I honestly could not remember much of the Penobscott wedding since it went too quickly and the wounded came in faster than we anticipated. However, after the big send-off later that afternoon, when everyone was clear and not so busy with the emergency, we watched Margaret leave with Donald in their chopper, the man still encased in his restricted hell. They were off to Tokyo for their honeymoon, a week away from this firestorm, and I was stuck babysitting the nurses once more. It was a task I did not relish. Worse would be Frank as I saw it.

Old Ferret Face had lingered on the chopper pad for some minutes after Margaret departed with a smile for the effort. He was fatigued and beyond help, almost like a lost puppy whose owner had moved away or died. Hawkeye and BJ had returned numerous times (on Colonel Potter's orders) to tell him several times that it was time to go. Towards late afternoon, with one man to each side, they finally dragged him back to the Swamp, prompting him to later take a nice, cold shower and to relax for a bit. Frank didn't say much, especially in the heat of exhaustion and loss, and only muttered that he wanted his Mommy.

"Will you tuck me in and read a bedtime story too?" Frank asked, all childlike and innocent in his own disgusting way. By then, BJ and Hawkeye had decided to vanish and leave me with the mess. "Mummy used to do it for me."

"Which one?" I was sitting on my cot that Donald had bent out of shape from his drunken episode and was not in the mood for playtime and games with Frank. Supply wasn't going to get back to me anytime soon (Radar had warned me) and Frank whining was giving me a splitting headache. "There are so many bedtime stories."

"About Pooh and Piglet and…"

"Yes, yes, Frank, we can read more about them and Christopher Robin too."

"And Rabbit too?"

"Yes, Frank, and Rabbit too."

I always was trying to find the inner maternal feelings inside of me and failed this instance. I didn't have anything for Frank. Thinking it best that he was left for the men to baby and pamper, I decided that I had enough. I resolved that I would avoid him at all costs (as well as Hawkeye and BJ) and as much as I could. I mean, I had ten women who depended on me. I didn't have time right now for childish pranks. I couldn't afford it, especially after dealing with Margaret with the news about Donald's supposed injury.

Deciding that it was a good idea to check the duty roster, I headed on over to Radar's space. I checked all of the paperwork and saw that it was in order. I signed it per regulations and had it filed in triplicate, doing it myself as I sat there with Radar telling me that it was his job to file all of it. When I was finishing up and Colonel Potter eyed called the company clerk to his office, I heard the doors to my left open. BJ and Hawkeye entered, running up to me as I stood up. The looks on both of their faces was priceless, but also very panicked.

"Have you seen Frank?" BJ asked me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It wasn't my turn to walk him. Why? Has he escaped from his leash?"

"More than that," Hawkeye exclaimed. "He isn't in the camp!"

"What?" Colonel Potter suddenly rushed out of his office without Radar. "Burns is missing?!"

"Nobody has seen him," BJ offered.

"I last saw him in the Swamp less than an hour ago," I added. I didn't want to say anything about his state of mind though.

Colonel Potter put his hands behind his back. "Not good enough. We need to find that man before the wounded show up. We can't afford a missing surgeon…and I think I found three willing volunteers who would be willing to locate him."

I groaned. "Oh, Colonel…"

"You're kidding me, right?" Hawkeye was outraged, but he kept his cool better than I could. "You want us to catch an overgrown clumsy oaf who currently might be licking his wounds in a cold shower?"

"What choice do we have?" Our CO stared at all three of us in equal measure. "You said Burns wasn't anywhere in the camp, right?"

"Right, but –" BJ began.

"And you looked everywhere, right?"

"Right again, Colonel, but –"

"No buts, Hunnicutt. Off and skedaddle!"

"Colonel –" I tried once more with a pout.

"Not this time, Captain," Colonel Potter put a finger up like he was demonstrating a point that we could not understand. "Crock of beans, you three! Don't you understand the trouble we're in right now?"

Hawkeye sighed, taking care not to show his own anger anymore. "We'll try, Colonel. If we can't find Frank, we'll whistle for help from the MPs."

Hateful as it was to call the MPs of all people, he led myself and BJ outside. From there, we decided to split up and to meet back at Rosie's before her dinnertime rush within the hour. Hawkeye was heading towards the south side of the camp, I did the north and BJ to the east and west (since they were smaller sections than ours). When we separated, the search went quickly and the gossip went faster. I checked out the whole hospital, the Swamp, Officers' Cub and the showers and latrine. BJ was with Sophie, all Supply areas, laundry, barber/library and the lower chopper pad. Hawkeye peeked in all of the quarters, Mess Tent, Motor Pool, the upper chopper pad, camouflage netting and Mess Tent.

By the appointed hour, we all took a table at Rosie's and decided that a break was in order. We all ordered a beer each and waited until we were alone. We then unloaded our findings (which amounted to nothing) and planned from there. The minefields, the creek and areas outside the camp were the last to check. Hawkeye added that we could have checked Margaret's tent, but it was locked and there were no signs that anybody tampered with the tent itself to enter.

