Germany December 1944

Hochstetter stomped into Gestapo headquarters with lower ranking men hastily moving away. They were afraid he'd shoot anyone who got into his way. Going to his office he slammed the door shut behind him startling Braun, causing him to jump.

"Hogan had no injuries on him whatsoever. Once again he has slipped through my fingers!" He raged picking up and throwing something from his desk into the wall.

"It must have been Fraulein Monet who was wounded. Once daylight broke, I was able to see that he was hiding her footsteps within his masking her being there. She'll need medical care. Where would she get it besides the hospital? I'm sure we can safely assume that she won't turn up there," Braun asked impressed at his friend's anger.

"There's a vet in town but he's a loyal citizen. He's been thoroughly checked out, wouldn't give aid, and will contact us immediately. Fuchs has cultivated that relationship, but I will send someone out there to check with him just in case. There is nowhere else for her to receive care. The stalag only has minimum facilities, so if she's severely injured she'll die. Hogan acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. Damn that man! I will kill him if it's the last thing I do!"

"One day Hogan will make a mistake, and one of us will be there to kill him. I promise you will have your revenge," Braun's voice held a deadly component. Papa Bear had made of fool of him, and he never forgot those few who had made similar mistakes. Most were no longer breathing, and he had plans for the ones that were temporarily alive. Plus the man had injured Hochstetter with Lisal's death, and no one lived who hurt those he considered family. "I have to go back to Düsseldorf, but I will have an all out search for the Fraulein and when we have her, we'll set a trap for Hogan."

Hogan stayed out of the medics' way, impatiently pacing the tunnel waiting to find out what happened to Tiger. Finally, Anderson walked over to update him.

"It's nothing to serious, sir. It appears that she tried to turn on her side while we were upstairs and tore a few stitches. We've replaced the torn ones and she didn't lose too much more blood. I'm going to stay down here with her the rest of the night," the medic explained.

"I didn't even think about it, but a few months ago, she hurt her back on a mission and said she hasn't been able to lay flat on it since. Do you think that could have been why she tried to move?" Hogan asked with a questioning look.

"I think that's as good enough of an explanation as any right now," Wilson said joining the other two. "Paul, why don't you get a couple of blankets and put them under her and get her off her back? Colonel, she should be okay. She'll sleep the rest of the night. Why don't you go get some shut eye yourself," he suggested.

"I will in a few moments." Hogan walked over and checked on Tiger, noticing how pale she looked. He helped Anderson place the blankets under her injured shoulder, and then went upstairs to rest. After roll call the next morning, Hogan headed back downstairs to find Wilson sitting with Tiger. "How is she doing this morning?"

"Still asleep, she's been resting comfortably since you were down here. I think she'll sleep through most of the day. Sir, would you have LeBeau bring some food down when it's ready?" Wilson asked moving away from Tiger so Hogan could get a better look at her.

"I'll make sure he does. If you need a break, I'll sit with her a while," Hogan said noticing that she did look better this morning. He sat down next to her taking her hand when Wilson stood up.

"Thanks sir," Wilson smiled and left the area for a few minutes. He didn't need the break, but was sure the Colonel wanted some alone time with the French woman. He walked back to his medical area in the tunnel, gathering a few supplies he'd need later in the day to change the dressing out.

Hogan moved some of Tiger's matted hair out of her face, thinking that somehow she always looked beautiful no matter what she's doing, even though she'd disagree. "I'm so glad that you're going to be all right. I'll make Hochstetter and that Braun pay for shooting you. They won't get away with their little trap, I promise," he quietly vowed in order to not wake her. She stirred at the sound of his voice and he brought the blanket up covering her shoulders telling her to sleep. Hearing someone enter he looked up to see Wilson with his supplies. "I'll make sure the boys bring you some breakfast, Joe. Let me know if you or Tiger need anything. I'll be back down a little later."

"Sure thing, sir, and I think she really will be all right. I'll let you know when she wakes up," he smiled at his commanding officer knowing that Hogan would most likely be back down long before Tiger awoke.

The day passed normally upstairs. Prisoners went about their daily chores, guards watched and some were bribed with food. Others were distracted from seeing dirt brought up from below. Some men were working on a new tunnel off-shoot, while others were shoring up a wall that was starting to give way. Klink had a mountain of paperwork to occupy him, and threw Hogan out of his office at least twice. Hogan left with a smile after accomplishing his goals.

Anderson and Wilson took turns staying with Tiger throughout the day, although she had a myriad of visitors stopping by to check on her. She finally woke up the late evening, and the medic explained what she'd been through and the she'd have to spend a few days with them until she was strong enough to travel. LeBeau had brought her some food which she was just about to finish when the Colonel came down to see her.

