Chapter 12 -

"Colonel Hogan, Kommandant Klink wants to see you in his office." Schultz said, as he walked up from behind the group in Barracks 2.

"Is Newkirk back yet, Colonel?" Carter asked hopefully. It had been too long since he'd seen his friend, and was anxious to see him back safe and sound.

"Hopefully that's why I am being summoned." Hogan grabbed his cap from the table and flung it on top of his head.

Then, he and Schultz made their way over to the Kommandant's office.

Hogan grinned when Schultz opened the door to Klink's office, and the pair of them beheld Klink, Newkirk, and Christoph, dressed as a Gestapo officer.

"Major Hochstetter gave us orders to release all of Lindhorst's prisoners. I am releasing this man into your custody, Kommandant." Christoph said.

"Obviously, he is not really a spy. In fact, Major Lindhorst treated him like royalty while he was being held at Gestapo headquarters. Imagine, this lowly English prisoner, eating fine food while we, the German officers, eat nothing but rations!" Christoph sneered.

"True, true!" Klink said, nodding solemnly. He pointed at Hogan and Newkirk. "I've said it before, I'll say it again! Your side is ruthless!"

"Thank you sir." Hogan said.

Newkirk resisted the urge to scoff at Christoph's lie about Lindhorst's, more specifically Jacobson's treatment towards him. They had effectively covered most of Newkirk's scrapes and bruises with make up.

"I must be going now." Christoph said. "Everything is being done to catch that filthy traitor, Lindhorst. Heil Hitler!"

"Oh yes, Heil!" Klink replied zealously, saluting. And with that, Christoph turned on his heels. He winked at the two prisoners and left.

Schultz, who noticed the wink, thought at first he might mention it to the Kommandant. But then he decided to ask Hogan about it after.

"Now." Klink said, pointing at Newkirk. "You've caused quite a bit of trouble around here! I've been wondering. How is it that Lindhorst managed to get you in his custody. He never came to me, and would have been stopped at the gate trying to get in! Which could mean only one thing!"

"What's that sir?" Newkirk asked.

"You were outside the wire! They said that they caught you trying to escape!"

Newkirk looked to Hogan, who winced.

"That part was true, wasn't it? I'm right, aren't I?" Klink asked, smugly.

"Yes sir." Newkirk answered, annoyed.

"Ah-ha! Thirty days in the cooler!" Klink ordered.

"Oh, come on sir. I helped you guys out, giving you that tip about Lindhorst arresting innocents. Show your appreciation. Let him off the hook."

"Nonsense!" Klink said firmly. "He gets thirty days. End of discussion."

"C'mon. Five days would be plenty."

"Five!" Klink exclaimed. "You can't be serious! No less than 25 days."

"10 days." Hogan said.

"23 days."

"12."

"20." The Kommandant offered.

"5."

Klink slapped the desk top, frustrated.

"Five? You went back down!"

"Well, sir, your offers were getting smaller, so I thought mine should too. It's only fair that way." Hogan replied simply.

"Well yes, I suppose that makes sen- HOGAN!" Klink yelled.

"Alright, alright. Let's say a week, and call it even. That's my final offer."

"Fine, a week. Just get out of my office, you're giving me a headache." Klink murmured, rubbing his temples.

"Thank you sir." Hogan said. Then, the two allied prisoners hurried out of the room, followed by Schultz.

Christoph was still outside, standing by the staff car (the same staff car that had previously belonged to Lindhorst, but with different plates).

With Schultz standing some distance away, keeping an eye on them, the three men talked.

"You did great." Hogan praised.

"Yeah, thanks a million, mate. Never would have made it back without you." Newkirk said. "I have to say, you make a very convincing Nazi."

"Newkirk, manners." Hogan reminded, with a playful grin. Christoph and Newkirk laughed. Then, the three men shook hands, as no one was around except Schultz.

"We look forward to working with you again in the future." Hogan said, as Christoph stepped into the car.

"Certainly. I'm sure we'll be in touch. Auf Wiedersehen!" Christoph said, and he drove off.

"It's good to be back, you know." Newkirk said, turning to his CO. "I know I was only gone a couple days, but it felt like a lot more."

"Felt like more to us, too. And I'm sorry your have to spend a week in the cooler. I tried to get you out of it."

"I know, Gov'. A week isn't all that bad."

Schultz came waddling over in a panic.

"I recognise that man! The one who came in! And I saw him wink at you, and a minute ago, you all shook hands! Colonel Hogan, what is going on here?"

"Schultz, this time, even if you wanted to know, I don't think you could grasp the whole thing." Hogan sighed.

"What do you think I am, a dumbkopff or something?" Schultz asked indignantly, as he led Newkirk to the cooler.

" 'course not, Schultzie!" Newkirk said. "Even I don't think I know all the details of what happened. But I can try and explain it to you, if you like…"

"No, no, no! I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know nothing!" Schultz unlocked a cell door. Newkirk ambled inside, and Schultz locked him in.

"And that's why we love you, Schultz." Hogan said. "You never know too much than what's good for you."

The Sergeant rolled his eyes, and walked away, grumbling to himself. Hogan turned to his man.

"I'll have LeBeau bring you some good food later on. And I know Carter and Kinch are anxious to see you, so they'll probably drop in too."

"Okay Colonel." Newkirk replied, rather pleasantly despite the circumstance.

"I'm really sorry about this…And about everything else." Hogan began.

"Don't beat yourself up over it, sir. I've already forgotten the whole thing, myself. I'm just glad to be back here, and to be getting back to work."

Hogan smiled. "Alright. Well, I'll drop by later, too. I'll bring you some blankets, and cigarettes, that sort of thing."

"Okay. Thanks."

When Hogan left, Newkirk lay down on the hard cell cot. He was cold, locked up and hungry. It was just like when he had been locked up a week earlier.

Only this time, he had his friends on his side.

Just knowing that they had his back would help the week go by quickly. He smiled at the thought of seeing his friends, feeling like he hadn't seen them in weeks!

So lying there, in a dark, damp, seemingly depressing cell, he had never felt less alone in his entire life.