PART 16
ROBERTS RESIDENCE
FALLS CHURCH, VA
24 DECEMBER 2005
2030 ZULU
He raced back to the telephone. This time he grabbed the telephone book and proceeded to look up a cab company number. "Damn it" I used to have these memorized, why can't I remember them anymore!"
"Owwwwww!... HARM!"
"I'm coming Mac!"
A few minutes later Harm returned to Mac's side. "It's OK honey, the cab's on it's way." He didn't have the nerve to mention the outside weather conditions at this moment. It might make the situation worse.
"Well I hope it hurries." The Admiral spoke up. "Her contractions are getting pretty close together. I'm guessing that whole uncomfortable feeling she had since she got here was the first stage of labour and now this is the second."
Harm tried to add humour – mostly to reassure himself. "What is it about the women at JAG that feel they need to be over-achievers in the labour department?"
"Shut up Harm."
'OK – mental note' thought Harm. 'Humour is not going to work from here on in.'
Twenty minutes later, Harm sat at Mac's side brushing her hair off of her forehead, desperately trying to take both of their minds off of the situation. Mac would have almost believed he was calm if it hadn't have been for the death grip he had on her hand.
"I guess this little guy really wanted to be born on American soil, eh?" he grinned at her as he swallowed the lump of fear that had been in his throat for over an hour now.
Mac couldn't help but smile - she knew Harm too well to be fooled by the thin mask of confidence he was trying to exert. "Guess we've got ourselves a little patriot".
"I got it!" Bud now had possession of the Baby Name book and was thumbing his way through it as he reclined on the love seat. "How about 'Dalton'?"
"Bu-ud!" Harm, Mac and Harriet all scolded him.
Bud looked crestfallen. "I was only joking."
"Now's not a good time for jokes, son." The General patted him on the shoulder condescendingly.
Bud brightened up a few minutes later, still leafing through the book. "How about Liam?"
Harm looked confused. "What meaning does that have?"
"Nothing." Bud looked offended. "I just like it."
Harm rolled his eyes.
"HA-ARM!" Mac winced in pain. "Where is that cab? I think the baby's coming soon."
"No!" Harm panicked, then tried to be calm. "Not yet honey, it's just the storm that's probably making them late."
"STORM?!"
Harm winced. "Yeah, the weather's pretty bad out there." Everyone was looking at him expectantly and his eyes darted nervously from one friend to the other. "Maybe I'd better call an ambulance as well?" It was a question as well as a statement.
"Good idea, son. Meanwhile I think we'd better get the Colonel onto higher ground so we can examine her."
Harm looked even more panicked if that was possible.
Gunny Galindez stepped forward "Sir, I'll call the ambulance. You can help the Admiral."
Harm just nodded his head numbly as Victor went off to find the telephone.
"I'll grab the roll-away mattress from the kids' room." Bud offered. "We can put it up on the table."
"I'll grab some pillows and a blanket." Mikey chimed in.
'Damn it' thought Harm. 'Why is it that everyone else's brain is working but mine? C'mon Rabb – get your head out of your six – Mac's counting on you'
Harm kissed the back of Mac's hand and reassuringly smoothed her sweaty hair from her forehead again. She looked at him lovingly for a moment, before the next pain struck.
"OK, the table's ready." Bud called out.
"Can you stand, Sarah?" The Admiral came around to the other side of Mac.
"Yeah, I think so."
"OK – on three… one… two…UP!"
Harm and the Admiral walked Mac carefully over to the table and then manoeuvred her on to the mattress. Mikey had found a reading cushion which propped Mac up quite nicely and made her as comfortable as possible. The Admiral threw a blanket over Mac.
"OK Sarah, I'm just going to take a look and see how far you are along…"
"No!" Harm stepped up to the Admiral before he even knew what he was doing.
AJ looked slightly miffed, but had to cover a smile as the realization dawned that Harm didn't want him to look at his wife 'down there'. AJ decided to continue the gruff cover. He held Harm's stand-off glare for a few more seconds, and then folded. "Oh for Christ's sake Rabb, then you do it – I'm sick of being the only one around here who delivers the babies anyway!"
Harm was horrified. He would much rather not be the one to deliver this baby right now, but he knew he couldn't stand by and let someone else do it either – especially when it entailed looking at a part of Mac that only belonged to him now. He knew he had to step up and be strong. This was his baby and he was going to deliver it if it came to that. He looked at the Admiral seriously "Sorry sir, it's just that…"
AJ put up one hand. "Understood, son."
"I could use some… guidance of course…"
AJ smiled and winked at him "You bet."
Harm looked under the blanket and let out a muffled nervous laugh. "OK – I'm not an expert at this by any means, but I'd say we're we're pretty close to 10cm already."
"Oh God" cried Mac as another pain, and the knowledge that she was going to be having this baby right here, hit her.
"Can you see the head?" questioned the Admiral.
"Not yet."
Gunny re-entered the living room. "Sir, the ambulance says they're trying, but what with the storm, they can't guarantee getting here within the hour. Apparently there are accidents on both bridges."
