PART 2 BLACKOUT
Harm pulled into her room before answering. He closed the door and spun the
chair around so she was facing him. "Mac, you need to eat, you haven't
has anything today, and you barely ate yesterday." He pretty much ordered.
His tone and face completely serious. "In order to get stronger, you need to
eat." He reached out and rubbed her cheek with the back of his index finger.
"Come on. Just eat a burger. For me?" Mac smiled at his efforts. "Okay, Fly-
boy. Do you think that you could them from Beltway Burgers?" Harm laughed and
stole a glace at her. "Okay, I'll get you a Beltway, only under one condition.
You eat at least half of it." Mac thought for a second. "Okay, deal."
Harm smiled and wheeled her over to the bed. 'That was easier than I thought
it would be.' He thought to himself. "Come on, Mac." He said lifting her into
the bed. Once she was all the way in his arms, he stood up. "Now, as much as I'd
like you to come with me," He still held her. His arms were across her back
and under the crook of her knees, and rested her head on her shoulders. "You
need to rest." Mac's eyes were growing heavier. "I'm so tired, Harm." She
whispered in his ear. Harm slowly lay her down, her lids were already closed.
"I'll be back with lunch." She nodded her head slowly. She took in a deep,
but silent breath when she felt his lips desend upon her cheek. He pulled
the cotton, blue blanket over her. He squeezed her hand once more before he
left.
Mac's room
30 minutes now
Harm turned the cold metal as quietly as he could, not knowing if she was
still sleeping. He didn't want to take the chances on waking up a Marine; no
matter what her condition was. She was still asleep, but not for long. "Hey,
just in time for lunch. Did I wake you up?" Feeling kind of guilty for her
not resting enough. "No. I smell food." They both smiled. Harm reached into
the white paper bag and pulled out a cheese burger with fries and a coke and
handed it over to the awaiting Mac. Mac kept her end of the deal and ate more
than her share. Harm ate all his salad and finished up Mac's fries.
1055 zulu
Sencond week of pt
Mac was lieing in bed, staring out the window, watching the rain roll down
the window pain. She was deep in thought, thinking about the problem at hand.
Wondering whether or not she'll ever walk again. Wondering if her carrier
is over. Harm went to give everyone a check up on her. She didn't hear Harm
and Lt. Nelson walk in the door. "Mac," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Her head snapped to the right to face whoever was standing behind her. "Hey
Marine, time to go." Harm pulled up the chair and turned back towards Mac.
"Come on, Ninja Girl." Mac said not a word as Harm lifted her into his arms.
He noticed that she hadn't said anything. Her arms were draped loosely around
his neck and her head rested on his should, like always. "Hey, you okay?"
He looked down at Mac apprehensively. She closed her eyes and shook her head
'no.' Lt. Nelson stood at the door and waited patently. Still holding her,
he sat down on the edge of the bed. "You want to talk about it?" Mac moved
her head further down his arm, so she could meet his gaze. "Later, okay?"
He gave her a small smile as her answer. Gently, he set her down in the chair.
Once Mac was settled, Nelson spoke up. "Well, Major, let's go." She said in
the up beat voice she tried to maintain. "Now, I know that you want to jump
the gun, but, I'm sorry to inform you, you have to take it slow. Maybe you
can get on the bars in a week or so." Lt. Nelson said to Mac as she wheeled
her over to the weights. Once Mac was sitting and comfortable, Lt. Nelson placed
this time, a 5 pound weight on. "Okay, You're all set." Mac smiled slightly
and began to try to lift the weight. Once she got the 3 pound straitened out
for a whole week, she wanted to move on. Lt. Nelson only agreed to keep Mac's
confidence level up. After about ten minutes, Mac was upset clearly. "Come on,
Mac, you can do it. Come on, you're almost there." Harm coached. Mac push her
legs as hard as she could manage. Perplexed, she gave up. Her legs dropped and
hung loosely over the edge of her seat. Lt. Nelson had been watching. She was
glad that she listened to Harm. "Commander Rabb, can I speak to you for a
moment?" Harm looked back over at Mac after telling Nelson to hold on for a
second. "You ganna be okay, for a second?" He asked, his hand never leaving
her back. "Yeah." She whispered back. Very hesitantly he removed himself from
Mac's side. He walked over to Lt. Nelson and looked back over at Mac; to
double check if she was okay. He turned his attention back to Lt. Nelson
when he was sure. " Commander, I'm not going to pretend I know what she's
going through, because I don't. What I do know is that she wants too much,
too fast. I can see it, in how she acts, she's timid and depressed. She feels
sorry for herself and if she can't get to the goal that she's trying to reach,
then she'll give up. She's almost there. Talk to her, Commander. You have to
get her out of this mood. If she gives up, then she won't get any better."