"Should we stick with the same plan?" I finished my beer, my throat aching for some gin. "I don't think we'd be welcome in the minefield."

"I agree," BJ said. "The 43rd should be back soon. Seeing bodies nearby would get them trigger happy."

Hawkeye conceded. "We'll appoint a Tom peeker."

"Who?"

"The best of the best. We've received the very perfect person who would love to take a gander at the biggest piece of land we've owned that would cause death in an instant."

"Radar," BJ and I said simultaneously.

Hawkeye finished his beer and motioned us out. After we paid the previous month's tab with Rosie (who demanded a dollar and fifteen cents from me, a record low), we headed back to the camp. After repeating to Colonel Potter about our conclusions (he wasn't too pleased), we had to plead with Radar. I mean, the kid wasn't too happy being requested to check out the most dangerous place the camp, but getting him some Superman comics and strawberry ice cream was a promise I was willing to keep (even if Greg Keller was not delighted with me either). However, he too came back negative.

"Are you serious?" Hawkeye wanted to pull his hair out. His fingers were poised nearby.

"Dammit," Colonel Potter swore, waiting for the results in Radar's space as anxious as we were. "Time to call the MPs."

"I would have called that an hour ago," I muttered.

"Maybe a few days ago," BJ corrected.

"We should have known at the wedding." Hawkeye seemed a little more nervous than most and started pacing. "If only we had known!"

"Simmer down, Pierce," Colonel Potter ordered. "Nobody knew and we can't blame each other. Look, if we had to think like Burns, we might be able to locate him."

"The problem is that nobody can," BJ pointed out.

I thought of poor Margaret then. "And the only person heading to Tokyo."

"Did anyone check inside of her tent?" Colonel Potter wanted to know.

"Not I," I volunteered. "It wasn't my responsibility."

"I didn't either," BJ admitted. "Hawkeye already said it was cleared from the outside."

"And the lock was still there," Love added.

The colonel looked to the company clerk. "Radar?"

"Who, me, Sir?" Radar was insulted that he was being inquired into. "Oh, no, Sir, I wouldn't do a thing like that. Not to Major Houlihan – I mean, Penobscott – I mean –"

"I'll check inside, Sir," I interjected quickly, rushing out into the early evening. I took a couple of turns and landed right in front of the target.

My spy instincts switched on immediately. I wasn't going to let Colonel Potter down and allow more time being spent on finding Frank. After all, I was sure that Hawkeye and BJ were just as tired as I was picking up Ferret Face's pieces. However, Dean's words from some weeks ago echoed in my mind as I snooped around the green material. Thinking of Frank being broken about a girl ditching him was hardly something to scuff about. There was some human element about this tragedy even, something I never thought of when it boiled down to the person involved.

When the outside yielded no results, I closely checked the padlock. Yes, Margaret placed one on the door to ensure that not just her things remained in the tent, but also that nobody slept in there. It had been tampered with though and it had been very recent. Somebody had broken inside.

I wasn't going to take more than a peek before reporting back and having Colonel Potter call for the MPs. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to have the CO get that kind of help when I saw the mess before me. A different one was what was needed and it wasn't going to be me. It was going to be two surgeons whose sole purpose had been to taunt the man who was half-asleep and weeping by Margaret's cot. They would need to bring him back to the Swamp and allow him more rest before resuming his duties. That was the best assessment and decision I was going to give in this drunken war stupor of mine.

Feeling oddly dejected, I returned back to the foursome. As soon as Colonel Potter saw my face though, he understood without question. Immediately, he ordered Radar to change the duty roster and to double up some of the nurses today since Frank was in no shape to take on anything. Then, when the company clerk vanished elsewhere, he motioned me, Hawkeye and BJ into his office. With privacy, he was able to ask me freely what had happened.

"He wasn't there earlier," I swore. I knew Hawkeye checked there except for peeking past the door. "Frank somehow…I don't know. He snuck in there when nobody was looking, broke the lock and stayed."

"The sticky hand in the cookie jar," BJ said.

"More than sticky," Hawkeye added. He did not sound very kind. "Selfish, scheming –"

Colonel Potter raised a hand for silence. "Enough, Pierce. We just need to get the man to his bed and allow him some sleep. The shock must have been horrible."

We all had to agree, bitter as it was to admit that Frank had an issue. I mean, he was slowly losing it when Margaret announced her engagement just a couple of months ago. Now that she was married to Donald Penobscott, there was no turning back for the chief nurse. She was faithful to the man she married, not the one she stooped so low in order to have a relationship with. She could not stand Frank anymore and ditched him for another man. I could not blame her for that. However, I could for the rotten way she went about it, stringing Frank along for the ride until she brought home the ring.

Frank had to be in bed though and we were always the volunteers that did the job. Excusing myself for Post-Op duty (which I had in half an hour anyway), I allowed Hawkeye and BJ the honor of bringing our lovely Major Burns back to the Swamp. While Colonel Potter thought it wise to supervise and ensure Frank's safe arrival snice he did not trust the two surgeons, I was left behind to ponder this new chain of events that would soon unravel.

