Thanks be to the good, kind reviewers (I got two! That's all I wanted)...keep going so I can improve...remember my backlog of about twenty stories-if you want 'em to be good...R&R.
(BTW, sorry, I suck at smut so I'm not doing any...)
Charles noticed. He saw Margaret's blush, her high pitched voice. He saw and knew they were for Hawkeye.
BJ cursed Hawkeye for a fool, a bloody fool. Anyone could see that he loved Margaret. But he was so scared of hurting her, of losing their friendship, that he wouldn't say anything.
The nurses from the 4077th who had been transferred to the 8063rd noticed too. They knew that Margaret was head over heels in love with Hawkeye. None of the men knew as they were blind. Anyone who had eyes though, knew that Hawkeye loved Margaret. Hawkeye wasn't as good as concealing his feelings as Margaret. But she was so scared of scaring him away, of reading more into him then he perhaps meant that he wouldn't say a thing.
Margaret stayed in Korea for a year, helping with the clean up effort before resigning. She moved back to the States, where she lived with her three friends, Katie, Cathy and Emily.
FIRST DAY HOME...
Margaret stepped off the plane and walked into the airport. Where were they? They said they'd be there. Ah there they were.
Cathy, Emily and Katie waved excitedly. Taking her to the mess in Margaret's new hospital where she was the assistant Head Nurse, they caught her up with the gossip.
ONE WEEK LATER...
Margaret couldn't believe it. Home again after all those years. Was it only three? It seemed like forever. Margaret was comfortable in her position at the hospital, but home was not there. Home was still the 4077th, with Colonel Potter, BJ, Charles, Klinger, Radar and the nurses. And...him. Him who had stolen her heart and wore it round his neck. He who she still couldn't get out of her head. His flashing blue-grey eyes, his trademark grin, his Still, the Swamp where he lived...it all stayed.
Margaret was in the mess one tea break, when she tried to find some money for Cathy.
"Uh, I don't think I have a buck, sorry Cath," apologised Margaret, still digging in her pockets.
"That's ok Meg," said Cathy.
Margaret felt a piece of paper. Dragging it out, she found an envelope with her name written on it in Klinger's handwriting. Inside was a letter. She pulled it out and read it.
Dear Major Houlihan,
Margaret, I hope you don't mind me calling you Margaret. Uh, it's been great seeing you these past few days. I know Soon-Lee liked it too. Uh, she's pregnant, and we're really excited. Yeah, I was developing some of the photos I took of people's goodbye's at the good ole' 4077th. And I found this one of you and Hawk. I thought you might like a copy. I also have a few others, a few of BJ and Potter, Charles and the nurses, even one of Radar and Henry. I didn't think you'd want any of Major Burns. If you do, write to me at 49 Drake Street, Toledo. I'M HOME! Or will be soon!
Hopefully, ever your good friend,
Max Klinger
It was dated the day before she'd come back to the States. She had run into Klinger and Soon-Lee and spent a week with them. Taking out the photos, she was surprised when tears welled up. The first was of good old loveable Henry, in his fishing gear with one arm slung around Radar's shoulder. The second showed a grinning BJ (minus moustache) an arm slung around him. They both had their Hawaiian shirts and their straw hats on and each was nursing a martini. The third was of BJ (moustache), him and Charles. They were just out of surgery, and were recovering in the Officer's Club. Then was one of him, BJ (no moustache) and Klinger outside the Swamp. One of Colonel Potter and Father Mulchahy on the piano. And last...the goodbye kiss.
"Meg? Margaret?" asked Katie.
Margaret looked up.
"What have you got there?" asked Cathy, noting the single tear on Margaret's cheek.
"Nothing," said Margaret hastily.
"Let's see!" said Emily and snatched the photos. She only managed to grab one.
"Em, give it here!" demanded Margaret in horror. It was the last photograph.
"Margaret, is that you?" said Cathy in surprise.
"Yeah, me and a captain from the 4077th. We're just uh, just saying goodbye," said Margaret blushing.
"Not with many words I see! He looks familiar somehow, I don't know..." said Katie.
"Can I have my photo back please?" asked Margaret. She took the photo.
COMEDIAN HORROR
"Guess what girls!" squealed Katie excitedly, coming into their apartment followed by her boyfriend.
Margaret remembered her kiss...his lips...
"What?" squealed the others.
"Danny got us tickets to see Benjamin Pierce!" said Katie happily.
"Who?" asked Margaret sharply.
"Benjamin Pierce, the comedian. He tells stories about the war. And Danny's gonna introduce us! He served in the War too, a GI," said Katie.
"Oh," said Margaret, losing interest. She drifted back into memory.
"No, he was a MD," corrected Danny, but Margaret hadn't heard.
"He is so hot!" sighed Cathy.
"And so funny!" exclaimed Emily.
"If it weren't for Danny, I would probably think the same, but Danny is so neat and hot!" admitted Katie.