Chapter Four: Moving On
The O.R seemed strangely quiet for that time of day. Usually, it would have been full of wounded and doctors and nurses darting back and forth to save the lives of the young soldiers who'd had the unfortunate luck to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But not today. Today should have been the happiest in all their lives, the war was finally over, no more meatball surgery, no more endless shifts and no more death. Death, however, was the one thing of everyone's mind.
It had been a hour maybe more since they had discovered Lt Colonel Henry Blake's body and yet the news was still to sink in properly. Hawkeye and Margaret had consoled each other the best they could. They knew they had to spur everyone else into carrying on, after all Frank was still missing and Trapper wasn't off the critical list yet.
"Margaret, are you awake?" Hawkeye whispered as he held her close.
"Yes."
"Have you thought about Frank? I can't think where he is."
Hawkeye didn't want to admit what he was really thinking, after all what chance did Frank really have. They hadn't find Henry alive and it had been a good four hours since he had last been seen.
"Hawkeye don't treat me with kid gloves, he must be dead."
"Don't do that. You don't know, we will start looking again."
Margaret looked up and stared deeply into Hawkeye's blue eyes. She knew he was only trying to help. She didn't really want to admit that Frank was gone but she knew that there was no point denying the inevitable.
At that moment, Margie came rushing in.
"Hawkeye, it's Trapper. He's awake."
* * * * * *
Margaret and Hawkeye followed Margie to the Swamp where Klinger had been monitoring Trapper's progress. Sure enough Trapper's eyes were open and he was even trying to talk.
"So, you finally decided to wake up," joked Hawkeye, sitting down beside his friend.
"Hey, buddy," croaked Trapper, trying to smile.
"How's he doing Klinger?"
"Fine Sir, his pulse is steady and vital signs are up. I think he may be ready for the next war."
"No more wars please," said Margaret holding Trapper's hand.
"Did everyone get out Ok?" asked Trapper.
Hawkeye looked to Margaret, then Klinger and Margie. This was where he made a moral decision. If he told Trapper the truth he could go into shock, but he couldn't lie to him.
"You see us sitting here don't ya," he joked.
"Very funny, what about the rest?"
Trapper's mind was hazy but he still could read the signs on his best friend's face. He knew it was bad news but he had to know.
"It's Henry," said Hawkeye, his eyes filling with fresh tears.
"Anybody else?"
"We still haven't found Frank and the kid we were working on when the bomb went off didn't make it either."
Trapper was still. Henry was really dead. This couldn't be happening.
"Where's Radar? How's he taking the news?"
In all the hurry to save Trapper, they had all forgotten about Corporal O'Reilly. Hawkeye hurried over to the Mess tent to see if Father Mulcahy had seen him, to which he received a negative response. No-one knew where he was. Then Hawkeye had a idea, he quickly headed for the C.O's office.
* * * * * *
"Ok, now what else do I have to do."
Radar was in the office, sorting through the filing cabinet and retrieving the relevant files he knew his commanding officer would need. Radar was proving that he was still the best company clerk around and he wasn't going to let anyone down. As he collected the last file, he went back to his desk and began sorting the paperwork whistling to himself as he did so.
His task was quickly interrupted by Hawkeye. He had realised how stupid he had been not to think of the one place that Radar would go, the one place he knew he would be needed.
"Hey Radar," he said cheerfully.
"Sir, you need something. I'm afraid the Colonel is out at the moment. I think he said he was going to his tent and didn't want to be disturbed. I was just getting these papers ready for him to sign."
"Ok, I just came to have a talk with you."
Radar looked up to the Captain who towered above him. He had always liked Hawkeye, even though he was a mere Corporal, both Hawkeye and Trapper had never treated him that way.
"What shall we talk about?" he asked.
"Radar, what are you doing? Please come back to the Mess tent, we can talk."
"I can't.." began Radar his lip beginning to tremble. "Colonel Blake needs these and if I don't get them to him, he will be mad."
"No he won't. No-one is going to be mad. Radar, you have to accept he's gone. I know it's hard, we all can't believe it but you must."
