Chapter 12

Usual disclaimers still apply

Harm finally thought he would be able to start putting things in a more orderly fashion when he heard Mac struggling in the bathroom.

"Mac?"

"Harm, I need your help."

He walked in there to see a very frustrated Sarah Mackenzie struggling to get her shirt off.

"What do you need me to do marine?"

"I need help with this shirt."

"Okay." He stood behind her and lifted the shirt up over her head. She was heavily bandaged. He vowed to himself that she would never be hurt again.

"Harm, can you help with the bandages. They have these bandaged real tight."

Harm handed her a robe. "Here, put this on, with the open side to the back. This way I can help you without causing any undo embarrassment on anyone's part."

She slid the robe one as he instructed, and he carefully began to unwind the bandages. His breath was hot on her neck. It woke up the feelings she had for him that she thought were long dead. 'Don't go there, he just got thrown into a ready made family. He wouldn't want to take on a mess like me. Besides, I can do everything without him, I am a strong independent Marine!' she thought.

"Mac, in case I haven't told you, this past month has been hell without you."

"Watch out sailor. You are actually beginning to sound like you need me."

"Sarah, I always need you," he stared deeply into her eyes. Who would ever want to hurt her? He quickly changed the topic. "Look all done. I have some baby wash in the shower if you want to use that. It has lavender in it, always calms the baby down."

"Why is the baby wash in the shower?"

"To cut down on time this morning, I took a shower with Mackenzie. She was up at the crack of dawn, and when I woke up again, it was already 0700."

"I wish I had a video camera for that one."

"Red light Colonel," He said with a smile. "Okay, I will leave a shirt and some sweats on the bed."

"Thanks Harm." She walked into the bathroom to take a shower.

'Sarah Mackenzie is taking a shower in the bathroom,' he thought like a hormone stricken teenager. He looked around his apartment and started straightening it out, amazing how much mess one little baby can do.

Harm walked out into the living room and saw the listings that Bud had printed out. There were a couple of houses in Bud and Harriet's neighborhood he decided to check out. There was also another one about five miles away from their place. It seemed perfect. He circled that one and called the realtor to make an appointment.

"Hello, Wong's Realty Olivia Wong speaking."

"I need to make an appointment to see the property that was on the internet."

"What time would you like?"

"Well, I have to pick up my teenager at 5:00, and she would like to see the house too."

"How about 5:20 tomorrow sir?"

"That's great. I didn't think you guys showed after 5:00."

"We show until 7:00 because of working people. Can I have your name?"

"Commander Harmon Rabb Jr."

"I will see you tomorrow."

Harm sat down the sofa and started resting his eyes. Mac came out of the shower and snuggled next to Harm.

1600 EST

North of Union Station

Harm awoke with the feeling of dead weight on his arm. Mackenzie was wailing in the bedroom, and Trish was trying to calm her down. He looked down and saw Mac lying on his arm. He shifted and wondered how she could sleep through the baby crying. The drugs must have really knocked her out. He got up.

"Hi Harm. I was trying to keep her quiet. She was doing great the entire day."

"I think she is jet-lagged still." He claimed her from his mother's arms. "You know what baby, we have to get your body adjusted to here. So you get to take a little nap. But then we are going to look at some houses with your big sister." Trish watched as he prepared a bottle.

"You know Harm, there were days I never thought I would get to see my grandkids."

"Well, she was born unconventionally. Think about what Jordan has taken away. I didn't know about her until a few days ago. I didn't see her birth, or help my wife through labor. I just always thought I would have a chance at that."

"You will one day Harm."

He saw that Mackenzie was fast asleep in his arms. He still had the pack-n-play put up, so he went to his bed, stripped down the covers, and used his pillows for a barrier. He looked at his watch and realized he would have to wake up Mac.

"Mom, where is Frank?"

"He is coming from the hotel darling. He put up our bags with the driver. When he gets here we will pick up Mattie."

He went over and woke Mac up. "Sarah, my mom is here with your clothes, and Mackenzie is asleep in my room, so keep it down when you are changing. I also called a realtor today, and made an appointment to see a house at 1720 tomorrow, and I guess we will see more during the day. I made reservations for Vincenzos today at 1900 at Mathilda Grace's request. Now if you don't feel like going," he started.

"Harm, I feel fine, I just needed a good rest."

"Just let us know if you need to come back here."

"I will Trish. Now let me go get ready, and we can go get Mattie."

Mac changed in the bathroom and she heard Harm getting Mackenzie ready. "Hi Mackenzie. I told you that you wouldn't get a long nap, we have to get you on Eastern Standard time baby, and right now, you operating on ZULU isn't helping Daddy out any. Looks like that needle stick caused a nasty bruise on my angel. I'm sorry baby, Daddy didn't want to hurt you." He kissed her tummy. "Do you want yellow or pink?"

"I think she looks good in the yellow, and pink is too girly." Mac supplied as she walked into the room.

"Pink it is." He put her in a buttercup yellow shirt and a pink jumper. "I figured a compromise." He tickled Mackenzie and she started to squeal.

They heard Frank walk in. "Come on my women, let's go get my other woman." Harm said to them.

"Women?" Mac said, punching him in his arm.

"Hey Mac, watch the bruise. Besides I'm carrying precious cargo."

"The big, bad Harmon Rabb hiding behind his daughter."

"Oh Mac, you wound me."

The playful banter was slowly coming back between the partners. Mac finally was able to see that no matter what happened in both of their lives that Harm would always be there for her.

Trish and Frank were waiting by the door. "Harm, we have her car seat in the Escalade. The driver is waiting for us downstairs."

"Thanks Frank." They watched in fascination as Harm locked Mackenzie into her car seat, and she smiled in fascination at her daddy.

They picked up Mattie who was excited to see what she got to go home in and Escalade fully equipped with a driver, "Dad are we going to go to Vincenzos?"

"Yeah. But first I am going to the baby store to pick up some clothes for Mackenzie. I only got five outfits the last time, and I didn't know she would need more."

"Good. It will keep you from doing laundry everyday."

They picked out some beautiful baby clothes for her. Trish went wild, as Frank had predicted, and then took Mattie out to pick out some new jeans and shirts.

"My daughters need bigger closets than me." He sighed.

"Well Harm, they are girls. All they need in life are 1)Good man, 2) Good careers, and," Mac started

"Lots of comfortable shoes." Harm finished. "How many shoes did my mom buy for those kids today?"

"Five for Mackenzie and three for Mattie."

"I own four pairs!"

"Flyboy, you wouldn't understand."

"Harm, darling, now you own five more pairs. Mattie and I thought it would be nice if we got you some running shoes, some loafers, and some flip-flops."

"Mom, I'm a grown man with children, I think I can buy my own stuff."

"Harmon David Rabb Jr. You are my child, and I will spoil you whenever I want to." He blushed at his mother using his full name.

Dinner was wonderful. Mattie was able to change into a new outfit which she couldn't help but gush over. Mac enjoyed it because for the first time in a long time, she realized that this was a family she could belong to.