A/N: The tango dance I'm talking about can be scene on YouTube, just type in Shall we dance? Movie Clip. But any professional tango will give you an idea, especially professional Argentine. It's very sensual. It wasn't very popular in the fifties, and didn't really become very, very sensual until when it was reenergized during the eighties. The one quote is from season five, Hanky Panky when BJ is speaking to Carrie on how she is a lot like Peg. Also, there are a lot of references to older films and even new ones and maybe a few books. If it passes you or don't understand please leave a reply or a PM and I'll make it more clear. Also, I realize that I focus mainly on focus on one part of the story instead of various scenes. Please forgive me, but this part needs to catch up. Tell me if seems choppy to you, I had to cut a lot out. Oh, and the main army hospital for critically wounded soldiers is in Germany. They fly them once stable.
"Get up."
"No"
"Brianna Jennifer Hunnicut you get your ass out of bed or so help me God you will wish in the hands of the North Koreans."
BJ shifted in her bunk to see her best friend frowning at her. "Joan." She croaked, and then promptly cried again. "Ben is-"
"Get the hell out of bed."
BJ sniffled. "What?"
"You heard me."
"No"
"Yes"
"I won't."
Good, get angry. Joan thought. "You have had a whole entire week to cry. You have ignored your friends here, you have ignored even looking decent, and you have people doing your duty, the only goddamn thing you have done is stitch patients back together, but then you don't visit them afterwards? Where is your sense of duty. This is not my best friend; this is some sort of weak idiot who thinks the whole world evolves around her."
BJ's lips barely moved. "I can't."
"You can't what?" Joan's voice was like ice.
"I can't go out there and face them."
"Face who? The people who want to help you? The people who care about you?" Joan pointed to Colonel's office. "They're all in there right now, wondering if you'll be alright."
She dropped her voice. "Or you know what? You're making yourself a sitting target for Al-Qaeda. All they'll have to do is walk in here and erase your future. Their future. Is that what you want? Are you so selfish that everyone else's future will cease to exist too? For someone who use to be so noble you are a real pathetic right now. You're not BJ Hunnicutt, the army doctor who staid behind to save a patient, kicked some terrorists' asses to the other side of Baghdad; you're some sort of shell that stayed behind the minute she heard her fiancé died. Cry. You know what, its okay to cry. What's not okay is to stay basically inside and mope for over a week."
"Shut up." BJ's voice wavered.
"You're telling me to shut up? Why? Because you can't face the truth? Because you like being fed lies? Being treated like a baby? 'Cause let me tell you somethin' Brianna-"
"Don't call me Brianna." Her voice sounded a bit stronger.
"What would you prefer? Bitch?" Joan fired back. "Because right now that's what you sound like. Bitch Jackass Hunnicutt. You don't deserve the same name as your grandfather. You know what-"
She was on her feet. "Don't say anything about my grandfather."
"Like what? How you should've been home when your grandfather died? How you threw yourself into a relationship so you could try and outrun your own feelings? How you broke Charles's heart? But thankfully he's got me now."
Wham. Smack. That's right. Joan blocked and sent one right back at her. They had taken karate together, and coupled with military training, and a few tricks from the Marines they made a formidable team, or dangerous opponents.
"Charles broke mine! We always argued! Aaah!" She grunted as Joan tried to hook one. She fell into a combat role, and in doing so went outside the tent. "And you listen, I told you- dropping boys and hanging on a string like that made you look like a snob and a slut a one time. I got sick of covering for you-"
It was all coming out. Joan was falling. Quickly she threw her legs out to trip BJ, so they would both fall. Otherwise it was over. "You were always jealous of me admit it! If you hadn't been so caught up in golf, and ballroom dancing you might have had more boyfriends. You just had those geeks that-"
0o0o0o0o
"How are you acquaintance with Sarah?" Charles asked Emerson. He had a thousand questions running through his mind, but he kept calm. He was Winchester. He did not panic.
