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!
********
That night BJ went into the tent silently, ignoring Charles lying on his bed reading a letter and flops right on his bed and shut his eyes. It seems like the only time he gets any sleep is if he has been drinking. The next morning he was woken up by Radar, and drug himself into Post-Op.
"Morning BJ." Lewis says, standing up.
"Morning Jason." He says. "What do we have today?"
"My one patient, Davison, he has a high fever and has been downing blood by the gallon."
"Have you figured out why?"
"No... I just figured patients go sour..."
"You have to open him up again."
"I closed up every hole..."
"No, you obviously did not, now either you open him up or I will."
"Fine. Margaret, can you assist me please."
"Yes." She calls to him. "Able, prep him."
"I'm going to go scrub." Lewis says walking into the scrub room.
"He wasn't gonna open him up! Can you believe that?!"
"BJ, stop, relax." Margaret tells him.
"I can't believe him..." He says, "He will NEVER be as good as Hawkeye."
"He's not trying to be!" She says, yelling at him. "God BJ!" She says, storming over to scrub.
In the operating room, they cut open the young boy again. "Scalpel."
"Scalpel."
"Suction that for me Margaret..." He says, as the nurse suctions, "Would you look at that, there is a hole. I can't believe I missed it."
"It happens to everyone." Margaret says.
"Not to Hawkeye." He says coldly. "Nothing bad ever happened to that guy. He was just perfect..."
"Stop right there." She says.
"Why? Am I not right?"
"No! You're not! And I would appreciate you shutting up about him!" He starts to open his mouth and Margaret adds in, "Keep your mouth shut! And that's an order Captain." The rest of there time in the OR was spent in silence. BJ was off Post-Op Duty by 9:00 and made a B-line to the O'club. He was the only one in there at the time, which was odd, but it still was early. "Can I have a martini?"
"Sure thing Doc."
"Thanks." He says, sitting down at the bar, quickly downing the martini. "Another, and keep them coming please."
"Everything alright Doc? I haven't seen you like this since.... Well, its been a few weeks."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just in the mood to get drunk."
"Ahh." He says, shaking the martini.
"Thanks." He tells him. After an hour, Father Mulcahy comes in to the club.
"Good evening BJ."
"Hi Father." BJ says, turning his head slightly.
"Is everything alright?"
"Just fine Padre." BJ says, downing his martini, and quickly replacing the empty glass with the liquid.
"What is it BJ?"
"It's nothing. It's really just plain stupid."
"Nothing is stupid when you are sitting alone at a bar getting drunk." The Father says quite frankly.
"It's Lewis."
"You and him still haven't gotten along?"
"I can't stand the guy Father!"
"Why?"
"He's just a complete moron! He wasn't going to go back into a guy who was downing blood by the gallon! He was just going to let him lay there!"
"Who's patient was it?"
"His!"
"Do you think he had it under control? That he wasn't ready to go in?"
"I doubt it! Jeeze, if that was Hawkeye he would be in that patient so fast."
"He isn't Hawkeye BJ."
"I KNOW THAT! Why does everybody insist on telling me that?"
"I didn't mean to make you angry; I am just stating the truth."
"He isn't Hawkeye... He isn't Hawkeye.... My god if I hear that one more time I'm going to go insane! I know he isn't Hawkeye! Hawkeye died on my table on August 19th! I am quite aware that it isn't Hawkeye!" He says shouting at the Padre, who is just sitting there and taking his anger. He knows that BJ is not mad at him, but needs to get this out of his system. "He isn't as competent as Hawkeye! He isn't as good as a surgeon as Hawkeye! He isn't my best friend! I can't stand the guy, so he couldn't possibly be Hawkeye! So why does everyone think that I think that he is Hawkeye?"
"Who are you angry at?"
"Everybody! Everybody who tells me that he isn't Hawkeye!"
"Why?"
"Why are you asking me this?!"
"I am trying to help you BJ. It's kind of my job."
"Well you know what Father, you're not helping. So just leave me alone." He says downing another drink.
"Do you mind if I sit here and have a beer with you?"
"I don't care." BJ says, becoming very drunk very quickly. "You know what I hate about him the most Father?"
"What's that BJ?"
"I hate the fact that he came here! I hate the fact that I share the bunk with him!" He says, downing his martini. "I hate the fact that he is a Captain. I hate the fact that he doesn't care nearly enough about his patients. I hate the fact..." His voice gets caught in his throat.
