Rabb House

McLean Va

Harm just stood in the entrance way of his house; trying to figure out why everyone was looking at him. Trish walked over to her son, "Darling why didn't you tell us Tom and Josh are here, when we called eariler?"

"Sorry mom; I've had a lot going on the last few days."

"Still Harmon; you should have told us when you called. We could have saved you a trip out for food, and picked up some on our way."

"Mom really it wasn't a problem; besides I know how Sarah and Josh like their burgers."

"I see, so how long is Josh going to be here?"

"Annie said at least a week; she's away at a conference of some type."

"Do you think it's a good idea to have him here? After all Sarah was just released from the hospital, and she's got her hands full with Tommy."

"Mom; I'm here, I going to take some leave time to help out around here. I know my priorities, they're my family right now."

"Still Harmon, I know how Rabb men are."

"Just what do you mean by that?"

"They all have a..." Frank glared at his wife.

"Never mind; it's not important."

"No Mom! Go on finish what you where saying, never mind don't; you think I'm just like dad - don't you? That I'm going to up and leave them; just like he did. Or that I'll cheat on my wife like he did to you." When Harm said the last part he suddenly saw the look of hurt and shock in his mothers eyes. "Mom I'm sorry; I never should've said that."

"It's fine Harmon; it's fine, I know he wasn't a saint ; he was human, and he was our world, maybe in the end, that was too much for him. I'll never know for sure, why he acted the way he did, I only hope and pray that's one trait you didn't inherit from him."

"Mom, you've got to trust me and believe in me, I will always put my family first, I've wanted them for too long to risk losing them to one stupid act."

"Deep down I know that Darling, it's just I feel like the past is repeating its self."

Harm arched his eye brow; "Mom what do you mean?"

"Annie; Josh."

"Mom?"

"You made Luke a promise didn't you?"

"How'd you..."

"Know; Tom made your own father a promise."

Harm walked away from his mother and went straight to the the living area, ( where Mac, Josh and Tom where at ) "That's all we where, a promise between you and dad?"

Tom looked up and over towards Harm, "Harm let's go some more private."

"No Sir; this needs to come out in the open now."

Mac picked up on the sudden tension - "Josh let's go find our burgers. I know I'm starving."

"Okay." Mac pushed herself up off the sofa, reaching for Josh's hand to help her, he took it and together they made their way into the kitchen where Harm had placed their food. In the meantime Trish had placed Tommy in his little play pen. She walked into the kitchen.

"Sarah Darling; I'm so sorry for bring all this up; it's just something inside of me clicked when I heard Tom, it was like my past came back to life."

"Trish did something happen..." Mac stoped suddenly remembering Josh and Frank where within ear shot. "It's all part of a complex past. One that I've always worried might repeat its self."

Mac put her head down, "I know what you mean, part of myself feels like I'll never be enough for him, I'm finding it harder to deal with the more my pregnancy progresses, I keep thinking he'll get the wondering eye. A while back he made a commercial for The Navy; the bubble headed blonde that shot the commercial showed up at his old apartment one night. She all but through herself at him; thinking back now, I can't help but wonder if given the chance and opportunity, if he would have slept with her that night."

Both woman stoped taking as the voices coming from the living room area got louder. Mac glanced over at Frank,"Can you please take Josh out back."

"Yes of course."

"Josh; why don't we go play some catch."

"Sure; I have my ball and glove with me." Frank and Josh made their way into the back yard;while Trish and Mac went into the living room area.

"Harm you and Trish where and still are more than a promise to me, I wanted to marry your mother, be a father to you; but I knew you deserved more than a part time father and Trish deserved more than a part time husband. Plus in the back of my mind, I kept hearing your fathers words, ' Tom promise me you'll look after Trish and my son'; those words haunted me; still do. That's how I know you made a promise like that to Luke, you're just like father in that way. Fighter pilots make promises like that."

"Tom.."

"Let me finish Harm; I know you thought at the time; you where doing right, you didn't think about the repercussions; just a promise between flighting men. Now you've got to live with that promise. How do think Mac feels about this?"

"She says she's okay."

"Do you believe her?"

"I know she deserves better than me..." Mac had heard enough she went forward making herself known. She went straight over to her husband "I just want you; that's all I need, just you, promises and all, cause you know something Rabb; you made me a promise, for better or worse in sickness and in health, till death do us part. Well guess what we've made though the better and worse part, we're getting through the sickness and health part, and I'm not ready for death. So you're stuck with me, think you can handle that?"

"I know I can.Now can you handle me and all my..."

"Yes; I trust you. I just don't trust myself.I know I need to I know you'd never hurt me or betray me. I just have to keep believing in us, we are stronger together."

Trish and Tom both looked at each other; each knowing that at some point and time they needed to face their past, but today wasn't the time or place.