The officers of 4077th had been doing small talk, and had asked open-ended questions which he answered well, but without giving too many details, but rather deflected most questions. To the last question a wry smile came to his face. Should he tell them the truth? He looked at them searchingly. He shrugged.
"We go way back. I knew slightly as a teenager, but I got to know her more seriously the summer that she graduated from high school."
That got a surprise. "You're older?" Hawkeye wanted to know.
"Yes. I'm thirty-one. She's twenty-eight as is Joan."
Suddenly these guys were all nosy about his personal life. Em felt himself on the defense. "Am I too old for you gentlemen's taste?" He asked acidly.
"Well, you know me, I just like younger men." Quipped Hawkeye.
"Sarah is an old flame of yours, isn't she?" Margaret said. "I can tell. That's why you didn't want to see her." She got angry. "You must think this is your big chance to win her back or-"
"Hold it!" Colonel Potter interrupted. "Margaret, stop jumpin' to conclusions. Let the man talk. I'm sorry, Major –we are a little protective of Sarah, she's part of the family now."
If Emerson found this ironic in anyway he didn't let on. "It's all right, Colonel. And yes, Major, Sarah and I were together for a little while. But that was almost ten years ago. I can definitely say I'm over her and her me. We have found that it easier to be friends. And I'd cut off my right hand than steal his girl." He couldn't remember what they called Ben here.
"You knew Jonathan?" That was his name, but he scrambled up a reply. "Yes, one of the best men I ever knew." He smiled. "He looks a lot like you, Hawkeye."
"So we found out." Hawkeye commented. "I thought I was staring at me in the mirror."
"On a good day." BJ snickered. Hawkeye shot a mock angry look. "Well, you don't look like John Wayne, either."
"Colonel!" Emerson saw a gangly young man who couldn't be a day over twenty run in. "Sarah and this other woman are in a fight. Sarah's yellin' and cryin' and all upset."
"Segearent Rizzo, do not break it up! Tell everyone to not get near them."
"Sir, they're too dangerous to get next to."
"Sir?" Emerson interrupted. "This is the medicine Sarah needed. She bottles to much up. Believe me, if anyone can get Sarah riled, it's Joan."
0o0o0o0o
BJ couldn't believe his eyes. He felt like he was seeing a very angry Peg. He remembered telling Nurse Carrie Carson: "Just like Peg. She bottles up everything too. I get her in the kitchen and I keep bugging her until she gets angry enough to swing. Then it all comes out: the anger, the tears, the problem." It seemed everything she hadn't said was coming out in spews. Yet, he saw they were doing. Joan, was obviously more skilled one, was keeping from hurting Sarah, but provoking her both mentally and physically. She baited her with everything. She was refusing to win, but keeping it going until Sarah let it all out. Actually, he was pretty certain her name was Brianna. After that night when she told him, he would whisper a name or two in the middle of the night to see if she would shift or respond in someway.
In a minute it was over. Everyone was standing there gaping as if they could not possible imagine such a volcano inside of Sarah. Finally, Sarah hit Joan square in the jaw shoving her to the ground. Joan began to laugh uncontrollably. Then, reality seemed to hit Sarah.
"You set me up." There was a flat accusation in the voice.
"Yeah, and I'm glad I've got my best friend back too, instead of that mopey be-yoch. Now, help me up." They stood up. After a moment, Sarah and Joan hugged and then both of them cried. But this time there would be no depression afterwards. BJ sensed that this is what Sarah had needed. And she finally had it.
0o0o0o0o
"Conference in Tokyo? A week?" Colonel Potter was frustrated. "Listen, Corporal, we're a MASH unit. We can't give up two doctors for a when we know we're going to be hit hard by causalities. And besides, the doctors you ask me to send are impossible. One just lost their fiancé! The other is our best surgeon- what? Yes, I understand, and of course I want them to be the best they can be- Corporal, get me your commanding officer on the on line, pronto!... Sam? It's Sherm. Listen, we're expecting wounded, and you're saying that two of my doctors need to go to Tokyo for a medical conference? Yes, I understand you have new procedures, but if I don't have them here, more kids are going to die. And the fact is the ones that are due to come, and that you've mandated to come are the ones that need to stay! You've got my best surgeon coming and you've got one who just lost her fiancé! What's that? Yes, she's a woman. But she a good damn surgeon and I need her. Her best friend left her unit just to help her through and you're pulling her into Tokyo."
