Chapter Text
"Not now, Son. You know I have Post Op." B.J. tried to let his son down gently. But the kid wasn’t making it any easier for either of them.
Jamie crossed his arms and his eyes. It was always 'Son' when he was mad. Why was he so mean?! "But she could end up in a stewpot!" He pleaded his case.
"As soon as I can." His conscience grappled with the horrifying reality while his exhausted determination fought them both.
"I’ll ask the Sky Pilot."
"No.” Determination won out. “Don't bother Ellsworth. He's got more than he can handle picking up wounded."
"You can ask him." A strong yank on the bottom of his t-shirt accompanied the plea.
"I won't." He hated seeing those beautiful brown eyes flooding with pain. At his hands. It was a tragic reality. But even the boy knew that wounded feelings and personal interests meant nothing when the choppers hit the pads and the trucks rolled in. B.J.’s denial was as strong as he could commit to, while he feverishly searched his footlocker.
"Dahhd!" The plea collided with "No!" immediately followed by "OWW, Dammit!" He glared at the child now astride his back, arms tightly around his neck, size four Chucks simultaneously digging into his sides.
"Will you quit!..." B.J. growled, immediately standing to his full height, "...before I tie your damn shoes together!" The momentarily stunned boy fell backwards onto his cot.
Before he could get up, he was struggling under a strong arm. Now angry eyes assaulted him followed by a lecture. "I've told you time and time again, young man...”
”Wounded come first, last, and always!”
”It’s nothing new. That rule has never changed."
Jamie pushed back against his hands and his words. But at 40 lbs, it was useless. "It oughta!" Brown eyes glared.
Blue fire met that glare before simultaneously softening. “I love you I want to do everything I can for JR.”
“I hate you!”
“I know you hate this. I do too. You can be angry. You can hate me all you want. Regardless I love you and I always will. But you will not hurt and you will not be disrespectful to anyone in this camp. Do you understand me, Son?”
"Not when it's JR!" The jaw set, the eyes challenging his father. "No matter." The answers were firm, short, and controlled. "But she’s family!” ”So are we.”
"That's even worse! So you wouldn't look for me?!" Although they both knew the answer, the words hung in the air, neither willing to admit the grim reality.
Jamie bit his lip and narrowed his eyes. "I'd look for you...Dad." Feeling trapped, B.J. hissed, "Don't be stupid!"
"That's insane!" "War's insane!" Hawkeye had just entered the tent and the conversation. "That's no answer!” Jamie rebuked him.
"Little Arthur, it's the only answer... you're getting, " collided with B.J.'s. exasperated: "... I've got!” "That sucks!" The ten- year- old nearly spat. His father quickly shut down the attempt to shock him: "That’s it. You're confirmed to quarters."
"Confirmed? Isn't he a little young?" Hawkeye quipped, looking directly at B.J. with a manufactured satisfied smirk.
But his best friend never took his eyes from those of his son.
The adopted uncle realized he'd just walked into a family feud, and neither Hunnicutt was listening.
"Go over the black stump, Drongo!"
“And that's Father Mulcahy's specialty.”
"I meant confined." The annoyed father rolled his eyes at Hawkeye and shot his kid a look of disappointment.
Normally Hawkeye's quip about the black stump would have the 'Swamp Brat' in stitches and smirking from ear to ear.
"Beej! THAAT's even better!" Hawkeye grabbed his head and pulled it close to his mouth, whispering, “Your place or mine, Big Fella?”
B.J. pulled away, offering only a more exasperated eye roll. "Knock it off, Hawk."
"I know exactly how to put you in the mood for...”
"I mean it, Hawkeye.”
”You’re mean enough for anything!”
”Stop it, Jamie." The voice still not raised, but definitely firmer. In response, his son warned, "Beat it, Uncle Hawk, before Dad bites or whacks you next!"
"Tempting," Hawkeye mused to himself in a low sultry voice. He had learned years ago to curb any sexual innuendos around his Swamp nephew.
"James Jurgensen,” B.J. suddenly announced in a stern no-nonsense voice, “give us the tent."
That familiar tone and phrase required immediate and complete obedience. "Yes Sir." The boy got to his feet and raced out of the tent.
Hawkeye turned to his friend. "Ante up, Daddy."
"He's annoying the hell out of me, I'm trying to find the article I was reading last night..."
"That's what all the gloom and doom is about? General Hunnicutt?” He took a gentle swipe at his friend. His voice lowered an octave. He assumed an elder sibling's tolerant, but accommodating smile. Quickly fishing through his own footlocker, he soon held up the medical journal.
To his Swamp sibling’s scowl he simply offered an enthusiastic, "Found it fascinating!”
Unimpressed, B.J. snatched it back, growling, “So glad you asked first."
Hawkeye looked almost hurt. Nevertheless he ignored the sarcasm. "Now, I'm about to make you the greatest offer you two've ever had!"
Not in the mood, but feeling like he overreacted, B.J. forced himself to be slightly more than civil: "Okay, I'll bite."
”I'm sure Peg could tell me stories, big fella...has no complaints...maybe even..."
"Time's up. I'm due in Post Op." The irritated parent could only take so much. He turned toward the door.
The older man's arm looped his shoulder, restraining him. "Clock's ticking. Go take our kid pup scouting."
