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Post by melinda on Jun 30, 2014 19:22:46 GMT -6
ch 6
"Dad, I'm...I'm sorry. I should have been here, for, you know..." Erin started, her eyes filling with tears.
"Hey, honey, it's okay. I understand. Your dad, he would have understood. Just know that the thing I think we all know and remember best about your daddy is that he loved to laugh. He was the funniest man I knew. I could tell you countless stories of how he made me laugh in Korea...he probably saved my life, and the thing is...I don't think he knew that," Hawkeye sighed, as they all sat down. Both Frank and Father Mulcahy had quietly rejoined the group as they sat around in a circle, thinking of the man they all knew and had shared some of the most darkest, terrifying and yet somehow some of the best years of their lives with.
"He knew," Erin spoke with such certainty, that even Hawkeye looked at her in confusion. "Dad, he once told me something about you..."
"Oh yeah?"
"I don't know if I should or not...I don't want to embarrass you..."
"Oh, please," Charles chortled. "If that aftershave he still wears all these years after the war doesn't embarrass him, I dare say nothing shall."
Erin looked at him curiously, trying to figure out who that man was.
"It's okay, Erin," Hawkeye took her hand. "There aren't many secrets here..."
"My daddy," Erin sniffed. "He told me one time you broke his heart."
That wasn't what he'd expected to hear. "What?"
"I mean, it wasn't your fault. Daddy said, he said you weren't feeling well...you weren't yourself, he said."
Suddenly it dawned on Hawkeye, on everyone except for Frank what Erin was referring to. The Incident.
"Dad, when you were at that place, my daddy told me he visited you, he tried to talk to you. He even said he talked to you about me."
Hawkeye nodded. "He talked about you every day, anyways. It didn't take me long to see why."
She smiled and wiped her tears. "He said...he wanted to say goodbye to you, but he had a chance to come home to me, and he said there wasn't time, he was sad, and he thought you didn't know that."
Hawkeye looked down. "Yeah, well, he was right. I wasn't really myself at the moment."
"He said that he came back, and when he saw you...he wanted you to tell him goodbye. He said you wouldn't. He didn't understand that," Erin said, and Margaret put her arm around the young girl's shoulder.
"It's okay, Erin. You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to," Margaret offered.
"May I?" Sidney spoke up. "It might serve both Erin and Hawkeye well if she were to share what her daddy recalled of that time."
Erin looked up and smiled at Margaret, then returned her attentions to her dad. "He told me he tried to talk to you about...about the idea that you two would never see each other again. He said you like, totally blew him off."
"Out of the mouth of babes," Charles whispered.
"Anyways, Dad...Daddy told me that even though he left you his own goodbye message, he knew it wasn't over for him. Not the war. You. You two weren't over for him. It was as he rode his motorcycle-" Erin started giggling. "I still can't get over Daddy ever riding a bicycle, let alone a motorcycle- but anyways, he knew he would find you. It was then that he realized he loved you."
Hawkeye looked up, trying so hard to regain his composure. This was all too much, too hard to hear. But in a way, he was glad he heard it. If only it didn't have to be this way.
"Hawkeye, you okay?" Sidney asked quietly.
Hawkeye rolled his eyes. "Yes, Doctor. You don't have to worry about me. I'm never going back to the funny farm, let me tell you that..."
Frank looked shocked. "You- Hawkeye...were..."
"Yes, Frank," Margaret tried to hush him. "I'm sorry, Hawkeye. I should have prepared him. I just...I just didn't know what to say..."
"It's okay, Margaret. What's in the past is in the past, I guess. Sorry, Sid. I know you're just doing your job. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"Hawkeye, I haven't been a shrink in some time. I'm not here on duty. I'm here as your friend," Sidney smiled, and suddenly Erin broke down.
"Erin, honey, what's wrong?" Hawkeye ran to her. "I thought you knew...I thought..."
"It's not that, Dad. Daddy told me a while ago about how you were sick. He told me about Dr. Freedman helping you, helping you all out. I wish my counselor were as nice as him," Erin sobbed.
Hawkeye looked around in total confusion. "Erin...a counselor? What counselor?"
"I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to hurt you, Dad. I love you and I know you loved my daddy. I just don't understand..." Erin cried, breaking the heart of every single person in that room.
"It's okay, Erin. I just didn't realize you were talking to a counselor. It's all right. I think we all need someone to talk to every now and then."
