Thanks for all the responses you guys! Here's the next chapter.
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Weeks pass and the two friends are only able to see each other in the hallways occasionally. Sadly, neither is able to find time to spend together. Finally, three weeks after Margaret begins working at the hospital, the pair finds themselves able to speak a few brief sentences. To his dismay, Hawkeye is told everyone in his department is busy, leaving him to get bandages for various patients. Margaret is simply prepping for the next day's surgery. Entering the supply room, Hawkeye watches his friend strategically gather supplies for the next surgery. Grabbing a few bundles of gauze, Hawkeye jokes, "We really need to stop meeting in the supply room like this Margaret. People might talk."
The woman simply raises an eyebrow at his words. Her look alone, tells the former captain that she is angry.
"You okay?" He questions as he puts the box back on the shelf that has just held his needed items. Margaret sighs.
"No," She answers. "It's too much to talk about now. I guess I'm just getting used to here."
"I understand. It beats triage though." He states. Margaret scoffs.
"Yeah, if you can stop reliving nightmares every time you go into OR," She answers bitterly. Hawkeye almost responds, when he is paged over the intercom.
"I'll see you later," He says instead as he holds up his bandages and leaves the room. Glancing away from the recently opened door, Margaret quickly gathers her supplies and leaves the supply room.
A few days later, Hawkeye walks onto the front porch of his dad's house while talking about their weeks when a car pulls up in their driveway.
"You know whoever that is son?" The older Pierce asks, his hands carrying wrapped papers. The younger Pierce is about to answer when they both see who exits the vehicle. Shutting the door quickly and leaving the front porch, Hawkeye calls out, "Margaret! What are you doing here?"
Once the two hug, his friend smiles as she says jokingly, "What? An old army buddy isn't allowed to drop by and visit an old friend?"
The man laughs.
"That's Beej's line," He retorts. "Hey, let me introduce you to my dad."
The friends walk up to the porch where Hawkeye's father stands.
"Dad, this is my friend Margaret Houlihan. Margaret, my dad, Daniel Pierce," Hawkeye introduces. Margaret and Daniel shake hands as the older man says, "Hawk's told me a lot about you Margaret. It's nice to finally meet you."
"Thank- you sir, Hawkeye mentioned you a lot as well," Margaret responds with a smile.
"All good I hope." The older man jokes. The former major chuckles a little confirming the statement. The group stands outside and talks for a few minutes when Daniel announces he is going to fix dinner.
"You can stay if you like," The older man adds. Shaking her head, the woman feels rude for intruding answering, "No, I've got-"
"It's not a problem Margaret. Dad usually cooks with the intentions of leftovers anyway," Hawkeye chimes while his father rolls his eyes at his son. Margaret looks at both men before finally agreeing.
"Great! I should give you the tour of the house after dinner!" The younger man states eagerly. Margaret, still uneasy, decides to back out.
"I have to get up early for a surgery tomorrow. Maybe another time," She states.
"Oh, come on Margaret! It won't take that long," The dark haired man says. Daniel smirks at the comment.
"You better oblige him Margaret. My son here is about as head strong as his mother was," The older man says before excusing himself to the kitchen. Hawkeye stands up a few minutes later, eager to at least start the tour before dinner, when his friend stops him.
"Hawk, I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for snapping at you the other day. You didn't deserve it."
"Consider it forgotten Ms. Houlihan," Hawkeye says with a smile as he leads her inside his house. Taking her hat and coat, Hawkeye puts them on a rack by the door as the woman takes note of her surroundings. The front door opens to a long hallway with a staircase leading to the next level and at the very end a panel door. On her right, Hawkeye's dad cooks dinner in the kitchen and to her left is the living room that has a door connecting to the mens' study. Hawkeye looks curiously at his friend before leading her to the left. As the pair walks through the living room, Margaret looks at the furniture and decor. When he sees her staring, Hawkeye says, "My mom set it up this way. Dad and I never changed it." His friend merely nods as she follows him into the office.
"Dad's bookshelves are on the far wall. Mine are on your left," Hawkeye directs. Margaret smiles a little as she notices a few Mark Twain books lining a bookcase mainly filled with textbooks. Brushing her fingers along the spines of the books, the blonde notices a well worn edition of a children's book and takes the book from the shelf. Opening to the front page, Margaret reads the inscription.
"My mom got me that when I was sick," Hawkeye comments trying to keep the painful memories from resurfacing.
"She loved you a lot," Margaret responds as she gingerly puts the book back on the shelf.
"Yeah, she did. Hey, I'm gonna go for a walk," The man suddenly declares. The former army nurse, knowing she should not follow her friend, finds herself wandering into the kitchen where Daniel Pierce continues to cook dinner.
"I hope you're okay with lobster," The man states as he uncovers the huge pot on the stove.
"Oh, it's fine. I'm eager to taste it. I haven't had lobster in years," Margaret says secretly excited to have Hawkeye's famous lobster.
"Well, you're in for a treat," The man replies with a grin before asking where his son has gone. Staring at the pot on the stove, the woman answers, "He went for a walk."
"He does that from time to time," Daniel nonchalantly explains doing nothing to ease the feeling she feels about her friend.
"Has he been acting different lately?" Margaret asks deciding bluntness may be her best option, especially with Hawkeye being away from the house.
"No different than I acted during the first World War." Daniel answers. Margaret nods, unsure if she should continue her prodding. Her fears subside when the older Pierce explains he knew of his son's breakdown before the war ended.
"Good. So, he's taking walks often?" She questions. The father nods.
"He did that a lot when my wife died as well," The man states before turning the conversation on the former head nurse.
"So, Margaret, what do you do now? I noticed you don't wear your uniform stateside."
"Actually sir, I left the army. When I first came back, I was offered a position at a hospital in California. Then, when they told me there was a position out East, I took it." Margaret answers. Daniel smirks a familiar smirk that would have sent the woman over the edge if she did not know the man's son. Knowing she is terrible with witty retorts, the woman turns the conversation back to her friend.
"How long do Hawk's walks normally take?" She questions after being told she can chop up the vegetables on the other counter.
"Depends on what he has on his mind," The older Pierce responds as he takes a lobster out with a pair of tongs.
"From Hawk's letters, you seemed to love the army. What made you leave?" The man questions before checking the crustacean.
"The war," She states simply deciding not to get into specifics. Daniel nods.
"It'll change ya," He replies as he places the lid back on the pot.
"What will?" Hawkeye questions as he walks into the kitchen.
"Life," Margaret answers with a small smile. Catching the distant gaze come over his friend's features, the yonunger Pierce turns to his father.
"Do you need help Dad?" The dark haired man eagerly asks.
"No, son. Just get an extra plate for your friend and we'll be ready to go."
"One plate for the Major coming right up!" Hawkeye jokes. Once he retrieves the dish, he turns to his friend.
"Care to accompany me? It's no fun to sit at an empty table," He requests.
"Stop teasing the woman Ben. Besides, I have her on KP duty chopping onions."
"Bet you're glad we're not having liver, huh?" The younger man wisecracks causing his friend to shake her head. Daniel merely laughs at the pair before sending them both out of the kitchen.
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