Chapter 6:

Hogan paced back and forth in his room. His brain was working on overdrive regarding Carter. He was getting worried...real worried. Carter seemed to be getting worse the longer he kept to himself and held back from telling him what occurred during his command under Walters that made him so terrified of the man. He knew there were several reasons why he was scared of Walters, but there was one overall factor that contributed to the fear, and the American officer was determined to figure out what it was so he could immediately help Carter feel safe and secure once again.

Hogan turned around and started pacing back to his window when there was a knock on the door that brought him out of his thoughts. He turned around to face his door and wrapped his arms around himself.

"Come in," Hogan granted.

Kinch opened the door and walked in holding a piece of paper in his hand.

"You have a minute, Colonel?" Kinch asked.

"Yeah, close the door," Hogan said.

Kinch followed orders and shut the door then approached Hogan.

The colonel looked at Kinch incredulously then saw the piece of paper he held in his hand.

"What's that?" Hogan asked.

"A message from London, sir. They were able to get a hold of Walters's medical records and found the symptoms to what he was suffering from when he was admitted into the hospital eight years ago."

Hogan grabbed the message and read through it carefully. He scanned each word and began to analyze the symptoms to try and pinpoint a mental ailment that could possibly match the list.

"Lack of remorse, guilt, or empathy, shallow emotions, egocentric, need for constant excitement, and highly abusive." Hogan read off.

"Yes, sir,"

"Anything else, Kinch?"

"Afraid not, sir."

Hogan thought to himself for a moment longer then let out a breath of air.

"Sure sounds like sociopathy if I've ever heard of it," Hogan said.

"I would agree, Colonel," Kinch said.

"Do Newkirk, LeBeau, and Carter know about this?"

"No, sir. I kept it to myself just as you ordered me."

"Good. I'd like to tell them myself."

"How do we get rid of him, Colonel? You know just as well as I do that Walters might try something the longer he's here. He'll make Carter worse than he already is."

"I know, Kinch. I'm thinking of something. Just difficult to prove to someone that a person is a sociopath, especially a person like Klink."

"I think Walters finds Klink a joke."

"Most people do, Kinch," Hogan said, smiling.

Kinch could not help but chuckle.

"True, Colonel. Very right you are."

Hogan's smile faded as soon as he thought of Carter again.

"I've gotta get rid of him. I can't stand seeing Carter like this."

"I know, Colonel. It'll be alright, sir. Carter's a lot stronger than he makes out to be."

"I hope you're right...I might be only faced with forcing it out of him, though."

"Why do you think that, Colonel?"

"Wilson said that Carter's forcing himself to keep quiet and that if he keeps it to himself any longer, he could mentally lose it and become unresponsive eventually. He said that the only way to get him to talk and tell me what's going on might have to be done by force and being harsh with him...I hate getting hard with you guys, though."

"You're only doing it for Carter's good, Colonel. Just remember that if it comes to that."

Hogan sighed and nodded.

"Alright, I'll keep it in mind."

"When are you gonna tell them about Walters?"

"I'd like to tell Carter first before Newkirk and LeBeau know. He deserves to be the first, after all."

"Of course."

"When's dinner gonna be ready?"

"LeBeau said in a little while, sir."

Hogan nodded.

"Kinch, can you leave me alone for a little bit? I got some things to figure out before dinner."

"Sure thing, Colonel."

Kinch started for the door, when Hogan stopped him.

"Kinch?"

The radioman turned to Hogan. His commanding officer was smiling at him faintly.

"Thanks."

Kinch gave the same smile back.

"No problem, Colonel. See you at dinner."

He closed the door behind him again leaving Hogan to himself. The commanding officer went back to pacing his quarters trying to figure out what to do about Walters, but more importantly, Carter. He had to get him talking somehow, and he knew it had to be soon. Out of all methods, though, he was highly resilient to forcing Carter to open up to him. Carter was sensitive and innocent, and he knew how much the sergeant hated it when he was upset or disappointed with him. The only time he really laid down the law was when they were either putting themselves into danger or making a stupid decision that could risk their entire operation at Stalag 13. Not once had he ever been mean in order to try and get one of his men to tell them what was wrong with them.

