Part 2 : Girl Talk
Abby spent the next hour settling into her new home. It actually was kind of cozy. When she finished unpacking she glanced at her watch and noticed it was time for lunch. She quickly ran a brush through her hair, and dabbed on some pale lipstick. No harm in making a good first impression she thought. As she walked into the mess it suddenly grew very quiet and she felt all eyes staring at her. Abby had the sudden urge to turn around and bolt right back out of there, but instead she held her head a little higher and walked over to the food line. With her tray filled with the most edible thing she could find she turned back toward the tables and looked for a place to sit. She found an empty table near the wall and sat down. She blinked back tears as she picked up her fork and started to eat. "This is ridiculous," she thought to herself, "I feel like I'm back at the first day of Jr. High and nobody wants to sit with me in the lunchroom."
Margaret was sitting a few tables away with Hawkeye, BJ, and Major Winchester. She saw the new woman sit down by herself and recognized the look of pride, hurt, and loneliness that she had seen so often in the mirror. Margaret excused herself and walked over to Abby's table. "May I sit down?"
Abby was startled slightly having been lost in her own thoughts, "Oh of course, have a seat."
"Hi I'm Margaret Houlihan, I'm head nurse here," she said extending her hand across the table.
"Abby O'Brien, surgeon, and sideshow freak."
"Don't let them get to you, they'll come around soon enough."
"I hope so, but I'm not going to hold my breath."
"Well I'm certainly glad you're here. Believe me I know what it's like to be the misfit."
"What do you mean, you're a nurse."
"Head nurse," Margaret corrected, "It's hard to go from barking orders to girl talk. Frankly I think they're all a little scared of me. As for the guys, well, you know what it's like to be a woman in a man's world."
"Hmm, I suppose you do understand. I certainly hope we can be friends."
"Of course, I'd like nothing more. Unfortunately I have a meeting with my nurses in a few minutes so I have to run. I hope we'll get to talk again soon."
"Feel free to stop by the supply tent for girl talk any time."
"Oh I certainly will, goodbye." Both women smiled and waved as Margaret hurried off.
Abby finished her lunch quietly, but in a much better frame of mind. Just as she was about o stand up to leave an alarm come over the PA system followed by Radar's voice. "Incoming wounded" he announced "ETA 10 minutes" suddenly the camp was a flurry of activity. Everyone seemed to be scurrying in a different direction.
"Well, I suppose I better get to the OR, I am a surgeon after all." Pre-Op looked much different then it had on her tour earlier that day, with all the people and activity. She stood just inside the doorway for a few moments not entirely sure were to go. A man in surgical scrubs walked up to her. "What the hell are you doing?" he shouted.
Abby was indignant, how dare he imply she didn't belong in the OR, "I'm a surgeon, I'm here to operate."
"Which is why you should be scrubbing in, not blocking our doorway! Now move it."
Abby's face burned as she hurried off to change into scrubs. She felt like such an idiot "Great first impression I just made on whoever he is. I'm here to show them I'm a competent surgeon and I act like a ditsy schoolgirl." She had no further time for self-recrimination as the first of the wounded had started to arrive.
One of Abby's patients almost didn't make it, but she worked quickly and managed to save him. The doctor who had yelled at her earlier, who the others called Hawkeye, said, as she successfully closed, "You know you're pretty good for a girl." She could tell it was a real compliment.
"Better than you boy's probably." Col. Potter chimed in.
Abby beamed behind her surgical mask, but her celebration was short lived as another wounded solider was brought in and placed on her operating table. After nearly ten hours in surgery their last patient was sent to post-op and the weary doctors and nurses pealed off their bloody scrubs. Abby wasn't sure where the other's were headed, nor did she really care, all she wanted to do was go back to her little corner of the supply tent and collapse. She changed into her pajamas and laid down on her bed, reaching for her journal. Before she could start to write she heard knock on the door. She called "Come in," assuming it was someone coming to restock supplies. Instead she turned her head and saw Major Houlihan. "Margaret!" she smiled.
"That offer for girl talk still open."
"Of course," said Abby as she sat up, and scooted over to make room for Margaret to sit down.
"I come bearing food."
"Ooh what's that I smell?"
"Hot chocolate," she said holding up the thermos she was carrying, "And peanut butter sandwiches." She poured the hot chocolate into the two cups she produced out of a small bag along with the two sandwiches. "I figured you wouldn't have eaten, and after a first day like today you might want someone to talk to."
"Mmmm," Abby said as she sipped her hot chocolate, "You know I didn't even realize I was hungry until I smelled this."
"It's good isn't it?"
"Somehow chocolate always makes everything better doesn't it?"
The two women talked and laughed as the nibbled their sandwiches and sipped hot chocolate. Margaret filled Abby in on all the news of the 4077. Hawkeye was walking back to the swamp when he heard the women's laughter coming from the supply tent, and came a little closer to investigate. "Is that Margaret giggling with our new surgeon? Since when does Margaret giggle?" Then he heard something even more interesting.
"The thing you must remember about Hawkeye," said Margaret, "Is never let him know you think he's charming."
"Is he charming?"
"Oh he has his moments, he also can be irritating as hell, and often both at the same time." With that both women laughed.
"So Margaret thinks I'm charming," Hawkeye said to himself with a grin, "I knew she wasn't immune."
Inside the tent Margaret stood up and stretched, "As fun as this has been, I think it's time to go to bed."
Abby tried to respond, but instead she yawned. The both laughed again. "Hmm, yes I think you're right." replied Abby eventually, "We must do this again sometimes."
"Definitely," said Margaret, "Goodnight Abby."
"Goodnight Margaret."
Outside Hawkeye hurried off toward the swamp so that Margaret wouldn't catch him eavesdropping.
