Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

This is another tissue warning chapter, but you should know that if you read the end of the last chapter. This is Bella's view of life without Edward for those first two months.

Chapter 11 – False Hope

Isabella watched as Edward's form continued to shrink as the helicopter flew away, turning back towards the direction of the 8076. Bella let a few tears fall, but was shocked to be walking into a whole new level of chaos when she returned.

Corporal Yorkie was waiting for Bella at the landing spot and quickly took her bags. "Something big is happening, Captain, and the Colonel needs you in his office right away."

Bella went directly to the CO's office, and upon seeing Major Hale waiting inside, she became confused. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, Bella, we are just a little short staffed at the moment. Our nurses who arrived shortly after the 8076 was created were up for rotation unless they agreed to an additional tour, so we lost four nurses. Kate, Tanya, Leah, and Jessica all left via Jeep this morning and their replacements are due to arrive with the General, which makes me nervous," Rosalie finished her explanation.

"Why is a general escorting nurses to their new post?" Bella asked.

"He's coming to discuss something with the Major and I, and he asked who was the Major's direct subordinate, so there's likely to be a big shakeup," Carlisle answered her.

"But why would that involve me?" Bella questioned further.

Carlisle continued to give her the information that he could. "Our unit has the highest rate of survival for the whole Asian Theater, and the General needs someone to work on his council back in Washington to show the army how we are achieving our survival rate so they can use it when setting up further units as well as applying it to civilian hospitals for disaster and accident cases where there is a large influx of patients and they need to move quickly and thoroughly."

"And who better than the military nurse who built our support staff and refined our triage techniques," Bella said.

"If it were to happen, it isn't likely that they would bring in another nurse that would outrank you, Bella," Carlisle added. "If Rosalie was to take the position should it be offered to her, you would become the head nurse."

"But I'm not…do you… what would it…?" Nurse Masen sputtered before Rosalie took her hand.

"You will do fine in the position, Captain, and it will include an increase in pay. Just think about how proud Dr. Masen will be to learn the news of his wife."

"But you cannot say a word of it until it is made official," the Colonel reminded her, to which she nodded vigorously. "That is all for now, you can go and settle into your tent and grab some grub."

Bella left the Colonel's office only to literally bump into her husband's replacement. "Watch it, chickie, or you'll be the one washing this coffee out of my clothing."

"Excuse me, Major, but in case you were a victim of temporary blindness, I will inform you that I am Captain Isabella Masen, the second ranking nurse in this unit. And as such you can either address me as Nurse Masen, or Captain, not chickie." Bella nearly snarled the last word at him, but his forward nature was not beaten back.

"You're feisty, Cappy, I like that. What do you say to a trip to the supply closet so we can see what's under those Captain's bars?"

Before she could respond, Jasper was stepping up to them, having seen the end of their interaction. "Is there a problem here?"

"No, Major, just getting to know the Captain," the Major simpered to his superior.

Turning to Bella, Jasper changed the subject. "Did Edward get off well?"

"His flight was leaving just after my chopper took off, but I know that the Corporal will keep tabs on him until he has safely arrived in Chicago. I was sad to leave him behind, but this war will end and I will be home with him soon." Bella laid it on a little thick, but the Major had already left. "Who was that moron?"

"Major James Stoker, but the nurses call him Major Pain, and he is one. Be sure to make complaints if he is inappropriate again. I won't have a member of my staff harassing the nurses," Doctor Whitlock said seriously.

"I will Jasper, but for now I would simply like to write a letter to my husband," Bella said with a smile.

"Tell him that we all say hello, and that he better eat a real egg for breakfast when he gets home," Jasper teased as she headed off to begin to unpack her things.

Nurse Masen returned to her tent, and made quick work of her things, so that she could send off a letter that would reach her parents' house weeks before her husband. But she wanted him to have a stack of letters when he arrived at her childhood house.

The arrival of the General that evening had the camp up in arms, but it was whitewashed as a tour of the MASH camps so that none of the other personnel knew what was really at work. Major Hale impressed the old man, and she was told to begin training Nurse Masen to take over the head nurse position.

And yet, it was still hush-hush, at least until it was announced back home when the General set up his council.

A wave of wounded gave the visiting brass a view of exactly what he was getting with the Major on his team, and after the long OR stretch, he was even more impressed with her.

As his Jeep pulled out and Rosalie and Bella worked to settle the new nurses, Alice caught her in the Mess Tent to ask her about what was happening.

"If I could tell you, you would know already. Just have a little faith and patience," Bella admonished her and then turned her talk to her honeymoon trip with Edward.

