The next night wasn't much better than the first, Chris got out a couple of times but on the third night of him being alone, he left his bed only once. The second week went a little better. The only problem was that he has nightmares now as well. Especially if Hawkeye was working.
The first time Chris had a nightmare, the child searched nervously for Hawkeye. but when he found the man, he didn't dare to come close at first, afraid that his dad got mad.
But Hawkeye saw the pale, trembling, and almost sobbing boy and knew something was wrong.
He pulled the small boy against his chest and began patting him gently on his back, whispering words of comfort.
When Chris finally calmed down he fell asleep again in the warm embrace of Hawkeye's arms. Hawkeye had to carry him home and tug him in again.
Hawkeye has noticed, however, that Christopher hasn't taken a liking to sleep in his bed if Hawkeye was working. He rather slept in Hawkeyes.
The third week went okay as well, Chris only got out once that week.
Hawkeye was thinking about getting Chris to the states because this was simply not a safe place for a child.
But he started to see that it would be very difficult. What would Chris do in the states without me?
It made him nervous and guilty to think about leaving his son alone, but it had to be done. After all, they couldn't go on like this, it didn't work that way. This was war and they are close to the combat zones. and even without the fighting, guns, and bombs, the blood and dead people are a letdown. But how would he get Chris to Maine? And how would Chris react?
Perhaps he should just book a flight, but he dreaded it. Maybe he should call Sidney. Or talk to his dad about it, but his dad didn't know Chris the way Hawkeye did.
The doctor was snapped out of his thoughts as Radar entered the Swamp.
"Hi, guys!" The clerk said happily
" I just came to collect your money for today's pool! 5 o'clock Charlie is here in a couple of minutes and I need cash to secure you're bet. You guys got the same place as yesterday?"
"Of course, my good man, and be quick about it." Trapper voiced with a fake British accent giving the clerk his money.
"Okay. Trapper, you're 47, and Hawkeye, 62." Radar said while writing it down.
"Good show! Carry on!" Hawkeye told the man while handing him the money.
Five O'Clock Charlie is North Korea's most indefatigable and most inaccurate bomber pilot, who flies over the camp at the same time every day - hence the name - and drops one bomb, in a pathetic attempt to destroy the camp and a nearby ammunition dump.
His aim is terrible, and he always misses, so no one at the 4077th is particularly worried. But they do turn his visits into a social occasion, gathering to watch his attempt and betting on where his bombs will land.
At that moment the intercom of the mash unit flared to life.
"Attention! All personnel, three minutes to Charlie, I repeat three minutes till 5 o'clock, Charlie."
With a fake British accent Hawkeye continued " I say, Reggie, you come here often?"
"Only when my horse is running." Trapper replied with an accent while adjusting his monocle.
"Right-o" Hawkeye voiced
"Cheerio" Trapper countered
Radar who was just about to walk outside turned back around confused to face the two doctors and said.
"you guys got a cold?" Radar then almost walked into Frank and Margaret who were almost running inside the Swamp yelling "Air raid" and "take cover!"
"He's the enemy trying to destroy us from the skies!" Frank voiced putting on his army belt and helmet.
"Ohh come on Frank! He's been trying for six weeks." Trapper said
"He's an airborne menace and he's going to bomb us."
"Well, he has a lovely day for it, hasn't he, Reggie?" Hawkeye said.
"Oh, hear hear!" Trapper said, pouring them a drink.
"Where, where?" Hawkeye replied as he looked over at his kid, he saw Chris deeply immersed in his books.
Chris didn't care much for 5 O'Clock Charlie and stayed reading inside most of these events. Chris being alone from Hawkeye got easier for both of them. Chris sometimes even stayed with Francis or Radar on his own. His bedtime helped with that a lot, Chris was slowly learning he was safe on his own. He even helped Radar sometimes with his mail round. So his kid did great, and Hawkeye was immensely proud. Chris would be a fine adult, Hawkeye would make sure of that.
Margaret, who had enough of this nonsense, told Frank to give them a direct order. Frank is of a higher rank than the two Captains.
"Oh, do, Frank. We've never ignored one of those." Hawkeye said as his thermos was being filled with homemade gin by Trapper.
"Shall we," Trapper said
"Rather"
Hawkeye and Trapper quickly went outside and got their chairs and drinks ready to start lounging while watching the show. They were dressed in bathrobes with Trapper wearing a barret as well. After a couple of minutes of drinking, a small one-person airplane appeared in the sky.
