Harm drove to the resort and check into the hotel. They gathered there things and made there way upstairs to there room.
"Hey Dad I think I am going to take a nap." Mattie said.
"Ok Mats that's fine have a good sleep." Harm said with a smile as he gave her a kiss on her head.
"I think I am going to go and nap too." John said.
"Ok we will be here when you get up." Harm said as he wished them good night.
Harm mentioned for Mac to come and sit next to him on the could. He laid down long ways and opened up his legs and pulled her close to him. With her back laying on his stomach and her head by his neck. "I Love You so much" Harm said as he wrapped his arm around Mac and pulled her close.
"I'm so scared for her Harm…I am so scared for her.."Mac said.
"What happened on the airplane?" Harm asked.
"Well let's just say my lawyer side stuck out and I asked John about Mattie before you met her." Mac said.
"And did he tell you?" Harm asked.
"Yeah he did…He said that it was really bad. He did not think that Tom ever hurt her physically, but there was this one week he said that Mattie was gone for a week and when she came back she had a cast on her leg. After that she totally shut down on him. John thinks that she might open up to me if I talk to her about it because I could relate to her." Mac said trying to hold back tears.
"Do you think he hurt her?" Harm asked feeling a lot of anger build up inside of him.
"I think so….I think he might have done more than just hurt her.."Mac said.
"What do you mean Mac….I don't understand." Harm said.
"I know it doesn't make sense and I don't want to say what I know until I am sure that i'm not just making up stories." Mac said.
"Ok, but I want to know as soon as you find anything out. No matter how painful it might be. Are you sure you are going to be ok?"Harm asked.
"Yeah I think that she really needs to talk about what happened and I think I am the only one that she is going to open up too. So I am going to be her Mom I am going to be there for her like I promised I would be." Mac said.
"And I will be here for you like I promised I would be. I feel bad for John I think he is really freaked out about all of this." Harm said.
"Yeah He is really scared for her. He really cares for her Harm." Mac said.
"Yeah I know.."Harm says.
"Were going to get through this, but I think I want to talk to her tonight. Before I loose the strength to talk to Mattie." Mac said.
"Well we could have some boy bonding time." Harm said.
"Yeah I think that would really help John out a lot." Mac said.
"Ok when we wake up from there nap." Harm said with a smile. "We will go our separate ways. I will be ready for you arms wide open tonight. Hopefully we can talk as a family tonight." Harm said.
"Yep and then we can begin to heal as a family too." Mac said. "I am glad that you are finally allowing me to be apart of Mattie's life." Mac said.
"I know Mac I'm sorry for pushing you away. I was just confused and lost…."Mac interrupted him with a kiss… "I'm not placing blame.."Mac said..
"I know…I know…I am glad to see you two getting along.."Harm said with a smile.
Yawning…"I'm tired can we take a little rest too.."Mac said..
"Yep do you want to go to the bedroom?" Harm asked..
"No i'm comfortable right here if you are.."Mac said..
"Ok my love gets some sleep.."Harm said as Mac got comfortable and they both fell asleep wondering what the events of this evening would hold.
A Couple Hours Later…….
John and Mattie well rested came out of there room to see Harm and Mac cuddling on the couch. Mattie accidentally hit the door with her chair and Mac started to stir.
"Sorry mom.."Mattie said…
"Oh sweet heart its ok. We were only resting until you guys got up anyways."Mac said.
"Did you have a nice nap?" Mac asked.
"Yeah well I did anyway.."Mattie said..
"I slept in an odd position.."John said…
"Yeah that happens to Harm sometimes too." Mac said.
At the mention of his name Harm stirred too..
"Good Morning Dad.."Mattie said…
"Good Morning Mats." Harm replied.
"So now that's everyone is up what are we doing this evening?" Mattie asked..
"Well we are actually going to split up a little tonight." Harm said.
"Oh ok John and I can find a place to eat if you and Mom want to be alone." Mattie said.
"Well that's not quite the split we had in mind… Mattie you and I are going to hang out tonight and Dad and John are going to do what ever it is guys do." Mac said with a smile.
"That sounds like fun..Is that ok with you John?" Mattie asked.
"Yeah I would love to spend the evening with Harm. We have a lot of catching up to do." John said knowing exactly why they were split, but he was still excited about getting to spend sometime with Harm.
"Well then it's settled then..."Mattie said..
