Waking up on the 5th day of being on the 4077th, Chris felt good. He got the chance to get to know the people, he listened to Francis at breakfast about his life outside the army.
Chris didn't even know a life outside all of this. He thought this life was normal until he heard the stories and got his hands on some magazines. He looked for hours at the pictures, beautiful houses with green gardens and happy-looking people, was that the normal way of living? It all seemed familiar somehow, but of course, no memories came through.
But he did notice the rest of the personnel of the 4077th, and he got curious about them. They all seemed to have a life somewhere else, and he wanted to know everything and listened to everyone. He could listen for hours.
Normally he wouldn't dare to seek out other people, but Hawkeye kept saying that he was allowed to ask for things and that he should think for himself. And he was thinking he wanted to know everything about these people and how he could be like them.
They never seemed scared of anything, and he admired that immensely. His life was being controlled by his fear, so much anxiety his body reacted on its own and ran away. And that fear went hand in hand with the panic, which made it impossible to move at all.
His other emotions and feelings got blocked by something he didn't know or could remember. It made him feel helpless and confused. Hawkeye always got a concerned look when that was happening. I get an empty look, he says. I wouldn't know though.
The wounded came early today and the doctors are working in the O.R.
Hawkeye was singing softly and kept joking around, getting a real rise out of Frank, he seemed happy Chris thought.
Chris was again copying some words and letters on the blank pages, he tried to write some sentences but he didn't know enough to write. He understands English better than he could write. He only learned some basic things. But he was having fun copying and wondering what they meant.
"What do you mean it's empty? Get another one."
Hawkeye said to his assisting nurse.
"It's the last one," she replied.
Hawkeye got upset by that and went to the supply room. Chris got out of his chair and followed the man, he didn't know why Hawkeye was upset but he wanted it to stop, he wanted to help.
Catching up with the man, Chris grabbed Hawkeye's lab coat. The man never seemed to mind Chris doing that, so Chris tried to touch the man sometimes, mostly to get his attention like now.
Pierce was having an intense conversation with Margeret about the missing supply of hydrocortisone, he knew it was not her fault, the black market was stealing anything they got their hands on. But it made him furious, they would be losing patients this way.
The little hand who grabbed his coat was unexpected but it made Hawkeye's heart burst with affection for the boy. He put his right hand on Chris's head and ruffled his hair, the boy relaxed instantly.
Chris was feeling proud that he could help a little, Hawkeye seemed calmer, so he must be doing something right. And he enjoyed the affection, he started to care for Hawkeye. He wanted the man to be happy all the time.
After that conversation, the doctors decided to go over to Henry's tent. Henry could at least try to call Hammond and get more supplies.
Hawkeye was deep in thought. Sidney should also arrive today, and he was a bit on edge about it. He was curious about Sidney's opinion of the boy. Chris didn't seem to understand a lot, and he hoped it isn't brain damage, he knew the boy had old fractures on his skull, but to get his brain figured out they needed the right equipment that their MASH unit didn't have.
The psychologist was the best option now, he asked Henry a day ago about adopting the boy. He just couldn't deny anymore that he cared for the boy. Everybody knew, of course, Chris followed him everywhere and only him, maybe that would change but for now, Hawkeye felt like he was the most important person to this child.
But Henry said it was unimaginable that a single man could adopt a child on his own.
Hawkeye didn't do NO. He would find a way. The first step was finding out more about Chris.
Inside Henry's tent, Hawkeye put away his thoughts about Chris and started on the supply of hydrocortisone problem.
Calling out to Henry he put his hands on the desk Henry was cleaning.
"Don't do that" Henry complained, pushing the hands away with the cloth he used for cleaning.
"Henry, we're in big trouble." Hawkeye started but got interrupted by the man.
"How do you like my new desk?" Henry stated proudly standing tall.
"Your new desk?" Hawkeye snarled. "We just lost 200 vials of hydrocortisone"
"Well, what do you want from me?" Henry asked, shrugging.
Before Hawkeye had the chance to explode against the man, Sidney made his presence known by clearing his throat.