"That sounds so romantic," Alice gushed. "I can't wait until the Major and I can go on maneuvers together on our honeymoon."

Bella laughed at her friend's cheeky way of describing marital congress, but said nothing more about it as she got back into the work at hand.

James Stoker seemed to be a thorn in her side most days, finding a way to switch himself on her service so he could try and make a play for a retired player.

"Major, one more word and I will beat you with a bedpan," she growled and he just smirked at her until Dr. King came in.

"Stoker, you're doing wonders for my ranking as the most hated man on base, now leave the Captain alone."

The admonishment from his fellow officer seemed to cool his jets, as Bella turned a grateful eye to him. "Thank you for standing up for me, Dr. King."

"Don't paint me as a white knight, Nurse, I'm just tired of the nightly lecture from the Colonel after he wades through the daily claims of misconduct. I give that man a month before he's removed to an aid station."

The mention of an aid station gave the Captain an idea. It only took her a minute to duck out of Post-Op and into the Colonel's office to speak to him.

"What are you saying, Nurse Masen?" the Colonel asked as he tried to focus on the paperwork before him.

"There is a Captain at the aid station that you sent me to, Peter Martins. He was just finishing up his residency when he was called up, but he's been at the aid station since he arrived. He's a good surgeon and would be a welcome replacement to the Major."

"He's young then, if he's still a resident?" The Colonel tried to determine.

"Actually, he is a year or two older than Edward, but you couldn't tell by looking at him. I thought he was a kid when I first met him, but Edward spoke to him more during our day there and found out that he'd not gone to school for medicine at first, so it delayed the process for him. Just mention him as a possible replacement for James should the need arise," Bella pleaded with the Colonel who was already looking at the Major's file.

"The need is arising sooner than you think," Carlisle said with a shake of his head, taking note of the information for when he needed it.

The days continued to pass, until the day that Bella received her first letter from Edward. Just hearing from him that he'd arrived safely was enough to bring tears to her eyes. Letters would go back and forth, but he had not yet arrived in Forks to read her correspondence.

A letter from her mother detailed how she was turning the house inside out to prepare for Edward's arrival, something that made Bella smile. To know that her parents were welcoming him so openly meant the world to her.

As August began, Bella was deeper in her training with the Major when a comment from Rosalie during a lesson had her counting in her head.

"Bella, what is it? What's the matter?"

"I'm late," she whispered.

"You're not on duty this afternoon, you just did the night shift."

"No, I'm late, as in my monthly."

"We have to tell the Colonel, how late are you?" Rosalie asked.

"Five days," Bella told her and Rosalie hugged her to her side.

"You and I might just be on the same flight home," Rosalie told her as she continued to hug her friend.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have to let Dr. Cullen know so he can give me orders to have the test done in Tokyo," Bella rationalized, and that was exactly what they set off to do.

"You think you're pregnant?" Carlisle asked from his doorway, ushering the nurses into his tent.

"I may be," Bella hedged.

"And here I move heaven and earth to get your friend transferred here, though it won't go through for another two weeks so you didn't hear it from me," Carlisle teased, but Bella was beaming.

"Dr. Martins will be transferred here?" Bella gasped.

"Yes, and Dr. Stoker will go to his aid station. The higher ups didn't like that he was harassing female officers so they are sending him into hell as punishment. The fact that I requested an aid station cutter made it easier for them. Now, he won't even know until a few days before, so this really must be kept in the strictest of confidences."

"Understood," both women answered.

"As for your possible discharge, Major, begin training Nurse Brandon as well as the Captain. If she is to be sent home, then you will not have lost all this time, and if for some reason Bella has not been blessed in this way, then someone else will know some of the work, so if there was ever a need, Alice could share the load."

"Excellent plan, Sir," Rosalie said.

"Now, Bella, it can take them time to get a rabbit, so I will schedule the test for a week from today, August ninth. Is that all right with you?"

"That is fine, Sir, thank you." Bella beamed at her superior officer.

"I hope that we'll be throwing you a farewell party in the coming weeks."

Bella and Rosalie walked out of the Colonel's tent to come face to face with an angry looking Alice. "Can I talk to you, Captain?"

"Alice what's wrong?" Bella asked but when she stormed off in the direction of the Supply Tent, Bella decided it was best to just follow her as she entered the room and closed the door.

"What's going on with you, Bella? Ever since you came home you've been distant, and you spend all your time with Rosalie. It's like I don't exist anymore," Alice cried and Bella pulled her close.

"I'm only now allowed to tell you this, because it involves you, but Rosalie is being sent stateside to work on improving triage and medical procedures based on how we manage the MASH unit. I'm with her because I'm being trained for the Head Nurse position."

