There was one opinion of Hawkeye that Katherine carried until the day she died: his singing at any opportunity was a godsend.
"Knock it off Pierce." Henry groaned as he, Trapper and Spearchucker tried to save a boys life.
"What, a little background harmony keeps things harmonious!" Katherine, who was trying to clean and set a leg, protested.
"Why thank you! I'm here for the midnight show!" Hawkeye fluttered. "Sponge."
"We're trying to work here." Trapper snapped.
Katherine rolled her eyes and gave up. She carefully pulled a rather large scrap of shrapnel out of the boys leg, which was awfully close to the femoral artery. "Whew, that nearly ended badly." She muttered, throwing the metal into the scrap bin. This was not fun, but at least she wasn't poor Ginger, who was at the mercy of Frank Burns. Katherine was really starting to loathe Frank Burns, which didn't help as he was technically her direct manager, when he could be bothered with her.
She continued to look around the leg, making sure she got everything. Something didn't seem right…
"GOT IT!" Katherine cried, having found a tiny fragment of shrapnel. "Knew something wasn't right!"
"Good catch, I never would have seen that!" Margaret, who was assisting, looked impressed.
"Keep up the good work Kathy." Henry said, despite the difficulty he was in himself.
Katherine looked up in time to see Hawkeye's eyes smiling at her. She looked down with a smile of her own, feeling on top of the world. She was doing it, she was really doing it! Charles and Professor Warren would have been very proud.
–
After several more hours and many more patients, Katherine headed to the Mess tent for a much-needed shot of coffee. She had a new book on Japanese sword-fighting she was looking forward to reading and learning from, plus that evening there was going to be a party the nurses were throwing for Lieutenant Prescott's birthday.
She had just poured herself a coffee and was getting Kellye one when she saw Ginger crying in the corner. Katherine shot Kellye a look and the pair both went to sit with the poor nurse.
"I don't know why they insist on putting you on Frank Burns table, we all know how terrible he is with you." Katherine handed Ginger a coffee. "He's a pig, a racist pig."
"It's fine, I don't want to cause any trouble." Ginger wiped her eyes.
"HE'S the trouble." Kellye said firmly. "He's tried to put me on report so many times now I can't even count them."
"He's supposed to help me but he never does, unless it's something to make himself look better." Katherine said bitterly. "Or if it's to yell at me."
"Anything to make himself feel powerful over anyone else." Kellye scoffed. "Don't worry about him Ginger, Colonel Blake won't let him report you."
"Thank you." Ginger started to cheer up.
"So, now to more important things." Katherine said, sipping her coffee. "Who is wearing what tonight?"
"Oh Katherine, this isn't one of your balls." Ginger laughed. "We're all just wearing uniforms."
"I'll have you know that I once danced with John Wayne. I mean, it was during a social dance, so we were all changing partners throughout the dance, but I did dance with him." Katherine bragged.
"You got to go to all those fun dances and balls!" Kellye sighed.
"Not many of them, but if the boys needed a chaperone I often went." Katherine told them. "I got in so much trouble for dancing that night, but it was worth it!"
"I'll bet!" Ginger and Kellye looked at each other approvingly.
"ATTENTION! ALL PERSONNEL! TOMORROW AT ELEVEN HUNDRED HOURS GENERAL HAMMOND WILL BE HERE TO PRESENT COLONEL BLAKE WITH AN AWARD FOR THE 4077TH REACHING NINETY PERCENT EFFICIENCY! YOU'RE ALL AMAZING!"
"Wow, tomorrow's gonna be a big day!" Kellye looked impressed.
"Ninety percent. Wow!" Katherine was stunned. "And we're all part of it."
"Heck yeah! Here's to our amazing work!" Ginger held up her coffee, and the three toasted all their hard work.
–
Katherine was left standing in the middle of the compound, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Henry's speech was nothing to write home about, but now he was being transferred to Tokyo? Leaving the 4077th?
FRANK would be in charge?!
"This is not good. Not good at all." Katherine wandered back to her tent. Unfortunately, that meant going past Frank Burns.
"That sword isn't regulation, so I expect it to be gone tomorrow." Frank stopped her.
"Frank, this sword keeps me emotionally regulated!" Katherine was taken aback. "Sidney Freedman -,"
"I don't care about your emotional regulation, I care about ACTUAL regulation!" Frank barked. "That sword is an unauthorised weapon and I have half a mind to tell you to turn it in! It will be gone from your person tomorrow otherwise I will order it destroyed, is that clear?!"
Katherine was flabbergasted. He would destroy Swordy?!
"Yes, sir." Katherine decided it wasn't worth the fight. For good measure, she added a salute.
"Good. I see you get who's in charge here now." Frank smirked. "Dismissed."
Frank walked off, leaving Katherine devastated.
