~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There's a saying old says that love is blind
Still we're often told, "Seek and ye shall find."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Casey scanned the room hopefully as she sank into a chair in the back corner of the Officer's Club. The young woman had been hoping to see Trapper in the after-hours hangout, but tonight, he was nowhere to be found. With a disappointed sigh, she turned her attention back to her martini. It occurred to her, as she sat there, that she hadn't been away from his side since she had arrived three weeks earlier. Sure, they had been apart for rounds, showers, and to sleep, but what little free time they were able to enjoy had been spent together. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling her name.
"Captain McGuire? Is this seat taken, Ma'am?"
"No, please Radar, have a seat."
"Thank you Ma'am."
"You haven't seen Trapper around, have you?" She inquired hopefully.
"Uh, no Ma'am, I haven't seen him since dinner." He replied taking a sip of his grape knee-high.
"You wouldn't happen to know where he might be would you?"
"He's probably in the Swamp with Hawkeye. I think he said something about checking on some plans with a nurse." The Corporal blushed a little at this.
"Plans with a nurse?" She repeated quietly to herself.
"Yes Ma'am, that's what he said."
"Thanks Radar. I have to go. I enjoyed talking to you. Maybe we could have drinks together again soon." She finished the last sip of her martini and hurried off.
Radar just smiled to himself and took another sip of his knee-high. "She's got it bad."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Casey swung open the door to the Swamp to find a bare-chested Hawkeye with a nurse clutched possessively in his arms.
"Hawk, have you seen Trapper?"
"Nope, he left about an hour or so ago." He replied, glancing up briefly before turning back to the young lieutenant wrapped up in his arms.
"Do you know where he went?"
"He might have said something about a hot date, but he didn't say where he was going. Do you need something?"
"I just wanted to talk to him about a few things."
"Is it anything I can help you with?" He queried, forgetting about the previous object of his attention, and focusing more seriously on his friend.
"No...no, that's ok."
"Case...?" He called quietly across the tent.
"I'm gonna go get some sleep. When he comes back, tell him he knows where to find me." With that, she turned and walked out into the night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She slunk back in the direction of what she had come to know in the last few weeks as home. The young woman knew she was being unreasonable, that they had never discussed feelings other than friendship, much less relationships. 'God, I always do this, I should know better than to assume things. He could never like me anyway, I'm not his type.' Tugging open her door, she stepped inside and knew immediately knew that she was not alone.
"Trapper?" She questioned surprised.
"Last time I checked." He replied, offering her his slow, easy grin.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be out wooing some nurse or another." Her voice held a nearly imperceptible touch of bitterness.
"I'm here to woo you." He replied honestly.
"Why?" She inquired, a little shocked by the intense look on his face.
"You're beautiful, desirable, and you truly care about your work and the people around you."
"I don't understand."
"Look around, this is all for you." He motioned broadly with his hands encouraging her to take a look.
She stared into his eyes a minute longer and then shifted her gaze to take in her surroundings. To her delight and amazement the room was aglow with the many candles scattered around the tent. The light they emitted set a romantic mood and she looked wonderingly back at the man before her.
"Why me?" She wondered aloud, feeling him watching her, but not looking to make sure.
"Why me?" He said, wordlessly admitting that he had known about her feelings before she had realized them herself.
"You're different." She shrugged helplessly. "You're wild; a free spirit. Most guys I know are tied down, they don't know how to have fun and kick back. Before I came here I'd never met two people quite like you and Hawkeye."
Casey trailed off, finally meeting his gaze again.
"There's more you want to say." It was more statement than a question.
"You're right, there is." She nearly whispered. "You're handsome and carefree. You're...I don't know...unique. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're a real gentleman. There aren't many of those these days."
The young doctor stood from his chair and made his way to where she was leaning against a tent pole.
"You honestly think that?" He whispered, afraid that, if said to loudly, the words would damage the fragile spark that was forming between them.
Casey closed her eyes for a moment before re-opening them and placing a slightly shaking hand on his smooth cheek. "Yes, I do."
With that he leaned forward, cupping her face gently in his hands. The kiss was pure and innocent, nothing more than a brush of lips and air. There, however, was no mistaking the jolt of electricity that shot between them.
"Now, shall we commence with the wooing?" Trapper murmured as they pulled away seconds later.
