"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope
play!" I sang, horribly out of tune.
"That little miss, was one of the poorer renditions I've heard from you." Potter laughed, banging on the table to call a meeting of the senior medical staff together.
Margaret, Charles, BJ, Hawkeye, Potter and I gathered in the mess tent. Four long matches and two short ones lay in the centre of the table, telling us that there was some job to be done and it was either dangerous, unsavoury or both.
"We've been told to go to local villages and give the kids monthly once- overs. We'll draw straws; whichever two of us get the short ones go at 0930. Klinger do the honours." Klinger picked up the matches and tapped their ends on the table so they all sat evenly in his hand. He held them out and we slowly took them.
"Okay, I guess I'll be waving goodbye tomorrow." Hawkeye lay his match down.
"I'll be joining you Pierce." Potter flicked his match to land neatly beside Hawkeye's.
"Thank god for that." Winchester had pulled the third of four long matches.
"I reckon I know where that leaves me." BJ laughed, pulling a short match. Margaret and I shared glances; one of us was going too. Klinger pulled a coin from his pocket.
"Heads or tails Major?" He asked tossing the coin.
"Heads," Margaret called quickly, giving my hand a squeeze.
"Heads it is! Cap'n Pierce looks like you're going off on a holiday." Klinger lay the slightly beat-up coin down, the head was plainly visible.
"Well, now that that is sorted out, Pierce, Honnicut I want you two in my office pronto to receive orders. Dismissed."
The meeting broke up and BJ and I stopped for a martini before heading to Colonel Potter to find out exactly what we were in for.
"After you," BJ held the door and I entered the office, sitting on the edge of the desk.
"We've been ordered to try and be a little nicer to the local civilians, and that means medical service to the children. All you guys have to do is head out and give the kids a check-up. Give them all their shots and patch up any wounds. You take a jeep and as many supplies as you can fit in it." BJ and I went to get our bags and helmets.
"See you in 8 hours," Potter shook BJ's hand. He was far more serious than usual, he didn't like me going and I knew why, he was worried because I was pregnant.
"Take care Anne, you stick to Honnicut harder than a cat cemented to a scratching post." His emotion showed in the more unusual 'Potterisim' that he came out with.
"Yessir." Margaret hugged me and whispered a few strict words in my ear.
"Listen, you're expecting and I don't like this at all. Take good care, and sit down whenever you get tired. Don't do anything that will harm the baby." She squeezed me tightly and pulled back, looking a little teary.
"Love you Hawkeye. I'll be back soon" I turned to my husband smiling lovingly.
"Come back alive, if you don't I'll kill you okay?" He took me into an iron grip and whispered orders like Margaret's, exhorting me to take care of myself and my baby.
"Love you Ben dear, take care of everyone for me." I kissed him and his grip relaxed.
"Anne girl, are you coming or staying?" BJ called from the jeep. I laughed and got in.
"Honnicut, have you forgotten something?" Potter asked as BJ started the engine.
"No he hasn't, I knew he would." I stood up in the jeep as you could see BJ doing a mental check. I lifted the sides of my jacket to reveal his sidearm. He and Hawkeye felt very much the same about guns and I knew he'd leave it behind if he could. I felt the same way too, but I also saw the sense in taking one.
"Damn, so close, Anne hand it over." I handed it over. BJ sighed and strapped it on.
"Good girl Annie, now off you go." Potter smiled and thumped the back of the jeep.
"Bye love you all!" I turned and waved, until they were out of sight. We were looking forward to a day of hard work, but also fun, as BJ and I both loved the native kids. What we'd hoped would be a fun but busy day was quickly turned upside down, we never made it to the little village we were meant to that day.
"Shit!" A shell dropped and although I was surprised to hear mild-mannered BJ swear, I agreed with him thoroughly.
"There's a hut we can take shelter there." I called, as BJ hit the throttle. Another shell landed, closer to us, flipping the jeep I was thrown out of it, and the world went black.
"BJ? BJ where are you?" I called, as I opened my eyes and remembered what happened. My head throbbed, and I sat up slowly. I saw the jeep a few yards away and without knowing or caring about how exposed I was; I ran for the upturned jeep.
The jeep was lying on its side and the supplies were still fairly well strapped in. I moved around the other side, BJ was there, his foot trapped under the side of the jeep.
"BJ, BJ, wake up, come on Beej, you've gotta wake up." I fell beside him, semi-aware of the dull pain in my lower pelvis. Checking his pulse quickly, I knew he was still alive and from what I could tell, he had no broken bones in his arms, neck or ribs.
"Come on BJ, I can't loose you, wake up wake up." My hand ran over his face and I talked to my unconscious friend desperately. His eyelids flickered and he moaned.
