GOING HOME
BY ERIN
RATED: PG
Note to readers and M*A*S*H fans: I would like to state that I know that
Henry, Trapper and Frank had all gone when the series ended but as the
earlier episodes are my favourites, I am calling the end of war at the end
of season three.
Chapter One: News To Write Home About
"Mail call," announced Radar handing a letter to both Trapper and Hawkeye.
"Thanks, Radar," said Trapper quickly opening the contents. "Hey, it's a early birthday message from my two girls."
Hawkeye who was dozing on his cot, casually opened one eye to feign interest. It wasn't that he didn't care what Trapper had to tell him. But sometimes and granted they were rare times, Hawkeye felt a pang of jealousy that Trapper had a family back home to care about him. Hawkeye would often lie awake and think if he didn't make it back home, he had nothing to show for his life - no children, no marriage, not even a family dog.
"Hawk....Are you listening to me?" came a voice bringing Hawkeye back to reality.
"Yeah, go on."
"They say they wish they could give me a big birthday kiss but as they can't they have sent a hundred on the picture enclosed." He held up the paper covered in red hearts up to show his bunkie.
"That's great, Trap. Say you got anything planned for your birthday?"
"Why, Captain Pierce," exclaimed Trapper, faking a southern accent. "Ain't ya gonna take me out?"
"I'll have you know Madam, I'm spoken for."
"In that case, I'll have to find an available nurse for the night."
"Choppers," called Radar, passing by the door.
Hawkeye groaned, when was this war ever gonna let them get any sleep. He scrambled out of bed and followed Trapper over to the O.R.
* * * * * *
"Ok, he's ready. Klinger," called Hawkeye. "Can we have the next contestant please?"
Klinger brought the next patient to where Hawkeye was working. The boy couldn't have been more than seventeen, he was bleeding heavily and time was of the essence.
"Hey, Trap. Can you give me a hand here?"
"Yeah," said Trapper coming over to the table. He guessed that for Hawkeye to ask for help meant this kid was in serious trouble.
"Look at this," said Hawkeye showing the exposed wound.
"This kid got enough metal in his gut to fill a scrap yard."
"Tell me, can you clamp it?"
"Sure, clamp," he called to the nurse. "C'mon honey, he hasn't got all day."
They worked swiftly removing the shards of shrapnel. The boy pressure was dropping fast and Hawkeye knew if they didn't clear him soon he wasn't going to make it.
"Pressure 60/40 and dropping," said Ugly John.
"Give me the x-ray," called Trapper inspecting the picture for the number of fragments.
"There's more still in him, gimme some suction, I can't see a thing." Hawkeye was determined not to lose this patient. Too many times he had seen boys too young to be in war die on the table and he wasn't going to let another one go the same way.
"It's penetrated the wall of the small intestine," said Trapper. "You see the fragment yet?"
"Two seconds.got it." Hawkeye removed the final fragment and stitched up the wound. "How's he doin?"
"Pressure's up to 100/60 and staying strong," smiled Ugly John. "Nice job Hawkeye."
* * * * * *
Hawkeye and Trapper walked out of the O.R and into the bright sunlight. They had been working throughout the day and night and now it was morning again. The sun was shining, which was unusual for this time of year but both doctors were too tired to enjoy the day.
"Hey, it's morning again," yawned Trapper.
"Fourteen hours in O.R. Is this war ever gonna let up on us."
As they staggered back to the Swamp, two new nurses past them giving each Doctor a friendly smile. Hawkeye followed them with his eyes to the Mess tent.
"My brain is telling me to follow but my feet won't respond."
"C'mon Hawk, they'll still be there after we get some shut eye," retorted Trapper guiding his friend to the Swamp.
Hawkeye lay down on his cot and closed his eyes. No sooner had he drifted off than Radar was frantically bursting in through the door.
"Sirs, Colonel Blake has some important news to tell you."
Hawkeye rolled over and shielded his eyes with his hand. Trapper was still comatose, not even Radar's hollering could disturb him.
"Go away Radar."
"Please Hawkeye, he said it was urgent."
"Nothing is urgent, tell him I'll see him when the war ends."
