Hi all, back again. I think Radar needs some romance, so I started this story. I know what I want to happen, so hopefully I can get it done pretty soon.
The sun shone on her brown hair, lighting up the coppery highlights. She smiled at him, a big, open smile full of innocence and curiosity. She was brand new, hadn't even changed out of her Class A's yet, and Radar O'Reilly was carrying her bags to the nurse's tent. Halfway there he stumbled over a rock because he couldn't stop glancing over at her, wanting to just watch her.
She was short, shorter than he and her uniform was full in all the right places. She'd introduced herself as Lieutenant Merry Higgins, brand new in Korea and ready to assist the finest surgeons in the Asian theater. Radar thought she was exquisite.
Three hours later, after a tour and lecture on procedure by her new head nurse, Merry found her way to the Mess Tent. Coffee was on her mind, and just as she was getting her cup, a hand covered hers. "Let me."
"Oh, thank you." She smiled at the young man, noting with a bit of amusement that he'd changed out of the rumpled green fatigues he'd been wearing earlier and into a more dressy tan uniform. Not Class A's, but definitely dressier. She'd seen the look when he met her, she knew he was attracted to her.
With that in mind, she studied him. He was short, not much taller than she, and he was almost child-like, but she could see in him a character that she thought she could admire. He was the company clerk, she knew, and so he was responsible for keeping the place running. As young as he may look, if he had that responsibility he must be mature.
He filled her coffee cup and handed it to her, then gestured to a table. "May I sit with you?"
Smiling, she nodded.
"So," he said, letting her sit first, "Where are you from?"
"Pepin, Wisconsin. Little town, no one there, but have you ever read the Little House on the Prairie books?"
"Yes, when I was in grade school."
"The author was born there. It talks about Pepin in Little House in the Big Woods."
"Your town is famous." Radar looked genuinely interested. He was leaning forward, his own coffee cup sitting forgotten on the table in front of him.
"Well sort of. I wrote her, Laura, a letter when I was a girl and she wrote back to me. I still have it. She said she was glad that someone from the town she was born near enjoyed her books so much." Merry's voice was full of excitement, it was as though she'd just received the letter, and her eyes, big and smoky green, were alight with her memories.
"I remember reading about the blizzards and thinking about how scary it must be to go out and not know if you can find the house again," Radar commented. He could feel her passion and excitment and it left him feeling slightly, deliciously lightheaded. His body knew what passion was, though it wasn't quite sure what to do about it.
"I know! Just think of being cooped inside all winter long..."
They sat there talking as time ticked by. Her hometown and love of books gave way to talk about his hometown and his animals, and they would have went on longer but for the announcement over the loudspeaker. "Attention all personnel, incoming wounded! All medical staff report for triage and surgery."
Leaving their coffee cups sitting, they dashed out the door.
Much as I wish I did, I don't own M*A*S*H.