This is the end. As I promised, I finished the story even if it took me so much time.

Please review! I want to know what you think of the last chapters and the whole story also.

I tried to mix the feeling of fear and guilt with the characters' personalities. I really need to know if each reaction to all of this looked natural as well as the way they tried to overcome their fears.

Thank you very much for all your kind words!

It was you guys, who gave me this desire to write. If you're not tired of me, I'll write more. I actually have a couple of ideas.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I wish it were mine, but it's not.

Epilogue

"I'm not sure this is a good idea, Hawk…"

"Oh, don't be a mother hen Beej!" snorted Hawkeye, "You offered it, if I remember correctly."

"I know, I know!" BJ replied with irritation, "I just wanted to comfort you, but I didn't think you would actually go to the party."

"You did mean what you were saying Beej," Hawkeye objected, "and now you're just trying to back down. Besides, I'm not going to the party, I'm sitting in this stupid wheel chair!"

"I still think it can be too much for you…"

The calm and annoyingly persistent tone of his friend was gradually getting to his nerves. Every inch of his mind and body was ready to scream. After one day in the post-op, the surgeon was ready to admit that the worst times of him getting wounded were only about to come. He was condemned to spend all his time in the embrace of the greatest and the cruelest enemy of his – boredom. It was unbearable.

"Okay, Dad, I'll be home before dark." he huffed in frustration.

"Go on monkeying around and you'll go back right now!" roared BJ.

It was not the reply he was hoping to get. He wanted to make a joke, but his tone must have betrayed the true meaning of his words. Never before had he felt such venom in BJ's words. Hawkeye looked up and saw tears in his friend's eyes. BJ was obviously angry with him. The expression on his mate's face scared Hawkeye. It was the picture of anguish and despair. For the first time the surgeon thought that he had probably gone too far.

"I'm sorry BJ." he said at last, his throat dry with guilt.

"Don't be Hawk…" BJ replied after a pause, "but you must understand that we almost lost you..."

Hawkeye heard his friend sniffle and tried to pat his shoulder but, from his sitting position, managed to reach only his elbow. However, when BJ put his own hand on Hawkeye's and rubbed it gently, the raven haired surgeon understood that he had been forgiven.

They continued on their way to the mess tent when they heard a voice.

"Captain Pierce! Captain Hunnicutt!"

The captains looked around searching the source of the voice and soon found it running in their direction. It was Robinson, tall and lanky as Hawkeye remembered him. He knew everything now. Potter told him about the lieutenant's role in the whole rescue mission and the way it affected him.

"I've just got here," the man reported panting heavily, "I wanted to come earlier, but, as you may guess, the weather conditions were against me. I'm glad that the storm is finally over."

"Better late than never, lieutenant," BJ answered cheerfully, "how is your chopper?"

"Oh, good Captain, I'll have it repaired after the holidays," Robinson answered not taking his eyes off Hawkeye.

"I'm fine Stan." said Hawkeye successfully predicting the pilot's question. He stretched his hand and the young man gratefully shook it. There were no words needed to fill this moment, everything had already been said and done.

"Well, let's go." Hawkeye said at last.

Robinson smiled and hurried to open the door to the mess tent so that BJ could wheel Hawkeye inside. As soon as they entered, the tent exploded with cheers. BJ pushed the chair through the crowd, finally getting to the very center of the room.

Now Hawkeye felt really nervous. Boredom was not the one thing he had to cope with, the other was the option of being a patient in his own hospital. He wanted to get out of the post-op as soon as possible, but, unfortunately, his body felt otherwise. The surgeon was still very weak to even raise his hand, not to mention moving around. There was not a single person in the camp who had not yet visited him, the most welcomed though were the visits from BJ, Margaret, Winchester, Potter, Klinger and Father Mulcahy. They were his closest friends in this hell that they had already got used to call "home". Three days after Christmas, BJ apparently decided to tell his friend about the fights that took place while he was out. Frankly speaking, Hawkeye was not surprised by Margaret's and Winchester's behavior, he knew perfectly well what kind and caring people they really were. He talked to each of them during their shifts. Margaret told him about her dream, while Charles admitted the fear he endured when Hawkeye's heard had stopped. Hawkeye was proud as a peacock when the Major said that it was one of the most frightening moments in his life, losing not a patient, but a friend.

Talking to his friends and seeing all these wonderful changes was the only thing that actually raised the surgeon's spirit. Being stuck in the post-op was definitely not the way he wanted to spend these holidays. Nobody agreed with his statement that he could be moved to the Swamp. They all wanted to keep him under close observation. The only reason that persuaded BJ to take him to the New Year party was the news and the present that they prepared for the kids.

"May I have your attention please?" Colonel Potter stepped forward, "First of all, I want to say how glad we all are to have you back, Pierce. I must admit that you gave us quite a scare, son."

Touched by his CO's kind words, Hawkeye smiled.

"Second, I would like to thank Lieutenant Robinson for saving our Hawkeye, whatever you may say, son, you did save him."

Robinson blushed when he realized that the next wave of cheers was meant for him.

"And third…" Potter raised his glass, "Happy New Year, everyone!"

"Happy New Year!" the people in the tent echoed in unison.

"I think it's time to open our presents" said Potter when everyone dried their glasses.

This was the exact words Hawkeye longed to hear from the Colonel. He gave a sign to BJ, who nodded saying he was ready for the show, and tugged at Potter's sleeve.

"Let us make the first one, Colonel." he whispered.

Potter looked at his chief surgeon suspiciously before turning to BJ who was about to gain everybody's attention.

"Is it a practical joke Hunnicutt?" the Colonel whispered BJ's ear, "I don't think it is the right time even if we all missed them."

"We're absolutely serious, Colonel." BJ whispered back, "We have a present for our guests."

"All right then," the older man said, relief sounded clearly in his voice when he felt that BJ was telling the truth. "let's see what you've got."

Hawkeye smiled and looked at the people in front of him. These were his friends, his family. Though he did not remember the shelling and the accident well enough, the surgeon could still remember the fear he felt at the thought that he would die and not see them again. Soon Hawkeye's gaze passed to the children and he felt excitement spread through his body, giving him strength he missed so greatly. When BJ pulled out the document that was more than just a sheet of paper, but the thing that would save many innocent lives from cold and starvation, Hawkeye felt happier than ever before. No matter how frosty the Christmas had been, no matter how cold and tired they all were, these smiling little faces were all they needed to survive not only the severe Korean winter, but even the Ice-Age.

The End