Disclaimer: I don't own anything from M*A*S*H*, no matter how much I would
love too, I don't so please don't sue me!
********
The next morning Colonel Potter came over to the Swamp to talk to BJ about having a service for Hawkeye, but when he got in there he saw him and the major asleep in bed, and he smiled. He decided that his question could wait because they were both desperately in need of some shuteye.
Margaret woke up first, not knowing where she was, but after a quick glance around reality set in. She quietly got up and left the Swamp, grabbed a quick shower and went to her Post-Op Duty, and heard the nurses talking.
"Potter is going to have to call in another Surgeon soon!"
"I know, we can't keep working with only 2! There is no way they can handle all the casualties, and Potter isn't suppose to double as a surgeon all the time."
"I know, but will they replace Hawkeye?"
"They have too!"
Margaret takes a deep breath and enters the Post-Op, "Good Morning Nurses."
"Good morning Major." They say, immediately clamming up.
"Everything going alright in here?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Alright. I'll be back in an hour to relieve you." She tells them, turning around and heading over to the Mess Tent.
"Good morning Margaret." Father Mulcahy calls to her.
"Good morning Father." She says, smiling faintly.
"How are you this morning?"
"I'm doing alright, how are you?" She asks.
"I'm also doing alright. Did Colonel Potter talk to you about a service for Hawkeye?"
"No, I have yet to see him today." She replies.
"Oh, well I am assuming you will be hearing from him soon."
"No doubt. Is Sidney still here?"
"He is. Why, would you like to talk to him?"
"No father, I'd like to do the opposite."
"He's here to help Margaret."
"He's here to snoop and pry into our lives. Why is it that every time something bad happens, he is called?"
"Because, he is specialized in helping ease peoples minds."
"Still..."
"Don't be angry at him Margaret. He did not kill Hawkeye."
"I know Father." She says sighing. "I heard a couple of my nurses talking in post-op a few minutes ago, and they were worrying about who would be our new surgeon, and I just don't want to hear that right now."
"It's going to happen Margaret. We can not run a M*A*S*H* Unit with only two surgeons, and you know this."
"I know, but I just don't want to let him go yet."
"None of us do, but we have too I am afraid." The Father says, looking at the head nurse.
They both sit in silence and drink their coffee till Margaret must go on Duty. She walks out of the Mess Tent and runs into BJ, "Morning."
"Morning." He replies smiling back at her. "Going on duty?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Not for a few hours."
"Alright then, I'll see you in a while." She says.
"Bye." He says walking away.
"Hey BJ?" She calls to him, as he turns around, "Thanks for letting me stay with you last night."
"No problem. I wanted company anyway." He smiles, and walks over to the Mess Tent.
"Hello Padre."
"Hello BJ, how are you today?"
"I'm doing alright. How about you?"
"I'm doing alright also." He smiles at the young cutter.
"BJ, I need to talk with you." Colonel Potter says, spotting the young man with a cup of coffee as he walks through the door.
"Alright." He says, "Have a seat."
"I want to know what you thought of having a service for Hawkeye?"
"I think that's a good idea." BJ says, in a sullen tone. "What time does the bus come?"
"It will be here in three hours." He says sighing. "Father, can you throw together a memorial service for him?"
"Of course Colonel, just give me an hour."
"Of course Father." He says. "I'll make an announcement." The men all retire to their respective tents and offices, and await the hour they say their final goodbye to their friend.
"Attention All Personal; this is your Colonel speaking, a service will be held for Hawkeye in one hour. If you wish to attend please come to the Mess Tent. Once again, Service for Hawkeye is in one hour, come to the mess tent. That is all."
An hour later, the Mess Tent was packed full of the Entire M*A*S*H* Personal. Father Mulcahy uses the usual funeral service, and then he asks if anyone wants to say something about Hawkeye. People start to speak of the fond memories of their fallen friend, and many tears are shed, but not from BJ. He has cried far too much and has no more tears left. He sits there, with his hands crossed across his chest, his eyes are clouded over with grief, but the tears do not fall. The surgeons and the head nurse choose not to say anything about their beloved Captain. They just sat and listened to the others. The service finally came to an end, and the camp all went over to pay there last respects to their friend, but BJ stayed back. He went back to his tent and lied down on his cot. The line in Post-Op was out the door, after all the nurses and enlisted men, minus Radar got to pay there respects, the Officers and Radar went in one by one. Radar went in first, and stood by the head of the gurney; he looks down at his idol and starts crying, "I don't think I have ever been more scared in my life." He starts, "When Colonel Blake died, we still had you to hold the unit together, but now your gone and I really don't know what is going to become of everyone. You have taught me a lot over the past few years of the war. You were like a brother to me and helped me grow up. I am going to miss you more then anything Hawkeye. I don't want to say goodbye, but I have too. Others are waiting to see you. Thanks for everything Hawk. I'll never forget you." Radar wipes his eyes quickly before heading back to the office to do paper work.
