It was almost noon as Hawkeye with Chris on his heels returned to the Swamp. They just showered and Hawkeye explained to the boy that he needed privacy for a couple of hours. Chris was kinda resentful but he didn't want to watch his dad kiss another girl. So he accepted it but huffed to let the man know he wasn't happy.
As they entered the Swamp Hawkeye started shaving immediately and explained to Trapper about his date, they were going on a picnic, and he would show her the beauty of Korea, and then some.
"And Chris?" Trapper asked
"Doing school work, probably in Radar's office," Hawkeye said, brushing his face with the shaving brush.
Chris dropped himself on his bed, he needed to collect his schoolwork. As he reached for his history book, Hawkeye asked him if he was up to date with all his school work.
Chris got a sinking feeling in his stomach as he nodded, everytime his dad asked he just nodded or said yes, but he didn't even start his math work. He just likes his other books better. Why he nodded the first time, he wouldn't know. The second time Chris said yes to that question, it was because he was afraid of disappointing his dad.
Now his dad asked again and he didn't want to tell the man he didn't do his math, not with Trapper and Frank in the room. What if he got punished? he didn't want the other two men to know that!
Hawkeye looked up from his shaving to his kid, Chris seemed nervous. Maybe he should check up on his work, it's been two weeks since Chris started his schoolwork and if Hawkeye asked, Chris told him he did his work. He always trusted the boy, Chris normally didn't lie about stuff but the nervous reaction of the child now made Hawkeye question his decision.
"Can you bring me your work, I want to check if you understand it" Hawkeye asked as Chris his eyes got big and he started fidgeting nervously.
Hawkeye looked at his son and sighed, Yes! He should've checked sooner. His boy looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He didn't want to punish his kid for something stupid like schoolwork, maybe a stern talking too will be enough.
Hawkeye dried his face with a towel after finished shaving as he said "Now! Chris!" a bit sternly. He had a date and didn't want to waste time.
Chris's face burned bright red as he slowly collected his books from his army trunk. After he got all his books, his dad got him a second hand trunk, his little suitcase didn't hold any space for his stuff anymore.
He put his books on his bed as his dad walked over, Chris couldn't look his dad in the eye. Please don't be mad! Please!
Hawkeye briefly looked at the worksheet, the man knew how much his son should have finished, but he wanted to be sure. Chris knows as well how much he needed to do each day, he didn't get that many books to be able to forget one.
He was up to date with most of his work and even far ahead with his history but his math book stayed untouched. After two weeks he should have at least got a couple of chapters done.
He looked disappointed at his son, who burned red as their eyes met.
"Didn't you tell me you were done with your school work for last week? "
"Yes, sir," The small boy said, looking back at the floor. He hated this! He hated getting in trouble, why didn't he just do his work?
"That means you lied to me! Mister!" Hawkeye said
Chris's head shot up at that and he shook his head wildly.
What! No! He thought, he looked at his dad and tried with his eyes only, to beg his dad to not get mad.
"Yes! You lied, you told me you did your work, didn't you?"
Chris looked at the floor again and nervously played with his shirt, he didn't even think about the fact that his dad could get mad if he lied.
"I-'m sorry," The small boy said. Hawkeye sat down next to him on his cot and told Chris to look at him. When the nervous red-faced boy did, Hawkeye put on his angry stern expression, making Chris almost cry at the sight.
"Do you need a spanking to stop lying to me and do your work?" Chris quickly shook his head, "No, sir" No! He did NOT need that!
"If you have trouble with your work or if you don't understand a word or sentence, please let me know. I don't mind helping you, but I do mind getting lied to! Understood?"
"Yes, Dad," Chris said hastily looking back at the floor.
Hawkeye looked at his son, the boy called him dad a bit more often, and it cheered him up every time. But in these types of situations, he would prefer Chris to call him sir, it's only polite.
"You didn't even open your math book! So it's not like you had trouble with it. So why didn't you make it?"
Chris just shrugged, Hawkeye felt his irritating rise, he was trying to let him go with a warning but Chris was being disrespectful at this point.
The small boy noticed that was a mistake as soon as Hawkeyes' face changed from a stern look to the 'I've had enough and you're getting punished' look. Chris hadn't even got a chance to say sorry as he was pulled standing and turned to his side.
