A/N: I had fun researching for this chapter. Hopefully you enjoy the fruits of my labor, so to speak. As usual, I don't own MASH *sigh* Special thanks to Corka for allowing me to use snippets of one of her stories in this chapter.
Previously: Kate smiled as they stepped onto the elevator. "After a nap, I'll be a new woman." Leaning her head against her husband's shoulder, she yawned again. "Probably new enough to go find a dress for this little shindig."
"Sweetheart, are you ready? It's almost time to go downstairs," Trapper called the following afternoon as he stood in front of the window. In the distance he could see a horse drawn carriage in Central Park; he wondered if it was the same one he and Kate had ridden in the day before. Hearing the door open behind him, he turned. "Ready to…" His voice trailed off when he saw Kate. The emerald green strapless gown they had found at a boutique the day before had an empire waist and a full skirt; it fit Kate's rounded belly perfectly. The hem of the full skirt grazed the floor as she walked towards Trapper. Her long black hair had been curled and pinned up; subtle makeup accented her beautiful features. A diamond pendant, Trapper's gift for her birthday the month before, hung on a delicate chain that encircled her neck, and matching earrings twinkled at her earlobes. "You look gorgeous, Mrs. McIntyre," Trapper said as he drew her close and gently kissed her.
"You don't look half bad in that tux, Dr. McIntyre," Kate replied, straightening his tie. "I wonder if everyone's going to come."
Trapper offered his arm. "Well, let's go find out." Within moments they were approaching the Grand Ballroom. A sign outside the door proclaimed MASH 4077th Family Reunion. Kate grinned when she saw it.
"We must be in the right place."
Chuckling, Trapper pulled the door open. "After you," he said with a mock bow. Soft music and laughter filled the room; people were mingling on the dance floor. Two long tables were pushed together and set up with white tablecloths, linen napkins, and china and crystal dishes. "I think someone's trying to get our attention," Trapper said when he noticed Peg, clad in a pale pink evening gown, heading their way.
"Trapper, Kate, you both look wonderful! Come, I want to introduce you to everyone else," Peg bubbled as she led them to the cluster of well-dressed men and women. "Excuse me," she said to an elderly carbon copy of Hawkeye. "Dr. Daniel Pierce, I'd like to introduce Dr. Trapper John McIntyre and his wife, Kate."
Dr. Pierce turned, and Trapper found himself looking into the same blue eyes that his son possessed. "Trapper McIntyre. I've heard a lot about you from my no-good son. I have to say, I enjoyed hearing about the shenanigans you boys would pull."
"All good things, I hope, Dr. Pierce. I see you remember the audio letter Hawkeye sent home," Trapper said wryly as he shook the elder doctor's hand.
"Please, call me Daniel. And so this is Kate," he said, turning to Kate. "My dear, you are lovelier than Hawkeye described." Taking her hand, he raised it to his lips and kissed the back of it.
Kate smiled, her eyes alight. "I can see where Hawkeye gets his charm."
Daniel's eyes dropped to her belly, then back to her gaze. "He wrote me of your happy news. How is the pregnancy? The baby is moving as it should? You've been getting adequate rest?"
"I can see where he gets his medical skills, too," Kate replied with a laugh. "You can tell Hawkeye that everything is fine."
"You do know my son well," Daniel said, beckoning an attractive elderly lady over. "Have you met Mildred yet? Mildred Potter, this is Dr. John McIntyre and his lovely wife, Kate."
Quickly Kate and Trapper were introduced to the rest of the guests. The elder Charles and Caroline Winchester were both dressed to the nines in designer evening wear. Edna and Ed O'Reilly, Radar's mother and uncle, seemed to be enjoying their time there. Sister Maria Angelica, who preferred to be called Cathy, resembled her brother the padre remarkably, although she was a head taller. She had brought her saxophone along, promising a treat for the party. Al and Martha Houlihan appeared to be on their best behavior with each other, something Margaret had expressed concern about in her last letter to Kate.
As Trapper and Daniel chatted about medicine, Kate leaned towards Peg and gestured to an elderly Lebanese couple. "I'm guessing they are Klinger's parents?"
Peg looked where Kate was gesturing and nodded. "Yes, that's Butch and Hala Klinger. They brought her brother Abdul to translate, because they don't speak any English. From what I understand, Hala doesn't know that Klinger is in Korea." Glancing around, Peg frowned slightly. "I don't see Abdul, though. I was hoping to introduce you and Trapper to them."
Trapper watched as his wife excused herself and approached the Lebanese couple. He was too far away to hear the conversation, but the woman's face lit up as Kate spoke. After a few moments of conversation, she led them over to where Trapper, Daniel, and Peg stood. Speaking in Arabic, Kate rested her hand on Trapper's arm. The woman responded in turn, gesturing to her husband and herself. "Trapper, this is Butch and Hala Klinger." As Hala continued speaking, Kate translated. "She says it's a pleasure to meet one of the men her son worked with in Korea, and that she's known for a while where Max was stationed." Abdul reappeared, and Kate introduced herself and Trapper to him.
