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Post by jessie on May 11, 2011 17:06:22 GMT -6
Awesome update, I'm glad Klinger got to camp, I hope they can get back to the woman in time. Update soon, love this story, it is so good, but sad.
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Post by Sanda on May 16, 2011 0:25:15 GMT -6
Great update Melindajo. I am glad that Max Klinger got back to the camp. I hope that he and friends will be able to get back to the woman, and her unborn child and save them.
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Post by melindajo2000 on May 17, 2011 14:25:44 GMT -6
Chapter seven
"Max Klinger! I don't know whether to hug you or hang you!" Potter attempted to bellow in his usual fatherly manner. B.J. had accompanied him to the colonel's office as he was clearly running on empty.
"And just where you have been, sir. You may think you're going to get a dishonorable discharge but I know you better than you think I do. Something awfully important had to have happened for you to have disappeared. You're not a one-trick pony, Klinger."
"I need your help, sir. I can explain everything. My jeep broke down. I ran into this girl. She can't be more than twenty. She's about to have a baby, way too early. And she needs our help. I was going to deliver him myself but I knew we had the best trained staff there is. Please, sir. Can't we send some help? I can't bear the thought of her all alone out there. Why if she doesn't die of natural causes she could get …"
Potter put his hand in the air. "Say no more. I know what could happen to her. You're a good man, Klinger. It's been a slow day, not that it means anything. Take a nurse with you. I'll see what Margaret can do."
"Thank you, sir. You won't regret this. I'll make it up to you. I promise not to embarrass you next time a general comes to town."
"I doubt that very much. But I appreciate the gesture. But do me one very important favor."
"Anything."
"Don't get your hopes up."
An hour later….
The colonel could see how deeply his clerk had bonded with this woman, who quite frankly, was in trouble. Margaret was doing her best but even she could not perform miracles. The woman and her little one had a half hour at best.
Suddenly the room was filled with the sound of a tiny wail.
"Well Klinger, it's a boy!" Margaret faked a smiled as she handed him over to a nurse. She went back to work on his mother but couldn't help but thinking that this was the tiniest baby she could recall seeing in quite awhile. He must have been around four pounds, give or take a few ounces.
"Well what are we waiting for! Let's get him over to Tokyo!" Klinger, who was all scrubbed up, ran over to see him.
"Come on, Colonel. I don't see what the delay is. You know there they will give him the best care. He's gonna play for the Yankees I tell ya! What do you think, pitcher or catcher?…"
Before he could make it across the room B.J. stopped him. "Look Klinger.." he said compassionately.
The mother held him for a few minutes, then held him out for Klinger.
"I think catcher. Just look at those hands." He walked over to the nurse. "Can I hold him?"
The nurse looked over to Colonel Potter, who solemnly nodded. B.J. looked over at him with a raised eyebrow, but Potter shook his head. His mind was made up. He had to get Klinger out of there or he really would lose his mind with grief.
After one minute Potter spoke up. "That's enough. Give the baby back. That's an order."
"But sir...I"
"Now, Klinger."
"Yes, sir." He handed the baby to his mom. "So what are you going to name the little guy. "I hear Max is a real popular name in these parts." He laughed.
"Yes. Max. Max. " She smiled at him. That was the first time she pronounced his name correctly.
The baby cried, although much weaker than when he was born. Margaret could not even look at the baby for she was afraid she would actually cry when he died.
Also taking the situation badly was B.J., who had a young wife and child at home. He could not imagine what it would it would have been like to lose Peg and Erin.
Nope…not going to do it, he thought. Not going to think about my own wife and child…. If Hawkeye were here he would know what I'm thinking and try to cheer everyone up. Probably wouldn't work but he'd know what to say.
Where's this girl's husband? Did he leave her to die? Did we kill him ? Ahh..The beauty of war is we'll never know.
B.J. could easily keep thinking about the baby's father, wondering where he was. B.J. shook his head, snapping himself back to reality. This was about Klinger. Back to desensitizing himself to the cold hard facts of life.
"Really? His name is Max? Did you hear that everyone? The little tyke's name is Max!"
