Sitting on his cot, Chris was doing school work, like actual books and everything. He was crazy excited when they came in the mail. He gave Hawkeye a big grin.
He wanted to learn more English, and when Hawkeye told him that his new grandfather from Crabapple Cove would send him clothes but also books to learn, he was thrilled. Apparently, Hawkeye sent a telegram to his father who knew the local school teacher, and got a used set of books to learn English.
And of course, he started at the very beginning, but Chris was finally learning to write and speak English. Chris was very eager to learn how to communicate, so he took his books everywhere. He asked questions by pointing to the words, and he always listens carefully.
The army only approved his temporary stay at the 4077th because of Sidney's interference and with the Dutch embassy behind him they had no choice but to accept.
He's been on the 4077th for weeks now and he slowly started to feel safe around here. Sometimes he even went alone to the latrine or alone to the swamp and back to the O.R.
Hawkeye seemed proud of him, he kept telling him that he is, and it made Chris extremely happy.
The people of the 4077th made him feel at home. He even became friends with Radar who gave him comic books and hours of stories about his life back home.
And he did a crossword puzzle with Francis, who insisted that he needed help from the smartest boy around. Chris doesn't know about being the smartest but he loves the feeling of the man thinking he was smart. It made him proud.
Hawkeye and Trapper were lounging around.
"Fix you a martini?" Hawkeye said to Trapper while raising his glass.
Chris looked up, did Trapper want a drink? He didn't notice.
"Haven't you got anything better to do when you're off duty than to lie around swill gin?" Frank stated with disapproval.
"Swill gin?"
Hawkeye stood up insulted.
Standing tall he said.
"Sir, I have sipped, lapped, and taken gin intravenously, but I never swilled!"
Walking over to the still, he got a martini for Trapper. Handing it over to the man, he started a speech about martini and gin.
"Twaddle" Burns replied
"Watch your language, Frank, or I'll wash your mouth out with soap." Hawkeye jokes.
"That's not a threat I thought I would hear anytime soon," Trapper laughed.
"By the way, did you know "soap" was a four-letter word?" Hawkeye added to Frank who looked irritated at being treated as a child.
Hawkeye did that a lot these days, he explained everything. Sometimes he would explain simple things disguised as jokes. Chris knew Hawkeye did that for him and he was glad for it, it really seems to help. He also could show any word to the man and he got a complete explanation about it.
He felt a rush of affection for the man every time he did that.
The other personnel also helped a lot. Now they knew Chris was learning English, so they all wanted to help. He could show them anything and most of them explained a lot, but not Frank, Chris had become friendly with some people in this unit, but not all of them.
Hawkeye also noticed that aside from Hawkeye, Chris also started to follow around his new friends from the 4077th.
Like now, Hawkeye noticed that Chris didn't follow him into the O.R, looking around a bit in shock he saw the boy standing with Kellye who was talking to him. She was showing him her family pictures.
Getting a big smile on his face he walked inside. The boy made him proud, he was already getting comfortable around here and was even brave enough to walk alone for a while. It amazed Hawkeye how he even could be happy with multiple wounded waiting to be operated on, but this minute he was. Between all this blood and dirt he could still feel somewhat normal.
That also made Hawkeye think about explaining some rules to Christopher about where he was allowed to go on his own.
Hawkeye did get some word from the Dutch embassy, they are searching at the moment, but they got nothing yet. They already looked at the Dutch people living or who had lived in Korea for the last 10 years and they also looked at all the Dutch soldiers of this war, Dead ones but also the living. So they just needed to wait.
Scrubbing his hands, Hawkeye noticed Chris walking in. He smiled at the boy, letting him know he was not upset about Chris being on his own.
"You had fun? You know you are allowed to hang out with other people. But I need to know where you are at any time!
As long as you stay on this base and I know where you are, it's okay. Well and only if they invite you inside, of course. Take it from me, sneaking into tents and scaring people is a hassle. "
Chris gave a small giggle but looked shocked about it the next second.
