Adding the last book to the pile, Mac decided the 8 thick books were enough for to today, somehow she managed to carry them – the only problem was they were so big she couldn't see were she was going but everything was going smooth…until she bumped into something hard and fell, sending all the books flying around her.
"I'm so sorry…are you hurt?" Oh damn, she just bumped into Harmon Rabb! There he was, looking all concerned and flustered and so sweet.
He touched her shoulder when he saw her staring at him and not talking, outside was already dark and the lamps gave her face a very nice glow, her soft big eyes were sparkling. "Sarah, are you ok?"
Sarah snapped from her reverie "Uh, yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't know where I was going. So it was either you or something else…"she chuckled as he rearranged her books.
He stood up and offered his hand to help her up, smiling, she accepted it but as soon as she tried to get up, pain seared through her ankle.
"AH!" her face twisted in pain and Harm quickly gathered her in his arms so she would not fall again.
"What's wrong?"
"I think my ankle didn't agree with my fall, god it hurts…" she hissed in pain.
"It's ok, let's go to the infirmary. I hope someone is still there…"
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The infirmary was luckily open but as Harm had thought there was no one. He laid Sarah on the stretcher and adjusted it so she could sit up.
"It's not broken is it?" she asked wearily.
"No it's just twisted." He pulled out a pack of ice from the freezer and gently put it against her swollen ankle.
There was an awkward silence, as if they feared the other knew his feelings. Their attraction was so obvious but neither of them wanted to mess up this special thing so Harm decided to be brave and take the first step and to get to know her better.
"I've seen you around but we never really talked… strange, isn't it?" he said, smiling that adorable smile of his.
"Yeah but we're in completely different courses and different groups of people so…" she finished with a small smile, noticing he hadn't stopped holding her hand.
"Yeah…- by the way, what Renee did to you last time was damn mean and I hate her for that."
Tears filled her big brown eyes and Harm was kicking himself. Why the hell did he have to mention what happened that morning knowing how sensitive the topic of family was for her?! Damn it.
On the other hand Sarah was mad at herself. She was a strong woman and her tears were unauthorized, she didn't want to cry…well at least this brought his strong, gentle arms around her. She felt so safe, suddenly, everything was right in the world and nothing could hurt her anymore. She put her hands on his chest and buried her face in his neck, not knowing that he was enjoying this as much as she was, she felt so small and soft in that sweater he didn't want to let her go. He wanted to protect her.
"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up…"
"No that's ok. I don't know what came into me anyway."
"The fishnet comment was funny though if that helps any. After the first lesson, she found a trawler drawn on her locker, the sight was priceless!" he chuckled, glad he could make her smile. She had a beautiful smile.
"You have any plans for Christmas?" he said, taking her mind off the topic.
"No" she replied sadly "Uncle Matt will be in Iraq and I certainly won't go home to my father. Maybe I'll just stay here...and wouldn't Renee have a fit hearing you say these things?" she laughed.
"Well, no, she and I are history. Have been a long time if you ask me, but anyway, I won't let you spend Christmas here. Why don't you come with me to La Jolla, my parents live there and my mom loves guests. Besides, it will probably be my parents aunts and uncles and I'll feel like a fish out of the water with all those elder." He winked, before giving her that pleading look nobody could resist.
"Um…but we hardly know each other, and I don't want to intrude."
"Maybe we can work on getting to know each other and I certainly wouldn't have asked you if you were intruding. Please?"
"All right, counsellor!" she giggled.