A weight lands on Dietrich's right arm, sending a spike of pain along it all the way up to the neck. With a moan of pain, the German opens his eyes and finds himself staring into another pair of dark eyes, as the weight has moved onto his chest. "Woof, wuff", Fritz yelps excitedly and licks his cheeks. "Fritz, raus aus dem Bett!", the Captain commands a bit more loudly than necessary that Fritz should get out of the bed. "Troy ist ein furchtbarer Einfluss und bringt dich nur auf dumme Ideen", he scolds the bedraggled looking dog jumping off his bed that Troy is a terrible influence, inspiring him with stupid ideas. Whining softly at the harsh tone, Fritz tries to console his master by rubbing his head against the young man's leg, as Hans is sitting up. With a sigh, the German officer looks at the confused animal. After all, Fritz does not understand him and why he gets kicked out of bed after having been taken in by Ari tonight and put with him by Troy the previous morning. "Schon gut, Fritz", he mutters in a more consoling tone and scratches the dog behind the ears. Relieved by Dietrich's reaction, Fritz huddles against the German's shin, wagging his tail.

Although the tent's other sleepers, Ari and Jakob, remain undisturbed by Captain's outburst, their guard, Corporal Gottschlich, has stepped into the entrance with his weapon ready to look for the source of the commotion. Seeing his commanding officer sitting on his bed with bare feet and a leisurely half-open shirt, as he pets the dog, makes the young soldier stop short. Dietrich looks up at him with a sharp gaze and nods curtly as a sign of recognition without taking his hand from Fritz' head who visibly enjoys the attention.

Keeping a wary eye on the dog, Gotty approaches his Captain quietly. "Are you alright, Captain Dietrich?", the young Japanese descended soldier inquires. The German officer smiles wearily. "Yes, I am, Corporal Gottschlich. No need to worry." Then, his expression turns into a frown. "What are you doing here, Corporal? I don't recall having seen you yesterday evening." The young American stands at attention. "Sergeant Troy ordered that we keep watch over you, Sir." "Is he getting paranoid now? I was under the impression that you managed to arrest one infiltrator, while Pettigrew blew up the other. Well done, Corporal Gottschlich." Riku Gottschlich smiles at the honest praise with gratitude. "Thank you, Sir. Tully, I mean Private Pettigrew, told me that you could be in danger, if other infiltrators remain who we haven't found yet." Dietrich smiles wryly. "How cautious and circumspect of Sergeant Troy to set the whole unit up to this. Can you tell me anything about the medical examinations and whether they have revealed other infiltrators, Corporal?" Gottschlich looks apologetic. "I'm sorry, Captain Dietrich. I don't know anything about that." The German Captain nods in understanding, as he would not really have expected him to have any official information except for camp rumours.

"May I ask you something, Sir?", the young man dares to inquire and finds himself in the focus of Dietrich's questioning gaze. "You may, Corporal", the German officer replies cautiously, not promising to provide an answer to any question. "Why do you tolerate, even support and order the underhanded behaviour of Sergeant Troy and Private Pettigrew? You are an officer and gentleman. It's not honorable or lawful what they do." Dietrich looks thoughtful, as he weighs his answer. "You are aware that Sergeant Troy, his unit and I share a history that is rather violent and full of underhanded actions, from their side mainly, but also from mine", the German Captain explains carefully. "Nonetheless, we have always held a certain level of respect for each other. I know their competence in such schemes which might appear roguish to you and trust them not to act against their own side, including me nowadays, when the worst comes to worst. Even if their methods are less than lawful, Sergeant Troy would not act dishonorably."

Gotty looks incredulous, but accepts the explanation. "I fear that you will have to get used to underhanded methods in particular in this unit, as we are fighting in this war as commando soldiers who have to act less openly than classical military units for the interests of their side and the people they intend to protect", Hans Dietrich speaks with a calm, but serious tone, as he observes Gottschlich closely. "Sneaking, lying and pretending to be somebody else will be your tools as often as shooting or fighting in melee or ranged combat. Do you feel up to this, Corporal? I have noticed that you struggle with some of the missions and revelations about your comrades which is why I wanted to talk with you about this. I will not think less of you, if you honestly declare that you cannot live with these underhanded methods and thus wish to leave our unit."

The younger man looks visibly affected by the words. "I know that such maneuvers and schemes are part of war as well and I really want to prove that I'm just as loyal an American soldier as everyone with a more British sounding name." "That notion honours you, Corporal. And believe me that I know what you mean with a name that does not sound 'British' enough. But you can also believe me that as little as I share any criminal attitude with Private Pettigrew, I respect him for being a competent desert driver and marksman and treat him as such. After all, we are not meant to be friends, but he is a loyal and reliable soldier under my command and I am his commander with the obligation to stand by my men with equal loyalty", the Captain reasons carefully. "Can you live and work with a similar notion of respect and discipline in the line of duty?" The younger man hesitates, but nods then. "Yes, Sir. I can." Then, the Corporal hesitates again and eyes the German officer cautiously, as he weighs whether to ask another question. Dietrich waits patiently, letting him come to terms on his own.

"Sergeant Troy treats you very strangely, Captain. More like a friend than a commander", Gotty cautiously describes his observations with a tone that tells the Captain immediately that the whole notion is as disturbing for the Corporal as it has been for him. Fritz notices the German officer's tension increasing and jumps up to put his front paws on the man's knee, panting and yelping briefly. "Ruhig, Fritz!", Dietrich orders calmly, not wishing to disturb Jakob and Ari. Gotty still eyes the dog mascot warily, but focuses back on the German officer, when the man addresses his soldier with a carefully controlled tone: "As I've said already, Sergeant Troy and I share a history that is ... complicated to say the least, as is our relationship with each other. But this should not affect you or our missions, as we both know how to behave in a professional setting." With a wry smile and self-mockery, he adds: "At least most of the time."

"You like him...", the young soldier mutters. "I do, both of them in spite of their sometimes impossible behaviour", Dietrich replies with dry humor, as Fritz starts licking his hand to regain his attention. Remembering the Corporal's fear who still eyes the dog warily, he adds with a slight smile: "Fritz definitely is the least dangerous of them all." Gotty recalls that Sergeant Troy has recommended that having a sense of humour helps interacting with Captain Dietrich, but unfortunately neither of his parents have had any such tendencies to teach him. A little unsure, Riku Gottschlich just smiles back, hoping this is a good reaction to his officer's friendly joke.

Ari has stirred from his sleep by their talking and Fritz' yelps. Slightly groggily he stumbles over to Dietrich's cot and sits down on it, nestling to his 'brother'. "Good morning, Ari", the German officer tells him in English with a smile that even Gottschlich shares, as the boy mumbles "Goo' mornin', Hans" into Dietrich's shirt. "Your brother is younger than you, isn't he, Corporal?", the Captain asks Riku in a friendly tone. "Yes, Sir", Gottschlich confirms, then adds with a tone of honest gratitude: "Thank you, Captain Dietrich, for ... everything." The German officer furrows his brow: "You should not have to thank an officer for doing his duty and honouring his obligation to his men", he counters in a tone that carries some pain and sorrow, aware himself that this is not always the case. "No officer has done that before, so I honestly want to thank you, Sir", Gottschlich stands by his words. Dietrich nods thoughtfully, as he shifts his focus from his young soldier to the boy huddling to him.

"*Ari, I have to get washed and checked by the doctors. Take Fritz and make him wake Jakob up. He has experience now and it will be fun*", Dietrich decides to take Troy's scheme and turn it against a worthy target, his usually over sleeping friend. Ari jumps to his feet, looking utterly motivated for such mischief and calls "Fritz!". Almost as enthusiastic as the boy, the dog jumps to its feet and up on Ari, wagging its tail. Free of the two, the German officer gets up carefully, fighting briefly with lightheadedness, as he feels a steadying hand on his arm. "Thank you, Corporal", he breathes out, once assured that he will remain on his feet even without support. Gottschlich slowly withdraws his arm, watching the Captain carefully. Although he looks lean, almost skinny, the tall officer has more wiry muscle on his frame than Gotty would have guessed for a European. With his bruises mostly healed and without his stern expression, it is obvious for the American soldier that the Captain is only two or three years older than he himself, at about the age of Hitch and Tully.

Ignoring the scrutiny he is already immune against after a day of Sam Troy fussing over him, Hans Dietrich picks up a set of fresh clothes, when he hears Fritz, Ari and Jakob behind him. While Fritz yelps joyfully, Ari laughs heartily and Jakob after grumbling sleepily starts cursing in a mixture of Yiddish, German and English. "Steh auf, du fauler Hund und hör auf zu schimpfen!", Hans shouts to him to add insult to injury. Then he adds with self-mockery: "Ich bin jetzt schon zwei Tage so geweckt worden." The Jewish Lieutenant is not amused by his friend's comments to stop cursing, as he himself has already been woken like this for two days in a row. "Hans. Halt mir die Mischpoke vom Hals! Ich will schlafen." His friend grins in amusement at Jakob's order to keep the duo away from him, as he wants to sleep. "No rest for the wicked, as our American friends say", Dietrich tells him dryly and Jakob just groans, putting his folded blanket over his face to protect himself from Fritz' tongue.

Gotty observes the scene with irritation and astonishment, understanding that the Captain partially protects the Rats in their mischief, because he shares that kind of humor to a certain more harmless degree, but only applies it with his friend and off duty. "I'm going to sickbay to have my head and my shoulder checked and treated", Dietrich tells Gottschlich and Silberblatt, before he leaves the tent and makes his way to the field hospital. But he barely makes it twenty steps from his tent, before hearing somebody call out. "Howdy, Captain", the Australian radio Lieutenant O'Malley calls after the German, as he jogs closer. "How're you doing? Ya got us all pretty worried, Dietrich." Eyeing the bandage around the taller man's head with apprehension, the Aussie impatiently awaits an answer. "I'm fine, Lieutenant", the tall German officer tells him curtly, trying to make his way around him. "Ya don't look fine, Sir", the Australian annoys Dietrich with his protest.