Hawkeye helped the boy by laughing out loud and bumping their shoulders together. He wanted to hug the child but he just got his hands sterile. Chris looked with admiration at the doctor feeling relieved and smiled.
He understood that the man couldn't touch him when he scrubbed but the shoulder bump was fun so he didn't mind. He always liked the affection he was getting, it made him feel like Hawkeye liked him and cared for him.
It was busy in the Operating Room. This would be a long one.
"Hey, Hawkeye, this guy's got a belly full of shrapnel. Give me a hand with the resection?" Trapper voiced from the first table. His hands and scrubs were bloody.
"Okay, okay, hang on. I'll be right there." Hawkeye said, trying to rebuild this small intestine he was holding.
"I can give you a hand in a minute, McIntyre," Frank said
"Never mind, I'll wait" replied Trapper
"Why do you keep handing me the wrong instruments?" Frank snapped at his assisting nurse.
"Because you keep asking for the wrong instruments," Hawkeye said irritatedly.
"Will you shut up, Pierce!?" Frank almost shouted.
"How do you like a spleen across the mouth?" Hawkeye replied.
"Gentleman! You're doctors, remember?" Margaret snapped.
"Yeah, I've seen better surgeons operate on trees," Hawkeye said but in a calmer tone.
"How many we got waiting out there? Trapper asked in general
"A couple of dozen at least." Margaret informed.
Chris was working silently with his book, he now could write sentences. I got a cat. Well, he didn't have a cat, but now he could write it anyway. The cat drinks milk. Chris felt proud of himself, he wanted to show it to Hawkeye but he knew the man was too busy right now.
He got used to the little conflicts in the O.R, at first he got very nervous about it, afraid people were going to fight because everybody seemed upset at each other, but he learned that it was normal, they always seemed to be okay after they finished in the O.R. Chris didn't understand why, but he wouldn't provoke them both by doing something dumb. He knew how to mind his own business.
Later at the Swamp Chris finally had time to show his work to Hawkeye, he wanted the man's approval, he didn't know why, but he wanted to. He faintly got the feeling he remembered something like this before but the memory almost disappeared, and the feeling of sadness lingered a second. Shaking the feeling off he walked over to Hawkeye.
With a smile and excited eyes, he presented his work.
Hawkeye acted like it was the best thing ever!
"Oh wow, did you write this, that's incredible, did you know you're the smartest ankle-biter in Korea."
Hawkeye said proudly and stood up to show it to Trapper.
"Look at this, the kid's a genius!"
Trapper just rolled his eyes and pushed Hawkeye out of his face.
At that moment Radar stepped inside. Hawkeye almost jumped on the smaller man and showed the work Chris made.
"Look at this, is my kid a genius or what, " Hawkeye announced. He noticed himself calling Chris his, he really shouldn't do that when it's not official yet, but it slipped out. It happens sometimes.
Chris felt his heart pound, Hawkey called Chris his child and it made him very happy. He heard a lot about families these past couple of weeks and in his head, Hawkeye seemed a lot like a father to him. And when he called Chris his kid, it seemed as though he was. The feeling he got every time Hawkeye cared for him felt similar to something or someone he couldn't remember. Like a feeling of being together in this and getting support, even though Christopher didn't know exactly what that meant.
He couldn't ask, so he just accepted it.
Radar got a big smile and adjusted his glasses as he said.
"Ohh wow, I, that's swell, it's really smart of you Chris, writing an all. You're a real smart kid, huh? " Radar said Chris making the boy's whole face light up at the praise.
"But Hawkeye, I came to tell you that you're wanted in Henry's offices. Frank has got a list full of charges against you."
Hawkeye sighed as stood up, he only wore his boxers, t-shirt, and a red bathrobe but he still followed Radar to Henry's office.
"You coming with me?" Hawkeye asked Chris at the door.
Chris nodded and collected his book back from the man and trailed behind them. Happy to be included.
They entered the office to a steaming Henry and a moody Frank.
