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 months went by quickly and summer finally came. At the end of June BJ and Jason were sitting in their tent, drinking a martini.
"You know something." Jason asked his Bunkie.
"What's that?"
"I don't think this war will ever end." He says, sighing.
"Welcome to my world." BJ says frowning.
"I mean, they have been trying to negotiate peace talks for the past, what, four months?"
"About that..."
"Well, when is enough, enough?"
"I don't know." BJ says sighing. "I'm going to miss another one of my kid's birthday's and another anniversary." He picks up the dart syringes and aimed carefully at the dart board. "My god, I am bored."
"Me too. What can we do?"
"I don't know." BJ says, lining up his shot again. "It almost makes me miss causalities."
"Almost." Jason says, lying back on his cot. "Maybe we can play poker. See if Margaret and Charles want in on it."
"Sure, I haven't played poker in a while." BJ says, throwing his last 'dart'.
"Speak of the devils." Jason says as he sees both Majors coming towards the Swamp.
"Margaret, Charles." BJ says smiling.
"Gentlemen." Charles says, acknowledging the two surgeons.
"We were curious... are you two up for some poker?" Jason asks.
"I am." Margaret says smiling, and sitting down on the chair that splits BJ and Jason's side of the tent.
"Charles?"
"No." He says gruffly, "I will not play a game that vulgar." He says shaking his head.
"Fine, have it your way." Jason says, dealing the cards to the three of them.
"No money, just for fun." BJ says, handing out chips, but before they even begin their first hand, they hear;
"Attention, All personal, Incoming wounded! The war's back in town folks!"
"Looks like your wish is coming true, Chief." Jason says sighing as everyone stands up and runs out into the compound.
"I'll grab the choppers." BJ says, running towards the landing pad.
"I'll help." Jason says hot on his heals.
"Alright..." BJ says looking at the two on the chopper. "The head wound's first, and the chest and abdomen is second. Get them prepped! Go now." BJ says, jumping on the jeep to stabilize the patient's.
"How bad are yours BJ?" Potter asked him.
"I've got a head wound, and an abdomen/chest wound in the batters box."
"It's gonna be a long night." Jason says coming into scrub up.
"Yes it is." The Colonel says to them.
Margaret comes in to the scrub room and says, "BJ, the head wound died."
"When?!" BJ says.
"A few seconds ago. You couldn't have saved him. There was brain matter all over the place." She tells him.
He slams his fist on the sink and says, "Damn!" He has always been a bit more angry at himself when a patient died ever since Hawkeye. "Prep the chest case." He says, as he finishes scrubbing. He opens the kid up and sees that it's practically the exact case of Hawkeye's. "Shit..." He curses, as he looks at the aorta, "The bullet destroyed his aorta, do we have a graph?"
"I'll get one." Margaret said. Ever since Hawkeye, they always had graphs on store, just incase.
"Margaret, I'm gonna need your help. I have 20 minutes to graph this before he's paralyzed, and I can't do it alone."
"Of course." Margaret says, taking a deep breath.
"Scalpel."
"Scalpel."
"Retract that Margaret."
"Retractor."
"Silk."
"Silk."
BJ was franticly working against the clock, a place that he wished he would never have to be again. "Time."
"13 minutes Captain."
"Alright." He says, working quickly.
"How's it coming Hunnicut?" Potter calls over to his Chief Surgeon.
"Alright..." He says, stitching up the young man lying in front of him. "Alright, take off the clamp and get ready to pack it off incase of a leak... ready? Go."
Margaret takes it off, and thankfully there are no leaks. Both Nurse and Surgeon sigh heavily and smile at one another under their masks.
"You did it." Margaret says.
"No," BJ says looking at Margaret, "We did it. Now, let's go after the liver and he'll be fine." BJ trails off at the last part, and his eyes briefly cloud over with grief, sadness, and anger. It has been almost a year, but the pain still lingers in the young surgeon. Quietly BJ works on patching up the liver, successfully. He then moves onto the next patients, and quietly finishes them. After 20 hours of surgery, they are finished. The sun was just starting to come up over he hills of Ouijongbu as the surgical staff walks out of OR.
"It's pretty isn't it?" Jason says.
"It is, but I would much rather be looking at it from California." BJ says, shaking his head. "I'm gonna go grab a drink." He says, as he walks over to the Officer's club. It was a good thing that place never closed. BJ sat down on the chair and Klinger got him a martini.
"It was a rough day wasn't it?" Klinger says, making himself a drink.
"Yeah Klinger, it was..." He says sighing, and downing the liquor. "Do you think this war is ever going to end Klinger?"
"No." He says sighing. "Just be glad that you haven't been here the entire time, or practically the entire time." He says sighing once more. "Are you alright BJ?" Noticing BJ gazing into space.
"Huh?" He says, a bit startled, "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking..."
"About what?"
"My first operation today and how I was able to save him."
"The chest wound?"
"And abdomen." He says sighing.
"It's been almost a year sir." Klinger tells him, knowing that it was Hawkeye who was haunting his thoughts right now.
"I know Klinger, its just... well... I still feel responsible for his..."
"Sir, you did everything you could possibly do. We'll get out of here one day and forget all about this horrible war."
"That's just the thing. I don't want to forget. I don't want to forget Hawkeye... I don't want to forget all of you. You all are probably the closest friends that I have ever had."
"I feel that way too BJ, I just don't know if I want to remember the horrors of the war, and unfortunately, Hawkeye was one of the horrors." He says sighing.
"So you want to forget about him?!" BJ says, in shock.
"No, that's not what I mean..." Klinger says.
"Well, what exactly do you mean?" He says, almost shouting at the company clerk.
"I... I don't know what I mean. I want to forget about the death and the pain of these young boys! I don't want to forget about the people. I don't think I could ever forget about Hawkeye though, nor you or the Majors, or Colonel Potter or..."
"Yeah..." BJ says sighing. "Fill 'er up Klinger." He says, handing him his glass. "Erin turns two in a week, and I'm not going to see her turn it. I missed her turning one, and now two."
"What day is it sir?"
"What day is what?"
"Her birthday... what day is it?"
"July 1st, a week from yesterday."
"I'm sorry sir."
"Yeah, me too." He says, downing the last bit of his drink. "Well Klinger, I think I am going to attempt a bit of sleep. I shall see you later." And with that he walks back to his tent.
A week went by and still no end of the war.
"You know what we need?" Jason says, throwing a ball up and catching it.
"What?"
"Since its summer, we need a barbeque. What do you think?"
"That sound's great... let's go run it by Potter." BJ says, smiling as he stands up so they can go talk to the CO. "Colonel, we have an idea." He says as he walks into the office.
"What's that?" Potter asks his surgeons.
"Well, we were thinking, since the Peace Talks are happening, and the causalities are slow, we were wondering if we could hold a BBQ?" Jason says.
"That's a dandy idea... and we could invite the orphans for some fun too!"
"That sounds great." BJ says smiling.
"I'll talk to the Padre and we'll have one on Sunday." He says smiling.
"Great!" Jason and BJ say at the same time.
"This is just what this camp needs to boost morale. I'll set it up."
"Thanks Colonel." BJ says, smiling.
"Oh and BJ, you'll be doing the cooking right?"
BJ laughs and says, "Of course, as long as the cooking only consists of hotdogs."
"Of course." Potter grins.
Sunday comes extremely fast for the 4077th. There were a ton of games and food for the Personnel and Orphans to last a life time. Klinger came dressed in Hawkeye's Hawaiian shirt, which looked surprisingly decent on him.
"Klinger, that shirt suits you." Colonel Potter says, looking at the blue and white pattern.
"Thank you your Colonelness." He says smiling.
BJ saw the shirt and smiled. He missed seeing that around the camp and it brought back many fond memories of Hawkeye that he thought he had lost. "Klinger, that shirt is great." He says smiling.
