By the time the phone had started and stopped and started again three times, the Colonel giving no sign that he would ever answer, Lieutenant Hawkeye had had enough. She cleared her throat.
"Do you want me to answer that, sir?" She spoke louder than normal, over the clang of the ring. "Or are you testing the caller's persistence for some reason beyond my understanding?" She scooted back her chair, to make her intent clear.
"No, don't answer it," Mustang growled. "You know he's just trying to distract me. You should be proud of me, for not giving in. Look! Just look at all these papers I've signed today." He lifted some off his desk and waved them in the air, not even looking up.
Hawkeye's business glare softened. "Colonel…."
The ringing stopped, and he glanced up, hearing the change in her tone.
"What? You're not?" He was puzzled at her expression.
"Colonel, you know that it can't be Brigadier General Hughes calling." She said it straight, the only way she could.
His glance became a stare, as realization sank in. A moment, then two, of speechlessness.
He cleared his throat, hunching back over his papers. "No. No, of course it can't be him. I don't know what I…." He trailed off, but the sudden ring of the phone saved him from having to think of something else to say.
The phone rang and rang.
"Sir?"
"Go ahead and answer it, Lieutenant. Tell whoever is calling that I'm out today." He looked around at his desk, then rose. He caught her eye, and gave her a little nod before making for the door.
Hawkeye didn't watch him go, but reached for the phone. He'd be ok. One day, he'd be ok.