A/N: Here is the next installment. You have been great in your reviews and support for this fic. I'm so excited to post each week. JAG fans are the best! Once again I own nothing but the typos I'm sure I have missed even with reading it twice. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Harm placed Matthew in his swing when he heard Mac's cry and moved as quickly as he could toward the sources of the sound grabbing the cordless phone as he went. "What's wrong?" he asked breathlessly.

"I don't know. She's bleeding all over and she's ice cold," Mac said as she continued to rock Lucy gently in her arms. "I can't wake her up."

Harm nodded and dialed while joining Mac on Lucy's bed so could be close to both his girls.

"911, what is your emergency?" the operator asked when the call was connected.

"My name is Harm Rabb. My daughter Lucy is having a severe nose bleed. She's being treated for leukemia and my wife found her with blood, cold and nonresponsive," Harm explained with the military proficiency of the Captain he was. "We need help. She's only seven."

"Okay sir, I'm dispatching police and EMS to your home. I have 2114 Maple Tree Blvd as your home address," the operator confirmed. "Now what I want you to do is sit your daughter upright so she doesn't get blood into her lungs or stomach, and then wrap her in blankets to keep her warm. Are you holding her?"

"My wife is. She's rocking her," Harm replied focusing on the operator and not on the sight before him. "Talking to her."

"Ask your wife to stop rocking her and keep her very still, but keep talking to her because she may be able to hear you. I'll hold the line until the police arrive."

"Mac," Harm said softly rubbing her arm. "Mac, Sweetie you need to stop rocking Lucy."

"She's scared. I rocker her when she's scared," Mac murmured softly.

"I know you do honey, but the operator said she has to be kept very still, okay?" Harm reasoned. "Once we get the bleeding to stop you can rock her as much as you want. I promise but for now we need to listen to the dispatcher, so please stop okay?"

Mac agreed through tears and Harm slipped off the bed slowly, "I'm going to get more blankets. Keep talking to her."

Harm was back in an instant with a large quilt in his arms, the phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder. "Where's the EMT crew? " He asked wrapping both Mac and Lucy in the large quilt he'd brought from the master bedroom. Mac's face was nearly as white as Lucy's was and Harm could tell by the like quake of her shoulders that she was no far away from shock herself.

"Police just radioed their arrival," the operator replied as Harm heard the swift knock on their front door.

"Manassas PD," the officer called as harm hurried to let them in and scoop up Matthew who had been awakened by the knocking and the shouting from the other side of the door.

"This way," Harm directed the officers, then the medics who arrived on the coattails of the cops."

"Long time no see, Mr. Rabb," one of team greeted. At a glance Harm recognized the older man as one of the men that had been out for Mac numerous times during the height of her illness. "Fortunately."

"Yeah," Harm nodded rubbing Matthew's back as the baby wailed letting his fear and displeasure at such a rude awakening be known to all around him.

The younger of the team, most likely another trainee given the experience that accompanied the seniority of the older medic, froze at the sight of Mac and Lucy huddled together each stark white and in their own little world. The older medic, Ray, moved into the room bringing the stretcher with him. He knelt on the bed in front of Mac and spoke in the firm soft tone of one who had years of experience at this sort of thing.

"Mrs. Rabb," he began gently. "Let me see you daughter."

"No, she needs her mother. You aren't' taking her away from me," Mac argued. "She's mine, you can't have her. I won't let you take her," she declared and held Lucy tighter.

Harm put his hand on Mac's shoulder, "He has to take her Mac," Harm soothed. "Lucy needs the hospital honey. Let them help her. You can go with her. Please, let them help her."

"He won't take her away?" Mac asked shyly not at all in control of her thoughts or actions.

"No, he'll just take her to the hospital," Harm comforted. "I'll get DJ dressed and meet you okay?"

Mac nodded. "Okay," Mac told the medics as she relinquished her hold on Lucy so the medics could take her. "Please help her."

"We'll do all we can," Ray assured her gently putting Lucy on the stretcher and rushing out the door with Mac along at his heels.

Harm dressed Matthew first and secured the boy in his seat before walking DJ and hastily putting his coat and shoes on the sleeping child. Once both boys were safely in their car seats, Harm called AJ from his cell phone as he rushed to meet Mac at the hospital.

"Chegwidden," the retired Admiral barked reverting to his military behavior when startled.

"AJ, it's Harm. Did I wake you?" Harm asked. It was late but not so late that AJ would have been asleep.

"No, I was reading. What's up?" AJ asked on full alert given the stress he heard in Harm's voice.

"Can you meet us at Manassas General?" Harm asked breathless.

"What happened?" AJ asked already putting on his tennis shoes in preparation to leave. "Is it Lucy?"

"Yeah, Mac found her in her bed in a pool of blood. They went ahead to the hospital in the ambulance and I have the boys," Harm replied. "We really need your help."

"I'm on my way, son. Focus on getting to the hospital in one piece and find Mac. I'll meet you and we'll make out a plan," AJ said calmly. "One step at a time son."

"Thanks, AJ," Harm sighed before ending the call.

March 13, 2007

0429 ZULU

Manassas General Hospital

Harm found Mac as soon as he got inside. She was still holding Lucy's blanket and standing with a young woman in a casual suit with an ID badge on her lapel.

"Is this your husband, Ma'am?" she asked gently when Harm appeared.

"Harm Rabb," he replied for Mac."How's my daughter?"

"I'm sure she's getting the help we can give her but I'm here to help you. I'm Lynn Michaels with the Crisis Assistance Program," the woman replied.

