Disclaimer: I don't own MASH or anything MASH related, so you can't sue. I only own Hannah and her company.

Chapter 4 – Don't be Pert

"So, Major," Hannah asked Charles as they waited for the blood to be drawn, "What do you have against Hawkeye?"

"I have nothing against Pierce as a surgeon." Charles replied, "He's quite competent at what he does. He's able to patch up these children that come in here everyday quickly, and well."

"Then why do you treat him as a cretin?"

"Stop that!," Charles snapped at her. Hannah had been swinging her left leg and came pretty close to Charles' sensitive area for his comfort. She quickly stopped, and tried very hard to not show Charles one of her mischievous smirks.

Charles chuckled to himself, and commented, "Cretin? Since when does someone from Illinois know a word like cretin (I'm sorry to all readers from Illinois, I do not share this kind of opinion, I'm trying to keep Charlie in character. Please don't kill me)?"

"For your information, I was born and raised in Seattle." Hannah huffed, then she calmed herself to ask Charles, "As I was saying, why do you treat Hawkeye as a cretin?"

"I treat Hawkeye the person the way I do so that he doesn't think of himself as the best."

"So you act like you're the best just to miff off Pierce so that he'll try to outdo you, or pull a prank on you." Hannah pondered verbally, and to criticize Charles.

"Don't be pert," Charles replied.

"Hey doc?" she asked the surgeon, trying hard to not move, "Are you almost done?"

"Why? Are you feeling light-headed?"

"Let's just say that if this takes any longer you'll be using this gurney to get me back to Post-OP than the wheelchair."

"Well, I'm just about done. There, now apply pressure here," Charles told Hannah, indicating her arm, handing her a piece of gauze. While Hannah did that, Charles removed the needle. Then Hannah located a pin to connect the gauze.

Charles wheeled the chair over to the table/gurney. He offered his hand to Hannah, but she refused, and instead hoisted herself off gurney.

Right as soon as her feet touched the floor though, her knees buckled, causing her to fall into a heap. Charles shouted, "Lieutenant," and started to go over, but Hannah crawled over to the wheelchair. She grabbed the handlebars and started to hoist herself up, but at halfway, her energy seemed to have just run out, as she collapsed.

Charles rushed over to Hannah, and asked, "Lieutenant?" When she didn't reply, he sat down on the floor, and carefully pulled the lieutenant into his lap. He quickly started to check for a pulse. It was there, but very faint. Charles scooped up Hannah and carried her back to Post-Op, but quickly realized that that was a mistake.

Right as soon as he crossed the threshold, a very livid Hawkeye approached Charles. Seeing Hannah passed out in Charles arms caused him to explode, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!"

"Excuse me Pierce, but I have to put this patient back in her cot." Charles tried to speak calmly.

"OH NO YOU DON'T! YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT THAT EASILY! NOW WHAT DID YOU TO HER?!"

"CONFOUND IT PIERCE, I'M TRYING TO HELP THIS PERSON, NOW STAND ASIDE!"

"NO!"

"KELLY, GET THIS GIRL TO BED, AND GIVE HER AN IV, TYPE O!" Charles shouted to the nurse. After handing over Hannah to Nurse Kelly, he pointed to Hawkeye, and said in a hushed voice, "Come with me." and led the Captain out of Post-Op.

Charles led Hawkeye into O.R. so that he could collect Hannah's blood samples. Charles said calmly, "The reason the lieutenant collapsed was that I was drawing blood samples to send to Seoul for testing."

"Why?"

"I have a bad feeling that something happened to the lieutenant."

"And for what reason?"

"A reason that I find good enough to not tell you."

"Charles, what's wrong with the lieutenant?" Hawkeye asked/demanded Charles, who was carrying the tray of samples toward the colonel's office.

"I have been sworn to secrecy from the lieutenant, and you can't pull rank on me," Charles commented. He kicked open the door, and said to Radar, who was reading a comic book, "Corporal, send these blood samples to the Seoul Hospital for testing, and I want the results as quick as possible."

"Yes sir," Radar said, as Charles left.

Hawkeye told Radar, "I want to see those results before Winchester."

"I'm sorry sir, but you're not the patients doctor so you're not allowed until he sees fit."

