Chapter 2

He woke up a little while later, bandaged and in bed.

"Hey, you're awake!"

Hawkeye saw Trapper in his yellow bathrobe standing beside him.

"You had a couple of broken ribs, nothing serious, so they let me bring you back to the Swamp."

He went over to the still.

"You wanna drink?"

Hawkeye, staring off into space, said nothing.

"Not thirsty, huh?"

He poured himself a drink and sat on his cot.

"You O.K. Hawk? You haven't said anything since you got back."

He still said nothing.

"Hawkeye what happened? I'm really worried about you!"

Silence.

"C'mon Hawkeye, say something! All right, be a mute. Are you coming to dinner?"

Nothing.

"O.K., but I'm not bringing you back any slop."

He got up and left.

Hawkeye turned and watched the door slam shut, then put his head back down on his pillow and closed his eyes.

Instead of going to the mess tent, Trapper headed straight to Henry's office.

"Henry!"

"What is It now McIntyre?"

"It's Hawkeye, there's something wrong with him,"

Henry stared at him.

"You must think I'm the biggest idiot in the world-"

"No, I mean there's something really wrong with him, he's not saying anything."

"He probably just doesn't want to talk about-"

"He wouldn't even have a drink Henry."

"We'd better get Sidney on the phone. RA-"

"He's on the line sir."

"Thank you Radar."

He picked up the phone.

"Hi, Sidney? It's-"

"I know it's you Henry, what's going on?"

"Oh. Well uh, it's Captain Pierce. He was uh on his way to Tokyo when there was some shelling, and uh, ever since he got back he hasn't said a word. Wouldn't even accept a drink."

"Listen Henry, it's not that I don't care or anything, but I've got so many other people to take care of, I just don't have time for a guy in shock because he saw some bombs explode."

"C'mon Sidney, I think this could be really serious!"

"Alright listen Henry, next time I'm free I'll make a trip down to the 4077th, O.K.?"

"Thanks Sidney! Good luck with all your nut jobs."

"Uh, thanks. I guess."

Henry hung up the phone.

"Well, is he coming?" Trapper asked impatiently.

"He said as soon as he's done with all his other patients he'll make a trip down to the 4077th."

"Henry, do you know how many loonies that guy probably has to deal with? A lot! When the 4077th gains a loony toon it loses a head surgeon!"

"Hey, c'mon, give the guy a break! It's hard dealing with insane people. At least he's gonna come."

"Let's just hope Hawk snaps out of it before his shift. Or worse, his date."

Trapper left his office, and Henry got himself a drink.

"Man, how many times is this guy gonna go insane?"

Later that night Trapper woke up suddenly, for no apparent reason.

"Great, now I'm never gonna get back to sleep."

He heard a noise and turned quickly and saw Hawkeye sitting on the edge of his cot, sipping a martini and looking at a piece of paper he held in his hand.

"Hey Hawkeye, what're you doin'?"

Hawkeye just looked at him, took a deep breath, sipped more of his martini and looked at the piece of paper again.

"What're you looking at? Can I see it?"

He moved towards him, but Hawkeye backed away, clutching the piece of paper to his chest.

"O.K., that's alright, you can keep it."

Hawkeye finished his martini, lay down, and closed his eyes, still holding the paper.

Trapper waited until he fell asleep, then went over and carefully took the paper.

It was actually a photograph, of a woman holding a baby boy. It was crinkled, and a little ripped and charred around the edges.

"What the hell is this?" He thought.

"What the hell is this?" Henry asked the next morning when he showed it to him.

"Was he secretly married or something?"

"I dunno, I just woke up last night and he was drinking a martini and looking at it."

"Did he say anything?"

"Not a word. I tried to see it, but he wouldn't let me; I had to take it from him when he was asleep."

"Well who the hell could this be then?"

Henry scratched his head.

"I was not meant to be a psychiatrist."

"But your not."

"And I never will be!"

He sighed.

"I just wish I knew what was eatin' at him."