Change of Ways

by The Ravenwolf

Set directly after the the events of the Rat Patrol's final episode, the story follows Dietrich's path into an unsteady future, joining his ways with the Rats and even less expected individuals.

24. Mementos and Memories

Nurse Arno and her younger but more voluminous colleague Regula look up, as the strange entourage enters the tent of the sick and wounded. Sergeant Sam Troy supports the German Captain Dietrich who walks with all the steadiness of a drunk draftsman after a full bottle of Kirschwasser and looks about as vital as a starving jackal. His friend, the haunted Jewish Lieutenant Silberblatt, guides the brown-skinned native boy Ari along who has gripped a part of the Captain's tunic and holds onto it as if for dear life. With eyes fixed on a strange assortment of small items he holds in his hand, while a glittering thin object stands from his jacket's pocket, Jack Moffit walks along in a slow pace without sparing his surroundings or company any glance. "Hauptmann Dietrich", the Swiss nurse greets the young officer with concern and a slightly accusatory tinge in her voice all his medical personnel seem to use, when he enters a sickbay barely able to stay on his feet, Dietrich notes with slight annoyance. It is not like he has chosen willingly to be up and about in such a state.

"Schwester Arno", he greets the older nurse nonetheless with all the calm and politeness his rank and upbringing demand. "I find myself in the position of having to trouble you to provide me with pain killing medication to continue with my duties." Both nurses eye him intently. "You will receive those right away, but better not expect to be released again from medical care tonight given the state you look to be in. You are hardly fit for any duty." With a slightly pained smile the German Captain replies dryly: "I will not say no, if you can offer me a bed around here." Looking from Dietrich to Silberblatt, continuing to Ari and Moffit, the Swiss nurse makes a hand signal sending off her colleague, before she turns back to the group. "Sergeant Troy, you may leave our patients here and assure that dinner for all of them is brought, since hardly any of them can afford losing or skipping meals. We will look after them in the meantime", nurse Arno declares resolutely. "Sure, Ma'am", Troy acknowledges the stern nurse's order, leads the German Captain to the field bed, she is pointing out to him, and helps the exhausted man to sit down without toppling over. "Don't do anything stupid, while I'm gone", Troy comments with a grin. "That should be my worry, when you leave, not the other way around, Sergeant", Dietrich replies dryly and shifts his position slightly to allow Ari to sit down next to him on the cot. That the six-year-old boy without any education is the least troublesome of them all says quite a lot about the Rats and their ways of driving him towards insanity.

After untying the sling around the German's neck, the stern elderly nurse helps the young man out of his jacket and shirt which leaves him pale and breathless from fighting to not show too much discomfort - a fight which he loses anyways, as his pain and exhaustion are more than obvious. A morphine infusion at least helps to reduce the worst of his acute pain, leaving the German officer slightly dazed however. While Ari leans into his side, Dietrich can make out murmured whispers of Jakob speaking with Ludwig Sommer which he is not able to discern the details of, given the foggy haze clouding his perception. One louder shout directed toward him from the front makes its way through the fog around his brain however. "Hey, Cap. You totally look like you've seen better days", a jovial voice comments that sounds too young to be Troy's, but holds a similar amount of insolence and disregard of rank and propriety.

With a weary sigh the German Captain opens his eyes and concentrates to focus his gaze on the young American standing in front of him. Eyeing Mark Hitchcock and his wrapped arm and hand with well-concealed concern, Dietrich comments seriously with only a slight tinge of dry sarcasm: "For an elite college student, I find your behaviour rather lacking in every respect, Hitchcock. Besides you'd better not remind me of having seen better days, as a day with two Troys was bound to be a catastrophe. You at least look a lot better than earlier, Private. How are your hand and arm?" Hitch grins broadly. "They really feel a lot better. Thanks, Cap." The German Captain nods curtly, wincing only slightly at the unnerving abbreviation of his rank, since at least Hitchcock is not trying to mispronounce his actual name regularly. Apparently, he can only have one of these two mercies per Rat from any of them, either use a proper title or not pronounce his surname. Focusing his attention back on Hitchcock, he adds dryly: "Fortunately for you, Doktor Sommer has had a lot of experience with treating snake bites, haven't you, Ludwig?" A haunted look briefly passes over the German doctor's face. "Allerdings, Hans", he answers sardonically. "Thanks to your most ingenious Feldwebel we have ever had the misfortune to have." "Schneider", Dietrich groans the name. Moffit eyes both of them curiously, even considering this worth looking up from his assortment of Egyptian trinkets. "I would have thought that Troy was the worst Sergeant you've ever had the misfortune to have", the Brit comments slyly. "However much I am going to regret saying this, Schneider was worse than Troy and his brother combined", the German Captain replies with a groan. "Now that guy sounds interesting", Hitch comments eagerly. "Tell us more, Cap!"

"Come on, kids! Dinner's served!", Troy interrupts them, as he calls out when entering the tent, followed by Tully and Gotty. All of them carry trays with plates, cutlery and a selection of food from the canteen. Hitch looks truly disappointed to be cheated out of his story, while Jack Moffit has focused his attention back on his collection of trinkets. Dietrich however is relieved that for once Troy shows perfect timing for one of his interests. "*I'm hungry*", Ari pipes up and beams at the sight of food. Jakob helps his friend to his feet and into his shirt which the German Captain buttons with practiced dexterity leaving the topmost buttons open in a more casual way than he would have done on duty. Fritz already follows closely at Sam Troy's heels with a hanging tongue and big puppy eyes look. Moffit does not look up, until the American Sergeant shouts his name for the fourth time. "He's almost like a boy with a new favourite toy", Dietrich comments dryly, as he sees that the British scholar has split his found artefacts on the field bed and is looking at them curiously. "Watch out that he doesn't get Ari into this", Jakob warns his friend with a smile. "Moffit is a real scholar and would never let a child play with his research objects. So we are safe", comes the dry reply.

Sitting down next to his friend Jakob with Ari between them, the German Captain thanks Pettigrew, Gottschlich and Troy for taking the role of their serving personnel. "You're welcome. We really can't have you two start to look like that mummy guy", Troy replies with a grin and takes a seat unbidden on the left side of the German Captain who briefly casts a wary glance in his direction. "You wanted to tell us the story of your worst Sergeant ever, the guy worse than Sarge and his brother put together", Hitch prompts the German Captain and medic, once Tully and Gotty have started to put some food on everybody's plates. Sighing wearily both Germans exchange a long glance, while Troy focuses his curious gaze on the Captain next to him. "Our life was ... interesting, cleaning up the mess Feldwebel Schneider left behind anywhere he went", Dietrich recounts with obvious relief that the times are over. "I can only agree", Ludwig Sommer confirms with a similar tone.

"That man was a moron on the one hand with excellent connections directly to Berlin to keep him well protected politically. On the other hand he was the most clumsy fool I have ever met with an uncanny knack for surviving the worst of his own idiocies while creating a pandemonium for everyone else around him", Hans Dietrich explains and several people around the table start grinning at the description. "Schneider pulled stunts even you four could have gotten new ideas from, like dropping his cigarette in the ammunition depot that he was supposed to check the guards of. He was wide enough away to remain more or less unscathed, the guards all died and we'd better not discuss the fate of the ammunition depot." The German Captain pinches his nose and Doktor Sommer continues: "And then there was the snake incident. I have forgotten where it happened, but it was some Western Libyan town." "It could have been Agedabia", Dietrich takes over. "For reasons nobody but the Sergeant ever knew or understood, he decided to confiscate all snakes from the local soukh and open bazaars and had them all brought to the camp." Seeing Moffit's disbelief clearly written on his face, the German Captain repeats with dry sarcasm: "Yes, you heard me right. He confiscated every snake he could get his hands on, unfortunately they were not literally his own hands which would have solved our problems. The first men were already bitten during the confiscation phase. Further, we had a dozen cobras, vipers and whatever other poisonous or not so dangerous species at our hands and of course Schneider the idiot did not even bother to assure that they could not escape from their baskets or wherever they were held in." "I was treating more than four dozens of snakebites from almost any species found here in North Africa, for almost a full week, until Herr Hauptmann had gotten rid of the last of them", Doktor Sommer laments. "On the second evening I found a viper wrapped around the lamp on my desk threatening to bite me for trying to remove it from its space of warmth. I really don't approve of unnecessary violence against my own men, but I was close to considering having the fool court martialed for pure idiocy. Of course with his friends and family in Berlin this wasn't an option", his former German commanding officer growls in exasperation. "We could barely assign him any serious penal service, as that might have backfired terribly given his ineptitude. He even managed to collapse a latrine trench on the diggers." The Rats look highly amused as does Jakob Silberblatt, while Dietrich and Sommer share equal expressions of exasperation.

"Schneider pulled all kinds of such stunts, putting even some commando troops to shame. He set tents on fire, went straight through minefields killing every soldier accompanying him, he even managed to explode a tank through wrong handling. When I wanted to have him punished or removed from our unit, I was held responsible for his actions instead." Holding his head in an increasing headache at the painful memories, Dietrich sighs deeply, before continuing with his recount: "Only even the four of you together have managed to wreak as much havoc, as he was able to do single handedly. If I hadn't known for a fact that he was absolutely incompetent and dimwitted, he would have been the best Allied saboteur in all of North Africa." Dietrich pinches his nose warily, while Ludwig Sommer focuses a truly sympathetic look on him. "Tough luck, Captain", Troy comments jovially which the German officer completely ignores. "My superiors sent him to me to punish me for my own misbehaviour and failures, I am sure of it. My major always asked with a really sardonic tone how Schneider was doing, whenever he relayed new orders", Dietrich explains warily. "Which reminds me, Herr Hauptmann, when he died in one of their attacks, didn't you promise: 'Ich werde Sergeant Troy und seine Ratten auf ein Bier einladen.'?", Ludwig Sommer asks with a smile, while Moffit's eyes twinkle with amusement understanding the statement. "I understood beer and my name even without any German lessons", Troy states enthusiastically. "Doktor Sommer is right. I promised to invite you all to a beer for providing us with salvation from Sergeant Schneider", Dietrich confirms with a wry smile. "Once I find myself able to live up to this promise, you are my guests, gentlemen." Hitch beams at the announcement and Tully looks openly approving. Even Jack seems to appreciate the gesture, as he exchanges a glance with Troy who now understands his previous amusement. "You're a really great guy, Captain", Troy grins widely, as he pats the German Captain lightly and carefully on his good shoulder, after the man has collapsed previously from Sam's brother doing this more intensely with the young officer's injured side. "Spare me this, Troy! Since Schneider's death you are back as my number one most annoying Sergeant", Dietrich replies dryly which makes Troy only grin more widely and exchange gazes with the other Rats who share his amusement.

Ari looks curiously at the meat the others have placed on their plates. Hitch's delighted face enjoying the taste is making it even more mouthwatering. Careful to not hurt the man's arm, the boy nudges Hans next to him. "*I want to try this as well*", he pleads with big eyes, reminding of Fritz who currently tries the perfected version of the puppy eyes stare on Hitch. Unable to resist his life savior, the private starts giving the first piece of meat to the dog already, with many more to follow for sure. "*It's pork*", Dietrich speaks with an apologetic tone, then looks over to Jakob who savours the meal with just as much joy as Hitchcock. "Aren't you supposed not to eat food that is not kosher, Jakob?", he asks with slight sarcasm. Looking a bit sheepish, his friend replies with a grin: "Well. It's good food and I'm not that much into tradition and faith, as you well know, Hans. Just don't tell my parents!" Shaking his head with a slight smile, the German Captain counters dryly: "I might consider doing just that considering how much trouble you have managed to get me into in just a single week even though you're supposed to be my friend. Now I have their address after all." While Jakob Silberblatt is still trying to wrap his mind around the implication of this statement, Hans Dietrich transfers some of the pork stew from his own plate to Ari's who smiles at him gratefully.

After several seconds spent thinking, Lieutenant Silberblatt beams and grabs his friend by the collar, since he cannot raise an arm to defend himself at the moment. "Jakob!", the German snaps unnerved at the undignified manhandling in the same tone he usually applies for Troy, when the Sergeant acts similarly. The Jewish Lieutenant pulls out two sets of chains with dangling metal discs. "You didn't have those in the morning", Troy comments nonchalantly. "You might not have noticed, Sergeant, since you were preoccupied wreaking havoc in this camp with your brother as an accomplice, but a lot has happened since this morning", Dietrich answers sarcastically, glaring from Jakob to Troy, as he tries to wriggle out of his friend's grasp without causing himself too much pain and appearing totally undignified about it. "So you're officially with us now, Captain. No running off with Browny and the Aussies?", Troy asks with a wide grin. "Don't be absurd, Troy. This is not one of your cheesy Hollywood movies", Dietrich replies dryly. "I've given General Atkins my word and I am a man standing by his word." Troy raises his arms in a defensive gesture. "I never doubted your word, Captain. Just the intelligence of those legal office idiots arguing with rules and whatnot."

