Voices woke him. One he recognized as belonging to Jen�a, the other female voice he couldn�t place. They grew nearer, but the voices softened so as to not wake him. Both women entered the hut, chatting as if old friends. Jen�a said a few final words, then pointed the newcomer in his direction before exiting.
This new woman approached him cautiously, her feet making no sound on the straw and dirt floor. She crouched several paces away, body tense in case she found trouble. �You American?� she spoke at last.
BJ was too surprised at the sudden change of events to talk.
�English, yes?� Jen�a had told her this man spoke English. His silence confused her.
�You speak English?� he answered her question with one of his own.
�Yes. I learn several year ago.�
�Listen. I can�t stay here. I need to go back.�
�Are you prisoner?�
�No�but it seems to make Jen�a mad if I try to move.�
The lady laughed. �She worried about you. Head injury. They find you cold-out outside their door. Good people, want to help. When well, you can leave.�
�My friend is out there. He could be hurt and bleeding to death. I need to get help for him!� BJ was desperate, he had to get his message across to this one person who was speaking his own language. �Please!�
�How you help him? You probably can�t even walk to door!�
Angrily, BJ stood, a little too swiftly, and took several paces towards where his freedom lie. The few paces were enough to make him realize how weak he really was. He glared at the woman, mad at her for no reason other than pointing it out to him.
�See?�
�Fine, you win.�
�Me stay here for few days, until better. What is your name?�
�BJ.�
�BJ?� The Korean woman repeated the two letters. �Are you doctor?�
�Yes�How did you know that?�
�Doctor and friend to Hawk-eye?� Her eyes shone happily at her discovery.
�What�Have you seen Hawk?�
She nodded. �He alive and fine. Headed back to�MASH?�
�Was he hurt?�
�Bump on head, lost memory, found again.�
BJ sighed in relief, then slowly laid back down.
�He thinks you dead,� she said suddenly.
�What? How did he get such a crazy idea?�
�My brother,� she swallowed away the still-fresh memory, �found your medicine bag by dead man.�
BJ didn�t want to think of what Hawkeye might be going through. It was painful enough for him, and he hadn�t had proof that Hawkeye was dead. �What is your name?� he asked after a pause.
�Jo�an.�
***
When he first woke, Hawkeye thought he was still dreaming. Then the previous events paraded themselves across his closed eyelids. Before he opened them, he could tell he was in BJ�s cot by the soft smell that belonged only to him, and he also knew that the cot was BJ free. He couldn�t be dead!
Hawkeye got out of bed to go demand than a search be started for BJ. He was only able to take one step before eye-watering pain shot from his foot to his head. He went down before he knew what happened.
The commotion woke Frank. He froze when he saw his tent-mate, the one that was supposed to be dead.
�Just your usual clumsy ghost. Relax, Frank.� The wide-eyed stare was unnerving, so he threw a pillow at him.
The pillow hit Frank square in the face, but caused no reaction except for a blink. �Are you you?� was all he could finally manage to say.
Hawkeye ignored him as he used a corner of the still�s table to lever himself to his feet. �Frank, this isn�t for your amusement. Stop staring and help me get to post-op.�
�Is something wrong?�
�It looks that way.� He sat down on the edge of the bed.
Frank cautiously approached, like he was afraid it was some sort of trick. He slowly lifted up the Captain�s pant leg. He was silent.
�Frank?�
�
�Frank! What�s wrong?�
�A lot,� he mumbled, a touch of curiosity in his voice.
�Damn it. Get me to post-op stat!�
***