All eyes locked on the young man standing in the doorway to Klink's office. A silence fell over the room for a brief moment, and then Klink shouted, "Private Schmidt! What are you doing here?"

Across the compound, Kinch, Carter and LeBeau were huddled around the coffee pot in Hogan's quarters, listening in on the conversation taking place in Klink's office, when they heard the Kommandant's shout.

Kinch snapped his head up and looked at the other two men in the room, his eyes widening in surprise. "What's Schmidt doing in there?" he exclaimed incredulously, "Why didn't the Underground pick him up?"

"Carter, are you sure he read the letter?" LeBeau asked, looking suspiciously at him.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Carter replied, "I saw him with my own eyes!"

Kinch suddenly felt a shudder go through him. "What exactly did you write in that letter, Carter?"

"Just what the Colonel said to write…that Schmidt was supposed to meet with an anonymous friend who would give him information on who's doing all the sabotage around here, that he was to meet the 'friend' at 2200 hours, one mile west of the munitions factory, that he was to come alone, and…"

"Hold it," Kinch interrupted him, "Did you say one mile west of the factory?"

"Yeah, Kinch, that's what I wrote. One mile west of the factory."

Kinch sighed in frustration. "That was supposed to be one mile east of the factory!"

Carter looked first at Kinch, and then over at LeBeau, and knew he was in trouble. "Well," he said, the glares from the two men making him wish he could suddenly become invisible, "I guess that's why the Underground didn't find him."

Hogan, Newkirk and Wagner couldn't have been more shocked if they'd seen Hitler himself standing there. Hogan glanced at Newkirk and, without any more than a gleam in his eye, told him there was a change in plans. Newkirk understood immediately, and nodded imperceptibly. Then Hogan looked at Wagner, and tried to communicate the same thing, but the Captain still looked confused. He wasn't as skilled at picking up Hogan's non-verbal communications.

"Well, Private? What are you doing here?" Klink asked again.

As Schmidt's eyes swept the room, he couldn't help feeling more than a little intimidated. "Kommandant, General Burkhalter, Major Hochstetter, I have to report…"

"Well, don't just stand there in the doorway, come on in…there's plenty of room!" Hogan walked over and put his arm around the Private, guiding him further into Klink's office. As he brought him near Newkirk, the corporal unobtrusively stuck his foot out, causing Schmidt to stumble.

Newkirk quickly caught Schmidt, and was rather surprised when Wagner reached out to steady the Private as well. They got Schmidt back on his feet, and Newkirk asked, "You all right, mate? You almost took a nasty fall there, didn't you?"

Hogan once again glanced at Newkirk, and the twinkle in the corporal's eye was all he needed to see.

"That's enough!" General Burkhalter was becoming thoroughly frustrated by now. "Private Schmidt, what is it you wish to report? And it better be important…you've interrupted a very serious investigation that I am conducting here."

Schmidt was obviously rattled, but he cleared his throat, and stated in his bravest voice, "Herr General, I was near the munitions factory outside of Hammelburg earlier this evening. I was there to meet an informant who said he would give me proof of the saboteurs in the area. But then the factory exploded, and the informant never showed up."

"An informant?" Hochstetter yelled, causing the occupants of the room to wince, "You went out to meet an informant? Why was I not notified? Who is this informant? I want his name, Schmidt!"

"I…I don't know his name, Herr Major, he just said he was a friend…"

Hogan, who had been waiting for the right moment to butt in, now interrupted. "Say, aren't you the guard that thought you heard me outside the camp the other night when that train blew up?" he asked.

"Come to think of it," Wagner spoke up, "You're the guard I saw coming out of Major Hochstetter's office, just before I discovered it was on fire."

"And you just happened to be out by the factory this evening when it exploded," Hogan added, "That's quite a coincidence, I'd say."

Hochstetter was now eyeing Schmidt suspiciously. "Ja, that is quite a coincidence. How do you explain all that, Private Schmidt?"