She waited for him to respond. He glanced back at Mac, who was trying unsuccessfully
to straiten out her legs. "I'll get her out of it. Don't worry." He nodded his
head and then walked back over beside Mac, who had once again given up. "Hey,"
he simply said sitting down next to her, resting his elbows on his knees.
"It's been an hour, Mac. You did good today." Mac remained silent. She heard
his words, but didn't comprehend them. "Come on, you need your rest." He slid his
arms under her knees and lifted her up. Mac wrapped her arms around his neck and tightly
held on. He made the notion to put her down in the chair, but her grip tightened.
"No, Harm. Don't let me go." He stood back up and got a better grip on her, making sure she
wouldn't fall from his grasp. He sat back down on the weight bench. When her got situated, he
realized that she was shaking. Instinct fully, he began to rock her back and fourth.
Lt. Nelson watched from across the room. "I'm ganna take you to your room, okay." He felt
her head nod against his shoulder. Harm patted her on the back and stood up. Upon seeing Harm
rise from his position, Lt. Nelson walked towards him. "Listen, I'm ganna take her back to her
room. Same time tomorrow?" "Same time." Was Nelson's retort. Harm smiled and walked the 15
doors to her room; his grip never loosening. Mac didn't have to ask. He lay down next to her and
just held her. He ran his fingers up and down her back. After about 5 minutes, he pulled away.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Mac tried to contain the tears, but was
unsuccessful. "Hey, come on; none of that." He said, his tone soothing.
He gently wiped the tears off her reddening cheek, with the pad of his thumb.
"Mac, talk to me." Mac took a deep breath. She rolled over onto her
back and Harm followed and completely on his side. Protectively, Harm draped
an arm over Mac's stomach. Mac took a few more deep breaths "Harm, I'm scared,
It's been almost 3 weeks and I can't even lift 5 pounds. I'm supposed to be
on the bars, at least just starting on them." Tears flowed from her puffy,
brown eyes. "Mac, come here." Harm drew her into his arms, holding her while
she released her fears. "Mac, listen to me." He whispered in her ear. He
gently pushed her back, so he could look her in the eyes. "You can't push
yourself to limits your body isn't ready to take. You'll only get hurt worse.
And we're here to make you better, remember?" Satisfied he got a smile, he
smiled back and continued. "You know that this is going to be a long process.
You have to let your body recoup, but the most important thing is, Mac, that
you have to keep a positive mind. Now, stop crying." He conculded, wiping the
remaining tears with his index finger.
ONE WEEK LATER
PRIVATE PT ROOM
1200 ZULU
Harm came and got Mac and put her in the chair. This past week she had been
doing better. There had hardly been any more tears, and she seemed to be
happier. She even lifted the five pounds for one week. Even Chegwidden sinced
a change in her. When Harm got Mac settled in, he pushed her out the door and
down the hall; the opposite way. "Harm, it's bad enough that they postponed
my PT an hour today, but now you're driving me the wrong direction. Where
are we going anyway?" Mac looked up at him and he returned her stare. "You'll
see." Was all he said. He turned right and stopped at a door. Once they were
inside, Mac noticed that it was a PT room. Only it was smaller than the one
that she had been in before. "Harm?" Mac asked questionably. "Thought that
we could use a little privacy." Harm smiled down at her. Before Mac could
say anything else, Lt. Nelson spoke up. "Major, are you ready?" Mac frowned.