"Whatever this is Henry, it better be good." Hawkeye grumbled sitting down in his chair.
Chris had stayed with Radar for a second, Radar was showing him his new comic book, Radar often read to Chris in funny voices and Chris wanted to hear this one as well. He rushed to Hawkeye and tapped him on the shoulder. When Hawkeye looked he showed the comic and pointed to Radar in the next room.
"Yeah, that's fine. You have fun." Hawkeye said with a smile, he resisted the urge to kiss the small forehead, instead he ruffled the boy's hair. Seeing Chris walk through the door he knew he would be heartbroken if he couldn't adopt the boy. It was difficult to admit he cared too much already.
"Burns says the O.R is becoming impossible ." Henry stated.
"He's right. I agree! All that blood and everything. And those sick people! It's terrible. " Hawkeye said acting disgusted
"You know what I'm talking about," Frank replied seething.
"You're trying to take over, you answer every question, call every shot."
"Well, you do it, I don't care. " Hawkeye told the man. He disliked Frank for so many reasons. Short-minded, and selfish were only two of them.
"Well, they don't ask me the questions!" Frank said, he looked like he wanted to throw a tantrum.
Sighing, Hawkeye replied sarcastically. "Gee, I can't understand that."
"Burns does outrank you, Pierce," Henry said.
Keeping up with the heated arguments the two of them go back and forth for a while until Henry interferes.
"Knock it off!" he shouted, slamming his hands on the desk.
"Now this can't continue. What I obviously have to do is appoint a chief surgeon."
"Now you're talking," Frank said.
"He'll be in charge of all surgical situations, In addition to his work, he'll assist each shift, to help out with the really tough cases. The job will be a killer. " Henry continued.
"I can adjust," Frank said proudly
" I hope you can, I'm giving it to Pierce," Henry said dead serious.
"Oh thanks," Hawkeye said, throwing his hands up.
Frank stood still for a couple of seconds before he said.
"What? You can't! I won't stand for it" getting louder with every word.
"Frank, the one thing that'll get you nowhere with me, is impersonating my wife." Henry replied with a serious glare to the other man.
"Well what about rank" Frank tried to reason.
"This is unheard of!"
Having enough of Frank's riffraff, Henry stood face to face with the man, looked him in the eyes, and said.
"Face it, Pierce is the best cutter in the outfit. He's certified in the chest and general surgery. Frank, in case you haven't read the papers, there's a war on. We're here to patch guy together. We can't be so GI, we lose patients." Henry almost shouted.
"Are you implying he's a better doctor?" Frank asked
"Yes, when the heat's on," Henry said, still holding his face to face position with the man.
"Well, If you want heat, I'll give you plenty of heat!" Frank said in his best snare. He turned around and slammed through the door.
"Hey, You may just turn out to be one of the good guys yet Henry" Hawkeye clapped the man on the shoulder and started to walk out.
"Hawkeye... Don't let me down."
"Would I do anything to disgrace this uniform?" Hawkey asked while making a gesture to his boxers and bathrobe. He walked through Radar's office, planning to tell Chris he could stay if he wanted to, but after one look at the terrified expression of the boy, he thought better of it.
Chris and Radar were having fun with the comic book at first, but Chis had heard Henry and Frank shout and what he had done the last couple of minutes was sit stiff as a board next to Radar, not paying attention to the story anymore. Radar tried calming him down, but it didn't help much.
Chris didn't dare to interfere in the other room, but he wanted to see Hawkeye, he needed to know if the man was okay. so he was very relieved when he saw Hawkeye walk in, he jumped up and walked to stand next to the man. Touching the man's hand he wanted to let him know he just wanted to go home to the Swamp.
Later in the day, everyone was decorating the mess tent, they planned on throwing Hawkeye a coronation bash, and Christopher was allowed to help. He loved it. He felt honored to help these people he started to admire. He was asked nicely to pass things around and it made him delighted to help. He drew funny faces with the help of Kelly on inflated surgical gloves, she even did the voices and he had a blast. After that Hawkeye even lifted him to hang decorations on the poles of the tent. He felt a rush of affection for the man as he was up in the air. This seems a bit familiar but he felt the memory get blocked again.
