Hogan entered his office after Wilson left the barracks, closing his door. LeBeau was watching over Carter and would let the Colonel know when Olsen and Newkirk returned from their assignment. Tiger was downstairs in the lab making an explosive for one of the underground units she worked with, and he needed some time to figure out what to do regarding General Butler's orders. Should he even tell Tiger what the General proposed? He was under orders and had never blatantly disobeyed before. But this concerned the woman he loved. He knew he'd talk to her but he didn't want her to go to London. Who knew if she'd ever be able to come back before the war was over? He sat down on his lower bunk rubbing the bridge of his nose. He loved her that much was all he knew for sure. And he accepted her explanation for not explaining more about her life before they met. There was a lot about him that she didn't know for the same reason. A close friend had once told him that there are things, in all our pasts, that would alter perceptions of each other. Some of these may come to light, and some will go unspoken forever. I only hope, when we're confronted by these revelations, we don't forget the trust and bonds we've worked so hard to forge.* As torn as he was about the marriage, it didn't change his feelings for Tiger. His moral compass wouldn't allow him to date or be involved with a married woman, and to the best of his knowledge, he hadn't broken that rule until now. Part of him felt guilt over his involvement with Tiger, and an equal part of him said he'd done nothing wrong. The war inside of him was tearing him apart. He had no idea how to resolve the inner conflict.

He stood pacing the length of the room and then turned continuing to pace. The General's proposal did have merit; if Tiger went to London then she could get her divorce and be free to live a life with Hogan if that's what she wanted to do once the war was over. It was selfish to keep her here just to be with him, he had to look at what was best for Tiger. That choice made his heart ache, because he knew the possibility that he'd never see her again. Being in England wasn't any safer than being in Germany or France. As far as that went, her work with the underground put her in great risk of being caught and executed after ruthless interrogations. Most underground members don't live more than a few months; yet somehow, Tiger had beaten the odds and made it over four years in the organization. However, there were no guarantees in this war that either of them would live through it. His head was beginning to ache as much as his heart. Going to London would be the best choice for her personally. At least if she was killed there, then he knew it wouldn't be at the brutal hands of some Gestapo or SS personnel. Tiger was like him and determined to influence the outcome of this war and he knew that she'd personally made a difference so far. Would she even accept taking a step out of the frontlines? Only Tiger could make that decision, but he wanted her safe. In his heart, he knew if she asked him to do the same thing and take a step back from the fighting he'd have to say no. It wasn't in his character any more than it was in hers. That was part of the reason he loved her. Only Tiger could make this decision and he'd support her either way. The side of him that said he'd done nothing wrong was gaining ground due to his love for the woman. He rubbed his hands over his face realizing the General was right; somehow, he always found himself in the worst predicaments.

Olsen and Newkirk came into the Barracks knocking on Hogan's door. "Sir, we have the files photocopied," Olsen said breaking the Colonel out of his thoughts. Hogan opened the door to let them in the room.

Kinch, Baker, and Reynolds were walking by Carter's lab when they saw François hit Tiger. Kinch grabbed the scientist by his shoulders, swung him around, then hit him with a hard punch that sent François flailing backwards landing on his arse. Kinch knelt down next to Tiger who moaned slightly but showed no signs of consciousness.

"I'll get Wilson," Baker said taking off in a fast run down the tunnel.

"Tiger! Tiger, can you hear me?" Kinch asked moving her slightly straightening out her body. He pushed the stool away from her head. She didn't respond.

"Stay down," Reynolds said to the scientist standing over him with his arms crossed. François looked up at him through the stars that were blocking his vision and complied. He didn't have the ability to stand if he wanted just now.

A moment later, Wilson, followed by Baker, came running into the room, "What happened?" Tiger was just beginning to regain consciousness. "Hold still, let me check you out," the medic said.

Tiger blinked at the brightness of the light in her eyes from Wilson's penlight and pushed it away. She tried to sit up and Kinch placed an arm under her gently sitting her up. "Owww," she said holding her spinning head.

"How many fingers do you see?" Wilson asked waving three in front of her face.

"I'm not sure, they're all blurry," she replied. "François will pay for this!"

"I've already taken care of him," Kinch said.

Tiger turned to see the prone figure lying across the room. "You hit him for me?" Kinch nodded his head yes. "Thank you, mon ami." Tiger had a satisfied look upon her face.

"Let's get you upstairs," Wilson said and Kinch helped her to stand up. "What about him?" Wilson indicated to the scientist who hadn't moved.

"He's not your concern," Kinch responded then turned towards the other men. "Keep him under guard until the Colonel decides what to do with him."

"Don't worry, he's not going to cause any more trouble," Reynolds promised hauling the scientist to his feet. The coldness in his voice made François fearful.

"What happened?" LeBeau asked worriedly as Kinch and Wilson helped Tiger upstairs. He knocked on the Colonel's door urgently. It opened immediately.

Hogan took in the scene; the red raised mark imprint of a hand on Tiger's face was all he needed to know exactly what happened. "Where is he?" he demanded, fury showing.

"Under guard," Kinch replied helping Tiger to the lower bunk in Hogan's office.

"Sir, someone is going to need to stay with Tiger for a while," Wilson said stopping Hogan in his tracks, which was the medic's intention. He knew Hogan might do something he'd regret later in his current state of mind.

Hogan's overwhelming urge to beat the scientist into a bloody pulp was overridden only by his concern for Tiger. "How is she?" he asked kneeling beside the bunk.

"I'll be okay," she replied with a weak smile.

"A slight concussion, but she'll be all right in a day or so," Wilson replied. "LeBeau, would you get us some ice?" The Frenchman took off without answering to complete his task. Wilson pulled out two aspirin from his bag handing them to Tiger along with a glass of water.

"Merci," she said taking the medication. "I will kill him for this!"

"Tell me what happened," Hogan asked sitting on the edge of the bunk. Tiger gave the highlights of their conversation and how enraged François had become when she disagreed with him.

LeBeau came back with the ice pack and Wilson placed it on Tiger's face. "Use this. It'll help with the bruising. I'll be by later to check on you." He and the other men left the small room closing the door.

"I'm sorry," Hogan started, worry shining through his eyes.

"It wasn't your fault. Il est un cochon sale!" Tiger spat out.**

"I promised you that he'd never hurt you again, and I wasn't able to keep the promise."

Tiger placed a hand on Hogan, "You have never broken a promise to me, mon amour."

Hogan reached over brushing an errant strand of hair out of her face. "I'm going to take care of the troublemaker. I'll be back in a little while."

"I'll come with you," Tiger said starting to sit up.

Hogan placed a hand on her shoulder keeping her down, "Rest."

"What will you do?" she asked slightly concerned. She wanted to be the one to handle François, and feared Hogan might get into trouble if he wasn't careful.

"London never said he had to be comfortable here. If he gets to them in shackles, they still get him," Hogan said with an edge to his voice.

"Don't do anything that will get you in trouble. Promise me!"

"I promise you that François will never have the ability to hurt you or anyone else again, while he's here," Hogan said determinedly then leaving the room. Outside in the common room he asked with eyes ablaze. "Where is he?"

*Quote from Poltergeist the Legacy

** He is a filthy pig!