Major O'Brien (A MASH 4077 fiction)

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (5:4)

Catherine got out of bed and pulled Alex's shirt out of her wardrobe. It was colder than usual in her tent and the extra layer was comforting. Just as she was about to lay back down, she heard an explosion and yelling from the nurse's tent next door. She yanked on her robe over the shirt and her pajamas and ran outside, only to see Hawkeye clutching his eyes and being helped by the nurses. Colonel Potter, Radar, and B.J soon joined the rush. Catherine ran to walk beside B.J,
"What happened?" She asked the surgeon. He could only shrug in response.
"Radar, call the 121st Evac! I want their ophthalmologist," Colonel Potter was telling the young clerk, "tell 'em we got a boy with flash burns. Major James Overman. Get his keister up here pronto!" Catherine gasped at the new knowledge and latched onto Hawkeye's right arm as B.J grabbed his left. The two officers helped lead their friend into the hospital to see if there was anything they could do to help Hawkeye until the ophthalmologist arrived at camp.
Catherine didn't know what Radar had said to get the ophthalmologist to the 4077th, but it wasn't long before Hawk's eyes were being gently cleaned and wrapped in gauze. Catherine hadn't left his side, constantly clutching his right hand in both of hers. Hawkeye had held onto her hands tightly, using the pressure and the feel of her skin to ground himself in the dark.
"How's that feel?" Major Overman asked Hawkeye.
"Blind," Hawkeye replied. He pulled his hand from Catherine's and she stood up to join the other doctors and nurses at the foot of Hawkeye's bed.
"Okay Hawkeye, you take it easy for a couple of days. I'll be back Friday," Major Overman told him.
"Listen, uh, one important question. Will I get to keep my nickname?" Hawkeye asked timidly.
"Let's hope so."
"Just wondering if I should rent a seeing-eye-dog or buy one," Hawkeye added.
"See you Friday," Major Overman said as he patted Hawkeye's shoulder and started to leave. The truth was, no one knew if Hawkeye's sight would get better. All they could do was wait. When most of the people had cleared, Nurse Bigelow patted Hawkeye's shoulder,
"We're really sorry, Hawkeye," she said rather loudly, causing the man to jump back.
"You don't have to shout, the sides still work," he told the nurse.
"We're sorry," she whispered.
"That's all right. Next time, get a union man," Hawkeye told her.
"Hawk, if there's anything you need..." B.J started to say to him.
"Well, if you're going by the P.X., you could get me a coloring book and some crayons," Hawkeye joked, but his tone was more serious.
"I think you 're sick enough to qualify for the big box. I gotta go," B.J replied also in a serious tone, but with a grin on his face.
"B.J?"
"Yeah?"
"Visit me a couple hundred times, will ya?" Hawkeye asked him.
"At least," B.J replied before walking out. Kellye helped Hawkeye lie down on his new bed in the post op ward.
"Catherine? You still here?" Hawkeye asked aloud. He hadn't heard from the major in quite some time and he didn't want to admit it had him thinking she had left. Catherine grabbed Hawkeye's hand from where she had pulled a chair next to his new bed and pressed the calloused skin to her face, smiling.
"I'm here; see?" She said to him.
"God, even in the dark, you're beautiful," Hawkeye said more to himself than to her. He didn't see the warmth that spread across her cheeks.
"Listen, I don't go on duty until this afternoon, so I could go get a book from my tent and come sit with you and read to you, if you'd like the company?" Catherine asked Hawkeye.
"I couldn't ask you to do that," Hawkeye argued.
"You're not asking; I'm offering. I'll be right back, okay?" Cathering said and patted Hawkeye's arm before letting go and heading back to her tent. She quickly got dressed in her fatigues and a t-shirt before pulling on Alexander's plaid shirt and her army-issued knit cap on top of the braids that she had done in her hair before she went to sleep. She grabbed a couple of her more well-worn books: Pride and Prejudice and The Last of the Mohicans, which she knew Hawkeye would appreciate. By the time she got back to Post-Op, Hawkeye was sitting in a chair next to another patient who also hand bandages around his eyes.
