Unfortunately I don't own M*A*S*H or any of it's characters. I'd really appreciate reviews, I don't mind criticism as long as it's constructive. I hope you enjoy.

"Hawkeye, wake up!" Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce was jolted awake by someone shaking his shoulder roughly.

"What's happening?" He asked sleepily reaching for the red bathrobe that was hanging over his bed.

"Incoming wounded" explained BJ pulling on his shorts. Pierce groaned and reached for his own clothes, pulling them on slowly and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He winced, feeling a slight pull on his stomach.

"You alright?" Asked BJ, noticing his friend's discomfort.

"Fine" answered Hawkeye "think I pulled a muscle last night."

"Well that's what you get for chasing after nurses" Said BJ with a grin.

"They needed the exercise!"

"Sounds like you did too"

Major Frank Burns shot the two Captains a glare as he left the Swamp, muttering under his breath.

"Come on Hawk, time to go save some more teenagers."

"I'll just be a minute Beej." Hawkeye stretched and winced again, his hand darting to his side.

"You sure you're Ok Hawk? You look kinda pale."

"I'm fine, just tired."

"We better get a move on or all the good ones will be taken" said BJ with a grim look on his face. Hawkeye followed him slowly, massaging his side as he went.

The O.R was busy, It was a very hot day and almost everyone was in a bad mood, nurses were dashing around, and there was more noise than usual as Frank barked at the nurses and tried unsuccessfully to suck up to Margaret and BJ teased him mercilessly. One voice however, was much quieter than usual.

"Pierce, are you alright son?" asked Colonel Potter, "You seem awfully quiet today."

"I'm fine colonel, just hot and tired that's all"

"Sorry son, there's no rest for the wicked."

"I noticed"

In truth Pierce was more than just hot and tired, his head was pounding and there was a pain in his stomach that wouldn't go away. To top it off the heat seemed to be affecting him more than he would like, he kept having to ask a nurse to wipe his brow and he was beginning to feel dizzy and slightly nauseous.

"Klinger! How many more have we got waiting?"

"About twelve colonel!" Yelled Klinger.

Hawkeye groaned.

"Pierce! What's the matter?" Potter glanced over to see the head surgeon leaning heavily against the operating table.

"I...I think I need to sit down." answered the doctor shakily.

"Nurse! Help Captain Pierce to that stool over there and get him a glass of water!" Shouted Colonel Potter "Hunicutt, do you think you can cut the yakking for two minutes and go and finish off for him?"

"No problem colonel" replied the other doctor "Hawkeye are you Ok?" His friend was hunched over on a stool in the corner of the room with an arm around his stomach, breathing heavily.

"I'll be alright, I just need a minute."

"Must be the heat, have you had anything to drink or eat this morning?" Asked Potter. When the incapacitated surgeon didn't immediately answer the colonel turned to the other two. Burns just shrugged and went back to stitching his gloves to his patient but BJ shook his head, casting another worried glance at his friend.

Hawkeye sat on the stool taking deep breaths and trying to regain his composure, he felt a hand on his shoulder and a glass of cool water being pressed to his lips he looked up to see major Houlihan kneeling in front of him, what alarmed him the most however was the fact that he was so spaced out that he hadn't even noticed her pulling down his surgical mask.

"M-Margaret?" Blue eyes softened and she took her hand from his shoulder to brush some strands of hair from his face, his body ached and his head spun.

Pressing the glass to his lips again so that he could take another sip she called to Colonel Potter "colonel, what should I do with him?"

"Is he fit to operate?"

"I don't think so, he's very warm."

"Dammit! It must be heat stroke. Get him into post-op and make sure he has a few hours rest and some fluids. Honicutt or I can have a look at him when we're done."

The Major led the dazed captain out of O.R, stripping his surgical gown as she went. She couldn't help but feel worried when there was no comment about her undressing him. As she helped to settle him on an empty cot she couldn't help but notice the way he seemed to be clutching his side, almost as if he was in pain.

Three hot and sticky surgeons walked out of O.R, BJ was worried about his friend and wanted to see him as soon as possible. He found Hawkeye fast asleep in one of the beds with a half empty glass of water by his side. For the second time that day he bent down to try and wake his friend, albeit a little more gently this time.

"How're you feeling?" He asked as his friend sat up.

"Tired, I shouldn't have tried to run for it when Frank came to examine me" answered Hawkeye as he rubbed his eyes, "my stomach hurts."

"Do you feel nauseous?"

"Not exactly... ok, maybe a bit." he replied under BJ's stern scrutiny.

"Margaret said you had stomach cramps."

"BJ relax, it's a symptom of heat exhaustion. I'm fine now."

"Hawk, you nearly passed out in the O.R, I'm sorry but I can't help but feel worried about you."

"I'm feeling much better now."

"Come on Hawk, if you're really feeling better then I'm sure you can stomach a bite to eat. Let's get to the mess tent before the cockroaches and rats eat everything." The ailing doctor struggled to his feet.

Hawkeye reluctantly followed his friend out of post-op and in the direction of the mess tent.

Hawkeye stared down at his food, stomach churning ominously. Lifting his fork cautiously he started his usual routine of sniffing each morsel, but this did nothing but make him feel worse.

"Hello Hawkeye"

"Hello Father" answered Hawkeye without looking up as Father Mulcahy took a seat next to him.

"How are you feeling? You gave us all quite a fright there in O.R, we were really very worried about you. "

"Thanks for the concern father but I'm perfectly alright, l'm fine."

The priest gave him a look but left it at that.

"Hello Father, l'm sure you'll be better company than Hawkeye here. He's hardly said a word since we arrived." BJ turned to his friend "Come on Hawk, you've got to eat something, you haven't had anything all day. You might even feel a bit better if you have a little food inside you."

"It's not my fault, it's this food. It's terrible! These meatballs must have been World War One surplus. We could just as easily win by throwing them at the enemy." Complained Hawkeye, pushing his tray away.

"The food is rather unpleasant," agreed Father Mulchay. "But we must be grateful for what we receive."

As the other surgeon and the priest started to talk to each other, Hawkeye was left to his own thoughts. He shifted slightly on the bench, trying to get more comfortable but the constant change in position only made him feel worse. He knew he should probably ask someone to examine him but he couldn't stand the thought of letting someone like Frank anywhere near him and he felt that BJ was too much of a close friend. The only other option was Colonel Potter. Making up his mind he rose a little unsteadily from his seat.

"Hawk are you okay? You look very pale."

"I'm fine Beej, listen do you mind if I meet you back at the Swamp? I've got to go and talk to Colonel Potter."

"Sure, send him my love" answered BJ with a smile.

"With hugs and kisses" replied Hawkeye.

As Hawkeye exited the tent he felt dazed and distracted, for this reason perhaps he could be excused for walking into someone outside.