"BJ, BJ, it's Annie," His eyes opened fully at the sound of my voice.
"Annie! Oh thank god you're okay, Hawkeye would've killed me if I didn't bring you back." He struggled to sit up. I knew I shouldn't have let him, but I was too happy that he was alive to care; and relieved, we threw our arms around each other.
"Thank god, thank god." BJ was murmuring to my neck. I felt his lips press warmly against my cheek when he pulled back.
"Annie, your head," He said, reaching for me, inspecting the wound.
"Oh, that, it's only little and it's stopped bleeding." I felt the gash on my scalp, and realised that my hair was sticky, as the blood stained it.
"It's mostly superficial, and it seems to be clotting quite naturally. Go get something from the jeep to dress it with, better safe than sorry." I hobbled up and was able to find the right things, and as I picked them up a pain shot through me, up my abdomen.
"Ow, ow, ow, Beej, help." I collapsed, doubled up, fighting off tears, nothing had ever hurt this bad before, not even being shot.
"Annie?" BJ voice was panicked as he could not see me behind the jeep and all had to rely on was my voice, which sounded pained and scared. I forced myself to breathe deeply and the pain subsided, I picked up the things again and returned to BJ's side.
"Anne, what is it? Not your baby," BJ was concerned as I fell next to him, still holding my stomach. He dressed my head and I answered him feeling more uncertain and scared than I ever had before.
"I don't know Beej, it just hurt, here, and here so bad, I'm scared BJ, you gotta help me." I knew I was crying, but I wasn't really interested. BJ's hand anxiously felt my stomach and pelvis, and I pulled away at the pain he caused.
"Anne, we need to get help, really soon, I think you might loose the baby." BJ's voice was shaking too, and although there were no tears, I could tell he was crying mentally.
"BJ, it's just a nightmare." I shook my head definitely, trying to get myself wake up.
"Anne, honey, if it was, I wouldn't be feeling like this too. Now I need you to see if you can move the jeep off my foot, I'm trapped here if you don't." He was hugging me closely, trying to convey as much strength and warmth as he could.
"I'll try." I went and tried to lift the jeep. I raised it about two inches but as soon as I'd felt any pressure on my stomach and back, more pain shot through me. I dropped the jeep, the pain doubling me over. BJ was yelling as the jeep landed back on him.
I forced myself to take long, slow, deep breaths, and slowly I was able to straighten up, and talk instead of crying and screaming.
"Beej, I'm so sorry, it just hurt so much." I crawled back to BJ's head.
"Try one more time Annie, please. It's in a worse position, it hurts more, please try." BJ begged through gritted teeth as I collapsed by him. There was an all too familiar whistling and explosion, a fair way away from us, but enough to shake the ground.
"Anne, we have to get out of here, try one more time, I'll move my foot quicker. I know it hurts you, but just try to bear it okay?" BJ had taken my face in his hands, and was stroking my face with his thumbs, wiping away tears.
"Anne, please, I need you to be incredibly brave and incredibly strong, for me." He had sat up again and was staring directly into my eyes.
"BJ I don't know if I can," I said, the constant pain in my lower pelvis had worsened.
"Annie, you have to." BJ gripped my face tightly, and I could see he was mentally fighting with himself over what he was to do next.
"Go, do it, please try." He said and pulled my face closer, kissing me briefly but firmly before releasing my face. Surprised, but feeling stronger, I dragged myself to my feet and lifted the jeep again. I gritted my teeth as the pain became worse. Suddenly BJ yelled and I dropped the jeep.
"Annie, thankyou so much, I wouldn't have ever been able to get out of here with you." The shelling had moved slightly away from us and I relaxed as I saw him lying on the dirt, his foot now mercifully free from the steel prison.
"Let's go, grab whatever supplies you can, and we'll take shelter in that hut." BJ ordered, as he dragged himself to the hut, a few things held in one arm while he used the other to support himself, his right foot was practically useless.
I dropped the stuff I'd grabbed from the jeep on the floor. BJ lay just inside the door and he looked up at me as I struggled into the one-room hut.
"Anne, you're bleeding." His voice carried panic as he pointed to my pants. There was blood staining them, a sticky red mess that was slowly spreading down towards my knees. It wasn't blood from my legs, they were both in perfect working order and I knew, with a horrible sinking feeling, at once what it was. I was losing my baby.
"Beej let me look at your foot." I fell next to him, ignoring the horrible pains that stabbed me every time I moved. I gently took off his boot. The foot was bruised and broken. Thankfully it wasn't bleeding and I found a bandage, and strapped it tightly.
