Disclaimer: I don't own them, just borrowing for a while. You already know who they belong to, so I'm not even going to put it.
Author's notes: Okay, this is my third attempt, and I think I might be doing okay. In this story, adrift never happened, and it ended when Mac walked away from the Admiral's front porch in lifeline. Please read and tell me what you think of it, I like to hear how I'm doing. Thanks!!!
Harm woke suddenly at midnight. He sat up in bed and tried to let the memory of his dream slip away. He had been dreaming about the day Mac had left him. It's been over eight years, he reminded himself. But time hadn't faded his memory of her on the last day he saw her.
Eight years before
"Mac, please, don't do this," he pleaded.
"Harm, I'm sorry. But he loves me. And you told me too late," she said as she began to walk away.
He grabbed her arm. "Do you love him?" he questioned.
She looked down before answering. "You have no right to ask that."
"Mac, please don't do this to me."
"I can't," she said before she stopped, then glanced at him one last time and turned to walk away.
"Sarah, I'll always love you," he whispered as she walked away and didn't look back.
Present
Though he tried to go back to sleep, he couldn't manage it. Harm started to make coffee when there was a knock on the door. "Who would be here at this time?" he wondered aloud as he peeked through the hole.
"Hello."
"Is this the residence of Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr.?" asked the police officer standing in the hall of his apartment complex.
"I'm Harmon Rabb."
"There's been an accident involving Sarah Mackenzie-Brumby. You are the emergency contact she has listed."
His eyes widened. "Are you sure I'm the emergency contact? I mean, she's got a husband."
"No, her ex-husband is currently in jail. The reason I'm informing you now is because of her," said the officer as a little girl who looked exactly like Mac stepped out from behind him.
Once again, Harm's eyes widened in surprise. The little girl looked up at him and her eyes were wide as well. She was taking in everything around her, but she didn't speak.
"You're the emergency contact for both of them. The thing is, she is either placed with you or put in a county foster home until Sarah Mackenzie-Brumby recovers. Right now, her condition is listed as critical in the hospital."
"So, I'm supposed to care for her? And what hospital is Sarah at?"
"Yes. Sarah is at St. Matthew's hospital, about a half-hour's drive from here. What I need to know is whether you'd like her to stay here, or should I place her at the county home for the night?"
The little girl's eyes pleaded with him not to send her there. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. Finally he decided. "If Sarah appointed me caretaker, I'm going to do it. She can stay here."
Her small face looked relieved as the police officer picked up a small bag and handed it to Harm. "Her name is Natalie. Go on sweetie," he said as he nudged her through the doorway. "Take good care of her," he said as he walked away.
Harm shut the door and turned around. Natalie just stared at him. "Uh…I guess we'll get you a place to sleep. You have to be tired."
Finally she spoke. "Yeah. All I have is my pj's. Mommy calls them that. Are you in the Navy?" she asked quietly but clearly.
"Yes, why?"
"My dad was in the Navy too, before he and mommy got divorced."
"Yes, I knew your dad a long time ago. How old are you?" he asked.
"I'm seven."
He nodded and looked around. "You can sleep in the guest room. There's a bed in there."
Natalie followed him into the bedroom and changed into her pajamas. He tucked her into the covers and she was almost asleep as soon as she hit the pillow. He stared at her for another minute before going back to his room.
He fell into bed. "I can't believe she has a daughter," he whispered aloud. Then he shut his eyes and fell into a restless slumber.