Home Is Where Your Love Is – Part 9
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Harm's Apartment Building
North of Union Station
5:43 PM
Harm manoeuvred his car into its usual spot, turned off the ignition and removed the key. He rubbed his hand across his forehead and sighed, letting his head fall against the headrest. He closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. 'Oh man. What a day.'
He slowly turned his gaze to the passenger seat occupied by the sleeping Marine, better known as his partner and best friend. He couldn't hold back the smile that adorned his face. 'She looks so beautiful. Even all the bruises and scratches can't hide her beauty,' Harm thought and then offered a silent prayer, thanking God that she was finally able to calm down and relax.
"She looks very peaceful, doesn't she?" Harm's grandmother whispered from the backseat after watching her grandson admire the woman next to him. Her words brought him out of his reverie.
The scene she was witnessing made her smile. The love her grandson felt for the Marine next to him was more than obvious and it warmed her heart immensely. She knew he had found his soulmate and she hoped, no she prayed, they would realize that fact sooner rather than later and be able to admit it to each other.
"Yeah, she does," Harm whispered back to his grandmother, giving her a little smile before turning back to the sleeping Mac. He let his thumb run softly over her rosy cheek, getting a little contented sigh from her in response to his touch. He then quietly added, "I just hope we can be there for her when she finally realizes all that has happened. I'm hoping the trained Marine in her will rise to the surface and help the traumatized woman that she is right now to cope with everything."
So far there was no news from the police as to what had happened. They still didn't know whether the explosion was an accident or if it was deliberately set. Some of the occupants of the apartment building were still unaccounted for, including Jingo. He knew how concerned she was about her beloved Jingo and hoped that they would get some answers soon.
Harm's thoughts suddenly went back to the time when she had been stalked by the weirdo Police Detective, Frank Coster. He remembered how she had been terrorized by him and so distraught that she had fallen off the wagon. All her years of sobriety had been put to the test, and she failed. She had been so ashamed; she had all she could do to face him and all their friends.
At that moment, he promised himself that he would be there for her in every way possible. No way in hell he would ever let her go through that pain and suffering again.
Grams raised her left arm and gave her grandson's shoulder a gentle, supporting squeeze. "Don't worry, darling. She won't need to cope with all this on her own, because you'll be there for her… and so will I."
Harm once more turned his eyes to his grandmother and smiled. "Thanks, Grams. I love you."
"I love you too, darling, and I have already fallen in love with this girl. Your mother was right, you know. She's quite the girl," Grams replied with a wink and a smile.
Harm chuckled and shook his head without bothering to give her a reply. 'Typical mom,' he thought and once again looked at the Marine right next to him, only now he wasn't seeing the Marine… he was seeing the very vulnerable woman.
Yes, Mac may appear calm and at ease right now - and for that he was thankful. But that was not the case shortly after they'd left the hospital parking lot. She had been terrified. She was a passenger in a moving vehicle who was unable to see what was going on around her. Mac had wrapped her arms tightly around herself in an attempt to somehow shield herself from the unknown. The harder she tried to engage her Marine instincts, the deeper they seemed to bury themselves. She was horrified at feeling so frightened and out of control.
x
Flashback
He threw Mac's bag into the trunk before walking around the car. "Here you go, Grandma."
Harm opened the passenger side door for his grandmother, but Grandma Sarah shook her head and had already opened the door to the backseat. "Sorry, dear, but I would rather make myself comfortable here in the backseat. I always get sick riding in the front."
Harm was bewildered by his grandmother's comment and totally taken aback, but it was Mac who spoke up first. "Ummm… Grams… I hope you don't mind me asking this, but since when? You never said a word when I picked you up at the airport, nor did you appear to be in distress as we drove to Harm's."
Grandma Sarah gave her grandson a little wink and started to get into the car. "Oh, I don't mind your asking, honey." Then she looked at her grandson and smirked. "Actually, the answer is quite simple. You see, I only get sick when sitting in the front while Harm is driving." She then gave Mac's unhurt hand a gentle squeeze and looked at Harm with a raised eyebrow. Slowly Harm began to understand what was going on. "I mean really, you obviously know the way he drives don't you, Sarah?"
"I sure do," Mac answered in all seriousness before both burst into a fit of laughter.
"Hey!" Harm yelped, pretending to be annoyed. He knew exactly what his grandmother was up to and was very thankful for it. "You ladies better not be ganging up on me already. I'm not sure an old sailor like me could survive it." As hard as it was not to, he decided not to mention the fact that Mac was even a worse driver than he was.
"Ooohh, you poor, old, decrepit thing," Mac replied jokingly giving his arm a little squeeze as she stuck her tongue out at him.
Harm laughed. "Just get in the car, MacKenzie," he said and helped her to get in before he leaned across to grab and fasten the seatbelt for her. The fact that he leaned in a little closer than necessary did not go unnoticed by Mac. Quite the contrary, it made her tingle from head to toe and wish that she could look into those beautiful eyes of his.
