Chapter 6- (BJ, party for 1)

Hawk entered the Mess tent, still trying to hypothetically connect his and Potter's conversation. He saw Beej sitting across the tent, staring at his cup of coffee and ambled over. "Excuse me, sunshine, may I sit here?"

"Yeah, I guess," Beej replied, oh so enthusiastically, still staring at his coffee. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence has passed, Hawk tired to lighten the mood a bit and get Beej to talk, "Hey, how's the coffee tonight? As tar-like as usual?"

"Oh, it's worse tonight, but what a surprise from Uncle Sam, we all know how happy he's made us, just ask my wife."

"Beej, it'll be OK, I know Peg, well I don't but from what I know of her, she loves you, everything wont be perfect like before, but it'll be OK."

"I don't know, Hawk, it just seems like my whole world is crashing down around me. I think I'm going to go back to the Swamp, try to get some sleep."

"OK," Hawk knew he hadn't been sleeping well lately and even though he thought Beej needed to talk about his problems, he knew he needed the sleep more. Beej left, pausing only to hold the door open for Margaret as she entered.

He went back to the Swamp, luckily Charles was on post-op duty so he was alone. He laid down on his bed, tossing and turning, just thinking. "I guess I'm not getting any sleep again tonight," he thought with a sigh.

"Ahhh Margaret, just the person I needed to see." Hawk exclaimed, back in the Mess tent.

"Fully clothed I hope you mean."

"Of course!" Hawk said with that mischievous grin on his face, "no, really I need to talk to you. About BJ."

"Yeah, I've noticed he's been down lately, any news from Peg yet?"

"No nothing yet. He's been really upset lately about the whole thing, he feels like his marriage is crashing down on him, so I thought why not throw a little party, just so he can get out and have his friends by his side, supporting him."

"That sounds great, but won't he get mad if we throw him a party. I mean it's not the greatest of times to do so."

"No, no, no we throw a party for someone else. This is just an excuse to have a good time" "OK, but who do we throw it for?"

"Well who haven't we had a birthday party for" The grin ever so widening on Hawk's face.

"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?"

"Well. I think it's about time Sophie had a birthday party."

"Sophie!! Hawkeye, that has to be the most idiotic thing you've come up with yet! I love it!" she exclaimed, laughing.

"Why thank you. Shall we retire to the Swamp and plan. Oh wait a minute BJ is in there trying to sleep."

"Well, we could always go to my tent."

"Margaret. I thought you'd never ask."

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Pierce! I'm a married person." Margaret gave a smile, she had gotten used to the joking and even liked it at times.

As the two walked out of the Mess Tent, Col. Potter noticed them laughing and smiling together, heading toward her tent. Ever since his conversation with Pierce he had become ever so suspicious of the two. He followed them across the compound and into Margaret's tent, with Pierce looking around to see that no one had noticed.

"What in the Marco blessed Polo is going on here? I can't let this go on any longer, I have to talk to those two." Potter thought.

Hawkeye and Margaret were deep into the planning when they noticed how late it was. "Well it looks like everything is set. Just as long as BJ comes the party should be good for everyone." Hawk said, yawing at the same time"

"Agreed. Well you better head off to the Swamp, I wouldn't want you falling asleep here. Imagine, what the Col. would think! You and me, together? Hypothetically, he'd kill you!"

Hawkeye began to laugh, "He would probably tie me to the nearest tree and drive a tank over it!"