"Well I see I made it just in time" Sidney smiled
Dr. Sidney Theodore Freedman was a tall slim man, with dark brown and grey wild curls. The man had a big nose, kind soft eyes, and carried a mustache.
His brown eyes fell on Chris who stood at the corner of the room and out of the way.
"Ah Sidney, You are just in time, I want you to meet Chris "
Chris flinched as the eyes fell on him. That man is looking at me, why is that man looking at me, I'm not doing anything. Chris thought panicky, and he started to get really nervous. His hands get clammy, and he nervously wiped them on his shirt. He didn't dare to look at the man at first, but he tried to be brave and looked at the man for a second, glad to see the man didn't look upset.
" You do know I'm not a child psychologist right?" Sidney said, eyeing the scared boy.
"I know Sidney, but you are all I got, there are no child psychologists making house calls through Korea during a war. And he needs help."
Hawkeye said.
"Can you guys not do this right here, don't you got a Swamp to get home to or something!" Henry voices
Trapper immediately started his rant about the black market and demands that Henry calls headquarters.
"Let's go to the Swamp," Hawkeye said putting his hand on Sidney's shoulder. "Yeah sure, wherever you find comfortable," Sidney said.
Hawkeye gives Chris a come-on gesture before they walked out.
Chris followed at a safe distance between him and the new man.
"Chris, I want you to meet a friend of mine," Hawkeye said after they got back to the swamp. He pulled out a chair for Sidney and sat down on his bunk. Sidney wasn't a friend, but the best psychiatrist he knew, but he hoped Chris would calm down a little if he thought Hawkeye knew this man.
Chris just looked at the man, he looked friendly but that was often not the case. He then looked at Hawkeye, what did he want from him? His confusion must have shown because Hawkeye answered.
"He's just here to talk to you, he won't hurt you." At the still scared expression, he added "I promise"
That made Chris relax a bit. Hawkeye seemed sure about it. And that was good enough for Chris.
"So," Sidney started while Hawkeye got him a drink.
"It's only noon, but why not, I always wanted to taste your homemade gin" He took a sip and made a horrid expression "God that's awful but it does hit the spot "
Clearing his throat he started again.
"But okay, you called me here about this child, what can you tell me about him," Sidney asked Hawkeye but never losing sight of the boy.
Chris sat down on his bunk bed and opened a magazine, not reading it, but just looking at the pictures.
Hawkeye explained what he had learned about Chris so far.
"But I don't know anything more than that, except for the fact that he doesn't speak and is terrified of everything. Sometimes he seems so smart but there are times he doesn't understand the most basic stuff." Hawkeye stated.
"Truth be told Sidney he's starting to grow on me, and I know I must be crazy but I want to officially adopt him, " Hawkeye said, getting into a frenzy as he stood up and walked around the tent.
"I kept denying it, that I didn't care, but it's been 5 days, and he is starting to mean a lot to me, he is so scared, Sidney! He has more healed broken bones than should be possible at his age. I did X-rays and he's even got cracks on his skull. I don't know who did this but this boy got no parents or this would not have happened. Radar and I looked everywhere for information about missing children in the neighborhood but there was nothing Sidney. He needs me! and I have to admit I need him too."
Hawkeye stopped pacing and looked around the room. Sidney looked at him with amused eyes and Chris sat watching him with a slightly scared and confused look.
Chris couldn't read the mood of Hawkeye, he seemed agitated but also eager. He didn't understand the whole thing Hawkeye had said but he did get the part that he wanted Chris to stay, and he needed him. Even though the word adopts was unknown to him. Hawkeye wanted to be there for Chris, and that meant everything. He felt a shiver of hope.
"Well it seems logically normal to me. A lot of people would make the same choice I imagine. And I may be able to help with that." Sidney said thoughtfully.
He turned towards the boy and asked," Can you tell me something about yourself?"
Chris looked at Sidney, the man seemed nice but he was expecting something. And his calm staring eyes made Chris nervous.
