Trapper was going home too, first Henry and then Trapper, I was really surprised that they were willing to take away two surgeons from one M*A*S*H unit at the same time, but as someone logically explained, they didn't know that one our docs was on a holiday.

We'd been searching high and low for Hawkeye Radar had been up till all sorts of ungodly hours to ring Tokyo and try and find my fiancée. Hawkeye, however, being that wonderfully irresponsible and unsociable man that he was, was nowhere to be found, and Trapper and I were beside ourselves, as Trapper was running out of time to get back to the States.

"Thankyou, no I understand. sayonara." Radar hung up the phone,

"Nup, he's doing a fine hiding job. I've checked in with every joint in town and there's no sign of him." Trapper sighed as I rested my head on his shoulder,

"If I can't find Hawk tomorrow or the day after at the latest, I'm going to have to go, they'll revoke my orders if I don't."

I squeezed Trapper's shoulders, "Well, just hang in there,"

Trapper screwed up yet another ball of paper and threw it at the bin. I leant over and picked up the paper as it missed. I didn't read it as I knew what it would say by now.

"Dear Hawkeye. I." He muttered as he screwed up another piece of paper and missed the bin. I picked it up as well, dropped both in the bin and watched as Trapper, now feeling very discouraged scrawled something on another sheet of paper.

He was trying to write a note to Hawkeye and some thirty tries later he was still having no luck. There was so much I knew he'd want to say, goodbye, thankyou, take care of Annie, write me, ram a grenade up Frank's rear. he sighed and tired again.

"Hawk, I'm really sorry I couldn't find you." He murmured aloud, and shook his head,

"No, that's not right. Hawkeye I'm." He screwed up another piece of paper frustrated,

"Doctor," I interrupted his thoughts, "This patient's not been putting out what he gets in.. his kidneys aren't functioning." He looked up, glad for the distraction and read over the patient's chart.

I sat in the Mess Tent, rubbing my already dry hair with a towel. I'd had a shower after my Post-Op shift and had left Trapper to his own devices. I knew he was somewhere around the camp, getting drunk.

I sighed, and stopped drying my hair, we'd been completely unable to find Hawkeye and Trapper was leaving the next morning. We'd even left insane baits at various hotels for him,

"Please call home, your father's pregnant,"

"You've won a free subscription to Roaches 'R' Us Magazine"

"Klinger's in love with an ox," and

"Frank Burns was glued to the latrine" but these and other equally obscure messages failed to have him make contact.

Trapper was becoming very distressed, as he was desperate to say goodbye to his friend who had made his life in the hellhole we lived in so much easier over the past.

Actually to be honest, I had little to no idea of what he'd say, I knew I'd have a hard time parting with my honourary brother. There were a few yells, a surprised squeal and a crash that brought me out of my reverie and to my surprise, or was it horror? Trapper, drunk and naked ran through the tent.

"Trapper!" He'd just dashed out the door, when I called out to him, he stuck his head back in and I yanked him into the room hurriedly, glancing nervously around for Frank.

"Jesus Christ." I grabbed my towel from the table where I'd left it and wrapped it securely around his waist.

"Trapper, are you trying to wind up court-martialled?" I demanded, accepting a shirt from someone and pulling it on him. The shirt was several sizes too small and it didn't do up across his front.

"Let's get you decent." I led him out of the tent, amid many whistles. Trapper stopped, pulled back and bowed extravagantly, blowing the nurses kisses.

"Come on," I yanked him towards his tent, realising that he was soused. I froze, and just as he opened his mouth, I clapped my hand over it. Frank Burns was coming and so I hastily pulled Trapper into the nearest tent, mine.

"Annie, what the hell is happening?" He said drunkenly, while I searched for some clothes.

"Here, now are you trying to get yourself court-martialled and wind up in the stockade instead of Boston?" He looked confused at the pair of shorts that I threw him, they were his. I had fixed a pair of Hawkeye's socks, and Trapper had asked me to darn his shorts at the same time.

I turned my back and Trapper pulled on the shorts.

"Come here Annie," He mumbled and I approached him, only to find myself wrapped in a tight hug against his chest.

