My Father and Me
By Nettie
Dedicated to all the fathers we love and those we have lost
Especially Andy, Sidney's Dad.
DC Bound Flight
Monday 1212
Mac looked at her watch, though it was unnecessary, and sighed. It would still be four hours until she touched down in DC and she couldn't wait to get home. It had been two long, arduous months since she last soaked in her own tub and slept in her own bed, two gruelling months since she had last spent time with her friends and Chloe and two demanding months since she had set eyes on Harm. Not that she hadn't seen him every night in her dreams, she had, but this time he'd actually be in the same room, not a thousand miles away.
Their relationship hadn't moved from the 'somewhere between friends and lovers' it had been for much of the last few years but coming home Mac felt hopeful. They had exchanged emails frequently during her absence and except for the last few most were friendly and reflected the spontaneity and good humour of their relationship.
She looked at her watch again, only three minutes had elapsed since she last checked it. Harm wasn't expecting her, her return home was four days ahead of schedule and Mac's plan was to report in at HQ, run some errands, soak in her tub and call him.
JAG HQ
1856
Taking longer to get back than she had anticipated due to a car accident out of the freeway, Mac's mood was not improved when Petty Officer Coates informed her the General had stepped out and wanted Mac to await his return.
Mac spent the hour catching up on phone messages and emails, and when the General returned at 2000, she was more than ready to go home.
"Welcome home, Colonel," General Cresswell said, ushering her into his office.
"Thank you, sir," Mac replied, taking the seat he offered.
"I bet you'll be glad to get home," he said, leaning on the front of his desk.
"Yes, when I get there," she said with half a smile, hoping he'd get the point.
"Look Mac, sorry I had to keep you and this isn't how I'd planned to welcome you back but …" He paused and Mac took a deep breath, she didn't like the way this was panning out. "But I've had to change your Recreation Leave. Now I know you had planned to take the next three weeks and I understand you are entitled to it but things here have changed as of today. Now, I can give you this week off as we still have your replacement here but I need you here for the next few weeks. I have rescheduled your leave for the end of the month. I hope this doesn't cause you too much inconvenience."
"No sir, I'll manage," Mac said, more concerned about 'the changes' he'd alluded too. "Sir, may I ask what happened today?"
The General took the seat beside her. "I'm afraid Commander Rabb is on leave until further notice, could be a week, could be a month, we don't know yet."
"Sir, what happened?" asked Mac, concerned.
"I don't know the details, Mac, just that he needs to go home for awhile. I think it's got something to do with his step-father."
"Oh," said Mac, relieved there wasn't something wrong with Harm himself.
Mac returned to her office to collect her things when the phone rang, catching her off guard.
"MacKenzie."
"Oh Sarah, I'm so glad I got you. I tried your cell and the number at your TAD office but they said you had returned home and I tried there and this was my last hope." Mac knew the voice instantly.
"Hi Trish, you've got me now, what's happened?" Mac asked, before holding her breath.
"Oh, Sarah…" Trish's voice faltered.
"Trish, what happened?" Mac asked again, her heart beginning to race.
"It's Frank," she replied, weakly.
"Is he sick?" Mac asked.
"No, no. He, um, he…" Trish's voice faltered.
"Did he have an accident?" Mac asked.
"No dear, Frank died this morning." Trish finally said.
"Oh, no, Trish, I am so sorry," Mac said, tears springing from her eyes.
"So am I, Sarah, so am I." The tears could be heard in Trish's voice.
"What happened?"
"He had a cardiac arrest on Saturday night and it was serious but they were hopeful and he was recovering but then he had another one this morning …and ….they couldn't revive him." Trish gulped.
"Oh Trish, I am so sorry," Mac said again.
"I need your help, Sarah," she said, stilling sobbing quietly.
"Anything," Mac replied, she loved Trish and Frank as if they were her own parents.
"It's Harm."
Harm's Apartment
2136
Mac arrived to a darkened apartment and let herself in. She had tried to ring Harm on his home and then cell phone but it had been to no avail. Finally she rang Bud and found out he had been searching for him as well and had located him at Benzinger's, a little worse for wear. Bud was bringing him home and Mac was going to wait for them.
When she heard a rattling at the door, Mac opened it.
"Hi Mac," said Bud, one arm around Harm's waist. "Welcome home."
"Some welcome, hey? Let me help you," she said, taking Harm's arm. He stumbled forward into her arms. She held him and steadied him. "Hi Flyboy," she said.
