Here it is, readers. This is the ninth chapter of the story!

Now, this is where the drama really unfolds. In this chapter, Andrew's crush gets revealed to the entire compound, gets him furious at Klinger for being a dope, and then he distances himself from everyone, fearing what would happen had he stuck around with several of them. This will result in Margaret reacting to it based on how she feels about him, and tension will start to build up at the 4077. How will all this unfold? Find out now!


AT THE COMPANY CLERK'S OFFICE:

"Well? What is it that you want to tell me, Major Peterson," Klinger asked, waiting for Andrew to say something.

Andrew was having trouble with telling Klinger exactly what was on his chest. There was no way that he could just go ahead and say 'I have a crush on Margaret Houlihan'. He wanted to figure out how to tell him carefully, without causing much of a fuss.

After thinking about how to say it for a few moments, Andrew sighed and finally started to speak.

"Okay Klinger, what I'm about to tell you is rather important," he started. "And I would appreciate it if you'd listen to me, okay?"

"Hey. I'm all ears," Klinger wiggled his ears. "Now tell me what this is all about."

"Okay. Now it's a secret," Andrew's voice was being said through the intercom without him knowing, as was Klinger's voice.

"A secret?" Klinger raised an eyebrow.

"That's right. A secret."

The other personnel were kinda curious about this as they didn't know what this was about. In the shower tent, we see Hawkeye and BJ taking a shower when they heard Andrew and Klinger's voices on the intercom. This actually left them perplexed.

"That's funny. I don't recall us having a radio show called 'Let's Share Secrets' starring Andrew and Klinger," Hawkeye remarked in a joking manner.

"I didn't either," BJ commented. "I wonder what this is about."

"Well, Peterson? What's the big secret?"

"Klinger, before I tell you, I need you to promise me not to tell anyone else in the unit. Comprende?"

"Lost and clear sir! Now let's hear it."

"Ah, this ought to be good," Hawkeye looked interested in some juicy gossip. "Let's see what the major has for a secret."

BJ said nothing as he continued to shower. It wasn't his place in knowing secrets, as well as spreading gossip around the M*A*S*H 4077. Nonetheless, he just allowed the announcement to continue.

"Okay," Andrew took a deep breath before finally speaking in a soft barely audible voice. "To tell you the truth, I uh...I have a...um...IhaveacrushonMargaret..."

"Huh?" Klinger asked, not hearing what he was saying.

"IhaveacrushonMargaret..."

The people around the compound could only hear indecipherable whispering coming from Andrew, as they couldn't make out what he was saying.

"What was that Major?"

"I said I have a...crushonMargaret..."

"I can't quite hear you, sir! You have to speak up for me to know what you're saying. Now just tell me what you have on your chest."

On the intercom, everyone could hear Andrew letting out an aggravated groan. But what he said next got them especially shocked.

"UGH...I HAVE A CRUSH ON MARGARET!"

"Margaret?"

"Yes! Margaret! There's only one Margaret in this compound! The head nurse! Margaret Houlihan! You know; Hot Lips!"

"Wait, you're telling me that you..."

"Yes," Andrew howled through the intercom. "I, Andrew Peterson have a crush on Margaret Houlihan!"

That secret got everyone in a state of shock for a few minutes or so. They had to take this in for a moment or so. Andrew, the quiet major at the 4077, actually has the hots for Hot Lips Houlihan. There were plenty of signs that he liked her, with how often he's been hanging out with her lately, but they didn't expect him to come out like this. One of the few exceptions was Hawkeye, who looked kinda shocked by what Andrew said. Then his head started to work again, as he realized one thing.

I knew it! I was right! I was right on the money! Andrew Peterson does have a crush on Margaret Houlihan! He thought to himself, with a smirk plastered onto his face.

By contrast, BJ was startled by this. Even then, he kept his mouth shut, as he felt it was none of his business to get involved with what's going on between Andrew and Margaret.

Then there was Margaret herself, who had heard what Andrew has said through the intercom, and she felt her cheeks blush furiously. Despite this, she kept quiet and stayed in her tent, as she got the feeling that things were going to get obnoxious in a minute.

