"Okay, I'm not sure who handed out the excrement, but if this keeps up I want gloves," Hawkeye grumbled over his cards. Sydney could tell he was bluffing; the little corner of the other man's mouth turned up fractionally. He probably had at least three of a kind.
Across from him, Winchester held the sort of concentration one generally saw at a chess match, which meant his hand truly was crap. Sidney bet himself the major would fold before the next round. And as for BJ, his devil-may-care expression was as it always was, which made it the most dangerous con of all. He could have a full house, or a handful of nothing; there was no way to tell in advance.
Sidney glanced down at his own cards. The two pair was decent: nines over threes, and drawing another wouldn't break the bank. He looked to Hawkeye. "Ante?"
"Uncle. Or are we not doing that word association? I'm in," Came his flip response, along with a pair of chips.
"I fold," Winchester murmured, stacking his cards.
"Now if you wash, dry and press, you'd be hired," BJ smirked. "I'm in. Sid?"
"Oh I'm always interested in how things play out," he admitted. Through the open net of the tent he spotted someone approaching and from the curves and cleanliness of the uniform he bet it was Olivia. Time to draw. "Hawkeye?"
"Two," came the request. Sid passed the cards over as he watched the figure approach the flap of the tent and call out.
"Ah, excuse me?"
They all looked over as Olivia stepped in, and Sidney felt a tiny rise in his hackles at the masculine interest around the makeshift table.
"Lieutenant Granger!" Charles murmured. "How fortuitous for us!"
"Major Win-chester," she gave him a surprised smile. "I didn't realize you'd been assigned out here."
"Unfortunate circumstances-"
Hawkeye interrupted them a trifle impatiently. "—which is the official Bostonian euphemism for the consequences of hubris. Aren't you going to introduce us, Chuck?"
Sidney saw a flare of genuine irritation in Winchester's gaze but he merely sighed. "Lieutenant Granger, these are Captains Pierce and Hunnicutt, and Major Freedman."
"We've met," she dimpled at this last and Sidney felt a flash of pleasure as BJ looked surprised, and Hawkeye slightly dour.
"The lieutenant assisted me in surgery several times in Tokyo and is exceedingly qualified," Winchester added. "It's good to see a familiar face, despite the reason."
"Here to help. Ah, anyway, I had a question for Major Freedman but I don't mean to interrupt y'all's game."
"Oh I love the yodel of the Alamo," Hawkeye observed, tucking his fresh cards into his hand.
Sidney noted a little flicker of irritation in Granger's gaze but she managed a smile. "Actually, the Alamo is 'bout four hundred miles from my corner of the Lone Star state. If I might have a word with you, Major?"
Sidney rose up and made his way around the table, following Olivia outside and into the twilight. She stepped away from the tent and sighed. "It's a little thing and kinda dumb, but did you see my book? I thought I brought it in with me, but couldn't find it when I unpacked."
"You checked with the motor pool?" Sidney asked, and she nodded in return.
"Yep, they didn't have it."
Sidney thought for a moment. "We ought to retrace our steps then, Olivia. Maybe you left it in the colonel's office."
She brightened, and then looked chagrined. "Should have thought of that in the first place," Olivia muttered.
Sidney gave her a gentle smile. "I'll help you look-you've had a lot to deal with in the last few hours."
"Ain't that the truth," came the heartfelt mutter.
He leaned back into the tent. "Dealer folds; Charles, you get to referee."
"Oh goodie," came the sour reply.
Sidney walked with Olivia towards the command tent, giving her time to relax. He suspected she had more to say and she did. "I just didn't know it was this . . . primitive, I guess. I mean I kin handle it; I did grow up on a ranch and all, but it's gonna take some time to get used to again."
"Culture shock," Sidney agreed. "But you're in the best M*A*S*H* unit bar none, and more than that, you're needed here."
"Something to keep in mind," Olivia nodded. She knocked and they entered.
Radar looked up from his comic, flustered once again at the sight of her. "Ah Lieutenant, ma'am?"
"S'okay corporal, jest looking for my book. Did I leave it here?" Olivia asked kindly as Sidney watched.
"Oh! Yeah," Radar admitted, fetching the copy of Forever Amber from the top of a nearby file cabinet. "Here. I saw the title and took a peek but it didn't say anything about rock collecting."
"Yeah, I don't suppose it would. Thank you for hanging onto it," Olivia told him and Sidney watched Radar blush a bit.
"You're welcome, ma'am, lieutenant."
When they stepped out, Olivia chuckled. "Lord is he always that bashful?"
"To the core, but don't underestimate him," Sidney replied. "Radar has his moments. So now . . ." he found himself reluctant to return to the game. Olivia seemed to sense it, and gave him a shy look.
"Now I get to see what I can trade it for . . . but not right away. Sid, you got a moment?"
He gave a thoughtful little nod. "Of course."
There was more of course. They sat across from each other in the mess tent, sharing the last of the coffee and more about themselves in an easy give and take. Olivia opened up a bit more about herself and Sidney found himself telling stories about growing up in New York, about his family and life before going into the army. These were things he hadn't thought about in years and certainly hadn't shared with anyone in an equally long time. He even mentioned Rachel, which surprised him.
"Divorce is hard," Olivia murmured, reaching over to rest a cool hand over his. "'bout a third of the nurses I know are divorced. Hell, I was headin' for one myself when Newt kicked the bucket. I'm just glad it was the two of us. I'd hate to bring kids into that squabble."
Sidney nodded. "True. If you don't mind my asking . . . how did your husband die?"
He watched her flinch a little. "Newt was . . . murdered. D'ruther not talk about it if you don't mind. It's all water long gone under the bridge."
For the first time Sidney felt his professional instinct war with his personal feelings. He noted the way she drew into herself; to counter that he nodded again and changed the subject. "So have you actually met the colonel's horse?"
When Olivia's face lit up, he knew he'd said the right thing and for the next ten minutes she rambled on about the mare delightedly. By the time the corporal cleaning the mess tent gave them pointed looks and Sidney ushered Olivia out, the tension was gone, and the hour was late.
"Oh lord I talked your ear off," she muttered, embarrassed. "Sorry about that."
"It's all right. More than all right," Sidney assured her. They ambled towards the nurse's tents, and she turned to him a few yards from the nearest one.
"Thanks for helping me find my book . . . and listening," Olivia told him. "I appreciate it."
"Glad to help," Sidney smiled kindly. "Get some rest—you're going to need it. Goodnight, Olivia."
She darted forward and gave him a quick hug before he was prepared for it. The warm press of her along with a hint of perfume left him slightly stunned, and when Sidney turned away, he was smiling.
Back at the swamp the assembled group looked at him with varying expressions ranging from knowing (Hawkeye) to curious (Charles) to amused (BJ). Knowing the best defense is an offense, Sidney shrugged. "Someone's first night at sleepover camp; she needed some reassuring."
"Oh is that what they're calling it now?" Hawkeye mused. "You crazy kids and you're newfangled lingo. Whatever happened to slipping into the supply tent and making out like crazed weasels?"
"I think it was already booked," BJ smirked. "Reservations are required these days."
"Never mind the boors," Charles sniffed. "I'm sure nurse Granger will settle in just fine."
Sidney sat down and gave a small smile. "I'm sure she will. Who's dealing, gentlemen, and what's the ante?"