It was a dark and cold night when Hawkeye got woken up by Radar. It was time to start his midnight duty in post-op.

The doctor groaned, it was freezing.

"I give you 10 bucks for 10 more minutes, " the doctor told the clerk. But Radar didn't listen and tried to convince the man to get up as he started to pull the blankets off before he pulled Hawkeye up to a sitting position.

"5 for 5 minutes?" Hawkeye tried again but Radar kept telling him people were waiting as he was dressing the man in his coat.

"I give you 2 dollars to smother me with this pillow."

A very cold and tired BJ entered, desperately trying to warm himself on the heater.

Chris was fast asleep, he was wrapped like a burrito with a mop of unruly blond hair sticking out. Hawkeye sleepy chuckled at the sight.

BJ dropped on his cot, dead tired.

"You wanna go over there into first-class and tuck him in?" Hawkeye asked Radar.

The man agreed, walked over, and started pulling BJ's boots off.

"You know, after this war is over, you're going to make somebody a fine mother. " Hawkeye told the clerk as he was about to leave.

"Aw, cut it out!" Radar gave the man a grumpy look but Hawkeye just laughed as he headed out.

It's freezing outside and enemy artillery has brought blackout conditions. The wind was blasting against his face as he walked to the post-op.

Hawkeye yawned as he entered and immediately got greeted by an angry Frank, as he was ten minutes late.

Ignoring the other man Hawkeye went to do his rounds, he was just at the last one when he noticed the door open softly in the corner of his eye.

He looked up and saw his kid now frozen at the spot looking back with big wide eyes.

Hawkeye put on his stern face as he said "Christopher! What are you doing out of bed! It's freezing!" The boy was wearing his long johns under his PJs with a coat on top, but he wasn't wearing any shoes, only a pair of socks.

"I h-had a bad dream?" Chris said, but it sounded more like a question and the child didn't look upset or looked like he'd been crying. He rather looked a bit guilty. He could read his kid like a book and right now Chris was lying.

"Come here," Hawkeye motions his son closer. Chris walked toward him looking anxious.

Hawkeye put his hands on the boy's shoulders and looked at him sternly. Chris kept looking at the floor, Hawkeye could still remember when the child always kept eye contact, afraid to look away, afraid to disobey. He was happy Chris slowly found himself to be a normal kid but right now he wanted the boy's attention on him.

Hawkeye tapped the boy's chin. "Up here!" he said as he pointed towards his eyes requesting eye contact.

Chris looked up hesitant, his big blue eyes wearing a guilty expression.

"Did you have a bad dream or are you lying to me?" Hawkeye said. Those blue eyes filled with tears as his son quickly started to apologize. "I'm s-s-sorry papa"

His dad looked at him disappointed, which made him feel awful, he never wanted to disappoint his dad. But he thought he could at least try this to stay close, the Swamp was dark and scary if Hawkeye wasn't there.

"I would've smacked your ass if I thought you would feel it through all these clothes!" Hawkeye said

Chris got bright red as he whimpered. "Dad" his dad only frowned more. "Maybe I will later because I'm disappointed you lied to me but I'm not baring you in this cold."

The boy looked at his dad like he would die from embarrassment, but they were alone, except for some sleeping patients, and his son earned himself a stern talking-to.

Hawkeye wanted to continue his scolding when *BANG!* a mortar exploded very close by. Chris jumped into his dad's arms as Hawkeye hastily shielded the small boy away from the blast. He waited till everything around him stopped shaking and slowly loosened his grip on his son.

"Now you have a good reason to stay close," Hawkeye whispered to the trembling boy.

He didn't get the chance to soothe the boy as a patient started trashing around afraid of the bombs.

The second explosion shook the building a little as Hawkeye struggled with the man to get him to stop moving, his arms were broken and he was waving them around way too much.

Margaret tried to help but the man briefly brushed against her breast and she started screaming, she let go of the patient making Hawkeye fall face-down on the man trying to hold the arms together. The man kept screaming "Don't touch me! Don't touch me! I'll kill you!"

