AN: Thank you so much for the reviews, they really do keep me going when the writing gets difficult :)

Once he has them all seated in his office the Colonel realises that he didn't really need to call the two Captains into his office. They are in trouble far more often than the Major, but in this case he mostly wanted to spare the Major the extra embarrassment of being called to his office alone in front of everyone. The Captains are looking at each other and the Major stares steely eyed into the distance. He wonders whether he should dismiss the men before talking to Margaret but decides against it. Perhaps they can fill in some of the blanks.

"So, care to tell me what that was about, Major?"

"He...I...Sir…" her jaw works itself as she tries to make the words come out. To the Colonel's surprise Hawkeye jumps in before she can say any more in an attempt to spare her. It doesn't escape the Colonel's notice. "Frank came back to the Swamp all loony bird and muttering about having been dumped by someone. He then proceeded to get a bit worked up and murdered some pillows. He was lying face down on his bunk when we left him. The next time we saw him he was throwing accusations around in the Officer's Club."

"Does that fit with your version of events, Major?"

"Yes sir."

"That will be all I need from you, Pierce and Hunnicutt. You boys can go now. Major, I'd like to speak to you alone for a moment." He waits until the two Captains leave before continuing. Margaret looks down at her fidgeting hands.

"Are you alright, Margaret."

"Yes sir, I'm fine." She says, slightly unconvincingly.

"Well if you ever need to talk to about anything, I'd be more than happy to lend an ear." He pauses before adding, "I'm sure Captain Pierce would too."

She looks up sharply at this.

He badly wants to ask her why she's chosen now to give Burns the boot. She knows she's been close to it before but has always gone back. He holds his tongue. It's not his place, she'll tell him if she wants to. He thinks it's likely that it's got something to do with a certain pair of Captains, or even one very specific Captain. He's not certain how Hawkeye is involved in all of this, only that he is. Camp scuttlebut says they'd been seen drinking together when no one else had had the brass balls to approach Hawkeye. They create an unlikely pair.

Margaret eyes the Colonel, "Is that all, sir?"

He scrutinises her for a moment longer, "yes Major, dismissed." As she stands to leave he calls to her again "Oh, and Margaret?"

"Yes sir?"

"Look after yourself, won't you."

She gives him a small smile, "Yes sir."

He doesn't reprimand her for punching Burns. Aside from the fact that the guy deserved it, she doesn't need to be told.


When they arrive back at The Swamp BJ and Hawkeye help themselves to the fruits of the still, their Officer's club stint having been interrupted by Frank while it was still young.

Hawkeye sits down and sighs, "Aaaaaah, this truly is the lifeblood of this camp."

"It's certainly something."

"Y'know, it's a pity Frank didn't punch Margaret. I'd have loved for him to be carted off somewhere."

"Instead we get to have him as our roommate for a while longer."

"Maybe he won't come back, Maybe Potter will set him up a tent of his own, we can cite irreconcilable differences."

"That's Margaret's defence"

"Maybe we can get him his own tent and set it up right near the mine field.

"Now that would be fun."

"I wonder if Margaret's back from The Colonel's office. I should go and make sure she's okay."

BJ fixes his friend with an appraising look, "Are you sure there's nothing going on between you and her?"

"Jeez, I swear, we're barely even friends! Why do you keep asking that?"

"Oh I don't know, might happen to do with your sudden interest. That and the fact that she dumped Frank when you told her to."

"She did not!" It sounds lame even to his ears, but it's the best he's got, "And I am not interested in her!"

"Really? Seems to me you're plenty interested, else you wouldn't have the urge to check on her."

"Okay, fine, maybe I'm a bit interested! Happy?"

"I think you're more than interested. I think you like her."

"God, what are you, twelve?"

"I think you liiiiiiiike her." BJ singsongs.

"I certainly like her a whole lot more than I like you right now."

"He liiiiikes her." BJ sings, quieter this time, and twice as smug.

Wordlessly, Hawkeye excuses himself from The Swamp.

"Say hi to Margaret for me!" BJ calls after him, his grin visible through the mesh sides of their tent.

"Self-satisfied moron," Hawkeye mutters to himself as he begins the short walk across the compound to her tent. He knows she'll probably just tell him to get lost, yet he feels compelled to go over there anyway. Ah shit. There's a distinct possibility that BJ's not wrong.

"Brace yourself, heart, you're heading for a likely collision, prospects of survival unknown." he says to himself in his best radio announcer voice, using his martini glass as a microphone. He reaches out a hand and raps on her door. For a moment there's no response, but then he sees the blind twitch. "It's only me, Margaret."

She looks confused, "what are you doing here?"

"Just came to make sure you were okay. Would you like a drink?" he asks, holding out his half drunk martini. He's surprised when she takes it from him and has a swig, but not surprised that she winces, "Ugh, this stuff is truly awful."

"The essence of life itself."

She the look she always does whenever she thinks he's done or said something stupid, but she doesn't give his glass back. "Why are you here?"

"Just thought I'd swing by and make sure you were okay, maybe help you evict Frank if he was hiding under your bed.

"I'm fine, thank you, Captain"

There's an awkward pause.

"Well, uh, goodnight, Major" He says, and leaves abruptly, but not before leaning in and kissing her on the cheek.

As her door clatters shut she sinks down slowly to sit on the edge of her bed, still holding his glass. What on earth was that? She brings her hand to where his lips had been moments before. It's not the first time he's kissed her cheek, he's kissed more than your cheek, but tonight it had stunned her.

It made little sense to her, but she was starting to suspect that there might be more to her relationship with Pierce than she realised.