"I saw lots of counselors," Frank chimed in, and everyone stared at him. "What? I mean, I'm sure it's a surprise to you guys, but yes, I too had to talk to some people. It happens."
"Why did you have to talk to one?" Erin looked up at him, and all eyes turned to Margaret.
She closed her eyes, figuring Frank would blame her, maybe rightfully so, for his problems.
"Erin...gee, it's weird calling you that, not because you're weird or anything, but I only heard your daddy talk about his baby Erin," Frank started, then looked around to see if everyone was watching him. "I can't talk about this if you're all watching!"
Hawkeye just nodded, and they all looked down.
"Anyways, Erin, I talked to someone, I guess I was mad. People weren't always nice to me. I know that's hard to believe, but it's true," Frank went on.
"Wait a minute...are you Ferret Face?" Erin looked up at him.
Instead of getting mad, Frank just sighed. "I guess your dad did talk about me after all."
"Don't worry, Mr. Burns. I get made fun of all the time, too," Erin responded. Now Hawkeye opened his eyes.
"What? You are? How long has this been going on?" he demanded.
Erin just shrugged. "As long as I can remember."
"Erin, I love you! Why wouldn't you tell me...you're beautiful, you're tall, you're smart...why would anyone have anything bad to say about you?"
"It's not really me they're mean about. It's you and my daddy," Erin answered quietly.
"You mean..."
Erin nodded. "I've only been asked out to a dance by one boy. One. All the other girls, they have lots of boys after them. I met this boy, Tim, he went to another school. We talked. I thought he liked me. But then he said his dad wouldn't let him talk to me anymore, that he was really sorry."
Every heart broke by each second that Erin spoke.
"Why didn't you tell us this..."
"What could you do? I mean, I know you loved my daddy, and that he loved you. It's not your fault."
"Erin, honey," Hawkeye pulled her close to him. "What can I do, how can I help you?"
"It's okay. I'm used to it. I just wish I had a mom to talk to about these things. Yeah, two dads are nice and all that, but it would be nice not to have to be embarrassed to ask to borrow money for female things," Erin laughed.
They all smiled, and as they all took in what Erin had shared with them, slowly but surely a plan was forming in Margaret's mind. She'd dealt with plenty of jerks during her time in the army; she wasn't afraid to set another female straight. Oklahoma, watch out; Hot Lips had a plan.
tbc
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Post by Sanda on Jun 30, 2014 20:18:08 GMT -6
Great update Melinda. I love this M*A*S*H story you are writing for me. You are writing all of the different characters of M*A*S*H perfectly. I love that Frank was trying to ease the tension in the room by talking about his problems. I feel bad for Erin in this story because she is seeing a counselor behind her daddies back and she doesn't want to talk about it. I can't wait to find out what Margaret has planned. Please update this story again really soon. This is one of my favorite stories you are writing and posting on my message board.
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Post by jessie on Jun 30, 2014 20:59:15 GMT -6
Wonderful story you are writing, I love this story so much. You write the most amazing M.A.S.H stories. You know all the characters so well. I feel bad for Hawkeye losing someone he loved so much. I feel bad for Erin she is missing her Dad, and trying to be there for Hawkeye. I feel bad she was teased about her Dad's and was seeing a counsellor. I can't wait to see what Margaret is going to do. Erin needed her Mother's love too how could she not be there for her growing up. I love that all the characters are in your awesome story. Please update again soon.
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Post by melinda on Jul 1, 2014 12:51:53 GMT -6
ch 7
So after they'd all adjourned to Hawkeye's, to the home he'd shared for so many years with BJ, it suddenly dawned on Hawkeye that he hadn't prepared any food for anyone.
"That's okay, Hawkeye," Margaret smiled. "I'll take care of it. I'm not too familiar with Crabapple Cove- do you have a personal phone book, one where you keep the number of your favorite deli? I'd be happy to take care of the food. You just stay here with this young lady."
"Yeah," Hawkeye said, still half-dazed from all of the revelations. "It's in the kitchen. I think BJ left it in the drawer by the phone..."
"I'll show her," Erin offered.
"No, that's okay," Margaret spoke up just a little too quickly. "You all just stay here. You guys have enough to deal with...I can find my way around the kitchen, believe it or not."
Quickly Margaret excused herself, while all attentions returned to Erin.
"Honey," Hawkeye started. "Every Friday night, you always borrowed money...you told us you were going to the movies with the girls or some boy...I remember Beej always wanted to meet the boy you were dating...but you'd just kiss him and reassure him you knew what you were doing. Was that..."
