I do not own MASH or the characters. This is my disclaimer. My story is just one of fiction based around the characters of MASH.
This is my very first Fic (ahh!) and am a wee bit nervous but that doesn't mean I won't be grateful for reviews of all kinds. I'd like also to thank Kay Em for her support and encouragement as well as her help in the formatting of this story.
(I've written the main character's dialogue as best as I could, as a young sheltered woman of the era, Hey! I wasn't there! I wish!)
Nana said I'd be shot dead, Aunt Hettie told me I'd die of some disease, Mitch kind of looked at me with that puppy-eyed expression he always gave when he was disappointed, and Mamma just rolled over in her bed that morning, and after pulling herself on to an elbow drained the last of the glass of Whisky she'd left on the bedside table the night before, saying to me "Why the hell you getting involved in this anyway, sweetheart, you are not an American?" Mamma giggled and swayed her head a little, the glass pincered between two carefully painted talons - two of five she happily applied to the side of my face the previous night although she never looked at me that morning and if she had, would have denied anything about the deep scratch-wounds that still stung. Yes I guess Mamma was right, I was not really an American, I was born in a minor northern town in England, but I'd been brought up in Maine and since I could remember that was my home. Dad and Mamma had moved from Clitheroe when I was eight, the war in Europe had broken out you see, Dad had always been ill and had been exempt from signing up so we moved to America. People had said it had been difficult for him anyway. I never understood that. Now I looked at Mamma but she seemed so far away and she was turning her empty glass round in her hands and was just staring, her thin lips pursed and stained with faded lipstick. "You know that Britain has entered into this now," I said softly, "Australia too and they say many countries are going to join…." Mamma turned to me with an expression that I so recognised, it said "Don't contradict me girl, I always have the last word." I looked away, stood up and left her room, I had already packed my bags the previous evening and there they were in the dark hallway right outside my bedroom door. I was on my way to Korea.
On the long journey to the East I thought back to the many times Mamma had got drunk, how she cursed at and threw Mrs Cable out the house after accusing her of sleeping with Dad, how she paced the living room screaming that nobody loved her. I sat there in the kitchen with the door bolted saying in my head that I loved her over and over again and wishing Dad was alive. I felt her shaking my shoulders violently but awoke to realize the Jeep had entered a rocky trail up to the hospital and looked alarmed at the three other nurses who were my companions. They all smiled at me and one took hold of my arm so kindly and placed her head on my shoulder and said that we would be soon reaching 4077 and we could have a nice shower and some food; the jeep eventually veered and bumped and slowed, there were some lights and we stepped off the Jeep. We stood there and breathed in the hot night air. In silence and our feet in dust and weighed down with our luggage, the Jeep turned and sped off - I then realized most of the light we were aware of was from the Jeep's headlights and we were actually quite in darkness. After a moment there was some commotion, lots of voices and we saw several people run up to us from the shadows, some lights came on from the camp, I turned and saw a smiling woman's face looking at me. She looked flushed - she introduced herself as Major Houlihan and rectified her smile, catching her breath she straightened herself and with seriousness told us with some directness where we should be sleeping. Along with the other nurses I huddled into the quarters, no shower, no food, and without any argument we decided which bunk was whose, baggage was left on the floor, I slipped a nightgown on and climbed in and lay my very tired head on a pillow. The last thing I remembered that night was Major Houlihan's voice screaming around the camp that she's wished she'd been informed that another bunch of nurses had been allocated to the 4077.
Brilliant sunshine filled the quarters the next morning, the door was open and the screaming Major of the night before was standing in the middle of our tent and still screaming. I wondered if she'd actually gotten any sleep or even had got to bed. Looking at her I saw she was a fine looking woman, blonde with some help, sharp eyes and younger than I'd imagine someone in her position would be. With her arms behind her back she yelled at me that if I wanted breakfast and a wash I'd better get outta that bed "Tout Suite" so I leaped right out of that bed, slipped, and ungracefully made a sliding descent to the floor, hooking my nightgown on some kind of nail. The other nurses laughed although not unkindly as I laid there as naked as I was born. I tried to unhook my clothing which to my mind took forever and when I eventually clasped what was left of the shredded gown to my front I looked with some hope of forgiveness at the Major. Her expression hadn't changed, she glared and just took a deep breath and turned and left saying she'd expect us for an explanation of our duties. I felt so stupid, the other nurses gathered round me and helped me to my feet, giving me my clothes.
"Don't worry," said the nurse who hugged my arm the night before, "Remember we're all in this together, my name's Georgia by the way." I smiled gratefully but she rushed out of the door before I could speak.
