Disclaimer: not mine
AN: this is a sequel of sorts to The Path to Healing, but I don't think it matters if you haven't read the first story.

In Sickness and in Life 3/4

As Mac and Harm appeared at the kitchen door, they smiled at the sight in front of them – Ella was there preparing toast for them to have with the pureed vegetable soup Trish had made earlier. Ella had three bowls on the bench with varying amounts of the liquid, and a few small splashes on the bench and all they required was a quick zap in the microwave.

"What's for supper, El?" Harm asked, wrapping his arm around Mac's waist.

"Grandma's soup and toast," she said, looking up at them.

"And where's grandma?" Mac asked, concerned Ella was unsupervised.

"She went home ages ago," Ella announced. "Because Davy's sick."

"What?" she asked looking at Harm.

Quickly explaining the events of the afternoon, Harm reassured Mac by showing her the texts Trish had sent to his cell with half hourly updates. Yes, the boy had an upset tummy. Yes, he had filled a few extra diapers. Yes, he was a little miserable but he was still eating, he was still playing with his baby gym and he was still sleeping well. Trish had also sent through a short video not twenty minutes earkier showing David in the bath splashing around.

"So, everything's alright?" she said, searching Harm's face.

"Everything's alright," he confirmed. "And, if it stays that way tomorrow, they'll bring David home."

Unfortunately, things were not alright the following morning with Mac spending nearly two hours in the bathroom vomiting. By the time she managed to crawl back into her bed she was sure there couldn't possibly be anything left in her system.

An hour later, she was proven wrong.

Having vomited most of Saturday morning, Mac slept most of the afternoon and awoke to the smell of freshly baked oatmeal cookies and she knew daddy and daughter must have been having one of their famous cooking sessions. Her first thought was that it would result in her vomiting once more but to her good luck, they made her feel hungry.

Climbing from bed, Mac pulled on her robe and padded out to find the cookies.

"Hey, mommy!" Ella said excitedly, putting down the dishcloth in favour of hugging Mac. "How are you feeling?"

"Hungry," she said, kissing Ella's flour streaked hair. "I hope one of those cookies has my name on it."

"You can have as many as you like," she replied proudly. "Would you like some milk like daddy and me?"

"Ah, no," Mac said slowly, she was feeling better but not that much better and she didn't want to imagine what milk would do to her system. "I think I best stick to water, at least for today."

"Okay," Ella replied. "I'll get it for you."

"You look brighter," Harm said as Ella disappeared into the fridge.

"Yeah, feeling it," she said, leaning against him and hugging him.

"You're still pale," he observed before kissing her forehead.

"So are you," she replied with a yawn.

"Healthy lot, aren't we?" he said with a laugh as Ella handed Mac a bottle of water.

"Do you want to eat them here or in the living room or in bed?" Ella asked, carefully holding a plate of cookies in the other hand.

"How about in the living room," she said, following Ella as she took off towards the other room.

It was a quiet evening and they enjoyed a game of Scrabble Junior before Ella had a bath and went to bed. Mac followed soon after and Harm spent his time cleaning up while Mac was in the bath before joining her in bed; very glad that it seemed the siege was over.

Sunday morning dawned and Mac felt okay upon waking, so okay, she texted Trish and asked for them to bring David home, she missed him so much. Glad to do so, Trish and David arrived little after ten while Frank stayed home after not feeling well through the night.

The moment Trish was through the door, Harm and Ella were all over David, so glad to have him home. So sorry it was because they were ill he was shipped off to La Jolla.

"I missed you so much, Davy – wavy," Ella cooed as she gently stroked his face. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I think he is," Trish reported, "He ate all his breakfast and no extra diapers overnight."

"Ah, my beautiful boy," Harm said, scooping the baby from his carrier. "I'm so glad you're home. Did you say thank you to grandma and grandpa for looking after you?"

"He can't talk yet," Ella said with a laugh. Gee, her dad was silly sometimes.

"Where's Mac?" Trish asked as she went about unpacking the infant's belongings.

"Back in bed," Harm said, nodding towards their room.

"I thought she was feeling better," she said, pausing as she held onto a range of baby bottles.

"She was," Harm said, "Until she got up and then it started all over again."

"Aha," Trish said with a nod.

