Alex was alright to leave the post op by herself after a few weeks. She sometimes had to ask for help when walking long distances, but her leg now could hold her weight, even if it was a bit shaky. Often, she asked others to get things that she needed for her, and they'd happily comply. Colonel Potter had a word with her about using people to get things she didn't need, but he didn't have to worry, Alex made absolute sure she knew what she wanted when asking others to get it for her. She spent much of her time in the Swamp, talking animatedly to Hawkeye and BJ, though others would often stop outside and talk to her through the canvas wall.

'I've missed so much,' Alex said almost sadly to Hawkeye as Klinger walked away. 'I never knew I'd see the day Klinger stopped wearing dresses while still in the army, and I never thought Frank would get discharged.'

'It doesn't matter that much, does it?' Hawkeye asked.

'I suppose not,' Alex replied, gently swirling her gin glass. She could see Charles heading towards the Swamp, like a man on a mission. Behind him trailed Lieutenant Sara Jefferson, holding a medical bag.

'Charles is coming,' Alex said. Hawkeye glanced around.

'I'd say he's coming to see you, Alex,' he replied. Alex nodded in reply. That's what she had thought as well. Charles came into the Swamp, and stood in front of Alex.

'I'm here to check everything is healing properly,' Charles said.

'That's what they all say,' Alex said, giving Charles a wink.

'I'll leave you kids alone,' Hawkeye said, grinning. He stood up and left, though Alex knew it was only because the comment would annoy the Major.

'Humph,' Charles said, bending down. 'Please roll up your trouser leg.'

'A bit kinky, but ok,' Alex said. She wanted to know how far to push Charles before her started barking orders at her. Frank would have cracked by now. Charles checked the leg thoroughly to make sure it wasn't infected. Alex giggled as Charles pulled the pant leg down. He glared up at her, but didn't say a word. Alex was impressed. She would have had it by now if she was the Major.

Jefferson watched in awe. She'd never have the guts to make fun of a higher ranking officer.

'Shoulder,' Charles ordered. Alex pulled her jacket off and moved the sleeve without any wisecracks this time so Charles could see the wound. The stitches had been taken out a few days before, but the scar was still pink and raw.

'Who took the stitches out?' Charles demanded.

'I asked BJ to take them out because the skin had healed and they were catching on my clothing,' Alex replied.

'I could have done it,' Charles said stiffly.

'You weren't around, and I wasn't going to waste energy to look for you when I had a capable doctor just two feet away,' Alex said. She looked at the doctor, and for a split second, saw hurt in his eyes. 'But if you had been here,' Alex started casually, 'I would have asked you.'

'I don't care if Hunnicutt took them out. I wouldn't have cared if you had ripped them out with your teeth!' Charles answered.

'You're just worried that Hawkeye and BJ have been telling me you're a crummy doctor, and I'm now scared of you,' Alex said. Jefferson knew that was true, she had heard Charles talking to Colonel Potter about it that morning, but Charles wasn't going to admit anything.

'What utter rot,' he said, standing.

'I stick by what I said before. You are a good doctor, and I'm glad you operated on me. If it had been BJ or Hawkeye, they might have screwed up from the pressure of knowing it was me they were operating on,' Alex said. Charles didn't say anything, but by the way he stood now, Jefferson could tell he was pleased by the compliment.

'Thank you, Lieutenant,' he said eventually.

'No problem, Charlie,' Alex grinned. Charles cringed at the word.

'Charles, it's Major Charles Emerson Winchester!' he said loudly.

'I'll call you Charles if you stop calling me Lieutenant,' Alex said. 'Lieutenant makes me feel... military.'

'Alright,' Charles agreed, surprised Alex had even offered the deal. From what he had heard from much of the camp, he though Alex would be more annoying than Hawkeye. But under all of the craziness, he had found a scraping of sanity within her.

'You seem a little uptight. Do I make you nervous, or are you always like that?' Alex asked. She had no sign of fun on her face now, and her bad eye and scar seemed to stand out even more when she was being serious.

'I didn't want to come to this... infested rat hole in the first place,' Charles said. 'But I am not allowed to leave until the war is over, or I manage to talk the Colonel into assigning me to a different unit.'

'The 4077th isn't that bad. You could be right on the front line, putting bandages on wounds that need stitching before sending them here,' Alex said. Charles nodded.

'Hey Charles, we need an umpire!' BJ yelled from the other end of the compound, making Jefferson jump. Charles looked over at the group playing football with contempt, then stood up.

'Will I need any more checkups?' Alex asked. Charles shook his head.

'Unless you start experiencing unusual pains, you should be alright,' he said. Jefferson stood quickly as well, medical bag clutched in one hand.

'See you, Charles,' Alex called as Jefferson went out the door.

'Dustin,' Charles nodded at Alex before leaving. Alex laughed at the cruelty of Charles' joke as he and Jefferson walked across the compound.

'What do you know, Mister High-Class has a sense of humour,' Alex mused to herself.