And we've reached the finish! Thank you so much everyone who's read this far, and everyone who has reviewed. I think I've thanked you all individually anyway, probably more than once - I lose track :P.

Radar waited patiently in the jeep, hoping beyond hope that any second now his friend would exit the building and speed towards whichever one the right hangar was. He hoped that he'd been wrong before, that maybe this was a story that could have a happy ending after all. And when his friend finally did emerge, with sad eyes and slumped shoulders, he changed his mind and hoped that this could be a story that was, for now, without an ending at all.

Radar, already anticipating Hawkeye's actions, slid over to the driver's seat, letting Hawkeye fall heavily into the passenger side.

"Let's go home, Radar." Radar nodded once, and started the engine. He drove slowly, or at least far slower than Hawkeye had done, which allowed him to sneak glances at the other man. Hawkeye just stared straight ahead, seemingly oblivious to anything and everything around him. If BJ were there, Radar thought, it would be better. BJ could always handle Hawkeye when he got like this. He'd know what to say. Radar didn't. 'Sorry' didn't seem to cover it. He couldn't even really say that it wasn't Hawkeye's fault, because…well, it sort of was, Radar decided. He'd had weeks before there was any suggestion of Major Houlihan leaving. If one of them had just said something…! But it was too late for that now. Hawkeye hadn't, and Margaret hadn't, and pretty soon they were going to be thousands of miles apart.

But that definitely wasn't the right thing to say, so Radar said nothing.

When they got back to camp, Hawkeye headed straight to the Swamp without a word. He poured himself a drink and took a seat on his cot next to his open suitcase. He really thought he was going to make it! He'd been so sure…but then he'd been just as sure he was going to catch Trapper up. The similarities between the two events were uncanny…he'd even been staying in the same hotel in Tokyo. Neither one had left a note, just a hint to let him know they'd thought of him: Trapper's kiss and Margaret's destination. He took a sip of his drink, and then set it down on the floor.

"Not thirsty, huh?" His head snapped up. BJ had appeared by his side. He hadn't even noticed him come in. Hawkeye shrugged.

"Just not in the mood," he mumbled. BJ raised his eyebrows, but chose not to comment.

"I just ran into Radar." He began. "I'm sorry. It must be rough on you." A humourless laugh escaped from Hawkeye's lips.

"Understatement of the year." BJ sat down on his own cot facing his friend.

"You two can still have a future together, you know. She's gone to Maine. I think it's pretty obvious that she wants to be with you."

"And how well would that work out? Both of us have wasted all this time guessing what the other wants! I assume I know how she's going to act, how she's going to think, and she does the same damn thing to me! One argument, back in the states, and everything goes down the drain." He reached down for his martini, suddenly needing a drink more than he'd thought he did. "Just like it did here." BJ shook his head firmly.

"You can't know that! It's not the same situation, Hawk. Korea is different." Hawkeye shrugged.

"Maybe so. Still doesn't matter. I've messed things up again already!" BJ quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Oh? How so?" Hawkeye threw him an 'isn't is obvious?' look.

"She wanted me to follow her! She knew someone would tell me as soon as I got back, and she knew what I'd do when I found out. It was a message." BJ scoffed.

"You think she's laid out some sort of treasure hunt too? That you'll have to track her all around the world before you can have her? Be reasonable Hawkeye. All it means is that she's waiting someplace she wants to be and where she knows you'll find her." But Hawkeye was adamant.

"I know Margaret. Remember the indirectness we were just talking about?" BJ looked at him pointedly.

"The same indirectness that came about from you making random assumptions?" Hawkeye ignored him.

"She was giving me the choice. God, she thinks I never showed up! She thinks that I…that I don't want…" BJ moved swiftly to sit next to him, placing a hand tightly on his shoulder.

"Hawkeye, can you listen to yourself? None of us had a clue when you'd be getting back! Even if Margaret did mean for you to follow her, the fact that you didn't get there in time means exactly that! She's not going to think anything!" Hawkeye still didn't look entirely convinced.

"Maybe so…but she's still going to get home never knowing that I still…love her." BJ gazed at him thoughtfully.

"So tell her." Hawkeye frowned at him in confusion.

"Huh?"

"You know where she's going to be. Send a telegram to your dad's house. It'll be there when she arrives." A smile started to grow on Hawkeye's face.

"Beej, you're the best!" He exclaimed, beaming. BJ returned the smile.

"I know," he agreed. "You're not far off, yourself." Hawkeye's expression turned serious once more.

"I think this is it, Beej. I think we're really gonna make it." BJ nodded, glad beyond words to hear the hope in Hawkeye's voice. He'd missed it.

"You ready?" Hawkeye smiled once more.

"Yeah. I think I am."

"Yeah, that's right. A telegram … To Crabapple Cove, Maine … Uh huh … 'Margaret', stop. 'I love you', stop. 'Just ten minutes too late', stop. Sign it 'Hawkeye'. … Ok, that's great. Thanks." Hawkeye put the phone down and leaned back in the desk chair, feeling closer to contented than he had done in weeks. Margaret would know what it meant. He was confident that they reading each other right, finally. Funny that it should only happen when they were miles and miles apart. He hoped they could keep it up when they were reunited.

Hawkeye. It's never too late. Margaret. P.S. I love you too.

Epilogue

The day had finally arrived. The war was over. He was out of Korea. He was home.

Well, to be more accurate, he was bouncing on his toes waiting to disembark the aeroplane in Portland airport, Maine. He was impatient; the crowd was moving far too slowly for his liking. But he was excited enough for the impatience to manifest itself as anticipation rather than irritation. A grin that he was sure probably looked completely absurd spread over his face. In a few short minutes, he would be standing beside two of the people he loved most in the world: his father, and Margaret. And he couldn't wait!

The crowd started to move, slowly but surely, and soon he'd made it to the exit. He thanked the crew members waiting there climbed carefully down the steps the tarmac beneath. Maine soil. Well, Maine concrete, anyway. It was close enough, for now. As he neared the baggage claim, he saw two familiar faces peering through the mass of people. His smile grew. His father, a tall man, was able to look over their heads with ease. Margaret was all but jumping up and down to achieve the same thing. Neither one of them had noticed him yet. He paused for a moment and reached a hand into his pocket, checking once more that it was still there, where it had been since he left Korea.

Fingers tightening around the box, he took a few more steps forward, coming into his family's view. Margaret's face lit up when she saw him. She flew into his arms, holding him tightly. His father was hot on her heels, slinging an arm around his shoulders.

Turns out some stories have happy endings after all.

Fin

AN: I hope it doesn't seem to rushed. I weighed up my options, and decided that I couldn't really write the rest of the war. It would have gone horribly wrong.