Shakily the aircraft flew over the unit, trying to hit its mark. Which of course was way off the nearby ammunition dump, which he tried to hit.
Hawkeye stepped back into the Swamp to get Christophers' attention.
He let the child know he was heading towards Radar, he hoped Chris would stay put, but he always wanted to go if they went to Radar.
He needed the clerk to help with booking a trip for Chris, it's been three weeks, and Chris would not get more ready than this.
Hawkeye decided he just needed to do this. It would only be more difficult if he waited.
Every time Hawkeye tried to talk with Chris about the states, the child got scared and a bit irritated.
So much so that Hawkeye almost lost his patience with him. The child refused to even admit to leaving and even got angry about it. It wasn't a temper tantrum but it was getting a bit close. Chris almost stomped his feet and raised his voice. Hawkeye stopped him with a stern look and dropped the conversation.
He needed to stay firm with this, he was the adult. But not wanting to send his kid away as well, was making it a lot more difficult.
Chris jumped at the chance to visit Radar so he put away his books and collected the comic book he borrowed from the clerk. Time to bring it back. Chris got some comic books of his own as well but Radar already read those, they were old ones his new grandfather sent. Some of it was Hawkeye's stuff and some from around the town that he collected.
Chris didn't mind, he hadn't read them yet and loved them. He was a bit sad about not being able to share but he tried to make up for it by helping the man sometimes with paperwork or delivering stuff.
Entering the clerk's office they found the late teen on the typewriter. He seemed to be typing some rapport.
"Hello," said the small voice of Chris to alert the clerk. He handed the comic book back to a happy Radar.
"Thank you, for letting me read it." the boy said with a happy smile.
"You're welcome, that ending though! Had me on the edge of my seat! How did you like it?
"I liked it very much… I loved it. Superman is the best! " smiled the young boy " Do you have any more comic books?" He added shyly.
Chris still was nervous about talking, but he felt comfortable with Radar so it went easier than with somebody he didn't know that well. He didn't say anything to strangers, but Hawkeye tried to motivate him to talk to the patients. Or just to interact with them. Chris was making slow steps with that, but the steps were earned.
"Not for another week, but I'll get some next time"
"Ok, thank you" Chris looked at the typewriter with fascination. But before he could ask Radar if he could touch it his dad spoke.
"Radar I need help with booking a flight to Maine! It's time to get Chris to safety. I also need to call my dad about when Chris should be arriving." Hawkeye said to a shocked and sad clerk.
"Ohh geez! Do you have to send him away? I mean, it's okay here! I don't want him to go! You see, it's like having a little brother." Radar tried.
"It isn't right Radar! He needs to go and stay in America where there is no war or wounded people around. Where he's safe. Do you think I wanna do this?" Hawkeye sighed in frustration and turned to Chris.
His son looked pale and heartbroken.
Chris couldn't believe it, after everything he'd done! Why would this happen? It wasn't fair. He hadn't done anything wrong. All he ever did was help. he knew Hawkeye thought it wasn't safe here, but Chris didn't believe him. He didn't know anywhere safer.
He looked at his dad with big sad eyes, his bottom lip trembling.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. His small voice shook.
Oh god, now it hit home! Hawkeye thought. This boy was going away and they wouldn't see each other again till after the war. He could only hope it wouldn't last for years. The only thing he could do now was to comfort him as much as possible and let him go.
Hawkeye collected Chris in his arms. "It's not a punishment and it's not your fault, it's this stupid war!"
"Wait!" Radar grabbed his arm. "I have a plan, just hear me out..."
"Ok... what is this plan?" Hawkeye asked impatiently.
"Well..." Radar smiled nervously.
"What?" Hawkeye demanded.
"Can't I just falsify papers and made him enlisted personnel?"
Hawkeye sighed "Radar it's a crime to do that! And it wouldn't help anyway. Because it's not safe here!"
Radar looked defeated and started getting his books to check the flights. Hawkeye was right even though Radar hated it. He always wanted a little brother and Chris made him feel a bit more normal around here. Chris seemed to look up at him, and Radar liked that. It made him feel proud and more like an adult.
After some planning, Radar managed a flight for the next day. A jeep would bring Chris to the nearest airport around noon.
The call to Daniel Pierce failed so Hawkeye sent a telegram. He asked Rader to try again later.
First, they needed to pack Chris his stuff.
Chris was white as a sheet, he didn't want to go! He knew his dad was very sad as well but he was too angry and too scared to care.
