Chapter Sixteen
"Oh, God Mac, get out of here." He told her. "Take the kids to Gram's."
"No. I am not going to leave you right now."
"You have to for our children. Someone is after me, and I am not going to let my kids watch me die!"
"You aren't going to die, we are going to catch them, I swear!"
"I will not put you, Mackie, and Mattie at risk. You have a baby growing inside of you right now that we have to think about!" He exclaimed, inhaling a breath and then coughing violently. He took a seat in the stairwell, leaning the crutches he was using against the wall.
"Harm, we are partners. It is my job to protect you, swiss cheese memory and all, you should know that we have always looked out for each other, through landmines, Paraguay. You were there for me when I got back from Iraq. Let me be there for you now."
Harm put his head in his hands. "I couldn't save you then, but let me save you now. I won't leave my kids orphaned." He said in a low whisper.
"Then maybe there is something we can do." Mac said.
Mac escorted Harm back into his room and got him settled. She called Admiral Jonas, and he and Mac cooked up a plan to get Harm to safety.
Harm and Mac's House
1395 Kalmia Drive
2000 EST
Mattie was watching television when she heard a knock on the door. Putting Mackenzie in her playpen, she went to see who it was.
"Max!" She exclaimed throwing herself into his arms.
"Hiya. I was hoping you would be home. How did the doctor's visit go?"
She ushered him inside and she threw a couple of toys on Mackenzie play mat. Mackenzie looked up, "MAD!" Mad had become Mackenzie's name for Max and Mattie seeing that their names were really close together. Max reached down and scooped up the small girl.
"She really is precious."
"She is a goofball." Mattie answered back. They put Mackenzie back in the play area and made their way towards the couch.
"Can I see your ankle?" Max asked.
"Sure."
Max slowly hiked down Mattie's sock, as if not to rub on the sore spot, and he traced the tattoo with his finger. "Does it still hurt?"
"A little." Mattie admitted.
He leaned down and kissed right above her infection. "A kiss to make it better," he explained.
Mattie looked at him and Max locked eyes with her. "I really missed you when I was out in California."
"I missed you too Babydoll." They moved dangerously close to each other on the couch. Mattie found the remote dimmer switch for the lights and hit the CD player on. Teenagers in love.
Mac maneuvered the Pacifica into the driveway. Harm was looking pale from the infection, and she knew that they would have to get him started on antibiotics soon again. Sergei was helping Harm inside. Harm looked at his house, and whispered, "Well, I must be living good now."
"Flyboy, you needed the bigger house with the children. I mean, Mattie was living down the hall from you, Mackenzie was sleeping in a playpen."
"Mattie was living with Jen." He said, taking his first steps into the house. He looked around, all the memories came flooding back up to getting orders for the Patrick Henry.
The living room was dim, and light music was playing in the background. Harm walked in and saw his daughter and her boyfriend kissing on the couch.
"Hands where I can see them!" Harm screeched turning on the lights. Mackenzie woke up with a start and started crying.
"Mama!" She said reaching up for her mom. Mac walked over to the playpen and picked up her daughter.
"Mackenzie Nicole Rabb, you are making such a fuss."
"Mathilda Grace Rabb, if this your idea of babysitting, then we need to have a talk. Max, unless you want to have one of those," he gestured over to Mackenzie, "then you better think long and hard about kissing my daughter." Harm told them struggling to catch his breath. Mattie ran over to him and gave him a hug.
"Dad, you are here!" She screeched.
Max walked over and went to help Harm to the couch with Sergei. "Sir, you are alive!"
"Don't change the topic you two." Harm said.
Trish and Frank came out of the guest room to see what was going on. Trish smiled remembering the first time she caught Harm kissing Wendy Albermarle on the deck in La Jolla.
"Harm!" Trish exclaimed, "What are you doing out of the hospital?"
"Long story." He muttered.
"How is your memory?" Frank asked.
"I remember most of everything, and all of the important things."
Mac stared at him, "Are you sure?"
"I remember everything, except crashing, getting captured, and tortured."
Mac hugged him. There was a knock on the door, and Sergei answered it, finding AJ, Admiral Jonas, Clayton Webb, and Dr. Lily McCulum (the CIA doctor) on the other side with a ton of equipment in hand.
