Thank you all!!!
NadaZimri: Thanky! LMSO, Claysicle, I like that, lol. Oh yes, I figured you deserved a nice recommendation :). LOL, well, get those sequences down on paper, girl!!! You'll forget stuff, I swear!!!
ArwenUndomiel: LOL, thank you. I was hoping the meeting wouldn't come out too awful cheesy with the fainting, but it was fun to write. Okay, thanks again, and see ya next week!
LadyJadePerendil: LoL, I'd thought I would add the fainting in there for good measure. Somebody had to faint, lol, thanks. Hehehe, yes, Clay Junior is missing. But now we'll actually see some of Clayton Sr. and his wife...hehe...thank you and see ya next week!
Domintel: LOL, oh, I know, cliffhangers are my friend and at times my worst enemy. Muahaha...heehee...Oh, Fall into Pharaoh's Domain needs a lot of work. I stopped it a while ago, but I know what the ending will be and most everything in between. But I think I will re-upload the story because there is much that needs to be changed. But I'm glad you like it. I like it too, I'm just frustrated with it, lol. Anywho, thanks again and see ya next week!
SarahRabb705: Thank you! I thought that would be a funny little thing having both Harm's react to Mac's fainting, glad ya liked it, :D. Thank you and see ya next week!
e-dog: LOL, I thought it fitting for little Isabelle to stumble upon them. Funny stuff up ahead with those kids. Who is Cathy?? Well, ahem, who do ya think it is?? Muahaha... :) Thank ya and see ya next week!
Mimmi: Thank you! Yes, I let out a little bit in the last chapter about what the Harms and Macs were discussing, but more of it will be brought out throughout the story. Especially what happened with Grace and Singer. Emotional teary stuff ahead :(. Yeah, it was kind of difficult at first, because I don't want the young Harm and Mac to be mistaken for the older version. I hope it wasn't too confusing :). Thank you again and see ya next week!
Eggy Weg: Thank you so much!!! Oh gosh, every word, now I'll really have to pay attention to spelling :). Thanks!
Pissed Off Poet: LOL, I know, I can't imagine being those little kids, they have NO idea what's going on :(. LOL, well, I think this will be the only sequel. When I finished Scare Tactics, I really wanted to experiment more with Grace's character, her siblings, and her older parents. But then the idea for the young Harm and Mac to come forward was just irresistible. Anywho, thanks again, and see ya next week!
Maggie: Thank you! Ah, and I can't wait for you to read what awaits you!! :D. Thank you and see you next week! Ah! And look! You're lucky number ~*40*~ on the review list!! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, MAGGIE!!!!!!
Gillian-Marie: Hi there! Oh, thank you! LoL, hope I didn't get you in trouble! Oooh, I can't wait for you to read the interaction between Harm and Mac #1 and Harm and Mac#2, hehe. Thank you and see ya next week!
Pennithil: Hey! Thank you! Gosh, I wish I could update sooner, but, arg, life interferes *grumble*. Thanks for reviewing and see ya next week!
Moonlights Sundance: Hey there! LoL, over the
rainbow, hehe, well, depending on his current mental state, who knows....
:D....lol, oh my *cringes* quite a flame you gave me ;)....okay, I know, I just
feel so bad when you guys get ripped with a short chapter. I can write longer
ones, I just need to train myself a little better. Ohhh, and I'm addicted to
cliffhangers though. They're fun...muahahaha...:D.....thank you for reviewing!
Awww, pleeeeease update your story!!!! :)....see ya next week!
CharmedMummy: Aw, thank you! Yay, I'm not hated!!! *does little happy
dance*...thank you, that first part of the last chapter was fun to write. I
keep trying to experiment with suspense, and I hope I'm getting a little
better! Hehehehe, I didn't think it was fair to keep Mrs. Webb a mystery for
much longer!!! There will be more with Webb and Catherine either in this
chapter or the next. Probably this chapter. Ohhhhh, darn, I totally messed up
the time thing!!! Arg, and I had changed the time when proof-reading the story,
and that one got screwed up, grr...thank you for telling me, I'm gonna try to
fix it here soon!! LoL, friendly proof-reading fairy, that's good, lol. I don't
like when ppl just look for everything bad and don't tell me anything good
about the story. You're the best friendly proof-reading fairy yet!!!! :)
thanks...see ya next week!!
GHeTtOnErD: Yay, I wrote your name just like you did!!! :D...actually, I copied and pasted, my eyes get confused trying to write ur name, lol. Thank you!!! Ohhh, I dunno...now that I know a lotta ppl at jagfans, I'm a little nervous...mmm....I'll think about it. Thanks for the vote of confidence though!!! See ya next week!!
