Plum Wine

Inspired by M*A*S*H

By B

Hawkeye glared into the trash can, his eyes frustrated and annoyed… yet another inedible meal… either the cooks here were working for the enemy and were trying to starve them, or they were just that incompetent. Either way, they all had to pay the price… nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, vomiting… the food here was the pits, literally.

Setting the tray that he’d just emptied down, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked… as he walked, he let his mind drift.

Things had changed FAST around here…

The inclusion of two new nurses, for example, was a breath of fresh air. Both of them had their quirks… Lieutenant Adams, or Peachy as Trap had started calling her, was full of southern spunk and would kick anyone’s ass who tried to tell her that she couldn’t do something… and Captain Walker, or Ali as he had quickly grown to calling her, had already sat in on a poker game, cigar in her mouth and whiskey in her hand, and played like the rest of the men, and wiped the floor with a couple of them…

*Sniff…Sniff*

His eyes glanced up, and confusion spread across his features… That smelled… downright delicious…

“The hell is that… and where’s it coming from…”

He glanced around, his nose still sniffing like a hound, and he walked… and with a shocked stare, he looked at the pinpointed location… the kitchens.

“No… that’s not possible… edible food isn’t capable of coming out of here…”

Still, though… that WAS where it was coming from…

He opened the door, peeking in, and came face to face with Captain Walker herself, her eyes wide as she glanced around and hissed at him.

“Get in here before someone else smells it!”

He darted in and closed the door, his eyes wide, and he glanced at her hands… she was skillfully chopping some vegetables, her eyes focused as she quickly finished and tossed the handful into the pan, which was already sizzling with what looked to be cabbage or spinach…

“What’re you doing?” he asked as she blinked.

“I’m changing the oil in my car, can’t you tell?” she asked, her eyes sparkling as he snorted.

“Brat. What’re you MAKING?” he asked, walking forward and peering in at the pan.

“Korean BBQ chicken, beef, and garlic vegetables on a bed of rice.” She said as he stared, and she snickered, making him wipe his face out of worry that he’d drooled subconsciously.

“You cook?” he asked, watching her nod as she whisked a small bowl of sauce that had a strong garlic scent before pouring it on the medley of vegetables.

“I do. I enjoy cooking.” She gave him a smile, then grabbed a pair of chopsticks she’d been cooking with, expertly grabbing a mushroom from the sauce, blowing on it, then offering it out, watching as his face grew surprised.

“Really?” He asked as she nodded, watching him lean forward and snag the mushroom, chewing… then staring into the pan, his mouth salivating from the flavor. “THAT is DELICIOUS!” he said, watching as she grinned, flipping the vegetables around a bit before continuing.

“Thanks!” She pulled them off the heat, letting them simmer and cook on their own, and she pulled out another pan and more oil… a small jar of it.

“What’s that?”

“Peanut oil. You’re not allergic, are you? I cooked the vegetables in vegetable oil because it helps keep them from sticking better with my garlic sauce, but the peanut oil goes better with the spice of the Korean BBQ sauce.” She said, watching as he shook his head.

“No, no. Not allergic.”

She nodded, drizzling the oil into the jar as he leaned forward, watching her intently. As the oil heated up, she grabbed some fresh chicken and beef, and with a smile she put them in the pan, seasoning them before backing off for a moment. “That’ll be a minute. So, what brought you hunting out here?” she asked, watching as he chuckled.

“Lack of edible food, actually.”

“Why do you think I went to one of the local farmers and bought some fresh stuff? I was getting some for a family I’d come across in the village anyhow, so I figured… why not?”

“You bought food for the locals?” he asked, watching her nod.

“Mmhmm. What good are we really doing for these people… if we don’t give back to THEM… our camps and troops are in THEIR farmlands… the least we can do is get some of them supplies here and there…”

He nodded, smiling faintly as she tucked her hair behind her ear, stirring the meat before grabbing another bowl, this one full of a brownish, freshly whisked sauce, and she poured it over the food with a smile before stirring again, then turning off the burner. She grabbed a bowl, scooping some rice, veggies, and meat into it… and offered it to him with a chuckle as his eyes widened.

