Margaret walked inside the mess tent and stumbled over someone's leg as she stepped inside; her shoulder slammed onto the floor and she jumped up quickly in embarrassment, rubbing her shoulder gingerly.
She turned around fully intending to yell at the imbecile who had tripped her. She was surprised to see Hawkeye sprawled out on the floor, struggling to get up. She looked around and everyone was staring at him uncomfortably.
She sighed in exasperation. Why was no one trying to help him? Margaret bent down and firmly grabbed onto his arm.
"Let go of me," he barked, jerking his arm away. Margaret rolled her eyes.
"Stop making an ass of yourself." she hissed into his ear as she grabbed onto him again. Hawkeye relented and she awkwardly helped him up. Margaret picked up his crutches and he yanked them out of her hands and began to limp outside.
Margaret looked at his untouched tray of food that had fallen to the ground and rolled her eyes.
Once Hawkeye reached the safety of his tent, he leaned against a wooden post and hit it angrily with his fist.
"Turn around." Margaret's shouted from behind him. Somewhat surprised, Hawkeye did as she requested and saw that she had brought him another tray of food. He smiled apologetically but she would have none of it.
"Sit down Captain," she ordered.
"What is this Margaret?"
"You sir, will address me as Major." She responded coolly. Hawkeye couldn't believe his ears, what was wrong with her?
"Fine Major," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He sat down and gave her a look asking now what? Trying as hard as he was to keep the upper hand Hawkeye found his mouth dropping open as Margaret sat down beside him and tucked a napkin into his shirt. While balancing the tray on her lap Margaret scooped up a spoonful of mashed potatoes and held it in front of his face.
"Open up," she said, affecting the voice of a patronizing mother.
Hawkeye pushed her hand away angrily and ripped the napkin off. "What is the matter with you Margaret?"
Margaret kept a stoically blank expression as she put the spoon down and agitatedly tucked the napkin into his shirt. Once she was done, she smiled condescendingly.
"Come on Benny, eat your taters."
Hawkeye stared at her cynical smile in confusion. "This certainly will…" as soon as Hawkeye opened his mouth, Margaret forced the spoonful of potatoes into his mouth.
"Damn it Margaret," he yelled after he had swallowed. "What is your problem?"
Margaret threw the spoon onto the tray and it clattered noisily. "My problem, Captain? I don't have a problem." The mothering tone was gone and Hawkeye could tell that she was plenty upset with him.
"I just thought that since you're acting like such a baby that you would like to be treated like one." Margaret crossed her arms and waited for a response.
Hawkeye began to laugh in disbelief. "Oh I see," he said scornfully. "So you think because I don't want people watching my every movement that I'm being childish?"
"Watching you every movement? You fell in the middle of the mess tent!" Margaret's face was turning red and her eyes resembled cold steel.
"Well forgive me Major for disliking people helping me stand on my own two feet."
Margaret's expression didn't change with his sarcastic comment. "You want pity don't you?"
"I do not! All I want is for people to leave me alone!"
"No you don't! You might want people to think that but it's not true! You always have to be in the spotlight! It's the only time your satisfied." While Margaret spoke, Hawkeye's eyes grew dark, matching the shade of her own eyes.
Margaret stared back angrily until his eyes traveled down to the ring on her right hand. He blinked suddenly as if to snap himself out of a deep thought.
"Thank you," he said suddenly, breaking off their argument.
Margaret's mouth dropped open slightly, she certainly hadn't expected that.
"Help me up?" he asked sincerely as he picked up his crutches. Margaret stood up dumbly and wrapped an arm firmly around his waist as he propped himself up, first with one crutch, then the other.
"Why do you do that?" Margaret asked, unsure if she should still be mad at him or not.
"Do what?"
"Get me boiling mad and then back off so suddenly?" Hawkeye only grinned and shrugged, which reminded Margaret something else.
"Thank you for what?" she asked in puzzlement.
"For helping me up in the mess tent," Hawkeye responded quickly, a bit too quickly. He sighed and then paused for a moment.
"And for telling me when I'm acting like a jerk."
Margaret smiled and bowed her head slightly. "My pleasure," she laughed. Hawkeye pushed open the door to his tent and stepped out carefully.
"Have some coffee?" he asked kindly. "I think I interrupted your breakfast plans."
"Yes Captain, as a matter of fact you did." The twosome walked back towards the mess tent. When they entered the tent, a few eyebrows raised in surprised at seeing their surgeon back again so soon. Usually when he stormed out, he didn't come back until he was very drunk. Now here he was, casually getting a cup of coffee with their head nurse, and laughing as if nothing had happened.
Margaret heard a few discreet snickers as she sat down and she flashed her nurses and icy glare while inconspicuously scooting away from Hawkeye.
He grinned and looked sideways at her.
"Is it bad for your reputation to be seen with me?" he teased.
"Of course not," she responded, rolling her eyes. Kara leaned over and whispered something to the other nurses while looking straight towards Margaret and Hawkeye. The nurses burst out into a fresh round of laughter and Margaret's red face almost turned purple.
"I think I'm going to give them something real to gossip about." Hawkeye announced suddenly. Margaret looked at him warily, noting the devilish grin on his face.
"But first, I need your help getting up." Margaret complied, surprised that he asked for help. When he was upright Margaret was about to sit down when he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
"What do you…" he cut her off with a long, deep kiss. Margaret felt her knees going weak and she grabbed the edge of the table for support. Hawkeye pulled backwards and flashed her a smile before quickly retreating outside.
Margaret sat down and blushed hotly. It was deathly quiet and she could feel everyone's stares boring into her back. The silence was broken by a quiet whisper from one of the nurses, followed by a renewed round of hysterical laughter.
Margaret laid her head down on the table top and moaned.