Radar began to cry. He knew what had happened, he saw Henry with his own eyes. That would be something he would never forget for as long as he lived.
"What am I gonna do without him. He was commanding officer, I looked at him like a father. My own Dad never did anything with me, but he did. He took the time, you know, he made time for me. No-one has ever done that before."
Hawkeye placed a study arm round Radar's small shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck. He was hurting too, but not even him or Trapper were as close to Henry as Radar had been. It was pure hell watching him go through this emotional trauma.
"Come on, we have to sort out what we are gonna do next."
Radar allowed Hawkeye to lead him from the office and across the compound to the Mess tent, where the rest of the survivors, except Trapper, were stationed.
* * * * * *
Father Mulcahy had managed to put together a semi-decent meal for everyone and despite the upsetting news they had all had to encounter, none of them had eaten for more than ten hours and the food was being devoured gratefully.
"You ever thought of being a chef, Father," said Klinger. "This is great."
As Hawkeye and Radar entered the Mess, they all stopped eating and turned to stare at the adolescent corporal. Although the discovery of Henry had been traumatic for them all, they all knew he would have wanted them to move forward and be strong. However, they also were aware just how difficult this would be for Radar and they all wanted to help.
"Hungry, my son," asked Father Mulcahy as Hawkeye guided Radar to the food.
"A little," came the quiet reply.
"Well, try and eat something."
Hawkeye grabbed some food and went to sit with Margaret. She was chasing her food around her plate but not really eating it.
"Any news on Frank?" he asked.
"No, we moved some more rubble but found nothing. I hate to keep looking, if he is buried that far down, there is no hope is there?"
"I'm sorry Margaret," was all he could say.
As Hawkeye tried to force some of the food down, he gazed around the tent at the rest of his comrades. Beyond the cuts on their faces and the bandages on their arms, each one of them was emotionally scarred by this tragedy. Losing their C.O and one of their co-workers in one day was hard enough on anyone, but if more tragic to think that had they all left sooner it would have never happened. He knew he had to get them home and he was going to start straight away.
"Can I have your attention please?" he called standing on the nearest bench.
Everyone stopped eating and focused on who was speaking.
"I know this has been rough on us all and losing Henry and Frank wasn't suppose to be part of the deal when we all came here. But then coming here wasn't my idea at all. However, we have survived and we have to continue to survive the only way we know how. I am sure that Henry and Frank would say the same. I am going back to the office and I am getting a chopper sent from Seoul today."
"But Captain," interrupted Margaret, her eyes wet with tears. "We have to stay till Friday."
"Impossible," retorted Hawkeye. "We have no supplies, we have no O.R and we have wounded people that need extra treatment and I for one am not going to sit here and wait for another bomb to finish us off. First I want Margie and Ginger to gather as many blankets as you can get from Supply. You are going to take the patient and Klinger to Tokyo."
Margie and Ginger nodded and headed off to the Supply tent immediately.
"You thought I hadn't noticed your leg didn't you Klinger?"
"Sir, I'm fine."
"Fine, you look like an ad for death. If you don't get to Seoul, you may get an infection and lose that leg. You are going, go get packed up."
Klinger didn't argue, he knew that his leg was getting worse. He had tried to ignore it but he was aware that the pain wasn't subsiding and he was beginning to feel hot and tired. He hurried outside and located a bus.
"Right, Father, you and Radar can go with them or you can stay until we leave. I will take Trapper by helicopter to Tokyo, he will still need observing for the next few hours, Margaret I hope you'll stay too."
"Of course Doctor."
"Um.Hawkeye," said Father Mulcahy. "I will stay for as long as necessary but I do think young Radar needs to get home as soon as possible."
Radar had said nothing during the conversation. He just sat there staring at his untouched plate. He didn't want to go home but he didn't want to be here either.
"Ok Father, I think it best you gather your belongings and Radar's too, take the jeep and follow the others. We'll be fine here."
