Chapter 38---Skyhawk's Demands

Hogan was seated alone at the table with a cup of coffee and a glass of water. Removing the aspirin bottle from his jacket pocket, he shook two pills into his hand and put them in his mouth, and washed them down with the water. He had just taken a sip of hot coffee when the barracks door opened. Looking around he noticed Wilson walk in. Spotting Hogan, the medic walked over and sat down.

"Where are the others?" asked Wilson.

"They're outside taking part in a volleyball game," Hogan replied. "Want some coffee, Joe?" He asked starting to get up.

"Thanks, but I'll get it myself." He had seen Hogan wince when he moved as well as the sweat on his forehead. He could tell the aspirin wasn't doing much to relieve the pain. Wilson got to his feet and, grabbing a coffee cup, filled it halfway and then sat down next to Hogan. "So, how are you feeling, Colonel?"

Hogan smirked. "Like I've been run over by a Panzer," he joked.

"Y'know you should be lying down and resting with a shot of morphine. I don't know why you have to be so stubborn. Do you enjoy being in pain?"

"No I don't enjoy being in pain. But as long as my men are in danger, then I'll just grit my teeth and bear it. By the way, how are the scratches?"

Wilson knew Hogan was turning the subject away from himself. "They're starting to heal. And I've been keeping them covered as you ordered. But don't change the subject. You always do that when you don't want to discuss what's happening with you."

"I have to protect my men from the person who killed Metzger, Joe."

"You realize of course that aspirin won't relieve the pain very much," the medic reminded him. "And it will get worse the more you keep moving around."

"I know. But it can't be helped. But what I want to know is how Sergeant Baker is?"

Wilson let out a deep breath. "Well, he's holding his own is about all I can tell you. His injuries seem to be healing nicely and there's no infection. The swelling of his one eye has gone down a bit but not enough to make any noticeable difference. His other eye is healing nicely. But he's still unconscious."

Hogan stared down inside his coffee cup. "Damn," he muttered. "I was hoping he'd at least be coming around by now." He then glanced at Wilson. "Joe, be honest. What are Baker's chances?"

"Colonel, I've done everything I can do right now. It's out of my hands. So, to answer your question, I honestly don't know at this point. It could still go either way. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You've done your best. It was Metzger who did this to him. Normally, I wouldn't give a damn over somebody taking him out. But it was done in this camp bringing in the Gestapo, and now this same person is threatening my men, and I will not let another of my men suffer because of that scum even if he is dead."

Wilson nodded slowly, understanding what had Hogan so determined that he would endure physical pain to protect his men. "You do realize, Colonel, that if there's a confrontation between you and this person, whoever he is, you're going to be at an extreme disadvantage. If he sees you're in discomfort or in pain from an injury, you won't stand a chance against him."

"I know. So, I'll just have to make sure he doesn't see it, won't I?" Hogan said with a smirk.

"The way you look right now, you couldn't fool Schultz. Colonel, your best chance to get through this is for me to give you morphine."

"And I told you no, and I meant no. Not until this entire thing is over one way or the other."

Wilson knew better than to push the matter any further with the Colonel. He knew from experience the more he pushed, the more Hogan dug in his heels and wouldn't budge. He finished his coffee and got to his feet. "I'd better get back to the infirmary. If there's any change in Sergeant Baker, I'll let you know immediately."

"Thanks, Joe. I'd appreciate it."

Wilson patted Hogan on the shoulder and then exited the barracks. He passed a boisterous Kinch, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk as they came in. Closing the door, the men all collapsed onto the bench, smiling and laughing. Hogan looked around at them.

"Who won?" he asked.

"We beat barracks five, mon Colonel," said LeBeau with a wide grin. "You should've seen us. We were fantastic!"

"Well I didn't really do anything," Newkirk said. "All I could do is watch from the bench because of me bad hand." The Englander then glanced at his commander. "Oh, by the way, Colonel, Wilson took a look at me hand before he came in here to speak with you. He said me hand's healing very nicely and I should be able to get rid of this ruddy hard cast in a few weeks."

