B.J. looked up from the newspaper as Hawkeye came into the kitchen. Then he glanced at the clock, his brow furrowing. "What took you so long, Hawk?" he asked, folding the paper and setting it aside. "I thought you were only going to be gone a short while. Quick visit to the bakery for rolls for supper, you said. Wouldn't take much time at all, you said."
"Got 'em," Hawkeye said, showing B.J. the bag of rolls. "And also got something else." He put the rolls on the counter and took a seat at the table, opposite B.J. He pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket and placed it in front of B.J.
"What do we have here?" B.J. asked, eyeing his lover with suspicion. "What are you up to?"
Hawkeye seemed to be searching for the right words, which was such a rarity that it put B.J. on alert. Whatever was coming, it was likely something weighty. Hawkeye slid the box closer to B.J. "Open it," he said.
"It's not my birthday, Hawk. And besides, you know I don't really wear jewelry—"
"Would you just open it, please?" Hawkeye said, impatient. "There's a method to my madness."
B.J. laughed. "Madness, yes. Method? Well, let's just say I'm skeptical." He opened up the box and discovered a gold band inside… a wedding band. He picked it up and studied it, unsure what it was supposed to mean. He didn't dare speak.
"Would you do something for me?" Hawkeye asked softly.
"Anything," B.J. replied, his voice equally soft.
"Would you wear that in public places?" Hawk started to talk fast now, trying to get his thoughts out all at once. "I don't mean at the hospital—everyone at the hospital knows you're not married. But I mean, when we go out to eat, or to O'Rourke's—"
"Oh my God," B.J. said slowly, catching on. "This is about… This is all because of that young lady at O'Rourke's last night, isn't it? The one I was merely talking to? That's what prompted this crazy purchase, isn't it, Hawk?"
Hawkeye stood and paced, all nervous energy, and clearly defensive. "Crazy? You think it's crazy that I want strangers to know you're already spoken for?"
In spite of it all, B.J. was very moved. He leaned back in his chair and watched Hawkeye circling the kitchen like a caged animal. "Hawkeye," he soothed. "That's sweet. It really is. But honestly, there is no threat to our relationship—none at all. It's all in your mind." As Hawkeye paced near him, B.J. reached up and grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him. "Do you ever see me flirting back? With anyone, ever?"
Hawkeye shook his head.
"No," B.J. agreed. "I never would." He stood up and moved into Hawkeye's arms, smiling. "I'm all yours, Hawk. Always will be." He gave him a soft kiss on the mouth.
Hawkeye nodded, pacified, perhaps convinced. It was hard to tell. He looked down at the wedding band in B.J.'s hand, asking, "So you don't plan to wear that?"
B.J. followed his gaze and thought about it. "Sure, I can wear this. If that's what you want. But remember—I wore one of these before... and it's not like it stopped you from flirting with me. And more."
Hawkeye shrugged, smiling coyly. "Well, I'm incorrigible," he admitted.
B.J. laughed. "You sure are." He slipped the band onto the ring finger of his left hand, then kissed Hawkeye again. "Thank you. For buying this. For the thought behind it."
"Even if you do think it's unnecessary."
"It is unnecessary. But I'm touched anyway. It was a very sweet, if slightly demented, thought process."
Hawkeye seemed to take that as the compliment B.J. intended, and he turned away to start preparing supper. Before dropping the subject entirely, B.J. slipped his arms around Hawkeye from behind, kissing his neck. "I love belonging to you," he whispered. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Hawkeye nodded but didn't speak, and B.J. realized he was too emotional to trust his voice. So he just planted another kiss on Hawkeye's neck and then left the room for a few minutes, to let the whole conversation sink in to Hawk's neurotic brain.
When they went to bed that night, B.J. took the ring off and placed it on the nightstand, which is where it stayed for days.
