Falling Together
Goodbye, Farewell and Amen: Part Two
***********************************
The next couple of days were the hardest on everyone. BJ ended up getting his orders to go home, and left within a matter of days of getting them. They got a quick goodbye which lasted maybe two minutes. With Hawkeye still gone, BJ didn't know what to do. He explained quickly to Margaret and Scarlett that he didn't have time, and to explain everything. Both nodded, neither knowing what to tell him. After a rather quick goodbye, BJ watched the camp from the helichoper, everyone was waving with tears rolling down their cheeks.
The next morning, for the first time in almost three weeks, left the missing link came home, as it were. No one really knew what to tell Hawkeye when he asked where BJ was, and no one wanted that 'pleasure'. Colonel Potter ended up, taking care of it as tactfully as he could. By the time they got into the OR after triage, the mood was somber and Scarlett wasn't allowed to operate, so she offered to be a gas passer. Being a surgeon, she wanted to be in that OR, and her best friend was home, that gave her another reason to be in there.
During the session, Scarlett made sure that she and Margaret were both with Hawkeye, knowing that he needed them there. Both for support and friendship. Scarlett watched carefully as her best friend walked into the OR, dressed in white surgical scrubs. Margaret guided him to his patient and gloved him, waiting until he was ready.
Colonel Potter was yelling into the phone trying to get another surgeon, and trying to explain why his other one couldn't operate. A simple little cut or poke might kill her. I-cor couldn't get that threw their thick heads, which made everyone annoyed. The doctors being made to work double, sometimes triple shifts, covering for thesurgeon.
After the OR session, Scarlett went and laid on the OR table while talking to Charles. He sat on a stool and talked to her. Hawkeye and Margaret had to set bones so it left the two alone.
"Charles," Scarlett smiled looking at the mad sitting in front of her. It was amazing how much she loved him.
"Yes?" Charles asked in his Bostonian accent; which Scarlett just loved.
"I want you to know something."
"What is it?" Charles asked softly.
"Your shirt is inside out." Scarlett teased as she giggled. Charles smiled and kissed her head. "There's something else."
"There is?"
"Yup."
"What is it?"
"Well, if I could remember than I would tell you."
"Very well."
"Oh, I want to say that." Scarlett pretended to clean her voice and then in a fake Boston accents said, "Very well." Charles laughed at her attempt.
"You'll fit in."
"I better. I'm no hic girl. Well maybe I am, but I'm good at faking things." Just then a shell went off. Scarlett immediately jumped and ran to the wall. She buried her face as another shell went off and personal ran into the OR. After the shelling, everyone was pretty shaken up and went back to their tents.
Scarlett and Charles went to the mess tent and left the parents to be to talk. It was going to be a long couple of weeks.
Margaret walked into her tent holding the hand of her fiancee and leaned against him.
"How you doing?" Margaret asked with concern.
"Fine, just fine. I'm doing fine. You?"
"Well no more morning sickness. But I'm going home soon."
"Yeah, well, I've been thinking,"
"Its okay, Sydney told me."
"I cant do it alone."
"And you wont. One way or another you'll be home with me."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Just as Margaret said that the PA came on and Klinger screamed Bug Out. The two sprang apart and started to pack, Hawkeye ran to his tent as Scarlett burst into her tent. In the matter of two hours everything was packed up and they were heading to the new site. Scarlett and Margaret were sitting in the back of a jeep. Talking about what's going to happen to them.
"You know what Maggie, there's a song I know that totally describes our relationship."
"And what is that?"
"Well what kind of song would it be if I didn't sing it for you?"
"You would sing anything to sing."
"Good point. But seriously Magpie,"
"Go ahead sing for me." Margaret smiled leaning back. Scarlett grinned and cleared her throat.
"You've been there for me no matter what the cost. My best friend since we believed in Santa Claus. You have always stood beside me, and I want to let you know; I'll be the one who hears your prayer, don't have to ask me I'll be there, I'll be the friend you'll never have to do without. When you have nothing at all, you'll still have nothing to worry about, oh nothing at all. When I was lost inside a forest of dismay, you always knew just how to help me find my way. In a world that's so uncertain, I will promise this to you, I'll be the one who hears your prayer. Don't have to ask me I'll be there, I'll be the friend you'll never have to do without No... When you have nothing at all, you'll still have nothing to worry about. Oh no...When you have nothing at all, you'll still have nothing to worry about. Oh nothing at all...oh."