Klinger, who was not expecting this and was startled by the secret, regained himself and spoke to him again while the voice was heard on the intercom.

"Well, that's terrific news, sir," he praised him. "When's the BIG date!?"

"There is no date right now! I'm just telling you this because it was building up, and I had to tell someone!"

As Andrew said that, several of the doctors started to smirk at this, as dirty thoughts of Andrew and Margaret ran through their pervertic heads. Meanwhile, the nurses were kinda giddy that the major likes their head nurse. Some of them were wondering if Margaret has a crush on Andrew.

"Well you can't wait forever," Klinger said through the intercom. "You have to tell her!"

"I know, and I will tell Margaret that I have a crush on her," Andrew said, as the doctors outside started making 'ooo'-ing sounds, whistling like wolves, and laughing. "Now this is a secret! I don't want you to tell..."

Andrew was heard talking, but then he paused when he heard the doctors hooting and hollering at what was just revealed. A look of dread appeared on his face, as he saw the intercom microphone right in front of him.

"Wait a minute...is...is the microphone to the intercom turned on?" Andrew then turned to see the box that the microphone was plugged into was definitely turned on.

It was then realization kicked in with one thing; it was on the whole time, and that meant everything that he just told Klinger was said into the microphone. This means that as of now, everyone in the compound knows about his secret crush on Margaret.

Feeling absolutely livid by this, Andrew cast a glowering look at the company clerk.

"KLINGER YOU STUPID IDIOT! YOU HAD THE MICROPHONE TO THE INTERCOM TURNED ON THE ENTIRE TIME!" He roared through the microphone. "NOW EVERYONE KNOWS THE SECRET!"

"Wait! Wait, Peterson! I forgot to turn it off!" Klinger pled for mercy. "It was an honest mistake, and I'm sorry!"

All the hooting, hollering, laughing, wolf-whistling, and the works continued to echo throughout the compound as Klinger turned off the microphone.


In the company clerk's office, Andrew was shown towering over Klinger with a look of contempt. He had his hands curled into fists, eyebrows furrowed, teeth clenching, and there was this burning wrath shown in his eyes. No doubt about it. He was completely pissed off. Klinger knew that this was going to get ugly real fast, so he tried to reason with the major.

"Now let's not get hasty sir," he cried, holding his hands up. "No need for things to get all bloody right now when we are outside of the operating room!"

"Oh yeah? Why shouldn't I?!" Andrew bellowed furiously. "Thanks to you, everyone in the entire compound knows about my secret, and now they know that I have a crush on Margaret Houlihan! Now I'm gonna be the laughing stock throughout the 4077!"

"Try to relax, sir," Klinger attempted to reason with him. "You are not going to be the laughing stock of the M*A*S*H 4077!"

"Oh no?" Andrew snorted, directing him to the door leading to the outside. "Do you hear all those obnoxious sounds coming from the doctors in this compound? Because that tells me that I am gonna be a laughing stock! Hell, I can even hear Hawkeye Pierce constantly taunting me while saying 'I told you so! I told you so!' over and over again in my head! Now I've been publicly humiliated!"

With that, Andrew turned around and stomped on over to the door leading outside.

"Now wait sir, don't say you've been publicly humiliated," Klinger called out. "It was a complete accident, I swear!"

Andrew came to a halt right in front of the door, as he kept his back turned on the company clerk.

"It's not just me who's gonna become the laughing stock here," he spat venomously. "Because of you, it's likely that Margaret knows that I have a secret crush on her too! But that's not a concern to me! What is a concern to me is that if I hang out with her, SHE'LL becoming the laughing stock of the 4077 along with me! I can't have that happen to her! And between you and me, she'll be publicly humiliated too, all because of your idiotic stunt!"

Without another word, Andrew stormed out of the office and headed back outside, leaving Klinger to take in the grave mistake that he just committed. Things weren't going to go well at the 4077, and by the looks of it, the compound will be going completely downhill; to Hell in a handbasket. Klinger could only moan, shake his head and place his hands onto his temple.