Erin looked down and nodded. "I didn't want you two to worry about me."
"Where were you if you weren't off with friends?"
"I did go to the movies, sometimes. Sometimes I'd just buy an ice cream and walk around town. I usually wound up at the library, though," Erin sighed.
"I had no idea...Erin, I feel like I've failed you, like I should have known..."
"It's okay, Dad. I just...I don't know. It's hard sometimes, you know?"
No one spoke. Klinger just held on to his wife's hand, as did Radar.
"Well, the way I see it, you're lucky," Frank added, and they all wondered if he was being smart with them.
"Frank, this really isn't the time for one of your insightful wisecracks, " Hawkeye stared at him. "My daughter's hurting, her other daddy's dead, and her life isn't all that easy. So whatever you have to say..."
"At least she calls you Dad," Frank said quietly. He looked down at his boots.
"What? What in the world are you getting at, Frank? Not everything is about you..." Hawkeye ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. Honestly, he still had no idea why Ferret Face was even there.
"It's okay. Mr. Burns, what do you mean?" Erin asked politely. Suddenly the idea of BJ's daughter being so kind to Ferret Face almost made Hawkeye laugh at the irony. Almost.
"I don't know," he looked at the floor, shuffling his feet. "My kids hate me. They haven't called me Dad or Daddy or even Father forever."
"Frank, please" Hawkeye huffed.
"I just...I don't understand...you...and BJ...I really don't. All I know is that even us normal people get picked on and have problems too, that's all."
Sidney and Hawkeye exhanged looks. "Frank, you mean to say that after all we've went through together, you're the one who's changed the most?"
"I wouldn't say that. I'm not doing...that...with guys," Frank replied.
This time, even Erin couldn't help but laugh.
Meanwhile, Margaret had indeed found Hawkeye's address book. Yes, she'd found the number to the deli, and she would head there. But after that, probably the next day, she'd take that ripped out piece of paper from that address book and would start out on a journey that she was sure would be unforgettable.
Peg Goren, the name read. Below that, the address and phone number were listed.
Well, Peg Goren, Margaret thought bitterly. It's high time you learned just what you missed out on.
00000
"Margaret?" Hawkeye called out. "Need any help? I think we're all getting hungry..."
She smiled, tucked that piece of paper in her purse, and let them know she was on her way out to get the food.
"Frank, I might need some help with this order...would you like to come with me?" Margaret asked.
Frank looked around. "Me?"
"Yes, you. It's not an invitation to the movies. Just to the deli. You coming?"
"Sure, okay."
As the two of them left, Sidney excused himself to get some fresh air. Charles Winchester the third- 'd always suspected, but never said anything to anyone. Not even to Charles himself.
Hawkeye and BJ...ditto. Yes, of course, Sidney had his concerns over Erin's well-being most of all. But perhaps the strangest thing going on at the moment seemed to be the renewing of Margaret and Frank's friendship. Sidney chuckled and shook his head. Just when he'd thought he'd seen it all...
0000
In the car, after Margaret had parked her car, she turned to look at Frank. "I'm going on a road trip tomorrow. Do you...do you want to come with me or not?" she demanded.
"A road trip? With you? Of course. Does this mean..."
"It doesn't mean anything, Frank. Just that I have a long trip and I could use someone to help take turns driving."
"Okay," Frank stuttered. "But where are you...where are we going?"
Margaret sighed. "Oklahoma."
"What's in Oklahoma?"
"It's a who, not a what. And it's Peg. She's what's in Oklahoma."
"Does...does Hawkeye know?"
Margaret shook her head. "And he'd better not find out, got it?"
Frank nodded. "But why would you want to visit Peg?"
"Because," Margaret rolled her eyes. "Her daughter's hurting awfully bad right now. I understand Peg being hurt, but to abandon her little girl...and she didn't even have the decency to come to Maine to pay her respects...if not for BJ's sake, than for Erin's? Some women may have children, but they are no mothers, let me tell you."
Frank wanted to ask more questions, but as Margaret was a female, he kind of figured she knew what she was doing.
He of all people knew that once Margaret had made her mind about something, there was no stopping her.
