New Chapter time. I'm afraid it's a much shorter chapter. Luck of the draw(or style of writing or something poetic and moving and such).

Thank you to every reviewer! I very much appreciate the feedback I'm getting and am very very glad that people are enjoying it.

To reviewer "Who Me".. could you share where you saw Newkirk as a lieutenant? I'd love to know, I love all Newkirk trivia bits. The pilot I saw, he was a corporal(although he wore a button up shirt under the blouse and greatcoat at least some of the time). Carter was a lieutenant, but he also escaped and all that, so his character was revamped a lot for the series itself(the pilot was just to sell the idea to the network).

To "Smokey", Schultz is there. He's mentioned already. Can't do without Schultz. Hogan went off with the Underground/Abwehr agents.

As always I couldn't get this done without my infamous beta TinySprite, and my fellow authors LadyJaye1, BitsAndPieces and my twitter friends. Thank you to all.

CHAPTER 4

The roof repairs got done. The rest of the camp chores and underground activities progressed as well as possible.

But despite everything the Heroes group could do, the tension in the camp progressed through the day. Hendrich's constant stalking of prisoners had everyone wound up. The prisoners were simply trying to avoid abuse. The camp guards were all beginning to fear a revolt or mass escape. That led to even the most tame of the camp guards trying to crack down on prisoner activities, which in turn led to even more unnerved prisoners.

By evening roll call, everyone was on edge. Schultz came into the barracks early, bearing a bundle of new blankets and a puzzled expression. "Kommandant Klink told me to bring new blankets." He dropped them in a heap on the barracks' table.

"Well bugger me if the Kraut didn't fill the request after all." Newkirk fingered the thick fabric and then brushed searching hands away. "'ere now, these aren't for us. These are to replace those what got burnt."

Schultz raised his hands and then let them fall dramatically. "I don't understand why he suddenly decides to do this. He even told me to make sure to put in the requisition for boots. He's being very nice." He tilted his head at them. "So now maybe you will all be good for roll call, ja? Please boys, just line up and be good?"

Kinch smiled at their pleading guard. "Okay guys, you heard Schultz. Raus, roll call! Raus!" His mimicry got him an eye roll and sigh from the long suffering guard but everyone else filed out to line up properly, only harassing Schultz a little bit.

Newkirk stood in line. Some part of him know what was coming. A glance showed him Kinch was trying to hide his own nervousness. All of the assembled prisoners were showing signs of being on edge. The joking tone was gone and any protests were angry. Kinch gave him a nod towards the compound and the Brit sighed heavily. The last thing he ever wanted to do was to draw more attention to himself when trouble was brewing, and yet, here he was in the spotlight.

Raising his voice, Newkirk shouted over the din. "Prisoners! Fall in! Settle down, mates!" He watched as most of the men quieted and lined up properly. If there was still an undercurrent of mutters, he ignored it. The nervous guards calmed down as their charges settled.

Watching the compound, Newkirk finally saw Hendrich emerge from the offices. Otto shadowed him and finally Klink trailed behind. Their kommandant's body language did not bode well for anyone. The posturing from earlier was gone, replaced by nervous anxiety. Newkirk exchanged a look with LeBeau who frowned and gave a tiny shake of his head.

LeBeau whispered to him. "Hendrich threatened Klink for an hour with a trip to the Russian Front and dropped a lot of names of top German bosch. Klink won't stand up for his own mother now."

"Bloody brilliant." grumbled Newkirk before once again raising his voice. "Attention!"

Prisoners across the compound stopped shifting about and straightened. It was rare that their chosen CO called them to a proper formation and it confused them. The earlier orders to lie low had caused anxiety and this now only intensified the fear. Newkirk preferred his fellow prisoners afraid rather than them being targeted by Hendrich for what was their normal rowdiness.

The camp guards were nearly as puzzled as the prisoners but gratefully conducted the head count. Kinch watched Hendrich approaching Barracks Two and hissed a warning. The smug smile on the German's face looked evil as the man inspected each POW he passed. Even LeBeau stiffened to attention when it was his turn.

