Ch11: Apologies
Margaret recovered fairly quickly. She and Hawkeye were as close as normal but they were distanced from Candace.
Apart from when Candace slept in Margaret's tent they never saw the girl. She kept out of the way eating with the enlisted and worked in the office with Radar.
Margaret and Hawkeye really couldn't understand it and the camp could see it bothered the couple.
"Haven't seen the little twit lately. You scare her off Pierce?" Burns taunted sitting by Margaret at lunch.
"Lay off Frank," Hawkeye snapped.
"What can't dish it?" Frank smirked and looked at Margaret, "you're looking lovely Major."
"In your ear," Margaret snapped as she and Hawkeye stood and left the mess tent.
"What's with them?" Burns frowned.
"Burns they were getting along fine till you snapped at the girl in OR," BJ stated.
"She was in the way. Pierce can't work with a child attached to him," Burns stated.
"Well due to the army's incompetence there is a nine year old Corporal here. Get used to it Frank," BJ snapped.
"Major Burns I don't want you bothering that little girl and that's an order," Potter stated before he too left the mess tent.
"Hi Sophie," Candace smiled as she unlatched the corral and came toward the horse.
"Radar is busy so I'm going to give you a brushing okay," Candace explained.
The horse was silent as the girl ran the course brush down the horses back.
"You want to talk about the avoiding game you're playing?" Colonel Potter asked entering the stable.
"Major Burns is right. I just get in the way. They shouldn't have to worry when I'm hurt or scared," Candace sighed.
"Candace they really do care for you. Pretty much every one of us here does. We just want you happy. It's not fair someone as young as you is stuck here," Potter stated.
"So it wasn't nice to stop spending time with them?" Candace asked.
"What do you think?" Potter asked. Candace bit her lip and looked up at him.
"Go on Candace," Potter smiled taking the brush from her; "They're in the Swamp."
Candace hugged him tightly and raced off.
In the Swamp Margaret and Hawkeye were listening to BJ reading a letter about little Erin while they played checkers.
"Minor Corporal requesting permission to enter Swamp!" a tiny voice stated knocking.
Margaret and Hawkeye looked up at each other and two BJ.
"Come in Corporal," BJ called.
Candace entered and came over to the Captain and Major biting her lip nervously.
"Yes Candy?" Hawkeye asked.
"I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have clung to you in OR and I shouldn't force you to pretend to be in my little fantasy…but if it's okay I'd like to continue call you my Major and my Captain," Candace stated.
Margaret and Hawkeye smiled and pulled Candace to them for a hug.
"Candace we love you it doesn't matter what you call us," Margaret replied.
"We look after you because we want to and it's normal for you to be scared," Hawkeye stated.
Candace smiled and kissed each of them as Burns entered.
"Now see here I thought it was settled the enlisted were not allowed in here," Burns stated.
"Fair enough. Margaret darling let us take our little Corporal and go for a stroll," Hawkeye stated standing with Candace now on his back.
"I'd like that," Margaret smiled as the two left.
"You have definitely lost Frank," BJ chuckled.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Burns stated as he sat in his bunk reading his bible; or at least pretending to read it.