"I must warn you," Casey teased in return. "I may be a sucker for well-muscled, dirty blond, curly-headed, men in uniform, but I'm not as easy to woo as you might think. I don't fall for just any man who fits that description."
"Could you make an exception in this case?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"It just so happens that this curly headed man in uniform has fallen for this curly-headed Marine and I'm afraid it might be terminal."
"Mmmmm...I do suppose I could make just one exception."
"I'm thrilled to hear it. Now, why don't you come over here and we can discuss tonight's itinerary over a glass of gin."
He gracefully poured the contents of the pitcher into the two glasses and handed one to Casey. They clinked their glasses together in a silent toast.
"This stuff tastes like lighter fluid!" She sputtered good- naturedly.
"Don't worry, this is only the fifth glass you've had since your transfer. By the eighth or ninth your taste buds become immune."
"That's nice to hear. You know, as bad as it tastes it's very smooth."
"You're right, this morning was a very good year. I believe the Still is at the top of its game."
The two sat enjoying each other's company for a few minutes before Casey broke the silence.
"So, what's this I hear about an itinerary?" She queried.
"I have the whole evening planned." Trapper replied simply.
"And exactly where do we go from here?"
"I'm going to seduce you." He boasted confidently
"Oh, is that so?" She challenged half-heartedly.
"You don't think I can?"
"I never said that. I'm just wondering how you plan to go about doing this."
"Well, I kinda figured this was a good way to begin." Leaning forward and rested his hand on the back of her neck pulling her into a deep and passionate kiss.
"That's a wonderful way to begin." Her voice was a gentle purr in his ear when they broke apart.
"Good, let me try a few more things then."
"Don't be afraid to go all out." She enthused. "There's no such thing as over-seducing."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hawkeye awoke the next morning to a tickling sensation traveling up his arm and across his cheek. There was someone in the cot beside him. A soft clump of shoulder length curls brush gently against his shoulder, and he knew immediately who it was.
"Stop that!" He groaned half-heartedly, rolling over in hopes of escaping her attention. "Come on Legs, stop."
"I'm not stopping until you roll over, open your eyes, and talk to me." She replied playfully.
"I was up late last night performing a delicate operation on a critically lonely nurse!"
"Well now, that's not my fault, it was your decision not mine." She teased, redoubling her efforts.
"Ok, ok, I surrender!" Hawk relented, rolling over and pulling her across his chest.
"That's more like it." She whispered, kissing him on the cheek. "Now, what exactly was so important that you had to wake me up?" He questioned in the brotherly tone he always used with her.
"I'm in love." She announced, flashing her trademark smile at him and nibbling slightly on her lower lip.
"I'm sorry, I'm not capable of making that kind of a commitment." He kidded, receiving a slap on the shoulder for it.
"Not with you. You're not even on my radar screen."
"And why, may I ask, not?"
"You're my big brother, that would just be wrong on so many levels."
"I'll have to give you that one. So, who's the lucky guy?"
"Trapper."
Hawkeye thought about this for a minute before replying more seriously than before. "Does Trap know about this?"
"Of course he does."
"Did you talk to him?"
"Yeah, he was waiting in my tent when I turned in last night, and we talked it out."
"Did ya'll sleep together?" Hawk inquired knowing it was really none of his business.
"You know better than that." She assured him.
"But it wasn't all talk and no action was it?"
"No," She admitted. "But it wasn't any worse than anything you've ever done with a nurse."
"Oh, see, you're wrong there. When I'm with a nurse it's all action and no talk."
"I've noticed." Casey mumbled.
"So, you really love the infamous Trapper John." He mused.
"Is that so hard to believe?" "No, but I can tell that he's in love with you too."
"Did he tell you that?" The young nurse was curious now.
"Not in so many words, but I've been watching the two of you since you got here. It's like you were made for each other."
"That's so sweet. You're not gonna pull the over protective brother thing on me though, are you?"
"I can't answer that, but I'll do my best not to."
"Good. I'm gonna go find Trap. I'll see you at rounds." She kissed him once more on the cheek, and then she was through the door and out into the compound.