"Colonel, Em and I could take their places." A voice came from behind him. "It would be good for Sarah to go to Tokyo."
"Hold on Sam," Colonel Potter turned to Joan. "Are you out of your mind?"
"No sir, but if you excuse my forwardness, I think it best she goes."
0o0o0o0o
"You're going to the officer's club tonight."
"Joooooan" Brianna moaned. "I don't feel like dancing."
"Too bad"
"You would do the same for me. So until you can think and work properly yourself, I'm doing it for you."
"Joan, you haven't worked properly you're whole life."
"Oh, yeah? How'd I get this on my finger then?" Joan waved a sparkling ring underneath her nose.
Brianna smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever. "That's fantastic. I see the two flirts fell for each other, and then finally decided to tie the knot."
"When we get outta here babe, you're going to be my bridesmaid."
"Only if you don't turn into Bridezilla and make me where some heinous dress." It was the first joke too. They both had seen 27 Dresses together in Iraq together. It was funny though. It had been the reverse then. BJ had been telling Joan the hideous dress she would make her wear. Now it seemed it would be the opposite.
"Speaking of dresses, look at what I brought you." Joan pulled out a dress from her suitcase. It was a simple dress, without sparkles or adornments, but BJ wasn't fooled. Some of the most elegant dresses were simple, and this one fit the bill. But it wasn't just elegant, it was…sexy. It was a jet black that went down to her knees and had spaghetti straps. It reminded her of that dress the mom wore from the remake of The Parent Trap. Back when Lindsay Lohan was still a good girl.
"No" BJ said flatly. "Have you forgotten that this is the fifties? I'll look like some sort of loose woman."
"Well, Scarlett O'Hara, you've already been seen brawling, you're unethically a doctor, and your friend says you must. So put it on. And loose all the fifties expressions. They are getting on my nerves."
"Crazily enough, we're in the fifties." She slipped on the dress. Despite not feeling like dancing or dressing up she could not deny she looked good. Really good. She looked at herself critically in the mirror. There were circles underneath her eyes, despite being in bed except for two days in the OR. She, unlike most characters in books did not look ten years older just because she lost someone. She still looked like Brianna Jennifer Hunnicut, just sadder, less defiant than usual. She put on concealer, mascara, and the greatest thing of all, lip gloss. The fifties women wore to much red lipstick for her taste. She put on a shawl, a black one with embroidered flowers on the end and fringes.
She looked around to see Joan using a straightener. "Joan, how exactly are you going to plan on explaining your curly hair is now straight?"
"Magic" BJ rolled her eyes. Just like Joan.
0o0o0o0o
They were in the officers club. Of course, this was hardly a surprise, but Joan had told them they could expect Sarah and her there at eight o'clock. BJ was munching on pretzels. He hadn't had a drink yet, and neither had Hawkeye. BJ was thinking hazily. His thought, as they often were, were on his wife. Usually those thoughts were accompanied by the thought of his little girl, Erin, but not tonight. Tonight he was dreaming up, what he had done a great deal of lately, of how Brianna came to be. He obviously had a son. BJ wondered what kind of son he would have. Would he be a doctor like him? Would he have more than two children? What sort of person was Brianna's mother? Was she a respectable woman? Would she love his son as much as he was sure that his son loved her? Did, in the future, Brianna spend lots of time with him? Would he inspire her to become the doctor that she was now? Would Peg go into grief like Brianna had today when he died, or if the future changed, and he died in the war? Would she have someone like Joan to get her on her feet again? BJ knew these were what-ifs. Things he could not see. He looked sideways at Hawkeye, who too, was in his own little world. "Penny for your thoughts" BJ said with a small smile.