"Making yourself at home, Hawkeye?" Cathering asked, walking up to the doctor.
"Tom Straw, meet the beautiful Catherine O'Brien," Hawkeye said to the man. Catherine giggled.
"Hello, Catherine," Tom replied.
"It's a pleasure, Tom," Catherine said to the man as she picked up his hand and patted it gently.
"Where you from, Tom?" Hawkeye asked.
"San Francisco," Tom replied.
"Beautiful city," Hawkeye commented. Catherine pulled a chair up to sit with the two men.
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to getting back and not seeing the Golden Gate," Tom said. Catherine let out a sigh and calmly rubbed the back of Tom's hand, having not let it go.
"You trying to depress me? Hawkeye asked him.
"No, no. I'm too busy depressing myself," Tom replied, glumly.
"You're both alive, Hawkeye, Tom. That means a lot these days," Catherine commented. Her reply made Hawkeye reach to try and find her hand, which she noticed and grabbed his with her free hand. The silence continued between the three before Hawkeye decided to break it.
"What'd you do back in San Francisco?" Hawkeye asked Tom.
"Taught high school English," the soldier replied.
"Well, you can teach, even without sight," Catherine said.
"Yeah, be grateful you're not an airline pilot or a truck driver," Hawkeye added.
"Or a doctor," Tom added plainly. Catherine saw Hawkeye freeze and gulp. Her grip on his hand tightened in reassurance.
"Right," Hawkeye replied.
"Pierce!" Frank's entrance into Post-Op scared Catherine and she let go of Hawkeye and Tom's hands. "I thought we agreed we were going to stay in our bed. Major O'Brien, couldn't you make sure your patient stays in his bed?" Frank addressed her. Catherine stood up ad helped Hawkeye stand up and walk towards his bed and Frank.
"Major Burns, the only thing I could do to keep Captain Pierce in his bed is not something I would do in front of the other patients and especially not in front of you," the nurse snapped at the doctor. Frank looked shocked and Hawkeye looked smug.
"I thought we agreed that we were going to loosen that kid's bandage. Did we?" Hawkeye asked Frank.
"I was on a break," Burns argued. Catherine rolled her eyes.
"I'll do it, Captain," she addressed Hawkeye professionally and then stepped away to check and re-wrap the patient's arm bandage.
"Burns, I swear I'm a better doctor blind than you are with both eyes. Catherine, when you're done with that bandage, I want you and Kellye to fill me in on everybody in here," Hawkeye said as Kellye helped him walk over to Catherine, "Frank, you can go back to what you were going: nothing." Catherine giggled quietly as Frank stomped off.
"Does this feel better to you, Doctor?" Catherine asked Hawkeye. The man felt the fixed bandage and nodded,
"It feels great, Catherine. Now, what was hat you were saying about keeping me in bed all day?" He asked cheekily.
"Seeing as how we're about to round on our patients, you won't be in bed. So, I guess you don't get to find out," Catherine replied sassily. The two's casual flirting was interrupted when Radar came into Post-Op.
"Major, there's a phone call for you from Tokyo; says it's urgent," Radar told Catherine. She nodded,
"Well here, Kellye, help the Captain do his rounds." Catherine was about to walk away to take her phone call when Hawkeye grabbed onto her arm. Catherine chuckled before pulling his hand up to touch her face, letting him feel her smile.
"I'll talk to you later, Captain Pierce," she said. Catherine walked with Radar back to his office/room, which was just through a door from Post-Op, and picked up the phone when the Corporal handed it to her.
"Major O'Brien here," she said. A deep and pompous voice sounded out over the receiver into Catherine's ear. She frowned as the voice continued to complain.
"I can't just come back," Catherine started saying as the voice almost spoke over her, "because I am saving lives here." The voice kept arguing with her. "Well, I don't care if you're miserable without me. No! Don't have the Lieutenant Colonel call to request me be transferred. Major! Charles!" The call ended abruptly and Catherine huffed as she handed Radar the phone. Radar said nothing to her as she knocked on Colonel Potter's office door. When she was called into the office, she didn't expect to also see Major Burns.
