It was midnight. I was sneaking out to give Hawkeye his medicine again. I went into the supply room and... the shelf was empty!
"Frank!" I whispered. It must be him. Who else could it be?
Hawkeye's never going to get better at this rate, I thought. It's already taking longer than usual because I have to sneak around like a nurse giving medicine is illegal! I paused. This was really getting out of hand, wasn't it?
Then, I realized what I would have to do. I would have to search Frank's tent. Maybe Margaret's too. I would do Frank first.
He shared his tent with Trapper and Hawkeye. As I silently crept in, I saw that Frank and Trapper were both sound asleep. Hawkeye's cot was, of course, empty.
I searched under Frank's bed. Aha! A box! ...Of pictures and envelopes?
It was dark, so it was hard for me to see the pictures, but they looked like wedding pictures. Frank couldn't be married! What about him and Margaret? If they were just friends, then I'm a horse. He must be cheating! I wonder if Margaret knew? I could use this.
I kept searching. Another box. As I pulled this one out, I heard the soft chink of glass. It must be the glass bottles of medicine! I pulled the lid off. Perfect! Vials of medicine.
I took both boxed and slipped out into the night.
When I got to Hawkeye, he was asleep. I noticed that there was no nurse on duty. I guess Hawkeye isn't important enough, I thought resentfully. I shouldn't be complaining, though. It would make this easier.
I gently shook Hawkeye awake. "I thought you weren't coming," he murmured. He sounded abandoned.
"Some things came up," I said, measuring out the medicine. After he took it, he looked uncertainly up at me.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Is... Are you sure you disinfected me right?"
I was taken aback . "Well, I thought I did. You see, Frank-"
"And why did Trapper leave so easily before the surgery? Why didn't he fight harder to operate on me? He let Frank do it!"
I was starting to feel a bit agitated. Before he even let me explain about my part he starts hurling accusations about Trapper.
"And earlier today, you and Trapper said you'd be back and-"
"I am, aren't I? Listen Hawkeye, I don't know what's wrong with you. It's me and Trapper you should be trusting!" I stood up and turned, about to leave.
"Belle?"
I stopped. Hawkeye hadn't called me by my real name in awhile. I looked back at him. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. It's Frank. He points these things out and... I don't know why they get to me... But they do... and I wasn't sure if..."
I slowly sat down again. "Don't worry." I kissed his cheek. "It's just the fever getting to you. And I have an idea they may get Frank to leave you alone."
And for the first time in a while, Hawkeye looked happy.