A/N: Really? After the whole first chapter was an author's note?! ;)

Trust

Chapter 2: What Happened to Sarah?

He had been sitting on his bed, reading a rather dull novel when he got the call from the hospital. As soon as he heard "Georgetown Medical Center," his heart had begun to pound furiously.

Mac lived in Georgetown.

It had to be Mac that was hurt or sick.

And it was Mac.

She was asking for him.

He didn't take the time to wonder why she'd asked for him when their relationship was so tenuous. He didn't ask why she wasn't asking for Webb.

He just went.

"Mac?"

Mac lay on the ER gurney, her face turned away from him. She didn't acknowledge him, but as he moved closer, he could see barely dried tears on her face. He reached out a hand to touch her shoulder and was surprised when she startled.

"Sorry," he whispered as he sat down beside her. He watched her shrug, but she remained mute, and something clenched in his gut. Something bad had happened to her, was still happening, for suddenly she gave a hiss and drew her legs up toward her middle.

And that's when he saw the blood.

It was an hour later when Harm found himself in the pre/post-op area, sitting in a cubicle, struggling not to cry.

Mac had been pregnant.

Nearly twelve weeks pregnant...

With Clayton Webb's baby...

"Hey, you're awake," Harm whispered, stroking her hair back from her face. She was wearing it longer now, long enough that she needed to put it up when in uniform. He liked it when it was like this, loose about her shoulders, but when it was up, it was too severe a look for her. Oddly, though, it made her face look more delicate, more fragile, and perhaps that was actually what bothered him. His marine was a tough, take no prisoners jarhead wrapped in a beautiful, feminine package. His marine was strong and fearless, yet kind and tender. She was the woman you'd want at your side during a barroom brawl, and then the one you wanted to take home afterwards and make sweet, passionate love to her. She could outshoot him any day, could probably fight better than him, and yet still took the time to paint her nails and do her makeup. In short, she was everything he wanted in a woman, but he'd been too damn stupid to tell her.

Alas, even though she was Webb's now, he still loved her, still would do anything for her. He'd tried to tell himself after Paraguay that he didn't love her, that he wouldn't love someone who didn't love him back, but it had been futile. He knew he would always love her, and that made him angry. Furious even…and he'd taken it out on her.

Oh, he'd calmed down, certainly. They were friendly with each other even though they weren't really friends anymore; they'd even gone running together a time or two, but only when Webb was out of town. She'd actually been the one to invite him and he'd honestly enjoyed the runs, but something was different about her. In his jealousy, he assumed it was because she would have preferred to be with Webb. Thus, he'd become snarky with her the next time she'd asked him to go.

She didn't ask again.

Mac had fallen asleep again after merely blinking at him and nodding. She'd looked like she was reaching her free hand out to him, but as he made to take it into his larger one, she'd pulled it away and stashed it under her blanket. He'd tried to tell himself it was because she hadn't actually recognized him, but he knew deep down that wasn't the case, and it filled him with a painful sense of foreboding.

"Harm?"

Harm turned from the window he'd been standing at to the sunrise. The light was weak, and he longed for the brilliance of the sunrises and sunsets he'd known at his grandmother's farm, but such was city life, he supposed.

"Hey," he said, crossing the room to her. He sat down by her bed and lightly touched her shoulder, hoping it was just his imagination when he felt her stiffen under his touch. "How are you feeling, honey?" He cringed inwardly at the endearment, and by the hard look in her eyes, she certainly hadn't appreciated it.

"Fine. Better. It's okay for you to go now."

"Maaac," he sighed, saddened at her words. He had decided, however, to try and be a better friend to her, so he asked her a question that made both his heart and fingers clench. "Would you like me to call Webb…uh, Clay?"

Her answer was swift and her tone belied the wan look of her. "No!"

Harm straightened in surprise. "No? But— "

"No. No Webb. That…that's done."

Harm's heart gave a little leap of joy. Maybe I still have a chance! he thought almost giddily. But then another glance at her reminded him of what had just happened and why she was here, getting her third unit of blood. Besides, beyond what was occurring in the here and now, he sensed that something was very wrong with her.

Very, very wrong.

"I'm-I'm sorry, Mac," was all he could think of to say.

"Don't be," she answered shortly. Her eyes started to close, though it seemed she was fighting it. "Don't be," she repeated in a whisper, and then she lost the battle to stay awake...and Harm suddenly wanted to cry again.

Yes, something was very, very wrong here.

End Chapter Two