A/N: I will probably get a lot of medical details wrong and some of the characters might be OOC, but forgive me: it's my first MASH fanfic. Also, some of the military details might be wrong: please don't flame because of that. I've been planning this for a while, and I am so excited! Please review!
Barb hazily awoke from the blaring of the alarm clock, winced as sunlight got in her eyes, and groaned angrily. She slammed her hand down on it, and she sighed as blessed silence filled her bedroom. Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, and Barb groaned again.
Her cheery, happy room-mate and best friend Margot walked in the door, a huge smile on her face. "Good morning!" she trilled, jumping on the bed. "Oh!" Barb moaned, clasping her forehead. "Don't you realize it's against the rules to be this happy at this time in the morning? Plus, don't shout so loud," she pleaded.
Margot mock-frowned. "Shame, shame!" she tsked her friend. "Got hung over again, I see." Barb sat up, brushing her shoulder length honey brown hair back from her face, revealing emerald green eyes that were slightly hazy. "Did I?" she asked, attempting to smile and then frowned as it hurt.
"Apparently," Margot said in amusement. Barb studied her friend's fiery red hair, and hazel eyes, which were narrowed as Margot tried to control her laughter at Barb's obvious discomfort. Margot could laugh at anything.
Barb couldn't help but laugh as well, even though it sent her head to a whole other place. She and Margot had been friends since kindergarten, and both had the same dream: to be nurses. Margot's natural kind and caring personality had made her the perfect nurse, while Barb's mischievous, sneaky nature had made her work a little harder to be kind and compassionate, although she had an excellent hand at medicine.
They had both gone to Harvard University, and now were renting a house in Beaufort, South Carolina, where both girls had grown up. They loved their hometown. There was something almost magnetic about it. The ocean wasn't the bluest in the world, and the town wasn't as friendly as other towns. And yet…there was something about it that had made them both want to come back.
"You're on shift today," Margot remarked, eyeing Barb's pearl necklace. "I have a date tonight," she said. "Could I borrow your pearls?" "My pearls are your pearls," Barb answered. "When does it start?" Unlike Margot, Barb could never keep track of anything save her guitar and surfboard. "In about an hour," Margot answered.
"Think your hangover will be gone by then?" she grinned. "Hopefully," Barb groused, running a hand through her ruffled hair. "You know," Barb said, "I'm getting really bored with this job." "Why?" Margot asked, modeling the pearls. "I don't know. It's just always the same. Routine. I want something new. Would you make some hard-boiled eggs, please?" "Of course," Margot answered courteously. "Hurry and shower."
Barb went through all the motions of waking up: namely, lying in bed for another fifteen minutes, glancing at the clock and cursing, taking a five minute cold shower, brushing her teeth hurriedly, getting dressed equally as hurriedly, and gulping the hard-boiled eggs down as fast as possible.
"Thanks, Margot," Barb said. "Hey, don't forget your guitar!" Margot called out as Barb was about to shoot out the door. "Why?" Barb asked. "You promised to play for Dr. Korick during break, remember?" Margot said, bringing her guitar case over. "Oh, yeah." Barb slapped her head. "Wake up, Barb. Thanks again."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Smith, you'll be fine," Barb coaxed the old woman. "Don't leave me!" she begged Barb, her eyes wide with terror. "I'll send a nurse to you immediately," Barb assured her. "No!" Mrs. Smith sobbed. "Louise! Louise!" Barb gently sat down next to her and held her hand. Mrs. Smith was nearly 90 years old, and had Alzheimer's. She had been sent to the hospital because she needed special treatment. Louise was Mrs. Smith's daughter who had left her years ago and never come back.
"I'll take over," Mary said to her. Barb looked up, and smiled. "Okay, thanks," she said gratefully. Mary eyed her closely. "Hangover," she predicted. "As usual, correct," Barb grinned. "Who with?" Mary asked. "I don't kiss and tell," Barb said in mock indignation. Mary laughed, and sat down next to Mrs. Smith.
Barb sighed softly, and ran her hand through her hair again for the millionth time. For once in almost a month, no one had needed emergency care. After taking a careful glance around, Barb went on to the doctor's lounge, where her guitar was waiting.
She took it out of its case and stroked it fondly. Her guitar was almost as important to her as her job was. It was the only thing that kept her firmly grounded: if it weren't for her music, she would be completely wild. Her music was her way of letting go, and letting loose, expressing herself.
She strummed a soft tune, and hummed a few stanzas. Dr. Korick came in and grinned. "Hello, Barb," he said. "Hi," Barb smiled. "Wanna hear my new song?" "Of course!" Dr. Korick answered, getting a sip of water before sitting down.
Barb tuned her guitar, and waited for a moment so that the words would come to her. She started softly, and slowly grew louder, her guitar going from meek and mild to passionate and full of pain.
"He was never the one for me," Barb sang.
"He took my heart and he broke my heart
He never returned my heart.
Why should I even care what he is
He's nothing to me…
So why do I care?"
A string of doctors and nurses had gathered just outside the doors. Barb was famous for her music. Her lyrics could usually use a little work, but it came straight from her heart. Barb finished, and there was silence.
