AN: For anyone who doesn't know me, I write HM, and well, as you can
guess, this is an HM story, so if you don't like them, turn back now. This
takes place during the war, after Frank has left and Charles is at the
4077th, and Margaret, Hawkeye and BJ are now close friends, but Radar is
still here. I haven't decided if he I'll send him home like they do in the
show cause I love the little guy : ) And now, without further ado, the
story...
Hawkeye sighed as he slumped down onto the bench, his head against the wall of the scrub room, his eyes closed. "That's it. Either they start fighting from 9 to 5 or I'm quitting the war."
"Ah, what d'ya mean? Getting up bright and early at 3:00 in the morning is so refreshing. Such a lovely way to start the day." BJ said sleepily and sarcastically.
"What time is it now?"
BJ looked at his watch as he put it on his wrist. "1400h."
Hawkeye opened an eye and looked up at him. "Is that AM or PM? Or is it a week from next Tuesday?"
"Two O'clock in the afternoon."
"I see. Time for bed."
"You got that right." BJ said through a loud yawn.
"I say we go have a nap then go for a drink at the O-Club. Or 2 drinks. Or Three, or four or-"
"Sounds like a plan. Care to join us, Margaret?" BJ asked as he cut off Hawkeye when the blonde nurse entered.
"No, whatever it is. I'm going to bed."
"Care for me to join, Margaret?" Hawkeye asked cheekily.
Too tired to come up with a clever response, Margaret just shook her head. "I don't even have the energy to look at you right now."
"One look at me and you'd get your energy and be up and ready."
"If we continue this conversation you probably will be 'up and ready', Hawkeye."
"Margaret," BJ interrupted Hawkeye before he could come back at her. "We were planning to get some sleep then head over to the O-club for a drink or two." "Or Three, or four." Hawkeye finished off.
"Well, what do you think?" BJ ignored his friend.
"Sure, but I do need my beauty sleep."
Hawkeye stood up to leave, "I'd vouch for that." He said lazily, getting a smack in the back of the head from Margaret as she followed him out of the room towards their separate tents.
§§§§§§§§
"ATTENTION ALL PERSONAL!" Came the blast of the camp's PAs.
"No.not now." Hawkeye groaned and stuck his head under his pillow.
"NO WORRIES FOLKS, NO MORE WOUNDED EXPECTED FOR AT 48 HOURS. ALL PERSONAL ON CONDITIONAL STAND DOWN."
"Oh, thank God." BJ sighed from where he lay sprawled out on his cot. "What time is it?"
"Half past dead."
BJ looked at his watch. "We've been asleep for six hours! C'mon, let's get a quick pick-me-up at ye olde O-club."
"Ah, nothing better for a quick pick-me-up like a depressant like alcohol."
"Well, we could get some coffee at the mess tent."
"O-club it is."
They were just going to the Officer's Club, like they had plenty of other times, more often now with Margaret, and sometimes the rest of the group. However, BJ, Hawkeye and the Head Nurse had lately become closer friends than they once had been. It was no different from before, however Hawkeye felt for once to get up and get dressed. Before, he might have just pulled on his bathrobe over his boxer shorts and t-shirt. But now, he got up and put on a clean pair of the Army Issue olive drab pants. He had left all his good pants and jeans back home in Crabapple Cove. He changed his t- shirt and pulled on his famous blue and white Hawaiian shirt. It was a little tacky, but he always wore it, regardless. It did bring out the colour of his eyes. The raven-haired doctor was combing his hair when he caught BJ looking at him.
"You're combing your hair!"
"Yeah.so?"
"You never do. Unless it's the Cockroach Derby Day."
"Well, I just felt like combing it. It was stuck out everywhere. It.it was messy." He stuttered.
BJ smiled. "Hawk, you know you don't need to dress up for a date with me! I love you no matter what you look like. And it's a good thing to."
"Fink." Hawkeye said with a smile as he threw a pillow at the other man.
Just then he saw Margaret walking towards their tent through the mesh walls. "Ohh.now I know why you were combing your hair and getting all dressed up."
"What?" BJ smiled and pointed towards the blonde nurse. Hawkeye looked at her for a moment then shook his head, shaking it off, laughing. "Oh yeah, sure. She's so G.I. she makes McCarthur look like he was drafted. I'm too 'unmilitary' for her." He tried to make it a joke, but the blonde haired doctor hinted something else.
"She's not so G.I. anymore. You know that."
"Yeah...well..." For once, the always quick-for-a-comeback- Hawkeye didn't have anything to say.
"Oh..it's like that is it?" BJ said, knowingly.
"What's like what? There's nothing like anything!" He blushed and they both shut up about it as Margaret knocked.