"Well, what would you expect after a head injury, concussion and almost being shot again by one of those accursed Jeeps' machine guns?", the German officer snaps at him losing his patience. The Lieutenant's eyes widen slightly at the harsh tone and he replies apologetically: "I'm sorry for disturbing ya, Captain." The German Captain sighs wearily. "I apologise for the harsh tone, Lieutenant O'Malley", he grinds out, "I'm on my way to sickbay to receive treatment and pain killing medication." The Australian nods and comments: "That'll do ya real good. Take care, Captain Dietrich. I'll see ya around. Toodle-oo." Dietrich still feels slightly incredulous at his casual tone and wording, but salutes with his left to keep up his standards at least for his own peace of mind. These Allied soldiers are truly testing the limits of his sanity.

When he finally arrives at the sickbay after only meeting two more soldiers who have greeted him and smartly kept their distance noticing his stern expression, the German officer breathes a sigh of relief. "Ciao, buon giorno, Capitano Dietrich", the Swiss Doctor Riggioli greets him with a smile. "Buon giorno, Dottore Riggioli. Per favore, controlla la mia ferita alla testa e alla spalla", the Captain replies automatically in slightly accented Italian at which the medic smiles. "Il tuo Italiano e molto buono", he provides a compliment for the others skill in Italian, then tells him in accented English, as the American nurse O'Donnell joins them: "We will take a look at your head injury and shoulder as you wish, Capitano."

That is exactly what they do, starting out with the German officer's head. The wound underneath the bandage bleeds slightly at the removal of the gauze, but not in a worrying amount anymore. Also that the Captain has recovered from the concussion without further symptoms, is reassuring. "I'm used to such injuries after more than three years at the forefront of this war, one of them being Sergeant Troy's prime target", Dietrich jokes dryly. "Why is he in charge of your wellbeing then?", the Swiss medic wonders. "He wouldn't harm me, now that we're actually on the same side", the German reassures him. "I would recommend you to take a shower after we treat your shoulder, Captain", Deirdre O'Donnell tells him. "The Swiss nurses have instructed me on their massage techniques. We should start out with this right now, Captain Dietrich." "Of course, Lieutenant O'Donnel", Dietrich concedes, as any discussion would be futile, since he really needs the treatment for his shoulder that has pained him intensely since yesterday. Apparently, he must have landed on the right shoulder and arm, but has not noticed it, because he has already been knocked out by the bullet. Hoping that her learning process with his shoulder will not be too painful, Dietrich bites his teeth together to make it through the treatment.

"Where is he?", he hears someone shouting in the sickbay, realizing only after a few moments through his haze of pain that it is Sam Troy who is calling. "Troy, stop tormenting the wounded and sick", he scolds the Sergeant with dry sarcasm, when the American comes nearer. "You're an ungrateful brat, Dietrich", Troy growls back. "That's still 'Captain Dietrich' to you, Sergeant", the German adds equally dryly. "You must be a lot better, when you're up to your sarcastic jokes again, Captain", Troy finally states in a friendlier manner. "I am. Thank you for your dedicated support and care, Sergeant, as well as putting guards up to watch over us", the Captain tells him actually gratefully, deciding to take him by surprise by changing from discussion to agreement. Troy smiles widely now. "You're welcome, Captain. Hey, Deirdre. You know how my brother is?"

The American nurse looks saddened. "The treatment of his burns and injuries from the crash went well, but we've kept him asleep with morphine to spare him the pain", she tells the American Sergeant. "How bad is it?", Troy asks with worry in his tone. "Pretty bad", nurse O'Donnell tells him honestly. "I'm sorry, Sergeant. We really did all that we could." Dietrich adds in a calm, gentle and reassuring tone he usually applies for Ari or his youngest and battle fatigued soldiers: "You couldn't have done more, even if you would have left the camp, Troy." "I know!", the American snaps. "Still feels wrong to not have done more." "I know exactly how you feel", the younger German officer speaks with a strangled tone. Images of his men falling under the machine gunfire of the Rats, the SS, Arab raiders or resistance fighters come to the Captain unbidden. The sound of the rapid shots rings in his ears as does the rushing of his own blood, the smell and taste of iron, of blood of the residue of the guns' powder take over his senses.

That Dietrich not only does not react to his reply, but also stares straight ahead of him, unseeing and uncaring is disconcerting to Sam Troy. When the German officer does not react to the hand placed on his good shoulder, the Sergeant gets worried, enough to slap the younger Captain across the face. In hindsight his slap may have been a bit too intense, driven by worry, as he sees the German's head spinning. Dietrich flinches and instinctively tries to withdraw from the attack and raise his left arm in self-defence, only to find his shoulder gripped and making out voices through the fog of his flashbacks. "Was... ist... los?", he grinds out in German. Troy is proud of himself to have learned enough German from the Captain by now to understand that the young officer asks what's going on. "You're in sickbay, Captain. Deirdre's treating your injuries. You're not among the Jerries", Troy tells him with a worried scowl. "Sergeant Troy", Dietrich mutters, regaining control of his senses and his memories. Troy ruffels the younger man's shortened hair, not bothering whether it annoys him, as long as he stays with them. "Stop this immediately, Sergeant!", the German officer snaps back at him. "Good to have you back, Captain", Troy replies with a smile retracting his hand to leave the younger man in peace who glares at him warily.

"You can go and take a shower and get into some fresh clothes, Captain. We'll redress your head wound afterwards", Lieutenant O'Donnell tells Dietrich effectively interrupting their standoff, before she turns to Troy. "You can take a look at your brother, if you want, Sergeant. But please stay quiet and don't wake him up." The German officer is immensely grateful to her for finding a way to occupy the American Sergeant so that he will not annoy him constantly, when all he wishes for is some privacy. While the Captain walks out to receive his well-earned respite in form of a shower, Troy follows the American nurse to a field bed with a bandaged figure that Sam would rather have considered to be a case for Moffit the mummy researcher rather than his own brother at first glance. Only when looking more closely can he make out dark hair underneath the bandages and thick layers of lotion where bandaging has not been an option.

"My god, Davey", the usually rough American mutters in a shocked tone. "A part of the plane stabbed him through the chest and his uniform has caught fire, leaving second and third degree burns on most of his torso down to the knees and some parts of his neck and face, Sergeant", Deidre O'Donnell tells him with a professional calm tone that holds some sorrow nonetheless. "What's it you're not telling me?", Troy snarls at her. Deirdre regrets not having kept the Captain around to rein his Sergeant in, when showing him his brother. "It is not clear if and how well he will recover from this. Even in the best case of recovering fully he will be marred by the scars for the rest of his life." Sam Troy scowls at the announcement, then growls: "That's something to worry about, if he makes it." "Doctor Sommer, Doctor Riggioli and the Swiss did the best that was possible", the American nurse assures him again. "I just hope that'll be enough", Troy mutters gloomily. "This really looks bad. Davey, what did you do? Couldn't you have chosen some other branch of service than flying?" Unbidden the memories of the Aussies caught in the flames of the trap set at the ammunition depot come back to him. If that is your fate you can't escape it, it seems.

When Hans Dietrich returns after showering, shaving and painfully struggling into his shirt sleeve, he finds Sam Troy in an unusually subdued mood. Although he knows that he will likely regret the question, the German officer asks: "What is the matter, Sergeant?" "Davey's pretty badly off, Captain", Sam Troy mutters. "And you worry about him", the German concludes. "Which is only human, yet will not change his state." "I know that", the American snaps indignantly. "There must be something I can do." "Not attacking anyone talking to you would be a good start", the Captain replies dryly, although there is enough compassion audible in his tone to not make it sound sarcastic. Deirdre smiles gratefully at the young officer who fulfills her expectations excellently. "Thank you, Captain", she whispers to the tall German, while Troy scowls at him, but refrains from lashing out again. "If Davey makes it, will you promise me that you will talk to him about ... your experience with being wounded and treated away from your home, Captain?", the American Sergeant finally asks.

Dietrich is slightly startled by the request but realizes that refusing is not an option given Sam Troy's not fully stable mental state. Nodding slowly, he sighs wearily. "Fine, Sergeant. You have my word that I will speak to him. But I cannot promise that he will listen to me or take me seriously." His decision appears to be the right one, as Sam Troy gives him a crooked smile. "That's all I could ask of you. Thanks Dietrich. You're a good friend." The German grits his teeth and utterly regrets having ignored Moffit's warning so lightly. He should have known better than thinking he could find a strategy with which he would win against Troy no matter what the Sergeant does. Now he is bound by the probation as much as Troy is and paying more dearly for it than he would have expected. The nurse eyes them strangely during their exchange and finally startles Dietrich out of his reverie by placing her hand on his forearm. "We still need to bandage your head, Captain, and to provide you with painkillers."

Sam Troy observes the proceedings of the German Captain's treatment with a scowl. Dietrich's agreement without any discussion about the necessity has taken him by surprise and been a great relief for him at the same time. Silberblatt's words that sarcastic discussions are part of his practiced defense mechanism seem to hold true. Seeing the young officer now as he sits with closed eyelids through his treatment to avoid something falling into his eyes shows Sam he has really come a long way in the past days since his defection, when his posture has never appeared as relaxed as now. He really trusts us to not harm him, Troy realizes, probably not every Allied soldier and officer, but at least the men and women of his unit. With a much more content smile that he finally has the good Captain where he has wanted him to be, Sam Troy steps toward the younger man once his treatment is finished and declares: "You'll accompany me to breakfast Captain." Dietrich eyes him slightly warily once he notices the smile and immediately suspects some mischief. "I still have some open points. First of all, Lieutenant O'Donnell, can I be released on duty?", the German officer formulates his question politely. "Doctor Andrews insisted only to release you when you show no after effects from your concussion which appears to be the case, as long as you have been honest with me about your symptoms." "Do you doubt my honorability?", the Captain snaps with indignation. Deirdre O'Donnell smiles at the predictable reaction. "No, I don't, Captain. You may return to your duties." His glare and stern expression soften, as he responds: "My apologies, Lieutenant. Thank you."

Before he gets up, the German Captain asks with a serious tone: "Can you tell me anything about the results of your examinations yesterday, Lieutenant O'Donnell?" Deirdre bites her lip. "I mustn't and I won't, but you will be informed shortly, now that you are back on duty." Dietrich nods in understanding, thanks her again and gets up to take his leave, but stops again to inquire: "What can you tell me about the state of my men?" "The Germans have all recovered well enough that we could transport them safely by now", the nurse responds. The German Captain smiles with dark irony. "And what about Hitchcock and Moffit?" Troy notices Dietrich's expression of fatalistic acceptance, when Deirdre O'Donnell tells him about the Germans and he inquires about Jack and Hitch instead. Whatever brief respite he has observed before has been visibly shaken by the comment, the Captain's whole stance becomes more guarded.

