A tragedy interferes in the lives of Harm and Mac, and it's the beginning of something they thought was long lost...
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Page 2
Rating: IM15
Classification: Harm & Mac / Friendship / Romance / Humor
Spoilers: Everything up to the season six episode `Lifeline' (and let's pretend that the date of the airing was the actual date for the engagement party. Airdate was May 08 2001). The rest of the JAG era never happened in this story…
Disclaimer: JAG and its characters are the property of Bellisario Productions, CBS, and Paramount.
Beta-read: Big thanks to my beta reader cbw and Kathy for their help.
You girls are amazing!!! Any mistakes left are mine.
A/N: This is the first chapter of my newest JAG series. After writing `Till Death Does Us Part' I promised myself to never ever do something like that again. But then I started to write this story and it somehow got out of control LOL. Therefore, I decided to go for it… again… and write another multi-chapter-story *sigh* I love torturing myself LOLOL.
Anyway, this means that this chapter is just the beginning and won't answer all the questions right away. Hope you don't mind :-)
*
May 11, 2001
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
4:43 PM
"Hey," Harm softly said as he stood patiently in the doorway of Mac's office.
She was so pre-occupied with the papers and law books, which were spread out all over her desk that she hadn't realized he was standing there. He just stood there, intently watching her in admiration and enjoying the view before he spoke. In the past, she would have known he was there long before he had ever spoken. In the past, their relationship was such that she always knew when he was near. Only now that he made his presence known did she react and look up from her work.
"Hey yourself."
"By chance, do you have a minute or two for me, or are you too busy right now?" he asked, pointing at the huge pile of files in front of her. "Looks like a hurricane blew through here, leaving you with all the debris."
"Yeah, and it was called Admiral Chegwidden," she replied and they both laughed. Mac shyly smiled at him, putting down her pen before pointing to one of her visitor chairs. "Anyway, for you I always have time. Come on in," she said gently and waved him in before threading her fingers together in front of her as she leaned against her desk.
"What can I do for you?"
"Thanks," Harm replied with a little smile of his own as he took a seat on Mac's visitor chair with a sigh. "Umm… there's a little problem I have," he started to explain, trying to find the right words.
Mac began to worry immediately upon hearing the nervousness in his voice. She tried to read the look in his eyes, but to no avail. She was anxious and started to pace around her office, needing to know what was going on. He seemed out of sorts. "What's wrong, Harm? Are you okay?"
Harm immediately gave her a boyish looking grin and nodded when he heard the worry in her voice. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry, Mac," he reassured her while running his hand through his hair. "I just have a little scheduling problem after finding out that court will go a bit
longer today than actually planned."
Mac looked at him with a raised eyebrow and frowned. "What kind of scheduling problem? Is it something I can help out with?"
"Yes... No… I'm not sure," Harm started to stammer.
Mac chuckled and shook her head in amusement. "Now that covers it."
"Yeah, sorry," Harm apologized with a chuckle of his own, getting up from the chair. "You know what, never mind. I bet you already have plans with Mic and probably wanted to leave soon," he said, slowly making his way to the door. "Just forget I asked, okay? It was a stupid idea anyway."
Mac couldn't help but wonder why asking a favor of her was so hard for him. It never used to be.
Feeling a bit foolish and wondering what on earth had possessed him, he was quickly making his way out of her office.
"Harm, wait," Mac called, moving closer to him as he turned around to look back at her. "Yes, I was planning on leaving soon, but I could easily change that. And no, I don't have any plans with Mic…. He's actually…," she started to explain quietly, but suddenly stopped and broke their eye-contact.
Harm could feel that something wasn't quite right here. "Mac? What's wrong? He's what?"
She shook her head. "He's out of town," she simply said, unable to say more. `It shouldn't be like this,' she thought and felt a wave of sadness crushing her heart. `It shouldn't be like this at all.' She had always been able to tell him everything. `How had things changed so drastically?' she wondered.
Harm knew there was more behind her words, but he also sensed that she felt uncomfortable to talk with him about her fiancé, and was sure that their little tête-à-tête on the Admiral's porch at her engagement party two days ago was the reason for it. This knowledge made him sad.
`It shouldn't be like this. It shouldn't be like this at all.'
He gave her a smile and nodded, letting it go for now.
Mac shook off the gloomy feeling and looked back up into Harm's eyes.
"Anyway, whatever I can help you with, I'm free. So, what's this scheduling problem of yours about?"
Harm took a deep breath and once more let his hand run through his hair. "It's about my grandmother."
"She's okay, isn't she?" Mac promptly asked as the feeling of worry came back again.
"Yes, she's doing just fine. She's actually on her way to Washington as we speak and that's where my problem lies."
"Okay. I'm glad to hear that. I was worried there for a minute." Mac exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding and felt relief that Harm's grandmother was doing okay. That's when the light dawned.
"I think I understand. You were planning on getting her from the airport but you won't be able to go due to the change in court. Am I correct?"
"Yup, you are. I actually think that Commander Helfman and Lieutenant Singer somehow found out about my plans and had fun plotting against me," Harm told her with a snicker.
Mac joined him in his laughter and as soon as they calmed down, she placed her hand on his arm squeezing it softly. However, as soon as she realized what she was doing, she quickly pulled her hand away as if it had been scorched. Harm was very aware of her actions, and wondered what was making her so ill at ease around him all of a sudden.
Her eyes detected movement out in the bullpen and saw that Lieutenant Singer was coming suspiciously closer to them.
Mac cleared her throat. "Do you want me to pick your Grandma up from the airport?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to ask you about," Harm quietly admitted, letting his eyes follow the lieutenant while she walked pass them. Her curiosity about what was going on between the Colonel and the Commander was quite obvious in the way she tried to discreetly walk past them. Then he turned his attention back to Mac. "But like I said, it was a stupid idea. Besides, I don't have the right to ask you for a favor like this anyway. Just forget I asked, Mac."
"No, I won't forget you asked, and I told you that I want to help if I can," Mac tenderly responded and gave him another little smile. She momentarily wondered why he hadn't asked Renee, but figured that the video princess was otherwise engaged. "When does she arrive?"
"At six fifteen. Gate seven."
"Good, that shouldn't be a problem then. Even with the traffic at this time of day I should make it in time," Mac concluded after checking the human clock of hers. "But there's still a little problem to think about," she continued and slightly touched her chin with her forefinger, thinking about a solution for it.
"That would be how to recognize each other in the `No Pain, No Gain'
also known as Dulles Airport, since you don't know each other?" Harm queried jokingly.
"Nah, I think we can handle these `rules of engagement'. I'll just have her paged. No, the problem is that my car is in the body shop and I took a cab to work this morning."
Harm laughed and shook his head. "Somehow I doubt my grandmother would have liked sitting in a corvette anyway. Not to mention getting in and out of it," Harm told her with a wink. "You can take my SUV and I'll grab a cab later."
Mac nodded her head and smiled. "That would work. Okay, then I'll pick her up."
Before Harm could respond, there was a knock and both looked to the doorway of Mac's office. "I'm sorry, Sir, Ma'am. Commander, it's time to get back," Lieutenant Roberts said as Lieutenant Singer was already making her way back to the courtroom.
Harm looked at Bud and gave him a nod. "I'm coming, Bud," he told the young lieutenant and then looked back at Mac. "Can you get the car keys from my office? They're in the lower drawer of my desk," Harm explained to her and slowly walked away from her to follow Bud to the elevator.
"Sure. No problem."
"Thanks, Mac. I owe you one. Hey, why don't you join my grandmother and me for dinner tonight? I could bring you home afterwards," Harm said as he stood at the doorway of the bullpen.
Mac smiled and nodded. "I would love to. I'll see you later and good luck in court."
"Thanks, but I don't need luck, Colonel. It's just a question of knowledge," he countered jokingly, trying to sound cocky while giving
her one of his best flyboy grins punctuating his confidence.
Mac just laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, just keep telling yourself that, Commander. `till later," she said while making her way to Harm's office.
"See ya, Marine," Harm replied softly before quickly making his way to Bud, who was already standing in the waiting elevator.
Both had the same thoughts on their minds while going separate ways, hoping that one day they could get back a part of their banter and the friendship that once was the main stay of their relationship. Ever since Mic and Renee had appeared in their lives, their camaraderie lowly disappeared, replaced by tension and awkwardness.
Both were saddened and frustrated about it, but they just couldn't
come up with a way to overcome it and get back on track.
Mac sighed, walked into Harm's office, opened the lower drawer of his desk, and found his car keys immediately. She took them out and while closing the drawer, her eyes were drawn to something else.
She knew she should just close the drawer again and get out of Harm's office, but her curiosity got the better of her. This simple, white piece of paper with her name, a date and one and a half sentences on it caught her interest and she just couldn't walk away.
"What, Harm?" She sadly asked out loud after reading the one sentence over and over again, her answer being the dead silence of the room.
With a last look at the letter she closed the drawer before leaving his office. Then she walked painstakingly back into her own, packed up her briefcase before turning off the lights to leave the office for the weekend, wondering what these few words were about. Words he'd written on the day of her engagement party, words written before or after their fateful encounter. Oh Harm….
`Dear Sarah,
There's so much I have to tell you. So much I want…'
*
May 11, 2001
Washington Dulles International Airport
Sterling, Virginia
Gate Seven
6:32 PM
Frustrated, she let her fingertips tap on the steering wheel in perfect accord to the loud rock music that was blaring out of the radio. “Ooohhh, what the heck.” Mac quickly stepped on the brake and jerked the steering wheel sharply to park the SUV in the first available spot, which happened to be in the VIP section. “You gotta do, whatcha gotta do,” she murmured to herself and with a sigh turned off the radio.
She knew parking here was going to cost her an arm and a leg. But at this point she had no choice, and more importantly, she didn’t care since it was closer to the entrance. Normally she would have parked in the central parking area, but she was late and needed to get into the airport in a hurry. Besides, she was sure Grandma Sarah was worth it.
Shortly after she left headquarters it had started to rain and traffic had been horrible right from the start. Then she encountered a three-car-accident on the beltway and everyone came to a complete stop for exactly twenty-one minutes and forty-nine seconds, according to Mac’s inner clock. It wasn’t long before it became clear that she was going to be late to meet Grandma Sarah’s flight and Mac prayed that she’d get lucky and the flight would be running late due to the inclement weather.