Macicat: Muahahaha...hehe..i'm terrible, lol. Thank you! LoL, yes, well, there is gonna be a little angry friction between Mac and her young Harmy!!! It's not too bad, you'll see what I mean in the first part of the chapter! Thank you and see ya next week!
Lili: Aw, thank you. I really do feel bad when I give u guys a short chapter...I'm trying to get better!! Thank you, and u have a great week too! See ya next week!!!
Winnie bear: Oh, thank you!!! I can't wait for you to read this chapter!! :D much thanks and see ya next week!!!
Starryeyes: Why, thank you!!! See ya next week!
Cmaf: Thank you! Oh, this is a stupid question...you have (imho) in ur last review...*sigh*..I'm at a loss at to what that means *shakes head*...lol, anywho, yeah, I still reeeally need a whole week to do this. I actually spend a condensed 4 days writing a chapter, but after Thursdays, I really like to have my weekend, cause I'm usually out with friends. During the week is actually when I have more time O.o .....you guys suffering from heat?? Wow, send some of it to us, we're icicles!!! :D....I finally put my email addy in my profile, you can find it there! Thanks and see ya next week!!! Ah! And look! You're lucky number ~*50*~ on the review list!! *does happy dance* THANK YOU, CMAF!!!!
Kate Conner: Oh, thank you!!! Scare Tactics was so much fun!!! Thank you for spending time reading that and this one!! Thanks and see ya next week!!
Cassie: Hi there! Twists are fun, hehehe..glad you like it! Thanks and see ya next week!
BrightFeather: Why thank you! Strong narrative voice? Really? Wow, thanks, I try, :). Oh, and my other story you reviewed, Unstable, needs a lot of work, but thank you for your review!! It means a lot!! Thanks and see ya next week!
Jagchick105: Heyheyhey! LoL, congratulations, you review HAS COME THROUGH! Hey that rhymes...ANYwho...yeah, having two Harms should be delightfully confusing for everybody :)...(and just plain delightful for us, muahahaha.... :D). Oh, "Impostor" is one of my fav episodes!!! I—I dunno, there's just something likable about Palmer, arg, it's hard to explain, he's a villain...but a cool villain. But anywho, yeah, I love having 2 harms...hehe...why thank ya very much, and see ya next week!!! :)
Chapter 3: Claysicle?2104 ZULU
Rabb Home
Georgetown, Virginia
The first shiver that went up Grace's spine made her flinch. Reality started to set in, and the fears came crashing down with it. She slowly pushed the blanket aside, sliding her legs to the floor.
"It's my fault," she said above a whisper, "he was going after me."
"Now, Grace, it could be nothing—" Her mother tried to point out, but Grace shook her head stubbornly.
"No—no, I told him he shouldn't drive that car around during the winter. That stupid car he tried to fix up on his own, it—it's probably stalled in the middle of nowhere—"
Mac put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently, triggering Grace's body to relax a little.
Grace's father had gotten to the phone moments after Grace hung up. He was talking to Webb.
"Yeah, there are two choppers out there...they're using infer-red...yeah...all right..."
Grace sighed sharply and got to her feet, heading out of the living room.
"Where are going?" Her mother called after her.
"To throw up." Grace mumbled so none of them could hear.
The admiral was still on the phone, rambling on about military procedures, and every once and a while trying to calm Webb down. Grace's mother sat uncomfortably from the people across from her.
Feeling the need to occupy himself, Harm stood, nodding at his fiancé and the older woman across the room.
"I'm...gonna get some water."
The women nodded and Harm walked briskly out of the room. As soon as he left the doorway though, he stopped abruptly at the stairs, where two children both gasped and started a little in surprise. Harm made a little half smile. So his future children were eavesdroppers...
Harm spread a wider smile. "Hi."
The boy narrowed his dark eyes. "...Hi." He replied, suspicion in his tone.
Harm put a foot on the first stair, leaning his arms on his bent knee. "What are your names?"
The little girl spoke first with some enthusiasm. "Isabelle."
The boy bit his lip. "Jake."
Harm liked the names, but somehow pictured Mac liking them more.
Jake swallowed, his eyes glazed with confusion and curiosity. "Okay, so, my Uncle Bud told me about this stuff. He's told me about how aliens can travel through space and time through wormholes...so first...are you an alien?"
Harm chuckled, and he smiled to the floor before picking his head back up. "No, I'm not."