"Congratulations." B.J. patted him on the back. "Now let's get you out of here before your ego crowds us all out of the room. Come on, let's get cleaned up and go for a walk. Is that okay, Colonel?"
"I think that's an excellent idea. Welcome back, Klinger. Hey B.J. Did Pierce finally get some shuteye?"
"Yeah, right after we got back. He's sawing logs right as we speak."
. "Go check on Hawkeye will ya? Take it easy for a few, will you?"
"Okay, sir. I'll be right back," Klinger grinned while looking over at B.J You don't mind if I stop and look for a camera do you? . Two Maxes in the same room! Just what the 4077 needs! Do you think it would be too much if I got him a bonnet?"
There may be two Maxes, thought Potter, but there will never be two Klingers.
B.J. looked at Margaret, who refused to look back. Baby Max had stopped crying, so Margaret motioned for them to leave.
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Post by jessie on May 17, 2011 15:29:09 GMT -6
Oh you are going to make me cry with this story Melinda. Awesome writing oh poor Klinger and the Mother. I think the baby will die and Klinger will be devastated. Wow this is one of your best stories, you defenately have to put this one on Soap Chat. Can't wait for the next update.
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Post by Sanda on May 17, 2011 21:36:17 GMT -6
Great update MelindaJo. I hope and pray that the baby doesn't die but I have a feeling the baby will die and that Klinger will absolutely devasted. Please update soon. I agree with Jessie that you should post this story over at Soap Chat.
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Post by melindajo2000 on May 24, 2011 17:50:29 GMT -6
Chapter 8
Outside …
"You know, B.J., I'm glad everything has happened today."
B.J. nearly trips. "Klinger, there is something you should know."
"No, there is something you should know. I think that God lets things happen for a reason. And this definitely happened for a reason. I was supposed to find that girl today. I don't even know her name but she named her baby after me of all people! That tells me God wanted us to meet. I know what everyone was thinking about me today. Everyone was thinking I went AWOL. Tell me the truth. You were, weren't you?"
B.J. put his hand over his eyes, protecting them from the sun. "Of course not, how could you think such a thing?"
"You don't have to lie to me!"
"Okay, I admit that. We all thought that maybe you might have gotten a little carried away with your wish…"
"Okay, now we're being honest. Now it's my turn to be honest. I did think about going AWOL. I think about it every day of my life here. But today, I felt a reason for being here. I feel connected to that baby…I don't know what it is about that kid but it makes me feel really good…All I know is that I was in the right place at the right time. Maybe you'll help me get my discharge now because I really sound crazy."
"No, you're making a lot of sense."
"Bite your tongue! If you start that crazy rumor about me, why I'll spit in your mashed potatoes!"
B.J. laughed. "It might improve the flavor. But Klinger…I'm your friend. Let's go back to my room for a minute."
"I've heard that line before. It never worked back then and it won't work now."
They should probably go back to his room to talk about what was happening to the baby and the mom. Hawk was so dead tired he could sleep through anything, thankfully. If he happened to wake then his help would definitely be useful.
" I really think we should talk."
"Tell me another line My wife used that one on me, too Are you two in cahoots?."
"Here we are. Go ahead."
"I don't see what's so important. I really have to…oh hi Hawkeye. B.J. said you were still asleep"
"I was until Charles got the sniffles in his sleep. "Forget stuffing tissues up his nose. I could have sent a whole army unit up there to stifle him. I'm taking volunteers for now." Hawkeye said as he stood up to stretch.
"Hawk can I see you for a sec. Will you excuse us for a sec?" B.J. pulled his buddy aside, while Klinger did his best to eavesdrop.
Hawkeye did everything he could not to react to the sad news that the baby had died. Pierce took a deep breath and glanced over at the unwitting Klinger.
"What's that look all about? You two are over there talking about me! I know it. You might as well tell me."
"I'll be right back." B.J. excused himself, off to find Father Mulcahy.
"Klinger, sit down. Want something to drink?" Hawkeye offered some alcohol, which was refused. Pierce. knew that there was nothing in the world that could take the sting off of what he was about to say next.
