Mac woke up one morning to silence. She'd forgotten for a moment the events of the last year, and not hearing anything startled her. However, when she fully awoke and realized where she was, she calmed down. This was something new for her. She'd been just fine till this morning. As she slipped out of bed, she went downstairs and started the coffee. The kids and Harm were still asleep. It was a Saturday morning, and she wanted to let them sleep in.

Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she sat down at the dining table. As she sipped her coffee, she shuffles through the mail. Sorting the bills from the junk mail. She'd found a catalog of woman's clothes and decided to leaf through it, seeing if anything caught her eye. Nothing seemed to be her style. Most of it being all too frilly for her. As she finished the catalog, she tore off her address and recycled the paper. She'd shred the address. Getting up, she went to the pantry and grabbed the loaf of bread. She took two slices and slid them into the toaster. As she waited for her toast, she got out her lingonberry jam and the sun butter they had to buy as, of course, Parker had a nut allergy. Once that was ready to go, she took the mail to her office to come back just as her toast popped.

As she's sitting at the table with her breakfast, the kitchen lights flickered. Seconds later, Mac feels the presence of Harm behind her. He leans around and gives her a good morning kiss. She waves at him and sighs as she kisses him back. She'd hoped for more alone time so she could decide her next steps. She'd wanted the hearing aid but wasn't sure if it would work. Someone had suggested cochlear implants, and now Mac wondered if she was a candidate for that. And if she was, would they even do anything?

'Hi' Her hands are slow and tired.

'Morning'

She takes a bite of her breakfast and lets out a sigh.

'You alright?' His face is inquisitive as he asks.

'Lot on my mind'

Lately, everything was weighing on her. She'd been the one to want lunch, and had they picked something else, they wouldn't be in this situation. She'd be on the other side helping Harm investigate it. Now they are here, stuck at home. Well, Mac's not stuck; she can still teach; it's Harm that's still stuck at home. She'd tried to ask him if he wanted to join her in teaching, but he hadn't answered yet.

In the beginning, they were in a honeymoon period of sorts. Excitedly waiting results if they would be able to hear again. Which looking back, was stupid. She knew from the beginning she just didn't want to see the signs. The honeymoon period had quickly left when the two began to realize this situation was more serious than they realized. They knew it was serious, but there had been so much going on, with interviews, police, and news, that they didn't really have time to sit down and see the complete picture.

She had two options. Well, possibly three if she could get all the information about the cochlear implants. Does she stay the way she is now, with one ear that can barely hear and the other one completely deaf, or does she go for that hearing aid? She'd wanted to try and get things back to the way they were before the accident, but there was no way. The hearing aid would probably help her hear low sounds, which would give her a one-up and a little security, being able to hear more, but the whole worth-it thing weighed heavy. The more she sat and looked at Harm, the more she wanted it, but it wouldn't be easy. Was she ready for the stress, though? The many visits to her audiologist. The testing. The listening. The many hours that to her would feel wasted if it didn't work. The more she sat and stewed in her thoughts, the more emotional she became. Quickly finishing her toast, she puts her dishes in the dishwasher and leaves Harm. Heading upstairs, she gets changed into some running clothes and grabs her phone and her smartwatch. She slips the watch on and her phone into her pocket. Stepping into the kitchen, She sees Harm with the paper. She fanes a smile and waves at him.

'I need a run,' She signs, grabbing a water and heading towards the door. Quickly getting up, Harm flickers the lights as if to say wait.

'You alright? You left fast.'

'I just need to clear my head.'

'You want to talk?'

'Later.'

'Ok, be safe. Love you.'

Closing the door, Mac started off down the street. She didn't know how far she was going to go, but she needed the fresh air. The one thing she missed was listening to music. She could get some of those bone-conduction headphones and feel the vibrations, but it wasn't the same. As she made it to a stop sign, she paused. She needed a moment to catch her breath. She wasn't as active as she used to be, and it was definitely showing.

As she stood on the corner, she screamed. She was angry at the world. Why her, why them? Did she do something wrong? She knew neighbors would come out of she wasn't careful, so instead of screaming again, she ran. She got all her anger out by running. Running till she couldn't run any longer. Ending up seven miles later at the one and only Admiral Chegwidden's house. When she arrives, she sits on his porch. His car is in the driveway, so she knows he's home. She needed a moment before going to his front door. She was about to get up when he came and sat next to her. He didn't say anything but gave her space. He wasn't sure if she'd talked to anyone about her situation, but she for sure hadn't talked to him. Pulling out his phone, he sends her a text waiting for Mac's phone to vibrate and for her to answer. Admiral had learned some ASL, but if they needed to really talk, they would text.

Admiral: You wanna talk?

SMac: Why me?

Admiral: The men who bombed the mall were bad people

SMac: I know but,

Admiral: There was nothing you could do. Wrong place, wrong time.

SMac: Oh hell!I don't believe that for a moment!

Admiral: Well, you're gunna have to because it's the truth.

SMac: BULL SHIT! You're keeping secrets!

Admiral: I've told you and Harm all we know!

Turning, she angrily shoves him, frustrated he wasn't giving her any answers. Letting out a sob, Admiral reaches for Mac and pulls her into him, and holds her tight. He was trying to calm her down.

Admiral didn't really have to say anything, as the hug he was giving her told all. The Admiral had no clue what the couple was going through right now. Going from fully hearing with amazing jobs to the next moment, not hearing the laughs of their kids and the noises of the birds outside. Feeling her sob more Admiral uses his free hand to sign 'home' asking if she was ready to go. She shakes her head, and he gives her more time to calm down. Letting the woman who would be family cry in his arms. She flips him off as if to say, 'fuck all this.' She was angry. Wanting answers, no one had.

'I'm sorry,' he signs

'I wish I knew more.'

Mac knew he was right. She knew he didn't have many answers but would keep trying. Anything she could get from him, she would take.

'Home?' He asks again, hoping he could drive her home.

'Please?' She replies.

'Absolutely,' Admiral replies, getting up off the step and helping her up. They get in his car and head towards Mac's home.

'Sorry,' She signs, looking over at the Admiral as he approaches her house.

'It's ok; I know you're going through a lot.'

When they arrived, Mac sat in the car for a moment. She needed a moment before going inside. She knew Harm would want an answer about where she went, and There wasn't much. She wanted to tell him. She just needed time to figure all this out. Thanking the Admiral, she heads inside to see her family playing UNO at the kitchen table.

"Mom!" Jonah smiles, getting up and running to hug his mother.

'Hi, J-O-N-A-H, morning!' She smiles, hugging him back and kissing his head.

'Play?' Parker asks, looking up at her mother as she comes to the table.

'Sure! Deal me in!'

'Talk?' Harm questions.

'Later, I'll talk with you later; fun now.'