Let me correct my facts just a wee bit. According to the people's sgt, the current Squadron is VMA-214 out of MCAS Yuma AZ flying
Harriers. Thanks :-)

"Abby, hon, you've got to loosen up!" Donna teased her hair in the small mirror they shared in their room.

Abby flopped across the bed. "I will not be ogled and leered at in public when I was minding my own business!"

Donna, finally happy with her blonde locks, turned to face Abby. "So you're going to sit here and tell me that those fine specimens of manhood did not do anything at all to you? Anything?"

"I'm an engaged woman," Abby sniffed, not about to admit that Lieutenant Anderson set her heart to racing. But only for a moment. She glanced at her photo of her finance of two years and counting, Tony Ginsburg, who had not made her heart flutter in a really long time. And didn't look half as good shirtless.

Sorry, Tony.

Donna rolled her eyes. "Oh, I forgot. You're up for the virgin Mary in the Christmas play."

Abby ignored the snub. It was tame compared to some comments she knew the nurses said about her. And she really didn't care. Honestly. "They're trouble with a capital T, Donna. I'm warning you, be careful."

Donna never was one to pay attention to advice, especially about men. "Oh, pooh. Jim wouldn't hurt a flea."

Abby rolled on her back and studied the cracked ceiling of the humid room. "Which one is he?"

"Probably the one in the cowboy hat with the turned up sides."

"Oh, you mean Mr. Surly?"

"What?" Although medical terms didn't bother Donna, anything other than that stumped her.

Abby rolled onto her stomach. "He scowls a lot."

Donna brightened. "Oh. But, it's sexy."

"Whatever."

Donna really did like Abby, and she didn't want her to stay by herself in the little room. "Oh, c'mon, Abby. Come with us. It'll be fun!"

"I have duty tonight." Good. A real excuse to avoid the lot of them.

Donna's face fell. "Oh, well, maybe next time."

Abby didn't correct her friend – there would be no next time - just allowed her to think what she liked. She was glad Donna was her roommate, but her constant man craziness drove her a bit mad at times.

As soon as Donna flounced out, perfume in her wake, Abby rose, grumbling, and put on her uniform. Head Nurse Arant was strict about appearances, even if there was no one in sick bay.

She studied herself in the mirror. Hair somewhere between brown and blonde, blue eyes, nothing special. Her brothers sure never let her think so, nicknames such as Stick Legs and Frog Face being their favorites, even now that they were all big shot pilots.

They loved her. She would never doubt it. They were just big brothers, that's all.

And, they sure would have hated those Marine pilots! Probably taken them out a notch or two for her behalf.

The thought made her smile.

Abby's eyes fell on the picture of the four of them, taken last time they were all home. Almost one year ago. Kevin was now stationed in Germany with the Army, and the twins, Jimmy and Johnny, were actually somewhere in the South Pacific with the Navy. All pilots. Just like their father. Kevin recently made ace status, downing five enemy planes for the honor. Abby had a sneaking suspicion the honor wasn't all it was cracked up to be, based on her brother's letters.

Abby prayed for them every night. Just because she was raised with soldiers and war didn't mean she liked it.

She hadn't been in sick bay for fifteen minutes when someone came running into the room, almost making her drop her clipboard in surprise.

"Captain Reilly! Captain Reilly!" He was out of breath by the time he reached her, half-saluting, his nails and fingers stained with grease.

"What is it, Sergeant?"

She saw the patch. Great, another Black Sheep. But, this was business. Animosity had no place, and this man was upset.

"Captain, it's Bobby! He's done passed out in his tent and won't wake up!"

"Is he breathing?"

"Yeah, but he won't wake up."

"Drinking?"

"I've seen him drink more and fly circles around those Japs. Said his head was hurting or something."

"Let me go find Dr. Reese . . ."

The sergeant startled her by grabbing her arm. "Now, you've got to come now!"

That's all she needed. A trip to 'Black Sheep Land'. But, Abby quickly dismissed those thoughts, actually feeling a little guilty. Someone was sick, and she had to help. "Alright, alright. Let me get my bag."

He hopped around on one foot, then the other as she quickly gathered her medical bag. Practically rushing her out the door, he ushered her into the passenger side of the jeep and took off before she was settled.

The short ride to their camp went by quickly at the breakneck speed this sergeant was taking. If they could hear her over the sound of the engine, she almost asked him if he expected the jeep to take flight like those crazy Corsairs that buzzed the island constantly. But, it was all she could do to hold on.

If she was a bettin' woman, she'd have bet this Bobby fellow had drank too much. It was dusk, after all, and they started drinking way earlier than that, from what she heard. Of course, if she had to do what they did in those planes everyday, she'd probably drink like a fish, too. But, she'd never admit it to them.

There was a small crowd gathered around one tent. Unfortunately, she recognized a couple of their faces from the beach. But, this was business. She nodded once in their direction as this sergeant helped her from the jeep.