"Bella, that's wonderful! Oh, I'm so sorry that I was judging you, but I felt like something had happened and I didn't know what I had done. You know I don't have a lot of female friends, and-"

"Alice, there's more," Bella said, halting her rant. "Rosalie is going to need to train you as well, because there's a chance I may get sent home."

"You're pregnant?" Alice whispered.

"I might be." Bella laughed, so happy to share it with her best friend since she couldn't tell her husband yet.

"Oh, what a surprise that would be for Edward, getting a phone call telling him that you're flying home to start your life together sooner than planned." Alice was hugging her friend again, her eyes darting down to her stomach before she laughed as well. "When will you know?"

"Carlisle is contacting Tokyo, but it will take them time to get a rabbit, so I will fly out on the morning of the ninth for my test." Bella gave her friend the details as they emerged from the stock room.

"Let's head over to the Mess Tent, we have to make sure mother and child are well fed," Alice joked, but Bella froze.

"Don't tease about it, Alice, I'm still scared that it's a false alarm," Bella confided and Alice immediately hugged her again.

"I'm sorry, I won't say anything else until we know for sure. Now, we just have to work to pass the next week quickly."

Passing the time was a little more difficult than Mrs. Masen would have thought, because as she read the letters that Edward sent her, one for each day they were apart, she had little to say back. The important things in her life were the ones she couldn't confide in him about. The promotion was not something she could discuss, nor was the inevitable transfer of Major Stoker, and certainly not her possible pregnancy. The idea of him holding onto hope for weeks if nothing were to come of it was too much for her to bear, so she said nothing.

Her letters were about camp life. The movies that Corporal Yorkie had managed to trade for. The long OR stretches. The things that reminded her of their time together.

The days finally seemed to pass and Bella found herself standing opposite Major Whitlock's operating table for their latest OR stretch. In sixteen hours she would be on a chopper to Seoul and then fly on to Tokyo for her test, but first she had patients to tend to.

Smart remarks and jokes were passed around by the rest of those working on the latest soldiers to come in from the hills, but Bella focused on her patient, and the needs of her doctor.

The hours ticked by, and while wrist deep in a bowel resection, Nurse Masen felt the pressure, followed by a warm, wet sensation as it slowly pooled in her underwear.

Her trip to Tokyo was no longer needed.

Bella stood there as if nothing had happened for over an hour, handing Jasper the instruments he needed as he finished his procedure. When the patient was carried off and the final patient to be brought in was a superficial wound, Bella asked to be excused.

"Of course, Captain. Is everything all right?" Major Whitlock asked.

"It will be, excuse me," she muttered before running off to her tent to grab her supplies and make her way to the latrine.

She took her time, knowing it would be the nurses' turn in the shower in less than an hour, so she only needed to make it until then and she would be able to wash away the evidence of what wasn't meant to be.

Jogging back to her tent to get her shower supplies, Bella was first in the stall when it was time, but she had two visitors, neither of who were getting in the stall next to her.

"What happened in there, Bella? It isn't like you to run out on an OR session," Rosalie asked but Bella hid her tears in the water.

"And why are you showering? You should be on a chopper in a few hours," Alice reminded her friend.

"I'm sorry about my behavior in there, but if you could find the Colonel and tell him that I won't need the trip to Tokyo after all I'd appreciate it," Bella said curtly.

"Bella?" Rosalie questioned.

"I started my monthly while we were working on the bowel resection. I completed that patient, but I couldn't stand around for the next procedure," Bella explained.

"I will go speak to the Colonel, he will likely want to examine you when you are feeling a little better," Rosalie said, leaving Alice in the showers with Bella.

"I'm so sorry, Bella, but everything will be all right. And I will speak to the Corporal and see if he can procure you a new uniform from supply," Alice offered, allowing Bella a few more minutes alone to finish her shower.

Bella stayed in the shower, letting the water pelt her as she cried. Alice did not return, so as her time drew to an end, Nurse Masen dried off and changed into new fatigues, taking extra time to make sure the belt for her sanitary napkin was secure. It wouldn't do to ruin another uniform.

Bella caught the little Korean woman who did laundry for the camp and gave her the soiled uniform, showing her the blood. The woman looked at it with a knowing smile and nodded, putting it in a separate bag. She knew there was little chance of it coming out, but her best chance was to get it taken off as soon as possible. Bella returned to her tent, only to see her footlocker was gone.

"What's going on?" she asked Lieutenant Baker, one of the new nurses.

