It's been two weeks since Chris jumped out of the chopper, his hands are now completely healed, and the purple spot on his face was also completely gone.
A day ago Hawkeye got a whole year's supply of school books delivered for Chris. The child was very excited to receive such a big package for himself, he liked most of the books except for math and calculations. He made a face while he read the cover, which made Hawkeye laugh out loud.
Chris already read a couple of chapters from his history book this morning. He seems to love history.
Hawkeye received the planning around Chris' schoolwork as well. Chris needed two years to catch up, but if he did a couple of chapters each day he would be finished earlier than a whole year, so maybe it could get him up to speed a lot sooner. So his kid got a week to do a couple of chapters of each book.
Hawkeye decided on keeping a normal school week routine, so schoolwork during the day until 4 then he was free to play. This way it would be easier if they got back to the states, and ever wanted to go to school.
Chris didn't look that happy about that but accepted it. He was used to just working if he wanted to, his dad didn't keep regular hours for his schoolwork. As long as he worked on it at least once a day.
Hawkeye thought that it was also a good idea for Chris to get some chores around the camp. But because the tasks at the camp weren't suitable for a ten-year-old, Hawkeye made sure Chris got to help the people around here. Chris needed to help someone at least once or twice a week. Hawkeye thought Chris was too young for an allowance but he would think about it later on.
Chris didn't mind, he liked helping, and people always seemed very grateful. He helped Francis with the camp's laundry, and Klinger in the kitchen peeling potatoes. Multiple times he helped Radar with his paperwork or mail rounds, he did that just because he liked the clerk, and this way they could talk about superheroes.
Right now the doctors are operating for several hours already.
They were bickering with each other, like always.
Chris was working in Radar's room on his school work, he was allowed to work on the desk here, and in the O.R he only had a chair to work on, so he chose this over the O.R. He had his little Wally next to him.
Once in a while however he needed to look at his dad, just to check if he was still there!
His dad explained that if he did two or three chapters of each book a day, he would finish a lot sooner and could start his next year. Chris didn't know if he wanted to do that many a day, and he didn't have to, but right now he was just having fun working on it. He liked history but got a problem with his biology, not because it was too difficult but because of his English.
But he could ask his dad anytime he's not working. His dad knew everything.
During the bickering in the O.R, Henry tried to keep the peace.
"Calm down people! We're here to help each other!"
"Want a hand, Frank?" Trapper asked.
"Aw, leave him alone. He's just doing a premature autopsy." Hawkeye said while finishing his last patient.
Frank did not seem amused.
Hawkeye turned toward his new patient and is a bit shocked to see a young Korean boy!
"Oh, no, not another one."
"What do you got?" Trapper asked him.
"He can't be more than five years old." Hawkeye sounded like he felt, completely heartbroken.
"I've got a five-year-old back home," Trapper responded sadly.
"Well, don't send her to camp in Korea," Hawkeye said.
He felt terrible, his son was in Korea at this very moment! But he couldn't do anything about it.
He looked at the small boy on his operation table and sighed. This poor kid!
His heart broke for the little one. He was just a boy, just five years old and they had already taken his parents away from him. A young child shouldn't have to experience this. It wasn't fair!
This boy had sort of a similar experience to Christopher had, and it hit close to home.
They had over 30 hours off surgery. And of course, Chris got out during the night, but this time he was not looking for Hawkeye, apparently because an enlisted man told the doctor that Chris was following Radar around the compound. The clerk was doing his job and was so busy he didn't notice the boy hidden in the shadows.
Hawkeye felt irritated, that was not what his kid should be doing. He behaved a bit like a stalker, and Hawkeye really needed to explain this to his son. If the boy grew up thinking this was okay, he would turn into a very unhealthy adult.
And why did it take so long for him to know his kid was loose. He should have known the moment Chris got out of the tent. So unless Chris got lucky sneaking out, or he got a whole different way to get out instead of using the front door.
