Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce was as relaxed as he would ever be at 30,000 feet. He and his wife were traveling, by airplane, to DC for a reunion. Ten years had past since the end of the 'police action' known as the Korean War.
He'd nearly lost his sanity, permanently, at the very end of his sojourn there. However, Dr. Sidney Friedman helped him recover, just in time to spend the last few days of with his unit. At the reunion, someone would say that life for Hawkeye had most definitely changed in the intervening decade.
The 4077th had two reunions, but he hadn't been able to attend either one. The first reunion held a year after their return; he had a great excuse as he and his wife were taking their newborn daughter home from the hospital. He'd wired Colonel Potter, the host of the reunion, and said he wished he could come but wasn't able get the time off, after all. This was quite true as his area of Maine was inundated with a higher than normal pregnancy rate. The last time there had been such an influx of babies due around the same time was a few years before, at the end of World War II. Hawk had been responsible for delivering close to half of those born that spring and summer, in Crabapple Cove. There had just been no way for him to get away.
There had been a fifth year reunion, in 1958. He'd missed the reunion for a more serious reason as Hawkeye was a patient at the time. He'd had poliomyelitis in the winter of 1954, coming down with the disease just before the vaccine was discovered, like many survivors of the disease, his life was forever changed.
It meant the end of his surgical career, as he was no longer able to use the fine motor skills needed for performing surgery. He was still a practicing doctor as a general practitioner. To his amazement, he now had another career, one he truly loved and never would have expected while in Korea. His new career wasn't the reason he had been a patient instead of attending the reunion. Truth be told, the excuse was very embarrassing; he'd gone sailing with friends and had simply physically overdone it. He wasn't going anywhere for several weeks or he was at risk of having to stop both of his careers for good.
He didn't want to do that as he felt he was too young to give up on life so he'd stayed home, actually he stayed with his father. His wife traveled to the reunion alone, as she herself had been at the 4077th. Their daughter, Melissa, stayed with her maternal grandmother during the reunion as originally planned.
His wife had told the reunion attendees that she hadn't kept in contact, she was happily married but her husband was unable to come because of a recurrence of a chronic illness. They had agreed she would' tell her them to whom she was married. If asked she admitted that his name was Benny, and that he was a teacher. She would use his mother's maiden name as an alias if pressed to give her last name and the address for any mail was his aunt's address in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His aunt thought they were crazy for hiding the fact they were married, even after five years of matrimony. However, Ben was her only nephew and Muriel Franklin she still spoiled him, even though he was now a grown man.
She showed everyone several pictures of Melissa, making sure to take the ones that did not include her husband. Everyone agreed that Melissa looked like her mother, except for her dark hair. She admitted that said that her husband had dark hair, when he was younger, but he'd gone prematurely gray after their wedding.
She wasn't lying that her husband was a teacher. Hawk had been the chemistry teacher at the high school for several years now. The township of Crabapple Cove was small and so was the school district. When the chemistry teacher was accidentally shot and killed during a hunting trip during Hawk's long recuperation from polio, the school board had asked him to fill in. Teaching it turned out, was to pardon the pun, just what the doctor ordered. Hawk took to it as a duck to water, and he loved molding young minds.
Over the next few years, he taught physics as well, and when the health class covered first aid, he explained everything from a doctor's perspective. Several students had later come up to him and told them that they appreciated learning the why as well as the how.
The amount of hours he spent at the high school had increased each year and now he taught school half time. He was at the clinic in the afternoon, spending eight hours a week at the town hospital/clinic. His father had finally retired, as there was a new doctor in town seeing a many of the patients.
Since the new doctor was a she, most of the male patients wanted Hawk or the other male doctor in town to remain on as their doctor, so he scheduled his appointments for the afternoon. This worked out for all concerned.
The polio had weakened Hawk's legs, and he now used a cane when he became overly tired, so the 'infernal cane' as Hawk called it was now in the overhead compartment.
His wife was currently snuggling next to him; she'd been busy the last few days, for she had been working a full shift and getting everything ready for their vacation/reunion. Just hours before they were to leave there had been an emergency that threatened to cancel his wife's trip. Less than a mile offshore there had been an explosion on a trawler, not too surprisingly, there were serious injuries and she had to operate.
