Same Old Song and Dance

Ch. 2:

"It's okay to Cry, pt. 1"

BJ managed to set up another party reminiscent of the one he set up for the loved ones of everybody at the 4077th way back when. However, this time was different, because now, everybody from the 4077th was back home with their loved ones and the Korean war was finally over. On the day of this party/reunion, BJ met up with some of the members of the 4077th such as his best buddy Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, Col. Sherman T. Potter, Charles Emerson Winchester III, Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, and Maxwell Q. Klinger while Peg met up with Soon-Lee Klinger, Nicole who was Hawkeye's first serious girlfriend, Michelle Barbeau who was a lady friend of Winchester's, and Mildred Potter. Klinger, Potter, Hot Lips, BJ, and Hawkeye started shooting the breeze as if they were picking up where they had left off a decade earlier with Hot Lips mentioning that she was still looking for "Mr. Right" and had Frank Burns, of all people, on her mind a lot. Hawkeye would tell her that there was plenty of fish in the ocean and better men than the likes of her ex husband Donald Penobscott, Jack Scully, and Frank before going over to get a plate food when somebody put a hand on his shoulder. This somebody turned out to be none other than Trapper John McIntyre, Hawk's original best buddy. One would think Hawk would be happy to see Trap, but that was further from the truth and understandably so. Hawkeye was still hurt and upset that Trapper left without saying "Goodbye" and especially after Henry Blake was killed. Who could blame him? Somebody who you loved and held near & dear to you is killed and somebody you thought you could lean on just suddenly up and leaves then a decade later comes back into your life acting as if nothing was wrong & you're supposed to just welcome them with open arms? No way! Anyways, as Trapper took a moment to absorb what all Hawkeye told him and came to the realization that Pierce was rightfully angry, a familiar voice called their names. The question that remains is: Who does the voice belong to? Stay tuned and find out!

Author's Note: I do not own the M*A*S*H characters or anything related to the movie or show. This fic is just for fun and this is my first M*A*S*H fic, so please, be nice. Also too, I modeled this fic after the Aerosmith song of the same name, another thing I do not own. Plus, since the summary mentions it, this chapter may or may not contain the shocking turn this reunion will take. Plus, this chapter may or may not ONLY focus on a certain two characters. We shall see :D

(Flashback to Chapter 1)

"Beej, I said I would get you a plate. Just relax." Hawkeye said in a lighthearted way.

"Who's this Beej?" a voice asked.

"Hey, your voice sounds familiar, but I can't quite place your face." Hawkeye recognized the voice, but still had his back to the person.

"Turn around and you'll see." the voice said.

Hawkeye did just that and got a deer in the headlights look when he made eye contact with the person.

"Hello, Hawk." the person greeted, smiling.

"Trap? Oh my-Trap! Trapper!" Hawkeye's expression remained unchanged.

"Well, are you going to stand there looking like you saw a ghost or are we going to catch up on old times?" Trapper was still smiling.

"Oh, we'll catch up on old times. However, I have always been wondering ummmm..." Hawkeye paused.

"Wondering what?" Trapper asked.

"How could you?" Hawkeye's expression went from shocked to annoyed.

"How could I what?" Trapper had a confused look on his face, clearly thrown off by his friend's reaction.

"How could you leave like you did? Go back home from Korea and not leave a note or even wait for me to come back from Tokyo in order to say goodbye?! How could you do that, Trap? I thought we were friends." Hawkeye was clearly pissed off.

"You thought? Hawk, we still are friends." Trapper put his hand on Hawkeye's shoulder.

"The hell we are!" Hawkeye pushed Trapper's hand away.

"What do you mean by that?" Trapper asked.

"You damn well know what I mean, Trap. You just up and went home without even saying goodbye! Pretty rotten move, if you ask me." Hawkeye turned away from Trapper and ran a hand through his hair.

"Hawk, I told Radar to pass a kiss down to you. Plus, aren't you being a little touchy?" Trapper folded his arms.

