For the next few weeks Margaret and Hawkeye enjoyed themselves. They didn't tell anyone about their new relationship but they didn't necessarily hide it either. Margaret had had enough sneaking around with Frank and she never wanted to do that again. There was also no need to hide. Their routines remained basically the same with only a few changes. They'd sneak kisses when they could or, when the opportunity presented itself, they'd sneak away for a couple hours. They danced together more at the O Club. And a couple times a week Hawkeye would stay at her tent.

Everyone at camp could noticed a change with the pair but no one could pin down exactly what was going on. Hawkeye still flirted with all the ladies, Margaret's attitude didn't soften like it had in the past when she was in "love, and no one really saw them do anything out of the ordinary. Nothing changed in the OR or in post-op, there were no schedule changes so they could work together more often and they remained complete professionals on the job (well Margaret did). Off duty Margaret traditionally spent her time with the officers and continued to do so. They ate together but rarely alone. Really the only change people noticed were small subtle things like, Margaret fixing Hawkeye coffee and he would sit next to her more often. So while everyone had there suspicions no one knew for sure what was going on with the two of them.

Things were going well with Hawkeye and Margaret and things were going well with the war. The peace talks actually appeared to be going somewhere. For the Fourth, Potter decided to let most the staff go to the beach but the great day ended with a horrible night that noticeably changed Hawkeye.

Margaret was the first to notice a difference in his behavior but she tried to ignore it. Pretty soon however, no one could ignore it; particularly Colonel Potter.

"You wanted to see me Colonel?" Margaret asked as she entered his office, the evening that Hawkeye ran a jeep in to the Officer's Club.

"Have a seat Margaret," Potter instructed with a sober look on his face.

"What's the matter?" Margaret asked concerned.

"Captain Pierce is what's the matter," Potter said not wanting to beat around the bush. "You can't have helped but notice the change in his behavior. And after tonight, no one can."

"He's going through a hard time but he'll get past it. You know as well as anyone how stressful war can be."

"I do. And that is why I've called Sidney for help."

"I think that's a fine idea. Sidney's a wonderful psychiatrist and has a good relationship with Hawkeye. He's helped before-"

"I don't think you understand Margaret. Sidney's coming and he's going to take Pierce with him back to Tokyo."

"Is this really necessary? I'm sure I can get through to him-" Margaret protested unconsciously entering an "I" instead of a "we".

"Margaret, I know that this must be difficult for you. You and Pierce have been together at this outfit for a long time and you two are very close," Potter said sympathetically. "That's the main reason I'm telling you this now. So you can say good-bye if you want to. "

"Good-bye?"

"Now don't get me wrong," Potter clarified. "I hope that Sidney can fix him well and good in no time but the war can't last much longer and you never know with these things. I just want you to be prepared. Also, I'm sure you wouldn't do anything but you can't tell Pierce about this. I'm afraid he'd run if he found out and as it is I have MPs watching him now."

Margaret sat stunned, unable to comprehend what she was hearing.

"When will he leave?"

"0900hrs," Potter answered walking over to Margaret and resting his hand on her shoulder. "He's a tough man Margaret. He'll be alright. Sometimes these things happen but he'll pull through."

"Yeah," Margaret replied so quietly that Potter could barely hear her. "If you'll excuse me Colonel, I have some things to take care of."

Margaret quickly arranged a special night for her and Hawkeye. She got herself nicely made up putting on the dress she'd wore for Halloween last year, she convinced Charles (who along with BJ, Mulcahy and Klinger knew what would happen the next day) to give up some of his food and wine, she went to the Officer's Club and took the best discs for her music player and she put on her wedding ring.

The evening was a difficult one because she knew he'd be leaving. What was worse was that she felt he was already gone. He was better than he had been earlier that day but something was off with him. For both their sakes however she tried to ignore it and enjoy their time together.

Unable to sleep herself, Margaret stayed up all night watching him. She tried to shear his appearance in to her memory. His eyes, nose, lips, broad shoulders and amazing hands. She thought of all the time they had spent together over the past three years the good, bad and indifferent. Margaret played with the ring on her finger the whole night trying to remind herself that they were married and she'd see him again but she couldn't get the uncertainty out of her mind. She had been married to Donald and never saw him again.

