A/N: Please be kind as this is my first M.A.S.H fanfic. R & R

Disclaimer: I own no part of M.A.S.H. If I did, do you really think I'd be writing on here?

Hawkeye Pierce stood up. "Finally," he thought to himself, "I thought that last patient would never leave." He started walking towards the door, but then he stopped. There were dark spots on the edge of his vision. He rubbed his eyes to try and make them go away, but they stayed there. Finally, after about a minute, they went away. He walked to the door and thought, "That's strange. I must be more tired than I thought."

That night, as Hawkeye was getting ready for bed, the spots came back. "I must really be tired," he said to himself. He shrugged his shoulders and got in bed.

The next morning, when Hawkeye woke up, the spots were still there. No matter how hard he rubbed his eyes, they wouldn't go away. He got ready for work and ate breakfast, hoping that the spots would just go away, but they were still there when he left for work. "They'll go away sooner or later," Hawkeye kept thinking. But they didn't.

It had been almost two weeks since Hawkeye had first noted the spots, and they hadn't gone away. In fact, they'd started to get worse. Hawkeye kept going about his normal routine, trying to ignore them and hoping that they'd just go away on their own. Ever since a stove had exploded in His face and blinded him in Korea, he'd hated eye doctors. His excuse for not going was that he didn't need to; there was nothing wrong with his eyes. Now that there really was something wrong with his eyes, his excuse was, "They'll go away eventually. No need to go to the doctor over something so minor. Anyways, I'm too busy at the clinic."

Hawkeye's Dad had died almost three years ago, and Hawkeye had taken on his dad's patients as well as keeping his own patients. That had made him so busy that he had to extend the clinic hours. Sometimes, when emergencies came up, he wouldn't get home until after midnight. He was also pretty much on call twenty-four hours a day, which made it very hard to get a good night's sleep. Even on his days off, Saturday and Sunday, he wasn't really off because people would still call him if they had a problem, and Hawkeye couldn't stand the thought of turning anyone away. That was one of the bad parts about being the only doctor in Crabapple Cove.

Not only was Hawkeye the only doctor, but there was no nurse either. He and his dad hadn't seen a need for it with both of them there, and now that his dad was gone, Hawkeye just didn't have time to find one. He had tried a couple different times, but most of the interviews he set up ended up having to be canceled because of an emergency. Those few interviews that didn't get canceled, the nurses just didn't seem qualified, or they wanted more pay, or they objected to the clinic's hours and said that he should see fewer patients. Hawkeye had finally given up but now he was once again considering getting.

The spots on Hawkeye's eyes weren't getting any better. They were getting worse. It had been almost two months since Hawkeye had first noted them, and now they weren't just on the edges of his vision, they were all over. They had gotten to the point that they were starting to interfere with his work. He had told his receptionist, an older lady named Mrs. Peters, to not make any appointments for the next week, to tell people that he was taking a week off, and to call him if it was an emergency. He was hoping that maybe the problem would start to get better if he rested his eyes more. He wasn't taking the week totally off, though. He was planning to interview nurses. He hoped that a nurse would help lighten his load a little.

The first nursing candidate had arrived. She was an older lady, plump, and looked sort of grandmotherly. "How long have you been a nurse?" asked Hawkeye. "That, young man, is none of your business! How rude!" she replied in a nasally voice as she stalked out of the house. Hawkeye sighed. "Well, there's one name I can cross off the list.

The next candidate arrived. She was young, skinny, and beautiful. "Well, hopefully this one will go better." Hawkeye thought to himself. He started with the same question and she replied that this would be her first job. "Well, she's inexperienced, but at least she's not set in her ways." he thought. As the interview went on though, Hawkeye could tell that she was a bit too inexperienced for his busy clinic.

The rest of the candidates weren't right for the job either. Some were too set in their ways, others were too inexperienced, and one had the worst bedside manner he'd ever scene. "Man, her bedside manners are even worse than Frank's." Hawkeye said after she left. He had interviewed six nurses today, and none of them had worked out. He had more interviews tomorrow, but after today he wasn't looking forward to them. Hawkeye stretched and started to stand up, but had to stop. The spots on his vision were so bad at times now that he could hardly see. "I don't need this right now!" Hawkeye yelled out in frustration. He was just glad it hadn't happened while he was with a patient.