"What did Wilson have to say about Sergeant Baker, sir?" asked Carter.

Hogan shrugged. "He told me Baker's holding his own and that he's done everything he could. The rest is up to Baker."

"Is he awake, sir?" asked Newkirk seriously.

"No. He's still unconscious."

All the men were quiet for a long moment. Kinch looked at his watch. It was ten minutes to twelve noon.

"Colonel, we'd better get ready. Skyhawk's gonna be calling back in ten minutes," he informed Hogan.

Hogan finished his coffee and slowly got up. "Let's go, Kinch. I want to speak with this Skyhawk and get this plan rolling." He looked at Carter, Newkirk and LeBeau. "You three wait here. When Kinch and I get back, I'll let you all in on the plan I've come up with." He started to follow Kinch to the double bunk in the corner which concealed their tunnel entrance, when the radioman held up his hand, stopping him. Hogan looked at his radioman with narrowed eyes.

"What's wrong? I thought you said we only have ten minutes."

"We do, Colonel. But you won't be going downstairs to speak with him." He could see the confusion on Hogan's face. (1) "Colonel, remember when you were using crutches after getting out of the wheelchair and couldn't get down into the tunnels, so LeBeau and I rigged up that special microphone hookup so you could speak with whoever was on the radio without being in the tunnel?"

"What about it?" Hogan recalled how useful the gadget had been at that time.

"Well, LeBeau and I dug the microphone out of your footlocker and reconnected it again. This way you won't have to have to endure the extra pain of climbing up and down the ladder. It's all set up and plugged in on your desk."

Hogan looked over his shoulder at the smiling little Frenchman and smiled in return. "I don't know what to say," he replied, emotion apparent in his voice.

"Well, mates, there's something I never thought we'd ever see," said Newkirk with a grin.

"What's that?" asked Carter.

"The Gov'nor's speechless. It's a bloody first." Hogan shot Newkirk a pretend dirty look.

Kinch checked his watch again. "Colonel, you better get set up in your quarters while I go down to the radio room. As soon as Skyhawk calls, I'll let you know."

Hogan slapped Kinch on the shoulder. "Thanks, Kinch. I appreciate what you and LeBeau did. I really appreciate it."

"No sweat, Colonel," Kinch replied with a grin. He struck the hidden mechanism and after the lower bunk rose and the ladder dropped, he stepped over the bed frame, onto the ladder, and started his descent downward.

Hogan, meanwhile, slowly walked towards his quarters and found the microphone he thought he'd never have to use again after those terrible two years of being paralyzed, sitting on his desk, plugged in and ready. Hogan noticed the green light was lit meaning Kinch was on the radio. He looked at his watch. It was twelve-oh-one pm. After a minute, the green light switched to white. Hogan pressed the switch. "Yeah, Kinch?"

"Colonel, it's Skyhawk. He wants to speak with you."

"Thanks, Kinch." Hogan pushed the switch to red. "This is Colonel Hogan, Skyhawk. What do you want?"

"Now, now Colonel. Glad you're feeling better. But is that any way to speak to the person who holds your fate and your life in his hands?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't play games with me, Colonel. You won't like my reactions. By the way, Colonel. It was very ingenious of you to hide under the bed after finding Metzger's body. It was very clever indeed."

Hogan was caught off-guard for a moment and tried to cover. "And how do you know where I was at that time."

"Simple. I was hiding in the closet when you came in through the window. I debated whether to knock you out and let you take the blame for Metzger's death. I mean you did have a motive according to Major Hochstetter. It would have been so easy to do. But then I decided against it. You want to know why?"

"I'm sure you're gonna tell me."

"Indeed I will. If you were arrested by the Gestapo, then you wouldn't be able to hand Metzger's art collection over to me. And that is exactly what you will do, Colonel Hogan."

"And why should I do that?"

"Let's just say if you don't, then one of you main unit will meet a similar end as General Metzger. I just haven't decided whether it will be Sergeant Kinchloe or Carter, or Corporal Newkirk or LeBeau. But let me just add that whoever I choose will never see it coming and neither will you."

