Showdown
"Attention all personnel! We've got wounded. Choppers are here, ambulance on the way."
Hawkeye, BJ and Charles are already sitting up getting dressed before the announcement was over.
"Couldn't have come at a better time, huh?" BJ said, tiredly pulling his boots on to his feet.
"What's wrong, you don't like you're sleep interrupted at 3am?" Hawkeye asked feeling tired but knowing that both Charles and BJ would feel worse than he did due to the amount of alcohol they had consumed the night before.
"Would you two try to keep it down." Winchester snapped from across the other side of the tent.
"You a little delicate this morning, Charles?" Hawkeye asked.
"And he's not the only one." BJ added. "Have mercy on us. We can't all have dates with new nurses, some of us have to stick to good old drink to be merry."
"I didn't have a date. I was simply getting to know a new member of staff." Hawkeye proclaimed his innocence and for once, was entirely innocent. Okay, so there was a tiny bit of kissing, but nothing like a usual date round here.
"Well then, maybe you won't mind if some of us other doctors get to know her a little better in the OR?" Charles added.
"That's up to Margaret, not me." Hawkeye said, now ready to leave.
"Well then, maybe she should have some different company tonight." Charles said.
"And that's up to Gaby." Hawkeye said, rushing out to meet the wounded that were arriving.
BJ followed closely behind, Charles leaving last. "Hey, don't tell me you like this new nurse, Charles?" BJ asked.
"I wouldn't know, but it's just fun putting Pierce's nose out." Charles said.
"Doctor, over here." One of the nurses called out. Charles rushed towards her and the injured soldier at her feet.
The next few hours would be hell.
Margaret Houlihan had Lt. Rose assist Charles Winchester during surgery. Strangely he had requested her.
Considering that Pierce had hardly seen anyone but Rose since her arrival she decided it would be good for them to spend this session apart.
"How many more have we got out there, Klinger?" Colonel Potter asked his clerk as he carried out one of the wounded soldiers.
"Five more, sir." Klinger answered quickly, as he left the room for post-op.
"Soon to be four, I've finished with this boy, I'm ready for the next." Charles said. He turned to his nurse, "I have to say, you are a wonder to work with, my dear."
"Thank you, doctor." Gaby replied, a little embarrassed. She hardly knew the other nurses here, she didn't want them to dislike her before she even got a chance to talk to them because they thought she was a suck up to the doctors.
"All our nurses are spot on here, Winchester." Colonel Potter said.
"Of course, Colonel. But Lieutenant Rose here, has grace and style to go with it." Charles continued.
BJ looked to Hawkeye to see his response, but he was concentrating hard on his patient. "How you doing, Hawk?" He asked.
"So-so. There's a hell of a lot of shrapnel in here and some of it's pretty close to this kids spine." Hawkeye said, not looking up once.
"Need help?" Charles asked.
"No. Not yet, anyway." Hawkeye said. "You can carry on flattering the nurses if you like, Charles. I was enjoying it."
"Very well..." Charles began.
"I think Captain Pierce could do with some quiet in here." Margaret Houlihan snapped suddenly. "It's hard enough concentrating without you going on about such nonsense!"
"Cool it, major." Colonel Potter said before Margaret could continue.
"Sorry Colonel. Before I forget Lieutenant Rose, I'd like to see you afterwards." Margaret added, trying to sound calmer.
"Yes, major."
Margaret invited Gaby back to her tent, so they could speak privately.
Gaby was nervous, but tried hiding it as best she could from her head nurse. She had taken a seat on Major Houlihan's bed and awaited her words.
"I wanted to talk with you, Lieutenant. I think I may need to start with a proper welcome. I know you came to us in the middle of the night during a heavy session in the OR." Margaret sat at her chair, seemingly looking everywhere but at the person she was talking to. "So firstly, on behalf of all the nurses, I'd like to welcome you."
"Thank you, major."
"Now, the next thing isn't quite so easy to say. I know that it can be hard at a new unit, making friends and getting to know people. And sometimes, we get carried away with ourselves."
"Is this about Captain Pierce?" Gaby asked, catching on to what the major was talking about. "Because we're just friends."
"Friends who kiss?" Margaret responded.
Gaby was taken back. Not just by the line of questioning but also the fact the major knew the truth. Had someone been watching them last night? It was decidedly creepy if it was the head nurse.
"I don't think I have to justify anything I do while I'm not on duty, major. Especially when it's personal."
"I know that's what you think, lieutenant, but you are wrong. A relationship such as this, with a man you have to work with day in, day out, is distracting to both of you. Whether it be a long term relationship, or just another fling, it will affect..."
"Sorry, what does 'just another fling' mean.?" She got up and moved over to Margaret.
"If you had gotten to know the nurses before Captain Pierce, they would all have warned you about his reputation. He treats all new nurses like this, I'm sorry to say it never lasts."
Gaby Rose stood speechless.
There were no words that could express how she felt right now.
Had Hawkeye been taking advantage of her all this time?
Oh, God, what if he was just trying to get her into bed with him.
Maybe it was he who had told Margaret about them kissing last night, had he been bragging behind her back?
She thought she knew him so well.
She felt sick.
"Please can I go now?" She quietly mumbled.
"Of course. If you need to talk to anyone, I'm here." Margaret said as Gaby Rose headed for the door.
The young nurse ran outside, a hand covering her mouth.
Margaret stood up and went to the door, watching through a gap as she ran across the compound to her tent.
She let the door close and went to her dressing table.
She looked at herself in the mirror as tears ran down her face and blurred her vision.
She threw her hairbrush across the tent as the tears ran down her cheeks.