"Is everyone decent?" She called.
"I've never been decent, but if you give me a moment I can get a little more indecent and take off my pants, if that's what you like!" Called Hawkeye.
She shook her head, hiding her smile as she entered The Swamp. "You know, you've really got to clean up this place someday. I bet you'd find stuff from the Civil War in here."
"Probably, feels like we've been here that long."
"Amen to that."
"Well, shall we repair to the Officer's Club?" BJ asked in a British accent.
"I didn't-" Margaret started.
"-Know it was broken." She and Hawkeye finished together, causing everyone to laugh as they left, BJ in the lead, while Hawkeye subconsciously lead Margaret by the small of her back out the door.
§§§§§§§§
After they each had a few drinks, the doctors and nurse were becoming quite giggly and Hawkeye and Margaret were flirting like teenagers.
"Say, Margaret, care to dance?" He slurred through a laugh.
"I dunno, I just had two offers at the same time, I don't know who's hand to take.. Yours or yours.." She giggled looking at his one hand and fell towards him, clumsily taking his hand. The pair laughed as they stumbled around the dance floor, laughing up a storm.
Just then, Colonel Potter came in and sat down next to BJ. "Quite a pair, aren't they?" The older man commented, nodding towards the young couple.
"Yeah, well they don't really like each other, that's just the alcohol."
"I don't know, BJ, I've found that if anything, alcohol makes you act the way you feel, and speak very truthfully. Sometimes too truthfully, which is why I have this scar on my head from Mrs. Potter's rolling pin."
BJ snorted a laugh. "They sure make me miss Peg. We were only married for a year when I got drafted. We were still newlyweds, and were still acting like they are right now."
"Just wait until the sober up and start hiding their feelings. Neither will remember ever being this way and they'll pretend to hate each other so the other doesn't sense anything. God, they're each more stubborn than Sophie when she's in heat!"
The song on the jukebox ended and Hawkeye and Margaret headed back to their table.
"Hello Colonel Pothead.Pots.Pot.Potter." Margaret stuttered and did a half salute before leaning against Hawkeye for support and laughed.
"Hello Margaret, Hawkeye." He nodded to them politely, hiding his laughter. "Having fun?"
"Ye- yes-Eagle eye is a horrible dancer..he kepts stepping on both my foots!"
"No worse than Hotnose.." Hawkeye mumbled.
"Hot-hotli-li-what's my na-name again?" She tried to correct him.
"Hotlips?" BJ offered.
"How dare you call me that! I'm Major-Major Houli-Houlililigan" She shrieked with laughter and fell on Hawkeye's lap as soon as he sat down, causing the two of them to giggle more.
"At ease." Potter mumbled sarcastically as BJ joined in the couple's laughter over nothing. "Kids, there's a reason I came in here to talk to you tonight. Major, Captains." When he said that they knew he was being serious, and looked up at him to listen. "Now, I advise you all go get some sleep and sober up. There's a case up at the front, an aid station. Bullet lodged, possibly nicked the spine. Now, he's stable for now, if they keep him still but he can't be moved. And the medics aren't qualified to do anything with him. They may be able to prevent paralysis if a surgeon gets up there by tomorrow morning. Pierce, it's your turn to go to the front. Go pack your bags, and go to bed. A jeep will be ready for you at oh nine hundred tomorrow. I'll get Radar to throw in a big thermos of coffee for you too. From the looks of things here, you'll need it." He gestured to the many empty highball and martini glasses around the table. "Get some sleep and good luck, son." He gave Hawkeye a pat on the shoulder, got up from the table and left the building.
Hawkeye sighed. "So much for this evening. I'd better go." He got up and stumbled along and tripped over a chair before catching himself on the pinball machine. BJ got up to help him and Margaret started to follow. He grabbed her arm and helped her along as well.
The three made it to The Swamp finally after tripping up a few times. BJ pushed them all in before realizing he should bring Margaret to her tent. He might have been the most sober of them all, but he wasn't far off from them.
"Margaret, do I need to drop you off at your place?" He slurred.
"No thanks, I don't like being dropped it hurts my bum." She said before laughing.
Hawkeye pulled his pants off and his shirt. It was extremely warm and he was sleeping in just his boxers now. Margaret eyed him, she always thought he was very good looking, but with the alcohol it was hard for her to know.
"Well, I'm going to bed now. G'night JB, Margarita, Martini.." He trailed off, trying to think of Margaret's name.
"Goodnight, Birdbrain." BJ mumbled into his pillow.
"Goodnight, Hawkear." Margaret looked at him. "Good luck tomorrow." She stood under him next to his cot. "Don't-try not to get hurt. You get yourself hurt or killed and I'll smack you." She said seriously.