Schmidt's eyes grew wide as saucers. "Herr Major, everything I've told you is true! Here," he reached into his pocket, "I still have the letter that I received from the informant…see for yourself!" He pulled out an envelope, and then just stared at it curiously, like he'd never seen it before.

"Give me that!" Hochstetter grabbed it from him, and tore it open. When he'd unfolded the two papers inside and examined them, he held up the first one and exclaimed, "This is a schedule for that train that blew up," then he raised the other one, "And this is a diagram of a factory…"

"No doubt the one that exploded earlier this evening, Major," Hogan cut in.

Burkhalter leaned forward over the desk, reaching out his hand. "Let me see those papers, Major," he said.

Hochstetter handed the papers over to the General, and then turned his attention back to the private. "What you are doing with those papers, Schmidt?"

"Those aren't mine, Herr Major!" Schmidt replied, visibly shaking by now. "I know I have the letter I mentioned right here," he reached into his other pocket, but it was empty.

Hogan glanced over at Newkirk, who shrugged his shoulders slightly. Then they both looked over at Wagner, who just smiled briefly at them and discreetly patted his pocket. Hogan's expression showed a mixture of surprise and relief, while Newkirk couldn't have looked prouder.

Burkhalter leaned back in Klink's chair. "Major Hochstetter," he replied smugly, "I think you have just found your saboteur."

Schmidt looked like his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. "What?" he squeaked out, "General, no, I could never…"

"I think you're right, General," Hochstetter replied.

"Private Schmidt, how could you?" Klink had been watching the entire scene taking place before him. Now he finally got a chance to add his two cents to the situation.

"But, I didn't…" Schmidt replied, still trying desperately to defend himself.

Hochstetter grabbed Schmidt's arm, and started leading him toward the door. "I think we'll discuss this at Gestapo Headquarters," he told the flabbergasted Private, "And since you burned down my office, I'll be taking you to the Headquarters in Berlin!"

As Schmidt was being led away by Hochstetter, he cried out, "No, there's been a mistake…I'm innocent!"

Hogan looked at Burkhalter. "That's what they all say," he quipped.

Burkhalter scowled. "Colonel Hogan, you and Corporal Newkirk are still in a great deal of trouble. You struck a Gestapo officer and held him hostage."

"With all due respect, General," Wagner stepped forward, "I would prefer to just go back to work, and forget this ever happened. I'm still mourning the death of my father, you see. And the SS is still trying to discover his killer. I'd rather not have to contend with this, also. Besides, Stalag 13 is the toughest POW camp in all of Germany, from what I've been told. I'm sure Colonel Klink can see to a suitable punishment for these men."

Burkhalter appeared to be contemplating Wagner's proposal. "Very well, Captain," he said at last, "I will honor your request, but I think you are letting these men off too easy." He stood up from the chair and headed for the door. When he got there he turned and looked at the Kommandant. "Klink, the prisoners are your responsibility. I'm going back to Berlin, and I consider this matter closed."

Klink couldn't hide the elation emanating from his face. "Yes, Herr General," he responded, "And may I say, sir…"

"No you may not! Good night, Klink." Burkhalter turned and left, not even waiting for a reply.

When the General had left, Klink looked at Hogan, his facial expression now changing to anger. "Hogan! You and Newkirk are going to be severely punished for all the trouble you've caused!"

"Thirty days in the cooler, sir?" Hogan replied.

"Thirty days in the cooler!" Klink shouted, and then walked over to the door and glanced around the outer office. "Now where did Sergeant Schultz get to?"

"Colonel Klink," Wagner said, "I believe he's still outside. Since I'm on my way out, myself, I'd be happy to take these prisoners with me, and deliver them to Sergeant Schultz."

Klink looked at him gratefully. "Why, thank you, Captain Wagner."

Wagner smiled. "Not at all, Colonel." Then he gestured to Hogan and Newkirk menacingly with his gun. "All right, you heard the Kommandant, let's go. And no tricks this time."