"Annie, how will I ever say goodbye to him, I can't write a note saying everything, there's too much to say and if I don't see him in person, I can't say goodbye and thankyou." I hugged Trapper back, my head turned to one side against his bare chest.

Caitlin came into the tent without knocking, "I have some clothes for Trapper, and you'd better watch it, Frank's on the loose," She warned in her soft Southern accent; I accepted the fatigues.

"Thanks Caitlin," She left as I dropped the clothes on my bed.

"Come back here Annie," Trapper hugged me again and as my head turned to one side, he lifted my chin,

"Look at me Annie," I looked up, his embrace holding me to him so tightly it was almost uncomfortable,

"Annie, I'm going to miss you all so much, but I'll miss you and Hawkeye the most and how am I ever going to be able to say goodbye to him?" I began to speak, and his embrace tightened, pinning my lower lip to his chest so I was effectively telling his pectorals instead of his face.

"Trapper I know how much you'll miss us, coz I'll miss you just as bad, I don't know how I'm going to be able to survive without my brother." We stood there quietly for several minutes, just holding each other tightly.

"Annie," Trapper said finally, "Can I spend the night in your tent?" I gasped and pulled back, my face showing the obvious shock,

"No," Trapper hastily corrected himself, "As a friend, so we can have one last brother-sister talk?" I smiled and opened my arms.

"Of course Trapper" we sat down on my bunk, ignoring the fatigues and talked until the early hours of the morning.

Trapper turned his back in a polite fashion as I pulled my nightdress on.

"Annie, I don't know, I can't say goodbye to him in a letter, will you say it for me?" I smiled as I did up the small buttons.

"Of course I will Trapper, I know how important you are to him, and he is to you. I won't be able to say everything, but I can try," He hugged me,

"Thankyou Annie," I yawned, "We should get some sleep. I'll tuck you in and go," Trapper said, I nodded, agreeing.

Frank was big on the 0500 reveille and he expected a quick response every morning, even if we'd just spent 12 hours or so in the OR. I lay back on my bunk, and Trapper tucked me in, telling me a story like a little girl. I sleepily put my arms up and hugged him, and he returned the hug.

"Sit with me till I fall asleep," I asked, as he went to leave the room. Trapper turned, smiled and sat beside me on the bed, sleep came quickly to both Trapper and I and as I fell asleep, so did he.

I woke, to find myself wrapped in Trapper's arms. There was nothing too compromising about this, I decided as I knew neither of us had done anything we'd regret, except for the revelation of some darker secrets.

His left hand curled under me, holding me tightly to him, while my right hand rested under his cheek. I'd changed into my nightgown and he was wearing the shorts I'd hastily supplied the previous night. My left hand rested against his chest as, did my head. What was more compromising though, was the fact that our legs were entwined, his knee resting between mine and that my nightdress had ridden up above my waist and Trapper's right hand was lying over my thigh, curving to fit against the skin.

"Annie have you seen Captain MacIntyre sir. umm ma'am?" Radar came into my tent without knocking, a privilege very few people allowed him, and one I allowed everyone.

Nobody knocked on my door, except Father Mulcahy and Major Burns, and I didn't mind, even Margaret came in and out as she pleased, they all knew what they'd see if Hawkeye and I were in a interesting position, and in most of the nurses' cases, they seen it before.

"Oh my gosh, Lieutenant, I don't want to shock you, but there's a si. a sir. there's a sir in your bed." I smiled sleepily,

"I know," Radar looked confused, "But you're engaged." Trapper stirred, without even opening his eyes he muttered,

"Oh god, this had better be good." He opened his eyes now and smiled sleepily at me, before lugging himself out of bed. Radar handed him a freshly pressed suit

"Captain MacIntyre sir, your chopper will be here in three hours." I glanced at my watch, it was just before five and after Radar left, and I got dressed for the morning roll call.

We stood there; Trapper in his new civilian suit while Frank made several comments and generally told us all how we could improve ourselves, but not what we were doing well at. Trapper's flight was from Kim-Po, and it wasn't scheduled until late the next day but he was getting in a day of R&R in Seoul first and his chopper left at 0800 exactly.