They packed most of Chris's stuff, Chris didn't want to help but at the stern expression of his father he obeyed. So with tears in his eyes, he packed his books except one for tonight's story and one to work on today. Almost all his clothes were packed and his crayons and little folded animals he got from his dad also.
Looking at his stuff that got locked away in the small suitcase made him very miserable. And it's stupid because he was not going! Christopher thought.
His son was not happy, Hawkeye knew, but he was not happy about this also. Noon felt like impending doom.
With how angry Chris seemed to be, it surprised Hawkeye a little that he still wanted to be very close. Chris was plastered against the man for the whole evening. Hawkeye was very grateful he didn't have duty tonight. Keeping his kid in bed today would be impossible.
The next morning at breakfast Chris got a lot of goodbyes and going away gifts.
The child accepted them but he wore a very stubborn expression with tears in his eyes all day already.
Only the gift that made a real impression was what the Radar gave him. The late teen gave him a little stuffed plush bunny. The rabbit was brown-red and looked like a little jumping hare with a little blue bow. Chris took the stuffed animal from Radar with shaky hands and seemed speechless, he didn't seem to believe it.
"F-for me?" Chris looked at the clerk nervously with big eyes.
Radar nodded enthusiastically.
"He or she doesn't have a name yet, that's for you to decide. I hope you like it, I know you like animals but I didn't know if you liked rabbits, but my mom picked him out and she got a good eye for animals."
Chris was holding the bunny so gently with both his hands. "I love it! Thank you!". His eyes were glossy as he stroked the bunny's fur.
Yesterday Radar finally got a call through so his dad knew how late he should pick Chris up from the airport. His dad seemed thrilled and assured Hawkeye by talking about Chris and his routine after he would arrive there. They both worked together on Chris his routine so that it stayed to same as here, to help the boy adjust. And it did help to calm the doctor's nerves.
When the jeep arrived Hawkeye felt like he swallowed a couple of bricks. He hated this. He hated to leave his very scared son alone. But he needed to do this. But how would he cope with this? And how would he cope with this war without Chris to make him feel normal?
How was he going to live after he lost his son? He shook his head to get rid of these dark emotions while he hugged his sobbing child tight.
Hawkeye couldn't keep his own eyes dry as well. He would miss his son more than he could say! Christopher was one of the few things that kept him going in all this mess...
He could still remember when he saw him the first time. He was so young. So small... So thin. A little more than 7 months ago. A little kid that had no idea what was happening to him. It broke his heart every time he thought about it. and to see this boy grow has been amazing. He gained a bit of weight and looked a lot healthier and stronger. He stayed small though. But his parents were small as well, he probably would be just as tall as Radar when he's older. He wasn't tall at all but of course, he didn't care about that.
"I love you kiddo! I'm going to miss you so much. Please be good to grandpa, you're going to love him! And he already cares a lot and would love you at first sight."
Chris had his stuffed bunny with him, Hawkeye tied the bunny to the suitcase, so Chris wouldn't lose it on the way, and now he could still play with it.
Hawkeye held his kid for several long minutes as he whispered endearments.
The honking of the jeep made Hawkeye step away. The doctor gave the driver a murderous look and said.
"I need you to keep an eye on him. Don't go anywhere else. Keep him company if he cries. But don't touch him without letting him know."
Hawkeye put Chris and his suitcase in the back of the jeep, the child had tears in his eyes and a very stubborn expression. He shook his head and said with a small but steady voice "I'm not going!" Hawkeye sighed and kissed the angry child on his forehead. He knows arguing with him wouldn't work.
As the jeep drove away Hawkeye felt immensely sad, however, the feeling replaced itself with shock as his mouth fell open.
Because when the jeep drove around the corner he saw a little boy standing on the side of the road with his little suitcase.
And a very stubborn expression. Hawkeye walked to Chris. The boy stood clutching his suitcase with one hand and the little rabbit in the other. Hawkeye grabbed the child's shoulders. "Why?"
"I'm not going!" Chris said with tears in his eyes and a very determined expression.
Hawkeye's heart broke. This was not going to be easy. The jeep returned after a minute. And they tried again with the same results.
Hawkeye almost suggested someone hold the child while driving off, but Chris got a panic attack when he heard that, so that was off the table. It took a while to calm Chris down again so Hawkeye admitted that Chris won himself an extra day, they wouldn't have time to catch the plane today. He couldn't punish his child for this, he felt the same way.
Hawkeye immediately sent a telegram to his father, and he and Radar planned a new flight for tomorrow. It took some planning and Radar's resourcefulness but they managed to get a closed jeep so they could lock Chris inside. It hurt Hawkeye that he needed to lock his son in the car to be able to transfer him. But he has to.
