Disclaimer; All characters of the "M*A*S*H" series belong to 20th Century
Fox, and are based on the characters in the novels by Dr. Richard
Hornberger, who wrote under the penname Richard Hooker.
The Korean War started in 1950 and lasted until 1953, during that time 36,570 American soldiers died and 103,284 were wounded. A total of 4 million Koreans lost their lives during the war, as well. In 1997, the last MASH unit was retired in South Korea. Larry Linville, who passed away on April 10th, 2000, attended the ceremony.
This fanfiction is dedicated to all those involved in the M*A*S*H movie, released in 1969, the series that followed it in 1972, which lasted until 1983, and those brave men and women who served during the Korean War. We salute you all and thank you.
Information gathered from the following sites:
~~ Black Widow
M*A*S*H; Date with Death Chapter One: That Uneasy Feeling
Hawkeye was ecstatic! He was thrilled, giddy, drunk with pure happiness, and bursting with a surge of joy never to be topped. The feeling was akin to that thrill every child has as he runs down the stairs Christmas morning to find presents under the Christmas tree, and Hawkeye loved it. Humming the most romantic Bach piece he could think of, Hawkeye drabbed a picnic blanket over his right shoulder and started to carefully pack his picnic basket; a bottle of real red wine, not the stuff brewed in the Still, sandwiches made from bread and other previsions he had bought during his last trip Seoul, some salad, two martini glasses, two plates, silverware, and napkins.
Hawkeye picked up the last item and looked it over carefully. A box of chocolates he had asked Charles to buy while he was in Tokyo. It had been the first time he had asked Charles for a favor...and the first time his rival surgeon had agreed to do something "nice".
"I must say, Pierce," Charles said as he looked over the top of his paper towards the Love-Sick Surgeon "this new nurse from the 8063rd has really gotten to you."
"Yeah," Hawkeye said absent mindedly, a gentle smile crossing his face "she really has."
"Think maybe this Morana is the one, Hawk?" BJ asked, an un-easiness haunted his voice as he spoke.
"Please!" Charles scoffed "Pierce treats every woman as if she were 'The One'. He has no true interest in any woman, rather a keen interest in every woman."
"Charles, under normal circumstances I'd make a come back so witty, so intellectually superior to yours that you would have no choice but to bow down to my greatness." Pierce said, still smiling as he grabbed the basket and an umbrella "But considering how good a mood I'm in, and how late I am, my only retort will be as follows."
Hawkeye stuck out his tongue and gave Charles the loudest raspberry he could muster before ducking out of the Swamp laughing. Charles took no offence, he just smirked and returned to reading his paper, but BJ was another story.
"Can you believe that guy?" BJ asked Charles
"Yes, hardly the proper response to such a slanderous attack upon his womanizing ways." Charles chuckled "I think our boy has finally grown up. This Morana has cast quite a spell on him."
"See, that's my problem." BJ said, coming over to Charles
"Oh?"
"It's like you said, she's cast a spell on him. He's not acting like himself."
"Oh, Honeycutt, let's not start this again!" Charles groaned
"He's not the same Hawkeye we know and love." BJ was insistent
"You're quite correct, BJ, he's better. He's in a much better mood, he's more agreeable, he's less anxious, and to top it all off the man is happy! Now, why can't you just sit back and let him enjoy himself, enjoy her before she gets shipped off to God knows where?"
"Because I don't like the idea of my best friend hanging out with a nurse who appeared out of no where during the middle of the most devastating push this war has ever seen, has no dog-tags, no personal or public records of her existence ANYWHERE in this Military Red tape, and no interest in any body but Hawkeye! Did you see the way she singled him out at the party? Hundreds of people packed into the Mess Tent and she singles him out of everyone, EVERYONE! She watched him like a vulture watches prey, and have you seen her eyes? Have you looked into her eyes? It's like looking Death right in the face. They're cold, lifeless, hollow eyes! And she's as cold as ice, and I'm not only talking about her attitude to all the carnage that goes on around here, I'm talking about her very touch! When she shook my hand, felt like I was holding an ice cube!"
