Disclaimer: I don't own MASH. If I did, it would've been even slashier than it already was, if that's humanly possible.
A/N: Response to Lisa's 10 minute challenge to use the line "Shhhh….you need to be quiet." Finished in 10 minutes and some-odd seconds. I'm not entirely happy with it, and might expand it later, but for now…meh.
The nights in Korea were never quiet, but the noises were always the same, and eventually the members of the 4077th got used to them. There were always footsteps and insects and occasional sounds from Rosie's Bar, but it was normal.
That was why the smallest sound woke B.J. Hunnicutt one warm night. It was not yet at the height of summer and so nights were still somewhat cool. The heat hadn't woken him. He lay still, trying to figure out what had.
There--he heard it again. He looked toward Hawkeye's cot and knew he was right. Hawkeye was having a nightmare, as indicated by his breathing--faster, a little louder than usual. He sat up, swung his legs over the edge of the cot and stood, feeling his way in the dark across the tent.
Just before he could lean down and wake Hawkeye gently, Hawkeye woke by himself. He gasped loudly and looked around wildly.
"It's okay, Hawk," B.J. whispered, reaching out to touch the older man.
Hawkeye turned to look at him. "B.J.…I…" he began, but B.J. interrupted him by pressing his thumb to Hawkeye's lips.
"Shhh…you need to be quiet," he murmured softly.
Hawkeye took a deep breath and began again, more quietly this time. "B.J., it was terrible."
"Do you want to talk about it?" B.J. asked in concern.
"I…not really," Hawkeye admitted. "It was just more pain and suffering and death."
B.J. sighed. "Go back to sleep, Hawk. I'll stay here."
"Thank you," Hawkeye said sincerely, and moved over a little, making space for B.J. to sit down.