Though a little disappointed by Harm's answer, Jake seemed to become more interested by the second. "So...did you come through a wormhole?"
Harm struggled to find a reasonable answer. "Um, well—something like that...I think."
"Are you my daddy?" Isabelle chimed in, "You look a whole lot like him..."
Before Harm could begin to conjure any kind of answer to that, someone walked up behind him.
"Hey, guys, did you finish your homework?"
Harm shivered at the woman's voice. It was certainly Mac's, but had a stern parental tone to it. It was a tone he'd only heard used when she spoke to Chloe. The kids groaned.
"Moommm, come on, how can we do homework at a time like this?!" Jake argued.
"Both of you go and I'll be up to check it in a minute."
The two muttered to each other as they stood and clomped up the stairs. Harm smiled at their stubbornness, but the smile disappeared when he saw the woman's face. Mac turned her back to the stairs and suddenly brought her face inches within Harm's. Her brown eyes pierced his own angrily.
"What did you think you were doing?" She hissed.
Harm's brow creased. "Just talking to them—"
The woman raised her finger to his face. "You're confusing them."
Harm scoffed. "They're already confused!"
"Exactly—which is why I don't need you confusing them any more. Just stay away from them, you've already interfered in one of my kid's life."
With that, Mac turned around sharply and started up the stairs. Harm stuck his hands in his jeans pockets, then decided he wanted to have the last word.
"They seem like great kids."
She halted and twisted her torso towards him. Her expression had softened a little, but she was clearly trying to stay mad at him. "Yes, they are," Her eyes hardened again, "and even though you may share DNA with them, don't make the mistake in thinking they're yours."
Leaving that for Harm to think about, Mac swiftly climbed the rest of the stairway. It appeared Harm wouldn't get the last word after all.
***
Mac sat with her hands in her lap as she listened to the Admiral (a rank that she couldn't get used to seeing Harm as) talk to Webb over the phone. He was trying to calm him down again. For some reason, she wanted to smile. She remembered Grace asking last year if she'd had any relationship with Webb. She tried to picture what that would be like. Probably many cancelled dates and interrupted dinners. She couldn't figure out how Clayton's mother ever lived that way, and manage to stay sane.
The thoughts shook from her head when she heard the click of the receiver next to her. Sighing, Grace's father sat down next to her, covering his eyes with his hand. Mac scooted away from him a little bit, but he grabbed her hand, she gasped, also scaring Harm, and he started, snatching his hand away. When he saw Mac's startled face, he closed his eyes and made a little groan.
"I'm—sorry, I thought you were...my wife."
Mac broke a little smile and shrugged a shoulder. "You were half right."
He forced a laugh, which stopped as fast as it had come and stared down at the floor. Meanwhile, Mac continued to scoot away so they were a cushion apart from each other.
"Where's your...fiancé?" He asked as his eyes peered around the living room.
Mac nodded at the doorway. "He went to get water."
More silence. Mac couldn't stand it. "So, you still have Sarah?"
Harm's brows drew in.
"...Your biplane."
"Oh, yeah, I still get 'er in the air every once and while."
Mac knew the man wouldn't stop flying no matter how old he got. She dug through her memories about the times she'd flown with Harm. "You remember the first time you took me up? You had to land in that field."
The man chuckled. "Heh, yeah, and we ended up becoming the pray of insane bounty hunters."
Mac had to smile. "I still have a scar on my thigh from that damn buck shot." She muttered.
"Yeah, I know."
Mac looked up and over at Harm. He was smiling at the floor before he realized she was staring at him. "I—I've had three kids with you, remember? Well, not with you, but—you know what I mean."
The awkward silence was present again for a moment before Mac was too uncomfortable to stay in the room any longer. She stood, straightening her shirt. "I, uh, better find my fiancé, he probably got lost trying to find the kitchen."
***
2117 ZULU
Harm stared at the sink, holding the glass close to him. His eyes narrowed in confusion as his thirst became severe but his fear more prevalent. He couldn't figure out how to work this faucet for the life of him, and he'd spent a grand total of six minutes going over what exactly the function was for those four nobs sticking out of the faucet. He couldn't believe he was afraid to touch it. He kept devising the worst possible scenarios in his mind. And he wasn't about to call for help on how to get the stupid sink to work. He'd figure this out on his own. So the Naval officer stood there for another sixty seconds as his right hand crept its way closer to the faucet. Harm held his body away as far as possible and closed one eye as he turned the little knob attached to the head of the faucet. He flinched when a steady stream of water poured out.
