Third part is here…. See ch. 1 for all disclaimer info. Lemme know what you think so far!
Mac opened her eyes and squinted to see the clock on top of the television. It read 7:30 am. She began to lift her head, but then realized something, no someone, was lying next to her. She turned her head slowly and found herself looking directly into the face of Harmon Rabb Jr. Suddenly the events of the night flooded back into her mind. Thoughts of her mother: of how she wished she could have spent more time with her; of how she wished she would have told her more. Regret, so much regret… Then she thought about Harm and how he had held her until she fell asleep.
She turned again to look at his face. She was lying next to him on the sofa, her head resting on his chest. One of his arms was wrapped under her and the other was draped across her waist. Mac quietly reached up and touched his cheek. As she did so, Harm's eyes burst open and he practically jumped off the sofa, taking Mac with him.
"Easy, flyboy," Mac said. At the sound of her voice, his body relaxed and he laid back down.
"Sorry," he said, looking over at her. "I forgot where I was for a minute."
Mac smiled slightly and turned her face away from his. "It's okay."
"How are you doing?" Harm asked.
"Okay….. Better," Mac replied. "Okay now that you're here," she whispered.
Harm squeezed her hand. "So you're not mad at me for coming then?"
"No. Maybe just a little scared," she whispered.
"Scared? Of what, Mac?"
"Scared because I actually need…." She paused.
"Someone," he finished for her.
She nodded. "And afraid that I'll…." A long time passed before she spoke again. "That I'll lose them," she whispered, pulling out of Harm's embrace and standing with her back to him.
Taking a deep breath, Harm slowly stood up and walked over to Mac. Gently, he put his hands on her shoulders, turning her towards him. She was crying… hard. He lifted his palm and wiped the tears from her cheek. "It's okay, Mac."
"No it's not," she said before closing the gap between them and pushing her face into his chest. "You were right when said I am a death trap for men… Dalton, Chris, Webb… everyone who comes into my life dies."
Harm cautiously wrapped his arms around her, lying his cheek on the top of her head. "Not me," he whispered. "I'm here." Mac mumbled something into his chest. He slowly stepped back a bit so he could hear her.
"I never told…. I never…." she was saying, tears still streaming down her face.
His eyebrows furrowed, Harm tilted her chin upwards so she would look at him.
She drew in a shaky breath. "I never.. Never told her I loved her." She looked into Harm's eyes. "She said she loved me and I didn't respond… didn't even look at her…" She choked back a sob. "I wanted her to know I loved her- if not for any other reason, just because she was my mother." She turned away from him again, putting a hand over her mouth as she did so.
Harm stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her once more. "You need to let go. You can't go back."
She shook out of his embrace, spinning around to look at him. "I can't let go," she spat out. "I…. needed to be honest just like I need you…." she got out before her knees buckled and she fell straight to the floor.
"Mac!" Harm yelled, dropping to the floor beside her. He checked her pulse before picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom, laying her carefully on the bed. He then ran to the bathroom, emerging seconds later with a damp cloth. Leaning over her, he dabbed her face, calling her name. "Mac. Mac, I need you to wake up for me." He took a deep breath. "Mac," he said, practically yelling. "Wake up!"
Startled, her eyes flittered open.
"Mac, can you hear me?" Harm yelled.
"Harm?" she mumbled, bringing a hand up to her head. "Why are you shouting?" she asked, quietly.
Harm smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. You scared me. You fainted, I think."
"Again?" she asked, lifting her body from the mattress.
He gave her a puzzled look. "You lay still," he said, pushing her back down on the bed. "I'm going to order us something to eat."
"But…" she began.
"No buts, Colonel."
She rolled her eyes, but laid her head back down on the pillow.
"Mac! Wake up," Harm said, gently stroking her forehead.
Slowly, her eyes opened. "It smells funny in here," she commented, looking around the room. "Smells like…"
"Ham, eggs, and fresh fruit," Harm interjected, handing her a plate of food and taking one for himself.
Mac set the plate in her lap, and took a bite of ham. She swallowed then took another bite. Then a bite of fruit. Suddenly, she stopped eating and set her fork down. "I think I'm going to be sick," she commented, putting a hand on her stomach.
Harm studied her for a moment. "No, you're not. It's just because you haven't eaten in so long. Eat slowly," he added, picking up her fork and holding it out to her.
She gave him a stern look.
He took a deep breath and pointed a finger at her. "MacKenzie, you are going to eat every last bit of that food even if I have to shove it down your throat myself," he ended, taking a seat on the other side of the bed.