"I figured that this is the best place and time to wear it." He says, smiling.
"I completely agree." He says, as he turns his attention back to the hotdogs. "Can I offer you a hotdog?"
"Maybe in a bit, when I get my nerve up." He jests.
"Hey, I am a damn good cook thank you very much." "BJ says defensively with a smile.
"Uh huh." Klinger says smiling.
"Careful or I'll put you in for a promotion." BJ says, as they both start laughing.
"You wouldn't dare." Klinger says, walking away.
"I have to tell you BJ, this was a great idea that you and Jason had."
"Well sir, it was mostly Jason. I just said Yeah, and helped put it together." BJ says, handing him a hotdog. "The orphans are really having a great time."
"Yeah, and so are the Personnel." Potter says smiling. "It's amazing how little kids always make people feel better."
"It's a good morale booster." BJ grins.
"That it is..." He says trailing off.
"I just wish Hawk was still here to share this." BJ sighs.
"I was thinking the exact same thing Hunnicut." He says, patting the taller man's arm.
"Thanks for the hotdog." He smiles at the man and walks away.
"You're welcome." BJ says smiling.
Two day's after the Barbeque was the day that they all were waiting for... the day that the announcement of a lifetime was heard.
"Attention All Personnel!"
"Ten bucks it's more wounded." Jason says to BJ, as they both rise from their cots.
"This just in from HQ, peace talks have been settled! THE WAR IS OVER!"
BJ stands there shocked, and Jason jumps up and screams, "I can't believe it! It's over! The war's over!"
"In exactly twelve hours, a complete cease fire will occur! Once again! The war is over!"
"It's over! It's finally over!" BJ says, smiling as he heads out of the Swamp to the 'party' going on in the center of the compound.
"BJ! It's over!" Margaret says, running full force at him he picks her up in a tight hug.
"I know! I can't believe it Margaret!" He says, swinging her around. "I can't believe it! I just can't believe it!" He tells her putting her down.
"In a few day's we'll be home BJ! You'll be home with your family!"
"And so will you." He tells her.
"That has to be the greatest thing I have ever heard in my entire life." Charles says, walking over to the Major and Captain.
"Me too Charles." BJ grins.
"I am going home!" Jason says, excitedly. "It's been almost a year and it's over." He grabs Margaret and swings her around.
"I have been waiting for this for two years!" BJ says. Suddenly, the sound of choppers fills the air bringing causalities, BJ looks up to the sky and says, "I guess I still have to wait for twelve hours."
"Attention All Personnel, Incoming Wounded... we are still in business!"
"One last hurrah!" Jason says, running up to the chopper pad.
"Let's hope." Charles and BJ say at the same time, running over to the ambulance and bus.
"Didn't you hear the war's over?" BJ says to the patient with a smile.
"I did, but my leg decided that it had to get shot." The young private says.
"You'll be fine." BJ says, moving on to the more serious soldiers. "Father? Can you finish triaging for me? I have to scrub up."
"Of course... I guess they didn't hear about the war being over..."
"I guess not." BJ says, running off the bus and into surgery where a boy had a ton of shrapnel throughout his stomach and legs. "God, this kid swallowed a junk yard."
"Need help Hunnicut?"
"No Colonel, I'm fine, just commenting on the amount of metal in him." He says, shaking his head. "Margaret, suction that. Thanks."
After six hours, BJ calls out, "How many more?"
"Just brought in another batch of wounded." Klinger says.
"Damn, don't they know that it's over?!"
"Not for another five hours BJ." Potter says. "We know that it's over... they don't."
"Give me 15 minutes, and I'll fly over there and drop them a note telling them." Jason says, while digging in a patients gut.
"Just wait it out..." Margaret says. She was very excited to get back to the states, even though the army was her life. Three years away from her family was a very long time.
"I've been waiting it out for the past year!" Jason says.
"I've been waiting it out longer then you have Captain!" Margaret snaps at him.
BJ finishes stitching up his patient and says, "Next." He glances around the operating room... Hawkeye's operating room... His operating room... and watches all the people working hard. He never has seen such dedicated people, and he was glad to have been able to work with them. Five hours later, they hear,
"In the next few seconds, there will be a total cease fire..." There suddenly was an eerie silence, followed by the announcement, "There you have it folks, the Korean War is Officially over... this is the sound of peace." All of the surgical staff looks up at one another in silence for a few seconds, before burying there noses back into there work.
"The war is only over for half of us." Charles grumbles.
They finish operating in silence, and that night there is a dinner that the total camp attends. It is the last dinner of the 4077th. The night was full of talking, laughing, and crying. Everyone of the personnel had mixed feelings about leaving the war. Sure, they were all excited to go home to there families, but they were also leaving their families too.
Potter decided that it was time to discuss everyone's future. He stands up and instantly grabs everyone's attention. "Let's all go around and tell one another about what we are going to be doing after the war." He says to the camp.
"You go first Colonel." Margaret says smiling.
"Alright, well, as soon as I step off the plane I am going to be an official civilian. I'm retiring as an army man. My wife has learned over the years to do things without me, but now she's going to have to adjust with me taking over a bit more. No more Colonel Potter for me. I'm going to take on the role of a partially retired Dr. Potter and a full time Mrs. Potter's, Mr. Potter." He says smiling as he looks over to Margaret.
"Well, I was offered a position in two places. One was as Head Nurse in an Army Hospital in Tokyo, and back to a M*A*S*H* Unit if another war ever break's out. The second was also as Head Nurse, but this one was state side, an Army Hospital in San Francisco. I chose the San Francisco job." Margaret says smiling.
"Hey! That's terrific!" BJ says excitedly.
"The army has been the only think I have ever known. I've been moving around ever since I was born, and now all I want is something more permanent. I know since I've been here I haven't had a chance to tell my nurses how I really feel about them. I've always had a difficult time with expressing my feelings, but I want you all to know how proud of you I am. I have never worked with a better group of nurses before. I love you all, and it was a privilege to work with all of you. I wish all of you the best, and will miss everyone terribly." She says, smiling as she wipes a tear away from her eye. BJ squeezes her shoulders reassuringly and smiles at the head nurse.
"Well," BJ begins, "You all know what I am going to be doing." He says smiling. "I am going to begin where I left off as my job as a husband and as a father. My daughter turned two a week ago. The last time I saw her was when she was five months old. I missed a year and a half of her, and I will never get them back, but what I can do is make up for that lost time from the moment I get home. I think it is time to get to know my little girl. I'll probably take off work for a few weeks and spend them with my family, and then hopefully I will be starting back at my hospital in San Francisco, not an Army Hospital." He says grinning at Margaret and quickly adds in, "I think I have had my lifetime fulfillment of army life." He smiles and continues, "My life seems to be consisting of helping people, my family, and perhaps a few more kids one day. I am also going to go to Crabapple Cove Maine and see Hawkeye's father. Hawk was constantly telling me how great of a place it is and how wonderful his father is, so I decided I wanted to experience it for myself. Hawkeye was the best friend I ever had, and probably the best one I ever will have. He wanted this war to end more than anyone, but that was because he was here since day one. He was a great guy, and I want to learn everything I possibly can learn about him, and that's what I'm gonna do. So by the end of the summer, I'll have met his father." BJ finishes and Margaret squeezes his hand.
Jason looks at his two friends with the utmost sympathy, but its his turn to talk so he begins, "I, like BJ am going to go home and spend my first few weeks as a daddy to my son Luke and daughter Stephanie, and a husband to my wife Donna. Then, I'll work in the same hospital I left, and live my life to the fullest. Being here has really opened my eyes to the importance of life."
"I am going to be chief of Thoracic Surgery in Boston, thanks to the help of a friend." He says, glancing quickly at Margaret, "Being here has taught me the meaning of friendship, and I shall never forget that." Charles tells the unit.
