When Love Prevails: A M*A*S*H fanficiton

The Colonel's Party

The party had started after the night shift had ended. The whole unit were in the mess tent to celebrate the Colonel's birthday. What had begun as a civilised get together, to congratulate another year passing of Colonel Potter's well-lived life, had quickly turned into a ruckus of drink and music.

Even Father Mulchahy was already a little worse for wear. His piano playing had gradually become tuneless, not that the rest of the party any the wiser. Most where in a similar, if not worse, state then the Father.

Hawkeye and BJ were sitting at the bar, with a constant supply of drinks. They surveyed their handiwork from their position. It had been BJ's idea and Hawkeye's organisation that had made this party happen.

As Hawkeye turned back to the bar, a pair of arms were thrown around his neck.

"Hey, Ben."

"Look, a pair of talking arms!" Hawkeye comment to BJ.

The owner of the arms laughed and brought herself round to stand next to both of them. It was Shayla. Hawkeye's younger sister.

"How much have you had to drink, young lady?" Pierce's brotherly concern oozed out.

"Only three, four...maybe five..." Shayla frowned trying to remember.

"Well, I say! That is not enough! Get this young lady a drink, barman." Hawkeye put on a posh voice and slammed his hand on the bar to get the barman's attention.

Shayla ordered another brandy and plonked herself on a stall. She looked around the room eagerly searching for a particular face.

"Where's Radar?" She asked. She couldn't find him among the crowd.

"Well you should know. You're the one who's been spending the most time with him recently."

Shayla shot a look at her brother which soon melted away as she realised he was right and there was little point in denying it.

"I think he went to fetch the Colonel's birthday post." BJ interjected.

"How are things between you and him? Enjoy the movie?" Pierce was in the right mood to wind his sister up. She and Radar had been seeing each other for a while now. The latest date night had been at the movie on Friday. They had sat towards the back, holding hands. That was about as far as their relationship had reached but Hawkeye was still going to tease her for it.

"Yes, I did actually. And what me and Radar get up to is none of your business!" Shayla had bitten.

The door flew open and Radar walked through, clipboard in hand. He was heading straight for the person who need to sign the documents, Colonel Potter.

Shayla grew about two inches taller when she saw who had walked in. Pierce and Hunnicut looked at each other and grinned. If that wasn't love, then they had been misinterpreting things for the majority of their lives.

Shayla took another sip of her brandy. She felt guilty that she was enjoying herself whilst Radar was still working. It didn't seem fair. She put down her glass. Someone needed to show him what having a good time was.

Jumping down from the stall, Shayla ignored her brother's query of where she was going and pushed her way through the crowd, until she was near Radar. She watched him as he got the Colonel to sign the papers, and took the clipboard back off him. The Colonel moved away to talk to someone else.

"Radar, come here." Shayla called.

Radar looked up from the clipboard, gave her a smile and then came towards her. As soon as he was close enough, Shayla threw her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. Radar's cheeks immediately blushed. He titled his head diagonally downwards with an embarrassed, but secretly enjoying it, smile.

"Shayla, not in front of all these people."

Shayla shhd him with a finger to his lips. Radar lifted his head, trying to determine what she was doing. He would've asked out right but she had just shhd him. Shayla drew him closer to her. Leaning in she kissed Radar. Almost immediately he kissed her back.

There was a crash as Radar, in pleasant shock, dropped the clipboard and pencil. It went clattering to the hard ground, drawing the attention of the surrounding party-goers. Mouths flew open and there were shocked gasps rippling through the tent. No one could really believe their eyes.

Hawkeye and BJ exchanged a smile. They, of all people, knew just how much of a big step this was for both of them. A flurry of wolfwhistles and cheers egged them on. The crowd found it interesting that the two shyest members of the unit were openly expressing themselves.

Disturbed by the noise they had unwittingly created, Shayla broke away from the kiss and let her forehead connect with Radar's.

"Than..." Radar begun.

"Don't say it, Radar, you'll ruin it." Shayla stopped him. She knew it was just his way of showing how he had enjoyed the experience but to be thanked after kissing made it seem uncomfortable.

"People are going to talk." She warned him.

"I know, I don't mind."

Shayla smiled, she was pleased to hear him say that. It meant he had begun to see this relationship as something more than a passing fancy. It felt stronger than that. Strong enough to disregard what everyone else thought about them and focus on the fact that the two of them shared equal feelings for each other. A fact that was constantly growing.

Shayla slid her right hand from Radar's shoulder, down his arm and entwined her fingers with his. She led him towards the bar, ignoring the stares they were getting. Halfway across, Radar stopped, pulling Shayla back.

"Uh oh." He said, his body tensing.

"Choppers?"

"Choppers."

Shayla questioned and Radar confirmed at the same time. A second later the sound of approaching aircraft could be heard overhead. Groans emanated from every corner of the room. The party was over. 

A mass of people rushed to the door.

"Don't they know we're at a party? It's a 'don't disturb' situation!" Shayla heard her brother say in an half joking tone.

"Well, next time we'll put a 'Don't Disturb' sign out. That ought to do it." BJ added.

Both doctors put down their empty glasses and joined the crowd.

Radar fought through the people. He needed to be out there checking what came in and be ready to take any phone calls, or call out for assistance. He forgot he was holding hands with Shayla and she was yanked into the crowd behind him.

Stopping outside to survey the scene, Shayla tried to catch her breath.

"I need to get back to the Colonel's office."

"And I need to scrub up, and help out. But I can't do that if you insist on yanking me around!"

Radar let go of Shayla's hand, apologetically. She kissed him on the cheek.

"You go and do what you do best and I'll go and do what I do best." Shayla told him. They split ways to do their designated jobs.

Shayla quickly turned her attention to the wounded that lay before her and enquired where her help was most needed.

As Radar weaved his way through the scene, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"I think you might be needing this." Klinger held out the clipboard and pencil that he had dropped in the mess tent. He thanked Klinger and took it from him.

"Hey, good on yer pal. Shayla's a wonderful girl!" Klinger added as he walked away.

Radar blushed, it was embarrassing to receive all the attention but enriching to know, that for once, it was his own happiness that people were talking about.