disclaimer: Look folks, 1. I'm sixteen; I wasn't even alive when MASH went off the air, 2. If I owned it I'd be rich and it never would have gone off the air.

A/N: For those of you who have not had the privilage of watching the Rainbow Bridge episode or for those who haven't seen it lately, here's a little overview. Henry brings a note into the mess tent that says a Chinese unit wants to turn over nine injured American men. There is a large discussion over whether or not the gesture is a trap. They decide to go anyway. One of the Chinese conditions is that they are to come unarmed, but Margaret convinces Frank to carry a small gun anyway. When he feels threatened, Frank reaches for the gun and therefore reveals its presense to the Chinese. In the show, the Chinese officer has a sense of humor and laughs off the presense of such a puny weapon.

This is an alternate episode for Rainbow Bridge in which the gun incident at the exchange doesn't go so well. It's in Trapper's POV for at least the prologue and the first chapter. For later chapters, the POV may change.

Read. Enjoy. Review. Repeat if desired.


prologue- GAME OF LIFE

Hawk once wrote his dad saying that they type of meetings we hold at the 4077 could prolong the war by at least two years. This was no exception.

"Read this." Henry kicks off and gives the ball to me.

"Read this." I pass to Hawkeye.

"Read this." A handoff to Hot Lips.

The Major continues the play if only so she doesn't have to do what Hawkeye tells her. Frank receives and fumbles, and we're left to decide whether or not to take a shot at the field goal.

I'm in immediate support of the idea, almost as quickly as the Majors reject it. Hawkeye sits the fence awhile and urges the coach to make a decision.

Henry, naturally, gives it over to the team.

Radar brings in the map and the arguments begin. Margaret and I do most of the talking since she is the spokesman for their side and so far I'm the only one on the other. Frank frequently throws in unintelligent support for Margaret, and Henry and Hawkeye stay mostly quiet. Hawk though, occasionally pitches in comments on both sides.

It goes on. We all know, too, that it will continue to go on until Hawkeye picks a side. Henry was right about one thing in his ranting, it was a leadership decision, and since Henry didn't have any leadership to speak of, it was up to the team Captain.

"We're all doctors here, with one notable exception. It's obvious what we've got to do. We have to go."

Sure enough. Hawk said his piece and Henry gave the official orders. About two hours and a couple surprising crew additions later, we were rolling.