Author's Note: It's been a year – yes, I know. I'm sorry. Excuses: none, just lazy, lack of interest, no inspiration – heh I gave you some excuses anyway.

I finally got back on something close to a MASH kick when I got a lovely review on the first part that made me want to continue because it just made me so happy. That and I went back and read the first few chapters of the Man behind the Smile and decided that my writing was just so atrocious that I needed to show everyone that I improved … sort of.

As for length: I don't plan to have it very long - 10 chapters at most. There's not really a big elaborate plot to this one so I'm gonna finish it up in a couple of chapters.

Chapter 4

Fine

If he had ever seen such a look of panic and total disarray it would have been now. The choppers had landed at the bay – he could see them taking off again in the distance – doctors, nurses, soldiers, they were running everywhere, scattered like mice across a playing field. That could only mean one thing – wounded.

He jumped into action, ignoring his still stiff and tense muscles. Questioning looks were thrown in his direction, but they were ignored and no one vocalized their opinions just glad to have him back in OR. Shit … the doctors were already in OR, it must have been going on for awhile because post-op was almost filled.

"Damn it, Pierce, get your ass in here, now!"

Daniel looked up in surprise at the sudden shouting of his name – he was pretty sure he was already in "here".

"Hawkeye!"

"Sorry, Colonel," he muttered, "out for tea – Klinger, patient."

"Right on it, sir."
There was only silence for a while, no one speaking all too intent on the work in front of them. As Daniel's patient was taken away and another one placed in front of him he leaned back every so slightly just far enough to whisper into his son's ear, "Preoccupisi per dirmi dove eravate?

(Care to tell me where you were?)"

"No."

Daniel balked. That wasn't exactly the response he was hoping for.

"Ero... Stavo andando per una camminata (I was… I was going for a walk …)"

"Una camminata di mezzanotte, eh? (a midnight walk, eh?)"

"We should continue working on the patients."

That was a dismissal if he ever saw one.

And no more was said about it.

………

"Pierce … Hawkeye." Having two Pierces was getting more and more confusing, "come with me."

Hawkeye visibly shrank – like a child that knew he was in trouble, he followed the Colonel into his office without a word on his own behalf – he sort of cowered, "Colonel -." He began as soon as the door swung shut behind him.

"Cut it, Pierce."

He shrank even further.

"Did you even THINK about what you were doing last night? We had no idea where you went; if I've ever seen something as foolish as this I would be astounded. That was stupid."

"I'm sorry, Colon-."

"Like horse feathers, you're sorry. I bet given the chance you would do it again, wouldn't you?"

"Most likely."
"That was a RETHORICAL question!"

"Sorry, sir."

Potter visibly grew angrier. He wasn't even taking him seriously, "Hawkeye …"

Hawkeye looked up, surprised by the sudden softness that entered the Colonel's voice.

"Hawkeye … you have no idea how worried we are. Especially after you went missing the first time. What if he got you again? We didn't know if we could have found you. That was selfish. Did you not even think about the rest of us back here at home base?"

Hawkeye didn't respond.

"And if you ever do that again I'm putting you under house arrest for the rest of your goddamn life! I'm I understood?"

"Yes, sir!" he mocked saluted him before leaving. The colonel was understood.

Perfectly understood.

………

Was he being selfish? He supposed he was. He didn't really think about the others at camp. It never actually crossed his mind that he would be missed, or that he would be gone that long for that matter. He really had no intention of staying out all night. He had no intention of making everyone worried. It was a mistake on his part, understood.

But that fear … or the lack there off for that matter … where was it? He didn't understand. He should be afraid that Jackson would come back, but why wasn't he. He was locked up … again. That's right, but why would that stop the fear. He was afraid the first time he was locked up, and then he got again … so shouldn't he have that same fear installed within him now?

He didn't. Jackson was far from his mind. Was he over Jackson? Was he over his slavery days? Onto new days? Less painful days? Margaret … oh, Margaret. He forgot about her too. Why was he forgotting these things. These were the things that caused him pain, Margaret.

He heart clenched at the thought of her. How she had changed since when they first came here.

………

"Pierce!"

"Yes, madam?"

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Why, miss, here I am just watering these here tomaters." The southern accent that he had obtained didn't fit his so Italian face at all.

"It's against regulations to have things growing in the compound. Especially native things, they could be poisoned!"

"Poisoned?" the accent dropped.

"Yes, these … Koreans, do that you know. Grow poisoned food."

"These Koreans, eh? Never realized you were one for generalizations, Hotlips."

"It's Major Houlihan!"

"Whatever, Hotlips." He had then promptly through the still flowing into her shirt.

………

If he remembered correctly, Frank tried to make his life hell for days after that – he failed of course. But Hawkeye applauded him for effort. God, Margaret had changed.

………

"Hawkeye?"

"Yes?"

"Why small spaces …? Why do you fear them so much?"

They were sitting against the walls of the almost empty OR except for the patient across the room.

"It's an irrational fear, love. That's why it's called a phobia."

"I've read, well, I've talked to Sidney, whose read … that … some people get phobias for some reason. Like something happened to them that small spaces remind them of-."

"It's an irrational fear."

"Oh – I just thought."

"It's just a phobia."

………

At that moment he had seriously considered telling her something. Anything. Everything. Just telling her, talking to her. Letting her know that he loved her so much. But … he never did … he never could … all for some stupid fear that seemed to have disappeared in the last few hours out here alone. Maybe she was right.

"You're alright, it's okay, you're fine."

The way she had coaxed him from his nightmares without even realizing. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was fine after all.

TBC