The Latest War to End All Wars- Chapter 4
Alex was alarmed to walk into the mess tent and find the entire senior staff arguing at one of the tables. Apparently the meeting was not going very well. Approaching the din, Alex tried to shout over the group. When her cries had no effect however, she resorted to stronger weapons.
"What in blazes was that!" yelled Col. Potter as everyone at the table froze. Removing her fingers from her lips, Alex grinned.
"A whistle Colonel. So sorry to disturb the tea party but you all were getting a little too excited!" In a flash, Hawkeye and BJ were on either side of her, each grabbing an elbow as they steered her to a spot between them and chattered in her ears. BJ started out.
"Now listen Alex. Frank here is suggesting- for the umpteenth time might I add- that callisthenics be made mandatory for all personnel." Before Alex could get a word in edgewise, Hawkeye interjected.
"My colleague and I are of the opinion however, that callisthenics would be much more effective if only the female personnel were required to participate. Sort of a 'morale booster.' So what do you think?"
"I think it's a good idea Hawk."
"Thank you for your response BJ but I already knew that. You're the 'colleague' remember?"
"Whoops. Guess it was the thought of my morale improving that caused the memory loss."
"I'm right there with you." By this time, Alex- who still hadn't had a chance to talk- was seated firmly on the bench between the two men who were conversing animatedly to each other over her head. Alex was beginning to see why the argument had started. Frank and Margaret were clearly fuming, and Col. Potter was torn between being amused by the two surgeons and trying to keep the peace. The situation was getting tense again. Ignoring Frank and Margaret, Hawkeye kept talking.
"My heart rate would definitely be going faster watching a sight like that. Just because you'll be married doesn't mean you won't participate, right Margaret?"
"I wouldn't parade myself in front of you two if you were the last men on earth. And how dare you speak to me that way! Donald is ten times the man you are and he won't stand for this!"
"You know what else Beej? I think we should make clothing optional. For the participants and the viewers." Alex let out a loud laugh.
"Oh you two are disgusting!" Frank piped up. "Colonel they are destroying my idea! Are you going to sit there and let them put these disgusting thoughts out there!"
"Oh Burns where's your sense of humour?"
"Stateside with Mrs. Burns." Quipped Alex.
"Colonel if I may, some things actually need to be discussed that are more important then the adolescent fantasies of Pierce and Hunnicut."
"Very well Houlihan, get on with it."
"Thank you sir. Now, preparations for my wedding are well underway and I will be taking a week's leave for my honeymoon. In this time we will need to assign a new, temporary head nurse. This person will have to work with the nurses at all times and ensure they are doing their jobs. Said person will also have to look out for their safety and take care of any troubles they have."
"I volunteer!"
"Pierce this is not a joke! Colonel I request that Pierce leave, he's being a distraction."
"Never fear Margaret. Alexandra if I may borrow your hand?" Grabbing Alex's wrist, Hawkeye lifted her arm and held her hand in front of his mouth, smothering his speech. Alex giggled as he tried to talk from behind her hand; his lips were tickling her.
"I would suggest Capt. Richardson sir, provided you think you can spare her surgical skills. She's a Captain, and she's definitely the most knowledgeable of the women who will be remaining in camp."
"Why thank you Major. That's a big compliment coming from you."
"If Alex has no objections I'm willing to allow it. And if we desperately need her as a surgeon we can reassess the problem when we get to it." Margaret looked at Alex expectantly and Alex nodded. Margaret smiled.
"Then that's settled. Colonel, my business is done."
"Anything else that warrants discussion?" BJ raised his hand. "Yes Hunnicut?"
"Sir, I couldn't help but notice that in a few short days time it will be the 6 month anniversary of Alex's arrival at camp. Request permission for a celebration of some sort." Alex dropped her hand from Hawkeye's mouth and stared at BJ.
"I can't believe you remembered Beej!"
"I always remember my anniversaries." Alex smiled at him warmly.
"Well congratulations Alex. Yes BJ, permission granted to host some form of bash for the Captain. We'll all help out. Now if that's everything, the meeting is adjourned."
Everyone stood and headed outside into the bright sunlight. Alex walked back to her tent and was about to sit down and write home when she heard the P.A. telling her to report to the helicopter pad. Wounded were coming in.
Dashing back out, Alex started to run across the compound. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Hawkeye and Nurse Field coming out of the supply tent. Field's hair was mussed, and Hawkeye was struggling into his shirt. Anger welled up in her. The one thing she couldn't get used to with Hawkeye was the way he chased women. He could go from one to the other and have seemingly no attachment. He was always flirting and she still couldn't turn a blind eye to it. Shaking herself, she told herself to focus, and resumed her trek up to the pad.
Half an hour later, she was scrubbing up. She thought everyone else was already in O.R. so it came as a shock when Hawkeye walked through the doors and started to scrub up.
"Did you get stuck in triage?" Alex asked.
