TITLE: "I'll Be Seeing You " Chapter 2 AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY/SPOILERS: Based on the spoiler that JAG would be doing an episode that pays tribute to Navy Nurses. Any JAG episode may be referred to in our work. The story is set late summer 2002 [now Fall], without regard to Sergei or Bud's injury. This is the concluding chapter to the story that began with Grams critical illness and Harm and Mac's discovery that she had been a Lieutenant in the WAVES and a nurse besides, and had lived through the attack on Pearl Harbor. CLASSIFCATION/RATING: S/R/A PG for mild violence and language DISCLAIMER: JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al. No copyright infringement is intended with this work of fiction. FEEDBACK: Never expected let alone demanded. Always appreciated. We simply ask that the work and the effort be respected. Feedback addy is SSbpMN@aol.com. NOTE: All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there is no R nor NC17 content there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html [sadly, not always up and running] or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} NOTE: A HUGE thank you to Mary Ann for suggesting the title. It's from the song of the same name and was a signature tune during World War II. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I'll Be Seeing You" Ch. 2 Three Weeks Later JAG HQ's "So what did the Admiral want?" Harm asked as Mac walked back to her office. "Nothing good" she sighed. "Why do I not like the sound of this?" "Because I'm being sent to Pearl for at least the next thirty days" she sighed. "The JAG office there needs some help with an investigation. The Admiral thought I would be the right person to go." "Why not Sturgis?" Harm frowned. "That's his old stomping ground." "He's tied up on something else. And rather than pull him off that the Admiral decided I should go." "Thirty days?" he whispered. "Maybe less if we get it wrapped sooner" she said hopefully. "This sucks" he sighed. "But I know you have to go." "Don't worry I think you're next on the list" she said with a small smile. "He said to send you in once I'd finished giving you the bad news." "Can I hope I'm going with you?" "You can but I don't think that's it." "Damn. Does he mean right now?" "More like ten minutes ago," she sighed. "Let me know OK. It didn't sound real good." ============ "Commander have a sit-down," AJ smiled. "Looks like you and the Colonel are going to be separated for a few weeks." "Yes sir so I hear. Permission to accompany her?" "Oh by all means." "Really sir?" "Commander do I look like I want to send my other senior attorney on a Hawaiian vacation? However this is a second best maybe." "Yes sir." "Capt. Mark Danbury, San Diego NAS. Charged with adultery. Refuses to retire and wants a JAG representation and not local either." "Sounds like a case for Lt. Roberts sir." "Thank you Commander but if you don't mind I'll handle the duty assignments here. Make me proud." AJ passed him the case file. "Yes sir." "And Commander one more thing, if you don't mind. You and the Colonel. . .the two of you have well gotten a lot closer since your stay in Pennsylvania." Harm almost blushed, thinking of the fact that he and Mac had not spent a night apart since their return. "Yes sir, we're pretty much committed. And very discreet sir." "I know you are--and will be. Is there a wedding in our future if I'm not overstepping?" "No sir. . .I mean yes sir," he stammered. "Sir we're just feeling our way, but that is where we're heading. Of course my grandmother has all but called the caterer. We're just taking it slow and enjoying. We uh. . .actually didn't plan on this separation though." "The Navy will always keep you guessing. And the time will pass." =============== "San Diego. Adultery case," Harm moaned. "The only good thing is that I won't have to look at the empty side of the bed." "You'll get to see your mom and Frank?" "Yeah I'm sure I will. Unless they're gone. They're doing an incredible amount of traveling lately. She's got an assistant at the gallery so she takes off with him all the time. Anyway, we still have tonight. A goodbye dinner?" "You have to say that? This is going to be really hard. Harm we haven't slept apart since. ." She paused and he turned to see what had distracted her, finding Harriet in the doorway, looking like she had just overheard the secret plans to invade Iraq. "We've got to learn to close the door before we discuss our sleeping arrangements dear," Mac added, to Harriet's extreme further embarrassment. "Ma'am, sir, I'll come back," she gasped. "It's just that ma'am you asked for the Simpkins autopsy report as soon as it arrived." "Come in Harriet," Harm smiled. "And sit down before you faint please." "No it's okay. Really I just wanted to drop this off. I'm sorry for walking in without checking first." "Harriet relax" Mac smiled. "It's okay. We're not going to hang you for overhearing us." "Thank you. And I won't ask any questions and my lips are sealed. Well just one question. When did this happen?" "When we were up at my grandmother's" Harm replied. "We've just been keeping a low profile since so no one would know." "And I promise no one will hear it from me. And for the record I'm really happy for you two." She scurried from the office before either could say anything and Mac let out a long sigh. "Well I guess our secret is out." "Doesn't bother me," he said softly. "I'm very proud to admit that I'm in love with a certain Marine Colonel." "And said Marine Colonel is very much in love with you and is going to miss you immensely while we're apart" she whispered. "Don't remind me about the apart stuff" he groaned as he drew her into his arms. "I'm hating already and we're not even separated." "You still want to do that goodbye dinner?" she asked. "Yes. We may not have dinner but I'm going to give you a proper goodbye" he smiled. ***************** Mac's Apartment 7:00 PM EST "Now you have to feed me" Mac sighed as she lay in his arms. "I can do that" he smiled. "And you know I'm going to miss you so much while we're apart." "Well at least I have this wonderful memory to keep me going," she said softly as she looked up at him. "Thank you." "You're welcome. And now I'd better feed you. It's a long flight to Pearl." "I really wish you were coming with me" she sighed. "This isn't going to be an easy investigation." "I tried. The Admiral decided I belonged in San Diego. But you know it's not far from San Diego to Pearl." "I like how you think sailor. A weekend in paradise with the man I love sounds wonderful." "I'll see what I can work out. If it's at all possible. I will be there." A short time later they sat in the kitchen, both picking at the chicken he'd made. "I guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought" she sighed as she pushed her plate back. "Me neither" he sighed as well. "This is harder than I thought it would be." "Which is why I don't want you to take me to the airport" she said softly. "I would object but I know you're right. Just tell me when you want me to get lost and I will." "I'd rather stow you away in my luggage. And I'm not ready to part just yet." "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he grinned. "We're wasting precious time sailor" she smiled. An hour later she slipped from the comfort of his arms and reached for her robe. "I'm going to take a quick shower before I go" she said softly. "It might just be easier if you leave while I'm in there so we don't have to do a sad goodbye." "Call me when you get to Pearl. I want to make sure you get there okay." "I will. You're leaving tomorrow for San Diego right?" "Yeah" he sighed. "And I'm serious about making it over to see you if I can. Otherwise thirty days is going to seem like a lifetime." "I know" she whispered. "Which is why it's easier if you just go while I'm in the shower." "I love you," he said softly. "You take care of yourself down there." "You too. Don't be picking up any California blondes." "I have the only woman I ever want." "Anyone I know?" "Yeah she's a blonde video. . ." he began and then shook his head. "OK that's going to bring on nightmares of that whole time when I couldn't have you, had someone I didn't want, didn't know how to fix any of it." "You could have had me for the saying so," she smiled, her hand going to his cheek. "But we don't have time to go down memory lane here. I love you. Call me? Please." "So often you'll look at the caller ID and go, god not him again." She shook her head, struggling to hold back her tears, and reached up for a last long kiss. It wasn't until she was in the shower with the water and her music up full blast for both that she let the sobbing come, knowing she needed to get it out of her system. =========================== 1 WEEK LATER "Hey Beautiful." "Danny thank god. I've been dying for you to call all day. I wanted to know if we could do a repeat of the other night only this time we could have. . ." "Who the hell is Danny," Harm exploded on the other end of the phone call before lapsing into sheepish silence, realizing he had been baited. "You are so easy Flyboy. Missing me?" "Like hell. Like I tell you every day in five or six emails and in as many phone calls as we can get in. How's it going there?" "Slow. But it's not as bleak as when I walked in there at least. I'm starting to get a good line on the missing stuff. Correlating when it's walking out with who's on duty so I'm pretty happy. Except for missing you like crazy of course. How about you?" "Funny story. Actually you probably aren't going to think it's that funny. But I wanted you to know. I don't want to have us keeping stuff from each other." "You've met someone else," she said teasingly, and yet holding her breath at the same time, "and don't tell me you haven't been hit on." "Yeah I have, but I tell everyone I'm engaged." "Same here," she whispered. "Which