"Annie, stop moving, I need to check you out, I need to see how bad it is." BJ ordered firmly, there was blood down to my shins. He'd given me a shot of morphine and now that things didn't hurt so much, I was trying to make us both comfortable.
"Let me look Anne, it could save your life too, you could be seriously haemorrhaging and I need to see." He was able to hobble on his tightly bandaged foot and he had pulled me to a rough bed in the corner that I hadn't noticed before.
I was tired, and I sat down wearily on the bed. It was only noon, and help wouldn't come for at least another 5 hours. The door to the hut opened, and I screamed, trying to see the figure that was silhouetted in the doorway.
"Who are you?" The figure demanded, stepping into the doorway. I relaxed, a native South Korean man with his wife and a daughter who looked about 18.
"We're doctors, we were hurt and we need help, this woman is pregnant and is very sick." BJ explained, holding his hands up in a non-threatening motion.
"There hospital in eighteen miles, 4077." The man said; his English was very good.
"I know, we come from there, would you please get help?" BJ begged. The man spoke to his daughter, who took off, running in the direction of the camp.
"Would you please get the rest of the things from the jeep outside?" BJ asked and the man addressed his wife in Korean. She began bringing in the rest of the supplies.
"My wife is nurse, she can help yes?" I was starting to feel more as the pains became so strong that the morphine no longer worked.
"Get me water, and lots of rags, and that, that and that." BJ pointed to several things the man's wife had brought in.
"It hurts so much! BJ help!" I screamed then as a worse pain than before washed over me. BJ came to me, soothing me and getting me to lie down. Thankfully I fainted.
I never imagined myself waking up cuddled to BJ. But I did, several hours later as after he'd cleaned me up, BJ had joined me, exhausted in a deep sleep. The woman saw me stirring and came over, talking in Korean.
"I am Kim chi, please stay calm, I am here to help, you have been very sick." I understood every word; I replied weakly that I knew.
"My husband has run for help, he will bring back doctors from the hospital." She explained and BJ woke up, surprised at the fluent Korean conversation taking place.
"Annie, you're okay, thank god for that." He kissed my head as he sat up. I realised I was wearing his shirt, several sizes too big, but that was it.
"What happened?" I queried tiredly as Kim chi encouraged me to drink water.
"Annie, you miscarried, it was messy but you'll be okay. There was no bleeding once you'd discharged the baby." BJ kept his arm around me as I shook with silent tears.
"Annie honey, go back to sleep." BJ lay me down again and I was asleep soon.
It was the sunlight that pierced the room that woke me. I checked my watch; it was dawn the next day. No help had come yet, and BJ was asleep beside me. Kim chi was asleep too, in a smaller, narrower bed I assumed was her daughter's.
I stood up slowly, I felt stiff, sore and incredibly sad. I staggered to the door and took a few steps out onto the road.
"Anne, where're you going?" BJ called tiredly.
"Latrine, I'll be just here," I replied, and BJ went back to sleep instantly.
I heard something and instinctively I turned, there were two jeeps driving towards us. One had a person standing up in the front, a familiar figure with black hair. I waved at them even though they were almost half a mile away. The jeeps sprang forwards as the drivers hit the throttle, having seen me. I went back and sat down beside BJ.
"BJ, BJ darling, it's all going to be okay now, we've got our rescuers coming." I ran a hand down his face, tucking the hair behind his ear. His hand came up to cover mine and he drew my hand to his mouth, passionately kissing my palm a few times.
"Beej, it's Annie." I whispered, pulling my hand free as his lips found the tips of my fingers. He woke up then as a jeep, tooting its horn loudly, pulled up outside.
"Sorry Anne, I forgot where I was. That's how Peggy wakes me." Hawkeye, Klinger and Margaret ran in, with Kim chi's husband and daughter close behind.
"Annie, oh my baby, my little girl, are you okay beautiful?" Hawkeye had me in his arms in a second, his eyes scanning the room anxiously. His gaze fell on bloodied sheets and fatigues; I guessed that somewhere in the bundle was my 8-week baby.
"Oh Jesus, Annie, I'm so sorry." Hawkeye knew what had happened at once. I started to cry and while Margaret checked out BJ, and Klinger collected the rest of the supplies, Hawkeye and I just sat on the floor, crying at the loss of our baby.
"Anne, come on, let's get you home, safe and sound." Hawkeye helped me to my feet.
"I can walk, help BJ." I said and Margaret, who had helped BJ up, but was not able to support his weight as he needed, swapped with Hawkeye.
"Annie, how horrible" Margaret whispered sadly. Potter came in and took in the sight. BJ, shirtless, his foot bandaged, leaning on Hawkeye and crying. Myself, wearing BJ's shirt, leaning on Margaret and crying. Hawkeye and Margaret, supporting us and crying. Even Klinger looked misty-eyed and he hadn't to my knowledge known about the baby.