The plan was settled. Hawkeye had no desire to stay at the 4077th anymore than the rest did, but he was still needed. Trapper couldn't make the journey by jeep and he wasn't about to desert his friend. He was appreciative of Margaret staying behind though, he knew why. She had nothing to go back for, even less than him. Another army base was no life for her but it was in her blood, it was all she knew.
* * * * * *
The bus was all packed as the remaining staff was getting ready to leave. They would probably never see each other again and despite not wanting to believe that, they all knew it was true.
Hawkeye helped get the recovering solider get into the bus and made sure he was comfortable. He was glad that there was someone going home, this boy had his life thanks to Henry.
"Comfortable?" he asked.
"Yeah thanks Doc, say it is sure good to know that I am gonna be back home soon."
Hawkeye smiled and patted the boy's hand as he left the bus. "Good luck," he called.
"You too Doc."
"You gonna say goodbye to me," said a voice behind him.
"Margie, you really think I'd forget you," smiled Hawkeye pulling her close for a farewell embrace.
"I'm gonna miss you Hawkeye. Miss you chasing me, miss you getting me drunk and I know I will never be at ease in the shower knowing that you're not peeping through the tent at me."
"Well, I could arrange to come by your house if you like, only when you're showering of course, until you are confident enough to shower by yourself." Hawkeye grinned and kissed her face once more.
Margie climbed on the bus followed by Ginger, who gave Hawkeye a farewell hug. This was it they were really going, they were just waiting on Klinger.
"How do I look," exclaimed Corporal Klinger, strutting proudly towards the bus. He was dressed in a tailored suit with matching hat and shoes. Gone were the dresses, the high heels and the feathered hats.
"Why Klinger, I am impressed," said Hawkeye. "It's very you."
"Well I guess this goodbye, Sir. I sure wish I had something better to say, it ain't been a barrel of laughs but what fun we did have came from you. Thank you Sir."
Hawkeye felt a lump rising in his throat as he blinked back the tears.
"You know something Klinger, I always thought you had the best legs on campus." He gave him a hug and he boarded the bus with the others.
"Bye Hawkeye," they all called as Margie drove out of the compound.
The O.R seemed strangely quiet for that time of day. Usually, it would have been full of wounded and doctors and nurses darting back and forth to save the lives of the young soldiers who'd had the unfortunate luck to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But not today. Today should have been the happiest in all their lives, the war was finally over, no more meatball surgery, no more endless shifts and no more death. Death, however, was the one thing of everyone's mind.
It had been a hour maybe more since they had discovered Lt Colonel Henry Blake's body and yet the news was still to sink in properly. Hawkeye and Margaret had consoled each other the best they could. They knew they had to spur everyone else into carrying on, after all Frank was still missing and Trapper wasn't off the critical list yet.
"Margaret, are you awake?" Hawkeye whispered as he held her close.
"Yes."
"Have you thought about Frank? I can't think where he is."
Hawkeye didn't want to admit what he was really thinking, after all what chance did Frank really have. They hadn't find Henry alive and it had been a good four hours since he had last been seen.
"Hawkeye don't treat me with kid gloves, he must be dead."
"Don't do that. You don't know, we will start looking again."
Margaret looked up and stared deeply into Hawkeye's blue eyes. She knew he was only trying to help. She didn't really want to admit that Frank was gone but she knew that there was no point denying the inevitable.
At that moment, Margie came rushing in.
"Hawkeye, it's Trapper. He's awake."
* * * * * *
Margaret and Hawkeye followed Margie to the Swamp where Klinger had been monitoring Trapper's progress. Sure enough Trapper's eyes were open and he was even trying to talk.
"So, you finally decided to wake up," joked Hawkeye, sitting down beside his friend.
"Hey, buddy," croaked Trapper, trying to smile.
"How's he doing Klinger?"
"Fine Sir, his pulse is steady and vital signs are up. I think he may be ready for the next war."
"No more wars please," said Margaret holding Trapper's hand.
"Did everyone get out Ok?" asked Trapper.
Hawkeye looked to Margaret, then Klinger and Margie. This was where he made a moral decision. If he told Trapper the truth he could go into shock, but he couldn't lie to him.
