Chapter 10 – Trials and Tribulations
A/N: Just to let you know a lot of this is guess work so if I get details wrong it's because I am too young to really know anything about it.
Harm and Mac walked into Dr. Caldwell's office, hand-in-hand, after discussing IVF more thoroughly, they agreed to meet with the doctor and look at their options.
"Well it's good to see you back again Colonel"
"Thank you Doctor"
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better thanks"
"Ok, you have said that you would like to try IVF yes?"
"Yes"
"I trust you have read the information sent to you?"
"Yes"
"So you are going to have to stay here when you start taking the drugs just in case, some women have different reactions to different medications so we have to be careful and then you need to come in often so we can check to see when we can remove your eggs. You also have to know that some drugs may not work for you either"
"OK"
"If you would like to make an appointment, when it is established that the drugs are working we will then need an appointment for the commander"
"Would a weekend be okay for the initial appointment?"
"Yes but you would have to come back later in the week to determine weather or not you were actually producing eggs"
"Thank you"
"See you soon" They stood up and booked their appointment for Friday and the weekend and another appointment Wednesday of the next week after work for a follow-up
That Friday after work Harm drove Mac to the clinic and they set her up in a room and soon after they got there a nurse came in with a chart and some medication
"OK Colonel, we are gonna start you on some medication, if you start feeling sick or if something feels strange call us so we can asses what is happening, we don't know if this will work or what effect the medication will have on you so we can't just send you home" Mac nodded and swallowed the pills she was given. Harm sat with her and chatted for awhile until Mac groaned
"What's wrong?"
"I feel kinda dizzy and nauseous" Harm pressed the call button and the nurse came in, by that time Mac had rushed to the bathroom and the nurse understood. When Mac came back she was told to rest and they would try something else. After a couple of hours the nurse came back in and gave Mac some different pills and told her to sleep before telling them to call if there was a problem overnight. Harm settled into the other bed in the room and lay down.
"Harm, stay with me" she said
"I'm just here are you all right?"
"I think so, just hold me, please?" Harm got up and went over to her; he squeezed into the bed with her and wrapped his arms around her, her head buried in his chest.
The next morning Mac awoke in Harms arms, happy she lay there looking at Harm and decided to shower and change. Harm awoke to the sound of the shower turning off; he stretched and got out of bed, knowing he too would have to take a shower. Mac came out of the bathroom and Harm kissed her gently before walking into the bathroom. Mac sat on the bed and silently prayed that they would be able to get their miracle from all this, Breakfast was brought into her a little while later along with some more medication, she and Harm ate in silence and she took the pills in the small cup. They went for a walk around the gardens and sat on a seat
"How are you feeling?" he said, arm around her
"Not too bad, I'm getting cramps though"
"Do you want to go back?"
"Not yet" he kissed her gently and she rested her head on his shoulder, they stayed like that for a while until Mac moved and flinched
"What's wrong?"
"Just a little sore"
"I think we should go back now"
"No, I'm fine"
"Mac," she relented and he helped her up, she let out a little moan and they walked back slowly, Harm's hand never leaving her back. When they got back to the room he helped her lie down then pushed the call button for the nurse who rushed in.
"What's wrong?"
"She's having bad cramps" The nurse prodded around a bit and concluded that everything was fine it was normal and left. "Why don't you rest awhile?" Harm said Mac nodded and made herself more comfortable and Harm closed the door and curtains before kissing Mac on the forehead and let her sleep, taking the opportunity to go outside and call Harriet who wanted him to let her know how Mac was.
At the end of the weekend Mac was sent home knowing that everything was going fine and she should come back Wednesday afternoon to have another check and possibly to remove the eggs. Harm also made an appointment for his 'donation' and they left.
Wednesday came and Mac left work with an overnight bag just in case and she and Harm went again to the hospital. They were told it would be longer but to keep going for regular check ups.
2 weeks later
With all the time that had passed Mac was getting a little anxious, they had been going for follow-ups a lot and they were just being told, not yet, not yet. Again Mac packed up her office and went to the car for another check, praying that this time it would be time.
"Well everything looks all right, we should do the procedure tonight, I'll send a nurse in to get you prepped" Mac nodded and harm was escorted out to make his 'donation'. He returned when Mac was prepped and ready and stayed with her as long as he could, Mac was wheeled out fast asleep and left in recovery as Harm sat beside her holding her hand. The next morning they went home with the promise of a call in two days time, they filled in forms saying what they wanted to happen and how many embryos they wanted implanted then they left.
Two days later
Mac reached for the phone on her desk
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mrs. Rabb?"
