A/N: I'm sooooo sorry for the huge delay in posting! I'll try to do better, I promise! I hope you find this chapter interesting and worth the wait. We're almost at the end of "The Journey", but the wheels of creativity for the sequel are already turning and I hope you'll stick around. :)
Here's a website from which some of the subject matter in this chapter was based. www(dot)law(dot)umkc(dot)edu(backslash)faculty(backslash)projects(backslash)ftrials(backslash)salem(backslash)salem(dot)htm Some of the testimony involving Harm's questioning is constructed to fit the plot line, but is as in keeping with historical records as dramatic ability permitted.
Thanks go out to She'sAShipper for her work on the courtroom scenes of this chapter and her overall creativity when my muse needs a hand. :)
Chapter 88:
Just when it seemed like the weeks leading up to their trip would never pass, it was finally upon them, a much-needed break from the rigors of their everyday lives. With Ainsley spending the week in the care of her Nana Trish and Papa Frank, Mac and Harm took off for what they hoped would be a beautifully romantic and relaxing week. They'd begin in Salem, move south along the coast to Quincy, followed by Plymouth and finally Cape Cod.
Their flight into Boston's Logan Airport was a pleasant one, and after claiming their bags, the pair approached the car rental desk, ready to get on their way.
"I'm sorry I didn't plan this better" Mac apologized as they waited on the seemingly endless Avis rental car line. "Want me to hold the bag for a bit?"
"No, it's fine" he said. "The line's not your fault, babe. Don't let something small like this start the week out badly."
"I'm glad you think like that" Mac sighed, slipping her arm around his waist. "How did your back feel during the landing? It's the first time you've been on a plane since you were operated on."
"It's okay" he said. "Didn't feel a thing."
Mac looked up and smiled. "Good. Oh, they're opening another line."
With quick movement she and Harm became the third couple in that line, and by the time they were finished, he would wish they had stayed where they were.
"Hello, welcome to Avis my name is Samuel" the young man behind the counter greeted. "I need to see you license and insurance card please."
"Sure thing" said Harm, reaching for his wallet and retrieving the requested documents. "There you go."
"This is an out of state license" the young man stated.
"Yes, it is" said Harm. "We live in Virginia. That's not a problem, is it?"
"Wait here" Samuel said and disappeared.
Harm turned to Mac. "He's not gonna tell me having an out of state license is a problem when renting a car at an airport, there's just no way."
"No there's not" Mac said. "He's probably new."
Harm nodded. "Uniform looks new, probably been on the job for three days."
Harm and Mac waited nearly ten minutes and finally Samuel came back. "Do you have another form of identification to back this one up, Sir?"
Harm silently reached into his wallet again and fished out his military ID, handing it to the young man with a hint of annoyance.
"What's this?" the young man asked.
"My military ID" said Harm.
"Wait here" the young man said again.
"Why don't you just bring your supervisor up here?" asked Harm, his level of frustration growing. "I'm sure I'll need to speak with him before this is said and done."
"I am the supervisor, Sir" replied Samuel. "Wait here."
He turned to Mac again. "I've got a funny feeling I'm gonna get mad before we get out of here."
"I have a feeling you already are. Your shoulders are all stiffened up. Just relax, we'll get out of here soon enough" she soothed. "Want to cuddle while we wait?"
He pulled her close with one arm and leaned in for a kiss. "I love you."
From behind him he heard "Oh, you think people would have a little respect!"
Harm fought the urge to turn around and see who'd uttered the rude comment. He was already frustrated enough.
"Relax, baby" Mac whispered, turning slightly to eye the older woman who was making her husband tense.
"What are you looking at?" the shrill voice asked when Mac turned.
Harm couldn't ignore that one. "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't speak to my wife like that" he said after turning to look at the grouchy old woman. "All we did was give each other a simple little kiss, which is neither illegal nor unheard of."
"Well you don't have to do it in public view" she spouted just as her own husband returned to the line and admonished. "Be quiet Esther."
"Here you go, Mr. Rob" the young man replied, returning Harm's license and ID. "I need to see your Social Security card, and your credit card."
"Why do you need my Social Security card?" asked Harm.
"To match the number" the young man replied.
With a highly frustrated sigh, Harm pulled both cards from his wallet and handed them to Samuel. "Anything else I can get for you? Original copy of my birth certificate perhaps?"
"There's no need to be upset, Sir" the young man said. "No need at all. This is my job."
"I understand that" said Harm, "but I've never had to show more then my driver's license and credit card before. I'm not sure what the issue is this time, but I'm not happy about it."
"Homeland Security" the young man replied. "Out of state license is two forms of ID. I'll run these and get you a vehicle."
"Sorry about all this, baby" Harm said to Mac.
Mac nodded and burrowed in close, holding him as they waited. "Here you are" Samuel said almost twenty minutes later. "Slip 16."
"Finally" said Harm, reaching for a pen on the counter to sign the forms in front of him.
A few minutes later they arrived hand in hand at slip 16 to find a relatively new convertible, a Mustang. Mac frowned when she saw the small two seater car.
