TADA! Here it is, the sequel to my last M*A*S*H fic, On the Front Line, continuing a few months after Andi leaves the 4077th (if you're here and you haven't read On the Front Line: it's kinda important, definitely have to read that one first). This one stays a lot closer to specific events that happen in the series (as you'll see starting in this chapter) because the plot is directly connected to one episode in particular... :)

Disclaimer: I do not own M*A*S*H or any of the affiliated characters (but now I own 2 stories :D)


Chapter 1: Out of Sight

"Oh, thank you, Hawkeye! It's freezing!" the nurses cooed.

"What do you expect? Spring time in Korea." He went about his business, joking with the nurses and lighting the stove. He struck the match.

"Be careful, Hawkeye" was the last thing anyone heard before the explosion that shook the entire tent. Chaos ensued. Everywhere in the camp, people heard the yells.

BJ started awake, not even bothering to get properly dressed as he bolted out the door. He ran to the nurses' tent, where he knew his friend was. Hawkeye, hands covering his face, stumbled out of the tent, flocked by the nurses in hysterics. BJ took over as Potter shouted orders to Klinger and Radar.

Hawkeye was led into the OR. He only knew that because of the little step he tripped over. No one remembered to help him over it; very few people remembered it was there at all. Stepping over it was habit, as long as you could see your general surroundings.

Which he couldn't.

After his head was wrapped and he was alone in the post-op ward, there were two things on his mind that came and went, to and fro, in an endless cycle. The first was the incredible feeling of despair he had when he thought about his sight. He started to shake when he thought about never operating again, never seeing again.

But then, he thought of Andi, who was coming in - what was it? Four days? Five days? He couldn't tell anymore. His senses were all jumbled. But she was coming, soon. She would talk to him and tell him that everything would be fine, and he would feel better just because she was there, whether she was right or not.

In the mean time, he needed something to do. He wasn't mortally wounded, so sitting on his butt was not an option. He got up from the cot and clumsily made his way around the ward, stopping to talk with patients that were awake. At one patient, he picked up the chart at the end of the bed and looked down at it.

"What are you doing?" the soldier asked.

"Right. I forgot. I'm new to this blind thing," Hawkeye explained. He was at least still in partially good spirits. Until Frank came in.

"Pierce! What are you doing?"

Hawkeye awkwardly went to the next bed. "I'm running a marathon. It's called Paces for Peace. I would've invited you, but I didn't think you'd be interested."

"Would you just lay down like a good patient?" Frank pleaded. He led Hawkeye back to his cot and gave him a less than gentle shove down on it.

"But it's so much more fun to give you a hard time. Oh! Can I have one of those bells? You know, the ones you ring when you need something? Please?" Hawkeye didn't hear a response. "Frank, your dirty looks are of no use to you right now."

"Right, well, it was a no," Frank said haughtily. With a sigh, Hawkeye flopped onto his cot. He hated to give Frank the satisfaction, but he had nothing else to do.


I know it's short but introductions usually are. Thoughts?