I don't own M*A*S*H. Only the original characters and the story line.
The next few days passed awkwardly.
Becca spent a lot of time with Freddy, who had recovered enough to actually starting moving around for short periods of time. Each day they would take a walk around the camp and Becca would tell Freddy about everything she had learned about this time.
Charles avoided situations in which he had Becca would be alone together. He left the Swamp early and returned late. Becca had hardly seen him at all since that day in the supply tent.
It was later than usual when Becca left Post-OP. She and Freddy had been talking about possible ways they could go home and what they would do in Boston if they were unable to return home. It had been a longer conversation than she had anticipated.
She walked back towards the Swamp, but had no desire to go inside.
Charles would surely be back by now and it hurt her to see him. The few glances she had of him over the last few days had been torture.
Now that she had started to understand just what was going on with her feelings towards him, Becca found it harder to ignore it. She constantly thought of Charles, looked for him in the crowds, watched him when she did see him, but she knew it was hopeless.
Instead she turned and headed towards the Officer's Club.
Charles had no desire to return to the Swamp either. He knew that Hawkeye would be out and about and BJ was on Post-OP duty. To avoid Becca he had gone to the Officer's Club and was sitting in the far back corner.
It was crowded tonight so he couldn't even see the front door. Usually he would use this time to play his music.
Piano.
Someone was playing the piano. It was rough and a few of the notes were missed, but it was still beautiful. Charles closed his eyes and focused on the music.
It wasn't until much later that he realized that the room had emptied and all he could hear was the music. No more talking, no more laughing, nothing but that melody.
He opened his eyes and froze in place.
Becca was sitting at the piano, her fingers flying over the keys as she played. She didn't have the skill to play professionally, but she put her all into every note.
He wanted so much to move towards her, to take her into his arms, to kiss her just once.
He didn't move. It would be a huge mistake to act on these feelings he had for her. She was completely innocent in these matters and just wouldn't understand what was going on.
The music stopped and Becca sighed before turning to stand. She looked up and her eyes met his.
Time seemed to stop in that moment. Although it had only been a few days it felt like a lifetime since he had last spoken to her. He wanted her to cross the room while at the same time hoping that she wouldn't.
She took a step towards him before freezing again. Then she gave him a sad smile, waved and walked out of the Officer's Club.
Charles tightened his grip on the glass as he forced himself to remain in his seat. It wasn't enough to break the class, but it was just enough to keep him from running after her and explaining everything.
He wouldn't put that burden on her when she wouldn't truly understand.
Becca walked back to the Swamp with tears in her eyes. Luckily Hawkeye was already asleep in bed when she arrived. Normally being alone with Hawkeye, even with a sleeping Hawkeye, would make her nervous. Tonight, however, she could care less.
She fell onto her bed and let the tears fall down her cheeks. Things would never be the same between her and Charles. She could see that now.
The week flew by, plane tickets were purchased and plans were set for when Becca and Freddy landed in the states.
Before flying on to Boston, the two would spend a day with Peg and Erin Hunnicutt in San Francisco. In Boston, Charles' sister, Honoria, would pick them up.
Before they knew it, the day had arrived. The agony leading up to the day of avoiding Becca would come to an end. Charles wanted to be happy about it, but he found he was just more upset.
Becca said good-bye to everyone, even Hawkeye, before finding herself alone in the Swamp with Charles. He was sitting at his desk, turned towards her, but not looking at her.
"Our bus is about to leave," she said softly, her knapsack shrugged up onto her back with all her possessions. It hurt so much that he wouldn't even look at her anymore.
"My sister, Honoria, should be alone when she picks you up at the airport, but don't be surprised if my mother is with her. Be on you guard."
Tears filled Becca's eyes. "I can handle her."
For a moment the tent was silent. Klinger ran by once and yelled that the bus was nearly ready to take off and she had better get a move on. She nodded at Klinger through the see-through walls of the tent before turning back to Charles.
Somehow saying good-bye to him was the hardest thing she had ever done. She took a deep breath and started towards the door, but she stopped after only one step. If she was going down anyways, might as well go the whole way.
She turned instead and hugged Charles, pressing her face into his neck. His arms reached up and wrapped around her too, holding her tightly. For a moment she allowed herself the dream that he loved her as she did him, but she knew that it couldn't be.
The moment seemed to end as soon as it started, but the sound of Klinger yelling that this was her last chance forced them to break.
Before she moved away from him completely, she took a deep breath and whispered in his ear before turning and running as fast as she could for the bus. She climbed aboard and took her seat next to Freddy. She took a deep breath and waved as the bus pulled away, not seeing the faces as they went. Once the camp was out of sight did she allow her tears to fall once more.
Freddy lifted his arm and pulled his best friend in close as they moved down the road.
Charles didn't see the girl get on the bus, didn't hear the crowd yelling their good-byes, didn't hear the bus pull away, didn't see Becca's face one last time.
He was in shock.
Those last words Becca had said to him, words she had said in her final moments with him that he didn't have a chance to respond to.
'I know you don't feel the same, but I love you.'
He hunched over, his head falling into his hands, wondering why in all the world she would believe that he didn't love her when it was so obvious that he did.
Was it because he pushed her away? He did that for her sake, to protect her. He was trying to keep her from himself to protect her. He didn't want to hurt her, she was much too precious to him for that.
She loved him?
Charles was in complete shock. He didn't know what to do or how to respond now that Becca was out of his sight.
He was so happy, but at the same time so very angry.
Why had she waited to tell him? Why didn't she give him a chance to respond? Why hadn't he stopped her and kissed her? What was he going to do now?
So many questions and so little answers.
He turned to his record player and switched on some music. Perhaps a few musical numbers would allow him a moment to compose his thoughts.
He sat back and let the melody wash over him as he closed his eyes and imagined Becca's sweet smile.