"I am going back to Philadelphia and work with the orphans. I love all children. They are just so innocent, and after being here for three years, I've heard every single type of confession there is!" The priest jests.
"Well, Soon Li and I, we are planning to be married! But, before we leave Korea she wants to find her family so... I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I'm staying in Korea!" The entire tent starts laughing. "But," Klinger starts again, "I do want my family to be here for the wedding..."
"I thought you weren't going home?!" Potter says smiling.
"I'm not, I wanted it with this family. Father can you do it?"
"I'd be honored son."
"So it's settled! Tomorrow before we all leave we'll have a wedding." Potter says smiling.
Everyone else went on telling about what they were going to be doing after the war.
They sat in the mess tent till almost 2am, when most decided it was time to go to sleep. Margaret and BJ went over to the officer's club for one last drink before it was shut down for good.
"It's kind of scary isn't it?" Margaret says, taking a sip of her scotch.
"What?" BJ asked.
"That it's over. Tomorrow will be the last day that we see most people. These are the people we have lived with for years."
"You said you were use to this..."
"I am, but it's different this time." Margaret says sighing.
"How so?" BJ asks curiously.
"Well, it's just; I have been here all three years of the war, since day one. I have become so close to most of the people here, closer than I ever have been to anyone before, and now I have to leave them."
"I'll always be around Margaret. You're in San Francisco, and I'm in Mill Valley. That's only a hop skip and a jump away from one another."
"Yeah." She says smiling. "I know how war is though... you try and purposely forget about it, and that includes the people who were involved."
"I promise, I won't forget about you Margaret." BJ says, trying to ensure the nurse.
"Thanks." She says smiling at him.
They sit in silence, just enjoying each other's company for a while, before BJ speaks. "You know..." He says, downing his martini and starting on the other. "I really wish Hawkeye could see the end of this war."
"Yeah..."
"I mean, he wanted this to end so bad, just like all of us, and he is the one who ended up dead." He puts very bluntly in his slightly tipsy state of mind. "I don't think I will ever stop feeling the guilt Margaret. I don't think it is possible."
"You will." Margaret tells him. "Once you get away from this place, you will have your wife and your daughter and forget all about..."
"Don't even finish that thought Margaret! I will never forget about Hawk. I can't." He says, shaking his head. "I want to stop feeling the guilt, but I can't do that either. I feel responsible for him not being able to see the end of the war. Maybe if I was a better surgeon I could have saved him."
"We went over this before BJ. Nothing could have saved him. He couldn't have even saved himself!"
"I know, but I still should have." He says finishing his last martini. "He was my best friend..." He stops and thinks for a moment, "No... he IS my best friend." He says sighing.
"And you can take that with you. You'll always have your memories, just like I will."
"That's not enough..."
"It unfortunately has to be. He saw the end of the war, we just don't realize."
"Yeah, I guess your right." He says standing up, "Can I walk you back to your tent?"
"No, I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She says smiling.
"Good night Margaret." He says, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Good night BJ." She says, as they go into their separate tents. Margaret gets into bed and says, "It's finally over." With that happy thought she rolls over and falls asleep. It is the last time she will sleep in that tent, and on that hard army cot.
BJ heads into his tent, and flops down on the hard army cot and says, "It's finally over Hawk. The war that seemed like it would never end is over." He quietly talks to thin air. The entire tent was asleep except for BJ who smiled to himself. He looked over at the picture of his wife and daughter, and his smile grew. He was going home. With that thought he fell into a peaceful sleep. All too soon, the sun hit the Swamp and woke up the three surgeons. All of them woke up in good moods. They talked as they packed up there personal belonging's. The wedding was set to be held at 12:00pm. That came and went very quickly, and the newly weds were the first ones who left the camp.
"Be careful over here Klinger." Potter warns his company clerk.
"I will sir."
"Thanks for everything you have done for me over the past year. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Thank you Colonel, for everything." He says, hugging his CO.
"Congratulations." Potter says to the two.
"Thank you."
"I hope you find your family Soon Li." BJ says smiling.
"Thank you BJ." She smiles back at him.
"You let me know when you're back state side ok?" Potter says.
"That goes for me too." BJ says smiling.
"Will do." Klinger says smiling.
"Klinger, it's been interesting." Jason says grinning and giving the man a hug.
"Yes it has." Klinger agrees.
"I wish you all the health and happiness in the world Max." Charles says, shaking the man's hand.
"You too sir. Thank you."
"Good bye my son. Take care of yourself." The Padre says, hugging the man and then blessing the couple, yet again.
"Good bye Father." Klinger smiles, and turns his attention towards Margaret. "Goodbye Major."
"Good Bye Sergeant." She smiles, before hugging him.
"You're still all aces in my book Major. I'll miss you."
"You're not too bad yourself Max. I'll miss you too." She says.
"Oh Klinger, hang on, I need you to autograph this picture for me." BJ says, grinning as he pulls out a picture of Klinger in his Scarlet O'Hara dress.
"My favorite dress!" Klinger says, laughing as he signs the photo.
"It's for Erin. One day when I tell her this, she's not going to believe that you actually wore dresses, but this is living proof."
"Well, I looked fabulous in yellow." He says smiling. "We better get going. Goodbye!" He says, as they jump into the wagon and drive off.
"Goodbye." Everyone replies, as they watch the man drive off.
Next, all of the nurses left, with tears in there eyes. They all hopped onto the bus to take them to the 8063rd so they could pack them up before heading back to there families.
"Goodbye!" Everyone called as the nurses drove away.
"And then there were five." Jason says, as he looks at the decollate camp.
"You ready to go Major?" They heard one of the drivers call to Margaret from the jeep.
"One minute." She calls back as she turns to Colonel Potter. "Goodbye Colonel."
"Goodbye my dear." He says hugging the nurse. "Thanks for everything Margaret."
"Thank you Colonel." She says, as she comes out of the embrace. "I'll miss you."
"Don't be a stranger if you're ever around Missouri, or if you ever need anything just call me."
"Thank you Colonel. You have meant the world to me, much like my father does." She compliments the man.
"Margaret, while you're getting your career set up; don't forget to take a little time to be happy." He says smiling. She nods, and wipes a tear away, moving onto Charles.
"Bye Charles."
"Goodbye Margaret." He says, hugging her. "Take care of yourself."
"You too." She smiles and walks over to Jason. "Bye Jason."
"Bye Margaret." He smiles.
"I'm sorry that you had to come to Korea during such a rough time. I wish I could make up the lost time of getting to know you."
"That's a bridge over water Margaret." He says hugging her. "Good luck state side. If you ever get bored and want to take a vacation from the sunshine, I have an extra room in my house."
"Thanks." She smiles, and she turns to BJ. They hug one another, knowing that they are going to see each other state side, but still, "I'll see you in California."
"You bet you will." He says. "Thank you Margaret, for everything you have done for me over the past year. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You don't have to forget him, remember."
"And neither do you." He says giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Have a safe flight home, and call me when you get home. I'll see you in a week."
"See you in a week." She says, as she hugs the Colonel one more time before getting in the jeep and heading with her nurses to the 8063rd. She waved to them all as she left the compound, and they all waved back to her until she was not able to be seen.
"You're next Major." They heard a voice call.
"Right." He says, turning his attention towards the men, "Gentlemen... I can't say it's been fun..."
"Some of it has." Jason says grinning.
"I wish you all the best." He says, shaking each man's hand.
"You too Chuckles." BJ says, grinning.
"Margaret was right when she said it wasn't your fault. Remember that BJ." He says, to the man.
"I will Charles, thank you." He says. "Don't be a stranger either. I'd love to hear from you."
"Right." He says. "Gentlemen... I bid you all a fair adieu."
"Bye Charles." They all say as he too rides off.