"Watch your hands!" Margaret screamed back.

"Margaret, help me!" The struggling Hawkeye argued.

She stomped her foot with outrage in a way Chris didn't dare in his lifetime, her whole body shaking from anger while she shrieked.

"I don't have to put up with any fresh stuff!"

"Oh! Come on, he's not gonna commit suicide and make a pass at the same time. Hawkeye said while he was lying on top of the patient barely holding the frantic man's arms steady.

Chris trembled next to his dad while he held the man's coat tight. This was very scary but he didn't dare to help his dad, the patient seemed much stronger and scarier than he is. And he wasn't allowed to interfere. He lost his battle to stay strong as he softly started crying. It was just too much, the screaming, the bombing, the movements, the anger, fear, and all the other emotions filling up the room suffocated the boy.

"Well! I don't have to put up with any fresh stuff!" Margaret shrieked again but calmed down a bit as well.

"Get a sedative, will ya?" Hawkeye snapped as he kept struggling. This man just didn't want to calm down and was starting to get more aggressive. He heard Chris cry, but he didn't have time to think as the soldier put his teeth into Hawkeye's arm.

"Oh! Don't... Ahh! Don't bite me." Hawkeye kept struggling. "Ah, you... Margeret, he's BITING me!"

The nurse quickly came with the sedative ready.

"Oh wait a minute! Wait a minute! Get the right rump!" Hawkeye said, moving his butt away from the nurse with the needle.

Margaret found her target and they finally managed to get the man sedated. Hawkeye pulled his arm from the man's teeth and looked over the damage, it hurt a lot more than the harm it does.

The explosions went on but seemed a bit less frequent, as the patient was calm, Hawkeye could turn his attention to his son.

Chris looked like he could fall asleep any second, he was pale and scared, but he had stopped crying.

The child knew what to do in this kind of situation, bombs and unruly patients, which broke Hawkeye's heart.

Again he hates the fact that Chris was here! That they were here. This was no place for a child, he should be safe right now, and he would be right now if he wasn't that stubborn, or scared, which one of those made the kid jump out of that chopper?

Hawkeye held his scared son close, explosions sounded in the background, but thankfully not so close anymore. Chris whimpered as he clung tighter to him. Hawkeye gently put his hand on Christopher's head, he looked down into his eyes, his blue eyes, they were terrified, and yet bright and full of trust.

Hawkeye felt a rush of tenderness for his child, he felt proud Chris trusted him so much, as most of the time he just went with his instinct.

"Hey, hey, it's going to be okay. You're going to be fine, I promise." Hawkeye said softly, trying to calm him down a little, hoping to make his son feel better.

He knew how badly this had shaken up the little guy. The explosions had scared the crap out of him and the screaming people didn't help at all. On top of that, he got bitten, which must've scared the child as well.

The explosions stopped and the silence was deafening. Hawkeye let out a shaky breath and slowly let go of his son, Chris, however, didn't let go and stayed close as he had a right grip on the man doctor's coat.

Work resumed like normal, except for the fact that they had to collect Chris's shoes from the Swamp. Hawkeye wanted the boy close, and Chris didn't want to leave, but he couldn't stay outside with only his socks.

The boy followed behind his dad as Hawkeye did his rounds.

That went on for about 30 minutes until the peace got disturbed by a single gunshot before Klinger got carried in by a very nervous enlisted man on his first day.

The man explained that his gun went off, and he didn't know how.

"He's not gonna die right? It's my first day!"

Hawkeye and Margaret put the loudly moaning Klinger to an empty bed.

"Of course, he's not gonna die!" Hawkeye said, as it didn't look that bad and because he felt his small son starting to tremble harder and heard the soft breathing speed up. He needed to stay calm and sure about things for Chris.

"Come on, sit down," Hawkeye told Klinger who kept yelling

"The pain! The pain! "

"It's okay," Margeret said "I've got you!"

Hawkeye pulled the thick fur coat of the man to the side to reveal absolutely nothing, no wound, barely a small scratch.