"A little touchy? Trapper, you left during a very tragic time. Henry was killed on his way home and well, I never admitted it, but he was like an older brother or even like a father to me in a sense and when he was killed, I felt as if a piece of me went with him. Of course, Radar felt the worst of the grief, but still, I was grieving and had to go on R , because all I could think about was Henry and how he was killed. Then, you get discharged and don't even wait for me to come back, so we can send you off. You just go off like you did. Now, that may be touchy to you, but to me, it was like I lost two great friends at the same time." Hawkeye turned around to face Trapper and almost sounded like he was going to break down in tears, but tried his best to contain and compose himself.

Trapper didn't say a word and just stood there, taking in everything Hawkeye had said.

*Trapper's POV*

'I get what Hawk is saying, but that was all a long long time ago. Why is he still upset?'

I look up for a moment and nod a little.

'Then again, if it had been the reverse, I would've wondered the same thing. I mean Hawk and I were the best of friends. I'd like to think that we are still the best of friends, but since I left without saying goodbye and never wrote or anything, I'll understand if he doesn't think so. I did leave not too long after Henry was killed and since Hawk, like others, was still in the mourning process, I could've held it off, but I guess I was too eager to get back home that I didn't even think.'

I shake my head in disgust.

'No, McIntyre, you didn't think. Plus, not only did you lose a wife through divorce, you may have lost your best friend as well.'

I get a pained look on my face at the thought.

'Dammit to hell! Hawkeye Pierce was the only true friend I ever had and probably will have and to think he's still hurting from my sudden departure while he could've used a confidant during the grieving process of the sudden death of Henry Blake just sickens me now that I really think about it.'

I look at the ground for a moment.

'Henry. Poor poor Henry. Never got the chance to see Lorraine and his kids ever again. Got the chance to get home and gets killed in transit. Poor Henry. We'll never forget you. Rest in Peace, dear friend.'

I sigh deeply.


*Outside of Trapper's mind*

As Hawkeye and Trapper stood and looked at each other in total silence, another person walked up behind Trapper.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't McIntyre and Pierce. I knew I'd recognize you in a split second." the voice said.

"Oh my..." Trapper started to say, only to be cut off.

"God." Hawkeye finished Trapper's sentence.


(Now)

"Do my eyes-" Col. Potter heard the voice and stopped in his tracks when he saw who it was.

"I never thought he would even show up." BJ was bug eyed.

"Who?" Margaret asked.

"Turn around, Margaret." the voice said.

"Oh my...F-Frank?" Margaret turned around and was at a loss for words.

"Hello, Margaret." Frank nodded.

"Frank...how...how have you been?" Margaret asked.

"Well...I've been...I've been around. How about you and Penob-what's his name?" Frank had a steely eyed expression on his face.

"I've been doing fine and well, you'll be happy to know that Donald and I are divorced. I found out he was cheating on me and a skin flint, so I dumped him. How about you and yours?" Margaret couldn't bring herself to say the word "wife".

"Look at my hand. That should tell you." Frank held out his hand.

"Your wedding ring is gone. All I see is a tan line where it once was. You finally-" Margaret was cut off.

"Yes. Louise and I divorced. It was a painful decision, but we simply grew apart after I got back from the 4077th and we separated. After that, divorce." Frank said in a very stand off-ish manner.

"You finally left your wife, huh?" Margaret tilted her head to the side.

"Uh huh. Like I said, it was a painful decision, but it was done." Frank nodded, "Besides, what catapulted our divorce was the fact that I couldn't get over you. Heck, I was even shirking my duties at my practice for a while, but I bounced back. I came to terms with the fact that I didn't love Louise anymore and that even though getting over you was the hardest thing I had to do, I just needed to forget you ever existed and I successfully did until I caught wind of Hunnicutt's party. I only came, because there may have been a chance I could see you for one last final time and well, this...this is it."

"One last final time? One...last...final time?" Margaret seemed a little offended by that line.

"Uh huh, because after this, we'll all go back to our lives and I'll finally have closure. Besides, you probably have somebody already and once this party here is over with, I'll put you in the past for good." Frank told her.

