The Next Morning
Harm stirred and open his eyes. The alarm clock right next to him read 8:00am and the sun was shinning..
Knock….Knock…
"Come in…"Harm said..
"Good morning sleepy head.."Trish said as she came in with pancakes and eggs.
"What have I done?"Harm said a little distraught..
"Harm what are you talking about?"Trish asked..
"I was supposed to go back to the hospital and relieve Mac after dinner."Harm said..
"I know she called.."Trish said..
"Why didn't you wake me…she is pregnant she needs to be at home in a bed.."Harm said..
"Harm….Honey…She is fine….just because she is carrying a child does not make her fragile…plus she said not to wake you that she had been getting more sleep at the hospital then at home.."Trish said..
"I'm sorry mom…thank you.."Harm said..
"Your welcome…I am just glad that you finally allowed yourself to get some sleep…I do not want to have any more break downs like last night."Trish said..
"I know…I need to take care of myself too…I don't think I have felt this good in 20 years.."Harm said..
"I am sure that you body has never known 14 hours of sleep in a row.."Trish said with a little bit of a chuckle.
Ring…..Ring…
"This is Harm…"Harm said hoping that it was his Marine…
"Hey dad.."Mattie said. Second best…Harm thought to himself with a smile..
"Hey sweetie how are you doing?"Harm asked..
"I had a great night…"Mattie said..
"You did….how is your mom doing?"Harm asked..
"She is getting us some breakfast..She slept to dad.."Mattie said smiling loving the way that his parents cared about each other..
"Guess what else we found out last night?"Mattie said.
"What Mats.."Harm replied having no idea what she could have possibly learned..
"Nurse Nicole and Dr. Hart….well they are together.."Mats said..
"You have been in the hospital to long…"Harm said chuckling..
"Dad it is cute…their story is a lot like you and mom's."Mattie said..
"Poor Nicole then.."Harm said..
"well Dr. Hart wised up sooner then you did.."Mattie said..
"Well I am glad that you have something to smile about.."Harm said..
"Yeah me too..Mom wanted me to call you and tell you that you don't need to come in til dinner time tonight…she wanted you to take it easy today…"Mattie said..
"I don't know if I can do that.."Harm said sensing something not right about the situation..
"Dad…nothing is wrong you just need to take the day off.."Mattie said..
"I want to speak to your mom Mattie.."Harm said..
"Okay…Okay…geez she is right here.."Mattie said..
"Hey flyboy.."Mac said..
Harm took a sigh of relief…
"Harm what is wrong?"Mac asked..
"Nothing I just had this weird sense again that you and Mattie were in danger.."Harm said.
"Harm we are fine I promise.."Mac said..
"Then why do you not want me there until dinner?"Harm asked..
"ummm I am not sure about that…"Mac said laughing a little bit..
"What do you mean you are not sure about that?"Harm said not feeling any less comfortable with the situation..
"What I mean by that is someone is going to receive a visit from the tickle monster when I hang up this phone.."Mac said with a laugh..
"So do you want me to come in?"Harm asked..
"If you want too, but Mattie does make a good point…you could take the day off.."Mac said..
"I know I just miss my girls.."Harm said..
"We miss you too…"Mac said..
"I will spend sometime at home though..I will see all three of you for dinner tonight…how is the little one doing.."Harm asked..
"I guess fine…"Mac said… "Hey maybe when you come tonight we could hear the heart beat…It is about time for our ten week appointment.."Mac said..
"That would be very special.."Harm said getting tears in his eyes…
"Alright fly boy we are going to eat some breakfast.."Mac said..
"Yeah I am too..I Love You…tell Mattie I am sorry I was a little short with her.."Harm said..
"I will and we will see you for dinner.."Harm said.
"Love you.."Mac said…
"Love you too.."Harm replied as he hung up the phone..
With Matt and Nicole….
"Good morning.."Matt said as he brushed some of Nicole's hair out of her face..
"A good morning it is.."Nicole said with a huge smile..