"Thank you Martini-Margaret." He blinked a few times, trying to keep her in focus. "Goodnight." He bent down and placed a small kiss on her cheek.
"Thank Welcome." She mumbled and kissed him back before stumbling in the dark back to her own tent.
§§§§§§§§
"Sir..sir.." Radar called through the mesh wall of the Swamp. When Hawkeye didn't budge he hurried into the tent and leaned over. He saw the dark mop sticking out at the top of the blanket and he gently shook the lump lying on the cot. "Hawkeye..Hawk.."
"Yeah..baby that's my name..say it again..come on..oh, you like that?"
Radar's eyes opened wide and he covered his mouth with his hand in shock. "Uh..Hawkeye? It's me, Radar. You have to get up."
The doctor slowly pulled the covers down and opened his eyes, blinking a few times, as if trying to focus. "Cof-get me coffee." He mumbled.
"Right here sir." The young corporal handed him the mug, which he took and gulped down. "It's time to get up. You have to go to the front."
He groaned. "Right. Why can't they just shout insults at each other from the rear instead of shooting ammo at each other from the front?"
Radar shrugged sadly. "That's war, I guess." He started throwing some of Hawkeye's clothes and toiletries into an olive green bag.
"Yeah, and whatever would we do without war." Hawkeye replied, sarcastically.
"We'd have peace, sir." The young corporal said as he finished packing the bags and ran out of the tent, to do another of his many duties as company clerk. Hawkeye smiled at him. He was still an innocent boy in ways, just as he was when he first got there, but he had grown up into a man in others ways.
Hawkeye got up and dressed, grabbed a flask to fill with lighter fluid from the still, and left the tent. He was just putting his bag into the jeep when a helicopter landed on the lower pad. Instinctively he ran over, but Col. Potter was there before him.
"You go, we can handle it. It's just one case."
"You sure, sir?"
"GO! They need you at the front. Good luck son."
"Thanks, Colonel. You know where to reach me. Just follow the loud booms."
He ran off and went into the Swamp to wake up BJ. He was so glad Charles was in Tokyo for a conference. "Beej, we got a wounded soldier. Go scrub up. I gotta go, I'll see ya later." He dashed back out and put on his helmet as he hopped in the jeep.
"Sir! Sir! Hawkeye!!" Radar called as he came out of the office.
"Yeah?"
"Colonel Potter just told me to go get you. It's a bad chest case. You're the chief surgeon and the best he's seen, he said you got to do it."
"But I have to go to the front."
"He said to send BJ."
"BJ can't handle the case?"
"No, it's real bad. Sir, you're his only hope. You're the best doctor here, you know that. No offence to Captain Hunnicutt, sir."
He sighed. "I'll go get BJ."
"No, you have to go scrub up. I'll take care of your things, and put them back in the tent."
"Okay. But, there's a flask from the gin mill. Leave that for Beej."
"Yes sir."
"Tell him I said good luck, stay low, and if he gets hurt, I'll kill him."
Radar smiled weakly. "Yes sir."
§§§§§§§§
Hawkeye ran into the scrub room to find Margaret in there. "What's it look like?" He asked her as he started washing.
"Mortar fire. Marines were caught in it, most of them are about 18. They're hurt badly, especially the chest case that came on that first chopper." She said sadly. "To make it worse, there was a Korean family in the field, children playing when it hit. They're in rough shape, I don't know if the father will make it."
"If I have anything to do with it, he will." Margaret helped him with his scrubs and he was about to go into the OR when she stopped him.
"Hawk?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck."
He smiled under the mask. "Thanks. How would you like to assist the best looking doctor in camp?"
"I thought Charles was still gone to Tokyo." He looked at her.
"I mean a doctor even better looking than Charles, which doesn't say much."
"But BJ is gone too. Do you mean Colonel Potter? He's a sweet man but I could never think of him like that."
"You think you're cute don't you?"
"I know I'm cute." He looked at her again. "I'd be honored to assist you, oh wonderful chief surgeon." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
He rolled his eyes sarcastically and playfully and went into the OR.
§§§§§§§§
A few hours later, Hawkeye slowly walked out of the OR, his shoulders slumped. He pulled off his surgical cap and sighed. Margaret followed him into the scrub room.
"Pierce?" He was turned away from her. "Hawkeye, you did the best you could. There was nothing could be done for him."
Hawkeye had his eyes closed, and didn't seem to have heard her. "God dammit," He mumbled, smacking his fist against the wall. "I could have saved him. It should have worked. Damn. Dammit. Jesus Christ I should have done better."
"Hawkeye, you're the best damn surgeon I've seen. If you couldn't save him there was nothing you could have done."