"I think you're right,"
"Of course I am. I'm a pompous egotistical bum." Scarlett managed to say with a straight face until she burst out laughing. Margaret joined after the two stopped laughing, Scarlett smiled and hugged her best friend. "I love you."
"I love you too." Margaret smiled, then pulled away and looked at Scarlett, "I wonder how our men are making out."
"Well they're most likely attached at the mouth, with their tongues wrapped around each other and,"
"Scarlett!"
"Sorry, I haven't slept much!" Scarlett said in her defense.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Scarlett laughed and yawned.
"Wake me up when we get there. I'm going to get at least ten minutes of bumpy sleep time." Margaret smiled and let the surgeon lie down. Here she was, pregnant, her best friend in the world could die from a paper cut, her fiancee afraid of children, and her father didn't even know about the coming baby.
The rest of the ride there was somewhat peaceful. Scarlett slept the whole time and Margaret thought the whole time. So many things were happening so fast. No matter what she was out of the Army by the end of the month. She only had just over a week, and was starting to think that nothing was going to go as she planned.
When they got there, the camp was immediately set up. Only the necessary tents were put up, everyone spread themselves over two tents, the men in one and the women in the other. The next morning everything was put in order, latrines were dug, tents set up and medical equipment sterilized and put away.
Everyone surveyed the surroundings and thought it was a pretty nice place. There was a river right beside the camp with a little pond for fishing. It was a pretty nice place, but it wasn't the real 4077th. Everyone was told to get used to it cause this was home.
A day or so after they got there life was getting pretty much back to normal, when BJ arrived back in camp. Everyone was finally getting used to the place.
Scarlett was making fun of Charles because he was trying to teach the musicians a piece of music. She walked into his sessions and started to sing an entire opera off key.
The musicians found it amusing, even though understanding her was a little hard. Charles loved to see how much Scarlett made the world smile with simple things. Being with her seemed so right and no one could ever say it didn't.
On the twenty-sixth Scarlett and Margaret woke up extremely early. They didn't know why, they only knew something was going to happen. Something that would change their lives.
It was only nine o'clock when the camp became alive, even though some of them were still in their pajamas, it didn't matter.
Scarlett, Margaret, BJ and Hawkeye all sat in the mess tent, trying to dissever what they were eating. The coffee they actually recognized, because it actually tasted like coffee for once.
"Okay, who thinks this is a sausage?" Margaret asked holding what appeared to be meat up on her fork.
"If that's a sausage than I'm blonde." Scarlett remarked poking the meat with her fork. The two men looked oddly at it at smiled.
"Margaret, prepare the patient for surgery, we're going to find out right now whether or not that sausage is meat!" Hawkeye exclaimed moving trays aside and pulling his knife out.
"Hawk, no use, the patient's dead," BJ exclaimed as the knife wouldn't go through.
"Rats, lots another one." Hawkeye joked taking a pancake and covering the sausage. Margaret laughed as she watched her soon-to-be husband act like a child.
"You cant win them all," Scarlett smiled standing up. "I'm going to head and take a shower. Unlike you I always get warm showers." Scarlett smiled sticking her tongue out slightly.
"Later,"
"Bye," Margaret waved sipping her coffee. As soon as Scarlett left BJ felt a little uncomfortable sitting with the two. Margaret sensed that and stood up. "I'm going to take a shower too. I'll see you two later,"
"Bye," BJ smiled as Margaret walked off. She was just over two months pregnant and starting to show. They needed to get her home she had a week left here and no matter what she was going home with Scarlett.
Shortly before ten Margaret and Scarlett were sitting on the grass of the 4077th playing a game of gin turned go fish. They watched sadly as the POWs were loaded onto the truck, Scarlett knew Charles would be devastated, but life had to go on. She was right beside him when the truck drove away, it was then that something happened. The PA came on and declared that the Treaty was signed, the war would be ending at ten that night. Without a word Scarlett through herself into Charles arms and hugged him as tightly as she could.
Everyone else was jumping around, hugging, screaming, holding and everything else. Hell was coming to an end and no one could wait.
Just then wounded started to arrive and everyone had to forget about the war being over and do their job. While doing triage they found out they were heading back to where they came from, right after the patients that couldn't wait were operated on.
After that they all headed back and continued with surgery, while listening to figures that not only were appalling but horrifying everyone. The numbers were outrageous, wounded, killed, orphaned and the cost of the war was disgusting.