"I'm sorry. I didn't understand you correctly, Captain Dietrich", Deirdre sounds honestly apologetic, as she notices his tension and change of stance. But some damage has already been done, as the German officer nods curtly, but eyes her warily. "They are both recovering well", Lieutenant O'Donnell reports diligently and adds some details about the healing process of Moffit's bullet wound and Hitchcock's snakebite. "We can even discharge the Private on light duty and possibly even the Sergeant, if Doctor Andrews agrees." This appeases the wary German Captain to a certain degree and he smiles slightly at the news. "Thank you, Lieutenant O'Donnell." "We'll take them with us later, Deirdre. See you around", Troy declares with a grin and puts his hand on the younger man's left shoulder. "And you're coming with me without weaseling your way out of it, Captain." Dietrich tenses slightly and scowls at him. "You're not responsible for my wellbeing anymore, Sergeant." Troy counters with a grin: "You're wrong. Friends have obligations as well." The German officer bites back the sarcastic reply and settles for glaring at the American who takes him along with him.

Fritz' barks from the food distributor sound joyful and expectantly, as he gets the soldier to throw him a piece of burnt sausage. At the sight of Dietrich and Troy, the dog immediately starts wagging its tail and bows with his front paws on the ground. "Brav, Fritz", the German officer tells him at which the dog starts rubbing his head against his boot and jumps up to lick his hand. "Fritz, aus. Sitz!", the Captain commands him to stop. Troy meanwhile has turned to ask for their breakfast, as Tully joins them to help with carrying trays. "You take my stuff, Tully, and I'll help my friend here", Troy tells him, pointing to Dietrich who has no peace and quiet, as James Boggs on his way out of the canteen has approached the younger Captain to inquire about his state of health. Boggs has noticed the fresh bandage around the tall officer's head immediately and after having seen him yesterday barely able to remain on his feet, is slightly surprised to learn that the German has been sent back on duty. With honest concern he tells his current second in command to take care of himself at which the younger man frowns and eyes him warily, even more so when the older Captain pats him on the shoulder before leaving. Troy's misbehaviour is spreading and it is a lot harder to argue with the older Captain who is his senior officer in age, rank and experience than the Sergeant or ordinary soldiers who have started to adopt this manner as well on the previous day when he has been too far out of things to put up any notable resistance.

Troy, who has been waiting almost patiently for his standards, finally drives Dietrich toward the officer's table and places his food tablet next to the Captain's friend Lieutenant Silberblatt's seat. Ari who has been sitting next to his caregiver jumps to his feet and hugs his declared brother around the waist which is the maximum height he can reach, as long as the German is standing. "Hans. You're here", the boy manages to say in English with an audible accent, as they have instructed him to try and speak English most of the time. Several officers around the table and soldiers nearby stare at the strange scene. "Come, Ari. Sit down again and eat your breakfast", the German Captain replies with clear articulation in a gentle tone and puts his left hand on the boy's shoulder to steer him back to his seat. "I leave you with your family, Captain. See you later", Troy declares and turns back to where Tully is sitting with Gottschlich, both observing what is going on at the officer's table. Unable to reply to this slight without loss of face in front of his colleagues and scaring the child, Dietrich briefly glares at the insolent American, but then focuses back on the boy.

"That was a very mean prank you have pulled on me, Hans", Jakob starts his complaint, once his friend and Ari have settled at the table. "I will forward your assessment to Sergeant Troy, the actual inventor", the German replies dryly and starts eating his breakfast, unperturbed by the Lieutenant's glare. "You've adopted these commandos' ways far too quickly, Hans." With a wry smile, the Captain replies dryly: "Isn't that what you've sold Allied HQ about me, that I'm a devious rogue? Besides, you should know better than anybody that I've always been a fast learner, Jakob, since we have gone to school together for twelve years. After all the Rats have taught me many of their tricks over the past months already."

General Atkins and Major Turner observe the young officer with interest. All things considered, he is as much of an asset as a potential source for trouble given the unit he has been placed with and their Sergeant's pledge of unshakeable loyalty towards the German defector. Compared to yesterday he appears to be in his normal state of health if not for the bandage around his head and his obvious struggle with using his right arm. The interaction with the rescued Jewish boy is a strange one to observe for the two senior officers. On the one hand it clearly disproves any suspicion that Dietrich could be a Nazi, on the other hand it reveals a more human side of the German Captain who definitely shares some sentimentality with the U.S. troops, more than he would care to admit, and has earned his unit's and many other enlisted men's sympathies and respect in this way. Both decide to give the lean officer time to finish his breakfast. During this time, the British Lieutenant Johnson comes over to ask the German Captain about his head injury and provides him with a steaming cup of tea which Dietrich accepts with an actual smile. The Australian Captain Brown similarly inquires about the young officer's health and stays seated with him, Lieutenant Silberblatt and the boy who looks at his hat with fascination.

Finally, the American General addresses the German Captain: "Captain Dietrich. Although the medics don't consider you fit for heavy duty, we require your services as an investigator. Soldiers in camp call you Captain Sherlock by now, don't they?" Dietrich glares briefly in the direction of Sergeant Troy who bears the sole responsibility for sharing this nickname. Then, he focuses back on Atkins and inquires with stern professionalism: "What do you require from me, General?" "I need you to look through the documents and other things we have found and confiscated. We require someone who not only reads and speaks German, as Lieutenant Silberblatt and Sergeant Moffit could provide as well, but also knows the workings of the German military system intimately, including the army, the secret service and the SS." Surprise and concern register on the German officer's face at the American General's words. "So you have searched the tents of the men and found several documents?", Dietrich puts the question to the two superior officers with furrowed brows.

Major Turner answers instead of the General: "Your suggested examinations have indeed revealed another two infiltrators from the SS and in post mortem we could find that the killed Sergeant was from the SS as well, while the arrested German spy is not, although we have checked him thoroughly. The man has refused cooperation until now, except for proving that he has no SS tattoo. We don't know his identity as of now, but suspect him to be a member of the German secret service." Dietrich frowns. "What interest would Abwehr have in infiltrating this camp? He is the one who posed as a Sergeant of Captain Boggs' unit, isn't he?" General Atkins looks sharply at the German. "You are surprisingly well informed, Captain." The young officer adopts a defensive stance, tensing visibly. "My men reported the events to me and I've sent them on their surveillance missions myself", Dietrich argues a bit harshly. "You are not under suspicion or accused of any crime", Major Turner intervenes, before the discussion between their superior officer and the proud but wary defector escalates. The German Captain grits his teeth and eyes the General with clear distrust, but finally nods at the Major's words.

Turner then continues calmly: "When searching the tents of the identified infiltrators we found several documents sewn into clothes and blankets. In addition we have the documents from your former base, your own as well as those of the SS. All of them must be checked." Dietrich looks thoughtful, then replies: "I understand the necessity for checking the documents, but this is impossible to do for a single man in such a short time. Could you let Lieutenant Silberblatt and Sergeant Moffit assist me in this task, Sir?" Turner looks at Atkins who nods immediately. "You can have all the assistance you require, Captain Dietrich. We really need to work quickly and efficiently", the American Major replies. "With a team of these two I can work efficiently, Major", the German Captain affirms. "Then you shall have your men, Captain." Both officers look in surprise at the General after the firm statement. Once recovered from his brief shock, Dietrich answers: "Thank you, Sir. When may we start and where do we find the documents?"

Jakob, who has heard his name stated, looks up to observe his friend and his two superior officers. Hans Dietrich looks tense and wary, more so than the young German has on the previous day when interacting with Sergeant Troy and Private Pettigrew. Nonetheless, Atkins grants his wish for getting his support for the investigation of the documents. Finally, this is a task where he actually believes to be a valuable help for his trusted friend without putting him in danger. "But who will take care of Ari?", he asks Hans, once the Captain has saluted to the General and Major with his left arm to show his respect and compliance. "Hitchcock is to be released for light duty only." Looking up at the enlisted men's table, he corrects himself: "Apparently, he has already been released along with Sergeant Moffit. Looking after the boy counts as light duty by my definition", Dietrich argues smoothly.

Ari smiles, understanding at least a part of the words and interpreting the rest as he wants. "I like Hishcock. He has sweet bubblegum." If not for years of indoctrination that this is an unworthy behaviour for an officer, the German Captain would have rolled his eyes at the statement. What else should he have expected from the obnoxious Private than feeding his infernal chewing gum to the boy and inspiring the child with his own bad manners and habits. Briefly, he questions whether it is really a good idea to let Hitchcock look after Ari, then his practical side takes over, assessing that in their current situation they have no other man to spare for this duty and Hitchcock could be used for little else of value for the camp that counts as light duty. Also, experience has taught the German Captain by now that not providing the overly eager young Private with an occupation will result in potential disaster.

"You will not imitate his behaviour, even if you spend time with him, Ari!", Dietrich finally admonishes sternly. Ari looks without comprehending at the young officer who then repeats the order in his mixture of Arabic and Hebrew. "*But it's fun, Hans*", Ari argues with a pleading look reminiscent of Fritz which does nothing to convince Dietrich. "*Chewing this bubble gum is not proper behaviour. What should your new family think about you, if you behave like a camel chewing on dates?*", he argues sternly, utilizing a comparison from the boy's world. The boy finally nods and sighs. "*Eema would also say something like that*", the child mutters sadly and the tall Captain winces at being compared to the boy's mother when it comes to insisting on proper behaviour. "Don't be too strict with him, Hans", Jakob whispers into his friend's ear. "He will live in America, not Germany after all. They have different standards than your family had." The young German winces again at the reminder that he is behaving exactly like his own parents.

"You're right, Jakob", Hans Dietrich grits out between clenched jaws, "but some kinds of behaviour I just cannot tolerate uncorrected. Don't forget that your mother and father are from Germany as well!" Jakob Silberblatt smiles sadly, knowing all too well that his own parents would immediately agree with his friend regarding the assessment of tolerable behaviour. After all that is the reason why his mother has loved his friend like her own second son. "Mama will be so happy to have you back", he tells his friend jokingly and with a friendly smile. The German Captain raises his eyebrows with an expression of irony. "Because I have always been the only well-behaved one in your family?", he asks with dry irony. Jakob grins and winks conspiratorially. "Exactly, Hans."

