Final scene of S6 E14: Comrades in Arms Part 2. Hawkeye goes to Margaret's tent to talk about what happened between them.
"Nothing happened between us," Margaret shot at him.
"Ok then. I'll leave." Hawkeye retorted, making to turn around and storm out.
"Wait. D" Margaret interjected. Hawkeye stopped, his hand on the door. "don't go." She said, more quietly, the fight gone from her voice.
Hawkeye inhaled a deep breath, not a sigh, but a moment to calm himself and muster his strength. He turned around to face Margaret and listen to what she had to say, but she was looking at the floor, her arms crossed infront of her chest, silent.
"What, hot lips Hoolihan has nothing to say now? That's not like you," Hawkeye teased.
Margaret was silent, her shoulders rising and falling as she took in deep breaths. She was nervous. She'd rather just be defensive and scare Hawkeye away. That's what she normally did. And it worked. But then she was always left alone. And felt terrible about it.
She uncrossed her arms and took a step towards Hawkeye. He flinched involuntarily; Margaret had a hot temper to match her hot lips. But she immediately stepped back and crossed her arms again, indecisive.
"Margaret..." Hawkeye said in a calm quiet voice, sensing her agitation, "what's wrong?" He spread his arms open, palms up, in a universal sign of peace. "You don't have to be embarrassed around me. I think we've seen each other in all sorts of states these past few years. There's nothing to hide from each other."
Margaret took a deep breath, then quickly looked up and made eye contact with Hawkeye before lowing her face again. He could see that her eyes were wet with unshed tears. She was an emotional woman, but she hated that about herself and tried hard to control herself, preferring to express her emotions with anger than the fear and sadness she felt.
"You must think I'm so pathetic," she let out.
"No," Hawkeye immediately refuted. "Why would I think that?" He took a step towards her to cover the distance between the two of them. He felt comfortable now with being closer to her, as they had broken that barrier the night before. He didn't want that barrier put back up.
He placed his large hands on her shoulders and squeezed her gently, looking down at the top of her head that was still bowed in embarrassment or sadness or defeat. He was confused as to why hot lips was letting down her guard, but he didn't want to stop her from sharing her feelings by teasing her for being vulnerable. He liked her when she expressed all her emotions, not just anger.
Margaret was silent for a moment, then slowly started talking in disconnected points, "how I acted last night," she muttered into her chin. "how I came on to you... threw myself at you". She turned her head to the side, staring at the cabin wall. "I was so pathetic. Embarrassing. I'm a Major. I acted like one of those pathetic Lieutenants you sleep with. Worse. Like a scared little girl." Margaret went quiet, still hunched up.
But, Hawkeye noticed, she hadn't shoved him off or flinched away from his touch. He took that as a sign that she was trying to open up despite her training to stuff down these feelings.
"I was terrified too. And I..." Hawkeye stopped, then thought about what Hunnicut had said about admitting to Margaret that he'd felt something. "I... I maybe... maybe I threw myself at you." Hawkeye finished weakly. Maybe he wasn't good at emotions either. He just hid his with humour instead of anger. Neither of them were good with words it seemed.
They both stood in silence, neither knowing what to say. Slowly, Hawkeye moved his hands from Margaret's shoulders, gently pulling her towards him and wrapping his arms around her back. She let him, uncrossing her arms and loosing wrapping them around Hawkeye's waist.
"I'm glad you were there with me last night," Hawkeye whispered into her hair. "you're the bravest nurse here... scratch that, you're the bravest soldier here, always volunteering for the dangerous missions to protect the other nurses." Hawkeye gave her a squeeze.
At that, Margaret leaned back in Hawkeye's arms and looked up at him. Their height difference made it hard for her to look him in the eye. They both seemed to decide simultaneously to sit down on Margaret's bed, their arms still wrapped around each other. Margaret was looking away again, blinking back tears.
Hawkeye took hold of Margaret's hand in his, his other arm around her shoulders. Thinking about it, he was starting to understand Margaret a bit better. She was a passionate woman. Brave. Strong. Emotional. But she tried to stuff down her emotions until they exploded out of her intensely. That's what happened last night. Maybe if she could find ways to let her guard down and be more vulnerable she wouldn't explode so often.
Hawkeye gave Margaret's hand a squeeze. "So, since I know your secrets, and you know mine, maybe we can be friends and be nicer to each other from now on?" Hawkeye proposed.
"Friends?" Margaret turned to look at him, tears running down her face. Hawkeye ignored them, assuming Margaret would prefer that. "I guess I could use some friends."
"War is lonely. We can use all the friends we can get." Hawkeye said, making Margaret smile through her tears.