Early update! Because first, you readers are awesome and you reviewers are incredible. Secondly, there's been quite a few posted chapters/fics that were so good that they inspired me to post early. And lastly, I don't feel like scrubbing more floors here at home, and posting a new chapter will kill some time. Any time spent in a non-floor-scrubbing activity is time well spent.

My usual thanks to TinySprite, most fabulous beta ever. Thank yous to Bits And Pieces and LadyJaye1 and Karama9 for ongoing encouraging words.

Chapter 15

Newkirk spent most of the afternoon dozing in the corner of a room while Burkhalter discussed strategy and supplies and solved minor issues for various officers. Part of him was frustrated that all of the discussions contained so little that would be useful to the Allied war effort. The rest of him was relieved and spent some of the time reviewing his 'lines' of information to make sure he wasn't forgetting them.

But the thought of the agents being held in the cellar continued to niggle at his conscience. He couldn't help but think that if Hogan were here, he would come up with some plan to get them free. Newkirk had no way to find out if he even knew of any of the agents, or truly, if they were really Underground agents or if they were just citizens who had gotten caught up in helping the Allies.

But they were headed for torture and death and they could expose a lot more of the Underground if... he amended that in his head... when they broke under the questioning. There was a chance that one of them would even know about Papa Bear and their own organization.

Newkirk needed to rescue them.

He twisted his wrists inside the manacles, wincing as the skin tore just a little bit more. They were already raw and covered in small cuts. A glance around the room showed him almost a dozen Germans. During the day, the numbers had fluctuated, but had never gone below five. None of them seemed like the type of German that would let him go wander downstairs to rescue some Underground agents either. Newkirk was one single prisoner surrounded by Germans who had stated outright they'd be happy to shoot him. He couldn't do anything to help those Underground members.

He had to rescue them. He was going to rescue them. There really wasn't a choice. There was no Papa Bear here to save them.

Now all he had to do was to come up with a brilliant plan. Preferably one that would work and not get him shot. It would a real pity if he managed to survive Hendrich and Otto's abuse and Burkhalter's annoyance and Herman's sneaky kicks only to die trying to free other prisoners. After all, he'd only agreed to not attempt to escape from Burkhalter himself. He hadn't promised anything regarding freeing prisoners of random SS officers.

He sighed lightly. Maybe he would have a chance in the dead of night... when everyone was asleep and it was quiet. His eyes went to the door. One way or the other, he was going to free those agents tonight or die trying.

He sighed again. Probably die trying.

Back at Stalag 13...

Kinch and LeBeau were sitting in Hogan's office when the light came on the coffeepot. LeBeau jumped up and pulled the speaker basket out so they could listen in to the phone call.

Both of them straightened up when the caller identified himself as Burkhalter's aide. LeBeau whispered a soft plea for good news.

The tinny speaker picked up Klink's whiny tones immediately. "Yes, General Burkhalter? This is Colonel Klink, so very good to hear from you sir..."

"This is Stabsfeldwebel Friedrich, aide to General Burkhalter. The general wished me to inform you that he located Major-General Hendrich and has dealt with him in an appropriate manner for his offenses." The voice was short and curt.

Kinch gritted his teeth. "Good riddance. But what about Newkirk?"

Klink made a pleased noise. "That is very good news indeed. Not that I would expect anything less fro the illustrious general, of course! If I may ask, was the Major-General handed a severe punishment?"

LeBeau rolled his eyes at the coffeepot. "Non, ask about Newkirk!"

The aide's voice dropped a few more degrees. "I assure you, his punishment was very severe, as suits his offenses. He will not be returning to any of the LuftStalags in the future, or any other camp."

Klink didn't seem to grasp the obvious. "Well, that is indeed good news. These Heer officers simply do not understand how hard it is to run a stalag with efficiency and discipline. Why, my prisoners are still being most unruly, although of course, I am dealing with them with the iron fist of discipline! There will be no escapes!"

"Ja, ja... the general also wished me to remind you that he will be conducting an inspection the day after tomorrow and stated that you are to be ready." Burkhalter's aide seemed to like Klink about as much as Burkhalter himself, which was not very much.

LeBeau reached out towards the coffeepot as if he could throttle Klink through the speaker. "Ask! About! Newkirk!"

Almost in answer to the Frenchman's order, Klink cleared his throat. "Ahh, yes, I must also ask... I mean, request that... that is, did the Major-General... was my missing prisoner still... with... Major-General Hendrich?"

Kinch and LeBeau leaned in closer. There was a short pause before the aide's voice returned. "Jawohl. He was." The two POWs held their breath while they awaited more information. "The general will be returning him when he arrives for the inspection."

