Chapter 4

BJ Hunnicut and Hawkeye Pierce found Radar in the clerk's office tending to his duties. The pair casually approached the boy.

"Radar," greeted Hawkeye.

Radar assumed the pair was there for another odd and unusual request, he simply retorted, "No."

BJ stated. "We're not for anything, Radar. We just wanted to see how you're doing?"

Radar shrugged, "I'm fine."

Hawkeye crossed his arms, "What's going on between you and Hot Lips?"

Radar stood silently for a moment, "Um…Nothing."

"Why did you call her 'Sam'?" wounded BJ.

Radar shrugged and looked for an excuse, "Just a slip of the tongue."

Hawkeye suggested, "Something weird is going on here. Margret drove Klinger to tears by suggesting he wear a sanitary pad. Is she okay? I mean, is she okay mentally?"

BJ asked, "You do know the signs of mental illness?"

Radar replied, "What are the signs of mental illness?"

"Hallucinations, anxiety, odd behavior," started BJ.

Radar wondered, "Can I be ill?"

Hawkeye asked, "Why would you say that?"

Radar admitted, "I've been seeing things lately…Some strange things."

BJ took a seat on the corner of the desk and asked, "Like what?"

"Well," Radar wondered what he should talk about and now wondered if perhaps he was the one who was mentally ill. Maybe Sam didn't really exist and neither did Al. "I saw this strange dressed man. He claimed he was an Admiral and he was involved in a top secret military project."

BJ laughed, "Sounds like this strange dressed man is delusional."

Radar shook his head, "I don't think so. He disappeared into a flash of bright white light."

Hawkeye felt the corporal's forehead for any signs of a fever, "Temperature feels normal." He looked into Radar's eyes with a light, "Pupils are equal and reactive."

BJ asked, "You saw a strange man who disappeared into a bright flash of light? When was this?"

"Last night in the scrub room," stated Radar. "I wasn't supposed to tell anyone."

"Why?" asked BJ.

"Because Major Houlihan and Sam…" he trailed off.

"Major Houlihan and Sam?" asked BJ concerned. "Who is Sam?"

Radar explained what he thought he could, "Sam Beckett…He's a genius and a doctor. He…" Radar trailed off again.

"He what?" asked BJ trying to gauge Radar's mental health. He was worried to say the least.

Radar decided to lie, "Sam Beckett is a friend of mine from back home. He's been writing to me lately."

"That's all?" asked BJ.

Radar used the cover, "He knows Major Houlihan as well."

"Oh," nodded Hawkeye. "You and Hot Lips have a mutual friend from back home. Is your friend good looking?"

Radar pondered, "Actually, yeah…He is."

BJ smirked, "And Major Houlihan likes him."

Radar shrugged, "I suppose. He's a great guy. He's really smart and has a lot of degrees."

"Ah," smirked Hawkeye. "And Hot Lips wants to you to fix her up with Sam?" He became coy, "Is 'Sam' you little code name for this 'top secret' project that you and Hot Lips are in cahoots on?"

Radar found it was the most logical and best way to help Sam would be to let them think Major Houlihan was trying to use him to get a date with his new friend. He nodded.

"I think they would make nice couple," he assured. "Sam's a heck of a lot better guy than Donald was."

Hawkeye teased, "Better than me?"

Radar pondered, "I think he could rival you the OR, sir."

Hawkeye grinned, "Really?"

"I bet he could," said Radar. He then confessed, "I wish you guys could meet, Sam. You would really like him. He's as smart as Albert Einstein."

BJ assured, "Well, maybe someday we will meet your friend. He sounds like a great guy, Radar." He patted Radar's shoulder now convinced there were no serious issues. "See ya later, Radar. And if you need to talk, me and Hawke are both around for ya."

"Thank you sirs," stated Radar relived.

Meanwhile

Gushy managed to prompt power to the imaging room and allow Major Houlihan access with Al to witness what was happening. Margret found she could not touch anyone or anything and no one could hear her. She stood in the middle of the virtual camp next to Al.

"This is incredible," she stated. "Where is Sam?"

Al played with the hand device, "We are centering on Sam now." The scene changed to her private tent as Sam was busy tending to her things. She found a man going through her dresser.

"Get him out of my things," demanded Margret.

Much to Sam's surprise he found he could hear her and he looked over at a woman standing in a white bodysuit next to Al.

"I can see and hear her, Al." he stated.

Al replied, "Ziggy says it has something to do with Radar. The boy's brainwaves are affecting the program significantly."

"But I didn't leap into Radar," argued Sam.

"Ziggy has established a connection with him, Sam." he replied.

Margret huffed, "Can you get out of my things?"

Sam smiled at her, "I was putting your things away and preparing for tomorrow. I have to live as you."

Margret held up her hands, "Sorry, I'm just not used to seeing a strange man go through my things."

Sam asked, "You mean like, Klinger?"

She huffed, "You didn't lend him anything?"

He shrugged, "Actually, I lent him one of your empty handbags. Don't worry, he give it back to you. You realize what he is doing?"

She huffed, "He's bucking for a section eight and driving me insane in the process."

Sam laughed, "I think the Swamp could drive someone insane much faster."

Margret gulped for it hit too close to home, "That's what you are here to stop."

Sam looked at Al.

"We went through the old military records," stated Al. "Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce will end up homeless within a few years after the war and dies of exposure. I also found reports from the physiatrist, his mental illness started here, in the 4077th and he seemed to be okay but it takes its toll when he gets home."

Sam asked, "How am I supposed to stop that, Al? He's not insane. But can see how someone could go insane here."

Al replied, "They are just blowing off steam. You saw what one of the operating sessions is like. Imagine doing that over and over again."

"I don't think I could," he admitted.

Margret asked, "Can you talk to him?"

Sam shrugged, "Major…You have very few friends here and most everyone avoids me. I leaped into a retarded man and got better treatment than I got as you."

Margret rolled her eyes, "Okay, I can be a little harsh at times." She then wondered, "Who else have leaped into?"

Sam pondered, "I've been a black man in the south, I've been a woman many times, and I've been doctors, truck driver..."

Al suggested, "The time you leaped into a pregnant woman and thought you were pregnant."

Sam countered, "I could feel that baby move."

Margret held up her hands, "Okay…You obviously have experience. How is Radar holding up?"

"He's doing really well," informed Sam. "He's a great kid."

"I know he's a great kid," she replied.

"When you leap back," stated Sam. "Tell him that."

"I will," she assured, "but what about Pierce? I'm not letting him end up like that."

Sam asked, "What do you want me to do?"

She suggested, "I've always had trouble opening up but maybe if you could get some sort of communications started with him…When we switch back I can just keep the ball rolling."

"I suppose we could try that," he agreed. "Do you and Captain Pierce have anything in common?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. You would gain access to the Swamp to really figure him out."

Sam asked, "Why don't you go visit him in that place?"

She huffed, "I'm not even allowed in there."

"Then how am I supposed to get in?" he wondered.

She suggested, "Invite him here for dinner."

Sam asked, "Here for dinner? Pierce's reputation precedes him…Aren't you worried he might try someone thing on you?"

She shook her head, "If he tried it will be on you, Dr. Beckett." She then admitted, "You are very good looking man. Too bad you didn't leap into Pierce."

"Why?" he asked.

She admitted, "I would go for you in heartbeat."

Sam rolled his eyes, "Great."