CHAPTER FIVE

Disclaimers etc in chapt one! On with the story!! :)

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A collective gasp of alarm went up from the crowd.

"Mac, Mac, Sarah!" Harm called frantically, but he got no response.

Slowly he lowered her to the floor, and began to pat her cheeks, trying to get her to wake up, calling her name constantly.

Meanwhile Sturgis had called the paramedics, and Harriet was quickly making her way to Harm and the prone Mac.

2304 EST

BETHESDA HOSPITAL

Harm waited impatiently with half of the JAG staff. Mac had been taken into the ER at 2235, and they hadn't heard a peep from the doctor, or any of the medical staff since then.

"Harm, if you don't sit down, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet," the Admiral told him.

"Why haven't we heard anything yet, sir? They took her ages ago. I just need to see her! Where is she?!" Harm almost yelled.

The Admiral stood up, walked over to Harm and put his hand on his shoulder. "Harm, you know that it takes time for them to examine her. Sit down and try to relax. When they've finished with her, they'll come out to tell us. Sit down - your making us more nervous than we already are, and that's an order." The Admiral sat back in his seat, and stared firmly at Harm until he slumped into an empty chair.

Several minutes later the doctor came out, and Harm leapt out of his seat and approached the doctor.

"Dr. Young, what's wrong with her? Can I see her now? Is she going to be all right?" These questions tumbled out one after the other in quick succession.

"Slow down, son," the doctor replied speaking directly to Harm, then addressed the rest of the people, "I'm Dr. Young. I operated on Colonel Mackenzie. Colonel Mackenzie has suffered a blunt trauma injury to the back of her head, which caused inter-cranial bleeding. The bleeding has been stopped by surgery. As a result of the pressure on the brain, her body has temporarily shutdown. She is in a coma. We're not sure when she will come out of it, but we are confident that she will. All her vitals are good, and is showing improvement. I know this must seem like a lot to absorb, but Colonel Mackenzie will need all the love and support she can get. As we speak she is being moved to the ICU, and a nurse will come out when she is settled. At the moment she can only have one visitor at a time. Any questions?" the doctor finished.

There was silence, and noone spoke up, so Harm thanked the doctor, before they doctor retreated back through the double doors.

Ten minutes later a short, red-headed nurse came out through those same doors, and announced, "Excuse me. I'm Nurse Laurent. Are you waiting for Colonel Mackenzie?"

Harm leapt to his feet, exclaiming "Yes, we are! Can we see her now?"

The nurse was not at all surprised by his reaction, as it was obvious to her and the whole JAG clan that this man loved the woman in the hospital bed.

"Yes, you may see her now, but only two at a time. Who's first?" the nurse replied.

Harm glanced questionably at the Admiral, "Admiral?"

"Go on, Commander. We'll give you a few minutes alone before one of us joins you there," the Admiral said, waving his arms in a shooing motion, knowing by Harm's reaction a few minutes ago: it would take a herd of elephants to get him away from her bedside.

"Thank you, sir."

The nurse turned around, throwing over her shoulder "Commander, if you would follow me I'll take you to her." Harm quickly caught up with her and followed her to Mac's room.

She paused slightly before opening the door, and turned back to Harm.

"I have to warn you, there'll be a lot of wires and tubes, but don't be alarmed, they are all helping her get better."

When Harm nodded, she opened the door and motioned for him to go in.

Harm stepped just over the threshold, stopped, and stared at his beloved Marine, that looked as though she was just sleeping, but he knew she wasn't because she was so pale, almost as white as the starched sheets.

Transfixed on her, he slowly made his way to her bedside, folding his lanky frame into the uncomfortable hospital chair, grasped her limp hand and started to whisper ardently to her.

"Mac, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. You just have to get better, and wake up, Mac. I need you, I don't know if I can go on without you next to me, Ninga-girl," Harm was nearly sobbing by the end of his tirade, and wound both his hands around her frail one, beginning to pray for her to get better.

About half an hour later, the Admiral knocked on the door, and walked in without waiting for a reply.

"How is she, Commander?" the Admiral asked, looking at his usually very spirited Chief of Staff lying so still in the standard hospital bed.

Looking up at him, Harm replied "Not much change, sir. They said that her vitals had improved, that she was holding her own. I just hope she does, sir. I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't wake up."

"Careful, Commander. You might admit something you're don't want to," the Admiral deadpanned.

"The thing is, sir, I want to admit it, but I want her to be awake to hear it. I need to know that she feels the same way that I do. That it wasn't the hit on the head that was making her feel that way." Harm replied solemnly.

"I know, Harm, I know." No more words were needed, and the Admiral left to order the rest of the JAG staff home to rest. Harm needed the time alone with Mac. They could visit tomorrow, and the Admiral knew that he wouldn't be able to get Harm away from Mac, even with an order. Harm would just disobey him.

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TBC!!

A/N: You guys know the drill by now! Please review!! and thanks to all those that have!! :):) Nessie