"Korinthenkacker", Dietrich mutters the German derisive expression and Moffit actually grins, as does Ludwig Sommer who has heard his former Hauptmann rant about the office idiots in Berlin and their ordered nonsense in his less controlled moments, when his temper has finally gotten the better of him in just, yet fruitless anger over Berlin's stupid orders. "Yes. That's exactly what Troy is talking about", Jack Moffit comments with a grin. "Could you repeat the word, Captain?", Troy asks curiously. "Korinthenkacker. I really wouldn't put this word anywhere on top of the list of German terms to learn, Sergeant. Rather at the bottom. Cursing bureaucrats and other overly pedantic fools with German swear words is not of a high priority or relevance." "That's what you say, Cap. But could you imagine how much fun it would be to curse our bureaucrats in their faces and they couldn't even understand it?", Hitch argues with a grin. "Do you seriously ask me to train you to prank your own army's and state's legislature, Private?", Dietrich asks with a sly tone that actually sounds more bemused than offended. "Would you, Cap?", the young private asks with a pleading look. "Hm. I might consider it, if I find you showing a tolerable behaviour, not making me regret this", the German Captain replies with dry amusement. "You won't, I mean regret this. I can be really well-behaved", Hitch stumbles over his answer. "You have yet to prove this statement, Private Hitchcock", Dietrich replies with a stern expression. "You are after all a spoiled, self-absorbed brat from a rich family. Either an only-child or the youngest son and family prince with some age gap to his older siblings", the German assesses and Hitch is actually too baffled by the accurate guess to be angry at the insults dealt. "How did you know that, Cap?"

Dietrich smirks and answers with irony clearly audible in his tone: "You are aware that I could just read your military file, aren't you, Private Hitchcock?" At the young American's crest-fallen expression the German officer adds with an amused tone: "But for your assessment that was not necessary. Your behaviour is fairly obvious and undeniable. You studied at an Ivy League College which costs a lot of money and lived in an expensive district in New York City. That much I can know from encyclopedias and almanacs without requiring to have lived in the United States. Additionally, if you had any siblings close to your age, you would have learned not to behave as insolently and with self-absorption, as you often do; if you were the older sibling you would take more care of how others act except for your own amusement." " 'Excellent!' I cried. 'Elementary,' said he.", Hitch quotes with a broad grin that grows even wider when the German Captain furrows his brow, apparently unfamiliar with the quote unlike the highly amused British Sergeant. "You know, Cap, when you treat me like Watson, I may treat you like Holmes", Hitch laughs. Seeing Dietrich's scowl, Moffit intercedes on Mark's behalf: "You really should consider this a compliment, Captain. Sherlock Holmes is described as a great and brilliant mind with an unrivaled power of deduction." "Are you mocking me, Private?", the German snaps with wounded pride upon hearing the explanation. Hitch looks slightly unsettled at the accusation. "No, Capt'n. I swear it. Scout's honour." He lifts his right hand, although it is partially bandaged after the snakebite, and shows the three middle fingers stretched upwards, while he gets his thumb and pinky to cross over his palm helping with his left hand. Recognising similar signs from former boyhood friends who have been part of Bündische Jugend, participating either in the youth organisation of the Wandervögel or Pfadfinder, Dietrich narrows his eyes warily, before finally nodding in acceptance of the oath.

"Why do you keep quoting Sherlock Holmes on me?", the German Captain finally asks with a curious expression. "I'm a literature major, I really love books and their quotes for themselves and I like quoting stuff. Only Sarge and Tully don't even recognize like 10% of it. You and Doc are far better for this, since you're more educated." Troy looks slightly offended, while Tully appears unperturbed. "Unlike you two, I do not possess a college education. Jakob studied Law for a semester or two, before they had to flee to the United States", Dietrich argues and Silberblatt nods briefly in affirmation. "You're still smart and have a really broad education. German high schools must be really tough compared to most of ours", Hitch assesses. "They are", Moffit confirms, having experienced both educational systems. "In some fields they surpass the English or American System of Education, even Public Schools such as ours. For example they teach at least one or two languages or higher calculus. You attended a school focused on science education, didn't you, Captain?" The German officer briefly furrows his brow, before remembering that Moffit has translated his SS file and would have been able to conclude this from his school certificate required for applying for an officer's career. "Indeed, I did." "And you wouldn't have wanted to continue with science or engineering as a career?", Moffit repeats the question he has once put to the German in their first night in a different way. With the increased amount of trust shared between the Captain and them, he might give him a more detailed answer. "In a way I did", Dietrich replies with a wry smile. "My father would have wanted me to join the cavalry naturally, but I didn't consider courier service particularly interesting as a career and following my uncle's and cousins' paths in the Navy was out of question after almost drowning, suffering from hypothermia." Ludwig Sommer eyes Dietrich with actual shock and concern, as does Corporal Gottschlich, but both refrain from commenting, while the others remembering the story recount look sympathetic. However, Jakob bears a slightly guilty and worried expression.

"Artillery requires a lot of knowledge in the field of mathematics and physics to calculate projectile motion and ballistic trajectories." Tully eyes the German Captain as if he had just grown a second head, while the American is chewing on his meat with a puzzled expression. "You shoot at something using maths?", Troy, who is less shy to ask questions outright, asks incredulously. Dietrich sneers, as he replies with dry sarcasm: "Indeed, Sergeant. Although this must appear like a completely alien concept to you. Without dozens to hundreds of bullets in automatic guns, the calculation of the ballistic curve for a single shot fired at a large range does require actual planning which includes precise calculations and measuring for example wind speed and direction." "You became an artillery officer to do maths?", Troy asks incredulously, still disbelieving that such a notion could occur to anybody. "Did I tell you that you're a smartass?" "Not within the last five minutes", the German Captain replies dryly with a wry smile, bemused at the American Sergeant's predictable incredulity. Jack Moffit feels utterly entertained by the way the answer to his question is revolving. In addition, it does reveal quite a lot about Hans Dietrich in his eyes. "You know that you're really crazy, Captain", Troy counters still incredulously. "Hitch just reads and quotes books randomly, but you're really as bad as Jack." Now Dietrich and Moffit exchange glances, trying to determine whether they should feel equally affronted. "Have we already talked about your compliments being hard to tell apart from your insults, Sergeant?", the German asks dryly. "I'm willing to include a special lecture on this in my language classes", Moffit offers graciously. "They are all signed up for it, except for Ari", the Captain replies dryly. "Sounds amazing. You know that Literature has the real advantage that you can quote all those wonderful love poems. Shakespeare's sonnets can really melt a woman's heart unlike calculus and ballistic trajectories", Hitch argues with conviction, speaking the technical terms with a certain amount of derision, as if they would leave a vile taste on his tongue. "Should we ask Lieutenant Hartigan? I promise we'll refrain from telling your girlfriend that the fancy words you used to declare your undying love are not originally your own, but stolen from a long dead Brit", Dietrich counters dryly and Moffit glares at him for the derisive comment on Britain's national poet, while Troy has started grinning again, as Hitch is blushing slightly and stuttering to counter the German.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Johnson enters the tent with a tray containing a plate with food, a large steaming pot and four cups. "Ah, a fellow soldier of his majesty to defend our national honor", Jack Moffit whispers in the Captain's direction, feeling the strain on his lungs. "Don't exaggerate, Moffit", Dietrich replies dryly, then narrows his eyes, as he observes Johnson. Upon seeing the assembled Rats at the personnel's dining table, the British officer approaches them under the German Captain's wary gaze. "Would you care for a cuppa tea, Captain, Sergeant?", the Brit asks with a sheepish expression without bothering to look at anyone but Dietrich and Moffit, classifying the rest of the band as unworthy to be offered good English tea in the first place. "Your constant guilty conscience is serving nobody, Lieutenant. I still appreciate your offer of tea though", the German Captain speaks with a dry tone. "Is this your way of accepting his apology, Captain? You're hardly any better than Troy", Moffit speaks with wry amusement, while the American Sergeant grins widely. "Don't overexert your social competences, Moffit", Dietrich replies sarcastically and nods to the British Lieutenant as a sign of gratitude. "You should look after the Major. It has been an exhausting day for him as well", the German officer adds in a lower voice and more serious tone. Johnson looks at him with widened eyes in brief surprise, before nodding in affirmation. "I will, Captain."

"No fight over Britain's honor then", Jack Moffit concludes with a smile, as the Lieutenant retreats to attend to Major Bracken. "Which is for the better, Sergeant, or some perfectly good tea might have been spilt and wasted", the German replies to which Troy mutters "Good riddance." "I have to agree with the Captain, you will always stay a barbarian", Jack scolds the American with dry humor. "I actually said the term barbarian was still too flattering for him", Dietrich adds dryly, as Troy shifts his glare from Moffit to him. "What a wonderful toast, Captain. Let's drink to that. Cheers", the Brit offers his teacup for a toast, as if it actually was a glass of champagne. After a baffled moment, the German raises his cup with his left hand and clinks it to the Brit's. "You're a bunch of treacherous, arrogant snobs sneering down on us ordinary folks", Troy protests. "Now, don't mix us up with Major von Stolberg or we might actually feel offended!", Dietrich holds against him, before adding with a sly grin: "For then we would have to include 'you pathetic plebeian' or variations thereof to each in our sentences. You are a full-blooded vulgarian after all, Troy." Hitch and Jack start laughing at the Sergeant's aghast look. "This time Cap got you good, Sarge!"

"How is your 'research' progressing, Doctor Moffit?", Dietrich turns to the British scholar with a curious expression wishing to end their previous line of discussion. "Mighty fine, I'd say. Thank you for asking, Captain. Those were indeed artefacts selected for their artesanal quality", Jack falls immediately into lecture mode. "I could identify the depiction of Osiris right away, as well as one of the goddess Isis. Apparently, our dead friend had a faible for animal depictions though, as he had three miniatures of Bastet and two of Anubis." Troy suppresses a yawn, while the young Americans look utterly confused. "Cats and dogs, as if we wouldn't behave enough like those", the German mutters dryly. "Was it worth plundering a dead soldier's body for them?" "I can understand that you do not approve of digging the corpse of a dead European soldier from its sandy grave given your own experiences here in North Africa, Captain. But aren't you a wee bit curious about the mysterious circumstances of the man's death in addition to the artefact he carried?", Jack Moffit inquires, eyeing the German curiously. "Moffit, I don't think you have understood my attitude properly", the German Captain states with a stern expression. "For me, archaeologists are simply grave-robbers with an academic degree and believe me, I have six years of experience to back up my assessment." Troy looks like he is about to have a laughing fit at Moffit's utterly perplexed and offended expression, while Jakob Silberblatt grins at his friend's less than diplomatic way of formulating his criticism. Hitch looks from one to the other, biting his lip to keep from laughing in front of Moffit, while Tully keeps his expression neutral, as do Gotty and Doktor Sommer who appear mainly astounded at the intensity of the Captain's pathos behind the statement.

Dietrich however continues his line of argument: "I've met some poor wretches who simply wanted to feed their children by selling what they found in the graves of whatever ancient civilisation they have come across, but they at least had a certain amount of respect for the dead, even if it was driven by superstitious fear mainly. When you science ghuls come across a corpse, you treat it without any sense of propriety or respect for the dead and their culture. You only care about not ruining anything of scientific value. I hold more sympathy for the former type of grave-robbers than the latter." Troy looks at Dietrich with unconcealed adoration at that statement. "You're a really decent guy, Captain. Don't you dare deny that ever!" Moffit's expression shifts from offended to amused. "This settles it. You're officially invited to Cambridge, Captain, since you are able to travel now as a U.S. army officer. I dare you to meet my father at the University and visit Trinity College. There you can tell your opinion to the noble professors for archaeology and Egyptology in their faces. I'm willing to offer another bottle of champagne for that or even a bottle of good Scotch Whiskey, if this rather meets your taste preferences." "Your devious plan of trying to turn me into an alcoholic has been uncovered, Doctor", the German replies dryly. "I am certainly not afraid to tell my opinion to the fitting audience. I might even have the chance to do so soon, when we pick up your father's archenemy from Oxford." Moffit bears an almost boyish grin at imagining the Oxford professor being unexpectedly confronted in his home territory by his expected saviour. "Your master's a really brave and funny guy, my little hero", Hitch tells Fritz with a stage whisper that easily carries to the other side of the table, while he scratches the panting dog behind the ears. Dietrich furrows his brow, but only snaps: "Hitchcock!", which immediately induces the desired reaction of Hitch yelping: "Sorry, Cap." If he would finally speak the rank title completely, he would be on the proper path toward repentance. Or at least he could be considered equally well-trained as Fritz. "And to answer your original question, Sergeant Moffit. I certainly am curious about a mystery, but I have learned my lesson about not getting involved in dramas of mysterious deaths and murders the hard way", Dietrich states with a wry smile and clear self-mockery.