She was hoping to make a good impression on Harm’s grandma, who she was meeting for the first time. “So much for that idea now,” Mac hissed and snatched her purse from the passenger seat. She then jumped out of the car and ran through the pouring rain to the entrance of the airport terminal to make her way to gate seven.
*
Grams flight from Philadelphia International Airport had arrived without incident at Dulles on schedule. She had disembarked and immediately started looking around for her grandson. His 6’4” frame was always easy to spot, and Harm was always waiting anxiously for her whenever she came for a visit.
But this time there was no Harm. Feeling a little nervous, Grams decided to sit down and wait, hoping that everything was all right.
*
A drenched and frantic Mac ran into the airport, looking up at the arrival notices and after finding the right flight, she discovered that Grams flight had already landed. “Damn…,” she muttered to herself. She removed her wet cover, shook it, and fitfully proceeded to gate seven, only to find a few people scattered about.
‘Okay, calm down, Marine,’ she thought, taking a deep breath and exhaling quickly. ‘She still has to be here somewhere.’ Mac came up with a plan. Her eyes darted around the area, looking to spot a courtesy phone.
*
In the meantime, Grams was also looking eagerly around, hoping to spot Harm the minute he walked in. Suddenly her eyes fell upon a woman who appeared to be a bit frazzled and in a bit of a hurry. Upon closer inspection, Mrs. Rabb observed that the woman was in the military and very attractive with her chestnut brown hair and beautiful chocolate brown eyes, which she could clearly see as the woman came to a stop right next to the row of seats she sat on.
Grandma Sarah took a minute to focus on the female marine and knew exactly who this young woman was. She inhaled deeply, stood gently collecting her handbag, and quietly made her way over to where Mac was standing.
*
Mac had just spotted a phone when she felt someone tap her softly on the shoulder.
“Sarah?”
Turning around quickly, Mac found herself looking into the warmest eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that appeared very familiar to her.
“Excuse me?” Mac replied in surprise.
“You are Sarah Mackenzie, aren’t you?”
“Yeees,” Mac answered in wonder and that’s when it suddenly dawned on her. ‘Those eyes,’ she thought. Yup, they indeed were very familiar to her. “Mmmrrrsss… Rabb?”
“Yes, dear,” Mrs. Rabb answered softly and smiled. “But you must call me Grams, please. ‘Mrs. Rabb’ makes me feel even older than I am.”
“How…?”
“How did I know it was you?”
“Yeah…,” Mac said and chuckled at herself. Here she was… an accomplished lawyer and very much at a loss for words.
“Well, dear, I recognized you.”
“Recognized me?” Mac shook her head puzzled. “Now I’m very confused.”
“Let’s sit down a minute, dear. You appear to be a bit shaken,” Grandma said and smiled, leading Mac to a row of seats. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, no, you didn’t,” Mac said quickly. “Well… maybe you did just a little,” she said, smiling at the lovely gray haired woman sitting next to her. It was very obvious where Harm got so much of his charm and most of all, his beautiful smile.
“If you are not in too much of a hurry, I would like to take a minute or two and just get acquainted before we rush off, if that is okay with you,” Grams proceeded to say.
Mac had just met this woman, but she adored her already.
“Okay, first of all, welcome to Washington. Harm was unable to pick you up due to a late day in court… so he asked me to do the honors,” Mac explained. “I was just about to page you when you tapped me on the shoulder. But now I’m curious. How did you know me?” Mac asked. “How were you able to recognize me?”
Grandma Sarah smiled warmly at Mac. “From your pictures of course.”
“My pictures?” Mac hesitated.
“Yes, dear, your pictures. Even though you weren’t wearing your uniform when they were taken, I would know you anywhere. They were pictures taken at your godson’s christening. You and my grandson appeared to be so happy in them.”
“Oh. I see,” Mac responded and was a little taken aback by this news. “I didn’t realize Harm had showed those pictures to his family.”
“Of course he did.” Grams patted Mac’s arm gently and smiled appreciatively before she continued. “Harm was very happy to be appointed as AJ’s godfather and it appeared he was just as thrilled to have you named as his godmother. I think to him it was a way for the two of you to always stay connected.”
Grams knew Harm would definitely have something to say about her openness with this woman, but heck… she had always been able to handle him, and this time would be no different.
Grams then looked admiringly at Mac, hoping she wasn’t making her feel too uncomfortable and continued. “You are very beautiful, Sarah, both in and out of your uniform.”
Mac blushed a bright red, especially at the possibility that this woman was thinking that Harm had seen her ‘out of uniform’ so to speak. ‘How much does this woman know about me?’ Mac wondered. ‘What has Harm said or not said about me to this lovely woman.’
One thing was for sure. She now knew why Harm completely adored his Grandma Sarah. She was definitely easy to like. Mac was quite taken with Grams and was looking forward to spending some time with her.
By the same token, Grams was definitely impressed with this woman sitting next to her and knew why her grandson talked so highly of his partner. ‘Uuummm…,’ she thought. ‘… partner… oh my… I think there is much more going on here than meets the eye,’ Grandma Sarah mused, smiling warmly.
Mac had been a little surprised, but recovered quickly. “Shall we go get your luggage Mrs. R… ah… I mean Grams?” Mac asked, standing up and holding out her hand for the elderly woman to grasp.
“Yes dear, lets.”
As they walked off to the baggage claim, Grams gently reached for Mac’s arm and held on to her elbow as they walked. Even though she had only known this woman for a mere fifteen minutes, she knew she was definitely special.
As they walked off together arm in arm and given the nature of the conversation that they just had, both were thinking that even though their paths had only just crossed, it seemed as though they had known each other forever.
*
The luggage had been retrieved and they were on their way out of the airport when Mac’s cell phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, Mac smiled. “MacKenzie here,” she bellowed.
“Rabb here,” he countered right away and immediately began to nervously bombard her with questions.
“Yes, Harm, everything is fine… just a little wet… It’s raining, Harm… Honestly, do you ever come up for air, Flyboy? … Grams and I are on our way back to your place as we speak. Oh… and by the way… you and I have a little talking to do… Uh, uh, not now… later, Sailor… Bye.” Mac chuckled, knowing she had just hung up on one very confused flyboy.
Grams smiled as she listened to the jovial exchange between Sarah and her grandson on the other end of the line, and she knew for sure that they shared something very special. She was determined to find out what it was. Although if her instincts were right, and they always were, she already knew what that something was.
Mac was lost in thought and hadn’t noticed the satisfying smile Gram was displaying. After her phone conversation with Harm, she realized how much she had missed their light-hearted banter and hoped that maybe with Grams around as a buffer, they could get some of their lost friendship back.
*
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station, DC
8:25 PM
‘Finally,’ Mac thought as she turned the car into the parking lot of Harm’s apartment building. Steering the SUV into Harm’s usual parking spot, Mac switched off the car and took the keys out of the ignition with a sigh. “Here we are, Grams,” she said, looking over at the elderly woman right next to her, giving her a smile.
“Now I remember why I love my farm so much,” Sarah Rabb said, shaking her head in disbelief. “Washington is worse than a zoo,” she added jokingly, referring to the nerve-racking traffic they had weaved their way through on the drive from the airport.
Mac nodded her head laughing. “I can only imagine,” she said and softly added, “I so envy you, Grams.”
And it was true. Mac really envied her and the quality of life she enjoyed living on the farm. She hoped one day to savor the same sort of peace and tranquility herself somewhere out of the city, once the military was no longer ruling her life.
Mac looked out the front windshield and up to Harm’s apartment. The lights were glowing in the windows, which meant Harm was already home and most likely sitting on pins and needles while waiting for them to get there. “Well we better hurry up before your grandson has a nervous breakdown,” Mac kidded, reaching for her purse from the backseat before jumping out of the car.
Mac and Grams had spent the drive chit-chatting about everything and nothing. At first, both were hesitant about getting too personal. Grams, of course, was waiting for the right moment, and Mac was simply being cautious. However, the longer the ride took, the more relaxed they became with each other, and their conversation took a more natural tone with only the hint of a barrier remaining.
“Good idea,” Grandma Sarah said, laughing as she proceeded to get out of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Mac retrieved Gram’s suitcases out of the back, and quickly scooted around to see if Gram needed any assistance.
*
Harm had seen them pull up and was waiting eagerly by the elevator when it finally reached his floor. “Grams,” he happily greeted his grandmother and grabbed her in a big bear hug, lifting her up off her feet. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Harmon Rabb Junior, put me down this instant! And that’s an order!” Sarah Rabb squealed and proceeded to laugh outright. She was totally overjoyed about finally seeing her grandson again. It had been way too long since their last visit.
Mac watched the loving exchange from a few feet away. She chewed on her lower lip, her hands folded in front of her while wistfully thinking ‘this is what real family looks like.’
Harm sensed her unease at the affectionate display, and wanting her to be a part of what was going on, he effusively gave her a quick hug as well. “Thanks for getting Grams here safe and sound, Mac.”
He had totally surprised Mac with this demonstrative move and she giggled, feeling a little embarrassed but loving every minute of it. “Harm! You heard your grandmother. Put me down, you big goof.” Her body tingled wildly from his touch while her brain was frantically screaming, ‘get a grip, Marine… don’t even go there… have you forgotten the video princess?’
Harm laughed, giving her a gentle squeeze. He couldn’t resist the urge to deeply inhale the sweet and very unique scent that was Sarah MacKenzie before putting her gently down on her feet. He was somewhat reluctant to let go of her. “Okay, you two, come on in. The lasagna is ready and waiting for you.”
Harm had also been extremely affected by the hug, her scent, and the way her body had fit so perfectly to his. His heart was pounding erratically as his brain was searching for coherence. ‘Calm down, Rabb… have you lost your mind?… She’s with the obnoxious Aussie, remember?’
“Oohhh, food. Now you’re talking my language, Sailor,” Mac replied as she regained her composure, following Harm and his grandmother into the apartment. She was glad she could distract herself with food and maybe ease her self-consciousness.
“Are you ever not hungry, Marine?” Harm snickered.
“Watch it, Flyboy, or I won’t do the dishes,” Mac replied, playfully shaking her index finger at him.
