Title: Pitter, Patter

Author: Lisa Mendell

E-mail: harm_mac_4ever@yahoo.com

Category: Humor

Spoilers: slight “Lifeline”

Classification: Story  Harm/Mac Fluff

Rating: G

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Don Bellisario,
CBS, Paramount and 
respective companies. This story is for entertainment
purposes and no 
copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: Everybody loves the little pitter patter...

Author’s notes: Companion piece to “Recklessly In Love
(was 
“Helplessly, Hopelessly”), but you need not read that
to understand this story. 
Characters not seen regularly on the show are mine.
Finally, this story 
hasn’t been beta read, so I am taking responsibility
for any errors and 
silliness.

Feedback: If you enjoy this story, a note to that
effect would be 
appreciated. If not, please signify your dislike by
your silence. All 
feedback should be sent to harm_n_mac4ever@hotmail.com

PITTER, PATTER

21 February 2002
1500 hours
Harm’s Apartment

“I never thought I’d get the reason out of you,” Sarah
MacKenzie-Rabb 
said with a smile.

“The reason for what?” Commander Harm Rabb said with a
smile that 
matched his wife’s.

“The reason why you call me Sarah,” she said quietly.

“I woulda told ya eventually, sweetheart. If you had
married Mic, I 
never would have had the chance,” he said seriously.

“Why didn’t you call me Sarah that night on the porch?
Maybe it would 
have trigged something in me.”

“I had told you so much already. Then the kiss
happened and it seemed 
so irrelevant by then that I didn’t see the point.
Besides, look at us 
now.”

“Yeah,” she said, sighing contently, “look at us now.
How’d I get so 
lucky?”

“How did I get so lucky, Sarah?”

“I don’t know, Harm,” she said as she leaned over and
kissed him. She 
got up and started walking toward the bathroom, and he
followed.

“Where do you think you’re goin’?”

She was almost to the glass block shower when she
swatted his arm 
playfully. “None of your business, Flyboy. Out!” She
emphasized her point 
again by swatting his arm a bit more forcefully this
time.

“Ow! You can sure hit, Jarhead.”

“Yes, I can. I can also have you pinned to the floor
in seconds. Now, 
would you please get out of here? I have to check
something,” she said 
as she pulled the box out from behind her back.

“I’m going, Sarah,” he said, only then noticing the
box she held in her 
shaking hands. “Hey wait a minute. What’s that?”

“Nothing, Harm. Now get out!”

He had an idea what it was, but he didn’t want to
upset her any more 
than she already was and he certainly didn’t want to
be pinned to the 
floor. So he gave her the space she needed, all the
while pacing their 
bedroom.

Meanwhile Sarah had opened the box and carefully read
the instructions. 
She was almost sure the test would say positive, but
she wanted to be 
sure. It had a 98% rate of being accurate, and if it
was on target, then 
she would go to the doctor to confirm it.

About 15 min. later....

She carried the test in her hand, but was absolutely
devoid of emotion. 
That immediately sent Harm into a panic. Was it
something he’d said or 
done since their wedding four months before? Was Sarah
hurt? Or was it 
that she wasn’t ready for any big responsibilities?

“Well?” he asked cautiously.

“Well, sailor, you’re going to be a daddy,” she said
with a smile. Then 
she walked closer and let him see for himself. It was
definitely a 
positive -- 2 blue lines meant that his wife was
pregnant.

“The three years left on our deal came a little early,
don’t you 
think?” he asked teasingly.

Her face fell. “You’re not ready for this, are you?
It’s too soon for 
this big of a responsibility, Harm. I’m sorry,” she
whispered as the 
tears she’d been holding at bay came with full force.

“Oh, baby,” he whispered as she walked closer to him,
“I’m the one who 
should be sorry. I didn’t mean it like that, Sarah. Of
course I’m ready 
to be a daddy. I’ve wanted that for a long time.”

“You sure?” she asked as she looked up into his deep
blue green eyes.

“Very. Are you?”