"Hey Nicole do you think that you could get used to this?"Matt asked with a huge smile on his face..
"Yeah Matt….I could get used to this….but I really want to tell the superiors so that we don't have to keep sneaking around.."Nicole said..
"I know…so do I….do you think it will be okay.."Matt asked..
"I think so…."Nicole said..
"I hope so.."Matt said..
"What do you want to do today?"Nicole asked..
"Why don't we go for a walk on the beach and then we can head to the hospital and take care of business and see Mattie.."Matt said with a smile..
"That sounds like a perfect day off.."Nicole said..
"You can take a shower first…I will go and make us some breakfast.."Matt said as he kissed her on the forehead..
"Okay.."Nicole said..
Both Matt and Nicole went there separate ways so that they could start there day…
Back at the Rabb House..
Harm ate the breakfast that his mom had made for him and then he got ready for the day. He was on his way out to join the others when he heard someone come in the front door..
"capti……I mean Harm…..Just the person that I need to talk to.."Bud said as he came into the house.
"Hey Bud what's up?"Harm asked..
"I need you to not ask any questions, but just come with me.."Bud said trying as hard as he could to contain the surprise and his smile..
"Okay…is everything okay?"Harm was getting a little worried..
"Just trust me okay.."Bud said..
"Okay.."Harm said as he got into the car with Bud.
a min later they had driven down the street about seven houses and Bud pulled into the drive way..
"Bud what are you doing?"Harm asked really confused now..
"I want you to come with me and knock on the door and see who answers.."Bud said..
"Bud…"Harm said not knowing what to do..
"Just get out of the car and follow me…I am trying here okay…just go up to the door and ring the door bell.."Bud said..
"Okay…"Harm said as he got out of the car walked up to the door and rang the door bell..
What happened next left Harm speechless for one of the few times in his life..
"Hi uncle Harm…welcome to my house…"Litte AJ said..
"Your house….Aj…you live in Virgina.."Harm said..
"No uncle Harm….I live in California now…I had going away partys and everything…I am going to make new friends at my new school.."Aj said..
"Bud what is going on.."Harm said..
"Well we did not want to tell you and Mac until we knew for sure with everything that is going on…I got transferred out to Mac's Jag office…With Mac being gone all the time they needed a senior officer to come in and handle some of the case load.."Bud said..
"What happens when Mac goes back to work? Is this permanent or temporary?"Harm questioned..
"It is permanent Harm…I am here to stay.."Bud said..
Harm just grabbed Bud and lost it…
"I know Harm….I know….It is good to be back together again too.."Bud said as they finally pulled away..
"Oh Bud…we have missed you guys so much…"Harm said..
"I know…we didn't want to be apart anymore…it just is not right…"Bud said..
"Wait so did you need to be transferred or did you put in for a transfer?"Harm asked..
"that is neither here nor there isn't it."Bud said.
"Bud…you are an incredible friend.."Harm said with a smile..
"So are you….so are you.."Bud returned the favor..
"Harriet.."Harm screamed as she came into the room..
"Hi Harm…"Harriet said with a huge smile..
"We should call Mac and Mattie.."Harm said..
"Sure… Here…"Bud said as he gave Harm his cell phone..
"Hello.."Mac said..
"Hey Marine.."Harm said..
"Hey is everything okay?"Mac asked..
"Yeah things are great…..I just found out that we are going to have some new neighbors on the street and I want you to meet them.."Harm said.
"Harm couldn't this wait until we get home from the hospital and I could bake them some cookies.."Mac said..
"I don't think that they will want cookies…just seeing you home from the hospital will be enough.."Harm said as he handed the phone to little AJ..
"Hey Aunt Mac…"Little AJ said..
"Little Aj are you meeting the new neighbors with Uncle Harm.."Mac said trying to hold it together..
"No silly, man you and uncle Harm are being funny….I am your new neighbors.."Little Aj said..
"You are…"Mac said starting to cry..
"Aunt Mac why are you sad…"Little AJ said…
"There are happy tears can you put Uncle Harm back on the phone."Mac asked AJ
"Yeah.."Little AJ said as he went to go and stand next to Harriet..