His nurse took the patient over, Hawkeye had just finished him, so she only needed to close him up. Hawkeye pulled off his gloves and went outside.
He asked some people about the whereabouts of Radar, Hawkeye knew his son had to be close.
Entering Radar's office he found the clerk filing away some charts.
Hawkeye looked around and saw Chris hiding next to the other door in the shadows. Even in the dark, he saw the shocked and guilty expression of his son.
'Ohh boy! Dad just walked in! Maybe he won't see me. No! He saw me!' Chris felt his heart drop, as their eyes met, and quickly looked at the floor trying not to make any noise, obviously knowing he was caught.
"You can come out now." He said sternly. Radar looked up from his work to the man with confusion.
"What?"
Chris didn't move from where he was standing.
"Christopher! I don't have time for this, you come out now! Or I will put you over my knee right here! "
His son came out quickly from the shadows and stood next to his father. His face was bright red as he looked into his father's eyes. Chris was fidgeting with his pajama shirt nervously.
"I-I-I'm sorry." He whispered. It sounded like it was taking everything he had not to break down crying.
When Radar saw the boy he got a bit sad and said.
"Sir, he's a kid. You don't have to…"
His voice trailed off when he saw how serious Hawkeye looked.
"I know. And YES I do! But that doesn't mean I like it either." he looked at the big sad eyes of his son and sighed.
"You got some explaining to do! Young man! Now, you know the drill, go to bed." Hawkeye said gentle but firm.
It seemed impossible but Chris' face burned even more after that, he quickly turned and scampered off to the Swamp, Hawkeye walking behind him.
Chris's mind was racing. 'NO! Why had he been caught! It was all his fault. He'd been looking around for a place to hide but wasn't fast enough. Now he was in trouble and he hated it. At least he didn't get punished with Radar present, he would DIE from embarrassment!
He started crying, he couldn't stand the thought of his dad spanking him and he didn't want people to hear because they would ask him to make sure he was alright and that's embarrassing! Well, Radar always asked if he was okay after, and it was sweet but also a bit humiliating.
They entered the Swamp, and Hawkeye took hold of the back of Chris's neck and gently but firmly stirred him to the bed.
He pointed to the boy's cot and Chris scrambled under the covers. Chris hoped his dad wouldn't spank him but his stomach dropped as Hawkeye made the turn-around gesture. He sniffled, tears burning in his eyes as did what he was told. Hawkeye pulled the blankets to the side to access the small bottom
"You better start explaining how you got out of the tent!" Hawkeye needed answers and needed them now, his son was wandering around and was doing it unnoticed for too long. So Hawkeye's conclusion was that Chris didn't just use the front door to get out.
Chris started to sob softly but didn't answer. He didn't want his dad to get madder!
Hawkeye sighed. And without warning, pulling the small pajama bottoms down, Chris gasped and started sobbing harder as his underwear followed.
"Now you listen here, Mister!" Hawkeye's voice was firm and serious as he put his hand on the child's back to keep him in place. Chris put his hands back to protect his bum. But before he could touch his exposed cheeks his dad gave them a tap.
"Keep your hands in front of you!"
"Y-Yes sir," Chris said in a soft voice as he buried his head in his arms.
"You're going to explain this instant. This will not be the only question and I don't have much time. Understood?" Hawkeye said, his voice getting very stern and Chris felt his stomach flip.
"Well? How did you get out of the tent?"
Chris pointed to the spot next to his cot, "Under the tent." he murmured.
"Okay, thank you. How long have you been doing this? And following other people than myself?" Hawkeye continues
Chris hiccupped before he answered " a..a few weeks"
"Hawkeye gave a fast slap on the small bottom under him."
"Ouch!" Chris hissed and let out a sob.
"A few weeks!" Hawkeye scolded.
SLAP!!*
"I'm sorry!" Chris cried.
"And how often a week?" Hawkeye asked.
Chris took a deep breath. This was bad! He had been caught and he didn't want to tell how often he does this, his dad would only get madder.
Hawkeye slapped again, harder.
