Back In the World – Ch. 7
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There was a long line to get to Mrs. Potter, but when she saw Hawkeye and BJ her face lit up.
"He adored you two, best doctors he ever had under his command, he'd say, oh he just loved you both so much."
"Thank you ma'am, he spoke of you too often to count, he ever tell you he saluted your picture?" BJ commented with a smile.
"Yes, yes, he did. He talked about the 4077th, right up till the night he left us. Not about the war per say, but about you people and what you did. He was so proud to be associated with you. Always remember that."
"As we were with him." Hawkeye said leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek.
Hawkeye then looked up to the heavens and said " Relax Colonel, it was just on the cheek."
They mingled a bit more then headed back to the hotel for a shower and a change of clothes. They made it to the diner just in time. And low and behold, Father Mulcahy had finally arrived.
"Ah, my apologies all around, the plane was delayed four hours at take off, it was a mess."
"You're forgiven Father." Hawkeye said embracing his old friend.
"Yes, Yes I am." The father laughed at himself, just like he always did. And got the usual smirks from his friends. "I was deeply saddened to hear about the Colonel, I imagine it was a nice service?"
"Oh yes, our precious Radar, gave a great speech." BJ said pointing across the table.
Radar blushed stuffing a dinner roll in his mouth.
About fifteen minutes late, Major Houlihan arrived. She looked astonishing as ever. Not a year older.
"Fifteen minutes late Major? That's soooo unmilitary of you." Hawkeye said standing to greet her, while moving a chair out for her to sit.
"Moving a chair out for a lady Pierce? That's soooo un Hawkeye of you." She smiled and turned her attention over to a few of her old nurses sitting across the way.
"Oooh, shot down." BJ replied.
Hawkeye muffled a 'shut up' and took his seat.
"Where is Prince Charles? And good ole Ferret Face?" Hawkeye asked after making his order and giving a sly smile to the waitress.
"Uh, Major Winchester sent his regards. He had a big surgery of some sort, couldn't make it…and uh, Major Burns, was sick last I heard." Radar said then gave his large order to the waitress standing above him.
"Sick? With what?" Hawkeye replied, looking almost concerned.
"Oh, I don't know, but it's pretty bad I think, cancer maybe. I don't have the details, Mrs. Potter just told he me he was very ill."
"Well geez, that's too bad." Hawkeye shrugged. "Would of liked to throw food at him for old times sake."
"And what about Klinger?" BJ asked, just as he spoke, Radar did as well.
"Klinger should be in soon, he couldn't get a flight out any sooner." He shoved a mouth full of something into his mouth.
"Still haven't lost your touch I see?" BJ smiled at Radar.
"Uh No sir."
"Radar, you don't have to call us sirs, we're not in the army anymore To-To" Hawkeye said taking a sip of his water and letter his eyes gaze over to the lady sitting beside him, whose faced was turned away.
"Sorry sirs…ah…I mean sorry guys."
The three exchanged a short laugh and took to other conversation.
It was hours after they received their food that they began to break up.
Klinger arrived a bit late, but just in time for dessert and hours of reminiscing. A great time was had by all and by the end of the evening; they were more than a little tipsy.
In those hours, they remembered the people they saved and the people they lost. They remembered all the late night binges and their adventures. All the tricks they had played on Frank, the toe tag occurrence causing quite a bit of laughter. Though through the laughter Hawkeye felt a bit wistful, almost feeling bad about speaking of an Ill Frank Burns. He quickly changed the subject and spoke of the fight him, BJ and Charles had in the SWAMP, when they were breaking his records on their heads, and all the while, Charles ripped the tent to shreds. They reminisced about the bon fire in the middle of camp and all the wonderful poker games, coming to the final conclusion that Father Mulcahy had taken most of their money over the years.
Everyone went around the table and got a chance to speak about what they were up to and their families. Hawkeye naturally mentioned that his son had been drafted and got many offers of prayer and good wishes. When it got to Major Houlihan, Hawkeye's ears stood on their ends. She had been divorced recently but all in all, life hadn't been all that disappointing. She spoke of a few commendations she received, but with not as much smite as she may have in the past.