Smack*
Chris squeaked and turned bright red again. It didn't hurt, but still! he sniffed, tears in his eyes. He didn't want to cry over one little smack, but his dad was mad at him and that hurt more than punishment.
"I expect a real verbal answer!" Hawkeye said firm but gentle while sitting Chris back down on his cot.
"I-I...I'm sorry, I d-d-don't like math" Chris whispered looking down at his hands in his lap and twisting them around each other nervously. He didn't even dare raise his head to see how mad Hawkeye was.
He heard a sigh before he felt hands brushing gently on top of his head.
"Come on kiddo, you can do better than that, you're smart! "
He felt a hand on his chin gently lifting it so he would look into the man's eyes.
" You're making it today! All the chapters you need to do for this week and the last! "
"Yes, sir"
"Do you need help with it? I can postpone the picnic." Hawkeye asked gently. He got his point across, so no need to stay stern.
Chris shook his head, " No, sir"
His father gave him one final kiss on the forehead and pulled him into a quick hug.
"Go get 'em, tiger! And have fun!"
Chris almost rolled his eyes and collected his work, he could stay in, but he could also work in Radar's room. He started to collect all his books as Radar walked in.
"I got the stuff for your picnic " Radar said walking with a happy smile.
"Ohh, Faithfull Radar. When I have the time, I'll make you tall! "
Radar gave him an irritated look, after hearing that comment.
" What culinary delights did you get for us?" Hawkeye said happily while hovering over the clerk unpacking the basket to show its content.
"Brandy" Radar said, holding a bottle with still some brandy left.
"Compliments of Colonel Blake."
"Not very much in it," Hawkeye said, sounding a bit disappointed.
Radar shrugged, " He wasn't very complimentary."
Frank huffed and said. "You can't use him as a servant!"
"No servitude involved!" Hawkeye said, filling the brandy with some of their homemade gin. " He likes me! Don't you Radar?"
"Uh, yes sir!" The clerk added as he packed up the basket again.
Hawkeye was putting some aftershave on his face as he continued "And you don't like Major Burns, do you?"
Radar looked a bit awkwardly at Frank who was cleaning his gun. "Oh, no, that's not so! I like you, sir."
"Then why do you always say nasty things about him, behind his back," Hawkeye said as he quickly ruffled Chris's hair and left.
"Hey!" Radar said outraged! "Boy!" That was not true! "Honestly sometimes.."
Chris giggled as he took his math book with him.
"Jeez.." Radar said as they left the tent and headed towards Radar's office. "That guy…" He shook his head as he laughed.
They walked through the camp.
Chris giggled again. 'Dad's so funny!' He thought before he looked at his math book and sighed, not all the time though.
Hawkeye was enjoying this perfect day with a beautiful new nurse. They sat there for about 15 minutes when suddenly his new nurse got almost shot through her foot. 'It's a sniper!' Hawkeye thought. They needed to get back to camp.
But everyone in camp got shot at as well, thankfully nobody got hurt as they all started running around like crazy.
Chris was working alone in Radar's office, as Radar was taking a shower and would be back soon.
When he heard the shots the boy froze, he knew that sound! He stopped thinking and ran towards the door, he needed to find his dad! His dad needed to be safe! He got as far as 2 steps outside before Hawkeye appeared in front of him and picked him up and quickly carried him back inside.
Hawkeye saw Chris open the door just as they arrived, he didn't want to stop running so he just picked his kid up.
Meanwhile, the rest of the MASH personnel have also been shot at and rushed to seek refuge in the hospital building, except for Henry and Radar, who are trapped in the shower tent.
Radar tried to get back to his office to call for help.
But as he ran across the compound wearing only a towel around his waist, he almost got shot a couple of times. The sniper didn't get him because the man was zigzagging like a bunny away from the shots. But because of that, Radar ended where he started and quickly dodged the latest bullet as he entered the showers again, losing his towel in the process.
Inside the hospital building, there is frantic activity as the MASH personnel attempt to shore up their defenses. Frank attempts to take charge but no one listens to him. Hawkeye was watching the man, who kept yelling and screaming for some silence.
Chris was huddled against his dad, as they were sitting and waiting for Frank to get control of the people. After a few minutes, Hawkeye took pity on the man and stood next to Frank. The doctor raised his hand and everyone got quiet.
