I'd like to thank people who found the time to write a review - juniper. berries. 50 and Sadie7.

As for the end of chapter 23, they were all preparing to spend hours in the OR, so their personal lives had to take backseat anyway and also it wouldn't be true to either Claudia's or Hawkeye's character due to all of their issues if they just got together again then and there.

Please keep the reviews coming!

If you recognize it, it is not mine.

The following chapter contains references Dear Sigmund and Mulcahy's War.

In the middle of all her emotion upheaval, the news of Sidney's arrival reached Claudia and frankly that was something she could do without. Knowing that he would surely come knocking on her door didn't improve her mood. Strangely though, he kept away for days. Apparently he wasn't in the greatest mood either according to the rumors.

Claudia therefore avoided the poker games and officers' club and hoped it was enough. She had a lot of work anyway and with Colonel Potter going away for a few days, her workload increased even more. She found Sidney at the doorstep of her tent six days after he arrived.

"I wondered when you're going to show up. Took you long enough." She said to him and gestured for him to come in. He put the bottle of original Swamp-made poison on the table and sat down in the chair, looking up at her.

"I had other engagements." His voice was steady and calm, as always. Claudia got two glasses, poured the drinks and then sat down on her bed.

"Poker nights and cockroach races?"

"I thought I would have met you in the Swamp." He said, his eyes studying the woman in front of him. Claudia fidgeted a little under his inspection.

"Yeah, well… circumstances change."

"You should have seen the look on Hawkeye's face when Klinger ask if you were going to play."

"Thought you came here to get away from work, Sidney."

"In my line of work that's not possible." Sidney stayed silent for a while, just watching Claudia taking a long sip from her glass. She didn't look at him. The silence got really awkward, but she didn't even move, let alone speak. Sidney continued, then. "So what happened? I gather you two got close."

"Couldn't have gotten closer if I tried." Her eyes shot up and met his and finally he got the confirmation of his suspicion. She was on the verge of tears. "It happened while he couldn't see. I just… He was so scared, Sidney. It was heart-breaking. We spent almost the whole time together, in each other's arms."

"And after he was alright?"

"He asked me out and I refused." Claudia was again looking anywhere but at him. She knew her recent behavior was questionable and deeply irrational, but despite that she couldn't help but defend it.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?! His reputation, my future. We're not a good match."

"Aren't you? Is that what you thought when you took care of him while he was blind?" Sidney drank from his glass so the tent was filled with silence for a minute. "Claudia, just because it doesn't have the potential to last forever, it doesn't mean it's not worth trying. I can tell Hawkeye cares about you."

"I know he does."

"Then doesn't he deserve a chance?"

"Sidney, I am both afraid of getting hurt and of hurting him. My love life has never gone brilliantly. I am not good at these things."

"Relationships are complicated."

"I am not even sure whether I would recognize love if I felt it."

"Then don't be fussy about what to call it. Hawkeye's probably not comfortable with the word love either."

Claudia sighed loudly, taking her time with the response. "You are right. I am just worried I pushed him too far away this time."

"Then talk to him."

"I never know what to say to him. With all that's going on, sometimes I just have nothing left in me."

"Claudia, you are one of the smartest people I ever met. And I am not just talking about pure intelligence, I am talking about how you are also honest with everyone, including yourself, and how much you care about people. If there's a way to reconcile, you'll find it."

"Great pep talk, Sidney. Now let's talk about what's bothering you."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Sidney. Who do you think you are talking to, huh? Let me remind you that I am one of the smartest people you ever met."

"I just feel a little low, Claudia. It happens to everyone."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not yet, Claudia. Please let it go."

"As long as you're sure?"

"Yeah. Let's talk about something else."

"Then how about we go to the Officers' Club for something better to drink?"

"Good idea."

So they covered themselves in many layers of clothing and set out on the journey. The club was almost empty, with only few enlisted sitting near the bar. Claudia chose the table in the corner and sat down, watching Sidney getting the first round.

A cheesy romantic song played softly in the background while they talked, and they discussed just about everything that night. Claudia told him about the bug out and how Hawkeye, Major Houllihan and Radar stayed behind and how emotional she got. She told him about the long conversation she had with Margaret about the situation. As it turned out, the Ice Queen was shaken by how vulnerable she felt when they stayed behind and for once she let herself open up a little. Well, Claudia had to get her drunk before that happened, but then they talked it over. After that, Margaret was a little more available to Claudia, which culminated in their conversation following the Nurse Baker's incident. And they were even sober for that one.

