He walked off, Hawkeye with him. They luckily ran into Major General Hogan with Potter, Margaret, and Charles, all drinking coffee in the Mess Tent. "Problems?" Potter asked. "Besides the snipers?"

"Something the General might be able to help us with," Hawkeye said.

"How can I help?" Hogan asked.

"Maybe a patient needs a plane ride," Charles archedly said.

"It's a reporter," BJ said. "He says he needs to see you. I'd appreciate the help, General. He's a bit hard to keep in his bunk and he's determined to find you."

"I'm not a big reporter fan," Hogan hedged.

"Please," Hawkeye said. "This guy's going to rip his stitches out to see you."

"All right." Hogan rubbed his temples. "What's his name?"

"Newkirk, Peter Newkirk," Hawkeye replied.

Hogan's face drained of all color and his fingers clenched his coffee mug. "General?" Margaret asked. The General stood and darted out of the Mess Tent. The medical staff exchanged looks and followed hastily.

Hogan stepped into Post Op, trying to control his racing heart. His gaze flicked over each bed. "Gov'nor?" a soft voice called.

Hogan jerked and a wide grin curved his lips. "Peter!" He strode forward and carefully clasped Newkirk close. "Hello, Peter," he said. Strong arms wrapped around him. "What are you doing in Korea?!"

"Could ask you the same thing, gov!"

Hawkeye and BJ exchanged looks. The Major General embraced the war reporter tight then eased the thinner man down onto his cot. "What have you done to yourself now?" Hogan scolded, eyes bright.

"Ah, you know me, Rob." The Englishman's eyes danced. "Just traveling 'ere and there. 'Ow are James and Jean?"

"They're great. Wondering when their Uncle Peter will pop by again." Hogan sat down on Newkirk's cot.

BJ strolled over, the rest of the staff trailing behind. "You two know each other, I see," he dryly said.

"We ruddy well should. The Major General 'ere was my CO for over three years," Newkirk said.

"You were in the air force together?" Potter asked.

The two men chuckled. "I was a lowly RAF gunner," Newkirk explained. "Colonel, er, Major General Hogan led a bomber squadron. No, we met in Stalag 13."

The medical staff exchanged looks. "A POW camp," Hogan said.

"Germany?" Potter asked.

"Near Hammelburg," Hogan said.

"Hogan was the senior POW officer at Stalag 13. We shared a barracks."

"Three years?" Margaret asked.

"Well, four for Newkirk," Hogan said. "You were shot down in 41, right?"

"January 17, 1941," Newkirk expanded. "And Hogan joined us in 42 when 'e was shot down."

Hawkeye flushed suddenly. "That's what you meant by the mess food comment."

Hogan nodded. "You haven't had rotten food until you eat boiled cabbage for two weeks in a row."

"Yeah, the Krauts never could cook. We would 'ave died without Louie."

The two men began chatting and the MASH staff wandered away. "Well, I'm embarrassed," Hawkeye said.

"Can you imagine? Three years in a POW camp?" BJ stared at the two men.

"And here I thought this cesspool was bad," Charles said.

"That could explain some of his scars," Margaret said.

"They seem close," Charles commented.

"Three years, Charles, with no R&R." BJ cocked an eyebrow. "No booze. No breaks."

"No women." Hawkeye shuddered.

"I would have thrown myself into the barbed wire," Charles retorted.

"Explains a lot," Potter said. "The scars at least."

"Not all those scars are that old," BJ said. He looked over his shoulder. "Nice to see Hogan cares for his men."

"Hogan, is it?" Charles asked.

"He's a decent guy for a general," BJ defended.

"I'm surprised," Margaret commented. "You and Pierce usually hate all generals."

"You like them enough to make up for us," Hawkeye said. "Weren't you flirting with him at breakfast?"

Maragaret glared. "General Hogan is a fascinating man. He has two little children and is a widower. His wife died in childbirth. I am simply being friendly."

"I'll be your friend," Hawkeye said with a leer. BJ hid a pang of disgusted jealousy.

"Break it up, people," Potter ordered. The medical staff headed to their various tasks. Charles headed back to Post Op.

Hawkeye eyed BJ as they walked to the Swamp. "You like him," he accused

"I just said he was decent! Stop being paranoid."

"And the looking him over?" Hawkeye asked.

"I didn't!"

"So you don't think he's attractive?" Hawkeye opened the door to the Swamp. BJ walked in.

"I hadn't noticed."

"What color eyes does he have?"

"Hogan? Brown, why?"

"I knew it!" Hawkeye tossed a pillow at BJ. "You like him!"

The younger surgeon rolled his eyes. "He's good looking, yes," BJ admitted. "But I'm not looking at him like that."

"Just how are you looking at him?"

"God!" BJ grabbed Hawkeye and kissed him. Hawkeye wrapped his arms around BJ and purred as BJ nuzzled his ear. Then the two reluctantly went to their separate cots. "When is Charles due back?" BJ moaned.

"Too soon." Hawkeye fluffed his pillow. "Can you imagine? Three years with no women? Or booze?"

"Makes this hellhole seem nice."