Doctor Ludwig Sommer is smiling just as wryly as his former Captain. "Tatsächlich, Herr Hauptmann. That case might have cost you your own life after all." "I told you, Ludwig, that it would not. I was neither guilty in the murderer's eyes nor naive and stupid enough to fall for the honey trap laid out for those officers, if you could call it honey trap at all", Dietrich counters resolutely. "But there was still Oberst Bauer's threat to send us all to the Eastern front, directly to Stalingrad to cool our moods", Sommer argues with a shudder. "Whoa. Hold your horses, Captain, Doctor!", Troy intercedes. "What the hack are you two talking about?" "The last murder investigation we have been involved in", Ludwig Sommer answers with a certain amount of seriousness. "You have been involved in a murder mystery with honey traps, spies and everything interesting and you did not tell me? I thought we were friends, Hans!?", Jakob Silberblatt has put on a mock tone of drama, exaggerating how hurt he feels. Hitch nods in agreement. "Yeah. That's not something you can keep from us, Cap!" Dietrich does not deem these comments worthy of an answer, as he keeps his cool mask eyeing the rest of the table. "I thought you were a Panzer unit commander. How did you come to lead a murder investigation, Captain?", Moffit asks astounded, but with enough seriousness and politeness to not offend the German. "In the usual way I get myself into trouble without the intervention of you and your band of merry mischief makers: a loose tongue, being too proud to back down from an argument and too smart for my own good sometimes", Dietrich replies dryly with self-mockery and Sam Troy almost chokes on a piece of his dinner, as he starts laughing. After a second of baffled astonishment this turns out as the general reaction by most of those around the table with the exception of Gottschlich who looks slightly incredulous and Tully who stays with grinning and biting on his matchstick. Even Ari laughs heartily, although he does not understand a word, but laughing along with everyone around feels good.

"*Do you want to play with Fritz outside?*", Dietrich asks the boy hoping to distract him and get him away from this story, even though the child cannot understand the words anyways. "*He really needs to move. Otherwise he will get really fat, like Mehmet, the donkey trader from your hometown.*" Ari giggles at the comparison. Then the Jewish boy jumps to his feet and calls: "Fritz!" Wagging his tail, the dog comes running, even leaving Hitchcock behind, since the American has stopped feeding him a while ago. Once satisfied that the boy is out of earshot, the German Captain turns back to his attentive audience. Troy, Jakob and Hitch eye him curiously, while Moffit tries to hide his curiosity. Tully chews on his matchstick and Gotty looks unsure where this will be leading. Since meeting the Rats, his life has been utterly unhinged. Well, he is not the only one, Hans Dietrich assesses in the privacy of his mind.

"Oberst Bauer had called me along with my unit to his HQ after the Operation Diamond incident", Dietrich starts to tell with a pained grimace. "After all he wanted to prove me wrong and his theory right that those baseball schedules were a devious masterpiece of cryptology. So he wanted me there to rub it right under my nose. Suffice to say that never happened." Troy laughs heartily, while Moffit grins in amusement, as he comments: "That's what you call German diligence." "Unfortunately, I can't argue with that statement, Doctor", Dietrich replies wearily, using a tone of irony. "During this time, I gave my men a few days off to recover before the next desert missions to come. The local officers' club was hardly adequately equipped with food or drink due to the supply situation, at least when anybody below the rank of a Major asked. So going to local bars was the usual approach for soldiers and lower-ranking officers alike. It was our second day in town, when the body of a dead German officer, Leutnant Stromberg, was found." The German Captain meets eyes with his former staff medic who continues with a weary expression: "I was on duty in the sickbay that morning and in charge of the post-mortem examination. Soldiers die violently all the time in a war such as this, but his death had been particularly violent. His head had been smashed, as if struck several times by a blunt weapon or object. Without wearing his Erkennungsmarke he would have been unrecognisable. In addition to the head injury, most strangely, he bore several scratch marks on", he hesitates how to formulate this diplomatically, until he words with his heavy German accent, "a man's best parts." Troy whistles and Hitch looks shocked, moving slightly uncomfortably on his chair. Moffit's interest however seems piqued now, as he observes the two Germans with an almost lurking expression.

"Doktor Sommer involved me after the discovery and first examination. When showed me the body, the marks made me fairly sure that he was not killed in combat, but in a crime", Dietrich picks up the line of the story. "Later that day, I was arguing with the local Major Steinthaler that these were not the marks left unwittingly after a fight or an assassination through commandos rather loudly in front of the assembled highest ranking officers in the club, including Oberst Bauer. The Major mainly rubbed the recently failed commando mission under my nose and sent me off after dismissing my line of argumentation that this looked like purposeful mutilation of a corpse after a crime driven by personal revenge or that was committed because of some sort of abuse, most likely by a woman. Only two days later the very same Major turned up dead in a side street behind the local soukh." "I was ordered to perform the post-mortem investigation again and give the results directly to Oberst Bauer without telling anybody else", Doktor Sommer explains with a pained expression. "The injuries and scratch marks were similar to the first victim. Only this time the head was less badly smashed at the bottom and I could also find that there were scratch marks on the Major's face in addition to the same ... site as the first victim's."

"The Colonel questioned me for several hours after that", the lean German Captain continues his recount. "But after confirming that I had a valid alibi for the previous evening, playing bridge with two Lieutenants and a Captain, and checking thoroughly that no signs of a recent fight could be found on my hands and body, I was cleared of suspicion of murder. That was the good news. The bad news was that instead of dismissing me Oberst Bauer put me in charge of the investigation, since I had clear theories and opinions regarding the motive of the crimes and the potential murderer, more than anybody else in camp since I was not available as prime suspect any longer." Dietrich sighs heavily, still cursing the Colonel's ignorance and idiocy. "Whether this was my punishment for Operation Diamond or the squabble with the Major, remains a mystery to both of us, but we were determined to catch the murderer, or rather murderess, as we both believed." Hitch practically hangs on Dietrich's lips by now, while Gotty and Jakob seem in a similar way utterly captivated by the story. Troy eyes the German slightly dubiously with a certain degree of worry mixed into it, while Moffit has put on an almost bored expression to hide his thoughts which is betrayed as fake by the curious twinkle of his eyes. Only Tully efficiently manages the feat by hiding his expression behind chewing on his matchstick. If he would not shift it from the left to the right side and vice versa several times per minute, his own captivated attention would have stayed hidden.

"I spent the rest of the day and the following one determining how the two victims had spent their last hours, trying to find witnesses and questioning officers, Sergeants and soldiers about the two dead officers. All of it yielded fairly little except for some nasty stories about their less than resplendent character. Both had a sadistic, violent streak, but that was very little to identify a murderer with, it only increased the number of potential suspects. Also they served with different units and had different soldiers under their command, but no man on the base had served under both of them", Dietrich continues with a sigh. "I even turned to the street networks, paying a few local gutter rats for information which provided us with half a dozen bars of more or less dubious atmosphere as potential locations where they might have spent this evening or another one, since Maths wasn't those kids' strong feat." Moffit looks impressed at the idea nonetheless. He has potentially underestimated Dietrich's ingenuity of recruiting help among the locals, just because they have managed to find a few willing to turn against the Germans on principle.

"Then the very next day another dead officer, Hauptmann Stermann, landed on my table for post-mortem examination", Doktor Sommer tells with a pained expression. "The same type of injuries and marks, only this time also his hands and arms showed marks of blunt weapon usage and scratches." "And we realized that it had to be two persons, not just one", Dietrich concludes. "You concluded that, Herr Hauptmann. I wrote down what I saw on the body", Sommer corrects him which Dietrich ignores, as he continues: "I knew Stermann from our joint officers' training and some meetings during the time afterwards. He was a playboy, as you would call it. He bragged about the drinking holes he spent his evenings in, gambling or making a pass at anything that moves." Hitch and Troy exchange glances, grinning widely. "I can imagine he wasn't your best friend during officer's training, Captain", the American Sergeant comments. "Your assumption is correct", Dietrich replies dryly. "We did not see eye to eye what being an officer and gentleman was supposed to mean." "Says the guy who learned picking locks and pockets and performing card tricks", Jakob comments innocently. "Jakob Silberblatt, you backstabbing excuse of a friend!", the German Captain snaps at him.

"You're right, Lieutenant", Troy comments with a wide grin, winking at the Jewish officer. "He really treats us like his friends." Pinching his nose and shaking his head in disbelief, Dietrich does not deign to answer this nonsense. "Now Sarge, you can't bother Cap, when he's in the middle of a story like this!", Hitch complains. "I want to hear how it continues." "Maybe you'd like to go somewhere more silent where we are not constantly interrupted by people who are trying to prove the absurdest of theories, Private Hitchcock, since you are the only one actually paying attention", the German officer offers with a sly tone, glaring at Troy and Silberblatt in the meantime. "Now hold your horses, Captain!", Troy intervenes. "We're not trying to harm you or anything." "That must be the latest news, Sergeant", the lean Captain states sarcastically. "Since when do you not lurk to either harm me physically or try to force your biased world view on me?" "Stop it, both of you!", Jack Moffit intervenes sounding exasperated and starts to cough lightly a few times, before getting his breathing under control again. Both Troy and Dietrich look conscience-stricken, while Jakob Silberblatt smiles at the Brit gratefully, before elaborating: "You two are far too much alike to not clash violently at times, but you're both decent people who respect each other and would be better off with openly acknowledging that." Again both Troy and Dietrich bear mirrored looks of bafflement, but the latter scowls in addition. "Jakob. Befriending subordinates, especially ones who are not in the officer's rank is inappropriate and also something I have avoided for two years now!"

"I can confirm that", Doktor Sommer states unexpectedly. "We have always kept a rather distant, professional relationship, mainly because of your choice, Hauptmann Dietrich, which I have respected, knowing it has borne no ill intent." "Ich habe genügend Freunde sterben sehen oder zu Grabe getragen", the German Captain mutters with a haunted expression and hollow tone that immediately causes his former medic, as well as his friend to cast him sympathetic glances, as does Moffit although less obviously. "You have buried enough friends or watched them die", Jakob translates unbidden for the benefit of the confused looking Sergeant Troy, before he adds in a truly sympathetic tone: "That doesn't mean that not getting close to anybody is a good idea." "It is a good idea for a soldier at the forefront of a war", Dietrich contradicts him vehemently. "It hasn't done you much good, Hans!", his friend argues with passion. "Also, you're not the commanding officer of a large unit with constant fluctuation any more." "No. I'm in command of a small commando unit where everybody is risking their necks on a daily basis and that has specialised on hair-brained schemes with almost no chance of success!", the German Captain snarls back and the Rats stare at him with clear surprise. "You believe it's quite likely that some of us may die", Troy assesses. "And you'd rather keep your distance for your own protection."

Dietrich avoids meeting his eye, muttering so softly that only Troy sitting right next to him can hear him: "I'm not sure I have the strength for that." "You're stronger than you think and sure stronger than you look, you half-starved Jerry smartass who's as stubborn as a mule", Troy argues vehemently, gripping the younger man's left shoulder to not let him escape or turn on him given how offended his expression currently looks. The American Sergeant does not intend to let him interrupt him now. "We sure lock horns from time to time, but apart from Jack and Browny you're the closest thing to a friend I have at the moment. Have you even bothered to think about other people's perspectives?" For several long moments, the German Captain just stares at him silently with an intense gaze blinking in surprise and at a loss of words, before shaking his head curtly wincing at the pain this induces in his neck. Jakob addresses his friend with a gentle expression: "Think about it, Hans, in your own best interest, as much as in other's. Noone can force you into this..." "Although Troy is trying his uttermost to do just that", his German friend replies sarcastically. "It wouldn't be necessary, if you were less bull-headed, Captain", Troy argues. "Don't try to blame this on me!", Dietrich growls without malice. "You're right. We're both in this together", the American Sergeant concedes to which the German groans and holds his head in exasperation, as he mutters quietly: "What am I going to do with you, Sergeant?"

"When you're done quarreling, could we please return to the murder mystery, Capt'n, Sarge? I'm still waiting for the honey trap and the beautiful murderess", Hitch asks with a pleading tone after allowing them a full three seconds to react to Dietrich's rhetorical question. The German Captain gives him a grateful nod for ending the conspiracy of his friend and his senior Sergeant against him, even if he would take his statement as quite inconsiderate and impertinent under different circumstances. "We were talking about the third dead guy, the playboy", Hitch prompts helpfully. Dietrich sighs briefly, then returns to the recount of the murder story which is still better than reflecting Troy's and Jakob's schemes in detail. "After the third death of an officer within a single week, panic was starting to spread, some started to become paranoid, some ordered soldiers to act as their bodyguards, some randomly attacked locals on the streets, accusing them of attempted assaults. In short, the situation escalated and Colonel Bauer in his infinite wisdom and frustration being bested by the 'most ingenious code since the invention of Enigma' gave me three more days to come up with a result of my investigation and provide him with the guilty party or he would have me along with my whole unit sent directly to the Eastern Front. That we were particularly motivated after that threat would have been an understatement. Every officer and Sergeant tried to help in the investigation and search. The good Doktor Sommer examined the last body with special diligence and found something he had missed the first time." Ludwig Sommer almost glares at Hans Dietrich. "I am not a coroner, but a field medic. Looking for evidence has not been part of my routine in the last few years. However I could find some glittery material in the scratch marks on the Hauptmann."