is the truth even though it's not official," he returned. "But I was going somewhere with the other." "Oh by all means," she giggled. "Mac I'm on flight status here." The silence from Pearl Harbor was deafening. "Mac did you hear me?" "Yeah." "OK maybe I shouldn't have told you. You're just going to worry now aren't you?" "Of course," she sighed after a long breath. "But I'm still glad you did. How does that mix with your adultery case?" "I talked the bozo into quietly retiring, before he was charged and lost everything," he smiled. "And then the XO and I had dinner together and he asked if I'd like to stay on here for a couple of weeks and do some instructing. Not a lot of us old experienced pilots left you know. So I'm getting in some flight hours and teaching these young kids a thing or two. If you were back in DC I would have said hell no and been on the next flight, but since you're not, I figured I'd stay out here. I'm staying with Mom and Frank now, getting some beach time and all. Except for missing you so much it hurts, it's not bad." "Well I guess I'm glad for that," she sighed. "Harm please be careful. I never thought about you flying when you did it before. It's so much apart of you I guess. But then came last May, and of course the little fact that I'm in love with you." "Not so little," he replied. "And speaking of being careful, these people whom you're getting evidence on are not going to be happy if they find out it's you. I hope you're keeping that in mind." "Hey I'm not just out of training on my first assignment here," she groaned. "And I have people watching my back thank you." "Should be me." "I wish it was." "This sucks" he sighed. "I miss you so much." "And I miss you. But I'm sure your Mom is glad to see you for a change." "She would be if I wasn't whining about missing you all the time" he said with a small smile. "You're not?" she smiled. "Only all the time. She'll probably be happy when I leave." "Have you heard from Grams?" Mac asked. "I've been meaning to call her but with the time difference it's always too late for her when I think about it." "Mom talked to her the other day. She's recovering wonderfully and she told Mom to tell us that she's expecting us back up there one of these weekends once we're back." "I'd like that" Mac smiled. "As soon as I get this mess figured out." "Make it soon will ya," he sighed. "I don't want to go back and not have you there." "I'll do my best. And you be careful up there in the air." "Aren't I always?" "Yes but you know I still worry. I love you Harm. I don't want to lose you now." "You won't if I have any say in it" he said softly. "And I love you just as much. Promise me you're watching your back down there." "Always" she promised." ************************ San Diego Naval Station Five Days Later "Rabb you got a minute?" Commander Hawkins asked as Harm walked by the XO's office. "Sure what's up?" Harm asked as he walked in. "You got any plans this weekend?" "No. You need something?" "Yeah. I need to get a Tomcat to Pearl. Jenkins was supposed to do it but he isn't going to be able to. Came down with some flu bug and he's down for the count." "Pearl?" Harm smiled. "I thought you might like that" Hawkins grinned. "Seeing as how all we've heard about is that Marine of yours that's down there on an investigation. So what do you say? Fly down and then hop a commercial back. I might even be able to spare you until Tuesday." "A long weekend. Of course I'll take it." "Figured you would. Now get on out of here." "Thanks Commander" Harm smiled. "You have no idea how much this means to me." "You've helped out a lot around here. And the other guys would have loved a weekend in Pearl but I know it will mean a lot more to you." "Oh yes" Harm said quickly. "Mac is going to be surprised when I show up there." "You're not going to warn her you're coming?" he asked. "No I think I'll just surprise her instead. She was a little down last night cause she's not getting anywhere on her investigation and this will be just what she needs." "Maybe you can help her out while you're down there" Hawkins smiled. "Just remember I need you back here on Tuesday." "I'll be here" Harm promised. "And thanks again." Two hours later the Tomcat soared into the air and Harm smiled as he realized in a short time he would see Mac. Two weeks without her had been the longest two weeks of his life and he couldn't wait to hold her in his arms again. Somewhere beneath the cloud bank below was the vast Pacific ocean, and above was the rarefied air of space. The afterburners hummed a happy tune. Tonight he would be sleeping with her in his arms. And soon they would be back in D.C. where they belonged. He busied himself with thoughts of her and with the checklist he was completing for the ride, loving the feel of the powerful machine beneath him as always. Twenty minutes out of Pearl, it all went to hell. ================= PEARL HARBOR MEDICAL CENTER Emergency Room 1 Hour Later "Sarah big weekend plans?" Dr. Chet Carpenter set a pile of folders on her desk and plopped down in the chair next to it. "Oh yeah. Missing Harm, laundry, vacuuming, grocery store, dry cleaners, missing Harm. Uh. . .did I mention missing Harm?" "You might have," he grinned, and gestured to another doctor at the admitting desk, phone to his ear. "If you're really lonely, Ronnie there would be most happy to show you a good time." "Oh yeah I'm sure," she groaned. "You know I've told the man I'm engaged and it doesn't phase him." "Needs a ring for emphasis," Chet grinned. "Happened kind of fast," she blushed. "Actually he hasn't formally asked. I mean I haven't seen him hit his knee yet. It's more like something that's evolved." "Well Long distance relationships don't come easy," he replied knowingly. "Elise and I have done it four times in the twelve years we've been married between her career and mine." Mac was about to answer when Capt. Ronald Shaeffer's voice interrupted. "Carpenter, stop flirting with the new hire. You're married and that's my job. More important we've got a chopper delivery coming in. On me please." "I guess I have to go do what they pay me the big bucks for," Chet groaned. "Let's get some coffee later." Mac nodded and as Chet and Ron sprinted for the elevator she walked across the room to the filing cabinet, hoping for some evidence to corroborate her theories on the case. A few minutes of that made her give up in frustration and decide to check the archives in the basement. She was awaiting the elevator when the doors opened and Chet's voice shouted, "Coming through. We've got a red blanket here." Remember that they had been retrieving a medivac, she stepped back out of the way as another doctor strode forward. "Ron, Chet what have you got?" Dr. Baratz asked. "F14 pilot pulled from the Pac. He's not good. Hypothermic for sure, probably some trauma. They tubed him on the chopper and lost him once enroute. Name's Rabb." For a moment she felt a bolt of fear. But her mind told her it wasn't possible. Harm was in San Diego. He wasn't flying an F14 near Pearl. He was safe at home with his mom and Frank. It had to be another Rabb. A second later, all thoughts stopped as the gurney was pushed out of the elevator, her eyes catching sight of the man's face beneath the oxygen mask. "NO" she screamed and Chet looked up at her with concern as they hurried down the hall to the ER. "Sarah what's wrong? Do you know him?" "Harm" she managed. "It's Harm. Oh God it's him." "Her fiancé" Chet said to Dr. Baratz. "Colonel we'll let you know something as soon as we can" Dr. Baratz said as he motioned for the nurse. "Katie please take Colonel Mackenzie to the lounge." "No" Mac wailed, trying desperately to get to Harm. She pushed past Ron and managed to get to Harm, reaching for his hand. That it was ice cold scared her even more and she leaned closer to him. "Harm it's me. Sarah. Hang on sailor. Don't you dare leave me. I need you." "Colonel please you need to let them help him," the nurse said as she gently tried to pry Mac away from the gurney. All around her the three doctors worked fervently, Dr. Baratz barking orders that Mac didn't even hear. Until one. "We're losing him" Baratz shouted a moment later. At those words, Mac's world began to spin wildly. This wasn't happening. It was all a nightmare. She would wake up and none of this would be happening. Harm would be safe in San Diego. She wouldn't be watching him die in front of her. She wasn't going to spend the rest of her life without the man she loved. "Grab her" Ron yelled as Mac sagged towards the ground. Katie managed to grab her, and with the assistance of one of the medics from the medivac team who'd followed them down, managed to get her onto the other gurney in the room. ************************** Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. As Mac pushed her eyes opened, memories of what had happened rushed forward. Harm. He'd crashed. And was dying. A sob escaped from her just as Katie walked into the room. "Colonel you're back with us" she said gently. "Harm" Mac whispered. "Please tell me he's okay. Please don't tell me he's dead." Her words ended with a sob and she turned her head as the tears began to fall. "He's not dead. But that's all I can tell you at this point. I'm sorry." Mac nodded as she turned back to face the woman. "What happened? Did I pass out?" "Yes you did. We took some blood and we're going to do a complete work up to make sure that nothing caused it besides the stress of seeing the man you love like that." "I didn't even know he was coming here" Mac whispered. "He was supposed to be in San Diego." "He must have been trying to surprise you" Katie said gently. "He can't die" Mac whispered. "He just can't. It can't happen again." "Happen again?" "Harm's grandfather was at Pearl during World War II" Mac sniffled. "He met Harm's grandmother here. He was a pilot and she was a nurse. They