Frank crosses his arms as he looks at the other doctor.
Hawkeye looked back and shrugs "I don't know, I've always had it" Before walking back to his sitting spot next to Chris.
Now Frank had everybody's attention he started ordering the people to stay calm before he got shot at as well and dropped to the floor. Frank stayed on the floor huddled with his pillow in shock.
Hawkeye moved over to Radar's office to see if Trapper got any luck on the phone. Chris was plastered against him. He always did this in situations like this, and for that, Hawkeye was very glad, he wanted the boy close.
"Well?" Hawkeye asked.
"There's a battle going on and the earliest help can be sent is noon the next day. "
Fortunately, at that time an ambulance enters the camp compound and Henry and Radar can take advantage of the cover it offers and dash to the hospital building to rejoin the others.
Everyone was relieved to see the two unharmed men come back from their shower trip alive. Everyone had been worried sick about them.
The ambulance driver got shot as well and as Trapper takes a look at his arm, he tells the surgeons he got about 6 wounded with him.
After they gave Radar a bathrobe, and the two men's calmed down enough, they started discussing the options.
The wounded needed to be operated on, but how do we get them safely inside?
Hawkeye wanted to surrender, but Frank and Margaret sounded outraged by that aspect. But it was only one man shooting out there and if they surrendered they would be fine and they could help the wounded.
He held Chris close while Radar got them a white flag.
"You stay here okay! " Hawkeye looked at his son's eyes, he needed to make sure that Chris understood the dangers and stayed put.
"I don't have to explain, what would happen if you run after us! Do I? Do you understand how dangerous this is?"
"Yes, D-dad" Chris answered his father. Hawkeye hugged him close and told him he loved him.
Hawkeye gave Radar his kid, while he got the flag from the clerk. "Let's trade!" He said jokingly, trying to keep the spirits up a little. But both of his audience didn't seem amused so he started seriously again. "Stay close to Radar, and stay inside!"
Chris nodded but had tears in his eyes, he wanted to be close to his dad if the man was doing dangerous stuff, because he didn't want to lose Hawkeye. But he didn't want to disappoint his dad, he did that a lot already. He just hoped his fear wouldn't take control.
Radar put his arm around the small boy as Chris started crying softly, he was scared, and it took all of his effort to stay in Radar his arms as his dad and Trapper walked outside carrying the flag.
They walked to the ambulance and because the sniper didn't react, Hawkeye told the personnel to get the wounded ready.
Everyone jumped into action, except Radar who had the duty of watching Chris at the moment. Chris pulled Radar with him to the door, at least he could see his dad!
But Radar shielded most of his vision as he tried to look past the clerk through the door. Chris never got angry or irritated at someone but Radar was getting close. He almost stomped his foot but he heard shooting again.
The wounded were just inside as the sniper started shooting again. Ignoring the white flag, the sniper seemed more determined to try to hit someone. The two doctors ran back to the building, flying bullets around them.
Chris and Radar pushed and held the doors open as he saw the two men running towards them. Chris heard shots ring out all around him. The bullets hit the walls and ceiling, the yelling coming from other personnel.
He was scared, but not frightened enough for him to stop helping. As he held the door open and watched his dad rushing into the room, he heard a bullet hit next to him.
A harsh sharp pain spread from his shoulder through his whole arm.
He didn't notice at first that the bullet hit his small upper arm.
The feeling was so intense, so sudden. It took only seconds before it felt like his entire body had been turned inside out.
He gasped and fell backward onto the doorframe.
He almost hit his head on one side, but Hawkeye was only two steps away when he saw the bullet hit his young son's upper arm. His insides froze, as fear overtook him as he grabbed Chris before the boy could fall.
"Oh my God! Are you alright?" He asked almost in a complete panic, taking in his son's pale face. Chris blinked several times. His mouth was wide open, showing his two slightly bigger front teeth. He whimpered softly.
It hurt so much! He couldn't speak, it just hurts.
Hawkeye sat Chris down sitting on the floor as he almost tore the shirt from the boy. Looking at the wound he felt enormously relieved to find out the bullet only scraped Chris's upper arm.
"Papa?" The child said, looking into his father's eyes with confusion. "Are you okay?"