He thought he could try to say something, but the feeling left when it got replaced with anxiety, a memory that wanted to show itself but got blocked immediately, and then there was nothing, he was empty for a second or two before he refocused on the man. The lingering feeling of hurt remained and Chris stayed silent.
"Uhm. That's peculiar" Sidney mumbled.
"He does that quite often, he could have been hit too often on his head or it could be a mental problem because I have seen that look on some soldiers passing through, It doesn't seem right.
Hawkeye explained.
Sidney just held up his hand to stop the man from going further. He looked at Chris thoughtfully, just looking at the boy for a couple of seconds before he spoke.
"Can you tell me your name? Any name will do!"
Chris looked at the man with confusion and remained silent.
"Okay, You wanna know what I think?" Sidney asked after a couple more seconds of silence.
Hawkeye made an impatient go-on motion for the man to continue.
"Little Chris here is repressing some trauma, I don't know exactly what, but there is something he refuses to deal with. I will need to write out a report, making the army aware of Chris's presence here. At a worried expression of Hawkeye, he added.
"I will make sure he stays here for a while, you got a good chance of adopting if I think it would be in the best interest of the boy. However, I want to tell you that if we find out that his birth parents are still alive or if they have capable family members, you don't have a lot of odds in your favor, no matter how much you both want it. "
"I know Sidney, I know the possibility is there but I want to help him no matter what. Do you think you can help him remember?" Hawkeye pleaded
"Yes I do, but it's not gonna be a pretty picture. If we are doing this, you have to be sure. If I make him remember he will come down hard, we need to open up this trauma so he can recover, but it will bring a whole new set of new problems for you two. I don't know what, because I don't know what happened, but he will feel every emotion again and he needs you to fall back on."
He looked at Hawkeye seriously.
"Of course, Sidney, what do you think I've been trying to do," Hawkeye said, pulling his arms up in frustration.
"Only then you will start to recover, It's going to be a long road, but you will be able to recover, you seem like a smart strong boy," he said to Chris who listened to the man speak.
Chris's eyes lit up, the man thought he was smart, and it made him happy. He didn't know that the blackouts in his head were because he didn't want to remember something, that was scary but also interesting.
"What are you planning to do?" Hawkeye asked curiosity in his voice. He wanted to know. He would be there for Chris 100% but he needed to know what happened.
"Normally I wouldn't be able to do this to a child without the parent's permission, but this is not a normal case. I plan to hypnotize him and make him recall what happened. As I said, it's not going to be pretty."
Chris didn't know the word hypnotize but it did not sound good, it sounded threatening and even painful. He felt his hands get moist and his body started to tremble slightly feeling the panic rise.
His breathing sped up and his heart was racing.
"It's okay, he is not going to hurt you, and I will be here also," Hawkeye said, noticing Chris was having a difficult time with this. He put his hand on the boy's knee to comfort him but instead Chris almost jumped off his bunk being startled at the touch. His breathing sped up even more and his face was getting red. He was racing towards a panic attack one second and his mind got empty the next. He looked at Hawkeye with hurt and confusion.
Hawkeye gathered the boy in his arms, getting him to calm down a little. He didn't know why Chris was this upset, but he needed it to stop.
"Did you see that? Sidney asked Hawkeye. "His fear is connected to what he is repressing, without that barrier he would have a complete panic attack, so you need to prepare yourself for that in the future if Chris stays with you that is."
"How do I do that, dealing with a panic attack?" Hawkeye asked the man while Chris finally calmed down.
"Well that could be tricky, there is not a lot known about that. But the basics are getting him away from all stimulation, blocking all light and sounds, stuff like that. Talking seems to help as well."
Sidney explained.
"But we don't know for sure until we get this trauma dealt with.
So are you ready to do this?"
"Yes, let's get on with it, can we do it here, or would more privacy help? " Hawkeye said, letting go of Chris and taking his seat next to Sidney.
"Well let's play it by ear shall we, this is a new one for me as well, " Sidney said, making himself comfortable next to Hawkeye.
He then pulled a pocket watch out of his pocket. At Chris's terrified expression he passed the watch to the boy.