"Bobby's in there, Captain. You've got to do something!"

"I'm sure he's just drunk . . ." Abby still hesitated, bag in hand.

"Just go in there! Please!"

They were all looking at her hopefully, so she shook her head, gathered her medical supplies and ducked into the tent.

It was definitely a man's tent, clothes tossed about, cards laid haphazardly on makeshift table. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness and settle on the still form on the messy cot.

Great. This Bobby was none other than Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome.

Business. This was just business. He was sick or something, although he didn't look sick, and she was the only medical personnel that wasn't out partying, so this was just business. Diagnose him and run like hell.

There was a rustle outside the tent, but she ignored it as she settled on her knees. "Lieutenant? Can you hear me?"

No response. She leaned in closer and sniffed. Liquor. Definitely liquor. But, she had to be sure. Didn't want a Black Sheep to croak on her watch.

Pulse seemed normal, maybe a little elevated. Blood pressure a little high, but that was to be expected with all the booze and who knew what else.

She huffed a strand of hair out of her face.

Maybe there really was something wrong with him.

Sure, she didn't like pilots, more specifically these pilots, but that didn't mean she wanted something to happen to them.

Everyone was still outside the tent, watching. That's all she needed. An audience.

She really needed to find Dr. Reese. But, first, she leaned in close to pull back his eyelids and check for a response.

Before she realized what was happening, Bobby had her, his strong arms pulling her against him.

"Eeeeep!" was all she could manage before his mouth was on hers.

She didn't have a chance.

Surprised didn't even begin to describe what she was feeling. When she got over the immediate shock of being . . . being attacked, she fought in his arms, against the feel of his lips, his tongue forcing her own lips apart, oh my God, what was he doing? –

For one tiny moment, she almost went with it.

Wait, fight him, Abby, fight him like hell! He's taking advantage of you!

Anger surged through her like a fire. So, she did the one thing she could think of.

She bit him.

"Ow! Son of a bitch!" His hand went to his bottom lip. And, he let her go.

"Now you really need a doctor, don't you, you sorry piece of cow shit!" Living in a household of men brought out the worst in her profanity, much to the chagrin of her refined mother. But, boy, it sure came in handy now!

"What's going on here?"

Abby whirled around. This new face, a major judging from his dirty uniform, was given plenty of room by the snickering men surrounding him. "This . . . this man attacked me!"

"Seems like you enjoyed it to me," Anderson drawled from behind her. Abby stared at him, wild-eyed. He was actually laughing at her, bloody lip and all!

She lunged at him, fully intending to claw his eyes out. But, firm arms grabbed her, held her off the ground.

"Let me go!" She wriggled in the major's grasp. "All I wanted was to be left alone, and these, these cretins drug me into their, their dirty, rotten, filthy . . ."

"OK, OK, we get it." Although the major was about her height, short by most standards, he was well-muscled. "Now, tell me what happened." There was a general rustling behind them. "And you cretins, don't move."

"OK, Pappy."

Through her anger, it registered that none other than Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington was keeping her from ripping someone's eyes out with her own bare hands.

Her brothers would be impressed. Hell, she was even a little impressed!

"Now, what happened?" His voice was cool, calm, collected.

But, it didn't calm her." All of them were in on it. That one," she pointed at the skinny sergeant who was slinking into the darkness, "tricked me! He told me this man was sick! Brought me all the way out here from the hospital saying this creep wouldn't wake up."

"Is this true, Hutch?" Boyington asked gravely.

"Hell, they paid me five bucks!" Hutch tried to argue, slinking away at his superior's expression.

Abby kept sputtering. "They get me in here, all watching, then he attacked me. All because I kicked their stupid ball into the water!" She was getting hysterical and struggled in Major Boyington's grasp.

"Is this true, guys?"

She heard the group of them behind her agree with "Yeah, Pappy" and "Sort of, Pappy."

"What about you, Anderson? This true?"

Anderson actually looked sheepish, still trying to stop his lip from bleeding. "Uh . . . yeah, I guess."

"You guess?" Abby almost screeched. This time, Pappy let her go. She almost fell to her knees, but caught herself just in time to close the distance between her and Anderson and sock him in the nose.

He staggered back, his hand going to his face, almost as if he didn't believe what she had done. But, when the pain hit him, he knew. "Ow! Ow! Ow!"

There was a collective gasp from the bunch behind her, and Major Boyington actually laughed out loud.

"You deserved that, Anderson," he chuckled. "Best show I've seen all week!"

But Abby ignored them, not feeling the least bit grateful that the major had taken up for her. Picking up her scattered medical supplies and tossing her hair over her shoulder, she flounced by Pappy and his Sheep, straight to the jeep. Although it technically belonged to the pilots, she took it anyway, cranking it and throwing it into gear expertly, then throwing gravel into the air as she sped away, tears stinging her eyes.