Hawkeye was thrilled Chris trusted him enough to be lifted. Ever since Chris cried on his lap, he trusted not only Hawkeye more but also the other people as well. He saw that in the small things Chris did for people. Chris started handing things to people, stuff they needed. This morning, for example, Radar was stuffing his face again with disgusting army food, and even before he reached for his drink, Chris gave him the cup. Hawkeye noticed more of that with him as well, he only had to look at the still and Chris got up to fix him a drink. Or at his hat, bathrobe, or newspaper.
Hawkeye didn't know if he should stop the behavior, maybe it wasn't healthy for his mind, but he also seemed so satisfied doing it and thrilled about getting a Thank you in return. He better write to Sidney about this, he didn't want to suppress the boy's recovery.
"Attention, attention, all personnel." the intercom blared through the mess hall. "Barring the arrival of new casualties, at 2100 hours tonight there will be a special ceremony in the mess hall to crown the 4077th's new chief surgeon. That means tonight's movie is moved to tomorrow. It's the latest War Department film on the dangers of VD. Be sure to see it with someone you love."
After a couple of hours, the music was on, drinks and food were laid out on the tables, and the party seemed to be a real gangbuster.
People were slowly dancing together with each other, and everybody was having a good time. Chris even danced a little bit with one of the nurses.
record scratches *
The music got turned off and people started to become quiet as Trapper walked to the small stage.
" Quiet, please, everybody! " Trapper voiced while the party chatter died down.
Trapper cleared his throat and started his speech.
"This is the moment you've all been waiting for. Ladies and gentlemen, and, uhh, anything in between. It gives me great pleasure to present Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce, our new chief surgeon! At Trapper's gesture, the music started playing a fanfare tune and people started applauding and cheering.
Chris was with Radar and Hawkeye. They were helping Hawkeye make a big entree. As the music started to play, Hawkeye walked through the door and walked to the stage as Chris and Radar threw small little pieces of paper over the man's head.
Waving like royalty, he even got his butt pinched before he got on the stage. "Speech! Speech! Speech!"
Hawkeye took the stance of a president, head held high, and hand in his pocket. Looking over the crowd, Hawkeye started.
"Some men are born to greatness. Others have it thrust upon them. And then there are those of us who got it both ways.
I guess you could say that medicine has been my life. I always wanted to be a doctor. Just ask any little girl I grew up with." Hawkeye stated with a grin getting laughter back from the people.
Meanwhile, the terror couple was writing a complaint letter to General Barker. The two soon get carried away with one another kissing and touching until Margaret accidentally bumps with her hips the typewriter making it fall and break. So Margaret takes Frank to Henry's office to place a direct call to Barker and tell him that he should come to camp immediately.
Still doing his speech people started to look bored but Hawkeye continued.
"But let-let me say this. Honestly, when you live in a cruddy situation like this long enough, you get to love a few people.."
He hugged Chris close to his left and Radar to his right. Chris didn't like standing in all this attention from the people but he liked the hug and didn't dare to move away.
"And I even hate a few. I guess, outside of our families, we'll never be closer to anybody than we are to each other."
"You finished? " Trapper let out
" What did I get on the humble meter?" Hawkeye asked him, getting a groan from the crowd.
"One more thing." Trapper voiced giving Radar a sign.
Radar ran outside and came back in with an old soccer football, while people cheered him on.
Hawkeye got handed the ball, Radar came in next with a plunger. With a big grin, he handed the plunger to Hawkeye.
"Your scepter!" He said.
The crowd was cheering and applauding when Hawkeye hold the two up high like royalty. Several hours later General Barker arrived at the 4077th. Getting greeted by Margaret and Frank, he said.
" The situation better be as bad as you indicated, Burns."