"You don't like it?" he asked.
"No, its...Harm you can't go in a car like this anymore" Mac reminded him.
He stood and stared at the tiny vehicle. "You're right. We're not waiting in that line again, there's no way." He looked at the paperwork in his hand and reached for his cell phone.
"What are you doing?" Mac asked.
"Calling the customer service center" he answered as he dialed. "They can take care of getting us something else before we go back in there."
The customer service representative was very nice and soon Harm and Mac had a four-door, normal sized Ford Taurus to drive. "This is a nice car" Mac replied, settling in the passenger seat. "For a minute I thought you were going to fight me on the Mustang."
"Why would I do that" he asked, "when you're right? I can't get into a tiny little convertible anymore, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let anything like that mess up our week."
Mac smiled. "Sometimes you don't realize your own limitations" she said as he pulled away from the airport and turned towards northbound I-95.
"Sometimes" he agreed. "But regardless, we're having fun this week." He reached over and took her hand in his.
Mac turned on the radio and they listened to music and chatted as they drove towards their first destination. "What do you want to see when we get there?" she asked. "The witch stuff, the maritime stuff, the pirate stuff..."
"I'm not sure" he said. "Guess we'll figure it out after we get settled in."
"The book says its worth it to get the combination ticket that takes you to the Witch History Museum, the Witch Dungeon, and the New England Pirate Museum" Mac read as they drove along.
"Sounds great to me" he said. "I guess I never realized you were into that sort of thing, but it sounds cool."
"I'm not really; I'm in it more for the history. When we get to Plymouth we have to see the Mayflower replica and Plymouth Rock. OH and there's this place where they recreated homes like the ones the Pilgrims lived in. We can see how our forefathers actually lived. There's something sort of interesting about that."
"Yeah, there is" he said. "Makes you thankful that we have all the modern conveniences we have."
"Uh huh" Mac replied. Then fell suddenly silent.
"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching over to rub her leg.
"Modern conveniences" Mac sighed. "I was just thinking, three hundred years ago, there would be no hope for someone like me. There would be nothing for her except emptiness and pain, physical and emotional probably. She'd never have a baby, and the disease would just spread and spread and she'd get sicker like I was starting to get and she'd never even know it."
He squeezed her thigh gently before reaching for her hand again. "You're right, but thankfully we don't have to worry about that."
"And you" Mac sighed. "What would happen to someone like you, with your bad back? What kind of life would that be, lying in a bed in pain day after day for the rest of your life..." She shook her head.
He nodded. "Really makes you thankful."
"Our hotel is supposed to be really nice" she said changing the subject. "No hot tub though, but they do have a big regular tub."
He smiled his sexiest smile, the one that turned her legs to rubber every time. "Think we can find a use for that?"
"Nah" Mac sighed. "What would we do with a tub?"
"Some of our best moments together have involved tubs" he replied, still smiling.
"Pull over for a second" she said in reply.
"What? Why?" he asked.
"Just pull over" Mac repeated.
"Okay" he said, signaling and pulling off onto the shoulder of the highway. "Are you sick?" he asked, his hand once again on her thigh.
She shook her head and smiled a little.
"Mac, sweetie" he said, "I'm honestly not in the mood for any games right now. If you're sick or upset, then by all means tell me, but I've got a headache and I'm just not up for guessing what's on your mind."
Mac's smile grew, and she reached across the seat to wrap her arms around his neck. With gentle pressure she pulled his face towards hers taking his lips in a soul stirring kiss. She kept the pressure light at first the let it build up as she used the tip of her tongue to open his mouth. As quickly as she approached she pulled back. "Okay, you can drive again. I just didn't want you to get in an accident while I satisfied my loneliness."
He smiled ear-to-ear. "You're gonna keep me on my toes all week, aren't you?"
"You got that right, Sailor," Mac replied. "I love you."
"And I love you" he said, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb as he pulled back onto the highway.
They chatted idly for the rest of the trip until they arrived at their lodging. She had booked them a deluxe room at the Salem Inn, a bed and breakfast type facility a half mile from the cities restaurants and attractions. It was an attractive brick structure, in traditional colonial style. "Here we are" she announced as they pulled up to the twenty minute parking sign. "How did I do?"
"Very nicely, baby" he said. "This place is gorgeous."
"Want to stay here and relax while I check us in?" Mac asked.
"Let's both go" he said. "I'm okay, I promise. Back is fine, headache is still there, but I'll live."
"I'm worried" Mac sighed and took his hand as they both started for the front of their hotel.
"About me?" he asked.
"No, about that guy we passed on the road with the tin can" Mac replied. "Of course about you."
He chuckled. "Are you worried I'll throw my back out again?"
She nodded. "I see you when you come home from a long day, honey. And lets face it, we both know the doctor said the repair isn't forever."
"I know" he said, "but please don't worry so much that it detracts from our time together this week. We haven't had any alone time like this since our honeymoon, and life since then has been more than wild. We need this break; we deserve it, so let's try not to worry about anything."