We spent the last hours with him, packing any extra belongings, having a few last drinks and annoying the hell out of Frank.

Trapper had planned and successfully carried out endless pranks, which all left Frank and Margaret with egg on their faces, literally. Laughing I dragged Trapper from Frank's office. He'd just received a severe reprimand for pulling down the pants of every man and woman in the Mess Tent, myself included. We all loved Frank's shorts, on which someone had painted "Squeeze Me!" and Trapper's obvious confusion when he reached Klinger, who was wearing a skirt in honour of Trapper's last day.

"Trapper, I'm dying laughing, I seriously think I'm going to split a gut!" Trapper chuckled as we headed across the compound,

"Let's see!" He grabbed the bottom of my shirt and tried to pull it up.

"Trapper!" Laughing I fought it back down and he began to tickle me.

"Trapper, stop. Trapper!" I shrieked breathlessly, collapsing as his fingers expertly found my weak points. I lay on the ground, shrieking hysterically and in a quick movement, yanked Trapper onto the ground and attacked him.

Radar came up, "Umm Captain MacIntyre sir? Your chopper will arrive in five minutes." He stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes and offered me a hand up. I regained my composure, caught my breath and straightened my clothes.

"Well Trapper," I smiled, "I guess this it," Tears were already starting to work down my face as he collected his bag, threw it in a jeep and after throwing me in also, drove up to the chopper pad where the company had collected to bid him farewell.

We stood on the chopper pad some crying, some celebrating, while Trapper slowly said his goodbyes. Trapper bent and kissed Radar on the cheek and Radar jumped back, wiping at his cheek disgustedly. I chuckled as Trapper approached me, sweeping me up into a tight hug, and lifting me off the ground.

"Take care Anne, please take care," I hugged him back, unaware that my feet dangled a foot-and-a-half off the ground.

"I'm going to miss you so much Trapper, how am I gonna survive without you, you're my brother?" He kissed the top of my hair and put me down. He studied my teary face, his hands on my shoulders.

"You'll find someone to confide in Annie baby. Now promise me you'll stop crying," I shook my head,

"I can't make a promise I can't keep darling," He laughed and wrapped me close in a hug,

"You always know how to make me smile, and I'm going to miss that, Lou was never able to make me smile like that." I chuckled softly,

"You've gotta go," He nodded,

"Yeah, well, do I get the sort of goodbye you gave Henry?" I blushed,

"Now what kind of goodbye would that be then?" He chuckled,

"You know. there were some serious sparks then. and Hawkeye wouldn't mind. Besides, you can give him this for me." He kissed me and I let him, melting against his body.

"That was to my sister," He said before kissing me again,

"And that was to my ex-girlfriend," He kissed me a third time,

"That was to the best darn friend a guy could have," He kissed me a fourth time,

"That was to the best nurse I've seen anywhere," he kissed me for the fifth and final time,

"And that was for luck!" I was crying and his eyes looked suspiciously bright, not with the warm light that usually made them glow when he saw me, but with tears he too longed to shed.

"Come on Captain!" The chopper pilot called and after a hug and a last kiss from me, he got into the chopper. The group stood back and I watched tearfully as the chopper rose into the sky.

Now that Trapper was gone, Frank and Margaret were more determined than ever to get the place running like a military outfit.

I meekly did my duties; the other nurses, upon seeing that I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, had lightened my load slightly by doing the smaller tasks no one would notice me not doing and I was grateful as I saw another nurse doing something I would've had to do.

"Thanks so much," I whispered as I passed her,

"Anything Annie, you're so tired, you'll wear yourself out, and pick up that horrid virus going around, slow down and take care now," She exhorted, as I left in the general direction of Post-Op. I nearly walked into the door, feeling more and more zombie-like every second. I guessed she was right, I was exhausted and all I needed was a good night's sleep. My head hurt and I was dizzy so I sat down by a bed

"How. how are you feeling today?" I asked the man who had come in, with a virus, as yet unidentified, that was going around. Fortunately none of the staff here had got it yet, it was still confined to our patients.