So Oklahoma it was.
tbc
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Post by jessie on Jul 1, 2014 17:28:22 GMT -6
Wonderful update I love this story you dedicated to Sanda. I feel bad for Erin she lost her Father, and has to deal with her Mother who never comes to see her. I believe for Erin Peg should have come to the funeral. I love that Margaret wants to help by going to see Peg. I hope it doesn't cause problems but Peg deserves someone to tell her off. Please update again soon.
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Post by Sanda on Jul 1, 2014 18:14:08 GMT -6
Great update Melinda. I love this M*A*S*H story you are writing for me. I love that Frank was trying to ease the tension in the room by talking about his problems. I feel bad for Erin in this story because she is seeing a counselor behind her daddies back and she doesn't want to talk about it. I can't wait to find out what Margaret has planned for Erin's mom peg. I hope you update this story again soon.
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Post by melinda on Jul 5, 2014 17:54:10 GMT -6
ch 8
So after they'd all adjourned to Hawkeye's, to the home he'd shared for so many years with BJ, it suddenly dawned on Hawkeye that he hadn't prepared any food for anyone.
"That's okay, Hawkeye," Margaret smiled. "I'll take care of it. I'm not too familiar with Crabapple Cove- do you have a personal phone book, one where you keep the number of your favorite deli? I'd be happy to take care of the food. You just stay here with this young lady."
"Yeah," Hawkeye said, still half-dazed from all of the revelations. "It's in the kitchen. I think BJ left it in the drawer by the phone..."
"I'll show her," Erin offered.
"No, that's okay," Margaret spoke up just a little too quickly. "You all just stay here. You guys have enough to deal with...I can find my way around the kitchen, believe it or not."
Quickly Margaret excused herself, while all attentions returned to Erin.
"Honey," Hawkeye started. "Every Friday night, you always borrowed money...you told us you were going to the movies with the girls or some boy...I remember Beej always wanted to meet the boy you were dating...but you'd just kiss him and reassure him you knew what you were doing. Was that..."
Erin looked down and nodded. "I didn't want you two to worry about me."
"Where were you if you weren't off with friends?"
"I did go to the movies, sometimes. Sometimes I'd just buy an ice cream and walk around town. I usually wound up at the library, though," Erin sighed.
"I had no idea...Erin, I feel like I've failed you, like I should have known..."
"It's okay, Dad. I just...I don't know. It's hard sometimes, you know?"
No one spoke. Klinger just held on to his wife's hand, as did Radar.
"Well, the way I see it, you're lucky," Frank added, and they all wondered if he was being smart with them.
"Frank, this really isn't the time for one of your insightful wisecracks, " Hawkeye stared at him. "My daughter's hurting, her other daddy's dead, and her life isn't all that easy. So whatever you have to say..."
"At least she calls you Dad," Frank said quietly. He looked down at his boots.
"What? What in the world are you getting at, Frank? Not everything is about you..." Hawkeye ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. Honestly, he still had no idea why Ferret Face was even there.
"It's okay. Mr. Burns, what do you mean?" Erin asked politely. Suddenly the idea of BJ's daughter being so kind to Ferret Face almost made Hawkeye laugh at the irony. Almost.
"I don't know," he looked at the floor, shuffling his feet. "My kids hate me. They haven't called me Dad or Daddy or even Father forever."
"Frank, please" Hawkeye huffed.
"I just...I don't understand...you...and BJ...I really don't. All I know is that even us normal people get picked on and have problems too, that's all."
Sidney and Hawkeye exhanged looks. "Frank, you mean to say that after all we've went through together, you're the one who's changed the most?"
"I wouldn't say that. I'm not doing...that...with guys," Frank replied.
This time, even Erin couldn't help but laugh.
Meanwhile, Margaret had indeed found Hawkeye's address book. Yes, she'd found the number to the deli, and she would head there. But after that, probably the next day, she'd take that ripped out piece of paper from that address book and would start out on a journey that she was sure would be unforgettable.
Peg Goren, the name read. Below that, the address and phone number were listed.
Well, Peg Goren, Margaret thought bitterly. It's high time you learned just what you missed out on.
00000
"Margaret?" Hawkeye called out. "Need any help? I think we're all getting hungry..."
She smiled, tucked that piece of paper in her purse, and let them know she was on her way out to get the food.
"Frank, I might need some help with this order...would you like to come with me?" Margaret asked.
Frank looked around. "Me?"
"Yes, you. It's not an invitation to the movies. Just to the deli. You coming?"
"Sure, okay."
