Chapter 12-Friendship may, and often does, grow into love, but love never subsides into friendship. ~Lord Byron
Life had settled into a bit of a routine for the small family living in Crabapple Cove. Daisy was the centre of all routines, and no one really complained. As she grew, so did the smiles around the Pierce house. Daniel was enamoured with his granddaughter, and routinely told both parents he knew what was best, because he already screwed Hawkeye up so much, that he knew much more than they did. Margaret learned not to argue with Daniel, but usually sided with him to get a rise out of Hawkeye. All in good faith of course.
"Mama mama mama," Daisy chimed as she toddled around the clinic's waiting room. Daniel was in the clinic this morning, as Hawkeye was in Portland for surgery. Jean was on vacation, which meant, Daisy was at the clinic-no one really minded of course, everyone who came in was quite pleased to play with the little girl.
"Daisy, Daisy, Daisy," Margaret chanted back at her daughter. "Mama is working." It wasn't a particularly day, as school had just got back into session, and there was only about four appointments scheduled for the entire day.
"Just go see Margaret, and she'll get you in here about another month or so, okay?" Daniel smiled as he gently guided the young woman to Margaret's desk. "Oh Daisy! You're my next patient huh?" he grinned reaching for the little girl who nearly ran towards her grandfather. "Ooofph," he joked catching the little girl.
"'Unch," Daisy told Daniel as she reached for his stethoscope.
"Lunch? Lunch! You mean I have to feed you? That seems silly," Daniel grinned using his spare hand to place the stethoscope around Daisy's neck. "Check my heart before we do that."
Daisy giggled as she placed the stethoscope to Daniel's chest. "Iteatin," she nodded.
"It's beating!? Mama my heart is beating!" Daniel exclaimed playfully to Margaret, who laughed and shook her head.
"Is that so?"
"Yes," Daisy spoke clearly and nodded her head. The two adults laughed, as Daniel bounced her in his arms, and moved towards the door.
"We're going to lunch. I'm thinking, French bread and watercress with cucumber sandwhiches." Margaret chuckled at Daniel, as she finished writing.
"There is salami and cheese in the fridge."
"Even better! Right Miss Daisy?"
"Yes!" Daisy exclaimed.
"Let's go!" Daniel equally exclaimed as he quickly exited the clinic. Margaret laughed and looked at the paperwork on her desk. A bit of her missed surgery, like really missed standing in an OR. But other times, she wouldn't trade being able to raise Daisy for anything. Maybe as Daisy got older, more independent, she would go back to a hospital, and do what she loved.
As fall faded, and the snow started to fall, Hawkeye was spending more and more days going to the hospital, not the clinic. Days were spent performing surgery, working in the ER, faster paced than a general surgeon. He would be the one who was up with Daisy, and was the one to put her to bed when he got home at night, it was becoming more of a routine. His relationship with Margaret was getting stronger every day, both knew that it was going to take some time, to get to know each other in a place that wasn't Korea. Because, both were different, they weren't thrust together, under the constant danger of being killed. They were learning how to deal with that, with a child, one that was 50% him, and 50% her.
His father was a huge help, kept peace in the house, and could usually calm the entire house when any arguments arose. And in true Hawkeye and Margaret fashion, they fought every now again.
"So, Milton offered me the position," Hawkeye announced as the family sat down to dinner one night.
"That's great Hawk," Margaret smiled as she cut up a sausage for Daisy, who was currently eating mashed potatoes.
"So four days a week days in the ER, and then I have to do a few overnights a month, but I think that'll be good."
"I think you'll enjoy it a bit better than at the clinic," Daniel remarked. He had noticed his son's restlessness with the workings of a general practicioner. Whether it was him finally coming to terms that he spent three years in Korea, or if he needed a faster pace than a small town doctor. It wasn't a shock, when it came time to choose speciality, he didn't hesitate to choose surgery. He could also tell Margaret was getting a bit antsy, now that Daisy was getting older. She had been sitting at a desk for over a year, and Daniel could tell that she wasn't satisfied.
"I'm hoping so," Hawkeye grinned as she shoved a fork of mashed potatoes into his mouth. "Not like I don't like working with you Dad."
"I get it," Daniel waved it off with a smile.
"Daddy," Daisy chimed as she started to run towards Hawkeye, who was standing at the intake desk of the Portland ER.
"Daisy, did you drive here all by yourself?" Hawkeye joked as he caught the charging toddler. Seeing Margaret, he winked as he turned to pay his attention to one and a half year old.
"So this is the famous Daisy?" a young woman behind the desk smiled as she stood up and leaned forward.
"This is, say Daise."
"Hi," Daisy waved her hand, and leaned into Hawkeye.
Reaching into the candy bowl, the young woman handed Daisy a lollipop. "What did you get?" Margaret asked her daughter, who held out the lollipop.
"Margaret, this is Emma," Hawkeye introduced the two nurses, as he placed Daisy on the counter, and helped her unwrap the lollipop as the two women shook hands. "Em, this is my Margaret."
"Pleasure," Margaret smiled. The young woman couldn't be older than 22 years old, and for the briefest moment, Margaret was jealous.
"Dr. Pierce talks about you a lot," Emma smiled. "And Daisy of course!" The little girl was currently enjoying her lollipop as Hawkeye let her listen to his heart.
"He does that," Margaret smiled.
"Well, look how adorable she is," Hawkeye grinned as he tugged gently at Daisy's small pigtails.
"No," Daisy responded lifting her hand to swat Hawkeye's hand, as her brow furrowed to almost exactly the same expression Margaret made when she was bothered the same way.
"Oh I'm sorry," Hawkeye said almost in a chuckle as Margaret grinned. "Well my lovely women, you ready to taste the fine cuisine that is our cafeteria?"
"Lead on," Margaret replied as Hawkeye hoisted Daisy into the air before placing her on his shoulders. "Oh be careful."
"I am," he said brightly. "Emma, I'll be back, for my name is, Super Dad!" The young nurse laughed as Margaret shook her head, and the two walked through the remaining bit of the ER and into the hospital's lobby.
Being back in a real hospital, she missed this. Missed the hustle and bustle of a place like this. She was a scrub nurse, that had always been her speciality, she loved taking care of people, but something about standing in an operating room, really helping save someone's life, gave her a thrill nothing else did.
As they walked towards the cafeteria, she noticed a lot of waves, from doctors, nurses, and orderlies alike. It was a typical Hawkeye thing, everyone loved working with him, he attracted people's love and devotion to him wherever he went. Out of everyone she had ever met, Hawkeye was the most enigmatic, yet, captivating, person she had ever come across.