"You hate what BJ?" He asks, trying to get him to say it.
"I hate the fact that he isn't Hawkeye! I hate the fact that I couldn't save my best friend. I hate it that I could save all those other boys, but I couldn't save my own friend! I hate it!" He says slamming down the glass on the counter of the bar. "He isn't Hawkeye, and it's my fault."
"Do you honestly believe that BJ? Do you honestly believe that you could have done something to save him?"
"I should have been able too! I should have!"
"He knew..."
"And I should have proved him wrong! But I couldn't..."
"Exactly! You couldn't BJ! There was nothing you or anyone for that matter could have done. It was in the hands of God, and you can't change that. When he makes up his mind, it's settled."
"I'm a doctor! I am suppose to make it all ok!"
"You can't fix everything BJ. My god you should know that from being over here for so long."
"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier! I lost the best friend I ever had, and now this guy moves in on his place and he... he always is around! I can't get away from him!"
"It's a small compound. Maybe, you should try to get and know him?"
"I don't want to get to know him!"
"Why?"
"I just don't!"
"There must be a reason BJ."
"Because, he'll replace him."
"He'll replace him?"
"He'll replace Hawkeye, if I get to know Lewis he'll replace Hawkeye and I can't let that happen."
"No one is going to replace Hawkeye. I can never possibly forget him, and I assure you, neither could you."
"Then why do I feel like I already am?"
"Trust me, you're not. Give him a chance BJ. He might surprise you. I for one think he is a really nice guy."
"He was my best friend..."
"That doesn't mean you can't talk to Lewis."
"I know."
"So, do you think its time to stop hiding behind the constant drinking and start to talk to him? Or at least give him a chance? Make it so you can at least get over being at his throat every five seconds?"
"It's going to be hard."
"I know. It was hard for all of us, but we made it work. Even Margaret made it so she could work with him."
"I know... it's just..."
"It's just what?"
BJ sighs as his eyes fill up for the millionth time that night, "Does it ever stop?"
"What?"
"The pain... the hurting... does it ever stop? Does it ever get better?"
"It does, it has to, it just takes a long time." Father Mulcahy says, placing a hand on his shoulder, "But you have to help it along." And with that, he stands up and heads out of the O'Club, leaving the drunken doctor to his thoughts.
Over the next few weeks, BJ had made a point to get to know Lewis, at least a little bit.
"So we haven't really had a chance to talk..." Was how BJ started out the conversation.
"Talk about what Chief?"
"Just talk. I don't know you too well." He says, sitting on his cot.
"You want to talk? To me?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Well, I just didn't think that you would want too."
"I didn't, but I do now."
"Well, what do you want to talk about?"
"Where are you from?"
"New Hampshire. I live in a small town bordering Maine." He says proudly. BJ cringes at the sound of the state. "What about you?"
"California. I'm on the other side." BJ says.
"I know you have a wife, but do you have kids?"
"I have a daughter, Erin, she's one and a half. What about you?"
"Yeah, I have a son and a daughter, Luke and Stephanie, 5 and 3."
"It's hard to leave them isn't it?"
"It definitely is." Jason says, trailing off.
The two captains sat and talked for a while, but BJ was still uncomfortable. He still couldn't come to terms with another man sleeping in his and Charles tent, but he felt that he could at least put an effort forth towards getting along with the man. BJ could not help but feel guilty about actually starting to get along, but when you only have a handful of people living around you, its nice to have everyone to talk too. The months of fall quickly went past and winter came and soon following, the flu season was upon them. In January the camp got hit with a bad bought of the flu. It hit just about everyone, and it didn't cut anyone any slack.
The temperature was around ten degree's and falling. The doctors had just gotten off a very long surgery and were absolutely exhausted.
"I am glad that's over." Jason says, flopping down on his cot.
"As am I." Charles says.
"That flu seems to keep on growing." BJ replies, lying down on his cot. "Three nurses already, and they only got it a day ago."
"Hopefully it won't spread." Jason says.
"It will..." Charles snuffs. "Good night Gentlemen." He says, rolling over and falling asleep.
"I'm with him." Jason replies, and after a few minutes, all three of the surgeons are sound asleep. The next morning, BJ awakes first. He looks at his watch and groans. It was 8am, and they had only gone to sleep five hours ago. He sits up, and realized how much his body ached. "Great, just great." He says, groaning again. He felt the beginnings of the flu, but refused to let it get him down. He couldn't be sick. He was chief surgeon! He drug himself out of bed and headed over to the Mess Tent.