"Ready for what?" Harm smiled again. "Ready for the bars, Marine." Harm pushed
her to a set of walking bars. "Thought that you were ready to try and walk.
But only if you're ready." Harm stepped in-between the bars and reached for her
hands to help her up. She grasped his hands and he pulled her to her to her
feet. He held on until she had a good grip on the bars. "Come on, Mac, you can
do this. Walk Ninja Girl." He was two steps. "Harm, I can't do this. Harm,
help me." Her arms were getting tired. Harm slipped his arms around her waist.
"Get your footing, Mac." Once again, Harm stepped 1 steps back. "Now walk."
Mac tried with no success. "Harm, I can't." Harm didn't move. "Don't you
give up on me Marine." Mac looked at the floor. "Harm, please I can't do this
right now." Harm hated what he was about to do. "Take one step. ONE STEP MAJOR!
THAT'S AN ORDER!" He hated to yell at her, but it was for her own good. And
the only way he was able to ORDER her anyway, was because Admiral told him and
Mac that until she was back on her feet, he was a higher rank. Harm knew that
he would regret this move later, but he'd deal with it then. Mac gritted her
teeth and pushed her left leg forward. "Come on. One in front of the other."
All she had to do was pull her right leg from behind her and she'd be done.
But something stopped her. Her knees gave out. Harm caught her before she could
really go anywhere. "It hurts, Harm." Harm gathered her up in his arms and
quickly reoccupied her in the chair. Lt. Nelson was right there. "Where does
it hurt, Major?" Mac grabbed at Harm's hand and when found it, squeezed.
"My legs. They hurt." She checked out Mac's legs. "Have they hurt before?"
Mac shook her head no. "Well, I would worry about it to much. Your muscles
are just strained. When you tried to walk, they tightened up. Rest for today
and we'll try in a few days. We'll see. You did good, really good." Mac forced
a smile. "Come on."
MAC'S ROOM
1 5 MIN. LATER
Not wanting to let go, Harm picked her up and carried her to her room. Her
head rested on his broad shoulder and silent tears cascaded down her her cheeks.
Lt. Nelson opened her door and shut it again once Harm was all the way inside.
She wasn't need, so she didn't stick around. Harm set her in bed and swiped
her tears from her face. "Come on, now. Don't cry." He gathered her in his
arms. "Shh, Mac, hey it'll be okay." He rocked her back and fourth. Harm
hated seeing her crying, upset like this. It breaks his heart. "Harm?"
Mac asked. For a second she was silent trying to get her thoughts strait.
"What's going to happen to me?"
Harm stared deeply into her eyes. "You're going to get better." He began
wiping away a few more tears that fell. "Tomorrow or the next day, you're
going to get on those bars again and walk. I promise you." She looked just
a deeply, hoping that his words were true. "Don't make promises you can't
keep." Her voice was a whisper, broken down and craky. "I haven't yet, Sarah."
One week later, Mac was ready to go home. She was sometimes a little unsteady
on her feet, but Harm was always there to pick her back up again. "You ready
to get out of her, Marine?" Harm asked with a smile. "A long feeling over due."
Smiling back, she walked out of the hospital. Once Mac was settled in Harm's
SUV, Lt. Nelson had a few more instructions to give Harm. "Listen, the both
of you now. I want her to get plenty of sleep and some walking about an hour
a day. Understand Major? Plenty of sleep with walking in-between; not the other
way around." Everyone laughed and Nelson continued. "You did VERY good in
there, Major." Mac smiled. "Thank you for everything." They shared one more
round of smiles, and Harm drove away.
