Disclaimer: Not mine…just borrowing…
A/N: Okay, I'm working on this as fast as I can, because I got a look at one of my syllabi for next year and I've got to get this done before that sets in. Also, I know this is kind of short, but I find myself better able to post in a timely fashion if I have feedback. Happy Reading!
Chapter 11:
The following morning Mac opened her eyes to find a matching pair of brown eyes staring at her, "Morning Mr. Man."
"Morning Mummy," Nat smiled back.
"Is your sister awake?" she asked and he nodded.
"I gave her Karoo," he added, referring to the pink stuffed kangaroo that Talia loved. He jumped off the bed and raced from the room.
"Where are you going?" Mac asked but got no response.
"Unca Harm," she heard him say as he bounced into the kitchen, "Mummy's awake!"
"Thanks, Buddy," he walked into the bedroom with Nat, "Good morning."
"Good morning," Mac smiled as Nat bounced onto the bed, "What time do you have to leave for work?"
"About an hour," he answered already in his uniform, "What about you?"
"I'm going to call in sick," she stood up and began getting clothes out for each of her kids.
"Good idea. You can stay here until I get back from work."
"Harm, we're not going to be permanent house guests."
"You will be until we figure out everything," he held out his hands, "Now give me Nat's clothes and we'll let you ladies get ready."
"See you later, Mummy," Nat scampered across the bed to give her a kiss on the cheek and followed Harm out of the room.
"Bye," Mac smirked and walked over to Talia who was happily bouncing Karoo through the rough terrain of her crib, "Mummy's going to jump in the shower, but I'll be right back, okay?"
After a quick shower, Mac dressed in a pair of jeans and a simple blue t-shirt. With her wet hair tied back and make-up on, no one would be able to guess the events of the previous night. Dressing Talia in purple overalls and a light blue t-shirt, Mac smiled at the sounds of Nat and Harm making breakfast together. She looked down at her daughter, "Let's go see what the boys are up to, huh?"
"We're making pancakes," Nat announced from his seat on the counter the minute they entered the kitchen.
"It smells good," Mac couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Nat with batter all over his hands and Harm in his uniform trying to keep both that and his kitchen clean. Shifting Talia to her hip, she grabbed a washcloth from the sink, "But I think you've helped enough. You have to be clean before you can eat."
"Okay," he sighed dramatically as she wiped his hands.
"There," Mac offered him her free arm, "Hop on."
"Thank you," Nat smiled as she set him down on the ground.
"You're welcome. Now go sit at the table like a big boy, Mr. Man."
"That was impressive," Harm commented on her juggling of two children.
"Not as impressive as you getting Nat to keep is clothes clean," she smiled.
"I have a gift," he flopped some pancakes onto a plate, "What can I say?"
"You're too good to be true," she quickly took the plate of food to her son before Harm could read any more into what she said. Mac busied herself in getting Nat's food cut and preparing breakfast for Talia and was surprised when the door opened.
"Good morning," Mattie breezed in and sat down at the counter. Mac shot Harm a concerned look, but before he could respond Mattie continued, "Harm told me about your plumbing problem, what a bummer."
"Yeah, thank goodness for friends," she shared a relieved and grateful smile with Harm. It was not that she wanted to lie to Mattie, she just did not want to get into everything with anyone else. The breakfast went by quickly, and after helping with the dishes Mattie returned to her apartment to get ready for school. Mac popped a video into the VCR to distract Nat and Talia while she talked to Harm, "I can finish the kitchen, so you can get ready."
"I am ready," he smiled and continued cleaning the griddle.
"Don't you have cases to review or something?" she took a towel to dry and he shook his head no, "So you don't have court today?"
"No, I do."
"But you don't prep the case," she smirked, "No wonder I could beat you in court so easily."
"Funny," Harm smiled back, "What are your plans for today?"
"Sit around and play with my kids."
"No leaving?"
"None."
"I mean it, Ninja Girl," he broke out his old nickname for her, "Until we know where Mic is you need to stay safe."
"I know and I will," she paused to look at her children and asked softly, "You don't think he'll come here, do you?"
"If he believes that we're having an affair, then he may show up her," he confirmed her fears, "You could come to JAG with me, if you'd like."
"Like I want to explain this to everyone?" she snorted, "We'll be fine here."
"And if he shows up?"
"If I see his rental car, we'll go to Mattie's apartment," she spotted a set of keys with a flower keychain hanging on the wall, "These are the keys, right?"
"Yes," he paused as she slipped them into her pocket, "Just be careful."
"I will, don't worry," she hugged him impulsively and then joined her children on the floor in front of the television.
A few hours later Mac sat by the window watching Nat and Talia play and keeping a vigilant eye on the parking lot in case Mic's car showed up. At this point, even she was beginning to feel that the vigil was paranoid but she refused to give it up. On her next switch from kid-watch to Mic-watch, she gasped when she saw Mic get out of the car. He spotted her in the window before she ducked behind the curtains.