After a little while ten o'clock rolled around the OR fell silent as the war came to an end. Not a word was spoken, just handing of instruments and such. Everyone would be heading home tomorrow together and in one piece. Well almost everyone."
After the session was finished everyone gathered in the mess tent for one last dinner. It was something none of them wanted to forget, the war yes, the people, no.
After dinner was finished, they all took turns telling everyone what they were going to do once they get back home.
"I'm still your CO for a few more hours." Colonel Potter started as everyone focussed on him. "So when I go like this..." He paused while he tapped the knife against the glass again. "...you go like this." He pretended to zip his mouth closed. Amused little chuckles filled the tent along with smiles. "You wanna take your seats, please." He paused again while everyone present took their places. When things settled down he continued. "Tomorrow the tents of the 4077th will be coming down - for good. Ah, for an awful long time we've been living together, eating together..."
"Sleeping together." Hawkeye said with a disguised voice. Everyone laughed at the doctor who seemed to be back to himself.
"I wouldn't know, I have a horse." A few chuckles erupted at the remark. "Anyway, since this is our last evening together I've been wondering what your lives will be like when this is all over. I thought it might be a good idea for each one of us to get up and tell everybody what we'll be doing next." A round of applause showed everyone's agreement with the idea.
"You ought to get first, Colonel." Margaret suggested, her idea was echoed and approved by the applause of others. Agreeing and knowing not to argue with Margaret he decided to go first. "Well, there's a woman back in Hannibal, Missouri who spent the better part of thirty years waiting for me to come home from one tour of duty or another. She's had to learn how to do an awful lot on her own. Now, I'm going home to see if she can show me how to do it with her. So, uh, part of the time I'll be a semi-retired country doctor, but, uh, most of the time I'll be Mrs. Potter's Mr. Potter." A round of applause followed his speech. "Who's next?"
"Me! Me!" Kelly exclaimed as she jumped to her feet. "Well, I've put in to be assigned to Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu to be with my family who I..." Her voice cracked slightly with emotion. "...I really miss. And I just want to say that I...I love you all." Mild applause erupted as she sat down in her chair.
Rizzo quickly jumped to his feet and said. "Well, I don't love you ALL. Some of you still owe me money, and I really need it. Because I'm gonna open a business when I get back to Louisiana." Flicking the ashes off his cigar he drawled proudly. "Big money in this. I'm gonna bread frogs for French restaurants." Riotous laughter erupted after his declaration.
Jumping to his feet Hawkeye tossed some money at Rizzo and exclaimed. "Here, go buy yourself a frog!" Laughter ensued as Rizzo and a few others scrambled for the money. When things subsided Hawkeye commented in a more serious tone. "When I graduated from Medical School, I couldn't wait for the action of a big city hospital. But now I'm not so sure action's all its cracked up to be. In fact neither is cracking up." A few people laughed nervously at his attempted humor. "So I think I'd like to take it easy for a while. I don't want to just have a bunch of anonymous patients parading through my office. I'd like to maybe talk with them for a few minutes, get to know who they are. So I think for now I'll be very happy just getting Crabapple Cove to say 'ah'!" He paused for a moment, before speaking again. "Well, I can't say I loved you all either. But I've loved as many of you as I could."
A few corpsmen and some of the nurses got up to talk about their plans and then BJ jumped up to take his turn. "Well, I was all set to go back to Mill Valley and Peg and Erin and all that, but I'll tell ya, I and the best time in Guam. I met this cookie at the airport bar and she begged me to run off with her and I figured what the hell! You only live once, you know." Shocked looks and nervous chuckles circulated the room. Finally BJ laughed and admitted. "I'm just kidding." Exclamations of disbelief echoed through the crowd as BJ sat down beside his equally surprised best friend.
Laughing in amazed disbelief the dark-haired man echoed his friend's assurances. "He's just kidding."
After a few more people got up, Father Mulcahy rose to his feet and said. "I was anxious to get back to being in a parish and coaching boxing for the CYO. But lately I've been kind of interested in working with the deaf. Of course not doing Parish work. I'll miss hearing Confession. But after listening to you people for so long, I think I've just about heard it all!" Laughter erupted at the padres unexpected conclusion.
After a few more had their say Potter looked to Charles and prompted. "What about you, Winchester?"