Harm pulled into her room before answering. He closed the door and spun the
chair around so she was facing him. "Mac, you need to eat, you haven't
has anything today, and you barely ate yesterday." He pretty much ordered.
His tone and face completely serious. "In order to get stronger, you need to
eat." He reached out and rubbed her cheek with the back of his index finger.
"Come on. Just eat a burger. For me?" Mac smiled at his efforts. "Okay, Fly-
boy. Do you think that you could them from Beltway Burgers?" Harm laughed and
stole a glace at her. "Okay, I'll get you a Beltway, only under one condition.
You eat at least half of it." Mac thought for a second. "Okay, deal."
Harm smiled and wheeled her over to the bed. 'That was easier than I thought
it would be.' He thought to himself. "Come on, Mac." He said lifting her into
the bed. Once she was all the way in his arms, he stood up. "Now, as much as I'd
like you to come with me," He still held her. His arms were across her back
and under the crook of her knees, and rested her head on her shoulders. "You
need to rest." Mac's eyes were growing heavier. "I'm so tired, Harm." She
whispered in his ear. Harm slowly lay her down, her lids were already closed.
"I'll be back with lunch." She nodded her head slowly. She took in a deep,
but silent breath when she felt his lips desend upon her cheek. He pulled
the cotton, blue blanket over her. He squeezed her hand once more before he
left.
Mac's room
30 minutes now
Harm turned the cold metal as quietly as he could, not knowing if she was
still sleeping. He didn't want to take the chances on waking up a Marine; no
matter what her condition was. She was still asleep, but not for long. "Hey,
just in time for lunch. Did I wake you up?" Feeling kind of guilty for her
not resting enough. "No. I smell food." They both smiled. Harm reached into
the white paper bag and pulled out a cheese burger with fries and a coke and
handed it over to the awaiting Mac. Mac kept her end of the deal and ate more
than her share. Harm ate all his salad and finished up Mac's fries.
1055 zulu
Sencond week of pt
Mac was lieing in bed, staring out the window, watching the rain roll down
the window pain. She was deep in thought, thinking about the problem at hand.
Wondering whether or not she'll ever walk again. Wondering if her carrier
is over. Harm went to give everyone a check up on her. She didn't hear Harm
and Lt. Nelson walk in the door. "Mac," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Her head snapped to the right to face whoever was standing behind her. "Hey
Marine, time to go." Harm pulled up the chair and turned back towards Mac.
"Come on, Ninja Girl." Mac said not a word as Harm lifted her into his arms.
He noticed that she hadn't said anything. Her arms were draped loosely around
his neck and her head rested on his should, like always. "Hey, you okay?"
He looked down at Mac apprehensively. She closed her eyes and shook her head
'no.' Lt. Nelson stood at the door and waited patently. Still holding her,
he sat down on the edge of the bed. "You want to talk about it?" Mac moved
her head further down his arm, so she could meet his gaze. "Later, okay?"
He gave her a small smile as her answer. Gently, he set her down in the chair.
Once Mac was settled, Nelson spoke up. "Well, Major, let's go." She said in
the up beat voice she tried to maintain. "Now, I know that you want to jump
the gun, but, I'm sorry to inform you, you have to take it slow. Maybe you
can get on the bars in a week or so." Lt. Nelson said to Mac as she wheeled
her over to the weights. Once Mac was sitting and comfortable, Lt. Nelson placed
this time, a 5 pound weight on. "Okay, You're all set." Mac smiled slightly
and began to try to lift the weight. Once she got the 3 pound straitened out
for a whole week, she wanted to move on. Lt. Nelson only agreed to keep Mac's
confidence level up. After about ten minutes, Mac was upset clearly. "Come on,
Mac, you can do it. Come on, you're almost there." Harm coached. Mac push her
legs as hard as she could manage. Perplexed, she gave up. Her legs dropped and
hung loosely over the edge of her seat. Lt. Nelson had been watching. She was
glad that she listened to Harm. "Commander Rabb, can I speak to you for a
moment?" Harm looked back over at Mac after telling Nelson to hold on for a
second. "You ganna be okay, for a second?" He asked, his hand never leaving
her back. "Yeah." She whispered back. Very hesitantly he removed himself from
Mac's side. He walked over to Lt. Nelson and looked back over at Mac; to
double check if she was okay. He turned his attention back to Lt. Nelson
when he was sure. " Commander, I'm not going to pretend I know what she's
going through, because I don't. What I do know is that she wants too much,
too fast. I can see it, in how she acts, she's timid and depressed. She feels
sorry for herself and if she can't get to the goal that she's trying to reach,
then she'll give up. She's almost there. Talk to her, Commander. You have to
get her out of this mood. If she gives up, then she won't get any better."
