Disclaimer: I don't own M*A*S*H or anything involved in it, though I may use some parts of some episodes with my own twist on them

"As long as we're all gathered here, I'd like to announce to you folks that in approximately one hour we'll be receiving a new nurse." Colonel Potter looked around at present company: Hawkeye Pierce, who sat on the chair alongside Potter's desk; Beajay Hunnicut, who stood next to Hawkeye; Margaret Houlihan, who stood directly in front of the desk; and finally Charles Emerson Winchester III, who stood in the corner leaning against the Colonel's filing cabinet.

"I'll be sure to greet her here with a warm welcome." Hawkeye smiled in his usual way.

"Friendly gesture." Beajay added, smiling equally.

"I'll stay, Colonel, she is after all, one of my nurses." Margaret glanced over at Hawkeye, who stared back innocently.

"No big deal Margaret, we'll just split her."

"Pierce," Charles spoke up, "your lack of subordination never ceases to amaze and disgust."

"Sounds like Charles is having a pretty good day." Beajay remarked, looking at Hawkeye. Just when Charles opened his mouth to retort, Potter started talking again:

"So it's settled. You four will come back at 13:00. Dismissed."

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The army jeep pulled up, and I stepped out onto the desert-like land of Korea, looking around at the people clad in army-green. I grabbed my bag, and a man in glasses walked up to me.

"Lieutenant Eliza Day, sir!" I saluted.

"Ah…yeah… the new nurse… and, just call me Radar, I don't think you're supposed to call me 'sir', ma'am. Here, I'll take you to the Colonel's office." He spoke somewhat nervously.

"Oh, no, no it's fine. Just point me the way!" I responded brightly. The last thing I needed here was for people to know I'm shy. Radar pointed the direction towards what I gathered was the OR…by the sign that said OR. I thanked him and set off on my way, my stomach full of butterflies.

The Colonel's office was full of paintings of horses and people I gathered were the staff here, and what looked like a man in a dress… what an imagination, this painter must have!

"Nevermind, Margaret, she's too short to share."

I dropped my bags and saluted, what I hope wasn't timidly, "LIEUTENANT ELIZA DAY REPORTING FOR DUTY, SIR!"

"There's no need to shout, I'm right here, I may be old, but not deaf." The Colonel responded. Okay…so maybe I over did it just now. I hid my now-red face by playing with a lock of brown hair in front of my face. He introduced himself as Colonel Potter, and the other officers in the room as Captains Pierce and Hunnicut, and Majors Houlihan and Winchester.

As I recited my references to Colonel Potter, Major Winchester yawned audibly, one of those yawns that actually lets people know just how very bored you are.

I turned to him in what I hope was a polite way, "I'm sorry Major, but if I'm boring you, I'm sure the colonel will allow you to leave. I am, after all, just a new Lieutenant Nurse."

"A very nice-looking one, I might add." Captain Pierce came up beside me. I blushed again.

"Why, you insolent-" Major Winchester started at me, but got interrupted by the colonel,

"Okay, break it up. I don't want you causing trouble five minutes into the new job, and Winchester, you keep your yawns to yourself. Dissmissed."

As I walked out of the office, I barely saw where I was going. I didn't say a mean word to him. What did I do? I don't want to cause any trouble for my stay here. As if reading my thoughts, Captain Pierce came up beside me,

"Don't worry about Charles, his humanity went with his hair." Captain Pierce smiled warmly down at me. He seemed about six feet tall, while I was a small five foot five. He then shook my hand and introduced himself as 'Hawkeye'. The other captain walked up on my other side, introducing himself as 'Beajay'.

The both of them then invited me to their tent, which was apparently called 'The Swamp'. Just when we were about to go in, choppers came carrying wounded.

"Oh well, promise to stop by as soon as we're done!" Hawkeye shouted behind his back as he and Beajay ran towards the coppers like everyone else. I followed.

Unfortunately, just when I decided to try to avoid Major Winchester to avoid major problems with him, we got paired up during operation. I tried to keep up with him, but he was showing a lot of skill during the operation.

All fear forgotten, I remarked in an awed voice, "Outstanding work, Major!"

He seemed taken aback, but flattered, "Why, thank you. It takes mighty skill to operate, you know. "he replied, if a bit pompously.

"Yes, I do know. But you are doing very well!" I replied.

"Eliza, don't inflate his ego!" Beajay called from two tables down.

"It might explode!" Hawkeye added. I giggled at this, but Major Winchester looked stern.

"Pierce! Hunnicut! Would it ever kill you to compliment my surgical skills? Like, Miss Day, here." He might have smiled at me, but it was hard to tell from behind a surgical mask.

"Now that you mention it, yes it would."

Major Winchester ignored this last comment and looked at me, "Would you like to move in, for a closer observation?" I did, and then he explained every detail and direction of the operation, to which I listened intently.

After the operation, when we went to shed our blood-stained white operating clothes, I mustered up the courage to apologize.

"Major Winchester, I'd like to apologize if I seemed impertinent earlier." I said politely.

"All is forgotten," he said (in what I noticed was a Bostonian accent) "a gentleman never holds a grudge, especially, to someone as lovely as present company, who notices talent so well. Call me Charles"

He is acting gentlemanly…and sophisticated. I just smiled up at him. (he's taller than Hawkeye, which makes me even shorter) He may seem full of himself, but he means well.

"Ah, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to the officers' club for a drink." he smiled.

"Alright." I answered, glad that he isn't angry and glad that I had already made three new friends, Hawkeye, Beajay, and Charles. One thing though, am I forgetting somewhere I'm supposed to be?