Oh no. What have I done? I feel like I made a mess out of everything! Klinger thought with guilt...


AT THE SWAMP:

Meanwhile, down at the Swamp, Charles was reading his book until he overheard Andrew's little confession over the intercom. This got him to stop reading and think about what was said. Part of him was simply amused by the fact that Major Peterson had the hots for the head nurse, and had admitted it over the intercom. But at the same time, he didn't seem to think it was that important, as there were more important matters for him to attend to that don't involve romance and seeing a lovesick puppy.

Just then, Andrew stormed right into the Swamp and went to his side of the Swamp, having no intention of talking to anyone. Winchester, on the other hand, couldn't pass up the opportunity to give his comment.

"Well if it isn't Giacomo Casanova, having been seduced and fallen under the spell against the goddess of love Venus," he retorted.

Andrew ignored him entirely as he then pulled out a chest that was on the right side of his bed, where he opened it and started to dig through it. This got Charles a bit curious.

"Uh, major? What are you doing?"

Andrew remained quiet as he then pulled out a couple of things from it. An army helmet that had the camouflage design on it with some twigs placed on the side of it, and a pair of shades, used for the intention of avoiding everyone.

"What are you doing with that helmet and those sunglasses?" Winchester asked again but still received the silent treatment as Andrew put on the sunglasses and the helmet.

"What the devil are you doing?! I'm talking to you major!" Winchester found himself raising his voice in fury. "What's gotten into you!? Why are you giving me the cold shoulder!? Have you flipped out!? HAVE YOU GONE CRAZY?! ARE YOU MAD, MAJOR PETERSON!?"

"Shut up, Winchester," Andrew hissed, not even turning around to face him.

"Why I'd never," Charles seemed insulted when Andrew told him to shut up.

With the helmet and shades on, Andrew rushed out the door, slamming it behind him as Charles was jaw-dropped by this reaction.

As soon as Andrew was out of the Swamp, he then started to run off to someplace where he would seclude himself from everyone else in the M*A*S*H 4077. As he started to scurry, several doctors saw him passing by and gave him rather pervertic comments about his confession, complete with wolf whistles.

"Hey, if it ain't ol' Romeo himself!"

"Yo, you lucky dog you!"

"Glad to see that you have some dirty thoughts on Hot Lips Houlihan!"

"Keep up the good work, loverboy!"

"Be sure to get into Margaret's panties and play hanky panky with her!"

The more erotic comments that were said to him, the faster Andrew picked up the pace as he stormed off away from them. He continued to run until he was gone where he was no longer seen by anybody...


IN COLONEL POTTER'S OFFICE:

"So, I suppose you all know why I gathered you here today," Colonel Potter barked, having heard the announcement Andrew revealed to the compound, to the point where he called an emergency meeting in his office.

The entire main crew of the M*A*S*H 4077 was present except for Andrew (who was distancing himself from the others) and Margaret. It seems that word got out fast thanks to the intercom, as they all knew the purpose of this meeting. Hawkeye couldn't help but throw in his comment.

"Oh, you mean about how Romeo Peterson has a crush on Juliet Houlihan," he said with a snide tone and a naughty grin. "Go ahead. I'm interested in this."

"Pierce, I will have none of that from you," Potter howled. "The last thing I need right now is for my chief surgeon to make pervertic comments about Andrew and Margaret!"

"Uh, what my snide and uncivil friend is trying to say, Colonel, is that we are aware of the announcement Giacomo Casanova Peterson made about his feeling for the goddess of love; Venus Hot Lips Houlihan," Charles commented. "In other words, Major Peterson has been charmed by the seduction of Major Houlihan."

"You think I don't know that Winchester," the colonel glowered. "I'm not upset about how Major Peterson has a crush on Major Houlihan! What I am upset about is how everyone is taking this out of proportion, to the point where Andrew Peterson is distancing himself from all of us!"

"Uh Colonel," Father Mulcahy spoke up. "Forgive me for intruding like this, but I feel distasteful about how the others are picking on Major Peterson by making some rather...inappropriate comments about his feelings for Major Houlihan."