Hawkeyes felt his irritation rise. His kid got shot worse than this! Which again made him feel guilty about not being able to protect Chris more. He pushed those feelings aside as he turned his attention to the man faking it. Klinger was scaring Chris and the new enlisted man, who still believes he shot someone on his first day!

Klinger didn't help things as he said to the new man.

"Kid! Kid, I forgive you, kid!"

The new man, who looked a bit gray and very shocked, kept apologizing.

"Klinger! It's nothing, it's just a scratch!" Hawkeye said motioning at the shoulder of the man.

"There it goes! My whole life is passing in front of me. " Klinger said as he appeared to be dying. "Ma! Pa!"

"Have we got the right shoulder?" Hawkeye asked, this was ridiculous.

"Laverne. Goodbye.!" Klinger went on.

Klinger! Margaret snapped.

"So long, Harry, Frieda, Paul. I'm coming, Uncle Jake! " Klinger said, slowly falling over to pretend to die.

Hawkeye sighed, at least Chris wasn't upset anymore, he felt the grip on his coat loosen, and his breathing was a lot better, he quickly brushed the boy's hair affectionately.

"Was the gun loaded? " Hawkeye asked the new guy.

"The lights are fading! I'm too young! No! No!" Klinger said as he lost the battle with gravity and fell on the bed face down.

"Could you at least bleed?" Hawkeye asked with a smile, he started to see the humor now that Chris wasn't scared anymore, the boy even giggled at the sight of Klinger.

"Can I have your clothes? " the small high voice of Chris said.

The boy bravely made a joke, he was bright red and trembled but didn't seem too scared, but this was one of the rare times he made a joke and it still scared the boy. Hawkeye felt proud that Chris tried, the child felt a lot safer with his friends but talking and interacting with people was still a problem, especially strange people. He just had to keep trying.

"Your little vulture! Going after a man's dresses after he dies" Klinger said with a wink to the boy, to show him he was joking. Chris giggled happily.

Hawkeye loved to see his kid happy, Chris was the sweetest kid ever, but it worried him a bit that Chris wanted those dresses. Maybe he needed to talk with the child, if he said those things when he got older, people would talk and start treating him differently.

They got Klinger up on a chair and Hawkeye was putting some bandage on his shoulder, even if it wasn't necessary.

"Thanks for pulling me through, Doc!" Klinger told the doctor.

Hawkeye smiled," I can't remember a tougher case! Unless it was removing a kitten from my house slipper."

He got Klinger fixed while the man seemed sure, this was his ticket home, he had done his bit, and he was shot.

Hawkeye rolled his eyes and told him that wouldn't work, and if it was up to him he would stick a thousand-dollar stamp on the man's nose and send him in the first mailbag.

After things calmed down again, Hawkeye decided to put Chris back to bed.

Chris shook his no and looked at his dad with big eyes. He didn't want to go to bed, not alone without his dad at least near.

"Chris, it's almost 3 in the morning, you are going to bed now, you need to sleep," Hawkeye said as he gave his son a slight frown, he turned to Margeret and said that he would be gone in a couple of minutes, to put Chris to bed.

"That's fine, I'll hold down the fort." She said not looking up from the report that she was writing.

Hawkeye felt grateful, Margeret and he doesn't always see eye to eye, especially if Frank is near, but she is a great nurse and always professional.

Sometimes he even considers her a friend. Especially regarding Chris, Margeret always offers help with him and doesn't mind if Hawkeye has to leave because Chris needed him for a couple of minutes. And he knew the patients were in her great care, till he came back.

He guided Chris out the door but the boy stopped and turned around, looked at his dad pleading, "B-but the bombs?"

Hawkeye sighed and said, "That was almost two hours ago, it's not happening now, so you can go back to bed."

When Chris didn't move but looked at the man with big puppy eyes he added. "Now go!"

He gave the boy a gentle push to get him going and Chris walked reluctantly to the Swamp. Hawkeye didn't really appreciate the attitude but the child was sleepy, so hopefully would be asleep soon.

