Chapter 7: Meet Captain Sully Pt.2
A/N: I still do not receive royalty checks from 20th Century Fox. I'm making this story up as I go along so I wanted to know if Sully went to have that cup of coffee with Michaela as I'm sure you readers did too.
Dr. Mike slowly walked across the compound toward the mess tent. She couldn't believe she had asked Capt. Sully to join her for a cup of coffee. Had she been too forward? Michaela made a promise to herself to see Father Mulcahy later for confession. You must like the man Michaela or else you wouldn't have stopped to ask him. But what if he looking for a good time like Hawkeye? What if you're looking for a good time? Be careful Michaela! Block out any impure thoughts. The inner dialogue with herself did not help Michaela. Now I sound like my mother. Michaela saw a mental picture of her mother in their home in Boston standing next a picture of the Pope and shuddered. I'll see Father Mulcahy today!
Michaela entered the mess tent and found it full of people. Capt. Sully's former command Baker Company had got hit by the Chinese just after midnight. The Casualties including 1stSgt Cloud Dancing had arrived later by ambulance so most of the camp had been in OR. Michaela fixed herself a cup of coffee and looked for a seat.
McMurphy and Kellye were sitting together at a table with the other nurses who had been in the OR. Michaela sat down with them.
"What took you so long?" McMurphy asked. "You were right behind us in the changing room".
Michaela answered. She left out the part about her invitation to Capt. Sully. She wasn't sure he would come, she hoped that he would.
"Which soldier was he looking for" McMurphy asked.
"One of the Indians, a First Sergeant" There were two other Indians from Baker Company wounded. They were Southern Cheyenne like the 1stSgt Cloud Dancing; in fact most of Baker Company came from the Cheyenne reservation in Oklahoma.
Michaela sipped her coffee slowly while the nurses talked about what happened in surgery. She kept glancing at the entrance to the tent hoping that Capt. Sully would walk in. 15 minutes later he did. Michaela's heart skipped a beat as he strode in surveying the tent. She tried to remain calm but could feel the blood rising in her cheeks.
Sully looked around the tent looking for both Sgt. Trull and Dr. Mike, well more for Dr. Mike. He found Sgt. Trull sitting by a stove enjoying his second cup of Coffee. Sgt. Trull had fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944, so whenever possible he stayed near a source of heat and never passed on a hot cup of coffee. The Sergeant started to get up but Sully stopped him.
"Take your time. I'm going to have that cup of coffee." Sully told him. He then went to get his own cup of coffee and some food as well. Sully then made a show of looking for Dr. Quinn even though he knew her exact location. "Be casual Sully. She might think you have one thing on your mind. Act like an officer and a gentleman.
"May I join you Dr. Mike?" He asked walking up to the doctor's table.
Yes you may Captain" Michaela said. Colleen and the other nurses looked up at Sully and back at Dr. Mike with surprised looks on their faces. "I guess this is why you were late" Colleen said in a stage whisper. Nearby Sgt. Trull saw what happened and shook his head "officers" was all he said with a grin.
Sully sat down feeling uncomfortable. All the nurses were watching his every move. Michaela simply smiled at him.
"I apologize for the quality of the food and coffee Captain Sully but it is all we have." Michaela said embarrassed that the 4077th had such terrible food to offer.
"It's Ok. It's better than what you get in an infantry battalion" Sully lied, Army food was the same wherever you go but he felt that if he agreed with the doctor she would take it as a personal insult and perhaps he'd never be invited here again. Right now he feared that more than the Chinese.
Michaela let out a breath and continued smiling just as she was taught in etiquette class in High School. Without thinking she was trying to be the perfect hostess. She noticed spots and scratches on Sully's silverware and regretted that the mess tent only had mugs to drink coffee out of instead of proper coffee cups with saucers. It had never bothered her before until now. The Mess Sergeant is going to get a piece of mind today.
Colleen McMurphy watched her friend with amazement. She's acting like he is sitting in her living room. "Come on girls let's get out of here and get cleaned up." McMurphy said to the other nurses. Taking the hint the others got up. Michaela and Sully did not take notice.
They talked for about 30 minutes, the conversation strictly professional as each Captain tried to be polite as possible and not offend the other one. During the whole time they never broke eye contact. Finally Sully said he had to return to his battalion. At that instant Michaela's smile disappeared. "Well I need to get some sleep. I'll be going back on duty tonight" She told him.
"It was nice meeting you Dr. Mike. Thank you for the work you docs do back here patching up our wounded". Sully managed to say. "If you don't mind Dr. Mike I would like to see you again. My battalion's right down the road so it's not a hassle. If you don't mind of course."
"That would be nice Captain Sully. This camp has an Officer's club. Perhaps we could have a drink there." Michaela's smile returned. That made Sully feel better.
"That will work. Well Dr. Mike then I guess we have a date someday". Sully said with confidence now.
The two officers walked out the mess tent together and Sully held the door open for her. At another table Majors Burns and Houlihan had watched the whole episode.
"Capt. Quinn seems to have made a new friend" Margaret said.
"I guess she likes those front line types" Frank said with a hint of jealousy.
"I like front-line types too Frank. We can play G.I. liberates the French farm girl again".
"Oh Margaret" Frank cooed.
A/N: There I got that out of my system. You will have to wait for Michaela and Sully's next date. I have to get back to Colleen McMurphy.