"Great." Muttered Harm
"It's OK Mac." Harriet said reassuringly as she smoothed back her hair from the other side of the table. "It's a JAG tradition to have your first born outside the hospital. It's a piece of cake." She smiled. "…and if the Navy can do it – so can the Marines."
"That's right, Mac - you don't want to be outdone by the Navy do you?" It took a menacing glare from his wife to make him recall his earlier resolution to avoid all humour at this point. He changed his expression to one of support. "You can do this Mac." Harm told her.
"I know I can." She glared at him confrontationally. "Can you?"
"Is that a dare, Mac?"
"More like a challenge." She raised her eyebrow threateningly.
Harm smiled. 'Thanks Mac' he thought. It was exactly what he needed to help him through this situation. Some old fashioned competition… only he and Mac could turn the birth of their baby into a competition. Harm's thoughts were relayed to her through his eyes and she winked back at him with determination on her face.
Suddenly another contraction hit. Harm looked under the blanket again. "OK, I can see it… I can see the head!"
"Alright Sarah, we're going to get you to push on the next contraction OK?"
She nodded to the Admiral.
"Mikey – get some towels from the linen closet! And give me your shoelace!" Bud was proud of himself that he remembered this part from his own first son's delivery.
"What?! A shoelace?" Mikey looked at Bud like he was insane.
"It's OK," Harriet cut in. "I think we have some twine in the kitchen. I'll get the scissors too."
As the next contraction hit, Mac pushed with all her might. "ARRRRRRGGGH!"
Harm's head came up from underneath the blanket. He had a horrified look on his face. "There's…" he was staring blankly at the Admiral and swallowed uncomfortably. "…there's something not right." He looked back at Mac. "Honey - don't push for a minute OK?"
"What do you mean?" questioned the Admiral.
"I mean there's something else there…" There was a dead silence in the room as Harm struggled to take a breath. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I think it may be the cord…" Harm went white and he felt a wave of nausea pass through him. 'Oh God' he thought, 'Please don't let this be happening'. In the past, he had often thought of his father in extreme moments of peril, he automatically turned to him again now. Harm briefly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 'Help us, Dad' he begged silently.
"Oh God" whispered Harriet.
"Ha-arm?" Mac pleaded with worry.
"It's OK Mac" he looked at her with unshaken confidence that seemed to suddenly come out of the depths of his soul – the same as it had that day in the Appalachian riverbed. Their eyes connected and he only needed to voice one line - "I'm going to get you through this, Mac… I promise."
Once again, all conversation passed silently through their eyes and, just like that day some nine years earlier, Mac placed all her trust in Harm.
"OK listen to me carefully Harm" the Admiral interrupted their silent conversation. "You're going to have to push the baby back in slightly and move the cord out of the way… but do it gently."
Harm nodded blankly to the Admiral and looked back underneath the blanket. "Gunny, drag that floor lamp over here some… I need more light." Harm had sweat streaming down his face.
"Yes sir." The gunny did what he was told.
Harm stood up as another contraction passed. Mac was screaming in pain now and it almost ripped his heart in two. As soon as it had passed, Harm positioned himself between her legs, took hold of the baby's head as gently as he could, pushed forward… all the while never taking his eyes from Mac's. With his right thumb, he gently slid the cord off the baby's head. "I got it!" he burst out in triumph.
A sigh of relief echoed all around, but the Admiral snapped them all back to reality. "OK Sarah, get ready to push again on the next contraction. Rabb, you watch - that cord could still be wrapped around the baby's neck or be in the way when you bring the shoulders out, OK?"
"Yes sir" Harm said confidently, all the while stifling another sickening wave.
Mac pushed as hard as she could on the next contraction.
"Mr. Rabb – how's it looking down there?!" Even the Admiral's concern was showing through.
"The head is clear…" he almost whimpered, "I don't think the cord is in the way anymore." He looked up at the Admiral for reassurance.
"OK Sarah, one more big push to get the shoulders out and we're home free, OK?"
Mac nodded silently and braced herself.
"AAAAAARRRRRGHH!!!!!" she pushed as hard as she possibly could, and then she heard the most wonderful sound she had ever heard in her entire life - the cry of her newborn baby son.
"I got him." Harm whimpered emotionally as AJ came to his aid with a towel.
"It's a boy!" Bud cried reassuringly. "He's tiny, but he sure has a set of lungs on him!"
"The son of a couple of lawyers, Mr. Roberts – what did you expect?" The General smiled.
They manoeuvred the baby onto the towel as Harriet stepped up with a piece of twine, wrapped it around the umbilical cord and tied it tightly.
She then held out scissors. "OK, who wants to do the honours?"
"I'd like to." Gunny spoke up. "I mean, if you don't mind sir, ma'am? I mean, he is part Marine…"
Harm glanced at Mac with a smile. "Just as long as you're careful, Gunny."
"Always, sir."