"What in the name of Beelzebub is going on here? Why all the long faces? Annie are you okay?" Potter had crossed to me looking at my teary face anxiously.
"The baby, she lost her baby." BJ muttered as Hawkeye helped him hobble out to a jeep. Margaret had followed, helping me into the back of a jeep. Potter cursed softly.
"I'll trade you." Hawkeye offered, giving Margaret a hand into the back of BJ's jeep before climbing in with me, his arms holding me like he never wanted to let me go.
"Houlihan drive that one, Klinger, get the other." Colonel Potter got in the front of the jeep I was in as Margaret started her jeep and Klinger got in the jeep BJ and I had taken out. It had been flipped the right way up and it was still in reasonable order.
"Klinger you lead, Houlihan you follow, we'll bring up the rear. Convoy move off!" Colonel Potter started the engine and we moved out, shouting thanks to our helpers.
We were very subdued as the 4077th met us back at the camp later.
"I want wheelchairs for the Captains!" Margaret ordered and soon I was headed for the hospital. I was confined to a bed in Post-Op for 48 hours for close observation.
"Here we are, breakfast." Margaret had been waiting on me ever since I'd been put on bed rest. I pulled myself up and looked half-heartedly at the food before me.
"Ooh, fun, eggs." I muttered sarcastically but ate anyway, as Margaret found it a relief that I was acting normally. I'd had a long cry and I felt okay, there had been a service last night, and the whole camp found out, though most had known anyway without being told.
"Are you feeling okay Anne, you've been through a lot?" Margaret asked anxiously.
"I'll be okay Margaret, is Hawk out of bed yet?"
"No, he had a shift last night. Just remember Annie, you're only 26, you've got so much of your life ahead of you, there's plenty of time. If only I was so lucky." She sighed then; she had hoped that Donald would be the one.
"If bigamy wasn't illegal, I'd marry you too. You're a lovely woman, you'll find someone." Hawkeye had come up, touching Margaret's shoulder warmly.
They'd always be close, and there was little I could do about it. Not that I cared, I enjoyed seeing them as such good friends. It was a change from the bickering that carried when I was new to the outfit. I guess with having a wife and best friend in common, they finally had to change their ways.
"Thankyou Hawkeye." She kissed his cheek as he sat down on the edge of my bed.
"I thought you'd be asleep longer?" She asked.
"And leave my beautiful bride alone? Never!" Hawkeye rose to his feet pulling a pretend sword trying to attack Margaret.
"Well, after something like that, it's important you start walking a few days later. So how about now?" Margaret asked, playfully pushing Hawkeye back.
"Alright," I took her hand and with her and Hawkeye's help, I staggered out for a little walk around the compound.
"Hey hey! It's my favourite patient!" BJ hobbled up, a crutch under one arm. Margaret moved aside to let him hug me, but I clutched at her again for support as soon as we'd finished.
"Anne, listen you were so brave and I thank you for everything you did. You saved my life Anne; I couldn't have done it without you. I know you lost your baby and I'm so sorry for that but you were incredibly brave and if Hawkeye would help me, you really need something." Hawkeye left my side, Margaret propping me up, and went around to BJ, helping him shift his weight off the crutch and fully onto his left foot. Potter as he passed was amazed, to see an almost re-enactment of how he had seen us, wearily making our way out of the hut.
"What in the name of . . .!" Words failed the Colonel as BJ's eyes filled with tears as he studied me with love and pride. The Colonel fell silent, and watched as BJ slowly and deliberately dropped his crutch, freeing his right arm. He shifted more of his weight onto Hawkeye and smiled, warmly and seriously.
"Annabelle Felicity Amy Jane Pierce, neither Peggy, Erin nor I can thank you enough for saving me out there. You know I don't do this often, but you deserve it." He pulled himself to attention and gave a salute. He never saluted, for him it was a final, heartfelt mark of respect, and I was at the receiving end of his one and only salute.
"Thankyou BJ, oh my god Hawkeye." Hawkeye had let BJ go enough to salute me as well, and crying, I returned the salute. We stood there for a full minute, just looking at each other, saluting firmly.
"Thankyou Annabelle." BJ dropped his salute and with Hawkeye's help resettled himself on the crutch.
"Thankyou BJ." I smiled, and slowly we turned, and forming one big line, walked, staggered and limped to Post-Op leaving our Colonel stunned standing alone where we had just been.
I'd lost my baby, but Margaret was right, I had my whole life ahead of me. And it had changed BJ and I in a way that no one could change, and that as they watched us laughing, operating and crying together, no one wanted to.