Hawkeye gave him a cynical look. "Oh, I was just thinking how I like, if not more, a dead man's fiancée, who also happens to be my grandson's fiancée. And if that's not enough, I'm going to Tokyo tomorrow with her alone. She's so alone, so strong and yet so-" He trailed off.
"Vulnerable." BJ supplied. Hawkeye looked at him. "Yeah.
"What's yeah?" Emerson sat down. "The girls will be here in a bit. Joan is still trying to convince Sarah to dress up."
Hawkeye leaned over and so BJ did likewise. "All right, Charles let's cut the crap."
Em didn't take the bait. "My name is Em."
"Yeah, and we know who you are."
"As well as Joan." BJ supplied.
"Do you?" Em didn't even blink. "Well, gentlemen, as my grandfather is fond of saying. If you do know who I am and where I'm from, then you'll understand its best to keep mum about this until we're alone."
"Alone with Hawkeye? I wouldn't trust him for a minute." Charles sat down. "Really, Em, if you ever wish to, what do you call it again, ah yes, 'wheel and deal' with these two cretins then I suggest you have a gun in one hand and cash in the other."
"Well, Charles, everything was going swimmingly until you showed up."
Before Charles could retort, a few wolf-whistles brought there attention to the front. Joan and Sarah had arrived. Em sprung up and offered one arm to each of the ladies like a gentleman. "Ladies, you look beautiful tonight."
"Thanks, Em." Brianna smiled. "You can blame your fiancée for that one. But she's the real knockout."
Em didn't need to be told that. Brianna could tell that he was zeroed in on Joan. Not that it mattered. She was sure Ben had done the same thing to Joan at one point or another.
She saw BJ, Hawkeye, Charles all sitting at the table. They were looking stunned. She sat down nervously. "Do I look inappropriate?" She asked anxiously.
"No" Hawkeye answered. All Charles said, "If you were in Boston you would still be the reigning beauty over all of them. As well and Joan here." He added quickly.
She blushed. She knew this was a great honor from Charles to be acceptable in Boston. She had been uncertain over the bare shoulder, but if they thought nothing was wrong. "BJ?"
He seemed surprised that she asked. He looked at her for a moment. "I am glad to see look happy again."
Fair enough. No grandfather wanted his granddaughter to look she was a business woman. But his eyes told her the truth of his words. She smiled for him. "Thank you."
Em led Joan out on the dance floor almost immediately. Joan had no appitude for ballroom dancing, but Em did. Brianna smiled remembering when they use to compete together. Ben could dance, but not like a pro. He and Joan use to stick together as Em and her would sweep the floor. Especially Latin. But when she looked into Em's eyes while dancing, her world didn't turn upside down and inside out. The music would make her heart pound and push her into rhythm, but it wasn't the same.
Emerson came over once the song was done. "Sarah?" She looked up. "They're about to play our song."
Brianna felt aghast. "I don't want to dance." All eyes were on her. She knew what was running through their heads. She has a song with him? They're not involved! "I just…can't. Besides you're an engaged person, now."
"Ben never minded. Joan doesn't." He looked her straight in the eye. "For old times sake."
She looked over at Joan. Joan was nodding furiously. Brianna accepted his hand. Em raised his glass up towards her. "Here's lookin' at you kid."
"Emerson, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
He pulled her to the dance floor. His hand slid around her waist and grasped her hand lightly. The familiar tune slowly played out. As Emerson pulled her closer she was flooded with memories.
You
must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.
"Your grandma seems to be enjoying herself." Em whispered to her.
"Yeah, it was good to bring her to this black and white film festival, here in Boston. Your grandfather is a genius." She laughed. "Don't tell him I said that."
"You better not tell him." Emerson said jokingly. "It will go right to his head. But seriously, I guess he figured that Peg just needed to get away from Cali for awhile."
BJ sobered up immediately. "Yeah, she did. It's been hard on her."
After a few second of silence, Emerson lept up, "Well, let's skip this joint and go see Casablanca. I can only handle so much I Love Lucy."
BJ laughed. "All right"
His arm went around her shoulders at the movie. That night while watching Charles gallantly lead her grandma to a waltz in the parlor, Em did the same on the terrace to the old tune, As Time Goes By. And there was their first kiss.