"Yes"
"The embryos are ready for implantation, it would be best if you came in this afternoon for the procedure"
"Ok, what time"
"As soon as you can"
"I finish work at 4 so I can be in at 4:30"
"Great, see you then"
"Thank you" Mac hung up the phone and walked across the bullpen to tell Harm
"Harm?"
"What's up?"
"They're ready"
"When?"
"They want me tonight"
"Are you OK?"
"I don't know if I'm ready"
"C'mere" he said standing and opening his arms to her, she walked over and stood in his arms "everything is gonna be fine, and you don't have to do it if you're not ready" Mac nodded and he kissed her gently
"I love you," she said, "You always seem to know what to say"
"I love you too" Mac left his office and got back to work, all too soon it was four o'clock and time to pack up. Mac walked slowly to the car thinking hard, she got into the car and looked over at Harm before nodding, he drove off and the rest of the journey was spent in silence.
"Are you Ok?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You've just been very quiet"
"Just thinking"
"You know if you're not ready you don't have to go through with it, I'll support you in whatever you think"
"It's Fine, Thank you though" They kissed and got out of the car and walked together to wards the hospital, Harm's hand never leaving her.
Mac was lead into a room and robed up, she lay on the gurney and Harm came to meet her
"I love you" he said Holding her hand, Mac was hooked up to an IV and wheeled out of the room
2 weeks later after the procedure and a more recent follow up Mac was sitting in her office and working hard, the phone brought her out of her thoughts and she answered
"Hello?"
"Hello, Sarah, its Dr. Caldwell here"
"Hello Doctor how are you?"
"Very well thank you, I have the results of your IVF treatment"
"Ok, can you hang on a minute?"
"No problem" Mac arose and closed the door and blinds of her office and returned to the phone
Harm looked across the bullpen, he had every time Mac's phone had rung but he was sure this was it because she had shut the blinds, a few minute later she came out of the room and walked into his
"And?" He already knew, there were tears streaming down her face and he went over to her and held her tight Tears streaming down his own
"I'm pregnant" The grin on her face was all he would ever remember for years to come. They kissed passionately and walked out together to tell the Admiral and no doubt anyone they ran into.
That night Harm took Mac to a celebratory dinner and then they had a walk in the park with some ice cream for dessert, the next night they had a surprise party at the Roberts' they thought it was just going to be the four of them and the kids but everyone was there, Jen, Sturgis, AJ and even Singer made an appearance. Mac was shocked and wondered what the baby shower would be like after all this.
1 month later
Mac was working on a case silently in her office, she got up to get a file and felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and let out a cry, her legs trembled and she collapsed, she did the only thing that she could think of
"Harm?" The strangled cry rang out through the bullpen; Harm was by her side in a second
"What is it, what's wrong?" All she could do was cry, tears were streaming down her face, she knew what was happening and Harm understood, he kissed her gently on the forehead, whispered into her ear, lifted her off the floor and he ran with her to the car. Mac cried on the way to the hospital and Harm held her hand, half way there Mac cried out,
"What's wrong?" asked Harm
"It hurts, it has never hurt this bad before", she doubled over and her arms went around her stomach, she groaned, "Make it stop!"
"We're almost there, you'll be ok", He kissed her palm and drove as fast as the speed limit allowed.
When they got there Harm carried her into the hospital, by then she was bleeding but he knew the seat in the car could be cleaned, The lady at the desk directed them to a room where she was prepped and wheeled away, Harm sat on a chair and waited, prayed that the baby would be all right, they had had a month of bliss and happiness and hoped it was just a scare but with the pain she had clearly experienced and it had to be bad before Mac even acknowledged it he was doubtful. Soon enough they returned and said they tried but there was nothing they could do, they were just too late. Harm cried when he heard the news, he knew he'd have to get it out before Mac woke up, she'd need his support when she woke up
A/N: wow-ee that is a long one but you deserved it for putting up with all this nonsense; I have been so busy lately anyway I hope you all enjoyed it, I have got even more planned, it was going to be longer but I have 6 pages already!
WestWingFeminista, starryeyes10, MichelleUK – thanks guys,
Froggy0319 – Thanks for all your encouragement I love reading your reviews
Julie M – Thanks for your supportive words – those who don't like the fic much read her words of wisdom!
Ehangel, becky207 – here you go!
I promise that is the last upset they have, just so you know, I can't stand it much longer myself! THERE WILL BE NO MORE UPSETS just to emphasize my point
Anyway cheerio!
CharmedAli
P.S. don't forget to review