Like I said, you could get a new one real soon. And here I am. And a new chapter too. I had to splice this one because it had gone far too long.
I am not sure too many of you like this story but heck, I am having fun. I just might stop doing what I do for a living and turn to writing full time ;)

Chapter 13

Food looked interesting. And smelled fine too. Or maybe my nose was tanked? Apparently not! I could smell the roasted coal Igor was trying to pass as toast. I could do without this lethal dose of pure carbon so I declined. Mess was not as crowded anymore. Most patients were sent away, depending on their luck, and the definition of luck. The sicker ones could be called lucky since they were not back to front but that meant they were in really bad shape and would be sent to 121st Evac and if their bad luck beheld, home. Those not in a terrible shape, which could also be considered good OR bad luck, had gone back to their outfits.

Maybe the most unlucky ones were those on whom Major Disaster worked.

Think of the devil...

"Wanna join him?" I asked BJ, pointing towards Frank taking it out on the food in his tray. That could always lift moods if not spirits.

"Nah! I have to go to post-op and could do without him to deal with when I sign in. He was spitting fire after you left earlier. What did you tell that ass?"

"Frank? I haven't talked to him without a chaperon for as long as I can remember. He is not his congenial self around me lately, in case you didn't notice."

"Not Frank, Hawk!"

"You know another ass? Another ass besides Frank? And I don't? And I thought you and I were on the same team. We were Us against all thosethems!" I asked incredulously. Which other ass had he encountered since last we met. And how come I was unaware of his presence?

"Are you intentionally being dense?"

"Nope. I mean, I am not being dense. I am just worried that there is another ass in the camp and I am not aware of him despite my astounding powers of observation and ability to smell an ass."

"Why do you have to be so annoyingly disgusting when I am trying to eat?" BJ made a face that screamed 'gross', pointing his fork at me before I realized what I had just said. And that, of course, was really funny, even if slightly disgusting.

"That was not as disgusting when I thought it. And I am eating too. You just have a single-tracked mind. I cannot help if ass means only one thing to you. And in case you forgot, you are the one to use the 'A' word on the table, dad!" I said with a straight face. I knew he was not in his best moods these days. That was the only reason I came with him to begin with. Telling him no could have meant further recluse on his part and next time I wanted him to spill it, it would have been harder. So what if I was still half-dead from last few days' ordeal?

"Sure. And you want me to really believe that? I was talking about Woods. They had a pissing contest. Woods is someone big. He wanted to know why Potter did not operate on him himself?"

"I checked him out. He is not just someone big himself. He has two other titles and claims to throne. He is someone Big's aide and shares someone-bigger's surname. His dad is a big-wig desk jockey in Pentagon, the axis of evil so far as I know! No wonder he was having a hissy fit." I told him with all the authenticity of a press reporter after his first eavesdropping mission on Beltway.

"One of these days, they will blindfold and handcuff you and hand you over to Chinese for treason. Why can't you keep your trap shut for God's sake? I am worried about you. That Woods is going to make some waves about you and Burns. "

"Aww, Beej, I knew you loved me." I grinned at BJ while trying to discover what exactly went into this meatloaf. My nose was failing me. Nothing suspicious? Was I sure this thing came into being in our very own mess kitchen? Losing my sense of smell was the second best thing that could happen to me here. Too bad it happened after I had lost my appetite.

"Captain Pierce, Captain Hunnicut, can I join you?" A female sound, definitely not belonging to BJ and definitely not resembling BJ's mood entered my ears and I turned my face to see the luscious yet somewhat unsavory O'Hara looking at us with a loaded tray. 'Wow', I thought as too many thoughts came rushing into my head. I had not yet made up my mind about her but the way things had gone so far, I was pretty sure I was not going to like her much. And that thought was a new one. I had yet to meet a woman that I disliked.

I was not sure if I had vocalized any of my thoughts but then I saw her color turn slightly pink and BJ elbowed me before asking her to feel free to join.

"OW, what the hell is wrong with you? Watch where you put your fat elbow next time!" I did not try to appear all that polite in front of her. What the hell was she doing on this table? I could not be her object of interest and she did seem like a woman with an agenda. Was it BJ?? Warning bells tolled in my head as I turned to look first at BJ and then at our table mate again.

'Naaahh, nothing fishy!' I decided. Not between them anyway.

"Are you always this impolite, Captain Pierce?" I knew the mouth in front of me did not move. It had to be BJ, trying to chastise me. What was wrong with BJ? I looked at him again and saw him smiling. He definitely did not know our history. Or did he? I did not like that smile,No Sir!

"Yes.I am! Why? I thought that's what drew you towards me to begin with." I told him in the same tone. My mind had not recovered enough to understand what the hell was going on here.

"Lieutenant, forgive him. He is cranky if awakened from his beauty sleep. And also when he hasn't had a drink or two in recent past, which can be anything from thirty minutes to an hour. And also when he is in the mess tent. Basically, he is almost always cranky so just forgive him. Or ignore him. And yeah, I am BJ." BJ was not playing her. He was playing me. And I did not understand why?

"Hello BJ! I am Catherine. But you can call me Cate. And its not what I heard from others regarding Captain Pierce!" That flash of a perfect set of teeth. I heard an undertone of...mischief? She was not trying to play him either. But she was upto something. I could tell. I knew that if a woman suddenly turned nice with me within earshot and I had a history with that particular specimen of female persuasion, I had reason to be weary! Now was just the time.

I silently watched them while trying to figure out what to eat. Meatloaf? Or mashed potatoes? Or creamed corn? I needed a strw for creamed corn though I had lost whatever was left of my appetite watching this verbal volleyball.

"Yeah? Well, I would like to know what you heard about me, Lt." I did not mean it to come out as sharp as it did and felt bad.

"Its Cate, Cap'n. And it was all good stuff but now I wonder..." She was hurt. Damn it!

"Hawkeye!" I finally capsized, knowing as I did that, men are stupid!

She smiled. BJ excused himself. I hated him at that moment. What did he see here? Some connection? Because I did not see anything like that. I was being manipulated by a woman who could have scorched me with her eyes alone not so long ago. Normally, I did not mind being manipulated by a pretty girl like her. Normally, I did not mind being scorched at first glances from pretty girls either. I knew how to work out the kinks. I also knew how to make them turn around and fall for me. But this did not fit. She had a change of heart and it was too sudden and I knew my reputation had nothing to do with it.

I was missing something here.

"Uhh, Cate. I will see you later, I guess. Enjoy your lunch." And with that, I left the table. I had not been this awkward since grammar school.

P.S. Be grateful for my insomnia and inability to study!
Next chapter might be up tomorrow depending on the feedback I get on this one. But chances are, I won't be around till Friday. I have never waited for a weekend this desperately all my life.