He breathed heavily

He breathed heavily. In. Out. In. Out. He was waiting. His wife, Peg, never left his side. She still held his hand, despite falling asleep in the chair. His family had been here, friends had come and gone, but there was one person he was waiting on. His little girl wasn't here yet. She was stuck in snow storm three hours away.

He wheezed, at the remembrance of an ignorant person who thought it didn't snow in California. But it was. BJ knew he was dying. The doctors, he knew, he hadn't much time to live. But BJ was determined to stay here as long as possible. His other children, grandchildren, wife, friends had all spent time with them, but his lone and eldest daughter wasn't here yet. He needed to stay.

But he was so tired. So very tired. He wasn't sure he could keep his eyes open for very long. All of his efforts became futile and he succumbed to his sleepiness.

0o0o0o0o

"Beej" An oddly familiar voice was calling him. "Get up, Sleeping Beauty."

"Hunnicut, arise yourself from your slumber for a moment, if you please." Another voice came, also very familiar.

BJ opened his eyes slowly. Two people were sitting on the edge of his bed. Two people he hadn't seen in a long time. "Hawkeye, Charles?"

"See Charles, he does remember us." Hawkeye informed Charles. "And you said he would've forgotten us with old age."

BJ stammered. "But you guys look-look like-"

"We appear the way you remember us, BJ." Charles said. "Thankfully, you don't remember us as we were years later. I'm glad you still think of us the way we were in Korea."

"What does it matter? You didn't have hair there, either." Hawkeye turned serious and looked at him sadly. "Its time to go home, BJ."

"Home, what do you mean?" BJ dreaded the answer.

"The Great Beyond, the next world, the great waiting place in the sky. We're here to take you."

"But Erin! She's not here yet! I have to say good-bye to my little girl."

"She's been your little girl for the past forty years or so."

"But I have to say-" BJ broke off.

Hawkeye patted his arm. "Beej, she knows. But your going to wake up just as Erin walks through the door. We've been watching you. We know you've been waiting, but now it's time to go."

"Does it hurt?" It was a childish question, but he had to ask it.

"Do you hurt now?" Charles asked quietly.

BJ was quiet for a moment. "No" He felt better than he had in years. But he'd have all the old aches and pain back just to see his daughter.

"Any more questions, BJ?" Hawkeye asked BJ. "The Big Guy doesn't like us slowing down the process. He wants you to come home."

"He does."

"Yeah, now go to sleep."

0o0o0o0o

"Dad?" He opened his eyes groggily. His vision swam and he could barely see. Erin was calling him.

"Erin…" His voice labored. He knew time was running out for him. "When I'm gone…take care of your…mother."

"Yes, Dad. Please don't leave me! Try Dad! Don't give up!"

He smiled faintly. "I've been waiting for you…Erin, I love…you…very much…Tell my grandchildren that…I'll miss them."

Tears were coming fast from Erin. "Dad, I love you."

He raised his hand and put it is in hers. "Don't sad for me…I'm going home."

A few hours later, BJ Hunnicut died in his sleep with one hand in his wife's and the other in his daughter's. When the other family members came in, his daughter told him simply that BJ had gone home.

0o0o0o0o

"Hey, Stranger." A raven haired man called to a lost looking BJ Hunnicut. "Do you want a cup of coffee?"

"Sure. They have coffee here?"

"Yeah and it's not that crap we use to drink. And guess what?"

"What?"

"I found out your real name!"