"You see us sitting here don't ya," he joked.
"Very funny, what about the rest?"
Trapper's mind was hazy but he still could read the signs on his best friend's face. He knew it was bad news but he had to know.
"It's Henry," said Hawkeye, his eyes filling with fresh tears.
"Anybody else?"
"We still haven't found Frank and the kid we were working on when the bomb went off didn't make it either."
Trapper was still. Henry was really dead. This couldn't be happening.
"Where's Radar? How's he taking the news?"
In all the hurry to save Trapper, they had all forgotten about Corporal O'Reilly. Hawkeye hurried over to the Mess tent to see if Father Mulcahy had seen him, to which he received a negative response. No-one knew where he was. Then Hawkeye had a idea, he quickly headed for the C.O's office.
* * * * * *
"Ok, now what else do I have to do."
Radar was in the office, sorting through the filing cabinet and retrieving the relevant files he knew his commanding officer would need. Radar was proving that he was still the best company clerk around and he wasn't going to let anyone down. As he collected the last file, he went back to his desk and began sorting the paperwork whistling to himself as he did so.
His task was quickly interrupted by Hawkeye. He had realised how stupid he had been not to think of the one place that Radar would go, the one place he knew he would be needed.
"Hey Radar," he said cheerfully.
"Sir, you need something. I'm afraid the Colonel is out at the moment. I think he said he was going to his tent and didn't want to be disturbed. I was just getting these papers ready for him to sign."
"Ok, I just came to have a talk with you."
Radar looked up to the Captain who towered above him. He had always liked Hawkeye, even though he was a mere Corporal, both Hawkeye and Trapper had never treated him that way.
"What shall we talk about?" he asked.
"Radar, what are you doing? Please come back to the Mess tent, we can talk."
"I can't.." began Radar his lip beginning to tremble. "Colonel Blake needs these and if I don't get them to him, he will be mad."
"No he won't. No-one is going to be mad. Radar, you have to accept he's gone. I know it's hard, we all can't believe it but you must."
Radar began to cry. He knew what had happened, he saw Henry with his own eyes. That would be something he would never forget for as long as he lived.
"What am I gonna do without him. He was commanding officer, I looked at him like a father. My own Dad never did anything with me, but he did. He took the time, you know, he made time for me. No-one has ever done that before."
Hawkeye placed a study arm round Radar's small shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck. He was hurting too, but not even him or Trapper were as close to Henry as Radar had been. It was pure hell watching him go through this emotional trauma.
"Come on, we have to sort out what we are gonna do next."
Radar allowed Hawkeye to lead him from the office and across the compound to the Mess tent, where the rest of the survivors, except Trapper, were stationed.
* * * * * *
Father Mulcahy had managed to put together a semi-decent meal for everyone and despite the upsetting news they had all had to encounter, none of them had eaten for more than ten hours and the food was being devoured gratefully.
"You ever thought of being a chef, Father," said Klinger. "This is great."
As Hawkeye and Radar entered the Mess, they all stopped eating and turned to stare at the adolescent corporal. Although the discovery of Henry had been traumatic for them all, they all knew he would have wanted them to move forward and be strong. However, they also were aware just how difficult this would be for Radar and they all wanted to help.
"Hungry, my son," asked Father Mulcahy as Hawkeye guided Radar to the food.
"A little," came the quiet reply.
"Well, try and eat something."
Hawkeye grabbed some food and went to sit with Margaret. She was chasing her food around her plate but not really eating it.
"Any news on Frank?" he asked.
"No, we moved some more rubble but found nothing. I hate to keep looking, if he is buried that far down, there is no hope is there?"
"I'm sorry Margaret," was all he could say.
As Hawkeye tried to force some of the food down, he gazed around the tent at the rest of his comrades. Beyond the cuts on their faces and the bandages on their arms, each one of them was emotionally scarred by this tragedy. Losing their C.O and one of their co-workers in one day was hard enough on anyone, but if more tragic to think that had they all left sooner it would have never happened. He knew he had to get them home and he was going to start straight away.
