Disclaimers: see previous chapters
AN: Sorry it's been a while since I last posted, but some unforeseen circumstances came up. I hope everyone is enjoying this and please look for upcoming chapters. Thanks a bunch for all of the reviews!!!
Chapter three
"I'm sure you two have lots to discuss," The Admiral sensed tension coming from Mac, "so why don't you use my office."
"Thank-you Admiral." Harm sighed. He was afraid of what this conversation was about and wished that they could just go back to the way things were five years ago.
As Harm gestured for Mac to go first towards the Admiral's office, she picked up Catherine who had been close by. Mac continued on with Catherine in her arms preparing herself for the conversation about to take place. Harm stared, rooted in his place. He noticed the girl for the first time. Suddenly, all of his fears compounded. 'She's back but she's not coming back to me.'
The Admiral saw the girl and observed Harm's reaction. "Son, go in that office, talk to her and tell her you love her." His simple yet profound statement helped to snap Harm out of his reverie but did little to help his dying hopes.
Harm did not verbally respond to the Admiral, but instead gave him a look that said a thousand words. The Admiral realized that if Mac really had moved on, it would hurt Harm worse than when she had first disappeared.
Once in the office, Mac sat on the Admiral leather couch with Catherine still in her arms. "I'm going to go talk with Harm now so please be good and sit here on the couch, ok baby? Mac looked into her daughter's eyes and she knew her daughter understood the gravity of the situation even if she didn't understand the situation.
"Yes, Ma'am." Catherine responded, trying to sound grown-up.
Mac realized what she was doing and smiled at her praying that her innocence would not be destroyed by the last five years and it's outcome.
Mac started to get up from the couch but was stopped by a small hand on her leg. "Mommy, is everything gonna be alright?" Catherine suddenly transformed back into the small child she really was.
Her voice unsure, Mac took a deep breath and continued, "No matter what happens, everything is going to be alright. I love you baby." With that, Mac stood, kissed Catherine on her forehead and turned towards Harm. 'Please let everything be alright' Mac silently prayed to herself.
As Mac approached Harm, waiting on the other side of the Admiral's office out of earshot of Catherine, she was fiddling nervously with her necklace. She came to stand in front of him and clasped whatever was on the end of the chain in her hand. They looked intently at each other, unsure of what to do or say.
"How have you been?" Mac winced inwardly at how that sounded. 'I've been gone for five years and I ask how he's been?'
"Ok, not much has changed in my life." He knew he sounded more content than he really was, but he wanted to take her into his arms and tell her the last five years had been hell without her. 'I can't do that. She's not here because she wants me to hold her, she's here to tell me she doesn't want me to hold her-ever.
Mac continued to play with her necklace, glancing down, unsure of what to say next. Harm saw what she was playing with and stilled her hand. This slight contact sent chills through each of their bodies while also having a calming effect on the situation. Looking into Mac's eyes Harm started, "You kept your ring."
Not thinking about controlling her words, Mac exclaimed quietly, "Of course I kept it. I wore it the whole time until I came here." Realizing what she said she looked away, she didn't want Harm's pity if he had moved on while she was gone. Not giving him a chance to respond, she continued, "I know you have moved on, professionally and personally. I thought of you constantly and how obsessed you would be to find me; but I knew you never would so I hoped that you had found happiness and…"
Seeing the hurt that quickly passed over her beautiful face at the mention of him moving on, Harm realized that she hadn't found someone else to love. He interrupted her, "I did find happiness…"
She controlled the sadness that crept into her heart. Of course she hoped he had found happiness but deep down, she hoped that one day they would be reunited and he would still love her.
"…I found the woman of my dreams. I love her with all of my heart and I thank God everyday that I was fortunate enough to be able to have her in my life." A smile crept across his face as he continued, "I found happiness…with you, Sarah Mackenzie."
Two tears snaked their way down Mac's cheek.
"I love you Sarah. I always will." Harm reached up and thumbed the tears from her soft skin.
"I love you too, Harm." A small sob escaped her lips and she clasped his hand that had been holding her ring with her two hands.
Harm bent down and gave Mac a short but sweet kiss that brought back all of the memories they shared. As he stood back up, Mac slowly opened her eyes and looked into his. She reached her arms around his neck and brought him back down to her again. His arms encircled her waist and held her against him as though it was the last time. Their lips touched and a fiery passion was unleashed. After they surfaced for breath, Harm rested his forehead on hers, "I love you Sarah."
Mac swallowed, shut her eyes and reopened them with new strength. "Harm, there's something I have to tell you." She let go of her hold on him and stepped out of his embrace. "Please don't interrupt me until I'm done." She looked to his face for an answer before she continued. "When I was kidnapped, I was pregnant but I didn't know it until about a month after I was taken." Mac looked Harm straight in the eyes trying to gauge his reaction. Harm, I…we… have a daughter- Catherine Mackenzie Rabb.
Harm was stunned, even more than at her sudden reappearance. He looked to where Catherine was sitting on the couch and back at Mac. All at once, he gathered Mac into his arms and swung her around, again, before placing her on the ground and kissing her.
"I guess you're not mad." Mac said a little apprehensively but still amused at his antics.
"How could I be mad? That's the most wonderful thing I've heard since you told me you loved me for the first time six years ago!"
Mac knew Harm would be happy. She gave him a quick peck on the lips then with one of her stunning smiles went on, "Well, dad, would you like to meet your daughter?"
Harm was speechless. As he looked at her across the room, he thought 'I have a daughter? She's so beautiful, just like her mother. She looks like a miniature Mac.' Harm smiled down at Mac and grabbed her hand.
Mac took this as a sign to proceed. She walked across the room with Harm in-tow. As she reached the couch, held out her free arm to Catherine. Catherine jumped off the couch and into her mother's waiting arm. Her mom was happy and so was she. While still holding Harm's hand, Mac turned so that she and Catherine were facing him. All of a sudden Catherine became very shy, she buried her face in her mother's neck and gazed at Harm through curious eyes. "Catherine, baby, this is your father, Harmon Rabb. He loves you very much." Mac looked between Harm and Catherine.
Timidly, Harm reached his free hand out and touched her exposed cheek with one long finger. "I love you and your mother very much Catherine." Harm whispered, barely able to control his voice as his eyes filled with tears of joy.
Slowly, Catherine raised her head off of her mother's shoulder. She had grown-up hearing about her father constantly. It was like she had always known him and now he stood in front of her. "I love you too, Daddy." This simple statement brought tears to her parent's eyes. She reached her little arms out to give her dad a hug. Harm opened his arms and hugged her back while looking at Mac and mouthing, "Thank-you".
Mac let go of Catherine and Harm held onto her. She had both arms around his neck and her head lying on his shoulder as thought it was perfectly natural to be held by him.
Mac looked at the scene with so much joy and happiness; her family was finally together. She headed towards the couch and Harm followed, still carrying Catherine. They sat on the couch with Catherine in Harm's lap and his arm around Mac. They sat together for hours discussing anything and everything Catherine wanted to. They were so engrossed in each other that no one heard the knock or the door to the Admiral's office open. It had been several hours since they had gone in there and the Admiral decided to see if they needed anything. As he stood in his office, gazing upon the reunited family, the sight he saw brought tears of happiness to his eyes.
