A/N: I've had this chapter pretty much written for a while, but I forgot to post. Sadly, my two girls and I have been sick this week—we all feel terrible. That has nothing to do with this story; I just wanted to whine. Things should start looking up for our couple after this chapter. For reals.

Crash

Chapter 16: Although the Sun is Shining

Mac? Sweetheart?"

Harm cautiously stepped closer to Mac's sleeping form. She was still in her favorite chair, only now she was curled up in it, fast asleep. Their friends had left, and his parents had gone back to the hotel, and now it was just them. He hated to wake her, knowing how much she needed the rest, but a night in that chair would surely wreak havoc on her body.

"Mac?" This time he reached out and ran his hand down her arm, and instead of opening her eyes, she whimpered and curled further into the chair. Harm sighed, kneeling in front of her as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. If he were successful in waking her up, she would be out the door in seconds. If he weren't successful or just didn't do it, she would be furious.

To hell with it, he thought after a moment. He made a split-second decision and slipped one arm under her knees, the other under her arms, then lifted her from the chair. She still didn't awaken; instead, she snuggled into him, and Harm felt a lump forming in his throat for the hundredth time that day. It should have all been different. He should have found her like this after putting their daughter to bed. He should be picking her up and carrying her up the stairs to tuck her into their bed. He would crawl in behind her and wrap her in his arms…and then they would sleep until the sounds of their little girl would wake them up.

Instead, he was carrying her up the stairs, praying she wouldn't awaken before he could lay her in what was now his bed. There would be no crawling into bed with her even if he managed to get her there successfully. There would just be her up here alone, while he would be sleeping on the couch downstairs. She wouldn't be able to leave then without him knowing. He wouldn't stop her…but he would still want to know if he'd be coming into an empty bedroom in the morning.

To his relief, Mac did not stir as he laid her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. He turned to leave, but then was hit by a wave bone-deep fatigue. Exhausted, he slid down the wall to sit on the other side of his nightstand, rapidly falling asleep.

The day had dawned sunny and mild, and Harm was sure this time that it was so nice just to mock him. October 28th, Meggie's due date, had rolled around once again and he began to think of what his child would be doing right now. She would be walking and saying some words and Mac would already have given her her first taste of pizza. Harm was sure she would have had Mac's hair, and it would now be growing into soft dark whisps. She would look like Mac too, with her same eyes and lips. Her personality would be his as that was the deal—a baby with her looks and his brains.

She would have been perfect.

Harm brushed his tears aside, wishing he could go to Mac's office so they could comfort each other. He didn't dare though; she was back to avoiding him after she had woken in his bed a week ago. Her movements had awakened him as well and he'd whispered her name. She'd turned toward him, her eyes unreadable, then left the room. It wasn't long before he heard her car starting, and as he leaned his head back on the wall, he'd closed his eyes, wishing he had, indeed, stopped her.

Back in the present, Harm realized that just as last year, he would be worthless here. He called the admiral from his office, who, aware of the date, told him to go home. Harm felt weak but he couldn't help it, and the idea formed in his mind that he should just take this particular day off forever.

Harm turned down his street, not expecting to see another car in his driveway. As he drew closer, he realized with not a little shock that it was Mac's. At once curious and apprehensive, he carefully pulled in next to her, refraining from opening the garage door so as not to announce his arrival. He shut things down and got out, oh-so-quietly closing the car door. He noticed right away the front door was open, and when he stepped inside, a quick survey of the living room revealed no sign of Mac. He thought about checking the kitchen for his estranged wife next, but then heard her light but frantic footsteps overhead…and it sounded like they were coming from Meggie's room.

Harm took the stairs two at a time, moving faster when he heard a muffled crash followed by a not-so-muffled curse. His heart was pounding, and in a few long strides, he was stepping into the lovingly prepared nursery. Mac seemed hell-bent on destroying it, for over-turned and empty drawers now lay in a heap amongst piles of never-worn baby clothes. The lid of the small toy chest he'd built just after they had moved in was torn clean off, and Harm felt his fury rising. How dare she?! he thought to himself, but then another crash sounded, and Harm realized this and the crash he had heard previously had come from the closet.

He moved further into the room, jumping when Mac suddenly screamed. The anger he was feeling immediately faded, for he knew it hadn't been a scream of fury. Mac was obviously sobbing, and her scream had been one of deep pain as she rooted around in the closet. Every few seconds some item was flung out into the bedroom, and she began to chant one word—"where!" She kept repeating it over and over while her sobs made her increasingly unintelligible, and the pounding Harm's heart increased. He couldn't make himself move for several seconds, but a kick or a punch to the walls of the closet finally spurred him into action. He rushed to the closet door and called her name once, twice, trying to get her attention. Finally, he shouted at her, and the agitated woman whirled around, obviously startled. She didn't speak to him, sparing only a glance in his direction before reaching for the top shelf. Surely, she was about to hurt herself if she hadn't already.

Two of the four shelves lay on the floor, both broken in half. They had been there when the two of them had moved in, and Harm hadn't yet exchanged them for something sturdier. The bottom shelf was still intact, and to Harm's horror, Mac stepped onto it, trying to use it as a step to bring her closer to the other remaining shelf. He knew it would collapse under her weight in seconds, and he shouted her name, rushing forward to pull her down just as the shelf gave way. She managed to pull the other down with her and he winced as it fell on both their heads.

Mac struggled in his arms, but he refused to let go of her. She cursed and cried, telling him to let her go, to take his hands off her, but he couldn't run the risk of her injuring herself further. His own head ached and who knew what she had sustained before he'd gotten there.

"Mac, calm down. What's going on?" he called over her sobs, loosening his hold a bit to turn her in his arms. Her fists flew at him then, hitting his chest and his jaw and even his neck. Her movements were uncontrolled however, and none of her efforts caused him real physical pain. Emotional pain on the other hand…he couldn't avoid that. She was breaking his heart.

"Mac, honey…stop. Stop. Let me help you. Tell me what you're looking for and I'll help you find it. Please, sweetheart. Tell me. Tell me, Mac."

With wild eyes, Mac glared at him. "Where is it, Harm? Where?! You took it. You took it! You buried it with her. I know it! "Where is it?!"

"Mac, I didn't—Mac!"

Mac had finally managed to break away from him, and before he could stop her, her fist flew at him, this time hitting him square in the jaw. He tasted blood and he stared at her in disbelief when her fist drew back again. He managed to stop it this time and she stumbled. He caught her before she fell and drew her close again. She fought only a moment, however, for suddenly she was sobbing into his chest, her arms around him, her fist gripping his uniform jacket.

"Where is it?! Please!" she begged, but Harm, utterly confused, couldn't answer her. He could only hold her and cry with her, knowing it would never be enough to soothe what was broken in her.

"Where is it?!"

End Chapter 16