Once Bitten

Mac is lying in bed nursing their seven-month-old son when all of a sudden she jerks, screaming, "Ouch!"

Harm quickly runs out of the bathroom, dropping his toothbrush in the sink, hearing both her scream and Matthew's crying. He exclaims, "What's the matter?"

She gasps, as she shifts her son to the other breast trying to calm him back down, while lightly rubbing the one she just took him off of, "He bit me!"

Harm chuckles, "You don't seem to mind when I bite you."

Mac argues, "You don't bite. Well, occasionally you bite, but more often you only nibble."

Harm furrows his brow as he lies down next to her, "I'm not understanding the difference here, Mac."

Mac rolls her eyes, "You do it lovingly, to arouse me. This hurt!"

Harm softly runs his hand over his son's dark locks, "I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you."

Mac sighs, "I know, I think he might be teething. I've noticed him chewing on his fist and his rattle quite a bit lately."

Harm nods his head in agreement, "The doctor said he would probably cut his first tooth anytime now. Trisha cut her first one around this age."

Mac argues, "Yeah, Trisha never bit me though."

Harm grins, "What can I say, the boy takes after his father and wants to get as much of Mommy in his mouth as possible."

Mac raises her brow, "You are bad!"

Harm smirks, "That's not what you said the other night…. Don't worry, we have the teething ring in the freezer and a tube of Baby Orajel™ already on hand because my Marine is always prepared for anything."

Mac replies, "Why yes. I am! I'll check it out when he is done eating, provided he isn't asleep already."

Harm grimaces, "You might want to wait until after you burp him. Some folks don't like a bunch of fingers in their mouths. Considering we don't know the extent of his gag reflex; I would advise waiting unless you want to wear everything you just fed him down your back."

Mac drops her jaw, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Harm kisses her softly, "Because, Mrs. Rabb, every once in a while, I am the one with the good idea."

Mac laughs, "Don't let it go to your head!"

Harm slides off the bed, and heads back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth, lowly laughing the whole way there. He tosses the toothbrush sitting in the bottom of the sink into the trash, and grabs a new one to start part of his bedtime ritual over again.

Matthew finishes nursing, and Mac places him over her shoulder to rub soft strokes up and down his back. Once she is sure he has let all his gas out, she goes into the bathroom where there is better lighting. She stands next to Harm, "Okay Daddy, check it out."

Harm raises his eyebrows to his hairline, "Me? How about I hold him and you check. Your fingers are much smaller than mine."

Mac rolls her eyes, "Fine! Sit on the toilet then because I'm not trying to stand on my tippy toes to reach into his mouth."

Harm inquires, "Why don't I sit on the bed?"

Mac pointedly states, "Because the lights are brighter in here. I thought you were the one with the good ideas. How did that one manage to escape you?"

Harm simply shrugs his shoulders.

Mac sticks her pinky in Matthew's mouth and can feel a little sharp nub right at the top front. "Yep, he is definitely cutting a tooth."

Matthew begins gently sucking on her finger in his sleep. Harm asks, "Do you want to put anything on it?"

Mac replies, "Not right now, he is off in dreamland. We'll see how he is when he wakes up next."

Harm stands up, carrying Matthew out of the room, "Okay let's change him into a fresh diaper and get him settled for the night. I have a duty to perform."

Mac raises her brow in question.

Harm gives her his Flyboy grin, "I have to kiss your boo boo all better!"

Mac giggles, "Oh really?"

Harm leans down to kiss her just below her ear, "Yep, Doctor's orders!"