"You leave my men alone!" Hogan raised his voice in anger. "They have nothing to do with this! This was between me and Metzger, and now between you and me."

"You don't tell me anything except when I can pick up my million dollars in art. Oh, by the way, Colonel, I thought you might like to know after I killed that fool Metzger, I took that incriminating photo and negative of you out of his attaché case. I wonder what Major Hochstetter would have to say if he saw it. He might be interested in how you could be meeting with a man who is obviously outside your camp. Or perhaps London would like to have it in their files before they hang you for treason. The choice is yours." There was a moment of silence before Skyhawk continued. "Now Colonel Hogan, I'm going to tell you exactly what you are going to do, and you are going to listen. I will give you forty-eight hours to get that collection, make arrangements with me as to where and when it can be picked up, and on that day, you will accompany me to the place where it is so I can make sure you haven't tried to trick me."

"And if I fail?"

"Then you'll have your choice of the hangman's noose or a Gestapo firing squad."

"And what happens to my men?"

"I will see that your operation is exposed and your men arrested by the Gestapo and shot. Are we clear, Colonel? Do you have any questions?"

"Just one. How did you get in and out of camp after killing Metzger without being detected?"

" It was simple. I had the help of one of the camp guards. He wasn't very cooperative at first. But he eventually saw things my way."

"I'm sure he did," Hogan replied sarcastically."

"One last thing, Colonel. I will contact you tomorrow at the same time, and you'd better have something to tell me or one of your men whose names I mentioned earlier will be dead from a broken neck. Understand?"

"Perfectly," Hogan replied with disgust. His side was throbbing something awful and he really needed to lie down, as it was too soon to take more aspirin.

"Signing off then, Colonel Hogan. Until tomorrow." The transmission ended. Hogan immediately switched to activate the white light.

"Kinch, get up here as quickly as you can. We have plans to set in motion."

"On my way, Colonel," Kinch replied.

After unplugging the microphone, Hogan pushed himself up from his chair and bit his lower lip against the sharp pain in his side. He supported himself against the desk until the pain subsided and then slowly and stiffly made his way out into the common area where three of his men were still waiting. Hogan slowly sat down. He mopped his forehead with the back of his hand. But his discomfort had been noticed.

"We're just waiting for Kinch," Hogan replied pinching the bridge of his nose. He was starting to feel nauseous from the pain. LeBeau got to his feet and, grabbing the coffee pot, refilled the Colonel's cup, while he kept his eyes on him. He motioned with his head to Carter and Newkirk.

"You feeling all right, mon Colonel?" asked LeBeau returning the coffee pot to the stove. Sitting down he placed a hand on Hogan's shoulder. Looking up at the Frenchman, LeBeau could see the pain in Hogan's eyes.

Everybody looked up when Kinch stepped into the barracks. He slapped the hidden mechanism and waited until the ladder rose and the lower bunk dropped over the tunnel entrance. He immediately picked up the concern with the Colonel. He hurried over and knelt down in front of Hogan with one hand on the Colonel's arm. "Colonel, this has gone on long enough. You need the morphine. The aspirin's not strong enough to do the job."

Hogan looked at his second-in-command. "I'll be all right, Kinch. I just sat at my desk too long while talking with Skyhawk. That's all."

"Uh-huh," was all Kinch said. He glanced at LeBeau. "Louie, go get Wilson, and tell him to bring his medical bag with him. Tell him the Colonel needs a shot of morphine and a sedative."

"Oui. Right away." The Frenchman hurried out of the barracks.

Hogan's eyes narrowed as he forced himself to sit upright. "Kinch, how dare you go against my previous orders. I said no morphine."

"Fine. You can court-martial me later. But you need that shot and you're gonna get it."

"Kinch, you are disobeying a direct order of mine. Don't push it." Hogan voice sounded angry.

"Colonel, I'm not pushing anything. You already have a plan in mind, and you've spoken to Skyhawk. So you have no reason not to take at least one morphine shot."