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Post by jessie on May 24, 2011 19:44:05 GMT -6
Awesome update poor Klinger, the poor Lady losing her baby. I hope she will be ok at least. Hope you update again soon.
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Post by Sanda on May 24, 2011 21:03:22 GMT -6
Great update MelindaJo. Poor Klinger. I feel so bad for the poor lady losing her baby. Please update this story soon.
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Post by melindajo2000 on May 28, 2011 21:53:36 GMT -6
Chapter 9 Soon Potter , the Father, and Margaret walked in.
"What's going on? Shouldn't you be in with…" ..slowly but surely reality set in. Father Mucahy placed his hand on Klinger's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry."
"Klinger," Potter started. "You did a commendable job back there. No man or woman could have done a finer job treating that woman. You gave that woman compassion and dignity during her last few hours. I'm sure that has not gone unnoticed by our Dear Lord. She and baby Max are in a better place. You did the best you could for them." Potter knew that there was nothing he could say to make his friend feel better. He'd gone through a tragic ordeal today and only time could heal him.
"But sir, I don't understand! I just saw them. I held the baby! He was doing fine. He was crying..that meant his lungs were okay, didn't it?"
Margaret stepped forward. "He was only five and half months, Klinger. His lungs just were not developed. He shouldn't have been able to cry at all. It was a miracle that he'd been alive for as long as he was. I'd say you'd done something to be extremely proud of. You knew he couldn't have survived." She tried to remind him, even though she knew the heart could speak louder than the head at times.
He nodded. " I know. But you should have seen the way he was kicking. And then once I held him…I guess I thought he had a fighting chance. What about his mom? What about her?" He looked at B.J.
"She bled to death. She'd been malnourished. I'm so sorry, Klinger."
He looked away from them all. "So am I." he whispered. "So am I."
"Can I at least say goodbye?"
The group looked at each other.
Potter spoke, as it was his responsibility to tell the truth. "I'm afraid that you can't."
"What do you mean, I can't? I just want to say goodbye!"
"That's impossible. We've already taken them away. I'm sorry, Klinger. It was the best thing for everyone."
"Who made this crackerjack decicion? Why I ought to…"
Potter stepped forward, while the room grew quiet. "I made this crackerjack decision. Now I suggest you get a good night sleep before you say something you might regret. You made your peace with them, let's leave it at that. I feel for you, I really do. You did right by everyone. You have memories of a beautiful young woman thanking you by naming her child after you. You held a young infant in your arms in the unit where you work. Let's not make things worse by seeing things that will haunt you for the rest of your life We have enough ghosts roaming those halls. Do you really need a couple more?
Klinger paused, knowing full well that Colonel Potter had made the right decision. He looked around at all of his friends, who were waiting for him to speak.
"I don't know what to say. You guys…"
"Don't say anything. You just get yourself some sleep. It's bad enough we have zombie Hawkeye running around. "Margaret tried to sound tough but she gave Klinger a hug instead.
" We don't need you to fall apart either. Everyone get back to sleep. Business as usual."
"Thank you, Margaret but I believe that is my call to make. Business as usual, boys, and girl. That will be all. Klinger, if you need me you know where to find me." He patted him on the arm him on the way out.
"Thank you, sir. "
"You take care of yourself, son."
"And Klinger," Hawkeye put his hand on his buddy's shoulder. "Don't forget what one of your fashion inspiration's famous quotations says: 'Tomorrow is another day'."
Klinger smiled half heartedly, remembering his Scarlett O'Hara dress. "Thanks, you guys. I think I'm going to hit the hay now." He smiled awkwardly, and everyone watched him leave.
And those were the events of Max Klinger's day off.
The end thanks for reading
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Post by jessie on May 28, 2011 22:43:08 GMT -6
Very sad but what a excellent Story, one of my favourites. Poor Klinger, but he truly should be proud of himself. Excellent writing as always.
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Post by Sanda on May 29, 2011 16:42:02 GMT -6
This was such a sad ending end to your amazing story. Poor Klinger losing the woman and her baby son Max. Klinger should be proud of himself for helping the woman and her baby even though they didn't survive.
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