She shivered when she suddenly felt Harm's hot breath against her right ear. She was about to say something but Harm beat her to it. He whispered sweetly so that only she could hear. "Be aware, Marine, that the next time you stick your tongue out at me like that, you are going to be in for a very big surprise. That's a promise!"
With that said, he quickly placed a kiss on her earlobe and moved away from her. He closed her door and moved around the car to get in himself. Mac was dumbfounded and couldn't have uttered a coherent word even if she wanted to. She tried to compose herself by swallowing hard and taking a long, deep breath.
End of flashback
x
It had not taken long for Harm to realize that his grandmother had just made up the lamest excuse he had ever heard not to get into the front seat of his car. He scolded himself for not realizing how scary it must be for Mac - especially where he knew from first hand experience what it was like to loose your eyesight. He would have to thank Grams later for being successful in lightening the tension and allowing Mac to share the front seat with him so that she could take comfort in his close proximity.
From the moment she left her hospital room, she was very aware of her surroundings. Her remaining senses were extremely heightened to make up for her temporary lack of sight. Her nostrils were immediately assaulted by the smell of antiseptics and disinfectants. It wasn't until Harm and Grams came closer to her that they were able to counteract the offending smells with their pleasant individual scents, which she savoured - especially Harm's. Once they were outside, the sounds of the city overwhelmed her completely. There were screeching tires, car horns beeping, sirens blaring - even the resonance of people talking around her was more evident. The sounds and smells quickly blurred together in a disconcerting way, making her sway just a little. Harm sensed her discomfort and put his arm around her waist holding on just a little tighter. She leaned into him gratefully, knowing she would be able to rely on his strength to get her through this difficult time.
He'd turned on the CD player, remembering how music used to ease the tension from him when he had suffered his mishap. The sultry music of Nora Jones was filling the car as he reached over the console and took Mac's cold hand into his own. He squeezed it softly before pillowing their joined hands into Mac's lap. "Everything will by okay, Sarah," Harm uttered softly, while continuing to concentrate on the traffic around him and soothingly draw circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Thank you," Mac quietly replied, holding on to his hand for dear life. It didn't take long for her to calm down and relax. Between the painkillers she had been given, the soft music and Harm's gentle ministrations, she was soon sound asleep - her head softly pillowed against the car window.
"Mac, we're home," Harm prodded gently. He gave her hand, which he was still holding, a little squeeze in an attempt to rouse her from her slumber.
Mac turned her head a little. "Hmmmm… what?" She groggily asked, still more asleep than awake.
"We're home," Harm repeated and quickly got out of the car and walked around it to help her while his grandmother exited the car as well. "Here, let me help you." Harm undid her seatbelt and then took her hand into his, helping her out of the car.
Her legs started to buckle the moment they hit the pavement and Harm immediately intensified his hold on her. "Whoa, are you okay?"
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry," Mac replied a bit shakily. She managed a deep breath. "I guess those painkillers are doing their job a little too well. Sorry, but I don't think we will be dancing tonight," she teased jokingly, making Harm chuckle at her antics.
"Well, I didn't realize that was the plan in the first place, but now that you mention it, I definitely think that is something we are going to have to do in the future."
Mac groaned, shaking her head. "Damn drugs. I guess I put my foot in my mouth this time, didn't I?"
"Yup, you sure did. But don't worry, Marine. It will be fun. Just wait and see." Then Harm got serious again. "Do you want me to carry you upstairs, or do you think you can make it on your own?"
"I think I'll be fine. Just warn me in time before I walk into a wall or something, okay?"
"Marine, would I really let you walk into a wall or door?" Harm asked, smirking and automatically placed his hand over his chest, feigning to be hurt over her statement.
"You can stop smirking now and you can also remove that hand from your chest, Buster. I might not be able to see, but I haven't lost my mind and I know you too well, Harmon Rabb. So stuff it and just get me inside… please."
Mac turned her head towards him and grinned. Harm knew that if he could see through the gauze bandages, her beautiful eyes would be shining brightly.
There were so many things he would like to say or do, but all that he was able to get out for now was, "okay, Marine, lets go."
While Grams was waiting for them, she witnessed the entire scene from the entrance to Harm's apartment building. She was impressed by how well they knew each other. Mac was able to judge Harm's reactions, and Harm knew what Mac needed before she needed it. 'Oh yeah,' she mused. 'Definitely soulmates. How can they not see it?' she wondered.
"Hey you two," Grandma Sarah hollered. "Are you going to stand out here all night and chit chat? This old woman is hungry and would like to get off her feet and relax. Hurry up!"
"We're coming," Harm yelled back chuckling. "Why don't you let me at least lead you, Marine?" He asked and once again took her hand into his.
"That would be nice, but I was serious. I warn you. If you let me run into a wall while leading me, it will cost you a fortune," Mac joked, her wide grin still in place.
"I wouldn't dare. I know better."
"Yeah right," Mac replied, to which Harm gave a great big belly laugh and Mac joined in.
Together they slowly, and without any incidents, made their way up to Grandma Sarah and followed her into the apartment building.
What Harm, Mac, and Grandma Sarah failed to see where a pair of angry eyes staring at their every move from the dark shadows.