"That little miss, was one of the poorer renditions I've heard from you." Potter laughed, banging on the table to call a meeting of the senior medical staff together.
Margaret, Charles, BJ, Hawkeye, Potter and I gathered in the mess tent. Four long matches and two short ones lay in the centre of the table, telling us that there was some job to be done and it was either dangerous, unsavoury or both.
"We've been told to go to local villages and give the kids monthly once- overs. We'll draw straws; whichever two of us get the short ones go at 0930. Klinger do the honours." Klinger picked up the matches and tapped their ends on the table so they all sat evenly in his hand. He held them out and we slowly took them.
"Okay, I guess I'll be waving goodbye tomorrow." Hawkeye lay his match down.
"I'll be joining you Pierce." Potter flicked his match to land neatly beside Hawkeye's.
"Thank god for that." Winchester had pulled the third of four long matches.
"I reckon I know where that leaves me." BJ laughed, pulling a short match. Margaret and I shared glances; one of us was going too. Klinger pulled a coin from his pocket.
"Heads or tails Major?" He asked tossing the coin.
"Heads," Margaret called quickly, giving my hand a squeeze.
"Heads it is! Cap'n Pierce looks like you're going off on a holiday." Klinger lay the slightly beat-up coin down, the head was plainly visible.
"Well, now that that is sorted out, Pierce, Honnicut I want you two in my office pronto to receive orders. Dismissed."
The meeting broke up and BJ and I stopped for a martini before heading to Colonel Potter to find out exactly what we were in for.
"After you," BJ held the door and I entered the office, sitting on the edge of the desk.
"We've been ordered to try and be a little nicer to the local civilians, and that means medical service to the children. All you guys have to do is head out and give the kids a check-up. Give them all their shots and patch up any wounds. You take a jeep and as many supplies as you can fit in it." BJ and I went to get our bags and helmets.
"See you in 8 hours," Potter shook BJ's hand. He was far more serious than usual, he didn't like me going and I knew why, he was worried because I was pregnant.
"Take care Anne, you stick to Honnicut harder than a cat cemented to a scratching post." His emotion showed in the more unusual 'Potterisim' that he came out with.
"Yessir." Margaret hugged me and whispered a few strict words in my ear.
"Listen, you're expecting and I don't like this at all. Take good care, and sit down whenever you get tired. Don't do anything that will harm the baby." She squeezed me tightly and pulled back, looking a little teary.
"Love you Hawkeye. I'll be back soon" I turned to my husband smiling lovingly.
"Come back alive, if you don't I'll kill you okay?" He took me into an iron grip and whispered orders like Margaret's, exhorting me to take care of myself and my baby.
"Love you Ben dear, take care of everyone for me." I kissed him and his grip relaxed.
"Anne girl, are you coming or staying?" BJ called from the jeep. I laughed and got in.
"Honnicut, have you forgotten something?" Potter asked as BJ started the engine.
"No he hasn't, I knew he would." I stood up in the jeep as you could see BJ doing a mental check. I lifted the sides of my jacket to reveal his sidearm. He and Hawkeye felt very much the same about guns and I knew he'd leave it behind if he could. I felt the same way too, but I also saw the sense in taking one.
"Damn, so close, Anne hand it over." I handed it over. BJ sighed and strapped it on.
"Good girl Annie, now off you go." Potter smiled and thumped the back of the jeep.
"Bye love you all!" I turned and waved, until they were out of sight. We were looking forward to a day of hard work, but also fun, as BJ and I both loved the native kids. What we'd hoped would be a fun but busy day was quickly turned upside down, we never made it to the little village we were meant to that day.
"Shit!" A shell dropped and although I was surprised to hear mild-mannered BJ swear, I agreed with him thoroughly.
"There's a hut we can take shelter there." I called, as BJ hit the throttle. Another shell landed, closer to us, flipping the jeep I was thrown out of it, and the world went black.
"BJ? BJ where are you?" I called, as I opened my eyes and remembered what happened. My head throbbed, and I sat up slowly. I saw the jeep a few yards away and without knowing or caring about how exposed I was; I ran for the upturned jeep.
The jeep was lying on its side and the supplies were still fairly well strapped in. I moved around the other side, BJ was there, his foot trapped under the side of the jeep.
"BJ, BJ, wake up, come on Beej, you've gotta wake up." I fell beside him, semi-aware of the dull pain in my lower pelvis. Checking his pulse quickly, I knew he was still alive and from what I could tell, he had no broken bones in his arms, neck or ribs.
"Come on BJ, I can't loose you, wake up wake up." My hand ran over his face and I talked to my unconscious friend desperately. His eyelids flickered and he moaned.