"I never thought I would see this side of you, BJ." Charles said, putting down his paper "But, then again, you are only human and susceptible to these sorts of emotions."
"What emotions? What are you talking about?"
"You're jealous."
"JEALOUS!"
"Yes, jealous. You're best friend has a new playmate and you can't stand it. You and Hawkeye have been buddies, chums, ever since you got here, and now that he would rather play doctor with a young nurse than football with you, you're getting protective and desperately trying to find fault in what my be the best thing to every happen to Pierce in a long time."
"I'm not jealous, I'm just worried about him."
"And why is that, BJ, why is that? Pierce is a big boy, he can handle himself, and now that the fighting has shifted there is no chance of him being caught by snipers or North Korean troops, so why are you so worried about him?"
"Because I have a bad feeling about her!"
Charles looked BJ over, amazed. He practically radiated with anger, his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. Charles folded his paper carefully and sighed, knowing what was coming next.
"I'm going to check with Radar, again, see if he's found anything about his Morana P. Erishkigal." BJ said
"Since breakfast?" Charles asked, but when BJ turned his angry eyes on Charles, he stood and placed both hands on his shoulders "Looks, let's go to the Mess Tent, have a cup of coffee, have a chat with Father Mulcahy, and give the boy some time to work."
BJ brushed Charles' hands from his shoulders and stormed out of the Swamp, towards the Office. Charles sighed as he followed BJ, shaking his head. Though he would NEVER admit it to anyone, Morana scared Charles. She scared him a lot!! He would also never admit that he, like BJ, had this feeling that something about her and the circumstances surrounding her were not right! He felt around her that same coldness he had felt after his younger brother had died, and he was determined to find out why!
* * * * *
The sun was shinning as though it was the first day of the world. The birds were singing, the flowers were in bloom, there were no mosquitoes or bees or flies or any other annoying insects buzzing around, and there was a cool breeze rustling the leaves in the trees. Everything was perfect, ideal, taken right out of the pages of a well-written romance novel.
Hawkeye trotted along the road as fast as he could. He was all ready thirty minutes late, having forgot how long it actually took to make a decent sandwich, and he didn't want Morana to leave. They were lucky that the fighting had shifted so they could met, but there schedules were arranged so they could only meet one day a week and only for a few hours.
As Hawkeye rounded the corner he came upon their semi-secluded little spot. A dip in the hill, surrounded by trees and flowers, not half a mile from the camp. Heck, if Hawkeye squinted he could make out the tops of the 4077's flag poles, so he wasn't THAT far from the camp if the choppers started flying in.
Hawkeye stopped dead in his tracks. Morana wasn't there.
"Morana?" Hawkeye approached the spot carefully "Morana? It's Ben. Morana?"
Hawkeye reached the dip and placed the basket and umbrella down. Standing up as straight as he could, Hawkeye looked around with narrowed eyes. Had she not shown up yet, or had she left?
"Morana?"
Something very strong and very fast tackled Hawkeye to the ground, and as the two rolled and tumbled down the hill onto the road the picnic blanket was tossed into the air only to drift down and land on top of the two. Hawkeye opened his eyes to find Morana lying on top of him, her long black hair falling onto his face, and the picnic blanket covering the two of them.
"Morana!" Hawkeye gasped "You scared me. I thought you were a North Korean trying to kill me or ask for directions."
Morana laughed "Sorry to disappoint you, Ben, but it's just little, old, harmless me."
Hawkeye smiled a sincere smile and gently pulled Morana's face towards his. As their lips met, Hawkeye felt all his cares and worries melt away. It was almost as though they were made for each other, not only mentally but physically. They way the curves in Morana's body complimented his was eerie. It took no effort on Hawkeye's behalf to take her in his arms and get comfortable, and the same was true for Morana.
Hawkeye was the first to break the kiss, he was never the first to break the kiss, but this time he was.
