Thanks for the reviews. For the kid who has a morbid fantasy about seeing Pierce dead or dying, hold your horses, little Miss! I am sticking to the show format except for tiny details. That means nobody is going to die or fall in love, period.

Now about this chapter, nothing happens in this one. Nothing dramatic anyway. But it will begin to reveal another subplot involving O'Hara. Details will be in some later chapters, though I am not sure which one since I have stalled for all practical purposes. Work has caught up with me and is drowning me, one breath at a time.
Guess that's about it.
Now read it and enjoy. Or not, as the case maybe!

Chapter 16

"Care for a drink?" I heard BJ. That was the second time he had asked me the same question. I thought he had dozed off.

"No. I am fine. And I have work to do later so I better stay sober." I dismissed the offer. Antacids were doing a little good and the pain in my stomach was subsiding. Maybe it was not such a bad idea to reduce my alcohol consumption. The only problem was, my sleep pattern had gone from wacky to wackier. The liquid courage also helped me sleep. But remembering the last few days, I had actually ended up cleaning up the still and even then, wasn't able to sleep for more than two hours at a stretch.

"What is wrong? Letter from home?"

"Yeah, dad's."

"He alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. He is good. Better than he was, I think. Better than I am, I am pretty sure." I did not want to sound like that but maybe it was all the brooding that I was doing that spilled out. I was not sure.

"Hawk! What happened?"

"I asked you first, remember? You tell me what happened first and I will tell you mine." Maybe I could bait him into spilling his guts. No such luck!

"Fine! Don't tell. I am going to bed now. Don't make noise when you leave for post-op." And with that, he lied down.

"I won't. But will make sure Frank wakes you up when he is done with his daily share of malpractice."

"You know something, I don't even like you!"

"Good. That makes two of us." And with that, I left the Swamp.

Sun was still up here. Another day starting in Maine. I had to answer dad soon. He deserved better from me.

I should have answered earlier but I was not sure if I could tell him off for being an idiot in my wasted state. I wanted him to stop acting like he owed me his loneliness! I had to be tentative too!

Finding a spot to sit in peace, I started formulating a reply. Nothing I wrote even came close to expressing my guilt and stupidity all those years ago. But then, he was not much smart either. So how to tell him that he ought to stop thinking about what I would think? And even if he wanted to, how about knowing, once and for all, that I understood what being lonely meant. And that, he deserved his shot at happiness. And that I knew I might not be going home from this war...Police Action. And it was a relief for me to know that he did have somebody to look forward to whether I was there or not?

Finally, I decided to just tell him to just let go and enjoy the company of the fine 'girl' he had met. And that I hoped to be the best man for his wedding!

That was good enough for now. Sun was setting and Swamp was dark meaning BJ was all boozed up. Or down, as the case might be. Dinner was a questionable proposition so I decided to pend it till Beej was up and left him a note to that effect before putting on my robe to go to Post-Op. My shift was not going to start for another forty five minutes but there just wasn't anything to do. Maybe try make it upto Frank? I also decided to ask dad to send me a few books with really fine print and lots of pages. Or maybe start writing Frank's Memoirs? Now that was a good idea. BJ needed to hear this. It was a sure way of killing some quality time! I even knew what to call the story. Major Ten Thumbs: The Big Korean Adventure. Too corny? We could always work something out, just so long as we were willing to try.

Post-op was fine. So was Frank, apparently. Woods was still here. So was Hendricks. He looked tad bit pale but that was understandable. That kid was not going back to his outfit. He had a long way to go before he could safely be sent home. Better late than in a body bag. Pretty cheery thought to begin my shift with.

I needed a drink!

It was a curt sign off by Frank. No jabs from either side for a change. He did not even comment on my unshaved face and the presence of my favorite robe. That was, until we got to Woods.

No chest tube!

No chest tube?

I was going to clamp it today. So who did the honors, albeit prematurely, of removing it? It shows how stupid I can get if I have to ask who did that. Answer is, pretty damned stupid.

Now what? I asked myself.

I was hoping for a quiet night but apparently, now, I had an impending disaster in the form of Woods. I knew he could be alright but even with the off chance that he might not, we would end up having extra unwanted business. Doing a thoracotomy was not my idea of fun.

I was too tired to spar so I ignored his meaningful glance at me when he told me about Woods and his most recent attempt at malpractice. With the way he worked, I wondered what he really did before the war? Maybe mended shoes? Or perhaps worked at the scrap yard? His fine touch sure pointed towards some similar occupation.

Replacing Margaret was O'Hara. Perfect! A perfect ending to a perfect day. And I thought things could not get any better.

"Hello Captain Pierce!", came a cheery greeting. Seemed sincere enough. But, somehow, part of me did not feel very comfortable with her complete turnaround.

"Hawkeye, remember? And top of the evening to you too!" Damn you, Hawkeye! I just could not help it anymore. Such things just slipped out of my mouth when I saw a pretty face.

"Its too long a name. I would call you Pierce but that sounds kinda like I am your boss or something." I never heard that complaint before and did not know how to respond. She was not so close to me to call me Hawk. Currently, there was only one person on that roster and he was drunk and probably asleep, dreaming of drool over his shoulder and sounds of goo-gooo gaga in his ears.

"You can call me what you want. It just has to be in the dictionary, thats all!" She liked that idea. Was she manipulating me? For what? Her smile said something but I had left my antlers back in Maine.

"Alright. I will call you Benjamin then. Thats your first name, if I recall correctly."

Benjamin?

I hadn't heard the full name for such a long time, at least not in a nice way, it felt like she was talking to someone else about someone else. All I remembered was when people decided to yell at me and called me by my given name. Or decided to read me the riot act or charge sheet or something equally evocative and frenzied!

"That has three syllables, in case you didn't notice. That is one more that Hakweye." I informed her, settling myself in a chair parked at the desk. At times like these, the on-call room during residency seemed like a visit to a hotel. Even Basic seemed like a bed of roses.

"Oh if you don't like me to call you by your first name, I understand. You like Hawkeye, I think."

That was a very long discussion about what she should call me. It was making me somewhat uncomfortable. Why was she so...persistently sincere? What the hell!

"Call me what you want, and I don't care if its in a dictionary or not. Now back to..."

GAWD!

"I will call you Benjamin then. Or Ben, for short."

Ben? What was I? Her pre-school bestest buddy? But to avoid another verbal dance, I conceded

"Great. Thats settled then. Now, back to business, I need you to look after Maj. Woods. His chest tube was removed today but I think he could have used it for another night. Keep an eye on him and if you need me, holler. I will come running over!"

"You got it. Major Houlihan asked me to keep an extra eye on Private Hendricks. That makes two patients to keep an extra eye on. I need another eye to keep on rest of the patients." I ignored the joke. Why did Margaret ask her to keep an eye on Hendricks?

"Why did she ask you to keep an eye on him? He is doing fine, I think!"

"Yes, he is fine. Its because of his injuries. He will be staying over a little longer while most of the rest will be evac'd tomorrow and the day after." That did not explain it. I hated inadequate answers.

I decided to ask her myself.