“For me?”

She just nodded, offering him the chopsticks she’d cooked with as he took them and took a bite of the finished meal… then stared into the bowl.

“Is it alright?” she asked, grabbing a bowl and getting herself a helping as he stared at her.

“This is amazing…” he said, stuffing another bite in as she grinned. She leaned down, grabbing more things, and he finally noted that she had everything in a medical bag… and as she straightened, she slid a sake glass over at him.

“Here.”

He watched as she poured a helping of deep purple liquid into the glass, then into her own, and she raised it with a smirk. “Kanpai.” She grinned, watching him try and force his bite down to grab his own.

“Kanpai!” he returned with a pleasantly surprised grin. “You know some Japanese!” he asked, sipping his drink, then staring into the glass. “Cherry blossom?”

“Not quite. Plum wine.” She said, grinning as he smirked.

“Ah. Haven’t had that in a while.”

“Me either… I’ve been saving it.” She said, watching him blink. “Back to your question…” she said, grabbing a bite and chewing it, swallowing before continuing to talk. “Yes. Some, anyhow. I was stationed in Tokyo a while, so I picked some up. Uh… let’s see… “Ato de nanisuruno?” she asked as he grinned gleefully.

“I don’t speak much but I can translate here and there… uh… hm… Nani is what, right?”

“Hai.” She said impishly as he chuckled.

“…You’ve got me. So, I’m rustier than I thought.” He laughed as she grinned. “What’d you ask?”

“The same thing I used to ask other nurses after my shifts… What are you doing later?” she snickered as he chuckled.

“I SHOULD have known that! You’ll have to teach me that before I go to Tokyo again!”

“Remind me, but I’d love to.” She smiled, taking another bite with her chopsticks as he dug in. “By the way… feel free to dig in for seconds. I made too much… but I knew saving the ingredients for another day would be damn near impossible. I’d take some to Lila, but by the time Trapper lets her out of the supply room, it’ll be cold!” She said as he nodded and laughed.

“Thanks, Ali!”

“Of course.”

He finished his bowl, then scooped a bit more rice, grabbing a bit more veggies and a hair more meat as she chuckled, her eyes on him as she grinned at him. “What’s funny?”

“Nothing, just… grateful someone likes the food other than me.” She said as he nodded. “I love to make foods from different cultures. I’m determined to be able to make at LEAST five authentic dishes from every place I get stationed at.” She said as he nodded, taking another bite and watching as she hit the bottom of the bowl.

“What else are you interested in?” he asked as she smirked.

“What are YOU interested in?” she asked back as he blinked. “You already got an answer out of me. Seems only fair that I get to ask next.”

“Fine, shoot.” He said, taking of his wine, watching her get a thoughtful look, then chuckle.

“I already asked. What’re you interested in, Hawkeye?”

“Right now, YOU.”

“Very cute.”

“Ok, ok.” He said, snorting as he gave her a smile. “I like to read, particularly mystery novels… crime novels. I go to plays and musicals when I get a chance…”

“OH! You like musicals?!” she asked excitedly as he chuckled.

“I do, but let’s not spread that around…”

She cleared her throat, then sang. “Anything you can wear I can wear better. I can wear anything better than you.”

He gave her a giddy grin, leaning forward. “You like musicals!”

“I do!”

Hawkeye took another gulp of the wine, watching her do the same. “I can also play piano.” He said, grinning. “I love the ocean… I grew up on the coast, so I miss it, you know.”

She went still, then laughed. As he gave her a quizzical look, she extended her hand. “Oak Island, North Carolina!” she said as he let out a laugh, taking her hand and shaking it playfully.

“Crabapple Cove, Maine!”

“We tend to catch more shrimp and flounder, how about you?”

“Lobster and Salmon, but we also get a fair amount of striped bass. You fish?” he asked as she nodded, his face going surprised.

“My Dad and I go out on the boats in the summer! Crack open a few cans, throw out lines, and relax on the ocean.” She grinned as he snorted.

“THAT sounds familiar. You’d get along well with my Dad. What about your mom?” he asked curiously as she gave him a small smile.

