"Oh why doesn't someone shoot me," Margaret groaned as she leaned back in the wooden chair. The only response she received was three moans from Hawkeye, BJ, and Colonel Potter. The group had made their way to the officer's club, immediately after a thirty-seven stretch in OR. Frank had been with them but had quickly disappeared to everyone's delight.

"What was up with Frank?" BJ directed his question at Margaret who blushed slightly and frowned.

"Oh he was just…" she paused and shook her head. " It was nothing."

Hawkeye chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Oh really, it was nothing?" Margaret nodded and Hawkeye shook his head in amusement.

"So you staying completely silent in OR for thirty-seven hours and twenty-three minutes had nothing to do with the fact that Frank whispered something in your ear in pre-op?"

Margaret smiled and shrugged. "All right you caught me. Frank was just being…well Frank, it was nothing new."

The group nodded in understanding and Klinger walked up to the table.

"Major Houlihan, Major Burns is outside he says he wants to talk to you." He stated uncertainly. Margaret rolled her eyes and laid her head down on the table.

"Tell him to forget it, I'm in no mood to try and talk to a rodent." Hawkeye laughed suddenly, spewing a sip of his martini onto BJ. BJ glared at him and walked outside to get a different shirt. Colonel Potter stood up and announced that he needed some shut-eye, and he too left, leaving Hawkeye at the table with a very weary Major.

Hawkeye quietly watched her for a moment, unsure if she was sleeping or not. After ten minutes, he slipped his hand on top of hers. Her head immediately rose and Hawkeye jerked his hand back, smiling apologetically. Margaret quickly stood feeling slightly embarrassed and walked out of the noisy building.

"Hang on Margaret," she stopped at Hawkeye's voice and he jogged to her side. He comfortably put his arm around her shoulders but Margaret quickly shrugged away.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked, uncertainty showing in her voice.

"Sure," he replied, placing his hands into his pockets.

"No I mean can I ask you something seriously and have you reply seriously and honestly." She restated, already becoming irritated. Again, Hawkeye nodded and Margaret chewed her lip nervously before looking at him hesitantly.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Hawkeye laughed and looked at her strangely.

"That's an odd question. Why wouldn't I be nice to you?"

Margaret shrugged, "Because you're an asshole who only cares about himself. You've never cared about what I thought before, so why the sudden change?" They had stopped in front of her tent and Hawkeye stared at her in shock.

"I'm sorry you think that," he said seriously. Margaret stared guiltily at her shoes; she saw the hurt etched in his expression and she tried to avoid his gaze.

"Why did I change? Well, I was not aware that I never cared, and I am sorry you feel that way. Why do I care at all? Because you are stubborn woman, who can be a complete pain in the ass and can drive a man up the wall and seduce him at the same time. However, you are also a caring, intelligent, beautiful woman with a wonderful sense of humor. I enjoy being with you Margaret, and because I'm next to you 24/7 I suppose I forgot that you aren't next to me voluntarily."

While Hawkeye had been talking, he had slowly edged closer and closer to Margaret. He was now leaning against her tent on one arm, holding her shoulder with his other hand, completely blocking her.

"Why have I been especially nice to you lately? Well, since you exterminated your rodent problem you have not been smiling much. I wanted to see your pretty smile."

Hawkeye looked down at Margaret and he felt his throat tightening. She was still trying to avoid his gaze, but was doing so unsuccessfully. Suddenly she looked up, her eyes shinning with moisture. Hawkeye caught her gaze and she stared back at him, the look in her eyes reminding him of a startled deer.

Unwillingly Hawkeye found himself slowly leaning closer to her, his lips contacting hers. Margaret's mind was racing and her emotions churned. All thoughts fled from her mind as the kiss deepened. Hawkeye gently broke the kiss and then kissed her forehead before racing silently to the safety of the swamp.

Margaret watched Hawkeye's disappearing form in shock. She could not believe what had just happened. As her shock wore off, hundreds of thoughts began racing through her mind. What did he do that for? Was he serious about that kiss? What did he mean by it? Why did I let him kiss me; and why on earth am I hyperventilating?

Margaret steadied her breathing and walked into her darkened tent. She sighed in confusion and slipped off her boots and clothing, not bothering to fumble around for the light switch. Margaret lowered herself onto her cot and shrieked in fright as a pair of arms tightened around her stomach. Margaret struggled for a moment but managed to free herself and she frantically reached for the light switch on the wall.

She heard a gun cock and she froze.

"Petal, I told you I waned to talk with you," Frank's eerily whiny voice drifted towards her. "Please come here."

Uneasily Margaret grabbed her housecoat and wrapped it around her before walking towards Frank. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and her knees went weak as she saw Frank holding a small handgun.

Hawkeye walked into the swamp in confusion. Frank was still nowhere to be seen and BJ was lying on his cot, staring at the khaki-colored canvas.

Hawkeye poured himself a drink and sat down on his cot, staring at nothing in particular, his drink untouched. BJ sensed his friend's mood and sat up.

"What's wrong?" he asked?

Hawkeye shrugged, "A pretty face." He mumbled. BJ smiled in understanding.

"Planning a little rendezvous with a nurse?" he asked mischievously. Hawkeye shook his head in the negative before standing up and walking towards the officer's club.