"Can I have your attention please?" he called standing on the nearest bench.
Everyone stopped eating and focused on who was speaking.
"I know this has been rough on us all and losing Henry and Frank wasn't suppose to be part of the deal when we all came here. But then coming here wasn't my idea at all. However, we have survived and we have to continue to survive the only way we know how. I am sure that Henry and Frank would say the same. I am going back to the office and I am getting a chopper sent from Seoul today."
"But Captain," interrupted Margaret, her eyes wet with tears. "We have to stay till Friday."
"Impossible," retorted Hawkeye. "We have no supplies, we have no O.R and we have wounded people that need extra treatment and I for one am not going to sit here and wait for another bomb to finish us off. First I want Margie and Ginger to gather as many blankets as you can get from Supply. You are going to take the patient and Klinger to Tokyo."
Margie and Ginger nodded and headed off to the Supply tent immediately.
"You thought I hadn't noticed your leg didn't you Klinger?"
"Sir, I'm fine."
"Fine, you look like an ad for death. If you don't get to Seoul, you may get an infection and lose that leg. You are going, go get packed up."
Klinger didn't argue, he knew that his leg was getting worse. He had tried to ignore it but he was aware that the pain wasn't subsiding and he was beginning to feel hot and tired. He hurried outside and located a bus.
"Right, Father, you and Radar can go with them or you can stay until we leave. I will take Trapper by helicopter to Tokyo, he will still need observing for the next few hours, Margaret I hope you'll stay too."
"Of course Doctor."
"Um.Hawkeye," said Father Mulcahy. "I will stay for as long as necessary but I do think young Radar needs to get home as soon as possible."
Radar had said nothing during the conversation. He just sat there staring at his untouched plate. He didn't want to go home but he didn't want to be here either.
"Ok Father, I think it best you gather your belongings and Radar's too, take the jeep and follow the others. We'll be fine here."
The plan was settled. Hawkeye had no desire to stay at the 4077th anymore than the rest did, but he was still needed. Trapper couldn't make the journey by jeep and he wasn't about to desert his friend. He was appreciative of Margaret staying behind though, he knew why. She had nothing to go back for, even less than him. Another army base was no life for her but it was in her blood, it was all she knew.
* * * * * *
The bus was all packed as the remaining staff was getting ready to leave. They would probably never see each other again and despite not wanting to believe that, they all knew it was true.
Hawkeye helped get the recovering solider get into the bus and made sure he was comfortable. He was glad that there was someone going home, this boy had his life thanks to Henry.
"Comfortable?" he asked.
"Yeah thanks Doc, say it is sure good to know that I am gonna be back home soon."
Hawkeye smiled and patted the boy's hand as he left the bus. "Good luck," he called.
"You too Doc."
"You gonna say goodbye to me," said a voice behind him.
"Margie, you really think I'd forget you," smiled Hawkeye pulling her close for a farewell embrace.
"I'm gonna miss you Hawkeye. Miss you chasing me, miss you getting me drunk and I know I will never be at ease in the shower knowing that you're not peeping through the tent at me."
"Well, I could arrange to come by your house if you like, only when you're showering of course, until you are confident enough to shower by yourself." Hawkeye grinned and kissed her face once more.
Margie climbed on the bus followed by Ginger, who gave Hawkeye a farewell hug. This was it they were really going, they were just waiting on Klinger.
"How do I look," exclaimed Corporal Klinger, strutting proudly towards the bus. He was dressed in a tailored suit with matching hat and shoes. Gone were the dresses, the high heels and the feathered hats.
"Why Klinger, I am impressed," said Hawkeye. "It's very you."
"Well I guess this goodbye, Sir. I sure wish I had something better to say, it ain't been a barrel of laughs but what fun we did have came from you. Thank you Sir."
Hawkeye felt a lump rising in his throat as he blinked back the tears.
"You know something Klinger, I always thought you had the best legs on campus." He gave him a hug and he boarded the bus with the others.
"Bye Hawkeye," they all called as Margie drove out of the compound.