As the two of them left, Sidney excused himself to get some fresh air. Charles Winchester the third- 'd always suspected, but never said anything to anyone. Not even to Charles himself.
Hawkeye and BJ...ditto. Yes, of course, Sidney had his concerns over Erin's well-being most of all. But perhaps the strangest thing going on at the moment seemed to be the renewing of Margaret and Frank's friendship. Sidney chuckled and shook his head. Just when he'd thought he'd seen it all...
0000
In the car, after Margaret had parked her car, she turned to look at Frank. "I'm going on a road trip tomorrow. Do you...do you want to come with me or not?" she demanded.
"A road trip? With you? Of course. Does this mean..."
"It doesn't mean anything, Frank. Just that I have a long trip and I could use someone to help take turns driving."
"Okay," Frank stuttered. "But where are you...where are we going?"
Margaret sighed. "Oklahoma."
"What's in Oklahoma?"
"It's a who, not a what. And it's Peg. She's what's in Oklahoma."
"Does...does Hawkeye know?"
Margaret shook her head. "And he'd better not find out, got it?"
Frank nodded. "But why would you want to visit Peg?"
"Because," Margaret rolled her eyes. "Her daughter's hurting awfully bad right now. I understand Peg being hurt, but to abandon her little girl...and she didn't even have the decency to come to Maine to pay her respects...if not for BJ's sake, than for Erin's? Some women may have children, but they are no mothers, let me tell you."
Frank wanted to ask more questions, but as Margaret was a female, he kind of figured she knew what she was doing.
He of all people knew that once Margaret had made her mind about something, there was no stopping her.
So Oklahoma it was.
tbc
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Post by Sanda on Jul 5, 2014 21:39:09 GMT -6
Great update Melinda. :)I love the banter between Margaret and Frank in this chapter. Margaret and Frank are so cute together in this chapter. :)I hope they become a couple in your story after they talk to Peg and they help Erin and Hawkeye deal with BJ's death. :)I hope you update this story again really soon. this is one of my favorite stories that you are writing and posting for me on my message board.
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Post by jessie on Jul 5, 2014 22:10:20 GMT -6
Awesome update I feel bad for Erin but she is a wonderful young lady. Hawkeye and BJ should be proud how they raised her. I felt bad for Frank when he said his kids don't talk to him. I am not surprised Margaret is going to see Peg. It is true when she decides to do something no one will stop her. I like that Frank agreed to go with her. I hope you update your story again soon.
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Post by melinda on Jul 6, 2014 12:31:44 GMT -6
ch 9
So Margaret, after getting herself ready for the night, came out of the bathroom, only to find Frank staring at her.
"I knew this was a bad idea!" she shrieked. "Go on. You're sleeping in the car. Go on!"
Instead Frank just pointed to his eye. "you have some..."
Self-consciously and quite ashamed, Margaret touched the corner of her eye and realized that she'd left some anti-wrinkle cream on her face. "Oh...oh."
"What is that stuff?"
"Frank Burns, not that it's any of your business, but it's aging cream..." she sighed.
"You put stuff on to make you look older?" he asked, puzzled.
She threw a blanket and a pillow at him. "No, you...you cretin! It's anti-aging cream. I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore."
He looked down. "I think you're perfect," he sighed then tried to get settled on the floor. The blanket didn't even cover his feet.
Margaret yanked the blanket away from him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing...I just meant...you don't really need that stuff. My ex-wife, she could have used it, but I don't think that would have helped her."
Margaret, now grinning, started to laugh. "You remember that little red-head you went after after I...after we parted ways?"
He shook his head no, terrified to admit that indeed, he did remember.
"You were no worse than Hawkeye, going after the new young hot thing in camp," she scolded.
"Well," Frank stood up. "You had Penobscott!"
She looked at him with bemusement in her eyes. "What was that crack you said to me..."
"I don't know. I don't remember."
Margaret, still laughing, pointing her finger at him. "You told me, you told me...a little youth would be nice for a change!"
He started to grab his stuff to go to the car. "I'm sorry, Margaret. I didn't mean it."
She touched his arm. "Yes, you did, Frank. And you know what? I had it coming, didn't I?"
He really , really did not want to answer that. But the creases of a smile that had formed around his lips told her all she needed to know.
"It's okay. I deserved that...and then I heard Hawkeye and BJ laughing..."
Frank's eyes lit up. "They were laughing! Not at me. With me!" then he started to lay down on the floor.
"What are you doing?"