“Oooooh, what a shame. Then I guess I’ll have to put the dishes into the dishwasher all by myself this evening,” Harm countered and gave Mac a playful slap on her head. “Do you think I can handle it, Jarhead?”
Before Mac was able to say or do anything, it was Grandma Sarah who spoke up. “Kids, behave!” she ordered, and with a happy sigh sat down on her grandson’s couch. ‘This is really going to be fun,’ she mused after witnessing their playful bantering, unable to suppress the smirk that crept over her face… ’oh so much fun indeed.’
*
The evening continued with a scrumptious dinner and wonderful conversation. Grams loved teasing Harm and enjoyed telling Mac several stories about when he was just a toddler. More than once Harm tried to change the subject, but neither his grandmother nor Mac would hear of it. Mac really did love seeing him squirm under the scrutiny, and as the childhood stories unfolded, neither knew what funny tale or calamity Grams was going to divulge next.
The most poignant one had nothing to do with his childhood and was when Grams told Harm how she was able to recognize Mac at the airport. Her exact words being, “you were right, Harmon, those pictures really didn’t do her justice; she IS absolutely breath-taking.”
At that comment, Harm’s eyes grew wide as he raised his eyebrows in complete shock and turned a bright red. He immediately lowered his head and began to study the carpet, wanting it to swallow him up. For once, he was speechless and his grandmother laughed joyfully. ‘Ah…,’ she thought to herself. ‘…gotcha!’
Mac became anxious, wanting to release the tension in the air not only for the perplexed looking Harm, but for herself as well. She announced that it was getting late and she should be getting home so that Gram’s could get some rest. Then there was Jingo, who still needed to be picked up from her next-door-neighbor. Harm agreed readily, wanting to lighten the mood, even though the thought of her leaving had him missing her already.
“Grams, it was great to finally meet you,” Mac said and gave Harm’s grandmother a lovely hug. “I’m sure you’ll have a great time here in Washington.”
“Thanks, dear, and it certainly was wonderful to finally get to meet you… at long last, I don’t mind adding,” Sarah Rabb replied. She gave her grandson a little wink and received a timid, boyish looking grin from Harm in response. “And I’m sure we’ll see each other again before I have to leave Washington for home, right Harm?”
“Absolutely,” Harm immediately agreed as the women let go of each other, and he and Mac made their way to the apartment door.
He loved seeing his two Sarahs enjoying each other’s company, and knew he wanted to share more time with both of them. ‘MY TWO Sarahs…, where is that coming from,’ he mused, but deep down he knew exactly where - his overflowing heart.
“Great, I can’t wait,” Grandma Sarah said and smiled. “Hey, you know what, Harmon. Why don’t we invite Sarah for dinner tomorrow? We could make our Rabb special. What do you think?”
“That’s a wonderful idea and it works for me, Grams,” Harm instantly said, turning his eyes longingly towards Mac and got close enough so that he all but whispered in her ear, “If you don’t have any plans, that is… with Mic or… I mean, with the planning of the upcoming wedding….”
“I would love to come,” Mac quickly jumped in, trying to put some space between them as they both smiled shyly. They avoided looking at each other, feeling a little unsettled as the electricity they had just generated was now mingling with the tension-loaded air around them.
“Good, good,” Grandma Sarah chanted, enjoying the crackling atmosphere surrounding her. “Then it’s settled. We will see each other tomorrow, Sarah.”
“Yeah, we will. Bye for now,” Mac replied, and together with Harm she walked to the already waiting elevator, leaving a scheming Sarah Rabb smiling behind them.
“’We’re just friends’ my cute, little old… derriere,” Harm’s grandmother murmured, laughing aloud into the otherwise silent room and then shook her head, wondering what was keeping those two apart.
‘We’re just friends’. Those were the exact same words her grandson would always repeat to her every time she would ask him about his ‘other’ Sarah. Now she knew why she hesitated to believe him. All she had to do was watch him watching her and vice versa and it was all so obvious. She sincerely hoped that they would wake up sooner rather than later and realize what has been right in front of them all along; and she was prepared to do everything in her power to make it happen.
*
Mac’s Apartment Building
Georgetown, DC
10:51 PM
“Here we are,” Harm announced softly as he drove the SUV into the parking lot of Mac’s apartment building and tried to find a spot near the entrance door since it was still pouring rain.
The drive was spent mostly in silence, with both were deep in thought while listening to the soft music that was filtering out of the radio.
Unbeknownst to them, both their thoughts were riveted on the same very special occasion - Mac’s engagement party. They had spent most of the evening together on the Admiral’s porch, reminiscing about their partnership at JAG and the many ups and downs they had encountered along the way. It was on that very porch that they shared the most touching, bittersweet moment of their so-called relationship while their significant others waited and wondered, not so patiently, inside.
“Thank you, Harm,” Mac quietly replied, giving him a sleepy smile. “But really, I could have taken a cab. There was no need for you to bring me home.”
“Of course there was. It’s the least I could do after you helped me this afternoon with my grandmother.”
“I’m just glad I was able to help. It was wonderful to finally meet her in person and now I know from personal experience why she is so special to you. She’s a very unique person who makes herself very easy to love and adore.”
Harm gave her a soft smile and nodded. “That she is,” he said quietly before whispering, “you remind me a lot of her, Mac.”
As soon as the words had left his mouth, silence once again claimed the car before Mac cleared her throat nervously and slowly unbuckled herself. “Well, I better let you go now. It’s already pretty late,” she said softly, giving him a little smile.
“Yeah, it is,” Harm agreed. “But definitely not too late.”
Mac simply nodded. “Good night, Harm,” she said and unintentionally started leaning forward slowly.
“Good night, Mac,” Harm replied huskily, and when he saw her movement, he too leaned forward.
Their lips were barely touching and as soon as Mac realized what she was doing, she quickly pulled away, hastily opening the door of the car. “I… I’m… I’m sorry… Good night.”
Before she was able to jump out of the car, Harm’s hand shot out, reached over the console and held on to Mac’s arm. “Mac?”
“Harm, please don’t,” she begged, looking everywhere but into his all-consuming eyes.
“Sarah, what’s wrong? Something is bothering you. I could see it in your eyes all evening. Please tell me.”
At hearing the sound of her given name coming from Harm, Mac closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, barely able to hold back her tears. She could so easily get lost in him, but she didn’t have the right to. “I can’t, not now. Please understand, Harm. It’s late… and… and I just can’t right now.”
Harm nodded, understanding only too well how confusing all this was. “Okay, but please know I’m always here for you.”
“I know, Harm. Believe me, I know.”
He couldn’t stop himself and once more leaned in, giving her a short but sweet kiss on her soft lips. “Good night, Sarah. Sweet dreams.”
Mac licked her lips, savoring his touch as a tear slowly ran down her cheek. “Good night, Harm. Be careful,” she said and quickly left the car, starting to run through the rain to the entrance of the apartment building.
With a sigh, Harm started the car and slowly made his way to the exit of the parking lot. He couldn’t resist looking into the rearview mirror and seeing Mac standing a few feet away from the entrance, searching through her purse obviously trying to find her key.
That’s when it happened - and for Harm it was as if everything was happening in slow motion.
“NOOOOO!”
*
Harm watched from the mirror as the building burst into flames. Terrified, he saw Mac, who was unable to react at all, being thrown a few feet backwards from the force of the explosion. She fell to the ground with her head slamming hard against the pavement.
After that, she was totally obscured from his sight as the flames and smoke filled the night sky and burning debris flew through the air.
“Sarah!” Harm screamed, quickly jumping from the car and running towards Mac. That’s when another much smaller explosion occurred. The ground shook but it didn’t impede his speed as he continued running towards her.
He didn’t think, didn’t breath, he just moved as fast as he could… “Maaaaccccc!”
The ground continued to shake from yet another blast. What was happening here?
Harm had a good idea where she might be because he had seen her body being propelled through the air by the force of the blast. He couldn’t see much through the dense smoke and had to depend on his instinct and their unusual connection to guide him to her. Not caring about the intense heat from the inferno surrounding him or the fact that the acrid smoke was choking him as the hot flying debris was settling everywhere; he kept going until his foot came in contact with something soft.
“Mac,” he choked, as he dropped to the ground, picking her up to cradle her in his arms, rocking her limp body gently while the tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
“We have to get you out of here,” Harm yelled, trying to be heard above the loud noises around them. He didn’t know how badly she was injured or if she should be moved. Heck, he didn’t even know if she was still alive, but Harm knew he had to get her away from the debris that was still falling and from the building that was completely compromised and in danger of collapsing. “I’ll get you out of here, Sarah. I promise,” he cried.
With all the strength he could muster, he raised himself from his knees, cradling the unconscious Mac in his arms, attempting to put some distance between him and the blazing fireball that was once her apartment building.
After a few feet he fell to his knees again and continued to cradle her in his arms while he tried to get his cell phone out of his pocket. Frantically he dialed 911, never taking his eyes off Mac. “I need help,” Harm cried into the phone as soon as the operator picked up, giving them the address and telling them what had happened. “Please… please hurry... she… she’s hurt bad… not moving.”
When he finished the call, he shut off his phone and looked down at Mac’s prone body. He delicately removed the bangs that had fallen into her eyes, and softly rubbed his thumb across her soot-stained cheek, looking for a sign of life in her face. He then took a deep breath, before he dared to move his shaking finger to her pulse for the first time.
He exhaled heavily in relief when he found a pulse even though it was weak; she was still alive! Closing his eyes, he offered a somber prayer to the heavens and then placed a desperate kiss onto Mac’s forehead. “Come on, Marine… stay with me here… I need you… you have to keep fighting! Please, Sweetheart,” he begged.
He could now hear the wail of the sirens in the distance. They would be there soon. “Help is almost here, Mac. Please keep on fighting… suck it up, Marine… you can’t quit now. I won’t let you… pleeeaase God help her.”
*
Saturday
May 12, 2001
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, Maryland
3:02 AM
‘What was taking so long dammit?’
Harm was at the breaking point. He was beyond scared and totally exhausted, but he didn’t dare close his eyes because every time he did, the same vision kept haunting him. It was a picture of Mac flying through the air like a rag doll while everything around her exploded in a ball of fire. So there he sat alone in the sterile family room, waiting and praying. He still couldn’t believe what had happened just a few hours ago.