As soon as the patient was stable in recovery, Dr. Graham took over. He knew how important the reunion was. Retired for nearly a year, Daniel Pierce drove her to the airport and she was able to catch the same flight as her family.
They had decided, during their belated honeymoon, that traveling went smoothly if he set out what he needed and she packed. As was her habit, she had everything packed before leaving for her shift at the hospital.
If left up to Hawkeye everything ended up wrinkled and or important items left at home.
Snuggling next her husband, Margaret Houlihan Pierce was looking forward to the reunion, it had been a long five years since she had seen her any of them, and she'd changed. During the previous reunion, she'd been attending medical school; it had meant long separations from her family as she attended medical school in New York City; every month Hawk and Melissa would drive down to her studio apartment. They joined her on long weekends and during most of the school vacation times.
It was one advantage to Hawk being a teacher; it gave them at least a week every four months of seeing each other more than once a month. As soon as she possibly could return to the area of Crabapple Cove, she did. The last two years of her residency, she'd spent at Portland General Hospital. It meant a long commute for nearly two years; but the payoff had been she was able to see her daughter and her husband regularly.
The hospital administration had been nice to her; and it helped to be a Pierce, there had been a Dr. Pierce working at that hospital for over a century. She worked a shift and a half and then had a shift and a half off. With her experience of working the hellish hours during wartime, she was accustomed to it, more so than the others in her residency were.
The house had been quiet the past week because Melissa, who had just turned nine, spent time with Margaret's parents who had reconciled to the younger couples eternal amazement. The years apart had made the couple realize they really couldn't live without each other.
"I'm going to miss the kids tonight." Margaret told her husband as she woke up, enjoying the closeness without interruptions from her beloved offspring.
"Me too, what really surprised me was Al said that they would watch Danny. I think he's finally accepting him as a grandson."
"I think you mean great-grandson" she gave her husband a swat on the shoulder as she said that.
"If we're too young to be grandparents then he's too young to be a great-grandfather."
"True."
The rest of the flight went smoothly and soon they were outside of Washington DC. Family would meet them; not the Houlihan's who were staying at the Virginia shore with their grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The person meeting them at the gate was their son-in-law. Even after four years she felt weird having a son-in-law.
She and Hawk had assumed guardianship of two teen's just months after Hawk's illness. Their parents had been killed in a house fire. If they had been home, and not in Portland for a high school basketball game they too would have perished. As it was, Hawk and Margaret had finished raising them.
Marcus to Margaret's delight and Hawk's dismay, had attended the Air Force Academy, and was currently serving in Germany. Their "eldest" daughter Monica had gone to school in Philadelphia where she met and married someone years older than herself. He was actually closer in age to the Pierce's.
When the engaged couple appeared in Crabapple Cove asking for the traditional parental blessing Margaret and Hawk had nearly passed out. It wasn't the age difference --it was because Monica's fiancé was someone they knew because they'd served with him in Korea. They realized the depth of love the two had for each other and whole-heartedly gave their blessing.
Monica was just beginning the eighth month of her second pregnancy. Their firstborn was with the Houlihan's for a couple of evenings with his niece Melissa.
Her daughter exited the nearby restroom and Margaret walked over and gave her a big hug. "You look radiant."
"Mamma I look like a blimp."
"I know the feeling, but it will pass soon enough."
Margaret's son-in-law asked where Hawk was. "He's waiting for everyone to get off the plane, since his leg was cramping, when that happens he walks slow. Speak of the devil."
Hawk went over to his daughter and son in law and gave them each a hug. "You are looking radiant, Monica."
"I totally concur, but then I'm biased." Monica's husband said as headed towards baggage claim. Within twenty minutes, they were on their way to the parking lot. There was plenty of room for the luggage since they did not have either Melissa or Danny with them.
"The plan is for me to drop you off at the hotel and then go directly to the reunion. This way we can pull off a few surprises." There was major twinkling going on in his eyes. He knew his marriage would be a shock more than a few.
A block before the hotel he pulled over and departed the vehicle. Ben drove the remaining block. The two families entered the hotel. Monica and her husband had already checked in so she told the Pierce's to meet her in ten minutes.