The next day the parade of nurses started all over again. Once again, none of them were right for the job. "Well, there goes my last hope for finding a nurse," he said after the last candidate had left. Just then he heard a knock. He started towards the door, but had to stop when he could hardly see because of the spots on his vision. The knock came again, this time more insistent. "I'm coming!" he yelled as he started towards the door once again. "Who in the world could it be?" he wondered. He tried to remember if maybe there was someone scheduled for an interview that he had forgotten about.

Just as Hawkeye got to the door, whoever was knocking stepped off the porch and started walking down the driveway. "Wait," he called out. The person turned around. Hawkeye stared in shock, and then rubbed his eyes thinking that maybe the spots were causing him to see things.

"Margaret?" he exclaimed. When she nodded he asked, "What are you doing here? Last I heard you were at some big hospital in charge of the nursing staff."

"Well, I decided that I needed a break. I've been wanting to visit some of my friends from Korea, and this just seemed like the place to start." she replied. "I hope you don't mind. I meant to write or call, but every time I tried I got interrupted."

"Of course I don't mind. As a matter of fact maybe you can give me some advice." They started walking into the house.

"What kind of advice would you want from me?" When Hawkeye didn't answer, she stopped. He had stopped and was rubbing at his eyes and blinking them rapidly. "Hawkeye? Are you okay?"

This was the last thing Hawkeye had wanted Margret to see. He had tried to keep going, but for a moment he couldn't see at all. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just been having a little trouble with my eyes, that's all."

Margaret was concerned. "What kind of trouble?"

"Nothing major. No need to concern you with my problems."

Margaret put her hands on her hips. She could tell Hawkeye was trying to get her off the subject, so she knew something must be really wrong. "Hawkeye, I'm not going to give up until you tell me. What kind of trouble."

Hawkeye sighed. He knew there was no use in trying to fight with her over this. "A few months ago I started getting spots on my vision. They were just minor at first, on the very edges of my vision, but they've started to get a little bit worse. It's okay, though. Nothing major."

Margaret could tell Hawkeye wasn't telling the complete truth. "Hawkeye?" she said gently. When he looked at her she went on. "It's a lot worse now, isn't it?" When Hawkeye started to shake his head, Margaret said, "Don't you lie to me, Hawkeye Pierce! I lived with you long enough to know you're not telling the truth."

Hawkeye knew he had been beaten. "Yes, it's a lot worse. In the last couple of weeks there have been times when it was so bad I couldn't see.

"Like just a minute ago when you stopped?" Margaret pressed gently.

"Yes, like just a minute ago when I stopped."

"Hawkeye, you need to see an eye doctor."

"I know. I also know that I hate eye doctors. It's probably nothing major and will go away if I give it some time."

"NO. I'm not going to let you give it some time. AS a matter of fact, you and I are going to the eye doctor right now."

"But you don't even know where an eye doctor is. We don't even have one here in Crabapple Cove."

"You're going to tell me where the eye doctor is. I don't care how far we have to drive; you are seeing the doctor today."

Hawkeye knew he had been beaten, so he went and got in Margaret's car and gave her directions.

When they pulled in the parking lot of the eye doctor, Hawkeye whined, "Margaret, do I really have to go today? After all, you just got here. I don't want to ruin your visit."

"Yes, you have to go today. I f you don't go today you'll just keep putting it off. And it won't ruin my visit. What would ruin my visit is sitting around worrying about you." Margaret had a stern look on her face.

"Really? You'd worry about me?"

"Oh, Hawk, you know I would." Margaret's expression softened. "Come on; let's see if they can get you in to see the doctor today."

Once they got inside, they found out that Hawkeye could, indeed see the eye doctor. As a matter of fact, he didn't have any appointment for another hour, so after they explained the situation to the doctor, he agreed to take a look at Hawkeye's eyes.

Hawkeye and the doctor went into the exam room while Margaret waited outside. After taking a look at Hawkeye's eyes, the doctor asked him some questions.

"What is your occupation?" was the doctor's first question.

"I'm a doctor." replied Hawkeye.

"Have you ever had an injury to your eyes?"

"Yeah. I had a stove blow up in my face. I became temporarily blind, so the optometrist bandaged my eyes. When the bandages came off, my eyesight was back to normal."

"How long ago was this?"

"About six years."

