…Till Death Does Us Part Chapter IV (The Conclusion) – Part 6/12
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Saturday August 27
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
6:47 PM
Harriet smiled as Trish and Frank told her of their adventure with Ty, Little AJ, Jimmy, and Grandma Sarah at the zoo.
"It was pretty hard to tell who the bigger kid was, Frank or the boys." Trish laughed.
"It's not my fault I liked the monkey exhibit," Frank poorly defended himself.
Harm chuckled and grabbed his son as he tried to move past his father to chase after Jimmy, who just ran through the group of adults. "Hey you," Harm said and Ty just laughed. "Did you like the monkeys?"
Ty nodded his head and giggled at his father some more, before some motion from the house caught Harm's attention. He looked towards the kitchen sliding glass door and watched AJ walking out alone.
Harm handed Ty to Grandma Sarah and quickly walked over to AJ. "What's wrong? Where's Mac?" He asked worriedly, his eyes searching for his wife.
"You can find her in the front yard. She's sitting on the swing," AJ told him gently and squeezed Harm's shoulder. "Go to her, son."
Harm only nodded and made his way to the front yard. His friends followed him with their eyes.
"What happened, AJ?" Clay wanted to know.
"The military happened, Webb." AJ dryly answered the question before kissing Ty's forehead. "I think we all should call it a night, and leave them alone," he told the group. "At least those who're not living here," he continued with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"Will they be okay, Sir?" A worried looking Harriet asked while they all got their things together before making their way to their cars, using the little path next to the garage so they wouldn't disturb Harm and Mac.
"Together they will, Lieutenant. Together they will."
Meanwhile on the front porch
Harm slowly walked to the swing before taking place right next to Mac. She looked like she was deeply in thoughts and jerked a little when he took his place right next to her.
"Is everything okay, Sarah?" Harm worriedly asked with a hushed voice.
Mac looked up at Harm and took his hand in hers to squeeze it gently. "The phone call AJ took earlier was from the SECNAV. I have to go to Afghanistan, Harm," Mac explained quietly. "They need a lawyer who's a Farsi speaker."
Harm nodded slightly. "For how long?" He asked, not really knowing what to think about this news. Harm knew all about the military and that this kind of call could happen every day, but still it took him totally by surprise. And obviously it took Mac by surprise as well.
"Unknown for now. However, the SECNAV said something about a month," Mac told him while her fingers started to play with his.
Harm gave her hand a strong squeeze. "We can do it, Sarah. Together we can do it."
Mac smiled at him and gave him a short kiss on his lips. "I will miss you guys," she told him in a whisper.
"We'll miss you, too, Mac. But there's still a chance for you to call us or to send us e-mails, right?"
"Yes, I think that won't be a problem."
"So… when do you have to leave?" Harm wanted to know, afraid of the answer.
"I have to be at Andrews tomorrow morning at six o'clock."
"So soon," Harm whispered, more talking to himself than to Mac.
"I know," Mac responded just as quietly.
Harm took a deep breath and gave her hand another strong squeeze. "We should do the best out of the time we still have until then." Harm got up from the swing and in progress took Mac with him. "Let's go to our family."
Sunday August 28
Harm and Mac's House
McLean, Virginia
3:47 AM
Mac knew it was time to get out of bed but she simply couldn't take her eyes from the picture in front of her. She couldn't take her eyes from her son and her husband.
They'd spend the evening together as long as Ty was able to stay awake. They played with Ty's newest toys or simply snuggled up together on the couch. Grandma Sarah, Trish and Frank had left the little family alone and spent the evening in their own rooms. The three had promise Mac to take care of Harm and Ty while she was gone. When it was time for bed they'd decided to spend the night together as well in the master bedroom, just to spend most of the time that was left together.
Harm and Ty were still deeply asleep. However, Mac never found sleep due to the night. She watched her boys in their sleep, trying to save the picture in her head. She could lose herself while watching them but the packed bags in the background brought her back to the present. With a sigh she slowly got out of the bed and made her way to the bathroom. It was time to get ready for her newest assignment.
