See first chapter for information!

A/N: Ok, before I start the story I'm going to stand on my soapbox for a minute. I love getting reviews, just like any author on here. I really appreciate it when people take the time to write down a few words to tell me what they thought of my story. I also leave it open so that my stories can receive anonymous reviews, because some of the most helpful ones come from people who either don't have an account or are too lazy to log in, (which I'm guilty of occasionally :D) However, recently I have been getting some very hateful reviews from anonymous reviewers. Now I have no problem with criticism, but I don't appreciate the rudeness. Guess what? This is my story, and if you hate the storyline…don't read it. And don't come back chapter after chapter and tell me every time what you don't like about what's happening. If you think something else should happen go write your own story. I think it's really pathetic when someone has nothing else to do but go around trashing other authors, and being so cowardly then don't leave signed reviews so that the authors can fight back. For those of you who leave decent reviews…thanks so much, I truly appreciate it. For those of you who don't…if it continues I'll disable anonymous reviews.

Ok, now that I'm done ranting I'll step off and let you continue with your normally scheduled reading…


With the sound of Hawkeye's loud voice the tiny babe awoke in her mother's arms and let out a wail. The sound of her cries seemed to bring him back to reality. He looked around, gasping for air.

"Are you alright?" asked Margaret worriedly as she knelt in front of him.

"Margaret? What am I doing in the hallway?" She scrunched her eyebrows at him.

"Were you sleep walking?"

"I don't know…oh my God! I was on the bus back in Korea…I…" Suddenly his eyes widened. "Bella…her hair is dark. I must have had a flashback." He reached one shaky hand up and ran his fingers over her hair, and then took the baby and pulled her tightly to his chest. He sat for a moment and then whispered with a shaky breath, "I thought I was past that."

Margaret wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "We've been really stressed lately, and you haven't been sleeping well. It's only normal that…"

"That the sight of my own daughter causes a panic attack?" he interrupted. "What if she knows? What if…this hurts her?" His voice had dropped to nothing and he felt tears stinging his eyelids.

"Hawkeye you love her, and you won't hurt her. We'll get through this…together. Maybe you should talk to someone."

"I am, you."

"That's not what I meant…someone professional."

"No."

She eyed him. "Ok…whatever you say. You should go back to bed."

He shook his head. "No, it's Saturday, I don't have to go in. I want to sit with her for a while anyways." She smiled and gave him a kiss and went into bed. He stood up and walked into the nursery, cradling his sleepy daughter. He sat down in the rocking chair and picked up where Margaret had left off rocking. He chuckled to himself as she let out a huge yawn and seemed to snuggle closer to him. "My precious Bella…I love you so much. The last thing I want is for you to feel the effects of the war…even though that's where you were made. But we won't go there, you're too young." He looked back down at his daughter and noticed she had fallen asleep. "Well, I should breakdown more often if it means you'll sleep." He, too, closed his eyes and softly hummed a lullaby.


"Alright Mr. Perkins, everything looks great. Come back in a couple of weeks and we'll do a tune-up alright?" He shook the elderly man's hand and smiled.

"Thanks so much, Dr. Pierce." He got up and pulled his jacket back on. "How's your father?"

"Oh he's doing a lot better. He got go home on Tuesday, and Margaret and Bella have been going over there everyday to check on him. If he keeps improving like he is, he should be back to work next week." He smiled and finished scribbling on the chart.

"That's wonderful. Give him my best, alright?"

"I will. See ya in a couple of weeks." He followed the older man out to the front office and waved him off. Hawkeye dropped the chart into the basket for his new receptionist to file and walked back to his office. He sat behind his desk and grabbed the small stack of papers he had to finish before he could go home.

In the process of gathering his work he knocked a picture frame of that clattered to the floor. He leaned over and picked it up and ran his hand over the dusty glass. It was a picture of the three of them; him, Margaret and Bella. It was taken the day before Bella had been admitted to the hospital, when she was only three days old. It was hard for him to believe that she was already one month old.

He placed the picture back on the desk and started on his paperwork. His eyelids felt heavy and he couldn't wait to get home. Bella's colic had been getting slightly better, but his nightmares weren't, although he hadn't had another breakdown since that night in the nursery almost a week ago. Luckily he had been able to keep his turmoil away from Margaret, and she had been able to devote all her time to the baby.

Hawkeye signed his last form with a scribble and stood up. He gathered all of his belongings, tossed on his jacket and turned the light off in his office. He walked back out to the front office and found his new receptionist sitting at her desk.

"Hello, Doctor," she smiled sweetly at him. She was a young girl, just out of high school.

"Hello, Judy. I finished those papers you left on my desk." Although she was young, she was surprisingly efficient. She reminded him a bit of Radar.

"That's great, Doctor. I'll get them filed right away." She took the papers from his hand and walked over to the filing cabinet.

"Judy I'm sure they can wait until Monday. Why don't you go home?"

"It's alright Doctor, I don't mind. If I do it now I don't have to do it Monday."

He laughed at this. "You're more motivated than I am." She flashed him a smile that showed she took his compliments as gold. "Alright, well will you lock up on your way out?" She nodded. "Ok, have a great weekend. I'll see you Monday." He left the clinic and got in his car.

About ten minutes later he pulled into the driveway and shut the car off. He grabbed his briefcase and medical bag and got out of the car. He noticed Margaret's car wasn't in the drive and he was a bit confused because she was usually home by now, cooking dinner. He stood there for a minute until he remembered that his dad had a check-up in Spruce Harbor this afternoon. He had probably talked her into going out to dinner at the tiny Italian restaurant just outside of town.

He let himself into the darkened house and slipped off his shoes, dropped his bags and hung up his jacket. He went into the kitchen and fixed himself a martini…complete with an olive. He pattered into the living room and stepped dead in his tracks.

"If I'd have known you were here I would have fixed two martinis."


A/N: Sorry this took so long, but like my note at the beginning said I was a little miffed. Anyways…I hope you enjoyed this and tell me your guesses on who's in the house!