Hogan and Newkirk went first, followed by Wagner, who kept his gun trained on the men in front of him. He marched them out of the building, down the stairs, and over by his car, which was still parked nearby. Then he lowered the gun as they turned to face him.

Newkirk couldn't hold back any longer. "Wagner, that was brilliant, mate! You got that letter out of Schmidt's pocket like a professional, you did!" He was smiling from ear to ear.

"It looks like all that practice paid off, Newkirk," Wagner answered, smiling back. Then his smile faded. "I'm sorry you two have to spend thirty days in the cooler."

"Oh, don't worry, mate," Newkirk reassured him, "The Colonel 'ere will 'ave us out in a day or two, won't you, sir?" He glanced over at Hogan.

Hogan smiled. "I'm sure gonna try. Being locked up with you for thirty days, Newkirk, is not my idea of fun."

All three men chuckled. Then Wagner looked at Hogan and said, "It's been quite an adventure working with you, Colonel. And if you need me again, you know where to find me. Only, don't make it too soon, Ja?"

"I'll see what I can do," Hogan answered, his eyes radiating respect and gratitude, and more than a hint of amusement.

Wagner then turned to Newkirk. "It was great seeing you again, Newkirk," he smiled at him.

"You too, mate," Newkirk grinned. "And, thanks."

Wagner just nodded. Then he looked up and saw Schultz heading in their direction, and said, "It looks like your escort's here…that means it's time for me to leave." He turned and started to head for his car, when he heard Newkirk call out to him.

"Wagner, don't wait too long to tell Ingrid 'ow you feel about her!"

"Don't worry, I won't!" Wagner called back, and then he got into his car and left.

Schultz caught up to Hogan and Newkirk, looking thoroughly confused. "Why are you both standing outside here by yourselves, Colonel Hogan?"

"Just waiting for you, Schultz," Hogan told him. "You're supposed to take us to the cooler."

Schultz shook his head. "Nobody tells me anything!" he exclaimed, and then led them away.

It wasn't long after Hogan and Newkirk had been put in the cell, that the large cement block covering the secret entrance to the tunnels was moved, and Kinch, Carter and LeBeau climbed through the opening. Kinch was the first to speak.

"Glad to see you and Newkirk back, Colonel," he said.

"Glad to be back, Kinch," Hogan answered, "Although, I'd sure like to know how Schmidt happened to show up tonight."

Kinch looked over at Carter. "Would you like to tell the Colonel how that happened, Andrew?"

Carter gulped, and then proceeded to tell Hogan and Newkirk the error he'd made, finding no shortage of words to do so. At last he finished his tale, and ended with, "I'm really sorry, Colonel, I promise it will never happen again."

Hogan at first looked angry, but then his expression softened and he replied, "It's all right, Carter. It could have happened to anyone."

"But you didn't get to frame Hochstetter, like you planned."

"It might work out better this way. I have a funny feeling that Hochstetter would have beaten the rap eventually, and then he'd never leave us alone!" Hogan flashed Carter a grin.

Just then they heard the outer door to the cooler open. Hogan looked at his men and said, "That's probably one of the guards coming to check on us. You guys better get going."

Kinch, LeBeau and Carter scrambled out of the cell, LeBeau promising to bring them breakfast in the morning. The guard arrived and, after having a look around, was satisfied. As he left, Newkirk let out a huge sigh.

"Something wrong, Newkirk?" Hogan asked.

"Colonel, why is it, whenever I 'ave contact with Wagner, I always end up in the cooler?"

Hogan walked over to Newkirk and clapped him on the shoulder. "Would you rather still be at Gestapo Headquarters?" he said, and then grinned. "Besides, I ended up in the cooler, too, you know."

"Yes, sir, you did. After having contact with Wagner."

Hogan opened his mouth to reply, when suddenly it hit him; Newkirk was right!

The End