Pierce residence, driveway
"Did you see that? She went away before she even got here." said Hawkeye completely taken by surprise.

"Yes, but I really don't think you should worry about it." said Daniel with conviction in his voice.

"Dad, she just left me. Why would I not worry about that." said Hawkeye aggressively.

"I didn't see any sign of hate in her eyes. I saw a woman in despair. Listen, son. I have an appointment with Mrs. Simmons and her daughter Amy and they should be here any minute. Would you please fill in for me? I'll go after Margaret in the Land Rover and bring her back."

Daniel drove away in the Land Rover and Hawkeye walked back to house.

Karen, the medical secretary, had arrived. She is a 58 years old spinster and she's just a little chubby according to herself, but she has a heart of gold and a rather sweet smile. The patients love her because she always seems to find a way around rules getting in her way of reasonable and practical solutions.

Hawkeye pulled himself together and stepped into Karen's office.

"Hi Karen. You look absolutely adorable. . .you're the woman of my dreams." said Hawkeye flirting

"Oh Hawkeye, when will you ever come to your senses and marry me?" said Karen with an exaggerated affectionate voice.

"Oh Karen, I can't do that to my dad." The sweet smile on her face disappeared.

"I really don't think he would notice it at all. He doesn't seem to notice anything around him." she said offended.

Hawkeye smiled at her and looked through the small window in the door to the waiting room. 8 year old Amy had arrived with her mother. Amy looked a little scared. Hawkeye went into the waiting room wearing his Groucho Marx glasses.

"Halloou, princess – ah, and you're a magical princess" said Hawkeye emphasizing the word magical. He went down on his knees and crawled towards Amy with a big smile on his face, which he then turned into an exaggerated troubled expression.

"Ohh – I'm blinded by your beauty and I've been cursed. Please use your magic to save me. It…it's my nose." Hawkeye noticed the brief smile on Amy's face.

"That's not a real nose" said Amy trying to sound serious.

"How can you tell? You're not a doctor. Now, come on. Squeeze it." said Hawkeye with an alluring voice. Amy looked at her mother before she reluctantly squeezed his nose and Hawkeye made a funny sound and tickled her. Amy laughed aloud.

"Now, would a fake nose make me do that? OK touch it again and say ta daaa." Amy touched it and Hawkeye quickly removed the glasses. "See, I'm cured."

After the consultation, Hawkeye started to relax again, but that only resulted in a wave of negative thoughts.

Crabapple Cove, Daniel driving in his car looking for Margaret
Daniel quickly spotted Margaret. She was sitting on a bench overlooking a lake. Daniel sat down next to her. They both sat there for a while.

"It certainly is beautiful here." said Margaret

"Yes, it is. I come here often when I don't feel like going to the beach."

Margaret looked at Daniel. It was just like looking at a slightly older version of Hawkeye and there was something about Daniel that made her relax.

"It is a perfect place to talk, too. You could consider this as a personal consultation and you know how it is, it's confidential". Margaret was gazing out over the lake when she said…

"I panicked when I saw you and Hawkeye…and how chummy you were…I thought of my own father…and …and how pathetic I am….I would just be a burden to the both of you right now…. when I walked along the roads …I started to miss Hawk so much my stomach was hurting…and now I don't know what to do."

"He misses you too, you know…and now he thinks you've left him."

"Why would he be thinking that? I just panicked. Oh no – poor thing – what have I done? She grabbed Daniel's arm. "He means everything to me. He's the only reason I haven't collapsed yet." Margaret was about to panic again, but Daniel had a big smile on his face.

"Don't you worry, I think this will work out just fine."

"Daniel, please don't tell him what I just said. I don't want him to feel responsible for me." Daniel laughed involuntarily when he said..

"This is still a part of the consultation. You don't have to worry about that."

"What are you laughing at?" she asked starting to feel relaxed in his pleasant company.

"Well, I really can't tell you, but I do have a suggestion. It seems to me that both of you are talking a lot about what you want the other one to do or feel, but it is very difficult trying to figure out what is on another person's mind. You are both control freaks. Why not ease up a little. May I suggest another approach? You should just be there for each other instead and wait for the other one to open up."

Margaret looked at Daniel with a warm smile. "Thank you, Daniel…I owe you so much….now I also know what to do about my father."

"I just want you to be happy, Margaret. Should we get back to the house? Being spoiled by two men, might just be what you need right now."

"Is it appropriate for a patient to hug her personal physician?"

"Well, usually it is not appropriate, but going by the book is not something I feel strongly about."

Margaret hugged Daniel with a big smile on her face thinking about how many times Hawkeye had bended the rules in Korea, but now she really appreciated this trait running in the Pierce family.

Crabapple Cove, Pierce residence
Margaret and Daniel were met by Karen when they returned to the house and she was very upset.

"Hawkeye is gone...and he took a bottle of whisky with him…"