"I have a message." Radar said, his voice shaky. He drew in a breath and then continued. "Lieutenant Colonel…. Lieutenant Blake's plane was shot down over the

Sea of Japan. It spun… and there were no survivors."

Throughout the OR, gasps could be heard, along with sniffles and the soft clang of metal as it hit the ground. For a moment none of them could breathe. They all

stood, trying to absorb the news. But seconds later they returned to the tasks at hand; trying to save the lives of those who had been brave enough to fight for

their country.

Hawkeye stood at the doorway, which was now empty. He turned to Klinger who was assisting he and Trapper in surgery. "Go see if he's all right. We'll be fine

here."

"Are you sure?"

Hawkeye nodded. "Yeah."

Klinger sighed deeply and headed out the door, slowly removing his mask and scrubs. His high heels were the only sound as they clicked across the cement floor.

He walked in a daze, passing by Henry's office, unable to even glance at it. When he reached the radio room, he froze in place at the sight of the young corporal.

Sitting on his bunk, curled into a ball, the teddy bear in his arms, Radar looked even more childlike than usual. And that's when Klinger's resolve began to fade.

His first thought was to leave him be. Radar was visibly distraught. But it wasn't right to force him to grieve alone. He slowed his pace, his heart breaking at the

deep shudders that poured out of his friend, and the tears that accompanied them. The teddy bear was bound to be soaked, but Klinger was sure glad it was

there.

He walked over to his friend and sat down beside him. His hand moved slowly upward until it lay flat against Radar's back. But the intended comfort only proved

to upset Radar more. The heavy sobs cut Klinger to the bone and soon he too was crying for the Colonel, who had admired what was probably Klinger's best

outfit to date. The head wrap made of fruit and the silver evening gown with the red fur had certainly impressed Colonel Blake; or at least made Blake realize

that Klinger really was crazy. He winced when he remembered how, just hours before, they had said goodbye in the most unique of ways. It took a lot of guts for

a man to zip up another man's dress. But Colonel Henry Blake was the gutsiest man Klinger had ever met.

He brushed away tears, but he realized he was crying more for the boy sitting beside him than of the man they had lost. He had no words. He just pulled Radar

closer and let him cry as long as he needed to. There was no shame in holding someone to comfort them in a time of grief and he was more than happy to be

there for his friend. Even if deep inside he was hurting something awful.

Eventually Radar's sobs quieted, but Klinger held onto him, afraid to let go. But then Radar spoke.

"Klinger?"

"Yeah?"

"I-I'm not feeling so good. I think I'm gonna be sick."

Klinger bolted to his feet. "A-all right. Here, let's leave this little guy here for a minute, okay? Come on…" Keeping his arm around Radar, he guided them both

outside to an inconspicuous place. He turned his back, while Radar got sick, but the sound tore at his insides. And his gaze went to the middle of the base,

where he'd watched his friend leave for the last time. He squeezed his eyes shut and then brushed away the tears on his cheeks.

Several minutes passed and he realized that Radar had been gone a long time.

"Radar? Radar!" Panic filled him when Radar was not in the spot where Klinger had left him. He quickened his pace, making his way around the area until at least

he found his friend, curled up in a ball. Klinger's heart ached. They were all hurting, but this… how much could a boy take?

He walked over to where Radar sat and gently helped him stand. "Come on…" Klinger put his arm around Radar for support and drew him close. "Let's get you

inside."

"I'm not feeling too well."

"I know… we're gonna take care of that." He quickly added. "As best as we can. I'm not feeling too well either and I doubt anyone else is."

Slowly he guided Radar back inside and to his bunk. "Here, lie down for a minute and hold your friend. I'll be back in a few minutes."

His heart ached when Radar climbed onto his bunk and curled up into a ball. It was all Klinger could do to keep from breaking down.

"It hurts, Klinger! Oh God, it hurts!"

At Radar's sudden outburst, Klinger froze. "What hurts? What?"

"My-My chest! I think I'm having a heart attack! I-I can't breathe!"

Oh God… Oh God... "Okay, just… Wait here, all right?" Klinger winced. What a stupid thing to say. "I'll be right back!"

Heart pounding, he ran into the OR as fast as his heels would allow. The room was still silent, save for the clanging of instruments and the whir of machines.

"Captain Pierce? Trapper?"

"What is it Klinger?"

"It's Radar, sir. Something's wrong!"

"Well of course something's wrong, Klinger! Something terrible just happened!" Hawkeye snapped.

"I-I know that, sir, but this is… something more."

Hawkeye looked at Trapper and nodded. "Burns can you finish up here?"

"Why me?"

"JUST DO IT!" Trapper yelled.

