13 - To Hell With Korea, Here, Have a Sword!
"Attention all personnel! Great news! We are two hours away from peace! America and Korea have signed a peace treaty, in two hours we can all go home!" Klinger yelled over the PA.
Toni stared at Hawkeye in shock.
"We're going home!" He yelled, grabbing Toni and hugging her tightly.
She smiled, and returned it, overjoyed.
"It's over. It's really over. Oh my God. THE WAR IS OVER!" Hawkeye let go of Toni and ran outside, jumping and yelling. "I'm going home! Woohoo! We're all going home!" He ran into Sidney, and grabbed the man's hands, skipping in circles. "I'm going home!" He yelled, then ran into the Swamp. "Beej, we're going home! You can see Peg again!"
The other man grinned. "Yeah, I know."
"Attention all personnel. The war my be over in two hours but the Koreans are shooting while they can. We have wounded. Bet them while they're fresh!" Klinger called over the PA.
"Aw, shit." Hawkeye commented, back to normal. "Duty calls."
He met back up with Toni at the chopper bay. "Hey again."
"Hey Ben. How you feeling?" She asked.
"You know, you're the only person around here that calls me Ben."
"I know." Toni smiled, continuing to get patient details.
Hawkeye grinned. "I can live with that." He smiled.
"Aruuuugh!" Someone shrieked.
Hawkeye's head snapped around, and he saw a soldier screaming in pain.
"Jesus. Beej get over here!" He yelled. "Toni, you gotta help me."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Hold him down. I can't do anything with him thrashing around like that. BEEJ!"
The other man appeared at Hawkeye's shoulder. "What can I- ah shit." He finished when he saw the man.
"He's on the stretcher, help me get him to the OR. Toni, you're doing a good job, keep it up." Hawkeye wiped sweat off his brow, and twisted his back for a moment, before carrying the man to the OR. "Shit." He whispered, and his hands shook and the man almost slipped off.
"You alright?" BJ asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He snapped in reply.
Toni and BJ shared a concerned look, but there was no time to debate the issue.
Together they carried the man, and carefully dumped him on a spare bed. Margaret and most of her nurses were standing by already, and Charles was already working on someone.
Hawkeye had taken a moment to give triage duty to Potter before they had carried the man to surgery.
As soon as they had finished patching up their first BJ left Hawkeye to star on someone else, and Hawkeye was re-directed to another patient.
An eight year old girl. "What the fuck is she doing here?" He demanded, and noticed her eyes were open. "And what is she doing awake?"
"You alright over there, Pierce?" Potter asked, and Hawkeye realized that triage must be over.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's her I'm worried about." He snapped, turning so a nurse could put a new mask on him. He pulled his own gloves on, tightly, making them snap as he let go.
"Can you do her? We can swap if you want."
Hawkeye glanced up at Potter, unsure. His eyes flicked to Sid, who was dressed to help. He bit his lip. "I'm fine. Let's do this." He snapped. "She's my patient."
---
She walked through the camp, her hands in her pockets, the two swords in their bags hanging over each shoulder.
She'd been trying to find Hawkeye for at least half an hour now, all the patients were done and the peace treaty had gone into effect five minutes ago. Sid hadn't been the only one to miss his presence at the party.
"Ben?" She called, as she hurried to their lake, the bags swinging gently against her back.
He didn't turn as she approached, but she knew he'd heard her. "Hey Toni. How can I help you?"
"I have to talk to you. The treat was just put in place. We're all going home."
"Yeah, I know that much." He commented dryly.
She joined him at the edge of the lake, staring out into it's murky depths. "I-" She paused. "I'm really gonna miss you, Benjamin."
"So? We're all gonna miss each other. We can stay in touch."
"That's what I want. So, that's why I am not asking you to marry me." She knelt in front of him, and lowered her head, holding Rebekka's sword over it.
A long moment passed, but Toni didn't move.
"Toni, do you know what you are asking?"
"Yes, I do. And I want this. And I need to know if you want the same thing." She replied softly, without looking up at him.
She felt the blade being taken from her hands, and heard him breathe deeply.
"Toni, when I first saw you, you were kneeling in front of a Korean man, with Jack beside you, and Quinn beside me."