He put the boy to bed without too many difficulties, he got a frown though, and some pouting. But Chris was asleep pretty fast, so Hawkeye could finish his work in peace, not that the child was a bother, but still, one less thing to worry about.

The rest of his shift went smoothly except for Klinger who they found outside in his underwear trying to get sick.

So after a couple of hours, a very tired Hawkeye fell on his bunk. Chris was still fast asleep. The doctor slept for about a couple of minutes before he was woken up again by BJ.

Hawkeye groaned as he loudly complained about the unfairness of this all. BJ explained that Hawkeye's father was calling, but not for Hawkeye, the man was calling for him. This confused and worried the doctor, as he got up again. He didn't have to grab his coat as he slept with it on. Chris stirred and slowly woke up. Hawkeye told him to stay in bed, this was just a phone call.

Hawkeye gently kissed the side of the child's head, and mumbled "Good night" quickly, before he left in a hurry.

Chris sighed, he felt that his dad was worried and that in turn made him worry as well. As the adults left he thought it over, he really wanted to go! But his dad wouldn't let him get away with sneaking out twice. He would definitely get punished if he did. But he was worried, thankfully his thinking took too long and he fell asleep again.

Chris woke in the morning, finding the cot next to him empty. Panic filled the boy. Where was his dad? Why wasn't he back? He thought as his body acted without thinking and ran outside, he didn't even think about putting on shoes or putting on his jacket.

The temperature was a bit better today, but it was still cold as the boy walked on his socks across the compound. He was thinking a mile a minute, where! What! Who! How! A thousand thoughts entered his mind, and he couldn't even process them as his emotions were a turmoil.

He walked over to Radar's office automatically, he knew the phone was there and glanced through the door window. Relief filled him as he saw his dad sleeping on the clerk's desk near the phone. The boy rushed in as Hawkeye was startled awake by an alarm clock.

Hawkeye jumped up and grabbed the phone thinking the sound was someone calling, but as he called out for his dad, no one answered. His mind started getting a bit more awake and he hit the alarm clock to shut it off. What a lousy start to the day, Hawkeye thought as he looked up and saw his son standing next to him looking very scared and sad.

A pang of guilt flared through Hawkeye, he totally forgot about his sleeping son, the boy was safe of course, but the doctor knew how Chris would react if he woke up alone. That scared the child immensely and he always tried to avoid that, but he was just so tired yesterday and worried about his dad.

He motioned his son close and the boy let out a sob and put his arms around his dad's neck burying his head against the man as he cried.

"I'm so sorry kiddo." Hawkeye felt terrible, as a dad, he should know these things!

Chris didn't reply as he just cried "Come on now kiddo," Hawkeye whispered soothingly rocking his son back and forth as the boy clung tightly. "We've done this before, you'll be okay. I'm sorry, I know it's not an excuse but grandpa called and couldn't get through so I got a bit worried." Chris looked up at that, big blue eyes glossy and worried.

"Don't worry, it's okay, I don't know why he called, it could be happy news." Hawkeye said trying to keep it positive for them both, even if he didn't believe it. Chris seemed to calm down a little, now he had to calm himself, Hawkeye sighed as he painfully got up from his chair, he was getting too old to sleep in a chair he thought.

He decided he needed a shower badly, and because Chris didn't want to be alone the boy came along.

They got in and removed all their layers of clothing. They either got into a stall and got the water running, Chris seemed very clingy, and Hawkeye still felt a bit guilty, but things were getting there. The water felt great and even Chris let out a relieved sigh.

It was a rough night, and Hawkeye was still worried. His dad wouldn't call unless it was important and why would he want to talk with BJ and not him? It just doesn't make sense!

Hawkeye swirled his shaving brush in his mug before plastering the shaving cream on his face. As he brushed he saw Chris trying to find the soap. Hawkeye chuckled and passed it. "You're such a dwarf!"