"You want a look at it before I use it?"
Chris took the watch and looked at it from a close-up and he knew this device was harmless. Chris sighed and felt his face get red, he felt embarrassed about getting so upset, but he didn't understand that word, and it sounded scary.
If the man noticed his embarrassment, he didn't show it, Sidney just held out his hand for the watch back. Which Chris gave back.
"So are you ready to get started?" Sidney said leaner closer to the boy.
"The only thing I need you to do is listen and do what I say, I will ask questions and I want you to try and answer them."
At the small nod, Sidney held out his watch, letting it rotate from its string slowly and steady.
"I want you to look at this watch, can you do that for me, Angel?" Sidney explained.
Chris's eyes locked with the other man at the phrase. He didn't know that word, but it sounded like it was meant for him.
He then remembered the man told him to do something and he quickly obeyed and held his attention to the watch, he heard Sidney talk in the background, something about the colors of the watch and that he should look closely. Chris got more interested in the watch, that watch is so shiny. It astounded Chris, he felt everything fading slowly into the background, sounds but also colors seemed to fade.
"All your thoughts are on this watch and only this watch.
You're sleepy, you're in a very relaxed state. You will feel like you're getting into a trance." Sidney's soft gentle voice reached the boy's ears, he heard it completely clear but somehow it sounded far away as well.
Chris didn't understand the word trance but he felt calm and floaty. Watching the device Chris felt himself drifting away, it was like going to sleep and being awake at the same time.
Sidney stopped moving the watch and put it beside him. He leaned toward the boy clasping his hand together softly.
"Can you please lift your right hand for me?"
Chris obeyed.
"You're very relaxed. You don't need to think, just listen to my voice.
Can you understand me?"
Chris nodded.
"He's ready!" Sidney told Hawkeye.
"Yeah to answer a question in class with his hand raised like that" Hawkeye replied grinning, noticing Chris still had his hand raised.
"You may put your hand down now, " Sidney told the boy who complied and lowered his hand. After giving Hawkeye a slightly irritated look he continued.
"Do you remember your parents?"
Chris got a hurt expression but nodded.
"Do you remember where you were the last time you saw your parents? "
Chris got wide eyes and looked as though he was about to cry.
"Can you describe what you see?"
"Ik weet niet wat describe betekent,'' a tiny young voice said. It sounded a bit ragged due to lack of use. He made a sniffing sound while he got tears in his eyes.
Sidney looked at Hawkeye's shocked expression.
" I don't think Chris is an American." Sidney voiced with amusement in his eyes.
" What language is that? This makes so much sense. Of course, he's not stupid. I know he's not. He just doesn't understand English that well. Why didn't I even think of that being a possibility? " Hawkeye said looking slightly guilty
"You couldn't have known, but it explains a lot. I believe little Chris here is Dutch. The good part of this, is we now know where to look for his parents, The Netherlands takes care of their war children. And he would be welcome there. The sad part is that if his parents are gone, and he has family over there he would have to move back to Holland."
"Sidney I still want to keep him, couldn't I adopt him and send him to my father in Maine."
Hawkeye tried, wanting this man to understand how much he needed the child as well.
"If he has family in Holland, then they would be the official guardians of the boy if they want and are able of course. I told you that if his real family was found they would automatically be appointed to decide about the boy. Maybe he doesn't have family members, or maybe they don't mind you adopting him. But until we know what happened we can do nothing at the moment. This however has bought you some more time together, I will write my report and contact the Dutch embassy located in Korea. To see if anyone misses a child." Sidney said.
"Do you have any small questions for him? We can't resume this right now because we wouldn't understand him and he wouldn't understand us that well. We would need a translator for that." Sidney said to Hawkeye who looked a bit disappointed.
" Can you ask about his age, we would understand that wouldn't we."
"How old are you right now?" Sidney tried.
"Tien"
"I think he's ten at the moment"
"How old were you the last time you saw your parents for the last time?" Sidney added.