Colonel Potter was the next to go in. He sits down next to his cutter and immediately tears up. "You know, I have seen a lot of men die right in front of my eyes, some of them were my buddies, and like I told Sidney, it never gets any easier. Losing a friend is like losing a part of your soul, and you were like a friend and a son to me. We had some laughs and shed some tears over the months, but now its time to cry alone. You leaving has left a large hole in our unit, more then you probably could have ever known. I am worried about BJ and Margaret the most; they will miss you immensely, as will Radar, myself and the entire camp. They say it was your time to go, but my question is why did they have to take you at 32 years of age? You know the boy you brought in? Well he's alive because of you. It's a shame that you aren't alive with him. I'll miss you Hawkeye, and never forget you. Thank you for being such a great friend." He wipes a tear away from his eyes, stands up and heads out of the hallway, and into Post-Op.
Charles was the next to go in. He was far to proud to cry in front of everybody, especially for a man like Pierce, but when he was alone, the tears gradually came out. "We never got along as well as you and Hunnicut did, and we only served together for a few months, but you were one hell of a guy. I wish that I had more time to get to know you better, but that wasn't in the cards. You were a horror to the uniform, a complete ass at times, completely absurd, but a damn good cutter and a damn good man. I for one will miss you. This place will seem empty without all of your pranks being pulled or your jokes being heard, no matter how immature they were. Rest in Peace Pierce." And with that he leaves.
Father Mulcahy comes in as Charles leaves, and blesses himself, then blesses Hawkeye, "I never expected one of us to get it. I always thought we were in a way safe from the horrors of war, but I was wrong. I lived in a false sense of reality, which was quickly disrupted by your untimely death. You, my son, were one of a kind, and will be deeply missed. I for one am not looking forward to walking into surgery and not hearing your voice, or you joking with the other doctors. You always had a way of lightening up the OR when times were rough. I am worried about the camp without you, and I am worried about how I will be without you. I know that this is all a part of God's plan, I have been preaching that for the last two days, but I still don't understand why you are gone. You are away from Hell on earth, but I know that I would rather you still be here. I guess hat is rather selfish of me, but I can't help it. I also can't help being angry at our father for taking you." The Padre takes a deep breath and presses right between the bridges of his nose, trying to stop the tears. "I wish I understood why they took you when we need you and when the patients need you. I will miss you my son, but we will be together one day. Good bye Hawkeye." He says, as he stands up and retires to the Post-Op.
Lastly, Margaret comes in. She is having a rough time seeing him, but knows that she must say goodbye. "Well Pierce," She begins, sitting down next to him, "We had a rough start together, but over the past two years, I would to have liked to think we have become friends. The only regret that I have is that we did not turn into friends sooner. It will be strange going into the next round of surgery and not having you there, breaking the tension with BJ by making jokes, or singing, or by... well just being you. I don't think I have had a closer friend then you at one time, and I am going to miss you more than anything I ever have before. You were a great guy, and I will miss you Hawkeye. I hope to god that you're father gets through this, and I hope to god that we all get through you leaving us. You died saving lives, you died trying to help people, and you died young. They say only the good die young, and they are right. I love you Hawkeye, and know that one day we'll all be together. Keep an eye on us when your up there, I think we all can use a little Guardian Angel on our shoulders. Goodbye Hawkeye." She looks at him in silence for a few more minutes, and gets up, walking out of the hallway, and runs smack into BJ. "Ouch!" She says, looking up at the tall man. "I thought you were in the Swamp."
"I was, but I have to say goodbye to him." BJ says.
"No ones in there, he's all yours." She says, as she sees him hesitate. "Would you like me to go in with you?"
