A/N: This is a short chapter but I wanted to stay close to a posting schedule. I'm trying to get to post on the weekends. Chapter 8 is nearly ready so I plan to stick to that. Once again, all mistakes are mine, but the JAG characters are not. Enjoy…I look forward to your reviews.
Chapter Seven
Harm's next conscious thought was the delicious aroma of coffee and cinnamon muffins coming from the kitchen. He stretched his long form across the mattress in the "lighthouse" room and reached for his watch. He squinted his tired eyes to focus on the numbers on the face. It read 0741. He had overslept.
Harm quickly rolled out of bed and padded to the kitchen, habit dictating that he did not need to cover himself with a robe in his own home. Mac was standing at the stove stirring a pot of Grams' cream cheese glaze with Matthew secure in the snuggly across her chest. DJ was in his booster seat finishing the cup of milk Mac had given him to hold him over until breakfast was ready. The kid had his mother's appetite.
"Hi, Daddy!" DJ said loudly alerting Mac to Harm's presence.
"Good morning, Sailor," Harm smiled as he ruffled DJ's hair.
"About time you joined us there, Flyboy," Mac teased turning slightly to greet him. It had been months, nearly a year since she'd seen Harm's body as it was now, covered by one a pair of sleep shorts and then he'd been horribly sick, now he was far from the gaunt, pale man he'd been when they made love in Utah.
"Sorry, Mac," Harm replied approaching the stove. "I've been having trouble sleeping. Can I help?"
"You can take the glue baby here and change his diaper," Mac replied. "He's a little fussy this morning."
"Oh, he is?" Harm asked Matthew as he took the baby from Mac. "Well let's see if a new diaper won't fix that. DJ, do you want to help Daddy?"
"NO!" DJ replied firmly while emphatically shaking his head.
"Wise man," Harm laughed taking Matthew to be changed into a dry diaper and little marine khaki overalls and green shirt. "There, all dry and ready to see Dr. Jacobson to see if you can help sissy."
Matthew gurgled and watched Harm's expression with expressive Rabb eyes. "Here we go, let's see Mommy and brother before you decide to wet again."
When Harm returned with Matthew, Mac had finished glazing the cinnamon muffins ad was pouring coffee into a mug at his usually place. How alike this morning was to all other mornings in their married life, yet in some ways it was completely different. Harm slid Matthew into his baby seat and took his place across from Mac.
"Have you looked in on Lucy this morning?" Harm asked sipping his coffee.
"Yeah, when I first woke up. She was wet so I changed her. We'll put her sheets and blankets in the wash before we leave for the doctor," Mac replied.
"Yeah!" DJ exclaimed when he heard Mac mention ed the doctor. "I get to play with Jimmy." DJ was old enough to understand Lucy was sick but two young to grasp the severity of her illness.
"Actually DJ," Mac began. "Daddy and I want to talk to you about something, okay? You aren't in trouble, you've been very good boy helping Mommy take care of Matthew and Lucy, but in still need to talk to you about something very, very important okay?"
DJ's eyes got wider with each word. He never heard his mommy talk quite like that before and it worried him. DJ remembered something AJ asked Uncle Bud last week about Lucy and Aunt Harriet had said maybe…Maybe Mommy knew for sure so he asked, "Is Lucy going to go to Heaven?"
The innocent question caught Harm and Mac by surprise. They didn't even realize DJ know about Heave or that people went there when they died. Harm recovered first. "Where did you hear that, Sailor?"
"AJ asked Uncle Bud and Aunt Harriet if Lucy was going to go to Heaven like their cat, Paco. He said Lucy has the same sick Paco did so was she going to go there," DJ explained as best he could.
"What did Paco go to Heaven for, Pumpkin?" Mac asked gently.
"I don't know. Jimmy said Aunt Harriet had him laid down," DJ replied. "Are we going to have Lucy laid down because she can't play anymore?"
Mac but her lip to keep from crying. "No, DJ. No, people don't get put down like pets do sometimes but both people and pets can got Heaven. What did Uncle Bud say when AJ asked him that DJ?"
"Uncle Bud said to be quiet and Aunt Harriet said maybe if the doctor can't fix her. I don't want Lucy to go to Heaven. You can't visit there."
DJ's big blue eyes were clouding with tears as he asked, "Is she going to go there, Mommy?"
Mac lost her battle with her emotions and began to cry quietly just as DJ started sobbing. Harm rose and collected DJ into his arms. With her eyes Harm instructed Mac to collect herself before he carried DJ into the living room and held the distraught little boy on his lap. "The truth is, son, that Lucy has a very, very bad boo-boo in her blood. This boo-boo is bigger than any one you've had or me or even Uncle AJ."
"He has lots of big boo- boos," DJ announced. "He's not in Heaven."
"That's right, he's no because when he got those boo-boos a doctor was able to fix them so he got better," Harm explained.
"Is Lucy's boo-boo going to be fixed?" DJ asked softly.
"We hope so," Harm replied. "That's why she has the wires in her belly and why her hair fell out, because of her medicine. But sometimes medicine needs some help."
"Can I help?" DJ asked. "I'm a big boy. I help Mommy feed Matthew."
"You are a very big boy and yes, there is a way that you maybe can help," Harm replied. "I told you Lucy's boo-boo is in her blood and one way to help is to replace the blood that isn't hurt. The thing is this new blood has to be almost exactly like Lucy's or it won't be able to work right. One way you can help is to let Dr. Jake see a little of your blood so he can tell if it can help Lucy. Will you do that DJ? Will you let Dr. Jake see if your blood can help Lucy?"
"Will I get Lucy's hurt blood?" DJ asked biting his lip.
"No, no we'll only use a really tiny bit," Harm explained. "Then you'll both have nice healthy blood again. What do you think, Sailor?"
"Will it hurt me?" DJ asked softly.
"Only for a tiny minute and Daddy will be right there," Harm assured him.
"Will you be made if mine doesn't fit?" DJ inquired covering all his fears about doing this thing being asked of him.
"No, Sailor," Harm replied. "It wouldn't be your fault, that is just how it is sometimes, but I know it would be a very nice thing to do. Let Dr. Jake see your blood and even if it doesn't match Mommy and Daddy will be so proud of you for wanting to help Lucy. What do you think? Will you come with us today and let Dr. Jake check your blood?"
DJ thought another minute, "Can I play with Jimmy later?"
"You bet you can," Harm replied. "I bet you'll even have a cool neon Band-Aid to show him."
"Okay," DJ said squirming to get down from Harm's lap. "I'm going to go get my planes."
DJ scampered off to his room nearly knocking Mac over as he passed her.
"You are amazing," Mac praised. "Thank you. I never could have…"
The muffled voice from Lucy's monitor interrupted Mac's words. "She's awake," Mac said softly. "Can you clear breakfast and bundle the boys p while I get her ready to go?"
"Sure," Harm replied. "And Mac…" he called as she walked away. "You could have."
Mac rewarded Harm with a smile then went to tend her little girl.