"Uncle Hawk,” The exuberant father gasped, “…./p>
”I love you!" The boy cried, rushing into the tent and hugging him tightly. "Eavesdropper!" Both adults chorused in unison. Comic relief on their faces, they turned, sharing surprised grins. A grateful dad mouthed 'me too!' offering an exhausted half-smile, racing after his already-absent son. "Stay out of trouble, Little Arthur!" Hawkeye yelled. Stooping to snatch the darts from the floor, he tossed them one by one at the board, smirking to himself, 'Just in case they come in dancing and no one's wearing shoes!"
As he headed towards the Post Op ward, a familiar, cheerful voice called out, "Hello, Unc Hawkeye....!" The chief surgeon turned, grinning at his favorite little girl. "Hi, Ha Yoon!" He offered his warmest smile. Always for the orphans one went the extra mile. "What do you have there, Honey?" "Ha Yoon." "Yes, you are Ha Yoon." "Peek Boo, Number one good Uncle Hawkeye." "Okay.You want me to see what's under the blanket?" "Close your eyes, Unc Hawk." "Okay," He was a bit hesitant. "Don't be fuddy fuddy… Peek Boo!" She lifted the blanket with a mischievous grin, so much like any child. "Number one dog....Wah gull! Jay Aiire!" She burst into childish giggles. "Peek Boo!" Her laughter was infectious. The surgeon couldn't help but join in. She was honesty, joyfulness, and naiveté. How innocent are the children, he thought. "Thank you, for finding her, Ha Yoon!" The little girl's smile was ear to ear and she giggled again.
How she'd grown in two years. He recalled how scared she had been of all of them, when they first met. He almost couldn't believe his eyes. Every time he saw her she seemed to be growing in independence and smiles as well as in weight and happiness."You're welcome.....you welcome! .... Hungry!" "Waggle JR is? Are you hungry, Ha Yoon?" "I am. Ha Yoon hun..gry." "You go right into the Mess, we have biscuits....just don't eat the gravy! Yucky!" He made an exaggerated sick face. "Okay Hawk…. I eat now..Number one, good food.....No eat icky things..." She made a disgusted face that made him smile, amused. "Come, you.... JR eat..... biscuits.....Thank you." She hugged him. Hawkeye kissed her on the head, and continued on to Post Op.
He swung open the door of the ward. "Attention, attention, all personnel..... don't make any plans for the weekend or the week. We'll need all of us round the clock." the PA continued. "Dammit!" He exclaimed, quickly returning to the Swamp. "Shit!" His best friend burst into the tent moments later, the boy in tow. "Dammit!” "Jamie... !" 'Like father, like son', Hawkeye automatically thought. "Hey, Little Arthur… easy on the six letter salvos.” B.J. immediately grabbed his son. Pulling him closer, he hissed, "...stop...swearing." He kissed his cheek, while simultaneously tapping his butt. "Behave yourself." "Dad...I want to search...." "I expect both you and J.R. asleep when we get back." "Shut up, Hawkeye! We couldn't find her.....!." He looked annoyed no...angry. "Oh ye of little faith..... Reeee lax, Daddy.” He grinned, opening the door and calling, "Waggle Junior......Wag...gle" "Dah da! ....." Ha Yoon shouted as the little dog ran into the tent. B.J.’s full snarl morphed quickly into an embarrassingly meek smile.
The little girl giggled gleefully as she handed him a red satin blanket. "JR stay warm, Okay… Daddy?” she asked. "Ha Yoon! Where did you get that blanket?" "Uncle Chaz..." she offered a huge smile. "He's terrific! I take...s-a-h-t-i-n blanket warm, Number one son, Jay mee...say ooooh kayyy!" The adults couldn't help grinning, as the little girl clapped her hands. “Jamie home! J.R. home! Yay!” But her friend said nothing, his eyes happily flooding as he embraced the little dog, pulling her close. “Gahn samni dah." "Clossse ehnufg.” His father offered an approving grin to ease the tension in the tent. “Dad, I’m sorry." "Close enough, Tyger." He leaned close to the kid and whispered, "Uncle Chaz is gonna kick your butt." But his son couldn't hear anything except their Swamp Mutt's happy barks as she continually covered his face. B.J. turned to the little girl. "Ha Yoon sleep. It's late, you stay tonight," "Okay, B.J. Number one Dad. I sleep number one Dad bed Chaz?" "You betcha!" Jamie shouted as their furry friend covered him with kisses. He hugged her tightly. "Story after O.R.?" ”Night nite, Angel.” He kissed her."One, pleeeeeese…one?” She begged, watching him embrace Jamie.
”Goodnight, Honey.” Hawkeye bent to hug and kiss her. Looking at her beautiful smile he could easily wake up to being called "Daddy" by this little girl.
"Story? Unc Hawk?" He smiled, noticing her new tooth coming in. "It's late, Honey." He shook his head. "Aww... " She protested, watching B.J. kiss Jamie and whisper in his ear, "Don’t be a fuddy Duffy.”
The tired boy smirked as the men dashed for the door, stopping to momentarily pat J.R. The lights went out. “Night, you three.” “Sweet dreams, kids. God knows you deserve em’!”
"Mice!" The little girl fussed as the adults stepped out into the night. Hawkeye elbowed his Swamp brother with a mischievous grin.
"Not mice, rats.... remember? Oh rats!" Jamie sleepily corrected his Swamp sibling. "Ohhhh Rats!!!!!" The little girl fussed.
"Your son's been a rotten influence on that little girl.” "Tell me, Uncle Hawk, just what makes you think you haven't?” B.J took a playful jab at his friend’s shoulder. With a satisfied smirk, he raced him across the compound.