Margaret couldn't believe what she was seeing. Hawkeye was only a few feet from her. But the only thought racing through her head was that Hawkeye now held the rank of Major. He was equal to her in rank but his character has surpassed all of theirs. But soon that thought is replaced by one of anger. How dare he not keep in touch? He had promised that he'd do everything in his power to keep the 4077th informed as to his condition. Many had taken him for dead do to the year long period of silence. But he surely wasn't dead. Not by a long shot. She could hear BJ and Potter babbling both at once. Asking him foolish questions such as how he has been doing? Or why didn't he send word that he was the new surgeon. But Margaret knew in her heart why he didn't send word. Why he didn't send word for the year of his absence. He was trying to forget them. Forget the people that had considered him apart of their close knit family. No words poured from her lips. No words could really describe the emotions that she was feeling. So she steps up to the new arrival and in one motion slaps him hard across the face and marches back to the direction that she came from. Leaving behind a shocked Pierce and equally shocked Potter and Hunnicutt.
Hawkeye brought his hand up to rub his stinging cheek. She really packed a wallop. "Well. I guess that is better than I had hoped for. I thought for sure that she would tear my head off and flush it down the latrine. But I guess the day is still young so she could very well make my thoughts come true." He lowers his hand and faces the two stunned men who had stopped talking. "And now to answer all your jumbled questions. I'm doing as well as could be expected of a man in my position. Being on the front line is nothing like being back here. It might be bad back here but up there...up there is it thirty times worse, on a good day." He looked up to the blue sky and sighed. "I'm sorry that I didn't send word. Not just of my arrival. But for the entire year. I was kinda in shock for the first few months. I had been ripped out of a situation that was terrible and placed into one that was beyond terrible. I didn't think I could make it up there. I even gave myself a month before I would crack and step in front of a tank. But I guess I had the strength in me after all. I was bitter at first too. I felt that it was unfair that I was transferred and not BJ or even Charles. Both equal in skill. But soon I realized that I was the logical choice when it came down to it. I really didn't have any family except for my dad. BJ has a wife and a daughter that would miss him dearly. Even Charles has his parents and sister whom I'm guessing he is semi-close to. Sure dad would miss me if something happened. But I accepted my fate and in doing so...In doing so I vowed that I would try and forget my past in order to face the future with a clean start. I tried to forget everyone that I knew so I could become the person that they needed. I guess it got me somewhere." He reached up and rubbed his finger over the gold cluster that was clipped to his collar. The same cluster that marked him as a Major. "Now. Shall we get things in order so I may get settled in. I'm awfully tired from the trip and this heat isn't helping matters any. I'm assuming that I will be bunking with the other doctors? Now that is going to take some getting used to. I had my own tent on the front. Sat right beside the hospital, if you could call the ruined building that we were using a hospital. It even sometimes served as a post-op if a patient needed to rest." Hawkeye didn't give them any time to respond, he just turned on his heels and headed towards what used to be known as the swamp. Yes. Oh Yes, this was going to take a lot of getting used too.
Several hours passed before Hawkeye found himself settled in and enjoying a cup of coffee in the mess tent. It was empty besides two privates playing cards in the corner and a nurse reading a book at the table beside his. A leather bound book lay open in front of him with a half written on piece of paper inside it with a pen laying on top. He had began a letter and had yet to finish it.
Hawkeye was so engrossed in his cup of coffee that he didn't notice that he was no longer alone at the table. Margaret had joined him and was also sipping her own cup of coffee while eyeing him. She cleared her throat to try and get his attention but he didn't even blink an eyelash at her. "Cap...Major?" She said, quietly trying to draw him out of whatever far off place he was day dreaming about. He blinked hearing himself addressed and his eyes moved towards the person. "Ah. Sorry about that Major Houlihan. It's been along day." He mumbled as he sat his mug down beside his half finished letter. "Can I help you with something Major?" She couldn't help but note how at ease he sounded at addressing her as Major. "Actually, It's Major Penobscot now." She corrected him. "I'm sorry. Didn't know you took his name. Just figured you wanted your military career in your original name." He apologized. "Actually, I'm in the middle of a divorce so it will be reverting back to my maiden name soon." She took a sip of her coffee. "Sorry to hear that, Margaret. You deserved better than him." He was sincere in his words and soon he took up his pen and began to write again.