Radar screwed his face up in thought. He didn't want to tell Hawkeye the news, he promised Henry. Radar knew before his commanding officer and despite being as excited as a puppy, he was equally committed to the army regulations and felt it was his duty to keep quiet.
"It's good news Hawk, now please come."
Hawkeye shook his head and climbed grudgingly out of his bed and put on his dressing gown. He woke Trapper who jumped at being disturbed, but followed his pal to the office as instructed.
* * * * * *
Henry couldn't believe it, the war was actually over. He had read and re- read the telegram that Radar had received and he still didn't believe it. He was going home, going back to his family. He couldn't keep from the smile from escaping his mouth, as Hawkeye and Trapper angry faces appeared by his desk.
"Don't look so unhappy fellas, you're ruining the best day I've had here."
"Talk sense Henry, so I can get back to my dream," said Trapper.
"Calm down McIntyre. Ok, now this has come from General Macarthur himself. At 18:00 tonight, there will be an announce to the rest of the camp but for now it is just us that know."
"Know what Henry?"
"That a week from now we will all be back on U.S soil."
Hawkeye looked at Henry in disbelief. Surely this was a wind-up. He hoped not, time after time he had wished for this moment. Lying in his cot after witnessing the carnage in the O.R room, or sitting in the Mess tent trying to eat the indigestible food. Even the company of a good nurse couldn't always lift his spirits from wondering when he could go home.
"Henry, you're kidding," was all he could say.
"You think I would kid about something like this. Straight up guys, we're going home."
Hawkeye grabbed Trapper and hugged him hard, then he leant across the desk and planted a kiss on Henry's cheek.
"Cool it Pierce. The ceasefire will be called at 22:00 tonight and the wounded will keep arriving probably for twenty four hours after."
"Is this really true Henry?" asked Trapper. "I mean they called a ceasefire before and it turned out to be a fake. I'm not getting myself all fired up for going home, if it turns out to be untrue again."
"McIntyre, this has come from the top. There will be no backing out now. One more thing before you go."
"I knew there would be a catch," joked Hawkeye pouring them all a drink.
"A team of doctors and nurses will have to stay behind for three days after the enlisted men are shipped out. Radar will you....."
"Yes sir," said the corporal already at his side.
"Read the list of skeleton staff please."
"The following staff are required to stay behind for the possibility of any casualties needing medical attention. Lt Colonel Henry Blake, Major Frank Burns, Major Margaret Houlihan, Captain John FX McIntyre, Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce."
At the very mention of their names, both Trapper and Hawkeye's faces fell. They knew they would be last to leave. The army was sure to get it's fill of their skills right up to the end.
"Lt Father Francis Mulcahy, Lt Margie Cutler, Lt Ginger Bayliss......"
"Ok Radar we get the picture," said Trapper.
"Sorry, I wasn't reckoning on being in this flea pit a moment longer after the war had ended, but orders are orders."
Henry felt guilty. When asked who were the best surgeons to keep on the base, he had immediately thought of Pierce and McIntyre. Frank had to stay as he was second in command and Margaret was head nurse.
"Don't worry Henry, we suffered it for two years, we can stand another week," smiled Hawkeye. Nothing could dampen his spirits, he was going home and that's all that mattered to him.
* * * * * *
Surprisingly, Trapper and Hawkeye kept the news of the ceasefire to themselves. They weren't quite convinced that the camp wouldn't believe them anyway. After the last ceasefire fiasco, the whole compound was sceptical of any good news. Radar too was unusually secretive. He had taken heed of Henry's warning about what would happen if he told.
As 18:00 hours approached, Hawkeye and Trapper were ready with their usual drinks to celebrate the news.
"Attention all personal," called the tannoy. "Please note that as from 18:00 hours today, the war has been declared over by General Macarthur and a ceasefire will be scheduled for 22:00 tonight."
A loud roar soared round the 4077th. People were embracing and hugging the person closest to them and faces were breaking into grins all around the compound.
Hawkeye clinked glasses with Trapper and sat back on his bed:
Dear Dad
The unthinkable has just happened. The war is over, yes you read me right and no I am not joking. You know me, never one to joke over news as serious as this. I will be returning home Dad, you don't know how wonderful that is too write......I am coming home!
