A/N: I actually had a few parts of this chapter written when I started this story last summer, before the story took off on its own. It definitely needed some fine tuning and additions though.
Mac is sitting in the waiting room waiting to be called back and is trying to keep her tears at bay. Trish was supposed to be flying out to come to this appointment with her, but when Mac woke up this morning, she had a message on her cell that Trish's flight was delayed out of Chicago. She would be there, but would be running late, so she would just take a taxi once she landed to meet her at the hospital. She admonishes herself, 'Damn these hormones! I really wish Harm would have let me move the appointment until he gets back. I don't think that anything is wrong, but I don't want to be alone either.'
The nurse beckons, "Colonel MacKenzie, the doctor is ready to see you now. Let's get your vitals and bloodwork drawn, and I will take you back to the room."
Mac enters the sterile room, and sheds her clothes to don the hated hospital gown. While she waits, a bunch of random thoughts are cycling through her mind. 'Why do these rooms have to be so freaking cold all the time? I understand I am supposed to have some body heat from the baby, but this is insane. Who in the heck decided that the color of these gowns should be pink? I can just picture my fighter jock husband wearing one of these! Hmm…that's an image I could really use right now. Harm wearing nothing, but a flimsy pink hospital gown that I could easily slide my hands under, or just tear shreds off a piece at a time, revealing his gorgeous body to me. Maybe, it opens it the back, and I could rest my cheek between his shoulder blades as I slide my hands around his waist from behind to reach down and grab….'
Her musings are abruptly interrupted by the clearing of the Dr.'s throat. A blush creeps up her neck, and she thanks god the Dr. can't read her thoughts. Although, those thoughts, and acting on them is how she ended up seeing this particular type of doctor in the first place.
Pretending not to notice that her patient is off in la la land, CDR Stockland states, "Colonel, it's good to see you again. This is LT Mitchell, and she will be helping me with the ultrasound today. How have you been feeling?"
Mac takes a deep breath before rambling, "I've been doing good for the most part. Harm thinks I am putting on more weight than I have in the past couple of pregnancies. I'm still exercising, but I'm eating like a horse, so it's natural to gain some weight. I told him my metabolism has just slowed down, but he isn't buying it. He's thinks something hinky is going on, and honestly, this pregnancy feels different to me than when I was carrying Trisha or Matthew. Thankfully, the morning sickness hasn't been too bad. I've had some weird cravings that I definitely wouldn't want to see coming back out."
CDR Stockland jots all the information down in the file before questioning, "LOL, I've heard plenty of odd cravings over my years as a doctor. What's your current mixture of choice?"
Mac bites her lower lip, "Ummm…Reese's cups and Sour Cream."
The LT is laughing in the background, "That is definitely one I haven't heard of before."
The doctor nods her head in agreement before inquiring, "Speaking of Harm, where is the Captain?"
Mac rambles "He got called away on an assignment. And you should have seen the look on his face when I asked him for a tub, not just a dollop, of Daisy to dunk my chocolate in. He thought I was certifiably nuts! Anyways, his mom was supposed to be here with me today, but her flight is running late. I swear I have way too many stories with planes in them this week. I guess it is my own fault for marrying a pilot, even if he is a lawyer most of the time."
The Dr. nods, "It's Ok to be a little nervous, Sarah, but this isn't your first rodeo. You should be a pro at this routine by now. Let's get you up on the table and see how everything is going. Fair warning, the gel is going to be cold."
Mac shrieks as the gel gets squirted on her mid-section, "Cold would be an understatement. I was already freezing. You guys should invest in some of those warm, terry clothes robes that the spas use for times like this."
The ultrasound technician chuckles, "Yeah, I don't see the taxpayers wanting to spring for those. This is a military hospital, not the Ritz!"
There is a knock at the door and an admin person steps in, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there is a Mrs. Burnett out here who said she is supposed to be with Colonel MacKenzie."
Mac says, "Thank god! She's my mother in law, please send her back."
Trish walks in, leaving her suitcase and purse just inside the door, and gives Mac a quick squeeze around her shoulders, "Well, it looks like I got here just in the nick of time. How are you doing, honey?"
Mac chuckles, "Hi Mom! I'm hanging in there, just ready for the doctor here to let me know that everything is ok. Cutting it a little close there, were you? You almost missed the show."
Trish replies, "Sorry, Sarah. I promise that Harm didn't inherit his propensity for always being late from me. I'm usually the one who gets there half an hour earlier than everyone else. Unfortunately, when you put your stakes in the hands of pilots, you just never know what you are going to get."
Mac looks down at her midsection, and waves a hand over her swollen belly, as she deadpans, "Obviously."
Trish chuckles, "Honey, I don't think a hand did that, unless something drastically has changed since the last time, I got pregnant."
