Chapter 20---Payback's a Bitch
Kinch looked at Carter, concerned. "Carter, go find Wilson. Tell him the Colonel's been hurt and he needs to come to barracks two right away."
"Right," Carter replied, starting toward the door.
"Hold it," Hogan said, the hoarseness more prevalent than before. "I don't need to see Wilson. I'm fine."
Carter hesitated, looking at Kinch questioningly. He had a perplexed expression on his face which seemed to ask 'What do you want me to do now?' Glancing at Hogan, Kinch motioned for Carter to follow his orders. After Carter had left, Hogan turned to his second-in-command. He massaged his throat.
"Kinch, I told you...."
"Colonel, you were choked a second time. You've got ugly bruising and redness forming on your throat. Your voice is also becoming hoarse. I say you need Wilson."
"He's right, Colonel," LeBeau added.
"You made me see Wilson, Gov'nor," Newkirk chimed in. "So why should you not have to?"
"That was different, Newkirk," Hogan managed to get out. "Your hand was broken."
LeBeau and Newkirk both approached their commanding officer who looked up at one and then the other.
"Please, Colonel," LeBeau replied sincerely. "Do it for us? Just humor us."
"What he said, sir," Newkirk added. "So we won't worry about you."
Failing at suppressing a chuckle, Hogan shook his head and with a slight smile, looked at his second-in-command. "I suppose you agree with them?"
"Yep."
"Can't get you to change your mind and side with me?"
"Nope. Not where your health is involved, Colonel."
Hogan rolled his eyes towards the heavens before again looking at his men.
"If it'll keep you guys off my back, I'll give in this one time and let Wilson examine me. But don't think I'm gonna let you get away with this all the time. So, enjoy your victory for now. Satisfied?"
The little Frenchman smiled affectionately. "Oui, Colonel. As long as Wilson says you are all right, we are satisfied. Right, Newkirk?" He glanced at the man beside him.
"Most definitely Gov'nor. Once the camp medic says you're all right, then we'll except that."
"That's nice to know, Newkirk," said a voice from outside the door. The men turned and saw Sergeant Joe Wilson, the camp medical officer, standing in the doorway clutching his medical bag with an amused grin. Carter was behind him peering over the medic's shoulder. Both men entered the already crowded room. Wilson sat his bag down on Hogan's desk. "Okay, everybody out while I examine my patient. I promise you I'll let you know what I find once I'm finished."
Grudgingly, the men quietly exited the room leaving Hogan and Wilson alone. Wilson gently lifted Hogan's jaw to get a clearer look at the fresh bruises and the redness. He winced. "Carter told me what happened, Colonel," he said. "Sounds like you went though hell with this General Metzger. Looks like it too from the looks of these bruises and the redness." He gingerly felt both sides of Hogan's throat. "Do you have any problem swallowing?"
"A little. My throat also feels sore."
"I don't doubt it," Wilson sighed and folded his arms. "You're lucky he didn't choke you to death from what I heard. Colonel, the redness and bruising will gradually go away in a week or two. You'll need to use an ice pack on your throat for about twenty minutes every hour to help reduce the swelling for about a week. Your throat is swollen inside as well. That's what causing the soreness and difficulty in swallowing. I also suggest you limit using your voice as much as possible. The more you use it, the more hoarse it'll become. So, in other words, Colonel….shut up as much as possible. And get some rest. That's an order from me."
Hogan chuckled and shook his head. He glanced at the medic and suddenly frowned when he saw him preparing a syringe.
"What's that for?" the Colonel asked. He didn't like needles; never had.
"It's an antibiotic to hopefully keep any infection from setting in. Now, remove your jacket and roll up your sleeve."
"Seems to me you're enjoying this too much," Hogan replied, removing his bomber jacket and unbuttoning his shirtsleeve. Wilson grinned.
Baker joined Kinch, Carter, Newkirk and LeBeau at the table after pouring himself some coffee.
"How's Colonel Hogan?" he asked, taking a sip of the warm liquid.
"Wilson's with him now," Kinch explained. He looked directly into Baker's face. "You did good, man. You couldn't have timed it any better. I don't even want to think what might've happened if you had gotten there so much as even one minutes later."
"Neither do I," Baker replied. "That Metzger's off his rocker. I mean, I was more concerned about getting him to release Colonel Hogan, but he seemed to be taking delight in choking the Colonel."
"I always knew that bloody Kraut was crackers," Newkirk chimed in. "Now I know he is."
Newkirk then looked at the young radio man with great concern. "I hope you realize the moment you stopped him from choking the Gov'nor, you were just added to his hit list. So you better watch yourself and I'm deadly serious."
