It does get serious way, WAY down the road, but for now, enjoy my lovely fluff! Thanks for the reviews!

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Jessie woke up stiff and sore and wondering where she was.

Oh yeah, Army, Korea, 4077th.

Testing all her joints, she stretched. Looking around, she realized she was still in Radar's office, but he was no where to be found. The clock on the wall said 6, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She was due in post-op at 8. Her stomach grumbled, signaling that her last real food was eaten on the long plane ride from the states.

Rising from the cot, she spotted herself in a mirror on the other side of the room. Her hair was a mess, and she hadn't showered in two days. Gingerly sniffing underneath her arms, she decided it wasn't that bad and shrugged.

My father would be appalled.

A gaggle of nurses came out of post-op talking amongst themselves.

"Hey, Dallas!" one of them called out. "I'm Stacey and this is Chris and you've met Sara Bigelow," Stacey said to a bewildered Jessie. "You must be starving, come with us!" Jessie found herself being pushed towards the door in a whirlwind of chatter.

Before they reached the mess tent she found out that Stacey was engaged, Chris was dating someone from the motor pool and Bigelow was still after Hawkeye before she was even seated with her plate.

"So, you have anyone special in your life?" Stacey asked, her brown eyes watching Jessie over her coffee cup as she took a sip and shuddered at the taste.

Radar, sitting at the next table with a plate piled high with food, stopped chewing as he strained to hear Jessie's answer.

Jessie picked at a pile of what looked like cauliflower, but was actually supposed to be scrambled eggs.

"Not anymore," she replied, taking a small bite. She was so hungry that she decided it didn't taste too bad and dug right in.

No one noticed Radar's shoulders slump in relief at her answer. He had actually already looked at her file to see if she was married. But the Army didn't require it's applicants to mention boyfriends.

"What happened?" Bigelow asked as all the nurses - and Radar - gathered closer.

"Well, we were engaged, and I found him in bed with a maid, err, friend." Watch it, Jess. "So, as you can guess, we're no longer engaged." She started on what was supposed to be bacon.

Bigelow whistled. "Boy, what a jerk!" The other nurses nodded in agreement.

"Hey, Radar, if you lean in any closer, you're going to be sitting in the middle of their table!" Hawkeye called from across the room.

Radar jumped back and glared at him as he and B.J. sat down with the nurses. "And how are all my pretties doing this lovely morning?"

Stacey punched him on the arm. "Better if you'd go out with Bigelow, so I don't have to listen to her bitch."

Bigelow gasped as the other nurses, including Jessie, laughed.

"Well, how 'bout tonight? Heard they're showing 'Attack of the Blob, III" again tonight. Sounds romantic." He leered at Bigelow.

"I'll think about it," she said coldly, winking at Jessie. "Come on, girls, let's go to the showers before there's no more hot water. You coming, Jess?"

Jessie, in mid-bite, waved them on. "Catch up with you later. I'm starving!" She laughed at their stricken looks.

Hawkeye and B.J. looked just as horrified. "You know, that stuff will kill you," Hawkeye said, pushing his plate away.

"I know, it's horrible," Jessie replied between bites. "But, all I've had to eat in the past two days is coffee. Most anything tastes good now." She swallowed a bite of something resembling applesauce. "I'll probably regret it tomorrow."

"Mind if I join you?" a pleasant voice said. A man in a cleric collar sat down next to her. She scooted over a little on the bench.

"Ah, you must be the new nurse. Let's see," he said, putting his hand on his chin. "You're from Dallas, you haven't been a nurse very long and you apparently spent the night in our company clerk's bed."

"Father! Geez!" Radar said, annoyed, from the next table.

Jessie blushed. "News travels fast here, doesn't it?"

Hawkeye waved Radar over. After looking sheepish, he grabbed his coffee cup and sat on the other side of Jessie.

Finally having enough of breakfast, Jessie pushed her plate away. She took a sip of coffee and made a face that made Hawkeye and B.J. laugh.

"See, I told you it was bad!" B.J. said.

"So," Jessie said, setting her mug down. "Since everyone seems to know so much about me, why don't all of you tell me something about yourselves." She looked at B.J. "You first."

B.J. fumbled in his front pocket and come out with a picture. "This is Peg and Erin, my daughter," he said proudly. Jessie admired the picture of the blonde with an adorable toddler.

"Mill Valley, right?" She laughed at B.J.'s expression. "You told me already."

"He never misses a chance," Hawkeye said dryly.

Jessie handed back the picture. "What about you, Hawkeye? I have a feeling you won't be handing me any pictures of a wife."

"Not that Crabapple Cove, Maine wasn't full of Mrs. Pierce hopefuls. But, it's just me and my dad, who gave me my nickname, by the way."

Jessie looked thoughtful. "Last of the Mohicans, isn't it?"

Hawkeye looked surprised. "You've read it?"