Meanwhile, in Henry's office, Henry had the General on the phone, the man made a bet himself on today's Five O'Clock Charlie. Frank demanded protection from the air raid that happened every day. And because nobody seemed to take Five O'Clock Charlie seriously he tricked Henry.
While Henry was on the phone Frank showed the man a book with the gun he wanted to order for this unit.
"Oh excuse me, sir," Henry said on the phone "while I've got you on the pipe, the suggestions been made that we could use an 04ww nug. That's right sir. A nug so that we can, um, uh.."
Radar gave the Colonel a confused look.
"What's a nug, sir?" Henry continued.
"Well, a nug is a-a- "
Frank took that moment to look at the book Henry was reading and noticed the book was upside down. Turning the book over for the man, Henry continued "um, a gun, sir. A 40mm gun."
"We don't need a nug," Hawkeye said. He didn't like this one bit. Because fire draws fire and he didn't want any of that while Chris was still here.
"We don't need a gun or a nug. " voiced Trapper as well.
But of course, it didn't help any because apparently, the army liked guns and didn't like enemy aircraft.
Even threatening Frank with a spontaneous nose job didn't work. Which Hawkeye did not appreciate at all. He hoped he got Chris safe tomorrow before the anti-aircraft gun arrived.
The next day when the jeep arrived at noon, Hawkeye explained to Chris about getting locked in, he thought Chris needed to know. But the child didn't seem worried. He acted a lot like the day before, except that he now carried his rabbit with him as he walked around with red teary eyes and a very persistent expression.
Hawkeye locked his son in the jeep with a heavy heart, he would have given anything to be able to take the boy home himself. As he watched the jeep drive away, he felt like It wasn't fair.
"What on earth?" He thought shocked as he watched his son hop out of the backseat of the driving jeep. Just like yesterday, Chris waited till the jeep went around the corner so the jeep slowed down enough to jump out.
Walking back to Hawkeye, the small boy hoped his dad wasn't angry at him, but he would not leave the man.
Hawkeye looked dumbfounded as his kid walked up and stood before him.
"How?" He stammered
Chris couldn't meet his gaze. He knew he had to tell the truth, but that didn't mean it was easy.
"Look at me!" Hawkeye told his son, more worried than upset.
He could see where this was going, Chris already looked panicked. Hawkeye was not a stupid man, and it was obvious that Chris learned some things he was not ready to talk about.
Christopher stood there, pale as death. His mouth opened and closed but nothing came out. Hawkeye dropped down to one knee to get on eye-level with the child.
"I need you to listen to me." He waited until his son looked at him, tears started running down his cheeks.
"It's ok, I won't get mad, please can you tell me?"
Chris wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and looked at his feet.
"I-I I can open d-doors… and windows." His voice was soft and sounded scared. He couldn't tell him why he could do those things. That would just make everything worse.
Hawkeye sighed, he collected the little boy in his arms, Chris was way too upset about this. He didn't blame the little boy for anything as he could guess why Chris knew those things.
"But you can't keep doing this!, you need to go, I don't WANT you to go but you're not safe here!"
Hawkeye said looking at Chris, who got his stubborn look back. This kid is giving me grey hair! Hawkeye thought, looking at the small boy with a very determined look.
But Chris won another day for himself because apparently, the driver didn't notice the boy missing till he arrived at the airport. Which didn't make the doctor optimistic at all, he will need to make sure he got something better for tomorrow.
An hour later the anti-aircraft gun was delivered and Frank, of course, loves it, and he even forms his platoon of three Korean guys, to provide defense against Five O'Clock Charlie's attacks.
Later in the Swamp, Trapper and Hawkeye are throwing ideas around to stop frank and get rid of the gun. They decided to take away Charlie's target which was the nearby ammunition dump.
On the next day, Hawkeye had set up his plan for Chris, he tried a bus with Francis who would ride together with Chris. Just like the days before Chris didn't seem worried but more irritated.
The bus drove off and Hawkeye said goodbye to his son again for three days in a row. After standing at the edge of the compound for almost 20 minutes staring at the spot where the bus disappeared too, Hawkeye had to admit with sadness that his latest plan worked. He sighed.
Hawkeye suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, and looking behind him he saw Trapper looking at him sympathetic.
Just as Hawkeye wanted to turn around to walk back, he was stopped by Trapper. Looking at where Trapper looked, he saw a small boy with a small suitcase walking in the distance towards them. Hawkeye almost cursed out loud but felt very relieved at the same time. Which was a weird feeling to have.