‘What really did happen anyway?’
It was one of the many questions running through his mind over and over. For now, the solution to that question could wait. Right now he just wanted one answer; he desperately needed to know how his partner and best friend was doing.
Is that all she was, his partner and best friend? If he was truly honest with himself, he knew she was so much more. That night on the Admiral’s porch proved that. He needed answers… dammit.
The nurses tried several times to make him go home for some much needed sleep and a nice warm shower to wash away the soot and dirt that he was covered in. But nothing, absolutely nothing, could drag him away from this place. He wasn’t going anywhere until he knew exactly what was going on with Mac and he would stay right here with her for as long as he possibly could.
Nobody seemed to be able to tell him anything. Every time he asked, he got the same unsatisfying answer. ‘We’re sorry, Commander Rabb. There is no news yet, but I’m sure the doctor will tell you as soon as possible.’
‘But when? What was taking them so long? Was she still alive?’ He ran his unsteady fingers through his rumpled hair as he contemplated the thoughts running through his head.
“No,” Harm muttered to himself as he impatiently paced around the waiting room. “No, don’t go there. Of course she’s still alive. Mac’s a fighter and she won’t leave.” His eyes wandered to the entrance of the ICU, hoping the door would finally be pushed open from the inside, and someone would be able to tell him something. ‘No, she hasn’t left me. Her heart is still beating. I would feel it if she were gone. Yes, she is still here and fighting like the strong, kick-ass marine she is.’
Harm sighed and took a sip of the already cold coffee he was holding in his shaking hands. It left a bitter taste in his mouth and he prayed it would stay in his stomach. How long had he been waiting, anyway? The question brought a little smile to his face. “Mac would know the answer,” he said aloud. “She could even tell me the seconds.” He loved to tease her about that internal clock of hers, and chastised himself for thinking that now he might never find out how she did it.
His gaze moved from the entrance of the ICU door to the telephone a few feet away from where he was now sitting. Harm was still struggling with himself about who he should call and when. He knew it was still the middle of the night and quite frankly, why wake them up? So that they could come, sit here and wait for news too? He knew he had to call the Admiral, Bud and Harriet, and of course his grandmother. Oh yeah, and then there was Mic. Yeah, he had to tell Mic what happened. But how? Mac said he was out of town. Oh well.
‘I can’t worry about that now,’ he decided. ‘No, I’ll let everyone sleep for now. They’ll find out soon enough anyway. I just have to make sure that I tell them before they hear it on the early news or read about it in the morning newspaper,’ Harm thought, resting his head against the back of the chair while he rubbed his tired eyes. He remembered how wonderful the evening had been, spending time with his grandmother and a very happy Mac.
“Commander Rabb?” a female voice asked, bringing Harm out of his reverie.
His head quickly shot up to see a weary looking doctor. Harm promptly stood up and gave the extremely young-looking doctor a nod. “Yeah. How is she? Is she okay?”
“Yes, Commander, she’s doing very well considering what happened. The Colonel is quite a fighter and one lucky lady.”
Harm sighed in relief and closed his eyes for a second, fighting back the onslaught of tears that had been threatening to fall. His fears had completely overwhelmed him. “So tell me, Major, will she really be okay?”
The doctor saw that Harm was slightly disoriented and weaving a little bit. She gently took his arm to lead him back to the chairs behind them. “Yes, she really is doing fine, Commander. You, I’m afraid, are not. Perhaps we should have somebody take a look at you. Have you gotten any rest?”
“This is not about me… please tell me about Mac, doctor,” Harm pleaded.
“Very well, Commander. Some injuries may take more time to heal than others, but with a lot of TLC and rest, she shouldn’t take long to mend. The only uncertainty we have right now is the injury to her eyes.”
“What’s wrong with her eyes?” Harm asked fearfully.
“It’s called flash blindness, a blindness caused by a sudden flash of brilliant light. It could be a flash that lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes. For example, the bright flash from a camera can be considered a cause of temporary flash blindness. The bright light overwhelms the eye and then gradually fades. A bright spot or spots may be seen for several minutes afterwards.”
“Like when you’re looking straight into the sun,” Harm countered. “I’m an aviator and have also been trained to adjust to bright lightning flashes that occur nearby when flying.”
“Yes, that’s exactly right, Commander. The reason the Colonel was hit with the full force of flash blindness is because it was already dark outside, and the Colonel’s pupils had adapted themselves to the darkness and were wide open. That enabled the bright light from the explosion to have a greater effect than it would have had during the daylight when the eye’s pupil constricts and would have reduced the amount of light entering after a flash. The fact that she was totally unprepared for the explosion and was standing so close to the building when it happened did not help the situation either. You see, Commander, the flash blindness is caused by the bleaching of the retinal pigment and as soon as the pigment returns to normal, hopefully her sight will return.”
“Hopefully?” Harm tensed. “What do you mean ‘hopefully’? So you’re telling me that the blindness could be permanent and not just temporary?”
“I want to be honest here, Commander. Yes, the risk is always there. Flash blindness can be hazardous. Because the vision loss is sudden, it can take time to recover. If the intensity is great enough, a permanent retinal burn will result.”
“Oh, my God,” Harm whispered, closing his eyes and raking his hands over his unshaven face in disbelief. How could this be happening?
“Commander, please calm down and let me try and put your mind at ease. The chances for permanent blindness, in my honest opinion, are slim. It is my job to inform you about every possible scenario, good and bad. I tell you what may or may not happen so that you will be properly advised and prepared. We have bandaged the Colonel’s eyes as a precaution. It’s possible that she already has her eye sight back, or at least will have it in a day or two.”
“Good… that’s good,” Harm said, pinching the bridge of his nose before taking a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, trying to get himself under control again. Harm was momentarily transported back to his own eye problems when he had been diagnosed with night blindness after his crash and the affect it had on him. Shaking his head from the memory, he returned to the present. “What about her other injuries? You said some may take more time to heal than others.”
“That’s correct. The powerful force of the detonation obviously caused her to slam her head pretty hard when she was thrown through the air and then hit the ground. As a result, she has suffered a severe bump to the back of her head and a concussion. The odds are that she will have a major headache for quite a while.”
“Oh, she is one tenacious marine, doctor,” Harm countered in a joking manner, trying his hardest to see the good in everything. “I doubt that she will let a headache bother her all that much.”
Major Kathleen Jacobs chuckled and gave him a nod. “Yeah, we marines can be pretty thick-headed at times. But I’ve heard the same goes for the Navy.”
“Absolutely,” Harm agreed and took another deep breath, knowing there was much more when it came to Mac’s injuries. “What else do I need to know?”
The doctor proceeded to grab her wrist as she spoke. “Her right wrist is broken in two places. She has broken both the scaphoid and the trapezium bones. I would tend to speculate that she tried to brace herself as best she could from falling hard, but the force of the blast was just too powerful.”
“That sounds pretty bad, doc.”
“Yes, it does. But both fractures are neat and clean. Of course she’ll have to go through months of physiotherapy, but the colonel is still young and the broken bones should heal nicely. I’m pretty sure the same goes for the damage on her back.”
Harm took a deep breath. “Woah, back up, doc. Her back? What’s wrong with her back?” He asked, fearing the worse. He knew only too well about back injuries thanks to several painful plane ejections.
“Oh, don’t worry, Commander. It’s nothing serious. She has suffered several deep bruises and scrapes to her back from the impact. Since she had the presence of mind to try and break her fall, she probably prevented herself from receiving worse injuries. With the right treatment, it shouldn’t bother her too much. Of course she won’t be able to lay down on her back without feeling pain for quite some time.”
Harm jumped right in. “That shouldn’t be much of a problem. Mac loves to sleep on her sides more than on her back anyway,” Harm stated, without thinking what his words actually implied.
“That’s good to hear, Commander,” the Major replied.
Harm realized what the doctor could be thinking and quickly tried to explain. “Not that we… I mean… the Colonel and I… we’re not…,” he stammered self-consciously.
Major Jacobs smiled as the tall, handsome sailor in front of her was trying his hardest to make her understand. “That’s quite alright, Commander. However, just to make sure, you should make provision for it not happening anyway. A few pillows tucked beside her could be very helpful.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind and let her know. Is there more?”
The doctor hesitated for a mere second. “No, there isn’t. I only hope you will now take my advice and go home and get some decent sleep. I hope you don’t mind my saying, Commander, but you look like hell.”
“Why thank you, Major,” Harm replied, laughing for the first time in quite a while. “But no, I can’t go. I want to be here when she wakes up. Please say it is okay if I stay.”
The doctor took a deep breath and debated with herself for a minute and then gave him a nod. “Yes, it’s okay. Normally we don’t allow relatives to stay overnight but I can see how worried you are and I’m sure the colonel would like to have someone familiar around when she wakes up.”
“She doesn’t know yet, does she?” Harm asked, meaning the fact that Mac was blind.
“No, she doesn’t. She hasn’t woken up since she was brought in and probably won’t be for a few more hours. I know you’re frightened for her, but as scared as you are, just imagine how the colonel is going to feel when she wakes up to total darkness. You must not let her sense your anxiety. You will need to suppress your own fear, be strong for her, and encourage her to stay calm and think positive.”
Harm knew that was going to be easier said than done given their intuitive relationship. One thing he knew for sure was that no matter what, he would be by her side for as long as she needed him to be, consequences be damned.
“One last thing, Commander. Promise me you’ll try to get some sleep yourself while you are in her room. Getting sick won’t help her at all.”
“I will on both counts, promise.”
“Good. You’ll find her in room 102,” the doctor said and slowly stood up. “Then I guess it’s time for me to get home myself. Some sleep really sounds nice right about now.”
“Thanks for everything, Major,” Harm said and shook her hand. “Thanks for everything you did for Mac.”
“You’re welcome, Commander, and now take good care of her. Good night,” she said and walked away, knowing that the colonel would be in the good and capable hands of a very loving and caring naval commander.
“Good night,” Harm replied and with one last look at the doctor, he slowly made his way to Mac’s room. He was apprehensive about what he would find, but hopeful that everything would turn out okay and that the nightmare would soon be over.