"Once, in school," Jessie replied. "Being from Texas, you have to read everything dealing with cowboys and Indians at a young age." She turned towards the Father. "What about you, Father? You know so much about me, but I don't even know your name."

"Frances Mulcahy," he said, shaking her hand. "Didn't mean to be rude earlier."

"Not at all. I suppose a new face around her does get peoples' tongues wagging."

"Some more so than others," Hawkeye said, eying Radar who was completely enchanted.

"Well . . ." Father Mulcahy started. Noticing Radar's interest, he motioned towards him. "Tell our new nurse about yourself, Radar."

Radar blushed, and Jessie couldn't help but smile at his discomfort. She propped her chin on her hand. "Let me guess? You're from . . . . Nebraska!"

He shook his head. "Nope."

"Rats! That shows you my mind-reading skills!"

"You were close," he replied shyly. "Iowa."

"Hey, maybe there's hope for me yet in the mind-reading department yet! So, any family back home?"

"Just my mom, my Uncle Ed and me," he replied. "We have a farm with some cows and chickens and stuff." He cleared his throat, embarrassed. "Wh-what about you? What's it like where you live?"

Jessie thought of the antebellum home that wasn't really antebellum-her dad built it to look that way-and the acres and acres of rolling hills and woods they owned surrounding her childhood home-complete with oil wells that paid the bills. And then some. "Just a regular home," she replied, skirting the question. "My mom died when I was four, so it was just my older sister, brother and my dad. My sister is married with two kids-holy terrors if you ask me. Sorry, Father."

He smiled. "Not a problem."

"My brother, who's only a year older than me, is still at home. Actually," she said, gesturing towards Hawkeye, "he's a lot like you in the womanizing department." Hawkeye grinned.

"My dad died when I was real little," Radar said, annoyed at Hawkeye for catching Jessie's attention. "I don't remember much about him 'cause I was just a baby. Do you remember your mom any?"

Jessie sighed and looked so forlorn for a moment that Radar almost hugged her. But, he didn't even know her!

"I remember the way she smelled more than anything. Made me feel safe and loved, still do when I smell lavender," she said wistfully. Then, she chuckled. "One of the few really vivid memories I have is probably around when I was three years old. I had been given some baby ducks by a neighbor. My father was simply appalled and would not allow them in the house, but my mother was just as excited as I was. We made them a little nest in the kitchen in secret." Jessie's smile faded suddenly. "She was sick right after that . . ."

It had been a long time since she'd even thought about her mother.

"At least you have that much to remember her by," Radar said softly. "I mean, I know it's not as good as having her there with you, but at least it's something."

She smiled wistfully, still with a faraway look in her green eyes. "Yeah, Walter, I guess you're right."

She hadn't realized she had used his given name. But Radar did. No one ever called him that in Korea, but he liked the way it sounded coming from her.

Neither one noticed Hawkeye motion towards B.J. and Father Mulcahy, the trio slipping away from the table.

She sighed and suddenly realized where she was. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude and talk only about myself!" She fiddled with her silverware, suddenly shy. Never one to spout her innermost feelings, especially concerning her mother, she found talking to Radar was comforting.

"No, that's OK," Radar replied. "It's nice to have someone new around to get to know. Keeps it from being so boring all the time." He looked around. "Hey, where did the others go?"

Jessie realized that the table was empty, except for the two of them. Actually, they were the only two stragglers in the tent.

"Dang, I've got to get to post-op!" Jessie jumped up and headed towards the door. Radar rose slowly, wishing they could keep talking.

She paused before walking out into the sunshine. "Hey. Thanks for listening."

He smiled back crookedly. "No problem."

Jessie ran to her tent, once she was pointed in the right direction by a strange guy with a gun in an evening gown.

What a place.

She rushed to the showers and took a very cold one. After not showering for 48 hours, even a cold one felt good. Dressing in a hurry in her very disappointing small tent, she sprinted to post-op arriving just in time to relieve Major Houlihan.

Jessie's day went by quickly, especially since post-op was full. She checked bandages and blood pressure readings, but mainly talked to the wounded. All of them had a story to tell, and what amused Jessie the most was many of them also had a marriage proposal.

After escaping for one adamant soldier's grasp, she turned right into Major Winchester.

"Oops, sorry, sir." So far, she had stayed out of his way after watching his pompous attitude towards everyone.

He and my father would get along splendidly.

"Actually, I've been rather enjoying the amusing display of affection you seem to have brought out in our charges."

"Well, Major," she replied, a little taken aback by his friendliness, "glad I could be here for your amusement." She gave a little curtsey as he laughed.

"Please, call me Charles," he said, studying Jessie closely. "Tell me, have you ever been to Boston?"

Jessie tried not to look startled. "Umm, no, Major. . . . I mean Charles," she replied. "Why do you ask?"

He continued to study her. "Well, it appears for some strange reason, I feel I've met you before."

Jessie swallowed. How did I get in this mess? And halfway around the world, too!

She tried to laugh without it sounding strained. "Unless you have been to Texas, I seriously doubt you've ever seen me, especially in Boston high society."