"Morning BJ." Father Mulcahy says, as BJ sits down with a tray of food and coffee.
"Good morning Father." He says.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine, what do you mean?"
"You look a bit under the weather."
"No, I'm just tired. I didn't sleep much last night."
"Alright." He says. "Colonel Potter has the flu."
"Great, were now short a doctor." He says, shaking his head.
"He came down with it last night and checked himself into his bunk for the duration. Well, he insisted on staying around, but Margaret forced him to keep house arrest."
"So how many are we down to now?" BJ asks the Father.
"Well, let's see..."
"We have 4 nurses sick, Colonel Potter sick, and quite a few enlisted. It seemed to multiply over night." Margaret says, walking over to where they were sitting.
"You don't look to well Major." Father Mulcahy says noticing her pale complexion and flushed cheeks.
"I'm fine." She says, taking a sip of her coffee. "Just tired."
"I seem to be hearing that a lot today." Father says looking at both of them.
"Are you sick Margaret?" BJ asks.
"No!" She says in a defensive manor. "I am perfectly healthy!"
"Alright Margaret!" BJ says, shaking his head.
"If you don't mind, I have to be in post-op." She says, getting up and walking over to the ward.
Next person to enter the Mess Tent was Charles, looking quite ragged. "Morning Charles."
"I wish I was dead." He says, sitting heavily onto the bench.
"Been bit by the flu bug too?" The father asks.
"I have been bit and sucked dry." He says. BJ puts a hand on his head and frowns at how warm he is. "I think you better make your home in Post-Op today."
"I think you're right." Charles says.
"And then there were two." BJ says, sighing. He wasn't feeling as bad as Charles, but wasn't feeling good either. He hoped that it would pass, but wasn't sure if his hoping would help. "Colonel Potter is sick too, and a few of the nurses and the enlisted men."
"That doesn't surprise me." Charles huffs as he stands up. He walks over to the post-op ward where they are keeping the flu patients. "Margaret, is there room for one more?"
"You have the flu?!"
"I have the full blown flu." He says.
"Yeah, just pick a bed." She says, shoving a thermometer under his tongue and starting a chart for him.
"You don't look much better Margaret." Charles says, lying down.
"I'm fine." She says again, silently thinking 'that is unless we have another round of casualties that we did last night.' She turns her back and wipes the beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. No sooner then she did that, was there a PA announcement,
"Attention, All Personnel!" 'Please no!' Margaret thought. "Incoming wounded! You thought last night was bad, wait till tonight!" "DAMMIT!" She swears as she runs out to triage. She and the other nurses, doctors and medics spend time triaging. By the end of that part, Margaret was out of breath, and felt like she could keel over, but she pressed on. 'You're the head nurse! Keep your wits about you! Don't give in to sickness! They need you!" Was what she kept repeating in her head.
"Are you two ok?" Jason asked, looking at BJ and Margaret.
"Yeah, I'm fine." They both answered at the same time as they head into surgery.
"You don't look ok."
"Scalpel." BJ says, as Margaret hands him one. It was definitely a long surgery, and every hour became a century to the surgeon and nurse who were quickly loosing the battle of the flu. Margaret had to lean against the gurney several times to keep herself from falling to the ground, and BJ, he just keep reminding himself that he could NOT leave all of this mess to Jason. He hasn't been there long enough to run a shift alone.
"How's it going over there BJ?" Jason called, looking quickly up at his paled chief surgeon, standing over the body.
"I'm doing fine Jason, how are you?"
"Fine Chief." He says smiling. "You're looking a bit pale there, and Margaret, you look like death."
"Thanks." Margaret says, rolling her eyes. Finally, after 14hours, they are finally finished. The doctors and nurses head out to pull off there scrubs before retiring to there respectable places. BJ wipes his forehead quickly as he starts to walk outside. Margaret follows soon after, feeling absolutely horrible. "Good work in there Margaret." BJ says to her, slowing so she can catch up.
"Thanks." She says. All of the sudden her eyes start to blur. She shakes her head a few times to clear her vision.
"Margaret, are you alright?" BJ asks in concern, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm really light headed." She says, as BJ tightens his grip on her shoulder.
