BREAKING POINT
Nerves carry currents of feelings, pleasure and pain. Being a doctor gives one an appreciation of the complexity of the human body, how both strong and fragile it is. Bones flex before they break, veins pulse with blood, hearts throb. Skin and tissue rips with almost a scream or can tear silently. The human body can endure a lot before it collapses. And those limits are constantly being stretched.
98 hours. Hawkeye stared at Colonel Potter, shaking. "You have to let me go," he exclaimed. "Please, Colonel, we can't just sit here!"
"Damn it, Pierce, what do you want? I have MP's looking, chopper pilots looking, the whole area on alert! I can't risk you too!"
Hawkeye's fingers clenched. "I have to find him. Colonel...Sherman..please!"
Potter sighed. "Hawkeye, I understand you're worried. We all miss BJ. But I need you here!"
Hawkeye's eyes narrowed. Then he nodded and left. The bang of the office door told the Colonel exactly how Hawkeye felt. He walked to where Radar sat by the phone. "Any news, Radar?"
"No, sir. It's as if Captain Hunnicutt just vanished!"
Potter sighed. "Make sure Pierce doesn't wrangle a jeep from somewhere. I can't lose two surgeons. Get I Corp on the phone and the address and number for Hunnicutt's wife."
"Sir?" Radar stared at his commanding officer.
"He's been gone four days, son. We need to be prepared."
"But..." Radar gripped the phone tightly. "Sir, it's BJ..."
Potter squeezed his clerk's shoulder. "Just get it, son. And call Sidney. We're going to need him up here."
Hawkeye sat in the Mess Tent staring at his coffee. The smell of breakfast made his stomach churn. "Hawkeye?" a gentle voice queried.
He turned his head. "Hello, Margaret."
"May I join you?"
He shrugged. She sat across from him, squeezed his hand. "Hawkeye, I know you're worried. We all are. You need to sleep, to eat. The MPs will find him."
"Dead or alive?"
Margaret's lips twisted. "Hawkeye, please."
"Please what? Sit around and wait. That's all we are doing!"
"The Colonel ordered you to stay in camp."
"He told you?" She nodded. He stood up. "He broke orders to find us, Margaret. The least I can do is return the favor."
"You can't."
"He's my best friend! I'm not going to keep sitting here! Do you have any idea how cold it was last night?"
"BJ's tough."
A tall man with dark hair entered the tent, Radar beside him. They walked over to Hawkeye. "Captain Pierce, this is Captain Baker," Radar introduced. Hawkeye shook the man's hand.
"Hawkeye Pierce."
"Sean Baker."
"Captain Baker is our new surgeon," Radar explained.
Hawkeye stiffened. "What?!"
"A loan from Tokyo," Radar stammered. "He'll replace Captain Hunnicutt."
"Says who?"
"Hawkeye," Margaret hissed. She grabbed his arm.
"Don't shush me, Margaret. I'm Chief Surgeon and no one told me that we were getting help. BJ's not dead, damn it!" He slammed a hand on the table.
"We needed coverage," Margaret protested. "Just until BJ's back."
Hawkeye turned his gaze on the new surgeon. "Welcome to the 4077th, Captain Baker. I'm sure you'll love it here. Don't worry about making memories. After all, these people have none."
"Hawkeye!"
Hawkeye stalked off.
He looked around the motor pool and rubbed his eyes. "Rizzo!"
"You bellowed, Captain?" Rizzo shifted his unlit cigar to the corner of his mouth.
"I need a jeep."
"No can do, Captain."
"Why not?" Hawkeye spat.
Rizzo spread his hands helplessly. "Don't yell at me, Captain. Colonel Potter gave me strict orders. No vehicles for you."
"Why not?"
"You're restricted to camp, sir."
"I need a jeep!" Hawkeye stepped closer.
"No, sir. The Colonel will have my tail."
"I'll have your heart. Get me a jeep!"
Rizzo shook his head. "No, sir, Threaten me all you want but no jeeps."
Hawkeye swore and spun on his heel. He stomped to the Swamp and grabbed a few items to stuff into a duffle. Water, blanket. Charles watched curiously. "I'll regret this but what are you doing, Pierce?"
"Going hunting."
"What?"
"I'm going to find BJ."
"The Colonel restricted you to camp."
"So?" Hawkeye grabbed his medical bag and shoved it in the duffle.
"Pierce, I know you're worried but this is insane even for you."
"Why is this insane?"
"Potter said no."
Hawkeye slung the bag over his shoulder. "I don't hear so well."
"Hawkeye, I know you and Hunnicutt were close..."
"Don't bury him yet, Charles."
Hawkeye headed out the door.
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Hawkeye knew the general direction of the 8055th. He started walking. He'd just reached the outskirts of camp when Potter and Radar caught up with him. "Don't, son," Potter said.
"I have to. You can take away the jeeps but you can't take away my feet."
"Pierce, I order you to stay in camp."
Hawkeye whirled, eyes blazing. "I'm going to save BJ! I know no one else may give a damn but I'm going to find my friend."
"Sir, there are snipers!" Radar blurted.
"Then I'll die trying! He broke orders for me."
"I need surgeons," Potter exclaimed. "I already lost Hunnicutt!"
"But you have Baker! He'll do fine." Hawkeye's eyes glittered. "After all, we're all replaceable, right, Colonel? Why look for the old when you can just get a new one?"
Potter inhaled. "That's not fair," he softly said. "It's my job to keep this place running. In two hours, wounded will be coming in. They'll need you."
"Make them wait." Hawkeye rubbed his eyes. "After all, that's what the Army does, isn't it? I have to go, Colonel."
"People will die without you," Potter stated desperately.
"And? People die with or without me."
"A lot more will die without you." Potter stepped closer. "Hawkeye, we need you."
"Please," Radar added.
Hawkeye stared at them, lips thin and eyes sunken. Potter saw him tremble in the sudden wind. "And BJ?"
"Hawkeye, you don't even know where BJ is or if he's alive. Those kids are coming and they need you. You know they'll be right here."
"And they'll keep coming." Hawkeye shivered.
"I promise you, Hawkeye, help me with this batch and I'll give you a jeep, medical supplies, and permission to look for BJ to your heart's content."
Hawkeye blinked. He rubbed his eyes again. "You promise?" he asked softly.
"Promise."
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