"I..I should have done something. I don't know what, but anything! I'm going to bed. Goodnight." With that he walked away, leaving her alone.
After living in such close quarters with Hawkeye Pierce for almost three years, Margaret knew him better than anyone, with maybe the exception of BJ. And she knew when Hawkeye was down like this, he would go to the Swamp and drink out of the Still until he passed out. That was one thing she really didn't like, and she needed him to get out and feel better. She was supposed to clean the OR, but asked a few other nurses who were also on duty to do it, because she had reports to do. The head nurse wasn't lying, she did have reports to do, but that could wait. Right now, she needed to help Hawkeye.
Quickly she changed out of her bloody scrubs and headed out towards The Swamp. Without thinking, she opened the door of the doctors' tent and gasped when she saw Hawkeye bent over, looking for his boxers, with nothing but his dog tags on.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" She covered her mouth and her eyes widened and she tripped, trying to back out of the door.
Hawkeye jumped and spun around in shock when he looked down and covered himself with his hands. Quickly he grabbed the closest pair, which were bright purple and pulled them on. "It's okay Margaret, you don't need to leave." He pulled on a shirt and then grabbed his pants. "I'm decent now."
Margaret laughed nervously. "Oh my...I didn't realize. Oh God, I should have knocked..." She was bright red. Not only had she seen him naked, but he looked really good. When he was bent down, she saw his wonderful ass, and well, he turned around, and she saw a whole lot more. What made her feel worse, was that she should have felt bad, but she really liked what she saw, and hid her smile as she spoke to him.
"Margaret, it's okay. I walked around the compound naked once. It doesn't bother me. So don't worry. It's behind us. If you really feel that bad, since you saw me naked, can I see you?"
"Oh no, buster!" She slapped his arm. "You're not seeing me that easily." She stopped when she realized what she said. "You're not seeing me ever, for that matter."
He grinned. "Uh huh, that's not what you said, it sounds to me like there might be a chance in me seeing you naked." He teased her playfully.
"The reason I came in here was to see if you wanted to talk, or maybe go to the O Club and have a drink. I know you were upset about losing that soldier, but drinking alone will not help it."
"He wasn't a soldier, he was a kid. He was just a God damned kid! He should have been home, wondering who to take to the movies next Sunday. Not whether or not he would live through the day." She sat on his cot and motioned for him to sit next to her. Finally he sat down, shoulders slumped. "I know Hawkeye, it's tough. But you know you can't save all of them. It's just impossible. In a war, young men die. Kids who shouldn't be involved. But you can't do anything about it, except do your best to try and save each one that comes through here. And I know for a fact that you do that. I've seen your work. It's better than any other doctor out there."
He smiled sadly at her. "Thank you, Major." He looked around. "You know, since no one is around, I'll tell you this again. You are my favorite officer in the whole US Army." He leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek. Margaret closed her eyes, he had kissed her a few times throughout the war, and each time was heaven. He had the most amazing and softest lips, and it felt so wonderful to her. But she could never kiss him back, except for the times when he dipped her into a passionate kiss. He did it for show, but he loved it, and so did she, though both tried not to show it.
"Thank you Hawkeye. And you are my favorite doctor in this whole damned army." She leaned over to kiss him back on his cheek and he turned his head, at the same time to speak to her, and their lips met. First, she widened her eyes at the shock then closed them when he kissed back. It was a very simple kiss, but it was wonderful, and when it was broken, both wanted more.
"Margaret."
"Yes?"
"I haven't had anything to drink tonight."
She laughed slightly. "Neither have I."
He was about to lean in again and Radar came running into the tent. "Sir! Sir! Hawkeye Sir!!" He called, and when he saw the two of them sitting on his cot, Margaret's hand clasped in both of Hawkeye's, he stopped and put his hand over his mouth. "Oh Ma'amsir, I'm so sorry, I'm oh.. oh my.. uh.."
"Radar, what is it? What's wrong? Is it Private Anderson?"
Radar shook his head and came to his senses. "No sir. Battalion aid called. They're getting heavy shelling. They were wondering if BJ had left yet."
"What do you mean? Shouldn't he have gotten there by now?"
"No sir, the Aid station bugged out a while ago. It's about a four-hour drive, so BJ should be there in about an hour. They were going to tell us to tell him to turn back now."
"Isn't there a walkie talkie in the jeep?" "No Hawkeye, I thought there was, so I called it, but I didn't get an answer. I found Rizzo and he told me it was on his desk in the motor pull. In about five pieces."
"Shit.."
"I know sir, I don't know what to do."