"No." He says, "I have to do this alone."
"Alright, well the bus comes in 30 minutes."
"I know." BJ says, as Margaret nods, and walks away, leaving him to take a deep breath before he goes into the hallway and sees his friend, in the exact same position he was yesterday. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for good." He says to begin, "You were the best friend I ever had, and we only knew each other for a year. We were partners, and now you and I are only a memory. I never thought that one of us would die, especially since we were doctors. I never thought..." He has to stop to keep his composure which was quickly escaping him, "My god Hawk, I am so sorry. I am so sorry that I couldn't save you. I should have been able too, but I couldn't. You knew you were dying and I am sorry for that too. I couldn't even give you comfort by telling you that you would be alright because you knew. I am so sorry." He says, wiping tears from his eyes. "I will never forget you Hawkeye, there is just no way I could. You were a very important part of my life, and I will never forget you for that. I couldn't imagine life in this place without you, and I am not looking forward to spending the rest of the war or my life without you, but that is how its going to have to be. It's not going to be easy Hawk, and I don't know how I am going to react once that bus takes you away. I can't help but thinking about the moral of this camp after your body is shipped back state side, or how your father will be after you are buried. I still can't help but feel guilty for your death..." His thoughts were interrupted by Potters voice,
"Hunnicut?" Potter calls to him. "The bus is here."
"I've been in here for a half an hour?"
"Yes." He says. "I'll give you another minute."
"Thanks." He says, as the Colonel walks out. "It's time for you to go Hawk. You'll never get to see this war end, but that's ok, because like you have said many times before it's never going to end. I'll miss you. Thank you for being there for me. You will always be my best friend, and I will never forget you." He says, standing up.
The corpsmen comes in, "Is this Dr. B. F. Pierce?" He asks.
"Yes."
"Can we take him?"
He takes one quick glance down at the body, covers his face with the white sheet, and zips up the body bag. "Yes." He tells them, and they quickly take him and place him on the bus. "Goodbye Hawk." BJ says, as the bus drives away with his best friend. He looks around the compound and sees most of the personal watching the bus leave the compound, in tears. BJ walks back to his tent, and lies on his bed, covering his eyes with his hands.
"BJ?" He hears Margaret's voice.
"Yeah?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah." He says, sitting up, looking down at the still.
"What are you thinking about?" She says, as he stares into space.
"How much I wish I had not destroyed the Still." He says, smiling.
"That stuff was horrible."
"It was great."
"It was motor oil."
"It was the well spring of life."
"It was sanity." Margaret says, smiling. "We should pack up his things, and get them ready to ship home."
"I don't know if I am ready for that." BJ replies, shaking his head.
"His will..."
"It's in his footlocker."
"Should we read it?"
"He wanted us too."
"Maybe we should give it to Colonel Potter." Margaret says.
"That's a better idea." BJ agrees. He goes over to his foot locker and opens it up, and picks up the paper saying, Benjamin Franklin Pierce's Last Will and Testament. They both go over in silence to Colonel Potter's office.
"What can I do for you two?" Potter asks the pair.
"We have Hawkeye's will." BJ says, handing him the paper, "We want you to read it."
"Very well." He says, taking a deep breath and reading over, smiling at it. "Margaret, he leaves you his groucho glasses. BJ, he has a letter for you. Charles gets his bathrobe, the Padre a nickel, Radar gets his magazines, and Klinger gets his Hawaiian Shirt, the blue one." He stops at the part for BJ's daughter, and decides not to read that part. He left Erin a letter of all the men his daddy saved over here, and he only has up to his death. Potter thinks that it's a good idea to continue this. "We have to pack his stuff up and get it ready to be shipped home. I am sure his Father wants it."
"Yeah." Margaret agrees.
"Lets go pack it up." Potter says, "BJ, do you want to help?"
"Yeah."
"Alright troops." He says smiling as they head into the swamp. In silence, all three of the officers pack everything carefully away in his foot locker and duffel bag. Once that is done they hull it back into Potters office and pack it for mailing. Once that is done, Potter says, "You know, we are going to need another surgeon..."
"We know." Margaret says, nodding, and that was the last thing said about the new cutter that night. Little did the Captain and Major know was that the new surgeon was on his way and would be arriving in two days.