Charles slowly rose to his feet and said. "Well, I'm going to be Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Boston Mercy Hospital, so my life will go on pretty much as I expected." Pausing briefly he added, sadness in his tone. "With one exception. For me music was always a refuge from this miserable experience." Pausing again he finally concluded. "Now it'll always be a reminder. And having Scarlett now in my life, I know she'll never let me forget how lucky I was to serve with each and every one of you." With that Charles sat down and smiled. A couple other coremen and nurses told their story until only Margaret and Klinger were left.
Margaret rose to her feet and began her narrative. "Well, For the next few days I was supposed to help with the collocation of the 8063rd, but being ten weeks pregnant I'm being shipped home." The nurses and coremen were completely shocked, they knew their head nurse and chief surgeon were engaged but they never expected this.
"I know it's a shock to all of you, and it was a complete shock to me when I found out, but being here, has taught me more then I would have learned anywhere. And I want to thank a few people for that. Everyone I've worked with. My nurses you are the best damn nurses around, and I know I didn't tell you, but if you could have heard what I told everyone else. I just want to say, its been an honor and a pleasure serving with each and everyone of you." With that Margaret sat down. The nurses looked about ready to cry.
Scarlett was the next to go. She stood up and put her hair behind her ear. "Well, when I came to this hell hole, I never thought, or imagined that my two best friends in the world would be here. But to say the least I was rather surprised at what happened between them. When I noticed something, I decided that it was my job to be the matchmaker, along with my good ole buddy BJ over there, helped me. Little did I know, as I played Matchmaker I would find someone who means so much to me. And I thank god everyday for Charles. And I thank god even more for sending both of us home in one piece to my children. So when I get home, I think I'll spend some time being a Mommy and less of a surgeon." Scarlett smiled sitting back down. Everyone clapped and thought it was great that the surgeon was going to be a mother now.
When the applause died down, Klinger rose to his feet. In a sadden tone he commented. "I'd planned something, but it kind of fell through. I guess you noticed Soon-Li isn't here tonight. Its because she had a lot of things to take care of." He paused for a moment before announcing excitedly. "Cause we've decided to get married!"
Cheers and applause erupted from his comrades as well as hearty expressions of congratulations. "I had to cut through a lot of red tape, but I finally got permission. The only thing is she won't leave Korea until she finds her family. So, - man, I don't believe I'm saying this – I'm staying in Korea." Everyone looked at each other just before they were shouting their disbeliefs, except for the ones that knew the irony in it.
"You don't have to act crazy now!" Hawkeye cried, he was laughing so hard his face turned a nice shade of red. "We're all getting out."
"Here's how I figure it." Klinger commented calmly and seriously." If you love somebody you have nothing but trouble. So you either stop loving them, or you love them a whole lot more."
Potter turned to the person next to him and said in somewhat of a dull deadpan way "That's very profound."
"But the first thing I'm gonna do is have a wedding ceremony with my family." Klinger continued to say.
"But I thought you weren't going back to Toledo." BJ remarked in a puzzled tone. "No, I mean this family." Klinger explained. "With you guys. We can do it tomorrow before everybody goes." Cheers of approval echoed through the tent. Tomorrow would be the perfect day to hold a wedding.
A little later, everyone slowly made it back to their tents, each holding on to others not wanting to let go. A bunch of nurses started singing, some other men joined in. Hawkeye ended up starting a round song of Linger.
"Hmmm, I want to linger. Hmmm, a little longer. Hmmm, a little longer here with you. Hmmm, it's such a perfect night. Hmmm, it doesn't seem quite right. Hmmm, that this should be my last with you. Hmmm, and come September. Hmmm, I will remember. Hmmm, our camping days and friendships true. Hmmm, and as the years go by. Hmmm, I'll think of you and sigh. Hmmm, this is good-night and not good-bye." Was sung as everyone held on to each other. No one wanted to let go.
By the morning, everyone was tired and ready to just go home. But there was something of grave importance. The wedding of Klinger and Soon- Li, was going to be their last thing together.
Everyone watched as the two got married and then they said their final goodbyes before leaving. Finally Margaret, Charles, Scarlett, Hawkeye, BJ and Colonel Potter were left. Scarlett was on Hawkeye's back, watching as Margaret packed her things into the jeep.
They all looked at each other and hugged everyone individually before saying good-bye. Even though they knew it wasn't forever, it was still good- bye. They went through a lot together. So much that they didn't know exactly what they didn't do.
Either way they would always be in each other's head, hearts and minds. No matter what, they would all be together again. Because fate was something that was on their side.