"And then there were three." Jason says. "How are you getting to the plane Colonel?"
"I'm going to take Sophie for one last ride, over to the orphanage. They can use her for rides or farming, and then from there I have a jeep picking me up."
"Right." BJ says smiling at his CO. "I'll miss you Colonel." He says.
"I'll miss you too BJ." The older man says as he pulls his young surgeon into a hug.
"You're a damn good surgeon though BJ, and don't you ever forget that. Many boys are alive because of you."
"I know sir, and because of you too." BJ says, wiping a tear away from his eye.
"I wish I could have made his loss easier on you and Margaret..."
"I wish that I could have for you too. I don't know what I would have done without you all."
"Likewise." Potter says, wiping his eyes. "Don't lose touch son. I want to hear all about your jaunt home and up to Maine."
"Yes sir." He say.
"Take care of Margaret for me too. She needs you just as much as you need her."
"I'm just glad she's moving in the neighborhood." He smiles.
"Take care son, and take care of that family of yours. Your daughter will be thrilled to see you." He says smiling.
"I hope so." He says, hugging the man again. "Thanks for helping me through the last year Colonel."
"And thank you too BJ." He says, before turning to the newer surgeon. "Jason, I have admired you since the first time you stepped foot on this camp. Not everyone would have been able to see past the hurt to a camp that you could make home in. It was a horrible reason for you to come here, but it happened, and I am glad that I got to know you. You did amazing things for us over the past year, and I really appreciate it son." He says, hugging the surgeon.
"I am sorry that I had to be called in sir, but I appreciate everything you have just told me. I want to thank you also. You are one of the reasons I had such a success rate here. I don't think I could have done it if I didn't have such a great group of people backing me up." He smiles.
"You take care of yourself and your family too son. And do keep in touch."
"I will sir, thank you. Take care of yourself." He says.
"Good bye boys." He says, as he hops up on Sophie and rides off into the sunset.
"And then there were two." BJ says, smiling. "And I think I hear my ride." He says looking skyward. "Yup, and yours is right behind it." He says as the two choppers come into view. "Shall we head up?"
"We shall." Jason says, as the two friends slowly walk up to the chopper. "Listen BJ, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not being Hawkeye. I am sorry that I had to come and replace him, and I am sorry that I was such a jackass to you the first few weeks."
"You shouldn't be the one apologizing, it should be me." He says sighing. "I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. I should have realized how great of a person you were sooner, but I was so tied up in my friend's death I couldn't see towards the good. I only saw the replacement part. It wasn't you and I want you to know that. You are a fine Doctor and it was a privilege to work with you, and to call you my friend. You helped me move on after Hawkeye's death, and I thank you for that. And I really thank you for not being a pompous, egotistical asshole like Charles, or a regular army ferret face clown like Frank." He says laughing.
"Glad I could be some help." Jason says laughing. "Thanks for being such a great friend BJ. You helped me a lot over here. I really appreciate it. I don't know what it would have been like if I didn't find you here."
"I appreciate how understanding you were during my adjustment. I hope that you will keep in touch once we go state side."
"Of course I will. Our daughters are around the same age, so maybe one day we'll come out there and visit you."
"Or vice-versa." BJ says smiling. He looks around and realizes that they were on top of the landing pad, and the choppers were coming in. "Well, thanks again for everything Jase." BJ says hugging the man.
"It's been... well... it's been interesting BJ."
"Indeed it has. Have a safe flight home."
"You too."
"Thanks."
"Oh BJ, I have a question for you?"
"Yeah?" BJ asks, before he gets onto the chopper.
"What does BJ stand for?"
BJ laughs, and looks at his friend, "Whatever you want it too."
"No, seriously."
"I am being serious! I'm named after my mother Bea and my father Jay." He says smiling as he waves to the open mouthed Captain. "See you around Jason."
"Bye BJ." And with that, they lifted off and were on there way home. BJ looked down at the camp, the place he has lived for the past two years. The place where he lost his best friend in the whole world. The place that was considered hell on earth. The place that was now just a memory as it faded off into the horizon. "It's over Hawkeye. It's over." He says quietly.
"Where you heading too Captain?" The pilot asked.
"Seoul, Hawaii, and finally San Francisco." He says smiling as he turned his attention back to the landscape of Korea, trying to take in its beauty, and boy was it ever beautiful when there was no fighting going on. BJ thanked the chopper pilot, and said goodbye to him, wishing him luck. He then caught his plane and started his journey home, to a more familiar and friendly place. The flight was extremely long, but BJ just slept most of the time anyway. He was emotionally exhausted from everything he had gone through over in Korea. Finally, he heard the words that he waited to hear since he took off from Hawaii;
"We will be touching down in San Francisco Airport in approximately fifteen minutes." He was home. As soon as the plane touched the ground he jumped up and practically ran out of the cabin. He knew that his family was waiting for him. He got into the airport and quickly scanned the lobby and saw the most beautiful woman and little girl he has ever seen. "Peg!" He called to his wife as he quickly made his way over to her.
"BJ!" She says as she puts down their daughter and hugs him tight. "Welcome home Darling!" She says, tears streaming down her face.
"I've missed you." He says, kissing her. His attention soon turned to the little girl on the ground. "Hi Erin."
She smiled at him and threw herself into her arms. "Hi Daddy!" She said to him as she hugged him. He couldn't believe that she wasn't at all scared of him. He couldn't believe that his little girl was walking and talking. He cried when he hugged her. He had been gone for so long, but now he was back.
"I told her about you every single day." Peg says smiling at her two favorite people in the whole world. "I'm so glad you're back."
"Me too." He says as he takes his wife's hand. He gives his daughter a kiss, and they walked over to get his bags.
"Are you doing alright BJ? I mean from Hawkeye..." She was cut off.
"It's never going to be totally alright, but being home sure makes it a hell of a lot better." He says, as he grabs his bags. It was difficult maneuvering Erin and his bags at the same time, but he managed. He did not want to put his daughter down, and she seemed content on staying in her fathers arms.
"Do you want me to take her?" Peg asked.
"No, she's fine." He says, kissing Erin's cheek again. "You got big Erin." "I know!" She says smiling.
"Oh, guess what?"
"What?" Peg asked.
"Margaret is moving to San Francisco!"
"The head nurse?!"
"Yes." He says smiling. "She is working in the army hospital. I can't wait till you can meet her. She should be home next week. She had to finish packing up the other M*A*S*H* Units before she could come."
"I can't wait." Peg says. She was so excited to have her husband home. It was wonderful that she could finally have her entire family living in the same country.
They get to the car and drive home. Everything comes back to BJ as he drives down the familiar streets. He missed the sunny, warm weather, and was glad to get back to his home. "Peg?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you say about going to Maine sometime this summer?"
She smiles at her husband, knowing that he wants to see his best friend's family, "I'd say that is a great idea." She says as they pull into the driveway of their house.
He walks into his house and puts Erin down so he can unpack. He smiles as he walks through his house... not a tent... and doesn't stop smiling till he falls asleep that night. "I'm home Hawk." He says as he unpacks his things. His wife comes up and says,
"Honey, I'll unpack for you. Why don't you go down and get to know Erin a bit better." She says smiling.
"You don't have to ask me twice." He says as he runs downstairs to play with his daughter. They play all night and then he puts her to sleep. He stays in her room for a few minutes and just watches her. Peg comes up behind him and wraps her arms around his waste.
"You ok?" She asks.
"I've never been better." He says. For the first time in two years he slept soundly, right next to his wife. He knew that from now on, his life would run like clock work. He had his family and that was all he ever needed.
*****
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 couple more chapters to go *sniff* I know a lot of the things differ, but some are the same from the final episode of the show! I hope you like it! Keep up the reviewing! Thanks so much for everyone who has reviewed me! It really helps me out! Glad you are liking it!
