Title: The Past Is Never Forgotten

Author: Tempus Meum

Rating:

Disclaimer: The characters and premise used in this story are unfortunately not owned by me. If JAG was mine…the possibilities.

Spoilers: Season Five

Summary: Mac married Mic and headed to Australia for a new life, but things didn't work out as she had planned.

10

Checking that all the doors were locked, Mac headed into the lounge room to pick the pillows up off the floor and return them to the couch, before reaching for the remote. Seeing that the news was on, she sat down with the intention of only staying for a few minutes.

About half-an-hour later, as Harm crept down stairs for a glass of water, he was surprised to hear the television. Entering the lounge room he found Mac, curled up in a corner of the couch.

"Hey! I thought you were going to bed?" Moving up behind her he put his hands on her shoulders.

"I was…I am…just watching the news."

"Mac, you're watching the shopping network."

"Hmm…"

"Hey, you okay?" He moved around the couch and sat down beside her.

"I think so!"

"You think so?"

"Hmm…I just feel…I don't know…"

"It's okay…you can talk to me…"

"It's not that I don't want to…I can't explain it…"

"You need to get some sleep Mac."

"Probably…"

"Definitely! How long has it been since you've slept?"

"On the couch…this…"

"Mac…that was for about two hours…I'm talking a good eight hours straight."

"I…can't remember."

"Come on…up stairs now." Reluctantly Mac let him lead her upstairs to her bedroom door.

"Sweet Dreams Mac!" He left her their and turned away…but her soft whisper stopped him.

"Harm…you will still be here in the morning won't you? I don't want to wake up and find out that I've been dreaming for the last week."

"Hey…" Returning to her side he put his hands on each of her shoulders. "I promise you this isn't a dream…come here!"

Harm held her for quite a while before reluctantly stepping back, "Now get some sleep…I'll look after the kids in the morning when they wake up."

"You're just as tired as I am…"

"Well, you can repay the favour tomorrow morning!" He grinned at her.

"I will…goodnight Harm!"

Stepping in to her bedroom, Mac stopped short when she saw the small bundle in her bed.

"Brayden?" She whispered, stepping closer. Carefully she pulled the blankets back to reveal his sleeping face. Seeing his tear stained cheeks immediately worried her. Quickly changing into her pyjamas she climbed in beside him and gathered him up in her arms.

Stirring he slowly opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Mummy?"

"It's alright sweetie go back to sleep! I'm here now!" He moved as close to her as he could, snuggling into her chest, before closing his eyes.

"Love you mummy."

"Love you too Bray"

"Mummy?"

"Yes sweetie?" She ran her fingers through his hair as he pulled back to look at her.

"Do you love daddy?"

"Umm…I…well…"

"He hurt you didn't he?"

"He hurt all of us, Bray…not just me."

Brayden slowly nodded his head before looking back up at her. "Harm would never hurt you would he?"

"Harm would never hurt me…or you." Mac knew not to force the issue on him, he had to form his own opinion in his own time. "Come on sweetie let's get some sleep."

"Night, mummy."

Mac kissed the top of his head as he closed his eyes and relaxed in her arms. "Night, Bray!"

It was just after six am that Harm tapped lightly on the door to Mac's bedroom, before carefully opening it.

"Mac?"

"Hmm…Harm?"

"Mac…" he stepped further into the room, "…I can't seem to find Brayd…" It was then that he noticed the small bundle curled up beside her.

"Never mind. Sorry I woke you…go back to sleep."

"It's okay…" She stopped him, awkwardly pulling herself up to lean against the head board. "…are the others awake?"

"Jack's still sleeping…he had a pretty restless night. Charlie and Sam are in the lounge room watching cartoons and Caitlyn is in her room reading."

"Harry Potter?"

"I think so. Are you sure you don't want to go back to sleep."

"I'm awake now."

"Coffee?"

"Yeah…coffee would be…"

"Coming right up." He disappeared out the door. Only to return five minutes later with two cups of steaming hot coffee.

"Coffee!" Passing her the cup he made himself comfortable on the end of the bed.

"Thankyou."

"Is he okay?"

"He's still confused…" Mac ran her free hand over her son's hair. "He needs his father, sometimes he doesn't understand why he can't see Mic. Other times it doesn't seem to worry him. I just hope I'm doing the right thing."

"You are Mac. You made the right decision…your children may not realise it now but…don't question it."

"I hope you're right." Taking a sip of her coffee she looked over her son. "Because if I'm wrong…"

"Mac? Your kids…are great, they love you…if they don't second guess your decision neither should you." It was at that point that Brayden stirred beside her.

"Mummy?"

"Morning sweetie."

"Morning."

"Harm?"

"Hi buddy!"

"What are we doing today?" He pulled himself up and reached for the remote control to Mac's TV.

"Well, Sam and Charlie have to go to school…so we might just stay here..." She looked up to Harm "…but, we might go down to the park a bit later, how does that sound?"

"Sound's good to me." Harm smiled.

"Me too!" Brayden grinned.

"Alright then, sounds like we need to organise breakfast!"

"Pancakes?" Brayden turned back from the cartoons.

"Pancakes it is…" Standing up, Harm allowed Mac to pull the covers back, while Brayden turned the TV off and jumped up.

"Horsy ride?" He said jumping up and down in front of Harm.

"Oh I think we can do that, but we better go and check on Jack okay?"

"Okay!" Harm turned around and allowed Brayden to wrap his arms around his neck.

"Brayden, be gentle. I'll grab Caity and see you down stairs." She watched as they left the room, smiling at how comfortable Brayden was with Harm.

"Caity?" Mac tapped lightly on her eldest daughter's bedroom door.

"Come in!"

"We're having pancakes, did you want to join us down stairs?"

"I've only got…three pages to go…can I just finish this?"

"Didn't you have a few chapters left last night? How long have you been up?"

"Umm…not that long." Caitlyn grinned.

"Okay, come down when you're finished. But don't be too long."

"I won't!"

Entering the kitchen, she was surprised to find Harm and Brayden with all of the ingredients laid out in front of them. "What are you too up to?"

"We're making pancakes."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, so you can sit down right there, put your feet up, and let the master chefs work!"

"Master chefs?"

"Yep." Brayden stood proud on a stool beside Harm.

"Okay…just, don't burn the kitchen down."

"Oh ye of little faith." Harm poured Mac another coffee and then set about preparing their breakfast.

Caityln joined them a short time later, taking the stool next to Mac. "Mmm, pancakes?" she said, eyeing the growing pile in the middle of the bench.

"You and Sam should probably eat! Sam, Charlie, breakfast!" Mac placed the tray in the middle of the table before collecting cutlery, plates and syrup and returning to the table. "Come on dig in, you two have to get ready for school." Without complaint Caitlyn and Sam sat down and ate the pancakes that Mac had served them. They were almost finished when Harm topped up the tray with the last of the pancakes and sat down himself.

"Good?"

"Great!"

"Harm can flip them!" Brayden exclaimed around a mouthful of his own pancakes.