Tears sprung in Chris's eyes and he seemed unable to answer anything. Hawkeye wanted to comfort the small crying boy but Sidney stopped him.
"Not yet, I need to get him out of it first and we can't do anything else at the moment, so let's stop this and have lunch. This is very tiresome, especially for a small child. I will start on the report right away and I advise you to buy an English Dutch dictionary." Sidney said smiling.
He knew Hawkeye was a bit upset, and he wanted the man to calm down when he got Chris back to the present.
"Chris will stay here with you, till we find his family. I will write about the boy shadowing you and his problem with being left alone, If it's my professional opinion that Chris feels better with you at the moment, the army has to respect that. And I will appoint you as his temporary guardian so he should be able to stay here, as long as you can keep him out of harm's way." Giving Hawkeye a pointed look he added.
Hawkeye nodded. All he wanted to do currently was to hold this small softly crying boy.
"I will get him out of trance now, I believe, he will still be experiencing the blackouts and won't talk, but he will remember that he spoke. I don't know what Chris will do but I want you to be ready for him."
Sidney explained to Hawkeye.
"I'm ready," Hawkeye said without hesitation sitting close to the child, it broke his heart to see Chris like this.
"Chris, I'm going to bring you out now. On the count of three, you will wake out of your daze and remember what you told us. One. Two. And three."
Hawkeye noticed Chris's eyes coming back to life, and shock showed on his face.
More tears sprung into his eyes. He said something, people always got so angry with him when he did that. Fear, terror, and sadness filled his small body and he started shaking. He didn't want to disappoint. He didn't want to get hurt, he was just such a bad kid. He started to sniffle, trying to get his crying under control and not break down. He used his sleeve to wipe his eyes.
Hawkeye immediately put his arms around the boy, he lifted Chris to position him on his lap. Arm around the crying child he tried to hide him from the bad world.
Chris thought he was a goner when he felt the man grab him, as he didn't expect this. Being hugged like this felt nice and in the back of his mind, it felt familiar.
Hawkeye spoke softly to him to calm him.
"shhhhh, shh it's alright...everything is going to be okay" he kept saying reassuring words into the boy's ear.
"I promise Chris, no one will hurt you, ever again," Hawkeye said firmly.
Chris cried softly and sniffled as he rubbed his face softly against Hawkeye's shirt. He understood the man, and being hugged like this, made him really want to believe it. But he just couldn't.
He sighed before he melted against the man he felt himself calm down. Hawkeye didn't seem angry at him. It's okay. Its crying subsided a little.
Hawkeye felt relieved that Chris seemed to calm down. He hated to see the boy cry. Stroking Chris's hair out of his face, Margeret had given the boy a haircut some days ago, his thick blond hair parted to the right in the latest fashion.
He added "So, you're a Dutch kid" Hawkeye grinned at the confused look.
"Nederlands I believe they call it, " Sidney said
At the Dutch word Chris looked up, Yes he knew that word. He looked at Sidney wiping his eyes, this was a good thing, right? Knowing the language he was thinking with, while the rest of the people around him used another one.
Sidney gave him a gentle smile. "You did great Angel, we're proud of you"
Chris still didn't know the word angel but he did know the word proud and it made him happy Sidney and Hawkeye said that to him, he hoped they were proud of him. He collected all his courage and shaky, put his arms around Hawkeye's neck and buried his face into the man's chest. He didn't want this to end, he just wanted the warmth of this man and the feeling he was safe that came with it. Sniffling softly he noticed how tired he was.
Hawkeye thought his heart would burst at the show of affection from the boy, he hugged him tighter and gave a kiss on the child's forehead.
After a minute or so Hawkeye interrupted the silence.
"Okay, I think you should take a nap." Hawkeye made sure he had eye contact.
" This was pretty emotionally draining and a nap couldn't hurt." Hawkeye said, getting up and lifting Chris standing.
The boy just stood there yawning as Hawkeye retrieved his night clothes.
Chris knew the word nap and he didn't mind one at all, he was so tired he could sleep for hours.