"You and me both Padre," Colonel Potter admitted while sighing. "What I don't want is for this to cause a lot of tension to build up in this compound!"

"I do believe your right, sir," BJ agreed. "And I'd like to say that I'm going to stay out of this. Whatever's going on between Andrew and Margaret is their business, and I suggest that we just butt out."

"I get what your intentions are Hunnicutt, and they are wise words," Potter groaned. "But this is a red flag that we are dealing with at the moment! We don't need to have Major Peterson distance himself from us because of some dirty comments made by the doctors! Not that we would need to worry about it at all if the dumb company cluck didn't screw things up with the intercom microphone!"

"Don't remind me, sir," Klinger had his head down in shame. "I feel bad enough as it is for getting Andrew Peterson to yell at me. I've never seen him this angry in my life. All because of a lousy mistake I made. I feel terrible just from thinking about it."

"I know that Klinger," Potter yelled. "But we need to find out how to stop Andrew from distancing himself from the rest of us before it's too late!"

"Why don't we just get him to go on a rendezvous with Margaret and call it a day?" Pierce suggested shamelessly.

Colonel Potter could only glare at Hawkeye for trying to escalate the problem further. But before he could get his comment out, one of the nurses stormed into the office. It was a redhead nurse who goes by the name of Jennifer, and she had something important to tell him.

"Excuse me, Colonel Potter," she started. "But we seem to have a problem."

"I was afraid of this," Potter groaned, shaking his head. "What's wrong now, Nurse Jennifer?"

"It's Major Houlihan."

"Houlihan?" Potter looked confused. "What about her?"

"She refuses to come out of her tent," Jennifer explained. "Whenever I or the other nurses try to get her to come out, she yells at us to go away. She doesn't want to talk to or see anyone. I even heard her in the tent crying."

"Crying," this got the colonel concerned. "What is she crying about?"

"Well, I don't know sir," the nurse told him. "But I have this feeling that it has something to do with how Major Peterson has been avoiding her, and that she feels hurt about the fact that he no longer wants her around him. I think she feels heartbroken."

Upon being told that, Colonel Potter was getting fired up again. As if things couldn't have gotten any worse, the head nurse is crying over her heart being broken since Andrew has been shunning her, which only happened because people were trying to make a big deal out of a simple crush, which involves making him into a laughing stock and caused some riots and hoots to take place from the naughty doctors.

"Well, that's just dandy," he howled, slamming his right fist onto the desk. "As if it wasn't enough that Andrew is secluding himself like a hermit, now we have Margaret crying over a broken heart that resulted from Andrew avoiding her; something that only happened because of how a swarm of uncivil pervertic creeps for doctors made several risque comments about him and Margaret! Pretty soon we'll have a full-scale war in the compound during the war that's already taking place! All because this issue has gotten out of hand!"

"Great. Now we have two people to worry about," BJ moaned while shaking his head, seeing how quickly this was escalating. "One of them is a secluded hermit of a man who's suffering from a mental breakdown, and the other one is a heartbroken woman."

"Maybe we should try to get them toget-" Hawkeye tried to suggest but Potter cut him off.

"Button it, Pierce! There are enough problems here as it is," Potter hollered. "I don't want you making things any worse for either of them! What we don't need at the moment is for this to end up like the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet! When we are in the middle of the Korean War no less!"

"Indeed. It would be unwise for this fiasco to expand up to the point where it affects everyone," Winchester huffed, crossing his arms.

"But what can we do?" Father Mulcahy queried. "It's like Hunnicutt said; we should stay out of this and let Majors Peterson and Houlihan work this out for themselves. So what can be done at this moment might prove to be a lost cause."

"I know Padre," Colonel Potter sighed. "And to tell you the truth people, I'm not sure what we should do about it. I'll think of a solution to all of this. In the meantime, I want all of you to go back to doing what it was you were doing. And remember, no bothering Andrew or Margaret whatsoever. Is that clear?"

All of them nodded at that, except for Hawkeye, who was reluctant with it, especially since he couldn't miss out on this opportunity. But judging by the stern looks he was getting from the others, he had to go along with it. So he grudgingly nodded.

