Will You Always Be There
Chapters 25 through 27
Disclaimers as previously stated.
Chapter 25
0600
Thursday
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania
Trish had risen early and made coffee. She took a cup outside with her and stood on the porch to watch the sun beginning to rise in the east. It was late October. The fall colors were at their peak. It was going to be a crisp cool day. They didn't have those in California. She loved this place but did not come here very often since she and Frank had married.
She felt that her first husband still lived here. It was overwhelming at times, even now. She could never share this with Frank. He was a good man and she knew that he loved her. She had loved him in return, but never in the way she loved Harmon Rabb Senior. When Harm went to find his father, and when he found that he had a brother in Russia, she had told Harm she had been able to find some closure where his father was concerned. She thought she had. She and Frank had gone to Europe; he had wined her and dined her and courted her all over again. She looked at the 4 carat diamond on her left hand. It was beautiful, and Frank had given it with a full heart. She wished she could give her whole heart but Harmon still lived there. It seemed that lately her mind turned to him more and more.
She walked down the stone walkway and began the walk down the long drive. Oscar followed, prancing around her heels and waiting for her to throw anything so he could chase it. She remembered she used to dream of meeting Harmon on this drive. In her dreams he had come home to her and little Harm and he would never leave again. Oscar barked, trying to draw her into playing his favorite game, so she threw a stick and he bounded after it. The wind was picking up and she headed back to the house. The leaves blew up and Trish could have sworn she heard her name being spoken. She looked up at the house, thinking that Frank had gotten up and was calling her. There was no one … and then she heard it again.
'Trisha…" Trish drew a breath in sharply. She looked around her, searching for the place from which the name had come. Only Harmon had called her Trisha, and not all the time…it was a pet name that he only used when they were alone. She saw no one and shook herself, feeling her hair standing up on the back of her neck. She had spent too much time walking down memory lane. She decided it was time to go inside.
0900
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Mac was feeling a lot better today. She was still sore at her incision site but she was able to do more and more on her own. She was independently getting around in her room. She needed very little help from nursing staff with her personal care. The only problems were pain when she had been on her feet for too long and getting in and out of her bed. She was looking forward to getting out of this hospital and out to Pennsylvania for awhile.
She had had visitors this morning very early. Captain Morrison had brought Dr. Mark Ahrens from Johns Hopkins to discuss his role in the testing and research being done on her tumor sample. He was enthusiastic but professional. He and the captain appeared to disagree but did not say so. Dr. Ahrens asked her to participate in a study, which he assured her would only entail a bit of additional blood work when she saw Captain Morrison.
She asked the captain point blank about how he felt about Dr. Ahrens' theory that her tumor may not have been malignant but a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor.
He answered, "I intend to proceed as we had previously planned. If you are willing to participate in this study and the tumor is found to be a benign but rare type of tumor, then we all win. Our goal is to remove your risk of reoccurrence and possibly allow you to have a family in the future."
Mac understood, and though she wished she could hear a definitive yes or no, she accepted things as they were now. She had a chance, and that was more than she thought she had 3 days ago.
She gingerly got out of her bed and put on her robe. She decided to take a walk to the end of the hall and get out of this room. There was an open waiting room there and a wall of windows with a nice view. She walked along the hallway near the rail on the wall. She did not hold on but would touch it now and again to steady herself. She was not sure if it was medication or weakness, but she was definitely not 100 percent yet. She did not notice as she passed a hallway which fed into the larger one that a man stood watching her.
She got to the waiting area and sat carefully down on one of the chairs near the window. The man had moved down the smaller hallway and was about to step into the larger hall and toward Mac.
"Colonel Mackenzie," a corpsman called to Mac. She looked up, and the man who had been following her disappeared. "We need to get your vitals and also get another blood sample for Johns Hopkins." Mac stood and returned to her room.
1400
Thursday
JAG Headquarters
Harm was completing yet another case review from the stack on his desk. He placed the case file on the stack on the opposite side of his desk and shook his head in aggravation. 'We need more junior officers around here to do this scut work,' he thought.
Petty Officer Coates came to his open door and knocked. "Commander Rabb?"
"Yes, Petty Officer,"
"It's Mrs. Burnett on line 3,"
'Thanks, Coates that will be all." He pushed the button and answered, "Hi, Mom. Where are you?"
She told him they had checked into the Willard. She asked if she and Frank could meet him in his apartment about 1630 and he agreed. Sturgis knew that his mother and Frank were in town so he was going to secure early.
Sturgis could be a pain, but Harm knew he was going out of his way to make this difficult situation easier while getting as much work done as possible. Every i dotted, every t crossed on Sturgis's watch. His grandmother was right; he had always been CO material. Harm was also going to be able to get out of the office at 1300 tomorrow so he could get Mac to Pennsylvania. Sturgis was alright, really. He just couldn't resist giving him a hard time once in a while.
1700
Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Mattie sat on the couch, watching Harm going back and forth to get his mother and her husband drinks. He was nervously asking about the trip so far, how Frank's golf game was going, how things were at the gallery in La Jolla. She had never seen him so uncomfortable. His mother seemed like an ok lady. She had been very nice to her so far. They both seemed crazy about Harm. He seemed to hate it. Why was he so uncomfortable? He was almost as bad as she had been around her father before they had reconciled. He wasn't sarcastic as she had been, but it was clear to anyone watching him that he would rather be anywhere but here right now.