"I will start writing my report and will see you later at dinner and because I'm pointing you responsible for Chris any new information regarding him will go through you, if the Dutch embassy finds his potential family, please contact me.
I also want to be able to hypnotize him again with a Dutch translater present, and I will request one, but you know how long the army takes about these things." Sidney said, getting up and collecting his things before he left.
"Thank you, Sidney," Hawkeye told the other man sincerely.
Long after Chris fell asleep Hawkeye stayed looking at the boy.
One part of him was afraid about finding Chris his family, everyone knew how much he cared for the child and he wanted to keep him close, safe and happy, but the bigger part of him was glad about it, as long as Chris would be safe he would be happy for him. If Chris found a loving family without him we wouldn't stand in his way, even though it would break his heart.
Trapper came into the tent and started to talk about the hydrocortisone problem. Hawkeye forgot about that.
"What did Sidney say? " Trapper asked, noticing Hawkeye didn't pay any attention to him.
"We couldn't get to the traumatic part, because Chris here is Dutch. So the good news is we have a direction in which to go to find his family. And Chris is not stupid and hopefully doesn't have brain damage, he probably doesn't understand English that well. And another good thing is that he may stay here for a while till his family is found, I'm appointed as his temporary custodian. But the bad news is I'm just so afraid to lose him. But maybe his own family would be the best fit."
Hawkeye replied looking heartbroken at the other man.
Clasping his shoulder, Trapper replied. "I get how you feel, with those big blue eyes he's charming everybody around here, and he is the sweetest kid. He will be quite the skirt chaser when he's older. But it's also this place, Hawk. Living in this hellhole. Seeing so much hurt and dead around here, caring for a small child must be extra fulfilling"
Trapper said, squeezing Hawkeye's shoulder. "I know how much he means to you."
"Sidney said that if he had no capable family members I would be able to adopt him as a single father because of the boy's traumatic background. If it would be in the child's best interest, proven by a real psychologist, there wouldn't be a problem with me adopting Chris myself, I could send him to my dad in Maine and he would be safe."
Hawkeye said feeling very tired himself as well.
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it now, and I got a name from Radar, this guy is the one we have to see about everything on the black market. He's kinda a big guy around here. I'm planning to give the guy a visit to see if we can get some hydrocortisone from him. Do you want to come with me? Or should I go alone?" Trapper asked.
Putting the matter of Chris out of his mind he replied "Count me in if you're willing to wait an hour or so" pointing towards the kid with his head. "I believe we should take him with us."
Later the three of them drove off in an army jeep. Chris didn't know where they were going, and it made him nervous, but Hawkeye and Trapper talked happily together so he didn't think it would be a bad place.
They parked the jeep outside of a shady restaurant-like establishment. Getting out of the jeep Hawkeye wanted to keep Chris close to him, he didn't want the boy to be frightened, but of course, Chris always stayed close so it shouldn't be a problem.
The moment they stepped inside of the building Trapper said.
"Hey, listen, we gotta hire somebody to watch the jeep. I mean, with all this black-market action, uh, you know they're like piranhas.
"You got a good thought there. Hawkeye said, walking back to the jeep with Chris on his heels.
Walking back outside, about ten seconds after entering, the jeep was already stripped to the frame.
They stood there a couple of seconds in shock.
"But you didn't get it fast enough," Hawkeye said disappointed.
"They must have worked a pit stop. I hope they choke on the tires. Trapper said, walking back inside.
Inside they meet with Mr. Lee, a Korean man dealing in the black market.
After introductions, they started their talk about getting hydrocortisone. Chris stayed standing behind Hawkeye, after crying on Hawkeye's lap while being held in his arms Chris felt closer to the man, he trusted him more, he had a feeling he knew someone like Hawkeye before but he couldn't remember. And besides that, he still felt emotional and wanted to stay close.
During their conservation Hawkeye noticed the man looking at Chris a couple of times with recognition.
"Do you know this child?" Hawkeye interrupted Trapper who was making several offers to the man because Mr. Lee wanted $10,000 for the amount he had available and they didn't have that kind of money.