Otto looked LeBeau over and spoke in a undertone to his commander.

Hendrich uttered a short bark of laughter. "Nein, Otto. Frenchmen do come in normal sizes, Klink just caught one of the many runts! They are after all, an inferior race." Hendrich smirked down at an impassive LeBeau as Otto dutifully laughed. If that was the worst insult the Kraut could come up with, Newkirk could relax. They'd all heard far worse, especially LeBeau. Louis would stand stoically and then repeat the insults later in the barracks in mocking tones.

Carter on the other hand, had not been around long enough to learn the subtle cues from his friends on when and how to react.

"LeBeau might be small but he's worth any ten of you Krauts!" said Carter angrily.

"Carter!" exclaimed Newkirk, shutting down any further commentary from the American. LeBeau hazarded a swift kick to Carter's leg in case it wasn't perfectly clear that he should shut up now.

Carter's eyes widened as Hendrich stepped in front of the him. Hendrich's voice had dropped to a sincere tone of satisfaction. "I see my earlier assessment was correct. You do indeed seem in need of a good lesson in... manners."

"No."

The firmly spoken word made Hendrich turn to the battered British POW. "Pardon?" He stepped over closer. "Did you say something?" The menace fairly dripped from every word.

"I said... no." Newkirk looked up in Hendrich's face. "If you 'ave difficulties understanding English, I can say it in other languages. Nein. Non. Nyet. Sergeant Carter does not need any lessons, especially from the likes of you." The Brit held his gaze steady while inside he was screaming, both in fear at what he was inviting onto himself by provoking the German and in anger at Carter for causing the situation to begin with.

"Careful Britisher. I'll begin to think you enjoy my company after all." Hendrich's smile never wavered.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure I'm clear in 'ow much I dislike you and the rest of your Nazi goons." Newkirk sealed his fate.

"Otto, take the prisoner to my quarters. It seems he missed us. We will have to make certain we make a more lasting impression on him this time." Hendrich turned and approached Klink. "I'm sure that the Kommandant has no objections to me meting out a small amount of discipline. After all, the prisoner did show his disrespect to a German officer right out here in public." He leaned in to smile at Klink. "We can't let that behavior pass, now can we?"

"No, of course not, Major-General." Klink looked completely crestfallen as he watched Otto jerk Newkirk out of line. To his credit, he did make at least a token effort to intervene. "I am perfectly capable of disciplining my prisoners in my own camp myself however."

"No no, I'll just take this small duty off your busy hands." Hendrich bent even closer to Klink's ear to speak softly. Whatever he was saying made Klink pale.

Newkirk heard the compound erupting into mutters and protests as Otto shoved him forward. As much as he wanted to scream for someone... anyone to come help him, he knew with everyone on hair triggers, it would take little to have a riot start. With the guards all on edge, it would be a bloodbath and even if the camp guards felt terribly guilty afterward, it would be small consolation to those wounded or killed in the melee. Twisting out of Otto's grip, he put up his hands to the others in a clear gesture to quiet down. Nodding towards Kinch, he turned on his heel and walked himself to the quarters, affecting a careless attitude about what might come later.

"So Otto, time for you to show all your honor and training by holding down a 'elpless prisoner for your big bad boss to beat up again? Your mum must be so proud." That earned him a cuff to the back of his head. He heard a rumble from the compound as the prisoners reacted. "Ease off, you ruddy blighter, I'm walking, ain't I?"

"Ja, walk faster." Otto didn't sound in the least bit hesitant and Newkirk took a deeper breath as he walked up the steps to the guest quarters.

He tried to raise his own spirits by wondering if tonight's beating would be shorter from Hendrich's knuckles being sore from the last beating he'd meted out. It didn't work much. He found himself both wondering how Hogan ever dealt with the risk of being front and center of every German threat to the prisoner population... and wishing desperately that he was here to pull Newkirk out of the frying pan he'd hopped into.

H H H H

End Chapter

Awww... sorry Newkirk. Until next week, same bat time, same bat channel. Thank you for reading!