"So Mom where are we going?" Mattie asked…
"Well I thought we would grab some dinner and then spend sometime sitting on the beach and talk." Mac said.
"That sounds like a plan…dad take good care of John and don't be weird.."Mattie said..
Harm laughed… "I won't be weird I promise." Harm said.
So they all got changed and they head there separate ways..
So Mattie and Mac had a nice dinner, but now they were on the beach and it was time to get down to business.
"There is more to this separation thing then Harm wanting to get to know John more isn't there?" Mattie asked.
"Are we that easy to read?" Mac said.
"Sorry mom your eyes said it all." Mattie said.
"Yeah Mattie there is more…And I am afraid your not going to like it…We have to talk about what happened before Harm found you with Tom." Mac said.
"I know…"Mattie said.
"Mattie I had a very broken child hood too. I want to help you and so does your dad and even John does too.. You have to be honest with me ok..You have to tell me everything." Mac said.
"I'm so scared…"Mattie said.
"No…you are in a safe place now Mattie….you do not have to be scared…we are going to get through this as a family." Mac said as she pulled Mattie closer.
"Where do you want me to start?" Mattie asked..
"From the beginning.."Mac said.
"Ok…Mattie said taking a deep breath… "Well everything started out ok. We were working together and everything was fine. Then he started drinking a lot and he would sleep during the day and then take money and go and drink at night. Sometimes I wondered if he would ever come back. So I started to run the business myself. I really had a lot of fun doing it. Things got worse and Tom would hardly ever come around anymore. I just turned inside myself and pushed everyone out of my life. I needed to be alone. I didn't trust anyone to love me. Until Harm came along. I guess we kind of helped heal each other." Mattie said..
"Mattie I need you to tell me about the week that you got hurt…"Mac said..
"I can't Mom….I can't go back there…"Mattie said.
"Yes you can….you need to tell me what happened. We need to help you heal…Mattie I need you to trust me.."Mac said…
"I do…it might take me a while…"Mattie said already feeling the emotions come to her.
"Take all the time you need Mats" Mac said as she pulled her tighter.
"It was a Tuesday night…I had come home from work and had eaten dinner and went to bed…it was about four in the morning or so and Tom came into my room…He was so drunk…"Mattie paused to gather herself…Mac pulled her close…."He came into my room and sat down on the bed. He was calling me my moms name…He kept calling me her name..He rubbed my cheek with his hand and then leaned down to kiss me…He kissed me. Not like a father would kiss his daughter, but like a husband would kiss his wife…Then he moo…"Mattie said breaking down now..
"Mattie I know this is hard, but you are going to feel better when it's over…"Mac said hiding her tears and trying to be strong for her daughter.
"He moved on top of me and began to rape me. I threw him off of me though and he pick me up and threw me against the wall. My left leg was wrapped in the sheets so it snapped when he threw me. I never felt anything cause I was knocked unconscious. I woke up at the hospital. I don't know how I got there, but I was there until Thursday. They told me that Tom was in a drug rehab place and he was getting help. So I made my way back to work and that's what I did. I told people that I fell down the stairs. I knew they didn't buy it. I had bruises all over me. So that's when I pushed John away. I couldn't let someone love me. I didn't think I deserved to be loved. So I emersed myself in my job and pushed everyone away until Harm came. And then things started to come back to the surface. I don't know..I tried but I just couldn't push him away. He wouldn't let me. He helped me so much. He showed me that I am worth being loved. You did too. Your right mom I do feel better..I need help and I know that now…I need to be loved and you guys love me…"Mattie said.
"Yeah Mats we do…We love you so much…thank you so much for opening up to me..I vow to you Mattie that I am going to give you back what ever child hood you have left. You no longer have to be the grown up. That's your dad and my job..Ok…we are going to get you through this…we are going to do everything in our power to help you through everything..I know Mattie what the other side of abusive relationships is like..Harm showed me too.."Mac said with tears streaming down her face.
"You already are…Your right I feel safe here and I feel better..Im sorry I kept this from you and dad.."Mattie said with tears in her eyes too.
"its ok Mats…its ok…you did a very brave thing tonight and it's a start…we are going to take this one day at a time and right all the wrongs that we need too ok.."Mac said..
"Yeah ok.."Mattie said with a smile as she gave Mac a huge hug…what she saw made her smile..
"Dad and John are here."Mattie said as she pulled away from Mac..
"Hey girls." Harm said as he came and sat down next to them..