"I'll try, but I won't promise" Mac replied. "But honey..."
"Hmm?" he said as he opened the door for her.
"I'm more worried about you than I am about the baby" Mac replied. "Don't give me a reason to worry more. When we get upstairs you rest your back and your head okay?"
"If it'll make you feel better" he said, "certainly."
Mac smiled. "Good."
The check in procedure was easy and soon they were entering their room. It had a large king size bed, a fireplace, and a huge whirlpool bathtub. The window that looked out on the trees beyond the property was covered in a light lace drapery. There was a loveseat next to the fireplace, just under the window. Mac could imagine snuggling there with Harm in the morning reading the paper as they enjoyed fruit and bagels from the continental breakfast. "Wow, this a really pretty room. There's even a coffee maker."
"I see that" he said as he looked around. "You did a great job, baby. This place is so pretty." He sat down on the bed and kicked his shoes off before lying back against the pillow and rubbing his face with his hands.
"What's wrong?" she asked watching the action as she began to unpack their suitcases.
"Headache" he replied. "It'll pass."
"What brought that on?" Mac asked, moving to the hygiene bag to unpack the aspirin.
"Dunno" he answered. "Probably stress; this past week has been nuts at the office."
She was at his side a moment later with two pills. "Here. We have seven o'clock dinner reservations. Think you can make it?"
"Easily" he said, taking the aspirin from her. "Can I have some water, please?"
"Sure" Mac replied and a moment later was back with a glass of water and a cool wash cloth. She handed him the water so he could swallow the pills. "Close your eyes."
He took down the aspirin, set the glass on the table, and closed his eyes as she asked.
Mac set the cool cloth she'd prepared over his closed eyes. "You relax there" she whispered, kissing his cheek. "I'll get us settled in."
"Okay" he said, nestling his head a bit deeper into the posh pillow and letting the aspirin work its magic.
Mac busied herself unpacking their bags and reading the tour book while Harm napped on the bed. He slept just over two hours when she knelt on the bed and tapped his cheek. "Time to get up, sweetie."
Slowly, he came to and pulled the wash cloth from his eyes. "Hey, beautiful."
"You feeling better?" Mac asked, running her hand over his forehead. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"Mm-hmm" he answered. "Head doesn't hurt anymore."
"That's good, you hungry?" she asked. It was then he noticed she'd already dressed for dinner, wearing a black skirt with pink flowers on it with a sleeveless pink top and sandals.
"Yeah" he replied, sitting up. "You look amazing."
" Thank you" Mac smiled. "Its 1730. You better get changed for dinner. Its about a mile from here, do you want to drive part way and stroll around or drive there directly, then roam the city?"
"Do you have a preference?" he asked, standing up and pulling his shirt off.
"I was thinking we drive to the municipal lot closest to the restaurant, then we can walk along and find some of the places we want to see, then go back to the car and drive here."
"Works for me" he said, slipping his jeans off and tossing them over the back of a chair. "What am I supposed to wear tonight, baby?"
"Why not those khaki pants I got you and that navy blue Henley?" Mac suggested.
"Alright" he said, heading for the closet where she'd hung up most of their clothes. "What are we dining on this fine evening?"
"Lobster" Mac replied. "Or in my case lobster and steak."
"Oh, going all fancy on me, huh?" he joked, smiling at her as he pulled his slacks on.
"Tonight" Mac replied. "Its our first night here. Harm?"
"Yeah?"
Mac didn't say anything she just opened her arms to tell him what she wanted.
Harm walked over to his wife and took her in his arms holding her tight for a moment. "Later" he whispered and returned to dressing. The couple drove to a parking lot two blocks away from their dining choice that night, Captain's Waterfront Grill. The dining room was dimly lit with upholstered chairs and linen table cloths, a very nice place. They were seated in the back at a quiet table and left to peruse the menu after putting in drink orders of two unsweetened iced teas.
"I don't know what I want" he said. "Too much to choose from."
"Do you like swordfish?" Mac asked. "That looks good."
"Yeah, it does" he said. "Can't decide if I want that or the grilled lobster."
"Why don't you get that, I'll get grilled lobster and we can each have some of the other" Mac suggested. "Or we can do it the other way too."
"Okay" he said. "We'll get both and share, sounds good."
Mac smiled and soon the waiter brought their drinks and took their dinner orders.
"Wonder how my folks are faring with Ainsley" said Harm as he took a sip of his tea. "Just fine, no doubt."
"I almost hope she cuts that left incisor while they're there so we don't have to deal with it" Mac sighed. "On the other hand though, I don't like to not be with her when she's upset from that."
"I know, sweetie" he said. "I'm sure things will be...a lot different this time than the last time we left her for a week. I'm really not worried about her, which is kind of surprising given last time, but I'm confident my mom won't make that kind of mistake again."
"It would be kind of hard for her to" Mac replied. "Ainsley's on baby food now and some regular food, not to mention I'm not nursing her nearly as much as I was so..."
"Pretty much just in the morning, before bed and when she wakes up during the night, right?" he asked, reaching for his glass again.
