Sorry for the delay, I had a busy week... but here you are (at last)
I'm also sorry for such poor language, I know that I must work a lot on it. A lot!
Well, this is the last chapter, so the story ends here, hope you liked it)))
It was already dark when a jeep, a Korean jeep stopped right near the main building of the 4077th. The driver was Hawkeye, pale and completely exhausted. He shut down the engine and leaned back in his seat breathing heavily. The ride was a real challenge, his hands were still tied, so he drove slowly and could barely move his left side. Hawkeye took a deep breath and got out of the jeep. The surgeon was losing his strength, "What an ordeal it was…" he thought "can't believe that I'm still alive." Hawkeye was a little light-headed, had not a notion why nobody had come back to pick him, and the surgeon headed to the post-op to ask for help.
The post-op was quiet, no doctors or even nurses. Hawkeye was about to go to the Swamp and wake Trapper, but noticed Radar, peacefully sleeping on the nearest cot. Hawkeye bent over the sleeping corporal "Poor Radar, glad to see that feel better." he whispered.
"Thank you Hawkeye, you saved my life, hope you can rest in peace." Radar answered not opening his eyes.
"What do you mean kid?"asked a bewildered captain, but Radar didn't answer. Hoping to find out later, Hawkeye stood up and stumbled. It was too much for him, the last adrenalin deserted his body, one more step and Hawkeye fell to the floor unconscious.
Radar was sleeping and his dream was about Hawkeye, he came to comfort him, he was here, he was talking to him, or… was it a dream? Radar's eyes flapped open "Hawkeye!" he cried.
"Radar, what happened?" Nurse Kelly was just entering the post-op when she heard the scream.
Radar jumped when he saw Hawkeye lying on the floor. Kelly turned her eyes to the unconscious surgeon "What happened?" she asked nervously. Kelly checked Hawkeye's vitals to discover that the pulse was rather weak.
"He came here to comfort me, why is he still here, I think they disappear when we look at them" the corporal whispered.
Kelly looked at Radar with concern, the answer was more than just strange. "Radar, I didn't understand you, who should disappear?"
"Ghosts." was the calm reply.
"What? Radar I think you're delirious. I'll bring a doctor" but there was no need. The others heard Radar screaming and hurried to the post-op.
The scene in front of them was incredible, pale Radar, confused and frightened Kelly and Hawkeye, wounded on the floor. In a second Trapper and Henry were already examining their friend. "A shot wound, looks bad." said Trapper.
"Can't believe he managed to get to the camp in such a condition" Henry looked shocked.
"Oh mine, his hands!" for the second time in the last 24 hours Sidney couldn't hold his emotions.
"It means, he was captured." said Mulcahy gloomily, then after a short pause the priest sighed. "I think he'll need your help major."
"Yeah, you're right Farther." Sidney agreed
"Good for you, but right now he needs surgery!" cried Trapper. The others nodded, and without hesitating, grabbed their beloved surgeon and carried him to the OR. Klinger did the X-ray, then he, Farther Mulcahy and Sidney prepared Hawkeye while Trapper, Henry and Margaret were scrubbing up.
The operation went rather smoothly, though very nervous and drunk, the surgeons removed the bullet and repaired the damage it had made. Actually, they even felt that the alcohol they had taken had simply evaporated, they all were more sober than in their whole life. Hawkeye was stable, and soon the doctors could even take care of his leg and wrists. After the surgery Hawkeye was carried to the post-op where they all gathered around his cot.
"What happened to him?" asked Radar
"He's been shot in the shoulder, and his hands were tied. We removed the bullet, bandaged his wrists, and his sprained ankle." said Trapper.
"Oh geez, don't you want to say he was captured?" Radar's eyes were wide.
"You know, this is the only answer" said Henry
"What are we gonna do now?" asked Farther Mulcahy
"We must report to the HQ that Hawkeye is alive, but they need to search the area anyway to get the whole picture." said Henry
"I still can't believe he's alive, I think it's just a weird dream." whispered Trapper. The man felt exhausted, it had been indeed a very long day.
