Shuffling the letters on the table, he sighed as he began to sort through them. The crisp September air gave him a good excuse to stay inside on this Saturday morning.

However, as he sorted through his pile of letters, he saw something he thought he'd never get.

He never expected her to write him back.

The slightly bent envelope read 'Vietnam' clear as day. And of course, it was marked with Erin Hunnicut's name on the front.

He carefully opened it and pulled out the letter:

Dear Mr. Winchester,

I greatly appreciate your letter, and I hope you don't mind me writing you back. I made sure to consider your words of advice, and I promise I won't forget it. And I'm sorry to say that I don't remember us meeting; however, I do remember you. The pictures of you and my father together back in Korea, and all the stories he's told me. I may not remember you like the way you remember me, but through pictures and words, I think I got to know you pretty well. And if it doesn't bother you, I'd like you get to know you even better, Mr. Winchester. My folks are the only ones I ever write to or get letters from, but I'd really enjoy exchanging letters with you as well.

I wish you all the best,

Erin Hunnicut

Charles smiled and sat the letter down on the table. He slid it aside with the rest of his unopened mail and reached out for his pen and stationery. He had his next letter to write.

/scene/

Erin had read the letter from her parents shortly after Jo stormed out of the tent. This one was from Peg. She told Erin about how BJ and Charles started exchanging letters again. She got a smile on her face when she read that Peg and BJ adopted another dog.

But September had rolled around, and with the load of casualties the unit had gotten throughout August, Erin had forgotten to write back until now.

Dear Mom and Dad,

The past month hasn't been very easy, and I'm sorry I haven't written since late July. I suppose there's a few things that I should fill you in on.

Firstly, earlier in August, Darlene and I had built a still like the one you had in Korea. The first drink we took was very strong, yet enjoyable. Unfortunately, our first drink from the still was also our last. Margaret was easy on us and didn't rat us out, but our bunk mate, Jo did. And we were given the order by Colonel Dayton to take the still down.

Over the time I've been here I think I've been able to get to know Jo a little better. And I don't think I can say I like her, and it's not just because she was the one who told Colonel Dayton about our still. She's very snappy and tight. Regular army, perhaps more so than Margret or Dayton. On the other hand, I do have to feel bad for her after she got a letter from her boyfriend... she didn't really appreciate what he had to say.

I don't hold any ill will for Colonel Dayton, even if he had us take the still down. He really is a good and fair leader. Not only that, but he's also an exceptional surgeon. During the last OR session he caught a nick in one of his kid's colon. If he hadn't spotted that, he could have very likely died. Besides Dayton, we have three other surgeons in our unit. But I think that Dayton is the most experienced of them all.

And Margaret is undoubtedly the best nurse here. She's a great and strong leader like you had told me. She talks about you often, in fact, I had given her our address, and you two should be expecting a letter from her sometime soon. Perhaps even before you get this letter.

I don't think that I've told you about Sargent Porter yet. He's a young boy who was caught in the draft. Luckily, he was able to get out of the fighting by being transferred to our unit as the company clerk. He's been here longer than I have, but we've become good friends during my time here.

Speaking of good friends, Darlene and I have gotten closer during this time as well. The quiet and timid nature that she presented everyone with when she first arrived here seemed only to be a mask of her true personality. She's snappy, but wonderful. And she's very outgoing. We had first began our friendship by a simple poker game, and now she makes games a regular thing, making sure to invite all the other nurses. Even Jo. And unfortunately for my paycheck, she wins half the time.

As for me, I can see that war is no job that is to be dealt with quickly. It's long and ongoing, and sometimes overwhelming. But don't worry about me. Take good care of yourselves. I love you.

Erin