"That's it" Mac sighed. "I will if her teeth are really hurting her and she's got the temperature but otherwise three times a day is it."
"Well, you won't spend half the trip pumping like you had to on the honeymoon" he said, hoping to help her see something positive in having to cut back on nursing their daughter several months before she really wanted to.
"That's true" she replied sipping her tea. "And I really don't want to spend this trip fretting about the baby. I don't."
"No need to" he said. "This week is about you and I, we need to try and make it as relaxing as we can. No room for fretting and relaxing at the same time."
"You said it" Mac smiled. "I was busy while you were asleep. Oh, by the way, I must commend you for your amazing restraint at the rental office."
He smiled. "Thanks. That guy really annoyed me."
"Bud mentioned something once about you and a pharmacy clerk at the hospital when the baby was in. He didn't elaborate though. Care to?" Mac asked.
He chuckled. "It was when my back was killing me, and Dr. Cameron had sent me to the ER to see another doctor. She gave me a script for pain killers, and filling it proved a lesson in irritation."
"Poor baby" Mac sighed sympathetically. "Can I ask you something?"
He nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me how bad it was when we were in the hospital?" Mac asked. "Why did you keep quiet?"
"I knew how overwhelmed you were with Ainsley being so sick" he said. "That was the one and only reason I didn't let you know how much pain I was in."
Mac raised one eyebrow. "You probably made it worse by not telling."
He swallowed another drink of tea. "Probably so. I just did what seemed right at the time."
"Remind me I want to pump before bed, okay?" Mac asked. "Then I want to spend sometime just lying in your arms."
"I think I can handle that" he said with a smile. "That room is just amazing."
"I know I haven't really been interested in...I'm sorry" Mac replied, peeling off a piece of bread that the waitress set on the table.
"It's okay" he said softly, pulling a piece of bread off for himself. "We'll work on that this week...you know, if you want to."
"I don't know honey" Mac sighed. "I just haven't been in the mood to be like that. I'm so tired from the baby and...hopefully a week of romance and relaxation will cure me."
"I hope so" he said. "I know that must sound like I'm just thinking about what I want, but you know I'm thinking about you, too. I miss being close to you like that, and I know you miss it as well. I hope...I'd hate to see us miss out on a week full of just you and I; no baby waking up halfway through, no teenager making noise upstairs, just us."
"There's nothing wrong with what we've been doing" Mac replied as the waitress brought their meals.
"No, there's not" he agreed, "but don't you miss what we used to have?"
"It's only been three weeks, Harm" Mac replied. "I just haven't felt like it. No, I guess I don't miss it because for me it's just a step beyond what we're doing now. It's the closeness I want; I can have that without the sex. So can you."
"I know" he said, unfolding his napkin and placing it in his lap. "And I'll give you as much time as you need to work through...whatever's going on, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope things...you know, 'changed' for this week if not for longer. It's just not like you, baby. Makes me sad."
"I'm sorry" Mac apologized sincerely. "I don't know why, I just...I don't want to. I just...It didn't feel right the last time."
He looked puzzled. "As in it hurt or?"
"No" Mac shook her head and began to work on taking her meal apart. "But..."
"Oh yeah" he said softly. "Now I remember. I'm sorry, sweetie."
"Don't be" Mac replied. "I...I don't know why...but I don't want to be like that, I want to snuggle and cuddle, but not...Well, no worries. It came out of nowhere; it'll go away like that too. It did before."
"After you had the baby?" he asked, taking a bite of his dinner.
She nodded, "Even if I could have physically had sex then...no dice" Mac laughed. "Only then I cried when the pickle jar lid was on too tight. Remember?"
"I'll never forget" he said with a smile. "You were bawling like a baby over that stupid jar; I felt so badly for you."
"I felt badly for you the time..." She started to giggle.
"Lemme guess" he said, "the time we had Ainsley at the office for a visit and she spit up all over my winter blues 10 minutes before I had to be in court?"
"That too, but I was thinking of the one where I got you out of the shower to yell at you for not getting the paper off the walk. She was maybe ten days old" Mac laughed. "And now she's got teeth...she'll be walking soon."
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" he asked.
She nodded. "It is. Lobster?" she offered.
"Sure" he said, reaching his fork across to her plate.
The pair continued to talk as they ate. Mac read him the itinerary she'd made as he'd napped and they got their week as planned as possible. By the time they left the restaurant, they were full and happy. "You feel like a walk?"
"A walk sounds wonderful" he said. "Where to?"
"We can go into the city and find some of those museums and stuff. There's supposed to be a trial reenactment in the square too, about 2130. Want to go?" she asked slipping her arm around his waist and beginning to walk towards the green.
"Yeah" he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "I'll do anything you want to do this week, Mac. Everything you've found to do up here sounds like a lot of fun."
yay!
Snuggling close to each other Harm and Mac strolled towards the center of the town. Near one of the museums they could see a small gathering of people most in regular clothing, some in period dress. One of the older ladies, a rotund woman in her fifties approached Harm and Mac, "Did ye hear?"
