PART TWELVE – Time Together
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005
Harm skipped his morning run again to have time to unpack the last box of what he considered to be essential things, visit Mac and get to work early so that he'd be able to leave the office for the day at lunchtime to pick up Mac from the hospital. However, before he could leave the apartment, Mac called.
"Hey, Mac, I was just leaving to come see you," Harm said cheerfully into the phone.
"No, skip coming to see me because I need for you to do something for me. My clothes are all at the embassy. I don't have anything to wear to leave this place. I need for you to pick up my clothes at the embassy or, if you can't get in there to do that, you need to buy something for me to wear home. I have the strapless bra that I was wearing, and they managed to salvage my panties, but they had to cut that ball gown off of me," she said, sounding distressed.
Harm could hear the anxiousness in her voice. It was as if her clothing being at the embassy was the biggest problem in the world, but he guessed that, at that moment in her world, maybe it felt like a monumental stumbling block.
"No problem, I'll take care of it."
"Thank you," she said, sounding relieved.
"No need to thank me because I want you home with me as much as you want to get out of that place."
Since Harm was concerned that, if he showed up at the hospital this morning after Mac had asked him not to, she'd be upset that she wasn't going to have anything to wear when she was discharged, he went straight to his office and put in a call to Colonel Bridges, who was back on duty at the embassy. The colonel said that he'd have her things packed up and that a driver would deliver them to their apartment later that afternoon.
It was nice of the colonel to be so accommodating, but since Harm wouldn't be able to get any of her things before going to the hospital, he needed to make a stop to buy something for her to wear.
While Harm was having a stressful morning, trying to do everything that he needed to get done, a woman volunteer was helping Mac to get ready for discharge.
Though she was still in pain, Mac was pleased with being able to get her hair washed, and having it clean made her feel one hundred percent better. Then again, maybe it had more to do with the fact that Harm was going to be there soon to take her home and they were going to have a chance to spend some time together before she had to return to DC.
Mac's doctor came in to do his final exam, explain the surgical procedure that she'd had and to give her his discharge instructions.
Recounting the surgical procedure, he told her that her endometriosis had made her surgery more difficult and that he'd had to 'clean up' in there to find the second bullet, but that her uterus hadn't been compromised.
Mac tensed at the mention of her reproductive system. It was screwed up enough, she thought, but then it occurred to her that what he said might have changed things for her, so she asked, "If you removed more of the lesions, are my chances better for conception?"
"Though the tissue that I removed, or rather the area from where I removed it could certainly impact your fertility, it isn't my area of expertise, so I recommend that you consult with your gynecologist after you recover from this surgery to get his opinion."
In that moment, from the pain of being shot, hope sprang that the experience had increased her chances of having a baby.
Harm had gotten so busy at the office and was in such a hurry to get to the hospital that he hadn't stopped at a store on the way to buy something for Mac to wear. A stop at the hospital gift shop, where they did have a selection of simple cotton dresses to choose from, saved Harm from being late to pick up Mac.
The doctor was coming out of her room when Harm arrived. "You have good timing," the doctor said to him. "The nurse will give you some final discharge instructions and then she'll be ready to go."
Mac called the dress that Harm had bought a 'grandma frock,' but she had no problem with wearing it in order to get out of the hospital without having to leave in a paper gown with her backside showing. After having the garment on for a few minutes, Mac pointed out that the loose fitting dress may have been a good purchase since it didn't put any pressure on her abdomen or rub against her incision site.
They'd been waiting for nearly thirty minutes before the nurse came in for a discharge briefing. First, she went through a list of signs that could suggest a problem, including fever, redness at the incision site, etcetera. After completing that list of items, the nurse had another list. This was of Mac's physical restrictions. The nurse looked directly at Harm when she said that she was to have no strenuous activity including intercourse. The nurse's final point was making sure that Mac knew that she needed to be seen in three days for a wound check and then follow up with her regular physician to check the surgical site about ten days after that.
The ride home and the walk into the apartment tired Mac, so Harm helped her to the couch to rest. Mac was thrilled to see a pillow and a blanket on the couch, and she made herself at home. She didn't realize that they hadn't been put there specially for her. They were there because Harm had been sleeping there since he'd moved in.
Harm went to the bedroom to change out of his uniform and, when he returned to the living room, Mac was lying back on his pillow, wrapped in his blanket and sleeping peacefully.
Harm smiled at the sight of his very own sleeping beauty. He didn't want to wake her and moved about quietly. First, he called to check on things at the office and then he decided that setting up his home office would probably be the only thing that he could do that wouldn't disturb her. So he went to the third bedroom and began to work on placing his desk in a way that would leave room for her table of dinosaur bones when her things arrived there.
Harm was working at his newly set up desk when Corporal Jennings knocked at the door. He was thankful that Mac didn't stir.
The corporal had brought Mac's things from the embassy, including her updated orders. She'd be returning to DC on Saturday afternoon, barring any unforeseen complication in her recovery.
By the time the corporal left and Harm had moved her bags into the bedroom, it was time to make dinner.
