Disclaimer: I don't own MASH. If I did, it would've been even slashier than it already was, if that's humanly possible.

Challenge: Response to Lisa's ABC challenge: Write a fic for every letter of the alphabet.

A/N: G, gambling. Father Mulcahy's POV. This one was VERY difficult, because 1, I'm not Catholic and 2, I had no idea how to play poker when I started writing. Much thanks to hawkeyecat on LJ for the Wikipedia link! (I'm still not any good…)

Random trivia: McIntyre. Not MacIntyre.

Gambling

"Ante," B.J. says, and we all put in a dollar. "Anyone open?"

Seeing B.J. like this, playing poker, rather than being upset about Private Jacobs' death, is heartening. I'm so glad to see it. He took a chance, with the second surgery, and he failed.

"I'll open for two," I announce. I have a pair of fives, a pair of eights and a six. Klinger, Hawkeye, Margaret and B.J. all call.

"Father?" B.J. asks.

"Uh, one, please," I reply. Perhaps I'll get a full house. B.J. deals me my card, and it's a ten. No full house.

He didn't expect to fail, of course. No one ever completely expects to fail.

Klinger gets three, Hawkeye gets one and Margaret and B.J. also take three.

Hawkeye makes a bet of five dollars. Margaret and B.J. fold, but I take the chance and call. Klinger also folds. Hawkeye reveals that he has a straight.

"Sorry Father," he says, as he gathers the money. I've lost eight dollars, but I stay in the game. My luck may change.

Luck can always change.

It's my deal now. Every one antes one dollar, and Klinger opens for one. Everyone calls. I have three hearts--it's possible that I'll get a flush.

Sometimes things work out the way you want them to, sometimes they don't.

I deal out replacements, three to Klinger and B.J., two to everyone else, and then Klinger bets five dollars. Everyone folds. I didn't get my flush, and I only have a king-high. Even I can't take that kind of leap of faith. I've only lost two dollars this round.

Sometimes you don't lose much; other times you lose a lot.

It's Klinger's deal. The ante is again one dollar, and the bet is two. After I get my replacements, the best I have is a pair of threes. Hawkeye bets five dollars again. Margaret and B.J. both fold.

"Well," I say, "Sometimes you have to take chances. Call."