She waited for him to respond. He glanced back at Mac, who was trying unsuccessfully
to straiten out her legs. "I'll get her out of it. Don't worry." He nodded his
head and then walked back over beside Mac, who had once again given up. "Hey,"
he simply said sitting down next to her, resting his elbows on his knees.
"It's been an hour, Mac. You did good today." Mac remained silent. She heard
his words, but didn't comprehend them. "Come on, you need your rest." He slid his
arms under her knees and lifted her up. Mac wrapped her arms around his neck and tightly
held on. He made the notion to put her down in the chair, but her grip tightened.
"No, Harm. Don't let me go." He stood back up and got a better grip on her, making sure she
wouldn't fall from his grasp. He sat back down on the weight bench. When her got situated, he
realized that she was shaking. Instinct fully, he began to rock her back and fourth.
Lt. Nelson watched from across the room. "I'm ganna take you to your room, okay." He felt
her head nod against his shoulder. Harm patted her on the back and stood up. Upon seeing Harm
rise from his position, Lt. Nelson walked towards him. "Listen, I'm ganna take her back to her
room. Same time tomorrow?" "Same time." Was Nelson's retort. Harm smiled and walked the 15
doors to her room; his grip never loosening. Mac didn't have to ask. He lay down next to her and
just held her. He ran his fingers up and down her back. After about 5 minutes, he pulled away.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Mac tried to contain the tears, but was
unsuccessful. "Hey, come on; none of that." He said, his tone soothing.
He gently wiped the tears off her reddening cheek, with the pad of his thumb.
"Mac, talk to me." Mac took a deep breath. She rolled over onto her
back and Harm followed and completely on his side. Protectively, Harm draped
an arm over Mac's stomach. Mac took a few more deep breaths "Harm, I'm scared,
It's been almost 3 weeks and I can't even lift 5 pounds. I'm supposed to be
on the bars, at least just starting on them." Tears flowed from her puffy,
brown eyes. "Mac, come here." Harm drew her into his arms, holding her while
she released her fears. "Mac, listen to me." He whispered in her ear. He
gently pushed her back, so he could look her in the eyes. "You can't push
yourself to limits your body isn't ready to take. You'll only get hurt worse.
And we're here to make you better, remember?" Satisfied he got a smile, he
smiled back and continued. "You know that this is going to be a long process.
You have to let your body recoup, but the most important thing is, Mac, that
you have to keep a positive mind. Now, stop crying." He conculded, wiping the
remaining tears with his index finger.
ONE WEEK LATER
PRIVATE PT ROOM
1200 ZULU
Harm came and got Mac and put her in the chair. This past week she had been
doing better. There had hardly been any more tears, and she seemed to be
happier. She even lifted the five pounds for one week. Even Chegwidden sinced
a change in her. When Harm got Mac settled in, he pushed her out the door and
down the hall; the opposite way. "Harm, it's bad enough that they postponed
my PT an hour today, but now you're driving me the wrong direction. Where
are we going anyway?" Mac looked up at him and he returned her stare. "You'll
see." Was all he said. He turned right and stopped at a door. Once they were
inside, Mac noticed that it was a PT room. Only it was smaller than the one
that she had been in before. "Harm?" Mac asked questionably. "Thought that
we could use a little privacy." Harm smiled down at her. Before Mac could
say anything else, Lt. Nelson spoke up. "Major, are you ready?" Mac frowned.
