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But you're a girl - chapter ten The Love of a Good Woman
The mess tent was mostly empty as Trapper sat alone clasping a white mug of coffee, writing pad open in front of him. He mentally counted back the weeks since he had last written to his wife, three weeks, three whole weeks. Recounting the events the last few weeks made Trapper's head hurt so he thought he would begin with the usual pleasantries like telling his wife how much he loved her. As his hand graduated across the page, the blue ink forming shapes and symbols that constituted words, he heard a small voice behind him.
'You busy Trap? Have you got a minute?' Chrissie asked in a small voice.
Trap swivelled around on the bench to face his addresser and let forward a grin as he spoke.
'For you Chrissie, anytime' Trapper smiled, as he gestured for Chrissie to fill the space he had vacated next to him. 'What's on your mind kid?'
In truth, Chrissie really didn't like being hailed as a 'kid'; she had fought throughout her career to be omitted from people that would call her 'darling' or 'sweetheart' as a form of derogatory speech. Thinking of this, she swallowed back her words and turned to face Trapper with only one thing on her mind.
'Its about Hawkeye' Chrissie stopped to reflect upon what she had just said but had to finish. 'Its about the other night'
Trapper was intrigued; Hawk hadn't said anything to him about his extra- curricular activities. Hawkeye would normally spill forth the details of any conquest but this time he obviously didn't feel like playing kiss and tell. Trap's mind continued to race until Chrissie explained the situation that had been plaguing her conscience since that morning.
'He stayed with me all night' Chrissie sighed 'we just talked until the sun came up, when I woke up he had gone'
Trapper looked confused, he didn't know how or why Hawkeye had disappeared, he hadn't made it back to the Swamp. He had never done that before and never over a woman, from Trapper's knowledge, Hawkeye had never been so held up about one girl.
'I'm sure he's fine, he always is' Trap reassured her 'he's probably off licking his wounds somewheres'.
Chrissie smiled but the smile didn't reach her eyes, the glimmer she normally held on to no matter what, had gone. Trapper could see the look of exhaustion in her eyes, even though she would never admit that she had to stop before she broke down.
'Now it's my turn to ask a question' Trap supposed to Chrissie.
This intrigued her, what did Trapper want to know about. Her tone was questioning when she answered.
'What exactly?' Chrissie questioned, probing for an answer.
'When was the last time you did anything for yourself?' Trapper began 'I mean, spent an evening by yourself writing letters, reading or spent an evening in the officers club?'
Trapper's words made Chrissie think, she really couldn't recall the last time she spent sometime enjoying the pleasure of her own company when she wasn't grieving. The idea of writing anymore letters after the outpouring of her heart for her father was too much and too difficult to comprehend at that moment in time.
Trapper's half finished letter to his wife lay open on the table so Chrissie decided to use it as a change of topic for their conversation.
'You writing to your wife?' Chrissie enquired.
'Shh' Trap hissed jokingly 'Do you want to get me thrown out of the 'M.A.S.H 4077th Best Bachelors Society?'
Chrissie smiled briefly before applying her sharp wit in a reply.
'I think you are forgetting Trapper John Francis Xavier McIntyre, you're married remember? She quipped, indicating his wife's half finished letter.
'That was just an ugly rumour started by my wife' Trapper laughed. 'You have started to sound like Louise'. Another tiny grin spread across his lips.
'Thanks Trap' Chrissie smiled as she rose from the table and turned to leave but Trapper called her back.
'If you see that no good, degenerate bunkmate of mine, tell him I'm looking for him' Trapper called over his shoulder.
'Will do Trap' Chrissie grinned as she pushed open the mess tent door.
It really was a beautiful morning for that time of year; she just had to imagine the birds singing. The wind had died away completely now leaving only a thin layer of white cloud punctuating the clear skyline. The pathway leading out of the compound was completely clear of rocks now, the suspension on the ambulances needed constant work as they where forced to drive over the rocks to gain entrance to the hospital. The gentle hum of an ambulance approached her as she stepped out of the way to allow the empty vehicle back into the camp.
As Chrissie surveyed the landscape of the adjacent mountains, she noticed a stationary khaki figure sitting on the rocks looking out towards the meadows. At first, familiarity did not register but then figure moved and she realised who it was as she moved towards him.
'Hawkeye?' Chrissie asked.
Hawk froze at the sound of his name, he knew who it was but didn't know if he could reciprocate to her. The reason why he had come out to edge of the compound was to think about her, Hawk knew he couldn't go far incase more wounded arrived.
'Chrissie' Hawk spoke to his shoulder; he did not turn around to face her, which would have been the gentlemanly thing to do.
She took a seat next to him as she placed her hand lovingly onto his. Hawkeye recoiled his hand as if he had been burned but immediately wished he hadn't.