And
when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On
that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time
goes by.
"I'm happy for you, Em." She looked up Em. "You and Joan" She clarified.
"Yeah, she's amazing, isn't she?"
"Crazy is a better word."
"That too"
"Brianna, there's something you should know."
"Yes?"
"Joan wasn't going to tell you un-"
Just then the music changed. To a very fast mix. Brianna looked up and Emerson was looking very mischievous. "We haven't danced for a long time. I've forgotten what it feels like"
"No" But the music was like a drug. Her heart was already pounding to the music. Trying to refuse she said to Em. "The tango?"
"I thinks its' sexy." Too late. She was already going.
0o0o0o0o
Joan smiled mischievously. She poked Charles next to her. "Watch this. Its going to be good."
It was the song from Shall We Dance? Where J.Lo and the man were alone in the dance room trying to dance. If that scene was tense and frought with restrained passion, then this was beyond. BJ and Em were fantastic dancers and their passion although, not for each other, was for dancing and it was a splendid show. Joan could not believe who BJ turned into on the dance floor. As if a outwardly passionate woman took over BJ's body, and made it her own. Emerson used all his intensity and directed at the music. Joan had once tried connecting with Em that way, but no avail. They just danced modernly together and there, her eyes gleamed with excitement, things really heated up.
Hawkeye wondered if this was the same woman. Passion and intensity radiated off her. He felt like he was seeing Sarah for the first time, or to be more exact the second time. As Emerson's hand slid down her hip and her thigh indignation on Sarah's part, he had seen tango before, but never like this.
BJ could hardly believe this, but in a moment of clarity he saw that although he had tutored Brianna very well in the arts of practical jokes, her true outlet for emotion was dancing. He saw that Peg and Brianna, no matter how similar in other respects were on opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to dancing.
0o0o0o0o
She danced with a few people that night. She had a few drinks. She suspected the reason Emerson and Joan were being light on the alcohol was because they would later dance it the way Joan preferred it. Modern. Break-dance.
"May I have this dance?"
She looked up. It was Hawkeye. He was looking at her most seriously. "Yes"
He placed his hand lightly on her waist and took her hand. Maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was something else, but she took a step closer to him. She laid her head on his shoulder as they gently danced on the floor.
"Thank you." She whispered after a while. Hawkeye stepped back and looked at her quizzically. "What for?"
"Being you, in this crazy time, and I am being a basket case, and-" She felt tears come to her eyes.
"Your welcome."
They were quiet for along time. Then once the dance is over, she was tired and wanted to go to bed. She pulled away from Hawkeye, "Thanks, Hawkeye. It was nice."
She got her glass drained the tankard. She had probably had four or so. She felt slightly tipsy. Picking up shawl she got left the table. "Good night, BJ, Charles" But they weren't listening. They were laughing over something. They just waving while trying not to fall over. They definitely had more than a few drinks.
Joan and Em were somewhere on the floor. She decided to just leave, they would try to detain her. Margaret was somewhere, but hopefully she'd be quiet when she came into their shared tent.
"Leaving? It's not eleven yet." Hawkeye had appeared out of no where. "Oh, what the heck? I'll turn in too. We both leave tomorrow. I'll walk you to your tent." Actually, he had had more to drink than she had so they were both holding on to each other to get to her tent. When they got there she looked at him. "Thanks, Hawkeye. See you in the morning."
Hawkeye looked at her and stepped closer. "Good night."
For a moment their eyes were riveted on each other. Then there was a noise. She stepped back. "Good night"
And she went to bed.
0o0o0o0o0o
"Hey, sexy." Joan got up next to the jeep.
BJ didn't respond. She didn't feel like going along today. Joan sighed. "Well, I've already plotted with Hawkeye. He's going to take you shopping so you can find out how people dress around here, he's going to take you to at least one club, and he's not going to allow you to wallow. And," She pulled out a little slip of paper and put into the BJ's khaki pocket. "Read this when you get to Tokyo. As soon as you get there."