She decided to give him a break, and his mother seemed to have the same idea.
"So, young lady, how do you like Washington, D.C.?" Trish asked.
"I like it a lot. I miss Grace Aviation. I'm sure Harm told you. I had – or my Mom and I had – a crop dusting business."
Harm shifted on his feet and suddenly found his shoes very interesting.
"No," Trish answered. "Why don't you tell me about it?" Mattie began to tell her about Grace Aviation, and as she did, Harm seemed to relax.
Harm thought, 'Thank you, Mattie.'
She was being charming and engaging, and his mother and Frank were totally smitten. They had wanted grandchildren for so long that Mattie must have seemed a godsend. He had a lot to explain to his mother and there was no good time or place to do it. Mattie sat there and said it all effortlessly.
She explained how Harm had tried to help her. She even included Mac's role in his ability to get custody of her. She mentioned Mac's illness, how much she had enjoyed having her around lately. By the time Mattie was finished, Harm had nearly nothing to explain.
To Mattie it was all simple, the facts of her life right now. It was as though she knew he couldn't handle this right now and she just stepped up. In the space of about 20 minutes the tension level in the room had dropped considerably.
"You must be proud of her, Harm. She is quite a little lady," Trish said and Harm agreed.
"Hey," Mattie said. "Are we going to Bethesda now?"
Trish looked at Harm, hoping he would invite them along. She had never met Mac, but she knew that Mac was the one for Harm. She had known it for a long time.
"Would you like to come, Mom? It's nearly time for dinner." He wasn't sure yet that he wanted her to come.
"Oh we had a late lunch and we'd love to," Trish answered.
Frank spoke up. "If you two don't mind, I think I'll go back to the hotel for a while."
Trish looked from Frank to Harm, and Mattie said to Trish, "Cool… you can ride back with us and we can drop you off."
'I like this girl,' Trish thought.
She and Frank said their goodbyes. She knew Frank was trying to give her and Harm some one on one time. He was such a good man. So much more than she felt she deserved at times.
1830
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Harm had been surprised and pleased to see Mac appearing stronger and having less pain than she was yesterday. He had been concerned that the trip to Pennsylvania would be too much for her, but he wasn't worried at all now. She had been up and was walking toward the waiting area at the end of the hall. After he introduced Trish to Mac, they all joined her with Harm taking her hand and placing his arm around her shoulders.
The gesture was not lost on Trish, and she thought, 'finally.' She saw on his face what she had been hoping for so long. He was in love. He had always been so closed off. It was difficult to know how he felt about anything, but now the love was written there for anyone to see. Trish looked at Mattie and thought that this young lady must have had something to do with Harm's ability to open his heart. Trish instinctively reached over and patted Mattie's back as they walked to the waiting area.
They sat down, with Harm helping Mac ease into her chair. Mattie kept the conversation going between all the adults until the initial awkwardness passed. They seemed to fall into easy conversation after that. Mac had asked Harm to get the small pillow she had to help her brace her abdomen when she coughed or laughed. Mattie was in rare form tonight so she thought Harm should get it as a precaution. Harm started down the hallway – and then he saw him.
Harm stepped closer to him. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?" Webb did not answer. Harm looked at him squarely in the eye and said, "Never come near my family again."
"Does that include Sarah?" Webb asked.
"You know it does," Harm was, barely controlling his anger. This man who had caused such pain in both their lives was standing this close to 3 of the four women he loved most in the world.
"I think Sarah should speak for herself."
"He is speaking for me," Mac said, startling them both. "Webb, go and fare well. I mean that in the truest sense of the word. I wish you no ill will, but never come near us again." She placed her hand on the back of Harm's arm. "The time for us….the time for the 3 of us to be friends is over. Get on with your life…the life you have chosen. I have certainly chosen mine."
"Sarah…" Webb said.
Mac stepped closer to him and her hand went up to stop him. "I realize that Harm and I are the closest thing you have ever had to friends…or anything else. Your friendship has cost us both dearly, and I know I can speak for both of us when I say…we're done."
Webb looked at her, trying to decide whether to believe her or not. "I love you, Sarah."
Mac looked down then back up at him. "You don't even know me, Webb. I'm not as tough as you think and I do need someone. I need someone who knows me and loves me anyway, flaws and all."
Webb looked at her, shaking his head.
Mac continued, "Look, I believe you are dedicated to your work and your country. I admire and respect that, but being in your life for anyone can be nearly fatal. And I love my life, so I want no part of that anymore.
Harm had been leaning back against the wall. He then stood near Mac and placed his hand on her shoulder. Webb looked at both of them and then nodded, saying nothing. He turned and walked away without a backward glance.
Harm stood in front of her and took her hand. He looked into her eyes and tried to read her expression. He said, "Okay?' She nodded and they both started back toward her room.
Mattie and Trish had missed the entire exchange and they joined them a few minutes later. "Hey, what happened to you guys?" Mattie asked.
"Oh, I was a little more tired than I thought so I decided to come back and lie down," Mac answered.