"BJ, BJ, it's Annie," His eyes opened fully at the sound of my voice.
"Annie! Oh thank god you're okay, Hawkeye would've killed me if I didn't bring you back." He struggled to sit up. I knew I shouldn't have let him, but I was too happy that he was alive to care; and relieved, we threw our arms around each other.
"Thank god, thank god." BJ was murmuring to my neck. I felt his lips press warmly against my cheek when he pulled back.
"Annie, your head," He said, reaching for me, inspecting the wound.
"Oh, that, it's only little and it's stopped bleeding." I felt the gash on my scalp, and realised that my hair was sticky, as the blood stained it.
"It's mostly superficial, and it seems to be clotting quite naturally. Go get something from the jeep to dress it with, better safe than sorry." I hobbled up and was able to find the right things, and as I picked them up a pain shot through me, up my abdomen.
"Ow, ow, ow, Beej, help." I collapsed, doubled up, fighting off tears, nothing had ever hurt this bad before, not even being shot.
"Annie?" BJ voice was panicked as he could not see me behind the jeep and all had to rely on was my voice, which sounded pained and scared. I forced myself to breathe deeply and the pain subsided, I picked up the things again and returned to BJ's side.
"Anne, what is it? Not your baby," BJ was concerned as I fell next to him, still holding my stomach. He dressed my head and I answered him feeling more uncertain and scared than I ever had before.
"I don't know Beej, it just hurt, here, and here so bad, I'm scared BJ, you gotta help me." I knew I was crying, but I wasn't really interested. BJ's hand anxiously felt my stomach and pelvis, and I pulled away at the pain he caused.
"Anne, we need to get help, really soon, I think you might loose the baby." BJ's voice was shaking too, and although there were no tears, I could tell he was crying mentally.
"BJ, it's just a nightmare." I shook my head definitely, trying to get myself wake up.
"Anne, honey, if it was, I wouldn't be feeling like this too. Now I need you to see if you can move the jeep off my foot, I'm trapped here if you don't." He was hugging me closely, trying to convey as much strength and warmth as he could.
"I'll try." I went and tried to lift the jeep. I raised it about two inches but as soon as I'd felt any pressure on my stomach and back, more pain shot through me. I dropped the jeep, the pain doubling me over. BJ was yelling as the jeep landed back on him.
I forced myself to take long, slow, deep breaths, and slowly I was able to straighten up, and talk instead of crying and screaming.
"Beej, I'm so sorry, it just hurt so much." I crawled back to BJ's head.
"Try one more time Annie, please. It's in a worse position, it hurts more, please try." BJ begged through gritted teeth as I collapsed by him. There was an all too familiar whistling and explosion, a fair way away from us, but enough to shake the ground.
"Anne, we have to get out of here, try one more time, I'll move my foot quicker. I know it hurts you, but just try to bear it okay?" BJ had taken my face in his hands, and was stroking my face with his thumbs, wiping away tears.
"Anne, please, I need you to be incredibly brave and incredibly strong, for me." He had sat up again and was staring directly into my eyes.
"BJ I don't know if I can," I said, the constant pain in my lower pelvis had worsened.
"Annie, you have to." BJ gripped my face tightly, and I could see he was mentally fighting with himself over what he was to do next.
"Go, do it, please try." He said and pulled my face closer, kissing me briefly but firmly before releasing my face. Surprised, but feeling stronger, I dragged myself to my feet and lifted the jeep again. I gritted my teeth as the pain became worse. Suddenly BJ yelled and I dropped the jeep.
"Annie, thankyou so much, I wouldn't have ever been able to get out of here with you." The shelling had moved slightly away from us and I relaxed as I saw him lying on the dirt, his foot now mercifully free from the steel prison.
"Let's go, grab whatever supplies you can, and we'll take shelter in that hut." BJ ordered, as he dragged himself to the hut, a few things held in one arm while he used the other to support himself, his right foot was practically useless.
I dropped the stuff I'd grabbed from the jeep on the floor. BJ lay just inside the door and he looked up at me as I struggled into the one-room hut.
"Anne, you're bleeding." His voice carried panic as he pointed to my pants. There was blood staining them, a sticky red mess that was slowly spreading down towards my knees. It wasn't blood from my legs, they were both in perfect working order and I knew, with a horrible sinking feeling, at once what it was. I was losing my baby.
"Beej let me look at your foot." I fell next to him, ignoring the horrible pains that stabbed me every time I moved. I gently took off his boot. The foot was bruised and broken. Thankfully it wasn't bleeding and I found a bandage, and strapped it tightly.
