7

When they finally arrived at the 4077, Marie was just coming out of her state of shock. The driver honked the horn to let everyone know that they were there. Immediately, Hawkeye ran out of the swamp followed by BJ. Marie jumped out of the jeep and ran over to Hawkeye and gave him a hug. She didn't ever want to let him go. He felt the same way.

"Where have you been!? Are you okay? Your not hurt are you?"

Marie started to cry.

"What's wrong?" Hawkeye asked concerned.

"Nothing...everything ..oh I'll tell you later." Marie was so filled with different emotions. Relief, sorrow, pity, happiness, depression, anger, love, warmth and coldness all at once.

"Is there anything I can do? Are you hurt?" he asked again exaggerating.

"I'm fine. I just need you to be with me right now. Meet me at the Mess Tent in 20 min at this point even army food looks good. We'll talk there." Hawkeye nodded. "There is a injured kid in the jeep. He's been through surgery, but he still needs a close eye kept on him."

"Say no more," said BJ.

"Oh thank you, his name is Sámi. He doesn't speak English so come get me if you need me."

"No problem!" said BJ who was now rushing over to the Jeep to take a look. A nurse came running up to Hawkeye. Apparently, they were having trouble with the patient. Hawkeye looked at Marie.

"I have to go, will you be okay?" he asked.

"I'll be fine. Go."

"See you in 20 minutes." Hawkeye said and ran off to post-op. Marie looked around and spotted Radar.

"Hey! Radar!"

"Oh hi, Sir--Ma'am. Nice to have you back. Captain Pierce was worried sick about you," said Radar in one breath.

Marie smiled.

"I need you to find Father Mulcahy. Tell him I need to talk to him. It's important."

"Yes Ma'am," said Radar and walked away. Marie then started to search for Colonel Potter. The first place, which happened to be the right place, she looked was his office. She walked in and Potter was pouring himself a drink.

"Ah, General, good to see you back. Captain Pierce, as well as the rest of us we worried about you."

"What everyone doesn't know is that I was worried about me too," Marie said with a half smile.

"Do you want a drink and tell me all about it?"

"Can I take a rain check on that? I'm a little short on time."

"Sure thing. So, since you didn't come to share tales, what can I do you for?"

"Colonel, would it be okay if my men stay here to rest a while? They had a rough week. And half aren't in very good shape."

"They can stay as long as needed. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Well, if you don't mind I would like to borrow your priest."

"What for?"

"I have along with me three children who would be better off in an orphanage. If I can get the kids to trust Father Mulcahy, maybe they will stay there."

The Colonel nodded. "He's all yours."

"Thank You, Colonel. And one more thing. I'm going to be gone for a couple of days, I have to report to General Anderson."

"Have a safe trip." Potter raised up his glass to her before pouring it down his throat. Marie left to go meet with Father Mulcahy. After a short meeting with the Father she took him to meet the kids, who were in Post-OP visiting Sámi. All three of them seemed to take a liking to the Father right away. This made Marie very happy and she told them that she would visit as often as she could.

While she was in Post-op, Marie decided that this would be a good time to visit Kevin.

"Hey, how you doing?" asked Marie.

"I'm doing good. The doc says I'll be up and causing trouble in no time," replied Kevin.

Hawkeye came up on the other side of Kevin.

"How is your patient?" Marie asked Hawkeye.

"He's going to be okay," replied Hawkeye, who then looked at Kevin. "How you feeling?"

"I'm feeling great," said Kevin. "This one was more worried about you then I was," he told Marie.

"So I heard," she said smiling at Hawkeye. "I'll meet with you later, Kevin. You get your rest."

"What ever you say Kathy.." Kevin replied.

Hawkeye and Marie then started to head over to the Mess Tent.

"Why does he call you Kathy?" Hawkeye asked.

"Because he always wanted to call me something that no one else called me, so he took my middle name, Katherine, and shortened it."

They got their so called food and found an empty table. She told him everything that had happened. Marie was in tears almost the whole time.

"So who are they and what exactly did they want you to do."

"I'm not sure who they are, they act as our military but they are different...somehow. The were VERY into the black market and I had a lot of enemies, on both sides of the war. They wanted me to do inside work on our side, wanted me to transfer all the men that they had problems with into a new unit and then send them on a suicide mission. That is why I sent my brother to get me demoted to captain. I can't do what I have no power to."

"So you're a captain now?"

"No, I just have some paperwork stating a demotion. It is really no good, but it served it's purpose."

"Wow, and I thought I had a bad weekend."

"Hey, there was no reason to be so worried like that, I told you, I have no intentions of leaving and not coming back." Marie smiled.

"That's amazing...still smiling..." Hawkeye said astonishment.

