The ban is lifted! Inspiration has struck! I'm back! Based on the episode "Hot Lips and Empty Arms", which I don't own. I don't own any of it. But then you knew that. This should probably be in my short story series, but oh well.
Moonlight Encounter
I pulled off my mask, and threw it into the air, not really caring where it ended up. It landed at my feet, and I kicked it aside, walking stiffly out of the OR.
There he was, asleep on a bench. Radar walked by, threw me a curious look as I lifted him. He was heavy, limp, like a rag doll. He didn't stir as I carried him back to the Swamp. I laid him carefully on his cot, then sat in the chair, watching him sleep.
He looked so happy, blissful ignorance. I wished him better dreams than I had.
His face twisted slightly, and he tossed and turned for a bit, before falling still again. I sat on my hands, resisting the urge to reach out and sooth him. He wouldn't understand. No one ever could. Hell, I didn't. All I knew was he filled my night and day with his presence.
I remembered, back a few months ago. He and I were in the shower with Hot Lips, sobering her up for OR. She was completely bombed, and was falling all over him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, flirting scandalously. It bothered me – it never really had before. But I didn't want her to touch him. But there she was, hanging off him, commenting about his crooked smile and lack of salutes. I remember I made a crack then – something about that was when I fell in love with him. He grinned – he always did. We were just like that. Things we said that would have attracted suspicion with others simply seemed normal with us. But as we walked out, it hit me – that truly was when I fell in love with him.
I tried not to let it change anything. Even so, all of a sudden, it was hard to operate near him, hard to shower with him, sit next to him, even talk with him. I distanced myself, fearful of saying something stupid, not being able to laugh it off as a joke. I chafed when I noticed Margaret looking at him. I sat alone in the Swamp when he had dates, drinking myself into oblivion. My blood boiled when Frank, Henry, even Radar talked to him. He was mine, I kept telling myself.
The fact that he was so unattainable plagued me. His wedding ring caught every light, shining in my eyes with all its golden laughter, mocking. The pictures of his children on the table bored into me, their eyes triumphant. He's ours, and you can't have him. The letters from his wife accosted me at every turn – everywhere I looked, another one was staring me in the face.
And now, here he was, not three feet away, lying innocent and beautiful in a moonlit Korean summer night.
He's out like a light, he'd never notice, something told me. Just kiss him, just once. You know you want to, just do it.
I leaned over him, our lips inches apart. I could see every eyelash, every freckle on his nose.
Just do it.
I was far too close. Any second now, he was going to open his eyes and save me from myself.
Just do it.
He'd probably punch my lights out though…
Just do it.
But a cloud shifted, and so did the moonlight. It caught the band of gold imprisoning his finger, directing the light into my eyes. I pulled back, the ring winking at me. The eyes of his children, lit up by the moon, stared at me. Don't you dare, don't you dare…next to the picture, the ink on the letter glittered as though it was fresh. Dear John…
And I stood up, and walked away.
~Fin~
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