A few minutes later Mac came back from the bathroom, fully dressed in her marine cammies and with still damp hair. Quietly she made her way to the bed and sat down right next to her son.
Slowly she let her forefinger run down his cheek, smiling as her son let out a little sigh. Leaning forward she kissed his forehead. "I love you, Ty. Mommy will be back as soon as she can. Take care of your daddy for me, please," Mac whispered into his ear before giving him a final kiss on his forehead.
Carefully she got up from the bed, walked to the other bedside and sat down right next to Harm's still form. "Harm?" she whispered into his ear before looking at him.
Harm slowly opened his eyes and looked groggily at Mac. "Hey."
"Hey," Mac replied softly. "It's time. I have to go."
"Can we have some breakfast together?" Harm quietly asked and started to caress Mac's left cheek.
"I wish. I'm sorry, but I spent too much time watching you guys sleep that I forgot about the time," Mac explained sadly. "I'm already late so I'll just take a bagel with me." Mac bent down and gently kissed him.
When she broke the kiss and wanted to lift her head again, Harm had something else in mind and brought her lips once more to his, kissing her with all the passion and love he felt for her.
"I love you, Sarah," Harm told her when they stopped the kiss.
"I love you too, Harm," Mac responded softly and opened her arms, inviting him for a last embrace.
Harm immediately sat up and embraced her, taking in the smell of her and the feeling to have her in his arms. "Take care, Marine."
Mac looked deeply into Harm's eyes. "You, too. And take care of our little boy here," she told him and together they looked at the sleeping form of their son. "I'll be back before you know I'm gone."
"Promise?"
Both smiled. "Promise."
"Can I bring you down?" Harm wanted to know, already knowing the answer since he would say the same.
"No, please let us say goodbye here. I want to have you and Ty together while saying goodbye. It's already hard enough to do it once, and I don't think I'm able to say goodbye twice."
Mac once more kissed Harm before she took a deep breath, broke their embrace and walked to her bags. With one last look at her favorite boys she blew them a kiss and smiled. "I love you two," she said and immediately turned around to get out of the house before the tears were running down her cheeks. The last thing she heard was a whispered 'We love you too' from Harm.
Once more they were separated by complications, which were thrown in their way. The complication today had led them to have their thoughts so jumbled up, that they totally forgot what a special day this actually was for them.
Sunday August 28
Tysons Corner Center
1961 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, Virginia
3:27 PM
The morning had been gone in a hurry for Harm. The start of the day hasn't been pleasant though.
When he woke up around eight o'clock it was because of the whimper noises coming from his son right next to him. Ty missed his mommy this morning and had called for her quite a few times.
He'd been cranky for a while and had cried a lot until his great-grandmother and grandparents decided to take him for a walk through the park. They'd made him forget about his mother's absence and Harm was very grateful about it. He hoped to keep his son occupied for most time of the day. For now, Harm himself couldn't think much about Mac's absence either since he was too busy getting everything under control.
Around noon it was once more time to say goodbye when Harm and Ty brought Sarah, Frank, and Trish to the airport. They all had spent half an hour at the airport café before the three were called for boarding.
After a last wave of goodbye Harm and Ty had made their way to the Tysons Corner Center to buy a few supplies. The mall was very crowed on this Sunday, so Harm carried his son in his arms the entire time they spent there. At first they entered a restaurant to get some lunch before going to the pet shop. There they spent some time watching the fish in the aquarium before visiting the bunnies and guinea pigs.
When Ty got bored and a little cranky again Harm knew it was time to get the supplies before going home again.
They just made their way to the parking lot when something in one of the shop windows caught his interest and made him stop dead in his tracks. Harm got closer to the window and took a better look.
"Wow," Harm reacted enthusiastically before looking at his son, who had put his arms around his daddy's neck while burying his head in the crook of Harm's neck. "What do you think, Buddy? Would mommy like this one?" Harm asked Ty and pointed at the object behind the window.
Ty nodded his head before burying it in the crook of his neck again.
"Yeah, I think you're right. It's perfect for her," Harm told his son tenderly before making his way into the shop.
End Part 6
