Dear Santa...it's Little AJ - Part 5/11
See part 1 for all disclaimers
Harm's Apartment
9:34 PM
Harm slowly walked through his apartment, the wear of the evening etched on his face and body. He still hadn't heard anything about or from Mac. His nerves were stretched to their limit, especially from his own thoughts about her safety.
He sighed heavily as he toed off his shoes and collapsed onto his bed. Closing his eyes he remembered how AJ Roberts opened the door to show Harm a picture of Aunt Mac that he drew. He gave it to Harm with the orders to hang it in his office. Harm smiled at the young boy as AJ continued to tell Harm that Santa was going to bring Aunt Mac home, because Santa brought things to good little boys.
They had finished dinner when Admiral Chegwidden stopped by and said he was unable to find anymore information about the camp. Since Mac's section was on the move, they were hard to locate and the weather was not helping the situation.
Right now Harm was just semi-glad to be home where he could forget the fake smile on his face for a small boy, and where he didn't have to hide his fear.
12:03 AM
"Ring….ring…..ring…." the phone ordered.
Harm's sleep-fogged mind commanded his body to wake up. He slowly reached over and picked the phone up. "'ello" he muttered into it.
{"Hey, Harm, it's me. Did I wake you?" Mac asked.}
At the sound of her voice Harm quickly sat up with relief and excitement. "Mac, thank god. Are you okay?"
{Mac gave Harm a slight laugh. "Of course I'm okay. I'm sorry about how we lost the connection earlier today.}
"I don't care about that, Mac. You're okay, right?"
{"Harm, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"}
Harm took a deep breath knowing Mac wasn't going to tell him. "Mac, it was all over the TV. I didn't know if you were hurt or even worse. Even the Admiral couldn't tell me anything."
{Mac sighed. "Harm, don't worry. I'm okay; I'm fine."}
"Are you sure?"
{"Yes, Harm, I'm sure. Do you want me to catch the next Marine I can get to tell you the same?" Mac teased, knowing she was lying to him. The burn on her arm was hurting like hell and the bruises on her body were going to take awhile to heal.}
"No, of course not. I'm just worried that's all."
"I know, but really, everything is okay."
"You promise?" Harm asked.
{"Harmon Rabb Junior, I am ordering you to stop being so nervous right now. I'm fine. Nothing is wrong with me, except for the fact I need to give the phone to someone else."}
Harm breathed a sigh of relief. "How about if I stop being nervous once you get home?"
{"Are you always this incorrigible?"}
"Isn't that way you love me?" Harm joked with a laugh.
{"So you keep telling me," Mac commented back. "I need to go. Give everyone my love, especially Little AJ."}
"I wish we could talk longer," Harm whined softly.
{"Me too. I miss you."}
"I miss you," Harm admitted. He was about to add on something else when he heard the phone click and the call was disconnected.
He set the phone back in the cradle and smiled at it. His sense of fate was restored as he spoke to Mac. As far as he knew she was fine and that was fine enough for him.
End Part 5