"A bit better," I nodded,

"Well, you've lost your fever. and. you're." My words were becoming slurred,

"Annie, are you okay?" Nurse Kellye came over, putting a hand on my forehead. I didn't understand my answer, as she called for Major Burns.

"What is it Nurse?" He came up,

"It's Annie. I mean Lieutenant Dawson, I think she's ill," Burns took no notice,

" I'm the doctor, I'll do the diagnosing here!" Burns snorted as he looked at my haggard face,

"Bah! She's just a little tired that's all," Margaret came up as she heard Frank's harsh words,

"Now listen Lieutenant, you're not going to be babied now that that poor excuse for a Colonel has left." Margaret finally showed some authority,

"Shut up Frank, Annie's really sick!"

I opened my eyes, "Now don't you go moving anywhere gorgeous." I'd never heard the voice before and so I turned to the source. He chuckled as I brought the friendly face into focus.

"Go and tell Hawkeye his patient's awake." Caitlin left "You had us worried there for a while Anne" The young man looked a little older than I, and his blue-green eyes sparkled merrily.

"But it's good to see you awake again," he shook my hand, checking my pulse as he did so.

"You were one very sick little girl." He smiled warmly at me,

"I'm not a little girl!" I protested weakly and he laughed,

"Now settle Annie, I was just teasing, we really thought we were going to lose you there." I smiled wanly,

"But you guys wouldn't have, I've got the best doctor in Korea, Hawkeye," He chuckled,

"Well, Annie, you did, I've never seen a more dedicated doctor. He sat beside you for three days straight, three days and he held your hand the entire time you were at your worst." I smiled as the man in question entered Post-Op and rushed to the other side of my bed.

"Annie!" He was trying to check my pulse, my temperature and hug me all at once,

"Annie, this is BJ Honnicut, Trapper's replacement," He said, introducing me to the other doctor,

"Oh... you heard about Trapper then?" Hawkeye nodded sadly,

"Yep, I drove all the way to Kim-Po and I missed his plane by ten lousy minutes." BJ laughed,

"Yeah he was in a state alright! He was blind drunk when we got back. so was I. but he was panicking because you were in a bed in Post-Op on a drip and barely conscious." I smiled at my doctor,

"Poor Hawkeye, he's had a hard time." BJ saw the ring on my finger as I lifted my hand to Hawkeye's cheek,

"Who's the lucky man?" he asked, taking my hand to admire the ring.

"You never told him? Hawkeye Pierce!" I was very surprised to hear that.

"BJ, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Benjamin Pierce." I smiled, and tried to sit up, only to be pushed down again.

"Steady on Annie, you're gonna be okay now, but don't overdo things," Hawkeye smiled and kissed me as he pushed me down onto the pillow.

"We've got someone we'd like you to meet Annie, don't we BJ?" BJ and Hawkeye had obviously already 'clicked' so to speak and thought alike.

"Yes, our new CO." I yawned,

"Our new CO?" I asked in surprise, yawning again.

"Yes, our new CO, Colonel Potter," Hawkeye said, BJ got up and left and as I felt my eyelids dropping, BJ returned with a Colonel,

"Aah, so you're the Annabelle I've heard so much about, it's good to see you awake." I smiled sleepily

"I'd salute, but." He waved his hand,

"You're on a drip Lieutenant, and I don't expect a salute from you. Colonel Sherman T. Potter, regular army." I yawned and offered him my right hand.

"Lieutenant Annabelle.. Dawson. regular nutcase," I replied sleepily as he took my hand and shook it in a warm, friendly grasp. He sat down on my bed,

"Now listen Annie, you've got a tiny body and any sickness you get just goes right through you, you're so small you barely stand a chance. You need as much sleep as possible, now I want you to close your eyes." He ran his hand over my face and I fell asleep.

Slowly I recovered and although I missed Trapper and Henry I found new friends in BJ and Colonel Potter. I missed Trapper, there was no two ways about that, but I wasn't letting it interfere with my work and after a month of slowly getting back on my feet, I was able to take my place as 2nd Lieutenant Annabelle Dawson, nurse, fiancée, 'sister' and psychologist to all.