"Do you remember who the doctor was that treated you?"

"No. It's probably in my Army records. I could look it up for you."

"You were in the Army when this happened?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I was in Korea at the time."

"Hmm." was all the doctor said. After a few minutes he asked one more question. "I believe that you mentioned you knew the lady who brought you, Margaret, from the Army?"

"Yes."

"Was she in Korea with you when this happened?"

"Yes."

"I'd like to speak to her." The doctor got up and went out to the waiting room. In a few minutes he returned with Margaret.

"I understand you were in Korea with Dr. Pierce when his eyes were injured. Is this correct?"

"Yes, it is. I assisted in his treatment when he was first injured." Margaret replied

The eye doctor went on to ask Margaret several questions about the treatment and the extent of the injury. When he had finished, he turned to Hawkeye. "I'd like to take a look at your eyes again, Dr. Pierce."

As Margaret got up to return to the waiting room, the doctor asked her to stay in case he had any further questions. Once the doctor was done examining Hawkeye's eyes for the second time, he led Hawkeye into his office.

"Do you mind if Margaret comes in here with me?" Hawkeye asked.

"No, not at all."

Once Margaret was in the office with them, the doctor began. "Dr. Pierce, after examining your eyes I believe I know why your having these problems with your vision. I believe that it is a result of the injury they sustained in the explosion you told me about."

"But how can that be? The blindness only lasted for a few weeks, and until recently I hadn't had any problems." Hawkeye wondered

"I'm not quite sure why it's your just now having problems. It could be that your eyes were weakened in the explosion, and they've continues to get weaker over the years. Until recently, the weakness hadn't affected your vision because it hadn't been substantial enough."

"So what can you do about it?" Hawkeye asked.

"That's the thing. I can't do anything about it. I'm afraid you're going blind, Dr. Pierce."

"What?! That can't be. I can't go blind! You see, I'm a doctor. I need my eyesight. I can't very well be a doctor if I can't see!"

Margaret laid a hand on Hawkeye's arm. "Hawkeye, you need to settle down. Listen to what the doctor has to say. Getting upset isn't going to help anything."

Hawkeye settled down and tried to listen to the doctor, but he just kept hearing "I'm afraid you're going blind. " over and over again in his head.

Once the doctor had finished talking to them, Margaret and Hawkeye walked out to Margaret's car. "Hawkeye, are you okay?" Margaret asked as they drove back to Hawkeye's house.

"Okay? Okay?! How can I be okay! I'm going blind, Margaret! I'm going blind!" Hawkeye put his head in his hands and broke down crying.

Margaret pulled over to the side of the road, got out, and went around to Hawkeye's side of the car. She opened up his door and gently took him into her arms. "Oh Hawkeye, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you're going blind, I'm sorry the explosion happened, I'm sorry I made you go to the eye doctor, I'm sorry about everything." Margaret broke down crying herself.

Hawkeye lifted his head and looked at Margaret. "Margaret, you have nothing to be sorry about. To tell you the truth, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have had with me when I found out. If it hadn't been for you making me go, I'd still go blind, only I wouldn't know what was happening to me. Thank you, Margaret. Oh, and about your list of sorrys, I hope that you're not sorry you met me."

"Hawkeye, I could never be sorry that I met you. Everything that you just said means so much to me. If there's anything I can do to make this easier on you, just let me know."

"Well, there is one thing. But I'd rather discuss it at my house, not on the side of the road." Margaret took the hint and went back to the driver's side. Once they got back to Hawkeye's house, they went into the living room and sat down.

"I've been looking for a nurse to help me with my practice. Since the doctor said it could be up to a year before I go blind, I plan to continue until my vision gets bad enough that it affects my work. If you know of a good nurse looking for a position on a small town, send her to me, will you?" Hawkeye said.

Margaret smiled. "I can do even better than that. I know a nurse looking for a fresh start. She's mentioned wanting to work in a small town before. I highly recommend her."

"Really? What's her name? Send her my way. I'll gladly give her a job if you recommend her."

"Well, her name is Margaret Houlihan. She was a nurse in the Korean War; as a matter of fact she worked in a M.A.S.H. unit."

"You? Margaret, are you sure? I don't want you to do this just because you feel sorry for me."