"I was just coming to get you," Harm said.
They stayed about another half an hour before leaving to allow Mac to get some sleep and get ready for tomorrow. Mattie and Trish left and gave Harm and Mac a bit of privacy. Harm sat carefully on the side of the bed. "Is this okay?" he asked. She nodded. He leaned forward carefully and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I miss you, you know,"
"I miss you too," she answered. She kissed him then, deeply, ending the kiss with a little nibble to his bottom lip.
"I think you're starting to feel a lot better now," Harm said, smiling.
"I think I am, too."
Chapter 262000
Harm's SUV
Capital Beltway
Washington D.C.
"Mom, what do you say I drop Mattie off at the apartment and you and I grab a cup of coffee somewhere?"
Trish was so surprised she didn't speak for a few seconds. "That would be great, Harm. I'd love it!...Starbucks?" she asked.
"Starbucks is fine."
Mattie sat in the backseat, smiling to herself. She felt entirely responsible for the ease of conversation between them. Once you got Harm talking, you could get by with just about anything.
'Would this be a good time to ask for the credit card so Jen and I can shop after I get home from school?' She wondered.
Harm glanced at Mattie in the rearview mirror and asked, "What are you up to, Mattie?" Mattie decided maybe this was not a good time.
0900
Thursday
Starbucks
E Street
Washington D.C
.
Harm and his mother sat down at a small table near a window. Trish looked at her son across the table. He was beginning to show some signs of age, though in her eyes he was as handsome as his father had always been. She did not get to see her husband at that age. Harm shifted in his seat, a little uncomfortable under her gaze.
"I'm sorry, Harm. I was thinking about your father."
"What were you thinking about him?"
She told him and then said, "I've been thinking about him a lot lately. I don't know why."
Harm looked at her sympathetically. He understood that she still felt guilty and that he was responsible for that. He reached across the table and gave his mothers hand a squeeze.
"You okay, Mom?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I have been wondering, though, why you have stayed away so much the last couple of years. It's silly, every time you become distant; I still think you're angry at me for giving up on your father."
"I'm sorry, Mom, and it wasn't about that at all. It has been a really crazy time for me. I don't even know where to start."
He shifted in his seat so that he was not facing her but looking out into the night and the traffic passing.
"Son, you know you can tell me anything. I'm not a fragile as you think,"
Harm looked down into his coffee cup. "Mom, I got into some trouble spring before last. It took me about 6 months to straighten it out, and even then I was still having a difficult time."
Trish looked at him and he immediately looked down.
She said, "Let's walk, son. Maybe that will help you get this out."
They walked down E street toward the Mall. Trish took Harm's offered arm and encouraged him to continue. He told her about Singer, about his mistaken idea that her baby was Sergei's. Trish thought 'Harm, trying to rescue another Rabb.' He told her of his arrest and the admiral's order for all his friends to stay away.
"Son, why didn't you call us?" Trish was incredulous.
"I couldn't, Mom. I couldn't stand the thought of you seeing me in a place like that. I went from JAG's fair haired boy to the brig in an afternoon. I don't know what I was thinking."
Trish thought for a long time, trying to take it all in; thinking that the reason she wasn't told was that Harm didn't trust her to handle it well. He was still trying to protect her.
"Go on, Harm," she asked.
"The issue was resolved with the help of the same NCIS officer who arrested me, if you can believe that," he said with a lopsided grin.
He told her about Paraguay and his resignation. He left out the whole Mac and Webb fiasco. No need to dredge that up. He wanted her to think well of Mac, and they were all a little crazy back then.
"When I wasn't able to return to the Navy, I flew some missions for the Company,"
Trish stopped short and said, "The CIA?" Harm answered in the affirmative. Trish was stunned. She knew she wouldn't have taken that one well at the time. She said honestly, "Well, son, it's probably a good thing I didn't know about that."
Harm chuckled a bit. "Seriously, Mom, you understand now that it wasn't you or anything about the past. I just felt ashamed of the mess my life was in at the time. I didn't want to spend a lot of time with you until I had it straightened out."
"Is it straightened out. Harm?"
"I think I'm working things out pretty well. Mattie has helped a lot,"
"Oh, Harm, she is a wonderful girl."
"She is that," he said. He decided not to go into the custody thing with her now, either. He didn't want her to worry and he honestly didn't know how things would end up. Mattie did not seem to be willing to give her father or him up and that was fine with him. Harm smiled to himself and said, "and then there's Mac."
Trish squeezed his arm a bit and repeated what he said. Harm was getting tongue tied again. Trish laughed a little and said, "Oh, honey, you don't have to explain anything to me. It's written all over your face and I couldn't be happier. I hope things work out for both of you……It's time."
Harm patted her hand tucked into the crook of his arm. "Yes, it is."
