knock….knock… Mac hit the door as she made her way into Mattie's room…

Back at the Rabb house…

"Hey Trish where did Mac go?"John asked..

"Harm called her and said that he needed her at the hospital."Trish said trying to give him the truth without worrying him. She had not heard the update herself..

"Oh okay…is Mattie okay?"John asked..

"I am sure that everything is fine.. I bet Harm just needed someone to come and replace him.."Trish said..

"Okay….Trish… you would tell me if something was wrong right?"John said..

"I would tell you…I promise.."Trish said…

"I think I am going to head home for a little bit…it has been a long day and I have not seen my parents…will you tell the Rabbs to let me know if they need anything…If not I will see you all in the morning.."John said..

"I will pass the message along."Trish said as she walked John out of the house…

"Thanks..have a good night.."John said and he turned on his car and headed back to his house for some much needed sleep.

15 Mins.. Later…

Trish was working in the kitchen when she heard the door open. She went running towards the door and just wrapped Harm in her arms.. Harm just lost it.. He fell to his knees and just cried…

"Harm come lets go into your room…"Trish said so that they could talk and also she knew that he would not want his friends to see him like this..

"Im so scared mom….I'm so scared…"Harm just kept saying over and over again…

"shhhhhh…..shhhhhhhh…..everything is going to be okay…."Trish said…

"That is what I keep telling Mac and Mattie and some how we keep ending up in the same place.."Harm said with a defeated tone…

"Yeah but the person who has been aiding you guys in this process is gone forever."Trish said…

"I know, but there is just so much baggage…."Harm said..

"You have made such great strides Harm…you will make it through this…come on Harm…In reality think of all that YOU and that You and Mac have made it through together….this is nothing….everything will be okay….it will…"Trish said…

"The only problem is that this time there is an innocent victim.."Harm said..

"Who has two loving parents…"Trish reminded him…

"I know….I know…."Harm said with a hint of a smile…

'There is the Harmon Rabb Jr. that I gave birth to."Trish said with a smile..

"Thanks mom….thanks for everything…"Harm said..

"It comes with the job title.."Trish said.

"I am going to take a shower and take a nap…"Harm said..

" I think that sounds like a perfect idea..'Trish said as she gave Harm a hug and a kiss and then headed back to the kitchen to finish dinner..

Harm took a quick shower and hopped into bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was gone.

Back in the kitchen…

"Trish is everything okay?"Frank asked..

"Yeah everything is fine…he is sleeping now.."Trish said with a smile..

"I am glad that he is home….I was going to go to the hospital and take a turn myself if he did not come home. He needs to learn that he can not do this to himself…Mac and Mattie need him strong…'Frank said..

'I think he is learning, but you know Harm…He is strong willed just like his dad."Trish said..

"I know…"Frank said with a smile…

"How is everyone doing outside?"Trish asked..

"They are having a great time…It is so weird how different thing are. Part of this world is friends spending time together after being apart…and then the other part of our lives is in the hospital for the third time.."Frank said..

"I know, but not for long…"Trish said…

"That is true…Can I help at all?"Frank asked..

"Nope… things are under control…just give me another 30 mins. and we will be ready to eat.."Trish said..

"Sounds like a plan I will alert the others.."Frank said..

Back at the Hosptial…

By the time that Harm and Mac said there good byes, Mattie had finished her lunch and was back to sleep again…

Mac just went into the room and sat in the recliner and fell asleep herself….

"mom….mom….."Mattie said groggily as she was waking up…

"Hey swettie.."Mac said as she turned her head…

"How are you doing….how is my baby brother or sister…"Mattie asked with a smile..

"Nice and warm and cozy.."Mac said…

"Good….I am glad that you got some sleep…"Mattie said…

"Me too…It was actually a good amount of sleep…"Mac said still snuggled in her covers on the chair..

"Mom….I want to go home…."mattie said…

"I know Mats….and you will, but the doctors don't want you to have to come back here again. They want to make sure that this is the last time you are in the hospital for a very long time.."Mac said..

"Well 6 months and two weeks to be exact…"Mattie said with a smile…

"I love you so much Mattie…"Mac said as she moved closer to the bed…

"I love you to mom…"Mattie said..

