Chapter 8: Work
With Candace in the ranks the war seemed a little less dark.
Time dragged on as it so often did and then again so often didn't. It was Halloween now and the camp was throwing a costume party.
"What do you think? Killinger made it for me," Candace stated turning in a red and white gingham dress with a red cape around her. She was also carrying a basket.
"I love it! Little Red Riding Hood right?" Margaret smiled.
Candace nodded.
"All right I want mine to be a surprise you go check on Hawk okay?" Margaret smiled.
"Ma'am yes ma'am," Candace saluted and skipped out.
Corporal Bradshaw skipped over to the Swamp and knocked before entering.
"Hello Swamp Monsters," she greeted and giggled sitting on Hawkeye's bed.
"Why if it isn't the little Pierce," BJ laughed.
"My Major asked me to come check on My Captain," Candace stated.
"Well what do you think?" Hawkeye asked. He was dressed as Superman and BJ was dressed as a clown.
"Oooh fly me Superman, please!" Candace clapped putting her basket down.
"All right. Man of steel to the rescue," Hawkeye flexed before picking up the girl and spinning her around.
"Wheeeeeee," Candace giggled. Frank walked in and screamed ducking now.
"Pierce are you nuts!?" Frank shouted.
"Lighten up Burns he's just having fun with his daughter," BJ stated.
"That's a U.S. solider it's not his toy or even his child. Do you really think Pierce is the kind of person anyone would trust with a child?" Frank laughed.
"Miss Margaret si fida di lui e penso che farei un papà perfetto. Sei solo geloso perché io non come te e ora signorina Margherita non," Candace rattled angrily in Italian. (Miss Margaret trusts him and I think he'd make a perfect daddy. You're just jealous because I didn't like you and now Miss Margaret doesn't.)
Hawkeye laughed loudly and kissed her head.
"What'd she say?" BJ grinned.
"She made my day is all said I was the most handsome man in camp," Hawkeye grinned.
"Did you really say that?" BJ asked.
"He is very debonair," Candace smiled innocently.
"Well come on Little Red Riding Hood let's go find your Major. Coming BJ?" Hawkeye asked. Hunnicutt nodded following them out.
"Come on Major come on out," Hawkeye called.
Margaret came out in a very tight fitting Chinese dress and fan with a pink flower in her hair.
"Hmm delicious," Hawkeye smirked as he pulled Margaret too him and kissed her. Candace giggled and laid her head on Hawkeye's shoulder.
The party was had in the mess tent and was fine till the sound of the ambulances cut through the night and people had to rush to work.
Candace helped by staying close to Margaret but out of the way and give comforting words to all the wounded. In the operating room she stood off to the side in a mask and cover watching everything and helping when need be.
"Oh God Hawk," Margaret whispered looking at the Chinese warrior they just brought in.
"Colonel! Colonel we've got a booby trapped guy everyone be on alert!" Hawkeye shouted.
"Need help?" BJ asked.
"Yeah come on… and hurry he's waking up!" Hawkeye shouted a little panicked.
The solider suddenly jumped up and grabbed a scalpel brandishing it as a weapon. The doctors, orderlies, and nurses were screaming and backing up as fast as they could. Hawkeye had pulled Margaret to him and had her behind his back.
"Now just calm down we're the good guys," Hawkeye stated.
"You can't reason with them. Shoot him!" Frank shouted.
"和平！和平与我们联系！" Candace shouted coming up behind the Chinese man. (Peace soldier! Peace!)
He whipped around pointing the scalpel at her shouting.
"否！和平...和平！这是医生...治疗师。你的安全," Candace repeated holding her hand to the man. (No! Peace…peace! These are doctors…healers. You're safe.)
He dropped the scalpel and pulled the grenade from himself giving it to her. She took it and ran outside throwing it to the mine field.
Seconds later there was an explosion.
Hawkeye got the man under the gas and started working on him. Margaret deserted and ran outside.
"Candace!" she shouted.
"I'm okay," Candace sighed brushing dirt out of her hair form where she'd hit the ground.
"Please don't take a grenade like that again okay," Margaret sighed kneeling in front of the girl, "you scared me."
"I'm sorry," Candace replied, "Can I go take a shower?"
"Yes but go straight to my tent okay?" Margaret smiled.
Candace nodded and hugged her tightly before heading off.
Margaret scrubbed again and reentered the operating room retaking her place.
"Thank you Able," Margaret stated.
"Its fine Major," the nurse nodded.
"Well what happened?" Potter asked.
"She's fine. She went to take a shower," Margaret stated.
"That's the bravest kid I've ever seen," Potter chuckled.
"She sure is something," Hawkeye stated.
"And you two are doing really good with her Major, Captain," Nurse Bigelow stated.
"Thank you," Margaret and Hawkeye stated.
After five hours of surgery all the wounded were taken care of and resting comfortably in post op. Tired; Margaret headed over to her tent with Hawkeye following. They entered and found Candace asleep on her cot with a book on her chest.
"She must have tried to stay up for you," Hawkeye whispered as Margaret took off the girl's cape and shoes and put her book back on the table.
"I guess so," Margaret nodded as Hawkeye took the girl's blanket and pulled it up around her tucking her in.
He kissed Candace's head and when he looked up he saw a picture he hadn't noticed before.
"Hey Margaret…what's this one about?" he asked pointing to the picture just above Candace's head.
Margaret looked over her shoulder from her mirror and smiled.
"She drew that after her father died. She told me that is what she wants when she gets out of the army. An adoptive family like that," Margaret explained.
"Margaret this looks a lot like my house," Hawkeye said quietly looking at the picture, "and to be honest the mom and dad look a tiny bit like us."
"Weird isn't it?" Margaret said sitting on her cot.
"Makes me think though…you know Frank was as annoying as ever today," Hawkeye sighed.
"What'd he say?" Margaret asked.
"Said he doesn't know anyone that would trust me with a kid," Hawkeye said gloomily.
"Oh don't listen to the Ferret, Hawk. I'd trust you with a child…I'd trust you with my life because I know you'd do anything to keep us safe," Margaret stated putting her head on his shoulder.
He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her head.
"Candace told him in Italian he was jealous because she didn't like Frank and now you don't…she said I'd be a good daddy," Hawkeye sighed, "Man I love this little girl."
"Me too," Margaret sighed.
The two turned and watched the little girl peacefully sleeping.