His demeanor changed instantly as he grabbed her by the hand and gently led her into his room.
"Would you like anything to drink?" he asked, walking into the small kitchenette. Margaret shook her head and he smiled warmly.
"I apologize for the way I was speaking a moment ago."
Margaret laughed lightly and seated herself at the kitchen counter. "It's all right; I would like to know the story behind it though."
Daniel laughed loudly, reminding Margaret of Hawkeye. "Well it's a rather long, confusing story having to do with a cranky old woman I met in the lobby." The both laughed and Margaret nervously began to crack her knuckles.
"Thank you for the flowers." She said suddenly.
"You're welcome m'lady." He responded playfully as he bowed. Margaret smiled and began to relax as Daniel managed to draw her into a conversation about her work in New Jersey.
"Do you want a boy or a girl?" Daniel asked suddenly. Margaret stared at him in surprise for a moment and then drew her hands on top of her growing stomach.
"I…I…uh…I don't know." She stammered. Truthfully Margaret hadn't given any thought to the idea.
"Haw…uh Ben told you about my ex-husband didn't he?" Margaret began nervously.
Daniel nodded and smiled. "Yeah, he told be about, well I'll just quote him, he told me about that "asshole of a husband who he hopes burns in hell".
Margaret snorted and nodded as she wiped her eyes. "Yeah that would be about right." It was getting late and Margaret found this last statement hysterically funny.
Daniel stood up and held out his hand. "Come on, you need some sleep."
Margaret nodded and wiped away the tears of laughter that were forming at the corners of her eyes. Daniel helped her up and walked her back to her apartment. When he returned to him room he flopped onto the couch and sighed as he rubbed his eyes. What had his son gotten himself into? Two days ago Daniel received a letter from Hawkeye who begged him to watch out for Margaret and to take care of her. Daniel was worried that his son was going to become too involved in this woman's life. He was glad Hawkeye was helping her but he didn't want to see either one of them hurt.
Margaret awoke at seven thirty the next morning and barely had enough time to get ready before everyone met in the lobby. She rushed out of her door at two minutes past eight and ran to the nearest elevator. She punched the button quickly and tried to catch her breath. When the doors opened she toppled inside and a couple squeezed in just as the doors shut. Margaret smiled at them and leaned up against the wall. She hardly slept at all the night before…too many memories.
The woman standing beside her sighed and laid her head on the man's shoulder.
"Late night?" Margaret asked in an attempt to be friendly.
The man nodded and smiled cynically. We didn't get here until one thirty…car trouble." Margaret nodded and asked where they came from. "Iowa," he responded.
Margaret smiled broadly. "Ottumwa?" Both persons looked up at her in surprise.
"I'm Margaret Houlihan; I worked with your son…"
The woman's face lit up and she grabbed Margaret's hands excitedly. "You worked with Walter?"
Margaret frowned for a moment and then smiled; she wasn't used to hearing his real name. "Yes I did; for two years."
"When did you see him last?" The woman, who Margaret now concluded to be Mrs. O'Reilly, was shaking with nervousness and Margaret comfortingly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I saw him three months ago, right after Christmas, and he's doing fine." The doors to the elevator opened and Margaret spotted Daniel in the middle of a group near the door. After the introductions were made they headed out for breakfast.
A half hour later Margaret was animatedly recounting the story of when Hawkeye and BJ designed a clamp for surgery. Everyone had been looking to her for truthful stories about their loved-ones.
"So you can imagine how upset Hawkeye was when he couldn't save the leg." Margaret began, "So he tried to get a special clamp made, but the only way he could get one immediately was to try and con two of my nurses into going to this party and of course…" Margaret had been speaking hurriedly, smiling as she remembered how irate her nurses were. She had looked up and saw everyone staring blankly at her.
"What?" she asked innocently.
There was a long silence and then Peg finally spoke up, "You mean that man had to have his leg cut off?"
Margaret was surprised; they all seemed to be missing the point. "Well yes but I don't see what that has to do with…"
"But that's just horrible!" This time it was Meredith O'Reilly. Margaret looked at everyone's expressions in shock. Had she really become that calloused? She had been telling what she thought was a humorous story, but as she looked at the horror on everyone's faces she regretted saying anything. Margaret glanced uneasily at her lap, desperately wishing someone would say something.
Margaret breathed a sigh of relief as Daniel stood up. "Well folks our breakfast outing has turned into a lunch outing so I suggest we head back to hotel so the women folk can freshen up before dinner."
The group nodded in agreement and everyone stood up and began to gather up purses and put on jackets. Margaret quickly fled outside of the restaurant and was followed by Daniel. She quickly jumped into a cab but Daniel managed to slip in after her. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"What do you want?" she asked sharply.
Daniel only smiled and said nothing which irritated Margaret to no end. "God, you two are so much alike! You men and your stupid games! What do you want from me?" Margaret was on the verge of screaming and the taxi driver was looking extremely uncomfortable.
"My son asked me took look after you and I plan on doing just that." He replied calmly.
Margaret folded her arms and shifted her body so she was looking out the window, her back to Daniel. After a rather uncomfortable and silent ride, the taxi stopped in front of the hotel. Daniel climbed out and held out his hand to help Margaret. She ignored his offer of assistance and walked past him into the lobby. He followed her into the elevator and all the way to her room. She turned around and glared at him.
"I'm a big girl Dr. Pierce. I spent two years of my life in the middle of a war in Korea; I can take care of myself!" She opened her door and Daniel laid his hand on her shoulder.
"In my opinion, that's all the more reason why you need looking after." Margaret refused to turn around to face him; she didn't want him to see the tears that were quickly forming in her eyes. She stepped into the room and quickly shut the door behind her; shutting out her only means of comfort.