They were standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial. There was a beautiful and solemn aura to this place. It was like standing in front of a holy place. A place to be reverent and reflective. They both looked across the street at the Vietnam Memorial. Neither spoke but stepped off of the curb toward the Wall. In a few moments they were in front of the name of Harm's father and Trish's husband. Harmon Rabb Sr
Trish seemed to forget Harm was with her. She walked to the spot where his name was, took off her glove and flattened her palm over his name. She pressed it down as though she were trying to absorb it into her hand. 'Harmon," she whispered. She let herself go back for a moment – just a moment when he was here with her, with them. Did he always keep a place for her in his heart; did she become a distant dream? She still had him tucked away in that secret place in her heart. She could pull him out of that place when she felt strong enough to be able to close him back off again. She didn't seem to be able to do that anymore.
"Mom?" Harm said.
Trish's heart still railed against the unfairness of it all.
"Mom?" he said again.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "Lost in thought."
She shivered slightly and Harm again offered his arm. "Let's get you out of this night air. It's cooling off pretty quickly at night now."
Trish nodded and took her son's arm. They walked back to Harm's SUV, and he took her back to the Willard.
"It's been great seeing you, Mom,"
Trish smiled and touched his cheek. "It has been great, hasn't it? Take care of yourself." She rested her hand on his arm and looked into his face. "I love you, son."
"I love you too, Mom." She started to go to the elevators, and then turned to say, "Keep us posted on how Mac's doing and let us know if there is anything for us to do."
"I will, Mom. Tell Frank it was great to see him and have a great time in Europe." With that they parted, Harm going to his apartment and Trish to her hotel and Frank.
0700
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Harm had come in early. He wanted to be sure all his case files were in order and ready for Coates to get to Sturgis. He wanted to be sure he could walk in here Monday ready for work and for whatever was coming up. McBurney and Coleman were due back today. They should be at staff call He was glad to have been with Mac but he was also ready to get back in the thick of it, as Sturgis had said. Bud would be with the CNO's office Monday. A new JAG. 'My luck, it will be a Marine,' he thought, and then he decided the idea was too ridiculous. If Gunny got back on board then he would be almost surrounded by Marines. He shook his head, thinking, 'that's not possible.'
1400
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Mac had been anxious to get out of the hospital. The nearer the time for discharge, the more anxious she became. She had brought a larger skirt for her class A's so that she would be comfortable. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was relieved to be back in uniform, if only for a little while. Captain Morrison had come through at about 0630 to prepare her for discharge. There were no staples, and her stitches would dissolve so need for stitch removal. He seemed pleased with her progress. "Colonel, do you have any questions for me before you go?" he had asked. She did not; between her visit with Cmdr McCool and the information she had gotten from he and Dr. Ahrens she had all the information she could handle right now.
Harm knocked on her door to her room and she stepped out of the bathroom.
"Hey, Marine," he said. "Ready to go?" Mac smiled and nodded.
The corpsman came in then with a wheelchair and Harm said, "Madame, your chariot waits."
Mac looked at the wheelchair and then out the open door where people in uniform were passing. She realized then she would not be standing but riding. She would not receive nor give any salute. A uniform in a wheelchair. She swayed on her feet slightly. The thought almost made her sick. This was stupid; she was going to be fine. Her pride was getting to her, she knew. She knew it was unreasonable. How many young men and women had she seen who would never get up again?
"Mac….are you alright?" Harm said as he walked swiftly toward her.
"It's nothing," she said. "Let's just get out of here."
Harm got her sea bag, and the corpsman wheeled her down stairs. A couple of sailors passing saluted Harm. They did not even see her. It was as though when she sat down in that chair she was invisible.
'Hurry, hurry,' Mac thought. They were downstairs and Harm had pulled his SUV in front where it would only be a few steps and she'd be in the vehicle and out of there.
Harm knew something was eating at her. He just wasn't sure what. He smiled at her and placed his hand over hers. She returned his smile weakly and he asked her, "Okay?"
She whispered, "Okay…let's go." With that they were off.
They were well out of Washington when Mac asked, "Harm, do you mind if we stop somewhere so I can get into something more comfortable?"
"Sure, Mac, I'm sorry. I didn't even think about how uncomfortable you must be."
He didn't know the half of it, she thought. He stopped and allowed her to change. He changed as well. Mac was relieved. They were just Harm and Mac again. They were on their way to leaving it all behind.
"Mac, something's up – do you want to talk about it?'
"Not yet. I just want to get to Pennsylvania. Tell me about how your mom is doing," she said.
He told her about going to Starbucks and their walk to the Wall. She smiled, glad for him. She had not been the only one he had closed himself off from.
"Your mother seems really nice, Harm. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better."
They hit a small bump in the road. Mac winced, and Harm asked, "When was the last time you took anything for pain?"
Mac thought and it had been about 0700 that morning. She took some of the prescription she had filled before she left the hospital. She had put the seat in the reclining position and held Harm's hand in both of hers for a few moments.
She had begun to get drowsy and talked aloud, and Harm wondered if she were speaking to him or just thinking out loud.
"Trish and Sarah are both such affectionate people. It just comes easily to them…natural." She chuckled ruefully and said, "When Dad died and I went to tell my mother he was dead, I had to ask her to hold me." She shook her head sadly. "Deanna Mackenzie was no earth mother...that was for sure," she said as she dropped off to sleep.
Harm was dumbfounded. 'My God, what kind of person has to be told to embrace their own child?' he thought. How could he have known Mac for so long and not known this?