Chris just huffed, but wasn't annoyed, he didn't mind. He still had to grow! "I'm still growing!" The high voice replied as the boy washed his body. Hawkeye laughed, "At this rate, you'll be this tall over ten years" Hawkeye held his hand just above Chris's head.

The boy looked up at the hand and his mouth fell open, "That's not true! Dad!"

"Yes, it is, it's my professional opinion as a doctor! My personal professional opinion." Hawkeye laughed at the child's shocked face, Chris believed everything.

"Really? "Chris asked seriously.

"Nuh, I'm joking. You had small parents though, I figure you get as tall as Radar." Hawkeye said as he saw his son get a big grin.

He didn't mind that, Radar was very tall and big in his eyes, Chris thought as he soaped his hair.

The door opened and someone walked in, Chris gasped a little, as he couldn't see who it was.

Hawkeye looked at the newcomer with curiosity, he didn't know this man. He heard Chris gasp and automatically put his hand on the boy's shoulder. Letting him know, he was here and it was safe. He squeezed gently.

The man seemed to be searching for something as he looked around the room, Hawkeye followed the man with his eyes. It was a bit rude coming into the showers without knocking and Hawkeye felt protective over his scared child. Chris's breath sped up as he saw it was a stranger, the boy hastily grabbed his dad's hand which was still resting on his shoulder.

The stranger looked at Hawkeye in his stall and moved over to the next. Chris saw the man come closer and quickly pushed the stall door between him and his dad open and jumped inside.

The bubblegum-chewing stranger gave the child a weird look but went on looking around.

Hawkeye put his arm protectively around the boy but didn't say anything as his eyes followed the stranger through the small mirror he was holding while he brushed the shaving cream on his face. He thought it would be better if he didn't put that much attention on Chris's unusual behavior, Chris would have to learn how to deal with his fears, and he would be there, giving comfort.

The stranger made his round and said.

"Is this the whole tent?"

"And nothing but the tent," Hawkeye said, still brushing over his chin.

Chris's heartbeat was going crazy, but the boy tried to copy his dad and resumed with trembling hands the washing of his hair. Hawkeye tightened his arm around the boy briefly, to let him know he was proud. His ten-year-old is fighting a panic attack and doing it in strides.

"I'm looking for, uh, Captain Pierce." the stranger said.

"You got him"

"You can't be Pierce." The man said, confused.

Hawkeye raised his eyebrow as he said. "You mean somebody pasted my face in this mirror?"

The man looked at him as he said. "You're not dead"

"Don't jump to conclusions, I have a very good tailor."

"You're supposed to be dead, sir. " Hawkeye looked at the man with slight irritation, didn't the man see he got a scared child with him, who does that?

"You're upsetting my kid! So tell me what are you talking about? Or just go!"

"No offense, sir, but everything seems to upset your kid" Hawkeye raised his eyebrow, and wanted to tell the man off, but the man quickly added.

" But what I'm trying to say is that you are declared dead, sir. Honest." The man shows Hawkeye a copy of his death certificate and notifies him the original has been sent to his next of kin, meaning his father.

Hawkeye now understands why his father asked for BJ instead of him, he thinks Hawkeye is dead. He quickly rinsed his face and knowing Chris wouldn't stay in the showers alone, told his son to get going.

The child looked at him with soap in his hair and a confused expression. It would be an adorable sight if Hawkeye wasn't so urgent.

Hawkeye quickly but gently rinsed Chris his hair and handed him a towel while grabbing one for himself."

He dried himself at record speed, got dressed, and immediately helped Chris do the same. Hawkeye felt furious at the army, of all the low tricks, this was cruel. He needed to call his dad!

Calling didn't work, of course, he couldn't get through. But Klinger came up with a plan for Hawkeye to send a telegram through another unit to get word back home. It would be a long shot but it was his only option right now, as he was dictating his telegram to Klinger.

"Dear Dad, I am not dead. Stop. Hope you are the same. Stop. Thinking of selling my clubs? Stop. Spending my insurance money? Stop. Will call soonest. Please don't worry. Love, your nowhere-near-late son, Hawkeye."