"Harm….is this some kind of joke.."Mac said..
"No…it is not a joke…Bud and Harriet own the 7th house down from us.."Harm said..
"Things are going to be okay aren't they.."Mac said tears streaming down her face..
"Yeah it looks that way…"Harm said..
"I Love you..I have to get going Mattie is waking up.."Mac said..
"I Love you too…see you tonight.."Harm said..
"Sounds great…Make sure you see if they need anything."Mac said..
"I will…"Harm said… With that he hung up the phone..
"Sir…I mean Harm….you and Mac have both got quite the emotional sides.."Harriet says..
"Yeah that needs to be a secret among friends though…we both have images we need to hold.."Harm said with a smile..
"You got it.."Harriet said..
"So what can I do to help?"Harm asked..
"Well nothing today."Bud said..
"No its okay I can help.."Harm said..
"Harm we don't have anything to unpack yet…everything kind of came together this morning.."Bud said..
"Oh okay…so we are going to head back to our place then?"Harm asked..
"Yeah we just wanted to give you and Mac some good news.."Harriet said..
"Thanks this was needed more than you know.."Harm said..
"No Harm I think we know..I could name many of situations that would allow me to say that we know exactly what this family means…it was never meant to be broken.."Bud said..
"You are right…I didn't mean to imply…"Harm said sort of back peddling..
"Man you are becoming a softy.."Bud said giving harm a pat on the back..
"You better watch it my friend."Harm said with a chuckle..
"Sorry…I just do it because for once in my life I have something to give you a hard time about.."Bud said..
"Fair enough my friend..fair enough.."harm said.
So they all got back in the car and headed back to the Rabb's house..
At the hospital…
"Hey Mats…"Mac said..
"Mom are you okay.."Mattie asked..
"Yeah…I….we just got some really good news…"Mac said..
"Oh yeah and what is that?"Mattie asked really excited.
"Well it seems that Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bud are going to be our new neighbors.."Mac said..
"REALLY ARE YOU SERIOUS…"Mattie said practically screaming..
"Yes Mattie…."Mac said..
"This is so perfect….just as it should be.."Mattie said..
"I know…"Mac said…
"Now all you have to do is higher Tiner and everything will be back to normal."Mattie said.
"Oh I do.."Mac said..
"Don't you think Jen deserves to be happy…I mean she has been through a lot too..I don't know the whole story, but the way that Harm would take care of her…like he did me…I just think it would be nice that they did not have to be so distant anymore.."Mattie said..
'Well after we get things more settled I will see what I can do…I would want to talk with Jen first..I mean to make sure that things are still going okay."Mac said..
"Yeah mom..of course you should talk to Jen.."Mattie said..
knock…knock…
"Come in…"Mattie said hoping that it was someone other than Jason or one of her other nurses..
"Hey my fav patient.."Dr. Hart said..
"Dr. Hart…..Nicole…"Mattie said very excited..
"This is your day off…I told you…"Mac tried to say…
"We had to come by the office to take care of something anyway.."Nicole said..
"I am so glad that you are here.."Mattie said..
"Why is that…"Nicole said..
"The other nurses just aren't the same…"Mattie said..
"Awww thanks Mattie….I miss you too, but I will be back on for the early shift tomorrow.."Nicole said..
"Here Mattie we brought you a little something in hopes to make truths.."Dr. Hart said as he handed her a bag..
Mattie took her time opening the bag…just as she was about to get to the present she stopped and looked at Dr. Hart.."So can I decide if there will be truths after I see the gift.."Mattie said with a smile..
"Yes..that is a fair trade.."Dr. Hart said with a smile..
She did not even get the gift out of the bag and she already had tears in her eyes.
"It is perfect…thank you…"Mattie said..
"Mats what is it…?"Mac asked wondering what in the world would have brought Mattie to tears..
"It is a picture that Nicole and Dr. Hart and I took and one of those shells that you can hear the ocean and a bottle full of sand and sea shells.
