The doctors and Chris are lounging in the Swamp late at night. Hawkeye was sipping his gin martini and reading his letter again for the millionth time. Looking over at Chris he saw the boy deeply emerge in his book, since he could read better, he started doing it a lot.
Chris seemed to like children's books especially when they were fantasy-based.
Hawkeye's dad just sent the first book of My Father's Dragon. Which was on the top of the bestseller list for children's books. Chris seemed to love it. Hawkeye needed to tell him to not forget his schoolwork, otherwise, he would just keep reading.
It's been over 5 months now since Chris came to the 4077th.
Hawkeye saw the boy grow so much since then, he didn't have the scared wildlife look in his eyes anymore, unless there was a sudden noise or touch which could startle the boy immensely. He still got scared and nervous easily but he didn't hide away or didn't seem to panic anymore.
When someone entered the same room as the boy, he didn't pale anymore but he still got the nervous look in his eyes, after Chris would be sure it was a nice person or if Hawkeye stood between him and the new person, he calmed down pretty fast. So that must be a good thing. He loved to see Chris laugh or smile, he always jokes a lot around Chris, just to get a giggle.
Chris still seemed terrified after making a sound, but he recovered himself mostly after a second. Hawkeye tried often to motivate Chris to play, but the boy often got scared, they got the tickling and piggy ride covered, but Chris still seemed too scared to enjoy it much.
So Hawkeye stopped with that and tried different things. Folded paper airplanes were a hit, just like any made animal. Blown-up surgical gloves also made Chris happy.
Hawkeye knows Chris loves colorful things, so he bought some crayons but Chris only wanted to write with them. Which Hawkeye didn't mind.
His schoolwork went great too, he could write a lot more and understood a lot already. I noticed him writing short pieces about his day or just simple observations. Yesterday I found a small piece of paper with two sentences about a ladybug he found. It was the cutest thing ever, and it made Hawkeye really proud. Chris was slowly getting out of his dark places.
Hawkeye bought some more books for Chris, like calculations and math. They still needed to arrive, so Chris had mostly his English writing and reading to keep him occupied.
Looking at the letter in his hands Hawkeye doubts if he should say something about it to Chris. The Dutch embassy was sure they had the right family, and they were sending over the uncle of the boy for a blood test and to translate with the hypnotizing of the boy. The only family of the boy is a 73-year-old grandmother and a 19-year-old uncle, whom she was raising as her own.
They would be arriving in about a small two weeks, they would of course be assisted by Sidney as a spokesperson in contact with the embassy but also as a psychiatrist.
After the blood test is concluded, they will start to hypnotize the boy again to find out what he is suppressing, and hopefully, they found out what happened and got the boy talking again.
Al Hawkeye knew that the possible family was still unsure about the adoption plans. And he needed to wait again till after the visit and the blood test. He got so upset thinking about it, didn't he wait long enough already? But at least it was progress. There's nothing he could do about it.
He decided to not tell Chris anything yet, he didn't want to upset the boy, but he also was scared himself. What if he saw hope and relief in those eyes, it would break his heart. But seeing Chris break down was also not a great thing to watch.
So he just kept it to himself for the time being. He still had time to figure out how to bring this to the boy. Chris already knew Hawkeye was nervous and impatient about something. His kid was very sensitive and seemed to feel Hawkeye's emotions very quickly.
After an hour Hawkeye called out to Chris. But Chris was too engrossed with his book. Hawkeye snapped his fingers making Chris look up at the man with confusion.
"It's time for bed Kiddo, put away that book and get ready please,"
Hawkeye told the boy with a smile, he knew Chris didn't want to stop reading, but Chris always listens to him.
He got a disappointed puppy eye look from the boy.
Nooo. Chris thought. I was reading, the story just got so exciting and he didn't want to stop. He almost wished for casualties but he wouldn't, he hated seeing so many people wounded and hurt. But if Hawkeye had to work he could come along and then he could read some more.
