It Started in Russia
Author: PreppyPrincess5103
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Some friends will do anything for each other.
Other than a few rogue tears that escaped when the Russian woman held him and sobbed, he hadn't cried. He couldn't cry. He was numb. He went through the motions, aware of Mac's constant gaze. They first took a train first to Novosibirsk, and then a plane to Moscow. They would spend one more night at the hotel before boarding a plane back to the States in the morning.
The travel was almost intolerably long, and very quiet. He had already told Mac he didn't feel like talking, so she read while he leaned back and closed his eyes. After what felt like an eternity they were finally back to the hotel where this adventure began. The front desk clerk was more polite this time as she checked them in and Mac received the keys to their two rooms. They remained quiet during the short elevator ride and Mac finally broke the silence when they stepped off.
"My room is next-door Harm. Please let me know if you need me." He just nodded and took a few steps towards his room. She watched him walk away and finally let the tears come. She went to her room, stepped inside and shut and locked the door. She sat on the edge of her bed and dropped her head to her hands and let the tears fall. She cried for Harm. For Harm Senior. For Trish Burnett. For Sarah Rabb. For all the people who lost someone in that war and never really knew what happened. When the tears finally stopped, she unzipped her suitcase, removed her toiletry kit and went into the small bathroom for the longest shower of her life.
Harm sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the uneven stitching on the comforter. He still felt numb. He couldn't quite wrap his mind around the fact that after all these years he finally knew what happened to his father. Finally. He needed to tell his mother. And his grandmother. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and mindlessly opened and shut it. His grandmother was alone at the farm. He didn't want to tell her with no one there to comfort her. But his mother had Frank. He needed to tell her. He did a mental calculation and realized it was still early in La Jolla. He scrolled through his contacts and landed on Burnett Residence.
"Hello?"
For probably the first time in his entire life he was thankful to hear Frank's voice.
"Hello?"
Harm cleared his throat. "Hi Frank, it's Harm."
"Harm!" Frank's voice was filled with relief. "Harm, it's so good to hear from you. We've been so worried. How are you?"
"I'm hanging in there Frank. Listen, I – I have some news about my father. Is mom there?"
The pause made Harm uneasy. "She is, Harm. She's in her office. Should I – should I be with her when you tell her?"
Part of Harm wanted to tell him no. This was about his dad. This didn't concern Frank. But it did. Because his mother concerned Frank. They had been married over twice as long as she had been with his father. He had loved her, cherished her, and protected her for over twenty years. He deserved to hear this as well. "Please, Frank. I want to tell you both at the same time."
"I'm going to put you on hold and go to her office. Stand by, son."
He listened to the silence while he waited and after a moment, he heard a click and Frank and his mother moving around.
"We're both here darling," Trish said, "we have you on speakerphone. And it's so good to hear from you."
He took a deep breath. "I found out what happened to dad." And for the next twenty minutes he told them the story of his Russian adventure, ending with the old woman in the Siberian taiga. When he finished, he was silent as Frank sniffled and his mother cried softly. "Mom, are you okay?"
"I will be. I'm so glad to finally know what happened to him."
A lump formed in his throat and he struggled to keep himself under control. "I'm glad too. It wasn't the answer I've spent my whole life hoping for, but I'm glad I know."
He heard her blow her nose and clear her throat. "Have you told your grandmother yet?
"Not yet. She's alone in that farmhouse, and I didn't want her to be alone when she hears the news. I'm going to drive up there when I get home and tell her in person."
"You're a good man," she said. "He would be so proud of you. We're all proud of you."
Harm could hear his mother start to cry again and Frank clearing his throat. "Harm, thank you for telling us. You sound worn out. You should try and get some rest. It sounds like you've had a hell of a few days."
"You have no idea, Frank. I'm going to do just that. I'll call you guys when I'm back home." He told them goodbye and ended the conversation. The lump in his throat was growing and he could feel the tears coming. He imagined Frank holding his mother as she cried and wanted someone to hold him. Mac had told him she would be there if he needed anything. He hoped she meant it.
Mac tied the belt of the robe around her middle and towel dried her hair with her discarded bath towel. She had just finished her skin care routine when she heard a knock at the door. Knowing it cold only be Harm she hurried to her door. He stood in the doorway, looking both nervous and heartbroken at the same time. "Hi." She said softly.
"I just called my mom and told her." He paused and held her gaze. "I told her that my dad is dead." His voice broke on the last word. She silently stepped out of the way, holding the door open for him. He sat down on her bed, buried his face in his hands and began to cry.
She sat next to him and placed a hand on his back. She moved her hand in small circles as the tears started falling. "Hey." She said softly. She placed her hand under his chin and lifted his head. He looked at her and she moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. She the continued to stroke his back and bit her lip to hold back her own tears. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and continued to cry.
When the sobs finally began to subside, he lifted his head and looked at her. Wet blue eyes met sympathetic brown. Her hand was still moving up and down his back, and her fingertips brushed the bare skin of his neck. He was over sensitized, and her touch sent shivers through him. "Mac…" He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.
She pulled back quickly. "Harm, what are you doing?"
"I don't know, Mac. I have no idea what I'm doing. I just feel so lost and empty right now. I need to feel alive." He watched her. He could tell her beautiful brain was working overtime. And then he felt like an ass. She was his friend. She was his best friend. And he was a complete ass to put her in this situation. She shifted on the bed and stood up, and even though he didn't think it was possible, he felt even worse. "I'm sor…" His words trailed off as she untied her robe and let it fall to the floor. She was more beautiful than he had ever imagined. And even though they were friends and colleagues, he had definitely imagined.
She held out her hand to him and he stood. She moved her hands to the hem of his t-shirt and lifted it over his head. His breath was ragged and nearly stopped when she moved her hands over his bare chest to the button of his jeans. They locked eyes as she unbuttoned and slid down his pants. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of the jeans. She backed herself up to the mattress and scooted up to the headboard. He followed and captured her lips with his. She rolled them over so that she was on top of him. He moved his hands over her smooth thighs, over her waist and eventually up to her full breasts. She arched her back and then moved her hand to fist around him. He moaned and his head fell back to the pillow.
"Please, Sarah."
His use of her given name lit a fire in her and she slid over him. She froze once he was completely inside her and closed her eyes. "Oh my God…" She whispered. She looked down at him and smiled softly. His eyes were closed, and his lip was in between his teeth. "Harm." His eyes opened and she leaned over, her breasts touching his chest. She met his lips in another passionate kiss and she began to move again. She broke the kiss and grabbed onto the headboard as she continued to ride, harder and faster than before. His breathing quickened and she knew it was coming. He went rigid for a second and then emptied into her. Mac slowed and rocked gently as he came down. Once his breathing regulated, she pulled herself from him and lay next to him. She brushed his damp hair back and kissed his forehead. "You're alive Harm."
He looked at her, his eyes full of tears again. "Mac, I…"
She placed her finger over his lips. "Shh. Go to sleep, Harm. We'll talk in the morning." She felt his eyes on her as she got up and went into the bathroom. She washed up and hesitantly went back into the bedroom. He was asleep, and she was so thankful for that. She dug some clean clothes out of her suitcase, dressed quickly and climbed back into bed. Her head was racing. What had they done? He was her friend, her partner. Their friendship was the healthiest relationship she had ever had, and she was now terrified that they had ruined it. He shifted in his sleep and rolled towards her. One arm found his way over her middle and his head made its way to her chest. She sighed. Sleep now. They would talk about this in the morning.
End Part 1.