PART FIVE
MONDAY, MAY 30, 2005
NORTH OF UNION STATION
Harm may have only been here for four nights, but it didn't take them more than the first night to get used to sharing a bed again, and the comfort of being close and the relaxed feeling after lovemaking had had them both sleeping so soundly the last couple of nights that, this morning, neither of them twitched a muscle until the alarm clock buzzed.
The disadvantage of sleeping until the alarm clock woke them was that Harm had no time for anything other than to get ready for the Memorial Day ceremony.
As Harm dressed, he thought about how easy it would be for him to be resentful of being used in the Secretary of the Navy's political show. However, Harm couldn't muster any ill will because, though if he hadn't agreed to the SecNav's request for him to appear, he could've ordered him to be present, Harm had readily agreed the moment the SecNav had told him that he'd have to be in DC. So, Harm felt that he was just as guilty of using the SecNav for a trip that would allow him to see his family as the SecNav was guilty of using him.
Showered, shaved and in his dress whites, Harm gave Mac a kiss before leaving the apartment.
At the ceremony, Harm sat in his place, sure that, with the flag flying high and the patriotic songs playing in the background, all the pomp and circumstance was playing well on television.
The ceremony came to an end at 1115.
Harm was one of a handful of officers scheduled to join the SecNav, some politicians and the press for lunch.
Harm's handshaking and smiling would finally come to an end at 1345.
After leaving the luncheon, Harm stopped by the apartment to change before heading to the hospital because he wanted to be comfortable since he intended to stay as late as he could get away with tonight, his last visit with Mattie this trip.
WESTOVER REHABILITATION CENTER
Once the trio was together at the hospital, the ladies teased Harm about being a TV star before wanting a blow-by-blow account of the luncheon that wasn't televised, including all the guests and the menu.
Mattie was putting on a happy front, but she wasn't happy because Harm's visit tonight would be the last time that she'd see him...until the next time, if there was a next time, and if there was, who knew how long it might be until that happened?
How they managed to fill the rest of the afternoon with talk, primarily about his day among the DC elite, was beyond Harm.
When Mattie's evening meal arrived, Mac and Harm left for the cafeteria to get dinner for themselves. They returned a few minutes later with Styrofoam containers and ate dinner in Mattie's room to maximize the time that they could spend with her.
After dinner and a little more visiting, Harm didn't want to leave Mattie, but he could see that she was tired and knew that it was time to say good night.
Mac said good night and left Harm in the room with Mattie so that they could say their good nights and goodbyes in private.
After giving Mattie a pep talk about hanging in there with her therapy and exercising a little patience when it came to her custody hearing, Harm gave her a hug, and they exchanged their goodbyes before Harm sat next to her bed until Mattie drifted off to sleep.
Once Mattie had fallen asleep, Harm placed a fatherly kiss on her forehead and whispered that he loved her before he left her room.
NORTH OF UNION STATION
Arriving at the apartment, Harm knew that he needed to pack, but he'd much rather hold Mac. He soon found out that she was reading his mind again.
"I think you should pack now. You'll be leaving early, and I don't want you to have to get out of bed any earlier than absolutely necessary."
Harm agreed that he should get his packing out of the way, and that would be the last word that either of them would say about his departure for the rest of the night.
While Harm was in the bedroom, packing and preparing his uniform for tomorrow, Mac patrolled the kitchen and living room, looking for any stray items that Harm might leave behind if she didn't take them to him to be packed.
A part of Mac wanted to watch him pack and even to help, but another part of her just couldn't watch his things go into a travel bag.
After fifteen minutes of him being in another room, Mac walked up to the bedroom.
Mac started to turn down the bed when the sight of his shaving kit on the bedside table for use in the morning caught her eye.
Harm was hanging up the uniform that he'd wear tomorrow, so he was facing the closet with his back to Mac. He didn't see her remove her clothes, but he did turn around in time to see her nude body slipping into bed.
He was glad that he'd just finished the last thing that he had to do before he could go to bed, which was to prepare his uniform by applying the ribbon bars.
Harm moved to what would be called his side of the bed now that he was sharing it regularly with someone else and stripped down to nothing before he climbed into bed.
Once under the covers next to Mac, he put his arm around her and pulled her to him.
It felt so natural to be close to her.
Mac was using her fingertips to draw small circles on his chest.
Except for having to leave Mattie and Mac again, his life was better than ever before.
Mac's touch warmed his heart, but it also served as a cold reminder that he'd be sleeping alone tomorrow night.
Mac looked up at him as he looked down at her, their eyes meeting and then their lips.
They shared a kiss and then two.
They wouldn't speak of his flight tomorrow, but keeping his departure in the back of their minds kept the pace slow, and the lovemaking was savored and enjoyed by both of them like no other night before.