*
Sleep had not come easy for Harm and he had gotten very little. His restlessness was compounded by hearing all of Mac’s moans and groans while she slept. He was thankful that she had been able to pretty much sleep through the night as her battered body needed the rest in order to heal.
She was still asleep as the first rays of sunshine entered the room through the open blinds. Harm knew it was finally time to make some calls before everyone heard about the previous night’s mishap broadcast all over the morning news, or read it on the front page of the local newspapers.
Harm quietly stood up and without even thinking about it, kissed Mac tenderly on her forehead before he quietly slipped out of the hospital room.
*
The feeling of soft lips on her forehead brought Mac out of her semi-consciousness. She was feeling dazed and tired and couldn’t fully wake up. She became anxious as she realized what she was feeling was drug induced. ‘How? Why?’ She was petrified and trying hard to remember.
She knew she had been experiencing a bout of insomnia recently from all that had been going on in her life. There was planning the wedding… the engagement party… Mic.
‘Come on, Marine, concentrate,’ she thought. ‘You can do this.’ She struggled and finally forced herself awake. She immediately knew something was wrong. She couldn’t put her finger on the problem, but as she became more coherent, her mind tried to focus. Her nostrils were filled with a repulsive smell. ‘Am I inhaling antiseptics? What the hell is wrong? What happened, and why am I lying in a hospital bed?’
All these questions were running rampant through her mind. ‘Not to mention the fact that I’ve been drugged. Guess that explains the haziness.’ Her lawyer instincts kicked in and she deliberated further. “Shake it off. Think harder, Mac. What’s going on here,” she asked herself aloud in the otherwise silent room. Of course answers were not forthcoming.
She attempted to roll on to her back and realized that something was preventing her from doing so. ‘What’s happening?’ Slowly and languidly she tried to open her eyes and that’s when she totally froze. She was overcome by fear so cold that it consumed her entire body.
*
In the meantime
Corridor of Mac’s room
Harm already had called the Admiral and Bud and Harriet, explaining what happened a few hours ago. While Bud and Harriet said they would come right away, their CO planned to arrive as soon as possible. He first had to attend a meeting with the SECNAV.
Harm was now trying to call his grandmother, hoping she was awake already and would answer the phone. Most of all he hoped she hadn’t heard any news yet.
(”This is Harmon Rabb’s resident. Sarah Rabb speaking,” Grandma Sarah said, answering the phone after a few rings.)
“Hey, Grandma.”
(”Harm? Where are you, dear? I can’t believe I didn’t hear you come home last night, or leave this morning,” Sarah Rabb said and chuckled. “I guess this old lady was more tired than I thought.”)
Harm had to laugh at his grandmother’s joke before he regained his composure again. “Grandma, I never came home last night,” he started to explain and was immediately interrupted by his grandmother’s outburst.
(“I knew it!” she screamed into the phone, causing Harm to pull the receiver away from his ear for a second. “The… hmmm…you know… tension between you and Sarah yesterday was riveting, and I’m happy to hear that you spent the night with her,” Sarah Rabb continued, feeling totally happy for her grandson and his best friend and soulmate - a girl that had already captured her heart too.)
Harm took a deep breath. This was harder than he thought. “Yes, Grandma. I did spend the night with Mac but not the way you think.”
(“Oh?” was the only sound coming from the other side of the receiver.)
“Grandma, I’m at the hospital,” Harm wearily explained.
(“Oh my God, Harm! What happened?” Grandma Sarah asked worriedly.)
“There was an explosion and Mac’s been hurt,” Harm said and quickly added, “But the doc said she’ll be okay.”
(“Good God, that’s horrible. You’re sure she’s okay, Harm?”)
Harm rubbed his tired eyes. “She’s still sleeping, but yeah, I think she’s doing okay, considering what happened.”
(“Sleep is the best form of medicine when you’re sick, and of course lots of chicken soup,” Grandma Sarah said, trying to soothe her own nerves as well as her grandson’s.)
Harm smiled. He had heard this very same explanation throughout his childhood and once or twice as a grown-up. “Yes, I know.”
(“I want to be there, Harm.”)
“I know, Grandma. I told the Roberts’ that you were in town and they insisted on picking you up. I’m sure they’re already on their way.”
(“Good, then I better get ready and let you go back to Mac.”)
“Yeah, I probably should. And I still have to try calling Mac’s fiancé. He really should be here,” Harm said and felt a ping of sadness that crushed his heart. Thanks to Bud, who was going to be Mic’s best man at the wedding, he was able to get Mic’s cell phone number and hoped to be able to reach him.
(“Honey, I doubt you’ll reach him and I’m not sure Mac wants to see him anyway,” Grandma Sarah softly told her grandson.)
Harm took the receiver from his ear and stared at it dumbfounded. What was wrong with his grandmother? “What do you mean by that?” He asked as soon as he placed the receiver back to his ear. “Why wouldn’t Mac want to see her fiancé?”
(“Weeellll… I no longer think he is her fiancé. If I remember correctly, she said he was out of town, didn’t she?”)
“Yeah, but that only means that he obviously had to take care of some business somewhere.”
(“Hmmm, I guess that means you never realized that she wasn’t wearing her engagement ring yesterday. Honestly, how is it that men can be so damn oblivious sometimes?” Sarah Rabb asked and shook her head in disbelief. ‘Men.’)
Now Harm was not only speechless, he was totally perplexed.
(“Harm? Harmon, are you still there?” Sarah Rabb asked, worried she’d lost the connection.)
“Yeah… yeah, I’m still here, Grams,” Harm said and added in a whisper, “And no, I didn’t realize it.”
Could it really be? Was Mic out of Mac’s life? Out of his life? Was he finally out of both their lives? ‘Nah, I bet she just forgot to put it on that morning.’
(“Good. Anyway, like I said. I better hang up now and let you go back to Mac. Tell her I said hi and we’ll see each other soon, okay?”)
“Okay, see you soon, Grandma. Love you!”
(“I love you too, darling. Bye for now,” she said and hung up.)
*
Back in Mac’s room
Panic now joined the fear creeping through her still foggy mind. Something was definitely wrong here. She couldn’t turn on to her back, her right arm felt as if something heavy was pushing it down into the mattress and there was something covering her eyes. ‘Why am I blindfolded?’ Mac asked herself while moving her left hand to touch whatever was covering her eyes.
Another round of panic and fear rushed through her body, putting her on high alert. Was she really in a hospital or... even worse? ‘Please, God. Where am I?’
“Don’t,” someone quickly said from a few feet away as her fingertips carefully touched the fabric, recognizing the soft texture of gauze. She hadn’t even realized that someone entered the room, but Mac recognized the voice immediately pulled her hand away from her eyes, reaching out for him instead.
“Harm!” Mac cried out, feeling relieved that he was here with her. “Harm, what’s wrong? Why can’t I open my eyes? Why can’t I move onto my back? And what’s with my right arm?” The questions were running from her mouth like gunshots. “I am in a hospital, aren’t I?”
“Sssshhhh, Mac, easy. Slow down, please. Everything is okay.” Harm began running his hand through her hair to soothe her as he sat on the plastic chair next to her bed, taking her outstretched hand into his other one. “Yes, honey, you’re in a hospital. How are you feeling?” he asked, neither Mac nor him noticing his little slip while calling her ‘honey’.
“I’m not sure… confused,” Mac quietly answered with a frown. “What happened, Harm?” she asked and concentrated on Harm’s warm and comforting hands that were soothing to her. It felt so good to have this connection to hold on to. His presence already had her calming down. ‘Whatever it is, whatever happened, it will be okay,’ she told herself. She was with Harm, and he would make sure everything was alright.
“You don’t remember?”
“I… I don’t know. It’s all a bit fuzzy right now.”
Harm chuckled and gave her hand a little squeeze. “That’s quite alright, Mac. The painkillers they’re giving you tend to make you feel like that.”
“Well, at least I don’t feel any pain. But I wish I could remember what happen and why I’m lying in a hospital. Harm, please, tell me what happened?” she asked pleadingly, impatiently waiting for answers.
When Harm didn’t answer right away, Mac could sense that something obviously was on his mind. “Harm? Are you okay? It’s not that bad, is it?” Mac asked as some of the fear and panic crept back.
“No! No, it’s not that bad. I promise, Mac,” Harm quickly answered, knowing that his thoughts had only strayed momentarily. ‘Was she no longer engaged?’ Thanks to the cast he wasn’t able to check it out.
“Okay, then what’s wrong? What happened to me?”
“Do you remember me bringing you home last night?” Harm questioned, not sure how he should feel about the fact that she obviously didn’t remember what happened. Was there more she didn’t remember? Would she remember their kiss in the car?
“Yes, of course I remember. I also remember that you drove away and that I couldn’t find the damn keys. And then… oh my God,” Mac burst out suddenly as her memories came flooding back full force. Shocked, she instinctively tried raising her right arm to cover her mouth with her hand. The pain from the movement caused her to moan out loud. “Ouch, damn it.”
“Are you okay, Mac? Do you want me to get the doctor?” Harm asked frantically and was already off his chair.
“No,” Mac groaned out. “And I’m sure it will pass.”
“So I guess you remember what happened?”
“Yeah, I do,” Mac said quietly as a tear ran down her cheek from beneath the bandage. ‘Oh, Jingo,’ she thought and nearly wasn’t able to hold back the sob, which brought her back to her earlier question. She had to be strong and that’s what she told herself over and over again. “What’s wrong with my eyes, Harm? Why are they bandaged?”
Harm was sure her thoughts at the moment were centered around Jingo. At some point in the night he remembered that Mac had wanted to pick him up from her next door neighbor. So far he had no news about victims, casualties or what had caused the explosion.
He sat back down on his chair. “Mac, you suffered flash blindness, which was caused by the bright light of the explosion. The doc is sure that it’s just temporary and that you’ll be able to see again very soon or that you even may already be able to see.”
Mac swallowed hard. “Why are they still bandaged then?” she asked, hoping that her voice didn’t give away her fear. “And what’s wrong with my back and my right arm?”
Harm gave her hand another gentle squeeze and brushed back a hair that had fallen on her temple, placing a kiss there. His touch was soft and soothing. It once again calmed her down and helped her to feel a little more at ease. “She told me it’s just a precaution. I’m sure in a few days you will be using those beautiful eyes of yours again.”