Knock….Knock….

"Here we go again…"Mattie said… Knowning that it was either the nurse or the doctor…

"Mats the more you help out the faster you will be out of here and HOME…"Mac said…

"Why are both of my parents lawyers I will never win an argument."Mattie said with a smile..

"Well you could become one in.."Mac said forgetting for a moment that someone knocked at the door..

"Mrs. Rabb…are you doing okay?"Dr. Hart asked concerned…

"I am fine…just spending sometime with my daughter that is all…"Mac replied..

"I am glad to hear that…and how is Mattie doing this evening.."Dr. Hart asked..

"She is doing a lot better than she was three hours ago.."Mattie said..

"I can see that.."Dr. Hart said as he was checking the chart and her vitals..

"Can we take the IV out??"Mattie asked…

"I am afraid that I can not do that..I am sorry Mats we have to keep it in until tomorrow then I can re-evaluate."Dr. Hart said.

"well it was worth a try…"Mattie said with a smile…

"I know kiddo…"Dr. Hart said… "Nicole should be in soon to ask what you want for dinner.."Dr. Hart said..

"Is that all Nicole will be doing when she stops by?"Mattie asked..

"You are getting to smart for me….Unfortunately she needs to take some more blood. I want to make sure that you are staying hydrated.."Dr. Hart said..

"You were going to let Nicole be the bad guy….I like her…"Mattie said, sad that she had this kind of friendship with Dr. Hart, but making the best of it. No one should know a doctor as well as she knew hers, especially when she was only in High School…

"I was wasn't I…that was not very nice of me now was it.."Dr. hart replied..

Just as Dr. hart was finishing his statement Nicole came in the room with the tray of stuff to draw blood..

"Nicole I just want to let you know that Dr. Hart here owes you one…"Mattie said…

"Oh really and what sort of trouble did Dr. Hart find himself in this time.."Nicole said playing along..

"Well see that tray that you have in your had to draw blood…well Dr. Hart here was not going to tell me that you had to draw more blood..he was going to let you take the fall…"Mattie said…

"I see….well he and I will just have to talk about that later.."Nicole said as she gave Dr. Hart a wink as he left the room…

"Okay Mattie it will be over as quick as I can.."Nicole said as she prepared the spot..

"Mom…."Mattie said holding her hand out..

"I am right here Mattie…"Mac said as she took hold of Mattie's hand…

Nicole did what she needed to do as fast and as safely as she could…Mattie was a good sport and Nicole was thankful that Mattie just did as she was told…

"So is there something going on between you and Dr. Hart?"Mattie asked innocently..

"Mattie…"Mac practically screamed…

"Come on mom I see a lot of you and dad in the way that Nicole and Dr. Hart communicate.."Mattie said.. "So…."Mattie said…

"Its complicated…"Nicole said..

"Trust me we know complicated…My mom and dad they just got married…guess how long they liked…even loved each other before they finally told each other.."Mattie said..

"How long?"Nicole asked sitting down on Mattie's bed..

"9 years….can you believe that…don't make the same mistake that they did.."Mattie said..

"I know its just hard we work together and we have to be professional.."Nicole said.. It was so nice to have people to talk to…it was so nice to have girls to talk too..

"I…we know that story too…Harm…Mattie's dad and I we used to be lawyers in the same JAG office."Mac said with a little smile..

"How did you make it work?"Nicole asked..

"Well the day that we finally told each other fate was already taking care of it. Harm got a raise to captain in rank and he was supposed to go over sea's and I was moved out here to San Diego.."Mac said..

"What a fairy tale.."Nicole said with watery eyes..

"You don't even know the half of it.."Mattie said…

"I would love to know all about it.."Nicole said…

"Well…maybe some other time…"Mattie said as she felt tired again..

"Hey Mats before you go back to sleep I need you to drink that juice and some crackers.."Nicole said..

"Will do.. and when you bring dinner and can take a break from your rounds..I will tell you all about the story of how Harm and Mac came to love each other and be my mom and dad.."mattie said..

"I would love that.."Nicole said..

"In the mean time…follow and trust your heart.."mac said to her..

"Thanks…you two….this is great and it really means a lot to me.."Nicole said..