"Well, I'm happy to say it's worse, Sir." Frank replied.
"There's a badly wounded patient who's been waiting to be operated on since 1:30, sir. He's just lying there, waiting."
The general looked at his watch and said. " It's two o'clock now. Now then may I ask where is Chief Surgeon Pierce, with a patient waiting in surgery?"
Meanwhile, Hawkeye is in the Swamp playing poker with Trapper, The Father, and Ugly John. Ugly John just got a Full house, and Hawkeye who lost slammed his cards on the table disappointed.
Chris learned this was not angry behavior, and he didn't have to be scared, the people here were just a bit noisy at times. He slowly started to get used to it. Sometimes he even liked it.
Chris was just fixing Hawkeye a drink when Barker entered the Swamp.
"Captain Pierce!" the man started, making Chris jump a little.
"I've been told you have a seriously wounded patient for whom you are responsible."
" You bet your belly button, Dad." Came Hawkeyes reply
Chris chooses that moment to hand Hawkeye his drink.
"Thank you, short stuff, " Hawkeye said hugging the boy briefly around his waist before letting go.
"Why is there a child here serving you drinks, at 2 in the morning?" Barker demanded
"Well that's my kid, he's just got great manners."
Hawkeye replied, tapping his hat to the boy, who smiled brightly in return.
But he knew the general had a point about Chris though, he shouldn't let the boy be awake at two in the morning. But he needed to operate in a couple of minutes and keeping Chris in bed at the Swamp while he was in another room, seemed nearly impossible. It didn't even occur to Hawkeye that Chris should have a normal bedtime. He knew he was new to this parenting thing but it still made him feel like the worst father at the moment. He just got so busy with making the boy less afraid that he forgot.
He knew from his childhood, that at ten years old, you shouldn't be awake at two in the morning. Another thing to write Sidney about later, he needed a professional opinion about how to get Chris to stay while he was in another. Chris sometimes stayed with Radar in his office during the O.R session, so this should be possible.
"That Soldier requires surgery." Barker barked, cutting Pierce off his thoughts.
"Well, you gonna take care of him, or are you gonna go on playing poker?"
Sighing, Hawkeye replied.
"General, the man came in with a chest wound. I put a tube in him, and I'm watching him very carefully."
"You call this watching?" Barker interrupted
"I get a bulletin every quarter-hour from a nurse, who is very devoted and a great kisser." Hawkeye explained
"And just when do you intend to operate?" Barker asked, the man is a doctor himself and he didn't like this at all.
"Hopefully, never. But if I have to, I figure around 3 a.m. By that time, he will have been given his blood, and his pulse and his pressure should be stabilized." Hawkeye told the man
"And until then you're going to do nothing?" Barker demanded to know
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course, I'm gonna do something. I'm gonna meet his $5 and raise two more." Hawkeye said, pointing his head at Trapper.
"You're not talking to some idiot desk jockey, Captain! I'm a doctor myself" the general retorted furiously
"Well, if you wanna operate now, be my guest. I get the same pay whether I work or not." Hawkeye said
"I'll show you two more and two more." Trapper interrupted putting his two pairs on the table.
While Hawkeye gave Trapper an Are-you-serious look. Barker continued
"Pierce... You're in very deep trouble."
"I don't think so. I can beat a pair of twos." Hawkeye replied dead serious.
"I fold that." Ugly John said
"This conduct is intolerable as a chief surgeon! I order you to begin that operation!" Barker snapped
"General, either take the case yourself or join me at 3 o'clock. You're making it impossible for me to concentrate on my poker. And if I don't win this pot, I'll never be able to send my sister a new truss." Hawkeye replied, getting irritated himself.
Barker was astonished, it took a couple of seconds of the man standing there like a goldfish opening and closing his mouth before he answered Pierce.
" You haven't heard the last of this," he said, pointing his finger threatening towards the other doctor.
" I wasn't listening to the first of it," Hawkeye replied, not caring about the man who looked like he was going to explode.