"Now, mister," Hawkeye said in a stern but soft tone. Making Chris snap out of his thinking. He put away his book with a sigh and did what the man told. He knew Hawkeye wouldn't hesitate to deliver a smack on his behind, and he didn't want that. So embarrassing! Chris received three smacks in total during his stay here and he hated it every time.
The next day the bunch of them were in Henry's office. Hawkeye, Trapper, and two nurses were jumping around while Henry tried to get the radio to work. They wanted to hear the baseball game.
The girls were waving with pom-poms, which was something Chris had never seen. It just seemed so useless. But he loved the colors!
Christopher was reading his book, he liked that a lot more than something they called baseball. Chris knew about the sport, Hawkeye and Trapper explained it over and over again while even showing pictures. But he liked his book about dragons better. Chris was completely indulged in the story. He still didn't understand all of it, but he was getting close.
After Henry got the game on, Francis and Klinger also joined the group.
Chris didn't get as terrified as he did when he first came here but he always looked up a bit nervous at who was entering the room.
Chris relaxed after he saw who they were, he liked them both.
Klinger was wearing a red checkered skirt, red sweater, and matching blue and red hat. Chris always adored Klinger his clothes, the bright colors, and the soft fabrics, he loved to feel them, and he even was allowed to, Klinger said so! Some of the clothing even had lace and ribbons and Chris loved the flower print shirts as well.
Klinger explained to Chris that he was trying to get out of the army by dressing this way, the army needed to think he was crazy.
Chris didn't know why anyone would be crazy by wearing those beautiful clothes, but he just accepted it.
The game was on and everybody except Christopher was listening carefully.
"Uh-oh"
"Quiet Radar"
"Uh sir, I think you better forget about the game." Radar said who seemed to hear something the rest couldn't.
BOOM!* A loud explosion interrupted everything.
Christopher was so startled he almost pied himself, it's been a while since he heard that sound, they were bombs and Chris knew you lost people to them.
He rushed over to a shocked Hawkeye, without thinking about it Chris snuggled close. Hawkeye closed his arm around the boy, the other arm was still on the nurse who was sitting on his lap.
"Wow that was close" Henry muttered, getting over the shock.
"That guy can really hit the ball, " Hawkeye said. He noticed the trembling, almost crying boy and started to rub small circles on the child's back.
"More on the way!" Radar said.
Everybody quickly ducked under the furniture. Hawkeye grabbed Chris and put him on the ground, protecting him by shielding him with his body. Chris was startled but it was Hawkeye who was shielding him, so he felt slightly more at ease.
More explosions were heard, and the ground and building trembled, furniture fell and stuff got thrown around.
A small sob escaped the small boy and Hawkeye grabbed him closer.
Chris remembered clearly the bombs at the front while he and the soldier lay in a foxhole. People were screaming and dying around him. Blood everywhere he looked if he dared to look. Bodies didn't look the same after they meet with a bomb.
After a couple of explosions, it stopped and people slowly emerged from under the desk. Christopher was sniffling softly and Hawkeye tried to calm him down.
"Check the hospital, " Henry said
He started to give out directions, and everybody went on their way.
Hawkeye stayed because he needed to get Chris calmed down.
BOOM!* Another blast
Chris jumped a little and got pushed to the floor by Hawkeye who was crouched over him.
They waited for a couple of seconds until Hawkeye finally had Chris calm down enough so they managed to get to the hospital to help with the wounded.
Chris was plastered against Hawkeye's back at first, but Hawkeye put him at arm's length and told him to stay out of people's way, he was safe and nothing was going to happen.
Chris believed the man but he definitely wanted to stay close. He did as told of course, but he stayed as close as he was allowed.
Hawkeye was helping a man get back to bed when another explosion blasted, Hawkeye fell on his back while the helping nurse fell on his lap. Hawkeye felt Chris to his right, putting an arm around him and they got up again. He kissed the scared nurse on her head, she was also very scared.
More artillery explodes nearby, and Radar brings Henry into Post Op, rattled, but superficially injured in the forehead by artillery fragments flying through the office.
