..Once again….I'm so late getting this up, it's not even funny. I should be getting more up because of the fact its summer….but ya know….things happen…..I do not own MASH only the characters you don't recognize……… June 30, 2006
Chapter 6: Sore Fingers
The next morning, Radar found it to still be raining as he went to feed his pets. Holding some lettuce and other old vegetables in his left hand, using his right to hold an army issued umbrella, he walked over to the pet filled cages. Upon reaching the cages he set the umbrella against some nearby crates, the rain coming down in warm drops and less heavy than last nights storm. Radar pulled his hat down over his head, it having come unsung during the walk over, and looked over at his animals.
"Hey little guys, I'm sorry I had to leave you guys out last night in this mess. Good thing I put a tarp over the top yesterday morning." White steam followed his warm breath, almost transparent, made by the air being chilled and the raindrops warm. This weather is definitely crazy. Next thing ya know were gonna have snow. He laughed at the last sentence knowing it would be pretty damn freaky if snow came down. He opened up his cage containing a small white bunny that looked shaken up until Radar started petting it.
"Don't worry, the rain will stop eventually. It can't rain forever ya know." He said this with a grin and placed some lettuce near to the bunny before shutting the cage door and moving onto the other animals. The snow white bunny, cautiously hopping over sniffed the lettuce before taking a piece in its hands and nibbling on it. Radar saw this out of the corner of his eye, smiled, and went onto feeding his animals. When he started finishing up with his feeding, he saw something in his peripheral vision that caught him off guard. With the rain, it was difficult to see what it was; only that he knew it was a person and they were running. He shut the last few gates, tossing the food in; he stood weary grabbing his umbrella. It could be a Korean; I mean what insane person would be running in this weather? As the person came closer he realized the person wasn't running, they were jogging. And it wasn't a Korean, it was Talea. Seeing her made him feel really nervous, so he walked around to the other side of the crates and hid watching. What the hell am I doing? I can't believe I'm hiding and peeping. Well technically not peeping, but still she'll think I'm a stalker. His eyes followed her as she seemed to slow down across the way from him. While she was stopping he looked at what she looked like at the minute. Soaked to the bone her hair was in its pony tail, her bangs slicked to the side of her face, her breath coming out in pants. She was wearing a long sleeved black shirt the was snug on her and over that was a grey t-shirt cut to that it only came to below her chest and the sleeves where shredded. He shook his head and blushed when he realized he was ogling her chest and went back to checking her out. She was wearing black running shorts and black running shoes. His eyes wandered back up to her face, her eyes seeming sharp yet unfocused at the same time, as she was leaning over trying to catch her breath. She shook her head before flipping her wet hair off her face muttering to herself. As Radar strained his ears to hear what she said he found he could hear what she was saying, but he couldn't understand.
"Tres millas en la lluvia. No tan bueno, sino yo no durmió el ayer por la noche. Antes de los cientos y cincuenta pectorales corrientes y sentarte sube. ¡Porqué no puedo hacer este trabajo, maldición él!" At the last part she swung her arm back, hitting a crate with a tight fist. Radar flinched hearing a crack when those 2 things made contact, seeing Talea walking away, towards her tent. When she was out of his view he walked over to see the crate and when he came upon it he saw a deep crack on it. He gulped and wondered what she could do if she was in a fight. With one last look at the crate he jogged back to his tent, going to change his clothes and get some breakfast.
Walking across in the rain, receiving weird looks from other people on their way to breakfast, Talea didn't make eye contact with anyone. She reached her tent, pushing the door open, pain shot up through her sore fingers into her arms. I shouldn't have worked my fingers so much last night, now their sore and red. She thought as she shut the door behind her and grabbed the fold up chair from her desk, shoving it under the doorknob. I don't know how much I can trust these people. But I'm not taking any chances with them. Talea undressed herself from the wet clothes she was wearing, draping them on a clothesline she put up in her room. Going to her trunk at the foot of her bed, she grabbed a long sleeved black and white striped shirt, that fit her snugly, a black zip up hoodie over that, a pair of blue jeans, and her black boots. She dried her hair quickly with a towel, brushing it straight making sure it didn't curl and wave as it did naturally and put it in a braid. No one will ever see my hair like that. She thought as she applied some eyeliner, dark red lipstick, and a bit of eye shadow. Putting on her clothes and as a final touch a studded black belt that she made herself, she looked towards the door and then to her bed. She kneeled on the ground beside her bed and reached under it, through the dust and dirt she felt the bag she shoved under there before and pulled it out. She hesitated before opening her bag her emotions disappearing completely off her face as she reached into it.