"I think that now we are to go to bed. Hawkeye will be okay, but he won't wake up till morning. We must also be in good state to care of him. I'm also afraid that I'll have to speak to him first." Sidney looked at his friend with concern.
"Don't you think…" Trapper began, a slight apprehension appearing in his eyes.
"I hope no, but it looks like it." answered the psychiatrist. " I built the chain of events and think this is the only answer. His hands, his wound, the shot seems to be aimed a bit lower…"
"He also should have been standing near the wood,… just like in the movies, the prisoner, the forest, all those stuff." Trapper finished sadly.
"What do you both mean?" Klinger and Margaret asked in unison
"He was going to be executed." answered Sidney
"Oh no!" gasped Margaret
"Let's have some rest and speak to him tomorrow." said Henry
"Right Henry, but I will sleep here, I won't leave him" said Trapper
The cot next to Hawkeye's was empty, so Trapper could take a nap and be with his friend. Radar was also soon asleep. Through his sleep, Trapper heard something he couldn't recognize. "Please, please, do it now, do it fast…" Trapper sat up on the cot. It was Hawkeye. He was talking in his sleep. "I need to get Sidney." he thought.
Hawkeye was silent and asleep for the rest of the night. Finally, he opened his eyes and saw all his friends standing at his bed. "What are you doing here? Where am I?" Hawkeye looked confused. "Oh" he sighed, his shoulder was hurting. "Would you be so kind to explain me everything?" he asked at last.
"Hawk, what is your last recollection?" asked Trapper.
"Radar, sleeping in the post-op." he answered.
"Well, here we are, you fainted because of your wound." said Henry "How do you feel?"
"It hurts." he answered
"You'll be fine" said Trapper. He wanted to say more, to be with his friend but Sidney put his hand on his shoulder, it meant that he wanted to be with Hawkeye alone. Hawkeye understood the hint. "Please, don't go, I'm fine. I'm fit to speak about everything. I thought that I would never see you again."
Everybody sighed with relief, because Hawkeye didn't hide his emotions, and was ready to speak. Some hours later Hawkeye was sound asleep, he was very weak but fortunately out of danger. Radar felt much better, he also insisted on his returning to work. The others were overwhelmed with emotions and willing to help. The most pleasant duty was to place a call to the I-Corps and inform the MPs that Captain Pierce was alive, Henry Blake sent the police to search that area. They found the dead Korean soldiers near the burnt hut. Hawkeye was asleep the whole night and morning. He woke up in the middle of the day from the feeling that somebody was squeezing his forearm. The surgeon opened his eyes and saw Trapper taking his blood pressure. "Glad to see you're awake, I was worried" he said.
"Thanks Trap." Hawkeye whispered "What are the plans for today?"
"Well, you have a very interesting day: a sleep then a date with nurse Able and me, and then an evening sleep."
"Very funny, I can't lie here all day"
"Doctors are the worst patients," said Trapper "now be a good boy and have your rest."
"Okay Daddy, may I play after lunch?" Hawkeye rolled his eyes.
"You're horrible, do you realize that that we thought you were dead?"
"I do my friend. And I understand how lucky I am to have you, guys."
"Yes Hawk, today is your second birthday, we'll celebrate it when you're ready to get up."
"Okay Daddy" teased Hawkeye, he still was weak and soon his eyes closed. Trapper and Henry checked his vitals again, while doing this they were joined by the rest of the gang. When Henry announced that Hawkeye would be fine everybody sighed with relief. "Well I thing that we all had two very full days." said Sidney.
They all nodded. "Radar, I have a duty for you" said Henry.
"I'll get everything prepared for the party sir" said Radar
"Start to get everything…" Henry began, but stopped when everybody burst into laughter.
The End.
(Thank you for your attention.)