That morning we were given our OR gowns and masks and told to expect the unexpected. The doctors were gods and we were there to assist them and were never to question their decisions at any time no matter what our opinions. We were told too never to get drunk, never to fraternize with any male members at the MASH and to uphold the reputation and virtues allied nurses were thought of around the world. We were told to be in bed by ten O'clock. By 3 O'clock that afternoon I felt like being in bed already after Major Houlihan's lecture, and when the meeting ended we all poured out into the hot Korean sunshine, the rest of the day was ours. My eyes stung at the brilliance of the sun and I began to wander back to the nurses' quarters but in my temporary blindness collided with two men. I apologized, one of them grabbed my arm and giggling told me it was no problem and then the questions started, they had never seen me before, was I new? Was I married? Focussing I saw two tall scruffy men, one pale with black shiny hair and blue eyes and the other fair with a moustache, both were grinning like maniacs. I must say at this point I grinned back, they seemed amiable and not in the least threatening. The black haired man shook my hand with some gusto and introduced himself as a doctor with the name of Hawkeye but the blond guy seemed to want to go somewhere despite his friendly smile. I shook myself free of Hawkeye's handshake and continued my way to the nurses' quarters, I could hear the fair man telling Hawkeye he was an impossible predator but I felt so tired and wanted only to lie down and sleep.
I must have slept for at least four hours, I wanted it to be restorative time but then the dreams came. My mother shouting, me cowering, Mitch and his proposals again, and again, me cowering. And then the screaming. I awoke, it was still light although the room seemed red and propping myself up in bed through the small window I could see the sun just disappearing behind a mountain. I climbed out and sat on the bed, I couldn't hear a thing. At home I kinda liked being alone with no intrusion but now it felt uncomfortable, I was in a strange place, far away from home and needed company. I changed into a light dress I had brought with me and some sandals but I had no idea where I was going when I left the quarters. I wandered about the camp until I heard some laughing, some life. I turned and walked toward where I heard the bustle and stood outside a wooden door with a sign saying "Officers Club". I hesitated and then with a deep shaking breath pushed the door open anyway expecting no less than a bunch of uniform stopping their conversations and giving me funny looks.
When I entered there was no staring, no anything but people laughing and drinking. I felt sort of funny walking in dressed like I did, some guys looked at me and then smiled at each other and I did my best to smile back. Before I panicked and ran I felt a hand on my arm and it was the black-haired doctor from that afternoon and he pulled me over to where he and his friend were sitting. I sat with them and had a beer thrust into my hand, Hawkeye gave me compliments on my dress. His fair friend swilled from his can of beer. I felt stupid but drank my beer and gazed around the bar, just your usual GI's I suppose, only a couple of other women but they were engaged in conversation with their besotted companions. Then a commotion broke out, something about the music played. I turned round and there was a tall well-built man with flashing blue eyes arguing with a slightly drunk private. The private must have said something insulting, his friends laughed and the tall man's eyes widened until I thought they would pop out of his face. With a look of disgust he came over to our table and sat with rage into the seat opposite me, he picked up a glass on the table and swigged the remnants. He growled about how people were peasants and idiots, how again he'd been refused the opportunity to "Educate" the masses on the wonder and beauty of real, decent music. I looked round at Hawkeye who was stifling a giggle into his arm and looking at his friend who smiled openly showing the whitest teeth I'd seen. Hawkeye then looked at me.
"Hey!" he grinned, "I think we met earlier, never caught your name, erm... nurse?... I hope!" like it was a joke I was one. I felt immediately embarrassed and my gaze turned to his friend who instead of laughing like I expected, smiled warmly at me.
"I'm BJ," he said "And ignore Hawk, he's an instant idiot, just add nurses."
"Incurable disease I'm afraid, many apologies..." Hawkeye fluttered his eyelashes.
"Are you all doctors"? I asked.
"Well I don't know about everybody else here but yes, we three Curly, Larry and Mo..." his eyes darted to the large man, "...are indeed doctors, and can I ask if that pretty face has a name, Lieutenant?"
"Karen, Karen Stanford, I'm from Maine," I stuttered, it was odd to be referred to by a rank.
"Nice place," replied BJ taking another sip of his beer "Long journey huh?"
I was about to respond but I heard a loud cough, I turned to look across the table and the previously irate well-built man smiled genially and offered a large hand to me.
"And I'm Charles," I accepted his shake, "Winchester," he added.
"The third no less," Hawkeye slurred.
"And no more," said BJ as he rose and headed for the bar.
Charles' expression briefly returned to the disgusted look but then he relaxed and smiled again at me. "You are awfully young to be here Karen."
"I'm 19," I replied, "Just something I wanted to do, be here, do something." I cringed at my obvious, clichéd reply but Charles continued.
"This is not a nice place to be, I don't think anybody here would lie to you about that."
Hawkeye put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed gently, "Actually the rumour is that this whole war is a lie, a hoax, a joke and we are the butt."
