22

"Well, if I'm not mistaken, Hawkeye is on holiday for the next two weeks, right?" He looked at the other doctor for confirmation.

"That's right." Hawkeye nodded. "My best friend is flying in from California today and I was wanting to spend as much time with him as possible."

"So, I guess if you want Margaret, you could start work the same day that Hawkeye finishes his holidays." Jake suggested. "How does that sound?"

"Sounds good." Margaret nodded.

"Good." Her new boss exclaimed excitedly. "We'll just get the paper work filled out so that everything is ready for when you came back." He sat back down at his desk and pulled some forms out of his desk. Placing them in front of Margaret he handed her a pen. As she started filling them out Hawkeye watched over her shoulder.

"Hey, I just realized something." He commented as he watched her fill out her name.

"What's that?" She asked curiously.

"When you start work your name won't be 'Margaret Houlihan' anymore." He smiled broadly when she looked at him.

"You're right." She reached up and touched his face lightly. "It'll be 'Margaret Pierce'." They both felt their hearts skip at the sound of her new name.

Margaret finished filling out the forms and handed them back to Jake. After a few more minutes of small talk they rose and began to take their leave. As they were shaking hands with Jake the PA suddenly announced loudly:

"Dr. Pierce please report to Emergency! Dr. Pierce to Emergency!"

"Come on Margaret!" Hawkeye exclaimed eagerly as he grabbed her hand. Waving to Jake he jogged down the hallway with an equally excited Margaret following behind.

"What have you got?" Hawkeye demanded anxiously as he and Margaret ran into the Emergency Room.

"Tommy Wilder fell out of a tree and landed on his side." One of the nurses informed his and she led him into the room where the small boy was lying, his worried father hovering beside him.

"Hi Toby." Hawkeye greeted the father as he entered the room. Then coming up beside the young boy lying on the table he said. "How you doing, Tommy?"

"I hurt, Hawkeye." The young boy said, his young face grimacing in pain.

"Where does it hurt, Tommy?" The doctor pressed, his tone gentle and patient.

"Right here." The boy put his hand on his left side and winced at the pressure.

"Can I see for a minute." Hawkeye asked as he gently moved the boy's hands out of the way. Touching the spot lightly he sighed softly as the boy flinched again. Looking at the boy's father he announced. "I'm going to have to operate."

"What's wrong with him, Hawk?" Toby Wilder asked anxiously as he held his young son's hand tightly.

"Internal bleeding. I think he may have a ruptured spleen." Hawkeye told his old friend seriously. "I'm going to have to go in and remove it."

"Can he live without a spleen?" Toby asked, his eyes widening in fear.

"He'll be just fine." The doctor assured him. Then looking to the nurse who'd brought him in he said. "Kathy, get Tommy prepped. I'm going to go scrub."

"Yes, doctor." Kathy nodded as an orderly started to wheel Tommy out of the examining room. Toby moved to follow, but another nurse stopped him.

"We need you to fill out some paperwork, Mr. Wilder." She told him. Toby nodded reluctantly, looking at Hawkeye sadly.

"Take good care of him, Hawk." He commented.

Hawkeye reached over and squeezed his old playmate's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Toby Tommy will be just fine."

Toby reached up and squeezed his old buddy's hand gratefully. "Thanks, Hawk." With that he followed the nurse out.

"Come on Margaret." Hawkeye encouraged as he moved to the door.

"Where are we going?" She asked curiously.

"Well, since you are now employed here how about assisting me?" He said as she followed him down the hall.

"Are you serious?" She exclaimed. "I've only just been hired. I'm not scheduled to start work for two more weeks."

"So, you'll start a little early." He pushed open the doors that lead to the OR and the change rooms. Pointing to a door that was labeled 'Nurses' Change Room' he said. "You'll find clean scrubs and lockers inside. I'll meet you in OR." He paused in his steps long enough to plant a kiss on her lips and say. "You'll be fine. Come on. It'll be like old times." Margaret gave him a small smile and pushed open the change room door.

"That was incredible!" Jake Smith exclaimed as he met up with Margaret and Hawkeye after the operation. "I have never seen two people work as well together as you two." Looking at Hawkeye he commented. "You didn't even have to ask for the instrument before Margaret put it in your hand. She even knew which blades you preferred without you having to tell her. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen."

"I told you she was a good nurse." Hawkeye commented proudly as he put his arm around Margaret's waist.

"Yes you did." Jake acknowledged. "And I can certainly see why. You must be very proud of her."

"I am." Hawkeye smiled at Margaret, his eyes shining with pride and admiration.

"Well, I won't hold you kids up any longer." Jake commented, clearing his throat uncomfortably. "I understand your friend's plane is due in early this afternoon."

"That's right!" Hawkeye exclaimed, then looking at Margaret's watch he added. "I have to get going. Beej's plane lands in about two hours and you wanted to stop at the store on the way home." Looking at his boss he said hastily. "Catch you later, Jake. Let's go, Margaret."

"Bye Jake." Margaret chuckled slightly as she let Hawkeye pull her down the hall.

"Bye you two." Jake laughed as he watched the young couple. Then with a sigh he said to himself. "Ah, to be young again." With that he turned and headed back to his office.