“I hope so,” she just said meekly, waiting to hear the rest.
“The force of the blast threw you into the air and you hit your head pretty hard when you landed on the pavement. You are sporting a nice lump to the back of your head as well as a concussion.”
“Well, thanks to the drugs they gave me, I don’t feel much,” Mac said smiling. “It’s a nice trip I’m on,” she fluted but knew deep down that using those strong painkillers wasn’t an option for her.
Harm laughed. “I bet. Anyway, you tried to break your fall and as a result, broke your wrist in two places.”
“Ouch,” Mac commented jokingly. She didn’t need her eyes to know that Harm was giving her one of his flyboy grins she loved so much. ‘I just hope I will be able to see it again soon,’ she thought and continued to listen to Harms explanation of her injuries. ‘I miss it already.’
“And then there’s your back of course, which is apparently very bruised and scratched. But that’s it.”
“That’s it? Wow, I’m lucky,” Mac joked and at once got serious again. “Do you know what caused the explosion and about the other occupants?”
“No, I’m sorry, Mac, but I don’t have any information yet to share with you,” Harm said. He softly added, “I wish I knew something, especially what happened to Jingo.”
“I know, Harm,” Mac quietly replied and took a deep breath. “So, when can I get out of here?” she asked, changing the subject.
“If I like what I see, you can leave the hospital today, Colonel,” Major Jacobs answered from the doorway of Mac’s hospital room. “I’m glad to see you’re awake, Ma’am. I’m Major Jacobs, the doctor who treated your injuries last night,” the doctor explained and then let her eyes wander to Harm, who was still holding Mac’s hand safely in his. “Good morning, Commander. You’re looking much better today.”
“Thank you, Major.” Amazing what a simple quick shower and a little shut-eye were able to do.
“Nice to meet you, Major,” Mac said and gave the young woman a smile. “Only I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Absolutely understandable, Colonel. How are you feeling this morning?” Major Jacobs wanted to know.
“I’m okay, just a bit fuzzy thanks to the medicine, I guess.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you are. The drugs should wear off soon. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you to take should your head, wrist, or back bother you.”
“Okay, but I really don’t like to take drugs, doc.”
“It’s your decision, Colonel. But if the pain is too much, you should take them. Got it?”
“Aye, Ma’am.”
Harm had to laugh at the scene in front of him. A young doctor reading Mac the riot act and his marine was giving in. Too hilarious.
“What’s so funny, Commander?” the doctor asked sternly.
“Nothing,” Harm responded quickly and stopped laughing right away. ‘Did I just think of Mac as my marine… again?’
This time it was Mac who laughed, hearing the change in Harm’s tone and imagining the look that was on his face. The laugh quickly turned into a frown and a quiet moan when her body protested unpleasantly. “So, can I go home, Doc?” Mac asked, sighing in disbelief. “Well, wherever home is going to be right now,” she added.
“Let me check out your back and then I’ll give you my answer. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“Ummm, I guess I better leave then,” Harm said and started to get up, just to be held back by Mac’s strong grip.
“No!” Mac cried out and took a deep breath. “No, it’s okay, Harm. Please stay,” she whispered. She knew she was whining, but Mac just couldn’t let go of his hand.
It was not only his being there, but somehow his eyes were her eyes and it was this connection that brought some light into her core even though outwardly she was surrounded by total darkness. For now it was the only secure connection she had to envelope herself with, the only one she could fully trust until she was able to see everything with her own eyes again.
‘Don’t go there, Marine,’ she warned herself. Anyway, right now he was her lifeline and she was holding on tightly in the hope that Harm wouldn’t mind.
Harm definitely didn’t mind. “Okay, I can do that,” he said, gently squeezing her hand.
“Good. Colonel, please try to lie down on your stomach,” Major Jacobs ordered and was pleased when Mac was able to slowly move on her own without too much pain. It was a good sign.
Slowly she started to open the ties of Mac’s hospital gown. “This may hurt a little,” the doctor warned and started to remove the gauze, knowing that Mac was suppressing a moan.
“Oh my God,” Harm hissed the moment he saw Mac’s injured back and then he spotted something there she definitely didn’t get from the explosion.
Mac chuckled a little. “Is it that bad?” Mac wanted to know, speaking into the pillow.
Harm didn’t answer because he hadn’t even heard Mac’s question. His eyes were glued to what he’d discovered. Then he looked up. One look into Major Jacobs eyes and he knew she had come to the same conclusion. He also read the question in her eyes, and he nodded to her in the affirmative. He would definitely handle it.
Both remained silent while the major continued to check out the scratches and bruises on Mac’s back then softly covered them with an ointment and some new gauze. “Okay, everything looks fine to me, Colonel. For now it looks like there’s no reason for us to keep you here as long as you have someone to look after you. Your back injuries need to be treated daily, and with your concussion you really shouldn’t be alone.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Harm said promptly before Mac could react or resist.
“Good. I want a colleague of mine to take one last look at your eyes this afternoon, but after that you’re free to go, Colonel. I will leave a prescription for some medication and some other orders you’ll need at the nurse’s station.”
“Thank you, Major,” Mac said and slowly moved back and sat up, not caring that her gown had not been retied. Harm quickly took the pillows that had supported her earlier and placed them behind her back. Then he gently covered her bare shoulder with the hospital gown that had slipped a bit after her movements, letting his hand linger there for just a moment. “Thanks, Harm,” Mac said in a whisper. She had been comforted by the caress of his hand and by his thoughtfulness, and slowly and carefully she eased herself backwards, trying to eliminate as much pain as possible in the process.
“You’re welcome, Colonel. I want to see you again on Monday and Commander, I’m counting on you to take good care of her,” Major Jacobs told Harm and gave him another meaningful look.
“You can count on it, Major. Thanks for everything,” Harm said and shook the doctor’s outstretched hand.
“Goodbye,” she said and left the room.
“Thank you, Harm. But I really don’t want to bother you,” Mac said sheepishly, knowing that he was her only chance to get out of there. “You already have your grandmother around and I would understand if you don’t have enough space for me.”
“Don’t worry, Mac. For you there is always space in my life,” he said softly before clearing his throat nervously. “Mac, I’m sorry for doing this now, but there’s something I have to know.”
He was glad at that moment that her eyes were bandaged and she couldn’t see the look in his eyes, because he knew she definitely would not like what she saw there.
“What?” Mac asked frowning. The sound of his voice was a dead giveaway that whatever was on his mind was bothering him.
“Did Mic do that to you?”
*
She was visibly shaken by Harm’s question.
‘Mic.’
After all that happened last night, she had totally forgotten everything about the incident Tuesday night after her engagement party. Mac took a deep breath and started to nervously chew on her lower lip. As much as she regretted having to tell Harm, knowing what his reaction would be, she was glad to clear the air and get it out in the open.
She lowered her head dejectedly. Her eyes fixed on her hands in her lap. Harm swore her stare was so intense, she was seeing straight through the darkness that surrounded her and both the gauze and plaster, into the bones of her injured hand.
Harm placed his hand on top of her uninjured one and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Mac?” he whispered softly, wishing he could look into her eyes, knowing that he would be able to see the truth reflected in them. ‘Well, I guess I really don’t have to see it because I already know the truth. I knew something had been bothering her, weighing heavy on her mind. I felt that something wasn’t quite right… but this?’ he told himself, closing his eyes for just a moment.
“Yes,” Mac answered quietly, taking another deep breath and prepared herself for what was about to happen. She slowly looked up again and even though her eyes were surrounded by gauze and the pure darkness, she swore she could see the turbulence that was displayed in the beautiful blue-green eyes that she loved and remembered all too well. “Yes, it was Mic,” she repeated. This time her confession being voiced with much more conviction. She heard Harm hiss in response, and quickly added, “But it was an accident.”
“The hell it was, Mac!” Harm spat out louder than intended, clenching his fists and quickly jumping up from the chair to pace up and down Mac’s room. He finally came to a stop in front of the window. “That bruise is dark blue, Mac,” he explained in anger. “Dark blue and pretty nasty!” He couldn’t believe it. “That son of a….”
“Oh… I didn’t know. I didn’t realize it was that bad,” Mac quietly confessed. “I don’t even feel it anymore.”
“That so doesn’t matter, Mac,” Harm told her, trying to get his anger against the Aussie under control again before he continued. He took another deep breath, and for a moment watched the people down below milling about in the hospital parking lot. “What happened?” he asked sympathetically. He knew she was hurting psychologically as well as physically, so he did not want to make her even more uncomfortable by pushing her too hard.
“Like I said, it was an accident,” Mac stated and was immediately interrupted by Harm.
“Mac, please stop protecting him, okay?” Harm pleaded softly. “You know, the first time I walked into this room and watched you sleep I saw the fingerprints on your right upper arm just underneath your gown. I thought they were my fingerprints from when I tried to get you away from the burning building. I had a hard time explaining it to myself because I didn’t think I had grabbed you that hard. It was difficult to accept the fact that I might have hurt you like that. I guess I know the answer now.”
Harm turned his gaze away from the window and slowly walked back to Mac’s bed, once again taking a seat on the plastic chair before he took her soft, delicate hand into his much larger, rough one. “Mac, why did it he do that to you? What happened to make him lose his temper?”
Mac sighed and moved her hand so that Harm’s was now lying in hers, giving it a soft squeeze. “Like I said, it was an accident. It wasn’t his intention to physically hurt me. But he was angry, very angry, and I tried to calm him down before he walked out on me - that’s when it happened.”
“Mac, what made him angry enough to give you bruises and leave his fingerprints on you?”
Mac shook her head and chuckled fretfully. “My engagement party happened, Harm.”
“Oh… I think… I understand,” was all Harm could say, knowing all too well what that meant. “I gather he wasn’t pleased with us spending so much time together on the Admiral’s porch, was he?”
“Oh, it wasn’t that. I mean, yes, he wasn’t very pleased about me spending more time with my best friend outside than with my fiancé inside, but he understood. At least that’s what he told me on our way back home. No, the problem was that I didn’t understand what happened back then, Harm. I mean, I was at my engagement party for heaven sake and while my soon to be husband was inside the house enjoying the party, I thoroughly and unequivocally enjoyed kissing another man just a few feet away from him.” Her truthful words at that moment came as a shock to both of them.