Toni's cheek twitched. She hadn't seen Quinn since the night he'd arrived.
"You were staring straight ahead, despite the gun that was digging into your back. You knew what was coming and faced it down." Hawkeye crouched down. "I have to tell you this. Jack knew who the Korean man was going to shoot. It was going to be you the whole time. He moved in front of the gun, a second before the man shot. When Jack to the bullet for you, I knew it was for a reason."
"Jack took the bullet for me?" She whispered, looking down.
"Yes. You know his last words?"
She shook her head. She had been out cold by the time Hawkeye and BJ had gotten to them. "'Take care of her'. And I promised I would. I was in love with you from the moment I met you."
"You never told me."
"I wanted you to know when you were ready. And now you are, I want you to know I would be honoured to be your husband." Hawkeye slung the sword over his shoulder, and took her hands.
They stood together, and walked back to the party, hand-in-hand.
---
"Well, it's been a long war, folks. But you know what? If only one good thing has come out of it, it's that two people from the MASH unit 4077 have finally come to their senses. Your very own Chief Surgeon, and everyone's favourite female paper-shuffler, are getting married!" Hawkeye announced.
There was silence, then BJ started clapping. Then the whole room burst into claps, and cheers.
Through the noise a voice came through. "I thought I was everyone's favourite female paper-shuffler." Klinger said in a mock-hurt voice.
Toni burst out laughing, and was soon joined by the rest of the camp.
"And so, I have to ask, Father Mulcahy, will you marry us?" Toni asked.
"I would be delighted!"
"And, BJ, would you be my best man?" Hawkeye requested.
"All you have to do is ask."
"Major Houlihan, would you be my bridesmaid?" Toni asked.
"I would be honoured."
"Colonel Potter, will you give me away?"
"Depends on who to. Anyone aside from Pierce and the answer is no!"
"I'll take that as a yes then." Toni replied, smiling.
"We have made our own vows, and here they are."
"Alright then." Mulcahy replied, taking the paper from Hawkeye. "Captain Benjamin Pierce, will you take Corporal Toni White as your wife?"
"You bet."
"Corporal Toni White, will you take Captain Benjamin Pierce as your husband?"
"You bet."
"I now announce you husband and wife!"
"But we didn't do anything!" BJ, Houlihan and Potter exclaimed.
Hawkeye shrugged. "What can we say?" He asked.
The three sighed, but let it pass. As long as the married couple was happy, the were.
"So where are you two gonna live?"
"Crabapple Cove." Toni replied, grinning.
---
"So I guess this is the big Goodbye I always hear about."
"Yeah, I guess this is it." BJ agreed.
"I'm sorry about-"
Beej grinned. "Hey, it's all in the past, What matters is that we're all getting out of this alive, and in one piece. And that means both of you."
Toni smiled, her arm firmly around Hawkeye's waist. BJ didn't think it had moved since they had gotten married.
The three hugged tightly, just seeking comfort in each other, knowing they were all alive, and it wasn't a twisted dream.
"Well, this is it then." BJ said, putting his hands in his back pockets.
"Yeah, it is. You get to see Peg and the kids again."
"Yeah." BJ agreed.
They finally let go. "We gotta go." Hawkeye commented, indicating to the impatient jeep river behind them.
"Yeah, I think you should."
"If you don't call me in a month I will go looking for you." Hawkeye threatened.
"And I'll be with him!" Toni added, grinning.
"Maybe that won't be so bad." BJ replied, smiling. "Go on, your limo awaits."
Hawkeye and Toni backed to the jeep, and made sure there stuff was packed.
"Hang on a second." Hawkeye rummaged around in his suitcases, and pulled out his red robe.
"You're keeping that?" Toni demanded.
"Of course!" He replied, indignant. He slipped it on, and sat in the jeep.
Toni and Hawkeye waved as everyone came out to bid them farewell.
They could still hear the cheers even as the MSH 4077 unit was out of sight.
Toni put her arm around Hawkeye, and closed her eyes. Finally she could enjoy life with someone she loved.
Ah, the joyous end. Yes, yes, yes, R&R at ensign_for_christ@hotmail.com.