Now they could only wait, while Klinger kept trying to get through to HQ and Dr. Daniel Pierce.

What a day! Hawkeye thought as he and Chris ate their breakfast. He was so tired, things just seemed to go wrong today.

As they walked back to the Swamp, Chris asked if he could go over to hang out with Radar, and his dad agreed. It had been a rough start, but maybe the day would get better. Chris ran toward his trunk to retrieve his superman comic, as he was back to reading superman right now.

Did you finish your schoolwork? Hawkeye asked but he kept thinking about his dad.

"Ja!" the boy replied as he ran back with his comic. "Can I go?" Hawkeye, knowing that meant Yes, nodded and the boy left.

He sat there thinking about how his dad must feel right now, he hated this. His anger made him jump up and pace around the tent, he did that while grumbling to himself about the ridicule. He debated about going to BJ to complain while helping with his surgery before his eyes fell on the child's schoolwork.

When was the last time he checked that? He thought. It must have been almost a month ago, Hawkeye sighed, why did he forget about these things? Please don't let his kid be lying about this, he didn't want to spank his kid on this day, but Chris lied before about his homework and only got scolded and a warning last time.

So if Chris was lying again, he needed to punish him.

He opened the child's math work first, Chris hated calculations and math. His heart sank as he saw his son miss a lot of chapters. He was pleased with the rest of the work as he was ahead with them, but he missed almost 7 chapters of his math, and Hawkeye asked him almost every night if he had done his work.

Hawkeye felt disappointed in himself and his son, he should've checked sooner.

He marched over to Radar's office, where he found his son lying on the bed while he and Radar were talking. He stood in the doorway and crossed his arms.

Chris looked up as he heard the door and got worried as he saw the stern look from his dad.

"Christopher, you and I, need to talk!" Hawkeye said firmly as he motions his son closer.

Chris jumped up and rushed over, his dad used his full name! Am I in trouble? I wasn't doing anything wrong! He thought.

"B-but the comic book?" Chris asked as he stood in front of his dad, he felt the anger ripple from the man, and it made him nervous. He wasn't scared of his dad, but he was afraid to be punished.

"Take it with you or leave it here, but we are going home," Hawkeye said sternly. The boy must be feeling very brave today as he asked if he could come back after talking.

"No!" Hawkeye said as he guided him through the door. Outside he turned the boy to face him and gave him a stern look as he said "Inside now!"

Tears sprung to Chris's eyes as his dad pointed toward home, he was in big trouble and he didn't even know why! He didn't want to anger his dad more and quickly walked back towards the Swamp.

Entering Chris felt relieved to see it was empty, his dad walked in behind him and took his arm, and guided the child towards his cot. Hawkeye sat down and positioned the boy between his knees before he looked sternly into those glossy blue eyes.

"Didn't you just tell me you were on target with your schoolwork?"

Chris almost squeaked out loud but could stop himself just in time as he thought. 'Oh no! He didn't! He must've checked his schoolwork. I'm in so much trouble!'

Hawkeye saw when Chris knew what he was referring to. He made a strange squeaky humming sound as his glossy and now guilty-looking eyes started to water.

"I-I-I'm sorry dad!" Chris tried but his dad gave him a hard smack on his behind.

He jumped up a little at the sound, but it wasn't that hard, probably because he was wearing several layers for the cold. He wore his briefs, long johns, and thick pants.

"That wasn't an answer! Try again."

"Y-y-yes, sir! I said that." Chris mumbled as he quickly looked down to avoid the look of disappointment and his eyes landed on his dad's big knees on either side. He let out a sob knowing he wouldn't get away with this, he lied! That was terrible!

"So you lied to me! Again!" Hawkeye said as he gave the boy another smack on his bottom.

Chris started sobbing to his fullest as he started apologizing.

"You know this means I have to put you over my knees again don't you?" Hawkeye asked, still furious at the boy in front of him.

Christopher looked up through his tears at his father.

He shook his head frantically. "Papa! Don't…You don't have to... " Chris whispered between his sobs, he knew this was coming, but he still hoped his dad wouldn't.