"My Oberleutnant Wagner could help us identify the material or rather where it could be found, along with my street informants", the German Captain continues to tell. "As a Bavarian Wagner was particularly picky about beer and learned the quality of local brews within a day of his stay in a town usually. The First Lieutenant remembered that one of the bars with better beer, although not the best one which he regularly frequented, had belly dancers performing which had such glittery material on their skin. The boys could provide me with the actual name and location of the bar within a few hours." "Belly dancers. Now you're talking!", Hitch mutters, never taking his eyes off Dietrich. "Wait and see, Private", the German speaks with a dramatic tone. "When I wanted to go there to check the place out, I found myself approached by another old acquaintance of mine, Hauptmann Reichmann. He was a nervous wreck, obviously hadn't slept in more than one night and constantly winced or turned around in paranoia." In spite of the sorry state of his former fellow officer, Dietrich does not sound sympathetic in the least, but rather cold and his voice turns almost contemptuous, as he continues: "Reichmann had something to tell me, something I had been looking for in the last two days in vain, the missing connection between the three officers. That connection was a woman named Adinah, a young belly dancer from the bar we had already found out about." Hitch bears an almost starry-eyed expression, Troy gives a whistle as a sign of appreciation and Jakob looks quite impressed, but also worried, while Jack Moffit tries to keep his expression unreadable. "Reichmann told me that she had worked there for months and offered", Dietrich hesitates, before continuing diplomatically, "additional services for special clients." "The honey trap", Hitch whispers with excitement. "That's what he said", the German officer states curtly. "But I had the impression that he didn't tell me everything and there was more to it." Everyone including Gotty and Tully focuses on the storyteller with increased interest after this statement.

"But the only reliable information we had was that she was a belly dancer in the bar where both trails of our investigation led. Whether this woman had anything to do with it or not was absolutely not clear. So I decided to find out by springing the trap myself", Dietrich states. "Which was incredibly risky!", Doktor Sommer admonishes and his tone speaks clearly of the worries he had had to go through with his Hauptmann during this adventure. Jakob Silberblatt immediately shares in his plights. "It was a calculated risk. I put Wagner and Deutsch on guard in the bar, after all I wasn't insane or suicidal to do something like that without backup", Dietrich growls slightly offended. Troy and Moffit exchange glances, noticing the perfect tense, whether or not intended by Dietrich to contain a message. "I spoke to the belly dancer after her performance, told her that my friends Reichmann, Stermann, Steinthaler and Stromberg had recommended turning to her for special services. From her reaction I could tell that she recognized the names, but the range of emotions from surprise to hatred, fear to loathing was surprising. I was immediately sure that she was involved in the men's murder. Basically, I could have ended it there by having Wagner and Deutsch arrest her, but I wanted to catch her accomplice as well and learn her side of the story. Knowing Bauer who was an ardent admirer of Nazi politics, she would have been tortured by the SS to get whatever story they wanted to hear or have her verify, rather than being questioned civilly to learn the truth."

"So you did something stupid, didn't you?", Troy asks with a growl that contains a fair amount of worry in his tone. "Of course not!", Dietrich protests vehemently. "It was a calculated risk, but not stupidity to follow the girl to her room under the guise of being a client. I had a gun and a knife ready and I am a trained soldier after all. In addition, I expected an attack and was prepared to defend myself against the girl and her mysterious accomplice. Also my men were waiting downstairs, ready to be called." Hitch looks like he would burst with excitement, when the German Captain makes a dramatic pause. "The suspense is killing me. Don't stop now, Cap!" What would Marcello give for an attentive audience like this, Dietrich wonders briefly with a wry smile. "I confronted her rather casually with the suspicion that all three dead men had been here on the night of their deaths to check her reaction. It was a shot in the dark, but her reaction was immediate, as she turned against me and tried to scratch my face, particularly the eyes. While fending her off, a second person attacked me, but since I had expected this, I could throw her off and knock him down quickly and get my gun pointed at the youngster which kept the girl and him well under control. She pleaded with me to spare her brother's life, I argued that they both were murderers."

Seeing that his audience is captivated, Dietrich continues after a brief sigh. "Under the pressure of the current situation she told me her part of the story, the one I had been missing until that time. That she worked as a dancer since their parents' death through Allied or Axis artillery attacks to keep herself and her younger brother from starving. How for the past month those noble and honorable German officers", he spits the words, as if they taste vile on his tongue, "have forced themselves upon her night after night against her will and blackmailed her with denouncing her and her brother as Jews at the headquarters, unless she would comply." Hans meets his grim gaze with Jakob's, who looks shocked and horrified. "How one night, when Stromberg treated her particularly roughly, her brother had run to her defense and hit him over the head with a wooden pole, the first thing that came to his hand. First he hit him once, then several times in sheer panic, when the Lieutenant tried to turn around and attack the youth." The German Captain shakes his head bearing a saddened expression. "I believed her more than I had believed Reichmann, her fear and hatred were honest, unlike his guarded well-weighed words that were intended to keep me in the dark. Reichmann knew me well enough to predict my reaction after all." Dietrich looks truly grim, as he meets his disillusioned gaze with Troy and Moffit.

The American Sergeant finds it ironic that he has led a heated discussion with the Captain only a week ago after his rescue about the lack of decency in many German officers, realising that the younger man has argued more in automatic defence than out of true belief and conviction given how disillusioned he looks. Dietrich continues his tale with a grave voice that carries his anger and disappointment at his former fellow officers' behaviour quite clearly: "The Major had suspected her, but her alone, never having known her brother in person and thinking it was a small boy, not a teenager. He threatened to punish her, if she refused to comply with his will, telling her how he would kill her himself slowly and painfully. He never expected her brother to strike him down from behind." "Good riddance", Troy mutters with a grim expression matching Dietrich's, as the Captain continues with the girl's perspective in this story: "Then there was Stermann who had gambled with his own life and lost. He tried to blackmail her to follow his bid and call in return for not being denounced as a murderess, but the siblings were not cowed anymore." Several men in the audience wear pained expressions, feeling as much sympathy with the murderers, as the man telling the story. A few tears run down Jakob Silberblatt's cheeks, who is the most sensitive and emotional of all of them.

Dietrich focuses his gaze on Hitch now, glowering at him. "To set things very straight with you and your girl-friend, the chief rumormongers in this camp, Hitchcock: I have met this woman for the first and the last time in my life on this very day and I have not slept with her!" "But you kissed her", Hitch provides with a wide grin making an educated guess at what springing a honey trap would include. "I should have left you in that snake pit", the German growls in exasperation. "Adinah promised me that with her three main assailants killed, she would not go after the fourth, as long as I could arrange that he would leave the city never to return, leaving her and her brother in peace. Also she and her brother Eliya swore that they would refrain from attacking and killing any other German officers, especially myself as the only witness who could truly be dangerous to them. In return I gave them my word that I would not give their names to German authorities as murderers of three officers or denounce them as Jews, as long as they did not harm or murder anybody else. She and Eliya kept their word, I kept mine. I told Wagner and Deutsch that her accomplice had knocked me out after entering the room with the girl and they had escaped. The scratches and bruises from the fight with the siblings matched pretty well with that story. I even invited the Oberleutnant and Feldwebel to a beer for their troubles and assured them that I did not hold them in any way responsible for the attack on me." "You almost gave me a heart attack with that fake story, Hauptmann Dietrich!", Ludwig Sommer sounds accusatory. "I was seriously worried about you." "I already told you back then that there was no reason to be worried", Dietrich tries to appease him. "I was only briefly in danger." Sommer, Silberblatt and Troy exchange gazes that clearly communicate their discontent at the attitude. "Also I didn't even have to intervene regarding the last assailant, as Hauptmann Reichmann was transferred to the Egyptian front by Rommel on his own request and killed there by the Australians only a few weeks later. Sometimes divine justice exists", Dietrich states grimly with a certain amount of satisfaction.

"You let two murderers get away knowing their identity only based on their word of honor that they would not kill anybody else?!", Ludwig Sommer asks, sounding incredulous. "Justice had been served. Sending them to a concentration camp or having the SS torture them to death would not have served any further purpose. It would only have continued this spiral of senseless violence which had been induced by German officers through their unworthy and utterly dishonorable behaviour, men who should have known better and should have behaved in a decent way", his former Hauptmann argues vehemently. Jakob Silberblatt is close to tears, as he pulls his friend in an embrace, careful to avoid touching his injured shoulder. With a strangled voice he whispers: "Ich kann es kaum glauben, was sich da zugetragen hat. Danke vielmals für deine Großherzigkeit und dein Vertrauen in die, denen wenige Deutsche geglaubt hätten, Hans!" "What did he say?", Troy whispers to Jack who is back in his role of faithful interpreter which he fulfills diligently, as he translates: "He says that he can barely believe what has happened and thanks his friend for his noble sentiment and trust in those whom few Germans would ever have believed a single word." "I can only wholeheartedly agree with your friend Silberblatt here", Troy tells Dietrich, once the Lieutenant has let go of him. Nodding with a pained expression, the German Captain replies with honesty holding no sarcasm: "Thank you, Sergeant. I hope this sufficiently explains to you, Doctor Moffit, why I am reluctant to let myself be dragged into a murder mystery." "I can perfectly understand your sentiments, Captain. Also, I'm sure your HQ must have been delighted at your tendency to take justice in your own hands", Moffit replies with dry humor. "If they had known about this, I would have been arrested by the SS months ago already", Dietrich counters equally dryly. "Doing the right thing is hard, when each right decision also contains a wrong part." "You're the expert for moral conflicts above all of us", Troy agrees. "But you've never been a coward, taking the wrong way because it is easier." "It's never been easy on either way", Dietrich mutters with a gloomy expression.

Fritz slowly drags himself under their table where he curls up next to Dietrich' feet and starts snoring softly, while Ari with drooping eyes sits down between Hans and Jakob again, leaning into the German officer's side with a wide yawn. "Someone looks really tired", Troy comments with a grin. "So to make this quick, let's get back to our 100 year old case of our mummified friend out there", Moffit addresses the German officer directly, "what do you think happened to him, Captain?" Dietrich raises his eyebrows, as he states dryly: "I see that you are much faster befriending the dead than the living, Sergeant. As I have already told you out there, I suppose he was killed by a horseman armed with a saber, either an Arab warrior or a British cavalry man. There is not much of a mystery behind his death." Moffit looks almost bemused by the German Captain's dry assessment of his character, knowing that Dietrich is actually right that he is not fast at making friends. "That explains the wound at the neck very well, but not the dagger rammed into the man's chest." Dietrich furrows his brow. "I am not an expert on local culture, unlike you, Doctor. But as far as I know, stabbing a dead body is not something typically done by the Bedouins." Moffit smiles cryptically and nods in confirmation of the assessment.

"My best guess would therefore be European superstition to motivate mutilating a corpse. Somebody wanted to make sure that man was dead and didn't stab him with a dagger, sword or bayonet, a weapon all soldiers a hundred years ago would have had at hand, but rammed a precious looking ancient dagger in the dead man's chest and left it there. Also he had all these valuable trinkets made of precious metal and gemstone, yet nobody took them from his corpse, when they left him. Superstition would thus be my best guess, as they were not in such a hurry since they found the time to stab him with an ancient dagger." Moffit claps his hands thrice in acknowledgment and Hitch gapes at the German in admiration and confusion. "Indeed this would have been my theory as well, Captain. There are some recurring superstitions in European countries, such as vampires and werewolves, which are said to be only possible to kill through beheading and stabbing through the heart." While Dietrich and his former medic Doktor Sommer look more than skeptical, while Hitch soundlessly forms the words 'vampires' and 'werewolves'.

"Seriously, Doctor? Has Hitchcock managed to infect you of all people with his wild imagination within mere hours?", the German Captain drawls sarcastically. "But vampires... and werewolves...", Hitch argues with a stutter. "Don't be absurd, Private!", Dietrich interrupts him in exasperation. "We are talking about superstition, not reality!" "Yes, exactly", Moffit finally rushes to the German Captain's support, as he realizes how he has been misinterpreted. "We are evaluating a theory why they would have stabbed the dead body after his death." "When he starts seeing ghosts from now on, I will hold you responsible, Moffit", Dietrich admonishes with sarcasm. "I can live with that, Captain. But it was worth discussing the theory of the mysterious death." "Will I need a cross, garlic or silver bullets now?", Hitch inquires with a worried expression. "Are you sure this was worth it?", Dietrich asks the Brit sarcastically, while Moffit looks exasperated. Then, Mark realizes something and turns to the German. "Didn't the soldier give you the nobleman's silver family cross for your knightly quest, Cap? Wouldn't you like to ride the Jeep with me from now on?" Ignoring the idiotic request, the German Captain shifts his exasperated glare from Hitchcock to Moffit. "Never discuss your theories regarding any legends, superstitions or other unnatural occurrences in front of him again, Sergeant Moffit!" The British scholar looks pained enough himself and nods wordlessly.

