Finding The 4077th

Taking Control

At the small nod of the boy he continued, he had Chris his complete attention on him, like he always did when he got stern with him, the boy looked with sadness and disappointment back at the man. He did not make this easy on Hawkeye.

“You still got your schoolwork to do! You're too young to be a nurse, and learning English is for you more important right now and I want you to do that first, understand?”

Hawkeye looked at Chris as the boy gave a sad nod. 

“Well, go on then”

Chris his eyes are glossy from fighting the tears but he did as he was told and took off back to his sitting area and back to his books. 

Chris looked so sad, but Hawkeye wouldn't make the child work in the O.R, a child shouldn't work in the first place, especially not around so much blood and death and of course not around very sharp objects.

Feeling heartbroken at being sent away Chris went back to his work, Hawkeye called it his schoolwork, he already finished two books and was working on the third. People always were excited when he showed them and told him he was really smart. He loved that and he loved learning English and to write, but now he just felt disappointed because he wanted to help and he couldn't.

It's been weeks since Hawkeye started giving Chris a normal bedtime. It went mostly well unless Hawkeye stepped out of the Swamp. For some reason, the boy always knew when he was left alone. Not if he went away for a short time, but longer than 30 min was a no-go.

Hawkeye didn't know if he should discipline the boy if he came looking for him, while he should be in bed. Hawkeye knew Chris was scared to be left alone and he didn't think he could discipline the boy for that. 

He did smack Chris on his bottom about three nights ago when he found him hanging around the Clerk's room around 3 o'clock, Hawkeye was doing his rounds checking in on the patients. Radar's room, which is the Clerks room as well, is also the room next to O.R. 

Hawkeye sees the small blond head of hair through the door window, and feeling his irritating rise he walks toward the boy. Getting up in the night to follow him because he was afraid was a whole different situation than reading comic books.

Chris looked up at the sound of the door open and saw an angry Hawkeye come his way. He immediately remembered that he wasn't supposed to wander off, but he was looking for Hawkeye and he got distracted by Radar's new comic book.

“Christopher! Come here please,” Hawkeye said stern yet gentle. He was standing by the door in his doctor's coat and pointing at the spot close to him.

Chris jumped a little and his face got bright red upon hearing his name so sternly, Hawkeye sounded mad. 

Tears sprung into his eyes as he saw the disappointment in Hawkeye's eyes. No! He forgot about wandering around at night.

Trembling, he made his way over to stand next to the man. Why was he such a bad kid? He wanted Hawkeye to like him, but he seemed to mess it up.

When Chris was at the appointed spot Hawkeye took hold of the boy's upper arm, turned him sideways, and gave a light smack on his backside. He didn't know what kind of reaction Chris would give, but the boy gave a sort of soft squeak and turned bright red. Some tears escaped from his eyes but Chris brushed that away quickly.

So that was a smack on my bottom? He didn't expect that, and he was not proud of that squeak through. It was just so unexpected, and so embarrassing, that he didn't like it at all. He felt his face burn hot, the moment he felt the tap on his backside. 

He also got the familiar feeling that something like this happened to him before but all he got was an empty head again, when he tried to remember, with the lingering sadness. The only thing he knew was he didn't like it! The smack didn't hurt but it was crazy embarrassing for some reason.