...Till Death Does Us Part Chapter III – Part 22/24
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Fall Church General Hospital
5:34 PM
Mac and Harriet sat in the waiting room, waiting for news on Little AJ. Bud was trying to get some information out of the doctor, but he wasn't telling him much. Lilly, the daycare manager, sat a few chairs away from Harriet. She had ridden in the ambulance with AJ and upon arriving at the hospital she told Harriet what had happened.
The Yonasan family rented the daycare and paid to have the pool on the backside of the daycare fixed and readied for their son, Aaron's birthday party. Everyone in their son's age group was invited to the party. AJ happened to be good friends with Aaron. The daycare staff had roped off the deep end of the pool so none of the kids would get into the water. They also took the precaution of only allowing kids who had signed permission statements to allow their kids into the pool. AJ wasn't one of those kids; he was just finishing his first set of swim lessons and didn't feel ready to swim with the other kids.
The daycare thought they were being safe; they even had extra staff members on hand to patrol the party. However, apparently some of the staff was happier to be in the sun rather than watching the children. Little AJ was standing a few feet away from the deep end of the pool playing catch the ball with another little boy. The boy threw the ball to AJ and he took a few steps back to catch it. He slipped, lost his balance, knocked his head on the small diving board and fell into the water. The little boy screamed for help, but wasn't heard over all of the ruckus and splashing in the water.
The little boy ran to one of the adults for help and the adult then ran to Lilly for help. Lilly ran to the side of the pool and saw AJ. She jumped into the water and got AJ out. She did CPR until the ambulance arrived. AJ was breathing and his heart was beating, but he had yet to wake up.
Bud walked over and took Harriet's hands into his as he sat down next to her. "What did the doctor say?"
"They're running more tests. They hope it's just a concussion, but it's hard to tell right now." Bud kissed Harriet's forehead.
Mac looked at Lilly who was wearing a pair of hospital scrubs. "Lilly?"
"Yes, Colonel."
"I thought the pool was roped off," Mac stated as she wondered why AJ didn't hit the rope.
Lilly exhaled slowly. "We had those rope barriers like at the movie theater lines, but someone took them down so the kids could play around the pool. The police are investigating and whoever took them down is going to be punished."
"Isn't the daycare going to be held responsible?" Harried asked.
"Actually no," Bud said. "The Yonasan family rented the facilities, therefore they are responsible."
Lily shook her head. "They are. Their lawyer has already called me."
"Does he know the child in the accident is the son of a lawyer and so are his godparents?" Mac asked with a grin.
"I told him. He'll be stopping by later with the Yonasan family." Lilly looked sorrowfully at Harriet. "Lieutenant Sims, the Yonasan family feels horrible."
Harriet bit back a spiteful laugh. "That's why they are talking to their lawyer and not us. They are more concerned about covering their asses then they are about my son!"
Lilly looked down at her feet as the door of the waiting room opened. "Mr. and Mrs. Roberts?"
Harriet and Bud stood as a nurse walked into the room. "Yes," Bud said.
"Your son AJ is stable and is being moved to a room. He hasn't woken up and the doctors are reviewing the results from the test. I can take you to his room, so you can sit with him till the doctors arrive," the nurse said in a soft voice. She then glanced at Mac and knew by the uniform she was with the parents. "We can only allow two people in at a time."
Harriet looked at Mac. "I'll stay here and when you two need a break, I'll sit with AJ or get you coffee," Mac told Harriet before she could open her mouth.
Bud gave Mac a smile. "Thank you, Ma'am." He and Harriet left the waiting room with the nurse.
Mac sat back down and looked at Lilly. The two sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Colonel?"
"Yes, Lilly?"
"One of the big reasons why we let the Yonasan family use the pool is because they paid for the maintenance on it," Lilly admitted.
Mac sighed. "It's for the police and the lawyers to decide who's at fault here, Lilly. You're job might be on the line."