“I’ve wanted a baby since the day AJ was born, but
with the way my mom 
treated me growing up, I always worried that if I ever
did become a 
mother I’d be a bad one.”

“You can do this, Sarah. We can do this.”

“You’ll be here every step of the way?” she asked with
a slight tremble 
in her voice.
	
“Of course I will.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” she said with a smile.

23 February 2002
1030 hours
Lake Medical Clinic

“Well,” Dr. Masters said with a sigh, “it looks as
though you are 
definitely two to three months pregnant, Colonel. Most
likely three if I had 
to make a better guess.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Harm said as he held Mac’s hand.

“Was this a shock to you?” she asked cautiously.

“In a way, yes,” Mac said quietly, “but when I think
about it now, not 
really. I’ve wanted a baby for a while now.”

“Congratulations to you both,” the doctor said before
walking out of 
the room.

“Let’s go home, Mrs. Rabb,” Harm suggested.

“That sounds wonderful to me.”


24 April 2002
1400 Hours
JAG HQ

“How are you doing, babe?” Harm asked as he walked
into his wife’s 
office.

“I’m doing fine, sailor. The baby’s fine too. I just
feel a little 
something every once in a while. It seems baby Rabb
wants to get Mommy’s 
attention.”

“So what you’re saying is that the baby’s kicking?” he
asked with a 
smile.

“Uh huh. Wanna feel it?” she asked excitedly.

“Sure,” he said as walked over to her desk and put his
hand on her 
stomach.

“You have to wait until the baby is ready. It can take
a few minutes, 
but I can definitely tell I have somethin’ in there,”
she said with a 
smile.

“Wow!” he exclaimed as soon as he felt the little
flutter. “That’s so 
cool!”

“Harm, you’re just like a kid at the toy store,” Sarah
said, laughing.

“Am not,” he retorted. “I’m just a proud daddy.”

“I’ll give you that.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s one condition though, Flyboy. You have to
give me a kiss 
before you’ll get out of here.”

“Okay,” he said as he let his lips descend on his
wife’s.

“Shoo, Harm! I have some work to finish. The admiral
said as soon as I 
get that done I can go home for the day.”

“The perks women get when they’re pregnant,” he said
with a hint of 
sarcasm.

“Don’t go there with me, mister,” Mac replied.

“I was kidding, Sarah. Only kidding. Jeez!”

“So was I, Harm. Now, please let me get done here.”

“All right, sweetheart. As soon as you’re finished,
come in my office 
and then we’ll go home.”

“Will do.”

About twenty minutes later, Mac walked into Harm’s
office to let him 
know she was ready to go home for the day. All she
wanted was a little 
peace and quiet and the ability to put her feet up.
Little did she know 
what was brewing at headquarters that day. She just
heard snippets of 
conversation, but it was enough to pique her interest.

“Today or tomorrow?” Lt. Harriet Simms - Roberts asked
the assembled 
group.

“I’d say later today, but I don’t know what plans they
have,” Carolyn 
Imes suggested.

“It has to be a surprise,” Harriet added in a stage
whisper. “We don’t 
want the new mom - to - be know that we’re planning
a…” she stopped 
abruptly when she realized that Mac was in Commander
Rabb’s office and 
that the door was wide open.

“Let’s go home, sailor. I’m beat,” Sarah said with a
sigh.

“Sounds like a plan, marine,” he said as he came to
stand in front of 
his wife and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

“Mmm I liked that,” she replied with a smile. “Got any
more of those?”

“You’re gonna have to wait for more of those, Mrs.
Rabb.”

“I hate waiting!” she exclaimed while stamping her
feet like a spoiled 
child.

“It makes the moment that much sweeter, darling,” Harm
said quietly. 

Her only response was to slap him playfully on the
shoulder. The ride 
home was a peaceful one, and he helped her out of the
car once they had 
pulled up to their apartment.

“So, Flyboy,” she said once she’d settled on the
couch, “do you want to 
make some dinner or order something?”

