Prelude ~

...silence.

There was a quiet calm to Nurse Aurora Davenport as she ate in the Mess Tent. Just conversation surrounding her but, if she thought about it, nothing she would be concerned about. Not unless she was asked for input, of course.

"You alright, Miss Rory?"

The nurse looked up to see Major Margaret Houlihan sitting beside her with a smile. Rory smiled back. "I am okay,Major... I guess" she answered the Major. "I just keep to myself for the most part. Just used to being a trite of a loner." Which wasn't entirely a bad thing. On the other hand, she wasn't one for popularityand was in fact a misfit in her own right. A polite misfit. A kindhearted rebel.

It surprised everyone she worked with.

Margaret smiled again. "Well you can sit with us all anytime, Rory" she replied. "In fact, come on over and sit with us." And she encouraged the nurse to sit with the other officers.

Rory smiled a trite shyly and joined the Major to sit with the others. Captains Hawkeye Pierce and BJ Hunnicutt looked up and smiled in greeting. Major Charles Winchester spoke up; "Major Houlihan, I see we get to be graced by the presence of the lovely recluse." He then extended a hand opposite him at the table, next to the Chaplain. "Captain Davenport, by all means" he continued with a smile.

As Rory sat down, the Chaplain smiled at her. "Ah, hello again, Aurora!" Father Francis Mulcahy greeted. "Did you get to catch up on some sleep?"

"A little bit, Father, yes" Rory replied with a smile to him. "Unfortunately I still have another shift or two. There are still another couple of nurse rounds to Seoul, so I will try to nap inbetween."

Mulcahy sighed. "Rory... you need to get sleep. Actual sleep. Naps can only get you by for so long." He glanced at her with worry.

Rory gave him a lopsided smile. "I will try to. Most likely when all this has ended."

"Rory Lynn, you've been running yourself chaotic," the Colonel sighed. "I know you mean well, but Father Mulcahy has a point." Sherman T. Potter, the commanding officer of the 4077th MASH unit, was like a father figure to many, including Rory. "The first opportunity you get to sleep, sleep."

"I suggest some R+R in the Swamp" Hawkeye mused with a smirk. "That will do some good!" Which was met with a cross of chuckles and eye rolls.

"Wise cracks aside I think you could benefit from some overdue R+R" Charles added. "You're one of the hardest-working nurses we have here, but your well-being is more important-not just to you, but to all of us as well."

Rory nodded and gave the group a small smile of gratitude. "Thank you, everyone" she replied. "I will definitely seek to rest up when and as I can. I'll try to check in with one of you about that as well, if that's alright." She looked to Mulcahy as she spoke, who nodded in reply.

"That would be a good idea" he answered with a reassuring smile. "And possibly catch up on the Bible Study we started before your extensive shifts."

"Ah yes!" Rory gasped. "We started on the Letter to the Romans and haven't finished it yet..." She had forgotten about the Bible Study for a moment, and she would gladly have talked more if not for Max Klinger and the P.A. system announcement of, "CHOPPERS!"