"Come on, sit down." He says to her, but before she got to the ground, she passed out cold. BJ catches her and quickly gets her to post-op. "Margaret..." He says, as he lays the head nurse on the bed. Jason comes running over and says, "What happened?"
"She just passed out." BJ says, taking her temperature. "No wonder." He says, shaking his head. "She has a fever of above 103." He shakes his head, and Jason gets a cold cloth for her. BJ takes it from him and puts it on her forehead. "Margaret, wake up." He says. She slowly starts to come around and opens her eyes. "Margaret, can you hear me?" He asks as her eyes focus.
"Yes." She says to him, trying to sit up.
"No, don't sit up."
"But were already short nurses, I have too..."
"You have to be sick right now." BJ tells her. "Lie down and keep still for a while. We have enough nurses to run the shift." For once she doesn't argue. She just keeps her mouth shut and closes her eyes.
A few minutes later... "Attention, All Un-Sick Personnel, Another batch of wounded folks! It's gonna be another long one!"
BJ sighs and gets up, walking out and triaging. He didn't know if he could make it another round or not. He was quickly losing his strength. He started right away on one of the boys, Able was assisting him. "Are you alright BJ?"
"Fine." He says, taking the scalpel from her hand, and slowly cutting into the young boy in front of him. The first couple of causalities at his table went very smoothly, but after a while, he started getting weak. "Dammit!" He swore as he dropped the scalpel onto the ground.
"Doctor..."
"Able, I'm fine. Get me another knife." He calls. He drops several more instruments during the same causality, and gets Jason's attention.
"Everything OK over there Chief?"
"Fine." BJ says, lying through his teeth.
"Why don't you take a break?"
"I don't need a break." BJ says, stubbornly, and drops another instrument. Jason whispers something to Kelley and before BJ knew what was happening her hand was on his forehead.
"You're burning up Doctor." Kelley says, shaking her head.
"BJ, you're done."
"You don't give the orders here, I do!"
"Learn when to be sick! I can handle it! Go get some rest, and I promise everything will be ok!"
"I can't do that to you!"
"You have too!" Jason says, looking up at him. "Get out of here, before I get an MP to escort you."
"Fine, just let me close..."
"Able can do it."
"I can do it BJ." Able says, nodding.
"Ok." BJ says. He steps away from the table.
"I want you in a post-op bed alright?"
"Yes Doctor." BJ says, shaking his head. He pulls off his scrubs and heads into the flu room. He really didn't think that Jason could handle it, but he was too sick to worry about it right now. He fell asleep and did not wake up till the next morning. Once he woke up he heard the people who weren't sick talking about what a great job Jason did, and how he took over in a way they never thought he could have. It got BJ thinking that maybe he did underestimate Jason's abilities. Through his duration of the flu, he watched Jason's interaction towards the other personnel and the casualties. He was amazed at how well he took charge, and was grateful in a way that the unit wasn't falling apart. It was a few days till he really started to feel better, but once he did, he was out of the ward and into his bunk.
"How you feeling Chief?" Jason asked, as BJ walked through the Swamp doors for the first time in 3 days.
"Better, thanks."
"No problem." Jason says, smiling.
"Jason..."
"Yeah BJ?"
"I want to thank you for also taking charge..."
"It was nothing." He grins. A complement from BJ was a big step for him to take, and it was probably the greatest feeling Jason has ever had since he came to that hell hole.
"No, really. I heard great things for you, things that I didn't even think you could do, and I am really glad you were able to keep it all together."
"Strange how people change when they are forced to take control."
"You are a very good Doctor, and I am sorry for never saying that."
"It's alright..."
"No it's not. I have treated you like dirt for the past 4 months, and I shouldn't have."
"I know the reason is because of your friend dying, and it's ok. I'd probably have reacted the same way."
"Well, thank you again." BJ says, lying on his cot and closing his eyes.
"Thank you too Chief." Jason says, smiling.
This was a big turning point for the two surgeons. They were truly starting to respect each other and starting to become friends. Jason opened BJ's eyes to the change and to his attitude towards the other surgeon, and for that both men would be a lot happier. It's just a shame it took this long for them to start talking and appreciate one another, but as they always say, better late then never.
*****
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! If there are minor things wrong with this fic, I apologize, it was 2am when I finished it... I got an idea and had to go with it! Thanks for the Reviews!!! KEEP THEM COMING! Only a few more chapters of the fic...
