Radar came into the OR to deliver the devastating news about their now former CO, Colonel Henry Blake. They had all just celebrated with Henry after he got the news he was going home. Home to his wife and kids, home to his practice and his country club membership. Everyone was in tears as they continued operating after Radar broke the news. No one spoke for the rest of the shift.

Hawkeye was watching Margaret as she assisted Frank. She would sometimes meet his gaze and then she would look away as their eyes met. His heart went out to her. They were on better terms now that they had found some sort of truce after visiting an aid station recently. A newfound respect was now between them. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but he enjoyed the peaceful bond they now sometimes shared because of the experience. Their relationship wasn't all bad.

She abruptly left the OR. Frank yelled after her, "Major Houlihan! I demand that you come back in here!"

Hawkeye was watching this as he finished assisting Trapper. "I will be right back, Trap. Are you good for now?"

"Yeah - I am good. Kellye, can you help me close?" Trapper said with Kellye moving in closer to help.

Hawkeye rushed out and found Margaret outside roaming the compound. Fresh tears were flowing down her cheeks. She was walking quickly and hoping no one noticed her quick departure from the OR. She couldn't stand to be in there one more minute. Guilt and sadness poured out through her tears. Guilt for how she had treated Henry Blake and sadness for losing a comrade who was a decent man, good surgeon and a husband and father to young children. His children would now grow up without knowing their father. As much as she loved being the army, she couldn't stand this part of it. The death of innocent people was almost too much for her to bear at times.

She finally sat down on the grass just outside of camp where she and Frank had enjoyed several of their dates since arriving at the 4077th. She brought her knees up to her chin and put her hands in her face and cried until no more tears would flow.

"Hey," Hawkeye said softly as he sat down near her, careful not to touch her. He didn't want to startle her or get her angry with him. He just wanted to make sure she was ok.

She continued crying, looking over at him with tears streaming down her face.

They looked into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours. He just continued to sit there.

"Well, Captain," she finally said, after the crying ended and she was wiping her face dry with her shirt. "What do you want?"

"Believe it or not, MAJOR, I wanted to see if you were ok," he said a bit more harshly than intended. He touched her arm gently as though to indicate that his tone wasn't intentional.

"I am OK, CAPTAIN," she said to him in an equally irritated tone. Her eyes gave her away though. They looked relieved that someone had cared enough to follow her out of the OR. It had been a VERY long day.

"Do you need a hug?" he asked her.

She fell into his arms without saying a word and they just sat there, new tears now flowing from both of them, getting their shirts drenched.

"Major Houlihan!" Frank bellowed at her. "What are you doing with this degenerate?" He was quickly running towards them as they were still huddled together.

"Frank, beat it," Hawkeye told him as he grabbed Margaret closer to him.

"Well, I never…" Frank started.

"Never what?" Hawkeye asked.

"Never thought I would see the day where the Major would be ok with this kind of behavior from an inferior officer! I bet you are forcing her to stay there next to you!" he yelled even though he was only a foot or two from them at this point.

Hawkeye let go of her. "See? She is now free to go. Now bug off".

She looked at Hawkeye and then looked up at Frank. "Major Burns, you can leave us alone now."

"Margaret, have you lost your mind? This is Pierce you are sitting there with right now." Frank stared at her, ignoring Hawkeye as best he could right now.

"No, Major Burns. Please leave us alone. That's an order!" she screeched at him, getting more upset now because of Frank's antics. She had just started to feel ok sitting in Hawkeye's arms. Now Frank had to come and ruin this moment with him.

"You haven't heard the last of this, Pierce!" he screamed at them as he stomped back to camp. He was beyond mad at this point. Pierce had no right to comfort or do anything else for that matter with Margaret. It was well-known around camp that she and Frank were lovers and had been for a while now.

"You ok?" he moved her closer to him so she was practically sitting in his lap.

"Yeah, feeling ok now. Can we just sit here for a few more minutes?" she asked him, looking at him with blue eyes that made his heart melt. "It is so peaceful right now. We can forget about the war, the wounded, Colonel Blake," her voice barely made out their now late Colonel's name.

They both knew that in their own way, they would never forget him.

After a while of them sitting there, Hawkeye said, "I have an idea. What do you think of this?"

She looked at him again and he continued.

"Let's throw another party for Henry. Not a funeral but a party in his honor and memory," he said. "With no tears. It will be a happy occasion." He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince himself or her of that.

"Pierce, I can't do that." She said.

"So what would be appropriate then?" He wasn't sure if he understood or was just irritated that she was seemingly making things harder right now. This was Henry Blake they were discussing, not some soldier she didn't know.

"Since Colonel Blake was a higher ranking officer, a full military service would be more appropriate here," she said, stiffening up a little and pulling away just slightly from him.

"I am sure they will have that for him back home and we won't be able to attend that."

"Leave this to me then? I can find out what we can do for Colonel Blake?" she asked him.

"If that is what you want, you got it, Major," he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. He could feel her lips responding to his and she pulled his head closer to her. "Very nice, Major."

"Do you ever make house calls?" she teased him.

Looking around to make sure no one was around, he tackled her and started passionately kissing her and they ended up side by side and face to face, just looking at each other.

"Did anyone ever tell you what a good kisser you are?" she asked, leaning in for another kiss.

"Yep and I took lessons on kissing in high school," he smiled at her, happy to see her more at ease right now, after the craziness of the day.

"Did you really?" she asked in disbelief.

"No – just seeing if you were paying attention."