"Attention all personnel! Great news! We are two hours away from peace! America and Korea have signed a peace treaty, in two hours we can all go home!" Klinger yelled over the PA.
Toni stared at Hawkeye in shock.
"We're going home!" He yelled, grabbing Toni and hugging her tightly.
She smiled, and returned it, overjoyed.
"It's over. It's really over. Oh my God. THE WAR IS OVER!" Hawkeye let go of Toni and ran outside, jumping and yelling. "I'm going home! Woohoo! We're all going home!" He ran into Sidney, and grabbed the man's hands, skipping in circles. "I'm going home!" He yelled, then ran into the Swamp. "Beej, we're going home! You can see Peg again!"
The other man grinned. "Yeah, I know."
"Attention all personnel. The war my be over in two hours but the Koreans are shooting while they can. We have wounded. Bet them while they're fresh!" Klinger called over the PA.
"Aw, shit." Hawkeye commented, back to normal. "Duty calls."
He met back up with Toni at the chopper bay. "Hey again."
"Hey Ben. How you feeling?" She asked.
"You know, you're the only person around here that calls me Ben."
"I know." Toni smiled, continuing to get patient details.
Hawkeye grinned. "I can live with that." He smiled.
"Aruuuugh!" Someone shrieked.
Hawkeye's head snapped around, and he saw a soldier screaming in pain.
"Jesus. Beej get over here!" He yelled. "Toni, you gotta help me."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Hold him down. I can't do anything with him thrashing around like that. BEEJ!"
The other man appeared at Hawkeye's shoulder. "What can I- ah shit." He finished when he saw the man.
"He's on the stretcher, help me get him to the OR. Toni, you're doing a good job, keep it up." Hawkeye wiped sweat off his brow, and twisted his back for a moment, before carrying the man to the OR. "Shit." He whispered, and his hands shook and the man almost slipped off.
"You alright?" BJ asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He snapped in reply.
Toni and BJ shared a concerned look, but there was no time to debate the issue.
Together they carried the man, and carefully dumped him on a spare bed. Margaret and most of her nurses were standing by already, and Charles was already working on someone.
Hawkeye had taken a moment to give triage duty to Potter before they had carried the man to surgery.
As soon as they had finished patching up their first BJ left Hawkeye to star on someone else, and Hawkeye was re-directed to another patient.
An eight year old girl. "What the fuck is she doing here?" He demanded, and noticed her eyes were open. "And what is she doing awake?"
"You alright over there, Pierce?" Potter asked, and Hawkeye realized that triage must be over.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's her I'm worried about." He snapped, turning so a nurse could put a new mask on him. He pulled his own gloves on, tightly, making them snap as he let go.
"Can you do her? We can swap if you want."
Hawkeye glanced up at Potter, unsure. His eyes flicked to Sid, who was dressed to help. He bit his lip. "I'm fine. Let's do this." He snapped. "She's my patient."
---
She walked through the camp, her hands in her pockets, the two swords in their bags hanging over each shoulder.
She'd been trying to find Hawkeye for at least half an hour now, all the patients were done and the peace treaty had gone into effect five minutes ago. Sid hadn't been the only one to miss his presence at the party.
"Ben?" She called, as she hurried to their lake, the bags swinging gently against her back.
He didn't turn as she approached, but she knew he'd heard her. "Hey Toni. How can I help you?"
"I have to talk to you. The treat was just put in place. We're all going home."
"Yeah, I know that much." He commented dryly.
She joined him at the edge of the lake, staring out into it's murky depths. "I-" She paused. "I'm really gonna miss you, Benjamin."
"So? We're all gonna miss each other. We can stay in touch."
"That's what I want. So, that's why I am not asking you to marry me." She knelt in front of him, and lowered her head, holding Rebekka's sword over it.
A long moment passed, but Toni didn't move.
"Toni, do you know what you are asking?"
"Yes, I do. And I want this. And I need to know if you want the same thing." She replied softly, without looking up at him.
She felt the blade being taken from her hands, and heard him breathe deeply.
"Toni, when I first saw you, you were kneeling in front of a Korean man, with Jack beside you, and Quinn beside me."
