Title – Blink of an Eye
By - Red
Summary – In the Blink of an Eye everything changes.
Disclaimer – I don't own them and make no attempts at claiming that I do. Enjoy!
Prologue
Mattie watched the door Harm had disappeared behind several minutes ago nervously. Their first Christmas as a family wasn't supposed to happen this way. They weren't supposed to be at Bethesda! They were supposed to be at Harriet's! Relaxing, having a good time celebrating making it through a tumultuous year and yet they were here… and it was bad!
"Mattie!" Mattie glanced up realizing she'd been starring into space!
"Harm. Is she okay? What's going? Please Harm!"
Harm took her by the arm leading her over to the others and deposited her beside Harriet. "Mattie just take a deep breath okay." When she nodded he continued not knowing if he could get the words out but he had to try. He ran his hand through his hair. "They are taking Mac up to surgery now it's going to be awhile." He took a deep breath not really believing the doctors words but he'd seen the X-rays himself.
"What are her injuries Harm?" That was A.J.
"Well sir I stopped listening after the worst of it really." He grabbed Mattie's hands rubbing them. "She's in surgery to repair her lungs ahh… they were punctured." He took a deep breath. "As far as the doctors know she skidded off an embankment and hit a tree head on. So far there's no swelling in her brain but the… the force of the crash broke her neck." He squeezed his eyes shut wanting to block out the look on Mattie's face. "They need to wait until the swelling goes down to see how much damage to her spinal cord and repair the bones."
Mattie gasped pulling her hands away from his as though stung by fire. "I need to go!" She jerked away from him sprinting from the room.
Harriet started to get up but Harm waved her off. "It's okay Harriet she just needs space. She'll come back when she's ready."
AJ placed his hand on Harms back. "We'll do whatever we can to help out son. What's her prognosis?"
Harm shook his head. "They don't know yet Sir... AJ. They just want to get her through the next 48 hours. They weren't that optimistic about how much function she'd regain."
"They don't know our Marine do they?" Harriet spoke up. "She'll be complaining about the chow and grumbling to be freed before we know it."
Harm smiled at that relieved at Harriet's attempt at levity but he just wasn't sure Marine grit could get her through it this time.
TBC
