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 was awake and in his office by six am. He couldn't sleep any longer because he had too much on his mind. He sat at his desk, filling out paperwork, but finally stopped, tapped his pencil on the desk and started to think... "Who am I going to make Chief Surgeon?" He thinks, and lets his mind wander to the conversation he and Hawkeye had had a week before he died.
*FLASH BACK*
"Pierce, I need to speak with you." Potter says when he sees the young surgeon coming out of the Mess Tent.
"Sure Colonel! When?" He asks.
"Now if possible."
"Sure." Hawkeye says as he follows the CO into his office and sits down. "What's up Colonel?"
"I need to talk to you about a rather serious matter. In the event of you going home who would you choose as Chief Surgeon? I just can't make a decision."
"That's a tough decision." Hawkeye says, "Both BJ and Charles are quite capable of taking over the position." He sits and thinks for a minute.
"Rank makes it Winchester." Potter says.
"Yeah, but experience makes it BJ."
"True. Winchester could bring discipline..."
"And arrogance." Hawkeye smiles.
Potter cracks a smile and adds in, "BJ would also bring discipline..."
"Without the arrogance." Hawkeye says. "I honestly think I'd go with Beej. He has been here longer, he knows his way around the chest, and people listen to him and trust him more so than Charles."
"Is that your PROFESSIONAL decision?" Potter says, stressing the word professional.
"Colonel, I know that BJ is my best friend, but I am looking out for the camp and the casualties. I know that if anything were to happen to me, I'd want BJ to operate on me rather then Charles."
"I don't know Pierce..."
"It's a good thing that I won't ever be sent home, because you won't have to make this decision." He tells them as they both laugh. "But, on a more serious matter, I'd pick BJ."
*END FLASHBACK*
Potter shudders at the memory. He sighs and thinks, "Do I give it to the ranking surgeon, or the easily liked one? Both are quite competent surgeons. Should I go with Hawkeye's choice or what is militarily correct?" He stays at his desk and thinks a few more minutes before saying, "Radar, put n announcement in at eight am to Winchester, Hunnicut, Houlihan, and the Padre. Tell them to report to my office immediately."
"Sure sir." He says.
Eight AM came very quick. "Attention All Personal, will the following Personnel please report to Colonel Potter's office, Major Winchester, Major Houlihan, Captain Hunnicut, and Father Mulcahy, Now sirs! That is all.
BJ cracks an eye open and is hit smack in the face by the early morning sun, "I don't remember the sun being on this side of the tent, ever." He grumbles.
"That's because you have never been up at 8am unless it was after an operation." Charles grumbles, pulling on his boots.
"I like it that way." BJ replies as he too pulls on his boots and stands up. BJ glimpse quickly at the empty cot and follows the Major over to their CO's office.
"Morning gang."
"Morning Colonel." Charles says.
"Sorry that I had to wake most of you up, but I have some news that you all should know."
"What is it Colonel?" Margaret asks.
"We have a new cutter coming tomorrow morning. His name is Captain Jason M. Lewis."
"Oh." BJ says, sighing.
"I had to make a decision on who would be the chief surgeon also..."
He is cut off by Winchester, "Colonel, I have the utmost trust in who you chose for this job..."
"Thank you Charles." He says, looking at Hunnicut, "BJ, will you do it?"
"WHAT?!" The Major says. "Him?!"
"Yes Winchester, HIM! I thought you trusted my judgment..."
"I do, but HIM! Sir I'm ranking surgeon being a Major!"
"I am quite aware of that Winchester, but I have to go with the safety of the casualties.
He is more level headed in times of trouble, he is not as arrogant and he has been here longer then you have, so yes HIM." He says, getting right in the Majors face. "What do you say Hunnicut?"
"Sure." He says shrugging. "I've got nothing else to do."
"Then it's settled, our new chief surgeon is Hunnicut."
"So, what do we know about the new surgeon?" The Father asks.
"Not much. He was drafted a few months ago, and has spent his time in Tokyo. He graduated from Yale in the top Ten Percentile of his class. He is certified in general surgery, and knows his way around the chest. He is 33 years old. That's about all we know."
"Ugh, Yale." Charles says, shuddering at the thought of the University.
"I wonder what he's like." Margaret says, shaking her head at Charles comment.
"We'll find all of that out tomorrow morning. I expect everyone to be up and moving by the time the Captain comes. He will of course be sharing the Swamp with you two." Potter says motioning to the other surgeons.
"Naturally." Charles says, rolling his eyes.
"Well then, dismissed." Potter says, as everyone leaves the office. The Colonel opens up his cabinet and grabs a bottle of scotch and pours himself a glass, quickly throwing that one back and takes another one. "Damn." He says, sighing. What else could he say, it stunk and he was the one who had to try and keep morale up.
"Sir?" Radar asks, popping his head in the office."
"Come on in Radar." He says, sitting at his desk. "What can I do for you?"
"Mail call Sir." He says, handing it to him.
"Thank you Radar." He says, flipping through his mail, smiling when he comes across one from the Misses. "Anything else on your mind Radar?"
"No sir." He begins, but quickly adds in, "Yes sir."
"Well?"
"I was just wondering, what do you think the new Captain's going to be like."
"I don't know Radar."
"Do you think he'll be as good as Captain Pierce was?"
"I don't think anyone could be as good as Pierce was." He says, shaking his head.
"Do you think everyone will be ok when he comes?"
"I think it will take some time before anyone is alright." He tells the young man, opening up the letter from his wife and reads through it quickly. He comes to one certain part of the letter and places it down on the desk in front of him, trying to keep his composure.
"Sir?" Radar asks the Colonel as he sees his expression. "What is it?"
"The Misses wants to know if Hawkeye lived through the revenge he had coming to him after all the jokes he pulled on the camp last week."
"Oh..." Radar says, looking at his feet.
"I never got to tell her that he was..." Potter stops, taking a breath, "That he passed on."
"Maybe now's a good time Sir." He says, turning and walking back out of the CO's office, leaving him to write back to his wife.
Dear Mildred,
I am glad to here everything with you is good, unfortunately here, that's a different story. August 19th, we had a night we would never forget. Hawkeye was shot by a sniper and killed despite all of our efforts. He died at 10:06pm, and it has been hell ever since. Morale is down, everyone is upset, but I am most worried about Hunnicut and Houlihan. They are taking it quite rough, and I just don't know what I can do to make them feel better. I even called Dr. Freedman, the psychiatrist, and he couldn't help them. Tomorrow, August 24, the new Captain comes in, and I am not sure how the others will react to him. I made BJ the chief surgeon, so that is taken care of, however I think that is going to be a rather large adjustment on him. My decision was based on a conversation that I had between myself and Hawkeye. He chose BJ, and I feel that I should honor his decision, besides BJ will be a great Chief Surgeon. He says that he's ready for it, but ever since he has been here he has been taking orders, not giving them. I know he will do a great job though. I can't wait till the war is over and I get the hell out of Korea. I miss and love you and can't wait to see you.
Love,
Sherm
He reads over it again quickly before putting it into an envelope and placing it in the bin to be mailed on the next courier.
"Sir, it's time for you to go on duty." Radar calls to him.
"Alright Radar, thank you." He says, walking out of his office and over to Post-Op to relieve Charles. "How's it going Winchester?"
"Splendidly now that you are here to relieve me." He says, standing up and stretching. "I for one am glad that the new surgeon is on his way, however, I wish we didn't have too."
"I completely understand the way you are feeling." Potter agrees. "How about you give me the low down on the patients."
"Gladly." Charles says, walking around with his CO from bed to bed. "Now, if you don't mind, I am off to my quarters for some shuteye."
"Alright, let Hunnicut know he's on in five hours."
"Will do." He says as he heads back to the Swamp. "Hunnicut, you're in Post- Op in five hours."
"Thanks." He says, not taking his eyes off the letter he is writing.