"Frank, could I-could I see you outside?" Margaret asked before turning to BJ, "Pardon us just a minute."

"No problem." BJ told her, clearly understanding the situation at hand.

"I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach with those two being around each other since what's happened the last time they were around each other." Klinger cringed.

"Who knew o'l ferret face would crawl to the surface to see the rest of us? Considering the fact that he viewed all of us, even the late Henry Blake, pond scum." Hawkeye chimed in.

"Who invited him?" Trapper added.

Hawkeye turned to where BJ was standing and together with Trapper, walked over to him.


*Outside*

Hot Lips and Frank went outside and sat on a bench away from the hotel in order to talk about what all had happened since he saw her depart for her honeymoon with Penobsnot, erm Penobscott. Burns was not the least bit surprised that Hot Lips and Penobscott were divorced just as fast as they were engaged and later, married. Something about that fast move right after she and Frank ended their relationship just seemed off and like a drastic decision that was made without a minute's thought. The two things that surprised Hot Lips were that: A) Frank was finally divorced from Louise and B) Frank wasn't trying to make a pass at her. Usually, he would've by now, but that was at the 4077th. That was then, this was the here and the now & things had changed. Still unable to fully process that Frank might be a changed man, Hot Lips decided to press him again to get more details on his divorce from Louise and why he left the 4077th while she was honeymooning.

"Frank, I still...I still don't understand. How-How did you get the nerve to finally divorce her after years of not divorcing her while we were together? I mean you made every excuse imaginable as to why you couldn't leave her and then, when you go home, you finally get the stones to do it! I do not understand and what I also do not understand is why you left!" Margaret was on the brink of shouting as she usually was during the days of being at the 4077th, but kept her voice at a reasonable tone as it wasn't the time or place to holler and get melodramatic. It was a reunion for a goodness sake and one should be civilized at a reunion.

"Well, Margaret-" Frank was cut off.

"Frank, I know you were hurting when I married what's his name, but you had no right to just suddenly up and leave like you did. Not even wait for a proper goodbye!" Margaret continued.

"Margaret, I didn't leave, because I wanted to. In fact, after you left for your honeymoon, I said goodbye as your helicopter departed and everyone else went back to doing whatever they were doing. Then, even though, Col. Potter, Hunnicutt, and Pierce asked if I was okay and I said "Yes", I really wasn't okay. In fact, I suffered a nervous breakdown. I was a wreck. I tried to hide it, but everybody saw it and I guess Pierce must've put in a word to Potter, because the next thing I know is I'm given R in Seoul." Frank took a deep breath before continuing, "I was doing fine until I saw several blonde women who resembled you or so I thought. Then, you can safely say that I flipped my lid. I tried to get funny with them and of course, MPs were sent after me and as I look back on it now, rightfully so. I had no business trying to get funny with and possibly terrorize innocent women all because I was a sad and broken man. However, I evaded the MPs long enough to accost a general and his wife, also a blonde who I thought was you or looked like you. The MPs caught me and took me to Army brass where it was decided that I was to be held for psychiatric evaluation and subsequently, be sent stateside. While I was being held for the psych evaluation, Sidney Freedman arrived and we had a long heart to heart talk after I...stopped weeping, if you will. I tell you, his talk with me saved me from taking my own life. At that time, of course. There was another time where I lost it completely."

Margaret, stunned by what all Frank had just told her, didn't say a word and instead, gestured for him to continue on.