"How are you feeling?" Hogan pulled up a chair and sat near the cot Tiger was sitting on.

"Much better after some food," she grimaced as she shifted trying to find a more comfortable position. "I heard Hochstetter came to the camp looking for you last night."

"Yes, he did, but he left here empty handed. Tiger, I'm sorry you got shot and I didn't notice right away," he said with regret in his voice.

She reached out and took his hand looking deep into his brown eyes, "You have no reason to apologize. I hid my injury from you until we were both safe. I know you would have done the same thing. Besides, I'm glad I was shot and not you. If you had been then Hochstetter would have killed you last night. I'm grateful to have a real medic able to remove the bullet. Thank you for their merveilleux care of me," Tiger smiled at him and squeezing his hand.

"Any time. You know we freely share what we have with you." He smiled then turned serious. "What we have to figure out is how they got our codes and lured us both to that farm house. Have you shared your code with anyone?" Hogan asked with a concerned look. Somehow the Gestapo had broken through all their security and he had to figure out how to stop it from happening again.

"Non! I would never do such a thing. I have never even written the code down, I have it memorized. How did they have your codes to contact me?" She threw back at him heatedly; she was not responsible for the breach, only for saving him from the Gestapo.

"I don't know Tiger, but we have to figure it out. I've asked Kinch to come up with all new codes for both of us to use in the mean time. Do you have any ideas?" He asked a little softer. He didn't believe that she made a mistake, but then how could it be explained otherwise? Or was the leak within Stalag 13? It wouldn't be the first time a mole had been in their presence.

"I know that several people from Düsseldorf were captured and…" Tiger stopped and looked down, taking a couple deep breaths before she continued. Hogan wasn't sure if it was her injury or recalling what had been done to them that caused her to pause. "As I said, the Major there is one of the worst. My message like yours wasn't a relay but had your direct code on it. I have no idea how they were able to deceive us both," she replied and Hogan could see she was beginning to tire, so he helped her to lie back down. "Wait…do you remember contacting me there about two months ago? We both gave our codes and a couple of members from the Düsseldorf unit were present in the room. I suppose one of them might have remembered. Unfortunately, both of those people have recently died by Gestapo hands."

"I'm sorry, I know they were friends. Rest, we'll talk more tomorrow." Hogan gave her a kiss on the check as he made sure she would be warm. "It was no one's fault," he whispered. Tiger was asleep about the time her head hit the pillow.

Upstairs gathered around the common table Hogan's core team were talking.

"You know bloody well it was, Kinch," Newkirk said in disgust. "Look, I like Tiger as much as anyone, but she's a magnet for the Gestapo. Every time she gets into trouble with them, we have to rescue 'er."

"We don't know if this was her fault. We don't know anything yet," Kinch tried to reason with them.

"Tiger nearly got the Colonel killed. I can't forget that, and I'm surprised you could," LeBeau threw out. "It might be time to keep our distance from her in the future."

"Sometimes the Colonel doesn't always see clearly around her," Carter said.

"How else could the Gestapo have gotten her codes and fooled you? She may not have given them willingly, but somehow threw carelessness, her code got into their hands. How do you explain that they duped you?" Baker asked joining the conversation.

"I don't know how to explain it, but there has to be something that we're missing," Kinch said disgusted at them for blaming Tiger.

"Missin'? Bloody hell, the only thing that is missing is that the Colonel will never accept the bleedin' truth. Tiger is dangerous to be around," Newkirk responded angrily.

"Whatever you think, we can't say anything to the Colonel," Kinch told them as they heard the bunk bed rise. Seeing his commander's head come up he asked, "Colonel, how's Tiger?"

"Wilson says she's going to make it. She'll be with us a few more days. What's going on up here?" Hogan asked as he climbed over the edge of the bed.

"Nothing much Gov'nor," Newkirk gave him a smile. "Glad to hear that she's going to be okay."

"I'll be in my quarters if anyone needs me," Hogan said wondering what they were really up too.

A week later, Tiger was healed enough to leave, and after hearing nothing from the Gestapo they thought it was safe for her to travel. Oscar picked her up in his veterinary truck and took her to her next contact. Newkirk watched her go, and tossed his cigarette butt on the ground thinking to himself. Good riddance and don't call us when you get picked up by the Gestapo again. It's our job to keep Colonel Hogan safe.*

* To be continued in episode Operation Tiger. There had to be some reason the men didn't want to help Hogan rescue Tiger in the beginning of the episode!