Disclaimer: Not mine, just borrowing…

A/N: Okay, not quite as speedy as before and maybe a little shorter, but I'm working on it. Classes have started, which means I have work now, but it's not too bad, so I'll still keep up with this. Also, this chapter does have some "adult language" so anyone who may be offended should not read. Happy reading!

Chapter 13:

"How is she?" Harriet asked the minute she got out of the minivan in the hospital parking lot.

"Better," he had been waiting for her to help her with the kids, "No Bud?"

"He's at home with my two," she answered, unhooking the carrier portion of the Jimmy's car seat, which Talia was using. Harm also noticed that Talia was borrowing some of Jimmy's clothes, because the little girl now wore a blue sleeper.

"Hey Nat," he released from the car seat and lifted him from the car. Harm could tell from Nat's red eyes that he had been crying a lot today, but was relieved to see him noticeably calmer than before.

"Hi," Nat whispered, wrapping his arms around Harm's neck, "We go see Mummy?"

"Yes."

"Good," he settled his head onto Harm's shoulder.

"How were they?" Harm asked Harriet.

"Scared and confused," she sighed, "After a bath and a bottle, I got Talia down for a nap, but Nat wouldn't go to sleep. He played with A.J. for a bit, but mostly he just followed Bud or me around the house."

"It was a rough day," he rubbed Nat's back, and looked down at Talia who was happily sucking on her pacifier as Harriet carried her.

"That's an understatement," Harriet mumbled, "Did you ever expect that he would do something like this?"

"Honestly, Harriet, no," he sighed, "I never really liked him, but I never expected this."

"Me neither," she shook her head, as they road the elevator up to Mac's floor, and then reached into her bag, "Oh, here's that information you asked Bud to find."

"Thanks," he took the sealed envelope with his free hand. When they got off the elevator, he carefully lowered Nat to the ground, "You're going to walk with Aunt Harriet now, okay?"

"Okay," he instinctively reached for Harriet's free hand and popped the thumb on his other hand in his mouth.

"Limited number of visitors at a time," he explained for Harriet's benefit, "I have an errand to run, but will you tell Mac I'll be back later tonight."

"Will do," Harriet said with a strong idea of where Harm was going. She looked down at Nat, "Come on, Nat, let's go see your Mummy."

Mac sat in the bed of her new hospital room, anxiously staring at the door. She had been out of the ICU for 4 minutes and 23 seconds and had yet to see anyone but hospital staff. She wanted to see her kids; she needed to see them. Instead she was lying there, staring at the ceiling. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Nat standing frozen in the doorway with Harriet behind him. Only when she turned her head to look at him did he come speeding towards the bed, as fast as his little legs could carry him.

"Mummy!" he grinned and tried to climb onto the bed, "You're awake."

"Yes I am, Mr. Nat," Mac reached over to pick him up, but was restrained by her IV.

"I got it," Harriet set the carrier on the table and scooped Nat onto the bed. Nat quickly kissed her on the cheek, and Mac's heart broke when she saw his tired, red eyes.

"Thanks," she looked to the carrier, "Can you?"

"I'm on it," she walked over to Talia and then set her in her mother's arms, "There you go."

"Hey Tali-babe," Mac said to her daughter who smiled back, "Where you good for Aunt Harriet?"

"Yes she was," Harriet tickled her feet making her giggle, "We had a bottle, a bath, and a long nap."

"What about you, Mr. Man?" she looked down at her son, "Where you a good boy."

"Uh-huh," he nodded playing with Mac's hand.

"Was he?"

"Yes," Harriet paused and mouthed to Mac, "No nap, no food."

"Are you hungry?" Mac asked him and he shook his head, "Are you sleepy?" she got the same response without him looking at her, "Nat, look at me?"

"Does it hurt?" he looked up but his eyes focused on the bandage on her head.

"No sweetie, it doesn't," she lied.

"Why didn't you wake up?" he whispered, "Talia was crying and I asked you to, but you wouldn't wake up."

"Oh, honey," Mac held him close, trying to keep her own tears at bay, "I was just really tired and couldn't hear you. But I will never sleep like that again."

"Promise?" he asked staring at her with his big brown eyes.

"Promise," she looked him in the eye, "Is that why you didn't want to take your nap?"

"I didn't want to not wake up."

"Oh, baby," she held him close letting her tears fall into his curly hair, "That will never happen, okay? You don't have to be scared now. Mummy's here."

They sat like that for a few minutes, until Nat pulled back, "I'm hungry."

"I bet you are," she laughed wiping away her tears. She looked over to the tray of food a nurse had brought her. There wasn't anything really substantial, but it would be enough to tide him over until Harriet took him home and gave him real food, "You want some Jello."

"Yeah," his face lit up.

"Okay, you sit like this," Mac positioned him so he was sitting facing the edge of the bed, "And Aunt Harriet will bring the tray over to you, okay?"

"Here you go," Harriet slid it over and handed him a spoon.

"Thank you," Nat smiled, it was clear that just being around his mother made him feel better.

"Well that food looks appetizing," Harriet said as she returned to her chair by Mac.

"Oh I know," she rolled her eyes, "I'm on clear liquids for 24 hours so it's nothing but water, broth, and Jello."

"Do you want to eat too? I won't be offended."

"No, I'm not hungry," she sighed, "Nauseous."

"Sorry."

"No biggie," she shrugged, "Where's Harm?"

"He had to run an errand."

"Oh, okay."

"How are you?" Harriet asked, "Really?"

"To be perfectly honest I feel like S-H-I-T," she admitted.

"Well, at least you can still do the spelling thing," she offered brightly, "Little A.J.'s getting to old."

"I'll have to remember that," Mac smiled then paused, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner. I was just-"

"Don't worry about it," she squeezed her hand. Harriet knew there was more to the story, but she also knew Mac would share it in time, "We're friends."

"Even if I haven't been that good of one?" she bit her lip. Outside of Harm, Harriet was one of the few people to whom she confided about her past

"Luckily, I'm nice," she teased, "Besides, once this is all taken care of, we're going to sit down and have a long lunch and you are going to tell me everything."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"I've been expecting you," Mic opened the door of his hotel the minute Harm knocked.

"Can I come in?" he asked with as much self control as he could muster.

"Sure," he walked over to the mini-bar, "You want a drink?"

"No thanks," he answered through gritted teeth.

"More for me," Mic took a swig, "How's my wife?"

Harm stared silently.

"You enjoying her?" he asked suggestively, "Because you can have that whore."

"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" Harm's fist connected with Mic's face before the man could react. Mic fought back, but his inebriated state took its toll, and minutes later Harm stood over him as he clutched his bloody nose, "You better stay the hell away from her and the kids, and if I find out you so much as looked in their direction you're a dead man, Brumby!"

Harm stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Getting back at Brumby felt good, but Harm left the hotel with a heavy heart. He knew that he could help Mac with this half of the battle, but the rest would be up to her.

A/N: Okay, I know the Harm/Mic confrontation wasn't that long, but I feel like it got the job done. As for review replies…until I know for sure that they won't cause this to be deleted, I'm going to hold off…but please know I LOVE hearing what you think and I'm grateful for all your reviews, so keep leaving 'em!