"Well, he's got no business being in there if he's sick," Frank complained as the Colonel polished his riding boots on top of his desk, "I suggest we ship him back to the 121st,."
"Why?" Potter and Catherine asked at the same time.
"Well, I'm sure he'd be a lot more comfortable," Frank replied, ignoring Catherine. The female Major rolled her eyes. Colonel Potter was much more diplomatic about his answer.
"I appreciate your concern. You're right. He should be moved."
"Well, thank-you," Frank beamed.
"But I don't think it's necessary to take him any further than the Swamp," Colonel Potter added.
"But I..." Frank started.
"And to avoid the inevitable argument; dismissed," the Colonel cut him off. Frank huffed and walked out of the Colonel's office, "Now, what can I do for you, Major?" He asked Catherine. She sighed.
"Sir, I have it on good authority that Lieutenant Colonel Horace Baldwin may be calling you to request for my transfer back to Tokyo," she told him. Potter looked up at her and set down his polishing brush.
"Do you want to be transferred?" He asked her. Catherine shook her head harshly,
"No, sir! I have a friend in Tokyo; a very talented surgeon. He can be...needy and quite frankly, dramatic. He's the one who really wants me back in Tokyo. If you would allow, I can go to Tokyo for a couple of weeks to appease him and also return with supplies for our unit?" She asked. The Colonel's office phone rang and Radar stuck his head in the door.
"It's Lieutenant Colonel Baldwin for you, sir," the clerk said to Potter. Catherine begged him with her eyes and Potter nodded,
"I could spare you for two weeks, Major. No more," he said sternly. Catherine squealed with delight and friend before walking out of the office and towards the Swamp to check on Hawkeye.
As Catherine walked into the tent, she saw Klinger was sitting on Hawkeye's bed, wearing a blue and yellow floral dress with a fake mink shawl. She quietly kept into the tend and made a face at Klinger to not tell Hawkeye that she was there.
"Listen, Captain, I brought you something," Klinger instead said to Hawkeye.
"Great. Have Catherine sit on the edge of the bed and tell me when you're gone. I always wanted a Major as a present," Hawkeye replied and looked towards Catherine. She gawked,
"How did you know it was me?" Catherine asked as she walked to sit next to Klinger on Hawkeye's cot. Hawkeye reached out for her hand and the major helped him by holding it.
"I could smell the shampoo from your hair the minute you came through the door," Hawkeye replied.
"Sorry sir, I didn't bring you the Major. All I got for you was this," Klinger placed a duck call in Hawkeye's other hand, "in case you ever need us, just toot." Hawkeye practiced making the call and sounded out an annoying duck noise.
"Perfect!" He proclaimed.
"It was either that or a Howitzer," Klinger said.
"He couldn't get his lips around a Howitzer," Catherine commented . Hawkeye smirked and tooted again. Klinger stood up at attention,
"Yes, sir. What can I do for you?" He asked.
"Works like a charm," Catherine said.
"Klinger, would you like to escort me to the art museum?" Hawkeye asked him.
"We don't have an art museum," Klinger replied.
"Then I'll settle for the latrine," Hawkeye told him.
"Since your transportation awaits, I'll leave you to it. Hawkeye, can I talk to you later? I'm in Post-Op tonight," Catherine said, helping Hawkeye to stand. The captain patted her cheek and rubbed his thumb gently over her lips. It was these quick moments that Catherine could actually imagine herself moving on from Alexander.
"I'll have someone drop me off," he replied to her and Catherine left to try and grab a quick shower and bite to eat before her shift. By the time Catherine walked into Post-Op with her white, nurse's jacket over some fresh fatigues, B.J and Hawkeye were talking at the desk used for paperwork.
