Major Catherine O'Brien never imagined herself joining a MASH unit in the middle of the Korean War, but one day she finds herself apart of the 4077 and her life is changed.
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Catherine stayed with Nurse Cratty for another month-or-so, until Cratty got a call from Colonel Sherman T. Potter It seemed that some recent tension at the 4077th left the MASH short on permanent nurses. None of them could stand Major Margaret Houlihan or the surgeon that was Houlihan's cohort, Major Frank Burns. Plus, Radar had kept begging the Colonel to request Major O'Brien be officially transferred to their unit. Since Catherine was technically just on loan and still assigned to Tokyo General, the only thing left to do was write Charles a letter to tell him where she'd be for the foreseeable future.
Dear Charles, Is it with great sadness that I must tell you that I will not be returning to you or Tokyo General. I have been requested to leave Nurse Meg Cratty's care and begin working at a MASH unit; the 4077th. I highly doubt a man of your grace and poise would come to a place like this; it's far too clean, she joked. I am still holding to my promise to not touch a drop of alcohol, no matter how bad things may seem. I read in your last letter that you are still torturing Colonel Baldwin in cards? I hope it does not come back to bite you in the derriere. Give all of my love to Japan and the same for yourself. Your Dear Friend, Major Catherine O'Brien
Catherine wasn't prepared at all for what she had joined until the jeep carrying her and her worldly possessions pulled into MASH 4077. Ambulances and helicopters alike were unloading wounded by the dozen. Without waiting for the jeep to stop fully, she jumped out of the passenger seat and ran to go help with triage.
"Major! We weren't expecting you for two more days!" Radar called to her, running after Catherine after he grabbed her bags off of the jeep. Catherine was checking a pressure bandage on a chest wound.
"Corpsman!" She called, making a familiar face in female clothing come running.
"Major! Welcome back! What can I do for ya?" Klinger asked her. Catherine pointed to the patient in front of her,
"I don't know who's best with chest cases, but this guy needs to be priority one, okay? Make sure one of the surgeons knows,"
"Your wish is my command, oh Majorette," Klinger replied and ran off.
"Major!" Radar called to Catherine exasperated. Catherine turned and put her hands on his shoulders,
"Corporal O'Reilly, I am sorry I put a kink in your very tight schedule, but it looks like the Chinese and South Koreans did too. I'm here to help, can you please let me?"
"Well, where do you want your things? We don't have your tent setup yet," Radar asked.
"Is the VIP tent free? Or even set them in the office. Just shove them somewhere until we have a break," Catherine replied and ran off to tend to more patients.
"South Koreans are getting younger," Catherine heard a familiar voice as she walked into the O.R after scrubbing. She was covered in clean, white scrubs from her head down to her army boots.
