"Nurse," a young man called Margaret and she hurried to his cot.
"What can I do for you soldier?" she asked cheerfully. Frank had been avoiding her at all costs lately and Margaret had been in especially cheerful mood.
"I need…I need…" The boy was panting and his voice was barely above a whisper. Margaret leaned towards him anxiously. When she was only a few inches from his face, the boy grinned wickedly and threw his arms around her neck, kissing her fiercely. Margaret pulled away, sputtering angrily.
"How dare you?" she screeched, but her voice was drowned out by Hawkeye's roaring laughter. The young man looked at Hawkeye and grinned.
"You were right Doctor; hot lips."
Margaret turned bright red and glared at Hawkeye. "Captain, may I speak with you for a moment outside?" Hawkeye nodded and followed her, still smiling in amusement.
"How can you encourage that?" she fumed, once they were out of the building.
"Oh come on Major; where is your sense of fun?" He said it teasingly, but it silenced Margaret's angry retort. She hated it when he called her Major. She saw him as a friend and whenever he called her Major, it reminded her once again that she was an outsider.
"I guess I left it back in the states," she replied quietly. Hawkeye sighed and watched her closely. She was staring at her blood-soaked boots, her hands clenched tightly inside the pockets of her white lab coat.
Much to her surprise Hawkeye took a step closer to her, engulfing her in a warm hug. At first, Margaret tensed and she refused to allow him to comfort her. Soon, however, she began to relax and slowly slid her hands up to his chest. Hawkeye tightened his grip, kissed her forehead, and then released her.
"Well we are just going to have to send for it." He smiled and held out his hand; Margaret accepted it and they walked back into post-op together.
"I'll take two." Hawkeye handed Margaret two cards and then looked at his own and sighed.
"Dealer takes three." All the officers, including Dr. Sidney Friedman and excluding Frank, sat around a table in the swamp.
"So how did you get him down from the flagpole?" Sidney inquired. Margaret chuckled and shrugged.
"I don't know, I suppose Klinger cut him down; I'll have to ask." The table dissolved into laughter as Frank stormed into the tent.
"Oh sure; another poker game. Which one of you ninnies organized this game?" Frank whined snottily.
"That would be this ninny," Colonel Potter said, glaring in Frank's direction.
"And a lovely idea it was sir." After Frank sulked his way out of the tent the conversation once again picked up to the usual banter among the officers.
Several hours later Margaret stood up and stretched, saying that she really needed sleep before her next shift. Surprisingly Sidney quickly offered to walk her to her tent.
The two headed across the compound silently. Halfway there Sidney suddenly grabbed her hand and turned her face towards him.
"Are you alright Major?" he asked gently. Margaret smiled flippantly and nodded.
"I'm fine; why do you ask?"
"You haven't been acting like yourself lately. Is something bothering you?" Margaret hesitated, unsure if she wanted to say anything.
"No Doctor, everything is fine." He nodded and they proceeded to her tent and Sidney gave her a friendly smile and goodnight before making his way back to the swamp.
At four o'clock in the morning, the poker game was just breaking up. Sidney motioned for Hawkeye to follow him and the two doctors quietly walked to the end of the compound.
"Hawkeye, I need your help." Sidney requested bluntly.
Hawkeye shrugged, "What seems to be the trouble?" he asked, imitating Sidney's voice.
"I want you to keep an eye on Frank; he's been humiliated publicly by a woman he idolizes, and I'm not sure how he is going to cope with that." Sidney said seriously. Hawkeye rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Oh give me a break! Frank has been on the receiving end of more practical jokes than I can count; trust me Sidney, he's used to it by now."
Sidney smiled and nodded. "I know, but nonetheless, I want you to keep an eye on him." Hawkeye sighed and smiled in defeat.
"All right; I'll keep a hawk's eye on the little ferret."