"And I, I didn't just hear it. I was part of it. I'll bet you have no idea that, that rain hitting the ground makes the same sound as steaks when they're barbecuing. Or that thunder seems to echo forever," Catherine smiled as Hawkeye talked to his bunky, "and you wouldn't believe what-how funny it is to hear somebody slip and fall in the mud. It had to be Burns," B.J smiled and Catherine giggled. Hawkeye reached out for her and Catherine grabbed his hand, a motion that didn't go unnoticed by B.J. He had started to notice how his two friends had gotten closer in the past couple of weeks.
"Beej, this is full of trap doors, but I, uh, I think there may also be some kind of advantage in this. I've never spent a more conscious day in my life." Catherine squeezed his hand to show her support. Unfortunately for the trio of friends, Major Burns came into Post-Op and interrupted their talking.
"Alright, Pierce. This area's been deemed off-limits to personnel in your condition and I'm giving you one minute to clear out, starting now," the male major said.
"Major,"
"Frank," Catherine and B.J said at the same time.
"Fifty-five seconds and counting," Frank continued.
"Frank, do us a favor and defect!" Hawkeye snapped at him.
"All right. That's it, Mister. No more chances. Orderly!" Frank's voice got louder. Hawkeye stood up quickly and pushed his cane into Catherine's arms harshly.
"Alright, Frank. Here we go! This is your one chance for a fair fight!" Hawkeye yelled, raising his fists.
"Oh, you asked for it Pierce!" Frank yelled back, raising his own fists. B.J and Catherine both moved to stand in between the men. B.J pushed back Frank while Catherine held onto Hawkeye's chest, her fingers sliding under the edges of his well-worn bathrobe.
"I can take you with both eyes tied behind my back!" Hawkeye yelled, pushing against Catherine. She and B.J spun in a circle, trying to keep the two apart.
"Easy, easy, easy!" B.J said.
"Who's this?" Hawkeye asked as Catherine pushed again on his chest.
"It's me, Hawkeye," Catherine said to him, trying to push him away from Frank. Despite being tall and lanky, Catherine's hands touched muscle and had trouble moving Hawkeye from his stance.
"Where's Frank?" Hawkeye asked. Catherine knew she wouldn't be able to hold him off much longer.
"Catherine, get him outta here, will you?" B.J begged her as the four officers continued to circle.
"Say something Frank, so I'll know where to spit!" Catherine started pulling on the angry man's arms, to lead him out of Post-Op.
"Hawkeye. Hawkeye. Benjamin!" Catherine used her friend's birth name as she practically drug him to the door.
"Catherine?" Hawkeye asked, the use of his name catching his attention.
"Yes, it's me. Come on, let's go to my tent so we can talk like I wanted to," she said, leading the man to her empty tent.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?" He asked her as she helped him sit on her bed. Catherine pulled her desk chair over and set it in front of him.
"I'm fine, are you okay? Burns really riled you up," she said and grabbed a hold of his hands in hers.
"You haven't been here with him as long as I have. He festers under your skin like a wound. But enough of Ferret Face; what did you want to talk to me about?" Hawkeye replied. Catherine sighed reluctantly.
"I received a telephone call today and I'm needed back at Tokyo General," Catherine replied. Hawkeye's face fell and his rip tightened.
"You're being transferred?" He asked softly. Catherine shook her head, then huffed when she realized he couldn't see her.
"No, just for two weeks. I told Colonel Potter that I didn't want to transfer, despite a friend of mine wanting it. While I'm there, I'll get some supplies for the hospital. Do you want me to get you and B.J anything while I'm there?" Catherine asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Just promise me you'll come back soon. I would like to take you...wait a second," Hawkeye's head perked up.
"What is it, Hawkeye?"
"Chopper's coming." It took a minute longer to hear what Hawkeye was referring to, but when she did she pulled him up from his seat.
"Do you want to scrub in and observe, chief surgeon?" Catherine asked him. Hawkeye nodded.
"When do you leave for Tokyo?" He asked while they walked quickly to the scrub room.
"Klinger was supposed to drive me to the airport after my shift, but he'll probably be okay waiting until after this session of wounded," she replied, "and Hawkeye? Call me when Dr. Overman takes off the bandages, okay? I want to know the results, whether you'll see me again or only hear me." Hawkeye patted her arm,
"You got it."