Dear Peg, It's been a few days since I have written, which is unusual for me, but it's with good reasons. First off, I want to tell you that I am fine, and to also see how you and Erin are doing? I miss you both very much. I've been having a bit of a rough couple of days here; in fact these days could be ranked in the top 10 list of my worst days ever. Hawkeye died. He was killed by a sniper who was hiding on the outskirts of the compound. I tried to work on him, but I couldn't save him. On August 19th at 10:06PM, he died. I couldn't save him Peg, no matter how hard I tried. I never knew what it was like to lose a best friend, but now I do. It is one of the worst feelings in the world, and I hope to god I never have to feel it again. I have patched up hundreds of livers and hearts, but I couldn't patch up his. Potter asked me to be Chief Surgeon today, and I accepted. I really don't understand why he wants me, but I guess there must be a pretty good reason. Tomorrow the new surgeon comes. I don't even want to get to know him Peg, is that terrible? I don't even know the man and I have no desire to. I feel like I'm replacing Hawkeye and I can't do that. It's just so hard. He was the only one who made life bearable out here. Hopefully the war will end soon and I can come home to my two favorite girls. Give Erin a kiss for me.
Love
BJ
The next morning, Captain Jason M. Lewis came into the 4077th M*A*S*H*. He was a tall man, around six feet with dark hair and green eyes. He got off the jeep and stared at the camp, shaking his head at how grim it looked. He was quite nervous about the entire war, and was not too happy to be a part of it. "This way Sir." Radar says, as he leads the way into the CO's office. "Colonel Potter? Captain Lewis has arrived sir."
"Good, send him in Radar." Potter says, as he watches the young man hold open the door for the new Captain. "Captain Lewis?"
"Yes, sir." He says, saluting his CO.
"At ease. I am Colonel Sherman Potter, and I would like to welcome you to the 4077th M*A*S*H*. Why don't you have a seat?"
"Thank you Colonel." He says, handing him some papers, "Here are my orders sir."
Potter quickly reads over them and says, "Very good." He then calls for Radar, "Radar, get on the PA and call the officers. Tell them I want them in my office, on the double."
"Yes sir." He says, walking back into his part of the office. "Attention, Attention, will all officers please report to the commanding officers office sir's."
"Thank you Radar." The CO says as the young Corporal comes back into the room.
"Your welcome sir." He says smiling. After a few minutes, all of the officers have assembled in the office, Margaret and Father Mulcahy sat next to the new surgeon, and Charles stood behind Margaret, his hands on the back of her chair. BJ stood off to the side; his hands were crossed against his chest, his eyes clouded over with grief as he took a quick glance at the new surgeon.
"I would like you all to meet our new surgeon, Captain Jason Lewis. Captain Lewis, I would like to introduce you to Major Margaret Houlihan, our head nurse, Major Charles Winchester, Lieutenant Father Frances Mulcahy, and our Chief Surgeon Captain B.J. Hunnicut."
"Please, call me Jason." He says smiling at the new faces.
"Jason, you may call me Margaret."
"I am Charles." He says very bluntly, looking over at BJ who was extremely quiet. "And the mute over there is BJ." He adds in trying to break the man of his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry I'm just BJ." BJ replies.
"It's nice to meet all of you."
"Winchester, Hunnicut, why don't you show Lewis to the Swamp?"
"The Swamp?" Lewis questions.
"It's the name of the tent you will be living in." Potter explains
"It fits the description quite well." Winchester says.
"Oh, alright." He says, as he stands up.
"Allow me to help you with your bags." Winchester says, picking up one of the bags off the ground. "This way." They walk around the compound, pointing out things as they go, as they finally reach the Swamp. "You will be taking the side closest to the door."
"Sounds good to me." He says, shrugging, and throwing his things down on the ground.
"So, BJ, what's it like here?" Jason asks, trying to get the Chief surgeon to talk to him.
"Meatball surgery." He says, taking some time to remember Hawkeye saying that. "One minute its quiet in the compound and the next tons of causalities are being brought in."
"How many hours are we in the OR for?"
"As many as it takes. My longest secession was for 3 days."
"Wow." He says, shaking his head. "At least we are not in the line of fire. Being a few miles away seems fairly safe."
BJ immediately clams up, stands up and walks out of the tent.
"What did I say?" He asks Winchester.
"Don't underestimate how safe this place is. We are still in the middle of a war zone, there is still plenty that will do damage to you." Charles says, shaking his head, watching BJ walk away.
"I am aware of that, but still..."
"No, you are not aware of that because you have not been here long enough to know the dangers that lurk around every corner. You can only imagine the horrors of war as of now." He almost yells at the new surgeon, before calming himself down and saying,
"Would you like me to show you around the compound?"
"That would be great Major." He says, as the two of them stand up and head out the makeshift doors.
"Directly behind our tent you will find from left to right, The Nurses Quarters, Father Mulcahy's tent, Major Houlihan's tent, and the VIP tent. Next to the VIP tent you have the Mess Tent. That is not the place you want to eat, but you more or less have to eat there, so we make due. Let me take you into the OR and Post-Op."
"Right." Lewis says, following him over and in to the OR.
"Typical military base Operating Room, we work in a line, worst goes first, you patch them up as they need to be and then you ship them over to Post- Op. You will have a nurse with you and also an anesthesiologist. We all work together, so if you get in a bind call for one of us to help. Post-Op, is right over here." He says, slightly sighing at the empty hallway where there former Chief Surgeon lied for three days. "We all take turns here, usually pulling around six or more hour shifts. There are nurses floating around this place all the time. Here are two of our lieutenants now, Nurses Able and Bigelow. Nurses, this is our new surgeon Captain Jason Lewis."
The nurses immediately look up at the new surgeon, neither of them talking right away.
"Nice to meet you both." Lewis says, smiling at the girls.
"Um, you too." Bigelow forces out, before busying herself with a patient.
"I am looking forward to working with both of you." He says, directing that comment at Able, who doesn't say a word. She looks down at the patient lying in front of her and takes his Blood Pressure.
"Able." Bigelow hisses at the young nurse, to get her to say something to the new surgeon. Able just glances over at her friend, pleading with her eyes to just leave her alone for the moment. Her eyes were starting to fill up with tears, she quickly stands up, with her eyes pointing to the floor, and quickly pushes past the two men so she can go outside for a quick breather, leaving the two men confused. "She hasn't been feeling too well." Bigelow says quickly covering for her friend, shaking her head. Charles nods his head knowingly, and the other surgeon just smiles and says, "I hope she feels better."
"In time." Charles says, quickly adding in, "Where's BJ?"
"Coffee break." Bigelow says quickly.
"Alright, well, we'll be off." He says, as they head out of Post-Op and over to the Mess tent. "That is pretty much the entire camp. Care for a cup of coffee?"
"That sounds good." He says, as the two surgeons grab a cup and sit down next to their new Chief Surgeon.
"Everything going smoothly in Post-Op?"
"So far." BJ says, not acknowledging Lewis's presence. "I better get back to it, my breaks almost over." He says, standing up and walking back to the Post-Op, but right before he hits the doors he hears,
"Attention, All personal! Incoming wounded! Let's show Capt. Lewis how we do it here!"
BJ turns quickly and runs over to the bus, "Winchester, you and Lewis head up to the choppers, Margaret help me triage here! Let's go everyone!" He says, wishing it wasn't him who was giving the orders. "Father! I need you to start prepping them please!" After triaging, BJ quickly scrubs up and heads into surgery followed by the other two men seconds after. "Margaret." BJ says, "You're with Lewis. Bigelow, I want you with me, and Able..." He stops when he doesn't see her, "Where's Able?"
"She's second shift." Margaret says.
"Fine, um Baker, you're with Charles."
Normally it was Margaret's job to place the nurses with the surgeons, but being Lewis's first day in this hell hole, BJ took complete control. After an hour of surgery, Colonel Potter comes on duty, and helps them with their night. "How's it going in here?"
"I have a bad belly wound." Winchester says.
"I've got one with a ton of shrapnel in his chest. He can only be 18 years of age." Lewis says.
"There marines, of course there young." BJ says, gruffly causing Lewis to glare in the direction of the chief surgeon. He has only been there a few hours, and already is starting to not like Hunnicut.
"How are you Hunnicut?" Potter says.
"Fine, mines got a hole in his heart, and liver, but I've got it under control." He says, not looking up from his patient.
After 7 hours of surgery, Lewis starts to hum a little tune while he operated. He needed something to keep himself awake, and figured that would do the trick. "Scalpel."
"Scalpel." Margaret says.