'Sorry' Hawk mumbled as he replaced his hand next to hers.
'I just wanted to say thank-you for last night' Chrissie started 'you were a perfect gentlemen, a lot of men would have taken advantage but you didn't'.
'That's me' Hawk whispered.
Chrissie felt like she had touched a nerve and the best thing she could do was leave him be. Hawk sensed her leaving him, he had to stop her to apologise and explain his previous behaviour.
'Chrissie' Hawk started looking into her eyes as he took her hand 'I feel I should explain my recent behaviour and why I acted the way I did'. She sat back down next to him although closer this time.
'I left earlier because I didn't know how to re-act when you woke up' Hawk explained.
'Oh' Chrissie replied 'When did you leave? Trap said you never came back to the Swamp'
'Oh about five' Hawk replied airily 'I didn't want to wake you or Trap by going back so I just wandered for a while'.
'Listen, Chrissie' Hawk began; he needed his words to ring with conviction. 'Last night meant a lot to me, I have never opened up to a woman like that before'.
'I must say' Chrissie started 'it was a first for me as well, I would never discuss my father with everyone because people assume that I'm a very young captain because he was a very old general'
'Old boys club?' Hawkeye mused putting his arm around her shoulders.
'The whole army is, just like it's traditions and regulations; they are all so anchored in the past' she sighed.
Saying this, Chrissie lent into Hawkeye's chest as he placed his other arm across her body and linked his hands over her shoulder. Once again, Chrissie felt the same secure feeling she had experienced the previous evening with Hawkeye.
Hawkeye felt a warm feeling come over him, something he hadn't felt in such a long time for a woman. He knew it wasn't because he was the first available punch bag for her emotions. They had clicked from the start, from the moment she had sped into the compound on the jeep carrying her first patient in Korea and the way he had mistaken her for an angel of mercy.
It was the little things that were making Hawkeye crazy about her. He inclined his head and inhaled her aroma. He didn't know how they did it, but women had one of the most amazing smells ever and they were all different.
For a few minutes they sat in silence, just enjoying each other's company. Chrissie raised her face to his to speak but instead she caught sight of Hawkeye's wristwatch.
'Oh lord, is that the time?' Chrissie shrieked as she leapt to her feet 'I'm late for Post-Op duty'.
She finished dusting herself off and turned back to Hawkeye where she found him smiling at her.
'See you later' Chrissie grinned as she rushed of towards the olive drab building, pulling on her white lab coat as she ran.
Hawkeye watched her run the length of the compound and through the white double doors of the hospital. Grinning to himself he thought it best to return to the Swamp for a little R&R&R&R. Seeing Trapper through the mesh of the tent wall, Hawkeye entered the khaki bombsite that passed for his home.
'Hi Honey, I'm home' Hawkeye bellowed as he threw his arms into the air and rushed towards the still completely ignoring Trapper. Hawk's path was blocked as he bunkmate stepped out in front of him.
'Where have you been, you promised you would be home by ten' Trap quipped as Hawk tried to reach around him for a glass.
'I was otherwise engaged' Hawk mentioned as Trappers force broke and he could finally reach the still.
'Anyone I know?' Trap said with a knowing glint in his eye 'It just that you didn't come back last night so I figured you got a better offer'.
'Yeah, you know her' Hawkeye mumbled into his martini.
Trapper poured himself a glass of raw sprits and sat on his cot, ready to question his best friend.
'It's just that you haven't had a date since Chrissie came on the scene' he mused 'the nurses around here were beginning to think that you were actually married after all'.
'All right, all right' Hawkeye exclaimed as he put his glass down on the table 'I spent the night with Chrissie'.
'And?' Trap probed.
'And nothing, we just talked' Hawk explained.
'The whole night?'
'Yes the whole night' Hawk went on 'I would feel like such a fraud trying anything, she was in such a venerable position'.
Trap smiled at his bunkmate and let Hawk continue his account of his behaviour the previous evening.
'How do they do it Trap' Hawkeye mumbled as he threw himself back to lay on his cot 'how do they manage to drive us crazy but remain sane themselves'
'No woman is sane, they can't be to put up with us' Trapper replied as he got to his feet to leave. 'I'll leave you with those thoughts but I'll give you one tip Hawk, you'll never work them out'.
'As my mother always used to say' Trap started putting on a faux southern accent 'I'm not denyin' that woman are foolish; God almighty made 'em to match the men'.
'Trap, I think you have forgotten who you are talking to' Hawkeye mused 'I am Hawkeye Pearce, good friend to men and an even better one to women'.
As Trapper left the Swamp, Hawkeye continued to think about Chrissie. The feelings he knew that were forming would be a welcome change from the usual curses of hate and fear; love would make a nice change.