With Henry disabled, Hawkeye is about to take over, but the moment he got up and walked away he heard the whistling of a falling bomb.
"GET DOWN!"
He grabbed Chris and dropped them both to the floor, but the only thing they hear is a heavy thud.
And then silence.
"Stay down, " Hawkeye said in general.
"Stay down?" Trapper said from behind a bed to Hawkeye.
"Either something that was supposed to happen didn't! Or something that didn't is gonna! And if it does, down is gonna be up! "
"There's an unexploded shell out there." Frank said, pointing with a shaky finger to the outside.
"We know, Frank. We know!" Hawkeye said.
"We've got to evacuate immediately!" Frank said with a shaky squeaky voice.
Chris felt Hawkeye shaking above him, he wanted to help but didn't know how, he was so scared. He knew bombs and he knew how people looked after they were hit with one. A disturbing image flashed through him, an image of a bloody face. He couldn't remember who that was and the image disappeared the next second, but the feeling of hurt and pain remained. He started to tremble, and let out a whimper.
Hawkeye took that as a sign to get up, helped Chris stand, and bolted together into the next room.
Hawkeye looked Chris in the eyes and said. "Stay close! like really close. Okay?" Chris nodded, he was not planning on leaving the man's side!
Radar gave Hawkeye the telephone, It was the general.
General Hersh tells Hawkeye to stay put as that whole sector is being hit hard, and then go to check the bomb- first, to see if the bomb is ticking, and then examine the outer casing for markings or serial numbers, then call him back and he'll tell them how to defuse it.
"You got any stethoscopes around there?" the general voiced
"We're a medical unit!" Hawkeye said, almost rolling his eyes, he was beyond irritated at the moment. He didn't have time for stupid questions.
"Place your stethoscope on the bomb... Gently. Keep the vibrations and the noise down to the minimum." the General said.
The moment Hawkeye hung up, Frank demanded to know what the general said. Hawkeye explained to the man that he should go out there and get the serial numbers and to hear if the bomb is still ticking.
Trapper entered to room
"What's the scam?" he asked
"Well we're just about to draw straws to see who goes out and defuses the bomb." Hawkeye said dead serious
"Boy, do I know when to come into a room" Trapper said gloomily with real fear in his eyes. Nobody wanted to defuse a bomb.
Frank was paralyzed with fear and remained quiet.
They draw straws using matches. Frank got the short match.
He remained quiet but his face lost all color.
Hawkeye gave Frank a stethoscope and a piece of paper with a pencil. Trapper and Hawkeye stirred Frank at the door, Frank took three steps and then fainted face-down. His whole body slammed to the ground.
Hawkeye sighed and looked at Trapper. He held up his fist for a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Hawkeye lost. And with a heavy heart, he looked at Chris. "You stay right here," he said "You stay with Trapper, Understood? Right next to him. This is dangerous and I don't want you near any of this," he said stern but loving. Chris needed to know how serious this is.
The boy nodded, he was pale and his eyes full of fear. But he seemed to understand.
With one quick kiss on the head, he left the boy, grabbed a helm, and went outside.
He made his way over slowly, shaky and soundless.
Chris saw Hawkeye walking towards the bomb, the image of the face passed through his mind again and he felt his insides go cold. Fear overtook his body and before Trapper could catch him he sprinted through the door.
Hawkeye was midway when he heard running footsteps. He cursed inwardly, feeling his anger spike. He turned around and took a step towards the boy, who now stopped running and noticed a very mad Hawkeye looking at him.
Hawkeye grabbed the boy by the arm and gave him a hard whack on his rump. Instantly puts his other hand on the child's mouth to stop any noise the boy would make. He didn't think before he gave that smack and that was loud enough as it was. He didn't want to activate the bomb.
Chris felt himself get grabbed and before he realized what happened felt a harsh slap on his bottom, the pain spread on his cheeks. Tears sprung into his eyes and he turned bright red. That hurt! It was so humiliating but it also really hurt! Normally Hawkeye's smacks don't hurt this much.
His yelping sound got halted by Hawkeye's hand.
