So Speaks the Heart
Rating: 6
In the Beginning. . .
"Come on Eve, what else are we going to do?" demanded Michelle.
"Oh I don't know," Eve replied with a hint of sarcasm. "How about stay here in Anchorage and lead nice and safe lives?" She rolled over onto her stomach and continued to read her magazine.
"What's this, Eve Ryder wants to do something normal and quite possible boring?" Michelle dropped into a chair in a mock faint.
Without glancing up from her magazine Eve plucked one of the pillows off of her bed and threw it at Michelle.
Even and Michelle had been friends since kindergarten and had even gone through nursing school together. Which was why Michelle was more than aware of the fact that Eve would rather do just about anything than be normal. However, Michelle's idea that they volunteer to go nursing in Vietnam was a little too extreme even for Eve's tastes.
"Come on Eve I really think this is something we should do. My aunt even says we can have her apartment if we want it." Michelle came over, sat on the bed, and plucked the magazine from her hands. "Please?"
Eve took a minute to think about the offer. Except for the war it wouldn't be all that bad. Michelle's family seemed to know people from all over the world because it was her father that knew the CEO at Tan Son Nhut bast just outside of Saigon. This Colonel something or other said that if both women came they would be paid by the Army and guaranteed placement at the Tan Son Nhut hospital. Also, with the offer of Michelle's aunt's apartment they would not even have to live on base.
"Think of all the oh so eligible, and oh so hunky guys that will be there. We'll practically be able to order them custom made," Michelle said when Eve remained silent.
To be honest with herself, Eve had to admit that Michelle's last comment really did peak her interest. Even the nursing aspect would be a much-needed challenge; her skills would be needed because she was trained as a surgical nurse.
"Alright let's go," Eve announced, hoping she would not live to regret this.
That was how a week later Eve found herself standing in front of a mirror getting ready for her day shift in the Tan Son Nhut Post Operative Ward. To say her first week had been a challenge would be a gross understatement.
She frowned slightly as she noticed the dark smudges under her cobalt blue eyes. The marks were a reminder of one too many thirty six-hour sessions in the OR. Sometimes Eve thought that there couldn't possibly be anyone left to be wounded.
With a quick glance at her watch, Eve took only enough time to pin up the last few strands of her curly black hair before she hurried out the door.
The walk to the base was pleasant but not something she would like to do in the dead of night. But she wouldn't trade the privacy the apartment offered for all the safe walks back home.
Eve was fully aware of the stares she received as she walked through the base; not that she had any problem with the attention. Michelle had been right there was a staggering number of very eligible and very willing men.
Post operative shifts were the ones that she liked the least, because the suffering of the soldiers was so much more apparent, and most times the best you could do to help them did not seem to be enough. If that was not bad enough there was always too much to do and not enough time to do it in.
However, despite all her objections to the work, Eve's day passed quickly enough and she was free to join Michelle and some of the other nurses at the Officer's Club. When she arrived, the club was already incredibly busy which suited Eve just fine because she was in the mood to party.
Eve scanned the crowd for her friends, she didn't see them but instead found herself face to face with a chestnut haired Adonis. He smiled at her, a fun playful smile that put a sparkle in his brown eyes.
She smiled back and would have talked to him but Michelle found her just then.
"There you are Eve, come and look what we've go to play with," Michelle took her arm and led her away to their table.
"Is there room for one more?" she asked as they reached the table.
One captain pulled out a chair for her and another went to get her a beer.
"I don't think I've had to pay for a drink since I got here," said Lisa, a perky red head that was just as new to the base as Michelle and Eve were.
"That's the way it should be," Michelle laughed and turned to kiss the man beside her.
"Who's that guy over there?" Eve asked Lisa, jerking her head towards the Adonis.
"Oh that's Lieutenant Johnny McKay. Isn't he amazing?"
Eve nodded but her attention was fixed on Johnny McKay. The badges on his fatigues told her that he was a helicopter pilot, but what really interested her was the fatigues and what muscular male body they covering up.
Michelle noticed where she was staring and laughed. "Now Eve play with the toys you've got before you start acquiring new ones."
The evening just got wilder after that, and Eve didn't see Johnny McKay again until she went up to the bar to get a beer. He was talking to a group of his buddies and his back was to her, but being so close she had no problem hearing his next words.
"Come on Goldman take the bed. Fifty bucks says Eve goes home with me."
It was a good thing his back was towards her or Eve would have shoved her beer bottle down his throat. Instead she took a deep breath, put her hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"A thousand says I'd rather be shot."
Eve walked away without even looking back.
Dancing with a lieutenant whose name she couldn't remember she heard a familiar voice say. "Bugger off." It was McKay and he had his hand on the lieutenant's shoulder, ready to pull him away from her.
The lieutenant looked like he wanted to argue but McKay scowled at him and he gave up, apparently deciding she wasn't worth the fight.
Eve was going to leave as well but McKay grabbed her and pulled her tight to his chest, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.
"I thought that was excellent advice you gave so I'm going to bugger off as well." She tried to struggle but he just held tighter, so she gave up.
"I want to apologize."
"Go to hell."
"Has anyone ever told you you're beautiful when you're angry?"
Eve just remained silent, not giving McKay the satisfaction.
It didn't matter for he seemed to get it anyway because he grinned at her the laughter dancing in his eyes. "No? Well right now you're just about irresistible."
She felt a small thrill that he found her so attractive but she quickly stomped it to teeny tiny bits.
Unfortunately, she must have stayed silent for too long because McKay goaded her again. "Are you sure you don't want to give it a try lovely?"
She lost it. "Never! I will never try anything with you in this lifetime or any other!"
McKay smiled that same devil may care smile and let her go. "Never is a long time Eve."
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