NINE
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has provided feedback; especially Firebirdgirl for the cheering section. : >) I hope y'all enjoy these chapters. Comments are always welcome.
After midnight, the 'Fireside Chat' finally came to an end. As host, Colonel Potter stood by the doorway as people were leaving. He nodded in satisfaction at the smiling faces and snippets of friendly conversations that filled the area. "…Klinger, were you really hanging from that fire escape by one hand?" "…I can't believe anyone would go into a pond full of alligators!" "…That was funniest thing I've ever heard!"
"Thank you, again, Colonel, for making this place livable," the commanding officer said as he shook the hand of the Corp of Engineers officer who had rebuilt his camp.
"We're always happy to build something," Colonel Hodges replied with an affable grin. "This was fun. Thank you for providing us with some entertainment," he glanced at Margaret Houlihan who was standing beside him, "and, for allowing some of your prettiest nurses to associate with us."
Due to his injury, Major Winchester waited until most of the people had left before heading toward the exit. Matching his pace, Lieutenant MacAllister stayed beside him, chatting amicably. She smiled at her commanding officer. "Good night, sir. And, thank you for letting us use this event as a fund raiser."
"This was a good idea, Lieutenant," Potter spoke to the nurse who had suggested the event, "and it came at the right time."
MacAllister smiled, "Thank you, sir. Do you reckon we can have another one---soon?"she asked impishly.
"Are you looking for more moo-la?" The senior officer chuckled as she laughed at his joke.
"We could use a cash cow, sir." Sarabeth responded with a grin of her own.
Captain Pierce, who had overheard their conversation, stopped at the table where Father Mulcahy was sitting with the metal cash box in his hands. "Speaking of money, how much did we make?" the doctor asked.
"I haven't counted it yet, Hawkeye. I'll let you know later," Mulcahy replied.
"But I need to know, now," the man insisted.
"Hey, Hawk," Captain Hunnicutt sauntered over to his tent mate and asked, "What kind of charity is 'The Tokyo Children's Fund? I've never heard of it."
"It's, um-m-m," the dark haired surgeon struggled to find an answer, "it's a great charity; for a really good cause."
"I'm sure." B J Hunnicutt asked innocently, "What's it for, exactly?"
Lieutenant Parnelli chose that moment to intervene, "Don't you know, Captain? It's for.…"
Not giving her a chance to finish, Hawkeye Pierce suddenly swept the woman into his arms. "Shall we dance? I need some practice." He pulled the startled nurse through several dance steps, all the while, motioning, with his hand behind her back, for the others to leave the area.
"Pierce!" Colonel Potter exclaimed, "What in the name of Molly's sweet corn are you doing?"
Lieutenant MacAllister, who was struggling to keep a straight face, replied, "I reckon he's trying not to let the cat out of the bag, sir."
"That would be cat-astrophic, wouldn't it?" Father Mulcahy answered with a grin.
"Come on, B J," taking pity on Captain Pierce, the Texan reached for the arm of the man from California, "let's head for the Swamp." She, Major Winchester, and Captain Hunnicutt left the dancers behind.
"I got to admit it, Hawk, when it comes to dancing," Hunnicutt called to the doctor who was still waltzing with his astonished partner, "you're the cat's meow."
Outside, Sarabeth remarked, "So, that's how you intend to get back at him."
"I don't know what you're talking about," B J answered with an inscrutable expression.
"Pure Machiavellian genius," Winchester commented, "I love it."
The other man shrugged self-effacingly and then grinned mischievously, "Hawkeye may regret his insistence on secrecy. Good night, you two," he called as he entered the physicians' quarters.
MacAllister shook her head in amusement, "Beneath that mild mannered man with the mustache lurks someone with a wicked sense of humor." Turning, she deliberately looked up at the signpost nearby. The TEXAS sign was at the top of the pole, again. BOSTON had been moved to the second position, once again.
Following her gaze, the major was surprised. "That was not the order of those signs
before we went into the mess tent. You were within my sight the whole time. How did you…?"
The woman merely smirked, enigmatically, in reply. And then, frowning in concern as he leaned heavily on his cane, she said, "Charles, why don't you just head inside?
I really don't need an escort to the ranch house."
"I'll see you to your tent," Winchester insisted. At a misstep, he hissed in pain. "I'm having trouble walking with a cane and you were moving all over this camp on crutches. Sarabeth, you made it look too easy."
"I've had lots of practice walking with crutches. And you have to walk in the mud: that's even harder."
"It is, indeed."
Colonel Hodges, who had spent most of his spare time with Major Houlihan, was walking the senior nurse to her quarters. "Are you certain you don't want to have a nightcap over at Rosie's, Margaret?" he asked. "She assured me, it would always be open for me; seeing how we restored her saloon."
The woman shook her head, reluctantly. "I'd like to; but it will have to be some other time, Glenn. I have to leave early this morning for the 8055th—to lead a training session for two or three days."
"The 8055th? H-m-m," the man rubbed his jaw, thoughtfully. "We just might have to make that outfit the next stop on our list." He grinned and opened the tent door for the nurse, "Good night, Margaret."
"Care to polish off the last of the Madetta brandy, Charles?" MacAllsiter asked once they were inside her tent. "It's about the only thing in here that didn't get broken."