"You see, before I left Korea and after my talk with Sidney, I called the 4077th to give them updates about me, in case anybody cared for such when it came to me. I talked to Pierce and Hunnicutt on the phone & told them that not only were the charges against me were dropped on account that I was despondent when I did what I did, but I was reassigned to command a VA hospital back in my hometown of Fort Wayne. Plus, I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Of course, I had to work hard and prove myself. You don't get a promotion over night, you know. So, I worked myself and pushed my limits until I earned the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon getting the promotion, I wanted to celebrate with Louise and my three girls, but I could never get the proper time off, if you will. I would plan and plan and plan, but it just never happened. I mean one night of getting a promotion ceremony just wasn't enough and plus, Louise and I were drifting further apart. I figured a bigger celebration would bring us closer, but as I said, I would plan for a long time only to have a wrench tossed in the wood works until one fateful day, I get the proper time off. I was ecstatic, because I thought that by spending time away from the VA and all things military, Louise and I could start repairing our broken marriage and hopefully, get closer than we ever were before I went to Korea. So, I rush home and run right upstairs to the bedroom, believing I'm going to tell her about my time off and the special occasion I had in mind plus the time we could use to be alone with each other. However, I didn't walk into a bedroom to see my wife waiting for that kind of news. Oh no!" Frank shook his head, "I walk into our bedroom to find her in bed with my brother right in the middle of...relations!"

"Frank!" Margaret put her hand over her heart and had a shocked look on her face.

"Uh huh." Frank nodded, "It still stings to this day to talk about it. Anyways, the minute I saw that, it felt like your marriage to Donald Penobscott all over again. Here I had recovered from that and was focusing on strengthening my marriage to Louise & I find Louise doing that! I asked her why and how soon did it start & she said that: A) she always loved my brother more than me, B) she only got with me to be closer to my brother, C) she knew I wasn't quite over you, D) she and my brother had been conducting this affair behind my back ever since our honeymoon, and E) she told me that unlike my brother I was what everyone at the 4077th would later rightfully view me as...a self-centered, whiny, immature, manipulative, no good, flawed s*head. I am. I admit it now that I look back at the 4077th and the way I treated people. It's a wonder nobody killed me. I would've killed me or felt like it at least. I look back at that person and realize how disgusting I was...to the nurses, to Klinger, to Radar, to Hunnicutt, to Pierce, to McIntyre, to Potter, to the late Henry Blake, and most of all, to you. I think of all of that and I-"

"Frank, if you're trying to win over my sympathy just so you can have your way with me, you're sorely mistaken and I'll break every bone in your body with my bare hands!" Margaret snapped.

"Margaret, I'm not trying to do anything. I'm just simply telling you what had happened." Frank told her, trying to signify sincerity.

Margaret, seeing that Frank was not joshing her in the least bit, decided to keep quiet and let Frank continue.

"I think of all of that and I just wish I could reverse it all. I really do. Especially, hurting you and Louise. I never meant to string you along or make you feel like you were being strung along. You may not believe this, Margaret, but..." Frank swallowed hard before continuing, "The first day we met, I fell deeply in love with you. Before you say anything, I truly mean it. You were so kind and so warm to me and that's what attracted me to you. Plus, I admired your respect for military discipline and regulations. I really did and still do to this day. Anyways, I fell hard for you, even though we barely met and that the only thing we had in common was military based. You see, Louise never really showed me kindness and warmth. She was more of a henpecking battle axe and I was her whipping boy. I guess what made me a whipping boy was the fact that my parents were very strict and never showed me love, especially my father. The only I could talk to someone was by snitching. I could only do that at school, though. That being said, the blame isn't entirely on Louise when it comes to our divorce. I wasn't exactly a perfect husband. I could've improved, but wars happened and I had too much of an ego to try to improve myself. I wish I had the guts to improve myself, but what's done is done. Louise and I are divorced and are co-parenting our daughters. We're on friendly terms as of now, but she and my brother are happily married and I'm still searching for a woman. Then again, I doubt any woman would want me, especially knowing that I used to be despicable among other things and I do not blame them for a bit. I don't blame Louise for no longer wanting me and I don't blame you for hating me either."

"Frank, let's stop right there at that last part." Margaret held up one finger, before putting it down and continuing, "I don't hate you. I never hated you, not even after we ended things and I got with Donald. I always had a soft spot in my heart for you. I never meant to hurt you either and I know saying "sorry" just doesn't cut it, but I am sorry that you've had that hurt within you all this time. I am truly sorry and I'm sorry about what happened between you and her. That being said, you may have been some of those things and she may have grown tired of the marriage, but two things: One, you're not perfect. Nobody is and nobody should try to be perfect, because it is impossible and Two, you deserve better. You definitely deserve better. You and I both, Frank. I'm still looking after years of being divorced from Donald and broken up with Scully. Scully is not that important. All that aside, I still want to know why you couldn't divorce Louise beforehand and why the excuses."