"And on top of that," LeBeau said, hoping to phrase what he wanted to say as delicately as possible. "You are a black man, and you put your hands on a Kraut officer, although the filthy Bosche he is, and I've a feeling Metzger isn't likely to forget that, or you. So watch yourself mon ami."
The men's attention was drawn to the sound of Hogan's door opening and Wilson exiting. Shaking his head, he approached the men seated at the table and collapsed onto the bench.
"Care for some coffee, Joe?" asked LeBeau starting to get up. Wilson indicated no and motioned for him to remain seated. He rubbed his eyes.
"How's the Colonel?" asked Carter, worried.
"If he does what I tell him to do, he should be fine." He then repeated to the men what he had told their commanding officer. He handed LeBeau the ice pack and explained what needed to be done. The little Frenchman quickly left to get some ice. "I'm going to speak with Klink after I leave here and advise him of my examination results. I've given him a shot of antibiotics now. There shouldn't be any problems but I can't be sure. I'll be back in the morning to check on him and to see if Newkirk's hand is ready to be placed in a hard cast." He slowly got up. "Relax, fellas, the Colonel's gonna be fine and so will Newkirk. But I have to go."
"Thanks, Joe. Check with you later," Kinch replied.
Once Wilson had left, Baker turned towards Kinch. "Did you give the Colonel the message I gave you before all this started?"
"Thanks for reminding me, man," Kinch replied. "I totally forgot." Reaching into his jacket pocket, Kinch removed the paper and unfolding it, read its contents quickly. "It's from General Butler. He says he has everything set up as the Colonel requested, and wants to discuss with him what he wants the contact to say." Kinch got to his feet just as LeBeau reentered the barracks. "I'd better show this to the Colonel. He'll want to know. Hey, Louie. I'll take the ice pack into the Colonel. I have to see him anyway."
"Merci, Kinch," The Frenchman replied handing over the ice pack.
Kinch knocked on his CO's door and entered upon given permission. He found the Colonel lying on the bottom bunk with hands clasped behind his head. Hogan looked in Kinch's direction. The radioman handed him the ice pack. Sighing wearily, the Colonel placed the ice pack on his throat and held it in place.
"How do you feel, sir?"
"Just peachy, Kinch," Hogan replied sarcastically. He sensed there was something else on Kinch's mind. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Relax, Colonel. Nothing's wrong. We heard from General Butler. He said to tell you he has everything set up as you requested, and asks you contact him to set up what you want the operative to say."
Hogan slowly sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. He took the message from Kinch and scanned it. He sighed and was about to respond when sounds and shouting were heard from the opposite side of the door.
"What's that?" asked Hogan, eyes narrowed.
"I have no idea, Colonel," Kinch answered heading towards the door. "But it sounds like it's coming from the common area." With Hogan behind him, Kinch opened the door and both men stepped into the common area. They froze.
Baker was lying face-down on the table with both arms being held behind his back by a guard who proceeded to clamp the handcuffs on both wrists. Then, he was jerked to his feet. Blood was trickling down from the corner of his mouth. Another guard stood nearby with his machine gun aimed at the men who were all protesting Baker's mistreatment.
Hogan moved past Kinch, anger written all over his face. "What's going on here? Just what do you think you're doing?"
Metzger calmly entered the barracks with hands clasped behind him, and a smirk on his face. "You didn't think I forgot about this thing putting his hands on me, did you? These animals must be taught a lesson to stay in their place like any other animal. He apparently isn't adequately trained." He motioned with his head at the guard holding Baker's arm. "Take him away," he ordered. As the guard dragged Baker away, Hogan quickly moved forward towards Metzger, but stopped short of touching the General when the machine gun was aimed at his head.
"Metzger, if you think what you're doing is gonna score points with me, you're wrong. This is between you and me. Leave my men out of it. Baker was only trying to protect me. You want to punish somebody? Punish me instead of him."
"Let me explain something to you, Hogan. This has nothing to do with what you and I were discussing. This is strictly personal. This animal needs to be taught his place. But you see, because he is not human, he wasn't adequately housebroken. But don't concern yourself. I will have him thoroughly housebroken when I'm done." He smirked again as a thought crossed his mind. He looked at Hogan. "In fact, Hogan, I suggest you accompany us and witness the training techniques."
"Let him go!! If you don't, our deal is off!"
"Then I will have my guard here spray this barracks with machine gunfire and you can watch several of your men die in agony. Your choice." He looked at his watch. "You have one minute to decide."
Hogan looked at Baker; an understanding passed between them. He then looked around the barracks at the other men and saw them looking at him. With a sigh, Hogan handed the ice bag to Kinch. "Find Wilson and have him standby," he said in a soft voice. "I've a feeling he's gonna be needed." Then, he followed Metzger out the door with Baker and the two guards close behind.