After a minute the bus returned as well and stopped on the compound even before Chris reached them.
Francis stepped out and was not amused, to say the least. He told Hawkeye that Chris behaved perfectly till he found the perfect moment and speed for the bus to break out. He only took his eyes off the boy for a second and Chris just opened the door, like it was nothing.
They stopped the bus the same moment the boy got out. But Chris ran into the bushes and the poor priest was looking for the boy in the tall grass till he figured out that Chris would probably walk back.
The priest was pretty upset about Chris walking near the front lines on his own so Radar took him to the mess hall for a cup of coffee. To help the man calm down.
Hawkeye felt his anger rise when he thought about Chris walking close to enemy lines, he looked his young son in the eyes and said sternly.
"What did I say about making the right choices, is jumping out of a bus and walking close to the combat zone a good idea to keep yourself safe? Why would you do that? You could be killed! You could have walked through a minefield!"
Chris was silent and didn't look him in the eye as he answered in a soft voice.
"I didn't think about that… " He didn't, he just wanted to go back.
Hawkeye sighed and took his son into his arms, hugging him tightly. "I should smack your fanny for putting your life in danger, but I won't. I'm too tired for anything right now."
Hawkeye said. He didn't want to admit he felt too relieved to be angry, maybe that made him a bad father but he didn't care. This was proving to be difficult, he was running out of options and he sent his poor father to the airport three days in a row for nothing.
Later that day Hawkeye and Trapper collected four dozen sheets.
The nurse on duty kept telling them she could not give them four dozen sheets.
"We just met four dozen great girls," Hawkeye replied before he just walked off with them. Trapper followed after him whispering "four dozen" excitedly to the dumbfounded nurse.
Hawkeye and Trapper leave a series of giant arrows made up of sheets pointing to the ammo dump, so Charlie cannot miss it! And to give him time to try and hit it, they mess with the clocks in Post-Op so Frank believes it to be 4:30, not 5:00.
Once Frank catches on and hurries outside to fire at Charlie. He literally runs over Radar who bravely tried to prevent Frank from going outside.
Frank was yelling the coordinates to his small platoon.
But Hawkeye and Trapper make a shambles of the attempt, by yelling out different numbers randomly. Which confuses the soldiers whom Frank has aiming the gun.
Frank got upset and wanted the doctors arrested, but they replaced his gun again, this time with a fake one with a little flag that jumped out.
Even with the arrows and the big red mark over the dump, Charlie still missed by at least a couple of yards.
Frank, frustrated and impatient, saw that Charlie was getting away and demanded they fire, and they do - missing Charlie entirely and instead of hitting - and destroying - the ammo dump.
"Hell off a shot. Frank!" Henry said to a perplexed Frank.
With that problem out of the way, Hawkeye could focus on getting his son safe in the states.
His plan for Chris was already put into action, they would try a chopper this time. It was a bit more dangerous but also faster.
I hope everything is gonna be fine tomorrow, Hawkeye thought to himself. He was laying on his cot and watched his sleeping son before he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning was just like the day before, except the one thing that made it different was the missing ammunition dump.
At noon they stood at the lower chopper pad where the helicopter just landed.
"You ready kiddo?" Hawkeye asked affectionately but nervously, he didn't have a good feeling about this. Choppers were a bit more dangerous than a car, the enemy would see them clearly in the sky.
Chris didn't answer him but instead looked cautiously at the machine with Hawkeye standing closely behind.
Hawkeye didn't know Chris was checking the lock so he knew what to use. Chris always collected little iron pieces he could use. You can use almost anything. He hides them all over his body and on his clothes. It was a habit he was forced to take.
The helicopter door opened slowly, and Chris was lifted by his dad and put on the seat next to the pilot. The suitcase was put on the child's lap. The little bunny hanging from the handle by a small twine.
Hawkeye kissed his son on his forehead, told the child he loved him very much and to behave to grandpa, and closed the door with a heavy heart.
As the chopper flew up, Hawkeye felt his heart crumble. He wouldn't see his son for a long time, his only hope now was...
But Hawkeye's thinking got interrupted because just as the chopper got some height and flew over the middle pole of the compound the door opened.
The moment Chris felt that the chopper started to move, he started working on the lock of the door. He pulled a small piece of iron wire out of his sock and bent it. Working on the lock took a bit longer than Chris wanted because he was out of practice.