"I'm very sure. I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather work. I quit my job about a month ago. That's part of the reason I came to visit you first. Colonel Potter said that you've been swamped with work since your dad died. He told me about your search for a nurse, and it sounded much more appealing than staying in a big, bustling city hospital. I've tired of city life. You always talked so highly about small town life and Crabapple Cove in Korea, so I decided to see if everything you were saying was true. I thought about calling and asking for an interview, but it just seemed too awkward."

"Will you stop talking so I can tell something? There's no one that I'd rather have for a nurse than you, Margaret. If you really want the job, then you're hired."

"Is there a hotel or bed and breakfast I can stay at until I find a house?"

"No. We're too small of a town to have anything. You're welcome to stay here, if you'd like."

"Hawkeye, that wouldn't be decent. Me, your new nurse, living here?"

"Sure, why not?" Hawkeye smiled to let Margaret know he was just joking.

"Oh, Pierce, you never change!"

"Pierce? I haven't been called by my last name since I left Korea."

"I'm sorry. I guess it's hard to break old habits."

"That's okay, I really don't mind. It reminds me of all the good times I had with all of you there in Korea."

"While we're on the subject of Korea, you really should call B.J. and Colonel Potter to let them know what's going on. I know that they'll be upset if you don't tell them."

"Margaret, I really don't think I can stand to tell anyone right now. As much as I'd love to see everyone again before I go blind, I don't want everyone feeling sorry for me.

"Oh, come on Hawkeye. You know everyone better than that. They'd be concerned, but they wouldn't pity you."

"You're probably right. No, you are right. I'll call B.J. and Potter as soon as we get done talking. As a matter of fact, I'm going to find a doctor to take over my clinic now and go around to visit everyone before it's too late. That leaves my house free for you to stay in until you find a place."

"Hawkeye, I was only planning on staying until you had to stop working. Then I would have worked for the doctor replacing you, found another nursing job elsewhere, or stayed here."

"Well, I guess we have a problem, then. What if I stay on as doctor for another six months, and I still bring the new doctor in. That way you get used to working with him so you can make your decision, and he can get to know the people before he has to take over."

"Hawkeye, who do you all plan on seeing on your trip?"

"Colonel Potter, of course, B.J., Charles, Radar, Klinger and Soon Lee, some of the nurses, Father Mulchahy, and Sidney. Why?"

"Well, I don't think you should stick around for six months. That only gives you at the most six months to see everyone, and that's not even guaranteed. Besides, I know that if I were in your position, I would want to see everyone before my vision got too bad. Even though the doctor said it could be up to a year before you went completely blind, your vision is going to get much worse before that. I don't want you to have to shorten your trip because of me."

"I suppose your right. If I do that, I have just one requirement of you."

"What's that?"

"That you come along with me."

"But Hawkeye, why would you want me along on your trip?"

"Well, Margaret, it's kind of necessary for someone to come with me on my trip, because, as you know, this problem with my eyes is just going to get progressively worse, so before the trip is over I won't be able to see well enough to drive. It makes sense for someone with medical experience to come along. I'll pay you, of course. You were planning on working for me anyways, so what's the difference?"

"What's the difference? Hawkeye, are you joking?" Margaret exclaimed. "We'd be in a car together, you know, close quarters. We had a hard enough time getting along in Korea. I can't even imagine what would happen if we rode in a car together."

"Margaret, you know as well as I do that our hostility towards each other ended that night that we spent behind enemy lines in that abandoned hut. You're just trying to make up excuses. Why?"

Margaret got a sad look on her face. "Hawkeye, I'm not sure I can stand to watch you go blind little by little. It was bad enough when that explosion in Korea happened and you went blind for just a short period of time, I would have never admitted it then, but I was worried about you. I was scared you would never see again."

Hawkeye put his arm around Margaret. "Margaret, please. It would mean so much to me to have you there with me. I don't think I can handle going blind by myself. I'm scared, Margaret. I love my job, and I love being able to see. You don't know how hard I prayed when I got those bandages taken off in Korea that nothing like that would happen to me again. Please, will you go with me? You'll be able to see all our old friends, too. I know that you want to do that."

Margaret looked at Hawkeye. "Hawkeye Pierce, you are one hard man to say no to. As a matter of fact, I can't say no to you. Not after the way you put it. I'll go with you. But don't you go trying anything, Pierce." she joked.