"Come here," Hawkeye said, pulling his little boy closer, as he addressed the wound. Radar handed him a doctor's bag and kept telling the doctor how sorry he was for not paying more attention.
The clerk seemed beside himself and was getting worked up about this.
"Radar! It's NOT your fault! You were both holding the doors open! Besides, he's fine! Just a scratch." Hawkeye said soothingly, more reassuring himself than the clerk, as he put some pressure on Chris's shoulder. The little boy whimpered softly.
"Hey, it's alright kiddo. I know this hurts, but it'll be gone soon."
Chris looked up at his Papa, his eyes were red and fearful but no tears streaming down his cheeks. Which seemed odd to the doctor but he had other more urgent things to do, he gave Chris some painkillers, so at least Chris wouldn't be in pain.
Radar kept nervously pacing back and forth, mumbling things like "Ohh, boy" and "Jeez".
Once finished, Hawkeye wrapped the bandages around Chis's arm tightly. Chris wiggled uncomfortably as his father secured them.
"Alright buddy," Hawkeye smiled at his son "You're all good now! He carefully snuggled the child close in his embrace, making sure, he didn't hurt Chris's arm. Chris seemed a bit in shock at the moment and a bit dazed by the painkillers.
"Is he okay?" Trapper asked
"Yeah, he's fine, he's going to have some more battle scars, it's only superficial. Didn't even need stitching! " Hawkeye said, trying to sound optimistic but feeling sick at the thought his ten-year-old got more battle scars than him or most of the adults on this unit.
"And you?" Hawkeye asked his best friend.
"I'm good!"
"I don't know about you, but I'm upset! " Hawkeye said to his friend. Chris seemed to calm down a little, or he got more drowsy, whatever it was it helped Chris sniffed a little and sighed.
Hawkeye continued " My draft board promised me there wouldn't be any shooting!"
Radar past a shirt to the small boy as the doctors got up to prepare themselves for surgery on the wounded.
As night falls, most of the MASH personnel are huddled in post-op under torchlight because the sniper has shot up the generator. Chris stood next to Hawkeye leaning into the man with his unharmed side. The small boy felt sleepy but didn't want to leave his dad's side.
Normally it would be his bedtime, but this wasn't normal and Hawkeye wanted him close. He explained that of course to the child and Chris only seemed relieved to be able to stay.
Later in the night everybody is scared but has no choice but to wait. Henry is hiding under his desk while Radar stays next to the man. Radar had put his pillow on the side of the desk and was huddled against it. He was carrying his bear and wearing a bathrobe.
"Don't you think things are running fairly smoothly?" Henry asked his clerk.
Radar looked at the colonel confused as he said. "Nobody's eaten in 13 hours, sir!" as Henry gave the clerk a funny look he continued.
" I have this peculiar metabolism. If I don't eat regularly, everything solid in my body turns to liquid."
Henry looked confused at the late teen.
"My shoes are full of water." Radar told the man.
"They are not!" Henry said trying to peek at the clerk's feet but only managed to bump his head on the desk.
Margaret goads Frank into going out to hunt down the sniper because that is what a real man would do.
Later as most of the personnel are asleep post-op.
Hawkeye was just lounging around waiting just like the rest of the personnel.
Chris was almost asleep in Radar his bed. The boy missed his little bunny because Wally was still back at the Swamp, so Radar said he could cuddle with his bear tonight. The clerk still felt a bit guilty for not keeping Chris away from the door, but Hawkeye kept reassuring him, that's not his fault. They stayed where Hawkeye wanted them, and the only one to blame is the guy shooting.
Without any warning, Chris gasped.
Hawkeye looked at his young son confused.
"Chris?"
The little boy looked at his dad and started whimpering softly. He forgot his schoolwork today! He disappointed his dad! But he tried so hard to behave today, his arm hurts and he didn't want to be punished as well! He started to cry louder holding Radars bear close to his chest.
"What? What happened? Are you hurt?" Hawkeye scrambled to the bed, maybe the wound got infected and he felt sick!
He took the sobbing child into his arms, holding the little boy gently but tightly, rocking gently from side to side. " I'm s-s-sorry! " Chris said between sobs.
"Why? What's wrong? " He asked, looking him over carefully. Chris didn't feel warm or anything." look at me!" The boy just shook his head.
