Post by melindajo2000 on Feb 16, 2012 4:26:51 GMT -6
this takes place in Henry Blake's last episode
“So…” Hawkeye started, his voice cracking with emotion. No one wanted to finish his sentence. Everyone had all gathered at Rosie’s, drink in hand, for an informal memorial service to the late, great, Henry Blake. The only one that was missing was Radar; even Ferret Face had been prompt in paying his respects to the one time leader of the 4077.
“The kid’ll be here, relax,” Trapper ordered in his Bostonian accent as he tore another shot down. It had been his third already and the evening was just getting started. It was to be the start of many. Those closest to Henry had been given a 24 hour pass. 24 hours to think. 24 hours to drink. 24 hours to do anything to pull it together for the man who had meant so much to them in so little time.
“So I guess you all want me to go first,” Frank started. Everyone groaned. Some threw napkins or bottle caps at him. He paid no attention. It would not be easy to be leader; he knew that.
“Henry Blake was not what you would call a natural leader. He did not capture an audience’s attention very well, and we all knew the trouble the unit got into under his command. In fact we probably would have gone under if it weren’t for my follow through and sense of direction and authority. With me in command, you will see some changes, some you may not like but in the long run you will see that they are in fact, for the better and will come to appreciate them and…”
“Stop!”
Everyone turned to see the small voice and even smaller body that had ordered the command, and were shocked to see that it was Radar that had placed the order.
“Radar!” Hawkeye smiled affectionately as he got up to greet him.
“No, sir. Don’t touch me. And you,” he glared at Frank. “Don’t you dare speak of Colonel Blake that way. He was a good man and one heck of a leader. He did good things for this unit and was more than our friend, he was more than my friend. He was a teacher, a ruler, a …well yes, I’ll say it, he was like my father. I’m not ashamed to say it. I know you’ve been wondering where I’ve been. I’ve been with my teddy bear. And yes, I’ve been crying. I’m a grown man and I cry. Okay I know I wouldn’t make Colonel Blake proud but you know what? I don’t care. Right now I don’t care about anything no more. So you don’t say anything bad about him, do you hear me? Because if you do you never know who just might have something to say about it.”
Frank normally hated his authority challenged more than anything, but Margaret tugged on his shirt, and he sat down, and Rosie passed Radar a Grape Nehi, and Hawkeye pulled up a seat next to him. The tension was broke when Hawkeye smiled and asked “So what’s a nice guy like you doing in a place like this?”
Radar looked at him for a minute then started laughing. Trapper’s gregarious laughter filled the room and soon everyone joined in, even Frank started to giggle, and then Radar lifted his bottle.
“To Colonel Blake.”
Everyone followed suit.
“To Colonel Blake.”
“To Henry.”
And they all drank, the beginning of many that night to come. It was the beginning of a long long night.
Fin
“So…” Hawkeye started, his voice cracking with emotion. No one wanted to finish his sentence. Everyone had all gathered at Rosie’s, drink in hand, for an informal memorial service to the late, great, Henry Blake. The only one that was missing was Radar; even Ferret Face had been prompt in paying his respects to the one time leader of the 4077.
“The kid’ll be here, relax,” Trapper ordered in his Bostonian accent as he tore another shot down. It had been his third already and the evening was just getting started. It was to be the start of many. Those closest to Henry had been given a 24 hour pass. 24 hours to think. 24 hours to drink. 24 hours to do anything to pull it together for the man who had meant so much to them in so little time.
“So I guess you all want me to go first,” Frank started. Everyone groaned. Some threw napkins or bottle caps at him. He paid no attention. It would not be easy to be leader; he knew that.
“Henry Blake was not what you would call a natural leader. He did not capture an audience’s attention very well, and we all knew the trouble the unit got into under his command. In fact we probably would have gone under if it weren’t for my follow through and sense of direction and authority. With me in command, you will see some changes, some you may not like but in the long run you will see that they are in fact, for the better and will come to appreciate them and…”
“Stop!”
Everyone turned to see the small voice and even smaller body that had ordered the command, and were shocked to see that it was Radar that had placed the order.
“Radar!” Hawkeye smiled affectionately as he got up to greet him.
“No, sir. Don’t touch me. And you,” he glared at Frank. “Don’t you dare speak of Colonel Blake that way. He was a good man and one heck of a leader. He did good things for this unit and was more than our friend, he was more than my friend. He was a teacher, a ruler, a …well yes, I’ll say it, he was like my father. I’m not ashamed to say it. I know you’ve been wondering where I’ve been. I’ve been with my teddy bear. And yes, I’ve been crying. I’m a grown man and I cry. Okay I know I wouldn’t make Colonel Blake proud but you know what? I don’t care. Right now I don’t care about anything no more. So you don’t say anything bad about him, do you hear me? Because if you do you never know who just might have something to say about it.”
Frank normally hated his authority challenged more than anything, but Margaret tugged on his shirt, and he sat down, and Rosie passed Radar a Grape Nehi, and Hawkeye pulled up a seat next to him. The tension was broke when Hawkeye smiled and asked “So what’s a nice guy like you doing in a place like this?”
Radar looked at him for a minute then started laughing. Trapper’s gregarious laughter filled the room and soon everyone joined in, even Frank started to giggle, and then Radar lifted his bottle.
“To Colonel Blake.”
Everyone followed suit.
“To Colonel Blake.”
“To Henry.”
And they all drank, the beginning of many that night to come. It was the beginning of a long long night.
Fin
