This concludes my first MASH fanfic. I'm not sure if I'll be able to write another one so this is special to me. I hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it.
Soon Potter , the Father, and Margaret walked in.
"What's going on? Shouldn't you be in with…" ..slowly but surely reality set in. Father Mucahy placed his hand on Klinger's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry."
"Klinger," Potter started. "You did a commendable job back there. No man or woman could have done a finer job treating that woman. You gave that woman compassion and dignity during her last few hours. I'm sure that has not gone unnoticed by our Dear Lord. She and baby Max are in a better place. You did the best you could for them." Potter knew that there was nothing he could say to make his friend feel better. He'd gone through a tragic ordeal today and only time could heal him.
"But sir, I don't understand! I just saw them. I held the baby! He was doing fine. He was crying..that meant his lungs were okay, didn't it?"
Margaret stepped forward. "He was only five and half months, Klinger. His lungs just were not developed. He shouldn't have been able to cry at all. It was a miracle that he'd been alive for as long as he was. I'd say you'd done something to be extremely proud of. You knew he couldn't have survived." She tried to remind him, even though she knew the heart could speak louder than the head at times.
He nodded. " I know. But you should have seen the way he was kicking. And then once I held him…I guess I thought he had a fighting chance. What about his mom? What about her?" He looked at B.J.
"She bled to death. She'd been malnourished. I'm so sorry, Klinger."
He looked away from them all. "So am I." he whispered. "So am I."
"Can I at least say goodbye?"
The group looked at each other.
Potter spoke, as it was his responsibility to tell the truth. "I'm afraid that you can't."
"What do you mean, I can't? I just want to say goodbye!"
"That's impossible. We've already taken them away. I'm sorry, Klinger. It was the best thing for everyone."
"Who made this crackerjack decicion? Why I ought to…"
Potter stepped forward, while the room grew quiet. "I made this crackerjack decision. Now I suggest you get a good night sleep before you say something you might regret. You made your peace with them, let's leave it at that. I feel for you, I really do. You did right by everyone. You have memories of a beautiful young woman thanking you by naming her child after you. You held a young infant in your arms in the unit where you work. Let's not make things worse by seeing things that will haunt you for the rest of your life We have enough ghosts roaming those halls. Do you really need a couple more?
Klinger paused, knowing full well that Colonel Potter had made the right decision. He looked around at all of his friends, who were waiting for him to speak.
"I don't know what to say. You guys…"
"Don't say anything. You just get yourself some sleep. It's bad enough we have zombie Hawkeye running around. "Margaret tried to sound tough but she gave Klinger a hug instead.
" We don't need you to fall apart either. Everyone get back to sleep. Business as usual."
"Thank you, Margaret but I believe that is my call to make. Business as usual, boys, and girl. That will be all. Klinger, if you need me you know where to find me." He patted him on the arm him on the way out.
"Thank you, sir. "
"You take care of yourself, son."
"And Klinger," Hawkeye put his hand on his buddy's shoulder. "Don't forget what one of your fashion inspiration's famous quotations says: 'Tomorrow is another day'."
Klinger smiled half heartedly, remembering his Scarlett O'Hara dress. "Thanks, you guys. I think I'm going to hit the hay now." He smiled awkwardly, and everyone watched him leave.
And those were the events of Max Klinger's day off.
