AN - I am really sorry about that guys. I was in a rush this morning to get to finals and well, opps. I may have to change or at least add something to fifty five now (i have written that far, but haven't proofed, or made it perfect by my standards) Here is the real forty five.
Umm - thanks to everyone who has reviewed. I appreciate it. Thank you TC for pointing out that it does take longer to heal(give it in to brain freeze due to exams - yeesh - I thought I sped up the timeline in the story, but when I was editing I may have taken it out for some reason - I should know this, I work in rehabilitation (slaps self on forehead) However, enjoy the story, even though I do have mistakes (which are by the way, all mine)
Chapter Forty Five
Monday afternoon
Andrews Airforce Base
DC area
Mac and Emily shared goodbyes before she had to board the COD. They made each other to promise to stay in touch. They understood that with everything that was happening in the world it was important to have all of your family. It was a draining week.
Harm and Mac stepped off the transport at Andrews and were greeted by a very sick Jennifer Coates, another person of their extended family.
"Ma'amb, sirb, the abmirald would like to see you as soon as bossible."
"Alright Jen. Do you have a cold?"
"No sirb, allerbies."
"How is Mackenzie?" Mac asked
"Her cough is getting worbse and more frequent. Sergei says he has heard something like it before in Russia, but he can't place it. Her appointment is tomorrow." Jen handed Harm the appointment card –achoo-. "Mattie has gotten a new job at workb. They put her in the canteen and in charge of arts and crafts for the time being." She said whipping her nose.
"That's wonderful." Mac supplied. Jen picked up their sea bags and threw them into the government issued blue sedan. "Coates, we could get those."
"Ma'amb, your shoulder is injured, sirb, you have a crutches, and while I am sure you are more than capable, think of it as a little sister doing something nice for her older siblings. The children missed you terribly. Sergei even tried singing to Mackenzie in Russian, it was hilarious. Her face was priceless."
"I'll bet." Harm said.
1300 EST
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
Jen ushered them into the admiral's office. "Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie reporting as ordered sir."
"At east you two, for god sakes Rabb, how did you stand at attention with your crutches?"
"Very carefully."
"I got rave reviews of your flying from Captain Ingles. He tried to sway me to letting you be TAD for a while, but we are too backed up here. Have a seat." He gestured towards the chairs. Harm sat down and felt that he sat on something. He pulled out one of Mackenzie's pacifiers. He gave his CO a curious look. "Sergei was getting stir crazy with the children, so he brought them in for a half day."
"Oh. I hope it wasn't a problem sir."
"Actually it was my idea. Coates had mentioned the children getting bored, so Mattie came in and helped with some filing. You have a smart child on your hands there Rabb."
"Thank you sir."
"I am giving you guys the rest of the day and a half day off tomorrow for Mackenzie's appointment. Go see your daughters, and take Coates with you, she is looking miserable." He got on the intercom and alerted Coates of what was taking place.
1400 EST
Harm's House
King George, VA
Jen, Harm, and Mac pulled up to Harm's house. The looked out and saw Sergei holding Mackenzie on the swing that Harm had installed several weeks before his deployment. Sergei tickled Mackenzie and talked to her, "Hey there Mackenzie look who is home." He flipped her around to face her daddy.
"Da!" She squealed and reached out to him, she wheezed a little breathing in.
"Baby of mine! Come to daddy." He held her close to his heart, and she immediately felt safe with him. "Does Mackenzie know how much Daddy missed you?" He blew a raspberry on her stomach. Mac stood there watching the scene. Harm definitely would walk on water for any of his girls. Mackenzie looked up, from her daddy's chest to which she was snuggling on.
She reached out to Mac. Harm handed Mackenzie over. "Look at my baby! You grew so much. Mommy missed you so much, yes she did! Uncle Sergei must have taken really good care of you." Mackenzie smiled at her mom and then let out the cough that both her parents were dreading to hear. Mackenzie just seemed so uncomfortable.
"Colonel, if you will allow me, I will put Mackenzie down for you." Sergei said.
"Sergei, don't call me Colonel, call me Mac, and yes, will you please put her down. I want her to rest a little bit."
Harm and Mac went upstairs to place their bags down and to change out of their uniforms. Mac had changed into her jeans and one of Harm's Navy t-shirts when she heard him struggling in the bathroom trying to wrestle on his jeans.
"Mac?!"
"Flyboy, having troubles maneuvering?"
He walked out of the bathroom in his favorite F-14 t-shirt and threw his jeans at Mac. "I can't get my jeans over my stupid cast."
She walked to his closet and pulled out his tear away exercise pants and snapped them on him. "If you want to wear jeans tomorrow, we will cut up a pair you don't really like to wear."
He took grabbed her around the waist, and mindful of her stitches, he pulled her close. He heard Sergei in the nursery putting the baby down, and she wouldn't stop coughing. He walked into the nursery and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Harm, this cough is not a normal cough." His brother tried to explain.