"Neither do I, Radar, neither do I." Hawkeye said, worried as he sat there, subconsciously holding Margaret's hand tighter. She could tell he was scared, and without thinking, put her other hand on his back, rubbing softly, leaning in closer to him. He always made her feel protected, but she was still worried about BJ.
§§§§§§§§
Hawkeye sighed as he slumped down onto the bench, his head against the wall of the scrub room, his eyes closed. "That's it. Either they start fighting from 9 to 5 or I'm quitting the war."
"Ah, what d'ya mean? Getting up bright and early at 3:00 in the morning is so refreshing. Such a lovely way to start the day." BJ said sleepily and sarcastically.
"What time is it now?"
BJ looked at his watch as he put it on his wrist. "1400h."
Hawkeye opened an eye and looked up at him. "Is that AM or PM? Or is it a week from next Tuesday?"
"Two O'clock in the afternoon."
"I see. Time for bed."
"You got that right." BJ said through a loud yawn.
"I say we go have a nap then go for a drink at the O-Club. Or 2 drinks. Or Three, or four or-"
"Sounds like a plan. Care to join us, Margaret?" BJ asked as he cut off Hawkeye when the blonde nurse entered.
"No, whatever it is. I'm going to bed."
"Care for me to join, Margaret?" Hawkeye asked cheekily.
Too tired to come up with a clever response, Margaret just shook her head. "I don't even have the energy to look at you right now."
"One look at me and you'd get your energy and be up and ready."
"If we continue this conversation you probably will be 'up and ready', Hawkeye."
"Margaret," BJ interrupted Hawkeye before he could come back at her. "We were planning to get some sleep then head over to the O-club for a drink or two." "Or Three, or four." Hawkeye finished off.
"Well, what do you think?" BJ ignored his friend.
"Sure, but I do need my beauty sleep."
Hawkeye stood up to leave, "I'd vouch for that." He said lazily, getting a smack in the back of the head from Margaret as she followed him out of the room towards their separate tents.
§§§§§§§§
"ATTENTION ALL PERSONAL!" Came the blast of the camp's PAs.
"No.not now." Hawkeye groaned and stuck his head under his pillow.
"NO WORRIES FOLKS, NO MORE WOUNDED EXPECTED FOR AT 48 HOURS. ALL PERSONAL ON CONDITIONAL STAND DOWN."
"Oh, thank God." BJ sighed from where he lay sprawled out on his cot. "What time is it?"
"Half past dead."
BJ looked at his watch. "We've been asleep for six hours! C'mon, let's get a quick pick-me-up at ye olde O-club."
"Ah, nothing better for a quick pick-me-up like a depressant like alcohol."
"Well, we could get some coffee at the mess tent."
"O-club it is."
They were just going to the Officer's Club, like they had plenty of other times, more often now with Margaret, and sometimes the rest of the group. However, BJ, Hawkeye and the Head Nurse had lately become closer friends than they once had been. It was no different from before, however Hawkeye felt for once to get up and get dressed. Before, he might have just pulled on his bathrobe over his boxer shorts and t-shirt. But now, he got up and put on a clean pair of the Army Issue olive drab pants. He had left all his good pants and jeans back home in Crabapple Cove. He changed his t- shirt and pulled on his famous blue and white Hawaiian shirt. It was a little tacky, but he always wore it, regardless. It did bring out the colour of his eyes. The raven-haired doctor was combing his hair when he caught BJ looking at him.
"You're combing your hair!"
"Yeah.so?"
"You never do. Unless it's the Cockroach Derby Day."
"Well, I just felt like combing it. It was stuck out everywhere. It.it was messy." He stuttered.
BJ smiled. "Hawk, you know you don't need to dress up for a date with me! I love you no matter what you look like. And it's a good thing to."
"Fink." Hawkeye said with a smile as he threw a pillow at the other man.
Just then he saw Margaret walking towards their tent through the mesh walls. "Ohh.now I know why you were combing your hair and getting all dressed up."
"What?" BJ smiled and pointed towards the blonde nurse. Hawkeye looked at her for a moment then shook his head, shaking it off, laughing. "Oh yeah, sure. She's so G.I. she makes McCarthur look like he was drafted. I'm too 'unmilitary' for her." He tried to make it a joke, but the blonde haired doctor hinted something else.
"She's not so G.I. anymore. You know that."
"Yeah...well..." For once, the always quick-for-a-comeback- Hawkeye didn't have anything to say.
"Oh..it's like that is it?" BJ said, knowingly.
"What's like what? There's nothing like anything!" He blushed and they both shut up about it as Margaret knocked.
"Is everyone decent?" She called.
"I've never been decent, but if you give me a moment I can get a little more indecent and take off my pants, if that's what you like!" Called Hawkeye.