"Annie, stop moving, I need to check you out, I need to see how bad it is." BJ ordered firmly, there was blood down to my shins. He'd given me a shot of morphine and now that things didn't hurt so much, I was trying to make us both comfortable.
"Let me look Anne, it could save your life too, you could be seriously haemorrhaging and I need to see." He was able to hobble on his tightly bandaged foot and he had pulled me to a rough bed in the corner that I hadn't noticed before.
I was tired, and I sat down wearily on the bed. It was only noon, and help wouldn't come for at least another 5 hours. The door to the hut opened, and I screamed, trying to see the figure that was silhouetted in the doorway.
"Who are you?" The figure demanded, stepping into the doorway. I relaxed, a native South Korean man with his wife and a daughter who looked about 18.
"We're doctors, we were hurt and we need help, this woman is pregnant and is very sick." BJ explained, holding his hands up in a non-threatening motion.
"There hospital in eighteen miles, 4077." The man said; his English was very good.
"I know, we come from there, would you please get help?" BJ begged. The man spoke to his daughter, who took off, running in the direction of the camp.
"Would you please get the rest of the things from the jeep outside?" BJ asked and the man addressed his wife in Korean. She began bringing in the rest of the supplies.
"My wife is nurse, she can help yes?" I was starting to feel more as the pains became so strong that the morphine no longer worked.
"Get me water, and lots of rags, and that, that and that." BJ pointed to several things the man's wife had brought in.
"It hurts so much! BJ help!" I screamed then as a worse pain than before washed over me. BJ came to me, soothing me and getting me to lie down. Thankfully I fainted.
I never imagined myself waking up cuddled to BJ. But I did, several hours later as after he'd cleaned me up, BJ had joined me, exhausted in a deep sleep. The woman saw me stirring and came over, talking in Korean.
"I am Kim chi, please stay calm, I am here to help, you have been very sick." I understood every word; I replied weakly that I knew.
"My husband has run for help, he will bring back doctors from the hospital." She explained and BJ woke up, surprised at the fluent Korean conversation taking place.
"Annie, you're okay, thank god for that." He kissed my head as he sat up. I realised I was wearing his shirt, several sizes too big, but that was it.
"What happened?" I queried tiredly as Kim chi encouraged me to drink water.
"Annie, you miscarried, it was messy but you'll be okay. There was no bleeding once you'd discharged the baby." BJ kept his arm around me as I shook with silent tears.
"Annie honey, go back to sleep." BJ lay me down again and I was asleep soon.
It was the sunlight that pierced the room that woke me. I checked my watch; it was dawn the next day. No help had come yet, and BJ was asleep beside me. Kim chi was asleep too, in a smaller, narrower bed I assumed was her daughter's.
I stood up slowly, I felt stiff, sore and incredibly sad. I staggered to the door and took a few steps out onto the road.
"Anne, where're you going?" BJ called tiredly.
"Latrine, I'll be just here," I replied, and BJ went back to sleep instantly.
I heard something and instinctively I turned, there were two jeeps driving towards us. One had a person standing up in the front, a familiar figure with black hair. I waved at them even though they were almost half a mile away. The jeeps sprang forwards as the drivers hit the throttle, having seen me. I went back and sat down beside BJ.
"BJ, BJ darling, it's all going to be okay now, we've got our rescuers coming." I ran a hand down his face, tucking the hair behind his ear. His hand came up to cover mine and he drew my hand to his mouth, passionately kissing my palm a few times.
"Beej, it's Annie." I whispered, pulling my hand free as his lips found the tips of my fingers. He woke up then as a jeep, tooting its horn loudly, pulled up outside.
"Sorry Anne, I forgot where I was. That's how Peggy wakes me." Hawkeye, Klinger and Margaret ran in, with Kim chi's husband and daughter close behind.
"Annie, oh my baby, my little girl, are you okay beautiful?" Hawkeye had me in his arms in a second, his eyes scanning the room anxiously. His gaze fell on bloodied sheets and fatigues; I guessed that somewhere in the bundle was my 8-week baby.
"Oh Jesus, Annie, I'm so sorry." Hawkeye knew what had happened at once. I started to cry and while Margaret checked out BJ, and Klinger collected the rest of the supplies, Hawkeye and I just sat on the floor, crying at the loss of our baby.
"Anne, come on, let's get you home, safe and sound." Hawkeye helped me to my feet.
"I can walk, help BJ." I said and Margaret, who had helped BJ up, but was not able to support his weight as he needed, swapped with Hawkeye.
"Annie, how horrible" Margaret whispered sadly. Potter came in and took in the sight. BJ, shirtless, his foot bandaged, leaning on Hawkeye and crying. Myself, wearing BJ's shirt, leaning on Margaret and crying. Hawkeye and Margaret, supporting us and crying. Even Klinger looked misty-eyed and he hadn't to my knowledge known about the baby.