*STARY*
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That night BJ went into the tent silently, ignoring Charles lying on his bed reading a letter and flops right on his bed and shut his eyes. It seems like the only time he gets any sleep is if he has been drinking. The next morning he was woken up by Radar, and drug himself into Post-Op.
"Morning BJ." Lewis says, standing up.
"Morning Jason." He says. "What do we have today?"
"My one patient, Davison, he has a high fever and has been downing blood by the gallon."
"Have you figured out why?"
"No... I just figured patients go sour..."
"You have to open him up again."
"I closed up every hole..."
"No, you obviously did not, now either you open him up or I will."
"Fine. Margaret, can you assist me please."
"Yes." She calls to him. "Able, prep him."
"I'm going to go scrub." Lewis says walking into the scrub room.
"He wasn't gonna open him up! Can you believe that?!"
"BJ, stop, relax." Margaret tells him.
"I can't believe him..." He says, "He will NEVER be as good as Hawkeye."
"He's not trying to be!" She says, yelling at him. "God BJ!" She says, storming over to scrub.
In the operating room, they cut open the young boy again. "Scalpel."
"Scalpel."
"Suction that for me Margaret..." He says, as the nurse suctions, "Would you look at that, there is a hole. I can't believe I missed it."
"It happens to everyone." Margaret says.
"Not to Hawkeye." He says coldly. "Nothing bad ever happened to that guy. He was just perfect..."
"Stop right there." She says.
"Why? Am I not right?"
"No! You're not! And I would appreciate you shutting up about him!" He starts to open his mouth and Margaret adds in, "Keep your mouth shut! And that's an order Captain." The rest of there time in the OR was spent in silence. BJ was off Post-Op Duty by 9:00 and made a B-line to the O'club. He was the only one in there at the time, which was odd, but it still was early. "Can I have a martini?"
"Sure thing Doc."
"Thanks." He says, sitting down at the bar, quickly downing the martini. "Another, and keep them coming please."
"Everything alright Doc? I haven't seen you like this since.... Well, its been a few weeks."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just in the mood to get drunk."
"Ahh." He says, shaking the martini.
"Thanks." He tells him. After an hour, Father Mulcahy comes in to the club.
"Good evening BJ."
"Hi Father." BJ says, turning his head slightly.
"Is everything alright?"
"Just fine Padre." BJ says, downing his martini, and quickly replacing the empty glass with the liquid.
"What is it BJ?"
"It's nothing. It's really just plain stupid."
"Nothing is stupid when you are sitting alone at a bar getting drunk." The Father says quite frankly.
"It's Lewis."
"You and him still haven't gotten along?"
"I can't stand the guy Father!"
"Why?"
"He's just a complete moron! He wasn't going to go back into a guy who was downing blood by the gallon! He was just going to let him lay there!"
"Who's patient was it?"
"His!"
"Do you think he had it under control? That he wasn't ready to go in?"
"I doubt it! Jeeze, if that was Hawkeye he would be in that patient so fast."
"He isn't Hawkeye BJ."
"I KNOW THAT! Why does everybody insist on telling me that?"
"I didn't mean to make you angry; I am just stating the truth."
"He isn't Hawkeye... He isn't Hawkeye.... My god if I hear that one more time I'm going to go insane! I know he isn't Hawkeye! Hawkeye died on my table on August 19th! I am quite aware that it isn't Hawkeye!" He says shouting at the Padre, who is just sitting there and taking his anger. He knows that BJ is not mad at him, but needs to get this out of his system. "He isn't as competent as Hawkeye! He isn't as good as a surgeon as Hawkeye! He isn't my best friend! I can't stand the guy, so he couldn't possibly be Hawkeye! So why does everyone think that I think that he is Hawkeye?"
"Who are you angry at?"
"Everybody! Everybody who tells me that he isn't Hawkeye!"
"Why?"
"Why are you asking me this?!"
"I am trying to help you BJ. It's kind of my job."
"Well you know what Father, you're not helping. So just leave me alone." He says downing another drink.
"Do you mind if I sit here and have a beer with you?"
"I don't care." BJ says, becoming very drunk very quickly. "You know what I hate about him the most Father?"
"What's that BJ?"
"I hate the fact that he came here! I hate the fact that I share the bunk with him!" He says, downing his martini. "I hate the fact that he is a Captain. I hate the fact that he doesn't care nearly enough about his patients. I hate the fact..." His voice gets caught in his throat.