He heard the familiar click of the lock getting open. He pushed the door open as the chopper started stumbling. He got out and slowly crawled on the stretcher beside the helicopter. The wind blew around his face making it difficult to see anything. He heard the pilot scream something but the wind blocked most sound.
Hawkeye's mouth dropped open and his inside froze as he saw small Chris climbing out of the flying chopper. The pilot was screaming at the boy as he tried to stay steady in the air, slowly going lower.
Chris looked below him, the announcement pole was right below him. He needed a better look to jump and tried to get closer to the edge. But he accidentally dropped his suitcase. He saw the perfect moment, and the chopper was low enough. And with no time to think about it, he jumped.
The suitcase landed on the ground with a loud thud but with a miracle of God, Chris grabbed the pole clumsily after he jumped off.
As Chris grabbed the pole he almost let go again when the side of his face hit the speaker attached to it. He needed to grab tighter because he kept sliding down. His small hand feel like they are burning but he couldn't stop sliding down! He just wasn't strong enough.
His father came storming up and lifted the boy from the pole before Chris could slide any lower. Hawkeye being Hawkeye, he turned into full doctor mode, as he looked over the boy's head, Chris had a big bump next to his eye. That was going to swell up, so he needed something cold later. Next, he looked at Chris' hands, they were red and torn open in some places. This needs to get cleaned up!
Hawkeye picked Chris up and carried him quickly to post-op.
Radar and Trapper quickly followed.
Barging into the post-up they found a shocked Margeret and Frank who seemed to jump apart from each other. The two looked like they were making out behind the curtains of the nearest bed. Frank was supposed to be on duty at the moment.
Hawkeye didn't care and he didn't have time for this. He put Chris to sit down on one of the beds.
"What happened?" Margaret asked while handing the doctor, gauze, and alcohol to clean up the scratches.
"Jumped out of the chopper!" Trapper told her.
Margaret gasped and almost started screaming at the boy if Hawkeye didn't interfere.
"I'm handling this! Margaret!" The doctor snapped.
Chris didn't react at all to the burning of the alcohol on his hands. Not even after Hawkeye removed a couple of splinters. Hawkeye told Chris what he was doing as he was doing it, he tried to do that often, because Chris needed a lot of explaining.
After getting the small hand clean and splinter-free, he wrapped them up in bandages.
After he checked Chris out completely he changed from doctor to dad. He got a stern expression and motioned for Chris to get up. Chris obeyed.
"Okay, with that taken care of! Are you CRAZY!" Hawkeye said the last part louder than he wanted but his nerves were going crazy. He took hold of Chris his shoulders and shook him a little. He needed to let the child know how dangerous that was and how seriously hurt he could have been.
"You jumped out of a flying chopper! It's a miracle you are still alive!"
Chris burned bright red and looked at the floor, he started to fidget nervously with his sweater.
This does not look good! Chris thought. His dad looked livid!
Getting no reaction from the young boy the doctor continued.
"What did I tell you about making safe decisions? I can NEVER unsee you jumping out of a flying chopper! Why did you do that!"
He turned the child sideways to deliver a hard slap on the small rear. Chris jumped a little and let out a soft squeaky yelp. Tears sprung in his eyes.
"I'm not going!" a small stubborn voice said. Hawkeye looked Chris in the eyes and saw no remorse only stubbornness. He felt his anger rise as he thought of all the fear he just felt.
Chris didn't seem to understand that he could have died just now.
"Look at me!" When Chris did, the man continued.
"You're getting a long trip over my knee for this! A spanking you won't forget soon, Mister!"
Chris's eyes got wide and shook his head a bit confused. He heard the word spanking by now a couple of times and at least he could figure out what that meant a little. Which was a terrible thing! If it was what Chris thought it meant. But over-the-knee was still strange to him. He wanted to know because he had a feeling he would not like it.
"Ohh boy! " Radar muttered. The clerk put Chris his suitcase down and said nervously. "Here's his suitcase, I'm going now! Stuff… To do…"
"Thanks for getting the suitcase Radar!" Hawkeye quickly added before Radar was through the door.
"Well?" Hawkeye said looking at his child with his arms crossed.
"W-whats over the k-knee?" A blushing Chris almost whispered to the angry-looking doctor.
Hawkeye grumbled in frustration, here he was scolding his son without noticing he didn't understand some of the words. That won't work!
Yesterday he got a piece of paper in the mail from Frans with a couple of Dutch phrases that he was learning for Chris, but he couldn't remember anything right now! His mind was still quite in shock.