fell in love right before he was sent away. She was pregnant and she never got to tell him. He was lost in a training mission a short time later." "Oh that's horrible" Katie whispered. "She's lived all these years without him" Mac sobbed. "I can't do that. I can't live without Harm. I need him. He can't die." "Colonel you need to stay calm" Katie said gently. "Please." "No I need to know that Harm is okay" Mac wailed as she pushed back the blankets and tried to push herself up. She did not get far, the world spinning around her again and she dropped back against the pillows with a long sob. Harm was going to die and if he did she wouldn't care what happened to her. Nothing would matter. Her life would be over. With that thought she allowed the darkness to swallow her again, providing a break from the torturous thought of losing Harm. When she awoke again she was surprised to see Chet in her room. "Harm?" she whispered. "He's holding his own right now" Chet said softly. "Which is more than we expected." "Is he going to be okay?" Mac whispered. "We'll find out in the next few hours. If he stays steady he might be okay. But Dr. Baratz isn't making any promises." She nodded as the tears slid down her face. "Can I see him?" she asked. "In a few minutes. I wanted to talk to you first. About you?" "I don't care about me" she whispered. "I just want to see Harm." "You need to start caring about you," he said gently. "You're pregnant Sarah." "I. . .? No. No I'm not." "Uh. . .yeah you are. I had them run that test as part of your blood work." "Then the test is wrong." "Sarah we're not talking about you peeing on a stick here. The blood test doesn't lie. You're pregnant. I'm going to assume Harm is the father, but we certainly don't have to go there.' "Yeah of course he is," she stammered, still very obviously in shock. "Grams. . .oh god she was pregnant too. Her Peter was in the air and he was lost. She never got to tell him she was carrying his child. This is. . .this can't be. Harm's going to die. He's going to die the same way his grandfather did." Chet patted her arm and motioned for the nurse who was standing near to approach. "Don't write that man off yet. Please. He held on in the water, and he survived a resuscitation event in the chopper. I would not bet against him myself. God hasn't made that decision yet. He has however given you a baby to grow inside you, and you're going to need to be mindful of that. Right now you're dehydrated, hence the IV there. I'm also going to have Jackie put just a mild something in there so you can relax. Kidney failure is not something you want, and staying quiet will help your body and the baby both." "I need to see him," she whispered tearfully, one hand on her belly. "Please let me move in there, at least let me hold his hand." "Right now his hand is pretty busy under a warming blanket," Chet smiled. "You rest, and let's give him a little time and then we'll see. NAS San Diego reports that he was bringing back a Tomcat to the squadron here. Must have been planning to surprise you." "I suppose. I'm so confused and so scared." "And so pregnant," Chet finished for her. "Close your eyes Colonel. Someone will wake you if there's anything new." She shook her head, determined to fight against the drug, determined to fight to stay awake for Harm. He needed her and she would be awake for him. Her force of will was no match for the medication and she succumbed to the lure of oblivion twenty minutes later, Harm's name on her lips. At some point the bed seemed to be moving and she seemed to be floating as if out of her body and into the air. A place safe and warm. She and Harm were together. She was holding their son, leaning back against the man she loved who had encircled them both with his long armed embrace. He was watching with a look of rapture as the baby boy made it's first tentative attempt to nurse. God had blessed them well. Jason Peter Rabb. Their son. "Well look who's back." Katie was standing by her bed checking her blood pressure. "You're doing much better. Your kidneys are a lot happier with you right now and you should feel better." "I guess yeah," she frowned, "but it seems like. . ." It came back to her all at once. Hitting her full force. Harm. She was carrying his child and she did not even know if he was alive. A look of sheer panic crossed her face that lasted only a moment, to be replaced by a soft smile. God had let her glimpse the future. Of course Harm was alive. Alive to share in the birth of their son. "Ma'am?" "Harm. He's going to be okay. I know it." Katie looked away and Mac felt a wave of panic. Surely she hadn't been wrong about her dream. Harm was going to be okay. God had told her that. "Katie" Mac whispered. "He's going to be okay right?" "We almost lost him again," Katie said quietly. "Dr. Baratz said if it happens again we may not get him back." "No" Mac whispered. It was all wrong. She'd seen her future. That future had included Harm. He wasn't going to die. He was going to live and he was going to be there when she had their baby. "I'm sorry. We're doing everything we can. But his body suffered a lot of trauma from punching out." "No. He's going to be okay" Mac repeated. "He's not going to die. He can't. That wasn't the way it's supposed to be." Tears slid down her face, the memory of the dream now seeming just that. A dream. Maybe God hadn't shown her her future. Maybe she'd just wished it. "I'm sorry Colonel" Katie said gently. "I wish there was something else I could do. And I also hate to mention this but the Navy has tried to contact the Commander's family but haven't been able to reach his mother. Is there someone else that should be notified." "Grams" Mac whispered. "Oh god, I can't tell her that Harm is going to die. He's all she has. She's buried a husband and a son. She can't bury her grandson too." She let out a long sob at the words, the thought of burying the man she loved the most horrible thought imaginable. "Do you want me to contact her?" Katie asked quietly. "I can talk to her if you 'd like." "No" Mac sobbed. "She needs to hear it from me." "Would you like to see the Commander first? Then you can talk to her." Mac nodded as she sobbed softly. She needed to see for herself. A part of her still wouldn't let go of the dream. It had been a message from God. Or had it. Minutes later Katie helped her into a wheelchair and rolled her down the long hall to the ICU. "He's going to look pretty bad," Katie said as she stopped at one of the doors. "I'm just trying to warn you so you're not shocked when you see him." Mac nodded and Katie wheeled her into the room. Mac's gasp at the sight of him told Katie she still shocked and Katie quickly looked down at her patient. "Are you going to be okay?" she asked gently. Mac nodded mutely, her eyes staring at the man who lay somewhere below all the wires and tubes. She slowly reached for his hand, and moments later sobbed quietly as she pressed it against her cheek. "I love you" she sobbed. "And this isn't right sailor. You're supposed to be okay. Do you hear me? You can't die on me. I need you. Our baby needs you. You can't do this to Grams. And Trish. We all need you." She dropped her head to his chest and continued to cry softly. She closed her eyes, exhausted once again. With the sound of his heart beating below her, she drifted back to sleep. And again he was there. Harm. With their new baby. Smiling proudly at his wife and son. She awoke with a start as the dream faded, looking up at his pale face below the oxygen mask as Katie returned to the room. "Ma'am are you ready to return to your room?" Katie asked gently. "I need to call Grams" Mac whispered. "I want to do it from here. So she can talk to Harm." Katie nodded and a few minutes later returned with a phone for Mac to use. With trembling fingers Mac dialed the number, hating what she was about to do. "Sarah I'm so glad to hear from you" Grams said happily when she realized who it was. Mac felt the tears brimming; knowing what she was about to say was going to break the older woman's heart. "Grams I have to tell you something" Mac whispered. "I have to tell you something first" Grams interrupted. "I had a dream Sarah. It was you and Harm. With my great grandson." For a moment Mac couldn't speak. Grams had had the same dream. It wasn't possible. "It's a sign from heaven" Grams continued. "Because right afterwards Peter told me it was. That is was going to come true." A sign from heaven. It hadn't just been wishful thinking on her part. Harm was going to live. He was going to be fine. "Sarah are you there?" Grams asked. "Sarah." "I'm here Grams. And that's what I was going to tell you. I'm pregnant." "Oh Sarah I'm so happy for you and Harm. Now when is that Grandson of mine going to marry you?" "As soon as he can" Mac whispered. "As soon as he can." She hung up a few moments later, not having divulged a word of Harm's condition to her. He was going to be okay. And when he was she would call Grams back and tell her what had happened. "Okay sailor" Mac said softly to him after she'd hung up the phone. "It's time to get with the program mister. I've got it on good authority that you're going to be okay. So let's start showing some improvement." His response came a few moments later when she felt his hand on hers. Gently it squeezed around hers, giving her the reassurance she needed. She gave a small cry of relief that came out as a sob and Katie quickly looked at her quizzically. "It's OK. He's coming back to me," she smiled. "I can see that," Katie smiled as well, watching his monitors. "BP and heart rate are all improving. Of course the acid test is his regaining consciousness but that won't be too far off. Look believe it or not there are people sicker than him so I'm going. Call button if you need anything and of course they're watching him from the desk. Try to relax now. You've got another life to think