"That would be a marvelous way to end an enjoyable evening. You were superb, by the way," Winchester informed her.
"I'm glad you liked it. I wish Crockett could have come back today. He would have had so much fun! His stories are much better than mine."
"I find that difficult to believe," the major smiled. "I noticed that he asked about everyone in the camp. However, he seemed the most concerned about you...and Nurse Kellye."
"Oh, you noticed that, too?" Sarabeth grinned as she set the hair tonic bottle on the table. "We're back to using coffee cups, again."
"I shall have some more crystal sent from Seoul."
"There's no hurry. Klinger's busy ordering the things we really need." She glanced at the man. He was looking tired. "It's my turn to wait on you, Charles. Let me help you to a chair."
"I'm all right." Winchester frowned. He took a step towards her, "Sarabeth, during that mortar attack, I was...absolutely terrified."
Her compassionate look showed him she understood. "So was everyone else in this camp."
"Yes, but for me…" As he tried to shift positions to ease his leg, his knee buckled.
Instantly, the nurse was at his side, grabbing him by the arm and slipping her other hand around his waist, her legs bracing to slow his fall. He held onto her shoulder for support as he regained his balance.
"Damn!" He muttered, under his breath, irritated at his frailty.
MacAllister helped him into a chair near the warmth of the heater. She positioned her cushioned crate under his leg and studied him with professional interest. As his pained expression eased, she decanted some of the brandy into his coffee mug and handed it him. "Drink this," she instructed.
Smiling in secret amusement as he performed his customary ritual of gentle swirling the amber liquid before savoring the flavor, Sarabeth poured some of the drink in her cup and sat in the other chair next to him. "Now, what were you saying?" she asked.
With a deep intake of breath and a long, exhaled sigh, Major Winchester began again, "It was different for me. Even as a child, I was rarely ill. And I certainly had never been injured so dreadfully. I was afraid of losing my composure…afraid of the pain…and…I was afraid of dying. But you were there---right beside me. I could see the care and concern you had as a nurse for her patient. I could also see the care and concern you had for me."
"The last two things I remember before the anesthesia took effect were that ridiculous rabbit joke you told and your wink. The confidence in that small gesture comforted me. And, later that evening, when I first awoke in post op, you were there---still right beside me; even though it wasn't your shift. That meant so much to me."
The man continued, "What I'm trying to say---so inadequately---is thank you. Thank you for being there for me."
"But that's what friends are for, Charles," MacAllister answered, "to share the good times and the bad." Softly, with a kind smile, she quoted: Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone: Kindness in another's trouble,Courage in your own. (Adam Gordon)
"And you instilled your courage into me. Sarabeth, you are a very dear friend. And I…." A knock at the woman's door interrupted him.
Whatever else Winchester was going to say was lost as Hawkeye Pierce called to the woman inside the tent, "Sarabeth, can I come in?" With an apologetic shrug for the major, the Texan opened the door for the visiting doctor. "I saw your light, so I had to stop by." Noticing the other man, he said, "You're up late, Charles."
"Just having a cup of coffee with a friend," the man replied casually.
Hiding her amusement, MacAllister bent down to pet the dog that had pushed Pierce aside in his hurry to reach the warmth of his shelter. "Howdy, pup," the woman gently rubbed his ears. "Where have you been: out catting about?"
This time it was Winchester's turn to hide his smile behind his raised mug.
Straightening, the woman gestured to her chair, "Have a seat, Hawk. Would you like something to drink?" she offered.
"No. Thanks." The man began to pace. "We're not going to have enough money. We did take in a fair amount tonight. But, since we're splitting tonight's earnings between the orphans and B J, it's a start---but it's not enough. We still need to buy the tickets and pay for the rooms and.…"
"The dance should bring in a lot more," MacAllister commented. "Since there will booze and food to buy, and with each dance requiring a ticket, it should give us enough to pay finish paying the deposits, anyway."
"But what if it rains? What if we're shelled again? What if we have casualties come in?" Pierce questioned. He was still pacing in agitation.
The woman replied calmly, "There's still plenty of time. We can have another 'Fireside Chat' and pay day's coming again. We should have all the money we need before the deadlines."
"How can you be so sure of that, Sarabeth?" the doctor demanded.
"Because, if all else fails, I have a Plan B," she explained. "Now, Hawkeye, please sit down. You're making me dizzy. And you're upsetting Ernie. And he produces almost as much bodily fluid as an upset cow." At those words, the Texan grinned at the dark haired man who forced himself to calm down and return her grin.
"What are you planning to do---train the dog to dig for gold?" Captain Pierce asked. He quickly stepped away from the small canine that was sniffing his pant legs.
"I've got something better in mind." MacAllister replied. "But, I'm not going talk about it unless we really need the extra funds."
"Speaking of Plan Bs," Major Winchester chimed in, "Is that your plan; waltzing with Lieutenant Parnelli every time she starts to speak? I should think you would get tired of cat walking with her"
"Perhaps he plans to bunny hop with her instead," the woman offered with a laugh, "Or, maybe even, the fox trot."
Even Pierce laughed at that suggestion. "She caught me off guard," he admitted. "I'll have something better next time."
