A/N: I suppose I needed to add a disclaimer in the last chapter that I don't own Rudolph either, so here it is better late than never. And I'm not a real big of a fan of that show. However, my mother is, so I had to see it way too many times over the holidays. I just couldn't resist Harm prancing around saying "I'm cute!" Like we don't all know that already…..

Chapter 13: Listen First, Speak Later

Mac settles back against her pillows with a contented smile on her face. It only takes a moment, before a cold shiver runs through her at the loss of Harm's presence. Why is it that the minute Harm isn't with her anymore, a million doubts begin to run through her mind? What happens after she is released from the hospital? His life is here in D.C., and hers is 2,637 miles away. Her job definitely isn't holding her where she is, she could easily transfer to NAVAIR Headquarters in Pax River. Other options might include the Office of General Counsel or Department of Justice right here in the District. That would easily solve the distance problem. However, the physical distance isn't the issue anyway, it's just an excuse, and she knows it.

Her mind keeps going over various things. She once told Sturgis that he was "Cerebral, and detail oriented, and that she was neither one of those things." However, she isn't usually driven only by her emotions like Harm either. But right now, the over-analytical part of her brain is definitely in overdrive. Is there any way that they can possibly start a real relationship? Could they easily dovetail their lives into one and other's? They have been apart for so long; do they even really know each other anymore? What would his friends have to say about her? Would their mutual friends accept her back into their inner circle after she left so abruptly and didn't keep in touch? Can she even call them "mutual" friends anymore? What about his family? She is sure that he would have mentioned something to at least his Grandmother regarding their separation. Would she be able to walk away if things weren't working out, would he? Could she handle dealing with that kind of heartbreak again? She suddenly has the urge to just run into a room, any room, and hide away. Unfortunately, she is stuck in a hospital bed at the moment, so her normal sense of self-preservation to run away really isn't an option. Maybe she isn't really ready to let go after all.

When Harm reaches the nurses' station, he finds the young man that interrupted him and Mac patiently waiting for him to retrieve his phone call. The nurse still looks as apprehensive as he did back in Mac's room. Harm would love to give him a piece of his mind for his terrible timing, but he hasn't been able to get the grin off his face since Mac said he was "cute". He opts to give the kid a break, and instead displays a soft smile. Jack on the other hand, isn't going to be as lucky. As he is handed the phone, the grin turns to an outright scowl as Harm prepares himself to yell at Jack, giving him a piece of his mind at his untimely intrusion.

He takes the phone, not even pausing to say "hello", and barks into the receiver in a gruff that would have made Admiral Chegwidden proud. "Jackson! What in the world is so important that you couldn't possibly leave a message on my cell phone?"

There is a pause on the other end of the phone before the telltale signs of a stern voice from his youth comes through, "Harmon David Rabb, Jr.! That is no way to talk to your best friend. I raised you better than that! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"

Harm, as if on autopilot, sheepishly responds, "I'm sorry, Grams." Then, it hits him that Jack called him, but that is not to whom he is speaking. The only person who knows that he is at the hospital is Jack. So, how does his grandmother know already? He wouldn't put it past her intuition to know that something was wrong without being notified, but that didn't mean she could pinpoint his exact location. The only person ever able to do that, was Mac, when he was lost in the middle of the freezing Atlantic Ocean. He exclaims," Wait! What the hell? How in the world?"

She admonishes him further, "What's the matter, Harm? Cat got your tongue? That isn't anyway to speak to your Grandmother either!"

Harm clears his throat, takes a deep breath, and searches his brain for the words that won't get him yelled at this time. It's hard to do for someone notorious for speaking before thinking. He replies, "You're right Grams, it's not. I'm sorry, you are just the last person I was expecting a call from. How did you know where to reach me?"

Grams states, "Well, that roguish best friend of yours drove up here to see me after he left you at the hospital. He noticed my absence at the ceremony, and felt bad that I had missed it. He explained that had he known earlier about my injury, he would have picked me up beforehand and brought me down for it. I was informed by Jack that "Mr. Closemouthed" doesn't like to ask anyone for help. So, he didn't know about it until it was too late."

Harm chuckles at his Grandmother's assessment, "Somehow, Grams, I doubt those were the words that Keeter used."

Grams shrugs her shoulders, and rolls her eyes. Even though Harm can't see the gestures she is making, he can view it in his mind's eye. He's seen it many times before in response to his behavior.

Grams says, "I'm an old lady, I can paraphrase it however I like. It still doesn't change the fact that it's a correct assessment. I'll let you two hooligans' fuss at each other in a moment, but first I need an honest answer out of you. Are you really with Mac in a DC Hospital?

Harm sighs. Can't he get even the slightest bit of a chance to figure out the curve ball that was just thrown into his boring, everyday life without someone meddling? First Jack, now his grandmother, and he is pretty sure the two of them are conspiring on his behalf too. Being over forty years old, he is pretty sure that he is capable of making grown up decision regarding his own life, even if he does choose to act like a child on occasion, prancing down the hospital corridor for example. He resists the urge to tell his Grandmother to "butt out" and let him live with his own poor decisions. He sighs, and quietly says, "Yes, Grams. She is ok, and I am staying here with her. And before you go off into a long dissertation regarding what I should be doing, please just leave it at we are talking things out."