Hogan sighed and pinched his nose. He slumped into his chair and sat there. His mind was racing. He did not want to be rough with Carter, but it was looking like the only option for him currently. After careful thinking, he decided that he would give Carter one final chance. If he had another outbreak due to Walters one more time, he would make Carter tell him what was going on with him, though the colonel hoped it would not come to that ending result.

Hogan got lost in his thoughts, when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," he said.

The door to Hogan's quarters opened, and LeBeau entered in.

"Colonel, dinner's ready," he informed him.

Hogan looked up from his desk and suddenly felt and heard his stomach growling. He put his hand on his belly, realizing just how bad his hunger was.

"Thanks, LeBeau. I didn't realize how hungry I actually was." He answered.

LeBeau nodded and left to return to the main area of the barracks. Hogan, shortly after, also left his quarters and joined his men at the table for dinner.

Hogan, Newkirk, Carter, LeBeau, and Kinch had finished their dinner and all of them were now sitting at the table with cups of coffee and talking to one another. At the moment, Newkirk was telling them about his recent dream he had about a pretty girl.

"She was absolutely gorgeous, Gov'nor. Ya should've seen her! Tall, blonde, dark blue eyes…" Hogan cut the Englishman off.

"Too bad she wasn't real," Hogan joked.

"She's out there Gov'nor. I know she is!"

"Yeah...in your dreams," LeBeau muttered.

Newkirk glared at the little Frenchman.

"And what about your girl, Antoinette? Don't think she'll be coming around anytime soon."

"Antoinette is different, mon ami!"

"How so, besides the fact she's only been in a dream?"

LeBeau gave Newkirk a smug look only making Hogan laugh.

"Alright, alright, settle down, guys. I say both of you guys have girls out there waiting for you," Hogan said.

"What about me, Colonel?" Carter asked.

"You too, Carter." Hogan answered, smiling.

The young sergeant smiled back and nodded.

The door to the barracks opened, and in walked Walters. All five men turned to look at him and were shocked to see the condition he was in. His eyes were clouded over and disconnected from reality. He seemed to be off in some far away land. He kept staring at what seemed like nothing in the distance.

Carter stared at his past commanding officer. His eyes were bulging out of his head, and his face was as white as a sheet.

Hogan turned and stared at him, worried.

"Carter, are you alright?" he asked.

Carter did not respond. He just continued to stare at Walters. His face read terror all over it.

The lieutenant started approaching the table and seemed to be walking towards Hogan.

"NO!" Carter wailed. He shot up from where he sat and latched onto his commanding officer.

Hogan looked at him completely stunned at what Carter had just done. It made the colonel immediately know that whatever happened between Carter and Walters had had a huge impact on the sergeant's life. He gently shoved Carter off of him and approached Walters.

"Alright, what's the deal, Walters?" Hogan asked, voice hard.

Walters did not answer. He just kept staring at him.

The colonel waved a hand in front of his face. He got no response.

The amount of response Walters was currently giving was concerning to the American colonel. Without turning around, Hogan spoke to his second in command.

"Kinch, keep an eye on him, will ya?"

"Yes, Colonel," Kinch said.

Hogan closed his eyes and let out a soft breath.

I'm sorry, Carter, but I have to do this, he thought to himself. Hogan turned around and gave Carter one of his famously known glares he gave when furious with one of his men.

"Carter, my office. Now," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," Carter said, hurrying to his feet. He made a run for Hogan's room and waited patiently for his commanding officer to enter. When Carter was out of the room, Hogan sighed and turned to face Kinch, LeBeau, and Newkirk with a sad look to his face.

"You're doing what's best for him, Gov'nor," Newkirk said softly.

"I hope you're right, Newkirk," Hogan sadly said.

"Just remember you're only doing this to help André," LeBeau said.