Margaret felt at east talking to Hawkeye even though she was mad at him. He always seemed to understand her and say the right thing. She couldn't deny that she missed him because then she'd be lying. "So..." She took another sip of her coffee and noticed the letter he was writing. The heading, Dear Carlye, couldn't be missed. She began to search her memory to whom Carlye was then it dawned on her. Carlye was a nurse that transferred out of the 4077th almost two years ago. She remembered hearing rumors that Carlye and Hawkeye were very close and even remembers hearing rumors about marriage. But marriage was not a word in Hawkeye Pierce's vocabulary so it was brushed off as just a rumor. "You keep in contact with her?" She questioned, quietly.
Hawkeye looked up from his writing and frowned. He didn't like people reading his personal letters but sometimes it couldn't be helped. "Yes." He said simply not really wanting to go into detail but knowing he would be pressed until he spilled the beans. "After leaving here, she transferred to the 3055th until being rotated to Seoul to be personal aid to General Hamilton. My first month at the 309th I happened to save a very grateful Lieutenant who had friends in high places who were also grateful in me saving him. So a week later I found myself in Seoul. I know the place isn't that big but who would have ever expected me to run into her while there on a three day pass? I surely didn't but I'm glad I did. I got to see the reason why she was rotated out of the MASH unit and into, basicly, a desk job. She has a kid. Imagine my surprise when she told me. And then imagine my fainting when she informed me that she not only had a kid but half of it was mine." He shook his head and looked down to the letter, reading over what he already had and continuing to talk to Margaret. "His name is Daniel Douglas Pierce and he's nineteen months old. She's back in the states now living with my father who is helping with the baby. That's why she was rotated because they needed to get her out of the Army, quietly.: He looked up at Margaret. The day I found out I had a son is also the day I lost my bachelorhood. I insisted that it was the right thing to do and she reluctantly agreed. So I spent three days with my family and haven't seen them since." He dug around in his shirt pocket and pulled out a black and white picture and handed it to Margaret who took it, silently. "Doug is the baby and that would be my father holding him. I just got it in the mail before I got transferred here." He stopped rambling.
Margaret couldn't believe it. Hawkeye was married. Who would have thought? Not here, that's for sure. Her eyes drifted to his hand once he handed her the picture and only then did she noticed the ring that encircled his ring finger. She moved her eyes to the picture and smiled. The baby looked like Hawkeye. Even in black and white she could tell that the child had blue eyes and black hair, how could it not? Her eyes lingered longer on the older man, this being the first time she ever saw Hawkeye's father. He was a handsome man. Not as old as her own father, she imagined. He had grey hair that probably used to be black like Hawkeye's but his eyes were darker, probably brown. Hawkeye must have gotten his eyes off his mother. "He's a very handsome little boy. You should be proud." She handed the picture back and stood. "I should be getting back to my tent. I'm on duty in two hours." She smiled at him, leaving her empty cup behind as she exited the mess tent and headed towards her own.
He took and picture and smiled. "I am." He mumbled as she quickly departed. "Oh Margaret. You have no idea." Hawkeye ran a hand through his hair and stuffed the picture back into his pocket. He trusted that she wouldn't tell anyone since that would imply that she had a civil conversation with him. And after belting him, he doubted that she wanted that image right now. He signed the letter and grimly placed it into a already addressed envelope and grabbed his leather notebook and making a detour to deposit the letter into the mail bin before dropping the notebook off on his cot and heading over to the hospital to check things out and get the feel of things again.
The letter sat amongst other letters and packages in the bin before being bagged and shipped off. It was whisked away with happy letters home. But this wasn't a happy letter. It's words seemed to imprint on the envelop for a moment. Dearest Carlye, I love you with all my heart and soul. We created a child together that is happy and healthy. But my dear, I can not pretend any longer. I am not happy and I know you are not either. You worry about Doug losing his father and you losing a husband on a regular basis. My father has told me of your numerous trips to the hospital over the stress that you're feeling. You once asked me in a letter if we did the right thing? If rushing into it was a good idea? I think I have your answers now. We did the right thing but rushing into it was not a good idea. I can't say that I regret it because I don't. I just think we are two totally different people that need to travel two different paths. I know you'll understand and maybe even feel relieved when you read these words. I understand now that I wasn't ready to marry and the idea still scares me. I'm sure if things were different and we were completely normal people living completely normal lives that things would be different and we'd both be happy. But unfortunately things are not normal and I don't think they ever will be. By the time you read this a lawyer should have already delivered the divorce papers. You don't have to sign if you feel that we can work things out once this war is over but please keep in mind what this will do to Doug. Yours Truly, Hawkeye.