She shook her head, hiding her smile as she entered The Swamp. "You know, you've really got to clean up this place someday. I bet you'd find stuff from the Civil War in here."
"Probably, feels like we've been here that long."
"Amen to that."
"Well, shall we repair to the Officer's Club?" BJ asked in a British accent.
"I didn't-" Margaret started.
"-Know it was broken." She and Hawkeye finished together, causing everyone to laugh as they left, BJ in the lead, while Hawkeye subconsciously lead Margaret by the small of her back out the door.
§§§§§§§§
After they each had a few drinks, the doctors and nurse were becoming quite giggly and Hawkeye and Margaret were flirting like teenagers.
"Say, Margaret, care to dance?" He slurred through a laugh.
"I dunno, I just had two offers at the same time, I don't know who's hand to take.. Yours or yours.." She giggled looking at his one hand and fell towards him, clumsily taking his hand. The pair laughed as they stumbled around the dance floor, laughing up a storm.
Just then, Colonel Potter came in and sat down next to BJ. "Quite a pair, aren't they?" The older man commented, nodding towards the young couple.
"Yeah, well they don't really like each other, that's just the alcohol."
"I don't know, BJ, I've found that if anything, alcohol makes you act the way you feel, and speak very truthfully. Sometimes too truthfully, which is why I have this scar on my head from Mrs. Potter's rolling pin."
BJ snorted a laugh. "They sure make me miss Peg. We were only married for a year when I got drafted. We were still newlyweds, and were still acting like they are right now."
"Just wait until the sober up and start hiding their feelings. Neither will remember ever being this way and they'll pretend to hate each other so the other doesn't sense anything. God, they're each more stubborn than Sophie when she's in heat!"
The song on the jukebox ended and Hawkeye and Margaret headed back to their table.
"Hello Colonel Pothead.Pots.Pot.Potter." Margaret stuttered and did a half salute before leaning against Hawkeye for support and laughed.
"Hello Margaret, Hawkeye." He nodded to them politely, hiding his laughter. "Having fun?"
"Ye- yes-Eagle eye is a horrible dancer..he kepts stepping on both my foots!"
"No worse than Hotnose.." Hawkeye mumbled.
"Hot-hotli-li-what's my na-name again?" She tried to correct him.
"Hotlips?" BJ offered.
"How dare you call me that! I'm Major-Major Houli-Houlililigan" She shrieked with laughter and fell on Hawkeye's lap as soon as he sat down, causing the two of them to giggle more.
"At ease." Potter mumbled sarcastically as BJ joined in the couple's laughter over nothing. "Kids, there's a reason I came in here to talk to you tonight. Major, Captains." When he said that they knew he was being serious, and looked up at him to listen. "Now, I advise you all go get some sleep and sober up. There's a case up at the front, an aid station. Bullet lodged, possibly nicked the spine. Now, he's stable for now, if they keep him still but he can't be moved. And the medics aren't qualified to do anything with him. They may be able to prevent paralysis if a surgeon gets up there by tomorrow morning. Pierce, it's your turn to go to the front. Go pack your bags, and go to bed. A jeep will be ready for you at oh nine hundred tomorrow. I'll get Radar to throw in a big thermos of coffee for you too. From the looks of things here, you'll need it." He gestured to the many empty highball and martini glasses around the table. "Get some sleep and good luck, son." He gave Hawkeye a pat on the shoulder, got up from the table and left the building.
Hawkeye sighed. "So much for this evening. I'd better go." He got up and stumbled along and tripped over a chair before catching himself on the pinball machine. BJ got up to help him and Margaret started to follow. He grabbed her arm and helped her along as well.
The three made it to The Swamp finally after tripping up a few times. BJ pushed them all in before realizing he should bring Margaret to her tent. He might have been the most sober of them all, but he wasn't far off from them.
"Margaret, do I need to drop you off at your place?" He slurred.
"No thanks, I don't like being dropped it hurts my bum." She said before laughing.
Hawkeye pulled his pants off and his shirt. It was extremely warm and he was sleeping in just his boxers now. Margaret eyed him, she always thought he was very good looking, but with the alcohol it was hard for her to know.
"Well, I'm going to bed now. G'night JB, Margarita, Martini.." He trailed off, trying to think of Margaret's name.
"Goodnight, Birdbrain." BJ mumbled into his pillow.
"Goodnight, Hawkear." Margaret looked at him. "Good luck tomorrow." She stood under him next to his cot. "Don't-try not to get hurt. You get yourself hurt or killed and I'll smack you." She said seriously.
"Thank you Martini-Margaret." He blinked a few times, trying to keep her in focus. "Goodnight." He bent down and placed a small kiss on her cheek.