"Of course. Unfortunately, I have never visited your – um – lovely state."

"Well, I need to get these samples to the lab," she said, finding any excuse to hurry away from Charles and his prying questions. She grabbed the nearest tray and hurried out the door. Once she escaped to the sunny outdoors, she sighed and leaned against the tent, careful with the samples.

Jessie really didn't want to lie to these people.

Well, I'm really not lying just leaving out bits of information. You know, little things, like I'm an heiress to millions.

During the rest of her shift, she stayed out of Charles' way. Good thing that Major Houlihan had wanted her in the supply tent, so she had a good excuse. Jessie found herself lost in thought as she counted and recounted supplies.

Her father had insisted she be presented to high society when the time came, just like her sister Andrea. Although Andrea had insisted on going to Europe, Jessie had balked. Her entire life she had spent being judged by her father's money. She couldn't do the things she wanted because it was so unladylike. Not to mention that friends that buddied up to her, mostly because of her family money. Jessie made a face just thinking about her father's never-ending lectures. Your mother would not approve. She tried so hard to live up to her father's expectations, but failed miserably.

To appease him, when she turned 16, she agreed to all the debutante business. That's how she wound up in Boston. It was full of uncomfortable dresses and all sorts of balls, teas and everything that she despised. The only bright days were the few she was left to her own devices. That's when she went out and explored the historic city on her own. When her father realized what she was doing, he was once again appalled at his daughter going out unescorted. Jessie was accustomed to disappointing him at this point.

She figured the Winchesters must have attended one of the umpteenth hundred events she was required to appear. How Charles remembered her, she didn't know. But, she saw how everyone in the camp treated him because he was constantly reminding them of his stance in society. She was finally being treated like a normal person.

And she rather enjoyed it.

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"Hey, Radar! Sit with us!" Klinger called out across the mess tent, the supper crowd in full swing.

Everyone at the table moved over to make room. "Thanks, guys." Radar set his tray down and immediately dug in. "So, what's new?"

Rizzo shrugged. "Seems Zale's on KP duty again." He motioned toward the chow line where Zale was unceremoniously dropping dollops of WWII surplus food into tray after tray.

"Yeah? What did he do?" Radar asked between bites.

"Something to do with back-talking Major Houlihan." They all rolled their eyes. They knew how she could be.

Klinger brightened. "Speaking of nurses, what do you think of the new one – the red head?"

Radar swallowed hard, uncomfortable with the subject. Anything about women made him nervous. But, especially that woman.

Before he could reply, Rizzo butted in. "She's my kind of gal. Those Texas women sure can keep your nights warm – if you know what I mean."

Klinger let out a low whistle. "You gonna try?"

Rizzo leaned back. "Once she gets a load of my Louisiana charm, she won't be able to keep her hands off of me."

Klinger looked doubtful. "I don't know . . . whatta you think, Radar? Rizzo got a chance?"

I certainly hope not.

But, Radar didn't dare say it. He glanced across the room where Jessie was deep in conversation with the other nurses. "I guess he's got as much a chance as the rest of us." Zilch. Zero. Nada.

Klinger noticed who Radar was watching and grinned. "Trying to save her all for yourself, kiddo?"

Radar blushed and returned to his food, although he had suddenly lost his appetite. "She's alright . . ."

"Just alright? You looked mighty moonstruck yesterday when I saw the two of you over by Rosie's Bar."

"She was carrying supplies to the locals. I couldn't let her go out there by herself! There could have been snipers or something." Truthfully, he found any excuse he could to spend time with her. She was friendly, but it was hard for him to tell what she really thought about him. Nerves.

"Aw, how sweet. Protecting her from the big, bad enemy," Rizzo mocked.

Klinger rolled his eyes. "You've spent more time with her than any of us. Tell me, what's she like?"

Radar shrugged, his heart racing. He didn't like being put on the spot, especially concerning Jessie. "Just like everyone else I guess."

"No, I mean, what kind of clothes did she bring? You think she'd let me borrow anything?" Klinger asked eagerly.

Radar stared. "Good grief, Klinger, I don't know! I didn't ask!"

Rizzo motioned. "Looks like you're going to get a chance."

A gaggle of nurses, talking animatedly, was heading by their table to the exit, Jessie included.

Klinger looked ready to pounce, but Jessie made the first move, pausing by their table.

"Hey, Radar. I haven't seen you around today."

Radar almost choked. It was a whole lot easier to talk to her when people weren't watching! "Well . . . I . . .uh . . . I've been busy. Army stuff, you know."

She didn't seem to notice his discomfort, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks for helping me yesterday. With the supplies. You saved me from having to make more than one trip to the village." She smiled and squeezed his arm before rushing to catch up with the nurses.

Radar looked at his arm where she had touched him. "Uh . . . you're welcome." But, she was already out the door, leaving him to deal with Klinger and Rizzo's teasing for the rest of the day.