She wouldn't let him in, he knew, but he hadn't realized how much she had suffered and how many more things were missing from her life before he ever met her. He understood now why his grandmother had gotten under her skin so quickly. He thought it had been because they were so much alike, and they were; but it was more than that.
Sarah Rabb gave her unconditional acceptance and affection that she had never had in her life. His eyes stung with unshed tears. He shook it off and focused on the road, listening to Mac's even breathing. She was going to be alright. He was going to make sure of that.
1830
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania
It was dusk when Harm pulled up in front of his grandmother's house. Mac looked through the window and could see Sarah Rabb standing in the doorway. Her silver gray hair about her shoulders made her look like an angel standing there. She came immediately out the door to help Harm get Mac inside. She took one of Mac's arms and said, "Hello, Mac."
Mac nodded and smiled her half smile. She had a huge lump in her throat. She didn't understand why Sarah Rabb went straight to her heart, but she surely did. They connected in some way Mac could not define. She seemed to understand some of the things Mac felt without Mac having the discomfort of exposing her heart completely. Harm had been that way too. Mac had seen it as disinterest….she now understood that it was not. It had been a quiet understanding.
She guided Mac to her own bedroom downstairs. "Oh, Mrs. Rabb, I couldn't," Mac said.
"Nonsense," Mrs. Rabb said. "I'll move you back upstairs after you recover a little more. What happened to calling me Sarah?"
"Sarah…I usually get around better than this. I think the ride was a little tougher on my incision than I thought it would be," Mac said.
She lay down on the bed on top of the covers. Her incision was starting to throb. It was nearly time for her pain medication. She hated that she needed it at all but understood now that that would lessen as she healed. She also knew Sarah understood her fears in that regard and that she would be as vigilant as Mac would be.
Harm went to get the rest of her bags from the SUV, and Mrs. Rabb came in with a glass of water and her pain medication. Mac leaned up enough to take the medicine and drink some of the water. She was clearly in pain and Mrs. Rabb helped ease her back on the bed. She took an extra pillow she had placed on the stool near the bed and put it in Mac's arms and another carefully placed between Mac's knees. She helped Mac turn onto her right side. Mac was surprised that this positioning helped alleviate the pain somewhat. She drew a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. She took in the scent of the clean sheets and the subtle scent of apples, cinnamon and vanilla.
The lump once again formed in her throat and tears stung her eyes and nose. She didn't seem to be able to help it. She had been on an emotional rollercoaster all week. She felt so safe here. It was as though she could hand all of the worries that plagued her to Sarah Rabb without saying a word. She placed her hand over her mouth and sobbed quietly, trying to hold it in.
Sarah noticed and pulled the small stool close to her bedside and sat down. She brushed the hair from her face and placed her hand on her back.
"It's alright, Mac, you can rest now."
Mac began to cry harder and it hurt her incision. Mrs. Rabb gently pressed the pillow on her abdomen closer to Mac and said, "Hold the pillow tighter and take deep breaths. It's okay."
Mac drew a breath and let it out slowly and began to relax and compose herself.
Mrs. Rabb's hand was on her shoulder and Mac placed her hand over it. "Thank you," she said.
"Not at all. Get some rest and I'll pull something together for dinner for you two."
Harm had come in during this time and had seen the exchange between his grandmother and Mac. He sat Mac's bags down outside the door and walked back out to the front porch.
He walked over to the rail, placed is hands on it and braced his arms, crying silently. He wanted to help but he knew in this matter he could not. He now understood what Mac had meant when she said that some of the things she had blamed him for were not his fault. "Baby, baby…" He spoke under his breath. He just wanted to hold her. She was hurting, he knew, and holding her now was not a good idea.
Mrs. Rabb had come to his side and placed her hand on his back. "Harmon, are you alright?"
Harm nodded the affirmative.
"This has been tough on you both, I know." She patted him a little and asked, "Hey, would you mind checking that back door on the barn? I can't remember if I closed it or not….when you're finished, just come on in the kitchen. I've got some decaf coffee on and well get something together for dinner for you and Mac."
Harm did as he was asked, knowing that she was giving him a chance to pull himself together. He had always loved her and trusted her wisdom. Today he trusted it just a little bit more.
Chapter 27
0200
Saturday
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania
Mac woke slowly, feeling too warm and tangled in her blanket and pillows. Her incision was still sore but the throbbing had stopped. The house was dark. No moon tonight. Mac's eyes adjusted to the dark, and she turned very slowly on the bed to see Harm lying on top of the covers. He was scooted as far as he could go on the other side of the bed. His back was to Mac.
Mac reached across the bed and lightly touched his back between his shoulder blades. He said "Mac?" and sat up quickly on the edge of the bed. "Are you okay?"
Mac chuckled a little "I'm okay – relax, Harm. Why did you let me sleep so long?"
Harm rubbed his face with both hands and drew in a deep breath, trying to wake up fully.
"You were resting so well I didn't have the heart to wake you. Do you need anything?"
Harm heard her stomach growl about that time and they both laughed a little. "That answers my question."
They went into the kitchen, and Harm warmed some soup his grandmother had made and made her a sandwich. Mac watched Harm moving around the kitchen silently. It was still so hard to believe they were here, together.