"Hey dad where is John?" Mattie asked concerned she had pushed him away once she did not want to push him away again, she new he was scared, but he was helping her so much with out him even knowing it..
"He's in the car he wanted to give us sometime as a family…How are you doing?" Harm asked..
"I have begun to heal, but dad there is something that I have to tell you.. and you're not going to like it.."Mattie said.
"Ok Mats.."Harm said as he wrapped his arms around her now. Mac moved around and started rubbing his back. She wanted to keep Harm as calm as possible. Harm new that what Mattie had to tell him could not be good because Harm new that Mac was rubbing his back to keep her calm.
So Mattie told Harm what he had just told Mac.. It was harder for her this time to tell Harm. Harm took it really hard too just like Mac new he would, but boy was he brave in front of Mattie..
"Thank you for sharing that with us…I know it was really hard for you Mats…He is never going to hurt you again..I am so sorry for pushing you to befriend him again."Harm said.
"Its ok I kept this from you. You were only doing the right thing." Mattie said..
"I Love You both so much.."Mattie said looking at Harm and Mac.
"We Love you too Mats." Harm and Mac both said…
"Did you have a goodtime with John?" Mattie asked..
"Well why don't you let John tell you all about it.."Harm said..
"JOHN!" Mattie said so excited to see him.
"Mattie.."John said giving her a huge hug.
"We will leave you two to share sometime. We are going to go for a walk and then we are going to go and celebrate some where if any place is open. A Fun weekend from here on out." Harm said.
"That sounds wonderful.."Mattie said.
"We will be back in a little bit.."Mac said..
"We will be here." John said.
With that Mac and Harm walked away..
"John I need to tell you something…please just let me say what I need too." Mattie said.
"Ok Mats.."John replied..
She told him too what she had now told Harm and Mac…
"So that is why you pushed me away." John said.
"Yeah I did not want…I guess I couldn't…i'm sorry…but I want you to know that you have done more for me in the last couple of weeks then I can ever tell you. I just love being here in your arms.."Mattie said..
"I Love having you back in them.."John said with a little giggle.
Mattie gave him a kiss and pushed him back down on the sand and the kiss deepened. She rubbed her hand through his hair. Then kissing him again. She began to move his hands under his shirt. He pushed his shirt up and lowered her kiss from his lips down to his chest and then back to his lips… "Thank You.."Mattie said..
John lifted himself off of the ground and gave her another kiss.. "Your welcome and thank you for letting me in and giving me another chance.."John said..
"Thank you for caring for me even when I pushed you away." Mattie said..
John just giggled and sat up and pulled her close….
With Mac and Harm…………
Once they were far enough away where Mattie could not see each other anymore Mac and Harm both lost it. Mac broke down first and Harm went down and cried also. They just cried neither saying anything, but just holding on to each other. Harm broke away first and kissed Mac..she pushed him onto his back so she was on top of him..
"She is going to be ok…"Mac said with a smile.. Rubbing her hand through his hair..
"Yeah I know Mac…thank you for being brave enough to give us her back.."Harm said..
"I had the easy part..I was just the listener…it was hard though…it brought back so many memories that I had already delt with…it hit so close to home..I told myself that no other child should have to go through what I went through…"Mac said..
"She won't because we are going to give her….a childhood back….You and me we are going to love her and not allow her to be strong anymore…heck we taught each other how to cry.."Harm said..
"That we did.."Mac said with a smile..
"She is going to be ok.."Harm said with a smile..
"Yeah she is..really this time.."Mac said..
"And in two months…I am going to be the happiest man in the world.."Harm said..
"And why is that?" Mac asked..
"Because I am finally going to seal a deal that I have made the most beautiful women in the world wait ten years…Someone who has been there for me and gone farther with me. My best friend..'Harm said giving her a passionate kiss.
"I Love You Harmon Rabb Jr."Mac said..
"I Love you too Sarah Rabb."Harm said..
"I love the sound of that…Now I think we owe our daughter and her boy friend some Ice cream. I think she has earned it.."Mac said as she got off of him and helped him up.
They walked back to John and Mattie. Harm and Mac were so happy to see her smiling and them goofing off. "Hey you two lets go and get some ice cream." Harm said..
"Oooohhhh….Mint Chocolate Chip with extra sprinkles in a waffle cone.."Mattie said..
"Yes Mats I know.."Harm said tickling her…
"Ok you two stop or we are never going to get out of here."Mac said..
