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Clete Roberts decides to visit the 4077 for one more interview in May 1953 and thankfully he comes at a time with minimal casualties.
"Major Margaret Houlihan?" He asks when the Head Nurse is seated in front of him. Nodding, Margaret answers affirmatively as Roberts states, "I have a few preliminary questions before we start the interview, if you don't mind."
"Go ahead," Margaret replies with a hint of eagerness.
"How long have you been here at the 4077?"
"Oh! Forever." She jokes adding, "Since 1950."
Surprised he never interviews her the first time he comes through, Margaret explains, "I was on R&R that week."
Nodding, Roberts goes on with the interview. Margaret is surprised the process only takes maybe half an hour.
"Is there anything else you need me for?"
Shaking his head, Roberts answers, "No, Major. I think we have everything."
Nodding, Margaret leaves and heads toward her tent. Starting a letter to Daniel, the nurse is soon curious about what others have to say in their interviews. Taking her pen and paper, Margaret heads toward the mess tent and finds a spot close enough to hear, but far enough to be out of the way. Picking her pen back up, Margaret starts writing again and easily finishes the letter in between listening to Colonel Potter and Klinger. Just as she puts the letter in the envelope after re-reading it a couple times, Margaret hears Hawkeye's name called to give his interview. Deciding she still has one more thing to say, Margaret takes the letter out of the envelope and eavesdrops on her husband.
Seeing his wife out of the corner of his eye, Hawkeye is not surprised when he mentions her in one of the questions he is asked. His wife is truly phenomenal and he thinks she deserves some recognition for her accomplishments. If he were not already attracted to her for her personality, he would instantly be attracted to her nursing capabilities. Seeing Margaret lick the envelope she has closed a few minutes later, Hawkeye remarks, "'Have I mentioned she's really something?'"
Once his interview is over, Hawkeye makes his way to Margaret's tent and knocks. Announcing himself, Hawkeye waits for the door to open before he flirts, "Has anyone told you how captivating you are?"
"A few times," She teases asking, "What makes me captivating this time?"
"Just being you," Hawkeye answers before kissing her. Eyes wide, Margaret practically drags her husband into her tent before hissing, "Do you want people to see us?"
"Who cares? It's not like people actually know the full secret. So what if they think we're an item?"
Weighing her husband's words, Margaret soon gives Hawkeye a small grin before stating, "Thank you for saying those things about me."
Grinning, Hawkeye answers, "Any time!"
When he enters his tent after his shift in post-op, Hawkeye is surprised to find his best friend is still up. Commenting on the fact as he grabs his toiletries for a shower, Hawkeye listens as B.J. comments about his anniversary being spent without his wife. The newer surgeon ends the conversation there, but Hawkeye, the more he hears about B.J.'s last anniversary a day later, decides to do something for his friend. Writing a letter to Peg, Hawkeye has Margaret read it over before sending it off to be mailed.
By the end of the week Hawkeye watches as his wife dances with B.J. in Colonel Potter's office. His friend deserves to be home with his family. They all deserve to be home with their families. Hawkeye and Margaret deserve to start their family. Seeing Erin on the screen of B.J.'s anniversary movie reminds him of the baby that filled their camp with joy just a few weeks ago.
"You did a good job, Son," Colonel Potter remarks to Hawkeye bringing him out of his thoughts. With a small smile, Hawkeye thanks his commanding officer just as the music ends and Margaret and B.J. step away from each other. Walking back over toward Hawkeye, B.J. gives the man a hug.
"Thank-you, Hawk," B.J. tells his friend. Klinger and the rest of the group congratulate B.J. a few more times, before the surgeon excuses himself from the office. Hawkeye almost calls after his friend, but Colonel Potter stops him.
"Let him have some time. He probably wants to write Peg. I know I would."
Nodding, Hawkeye takes the advice given to him. Just a few minutes later, Colonel Potter does ask everyone to leave so he can finish a few reports and watches everyone file out. Stepping around the projector, Colonel Potter sits at his desk to sign a few papers, but instead stares at the screen. Hearing a knock on his office door, the older man is surprised to see B.J. standing in the doorway.
"Colonel," B.J. begins sounding more like a child than a man as he asks, "Could I watch the movie again?"
Looking down at his papers and then up at B.J., the colonel nods. Standing up, Colonel Potter walks over toward B.J. announcing, "I was going to write Mildred anyway. Don't stay up too late, Son."