"Yeah. Had to undo Frank's shoddy job. That man will never figure out how it works. And he's gotten worse lately. I think it's the stress of Margaret's engagement."
"He'd better get used to it. She's days away from marriage."
"Well he's not looking forward to losing her."
"I hope she'll be happy."
"When she's married?" He nodded. "Me too. You always hope marriage works. But if it doesn't, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Speaking of which, want to finally have dinner with me? It has been almost six months since I offered. I'm free tonight if you'd like."
"When I saw you with Nurse Field earlier I assumed you'd already had dinner today." Hawkeye stopped short.
"Now what does that mean?"
"Nothing." Alex silently cursed herself for mentioning it.
"Yes, I was with Nurse Field today in the supply tent, and you seem to have a pretty good idea of what was going on inside, but why should that bother you?"
"I just don't like that you can be with her one minute and then turn around and ask me to dinner."
"Look, it's just dinner, no strings attached!"
"Yeah everything is no strings attached with you isn't it?"
"What's going on here? One minute we're talking about dinner and the next your ripping into my lifestyle?"
"I just don't understand how you can do it. Go from nurse to nurse I mean. With no attachment, no cares. I don't get that."
"Allow me to try and explain it to you. I have my needs and they have theirs. We get together and help each other out. We both know what we're doing! Everyone in this camp knows I've dated just about every nurse on the compound. I'm sorry if you have issues with that."
"Whatever." With a last tug at her surgical gown, Alex entered O.R. with Hawkeye right behind her. Margaret came up to her.
"Alex you're going to start your nursing duties sooner than expected. We have a shortage of nurses and I need you to fill in. All the other surgeons have a nurse already so you might as well stick with Hawkeye." Alex felt her jaw drop and was grateful for the mask that hid most of her facial expressions. Of all the times she thought. She was still mad. Margaret was staring at her, waiting for an answer. Swallowing her anger, Alex nodded.
"Yes Major, I can do that." She strode toward Hawkeye and the first patient, taking deep breaths along the way.
They worked in silence. She had to admit that, despite being angry, they were a good team. She often knew what to give him before he asked for it. But they never once made eye contact, never joked around like she was used to. They spoke to others, but never to each other. To her he was brisk, business-like and cold.
She knew she'd insulted him, her anger had risen up again and now she regretted it. What she couldn't understand was why she got so mad at the thought of him with all the other nurses, and why she was so hurt now that he was ignoring her. She had a lot of time to wonder as surgery dragged on and on.
12 hours later they all finally stumbled out into the night air. Alex's head was aching, and she didn't want to deal with anyone anymore. She decided to head to Rosie's bar and have a drink. She could think alone there. She was shocked to find no one else in the bar when she walked in. Ordering some sake, she sat down but glanced up as she saw Hawkeye come through the door. He stopped short when he saw her.
"Well you're not Nurse Field." His sarcasm cut into her. "Guess I'll just have to look elsewhere then."
"You son of a bitch." In two strides he was next to her, eyes flashing.
"Listen, I can have just as awful a temper as you. You want an argument, you've got it! I've been doing this since long before you came here. Don't think you can tell me what to do! I've been in this hell hole for two god awful years, maybe you don't agree with how I cope with being so far away from home to be honest I'm not asking for your approval! When you've been here for two years we'll see how you are!
"Stop yelling at me! My head hurts enough as it is. I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life, but I can't stand around watching you flirt with every woman who passes through here anymore! It's disgusting. You're always acting like you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, and you think we should all fall at your feet! Well I hate to shock you, but not everyone is going to fall at your feet!"
"Now who's yelling? I told you already, everyone I get involved with knows what they're doing. I'm not hurting anyone with my actions. Except you apparently, and I can't believe you're making such a big deal out of this. Maybe you just need to be a man to get this."
"BJ and Colonel Potter don't need to flirt with everyone."
"Oh no no no! Don't you start comparing us!"
"Well you could try following their example!"
"Shut up Alex!"
Silence fell as Alex stood staring at him. That's the first time he hasn't called me Alexandra. He never shortens my name. Turning on her heel so he wouldn't see her cry, she fled Rosie's Bar and headed back to her tent. Once inside, she slammed the door and started to cry.
What's going on? She thought. Why am I so upset? Something was gnawing at her. Oh my god. I think I'm jealous.
I fell for Hawkeye.
Jesus…
She closed her eyes and sat absorbing this fact, feeling herself start to cry harder as she thought about everything awful that had happened in the last 14 hours. When she heard a quiet knocking on the door, she looked up expectantly.
"Come in?" Alex felt herself start to sob again as BJ walked in. How am I going to explain this? Fortunately, she didn't have to say anything. She just walked into his arms, and cried as he held her. Sometime later, when she'd quieted down, she felt him steer her toward her bed. Helping her in, he sat next to her and held her hand until she fell asleep.