Barker stormed out of the Swamp saying "You wait until we hear what Colonel Blake has to say."
Slamming the door behind him, the guys resumed their game.
Chris got a very nervous feeling, that man seemed so angry and Chris liked the people around here. What if the man wanted to hurt people he liked. He gave in to the urge to follow the man and make sure he didn't upset his favorite people.
Chris was almost out of the door when he heard a stern voice.
"Christopher"
He stopped in his tracks and turned to the man with wide big eyes. 'Boy!' Hawkeye sounded mad.
"Come here," Hawkeye said, pointing to the spot next to him.
Chris didn't even think about it when he appeared on the spot next to the man. It didn't even occur to him to ignore a direct order like that. Especially not when he spoke so sternly.
Chris looked at Hawkeye. What did Hawkeye want of him? He looked at the disappointment in the man's eyes and felt his own, starting to water.
When Hawkeye saw his kid almost slip out of the tent, he didn't even think before calling the boy back. Now the boy obeyed and looked at him with glassy sad eyes.
Hawkeye knew he needed to explain this well to the boy. He looked Chris in the eyes with a stern expression.
The boy's eyes widened at that, the child didn't even know he was doing something wrong.
"Young man, did you just almost walk out of the door at two in the morning without letting me know where you were going?"
Hawkeye could see in the boy's eyes the moment Chris understood what he did wrong. His eyes got even bigger and tears threatened to fall, Chris was doing his best not to cry.
Chris felt terrible fear and a lot of sadness filled his small body.
He disappointed Hawkeye. He didn't want that, he wanted Hawkeye to like him. He was just such a bad kid.
It took a lot of effort to stay stern with the boy, Chris looked so young and small, tears threatening to fall. He also looked as if his whole world came crumbling down.
"You know, that you are not allowed to wander off right? " he asked the boy, keeping their eyes locked and his expression stern. He needed to make sure the boy understood this.
At Chris his small nod he continued
"Don't make me give you a smack on your bottom. I will! if I find out you wandered off. Understood! Hawkeye said holding the boy's attention.
Chris quickly nodded, he didn't know what a smack on his bottom was, but he understood it was punishment. He didn't want any of that. He felt bad enough that Hawkeye was mad at him. He gave Hawkeye a fearful look and started crying softly.
"Ohh kiddo, I'm not going to kill you, don't look so scared of me," Hawkeye said, hugging the child close to him. "It's okay. I just need to know where you are at times. I would worry so much if you were gone."
Chris was pretty small for a ten-year-old and Hawkeye scooped him up and put Chris on his lap. " It's okay, kiddo I'm not mad anymore. I care about you a lot you know! Hawkeye said while rubbing the small boy's back.
"I need to know where you are, to know if you are safe. Do you understand me?" Hawkeye asked
Chris gave a small nod.
Letting Chris sob on his chest, he kissed the boy on his head and resumed his poker. One arm around the crying boy. He was glad he felt Chris calm down again. He must be stern sometimes, he couldn't let Chris run loose in a war zone.
This however was the first time for the both of them, but he felt like he must be doing something right if Chris felt brave enough to wander off on his own, but he rather he would not. Especially not at two in the morning. He felt slightly bad about the threat, but it was not an empty one, he really needed to know where Christopher was at all times, this was a war zone and he would do anything to keep him safe.
Meanwhile, Barker rushed into Henry's office and caught Radar on the colonel's chair reading comics while drinking Henry's brandy and smoking his cigars.
"Doesn't Colonel Blake mind you smoking his cigars and drinking his brandy?
"Yes sir, very much." Radar replied pretty shocked a General just walked in.
"Then why are you doing it?"
"Well I don't mind and I figured as long as one of us is reasonable... Heh Uh, just a little joke there." Radar replied nervously.
"TEN-HUT!" Barker barked
Radar jumped up and stood at attention.
"Now tell me. Where is Colonel Blake?"
"Well, if he isn't in his tent, sir, he could be anywhere." Radar replied.