*STARY*
********
The months went by quickly and summer finally came. At the end of June BJ and Jason were sitting in their tent, drinking a martini.
"You know something." Jason asked his Bunkie.
"What's that?"
"I don't think this war will ever end." He says, sighing.
"Welcome to my world." BJ says frowning.
"I mean, they have been trying to negotiate peace talks for the past, what, four months?"
"About that..."
"Well, when is enough, enough?"
"I don't know." BJ says sighing. "I'm going to miss another one of my kid's birthday's and another anniversary." He picks up the dart syringes and aimed carefully at the dart board. "My god, I am bored."
"Me too. What can we do?"
"I don't know." BJ says, lining up his shot again. "It almost makes me miss causalities."
"Almost." Jason says, lying back on his cot. "Maybe we can play poker. See if Margaret and Charles want in on it."
"Sure, I haven't played poker in a while." BJ says, throwing his last 'dart'.
"Speak of the devils." Jason says as he sees both Majors coming towards the Swamp.
"Margaret, Charles." BJ says smiling.
"Gentlemen." Charles says, acknowledging the two surgeons.
"We were curious... are you two up for some poker?" Jason asks.
"I am." Margaret says smiling, and sitting down on the chair that splits BJ and Jason's side of the tent.
"Charles?"
"No." He says gruffly, "I will not play a game that vulgar." He says shaking his head.
"Fine, have it your way." Jason says, dealing the cards to the three of them.
"No money, just for fun." BJ says, handing out chips, but before they even begin their first hand, they hear;
"Attention, All personal, Incoming wounded! The war's back in town folks!"
"Looks like your wish is coming true, Chief." Jason says sighing as everyone stands up and runs out into the compound.
"I'll grab the choppers." BJ says, running towards the landing pad.
"I'll help." Jason says hot on his heals.
"Alright..." BJ says looking at the two on the chopper. "The head wound's first, and the chest and abdomen is second. Get them prepped! Go now." BJ says, jumping on the jeep to stabilize the patient's.
"How bad are yours BJ?" Potter asked him.
"I've got a head wound, and an abdomen/chest wound in the batters box."
"It's gonna be a long night." Jason says coming into scrub up.
"Yes it is." The Colonel says to them.
Margaret comes in to the scrub room and says, "BJ, the head wound died."
"When?!" BJ says.
"A few seconds ago. You couldn't have saved him. There was brain matter all over the place." She tells him.
He slams his fist on the sink and says, "Damn!" He has always been a bit more angry at himself when a patient died ever since Hawkeye. "Prep the chest case." He says, as he finishes scrubbing. He opens the kid up and sees that it's practically the exact case of Hawkeye's. "Shit..." He curses, as he looks at the aorta, "The bullet destroyed his aorta, do we have a graph?"
"I'll get one." Margaret said. Ever since Hawkeye, they always had graphs on store, just incase.
"Margaret, I'm gonna need your help. I have 20 minutes to graph this before he's paralyzed, and I can't do it alone."
"Of course." Margaret says, taking a deep breath.
"Scalpel."
"Scalpel."
"Retract that Margaret."
"Retractor."
"Silk."
"Silk."
BJ was franticly working against the clock, a place that he wished he would never have to be again. "Time."
"13 minutes Captain."
"Alright." He says, working quickly.
"How's it coming Hunnicut?" Potter calls over to his Chief Surgeon.
"Alright..." He says, stitching up the young man lying in front of him. "Alright, take off the clamp and get ready to pack it off incase of a leak... ready? Go."
Margaret takes it off, and thankfully there are no leaks. Both Nurse and Surgeon sigh heavily and smile at one another under their masks.
"You did it." Margaret says.
"No," BJ says looking at Margaret, "We did it. Now, let's go after the liver and he'll be fine." BJ trails off at the last part, and his eyes briefly cloud over with grief, sadness, and anger. It has been almost a year, but the pain still lingers in the young surgeon. Quietly BJ works on patching up the liver, successfully. He then moves onto the next patients, and quietly finishes them. After 20 hours of surgery, they are finished. The sun was just starting to come up over he hills of Ouijongbu as the surgical staff walks out of OR.
"It's pretty isn't it?" Jason says.
"It is, but I would much rather be looking at it from California." BJ says, shaking his head. "I'm gonna go grab a drink." He says, as he walks over to the Officer's club. It was a good thing that place never closed. BJ sat down on the chair and Klinger got him a martini.
"It was a rough day wasn't it?" Klinger says, making himself a drink.
"Yeah Klinger, it was..." He says sighing, and downing the liquor. "Do you think this war is ever going to end Klinger?"
"No." He says sighing. "Just be glad that you haven't been here the entire time, or practically the entire time." He says sighing once more. "Are you alright BJ?" Noticing BJ gazing into space.
"Huh?" He says, a bit startled, "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking..."
"About what?"
"My first operation today and how I was able to save him."
"The chest wound?"
"And abdomen." He says sighing.
"It's been almost a year sir." Klinger tells him, knowing that it was Hawkeye who was haunting his thoughts right now.
"I know Klinger, its just... well... I still feel responsible for his..."
"Sir, you did everything you could possibly do. We'll get out of here one day and forget all about this horrible war."
"That's just the thing. I don't want to forget. I don't want to forget Hawkeye... I don't want to forget all of you. You all are probably the closest friends that I have ever had."
"I feel that way too BJ, I just don't know if I want to remember the horrors of the war, and unfortunately, Hawkeye was one of the horrors." He says sighing.
"So you want to forget about him?!" BJ says, in shock.
"No, that's not what I mean..." Klinger says.
"Well, what exactly do you mean?" He says, almost shouting at the company clerk.
"I... I don't know what I mean. I want to forget about the death and the pain of these young boys! I don't want to forget about the people. I don't think I could ever forget about Hawkeye though, nor you or the Majors, or Colonel Potter or..."
"Yeah..." BJ says sighing. "Fill 'er up Klinger." He says, handing him his glass. "Erin turns two in a week, and I'm not going to see her turn it. I missed her turning one, and now two."
"What day is it sir?"
"What day is what?"
"Her birthday... what day is it?"
"July 1st, a week from yesterday."
"I'm sorry sir."
"Yeah, me too." He says, downing the last bit of his drink. "Well Klinger, I think I am going to attempt a bit of sleep. I shall see you later." And with that he walks back to his tent.
A week went by and still no end of the war.
"You know what we need?" Jason says, throwing a ball up and catching it.
"What?"
"Since its summer, we need a barbeque. What do you think?"
"That sound's great... let's go run it by Potter." BJ says, smiling as he stands up so they can go talk to the CO. "Colonel, we have an idea." He says as he walks into the office.
"What's that?" Potter asks his surgeons.
"Well, we were thinking, since the Peace Talks are happening, and the causalities are slow, we were wondering if we could hold a BBQ?" Jason says.
"That's a dandy idea... and we could invite the orphans for some fun too!"
"That sounds great." BJ says smiling.
"I'll talk to the Padre and we'll have one on Sunday." He says smiling.
"Great!" Jason and BJ say at the same time.
"This is just what this camp needs to boost morale. I'll set it up."
"Thanks Colonel." BJ says, smiling.
"Oh and BJ, you'll be doing the cooking right?"
BJ laughs and says, "Of course, as long as the cooking only consists of hotdogs."
"Of course." Potter grins.
Sunday comes extremely fast for the 4077th. There were a ton of games and food for the Personnel and Orphans to last a life time. Klinger came dressed in Hawkeye's Hawaiian shirt, which looked surprisingly decent on him.
"Klinger, that shirt suits you." Colonel Potter says, looking at the blue and white pattern.
"Thank you your Colonelness." He says smiling.
BJ saw the shirt and smiled. He missed seeing that around the camp and it brought back many fond memories of Hawkeye that he thought he had lost. "Klinger, that shirt is great." He says smiling.