"You hate what BJ?" He asks, trying to get him to say it.
"I hate the fact that he isn't Hawkeye! I hate the fact that I couldn't save my best friend. I hate it that I could save all those other boys, but I couldn't save my own friend! I hate it!" He says slamming down the glass on the counter of the bar. "He isn't Hawkeye, and it's my fault."
"Do you honestly believe that BJ? Do you honestly believe that you could have done something to save him?"
"I should have been able too! I should have!"
"He knew..."
"And I should have proved him wrong! But I couldn't..."
"Exactly! You couldn't BJ! There was nothing you or anyone for that matter could have done. It was in the hands of God, and you can't change that. When he makes up his mind, it's settled."
"I'm a doctor! I am suppose to make it all ok!"
"You can't fix everything BJ. My god you should know that from being over here for so long."
"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier! I lost the best friend I ever had, and now this guy moves in on his place and he... he always is around! I can't get away from him!"
"It's a small compound. Maybe, you should try to get and know him?"
"I don't want to get to know him!"
"Why?"
"I just don't!"
"There must be a reason BJ."
"Because, he'll replace him."
"He'll replace him?"
"He'll replace Hawkeye, if I get to know Lewis he'll replace Hawkeye and I can't let that happen."
"No one is going to replace Hawkeye. I can never possibly forget him, and I assure you, neither could you."
"Then why do I feel like I already am?"
"Trust me, you're not. Give him a chance BJ. He might surprise you. I for one think he is a really nice guy."
"He was my best friend..."
"That doesn't mean you can't talk to Lewis."
"I know."
"So, do you think its time to stop hiding behind the constant drinking and start to talk to him? Or at least give him a chance? Make it so you can at least get over being at his throat every five seconds?"
"It's going to be hard."
"I know. It was hard for all of us, but we made it work. Even Margaret made it so she could work with him."
"I know... it's just..."
"It's just what?"
BJ sighs as his eyes fill up for the millionth time that night, "Does it ever stop?"
"What?"
"The pain... the hurting... does it ever stop? Does it ever get better?"
"It does, it has to, it just takes a long time." Father Mulcahy says, placing a hand on his shoulder, "But you have to help it along." And with that, he stands up and heads out of the O'Club, leaving the drunken doctor to his thoughts.
Over the next few weeks, BJ had made a point to get to know Lewis, at least a little bit.
"So we haven't really had a chance to talk..." Was how BJ started out the conversation.
"Talk about what Chief?"
"Just talk. I don't know you too well." He says, sitting on his cot.
"You want to talk? To me?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Well, I just didn't think that you would want too."
"I didn't, but I do now."
"Well, what do you want to talk about?"
"Where are you from?"
"New Hampshire. I live in a small town bordering Maine." He says proudly. BJ cringes at the sound of the state. "What about you?"
"California. I'm on the other side." BJ says.
"I know you have a wife, but do you have kids?"
"I have a daughter, Erin, she's one and a half. What about you?"
"Yeah, I have a son and a daughter, Luke and Stephanie, 5 and 3."
"It's hard to leave them isn't it?"
"It definitely is." Jason says, trailing off.
The two captains sat and talked for a while, but BJ was still uncomfortable. He still couldn't come to terms with another man sleeping in his and Charles tent, but he felt that he could at least put an effort forth towards getting along with the man. BJ could not help but feel guilty about actually starting to get along, but when you only have a handful of people living around you, its nice to have everyone to talk too. The months of fall quickly went past and winter came and soon following, the flu season was upon them. In January the camp got hit with a bad bought of the flu. It hit just about everyone, and it didn't cut anyone any slack.
The temperature was around ten degree's and falling. The doctors had just gotten off a very long surgery and were absolutely exhausted.
"I am glad that's over." Jason says, flopping down on his cot.
"As am I." Charles says.
"That flu seems to keep on growing." BJ replies, lying down on his cot. "Three nurses already, and they only got it a day ago."
"Hopefully it won't spread." Jason says.
"It will..." Charles snuffs. "Good night Gentlemen." He says, rolling over and falling asleep.
"I'm with him." Jason replies, and after a few minutes, all three of the surgeons are sound asleep. The next morning, BJ awakes first. He looks at his watch and groans. It was 8am, and they had only gone to sleep five hours ago. He sits up, and realized how much his body ached. "Great, just great." He says, groaning again. He felt the beginnings of the flu, but refused to let it get him down. He couldn't be sick. He was chief surgeon! He drug himself out of bed and headed over to the Mess Tent.