“Oh come on, Mac. I mean… I know it definitely wasn’t our brightest moment out there. The timing was all wrong and I probably overstepped the boundaries. But don’t think for one minute that I didn’t enjoy every minute of it, because I did. I just thought that it would be something Mic would have forgiven,” Harm said with a chuckle before he thought about it a moment longer and then burst out laughing. “No, let me rephrase that. He would have killed me as soon as he found out about me laying my hands on his fiancée.”
Mac laughed with Harm, but quickly calmed down again when her body began to protest. “Yeah, you probably have a point. But Mic doesn’t even know about the kiss we shared, Harm.”
That particular bit of news took Harm by surprise. “Oh… he doesn’t? Then why the bruises, Mac? I don’t get it,” he said, feeling frustrated about it all and looked down at their joined hands.
“I broke up with him that night, Harm,” Mac explained in a whisper. “That’s why he was so angry.”
Harm’s head immediately shot up after the confession left her mouth, and he wished more than ever that he could look into her beautiful, brown eyes. “You broke up with him?”
Mac nodded. “Yeah, I did. Even before that night I had doubts about the marriage, but I always put them aside with the excuse that I was getting cold feet.” She smiled and shook her head. “I talked about it with Harriet and she said it was a normal reaction shortly before the wedding and I believed her. But right after that night… our kiss… all the thoughts and feelings that were running through my mind at the engagement party and in the car on the way back home… I just couldn’t lie to Mic or myself anymore. It just wouldn’t work any longer,” Mac admitted in defeat.
The memory of them standing only inches apart made the butterflies in her stomach come back full force just like they had that night. Oh how she craved… no needed his touch that night. She stood there, wanting desperately to simply stretch her fingers just a fraction of an inch and let the tips of her fingers caress the back of his hand that was close to hers. She wanted to revel in the tickling sensation from his tiny hairs and to feel the heat from his dynamic hand on her over-sensitized skin.
For Mac, that was the moment when she finally realized without a doubt that marrying Mic simply wouldn’t and couldn’t work. The fear she felt had nothing to do with cold feet but rather with her heart. There she was, standing right between her fiancé and her best friend, but her heart was beating wildly, crying out for only one man.
That’s when Mac finally admitted to herself that a love she thought was long lost still dwelled deep within her heart. It was hibernating, waiting to be awakened by an undeniable desire and released from its captivity.
On that porch that night, Mac thought it was too little too late and that she’d lost him to Renee. But hope burst from her soul and started to bloom again. She prayed that they could at least find their way back to the friendship they once had. For that she would fight like a lioness protecting her young.
“I’m sorry, Mac. But better before than after the marriage,” Harm said softly, not really knowing what to say any more.
“I know. Believe me, I know,” Mac agreed. “Please don’t be sorry Harm because I’m not. Calling off the wedding was the right thing to do. Anyway, Mic was really angry about it. Understandably so, since to him it came right out of the blue.”
“He never knew about your doubts? Not at all?”
“No, I never told him about them and he obviously never had the feeling that I wasn’t quite sure about everything.”
“Love makes one blind at times.”
“So I’ve heard. Mic was taken back at first, confused and hurt, and in the end obviously blind with rage. He was sure that you were the reason why I wanted to call off the wedding, that you persuaded me at the party to re-think my decision. He said he always knew you didn’t like him, and even more so when it came to him being with me. I tried to make him see that it was me and only me who made the decision, but he didn’t care, nor did he believe me.”
“And then?”
“Well, we had a fight and some unpleasant words were exchanged. Then he ran into the bedroom to throw a few things into his bag before he made his way to the apartment door. He murmured something I couldn’t understand and he was so angry that I feared he would do something stupid. That’s why I asked him where he was going.”
“And?” Harm asked, but somehow already knew the answer.
“He matter-of-factly said ‘It’s time to put that sailor of yours in his place’. That’s when I knew my fear wasn’t unfounded and I tried to stop him for making a mistake. I blocked his way to the door and that’s when he grabbed me and pushed me out of the way. The push was powerful and took me by surprise. I stumbled and fell backwards; trying to hold onto the nearby chair, but instead I knocked it over and took it with me. I hit my back against the corner of my coffee table and my head against the tabletop.”
“That bloody son of a bitch,” Harm murmured, repeating his earlier statement. “I’m so sorry that you ended up getting hurt trying to protect me from that jerk. You shouldn’t have tried to stop him, Mac. If he was coming after me, I could have taken care of myself.” Before she could even say anything he continued, ”I know, I know… you were just watching out for my six. Where is he now?”
Mac shrugged. “I remember the last time the two of you went at it and it didn’t turn out very well. I guess I just didn’t want that to happen again. As far as where he went, I don’t know. He walked out on me as soon as he saw that I was conscious and lucid and not hurt badly. I haven’t seen or heard from him since. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has already left the states and is back in Australia - or at least on his way.”
“He better be,” Harm said more to himself than Mac, but somehow he doubt it. Giving Mac up that easily sure didn’t sound like Bugme.
Mac rubbed her thumb across his knuckles in a caressing manner. “Harm… it scares me right now to think what I would see if I could look into your eyes. I just wish that you could look into mine because you would see…,” Mac started to say when a knock at the door interrupted her.
“Can we come in?” Harriet asked, peeking through the half-opened door.
“Sure, come in,” Mac quickly answered with a bright smile on her face, reluctantly letting go of Harm’s hand to wave them in.
She had to immediately swallow her disappointment at the interruption and the fact that she was unable to finish what she was about to say. She would now have to wait for another time.
*
The next twenty minutes were spent chit -chating about Little AJ, Grandma Sarah’s vacation here in Washington, and the explosion of course. Neither Harriet or Bud nor Grandma Sarah had any new information about the incident. The news reported the possibility that the explosion was caused by someone intentionally, but it was only speculation.
Bud was telling Harm and Mac about their godson’s newest hobby, washing his crayons in the toilet, when a nurse stepped into the room. “Good morning, Colonel. Major Jacobs thought it was time for you to have some breakfast,” she said and placed a tray in front of Mac.
“Thanks,” Mac said softly. She was totally confused about how to proceed, and that made her feel uncomfortable in front of her friends. Feeling helpless wasn’t something Mac, the marine, could accept.
The nurse appeared to be oblivious to Mac’s reaction or was simply insensitive, but in reality she was sure that one of her visitors would help her with the breakfast. She figured it would most likely be the tall, handsome naval commander who hadn’t left her side since she was admitted. She smiled, thinking about how the night shift explained to the day shift how he doted over her and constantly held her hand. It had created quite the buzz among the hospital staff and everyone had their own opinion about the relationship between the commander and the colonel. But they all were in agreement about one thing… the obvious love surrounding them. With a simple ‘enjoy your meal, Colonel’ she left the room again.
Grandma Sarah recognized Mac’s dilemma right away and looked at her grandson, giving him a sign while pointing with her head to the door. A quick silent conversation with their eyes followed before she took the lid off of Mac’s meal. “Okay, dear. Let’s see what a nice meal we have here…. Oh holy moly,” Sarah Rabb groaned out, using a quote from one of her favorite Walter Matthau movies.
Mac chuckled. “Is it that bad? Maybe it’s a good thing I can’t see it then, but unfortunately I still can smell it,” she joked and a round of laughter filled the room.
“Hmmm… I’ll tell you what. As soon as you’re out of here, I promise to make you a breakfast fit for royalty the likes of which you’ve never had before.”
“Sounds good to me, Grams. It’s a deal I’m going to hold you to,” Mac said enthusiastically and with help from Sarah Rabb she finally was able to take hold of the cup of coffee. Slowly and without any incidents she took a big gulp of the hot coffee, making a face as soon as she tasted it. “Yuck! This is worse than I thought. It’s even weaker than the typical navy brew I often have to live with.”
“Okay… okay,” Harm chimed in grinning. “I know you have a problem with my weak coffee… doesn’t have enough octane to satisfy you rough-neck marines.”
“I like your coffee… Sir,” Bud piped up, sporting one of his flabbergasted looks.
“Traitor,” Mac only commented.
Once again everyone laughed at the banter before Harm cleared his throat, knowing it was time to follow his grandmother’s order. “Umm, Bud. Why don’t we go to our cars and get the inflatable bed you brought with you into my SUV? There’s still something I need to do before noon, so I better get on the road.”
“Sure, no problem, Sir,” Bud quickly replied and got up from the plastic chair he was sitting on. “Harriet and I have to go anyway. We promised Little AJ to go with him to the National Zoo today,” he added with a grin and then turned his attention to Mac, who had just taken a bite of her bagel with honey. “Ma’am, Little AJ wanted me to tell you that he hopes you’ll be able to go with him to the zoo next time.”
Mac gave her friend a bright smile and nodded. “Tell him I would love to go with him the next time followed, of course, by our planned trip to Chuck E Cheese.”
“Oh, Ma’am, you have no idea how many times a day he talks rapturously about that trip,” Harriet said laughing and got up as well.
Bud and Harriet then said their goodbyes and left the room to give the Rabbs and Mac some private time.
“Didn’t you want to leave too, Harm?” Sarah Rabb asked with a wink and promptly got a boyish grin from her grandson before he stuck out his tongue. “Now, now, Commander. Behave! Where are you manners? I know for sure your mother taught you better than that!”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Harm sheepishly agreed, while releasing the boy in him by sulking and turning his mouth into a very visible pout.
His grandmother laughed and Mac turned her head a little in the direction of where Sarah Rabb sat. “What did he do now?” she asked, once more being reminded of how much she missed her sight and not being able to see Harm’s beautiful face at that moment.
“Oh… you know how he is,” Sarah Rabb only replied and gave her grandson a wink.
Mac laughed just to calm down and sucked in a deep breath as the pain her body reacted with was too intense. “Only too well, Grams. Only too well.”
This time it was Sarah Rabb who laughed outright and the scene in front of him made Harm feel all warm and fuzzy as his heart was screaming out the love he felt for these two women. “Okay, you two,” he said and both turned their attention to him. “I think I will leave you both alone now, so you can continue to gang up on me.”
“Sounds good to me,” Sarah Rabb countered right away.
“Me too,” Mac agreed.
“Good. Why don’t I take care of everything before I pick you two up this afternoon?”