"You still look so sleepy, Mac," Harm said, chuckling lightly.
"I'm groggy from that stupid medicine. I can't wait until I don't need it anymore,"
"Be patient, Mac, you're doing great."
Mac sighed. "I know I sound unreasonable. I just want my life back. I didn't realize how proud a person I was till this afternoon. That ride down to your car in the wheelchair nearly killed me. Those two sailors who saluted as they passed you didn't even see me. It was as though I was invisible."
"Mac," he said, placing his hand over hers.
"It was almost as though I wasn't a Marine anymore. I feel like I'm not filling my uniform. I don't know, It's hard to explain to someone who has never…" Mac stopped speaking, feeling foolish when she remembered all the injuries Harm had endured and that most of the time he was alone. "Oh, God, Harm, I'm sorry. I know you've been through a lot too."
"Mac, I want you to tell me what's on your mind. You're going through something here, something I've never been through, and I want to be there for you. Yes, I have been through a lot, but I had you when I went down in that F-14. And I had my grandmother and my mother after the ramp strike,"
"How can you say I was there for you – I was still with Mic then. And I damn near ruined your life getting into that mess in Paraguay,"
"Mac, you and I were connected, you found me. If you hadn't I would be dead. I lived to fight another day."
"Yeah… you fought with me," she said.
Harm raised his eyebrows and they both laughed. Mac winced a bit in pain. Harm went to get her medicine and she reluctantly took it.
"Mac, we're done rehashing the past. We're here right now together and that is all that matters to me, okay?" he said. Mac nodded in the affirmative.
Mac wasn't sleepy yet but she noticed how tired Harm looked. "You need to hit the rack, sailor."
"I'm okay," he said yawning.
"Okay, look, I'm wide awake now so why don't you go lay down and I'll come get you if I need you,"
"I'm not leaving you, Mac."
Mac thought 'stubborn man.'
"At least go lay down on my bed and I'll sit out in here and do a little reading till I get sleepy. I also want you to stretch out, Harm. You were scrunched so far over on the bed I thought you were going to fall off," she said laughingly.
"I didn't want to hurt you. I was afraid I'd bump into you and hurt your incision."
"Oh, Harmon, don't worry. I don't think you could get close enough to hurt me with all the pillows stuffed around me," she said smiling slyly. He looked at her with sleepy eyes and smiled. She kissed his cheek. "Go lie down; you're just a few steps away."
'Okay, don't stay up too long. I want to spend as much time as I can with you this weekend before I have to go back." He turned and kissed her lightly on the lips, holding himself away from her, still fearing he would hurt her. He ached to hold her close. He wanted his Mac back too. He walked down the short hall and into Mac's room.
Mac sat down with one of Mrs. Rabb's Agatha Christie novels, and before she got to the second page she heard Harm snoring softly.
0630
Saturday
Rabb Farm
Belleville, Pennsylvania
Mrs. Rabb came down stairs to find Mac sleeping in the chair by the fireplace, a book in her lap. She crept into the kitchen and started the coffee. She walked back to the doorway and Mac began to stir. "Hello, young lady," Mrs. Rabb said.
"Hello…Sorry I knocked out on you both last night. My pain medicine has that effect on me, I'm afraid,"
'It's alright, Mac. Over the next week or so you'll need it less and less. You'll be your old self in no time," she said.
Mac took the book and quilt from her lap and slowly and gingerly got up from the chair. Sleeping in a sitting position was not a good idea, she found. Her incision pulled and made it difficult to stand straight up. She went to the restroom to freshen up for the day while Mrs. Rabb started breakfast.
When Mac came back into the kitchen, Harm and Mrs. Rabb were waiting for her. Harm noticed that she was slightly bent over, "You shouldn't have slept in that chair, Mac."
She frowned, "I know, I know, I just fell asleep so quickly." Harm went to get her medicine and Mac said, "No, it's not time. I just need to stay up right for a while and I'll walk around a bit after breakfast and it should feel better."
Harm frowned at her, and Mrs. Rabb said, "She'll be okay, Harm. She needs a good meal with plenty of protein and she also needs to get moving as much as possible."
Harm smiled at his grandmother. "It's been a while since you had a patient, hasn't it?"
"Yes it's been a long time, not counting you, it's been since 1985." Mac looked at them both curiously. "I started in patient care in 1943. I was what was then called a rehabilitation aide. We were nurses trained by the doctors to deal with all the orthopedic injuries caused by the war. We were really the first American physical therapists. I didn't get a license to practice physical therapy until 1968. I did what was called 'grandfathering' in. I was allowed to take the state board exam and got my license. I don't believe it is permitted now. It wasn't as lucrative a profession back then as it is now. I loved it though."
"Grandma worked at the VA hospital in Altoona not long after my dad was born," Harm said. Mac was amazed. She always sensed her strength but did not realize just how much she had accomplished in her lifetime.
Mrs. Rabb's face became solemn for a moment, "The first year back here was very tough. I had just lost David. He never saw our Harmon. It was another time in my life that I would not have gotten through if it had not been for Mary and Andrew Rabb. Mary helped me with the baby. I'm ashamed to say that the first months I did only what was necessary. I took care of my child but I did not cuddle him. I left him to Mary."