He just didn't want to leave Hawkeye! He knew he didn't listen, but OW that hurt! He couldn't help the tears that were falling as he looked at Hawkeye.
"Don't look at me like that! Young man. You got another one coming when I get back to safety." Hawkeye hissed to Chris. He knew he was too furious right now, and the smack was a hard one, but he needed Chris safe, and he needed to stay safe! And to keep his kid safe, he needed Chris to listen to him.
"Now if you don't want a seriously long trip over my knee, you better walk back quietly to Trapper! Is that clear? Remember, no sound! " Hawkeye whispers furiously. He took his hand from Chris's mouth and pointed it to Trapper.
Chris didn't know what Hawkeye meant with a trip over his knee, but it didn't sound like a good thing. It sounded like punishment, and he didn't want that, but leaving Hawkeye with a bomb was also something he didn't want. A soft sob escaped him, he felt so scared to lose this man.
He looked at Hawkeye with pleading eyes. Please don't send me away. He wanted Hawkeye to know and let him stay close.
But Hawkeye evidently didn't like that much, because he felt the man's irritation rise. But before he could do anything Hawkeye whispered.
"Christopher! I don't make empty threats, Now!!"
Chris sprung quietly and quickly into action, and he walked back. As he was about to enter the building he felt himself get grabbed by Trapper. "You're crazy or something! running to an undetonated bomb."
Chris saw the worry and fear in the man's eyes, he immediately felt guilty. The tears started again and Trapper put his arms around him. The man trembled a little, and Chris felt terrible, he was making things more difficult and everybody already seemed so scared.
Hawkeye was so angry with him and said he got another smack coming. He whimpered at the thought, that smack hurt! He rubbed over his bottom trying to get the sting to go away. He hoped Hawkeye would just forget about it, but it didn't seem likely.
Trapper kept Chris his view on the bomb and hawkeye limited because if something would happen he didn't have to see it at least. Which wasn't difficult because he was keeping Chris in his embrace, and the boy was still crying.
Hawkeye slowly stepped toward the bomb, getting lower he held his stethoscope ready, and he crawled towards the bomb. He hated the fact, that if the bomb would explode and he would die today, his last words to his son would be a threat of a spanking.
He sighed. He needed a clear head, he was playing with life or death.
Just as he decided to put his stethoscope down, Henry stumbled loudly outside shouting for Radar.
Henry still seemed pretty dazed at the moment.
"Shhh," Hawkeye shushed the man, trying to get the man to shut up.
"Who are you shushing? And what are you doing walking around out here?" Henry demanded loudly.
"I'm working on a bomb!" He whispered back but loud enough to be heard.
"What kind of bomb?"
"An unexploded one!" Hawkeye replied urgently.
Henry immediately got quiet and his face lost all color. He finally got what was going on and whispered.
"Oh, that kind of bomb."
With a pained expression, Henry watched as Hawkey put his stethoscope on the bomb.
"Well?" Henry wanted to know.
"The ticker's very faint. Not the bomb's -- mine!
The bomb is ticking away loud and clear."
He slowly removed his stethoscope and backed away from the bomb, he motioned to Henry to do the same.
When he finally got back to safety, he felt his fear turn into anger when he thought about how much danger Chris put them all in.
He turned to Chris with a stern expression.
'Oh boy! Hawkeye looked so angry, I don't want another smack!' Chris thought sadly. That last one hurt. His butt didn't hurt now, it was just a faint feeling now but he wanted to keep it that way! He looked at the disappointment in the man's eyes and felt his eyes water. He started to sniffle and tried to wipe away the tears.
Hawkeye's heart broke at the sight, he looked so small and sad, but when the man remembered his child ran to an unexploded bomb his anger and disappointment returned.
"Come here!" Hawkeye demanded and Chris obeyed.
"Didn't I tell you to stay right here?" He asked the boy standing before him. Chris sniffled and wiped his eyes.
"Christopher! I asked you a question!" At his name, the boy's eyes came up to meet him. And Christopher nodded. He knew he disregarded what Hawkeye asked of him.