"What?" He protested. "I can't sleep in the car. You have the keys."
"Frank," she took his hand and helped him to his feet. "You don't have to sleep on the floor. Or in the car."
Out of nervousness, Frank started to giggle. "You mean..."
"Don't get me wrong, Burns. I meant it when I said no funny business."
So awkwardly they both climbed into bed, their backs to each other's.
How he would get any sleep that night, Frank had no idea.
00000
"Captain?" Klinger cautiously approached Hawkeye.
"Aw, come on, Klinger. I may be even funnier than you guys thought, but I'm still me, Hawkeye. Or at least I still hope I am," the grief-stricken Pierce sighed.
"I just...I just wanted to tell you something. Actually, if it's okay with you, I asked Sidney to help me out here..." Klinger continued, quite nervously.
"What? Are you trying to get me committed? Klinger, need I remind you, the war's over. I don't think I need a Section 8 now. Then again, that was always your thing, wasn't it?" Hawkeye tried to feign a smile.
Sidney joined them. "Hawkeye, I'm not positive as to Klinger's intentions here, but if they are what I think they might be...it might be advisable to hear him out."
Hawkeye just nodded. Klinger looked at Sidney, who just nodded in encouragement.
"Sir...Hawkeye...it's no secret that I was always trying to get a dodge out of the Army. You all knew just how much I wanted out of that place."
"Well, now that you mention it, the thought might have crossed my mind a time or two," Hawkeye smiled weakly.
"Anyways," Now Klinger was starting to sweat. "I don't know if you knew about this, but Sidney...he one time offered to get me my Section 8."
Hawkeye looked up, and the psychiatrist nodded in confirmation.
"The thing was..." Klinger started. "The thing was, I just had to sign a paper, saying I was, you know..."
"I think so, Klinger. You have nothing to worry about. I don't know a single person from our time there that for a second thought that you were, you know..."
"Hawkeye, I took it as an insult. I thought it would be the end of my world if anyone even thought I was, you know..."
Now even Charles, from a bemused distance, was paying attention.
"Anyways, Hawkeye...you too, Major Winchester...after knowing both of you and BJ...I wanted to let you know it would have been an honor if people thought I was funny."
Hawkeye just nodded,. "Thank you, Klinger."
Klinger looked at Charles, who rolled his eyes. "Please, Klinger. I saw your taste in clothing. You never would have made it as, as you so eloquently put it, as one of us funny ones."
Klinger nodded in respect to Hawkeye, and returned to Soon-Li, muttering how some people (Charles, specifically) never would change.
Soon-Li just hugged Klinger, and Sidney looked at them briefly, then returned his attentions to Hawkeye. "That Klinger...he means well..."
"I know," he sighed. "I know."
Then he looked up and saw Erin hugging Klinger.
Hawkeye was confused, but Sidney stopped him. "She's not used to people being so kind and understanding of her life. It's okay, Hawkeye. They say you can pick your friends, but not your family. Judging by the lack of compassion from BJ's family, I'd say you picked the right choice. Not just for you, but for Erin."
"Excuse me, Sid...I need...I need a breath of fresh air. I should go to Erin..."
"Hawkeye, it's okay. She's with family," Sidney smiled.
And the thing was, Hawkeye found himself agreeing with Sidney.
tbc
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Post by Sanda on Jul 6, 2014 15:32:29 GMT -6
Great update Melinda. :)I love the banter between Margaret and Frank in this chapter. I loved the talk between Klinger, Hawkeye, and the others in this chapter. :)You write all of the different characters of M*A*S*H perfectly. :)I love this M*A*S*H you are writing you are writing for me. It is one of my favorite stories of yours. :)I hope you update this story again really soon for me and Jessie.
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Post by jessie on Jul 6, 2014 21:15:26 GMT -6
Wonderful update I love Frank and Margaret together. I am actually rooting for them to reunite. It is obvious he still loves Margaret. I love the talk between Klinger and Hawkeye. I really can't wait to see how this story is going to progress, and will Margaret get through to Peg. Please update again soon.
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Post by melinda on Jul 7, 2014 6:12:01 GMT -6
ch 10
Frank found himself staring at the ceiling. Never in his life did he ever dream that he'd ever wind up sharing the same room, let alone the same bed, with Margaret again.
"Margaret? Are you awake?" he asked, still staring at the ceiling.
"I am now. What do you want, Frank?"
"How long...when did you know?"