Chapter One: News To Write Home About
"Mail call," announced Radar handing a letter to both Trapper and Hawkeye.
"Thanks, Radar," said Trapper quickly opening the contents. "Hey, it's a early birthday message from my two girls."
Hawkeye who was dozing on his cot, casually opened one eye to feign interest. It wasn't that he didn't care what Trapper had to tell him. But sometimes and granted they were rare times, Hawkeye felt a pang of jealousy that Trapper had a family back home to care about him. Hawkeye would often lie awake and think if he didn't make it back home, he had nothing to show for his life - no children, no marriage, not even a family dog.
"Hawk....Are you listening to me?" came a voice bringing Hawkeye back to reality.
"Yeah, go on."
"They say they wish they could give me a big birthday kiss but as they can't they have sent a hundred on the picture enclosed." He held up the paper covered in red hearts up to show his bunkie.
"That's great, Trap. Say you got anything planned for your birthday?"
"Why, Captain Pierce," exclaimed Trapper, faking a southern accent. "Ain't ya gonna take me out?"
"I'll have you know Madam, I'm spoken for."
"In that case, I'll have to find an available nurse for the night."
"Choppers," called Radar, passing by the door.
Hawkeye groaned, when was this war ever gonna let them get any sleep. He scrambled out of bed and followed Trapper over to the O.R.
* * * * * *
"Ok, he's ready. Klinger," called Hawkeye. "Can we have the next contestant please?"
Klinger brought the next patient to where Hawkeye was working. The boy couldn't have been more than seventeen, he was bleeding heavily and time was of the essence.
"Hey, Trap. Can you give me a hand here?"
"Yeah," said Trapper coming over to the table. He guessed that for Hawkeye to ask for help meant this kid was in serious trouble.
"Look at this," said Hawkeye showing the exposed wound.
"This kid got enough metal in his gut to fill a scrap yard."
"Tell me, can you clamp it?"
"Sure, clamp," he called to the nurse. "C'mon honey, he hasn't got all day."
They worked swiftly removing the shards of shrapnel. The boy pressure was dropping fast and Hawkeye knew if they didn't clear him soon he wasn't going to make it.
"Pressure 60/40 and dropping," said Ugly John.
"Give me the x-ray," called Trapper inspecting the picture for the number of fragments.
"There's more still in him, gimme some suction, I can't see a thing." Hawkeye was determined not to lose this patient. Too many times he had seen boys too young to be in war die on the table and he wasn't going to let another one go the same way.
"It's penetrated the wall of the small intestine," said Trapper. "You see the fragment yet?"
"Two seconds.got it." Hawkeye removed the final fragment and stitched up the wound. "How's he doin?"
"Pressure's up to 100/60 and staying strong," smiled Ugly John. "Nice job Hawkeye."
* * * * * *
Hawkeye and Trapper walked out of the O.R and into the bright sunlight. They had been working throughout the day and night and now it was morning again. The sun was shining, which was unusual for this time of year but both doctors were too tired to enjoy the day.
"Hey, it's morning again," yawned Trapper.
"Fourteen hours in O.R. Is this war ever gonna let up on us."
As they staggered back to the Swamp, two new nurses past them giving each Doctor a friendly smile. Hawkeye followed them with his eyes to the Mess tent.
"My brain is telling me to follow but my feet won't respond."
"C'mon Hawk, they'll still be there after we get some shut eye," retorted Trapper guiding his friend to the Swamp.
Hawkeye lay down on his cot and closed his eyes. No sooner had he drifted off than Radar was frantically bursting in through the door.
"Sirs, Colonel Blake has some important news to tell you."
Hawkeye rolled over and shielded his eyes with his hand. Trapper was still comatose, not even Radar's hollering could disturb him.
"Go away Radar."
"Please Hawkeye, he said it was urgent."
"Nothing is urgent, tell him I'll see him when the war ends."
Radar screwed his face up in thought. He didn't want to tell Hawkeye the news, he promised Henry. Radar knew before his commanding officer and despite being as excited as a puppy, he was equally committed to the army regulations and felt it was his duty to keep quiet.
