Hawkeye just stood there, his murderous stare resting on the cowering man before him. Fists clenched and unclenched within bloody white gloves. His icy gaze settled momentarily on the orphan. Her black hair, coated with dirt and dust from the shell, fell easily over her dark face and closed eyes. One small hand rested on her stomach, while the other bent upward and lie on her chest. She looked so peaceful.
Suddenly he lunged at Frank, his arms extended and reaching for the man's neck. Colonel Potter, though, who had managed to get away from his operation for only a moment, grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back. The Captain fought, but the older man held tight. "Pierce, knock it off! We got a duty to do here, and by God we're gonna do it! We all feel badly for the little girl, but there are other patients who need the attention of your gifted hands more than Frank's face!"
He let go, and Hawkeye just stood there, still staring at the little girl. Then he quietly requested "Nurse, gloves..." and waited for the next patient to be brought in. Frank's face was glistening with sweat beads, and he actually realized how lucky he really was.
*
13 hours and 45 minutes later, though, he was one of the unluckiest men on earth. Frank lead the procession of tired, cranky surgeons out of the O.R., walking quickly and glancing behind him every few seconds. "Looking for someone?" A harsh, bitter voice came from in front of him and a strong, smooth-palmed hand gripped his throat. The Major's eyes bulged and his face turned a pale scarlet color as he focused on Hawkeye's angry face before him. "You bastard..." He whispered, his grip tightening until the color began to drain from Frank's face and he began panting and gasping for air.
"Hawkeye!"
BJ ran up behind him and grabbed his wrist, squeezing to the point that Hawkeye was forced to let go of Frank's throat. Stumbling backwards, Frank rubbed the bruising area and attempted to regain his breath, watching as BJ tried to calm Hawkeye down. "Hawk, he's not worth it." "You're right, Beej." Hawkeye said calmly, allowing his best friend to steer him into the Swamp. Sprawling on the cot, he rolled over and ignored the martini offered. His face was streaked with tears.
Frank slept in Radar's office that night.
Suddenly he lunged at Frank, his arms extended and reaching for the man's neck. Colonel Potter, though, who had managed to get away from his operation for only a moment, grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back. The Captain fought, but the older man held tight. "Pierce, knock it off! We got a duty to do here, and by God we're gonna do it! We all feel badly for the little girl, but there are other patients who need the attention of your gifted hands more than Frank's face!"
He let go, and Hawkeye just stood there, still staring at the little girl. Then he quietly requested "Nurse, gloves..." and waited for the next patient to be brought in. Frank's face was glistening with sweat beads, and he actually realized how lucky he really was.
*
13 hours and 45 minutes later, though, he was one of the unluckiest men on earth. Frank lead the procession of tired, cranky surgeons out of the O.R., walking quickly and glancing behind him every few seconds. "Looking for someone?" A harsh, bitter voice came from in front of him and a strong, smooth-palmed hand gripped his throat. The Major's eyes bulged and his face turned a pale scarlet color as he focused on Hawkeye's angry face before him. "You bastard..." He whispered, his grip tightening until the color began to drain from Frank's face and he began panting and gasping for air.
"Hawkeye!"
BJ ran up behind him and grabbed his wrist, squeezing to the point that Hawkeye was forced to let go of Frank's throat. Stumbling backwards, Frank rubbed the bruising area and attempted to regain his breath, watching as BJ tried to calm Hawkeye down. "Hawk, he's not worth it." "You're right, Beej." Hawkeye said calmly, allowing his best friend to steer him into the Swamp. Sprawling on the cot, he rolled over and ignored the martini offered. His face was streaked with tears.
Frank slept in Radar's office that night.