“…My mother passed away giving birth to me.” She said quietly. “My Dad raised me.”

“Damn… I’m sorry… I understand… my Mom passed away when I was a kid… my Dad raised me too.”

She frowned, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s ok… It was a long time ago… My Dad and I are CLOSE because of it though…” he said with a smile.

“Mine too.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear as he looked thoughtfully at her, then chuckled. “I’ve got one. Favorite form of dance.”

“I prefer the jitterbug, but I’m partial to a lindy-hop as well.” She said as he grinned, laughing. “What?!”

“I LOVE to Lindy! That’s my favorite dance style. I can do a jitterbug when I need to, but the Lindy is my absolute favorite!”

 “You’ll have to show me that in the O-Club!” she grinned as he nodded.

“Next time we go, you’re on!” He said, watching her smile again.

“Your turn. Let’s see… Ah! Do you sing?”

“Unforgettable… that’s what you are… Unforgettable… Tho’ near or far… Like a song of love that clings to me… How the thought of you does things to me… Never before… Has someone been more… Unforgettable… In every way…” he sang, trailing off as she clapped enthusiastically.

“Oh well done!”

“Thank you, thank you, I’ll take an award for that in my dressing room later.” He grinned. “How about you? Do you sing? REALLY sing?”

“Stars shining bright above you… Night breezes seem to whisper I love you… Birds singing in the sycamore tree… Dream a little dream of me… Say night-ie night and kiss me… Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me… While I’m alone and blue as can be… Dream a little dream of me…” she sang, watching his eyes light up with delight as he applauded.

“Encore!”

“I’m sorry, one act per night!” she grinned as he snickered, glancing over at her. “And on that note… I unfortunately need to clean up to go on shift.” She said, slamming the last of her wine as he nodded.

“I’ll help.”

“You don’t have to do that!”

“Hey, it’s only fair… I ate it, I clean up too.” He said, smiling as she chuckled and nodded.

“Suit yourself.” She said, getting up and grabbing her bowl and glass and taking it to the sink. She plugged the bottom and began filling the large metal sink, adding some soap to help with getting the food off of the pots and pans she had cooked on.

Once there were soap bubbles filling the sink, she started scrubbing, her eyes on the pots and pans as he started gathering up dishes, bringing them over and pushing his hands into the water with her, grabbing a scrubber and helping her scrub up. Their hands worked together under the soapy water, sloshing and scrubbing, moving clean stuff to the empty sink next to them… until Ali accidentally sent a wave of bubbles Hawkeye’s way, that is, much to his amusement.

“AH! Ali!” he laughed, his eyes wide as his arm got coated in soap bubbles, her eyes widening.

“Oh, WHOOPS! Sorry!” she said, about to say more, but his hand had quickly scooped up a handful of suds… and flicked them straight at her face as she let out a yelp, laughing. “OH!” she laughed, squeaking as a wad of bubbles dripped off her nose, her eyes wide as he grinned.

“HA!” he said, laughing as she squeaked and grabbed a handful of bubbles and chucked them at him, getting them in his hair as he let out a howl. “H-HEY!”

The two began chucking soap at one another, howling and laughing as they quickly became coated in bubbles, clumps of fluffy white clinging to their hair, their noses, their uniforms… everywhere… leaving them grinning and breathless and smiling in each other’s faces… and nose to nose.

He sucked in a small breath, his hand coming up to touch her soapy cheek… and he felt her shiver, her eyes locking on his as she looked up at him. “…Hawkeye…”

“…Yeah, Ali…”

His eyes locked on her lips… pouty, one drawn between her teeth… he could feel her breath on his lips…

Their noses touched…

“I…I can’t…”

She backed up, her eyes widening slightly as he cleared his throat. “S-Sorry…”

“It was my fault…” she said, her eyes on his as he shook his head.

“No, no…”

She swallowed, then wiped at her hair, clearing some more of the soap as she took another breath. “Yeah… it was… We have a shift together later… I’ll see you then.” She said, smiling softly before darting out of the kitchen… leaving him to move and lean against the table, his eyes drifting closed as he caught his breath and ran a hand through his hair…