Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Thank you to 80sarcades for Betaing this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hogan's Heroes.

"Now the next step is to figure out how we're getting you out of here." Hogan leaned his back against the wall of the tunnel and crossed his arms over his chest.

"We could stage a kidnapping." Newkirk said after a moment. "Take 'er when the Gestapo comes to pick her up. Worked for us before"

"But we don't know who's taking her." Carter pointed out. "It could be Hochstetter. He'd recognize us."

"For that matter, we don't even know when she's leaving," added LeBeau.

Hogan rubbed his hand along his chin. "Carter, go tell Kinch to tap into the phone line. See if he can gather any information from our resident Krauts."

As Carter left, Katie stood thinking. She had a thought, but it wasn't a good one. "You could just wait until I reached Gestapo headquarters." She began slowly. "It might be easier . . ."

"But that's in Berlin!" LeBeau said before several choice curse words in French passed through his lips. "It may take us a long while to rescue you. If ever," he finished darkly.

"I'd be alright with that," said Katie, her eyes hardening with resolve. Hogan looked at her in surprise.

"You'd be willing to go through the Gestapo just to allow us the chance to get you to London?" he asked, flabbergasted. "LeBeau's right: we might not be able to get you back from the Gestapo. If you're lucky, they'll just stick you in a cell somewhere. And if you're not . . ." He let the last part of the dismal sentence drag into silence.

Katie shrugged. "If that's what it took. I don't want you and your men to risk your lives in an ambush -"

"No, you'll just wait and have us walk into Gestapo Headquarters," Hogan flared. "Straight into the lion's den. You're crazy, lady."

At that moment, Kinch and Carter returned. "Steiner's still on the phone with the Gestapo, Colonel." Kinch said. "He's trying to contact Horchstetter, but he's not having any luck."

Newkirk let out a low whistle. "You're in for a long night if you get together with Horchstetter." He took a drag on his cigarette. "That bloke doesn't know the meanin' of the word 'stop'"

"The Major doesn't scare me," declared Katie.

Jaws – the Colonel's included – dropped as the statement echoed off the dirt walls. For his part, Newkirk nearly chocked on his cigarette before sputtering, "You're not scared of bloody Horchstetter?" He coughed. "The Guvnor's right: you've lost your bleedin' mind."

Katie rolled her eyes. "I'm not scared of him because I've already met him. He's stopped by Steiner's office once or twice. He tried flirting with me." She shuddered at the thought. "Anyway, there are plenty of other things that I should be scared of; being found out, for instance. I don't have time to be afraid of just one man."

"Gosh, you're not scared of anything," admired Carter. Sergeant Kinchloe, however, wasn't as easily impressed.

"Just what exactly are you scared of?" Kinch asked before flicking his eyes to the Senior POW. He really wasn't sure what to make of the woman. At first, he thought she was just brave, but this . . .

Katie was quite for a moment. "You know, I don't know . . . Not much, I guess."

Some gal, Hogan thought idly as he straightened up. "All right," he sighed reluctantly. "We'll go with your plan since it's your life on the line. However, if a better option comes up, we'll take it, agreed?"

Katie nodded.

The Colonel clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "All right then," he declared. "Let's get to work."

It was some time later when Hogan rejoined Katie. Fortunately, Steiner, Klink, and Schultz were too distracted to check on their charge on a regular basis. Except during mealtimes, they let her stay in the tunnels.

To his mild surprise, the Colonel found her sitting on a bench in the main tunnel. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her feet were crossed at the ankles. Her face was hard, like she was in deep thought. He sat down next to her and imitated her position.

"We'll try to spring you before the railroad station. But you'll probably have to wait for us in Berlin." Hogan said quietly, resigned to the inevitable. "There are no guarantees that we can get you out."

"That's alright." Katie replied. "I understand." Hogan's gaze hardened sharply.

"No, it's not. Our job is to get people out unharmed. If you go, you'll end up hurt. I don't like failures." He paused, then continued. "Are you sure you still want to do this? We still have time to arrange an ambush . . ."

Katie shook her head. "No, that'll just increase the risk for you. And for your operation. This whole thing is more important than one just one person."

The two were silent for a moment. "I have a brother in the army. I don't know if he's hurt, or wounded, or dead. But I know that he's making a sacrifice for me. I would do the same thing for him." Katie looked over at Hogan and smiled a little. "Hogan, I don't mind staying at Gestapo headquarters. I'm proud to do it. Just don't bail on me."

"We'll try." Hogan promised. A dark chuckle escaped his throat. "You know, if you survive this, you'll be the original Lady Luck.

Carter clattered down the ladder. "Schultz just left and said that Steiner just got off the phone."

"Guess I better get back up there," said Katie. She stood up and brushed off her skirt.

Carter stepped up to her and held out a book. "Here. I thought that it would help pass the time."

Katie took it and looked at the spine. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. "Thanks," she said. "I'll leave it under the mattress before I leave."

She started to walk back down the tunnel. Newkirk ducked out of a doorway.

"Hey Katie." He said, his cheerful grin filling the dank tunnel.

She rolled her eyes. "Can't you guys leave a girl alone for a minute?" she asked in mock exasperation.

The RAF Corporal played along. "Well, there hasn't been one of you birds 'round here in a while," he protested. "Can't 'elp it, I s'pose." He became serious. "I jus' want ta thank ya again for not givin' me up."

Katie smiled. "Don't mention it. I know how important the Underground is. I wouldn't jeopardize it for anything."

Newkirk nodded in reply. "I'm certainly not used to having a bird take the fall for me."

"I would start getting used to it." Katie said flippantly. The sound of Cockney laughter filled the tunnel as they proceeded down the tunnel and arrived at the entrance of her temporary home. As Newkirk moved the stone, he noticed Katie leaning against the wall with the book clutched to her chest. To Newkirk, she suddenly looked like a young school girl.

A lost school girl.

"How old are you?" He suddenly asked. "If you don' mind me askin'"

To his relief, Katie didn't seem to mind. "To the Germans, I'm twenty-six," she said. "I'm really twenty-four."

"Blimey," he muttered. "We're all young, but we're all old." His guest looked at him in surprise.

"I would have never pegged you for a philosopher, corporal." Newkirk shrugged.

"Jus' callin' them as I sees them."

Katie smiled a little. "Well," she pushed herself off of the wall. "I better go." Before she climbed through the hole, Newkirk put a hand on her arm.

"Katie," Newkirk said. "If I don't see you . . . take care of yourself." Katie thought she could a quiver of emotion in the man's voice.

Or is that just my imagination?

"Thanks Newkirk," she smiled. "I will." With that, Katie ducked down, and climbed through the hole.