"Well, let's inform my men then about their respective duties", Dietrich declares after smiling ironically at his friend's answer. "Ari, come with me please." The boy immediately gets up to follow his older brother, grabbing the Captain's shirt tail to have something to hold on to for a sense of security, as the many soldiers in the canteen still make him nervous. Jakob Silberblatt follows them, knowing that their next assignment will involve him as well to support his friend in his duties. "Good morning, Captain Dietrich, Lieutenant Silberblatt", Moffit greets the tall German officer and his shorter friend politely, as the trio steps toward them, while Troy smiles at the kid and adds: "Hello, Ari." Ari cautiously waves in the American Sergeant's direction, before repeating with an almost perfect imitation of Jack Moffit, including his British accent: "Good morning, Sir." "Wow. That sounds really British to me", Hitch comments with a grin. "Well done, Ari." Ari smiles back at him, knowing and liking him from their language lessons with Moffit in sickbay. Tully observes the whole scene with a stony face, chewing on his matchstick.

"What's up, Captain?", Troy asks Dietrich who also observes the interaction between the child and his soldiers, bearing a curious expression. "Gentlemen. I have new orders to announce to you all", the Captain declares with the calm professional tone they know from observing him, when giving orders in his camp in non-critical situations. "Sergeant Troy, Private Pettigrew. I want you to double check the camp's critical infrastructure for sabotage, as I don't trust the General's men's competence in this regard, considering that they have overlooked four SS infiltrators in their midst. Weapons and ammunition depots, motor pools and also check the German tanks out of camp for having been used as hideouts or stashes for drugs, secret documents or anything else out of the order. Take Gottschlich along after he has caught up with some sleep from his nightwatch to show him the ropes." Troy looks approvingly at the young German officer. "Smart idea, Captain Sherlock." Dietrich's eyes narrow slightly at the unwanted nickname, but Troy continues unperturbed: "We'll check everything out. You can rely on us, can't he, Tully?" "Sure, Cap", the American Private agrees monosyllabically. Knowing that he has lost the fight over the nicknames and proper rank titles already against these two, Hans Dietrich pragmatically decides to preserve his strength and merely confirms: "Thank you, gentlemen. You are to start at the earliest possible."

Then he turns to the next of his men. "Sergeant Moffit. You are to support me and Lieutenant Silberblatt in checking all confiscated documents from my base, as well as from the infiltrators for useful information on their orders and reasons for being here." Moffit looks intrigued and nods curtly. "I'm looking forward to this, Captain." Dietrich nods back in affirmation, before turning his gaze on Hitchcock. "Private Hitchcock. As you are only in a state for light duty according to the camp's medical personnel, I entrust you with Ari's care, safety and wellbeing which should be light duty compared to your usual mayhem. Play with him, teach him some English, if possible. But I warn you, Private. No bubble blowing, no crawling around guns or explosives and no snake pits for both of you!", the German Captain orders sternly.

Hitch looks slightly disappointed, but does not dare to argue with Dietrich directly. Although leaner than him, the taller young officer is an imposing man who Mark does not wish to cross, especially not since their run-ins and since he appears to be on particularly friendly terms with Sarge lately. Both would bite his head off for letting any harm come to the boy, Hitch is sure of this. Ari looks up at Mark with a curious gaze. "Hello, Hishcock", he still struggles with the name. Hitch smiles widely. "My name is Mark. Hello, Ari." Ruffling the kid's hair, he declares: "Let's do something fun! What do you like to do?" Ari grabs his hand and starts telling him about his sand stables with woven palm leaves and cloth for ceilings. "I can sell you camels and donkeys. Very good price", the boy declares in the manner of a professional bazaar trader that brings smiles to the faces of several of the men around. "Watch it, Hitch! The kid's a devious haggler", Troy warns him with a grin. "Just to make things clear. I won't buy you out, Hitchcock", Dietrich declares with dry humor. "Oi, Cap. I thought you like me now", Mark Hitchcock complains with an exaggerated pout.

"Not when you're not even able to provide a full rank title", comes the dry reply. "But Tully doesn't use a full rank either", Mark Hitchcock argues with an expression reminiscent of a petulant child. "First, he is not a rich private school graduate who went to an Ivy League college and second he is less annoying and more competent as a soldier. You have yet to convince me, Private", the German Captain argues with audible sarcasm. Tully grins triumphantly, shifting his matchstick in the corner of his mouth, while Mark looks crestfallen. "I'll show you, Cap...tain." Hitch quickly adds the full title at the German's raised eyebrows. "Looks like you are able to conduct yourself after all given the proper incentives", the German officer comments sarcastically. "Try to not disappoint me in trusting you with Ari, Private Hitchcock, as you have with your behaviour in the Australians' camp." Hitch looks actually nervous, as he replies: "I'm really sorry for that, Cap..tain. I swear I won't disappoint you." Dietrich frowns, but nods before providing a proper salute with his left arm that Hitch tries to mirror, as his own right arm is still bandaged. The others provide more or less proper salutes as well, knowing the Captain's standards by now. "Gentlemen, we will all meet at lunch for a status report and exchange of information, before continuing with our duties. I want to schedule a training session with Corporal Gottschlich in his fighting style and language lessons afterwards to increase all our knowledge and skills. Please inform the Corporal, Sergeant Troy."

Troy nods and all of them eye Dietrich with actual curiosity, as ordering specific training is as unexpected as including himself with his 'we' statement. After assuring himself of all their compliance, the German officer turns on his heels to make his way to the General's office tent, before turning back again to give another order with a tinge of irony: "Take Fritz along, Hitchcock, before he eats up what is left of the kitchen!" "Sure, Cap", Hitch declares enthusiastically and picks up his little dog hero. "Woof", Fritz barks enthusiastically and licks Hitch' cheek who grins like a madman. This is truly going to be his best army assignment ever. Having the German officer as his CO is actually turning out a lot better than he has feared, when first hearing about it. "Congratulations, Captain", Moffit comments with dry British humor. "You have just proven that his short term memory stretches no longer than a few minutes." The German Captain actually smiles widely at that comment. "Thank you for your professional evaluation, Doctor. As usual I appreciate your valuable input." Revising his previous assessment, Hitch has to admit that when the two Europeans with their dry sense of humor combine forces they are actually insufferable, while each of them alone would still be tolerable.

Moffit joins the young German officer, as he finally stalks off toward the tent exit, and whispers, as soon as they are out of earshot: "Don't you think that your treatment of Mark Hitchcock was a bit harsh, Captain?" "Considering that the Private has ignored my last direct order of not causing any trouble with the Australians in such a spectacular way that he even got one man killed and landed himself in sickbay for a few days, I have still been very lenient to not make him serve a more severe punishment", Dietrich argues with a serious expression. Jack has to admit that the German officer has a point and is actually offering the American Private a fair chance to prove himself. "That is true, Sir. So what can you tell me about these documents we are supposed to assess?"

"Well, let's shake it, Tully!", Troy back at the breakfast table declares with a smile. "Dietrich's pretty paranoid, but that's always made him one of the most competent Jerries to resist our attacks on his camps. He's got a really good instinct for trouble." Tully just nods in agreement, trusting in the American Sergeant's assessment of the situation as much as the German Captain's circumspect caution by now. When Troy strolls off toward the canteen exit to follow Moffit, Silberblatt and Dietrich, Mark Hitchcock stops his friend Tully from leaving by stepping into his way and standing next to him in a conspiratorial manner.

Hitch has observed Troy's and Dietrich's interaction with curiosity. As soon as the German Captain and their Sergeant are out of earshot, he elbows Tully in the ribs. "Cap and Sarge are now friends... how did that happen?" The Kentucky soldier merely shrugs and continues chewing his matchstick. "You can't leave me out of big things like that and not tell me anything afterwards!", Hitch complains in an accusatory tone. "Ask Sarge or Cap himself. I dunno nothing and I don't wanna know either", Tully explains his philosophy regarding the complicated relationship of the two men. "Maybe Moffit knows something", Hitch muses aloud. "But he'll tell me even less than Sarge."

Then, Hitch looks at Tully more intensely. "You like him too. You even saluted. I've never seen you salute to an officer before, unless Sarge pressed you into it." The quiet Kentucky soldier merely shrugs and shifts his matchstick in his mouth. "Why doesn't anyone tell me anything?", Hitch complains with the exasperated tone of a petulant child. "You talk too much, Hitch", Tully lets him know. Hitch looks and sounds incredulous, as Tully continues with his words of wisdom: "You should observe and listen more." "I don't talk too much! Moffit and Sarge and even Dietrich talk much more than I. Really!" Mark shouts the last word in exasperation, when Tully casts him a very doubtful look. "Take care of the kid or Sarge and Cap will have your head", the Kentucky soldier provides as a last warning, before leaving himself to follow Troy. Hitch exchanges a confused look with Ari who smiles at him. "You want to buy donkey or goat, Mark?" "Let's see what you have to offer", Hitch replies with a smile of his own. The boy is nice and playing with Ari should not be too demanding. Maybe he will find a chance to learn something about the answer to his question during lunch.

Captain Dietrich reports to Major Turner along with his two assistants, Lieutenant Silberblatt and Sergeant Moffit. The American senior officer leads them to a large desk in the tent where he usually takes care of the organizational tasks of General Atkins' unit. Dozens of file folders have been ordered into piles to which the older American Major explains which source they belong to, pointing out the small piles with materials confiscated from the infiltrators on the previous day, as well as the large piles with documents Dietrich himself has brought back from his former base's safe. "Masel tov", Jakob whispers to wish them luck. "Luck is really what we need to find a needle in this haystack", his German friend agrees. "I couldn't agree more with you", Jack Moffit tells the two younger officers. "So how do you suggest we start?"

Dietrich raises his eyebrows and counters dryly: "Aren't you the researcher among the three of us, Doctor Moffit? I am sure that you have more experience in systematically checking documents than the two of us put together. So what do you suggest?" Jack Moffit is slightly taken aback to be asked right away about his expertise rather than having to argue about providing it against a headstrong CO, before reminding himself that this is Hans Dietrich he is dealing with and not Sam Troy or any of his previous even more ignorant commanders. Troy at least has listened to his advice when Jack has offered it, mostly. But actively asking for and listening to expert advice, always willing to learn from someone who knows what he is doing including his enemies is one of the young German's true strengths compared to the vast majority of officers Jack has met among the British as well as the American forces. His father has always told him that you can recognize an intelligent man by his eagerness and willingness to learn. In this sense the Captain is one of the most intelligent people he has met, even including his fellow students at Cambridge who have often been too proud and arrogant to ask questions and in this way declare that they do not know something.