The Pierce family registered and went to their room. They changed into the clothes they were wearing for the reunion.
To confuse not already aware they decided to stagger their arrivals. Margaret would walk in together with her son in law; Ben and Monica would arrive together. This was a surefire way to confuse people and create a bombshell when the truth came out.
As Margaret neared the room where they were meeting she saw Trapper John MacIntyre, she wasn't sure whom the other woman was, it didn't look like the picture of the wife she'd seen in Korea. "Trapper, I'm glad to see you."
"Hot...Major Houlihan" He changed what he was about to say. "I didn't know you were coming, from what I've heard they lost contact with you."
"I heard about the reunion through Father Mulcahy, ran into him about five years ago. We've kept in contact. This is?"
"My wife, Jessica, she went by Louise when we lived back East, when I transferred to San Francisco, she decided to go by her first name."
"It is nice to finally meet you." Jessica MacIntyre said truthfully.
"Major, you seem different, happier than you were back then." Trapper acknowledged and queried simultaneously.
"After you went back to the States, after my divorce I changed; I'm not the person I was in Korea."
They didn't have a chance to talk further as they walked into the room, the Honeycutt's, Potters were there as well as the Winchesters, O'Reilly's and the Klinger's. There were several people that she thought she recognized, many of the nurses and support staff. In fact it look as if the only members of the 4077 that weren't there were Hawk and Frank Burns and Father Mulcahy.
She was bombarded with greetings; it had been five years since she had any contact with most of the people. There was a sudden lull in the conversations.
"Lt. Colonel Burns". Colonel Potter was the first one to comment. Margaret turned around and sure enough, the thin-lipped former major had entered, along with a woman who had to be Louise. It appeared that she still wore the pants in the family. The look she was getting from Louise could have killed her.
"Colonel Potter, it's nice to see you." Burns said with his normal false sincerity.
"I take it this is the Missus." Sherman Potter knew this was going to be one of the powder keg moments of the reunion and was hoping everything would go smoothly.
"Yes it is, Louise I would like for you to meet my Commanding Officer, Colonel Sherman Potter, his wife, Captain Honnicutt and his wife, Corporal O'Reilly, Corporal Klinger, and Major Houlihan." He did not know Winchester so he did not bother to introduce him. He knew who the wives were because of the pictures he'd seen.
"Major Houlihan, I didn't realize you were going to be here. I didn't see your name on the registration list. And I don't see your husband, the Colonel here."
"The reason you didn't see my name on the registration list, is it isn't under Penobscott. Donald and I were divorced six months after we got married. However, my husband will be arriving momentarily."
"Excuse me" a young waiter interrupted. "Ma'am you have a phone call. You can take it out in the hall."
"Excuse me, but I've been expecting this phone call, I'll just be a minute." She left the room, and went to the phone that the clerk showed was for hotel guests. When she exited the room, she saw Hawkeye and Monica coming out of the elevator. "This works out perfectly." She told them "I need to talk to Ron and then I'm free for the weekend from medical duties."
Margaret talked with Dr. Graham, regarding her most recent patient. He'd been unavailable when she called from the room and she was waiting to hear how the patient was fairing
When Hawkeye and Monica entered there was a little bit of a stir in the crowd as they noted the age difference between the two who had just entered. His escort was obviously pregnant.
The look that Burns gave Hawkeye could have frozen fire. His son- in-law wanted to punch Frank for giving him that look, because it was a degrading look to his beloved wife.
"Pierce; nice of you to finally join us, everyone is here." Burns being his normal snotty voiced self.
Potter gave Pierce a look that said play nice. "Between Monica and me we aren't moving too quickly tonight."
"Monica, when are you due?" Muriel Potter tried to change the subject to everyone's relief."
"According to my doctor I'm due in a month, but Danny was early so my guess is three weeks."
"So you have a little boy, how old is he?" Muriel asked. Knowing what the answer was, but wanting to lessen the tension in the room.
"He's almost two and the apple of his poppa's eye." Hawk said, knowing that most would think he was child's father. Especially since, he had a proprietary hand around her waist.
He saw Margaret enter the room. 'Showtime', he thought.
