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Chapter 5

A jeep rolled into the camp, the three occupants singing together, abnormally tolerating each other. During the ordeal they had been through, Margaret, Hawkeye, and Klinger all gained a new respect for each other.

Trapper jerked into a sitting position, from his coil on Hawkeye's bunk. On her own bunk, Victoria moved in a similar fashion. They exchanged joyful looks. "They're back!" Trapper dashed out the door, Victoria on his heels, Frank trailing behind, joining the excited crowd milling around the jeep. Hawkeye was pulled into a brotherly hug by Trapper – a hug that a few people saw for what it really was – while Victoria embraced Klinger. The corporal and teenager had forged a close, though unlikely, bond. Victoria found Klinger's eccentricity a fresh change, and Klinger found a wealth of fashion advice in the young girl. Frank was already at the door of Margaret's tent, while she paused to talk to Hawkeye, who was still in Trapper's arms.

Breaking away from Klinger, Victoria headed for Hawkeye, but stopped when she saw Radar. Her boyfriend didn't want to break the moment between Hawkeye and Trapper – he was another who saw the chemistry between the two doctors. Luckily, Hawkeye noticed Radar, and pulled away from Trapper to give Radar a hug, before turning to Victoria.

"Hi," he greeted, swinging her around. "Hi," she replied breathlessly, as her feet met the ground. She stole a glance at Trapper. He looked happy and relaxed, in a way he hadn't since Hawkeye had left.

Hawkeye was followed around all day, taking time to speak to everyone. He flirted with the nurses, bothered Frank, and spoke to Margaret with a respect that was a surprise to everyone. Finally, Hawkeye, Trapper, and Victoria were in the Swamp. Frank was welcoming Margaret back, so the tent was quiet.

Hawkeye was stretched out on his cot, talking about the front line experience. Trapper was sitting next to him, drawing idle patterns on his leg. Perched on her own bunk, Victoria smiled. She noticed that Trapper had touched Hawkeye as much as possible through the day – leaning against him in Post – Op, pausing in his work to reach out and touch Hawkeye's hand, almost as though if he didn't maintain contact, Hawkeye would disappear again.

Suddenly, the door banged open, and Frank stomped in. Hawkeye smirked. "Hi Frank," he said. Victoria and Trapper cued in. "Hello Frank." Frank swiveled. "A lot you know," he snapped. "You're back early," Hawkeye commented innocently. "Something…happen? Or is it what didn't happen that's got you all riled up?" Frank glared. "Shut your mouth, Pierce. Just what did you and the Major do up at the front?"

Hawkeye stared up at the olive – drab ceiling. "Uh…we operated…and ate…and slept. That's about it." Frank look confused. "Then why is Margaret talking about how "nice" you were?" Hawkeye shrugged, shooting Trapper and Victoria a grin. Frank left, looking worried.

The hour grew late, and Victoria slipped under the covers. Trapper and Hawkeye were talking quietly, and the steady murmur of their voices lulled her to sleep.

She woke not long after, a frantic whisper jolting her from sleep. "Not here, not now. There's a 16 year old girl sleeping five feet away!" Peering out from under the blanket, she wasn't surprised to find Hawkeye and Trapper, joined at the lips. Trapper was pulling away slightly, and Victoria knew it was he who had whispered.

Throwing off the blankets, she stood. The two men sprang away from each other. Grabbing the blanket, Victoria left, throwing both of them a knowing smile. She headed back to the VIP tent, leaving them in privacy.

The next morning, there was a light knock at the door. "Come in," Victoria called, quickly pulling her shirt over her head. She had just brushed her hair back into order when Hawkeye and Trapper ducked in, both looking slightly nervous. "Hi guys," Victoria greeted. "Hi," Trapper replied. Victoria motioned to the bed, as she sat at her desk, brushing her hair.

"Now I know you didn't come here just to say hi," she commented, carefully brushing the knots from her thick hair. Hawkeye looked down at his hands, which he was twisting in his lap. Trapper nodded. "You're right. We wanted to talk about…about last night,"

"Look, what you guys to is your own business. No one has a right to tell someone else how to live his or her life. The least I could do was clear out." Trapper smiled tentatively. Victoria smiled back, then looked at Hawkeye, who was still twisting his hands. She reached out to touch his shoulder, and he looked up, blue eyes clouded.

"You know, you really mean a lot to us," Hawkeye said softly. "But…if you don't want to associate with us anymore, we'll understand." Victoria shook her head, wrapping her arms around Hawkeye's neck. "I love you, Hawkeye, I really do, but sometimes, you're just too dense. What goes on behind closed doors doesn't change the way I feel about you. Either of you," she said, glancing at Trapper. She pulled away from Hawkeye, putting her brush back on her table.

"Besides," she continued, shooting the doctors a grin, "You look really cute together."

They exchanged disbelieving looks, then grinned at her. "Come on. Let's get some food."

***TBC***

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