M*A*S*H 4077th: Nurse Pierce

Chapter 5: Bug Out: Part 1

Arrow was taking a walk around the compound with the help of a nurse, unaware that she was being watched by Hawkeye and BJ from where they had placed themselves for a viewing of the new latrine's dig site. Although the two doctors, each holding a martini glass filled to the brim, were talking to each other and enjoying some time off, they nevertheless kept a close watch on her.

"Think she'll be okay, Beej?" asked Hawkeye, watching Arrow fumble around.

"It's been four months since her surgery, Hawk. She's recovering just fine," BJ assured, taking a sip from his glass. He sat in contemplative silence for a moment before deciding to ask the question that had been on his mind ever since Arrow was allowed to leave her bed for a few minutes at a time. "Why worry about this patient more than you have the others?"

Hawkeye decided not to answer the question right away. Actually, he wasn't sure if he wanted to answer it at all- at least not before he had a chance to speak with Arrow outside of a doctor-patient relationship.

Realizing he wasn't going to get an answer from his abnormally quiet friend, BJ changed the subject by asking which soldier was using shovel number three. He didn't recognize him.

"Salkowitz," Hawkeye answered suddenly, not looking BJ in the eye, as though he was trapped in a corner. "He's a magician with latrines and cesspools."

"Salkowitz!" BJ called out. "A little deeper on that end. That's where Major Burns sits." His tone made it sound as though he was being thoughtful. "Hawk-"

"Well, how's the new latrine coming along?" asked Father Mulcahey, coming up from behind them.

"Another Taj Mahal," replied Hawkeye, grateful for the interruption.

A moment after speaking with the chaplain, bombs began to explode closer to the camp. The two passed a few more jokes back and forth before rising to their feet and heading to the mess tent. While crossing paths with Arrow and her nurse, Hawkeye stopped them.

"By the sound of those bombs out there, the wounded will be coming in soon. I don't care if you have to carry her back into post-op, just make sure she's in her bed in the next five minutes, and keep her there," he instructed.

"I wish I could argue with you, Doc, but my rib cage still hurts," said Arrow, allowing the nurse to slowly guide her back to her bed.

~***~***~

Hawkeye and BJ were soon at the mess tent, which was one of their only options for food. They came across Major Burns who had wanted to send Arrow away much too soon, something Hawkeye did everything he could to stop so he could keep her with him. Major Margaret Houlihan was with Major Burns. Both were having coffee, making fun of the idea of bugging-out.

Sarcastic phrases left BJ and Hawkeye's mouths while insults came from the majors' but were returned with more sarcasm.

The seemingly childish doctors chose to leave and headed for the coffee. To anyone watching, it would have looked as though the tables had turned, and they were the mature ones for a change.

~***~***~

Minutes that seemed like hours had gone by and Arrow, who felt rather restless, was back outside for another walk. She was by herself this time. The Rumor Mill was strong at work. It started among the doctors and nurses and quickly made its way through the patients that there was to be a bug-out where the camp would take its tents down and pack everything that couldn't be left behind as fast as possible for them to move to a new location.

"A bug out? It can't be," Arrow said to herself in disbelief. "It feels like I just got here and we're already leaving." She was slowly walking around camp as if she was blind. It still hurt for her to open her eyes, not because of how bright it was outside, but because the world would begin to spin around her, causing her to feel sick and ready to collapse. "I have to talk to somebody."