"Only because you're here."

They leaned in closer together and kissed.

Marie left with Billy for General Anderson's office the next day. They had a long talk about everything that was going on. It was a lot to take in but General Anderson seemed to consider each detail as important as the last.

After the meeting that seemed to take all day, Marie and Kevin waited about an hour outside the Generals Office to see what was to come next. They heard him rustling papers and the General's muffled voice on the phone. Finally he opened the door and invited them back in.

"General Sprunkle, I believe that you have been through quite a deal since you been here. You seem to have been through more then I have and I have been though three wars. So, I am able to arrange a honorable discharge for you."

Marie froze. "Sir-I--"

"It's okay, Marie we have worked together for sometime now. I understand that you have no where to go in the states, that is why this is just an offer."

Marie finally took a breath.

"I mean I want to go home...who doesn't? But not --"

"That's why I have arranged yet another option for you. You are a nurse right?"

Marie opened her mouth to answer.

"NO! Better yet! You're a surgeon!" said the General with enthusiasm before Marie could make a sound. "Your second choice is to be stationed at the 4077. But I'm afraid you won't be a General anymore, you would be a Major."

"I would--" Marie started to reply.

"Why don't you go back to the 4077 and think about it, and call me with your answer within the week," interrupted Anderson, yet again.

"Yes, Sir."

"As for you Colonel," said Anderson looking at Billy, "I am giving your whole unit a three day pass to Tokyo. You guys deserve it."

"Thank You, General."

All three of them stood up.

"Dismissed and good luck," said Anderson.

They all exchanged solutes and Marie and Billy Left.

When they arrived back at the 4077 Marie immediately asked Radar where Hawkeye was.

"In the Swamp."

She rushed over to tell him the news. Gave the door a quick knock, and entered. Hawkeye and BJ were pouring drinks.

"Why hello there sunshine," Hawkeye greeted.

"Would you like a drink?" Invited BJ.

"Yes, thank you." She sat down and took the glass from BJ.

"So, what's next on you 'To Do' List?" Hawkeye asked.

"Well, Anderson gave me two choices..."

"And they are...?" Hawkeye pressed.

"I can stay here at the 4077 and work here as a nurse or a surgeon whatever I choose. I would be a Major."

"Why that's great news!" said Hawkeye.

"I'll drink to that!" announced BJ. They all put their glasses together and drank up.

"So, what's the second choice?" asked BJ.

"I get to go home," Marie said in a serious voice. The smiles left BJ's and Hawkeye's faces. They didn't know whether to be happy for her or to be sad to see her go.

"...What are you going to do?" Hawkeye asked in a low voice.

"I don't know, I'm probably the only one in this entire army that is torn between going and staying. I mean I want to go home...who doesn't? But I have no where to go once I get there. No family...no friends...I don't even have a place of my own. Everyone I know and love is over here. At the same time I hate this place with all my being, every day I feel like I won't be able to stand another day."

"I don't think you can find a person here who doesn't feel that they can't take it anymore from time to time."

"Yeah your right. This place in miserable for everyone. I'm going to go talk to Margaret."

"There is going to be a poker game tonight, would you like to join?" invited BJ.

"I'm not sure if I'll play or not, but I'll most definitely be there," Marie gave a small smile to Hawkeye before leaving. She walked over to Margaret's tent and knocked on the door.

"What do you want!?" yelled Margaret.

"It's me, Marie."

"Oh come in."

Marie informed Margaret of what happened with General Anderson and had an almost copy conversation with her as she had with Hawkeye and BJ.

"I just I don't know what to do," Marie finally said.

"I'm not going to tell you whether you should stay or go, but just know, I would love it if you stayed. It's not easy for me to share things with people and you are easy to talk to. I know Hawkeye would love for you to stay and I'm sure everyone else would too. Yes, it is pretty bad here but the more people we share it with, the little less miserable it is. Everyone here loves you and will support whatever decision you make."

Marie sat in silence for a minute taking in what Margaret just said.

By the time their conversation was done Marie had told Margaret what she decided what to do.

Marie immediately went to her tent to start packing. Hawkeye spotted her entering her tent and went over to see her. He was about to knock on the door when he heard her moving things around. He peeked in though her window and saw her packing.

*She's leaving...how could she be leaving? I don't want her to leave, I love her... I should go in and tell her...no wait. I'll wait for her to come to me. She'll tell me when she is ready.* Hawkeye thought. He turned and walked back to the swamp.

"I can't believe she is leaving. Why does this always happen?" said Hawkeye pacing the swamp.

"Can you blame her?" BJ responded while busy sewing holes in some socks.

"Blame her? I envy her. I just wish we could of talked about it more."

"She'll come to you when she's ready."

"I hope so."