8

Margaret frowned at his comment about sanity. She had a flashback to the bus incident. Hawkeye saw the look on her face and knew what she was thinking about. "Margaret, I'm all right." He reassured her.

"I know you are. It's just..." She stopped herself before she said anything else and looked down at her plate.

"It's just what?" He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face so he could see into her eyes. She had tears in her eyes.

"Nothing." She pushed his hand away and stood up. "Forget it." She walked to the other side of the tent.

"I'm not going to forget it." He stood up and walked over to her. She had her back to him. He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her around. She was crying now. Instinctively, he put his arms around her to comfort her. She melted in his arms.

They stood there just holding each other. She felt safe in his arms. She felt confident. She couldn't stand it anymore. She had to tell him how much she loved him. Even if he didn't return her love. She had to tell him. "Hawkeye," she said quietly. "I love you!"

He pulled back and look at her. Had he heard her right? Did she say that she loved him?

She searched his eyes for some clue as to what he was thinking. Would he reject her? Had she made a mistake in telling him?

He looked into her eyes and smiled. She smiled back at him. Then he kissed her. "I love you, too." He said. There were tears in his eyes. They kissed again and again.

"You don't know how long I have waited to hear you say that." She embraced him tightly. She was happy. He loved her and nothing else mattered.

"I wanted to tell you so many times but whenever I tried..." He paused. "I don't know, the time never seemed to be right." He moved her toward his bed and they sat down. "To be honest, I was afraid." He paused again and looked down at the floor. "I was afraid you didn't love me."

"Is that why you kept pushing me away, because you were afraid I didn't love you?" She took his face in her hands and turned it toward her.

"The thought had crossed my mind." He answered sarcastically.

"We must be the prize dopes of all times." Margaret smiled sweetly. "Here you were afraid to tell me because you thought I didn't love you and I was afraid to tell you because I thought you didn't love me." She put her arms around him and they hugged.

The sat there for a few minutes just holding each other. It felt so good to hold her again. "Hey, I just thought of something. How did you know I was going to be here? The Colonel had me scheduled in post-op all night." He pulled back and looked at her and she just smiled. "Oh, let me guess. BJ."

She nodded.

"That's why he was so anxious to get me out of post-op." He smiled. "I have to remember to thank him." He kissed her. He couldn't believe she was really here. He laid back on the bed and Margaret laid down next to him and put her head on his chest. She told him about the conversation she had with BJ in the supply room and how it was that conversation that made her realize that she had to tell him no mater what.

They kissed again. She moved her arms around his neck and he moved his hands down her back.

"Attention, attention..." a voice over the PA said. All personnel, incoming wounded. All surgical staff report to triage."

"Oh no. Perfect timing." He looked at her and smiled.

"It was only a matter of time before they arrived." She looked up at him. "I'm surprised we had this much time." She was just as disappointed as he was. She stood up and held out her hand to help him up. "Come on, we'd better get going."

He took her hand and got up. They walked out of the Swamp and walked to where the ambulances had pulled in and stopped.

BJ looked up from where he was working on a patient to see Hawkeye and Margaret walk out of the Swamp together.

"BJ." Kelley said. "What about this one?"

"What?" BJ turned his attention back to the wounded. "Oh, superficial he can wait."