"The reason I didn't divorce Louise while we were an item and the reason I made the excuses are both the same...I didn't think I was good enough for you let alone worthy of being with you. Yes, deep down inside, despite all of that bull that went on and me being or trying to look confident, I really wasn't. I was...frightened. Not of you or of Louise, but frightened, because I didn't know how to properly divorce or dump her without sounding like a jerka* & I didn't think I was good enough for or to be with you. I just didn't. I know that's a lame excuse in your eyes, but it is the truth. It's the God's honest truth." Frank turned away and stared at nothing in particular, "When I found out about Louise's ongoing affair with my brother, I demanded a divorce. Of course, who the hell am I to demand a divorce when I did the same thing, right? Then again, I didn't do the same thing while we were on our honeymoon. I did it after I started my own practice, but I was indeed a hypocrite for demanding a divorce. Well, what's done is done and I'm divorced. During the divorce proceeding and the aftermath, I fell into a deep deep dark depression which was followed by alcoholism and me shirking my duties at the VA hospital and my own practice. I was in a downward spiral. Mom saw it, contacted a therapist, and convinced me to go and get help, because even though I was hurting from what Louise did, I needed to be a rock for my daughters and I needed to continue on with my duties at the VA hospital & my practice. I'm proud to say that I did indeed get the help I needed, because I breezed through the divorce, kicked my alcoholism thanks to the AA meetings that I still go to from time to time, and Louise & I managed to make peace, as we knew that bitterness wasn't the answer and plus, for the sake of our daughters, we needed to set an example. As you can see, once the Korean conflict ended, I continued my work for the VA hospital before retiring from it to focus on my practice and I'm proud to say that my eldest daughter is studying to be a nurse and we may end up working together. That being said, I still do love you, Margaret, but I've since gotten over you."

Margaret didn't say a word, instead taking a moment to absorb all of what Frank just said. She finally had the answers she felt she needed after all of theses years. She never meant to hurt Frank in any way, shape, or form. She was just tired of being jilted and constantly waiting for something that wasn't going to happen; Frank leaving Louise. She had given him chance after chance to prove himself, but what drew the line was when he was talking to Louise and called Margaret an "old war horse" and an "army mule with bosoms". That was the beginning of the end for the Burns/Houlihan affair, but that wouldn't become final until Margaret would get engaged to Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott. The engagement she would rub Frank's nose into, the engagement that was a drastic decision, the engagement that seemed off, and most importantly, the engagement that would lead to marital problems and finally, a divorce. Those were things that she was going to divulge to Frank. Fair was fair, right? Frank had divulged what all he went through to her after they parted ways, it would only be fair and courteous if she did the same. After all, they needed that closure and this reunion was just the right time. Well, Hot Lips needed her part of the closure. Burns already had his just by seeing her and explaining everything to her. Everything ranging from his true feelings he had for her and the excuses on why he wouldn't leave his wife for her. Upon hearing all of this, even though, she should've been confused, Hot Lips wasn't at all. It was all adding up the more she let everything he said just sink in and process.

*Margaret's POV*

'Man alive, I never realized Frank was that hurt and that, that all happened to him. It all happened to him after I got married to what's his name. It all...left Frank a sad and broken man.'

I get a look of sympathy on my face and feel tears spring to my eyes.

'What on Earth? Are those tears in my eyes?'

I feel the tears threatening to spill out of my eyes and try to fight them back.

'I can't believe it. I just can't...believe it. I'm about to cry over Frank right in front of him. I haven't cried over anybody since...Frank said those horrible things about me to that woman and since finding out Donald cheated on me.'

I briefly think of the late Henry Blake and Radar delivering the news.