"Is that a yes or a no, Capt'n?", Hitch insists and Jakob grins widely seeing his friend's exasperation clearly visible in his expression. "Hitchcock. If you repeat this question or line of reasoning one more time, I am tempted to have you removed permanently from any Jeep!" The private looks quite sheepish. "Sorry, Cap...tain", he quickly adds, seeing the German grit his teeth, obviously at the end of his patience after the Troy brothers and the Rats constantly annoying him. "I didn't mean to anger you both." The young American looks from Dietrich to Moffit with an apologetic expression that lights up into a genuine smile. "But I should call you Captain Sherlock and Doctor Watson from now on for your investigation skills, Cap, Doc", Hitch announces with his most friendly tone. "See what you have done", the German growls at Moffit with dry sarcasm, before turning back to Hitch. "You may use the full rank title from now on, but inventing any nicknames for me is not an option, Private. It's bad enough, Marcello and his Italian friends are calling me Volpacchiotto", Dietrich replies sarcastically. "I was already wondering, if that's the Italian word for 'lockpick'", Troy adds with a grin. The German is close to rolling his eyes in annoyance, but reminds himself of his personal standards he has to keep up and stays with growling: "Sergeant!" "So what does the word mean, Captain?", Moffit asks curiously. "Yes, Hans. Don't leave us in the dark!", Jakob Silberblatt, the treacherous friend, supports the British Sergeant.

Surrounded and without any allies left that would be a ke to support him on this front, the German Captain sighs slightly more dramatically than necessary, before replying: "It describes a little fox. Volpe means the fox. They call Generalfeldmarschall Rommel 'Volpe del deserto', 'the desert fox'." Unwilling to continue this explanation in more detail, Dietrich meets Moffit's eye who is already grinning with understanding. "What did you do to earn this nickname?" "I got it for bluffing the Lieutenant and his men out of the field hospital after a certain Sergeant", the German Captain glares at Troy venomously, "shot me down in spite of bearing a white flag." "You'll never forgive me for that, will you?", Troy complains, but bears a guilty expression. "I can't tell you often enough that I didn't see the flag." "You should have your eyes checked then, Sergeant. This is an excellent opportunity, since we are in a sickbay and have a medic among us", the German Captain counters sarcastically, purposefully ignoring the question. "I can settle with calling you 'young desert fox', Cap", Hitch tries to appease the irritated officer, but only manages the opposite. "Which part of 'I don't want any nickname since I have a perfectly valid name, even if you frequently violate it with your pronunciation' did I not communicate clearly, Private?", Dietrich growls in exasperation.

"*Why are you so angry, Hans?*", Ari asks mekely, pressing against the young officer's side and calming him down more quickly than any further comment of the Rats ever could have. Unsure how to answer that in a way appropriate for a child, Dietrich hesitates and gets beaten to the reply by Moffit: "*It is really our fault. We annoyed your brother on purpose.*" Perplexed, the German stares at him for a few moments, before adding: "*I still shouldn't have shouted. I'm sorry that I scared you, Ari.*" The young boy smiles with an honest fondness in his eyes. "*I forgive you. You're my brother after all.*" The Captain averts his gaze and looks guilty and ashamed at the words and the unmerited affection, in his eyes. "We should leave you in peace to get some rest and sleep", Troy suggests after observing the exchange between the young officer and the boy. "Tully, Gotty and I will be ready tomorrow mornin' to leave with Browny's Aussies. I'll wake you up at 0600." "You need not perform my wake-up call, Sergeant", Dietrich speaks with a serious tone. "I really don't mind, though. I'll also bring you some fresh clothes along, since they don't want to let you out of sickbay tonight." "He is right, Herr Hauptmann. We won't let you go with this shoulder injury of yours", Doktor Sommer confirms. "Aren't you supposed to be locked up in the prison area instead of locking me up, Doktor Sommer?", Dietrich asks with dry humor at which his long-time Stabsarzt smiles. "I have backup from Axis, Allied and neutral factions in this affair, Hauptmann Dietrich. You might as well surrender, as you have no potential allies left." The younger German smiles wryly, before remembering something and starting to rummage through the pocket of his shirt with his left hand. Holding out a piece of paper for the medic to take, the Captain explains: "I require you to help the Americans and Swiss with filling in the information of my new medical file. You're probably the most qualified person for that." Sommer takes the piece of paper with an almost saddened expression, before replying: "I will take care of this first thing in the morning, Hauptmann Dietrich." "Danke, Doktor Sommer!", Dietrich nods.

"Now let us check up on your shoulder and further injuries, Hauptmann Dietrich", nurse Arno who has returned to the dining table after her evening round in sickbay addresses the German Captain with a frown. "Of course, Schwester Arno", the young officer complies willingly and follows her to his cot. After a day of suffering through various levels of pain, improving this state has become his top priority. Feeling around the injured shoulder through the shirt, immediately induces a reaction in Dietrich who flinches and hisses with pain. "Herr Hauptmann. We need to counter the unhealthy tension building in your neck and shoulder belt, as this will cause you headaches, migraine and worse conditions, if kept untreated. This has built up most likely through pain-induced malposition during the last days", nurse Arno explains to the scowling Dietrich. "What kind of treatment do you suggest, Schwester Arno?", he asks her with a slight tinge of worry. The symptoms she is describing are already affecting him and anything to reduce them would be helpful. "Typically, this is done through massage, but also medication and heat to help the tight muscles relax", the older nurse answers sternly. "Nurse Regula is very experienced and skilled with massages, as am I, but without providing some heat first to loosen up the cramped muscles, it would be extremely painful to attempt." "I'm no stranger to 'extremely painful'", the German Captain counters dryly with a fatalistic expression. The older nurse looks almost saddened at the words, before regaining her professional calm expression. "We will heat stones in the campfire and put them on your back and neck wrapped in cloth for about ten to fifteen minutes before the treatment."

While nurse Regula deposits the stones in the campfires outside and organizes the necessary medication, nurse Arno helps Dietrich out of his jacket, shirt and boots, while she looks disapprovingly at the large bruise covering his whole right shoulder. The young German tenses self-consciously at the order to take off the trousers as well, but finally complies under the nurse's instruction after she has assured him that he may keep the underwear for propriety and taking off all clothes is motivated by the body sweating heavily from the hot stone treatment. Once they are settled, the Swiss nurse sets him a cannula for another IV infusion containing a saline solution mixed with painkillers and anaesthetics, as the treatment will be excruciatingly painful otherwise and she has no intention to torment the young man unnecessarily. When Dietrich lies down on the cot on his stomach to receive the treatment and massage for his back, Ari kneels down before him and asks with wide eyes: "*What will happen with you, Hans?*" "*They will treat my shoulder and neck. I will be better afterwards. You really need not worry, Ari*", the German officer assures him. "*Can I stay with you?*", the boy asks mekely, even though his eyes are barely focused from tiredness. Dietrich puts the question to the stern Swiss nurse, explaining the boy's spikes of terror and panic as well. "He may stay", nurse Arno finally decides with a tight-lipped expression. "But only if he leaves immediately, when he is told or falling asleep. We will also give him sleeping pills for the night." Nodding in agreement, Dietrich explains the conditions to Ari in a simplified way, but the boy agrees to anything without hesitation just to be allowed to stay at his side.

Soon after starting the treatment packed in blankets and with a load of stones distributed on his back Hans Dietrich has first drifted off to sleep from the drug cocktail. During the actual massage he quickly wakes up again, when the strong nurse Regula kneads muscles which have tensed into cramps in the last days. At some point the German has lost consciousness from the excruciating pain, lying flattened on the cot, stretched out on his stomach. With his back exposed during the massage a large ugly scar above his left shoulder blade is clearly visible which Moffit can connect right away to the story Hans Dietrich has told General Atkins about a sniper attack wiping out his whole artillery unit and wounding him gravely. Ari's head rests on the German Captain's back where it is still covered with a blanket, but the boy is already halfway to falling asleep. Nurse Regula finally carries the drowsy, half-sleeping boy away to his own field bed to tuck him in, while her colleague nurse Arno continues the massaging of the muscle relaxant lotion to the young officer's neck and shoulder.

"Please help me turn him around", the Swiss nurse, once finished with her treatment, asks Moffit who is sitting on his cot, sunken into the study of the finely engraved depiction of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. Turning the lean German Captain onto his back is not a problem because of his weight, but rather because one person has to keep his arm and another his head and neck stabilized to not have him wake up again from the pain in spite of his morphine induced sleep. "I can help as well", Hitch offers his good arm, but gets scolded immediately by the resolute Swiss nurse why he is out of bed. While she steadies the unconscious man's head and pushes his chest and upper body upward, Moffit stabilises his right arm around the shoulder joint and pulls at the German's right hip to help with actual movement. As the usual way of moving him by pulling his shoulder and hip are out of question, because of his injuries, the nurse has to adapt and finally allows Hitch to help by keeping Dietrich's head and neck steadied, so that she can use her second hand to help steer the body's movement. "But without using your right hand!", the stern Swiss nurse admonishes the American Private to not aggravate his own injuries. Hitch nods with a daunted expression, wondering if Lisa will become like this, when she is older.

A large scar on the German Captain's right thigh has drawn Moffit's attention. Jack can still remember how the young officer has obtained this particular injury. Also the younger man has rubbed it under Troy's nose several times in the past few days, the last time during the supper. Now that Jack can see the scar up close, it is obvious that Troy's .50 bullet has just grazed the Hauptmann, as otherwise he would have lost his leg and likely his life as well, considering how quickly the German Captain has collapsed from the blood loss in spite of the shot only being a graze. Thinking back, Jack has hardly ever seen Sam Troy as upset and beside himself, as on that day, with notable exceptions being when he and Hitch have been shot and Troy has organised their blood donation or medical treatment in enemy field hospitals.

In addition to observing the procedure, the young American Private has taken the time, similarly to Moffit, to study the Captain's face and upper body closely. Looking at the large dark bruise on Dietrich's shoulder with apprehension, Mark Hitchcock winces already at the thought of how painful this must be. "Still can't believe that he's jumped into that snake pit himself to check on me", Hitch continues muttering, as he observes the unconscious German. "Our dear Captain is nothing, if not true to his word and principles", Moffit confirms, slightly incredulous himself in spite of his recent revelations, as he reflects on the young officer's actions of the last days and their interaction during dinner. "I've never realized he's so small, I mean he's tall, but not ... you know ... bulky", Hitch interrupts Jack's train of thoughts, as he whispers thoughtfully. Moffit briefly looks at the young American with a raised eyebrow, before silently continuing to carefully maneuver the unconscious German officer's arm without hurting his bruised shoulder. "Without that scowl - his stern expression he always has when he's annoyed with us - he actually looks young", Hitch continues his whispered assessment of Dietrich staying completely undeterred by Moffit's lack of response. The British Sergeant looks more closely at the German officer's face after the statement and has to admit that the American Private is right. Without the strength of his personality and the well-practiced mask of stern authority Hans Dietrich indeed appears younger. Also without a uniform even his body looks much more fragile and provides a good memento to not take his indefinite resilience and proud dignity for granted, as they have all been reminded lately that each of them is fairly human and their bodies are quite vulnerable.

Realization hits Jack Moffit that Hitch has possibly just found the answer to their longtime question why Troy has insisted to spare Dietrich time and again. When chained together he must have seen the younger man in a similar position and realised that the German Captain is just a vulnerable human being like the rest of them, seeing this instead of a nameless, faceless enemy whenever he has run into him. Surprisingly Dietrich must have held a similar perspective the other way around, or he would have had ample reason and opportunity to kill Troy and basically all of them. But the German Captain is actually a humanist and man true to his principles who has treated even soldiers unknown to him before in a fair way without trying to kill or torment unnecessarily, while still staying pragmatic and level-headed in battle situations. Rommel's motto of 'a war without hate', Jack realizes, is what sets Hans Dietrich apart from many others fighting on either side in this war. The German Captain has never truly hated his enemies with the Troy's or Griffith' hot fury or with the icy thirst for vengeance Jack has felt after his brother's death, although he has obviously suffered many losses. "Until now I really thought that you're just pulling my leg, when you told us he's younger than me, Sarge", Hitch adds with a grin to his own previous assessment. "Don't call me Sarge!", the Brit snaps in automatic annoyance. "That's for Troy only." "But you are a Sergeant as well", Hitchcock repeats their well-practiced argument out of stubbornness.

"Ruhe!", the German Captain mutters in a command tone that is greatly diminished and undermined by his drowsiness and slur, as Dietrich stirs slightly at the sound of the argument. "Stay silent!", the Swiss nurse repeats his order in a much sharper tone, glaring at the two men who are quarrelling like immature children. Both soldiers look slightly sheepish at the rebuke. "Schlafen Sie ruhig, Hauptmann Dietrich", Moffit whispers in German, as the Captain is apparently not aware that he is in an English speaking environment in the vain hope to keep him from waking. "Moffit!", Dietrich murmurs and stirs, recognizing either the voice or the accent of the man telling him to sleep without concern. "Ja, der bin ich", Jack decides to confirm the German's accurate assessment rather than try and trick the wary officer which might only wake him up or cause him to struggle and aggravate his injuries. "Sie sind im Lazarett. Alles ist in Ordnung im Camp. Machen Sie sich keine Sorgen und schlafen Sie! Das haben Sie sich wirklich verdient." Although the German Captain briefly furrows his brows without opening his eyes, his features gradually relax after the statement, as does his whole tensed body, when he drifts back to sleep. Surprised that Dietrich really trusts him enough to accept his word even in his half-conscious state, Moffit carefully withdraws.

