Back In the World Ch. 22
Another Letter
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"Hawk wake up...Hawk?!" BJ smacked his face, trying to wake him.
"What? What?" Hawkeye said slowly coming to. "BJ, I saw Blake, must have been dreaming huh?...oh BJ, was it all a dream?...potter dying, the letter from Frank, Jen dying...all of it...it was a dream wasn't it?!" Hawkeye said getting excited.
BJ solemnly shook his head.
"Oh." Hawkeye replied. Looking back and seeing Margaret. "Then that means...BLAKE!" He jumped up and saw his son standing by the stairs.
"Son." Hawkeye said racing over and hugging him, releasing him only to kiss him on the forehead.
Blake was equally ecstatic on the inside, but couldn't show him emotion.
"Oh I thought I would never see you again..." He interjected, now crying. "How does it feel to be home?" He asked.
After a few moments. Hawkeye looked confused. "He must be so excited he can't speak! Are you hungry? Do you want a home cooked meal? I'll have mom fix you..." Then he stopped himself. Mom was gone. How would he tell his son, his mother was gone?
"Blake..." Hawkeye began. "I can't believe your home...I just can't believe it." He embraced his son once more.
BJ and Margaret had been conversing and saw in Blake what Hawkeye refused to see. "Margaret why don't you take Blake into the kitchen get him something to eat...I gotta talk with Hawkeye." BJ added.
Margaret did just that.
"BJ he's home. My son is home!" He grabbed BJ and hugged him.
"I know, I'm happy for you. I am...it's just...well he hasn't said anything Hawk."
"He's just excited that's all." Hawkeye replied.
"Hawkeye we've seen this too many times not to recognize it...he's not talking because he is..."
"Don't say it Beej, I won't have it dam nit. No kid of mine is gonna have post traumatic whatever it's called now..." He stopped himself, and took a deep breath. "I can't take all this, I feel like I'm about to burst." He said sitting down on the couch. "I should be happy, I mean my son is home, but all I feel is sick. I have to tell him, his mother is dead. I don't now if I can do that. I mean I feel like I don't even believe it yet." He looked over at his friend.
"In due time Hawk."
"Did you see him; he didn't even flinch when he saw me. Not a word! Why does life keep throwing me these curve balls?"
"I think they are more of Hit by pitches." BJ commented with a slight smile. "Hawk look, just like with anything, one thing at a time. Do you want me to tell him about Jen?"
"No" he answered quickly. "I'm his dad." With that he got up and entered the kitchen.
He found Margaret, trying to get him to talk. Asking him a number of questions about what he wanted to eat, and she got no reply. She saw that he had entered and took an envelope from the table and handed it to him.
"Dear Hawkeye,
This is Father Mulcahy. I, by the grace of God, was stationed at the unit which treated you son, Blake, for his injuries. I learned of his tour, and thought I would share bits a pieces so you would have some understanding. He was a POW, and underwent much torture. While there, he and another soldier attempted to escape. During which, his friend was shot and killed, as well as Blake getting wounded in the chest. A unit of GI's ambushed the camp and retrieved Blake's body, and brought it to this unit, where he was taken care of. When I met Blake I had been informed that he was not speaking and attempted to engage him in some conversation. I had no luck. It seems his time in the camp and his tour have his brain wanting to never respond, in fear of him being hurt even more. They spoke of treatment back in the states, and I trust you will take fine care of him. At first I did not know he was your son, but when I found out I had him shipped home as soon as he was well enough. I am praying for you and your wife as you struggle through this hard time. May the Lord be with you Hawkeye.
Your friend,
Father Mulcahy"
Hawkeye didn't know how to respond. He took a seat next to his son and took a hold of his hand. He put his forehead on both their hands and began to cry. BJ and Margaret made their way over and placed their hands on his back, trying to comfort him. As the crying continued, not a word was spoken, nor an emotion shown.
