I don't own M*A*S*H. Sorry about the wait. Getting married in less than 6 months and starting to freak out!
Karen didn't know what to think about Dr. Pierce.
When she first met him he had seemed serious about his work and his reason for being in Korea. However, now she looked at him from across the Mess Tent turned cinema, leaning into one of the engaged blonde women she had arrived with, she couldn't help but feel like she had been tricked by his smile.
She shook her head and turned back to the movie, although she had no clue what was going on as she was continuously distracted by Dr. Pierce.
What was his deal? Was he just a playboy doctor?
It annoyed Karen that she was so focused on this.
Then the movie was over and everyone was getting up to leave. Karen took a moment to watch Dr. Pierce and the blonde walk out together, his arm around her shoulder.
Although it had been 2 weeks since she had come to this M*A*S*H unit, Karen had learned a lot. The most important thing was, don't take anything Hawkeye Pierce says as serious, unless it is about medicine.
Apparently he was known for being a notorious flirt, with an appetite for blue-eyed blondes. For some reason that bothered Karen, but she didn't want to focus on it.
She returned to her tent and continued to read the textbook Dr. Pierce had loaned her. It was fascinating what one could learn from books, but Karen knew that firsthand knowledge would be the best way to learn. Since she wasn't able to do that right now, she knew the best way would be to work with one of the doctors during OR and to create a friendship with them to allow opportunities to pick his brain.
She thought it over taking each of the doctors into consideration.
Frank Burns was out. He was terrible. From the small amount of time she spent with him in OR and Post-OP she could tell that he didn't know much about medicine or anything really.
Colonel Potter was out as well. Not because of his medical skills, cause he was actually quite good, but she knew that he was way too busy running the unit to take time to study with her. She wouldn't take him away from his duties for such a selfish reason.
That left her either Dr. Pierce or Dr. Hunnicutt.
Her body seemed to want to pull her to Pierce over Hunnicutt, although she could find no reason for that. Both were very capable doctors and both had the extra time to spare. For some reason she felt that Pierce would be better than Hunnicutt.
She resolved herself to stay away from him and decided to ask Dr. Hunnicutt instead.
The next morning she went to breakfast and wasted no time approaching the two doctors in the Mess Tent.
Dr. Pierce was just as handsome as ever, but Karen shook that thought out of her head. That wasn't what she was here for.
"May I join you?"
Both men looked up and Karen suddenly felt shy. She hadn't realized just how blue Dr. Pierce's eyes were until she looked at them like this. After that first night she had tried to keep from looking in his eyes, but when he stared at her like this, she couldn't help herself.
"Of course!" Dr. Hunnicutt answered. Karen was able to grace them with a small smile before taking a seat next to Dr. Hunnicutt, mindfully keeping the table between her and Dr. Pierce.
"How are your studies coming?"
This question came from Dr. Pierce and Karen couldn't help looking up at him when he spoke. She knew as she did it that she shouldn't, but she was unable to stop herself.
Those blue eyes seemed to shine out brighter as a contrast of his dark hair. She had a mental picture of her hands in that hair and had to flex her hands to remove the feeling there. She didn't know what his hair felt like and she didn't want to be involved with Dr. Pierce.
"It is going well," she replied. "Although a tutor would be more helpful so I can have hands on training." She took a deep breath. "That's actually why I came over, I wanted to ask..."
"Of course I'll help you."
Karen's wide eyes were fixed on Dr. Pierce. He had just thrown her whole plan out the window. It would be rude to refuse and yet she knew that it wouldn't be wise to spend more time in his company.
Hawkeye could feel BJ's eyes on him, but he didn't care. His entire being was focused on Karen. Staying away had done nothing to stop these feelings of desire he felt for her. When he was with Nancy, the blonde, he was constantly thinking about Karen. Those bright and intelligent eyes, that soft and caring voice, her smile. That same smile that had been haunting him since that first Post-OP session they had worked together.
He wanted to see it again.
Karen blinked, as if confused, but she nodded before softly replying. "Thank you Dr. Pierce."
"You don't have to be so formal with us," Hawkeye said. "Call me Hawkeye."
Karen seemed nervous, although Hawkeye didn't know why. "I would prefer Dr. Pierce. You did earn the title after all."
Hawkeye wanted her to feel comfortable with him, he didn't want there to be boundaries between them, but at the same time knowing that such things were needed to protect her from him.
He hadn't expected to actually answer her request for a tutor, but he couldn't stand the idea of BJ doing it, or any other man. It had to be him, even if it was a terrible idea.
"We may be doctors, but here we do nothing but stitch people back together just for them to get blown apart again. Formality goes out the window in such a situation."
Karen knew that he was serious about this. Knew that he really believed it. "I know."
BJ jumped in trying to break though the tension between them. "How about you keep it formal when working and casual when we aren't?"
Karen turned to BJ and smiled softly. "That's a great idea. Thanks...BJ." She turned back to Hawkeye still with that soft smile that seemed to stop Hawkeye's heart. "Thank you for being my tutor, Hawkeye."
She looked at her watch before jumping up. "Oh dear, I almost forgot about a meeting with Major Houlihan. I'm terribly sorry, but I have to go. I'll get with you later about the tutoring Dr. Pierce."
As she rushed out of the Mess Tent, Hawkeye couldn't stop himself from watching her leave. When he turned back he found that BJ was staring at him. "What?"
BJ raised his eyebrows. "Don't even think about it."
Hawkeye tried to look surprised. "What are you talking about? She just needs some help studying. It's nothing more than that."
BJ gave Hawkeye a look indicating that he didn't buy a word of it. He opened his mouth to say something else and Hawkeye couldn't hear it.
"So, what is new at home?"
BJ seemed taken aback by the sudden question. "Don't distract me Hawkeye. That girl is too young to be involved with you. You know that."
Hawkeye ignored BJ and lifted his food to his nose and pulled back in disgust. "What does this smell like?" He held it out to BJ. "Thoughts?"
BJ leaned back and kept his gaze firm. "I'm serious Hawkeye. Unless you want something serious, don't get involved with her."
Hawkeye shrugged. "As I said, she isn't my type. Besides," he gestured across the room, "I'm seeing someone more my speed anyways."
BJ shook his head before standing. "Don't do anything stupid," he said before heading out of the Mess Tent to Post-OP duty.
Hawkeye waited until his friend left before he let out a big sigh. BJ was right. Getting involved with Karen would be the wrong move. He knew that. She needed a serious man in a serious relationship. He was not the type of man to provide that to her.
He knew that and yet he didn't want to stay away.
The best thing to do would be to hand off her tutoring to BJ and stay away, but the very thought filled him with anger and he couldn't do it.
He would not act on these urges. He would just be her friend.
That was all a man like him could offer her.