3. Gathering

After Klinger & Charles had left with Hawkeye, Potter had gathered everyone in the Mess tent and made an announcement. It was the sort of announcement that left everyone in a stunned silence. Although he gathered most had heard or witnesses Hawkeye's earlier antics, sending someone off to a psychiatric hospital was a big step.

He left them to it and went back to his office. He'd considered going to see BJ in post-op but decided he'd give him a little longer to calm down. He'd said his door was always open if anyone wanted to talk and he felt he needed to hang around the office a little longer should anyone decide to stop by.

He wasn't sure how much time passed before there was a knock at the door. He called for them to enter and Klinger opened the door.

"Job done, Sir."

He nodded his head. "Care for a drink, son?"

"Sure." Klinger came across the room and sat in the seat he'd vacated earlier that evening. Potter poured the clerk a drink and another for himself.

"I'm sorry I was so hard on you earlier, Klinger."

"It's okay, Colonel. I know it wasn't personal."

"I failed him."

"How's that, Sir?"

"I should have seen this coming. Should have done something to stop it."

"No offence Colonel, but I don't think there's anything you could have done to stop it. I don't think anyone could have," Klinger smiled sadly to himself. "I always said he'd get my section 8."

Potter smiled briefly, but the idea of Hawkeye locked up in a psychiatric hospital for the duration of the war quickly wiped the smile from his face. "How was he?"

"Quiet. He didn't cause any trouble. I'm glad you didn't send Captain Hunnicutt though. I don't think he'd have handled it all that well."

"Did you speak to Sidney?"

"Not really, Sir. I think he was surprised to see us making a drop off. He just wanted to get Hawkeye settled in, given the hour."

"I should have warned him."

"He said he'd call."

"Good."

Charles opened the door to the office. "Ah, I came to see if you knew we were back, but I see Klinger beat me to it."

"Major, come in and park it." Potter said as he started to pour another drink out for Winchester.

Charles didn't argue and took a seat besides Klinger. He took a drink before speaking. "I offered to take over in post-op for Hunnicutt but he refused."

"I guess having something to do might help. Damn well wish I had something I could focus on." Potter admitted.

"I must confess, the idea of returning to the Swamp when no one else is there is usually something I relish. Yet tonight, I'd rather go anywhere else."

"Well Sirs, if you'll excuse me, I'm sure there's some sort of report I can be filling in."

"Anything that can't wait until morning?" Potter ventured.

"Probably not, I just feel a little bit like crying into my typewriter, Sir."

"We'll get through this together, Klinger."

"I haven't seen Margaret since I returned. Do you suppose one of us should check in on her?"

"Good idea, Winchester. In fact, maybe the three of us should be keeping tabs on some of the others. I'll go speak to Hunnicutt, Klinger, why don't you see how Father Mulcahy doing. Major, you go and see how Margaret's doing. If anyone needs some support, we'll come back here for belt. We'll be better off talking things through together, not stewing about this all in private."

I agreement, they all left to go and find the others.