Despite Hawkeye's doubts he and BJ had remained in close contact. They took turns calling each other twice a month plus they exchanged the odd letter here and there. Two years after they'd returned from Korea Hawkeye had answered the ringing phone. To his delight it was BJ inviting him out to California for a week. Hawkeye had jumped at the opportunity. To see the man he had secretly fallen in love with was a treat indeed.
Hawkeye had entered the airport terminal with a thousand butterflies dancing around in his stomach. Why he was so nervous he didn't know. Nervousness had given way to sheer delight when BJ had materialized in front of him engulfing him in a great big bear hug. He happily returned the hug, patting BJ on the back. They had finally drawn back holding each other at arm's length eyeing each other up and down.
"Damn it's good to see you Beej. You look great!" Hawk exclaimed. And he had – the cheesy moustache was still there but his hair was cut shorter. If not for the bits of grey at his temples he looked almost as he had the first day BJ had arrived in Korea.
BJ laughed. "You look great too Hawk. You know, this is the first time I've seen you in civilian clothes – well not counting the tux that is."
Hawkeye grinned. "You had no idea I could look this good either, did you?" he teased.
BJ grinned. "C'mon Hawk let's get out of here."
BJ led them out of the airport and to the car. Their relationship had picked up just as usual with no awkward gaps or pauses. Hawk had stayed at the house in their guest room finally meeting Peg and Erin and despite the negative vibes he was picking up from Peg the week he had spent with them had been great.
Unfortunately the week had come to an end much too soon. It was at the airport as Hawk was getting ready to board the plane back home to Maine that BJ had grasped his arms, staring intently into Hawk's eyes. "We take turns each year flying out to visit. Next summer I fly out to Maine. What do you say Hawk?"
Hawkeye grinned. "Yeah. That sounds great. Next July you come on out to Maine – and bring the family huh? We'll go fishing and eat lobster. Hey you can meet my dad too."
They'd hugged – they were doing that a lot these days it seemed. A hug, a firm handshake, and Hawk was on a plane headed home.
The following summer it was BJ stepping off the plane in Maine to visit. When Hawkeye had questioned BJ on why he hadn't brought the wife and daughter BJ had been vague, mentioning obligations Peg had. The vague explanation along with BJ not meeting his eyes had led Hawk to believe there was trouble in BJ's marriage that he wasn't ready to talk about. Hawk didn't pursue it, instead concentrating on his time with BJ.
Their time together had been great as always. Hawk was firmly in love with BJ but doing his best to hide it. BJ had never given any indication he had similar feelings and Hawk wasn't about to do anything to jeopardize the best friendship of his entire life.
They had sat out on the porch swing the one night sharing stories with Hawk's dad about the pranks they had pulled in Korea. Daniel had finally gone up to bed, leaving the friends still chatting. They had been drinking too - the good stuff, not the rot-gut from the still. Finally around 2:00am with the alcohol taking its toll they had agreed bedtime was in order. Getting up from the porch swing they had stumbled into each other. BJ reached out grabbing Hawk to stop him falling to the porch floor and with no warning his lips were suddenly on Hawk's kissing him. After a brief moment of stunned surprise Hawkeye had responded kissing him back. The kiss had been good – no, it had been great, amazing even. When they'd finally pulled back from each other they had stood there staring at each other. The moment was finally broken when BJ had looked away nervously, releasing Hawkeye.
"Well I'm off." He'd said. And he had wandered inside and upstairs to the guest room leaving Hawkeye – now completely sober – standing alone on the porch with tingling lips wondering exactly what was going on here.
The next day there had been no mention of the kiss from BJ so Hawkeye hadn't mentioned it either. Two days later they were once again saying goodbye, BJ boarding the plane to take him back home to San Francisco to his wife and daughter. It had been another year before Hawkeye and BJ had spoken of the kiss.
The lack of sleep the night before along with his swirling thoughts finally caught up with Hawkeye. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.