John Picked Mattie up and they headed to the car.. They went out to ice cream and had a great time. Everyone's mood had changed especially Mattie's. Harm was so happy to see her glowing inside..Then they went back to the room and headed to bed…It was a sad day but a good day for the start of the rest of there lives….
4 AM in the morning….
"No Please…..No Don't….Please….No…"Mattie said in her dream..
John woke up to her tossing and turning. He immeditly got up and knocked on Harms door… "Harm…"John said not wanting to go in not knowing what state Mac and Harm went too bed in..
"Harm got up out of bed and put his t-shirt on…. "John what is it?" Harm asked.
"Its Mattie she is having another nightmare.."John said..
"Ok Thanks for getting me.."Harm said as he made his way into Mattie's room.
John made his way out on the balcony and was joined by Mac…
"You know she will be ok.."Mac said as she wrapped an arm around her.
"I know…"John said..
"You are doing an amazing job being there for her."Mac said..
"You need to share your feelings…you don't have to be strong.."Mac told John and could feel him crumble..
"I guess its justs hard because I was there. I could have helped her. I knew in my gut that things were not right, but I just let them happen."John said..
"You did what she would allow you to do…It was her choice to make…but now she wants you and needs you. You have a connection with her that goes longer than her Dad and I do. We can be her parents but she needs you to be her best friend." Mac said. "Do you think you can do that for her?' Mac asked..
"Yeah I lost her once I am not going to loose her again." John said.
Mac just smiled and gave her a hug..
In the room with Mattie and Harm…
"Mattie i'm here…I'm right here…"Harm said just holding her…
Mattie just turned around and gave him a huge hug. And Harm just held her.. "Its going to be ok…Its going to be ok…"Harm said just rocking her..
"I know…I know Dad it is.. It's just going to take some time.."Mattie said.
"Yep it is going to take some time, but you will get there.."Harm said..
"I Love You so much dad." Mattie said..
"I Love You too Mats.."Harm said.
John and Mac came back into the room that Mattie and John were sharing for the weekend.
"John I was wondering where you went." Mattie said as John came over and sat next to her on the bed. Mac went and sat next to Harm on the bed..
"This is how I am going to get better.."Mattie said.. "I have the best family and friends in the world…"Mattie said.. "We are going to help each other through this.."Mattie said squeezing John's hand. Mattie new that what she had to say was probably hard for him to hear.. John just looked up at her and smiled..
"Now no more tears this weekend…Lets get some sleep so that we can have a great day at the beach tommorw."Harm said..
"Don't leave.."Mattie said..
"Nope were staying right here.."Harm said..
"I think i'm going to go for a walk.. I probably won't be able to get back to sleep anyways.."John said..
"John please don't go.."Mattie said feeling horrible..
"I just feel like I am intruding.."John said..
"You are not intruding please don't go I need you to stay.."Mattie said with tears in her eyes..
"Ok I will stay im going to go over to my bed..i won't leave.."John said as he climbed into bed.
Mattie moved around on Harm, but never out of his arms but she could see John and she reached her hand across the night stand and john took his comforter and moved on to the floor.. "I am here Mattie…I am here.."John said..
"I am so sorry John… I am so sorry.."Mattie said rubbing his hand..
"Its ok…I'm just glad your okay…I'm just glad your okay." John said.
"God Look at all this hurt….so many people he hurt…"Mattie said..
"I know Mats but he is not going to win…we are going to beat him.."John said..
"Now lets get some sleep.."John said as he felt tired again.
"Hold my hand.."Mattie asked..
"I'll be right here.."John said…
Soon both John and Mattie were asleep again.. Mac turned to Harm and just wiped his tears away… and gave him a kiss… "shes going to be ok..the hardest hurdle is done.."Mac said..
"I know I will just be happy when she is not hurting anymore.."Harm said..
"That day will come a family and love can cure anything.now get some sleep ok.."Mac said..
Harm wrapped his free arm around Mac and she snuggled down closer to Harm.. Good night my girls… Harm said as he too fell back asleep again.
A/N: Sorry for all the sad stuff, but I had to do it to flesh out Mattie and John's story. Happy things are on the way I promise. Just to let you know I have read some of the stories that have actually played Mac with her disease and the pain that it brings women and also there families. So all of you who are hoping for kids they are coming, but I am going to be a little realistic about it. So I hope that you are still enjoying the story! Thanks!