“Is food all you think about?” he asked with a smile.
With a slight 
pause, he added, “It shouldn’t surprise me. You’re the
Beltway Burgers 
favorite customer. Only difference now is that you’re
eating for two.”

“Or three,” she said quietly.

“You better just be kidding me, marine. One baby I can
handle, but 
twins? Not so sure about that one.”

“Wanna go in to see Dr. Masters tomorrow to find out
if it’s one baby 
or two?” she asked hopefully.

“Sure, as long as you know that all that matters to me
is that the baby 
or babies are healthy.”

“I know, Harm. Come ‘ere.” 

He walked slowly toward the sofa. Mac thought that if
he walked any 
slower, he’d be walking backwards. Just the thought of
that made her 
smile. He was beside her and his closeness made her
draw in a quick breath. 
How could one person cause such a reaction in her? One
look, one touch 
was all it took before she was weak.

“Hi, Sarah Elizabeth Rabb,” he whispered with a smile.

“Hi, Harmon Michael Rabb,” she replied.

“What would you like to do now?”

“I’m really hungry for something, but it can wait.
What I’d really like 
is for you to hold me a little while. I’ve missed that
lately.”

“So have I. Come ‘ere and get comfy, princess.”

She scooted over so that her head was in his lap. Then
he scooted so he 
was holding most of her in his arms. It felt so good,
so right to both 
husband and wife. It had been quite a while since
they’d had such a 
chance to enjoy each other’s company. 

“Mmm,” Sarah sighed contentedly. “Feels good.”

“Yes it does. Have I told you lately how beautiful you
are?”

“Not lately, but at least a thousand times since I
became your wife. I 
don’t mind hearing it again though.”

“You’re beautiful, Sarah,” he whispered as he planted
a feather light 
kiss on her forehead.

“So are you,” she replied, nearly falling asleep from
being so relaxed.

“Hey, don’t fall asleep on me, sweetheart. We have
some dinner to eat 
in a few hours and I think there’s another surprise in
store for you.”

At the last statement, she smiled and sat up. “Let’s
eat before I 
decide to go to bed.”

1845 Hours

Their dinner was finished, and all the plates and
things had been 
cleaned away. They had just taken a shower together
when there was a knock 
on the door.

“Coming,” they said in unison.

There stood five or six of their female co-workers,
bearing gifts. 
Harriet and Carolyn were the first ones Mac spotted.
There was no Lt. Loren 
Singer, thank goodness. 

“What a surprise!” Mac exclaimed. “Come in and make
yourselves 
comfortable.”

Harm and Mac walked into the kitchen to pour their
guests a few drinks 
and grab some pretzels and crackers from the cupboard.
“Sweetheart,” 
Harm said as he put the remaining crackers on a plate,
“can I please go 
and see Bud and little AJ while you ladies party?”

“Of course you can, Harm. I know baby showers aren’t
much fun for 
guys.”

“I would love to stay here, just to be with you, but a
roomful of women 
oohing and ahhing over baby outfits is a little much
for me.”

“Go on,” she said with a smile as she picked up the
plate of snacks. 
Harm followed, carrying the assorted drinks.

“Behave yourselves, ladies,” he said with his best
flyboy grin as he 
sat each drink in front of the appropriate guest.

“You know we won’t,” his wife whispered as she kissed
him.

1930 Hours

The ladies had lots of fun “oohing and ahhing”, as
Harm put it, over 
the outfits and baby toys. There was an assortment of
boy and girl items, 
seeing as no one was exactly sure of the baby’s sex.

“Thanks so much for all of this everyone,” Mac said
when the last 
package had been opened and the last pieces of
wrapping paper had been 
picked up.

“You’re welcome,” they said in unison.

“See you all tomorrow.”

“Ma’am, I’ll send the commander home,” Harriet said
before walking out.

“Thanks, lieutenant, but around here, it’s Sarah,
okay?”

“Yes, ma - I mean Sarah,” the younger woman said with
a smile.