He had tried so hard to make sure he wasn't a disappointment to him. But now it would all come crashing down around him because of his own stupid mistake. Just because he didn't want to do his math!

His pleas were ignored as Hawkeye raised his hand once more.

The slap came again, harder this time and Christopher let out a whine and tried to move away from hitting range, but his dad pulled him back and gave him a stern look as the man said.

"Lying alone is enough to warrant a trip over my knee, and you did that twice! And on top of that, you're not doing your work. You just earned yourself a hard pak slaag! (Spanking) "

"Noooo! P-papa, I'm…sorry " The boy managed between his crying.

Hawkeye unbuttoned the child's pants and pulled them down, he guided the sobbing boy over his knees. And had to lift the winter coat up and away from his target, he forgot about the long johns but that was no problem as he unbuttoned and opened the flap covering the small bottom.

Chris whimpered "Nooo!" as he got pulled down and felt the cold air hit his cheeks. Why didn't he just do his work? He hated this! He hated calculations too, but a spanking was so much worse.

His briefs quickly followed his pants down and Hawkeye raised his hand and without warning started slapping the bare bottom of his son.

He showed no mercy, he hit fast and hard. The sound of his hand connecting with bare flesh filled the tent as Chris cried and tried to protect his butt with his hands. "Auw! Paappaaa! Ow!"

Hawkeye stopped and told him to put his hands away. Chris just sobbed and shook his head against his blanket. His small hands stayed where they were, so his dad pulled his long johns a bit further down and gave him a stinging smack on the undercurve of his cheeks.

"Ow!" This made Chris's eyes open wide and he whimpered as he quickly pulled his hands back, tears spilling and rolling down his face.

Hawkeye continued.

"I'm sorry! Ow! Please!" his small voice cracked between cries.

Hawkeye didn't say anything, he just kept a steady pace spanking the boy. The small pale bottom turned angry pink fast, with every handprint it got a shade redder.

Chris tried to struggle but was held right, he kicked his legs but his dad just kept hitting.

"Please no more daddy!!" the little boy begged, his accent got very heavy and Hawkeye had to listen carefully.

"I do not appreciate you lying to me! I never lie to you, now do I? " Hawkeye said between smacks. The little one's face was red as a beetroot, tears falling from his eyes.

"Ow! ahh! " Chris didn't answer, he just cried out with each slap, he could only concentrate on the building heat from his bottom.

"You know I'm very disappointed in you." Hawkeye continued his spanking, his smacks getting harsher than before. He didn't care if the boy was crying in pain, his child clearly needed this to motivate him to do his work.

He lifted the boy higher over his knees and needed to pull the long johns a bit lower to access his child's sit-spot. He held on to them and rested the arm over the boy's legs to make him stop kicking while using the other one to continue spanking.

Chris grabbed his blanket tight as he struggled to keep his hands away from his dad's target.

Hawkeye spanked the upper thighs, with fast hard smacks. The boy cried his eyes out as he went limp over his dad's lap.

Hawkeye finished the spanking with five harder smacks, as he said.

"And *SMACK* you *SMACK* will *SMACK* do *SMACK* your *SMACK* work!"

He stopped and looked at the spanked backside, his boy will feel this at least today and maybe tomorrow morning.

Chris sobbed, he noticed the spanking stopped and slowly brought his trembling hands to his bottom, his cheeks felt hot to the touch and he gently tried to rub away the pain.

"Ow," he softly whined miserable, before he let out a sob.

"You gonna stop lying to me?" Hawkeye asked. He kept his hand firm on the boy's back, preventing him from getting up, he let the child caress his spanked bottom, he didn't mind, he noticed Chris always did that.

Chris nodded frantically as he said. "Yes sir! " between sobs.

Hawkeye was pleased with that answer as he pulled the boy briefs back in place and buttoned the flap. The boy had almost kicked his pants away, so he had to put Chris's leg back into his pants before he could raise them. He guided the boy from his lap and held the sobbing boy in front of him as he pulled the pants up and closed them.