"Do you ever sleep?" Lewis says.
"I sleep after surgery." She says, watching him cut into another boy.
"You should get all the sleep you can."
"I'm fine thank you." She says, rolling her eyes.
"You're other nurse's sleep."
"I'm head nurse; sleep is not something I partake in when there is surgery going on."
"Perhaps you can join me in a little song then." He says, smiling under his mask. "Are the stars out tonight...?" BJ hears this and his head immediately shoots up, and he glares at the Jason. "I don't know if it's cloudy or bright..."
"Lewis!" BJ says.
"Cause I only have eyes..." He hears his name and looks at BJ, "Yes?"
"Keep quiet over there!" He says, gruffly.
"For you dear..."
"I MEAN IT!" BJ warns. Hawkeye sung that song on a few occasions, and BJ did not want to hear it anymore.
"Jeeze..." Lewis says, shaking his head, "What's up his ass." He whispers to Margaret.
"Is it so hard to believe that someone would actually like silence during an operation?" Margaret says, frowning.
"Yes actually. It's hard to believe that you all stay quiet for hours on end, only calling for the needed tools."
BJ closes his patient and says, "I'm taking 10 minutes." As he pulls off his gloves and walks out into the cool night air.
"Are you alright BJ?" Able asks, as she comes on duty.
"Fine." He says, sighing.
"Are you sure? You don't look fine."
"I'm fine Able." He tells her putting a fake smile on his face. "I just needed to take a break."
"Alright, I'll see you in there." She says, shaking her head.
He kicks a couple of stones to blow off some steam before heading right back into the OR. "Gloves." He says, as Kelley puts them on his hands. "Next patient." They all work with minimal talking, and finally after 14 hours of surgery, they were finished. In the scrub room, everybody wanted to know how Lewis's first surgical experience in Korea went, except for BJ.
"How did it go in there?" Potter asked.
"It went well Colonel, thank you." Lewis responded.
"Good to hear. How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"No nausea?" Charles asks.
"None, why?"
"Almost everyone's first experience here they end up sick."
"Well, that's not going to happen to me." He says, smiling.
"That's good to hear Jason." Charles responds.
"So chief, how did I do?" Jason asks BJ, as he finishes washing his hands.
"You did fine Lewis." BJ replies, and dries his hands. "If you don't mind, I'll be heading for a quick drink." And with that he heads straight over to the Officers Club, taking a seat in the far corner, and drinks, alone. Finally BJ gets up and heads back to his tent where he flops down on the bed and sleeps with the other surgeons. A few hours later, he is woken up by noise outside the tent, and also by noise inside his tent.
"You're awake." Lewis says, smiling as he pulls on his boots.
"It would seem that way now wouldn't it?" He replies, looking at his watch to see what time it is.
"You know something. What this tent could really use is a still." Jason says. "That way, we could always have booze around, and we wouldn't have to keep running up a tab.
What do you say?"
"No."
"No?"
"No." BJ says flat out. "No still."
"Why not? I can tell you like to drink..."
"How can you tell? Because of the one time you saw me drinking at the O Club? Is that why? Because you have been here so long that you know everything about me?" He says in a tone of anything but yelling. "Let me tell you something Lewis... you don't know anything about me, so before you go around saying shit like that don't." As he quickly pulls on his boots and storms out, leaving a very confused Captain, sitting on his cot. A few minutes later Charles walks back into the Swamp.
"Is he always like that!" Jason asks.
"Is who always like what?" Charles asks his new Bunkie.
"BJ. Is he always such an asshole?!"
"I have never heard BJ described in those words before..."
"Well then it's me."
"It's not you."
"It has to be me, because ever since I got here he has either found a way to ignore me or yell at me! I haven't done anything for him to hate me, and yet he does!"
"Trust me, it's not you. He is just having a difficult time right now."
"Well that is NO reason to take all his anger out on me! I don't even know the man, and right now I don't care to!"
Charles shakes his head at the young surgeon and thinks, "If only you knew the half of it."
"I'm about two seconds away from going and talking to the CO."
"He'll come around." Charles says lying down on his cot, watching the new surgeon storm out of the Swamp and over to the mess tent. Charles truly feels bad for both of the surgeons. BJ can not come to the fact that Hawkeye has been replaced, and Jason can not understand why their Chief Surgeon is being such a complete ass. He sighs heavily and shuts his eyes.
Jason walks into the mess tent and grabs a cup of coffee, when he turns around he sees the Chief Surgeon and Head Nurse sitting down at the table talking. "Mind if I sit?" He asks, as he approaches the table.
"Not at all Jason." Margaret says.
BJ stands up and says, "I have to get into Post-Op, see you later."
Jason watches the man walk away from him yet again, and frowns. "What is that guys problem Major?"
"Problem?" Margaret asks, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Yes! Ever since I have come here, he has found a way to avoid me or yell at me! I am getting sick of it."
"I don't think that is it..."
"Yes it is!"
"NO it's Not CAPTAIN!" She says using her 'major' tone on him.
"It's not? So what is it?" He asks, as Margaret immediately clams up. "That's what I thought. The guy is just an ass."
"How dare you! That man is NOT an ass! He has never been an ass! How dare you say that about a person whom you do not even know!" She shouts, and stands up. "Good night Captain!" She says, storming out of the Mess Tent.
"Great Jason... Another person is pissed off at you." He says, sighing. He decides to take a walk around the compound, and stops and hears some conversation about Hunnicut.
"How do you think he's doing?" Baker asks Able, as they slowly walk over to their tent.
"I don't know." Able says, shrugging her shoulders. "He is still really upset that Hawkeye's gone."
"I don't blame him." Baker says, "I think we are all upset about him leaving."
"Yeah, but BJ is taking it the hardest. He just isn't himself anymore, and I am worried about him. I hope to god he'll get over it."
"Me too." Baker agrees. "Some of the enlisted men think that when he left it took the best with him."
"They were best friends." Able says, as they walk into there tent. Lewis couldn't believe that. This guy was upset because one of his friends got to go home! He unfortunately didn't know the half of it.
A week goes by before another outburst from BJ occurs against the new Captain. He has avoided him like the plague over the past two weeks since he has arrived. BJ just couldn't get use to the fact that he was there, and Hawkeye was not. BJ laid on his back, staring up at the top of the tent deep in thought, when a voice shakes him back to reality.
"Captain Hunnicut?" Radar called to him from outside the door.
"Come in Radar." BJ says, as he sits up to listen to the young man.
"Mail for you sir." He says, smiling and handing the letters to him. BJ looks at one of the letters, and flips it in his hands, as Radar walks back out of the Swamp. He takes the letter and reads over the return address. "Crabapple Cove Maine." He says. BJ takes in a deep breath of air and slowly opens up the letter and reads it.
Dear BJ,
I was extremely glad to get your letter which was placed in my son's belongs. I have heard a lot about you over the past year, and feel like I already know you. I was very grateful of your description of what my son went through, and in a way it gave me peace knowing that he was in good hands until his death. I know had I not gotten your letter I would have been tearing my hair out trying to figure out what caused his death since the death certificate only reason was gunshot wounds. I also hope to god that you never have to burry a child of your own. You know as well as I know, being a father that you are the one who should always out live your children. Since you were kind enough to write to me about what happened, I felt it was only write to return the kindness and talk to you about his funeral. Hawkeye was buried the day after his body arrived, which was on the 24th of August. It was a sunny and warm day, and the ceremony was quite a huge turnout. John McIntyre flew up for it, and I got to know him a bit better. He was quite torn up over his death and told me that he never got to say goodbye when he left Korea. I know Hawk wrote to me telling me how hurt he was because of that, but you filled that void. Hawkeye was buried in the family plot, right next to his mother. I haven't had the strength to sell off his things yet, perhaps I never will. I know that he is in a better place right now, but I wish he was home, or even still in Korea, only alive. How are you taking his death? I hope you are doing alright and the rest of the unit is too. He talked fondly about every single one of you, and I hope to god one day I am able to meet all of you. You were his Best Friend, and he talked about you the most. He told me once that you made it bearable when Trapper went home, and after that first day that you and he met he felt that you were almost his brother. I want to thank you for that. I am so glad that his last days were good ones, even in a place like that. If you get a chance please write back to me. I would like to see how you are doing. I also do not blame you for my son's death. He knew he was dying and was able to make peace with himself, I am sure. You did the best you could do and I thank you for that BJ. You stayed with him during the time he needed the people he loved the most.