"Major Hale came in a few minutes ago and had Sergeant McCarty carry it to her tent. She said that you should go to her when you returned, Ma'am," Nurse Baker answered.

"Thank you, Baker," Bella answered as she made the short trip over to the Major's tent.

"Major?" she asked as she walked in to see Emmett helping the Corporal with a cot.

"This will be your tent in a week, so there's no reason you shouldn't get used to it. The privacy will allow us the chance to go over anything you want to ask, as well as keep your bunkmates from knowing what's going on," Rosalie explained.

"Bella, if you need help carrying anything, you let me know," Emmett told her as he left.

Corporal Yorkie went to follow him, but paused by the door. "Ma'am, I won't be able to add an extra uniform to this month's requisition order, but it will arrive after the Major leaves, so you can have the one I ordered for her."

"How did you manage to order us new uniforms, a new pair of boots take an act of Congress and we get our parkas after most of the cold weather has passed?" the Captain asked in shock.

Eric blushed slightly as he answered, "When a General makes a call to clear the way, you'd be amazed the things that can be requisitioned. So new uniforms for the nurses that had just arrived, not to mention the one that will come to fill the spot you will vacate when you are promoted, was an easy order."

"Thank you for thinking of us, Corporal, it was a very sweet thing to do," Bella told him just before he left.

"That boy would move heaven and earth for the nurses here," Rosalie said with a wistful smile. "He told me soon after we arrived that we made this war a little more human. Seeing us out there with the men, doing our jobs always left him in awe of us, but when it was done having women made him feel like he was back at home a little bit. And he's a firm believer in the happy wife, happy life philosophy, only he has a dozen sisters to try and keep happy. I'm going to miss him, he'd give you the shirt off his back and the food off his plate without a second thought. The world needs a few more Corporal Yorkie's."

"That it does," Bella agreed before she went to lie down. "Do you mind if I…?"

Understanding what she was asking, Rosalie responded, "You go ahead and relax. I'll take your shift in Post-Op today and you can do the paperwork in here when you're feeling a little better. This week can be a transition for you, doing more of the administrative work while I help out with your shifts."

"I should be fine to work tomorrow-" Bella began, but Rosalie cut her off.

"It's best that you rest, and I'm sure that the Colonel will feel the same. He should be by this afternoon to see you."

Rosalie left Bella alone, and she opened the lid of her foot locker to pull out a picture of Edward. Changing into some sleepwear, she settled into bed, staring at the photo of her husband.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make our dream come true, Edward," Mrs. Masen whispered as she cried herself to sleep.

Alice made quick work of packing up the remainder of Bella's belongings, explaining to the nurses that Major Hale would be rotated home and that Captain Masen would become head nurse. It was about that moment that a roar echoed around the camp.

"Where is she?" The screaming voice of Major Stoker grew increasingly louder as he banged on the nurses' tent door.

Alice cracked the door and stared him down. "Whoever it is you're looking for, you won't be allowed within twenty feet of them until you calm yourself, Major."

"Listen to me you little bitch, I wi-" James began, but the threat died in his throat.

"Major, back away from that tent or the MP's will take you into custody. Maybe some time in Leavenworth will cool you down," Colonel Cullen called as he marched across the compound, intercepting an irate-looking Major Whitlock.

"Listen, I know that you're shipping me to that aid station because of this tart's friend and-" This time it was Jasper who interrupted him by taking him by the collar and hauling him away from the nurses.

"Listen to me, you sorry excuse for an officer," Jasper seethed, "the number of complaints and complainants against you in the last month is unconscionable, these women are risking their lives just like the rest of us and they deserve your respect. But all you seem to be able to do is defile them with your lewd thoughts and advances. If you so much as step one toe out of line in the next few days, I will make you a date with a North Korean firing squad. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Major," James growled.

Turning to the nurses, Jasper took a deep breath and warned them, "If he says or does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable for the remainder of his time here, you let either the Colonel or I know immediately and it will be handled."

With the situation solved for now, Jasper and Carlisle went to continue on to their original destination, Alice following behind them with Bella's duffle. "Check to see if she's willing to see us?" the Colonel asked.

"Bella," Alice whispered as she entered the tent.

"You don't have to be quiet, that shouting match outside woke me up. What do you need?"

"The Colonel and Jasper wanted to speak with you," she explained, sitting down her bag. "I just have to grab your suitcase and your knapsack and then all of your things will be in here."

"Thank you, Alice, and you can send them in, I'm decent," Bella said as she sat up in bed.

The pair of men entered, allowing Alice to slip out to fetch the last of Bella's things. "Bella, we're so sorry to hear about…what happened," Jasper said, unsure of how to bring up such a sensitive subject with his friend. "I wish I had known what was happening on the other side of my gurney, I would have relieved you earlier."