Goodbye, Farewell and Amen: Part Two
***********************************
The next couple of days were the hardest on everyone. BJ ended up getting his orders to go home, and left within a matter of days of getting them. They got a quick goodbye which lasted maybe two minutes. With Hawkeye still gone, BJ didn't know what to do. He explained quickly to Margaret and Scarlett that he didn't have time, and to explain everything. Both nodded, neither knowing what to tell him. After a rather quick goodbye, BJ watched the camp from the helichoper, everyone was waving with tears rolling down their cheeks.
The next morning, for the first time in almost three weeks, left the missing link came home, as it were. No one really knew what to tell Hawkeye when he asked where BJ was, and no one wanted that 'pleasure'. Colonel Potter ended up, taking care of it as tactfully as he could. By the time they got into the OR after triage, the mood was somber and Scarlett wasn't allowed to operate, so she offered to be a gas passer. Being a surgeon, she wanted to be in that OR, and her best friend was home, that gave her another reason to be in there.
During the session, Scarlett made sure that she and Margaret were both with Hawkeye, knowing that he needed them there. Both for support and friendship. Scarlett watched carefully as her best friend walked into the OR, dressed in white surgical scrubs. Margaret guided him to his patient and gloved him, waiting until he was ready.
Colonel Potter was yelling into the phone trying to get another surgeon, and trying to explain why his other one couldn't operate. A simple little cut or poke might kill her. I-cor couldn't get that threw their thick heads, which made everyone annoyed. The doctors being made to work double, sometimes triple shifts, covering for thesurgeon.
After the OR session, Scarlett went and laid on the OR table while talking to Charles. He sat on a stool and talked to her. Hawkeye and Margaret had to set bones so it left the two alone.
"Charles," Scarlett smiled looking at the mad sitting in front of her. It was amazing how much she loved him.
"Yes?" Charles asked in his Bostonian accent; which Scarlett just loved.
"I want you to know something."
"What is it?" Charles asked softly.
"Your shirt is inside out." Scarlett teased as she giggled. Charles smiled and kissed her head. "There's something else."
"There is?"
"Yup."
"What is it?"
"Well, if I could remember than I would tell you."
"Very well."
"Oh, I want to say that." Scarlett pretended to clean her voice and then in a fake Boston accents said, "Very well." Charles laughed at her attempt.
"You'll fit in."
"I better. I'm no hic girl. Well maybe I am, but I'm good at faking things." Just then a shell went off. Scarlett immediately jumped and ran to the wall. She buried her face as another shell went off and personal ran into the OR. After the shelling, everyone was pretty shaken up and went back to their tents.
Scarlett and Charles went to the mess tent and left the parents to be to talk. It was going to be a long couple of weeks.
Margaret walked into her tent holding the hand of her fiancee and leaned against him.
"How you doing?" Margaret asked with concern.
"Fine, just fine. I'm doing fine. You?"
"Well no more morning sickness. But I'm going home soon."
"Yeah, well, I've been thinking,"
"Its okay, Sydney told me."
"I cant do it alone."
"And you wont. One way or another you'll be home with me."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Just as Margaret said that the PA came on and Klinger screamed Bug Out. The two sprang apart and started to pack, Hawkeye ran to his tent as Scarlett burst into her tent. In the matter of two hours everything was packed up and they were heading to the new site. Scarlett and Margaret were sitting in the back of a jeep. Talking about what's going to happen to them.
"You know what Maggie, there's a song I know that totally describes our relationship."
"And what is that?"
"Well what kind of song would it be if I didn't sing it for you?"
"You would sing anything to sing."
"Good point. But seriously Magpie,"
"Go ahead sing for me." Margaret smiled leaning back. Scarlett grinned and cleared her throat.
"You've been there for me no matter what the cost. My best friend since we believed in Santa Claus. You have always stood beside me, and I want to let you know; I'll be the one who hears your prayer, don't have to ask me I'll be there, I'll be the friend you'll never have to do without. When you have nothing at all, you'll still have nothing to worry about, oh nothing at all. When I was lost inside a forest of dismay, you always knew just how to help me find my way. In a world that's so uncertain, I will promise this to you, I'll be the one who hears your prayer. Don't have to ask me I'll be there, I'll be the friend you'll never have to do without No... When you have nothing at all, you'll still have nothing to worry about. Oh no...When you have nothing at all, you'll still have nothing to worry about. Oh nothing at all...oh."