She also told Sidney about the time Hawkeye had an accident on the way home from an aid station. And then she touched on how the argument Hawkeye and she had after he regained his sight. Sidney shared updates about few of the POW's she helped him with and other patients that occupied his thoughts. He also offered sympathies about Claudia's father, which prompted them to talk about him a bit. But Sidney could tell this was still too fresh a wound.

When they broke up the party early in the morning, they were both pretty talked out.

"I always thought you'd make a great psychiatrist." Sidney said as a goodbye.

Claudia laughed, and they parted ways.

The next day Claudia caught side of Hawkeye leaving Rosie's and bumping into a limping soldier. He was all bundled up against the cold, hands stuck deep in his pocket and his scarf wrapped tight around his neck. He didn't notice Claudia as he passed her.

She couldn't help but think back to their time together every time she saw him. Perhaps Sidney was right. It was obvious she felt something towards Hawkeye.

Sighing, she turned in the direction of the mess tent. She promised Colonel Potter they would share a lunch. Since he came back, they hadn't really talked much shop and they had some issues to discuss and reports to sign. For one, there was shortage of sulfur, surgical gowns and rubber gloves and it was getting desperate. On top of that an epidemic of dysentery was sweeping the camp, with three nurses out of the duty roster.

Thankfully the business was slow the past few days. So Claudia even helped BJ with a few pranks now and then. Boy, was he surprised when she confronted him about them. He thought he was in the clear, but Claudia suspected it was him from the beginning.

And she got really angry at BJ for not waiting for her before tricking Frank into taking a swim into one of the holes that he dug out for safety and that was responsible for two broken legs just this week. He let Sidney shout air raid rather than her. She'll get him back for that.

Sidney left shortly after unveiling the cherry tree branch, but not before they talked about what was bothering him. He said something to the Swamp boys, but Frank interrupted them, so afterwards he came to Claudia to get it all off his shoulders. Thankfully she just finished her shift and was free.

They all met in the Officers' Club after the Father Mulcahy's adventure to the aid station. Colonel Potter and Hawkeye came as the last ones of the gang, bringing the good news. The patient will be okay. And Corporal Cupcake too. Despite the generally great atmosphere, Claudia could see Father Mulcahy and Radar were still recovering from what they'd been through. Colonel Potter exuded calm leadership and BJ was just happy everyone was fine.

Hawkeye wore his usual radiant smile that Claudia liked so much. She found herself watching him very closely. And it seemed to be mutual. His kind blue eyes were often on her, with this confident look that gave her hope. Still, Claudia stood next to Radar and he stood at the other end of the bar, talking to Colonel Potter. Neither of them had the nerve to cross the divide between them. Or maybe Hawkeye wasn't interested in her anymore. He could have any nurse in the camp from what she heard.

She missed him. Of course she did. You don't get so close to someone and then just forget them. By the middle of the night, Radar was dancing with any nurse who would have him. Apparently his heroic journey to aid station made him very popular with the ladies of 4077. He was still the little innocent kid, so it was just dancing, but it was nice to watch him enjoying the attention. Father Mulcahy danced with Claudia for one song and then just drank at the bar.

After the dance with Father Mulcahy Claudia sat down at the bar as well, next to Colonel Potter, who looked very exhausted.

"You alright, Colonel?"

"I am thinking I am too old for this by now…" He sighed quietly, drinking the last of his drink.

"Nonsense, you have more energy than the rest of us combined." Hawkeye leaned closer to the Colonel and took a pretzel from the bowl. Taking a bite, he locked eyes with Claudia.

"Be that as it may, I am going to get some shut eye. Goodnight, kids."

And with those words from Colonel Potter, Claudia and Hawkeye were left alone. He was again sporting his winning smile, but saying nothing. The silence became quite awkward, but he just kept on smiling, looking straight at her. Finally she spoke, her voice shaking a little.

"Oh, Hawkeye. My life is so complicated."

He stepped closer to her, took her hand into his and with an intense look he quietly whispered. "I've always loved a puzzle."

I spent some time rereading all the previous chapters and looking for grammatical errors and typos, so you might have gotten alerts that I uploaded something new, but nothing major was changed. For a while chapter 16 was switched with another one, but it's all fixed now.

Hope you are all alright.