2 Weeks Later

Mac's ICU Area

"Hey Mac." Harm greeted her with a smile. She smiled back mouthing 'hi.' The swelling in her face had gone down considerably. Now it was mostly black and blue and painful looking.

'Where's Mattie?' Mac mouthed. She was immensely glad they removed that nasty tube from her mouth but now it was in the base of her neck. They wanted her lungs to heal more before they let her talk. Mac silently grumbled to herself.

"She's babysitting for Harriet today." Mac frowned. "It's just a check-up. The babies are fine." Harm supplied seeing the look on her face.

'Why hasn't she stopped by?' Harm recognized the hurt that flickered across her face before she reverted back to the semi-emotionless state she'd been in since she woke up.

"They aren't allowed in Mac." Harm grinned at her. "I know for a fact it is taking a herd of wild elephants to keep Harriet out of here. I bet once you're moved to a regular room she'll be the first to visit."

"That might be sooner than we expect at this rate." Harm glanced up as Mac's primary doctor and another one he hadn't met yet came into the area. Doctor Chen glanced at Mac's readouts before he moved into Mac's field of vision. "If you continue to stabilize we should be able to move you in a few days. Any new movement?"

Mac barely moved her right shoulder but mouthed 'No.'

Dr. Chen smiled at her reassuringly. "That's not unexpected Colonel. It is still very early in your recovery."

'When can I sit up?' Mac mouthed. She really didn't care where she was or how fast she got there. She was just tired of starring at the same ceiling tiles for hours on end.

Dr. Chen chuckled, he like the Marines gung ho about their recoveries. "Easy Colonel, your recovery is like a marathon. You don't win it in the first mile."

Harm cringed, now Mac looked pissed. He reached through the bars and gently moved her bangs from her eyes.

"This is Dr. Nash. She's our respiratory therapist. I'll leave her with you." With that Dr. Chen left.

"I bet you'd like to start giving orders Ma'am." Mac looked hopeful at that. Dr. Nash held up what looked to be a plastic ring. "I'll place this on your trach. It allows air to pass over your vocal chords. Your job is to time the words with the exhale. With a little practice we'll have you speaking in no time. You ready to try this out?"

'You bet.' Mac mouthed.

------------------

Same Time

Jen's Car

Jen glanced at Mattie for the millionth time since they left Harriets. Mattie had climbed into the car without much of a word then continued to stare out the window ever since.

"You want to talk about it Matts?"

"No." Came the sullen response.

Jen pulled onto the street leading to the house Harm and Mac purchased shortly after they received permanent custody of Mattie. Jen's worry had grown in leaps and bounds. At first Mattie was quiet and scared but after Mac had started to stabilize Mattie's attitude had turned sullen and testy. Jen wasn't sure what was going on in Mattie's head.

"I'll get your dinner ready."

"I'm not hungry."

"How about pizza?"

"No." With that Mattie jumped from the car and practically sprinted to the front door.

Jen's worry increased. Quickly grabbing her cover she and headed around the side of the garage that lead to the apartment she rented, making a mental note to talk to Harm.

-
1000 Local

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Three Days Later

Mac was unsuccessfully trying to sleep when one of her regular nurses showed up along with a nurse Mac didn't remember seeing before.

"I'm Lieutenant Delacroix. Most of my patients call me Dee. I'll be one of your day nurses on the rehab floor." She introduced herself. Mac liked her immediately.

"Does that mean…" Mac waited for the air. "that I'm being sprung?" She swung her eyes toward her ICU nurse. "No offense."

Her nurse smiled. "Mac we like it when our patients move on to the next phase."

Dee broke in at this. "We have a spot for you now but since beds are in short order you'll be with two enlisted Marines. They are…" Dee thought for a minute. "They are interesting Marines. I know it's not protocol but the only other choice is to stay down here until a spot opens."

"It's okay." Mac smiled at them. "A change in ceiling tiles wi… will do me good."