Harm hadn't responded to the question immediately. It was as if he had needed time to come up with an answer she would be satisfied with. He knew that the next few moments with her would be crucial and it would be the words spoken between them in that time that would make or break them.
"Mac, I can't pretend to know what you are feeling…or what is going through your mind, but I can tell you what I have been feeling." Harm had practically whispered down at her.
Mac had expelled a shaky breath in reply, her eyes still closed.
Harm continued. "I am terrified."
"Harm, you will be –"
"Not of that. " Harm interjected, " Of what it could do to us..."
Mac bit her lip again.
"Harm…" she had breathed. His proximity to her was affecting her ability to argue with him effectively.
"As much as I want to be happy at the thought of fathering a child…I can't be, Mac. I am not happy, and that is something I am struggling with everyday. It seems wrong that I should feel this way" Harm's voice had cracked, "but I don't know what to do to fix it."
He had sounded anguished, tortured.
Mac's head had lowered with his words.
"This is what I was afraid of, Harm. …You …just…you can't. I want you to be happy. This should make you happy." She had stumbled over the words, shaking her head against his slightly.
"Mac…" He had gripped her arms a bit tighter. "How can I be thrilled when all I can see is you slipping away?"
"I want to be with you." He had breathed.
She had looked up at him, her gaze vulnerable and needy as her eyes met his with a burning intensity. She reached a hand up around his neck, and lifted her face, putting her lips on his.
Harm had been quick to respond, bruising his lips against hers as all emotion and tension that existed between them was poured into the kiss.
The kiss had been intense, and emotional…and had ended all too soon. The moment had been interrupted with the ring of a phone. Harm's phone.
TBC…