I woke up at seven twenty-three the next morning to the sound of an ambulance pulling into the compound. For the first time since arriving in that hell hole I just rolled over and went back to sleep. I woke up around nine. I looked around, bewildered that no one had come to get me for OR. I scooted to the edge of my cot and stood up. Searing pains shot through my left leg and I shrieked. I sat down and looked at my leg. Blood had trickled down my leg leaving a long stain in the dress I was wearing. Suddenly I remembered what had happened the night before. I groaned and collapsed back onto my cot. I wanted to forget…all I wanted was too forget. I quickly fell asleep.

Several hours later, around noon, Radar quietly knocked on my door.

"Major Houlihan? Major are you in there?" I didn't answer. I shut my eyes and prayed that he would go away.

"Major?" I heard the door softly creek open. "Major…"

"Go away Radar." I mumbled quietly. I knew if I didn't say anything he wouldn't leave.

"Well, uh sir, I…uh mean ma'm, Colonel Potter needs to speak with you." He said nervously.

"Fine Radar."

"All right ma'm." He walked out of the tent, slamming the door on his way out. I really had no intention of going anywhere. I was just thankful that little pest had left me alone. I lay motionless staring at the side of my tent. I must have laid that way for at least a half-hour when I heard a knock on my door.

"Go away Radar!"

"Major," It was Colonel Potter.

"Come in." I whispered meekly. The door scraped open and I could hear him crossing the tent to my cot. He sat down and put his hand on my back.

"Radar told me what happened." I stiffened, had the little creep been listening at the door last night?

"What did he want?" I relaxed, realizing that Radar had only told him that Donald had been there, nothing else.

"He just wanted to see me." I said. I didn't feel like giving him any details, it had all happened too recently.

"And…" He inquired.

"I told him I wanted a divorce." I mumbled. The colonel sighed, and rubbed my back.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." He was being so sweet. Tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't believe I was crying again, I thought I had spent all my tears.

"It's going to be okay. It will get better soon." He paused; there was something he wanted to tell me. "The CO at the 8063rd called, he wanted to see if you could fill-in for their head nurse for a month or two until they can get another. They have a very limited nursing staff as it is." I sat up and looked at him.

"You're going to have me transferred?" I asked incredulously.

"It's only temporary." He assured me. "Besides, we think it would be good for you."

"We?" I was confused, who wanted to get rid of me?

"Ah well, I was talking it over with Pierce, and he agrees that it would be best if you had a change of scenery for a while."

"I'll bet." I muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing Colonel," I stood up, I wanted to be alone. "Well I guess I'll start packing." I took a step towards my locker but I had forgotten about my leg and I almost collapsed as I took my first step.

"That's a nasty little cut you have there Major, what happened?" He helped over to my chair.

I tried to recall what exactly did happen. Oh Yeah.

"I fell."

He looked at me strangely. I frowned wondering what he was thinking. As I realized what I said I smiled slightly.

"This time I really did fall Colonel. I tripped in those ridiculous heels." I said indicating the shoes next to my cot. He smiled and patted me on my shoulder.

"Ah well, change your clothes and then come over to my office and I'll take a look at it." I started to protest but he held up his hand. "It is not open for discussion Major." I nodded in resignation.

As he walked out of my tent I tried to figure out what it is I wanted. When I first heard that I was being transferred, I wanted nothing more than to stay. But the more I though about it, the more I agreed that it would be for the best. It was going to be very awkward with Hawkeye from then on. I managed to slip on a pair of shorts, it was a little chilly, as it was still April, but there was no way I could wear pants without my cut being bandaged first. I cleaned the dried blood off of my leg and slipped on my shoes. Then I slowly and painfully headed to the Colonel's office.

"Ah Margaret, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if you were planning on coming." I blushed as I walked into Colonel Potter's office.

"It takes a while to get around." I replied.

"I would say so, with a cut like that!" He paused and pulled a chair out for me. "Come sit over here, I'll have you fixed up in no time." I gratefully accepted the chair. As he was cleaning the wound he looked up at me and began speaking softly.

"You know we all love having you here Major." He paused as I chuckled cynically. He sighed and continued. "I just think it would be best if you had a bit of a change for a while." He seemed as if he was going into a long explanation so I quickly interrupted.

"Colonel, I absolutely agree with you."

He looked up, surprised. "Oh, well I'm glad you're being reasonable. Hang on for a moment while I go tell Radar to get the paperwork ready." While he was still saying this Radar walked through the door.

"Colonel I have the paperwork for Major Houlihan's transfer."

"Radar, get the paperwork for…" He stopped talking as he realized what Radar said. "Thank you Radar, please leave the papers on my desk."

"Yes sir." He turned and looked at me. "Major?"

I tried to smile; I was always so mean to that boy. "Yes?"