"Good," Potter called the meeting to a close. "Dismissed!"

With that, they all left the office and went back to what they were doing before. Things were already starting to fire up here, and it looks as if things weren't going to get any better from here on out...


IN THE MESS TENT:

It was now time for dinner in the mess tent as people were lined up for dinner. There were plenty of chats and gossips about the confession that Andrew made to Klinger about the former's crush on Margaret. The way things are looking now, it seems that this wasn't going to go away anytime soon.

Standing in the line was Andrew, who was completely disguised as he wanted to hide his identity from the others in the compound. The cook Igor noticed him and failed to recognize that it was Andrew Peterson.

"Hello there sir," he greeted before asking. "Uh, why are you wearing that helmet and sunglasses?"

"Just get me my dinner already," Andrew snapped at him impatiently.

"Right away sir," Igor took his tray and put the meal onto the tray. "Say by the way, did you hear about Major Romeo Peterson? There has been gossip about his confession he made on the intercom, says that he has a hot and erotic crush on the head nurse Major Juliet Hot Lips Houlihan."

Upon hearing that, Andrew completely lost his appetite. He didn't want to stick around the mess tent just so he could hear people make rude and inappropriate comments about Margaret and to a lesser extent, himself. This was starting to get obnoxious and unbearable.

"Never mind," Andrew cringed in disgust, pushing the tray away. "I'll go without dinner."

"Well, suit yourself."

Andrew just turned around and snuck out to the backdoor so no one could spot him. Poking his head, he made sure that the coast was clear. Once he saw nobody coming, he started to tiptoe outside and then started acting stealthily by going behind the tents, bushes, and trash cans. This was done so he wouldn't be caught by anyone.

He was making sure that he stays away from everyone here. No one was to encounter the major who was isolating himself from the rest of the pack. He especially didn't want to run into Hawkeye, whom he knew would make things worse, and taunt him about how he was right about his crush.

He was also very cautious as to avoid not running into Margaret. He didn't mean anything by it, as he still cared for her. The only reason why he was avoiding her was that he assumed that Margaret wouldn't want to be with someone who has a crush on her, along with the fear that she'll become a laughing stock too if she was spotted with him. He only wanted to spare her from the humiliation that he was getting.

He was even avoiding Klinger, who got him into this mess thanks to his bumbling mistake of forgetting to turn off the intercom microphone. He wondered if his relationship with the compound would crumble the longer this went on. Was there a proper solution to all of this? Would things ever be the same for him here?

He kept on sneaking by the area until he disappeared into the night within the compound, with only one thought running through his head.

I'm sorry Margaret...


IN THE COMPANY CLERK'S OFFICE:

"NO KLINGER!" Colonel Potter yelled at his company clerk.

"But sir," Klinger tried to beg.

"Forget it! I don't want you to go find Andrew and talk to him," Potter scolded him. "The last thing that I'd want with everything that's going on currently is to have my bumbling dingbat clerk find him, only for the major to beat you up to the point where you'll become as bloody and injured as the wounded that come into the 4077!"

"Come on sir," Klinger plead. "I just want to tell him that I'm sorry! I messed up big time, and I want to make it up to him!"

"I get that Klinger! But the fact is that he's not in the mood for talking," Potter told him. "We don't want to make things worse for him than they already are! Any more conflicts will cause him to further distance himself from us; the one thing we don't need in this outfit!"

"I understand sir," Klinger frowned in guilt as he looked down. "I just feel awful for what I did. I think I might have ruined my friendship with him. I'm a horrible friend."

This resulted in Colonel Potter sighing as he stared down at him. "Look Klinger, I get that you are filled with remorse and regret for what happened, and I know that you want to make it up to him. But the only thing you can do for him as of this moment is to just leave him alone. When he's ready, then you can try to make it up to him. Am I understood, Corporal?"

"Yes sir," Klinger said in a forlorn tone. "I just hope that he can forgive me for my bumbling goof up."

"I hope so too, Klinger," the colonel sighed with a sympathetic tone. "I'm just concerned about how this will affect OR when we get wounded shipped to the compound..."