"Need I not remind you Corporal that I outrank you, and am Chief Surgeon."

"Sorry sir, but the results are classified until the Major sees fit to tell you. Rules are rules."

"Radar, I'm a rule breaker."

"PIERCE," Charles shouted, "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THOSE RESULTS UNTIL I LOOK THROUGH THEM!"

"I told you sir," Radar said to Hawkeye.

"Fine," Hawkeye growled, "I'll be in the Officer's Club," as he sulked out the door.

"What's wrong Hawk?" B.J. asked his friend as he walked up next to him, "I haven't seen you for hours, and it's almost time for your Post-Op shift."

"It's Charles, he won't let me know what happened to that female lieutenant."

"Have you talked to her companions?"

"Every time I try to ask them, they say ask the major. Charles took some blood samples and sent them to Seoul for testing."

"Did you ever think of asking Charles to see the results after him?"

"No," Hawkeye mumbled into his glass.

"Well, why don't you ask him. Calmly explain to him that she made an impression on you, and that you're concerned for her health."

"I don't want to," Hawkeye moaned.

"Well, then why don't you ask the lieutenant?"

"She's never been awake during my shift."

"Well, maybe this time will be different."

"Maybe."

"It's time for your shift Hawk, just try and talk to her, and if she won't talk willingly, pull rank on her."

"But I want to get her trust."

"Just go."

"Alright, alright I'm going."

When Hawkeye walked into Post-Op, he first noticed that Hannah was up, and had somehow managed to hobble herself to the other end of Post-Op was, where the other Lieutenant of her group was. Both of them had trays of food, and were talking quietly. Hawkeye quietly crossed the room.

"Hi kids, having fun?" Hawkeye asked as he grabbed Rekin's medical charts.

"Yes," Hannah replied, "Since Major Winchester said it was safe to try and walk."

Rekin smirked, and said, "We just decided to have dinner together, if that's alright with you Captain."

"You don't mind, do you Hawkeye?" Hannah asked, giving him a fake puppy dog pout.

"I don't mind, just as long as there's no funny business, now have fun kids." Hawkeye replied, and started on the next few people.

Hannah looked at Rekin, and set her tray down. She stood up, and followed Hawkeye. As she approached him, she said, "Captain, may I speak with you outside?"

Hawkeye looked startled, then said, "Okay, Baker, come get me if there's an emergency."

"Yes sir."

Hawkeye led Hannah out of Post-Op, and to a bench just outside and around the corner. Hannah was the first to speak, when she asked Hawkeye, "What's wrong, you look glum."

"What's wrong with me?" Hawkeye asked, "What's wrong with you? Whenever I saw you before, you've been asleep. Charles and the rest of your companions refuse to tell me what happened to you. I find out that Charles took some blood samples of you, and sent them to Seoul without telling me why. So what's wrong with you?"

While Hawkeye was talking, Hannah's face seemed to turn green. She said, "I feel sick."

"It's probably the food, even eating a little bit can make you feel sick."

"No, I think I'm going to be sick," Hannah said, as she quickly hobbled to a nearby trash barrel, and started retching.

Hawkeye hurried over to Hannah, and pulled her hair back. Hannah started to tremble, until finally her knees buckled. Hawkeye quickly scooped her up, carried her back to Post-Op, and carefully laid her on her cot.

When he tried to step away though, he felt something holding him back. Turning, he saw that Hannah, barely awake, had a hold of his coat. She smiled shyly, and said, "Thank you Hawkeye," then she closed her eyes. Hawkeye quickly checked her pulse, and after finding one, he sat down on the cot next to her, and gently held onto her hand.

"Hannah," he whispered, "What's wrong with you?"

"Major?" Radar asked from the outside of the Swamp.

"What is it corporal?" came the reply.

"The results from the test are back, and you wanted be the first to see – "

The door to the Swamp quickly opened, as Charles' hand quickly grabbed the folder, then he slammed the door, as he mumbled, "Thank you corporal."

Charles walked over to his desk, and sat in his chair. He opened the folder, and started to read it. After a while he folded the results up, and stuffed them in his pocket.

"That poor girl." Charles whispered to himself.

So here is the end of the fourth chapter, please be sure to review, and as I've said before, I accept constructive criticism, I do NOT accept flames.