"I figured that this is the best place and time to wear it." He says, smiling.
"I completely agree." He says, as he turns his attention back to the hotdogs. "Can I offer you a hotdog?"
"Maybe in a bit, when I get my nerve up." He jests.
"Hey, I am a damn good cook thank you very much." "BJ says defensively with a smile.
"Uh huh." Klinger says smiling.
"Careful or I'll put you in for a promotion." BJ says, as they both start laughing.
"You wouldn't dare." Klinger says, walking away.
"I have to tell you BJ, this was a great idea that you and Jason had."
"Well sir, it was mostly Jason. I just said Yeah, and helped put it together." BJ says, handing him a hotdog. "The orphans are really having a great time."
"Yeah, and so are the Personnel." Potter says smiling. "It's amazing how little kids always make people feel better."
"It's a good morale booster." BJ grins.
"That it is..." He says trailing off.
"I just wish Hawk was still here to share this." BJ sighs.
"I was thinking the exact same thing Hunnicut." He says, patting the taller man's arm.
"Thanks for the hotdog." He smiles at the man and walks away.
"You're welcome." BJ says smiling.
Two day's after the Barbeque was the day that they all were waiting for... the day that the announcement of a lifetime was heard.
"Attention All Personnel!"
"Ten bucks it's more wounded." Jason says to BJ, as they both rise from their cots.
"This just in from HQ, peace talks have been settled! THE WAR IS OVER!"
BJ stands there shocked, and Jason jumps up and screams, "I can't believe it! It's over! The war's over!"
"In exactly twelve hours, a complete cease fire will occur! Once again! The war is over!"
"It's over! It's finally over!" BJ says, smiling as he heads out of the Swamp to the 'party' going on in the center of the compound.
"BJ! It's over!" Margaret says, running full force at him he picks her up in a tight hug.
"I know! I can't believe it Margaret!" He says, swinging her around. "I can't believe it! I just can't believe it!" He tells her putting her down.
"In a few day's we'll be home BJ! You'll be home with your family!"
"And so will you." He tells her.
"That has to be the greatest thing I have ever heard in my entire life." Charles says, walking over to the Major and Captain.
"Me too Charles." BJ grins.
"I am going home!" Jason says, excitedly. "It's been almost a year and it's over." He grabs Margaret and swings her around.
"I have been waiting for this for two years!" BJ says. Suddenly, the sound of choppers fills the air bringing causalities, BJ looks up to the sky and says, "I guess I still have to wait for twelve hours."
"Attention All Personnel, Incoming Wounded... we are still in business!"
"One last hurrah!" Jason says, running up to the chopper pad.
"Let's hope." Charles and BJ say at the same time, running over to the ambulance and bus.
"Didn't you hear the war's over?" BJ says to the patient with a smile.
"I did, but my leg decided that it had to get shot." The young private says.
"You'll be fine." BJ says, moving on to the more serious soldiers. "Father? Can you finish triaging for me? I have to scrub up."
"Of course... I guess they didn't hear about the war being over..."
"I guess not." BJ says, running off the bus and into surgery where a boy had a ton of shrapnel throughout his stomach and legs. "God, this kid swallowed a junk yard."
"Need help Hunnicut?"
"No Colonel, I'm fine, just commenting on the amount of metal in him." He says, shaking his head. "Margaret, suction that. Thanks."
After six hours, BJ calls out, "How many more?"
"Just brought in another batch of wounded." Klinger says.
"Damn, don't they know that it's over?!"
"Not for another five hours BJ." Potter says. "We know that it's over... they don't."
"Give me 15 minutes, and I'll fly over there and drop them a note telling them." Jason says, while digging in a patients gut.
"Just wait it out..." Margaret says. She was very excited to get back to the states, even though the army was her life. Three years away from her family was a very long time.
"I've been waiting it out for the past year!" Jason says.
"I've been waiting it out longer then you have Captain!" Margaret snaps at him.
BJ finishes stitching up his patient and says, "Next." He glances around the operating room... Hawkeye's operating room... His operating room... and watches all the people working hard. He never has seen such dedicated people, and he was glad to have been able to work with them. Five hours later, they hear,
"In the next few seconds, there will be a total cease fire..." There suddenly was an eerie silence, followed by the announcement, "There you have it folks, the Korean War is Officially over... this is the sound of peace." All of the surgical staff looks up at one another in silence for a few seconds, before burying there noses back into there work.
"The war is only over for half of us." Charles grumbles.
They finish operating in silence, and that night there is a dinner that the total camp attends. It is the last dinner of the 4077th. The night was full of talking, laughing, and crying. Everyone of the personnel had mixed feelings about leaving the war. Sure, they were all excited to go home to there families, but they were also leaving their families too.
Potter decided that it was time to discuss everyone's future. He stands up and instantly grabs everyone's attention. "Let's all go around and tell one another about what we are going to be doing after the war." He says to the camp.
"You go first Colonel." Margaret says smiling.
"Alright, well, as soon as I step off the plane I am going to be an official civilian. I'm retiring as an army man. My wife has learned over the years to do things without me, but now she's going to have to adjust with me taking over a bit more. No more Colonel Potter for me. I'm going to take on the role of a partially retired Dr. Potter and a full time Mrs. Potter's, Mr. Potter." He says smiling as he looks over to Margaret.
"Well, I was offered a position in two places. One was as Head Nurse in an Army Hospital in Tokyo, and back to a M*A*S*H* Unit if another war ever break's out. The second was also as Head Nurse, but this one was state side, an Army Hospital in San Francisco. I chose the San Francisco job." Margaret says smiling.
"Hey! That's terrific!" BJ says excitedly.
"The army has been the only think I have ever known. I've been moving around ever since I was born, and now all I want is something more permanent. I know since I've been here I haven't had a chance to tell my nurses how I really feel about them. I've always had a difficult time with expressing my feelings, but I want you all to know how proud of you I am. I have never worked with a better group of nurses before. I love you all, and it was a privilege to work with all of you. I wish all of you the best, and will miss everyone terribly." She says, smiling as she wipes a tear away from her eye. BJ squeezes her shoulders reassuringly and smiles at the head nurse.
"Well," BJ begins, "You all know what I am going to be doing." He says smiling. "I am going to begin where I left off as my job as a husband and as a father. My daughter turned two a week ago. The last time I saw her was when she was five months old. I missed a year and a half of her, and I will never get them back, but what I can do is make up for that lost time from the moment I get home. I think it is time to get to know my little girl. I'll probably take off work for a few weeks and spend them with my family, and then hopefully I will be starting back at my hospital in San Francisco, not an Army Hospital." He says grinning at Margaret and quickly adds in, "I think I have had my lifetime fulfillment of army life." He smiles and continues, "My life seems to be consisting of helping people, my family, and perhaps a few more kids one day. I am also going to go to Crabapple Cove Maine and see Hawkeye's father. Hawk was constantly telling me how great of a place it is and how wonderful his father is, so I decided I wanted to experience it for myself. Hawkeye was the best friend I ever had, and probably the best one I ever will have. He wanted this war to end more than anyone, but that was because he was here since day one. He was a great guy, and I want to learn everything I possibly can learn about him, and that's what I'm gonna do. So by the end of the summer, I'll have met his father." BJ finishes and Margaret squeezes his hand.
Jason looks at his two friends with the utmost sympathy, but its his turn to talk so he begins, "I, like BJ am going to go home and spend my first few weeks as a daddy to my son Luke and daughter Stephanie, and a husband to my wife Donna. Then, I'll work in the same hospital I left, and live my life to the fullest. Being here has really opened my eyes to the importance of life."
"I am going to be chief of Thoracic Surgery in Boston, thanks to the help of a friend." He says, glancing quickly at Margaret, "Being here has taught me the meaning of friendship, and I shall never forget that." Charles tells the unit.
