Margaret woke up to Hawkeye snoring in her ear. She nudged him firmly in the ribs with her elbow, trying to convey to him to move over. "Roll over," she groaned sleepily. He had been practically lying on top of her.

"Scalpel," he said suddenly, startled out of a deep sleep. In a confused state he looked around the room, vaguely remembering where he was. Hawkeye blinked a few times, focusing his eyes on the woman lying next to him. He grinned sleepily when her naked back came into focus. He rolled onto his side and spooned up behind her, kissing her shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

Margaret put her hand on his arm and rubbed it affectionately. "Morning."

"Mmm." He kissed whatever accessible skin was within immediate reach.

She was surprised at how soundly he had slept, literally. The only time she felt him move during the night was when he rolled off his back, onto her, and began snoring softly in her ear. It was quite a change from the fortnight of sleepless nights he had experienced prior to his trip.

"The fire went out," she said, squeezing his hand. The air was chilly; she could see that a fine layer of frost had formed on the outside of the adjacent window. Thankfully, his pressing body was deliriously warm.

"It's warm enough in here," he mumbled. The bedcovers created a warm pocket of body heat around them.

She turned over so they were lying face to face. A fine layer of rough stubble now cast a shadow over his once relatively smooth face. "How did you sleep?" She asked, pressing her chest against his and resting her cheek on his shoulder. Her arms moved around his waist.

He sighed contently. "I haven't slept so well in...well, I can't remember," he smiled. Everything about Margaret made him feel so relaxed and appeased.

Her hands moved up to stroke his lower back. "Was it good for you?" She grinned, referring to the previous night.

Hawkeye laughed loudly. "I can honestly say I haven't had better." That was probably half of the reason why he slept so good. He dipped his head and kissed her neck. "So, I'm going to go ahead and say we're officially together, right?"

"Right."

They didn't speak again for a long while. There just didn't seem to be the need. What words couldn't express, caressing and sensual touching imparted. Her hands moved up his chest, gliding over smooth muscles until they came to rest on either side of his face. She kissed him ardently, in which he responded by putting his hand on the back of her thigh and pulling her leg over his hip. He rolled her onto her back and fell into position over her.

Margaret bit her lip as she felt Hawkeye's erection against her thigh. She moved her hands down to his hips as he kissed and sucked on her neck. She was just about to slide her hand in between his legs when he gave a startling and pain stricken groan. Margaret looked up at his face, she hadn't even touched him yet.

"Hawkeye?" His eyes were closed tight and there was a look of agony on his face. He groaned again, this time louder. She moved her hand to his face. "Hawkeye, what's wrong?"

His body weight was beginning to weigh down on her. He moved his knee over her leg and collapsed onto the bed beside her. "Ahhhhhhhhh." Margaret pushed the sheets back. His left hand was gripping at his belly. Right where the...

"My bag," he choked out. "My pills are in my bag."

She knew exactly what he was talking about. That little brown bottle she'd found in glove compartment in California. Margaret leapt out of bed and dashed over to his bag. She got down on her knees and hastily opened it. She pushed his clothes around, but didn't see it on the bottom. Her impatience took over and she began tossing clothes onto the floor. Finally! It was resting in the corner under his shaving kit. She grabbed the bottle and jumped back onto the bed.

"How..." The bottle was shaking in her hand as she tried to unfasten the cap. "How many?"

His nails were digging into his flesh and knuckles were turning white. "Three," he said through gritted teeth.

She put three little white pills in the palm of his hand. "I'll go get you some water."

He tossed the pills into his mouth and swallowed them dry. When she came back he washed them down with half a glass of water. "Ohhh," he sighed and closed his eyes as he handed the glass back.

She set it on the bedside table and then laid down beside him. "Are you okay?" She asked him softly.

After a moment he nodded. "I'll be okay," he breathed. She didn't know what to do for him, other than to stay beside him and wait for it to pass. Eventually his grip loosened and his hand relaxed on his stomach. He let out a withheld breath and began to breathe normally. After a minute or so he opened his eyes and repeated, "I'm okay. It's okay."

She looked into his dark blue eyes. "What happened?" There was no way he was getting out of answering this time.

"It happens sometimes," he told her. "Comes on suddenly."

"What was it?" She asked in a serious tone.

"Ah, a spasm, phantom pain, nerve pain...whatever the hell you want to call it."

"From this?" She put her hand over his.

Hawkeye nodded.

"Tell me about it."