"Chris? Look at me..." He urged again, holding the shaking boy close. Finally, he looked at Hawkeye, who was looking worried at him. "What's wrong?"
The crying boy took a deep breath and said in between sobs in a soft voice. "If-f-forgot to make my school work."
Relief washed over the doctor and also a bit of irritation for making him worry about nothing but more relief and affection. "Ohh, Kiddo! I'm not mad about that! I told you this was not a normal day."
Chris relaxed a bit after hearing that. But now he felt so stupid! Of course, today was different! He didn't think about that, he just thought about what his dad said earlier and nothing else.
He didn't make the connection between those two together, to see the whole picture. After Hawkeye told him, it sounded so logical, but why he didn't connect the dots before then he didn't know.
Hawkeye almost rolled his eyes at his boy, how can he be so sensitive and so dense at the same time.
Chris got shot and didn't shed a tear! But the idea of being put over his dad's knees for a spanking had him sobbing like a baby. He felt a rush of affection for his kid, Chris was a bit difficult and different but he was still the sweetest kid there is. Maybe he'd been too strict this morning regarding this schoolwork.
He tried to explain a bit better, but this was a weird situation, how to tell your son he didn't have to do schoolwork because he got shot today! God! He hated this war!
"You got shot today so it isn't a normal day! So you are free of any chores and schoolwork. I will let you know when we start with the normal days again okay?
He held the boy slightly away from himself and saw tears streaming down his face. He wiped them away with his thumb. "You're going to make yourself sick if you keep crying like this, kiddo," he said gently.
Chris nodded quickly, sniffling slightly. Hawkeye gave him a small smile and kissed him on the forehead."You're okay! Kiddo! Everything is fine."
He put Chris down again and tugged him in, he told his still hazy kid a story but Chris was asleep within minutes.
After Chris fell asleep Radar walked past and saw the boy sound asleep, he discreetly pulled his bear away from the child to snuggle with it himself, it was his bear, and the man was afraid. If Chris was asleep he wouldn't need him.
Trying not to wake everyone up Hawkeye made his way over to Margeret who is sleeping on one of the beds in post-op.
He wanted to gently shake her awake, but the moment his hands touched her she started screaming. Hawkeye quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
" Relax! Relax! I'm not here for violation purposes!" Hawkeye said, releasing Margaret's mouth.
" Where's Frank? It's his shift. " Hawkeye asked.
Looking around a confused Margaret concluded he was not there.
And they both realize that Frank must have gone out just as Margaret wanted him to.
Hawkeye sneaks out into the compound to search for Frank and finds him cowering under some boxes.
He tells Hawkeye he doesn't want to throw his life away after having made it as a doctor - he had taken twice as long and flunked out of two med schools along the way. Hawkeye turns to leave him but he asks Hawkeye not to tell Margaret about what he saw and heard.
Before Hawkeye could turn away from the man, he heard clattering in the mess hall.
"Someone is in the mess hall!"
"The sniper?" Frank asked hiding behind a crate.
"Quiet! Come on." Hawkeye started heading that way but stopped as Frank replied. "Me?"
"He doesn't know we're out here, but we know he's in there. This gives us a good chance to catch him!" Hawkeye quickly explained
"Catch him?"
"Or he catches us. Whichever way it works out." Hawkeye wasn't too worried it was only one man and probably a very hungry and weak one.
"Look, if you want to be a hero that much, you go!" Frank replied
Hawkeye felt his anger rise at the man, as he replied.
"Frank, You know what a hero is? Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, he's tired enough and cold enough, and hungry enough not to give a damn! My kid has been shot today and I need to stop this! So I don't give a damn! " Hawkeye said before heading over to the mess hall, a not-so-happy Frank behind him.
The doctor slowly entered the building and headed to the shadow figure eating. He jumped and grabbed the person as Frank erratically started shooting.
"Stop shooting! I got him!" Hawkeye yelled to the man.
But all Hawkeye got caught was a very angry clerk with a sandwich he just started eating from.
" I had to get something to eat!" Radar yelled back, he just had taken one bite!
"You'd risk your life for a --" Hawkeye looked at the sandwich. "-- a ketchup on rye?"
"With butter and lettuce!" The clerk shouted as he got up from the floor where Hawkeye dropped them after his jump and grab.