"I am going back to Philadelphia and work with the orphans. I love all children. They are just so innocent, and after being here for three years, I've heard every single type of confession there is!" The priest jests.
"Well, Soon Li and I, we are planning to be married! But, before we leave Korea she wants to find her family so... I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I'm staying in Korea!" The entire tent starts laughing. "But," Klinger starts again, "I do want my family to be here for the wedding..."
"I thought you weren't going home?!" Potter says smiling.
"I'm not, I wanted it with this family. Father can you do it?"
"I'd be honored son."
"So it's settled! Tomorrow before we all leave we'll have a wedding." Potter says smiling.
Everyone else went on telling about what they were going to be doing after the war.
They sat in the mess tent till almost 2am, when most decided it was time to go to sleep. Margaret and BJ went over to the officer's club for one last drink before it was shut down for good.
"It's kind of scary isn't it?" Margaret says, taking a sip of her scotch.
"What?" BJ asked.
"That it's over. Tomorrow will be the last day that we see most people. These are the people we have lived with for years."
"You said you were use to this..."
"I am, but it's different this time." Margaret says sighing.
"How so?" BJ asks curiously.
"Well, it's just; I have been here all three years of the war, since day one. I have become so close to most of the people here, closer than I ever have been to anyone before, and now I have to leave them."
"I'll always be around Margaret. You're in San Francisco, and I'm in Mill Valley. That's only a hop skip and a jump away from one another."
"Yeah." She says smiling. "I know how war is though... you try and purposely forget about it, and that includes the people who were involved."
"I promise, I won't forget about you Margaret." BJ says, trying to ensure the nurse.
"Thanks." She says smiling at him.
They sit in silence, just enjoying each other's company for a while, before BJ speaks. "You know..." He says, downing his martini and starting on the other. "I really wish Hawkeye could see the end of this war."
"Yeah..."
"I mean, he wanted this to end so bad, just like all of us, and he is the one who ended up dead." He puts very bluntly in his slightly tipsy state of mind. "I don't think I will ever stop feeling the guilt Margaret. I don't think it is possible."
"You will." Margaret tells him. "Once you get away from this place, you will have your wife and your daughter and forget all about..."
"Don't even finish that thought Margaret! I will never forget about Hawk. I can't." He says, shaking his head. "I want to stop feeling the guilt, but I can't do that either. I feel responsible for him not being able to see the end of the war. Maybe if I was a better surgeon I could have saved him."
"We went over this before BJ. Nothing could have saved him. He couldn't have even saved himself!"
"I know, but I still should have." He says finishing his last martini. "He was my best friend..." He stops and thinks for a moment, "No... he IS my best friend." He says sighing.
"And you can take that with you. You'll always have your memories, just like I will."
"That's not enough..."
"It unfortunately has to be. He saw the end of the war, we just don't realize."
"Yeah, I guess your right." He says standing up, "Can I walk you back to your tent?"
"No, I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She says smiling.
"Good night Margaret." He says, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Good night BJ." She says, as they go into their separate tents. Margaret gets into bed and says, "It's finally over." With that happy thought she rolls over and falls asleep. It is the last time she will sleep in that tent, and on that hard army cot.
BJ heads into his tent, and flops down on the hard army cot and says, "It's finally over Hawk. The war that seemed like it would never end is over." He quietly talks to thin air. The entire tent was asleep except for BJ who smiled to himself. He looked over at the picture of his wife and daughter, and his smile grew. He was going home. With that thought he fell into a peaceful sleep. All too soon, the sun hit the Swamp and woke up the three surgeons. All of them woke up in good moods. They talked as they packed up there personal belonging's. The wedding was set to be held at 12:00pm. That came and went very quickly, and the newly weds were the first ones who left the camp.
"Be careful over here Klinger." Potter warns his company clerk.
"I will sir."
"Thanks for everything you have done for me over the past year. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Thank you Colonel, for everything." He says, hugging his CO.
"Congratulations." Potter says to the two.
"Thank you."
"I hope you find your family Soon Li." BJ says smiling.
"Thank you BJ." She smiles back at him.
"You let me know when you're back state side ok?" Potter says.
"That goes for me too." BJ says smiling.
"Will do." Klinger says smiling.
"Klinger, it's been interesting." Jason says grinning and giving the man a hug.
"Yes it has." Klinger agrees.
"I wish you all the health and happiness in the world Max." Charles says, shaking the man's hand.
"You too sir. Thank you."
"Good bye my son. Take care of yourself." The Padre says, hugging the man and then blessing the couple, yet again.
"Good bye Father." Klinger smiles, and turns his attention towards Margaret. "Goodbye Major."
"Good Bye Sergeant." She smiles, before hugging him.
"You're still all aces in my book Major. I'll miss you."
"You're not too bad yourself Max. I'll miss you too." She says.
"Oh Klinger, hang on, I need you to autograph this picture for me." BJ says, grinning as he pulls out a picture of Klinger in his Scarlet O'Hara dress.
"My favorite dress!" Klinger says, laughing as he signs the photo.
"It's for Erin. One day when I tell her this, she's not going to believe that you actually wore dresses, but this is living proof."
"Well, I looked fabulous in yellow." He says smiling. "We better get going. Goodbye!" He says, as they jump into the wagon and drive off.
"Goodbye." Everyone replies, as they watch the man drive off.
Next, all of the nurses left, with tears in there eyes. They all hopped onto the bus to take them to the 8063rd so they could pack them up before heading back to there families.
"Goodbye!" Everyone called as the nurses drove away.
"And then there were five." Jason says, as he looks at the decollate camp.
"You ready to go Major?" They heard one of the drivers call to Margaret from the jeep.
"One minute." She calls back as she turns to Colonel Potter. "Goodbye Colonel."
"Goodbye my dear." He says hugging the nurse. "Thanks for everything Margaret."
"Thank you Colonel." She says, as she comes out of the embrace. "I'll miss you."
"Don't be a stranger if you're ever around Missouri, or if you ever need anything just call me."
"Thank you Colonel. You have meant the world to me, much like my father does." She compliments the man.
"Margaret, while you're getting your career set up; don't forget to take a little time to be happy." He says smiling. She nods, and wipes a tear away, moving onto Charles.
"Bye Charles."
"Goodbye Margaret." He says, hugging her. "Take care of yourself."
"You too." She smiles and walks over to Jason. "Bye Jason."
"Bye Margaret." He smiles.
"I'm sorry that you had to come to Korea during such a rough time. I wish I could make up the lost time of getting to know you."
"That's a bridge over water Margaret." He says hugging her. "Good luck state side. If you ever get bored and want to take a vacation from the sunshine, I have an extra room in my house."
"Thanks." She smiles, and she turns to BJ. They hug one another, knowing that they are going to see each other state side, but still, "I'll see you in California."
"You bet you will." He says. "Thank you Margaret, for everything you have done for me over the past year. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You don't have to forget him, remember."
"And neither do you." He says giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Have a safe flight home, and call me when you get home. I'll see you in a week."
"See you in a week." She says, as she hugs the Colonel one more time before getting in the jeep and heading with her nurses to the 8063rd. She waved to them all as she left the compound, and they all waved back to her until she was not able to be seen.
"You're next Major." They heard a voice call.
"Right." He says, turning his attention towards the men, "Gentlemen... I can't say it's been fun..."
"Some of it has." Jason says grinning.
"I wish you all the best." He says, shaking each man's hand.
"You too Chuckles." BJ says, grinning.
"Margaret was right when she said it wasn't your fault. Remember that BJ." He says, to the man.
"I will Charles, thank you." He says. "Don't be a stranger either. I'd love to hear from you."
"Right." He says. "Gentlemen... I bid you all a fair adieu."
"Bye Charles." They all say as he too rides off.