"Morning BJ." Father Mulcahy says, as BJ sits down with a tray of food and coffee.
"Good morning Father." He says.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine, what do you mean?"
"You look a bit under the weather."
"No, I'm just tired. I didn't sleep much last night."
"Alright." He says. "Colonel Potter has the flu."
"Great, were now short a doctor." He says, shaking his head.
"He came down with it last night and checked himself into his bunk for the duration. Well, he insisted on staying around, but Margaret forced him to keep house arrest."
"So how many are we down to now?" BJ asks the Father.
"Well, let's see..."
"We have 4 nurses sick, Colonel Potter sick, and quite a few enlisted. It seemed to multiply over night." Margaret says, walking over to where they were sitting.
"You don't look to well Major." Father Mulcahy says noticing her pale complexion and flushed cheeks.
"I'm fine." She says, taking a sip of her coffee. "Just tired."
"I seem to be hearing that a lot today." Father says looking at both of them.
"Are you sick Margaret?" BJ asks.
"No!" She says in a defensive manor. "I am perfectly healthy!"
"Alright Margaret!" BJ says, shaking his head.
"If you don't mind, I have to be in post-op." She says, getting up and walking over to the ward.
Next person to enter the Mess Tent was Charles, looking quite ragged. "Morning Charles."
"I wish I was dead." He says, sitting heavily onto the bench.
"Been bit by the flu bug too?" The father asks.
"I have been bit and sucked dry." He says. BJ puts a hand on his head and frowns at how warm he is. "I think you better make your home in Post-Op today."
"I think you're right." Charles says.
"And then there were two." BJ says, sighing. He wasn't feeling as bad as Charles, but wasn't feeling good either. He hoped that it would pass, but wasn't sure if his hoping would help. "Colonel Potter is sick too, and a few of the nurses and the enlisted men."
"That doesn't surprise me." Charles huffs as he stands up. He walks over to the post-op ward where they are keeping the flu patients. "Margaret, is there room for one more?"
"You have the flu?!"
"I have the full blown flu." He says.
"Yeah, just pick a bed." She says, shoving a thermometer under his tongue and starting a chart for him.
"You don't look much better Margaret." Charles says, lying down.
"I'm fine." She says again, silently thinking 'that is unless we have another round of casualties that we did last night.' She turns her back and wipes the beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. No sooner then she did that, was there a PA announcement,
"Attention, All Personnel!" 'Please no!' Margaret thought. "Incoming wounded! You thought last night was bad, wait till tonight!" "DAMMIT!" She swears as she runs out to triage. She and the other nurses, doctors and medics spend time triaging. By the end of that part, Margaret was out of breath, and felt like she could keel over, but she pressed on. 'You're the head nurse! Keep your wits about you! Don't give in to sickness! They need you!" Was what she kept repeating in her head.
"Are you two ok?" Jason asked, looking at BJ and Margaret.
"Yeah, I'm fine." They both answered at the same time as they head into surgery.
"You don't look ok."
"Scalpel." BJ says, as Margaret hands him one. It was definitely a long surgery, and every hour became a century to the surgeon and nurse who were quickly loosing the battle of the flu. Margaret had to lean against the gurney several times to keep herself from falling to the ground, and BJ, he just keep reminding himself that he could NOT leave all of this mess to Jason. He hasn't been there long enough to run a shift alone.
"How's it going over there BJ?" Jason called, looking quickly up at his paled chief surgeon, standing over the body.
"I'm doing fine Jason, how are you?"
"Fine Chief." He says smiling. "You're looking a bit pale there, and Margaret, you look like death."
"Thanks." Margaret says, rolling her eyes. Finally, after 14hours, they are finally finished. The doctors and nurses head out to pull off there scrubs before retiring to there respectable places. BJ wipes his forehead quickly as he starts to walk outside. Margaret follows soon after, feeling absolutely horrible. "Good work in there Margaret." BJ says to her, slowing so she can catch up.
"Thanks." She says. All of the sudden her eyes start to blur. She shakes her head a few times to clear her vision.
"Margaret, are you alright?" BJ asks in concern, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm really light headed." She says, as BJ tightens his grip on her shoulder.