"Do you know how dangerous that was?" Hawkeye asked
Another nod.
Hawkeye sighed and got hold of the back of Chris's neck. He turned him to the side before he pushed the boy forwards to bend over.
Hawkeye gave two hard fast smacks.
Chris let out a small whimpering and almost jumped out of the way but he got held in place by Hawkeye. His hand flew to his bottom trying to protect it. OW! That hurt! He started to sob softly.
"What you did was dangerous! Christopher! When I tell you to stay somewhere, then it's with a good reason! Do I make myself clear?"
Still standing bent over Chris quickly nodded, he wanted out of this situation as fast as possible. Another sob escaped.
Hawkeye felt his anger melt away at the tiny sob but he needed to stay firm, he could not let Chris run wild with a bomb right outside.
"I need you to listen to me when I tell you to do something! I'm trying to keep you safe. You could have died if that bomb exploded, even the sound or the vibration of your footsteps could have set it off. So I'm I clear? Or do you need another reminder?" Hawkeye said
Chris shook his head crying, please, I'm sorry! No more! Please let it be over, he thought.
Hawkeye let him up and turned him back to face him, Chris looked so miserable at the moment. The small boy immediately stepped closer seeking comfort from the man, and Hawkeye embraced him, it warmed his heart to know Chris still wanted his affection.
He knew the first smack was pretty hard and he was worried about how the traumatized boy would react. But he didn't seem to associate a spanking with the beatings he must have endured in the past. For that Hawkeye was grateful, he smacked Chris harshly on impulse, and afterward, he wished he had thought about it a little more.
"Let's go to the Swamp!" Trapper said "I could use a drink"
Stepping over Frank who still seemed out cold, Hawkeye led a now softly sobbing Chris towards the Swamp, telling him little endearments, and stroking his back. He loved the kid, even though he got some extra grey hairs today because of him.
Later at the Swamp, Chris was writing in his workbook, and the doctors were lounging around, Hawkeye was reading his letter again.
Sipping his drink and laying down on his cot, Trapper spoke.
"I didn't envy you, back there. That was dreadful! I just wanted to say you are a brave man Benjamin Franklin Pierce.
And then with Chris. I almost put him over my knee right there! When I got my hands on him, scared me half to death."
Chris felt his ears burn, please stop talking about this, he started to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. Why did adults talk like that, not even caring about him being embarrassed?
He still didn't understand the term, over the knee but he kinda figured out what it meant.
"You better not!"
Hawkeye snapped, he looked at Trapper seriously.
"I won't," Trapper said, holding his hands up.
"That's up to you. I don't even think I could when he started crying." Trapper grinned.
"Anyway, I propose a toast to us! And may we live longer than today, with all those fireworks outside!"
He raised his drink at the same time as Hawkeye and drank.
Meanwhile, Henry relays the info to Hersh, who says the markings don't match any Russian, Chinese, Polish or Czech markings, much less any Army identification. Hersh then suggests that Henry call the Navy; when asked why Hersh replies that Army is beating them 14-0.
Radar gets hold of a Naval Operations Commander named Sturner in Seoul. Henry tells him about the unexploded bomb and then gives him the markings. Sturner promises to get back to Henry, who quietly hopes he is still there when he does.
In the meantime, with no way to listen to the game, the camp has no choice but to pass the time. Hawkeye and Trapper decided to make a circle with stacked sandbags outside the Swamp to hide behind. And to kill time, they were playing poker. They even had a small table with them.
Chris stayed close to Hawkeye, he always seemed to do that after being punished. Hawkeye always made sure he let Chris know, that he wasn't mad anymore, Chris was forgiven, and that he still cared about him.
Ruffling the boy's hair, he smiled at the boy, who seemed glad to be on his good side once more.
But Chris always wanted to stay extra close after being punished. Hawkeye recalled from his childhood that he didn't have that problem. But it was probably normal that Chris was a lot more insecure after losing his parents. Hawkeye wasn't his father and how much Hawkeye wanted that, he couldn't say it to the boy, especially not now that they found his family.
