The next day dawns cloudy and cool, the cold front brought in by the previous day's rain lingering around camp and dampening everyone's spirits. Every so often it starts misting. It's not enough moisture to be called rain, but plenty enough to be considered a nuisance. It beads on the sunglasses BJ has taken to wearing during the day, even when there's no sun, thanks to the persistent headache still pounding away behind his eyes. He's not taking his pain meds anymore either, and the dark glasses are the only thing that helps.

BJ finishes securing Hawkeye to his cot in the back of the ambulance and then moves to the open rear door. A small group of people has gathered to see them off and Margaret is the first one to step forward. She hands him a canvas-wrapped package. "Just a few things for the road." The package is lumpy and makes a clinking sound as he limps over to set it down on the seat he'll be occupying for the next several hours.

Father Mulcahy is next and his gift is a rosary. It's made of rough wood and crudely constructed, yet feels substantial in his palm. He stares at it, rubbing the beads between his fingers absently.

"I know it's not your usual practice, but it would mean a great deal to me if you would hold it in your hand while you pray for him, if you should ever feel the need. The children at the orphanage made it."

"I will," BJ says thickly and pockets it.

Klinger and Radar's parting gifts are simple enough. They are requests for BJ to radio camp often and keep them in the loop on how Hawkeye is doing. He shakes hands with each of them to seal the deal and then it's only Potter left.

The Colonel and the Captain hold each other's gazes for a moment, two separate scenes on a tapestry, woven together by one common thread.

BJ knows the strings Potter has pulled so that he can accompany Hawkeye to Seoul. He knows what the Colonel is risking by sending his best surgeon away for who knows how long on what may turn out to be a fool's errand. He tries to convey all of this silently between their shared connection.

"I want regular updates." Potter says eventually.

BJ wipes at his wet eyes under the glasses and nods.

The ambulance driver is ready to go. He closes the back door and BJ moves to an open window. His side and leg throb painfully and there's a moment of vertigo that nearly knocks him over, but it passes.

"And don't let them push you around, either," Potter calls up to him over the roar of the engine.

"I won't."

The colonel reaches up a hand, which BJ grasps in farewell. "You're there on General Hammond's orders, remember that if they start to get too lippy."

"I will."

Potter's hand slips from BJ's as the ambulance begins to roll forward.

"They won't lift a scalpel unless I say so," he calls out the window.

They all come together as the ambulance pulls away and the distance between them grows - his little band of rag tag army rejects, the members of which he loves more than he probably should. He doesn't know when he'll see them again, or if he'll have Hawkeye with him when he does, but knowing that they'll be here makes all the difference in the world. They're going to love him, no matter how this story ends.

FIN


A/N: (To be continued in a part two)