"I would recommend that we start with the smaller piles from the most recent events and try to extract names of persons, places or anything else standing out that can tell us something about their mission. You are familiar with the way German documents are encrypted, Captain?" Dietrich nods thoughtfully. "Of course I am familiar with the encryption and decryption of messages, but only with the required cipher available. I am not a code breaker, Doctor." Moffit smiles at him. "Considering that we employ some of our best mathematicians to do just that and they still haven't been successful, that is not something I would expect from you, Captain." Jakob Silberblatt intercedes: "So you say that we should look for names first, Doctor?" "Yes, Lieutenant Silberblatt. As they start with capital letters, they are fast to recognize", Jack Moffit argues. "I have to remark that unlike English or French, Sergeant, German has every noun starting with capital letters. This is still not an easy task", the German officer comments with a stern expression.

Jack Moffit smiles at the smart remark. "That's of course true Captain, but still simpler than reading every single word. Since German utilizes a lot more nouns than other languages, you can even understand the basic content in this way without reading everything." Dietrich nods in confirmation, as Moffit's argument appears plausible to him. Then, he points out several specific structures of German military and official documents that could further help with the quick identification of the relevant contents. Jack Moffit is truly happy about this task, even more so than he would have expected when he has announced to the Captain that he is looking forward to this. Not only is the experienced scholar in his element with document research and finally able to provide a valuable service to the camp and his unit again in this way, but also do the two Germans turn out to be smart partners for this task, both willing to learn from his expertise. The German Captain's calm, controlled and focused manner of working when his temper or his battle mode have not been triggered is a truly enjoyable experience for the British Doctor of Philosophy that is so unlike his experiences with the Americans and fighting in France that it almost feels surreal and like this is not part of military service anymore, if they would not wear their uniforms and the German Captain also the bandage around his head quite prominently.

Dietrich's head injury does affect him after two hours of reading documents and jotting down notes which he does in an almost unreadable scrawl given the injury of the shoulder of his main arm. Jakob Silberblatt is the first to notice something off, when his friend leans back, blinking several times intensely in an attempt to focus his blurred vision again on reading. "Hans, are you alright?" Gritting his teeth in a struggle against his stubborn pride, the German Captain finally admits: "I can't read anymore, because my head is pounding and my eyes can't focus." "Take some time to relax and give your body some rest, Captain", Moffit advises calmly. "You were almost killed yesterday. You can't expect to be all fit and sound right afterwards." Silberblatt puts a hand on his friend's shoulder in a reassuring manner and suggests: "Why don't we all take a break and compare our notes? We'll read them to you, so you can just sit back and listen." This is an excellent suggestion that both Moffit and Dietrich agree with.

Chewing on his matchstick, Tully meanwhile checks on the tenth Jeep in the American motor pool, when three soldiers surround him. "Hey, Tully. Why're you taking all the cars apart? Did one of your bloody brass condemn you to chicken shit, or what?", Kevin O'Donnell asks with a tinge of sympathy in his tone. Tully shakes his head. "Cap wants Sarge and me to check the whole camp for sabotage. Dietrich's paranoid, but really smart and even Sarge thinks he's got a point not trusting these greenhorns from Atkins' unit who know nothin' 'bout our commando business and even didn't notice four SS guys among them." The three Australian soldiers look actually worried now. "Damnit. Four bloody SS fellows, you say? That really sounds bad", Danny O'Donnell mutters with a concerned scowl. "Captain Sherlock's smart and he's a Jerry, so he knows them better than we do. If he thinks something's fishy, we'd better check it out", Michael Lakatos agrees. "You two start doing that with our motor pool. I'll go tell Browny what we're doing and I'll join you afterwards to help you, Pettigrew", Danny, the older O'Donnell brother, announces and his two fellow Aussies agree immediately. "Bring Gotty, Corporal Gottschlich, along with you, Danny! Cap wants us to break him in." "Will do. See ya later, Yankee boy", Danny answers with a grin that Tully returns likewise shifting the matchstick in his mouth.

Sam Troy grumbles in annoyance, as he checks the umpteenth crate of ammunition. This time he has started out with the crates with German words written on them. Even he is able to guess after ten such boxes that the label 'Munitionskisten' means something regarding ammunition in German. For details he will consult Dietrich or Moffit, if he still cares by then. His two hours of diligent search have revealed absolutely nothing and by now frustration is settling in. "Sergeant Troy", he hears a meek voice behind him. Whirling around with his hand on his gun holster, Sam recognizes Corporal Gottschlich who tenses into a defensive posture, readying both arms in the way he has instructed them yesterday and leaning backwards putting more weight on his leg behind his body.

"What're you doing here?", Troy inquires more roughly than intended. "T..Tully s.. sent me h..here t..to h..help you, S..Sergeant T..Troy", the young soldier stammers nervously. "Calm down, kid, I'm not gonna bite off your head", Sam assures him. "Why's he sending you over? He needs your help more with the motor pool." "The Aussies are helping him", Gotty replies more calmly after the reassurance. "Really? You can always rely on good old Browny", Troy comments with a grin. "So what can I do to help, Sergeant?", the young American Corporal inquires. "You know some German, don't you?", Troy asks back. Gottschlich nods with a wary expression. "Don't worry, Corporal. I just wanna know what's written on those crates" He points at the ammunition crates. " 'Munitionskisten' means ammunition boxes or crates, Sergeant", the young man translates. "Well done, Gotty. So I already went through all these crates, now we have to check the ones over here." Looking at the whole pointed out area of the tent which is still unchecked, Gottschlich gulps in painful anticipation of what is awaiting him.

"Damn. You're really Cap's worthy kid, Ari. I'm broke", Hitch declares after two hours of Ari showing off the stables, the animals and haggling with the Private over the clay beasts versus virtual sacks of dates. He really should have heeded Sarge's warning instead of considering it one of Troy's jokes. Now the boy has his stables filled with all the animals and Hitch is left with a single small stone representing his last remaining sack of dates. Dietrich, the damn maths fanatic, has really taught the boy well. Fritz is snoring curled up under the Captain's field bed and no help at all, morally or otherwise for poor Mark. "Have you ever heard of poetry?", Hitch asks the child cautiously, trying to shift his attention away from this haggling game. Ari shakes his head. "What's poetry? Is it sweet like gum?", the boy asks curiously, making Hitch laugh. "No, you can't eat poetry." Both laugh together, Ari mainly because he enjoys laughing along with somebody.

Both have to watch out not to swallow their chewing gums. The Captain has after all only ordered him not to blow bubbles, but never not to chew the bubble gum. Knowing fully well that it will likely annoy Dietrich anyways, Hitch is sure by now that in spite of sarcastic comments, the German officer possesses a far better sense of humor than the rest of their brass in camp put together and would never actually put him through mindless penalties like Winters has. But still he does not want to push the Captain too far, as experience has taught him that he can leash out, if his pride is hurt. "So what's poetry, Mark?", Ari draws him out of his thoughts with his curious and innocent question. "Let me show you", Hitch replies with a smile and starts reciting one of his favourite poems from school times. Ari truly enjoys the rhythm of speech and the sounds of rhymes. In this way they spend the next hour explaining the words and concepts unknown to the curious child.

The moment Moffit has read the name 'Waldheim', Hans Dietrich flinches visibly. While the British Sergeant scowls trying to remember where he has heard the name before, Jakob inquires with actual worry: "Hans, who is that?" The German Captain struggles visibly to keep his emotions from showing on his face, but his friend since childhood knows him well enough to recognize the signs of torment and distress clearly, even before he starts with his explanation. "Obersturmbannführer Waldheim was the SS officer who has taken command of my base, ordered the execution of Ari's family along with my loyal men and sentenced me to be executed, as well as leading the interrogation against me" the German officer explains with a slightly strangled tone. Jakob squeezes his shoulder in a reassuring manner and tells him: "Don't worry, Hans! You're safe now." "Hitch and I killed him, Captain", Moffit adds calmly. "He will not harm anybody ever again." Dietrich nods with clenched jaws and a tormented expression. "I know." After a few more moments of wrestling down the flashbacks with his haunting memories of the SS man's crimes, he breathes more calmly and tells his two companions: "Thank you both!"

Moffit observes the German officer closely, recognizing the symptoms of battle fatigue and traumatisation clearly. Dietrich's much more polite and friendly manner and tone than Jack would have expected are more surprising for him. In spite of all the young Captain has suffered through, including torture and betrayal from his previous side as well as attacks and prejudices from his new allies he has had no other option but defecting to, Hans Dietrich has accumulated an incredible amount of trust and cooperation, treating them indeed with the politeness he would show anyone of his own side which apparently is the Allied side by now, even in his subconscious. Experiencing the German officer in the way of one of his respected men, provides Jack with a better understanding of what Sam Troy has seen in him and why he has tried to avoid killing the Captain outright, even when he would have had the chance. He finds himself at the point of reassessing his previous statement to the young officer that he might have liked the German, if he would have been born in a different country. To a certain degree he actually likes him, although his own harsh spikes of jealousy and animosity, when seeing Dietrich with Ari, are working against Jack's sympathy for the intelligent young man who has done his utmost to treat him with respect in spite of his declarations. It is fairly obvious for him that the German Captain has no intention of gaining personal sympathy, but operates according to his personal standards and code of honor expecting respect for rank and duty out of principle which is the reason why Troy's overbearing expression of sympathy has been so unnerving and hard to come to terms with for Hans Dietrich.

By the time the Brit focuses his attention back on their interaction rather than his musings, the lean German officer speaks with his friend in a calm manner, almost appearing like he is reassuring the Jewish Lieutenant, not the other way around. From what Moffit can hear the Captain is summarizing the deeds of the two SS officers Waldheim and Metzlich for Jakob Silberblatt who looks horrified and disgusted. Then, Dietrich assesses critically what could be possible connections between the infiltrators and the SS men from his base. "I don't think that the men have been sent by Waldheim directly, or at least not from the position of my former base, because the infiltrators would already have been integrated in the General's unit by the time Waldheim has taken over my fort and command over my men. I rather suspect that he has been one of their contacts and that they should have leaked information to the Obersturmbannführer to help him ambush the American unit with the troops rallied at my former fort. Capturing or killing a General and a Major would have been a feat for the SS as a whole and for Waldheim in particular that could not have been ignored by General Feldmarschall Rommel and the Afrikakorps, as well as Berlin", the German officer argues with a serious tone, his brows creased in worry. Moffit nods thoughtfully. "That sounds plausible, Captain. We still need to find some more proof in these documents to back your theory up though." "Let's look for it then!", Jakob Silberblatt declares with grim determination, as the pure deviousness of the described plan incites his motivation.