Mac said, "The first year back here? Where were you?"
"We were at Pearl. I followed David out there. He was so angry with me. I had completed my nurses training. It was only 6 months back then. I got myself orders to Pearl and off I went. David Rabb wasn't going anywhere without me."
She smiled to herself, lost in thought. "We were married two weeks after I got there. We had to wait for permission from his CO. We had about 3 months and then he got his orders to the Hornet. The mission was top secret. I only knew they were going to be flying Army bombers off the deck of a carrier. And that's how I lost him – when we bombed Tokyo in retaliation for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I wanted to be a field nurse after that, but when I found I was pregnant I was sent back home. I went to work at the VA hospital after Harmon was born."
While they ate breakfast they talked more about Harm's grandfather, with Mrs. Rabb recalling the happier times of their lives together. Mac asked Mrs. Rabb if she and Harm could look through the box of photos she had shown her the week before.
She consented but said, "Only after you and I go for a bit of a walk. You really do need to get some exercise this morning and probably again before lunch. I'll just place it in the middle of the bed and you can stretch out. I've got my rocking chair in there and if you'll show the picture, I'll tell the story."
"Sounds great. Do you already know all the stories, Harm?"
"I know some of them. Grandma will surprise me now and then with something I didn't know. I like hearing them anyway."
With that they stood, and Mac and Mrs. Rabb put on their jackets and went for their walk down the drive. The sky was blue-gray and the fallen leaves on the green grass were a beautiful yellow-orange contrast. The colors were different from when she first came here but no less beautiful to Mac. She had truly come to love this place in the short time she had known about it.
Harm cleaned up the kitchen and took a shower while they were out. He started a fire in the fireplace and stretched out on the couch. Mac and Mrs. Rabb walked up and down the drive twice. By the time Mac finished walking, her incision was sore but she could remain upright without feeling the pulling she felt before. The air was cool and bracing. She felt exhilarated afterward. Being away from the hospital, doctors and nurses made her feel more normal.
Harm met them at the door when they walked in. "How did it go?"
Mac's cheeks were a tawny pink and she smiled beautifully. "It's cool out there, but it was nice to be outside after all that time in the hospital."
"Let's get something warm to drink and we'll get started on those pictures."
Mrs. Rabb said, 'Mac, do you need anything for pain?"
"Nope, not yet. I'm afraid I'll fall asleep and I don't want to miss anything,"
They settled in the bedroom. Harm's grandmother was in her chair on Mac's side of the bed. Mac was propped up on pillows reclining on top of her covers with a quilt thrown over her legs. The large photo box sat on the middle of the bed, and Harm was sitting on the other side on the edge of the bed, facing them both. He opened the box, and on top of one of the stacks Mac saw a picture that caught her eye. She picked up the stack and slipped the photo out of the ribbon. It was a picture of Harm Sr. holding out both arms to a pudgy little boy.
"Oh, Harm, look at you!" she said laughingly. "Those cheeks!"
The little boy in the picture had a determined look, eyes that Mac recognized immediately were fixed on his goal. She gave the picture to Mrs. Rabb, and she chuckled.
"That was when Harm was 11 months old. He and Trish had come to spend a few days. We all had a wonderful time."
The next picture was curious to Mac. It appeared to be Harm Sr. and Harm Jr. walking down her drive. They both had their backs to the camera. They looked nearly identical, little Harm dressed exactly like his father from head to toe. She handed the picture to Mrs. Rabb.
"I know, it's a little strange. They were facing away from the camera, but you see, as I said before, they have the Rabb stature. They look like my David in this way, and it struck me when I saw it and that made the picture precious to me. My David never got to see either of them but he left his mark on them both."
She nodded toward Harm and said, "He was five years old. He turned 6 that following October. They all came for a long visit before Harmon's last deployment."
Mac looked at Harm. She handed the picture to him and asked "Do you remember this?" Harm nodded in the affirmative. Mac saw love and pain and pride in his eyes. He never stopped missing his father; he probably never would.
The phone rang, startling them all. Mrs. Rabb got up to answer it. Mac said, "Harm, I forgot your birthday. October 25th. I can't believe I did that. I didn't get you anything."
Harm smiled a sly smile "Oh, I got my birthday present last weekend….a little early."
Mac thought for a moment. They'd had a very nice Friday and Saturday night on Tilghman Island. She blushed and laughed a little. "Oh… don't make me laugh," she said.
Mrs. Rabb came in and told Harm that Sturgis was calling. Harm looked at Mac with raised eyebrows and thought, 'If he's calling something must be up.'
Harm rose and walked to the living room to answer the phone. "Hey Sturgis…"
"Sorry to do this, Harm, but I'm going to need you back in Washington first thing and be ready to catch a flight out of Andrews by 1600 tomorrow. I'll brief you further when you get back to Washington. I want you here at JAG no later than noon. A senior DOD advisor has gotten himself killed in Baghdad and we've got a Marine accused of involuntary manslaughter."
Harm said, "I'll be there."
Sturgis added, "Harm, I'm sorry about this. There is just no other way. The SecNav is all over my six and you are the most experienced attorney I have. I'll be sending Major McBurney over with you."