"And then there were three." Jason says. "How are you getting to the plane Colonel?"
"I'm going to take Sophie for one last ride, over to the orphanage. They can use her for rides or farming, and then from there I have a jeep picking me up."
"Right." BJ says smiling at his CO. "I'll miss you Colonel." He says.
"I'll miss you too BJ." The older man says as he pulls his young surgeon into a hug.
"You're a damn good surgeon though BJ, and don't you ever forget that. Many boys are alive because of you."
"I know sir, and because of you too." BJ says, wiping a tear away from his eye.
"I wish I could have made his loss easier on you and Margaret..."
"I wish that I could have for you too. I don't know what I would have done without you all."
"Likewise." Potter says, wiping his eyes. "Don't lose touch son. I want to hear all about your jaunt home and up to Maine."
"Yes sir." He say.
"Take care of Margaret for me too. She needs you just as much as you need her."
"I'm just glad she's moving in the neighborhood." He smiles.
"Take care son, and take care of that family of yours. Your daughter will be thrilled to see you." He says smiling.
"I hope so." He says, hugging the man again. "Thanks for helping me through the last year Colonel."
"And thank you too BJ." He says, before turning to the newer surgeon. "Jason, I have admired you since the first time you stepped foot on this camp. Not everyone would have been able to see past the hurt to a camp that you could make home in. It was a horrible reason for you to come here, but it happened, and I am glad that I got to know you. You did amazing things for us over the past year, and I really appreciate it son." He says, hugging the surgeon.
"I am sorry that I had to be called in sir, but I appreciate everything you have just told me. I want to thank you also. You are one of the reasons I had such a success rate here. I don't think I could have done it if I didn't have such a great group of people backing me up." He smiles.
"You take care of yourself and your family too son. And do keep in touch."
"I will sir, thank you. Take care of yourself." He says.
"Good bye boys." He says, as he hops up on Sophie and rides off into the sunset.
"And then there were two." BJ says, smiling. "And I think I hear my ride." He says looking skyward. "Yup, and yours is right behind it." He says as the two choppers come into view. "Shall we head up?"
"We shall." Jason says, as the two friends slowly walk up to the chopper. "Listen BJ, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not being Hawkeye. I am sorry that I had to come and replace him, and I am sorry that I was such a jackass to you the first few weeks."
"You shouldn't be the one apologizing, it should be me." He says sighing. "I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. I should have realized how great of a person you were sooner, but I was so tied up in my friend's death I couldn't see towards the good. I only saw the replacement part. It wasn't you and I want you to know that. You are a fine Doctor and it was a privilege to work with you, and to call you my friend. You helped me move on after Hawkeye's death, and I thank you for that. And I really thank you for not being a pompous, egotistical asshole like Charles, or a regular army ferret face clown like Frank." He says laughing.
"Glad I could be some help." Jason says laughing. "Thanks for being such a great friend BJ. You helped me a lot over here. I really appreciate it. I don't know what it would have been like if I didn't find you here."
"I appreciate how understanding you were during my adjustment. I hope that you will keep in touch once we go state side."
"Of course I will. Our daughters are around the same age, so maybe one day we'll come out there and visit you."
"Or vice-versa." BJ says smiling. He looks around and realizes that they were on top of the landing pad, and the choppers were coming in. "Well, thanks again for everything Jase." BJ says hugging the man.
"It's been... well... it's been interesting BJ."
"Indeed it has. Have a safe flight home."
"You too."
"Thanks."
"Oh BJ, I have a question for you?"
"Yeah?" BJ asks, before he gets onto the chopper.
"What does BJ stand for?"
BJ laughs, and looks at his friend, "Whatever you want it too."
"No, seriously."
"I am being serious! I'm named after my mother Bea and my father Jay." He says smiling as he waves to the open mouthed Captain. "See you around Jason."
"Bye BJ." And with that, they lifted off and were on there way home. BJ looked down at the camp, the place he has lived for the past two years. The place where he lost his best friend in the whole world. The place that was considered hell on earth. The place that was now just a memory as it faded off into the horizon. "It's over Hawkeye. It's over." He says quietly.
"Where you heading too Captain?" The pilot asked.
"Seoul, Hawaii, and finally San Francisco." He says smiling as he turned his attention back to the landscape of Korea, trying to take in its beauty, and boy was it ever beautiful when there was no fighting going on. BJ thanked the chopper pilot, and said goodbye to him, wishing him luck. He then caught his plane and started his journey home, to a more familiar and friendly place. The flight was extremely long, but BJ just slept most of the time anyway. He was emotionally exhausted from everything he had gone through over in Korea. Finally, he heard the words that he waited to hear since he took off from Hawaii;
"We will be touching down in San Francisco Airport in approximately fifteen minutes." He was home. As soon as the plane touched the ground he jumped up and practically ran out of the cabin. He knew that his family was waiting for him. He got into the airport and quickly scanned the lobby and saw the most beautiful woman and little girl he has ever seen. "Peg!" He called to his wife as he quickly made his way over to her.
"BJ!" She says as she puts down their daughter and hugs him tight. "Welcome home Darling!" She says, tears streaming down her face.
"I've missed you." He says, kissing her. His attention soon turned to the little girl on the ground. "Hi Erin."
She smiled at him and threw herself into her arms. "Hi Daddy!" She said to him as she hugged him. He couldn't believe that she wasn't at all scared of him. He couldn't believe that his little girl was walking and talking. He cried when he hugged her. He had been gone for so long, but now he was back.
"I told her about you every single day." Peg says smiling at her two favorite people in the whole world. "I'm so glad you're back."
"Me too." He says as he takes his wife's hand. He gives his daughter a kiss, and they walked over to get his bags.
"Are you doing alright BJ? I mean from Hawkeye..." She was cut off.
"It's never going to be totally alright, but being home sure makes it a hell of a lot better." He says, as he grabs his bags. It was difficult maneuvering Erin and his bags at the same time, but he managed. He did not want to put his daughter down, and she seemed content on staying in her fathers arms.
"Do you want me to take her?" Peg asked.
"No, she's fine." He says, kissing Erin's cheek again. "You got big Erin." "I know!" She says smiling.
"Oh, guess what?"
"What?" Peg asked.
"Margaret is moving to San Francisco!"
"The head nurse?!"
"Yes." He says smiling. "She is working in the army hospital. I can't wait till you can meet her. She should be home next week. She had to finish packing up the other M*A*S*H* Units before she could come."
"I can't wait." Peg says. She was so excited to have her husband home. It was wonderful that she could finally have her entire family living in the same country.
They get to the car and drive home. Everything comes back to BJ as he drives down the familiar streets. He missed the sunny, warm weather, and was glad to get back to his home. "Peg?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you say about going to Maine sometime this summer?"
She smiles at her husband, knowing that he wants to see his best friend's family, "I'd say that is a great idea." She says as they pull into the driveway of their house.
He walks into his house and puts Erin down so he can unpack. He smiles as he walks through his house... not a tent... and doesn't stop smiling till he falls asleep that night. "I'm home Hawk." He says as he unpacks his things. His wife comes up and says,
"Honey, I'll unpack for you. Why don't you go down and get to know Erin a bit better." She says smiling.
"You don't have to ask me twice." He says as he runs downstairs to play with his daughter. They play all night and then he puts her to sleep. He stays in her room for a few minutes and just watches her. Peg comes up behind him and wraps her arms around his waste.
"You ok?" She asks.
"I've never been better." He says. For the first time in two years he slept soundly, right next to his wife. He knew that from now on, his life would run like clock work. He had his family and that was all he ever needed.
*****
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 couple more chapters to go *sniff* I know a lot of the things differ, but some are the same from the final episode of the show! I hope you like it! Keep up the reviewing! Thanks so much for everyone who has reviewed me! It really helps me out! Glad you are liking it!
*STARY*