He lay there for a few minutes thinking about the conversation they had just had. 'I hope Casey knows what she's getting herself into. Trapper's not exactly one for sticking around. On the other hand, there are always exceptions to the rules. Let's just hope this is one of them.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me
...To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Some one to watch over me
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There's a saying old says that love is blind
Still we're often told, "Seek and ye shall find."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Casey scanned the room hopefully as she sank into a chair in the back corner of the Officer's Club. The young woman had been hoping to see Trapper in the after-hours hangout, but tonight, he was nowhere to be found. With a disappointed sigh, she turned her attention back to her martini. It occurred to her, as she sat there, that she hadn't been away from his side since she had arrived three weeks earlier. Sure, they had been apart for rounds, showers, and to sleep, but what little free time they were able to enjoy had been spent together. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling her name.
"Captain McGuire? Is this seat taken, Ma'am?"
"No, please Radar, have a seat."
"Thank you Ma'am."
"You haven't seen Trapper around, have you?" She inquired hopefully.
"Uh, no Ma'am, I haven't seen him since dinner." He replied taking a sip of his grape knee-high.
"You wouldn't happen to know where he might be would you?"
"He's probably in the Swamp with Hawkeye. I think he said something about checking on some plans with a nurse." The Corporal blushed a little at this.
"Plans with a nurse?" She repeated quietly to herself.
"Yes Ma'am, that's what he said."
"Thanks Radar. I have to go. I enjoyed talking to you. Maybe we could have drinks together again soon." She finished the last sip of her martini and hurried off.
Radar just smiled to himself and took another sip of his knee-high. "She's got it bad."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Casey swung open the door to the Swamp to find a bare-chested Hawkeye with a nurse clutched possessively in his arms.
"Hawk, have you seen Trapper?"
"Nope, he left about an hour or so ago." He replied, glancing up briefly before turning back to the young lieutenant wrapped up in his arms.
"Do you know where he went?"
"He might have said something about a hot date, but he didn't say where he was going. Do you need something?"
"I just wanted to talk to him about a few things."
"Is it anything I can help you with?" He queried, forgetting about the previous object of his attention, and focusing more seriously on his friend.
"No...no, that's ok."
"Case...?" He called quietly across the tent.
"I'm gonna go get some sleep. When he comes back, tell him he knows where to find me." With that, she turned and walked out into the night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She slunk back in the direction of what she had come to know in the last few weeks as home. The young woman knew she was being unreasonable, that they had never discussed feelings other than friendship, much less relationships. 'God, I always do this, I should know better than to assume things. He could never like me anyway, I'm not his type.' Tugging open her door, she stepped inside and knew immediately knew that she was not alone.
"Trapper?" She questioned surprised.
"Last time I checked." He replied, offering her his slow, easy grin.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be out wooing some nurse or another." Her voice held a nearly imperceptible touch of bitterness.
"I'm here to woo you." He replied honestly.
"Why?" She inquired, a little shocked by the intense look on his face.
"You're beautiful, desirable, and you truly care about your work and the people around you."
"I don't understand."
"Look around, this is all for you." He motioned broadly with his hands encouraging her to take a look.
She stared into his eyes a minute longer and then shifted her gaze to take in her surroundings. To her delight and amazement the room was aglow with the many candles scattered around the tent. The light they emitted set a romantic mood and she looked wonderingly back at the man before her.
"Why me?" She wondered aloud, feeling him watching her, but not looking to make sure.
"Why me?" He said, wordlessly admitting that he had known about her feelings before she had realized them herself.
"You're different." She shrugged helplessly. "You're wild; a free spirit. Most guys I know are tied down, they don't know how to have fun and kick back. Before I came here I'd never met two people quite like you and Hawkeye."
Casey trailed off, finally meeting his gaze again.
"There's more you want to say." It was more statement than a question.
"You're right, there is." She nearly whispered. "You're handsome and carefree. You're...I don't know...unique. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're a real gentleman. There aren't many of those these days."
The young doctor stood from his chair and made his way to where she was leaning against a tent pole.
"You honestly think that?" He whispered, afraid that, if said to loudly, the words would damage the fragile spark that was forming between them.
Casey closed her eyes for a moment before re-opening them and placing a slightly shaking hand on his smooth cheek. "Yes, I do."
With that he leaned forward, cupping her face gently in his hands. The kiss was pure and innocent, nothing more than a brush of lips and air. There, however, was no mistaking the jolt of electricity that shot between them.
"Now, shall we commence with the wooing?" Trapper murmured as they pulled away seconds later.