"Uh, no" said Harm.
"Oh ye haven't" she squawked. "Well they've finally done it. Bridget Bishop is about to be arrested for witchcraft. The devil is lurking in Salem."
"Really?" said Mac. "That's a frightening thought."
"Come this way...there's the magistrate now" the woman said and began to walk towards the center where indeed a man dressed in 17th Century Puritan clothing was binding the hands of a woman in her fifties and announcing to all that she, Bridget Bishop, had been named a witch.
Mac snuggled closer to Harm as the watched this take place.
"This looks interesting" said Harm. "Think so?"
"Uh huh, what are we supposed to do?" Mac asked watching the cattle cart begin to roll down the cobblestone street. "Follow?"
Mac and Harm followed the crowd listening as the costumed actors cackled and belittled the prisoner. As they walked Mac looked about taking in the surroundings, she gave a small shiver and her step faltered on one of the stones.
"You okay, babe?" he asked, helping her catch her balance.
"I think so" Mac replied. "I'm not used to these kinds of streets in sandals."
"Yeah" he said, "not exactly easy to walk on."
"You doing okay?" she asked as the continued to follow the crowd.
"Mm-hmm" he answered. "That little nap did me good."
"I'm glad" Mac whispered as they approached a restored building and one of the costumed interpreters began to explain what was about to take place. "Welcome to 1692. It is April and Goody Bishop of Salem has been accused of witchcraft and the affliction of Mercy Lewis and Anne Putnam. As we step inside, her accusers will give evidence and she will be tried by a jury according to English law and the laws of Massachusetts Bay Colony. If she is found guilty, she will be hung. If she is found innocent, she will be set free. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are Goody Bishop's jury, her lawyers, and her accusers. You may in an orderly fashion question Goody Bishop and those who give evidence against her. Once the examination is concluded, you will be asked to vote and determine Bridget Bishop's fate."
"Oh boy" whispered Harm to Mac. "This should be very enlightening."
"You want to go in or just walk around?" Mac asked. She didn't want him to do anything he didn't want to, but this whole idea intrigued her.
"Let's go in" he said. "We're lawyers, it'll be very interesting to see how different things are now versus then."
Mac and Harm followed the crowd up a long winding staircase. The large room was set up like a 17th century English courtroom. There was the witness box and a roped in area for the accused to "stand" trial. There was a bench for three judges and seats where the "afflicted" girls should be seated. "Can you sit on these benches?" Mac asked seeing the long white backless seating in the room.
"Yeah" he replied. "For a little while anyway; if I get to hurting, I'll just stand up in the back."
Mac nodded and the pair took seats near the back so if he did have to stand, he wouldn't be far off from her. Once everyone was settled the woman they'd seen arrested in the square was brought inside. As soon as she was visible to the girls they began to writhe and act out, screeching and yelling and moaning. "Sounds like some of Mattie's friends."
Harm chuckled. "Right."
The magistrate pounded his long gavel on the floor and called the court to order. The charges were read aloud to the assembly and the accused was asked to respond.
"Bishop what do you say as you here stand charged with sundry acts of witchcraft by you done or committed upon the bodies of Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam and others?" the man portraying one Mr. Hathorne queried.
"I am innocent I know nothing of it I have done no witchcraft" the accused proclaimed.
"Look upon this woman and see if this be the woman that you have seen hurting you. Mercy Lewis and Ann Putnam and others do now charge her to her face with hurting of them. What do you say now you see they charge you to your face?" asked the judge.
Bishop replied. "I never did hurt them in my life. I did never see these persons before I am as innocent as the child unborn."
"Is not your coat cut?" the judge asked.
Harm and Mac studied the accused as she denied her coat was torn, but when the magistrate took it to examine it was indeed torn in two ways, one consistent with a scabbard cut made at the good woman by one of her accusers, Mr. Jonathan Walcoate.
"I'd love to get that Mr. Walcoate on the stand" Mac whispered.
"Me too" replied Harm. "We'd break him for sure."
"Oh Goody Bishop, did you not come to our house the Last night and did you not tell me that your master made you tell more than you were willing to tell?" asked one of the torment girls, Mercy Lewis.
"Tell us the truth in this matter how comes these persons to be thus tormented and to charge you with doing?" the judge pressed.
As the trial continued Mac and Harm listned to the outrageous testimony and accusations. The actress portraying Bridget Bishop kept denying she was a witch. Judge Hathorne asked,"Who is that that doth it if you do not they say it is your likeness that comes and torments them and tempts them to write in the book? What book is that you tempt them with?"
"I know nothing of it I am innocent" Bishop declared again looking about the courtroom, eyes seeming to fall on Harm's as she did so.
"She's innocent" he whispered to Mac.
"And you know that how?" Mac challenged in an equal tone.
"I can see it in her eyes" he answered. "Plus these charges are completely crazy. There's nowhere near enough proof."
One of the cast members heard Harm's comment. "Ah, the good gentlemen calls for proof" the woman challenged. "And what say you to this as proof? Goody Bishop wedded three times, buried two husbands, and has never produced a single child. What say that? I say, a midwife, it is the devils hand at work."
