Erik entered the reception area of Colonel Potter's office, where Radar sat feeding his Guinea Pig, Buttons. "Here.. now, eat every bit of that." He said while giving a carrot piece to the rodent. "I had to wrestle with Major Burns to get this out of the mess tent to feed you... That guy really likes his carrots!"

Erik cleared his throat. "Corporal?" he said in his most serious tone. Radar jumped and knock a pile of papers over which hit a coffee cup, spilling coffee all over Erik. Erik jumped at the sudden heat and tried to brush off the spill on his shirt.

Radar covered his mouth. "Oh sir.I am so sorry, sir. I…I .didn't mean .really."

Just then, Frank came into the office. He frowned at Radar. "What's all the noise in here, patients are trying to rest!" Frank looked at the spilled coffee then at Erik's stain on his shirt he was trying to clean off. "You little moron!!.How dare you splash a superior officer!"

Hawkeye entered the office and growled at Frank. "Shut up, Frank! You are really bothering me tonight.. What happened in here anyways?"

Frank sneered, "Your pet Corporal spilled coffee on our new surgeon!" Hawkeye ushered a fuming Frank back into Post Op.

"It's ok Frank, I'll buy you a new surgeon." Hawkeye came back in to help Radar clean up the papers, Erik bent down to help with the clean up.

Hawkeye sneered at Erik. "Careful doctor, you may get a paper cut.. then Frank will be right back in here to save his new protégé."

Erik growled at Hawkeye. " At least Frank has some guts about this outfit and it's duty."

Hawkeye stood up and stared down Erik. "How dare you call me afraid!? I deal with death and chaos on a daily basis! You would go insane if you knew half the horrors I have had witness! Who the hell do you think you are?"

Erick stood up and threw the folders he was holding on his desk. "Your moral superior for starters Captain!" With that he turned and stormed out of the office.

Erik almost kicked the door to Potter's office door open, as he stormed into the office. Potter was writing a letter to his wife back home, and he didn't look up as Erik entered. "This had better be good Radar.. I'm busy here."

Erik was fuming. "Oh believe me is very important!" Potter looked up and frowned at Erik. "What can I do for you Captain?"

Erik growled. "I wish to comment about the living situation I am presently in."

Potter smiled. " gruesome twosome are at it again, huh?" Potter chuckles softly. "Those two are a handful, I'll grant they are harmless, just take them in stride like the rest of us."

Erik sneered and stared angrily at his commanding officer. "Col. Potter, you don't seem to understand. I do not find Capt. Pierce remotely funny or even slightly decent! He has got to be the worst, most poorly trained, disloyal and disobedient doctor in this ENTIRE unit! I cannot abide his constant attacks on myself or any of the other officers; I demand he be COURTMARSHALLED!" By now Erik was standing, after slamming his fist on Potters desk he looked at the aging ex cavalryman with determination and fury. "Well? What do you intend to do with this.. idiot?"

Potter tightened his jaw and looked at his new captain with his steely grey eyes. "For one thing, YOU are hardly in any place to be making demands, maybe requests but NOT demands. I don't hold well with subordinate officers coming in here and calling one of my best doctors an idiot."

Erik growled and sank into the nearest chair. "I am sorry for over stepping my bounds, sir." He ran his fingers though his short, blond hair. " I did not mean to offend you, I just wanted to point out that--"

Potter slammed his hand down on his desk. "This is not a daycare, Captain! I am not your teacher or mother! You can't come running to me because the other kids are picking on you! You are a member of the United States Army, son, and you have to try and work this out with Pierce yourself. He is a decent man and a damn fine doctor. I know that if you try to talk to him, he will come around."

Erik scoffed at the idea. " Not likely, sir. He is just so--"

Potter narrowed his eyes at the younger man. "Horse hockey! I know Pierce and he is one of the best men in this unit. " Taking off his glasses, Potter sighed. "Look, Erik…I know this must be tough for you, being the new kid …but please try and talk to him. Hawkeye may seem hard to deal with now but please, give him another chance."

Standing up, Potter walked slowly around his desk and placed his hand on Erik's arm. "I am sorry to seem brash just now, it's just…" Potter looked out the window of his office and sighed. "I received some bad news as of late." Placing his glasses back on, he nodded out of the window towards the rest of the camp. "I don't want to frighten the rest of the men, but there is supposed to be a large front moving into this neck of the woods within the next few days. It's big and I don't like the idea of gunfire around the patients."

Erik's face drained of colour. Potter continued. "So you can see my dilemma right now." Erik nodded. "I am sorry to bother you sir, I didn't mean to seem so childish."

Potter smiled faintly. "Don't worry about it son, we are all a little on edge here. War is a horror and it should never, ever occur...I am just glad I have men like Pierce here to help us." Potter looked at Erik and nodded. "I think you should go and see if you can find him, you two should talk. Besides, I have work to finish here. You 're dismissed, Captain."

Erik stood up and nodded to Col. Potter. "Very well sir, thank you.." Turning he left the office and made his was back towards the 'Swamp'.