With this they start into their next hours of research until Hans Dietrich finds himself unable to continue reading around noon time and they decide to make their way to the canteen. "You think the others are already there?", Jakob Silberblatt muses. "Knowing Hitch, he'll be there before us", Moffit replies. "With Hitchcock, Fritz and Ari terrorizing the canteen, what could possibly go wrong?", Dietrich remarks sarcastically. "You know that you're partially to blame for this, Captain, as you have adopted the boy and the mutt", Jack tells him with equal sarcasm. "Ari is well-behaved and harmless, Fritz is a glutton, but Hitchcock is a menace", the German counters with equally dry humor. "Unfortunately, I can't argue with you about that", Moffit concedes, then adds with a smile: "But Troy might end your probation of friendship, if you tell him that." "He's an even greater menace and trying to discourage utterance of the truth does not change simple facts", the Captain holds against him. "You know, Captain. I really can't even consider leaving your unit, as I would truly miss my first smart conversation partner in years, sharing dry humor, too much", Moffit startles Dietrich into silence with his declaration at which Jakob Silberblatt is grinning.

Hitch looks at his young ward and declares very seriously: "Okay, Ari. Look. We spit out our chewing gums and you don't tell the Captain." At the boy's confused look he adds: "Dietrich." As Ari still looks slightly confused, Hitch tries: "Hans." Now Ari smiles in comprehension, then looks confused again. "Why can I not tell him about the gum? It's good." Hitchcock starts sweating slightly at the stress this causes him. "We don't tell him so that he doesn't get angry. He doesn't like the gum", he tries to convince the boy. "I don't want Hans angry", Ari immediately responds with a sad expression. "That's why we don't tell him about the gum. Okay?", Mark inquires. "Okay", Ari agrees. When his brother is angry and shouts, it always scares him and reminds him of the evil men who have hurt him and taken away Ari's family. "You're a good boy", Hitch tells him with clear relief and guides him to a place on the enlisted men's table where there is enough space for the others to sit with them, while inconspicuously getting rid of the chewing gums by sticking them to the bottom of the tray of one of Griffiths' men.

When the German Captain enters the tent along with Moffit and Silberblatt, there is no way of holding the child back though. "Hans!", Ari shouts and jumps to his feet, running to hug his declared brother at waist height. Dietrich smiles at the boy in a friendly manner. "Did you have fun with Hitchcock?", the German officer asks with a tinge of irony that the child does not hear. "I bought all his animals", Ari declares proudly, stretching the word 'all', such that Hitch blushes slightly, as Moffit stares at him incredulously, while Jakob Silberblatt bears a knowing smile. "All of his animals", the British scholar corrects his grammar and Ari repeats the sentence diligently, before he explains proudly: "And we did poetry." Dietrich raises his eyebrows in a questioning manner, while Moffit looks truly surprised. "I like it", Ari continues his tale and immediately starts to recount the first rhymes of the poem Hitch has taught him which he has memorized by heart. "It's like drumming or singing", Ari explains after finishing his recitation. "The kid's got a really good sense of rhythm and rhyme", Hitch provides his explanation, "and he learned a lot of new vocabulary." Dietrich nods in an appreciative way. "Thank you, Hitchcock. You did this better than I would have expected." Hitch grins broadly. "Any time, Cap...tain." The German officer's stern expression suffices to remind him of finishing the rank title which is important to Dietrich.

Before they have time to take their seats however, a whole group of soldiers enters the canteen tent. Under the lead of Sergeant Troy, Corporal Gottschlich and Private Pettigrew follow along with the three Australians who regularly run along with them, Michael Lakatos and the O'Donnell brothers. All six surround the current group around the German Captain. "Hey, Captain. We've recruited some volunteers for our good cause. Browny sends his regards", Troy explains with a grin. "Speaking of the devil", the German officer mutters gloomily, as he sees the short wiry Australian Captain enter the tent and turn directly towards them. "There's my favourite Jerry Captain", Brown remarks with a smile, while Dietrich glares at him, snapping: "Brown, would basic manners truly be too much to ask of you?" "Calm down, dear fellow", the Australian Captain speaks with his younger German colleague in a calm tone, "I didn't intend to annoy you too much. But I heard you're still the smartest fellow in camp or the most paranoid one which is actually smart in our situation. So what did the investigations reveal until now, Sherlock?"

Dietrich scowls, then glares at Troy at the nickname he is responsible for and obviously proud of having introduced, as his manic grin tells the young Captain. But the German officer quickly reins in his flaring temper, as he answers in a more moderate tone focused on their troubles at hand: "That's what I would like to hear about as well, Captain Brown, as soon as my men and yours have been able to provide their reports." "Reports are much better to digest with a full stomach than an empty one", Troy declares with a grin, earning nods and whoops of approval from several soldiers. "Fine", Dietrich agrees. "If you mighty brass would sit with us, we can do this reporting directly over lunch", Troy suggests. "We can do that, can't we, Dietrich?", Brown asks his taller colleague with a friendly tone. With a weary sigh, the German agrees, knowing fully well, when a battle is lost and not wishing to increase his already pounding headache through a needless discussion. "You stay here with the boy, Captain. We take care of all the rest", Troy assures the young officer, squeezing his shoulder lightly.

"You know what's going on between Cap and Sarge, Doc?", Hitch tries to tap his next source of information, Jack Moffit. The Brit pretends innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about, Hitch. They're the same as the whole last year." "Don't you think they're... you know ... too friendly?", Mark inquires with a serious tone. "First Andy Newman and now you're accusing the dear Captain of inappropriate behavior. I'm sure he will be delighted", Jack counters sardonically, enjoying to grill the young American a bit. Hitch pales visibly. "That's surely not what I meant. I ... I mean they're acting like friends, but you know like you and Sarge, not like what Andy the snake was talking about, although Cap's a handsome guy." "Hitch, what's that nonsense again about the Captain being a handsome guy?", Troy, who has only heard the very last part, intervenes. "Have you been hanging out with that snake Andy again? I told you not to listen to him!" Hitch is actually blushing now, but unable to explain to Sarge what he has been talking about, as this would be no less embarrassing. Jack Moffit smiles in quiet enjoyment of the Private's predicament which he has initiated all by himself through his curiosity. Curiosity kills the cats, they say and in this case Mark Hitchcock has fallen for just that.

As they sit down for lunch together, having brought along additional portions for Dietrich and Ari, Hitch finds himself beleaguered by Fritz who sits in front of him with big puppy eyes. Each of them digs into their meals with great appetite and the first ten minutes are dominated by quiet eating, only interrupted by Fritz' soft whines. Not yet sated, the little dog then applies his most devious move to regain his favorite target's attention by putting his front paw on Hitch's knee and begging with big suffering eyes and a truly tormented whine, as if starvation would be an actual threat for him that he immediately needs saving from. "I told you that Fritz is the best negotiator in camp", Hans Dietrich whispers to his friend Jakob with a smirk, as he observes Hitchcock's predicament with little compassion, since the Private has truly induced his own doom in this case. "Maybe he should hold your courses", Jakob replies with a grin. "You have no idea what Fritz would be willing to do for a sausage or some fresh meat", his friend replies with irony.

Before they can actually start their report session though, Deirdre O'Donnell enters the tent and sits down next to the German Captain, motioning his friend to the side with a wave of her hand. As Dietrich scowls at her, Deirdre leans close to him to whisper into his ear with clear distress audible in her tone: "I need to tell you something, Captain Dietrich." The German officer looks baffled, but replies in a reassuring tone: "Whatever has happened, Lieutenant, you can trust that I will do what I can to assist." Her cousins have jumped to their feet, but stay where they are, as the young nurse raises her hand to sign them to stay out of this. Then, Deirdre turns back to study the Captain's face and eyes briefly, until she seems to find the reassurance there she has been looking for in addition to his words. "It's about Sara, nurse Westwood", she tells him with a tormented whisper. "What has happened to her?", Dietrich inquires quietly with actual concern written on his face, as seeing the young nurse who has been calm and controlled when faced with the wounded, injured and dead of different units and nations is actually disconcerting.

Deirdre bites her lips and a tear is rolling down her cheek. This is too much for Kevin and Danny to bear any longer and they rush to her side. "What's going on, Deirdre?", Danny inquires with worry. "Let me speak with the Captain, please", the distraught nurse grinds out between clenched teeth. "I don't understand how I can help you more than anybody else in camp", the German officer sounds worried. "Reporting officially what has happened to your colleague would be the best way to help her." "No, it wouldn't", the Irish descended nurse cries now, then lowers her voice again to a whisper and leans closer to the Captain again, gripping his lower arm. "She has done something really stupid and I don't understand why she would do that." Dietrich scowls in confusion, still not seeing what this has to do with him. "Captain, she has taken the Pervitin tablets you left us, stole a gun and wants to free the arrested German infiltrator."

The German Captain jumps to his feet, driven by the sudden rush of adrenaline that lets him ignore the pain in his head and shoulder, as he only inquires harshly: "When?" "Before I came here", Deirdre weeps. "Please. Don't harm her and talk to her to make her see reason!" "She won't see reason after taking that drug. But we'll try to not kill her and I swear to you to I will try to talk to her. That is all I can promise you", Dietrich growls hoarsely, then turns to his men and adopts his practiced command tone: "Sergeants, Private, Corporal. We need to go to the General's interrogation tent immediately, if Sara Westwood really wants to liberate the infiltrators. Get weapons and ready for a fight! Do not kill our nurse, unless there is no other option! She has a gun and taken Pervitin which allows her to ignore pain, fatigue and any moral qualms she would have about killing you. Hitchcock, you protect Ari!" Hitch nods with determination, as Jakob Silberblatt declares: "I'll stay with Ari as well." Dietrich nods and stalks along with his men who have jumped to their feet in a similar manner as their Captain, when receiving their orders. "We're coming with you, Dietrich", Captain Brown declares in a tone that forbids any discussions. "Kevin, Danny, Mickey, get ready, as the Captain's ordered!" The crying Deirdre O'Donnell stays behind with Hitch comforting her which brings the charming young Private back to his favorite element.