Thank you again BJ for everything you have done for my son, and for me.
Dr. Daniel Pierce
BJ placed the paper down on his lap, and hung his head. His eyes filled with tears and his hand quickly came up and wiped them away. He was so angry and hurt at Hawkeye for leaving him, and at himself for not saving him he could not take it anymore. He hated Jason for coming to the Unit and taking over Hawkeye's place. He cried a bit more before he heard footsteps come closer to the door. Once again he wipes the tears away and composes himself before the door swings open and the other Captain comes in.
"Hi." Jason says, but BJ just keeps quiet. "Are you going to talk to me?" He asks, still nothing which really pissed off Lewis. "Alright, enough is enough. What the hell is your problem?"
"My problem?" He quickly turns towards him.
"Yeah! Your problem! What in the hell is your problem?"
"I don't have a problem." BJ says, his eyes glued to Hawkeye's replacement.
"Oh no? So why are you such an asshole towards me? You have been a complete jerk ever since I first stepped onto the camps dirt!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"What did I do to you for you to hate me so much? Is that why you don't like me? Is it because I am a threat towards your field of expertise? Is it the fact that I came after your friend was sent home? What is it?"
"I am not going to stand around here and listen to this!"
"Oh sure, run away yet again! How the hell did you ever become Chief Surgeon? They are suppose to be helpful to newcomers, they are suppose to be a born leader and you sir are neither. I heard the nurses say that you haven't been yourself since your friend left, and well buddy, deal with it, because I am the replacement." He says, almost taunting the distraught Surgeon.
"Why you little asshole! How dare you say that! How dare you tell me that I am not fit to be the Chief Surgeon! How dare you come to me and make these remarks about my friend! My life is none of your business! You have NO right to say this to me when you don't even know me!"
"It's not my fault that I don't know you! That's yours! You won't take the time to even talk to me let alone get to know me! When I came here this cot was empty, and then I made it home! Get over the past and get into the now." Jason says shouting. "Start acting like a Chief Surgeon! Start acting like a human being!"
By this time BJ is furious, his face is beat red, his eyes are almost popping out of his head, "You shut up."
"Do you know what some of the enlisted men said? They said that when your friend left, he took the best of you and left this. I never saw the best of you, but right now I see a weak, miserable man with nothing going for him."
BJ jumps at the man while the letter falls off his lap grabs him by the arm and shoves him out of the tent. "What are you going to hit me now?" Jason asks.
"You're not worth it." BJ says, pushing him to the ground. "Stay away from me, do you hear me?" And with that storms over to Post-Op.
"What is all the commotion about?!" Potter asks, as he exits the mess tent, and walks over to where Lewis was.
"Hunnicut flipped." He says, standing up.
"What do you mean he flipped?!"
"I confronted him and asked why he was treating me like dirt and I told him I didn't appreciate it. He then started saying that it wasn't me like dirt, and I told him how just because his friend went home and I replaced him didn't mean that he could treat me like this, and for the fact that he shouldn't be moping around all the time."
Potter shakes his head and says, "You didn't."
"I did! Sir I had to! He has not talked to me at all since I have been around! He is a poor excuse for a Chief Surgeon, forgive me...."
"You don't even know him. You don't even know half of the things that went on before you came here. True, Hunnicut is having a difficult time right now, but it will get better. You just have to give him some time."
"I have gave him well over a week and still nothing! Its bull sir!"
Potter looks at him and says, "You'd be the same way if your best friend, who you lived with for a bit over a year was shot and killed, and you weren't able to save him. Hawkeye didn't go home son, he was killed." Potter says, lowering his eyes.
Lewis looked at him in complete and utter shock, "I didn't know." He says quietly. "What happened?"
"There was a sniper, and he had taken out one of our ambulance drivers so Hawkeye ran right over and tended to the driver, who had a gunshot wound to his shoulder. It hit an artery, and he was pumping blood out by the gallon. After he got him to safety he ran back out and grabbed the boy in the back of the ambulance, and somewhere between those two runs he was shot, once in the back and once in the stomach. Margaret was the one who saw him as soon as he collapsed, and she called for BJ. BJ operated on him and realized that his aorta was torn, and also his liver was cut. Hawkeye knew he was going to die, and he begged BJ to not even waste his time, but he did anyway, and he died. Hawkeye was our Chief Surgeon, but I gave the job to BJ once he died. He has been having a difficult time coping with his position also."
"I feel like such an ass." He says, slumping his shoulders. "He's gonna hate me."
"No he won't. Don't beat yourself up over it. You didn't know." Potter says, placing a hand on his shoulders. "Did you see where he went?"
"Post-Op." He says.
"Alright, I'll go talk to him, you go get some rest! You've been up almost 24hours."
"Yes sir." He says, walking into the tent. As soon as he sits down on the bed, he looks over a BJ's side and sees a letter, lying on the ground. He quietly looks around and sees no one in the vicinity so he goes and picks the letter up and reads it. He is normally not nosey, but wants to better understand the situation his Chief Surgeon is in. As he finishes the letter, he places it back down on the floor and shakes his head, feeling the utmost sympathy to the family of the fallen man and also to the camp.
Over in Post-Op, Potter finds BJ sitting in the hallway on a bench with his head in his hands. He quietly goes over to him and sits next to him. "Mind telling me what all the who haw is about?"
"Not particularly."
"Come on Hunnicut, what brought all this about? I have never heard you yell that loud before."
He looks up at the Colonel, his eyes red from crying, "I can't do it Colonel." He says, sighing.
"Can't do what?"
"I can't make friends with Lewis. I can't do it. I feel so guilty! I feel like I'm replacing Hawkeye, and I feel awful about it."
"You aren't replacing Hawkeye son. He's gone BJ, and there's nothing you can do about it."
"I should have been able to done something!"
"No, there was nothing! You and I both know that."
"I know that, but still I couldn't save him! Colonel I worked on a boy today with the same wounds as Hawkeye! The exact same! And you know something, I saved him. He is alive and well in Post-Op right now. He is alive, and I can't help but wish that it was Hawkeye and not that boy. I feel like the worst person ever."
"Your not, trust me. You have ever right to feel angry at the fact that your friend is gone. Hell I am angry that he's gone. I am also extremely upset that I had to call in a new surgeon, but you and I both know that we couldn't do it without him."
"We replaced him..."
"No, we didn't, because you are still thinking about him. He has not been replaced because every one of the personal thinks about him every day."
"I almost feel like I wish I never knew him, because then I wouldn't feel this way! I wouldn't be so hurt and angry at him for leaving me."
"That's alright too. BJ, everything you are going through, we are going through. You can't shut us out because we all need you too, and you need us."
"I feel like I'm already forgetting him."
"You wont." Potter smiles. "He was too important in your life to ever forget him."
"Every day when I get out of surgery I think, Oh I can't wait to tell Hawkeye what just happened in the OR, and then I walk into the tent and see Lewis sitting there, and I get angry at him for leaving me."
"You can be angry, just don't blame Lewis. It was not his fault that he got stuck here anymore than it was any of ours. Get to know him a bit, and then you'll see that he isn't trying to replace Hawkeye he is just trying to live each day to the fullest on this hell on earth."
BJ sighs, and looks at the Colonel, who looks back at him, quickly squeezes his shoulders and stands up. "Can I buy you a drink BJ?"
"I think I need one." He says. They walk over to the O Club and sit down at the bar and start drinking. "I got a letter from his father today."
"You did?" Potter asks, "What did it say?"
"I'll have to let you read it. It was just about his funeral, how much we meant to him, and how thankful he was that we were around him when he was dying so he didn't die alone."
"It was nice of him to write to you." Potter says, "It helps with closure, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I do." BJ says, throwing back his drink, "I think everything's going to be alright."
*****
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 realized that when I uploaded the story a major part was missing, which confused a lot of people to how BJ ended up Chief Surgeon! It was late when I did it, so I apologize for that. The next part will be up soon! Thanks a lot for reading and all your imput!
