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As the months go by, the married continues to pretend disdain toward the other albeit Hawkeye's occasional kissing the head nurse until six months into the war when almost the whole camp comes down with the flu.

"'Hi, dear. Having a tough day at the office?'" Hawkeye teases once they are one of the few of the medical unit left.

"'Just filling out the daily report'," Margaret answers. Unceremoniously, Hawkeye hands over more papers. "'Add these. Pints of blood used. Pints of blood needed. Progress of cases reports. And on page six, you'll find my resignation. If you skip every other word, you'll see it's also a suicide note.

"'Don't be facetious'," Margaret chastises not wanting to think of her husband dying in the middle of a war. Shrugging, Haweye answers, "'All right, then I'll go home as a deserter, in chains, anything.'"

"'That will do, Captain'," His wife replies as Hawkeye continues, "'I don't care. I'm getting out of here. And I'm taking you with me, Margaret. We'll send for Frank later.'"

"'Can I interest you in a little Have you examined the flu patients? Frank's temp is up'," Margaret explains hoping to end her husband's prattling. Playing along, Hawkeye gives the vitals of Henry and Trapper.

"'I'm gonna sack out. You want anything from me before I go? I'm yours'," Hawkeye adds. Knowing this may be her only chance, Margaret tells him she has a serum that may prevent the flu before explaining, "'It's experimental.'"

With a laugh, Hawkeye replies, "'Classic army thinking: Locking the barn after the horse has the flu.'"

Ignoring his joke, Margaret advises, "'It may help. We ought to immunize each other.'"

Smirking, Hawkeye exclaims, "'Margaret, another dream come true.'"

"'I think we ought to give each other injections'," His wife clarifies causing Hawkeye to immediately explain, "'I'm no good with a needle. I never have been.'"

"'I can take it'," The nurse replies realizing what they are doing is frowned upon in the States due to their marriage. Taking the vial, Hawkeye asks his wife where she wants her shot. Too tired to play games, Margaret answers, "'In my arm.'"

"'Party pooper'," He teases as he sticks Margaret with the needle. She lets out a shout as he defends, "'Told you I was lousy.'"

As an afterthought, Hawkeye adds, "'Maybe we are in a movie. You're Bette Davis and I'm George Brent. You do me.'"

Professionally, Margaret states, "'Roll up your sleeve.'"

When her husband objects, the nurse asks, "'What do you mean, "uh-uh"?' Someone could walk in.'"

"'I want mine in my tushy'," Hawkeye explains making Margaret question her husband's real age. Still confused, she asks, "'You what?'"

"'Derriere.'" Hawkeye explains, "'The back of my front. The fleshy part. I can't take pain. I can only give it.'"

Rolling her eyes, Margaret states, "'All right. Lower your trousers.'"

"'I thought you'd never ask.'" He teases as Margaret adds, "'Only as far as you have to. You're just loving this, aren't you?'"

"'Aren't you?'" Hawkeye questions unable to see the small smirk on his wife's face. Instead she states, "'Let me get at your hip.'"

"'Anytime, darling'," Her husband replies just as Radar walks in, "'Sir? Excuse me. I'm sorry.'"

The now traumatized clerk backs out of the office as Margaret jabs the needle into her husband's flesh. Shocked, Hawkeye explains, "'Ow! Margaret, that was fantastic.'"

"'Fine'," Margaret answers as she caps the needle to dispose of it and wishing to take a nap somewhere without her husband. She loves him, but hours with sick patients is grating her nerves. Ever the jokester, Hawkeye adds one more barb as he pulls his pants back on, "'I hope you realize this means we're engaged.'''

Unable to resist his teasing any longer, Margaret caves and smiles at him asking, "You mean married?"

They lean in just as the office door opens. Shocked to see their CO, the couple quickly breaks apart.

"'Well, Mr. and Mrs. 4077 th at home, in my office'," Henry complains. The surgeon and nurse question why the man is walking around before he is soon back in his bed. Every so often, the couple finds themselves alone, but it is usually to take the smallest of naps. They find themselves once again in the CO's office knowing it is one of the quietest places in the camp with easy access to patients. Rubbing his neck as he sits down in the chair, Hawkeye states, "Remind me not to give us a camp full of kids."