Frowning, he twisted the knob in the opposite direction and the water stopped. He then turned the knob on the other side of the faucet, causing a steaming hot flood of water to flow out. Harm chuckled. That was a good idea. It cut down the time you'd have to usually wait to get hot water or ice water. So only wanting cold water, he poured some in the glass, and left the two other knobs a mystery as far as their function.
A second later, his Mac strolled into the kitchen while Harm was in mid-sip. He quickly chugged a few large gulps to make it look like he'd been drinking longer than he had. As Mac came over, she peered at the sink, her lips parting when she saw the faucet. "How...the hell does that thing work?"
Harm shrugged. "It's not too complicated."
Mac sighed, moseying over to the kitchen table and sitting down heavily. "I don't think I can last here."
Harm grunted as he sat down next to her. "Tell me about it. I think Mac...Sarah...Mrs. Rabb—whatever, I think she hates me."
"Why?"
"I was talking to her kids and she blew up at me."
"Well, Harm, can you even imagine what it's like for them?"
Harm made a dry chuckle. "I think so. When Grace came into our lives..."
"No, I mean, besides that. When we found out this could happen, we had to deal with it ourselves," Mac tried to explain, "But they have to deal with their kids, who can't possibly understand what's going on right now."
Harm drained the rest of his water before replying. "Jake thinks we came through a wormhole."
"A what?"
Harm tapped his fingers on the table. "A space...time...continuum..." Harm shrugged, "...thing."
Mac stared at him blankly for a moment before a little smile played across her lips. "Right." Mac leaned back in the chair, slumping down in it. "So what do you make of this, 'Clay Junior'?"
"Well, first I can't believe Webb found a wife."
This sparked something in Mac's eyes and she straightened her spine in her chair. "Did you hear what Grace called his wife?"
Harm thought for a second, then his mouth opened a little in shock. "...Catherine."
Mac nodded, a sly smile on her lips. "You think it's Catherine Gale? Your...ahem...wife?"
Harm rolled his eyes. "Mac...Bud preformed the 'ceremony,' it was nothing."
"But you kissed her, didn't you?"
Harm felt himself getting trapped in a corner. "Mac, come on, it had to look genuine!"
"Well, just how 'genuine,' was it?"
"It wasn't! I was just doing the woman a favour!"
"A pleasurable favour, I'm sure." Mac muttered.
"Mac, please, don't do this, we have enough to worry about."
The Marine sighed, shrugging her slender shoulders. "Fine."
The two turned their heads toward the kitchen door when Grace slowly walked in, a hand on her stomach.
They both frowned in concern. "You all right, Gracie?" Mac asked, hesitantly getting to her feet.
Grace put her hand up, signalling she didn't need Mac to get up. Instead, she pulled a chair out in between Mac and Harm and sat down.
Harm gently shoved the girl's foot with his own. "How you doin', kiddo?"
She shook her head and made a little groan. "I never told him where I was going. I'm sure he was just worried about me."
Mac's maternal instincts were starting to kick in again, and she hated seeing the girl so depressed. "Don't worry, hun...Webbs have a way of surviving just about anything."
As soon at Mac said that, the room got dark and two little shouts could be heard from all the way upstairs. Harm sighed in the darkness.
"And what about us?"
***
2145 ZULU
Grace's mother finished lighting candles and snapped the lighter closed. Everyone was huddled around the dining room table. Grace's parents sat on the ends, Jake and Isabelle on the side, and Harm, Mac, and Grace on the other side.
Grace's mother sat down, tightening her sweater around herself. It didn't take long for the house to get pretty cold and everyone had layers on. Isabelle hugged a tattered stuffed bear close to her pink cheeks and stared at the candles while Jake peered curiously across the table at Harm and Mac. Grace's father fiddled with his pocket organizer, cursing at it every once and a while. Grace's mother quietly nibbled on a piece of cheese, the candlelight glowing in her face, almost making her look younger. Harm and Mac were finishing the sandwiches they had abandoned a few hours ago, and Grace sat motionless and limp in her chair.
They heard from Webb a little while after the electricity went out, but it was just to tell them that the choppers hadn't found anything yet. Grace's father was having trouble with his Internet signal on his pocket organizer and couldn't reach a weather web page. But all you had to do was look out a window to see what the weather was like. Visibility was zero. The falling snow was thick and blew in all directions, wherever the savage wind could steer it. And the cold. The frigid cold. Who knew how low the temperature was now? And with the skies quickly darkening...