of." "Jason." "Excuse me?" "Jason Peter Rabb," she smiled. "We're having a boy." "Right." Katie smiled as well and shook her head in disbelief as she walked out. Mac laughed and put her hand on her belly. "Jason you'll show them." For the next four hours she sat beside Harm until she was ordered to bed herself, which she complied with only after they moved them both to a shared room. It was a long twelve hours later before Harm could do more than squeeze her hand. Improvement came slowly as his muscle tone began to return and his breathing eased as his body warmed. They had determined he had a bad strain to his back but no serious permanent damage. Just an assortment of bruises to go with the rest. At long last his eyes opened with more than just a glazed look and a slow smile of recognition spread over his face. "Sarah," he murmured into the mask. "Yeah Flyboy, right here," she whispered, her mouth to his ear. "Right here and loving you as much, if not more, than ever." At the same time, she pushed the call button, wanting them to know he was at his most lucid yet. "I was coming to surprise you." "You did that," she smiled, feeling relief making her weak all over. "Plus you do like to make an entrance. My men don't usually arrive on the roof by chopper. Be quiet now. I can hear the strain in your voice and throat." "I didn't come all this way. . ." he sighed as the doctor approached him. "Well look who's looking good," Dr. Malone smiled. "Mr. Rabb you're doing very well." Carefully he slipped the mask from his face and replaced it with oxygen tubing beneath his nose. "We'll try this for now. But the mask goes back if you're not breathing well." "I feel like I can't hardly move," he sighed, lifting an arm experimentally and letting it fall back to the mattress. "You're not going to get over this real fast Superman," Dr. Malone cautioned. "Your body suffered a serious assault. Your lungs were full of salt spray, there's a contusion the size of a basketball on your back, plus the effects of hypothermia and shock. So you're going to lay there like a nice boy and let yourself heal for a few days and after that you've got two weeks down time." "Excuse me?" "You get a hearing impairment too while you were in that water?" she demanded. "You heard me. OK he's all yours Colonel. Don't get him excited." "I promise nothing," Mac smiled and when they were alone, leaned over to give him a long kiss. "Welcome back Squid. I've been pretty scared here." "I knew you would be, and I'm hating myself for doing that to you," he croaked and she at once put a glass of water to his lips. "Well you know what they say about payback." She stroked his forehead, pushing damp locks of hair away from his face. Her free hand went to her belly and she wondered if now was a good time to tell him, a question he answered a moment later. "I had the strangest dream," he sighed. "Over and over again. I was holding you. I mean you and I were on a bed or something and I was sitting behind you, holding you. But not just you. You and a baby. Our baby boy. He was nursing on you. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. You and our baby. His name was. . .what?" He had to stop when he saw the look of wonderment forming on her face. "His name was Jason Peter Rabb," she whispered in awe. "Yeah it was. How did you know?" Quietly she took his hand and pressed it against her middle. "Meet your son Harm." "You're pregnant?" he whispered. "With your son" she smiled. "Now you can see why I was a little upset earlier. For a while there I felt like I was reliving Grams' letters all over again." "You're really going to have our baby?" he asked again. "Yes which reminds me Grams wants to know when you're going to make an honest woman of me," she said softly. "Oh god she doesn't know what happened does she?" "No I didn't tell her anything. I figured I'd wait until you were with me again before telling her what had happened. Cause there were a few times when I wasn't sure you were going to be okay." "When did you know?" he asked. "When I called Grams. I was going to tell her that the doctors weren't giving me much hope. But before I could she told me about a dream she had." "You and me with our son?" he whispered. "How'd you know" she smiled. "As soon as I heard that I knew my dream wasn't just a dream. It was a vision from God. And I knew you were going to be okay." "I'm sorry I scared you" he sighed. "I really just wanted to be with you." "Well you're with me now," she said softly. "Course I would have rather waited to see you than go through this." "Hey I heard the big guy was awake" Chet smiled as he walked into the room. "Nice to finally meet the guy Mac's talked non stop about since she got here." "I probably owe you for saving my life" Harm said softly. "Just doing my job. And we're glad to see you proved us all wrong." "Me too" Harm said with a small smile. "Mac I know you want to stay with him but don't forget you need to rest yourself" Chet said seriously. "We don't want any repeats of what happened." "Repeats of what?" Harm demanded, for the first time realizing that Mac was quite pale. And thinner than he'd remembered. "Harm its okay. I just had a small fainting spell when they brought you in. And I'm sure you can understand what a shock it was for me." "Is that all it was?" Harm asked as he looked at Chet. "She was a little dehydrated and of course her blood pressure was up. She needs some down time herself." "Thank you Chet" Mac said with a long glare in his direction. "Now that you've freaked the patient you can leave now." With a sheepish look Chet scurried from the room and Mac let out a long sigh. "Mac I have the right to know if you're okay or not" Harm whispered. "And this is totally unacceptable. You're not taking care of yourself." "I've been working long hours trying to find the break to this case. And yes I wasn't feeling good but I figured it was just from working so much and missing you. I didn't know I was pregnant. Now that I know I am, I will take better care of myself and our baby. Promise." "Beginning with you coming with me to Grams' after I get out of here" He said firmly. "Harm I'm in the middle of an investigation. I can't just leave." "Mac you're not well. You need to think about yourself and our baby." "And you're less well than I am" she reminded him. "And you need to rest. We will talk about this later. When you have more strength." "That might not be for awhile," he said with a long sigh. "I swear I didn't feel this bad after the last crash." "That's because this was worse" Mac whispered. "They almost lost you twice Harm." Her attempt to keep the tears at bay failed and a few tears slid down her face. Weakly his hand reached up, gently thumbing them away. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for scaring you like." "Just don't ever do it again" she sniffled. "I promise it will never happen again" he murmured tiredly, his eyes starting to close again. "You know something I don't know?" she said softly as her hand reached up to stroke his forehead. "Not gonna fly again, ever." he murmured. Her hand froze in mid stroke at his words. "Harm did you say you weren't going to fly again?" she whispered. "You got peanut butter in your ears?" he smiled sheepishly. "That's exactly what I said. It's not worth the risk. Not when I have a wife and baby to take care of." "Wi. . .wife," she stammered, hearing the word come from his lips. "Yeah wife. Mother of my son. A baby who should be born to a mom and dad with the same name," he whispered. "And when I get out of this place, I'm going to ask you properly." "Well you won't have to wait until then for my answer," she sniffled. "I love you Harm. I love you and of course I'll marry you." "Yes, thank you," he breathed, collapsing back onto the pillow. "It's going to be OK Flyboy. But Harm about the flying? Don't make a hasty decision here you're going to regret later, and possibly blame me for." "It didn't require hardly any thought," he told her firmly. "I'm living on borrowed time when I'm in the air. I grew up with out a dad. My mom and Grams were widows far earlier than they ever should have been. No. I want better than that--more than that--for you and Jason. It's a done deal. Soon as my fingers start working again so I can type the form." "Then thank you again," she whispered, trying hard not to cry further. "And I want you resting," he went on. "Obviously you haven't taken good care of yourself so far in this baby thing, and that's going to change." He paused and ran his hand over her belly. "God Sarah, you're pregnant, with my baby." "Yeah that makes it even better," she grinned teasingly. "And I am tired. The case, and then you. Why don't you make some room for me in that bed there Sailor. I don't think they'd dare separate us." "Oh yeah. Oh yeah," he sighed happily. "Can you get up here? Right now I couldn't lift a Chihuahua." "Just slide over a few inches," she replied, and despite his misgiving, he was able to help her settle. "This is how it should be." She stroked his forehead once more and then slipped onto the bed, helping him to turn to one side so they could press themselves together. Sleep came then, long hours of pure sleep for each of them. The following day Mac had her first OB exam and the doctor put her on another forty-eight hours of bed rest, which pleased both of them, allowing them to be cocooned in Harm's room as the hospital bustled around them. It was the afternoon of the third day when the door opened and Cdr. Sturgis Turner stood in the threshold. "What the hell is this?" he bellowed, trying to keep from laughing. Harm and Mac were taking an afternoon nap, a movie playing largely unseen from the TV above them. "You forget how to knock?" Mac groused. "Good thing we're decent." "Don't abuse your relief Colonel," Sturgis smiled. "The cavalry is here." "About time" she teased. "How you doing Harm?" he asked. "I