the sub. I don't want to have them here any longer than necessary."

Kinch nodded, "They also said that the security around the factory was increased. They want us to use extreme caution."

Hogan smirked, "Don't we always?"

Newkirk rolled his eyes, "That's right, caution is your middle name, Guv." he said, sarcastically.

Hogan chuckled, "Serve breakfast, LeBeau."

1************************************************1

For the next handful of hours until night-fall, they went about their normal routine. Hogan was in the radio room, running scenarios through his mind, and thinking of all the different ways his plan might fail; as well as, the ways to remedy the faults. Carter was in his lab, putting the finishing touches on his explosives.

LeBeau and Newkirk were in Hogan's office putting the finishing touches on Lisbeth's outfit.

"That will work for 'er. We 'ave to change Peter's clothes. Lutzen knows what they're wearing." Newkirk said, shaking his head.

"To what, mon ami?" LeBeau said, exasperated, "He is too small for anything we have in stock."

"Let me at my sewing box and I'll 'ave something ready in a couple 'ours." Newkirk replied, starting to get up.

LeBeau pushed him back into his seat, "Non, I will do the sewing. Doctor Voll and Wilson both want you to take it easy." LeBeau said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You? I sew ten times better than you do." Newkirk said, angrily, "Besides, sitting in the chair and sewing is taking it easy."

"All right, stop it." Kinch said, entering the room with a frown on his face, "What's the problem?"

LeBeau and Newkirk both clamped their mouths shut.

Kinch looked between the two and sighed, "Oh, come on."

"They are fighting over Peter's clothing. Corporal LeBeau wanted the Englander to rest." Lisbeth started to explain, when she was cut off.

"Don't call me that!" Newkirk shouted, jumping to his feet, "Don't you ever call me that!"

"Newkirk!" Kinch said, stepping between him and Lisbeth. Not that he thought his friend would hurt her, but to calm him down.

Newkirk swallowed hard and turned towards the bunk. Scooping up his jacket, he mumbled an apology, than he said he needed some air. Leaving Kinch and LeBeau exchanging worried glances.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to offend." Lisbeth said, picking up her brother.

"Never mind." Kinch said to her softly, "LeBeau, gather up the supplies and get to work on clothes for little Peter."

"I can help." Lisbeth offered, quietly.

Kinch nodded, he turned towards Hogan's desk grabbing the code book, that he had originally came to get, he left LeBeau and Lisbeth to their task. He went back to the tunnel and rejoined the colonel. He handed Hogan the code book, and then proceeded to tell him about Newkirk's outburst.

Hogan thought for a moment, "Maybe he just needs sometime to adjust; however, let's keep an eye on him."

Kinch nodded and sat down at the radio, "So, what does London have to say? It's gotta be important for the emergency code."

Hogan was already translating the message, "Agents in Berlin have reported to London that our friend, Lutzen, is deepening investigations into the underground system." Hogan sighed, "We're supposed to finish tonight's missions then close up shop until the heat dies down."

"Do they think he's on to us?" Kinch worried.

"They don't say." Hogan replied, "But I don't think we should make ourselves anymore of a target of suspect than we already are, besides, Newkirk could probably use the time-off. Send London an acknowledgment of the orders."

Kinch nodded, sitting down at the radio to send the message to London.

1*********************************************************1

Several hours later found Baker sitting at the radio, while Newkirk was attempting to pace, not an easy feat with his limp.

"Why don't you go lie down on the cot and get some sleep? I'll wake you when they get back." Baker suggested.

"Why don't you sod off." Newkirk snapped, taking a quick drag on his cigarette.

Baker shrugged, "Just tryin' to help."

Newkirk sighed, "Sorry, mate." he crushed the cigarette into the ash-tray, "They should be back by now."

Baker grinned and shook his head, "The colonel was right."

"'Bout what?" the Englishman asked.

"He said you wouldn't like the waiting around." Baker said.

Newkirk rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to reply, when he heard the hatch to the emergency tunnel open. A moment later, Kinch and Olsen appeared. Newkirk breathed a sigh of relief, "Did ya get it sorted?"

Olsen grinned as he wiped the black grease from his face, "Miss Kramer and her brother will wake up in jolly old England."

"And the information in her head, will help the allied cause." Kinch finished, pulling the black turtle neck off and puting on his uniform.

Newkirk grinned, "Good. Two down three to go." he pulled a cigarette out of the pack and lit it.

Kinch tapped Baker on the shoulder, "You and Olsen head up stairs and get some sleep, you should be able to get a couple of hours before roll call." The younger sergeant opened his mouth to argue but Kinch stopped him, "That's an order, both of you get some sleep."

Reluctantly, the two men climbed the ladder to the barracks. Kinch settled himself in front of the radio. He glanced over at the tired Brit, "I don't suppose you'd be willing to head up to bed?"

Newkirk breathed out a cloud of smoke, "No more than you would."

Kinch chuckled, "Fair enough. How about a game of gin while we wait?"

Newkirk limped over to the radio table, "You know me too well, Mate." he settled down in a chair and pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket. The two proceeded to play cards as the hours passed. Kinch tossed down his hand, tiredly. Newkirk had just called 'gin' for the sixth time in a row. The radio man scrubbed his eyes, "They aren't going to make it, roll call is in ten minutes."

