So sorry for the long wait, but here it is- the final chapter.

Enjoy!

A week had passed since Hogan and his men had found Newkirk more dead than alive early Christmas morning. Newkirk had been in and out of consciousness on Christmas day, but ever since then, had remained oblivious to the world, waking for only a few moments at a time which the men took full advantage of, forcing water and broth into the injured corporal.

His injuries were on the mend but Newkirk was currently battling a minor bout of pneumonia, due to the dip in the river. Hogan sat vigilant beside the lower bunk in his office that Newkirk had recently been occupying.

The American Colonel sighed. They still did not know fully what had happened to Newkirk that horrific night or what had became of his contact. Kinch had recently received word over the radio that Mother Nature had never made it back from her meeting with Newkirk and, due to the heavy snow, what little search efforts that could be conducted proved unsuccessful.

Movement on the bed broke Hogan's thoughts as fever-glazed blue eyes fluttered open.

"Hey, Newkirk, it's good to see you awake! How do you feel?"

"Colonel?" Newkirk croaked before diving into a coughing fit—each cough sending jarring pain through the corporal's healing body. Hogan supported him in a semi-seated position and pressed a glass of water to Newkirk's lips as the spasms subsided.

After Newkirk drank his fill Hogan gently laid his injured corporal back on the mattress, resting his head and shoulders on a few folded jackets to keep him elevated and breathing easier.

Hogan kept his hand on Newkirk's arm. "You okay?"

"Blimey." Newkirk gasped, grimacing. He took a few controlled breaths before continuing. "How long have I been out?"

"What's the last thing you remember?"

Newkirk furrowed his brows. "The last thing I remember is Wilson poking at me ribs."

Hogan laughed, encouraged to hear Newkirk's wit once again.

The British corporal closed his eyes and sighed.

"Newkirk?"

"Yes sir?" came the weary reply, blue eyes opening once more to look expectantly at his commanding officer.

"What happened out there?"

A deep sadness filled the normally lively eyes before his head turned away. "Mother Nature was followed by a Gestapo agent and… he killed her after she passed off the information."

Hogan waited patiently for the Englishman to continue.

"I was going to bring her back to the Stalag… so her body could be returned to her family, if she even had any, but that's when the bloody Kraut shot me." Newkirk looked back to Hogan. "I couldn't stand the thought of leaving her out there Colonel, but after me tumble down the hill and the short swim, I couldn't carry her. I just… couldn't." Newkirk's eyes misted and he blinked a few times. "She was so young, Colonel."

"She knew the risks, like we all do, that comes with the job." He paused, then added, "You did all you could."

"But it wasn't enough. I left her out there!" Newkirk coughed weakly, turning away again.

Hogan leaned forward. "Newkirk." No response. "Peter, look at me." Slowly Newkirk looked back, visibly trying to keep his emotions in check. "You completed the mission; her death was not in vain."

"But…"

"No buts. If we hadn't found you when we did, you would have frozen to death. If you had spent the effort to drag Mother Nature along, you would have never made it back and would be dead, buried underneath three feet of snow, with the information still in your pocket. Our operation here and the Underground would have been in jeopardy." Hogan paused, knowing he gotten through to his corporal as a tear ran down the British man's fevered cheek.

Hogan patted Newkirk's arm comfortingly. "The boys will be glad to know you're awake."

"Newkirk swiped the stray tear. "Where are they anyway?"

Hogan smiled mischievously. "Shoveling, and taking their time at that. The snow drifted so high against our fearless Kommandant's quarters he's been stuck in there with General Burkhalter, Frau Linkmeyer, and his hot date for a week now. We're still taking bets on who we'll find alive, if you're interested in entering."

Newkirk could only stare incredulously for a moment before what he had just heard sunk in. Both men broke out laughing, which led to Newkirk having another coughing fit.

"Cor, Colonel, don't make me laugh!"

Yup, Newkirk will be just fine.

Having the team safe and together for Christmas was all Colonel Hogan could ask for. In Hogan's mind Carter was right, that simple request really was the best Christmas present ever.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! :)