" Does anyone know the dutch word for a spanking? " Hawkeye asked in general to the people currently in post-op.
But Margaret spoke up first. "Billenkoek!" she said.
"What!" Hawkeye and Trapper looked at Margaret with surprise." How do you know that?" they asked her simultaneously.
" What? I knew a Dutch General! " Margaret said before walking away irritated, Frank following her with questions.
Chris gasped and felt his stomach flip, he turned completely red. Ohh Nooo! Chris knew that word! He didn't like that word! It was used for toddlers but he remembered his parents saying that when he was younger, and he didn't like it. He didn't want any of that! The spanking would mean the same thing right? No, he didn't want that! He didn't want to be punished at all. The boy shook his head a bit faster now.
Hawkeye looked back at Chris and saw his flushed son nervously fidgeting under his stare.
Chris looked like a child about to be punished, his face was red with shame, and tears were in his big round blue eyes as he gave Hawkeye his scared puppy look. He kept shaking his head slightly nervously.
"Well that's the reaction I expected to see! So it must be the right word."
"Didn't I tell you yesterday about making safe choices? I should have punished you then! Maybe then you would think about this today and you wouldn't have to get punished again. Do you know how much it scared me seeing you jump out of that thing!"
Hawkeye said sternly, he needed to get his point across! And from that height, he could have died or broken at least some bones, maybe even paralyzing him for life! His son would never even think about doing that again!
Chris started sobbing in earnest, as Hawkeye grabbed his upper arm and stirred him towards the door.
He had never given Chris more than three swats at a time, so this was new for both of them. But that's how these things are done, the way it was always done.
"I-I'm sorry!" Chris tried while being escorted back to the Swamp. He didn't struggle, he didn't dare to. And it wouldn't work anyway.
Hawkeye stirred the soft sobbing boy towards the Swamp, he held Chris his suitcase with the small bunny hanging from the handle in his left hand, and Chris his upper arm in his right.
Entering the Swamp with his son, Hawkeye sat down on his cot and turned the child to face him. He put the suitcase down next to his son's bunk and looked disappointed at his son.
Chris sniffed and hiccuped as he wiped the tears from his face.
Hawkeye's hand went to the child's pants to open them up, but Chris' small hands stopped him.
"Nooo…" Christopher whimpered. "Please d-d-don't.." He gave Hawkeye his best puppy eyes.
"Hands to the side!" Hawkeye snapped, he didn't have the patience right now. The image of his son jumping out of a FLYING chopper was still clear in his mind. The puppy eyes only made him angrier at the moment.
Chris sniffed louder but obeyed instantly, His new dad looked so mad right now! He hated to make the man mad and he hated getting spanked but he refused to leave! No matter what!
Chris felt himself being guided over the man's knee. He whimpered, tears spilling out of his eyes as he sobbed a bit louder. Chris remembers this from when he was younger, it made him so sad, missing his parents in this position, while he felt very sorry for himself.
Hawkeye arranged the boy over his right knee and adjusted him so the boy's torso lay on his bed. This way Chris his good side of his face would touch the mattress and not the side that hurts. No need in making the position hurt as well.
"Now listen, Christopher! you can't do stuff like this." His dad told him sternly. "You could have died! You need to think about things like that, I won't allow you to do such dangerous things."
Without another word, Hawkeye tugged the small pants and underwear down to the boys' tights.
"Noo! " Chris gasped and quickly put his hands back to protect his rear. "P-p-please... Don't!"
Hawkeye didn't appreciate that as he said "Put those hands away! Mister! I don't want to hit them, they are hurt. Put them near your face, and keep them there! Understood!"
Chris shook his head and sobbed. He didn't want to! If he put his hands away his dad would start spanking him.
When Chris didn't listen, Hawkeye gave him a harsh slap on his upper thighs.
" Ow!" Chris gasped and quickly removed his hands, he put his face in his arms and cried.
Hawkeye raised his hand again and slapped Christopher's bare bottom harshly, then again and again.
The little boy cried as the pain spread through his sensitive backside. "Ow!" Chris felt rapid heat spreading on his bottom, it hurts so much! His dad had big hands and covered a lot of his rear.
"Aww. Ow.. "he cried out softly, he still tried to be quiet but he was sobbing uncontrollably as the pain grew worse with every passing second.
Hawkeye ignored the sobbing, as he held a steady pace, he didn't hit very hard, as this was the first spanking he gave the young boy, but he needed his kid to remember this.
Tears were streaming down Chris's face as his legs twitched helplessly with each slap, but he didn't kick. He unconsciously still feared worse punishment so he tried to accept it.