"So do we have a truths?"Dr. Hart asked..
"More than that…..this was so thoughtful of both of you…thanks.."Mattie said..
"Your welcome and we will see you in the morning."Nicole said as she gave Mattie a big hug..
"I look forward to it.."Mattie said as she wiped her tears away..
Mac walked with Nicole and Dr. Hart out of the room..
"Thanks.."Mac said..
"Your welcome Mrs. Rabb.. We hoped that it would cheer her up a bit…it is hard being in a hospital for a long period of time."Dr. hart said..
"Yeah it is..we are lucky to have a nurse and doctors like you and Dr. Matthews…it does make this hard time a little bit easier.."Mac said..
"Let us know if there is anything else that we can do to make this time easier.."Dr. Hart said..
"We will….enjoy the rest of your day off.."Mac said..
"Thanks.."Dr. Hart said.. With that Matt and Nicole went to there cars and Mac headed back into Mattie's room..
"I think I would hang out here more often if I did not have to be hooked up to all of these machines.."Mattie said with a smile..
"You are loved my girl….you are loved.."Mac said..
"Why do you think that is mom?"Mattie asked..
"Why do I think what is Mats?"Mac asked for clarification a little confused as to the comments that were being made..
"Why do you think that I have been so lucky…and that people care for me like Nicole and Matt do..I mean I am just another patient…sometimes I don't think that I am worthy of all of this."Mattie said..
"Oh, Mats you are…everything that you have thought about things has been a lie up until now..your father….it was all a lie Mats…you are worthy of being loved and even more so my dear you share that love with others…..you hardly ever think about yourself…that is why you father and I love you….that is why strangers like Nicole and Matt love you…"Mac said…It hurt her so much that Mattie would even doubt that she was loveable…
"Hey mom I think I am going to take a nap..I am kind of tired…"Mattie said..
"Mattie would it be okay if I went for a walk while you were sleeping?"Mac asked..
"Yeah that should be okay I have not been having nightmares lately."Mattie said..
"Okay..well you give me a call if you need anything.."Mac said..
"Will do mom…I Love You…"Mattie said
"Love you too Mats.."Mac said.. and with that Mac walked out the door and Mattie feel asleep..
Mac decided that she was going to go out to the little court yard that was right outside the main doors of the hospital and get some fresh air..As she was walking around the tears began to fall. She just smile. Oh the hormones she though to her self.. Just as long as you stay nice and healthy I will deal with what ever comes my way…She walked for a little bit and felt her cell phone buzzing in her pocket..
"Hey Flyboy.."Mac said..
"Hey Marine…"Harm said..
"What are you doing?"Mac asked. Knowning that he needed to rest, but feel like she would really love to be in his arms right now..
"Turn around my love.."Harm said..
Mac turned around hung up the phone and just ran into Harm's arms…They did not speak a word for what seemed like forever…
"Oh I miss you so much…"Mac said..
"I miss you too…"Harm said… "Have you been crying?"Harm asked..
"They just come…this baby inside of me is making my body go crazy.."Mac said with a smile as more tears feel..
"You know what is so awesome?"Harm asked knowing that his answer would not help the tears, but he had been wanting to say it to her forever..
"What…That I love our little one growing inside of you already…"Harm said..
Harm just pulled her close and let her cry..He loved just holding her and the sun was setting…it was a beautiful moment…He was just so thankful…His life really could not get any better…
"I am surprise you can stand me right now."Mac said..
"Well I don't really have a choice my love.."Harm said with a smile twisting the wedding ring on his finger.
Harm got a pat on the arm for that comment… " I am a mess…no one in their right mind would guess that I am a marine.."Mac said with a chuckle..
"You know Mac I am kind of glad that when we are alone we leave our military personalities behind."Harm said..
"Me too…I do love seeing the sensitive side of you.."Mac said..
"Hey why don't we go and see if we can hear that babies heart beat?"Harm said..
"I would love that.."Mac said..
Harm took Mac's hand and they headed back inside the hospital..