Mac raised her eyebrows and took the fork from him. "Yes, sir," she mumbled, beginning to eat once again.
Neither one of them spoke again until both had cleaned their plates. "It's 0900," Mac said, leaning her head back. Her internal clock seemed to be back in service. "We should probably get going."
Harm glanced down at his watch. Nine o'clock, sure enough. He raised his eyebrows. "Remind me to make you tell me how you do that sometime," he said.
She snorted. "Never…. I told the hospital I'd come by and finish the paperwork this morning."
He nodded. "Mac, what were you starting to say earlier… right before you fainted."
She looked over at him. "I don't remember going to say anything…. Probably a lie…" she let out a slight chuckle.
"I'm
serious, Mac," Harm said, not willing to drop the subject. "You said you needed to be honest with her
like you need me to do something….. What?"
She took a deep breath,
suddenly remembering. "I need you to be
honest with me…. Open with me."
"How am I not open?" he asked, defensively.
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
"This really isn't the time or place to discuss this. Is it?" he asked.
She shook her head. A moment of silence passed. "Harm. Thank you."
He raised his eyebrows. "For….?"
"Take... Taking care of me," she stammered. "I guess I do need help sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Harm asked her.
"Watch it," she said, smirking at him. "Think we should get ready and go?"
"Probably….. Or we could just stay in bed together all day," he said, smiling at her.
"Red light, Commander," she said, returning his smile. "You want the shower first?"
"Sure," he said, hopping off the bed and into the bathroom. "Be right back."
Harm emerged from the bathroom 20 minutes later, clean, but clad only in a towel.
Mac looked up from where she was sitting. "Harm!" she commented.
"Sorry, forgot my clothes in the… uh… other room," he mumbled, turning slightly red and walking quickly into the front room of the suite.
Mac smirked. "Bathroom free?" she called in to him.
"Yeah!" he yelled back. "I'm just going to get dressed and call Mattie."
"Yep," she replied, grabbing some clothes and making her way to the bathroom.
After dressing, Harm pulled out his cell phone and dialed Mattie's number.
"Hello?" her voice came over the receiver.
"Hey, it's me," he replied, taking a seat on the couch.
"Hey! How are you doing? How's Mac?"
"We're fine. I'm going to stay with Mac until she gets everything in order. We'll probably be back tomorrow night sometime. Will you be alright until then?"
"Oh, yeah, I'll be fine. Jen and I have a great weekend planned!"
"Good," Harm said as he heard the shower stop running. "Listen, I've got to go. We have a lot to get done today."
"Okay. Tell Mac I'm sorry about her mom…. And Harm?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I…
I love you too, Mattie."
"Bye!"
"Bye." He slowly pushed the 'end' button on his phone.
"HARM!" Mac yelled from the bathroom, interrupting his thoughts.
"What!?" he yelled back.
"Can you come here for a minute?……. Please?"
"Yeah," he said, quickly making his way to the bathroom. When he reached the door he tapped lightly on the frame. "What do you need?"
"Help," she replied. "You can come in."
He slowly pushed the door open only to see Mac, half clothed in one sock, jeans and some kind of lacy tank top, standing next to the sink.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Don't laugh…. But my hand is stuck."
"Stuck?"
She gestured toward her right
hand which was stuck in the crack where the shower stall met the sink.
Harm stepped closer to her, studying her situation. "How on earth?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I got a little wobbly after I got dressed and I went to steady myself and stuck my hand right down there." She pulled hard, trying to free herself. "It's really stuck, Harm."
He
shook his head and reached for her arm with one hand and held onto her waist
with the other. "Brace yourself, I'm going to try to do this fast, alright?"
"Um, huh," Mac mumbled.
"Okay, one," he began to wiggle her hand. "Two, three!" He pulled hard and fast. Her hand flew free, but with such a force that threw them both off balance. They flew back, landing against the far wall: Mac in Harm's lap.
"You okay?" Harm asked. "Your hand still attached?"
Mac laughed aloud. "Yeah, it's still here," she replied, holding up her hand. "A bit numb though."
Harm laughed, then stopped and cleared his throat, suddenly realizing the position they were in. Mac tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, not sure of what to do. She knew she should get out of Harm's lap, but for some reason, her body wouldn't move.
Finally, Harm spoke. "Well, now that we've had our excitement for the day, shall we get on with our duties?"
Mac nodded and cleared her throat, finally finding the strength to climb out of his lap. "Yes."