"Aha, what?" Harm asked, it didn't seem like an 'aha' moment to him.

"Nothing," she said. "I was just acknowledging what you said." Moving to the bench, she placed David's bottles on the counter before pulling out his clean clothes from the bag. "I'll just go put these in the nursery."

"I can do it, mom," Harm said, putting his hands out. "It's the least I can do."

"Nonsense," she said, shaking her head. "You spend some time with your boy."

Doing as she said she would, Trish made her way from the nursery to the master bedroom, slowly easing the door opened.

"Hello, darling," she said when she saw Mac was awake. "I've just brought your son home."

"Thanks, Trish," Mac said, sitting up. "For everything. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome," she said, coming to sit facing her on the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I think," she replied honestly.

"Harm said you've been vomiting again today," she reported. "Are you sure you want David home?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she said. "I'm okay for the most part...well, except for the mornings...it just comes in waves."

"Waves in the morning," Trish reiterated, wanting to see if Mac was on the same track as she was.

"Yeah, but a sleep and I'll be fine this afternoon," she said. "At least that's how yesterday panned out."

"That's good to hear," she said with a nod. "Have you considered you might not have the same stomach bug Harm and Ella had?"

"Well, I certainly don't have it as bad as they did," she said nodding.

"Mac, honey," Trish said taking her hands. "Those two had a severe stomach bug, call it mother's intuition but yours sounds more like morning sickness to me."

Mac flinched at the words, just as if Trish had slapped her, 'morning sickness' no, that wasn't possible. Well, yes, it was possible but David was only eight months old, she was still breastfeeding or expressing where necessary, she had had no hormone injections or fertility intervention, like she had with her other three pregnancies. No, it wasn't possible.

"Honey?" Trish said, squeezing Mac's hand. "Talk to me," she said, concerned by Mac's sudden pallor and hoping she wasn't about to vomit again.

"I can't be pregnant," she whispered not wanting anyone to overhear them.

"You and Harm haven't...since David?" she asked, her brow creasing.

"No, we have," she said ...lots, but that was something Trish didn't need to know.

"So?" she probed.

While Mac listed all the reasons she couldn't be pregnant, why it was impossible, Trish sat and listened but then popped the little bubble she had created for herself.

"Anything is possible, Sarah," she whispered. "Would you like me to go and get a pregnancy test?"

"No," Mac said shaking her head before slowly changing it to a nod. "Maybe..." she added before taking a deep breath. "Yes... I guess I should know whether this is the stomach bug or something else," she said, not prepared to acknowledge it as a baby yet.

"Okay," Trish said standing up and letting go of Mac's hand. "I'll go out now."

"Don't tell Harm!" she said alarmed.

"Of course not," she replied. "I'll tell him I'm running an errand for you and, if he presses me on it, I'll tell him it's for feminine hygiene products. I know he won't say anything else."

Mac laughed; ten years of being with Harm and he was still embarrassed purchasing the essential items Mac needed monthly.

As soon as the word 'feminine' was out of his mother's mouth, Harm stepped aside and gestured towards the door. With Trish promising to be back in 15 minutes, he wasn't sure if he should go and see Mac now or wait until after Trish had returned. Deciding he should be a man, Harm took a deep breath and headed to the bedroom.

"How are you doing, gorgeous?" he asked when he saw her chocolate brown eyes gazing at him.

"Okay," she said with a sigh.

"Mom said she'd only be about 15 minutes," he said, sitting on the bed and caressing her face. "You could have told me, I would have gone for you," he said, so very glad she hadn't.

"It's okay," Mac said with a smile. "I didn't realise I needed them until she was here, so it worked out alright."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, studying her face. She had a look that he just couldn't place and he thought he knew everyone of them.

"No, thanks," she said, picking up his hand and kissing it. "How's David?"

"Good," he said with a smile. This was their first good news in days. "Ella's playing with him at the moment."

"Good," she echoed, nodding her head, wondering whether she should see him now or wait until the pregnancy test was done. If she was actually sick, and not pregnant, then she'd have to be careful about not exposing him to the bug too.

"Do you want me to get him?" Harm asked squeezing her hand.

"Um, no," she said, "I'll wait 'til your mom gets back and then have a shower and change first."