"I think you're right,"
"Of course I am. I'm a pompous egotistical bum." Scarlett managed to say with a straight face until she burst out laughing. Margaret joined after the two stopped laughing, Scarlett smiled and hugged her best friend. "I love you."
"I love you too." Margaret smiled, then pulled away and looked at Scarlett, "I wonder how our men are making out."
"Well they're most likely attached at the mouth, with their tongues wrapped around each other and,"
"Scarlett!"
"Sorry, I haven't slept much!" Scarlett said in her defense.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Scarlett laughed and yawned.
"Wake me up when we get there. I'm going to get at least ten minutes of bumpy sleep time." Margaret smiled and let the surgeon lie down. Here she was, pregnant, her best friend in the world could die from a paper cut, her fiancee afraid of children, and her father didn't even know about the coming baby.
The rest of the ride there was somewhat peaceful. Scarlett slept the whole time and Margaret thought the whole time. So many things were happening so fast. No matter what she was out of the Army by the end of the month. She only had just over a week, and was starting to think that nothing was going to go as she planned.
When they got there, the camp was immediately set up. Only the necessary tents were put up, everyone spread themselves over two tents, the men in one and the women in the other. The next morning everything was put in order, latrines were dug, tents set up and medical equipment sterilized and put away.
Everyone surveyed the surroundings and thought it was a pretty nice place. There was a river right beside the camp with a little pond for fishing. It was a pretty nice place, but it wasn't the real 4077th. Everyone was told to get used to it cause this was home.
A day or so after they got there life was getting pretty much back to normal, when BJ arrived back in camp. Everyone was finally getting used to the place.
Scarlett was making fun of Charles because he was trying to teach the musicians a piece of music. She walked into his sessions and started to sing an entire opera off key.
The musicians found it amusing, even though understanding her was a little hard. Charles loved to see how much Scarlett made the world smile with simple things. Being with her seemed so right and no one could ever say it didn't.
On the twenty-sixth Scarlett and Margaret woke up extremely early. They didn't know why, they only knew something was going to happen. Something that would change their lives.
It was only nine o'clock when the camp became alive, even though some of them were still in their pajamas, it didn't matter.
Scarlett, Margaret, BJ and Hawkeye all sat in the mess tent, trying to dissever what they were eating. The coffee they actually recognized, because it actually tasted like coffee for once.
"Okay, who thinks this is a sausage?" Margaret asked holding what appeared to be meat up on her fork.
"If that's a sausage than I'm blonde." Scarlett remarked poking the meat with her fork. The two men looked oddly at it at smiled.
"Margaret, prepare the patient for surgery, we're going to find out right now whether or not that sausage is meat!" Hawkeye exclaimed moving trays aside and pulling his knife out.
"Hawk, no use, the patient's dead," BJ exclaimed as the knife wouldn't go through.
"Rats, lots another one." Hawkeye joked taking a pancake and covering the sausage. Margaret laughed as she watched her soon-to-be husband act like a child.
"You cant win them all," Scarlett smiled standing up. "I'm going to head and take a shower. Unlike you I always get warm showers." Scarlett smiled sticking her tongue out slightly.
"Later,"
"Bye," Margaret waved sipping her coffee. As soon as Scarlett left BJ felt a little uncomfortable sitting with the two. Margaret sensed that and stood up. "I'm going to take a shower too. I'll see you two later,"
"Bye," BJ smiled as Margaret walked off. She was just over two months pregnant and starting to show. They needed to get her home she had a week left here and no matter what she was going home with Scarlett.
Shortly before ten Margaret and Scarlett were sitting on the grass of the 4077th playing a game of gin turned go fish. They watched sadly as the POWs were loaded onto the truck, Scarlett knew Charles would be devastated, but life had to go on. She was right beside him when the truck drove away, it was then that something happened. The PA came on and declared that the Treaty was signed, the war would be ending at ten that night. Without a word Scarlett through herself into Charles arms and hugged him as tightly as she could.
Everyone else was jumping around, hugging, screaming, holding and everything else. Hell was coming to an end and no one could wait.
Just then wounded started to arrive and everyone had to forget about the war being over and do their job. While doing triage they found out they were heading back to where they came from, right after the patients that couldn't wait were operated on.
After that they all headed back and continued with surgery, while listening to figures that not only were appalling but horrifying everyone. The numbers were outrageous, wounded, killed, orphaned and the cost of the war was disgusting.