"Thank Welcome." She mumbled and kissed him back before stumbling in the dark back to her own tent.
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"Sir..sir.." Radar called through the mesh wall of the Swamp. When Hawkeye didn't budge he hurried into the tent and leaned over. He saw the dark mop sticking out at the top of the blanket and he gently shook the lump lying on the cot. "Hawkeye..Hawk.."
"Yeah..baby that's my name..say it again..come on..oh, you like that?"
Radar's eyes opened wide and he covered his mouth with his hand in shock. "Uh..Hawkeye? It's me, Radar. You have to get up."
The doctor slowly pulled the covers down and opened his eyes, blinking a few times, as if trying to focus. "Cof-get me coffee." He mumbled.
"Right here sir." The young corporal handed him the mug, which he took and gulped down. "It's time to get up. You have to go to the front."
He groaned. "Right. Why can't they just shout insults at each other from the rear instead of shooting ammo at each other from the front?"
Radar shrugged sadly. "That's war, I guess." He started throwing some of Hawkeye's clothes and toiletries into an olive green bag.
"Yeah, and whatever would we do without war." Hawkeye replied, sarcastically.
"We'd have peace, sir." The young corporal said as he finished packing the bags and ran out of the tent, to do another of his many duties as company clerk. Hawkeye smiled at him. He was still an innocent boy in ways, just as he was when he first got there, but he had grown up into a man in others ways.
Hawkeye got up and dressed, grabbed a flask to fill with lighter fluid from the still, and left the tent. He was just putting his bag into the jeep when a helicopter landed on the lower pad. Instinctively he ran over, but Col. Potter was there before him.
"You go, we can handle it. It's just one case."
"You sure, sir?"
"GO! They need you at the front. Good luck son."
"Thanks, Colonel. You know where to reach me. Just follow the loud booms."
He ran off and went into the Swamp to wake up BJ. He was so glad Charles was in Tokyo for a conference. "Beej, we got a wounded soldier. Go scrub up. I gotta go, I'll see ya later." He dashed back out and put on his helmet as he hopped in the jeep.
"Sir! Sir! Hawkeye!!" Radar called as he came out of the office.
"Yeah?"
"Colonel Potter just told me to go get you. It's a bad chest case. You're the chief surgeon and the best he's seen, he said you got to do it."
"But I have to go to the front."
"He said to send BJ."
"BJ can't handle the case?"
"No, it's real bad. Sir, you're his only hope. You're the best doctor here, you know that. No offence to Captain Hunnicutt, sir."
He sighed. "I'll go get BJ."
"No, you have to go scrub up. I'll take care of your things, and put them back in the tent."
"Okay. But, there's a flask from the gin mill. Leave that for Beej."
"Yes sir."
"Tell him I said good luck, stay low, and if he gets hurt, I'll kill him."
Radar smiled weakly. "Yes sir."
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Hawkeye ran into the scrub room to find Margaret in there. "What's it look like?" He asked her as he started washing.
"Mortar fire. Marines were caught in it, most of them are about 18. They're hurt badly, especially the chest case that came on that first chopper." She said sadly. "To make it worse, there was a Korean family in the field, children playing when it hit. They're in rough shape, I don't know if the father will make it."
"If I have anything to do with it, he will." Margaret helped him with his scrubs and he was about to go into the OR when she stopped him.
"Hawk?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck."
He smiled under the mask. "Thanks. How would you like to assist the best looking doctor in camp?"
"I thought Charles was still gone to Tokyo." He looked at her.
"I mean a doctor even better looking than Charles, which doesn't say much."
"But BJ is gone too. Do you mean Colonel Potter? He's a sweet man but I could never think of him like that."
"You think you're cute don't you?"
"I know I'm cute." He looked at her again. "I'd be honored to assist you, oh wonderful chief surgeon." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
He rolled his eyes sarcastically and playfully and went into the OR.
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A few hours later, Hawkeye slowly walked out of the OR, his shoulders slumped. He pulled off his surgical cap and sighed. Margaret followed him into the scrub room.
"Pierce?" He was turned away from her. "Hawkeye, you did the best you could. There was nothing could be done for him."
Hawkeye had his eyes closed, and didn't seem to have heard her. "God dammit," He mumbled, smacking his fist against the wall. "I could have saved him. It should have worked. Damn. Dammit. Jesus Christ I should have done better."
"Hawkeye, you're the best damn surgeon I've seen. If you couldn't save him there was nothing you could have done."
"I..I should have done something. I don't know what, but anything! I'm going to bed. Goodnight." With that he walked away, leaving her alone.