Suddenly a nurse ran in, pushing past the doctors and nurses assembled at the door. "There's a war!" she cried frantically. "What?" they chorused. Barb put her guitar down in its case to listen. "The United States has entered the Korean War! North Korea is trying to invade South Korea and make it Communist, and they're drafting right and left!" There was worried murmuring all around the room, but Barb's eyes had taken on a glow that only Margot could interpret and beware of it in time.
Over the frantic worrying that someone might receive a draft notice, Barb slipped out and finished her shift in fifteen minutes, then walked slowly out to her car, her eyes glowing even more. She knew she should think about it, and she could think of no better place to think over her decision than on a few choice waves. Hopefully, there would be some good ones after yesterday's storm.
She hopped into her car and drove along the road, listening to some music playing in her head, and just thinking. She braked to a stop at a deserted ocean where few people ever came, but was a great place for great waves. She grabbed her board and took off her shirt and to reveal a white swimsuit.
She plunged into the ocean, breathing in its sweet, salty scent. As she hopped up to grab a wave, she thought. 'I'd have to leave the ocean, and Margot,' she realized. 'Am I up for that? Could I leave Margot? We've been together for over ten years. Could I leave Beaufort? I love it.' As she paddled out again, she thought, 'You said life was getting monotonous. So why are you hesitating? You're going to a place to save our soldiers and get some drama in your life. You're going to experience adventure! How many people have this opportunity?' On a sadder note, 'A lot of them probably don't even want to go. A lot of them will die. I might die. Am I up to this?" Suddenly a wave flipped her over, and she tumbled to shore, her board bumping her head. Coughing and sputtering, she sat up, blinking rapidly as salt burned in her eyes. She smiled. 'It can't be any worse than getting flipped by a wave. Why not? I'll get to serve my country, meet new people…all in all, it's good.'
Barb laughed, and thrust herself into a wave, dancing in the surf. "Why not?" she shouted above the crashing of the waves.
"You're what?" Margot yelped, spewing food across the table. Barb successfully dodged the mashed up green beans, and took another sip of her wine. "I'm enlisting," she said. "I'm sure you've heard of the war-or 'police action', which we all know it is not," she said, wiping her mouth.
"But, Barb!" Margot said, her eyes wide. "You're going to be a nurse in the place that is the hottest place in the world during the summer, and the coldest place on earth during the winter, where the primary cause of death is snakebite, and the second is frostbite, just to get an adventure? Are you utterly insane?" "No!" Barb reproached her. "I just think that this is what I'm supposed to do."
Margot sighed and leaned back in her chair. She looked at Barb, and her hazel eyes were serious. "Are you completely sure you want to do this?" she asked. Barb set down her fork, and leaned forward intently. "Yes," she answered.
There was silence, and then Margot tried to smile. "Good luck," she whispered. Barb grinned. "What will you be taking?" Margot cleared her throat, and wiped furiously at her eyes. "Um," Barb looked down to keep Margot from seeing the tears that were gathering in her own eyes. "My guitar, obviously," she said slowly. "Maybe one of my favorite dresses…letters, books, pictures…special things." "Will they let you?" Margot asked. "I hope so," Barb answered.
A tear trickled down Margot's cheek, and they both burst out crying. They ran and hugged each other closely, allowing the tears to fall. "Tears…falling…with the rain…heaven and I are crying…" Barb sang softly into her best friend's shoulder, tears dropping onto the floor.
Barb sighed and looked herself in the mirror. She glanced over her nurse's army uniform closely to make sure nothing was wrong. Today was the day of truth. She was heading to Korea after getting her dog-tags, and other information. She shuddered, trying to keep tears at bay. Leaving Margot and Beaufort was going to be harder than she thought.
She picked up her suitcase and guitar case, and with Margot, walked out of their front door. Margot locked it, and they got into the car. As they drove to the airport where she would be leaving, there was utter silence. Barb gazed around, capturing every detail, every sight, every scent, every sound, tucking them away into her mind to bring out later.
They finally reached their destination. They walked in silence, amid several thousands of other people who were also bidding their loved ones good-bye. Margot and Barb stood at the gates, where Margot could not come any farther. They gazed at each other for a moment and then gripped each other in a tight hug.
"I'll write every day," Barb promised, tears leaking through once more. "Promise we'll always be best friends," Margot whispered. "Always," Barb replied. Margot smiled, and Barb stared at her, memorizing every detail, everything about her. "Will you be home for Christmas?" Margot asked, laughing slightly. Barb joined her. "Let's pray so," she answered. "Time to go, miss," a straight-faced man told her.
Barb turned to Margot one last time. "I won't forget you," she promised. "Don't die of a snakebite, and avoid Communists!" Margot warned. Barb laughed as she walked backwards, to avoid cutting off her sight. "God bless!" she cried, and Margot lifted a hand to wave.
Finally, Barb turned a corner, and Margot was gone. Barb turned around to face the unknown, her breath quickening with excitement. Gone was security, gone was routine. Now, there was only adventure lying around the corner, and only danger as well. She closed her eyes and smiled.
A/N: This is only the first part. I thought I'd introduce you to Barb and her life before actually putting her in Korea. Like it? I'm falling in love with Barb already! Let me know what you think!