The gray silhouette of the medical building loomed large against the gloomy October sky. A gently breeze swept a trail of red leaves across the almost empty courtyard. On the third floor of building 211, Harm sat thumbing mindlessly through an outdated issue of People Magazine, while Mac situated herself on an examination table. She fingered the hem of her hospital gown nervously. Harm eyed her over the top of his reading material.
"What's taking so long?" Mac questioned in feigned impatience, but Harm could read the fear in her eyes.
"She'll be here, Sweetie," he said, reaching out and stroking Mac's bare foot with the back of his hand. "Besides, when have you ever known doctors to be quick about anything?"
Mac laughed softly and was about to open her mouth to speak again when the door to the exam room opened. Harm jumped to his feet, sending his magazine crashing to the ground where it landed in a heap. Mac sat up rigidly straight and smoothed the front of her gown.
"Good afternoon," said the young blond woman in a pleasantly sophisticated British accent. "I'm Doctor Bennett."
She offered a hand to Harm who shook it quickly and nervously. He felt like he had suddenly lost control of his better senses. Up until now, he had been so focused on Mac and keeping her calm, he hadn't had time to be anxious. But now reality was setting in. This was the best fertility clinic in the world. If these doctors couldn't help them, nobody could. But he had to be strong for Mac. He'd promised her.
"I'm Sarah and this is my fiancé, Harm" he heard Mac saying in a shockingly calm tone of voice and it brought him back to the moment.
"It's lovely to finally meet you both," said the doctor, taking a seat on the stool by the exam table. She was a petite woman, with soft features and kindness in her eyes. It comforted Harm to think that no matter what happened here today; this woman understood the delicacy of the situation and how important this was to Mac and himself.
Shifting her weight a bit, Dr. Bennett seemed to be searching for a way to begin.
"Well," she exhaled. "I know the two of you are here to discuss the fertility treatments we spoke about over the phone a few weeks ago, but I'm afraid we're going to have to change our plans."
"What do you mean?" Harm asked tentatively, a lump rising in his throat. He stepped closer to Mac who shifted uncomfortably on the table. She looked close to tears.
"I've had a look at your preliminary blood work and urinalysis results, Sarah, and something unexpected has come up."
Mac's face turned white and Harm grabbed her hand instinctively.
"What are you saying?" he asked, trying not to sound devastated.
Mac's hand trembled in his firm grip. The doctor eyed them; her expression softening as a small smile began to form on her lips.
"What I'm saying is that the two of you may not need my help after all," said Dr. Bennett with a grin.
Harm and Mac stared questioningly at her, not quite comprehending.
"Sarah," beamed the doctor. "You're pregnant."
Harm and Mac gaped at her in disbelief, not quite sure of what they had just heard. They sat where they were, not looking at each other, just staring at Dr. Bennett, for what felt like an eternity.
"What?" Mac finally managed to say.
"You're pregnant, Sarah," Dr. Bennett repeated. "Sorry about the wasted trip. Looks like the two of you don't need my help. Unless of course you want me to be your baby doctor, then I'd be glad to have you as my patient."
"This is impossible," Mac stuttered. "They gave me a less than 4% chance of conceiving, even with fertility treatments."
"So much for statistics," laughed Dr. Bennett. "Maybe you two should buy some lottery tickets on your way home."
"Besides," she continued, "If I've learned one thing from working in this field as long as I have, it's that nothing is impossible."
Harm, still looking a bit befuddled, turned toward Mac, her hand still held firmly in his. Looking her in the eyes, a smile began to spread across his face as he let the good news finally sink in.
"Mac," he said with boyish exuberance. "We're going to be parents!"
As he watched her, waiting for a response, a smile began to radiate from within her. Tears welled in her eyes and then burst forth in a rush, releasing a year's worth of built up tension and uncertainty. Harm moved closer and enfolded her in his arms.
"I love you, Sarah," he said, stroking her hair. "Everything's going to be wonderful."
Still overwhelmed, all she could do was sob into his shirt. He held her there for a moment before pulling back and lifting her face to look into her eyes.
Placing a small, tender kiss on her lips, he asked, "Shall we go celebrate the good news?"
Mac nodded, her face tear streaked, but still strikingly beautiful.
"What do we need to do next, Dr. Bennett?" asked Harm, still holding Mac in his arms.
"Well, for starters, I'm going to write Sarah a prescription for prenatal vitamins which she'll need to start taking straight away," she said pulling out a prescription pad and scribbling on it. "Then we'll need to find you a baby doctor, whether it be me or someone else. I'd be more than happy to have you as a patient, Sarah, but it's up to you."
"I would love to stay with you as our doctor," Mac sniffed, looking to Harm for approval. "You already know everything about us. It seems like a perfect fit."
"Wonderful," said Dr. Bennett. "Let me grab you some baby reading material, we can chat just a little bit more, set up your next appointment and then I'll let you out of here to go enjoy the rest of your day."
"Thank you," said Harm, kissing Mac's hand. And Dr. Bennett left the room, a huge, satisfied smile on her face.
Simultaneously, both Harm and Mac released a breath they didn't realize they'd been holding. They gazed at each other astonished. Harm touched Mac's face gently with the tips of his fingers.
"This is it, Mac," said Harm. "This is where it all begins."