After living in such close quarters with Hawkeye Pierce for almost three years, Margaret knew him better than anyone, with maybe the exception of BJ. And she knew when Hawkeye was down like this, he would go to the Swamp and drink out of the Still until he passed out. That was one thing she really didn't like, and she needed him to get out and feel better. She was supposed to clean the OR, but asked a few other nurses who were also on duty to do it, because she had reports to do. The head nurse wasn't lying, she did have reports to do, but that could wait. Right now, she needed to help Hawkeye.
Quickly she changed out of her bloody scrubs and headed out towards The Swamp. Without thinking, she opened the door of the doctors' tent and gasped when she saw Hawkeye bent over, looking for his boxers, with nothing but his dog tags on.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" She covered her mouth and her eyes widened and she tripped, trying to back out of the door.
Hawkeye jumped and spun around in shock when he looked down and covered himself with his hands. Quickly he grabbed the closest pair, which were bright purple and pulled them on. "It's okay Margaret, you don't need to leave." He pulled on a shirt and then grabbed his pants. "I'm decent now."
Margaret laughed nervously. "Oh my...I didn't realize. Oh God, I should have knocked..." She was bright red. Not only had she seen him naked, but he looked really good. When he was bent down, she saw his wonderful ass, and well, he turned around, and she saw a whole lot more. What made her feel worse, was that she should have felt bad, but she really liked what she saw, and hid her smile as she spoke to him.
"Margaret, it's okay. I walked around the compound naked once. It doesn't bother me. So don't worry. It's behind us. If you really feel that bad, since you saw me naked, can I see you?"
"Oh no, buster!" She slapped his arm. "You're not seeing me that easily." She stopped when she realized what she said. "You're not seeing me ever, for that matter."
He grinned. "Uh huh, that's not what you said, it sounds to me like there might be a chance in me seeing you naked." He teased her playfully.
"The reason I came in here was to see if you wanted to talk, or maybe go to the O Club and have a drink. I know you were upset about losing that soldier, but drinking alone will not help it."
"He wasn't a soldier, he was a kid. He was just a God damned kid! He should have been home, wondering who to take to the movies next Sunday. Not whether or not he would live through the day." She sat on his cot and motioned for him to sit next to her. Finally he sat down, shoulders slumped. "I know Hawkeye, it's tough. But you know you can't save all of them. It's just impossible. In a war, young men die. Kids who shouldn't be involved. But you can't do anything about it, except do your best to try and save each one that comes through here. And I know for a fact that you do that. I've seen your work. It's better than any other doctor out there."
He smiled sadly at her. "Thank you, Major." He looked around. "You know, since no one is around, I'll tell you this again. You are my favorite officer in the whole US Army." He leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek. Margaret closed her eyes, he had kissed her a few times throughout the war, and each time was heaven. He had the most amazing and softest lips, and it felt so wonderful to her. But she could never kiss him back, except for the times when he dipped her into a passionate kiss. He did it for show, but he loved it, and so did she, though both tried not to show it.
"Thank you Hawkeye. And you are my favorite doctor in this whole damned army." She leaned over to kiss him back on his cheek and he turned his head, at the same time to speak to her, and their lips met. First, she widened her eyes at the shock then closed them when he kissed back. It was a very simple kiss, but it was wonderful, and when it was broken, both wanted more.
"Margaret."
"Yes?"
"I haven't had anything to drink tonight."
She laughed slightly. "Neither have I."
He was about to lean in again and Radar came running into the tent. "Sir! Sir! Hawkeye Sir!!" He called, and when he saw the two of them sitting on his cot, Margaret's hand clasped in both of Hawkeye's, he stopped and put his hand over his mouth. "Oh Ma'amsir, I'm so sorry, I'm oh.. oh my.. uh.."
"Radar, what is it? What's wrong? Is it Private Anderson?"
Radar shook his head and came to his senses. "No sir. Battalion aid called. They're getting heavy shelling. They were wondering if BJ had left yet."
"What do you mean? Shouldn't he have gotten there by now?"
"No sir, the Aid station bugged out a while ago. It's about a four-hour drive, so BJ should be there in about an hour. They were going to tell us to tell him to turn back now."
"Isn't there a walkie talkie in the jeep?" "No Hawkeye, I thought there was, so I called it, but I didn't get an answer. I found Rizzo and he told me it was on his desk in the motor pull. In about five pieces."
"Shit.."
"I know sir, I don't know what to do."
"Neither do I, Radar, neither do I." Hawkeye said, worried as he sat there, subconsciously holding Margaret's hand tighter. She could tell he was scared, and without thinking, put her other hand on his back, rubbing softly, leaning in closer to him. He always made her feel protected, but she was still worried about BJ.
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