Radar, had ten kids, and the farm was doing wonderfully. His mom had since passed on, but his wife was just as he imagined her to be. The pet farm he had was the most popular in town, the kids loved it, it had rabbits, chickens, turtles, hamsters, worms, you name it. He was all grown up and he was happy.
Klinger had three girls and opened his own Coney Island in downtown Toledo. All that work on Kitchen Duty actually paid off. He was doing well financially and he and Soon Lee were getting ready to celebrate their anniversary soon.
Father Mulcahy went on to work with children with hearing and other physical frailties. It was rewarding work and he felt he was fulfilling Gods will in his life. He was an assistant priest at his old parish and had run the CYO program for a while now. He also had an audience with the Pope not long after he returned from Korea, which was an honor in itself to the Father.
It had been a long day but the members of the 4077th, weren't ready to say goodbye for a second time. Some people exchanged and re-exchanged addresses and phone numbers. It was like a second opportunity for some and a lost opportunity for others. They were sad goodbyes once again, but righteous ones, for they had all done well for themselves, and all it did was renew the bond they knew they will have forever. And reinforced that it can never be broken, not even in death.
Hawkeye almost forgot the gift he had for Radar, he handed it to him before they embraced and said "Give Teddy to one of your kids, I'm sure they'll enjoy it more than I will."
Radar wanted to break into tears. "Hawk…I…Thank you…but you keep it, it's yours now, and it sounds like you may need him for a while."
They embraced once again. "Thanks Kid, I'll see ya, you keep in touch."
"See ya Hawk, I will." He started out, looking back one more time.
Hawkeye felt wistful yet again as he saw his friends leave one by one. He then rejoined BJ's side grabbing his coat off his chair.
"Margaret, what'd say we drive you to your hotel?" Hawkeye said grabbing her arm as she started to sway a bit.
In her usual intoxicated slurred speech she replied, "I'm not so think as you drunk I am"
BJ and Hawk busted out in laughter and nodded to one another. It was going to be a long night.
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And little did Hawk know, but it was going to be an even longer year.
END CH. 7
AN: Hope you're enjoying it so far, I almost got a little teary eyed myself, writing there for a second. Please review! You knoooooow, it helps me help you, Take care -TLH
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There was a long line to get to Mrs. Potter, but when she saw Hawkeye and BJ her face lit up.
"He adored you two, best doctors he ever had under his command, he'd say, oh he just loved you both so much."
"Thank you ma'am, he spoke of you too often to count, he ever tell you he saluted your picture?" BJ commented with a smile.
"Yes, yes, he did. He talked about the 4077th, right up till the night he left us. Not about the war per say, but about you people and what you did. He was so proud to be associated with you. Always remember that."
"As we were with him." Hawkeye said leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek.
Hawkeye then looked up to the heavens and said " Relax Colonel, it was just on the cheek."
They mingled a bit more then headed back to the hotel for a shower and a change of clothes. They made it to the diner just in time. And low and behold, Father Mulcahy had finally arrived.
"Ah, my apologies all around, the plane was delayed four hours at take off, it was a mess."
"You're forgiven Father." Hawkeye said embracing his old friend.
"Yes, Yes I am." The father laughed at himself, just like he always did. And got the usual smirks from his friends. "I was deeply saddened to hear about the Colonel, I imagine it was a nice service?"
"Oh yes, our precious Radar, gave a great speech." BJ said pointing across the table.
Radar blushed stuffing a dinner roll in his mouth.
About fifteen minutes late, Major Houlihan arrived. She looked astonishing as ever. Not a year older.
"Fifteen minutes late Major? That's soooo unmilitary of you." Hawkeye said standing to greet her, while moving a chair out for her to sit.
"Moving a chair out for a lady Pierce? That's soooo un Hawkeye of you." She smiled and turned her attention over to a few of her old nurses sitting across the way.
"Oooh, shot down." BJ replied.
Hawkeye muffled a 'shut up' and took his seat.
"Where is Prince Charles? And good ole Ferret Face?" Hawkeye asked after making his order and giving a sly smile to the waitress.
"Uh, Major Winchester sent his regards. He had a big surgery of some sort, couldn't make it…and uh, Major Burns, was sick last I heard." Radar said then gave his large order to the waitress standing above him.
"Sick? With what?" Hawkeye replied, looking almost concerned.