Margaret had easily gotten over Donald. She hadn't really loved him, she loved the idea of him and what a life as a Colonel's wife could be but she had never loved him. She loved Hawkeye and couldn't imagine her life without him. She couldn't imagine not seeing him every day. Walking over to the cot Margaret leaned over and kissed Hawkeye. She knew he could use sleep but she needed him. She needed to feel him hold her and to hear his voice. In case this would be good-bye she didn't want to waste it.

"Wake up, Ben," Margaret said as she nudged his shoulder. "You need to get dressed."

"Go away," Hawkeye said turning his back to her.

"You'll miss breakfast. There are fresh eggs," Margaret told him.

It was 8:30 and she knew he had to get up and dressed before Sidney came. She had showered and dressed nearly an hour ago, trying to prepare herself for the inevitable.

"Come on," Margaret urged again.

"Fine, fine," Hawkeye said agitated and shooing her away. "I'm getting up."

"Okay," Margaret said backing off as he began to put on his clothes.

It didn't take him long to get dressed and Margaret felt confident they'd have enough time to eat but she was wrong. On their way to the Mess, she spotted Colonel Potter, Sidney and two MPs.

"Why's he here?" Hawkeye asked.

"Pierce," Potter called.

"What do you want Colonel? I'm about to go eat breakfast - if that's what we're going to call what they serve here breakfast."

"Hello, Hawkeye," Sidney said in his usual calm matter.

"Howdy Doc."

"Hawkeye, how would you like to come with me to Tokyo."

"No thanks.".

"Actually son, that wasn't so much a request as it was an order," Potter clarified. "I'm sending you to Tokyo to deal with what's been bother you."

"Nothing's been bothering me Colonel," Hawkeye said turning to walk away but was blocked by the MPs. "Move it."

"Let's not make a scene, Pierce," Potter said calmly.

"This is ridiculous. I'm fine! Tell them Beej," Hawkeye said to his friend who stood a few feet back next to Margaret.

"I think it's a good idea, Hawk. Just for a while," BJ said as confidently as he could.

"This is crazy! I'm not crazy! Klinger is the one bidding for a Section 8, send him!" Hawkeye yelled so loudly that he began to draw a crowd. "Margaret tell them I'm fine."

Margaret stood paralyzed as tears formed in her eyes.

"Tell them, Margaret!" Hawkeye demanded.

"Come on Hawkeye." Sidney said pulling him in to the direction of the jeep.

"I'm not going! Margaret!" Hawkeye yelled yanking his arm away and attempting to get to her but being stopped by the MP. "Let me go! Let me go! Margaret!"

"Come on Hawkeye," Sidney repeated getting in to the jeep.

Painfully the members of the 4077 watched as the hero of the camp was forced in the jeep and driven off; no one was more hurt than those closest to him. Once the jeep was out of sight Margaret quickly turned and went to her tent.

"Is she alright?" Charles asked after Margaret as he walked up to Potter and BJ from post-op where he had heard the commotion but wasn't brave enough to watch. "I heard-"

"She'll be alright," Potter replied after awhile.

"Maybe someone should check on her," Mulcahy suggested.

"What she needs right now is time. I'll get someone to cover her shift tonight in post-op," Potter said heading back to his office.

"What are you doing here?" BJ asked as he walked up to Margaret in post-op late that night. "Potter got someone to cover your shift."

"I'm the head nurse, Captain. I have a job to do, I won't let one of my nurses cover for me."

"Margaret, you've had a long day."

"Everyone has," Margaret said not looking up from the patient she was checking on.

"Look, Margaret you don't have to put on a brave face. I can't imagine how you feel right now. If he'd been calling my name-"

"Stop," Margaret interrupted standing up and walking away. "I don't want to think about it."

"It might help to talk to someone. I know I'm not your first choice but I've been told I'm a good listener," BJ offered. "Margaret I don't know exactly what was going on with you and Hawkeye - he didn't tell me - but I know it was something-"

"We're married," Margaret interrupted as she felt tears well in her eyes.

"What?" BJ asked surprised.

"We got drunk and married in Tokyo," Margaret said holding up her hand to show the ring that she hadn't taken off since the night before. "How could I let them take him? I should have done something."

"There was nothing to do. He needs help."

"I could have warned him. I could have prepared him for what's coming. I could have done something to make it easier."

"Don't blame yourself Margaret."

"I have work to do" Margaret said shaking her head to regained composure and went back to do rounds. "Don't tell anyone BJ."