"We'll be sad to see you go." My heart melted. What a sweet kid! I always acted like such a jerk to him and now he was being so damn sweet!

"Thank you Radar."

"Your welcome ma'm." He said nervously as he shuffled into the adjoining room.

"Colonel, I changed my mind about…" I jumped as I heard his voice and I started breathing heavily.

"Come on in Hawkeye. We were just about finished." Hawkeye walked over and stood next to me.

"God Margaret, what happened?" I looked down, avoiding his gaze. Thank God Colonel Potter spoke up.

"She tripped and cut her leg."

"Oh really? Were you going somewhere in a hurry?" I knew what he was getting at.

"Shut up Pierce."

"Yes, your Majesty." He squatted down and tried to look me in the eyes. I shifted my body nervously and looked the other way.

"What did you change you mind about Pierce?" Potter asked him as he attached a piece of gauze to my leg.

Hawkeye sighed; he obviously wasn't comfortable discussing it in front of me. He ignored the Colonel's question and stood up.

"Are you all right Margaret?"

The Colonel chuckled. "It's only a small cut Pierce."

Hawkeye wouldn't take his eyes off of me. I knew what he was really asking.

"I'll be fine." I quickly changed the subject. "I'm getting a transfer, did you hear?" I wanted to see his reaction; it was immediate.

"You're actually going?" His expression was one of utter astonishment.

I glared at him. "You're the one who thought it was such a good idea!" Poor Colonel Potter was getting nervous with the obvious tension.

Hawkeye sighed. "Well goodbye Major. We'll miss you." He smiled as he said it, but the coldness in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. There was something else in his gaze. Something I didn't really understand, he looked as if he had been hurt. At first that made me angry, how could he feel hurt? As if I did something wrong! But then those feelings slowly changed to guilt. Had I done something to hurt him? I couldn't stand the thought.

Hawkeye slowly walked towards the doors. "Hawk!" I called suddenly, "Please wait." He shook his head.

"Goodbye Major." And then he walked out the door. I couldn't believe it, he had left me. Just like that. He had promised he would always be there for me and now he was gone. The room suddenly became very hot; I needed to get outside, and quickly. I jumped from my seat, my leg unwilling to move.

"Major, I'm not done with your leg." Colonel Potter grabbed my hand. I jerked it away and headed towards the door as quickly as possible. I couldn't let him see me cry.

"I'll finish it in my tent…" I paused. "…As I'm packing."

Two hours later a jeep from the 8063rd pulled up. Radar came in to help me with my things. After everything was in the jeep I walked back into my tent. I couldn't believe I was leaving. As much as I thought I hated that place, I couldn't stand the thought of leaving. I looked around at the characterless, khaki-green tent. It was a lot like me. Empty, and soulless, having my entire life shaped by what others wanted of me.

"I've been moving all my life." I told myself. "This isn't any different." That's what my mind was telling me but I couldn't make my heart believe it. I was only going to the 8063rd as a temp. But I knew I wouldn't be back.

I walked outside toward the jeep and placed my last bag in the back seat and climbed in with the assistance of Colonel Potter.

"Now keep that cut clean." He said gruffly. I smiled sadly. I was going to miss him so much.

"Thank you Colonel." I whispered. Then he leaned forward and enveloped me in a warm embrace. I leaned back in my seat and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Goodbye Colonel." He smiled, squeezed my hand and backed away from the jeep. The corporal from the 8063rd started the jeep and coughed nervously.

"Are you ready Major?"

I nodded and he stepped on the gas, as we were about fifty feet beyond the compound, I turned in my seat to have one final look at the place I had called home for quite a while. As I surveyed the tents I saw one solitary figure standing in the middle of the compound. Hawkeye. He looked so depressing, his hair, now streaked with grey, blew around his face in the chilled breeze. His shoulders sagged and his uniform hung limply off his thin frame. I turned back around I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. I faced the road ahead, that's what I had to do…look ahead. Looking back only brings trouble.

As we headed for the 8063rd the jeep began smoking horribly.

"What's going on?" I asked the corporal nervously.

He sighed, "I'm not sure; I'll have to check it out." He started to pull the jeep over to the side of the rode but the sound of sniper fire changed his direction. I screamed in pain as a bullet nicked my shoulder. We sped on at full speed. Smoke was pouring out from under the hood but we didn't dare stop. After we had driven quite a ways he slowed down and began to pull over again. Suddenly I noticed flames.

"Oh God, Corporal get out of the jeep!" I screamed. The engine was on fire! I hopped out as quickly as I could and began to run away from the jeep. I turned as I noticed the corporal had not followed me. I looked around and noticed he was attempting to put out the fire.

"Corporal get away from there!" I shrieked. He looked at me blankly and continued pouring water onto the flames. I ran toward him as fast as I could, I was only ten feet away when the jeep exploded. I was knocked backwards and my head smacked onto the ground. I blacked out.