"It means a lot to me too.."Mattie said…

"Come back anytime…"Mac said..

"Bye now.."Nicole said as she finished making the notes on Mattie's chart and got the blood work to the lab…She was on her way back to the nurses station when she felt someone wrap his arms around her body..

Nicole just closed her eyes and breathed it in…maybe it really would happen…maybe he really did love her…

"Will I see you tonight?"Nicole asked…

"Yeah I get off at 10pm…even though I am kind of sacred to come over.."Dr. Hart said with a chuckle..

"Hey you started it…and now I am going to finish it…you should know better…women will always stand up for there own kind.."Nicole said turning around to face him, scared that someone would see him..

"You know….it is hard for me to treat Mattie…"Dr. Hart said…

"Matt….she is going to be okay…"Nicole said getting teary eyed…the way he loved people and took care of them…the care that he gave his patients….Matt was not like any of the other doctors she had ever met..

"I know she is…it just is not fair that someone…that a young girl would have to go through all of this…all that she has had too…how could someone treat a women like that…."Matt said…

"I know….she has people who love her…heck we love her…."Nicole said..

"I have to get back to rounds….I will see you tonight though….I promise…."Matt said…

"You know what promises means…"Nicole said…

"It means I will be there with beef with broccoli at 10pm…"Matt said…

"Thanks…"Nicole said with a smile as they gave each other one more hug…

"You go first…"Matt said as he let Nicole go and he came out of the room a couple of mins later as soon as Nicole was long gone…..

Back at the Rabb House…

"Harm….Harm…."

"What…..Whats wrong….is it Mattie…What is going on.."Harm said..

"Harm its me….your dad…"Harmon Sr. said…

"am I dead…did I die in my sleep…im confused…"Harm said..

"no…no….you are fine…I just wanted you to know that I love you and that you are doing a great job.."Harmon said..

"Thanks dad…I just need to know that everything is going to be okay…"Harm said..

"I can't tell you how it will all end, but I can tell you that you are doing wonderful and that I am so happy for you…in all aspects of your life.."Harmon said..

"Thanks dad…"Harm said..

"Keep up the good work Harm and know that I am always with you..Just take care of yourself…you need to get more slee…you need to stay healthy…"Harmon said..

"I will dad…I will take better care of myself…"Harm said…

"I Love you son…"Harmon said..

"I love you too dad…"Harm said..

with that Harm was gone…

Back at the hospital…

"Goodnight mom…"Mattie said…

"Goodnight Mats…"Mac replied…

After Mac was sure that Mattie was a sleep she made her way out to the cell phone area. She wanted to call Harm, but she also wanted to let him sleep. She decided that she would call Trish first and then if Harm was awake she could talk to Harm afterwards..

Ring….Ring…

"Rabb residence this is Trish speaking…"Trish said as she picked up the phone..

"Hey Trish it is Mac.."Mac said..

"Hey swettie how are you doing?"Trish asked so happy to hear Mac's voice..

"We are all doing really well…Mattie is in good spirits and it seems that the scare from earlier is almost over…The baby and I are doing well too…I was just wondering if Harm was awake?"Mac asked…

"No we have not seem him yet…I suppose that is a good thing though right…"Trish said..

"Oh yeah…it is great that he is sleeping…Trish is John still at the house?"Mac asked..

"No he went home about the same time that you went to the hospital.."Trish said..

"Okay…"Mac asked..

"are you doing okay? Do you want me to wake Harm?"Trish asked..

"No…I want Harm to sleep as long as he can, even if that means all night.."Mac said..

"Are you sure? I don't know…what about the baby.."Trish said..

"We are fine and plus I actually am getting more sleep being here then having to entertain at the house.."mac said with a bit of a chuckle..

"That is true I did not even think about that…Well you let us know if you need anything…do you want me to send Frank or AJ with some dinner..I made your favorite cheesy chicken.."Trish said..

"That would be great, if Harm is not awake by then…"Mac said..

"Okay sounds like a plan…Don't worry about a thing we have everything under control here."Trish said.

"I know you do and I am so thankful."Mac said..

"I love you Mac…take care.."Trish said..