"Is this free legal advice?" Lilly asked.
Mac chuckled. "Not at the price Harm and I pay for daycare." Mac then suddenly remembered. "Harm!"
"Problem?" Lilly asked, not understanding Mac's outburst.
Mac pulled out her cell phone. "Harm's plane landed 22 minutes ago. I was supposed to pick him up." She read the display on the phone. "No signal. Damn. Excuse me." Mac stood up and walked to the nurse's station. "Excuse me."
"Yes, Ma'am," the nurse said with a grin.
"May I borrow your phone? I need to call my husband." Mac used the word and it felt right, of course, she was sure if she said friend the nurse would have said no.
The nurse lifted the phone. "No problem. Just hit nine and then the number."
"Thank you," Mac said with a smile and quickly dialed Harm's cell phone. Then she hung up the phone as she remembered Harm's cell phone was on the kitchen table. For some reason he left it, there's a first time for everything. "Damn." She hung up the phone and dialed AJ's cell phone.
"Chegwidden."
"Admiral, it's Colonel MacKenzie."
"How's AJ?" He quickly asked.
"The doctors are still going over his test results, but Bud and Harriet are with him."
"I'm on my way to the hospital now."
Mac exhaled. "You aren't in your office by chance, Sir?"
"No, in my car. Why, is something wrong?"
Mac chuckled out of embarrassment. "Kind of, Sir. With the emergency I kind of forgot about Harm."
AJ laughed. "It's okay, Mac. I sent Coates to go pick him up. She's going to bring him to the hospital."
Mac sighed. "Thank you, Sir."
"No problem, Mac. I should be at the hospital in a few minutes."
"We're on the third floor."
"Thank you, Mac." With that, AJ ended the phone call.
Mac set the receiver down and gave the nurse a smile. "Thank you."
The nurse smiled back and Mac returned to her seat near Lilly.
6:15 PM
Harriet now sat with Mac, since she needed a break. AJ was better and the doctors decided it was a concussion but once AJ woke up, they would know more.
"He's strong and he'll be fine after a while," Harriet told Mac in a relieved voice. "But I'm still scared."
Mac took the younger woman's hand. "It's understandable, Harriet."
"I know." Harriet looked across the waiting room. "Where's Lilly?"
"She had to get back to the daycare and help with finding some papers."
"Okay." Harriet's gaze went to the hall where her son was.
"Do you want to go to him?"
"I needed a break. The Admiral is with Bud, so they'll be fine without me for a few minutes. I thought the Admiral would only be staying for a short time."
"He is. He's waiting for Coates. Coates has your van and she's going to drop it off along with Harm. After that, the Admiral will take Coates back to JAG. Plus he has a conference call to Pearl in an hour," Mac explained. "And most important he needs to make sure his name sake is okay."
"Once Commander Rabb gets here you can go, Colonel."
Mac looked into Harriet's eyes. "No, I think I'll wait till AJ is awake. I would just sit at home and worry about him. At least this way I'll know he's okay."
Harriet gave her an appreciative smile. The door to the waiting room opened and Harm and Coates walked in. Mac looked up at Harm and she was so happy to see him. Harm set his bag on the ground when Mac stood up and went right up to him. He took her into his arms and gave her a hug.
"I'm so glad to see you," Mac said into his shirt.
Harm was a little surprised. "I missed you, too." He then released her and looked at Harriet who was standing behind Mac. Mac stepped off to the side and Harm and gave Harriet a hug. "How are you doing?"
"Better." Harriet sniffled. There was something about Harm that always helped Harriet to feel at ease. It was like he could help wipe away fear with a single hug.
"AJ?" Harm asked when he saw her standing behind Mac.
"Bud and the Admiral are in with him. The doctors are feeling better about him."
"Good," Harm said.
"Ma'am, I parked your van in the visitor parking. We were lucky and got a spot right up front," Coates told Harriet with a smile.
