Margaret left her tent only once that day. To go to the "Swamp" to see Hawkeye. She had to. It was driving her nuts. She had to tell him. She got to the tent unnoticed by any of the other personnel. Knocking quietly, she heard BJ talking inside. Someone was coming to the door, usually there was just a shout of "Come in.", Margaret held her breath.
Charles opened the door and left the tent, walking towards Post-Op again. Margaret resurfaced from where she had hidden, breathing a sigh of relief she pushed the door to the "Swamp" open. The only person left inside was BJ.
"Did you come to talk to Hawkeye?" BJ only enquired but Margaret broke down into tears. He had no idea of what to do but the best he could do was hold her.
"You know, don't you?" Margaret managed to mutter.
"Yes. Did you come here to tell him?" Margaret nodded in reply. She unfurled herself from BJ's arms and sat down on Hawkeye's bunk.
After ten minutes of non-existing small talk Hawkeye returned from his mission.
"I've found Sophie!" He was so excited he did not register the puffy, red eyes on Margaret's face, "She's outside!" He ran off with BJ hot on his heels. No-one gave a second thought to Margaret.
The late night arrival had drawn everyone's attention. People were running out of every tent and building. Charles came out of Post-OP, Radar from his office, Klinger arrived with his hair in rollers, in fact the only person not there was Colonel Potter. The shadow of the once fit and healthy mare lay in the back of the same truck that brought her to the 4077th. BJ took one look at Sophie and ran his hand down one of her forelegs.
"It's broken." BJ shook his head. Everyone was quiet, except Charles who could not figure out what was wrong.
"Why is that a problem?" Charles looked hopelessly confused. Anyone who has ever watched horse racing or ridden one will understand that when a horse breaks a leg the best thing to do is to put the horse to sleep. Tears once again started to slide down Margaret's face as she slipped, unnoticed, into the "Swamp". Radar retreated back towards his office, there was no way that he wanted to see the end of the horse he saved, helped, looked after, and gave to Colonel Potter die. Igor came over and explained to Charles what was going on, since BJ and Hawkeye were starting to take Sophie back to her corral. Many of the nurses had to be comforted but Hawkeye was taking no interest in it, Sophie was all he wanted right now.
BJ and Hawkeye did the best they could to make Sophie comfortable then headed back towards the "Swamp".
"Why are we always heading home at dawn?" BJ pointed out that the sun was rising bringing with it another day. But this day wasn't over yet as Margaret waited for Hawkeye inside.