"He'll understand, Colonel," Kinch said.

Hogan nodded, let out another huge breath of air, then turned to look at the door leading into his room.

"Here goes nothing," he said softly. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it. He quickly turned on his angry face, entered the room, and locked the door. He leaned against the closed door and glared coldly at Carter, who was sitting on Hogan's lower bunk and looking down at the ground. The young sergeant was terrified to look his commanding officer straight in the eye. He knew he had it coming, but kept hoping that maybe he would avoid the rage of Hogan if he kept his eyes away from his. He eventually found a bit of confidence from somewhere and lifted his head to face Hogan's.

The colonel kept his eyes fixed on Carter. His face was hard and stone cold. He decided he would break the tension by giving a small smile to Hogan, hoping it would make his commanding officer chuckle.

"Hi," he said softly.

Hogan did not answer and continued to stare him down.

Carter cleared his throat and looked back down at the floor again.

"Carter, I'm done playing nicely," Hogan said brusquely. "Now, tell me what's got you so afraid of Lieutenant Walters."

He lifted his head to look at Hogan briefly, then returned again to stare at the floor. He did not say a single word.

"I'm gonna ask you one last time, and the next one won't be a question. What are you afraid of Lieutenant Walters for?"

Carter did not answer.

"Answer my question, Sergeant!" Hogan snapped.

The young man swallowed a knot in his throat and remained silent. He would not croak no matter how angry Hogan got. He needed to protect his commanding officer, his best friend. He had to remain silent, unless he wanted Walters to go after and kill Hogan for betraying him. He was stuck, and he would remain silent no matter how terrified it made him.

"Answer me!" Hogan thundered.

Carter sat still for a moment, then shot to his legs and hurried towards Hogan's door, forgetting he had locked it after entering. He was stopped by two rough hands forcing him to look up into his commanding officer's eyes. They were filled with anger and fire. He knew he had pushed Hogan to his limit now.

"Colonel...I...I can't," Carter meekly said.

"Why not?" Hogan demanded.

"Because...I can't, okay? Can't you accept that?"

"No."

"Colonel, please!"

"Sergeant, I want an answer, and I want it now! Why are you so afraid of Lieutenant Walters?"

"Colonel, I can't tell you! He'll kill you, if I do!" Carter was breaking now. Tears were falling down his face. He was shaking and pleading with Hogan. He had to keep him safe. If Walters did something to the best commanding officer and friend he had all because he squealed, it would torture him for the rest of his life.

Hogan softened and put a gentle hand on Carter's shoulder.

"Carter, I promise that whatever you tell me will remain in this room. No one, not even Walters, will find out what was exchanged. I always keep my promises, right?" Hogan asked gently.

"Colonel, he has ways. He has ways, and I don't know what they are. He's not any ordinary guy we've dealt with before, Colonel. I can't live with the fact he'd kill you because I squealed on him." Carter choked.

"So he's blackmailing you?"

He trembled, wondering if he should answer. He slowly nodded and swallowed another knot.

"Carter, please tell me. Nothing will happen to me, I promise. I'm gonna be just fine."

Carter hesitated for a moment. He opened his mouth once, but immediately closed it. After licking his lips, he sighed.

"Alright, Colonel...I'll tell you," he said softly.

Hogan escorted Carter over to his bunk and had him sit down on the lower bed. He then made his way to his desk chair, turned it around, then placed his arms on top of the chair head. He crossed his legs and gave Carter his full attention.

"Whenever you're ready, Carter," Hogan said quietly.

Carter closed his eyes and let out a very uneasy breath. When he finally found enough courage, he opened his eyes and looked right into Hogan's. They held kindness, support, warmth, and safety. He felt that as long as Hogan was standing there by his side, no one, not even Walters, could hurt him. He was grateful to have such a wonderful friend and commander in his life. He nodded carefully, then sighed.

"It all started last year in the summer, when I was still serving under Lieutenant Walters for the 182nd bombing squad..."