--THE END CH22
AN: I felt lead to write more. Stay tuned. Please review, it helps me, help you -TLH ‡
"Hawk wake up...Hawk?!" BJ smacked his face, trying to wake him.
"What? What?" Hawkeye said slowly coming to. "BJ, I saw Blake, must have been dreaming huh?...oh BJ, was it all a dream?...potter dying, the letter from Frank, Jen dying...all of it...it was a dream wasn't it?!" Hawkeye said getting excited.
BJ solemnly shook his head.
"Oh." Hawkeye replied. Looking back and seeing Margaret. "Then that means...BLAKE!" He jumped up and saw his son standing by the stairs.
"Son." Hawkeye said racing over and hugging him, releasing him only to kiss him on the forehead.
Blake was equally ecstatic on the inside, but couldn't show him emotion.
"Oh I thought I would never see you again..." He interjected, now crying. "How does it feel to be home?" He asked.
After a few moments. Hawkeye looked confused. "He must be so excited he can't speak! Are you hungry? Do you want a home cooked meal? I'll have mom fix you..." Then he stopped himself. Mom was gone. How would he tell his son, his mother was gone?
"Blake..." Hawkeye began. "I can't believe your home...I just can't believe it." He embraced his son once more.
BJ and Margaret had been conversing and saw in Blake what Hawkeye refused to see. "Margaret why don't you take Blake into the kitchen get him something to eat...I gotta talk with Hawkeye." BJ added.
Margaret did just that.
"BJ he's home. My son is home!" He grabbed BJ and hugged him.
"I know, I'm happy for you. I am...it's just...well he hasn't said anything Hawk."
"He's just excited that's all." Hawkeye replied.
"Hawkeye we've seen this too many times not to recognize it...he's not talking because he is..."
"Don't say it Beej, I won't have it dam nit. No kid of mine is gonna have post traumatic whatever it's called now..." He stopped himself, and took a deep breath. "I can't take all this, I feel like I'm about to burst." He said sitting down on the couch. "I should be happy, I mean my son is home, but all I feel is sick. I have to tell him, his mother is dead. I don't now if I can do that. I mean I feel like I don't even believe it yet." He looked over at his friend.
"In due time Hawk."
"Did you see him; he didn't even flinch when he saw me. Not a word! Why does life keep throwing me these curve balls?"
"I think they are more of Hit by pitches." BJ commented with a slight smile. "Hawk look, just like with anything, one thing at a time. Do you want me to tell him about Jen?"
"No" he answered quickly. "I'm his dad." With that he got up and entered the kitchen.
He found Margaret, trying to get him to talk. Asking him a number of questions about what he wanted to eat, and she got no reply. She saw that he had entered and took an envelope from the table and handed it to him.
"Dear Hawkeye,
This is Father Mulcahy. I, by the grace of God, was stationed at the unit which treated you son, Blake, for his injuries. I learned of his tour, and thought I would share bits a pieces so you would have some understanding. He was a POW, and underwent much torture. While there, he and another soldier attempted to escape. During which, his friend was shot and killed, as well as Blake getting wounded in the chest. A unit of GI's ambushed the camp and retrieved Blake's body, and brought it to this unit, where he was taken care of. When I met Blake I had been informed that he was not speaking and attempted to engage him in some conversation. I had no luck. It seems his time in the camp and his tour have his brain wanting to never respond, in fear of him being hurt even more. They spoke of treatment back in the states, and I trust you will take fine care of him. At first I did not know he was your son, but when I found out I had him shipped home as soon as he was well enough. I am praying for you and your wife as you struggle through this hard time. May the Lord be with you Hawkeye.
Your friend,
Father Mulcahy"
Hawkeye didn't know how to respond. He took a seat next to his son and took a hold of his hand. He put his forehead on both their hands and began to cry. BJ and Margaret made their way over and placed their hands on his back, trying to comfort him. As the crying continued, not a word was spoken, nor an emotion shown.
--THE END CH22
AN: I felt lead to write more. Stay tuned. Please review, it helps me, help you -TLH ‡