Disclaimer: I own none of these characters except Ryan
Part Seven – Texas Twilight
Harm looked over to Meg in the seat next to him. Her head was out of its bandage now, but she was still in pain -- her head and every muscle in her body ached. Harm sighed as he followed the directions to her ranch. She moaned as they went over a bump, and Harm pulled to the side as she opened her eyes, clutching her stomach. He opened her door for her and she threw up, Harm holding her hair back.
"Something wrong Meg?" he asked calmly as she sat back in the seat, drinking some water. Meg shook her head.
"No, I guess I just feel sick from the travelling,"
Harm breathed a sigh of relief, closing her door and continuing to drive as Meg went back to sleep. Soon enough they arrived at the ranch and Mrs Austin ran out. Harm had his arms around Meg's waist -- she was still half asleep.
"Here let me take her inside Harmon," Mrs Austin took her daughter in her arms, and led her in while Harm grabbed the bags. When he got in, Mrs Austin had settled Meg on the futon, a patchwork quilt over her, and pillows behind her back, propping her up. She gave him a weak smile as he came over to her.
"Hey, feeling okay?" he asked, sitting next to her. Meg nodded. Something was nagging in her mind, something that was saying Harm looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. Mrs Austin intervened.
"Harmon, can you help me in the kitchen with her soup? I've set up another bed in here for you so you can be near her if she needs anything in the night,"
Harm nodded and followed Mrs Austin to the kitchen, where Meg's soup was waiting.
"You're the young man she told me about several years ago when she first started at the Naval Academy, aren't you? The one she can't remember?"
The words stung at his heart. "Yes I am,"
Mrs Austin handed him something. "I found this in a box of her things she told me she didn't want. I found your picture and gold wings."
Harm took them, glancing at Meg in the living room. She was asleep again, and Harm left the kitchen to sit beside her. He put the photo and gold wings on the table. Meg awoke and saw them.
"Harm? What…" something flashed in her mind as she looked from him to the photo.
"Meg…I have to go away…" Harm had said gently. She pouted.
"But…"
"To protect you…" he had hugged her tightly. A few days later she had opened the gift. His photo. His Wings…
Meg sat up, her mind racing, her head feeling light and dizzy. Her world was colliding. She stared at Harm. Come on Meg, you know him. Nothing. Meg started crying.
"I thought…I thought I was remembering something I'd forgotten…" she said, and Harm wrapped her in his arms.
"Shhh," he said as her mother placed her soup on the table. 'Here Meg, eat up,' he started to feed her, and she didn't protest -- she just let him look after her. Mrs Austin watched. The young man cared about her dearly -- it wasn't love, it was a different kind of caring -- he wanted to protect her.
TBC