"I….I Love….You…..too…"Mac said…

Both women hung up the phones with smiles on there faces.. Mac made her way back to the room and snuggled up in the chair that they had there for her and she too fell back asleep again..

Mac was awaken a little while later at the sound of the door opening…

"Oh Mac I am sorry that I woke you up.."Nicole said as she came in the room..

"oh Nicole it is okay..you need to do what you need to do.."Mac said..

"I just have to do a vital check and I should be able to do it without waking Mattie up."Nicole said with a whispher.

"how was her blood work?"Mac asked in the same whispher..

"it came back good.."Nicole said…

"Great that is good to hear.."Mac said..

"Yeah…I will be back in an hour or so with some dinner.."Nicole said..

"Okay thanks Nicole…shouldn't you be off work soon… you have had one long shift.."Mac said..

"Yeah I have had a 36 hour shift but it will be over at 9PM then I will have a full day off..It will be hard to stay away…"Nicole said with a smile..

"I thank you for the kindness that you have showed us, but we all need our rest in order to stay strong."Mac said with a smile..

"Well I might stop by for a visit anyways…"Nicole said as she got ready to leave..

"What ever you would like to do.."Mac said with a smile of gratitude…

Then she snuggled up to go back to sleep…

Nicole came into a dark room again…This time Mattie stirred as she came in..

"Hey Mats…"Nicole said as she sat the tray down..She was happy that the lights were not on because she could not hide her smile..

"What is for dinner tonight?"Mattie asked..

"I don't know why don't you open the tray and see."Nicole said now really having a hard time keeping it in..

Mattie turned on her desk lamp and opened up the tin covering. She could not believe what she saw…

"Where did this come from?"Mattie said with a huge smile..

"An elf dropped it off while you were sleeping.."Nicole said..

with all the commotion Mac began to stir..

"Mom…grandma made dinner…"Mattie said..

"She did…huh…"Mac said with a smile..

"Mac I have some for you..I can go and get it.."Nicole said..

"Thank you Nicole.."Mac said.. Before Mac could finish her statement it seemed like Nicole was back with her dinner too..

"Nicole would you like some?"Mattie asked feeling bad that they were eating in front of her..

"Now do you think that your Grandma would bring some for you and not think about us?"Nicole asked..

"Of course not…"Mattie said with a smile.. "isn't it the best food you have ever tasted?"Mattie asked..

"Yeah…it is some of the best food that I have ever tasted…it was an amazing treat…"Nicole said..

"Knock…Knock…."Dr. Hart said..

"Hi…"Mattie said..

"Now something weird must be going on because I have not gotten a greeting that nice for over 24 hours…"Dr. Hart said as he came into the room..

"Well my grandmother is amazing…and she cooked me dinner tonight so it just made my night a little bit brighter.."Mattie said..

"Well I am glad to hear that because it makes my night a little bit brighter too."Dr. Hart said..

"I am to please..but shouldn't the fact that you get to go home to your own bed tonight make your night awesome.."Mattie said..

"I am going to hear about how much you want to go home every single time I come to check on you huh.."Dr. Hart said..

"I just don't want you to forget that is all.."Mattie said..

"Oh don't worry I will not forget.."Dr. Hart said…

"How is she doing?"Mac asked..

"She is doing great. The sleep is really helping her a lot.. I hope that it will continue.."Dr. Hart said..

"Well with all of the drugs that you have on me I do not have much choice in the matter.."mattie said..

"Good that is exactly the evil plan that I have put together.."Dr. Hart said with a evil laugh..

"I have to admit that…was almost creepy.."Mattie said…

"I am sorry I did not mean for it to be…"Dr. Hart said..

"Its okay.."Mattie said as she kept eating..

"Well Mats this is all for me…I will be back in 24 hours…"Dr. Hart said…

"And I will be here…I hope that you have a good day off.."Mattie said…

"I hope so too…"Dr. Hart said..

"Thanks for taking such good care of me…I do mean that…"Mattie said…

"You are welcome I will see you in a day.."Dr. Hart said.

"Maybe you won't…maybe I will improve so much that Dr. Matthews will be like you can go home and I never want to see you in a hospital again.."Mattie said..