"Come on, sit down." He says to her, but before she got to the ground, she passed out cold. BJ catches her and quickly gets her to post-op. "Margaret..." He says, as he lays the head nurse on the bed. Jason comes running over and says, "What happened?"
"She just passed out." BJ says, taking her temperature. "No wonder." He says, shaking his head. "She has a fever of above 103." He shakes his head, and Jason gets a cold cloth for her. BJ takes it from him and puts it on her forehead. "Margaret, wake up." He says. She slowly starts to come around and opens her eyes. "Margaret, can you hear me?" He asks as her eyes focus.
"Yes." She says to him, trying to sit up.
"No, don't sit up."
"But were already short nurses, I have too..."
"You have to be sick right now." BJ tells her. "Lie down and keep still for a while. We have enough nurses to run the shift." For once she doesn't argue. She just keeps her mouth shut and closes her eyes.
A few minutes later... "Attention, All Un-Sick Personnel, Another batch of wounded folks! It's gonna be another long one!"
BJ sighs and gets up, walking out and triaging. He didn't know if he could make it another round or not. He was quickly losing his strength. He started right away on one of the boys, Able was assisting him. "Are you alright BJ?"
"Fine." He says, taking the scalpel from her hand, and slowly cutting into the young boy in front of him. The first couple of causalities at his table went very smoothly, but after a while, he started getting weak. "Dammit!" He swore as he dropped the scalpel onto the ground.
"Doctor..."
"Able, I'm fine. Get me another knife." He calls. He drops several more instruments during the same causality, and gets Jason's attention.
"Everything OK over there Chief?"
"Fine." BJ says, lying through his teeth.
"Why don't you take a break?"
"I don't need a break." BJ says, stubbornly, and drops another instrument. Jason whispers something to Kelley and before BJ knew what was happening her hand was on his forehead.
"You're burning up Doctor." Kelley says, shaking her head.
"BJ, you're done."
"You don't give the orders here, I do!"
"Learn when to be sick! I can handle it! Go get some rest, and I promise everything will be ok!"
"I can't do that to you!"
"You have too!" Jason says, looking up at him. "Get out of here, before I get an MP to escort you."
"Fine, just let me close..."
"Able can do it."
"I can do it BJ." Able says, nodding.
"Ok." BJ says. He steps away from the table.
"I want you in a post-op bed alright?"
"Yes Doctor." BJ says, shaking his head. He pulls off his scrubs and heads into the flu room. He really didn't think that Jason could handle it, but he was too sick to worry about it right now. He fell asleep and did not wake up till the next morning. Once he woke up he heard the people who weren't sick talking about what a great job Jason did, and how he took over in a way they never thought he could have. It got BJ thinking that maybe he did underestimate Jason's abilities. Through his duration of the flu, he watched Jason's interaction towards the other personnel and the casualties. He was amazed at how well he took charge, and was grateful in a way that the unit wasn't falling apart. It was a few days till he really started to feel better, but once he did, he was out of the ward and into his bunk.
"How you feeling Chief?" Jason asked, as BJ walked through the Swamp doors for the first time in 3 days.
"Better, thanks."
"No problem." Jason says, smiling.
"Jason..."
"Yeah BJ?"
"I want to thank you for also taking charge..."
"It was nothing." He grins. A complement from BJ was a big step for him to take, and it was probably the greatest feeling Jason has ever had since he came to that hell hole.
"No, really. I heard great things for you, things that I didn't even think you could do, and I am really glad you were able to keep it all together."
"Strange how people change when they are forced to take control."
"You are a very good Doctor, and I am sorry for never saying that."
"It's alright..."
"No it's not. I have treated you like dirt for the past 4 months, and I shouldn't have."
"I know the reason is because of your friend dying, and it's ok. I'd probably have reacted the same way."
"Well, thank you again." BJ says, lying on his cot and closing his eyes.
"Thank you too Chief." Jason says, smiling.
This was a big turning point for the two surgeons. They were truly starting to respect each other and starting to become friends. Jason opened BJ's eyes to the change and to his attitude towards the other surgeon, and for that both men would be a lot happier. It's just a shame it took this long for them to start talking and appreciate one another, but as they always say, better late then never.
*****
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! If there are minor things wrong with this fic, I apologize, it was 2am when I finished it... I got an idea and had to go with it! Thanks for the Reviews!!! KEEP THEM COMING! Only a few more chapters of the fic...
*STARY*