But you're a girl - chapter ten The Love of a Good Woman
The mess tent was mostly empty as Trapper sat alone clasping a white mug of coffee, writing pad open in front of him. He mentally counted back the weeks since he had last written to his wife, three weeks, three whole weeks. Recounting the events the last few weeks made Trapper's head hurt so he thought he would begin with the usual pleasantries like telling his wife how much he loved her. As his hand graduated across the page, the blue ink forming shapes and symbols that constituted words, he heard a small voice behind him.
'You busy Trap? Have you got a minute?' Chrissie asked in a small voice.
Trap swivelled around on the bench to face his addresser and let forward a grin as he spoke.
'For you Chrissie, anytime' Trapper smiled, as he gestured for Chrissie to fill the space he had vacated next to him. 'What's on your mind kid?'
In truth, Chrissie really didn't like being hailed as a 'kid'; she had fought throughout her career to be omitted from people that would call her 'darling' or 'sweetheart' as a form of derogatory speech. Thinking of this, she swallowed back her words and turned to face Trapper with only one thing on her mind.
'Its about Hawkeye' Chrissie stopped to reflect upon what she had just said but had to finish. 'Its about the other night'
Trapper was intrigued; Hawk hadn't said anything to him about his extra- curricular activities. Hawkeye would normally spill forth the details of any conquest but this time he obviously didn't feel like playing kiss and tell. Trap's mind continued to race until Chrissie explained the situation that had been plaguing her conscience since that morning.
'He stayed with me all night' Chrissie sighed 'we just talked until the sun came up, when I woke up he had gone'
Trapper looked confused, he didn't know how or why Hawkeye had disappeared, he hadn't made it back to the Swamp. He had never done that before and never over a woman, from Trapper's knowledge, Hawkeye had never been so held up about one girl.
'I'm sure he's fine, he always is' Trap reassured her 'he's probably off licking his wounds somewheres'.
Chrissie smiled but the smile didn't reach her eyes, the glimmer she normally held on to no matter what, had gone. Trapper could see the look of exhaustion in her eyes, even though she would never admit that she had to stop before she broke down.
'Now it's my turn to ask a question' Trap supposed to Chrissie.
This intrigued her, what did Trapper want to know about. Her tone was questioning when she answered.
'What exactly?' Chrissie questioned, probing for an answer.
'When was the last time you did anything for yourself?' Trapper began 'I mean, spent an evening by yourself writing letters, reading or spent an evening in the officers club?'
Trapper's words made Chrissie think, she really couldn't recall the last time she spent sometime enjoying the pleasure of her own company when she wasn't grieving. The idea of writing anymore letters after the outpouring of her heart for her father was too much and too difficult to comprehend at that moment in time.
Trapper's half finished letter to his wife lay open on the table so Chrissie decided to use it as a change of topic for their conversation.
'You writing to your wife?' Chrissie enquired.
'Shh' Trap hissed jokingly 'Do you want to get me thrown out of the 'M.A.S.H 4077th Best Bachelors Society?'
Chrissie smiled briefly before applying her sharp wit in a reply.
'I think you are forgetting Trapper John Francis Xavier McIntyre, you're married remember? She quipped, indicating his wife's half finished letter.
'That was just an ugly rumour started by my wife' Trapper laughed. 'You have started to sound like Louise'. Another tiny grin spread across his lips.
'Thanks Trap' Chrissie smiled as she rose from the table and turned to leave but Trapper called her back.
'If you see that no good, degenerate bunkmate of mine, tell him I'm looking for him' Trapper called over his shoulder.
'Will do Trap' Chrissie grinned as she pushed open the mess tent door.
It really was a beautiful morning for that time of year; she just had to imagine the birds singing. The wind had died away completely now leaving only a thin layer of white cloud punctuating the clear skyline. The pathway leading out of the compound was completely clear of rocks now, the suspension on the ambulances needed constant work as they where forced to drive over the rocks to gain entrance to the hospital. The gentle hum of an ambulance approached her as she stepped out of the way to allow the empty vehicle back into the camp.
As Chrissie surveyed the landscape of the adjacent mountains, she noticed a stationary khaki figure sitting on the rocks looking out towards the meadows. At first, familiarity did not register but then figure moved and she realised who it was as she moved towards him.
'Hawkeye?' Chrissie asked.
Hawk froze at the sound of his name, he knew who it was but didn't know if he could reciprocate to her. The reason why he had come out to edge of the compound was to think about her, Hawk knew he couldn't go far incase more wounded arrived.
'Chrissie' Hawk spoke to his shoulder; he did not turn around to face her, which would have been the gentlemanly thing to do.
She took a seat next to him as she placed her hand lovingly onto his. Hawkeye recoiled his hand as if he had been burned but immediately wished he hadn't.
