"Where on Earth is Erin? Jo, did you tell her?"
"Yes, I told her. She took it hard, ran off crying, I haven't seen her since," Jo shook her head, "sorry, Colonel, I have no clue where she is."
Margaret sighed, she was worried Erin would take it hard, but she had been missing since she came back earlier in the morning, and it was now early evening.
"I'm worried about her."
"Want me to look around and see if I can find her?" Jo asked.
"I was just about to go scout the place out myself, I'd appreciate any help, Captain."
"I can help too, if you need," Heather offered.
"Thank you, Franklin, that would be helpful."
/scene/
It turned out Margaret didn't need the extra help. The first place she thought to look was the supply shed, and by luck she wasn't alone.
"Erin?" She called, trying to see around in the dimly lit room. When she located the light switch, she saw her, lying against the wall, eyes red, and two empty beer cans by her side.
Margaret slowly walked over and sat down beside her, placing a hand on hers.
"Erin."
Erin brought her gaze up to Margaret, her glazed eyes staring into hers. And before Margaret could say anything else, she found herself holding Erin in her arms, sobbing and broken down.
It was at this moment, in her semi-sober state, that Erin had remembered what Charles had told her:
"Never take anything in Vietnam for granted. The friends you make, the little pleasures you find, anything. Because in a war, the things you hold dear can easily be taken away. War is in fact hell. Sometimes I feel that isn't said enough."
And she was taken away just like that. Just like he warned.
"Margaret..." Erin managed to say between sobs.
"Shhh... it's okay, Erin," she gently began rubbing the distraught nurse's back, "it's going to be okay, honey."
"We were best friends..."
"I know. It's hard to lose someone who was as close of a friend as Darlene."
Erin shook her head. "No... it's not like that..."
Margaret pulled back the hair from her face and looked into her eyes. "What?"
Erin shook her head again. "Just like Charles warned in the letter... I took her for granted... she'll never know," Erin wiped at her face, "I don't know, Margaret... she didn't seem like just a best friend... if you understand..."
Margaret nodded when she began to realize what Erin was getting at. "It's hard Erin, like I said before, to lose someone you love," she held up Erin's chin, "but listen to me, broken hearts heal. It just takes time, like every other wound."
Erin sighed and nodded, and allowed Margaret to give her another hug.
"Thank you, Margaret," she said, finally catching her breath from the trying events.
They sat together in silence for a few minutes more, Margaret trying to console her as if she were her own daughter.
"Margaret?"
"Hmm?"
"You're not going to report me to Colonel Dayton, are you?"
Margaret quickly shook her head. "Of course not, Erin. I learned a long time ago there's absolutely nothing wrong with who you fall in love with. Even if I am regular army, it doesn't mean I agree with everything the army believes."
Erin stood up and rubbed at her eyes. "Thank you," ready to take everything ahead of her one step at a time.