*STARY*
********
The next morning Colonel Potter was awake and in his office by six am. He couldn't sleep any longer because he had too much on his mind. He sat at his desk, filling out paperwork, but finally stopped, tapped his pencil on the desk and started to think... "Who am I going to make Chief Surgeon?" He thinks, and lets his mind wander to the conversation he and Hawkeye had had a week before he died.
*FLASH BACK*
"Pierce, I need to speak with you." Potter says when he sees the young surgeon coming out of the Mess Tent.
"Sure Colonel! When?" He asks.
"Now if possible."
"Sure." Hawkeye says as he follows the CO into his office and sits down. "What's up Colonel?"
"I need to talk to you about a rather serious matter. In the event of you going home who would you choose as Chief Surgeon? I just can't make a decision."
"That's a tough decision." Hawkeye says, "Both BJ and Charles are quite capable of taking over the position." He sits and thinks for a minute.
"Rank makes it Winchester." Potter says.
"Yeah, but experience makes it BJ."
"True. Winchester could bring discipline..."
"And arrogance." Hawkeye smiles.
Potter cracks a smile and adds in, "BJ would also bring discipline..."
"Without the arrogance." Hawkeye says. "I honestly think I'd go with Beej. He has been here longer, he knows his way around the chest, and people listen to him and trust him more so than Charles."
"Is that your PROFESSIONAL decision?" Potter says, stressing the word professional.
"Colonel, I know that BJ is my best friend, but I am looking out for the camp and the casualties. I know that if anything were to happen to me, I'd want BJ to operate on me rather then Charles."
"I don't know Pierce..."
"It's a good thing that I won't ever be sent home, because you won't have to make this decision." He tells them as they both laugh. "But, on a more serious matter, I'd pick BJ."
*END FLASHBACK*
Potter shudders at the memory. He sighs and thinks, "Do I give it to the ranking surgeon, or the easily liked one? Both are quite competent surgeons. Should I go with Hawkeye's choice or what is militarily correct?" He stays at his desk and thinks a few more minutes before saying, "Radar, put n announcement in at eight am to Winchester, Hunnicut, Houlihan, and the Padre. Tell them to report to my office immediately."
"Sure sir." He says.
Eight AM came very quick. "Attention All Personal, will the following Personnel please report to Colonel Potter's office, Major Winchester, Major Houlihan, Captain Hunnicut, and Father Mulcahy, Now sirs! That is all.
BJ cracks an eye open and is hit smack in the face by the early morning sun, "I don't remember the sun being on this side of the tent, ever." He grumbles.
"That's because you have never been up at 8am unless it was after an operation." Charles grumbles, pulling on his boots.
"I like it that way." BJ replies as he too pulls on his boots and stands up. BJ glimpse quickly at the empty cot and follows the Major over to their CO's office.
"Morning gang."
"Morning Colonel." Charles says.
"Sorry that I had to wake most of you up, but I have some news that you all should know."
"What is it Colonel?" Margaret asks.
"We have a new cutter coming tomorrow morning. His name is Captain Jason M. Lewis."
"Oh." BJ says, sighing.
"I had to make a decision on who would be the chief surgeon also..."
He is cut off by Winchester, "Colonel, I have the utmost trust in who you chose for this job..."
"Thank you Charles." He says, looking at Hunnicut, "BJ, will you do it?"
"WHAT?!" The Major says. "Him?!"
"Yes Winchester, HIM! I thought you trusted my judgment..."
"I do, but HIM! Sir I'm ranking surgeon being a Major!"
"I am quite aware of that Winchester, but I have to go with the safety of the casualties.
He is more level headed in times of trouble, he is not as arrogant and he has been here longer then you have, so yes HIM." He says, getting right in the Majors face. "What do you say Hunnicut?"
"Sure." He says shrugging. "I've got nothing else to do."
"Then it's settled, our new chief surgeon is Hunnicut."
"So, what do we know about the new surgeon?" The Father asks.
"Not much. He was drafted a few months ago, and has spent his time in Tokyo. He graduated from Yale in the top Ten Percentile of his class. He is certified in general surgery, and knows his way around the chest. He is 33 years old. That's about all we know."
"Ugh, Yale." Charles says, shuddering at the thought of the University.
"I wonder what he's like." Margaret says, shaking her head at Charles comment.
"We'll find all of that out tomorrow morning. I expect everyone to be up and moving by the time the Captain comes. He will of course be sharing the Swamp with you two." Potter says motioning to the other surgeons.
"Naturally." Charles says, rolling his eyes.
"Well then, dismissed." Potter says, as everyone leaves the office. The Colonel opens up his cabinet and grabs a bottle of scotch and pours himself a glass, quickly throwing that one back and takes another one. "Damn." He says, sighing. What else could he say, it stunk and he was the one who had to try and keep morale up.
"Sir?" Radar asks, popping his head in the office."
"Come on in Radar." He says, sitting at his desk. "What can I do for you?"
"Mail call Sir." He says, handing it to him.
"Thank you Radar." He says, flipping through his mail, smiling when he comes across one from the Misses. "Anything else on your mind Radar?"
"No sir." He begins, but quickly adds in, "Yes sir."
"Well?"
"I was just wondering, what do you think the new Captain's going to be like."
"I don't know Radar."
"Do you think he'll be as good as Captain Pierce was?"
"I don't think anyone could be as good as Pierce was." He says, shaking his head.
"Do you think everyone will be ok when he comes?"
"I think it will take some time before anyone is alright." He tells the young man, opening up the letter from his wife and reads through it quickly. He comes to one certain part of the letter and places it down on the desk in front of him, trying to keep his composure.
"Sir?" Radar asks the Colonel as he sees his expression. "What is it?"
"The Misses wants to know if Hawkeye lived through the revenge he had coming to him after all the jokes he pulled on the camp last week."
"Oh..." Radar says, looking at his feet.
"I never got to tell her that he was..." Potter stops, taking a breath, "That he passed on."
"Maybe now's a good time Sir." He says, turning and walking back out of the CO's office, leaving him to write back to his wife.
Dear Mildred,
I am glad to here everything with you is good, unfortunately here, that's a different story. August 19th, we had a night we would never forget. Hawkeye was shot by a sniper and killed despite all of our efforts. He died at 10:06pm, and it has been hell ever since. Morale is down, everyone is upset, but I am most worried about Hunnicut and Houlihan. They are taking it quite rough, and I just don't know what I can do to make them feel better. I even called Dr. Freedman, the psychiatrist, and he couldn't help them. Tomorrow, August 24, the new Captain comes in, and I am not sure how the others will react to him. I made BJ the chief surgeon, so that is taken care of, however I think that is going to be a rather large adjustment on him. My decision was based on a conversation that I had between myself and Hawkeye. He chose BJ, and I feel that I should honor his decision, besides BJ will be a great Chief Surgeon. He says that he's ready for it, but ever since he has been here he has been taking orders, not giving them. I know he will do a great job though. I can't wait till the war is over and I get the hell out of Korea. I miss and love you and can't wait to see you.
Love,
Sherm
He reads over it again quickly before putting it into an envelope and placing it in the bin to be mailed on the next courier.
"Sir, it's time for you to go on duty." Radar calls to him.
"Alright Radar, thank you." He says, walking out of his office and over to Post-Op to relieve Charles. "How's it going Winchester?"
"Splendidly now that you are here to relieve me." He says, standing up and stretching. "I for one am glad that the new surgeon is on his way, however, I wish we didn't have too."
"I completely understand the way you are feeling." Potter agrees. "How about you give me the low down on the patients."
"Gladly." Charles says, walking around with his CO from bed to bed. "Now, if you don't mind, I am off to my quarters for some shuteye."
"Alright, let Hunnicut know he's on in five hours."
"Will do." He says as he heads back to the Swamp. "Hunnicut, you're in Post- Op in five hours."
"Thanks." He says, not taking his eyes off the letter he is writing.
