I know, it's been a while, but don't worry this one I think is longer, word wise anyway. This is to HawkSoul, one day earlier than I said, ha. Not sure if I can pull of another chapter for the other story, but I'm working on it.

Chapter 16

He's a Fighter

"Well….Radar," said Colonel Potter with a solemn look in his eyes, "it's over…"

"You mean…Hawkeye?" Radar was panicked. Colonel Potter had spent over an hour on Hawkeye in surgery, "is he….is he dead?"

"No, Radar, but these next few hours….they're gonna be hell,"

Margaret, BJ, and Charles were all stuck in post-op, none of them pleased, "this can't be good," Margaret sighed, "it should take this long,"

"God, I wish I knew what was going on in there," BJ then stood and peaked through the window into O.R, when dove back into his bed (he and Charles were ordered into a post-op bed by Sydney for stress relief, Colonel Potter blatantly refused)

He made it under the sterile looking white sheets just as Colonel Potter waltzed in.

"Well," Colonel Potter sat down at the foot of Margaret's bed as a deafening silence ensued, "I honestly can't say if he will make it," the red stains on the white gown told them the story, "the next few days might be critical,"

They all sat in silence, "Colonel, I think it would be best," Charles said in a grave voice, "if some one contacted Pierce's father, he did want to know if anything at all changed, I think this should be considered, such,"

"Good idea, Winchester….I guess I have to go do that now, I am his CO," he wasn't looking forward to it, "by the way, Hawkeye will is in the private section of post-op,"

Minutes later he was in his office, holding the phone as the out of tune rings, connected him with the Pierce house.

"Pierce Residence,"

"Yes, Dr. Pierce, Sherman Potter again,"

"Hello, Colonel….you have news for me?"

"Yes, I do. Being a father I know how worried you must have been, but he's alive, and you're a doctor, aren't you?"

"Yes, Colonel, is my son all right?" The concern in Daniel Pierce's voice was growing.

"I can't say that just yet, Dr. Pierce," he then retold the story of everything that happened, leaving out a few minor details, "you should be damn proud of your son, Dr. Pierce,"

On the other end Daniel sat down in a kitchen chair with a swoosh, and smiled, he was alright. As a doctor he knew what 'critical condition' was, which was the state his son was in now, but Hawkeye was a fighter, he wasn't going to go down easily.

Apparently though, this Colonel Potter hadn't heard the whole story. He knew his son well and without a doubt, he told Major Houlighan what happened, it was just something he would do.

"Dr. Pierce,"

"Oh yes, forgive me Colonel, I was just a little shocked," he choked back tears that were threatening to fall.

"I understand, Dr, you take it easy, I will call you as soon as something changes,"

"Thank you Colonel,"

The line went dead.

Daniel Pierce knew without a doubt, his son was not going to whisper another word about what he told the Major to anyone else. He was probably regretting right now telling the Major anything, that's just how his son was.

He was poisoned though…a hallucination, his son was a fighter.

Slowly he shuffled up the stairs of the old wooden house, the stairs creaking with every step, after quite a journey up and a brief rest at the top he made it to his destination, the attack. Deep in the corner, he found what he was looking for, an old wooden treasure chest. Locked and dusted, but he had the key, he already knew what he would find inside, the same thing he always found, nothing changed.

Thousands of pictures filled the box, mostly of Hawkeye and his mother, but some with the whole family. Humming softly to himself (which he found came much easier knowing that his son was alive and safe) he ruffled through the box of memories and pulled out an old photo album.

Inside was a picture of the four of them. Himself in the middle (this was 15 years ago so a much younger self) with his arm slung over Donny Jackson in a friendly manner, bother smiling at the camera, his right arms wrapped around his wife who had her back turned slightly away from him, so she wouldn't have to look at Jackson with a forced smile, and then in front of his mother was young Hawkeye, looking thoroughly pissed off. A small sarcastic smirk (he had that mastered a couple of months before) mocking the happy looks on Jackson and Daniel.

Daniel felt a pang of guilt for trusting that sick bastard. He can't even remember what he was thinking when he aloud Hawkeye to stay with him, but this would have the desired effect that he wanted on Hawkeye. Flipping the picture over, and in the right corner he quickly scribbled "tell them or you'll regret it" and nothing more.

After shuffling back down into the kitchen he retrieved an envelope and after boldly writing the address sent off with the post.

BJ and Charles were playing cards; that's the one thing that told you, they were bored and worried, they were actually participating in some form of recreation that called for some sort of conversation amongst the two parties participating.

Margaret wasn't doing anything really, unless you count jiggling her foot rapidly against the end of the bed and making a rhythm out of opening her book closing it looking at both doors and opening the book again, as something, than she wasn't really doing anything.

"Margaret, is it really necessary for you to constantly shake the end of your bed?"

"No, but that doesn't mean I can't do it," she hissed back at Charles in disgust.

"Guys, please, Charles it's your turn, Major, please, care to join us?"

Margaret looked like she was going to refuse, but after sending one more glance and both doors gave in, "fine, what are you playing?" she climbed onto the end of BJ's bed so she could better reach the table that was between the bed's.

"Rummy,"

After minutes of silence she through her cards onto the table, "I can't do this,"

Charles let out a frustrated sigh, "then neither can I,"

Just at that moment Father Mulcahny came rushing in, "praise the lord, you're all alive," he then proceeded in saying a separate prayer for each of them, "we were so worried, how is Hawkeye, I hear he is not doing well as the rest of you,"

"No, Father, he isn't," BJ said, "I would talk to Colonel Potter though, he has all the details," BJ then sent a knowing look towards Margaret who looked upset and gone sort of an ashen color.

"Thank you, BJ, it's wonderful to have the three of you back, you know, the Lord is with all of you,"

"He just needs to be with Hawkeye right now, Father," Charles stated, surprising them all.

"Of course, Major, he is,"

End Chapter 16

TBC

I tried at Daniel Pierce, I don't think it worked to well, I think I wrote him to old and senile, but I can't seem to fix it no matter what I do.