After a little while ten o'clock rolled around the OR fell silent as the war came to an end. Not a word was spoken, just handing of instruments and such. Everyone would be heading home tomorrow together and in one piece. Well almost everyone."
After the session was finished everyone gathered in the mess tent for one last dinner. It was something none of them wanted to forget, the war yes, the people, no.
After dinner was finished, they all took turns telling everyone what they were going to do once they get back home.
"I'm still your CO for a few more hours." Colonel Potter started as everyone focussed on him. "So when I go like this..." He paused while he tapped the knife against the glass again. "...you go like this." He pretended to zip his mouth closed. Amused little chuckles filled the tent along with smiles. "You wanna take your seats, please." He paused again while everyone present took their places. When things settled down he continued. "Tomorrow the tents of the 4077th will be coming down - for good. Ah, for an awful long time we've been living together, eating together..."
"Sleeping together." Hawkeye said with a disguised voice. Everyone laughed at the doctor who seemed to be back to himself.
"I wouldn't know, I have a horse." A few chuckles erupted at the remark. "Anyway, since this is our last evening together I've been wondering what your lives will be like when this is all over. I thought it might be a good idea for each one of us to get up and tell everybody what we'll be doing next." A round of applause showed everyone's agreement with the idea.
"You ought to get first, Colonel." Margaret suggested, her idea was echoed and approved by the applause of others. Agreeing and knowing not to argue with Margaret he decided to go first. "Well, there's a woman back in Hannibal, Missouri who spent the better part of thirty years waiting for me to come home from one tour of duty or another. She's had to learn how to do an awful lot on her own. Now, I'm going home to see if she can show me how to do it with her. So, uh, part of the time I'll be a semi-retired country doctor, but, uh, most of the time I'll be Mrs. Potter's Mr. Potter." A round of applause followed his speech. "Who's next?"
"Me! Me!" Kelly exclaimed as she jumped to her feet. "Well, I've put in to be assigned to Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu to be with my family who I..." Her voice cracked slightly with emotion. "...I really miss. And I just want to say that I...I love you all." Mild applause erupted as she sat down in her chair.
Rizzo quickly jumped to his feet and said. "Well, I don't love you ALL. Some of you still owe me money, and I really need it. Because I'm gonna open a business when I get back to Louisiana." Flicking the ashes off his cigar he drawled proudly. "Big money in this. I'm gonna bread frogs for French restaurants." Riotous laughter erupted after his declaration.
Jumping to his feet Hawkeye tossed some money at Rizzo and exclaimed. "Here, go buy yourself a frog!" Laughter ensued as Rizzo and a few others scrambled for the money. When things subsided Hawkeye commented in a more serious tone. "When I graduated from Medical School, I couldn't wait for the action of a big city hospital. But now I'm not so sure action's all its cracked up to be. In fact neither is cracking up." A few people laughed nervously at his attempted humor. "So I think I'd like to take it easy for a while. I don't want to just have a bunch of anonymous patients parading through my office. I'd like to maybe talk with them for a few minutes, get to know who they are. So I think for now I'll be very happy just getting Crabapple Cove to say 'ah'!" He paused for a moment, before speaking again. "Well, I can't say I loved you all either. But I've loved as many of you as I could."
A few corpsmen and some of the nurses got up to talk about their plans and then BJ jumped up to take his turn. "Well, I was all set to go back to Mill Valley and Peg and Erin and all that, but I'll tell ya, I and the best time in Guam. I met this cookie at the airport bar and she begged me to run off with her and I figured what the hell! You only live once, you know." Shocked looks and nervous chuckles circulated the room. Finally BJ laughed and admitted. "I'm just kidding." Exclamations of disbelief echoed through the crowd as BJ sat down beside his equally surprised best friend.
Laughing in amazed disbelief the dark-haired man echoed his friend's assurances. "He's just kidding."
After a few more people got up, Father Mulcahy rose to his feet and said. "I was anxious to get back to being in a parish and coaching boxing for the CYO. But lately I've been kind of interested in working with the deaf. Of course not doing Parish work. I'll miss hearing Confession. But after listening to you people for so long, I think I've just about heard it all!" Laughter erupted at the padres unexpected conclusion.
After a few more had their say Potter looked to Charles and prompted. "What about you, Winchester?"