"Hawk, what's with the cane?" Rizzo, who had just joined the officers, asked, noticing Hawk using the device.
"It's either use the infernal thing or wear a leg brace, and I don't like to use it, especially in the summer time."
"What happened?" Potter asked with fatherly concern. He and BJ were the only ones Hawk had kept in contact with, but he didn't want the others to know that just yet.
"Polio, nearly ten years ago" was the terse reply.
"How are you doing?" This question was from Nurse Able who had lost two family members to the dread disease.
"Pretty good, I have my bad days and my good days. I try to remember to keep myself in shape and didn't wear myself out as I did right before the last reunion. Maggie was not happy with me."
"Maggie?" Burns asked in that supercilious tone of his.
"My wife."
"Did I hear my name being taken in vain?" Margaret said as she rejoined the group.
"We were talking about his wife Maggie, Margaret, she has the same name as you." Burns informed her not catching on.
"Hawk, your husband said to give you a kiss when I saw you." She came closer, and to the surprise of those who hadn't seen the goodbye kiss ten years earlier, she gave him a kiss, and not a quick one.
"Am I missing something here?" Radar said, catching on but not giving away the secret.
"Houlihan Pierce, I missed you." Hawk said as he hugged his wife. The Pierce part he said only into his wife's ear.
"Doctor Pierce, I missed you too."
"Are they always like this?" Potter asked to no one in particular.
"Yes, they are, and I think they set a good example for Monica, Marcus and the kids." Mulcahy stated.
"If Monica isn't Pierce's wife, why did he walk in with her?"
"Because her husband has responsibilities here tonight and she needed to rest." Mulcahy said taking his rightful place at his wife's side. He put his arm around her waist, and gave her a light peck on the lips.
"Husband?" This question was from Louise Burns. Frank had told her the priest at the camp had been Catholic.
"I think you owe me, Dad, we made it here, and didn't get discovered." Mulcahy said smartly.
"Dad?" Nurse Kellye queried.
"Father Mulcahy, why did you just call Hawkeye Dad?" Nurse Kellye asked the question the others were thinking.
The former priest explained, "He was Monica's guardian so now he is my father in law."
"Last time I checked the church doesn't allow priests to marry." This was Louise Burns again.
"They don't, I resigned when I realized I would rather have her in my life. Al was able to get a transfer arranged; I'm still in the Army. I was on staff with the boxing team for a few years, now we're about to move to Fort Lewis, Washington, where I'll be on staff as a counselor."
"Don't you need a degree in that?" Burns asked, knowing the requirements needed for the position.
"I'm not been the only one going to school the past few years in the family. I think the only one who hasn't been in school in the past five years is Danny, Monica and John Francis's son." Margaret commented.
"What classes have you been taking Hawk? The Major said you've all been in school."
"Well, the only classes I've been taking are continuing education ones, but I've been teaching classes for close to eight years. It was suppose to be a temporary situation, but I love teaching. Since I don't operate it keeps my mind sharp."
"What do you mean you don't operate?" Colonel Burns demanded. "Did you get your license suspended?" He could hope against hope.
"A little over nine years ago, shortly before we got custody of Monica and her brother, I came down with polio, it affected my legs, I can't stand for the long periods of time that is required in surgery as well as the small motor function I needed to perform surgery with my hands."
"I'm surprised that they gave you custody." Frank stated. "The fact is you're a divorcee, factor in Pierce's illness, you should have been denied custody."
"That likely would have been a problem except that the people in the county have known my family for generations; the judge has known me and my dad since I was an infant. He had no problems with it, plus it was what their parents wanted, and it was in writing. There were no objections."
"Al? as in Houlihan?" Klinger asked, realizing what the former padre had said.
"Yes, he didn't want me to call him grandpa, and it would confuse the Pierce kids, so I call him either General or Al.
"Pierce kids?" Why would Pierce's kids call General Houlihan grandfather?"
Because, I'm the one married to his daughter Colonel Burns." Pierce stated the obvious to Burns, who was the only one not to figure that out already."
"So you and Margaret are in-laws?"
"No, we're married, as in to each other; we have been since before the end of the war."
"What!!!"
That was news to most of the group.
TBC