Harm rose from his seat. "It could very easily be that the accused has a medical condition which prevented her from conceiving. The fact that she has no children can hardly be called proof that she's a witch."
"And what of her presence in my bed chamber then?" asked man in the far corner. "What of my scabbard's marks on her coat?"
Harm addressed his reply to the accused. "Goody Bishop, can you account for your whereabouts on the evening in question?"
"I was in bed of course" she replied. "In bed with my husband beside me."
"Can your husband offer testimony to back you up?" he asked, really getting into the role.
"He tends the farm, Sir" Bridget replied.
"What can you say in your own defense with regard to the cuts in your coat?" he asked, needing to go at it from a different angle with the husband being absent.
"I have no answer, Sir" Bridget replied. "A catch perhaps. Or perhaps it was done on purpose as I worked in the taverns two days passed."
Harm continued to question Goody Bishop about her daily activities and to her credit the actress who portrayed her handled every one. Finally though, the afflicted girls began again, claiming the "specter" of Goody Bishop was afflicting them.
"Do you not see how they are tormented? You are acting witchcraft before us. What do you say to this? Why have you not an heart to confess the truth?" the judge badjered.
"I am innocent. I know nothing of it. I am no witch; I know not what a witch is" Bishop cried.
"Have you not given consent that some evill spirit should do this in your likeness?" the judge asked.
Bishop denied it again. "No, I am innocent of being a witch. I know no man, woman or child here."
"And do you have comment to that, Sir?" the judge asked Harm. "The specter of Goody Bishop, that is the same as she herself doing evil for she allowed her likeness to be used to the Devil's work."
"That still has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt" said Harm.
"And what cause have you to doubt the testimony of the good Reverend's own niece?" the judge asked.
"That she's the Reverend's niece doesn't make her testimony infallible" replied Harm. "Not one of the accusers can show, with more certainty than doubt, that this woman is guilty of anything."
"She bears a witches mark and her specter was seen by several witnesses" the judge argued.
"Spectral evidence does not stand in His majesty's court" Harm replied. "This is a royal colonial court, not an inquisitors court."
This continued for a few more moments until the cross examination of other witnesses was permitted. Harm thundered at them as he would any witness in any courtroom. Finally it was time to vote on the verdict. "All those who believe that Goody Bridget Bishop is guilty of the crime of witchcraft say I" the magistrate proclaimed.
The actors said "I" but no one else. "All those who believe her to be innocent" the magistrate presented, "say I". The votes were overwhelming from the crowd leaving the magistrate no choice. "Bridget Bishop, you have been tried and thusly acquitted by a jury of your peers of the charge of witchcraft. You are free to go."
The judge banged the gavel, and Mac rose and offered her hand to Harm.
"That was a real rush" he said as he took her hand. "Did you like it?"
"Yes" Mac smiled. "You really got into that."
Before Harm could reply he was approached by an older gentleman. "Lawyer?"
Harm smiled. "Yeah, I'm with the Navy's Judge Advocate General's office. Was it that obvious?"
"Navy, no. Lawyer yes. No one else would know the spectral evidence did not hold up in an English court" the man smiled. "And this lovely woman would be?"
"This is my wife, Sarah" answered Harm. "She's also a JAG, but she's a Marine. I'm Harm, Commander Harmon Rabb." He offered his hand to the gentleman.
"Its nice to meet you, enjoy the city" he smiled and turned away.
Mac looked up at Harm, her face straight. She wanted something; that he knew, but she didn't say what.
"Something on your mind, babe?" he asked.
Mac held her arms up to him but still said nothing.
He opened his arms to her. "Come here."
Mac buried her face in his chest a moment inhaling his scent. "I love you" she whispered rocking back and forth a bit.
He pulled her in even closer. "Are you okay? You seem upset."
"I'm okay" Mac replied. "I just want to be held. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"No" he said, "except this is me you're talking to and I know something's on your mind, sweetie. You wanna go back to the room?"
"Yeah" Mac replied. "Its getting late and I'm starting to get a headache."
"Okay" he said, giving her one last squeeze before letting go and reaching for her hand. "Let's go."
They strolled through the streets once again, passing several of the museums they would tour the next day before they reached the car. "How you doing? Good?" she asked him.
"Fine" he said. "Getting tired though, it's been a long day."
Mac smiled. "Want me to drive back?"
"No, I can get us a half mile, sweetie" he said, "but thanks."
Harm drove the rental car back to the hotel. Mac remained quiet as they rode and went into their room. "We should call your mom and check on the baby" she suggested as she headed for the bathroom.
"Good idea" he said. "Oh, you asked me to remind you to pump when we got back."
"Right, I'll do that while you call home" Mac replied and got out her boxers and one of Harm's old undershirts.
Harm called his mother and received a positive report on Ainsley and Mattie while Mac pumped and changed. He changed himself while she was in the bathroom and was lying in bed with his legs elevated. Something was bothering Mac; he knew that. And he wanted to know what. Once she was in his arms, he'd press her and then he'd show her how much he loved her and make her smile. "Yes" he thought. "Perfect."