"Ready for what?" Harm smiled again. "Ready for the bars, Marine." Harm pushed
her to a set of walking bars. "Thought that you were ready to try and walk.
But only if you're ready." Harm stepped in-between the bars and reached for her
hands to help her up. She grasped his hands and he pulled her to her to her
feet. He held on until she had a good grip on the bars. "Come on, Mac, you can
do this. Walk Ninja Girl." He was two steps. "Harm, I can't do this. Harm,
help me." Her arms were getting tired. Harm slipped his arms around her waist.
"Get your footing, Mac." Once again, Harm stepped 1 steps back. "Now walk."
Mac tried with no success. "Harm, I can't." Harm didn't move. "Don't you
give up on me Marine." Mac looked at the floor. "Harm, please I can't do this
right now." Harm hated what he was about to do. "Take one step. ONE STEP MAJOR!
THAT'S AN ORDER!" He hated to yell at her, but it was for her own good. And
the only way he was able to ORDER her anyway, was because Admiral told him and
Mac that until she was back on her feet, he was a higher rank. Harm knew that
he would regret this move later, but he'd deal with it then. Mac gritted her
teeth and pushed her left leg forward. "Come on. One in front of the other."
All she had to do was pull her right leg from behind her and she'd be done.
But something stopped her. Her knees gave out. Harm caught her before she could
really go anywhere. "It hurts, Harm." Harm gathered her up in his arms and
quickly reoccupied her in the chair. Lt. Nelson was right there. "Where does
it hurt, Major?" Mac grabbed at Harm's hand and when found it, squeezed.
"My legs. They hurt." She checked out Mac's legs. "Have they hurt before?"
Mac shook her head no. "Well, I would worry about it to much. Your muscles
are just strained. When you tried to walk, they tightened up. Rest for today
and we'll try in a few days. We'll see. You did good, really good." Mac forced
a smile. "Come on."
MAC'S ROOM
1 5 MIN. LATER
Not wanting to let go, Harm picked her up and carried her to her room. Her
head rested on his broad shoulder and silent tears cascaded down her her cheeks.
Lt. Nelson opened her door and shut it again once Harm was all the way inside.
She wasn't need, so she didn't stick around. Harm set her in bed and swiped
her tears from her face. "Come on, now. Don't cry." He gathered her in his
arms. "Shh, Mac, hey it'll be okay." He rocked her back and fourth. Harm
hated seeing her crying, upset like this. It breaks his heart. "Harm?"
Mac asked. For a second she was silent trying to get her thoughts strait.
"What's going to happen to me?"
Harm stared deeply into her eyes. "You're going to get better." He began
wiping away a few more tears that fell. "Tomorrow or the next day, you're
going to get on those bars again and walk. I promise you." She looked just
a deeply, hoping that his words were true. "Don't make promises you can't
keep." Her voice was a whisper, broken down and craky. "I haven't yet, Sarah."
One week later, Mac was ready to go home. She was sometimes a little unsteady
on her feet, but Harm was always there to pick her back up again. "You ready
to get out of her, Marine?" Harm asked with a smile. "A long feeling over due."
Smiling back, she walked out of the hospital. Once Mac was settled in Harm's
SUV, Lt. Nelson had a few more instructions to give Harm. "Listen, the both
of you now. I want her to get plenty of sleep and some walking about an hour
a day. Understand Major? Plenty of sleep with walking in-between; not the other
way around." Everyone laughed and Nelson continued. "You did VERY good in
there, Major." Mac smiled. "Thank you for everything." They shared one more
round of smiles, and Harm drove away.