Chapter Text
"Make sure this gits there safely, Klinger." Rizzo semi-ordered, carefully placing a tightly-wrapped brown paper bundle into the hands of the unit's company clerk. "Not even one scratch on it. Ya understand?
'Why do you care so much?' Klinger wanted to growl back. But something in the eyes of the man in charge of the motor pool made him hold his tongue.
"My little Billy..." Rizzo now flashed a proud parental smile, pulling from his rear pants pocket a very creased picture of his young son. "Ya ever seen a cuter kid?...Course ya ain't. Gonna be two next month."
"Hey Klinger, seen my dad?"
The company clerk's brain flashed an urgent message: : 'No! Oh no, not now....!' Anyone but that kid!
Rizzo could go off like a firecracker without a minute's notice, no logical reason needed.
Without waiting for an answer, Jamie Hunnicutt suddenly burst through the double doors into the office.
"Aww c'mon Uncle Max, Talking to Unc. Hawk about anything serious? That's like leaving a baby drowning in a pool... eyeing swim fins….swallowing a mouth of water and sinking to the bottom.
A slight smirk from the corporal prompted the curious child to fix his attention on Rizzo: "What's in the box?"
”Blanket made by Mrs. Shin....for my pride and joy, little Billy Bubba," the father revealed in a goofy semi coo.
"Baby blanket?"
"You sayin' something bout my kid?....Boy?"
"M…Maybe Major Winchester could help." Klinger immediately tried to redirect the conversation.
Rizzo relaxed, regaining his goofy expression. Nothing seemed to warrant any real annoyance from the proud father at this moment so deep in love with his absent son. "Nah, boy...It's nice n’ warm.....no baby stuff for my boy...he's one tough kid....mmm my pride and joy….It’ll keep him warm as a bug in a rug on them cold nights."
"What's the occasion?"
"My kid's turning two. Zola says all the relatives and half the neighbors gonna be at his pardy."
"Just because he's two?" Jamie’s face was one of annoyed amusement.
"Boy?! You sayin’ my Billy Bubba ain't good enough for no birthday party?" Rizzo teetered on the brink of annoyance.
Klinger stepped between them, hand on Jamie's shoulder, determined to guide him away from possible disaster and toward the doors. "Look kid, why don't you go find your dad and ask him."
Jamie rolled his eyes. "He's in O.R.. Remember? ...Anyway, what's so great about a birthday? Just another day."
"What?!"
"Come on Rizzo, kid's tired.... just wants his dad." He turned, regarding the boy with semi- authoritative eyes . "Go wait for him in the Swamp, kid. I'll send him as soon as he comes out."
Zale stared hard at the boy, nodding. "Now...I gits it....You ain't never had a birthday pardy. Have ya boy?"
Jamie pushed past him and ran from the room.
The two men stared briefly at one another and then at the door.
"Maybe you're right."