"He's right, Gov'nor," Newkirk added gently. "I mean, sir, you're in no bloody condition to take on anybody right now. And if this Skyhawk's as dangerous as you say, you won't stand a chance against him."

"Please, Colonel," begged Carter.

Hogan's eyes darted from Kinch, to Newkirk, to Carter, and finally back to Kinch. "All right. I'll give in this one time. But then that's it. Understood?"

"Understood," Kinch said with a smile. "C'mon, sir, I think we'd better get you out of your jacket and lying on your bunk before Wilson gets here." Gripping Hogan's arm, Kinch got Hogan to his feet. He wrapped his other arm around Hogan's waist. Slowly, they made their way into the Colonel's quarters. He then helped Hogan sit down on the lower bunk and helped him out of his jacket and took the crush cap. Kinch hung the jacket in Hogan's locker and the crush cap from its hook.

"Well, has somebody finally come to his senses?" Wilson asked with a grim smile from the doorway.

"I'll leave you alone with your patient, Joe," Kinch replied as he exited the room, closing the door.

Sitting on the edge of the lower bunk, Wilson sat his bag beside him while Hogan unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeve.

"You're enjoying this too much, Joe," Hogan tried and failed at some humor.

"That's where you're wrong, Colonel," Wilson replied filling a syringe with morphine. "It's just that I knew the aspirin wouldn't work that well. Not with you refusing to stay in bed and rest. Now hold still." The medic jabbed the syringe in Hogan's exposed arm and injected its contents. "You should feel relief very shortly." He then reached in his bag and grabbed a fresh syringe and filled it with a sedative. "This will help you sleep throughout the night. You look like you could use it, too. You look like hell."

"Thanks," Hogan said as the pain began to lessen. "I think you're adorable too."

Wilson shook his head with amusement as he injected the sedative. Then, he rolled down Hogan's shirtsleeve. He could see the Colonel's eyes were becoming drowsy. "I'll be back in a few hours to give you another shot of morphine which will get you through several hours after you wake up in the morning."

"Whatever," Hogan mumbled as the sedative and morphine began taking effect. Removing his bag from the bed, Wilson grabbed the blanket from the top bunk and covered the Colonel with it. He then turned off the desk lamp, grabbed his bag, and quietly left the room. He saw the men waiting for him at the table, looking very anxious and scared.

"He should sleep for several hours. I'll be back in about four hours and give him another shot of morphine. I'll also speak with Klink and tell him that Colonel Hogan is to be excused from roll call until further notice."

"Klink already decided that," Carter said. "He announced it when the Colonel showed up at roll call this morning."

Wilson's eyebrows shot up in stunned surprise. "He reported for roll call this morning?"

"Oui," said LeBeau. "I had to help him walk."

Wilson shook his head. "He is such a stubborn man. I knew unless he stayed in bed completely the aspirin wouldn't work. Did he go down into the tunnels?"

"No," Kinch replied. "LeBeau and I hooked up that microphone that was used when the Colonel was using crutches after his accident that time."

"Good idea. I'm glad you kept that device once the Colonel regained the use of his legs. The strain of movement from going up and down the ladder could have caused real problems."

"Thanks for coming, Joe," Kinch said. "We appreciate it."

"No problem, guys. I'll be back in a few hours. Also, I would recommend someone sit with the Colonel just in case a problem arises. I don't expect any to occur, but we are talking about Colonel Hogan," he said with a smile as he left the barracks.

"Okay," Kinch explained. "Here's how we're gonna keep an eye on the Colonel. We'll do it in four hour shifts. LeBeau, you take the first shift, Newkirk the second, I'll take the third, and Carter can relieve me. Skyhawk's gonna contact the Colonel again at 1200 hours for an update. Hopefully, he'll feel better after a few shots of morphine and a good night's sleep."

(1) The use of the microphone that Kinch and LeBeau hooked up to allow Hogan to speak with people on the radio while he was paralyzed below the waist was first introduced in My Brother, My Traitor.

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