heard you gave this Marine quite a scare." "Hanging in there" Harm sighed tiredly. "I'm getting too old to be ejecting out of jets." "You said it not me" Sturgis laughed. "And I hear congratulations are in order Colonel." "Thank you" she blushed. "So who's the father?" he teased. "Cute Sturgis" Harm groaned. "I think you know the answer to that." "Well I was surprised," he said as he sat down in the chair next to the bed. "I mean I knew you two had gotten closer after the trip to Pennsylvania but I had no idea you were this close." "We tried to keep it quiet" Mac replied. "Course we won't be able to do that now." "Well so far no one but me knows" Sturgis smiled. "And my lips are sealed. And seeing as how I'm going to be stuck here finishing your case you don't have to worry about me saying a word." "Sorry. I tried. You can blame this guy for sending my world topsy turvy." "It's okay. I'm happy to be here. I can catch up with some old friends while I'm down here. Besides I'm sure you have some pretty good ground work laid on the case." "I do. And if someone will let me up, I'll be happy to go over what I have so far." "No hurry. You two rest. I just wanted to drop in and see how you were doing. I still have to check in and get my room. And seeing as how I obviously have interrupted, I'm going to get out of here." "Finally" Harm smiled as Sturgis stood up. "You know you two look really good together" Sturgis smiled. "I hope you plan on doing the right thing Commander." "He already did and I said yes" Mac spoke up. "Well double congratulations then. So when's the wedding?" "We'll let you know" Harm assured. "Weren't you on your way out?" ****************** Three Days Later It was a weary pair that arrived on the front steps of the old farmhouse in Belleville, the door flinging open before they reached it. "Sarah, Harmon" Grams cried as she hurried out to meet them. "Hi Grams" Mac smiled wearily as she gave the old woman a long hug. "It's good to see you. You're looking well." "Much better than you two do" Grams fretted as her eyes swept over Mac and Harm. "We're doing okay Grams" Harm said as he slowly gave Grams a hug. "You look like you're hurting," she said softly. "Well the ride in the car didn't help after the long flight," he said with a weak smile. "But I'm okay. I don't want you worrying about us." "Like that's going to happen" Grams scoffed. "Let's get this big guy inside and into bed," Mac said as she gently wrapped her arms around Harm's waist. "Then we can talk." "About the wedding I hope" Grams smiled as they slowly walked to the house. "That is one topic" Mac smiled as well. "We have a lot of catching up to do." "You're going to talk about me aren't you?" Harm groaned. "And so what if we do?" Grams teased. "I'm sure whatever Mac has to say about you will be good." "Well we do have one piece of information that I'm sure you'll be happy about" Harm said quietly. "I'm not going to fly anymore. It's not worth the risk. Not when I have my soon to be wife and baby to think about it. I don't want to leave Mac alone like you and Mom were." "I'm not going to say I'm sorry," Grams said slowly. "Because I happen to agree with you. You can still make a major contribution even though you're not actually behind the wheel or in the cockpit or whatever." "That's the way I see it," Harm sighed, the strain in his voice evident, and Grams picked up on that at once. "OK mister, bed for you. And don't argue. I had Mrs. Cologne send me down a rental. This way you can be in the front room with us, still have the TV, and still be resting." "Grams you're not totally well yourself to be doing so much," he objected at once. "What so much? I made a couple phone calls and supervised the job. And don't worry, it's big enough for two." "Thanks Grams---for understanding that we have to be together," Mac sighed. "We were legend in the hospital at Pearl." "I'm sure," she smiled happily. "I'm just glad you were OK. Now let's get you settled. And Sarah how are you feeling? My great-grandchild giving you a hard time? I have to confess to being slightly worried about you, being as you're actually on medical leave and not just personal time off." Harm froze in his steps and tugged her arm so that she was facing him. "Something you care to share with your husband-to-be? You did not tell me that. You told me the Admiral gave you the time off because Sturgis was free." "Well that's how he managed to do it without a major case of heartburn, since Sturgis's case wrapped. But the OB I saw at Pearl is having me take it easy too. Just for a couple of weeks, just to get my blood pressure back under control, eat better and rest and not stress. And that's the whole story. Otherwise I promise you--me and Jason are fine." "Graa-aaams," Harm wailed slightly as they pushed him toward the bed. "Is she OK, really?" "She sounds to me like she's just a little rundown, complicated by the stress of pregnancy," Grams soothed. "And two weeks of rest and relaxation, eating some food which thank you for coming to help use up since it's running out of my freezer and pantry, should make her fine. Honey you're seeing the doctor in DC when you go back right?" "Yes ma'am." "So Harmon you relax. Sounds to me like it's all under control. Mac is not going to do anything to put herself or the baby at risk." "Thanks Grams," she smiled. "And me and the baby would love a rest right now, and you should be as well." "Almost story time anyway," Grams smiled. "I'll take them in my room. You two get comfortable there." She headed to her room and Mac settled on the bed next to Harm. "Mac I'm really worried about you" he fretted as he pulled her against him. "Which is exactly why I didn't mention this before. You don't need to be worrying about me. You need to relax and take care of yourself." "I don't care about me. I care about you. And Jason." "Harm I told you we're both going to be fine. Now close those pretty green eyes and get some rest. I know you're exhausted and I want you to sleep." "You're going to sleep too right?" he sighed as he closed his eyes. "Of course. Just relax sailor. I'm right here with you and everything is okay." "I love you" he murmured. "Love you too" she whispered as she dropped a kiss on his forehead. *************** Harm was still sleeping when Mac slowly crept from the bed a short time later, joining Grams in the kitchen. "Can I help you with anything?" Mac asked. "You can come sit outside on the swing with me" Grams smiled. "I've got the casserole that Millie made warming in the oven so dinner is under control." "I'd love to" Mac smiled and moments later they two women gently swung on the old wooden swing on the back porch. "How are you feeling?" Grams asked. "The nap help?" "Yeah. And really I'm fine." "Well you will be after two weeks up here. You'll relax and I'll get you some meat on those bones and you and my great grandson will be fine." "Yes we will" Mac smiled. "And I'm sure when the two weeks is up neither of us will want to leave." "Oh you'll both be anxious to get back to work. But you know you're always welcome here." "Thanks Grams. And we're definitely going to be up here a lot. Specially since we have a wedding to plan." "Are you thinking about having it here?" Grams asked. "Well Harm and I haven't really talked about it but I'd like to have it here. At the church in town." "You've been there?" "Harm and I went there the day you had surgery. I met Pastor Jon and I think it would be wonderful to have the wedding there." "Oh Sarah that would be wonderful" Grams smiled. "I just figured you and Harm would get married in DC." "Our friends can come here. And Harm's folks. And this way you can be a big part of this. It's because of you that we're together." "I don't think I had that much to do with it" Grams laughed. "I think the feelings were there long before you came up here." "Yeah they were" Mac admitted. "And they'll be there for a long time." "Good. I knew as soon as I saw you and Harm together that it was just a matter of time. And I'm glad it's all worked out for you two." "It almost didn't" Mac said with a small shudder. "I was so scared I was going to lose him." "So it was worse than you told me on the phone" Grams said quietly. "I had the feeling you weren't telling me everything." "Yeah it was" Mac nodded. "At first they couldn't even tell me that he was going to survive. In fact I think they were pretty sure he wasn't going to. And of course I'd just found out I was pregnant and all I kept thinking was I was going to end up like you and Gramps. Harm and I had just found each other and it was going to be taken away from us." "Thank God it wasn't" Grams said softly. "I've always hoped Harm wouldn't end up like his father and grandfather. That he'd have a long life with his wife and children." "Well if I have anything to say about it he will" Mac said with a small smile. "I hope so. You two deserve it." "Grams why didn't you ever tell Harm you'd been in the Navy?" Mac asked. "And what happened with you and Gramps?" "Because it really was another lifetime Sarah. But those months at Pearl with Peter are my most treasured memories. It's what's kept me going all these years without him." "He was quite the romantic wasn't he?" Mac smiled. "At least from his letters he seemed like he was." "Yes he was" Grams smiled. "Peter was one of the few men I ever met that could express himself like that." "Harm promised to work on that" Mac laughed. "He's not quite as open as Gramps was about his feelings." "No Harm never was. I always hoped he'd meet the woman who would change that. And now he has." Mac blushed and looked away, fixing her gaze on the field beyond them. "You know Harm wants to come here when he's done with the Navy don't you? He envisions us being here, raising our kids to adulthood here, this type thing." "I know. And I'm so glad. This land has belonged to Rabbs for so long. I can't imagine anyone