SLAP!!*
"Christopher! You better answer me!"
"Auw! Don't...P-p-please!" The sobbing boy swallowed hard.
"T-Twice a-a w-week!...Or more" Christopher softy added the last.
Hawkeye raised an eyebrow. "Two times a week or even more?. That means you are almost doing it every day!
"I'm sorry!"
Hawkeye sighed and raised his hand again and again.
SLAP* *SLAP!!* *SLAP!!*
"OWW!!" Chris started sobbing faster as he felt his bottom begin to burn, then it was followed by another loud smack. The slap of skin.
'No, no, no…' Chris thought. He didn't want a spanking! He hoped for the normal couple of smacks he got normally when he got out. But apparently, his dad thought otherwise!
Another smack, and again. "I'm sorry! " Chris wailed. "Papa! hou op!"
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" Hawkeye snapped. He didn't understand what Chris said, he didn't even know if it was English or Dutch, Chris's crying made it difficult to recognize. But it didn't matter, Hawkeye knew what his kid meant.
"You're going to have plenty of this until you learn your lesson!"
SMACK!* *SMACK!*
Chris cried louder as tears streamed down his cheeks. His lip trembled. His bottom throbbed. And just like that, it stopped. It only took a couple of seconds but it felt like hours to the boy.
Hawkeye let the sobbing child go and pulled his underwear and pajama bottom up.
He looked at his crying child and sighed. He hated this, he stroked Christopher's hair and told his son how much he loved him, and that everything was forgiven. Chris curled on his side, and looked at Hawkeye with his big blue eyes. They were red and puffy but his kid still looked adorable like this.
Chris sniffed and his dad kissed his forehead and stroked his hair.
"I'm sorry!" Chris babbled and cried while he rubbed his bottom under the covers.
"Shhh! You're okay." Hawkeye soothed and sat on the edge of the bed. Stroking the child back. "It's alright. You're okay"
"I'm sorry! And it hurts!"
Hawkeye's heart broke at the sad small voice. He loved his kid so much. But also needed to be firm.
"You know better than to get out of bed!" Hawkeye said sternly. "What did I say? Didn't I warn you? "
Chris sniffed and said "Yes, sir " He picked up Wally from under his pillow, Radar's bear seemed to like sleeping there, so Wally liked that too. He burrowed himself under the blankets, face peeking out.
"Then please promise me you won't do it again, understood?"
Chris nodded then looked up at him with teary eyes. "Okay."
Hawkeye then explained to Chris that his behavior was a bit odd and that people didn't like being watched at night. He talked about people's privacy and about respecting that.
Just like when Hawkeye had a date when the door closed they needed privacy. He taught Chris that one on a weekend of RR.
Hawkeye knew his kid understood adults needed their space sometimes, as he had lived in a brothel for a few months. Hawkeye's suspicion was correct, and Chris understood. Not that the child knew what the adults did but he knew that they did something without kids or other people present. Adults only.
The ladies he spent some time with, did that adult stuff also and made sure he didn't come close, so it must be important.
He pulled a face but stayed in his hotel room as Hawkeye went and had his fun with some woman. And he really stayed in his room. The noises he heard outside the doors of the ladies' place were not fun at all.
Hawkeye never wanted to explain that to a ten-year-old, but locking the doors simply doesn't work and this was the lesser one of two evils.
He hoped Chris stopped his stalkerish ways, he really tried to explain how it made people feel. It made people feel unsafe and Chris knows that feeling well.
Chris's face was blushed from underneath the covers, only his face was visible.
He felt so stupid. Why couldn't he be normal, he just needed to check on people, but he never wanted them to feel bad. He sniffled.
Maybe his dad hated him now, he collected his courage and looked at the man.
But Hawkey's eyes were only full of concern and love, and it only made Chris's tears flow faster. " I'm sorry Papa, I didn't mean to!"
Hawkeye smiled. He loved hearing that title of fatherhood.