She joined him in staring at the ceiling. "Know what?"
"About...about Pierce. And Hunicutt?"
She closed her eyes, trying really hard to recall when she had found out of her friends' orientation. "I don't know, I guess a few years ago."
"Weren't you...surprised?" Frank asked, still trying to make sense of everything.
She didn't even have to think about it. "Not really."
"And it didn't make you...make you sick?"
Now she was back to Hot Lips. "No. Why would it?"
"It's against the bible, you know."
"So is adultery, or have you forgotten about that?" Margaret snapped.
It still didn't make sense to him. If she had a point, Frank obviously couldn't quite get it. "And Major Winchester...did you know about him?"
She smiled. "Actually I knew about it in Korea. At the end of the war."
Despite himself, he turned to stare at her. "And they let him stay?"
"The army didn't know, Frank. He and I...we had our differences, let's just say. But at the end, when he was leaving...he gave me a book of poems."
"You always did love poetry," Frank murmured.
She nodded. "Anyways...only I read what was inscripted. He let me know that if he'd ever been able to give his heart to a woman, it would have been me. That's when I knew."
"Oh." Frank tried to think about it. "Pierce and Hunicutt...do you think that it was even possible that they loved each other, or was it just...I can't even think about it," he shuddered.
"They loved each other," Margaret whispered. "I'd give anything for that kind of love. I don't think I'll ever love anyone ever again." then she saw the hurt look on Frank's face, the look of...despair, in his eyes. She tried to lighten up the mood. "How about you, Burns? You think you'll ever love again?"
"I never stopped."
For some reason, maybe it was grief, maybe it was pity, maybe, just maybe, it was love, maybe it was out of remorse on Margaret's part for hurting Frank...but that night, something in that cold and lonely hotel room happened that she'd swore that she would never do again. That night, Margaret made love to Frank, and he'd never been happier in his entire life.
0000
Back in Crabapple Cove, as the guests had settled in spare rooms at Hawkeye's for the night, Erin joined her dad for some alone time on the porch.
"Daddy, your friends..."Erin started.
"I know," Hawkeye chuckled. "They are weird."
Erin took her dad's hand. "I was going to say they are nice. They love you, and I can tell they all loved my Daddy. I wish they were my family," she sighed.
Hawkeye looked at her. "One thing I learned from Korea...it was a horrible, miserable, depressing and disgusting place. I would never go there again for all the money in the world. But you know what...for so long, it had only been me and my dad. My mom had passed some time ago. But in Korea...not only did I find your daddy, the man whom I loved more than anything...I found you, whom I love every bit as much as I did your daddy. But there...in that crazy, insane...anyways, I found my family. And no matter what happens, I know this- they will always be your family too."
At first Erin smiled. Then she broke down in such a fit of tears. Hawkeye felt terrible. "I'm sorry, honey. I wasn't trying to say that anyone could take your daddy's place...no one..."
"It's not that, Dad." Erin looked at him through tear-stained eyes. "Your friends who only heard about me as a baby, they like me. I see that. But...my mom...Dad, why doesn't my own mom love me anymore?"
Just when Hawkeye thought that his heart couldn't break any more than it already had...
He wrapped his arm around his daughter, and all he could say was..."She's a fool, Erin."
"I..I miss my daddy so much. He always, always made me feel good about myself. I found his wallet. He still carried around my baby picture even until that night..."
It was all Hawkeye could do to maintain his composure.
"But my mom...I don't think she could pick me out of any school picture. Kids are mean, I get that. But why, Dad? What did I do to make my own mom stop loving me?"
Hawkeye just pulled her close, and as he had no answer, all they could do was sit on the porch swing and hold each other and cry and wonder what in the world was wrong with people.
tbc
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Post by Sanda on Jul 7, 2014 16:37:56 GMT -6
Great chapter melinda. loved the talk between Margaret and Frank about BJ, Hawkeye, and Charles sexual orientation. I also loved the talk between Hawkeye and BJ's daughter Erin in this chapter. I feel horrible for Hawkeye and Erin in this story. I hope things get better for them both in this story soon. I love thus M*A*S*H story you are writing for me. I hope you update this story again really soon.
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Post by jessie on Jul 7, 2014 20:25:07 GMT -6
Awesome update I feel sorry for Erin, I hate her thinking her Mother doesn't care about her. Hawkeye is amazing with her. I love Margaret and Frank together too, I hope they reunite. I hope you update this awesome story again soon.
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