"Mattie please don't talk that way…"Dr. Hart said. he hated that she thought those things because it just was not going to be the case..

"I am sorry…I just want to be home with my family…can you blame me for that.."Mattie asked..

"No I can't…I am really sorry, but do you understand why we can't just let you go…"Dr. Hart said..

"I know…I am sorry I know that I am making it harder on you. It is not my intention.."Mattie said..

"Just hang in there for me okay…that is what I need right now…"Dr. Hart said..

"That I can do.."Mattie replied…

"Mrs. Rabb…Mattie…Nurse Nicole…"Dr. Hart said as he made his way out of the room..

"I am sorry mom I did not mean too.."Mattie said..

"I know sweetie…I know that you are just tired of being in the hospital.."Mac said..

"Yeah…don't beat yourself up about it…he just cares a lot about you…we all do.."Nurse Nicole said with a smile..

"I guess… I just didn't think that doctors actually really cared about their patients..I mean I know that they do not want us to die, but I did not think that we became part of there personal lives."Mattie said..

"Well what can I say you have two of the very best I have ever met.."Nicole said..

"Yes I do…Don't I…"Mattie said with a smile…

"Nicole if my watch is correct I believe that you too were off 10 mins ago.."Mac said..

"Yes that is a true statement.."Nicole said..

"Well you need to go home.."Mattie said..

"I know, but it is going to be weird not seeing you.."Nicole said..

"I know, but I will be here when you come back.."Mattie said..

"Yeah…just keep getting better okay…no more scares.."Nicole said..

"I will do my best..and your friend has me on quite the medication so I think sleep is just what the doctor ordered.."Mattie said..

"Good I am glad…alright well have a good night and day and I will see on Thursday.."Nicole said..

"Okay good night.."Mattie and Mac both said..

with that it was just Mac and Mattie and they to found themselves sleeping again…Mac could not believe that she was actually getting more sleep with Mattie then she had in a long time…

At Matthew Harts house…

Knock…Knock….

"Come in…"Matt screamed knowning that it would only be one person at that hour..

"Hey.."Nicole said..

"Hey yourself…"Matt replied..

"I am so tired and can not wait for our day off tomorrow."Nicole said..

"I know it is not to often that we get time off together.."Matt said..

"Yeah, but I love it when we do."Nicole said..

"Me to…Here I made you some tea, but I will bring it up to the bed room."Matt said..

"Thanks.."Nicole said.. She quickly changed into her pj's and climbed into bed..

"I can not believe that you were going to let me take the hit for the blood test today."Nicole said..

"I know that was pretty below the belt wasn't it."Matt said..

"Yeah…"Nicole said, but with a smile..

"I just could not tell her again…"Matt said..

"I know…this case has been really hard on you….Matt is there something that you are not telling me."Nicole said.

"What do you mean…I have never lied to you…"Matt said..

"No….I did not mean it like that…it is just I have never seen a case effect you like this.."Nicole said..

"No..I just think that it is the innocence of the situation…you know….none of this has been her fault.."Matt said..

"Yeah I know what you mean…"Nicole said…

"I wish that I could make her better faster you know…"Matt said…

"I know you do, but you can't let your emotions get in the way of what you know is best for her…it is hard for her to understand but you are helping her out in the long run."Nicole said..

"It just sucks…it really sucks…"Matt said.

"I know babe…I know…you are doing an amazing job though..you really make me proud you know that. You and Jay care so much about your patients and us nurses it makes me feel so loved.."Nicole said with a smile..

"Does this make you feel loved?"Matt asked with a huge smile as he kissed her very passionately..

"Yes…just being here with you helps me feel loved…"Nicole said..

"Me too…you….you are amazing…I never thought in my broken pathetic life that I would find or deserve someone like you."Matt said..

"We found and help each other.."Nicole said with a smile..

"That we did…that we did…"Matt said yawning a bit..

"I think we should get some shut eye.."Nicole said…this was her favorite part…she loved to be in his arms all safe and warm..

"Thanks for always being here.."Matt said…

"Thanks for allowing me to always be here.."Nicole said..

With that Matt turned out the lights and kissed Nicole on the cheek and shoulder. He pulled her close and they both fell asleep dreaming of what could possibly be one day..