With this bomb on the compound, Hawkeye wasn't sure they would even survive this. Seems so useless for Chris's possible family to find him and lose him before they could meet again. He decided to wait for the bomb situation to be over before he talked to Chris about his family.
They sat together like this for a couple of minutes, before Radar let them know Henry wanted the doctor's presence.
At Henry's office, Henry explained that the bomb was from the CIA.
"The CIA's?" Hawkeye said unbelievably.
"You heard me."
"The CIA has their bombs?" Trapper joined in.
"Yep, and it's one of theirs, " Henry said.
"Look, the important thing is little bugger's been ticking out there for an hour. On its own, it could go off in another hour. When it stops ticking, the navy thinks it detonates itself in two minutes."
"The navy thinks? The navy doesn't know?" Hawkeye said astounded.
"Well, The-the CIA won't tell anyone it's business." Henry stammered.
"If we blow up, I hope I rain down all over them." Hawkeye said, his irritation rising.
"I've got the, uh, disarming instructions right here."
Henry explained as he gave the doctors the tools.
Sighing Trapper said "One for the road?" Hawkeye and Trapper both got up to the booze. After the drinks, they got their stuff.
Hawkeye looked at Chris, his expression got stern. "Christopher, you will stay next to Henry at all times until I get back! Understood?"
Chris nodded with a sad expression.
"Do I need to explain what would happen if you don't stay put?" He asked. He doesn't want to threaten Chris again, and he surely doesn't want to follow through with that threat. But he definitely will if Chris keeps running towards bombs!
A blushing Chris quickly shook his head, NO this was already embarrassing enough, he didn't need to spell it out.
Hawkeye held serious eye contact with Chris for a long second, then he gathered him in his arms and gave a quick kiss on his forehead.
"Love you, kiddo. See you later okay?" Hawkeye said after letting go.
Chris nodded but seemed pretty upset. "Don't let him watch Henry!" Hawkeye added sadly, it broke his heart, he needed to do this, the bomb would go off if they didn't do anything anyway.
Exiting the building the doctors slowly made their way over to the bomb.
Henry with Chris at his side got behind a small barrier made with sandbags. Margaret, Frank, and Radar moved over to make a place for them.
"Chris, don't watch! Okay?" Henry said also to the rest of the crew hiding there. He got his bullhorn ready.
They didn't have to do much to accomplish that, because Chris was too small and couldn't even look over the sandbag barrier.
Radar still turned Chris away from the bomb.
"You just stay with me, don't turn around to look."
"Pierce! McIntyre! Can you hear me?" Henry almost screamed through the bullhorn making Chris jump.
The doctors shushed the man, highly disgruntled about the noise.
"First you need a wrench." Henry continued at a softer volume.
"All right, now place it gently on the nut just above the locking ring, and loosen.
The doctors complied and steadily and carefully got the nut loose.
"Now, rotate the locking ring counterclockwise."
Making a clockwise motion with his hand the doctors determined which way was counterclockwise. And followed Henry's instructions. Slowly he got the locking ring loose.
"Now..., Remove the tail assembly."
The doctors looked at him like he was asking the impossible. But they lifted the tail together very carefully.
With the tail lifted you could see a couple of wires running.
"And carefully cut the wires leading to the clockwork fuse at the head."
With Hawkeye holding the head, Trapper got down to collect the pliers.
Trapper first cut the green and then the black wire.
"But first remove the fuse," Henry added.
Everybody turned to the man with a shocked expression.
Chris gasped when he felt the terror in the people around him rise. Something was wrong! He wanted to run, but Radar got a firm grip on him. Probably more because Radar was scared himself than that he knew Chris wanted to run, but it still proved effective.
"Let's get the hell outta here. We only got two minutes... Maybe." Hawkeye said before they ran back and dropped to the ground.
Everybody behind the barrier ducked as well. A big rumbling sound was heard, and with a big bang, the bomb shoot something into the air.