"I'll make sure of it," Margaret smirks before kissing her husband and sitting on the desk. She wants to sit in the chair with him, but stops herself in case someone else walks in. Just as she suspects, they are pulled into post op a few minutes later. While tending to Frank and Trapper, Margaret and Hawkeye are told there are wounded. Trapper insists he can help, but Hawkeye easily talks his friend out of performing surgery. Instead he informs Radar to get blood from anyone he can. About to head off, Margaret stops the clerk. Ignoring his wife, Hawkeye orders Radar, "'Tell them you're acting under the direct orders of General Clayton.'"

Insulted that no one will listen to her, Margaret yells, "'Just one moment, Captain!'"

"'Radar, go'," Hawkeye orders.

"'Stay!'" Margaret insists as Hawkeye battles, "'I said go!'"

"'And I said stay!'" Margaret exclaims. Breaking the stalemate, Radar replies, "'She outranks you. She's got more things on her uniform.'"

"'She's got more things in her uniform, but go'," Hawkeye orders. Looking at Margaret, Radar apologizes before leaving. Angry, Margaret asks, "'I thought we understood that I am administration.'"

"'Let me tell you something, administration'," Hawkeye begins, "'You know that little shot you gave me for the flu?'"

"'Yes'," Margaret replies.

"'Well it worked, I got it'," Hawkeye states as his wife asks, "'Are you sure?'"

"'I've got enough nausea to light up the city of Toledo, okay? First I'm hot, then I'm cold, and my knees are in business for themselves. My tongue has gone cashmere, and I'd like to find an all night latrine that takes servicemen. Now, have I got the flu or am I just in love?'" He questions knowing the last comment will calm her down. Now concerned, Margaret asks, "'Do you think you can operate?'"

Still left with a bit of humor, Hawkeye sarcastically replies, "'I've got to. What am I going to tell the casualties? To stop bleeding until I feel better?'"

Hawkeye watches his wife take out a thermometer from her pocket.

"'I want to see if you have a fever'," She states.

"'Oh, trust me. I've got fever to burn'," Hawkeye admits.

"'I'm worried about you, Doctor'," Margaret admits, worried now as a wife rather than a colleague.

They cannot be careless so close to the operating room and Post Op, but manage to convey their feelings anyway. Quickly, Hawkeye realizes his wife is worrying about just him and not his operating abilities. Touched, the surgeon asks, "'You really are, aren't you? You know all those rotten things I've said to you, all those nasty little tricks I've played on you?'"

"'Yes'," Margaret answers wondering where her husband's flu addled brain will go. With a smirk, he tells her, "'I'd like to get well and do them all over again.'"

As they operate, Margaret keeps an eye on both the patient and her husband and asks, "'How do you feel?'"

"'I have this terrific thirst for embalming fluid'," Hawkeye jokes. Unphased by his humor, the nurse specifically asks, "'Are you gonna make it?'"

"'That's up to you, Margaret'," Hawkeye answers honestly knowing his wife can do most of the work by now. Astounded at his ability to work while close to delirious, Margaret gushes slightly, "'You're incredible. As sick as you are, digging into someone's gut, and you still can proposition a nurse.'"

"'I've endowed a dirty old man to make a pass at you two years after I'm dead. It's in my will'," Hawkeye replies as he continues to operate before relinquishing the patient over to Margaret.

"'You close the skin'," Hawkeye tells her. Soon Father Mulcahey comes into the operating room, Hawkeye soon coaches the two of them into finishing the procedure. The lucid part of his brain thinks this moment is perfect to kiss his wife on the cheek. He will simply blame it on the fever. Instead, he sees Radar come in with blood. Thankful they can have transfusions, Hawkeye directs Radar where to go before telling him, "'Radar, you'll be assisting Margaret Houlihan, nurse, friend and all around good egg.'"

After his last declaration, the surgeon leaves the OR to find a place to sleep off the flu. Staring at the head nurse, Radar silently questions Hawkeye's compliment. Deflecting, Margaret replies, "'He's very sick.'"

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