2025 Hours

Sarah Rabb stifled another yawn. Harm was holding her
and it felt so 
good, but she thought the bed would feel even better. 

“Can we go to bed, Harm?” Sarah asked sleepily.

“Of course. I’ll even carry you.”

“Ooh, I must be special,” she said with a smile.

25 April 2002
0945 Hours
Lake Medical Clinic

Sarah and Harm sat in the room waiting for Dr. Masters
to come in. 
Today would be a special one, for the couple would
find out if they were 
having one baby or twins. And they might even be able
to tell the sex.

“Good morning, Colonel, Commander,” Dr. Susan Masters
said pleasantly.

“Morning, doctor. I was wondering if you could tell me
if it’s one baby 
or two in there,” Sarah said with a smile.

“Of course. I should be able to tell on an ultrasound,
provided if it’s 
twins that one of them isn’t hiding behind the other.”

It took about ten or fifteen minutes to get Sarah
prepped for the 
ultrasound. Harm was standing beside her and holding
her hand. The second 
Dr. Masters poured the cold gel on Sarah’s stomach,
the whole room became 
quiet and still. Now was the moment everyone had been
waiting for.

“Here we go, you two,” the doctor said as she moved
the wand across 
Sarah’s stomach.

Harm and Sarah watched the screen intently. A strong
heartbeat was 
heard seconds later. And the baby appeared to be
perfectly healthy from 
what they could see.

“There’s a head and an arm,” she pointed out on the
screen. “And there 
is another head and I believe two arms. It looks like
the baby on the 
left is protecting its twin with the other arm. Or
maybe the other arm 
is just camera shy,” she said with a smile. 

“Twins,” Harm whispered.

“Yeah, daddy. Told you I was eating for three,” Sarah
said as she 
leaned over so her husband could kiss her.

“Let’s take their first picture,” Dr. Masters said
then. “The babies 
are both healthy and strong. Heartbeats are both good,
too.”

“Thanks, Susan,” they said in unison.

“My pleasure, Colonel.”

25 May 2002
1500 Hours
JAG HQ

Sarah got up for what seemed like the millionth time.
Her feet hurt, 
her back hurt, and the twins were being very active
today. Not to mention 
that her bladder had her up every ten minutes it
seemed.

“Ow!” she screamed when she felt a big kick. It was
followed shortly by 
another one. “You two are so squirmy today, you know
that?” she 
commented as she looked down at her huge stomach.

“Colonel,” Admiral Chegwidden said as he walked into
her office, “as of 
today I’m recommending you take three months’ leave. I
want you and the 
twins to be healthy and if you’re tired and hurting,
you need to rest. 
I’m not suggesting by any means that you can’t handle
pain and 
exhaustion, I’m just saying that this is a baby
present from me.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Mac said with a salute.

“Now, that’s not the only present the twins are
getting from me, but 
it’s the best one I could think of at the moment. Not
just for them but 
for their mother.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re welcome, Mac. Get your husband and get out of
here. We don’t 
want to see you until those babies are here.”

1545 Hours
Harm’s Office

“Come on, sailor,” Sarah said impatiently. “The
admiral gave me three 
months’ leave as a baby present. I should have been
out of here a half 
hour ago, but somebody had to be chatting on the
phone,” she said with a 
smile.

“I’m coming, princess. I was making some arrangements
for court. Big 
case coming up.”

“What about me?” she asked sulkily.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ve been a little preoccupied
today. How are 
you and the twins?”

“Other than the fact that my feet and back hurt and my
bladder couldn’t 
possibly be stretched any more, I’m doing fine. The
twins are too, but 
they sure are active little ones today.”

“Add to your list of problems the fact that you can’t
see your feet and 
you’re the proud owner of a very big basketball
instead of a stomach, 
and I’d say you have it made, babe,” Harm said with a
chuckle.