"Feel better?" he asked when she emerged from the bathroom and put her breast pump back in her suitcase.
"Yeah" she smiled. "How's everything at home?"
"Great" he said. "Mom said the baby is nothing but smiles, and Mattie is helping them when they need it."
"I'm glad" Mac replied sliding into bed and snuggling close. "You were amazing tonight. Harmon Rabb single handedly changed history."
"I dunno about that" he replied as he pulled her near. "It sure was fun though."
"Yes it was" Mac agreed. "This is going to be a really nice vacation."
"I know it will" he said, "but not if you're gonna be hurting in silence, sweetheart. I know something is on your mind."
She mumbled something so softly and close to his chest he couldn't hear her.
"I can't hear you, Mac" he said gently.
"I said, she might have been like me" Mac replied. "And they'd condemn her for it."
Harm sighed. "I wondered if that might not be what was bothering you" he said, caressing her arm. "I'm sorry if that scene upset you."
"Its not bothering me" Mac replied. "I mean I'm not stewing over it...its just I can't help but think if we didn't have the option...I was getting pretty sick for awhile there, you know?"
"I do know" he agreed. "I'm very thankful that we have everything available to us that we have, as I know you are."
"I am" Mac smiled. "Did I tell you I love you yet today?"
"You did" he said, leaning in closer to her. "But I'd love to hear it again."
Mac placed a tiny kiss on his chest where he head lay. "I love you."
He reached down and placed his fingers beneath her chin, moving it up to where their lips were inches apart. "I love you, too" he said before giving her a long, gentle kiss.
Mac accepted Harm's kiss but soon pulled back. "Do you want to eat the breakfast here or go somewhere else tomorrow?"
"We can eat here" he said, moving a few stray locks of hair behind her ear.
"I'll go down then and get it" Mac told him. "We'll be walking a lot and I want you to rest your back as much as you can. I'm glad you've got those sexy legs up by the way, saves me from scolding you about it."
He smiled. "I'm learning." He reached up and caressed her cheek with his thumb.
"Mm" Mac sighed. "I'm tired. I want to try to sleep okay?"
"We will" he said softly as he moved to tuck another lock of hair behind her ear. "But I'd like to try something else first."
"Harm" Mac sighed, knowing what he meant. As much as she loved him, his touch, at least in that sense was the last thing she wanted, and she didn't understand why.
"I love you, Mac" he said softly, "and I really want to be with you tonight. It doesn't have to be like last time."
"I love you too" Mac replied. "But...Harm, I don't...I just can't."
"You can't if you tell yourself you can't" he said lovingly. "Let's give it a chance, the romance of this place. You might be surprised."
Mac was not in the mood to even entertain the notion, but her husband's voice was so gentle, as was his touch, so she let him begin to love her without further protest.
He started with a long, tender kiss, knowing she wasn't truly in the mood and hoping he could change that.
Mac let Harm kiss her and returned his loving kiss with one of her own. She let him touch her, she let him run his hands down her arms, up her chest, though she lie still and did nothing.
He noticed how detached she was compared to normal, but he wasn't going to make an issue of it. He just wanted to be with her, to love her, even if he had to do everything this time around. He reached around himself with one arm and pulled his shirt off, tossing it into a corner. He then reached down and gently pulled her sleep shorts off, thankful that she at least lifted her hips enough for him to do that. Tossing the shorts in the same direction as his shirt, he lifted her T-shirt up a few inches and began placing feather soft kisses against her tummy.
Mac shivered at his lips on her tummy and weakly moved her hands in to touch the warm skin of his back gently in minimal response to his ministrations.
He slowly moved her shirt up a few inches at a time, kissing her as he went. He took notice of her hands on his back, and he hoped it meant she was getting into the mood, even if only a little.
As suddenly as Mac began to touch him, she stopped, letting her arms fall back. She felt him move for her breasts, touching them softly with his hands, studying them, adoring them with his eyes and his mouth.
He took care to be extra gentle, knowing that this was something she usually adored, but it could sometimes be a bit painful for her, and that would surely destroy any progress they'd made that evening. She was lying still beneath him, still and silent. "Does this feel okay, baby?" he whispered.
Mac didn't know how to reply. There was nothing bad or discomforting about what Harm was doing, but nothing wonderful about it either, at least not to her. "Mmhmm" she replied, on the side of neutrality.
Her reply was far different than her usual oh's and ah's, he noticed that right off. Abandoning her breasts, he sat up on his knees and carefully placed his index fingers inside the waistband of her panties, pulling them off gently and slowly. Again, she raised her hips to allow him to accomplish his task, and again he tried to take that as a good sign.
It was easy to do this, to just lie there and let him do as he wished. It was easier than trying to explain why she didn't want to make love...or perhaps not. The easier thing would be if he'd left her be like she wanted, but that wasn't fair to him... to them really.
