Thanks for reading along. I've appreciate the helpful criticism and your responses to this story. When you yelled at me because you didn't care for my characterization of Mac, (after I quit slamming around the house vowing never to post another word) I realized that perhaps I had been too subtle, early on, when I wrote about her misgivings. Perhaps because of the length of time between book one and book two, the story is too much in my head and not effectively on paper. If it's not working for you, quit reading. Dix
Chapter 12 - Two Roads
Mac couldn't help thinking about Mic as she drove into work. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." She muttered. She knew that saying goodbye one moment and making love to him the next had only served to muddy the waters. All these months gearing herself up to marry him; it was hard to let go. She felt safe and comfortable with him. She cared for him and leaving him for Harm was sure to hurt him. They'd talk later. She'd be more clear then. If she was to have any chance with Harm, he'd have to go. That was all there was to it.
Mac could hear the phone in her office ringing as she crossed the bull pen. By the time she'd opened the door and flung aside her briefcase and coat, the alert had stopped. She hung up her coat and set her case in it's usual place. She switched on her computer and adjusted the blind on her window. She was about to go for coffee when the phone rang again.
"You're late." He said.
"Harm!"
"Good morning Mac."
"Are you still in hospital?"
"For a few more hours. The doctor was just in and he's decided I can make the trip home today."
"Do you need a ride?"
"No, Frank and mom will check out of their hotel and then come get me. I'll be home this afternoon."
"That's good." She was looking forward to seeing him.
"Any chance you can come over tonight? We could have supper together, the four of us."
Mac looked at her in basket. "Not for supper, but I'll stop in on my way home ok?"
"I'll look forward to it."
"Me too."
"See you."
She stood for a minute with her hand on the phone. The warmth in his voice gave her encouragement.
--
Mic sat on the couch, his feet on the table, a cup of coffee in one hand and his cell phone in the other. He scrolled through the list of incoming calls. When he found the one he wanted he pushed send and waited.
"Hello." Renee said.
"Hi." He said. "You were asleep when I left. How are you?" It was his standard day after the night before phone call.
"So, when's she coming home?" Renee asked ignoring the meaningless question.
"She was here when I got in."
"Last night? Did she tell you?"
"Tried to, but I distracted her." He said with a laugh.
"Good for you." She said.
"Good for us you mean."
"Fair enough, but you'll blow it if we stay in touch. Maybe you shouldn't call here again."
"If you say so, luv." He didn't wait for her to respond but hit the end button and set the phone down.
That little detail out of the way Mic had one other item on his schedule. He had to puncture the rest of the condoms in the little box in the table drawer beside the bed. If Renee's plan was going to work, he had to ensure that all the condoms were compromised.
He'd surreptitiously damaged both of the ones he carried in his wallet the previous evening in Renee's bathroom. He'd used one with her and the second one this morning with Mac. Getting Sarah pregnant would sever her relationship with Rabb permanently. She'd never go to Rabb carrying his baby. Using the same strategy on Renee, had been Mic's own improvement on the plan. If Renee was pregnant, Harm would assume it was his and Renee might be inclined to let him think so. Either way Sarah would be his and Rabb would cease to interfere. Mic smirked at the thought.
He mulled over the other part of Renee's plan. Renee thought that if he was desperately worried about his health, his business or perhaps a sick relative, Mac would feel less inclined to show him the door. The slower he was to move out, the more opportunities he'd have to press her for sex and make the first part of Renee's plan a reality. He would also have more time to convince her that she wouldn't be happy with Rabb.
Mic thought it was a risky bluff. He'd already told her one bogus story; but had had good results. She'd moved the ring immediately, when faced with the nonexistent resumption of his Navy career. Finally after much thought, he decided to give it a day or two. She might find the timing suspicious, if he was suddenly faced with a sick relative, an illness or a business set back.
--
Mac knocked on the door to Harm's apartment. She heard a muffled verbal response, so let herself in. Harm was sitting on the sofa; his leg in the cast propped on a pillow on the coffee table.
"Hi." He greeted her.
"You look comfy."
"It's the pain meds." He said with a grin.
Mac hung her jacket across the back of a chair and scanned the apartment for Harm's mom and Frank.
"They're not here." He said reading her glance. "They left for the hotel." She stood uncomfortably in the room, not knowing where to sit or what to say.
"Come sit down." He patted the sofa beside him.
She sat beside him, but on the edge of the seat so she could look him in the face.
"Can you manage on your own?"
"I'm feeling ok." He said and yawned. "They'll be back in the morning."
"Tired but ok." She said
He shrugged. "Tired from doing nothing. How was your day?" He asked changing the subject.
"Work was busy."
He cocked his head to one side and raised one eyebrow.
"I talked to Mic this morning, but he didn't really understand."
"It'll be hard. You're living together."
She nodded and twisted the ring on her finger.
"Having trouble getting it off?" He said seeing the gesture. "Or maybe you don't really want to take it off?" He said gently.
"Harm," She paused hearing the beating of her own heart in her ears. She tried again giving him a smile. "I love you. If there's a chance for us to be together." She looked down at the ring and gave it a firm tug. "There see not so difficult after all."
He reached across and took her hand, running his thumb over the newly bare spot. "I'll replace it." He said simply.
"One step at a time." She said taking her hand back and slipping the ring into the pocket of her jacket. "There is something I need to say." She said. "A disclaimer of sorts."
"OK."
"The baby deal" she began and stopped. "About having a baby." She shook her head and starred across the room. "We, I mean if you. I mean we're not anywhere near there yet. But if you think that we should go ahead with the baby deal you should know that I can't."
She looked at him them to try to gauge his reaction, but all he responded with was confusion. "Mac, I don't know what you mean."
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We talked about having a baby." She looked at him and he nodded. "If that's what you think this is." She paused again.
"I think I love you." He said. "No, I know I love you. If we decide at some point in the future to have a baby together, that's fine with me. But I didn't say what I said just because I think we should have a baby."
She responded with a smile. "That's good." She said. "But there's more." He waited in silence. "I went to see the doctor. It turns out I have a medical condition that means I may never be able to get pregnant."
Harm shrugged and reached for her hand. "So we'll adopt when we're ready. Like you said, one step at a time."
She was relieved. "That was hard to say, I've been practicing since I left the office."
"Really?" He said. "Harder to say to me than to Mic?"
Mac shook her head. "I never told him."
Harm was surprised. "Really?"
She shook her head. "We never talked about having a family. So I didn't feel like I could tell him. I wasn't sure what his reaction would be."
"Did I react the right way?"
She smiled and nodded. "You always do."
He squeezed her hand and then yawned broadly." I should go." She said.
Harm shook his head. "Stay for a while yet, but come a little closer." He put his arm on the back of the sofa and she took the hint and cuddled in. He dropped his arm around her shoulder.
AN - Thanks for reading.- Dix