Toni's cheek twitched. She hadn't seen Quinn since the night he'd arrived.
"You were staring straight ahead, despite the gun that was digging into your back. You knew what was coming and faced it down." Hawkeye crouched down. "I have to tell you this. Jack knew who the Korean man was going to shoot. It was going to be you the whole time. He moved in front of the gun, a second before the man shot. When Jack to the bullet for you, I knew it was for a reason."
"Jack took the bullet for me?" She whispered, looking down.
"Yes. You know his last words?"
She shook her head. She had been out cold by the time Hawkeye and BJ had gotten to them. "'Take care of her'. And I promised I would. I was in love with you from the moment I met you."
"You never told me."
"I wanted you to know when you were ready. And now you are, I want you to know I would be honoured to be your husband." Hawkeye slung the sword over his shoulder, and took her hands.
They stood together, and walked back to the party, hand-in-hand.
---
"Well, it's been a long war, folks. But you know what? If only one good thing has come out of it, it's that two people from the MASH unit 4077 have finally come to their senses. Your very own Chief Surgeon, and everyone's favourite female paper-shuffler, are getting married!" Hawkeye announced.
There was silence, then BJ started clapping. Then the whole room burst into claps, and cheers.
Through the noise a voice came through. "I thought I was everyone's favourite female paper-shuffler." Klinger said in a mock-hurt voice.
Toni burst out laughing, and was soon joined by the rest of the camp.
"And so, I have to ask, Father Mulcahy, will you marry us?" Toni asked.
"I would be delighted!"
"And, BJ, would you be my best man?" Hawkeye requested.
"All you have to do is ask."
"Major Houlihan, would you be my bridesmaid?" Toni asked.
"I would be honoured."
"Colonel Potter, will you give me away?"
"Depends on who to. Anyone aside from Pierce and the answer is no!"
"I'll take that as a yes then." Toni replied, smiling.
"We have made our own vows, and here they are."
"Alright then." Mulcahy replied, taking the paper from Hawkeye. "Captain Benjamin Pierce, will you take Corporal Toni White as your wife?"
"You bet."
"Corporal Toni White, will you take Captain Benjamin Pierce as your husband?"
"You bet."
"I now announce you husband and wife!"
"But we didn't do anything!" BJ, Houlihan and Potter exclaimed.
Hawkeye shrugged. "What can we say?" He asked.
The three sighed, but let it pass. As long as the married couple was happy, the were.
"So where are you two gonna live?"
"Crabapple Cove." Toni replied, grinning.
---
"So I guess this is the big Goodbye I always hear about."
"Yeah, I guess this is it." BJ agreed.
"I'm sorry about-"
Beej grinned. "Hey, it's all in the past, What matters is that we're all getting out of this alive, and in one piece. And that means both of you."
Toni smiled, her arm firmly around Hawkeye's waist. BJ didn't think it had moved since they had gotten married.
The three hugged tightly, just seeking comfort in each other, knowing they were all alive, and it wasn't a twisted dream.
"Well, this is it then." BJ said, putting his hands in his back pockets.
"Yeah, it is. You get to see Peg and the kids again."
"Yeah." BJ agreed.
They finally let go. "We gotta go." Hawkeye commented, indicating to the impatient jeep river behind them.
"Yeah, I think you should."
"If you don't call me in a month I will go looking for you." Hawkeye threatened.
"And I'll be with him!" Toni added, grinning.
"Maybe that won't be so bad." BJ replied, smiling. "Go on, your limo awaits."
Hawkeye and Toni backed to the jeep, and made sure there stuff was packed.
"Hang on a second." Hawkeye rummaged around in his suitcases, and pulled out his red robe.
"You're keeping that?" Toni demanded.
"Of course!" He replied, indignant. He slipped it on, and sat in the jeep.
Toni and Hawkeye waved as everyone came out to bid them farewell.
They could still hear the cheers even as the MSH 4077 unit was out of sight.
Toni put her arm around Hawkeye, and closed her eyes. Finally she could enjoy life with someone she loved.
Ah, the joyous end. Yes, yes, yes, R&R at ensign_for_christ@hotmail.com.