Normally Harm loved the feeling of returning to a carrier. The smell of salt and jet fuel, the bustle, the roar of the fighter planes. But this time he had only one thing on his mind.

The XO waved off his salute and sent him to sickbay. He found his wife dozing fitfully, but her eyes opened when he sat down next to her bed. 'Hey.'

'Hey yourself.' Harm reached for her and gently brushed her hair back. She had a few scrapes on her face, and her leg was swathed in enormous bandages, but she looked okay other than that.

'Are you okay, Mac?'

Her smile was uncertain, he thought. 'The leg hurts, but I'm okay.' She held out her hand, and he took it, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

'The Colonel was lucky.' The corpsman walked into the room. 'She didn't get the full force of the blast. Her leg will recover, and her concussion seems to have passed.'

'You said there were other tests?' Harm looked from the corpsman to Mac.

Mac squeezed his hand. 'I'll fill you in later.'

The corpsman looked like he was about to elaborate, but simply nodded and wished them well. Harm frowned. 'What was that all about?'

Mac took a breath. 'Legally he can't tell you what I'm about to tell you.'

'What? What's wrong?'

'Harm, I need you to try not to be too happy or too sad about this, okay?'

'Why? You're scaring me, Mac.'

She tightened her grip on his hand. 'The tests were all standard ones. But they came back with something unexpected.' She cleared her throat. 'I'm pregnant.'

Harm couldn't comprehend what he was hearing. 'You're what?'

Mac cleared her throat. 'Between my last check up and today… I'm only four weeks along. It's barely detectable.'

'You're pregnant?' She nodded, and something inside him leaped for joy. But then reality shouldered back in. 'But, your endometriosis - your uterus? How - what does this mean?'

He could see her chin quiver then. 'It means this is a high risk pregnancy for both me and the baby, and there's an above-average chance I'll miscarry.'

'Oh, Mac.' He stroked her hair back. 'I'm sorry. We should have been more careful.'

She shook her head. 'Don't be sorry. It was such a low chance this could happen.' She put her free hand on her belly. 'But it happened, Harm. I know he might not stay long, but I'm in love with him already.'

Tears spilled down her cheeks, and Harm carefully put his arms around her. His own eyes welled up, and he pressed a kiss into her hair. 'So what happens now?'

'Now I see my OB-GYN and see where we go from here.'

He forced himself not to think about how much heartbreak this could bring.

'This little one deserves a chance. Even if he doesn't make it all the way.' She wiped her eyes. 'There's a chance we could at least make it until he can live outside the womb.'

'Will that hurt you?'

'Maybe. But please understand, Harm. This will be my only chance.'

Harm closed his eyes against the impossible - his wife or his child. This was not fair. It would have been better to have never conceived.

'Harm?'

He opened his eyes and looked at her. This beautiful woman whom he loved more than his own life. 'I love you. We'll get through this together.'