Chapter 3: Return to the 4077th
"Really? All right thank you. Thanks a lot!" Radar exclaimed.
"Wahoo!!" he shouted throwing his papers everywhere.
"Radar what in the name of Sam Hill are you doing?" Potter snapped coming out of his office.
"The 8063rd found Major Houlihan and Hawkeye sir! They were captured but they're all right! They'll be home tonight!" Radar exclaimed.
"Wahoo! This is cause for a celebration son! Go tell Captain Hunnicutt and Major Burns and have them meet me in here," Potter stated.
"Yes sir!" Radar grinned dashing out of the office.
"How you doing Candy?" Hawkeye asked as the little girl sat in between them on the way back to their own MASH unit.
"Better now that I'm clean," Candace smiled.
Margaret and Hawkeye had to admit she did look better clean and in a new uniform. The girl's strawberry blonde curls were gleaming in the setting sun and her skin was an alabaster color.
"You still need to rest a lot though. Margaret and I are going to talk to the colonel about you getting sent state side," Hawkeye stated.
"That'd be nice. I'm sure the US orphanages are loads better than the ones I've seen here," Candace sighed.
"You mean you don't have any other family?" Margaret asked.
"No ma'am I don't," Candace replied.
Hawkeye and Margaret gave each other a look as they pulled into the silent MASH unit.
"Where is everybody?" Candace asked as Hawkeye jumped out of the jeep.
She stood for him to help her down but instead he just held her in his arms.
"I'm not sure. Maybe the mess tent," Hawkeye answered as Margaret climbed out.
"She can walk Pierce you know," Margaret sighed.
"But she's so cute mummy," Hawkeye whined.
Candace giggled and wrapped her little arms around his neck kissing his stubble cheek.
Margaret couldn't help but smile as they headed to the mess tent. They entered and were shocked by a round of "SURPRISE!" that came from the entire camp.
"Wow gee thanks guys," Hawkeye laughed accepting the beer offered to him.
"Did we miss something Hawk or did you and Margaret have a kid?" BJ asked.
"Oh gang this is Corporal Bradshaw she's an interpreter," Hawkeye explained.
"Is she a little person disguised as a kid?" Nurse Able asked.
"No she's a kid disguised as a solider," Hawkeye replied. Everyone looked at each other rather oddly.
"Hey let's party! Salute`" Candace shouted earning a laugh from the crowd as the party started up again.
It was two days after their return to camp. Colonel Potter and Radar had been working to get Candace home and now they had news. It wasn't good.
"I'm sorry kids but it's no dice. Bradshaw has no family and the army in its infinite wisdom will not let her out when she has no where to go," Potter stated staring at Pierce and Houlihan.
"You can't be serious!" Hawkeye snapped banging his hand on the desk.
"I'm sorry Pierce," Potter sighed.
"What about the red cross?" Margaret asked.
"They won't let her go. She is legally an army interpreter and there is nothing they can do. However the army has agreed to let her resign her commission when this war is over," Potter stated, "And I was able to get her transferred here provided I can find two people to be her guardians."
At his words Radar entered with the papers that would need signing.
"I'll do it," Hawkeye replied standing, "I want to take care of her…she's a great kid."
"I'll do it too," Margaret replied.
Potter smiled and nodded as Radar showed the Captain and Major were to sign.
Candace was sitting in Margaret's tent reading a book Nurse Betty had given her. It was A Tale of Two Cities. She smiled as the door opened and in entered Margaret and Hawkeye. The whole camp had been great to her but she liked these two the most. They were always nice to her and trying to be with her; it made the young girl feel special.
"Hi," Candace smiled shutting her book and looking up at them.
"Hi munchkin," Hawkeye grinned sitting in the chair on the opposite end of the tent. Margaret sat by the girl on the bed.
"So…uh what did the Colonel say," Candace asked.
"Unfortunately Colonel Potter couldn't pull any strings and get you out," Hawkeye stated deciding the truth was the best option. It was obvious this was a very smart girl.
"You have to stay in the army at least till this police action is over…but he did get you transferred here and we agreed to be your guardians," Margaret added.
"Oh wow…Uh…wow!" Candace exclaimed and launched herself in Margaret's arms hugging her tightly. Margaret held the girl and shut her eyes savoring the hug.
Hawkeye smiled at them. When the war was over he really hoped she'd fine a good man and settle down.
Just then there was a certain knock at the door.
"Margaret, Margaret sweetie," Frank's sniveling voice called from the other side of the door.
Candace looked up from Margaret toward Hawkeye and quietly laughed. Margaret put a finger to her lip and glared at Hawkeye.
"What is it Frank I have a headache?" Margaret asked.
"It's not a headache visit," Frank replied.
Candace raised an eye brow and looked at Margaret. Hawkeye had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
"Frank go away," Margaret sighed.
"Margaret darling please talk to me. You've been distant since the trip…did Pierce take advantage of you?" Frank asked.
"As if I could," Hawkeye mumbled.
"Margaret!? Margaret who's in there?" Frank called frantically pounding on the door.
Margaret sighed as Candace hopped off the woman's lap and unlocked the door.
"Major Burns sir," Candace saluted as he roughly pushed the girl and she fell back toward Hawkeye.
"This is officers' country Corporal," Frank snapped.
"This is Candy's quarters for the rest of the war Frank get used to it," Hawkeye said angrily pulling the child into his lap.
"And who are you to say Pierce?" Frank snapped, "And what are you doing in here!?"
"He's right Frank this is Candace's quarters from now on and he is her doctor he's allowed to see her," Margaret stated.
"Come on munchkin time to let the adults talk," Hawkeye stated standing with the girl in his arms.
"Okay Captain…ooh let's play basketball!" Candace stated.
"A girl after my own heart," Hawkeye laughed as they left the tent.
"Margaret I don't like this," Frank whined sitting on the cot by the major, "put her in the nurses' tent."
"No Frank I won't. She's already comfortable here," Margaret snapped and left her tent.
Frank did not like how this was going. He feared this little brat was Pierce's way of getting his Margaret away from him.