The smell of something cooking woke Mac.
Harm's new place wasn't as open as his loft, and Mac couldn't see the kitchen from the couch, so she slowly rose and made her way to the kitchen.
After they'd eaten dinner and cleared their plates, Harm said that he'd clean the kitchen later, and he gave Mac a grand tour of the place now that it had at least some furniture in the rooms. Their bedroom was the last stop on the tour.
Harm was worried when he opened their bedroom door and she started to cry. She wasn't sobbing. It was just tears rolling down her cheeks.
Harm looked petrified. "What's wrong, Mac? Are you in pain?"
"No, it's the bed. I had no idea that you bought it."
"I bought it on Monday after I signed the rental agreement. Did I get the wrong one?"
"It's the right one," she said, walking over to the bed. She sat down on the edge of it. "It's very comfortable."
"I wouldn't know," Harm said sheepishly. "I haven't slept in it."
"Why not?" Mac asked, astounded.
"I've been busy. I just got it made this morning before I left for work."
Mac just shook her head and rolled her eyes at him as a mother would a child who she suspected wasn't being completely truthful with her, because Mac suspected that, though what he said was true, the rest of the story was either that he hadn't been interested in sleeping in a bed that he might want to return if she left him or that he was waiting to sleep in the bed until she was there with him.
Harm had told her that her bags had arrived from the embassy while she was napping, so she asked where they were and slipped off the bed.
After Harm had lifted the bag that she needed onto the bed, he asked if she needed any help in getting ready for bed. When she said that she could manage by herself, he went to clean the kitchen while she changed.
After the dishes were washed, Harm came in to check on her and found her already in bed.
"Care to join me, Sailor?" Mac asked softly.
Did he ever want to join her, but he had to question if it was a good idea for them to share a bed.
"Do you think I should? I mean, you just had surgery. Maybe I should sleep on the couch."
Mac's face took on a pout. "I don't want to sleep alone. Besides, since you haven't slept in it yet, we have to sleep in it together to make it our bed," Mac purred.
He couldn't argue with her logic, especially since that's how he'd felt about sleeping in the bed since it had been delivered. It also wasn't hard to accede when he wanted to be close to her. After getting undressed down to his boxers, he climbed into bed and lay on his back, trying to lie still so that he wouldn't jostle his Marine and cause her any pain.
Craving contact with her, he reached for her hand and closed his eyes. Soon both of them were fast asleep.
FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2005
Friday morning was a duplicate of Wednesday and Thursday morning. Harm got up, skipping his morning run to spend time with Mac. He made breakfast and ate with her before going about his morning routine to get ready for the office.
Friday afternoon differed from the previous two days because he came home at lunchtime to take Mac to her follow up appointment.
Harm wasn't happy that, after her appointment, he had to return to his office, especially since the appointment had gone well and she'd be leaving tomorrow.
After Harm had taken her back to the apartment, Mac sat around trying to deal with her conflicted feelings. On one hand, she was glad that her recovery was going well, but the downside to that was it meant that her trip back to the States would take place tomorrow as scheduled. Given the latter, she was also disappointed that the doctor hadn't lifted the ban on intercourse.
Friday differed from the previous two days in other ways, too. Harm had been getting home by 1730, but this afternoon he'd called to say that he wouldn't be home until 1800, maybe even 1830.
The other nights, Harm had fixed dinner after he'd got home. They'd talked while they'd eaten, and then Harm had done the dishes before they'd sat on the couch and watched a movie before going to bed.
With Harm due home late this evening and since Mac was feeling better, she decided that she'd cook dinner.
The wonderful aroma of something baking greeted Harm's nostrils when he entered the apartment.
Mac heard him come in and came in from the kitchen to greet him.
"Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes," she informed him before she was the recipient of a soft kiss.
"You cooked?" he asked in surprise when their lips parted.
"I did," she said proudly. "I wanted to do something nice for you before I have to leave." She lowered her head, breaking eye contact with him.
He gently wrapped his arms around her. "Would it make you feel better if you knew when we'd get to see each other again?" he asked in a whisper.
Mac nodded against his chest. "How does Memorial weekend sound to you?"
"Not as good as next weekend, but better than never," she said before looking up at him. "Why then?"
"I like the sound of next weekend better, too, but I didn't pick the date. The SecNav called while I was out of the office with you at your appointment. I had to stay at the office until I heard back from him. That's why I was late tonight. He wants me in DC for Memorial Day. There's going to be some kind of salute to aviators this year, and he wants me to be there. I won't have any idea of what kind of free time I'll have until after I get my final itinerary, but whatever free time I have, I want to spend it with you and Mattie."
"Should you tell Mattie that you're coming to town? I mean, if you end up not having any time to see her, she'll be heartbroken."
"I hadn't thought of that, so maybe we should keep my visit under our hats until I get a definite schedule."
The oven timer chimed, signaling that dinner was ready and causing them to break their embrace.