"What in the name of Beelzebub is going on here? Why all the long faces? Annie are you okay?" Potter had crossed to me looking at my teary face anxiously.
"The baby, she lost her baby." BJ muttered as Hawkeye helped him hobble out to a jeep. Margaret had followed, helping me into the back of a jeep. Potter cursed softly.
"I'll trade you." Hawkeye offered, giving Margaret a hand into the back of BJ's jeep before climbing in with me, his arms holding me like he never wanted to let me go.
"Houlihan drive that one, Klinger, get the other." Colonel Potter got in the front of the jeep I was in as Margaret started her jeep and Klinger got in the jeep BJ and I had taken out. It had been flipped the right way up and it was still in reasonable order.
"Klinger you lead, Houlihan you follow, we'll bring up the rear. Convoy move off!" Colonel Potter started the engine and we moved out, shouting thanks to our helpers.
We were very subdued as the 4077th met us back at the camp later.
"I want wheelchairs for the Captains!" Margaret ordered and soon I was headed for the hospital. I was confined to a bed in Post-Op for 48 hours for close observation.
"Here we are, breakfast." Margaret had been waiting on me ever since I'd been put on bed rest. I pulled myself up and looked half-heartedly at the food before me.
"Ooh, fun, eggs." I muttered sarcastically but ate anyway, as Margaret found it a relief that I was acting normally. I'd had a long cry and I felt okay, there had been a service last night, and the whole camp found out, though most had known anyway without being told.
"Are you feeling okay Anne, you've been through a lot?" Margaret asked anxiously.
"I'll be okay Margaret, is Hawk out of bed yet?"
"No, he had a shift last night. Just remember Annie, you're only 26, you've got so much of your life ahead of you, there's plenty of time. If only I was so lucky." She sighed then; she had hoped that Donald would be the one.
"If bigamy wasn't illegal, I'd marry you too. You're a lovely woman, you'll find someone." Hawkeye had come up, touching Margaret's shoulder warmly.
They'd always be close, and there was little I could do about it. Not that I cared, I enjoyed seeing them as such good friends. It was a change from the bickering that carried when I was new to the outfit. I guess with having a wife and best friend in common, they finally had to change their ways.
"Thankyou Hawkeye." She kissed his cheek as he sat down on the edge of my bed.
"I thought you'd be asleep longer?" She asked.
"And leave my beautiful bride alone? Never!" Hawkeye rose to his feet pulling a pretend sword trying to attack Margaret.
"Well, after something like that, it's important you start walking a few days later. So how about now?" Margaret asked, playfully pushing Hawkeye back.
"Alright," I took her hand and with her and Hawkeye's help, I staggered out for a little walk around the compound.
"Hey hey! It's my favourite patient!" BJ hobbled up, a crutch under one arm. Margaret moved aside to let him hug me, but I clutched at her again for support as soon as we'd finished.
"Anne, listen you were so brave and I thank you for everything you did. You saved my life Anne; I couldn't have done it without you. I know you lost your baby and I'm so sorry for that but you were incredibly brave and if Hawkeye would help me, you really need something." Hawkeye left my side, Margaret propping me up, and went around to BJ, helping him shift his weight off the crutch and fully onto his left foot. Potter as he passed was amazed, to see an almost re-enactment of how he had seen us, wearily making our way out of the hut.
"What in the name of . . .!" Words failed the Colonel as BJ's eyes filled with tears as he studied me with love and pride. The Colonel fell silent, and watched as BJ slowly and deliberately dropped his crutch, freeing his right arm. He shifted more of his weight onto Hawkeye and smiled, warmly and seriously.
"Annabelle Felicity Amy Jane Pierce, neither Peggy, Erin nor I can thank you enough for saving me out there. You know I don't do this often, but you deserve it." He pulled himself to attention and gave a salute. He never saluted, for him it was a final, heartfelt mark of respect, and I was at the receiving end of his one and only salute.
"Thankyou BJ, oh my god Hawkeye." Hawkeye had let BJ go enough to salute me as well, and crying, I returned the salute. We stood there for a full minute, just looking at each other, saluting firmly.
"Thankyou Annabelle." BJ dropped his salute and with Hawkeye's help resettled himself on the crutch.
"Thankyou BJ." I smiled, and slowly we turned, and forming one big line, walked, staggered and limped to Post-Op leaving our Colonel stunned standing alone where we had just been.
I'd lost my baby, but Margaret was right, I had my whole life ahead of me. And it had changed BJ and I in a way that no one could change, and that as they watched us laughing, operating and crying together, no one wanted to.