"It wouldn't have made a difference in the outcome, Jasper. I'm not with child, so life will continue on as if nothing had happened," Bella said plainly.

"If you would like, this might be something that would earn you a heartache discharge," Carlisle offered, but Bella shook her head.

"Without proof that I may have been pregnant, the Army will say that I was simply late because of the stress in my life. It's too convenient to request to be sent home so soon after Edward earned his points. But I thank you both for the thought. The best thing is for me to think that way as well, because to think of what I might have lost will be too much to bear right now. So I will soldier on, quite literally."

Trying to move the conversation along, Carlisle said, "Rosalie spoke to me about you being on light duty until you're feeling better in a few days, and I agree. You can do the Head Nurse work and she will split your shifts with Alice for a few days."

"You know the signs to look out for, Bella, if anything seems wrong, you let us know immediately," Jasper implored and Bella agreed.

Alice's return gave the men their excuse to return to their previous activities and after a little fussing from Alice, Bella was left to rest again.

The three days that followed were rough for Bella. She cried often, and her cycle was particularly heavy, evidence of what she didn't want to think on. The new Head Nurse took to her responsibilities with new zeal and the work kept her busy for a short while. The short lull came at the exact right time to allow Bella the luxury of being able to heal in private.

Major James Stoker climbed into a jeep the evening of August 11th, and left the unit without a sendoff. His replacement arrived in the predawn hours aboard a bus from his former unit, stepping out of the back to brief his new co-workers on the status of their patients.

"Where's Captain Masen?" Peter asked one of the new nurses as they moved patients in to Pre-Op.

"She's right over there, Sir," the girl answered, pointing to Bella.

"Welcome to the 8076, Captain Martins," Bella said with a hug as he pulled back to really get a look at her.

"It seems a lot has changed since you came to visit me. When I asked for Captain Masen, I was expecting a tall, lanky doctor, not the nurse that taught me a fair amount about burn treatment. Am I correct in assuming that he was shipped home?"

"You are, Peter, now let's get you in to scrub up and we can catch up more later," Bella said as she led him into the Scrub Room, telling the Corporal to see to Peter's bags.

The pair worked together during that session much as they did at the aid station, giving Bella a renewed sense that everything would be all right. Work would continue and life would go on.

Exhaustion set in after she finally left the OR, and a long shift in Post-Op, followed by another round of operating had her going another day without writing to Edward.

When she woke up the morning of the fourteenth and realized it had been nearly a week since she'd last written him, Bella reconciled herself to giving him their bad news. She got the letter in the mail and then went over the requisition form for the supplies for the following month before giving it to Eric and returning to Post- Op to check on things in there. That night didn't see any casualties arriving, so the camp was able to enjoy their dinner as much as they were able to and watch the latest movie they'd received.

After the letter she sent the day before, Bella realized that she had left out the best of her news. Now at liberty to tell him everything, Bella sat down to write Edward again.

August 15, 1952

Dearest Edward,

I'm sorry that I was remiss in giving you some good news in yesterday's letter to counteract the bad, but I wasn't at my best when I wrote to you. But there have been many changes here in recent days, and they will do you some good to hear.

First, Major Stoker was reassigned to an aid station, leaving a few days ago, and in his place I was happy to see a familiar face join our ranks. Peter Martins is now stationed with us and he is adjusting nicely to having a roof over his head that doesn't find its way under your feet by the time you're done operating. He jokes that our OR is so quiet that he can hear the enemy snoring out in the hills.

The change of pace was a welcome change for him, and for us it is nice to have a friendly smile instead of a scowl. And when he arrived, he was surprised to have one of the new nurses point me out when he asked for Captain Masen, but he was happy to hear of your good fortune and wishes you the best in Seattle.

Another change here is that Rosalie was selected to do some work for the army in the States, so as the ranking nurse at the unit, I was given her position. Tonight is her farewell party and in the morning I will be the Head Nurse of the 8076.

At first I was nervous about the responsibility, but it isn't all that bad, and with my light duty a few days last week, it gave me a chance to get the paperwork just right before taking over the position. I will miss Rosalie dearly, as it seems that the MASH I came to is no longer the unit I am in. So many of the nurses are gone, and without you it just doesn't feel the same.

But as always, I will smile and enjoy the privacy of my new room so that I can look upon your photograph each night as I fall asleep. I have to get ready for Rosalie's send off, but I will write again soon.

Yours,

Captain Isabella Masen
Head Nurse – MASH 8076