else living on it. I know he had planned to sell the land once it became his, but that was before you." "Yeah. Now he talks about us living here, maybe having a small law practice, him restoring and selling antique aircraft--this type thing." "And you'd be happy with that?" Grams asked gently. "Wither thou goest," she smiled. "Yes ma'am. I want that too. I want to love him and to live with him for the rest of our lives." "Amen," Grams whispered happily. "I can't tell you how thrilled I am for him. . .and you too of course. You know the last few years I've known that something was missing from his life. Something he wanted and couldn't attain. And now of course I know what it was--you." "Well I wanted him too," she blushed. "It was crazy when you look back on it. The time never seemed right for it to happen; and now that I realize it, all it would have taken was for one of us to make a real definitive move, and the other would have followed." The evening passed in quiet contentment and at midnight when Harm turned off the TV and reached for the woman he loved, a chubby brown bear watched from the corner of the bed. Max would loom large in their lives for many years to come. ==================== 4 Apr 03 JAG HQ "You know I don't believe you worked on the day before you're wedding," Harriet laughed, shaking her head as she handed Mac a stack of folders. "Oh listen I couldn't just stay at the apartment and be nervous," Mac smiled. "Besides it's all done. The SUV is packed to the gills, Grams is pacing the floor waiting for us, the church is ready, the church ladies are cooking their little rears off. And Frank and Trish will be arriving there tonight. See, all done." "And how's the groom? In fact where is the groom? I just realized I haven't seen him all morning." "The Admiral sent him with Sturgis to Pax for the morning," Mac smiled. "We'll be taking off soon as he gets back at noontime." "He's still a basket case isn't he?" "Yes. I owe Sturgis big time for putting up with him. He's just afraid something is going to happen that keeps it from coming off. You know how you want something so bad you're terrified God is going to take it back from you at the last second." ============= SAME TIME Enroute to JAG from Pax River "Harm stop fidgeting please," Sturgis begged for the third time. "The case went well, we found out what we needed and now you're on your way to being on your way to your wedding." "I'm trying," Harm yelped. "Really I am. It's just that I know I'm only about thirty hours away from marrying her and I'm like--Rabb are you out of your mind." Thankful that they were at a stoplight, Sturgis turned steely eyes on Harm. "You're having second thoughts? Tell me you're not serious. Tell me that you're not questioning whether you want to marry this woman." "I'm afraid of ruining her life," he whispered. "I know that sounds silly, but I keep thinking, OK what would a woman who could have just about anyone want with an old man like me. Tell me I'm loony. Please." "Loony? Hell I think you're needing a psych eval," Sturgis snorted. "You're not seriously thinking about backing out are you? Please no." "Yes. No. Hell no. No I don't know" Harm sighed. "What do you mean you don't know?" Sturgis demanded. "Harm that woman loves you with all her heart. And you're thinking about leaving her at the altar." "Which is exactly why she deserves better than me?" Harm said miserably. "Okay Rabb I don't get you. Everything in the world you wanted is yours. And you're having doubts." "Doubts about me. Not her. What if I mess everything up?" "Will you listen to yourself? You love her. She loves you. There is nothing to mess up." "You don't know my life Sturgis. I've messed up a lot of times. And this is all too good for it to work out." "Well I think this time it's meant to be. So just take a deep breath and relax. Everything is going to be fine." The jitters continued all the way back to JAG and as Sturgis pulled into the JAG parking lot Harm let out a long sigh. "Sturgis I need you to do me a favor" he said quietly. "I need you to make sure Mac gets to Grams." "Wait a minute. You're supposed to be driving up there with her today." "I can't. I promise I'll be there for the wedding tomorrow but I just need some time to think about all this." "Think about what?" Sturgis demanded. "Harm you're marrying the woman you love. And she loves you. She's going to have your baby in a few months. What is there to think about?" "I don't know" Harm groaned. "Please. I don't want Mac to see me like this. It'll upset her and it's the last thing she needs." "So what the hell am I supposed to tell her that's not going to upset her?" "Anything besides the truth. Make up something stupid. I don't care. Just don't tell her why I'm not going up with her." "And where are you going?" "I don't know. But I promise I will be there in time for the wedding." "So help me God Rabb if you break that woman's heart I will strangle you myself," Sturgis warned. "Do not leave her at the altar." "I won't. I promise. I just need some time alone to get my head straight." "I have no clue what's not straight about this" Sturgis sighed. "But do whatever you must do." "Thanks Sturgis" Harm said quietly as he opened the car door. "I'll see you tomorrow at noon." Sturgis sat in the car until Harm's SUV pulled out of the JAG parking lot. Once he was gone he let out a long sigh and climbed out of the car and headed inside to talk to Mac. "Hey where's the Groom?" Mac frowned as Sturgis walked off the elevator. "You didn't leave him at Pax did you?" "No I didn't" Sturgis sighed. "He's okay isn't he?" Mac demanded. "Sturgis?" "He's fine Mac. Don't freak. He just decided he wanted to keep that little tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding." "Usually that's just the night before Sturgis," she said quietly. "Not the whole day." "Well you know Harm is a little superstitious sometimes" Sturgis smiled. "So I'm going to take you to Grams' and he'll be there tomorrow for the wedding." "Sturgis what the hell is going on?" Mac demanded. "Because I don't believe one word of what you just said." "Mac it's nothing. Harm just wanted sometime alone before the big day." "Because he's having doubts about it?" Mac whispered. "NO" Sturgis said quickly. "Not at all. He loves you and he knows he wants you to be his wife. He has no doubt about that." "Then why does he want to be alone? I don't understand." "Mac I don't know. But he promised he'll be there tomorrow. So don't even start thinking anything else." "He promised?" she asked. "Yes. And Harm has never broken a promise to you has he?" "No" she shook her head slowly. "Never." "Then he'll be there" Sturgis said softly. "And it's my job to make sure you get there too. So whenever you're ready, just say the word." "I need to pack some stuff at home I forgot" she said slowly. "Why don't you pick me up there in two hours." "I'll be there. You okay?" "Yeah I'm fine. I'll see you then." Ten minutes later she was on the road, but not to her apartment. If Harm was having doubts about what them getting married she wanted to talk about it now. Not when it was too late. She had two guesses to where he might have gone to think. The Wall or to Leesburg to take Sarah up. Either way she would find him. A call to the hangar resulted in a negative report and a promise to call her if Harm showed there. Leesburg ruled out for the moment, she headed for DC, doing some serious thinking on the way. If he was having doubts, if he was unsure, then the last thing she wanted was a marriage. She had been down that road before. A recipe for disaster. Her hand stroked her belly and she gave a soft smile. She was carrying his child. But that alone was not the basis to form a lifelong union. The Lincoln Memorial loomed before her finally. The bridge and then to park. That done, she strode deliberately toward the wall. Something that she had never shared with Harm was the fact that she had visited the Wall before, more than once. She could walk to the panel containing the name Rabb blindfolded. The panel was there. The man she loved was not and she gave a long sigh of frustration. Automatically her fingers touched the name. "Harmon Rabb how could you have fathered such a stubborn man." "Popular name today ma'am." She swung around at the sound of the voice, finding the owner behind her, guiding his wheelchair closer. "Excuse me? Was there a Naval officer here that you saw?" "Yes ma'am. Pretty troubled looked to me. I asked him if I could help, like I do most folks." "You're a Vietnam veteran?" "Yes ma'am. Me and my twin brother signed up together. He didn't come back. Being here makes me feel a little closer to him I guess. But you're looking for your friend?" "I am. You have any idea where he might have gone? Or did he say anything to you?" She shielded her eyes from the sun as she scanned the area. "Just that he had something on his mind he couldn't shake. We talked a few minutes about his dad and my brother and then he started off down the way toward the monument. Uh you want some unsolicited advice---give him some space. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he's got you on the brain." "We're supposed to be married tomorrow," she admitted, downing a small sob. "Then he wants to be sure he's doing the right thing. He doesn't want to hurt you. Like you've been hurt in the past. As he has too." "You got all that from a few minutes?" "I'm pretty intuitive ma'am," he smiled, giving her a wave and his chair a push down the walkway. "Now what," she sighed, looking up to the Rabb on the Wall and then once again searching the area. There was no sign of him and she leaned back against the marble. "Dad, Gramps, what should I do?" ================== MAC's APARTMENT 2 Hours later "I think I've got everything." Mac gestured to the bags in front of the door as she let Sturgis in. "I'm impressed. A wedding and a honeymoon in three bags," Sturgis smiled and took gentle hold of her hands. "Are you OK?" "I'm fine. Thank you for doing this. I could have driven myself." "And gotten me a pounding? No thanks. Your groom asked me to see to your getting there and I'm doing just that. Soft jazz on the FM, and I want you to relax." "Thanks. But I'm fine. Really I am." "You talked to Harm?" Sturgis held his breath, hoping for the reply. "No. I talked to his dad and grandfather. They told me to have faith and go with this. That's what I'm doing. Then I called Grams and asked what Harm had told her, and she said he was going to meet his mom and Frank in Pittsburgh when they flew in tonight and he'd stay with them. Sounded to me like everything was under control." "Then let's do it," Sturgis nodded. "But first, permission to kiss the bride for luck?" "Of course," she giggled and he placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "Let's get it in gear." =================== Pittsburgh International Airport Two Hours Later "Harm" Trish smiled as she caught sight of her son waiting just beyond the security checkpoint. "Hi Mom" he said with a forced smile. "Hi Frank." "Okay that's not the look of a man about to get married to the woman he loves" Trish said as she gave him a hug. "What's wrong?" "Nothing except that I'm such a jerk" Harm sighed. "And you want me to disagree with that" she teased. "Harm what is wrong with you?" "I'm afraid I'm going to muck this up so I spent the day away from Mac" he said quietly. "And by now she's probably wishing she'd never agreed to marry me." "Okay sounds like we need a little talk" Trish sighed. "And we'll do that on the ride to Altoona." "Do you want me to take a cab?" Frank smiled. "This sounds like a mother son talk." "No it's okay Frank" Harm sighed. "Harm you're marrying the woman you love. What are you so worried about?" Trish asked when they were at the car. "I don't know Mom. I just don't want to hurt Mac. And I'm afraid that everything has been too perfect the past few months." "Is there something wrong with being happy?" she asked. "No. But I'm not used to it. Nothing has ever been this good in my life." "Maybe it's about time it was. Harm you love this woman more than anything. She loves you. And since you never know how much time you're going to get in this world I wouldn't recommend letting her go." "I want to be with her" Harm whispered. "Then do this and don't worry about what may happen one day. Treasure the gift you've been given." *************************** Rabb Farm Same Time "Sarah you look wonderful" Grams smiled as she hugged Mac. "How's my great grandson doing?" "He's just fine. Can't wait until Mommy and Daddy get married tomorrow." "You're not worried about Harm?" Grams asked. "No I'm not Grams. I know it's going to be okay. If it weren't God would never have returned him to me the night he crashed in Pearl. I would have lost him then. But I didn't and I know he's going to be there tomorrow like he promised." "Good girl" Grams said as she gave her another hug. "And who's this nice young man that brought you up here?" "Sturgis Turner ma'am" Sturgis smiled. "Very nice to meet you." "Grams please. And thank you for taking good care of both of them. I trust you'll be staying for the wedding tomorrow." "Of course. But I can get a room in town I'm sure. I don't want to be any trouble." "No trouble. Harm and Trish and Frank are staying in Altoona so there's plenty of room here." "Thank you. I do appreciate that." "Come sit down. I've got dinner just about ready. Sarah I'm sure you're hungry." "Oh yeah" Mac smiled. "This little guy is always hungry. I just have to make sure I have room in the dress tomorrow." ****************** Belleville Church of Christ 11:30 AM EST "Oh Sarah" Grams breathed as she looked at Mac. "You are so lovely." "You mean fat" Mac laughed. "I look so huge in this dress." "You look beautiful" Trish smiled as she walked into the small room. "And it's a pleasure to finally meet my daughter in law." "Hi Mrs. Burnett" Mac said nervously. "Is Harm with you?" "What do you think?" Trish grinned. "Thank you Lord" Mac whispered with a look heavenward. Deep down she'd had no doubt that he would be there but at the same time there had been a small lingering concern. But it was over. He was there and they would be married in a short time. "How is he?" "Nervous" Trish laughed. "More so than I ever remember his father being. But he's here and he's very ready to marry you." Her words rang true as a short time later Harm got his first glimpse of Mac as she stood at the back of the church with AJ. "You are so lucky" Sturgis whispered to Harm. "Yes I am" Harm said softly, his eyes never leaving Mac as she started down the aisle. He'd never seen he so beautiful and so happy. She glowed as she and AJ walked down the aisle towards him, the smile widening as she reached him. "Glad you could make it sailor" she whispered. "You ready to do this?" He swallowed hard and took both of her hands, looking to Pastor Jon. "One minute please?" "Of course. We're on the Lord's time now and He's not in any hurry," the minister smiled. Harm led her aside, helping her down the steps of the altar into a small alcove. "I can't marry you," he started and before he could get out the rest of what he wanted to say, her face crumbled into a mask of shock and disappointment. "Oh Sarah no, I don't mean that," he gasped. "I'm sorry. I meant I can't marry you until I tell you this. I'm sorry for that just now and for what I did yesterday. I don't know what came over me. Except that I love you so much and I was so afraid I was going to hurt you." "How would you have hurt me?" she frowned. "By loving you." "Oh Harm the only way you could hurt me would be to take away that loving. Please don't do that to me. You say you love me. I know I love you." "Is that enough?" "More than," she smiled. "Now why don't you and I go back in there and do this thing we came all this way to accomplish." There was a collective exhale of relief when they returned to the altar and Harm nodded to Jon. "Thank you sir. And thank your Boss for me please. And we are ready." "And the Lord is ready to receive you as man and wife," Jon smiled, lifting his hands in blessing. "A few weeks back when Sarah and Harm and I discussed marriage, they requested a simple ceremony. Sarah please speak your vows to your betrothed." She swallowed hard and looked into the green eyes that she knew so well, knowing she was at that moment looking into the depths of his soul. "Harmon David Rabb Junior, for all the days of our lives together I vow and promise with every beat of my heart to be your wife. I come to you today with a heart full of love and a belly full of child. A child that our love made all those weeks ago. Our love is all we need, but we have so much more." "Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, you are my love and my life," Harm whispered and then cleared his throat so that when he spoke again it was with more force. "I stand before you and the God to whom we pray to vow and promise with all of my heart and soul a love that will last our lifetime together." Bud stepped forward with the rings on a small cushion and Harm lifted the plain gold band that would grace her finger. "With this ring, I give you my life." Her eyes never left his as she likewise removed the ring she would place on his finger. "With this ring, I give you my life." Jon nodded his approval and joined their hands with his own. "In the sight of God, and in the presence of those gathered here, Harmon and Sarah are declared to be man and wife. In what God has seen fit to so joined, let no man interfere. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Rabb Junior." The church broke into quiet applause while Harm and Mac kissed long and hard, and then he kissed away the tears that were on her cheeks. It was done, and in the front row a woman who had buried a husband and a son smiled happily. A grandson and his wife, and a great grandson soon to be. ====================== Rabb Farm May 16, 2003 "My goodness Sarah" Grams smiled as Harm helped Mac from the SUV. "Jason sure is going to be a big boy." "Yes he is" Mac groaned. "I tried to convince her she shouldn't be traveling" Harm fretted as he helped his wife to the house. "But Mrs. Rabb doesn't listen to anyone, including Mr. Rabb." "Harm I'm fine. And very happy to be somewhere that I can breathe fresh air for a change." "Well I'll give you that," Harm said as he took a deep breath of the fresh country air. "Much better than DC in the middle of an early heat wave. It is not supposed to be this warm in May." "Come inside and I'll show you the room that I've got set up for when you come up with Jason" Grams smiled. "Oh Grams it's perfect" Mac sniffled as she looked around the guestroom that had been converted to a nursery. "Well this way when you want to come up, it's all set up," Grams said softly as she draped her arm over Mac. "And I've got some supper on the stove if you're still hungry." "Oh yeah" Mac smiled as she turned to face Grams. "Not that I need it. I swear I've gained a hundred pounds." "You look wonderful" Grams smiled. "And knowing you it's going to come right off once you have the baby. How much longer?" "Three weeks if we got the right day" Mac grinned. "Which is why I didn't want her traveling" Harm sighed. "But again she doesn't listen to me." "He's a bit nervous about his impending fatherhood" Mac laughed. "Can you tell?" "No more nervous than he was about getting married" Grams teased. "Harmon you need to relax. It's all going to be fine." After dinner they retired to the swing outside, Mac lying contentedly against her husband. "This is so wonderful" Mac sighed. "I really did need a weekend away like this. I've missed this place. And Grams." "Me too" Harm smiled. "Compared to home this place is heaven." "Maybe one day we can make this home." "Are we talking