"I must warn you," Casey teased in return. "I may be a sucker for well-muscled, dirty blond, curly-headed, men in uniform, but I'm not as easy to woo as you might think. I don't fall for just any man who fits that description."
"Could you make an exception in this case?"
"Why would I want to do that?"
"It just so happens that this curly headed man in uniform has fallen for this curly-headed Marine and I'm afraid it might be terminal."
"Mmmmm...I do suppose I could make just one exception."
"I'm thrilled to hear it. Now, why don't you come over here and we can discuss tonight's itinerary over a glass of gin."
He gracefully poured the contents of the pitcher into the two glasses and handed one to Casey. They clinked their glasses together in a silent toast.
"This stuff tastes like lighter fluid!" She sputtered good- naturedly.
"Don't worry, this is only the fifth glass you've had since your transfer. By the eighth or ninth your taste buds become immune."
"That's nice to hear. You know, as bad as it tastes it's very smooth."
"You're right, this morning was a very good year. I believe the Still is at the top of its game."
The two sat enjoying each other's company for a few minutes before Casey broke the silence.
"So, what's this I hear about an itinerary?" She queried.
"I have the whole evening planned." Trapper replied simply.
"And exactly where do we go from here?"
"I'm going to seduce you." He boasted confidently
"Oh, is that so?" She challenged half-heartedly.
"You don't think I can?"
"I never said that. I'm just wondering how you plan to go about doing this."
"Well, I kinda figured this was a good way to begin." Leaning forward and rested his hand on the back of her neck pulling her into a deep and passionate kiss.
"That's a wonderful way to begin." Her voice was a gentle purr in his ear when they broke apart.
"Good, let me try a few more things then."
"Don't be afraid to go all out." She enthused. "There's no such thing as over-seducing."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hawkeye awoke the next morning to a tickling sensation traveling up his arm and across his cheek. There was someone in the cot beside him. A soft clump of shoulder length curls brush gently against his shoulder, and he knew immediately who it was.
"Stop that!" He groaned half-heartedly, rolling over in hopes of escaping her attention. "Come on Legs, stop."
"I'm not stopping until you roll over, open your eyes, and talk to me." She replied playfully.
"I was up late last night performing a delicate operation on a critically lonely nurse!"
"Well now, that's not my fault, it was your decision not mine." She teased, redoubling her efforts.
"Ok, ok, I surrender!" Hawk relented, rolling over and pulling her across his chest.
"That's more like it." She whispered, kissing him on the cheek. "Now, what exactly was so important that you had to wake me up?" He questioned in the brotherly tone he always used with her.
"I'm in love." She announced, flashing her trademark smile at him and nibbling slightly on her lower lip.
"I'm sorry, I'm not capable of making that kind of a commitment." He kidded, receiving a slap on the shoulder for it.
"Not with you. You're not even on my radar screen."
"And why, may I ask, not?"
"You're my big brother, that would just be wrong on so many levels."
"I'll have to give you that one. So, who's the lucky guy?"
"Trapper."
Hawkeye thought about this for a minute before replying more seriously than before. "Does Trap know about this?"
"Of course he does."
"Did you talk to him?"
"Yeah, he was waiting in my tent when I turned in last night, and we talked it out."
"Did ya'll sleep together?" Hawk inquired knowing it was really none of his business.
"You know better than that." She assured him.
"But it wasn't all talk and no action was it?"
"No," She admitted. "But it wasn't any worse than anything you've ever done with a nurse."
"Oh, see, you're wrong there. When I'm with a nurse it's all action and no talk."
"I've noticed." Casey mumbled.
"So, you really love the infamous Trapper John." He mused.
"Is that so hard to believe?" "No, but I can tell that he's in love with you too."
"Did he tell you that?" The young nurse was curious now.
"Not in so many words, but I've been watching the two of you since you got here. It's like you were made for each other."
"That's so sweet. You're not gonna pull the over protective brother thing on me though, are you?"
"I can't answer that, but I'll do my best not to."
"Good. I'm gonna go find Trap. I'll see you at rounds." She kissed him once more on the cheek, and then she was through the door and out into the compound.
He lay there for a few minutes thinking about the conversation they had just had. 'I hope Casey knows what she's getting herself into. Trapper's not exactly one for sticking around. On the other hand, there are always exceptions to the rules. Let's just hope this is one of them.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me
...To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Some one to watch over me
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