The three men left the OR and went to the bunk, where Radar still lay, crying even harder than before. And when Radar cried out in pain, Hawkeye and Trapper

raced over to him.

"What is it, Radar? Can you sit up?"

Radar slowly straightened. "My chest… It hurts, sir! It hurts real bad! I-Ohhhh…"

"Okay, come on." Hawkeye put his arm around Radar and Trapper did the same. Together the two men led Radar out the door and to the Post Op unit.

Klinger watched in horror. "I-is he going to be okay?"

"I don't know.." Trapper said. "I'm pretty sure it's trauma induced, but we'll have to check for sure."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Yeah, let Margaret and the others know. He's gonna need round the clock care for a few days."

"Please take care of him."

Hawkeye smiled sadly. "We will."

Klinger returned to the OR, almost relived to see that things were starting to calm down.

"What's happened?" Margaret asked.

"It's Radar… He's not doing so well."

Father Mulchay put his hand on his heart. "Dear Lord…"

"Father, could you come? You too, Major. When you're finished."

"Of course. Tell Hawkeye I'll be there in a bit."

"May I?" Father Mulchay asked.

Klinger tried to hold in his trembling voice but it was of little use. "Please, Father."

"Coming right away."

The two of them walked into Post Op, Where Radar was lying in a bed, fighting the actions of Hawkeye and Trapper.

"Radar, be sill, all right? You're going to be fine in a minute."

Hawkeye's words made them all stare at him. "Okay, not fine, but… well, you know… Father, Klinger, could you help?"

"Of course."

Klinger sat on one side and Father Mulchay on the other. Together they did their best to hold Radar down while Trapper inserted an IV. The sight of his friend so

frail and vulnerable made Klinger's heart ache.

"That should keep him calm for tonight anyway." Trapper said.

"Dear Lord… I should have known he'd take this harder than anyone." Father Mulchay said. "He and Colonel Blake were so close."

"He told me once that Blake was like the father he never had."

Father Mulchay bowed his head and removed his hat. "Bless him."

Within minutes, Radar had fallen asleep.

Suddenly Klinger gasped. "Oh God…"

"What is it?"

"I forgot something. I'll be right back."

As fast as his heels would let him, Klinger returned to Radar's bunk and grabbed the teddy bear. "Sorry, kid. We didn't mean to forget you." He trotted back into

the Post Op and handed the bear to Hawkeye. "He's gonna need this."

"Thanks, Klinger."

Sometime later, Margret walked into Post Op, where Radar was still sleeping and Hawkeye was watching over him. "How's he doing?"

"Well, he's calm for now. Who knows when he wakes up."

A sob escaped and Margaret began to cry. Hawkeye's arms were around her, holding her close. "I know… I know…" he whispered as he rubbed her back.

"Why did this happen?" she sobbed.

"I don't know… Look, you need your rest. I'll stay here."

"No… I'll look after him."

"All right, but don't overexert yourself."

"Hawkeye, this isn't just an ordinary patient. This is Radar."

Hawkeye squeezed her hand. "I know…"

"Want me to stay, ma'am?" Klinger asked.

"If you want to, but you don't have to." Margaret replied.

"I came as quickly as I could."

"Father…"

"I'll sit with him for a while. Get some rest, all right?"

Margaret nodded. "All right. But I'll be back soon."

"I'm sorry, Klinger. I got held up."

"It's okay Father. He's sleeping now. Probably be out for some time."

"Well, thank God for that. But someone should be here when he wakes up."

"Right…"

I need to get out of this dress. These heels are killing me."

Father Mulchay smiled. "Well, you certainly look nice, Klinger."

"You really think so? I thought it might be too much, but Colonel Blake…" His voice caught on the name of his friend and he suppressed a sob.

Father Mulchay immediately rose and went to Klinger, enveloping him into a hug. "God bless you."

"Thank you, Father."

They sat on either side of their friend, watching him sleep, until Klinger nearly fell asleep himself.

"Get some sleep." Father Mulchay said. "I'll stay with him."

"All right, but I won't be far away."

"Bless you, son."

Klinger touched Father Mulcahy's shoulder as he rose to leave. Then he turned to Radar and tucked the teddy bear into his arms.

"He needs you tonight, little bear."

Brushing back tears, Klinger left the Post Op, still worried about his friend. But Father Mulchay was there, along with Margaret, Trapper and Hawkeye. They all

cared for Radar and for each other.

He walked back to his tent, aware of the musty smell of war around him. Oh how he wished he were in Toledo. He'd always wished that.

But at that moment, he knew that he was in Korea for a reason. Radar needed him. And by God, he needed Radar as well, more than the kid would ever know.

It was going to be incredibly difficult, but they'd all work through Henry's death….

Together.

~Fin~