Title: 50 Starts -- Numbers 1-20
Author: Lisa M
Fandom: MASH
Pairing: BJ/Hawkeye
Prompt: #96 Writer's Choice -- BJ/Hawkeye pairing
Rating: 17+ (Major)
Word Count: 1769
Disclaimer: Nope … still don't own anything.
Summary: None that would make any sense.
A/N: I found this challenge in The Office fandom. Basically, it's "50 ways to start a story." There are 50 words and you have to write only 1 or 2 paragraphs for each one. It was fun, silly exercise in writing. I'm going to post them in groupings by pairing -- and most will only be 10 prompts … except for BJ/Hawkeye, of course!
1. Dream
It's been years, yet in his dreams he still hears the whispers; smells the sweat and the gin and the undeniable scent that belonged only to him. There were so many nights in Korea that he spent wishing he was home, back with his family. Now that he's here, he wishes he was back there; so he lives for his dreams. The one place where he can be wrapped tightly in Hawkeye's arms, his head nestled comfortably on his friend's chest as the man's heart pulsed warmly against his cheek.
Deep within the dream, Beej presses closer, his skin molding into Hawkeye's. In his Mill Valley bed, the flesh and bone BJ Hunnicutt rolls over in his sleep and slips out from underneath the slight weight of his wife's body.
2. Hour
The minutes tick away, one by one, and are swallowed beneath the endless streams of blood that cover the floor. Hawkeye's back throbs. His legs ache. His heart breaks a little more with each patient that passes before him. Yet, all it takes is a quick glance over his shoulder at BJ or his friend's soft touch at his elbow and Hawkeye feels as if all is right again.
3. Burn
BJ really hates clichés. "The early bird catches the worm?" He wonders what's the point? "What comes around, goes around?" Okay, that's nice, but why can't people just say what needs to be said without using some tired, over-used figure of speech?
But, when Hawkeye's hands trace over the plane of his back and settle in their customary spot at the base of his spine, BJ shivers and thinks "My God. His touch is like fire." -- and even though he hates the phrase, it's the only description that comes to mind.
4. Touch
He puts their disagreement behind him -- it doesn't matter anyway. What does matter is that Hawkeye has been there for him, whenever he needed him; starting on that very first day.
BJ stands and places his hand on Hawkeye's arm. He gives it a reassuring squeeze.
"Let's go, Hawk."
And when Hawkeye's hand snakes its way around BJ's forearm, he knows that he is forgiven too.
5. Dice
Hawkeye has heard the saying "life is nothing but a crap shoot" ever since he was a little boy. His dad used to say it. His professors all said it. He's never been good at craps … it's just not his game, and if there's any truth in that saying, well, then Hawkeye's had the worst luck imaginable.
Until the day he chased Trapper to Kimpo. It was a risk. A toss of the dice. And he'd lost that bet. Trapper was gone. But Hawkeye decided to gamble again. And BJ was the luckiest roll he'd ever made.
6. History
It takes a long time for Hawkeye to get used to him. To see him in Trapper's bed; his clothes hanging on Trapper's hook in pre-OP; his fingers wrapped around Trapper's martini glass.
Then, more quickly than expected, the ghost of Trapper disappears and BJ is truly here. Yet, no matter how close they get, no matter how far he falls in love, Hawkeye never forgets the friend who was here first.
The one who went home.
7. Distance
It's only been a week, but it feels as if it's been a lifetime. The miles that stretch between here and there seem to number in the millions instead of a few thousand. Different oceans, different climates, different families. One love that will forever bind us together.
I miss him.
8. Taste
Rot-gut gin and stale cigars. Powdered eggs and baloney sandwiches. Sweat and blood and fear. These are the flavors he will take home with him. The taste of things that will haunt him; continuously reminding him of where he's been and what he's done. All that has been lost.
There is only one flavor he wants to remember. One that will make him smile when he calls the taste up from his memories.
Hawkeye.
9. Date
"Sweet Preserves" was what he'd signed the note. And he waited patiently until the nurses had had their fun with Hawkeye. They drank all of his wine then left him in the supply room, with egg on his face and his ego in pieces. BJ opened the door and stepped into the room. He had a smile on his face and a full bottle of wine in his hand. As the door slipped shut, coat hanger securely placed over the knob, Hawkeye smiled too.
"You?"
"Me."
