Chapter Two
0158 EST
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Mac answered the door, it was almost two in the morning. Whoever was brave enough to wake her this early was going to get his six kicked until he begged for mercy. She looked out the peephole and saw a very haggard looking Harm standing there. "Harm what are you doing coming here this late?" She saw the red in his eyes and immediately ushered him inside. "Do you want some tea?"
Harm slumped to the ground. "Grams . . . . she's dead Mac."
Mac got down beside him and threw her arms around him. "Oh Harm." She held him and let him cry in her arms.
The sobbing began to subside. "I guess I should head out now."
"Oh no you don't. I have a queen size bed. I normally don't thrash around, and I can't lose you, do you understand me?" She helped him up and they walked hand in hand with each other to the bedroom.
"Mac, can I hold you tonight?" Mac was shocked at his request, but secretly thrilled, "Please, I just need to be next to other woman named Sarah who is important in my life."
"Harm, you don't need to explain. You need a teddy bear, I'm it." She settled into his arms and put her head on his chest. She fell asleep listening to his rhythmic heartbeat.
Harm woke up the next morning and tried to move, but Mac's weight was weighing him down. She pulled him closer and whispered to him, "I would give anything to take away your pain."
"I know you would." He told her kissing her on the top of her head. That one simple act sent a jolt of electricity running through both of them. "What am I going to do with her? She was my rock."
"When are you driving to Belleville?"
"Today. I have to get home to pack and then arrange Gram's funeral."
"I'll call the admiral to get you some time off."
"Thanks Mac."
"What are friends for? How did you sleep?"
"Better than I thought I would. Thank you for letting me hold you last night, I know it was a strange request . . ."
"Hey, nothing strange about it. We have been through so much together. I am glad you came here last night. Harm, I would never turn you away, you know this. I will make some coffee."
"Mac, thanks."
Harm made his way out of bed and pulled his jeans back on. He went into the bathroom where he knew that Mac kept a spare toothbrush for him just in case in got late while working on cases together. He walked out after finishing his morning routine and saw her hovering over the coffee maker.
"Harm, I called the office, Admiral Chegwidden gave you family leave for the next week and a half. I also had Harriet stop by your apartment and pack a bag for you so you can leave straight from here."
"Thanks Mac."
"Are you okay?"
Harm reached into the back pocket of his jeans and handed Mac the letter that his grandmother had written to him. The letter was worn through. "Harm what is this?"
"It is a letter that Gram wrote to me. I want you to read it."
She opened up the letter and noticed the creases in it. "She must have written this a long time ago."
"She must have written it on my tenth birthday, I spent that year with her on the farm. Mom had started dating Frank, and Gram was the only one who could coral me."
She opened up the letter and read it tears pooled in her eyes. "She was a real special woman Harm. She loved you a lot."
"Her strength and beauty always reminded me of you." He said sincerely. "I always thought she would be around forever."
She hugged him. "Call me to let me know when the funeral is, with you gone and Sturgis TAD, Admiral Chegwidden couldn't afford us both. I better get ready for work."