Chapter 7

Hawkeye had taken nearly all day to check over the supply list, his mind wasn't set right and he had taken numerous small breaks in order to try and refocus and get back on task. Finally after a lot of mental struggle he had managed to set his mind to the task and get it done. With a big sigh of relief he handed it to Radar, all signed, checked and completed. Now with free time on his hands he left the office, crossing the large courtyard area in order to reach the bar.

Major Houlihan was coming out of the post-op ward at the same time Hawkeye was leaving the office. Seeing him across the courtyard, Margaret was reminded that she had intended to have another word with him and saw this as an opportune moment. Changing her direction she set course for Hawkeye. She had only just began her new route when Hunnicut's Jeep came hurtling through the gates and into the courtyard.

Pierce's face lit up when he spotted the jeep, but as it drew nearer it began to fall. He ran towards the machine as Hunnicut extinguished the ignition, he could see his sister in the passenger seat, her slumped body, pale and still.

"Shay? What happened? Shay?" Pierce cried frantically as he tried to lift her head, bringing her into an awkward embrace.

"Ben…I'm sorry." Shayla whispered barely having the strength to utter the words she forced them out, fearing that if she didn't say them now she never would. Her eyelids fluttered open and she caught her brother's worried gaze, holding it for as long as could she closed them again, feeling it was enough for him to understand her sincerity.

"I'm so sorry, Hawkeye, she was shot." Hunnicut offered his sympathy and his remorse.

Hawkeye glared at Hunnicut as he elevated his sister into his arms, out of the jeep. All around him there were people. Some were helping Lieutenant Frazer Green down and shifting him to the ward to be seen to, others had found a stretcher and were fussing over the oblivious Hawkeye, in order to get Shayla onto the stretcher. More still had come to see what the commotion was about.

Radar joined the spectators as he too was intrigued by the noise. From his position outside his office he could barely see what was going on. He could make out that Hunnicut was in the jeep and that Hawkeye was on the ground holding someone in his arms. Who was that? He edged closer; a niggling feeling in his brain told him what his heart didn't want to believe. Eyes fixed on the scene he pushed his way through. A sheet of sudden devastation draped over him. He could see who was in Hawkeye's arms and it pained him to know his brain had been right.

Subjected to the nagging of surrounding nurses and doctors, Hawkeye placed Shayla reverently on the stretcher, only letting her go at the last possible moment. Two nurses picked up the stretcher, physically pushing Hawkeye away. Shayla's eyes fluttered opened once more and they fixed on Radar.

Feeling hopeless, Radar could only view the scene, wide-eyed in fear, as Shayla was being transported away from them. He latched onto her gaze, watching as a tear rolled down her face. He instinctively knew the tear was for him. Why, he couldn't quite comprehend but it was definitely meant for only him.

Now that Shayla was in good hands, Hawkeye turned to Hunnicut.

"You said you'd look out for her. You lied." Hawkeye cried.

Hunnicut jumped out of the jeep and was walking round to meet Hawkeye as he replied.

"I said I'd look out for her, I did, no-one could have seen that coming. There was nothing I could have done, Hawkeye, it was over too quickly. Even if I had seen the soldier it would have been too late to do anything about it." Hunnicut defended himself.

"But… Shayla is my sister, it just can't happen, it just can't!" Pierce yelled.

There were gasps of realisation from the spectators. Margaret put her hands to her mouth covering the gape of shock she was unable to refrain from. That explained everything: the familiarity, the nicknames, the kissing goodbye. Suddenly she felt a whole load of guilt fall on her shoulders. She had been very impertinent in her assumptions and she felt some of the things she had said because of that were uncalled for and deserved an apology.

'Sister?' Klinger echoed quietly to himself. He thought back at the events, her arrival at the bar when she had sat on Hawkeye's lap, leaving the tent with Hawkeye, dinning with him at breakfast. He had been so sure yet so wrong. Despite the grave situation, Klinger couldn't help but let out an amused laugh. He realised how awkward he must have sounded and how funny it must have seemed to Hawkeye having had his sister being mistaken for a girlfriend. He felt partly idiotic for having wrongly assumed who Shayla really was and partly elated that he had been involved in creating such a well-played jest. As he observed the scene he discarded his immediate reactions knowing that the joke was no longer valid or appropriate considering the current circumstances.

"Well, Hawkeye it has happened, like it or not there is nothing you can do about it now." Hunnicut retaliated.

"There might be, if you two were to get in there and help her, give her a chance, instead of standing around here shouting at each other!" in a surge of passion, Radar had stepped forward and voiced his opinions to the Captains. Suddenly remembering his place, he hung his head and added "I mean that's what I would do if I were you, sir."

Pierce and Hunnicut rotated their heads to look at Radar. He was right of course, Radar was always right. He, unlike some others, always took the time to sit and observe before making any kind of judgements therefore his suggestions were usually, more often than not, right.

With his eyes filled with tears, Hawkeye walked purposefully over to Radar and simply hugged him. his way of thanking him for bringing them back to reality and reminding them of what needed to be done. Breaking the embrace Hawkeye swivelled round and marched towards OR.

Seeing what he was doing and were he was headed, Hunnicut made a dash after Pierce. He knew what he intended and he couldn't be allowed to go ahead with it. Nobody should operate in the state that Hawkeye was in, especially not on their own relative. He would never be able to live with himself if something should go wrong under his hands.

"I can't let you do this, Hawkeye." Hunnicut breathed as he finally caught up with Pierce in the prep room. Pierce had already begun looking for some clean garments to wear for the operation; he stopped abruptly when Hunnicut spoke.

"Oh, so you can let my sister get shot, but you can't let me perform the operation?" Hawkeye replied curtly.

"I thought I was performing the operation, seeing as you two hadn't made an appearance." Charles Winchester stepped out from behind the white curtain, fully dressed and ready to go into the operating theatre.

The OR's doors were swung wide open as Colonel Potter made an impressive entrance into the prep room. His face was of thunder as he stormed up to the three doctors.

"What the heck do you think you're playing at? There's a young girl in there badly needing an operation and all you can do is stand around chatting! Now, I'm doing what I can for the Lieutenant but I expect to see someone treating Nurse Shayla immediately."

"I'm just getting kitted up, Colonel, then I'll be in." Pierce said quickly putting his comment in before either Hunnicut or Winchester got there first.

"Oh no, not you son, you shouldn't have that responsibility on your shoulders. Hunnicut, Winchester you share the operation, I have a feeling it will need both of you." Colonel Potter ordered.

With the Colonel's word, Charles was in the operating theatre and down to work, with the knowledge that, once kitted up, he would be joined by his colleague.

"Why should Hunnicut get to operate on her? He got her in there in the first place!" Pierce exclaimed not liking the orders given at all.

"Calm down, son, it was no one's fault. Hunnicut is as good a doctor as you and Winchester, just let them do their job. Get yourself a nice cup of tea and calm yourself down." The Colonel gave Hunnicut a reassuring nod, explaining not to worry about Pierce and concentrate on the task. He put a warming hand on Hawkeye's shoulder and led him away from the OR doors.

"I don't want tea Colonel; I just want to know she's alright." Hawkeye said in a much calmer tone, letting Colonel Potter lead him.

"I know, son, I know." Was all he could offer Hawkeye as comfort. He made sure Hawkeye was sat down and sent a nurse to fetch him a cup of tea despite him saying he didn't want one, Colonel Potter felt sure he would drink in regardless. With that he left him, returning to the nurse he had left with Lieutenant Frazer Green.