Noticing not an explosion, but several papers flying around the compound, the doctors slowly looked around.
The only thing they heard was the rustling sound of papers flying everywhere. Everyone seemed dumbfounded. Radar tried to catch one of the papers and let go of Chris, Chris got out from behind the barrier, looking for Hawkeye. He stood still, not wanting to get punishment for disobeying.
"It was a propaganda bomb," Trapper started
Hawkeye looked around and saw Chris next to the barrier. Undeniable relief and happiness filled the man, he motioned his son closer.
"Give yourselves up. You can't win. Douglas MacArthur." Trapper read from the paper he caught.
Chris jumped into action and run-up to Hawkeye and fell around the man's neck. He sighed relieved. Hawkeye hugged the boy close and looked at all the flying paper around them.
Later that day, it turned out that Father Mulcahy won the football pool.
"You won again," Hawkeye said to the priest.
Chris standing behind him, Chris stayed very close today, Hawkeye couldn't blame the boy, he felt the same way right now. So he was glad he didn't seem like the overprotective father he was at the moment by telling Chris to stay close all the time. He didn't want to lose sight of him today at all.
"You always win. Who do you know?"
The priest only looked up to the sky knowingly with a smile.
"Name-dropper!" Hawkeye said before they started back to the Swamp.
Back at the swamp, they decided to finish their poker game.
After losing a couple of rounds Hawkeye decided he needed to talk to Chris about the fact that they were sending over his possible family for a blood test. They survived the bomb, so they needed to survive this as well.
"I'm out," Hawkeye said to the guys throwing his cards down. "I need to talk to Chris in private." He let the guys know and motioned for Chris to follow him outside.
Chris obeyed but seemed very nervous.
"Don't worry, you're not in trouble "
Once outside he got inside the sandbag circle they made earlier.
He sat on a sandbag and guided Chris to sit before him on another one. He looked at the small nervous boy, who in a short period already meant the world to him. It was dark out and the stars shone high in the sky.
He sighed heavily, how should he do this, he decided on a straight-on approach and to just say it.
"Sidney is on his way with your possible family, they seem to know you're their grandson and nephew."
He saw the boy's eyes widen. They shone with fear bordering on panic. Chris knew they were looking for what happened and where he came from, but Hawkeye didn't exactly know if Chris understood that he could be taken away from him. Looking at the panic-filled eyes he thought Chris knew.
Sorrow filled the man when he looked into those frightened eyes. He wanted to keep him happy and safe, he just wanted to keep him. This was his son!
It broke his heart to see the pain and fear in the child's eyes. The small eyes filled themselves with tears.
He gathered the boy in his arms. He felt terrible for making Chris cry this much today. But this was better than telling him at the arrival of his possibly family.
He thought it was better to let Chris know beforehand, so he could think about it.
"It's okay, This is a good thing! We are going to get you to talk and find out what happened. Okay. Nothing more! They will arrive in about a little more than a week. So that's still days away"
He wanted to promise that Chris could stay with him, but he didn't know that himself. And he wouldn't promise Chris anything he couldn't keep.
Sidney said Chris's family was still unsure about Hawkeye adopting Chris. Until they meet, he wouldn't know anything more. He didn't know why they weren't sure and that was stressful enough.
Chris trembled a little. He was so scared to lose this man he saw as his father, he didn't want another family, he wanted Hawkeye. More tears sprung in his eyes, and he sniffled.
'Stupid Sidney!' Chris thought, feeling guilty immediately, he kinda liked the soft-spoken man with kind eyes. But now he just wanted Sidney to stop his search about Chris's past.
He wanted to be able to talk again. It hurt him to try, he only felt panic and sadness and then he just couldn't. But he would gladly give up his voice if that meant staying with this man. Chris never felt safer than with Hawkeye, at least not that he could remember.
But he was not stupid, he knew they wanted to take him away. He was going to refuse, he wouldn't go anyhow, no matter what they tried.
Christopher would promise the man if he could talk. Hawkeye didn't seem to let him go either and that warmed the small boy.
He would stay.