'Oh, wait. I did cry over Col. Blake after Radar delivered the news and even during the aftermath. I may not have liked his leadership style or his womanizing ways, but I do have fond memories of Henry and I do regret those times I reported or threatened to report him. Looking back on it now, of course.'

I feel myself bite my lip in order to prevent it from quivering.

'Why did Henry have to get killed?! He was on his way home and...he gets killed in the process!'

I stop thinking about Henry and get back to the topic at hand; Frank.

'Oh, Frank! I never meant to hurt him! I never ever ever meant to be a source of pain for him.'

I then remember what Frank just said about the hurt being self-inflicted, in so many words, of course.

'I know, I know. He admitted that the blame for his divorce wasn't entirely on that woman. It was on him, too. Just like our breakup wasn't only my fault. It was also his, but after hearing the reasons for why he never had the courage to divorce her and marry me, it not only made sense and put things together perfectly, it makes me feel horrible for flaunting my then soon-to-be now former spouse what's his name to him. It makes me feel horrible that he had fallen in love with me, but couldn't tell me due to feeling insecure about himself in regards as to whether or not he was good enough for/to be with me and I didn't really care to ask what was truly holding him back. If I had asked back then and he told me then what he told me now...who knows? However, you can't turn back time and reverse things. What's done is done. That being said, it doesn't for minute second mean that I don't feel horrible, because I do!'

I sigh and look down, turning my head away, so I can wipe my tears away.

'Getting over Frank was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Even now, it is still hard. I think about him a lot and I cry over him, even to this day. In fact, I'm slowly, but surely crying over him now right in front of him! I didn't even cry over what's his face after we divorced or over Scully. Frank's the ONLY one I still cry over.'

I start to think about something after getting the feeling a light bulb went on in my head.

'Could it be? No, it couldn't! It...It can't be! It just can't be! I can't after all these years still have feelings for Major now Lt. Col. Frank Burns! I can't!'

I shake my head.

'I can't, but for some strange reason...maybe I still do? I dunno!'

I shake my head, again.

'Even if I still do, I heard him just now say he's over me, which stung worse than any Bee sting or Snake bite. The more those words echo in my mind, the more intense the sting becomes.'


*Outside of Margaret's mind*

As Hot Lips was battling herself internally and trying hard not to show any indication that she was crying over him, she turned to Ferret Face, who was still staring at nothing in particular and decided that now was the perfect time to divulge her marriage to and subsequent divorce from Penobscott. Frank had been honest with her and told her everything, so why not?

"Frank..." Margaret spoke up.

"Hmmmm?" Frank turned to look at her.

"You know how I said that what's his name and I are divorced due to him being a cheater and skin flint? Well, there's more to it." Margaret's voice had a soft gentle tone to it.

"Margaret? Margaret Houlihan?" a voice called out.

Margaret turned into the direction of that voice and her eyes got big.

"That can't be-" Frank was cut off.

"Well, well, well, hello, Margaret. Hello...Frank Burns, is it?" the voice said, again.


To Be Continued...


Author's note 2.0: I'm so sorry for the delay in publishing the second chapter. I had writer's block for a bit and I was also focusing on other fics I'm writing. Although, I'm not a huge fan of Major Frank Burns or Hot Lips, I also wasn't too crazy on the whole Margaret/Donald Penobscott storyline & I felt that Frank's downward spiral needed a little more, if you will. Just a little more his version of events than him going bat guano crazy and everyone ONLY getting one side of it. Plus, I know this is very unpopular, but despite not being a huge fan of his, I did feel a little sorry for Frank after he and Hot Lips ended things, especially when she rubbed her engagement in his nose. I felt that she was pouring salt into the wounds and that she was moving a little fast after her breakup with Frank. Anyways, I could go on until the cows come home, but I'll stop. That being said, happy reading and get ready for chapter three :D


Margaret: I don't believe it!

Frank: Margaret, it's not...is it?

BJ: Margaret, Frank, who's out there? Is everything okay?

Klinger: It could be Radar playing a prank.

Radar: Hey! I'm not even in this story...yet!

Trapper: Yeah, wait for the next chapter.

Hawkeye: R&R, people.