Chris kept apologizing and tried wiping his tears but they just kept coming. It hurt so much! He saw with his blurry vision his dad looked at him sternly. He apologizes again.

Hawkeye gently took hold of Chris's chin and made eye contact.

"You will finish all those chapters this week! " Hawkeye ordered, leaving no room for argument. "I want at least two chapters finished today! Understood?"

Chris nodded "Y-Y-Yes s-sir! " Hawkeye sighed relieved, they were done with this. He developed the sobbing boy in a hug and let Chris cry around his neck. He held the back of Chris's head and caressed it soothingly.

"Hey, you're all right now Kiddo…It's okay…." He cooed softly as he rocked Chris on his feet. Chris clung to him like a little monkey as he sobbed quietly.

Chris's little face was buried against his dad's shoulder, he needed his dad to hold him like this, being hugged by his dad made him feel loved. He didn't want his dad to be angry with him, he loved his dad.

After a couple of minutes, the sobbing slowly stopped, and Hawkeye sighed relieved, he hated making his kid cry.

At that moment BJ walked in. Chris got bright red but didn't let go of Hawkeye's neck, so he buried his face closer.

BJ didn't look surprised as he must've heard the spanking and went over to his cot. Ignoring the clinging child situation Hawkeye explained to his friend about being declared dead. BJ decides to throw his friend a wake saying, "What kind of a friend would I be to let you pass away without a party?"

Hawkeye laughed, "you're right! I would've wanted it that way, with a party!"

He soothed Chris by moving his hand gently over his back, the child sniffled a bit, but other than that seemed to be calmed down.

Some time later, people were decorating the mess hall. Chris wanted to stay close to his dad, he always did that after being punished, he felt vulnerable and needed reassurance from the man often.

Which the man provided by brushing his head when he walked past or giving him a quick kiss on the forehead.

Chris sat down, wincing a little when his butt made contact with the hard wooden bench and opened his schoolwork. He sighed, he hated math, and now he had to make all of it this whole week.

Radar came over and asked if Chris was okay. Chris blushed and quickly nodded. "You wanna help to make the popcorn strings?" The clerk asked.

Chris got a huge smile and nodded happily but his dad saw Chris got up and firmly said

"No! You're being punished, schoolwork needs to be finished first."

Chris got bright red, sat back down, and glared at his dad, that was uncalled for! He could've said, No and you know why! Now everyone knew he was being punished.

Hawkeye stopped what he was doing as he saw the dirty look his son threw at him and met the glare head-on with his stern raised eyebrow.

Radar mumbled something about needing to feed his rabbits and quickly left.

Chris promptly dropped his glare, his dad crossed his arms and stood closer. "Something to say to me?" The man asked. The boy shook his head and apologized.

"I mean it! First I need those two chapters before you can do anything else. If people ask, just tell them: No, I'm being punished." Tears sprung to his eyes at the thought of telling people that but he nodded as he said "Yes sir."

Hawkeye stroked the child's head and gave a quick kiss on the blond hair.

"Love you, Kiddo!" Chris answered "Love you too" but still seemed to be sulking.

Radar came back later but left Chris alone to work. He did ask if the child needed help, but Chris didn't think his dad would like it if he made his work together with Radar, better not risk it.

The party was already coming to an end when Chris finally got his work done, he was so tired and didn't feel like partying, his dad was flirting with a nurse, Radar was dancing with Kelly, and BJ was talking with Colonel Potter. Chris sighed, he didn't want to join in, it was too crowded with people and it made him uneasy.

Klinger interrupted Hawkeye's flirting and informed him that all communications to the States have been temporarily shut down; General Eisenhower's impending visit to Korea has forced the Army to clamp down on security.

Seeing Hawkeye's concern, Chris walked over and handed him a drink. Hawkeye gave the boy a sad smile and a big hug.

BJ leads the party in a chorus of "For He Was A Jolly Good Fellow", but Hawkeye adds a macabre final line himself:

"I was much too young to die."