"Good boy!" He said kissing his cheek and ruffling his hair. "Hou van jou." (Love you)
Chris gasped and looked shocked. That was Dutch! It sounded a bit weird and slightly different but it still felt a bit like coming home. Chris was relieved it didn't feel bad to him anymore, he kinda liked it even. The child smiled happily at his dad.
Hawkeye grinned. "Yes! I learned some Dutch phrases. Now go back to sleep. It's late."
Chris sighed "Love you too!" he whispered back as he snuggled down further into his covers. He loved his Dad!
His dad smiled at him before turning around and walking over to look at the place Chris seemed to escape from and was glad to see he could fix it easily. It took about 5 min to hit new pins through the flaps and Hawkeye quickly headed back to O.R.
The next morning two doctors entered the busy mess hall, maneuvering around all the people to the food line. Little Chris followed closely behind. Most people made sure not to scare him and watched a bit where they were going. They stopped behind Radar in the food lineup, Hawkeye looked around the clerk to look at his food tray.
"How many in your party?" The doctor asked with a grin.
"Now, that's a pregnancy craving if I ever saw one." Trapper added, earning them an angry look.
The doctors grinned. "You can tell us, Radar!" Hawkeye said.
"Which girl was it?"
Radar turned towards the men and opened his mouth to tell the men off but decided against it. He quickly moved away to an empty table, no need to lose his appetite.
The doctors followed him and sat down, Hawkeye and Chris on both sides next to him. While Trapper sat across from him.
Chris put his bunny on the table next to his food but his dad immediately told him to put it away, no toys on the table during eating.
That comment earned the doctor a look from the boy like he was insulted. " It's not a toy." Chris said softly and a bit sad while putting Wally away. Radar nodded as he agreed with that statement making the doctor snicker.
Getting serious again, Hawkeye asked.
"Hey, do you know anything about that boy we operated on?"
Radar said they knew nothing about him. His village was bombed, that was all they knew.
Trapper and Hawkeye asked Radar if he could look around to trace the family of the boy, calling around, and asking the villages around the unit.
Just like they did when they found Chris, Hawkeye thought with a smile.
"Okay, I'll get on it as soon as I finish eating lunch." Radar replied, taking another bite.
"That could be in two weeks." Hawkeye said, getting a giggle from Chris
"Or three, if he had dessert," Trapper added with amusement in his eyes.
"Look, I'm eating as fast as I CAN!" Radar snapped, mouth still full with food.
"Well" Trapper continued, sounding serious "Do this fast, and you'll find a little something in your pencil box. "
Radar looked confused at the man while taking a bite.
"A teeny, tiny little nurse all your own." Hawkeye said snickering.
"Honestly, you guys are embarrassing!" The clerk snapped.
Chris dropped his fork on the floor startled. With a shocked and embarrassed expression, the child picked up the fork. Hawkeye got a smile on his face thinking Chris's uncle Frans did the same thing when he got startled.
" I'm sorry Chris" Radar quickly added
Trapper ignored the boy as he said to Hawkeye "Just imagine if he made love as good as he eats."
"No woman in the world would be safe ." Hawkeye said, looking at the clerk. He loved getting a rise out of Radar, he adored the man of course, but he was just so funny sometimes.
Hawkeye could count down from 3 to 1 till he saw the explosion of anger on Radar's face. The clerk angrily grabbed his tray and stood up, and moved to another table.
Later that day, Hawkeye was the doctor on duty, and right now he was reading to the small Korean boy. Chris sat on the empty bed next to them doing his school work. Every wounded soldier listened in as well because the book Hawkeye was reading from was a smut romantic story.
Margaret and Frank walked in and Margaret was outraged by the fact Pierce was reading smut to a child.
"It isn't smut, it's a perfectly good little story about life in everyday America. Anyway, the kid can't understand English."
Hawkeye said to the angry woman in front of him.
"And what about your kid!" she said, gesturing toward Chris.
Hawkeye looked at his boy, but Chris didn't even look up, he was working on his schoolwork with a serious expression.
