AN: WOW! Thanks for all the reviews. It's good to know so many are enjoying the story. Well will she wake up this chapter of not. You just have to read and find out.
Harm rushed into the room and straight to Mac's side. Nurses tried to push him aside, but he wouldn't move.
"Sir, you have to move. We need to get the crash cart in here."
"I'm not leaving her! Mac! Mac! Don't give up! You can't leave now! I love you! Do you hear me?! I said I love you, Sarah! Come back to me, please!"
He tried everything he could think of to get through to Mac. He prayed to anything he could think of. The crash cart arrived, and the nurses finally got Harm to move. Even while they were trying to resuscitate Mac, Harm kept calling out to her.
"Come back to me, Mac! Don't leave me! You have to fight, marine! Fight for you life! Fight for your future! Fight for us!"
Meanwhile, in Mac's mind, Clay, Dalton, Chris, and her father were escorting Mac away from life. All of them kept telling her that she was making the right decision. That she would be in a better place. A place where there was no pain. She was almost gone when she heard him.
"I said I love you, Sarah!"
Mac stopped. She thought she must have been hearing things. Harm hardly ever uses her first name. The others kept urging her on, but she wouldn't move. She tried to hear what was being said. She heard him again, but could only make out the end.
"Fight for us!"
Why should she fight for them? Harm certainly didn't fight for them after Paraguay. Webb had come up to her and tried to get her to follow him. She was at a crossroad. She could either live of die. It seemed so easy to her. If she chose to die, the pain would go away. If she chose to live, she would lose Harm. That was something she couldn't convince herself to give up on. Through all the pain they had put each other through, she still loved him. She couldn't give up on him now. She jerked her arm away from Webb and told him and his gang to leave her alone. Mac decided to fight. To fight for her. To fight for Harm. To fight for love.
They were just about to shock her when one of the nurses stopped them.
"Wait! Look!"
All eyes turned to the monitor as Mac's heart started to beat. With each passing second, her heart began beating stronger. Everyone was amazed at the site before them. It was stuff that movies were made of. Everyone left the room amazed at what just happen. Only Harm and a nurse remained. She had walked to the side of Mac's bed to retake her vitals. Harm didn't even realize he was shaking. Tears were falling as he walked up to Mac. With a trembling hand, her caressed her face.
"That's my marine."
Then he collapsed. The nurse, startled by the noise. Moved to the other side of the bed to find Harm passed out on the floor. She quickly checked the area for any possible causes, then knelt down and checked for a pulse and breathing. Once she confirmed that he just passed out, she called an orderly to help her move Harm to a bed. A doctor came in, found a nasty bump on his head, and he decided that Harm's passing out was probably due to stress. He left orders to let him sleep and to call if anything changes.
Harm found himself back in Mac's dream, but something was different. For one, it wasn't dark. There was sunlight, and he was standing in a grassy field. He wondered if he was just dreaming the first time. Man, what a weird dream that was. They say stress can do that to you, and he would be the first to say that the last hours or so have been very stressful. He made a point to talk to Mac about his dream when and if she ever wakes up.
He decided that since he was here, he should take a look around. It didn't take him long though to find what he really was looking for. Off in the distance, he saw her. She was laying on a blanket and looking up at the clouds. It seemed so peaceful. Certainly not like earlier with all the voices.
"Wait a minute. The voices and gone. I wonder what happened?"
Harm made his way to Mac. Once her reach her, he stood over her.
"Harm, you're blocking my view of the clouds."
"Am I? Well do you mind if I join you?"
"Sure. Come on down."
Harm laid down next to her, but didn't look at the clouds. Instead, he was looking at her. Mac sensed she was being watched and turned into his gazed. Immediately, her brown eyes got lost in the intenseness of his blue/green eyes. She had to fight to tear her gazed away.
"What? Why are you staring at me?"
"What happened, Mac?
"I had a choice. I could have given up and gone with Clay and the others, or I could fight for my life. I chose to fight."
"What changed your mind?"
"I heard you calling to me."
"You did?"
"Yeah. It's all pretty fuzzy. All I remember is you telling me to fight for us."
"That's all you remember?"
"Yeah. Was there anything else?"
"Yeah, but I prefer to tell you when you are awake. Any idea when that might be?"
"Not sure. I don't know if I want to yet."
"Why not?"
"Harm. When I'm awake, all we do is fight. I don't want to do that anymore."