"Yes!" Kinch jumped up and was practically tackled by LeBeau. "He's alive!"

LeBeau was all smiles. "I told you that Pierre would come back!"

Kinch shushed him. "Shhh, listen."

But the aide was apparently done sharing facts. "Have your camp ready to pass inspection, Kommandant Klink. We shall arrive the day after tomorrow. Heil Hitler."

"Heil Hitler. Thank you, herr Stabsfeldwebel Friedrich. Please convey my warmest regards too... hello?" Klink had been hung up on again and sighed before disconnecting on his own end.

LeBeau was already headed out of Hogan's office. "I'll tell Carter and Olson. Should we tell the camp?"

Kinch snorted. "We won't have to. If Klink doesn't call a special formation in the next half hour to announce it, I'll eat my hat.

Kinchloe's hat remained safe. Klink waited a full twenty minutes before he called for a special formation. Kinch elbowed Carter as they lined up. "Stop smiling. We don't know about it yet, remember?"

Carter sobered and did his best to frown appropriately. He'd spent the last two days sinking further into a private funk over his missing best friend. It was worse when he remembered that Newkirk had been angry at him before he was taken away. It had taken an effort from Kinch and Olson to bolster his spirits but with the good news, he felt so relieved that he had returned to his normal sunny disposition.

LeBeau nudged Carter from the side as they lined up. "I told you so."

Carter flashed him a quick grin. "Yes, and you've said that to me twenty times since you found out."

"Oui. Because I was right. Now will you stop moping around?" LeBeau had stubbornly clung to his insistence that Newkirk would return. He had snapped angrily at Carter repeatedly. Carter hadn't argued. He knew that the little Frenchman had been worried.

They all quieted when Klink began his speech. He was wearing the most smug expression possible as if his own efforts had resolved the situation.

Finally the Kommandant got around to the important parts. "And so, it is my duty to reassure you that my authority here at Stalag 13 is upheld and Major-General Hendrich will not be returning. He is facing the most severe discipline for his interference with the running of the only prison camp with a perfect no-escape record." Klink strutted back and forth, his thin smile of satisfaction clear to all. "Furthermore, you may be glad to know that your duly elected Man of Confidence Corporal Newkirk is being returned to Stalag 13." Klink paused while the assembled prisoners made loud noises at the welcome news. "There will be an inspection of Camp 13 on the day after tomorrow and I expect a little bit of gratitude for my actions on your behalf. I want all of the barracks cleaned and I expect the compound to be spotless" He shook a fist at them to show he was fierce as well as compassionate. "And I want every prisoner to be on their best behavior for the general's visit." He straightened and gazed down his nose at them all. "That is all. Dismissed." With the usual careless wave of one hand, Klink dismissed them all.

As Klink strode back inside his offices, several prisoners crowded Kinch. One of the other barracks' chiefs pushed forward. "Is he right? Is Newkirk coming back?"

Another shoved in. "Is he hurt bad? What about Colonel Hogan?"

"Yeah, when's the Colonel gonna be brought back?"

Kinch held his hands up and everyone quieted. "Look fellas, I know they're bringing Newkirk when Burkhalter comes to inspect the camp. Colonel Hogan should be back really soon. I don't know if Newkirk is hurt but he sure wasn't un-hurt when he left so don't be surprised if he's beat up some." Kinch grinned. "But we'll be getting our Cockney back so everyone better enjoy the last few games of poker you can win before he gets back." Everyone laughed and the crowd broke up.

Olson was smiling. "Let me guess. You want me to get all the chiefs to organize the cleaning details to get the camp cleaned up to reward Klink, right?"

Kinch tilted his head. "No, I want you to get all the chiefs to organize cleaning details to keep everyone distracted and tired so no one causes any trouble." He patted Olson's shoulder. "Hogan is going to be back any time and if I have to report on this whole mess, I'd rather do it in a clean camp with an empty cooler."

"And maybe he won't notice we've misplaced his pickpocket?" Olson's humor was evident. He was finally beginning to think that things would work out.

"Well, Newkirk is sneaky, maybe Hogan will assume he's around and just being sneaky." Kinch exchanged a look with Olson. "At least Burkhalter is bringing him back. Even Newkirk can't get into any trouble while he's being watched by a general, a general's aide and a general's guards!"

End Chapter

Camp update at last! So you can now relax that the Underground prisoners are not the Heroes(and no, it's also not Hogan, it's really just random Underground members or whoever is being accused, honest.)

Thank you all for reading and reviewing. I'm very glad that people are enjoying. Next chapter... Time for some thrilling heroics!