That night, BJ was restless, and did not want to stay in the room. It felt too empty with out Hawkeye's things in there, so he decided to get up and go over to the CO's office and write a letter.
Dear Dr. Pierce,
My name is BJ Hunnicut, and I am quite aware that you have heard enough about me to last you a life time. The reason I know this is because I have sent letters home to my wife and child about your son. He was my best friend, he is my best friend. On August 19, at approximately 9pm, Hawkeye was trying to help an ambulance driver who was shot by a sniper, and the young boy in the back who had chest wounds. Sometime during that point, Hawkeye was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the stomach, both doing serious damage to his heart and liver. His aorta was badly wounded, as was his liver, and unfortunately the damage was far worse then I had originally thought. I worked on him until 10:06, where even after open heart massage I was unable to revive him, and I apologize for that. I am so sorry for not being able to save your son and my best friend. Hawkeye knew he was dying, but Major Margaret Houlihan and I were determined to prove him wrong, unfortunately he proved us wrong. He was only in pain a short time, and by the time we put him under he was comfortable. 10:06pm was the time of death, like I said earlier in the letter. I am writing to you because I wanted you to know exactly what happened. Being a father and a doctor myself, I know that I would want to hear ever little detail of my child's death. I also want you to know how much your son meant to me and the rest of the camp. If your son was not here when I arrived in Korea over a year ago, I don't know what I would have done. He was an amazing person, and I wish I had more time with him. If you have any more questions, please feel free to reach me here. I am deeply sorry for the loss of your only son.
Sincerely,
Captain B.J. Hunnicut
He slips the letter into his friend's boxes which were to be sent home on the next mail call. He stands up, and walks out of the CO's office and back into his tent, hoping to get some sleep. He didn't even want to think about what they were going to do if Casualties came in because they only have 2 surgeons. He knew they needed another surgeon, but he wasn't ready for one, unfortunately, the other surgeon was scheduled to arrive in two days. The camp only has two days till their best surgeon is completely replaced, and this was a concept that was hard to grasp by many at the 4077th M*A*S*H*
*****
TBC... Please R&R, but please be kind... I haven't been writing fic's that long. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep them up! I hope you liked this chapter! It gets better!
Thanks a lot!
*STARY*
********
The next morning Colonel Potter came over to the Swamp to talk to BJ about having a service for Hawkeye, but when he got in there he saw him and the major asleep in bed, and he smiled. He decided that his question could wait because they were both desperately in need of some shuteye.
Margaret woke up first, not knowing where she was, but after a quick glance around reality set in. She quietly got up and left the Swamp, grabbed a quick shower and went to her Post-Op Duty, and heard the nurses talking.
"Potter is going to have to call in another Surgeon soon!"
"I know, we can't keep working with only 2! There is no way they can handle all the casualties, and Potter isn't suppose to double as a surgeon all the time."
"I know, but will they replace Hawkeye?"
"They have too!"
Margaret takes a deep breath and enters the Post-Op, "Good Morning Nurses."
"Good morning Major." They say, immediately clamming up.
"Everything going alright in here?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Alright. I'll be back in an hour to relieve you." She tells them, turning around and heading over to the Mess Tent.
"Good morning Margaret." Father Mulcahy calls to her.
"Good morning Father." She says, smiling faintly.
"How are you this morning?"
"I'm doing alright, how are you?" She asks.
"I'm also doing alright. Did Colonel Potter talk to you about a service for Hawkeye?"
"No, I have yet to see him today." She replies.
"Oh, well I am assuming you will be hearing from him soon."
"No doubt. Is Sidney still here?"
"He is. Why, would you like to talk to him?"
"No father, I'd like to do the opposite."
"He's here to help Margaret."
"He's here to snoop and pry into our lives. Why is it that every time something bad happens, he is called?"
"Because, he is specialized in helping ease peoples minds."
"Still..."
"Don't be angry at him Margaret. He did not kill Hawkeye."
"I know Father." She says sighing. "I heard a couple of my nurses talking in post-op a few minutes ago, and they were worrying about who would be our new surgeon, and I just don't want to hear that right now."
"It's going to happen Margaret. We can not run a M*A*S*H* Unit with only two surgeons, and you know this."
"I know, but I just don't want to let him go yet."
"None of us do, but we have too I am afraid." The Father says, looking at the head nurse.