–
"He threatened to destroy Swordy?!" Trapper exclaimed in the Swamp later on.
"He just barrelled over me. I don't know what to do." Katherine sipped tentatively at the martini she'd been handed. Ugh, disgusting!
"He's started already." Hawkeye looked worried. "Did you talk to Hot Lips? I know she'd be on your side."
"She's on R and R for the next week, otherwise she'd be the first place I'd go." Katherine groaned. "And Frank has locked down the phone for official use only."
"No calls home?!" Spearchucker looked livid. "He's only been in power a few hours and already he's gone too far!"
"Look, let's calm down." Hawkeye set down his drink. "Let's see if we can work this out. I'll talk to Frank and see if I can work something out. Just...don't stress, and try not to be too abrasive."
"Abrasive? I'm tempted to run Frank through with a Jeep!" Trapper looked indignant.
"Kathy, we'll look out for you, so don't worry." Hawkeye sat next to Katherine, who looked scared. "Just keep your head down and your manners tight, and we'll figure this out. Promise."
Katherine nodded miserably.
"Curfew is soon. I'd better go. Thank you all." Katherine downed the rest of her lighter fluid and walked out of the Swamp.
"Kathy," Hawkeye said as she opened the door.
She turned to look at him.
"It WILL be okay. I promise."
Katherine walked back to her tent, dejected.
"It WILL be okay, I PROMISE?" Spearchucker raised an eyebrow at Hawkeye.
"Someone has all the moves!" Trapper joined in on the razzing. "No wonder she won't look at me!"
"Oh come on!" Hawkeye threw his pillow at Spearchucker, and a pillow fight broke out.
–
Katherine was MISERABLE for the next week. She did her best to hide it, but the anger broke out at points, with one incident nearly landing her on report!
"You may be a surgeon, but you're still only a trainee and you will treat your superiors with respect!" Frank barked at her in the CO's office, circling her like a predator around prey.
"I'm sorry, Sir." Katherine felt absolutely destroyed. What had happened is Trapper had made another pass at her - and in her tetchy state she'd ripped him a new one. Frank had seen the whole exchange and despite the best protests of Trapper, Hawkeye and Spearchucker, she was now in deep trouble.
"You're sorry." Frank sneered. "You should have thought of that before you stepped out of line!"
"Yes, Sir." Katherine figured that protesting would get her nowhere.
"Now, I don't want to put you on report, so I'm going to let it slide this time, but be warned, one more infraction and you'll be in it up to your neck, is that clear?!" Frank barked.
"Yes, Sir!" Katherine did her best not to let the fact that she was devastated show. The whole incident made her want to retreat to her tent and cry.
"Good." Frank sat down on his desk. "You know, I can be a reasonable man."
"Yes, Sir." Katherine agreed, her gut starting to recoil.
"I can be good for your career if you keep me happy, if you know what I mean." Frank ran his tongue over where his lips should have been if he had lips. Katherine felt like her insides were dropping to her feet.
"Yes, Sir." She choked out.
"Sir, choppers!" Radar suddenly burst in. Frank ran out immediately.
"Thanks Kiddo." Katherine relaxed somewhat. "I miss Colonel Blake."
"Me too." Radar sighed. "Are you okay, Sis?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Katherine was not fine at all and she clearly looked it.
"Look, I got Trapper and Hawkeye to Tokyo, they're gonna try and get the Colonel back." Radar said under his breath.
"I hope it works." Katherine whispered back, but she wasn't certain.
That was when the actual sound of choppers arrived.
–
After a comparatively brief session in OR (only two patients who Frank and Katherine took care of easily) Katherine went back and hid in her tent. She was terrified that Frank was going to come looking for her, and terrified of him coming into her tent.
She wasn't safe. She was all alone with Hawkeye and Margaret gone. She didn't even dare pull Swordy out of her footlocker in case Frank came in and saw him.
She cried bitterly and silently, feeling like a teenager again. How had things gotten so awful?
There was a knock at her door. Katherine started hyperventilating, trying to get herself under control in case it was Frank. She had known this fear before and it hurt her to feel it again.
"Kathy! It's me, Henry! Are you okay?"
Katherine burst out of her tent and hugged Henry tightly, sobbing. Henry gripped her tightly, feeling sick that he'd left her with Frank.
"It's okay now kid, I'm coming home to stay and Frank won't hurt you again." Henry promised.
Katherine couldn't reply, she was still sobbing out her relief.
"And might I suggest you go get Swordy? You look weird without him." Henry added.
"Y-yes, Sir." Katherine hiccupped.
"You look like a mess Kathy, how about you take the next two days off?" Henry suggested. "I'll make Frank cover your shifts in Post-Op."
Katherine grinned. "Yes please, Sir!"