"What did you tell him, Doc?", Hitch whispers into his ear with a tone that clearly speaks of his curiosity almost killing him like the proverbial cat. "I told him that he is in the sickbay and all is in order in the camp, that he need not worry and should go to sleep which he deserves", Moffit translates in a quiet whisper. Then a thought catches up with him. "Let's make this your first German lesson, Hitch." Mark Hitchcock looks actually enthused at the thought and they move to his cot where they can continue their whispered first language lesson without fearing to wake up Dietrich. Not only does he deserve the sleep, he really needs it desperately.

Standing in sickbay in the darkness of night with only the half-covered light of an electric torch offering him some guidance, Sam Troy has to make a decision. On one field bed lies Jack Moffit with his breath rattling constantly from the bullet wound which makes him and the snoring Major Bracken hard competitors for the title of loudest patient in sickbay. One another cot liess Hans Dietrich who is much more silent and not even stirring, as he sleeps with a rolled-up blanket under his head. Another two blankets cover him all the way up to his shoulders. The flashlight of the electric torch makes the healing bruises on the German's face and neck stand out in dark contrast on his lighter skin. Placing the torch on the cot next to the sleeping young man, the American Sergeant has made his decision.

Troy wakes the German officer by placing one hand over his mouth, fixating Dietrich's right arm with his second arm, while pinning down the skinny man efficiently through superior weight and muscle power by leaning onto his chest and left arm from the left side. The Captain is alert within a split second and starts his vain fight against his attacker, as Troy whispers into his ear: "Stop struggling, Captain!" Although his battle instinct urges him to continue fighting, Dietrich's rationale wins out and he ceases to struggle after a few moments, as soon as he has regained awareness and recognizes Troy's voice in the darkness. The pain in his right shoulder also deters him from continuing this fight any longer than necessary. Once sure that the young officer has indeed stopped the fight, Sam Troy lets go of him and whispers: "Keep quiet. I need your help." "Your creativity in choosing unusual ways to ask for it will never cease to amaze me, Sergeant", comes the hoarsely whispered reply. "Get into your clothes. We need to check something out", Troy urges and Dietrich sounds slightly incredulous, as he whispers back: "Are you seriously abducting me from the sickbay, Sergeant?" "More like liberating you, getting you outta here without an official release", Troy argues in a quiet whisper, as he helps the German Captain into his shirt sleeve. Dietrich clenches his jaws at the onslaught of pain, but has to admit that the massage has truly helped with his mobility, even if more muscles than before hurt at every movement. Considering the cold of the November night, Troy also helps the German into the sleeve of his jacket which the Captain buttons once he has recovered from the first onslaught of pain. "What is this about, Troy?", the lean officer demands to know, while getting into his trousers and boots. "I need a German speaker with a cool and level head. Jack's still in worse condition with his bullet wound." Listening to the whistling sound of the British Sergeant's breathing, the German Captain has to agree with the assessment. "I'm flattered that you consider me fitter than the man shot through the lung three days ago", Dietrich counters dryly, then follows the American Sergeant, sneaking past the dozing Swiss nurses.

Once outside the tent, the Captain turns toward the American Sergeant however, demanding further information. "Now after playing along with your absurd kidnapping scheme of yours, Troy, I want to hear what you need me for at five in the morning. Why did you not alert the whole camp, if it is an emergency?" Troy looks sheepish. "Well. It could be an emergency or it could be nothing. It involves the kid you've decided to support, Gotty. Could be he's plotting against us or just young, naive and stupid. Tully's having an eye on him after he stumbled across some strange interaction on his way back from the loo and woke me up right after." Dietrich furrows his eyebrows at the description, but decides that it is worth investigating and he has to give the Sergeant credit for not leaving him in the dark, heeding their agreement.

Troy leads the Captain to the prisoners' camp area where Tully is already waiting for them. The American soldier looks in the direction of the approaching men, nods at his Captain and Sergeant acknowledging their presence before turning his gaze back toward his targets. The Private from Kentucky stands guard without a helmet, but with a rifle in his hand which he keeps trained at a young German soldier and Corporal Gottschlich who speak with each other in quiet whispers. Now his own curiosity gets the better of him, as the German officer observes the exchange. Moving quietly and in the cover of nearby tents, Dietrich sneaks up closer to the duo and notices that Troy shadows him, always keeping a single step behind the Captain.

"Heidelberg ist eine wunderschöne Stadt und hat einige prächtige Häuser aus vergangenen Zeiten. Eine Ruine vom alten Schloss thront über der Stadt. Als Kinder waren wir oft im Neckar schwimmen. Warum ist dein Großvater denn weggegangen nach Amerika?" The German soldier from Dietrich's unit whom the Captain recognizes as one of the newest arrivals, Hans Riedmann, tells Gottschlich trivia about the town of Heidelberg and asks him why his grandfather left. "I think Opa wollte sein Glück machen in the U.S.. Er hat zuerst in Fabriken gearbeitet, bis er hat married my granny, meine Großmutter. Sie sind dann gewandert nach California, haben dort gesettelt und gearbeitet in orchards", the American Corporal explains in broken, not always grammatically correct German mixed with English terms. "Was ist ein orchard?", Riedmann asks in confusion. "Ein Wald mit Obstbäume", Gottschlich tries to explain the word. The two men are talking about how Gottschlich's grandfather wanted to make a fortune in the U.S., worked in factories at first until marrying his grandmother, how they settled in California then, working in the orchards. After continuing to listen for another few minutes, Hans Dietrich finally concludes that they are surely not conspiring in any harmful way to the camp. Nonetheless their actions are not wanted by higher authorities on both sides.

Stepping closer to them with catlike silence, the tall officer announces his presence by addressing them directly with a sharp tone: "Verbrüdern Sie sich mit dem Feind, meine Herren? Are you fraternizing with the enemy, gentlemen?" "Herr Hauptmann", Riedmann whispers with a shocked expression, while Gottschlich exclaims: "Captain Dietrich." "Ich wollte nicht ausbrechen oder irgendetwas Böses tun, Hauptmann Dietrich", the German soldier pleads that he has neither wanted to flee nor has any ill intent. "It's true, Sir. We were just talking about our families and his hometown which was also my grandfather's home", Corporal Gottschlich argues. "Sie beide wissen, dass dies von vorgesetzter Seite nicht geduldet wird. All our superiors do not tolerate such behavior, as you both know", Dietrich admonishes them sternly. "But you helped a lot of Germans from many units yourself, Captain", Gottschlich tries to argue. "You seem to forget, Corporal Gottschlich, that I actually am a German officer by birth, upbringing and training. Also, I have been Private Riedmann's Captain previously as I am yours now", the German officer argues with a serious tone. "It is a dangerous balance I am keeping to not leave my former unit to die in the ditch on the one hand and provide support, if it is needed, since they have lost all their superior officers. On the other hand, the Allied soldiers and officers view me with suspicion, hate, distrust and all of it not without reason, since I have been their long-time enemy and as such my unit and I have captured and killed many of them." Gottschlich looks at him with a pained and confused expression. "I offered you to talk. I don't think that five in the morning is a good time for this, but there are many things which we have to set straight between us and between you and the army you serve, Corporal Gottschlich", Dietrich speaks calmly and with determination. "Yes, Sir. Thank you, Captain", the young Corporal speaks honestly. The German officer nods, then turns to his former private.

"Soldat Riedberg, Sie sollten sich zu Ihren eigenen Kameraden zurückbegeben. Mit den Amerikanern gut auszukommen, kann für Sie von Vorteil sein als Kriegsgefangener. Wenn Sie meinen Rat wollen, sehen Sie zu, dass Sie recht viel Englisch in der nächsten Zeit lernen und aufschnappen." The young soldier listens intently, when Dietrich tells him to return to his comrades, but also acknowledges that getting along well with the Americans can be an advantage for him as a POW. Also the officer recommends learning and absorbing as much English as possible in the near future. "Danke, Herr Hauptmann. Wir", the young German soldier hesitates after thanking his Captain, glups, then continues: "wir vermissen Sie." A pained expression passes over Dietrich's face when Riedmann tells him that his men actually miss him, but he applies it to strengthen his determination to get them back home as soon as possible by doing all in his power to drive the Nazis out of their homeland. "Wenn alles vorbei ist, werden wir uns womöglich wieder sehen", he comforts the young man that they might meet again, when all is over. With a pained and insecure smile, the German soldier salutes to Dietrich, nods to Gottschlich and then quietly turns around to return to his tent and his comrades.

"When you continue with your duties, Corporal, you should pay closer attention to your environment instead of chatting on duty", the tall officer speaks with a reprimanding tone and eyes the younger man with a stern expression. "Private Pettigrew has kept his gun trained at you for a quarter of an hour, Sergeant Troy and I have been able to sneak up on you and get into close combat range without you noticing." Gottschlich looks guilt ridden. "I am sorry, Captain. It will never happen again." Dietrich raises his eyebrows in a sceptical expression, then admonishes the younger man sternly: "That is the least I expect from you, as all our lives might depend on you when keeping proper watch at night. To assure that you will improve on your skills, you are assigned to train with Private Pettigrew. I suggest that you will stay in camp today to get some rest after a night on the watch. Speak with Sergeant Moffit regarding language training. You are missing some vocabulary and you need a thorough revision of the grammar", Dietrich orders with a serious, but not unfriendly tone. "Do not expect to escape so easily, if I ever catch you again failing in your duties, Corporal!" Gottschlich salutes and looks relieved to be allowed to rest and not be scolded for his bad language performance in addition to his failure at the nightwatch. Dietrich is fair to reprimand him only on his first failure and spare him actual severe punishment.

When the German Captain turns to leave, Troy steps out of the darkness behind the tent where he has taken cover. Gottschlich starts at his sudden appearance, but relaxes once he recognizes Troy and sees him interact with his superior officer. "What was that all about, Captain?", the Sergeant asks with a wary glance in the direction of the young Corporal. "Two young men from different countries exchanging stories about their homes and families. This should not sound totally unfamiliar to you given our interactions in the last days, Sergeant. The only problem is that formally they are on different sides and therefore should keep such interactions to a minimum." Sam Troy nods in understanding. "You told them off?" "That is my duty, Sergeant, independent of my personal opinion or experience", Dietrich replies with a sigh. Troy looks sympathetic. "I heard a bit of what you told Gotty. Our other brass would probably have sent him to perform some penal duty, digging another latrine or such chicken shit." The German Captain looks weary. "A certain amount of discipline is necessary, but penal duty would not have improved the Corporal's performance. Also, your other officers are not recently defected enemies."

Troy eyes the skinny German with surprise. "I'm not suspecting you to do anything harmful for the camp, Captain. But you're right that you're just recently defected. Yet your German guy sounded rather grateful and close to tears, when you talked to him. That's not what I would expect from a soldier whose senior officer has changed sides like you." Dietrich growls slightly furiously: "I have never betrayed my men, as they well know. As prisoners of the Americans they will likely survive this war, receive humane treatment and their families will not be harassed by the SS under suspicion of treason." Looking in the direction of the prisoners area with a thoughtful expression, the German Captain focuses his slightly haunted gaze on the American Sergeant. "In addition to all this, Riedmann will be in a POW camp soon. His interactions with enemy soldiers will have to change, as otherwise he will suffer more than necessary", Dietrich argues with conviction. "I start to see why your guy sounded grateful", Troy replies. "It's rare to have brass like you who actually think and care about their boys' fates." "Speaking of gratitude, Sergeant. I am grateful that you were so considerate to not just call half of the camp on them, but brought me here instead to give them a fair chance", the German Captain speaks with honest appreciation. Troy looks momentarily baffled at the unexpected praise, then smiles broadly. "Any time, Captain. We're holding up our peace treaty really well, aren't we?" "Surprisingly", Dietrich answers with irony.

"So. Should we check out this corpse, while it's still night. I can have Tully bring real torches with fire and all", Troy suggests, changing the subject so unexpectedly that Dietrich is stunned for a few moments before recovering from the surprise. "You want to go and hunt down an undead walking mummy? Have you truly lost your mind, Troy?", Dietrich inquires incredulously. "Better to be safe than sorry, if he could be a vampire or werewolf", the American Sergeant answers. "That was merely a theory on potential superstition, surely not something that might happen in reality, as Sergeant Moffit will tell you as well. I forbid you from believing such hair-brained nonsense and going out there to perform any action against the mummified corpse! This is an order, Sergeant", the German Captain commands sternly.

Eyeing Tully who has approached them, Dietrich adds dryly: "This order stands for you as well, Pettigrew! You have this look of 'I want to blow something up' that triggers my urge to run and duck for safety." Troy smiles and even Tully's lips twitch slightly. "Good to see your instinct for self-preservation is still intact, Captain. You've had us all worried for some time. Browny recommended keeping an eye on you and Boggs even ordered me to do just that." "They'd better mind their own business", Hans Dietrich growls furiously. How dare the Australian and American officers think they have the right to order his men to go behind his back. "And how long have you not bothered to inform me in spite of our agreement, Sergeant?" Troy is now angry as well, as he snaps back: "I got Bogg's order only yesterday noon and we had a damn lot of things at our hand which kept me from talking to you earlier, Captain. I'm just telling you this to show you that several people in this camp care whether you live or die." Hans Dietrich reigns in his temper and stares at him slightly incredulously, as he becomes aware of the implication. "You think that I'm suicidal?" "You sure behave like that, at least you did in the last days", Troy holds against him. The German officer looks thoughtful, until he meets the American Sergeant's gaze. "You may be ... not exactly right, but also not completely wrong. But I assure you that you do not have to worry about fulfilling your duty and orders, Sergeant, even without following me at every step." "To hell with my duty and orders! Don't you get it in this thick skull of yours that people might be worried about you as a person, not just as an officer, Dietrich?", Troy growls in annoyance. "Don't use that tone on me,Troy! Just because my sorry excuse of a childhood friend encourages your sentimentality, does not give you any right to treat me like your would-be companion!", the Captain counters with no less annoyance.