Harriet looked relived at Coates. "Thank you, Coates."
The Admiral joined the group in the waiting room. "Harriet, the doctor is with AJ."
"Thank you, Sir," Harriet said before she left the waiting room to go back to her son in his room down the hall.
AJ looked at Harm. "Did everything work out, Commander?"
"Yes, Sir. Lt. Duncan was being set up by his accuser. The Skipper has requested charges be brought against Phillips for making a false accusation," Harm informed his CO.
AJ sighed. "I suppose that request will be on my desk shortly." He looked at Coates. "Well, we better get back to JAG."
"Yes, Sir," Coates noted.
AJ turned to Mac. "I'll see you in the morning, Colonel. Commander, we'll discuss the case on Monday after I read your report."
"Yes, Sir." Harm leaned down and reached into his bag. He pulled out a file and handed it to AJ. "I had time and completed the file, Sir."
"A report early from you, Commander. It must able a full moon," AJ joked with a smile on his face. He then turned to Mac. "If AJ's condition changes please call me tonight."
"Yes, Sir. After we leave, we'll pick up Ty," Mac told AJ.
"Actually you don't need to. Meredith is more than happy to watch Ty and Jimmy tonight. Plus when I called her earlier the boys were having fun playing with Dammit."
"One of us will pick him up tomorrow morning then," Mac said.
"Good. Till then have a good night," AJ said before he and Coates left the waiting room.
Harm looked at the waiting room chairs. He motioned to the chairs and they sat down. His hand quickly finding its way into Mac's. "How did this happen."
Mac retold the story to Harm and then they waited for news. While they waited Harm informed Mac about his investigation and Mac told him of Ty's little antics.
"He likes to crawl under the kitchen table. He sits in the middle of the floor under the table and takes a nap," Mac told Harm with her head resting on his shoulder.
Harm chuckled. "He's preparing for life on an aircraft carrier."
Mac laughed and Harm kissed the top of her head. They sat in silence until 8:04, when Bud walked into the waiting room.
"AJ's awake." Bud announced. Mac and Harm stood up. "He's complaining that his head hurts and the doctor is asking him questions."
Mac exhaled a breath of relief. "Is he okay?"
"He's answering the questions correctly, so I think everything is going to be fine." Bud grinned.
"That's great, Bud," Harm said. "Why don't you go back and give us an update after the doctor is done with AJ?"
"Yes, Sir." Bud quickly went down the hall and back into AJ's room.
Mac and Harm faced each other smiling about the news. Harm gave Mac a hug and kissed her cheek. "He's awake."
"I'm glad." Mac sniffled into his shoulder.
They sat back down and waited for more news. They didn't have to wait too long. This time Harriet came into the room with tearstains on her cheek. "AJ's going to be okay. He'll have a cough from the water he swallowed and a scar from hitting the diving board, but otherwise he's going to be fine." She paused. "He's already asked when he can finish his swim lessons."
Harm chuckled. "That's our AJ. Nothing's going to push him down."
"They want to keep him overnight. We're going to stay with him." Harriet looked at her friends and could tell they were tired. "Why don't you two go home?"
Mac spoke up first. "We're going to stay a bit longer. Since you and Bud are going to stay, you two should go get something to eat. We can stay with AJ for a while."
"I'm not that hungry, Ma'am," Harriet said as her hand ran over her stomach.
"You need to eat something or you'll make yourself sick," Harm told the younger woman.
Harriet looked towards the hallway. "Let me spend some more time with AJ. Then Bud and I will go to the cafeteria and you two can visit your Godson."
"Okay," Mac smiled. "I should call the Admiral, so he knows about AJ's condition."
"Thank you for being here," Harriet sincerely said to her two friends.
"Where else would we be, Harriet?" Harm smiled.
End Part 22
AN - The idea of AJ falling into the pool is loosely based on a real event. We just gave it a better outcome. Please remember to always pay close attention to children playing in or around swimming pools!