Radar had gone back to his tent, gotten changed, and was now sitting in the mess tent, eating with the exact same people as he did yesterday. All excluding Margaret and Potter, she was off doing some head nurse business and Potter was taking care of Sophie in the rain. He was only half listening to the conversation and eating his cereal when he saw Talea come in. He felt himself blush and look down at his food as Talea got hers and went to sit down next to him. As she reached the table she started speaking, "Buena mañana cada uno. Confío en que tu desayuno va espléndido. ¿Puedo sentarme aquí para satisfacer?" Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her confused. When she realized the table was staring she asked, "¿Qué?" Hawkeye was the first to laugh and say something.
"We don't speak el espanol; please revert to English for the sake of our sanity in trying to figure out what you just said." With this everyone laughed, excluding Talea who slightly blushed before Radar scooted over and she sat next to him. Radar tried to get his breathing back to normal after being surprised she chose to sit next to him, but it was hard when he could smell her intoxicating scent which was making him feel a little warm. As Talea started to eat, about 3 bites in she realized Frank was staring/glaring at her for some reason.
"Staring is rude Major. State why you're doing that and then leave me to eat." She calmly spoke this while still eating, glancing over at him. Frank turned red, probably because he was just caught staring at her before just about blowing up at her.
"You're a disgrace to the army, army brat! Your not wearing your proper uniform, those clothes probably aren't army regulation, I mean you don't even have your army stars on!" He stated rather loudly, making the whole table roll their eyes at him, since it seemed like he was trying to make her get embarrassed. There was a small uproar of people who went to her defense at the table.
"Major that is highly uncalled for, restrain yourself!" This was made by the Father, who was well disappointed in Frank's behavior.
"Leave her alone Frank." Was Bj's scolding reply.
"Stop checking her out Frank, Hotlips will get jealous." Hawkeye's statement made the whole table go into a fit of chuckles and giggles. All the while Frank turned red and sputtered like a fool. Talea cleared her throat making the table quiet down and she looked at Frank.
"I am wearing my stars Major."
"So you are? Well then show me where, huh!" When he asked he put on a smirk, as if she couldn't prove it. Talea put down her spoon, reaching up and pulled the hair that was covering her ears, behind them and everyone's mouths hit the ground. Her stars were pierced into her ears! Frank blew up at her after seeing that.
"YOU PUT THEM IN YOUR EARS? WHAT THE HELL KIND OF IDEA IS THAT?"
"A good one Major." Resting her case, she went back to eating as Frank stormed off out of the tent. Hawkeye and Bj clapped for her and told her Bravo for pissing off Frank, she grinned at them. Radar was still looking at her ears before asking the question that was on everyone's minds.
"How did you come up with that idea and did it hurt?"
After breakfast Talea was in her tent studying her Latin. While she did that, Radar was busy, passing mail and filing. They both did their things well past lunch, in which Talea missed and Radar was a bit upset. When he went to leave lunch Major Houhlihan stopped him and asked him a favor.
"Radar could you go get Major Talea and bring her to the nurses quarters, I want her to meet the nurses."
"Sure Major." He managed to say before she bustled off in the other direction. He sighed and headed toward Talea's tent. As he reached her tent he could hear her speaking something, but couldn't understand it. So he knocked and said "Talea it's Radar, May I come in?"
Her response was, "Adveho in!" He took that as that he could come in. As he came in he saw her in the most relaxed position with a pencil in her ear and a book in front of her on the desk. Talea looked over; her right foot on the edge of the desk and her other dangling off the floor as she lounged back on the chair.
"May I help you Radar?"
"Major Houhlihan wants me to take you to see the nurses so you can meet them. What are you doing?" Talea stood up and straightened her clothes off before walking over to Radar.
"I'm studying Latin."
"Latin? Jeez how many languages do you speak?"
"When I'm done with the Major I'll show you the list I speak, it is kind of hard to list off the top of my head."
"Oh….wow… well let's go before the Major yells at me for bringing you late." Radar pulled the door open for Talea, who gave thanks, and shut it behind them.
Wow look at that. And I am already writing the next chapter. I would have wrote more but my fingers are sore from typing, sorry it's short. Well tell me what you think. And below are the orders of translations, for what Talea was speaking.
"Three miles in the rain. Not so good, but I did not sleep last night. Before the running one hundred and fifty pushups and sit-ups. Why can't I make this work, damn it!" Spanish
"Good Morning Everyone. I trust your breakfast is going splendid. May I sit here please?" Spanish
"Come in!" Latin