Charles slowly rose to his feet and said. "Well, I'm going to be Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Boston Mercy Hospital, so my life will go on pretty much as I expected." Pausing briefly he added, sadness in his tone. "With one exception. For me music was always a refuge from this miserable experience." Pausing again he finally concluded. "Now it'll always be a reminder. And having Scarlett now in my life, I know she'll never let me forget how lucky I was to serve with each and every one of you." With that Charles sat down and smiled. A couple other coremen and nurses told their story until only Margaret and Klinger were left.
Margaret rose to her feet and began her narrative. "Well, For the next few days I was supposed to help with the collocation of the 8063rd, but being ten weeks pregnant I'm being shipped home." The nurses and coremen were completely shocked, they knew their head nurse and chief surgeon were engaged but they never expected this.
"I know it's a shock to all of you, and it was a complete shock to me when I found out, but being here, has taught me more then I would have learned anywhere. And I want to thank a few people for that. Everyone I've worked with. My nurses you are the best damn nurses around, and I know I didn't tell you, but if you could have heard what I told everyone else. I just want to say, its been an honor and a pleasure serving with each and everyone of you." With that Margaret sat down. The nurses looked about ready to cry.
Scarlett was the next to go. She stood up and put her hair behind her ear. "Well, when I came to this hell hole, I never thought, or imagined that my two best friends in the world would be here. But to say the least I was rather surprised at what happened between them. When I noticed something, I decided that it was my job to be the matchmaker, along with my good ole buddy BJ over there, helped me. Little did I know, as I played Matchmaker I would find someone who means so much to me. And I thank god everyday for Charles. And I thank god even more for sending both of us home in one piece to my children. So when I get home, I think I'll spend some time being a Mommy and less of a surgeon." Scarlett smiled sitting back down. Everyone clapped and thought it was great that the surgeon was going to be a mother now.
When the applause died down, Klinger rose to his feet. In a sadden tone he commented. "I'd planned something, but it kind of fell through. I guess you noticed Soon-Li isn't here tonight. Its because she had a lot of things to take care of." He paused for a moment before announcing excitedly. "Cause we've decided to get married!"
Cheers and applause erupted from his comrades as well as hearty expressions of congratulations. "I had to cut through a lot of red tape, but I finally got permission. The only thing is she won't leave Korea until she finds her family. So, - man, I don't believe I'm saying this – I'm staying in Korea." Everyone looked at each other just before they were shouting their disbeliefs, except for the ones that knew the irony in it.
"You don't have to act crazy now!" Hawkeye cried, he was laughing so hard his face turned a nice shade of red. "We're all getting out."
"Here's how I figure it." Klinger commented calmly and seriously." If you love somebody you have nothing but trouble. So you either stop loving them, or you love them a whole lot more."
Potter turned to the person next to him and said in somewhat of a dull deadpan way "That's very profound."
"But the first thing I'm gonna do is have a wedding ceremony with my family." Klinger continued to say.
"But I thought you weren't going back to Toledo." BJ remarked in a puzzled tone. "No, I mean this family." Klinger explained. "With you guys. We can do it tomorrow before everybody goes." Cheers of approval echoed through the tent. Tomorrow would be the perfect day to hold a wedding.
A little later, everyone slowly made it back to their tents, each holding on to others not wanting to let go. A bunch of nurses started singing, some other men joined in. Hawkeye ended up starting a round song of Linger.
"Hmmm, I want to linger. Hmmm, a little longer. Hmmm, a little longer here with you. Hmmm, it's such a perfect night. Hmmm, it doesn't seem quite right. Hmmm, that this should be my last with you. Hmmm, and come September. Hmmm, I will remember. Hmmm, our camping days and friendships true. Hmmm, and as the years go by. Hmmm, I'll think of you and sigh. Hmmm, this is good-night and not good-bye." Was sung as everyone held on to each other. No one wanted to let go.
By the morning, everyone was tired and ready to just go home. But there was something of grave importance. The wedding of Klinger and Soon- Li, was going to be their last thing together.
Everyone watched as the two got married and then they said their final goodbyes before leaving. Finally Margaret, Charles, Scarlett, Hawkeye, BJ and Colonel Potter were left. Scarlett was on Hawkeye's back, watching as Margaret packed her things into the jeep.
They all looked at each other and hugged everyone individually before saying good-bye. Even though they knew it wasn't forever, it was still good- bye. They went through a lot together. So much that they didn't know exactly what they didn't do.
Either way they would always be in each other's head, hearts and minds. No matter what, they would all be together again. Because fate was something that was on their side.