"I don't get it why she came to you, Dietrich", Brown speaks out loudly what puzzles several of them. "I suppose to get the promise to not kill her friend unnecessarily", the German Captain mutters with a scowl, as he draws his own service weapon with his left hand. Although not a masterly marksman with his off hand, he still feels safer with a weapon in hand, when marching into a potential fight. "We'd have given her that as well", Brown argues. "But she obviously doesn't trust you to honor such a promise, Brown", the German counters with a scowl. "Everyone in camp knows by now that you care to do so, Captain", Troy comments from the front. "We all should care not to kill one of our nurses. We don't know her reasons for doing what she does now. She might have been lured by the spy through false information and promises", Dietrich argues sternly. "We'll try not to kill her, Captain", Troy confirms loudly, while Danny whispers to Kevin: "Don't forget to write that application!"

As they near the tent, loud shouts can be heard. Sara Westwood shrieks with an unnaturally shrill voice: "Let him go! He's a hero, trying to save us all from the Germans." "Nurse Westwood. Lower your weapon immediately!", Major Turner orders sternly. Immediately afterwards, a series of shots rings out and cries of pain resound. All of them raise their weapons in alarm. Troy and Dietrich exchange glances, as they can hear the shrill voice of the nurse continue to speak, while they non-verbally direct their men to surround the tent through signs. "He told me that the German agents would try to stop me, but I will loyally defend my homeland", Sara declares with clear fanaticism in a high-pitched voice. "She's mad", Troy, who has stayed next to Dietrich, whispers to the Captain. "She has been lied to, manipulated and taken drugs which completely suppress her reasoning", the German officer argues with a whisper. "Don't kill her, unless you must in order to protect somebody!" Troy stares at the young Captain and the notion that the German is too chivalrous for his own good comes unbidden.

Realizing that Dietrich will try to negotiate to buy them time, Troy vows to stay at his side to shoot down anybody trying to fire at the Captain. "Lieutenant Westwood. Throw away your weapon and nobody will come to harm! You have my word on that", the German officer fulfills Troy's expectations and his promise to Deirdre O'Donnell only moments later. "That's Dietrich, the chief German infiltrator. You must kill him, Sara, to save the camp", Troy hears somebody whisper, before shots ring out only seconds later piercing the tent wall. Hans Dietrich's survival instinct is intact enough to drop to the ground at the first sound of gunshots fired. However, he refrains from firing back, as he cannot see any attacker and is a greater risk for his allies, if he would start to fire blindly with his off-hand. Without caring about the consequences, Sam Troy however crouches and fires in the direction of the voice he has heard through the tent wall, while Tully and the O'Donnells adopt a similar strategy. Jack Moffit acts like the German Captain, as he also does not want to risk harming his allies by firing blindly. Cries of pain indicate that the shots have found more than one target, whether it is the right one can only be seen, when entering the tent.

Troy helps the German Captain to his feet and stays at his side, as they approach the tent entrance, both adopting battle-ready stances. At the entrance they find one of the guards lying on the ground with a syringe still sticking out of his neck and a second one beside him with a scalpel in his blood-drenched abdomen with intestines clearly showing. Both avert their eyes from the gruesome scene and focus on the tent instead. With the practiced swiftness reminiscent of stalking predators, Troy and Pettigrew, who has closed in from the other side with the Aussies, enter the tent first with their guns ready. Another guard right inside the entrance has been shot in the head and chest and is obviously dead. Close by, General Atkins cowers on the ground, shielding his head with his arms, but otherwise appearing unharmed, although some splashes of blood can be seen where he has been splattered when Major Turner beside him has been shot. Apparently, he has been lucky to not have been struck by any stray bullet. The American Major who lies right next to him looks less lucky, as a large red stain is spreading over the chest of his uniform where two bullets have struck him.

The sight of the men in the center of the tent is truly gruesome, as more than a dozen bullets have found their targets and torn the bodies apart, while the woman lying next to the one in an American Sergeant's uniform has been struck only by three bullets, one to the right shoulder, another to the abdomen and the last one to the leg which has knocked her to the ground. "Pettigrew, Gottschlich, provide first aid for nurse Westwood! Moffit, you help me with Major Turner! Troy, check that the infiltrator's dead!", Dietrich orders, while Brown similarly commands his men: "Danny, Kevin, get us help here immediately! Lakatos, help with the Major! I'll look after the General." All soldiers follow their respective commands immediately upon hearing them.

Another shot rings out from the center of the tent, making all of the soldiers present tense into battle-ready stances again and look around frantically. "Now he's dead. Would be gruesome to let the poor bastard suffer", Sam Troy declares loudly, as he stands up from where he has shot one of the infiltrators straight through the head. "The other two are as dead as a doornail, Captain", the Sergeant reports grimly. "No, Willy!", Sara Westwood whimpers in true desperation. Then her voice turns hysterical, as she screams at Sam Troy: "You monster. You murdered him and his loyal men. Willy was an agent of MI6, British secret service in case you don't know, you ignorant brute. He tried to save the camp from the German infiltrators and you shot him. You're a vile beast!" Her screams lose coherence, as the two soldiers work on her injuries and her tirade disperses into gibberish.

Moffit and Dietrich meanwhile check Turner's state, as the Major is constantly losing blood and requires pressure bandages immediately to survive the next few minutes. Lakatos helps them turn the man to check that the bullets have passed through the body, before working with Jack Moffit under the German's directions to stop the bleeding. By the time their first aid treatment has quenched most of the bleeding the actual medics appear and take over from them, bringing both the nurse and the Major to the sickbay. Deirdre O'Donnell has come with them and is crying heavily, before screaming at the German Captain: "You promised you would not kill her!" Danny puts his hand on his cousin's shoulder. "The Captain kept his promise the best he could, Deirdre. He negotiated and even almost got himself shot for that. T'was us who shot at her and the kraut spies to save us all." Dietrich's tone sounds apologetic, as he addresses the nurse: "I am sorry, Lieutenant, that I could not do more than that. Your friend still has a chance of surviving this ordeal, although she was shot multiple times." Kevin and Danny lead their distraught cousin outside who only starts crying again after the young officer's declaration. "Don't worry, Cap. She'll come 'round", Kevin tells him with an apologetic smile, before following his brother and cousin with Michael Lakatos close behind them.

"Captain Dietrich", the German hears Atkins address him from behind. Turning around warily, the Captain focuses his gaze on the General. "I want your and Captain's Brown's report on how you have heard about this fast enough to act in time and why you acted the way you have", Atkins declares once he has stood up from his cowering position although he still looks visibly shaken. "But not here. You two accompany me!", the senior officer orders and leads Brown and Dietrich to his own tent. "Your report, Captain", Atkins addresses the lean German sternly once he has taken a seat behind his desk and it is obvious that this is a command. "We have been warned by nurse O'Donnell who you have just seen, General. She came to me, as she was worried about her friend, nurse Westwood who attacked you and shot Major Turner under the influence of the drug Pervitin. I have not been there to observe whether she was the one to attack and kill the guards, but the one with a syringe in his neck has almost surely been attacked by her and likely the one killed with a scalpel as well. Nurse O'Donnell has observed her taking the drug and talking about freeing the prisoners which is why she has turned to me." Atkins looks incredulous. "How did the nurse get this drug? And why would she take it?" The German Captain looks actually pained, as he answers: "We have provided her with the 'Pervitin' ourselves by handing over the drug for further testing to the sickbay. And from what I could discern from her speech, the infiltrator has apparently convinced her that he is a British agent of MI6 and protecting the camp from German spies who he has turned her against, in particular myself and obviously also Major Turner and the guards."

Captain Brown intervenes now. "We should also say that in efficient cooperation between our units Captain Dietrich has provided a distraction through initiating negotiations which he himself has considered impossible with a person under the influence of the drug, but started anyways to give the woman a fair chance of surrendering and honor his promise to her friend. Through these joint efforts, we could efficiently eliminate the threat posed by the infiltrators and the nurse they have manipulated, saving your life, Sir." Atkins looks from Dietrich to Brown and back again at the tall and lean German. After a brief pause of studying the two men the General declares sternly: "You have both done excellent work together with your men, Captains. But you make me wonder at times how much your sense of honor, your morals and your conscience will be a problem in fulfilling your missions, Captain Dietrich."

The young officer has tensed visibly at the words, straightening into a unbent posture with his head proudly held high, as he is observing the American General warily with narrowed eyes and clenched jaws. At that moment it is painfully obvious for Captain Brown that the German Captain is not here because of his sympathies for the American cause and distrusting the Allied HQ as much as he apparently has the German HQ previously, but because he has been cornered and backed against the wall from all sides with no other way out than the least of all evils. Considering that, Dietrich is managing formidably to stand by the side of men who treat him with distrust and little respect for his principles, as the American General does now. Or, Brown reflects, one should better say that he is standing by the enlisted men entrusted to his command with diligence and care, even caring about them as human beings, although he cares little about their superiors which makes him one of the best officers from the perspective of the ordinary soldiers. The only thing making the German Captain fit in well with the American side is his lack of complacency and willingness to follow orders without second guessing the men in higher ranks issuing them and their political agendas.

The silent standoff between the German Captain and the American General finds its end, after Atkins has assessed the younger man critically for a full minute and finally declares: "I am willing to drop the charges of insubordination and acting not strictly according to your orders, Captain Dietrich, in the light of your successes. You may leave to return to your duties." The last words seem to stir his memory, as he adds: "Have you had any success in your research so far?" Hans Dietrich briefly looks as surprised as he feels by the sudden change of attitude of the American General, fully having expected to be dressed down for his behaviour and potentially finding himself under suspicion of being among the infiltrators, as admittedly the German troops in the POW area and the sickbay still turn to him at times and he would be in a perfect position to sabotage the camp, as would be his field medic, Doktor Sommer.