Hawkeye's chest tightened when he saw his son cry like this. This wasn't how it should be like, not even close.
"Don't ever, EVER," Dr. Pierce warned between smacks as he kept a steady pace, holding his son tightly against him. "Do this to me again, understand? You will find yourself in THIS position EVERY time you put your life in danger like that!"
"S-sorry. Y-yes! Ow!.. P-Papa! ..Ow, please! S-s-stop!" The little boy cried out softly.
Hawkeye's heart broke at his son crying out to him. But Chris must NEVER think about doing something so dangerous again. The small bottom turned pink fast.
"I can't believe you were so stupid! " he said to his son, tightening his hold even more.
Chris' accent got more heavy as he got more upset, and Hawkeye had to listen carefully to make out the words.
" D-dad... Ow! Daddy!!! Stop… Stop…. !!" Christopher sobbed his backside throbbing like crazy.
Hawkeye was trying to ignore how much this was hurting him. It didn't matter how many times he punished the little boy, every time he did, he felt terrible about it. And hearing Chris call him daddy right now was a mean trick! The boy sometimes called him papa if he was really upset or just very sleepy.
But he never called him dad! He knew his son was upset but he hoped Chris would call him dad even if he wasn't upset and crying, he wanted to hear a happy dad coming from his son.
Hawkeye forced himself to give the last four hard slaps on the boy's upper thighs, his sit spot., and then he stopped.
Chris's bottom was an angry deep pink color while he just lay there sobbing, not even noticing the spanking stopped.
Hawkeye pulled the child's underwear and pants back up gently and picked the boy up and put him on his lap. Sighing, he hugged Chris tight, he was so tired, this whole situation was so difficult and draining. Chris was also difficult, and he was not an easy guy himself at times.
Tears were still streaming down Chris's face. "I'm s-s-sorry..." He said quietly, his voice a bit rough from the crying as he sobbed his heart out.
"Shhh... It's okay. You're forgiven kiddo, you scared me so much today. I just want you to think about your choices. Not just running into danger because you want to be close. " He rubbed the boy's back.
Chris sniffled and looked at him. His lower lip trembled and he wiped his eyes. He looked Hawkeye in the eyes and saw only affection and truth in them. He sighed and snuggled back against his dad. He was glad Hawkeye wasn't angry anymore.
But he felt very sorry for himself at the moment, his butt hurt a lot! He tried to rub the sting away but the bandages made it difficult. It only hurt his hands more than relieved the sting of his bottom.
They sat there in silence until Chris calmed down. Hawkeye was deep in thought while rubbing his son's back. What options do they have now? If he tried a boat Chris would drown trying to get back and if he didn't it would take six months to arrive in the USA, what would Chris do for 6 months alone on a ship? He just couldn't. If they use a plane, Chris would try to open the door to get back. Or he would have a panic attack and stop breathing.
He needed to call Sidney!
As Hawkeye walked into the clerk's office he had Chris plastered to his back, the child stopped crying but still had red puffy eyes and didn't want to leave the man's side.
"Radar, I need..."
"Already called the airport with a message for Dr. Pierce!" Radar said disgruntled
"Okay, great thanks Radar, now I need to call Sidney and.." Hawkeye tried.
"I'll let you know when I get him through." Radar interrupted.
"Radar? Are you mad at me or something?" Hawkeye said, confused.
Radar just stared at him with angry eyes until it clicked in his head.
"You're upset because I spanked Chris? That doesn't make sense!"
"Ohh yes, it makes sense! Boy! You didn't have to! He's just a kid! " The clerk said indignantly.
"Radar, yes! He's a child! Do you know that if Chris didn't grab that pole he would've died, or broken a lot of bones? "
Radar lost his murderous expression towards Hawkeye after hearing that.
Hawkeye continued. "Because he's a child, he doesn't think about things like that. I don't like to punish him! What would your parents have done?"
"Ma would blow a fuse!" Radar sighed " Okay, I'm not mad anymore but I don't like it. I don't like it at all."
Hawkeye threw his hands up. " I don't like it either, but I have to! Now will you please try Sidney, I'm out of options."
"Does that mean Chris can stay?" Radar said while working on the phone.
Hawkeye sighed and looked at Christopher, the child was clinging around the man's waist with his face borrowed in the man's bathrobe.
His ears were red, he must be embarrassed about the conversation. Hawkeye felt a wave of affection for the small boy and said barely audible.
"I hope so, Radar! I do!"
Radar smiled.