Newkirk looked down at the cards he was shuffling, "Do we have a plan B?"

Kinch shook his head, "Com'on, Schultz will be looking for us."

The two went up to the barracks and received many anxious inquiries from the men.

Kinch held up his hands, "I don't know where they are, get ready for roll call."

"RAUS!" Schultz bellowed, as he came through the door, "Everybody raus!"

The men exited the barracks and lined up to be counted. Schultz counted down the line until he reached Hogan's spot.

"Was is los?" he asked apprehensively, "Where is Colonel Hogan?"

"Well, ya see..." Newkirk started, "Ah..."

"Had an internal matter, Schultz." Hogan said, stepping into his spot in line, followed by LeBeau and Carter. Kinch and Newkirk visibly relaxed.

"What...Where...Colonel Hogan!" Schultz said, "Why were you late?"

"I told you, an internal matter." Hogan said, "A disagreement between LeBeau and Carter."

Schultz looked over at the two mentioned men, he looked unconvinced. He opened his mouth to question them further, when Klink stepped out onto the porch of the Kommendantuer. "Report!" came his usual order.

Schultz shot Hogan one last suspicious look and turned to Klink, "All present and accounted for, Herr Kommandant."

"Very good." Klink said, "Dismissed."

The men surrounded Hogan, Carter, and LeBeau. The questions came quickly and they overlapped each other, until Hogan finally held his hands up to quiet everyone down, "Settle down, the krauts are starting to stare." He motioned to the barracks, "Get inside."

The men shuffled into the barracks all dying to hear about their comrades' exploits, after they had settled down into their seats and bunks they turned expectantly to Hogan.

"What?" he asked, with a grin.

Carter laughed, "I think they want to know how it went."

"You 'ad us worried sick!" Newkirk said, poking the younger American in the chest, "You don't tell us 'ow it went and I'll..."

"All right." Hogan cut him off, "It is my distinct pleasure to tell you that, due to your fellow prisoners and the distinguished R.A.F, the munitions factories in Cologne and Dortmund are out of commission."

The men cheered, Newkirk smiled, "That'll keep 'em off the French underground for a while."

"Oui, it is a good day for France." LeBeau said, enthusiastically.

"Unfortunately, that will be our last mission, at least for the time being." Hogan said.

"What do you mean?" Carter asked, "What happened?"

"London has solid information, from sources in Berlin, that our friend Lutzen is investigating the underground in this area." Hogan said, noticing that Newkirk tensed at the mention of Lutzen.

"Does 'e suspect us?" Newkirk asked, quietly.

"London doesn't know, but they want us to lay low for a little while." Hogan said, "So for now, we'll play it by ear. Did Lisbeth and Peter make it back to England?"

Kinch nodded, "They sent us a transmission about two hours ago. London sends their thanks for a job well done."

"Colonel Hogan," Schultz said, entering the barracks, "The Kommandant wants a couple of men to repaint the officers mess, now that they're done rebuilding the back wall."

"Why don't you paint your own mess hall." LeBeau said, with disdain.

"Right." Newkirk said, "Geneva Convention prevents us from bein' forced to work for the enemy."

"The Kommandant said he would offer one hour of extra light for two weeks." Schultz said, with a smile.

"The men are right Schultz, they can't be forced to work for nothing." Hogan said, slipping easily, into a manipulative con-man, "I mean I could only consider it for two hours of extra light for two weeks."

"The Kommandant said you would say that, so he said his final offer was one hour of extra light for three weeks." Schultz replied.

Hogan pretended to consider it, "Ah, very well. Tell the Kommandant that, Corporals LeBeau and Newkirk will paint the officer's mess tomorrow after breakfast."

"Danke, Colonel." Schultz smiled and left to tell Klink the arrangement.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Newkirk and LeBeau began to complain.

"Why us?" LeBeau asked.

"Yeah, you usually ask for volunteers." Newkirk added.

Hogan folded his arms over his chest, "I don't appreciate fist fights in the barracks." He gave them both a pointed look, "And maybe some good honest labor will help you to remember that in the future."

Kinch smiled while the Europeans continued to grumble under their breath, "Well, sir, how about some breakfast?"

1********************************************************1

Meanwhile in Hammelburg,

General Lutzen, had received a letter from his superiors in Berlin, which read in part:

'Miss Lisbeth Kramer and brother, Peter, have been located in London, England.

They are to be considered traitors to the Fatherland. An inquiry has been made into you and your handling of their disappearance. The Führer is most displeased, however, if you can crush the underground resistance in the Hammelburg area, you may be able to redeem yourself.'

He crumpled the letter, angrily. I'll find them, all right. He thought, I'll find them and they will regret helping Lisbeth. He picked up his glass of Schnapps and took a big swallow, They'll be sorry, if it's the last thing I do.

P.S. Hey, I'm so sorry this took so long. I haven't been free to write, what with my nieces coming to visit, then my grandmother went into the hospital, and then I got sick! But, at last, all done! I hope you enjoyed the story. I want to thank you all for reading and giving me encouragement and constructive criticism, and la-hija-de-Dios, thank you so much for the support and the ideas!
I do have a plot for another story that's beginning to take shape, hopefully something will come of it. As always, thank you and much love! ;)

P.P.S. Yes, I am aware that I use a lot of exclamation points...I'm just a very expressive person! :D