"Doesn't anybody in this outfit ever go to sleep?"
"Only on duty, sir." Radar said.
Barker angrily grabbed Radar's drink and consumed it in one go before he turned and marched off to find Henry.
First, he walks into two personnel playing "strip dominoes"
Then he catches Margaret attempting to sneak Frank out of her tent.
After that, he is halted by the camp's night sentry, Corporal Klinger, patrolling in a female WAC uniform, skirt and all.
When he finally finds Henry's tent, he finds only a nurse because Henry is out digging worms for fishing.
Once Barker finally finds Henry, he drags him to the Swamp, only to be told that Hawkeye and Trapper are in the OR scrubbing up.
The doctors were preparing themselves for surgery when Barker walked in also completely in scrubs and started scrubbing. He looked briefly at Chris who was also apparently in his scrubs, which were cut in half at the underside. "Does the kid never sleep?" He voiced.
"He does when I do, but we can't because I need to operate," Hawkeye replied hoping the man would drop it, he felt bad enough about it already, he really needed to call Sidney tomorrow rather than write. "I checked the patient at 1:30. Our guy in there had been given less than a pint of blood, whereas he'd lost two or three. His pulse was around, uh, 120, and his pressure was down to around 90. Now at three o'clock, he's been given three pints of blood, his pulse is 80, his pressure's 120, and he's received five million units of penicillin intravenously. Of course, his chest is still bleeding, but now we can operate safely and quickly. We don't have to do it frantically and carelessly. He said while getting his gloves and walking into the O.R.
In the O.R Hawkeye showed and explained to Barker what he was doing during the operation.
Hours later they walked back outside, the sun was already showing, it must be around 8 in the morning. Hawkeye yawned and looked to the tired small boy beside him, he needed to call Sidney later, but first, they needed sleep.
"Well, I'm not very good at apologies, Pierce, But forgive a rusty old doctor, will you?" Barker said before Hawkeye could leave.
Shaking the man's hand, Hawkeye replied.
" I think you're very good at apologies, General. And you are right about little Christopher here, I need to work with him to establish a bedtime. He's been with me for weeks now."
At his name Chris looked at the man, he knew the word bedtime but he didn't want to sleep if Hawkeye wasn't there. Looking at Hawkeye with pleading eyes the man just smiled at him. They would work on it together, he thought.
"Sir, Major Burns is probably going to continue to complain to you about the promotion." Henry said
"Well, may I suggest Major Burns?"
At Henry's Yes sir, Barker continued
"Give him a high colonic and send him on a ten-mile hike."
"Halt" Klinger used that moment to jump out from behind the corner completely naked with his gun to ask for the password.
"That man's naked!" Barker replied, shocked.
"Aw, come on, Klinger. Put on a dress or something. At least a slip. There are children present." Hawkeye said jokingly.
Later at the Swamp Chris was already sleeping before Hawkeye even changed into his sleeping clothes. Maybe he could sneak away to call Sidney, if, of course, Sidney wasn't at the front at the moment.
After asking Trapper to watch Chris for a moment, he left the tent quietly.
Getting hold of Sidney took a while but they managed it within 20 min. Hawkeye felt better afterward. Sidney explained that if Chris felt safe enough to be in another room on his own, he should feel safe enough to sleep while Hawkeye was working. He said that Chris should have a normal and reliable bedtime, they needed to give Chris as much normal as they could, but he didn't know if Chris was ready for it yet. Hawkeye should know that better than him, he said.
So Sidney's advice was to play it by ear and start small. Like putting him to sleep at a steady time, but when hawkeye would leave he needed to explain that to Chris. If the child looks terrified at the thought, then he could bring Chris with him. But with small steps, they would work towards a complete bedtime.
Getting back to the Swamp he saw that everyone was asleep. He got under the covers as well and petted the head of the small blond boy. How could he ever let Chris go if he needed to? His heart broke at the thought.
With a big sigh he fell asleep as well.