10. Rain
The fat droplets soak their skin, yet neither man notices. They roll around in the sweet, wet grass, joining again and again until they are well beyond sated. And when their time together is over, they stand and embrace as the torrent of water falling from the heavens rinses their soiled bodies clean. One final kiss and they go back to their normal, real lives.
11. Silk
There is a box under his cot. It contains a beautiful robe, crimson in color. He bought it for Peg … a gift to make up for their missed anniversaries. His wife doesn't care for red, yet he purchased the robe in this color for a very specific reason. One he will never reveal to Peggy. Red is his color and BJ wants to remember it. Wants to see it every day. Even if it is his wife wearing it -- instead of Hawkeye.
12. Money
"Well, Beej, it's down to just you and me."
"Looks that way."
"Think you can handle the pressure?"
"Just shut up and bet already."
"Fine," Hawkeye glances at his cards. A vague smile curls his lips and he pushes the entire pile of chips sitting in front of him into the center of the table. "I'm all in."
"Yeah? Well, I think you're bluffing."
"Call me on it, big guy."
"Okay," BJ matches Hawkeye's bet and his smile. "All in. Let's see those cards, fella."
"Four aces!" he shouts and slaps his cards down on the table. "Beat that, sucker!"
"Huh. Four aces," BJ strokes his moustache for a moment. "Good hand. Unfortunately, not as good as mine." He lays his cards down with a wide, toothy grin.
"You had a royal flush?"
"Yep," BJ pulls his winnings towards him as Hawkeye watches in despair.
"Lucky stiff."
"We'll see …"
"I'm sorry I took all your money, Hawk."
"Don't worry about it," the older doctor shifts in his friend's arms so they can be face to face. "I feel better already. This," he pauses to press his lips to BJ's, "is worth more than gold."
13. Name
Hawkeye. Such a silly word. Two syllables that basically define a bird's sight, as if that is somehow important. What it is, is utterly ridiculous. Yet, every time I hear BJ whisper it into the night air, I swear to myself that there is no better name in the entire world.
14. Skin
Under the cover of darkness, I blow a quick breath of warm air across Hawkeye's nude shoulder. He shivers and arches against me. I watch as goose bumps rise in waves across the expanse of his back. It's amazing how something so simple could give me this much pleasure.
15. Baby
She is only with us for a short time, but I realize during the drive to the monastery, that I love her. And as BJ and I stand here, holding her between us, I have a vision of the three of us. A family. Together, after the war. Happy. My eyes meet BJ's and I can see an identical portrait reflected in his eyes. Seconds later, the picture is gone and in its place is darkness and stone and a solitary bell that one of us must ring. Then we're leaving her behind.
My heart breaks as we drive away into the night. I turn to see tears running down BJ's face. Our hands weave together in the blackness of the night. We hold tight to each other and hope that the sorrow we're feeling will eventually pass.
16. Lie
"Don't worry about me, Beej. I'll be fine."
I say it every time we're together. He says he's concerned. That he wonders if I'll be okay when the war's over and our relationship has to end. I tell him I'll be fine. And each time I say the words, I feel my heart break a little bit more because I know I won't be fine. But I will never admit it … especially to him.
17. Gossip
Every time his hand brushes mine, I wonder if they notice? Do they know about us … about the things we do to each other under the cover of night? Can they hear me moaning his name into my pillow? Or hear him chanting mine like a soft prayer as he sprays his essence deep inside of me? Are they whispering about us in the dark corners of camp?
If they are, I don't know about it. And when BJ holds me tightly within the circle of his arms, I'm not sure that I even care.
18. Love
I listen to you weave your tale, laughing at yourself as you speak. The sound is musical. A smile crosses my lips as your eyes meet mine across the table and I realize that if laughter were love, I'd be falling in love with you a million times a day.
Beneath the table, I feel your leg brush against mine and I think that maybe falling in love with you over and over again wouldn't be such a bad thing.
19. Whisper
He rolls over in his sleep and presses his cheek against my chest. His breathing is slow and steady -- the sound of peace -- and I've never felt so calm, so comfortable, so cared for.
"I love you, Beej," I say, my voice barely audible, and I pray he doesn't hear me because I'm afraid that if he did, the dream would end.
20. Words
I write to her every day. Tell her how much I miss her. And Erin. How much I want to come home. What I don't say is that I have fallen in love with Hawkeye. I've started to explain, once or twice, but the right words, if there actually are any, won't come, and those letters always end up in the trash.
One day, this war will end. I will go home. Maybe then, I'll be brave enough to actually tell her the truth about me.