"Crisis what?" Harm asked.

"Crisis assistance," Lynn replied. 'I sit with patients or their families, seek information, get coffee, assist in power of attorney issues, anything that may need to be done that a family member should not have to focus on in a situation like this one. Is anyone able to come and pick up your other children?"

"Yeah, our friend is on his way," Harm replied. "Where can we sit and wait?"

"Chairs, but she refuses to move," Lynn replied glancing at Mac with compassion in her eyes.

"Give us a minute alone," Harm requested. "Can you keep an eye on DJ?"

Lynn smiled at the tired preschooler but spoke to Mac first. "I'm going to walk DJ down the hall, but we'll be where you can see him, okay?"

Mac looked from Lynn to DJ to Harm. "Not away from me," she directed.

"No, just where you can see," Lynn assured her before taking DJ's hand and leading him down the hall promising to show him a book about dinosaurs on a nearby table. DJ was a sweet child and he wasn't afraid of strangers if his parents were close. He easily trusted Lynn. That was a bit surprising to Harm but a welcome relief at the same time. He needed all his focus to help Mac.

Harm moved to stand directly in front of Mac's field of vision. He reached out with his free hand and squeezed her shoulder,"Mac," he said softly. "Mac, honey, let's go sit down and wit for AJ okay?"

Mac shook her head, "No, I need to be with Lucy. She needs me."

"Yes, she does," Harm agreed. "She needs you to focus and take care of yourself so you can be with her later. I know you're scared honey. I am too. Let's go sit down with DJ and Matthew and we can hold hands and wait for the doctors, okay?"

"She was so cold," Mac said with slightly more recognition and clarity in her eyes. "She was so cold and still that I though…" Mac's voice cracked and she began to sob and shake. "God, Harm. What if I didn't check on her? What if I didn't check?"

The force of Mac's grief drove her to her knees as she broke down in tears. Harm set Matthew's carrier on the floor and dropped to Mac's level ignoring the pain shooting through his hip. He leaned against the wall and pulled Mac into his arms cradling her head against his chest as he stroked her hair. "It's going to be okay, Mac," Harm soothed. "You'll see. It'll be okay, no matter what I'll get you through this. I promise."

"She's my…my baby," Mac sobbed holding onto Harm for dear life. "My baby…what are we going to do? How…"

"Harm! Mac!" AJ called out as he saw the terrified parents on the ER floor. He broke into a run his heart pounding with fear at what the sight before him could mean. "What do you know?"

"Nothing, they're still working on her," Harm replied as he continued to comfort Mac who was finally calming with his touch.

"Where's DJ?" AJ asked.

"He's with the crisis assistance counselor," Harm replied looking down the hall to where DJ was being read to by Lynn Michaels.

"I called Bud and Harriet," AJ informed them. "She's going to come for the boys so I can stay here with you. Bud can inform Creswell at staff call…"

"I need to be at JAG, AJ," Harm sighed. "I'm out of leave and my family leave was denied pending appeal. We're still considered in war time and we're shorthanded"

"I'll handle that, too," AJ assured him. "Why don't we go wait in the waiting area? It will be more comfortable," AJ offered Mac his hand and eased her out of Harm's embrace and off the sterile floor. Harm was grateful for AJ keeping Mac distracted long enough for him to get off the floor without causing himself too much pain and embarrassment. Harm picked up Matthew's carrier and quickly joined Mac on the sofa in the waiting area reserved for critically ill ER patients. They sat in silence, hand in hand, awaiting news.

Finally, just as Harriet rushed through the double doors of the ER and headed towards them Harm and Mac saw the doctor step out and call for them. "Mr. and Mrs. Rabb?"

"That's us," Harm replied taking hold of Mac's hand and rising to greet the doctor. "How is she?"

"We've been able to stop the bleeding which was our primary concern, but she lost a lot of blood in that hemorrhage which has put her body into a state of hypovolemic shock."

"Is that serious?" Harm asked squeezing Mac's hand.

"Yes, in any case that amount of blood loss is worrisome; in Lucy's case it is extremely serious. We have her on a transfusion regimen and hopefully that will turn her around for now," the doctor explained. "But that's only a band-aid cure at this point. We ran some tests and Lucy's white count is immeasurable, she's in crisis. Who is her oncologist?"

"Dr. Jacobsen," Harm supplied. "Doctor, our sons were tested as potential marrow donors. Dr Jacobsen will have the results this morning. Can we proceed with that given this development?"

"Mr. Rabb, in my job you see a lot of things, some minor, some severe, some unpredictable. I have always believed medicine is part art and part science which allows for a certain degree of uncertainty in some situations," the doctor explained. "In this case, however, there is no uncertainty, without a transplant being done and soon, Lucy will die, that is a medical fact."

Harm shuddered at the harshness of the doctor's words, "And if we find a donor?" Mac asked choking back her sobs as tears started to fall down Harm's cheeks.

"As weakened as she is, she'll likely not make it through the cycle," the doctor said grimly but frankly. "I'll put a call into Dr. Jacobsen and he'll advise us on how to proceed. I am sorry I can't give you better news I really am."

"Thank you," Harm managed. "When can we see her?"

"We'll move her up to isolation in the PICU. Once she's settled you can see her," the doctor replied before disappearing behind the double doors labeled Authorized Personnel Only.

"Oh dear God, Harm," Mac cried sobbing into Harm's broad chest. Harm held her tightly, but was unable to offer her any support or comfort for his own heart was breaking at the thought of losing his baby girl.