"Hey, Hawk, I've only been gone two seconds and you're talking about butts already, leave the poor girl alone!" BJ had returned with some beers and a cognac for Charles, he slumped down in his chair. Charles cleared his throat and picked up his drink relishing every sip. I drank my beer and felt the alcohol relaxed me. I never drank back home, maybe only some scrumpy Nana's friend Joss had made and she kept in the larder. Me and my best-friend Susan had crept into the kitchen one day and lifting the heavy jar onto the table had poured the dark orange liquid into two mugs and giggling had topped the jar up with ordinary water. Mamma wouldn't have known anyway because she only drank Scotch and she never went near the kitchen.
"Play Poker?" I was awoken from my thoughts, Hawkeye was smiling at me.
"No," I said
"Ridiculous game," Charles interrupted "Only mugs would find that entertainment."
"Oh shut up Charles," Hawkeye bellowed.
"Steady on guys," BJ said, "We've enough wounded around here without you two added to the load."
I looked at BJ, "I haven't seen any wounded yet," I admitted.
"You will tomorrow Karen, don't expect any pretty scenery though," he replied. "With luck it'll be only post-op at the moment but you can bet those North Koreans will give you a personal introduction to the delights of their particular art of maiming real soon." I realised at that moment with all my high and mighty ideas and good intentions, I really was part of this war. I bought the next round of beers and of course the Cognac for Charles who after thanking me for the drink remained quite silent.
After maybe two or three more beers Major Houlihan's face appeared in my mind, I looked at my watch, a half past midnight. I felt uneasy. I stood up and placed my hand on BJ's shoulder, "I have to go to bed now," I said to him.
"No problem," he smiled "Our paths might just cross in the OR tomorrow."
"Must admit it's getting a little late," said Hawkeye forcing a yawn, "Can I have the pleasure of escorting you to your quarters?" he asked looking over his shoulder at me with half-closed eyes and a wry smile. I wasn't in the mood to argue and looked across at the silent Charles.
"I hope Dr Winchester I will see you soon," realising I'd made an obvious statement, but he smiled at me and straightened himself.
"Of course." His blue eyes looked right into my own, "I just hope you have a restful night." I smiled at him, feeling foolish but not knowing why. After waiting for Hawkeye to eventually remove himself from his chair I left the Officers' club. Both Hawkeye and myself walked into the still hot air, he put his arm in mine and unsteadily we walked slowly back.
"You are very beautiful," he whispered into my ear, "The most beautiful new nurse probably I've ever seen today," he then laughed. "What's wrong?" he asked.
I really wasn't listening and he pulled my arm closer into his. "There's nothing wrong Hawkeye." I looked up at him, his face was indeed handsome, his straight black hair fell over his eyes. I was in that moment tempted to spend the night with him, to relieve the loneliness. I noticed our steps were getting shorter, slower. Suddenly a gust of warm wind blew through the camp, I looked round and realised I was outside my tent.
"I better go in," I said.
"I have a great bottle of wine, travels well from my tent to the supply room," he grinned.
I reached up and kissed him. I had meant it be a slight kiss but he pulled me in tight and assaulted my mouth with an invading tongue, something I'd never experienced before. Mitch's kisses had been clumsy and sloppy but with Hawkeye this moment of intimacy made me move close into his body, I grasped him to me and for several seconds I was in rapture in this new delight as his hips pressed close and hard to mine. Then, I realised this wasn't right at all. I was a new nurse, with responsibilities, we were drunk, what would Major Houlihan think? I pulled away.
"I'm so sorry Hawkeye," I said to him "Best I go in and just go to bed." He looked at me just like Mitch used to do, those disappointed puppy-dog eyes.
Hawkeye looked down and then looked up at me with a grin. "Guess I just have to be a bit more romantic next time huh?" he winked and walked off and I went into my tent. Nobody was there, looks like Houlihan's orders made as big an impact as a pebble hitting the moon. I changed into my nightgown, one I'd borrowed since the morning, got under the covers and lay there. My body still tingled at these new feelings. I thought about Hawkeye, his kiss, those sensations. My mind wandered to Dr Winchester the Third, his flaming blue eyes. I wondered what would have happened if Dr Winchester had walked me home, surely he wouldn't have been so "predatory" as to kiss me like that. I wondered where he was at that moment. I went to sleep. My dreams started with bloodied bodies, young men dying...
Again Mamma was shouting, I was behind the couch this time as she spat her venom at Dad, where was he last night, what was he doing. Her painted claws threw her glass down, I jumped, the screaming continued. The low calm voice of my father was raised into a pitiful whine as he pleaded with Mamma, I could hear her walk into the bedroom in her hard high-heels and Dad following her. The arguments were muffled but still the noise went on. I curled into a ball where I was, tears rolled from my eyes. I wished so much I was somewhere far away.
To be continued...