The Gunny quickly cut the cord and Harm brought the baby around to Mac, wrapping him tightly in the towel as he did. Mac had tears streaming down her face as Harm delivered their child into her arms. Harm wiped both sweat and tears out of his own eyes with his shoulder and kissed her on the cheek.
"He's beautiful, Harm" Mac sniffed with a smile.
"Of course he is, Mac." He almost whispered. "He couldn't be any other way."
There was a moment of silence when all in the room just grinned in relief and happiness for the little miracle they had just witnessed. It was the Admiral that broke the silence.
"I got it." He said confidently with a smile.
"Sir?" Mac looked at him.
"I know what you should call the baby."
"Yeah?" Harm smiled, "What's that?"
"I think you should call him Evan."
"Evan?" Harm looked at the Admiral in confusion. "Why's that?"
"Because it sounds like 'even'."
Everyone stared at the Admiral blankly. He looked around at everyone as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and when he realized they didn't get it, he continued his explanation as if he was dealing with a class full of underachieving children.
"Son, it's Christmas Eve" he said emphatically. "It's my understanding that you two have become big believers in fate lately and well…" he turned seriously to Harm, "…fate took one Harmon Rabb away from you on Christmas Eve son, now he's given you back another..." He paused briefly then added, "…now it's all even..."
Harm just stared at him blankly. "It's Christmas Eve" was all he could choke out quietly.
Unbeknownst to all, Sturgis had once again picked up the Baby Name book and quickly looked up the name. Everyone turned to him as he read aloud from the page; "'Evan' – Celtic – meaning 'Young warrior. Stalwart, brave, reliable, possessing great charm of manner'"
Mac smiled proudly "That sounds just like his Daddy". Her and Harm exchanged teary smiles.
"I think it's perfect, Harm" Mattie suggested quietly and rubbed his back for support as she tried to get a peak at her new brother.
Mac looked down at her son. "Welcome to the world Harmon Evan MacKenzie Rabb." She gave him a tender kiss on the forehead.
Harm stared dumbfounded at the scene and quietly rubbed a thumb gently over his now sleeping child's temple.
"Hey, that's funny!" Bud piped up. "His initials are H.E.M.R. – 'hemmer'… wasn't your dad's call sign 'Hammer'?"
Harm choked out something between a laugh and a sob and sniffed into the back of his hand. "Yeah…" he said thoughtfully, "… yeah, it was." Then he added, barely above a whisper "Thank you, Dad."
AMBULANCE
EN ROUTE TO BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
24 DECEMBER 2005
2330 ZULU
"OK Sir, I need to examine the baby now."
"No!" Harm looked up at the EMT accusingly. Ever since they'd gotten into the Ambulance, Harm had been holding onto the infant for dear life and simply staring at him silently.
"Harm, it's OK." Mac said gently, knowing Harm's over-protectiveness.
"No." Harm answered defiantly, "It's too cold."
"Sir, I have the heat on in the bus."
Harm just continued to stare at the young EMT. "He's fine; you can examine him once we get to the hospital."
The technician shook his head in surrender and sat down on the other side of the bus.
"Well will you at least let me hold him, Sailor?"
Harm's face broke out into a twisted smile. "Sure." He grinned and handed the baby over to Mac.
Mac smiled at her son adoringly and tickled his nose with her own. Then she looked up at her husband with slight concern. "You alright, Daddy?"
Harm smiled a small laugh. "Yeah," he said with reassurance, "It's just that... something just occurred to me, Mac" He blushed a little.
"What?" Mac said with a curious smile.
"Well… it's just that… "He suddenly looked across at the EMT again and gave him a meaningful glare.
The young medic sat up straighter in defence and then got the drift. "I… I'll be up front if you need me."
Harm looked back at Mac shyly when he'd left. "It's just that… I guess I've always been a big fan of evidence."
Mac just continued to look at him inquisitively.
"You know me…" he continued. "I've always had trouble believing something until I saw the evidence. I like to deal in facts."
"Yeah." Mac strung out cautiously.
"Well," he blushed again, "for so many years, our love was just hanging out there… sometimes we couldn't even see it. Sometimes we could, or we thought we felt it, but there was never any tangible evidence… nothing we could point to…"
Mac smiled and blushed as she realized where this was going.
"Even once we finally got together, there was nothing I could point to… nothing I could take out and show people to say 'Look, I'm in love with Mac!'"
This time they both laughed and looked at their sleeping, perfect son.
"Now I finally have it." He brushed a finger along the side of his son's head again. "Now and forever more - even if it's just a birth record in some dusty office archives, centuries from now - there will always be proof of the fact that we loved each other…" he planted a soft kiss on Mac's lips. "I needed that." He said breathlessly.
Mac stared at him with watery eyes. "What? The kiss or the evidence?'
"Both." He smiled and kissed her again.
Mac shook her head slowly at her husband. "I can't believe it," she mused in awe, "You have become a giant, certifiable sap!"
Harm smiled and snuggled up to his new family. "I've always been a sap – I just never had a good outlet for it before."
TBC