Disclaimer: I don't own these characters; I didn't create these characters apart from one or two that are mentioned in passing. I haven't seen all the episodes of M*A*S*H and none from the first three seasons so I am guessing how they may react and what they may say. If I got it wrong I am sorry. The characters where created by Richard Hooker and Fox and are owned by Fox. I am not making a profit out of this so don't sue me, this was done for fun by a fan. This is based AFTER the exits of Trapper, Henry and Frank, After the arrivals of BJ, Sherman and Charles but BEFORE the departure of Radar. Understand-good. Any feedback good or constructive is always welcome and can be sent to angeldun@hotmail.com . Please be gentle as this is my first attempt at fan fiction. This story can also be found at http://www.angelasworld.20m.com/breakingpoint.html

Part One - screams in the night.

It had been a busy week at the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. Busier than normal, casualties from the fighting had been pouring in and now everyone was physically and mentally exhausted. Radar O' Riley was no exception. He had gone above and beyond the call of his duties as Company clerk, handing out juice and sandwiches to the doctors and Nurses, filling in requisitions and other pieces of paperwork and trying to help keep patients calm. Now he could finally get some rest. He settled down in his Cot with his treasured cuddly bear and soon fell into a deep slumber.

The peace and quiet was disturbed by simultaneous screaming. BJ Hunnicutt heard it first. He had not been able to get to sleep. "Hawkeye was that you?" he asked. He turned over but his fellow swamp mate was fast asleep. Not for much longer as another simultaneous scream sounded out into the dark Korean night. "Argh what's wrong" asked the resident pranksters of the 4077^th. Klinger who was on guard duty came running into the swamp. "Sirs Come quickly, that sounded like Radar" he exclaimed.

"Their was two people screaming though" said BJ as both him and Hawkeye were pulling on boots and robes. "OH MY GOD, DONALD PLEASE NOOOO!" The three of them looked at each other and in one voice said "Margaret!"

Radar awoke with a start. He had suffered from the same nightmare ever since he had received that dreadful message. He reached for his cuddly bear and hugged it tightly to try and stop himself from shaking. There was a soft knock on the door followed closely by BJ. "Hey" BJ said softly "you okay?" good grief he looks as though he has seen a ghost he thought as he watched Radar on the bed biting his bottom lip trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to roll down his face. "Want to talk about it that must have been some nightmare?" Radar's response was to burst into tears.

Meanwhile Hawkeye was knocking on the door of Major M Houlihan. He could hear her crying softly, she sounded terrified and that was making Hawkeye anxious. "Hey Margaret can I Come in?" He didn't wait for a response and walked in. "I heard you shouting, are you okay?" she answered him by crying even harder. He walked over, carefully avoiding her laundry and sat down on her bed. He took her in his arms and held her for a long time. It was going to be a long night.

BJ was having that exact same thought. Radar was in hysterical floods of tears which was really unlike him. BJ was considering finding something to calm him down but for now he was trying the soothing words and rubbing Radar's back method. Eventually Radar stopped crying. "Thanks Beej" he muttered. "Feel like telling me what that was all about. I might be able to help." BJ said.

"I guess so sir" Radar muttered "I keep on having this nightmare about Henry. Remember when we all got interviewed before?" BJ nodded his head. Radar had seemed quieter then normal after he had been interviewed. "Well he asked me what memories I would take home with me from this place and all I Could think about was the day Henry left. I knew I was going to miss him but he was going home you know. Only he never made it, I had to tell everyone that and try to carry on as normal. Only I can't, I keep on having this nightmare. I see him in the chopper in his new suit and then I see it being shot down and spinning and, and" Radar couldn't finish his sentence. He took a deep breath "I didn't tell anyone this but I had to write home to his family with the news."

BJ was stunned. "Oh my God, I have no idea what to say. That's awful!"

Radar shock his head "it should have been Tokyo but it got passed on to me and Major Burns. No way was I going to let him do it."

"Geez" was all BJ Could manage. He thought of what would happen if anything happened to him whilst he was away from home. He felt a new sense of appreciation for Radar as well as a sense of uselessness. He had no idea of what to say or do. They both sat their wrapped up in their private thoughts for a long time.

Hawkeye was not having such a great time himself. He was simply stunned by what Margaret had told him.

"I shouldn't have told you. It's my problem and I will deal with it." She insisted determinedly.

"Like hell you will. They can't get away with it, those creeps are going down. Who else knows what happened?" Hawkeye asked. He was way beyond angry. When people messed about with his friends or family he took it personally and there would be hell to pay.

"I only told you. I don't know about them. Anyway what can you do? Coronal Potter may over look your escapades but you're already in trouble with Flagg. Don't be stupid for heavens sake." She pleaded with him.

"I don't care. I really don't give a damn about what Flagg thinks. His an idiot. Besides are you going to let them get away with it because I am not willing to?" He said.

"You're insane."

"You're heading the same way. We heard you screaming from the swamp!"

"I was not! That must have been someone else." She said a bit to fast. They where both talking really loud now and so Hawkeye took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"It was you." He said gently. Then off her look "well you and Radar" He admitted.

"Radar!" She said shocked.

"Oh my God. Radar!" the said together. With that Hawkeye jumped up and headed for the door. "Hey wait for me!" She called after him scrambling out of the bed and into her boots and robe. "We need to tell Coronal Potter. Oh poor kid what are we going to do?"

"Have you told anyone else this" BJ asked Radar. Radar shook his head.

"Maybe you should talk to Sidney Freedman. Oh you should have said something sooner. If you have the same nightmare every night it's bound to have an effect." BJ said gently. "Let's go see Coronal Potter about this. Between you and Major Houlihan his bound to be awake."

"Now sir. Is that a good idea" Radar asked nervously.

"No time like the present" was his response.