"Neither do I. Mac there's so much I want to tell you, but not here. Wherever here is. Come on Mac. Isn't it time to wake up?"
"I need a reason to wake up Harm. I want to wake up to you, but I want more than that. I didn't like myself before the accident. I distanced myself from everyone. I want my friends back. I feel that I lost them because I pushed them away."
"Mac. You never lost them. Bud, Harriet, and AJ have been here all this time. They care about you, and they want you to come back."
"Harm. Can we table this for a few minutes? For the first time in a long time, I feel at peace. I realize, now, that you are right. I didn't lose them forever. I just misplaced them for a while. Can't I just be like this for a little while longer?"
"You can have anything you want. As long as you come a little closer."
"Anything I want, huh? I'll have to remember that when I do wake up."
Mac moved closer to Harm and laid her head on his arm. It felt so good to be this close to him. This is what contentment must feel like. She almost didn't want it to end. She wanted to remain here with Harm forever. In her mind, they were at peace. In reality, she knew this could not last. Harm was right. There were too many people out there that cared about her. Harm being the most important. She knew that they couldn't resolve their problems in her head. She even wondered if she and him were really here. She wondered if this was just her mind playing tricks on her. They say head injuries can lead to some pretty weird dreams. She decided not to think about it too much. If it was just a dream, she could live with that. She just laid there, and enjoyed being held by the man she loved.
Meanwhile, the nurse had called AJ, and her called Bud and Harriet. Once they all arrived at the hospital, the nurse informed them of what happened. After the shock worn off, they went to see Mac. They were told Harm was in another room sleep, but they could see him later.
Since only one visitor was allowed at a time, the group decided AJ should go first. He walked up to Mac and put his hand over hers.
"Hey, Mac. I don't know if you can hear me or not. I just wanted to let you know that we are all here for you. We want you to come back, Mac. I know I haven't been around much, but I just wanted to let you know that you are like a daughter to me. You need to fight, Mac. Fight for your life. You have so much to live for. Fight because you love Harm. I know you do. Come back to him and tell him how you feel."
AJ patted Mac's hand and left the room. Next, Harriet came in. Harriet had a difficult time restraining the tears that wanted to come. Blame it on the pregnancy, but Harriet knew better. She pulled up a chair and sat next to Mac.
"Ma'am you can't leave us. You can't leave little AJ. He's already asking for you. Oh ma'am, I don't know what to tell him. I know he will miss you if you go, so please don't. I can't lose you either. You are the one I turn to when Bud gets on my nerves. I know you didn't know this, but if one the babies is a girl, I wanted to name her Sarah. I know we already had a Sarah, but I want my baby to have your name. You mean that much to us ma'am. You have to come back."
Harriet clenched Mac's hand and with silent tears, left the room. Bud was the last to come in. He felt somewhat awkward being there, but he had to talk to her.
"Ma'am, I hope you know how much you mean to us. How much you mean to me. You and Comm. Rabb have helped me out so much that thanks isn't enough. You two make such a good team. I hate to see it break up because of your death. You can't leave us ma'am. You can't leave Harm. He will be lost without you. We all will."
Bud left the room and joined Harriet and AJ.
"Well what do we do know, sir."
"Let's go see how Sturgis is doing. After, we can go find Harm. He needs to rest."
"Ok."
They reached Sturgis' door and knocked. Sturgis called them in.
"Hey, Sturgis how are you feeling?"
"Much better. Thank you, sir. They are just about to release me. Did you happen to find Harm?"
"Yeah. I hate to tell you this, but Mac flatlined again this morning. Harm was there when she coded, and she managed to come back to life on her own. It was the damnedest thing. No one can explain it. Anyway, Harm passed out, probably due to stress and exhaustion. He's in a room sleeping. We are headed there in a minute."
"That's unbelievable. I can't believe she came back on her own. You know, Harm busted out of here like a rocket. I didn't even get a chance to find out where he went. I guess I know now. I don't know how they do it, but I'm glad to hear she's alive. I would hate to have to deal with Harm if she didn't."
"You and me both, Sturgis. When are they releasing you?"
"I'm waiting for the nurse now. Why don't you go find Harm, and I'll catch up with you once they release me. Maybe then, I can go see my dad."
"Sounds like a plan. Let's go people."
Each one left Sturgis' room with a prayer in their hearts. Each was praying that Mac would hear their pleas and come back to them. Little did they know that Mac had heard each and every word they said.