Joan got a determined look on her face. "Look at me, BJ."
BJ looked up surprised, that Joan dared to use her real name. "You need to read that note. It's important, so as soon as you get to T-"
"All right, Sarah time to go." Hawkeye threw his suitcase in the back. He smiled. "Are you ready? Joan, your commands are my wish."
"Yeah, get her out on the dance floor."
BJ's grandfather approached the jeep. He squeezed her hand. "Take care of yourself." He looked up at her and held her gaze riveted. All the things they didn't say were said in a moment. And for a moment, she felt the grandfatherly protectiveness and affection she hadn't felt years.
"I will"
After listening to all of Colonel Potter' s lectures and concern as well as everyone elses' well wished they were on the road to Seoul to catch a plane. They were to meet the cook who went to Seoul to bargain for some edible food to cook, although BJ's opinion he would massacre good food, and he would drive the jeep back.
After a while on the road she decided something. "Hawkeye!" She yelled over the engine. She missed the silence of the her car in the States.
"Yeah?"
"Since we won't be around a lot of other people, call me BJ."
"BJ, then"
"Yep"
0o0o0o0o0o
She stared out the window. From the sky everything looked so peaceful. Despite that she was in a rickety plane in which her claustrophobia came back to haunt her, she could understand why pilots loved flying. To keep her mind off her stupidity- which is how she termed her claustrophobia, because she knew it was all in her mind- she poked Hawkeye.
"Go away, Klinger, it's too early." He mumbled and shifted in his sleep. "I'll hand in my resignation to McArthur later."
"Hawkeye, its Sarah." She poked him again. "Wake up."
He opened his eyes and smiled. "I always knew you'd wake up at my side."
"We're on an airplane, smart one."
"Oh, yeah." She saw that it was all coming back to him where they were. And what had happened. She was slightly relieved though, if Hawkeye could joke with her it made things easier.
"I'm sorry." Wrong move. She didn't want hear an apology. "I didn't mean to-"
"You didn't." She gave him a small smile to show him it was all right. "Its nice to see you can act normally around me. That's the way I like it."
"So the reason you woke up me from my vital beauty sleep was?"
She felt childish. "Tell me a story." She looked out the window again. She felt close to tears again for no reason. She felt like Ben and she should be on a plane home back to Crabapple, not to a medical conference in Tokyo with Hawkeye.
She heard him straightening up in his chair. "What kind of story?"
"Any."
After a few moments he began. He told her of a time when his best friends and he had decided to go fishing in a nearby pond. One of his friends who wasn't the brightest of the bunch managed to get a fish hook in his nose while trying to cast his line. Brianna smiled slightly when he finished. "That's not one of your usual stories."
"What do you mean?"
"You usually tell stories like…Sharon-Share-A-Light, you know the one about the night after prom, or that girl stalks you hoping to catch you eye or how girl were dripping on your-"
"Save a little so I can some little amount of pride."
"What's up?" BJ looked deeply into his eyes, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind them. They had so many layers to them, as if not to see what he really felt behind them. Her grandfather had once told her, and she found it to be very true, people who are cynical are cynical to hide true feelings.
"Maybe I don't feel like telling them anymore." It dawned on her the meaning of his words. She looked out again. He was trying to change for her, or he had. How could she have let this happen? Her eyes filled again. She was such an emo. Basket case, a small voice corrected in the back of her head. In the fifties it was basket case.
"Sarah?"
She blinked back the tears. "Yeah?"
"What does 'what can I do you for' mean in the-where you're from?"
She looked back at him for a moment. For the first time she began to laugh. Scratch that. She began to howl. Her whole body began to double up with laughter. She couldn't remember the last time she really laughed. Finally her laughter turned silent. Tears streamed down her eyes. It was as if every funny moment came back to her in an instant. Everyone on the airplane was looking at her. Hawkeye kept asking her what was so funny. She would calm down just long enough to hear his question and then turn into giggles again.
"Was Colonel Potter talking to Joan?"