They both sit in silence and drink their coffee till Margaret must go on Duty. She walks out of the Mess Tent and runs into BJ, "Morning."
"Morning." He replies smiling back at her. "Going on duty?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Not for a few hours."
"Alright then, I'll see you in a while." She says.
"Bye." He says walking away.
"Hey BJ?" She calls to him, as he turns around, "Thanks for letting me stay with you last night."
"No problem. I wanted company anyway." He smiles, and walks over to the Mess Tent.
"Hello Padre."
"Hello BJ, how are you today?"
"I'm doing alright. How about you?"
"I'm doing alright also." He smiles at the young cutter.
"BJ, I need to talk with you." Colonel Potter says, spotting the young man with a cup of coffee as he walks through the door.
"Alright." He says, "Have a seat."
"I want to know what you thought of having a service for Hawkeye?"
"I think that's a good idea." BJ says, in a sullen tone. "What time does the bus come?"
"It will be here in three hours." He says sighing. "Father, can you throw together a memorial service for him?"
"Of course Colonel, just give me an hour."
"Of course Father." He says. "I'll make an announcement." The men all retire to their respective tents and offices, and await the hour they say their final goodbye to their friend.
"Attention All Personal; this is your Colonel speaking, a service will be held for Hawkeye in one hour. If you wish to attend please come to the Mess Tent. Once again, Service for Hawkeye is in one hour, come to the mess tent. That is all."
An hour later, the Mess Tent was packed full of the Entire M*A*S*H* Personal. Father Mulcahy uses the usual funeral service, and then he asks if anyone wants to say something about Hawkeye. People start to speak of the fond memories of their fallen friend, and many tears are shed, but not from BJ. He has cried far too much and has no more tears left. He sits there, with his hands crossed across his chest, his eyes are clouded over with grief, but the tears do not fall. The surgeons and the head nurse choose not to say anything about their beloved Captain. They just sat and listened to the others. The service finally came to an end, and the camp all went over to pay there last respects to their friend, but BJ stayed back. He went back to his tent and lied down on his cot. The line in Post-Op was out the door, after all the nurses and enlisted men, minus Radar got to pay there respects, the Officers and Radar went in one by one. Radar went in first, and stood by the head of the gurney; he looks down at his idol and starts crying, "I don't think I have ever been more scared in my life." He starts, "When Colonel Blake died, we still had you to hold the unit together, but now your gone and I really don't know what is going to become of everyone. You have taught me a lot over the past few years of the war. You were like a brother to me and helped me grow up. I am going to miss you more then anything Hawkeye. I don't want to say goodbye, but I have too. Others are waiting to see you. Thanks for everything Hawk. I'll never forget you." Radar wipes his eyes quickly before heading back to the office to do paper work.
Colonel Potter was the next to go in. He sits down next to his cutter and immediately tears up. "You know, I have seen a lot of men die right in front of my eyes, some of them were my buddies, and like I told Sidney, it never gets any easier. Losing a friend is like losing a part of your soul, and you were like a friend and a son to me. We had some laughs and shed some tears over the months, but now its time to cry alone. You leaving has left a large hole in our unit, more then you probably could have ever known. I am worried about BJ and Margaret the most; they will miss you immensely, as will Radar, myself and the entire camp. They say it was your time to go, but my question is why did they have to take you at 32 years of age? You know the boy you brought in? Well he's alive because of you. It's a shame that you aren't alive with him. I'll miss you Hawkeye, and never forget you. Thank you for being such a great friend." He wipes a tear away from his eyes, stands up and heads out of the hallway, and into Post-Op.
Charles was the next to go in. He was far to proud to cry in front of everybody, especially for a man like Pierce, but when he was alone, the tears gradually came out. "We never got along as well as you and Hunnicut did, and we only served together for a few months, but you were one hell of a guy. I wish that I had more time to get to know you better, but that wasn't in the cards. You were a horror to the uniform, a complete ass at times, completely absurd, but a damn good cutter and a damn good man. I for one will miss you. This place will seem empty without all of your pranks being pulled or your jokes being heard, no matter how immature they were. Rest in Peace Pierce." And with that he leaves.
