Chapter 7

For the next few weeks Mac worked harder that she possibly could. Harm was in court and she decided to prepare everything before it was her turn then move onto the next case, she wanted to keep her mind off her failed pregnancy and Sam's happiness. The photo on her desk from the night they all went out to dinner was face down because she had caught herself looking at it with tears running down her cheeks so until she was over it she would leave it where it was.

She looked at her finished copy of the closing argument, of course it would be changed throughout the proceedings but she had less to do when she had to get them ready. She coughed, it wasn't winter so she shouldn't be getting sick, she coughed again and sighed. Getting up she went into the break room and got herself a bottle of water out of the fridge, as she was walking back across the bullpen she coughed again, taking a sip of water she entered her office and closed the door. Harriet looked suspiciously at her closed door and wondered what was wrong with Mac, maybe she was pregnant.

Harm had just finished his closing argument, after a week of this trial all they had to do now is wait for the verdict. They left the courtroom and Harm was on his way to his office after getting himself a bottle of water and he passed Harriet who stopped him.

"Uh, Commander?"

"Yes Lieutenant?"

"I'm just a little bit worried about the Colonel"

"What's wrong?"

"She has a cough and it worries me a little, it sounds horrible"

"Thanks Harriet, I'll go and check on her" He turned and walked towards her room and knocked her heard the familiar

"Enter" and her walked in. Mac was on the phone and she gestured for him to sit down, Harm took a seat and watched her intently. She finished her conversation and put the phone down with a sigh before going into a ragged coughing fit.

"Mac?" Harm said going round to her side of the table she stopped and took a few deep breaths "Are you all right?"

"Yes" she said unconvincingly

"Mac what's wrong?"

"Nothing, its just a little cough"

"In the middle of spring?"

"Lots of people get coughs in summer so why can't I have one in spring?"

"Because you sound like that," he said

"I feel fine"

"Have you been stressed out with anything lately?"

"No I'm fine"

"Mac" He looked over to her 'out' box and it was very full

"You have been doing a lot" but before she could answer there was a knock on her door, it was Tiner

"Sorry Ma'am but the judge has a verdict for you sir"

"Thanks Tiner," he nodded and left, harm turned to Mac "we're not finished here, take it easy" he knelt down in front of her, "If this is because of the events of last week I want you to take some time off so we can talk ok?"

"It's not" she said smiling but Harm knew it was and he wasn't going to let this go so easily.

Fifteen minutes later Harm left the courtroom smiling, that man deserved what he got and he will most certainly learn his lesson by the time he is out. As he headed to the Admiral's office to brief him on the findings with Bud he walked past Mac's office and heard her coughing again, before he burst in she stopped and Bud was already outside the Admiral's office he looked back at Mac's door before walking into the Admiral's office with Bud. He and Bud returned a few minutes later after discussing the outcome of the case with the Admiral and Harm went straight to Mac's office

"Oh you won't find her in there sir" said Harriet

"Why not?"

"Because she just went to the bathroom"

"Is she all right?"

"She says she's fine"

"And you believed her?"

"I am planning to go in after her if she hasn't come out in 10 minutes"

"Ok, How long has she been in there for?"

"About 5" Harm sighed, he knew something was wrong "Mind if I wait with you?"

"No Sir, take a seat" Harm sat on a chair next to her and they waited, 5 minutes later, just before Harriet went in Mac came out. Harm jumped off his chair and went to her office, she had closed her blinds and was just about to sit down when he entered.

"Are you all right?" he said looking at her pale face

"Yeah"

"Are you sure?" he went over to her and knelt down in front of her and picked up her hands, before he had the chance to say anything he realized they were shaking. "Mac?"

"Maybe I'm a little sick"

"A little? Mac, I think I should take you home"

"No! I'm fine"

"No, you're not, I'm gonna go and talk to the Admiral"

"Harm" she pleaded

"Not today Mac", Harm left her room and went straight to the Admirals office.

Later

"She has court next week commander"

"I know sir but she's really sick, she even admits it"

"Well in that case, give me a ring on Monday if she gets worse"

"Yes Sir, Thank you Sir"