"It's good news Hawk, now please come."
Hawkeye shook his head and climbed grudgingly out of his bed and put on his dressing gown. He woke Trapper who jumped at being disturbed, but followed his pal to the office as instructed.
* * * * * *
Henry couldn't believe it, the war was actually over. He had read and re- read the telegram that Radar had received and he still didn't believe it. He was going home, going back to his family. He couldn't keep from the smile from escaping his mouth, as Hawkeye and Trapper angry faces appeared by his desk.
"Don't look so unhappy fellas, you're ruining the best day I've had here."
"Talk sense Henry, so I can get back to my dream," said Trapper.
"Calm down McIntyre. Ok, now this has come from General Macarthur himself. At 18:00 tonight, there will be an announce to the rest of the camp but for now it is just us that know."
"Know what Henry?"
"That a week from now we will all be back on U.S soil."
Hawkeye looked at Henry in disbelief. Surely this was a wind-up. He hoped not, time after time he had wished for this moment. Lying in his cot after witnessing the carnage in the O.R room, or sitting in the Mess tent trying to eat the indigestible food. Even the company of a good nurse couldn't always lift his spirits from wondering when he could go home.
"Henry, you're kidding," was all he could say.
"You think I would kid about something like this. Straight up guys, we're going home."
Hawkeye grabbed Trapper and hugged him hard, then he leant across the desk and planted a kiss on Henry's cheek.
"Cool it Pierce. The ceasefire will be called at 22:00 tonight and the wounded will keep arriving probably for twenty four hours after."
"Is this really true Henry?" asked Trapper. "I mean they called a ceasefire before and it turned out to be a fake. I'm not getting myself all fired up for going home, if it turns out to be untrue again."
"McIntyre, this has come from the top. There will be no backing out now. One more thing before you go."
"I knew there would be a catch," joked Hawkeye pouring them all a drink.
"A team of doctors and nurses will have to stay behind for three days after the enlisted men are shipped out. Radar will you....."
"Yes sir," said the corporal already at his side.
"Read the list of skeleton staff please."
"The following staff are required to stay behind for the possibility of any casualties needing medical attention. Lt Colonel Henry Blake, Major Frank Burns, Major Margaret Houlihan, Captain John FX McIntyre, Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce."
At the very mention of their names, both Trapper and Hawkeye's faces fell. They knew they would be last to leave. The army was sure to get it's fill of their skills right up to the end.
"Lt Father Francis Mulcahy, Lt Margie Cutler, Lt Ginger Bayliss......"
"Ok Radar we get the picture," said Trapper.
"Sorry, I wasn't reckoning on being in this flea pit a moment longer after the war had ended, but orders are orders."
Henry felt guilty. When asked who were the best surgeons to keep on the base, he had immediately thought of Pierce and McIntyre. Frank had to stay as he was second in command and Margaret was head nurse.
"Don't worry Henry, we suffered it for two years, we can stand another week," smiled Hawkeye. Nothing could dampen his spirits, he was going home and that's all that mattered to him.
* * * * * *
Surprisingly, Trapper and Hawkeye kept the news of the ceasefire to themselves. They weren't quite convinced that the camp wouldn't believe them anyway. After the last ceasefire fiasco, the whole compound was sceptical of any good news. Radar too was unusually secretive. He had taken heed of Henry's warning about what would happen if he told.
As 18:00 hours approached, Hawkeye and Trapper were ready with their usual drinks to celebrate the news.
"Attention all personal," called the tannoy. "Please note that as from 18:00 hours today, the war has been declared over by General Macarthur and a ceasefire will be scheduled for 22:00 tonight."
A loud roar soared round the 4077th. People were embracing and hugging the person closest to them and faces were breaking into grins all around the compound.
Hawkeye clinked glasses with Trapper and sat back on his bed:
Dear Dad
The unthinkable has just happened. The war is over, yes you read me right and no I am not joking. You know me, never one to joke over news as serious as this. I will be returning home Dad, you don't know how wonderful that is too write......I am coming home!