Dear Peg, It's been a few days since I have written, which is unusual for me, but it's with good reasons. First off, I want to tell you that I am fine, and to also see how you and Erin are doing? I miss you both very much. I've been having a bit of a rough couple of days here; in fact these days could be ranked in the top 10 list of my worst days ever. Hawkeye died. He was killed by a sniper who was hiding on the outskirts of the compound. I tried to work on him, but I couldn't save him. On August 19th at 10:06PM, he died. I couldn't save him Peg, no matter how hard I tried. I never knew what it was like to lose a best friend, but now I do. It is one of the worst feelings in the world, and I hope to god I never have to feel it again. I have patched up hundreds of livers and hearts, but I couldn't patch up his. Potter asked me to be Chief Surgeon today, and I accepted. I really don't understand why he wants me, but I guess there must be a pretty good reason. Tomorrow the new surgeon comes. I don't even want to get to know him Peg, is that terrible? I don't even know the man and I have no desire to. I feel like I'm replacing Hawkeye and I can't do that. It's just so hard. He was the only one who made life bearable out here. Hopefully the war will end soon and I can come home to my two favorite girls. Give Erin a kiss for me.
Love
BJ
The next morning, Captain Jason M. Lewis came into the 4077th M*A*S*H*. He was a tall man, around six feet with dark hair and green eyes. He got off the jeep and stared at the camp, shaking his head at how grim it looked. He was quite nervous about the entire war, and was not too happy to be a part of it. "This way Sir." Radar says, as he leads the way into the CO's office. "Colonel Potter? Captain Lewis has arrived sir."
"Good, send him in Radar." Potter says, as he watches the young man hold open the door for the new Captain. "Captain Lewis?"
"Yes, sir." He says, saluting his CO.
"At ease. I am Colonel Sherman Potter, and I would like to welcome you to the 4077th M*A*S*H*. Why don't you have a seat?"
"Thank you Colonel." He says, handing him some papers, "Here are my orders sir."
Potter quickly reads over them and says, "Very good." He then calls for Radar, "Radar, get on the PA and call the officers. Tell them I want them in my office, on the double."
"Yes sir." He says, walking back into his part of the office. "Attention, Attention, will all officers please report to the commanding officers office sir's."
"Thank you Radar." The CO says as the young Corporal comes back into the room.
"Your welcome sir." He says smiling. After a few minutes, all of the officers have assembled in the office, Margaret and Father Mulcahy sat next to the new surgeon, and Charles stood behind Margaret, his hands on the back of her chair. BJ stood off to the side; his hands were crossed against his chest, his eyes clouded over with grief as he took a quick glance at the new surgeon.
"I would like you all to meet our new surgeon, Captain Jason Lewis. Captain Lewis, I would like to introduce you to Major Margaret Houlihan, our head nurse, Major Charles Winchester, Lieutenant Father Frances Mulcahy, and our Chief Surgeon Captain B.J. Hunnicut."
"Please, call me Jason." He says smiling at the new faces.
"Jason, you may call me Margaret."
"I am Charles." He says very bluntly, looking over at BJ who was extremely quiet. "And the mute over there is BJ." He adds in trying to break the man of his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh yeah, sorry I'm just BJ." BJ replies.
"It's nice to meet all of you."
"Winchester, Hunnicut, why don't you show Lewis to the Swamp?"
"The Swamp?" Lewis questions.
"It's the name of the tent you will be living in." Potter explains
"It fits the description quite well." Winchester says.
"Oh, alright." He says, as he stands up.
"Allow me to help you with your bags." Winchester says, picking up one of the bags off the ground. "This way." They walk around the compound, pointing out things as they go, as they finally reach the Swamp. "You will be taking the side closest to the door."
"Sounds good to me." He says, shrugging, and throwing his things down on the ground.
"So, BJ, what's it like here?" Jason asks, trying to get the Chief surgeon to talk to him.
"Meatball surgery." He says, taking some time to remember Hawkeye saying that. "One minute its quiet in the compound and the next tons of causalities are being brought in."
"How many hours are we in the OR for?"
"As many as it takes. My longest secession was for 3 days."
"Wow." He says, shaking his head. "At least we are not in the line of fire. Being a few miles away seems fairly safe."
BJ immediately clams up, stands up and walks out of the tent.
"What did I say?" He asks Winchester.
"Don't underestimate how safe this place is. We are still in the middle of a war zone, there is still plenty that will do damage to you." Charles says, shaking his head, watching BJ walk away.
"I am aware of that, but still..."
"No, you are not aware of that because you have not been here long enough to know the dangers that lurk around every corner. You can only imagine the horrors of war as of now." He almost yells at the new surgeon, before calming himself down and saying,
"Would you like me to show you around the compound?"
"That would be great Major." He says, as the two of them stand up and head out the makeshift doors.
"Directly behind our tent you will find from left to right, The Nurses Quarters, Father Mulcahy's tent, Major Houlihan's tent, and the VIP tent. Next to the VIP tent you have the Mess Tent. That is not the place you want to eat, but you more or less have to eat there, so we make due. Let me take you into the OR and Post-Op."
"Right." Lewis says, following him over and in to the OR.
"Typical military base Operating Room, we work in a line, worst goes first, you patch them up as they need to be and then you ship them over to Post- Op. You will have a nurse with you and also an anesthesiologist. We all work together, so if you get in a bind call for one of us to help. Post-Op, is right over here." He says, slightly sighing at the empty hallway where there former Chief Surgeon lied for three days. "We all take turns here, usually pulling around six or more hour shifts. There are nurses floating around this place all the time. Here are two of our lieutenants now, Nurses Able and Bigelow. Nurses, this is our new surgeon Captain Jason Lewis."
The nurses immediately look up at the new surgeon, neither of them talking right away.
"Nice to meet you both." Lewis says, smiling at the girls.
"Um, you too." Bigelow forces out, before busying herself with a patient.
"I am looking forward to working with both of you." He says, directing that comment at Able, who doesn't say a word. She looks down at the patient lying in front of her and takes his Blood Pressure.
"Able." Bigelow hisses at the young nurse, to get her to say something to the new surgeon. Able just glances over at her friend, pleading with her eyes to just leave her alone for the moment. Her eyes were starting to fill up with tears, she quickly stands up, with her eyes pointing to the floor, and quickly pushes past the two men so she can go outside for a quick breather, leaving the two men confused. "She hasn't been feeling too well." Bigelow says quickly covering for her friend, shaking her head. Charles nods his head knowingly, and the other surgeon just smiles and says, "I hope she feels better."
"In time." Charles says, quickly adding in, "Where's BJ?"
"Coffee break." Bigelow says quickly.
"Alright, well, we'll be off." He says, as they head out of Post-Op and over to the Mess tent. "That is pretty much the entire camp. Care for a cup of coffee?"
"That sounds good." He says, as the two surgeons grab a cup and sit down next to their new Chief Surgeon.
"Everything going smoothly in Post-Op?"
"So far." BJ says, not acknowledging Lewis's presence. "I better get back to it, my breaks almost over." He says, standing up and walking back to the Post-Op, but right before he hits the doors he hears,
"Attention, All personal! Incoming wounded! Let's show Capt. Lewis how we do it here!"
BJ turns quickly and runs over to the bus, "Winchester, you and Lewis head up to the choppers, Margaret help me triage here! Let's go everyone!" He says, wishing it wasn't him who was giving the orders. "Father! I need you to start prepping them please!" After triaging, BJ quickly scrubs up and heads into surgery followed by the other two men seconds after. "Margaret." BJ says, "You're with Lewis. Bigelow, I want you with me, and Able..." He stops when he doesn't see her, "Where's Able?"
"She's second shift." Margaret says.
"Fine, um Baker, you're with Charles."
Normally it was Margaret's job to place the nurses with the surgeons, but being Lewis's first day in this hell hole, BJ took complete control. After an hour of surgery, Colonel Potter comes on duty, and helps them with their night. "How's it going in here?"
"I have a bad belly wound." Winchester says.
"I've got one with a ton of shrapnel in his chest. He can only be 18 years of age." Lewis says.
"There marines, of course there young." BJ says, gruffly causing Lewis to glare in the direction of the chief surgeon. He has only been there a few hours, and already is starting to not like Hunnicut.
"How are you Hunnicut?" Potter says.
"Fine, mines got a hole in his heart, and liver, but I've got it under control." He says, not looking up from his patient.
After 7 hours of surgery, Lewis starts to hum a little tune while he operated. He needed something to keep himself awake, and figured that would do the trick. "Scalpel."
"Scalpel." Margaret says.