Harm just stared at her and then broke her grip and went to his bedroom. He lay diagonally across the bed, making no attempt to undress.
"He's not doing too well, Bud," Mac said from his doorway watching him.
"No, I'm not sure of the details but I think he had a disagreement with Frank sometime Saturday and then this. I think his feeling very guilty." Bud explained in sombre tones.
"He said that?" Mac asked, turning to look at Bud.
"Not in as many words but he said a few things and then he fell asleep in the car on the way back. He hasn't said anything since though."
Bud and Mac went into the kitchen and Mac put the kettle on. They were sitting at the bench when Harm came back into the room. Looking dishevelled and disorientated.
"Harm, what's wrong?" Mac asked walking to him. He didn't answer. "Harm?" she said again, putting her hand to his face. He grabbed her hand and twisted it, seemingly oblivious to her requests to stop and shouts of pain. It was Bud who managed to detach his hand and Harm turned and went back to bed.
Bud searched the freezer for some ice and, after making a compress, handed it to Mac.
"It's not that bad, Bud, honestly," she said lying, in truth her wrist hurt like hell. But to please Bud she kept the compress on for a few minutes.
"Look Bud, you go home. I'll be alright here with Harm." Mac offered.
"After that little performance I don't think so, I'll ring Harriet and let her know where I am." Bud stood and moved to the phone.
"Bud, really…" Mac's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Bud opened it.
"Sturgis, hi," said Bud surprised at their visitor. "Come in."
"Hi guys, I heard about Harm's step-father, thought I'd call by and offer my condolences. How's he doing?"
"Not too good," Mac replied. "Can I get you a drink? Coffee?"
"Yeah, thanks Mac."
Mac made her way to the kitchen, made the coffee and had taken two steps before her wrist screamed in pain and she dropped the cup, causing it to shatter.
"Mac, are you alright?" Sturgis asked jumping up from the sofa.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little clumsy," she replied.
"Mac how's your wrist?" Bud asked walking over to her.
"It's fine," Mac responded with a serious tone, she didn't wish to be pushed on this topic.
"What's wrong with your wrist?" Sturgis asked.
"Nothing," began Mac but Bud finished her sentence and told Sturgis the truth.
"Alright, we'll deal with Harm and his actions when he is in a more coherent state of mind. Meanwhile, I'll stay here and make plans for him to get to San Diego tomorrow, Bud, can you take Mac to Bethesda for x-rays?"
"Certainly can," Bud said moving do the door.
"Look Bud, Sturgis, I appreciate your concern but it's not that bad," Mac protested.
"Squeeze my hand Mac," Sturgis said hand outstretched. Mac tried but there was little power in her hand, and despite her efforts to disguise it, the pain showed on her face.
"Alright, I'll go," Mac conceded realising her wrist was worse than she thought. "But, if he wakes up, don't tell him about it. It's the least of his worries."
"Deal," said Sturgis.
"And while you're making plans for him, can you get me on that flight with him? I told Trish I'd be there." Mac asked.
"Certainly Mac," replied Sturgis.
"Bud, can we call past my place after the hospital so I can pick up a few things?" She asked Bud.
"Yeah, definitely," he replied, after all this is what families did in crisis, they stuck together.
Mac's Apartment
Tuesday 0107
"Here, I'll take your bags," offered Bud as Mac juggled her handbag and keys.
"I'm not totally useless, Bud," said Mac agitated, it had been an extraordinarily long day.
"I know, I know, Mac," Bud soothed, picking up her bags anyway. Mac locked her door and dropped her keys.
"Damn," she muttered, her arm began to throb. "I think this brace is too tight."
"Do you want to go back to Bethesda?" Bud asked, concern etched on his face.
"No, it'll be fine. I'll take some painkillers when I get back to Harm's." Mac sighed, she just wanted to be back with him.
"What are you going to tell him about your wrist?" Bud asked, guiding her down the stairs.
"Nothing!" Mac said, and kept walking.
"Mac, he broke your wrist," Bud said, stating the obvious.
"It's not a break, it's a minor fracture," Mac corrected.
"Mac, a fracture is a break," Bud clarified carefully.
"Well, this is a crack. Not too serious, four weeks in this and it'll be fine." She shook her head, she'd had more than enough of this conversation.
"Mac…"
"Mac, nothing, topic closed."
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This is another oldie being polished up for posting here. Hope you enjoy.