Hawkeye saw her begin to tremble. She looked terrified. He quickly stood and offered Margaret help up.
"Margaret, are the divorce papers in your tent?" He had to think rationally. In all honesty he wanted nothing more than to go to the office a tear that jerk limb from limb; but for Margaret's sake he had to keep his head about him.
When they arrived at her tent, Margaret practically ripped apart her furniture looking for the forms. She was halfway under her cot when Hawkeye saw them sitting neatly on her desk. He crossed the room and picked them up.
"Margaret, here they are." As she climbed out from underneath the cot her face was so comical that Hawkeye would have laughed had the situation not been so serious. As it was he couldn't help but smile. She stood up and practically ran out of the tent. He followed her to the door of Colonel Potter's office, where she stopped. She still looked terrified.
"I'm not going anywhere." He reassured her.
"What if won't sign them?" She looked up at him; Hawkeye thought she looked like a child, lonely and afraid.
"He will." Hawkeye could say that with confidence, he didn't care how much it took; he would make certain that pond-scum would sign.
Hawkeye opened the door and pulled Margaret in behind him. Penobscott turned and looked confused as he saw Hawkeye. The confusion melted away the instant he saw Margaret. He rushed over to her and held her in a passionate embrace. Hawkeye saw her struggling to get away from him and his blood began to boil.
"How dare that creep treat her like this? He could have killed her last week!"
Hawkeye swiftly walked over to Penobscott and firmly pushed him back from Margaret.
"Margaret, what's going on? What's with this guy?" Penobscott was getting upset, he had no idea why this man was even in the office, and now he was acting like Margaret's bodyguard!
Poor Margaret, she was trying so hard to find the words she had been rehearsing in her mind the past ten minutes. "Donald, last week in Seoul…"
Hawkeye sneered as a look of extreme discomfort came over the man's face.
"…I told you I wanted a divorce," She sighed and continued. "I still do."
Hawkeye started to move towards Margaret protectively. He saw the look on Donald's face and it was not a pleasant one. He swore if that jerk even touched her, his arm would be useless from now on. Donald's following action was a complete surprise; at least it was for Hawkeye.
He heard Margaret scream as he was hurled backwards into the filling cabinets. Instantly Hawkeye realized what this man was thinking. He tried to gather his thoughts and get up from the floor. He glanced at Margaret who was staring at him. Donald was approaching her now, certain that Pierce was out of the way. Margaret didn't even see him coming.
Hawkeye jumped up and tackled Penobscott. He wanted to beat this man till he was dead. Instead he jerked his arm behind his back and pushed him against the desk.
Donald's mind was reeling. How did this guy manage to tackle him? He didn't have half the strength he did. There had to be some way out of this arm lock.
Sensing what the man was thinking, Hawkeye cautioned. "Don't move an inch or your arm will break." He turned to look at Margaret. "Could you bring the papers over here please?" He said as calmly as possible, not wanting to upset her. She stared back at him blankly with her mouth hanging open, as if in a trance. "Margaret!" The urgency in his tone seemed to bring her back around. "…The papers."
She instantly laid them on the desk and jumped backwards as if Donald was a poisonous snake.
"Sign sir." Hawkeye whispered fiercely into the man's ear. Donald struggled to get his free arm up and hurriedly signed.
"What kind of freak is this guy?" He was completely unnerving him.
After Donald signed, Hawkeye straightened him up and began to push him outside. Once outdoors and away from Margaret, Hawkeye let him have it. One good punch sent Donald sprawling on the ground.
"Don't you ever come near her again! Do you understand?" Hawk shouted. Donald nodded, inching away from the crazed man. Hawkeye wouldn't let him off that easily. He took a step towards the man and picked him up, only to send him sprawling again. Hawkeye stepped next to him and kicked him in the ribs. He hoped he cracked a few.
"Now get out of here, and never come near that girl again!" He shouted. Then he turned and quickly walked back inside, leaving Donald to rush to his jeep.
When Hawkeye returned he saw Margaret curled up on the floor crying. He sat down next to her and stroked her back as she cried.
"I'm so sorry Margaret." She looked up at him and then leaned into his arms allowing him to comfort her. Hawkeye was overwhelmed with emotions. He wanted to kiss all her tears away and tell her how much he cared for her…no…he wanted to tell her he loved her.
"Thank you." Her voice jerked him back into reality.
"For what Major?" He smiled sadly, he wanted to tell her.
"For being my friend; for being the only one that cares." He smiled again and slowly shook his head.
"Margaret, there are plenty of people who would love to kill you;" She looked up at him curiously, and Hawkeye almost laughed. "But there are even more people that would kill for you."
She started to smile but tears began to spill down her cheeks.
"No more tears Margaret; that scum isn't worth it." She shook her head slightly and leaned closer to him. Placing her hand on his shoulder she leaned in closer and kissed him. She slipped her arms around his neck and Hawkeye was about to do the same to her. He couldn't believe it, she was kissing him! It seemed as if everything was so perfect; time seemed to stand still. Then Hawkeye's mind kicked back in.
He gently pushed her back. It took all his willpower to do so. He looked questioningly at her, searching her eyes to try and understand her actions. All he saw was tears.
"You're upset Margaret. Come on, I'll take you to your tent." He stood up and offered her his hand. She was blushing and she looked away, pretending not to see his extended hand. She struggled to her feet and rushed towards the door.
Hawkeye realized that she was embarrassed. He didn't want her to leave; he couldn't stand her being upset with him.
"Margaret," He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards him. "You know you would have regretted it in the morning." Her face flushed and she looked up at him her eyes flashing, he could tell he had made her angry. But at the same time she looked hurt, he couldn't bear that look.
Her expression changed suddenly, and her eyes filled.
"I love you." She said it so quietly He almost didn't hear. When he realized what she said a thousand soft explosions went off in his brain. He was so close to picking her up and spinning her around. She loved him! Hawkeye smiled and was about to hold her hand, but when he reached for it, he noticed she was still clutching her divorce papers.
His heart sank. He knew it wouldn't be fair to take advantage of her fragile emotions. She needed a friend, one she could trust. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. He knew she would regret what she said in the morning.
"Margaret…" She stiffened as he started to speak. "…Margaret you've just been through a very big ordeal and you're tired, why don't you get some sleep." He offered her a weak smile and she glared at him. She whipped around and rushed outside.
Hawkeye sighed and rubbed his eyes. He walked over to the Colonel's liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink. He lowered himself into the chair and sighed again.
"What on earth am I going to do?"