Harm looked at Max, "You can't breathe a word about me being alive Max, there are people after me still."
"Mattie, take Mackenzie upstairs, she needs to be changed." Mac told her, not wanting Mattie to see the full extent of Harm's injuries. Mattie was getting ready to protest, and Mac piped up again, "Did you take your antibiotics for your work of art?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Your father and I will think of a suitable punishment later."
Harm looked up, "Doctor, can you take a quick look at my daughter's ankle?"
"Sure." She said. Mac had Mattie sit, and the doctor took a look. "Well, the infection is healing, the tattoo won't have to be removed. Where did you get this done?"
"California." She said proudly. "It didn't hurt." Trish and Frank looked at each other, and apologized for not knowing about Mattie's antics.
Clay, AJ, and Admiral Jonas had smiles on their faces, Mattie was turning more and more into Harm and Mac's child with her crazy antics. Mattie claimed Mackenzie from her mom.
Dr. McCulum looked at Harm, and had him strip off his shirt. She inspected the wounds on his back. "Sorry Harm, I am going to have to sew up one of the cuts that have popped open. Do you want morphine for the pain?"
"No, I need to think clear so I can remember who did this to me."
"I don't have any lydacane."
"Just do it." He said.
Max stood off to the side and watched as Harm gritted his teeth and the doctor re-stitched the torn open wound. He helped them get Harm settled upstairs in their room, and then quietly excused himself to go home.
"What is the plan Clay?" Admiral Jonas asked.
"Harm is going to die in the hospital tonight. As we speak, a body double is taking his place. He is going to go into a drug induced coma, and we will make him look like he died of a ranging infection. It will buy time, but unless we can catch the person trying to kill him, or still torture him, then the whole family will be at risk." Clay said softly.
Harm looked up, getting sleepy. "What are the defenses for the house?"
"We have the house underneath surveillance." Clay answered. "We have motion sensors set up through out the property, and on Monday, we will figure out how to draw the terrorist cell."
"Thanks for everything Clay."
"Hey, you guys saved my six plenty of times, now it is my turn to return the favor."
Admiral Jonas looked up. "I have six Marines waiting. They are going to be taking different shifts to survey your property and to be here for protection. You guys get some rest, and have a good holiday."
Harm whispered something to Mac, and she smiled. "Harm would like to have the JAG crew over tomorrow for a Christmas Eve celebration. A small one, just whoever is here now and the Roberts family. That includes you too Clay. We want Christmas to be as normal as possible for the children. Will Harm be okay for a small dinner get together?"
The doctor nodded. "He will still need the antibiotics for the infection. I will come by early tomorrow for his breathing treatment, it should be the last. Just don't stay on your feet too much. You need to get out of bed every so often, but don't overdo it. Also, who around here can add medication to your IV drip if I leave it?"
"Sergei can." Mac said. "He just finished his EMT training, and is finishing his prereqs for medical school."
The doctor smiled. "Good to know we have all our bases covered." She gave Sergei a list of things to look for with Harm, and reminded them that she would be back. She gave them her beeper number and left. Mac thanked everyone for their help, and for the first time in six weeks, she was able to sleep in the same bed as her husband again.
Unknown place
Unknown location
"Boss, we just got word that Rabb died in the hospital of an infection." A voice told their superior over the telephone.
"Good. I thought our men killed him before dumping him."
"It was an unfortunate mistake on their part." He answered back.
"Enjoy the holiday, as you American's do, but be ready in a couple of days for the plan to be executed."
"Sure thing boss."
AN – Okay guys, I know that Harm wouldn't agree to this plan, but this is the only way I could think of to get the family together in their own house for Christmas. Something will happen later, where Harm goes off on his own - - but until then, just know that I have the family safely guarded.
Alix33: Per your orders, Harm most of his memories back! All he has to do is remember who the bad people are, and then we can get more mushy chapters.
BelovedOne: Thanks for reading the story!
WendyKaye: I am trying to do a once a week thing now that I have to work.
Snugglebug: Of course there are bad guys out there - - their life is never easy.
Starryeyes: Thanks
DD2: Someone of course is after Harm, when is life ever that easy.
CharmedAli: I am a cliffhanger kinda girl.
To everyone else, thanks for reading and reviewing, the more I get the more I will write, I have great Memorial Day - - I will be working - - sigh.
