Chapter Ten
Warning – Graphic in light of events in Iraq. Rated PG-15 for that purpose.
Usual disclaimers, see previous chapters if you really need to know them.
May 1, 2004
1900 EST
Bethesda Naval Hospital
He stood outside the hospital and pulled out his cell phone.
"Rabb."
"Dad, Mackenzie won't stop crying she really wants you."
"Put her on."
Mattie held the phone up to Mackenzie's ear. "Baby, its Daddy. Listen, Daddy has to be here for Aunt Mac. I will be there tonight. I promise." Knowing full well she had no clue what he said, but hoped the sound of his voice would calm her down.
"Mattie?"
"Yeah Dad?"
"Put on a Disney movie, and just rub her back. Hopefully that will work. I will be home as soon as Mac falls asleep."
"She finally calmed down. She loves you so much, and so do I."
"I feel the same way kiddo. I have to go now."
Harm walked into the hospital. It felt like he had just left. He hated hospitals, the smells, the sterileness. The fact of the matter was it made Harm face his mortality. He started remembering his times that he was there. He headed up to reception.
"Hi when are visiting hours over?"
"You have about another hour. Who are you here to see?"
"Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie."
"Room 420."
"Thank you."
Harm got on the elevator and found her room. He heard the soft sound of music coming from the radio. Martina McBride filled the room with a sweet lullaby, but it wasn't doing anything to stop Mac's nightmare.
Mac's Nightmare
"Sarah!"
"Harm!"
She felt herself getting ripped from his embrace. The prisoners were holding her tightly; their grip bruising her skin. She felt her hands being tied, the rope cutting into her wrists. She feared that they would rape her, but hoped that their religious beliefs would stop that. She searched the room, and saw Harm lying on the floor with a mask over his head. There man yelling in Farsi for her to comply, or else he would die. She stopped struggling against their hold, and did as she was told hoping to buy them some time. The prisoners hung her by a hook that was hanging from the ceiling. It hurt like hell, but she wasn't going to show them that. Just when she thought the brutal attack was done, she heard the crack of a belt, a familiar sound from childhood. A man was still standing over Harm, this time with a long knife.
"Say goodbye to your protector."
"No!" She screamed, as she saw him raise his knife to Harm's neck.
"Sarah, wake up, I'm here. Come on. Look at me."
Through her daze, she heard him calling to her, felt him holding her hand. She opened her eyes, and stared into a deep blue sea of comfort. His eyes could always calm her soul.
"They were whipping me. Harm, you were there. A man tried to behead you." She told him while sobbing into his chest.
"No, honey, I am right here. I'm alive, holding you. Look I'm real. And you are in the states. No one is whipping you." He held her tight wondering what she endured in that prison.
"The nightmare was so real. I just don't want to go back to sleep for fear of what I might see."
"Let me help you get your mind off of things."
"How do you plan to do that?"
"Do you remember the baby from this morning?"
"Yeah, I was kinda out of it. You called her your daughter."
"Long story, but here is the abbreviated version. Jordan found out I was storing sperm at a facility outside DC in case anything ever happened while I was serving. Well she stole my sperm, another woman's eggs, and inseminated herself. Mackenzie is the result."
"Weird that Jordan named her daughter Mackenzie. I know it's a modern name, but she hated me."
"Jordan didn't name her. Little AJ picked out her name. Mackenzie for his beautiful Aunt Mac and I thought of Nicole because she was born around Christmas. Jordan didn't want to pick out a name because she knew she was dying and didn't want to get attached."
"Harm, how do you know she isn't lying?"
"That is why I was here this morning with her. We were getting a paternity test. They are also going to check her DNA with those women who have their DNA on file."
"What are you going to do if the biological mother wants her?"
"Jordan's will specifically names me as the custodial parent, hopefully that will hold up even though Jordan stole the eggs. Let's not think about bad things. I have the cutest picture of Mackenzie and Mattie playing together." He pulled out the digital camera and started showing Mac the pictures. He handed her the camera and went down the hall to get a soda. When he came back, she was laughing so hard, it was hurting her ribs.
"Ow!" She said through the laughter.
"Hey marine, what is so painfully funny?"
"This picture." She handed him the camera. Harm had a piece of toast hanging out of his mouth, his uniform on, and his cover on. He was juggling Mackenzie in one hand, who wanted her daddy's toast, and his briefcase in the other with a diaper bag hanging around his neck. His eyes told of his bewildered state, they were as big as saucers.
"Hmm, this morning. First morning with Mackenzie having to take Mackenzie to work with me. Thank God for Mattie, she had enough common sense to come in and wake me up before work. She started her new job today."
"How is Mattie adjusting?"
"Fairly well. She hasn't said much. I think she is a little scared that if Mackenzie is mine, then I will love her less."
"Do you think Mackenzie is yours?"
"I would have to say probably so. She saw my name on the file, and stole the vile. She does look a little like me."
"Those blue eyes and dark hair are going to devastate the men of the world."
"I don't even want to think of my girls dating yet. It's hard to think of Mattie dating, and I think she is slowly going to start bringing up that topic."
Mac shifted to her side. Harm put his hand on her back, and felt her flinch. He saw angry welts on her back. "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"
"No, you would never intentionally hurt me. I think I am finally beginning to understand that."
He held her hand and started making lazy circles with his thumbs in her palms. "Shut your eyes, and try to sleep. I will stay here until they kick me out."
"Harm you have children to go home to."
"Mac, I have a baby who is incredibly jet-lagged still, so she has been asleep for about an hour, and will wake up at about 0300 again. I will be there for her later."
He knew she was losing her fight with sleep. He watched her doze off. A nurse came in, and gave him an apologetic look. "Commander, its time for you to go. You can have her all to yourself tomorrow."
"Night Mac." He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He would be there for her in the morning. He knew it didn't matter what had transpired between them in the past year, they were going to find their way back to each other.