Mac looked up at Harm wondering if he heard what she did. She figured he didn't because he didn't react when AJ said that he knew she loved Harm. Just as she thought, Harm was asleep.
"How do you fall asleep in a dream? Well, I guess I should let him rest. If I get my wish, he's going to need all the rest he can get."
Mac thought back to what they told her. She didn't realize how much Bud, Harriet and AJ cared for her. She didn't realize how important she was to them.
"They really want me back. God, I thought I lost them. AJ had retired, Harriet went to the Reserves, and Bud was too busy with his family and work with his new rank. I don't blame them for the choice. In fact, I think I'm jealous of them. Bud and Harriet have the family I always wanted, and AJ if being the father I always wanted. My body is telling me it's time to wake up. I know now that I am ready to do this. I think it's time I wake up, but first I need to wake up a certain flyboy."
Mac turned a little on her side and reached up a pressed her lips to his. It was a very gentle kiss. One that he would barely be able to feel.
"Harm….Harm…..It's time to wake up, baby."
Harm slowly opened his eyes.
"I should be telling you that. Baby, huh?"
"Yeah, is that a problem?"
"No, I love hearing it from you lips. Speaking of lips, did you kiss me just now?"
Mac blushed and turned her head.
"You did kiss me. You know I didn't mind Mac. You can kiss me anytime."
To prove his point, Harm reached down and captured Mac's lips in a searing kiss that brought a groan from the both of them. His tongue probed her lips, begging for entrance. Mac was quick to comply, opening her mouth to him. She tasted so sweet. Sweeter than any candy he ever had. He couldn't get enough of her. Mac was mesmerized by the intensity of the kiss. She missed his taste. His kiss was like a drug, and she couldn't get enough of it. He rolled her onto her back and leaned into her more. This deepened the kiss, driving them to points they didn't know they could reach. Before their passion could get the best of them, oxygen stepped in. They broke apart, and Harm rolled onto his back bringing Mac with him. It took them a few minutes to gain control. It felt so real to them. It was getting harder and harder the discern reality from fantasy. They knew deep down that this was just a dream, but they couldn't deny wanting more. But not here. If they were to take that next step, it would be in reality. Mac finally spoke up.
"I've made a decision?"
"Really, and what would that be?"
"I think it's time I wake up now. I had a reason for not wanting to wake up just yet. I needed to decide what I wanted to do if I woke up. I also needed time for my brain to heal. I know I must have had a pretty bad head wound, so I wanted to give myself some time. My body is telling me it's ready, and my heart tells me it's ready. I want to wake up, Harm. I want to wake up and look at you and know it is not a dream."
"I understand, Mac, and I promise I will be there when you wake up."
"Well let's blow this popsicle stand."
Harm and Mac got up and started walking. Everything around them began to change. The scenery disappeared and two doors appeared. Mac turned to Harm.
"The one on the left is the one I go through. You take the one on the right. I will open my eyes when I hear your voice."
"See you on the flip side."
Unable to resist they both reached for each other for another kiss. This time it wasn't as intense. This kiss was full of promise. A promise of a life they will begin together.
Harm quickly sat up and looked around. He tried to remember what happened. Then it hit him. Mac flatlined and came back to him. He must have passed out.
"Well that would explain the bump on my head and the killer headache I have."
Harm knew there was something he needed to do. He remembered dreaming and Mac was there. It's the weirdest thing. He can't seem to remember a lot of it. He can't remember either dream that well. All he knows is that Mac was there, and there is something he needed to do. Maybe the memory of the dreams will come back later.
"Now what was I suppose to do? Oh shit! Mac! I have to get to her!"
Harm ran out of the room, and he made his way to Mac's room. He saw the nurse, and she motioned for him to go in. He made his way to her side and clasped her hand in his.
"Mac, I know you can hear me. Mac, it's time to wake up, baby. Come on, Mac. Come back to me."
What happened next startled Harm. Mac's heart rate began to increase. Her eyes began moving. It took him a second to realize she was trying to wake up. Harm leaned in closer.
"That's it, Mac. You can do it. Wake up, baby."
Slowly, Mac began opening her eyes. It took them a second to focus. When they did, she was blessed with a site for sore eyes. She opened her eyes and stared directly into a pair of blue/green ones.
"Hey there, marine."
"H...H...Harm."