"What?" Morana asked
"I almost forgot." Hawkeye said, getting up and taking the blanket with him
"Almost forgot what?" Morana stood and followed
Hawkeye grabbed the box of chocolates from the basket and handed them to Morana, seeing for the first time the outfit she was wearing. Morana never wore Army issue clothes and was the only person Hawkeye knew, besides Klinger, who could get away with it. Instead, Morana wore clothes similar to those the locals wore. Today it was dark blue slacks and top, and her feet were bare.
"I should have had Charles get you some shoes, instead." Hawkeye said
"I like walking this road with no shoes." Morana said, looking down towards the 4077th "I connects me."
"With what? Blisters? Cuts? Bruises? Bugs? Glass? Sticks?~"
Morana smiled and kissed Hawkeye on the lips, silencing his list. As she pulled away from him, she said "No, to the people. By living the life they lead, I understand them better."
"I could never do that." Hawkeye sighed, remembering all the trouble he once went through to get a pair of new boots "I guess I'm not as dedicated to this as you are."
"No, you are dedicated in your own way. If you weren't, would you be the best surgeon in the entire Korean theater?"
"I'm not the best surgeon." Hawkeye said, sitting down on the grass and opening the basket "Somewhere out there is a surgeon better than me, saving more lives and doing more good."
Morana shock her head "No one else has cheated Death as many times as you have, Ben. Each patient that comes in gets one hundred percent of your attention, of you skill. If Death's hold on a patient gets too strong, you fight with Death to bring him back. Few mortals have been so brave as to take on Death....and win."
Hawkeye smiled slightly "Yeah, I guess I've cheated that old Bastard out of a lot of kids, haven't I? He must be pissed off at me. Must have a real grand-slam way to get back at me, too."
Morana smiled and shock her head "I doubt it."
Hawkeye smiled as he unpacked the picnic basket. Morana spread the blanket out on the ground then opened the umbrella behind Hawkeye to shade him. As she adjusted it she snuck him a kiss, then sat down next to him and snuggled against his shoulder. Hawkeye smiled and nuzzled her head, taking in her sweet, almost unnatural scent and let it take him away from reality, from the war, from everything.
The Korean War started in 1950 and lasted until 1953, during that time 36,570 American soldiers died and 103,284 were wounded. A total of 4 million Koreans lost their lives during the war, as well. In 1997, the last MASH unit was retired in South Korea. Larry Linville, who passed away on April 10th, 2000, attended the ceremony.
This fanfiction is dedicated to all those involved in the M*A*S*H movie, released in 1969, the series that followed it in 1972, which lasted until 1983, and those brave men and women who served during the Korean War. We salute you all and thank you.
Information gathered from the following sites:
~~ Black Widow
M*A*S*H; Date with Death Chapter One: That Uneasy Feeling
Hawkeye was ecstatic! He was thrilled, giddy, drunk with pure happiness, and bursting with a surge of joy never to be topped. The feeling was akin to that thrill every child has as he runs down the stairs Christmas morning to find presents under the Christmas tree, and Hawkeye loved it. Humming the most romantic Bach piece he could think of, Hawkeye drabbed a picnic blanket over his right shoulder and started to carefully pack his picnic basket; a bottle of real red wine, not the stuff brewed in the Still, sandwiches made from bread and other previsions he had bought during his last trip Seoul, some salad, two martini glasses, two plates, silverware, and napkins.
Hawkeye picked up the last item and looked it over carefully. A box of chocolates he had asked Charles to buy while he was in Tokyo. It had been the first time he had asked Charles for a favor...and the first time his rival surgeon had agreed to do something "nice".
"I must say, Pierce," Charles said as he looked over the top of his paper towards the Love-Sick Surgeon "this new nurse from the 8063rd has really gotten to you."
"Yeah," Hawkeye said absent mindedly, a gentle smile crossing his face "she really has."
"Think maybe this Morana is the one, Hawk?" BJ asked, an un-easiness haunted his voice as he spoke.
"Please!" Charles scoffed "Pierce treats every woman as if she were 'The One'. He has no true interest in any woman, rather a keen interest in every woman."