Harm picked her up and rubbed her back. "Mackenzie, you have to stop coughing for daddy." He held her close and sang his father's lullaby to her.
A couple of minutes later when Mac realized she no longer heard Harm, she went into the nursery to check on Harm and the baby. She found Mackenzie being lulled to sleep by her father's heart beat, and Harm fast asleep on the overstuffed chair. She kissed him on the cheek and headed downstairs to see the rest of her family. Jen and Sergei enjoying their tea. Sergei flashed Jen one of the patent Rabb smiles, and she watched Jen grow weak in the knees.
"Jennifer, you should take some medicine for your allergies and lay down." Sergei said.
Jen was being put under by the medicine she took earlier in the day and ended up not arguing with Sergei. He helped her up to the guest bedroom. Mac laid down on the couch and caught a nap before her teenager came home from work.
1630 EST
Rabb Household
King George, VA
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Mattie yelled as she took her hair down.
"Mattie, honey, I am in the kitchen, your dad is conked out by his pain meds, your Uncle Sergei and Jen are in the FROG watching TV." Mac called out.
"Mom, it's good to have you home. I can only take so much of Uncle Sergei's cooking. What is for dinner tonight?"
"I am making pasta primavera and chicken cutlets. Here help me cut up the tomatoes for the pasta." She groaned when she moved her shoulder a little more.
"Mom, what happened to you and Dad out there?"
"I think that is a story best left up to your dad to tell you. Go wash up and wake up your dad and little sister, I'll go and get Sergei and Jen."
"Okay Mom."
An hour later, dinner was ready, and Sergei was helping a rather disheveled looking Jen down the stairs. She had sleeping when Mac called up to them; Mattie came down the stairs and settled Mackenzie into her high chair. Mac looked up the stairs and found her fiancé, king of one crutch, with hair pointed in every which direction making his way down the stairs.
"Why did I have to buy a two story house?" he grumbled.
"Dad, come on! I'm hungry." Mattie yelled, making his head pound. Sergei patted her arm.
"Beautiful niece, I am sure my brother has a pounding headache. Why don't we serve the salad as he is coming down."
"Okay Uncle Sergei. Sorry Dad," she said to him as he made his way down the last two steps.
"It's okay Mattie." He sat down at the table and watched her eyes do a once over. The family started eating their dinner, and Mattie couldn't take her questioning eyes off of him. "I guess your mother decided to let me tell you about the accident. To make a long story short, I filled in as RIO, the pilot decided to commit suicide while I was in the plane with him and it hit the deck." Mattie didn't pretend to hide her shock, and his brother and Jen tried not to show any emotion. "Mattie, I made out fine."
Mattie looked at her dad with a shocked expression. "You don't get it Dad." She pushed her way off the table and hobbled her way out to the deck. The sun was getting ready to set. Mac came out to her.
"Mathilda Grace Johnson, what's meaning of that display at the table?"
"Dad is larger than life sometimes, you know. When Admiral Jonas called, I thought the worse, and it didn't help there were no details." Harm came out with Mackenzie and Sergei and Jen followed. "Dad," she turned to look at him, then watched the setting sun, "I'm selfish."
He put an arm over her shoulders. "What makes you say you are selfish?"
"I want you all to myself, and I am angry that it will never happen. I know you have a loyalty to serve and protect this country, but what about your family? How do you think we feel? And then I realized that if you didn't do what you do, you wouldn't be you. Does that make sense Dad?
"Of course baby. Mattie, I may not always be here physically for you and Mackenzie, but I will always be in your heart and memories. I am grateful for every moment I have with my family. I love you, and I am sorry I seemed so cavalier back there about the crash. It scared me too, I thought I may never get back to you and your sister. Baby, you, Mackenzie, Mac, Sergei, and your grandparents were the people on my mind the minute the plane hit." He grew silent. Mattie leaned her head onto his shoulder. Harm and his family sat on their porch and watched the sunset. They were silent just enjoying the presence of each other.
Harm and Mac helped each other up the stairs. He got up to the room and started to get ready for bed. Mac just sat on the sofa in the nook area. "Harm, honey?"
"Yeah sweetheart?"
"What was going through your mind while you were in the plane?"
"Is it really necessary that we have to rehash this Mac? I mean, I hate reliving crashes. But, if I didn't survive this crash, then it would have been much worse than if I didn't survive my first ramp strike. I would have left behind my girls, and that was the last thought as I pulled up my handle. I saw Mattie's graduation, Mattie's wedding, Mackenzie first steps, I heard her first word. Your smile, God, your smile was the last thing I saw as the canopy opened. I love you so much." Tears were streaming down his face. "Hold me please Mac." He whispered.
She walked over to the bed and wrapped him up in her arms and held him as if there was no tomorrow.