Father Mulcahy comes in as Charles leaves, and blesses himself, then blesses Hawkeye, "I never expected one of us to get it. I always thought we were in a way safe from the horrors of war, but I was wrong. I lived in a false sense of reality, which was quickly disrupted by your untimely death. You, my son, were one of a kind, and will be deeply missed. I for one am not looking forward to walking into surgery and not hearing your voice, or you joking with the other doctors. You always had a way of lightening up the OR when times were rough. I am worried about the camp without you, and I am worried about how I will be without you. I know that this is all a part of God's plan, I have been preaching that for the last two days, but I still don't understand why you are gone. You are away from Hell on earth, but I know that I would rather you still be here. I guess hat is rather selfish of me, but I can't help it. I also can't help being angry at our father for taking you." The Padre takes a deep breath and presses right between the bridges of his nose, trying to stop the tears. "I wish I understood why they took you when we need you and when the patients need you. I will miss you my son, but we will be together one day. Good bye Hawkeye." He says, as he stands up and retires to the Post-Op.
Lastly, Margaret comes in. She is having a rough time seeing him, but knows that she must say goodbye. "Well Pierce," She begins, sitting down next to him, "We had a rough start together, but over the past two years, I would to have liked to think we have become friends. The only regret that I have is that we did not turn into friends sooner. It will be strange going into the next round of surgery and not having you there, breaking the tension with BJ by making jokes, or singing, or by... well just being you. I don't think I have had a closer friend then you at one time, and I am going to miss you more than anything I ever have before. You were a great guy, and I will miss you Hawkeye. I hope to god that you're father gets through this, and I hope to god that we all get through you leaving us. You died saving lives, you died trying to help people, and you died young. They say only the good die young, and they are right. I love you Hawkeye, and know that one day we'll all be together. Keep an eye on us when your up there, I think we all can use a little Guardian Angel on our shoulders. Goodbye Hawkeye." She looks at him in silence for a few more minutes, and gets up, walking out of the hallway, and runs smack into BJ. "Ouch!" She says, looking up at the tall man. "I thought you were in the Swamp."
"I was, but I have to say goodbye to him." BJ says.
"No ones in there, he's all yours." She says, as she sees him hesitate. "Would you like me to go in with you?"
"No." He says, "I have to do this alone."
"Alright, well the bus comes in 30 minutes."
"I know." BJ says, as Margaret nods, and walks away, leaving him to take a deep breath before he goes into the hallway and sees his friend, in the exact same position he was yesterday. "Well, I guess this is goodbye for good." He says to begin, "You were the best friend I ever had, and we only knew each other for a year. We were partners, and now you and I are only a memory. I never thought that one of us would die, especially since we were doctors. I never thought..." He has to stop to keep his composure which was quickly escaping him, "My god Hawk, I am so sorry. I am so sorry that I couldn't save you. I should have been able too, but I couldn't. You knew you were dying and I am sorry for that too. I couldn't even give you comfort by telling you that you would be alright because you knew. I am so sorry." He says, wiping tears from his eyes. "I will never forget you Hawkeye, there is just no way I could. You were a very important part of my life, and I will never forget you for that. I couldn't imagine life in this place without you, and I am not looking forward to spending the rest of the war or my life without you, but that is how its going to have to be. It's not going to be easy Hawk, and I don't know how I am going to react once that bus takes you away. I can't help but thinking about the moral of this camp after your body is shipped back state side, or how your father will be after you are buried. I still can't help but feel guilty for your death..." His thoughts were interrupted by Potters voice,
"Hunnicut?" Potter calls to him. "The bus is here."
"I've been in here for a half an hour?"
"Yes." He says. "I'll give you another minute."
"Thanks." He says, as the Colonel walks out. "It's time for you to go Hawk. You'll never get to see this war end, but that's ok, because like you have said many times before it's never going to end. I'll miss you. Thank you for being there for me. You will always be my best friend, and I will never forget you." He says, standing up.
The corpsmen comes in, "Is this Dr. B. F. Pierce?" He asks.
"Yes."
"Can we take him?"
He takes one quick glance down at the body, covers his face with the white sheet, and zips up the body bag. "Yes." He tells them, and they quickly take him and place him on the bus. "Goodbye Hawk." BJ says, as the bus drives away with his best friend. He looks around the compound and sees most of the personal watching the bus leave the compound, in tears. BJ walks back to his tent, and lies on his bed, covering his eyes with his hands.