"Charles, under normal circumstances I'd make a come back so witty, so intellectually superior to yours that you would have no choice but to bow down to my greatness." Pierce said, still smiling as he grabbed the basket and an umbrella "But considering how good a mood I'm in, and how late I am, my only retort will be as follows."
Hawkeye stuck out his tongue and gave Charles the loudest raspberry he could muster before ducking out of the Swamp laughing. Charles took no offence, he just smirked and returned to reading his paper, but BJ was another story.
"Can you believe that guy?" BJ asked Charles
"Yes, hardly the proper response to such a slanderous attack upon his womanizing ways." Charles chuckled "I think our boy has finally grown up. This Morana has cast quite a spell on him."
"See, that's my problem." BJ said, coming over to Charles
"Oh?"
"It's like you said, she's cast a spell on him. He's not acting like himself."
"Oh, Honeycutt, let's not start this again!" Charles groaned
"He's not the same Hawkeye we know and love." BJ was insistent
"You're quite correct, BJ, he's better. He's in a much better mood, he's more agreeable, he's less anxious, and to top it all off the man is happy! Now, why can't you just sit back and let him enjoy himself, enjoy her before she gets shipped off to God knows where?"
"Because I don't like the idea of my best friend hanging out with a nurse who appeared out of no where during the middle of the most devastating push this war has ever seen, has no dog-tags, no personal or public records of her existence ANYWHERE in this Military Red tape, and no interest in any body but Hawkeye! Did you see the way she singled him out at the party? Hundreds of people packed into the Mess Tent and she singles him out of everyone, EVERYONE! She watched him like a vulture watches prey, and have you seen her eyes? Have you looked into her eyes? It's like looking Death right in the face. They're cold, lifeless, hollow eyes! And she's as cold as ice, and I'm not only talking about her attitude to all the carnage that goes on around here, I'm talking about her very touch! When she shook my hand, felt like I was holding an ice cube!"
"I never thought I would see this side of you, BJ." Charles said, putting down his paper "But, then again, you are only human and susceptible to these sorts of emotions."
"What emotions? What are you talking about?"
"You're jealous."
"JEALOUS!"
"Yes, jealous. You're best friend has a new playmate and you can't stand it. You and Hawkeye have been buddies, chums, ever since you got here, and now that he would rather play doctor with a young nurse than football with you, you're getting protective and desperately trying to find fault in what my be the best thing to every happen to Pierce in a long time."
"I'm not jealous, I'm just worried about him."
"And why is that, BJ, why is that? Pierce is a big boy, he can handle himself, and now that the fighting has shifted there is no chance of him being caught by snipers or North Korean troops, so why are you so worried about him?"
"Because I have a bad feeling about her!"
Charles looked BJ over, amazed. He practically radiated with anger, his eyes narrowed and his fists clenched. Charles folded his paper carefully and sighed, knowing what was coming next.
"I'm going to check with Radar, again, see if he's found anything about his Morana P. Erishkigal." BJ said
"Since breakfast?" Charles asked, but when BJ turned his angry eyes on Charles, he stood and placed both hands on his shoulders "Looks, let's go to the Mess Tent, have a cup of coffee, have a chat with Father Mulcahy, and give the boy some time to work."
BJ brushed Charles' hands from his shoulders and stormed out of the Swamp, towards the Office. Charles sighed as he followed BJ, shaking his head. Though he would NEVER admit it to anyone, Morana scared Charles. She scared him a lot!! He would also never admit that he, like BJ, had this feeling that something about her and the circumstances surrounding her were not right! He felt around her that same coldness he had felt after his younger brother had died, and he was determined to find out why!
* * * * *
The sun was shinning as though it was the first day of the world. The birds were singing, the flowers were in bloom, there were no mosquitoes or bees or flies or any other annoying insects buzzing around, and there was a cool breeze rustling the leaves in the trees. Everything was perfect, ideal, taken right out of the pages of a well-written romance novel.
