AN: So, this fic takes place after the episode 3x19, 'Aid Station'. I really liked that episode, for a number of reasons. But most of all, it had some really great Hawkeye/Margaret moments! Anyway, there is one line from that episode in here. It's the one about chivalry. Enjoy!

xXx

It was nighttime, and nearly everything was silent in the 4077th. All around the camp, people were asleep, exhausted from the day's work. In her tent, however, Major Margaret Houlihan could not sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, the explosions and crashing of walls she'd heard at the aid station would ring in her ears, and she'd be roused painfully back to wakefulness. Trying to sleep now reminded her of trying to sleep at the aid station. Having to lie down and close her eyes while she knew there was a high chance she could die at any given moment was terrifying. Trying to relax her body when she was so on edge was impossible.

Still, she'd been able to do it… with Hawkeye Pierce there.

He had calmed her. Maybe it was because he had been exhausted too, and hadn't been his usual wisecracking self. He'd been subdued, and honest, and had curled up next to her because he'd been just as terrified as she had.

"I want you to know chivalry isn't dead." he'd told her as he moved closer to her on the dusty ground. "It's just been replaced by exhaustion."

A smile had spread across her face, and with him there, with his soft breathing so close to her ear, she'd been able to sleep.

If only she had the same luxury now. She was back in the 4077th, which seemed like a five-star hotel compared to the aid station, and sleep should have come easy to her. Still, she was kept awake by the sounds of the blasts that had imprinted themselves inside her skull, ghosts that weren't really there.

Margaret had had enough.

She turned on her lamp and silently swung her legs over the side of her bed. The ground was cold under her bare feet. The Major pulled on her boots, and draped a blanket over her shoulders. Then she headed outside.

It was a rather cool night, which made Margaret glad that she'd brought her blanket with her. She pulled it tighter around her shoulders and walked slowly in the direction of the Swamp.

All of a sudden, a loud voice pierced the quiet night. "Halt! Who's there? Show yourselves!"

Margaret's heart leapt into her throat. It's the enemy! her mind screamed. "It-It's Major Margaret Houlihan!" she called out into the choking darkness.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Major!" A figure came into view. Behind the large gun they were holding, Margaret could just make out a long, pink petticoat.

"Corporal Klinger!" she exclaimed, her voice taut with relief.

"That's right, ma'am!" he said, grinning. "Sorry about that. I hope I didn't scare you."

"Nonsense." said Margaret.

"What are you doing out and about so late?" asked Klinger. "It isn't safe."

"I can't sleep. I'm going for a walk." she admitted. All of a sudden, she realized; he had been at the aid station too. "Corporal Klinger," she began slowly. "After being at the frontline... are you frightened to be out here by yourself?"

"I don't think I'm any more scared than usual." was Klinger's response. "After all, this is my job. The same war is going on here that's going on over at that aid station, it's just worse in some places."

"Right." Margaret nodded. It was a noble answer, but not a comforting one. She knew exactly who would give her the comfort she needed. "I'm going to continue my walk now. Goodnight, Corporal."

"Goodnight, Major. Be safe."

Margaret continued toward the Swamp. Once she arrived there, she quietly pushed open the door and squinted around in the dark. Trapper, Hawkeye, and Frank were all asleep, from what she could see. She went over to Hawkeye's bed. "Captain Pierce." she whispered.

No response. Frank had told her that he was a heavy sleeper. Gingerly, she took hold of one of the Captain's shoulders and shook him. "Captain Pierce, wake up."

"What're you doing, Trapper?" mumbled Hawkeye finally, still half-asleep. "Stop it. Nnngh."

"It isn't McIntyre, Captain Pierce."

"Then Frank, get off."

Margaret shook him again, more vigorously this time. "Captain Pierce, wake up."

"Fine, fine." He raised his head slightly, blinking groggily. "I'm awake. Who's there?"

Major Houlihan would roll easily off of her tongue. Instead, however, she said, "It's Margaret."

"Really?" Hawkeye asked, and gave a big yawn. "If you're looking for Frank, you're in the wrong bed."

Even in the dark, where he could not see her, Margaret pursed her lips. "I'm not looking for Major Burns." she replied stiffly. "I was looking for you, Captain."

"Well, I'm pretty tired now, but I'll try…"

"Captain."

"I'll probably still be better than Frank."

"Captain!" she hissed. "Be serious!"

"Okay." He yawned again. "What is it, Margaret?"

"I…" Now that she was actually talking to him, saying she couldn't sleep sounded childish and weak. Telling Klinger she couldn't sleep was just an answer to why she wasn't in bed; telling Hawkeye she couldn't sleep was not an answer to why she was in his tent at God knows when in the morning. Her stomach clenched.

"Something wrong?" asked Hawkeye.

"I can't sleep." Margaret blurted out. "I keep thinking of being at that aid station. All of the bombs, and casualties… I just can't sleep."

Hawkeye was silent for a few moments, and unable to see his facial expression in the dark, Margaret wondered helplessly what he was thinking. Was he going to laugh at her?

Finally, he answered. "Come on in."

"What?"

"Come into the bed. You can sleep here. No funny business, I swear."

She opened her mouth to tell him how inappropriate that was, but no words came out. Was it inappropriate? They'd slept together at the aid station. And for some reason, she believed him when he said no funny business would go on. She trusted him.

"Okay." whispered Margaret. She pulled back the blankets and climbed carefully into Hawkeye's bed. He was warm against her back, and smelled like soap and gin. She dragged the blankets back up over both of them, and he curled around her with a sigh. Margaret could feel his breath on the back of her neck. It sent a shiver down her spine.

"Is this better?" he asked softly.

"Yes." she breathed. Her heart was beginning to slow back down to a steady pace, her body beginning to relax. "Thank you, Captain Pierce."

"It's nothing. But… what is Frank going to say when he wakes up and sees us like this?"

Margaret hadn't thought about that. In fact, she hadn't thought of Frank for a while. "I'll tell him I thought this was his bed."

"Okay, that sounds good. Now, can we go to sleep?"

"Yes. Goodnight, Captain Pierce."

"Goodnight, Margaret."

It didn't take her long to fall asleep, not with him there. There could be bombs dropping outside the tent. There could be snipers sitting all around the camp. But as long as Margaret was with Hawkeye, she felt safe.

end