"Does she know about his attempts to get out of the Army?" Trapper wondered.
Kate asked Hala, who laughed merrily as Butch, via Abdul, engaged Daniel in conversation. "Apparently she sends Klinger patterns for his dresses," she translated. "He tries to wear something new in every picture he sends home. Hala would like us to sit with her, Butch, and Abdul, dear. Is that all right?"
Trapper smiled. "Of course, sweetheart." He waited until Kate replied to Hala before asking, "By the way, where did you learn to speak Arabic?"
"I have a degree in linguistics. Didn't I tell you about that?" Trapper shook his head. "I'm sorry, I thought I did. It helped when we were in Korea and we didn't have a translator. Although honestly, I think Henry forgot about it every now and then."
"Now that I think about it, I remember whenever there was a Korean on the table you'd be working on them," Trapper replied.
The ballroom door opened again as an attractive middle-aged woman stepped hesitantly into the room. Peg went to meet her, immediately leading her over to Kate and Trapper. "Kate and I are so glad you were able to make it," she was saying as they approached.
Kate stepped forward. "You must be Lorraine," she said softly. "I'm Kate McIntyre, formerly Kate Boswell, and this is my husband, John. We served with Henry."
Trapper was at a loss for words. Somehow Kate and Peg had convinced Lorraine Blake to come to the party. He had seen her image in a home video in Henry's office once, back in Korea. She was just as pretty still, although grey streaked through her blonde hair. Probably from the news of Henry's plane being shot down, he thought.
"Henry spoke highly of you, Kate." Lorraine's soft voice brought Trapper back to the present. "He said you were one of the most competent nurses in the unit. And John…it's funny, I don't remember a John. There was a Frank, and a Hawkeye, and a Trapper…"
"That's my nickname," Trapper said, offering his hand. "Trapper John McIntyre."
Lorraine daintily shook his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you."
After dinner the band struck up, and everyone made their way to the dance floor. Mildred and Daniel paired up for many of the dances; Butch and Hala swayed together, murmuring to each other. Kate danced with Abdul, who thanked her profusely for acting as a second translator for the evening, while Trapper and Lorraine twirled around the floor. He kept an eye on his wife, looking for any sign of fatigue or pain.
"She's smart enough to listen to her body, John," Lorraine said, a gentle smile crossing her face when she realized what Trapper was doing. "From what Henry wrote in his letters, you two were quite the item at the 4077th. When did you get married?"
"We got married almost eight months ago," he replied.
Lorraine's eyes dimmed slightly. "Right about when…"
Trapper nodded. "Yeah. We were having a memorial party for Henry. Kate and I decided to get the paperwork started, and while we were working on that, the rest of the camp got a surprise wedding set up for us. Two weeks later I got my discharge papers."
"When did Kate get hers?"
"She came home two and a half months after I did, on a medical discharge due to the pregnancy. It was a surprise to me when she showed up at our home." He smiled at the memory. "When she got home, she was barely showing. And now…"
"She looks like she's due any day now," Lorraine supplied as the song ended. "How far along is she?"
"Seven and a half months. You know, there's something Kate and I have been talking about, and since you're here, I'd like your opinion…"
As the next song drew to a close, Trapper went to find Kate, who was dancing with Butch. "Can I cut in?" he asked.
Kate translated, and Butch nodded, saying something in Arabic. "He says of course," Kate supplied as Trapper drew her into his arms. Swaying to the music, Kate sighed contently. "I was wondering if you'd forgotten about me," she teased.
Trapper flashed his crooked grin. "I thought I'd share the most beautiful woman here for a while," he retorted. His voice took on a serious note. "How are you feeling?"
"I think it's about time to start the other surprise of the evening," she replied.
"And that would be…?"
Kate tapped his nose with a forefinger. "You'll just have to wait and see." They danced the next two dances before hotel employees came into the ballroom to set up a large projection screen. Quickly the surprise was prepared, and soon the party guests were seated as Peg and Kate stood in front of the group. "I'm so glad to see everyone here tonight," Kate began. Quickly she repeated herself in Arabic before continuing. "We are all connected in a special way because of the war. For some, the war is something that has brought sorrow, for others it's brought joy. Overall, it's something that none of us will ever be able to forget."
"We have a special treat tonight," Peg said, taking over the emcee position. "When BJ and Hawkeye got word that the party was going to happen, they contacted Clete Roberts to ask about getting an old interview he did with the 4077th. Mr. Roberts did one better; he convinced Movietone News to send him back to Korea for a new interview. Mr. Roberts called me three days ago to inform me that the interview would be aired on television in a few weeks, and that we would have the special privilege to see the first viewing. He personally delivered it yesterday, so without further ado, hit it!"
TBC...
If I ever get a chance to go back to New York, I'm taking one of those carriage rides!