'Sorry' Hawk mumbled as he replaced his hand next to hers.
'I just wanted to say thank-you for last night' Chrissie started 'you were a perfect gentlemen, a lot of men would have taken advantage but you didn't'.
'That's me' Hawk whispered.
Chrissie felt like she had touched a nerve and the best thing she could do was leave him be. Hawk sensed her leaving him, he had to stop her to apologise and explain his previous behaviour.
'Chrissie' Hawk started looking into her eyes as he took her hand 'I feel I should explain my recent behaviour and why I acted the way I did'. She sat back down next to him although closer this time.
'I left earlier because I didn't know how to re-act when you woke up' Hawk explained.
'Oh' Chrissie replied 'When did you leave? Trap said you never came back to the Swamp'
'Oh about five' Hawk replied airily 'I didn't want to wake you or Trap by going back so I just wandered for a while'.
'Listen, Chrissie' Hawk began; he needed his words to ring with conviction. 'Last night meant a lot to me, I have never opened up to a woman like that before'.
'I must say' Chrissie started 'it was a first for me as well, I would never discuss my father with everyone because people assume that I'm a very young captain because he was a very old general'
'Old boys club?' Hawkeye mused putting his arm around her shoulders.
'The whole army is, just like it's traditions and regulations; they are all so anchored in the past' she sighed.
Saying this, Chrissie lent into Hawkeye's chest as he placed his other arm across her body and linked his hands over her shoulder. Once again, Chrissie felt the same secure feeling she had experienced the previous evening with Hawkeye.
Hawkeye felt a warm feeling come over him, something he hadn't felt in such a long time for a woman. He knew it wasn't because he was the first available punch bag for her emotions. They had clicked from the start, from the moment she had sped into the compound on the jeep carrying her first patient in Korea and the way he had mistaken her for an angel of mercy.
It was the little things that were making Hawkeye crazy about her. He inclined his head and inhaled her aroma. He didn't know how they did it, but women had one of the most amazing smells ever and they were all different.
For a few minutes they sat in silence, just enjoying each other's company. Chrissie raised her face to his to speak but instead she caught sight of Hawkeye's wristwatch.
'Oh lord, is that the time?' Chrissie shrieked as she leapt to her feet 'I'm late for Post-Op duty'.
She finished dusting herself off and turned back to Hawkeye where she found him smiling at her.
'See you later' Chrissie grinned as she rushed of towards the olive drab building, pulling on her white lab coat as she ran.
Hawkeye watched her run the length of the compound and through the white double doors of the hospital. Grinning to himself he thought it best to return to the Swamp for a little R&R&R&R. Seeing Trapper through the mesh of the tent wall, Hawkeye entered the khaki bombsite that passed for his home.
'Hi Honey, I'm home' Hawkeye bellowed as he threw his arms into the air and rushed towards the still completely ignoring Trapper. Hawk's path was blocked as he bunkmate stepped out in front of him.
'Where have you been, you promised you would be home by ten' Trap quipped as Hawk tried to reach around him for a glass.
'I was otherwise engaged' Hawk mentioned as Trappers force broke and he could finally reach the still.
'Anyone I know?' Trap said with a knowing glint in his eye 'It just that you didn't come back last night so I figured you got a better offer'.
'Yeah, you know her' Hawkeye mumbled into his martini.
Trapper poured himself a glass of raw sprits and sat on his cot, ready to question his best friend.
'It's just that you haven't had a date since Chrissie came on the scene' he mused 'the nurses around here were beginning to think that you were actually married after all'.
'All right, all right' Hawkeye exclaimed as he put his glass down on the table 'I spent the night with Chrissie'.
'And?' Trap probed.
'And nothing, we just talked' Hawk explained.
'The whole night?'
'Yes the whole night' Hawk went on 'I would feel like such a fraud trying anything, she was in such a venerable position'.
Trap smiled at his bunkmate and let Hawk continue his account of his behaviour the previous evening.
'How do they do it Trap' Hawkeye mumbled as he threw himself back to lay on his cot 'how do they manage to drive us crazy but remain sane themselves'
'No woman is sane, they can't be to put up with us' Trapper replied as he got to his feet to leave. 'I'll leave you with those thoughts but I'll give you one tip Hawk, you'll never work them out'.
'As my mother always used to say' Trap started putting on a faux southern accent 'I'm not denyin' that woman are foolish; God almighty made 'em to match the men'.
'Trap, I think you have forgotten who you are talking to' Hawkeye mused 'I am Hawkeye Pearce, good friend to men and an even better one to women'.
As Trapper left the Swamp, Hawkeye continued to think about Chrissie. The feelings he knew that were forming would be a welcome change from the usual curses of hate and fear; love would make a nice change.