This is the 6th longest and 3rd most reviewed story in MASH fanfiction.

You know what that tells me?

I am quite amazing.

But you guys, you are so much better. You are simply the best!

So Happy Reading and Reviewing.

See you soon, as next chapter is almost half done.

Chapter 105

Facts were on my side. I had just said that in my soliloquy. But hearing the same thing from them, in medicalese galore, was more reassuring than anything I'd heard in a long time. And to think, even assume, that they'd doubted me…

It also made me wonder how much time they'd spent working out the details, like my paging Frank and so on and so on. And it also raised the question about Potter's absence. My vindication could land him in trouble. He was career Army. And while I never could have bragged about my selflessness, there were lines I wouldn't cross, or people I'd hurt.

Never!

And one of them was getting this man, this sweet, caring, fatherly man into trouble just so I could get away.

"Pierce kept working to the edge of collapse, operated on Johnson once again because of the missed perforation in the ileum and the impending perforation in the colon. However, by then, Johnson had become too ill and despite a brief improvement in his condition, he continued to deteriorate. The reason, as was discovered later on, and which points to Frank, both as operating surgeon and the doctor on-call, was due to a leak in his stomach repair. Had Frank performed active nasogastric suction as ordered by Pierce and then confirmed by Colonel Potter in the OR, he may have kept the stomach decompressed, or picked the leak earlier."

"Pierce, facts are on your side. That leaves just a couple of things that may change the way this should go…" Potter started before he was rudely interrupted by me.

"Where were you that day?" Somebody was going to ask that question. Better be me, even if to know what my course of action was going to be.

I was met with silence. I knew he was taking Sophie out for a ride, leaving Frank in charge. That meant that either he trusted Frank or else, he neglected his duty by leaving him in charge.

"Don't worry about him, Hawkeye." Mulcahy knew something I didn't. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Was it?

"Sorry Father but I wouldn't know how not to worry. He left Frank in charge. BJ was in Seoul. If they can't pin it on me, which, thanks to your research, seems likely now, they'll pin it on Colonel Potter."

"I was away on official business, Pierce. And it is not about pinning anything on anyone, including Burns. He is not in your class. Hell, he's not in my class even, but man sure has his use. "

He's not even in my species, let alone yours…

I couldn't have said that aloud. Not that it wasn't true but…

From the looks I was given, I must have.

This really had to stop. And soon!

"As I was saying before Pierce chose to interrupt me, there are a couple of things that may not go in Pierce's favor. First is the claim made by Lieutenant O'Hara about Pierce nicking the artery. The other is the clear order to stand down by a superior officer."

I snorted at that.

And Margaret rolled her eyes and then both Potter and Father Mulcahy smiled as well.

Suddenly life seemed better. Which was weird and wrong and weird and oh-so-wrong considering the fact that this was a war I never asked for, never wanted to be invited to.

Hearing was next week. I was going to be away for a few days at minimum and didn't know for sure how I felt about that. The trepidation had settled by now, thanks to the 'interventioning', but there was still the feeling of utter loss. I had hardly ever worked that hard on any patient as I did for Johnson - Little BJ- and it wasn't about the hard work. It was about the life that was wasted so uselessly, so cruelly by that asshole.

Maybe I was unfit to command after all. I would never tolerate such a doctor working for me. And I'd probably kill someone like him if I were ever forced to work under one. Or at least put sugar in his car's gas tank.

"Colonel, if there isn't anything else…?" Margaret rose from her seat.

"Go on, Major. You too, Pierce and Hunnicut." Father wasn't excused which made me wonder.

"When is the Inquiry Team coming?" I asked just to stall them.

"It will be here the day after you leave for yours. Don't worry about it, Pierce! We got your back. Now go, rest, eat. I'll see you boys in the morning."

And that was that. We were dismissed so Mommy and Daddy could talk about their unruly children and their issues in relative peace, helped with a bottle of single malt, no doubt.

Radar was outside, looking a little happy. His glasses were foggy, a stethoscope lying on his desk.

"Giving the wall a physical, Tiny Tim?" This never got old, bugging Radar.

"Aww, Hawkeye." And suddenly, he wrapped his arms around my chest and hugged me.

That was a first. I was so not prepared for this obvious display of affection and BJ's mischievous under-the-toothbrush grin didn't help with the awkwardness.

"Radar, you're hugging me. Radaaar, easy does it, big guy. My ribs aren't what they used to be."

"Awww, Hawkeye! You always joke about everything. This is not funny. I was really worried." His voice muffled even though his grip had loosened some.

BJ mumbled something about going to the mess tent.

"Bee Jayyyy, WAIT FOR ME! Radar, I still have an inquiry. And there would be a team coming next week to make sure Frank gets his wish. So, uhhh… let me go?" I told the top of his head, that was covered with that ridiculous hat he always kept wearing and glared at BJ who got the hint and waited for me while I disentangled myself from this.

Radar was not exactly happy to let go but when my patting turned to frantic petting, he got the message and freed me.

Our walk to the mess tent was punctuated by at least people yelling or waving at me with 'Hey Captain', 'Hawkeye' and 'Captain Pierce'. There was love and concern and worry and elation in those greetings.

It was weird and oddly, heart-warming.

Something had happened while I was sleeping. The whole camp seemed to tell me they had my back, which, again, was weirdly heart-warming.

I hadn't done anything to deserve this kind of loyalty or love or support. It was given to me freely and unconditionally. And coming from a group of soldiers a couple of miles behind the enemy lines who had no reason to be anything but jaded or cynical or apathetic, this really meant more than I could ever express in words.

But that was enough of maudlin thoughts. Christmas time was closing in, and while there was a hearing that was between now and Christmas, it still didn't dampen my Holiday spirit that had a sudden uprising out of nowhere.

It was time to show the newbies how we did Christmas this part of town. It had to be the best party ever seen in this part of the world if I had anything to say about that.

PS: Sorry guys. Life intervened and threw me for a loop. Next chapter is still half done but I might finish it over this weekend and you can have a Monday morning treat(?) depending on what I can come up with to keep you entertained. Problem is, now, instead of hearing Hawkeye in my head, I hear Tony Stark, which is really...

Anyway, I'm trying to capture that elusive concept all over again but if you think I'm not, gimme feedback, people.