0o0o0o0o0o
"What do you mean you only have one room booked?" She demanded. "Didn't you even look on who was coming?"
The clerk did not flinch underneath her gaze. "I apologize, Captain, but usually doctors are male. And the 4077th was allotted one room for the conference. A double. For two doctors. A Dr. Black and Dr. Pierce. And it is mandatory that you stay in this hotel."
This was going nowhere. Forcing herself to keep her cool, she said slowly and deliberately, "Are there any other rooms in this hotel available?"
The man scanned the list and the keys. "No, ma'am."
She looked over to Hawkeye. "If its only one bed, I call it."
0o0o0o0o0o
"BJ?" A restless sleeper tried to shift in his sleep. A nurse restrained him. "Shhh" The nurse said soothingly. "She'll be here."
He kept calling for that woman. Whoever she was, but it was better that he had this stupor than realize he was on a plane to the major army hospital in Linchstuhl, Germany. The patient awoke hazily. "Brianna? Where are you?"
"Shhh. Everything will be fine." She said in whispered tones
"Are you all right? Did they get you?"
"No. I'm fine. Go back to sleep, you need your rest." She hesitated before plunging on. "I've been very worried about you. But you'll be better soon."
"Bri?"
"Yes?"
"When we get back home…" He trailed off, his strength leaving him.
"What is it, darling?" The nurse saw that this was important to him.
"Never leave me again."
The nurse was so overcome, that even she thought her emotions were on ice a long time ago, tears rolled down her cheeks. She wondered where his girl was, the one suppose to be hearing this. She controlled her tears long enough to give an answer.
"Never"
0o0o0o0o0o0
"Sidney!" She waved at the psychiatrist. Hawkeye and she were sitting at a side café. It was so much warmer in Tokyo. She was wearing some stylish fifty clothing, a wide brim hat and, and huge sunglasses. Hawkeye had showed her around and forced to go shopping. She was so surprised that she got in the groove and shopping with Hawkeye was like shopping with a friend. Soon she had bags full of fifties clothing. Her income here wasn't really her true income and she couldn't use it in the future, so as she told Hawkeye, she might as well spend it. She had thrown her khakis underneath the bed, and completely forgetting what Joan had slipped into her pocket.
"Sarah!" Sidney sat down. "And Hawkeye, what a surprise!"
"Hey, Sidney" Hawkeye said. "Are you going to this conference thing too?"
"I'm speaking at it, actually, so don't skip, Hawkeye."
"Oh, how'd you know?" Hawkeye said in a mock whining voice.
"Just a guess" Sidney turned to BJ. "Sarah, how are you?"
She was caught off guard. Hawkeye, she had been training all day to say "BJ" and he had finally got the hang of it. Sidney looked her searchingly. She felt herself crumble a bit. "I am doing my best. Hawkeye has been showing me around Tokyo and doing a bit of shopping.
"Is the outfit new?"
"Yes"
"I'm going to a club tonight. Will you both join me?" BJ looked over at Hawkeye. She felt like she could only do so much in one day. But Hawkeye had already said yes. So she smiled and said yes.
When they got back to the hotel, she sorted through her new clothes. "Hawkeye?"
He came over to the disaster on the bed. "What happen to the bed?"
"Very funny, but be serious for a moment. What do girls in the fifties were to clubs?"
Hawkeye sighed. This was going to be a long night.
0o0o0o0o
Sidney was at the club with a lot of other friends. There was bunch of drinks going around. He looked for Hawkeye and Sarah, but he hadn't seen them. He was slightly disappointed, but it was understandable, Sarah might not want to be seen in public yet.
It was sad. He hated to see any kid lose someone, especially when there life was ahead of them, but after meeting Sarah, so likeable, witty, and talented it seemed to be a waste. And she was a friend. He could only imagine what she felt. There was another twist in her life, though. Hawkeye. He understood a lot about Hawkeye. He might want a real relationship, but kept up having short flings with nurses and business girls from time to time. Sidney, as all psychiatrist, are suppose to let the patients figure out their problems on their own, but sometimes Sidney felt like telling Hawkeye that what he was missing was having a real relationship. Not just centered around one thing.