“Harm, I doubt your grandmother wants to spend all that time here with me in the hospital,” Mac said and once more turned her attention to Harm’s grandmother. “Grams, why don’t you go with him. I’ll be okay, I promise. You don’t have to stay with me.”
“Nonsense,” Sarah Rabb replied and gave Mac’s unhurt hand a gentle squeeze. “A wild horde of horses couldn’t drag me away, dear. I enjoy spending my time with you, darling. I want to know more about the other Sarah in Harm’s life and it gives me the chance to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about him.”
Harm groaned and rolled his eyes, knowing all too well that he was in trouble. “Okay, that’s my cue to get out of here,” he said and gave his grandmother a kiss on her cheek before he placed one on Mac’s forehead without even thinking twice about what he was doing. “I’ll pick you two up in a few hours and in the meantime, try not to embarrass me too much, Grams.”
“I’ll think about it,” she replied smugly.
“You do that, Grams. Bye,” Harm said and left Mac’s hospital room, still able to hear his grandmother’s next question.
“So dear, what did you always wanted to know about my Harm?”
*
Harm walked out of the hospital, trying to find Bud and Harriet in the crowd of people around the parking lot. He felt totally relieved that his friend was doing fine and hoped that in a few hours, after a last check up, they would know that Mac’s eyes were doing just as well.
“Over here, Commander!” Bud hollered from a few feet away and waved while he leaned against the van.
Harm’s smile immediately froze as he spotted them. “I don’t believe this,” Harm murmured to himself as his heartbeat escalated and his steps suddenly quickened. “You!” He spit out before totally losing it.
Harriet and Bud’s eyes got huge. “COMMANDER!” Both screeched in unison, but their cries went unheeded.
Harm was definitely on a mission.
*
Harm was furious and totally out of control. Nothing and nobody was able to stop him. He elbowed his way through the crowd, bumping into several people and mumbled a curt “excuse me” as he made his way to his destination. He was fuming and seeing red. His eyes focused on one thing while everything else around him vanished to a blur and became nonexistent.
“Commander, please,” Harriet begged as soon as she saw the fire in his eyes, but the words were too late and went unheard.
“Hello Harm.”
“You!” Harm hissed out, grabbing the collar of Mic’s jacket as he pushed him hard against the Roberts’ van. “You bloody son of a bitch!” Harm spat out and drew his right arm back, ready to set the first blow into the Aussie’s face.
“COMMANDER!” Harriet and Bud once again hollered in unison, shocked by their friend’s behavior while Bud tried his hardest to get in between the two squabbling men.
“Bud, let go of my arm and get the hell out of the way before you end up sipping soup through a straw again,” Harm told his friend without taking his eyes off Mic Brumby, who looked a bit taken aback by Harm’s extremely heated reaction.
“Mate, I have no idea what your problem is, but you better do as Bud said and step away from me,” Mic warned.
“Or what? You’ll hurt me like you hurt Mac Tuesday night?” Harm countered, intensifying his hold on Mic’s collar while Bud still tried his best to prevent him from hitting Brumby. “Is that what turns you on, Bugme? Abusing and disrespecting women? Showing them who is in control, and who has the upper hand in the relationship? Is that what gets you all hot and bothered, MATE?”
The two officers were standing eye to eye and toe to toe, waiting and baiting almost in a repeat performance of an incident in the Admiral’s office. Only this time, Harm was not about to back off or stand down. He didn’t like the arrogant Aussie then, and he totally despised him now.
“Sir, PLEASE,” Bud yelled this time, still trying to stop Harm, but knew he was fighting a losing battle. As soon as he heard the words coming out of Harm’s mouth, Bud was having a conversation with his two beings; the angel was trying to prevent the devil in him from letting Harm carry out what he so badly wanted to do himself right now.
Harriet was shocked and used all her resolve to catch her breath after digesting what she had just heard Harm say. She couldn’t believe it and for a moment she stood there, frozen in place before her senses kicked back in. She stepped forward and placed her hand on Harm’s arm, which he still held ready to beat the hell out of Brumby. “Sir,” she said softly, giving his arm a gentle squeeze.
Harm didn’t react at all. He still struggled against Bud’s strong hold while his adrenaline was pumping and pure anger was coursing through his veins. He was infuriated as he saw Brumby standing there in all his cockiness, his arms outstretched, tauntingly as if he were saying ‘hey, do you want a piece of me, mate’.
“Harm,” Harriet pleaded once more, trying to get his attention with the soft use of his given name. It worked and Harm turned his head to look at the young lieutenant. “Harm, please. You have to let go of him. I’m not quite sure what happened, but even if he deserves to get his a.... I mean… butt beat up and kicked to the moon, this is still military ground and you could get court-martialed for it.”
“I so don’t care, Harriet. He hurt Mac and he’ll regret ever putting his slimy hands on her,” Harm replied with his anger still evident.
Mic laughed in Harm’s face at his comments while Harm responded by pressing him even harder against the van. “Hey, take it easy, mate,” he said but to no avail. “You heard the lady.”
Harriet ignored Mic and continued to look at Harm. “I know, Harm. Believe me, I know,” she continued. “But he’s not worth it and I’m sure the Colonel doesn’t want you to get in trouble because of him either. She needs you, Harm…. She needs you! Now more than ever,” Harriet pointed out in a whisper. “You can’t help her if you’re sitting in the brig because of him.”
Her words finally got through to him and for a moment, Harm pondered what would happen to Mac if he were in prison. Sure she was a Marine, and Marines were strong and could take care of themselves, but she was vulnerable right now and in need of someone to take care of her. He knew that someone had to be him because she would not allow anyone else to see how fragile she really was. But it was more for him than just that… so much more.
Harriet was right.
Harm slowly let go of Brumby and took a little step backwards. “You’re one lucky bastard, Brumby. But I warn you. If you’re not out of Washington by tomorrow and I ever see you near Mac again, I’ll show you where YOUR place is…MATE!” He was only too willing to warn him, using the same words that Mic had threatened him and Mac with a few days ago.
Mic Brumby chuckled while squaring his shoulders and straightening out his rumpled jacket and tie. “Don’t worry, Commander. My plane leaves in a few hours and she’s not worth my time anyway. I just drove by her apartment and saw what happened. Just wanted to make sure she’s okay.”
“Oh, she’s more than okay, Bugme. You’re out of her life and it can’t get much better.”
This time Mic just laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, right. Hey, tell Renee I said hi, Harm. I’m sure she’s really enthusiastic about the harem you seem to occupy yourself with these days, mate,” he told Harm, who could barely control himself anymore. The desire to shove his fist into Brumby’s face was too strong. Mic then turned his attention to Bud and Harriet who stood next to him. “Harriet, Bud, it was nice to see you again,” he said and held out his hand for a shake. “Maybe we can stay in touch.”
Neither Bud nor Harriet took it and Mic drew his hand back with a little shrug. “Goodbye, Sir,” Bud said and then looked at Harm. “Harm, why don’t we get the bed into your car,“ he said, unintentionally using Harm’s given name just like his wife had done a few moments earlier.
“Sure, Bud,” Harm replied and started to follow Bud to the trunk of the van when a loud smack and then a groan made them stop dead in their tracks.
“Goodbye, BUGME,” Harriet hissed into Mic’s face as he held a hand to his left cheek. The other had a hold of his right foot while he jumped up and down on the other foot, obviously in pain.
“Harriet!” Bud cried out the moment he realized what his wife had just done. “You…I mean…you…”
Harriet merely shrugged. “What? My hand slipped… somehow… and then I tried to steady myself and… well… somehow my foot ended up on his,” she explained in all her innocence, looking down at her new shoes with the three-inch heels. ‘These were definitely money well spent,’ she mused grinning.
Harm just shook his head and laughed outright while slapping Bud’s shoulder. “Bud, if she weren’t your wife, I would definitely kiss her right now.”
“Well, if it helps you any, Commander, I could do that for you,” Bud offered with a shrug and gave his friend a bright and goofy looking grin.
“You do that, Bud. You do that,” Harm replied and continued to laugh at the surprised Aussie, who looked a bit dumbfounded at the blonde lieutenant.
“Brumby,” someone called from a few feet away. “Trying the newest dance craze teenagers say is so hip these days?”
“SIR!” Harm, Bud, and Harriet called out at the same time and immediately stood at attention.
“Oh Admiral, it’s great to see you,” Mic said with his best cocky grin back in place. “Lieutenant Sims just….”
“At ease,” Admiral Chegwidden told his three officers before turning his attention back to Mic. “Yeah, I saw and heard it, Brumby… everything!” Admiral Chegwidden said with a stern voice, interrupting Mic’s explanation before he could say more. Then his eyes added another loud and clear message for the Aussie. ‘One wrong word, Brumby, and you won’t hear the end of it. And now get the hell out of my sight!’
Mic seemed to understand and cleared his throat. “Well, I guess it’s time for me to hit the road,” he said and once more turned his gaze to Harm. “You deserve each other,” was all he said before he walked away and drove off in his rental car.
“Sir, I’m…,” Harriet started to apologize but was interrupted by the Admiral who held up his hand.
“I know, Lieutenant. People should learn to not throw the banana skin on the ground, it only causes accidents.”
“Yes… Sir,” Harriet agreed, sporting a satisfied smile.
Then Admiral Chegwidden looked at Harm who was helping Bud to get the inflatable bed out of the van. “Commander, how’s the Colonel doing?”
“She’s doing great, considering what happened. But why don’t you find out yourself. I bet she would love to see you, Sir. She’s in room 102.”
“That I will, Commander. That I will. Lieutenants,” he said with a content smile and walked away. ‘These are my people,’ he thought proudly. ‘Sticking together, no matter what. That’s how family should work. I trained them well.’
“Sir,” Harried and Bud said and momentarily followed him with their eyes.
“Now that was… odd,” Harriet said and closed the trunk.
“Yeah,” Bud agreed, giving his wife a nod and then the promised kiss. “I love you, Harriet.”
“I love you too, Bud.”
In the meantime, Harm was preoccupied with watching Mic’s rental car move through the parking lot until it was out of sight. ‘Finally!’
“I sure hope it is final…for his sake,” he murmured to himself before saying goodbye to his friends and getting into his SUV.