"What's wrong?" Nat immediately sensed his mother's panic.
"Grab a couple toys, we're going to Mattie's," Mac told him as calmly as she could. She scooped up Talia plus diaper bag, grabbed Nat's hand, and headed into the hallway. She passed the elevator and hit the button, hoping that calling the elevator to this floor before Mic hit the button on the first floor would cause a brief delay. They got into Mattie's apartment, and she set Talia and the bag on a clear space on the floor, "Mr. Nat this is very important, so I want you to listen carefully, okay?"
"Okay," he answered solemnly.
"You have to stay in here with your sister until I come back," she crouched down, "Do not open the door for anyone but me or your Uncle Harm."
"Okay."
"Good boy," she kept her gaze locked with her son's, "And if I'm not back in 30 minutes I want you to pick up the phone and call 9-1-1. You got that? 30 minutes."
"Thirty," he repeated, "I love you Mummy."
"I love you too," she kissed his head, then Talia's, "I love you too, Angel. Now, lock the door behind me."
"I will," he promised with the maturity of a child much older than his age.
After checking to make sure the door was locked, Mac returned to Harm's apartment where she immediately picked up the phone and dialed Harm's cell phone. Since he was in court all she could get was a voicemail, "Harm, he's here and saw me in the window from the parking lot. Please come help."
"Sarah!" Mic's voice and a banging on the door cut her message short, "I know you're in there."
Hesitantly, she walked to the door and decided to open it. Mac knew she should keep him outside, but his voice was loud and she was concerned that Nat would hear it and open the door. There was no way she could risk Nat seeing Mic like this, so she took a deep breath and let him into Harm's apartment.
The minute court went into recess, Harm pulled out his cell phone to check for messages. His stomach dropped when he listened to the voicemail from Mac. Harm told Bud that there was an emergency and that he would have to sit first chair for the rest of the afternoon. When Bud asked what was wrong, Harm answered Mac, and even though he did not know the details, Bud knew that there had to be a good reason for Harm to leave and went to tell the admiral.
As he left the courtroom, Harm called the apartment and got no answer. He switched to the number for Mattie and Jen's, praying that they were all safe in there. When the machine picked up, he groaned but tried a message, "Mac? Are you there? If you are pick up! Nat are you there? It's Uncle Harm. If you're there, pick up the phone."
"Unca Harm," Nat's soft voice filtered over the phone.
"Nat, are you okay?" Harm fumbled with his keys as he unlocked his car.
"Yeah, but I'm scared," he paused, "So is Talia."
"Is your mom with you?" he started the car and left the parking lot in the direction of Union Station.
"No. She told me to call 9-1-1 if she didn't come back in 30 minutes."
"How long has she been gone?"
"19 minutes," he answered easily and for a moment Harm was distracted by the little boy's amazing sense of timing, "Where's Mummy."
"She's just busy," Harm lied, "But don't worry, Buddy, I'm going to come get you and your sister."
"Okay."
"Now you just stay with Talia and I'll be right there," Harm assured him. After he hung up with Nat, he drove with renewed haste towards his apartment.
A/N: Another cliffie ducks behind her desk but I just had to put it in there…it wrote itself…
Shalimar2 – Thanks…hehehe!
Macandharmlover – Thanks, I'm glad you're hooked. It makes me feel powerful…muahhaha!
Bite Beccy – Yeah, I know that the last one was sad, and unfortunately this one isn't really uplifting either.
Abigaile – Of course Harm will figure everything out, he's superman…of course it may take some time…
Manda – I love Hero Harm too…even if it is cliché to have him play knight in shining armor…he's just so good at it.
Jaggurl – Thanks, it's great to be back!
Sammy – Don't worry, he'll get what's coming to him…eventually…
Radiorox – Nah, you're not a nerd. If you hadn't found it I know I was going to look it up!
TV Angel 711 – Don't worry, that's the long-term plan
KittyX – It's coming, but don't get too excited because I don't want to disappoint ya.
Nix 707 – Don't worry about the length of reviews, I'm just glad to hear from you. Hopefully your soccer went well and that you're now well-rested!
Cmdrchasenovack – Thanks!
xLovexNxPainx – Of course he will!
JamieAKAaclassyone – Ugh! I hated Mic's manipulation…he was always all about making Mac feel guilty and was playing off her emotions. As for my "copies"…that's what happens when I get overtired on the proofreading! Hehehe!
Cbw – Welcome and thanks for taking the time to catch up!
Southernqt – I got the same image of Harm and Talia, but I wasn't sure how to write it so I decided to hope that the reader just came up with it on their own. Luckily you did!
And anyone I may have missed (I'm still adjusting to the home-to-college computer switch) thanks for reading!