Crabapple Cove, Hawkeye still at the beach
Hawkeye noticed a woman further along the beach with long blond hair and a figure he knew very well. She was facing the ocean. He approached her and she turned around. It was Margaret, but something was wrong. Terrible wrong. Hawkeye felt like he froze a little and looked at her legs. They had turned all black from frostbite. Then he woke up screaming.
Hawkeye found himself laying on his back and looking at the night sky. His first thought was, I'd better get back to the Swamp, but then he heard the ocean and realized he was in Crabapple Cove. He had slept for almost 6 hours and now he froze because he had fallen asleep on the beach in his underwear.
Crabapple Cove, Pierce residence, in the living room, around midnight
"Dad!" said Hawkeye with smile in his voice.
"My son." said Daniel with a big sigh of relief. "I was worried sick about you. I thought you'd be home much earlier."
The two men were hugging each other for several minutes as if they were afraid to let go again.
"I'm very sorry. I went straight to the beach and I fell asleep."
"You look great."
"I feel great, dad."
"You've lost some weight, though."
"That's only because I didn't eat anything in Korea at all."
"You must be starving, then. Or did you lose your appetite over there permanently?"
"Oh no – the legendary Pierce appetite has returned. Are we still holding the lobster eating record around here btw?"
"Yes, but it was a really close race this year. Arnold almost beat me. I'm so glad you're back."
"Ah – that's great, dad. You're only happy I'm back, so that you have something to brag about when you're playing cards with Arnold.
Daniel smiled at his son and patted him on the shoulder.
"How about a midnight snack, son?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Daniel watched his son eating. Being a doctor he could see signs of fatigue, but also something he had not seen since Hawkeye had been living together with Carlye Walton. Hawkeye had told him about the horrendous conditions in Korea and that nothing good will ever come out of it.
"Eh – nothing good at all? Now, who would've thought that. My son – living as a monk for so long when there are nurses present" Daniel said teasingly.
Hawkeye looked at his father with that little smile he always gets when he was rumbled.
"Dad – I've met the love of my life."
"Again?" asked Daniel with a warm smile.
"Oh no – this is it. I just know it…and …and she's coming here, dad. To be with me."
"Margaret, right? The head nurse. You told me about her in your letters."
"How did you figure that out?"
"It was the only option, really. I mean, the chief surgeon and the head nurse. What else would it be?"
"Well, you are right. It is Margaret and ….eh …dad.."
"Yes, son."
"She means everything to me and I do mean everything. She is the only reason I haven't collapsed yet, but you can never tell her that. I don't want her to feel responsible for me in any way."
Crabapple Cove, Pierce residence, the following day.
Margaret stood in the driveway to the Pierce residence when the front door opened. Hawkeye and Daniel appeared laughing. Hawkeye immediately spotted her and walked towards her. Margaret turned around and ran away.