A Love Like That Author: wizkid Email: mrschris@prodigy.net Classification: Romance H/M, B/H Rating: G Archive: BTL Disclaimers: JAG doesn't belong to me. Wish is did, but it doesn't and never will. Author's note: This story came from a conversation about Alli and her husband. The conversation at the end with Chloe is an actual conversation between Lilly and Liz, Alli's sister. I could never come up with anything as beautiful as Liz had it. It is a beautiful testimony to Alli and her husband. I hope you are back with us soon, Alli. We are all thinking about you. Thanks to Lilly for the beta.and all that went with it. Bud's surgery had gone well, or so the doctors told them, but he still lay motionless on the bed in the cold, sterile environment of the hospital. He'd been given several medications to keep him sedated long enough for his body to begin its own healing process. There was a long road ahead of him. Harriet stayed by his side the whole time. She refused to leave for any reason. The JAG family was with them as much as they could be, but the Navy didn't stop and there was work to do, so mostly she sat alone with an almost constant stream of tears running down her cheek. She'd sobbed so much that she could no longer make a sound and she couldn't understand how she could possibly cry any more, but the tears continued. She cried for her husband and the changes this meant for his life, she cried for her son- how could he understand, she cried for herself- could she be what he needed? She barely moved from her spot at his side when she heard the soft knock at the door. She smiled warmly to Harm and Mac as they entered the room, but it was only a ghost of Harriet's usual self. They came together this time every day. She tried to engage in a little small talk and kept them up to date on Bud, but her heart was just not into it. Her heart was lying helpless on the bed. Harm and Mac watched as Harriet would move from her chair sitting beside him, to sitting beside him, gently stroking his face. Harm and Mac looked on, wishing there was something they could do for their friends. Harm sat beside Mac and they chatted softly, when a movement caught their eyes. Bud's eyes were open, searching his surroundings. In an instant Harriet was at his side. Their eyes locked in an unspoken understanding. Mac watched as the initial fear she saw melted away in the comfort and peace of Harriet's gaze. Harm and Mac slipped quietly away, afraid to interrupt such an intimate moment. A few paces down the hall, Harm commented "I'm glad he's awake. I know he'll be fine." "Yeah, but I think Harriet's being here helps more than anything." Harm nodded softly in agreement. A few minutes later, Mac climbed into Harm's SUV for the ride back to JAG HQ for her car. As he shut the door, Harm noticed her sigh. "What is it, Mac?" he asked. "I was just thinking. Did you see the way they looked at each other?" "Yeah. They have such a connection." He watched her, lost in thought, and realized how much he wanted that kind of connection with her. He'd already been thinking of how important she was to him. Would they ever have anything like Bud and Harriet, where looks conveyed more than words? "Harm?" "Yeah, Mac?" "I want a love like that." She looked over at him then for the first time and caught his eyes on her. What she saw filled her with hope. "Me too." 3 YEARS LATER Mac's heart pounded so loud in her chest she swore she could hear it in her ears. She watched as her husband of 2 years skirted across the room, his body backed against the wall, his weapon drawn. She was to provide cover for him to scout the room. Palmer was back and they wanted this ended once and for all. This room had only one entrance and she was near it. They had seen Palmer enter so he had to be here, but where? The setting sun provided the only light in the room and the shadows had a way of playing tricks on the eyes. "Palmer" Harm called out and the hair on Mac's neck seemed to stand on end. Where was he? Then it happened. Seemingly out of nowhere, Palmer dropped from the ceiling in front of Harm, firing his weapon into him before Harm could react. He'd done it. Game over. Palmer won. "NO!" Mac yelled before emptying her magazine into him. Webb dialed 911 the moment he heard her scream. He rushed into the room to see Palmer's lifeless body on the ground. He could only watch as Mac rushed to her husband. Harm was bleeding profusely and his strength was leaving him. She knelt beside him, cradling his head in her arms, whispering to him that he would be okay. She paid no attention to the sirens as he whispered weakly to her "Love you." He reached a shaky hand to touch her cheek one more time. The paramedics reached the door as his eyes closed and his body went limp in her arms. 2 DAYS LATER BETHESDA MEDICAL Harriet was the first to see Chloe coming down the hall toward the ICU waiting room. She immediately went to her and gathered her into her arms. "How's Mac?" Chloe asked. Harriet sighed as she led Chloe to the nearest couch to sit down. "Honestly, I'm a little worried. I don't know when she slept last, and she's cried so much. She's not talking to anyone." Chloe nodded. She hoped she could help, but knew the only person that could really help was Harm. When visiting hours rolled around, they all took their turn going in to see him, but kept their visit short knowing Mac would want to see her little sister. When her turn came, Chloe took slow tentative steps toward Harm's room. She'd been told how much the bullets ravaged his body. The doctors had done the best they could, but a bullet to the chest still leaves little hope for survival. He'd been on life support since he got out of surgery. Some tried to convince Mac to turn it off, that it would be the most humane thing to do, but she could not, would not, let go. The doctor's told her he had the best chance if he would come out of the coma, but also explained the sad realities that many never come to. Mac refused to listen and stayed by him every moment. Chloe slowly pushed the door open, unsure of what she would find. Her breath caught at the equipment surrounding him. He was such a strong man, but now he looked so fragile. Mac looked up at her and tried her best to smile in greeting between the tears that threatened. "Oh, Chloe" she whispered as Chloe wrapped her arms around her. In her heart Chloe smiled when she realized that even then, Mac never let go of his hand. A few minutes later Harm's body began moving violently. Chloe ran to get a nurse. When they came in they asked Chloe and Mac to leave. Chloe complied, but only an act of God would move the stubborn Marine. She forced herself to keep it together as their words swarmed around in her head. She realized why they wanted her to leave..he was going into cardiac arrest. She was losing him again. For the first time in years, she sank to her knees in the corner and prayed. After what seemed like forever, the commotion around Harm's bed slowed. The doctor finally came to her, helping her to her feet, he explained that Harm had gone into cardiac arrest. It was nothing unusual for his situation, but that he was stable now. They weren't out of the woods, but things were looking good. NEXT MORNING Chloe entered his room again. She found Mac in the same position as before, sitting by his bed, her hands around his, her head resting against her hands. Mac welcomed her into the room, but Chloe knew not to expect her to talk. After a while the exhaustion got the best of Mac and she fell asleep against his bed. 2 HOURS LATER Harriet was not in the habit of eves-dropping, but she nonetheless overheard Chloe talking to her friend about the most recent development in Harm's condition. "Oh, Jen. You should have seen her. When he first woke up, I was in there reading and she was asleep. As soon as he opened his eyes, she was immediately at his side. It was the greatest moment I have ever seen in my entire life! They didn't even say anything." A tear formed in the corner of Harriet's eye as she heard the teen's description. "It didn't hit me until they were together," Chloe sniffed and wiped away a tear that had spilled down her cheek. "They needed no words. They just laid there. I left after that, but what I saw took my breath away. Oh, Jen. I want a love like that." Harriet smiled to herself and leaned back against her husband who immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She knew she *had* a love like that. A month after that fateful day, Mac helped her sailor into the apartment they called home. Once everything was taken care of, she snuggled against him on the couch. "I love you so much, Mac." "I love you too, Harm" After a few minutes he spoke to her softly. "Thank you for not giving up on me." She smiled up at him, a single tear in her eye. His lips captured hers as her next words embedded themselves in his heart. "I could never let go of a love like that."