Mr. Lee sat back and folded his hands
"I don't know the boy but I know where you got him from."
"Then you know more than me, so please collaborate. And I am really tired so please get straight to the point."
Hawkeye snapped, not feeling comfortable with the way the man spoke that sentence. After Chris's mini breakdown, Hawkeye only felt more protective over him.
"What do you know about the Pit Vipers?" The man asked
"That's a local wild snake, right? Around here?" Trapper said while Hawkeye seconded that motion. Hawkeye noticed Chris became rigid after hearing that name.
Mr. Lee sighed "That much huh, Okay I will try to explain. You got the black market and people buy and sell everything on that market, no matter where it came from. And where there is money to be found people will search for it."
"Get to the point," Hawkeye snapped. Trapper put his hand on the man's shoulder to calm him down. Chris was white as a sheet at the moment.
"Okay, the point is, The Pit Vipers are a big underworld gang around these parts, they would do anything for money. They don't care if they have to kill people for it." Mr. Lee gave Hawkeye a pointed look.
"They also sell people. I wouldn't need to explain to you why people get bought."
Hawkeye felt his insides turn cold. He felt like he was going to lose the inside of his stomach soon. He looked over to Trapper who looked like Hawkeye felt at the moment.
"I first thought you bought him yourself but seeing your reaction I'm happy that's not the case. He is young but there are some weird sick people out there, I'm glad he isn't sold to one."
Hawkeye thought he could kill those people with his bare hands, so much anger flared up. He could just squeeze the life right out of them.
Putting his arm around the rigid standing Chris he said.
"Do you know of his family? And where did you meet him before? "
Chris seemed to calm down with the contact he was getting.
Hawkeye still seemed to want to keep him. Hearing that name he feared the worst. He couldn't remember faces, the memories still got blocked. But he remembered the pain from some of the punishments they gave him. As he heard that name, he really thought he would be brought back. They wouldn't be happy with that, Chris didn't think he could survive that. They wouldn't let him.
But feeling Hawkeye hugging him helped. He couldn't be mad if he did that.
"It's an enormous organization, and they can sell you anything you want. If I can't find it elsewhere I have no choice but to deal with them. Mostly I'm dealing with a spokesman while dealing with them, but this time it was a group of them on a white bus. The child was with them." Mr. Lee said with a sad expression.
"That was about 6 months ago, the boy looked a lot worse then. I'm happy he found you two respectable men."
"Thank you for telling us, you wouldn't know any names by any chance?" Hawkeye said. He was so done with this! his inside coiled with rage. Stealing a child to sell, the thought made him sick.
"No names, no address, they live on the go. Korean police are trying to hunt them down for years, but they only catch small groups or operations one at a time. The bigger organization is tricky to find."
"Okay, I'm glad we got this information, but could we talk about hydrocortisone again." Trapper said. Hawkeye knew his friend was also done with this conversation, they couldn't get names from the man anyway and Chris didn't seem happy to be here, the quicker they're back to the 4077th the better. Also, Trapper being a father himself, probably didn't want to think about horrid stuff like that.
After a series of offers that are no match for what Charlie already has or can beat, they offer to trade the hydrocortisone for Blake's new 100-year-old oak desk. The brilliant idea of Hawkeye.
Arriving back at the 4077th they brought Charlie Lee with them, he wanted to check this desk out. He was disguised as a South Korean General.
Lee is inspecting the desk while Blake tells him about it proudly. Pierce asks how he got it in the room as it is too big to fit through the door.
"Ohh, the top comes off," Henry said looking at the desk with pride.
Outside the tent, Lee agrees to the trade, but the desk must be ready to be put on his truck at exactly 0600 the next morning.
Hawkeye quickly headed to the visitor's tent to catch Sidney before he left. Hawkeye told the man what they found out.
"This means there's a big change, his parents are gone," Sidney said sadly. I will add it in my report, I was planning to leave after dinner, you two like to join me" Sidney asked
Radar wakes Pierce and McIntyre up at five am the next morning. They need to deliver the desk without getting seen. Letting Chris sleep, Hawkeye and Trapper sneaked out of the tent and headed over to Henry's office.