With due diligence, the German Captain provides his precise report of their research results and the hypothesis he is trying to prove, but still lacking the evidence for. "You suspect an attempt to capture or assassinate me and Major Turner, Captain Dietrich?", Atkins inquires with actual worry. "I see little other reason for infiltrating your unit with so many men otherwise, although I am aware that I am not privy to all information in this regard, as it would be absurd for you to entrust a potential German infiltrator with such information. The spy has played his cards well in accusing me. After all, I am in a position to potentially harm this camp and act both as an infiltrator and saboteur", the German officer argues coherently with a harsh tone of bitterness laced into his last words. Atkins observes him with a lurking expression. "Tell me, Captain. How often have you been injured in the line of duty or even out of it, since you have arrived in this camp?" Dietrich is completely taken by surprise by the question and furrows his brows, as he tries to think back of the eventful days. Atkins interrupts his train of thoughts before he has provided an answer, showing that the question has been more of a rhetorical nature for him. "The fact that you have to start thinking about the answer and a single hand would likely not suffice for the count should answer your diligently proposed line of argumentation, Captain. If you were the leading infiltrator of this camp, you would be the worst spy I have ever met, and believe me I have met my fair share of spies. You risk your own life and health over ridiculously irrelevant by-players compared to the greater schemes."

Not only the German Captain, but also his Australian colleague bears an expression of incredulity and fury at the casual dismissal of their men's lives and relevance, while Atkins continues unperturbed: "You draw more attention than honey draws flies and that is an actual feat considering you have a camp full of scouts and commando soldiers to compete against, Captain. And you are openly rebellious and uncooperative which makes you stand out and usually not in a positive way in the eyes of your superiors. You will have to learn to manage all these mistakes which are potentially deadly for a commando trooper, in order to succeed in the kind of missions my colleagues and I have in mind for you and your future unit. But I am absolutely sure that as of now you are not a German spy, Captain Dietrich, as you would be the worst German spy of all time otherwise." Hans Dietrich exchanges a surprised glance with his Australian colleague who looks almost as taken aback as he is. "Continue your research, Captain Dietrich, along with your men who you have apparently chosen well for the task, as my experience with our own division of code breakers is that nothing reasonable is ever forthcoming within half a day. You are dismissed, as are you, Captain Brown." Both Captains salute, the German officer only with his left, before leaving the General's tent.

"I need a drink", Brown declares with an almost fatalistic tone. "Care to join me, Dietrich?" "Are you still trying to poison me, although you just heard that I'm the worst German spy of all times", the younger officer counters with dry sarcasm. "Besides the medics will likely kill me, if I start drinking in my state." "We've just almost killed one of their nurses. How much worse could it possibly get?", Brown asks with a grin. Dietrich sighs and then nods with resignation. "Hey. You're not planning on having a party without us", Sam Troy announces with a grin, as he emerges from the shades of a nearby tent where he has been lurking along with the rest of the Rats with the notable exception of Mark Hitchcock. "Your Aussies went to comfort their cousin, Lakatos' with them and Hitch wanted to comfort his girlfriend, the other nurse of our unit. After all we usually don't shoot at them and it's quite a shock for everyone." Dietrich bears a look that is a mixture of resignation and stubborn resistance, as he remarks sarcastically: "Of course. Why don't you all come along? At least we can spend some quality time together when we're sharing the cell for being drunk on duty." "You know, Captain. You really sound like you need that drink", Sam Troy assesses mirthfully, as he puts his hand on the younger man's shoulder and steers him along. Not only is the German not putting up any resistance against the handling, but also does he look haunted and exhausted which is actually worrying for the American Sergeant who exchanges a long gaze with Jack Moffit who bears a thoughtful expression after observing the German Captain.

Brown leads them to the centre of the Australian camp partition and calls to Sergeant Williamson: "Get us the good stuff, Jimmy! We really need it now." The aboriginal Sergeant jogs off again only to return a little while later with a bottle that actually has a proper label and contains a gold brown liquid. Meanwhile, Hans Dietrich drops into the first field chair available and gloomily stares at the ground in front of him. The events have shaken him for several reasons. On the one hand the fact that the SS has managed to infiltrate the General's unit so effectively placing not just one but four spies is disconcerting and clearly triggering his already existing, Rat Patrol fostered paranoia. On the other hand has he experienced several events on this day that have shown him clearly that independent of Troy's and some others' attitude, he will never be viewed as anything but the distrusted German defector, whether it is the nurse who reports about the Germans first, when he asks about his men, or the spy's devious maneuver to point at him as chief infiltrator which is much easier to sell even to somebody not under the influence of drugs than with anybody else in camp. Although he has constantly refused to be considered a spy and the underhanded backstabbing goes against his whole mindset and violates his principles to the core, the American General's assessment that he is the worst German spy of all times stings and the man's doubt that he will be able to fulfill his duties wounds his pride. Yet he knows that he is not willing to sacrifice his principles and basic humanity for whatever cause. So how can he possibly continue without running into the same problems with yet another army?

Troy observes the young Captain's behaviour with concern and finally turns to his trusted mentor to get some answers. "What did that bastard Atkins do to him?", the American Sergeant growls. Browny knows him well enough to not be offended. "Basically he told him that all he does is not what he's expecting from him as a commander of a commando unit. And he dismissed his argument that he could actually be an infiltrator himself by calling him the worst German spy of all time and failing on every single qualification he'd expect from a spy." Troy looks at the German Captain with clear sympathy. It is one thing to be to honorable for one's own good and another to be assessed as completely failing in his job because of his moral principles. Dietrich's own words that he is an outcast and outlaw for his original side, his homeland and his family come back to Sam's mind, when he looks at the downcast young officer who has looked almost like this on the first days after his rescue.

A hand on his shoulder, squeezing and shaking him rather gently, draws the German Captain out of his reverie. Blue eyes meet with his own brown ones, as he focuses his gaze on Sergeant Troy's face. Blinking he realizes that the American is pressing something into his left hand, a glass with a light brown liquid. Once sure that Dietrich is holding the glass of his own accord, Sam Troy sits down next to him with a grunt. "You know, Captain. You don't just look like you need a drink, but also like you need a friend." "Troy", the German Captain groans with a note of suffering. "Whatever Atkins' telling you, you're one of the best brass we've ever had", Troy brings forth his argument, before he can be interrupted. "If you ask the Germans of my former unit they will almost all tell you the same, Sergeant. That still hasn't saved me from the death sentence for failing my superiors' expectations in every possible way, because the one thing I'm truly unwilling to do no matter the consequences is disregard my principles and morals", Hans Dietrich argues with a gloomy expression, then sniffs the glass with obvious suspicion, before taking a gulp bearing a fatalistic completely humorless smile.

"This is better than expected", the German Captain remarks with an almost surprised tone. "It's actual Scotch Whisky, not the homebrew stuff", Brown comments dryly with a roguish grin. With a more serious tone, he argues with the young German: "I think you're seeing this a little bit too darkly, Dietrich. The qualities that make you a good and honorable officer, make you a terrible spy, but I really don't think that Atkins wants to have you executed for that anytime soon. He won't kick you out for being too chivalrous, honorable and moralistic, as this has been the reason for hiring you in the first place, lad." Dietrich frowns, as he does not meet the gaze of any of the men staring at him now, but stares at the motion of the liquid in his glass instead which has an almost hypnotising relaxing effect.

Finally, he looks up and Troy as well as Brown and Moffit can clearly make out the inner turmoil reflected in his brown eyes. "Maybe you're right. But you haven't had the noose around your neck already", the German speaks thoughtfully. "I know what you're talking about", Sam Troy comments coolly which makes the younger officer turn away with an expression of guilt. "Hey, Captain. I didn't want to accuse you, just say that I know what it's like to deal that closely with the reaper. But none of us' been sold out by their own side like you. So just to let you know, whatever happens you can count on us to bust you out, can't he, boys?", Troy argues with an unusually friendly tone given the reaction to his previous statement. "Sure, Cap", Tully agrees immediately after shifting his matchstick to the corner of his mouth and empties his glass to get a refill from the Australian. Better to enjoy the really good booze while you can.

Moffit studies the German Captain a few moments longer, before voicing his own statement: "Although I highly doubt that Allied high command is quite as stupid and rotten as the German one, leaving a good man to die is against our principles, which is more or less what Troy wants to say, Captain." The usually cool and distant Brit's almost passionate statement makes the German officer meet his gaze with some surprise registering on his face. Moffit grins in an almost roguish way, as he adds with dry British humor: "As we have discussed previously, Captain, none of us are truly immune to Troy's sentimentality." For a few moments, Hans Dietrich is stunned and baffled, before smiling wryly himself: "It's good you introduced the outlaw theme then, Friar Tuck." Troy grins widely from ear to ear, as he raises his glass. "Cheers, Captain Locksley. Good to have you with us." "You know, Little John. If Prince John or the Sheriff of Nottingham actually catch us drunk on duty, our dear Robin's prediction might actually hold true", Jack Moffit comments dryly, sipping at his own whiskey.

Then, with a more sober expression the British Sergeant addresses the German Captain: "So when do we continue with our investigation, Holmes? Unless Moriarty has called you off." Still not used to the British Sergeant participating in the field of humorous inside jokes and nicknames that Troy has dominated until now, Captain Dietrich takes a few moments to adapt, before replying dryly: "As soon as we're out of the Pub, Watson." Troy looks like a dream has come true for him. "Good to see you two finally getting along. It took you long enough." Both glare at him briefly for the uncouth comment, until Jack grins again and assesses dryly: "We should be lenient, Captain. Barbarians just can't help their uncivilized ways." Dietrich raises his eyebrows and comments equally dryly: "Put 'Basic Etiquette' on the list of their lectures to attend, Doctor." Troy rolls his eyes, as along with his dream his nightmares have come true that they join their forces of dry sarcasm and snobbish manners against him. "You're still a bunch of smartasses, both of you, you European snobs!"

"Compliments won't get you anywhere, Sergeant", the German counters dryly at which the Brit adds: "It's a real pleasure to have you around, Captain. In case you are still trying to remember, Troy. 'Weh die Geister, die ich rief' is the German phrase fitting your situation." Although annoyed by some of the comments, Sam Troy feels utterly glad to see his new friend joking again instead of suffering terribly which has had him worried. Similarly, Captain Brown is looking highly bemused and relieved at the same time that they have managed to draw the German Captain out of his misery. Although Dietrich has been a dangerous enemy for his unit, the Australian really likes the honorable and straightforward young officer by now. Once, you have drunk some whiskey together, you are basically brothers in arms anyways.