Don't own M*A*S*H, just the original story line. Enjoy!
Charles was ready to get out of Post-OP. Today had been a day of nothing but problem after problem. He was also worried about Becca as she had left almost 2 hours earlier with Major Hoolihan according to the on-duty nurse. He wasn't sure what Margaret would want to talk to Becca about for several hours. More military procedures? He didn't know and was past the point of caring.
When BJ arrived to relieve him Charles practically chucked the patient forms at him in his rush to leave.
"Wait, Charles," BJ said firmly. "I have something important that I need to discuss with you."
Charles sighed before turning back to the other man. "Well Hunnicutt, spit it out. I want to get in some form of relaxation before I'm forced to return here."
BJ nodded and pulled the man into the next room. Charles looked at BJ in curiosity but said nothing. He didn't want to argue, instead just wanting to leave quickly.
Once the door was closed behind them did BJ speak.
"The other night I saw you and Becca sleeping. I'm concerned that you are both getting too attached to the other."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "Whatever do you mean? The girl asked me to comfort her so I did."
BJ shook his head. "It's not just that. When she met Hawkeye, she grew tense and terrified. You moved closer to her to assure her of your presence and she relaxed slightly. You have a smile that you reserved only for her and..." BJ really wasn't sure how to bring this up without sounding like a peeping Tom, but it had to be said, "that same night that I found the two of you sleeping next to each other I saw her cuddling up to you with your arm around her."
Charles shook his head and moved to pass BJ. "I don't have time for this nonsense."
BJ reached out and grabbed Charles' arm, stopping the man. "You're a pleasant person when she is around and lose a lot of that arrogant attitude you keep wrapped around you like armor. Hell, you even agreed to help Hawkeye try and befriend her, but anytime the two of them are talking you look ready to kill him."
Charles couldn't deny it. Watching Becca and Hawkeye interact caused such a flood of anger in him that he hated ever agreeing to help Hawkeye. He wasn't about to tell BJ that though.
"I am helping Hawkeye to make the situation more bearable as the four of us are sharing one tent. I saw no reason to allow the tension to continue on when I had opportunity to resolve it."
"I doubt that," BJ replied firmly.
Charles glared at him. "If that is all you wanted to say then I will take my leave," Charles said before yanking his arm from BJ's grip and moving towards the door.
"Just realize that despite the fact that you are obviously in love with her that it will never work. Save yourself the heartache and let it go now."
Charles froze.
He turned back to BJ slowly. The other man had turned and was looking at Charles with a serious expression.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard me."
Charles took his hand off the door that would have granted him freedom from this discussion and turned back to BJ. "You're insinuating that I'm in love with Becca?"
"It's a fact that you are," BJ replied firmly. "Just like it's a fact that nothing can come of it."
Charles glared at BJ for a second time. "What gave you the indication that I was in love with her? We are simply colleagues who enjoy a lot of the same things."
"You are also attracted and protective of her. When I first saw the two of you in Post-OP when we got back from Seoul I knew in an instant what I was seeing. You were looking at her in a way I've never seen you look at anyone else. You two practically glowed in your own bubble of happiness. I reminded me of Peg and I before I was sent here."
"You are delusional," Charles said, although he was already starting to realize that everything BJ was saying was true. Since the moment she had passed out in his arms he had been protective of her. Every time she was with him he was overwhelmed with with happiness and desire. He wouldn't admit to Hunnicutt how he felt, but he could see that he might have a point.
Charles just may be in love with Becca Coals.
BJ sighed. "Perhaps you're right and you guys are just close friends, but either way you can't get overly attached to her. She doesn't belong in this time, and you know that."
Charles turned away from BJ. "I'm aware of my position, and hers. A Winchester never gets attached."
As Charles was walking out the door he heard BJ's final words. "Except you and your attachment to Boston...and Becca."
Charles didn't go back to the Swamp after leaving Post-OP as he had originally planned. He didn't want to run into Becca so quickly after his discussion with BJ. Instead he went to the Officer's Club. He ordered his usual drink and sat in the far corner alone. If he was drawing attention to himself he didn't care at this moment.
In love with Becca? Preposterous!
They had only known each other less than a month, even if two days here was like 2 weeks anywhere else. By that logic they had known each other roughly 3 months. Still too soon to be claiming love for each other.
What they felt was a deep friendship at best, an ally at worst. He took another sip of his drink, not tasting it as it went down.
He took a deep breath and decided to really analyze what he felt. He didn't want Becca to leave, not the Swamp, not the camp and definitely not this time period. He also knew that it was inevitable that they would have to part as well.
He was protective of her, more so than he was of his own sister. The thought of her with Hawkeye did make him jealous and angry. He was happier when she was around him then when he was alone.
The door opened and Becca walked in. Charles watched as she slowly scanned the room. There were a few other men there that Becca knew as well and he watched her reaction to each other them.
A couple were those she met during mealtimes when they served the food. They waved at her and she smiled and waved back. He felt a bit of that jealous anger, but as she continued her scan of the room he felt calmer.
He noticed several of the men were younger, all with more hair, all more personable than he was. Any one of them would draw a woman's eye.
Then Becca's bright green eyes fell on him and her smile widened into that bright smile he had always associated with her, a true smile. His body warmed and the answer came as clear as day.
He knew that she couldn't stay in this time period, knew that he couldn't keep her with him forever, but it was already too late.
He was already hopelessly in love with her.