A Visitor
Ch. 4
AN: Nope, I'm not doing the whole Margaret Dad thing, cuz I haven't seen the episode when that happened. Thanks.
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"Father?" Hawkeye replied and looked up at the two taller men, now releasing from their embrace.
"Pierce, this is my Father, William." Henry offered.
The two shook hands. "Pleasure...what bring you down the war torn path, so to speak?" Hawkeye asked, getting a slight glare from Henry.
"I missed my son, and being in retirement, I thought what a better way to spend my time, my wife was worried sick and well, I fought in World War II, you know, thought I'd come back for a refresher course!" He chuckled a bit.
Hawkeye nodded. "Uh huh...well welcome."
"Thank you."
"Uh Radar..." Henry began.
"I'll get him all set up in the VIP tent sir." Radar replied.
"You must be the kid from the letters who always says what my boy is saying before he says it."
Radar started to blush. "Uh, yes sir, I am.""Radar is it?"
"Yes sir."
"Very polite young man you are...a fine soldier." He patted Radar on the shoulder.
"Well, uh, I got a great commanding officer sir."
A silent moment passed as Henry and Radar exchanged glances. Hawkeye noticing that Henry was really touched.
"No doubt about that." William replied with a grin.
Radar then scurried out to get his bags and do as he was told.
"Well it was nice meeting you sir, hope you enjoy your stay, bars open from sun up to sun down and all the time in between." Hawkeye shook his hand once more and started out the door.
He stopped for a moment to watch the two older men converse. Henry's dad took a quick seat while Henry poured them a glass of scotch.
Hawkeye shrugged.
"So son..."
"So dad..."
A couple awkward moments passed.
"I've missed you." The two said at the same time. Chuckling a bit.
"Are things always this slow around here?"
Henry started to chuckle again. "Nope, just a lull in the fighting...but when this place gets rocking, it seems there's no end in sight."
"Rough?"
"Very....but we got a great bunch of people working here...best I've ever seen."
"Must be proud of them."
"I am...very much so. Probably don't tell them enough...but I think they know. Its hard work and..."
Just then the Father entered.
"Oh...Forgive me Colonel...I was just..."
"It's quite alright...Father Mulcahy...This is my dad, William."
The Father was taken back. "Well, I suppose you're the special guest, we've been waiting for...welcome to the 4077th. We are honored to have you with us." He took his hand and shook it.
"Thank you Father. Glad to be here."
The Father smiled. "Uh huh...well Colonel if you don't mind me interrupting, there is a soldier in post op who is asking for the surgeon who operated on him...I could tell him you can see him later, if you'd like."
"That would be fine Father."
"Nonsense my boy, one of the soldiers needs you, you go, don't let me get in the way of your work."
Henry nodded. "Alright then...Father lead the way."
"Yes Colonel."
The three headed through the doors into post op, where the Father directed Henry to the soldier. His name was Bradley, he had lost both of his legs and Henry had the sense he wasn't calling him over to thank him for saving his life. He had been through more than one of these scenes, nothing new under the sun.
"Bradley...this is the surgeon." The Priest offered, calmly taking a seat next to him.
Henrys Father stood a few steps away, listening to the interaction.
"What can I do for you son?" Henry lifted the chart, quickly scanning it and putting it back.
"Apparently nothing."
Henry sighed. He was used to this. He had to let the soldier get it off his chest, he had to take the abuse for the soldiers sake.
"I just wanted to put a face with the man who cut off my life...who cut off any future I could ever have! I wanted to ask you to just finish the job...you seem to be handy enough with a saw..."
Father Mulcahy interjected. "Bradley, my boy, this isn't...
"It's alright Father, go on soldier."
"Take a good look at me Doc, remember my face, you're looking at a dead man, thanks to you."
Henry fought back the urge to start naming all the actual soldiers who were killed and simply nodded.
"You about done soldier?" Henry asked, tipping his hat back a bit.
"Why? Anxious to get back to cutting off more legs? Get some kind of sick pleasure out of it don't you?!"
"Alright that's enough my son." Father Mulcahy interrupted. "This man, did all he could, you are wrong to say he simply did not try...you are wrong Bradley."
"It's alright Father, really. Listen kid, I'm sorry, so take that for what it's worth. I'm sorry..." He nodded once more and started back towards his office, where that glass of scotch was beckoning him.
Father Mulcahy, started to speak and calm the soldier, while Henrys Father, stood by aimlessly. His son was a grown man, and still backing down like when he was a child.
He started after his son.
"What was that all about?"
Henry turned around from the liquor cabinet. "SOP."
"You're joking."
"Look at my face; do I look like I'm joking?"
"You're still the same you know that?!" He leaned his hands on his son's desk.
"Excuse me?" Henry peered into his dads eyes.
"Never sticking up for yourself, always letting people walk all over you, like you're a nobody."
Henry took a deep breath. "Look if I needed to hear a lecture from you, I could've called, you didn't have to come all the way to Korea to scold me! I'm a grown man, I can fend for myself."
"So I saw." He motioned in the direction of post op.
"That? Dad, what in da' hell did you want me to say? What? Did you want me to scream at him? Tell him to WAKE UP! And Suck it up! You don't know a damn thing about this place, how dare you tell me anything?"
"I knew I shouldn't have come." With that he left, leaving Henry catching his breath.
Radar had heard the exchange and made his way in.
"Anything I can do sir?"
"No!" He shot back.
Radar jumped. "Right, sorry sir, I'll go now sir."
Henry sighed. "Radar- I- I'm sorry. I...I just- forgive me."
"It's alright sir."
Henry took a quick gulp of the scotch in his hand. It was going to be a long three days.
-- END CH. 4
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Take Care - TLH †