"Do you ever sleep?" Lewis says.
"I sleep after surgery." She says, watching him cut into another boy.
"You should get all the sleep you can."
"I'm fine thank you." She says, rolling her eyes.
"You're other nurse's sleep."
"I'm head nurse; sleep is not something I partake in when there is surgery going on."
"Perhaps you can join me in a little song then." He says, smiling under his mask. "Are the stars out tonight...?" BJ hears this and his head immediately shoots up, and he glares at the Jason. "I don't know if it's cloudy or bright..."
"Lewis!" BJ says.
"Cause I only have eyes..." He hears his name and looks at BJ, "Yes?"
"Keep quiet over there!" He says, gruffly.
"For you dear..."
"I MEAN IT!" BJ warns. Hawkeye sung that song on a few occasions, and BJ did not want to hear it anymore.
"Jeeze..." Lewis says, shaking his head, "What's up his ass." He whispers to Margaret.
"Is it so hard to believe that someone would actually like silence during an operation?" Margaret says, frowning.
"Yes actually. It's hard to believe that you all stay quiet for hours on end, only calling for the needed tools."
BJ closes his patient and says, "I'm taking 10 minutes." As he pulls off his gloves and walks out into the cool night air.
"Are you alright BJ?" Able asks, as she comes on duty.
"Fine." He says, sighing.
"Are you sure? You don't look fine."
"I'm fine Able." He tells her putting a fake smile on his face. "I just needed to take a break."
"Alright, I'll see you in there." She says, shaking her head.
He kicks a couple of stones to blow off some steam before heading right back into the OR. "Gloves." He says, as Kelley puts them on his hands. "Next patient." They all work with minimal talking, and finally after 14 hours of surgery, they were finished. In the scrub room, everybody wanted to know how Lewis's first surgical experience in Korea went, except for BJ.
"How did it go in there?" Potter asked.
"It went well Colonel, thank you." Lewis responded.
"Good to hear. How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"No nausea?" Charles asks.
"None, why?"
"Almost everyone's first experience here they end up sick."
"Well, that's not going to happen to me." He says, smiling.
"That's good to hear Jason." Charles responds.
"So chief, how did I do?" Jason asks BJ, as he finishes washing his hands.
"You did fine Lewis." BJ replies, and dries his hands. "If you don't mind, I'll be heading for a quick drink." And with that he heads straight over to the Officers Club, taking a seat in the far corner, and drinks, alone. Finally BJ gets up and heads back to his tent where he flops down on the bed and sleeps with the other surgeons. A few hours later, he is woken up by noise outside the tent, and also by noise inside his tent.
"You're awake." Lewis says, smiling as he pulls on his boots.
"It would seem that way now wouldn't it?" He replies, looking at his watch to see what time it is.
"You know something. What this tent could really use is a still." Jason says. "That way, we could always have booze around, and we wouldn't have to keep running up a tab.
What do you say?"
"No."
"No?"
"No." BJ says flat out. "No still."
"Why not? I can tell you like to drink..."
"How can you tell? Because of the one time you saw me drinking at the O Club? Is that why? Because you have been here so long that you know everything about me?" He says in a tone of anything but yelling. "Let me tell you something Lewis... you don't know anything about me, so before you go around saying shit like that don't." As he quickly pulls on his boots and storms out, leaving a very confused Captain, sitting on his cot. A few minutes later Charles walks back into the Swamp.
"Is he always like that!" Jason asks.
"Is who always like what?" Charles asks his new Bunkie.
"BJ. Is he always such an asshole?!"
"I have never heard BJ described in those words before..."
"Well then it's me."
"It's not you."
"It has to be me, because ever since I got here he has either found a way to ignore me or yell at me! I haven't done anything for him to hate me, and yet he does!"
"Trust me, it's not you. He is just having a difficult time right now."
"Well that is NO reason to take all his anger out on me! I don't even know the man, and right now I don't care to!"
Charles shakes his head at the young surgeon and thinks, "If only you knew the half of it."
"I'm about two seconds away from going and talking to the CO."
"He'll come around." Charles says lying down on his cot, watching the new surgeon storm out of the Swamp and over to the mess tent. Charles truly feels bad for both of the surgeons. BJ can not come to the fact that Hawkeye has been replaced, and Jason can not understand why their Chief Surgeon is being such a complete ass. He sighs heavily and shuts his eyes.
Jason walks into the mess tent and grabs a cup of coffee, when he turns around he sees the Chief Surgeon and Head Nurse sitting down at the table talking. "Mind if I sit?" He asks, as he approaches the table.
"Not at all Jason." Margaret says.
BJ stands up and says, "I have to get into Post-Op, see you later."
Jason watches the man walk away from him yet again, and frowns. "What is that guys problem Major?"
"Problem?" Margaret asks, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Yes! Ever since I have come here, he has found a way to avoid me or yell at me! I am getting sick of it."
"I don't think that is it..."
"Yes it is!"
"NO it's Not CAPTAIN!" She says using her 'major' tone on him.
"It's not? So what is it?" He asks, as Margaret immediately clams up. "That's what I thought. The guy is just an ass."
"How dare you! That man is NOT an ass! He has never been an ass! How dare you say that about a person whom you do not even know!" She shouts, and stands up. "Good night Captain!" She says, storming out of the Mess Tent.
"Great Jason... Another person is pissed off at you." He says, sighing. He decides to take a walk around the compound, and stops and hears some conversation about Hunnicut.
"How do you think he's doing?" Baker asks Able, as they slowly walk over to their tent.
"I don't know." Able says, shrugging her shoulders. "He is still really upset that Hawkeye's gone."
"I don't blame him." Baker says, "I think we are all upset about him leaving."
"Yeah, but BJ is taking it the hardest. He just isn't himself anymore, and I am worried about him. I hope to god he'll get over it."
"Me too." Baker agrees. "Some of the enlisted men think that when he left it took the best with him."
"They were best friends." Able says, as they walk into there tent. Lewis couldn't believe that. This guy was upset because one of his friends got to go home! He unfortunately didn't know the half of it.
A week goes by before another outburst from BJ occurs against the new Captain. He has avoided him like the plague over the past two weeks since he has arrived. BJ just couldn't get use to the fact that he was there, and Hawkeye was not. BJ laid on his back, staring up at the top of the tent deep in thought, when a voice shakes him back to reality.
"Captain Hunnicut?" Radar called to him from outside the door.
"Come in Radar." BJ says, as he sits up to listen to the young man.
"Mail for you sir." He says, smiling and handing the letters to him. BJ looks at one of the letters, and flips it in his hands, as Radar walks back out of the Swamp. He takes the letter and reads over the return address. "Crabapple Cove Maine." He says. BJ takes in a deep breath of air and slowly opens up the letter and reads it.
Dear BJ,
I was extremely glad to get your letter which was placed in my son's belongs. I have heard a lot about you over the past year, and feel like I already know you. I was very grateful of your description of what my son went through, and in a way it gave me peace knowing that he was in good hands until his death. I know had I not gotten your letter I would have been tearing my hair out trying to figure out what caused his death since the death certificate only reason was gunshot wounds. I also hope to god that you never have to burry a child of your own. You know as well as I know, being a father that you are the one who should always out live your children. Since you were kind enough to write to me about what happened, I felt it was only write to return the kindness and talk to you about his funeral. Hawkeye was buried the day after his body arrived, which was on the 24th of August. It was a sunny and warm day, and the ceremony was quite a huge turnout. John McIntyre flew up for it, and I got to know him a bit better. He was quite torn up over his death and told me that he never got to say goodbye when he left Korea. I know Hawk wrote to me telling me how hurt he was because of that, but you filled that void. Hawkeye was buried in the family plot, right next to his mother. I haven't had the strength to sell off his things yet, perhaps I never will. I know that he is in a better place right now, but I wish he was home, or even still in Korea, only alive. How are you taking his death? I hope you are doing alright and the rest of the unit is too. He talked fondly about every single one of you, and I hope to god one day I am able to meet all of you. You were his Best Friend, and he talked about you the most. He told me once that you made it bearable when Trapper went home, and after that first day that you and he met he felt that you were almost his brother. I want to thank you for that. I am so glad that his last days were good ones, even in a place like that. If you get a chance please write back to me. I would like to see how you are doing. I also do not blame you for my son's death. He knew he was dying and was able to make peace with himself, I am sure. You did the best you could do and I thank you for that BJ. You stayed with him during the time he needed the people he loved the most.