"BJ?" He hears Margaret's voice.
"Yeah?"
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah." He says, sitting up, looking down at the still.
"What are you thinking about?" She says, as he stares into space.
"How much I wish I had not destroyed the Still." He says, smiling.
"That stuff was horrible."
"It was great."
"It was motor oil."
"It was the well spring of life."
"It was sanity." Margaret says, smiling. "We should pack up his things, and get them ready to ship home."
"I don't know if I am ready for that." BJ replies, shaking his head.
"His will..."
"It's in his footlocker."
"Should we read it?"
"He wanted us too."
"Maybe we should give it to Colonel Potter." Margaret says.
"That's a better idea." BJ agrees. He goes over to his foot locker and opens it up, and picks up the paper saying, Benjamin Franklin Pierce's Last Will and Testament. They both go over in silence to Colonel Potter's office.
"What can I do for you two?" Potter asks the pair.
"We have Hawkeye's will." BJ says, handing him the paper, "We want you to read it."
"Very well." He says, taking a deep breath and reading over, smiling at it. "Margaret, he leaves you his groucho glasses. BJ, he has a letter for you. Charles gets his bathrobe, the Padre a nickel, Radar gets his magazines, and Klinger gets his Hawaiian Shirt, the blue one." He stops at the part for BJ's daughter, and decides not to read that part. He left Erin a letter of all the men his daddy saved over here, and he only has up to his death. Potter thinks that it's a good idea to continue this. "We have to pack his stuff up and get it ready to be shipped home. I am sure his Father wants it."
"Yeah." Margaret agrees.
"Lets go pack it up." Potter says, "BJ, do you want to help?"
"Yeah."
"Alright troops." He says smiling as they head into the swamp. In silence, all three of the officers pack everything carefully away in his foot locker and duffel bag. Once that is done they hull it back into Potters office and pack it for mailing. Once that is done, Potter says, "You know, we are going to need another surgeon..."
"We know." Margaret says, nodding, and that was the last thing said about the new cutter that night. Little did the Captain and Major know was that the new surgeon was on his way and would be arriving in two days.
That night, BJ was restless, and did not want to stay in the room. It felt too empty with out Hawkeye's things in there, so he decided to get up and go over to the CO's office and write a letter.
Dear Dr. Pierce,
My name is BJ Hunnicut, and I am quite aware that you have heard enough about me to last you a life time. The reason I know this is because I have sent letters home to my wife and child about your son. He was my best friend, he is my best friend. On August 19, at approximately 9pm, Hawkeye was trying to help an ambulance driver who was shot by a sniper, and the young boy in the back who had chest wounds. Sometime during that point, Hawkeye was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the stomach, both doing serious damage to his heart and liver. His aorta was badly wounded, as was his liver, and unfortunately the damage was far worse then I had originally thought. I worked on him until 10:06, where even after open heart massage I was unable to revive him, and I apologize for that. I am so sorry for not being able to save your son and my best friend. Hawkeye knew he was dying, but Major Margaret Houlihan and I were determined to prove him wrong, unfortunately he proved us wrong. He was only in pain a short time, and by the time we put him under he was comfortable. 10:06pm was the time of death, like I said earlier in the letter. I am writing to you because I wanted you to know exactly what happened. Being a father and a doctor myself, I know that I would want to hear ever little detail of my child's death. I also want you to know how much your son meant to me and the rest of the camp. If your son was not here when I arrived in Korea over a year ago, I don't know what I would have done. He was an amazing person, and I wish I had more time with him. If you have any more questions, please feel free to reach me here. I am deeply sorry for the loss of your only son.
Sincerely,
Captain B.J. Hunnicut
He slips the letter into his friend's boxes which were to be sent home on the next mail call. He stands up, and walks out of the CO's office and back into his tent, hoping to get some sleep. He didn't even want to think about what they were going to do if Casualties came in because they only have 2 surgeons. He knew they needed another surgeon, but he wasn't ready for one, unfortunately, the other surgeon was scheduled to arrive in two days. The camp only has two days till their best surgeon is completely replaced, and this was a concept that was hard to grasp by many at the 4077th M*A*S*H*
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TBC... Please R&R, but please be kind... I haven't been writing fic's that long. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep them up! I hope you liked this chapter! It gets better!
Thanks a lot!
*STARY*