Grace shivered, thinking about Clay trapped somewhere in his car, probably freezing to death. Part of her was deathly afraid for him, the other was furious. Why did he have to come after her?! He was so stubborn sometimes. But part of her softened again as she remembered a month ago when she "came back." The entire time after they got her in the car and were back on the road, Clay wouldn't stop asking if she was all right, needed to go to the hospital, if she felt any pain. He was determined to find something for him to do.
Those were the times Clay actually acted like he cared. Because ever since they were little kids, all they really did was bicker and disagree. It was like that today even. But he'd softened since her "accident" at the mansion. Now he treated her like a piece of antique glass. Grace tried to act no different than she was before and nagged at him and teased like they always did. But he came back with no witty retort. Just a little smile and a shrug. To be truthful, it made her feel guilty when he didn't shoot back an insult or a stupid joke. He was being nice to her. Then someone she hadn't thought about in a month entered her mind without warning.
Eric.
Grace felt that shiver travel up her spine as she remembered her last moments with him. Their brief kiss, his hand slowly slipping away from hers. She suddenly tried to imagine what his life was like now. Since she would have no intervention, she assumed he joined the CIA and was probably a field agent most of the time. Grace cringed, knowing he was most likely completely unhappy with his life. But she wasn't sure, and she suddenly thought when all this was behind her, maybe she'd look him up, just see what he was doing. Surely with the connections she had, she could at least look up his record. But then the CIA wasn't apt to giving out that kind of information, especially on field agents. You were lucky if they even admitted the person worked for them.
Grace flinched when he felt someone nudge her elbow. She looked to her right and Harm nodded his head towards her father, who was talking to all of them. Grace gave Harm a small smile of thanks for waking her from her trance. He nodded again, then returned his attention to Admiral Rabb.
Grace's father was fiddling with the antenna of his cell phone as he addressed the family. "That was Webb...they found him."
Grace let out a little gasp and she was shocked to feel tears well in her eyes. Mac's hand covered her own and she breathed a little easier.
"He was trapped in his car," her father continued, "He'd lost control on the road and ended up in a ditch. He couldn't get out of the car, and with the growing storm, even if he busted one of the windows, he wouldn't get far."
"Is he all right?" Grace asked shakily.
Her father sighed, staring at the flame of the candle in front of him. "He's being airlifted to Bethesda. He's dehydrated, suffering mild hypothermia. He hit his head when his car ran down the ditch, so he has a mild concussion. Webb doesn't know much more, the doctors are still examining him."
The room stayed silent for a moment before Isabelle spoke up. "What's hypothermia?" She asked, stumbling over the large word.
Grace put her head in her hands.
It could have been worse. She kept telling herself. It could have been worse.
***
0403 ZULU
Mac made a long sigh when she finally fell into bed. Her arm twinged a little in pain. She'd fallen on it when he fainted earlier. Nonetheless, she closed eyes, welcoming sleep. But it didn't come right away. The day's events twirled around in her mind like a dance, sweeping this and that, quite chaotically. The bed bent down a little as her husband slipped into it. He grunted when his head hit the pillow.
"I know," Mac said, as if they'd been having a conversation, "it's been a long one."
"Mmhm." Harm concurred, though he only sounded half awake.
Mac suddenly thought about the two people asleep in her guest room. The whole thing was just creepy. When they were in Grace's bedroom earlier, they had explained everything. All the things that happened when Grace was with them...everything with Singer. That hurt the most. She knew something was off with her daughter, but she never suspected that she'd witnessed something like that. Though it did explain a lot. Grace had experienced mood swings, and other odd behaviour. A car door would slam and she'd get rigid, practically jump out of her skin. She hardly ever stayed home alone. If she knew she'd have no choice, she'd beg to stay at a friend's house.
Mac couldn't conjure any reason why she was like this. But now she had an explanation, and it only made her feel worse. She should have been there for her. Yet, in a way, she was...but wasn't. That woman down the hall was not Grace's mother. She didn't give birth to her. She didn't teach her how to walk, talk. She didn't watch her grow. And in a way, Mac repulsed the woman. She saw her as immature, almost...but it was her. A carbon copy, physically and mentally. The whole thing was confusing and mind boggling, and Mac was simply too tired to try and figure it out.
Next to her, Harm snored softly. Somehow, he'd found a way to clear his mind.
Today was rough. She couldn't imagine what tomorrow would bring. Mac shivered pulled the covered to her chin. Tomorrow would be a true test of her patience...and sanity.
***
TBC
***
Okay, another filler chapter. I swear, good stuff comes next week. Hey, and a little request. My dad had knee surgery today, could everyone pray for a speedy recovery?!?! Thank you and see ya'll lata.
~sancti