Leaving his office, Colonel Potter smiles as he hears the projector flick to life once he gets to the entrance of the tent. Walking toward his tent, Colonel Potter sees Margaret in the compound and tells her good-night.
"Good-night, Sir," Margaret tells him as she heads to her own tent. She is simply returning from the bathroom while Hawkeye waits for her inside her tent. They had been talking about Peg and B.J. and then their own marriage before Margaret left. Entering her tent, Margaret smiles at her husband in greeting as Hawkeye sits up a little from where he reclines on the cot.
"Hey, Margaret?" Hawkeye asks once Margaret closes her tent door. "Did you still want to adopt the baby we left in the monastery?"
Shocked that he would even ask the question, Margaret asks, "How could you even ask that? Of course I do!"
Nodding, Hawkeye is quiet a minute too long for his wife who sits beside him stating, "I didn't mean to sound angry."
Shaking his head, her husband answers, "I just keep thinking of Beej away from his wife right now. I mean, I'm well aware it happens, but it sounds awful."
His and Margaret's own anniversary is in a few weeks, and he has no idea how to celebrate it with her. Still keeping their marriage a secret, a party is out of the question, but Hawkeye is determined to make their third anniversary special considering the year they have had.
"At least we could be together on our anniversary even if no one else was aware of it," Margaret remarks. Both are quiet again until Margaret stands up and heads to a record player. Surprised to see the familiar player in his wife's tent, Hawkeye asks where she gets it. Shrugging, Margaret answers as she sets a record in the player, "I bribed Charles."
Music soon fills the tent and Hawkeye smiles as Margaret asks him to dance with her.
"B.J. not good enough for you?" Hawkeye teases as he stands up. Holding his wife close as they dance, Hawkeye thinks that at least there is one good thing about the war. He is never too far from home. As the couple dances, Margaret tells her husband, "I wrote a letter to the monastery."
"Yeah?" He asks, surprised. Nodding, Margaret breaks their dance to grab the letter. Handing the letter to her husband, Margret explains, "I asked if we could at least sponsor her."
Reading the letter his wife writes, Hawkeye grins slightly. The fact that his wife writes this letter makes him love her more. After a moment, Hawkeye asks, "How soon do you think Father Mulcahey can deliver this?"
Speaking with Father Mulcahey a few days later, Margaret and Hawkeye make sure to meet him in his tent in order to have the most privacy possible. Handing the letter over for the priest to read, Hawkeye explains, "We would like to at least sponsor her."
"Preferably adopt her," Margaret adds. The couple both know that Father Mulcahey would be more aware of current Korean adoption laws.
"My dear, adoption is a noble cause," Father Mulcahey begins, but is silenced by Margaret's signature glare. Her face softening, Margaret explains, "I know adoption may not be possible, but would like to try."
Knowing he should not be surprised by the nurse's determination, Father Mulcahey answers, "I'll see what we can do."
Always ahead of the situation, Margaret adds, "I just got a letter from a friend of mine from college. She's director of nurses at the Seoul Sanitarium and Clinic. Her request to foster a baby was granted. Um, Father, I was wondering if you could help me with that? I asked my friend for a letter of recommendation and tips."
Surprised, Father Mulcahey asks, "How long have you been thinking of doing this?"
Turning to Hawkeye, Margaret takes comfort in his reassuring gaze, but lets Hawkeye respond, "Since we left her at the monastery."
"I see. Are you looking at adopting her together?" Father Mulcahey answers as realization dawns on his face. He has always noticed some sort of connection between the Chief Surgeon and Head Nurse, but did not want to assume anything. However, due to current circumstances, the priest has to ask, "Are you together?"
When the couple nods, Father Mulcahey remarks, "Usually married couples are the best option, but in light of the current circumstances and the letter you received, Margaret, I doubt you both have to jump into anything just for the sake of a child."
"We wouldn't be rushing, Father. Believe me," Hawkeye remarks as Margaret glares disapprovingly. With a small laugh, Father Mulcahey teases, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were already married."
The sudden silence surprises the priest. He also notices the couple looking at anywhere but him or themselves. Looking upward, Father Mulcahey silently prays for strength as he deals with one more thing in this camp that is way above his pay grade. He is a priest not a therapist. Choppers interrupt any other conversations that can be had and the three adults happily lend a hand with the casualties that come in.
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