'Why isn't he listening? It's probably because he's a bit younger mentally' Hawkeye thought before he shrugged.
"He's not even listening. Right, Chris?"
No response.
"Christopher!" Hawkeye tried gently
"Huh" Chris looked up shocked at hearing his full name.
"You're not a caveman, so close your mouth, " Hawkeye said laughing, he wasn't mad.
Chris closed his mouth quickly.
" I asked if you were listening to this story"
Chris shook his head " No" He listened to the start of it. It was written beautifully but he lost interest as the romance started, he just didn't see the appeal, kissing, and such. 'Yuck'
He started reading his history book and lost track of his surroundings. Of course, he made the questions also, but he still needed to finish a couple of pages.
"See! Margaret, he's fine. It's not a dirty story, well not as much to make these soldiers blush, at least."
The little Korean boy named Kim laughed at that.
" That's the bad fairy!" Hawkeye said, pointing his thumb toward Frank.
"And she's the wicked witch!"
Trying a different approach Margaret said " You're disturbing the other patients! Pierce. "
Hawkeye turned himself towards the room and asked loudly
"You guys want me to stop?"
The whole room responded as one "No!" startling Chris a little, who almost dropped his book and gave a confused look around the room.
Hawkeye wanted to say something to reassure his son but Chris was already very into his reading. Hawkeye was so proud that Chris got over his fear so fast this time. He got slowly more comfortable with the patients and that meant new people in general as well.
Despite the resourceful Radar's best efforts, he is unable to trace the family of the boy. Henry wants to send him to Sister Theresa's orphanage but Trapper hates the idea and wants to adopt him and take him home to the States. So he writes to his wife asking for her support in the matter.
The boy becomes very popular. The MASH personnel takes turns entertaining him.
Hawkeye and Chris bring him along when Hawkeye got a date with a nurse during movie night.
His dad was always kissing girls, Chris was a bit puzzled about that, why would you even want to do that. But who was he to tell his dad what he can and can't do?
Chris just watched the movie, he shared some popcorn with Kim, who seemed very nice. Chris smiled, he knew some Korean words but not much, but you didn't need a language to communicate, Chris knew that well.
Trapper was making blown-up surgical gloves animals, with the help of Chris who had the time of his life doing it. Chris was not an artistic person but drawing weird faces had him laughing out loud for almost an hour already. They had a couple of markers to use.
Hawkeye looked astounding as he noticed his boy getting braver and happier each day. Even in this hell hole of a place!
"He reaches you, huh?" Hawkeye asked Trapper. Hawkeye knew the feeling well. It happened to him the same way.
"He may just be the cutest kid I've ever seen in my life," Trapper said with the biggest smile.
'Not, possibly!' Hawkeye thought as he saw Chris rush over to him.
"Look!" The boy said excitedly to his dad showing him the weird-looking dinosaur he made. No, his boy was not artistic, but that didn't matter at all. Hawkeye laughed and praised the bandy-legged dinosaur with a weird smile.
Chris was over the moon "It's yours, I made it for you!" and run back to start on another one, he was making one for each of his friends!
Hawkeye just had a great idea to get Chris to call him dad without forcing it. He smiled.
Radar walked in and said "Wow, what's that!" looking at the creation Trapper was making. He wanted to touch it but Trapper pulled it back. "It's for the kid!"
Radar looked a bit disappointed until Chris showed the balloon monster he made for the clerk.
"Radar! Look! " The small boy presented his
It had one big eye and one small one was drawn on it with a matching crooked smile. The fingers of the surgical glove were the beast his horns and Chris gave him big blue spots. It was an ugly thing but Radar seemed thrilled with it.
"I love it, Chris!"
Chris smiled at him happily. " I'm glad you like it."
The next day Trapper received a letter back from his wife.
"Go ahead with the adoption papers" Trapper read out loud.
Hawkeye and Francis cheered and hugged Trapper. Now they could adopt him!