Thank you again BJ for everything you have done for my son, and for me.
Dr. Daniel Pierce
BJ placed the paper down on his lap, and hung his head. His eyes filled with tears and his hand quickly came up and wiped them away. He was so angry and hurt at Hawkeye for leaving him, and at himself for not saving him he could not take it anymore. He hated Jason for coming to the Unit and taking over Hawkeye's place. He cried a bit more before he heard footsteps come closer to the door. Once again he wipes the tears away and composes himself before the door swings open and the other Captain comes in.
"Hi." Jason says, but BJ just keeps quiet. "Are you going to talk to me?" He asks, still nothing which really pissed off Lewis. "Alright, enough is enough. What the hell is your problem?"
"My problem?" He quickly turns towards him.
"Yeah! Your problem! What in the hell is your problem?"
"I don't have a problem." BJ says, his eyes glued to Hawkeye's replacement.
"Oh no? So why are you such an asshole towards me? You have been a complete jerk ever since I first stepped onto the camps dirt!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"What did I do to you for you to hate me so much? Is that why you don't like me? Is it because I am a threat towards your field of expertise? Is it the fact that I came after your friend was sent home? What is it?"
"I am not going to stand around here and listen to this!"
"Oh sure, run away yet again! How the hell did you ever become Chief Surgeon? They are suppose to be helpful to newcomers, they are suppose to be a born leader and you sir are neither. I heard the nurses say that you haven't been yourself since your friend left, and well buddy, deal with it, because I am the replacement." He says, almost taunting the distraught Surgeon.
"Why you little asshole! How dare you say that! How dare you tell me that I am not fit to be the Chief Surgeon! How dare you come to me and make these remarks about my friend! My life is none of your business! You have NO right to say this to me when you don't even know me!"
"It's not my fault that I don't know you! That's yours! You won't take the time to even talk to me let alone get to know me! When I came here this cot was empty, and then I made it home! Get over the past and get into the now." Jason says shouting. "Start acting like a Chief Surgeon! Start acting like a human being!"
By this time BJ is furious, his face is beat red, his eyes are almost popping out of his head, "You shut up."
"Do you know what some of the enlisted men said? They said that when your friend left, he took the best of you and left this. I never saw the best of you, but right now I see a weak, miserable man with nothing going for him."
BJ jumps at the man while the letter falls off his lap grabs him by the arm and shoves him out of the tent. "What are you going to hit me now?" Jason asks.
"You're not worth it." BJ says, pushing him to the ground. "Stay away from me, do you hear me?" And with that storms over to Post-Op.
"What is all the commotion about?!" Potter asks, as he exits the mess tent, and walks over to where Lewis was.
"Hunnicut flipped." He says, standing up.
"What do you mean he flipped?!"
"I confronted him and asked why he was treating me like dirt and I told him I didn't appreciate it. He then started saying that it wasn't me like dirt, and I told him how just because his friend went home and I replaced him didn't mean that he could treat me like this, and for the fact that he shouldn't be moping around all the time."
Potter shakes his head and says, "You didn't."
"I did! Sir I had to! He has not talked to me at all since I have been around! He is a poor excuse for a Chief Surgeon, forgive me...."
"You don't even know him. You don't even know half of the things that went on before you came here. True, Hunnicut is having a difficult time right now, but it will get better. You just have to give him some time."
"I have gave him well over a week and still nothing! Its bull sir!"
Potter looks at him and says, "You'd be the same way if your best friend, who you lived with for a bit over a year was shot and killed, and you weren't able to save him. Hawkeye didn't go home son, he was killed." Potter says, lowering his eyes.
Lewis looked at him in complete and utter shock, "I didn't know." He says quietly. "What happened?"
"There was a sniper, and he had taken out one of our ambulance drivers so Hawkeye ran right over and tended to the driver, who had a gunshot wound to his shoulder. It hit an artery, and he was pumping blood out by the gallon. After he got him to safety he ran back out and grabbed the boy in the back of the ambulance, and somewhere between those two runs he was shot, once in the back and once in the stomach. Margaret was the one who saw him as soon as he collapsed, and she called for BJ. BJ operated on him and realized that his aorta was torn, and also his liver was cut. Hawkeye knew he was going to die, and he begged BJ to not even waste his time, but he did anyway, and he died. Hawkeye was our Chief Surgeon, but I gave the job to BJ once he died. He has been having a difficult time coping with his position also."
"I feel like such an ass." He says, slumping his shoulders. "He's gonna hate me."
"No he won't. Don't beat yourself up over it. You didn't know." Potter says, placing a hand on his shoulders. "Did you see where he went?"
"Post-Op." He says.
"Alright, I'll go talk to him, you go get some rest! You've been up almost 24hours."
"Yes sir." He says, walking into the tent. As soon as he sits down on the bed, he looks over a BJ's side and sees a letter, lying on the ground. He quietly looks around and sees no one in the vicinity so he goes and picks the letter up and reads it. He is normally not nosey, but wants to better understand the situation his Chief Surgeon is in. As he finishes the letter, he places it back down on the floor and shakes his head, feeling the utmost sympathy to the family of the fallen man and also to the camp.
Over in Post-Op, Potter finds BJ sitting in the hallway on a bench with his head in his hands. He quietly goes over to him and sits next to him. "Mind telling me what all the who haw is about?"
"Not particularly."
"Come on Hunnicut, what brought all this about? I have never heard you yell that loud before."
He looks up at the Colonel, his eyes red from crying, "I can't do it Colonel." He says, sighing.
"Can't do what?"
"I can't make friends with Lewis. I can't do it. I feel so guilty! I feel like I'm replacing Hawkeye, and I feel awful about it."
"You aren't replacing Hawkeye son. He's gone BJ, and there's nothing you can do about it."
"I should have been able to done something!"
"No, there was nothing! You and I both know that."
"I know that, but still I couldn't save him! Colonel I worked on a boy today with the same wounds as Hawkeye! The exact same! And you know something, I saved him. He is alive and well in Post-Op right now. He is alive, and I can't help but wish that it was Hawkeye and not that boy. I feel like the worst person ever."
"Your not, trust me. You have ever right to feel angry at the fact that your friend is gone. Hell I am angry that he's gone. I am also extremely upset that I had to call in a new surgeon, but you and I both know that we couldn't do it without him."
"We replaced him..."
"No, we didn't, because you are still thinking about him. He has not been replaced because every one of the personal thinks about him every day."
"I almost feel like I wish I never knew him, because then I wouldn't feel this way! I wouldn't be so hurt and angry at him for leaving me."
"That's alright too. BJ, everything you are going through, we are going through. You can't shut us out because we all need you too, and you need us."
"I feel like I'm already forgetting him."
"You wont." Potter smiles. "He was too important in your life to ever forget him."
"Every day when I get out of surgery I think, Oh I can't wait to tell Hawkeye what just happened in the OR, and then I walk into the tent and see Lewis sitting there, and I get angry at him for leaving me."
"You can be angry, just don't blame Lewis. It was not his fault that he got stuck here anymore than it was any of ours. Get to know him a bit, and then you'll see that he isn't trying to replace Hawkeye he is just trying to live each day to the fullest on this hell on earth."
BJ sighs, and looks at the Colonel, who looks back at him, quickly squeezes his shoulders and stands up. "Can I buy you a drink BJ?"
"I think I need one." He says. They walk over to the O Club and sit down at the bar and start drinking. "I got a letter from his father today."
"You did?" Potter asks, "What did it say?"
"I'll have to let you read it. It was just about his funeral, how much we meant to him, and how thankful he was that we were around him when he was dying so he didn't die alone."
"It was nice of him to write to you." Potter says, "It helps with closure, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I do." BJ says, throwing back his drink, "I think everything's going to be alright."
*****
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 realized that when I uploaded the story a major part was missing, which confused a lot of people to how BJ ended up Chief Surgeon! It was late when I did it, so I apologize for that. The next part will be up soon! Thanks a lot for reading and all your imput!
*STARY*