They ate and did the dishes together before Mac packed up her things. It was probably a good thing that Mac had to pack because, after what had happened last night, they might not be able to follow the doctor's orders.
*****FLASHBACK TO LAST NIGHT******
They'd settled onto the couch to watch a movie the same as they'd done for the last couple of nights.
The premise of the movie that they were watching became clear soon after the movie began. It was about a man who couldn't find love, so he decided to start writing love letters to the woman in his dreams. He wrote them in hopes that someday he'd meet the woman. Then he met her, gave the woman the letters and told her how long he'd been in love with her.
Harm knew early on that the guy was going to find the woman somewhere along the way, and there was nothing about the man's sappy journey to find love that he wanted to see.
Unable to focus on the movie, Harm leaned over to kiss Mac, and she moved closer to him. He kissed her again, and she moved a little closer until they were soon making out and doing more kissing than watching the movie.
******END OF FLASHBACK******
While packing, Mac decided that she'd lighten her bag by leaving her civilian clothes behind. She originally hadn't had many, but after shopping, that wasn't the case anymore, and Harm had said that he wouldn't mind her clothes hanging in the closet. It would be his reminder that she was finally his girl, even if he had to wait a little longer before they could live together.
Though the gloom of having to put her on a plane tomorrow was present, Harm would have to say that today hadn't been bad as he lay in bed next to her.
Mac's report from the doctor had indicated that everything was looking good, and she was well on her way to being a hundred percent again. Though he didn't have a schedule yet, knowing that he was going to be in DC in a few weeks, he was confidant that he'd be able to make time to see Mattie at least once, hopefully more. As far as time with Mac went, he hoped that they'd have an opportunity to spend time together, going out to do dating types of things and that his schedule would allow the two of them to spend time together with Mattie. The one thing of which he could be sure about his trip to DC was that he'd need some place to sleep, and he had the perfect place all picked out - his old bed with the pretty Marine who was now snuggled against him with her head on his chest to share it with him.
"I'm sorry that the doctor didn't give me the all clear for -" Mac began in a whisper.
Harm cut her off. "It's okay. You being well is more important. I can wait."
"Good night, Harm. I love you."
He wondered if she could feel his heart beat a little faster. He wasn't ever going to get tired of hearing her tell him that she loved him.
"Good night, Mac," he said before placing a kiss in her hair. "I love you, too."
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2005
Their morning routine was the same today, except that, after breakfast, Harm took Mac's bag to the car.
When he came back inside to get Mac, she was standing in the living room, staring out the window. Her hand was positioned in front of her, and she appeared to be staring more at the ring than outside.
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "A penny for your thoughts," he said. His breath tickling her ear.
Mac turned in his arms. "I was just wondering about why you said that this was the right ring for me. I haven't thought of anything other than the obvious - it's beautiful. So, tell me. What's the significance or meaning that made this the perfect ring for me?"
"It stands for more than one thing, really. I didn't think of all of them at once, but before I bought it, I'd come up with three. The store clerk suggested one, but I have to say that none of them are very obvious."
"Well, we have eight minutes before we have to leave for the airport, so tell me the story of how this became my ring."
"I was out just exploring the city when I came across that section of shops that I took you to. I saw the jewelry store and I decided that I had to go in and have a look. I didn't see us as the traditional solitaire type, and I thought that this ring was unique. The clerk showed it to me and described it. The center stone is a two carat round diamond with a half carat, heart-shaped ruby mounted on each side, which makes it a three stone, three-carat total weight ring. The clerk talked about three stone rings symbolizing the past, present and future, and how that's a very popular trend right now. I was thinking that three multiplied by three is nine, the nine years that it's taken me to buy it. So meaning number one is the number of stones multiplied by the number of carats is equal to the number of years that it's taken for me to buy it and give it to you. The second one...the rubies represent our past and present, and the diamond represents our future," Harm explained.
"Why in that order?"
"Because diamonds are bright and sparkling, and so is our future," Harm replied with a huge smile.
"What's the third reason?"
"The third one didn't come to me right away." He paused. He knew that she'd tease him when she heard his answer. "Red and hearts are symbols of love, and they say that diamonds are forever. So the third reason that this is the right ring for you is because it says the way I feel...I'll love you forever."
Mac sighed. "This from a guy who thought that the movie that we were watching two nights ago was too sappy," she said playfully.
That was her only comment because, though she did think that it was a little sappy, it was romantic, and she secretly loved the amount of thought that he'd put into picking out her ring, but he didn't need to know that.
Her lips came to his lips, and they gave each other a kiss to remember until the next time fate gave them the chance to be together.
When the kiss ended, Mac's internal clock told her that they needed to head to the airport. She pulled back. "It's time to go," she said, but she didn't want to leave.
At the airport, he kissed her softly and whispered "I love you" into her ear.
In response, she looked him in the eye and returned his sentiment. "I love you, too," she said with a catch in her throat before she disappeared into the security area for international flights.
From the moment that Mac had left his arms at the airport, they'd both begun to count down the days until Memorial Day weekend when they'd see each other again.