All's Fair
Rated PG-13 for language, R chapter will be posted separately for sexual relations
Couples: Radar/OFC
Summary:
Col. Potter hires an assistant company clerk, Lieutenant Robin O'Keefe, and she and Radar become fast friends. But they quickly start to become something more…
"Gee, Colonel, it was really swell of ya to hire me an assistant." Radar O'Reilly told his commander as they walked out into the compound.
"Well, she was being transferred, and I thought we could use the extra help. Be sure to show her the ropes, Radar." Colonel Potter said to him, eyes peeled for a jeep.
"Ropes, sir?"
"Show her how to do the job."
"Yes, sir." A jeep drove up and parked in front of the two men. A redheaded girl with circular glasses and a dimpled smile hopped out. Radar looked at her with awe. "I didn't know it would be a girl…she's pretty…" He snapped out of it and began to take her bags. "Oh, I can get it."
"No, I got it, ma'mm." She smiled at him. "You're very kind. What's your name?"
"I'm Corporal O'Reilly. I'm the one you're gonna be working with. My real name is Walter, but I go by Radar, I'll explain later."
She touched his hand in greeting. "Lieutenant Robin O'Keefe. You can call me Robin, or sometimes I go by Red, for obvious reasons." She gestured toward her hair.
"Your tent is right next to our head nurses. The nurses tent is full, so you have one all to yourself." The Colonel told her.
"Thank you very much, Colonel…"
"Potter. Colonel Potter, commanding officer." She shook his hand. "I'll just put my bags down and I'll get right to work." She took one of the bags from Radar. "Here, I'll help."
They walked off together.
Inside the tent, she whistled. "Wow, it's cozy."
"Yeah, we fixed it up real nice for ya." Radar told her, putting the bags on the bed. She put hers down as well. "Well, we'd better go to the office…why Radar?"
"Oh. Sometimes I can tell what's going to happen before it happens."
She grinned. "ESP? I've always believed that those who have that are lucky. I guess you'll tell me otherwise."
He seemed surprised. "Most people think it's weird."
"I think it's fascinating. C'mon, let's go." She walked out, Radar hot on her heels.
For the next hour, Radar showed her how to use the phone, where the files go, mail call procedure, and every other duty he could think of. "That's basically it. Wanna go grab some lunch? It's not much, but it's there."
"Sure." She began to get up and something caught her eye. "Wow! The new Captain Marvel! Can I borrow this? I've been dying to read it."
Radar's eyes widened. "S-Sure. You like comics?"
"Love 'em. Can't get enough. C'mon, show me that mess tent you were speaking of." Radar's heart was beating fast. "Wow, a girl who likes comics!" He thought as he opened the door for her.
"Hey, sirs, this is the new clerk. Lieutenant O'Keefe."
She held out her hand. "Call me Robin. Or Red, if you prefer."
"Hawkeye Pierce, chief surgeon."
She grinned. "From 'Last of the Mohicans'?"
"You know it?"
"Yeah." She turned to the other man. "You are?"
"B.J. Hunnicutt, another surgeon, and partner in crime."
"Pleasure."
A blonde woman and a no-lipped man came up and saluted. She saluted back.
"Major Houlihan and Major Burns, head nurse and semi-surgeon."
Margaret scowled at Hawkeye for his remark. "Lieutenant O'Keefe, at your service." The new girl grinned.
Radar came up, he had already gotten her food. "Oh, how sweet! Thanks, Radar." She rubbed his shoulder affectionately. "Come sit with me."
Hawkeye and B.J. smiled approvingly. Radar sat across from her, picking at the food. Robin choked. "I guess the food's the same from base to base. My camp had the same surplus." She took out the Captain Marvel. "Thanks again, Radar."
"Oh, no problem."
"So is this your second camp?"
"Yeah. Used to be part of another MASH unit. Transferred because they heard you guys needed an extra hand." She mumbled, her mouth full of food. "Grew up in Philly, that's where my family is. Came into the Army as a trade."
"Trade?" B.J. looked puzzled.
"They were gonna take my Dad in with the draft. But I had just finished high school about a year ago, and I knew he couldn't handle combat. So I made a deal with the draft office that they take me instead."
Hawkeye looked at her with admiration. "That's a very brave and beautiful thing to do." He said. "I've got a dad at home in Maine."
"Thank you. Got sent out, did my training, been here almost 6 months, just me and my teddy bear."
There were chokes and giggles from everyone in hearing distance. Radar blushed furiously. Robin looked around. "Am I missing something?"
Hawkeye recovered and pointed to Radar. "He's got one too."
She smiled. "Really? Cool. You'll have to show me it sometime. Mine's fluffy."
She got up. "I should go unpack." She walked away, paused, and then came back.
"Hey, Radar?"
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering…would you like to go have a drink with me sometime?"
Radar put down his fork. "You mean you and me and you?"
"I was planning on it being that way, yes."
He looked to Hawkeye and B.J. who were mouthing 'Say Yes! Say Yes!'
"Yes. Yes, I'd like to."
"Great! Why don't you pick me up at my tent around 6? You pick the place. See you then." She touched his shoulder and walked out.
As soon as she walked away, Hawkeye and B.J. were clapping him on the back and shouting. "Way to go, Radar!"
"She's gorgeous! All right!"
Radar went scarlet and turned away, but he was smiling.
That night, he knocked on the door to Robin's tent. She opened the door, then walked out with the comic. "Thanks for letting me read it. It was good."
He took it and put it in his jacket. "Thanks. C'mon, it's down the road."
They walked to Rosie's bar. Inside was almost everyone in camp. There were whistles and catcalls as they walked in. "You're just jealous!" Robin yelled playfully, sitting down at the bar.
Klinger came up. "Hey, this the new clerk?"
"Yeah. Robin, this is Klinger."
She shook his hand. "Hey. Dresses a dodge?"
He grinned. "It's about time somebody realized. So, Radar, the usual?"
"Yeah. Robin?"
"Orange nehi!" She stated.
Everyone stopped and stared at them. "Something wrong?"
"N-No…" Klinger was trying not to laugh. "Alright. Two nehis, one orange, one grape."
She grinned at him. "You like nehi?"
"Y-Yeah."
"That's nice. I like nehi, I don't drink." The bottles came. "Cheers." They clinked them and drank.
"So, Radar…"
Two hours later, they had shared stories and laughed. Robin even taught the camp how to play Texas Hold 'Em, and the camp liked it so much they made plans for a tournament next Saturday.
Radar walked Robin back to her tent. Unknown to them, Hawkeye and B.J. waited in the bushes out of sight. "Thanks for a great time, Radar."
"Um, yeah. Thanks." He looked away. She laughed. "You're cute when you do that." He blushed, still not meeting her gaze.
"Why don't we do this again sometime? I'd love to get to know you more. Come by my tent if you want as well."
He nodded. "Y-Yeah." He stammered. "Good night."
He started to walk off, but she grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back. "You forgot something."
"Oh?"
She raised his face to hers and kissed him. When she pulled back, she was grinning. Radar was blushing and his eyes were wide. "Good night." She walked into her tent.
Radar got five steps away, clicked his heels together, and started to grin. Hawkeye and B.J. followed him out.
-END OF CHAPTER ONE-