"Not a problem. I appreciate all you did this last week to make it easier for me, Sturgis. See you tomorrow."
He hung up and looked at Mac. He had to leave her and he didn't want to. He never wanted to give her a reason to doubt him. He walked back into the bedroom and looked directly at Mac.
"I have to leave first thing in the morning. I have to catch a flight out of Andrews tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to Baghdad."
Harm tried to read Mac's reaction in her face. "Harm…" she said. Mrs. Rabb had left the room to get Mac's medicine.
Harm didn't let her finish. "I hate leaving you now. I promised I'd be here for you and now I feel as though I'm leaving you to handle this alone."
"I'm not alone, Harm, not anymore. I was more alone at this time last year in an office full of people and you just down the hall. We are together now, Harm, aren't we?"
Harm's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Yes."
"I'm going to be fine. I'm here with your grandmother. I've never been so fussed over in my life and enjoyed it so well."
Harm walked over to her and kissed her forehead.
"I wouldn't be much of a Marine if I didn't understand when you had to deploy, Harm. I'll be okay."
Harm pulled the stool close to her side of the bed, sat down and looked at her. Mac could see his wheels turning; she said, "Stop worrying. I'm feeling stronger all the time. I may have been reading more into Captain Morrison's statement than I should but I really feel hopeful for the first time in a long time. I can face this."
"We can face this," Harm said.
Mac and Harm spent the rest of their day together, nearly every moment. She did have her walk before and after lunch. She went with Harm this time.
"I don't know why it is, but when I'm walking up this drive I have the most peaceful feeling of coming home. I feel it more here than any other place I know," Harm said.
Mac looked at him and smiled. "I feel at home here, too." Harm leaned down and kissed her cheek. They went back inside and sat in front of the fire. The box of pictures sat on a coffee table near the couch.
Mac picked up the box and opened it. "I don't know why I'm so drawn to the pictures in this box." She noticed a newer picture on the bottom of the box. She lifted it out, and it was a picture of Harm and herself taken the day of Bud and Harriet's wedding.
"You were so beautiful that day, Mac."
"You didn't look too shabby yourself, Sailor."
Mrs. Rabb walked into the room and looked over their shoulders at the picture. "Oh yes, that was the first look Trish or I had of you. All I had heard from Trish is that you were 'quite the girl'. I was so surprised that he had sent a picture that had anyone else in it…."
Mac smiled wryly at Harm and then chuckled a bit. Harm grinned sheepishly. "Hey, it was a good picture….of both of us."
"I'm honored, Harm," Mac teased.
They had a wonderful dinner. Out of the blue Mrs. Rabb had pulled out all the stops. She had roasted a turkey breast, made old fashioned dressing and even managed a pumpkin pie. Mac had never tasted anything so wonderful.
"This is great, Sarah. Harm, you'd better eat up; those MREs are waiting for you when you get to Baghdad," she said laughingly.
"Hey, I could send you some and let you share in my experience while I'm gone,"
"That's okay… I'll just let you tell me about them in your e-mails," Mac said, smiling; she had brought her laptop and now she was even more glad she had, since Harm was going overseas.
They all walked after dinner twice up and down the drive. Mac felt so much better now than she had when she first arrived. They spent the evening going through the picture box, and Mrs. Rabb gave them little stories about first one picture, then another. Mrs. Rabb rose from her chair and picked up a bundle of letters from the box. She handed them to Harm and said, "You should have these."
Harm recognized the handwriting immediately as letters from his father. "I don't want to take these from you, Grandma."
"Nonsense, I know them all by heart by now, Harmon," Mrs. Rabb said. "I think you should have them." And with that Mrs. Rabb went to bed.
Mac began to show signs of sleepiness not long after, and Harm said, "Okay, Marine, it's time you hit the rack."
"I don't want to go to sleep yet. I don't want to miss a minute with you,"
"Come on, I'll go with you and talk to you till you fall asleep," Harm said.
"Oh, I don't know," Mac smiled mischievously "The last time you did that we didn't get much sleep at all."
Harm laughed, "Hey, I'll be good, scout's honor."
He raised his hand in a scout pledge. Mac finally consented. She got ready for bed and took her pain medicine. She had only needed one dose today, bedsides her bedtime dose, so she was very pleased with herself. She lay on her side in the bed and Harm started to take his place clear over on the opposite edge of the bed.
"Harm, please don't stay all the way over there. Come and spoon with me…." The look in her eyes almosted pleaded with him.
"Mac, I don't want to hurt you," Harm said.
"You'll hurt me if you stay so far away." Mac lay back down and Harm carefully slipped in behind her, lying on top of the covers. She still fit him like a glove. She held her pillow to her abdomen but she was nestled into his arms using his arm and her pillow to rest her head on.
"That's it. Now I'm home," Mac said. Harm closed his arm around her and she kissed his forearm. 'I love you, Harm,"
He kissed her hair, "I love you, too." Harm closed his eyes and held in the tears he felt stinging there. Mac felt him holding them in but said nothing. Harm needed to be able to go. She knew it would bother him to think she knew he was having this difficult of a time. He still wanted to be strong for her, so she decided that she would be strong for him now too.
TBC