retirement one day or one day in the nearer future?" "Nearer future" she said softly. "Come on Harm. You have to admit it would be wonderful to raise Jason and his brothers and sisters here." "Brothers and sisters?" Harm smiled. "Well Jason isn't going to be an only child" she laughed. "At least I hope not. I'd love for him to have some brothers and sisters." "I'd be happy to work on that when you're ready" he grinned. "Let's just get through the first one. Then we'll start thinking about Jason's siblings." It was just after midnight when she woke with the first pain. She sat up at once, waiting to see if it happened again. "Mac what's wrong?" Harm murmured beside her. "I don't know" she whispered. At once he was awake, sitting up beside her. "Honey what is it? Are you in pain? Is it the baby?" "I think it was a contraction," Mac said softly. "Contraction. As in you might be in labor?" "Well that's usually what contractions mean" she managed with a small smile. "But it might be something else." "Mac you're either in labor or you're not" he said anxiously. "Now which is it?" "I don't know I've never been in labor before remember and when you made me go at midnight a couple nights ago because I was having pains they sent me home and said come back when it was the real thing and how do I know when it's the real thing. Not like I've ever done this before. And this is your fault anyway." With that she burst into tears, his agitation making her more upset. Harm took a long look at her and then opened his mouth in a high pitched holler. "Graa-- aaams I need you. Quick." The walls of the old house almost shook from his cry and a few seconds later he heard her door open. "Harmon Rabb what is so wrong that you're giving an old woman a heart attack, waking me up out of a sound sleep," she demanded, walking down the long hall, and her persistent strides took her to their partly opened door. Before Harm could answer, Mac let out a sharp cry of pain and distress, her arm wrapping around her belly as she bent over in pain. "That's what's wrong," Harm screeched. "Grams do something. She's in pain. Worse, she's in labor." Grams shook her head at her grandson's panic. "Harm calm down right now," she ordered just as a vicious flash of lightning crackled outside, followed almost immediately by the crash of thunder. "Hey the weatherman got it right. Storms at midnight," she smiled, coming over to the bed. "Sarah dear are you in labor?" "I think so, yes ma'am," she panted, managing to straighten up slowly. "I mean I don't know but see two nights ago we thought I was and the hospital said no, nothing was really happening, but I've been having slight pains ever since that I've been ignoring but that last one was anything but slight." "Grams we're talking when she needs to get to the hospital," Harm objected, rising from the bed despite wearing his boxers and undershirt only. "Honey can we make it back to Georgetown?" Mac's answer was a light punch to his arm and a groan, and Grams shook her head. "If this was her first pain ever, I'd say chance it, but no. If she's been in the early stages of labor for a couple of days, this stage may go quickly." "Then Altoona?" It was almost a prayer from Harm's lips. "I'm not going to make that decision," Grams said softly. "But with the storm, and the roads-- you know how they get, do you really want to risk her giving birth in the car in a storm?" "Don't tell me you're suggesting she have the baby here" he gasped. "No. You're supposed to give birth in a hospital. With the doctors around in case anything happens." "Harm I gave birth to your father right here in this house" Grams reminded him. "That was different. Mac is not having my baby here." "Harm it'll be fine. It's much better than risking their lives trying to get them to Altoona in this storm. And you know how the roads flood when we get storms like this. You could get stuck and then what would happen?" "Who's going to deliver the baby?" he wailed. "In case you forget I was a nurse and I helped deliver plenty of the babies in this county." "Grams I love you dearly and I'm sure you can do this but I'd feel a lot better if a doctor was here." "Fine I'll call Russ. But I can assure you I've delivered more babies than he has." Before he could reply Mac let out another cry of pain and Harm turned his attention back to his wife while Grams went to the phone. "Mac" Harm wailed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" "I'm sorry" she whispered. "I just figured it was like the other night and I didn't want to ruin our trip to see Grams." "It's okay" he sighed. "Grams is going to call the doctor and everything is going to be okay." "That's easy for you to say" she groaned. "You're not the one giving birth." "I know and I'm sorry. If you told me sooner we could be at the hospital and I wouldn't be about to have a stroke here." "No strokes mister. I need you to get me through this. I wasn't really planning on doing this naturally. I mean it sounded nice" Her voice trailed off and she looked up at him with frightened eyes. "We'll get through this. I promise." Her contractions were closer together when the doctor arrived on the scene. "Wait" Harm screeched. "You're not Russ Chalmers." "Russ Jr." the young man smiled. "Took over when Dad retired a few years ago." "How many babies have you delivered?" Harm demanded. "Not as many as Sarah that's for sure" Russ smiled. "But I did intern at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center so I have a little experience in the medical field." "Harm it'll be fine" Grams assured her nervous grandson. "Harm I don't care who he is" Mac wailed after another contraction. "All that matters is he delivers this baby." "Okay honey relax" Harm soothed as he gently pushed the damp hair back from her forehead. "You're doing great." "No I'm not" she wailed. "Yes you are," he said softly. "Just relax. We're going to get through this." She nodded and squeezed his hand as another pain hit a moment later. "Just about there Sarah" Grams smiled as she looked up after checking. "This little guy is in a hurry to come into the world." "Good" Mac panted. "The sooner this is over the better." "I know honey" Grams soothed. "It's not easy doing this like this. But you're doing just fine and it's about time to start pushing." "The baby is ready to come?" Harm gasped. "I told you it wouldn't take long" Grams smiled. "Sarah you ready to push?" "I want this baby out," she hissed, and Harm tried to soothe her once more, wiping her face and pressing the cloth to her forehead. "Honey it's going to be OK I promise. In a few minutes she's going to be holding our baby boy isn't she Russ?" "You had a sonogram and know it's a boy do you?" "Sort of," Harm laughed. "When she had one at twenty weeks, the baby was turned wrong. The tech said she couldn't tell much from a butt. But we know it's a boy. We have it on High Authority. Right Grams?" "Oh of course," she replied dismissively. "Jason Peter Rabb about to come into the world." Exactly ten minutes later he did exactly that. Squalling and red faced, his tiny hands clenched into fists. Delivered into the arms of his father in the room where his grandfather was born just over sixty years before. "Oh god is he OK," Mac screeched, trying to sit up under Grams' restraining hands. "He's perfect," Russ smiled. "Ten of each, and one where it counts and real mad at being disturbed from his warm environment. Grams you got towels and blankets going there right." "You bet," she nodded, quickly taking the infant and drying him off, then wrapping him in a blanket made soft as duck down from dozens of washings. "My great grandson," she sniffled slightly as she handed him back to Harm, who juggled him nervously as his arms began to tremble from the emotion. "Give the boy to his mother Harmon," Grams directed firmly. Mac's eager arms reached for him and Harm set him on her chest where his mouth naturally rooted for nourishment. Mother Nature knew what she was doing. "Jason," she whispered. "Jason you are a very much wanted baby. Wanted by a mother and father who love each other so much." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "And that Jason Peter Rabb is how we got you," Harm smiled, getting up to put another log on the fireplace in the old farm house. "So how does it feel to be turning ten?" "I love it," the dark haired, green eyed boy laughed, eyeing the .22 rifle that now stood in the corner of the room. Promised by his dad for his 10th birthday, it was now a reality. "Daddy you need to come up here right now. Now I'm telling you." All eyes went to the stairs and Jason rolled his eyes. "You know they're fighting over something stupid like always Dad. Don't go. Maybe this time they'll kill each other." "Daaaa-aaaaady." Seven year old Haley Catherine, the exact image of her mother, wailed once more. "Honey I'm coming, but I asked you not to yell like that unless it was an emergency." "It is an emergency. David took the last ice cream sandwich and I'm going to kill him. I don't care if he's my twin or not." There was another loud squeal and Harm walked to the foot of the steps. "David Matthew Rabb, do not torment her. And if you don't have that math homework done by the time I get up there, you will not go to see Mom tomorrow." "Harmon whatever possessed you two to think you wanted to do this again," Grams laughed from her chair, setting down her needlepoint to smile fondly at her grandson. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," he sighed, shaking his head as he thought of the events that had begun just after midnight some twenty hours before. Their surprise, their gift from God after Mac had been told she likely would not conceive again after the twins. At a hospital in Altoona, Alexander Harmon Rabb lie in his mother's arms. Number four in the next generation of Rabbs to be born in the hills of central Pennsylvania. THE END