With that, Sherman Potter headed back into his office as Klinger was left sitting here, taking in what he was told, and it got him to fall into deep thought...


THE NEXT DAY - IN THE OR:

Just as Colonel Potter feared, things weren't any better in the operating room. The same sour atmosphere existed just as it did in the rest of the compound. While Andrew did take part in the OR, he made it his objective to avoid talking to anyone, and that once this is done, he's gone until the next session in OR comes along.

As for Margaret, she went to OR too. Like Andrew, she remained pretty quiet around everyone unless she needed something. Also like Andrew, she wanted everyone to stay away from her after OR, as she'd go back to her tent to be alone. It should be noted that she was being far stricter when ordering her nurses around to do their assigned duties.

And then there was Hawkeye. Goodness, the best way to describe his behavior in OR was obnoxious. He couldn't help but make several taunts at Andrew's expense at how he told him so and gloating about how Andrew is in love with Margaret, but Colonel Potter had to tell him off for the comments. To say that the air in the OR was tense would have been an understatement.

As soon as OR was finished, Colonel Potter went into the waiting room with Hawkeye and BJ. Once they took their masks off, Colonel Potter gave a rather angry look at Pierce for his behavior in OR.

"Okay Pierce, let me be the first to ask, WHAT THE HELL DID I WITNESS IN OR?!" He boomed.

"Hey Colonel, I was just trying to lighten things up is all," Hawkeye defended.

"So you think that egging him up with the teasing is going to enlighten him," Potter was in no mood for this. "In case you forgot, we're trying to keep him here, not drive him away!"

"There's also the fact that Margaret wasn't too pleased by your behavior either," BJ brought up. "It also doesn't help that like Andrew, she's been distant from the rest of us."

"And it's because of that that morale around here has reached the bottom of the barrel," Potter finished. "So you'd better have a damn good excuse for your behavior Pierce."

"Well, I can assure you, sir, I do have a good reason," Hawkeye said.

Before the colonel could give him another scolding, both Charles and Father Mulcahy came into the room.

"Gentlemen, it is safe for me to say that after OR, Major Peterson ran off on us again," Winchester proclaimed.

"And Major Houlihan went straight for her tent after giving her nurses their assigned duties," Father Mulcahy added. "I really have to say it, I feel bad for both of them."

"Me too Padre," Potter groaned before facing Pierce. "Now do you see why we have to behave when they are around us Pierce, especially Andrew?"

"Indeed. I'm gonna hate myself for saying this, but you have a point Colonel," Winchester admitted. "Although I have shown some strong resentment for Major Peterson, it has occurred to me that not even someone like him deserves to be subjected to this merciless taunting and insults, especially with his feelings towards...Major Houlihan."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," the Chaplin agreed. "In this time of age, we really should put our sympathies on both majors."

"Yeah, you guys are right," Hawkeye sighed. "I just can't help it though. They look nice together."

"We get that Pierce," Colonel Potter told him. "But we have to let them work it out for themselves."

"Assuming that there is a way for them to work it out without any interference from any of us," BJ brought up.

At that, Sherman Potter could only let out a sigh of uncertainty.

"Believe me, Hunnicutt, if I knew of a solution, I would have gone with it," Potter groaned. "But as of right now, I don't have the faintest idea of what we should do..."

And thus they stayed there, feeling rather doubtful about how things are going to go from here on out...


END OF CHAPTER 9...

And so the drama thickens. Besides that, that's all for this chapter. I do hope you enjoy this chapter despite the drama that is unraveling in this one.

Yeah, things may look bad right now, but I promise you, things will improve over the next couple of chapters. I can assure you that.

Anyway, next time, the tension continues at the 4077, Potter makes an effort to put an end to the tomfoolery, a call is gotten from the 8063rd about needing two personnel from the 4077, which Potter decides to use to his advantage, and some other stuff will be included. How will this all go? Find out next time!

For now, you can leave a review if you like. Only leave constructive criticism if you're nice about it. And any positive reviews are allowed too.

Aside from that, I got nothing else to say! So until the next chapter, I hope you look forward to this. And on that note, thanks for reading guys!