"You know what! Maybe this is the reason I was sent to Korea!" Trapper said. Hawkeye just smiled, he knew how Trapper felt.
"Up until now I felt my being here was senseless, but for the first time I think I have a real reason for being here!" Trapper said excitedly
"That's the beginning of faith, Trapper," The Priest said.
Chris walked over to his dad, the adults were all talking to each other but Chris wanted to ask if Kim would stay here just like him.
Chris pulled Hawkeye's t-shirt gently. He waited for a second but his dad didn't respond, he just kept talking two the other adults.
Hawkeye felt the light tug on his clothes, but this was the perfect moment for his little plan. He just had a great idea, that Chris never called him dad simply because he didn't need to. The boy always tugged his clothes or tapped him, and he would respond immediately. Now he just would wait a little longer.
Chris looked at his dad confused, it took some effort for Hawkeye not to laugh, and keep a straight face.
The child tugged a bit firmer, but Hawkeye still seemed busy.
Chris huffed, he felt irritated! Why wasn't this working?
Hawkeye couldn't help the smile he got looking at the annoyed expression of his son.
He tried tapping but Hawkeye didn't even seem to notice.
"D-dad?" Chris almost whispered while tugging his dad's clothes, gently.
Hawkeye's heart burst with joy after hearing Chris call him dad! Finally! Why didn't he think of this sooner!
" Yeah? Kiddo?" Hawkeye replied with the biggest smile. He tried to act normal but he felt so happy at the moment. He couldn't stop himself from putting an arm around the small boy.
"D-does that mean Kim is staying here?" Chris asked with big hopeful eyes.
Hawkeye sighed, he hated to break the boy's spirit.
"No, Kiddo, he's going to live with Trapper's wife and kids, in the states."
Chris's face fell. "Okay"
And he sniffled trying hard not to cry, but he seemed to be failing. Chris bonded a bit with the younger boy over the last couple of days.
"I don't want him to go! He's my friend!" he started before he lost his battle as the first tear fell.
Hawkeye brushed away the tear on Chris's face and looked into his red, watery eyes.
"I know that Kiddo, I do. But it isn't safe here! "
After the second tear appeared, he embraced his son and let him cry it out. After a minute or so, he managed to get Chris under control again.
"There, there" Hawkeye brushed over the child's head.
"If you lived in the states, you would have more kids to be friends with, friends your age, you can still go.." Chris was already shaking his head wildly before Hawkeye could finish his sentence.
The next day Frank and Margaret were watching Kim during their picnic. They looked each other in the eye romantically as they drank their wine and then smiled lovingly at one another.
Frank said something romantic and Margeret jumped in for a passionate kiss.
"Hi, kids, missed you down at the sugar bowl." came Hawkeye's voice from the side where the couple was laid out.
They quickly rolled away from each other.
"Is this your idea of taking the kid on a picnic? " Trapper asked as he appeared next to Hawkeye. Chris was standing behind his dad, he liked to stay close if they went outside the camp. He looked around but didn't see Kim. He wanted to show Kim a comic book if he wanted of course.
"Where is he? Trapper asked while looking around for him.
"Well, he was here a minute ago." Frank said. They all start looking around, Frank sees the small boy first and gasps.
The child was sitting on a rock right in the center of a minefield, he didn't know how much danger he was in. He was just playing with his ball-in-a-cup.
Margaret screamed, alarming the doctors who immediately ran towards the boy, Hawkeye stopped at the edge of the minefield and grabbed Chris around the waist before his son could follow Trapper.
"Hold it!" Hawkeye said loudly.
Trapper stopped and faced Hawkeye.
"I gotta get the kid outta here!"
"You wanna make him an orphan again!
"He mustn't move!" Trapper said hastily as Kim waved to them and wanted to get up.
Margaret shouted the Korean word for stay and the boy waved and sat back down.