Troy grabs the German's shirt at the front and Dietrich tenses visibly, grabbing the other's wrist with his left hand in an automatic defensive move. He is painfully aware that in his current state he is no match for the American soldier and barely able to defend himself, should the Sergeant lose his temper and decide to physically attack him. Seeing the brief flicker of emotion in the younger man's brown eyes and the tense defensive stance, Troy lets go of the skinny German and looks a bit sheepish. "Sorry, Captain. I really didn't mean any harm to you." "You have a strange way of showing this", Dietrich replies dryly, forcing himself to not let his anger show so openly, lest he triggers the American's violent side. Warily the German takes a step backward to get out of Troy's direct range who looks slightly aggrieved at the reaction. "I just need you to listen to me", the American Sergeant argues with a tone between exasperation and desperation. "I see now how this landed your brother in sickbay", the German officer comments sarcastically. "You have a way of speaking your mind with your hands and mouth, but not in the fanciful style of the Italians." "I'm just trying to say 'thank you', Captain", Troy grinds out. "Your ways of expressing your gratitude surely don't lack creativity even with regard to your ways of asking for help in the first place", comes the dry reply. "If you could just state your intent directly the next time instead of beating around the bush or randomly grabbing me, it would make things easier for both of us, Sergeant. Just leave me in peace with your less than subtle insinuations of comraderie, friendship or whatever it is you are trying to hint at." "Your friend advised you to consider that and you promised you would", Troy holds against him. Dietrich glares at the American Sergeant. "Don't you dare question my word, Sergeant! Just because Jakob's too soft-hearted and idealistic for this war, doesn't mean I'm agreeing with his notion of complying with your sentimentality."

Troy smiles unexpectedly. "Actually, I can totally understand you. I've been talking like that five years ago, almost smashed a bottle on Browny's head. And with Moffit I only got round after he had grounded us in the middle of nowhere with almost broken axes and I gave him permission to brew up. Good he asked for permission. He would have smashed that teapot of his on my head, if I should've made that goddamned tea which I wouldn't have in a million years." The German has to smile at these mental images in spite of himself. "Your ways of making friends are surely surpassing even your ways of asking for help or expressing your gratitude." Troy smiles jovially now. "You see what I mean. You're a far more moderate and rational guy, Captain. Yeah, you throw your insults, but you don't even try to sound truly hurtful. You're a dog that barks, but doesn't bite." "Please spare me your compliments, Sergeant, before you provoke me to actually bite you one of these days", Dietrich comments sarcastically with a slightly offended expression. Troy laughs heartily at the comment. "Okay. I offer to make a deal with you. I stop pestering you with my... what did you call it ... insinuations and you give me a fair chance and treat me like your friend." A sly expression appears on the German's face, as he speaks with irony: "Didn't you and Jakob agree that I treat you just like my friend already?" Troy protests in exasperation: "You know what I mean, Dietrich!"

The German Captain looks more serious now, as he answers. "Troy, I have serious doubts that this is a good idea. No, I know this is not a good idea and I doubt it is even a moderately acceptable one. Have you forgotten who I am and what our common past entails? Ranging from killing dozens of my men to sentencing you to be executed, we have a violent history full of mutual distrust and aggression. How can you even consider asking something like this of somebody like me?" "Because you're a good and honest guy, Captain. Listen please. I agree with you. We've had a lot of past differences, still do at times, even now that we're on the same side basically. But people can change their ways. I know that I've changed mine more than once, not always for the better, so I know what I'm talking about. You've changed your way by almost 180 degrees without becoming disloyal to your principles, your sense of justice, decency and honor which really is a tough thing to manage." Troy meets eyes with the younger German who bears his skeptical expression. "You wouldn't have had any obligation to put your life on the line for Jack and Hitch, yet you did that without hesitation, because it was the right thing to do. You wouldn't have had any obligation either to get involved in the quarrel between David and me today, especially given our history, as you say. Yet you chose to overlook this to really try and help us both through your actions and advice, even when Dave and I treated you in a rather lousy way. I'm not always realising these things in the heat of the moment, but Jack reminded me of some things you did that one would only ever do for a friend. So let's be honest with ourselves and each other and stand by this openly."

Dietrich looks baffled to say the least and briefly at a loss of words, before recovering from his initial shock. "Sergeant Troy. You really seem to misinterpret my intentions and motivation. Unlike you I am not mainly driven by feelings of sympathy or antipathy, but have certain principles and standards of decency and moral I choose to uphold." "Are you sure you are totally honest with yourself, Captain?", Troy asks with a broad grin after which Dietrich sighs wearily. "If I were to give you the benefit of the doubt and allow you a ... probation period, would you swear to me to quit pestering me independent of how the probation turns out?", the German Captain inquires carefully with a calculating expression. "You sure have interesting ways of saying yes, Captain", Troy grins even wider at using the German's own words against him. "But you have my word. You give me an honest chance at probation, I give it an honest try to convince you and I swear that I won't bother you, if I fail." Dietrich does not doubt Troy's honesty for a moment. "Try to behave better than Jakob. Given that he is my reference for friendship, it should not be that hard to at least reach his standards. If you don't denounce me to my superiors as a would-be criminal, you can already surpass him", the German Captain replies dryly. "As the rest of my friends is either dead or in exile, you should not be challenged too much, even given your usual standards, Troy."

"So do I get to call you Hans then?", Troy asks and Dietrich looks utterly unnerved. "Don't overstep the bounds of my tolerance, Sergeant! Surely not during probation." "Fine", Troy consents with a pout. "How long is that probation gonna be?" Dietrich bears the smile of a successfully sprung trap. "Until I am able to make a well-founded decision, Sergeant Troy." Troy looks briefly stunned, then his discontent face turns into a grinning one. "You're a wily fox, I grant you that. But since you're also honest and loyal to the bone, it doesn't actually matter how long we call it probation, since you'll keep your side of this agreement as well." The German Captain furrows his eyebrows and briefly grits his teeth. Troy has turned this against him far quicker than he has expected.

Then another serious worry occurs to him. "To make things very clear, Sergeant, under no circumstances will this include your insufferable brother or the rest of your family! The term family friend is not applicable to me." Troy barks a harsh laugh that holds no humor. "Don't worry. We can perfectly agree on being on anything but friendly terms with Dave. Once Helen has chewed you out for the letter, you won't have to worry about her either. So that leaves mainly the kids and Ma, nothing you couldn't handle." "I'm serious, Troy", Dietrich snaps at him. "So am I, Captain. You're good with handling kids, so you shouldn't run into problems there, if you ever come to visit. And Dave was right about one thing, Ma would love you, probably more than her own rowdy sons." The German officer looks doubtful. "I won't handle any of them at all! Hell will freeze over, before I'm even considering to enter that lion's den. I have been bitten often enough by your family members after all, without meeting the lionesses and cubs." Troy grins. "You have a pretty good imagination what they are like for never having met them and only reading one letter. I'm sure Helen likes the image." Grimacing at the mental image, Dietrich intends to change the direction of the discussion and address another concern of his.

"The privates don't pay too much attention to the details of our interactions, as long as we are not literally tearing each other's head off, but Sergeant Moffit certainly does and is intelligent enough to tell that something is off. Not involving him or openly declaring the details of our ... arrangement would be preferable for me, but I see no way of avoiding this." "Jeez. You always worry that much about everything?", Troy asks good-naturedly. "No wonder you're stressed and haunted. Let's just take Jack to the side and tell him straight to his face." The German Captain has tensed slightly at the words, but finally sighs and nods in agreement. "'Ehrlichkeit währt am längsten' goes our saying which means basically 'honesty prevails'. I think you say something like honesty is the best policy." "Is this higher up on the list of words I have to remember? Since you're taking up my German classes now." Troy smiles widely. "I suppose that will become one of your most relevant terms, as I will remind you of our agreement regularly from now on", comes the smirking reply. "I'm sure that wouldn't have been Jack's priority." "You can gladly switch your teacher. I'm absolutely not offended, if you choose to annoy Moffit instead of me", Dietrich replies dryly which makes the American grin widely. "But you're even more fun to annoy than Jack." "Troy!", the German snaps unnerved. "I'll try to behave I swear." "Don't commit perjury, Sergeant!", the Captain states dryly. "We should get you back to sickbay, before those nurses throw a fit and bite both our heads off", the American Sergeant suggests with a grin. "You abducted me, Sergeant. I'm just the victim here", Dietrich replies with dry humor that turns into real amusement at seeing Troy's perplexed expression.

"Since we're starting German lessons", the American Sergeant addresses the young German officer on their way back to sickbay, once he has recovered from his surprise, "how do you say 'good morning'?" "The standard German way is 'Guten Morgen' which is easy to recognize and memorize, as the origins of the words are basically the same. In the North where Jakob and I are from, we simply say 'Moin, Moin' in Platt", Dietrich explains with a leisurely tone. Troy grins now, as he comments: "That's actually simple and doesn't even have any weird sounds in it." "It's German, not Arabic, Troy", the Captain replies with dry amusement. "Yeah. I know. But Gotty's name actually feels like speaking Arabic or tying a knot in my tongue", the American Sergeant complains. "Remind me to feel sorry for you at some point when I have the time and nothing serious to worry about."

"I thought you were trying to treat me like a friend", Troy protests. "I am, Sergeant. You can ask Jakob. He'll confirm that I would not treat him any differently. Speaking of him and annoying one's friends, I do have an alternative version which we usually applied for Jakob, when he still refused to get up at 9 in the morning: 'Steh auf, du fauler Hund!'" Troy's smile has returned. "That sounds not overly friendly for addressing your friend." Dietrich confirms that with an amused expression of his own. "It isn't. It literally means 'Get up, you lazy dog!'" The American Sergeant barks a laugh. "Can't wait to try that with Jack." "Neither can I", the German officer comments with a sly expression and dry humor.

"Whatever did Moffit do to you to earn your ire like that?", Troy wonders with amusement. "You mean apart from planting ideas of vampires and werewolves in your heads? It's simply a matter of leverage, Sergeant. I wish to provide him with sufficient motivation to take care of your language lessons himself", Dietrich replies with irony. "You know he could turn this strategy against you, Captain", Troy grins. "He is not you, Sergeant, far too serious to lower himself to this level of pranking." "Unlike you, you little fox", Troy is amused. "I knew it was a mistake to tell you that", the German officer groans in mock exasperation. "Since you don't like me pronouncing your name and don't let me use your first name, I could settle with that", Troy suggests with a mocking grin. "Don't you dare, Sergeant! Captain has worked just fine for a full year. There is no valid reason to change that or do you seriously try to tell me that your language skills in your own mother tongue have decreased in the past year", Dietrich growls at him with slight annoyance.

The Swiss nurses are indeed worried about the Captain's disappearance and the older and sterner nurse Aro turns on both of them upon entering the sickbay. "Herr Hauptmann. You have not been released from medical care and should not be running around the camp", she admonishes with the tone of a strict teacher berating a rule-breaking student. "Schwester Arno. The Sergeant has summoned me for a vital decision which could only have been resolved by Sergeant Moffit or myself. Reasonably, he has decided to not aggravate the Sergeant's wound, but woken me up instead", Dietrich argues smoothly and Troy briefly stares at him, stunned at the unexpected line of defense. Nobody can accuse the Captain of not standing by his word or his men. The look of the Swiss nurse is still strict, as she takes the German officer's appearance in from head to toe. Unshaved and unkempt, with the bruises on his face and neck standing out darkly in the half light of the morning and his uniform a bit loose on his skinny frame, Dietrich is keeping a straight and proud stance nonetheless, mustering the dignity his rank commands. The Swiss nurse finally sighs and tells the unruly duo to prepare the young Captain for the daily treatment of his shoulder through the hot stones, dissolving the muscle cramps naturally without medication.

"I'll speak with Jack, while you receive your spa treatment", Troy whispers to the German, as he helps him out of the jacket and shirt. Slightly pale, Dietrich merely nods, not trusting his voice to not communicate the pain he is in. Without bothering to take off his boots or trousers this time, he lies down on his stomach and briefly winces at the heat, when nurse Regula distributes the hot stones wrapped in clean cloth among his neck, shoulder and upper back, covering all with a blanket. "Das sollte die Verspannungen im Nacken und Schultergürtel gut lösen, Hauptmann Dietrich", she explains to him what her colleague has already told them before for which the addressed Captain thanks her.