He climbed off the bed for a moment and shed the remainder of his clothing. Crawling back into bed carefully, he slid up alongside her, taking hold of her T-shirt and pulling it over her head. He tossed it into the same general direction as the other various garments they'd shed, then turned his attention back to her. She was lying completely motionless, not saying anything, and that had him concerned. Still, she hadn't given him an indication that he needed to stop, so he decided to press ahead. He leaned over and gave her another sweet kiss on the lips. "I love you so much, baby. So much."
"Love you" she replied biting her lip.
He planted angel kisses along her collarbone and down to her breasts, where he spent a couple moments kissing and caressing before he slid further down the bed. He tapped on her left leg a little, silently asking her to move it over. He hoped she'd understand.
Mac understood Harm's gentle instruction and almost robotically she lifted her legs, still though she made no other response to his loving.
He moved to where her legs were on either side of him, feeling badly that she was so distant, but still hoping to make the encounter romantic before all was said and done. "Are you ready, beautiful?"
Mac lay unresponsive, not saying yes, but not denying him either.
He interpreted her silence as indifference, and once again chose to move ahead. He very gently entered her body, intent on not hurting her even a little bit. Ordinarily, she'd give him an indication as to what she was feeling, if he was moving too quickly, but tonight she wasn't saying anything.
Mac closed her eyes, knowing it was inevitable now. Her body was not at all ready for his but if she just lie still and wished hard enough maybe she'd enjoy it a bit, or maybe she'd even get lucky and he'd stop doing this.
He began to move slowly within her, hoping maybe this would be the point where she'd be able to let go and find some joy in the moment. It wasn't meant to be. After only a few seconds, he heard her start to cry...and then everything fell apart.
"Harm" she whimpered. "Stop...please no." A tiny weak hand came to push at his chest to support her words.
He immediately stopped moving and looked into her eyes. "Am I hurting you, baby?"
Her face crumbled at his words and she began to sob. Finally she managed, "Yes."
"God, Mac" he said, reaching up to cup her face with one hand while supporting his weight with the other. "I didn't mean to, I'm so sorry. I'll move, okay?"
Again he was met with silence as he moved out of her. He moved next to her and pulled the blankets up over them both. "What's wrong, Mac?" She was sobbing almost hysterically now, and it was breaking his heart.
"I..." she sobbed. "I asked you...you knew and..."
He felt lower than dirt. "Mac, I'm so sorry. I was...I just thought that maybe all you needed to get past it was to try it again. I didn't mean to push you, baby. I'd never set out to do that."
"But you did" she cried. "You did, just..."
She stopped herself there, for those words were not true. He was not "just like the others", not at all, any of them would still be inside of her now, making her beg them to stop, whereas Harm was fretting and attempting to comfort her.
He pulled her into his arms and let her cry. "I'm sorry...Shh...It's okay...I love you, and I'll give you as much time as you need, okay?" He knew he had no choice but to offer her that olive branch, but inside he was hurting. His wife had never rejected him like this, and he longed to know the reason behind it.
For the first time that night, Mac responded to his touch and burrowed deeper in his arms. "I'm sorry" she whispered. "I love you, you know that?"
"I do know that" he whispered in reply. "I wish I could help you with this, sweetheart. I guess I can't."
"You can't" she replied. "I don't know what it is. Its just I don't...I just don't want to. I don't know why. I don't understand why" she cried. "All I want is to be held tight in your arms, nothing else. I can't stand anything else right now."
"Shh..." he soothed, pulling her in as close as he possibly could. "Does it hurt you like maybe..." He stopped, he really didn't want to finish that thought.
"Maybe what?" she pressed him to finish.
He sighed and answered softly. "Like maybe the endometriosis is back?"
"No" she shook her head. "Tonight it burned a little because I was so...I wasn't ready but it doesn't hurt. I just don't feel like making love. I just don't want to do it. That's all I can say, and it makes no sense."
He kissed the top of her head as she rested against his chest. "Well, I'm glad that it doesn't hurt you, but...I don't understand what's happening. I want to help you, but...I can't."
"I know you do and I think I know how you might" Mac sighed, sniffling.
"Anything I can do" he said, rubbing her arm, "you just name it."
"Don't do what you did tonight anymore" she began.
"I won't" he promised. "I...please believe me when I say I really thought it would help. It wasn't about me; I can wait a hundred years if you really need me to. I just wanted to help you, to try and get us past this...whatever it is, so we can enjoy our time together this week."
"Just let me adjust, let me come to you, please?" she asked. "Until then, just hold me until I sleep, okay?" This she asked like a tiny girl who wanted her parent to sit with her in the dark. "Is that okay?"
"That's okay, sure" he said, giving her one more gentle hug. "Let's get some sleep, we have a lot to do this week, and I want to be rested enough to enjoy it. I love you, baby."
"I love you too" she whispered, closing her eyes and snuggling against him, secure that he indeed would wait until she was ready and once that time came, would be as gentle as he was tonight.
A/N: Thanks again to She'sAShipper for her help on the courtroom stuff. I'll really try to have chapter 89 out within a week:)