Then he saw them. Sarah was in a pretty pink dress. It was one of those new fangled styles with straps instead of sleeves and that swing skirt, at least he thought that's what they were called. Hawkeye was in his Class A uniform. Sidney waved them over to their table. Introductions were made and they were seated.
He was embarrassed for his guests, that Sarah immediately became an object of attention. She smiled and thanked all the kind compliments, but refused their offers of a drink of champagne or of being lead on to the dance floor. She was social, but did not flirt or pay anyone considerable attention except for Hawkeye and Sidney. She told stories of her own, but nothing more than what was really expected.
Sidney offered her a dance, and she accepted. She heard all the protests, and to his amusement she said, "Some men have it, and some don't." With a flirtatious smile, no less. As they danced, Sidney said,
"You certainly popular tonight, with my single friends…and the not so single."
"I'm sorry, Sidney, but I'm trying to fly underneath the radar tonight. I-" Sidney interrupted her. "I'm not pushing, Sarah. Not in the least. I'm surprised I got the honor."
"May I cut in?" Hawkeye appeared.
"Certainly"
Hawkeye took BJ's hand. BJ whispered to him. "Thanks for coming to my rescue. Sidney's nice, but I don't feel like being grilled about my feelings right now."
"Then let's just dance."
So they did. One after another, and another. BJ felt like this was her life preserver. She put her head on Hawkeye's shoulder. Finally, one by one Sidney and his friends went home. They continued to dance, sometimes talking, sometimes just in companionable silence until the band played the last song. They finished their drinks and started back to the hotel.
They undressed and got into their pajamas, one getting the room and one the bathroom (BJ got the bathroom). "Hawkeye," she called coming out. "You can have the bed."
"No, you take it."
"Don't be noble, I had it yesterday."
"BJ, I am as stubborn as you are." Hawkeye joked. "Take it."
BJ's resolve was weakening. "Well if you're sure.
"I am."
BJ hesitated for a moment. Then she hugged Hawkeye. "You've done so much for me."
Hawkeye took her hands. "Some great guy is going to see you, and you're going to fall hopelessly in love again. And you're going to get through this." His eyes were full as so were hers. She hugged him tightly and for a long time. Then she stepped back far enough to see him. Their eyes were staring right into each others. Slowly, Hawkeye pressed his lips to hers and she rose to meet him.
0o0o0o0o
They hesitated for only an instant. Then, linking arms the pressed the tiny red button. And as the whirled through time, the small lettering said Tokyo, Japan. May 2, 1951. 1:30 AM.
The whirling sound began. They both clung to each other, both unstable. Benjamin tried to focus on what was ahead. From time to time he thought he could see an image of what was happening. But he couldn't for they were only there for an instant until they were gone. Then it all stopped. If it hadn't been Charles' cane they would have fallen to the ground. Benjamin heard a clock chime. It was half past one. But he saw they landed in the "business" part of town. It was not totally unfamiliar, he admitted years later.
"Charles?" The man was dumb. Benjamin, who was starting to feel more like Hawkeye every moment, shook him.
"I swore to myself I would never to come back here." Charles murmured. "I would never get even within a thousand miles of Korea."
Hawkeye's demeanor slipped in, and softly he said. "We all swore we wouldn't come back to Korea. But our grandkids need us. And I love Ben more than my hatred for Korea."
"If it wasn't for Korea we would've never met and our grandkids would've never met."
"Think of what would be different. Would you want us to never have met?" Hawkeye met his gaze. He knew his answer, he knew his own answer.
"I don't want to see my grandchild broken." Charles whispered hoarsely. "I don't want to remember seeing the light leave his eye when his fiancée is…taken from us."
"And I don't want my grandchild to be broken when he finds out his fiancée was…taken in by his own grandfather." Hawkeye looked up at Charles. "And this one we need to stop now."
A/N: Phew! That's the longest chapter ever. No more like this one! But hopefully this makes up for not posting for a month.