Hawkeye trotted along the road as fast as he could. He was all ready thirty minutes late, having forgot how long it actually took to make a decent sandwich, and he didn't want Morana to leave. They were lucky that the fighting had shifted so they could met, but there schedules were arranged so they could only meet one day a week and only for a few hours.
As Hawkeye rounded the corner he came upon their semi-secluded little spot. A dip in the hill, surrounded by trees and flowers, not half a mile from the camp. Heck, if Hawkeye squinted he could make out the tops of the 4077's flag poles, so he wasn't THAT far from the camp if the choppers started flying in.
Hawkeye stopped dead in his tracks. Morana wasn't there.
"Morana?" Hawkeye approached the spot carefully "Morana? It's Ben. Morana?"
Hawkeye reached the dip and placed the basket and umbrella down. Standing up as straight as he could, Hawkeye looked around with narrowed eyes. Had she not shown up yet, or had she left?
"Morana?"
Something very strong and very fast tackled Hawkeye to the ground, and as the two rolled and tumbled down the hill onto the road the picnic blanket was tossed into the air only to drift down and land on top of the two. Hawkeye opened his eyes to find Morana lying on top of him, her long black hair falling onto his face, and the picnic blanket covering the two of them.
"Morana!" Hawkeye gasped "You scared me. I thought you were a North Korean trying to kill me or ask for directions."
Morana laughed "Sorry to disappoint you, Ben, but it's just little, old, harmless me."
Hawkeye smiled a sincere smile and gently pulled Morana's face towards his. As their lips met, Hawkeye felt all his cares and worries melt away. It was almost as though they were made for each other, not only mentally but physically. They way the curves in Morana's body complimented his was eerie. It took no effort on Hawkeye's behalf to take her in his arms and get comfortable, and the same was true for Morana.
Hawkeye was the first to break the kiss, he was never the first to break the kiss, but this time he was.
"What?" Morana asked
"I almost forgot." Hawkeye said, getting up and taking the blanket with him
"Almost forgot what?" Morana stood and followed
Hawkeye grabbed the box of chocolates from the basket and handed them to Morana, seeing for the first time the outfit she was wearing. Morana never wore Army issue clothes and was the only person Hawkeye knew, besides Klinger, who could get away with it. Instead, Morana wore clothes similar to those the locals wore. Today it was dark blue slacks and top, and her feet were bare.
"I should have had Charles get you some shoes, instead." Hawkeye said
"I like walking this road with no shoes." Morana said, looking down towards the 4077th "I connects me."
"With what? Blisters? Cuts? Bruises? Bugs? Glass? Sticks?~"
Morana smiled and kissed Hawkeye on the lips, silencing his list. As she pulled away from him, she said "No, to the people. By living the life they lead, I understand them better."
"I could never do that." Hawkeye sighed, remembering all the trouble he once went through to get a pair of new boots "I guess I'm not as dedicated to this as you are."
"No, you are dedicated in your own way. If you weren't, would you be the best surgeon in the entire Korean theater?"
"I'm not the best surgeon." Hawkeye said, sitting down on the grass and opening the basket "Somewhere out there is a surgeon better than me, saving more lives and doing more good."
Morana shock her head "No one else has cheated Death as many times as you have, Ben. Each patient that comes in gets one hundred percent of your attention, of you skill. If Death's hold on a patient gets too strong, you fight with Death to bring him back. Few mortals have been so brave as to take on Death....and win."
Hawkeye smiled slightly "Yeah, I guess I've cheated that old Bastard out of a lot of kids, haven't I? He must be pissed off at me. Must have a real grand-slam way to get back at me, too."
Morana smiled and shock her head "I doubt it."
Hawkeye smiled as he unpacked the picnic basket. Morana spread the blanket out on the ground then opened the umbrella behind Hawkeye to shade him. As she adjusted it she snuck him a kiss, then sat down next to him and snuggled against his shoulder. Hawkeye smiled and nuzzled her head, taking in her sweet, almost unnatural scent and let it take him away from reality, from the war, from everything.