"I don't think Davy will mind you looking a bit dishevelled," Harm said, gazing into her eyes.

"I know," Mac said with a weary smile. "But I need a shower and I want to make sure I don't expose him to this bug."

"Fair enough," Harm said, it made sense. "I think you'd have to battle Ella for him at the moment anyway," he said with a laugh. "I'm sure she thinks he is her own doll or baby."

"I'm glad she's so good with him," Mac said, "She's such a help," she added, knowing she'd need all the help she could get if she had two under 18 months.

A yawn from Mac was Harm's sign to go.

"Mom won't be long now," he said, standing and kissing her forehead. "I'll get her to drop the things in for you but not wake you."

"Okay," she said, knowing there was no way Trish was going to let her sleep once she returned.

Seven minutes later, Trish appeared in the bedroom, closing the doors behind her. From her handbag she produced the Early Pregnancy Test and handed it to Mac before pulling out a box of sanitary napkins.

"Well, if this is positive I won't need them for a while," Mac said, swinging her legs from the bed.

"I know," Trish said with a nod. "But I bought them in case Harm insisted on bringing them to you."

"Ah, good thinking," she said heading to the bathroom. Pausing by the door, Mac turned back to face Trish. "Are you in a hurry to go or can you wait with me?"

"I can wait, darling," she said, grateful for the close relationship she had with Mac. While their official link was as 'in-law' Trish considered Mac as her daughter, nothing more, nothing less. "Although," she said before pausing. "Would you rather have Harm? I can watch the children."

"No," Mac said, shaking her head. "I...My...I need to get my head around it first..."

"Okay, Mac," she said with a smile. "You go do what you need to and I'll be right here."

A few minutes later, Mac reappeared and sat beside Trish at the end of the bed waiting for the three minutes to elapse. After a minute of silence, Trish decided someone needed to speak.

"What result are you hoping for?" she asked, her arm wrapped around Mac.

"Um..." Mac said before shrugging. "Harm and I always wanted children...and we've had three...any child we have will be loved and cherished ... and this one ... if it is one... will be a miracle ... coming along unassisted..."

"You haven't answered the question, honey," Trish said, giving her a slight squeeze.

"Another baby would be a blessing," Mac said with a smile. "A lot of hard work...physically...to have two under eighteen months ... and a career...and Ella and Harm..."

"Maybe it's time you reassessed things," she said gently.

"I was thinking that myself," Mac said before getting to her feet. The moment of reckoning was upon them.

Two steps towards the door and Mac paused.

"Would you like me to get Harm now?" Trish asked and Mac nodded, Harm was exactly what she needed.

Upon his mother's instructions, Harm reported, as ordered, to the bedroom. Not sure what was going on, he was concerned to find his wife sitting on the end of their bed, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door, her eyes filled with tears.

Closing the door behind him, Harm sat beside her and took her hands in his.

"What's going on?" he asked and she nodded towards the bathroom. "The bathroom?" he asked and she nodded once more.

"There's something in there that's um...worrying me," she said quietly.

"Is there a spider or bug or roach you want me to deal with?" he asked with a smile and Mac shook her head. "What is it?"

"Go see," she said taking a deep breath. "You won't miss it."

"Okay," he said standing up and letting go of her hands.

"Just one thing, Harm," she said when he reached the door. "Can you tell me that you love me before you go in?"

Spinning around, Harm marched straight back to her and helped her stand, "Sarah MacKenzie-Rabb, I love you with all my heart, with everything I am... no matter what is inside there."

"Okay," she said, this time keeping hold of his hand. "I'll come with you."

Opening the door, Harm's eyes immediately fixed on the test and he paused momentarily.

"Is that what I think it is?" he asked, his eyes slowly moving from the bench to his wife.

"It is," she confirmed.

"Do you think you're pregnant?" he asked, drawing her face up to look at her.

"I don't know," she said honestly.

"But you thought you'd do a test anyway?" he questioned, things still a little hazy for him.

"No," she said. "Your mom thought I should do a test...that's what she went out for."

"Why would mom think you were pregnant?" he asked as they stood frozen at the door.

"She called it mother's intuition," Mac said with a nervous laugh.

"In that case..." Harm said moving forward; his mother's intuition was practically infallible.