"Oh, I don't know, but it's pretty bad I think, cancer maybe. I don't have the details, Mrs. Potter just told he me he was very ill."
"Well geez, that's too bad." Hawkeye shrugged. "Would of liked to throw food at him for old times sake."
"And what about Klinger?" BJ asked, just as he spoke, Radar did as well.
"Klinger should be in soon, he couldn't get a flight out any sooner." He shoved a mouth full of something into his mouth.
"Still haven't lost your touch I see?" BJ smiled at Radar.
"Uh No sir."
"Radar, you don't have to call us sirs, we're not in the army anymore To-To" Hawkeye said taking a sip of his water and letter his eyes gaze over to the lady sitting beside him, whose faced was turned away.
"Sorry sirs…ah…I mean sorry guys."
The three exchanged a short laugh and took to other conversation.
It was hours after they received their food that they began to break up.
Klinger arrived a bit late, but just in time for dessert and hours of reminiscing. A great time was had by all and by the end of the evening; they were more than a little tipsy.
In those hours, they remembered the people they saved and the people they lost. They remembered all the late night binges and their adventures. All the tricks they had played on Frank, the toe tag occurrence causing quite a bit of laughter. Though through the laughter Hawkeye felt a bit wistful, almost feeling bad about speaking of an Ill Frank Burns. He quickly changed the subject and spoke of the fight him, BJ and Charles had in the SWAMP, when they were breaking his records on their heads, and all the while, Charles ripped the tent to shreds. They reminisced about the bon fire in the middle of camp and all the wonderful poker games, coming to the final conclusion that Father Mulcahy had taken most of their money over the years.
Everyone went around the table and got a chance to speak about what they were up to and their families. Hawkeye naturally mentioned that his son had been drafted and got many offers of prayer and good wishes. When it got to Major Houlihan, Hawkeye's ears stood on their ends. She had been divorced recently but all in all, life hadn't been all that disappointing. She spoke of a few commendations she received, but with not as much smite as she may have in the past.
Radar, had ten kids, and the farm was doing wonderfully. His mom had since passed on, but his wife was just as he imagined her to be. The pet farm he had was the most popular in town, the kids loved it, it had rabbits, chickens, turtles, hamsters, worms, you name it. He was all grown up and he was happy.
Klinger had three girls and opened his own Coney Island in downtown Toledo. All that work on Kitchen Duty actually paid off. He was doing well financially and he and Soon Lee were getting ready to celebrate their anniversary soon.
Father Mulcahy went on to work with children with hearing and other physical frailties. It was rewarding work and he felt he was fulfilling Gods will in his life. He was an assistant priest at his old parish and had run the CYO program for a while now. He also had an audience with the Pope not long after he returned from Korea, which was an honor in itself to the Father.
It had been a long day but the members of the 4077th, weren't ready to say goodbye for a second time. Some people exchanged and re-exchanged addresses and phone numbers. It was like a second opportunity for some and a lost opportunity for others. They were sad goodbyes once again, but righteous ones, for they had all done well for themselves, and all it did was renew the bond they knew they will have forever. And reinforced that it can never be broken, not even in death.
Hawkeye almost forgot the gift he had for Radar, he handed it to him before they embraced and said "Give Teddy to one of your kids, I'm sure they'll enjoy it more than I will."
Radar wanted to break into tears. "Hawk…I…Thank you…but you keep it, it's yours now, and it sounds like you may need him for a while."
They embraced once again. "Thanks Kid, I'll see ya, you keep in touch."
"See ya Hawk, I will." He started out, looking back one more time.
Hawkeye felt wistful yet again as he saw his friends leave one by one. He then rejoined BJ's side grabbing his coat off his chair.
"Margaret, what'd say we drive you to your hotel?" Hawkeye said grabbing her arm as she started to sway a bit.
In her usual intoxicated slurred speech she replied, "I'm not so think as you drunk I am"
BJ and Hawk busted out in laughter and nodded to one another. It was going to be a long night.
----
And little did Hawk know, but it was going to be an even longer year.
END CH. 7
AN: Hope you're enjoying it so far, I almost got a little teary eyed myself, writing there for a second. Please review! You knoooooow, it helps me help you, Take care -TLH