All their shouting must've awoken the sniper because the man started shooting at them again.
The two of them quickly dropped to the floor behind the table.
"Wow" Radar whispered before taking another bite.
"You want to finish that sandwich here or in surgery?" Hawkeye said before dragging the clerk with him.
They made their way back safely to Post-op.
They walked into Radar's room and noticed Chris was still sleeping. Hawkeye felt relieved, the bedtime schedule helped a lot with stuff like this. Of course, the pain meds did that as well. But the bedtime even made Chris feel safer every time the boy woke up, and things were still the way they should be.
He kissed the boy's forehead as he adjusted the position of the child's arms so Chris didn't roll over on it, before tugging him in again.
Hawkeye had a bed ready for him in post-op but he wanted to stay close to Chris, so he put his mattress and blanket down next to Radar's bed. The clerk himself made a bed for himself in Henry's office.
The next morning, Hawkeye looked over his son, the wound was superficial and stopped bleeding, he had some burned skin and a small line of open skin where the bullet touched him.
He bandaged it and cleaned it, and gave him another shot of antibiotics, he did not want to take any chances of infection.
Chris didn't react much, but he made painful hissing sounds while Hawkeye cleaned the wound. Hawkeye did give Chris some pain meds, but a lot less for today.
When the wound was clean, he put a large gauze pad on it to keep it warm and protected the wound from the outside air.
The boy sat on his father's lap, reading a book and eating a candy bar he got from Kelly. Not the best breakfast for a child but after so many hours of going hungry, he was very grateful for Kelly to sacrifice her candy. It was at least something to eat. Chris never complained about being hungry, but he was probably used to that. Which made Hawkeye feel very guilty for letting it happen again to his son.
Why he didn't think to bring food back last night while they were in the mess hall, was probably because he was getting shot at, but he was right there and didn't even think about his hungry child. He felt like the worst father right now, even though Chris seemed happy munching on the Bonomo Turkish Taffy.
"Chopper" Radar said as he walked to the door. Hawkeye tapped Chris on his leg and the boy got up from his lap.
Hawkeye heard the chopper now as well. He and Trapper opened the door to peek through. Chris wanted to look as well but got held back by his dad.
All the personnel of the 4077th looked on as the chopper circled the area around the compound.
The sniper shot at the chopper, giving away his location, as the chopper fired back with more bullets than the sniper could dodge.
The chopper fired a couple more rounds with his machine gun before he turned around and just flew off.
Everyone was watching in silence, it took about a minute before they saw a white flag being slowly raised to the air.
"hey Radar! Will, you do me a favor?" Hawkeye started but got interrupted by Radar who said " yeah! I will get your bag!" before the clerk already walked away.
After getting his doctor's bag Hawkeye slowly walked to the sniper, Chris was behind him but got sent back to Radar.
The clerk put a friendly arm around the boy's good shoulder. Hugging him close to his chest.
As Hawkeye neared the wounded sniper he thought to himself ' if you knew how lucky you are, lucky that I'm not a hateful person, I'm very mad at you for shooting my child but I'm also still a doctor. You're very lucky indeed to be getting this house call.'
Hawkeye called for the rest of the personnel and together they got the man into the O.R.
After the surgery, Hawkeye entered the Swamp. He still wore his scrubs, but they weren't that bloody.
Chris handed his dad a drink. Hawkeye thanked and hugged him, carefully for the blood stains and Chris his wounded arm. The boy carried his bunny close, he had missed the stuffed animal for two days already.
Radar asked why the sniper was shooting and Hawkeye explained that the sniper was just a stranded teenage North Korean soldier of 16 or 17.
"Gee!" Radar said.
"He got lost from his unit and was scared, cold, hungry and half out of his mind." Hawkeye says " He thought he was shooting at General MacArthur's headquarters. " The doctor was glad he didn't get angry at the sniper, he was very close to hating the man who hurt his kid. But the man was a kid himself. In war, things aren't as black and white as they seem.
" It would be a shame to disappoint him, " Trapper said
Hawkeye gets a big grin as he dresses Frank up in a hat, sunglasses, and a corncob pipe while he sleeps. When Frank wakes up, he asks what's going on, and Hawkeye replies, "You have returned!"
