"Why can't she stay here?" Hawkeye demanded. Colonel Potter glared at him.
"We've been over this before, Pierce. She needs more attention than we can give her!"
"Hey," Hawkeye fell silent at Margaret's hoarse voice. "Some of us are trying to sleep." Hawkeye looked at Colonel Potter as if to say, "This conversation isn't over". He then walked over to Margaret's cot. He hadn't wanted to leave her. He knew he needed sleep but he wanted to be with her as much as possible. When he was near her the war and all his troubles seemed to vanish. Even when she was angry with him he wanted to be near her. Now Potter was insisting that she be sent to Tokyo. Hawkeye knew it was only a matter of time before Potter won.
Hawkeye sat down nervously next to Margaret. He was dreading what he was about to say. And yet at the same time he couldn't wait to speak with her.
"He's going to win." He said. Margaret's head flew up and she looked at him imploringly. The look in her eyes made him wince. He didn't want to hurt her; he wanted to keep her as near to him as possible. He wanted to protect her.
"I can argue with him all I want but he will eventually win because you do need to go to a real hospital." He said soberly. Margaret bit her lip and tried her hardest not to start crying. Hawkeye felt guilty he hadn't meant to make her cry.
"I'll miss you." He said tenderly. "But you'll be back; as soon as you're healed they'll send you back." With every word Margaret's tears increased. Hawkeye desperately wanted to end this conversation, he only wanted to hold her and assure her everything would be all right.
"I don't want you to go without giving you this." As he was speaking Hawkeye had placed his hand into his pocket; it emerged holding a small, blue velvet box. Hawkeye's hands were shaking so badly he almost couldn't open it.
"I love you Margaret," Hawkeye was surprised at the quality of his voice. It seemed to him as if he was on the edge of a steep cliff contemplating jumping over the edge. He took a deep breath and jumped. "I know this seems strange but I don't want to let you go without having the assurance that I'll never lose you again. I want…I'm asking you to me marry me." There, he had done it. He had jumped over the edge and was now praying that he wouldn't hit the bottom. "Will you marry me?" He couldn't take his eyes off of her. For a moment time seemed to freeze as he dangled in midair. Soon a sickening feeling filled his stomach as he realized she hadn't given him an answer but instead was sobbing hysterically. He had just hit the bottom…hard. He tried to gain his composure and stood up as he snapped the box shut.
"I'm sorry Margaret." He paused remembering what his mother had told him. "Give this to the girl you want to spend the rest of you life with." He sighed; this was the girl who he wanted to grow old with.
"I want you to keep the ring anyway." He placed the box beside her as she shook her head. He was about to insist when she finally broke her sobs and choked out a response.
"Idiot…" was all that he caught. Hawkeye frowned, was she trying to add insult to injury? He was about to walk away when the second half of her statement reached his ears. "…I love you."
Hawkeye turned and quickly sat down beside her. "Then…" He trailed off, he wasn't sure if he was able to ask again.
"Yes," she sobbed. "I'll marry you." She the buried herself into Hawkeye's arms. It took him a moment to realize what had just occurred. He kissed the top of her head gently and pushed her back onto the cot.
He leaned in and gently kissed her cheek, he moved slightly to the left, brushing her nose with her lips. Lust surged through him and yet his love for her, his real love, not lust, held him back. He kissed her softly on her lips and then leaned up slowly. He stared at her tattered face, stroking her cheek gently. He knew she would have to go to a hospital, her injuries were quite extensive, and although she was no longer in danger she still needed almost constant attention.
When she had arrived one of her numerous broken ribs had punctured her left lung, she could barely breathe. The bullet hole in her right shoulder was filthy and infected. Her right collar bone was broken and she had two more bullet holes in her right leg. Besides this she had countless deep cuts and bruises, not to mention several bad burns from the explosion. When they were operating, her temperature had risen to 105.7 degrees. The honestly didn't think she would make it through surgery.
"Marry me today." Margaret looked at him strangely, color seeping into her face.
"What?" She managed to stutter. "Hawk, I can't even…I can't…uh." Her face was now bright red.
"I know," Hawkeye said, smiling broadly. He knew exactly what she was thinking. "I know you can barely sit up." He paused and then asked teasingly. "That is what you were going to say wasn't it Hot Lips?" If it was possible Margaret turned an even deeper shade of red. "I want to marry you before you go to Tokyo." Hawkeye's mind was reeling. He knew that he would go crazy if she left before they were married. He wasn't sure why it was so important to him but he needed the assurance that he wouldn't lose her. He was well aware of the fact that they couldn't have a wedding, (or a wedding night) but he needed her to agree to this. Maybe he was just afraid that she would change her mind while in Tokyo.
She smiled and her blush began to recede. "Yes Doctor, I'll marry you today."
Hawkeye stood next to the ambulance as two men picked up her stretcher and placed her gently inside. He climbed inside after her and picked up her hand and smiled sadly.
"I'm gonna miss you Hot Lips." He said quietly. Margaret swallowed the tears that were threatening to spill.
"I'll be back soon." She said. Hawkeye nodded and kissed her gently.
"Goodbye Mrs. Pierce." She laughed lightly. With a final kiss Hawkeye climbed out of the vehicle and watched sadly as Klinger shut the doors. The engine started and Hawkeye watched as the ambulance drove out of the compound. He stayed perfectly still watching the ambulance shrink smaller and smaller into the distance until it rounded a bend and disappeared.
His shoulders sagged and he cursed softly to himself before turning and walking towards BJ who was standing nearby.
"Come on Hawk, I've got a wedding present for you." BJ said, trying to sound cheerful. Hawkeye shrugged and they walked towards the swamp. As they walked inside Hawkeye laughed cynically.
"Are you trying to kill me?" He asked his friend sarcastically. Hawkeye sat down in his lawn chair as BJ poured them a drink from the newly assembled still. He placed an olive in each glass and handed one to Hawkeye.
"Cheers!" BJ offered. Hawkeye looked sullenly into the martini; he sighed and raised his glass, tipping the edge of BJ's.
"Cheers." He responded flatly. He brought the glass to his lips and took a small sip. He gagged and offered his friend a shaky smile.
"Just as awful as ever."