Doctor's Appointment
By Kay Em
Disclaimer: The characters, alas, are not mine. They belong to Fox. But once I got the idea, I just had to write it down. By the way, spelling is in English English (not American English), 'cos that's where I am and that's how I write. Constructive feedback and comments welcome! Thanks.
Tokyo General, 1951
Charles Winchester checked his watch as he strode from the hospital ward and made his way back toward his office to change out of his white coat. Yes, he'd have plenty of time to unwind and freshen up before picking up his dinner date at 7.30...
His optimistic mood vanished as he caught sight of Colonel Baldwin standing beside the Reception Desk. Something in the way the man was craning his neck told Charles that Baldwin was looking for him. For a moment, he toyed with the idea of reversing course and slipping out of the side exit, but as he hesitated the Colonel spotted him.
"Ah, Winchester, there you are!" Baldwin detached himself from the desk and hurried toward Charles. "I was about to have you paged. General Kent wants to see you right away," he said, "Report to his office, will you?"
Charles' tight smile belied his feelings as he nodded his assent. "Of course, Colonel."
Cursing under his breath, he cut by his own office to grab his uniform jacket, and made his way to the General's office, wondering what could possibly be important enough to delay his plans for the evening.
At least the General didn't waste any time. Motioning Charles to take a seat, Kent opened a medical file and glanced through the notes there. "You operated on a marine two days ago, doctor. Found a... a scalpel bladein his chest cavity?"
"Yes sir. A quite astonishing case of surgical incompetence by whoever was responsible for patching him up in the field, I must say."
The General grunted agreement. "I'm sorry to say it's not the first case I've seen from this particular surgeon," he said, "But unfortunately we can't always pick and choose." He shook his head, closed the file and threw it on the desk. "What would you say if I told you that the doctor in question was currently in charge of a field hospital?"
Charles was not often rendered speechless, but for a moment he was quite incoherent with astonishment and anger. "A... a hospital? Wha...? How...?"
Kent's mouth set in a grim line. "Circumstances," he said, heaving a sigh. "I take it from your reaction that you wouldn't recommend that this man remain in command?"
"Sir," Charles took a moment to collect his thoughts, "In my considerable opinion, whoever he is, he is not fit to be in charge of a box of sticking plasters! He certainly should not be in command of a hospital - of any kind! I will be happy to put that in writing should you require it."
"Thank you, Major, that won't be necessary. I'll make the recommendations, based on your expert opinion." He nodded a dismissal, and Charles stood to leave, glancing at the clock on the wall as he did so. Good. Still time to shower and shave before his date with Meredith.
As he closed the door behind him, he heard the General beginning a phone conversation: "Sherm? Waldo here. Do I have a posting for you!..."
The End
A/N - I set the date here as 1951, based on Margaret's statement in GFA that she has known Charles for "almost 2 years."