When a hand ruffles through his hair which is too large to be Ari's and too early around to be Jakob's, the German just snaps "Troy, keep your hands off me!" without opening his eyes or looking up. "You got eyes in the back of your head, Captain?", the American Sergeant asks with a laugh. "No. I applied my famous skill of deduction", Dietrich replies dryly and hears a chuckle that is definitely not Troy's. "Watch out, old man! One of these days this fox is really going to get you", Moffit tells Troy in his unmistakable British accent. "What do you want, gentlemen?", the German officer demands to know with a weary tone, before the two Rat Sergeants can start some absurd argument, as is their speciality. "I wanted to say thank you for standing up for me to the vengeful nurse in spite of me abducting you in the middle of the night." Troy grins at the grimace appearing on the Captain's face, before the German gets his facial features back under control and schools them into a more neutral expression. "You're welcome. You can express your gratitude by leaving me in peace and not ever touching my hair again!" "That was safer for drawing your attention than anywhere else on your arms or shoulders, since you look like somebody loaded a pile of linen onto your back up to the neck and then wrapped you up for delivery", Troy replies and causes both his listeners to snort with amusement at the description. "I wanted to have a few words with you, if you don't mind, Captain", Jack Moffit intercedes, before the German gets the chance to snap back at the insolent American Sergeant. "Fine, Doctor", Dietrich agrees with a sigh, hoping to get this over with as quickly as possible to get rid of the infernal duo. "I'll leave you two to your talk", Sam Troy states with an almost sheepish expression quickly making his retreat which immediately triggers the German Captain's wariness.

Shifting his questioning gaze to the remaining Sergeant is challenging enough in his lying position, but he manages the feat with as much dignity as he can muster. Raising his eyebrows, Dietrich inquires sternly: "What is this about, Doctor?" "Troy told me about your 'arrangement'", the British Sergeant replies coolly, as he crouches next to the German officer's cot to meet him on eye level. Not only does this help the Captain to not strain his neck, but also Moffit to not aggravate his lungs, allowing them to speak with a quiet whisper without being overheard by anybody. Moffit notices Dietrich tense immediately upon his announcement and continue to eye him warily. "You need not worry about your friend. I have no intention to harm him", the German grinds out between gritted teeth. A smile creases Jack Moffit's lips. "I'm not worried about Troy not being able to handle you. I was under the impression though that you are a reasonable and professional man, not motivated by the Americans' sentimentality. Thus, I was wondering what would have caused you to agree to something like this in the first place."

A sly expression and amused smile briefly appear on the German Captain's face. "Leverage, Sergeant Moffit. By putting Troy on probation I have a better handle for reining him in than any rank or military structure would ever provide me with, because this is something Troy actually wants and cares not to lose on a whim." Moffit smiles in understanding. "You're truly deserving of being called a young fox and a wily one at that. But in spite of your smart strategy, Captain, aren't you worried that you're trapping yourself as well?" Dietrich looks thoughtful, but closes his eyes refraining from trying to shake his head in his current position. "I have nothing to lose, only to win, Sergeant. If this turns out against Troy, I have at least a certain measure of control over him for an indefinite time. If it turns out for the Sergeant, I gain a friend as well and I can currently count mine on a single hand without requiring even half of the fingers", the German argues with a neutral tone that Jack Moffit recognizes as cover for the underlying torment that being cast out by all his former allies, acquaintances and family still causes the younger man. "You have thought this through more thoroughly in a few hours than Troy has in the last few days, I truly have to grant you that, Captain. After all I had no doubt that you are the more level-headed strategist by training and nature", Jack admits with a wry smile. "I can only wish you the best of luck on your endeavor, Captain." Studying him briefly to determine the honesty of the statement, Dietrich nods. "Thank you, Doctor."

When the Brit has continued studying him for half a minute, although the German has considered his statement a clear dismissal, the Captain gets slightly impatient. "Is there anything else you want from me, Sergeant Moffit?" "Do you remember what has happened yesterday evening?", the Brit inquires calmly, observing the young officer. The Captain glowers at him. "I'm not suffering from memory problems, Doctor. I still recall yesterday's discussion at dinner vividly, including you planting the seed of disaster, giving Troy and Hitchcock ideas of vampires and werewolves. Did your dear friend tell you that he wanted to go corpse hunting at 0530 in the morning?" Moffit smirks utterly bemused. "He didn't actually. I cannot fathom why." Then his expression becomes more sober. "I'm referring to something else entirely though. I have to admit that you really surprised me, Captain." Dietrich furrows his brow, but does not interrupt him. "You were quite heavily drugged with morphine, so it is no shame if you don't remember the details. You struck me with your reaction taking my word for granted when I told you that all was fine in the camp." The German officer looks puzzled. "I fail to see what amazed you, Doctor. You didn't strike me as so easy to entertain, unlike a certain private." Both subconsciously turn their gazes in Hitchcock's direction who still sleeps comfortably, snoring at a much lower volume than the British Major.

"You were speaking German and not fully conscious and aware of where you were, yet you recognized me immediately when I answered you in German." Dietrich looks actually offended. "Do you take me for a fool, Sergeant? You have a distinct voice and way of speaking, especially when talking in German. Although I start to see your implication, I fail to realise why I should not believe your word, since we do serve on the same side now." Moffit looks distraught. "You're faster than I would have expected at accepting this notion and dealing with us fairly. And you're definitely faster than I would have been in your place", the Brit admits slightly dubious. "Don't get me wrong, Sergeant Moffit. I do not consider you my friends or live under Troy's delusions of a 'happy ever after' ending, as this is a war and not a fairytale, something we can agree on, I suppose." Jack nods and studies the German officer intently. "However, as with Troy, I have trusted in your professional reliability and trustworthiness when heeding arrangements already long before changing sides. Also, Sergeant, distrusting my own men is simply not my style." Dietrich strains his neck to look up and meet eyes with the Brit to assure that he is understood correctly, until nodding curtly and lying back down with a weary sigh and a slightly pained expression. "Is there anything else you want, Sergeant?", the Captain mutters what he hopes will be a rhetoric question.

"Now that you ask", Moffit starts out and smiles, when he sees the German grit his teeth, "we have once talked about you providing me with some insight into your second native language, Plattdeutsch. I would like to ask you in the light of recent developments to assist me in my own pronunciation of Hochdeutsch which would be in our unit's best interest after all." Dietrich blinks in astonishment, but quickly recovers. "As it is a most reasonable request, I see no reason to refuse it." "Thank you, Captain", Jack replies politely. "I have a favour to ask in return though, Doctor", the German Captain announces slyly. Now Jack Moffit frowns instead. "I know you have no obligation to look after the boy, Ari, and you have made your attitude quite clear that you do not wish to be bothered with looking after children. I thank you for having done so nonetheless and I have to ask you to continue being available as an interpreter and language teacher for English and basic German if possible. I won't bother you forever, but at least until his language skills in English have progressed far enough for simple communication with most people in the camp."

To Dietrich's surprise Moffit almost glares at him accusatorily, before reining in his emotions. "I am sorry, Captain Dietrich. Your request is of course reasonable and circumspect. I'm neither resenting the boy nor do you deserve my current resentment", the British Sergeant speaks with a guarded and artificially polite tone. The German officer looks astounded at the strange reaction and the Brit's unexpected openness, but stays silent. "I'd rather be honest with you", Moffit comments. "I do appreciate that", Dietrich states with on a slightly hard edge still audible in his voice, although he is trying hard to control his emotion and keep it from showing. "It is mostly myself who I resent or rather the fact that I have never actually appreciated and taken care of what I had until I lost it." The German Captain furrows his brow and bears a questioning look. Moffit snorts, before continuing: "You're wondering what I'm talking about, aren't you? I cannot blame you for doing so, Captain. You are a far better older brother for a boy who is not even related to you by blood than I ever was to my own brother, just because he was some 15 years younger than me." Dietrich looks surprised and uncomfortable, as his gaze shifts to Ari's cot with worry clearly visible. Moffit forces himself not to glare at the German for his show of what has aggrieved him for days now, since blaming the young officer for being compassionate is hardly reasonable even in his own eyes.

With a forced calm tone, Jack concentrates on his own past and thoughts of Michael instead. "At first I was a teenager who was of course too proud to be seen with his toddler of a brother in the noble public school where I was taught. Then I attended Cambridge and felt entitled to all the wisdom of the world which surely did not include dealing with an annoyingly uneducated younger brother who could not keep up with philosophical discussions and wanted to play hide and seek instead of facing intellectual challenges. For working on my PhD thesis, I then spent years in Africa studying all kinds of odds and ends, never wasting a thought on the lad back at home. Finally, as the war started, I joined the army, never bothering to return home to quarrel with my family before making that decision and surely not considering that this could in any way affect my brother." Jack Moffit smiles wryly upon seeing the younger man scowl in wariness and confusion. "I have no way of making up my fault to my dead brother, but I won't let an innocent boy suffer for it. You have my word, Captain", Moffit vows with more passion than Dietrich is used to hearing from the cool and aloof Brit. "Thank you, Doctor, for the care extended to Ari as well as your honesty", the German answers him with a thoughtful expression.

"Although I am aware that we would both prefer, if I left you in peace, I have one more task to ask of you that we need to discuss, Sergeant. You have complained to have been left in the dark and I apologise for having done so under the impression that you prefer interacting with your previous unit members over speaking with me." Jack Moffit is utterly surprised at the apology and self-conscious that he owes one in return. "You are likely correct with your assessment, Captain, for which I owe you an apology." As Dietrich nods in quiet acceptance, but Jack surprises them both by continuing: "If you had grown up in Britain, Captain, we could very likely be good friends now. As you were born in the wrong country however I disliked you as my enemy, feeling obliged to do so." Dietrich frowns at the unexpected declaration, but lets Moffit continue uninterrupted, curious where this is supposed to lead. "Only yesterday I realised that I have this in common with the Nazis I despise, while you are one of the few people I know who are actually professional in acting without being driven by emotions, staying true to your former mentor's motto of 'a war without hate' in spite of all the losses you've suffered."

Dietrich looks as uncomfortable as he feels in his current situation, inquiring cautiously: "Why are you telling me all this, Sergeant? I know your point of view on an enemy soldier. I also understand it, although I do not want to share it. I have experienced first hand where hatred will drive people and how much this makes them slaves of those manipulating them through their anger and hate. I was in Germany as well during the Kristallnacht, at my barracks in Weimar, 500 kilometers away from Kiel where I feared for my friends' lives, too cowardly and unable to act in any way." The German Captain's word sound bitter and contain some self-loathing. "There is little you could have done against an angry mob of thousands, even millions in all of Germany", Moffit speaks in a consoling tone. "You're right, Sergeant. I have learned my lesson though in that night and when I helped my closest friends to flee from our homecountry, expecting to never see them again. That is the only wisdom and consolation I can offer you, along with the advise to better not let hatred drive you. You will have to come to terms with your attitude yourself. I expect you to act professionally though independent of your emotions toward me or your actual enemies", Dietrich speaks calmly, before his tone becomes slightly sarcastic. "Just because Troy is selling his soul to the devil, does not give you any obligation to act as sentimental as he does after all, Sergeant."

Jack Moffit smirks, turning serious quickly. "I will try to heed your warning, Captain, or better all of them. Although you are a few years younger than I, you are certainly more experienced and circumspect in some regards. So please tell me what you originally wanted from me, before I sidetracked you in a way that would have made our dear friend Troy jealous." The German smiles wryly. "He certainly trained you well and would be proud of your devious distraction through sentimentality." With a more serious tone, Dietrich continues: "I instructed Corporal Gottschlich to turn to you to improve his grammar and vocabulary in German. I am also asking you like the rest of your", hesitating briefly, he corrects himself, "our unit to provide me with your honest opinion on the young man, his skill and character." Jack Moffit looks baffled by the request. Captain Boggs might have asked for Troy's opinion on his men, or rather Troy would have provided it without being asked. That Dietrich would ask about all their opinions, including Pettigrew's is not what he would have expected from the German officer. Apparently he is taking the tight-knit structure of the commando unit into regard and has decided to take each opinion into consideration as well as treat them all with unprecedented respect. "You can absolutely rely on me in this regard, Captain. I suppose I can leave you in the kind hands of the nurses now. Fare thee well and beware of Troy's ability to wreck your nerves", Moffit whispers and gets out of nurse Regula's way to allow her to check on the German officer. "At least I could avoid being tormented by the second one as well", Dietrich mutters quietly under his breath which forces an amused grin onto Moffit's face. Troy is right after all that the German Captain is a person one would rather like to have as an actual friend than as an enemy.

The Swiss nurse sends her sweating patient off to take a shower before helping him into the fresh uniform Sam Troy has brought for him in the meantime before turning to discuss with Jack how his talk with Dietrich has gone. The German officer has to admit that the heat treatment has improved his agility and dexterity with the arm and also lessened the pain that has originated from the malposition. This also helps against the constant underlying headaches which have plagued him in the past two days and have virtually disappeared now. The Sergeant seems to be in a particularly good mood, when he asks the younger man to join them for breakfast which Dietrich accepts grudgingly, wary to be bothered by the overbearing American. However, he finds the decision much more acceptable, once the Australians along with Sergeant Williamson join Tully, Troy and him at their table to coordinate the plans for the joint rescue mission.