As they were trying to get the top off as quietly as they could, which was not that quiet. They heard the door of the office open and hastily hid under the desk.
Tiny soft footprints were heard as Chris walked over to the doctors.
"How do you keep waking up when I'm not there? Hawkeye whispered at Chris and got up from under the desk.
"The kid remains a mystery " Trapper whispered back with urgency well getting back to the task at hand.
"Chris you just stay out of the way" Hawkeye whispered gently to the child. At Chris's nod he resumed what we were trying to accomplish. Hawkeye knew it was not good parenting to let your kid be awake at 5 in the morning to help steal a desk. But this was saving lives in the long run and keeping Chris in bed while he was not in the room would be a whole different problem. They didn't have time for this now.
Once again they heard something, but this time it was bigger footsteps. The doctors ducked low, Hawkeye tapped Chris real quick, and the boy got down as well. Yes, his kid was smart.
Burns came by to check up on the office because he thought he heard something and he expected enemy spies but instead, he stumbled across Margaret Houlihan. She also heard something in the office but that must've been Frank, they laughed together at their silliness. The laughing quietly became heated looks, then flirting and ended with seducing.
Hawkeye almost gagged while covering Chris his ears, he does not have to listen to this riffraff.
Margaret and Frank decide to move this date to the supply room, as they leave, Frank quickly locks the door.
The doctors looked at each other in shock, Oh boy!
Sneaking to the door Hawkeye checks the lock.
"We're locked in. How does a guy who's so bad with a needle always knows where to jab us? " Hawkeye said in an angry whisper.
Chris started to get nervous, he didn't like Hawkeye being mad, even though it was not him the man was angry at.
Using the phone in the office they called Radar, who had all the keys, However finding the right one took forever.
The truck for the delivery arrived letting them know by a quick honking.
"Get your fanny over there and hold that truck! " Hawkeye instructed Radar who went right away.
Looking around the office he was trying to come up with a plan, he found a suitcase with some tools.
Chris really hoped they would hurry up, he had to use the latrine, normally some adult would go with him, but getting up at 5 he had nobody to go with and he wanted to stay close to Hawkeye. Now he needed to go badly, he knew he could open that door easily if he wanted to. He had learned to open any lock, door, or window even though he couldn't remember exactly where and how he learned that. When he tried to remember he only remembered pain. Hawkeye didn't ask him to do anything so he just looked as he saw the man take a device and started to unscrew the thin wooden back wall of the building.
The moment the wall hit the floor, Chris crossed over to Hawkeye. He tapped the man and pointed to the latrine.
Hawkeye got a big grin, nodded yes and sent him on his way.
He was so proud of this kid, going to the latrine on his own but more importantly, he asked for it, he's starting to think for himself and it filled Hawkeye with pride and joy.
They threw a bedsheet over the desk and carried it outside. Outside they find out the truck already left, thanks to frank interference.
They asked Radar to get hold of O'Brien the chopper pilot.
Blake and Burns walk into Blake's office and find the desk is gone.
"My desk! My beautiful 100-year-old desk! Henry shouted, waving his arms wildly.
With no response from the other man, Henry looked over and Frank just stood there staring out in front of him.
Henry turned to where Frank was looking and his mouth fell open.
His whole wall was lying on the floor, his office on one side completely open.
They both stand there in shock and confusion for a second as they notice the desk, attached to a helicopter, fly by.
They walked out of the office to keep sight of the flying desk above their heads.
Trapper and Hawkeye walked up to the two. Chris is already walking back from the latrine.
"Pardon me, Henry, Uh... Isn't that your desk? " Hawkeye asked the man.
"Yeah, that's my genuine antique desk, " Henry said, still stunned about it.
"Sending it out to be waxed? Trapper asked
"I don't know what it's doing up there. It just keeps going up, up, up."
"To a far, far better place, I'm sure" Hawkeye added, clasping Henry on the shoulder and left with Chris to the Swamp.