Hawkeye runs to Radar's office to get the map of the minefield. Chris decided to follow his dad but it took some effort. He worried about Kim, but Kim didn't understand! But there was nothing he could do, he hoped his dad wasn't mad at him for almost running after Trapper into the minefield, he wasn't thinking. He wanted to help.
Hawkeye stormed straight through Henry's golf game and went to the filing cabinet.
"You just ruined it! " Henry said
"Gee..." Radar said just as Chris walked in.
Hawkeye quickly explained the situation, before all the adults jumped into action, searching for the layouts of the field.
After finding them, they wasted no time racing back.
"We got the maps!" Hawkeye shouted.
Some people gathered around them, they seemed shocked.
Henry opened the map on the ground and started reading out loud.
Henry managed to guide Trapper's safety through the first couple of steps. Before they found out the map Henry was reading from was a WW2 Surplus map and not the map locating the mines.
"Trapper! Don't move!" Hawkeye shouted
"You're damn right I won't!" Trapper shouted back.
Hawkeye turned Chris to face him, and told his son to stay like that and not to look at Trapper, it was just a precaution. But it made the severity of the situation more real, as cold sweat broke loose.
Radar quickly found the right layout and handed him to Hawkeye. Looking at the map, Hawkeye felt his heart sink. Trapper was surrounded by land mines.
Thankfully, the chopper arrived and with a ladder pulled Trapper and then Kim from the field.
All the personnel outside cheered and clapped as the two were put down to the ground safely.
They all rushed over to the boy and Trapper who still had the child in his embrace.
They almost didn't notice the truck that just arrived, even after honking Trapper didn't seem to notice, but he did see the woman running towards them yelling "Kim! Kim!" And he saw the boy's face light up.
The woman picked the small boy up and carried him back. The nun who drove the truck explained to them that this woman came to her looking for her son. So she took a chance.
Trapper couldn't keep his eyes from getting teary. He watched as the truck drove past him, he gave a sad wave.
He stood there and watched them drive away.
Hawkeye knew how he must feel right now, it was the same feeling when he thought that Chris could be taken away from him. He must be heartbroken.
He stood next to him and sighed "Buy you a drink Trap?"
Trapper sniffed "Who needs a kid that ... *sigh*... Wanderers off into minefields?"
Hawkeye just nodded, whatever Trapper needed to tell himself right now was fine by him.
"Back home he'd probably be... Probably be crossing against the light."
"Come on, " Hawkeye said while putting an arm around the other man. His other hand went to the top of Chris's head who snuggled close and sniffed.
It was fun to have another kid here, even though Kim was way younger they still played together, the boy always seemed so happy. It made Chris happy too.
They walked back to the Swamp. A couple of hours later they were drinking their newest back of gin as Radar walked in.
Chris had just fallen asleep 30 minutes ago and stirred under the covers mumbling a little. Hawkeye hoped he didn't wake up, as he watched his sleeping son with affection.
Radar informed them that Kim arrived safely and would be visiting soon. Trapper didn't seem too enthusiastic.
Radar went on, "Uh... Sir, are you still interested in adopting a son? there's a little boy down in, uh. Radar said going through the files on his clipboard.
"Got anything about 5'5'?" Trapper asked while taking a sip.
"Well, no, he's... Uh..." Radar tried
"Wear dirty glasses?" Hawkeye added
"Never shave?" Trapper bounced back
"A two-striper?" Hawkeye said with a smile as he saw the clerk look at himself.
"Well, I'm a little old, but...uh we could try it for a week," The late teen said.
"Come sit down," Hawkeye said as Trapper pulled a startled Radar almost on his lap.
"Your father and I will tell you what we did to have you," Trapper said while giving Radar a sip of his drink.
"Cut it out!" The clerk snapped
"Shhh... Don't wake your little brother!" Hawkeye said, waving toward the small boy sleeping.
He could've sworn that he saw a flash of affection in the man's eyes as Radar looked at Chris. Hawkeye was glad Chris had at least one very good friend around, a friend he also could do kids stuff with that is.
Radar huffed but seemed glad Chris didn't wake up.