No, there was no doubt in my mind that Frank was coming apart at the seams. Pacing with hands behind my back in Radar's space as the clock ticked, I thought to all of the dirty, evil things we did to the major. Feeling them justified since he always brought it upon himself, I put my pity aside and decided that enough was enough. Frank called me a whore and worse since Hawkeye and I swore stanchly to each other. He did things that no sensible person would even think of and even drew the short straw when it came down to doctoring. He had a sad life, no doubt about it, but he was such a sneak and a fool that anybody would want to kick when he wasn't looking.

Satisfied with myself, I went about my day, tending to the patients at Post-Op. I came back to the Swamp after midnight and went to my cot, oblivious of what was going on. I did not even see anybody and did not care to, I was that tired from the day's events. Hungover and emotional from Margaret's wedding, seeing Frank so puny and having to chase everyone caught up to me. I stripped off everything except for the shorts I used as underwear and was soon asleep in no time flat.

The next morning, when the mid-July sun sparkled into my eyes, I woke up and saw that nobody was around. This didn't alarm me. Usually, one or more of the men would be at the latrines, showers, walking or on duty. Shaking my head awake and waiting for a roll call that was hardly military, I saw Radar rush into the Swamp, tears running down his face. He hardy made an effort to hide it.

I was alert immediately, sitting up and holding my arms out as the blanket slipped from my body and gave the camp a good view of my nakedness. "Radar, what's the matter?" It was serious if the company clerk was crying. Radar was pretty levelheaded.

Radar took in the gesture like I was his mother. Wordlessly and with sobs choking his throat, he sat down next to me and just cried. The only thing I understood was that Frank blamed him for something that he didn't do and that Grave Registry had to be called. Even so, those were things Radar was always on the ball with and did not get upset over. Something else happened.

When he buried his face into my bare shoulder, oblivious that he accidentally brushed up against my breasts with his hands, Hawkeye and BJ entered. The two of them appeared grimmer than they were the day before. They also did not look like they got any sleep either.

"Care to explain why I have a miniature soldier on me?" I asked, trying to be funny.

"Frank's lost his mind," Hawkeye announced bluntly.

"We knew this." I moved Radar a little to the left, away from what he would have called my unmentionables. "Did he get some rest?"

"No," BJ answered. "He went hunting last night."

"What?"

"And was in Post-Op this morning, which explains Radar."

"Oh, my God! What happened?"

"A patient died," Hawkeye explained without hidden disdain for Frank. "He blamed Radar, who was handing out orange juice!"

When Radar quieted down and was sleeping on my shoulder from his distressing efforts, I slowly moved him to my cot, laying him in a way that would not allow neck or back creaks. When I found a shirt and covered myself without a show (a bra was not in sight), I faced the duo. BJ was not as pleased as Hawkeye. The two had more ideas of their own and it wasn't pranks they were concerned about. This went above and beyond Frank's normal behavior…and it all pointed to one event that caused it.

Margaret's marriage.

"Dammit," I swore, trying to find something to smash. Preferably, I wanted it to be something that belonged to Frank. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!"

"Potter is going to give him a few days before making a decision," BJ explained. "He didn't appreciate having to chase Frank around the village to prevent him killing. Father Mulcahy was luckily there in the nick of time to stop him from shooting."

It was becoming harder for me to control my temper. "That was his hunting trip?"

"If shooting officers, priests, villagers and oxen are an indication." Hawkeye started pacing the Swamp. "We need to do something. We need to get him out of here before he truly kills someone."

"Yeah, but how?" Even I was at a loss on what to do. I was more concerned about Radar, whose arms were now aching for a teddy bear. "We don't have the authority. Colonel Potter isn't going to take this seriously, especially from us."

"Keep him on a tighter leash," Hawkeye concluded. "What else can we do?"

"You watch his work, we watch his play?" BJ asked. He referred to Hawkeye's position as chief surgeon in ensuring the wounded were taken care of properly and our work as spies in keeping Frank corralled.

Hawkeye finally stopped his madness, heading to the still for a morning belt. "I like your way of thinking, Beej. Think we should take this to the colonel?"

"Once I get dressed and Radar is back in his own bed, we can," I interjected before any more plans could be made. "I'd like to be decently dressed for this meeting."

"Why?" Hawkeye had other thoughts. I had to give him an evil eye before his mind turned to the serious matter at hand.

"Contrary to popular belief, I've had work on my own to do," I declared. "Ten women depend on me to keep them safe too. Having Frank out on the loose in his state of mind would get them restless. For once, I would like to keep the rumor mill stilled and not scare them."

"You think Frank might attack them?" BJ was incredulous that I would think of the major assaulting other women other than Margaret. He went to the still to join Hawkeye, most likely to drown out the theory I mentioned.

"I don't know," I admitted. I then motioned my head to Radar. "If he could blame an innocent man passing out juice to the wounded for the death of a man, then there is no telling what Frank is capable of. Think me paranoid now, but I believe that Dean was right. Frank is having a nervous breakdown and his obsession is turning compulsive…for Margaret."