“Ooh, Flyboy!” she exclaimed with a playful slap. “If
this basketball 
weren’t your children, I’d knock you flat on your six
for that one. I 
have the right to gripe about how much I hurt, but it
doesn’t mean you 
have the same right to make fun of my condition.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he hung his head
innocently. Both of them 
knew he wasn’t as innocent as he seemed but he was
making an effort.

“It’s all right, Harm. I just hope three months comes
quickly. It’s 
been fun so far and the twins are so much a part of me
now, but I think 
it’s about time they saw the world.”

“I think so, too. The one thing I don’t like is that
we’ll have to 
share them with everyone once their here. They’ve been
yours and a part of 
you for six months and now you have to give that
privilege up.”

“I can’t keep them for us forever, sweetheart,” she
whispered.

“I know, Sarah.”

22 August 2002
1145 Hours
Bethesda Naval Hospital

The three months didn’t go by too quickly, yet it
didn’t crawl by 
either. A few days past her due date, and Sarah was
ready to welcome the 
twins into the world with open arms. Getting them here
would be the hard 
part, with all the work it required, but the reward
would be far 
greater.

“Push, Sarah!” Harm coached his wife as he wiped her
forehead with a 
cold cloth.

“I can’t,” she complained. “It hurts too much, Harm.”

“Come on baby, push. We’re all so anxious to see these
babies.”

“Can’t do it. I’m tired.”

“Sarah, one or two more big pushes should be enough
for me to get the 
first baby out,” the doctor said. “Give me one big
push and then I can 
get it.”

“Want some ice chips first?” Harm asked as a
distraction.

“Sure,” she whispered.

Once she’d swallowed the ice chips, Harm wiped her
forehead once more. 
“Now come on baby, I know you can do this.”

“I just need one more big push out of you, Sarah,” the
doctor stated.

And indeed one big push was all it took to get the
first baby out. It 
was a pink, healthy 4 lb 7 oz little girl. The nurse
took her, weighed 
her, cleaned her off, and wrapped her in a soft pink
blanket before 
placing her on her mother.

“Well, hello there, sweetie,” Sarah whispered as tears
of joy streamed 
down her cheeks.

“She’s perfect,” Harm said with tears of his own. “She
needs a name.”

“How does Jessie Nicole sound?” 

“Perfect.”

“We have to take her to the nursery, and you have some
more work ahead 
of you,” the nurse said quietly.

“Okay, Sarah, you ready?”

“Yeah,” she said tiredly.

“I know you’ve got one good push left in you, baby,”
Harm whispered.

One push wasn’t enough this time, but the doctor
thought one more good 
one would be enough. He just had to get her positioned
just right. Harm 
and Mac heard a healthy cry from the second baby, but
this baby’s cry 
was a little louder than Jessie’s.

“And you have a healthy 6 lb 5 oz little boy,” the
doctor said with a 
smile.

The nurse weighed, cleaned, and wrapped him in a
blanket before handing 
him to his mother.

“Hey, buddy,” Harm said as the baby looked up at him
with blue-green 
eyes that matched his daddy’s.

“Hello, Kyle Christopher,” Mac said with a smile.

“I think he looks like me, and I think Jessie looks
like her mommy,” 
Harm predicted as he planted a kiss on his wife’s
forehead.

“I think you’re right,” Sarah said contently.

“Good work, babe.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I think I’d like to sleep for a while. All that work
drained me.”

“I wouldn’t know why,” Harm said with a flyboy grin. 

29 August 2002
JAG HQ
0930 Hours

Jessie and Kyle went over real well with everyone at
JAG, especially 
Harriet, Bud, and the admiral. It looked like Bud and
the admiral were 
going to spoil them rotten if their grandma Trish or
their parents didn’t 
accomplish it first.

“They’re so beautiful,” Harriet said as she held
Jessie. 
“Congratulations to you both.”

“Thanks, Harriet,” the proud parents said in unison.

Of course everyone loves the pitter patter of little
kids’ feet when 
they take their first steps. They learn quickly how to
explore the world 
for themselves. Harm and Sarah knew from the day they
brought Jessie 
and Kyle home that they would cherish every new
discovery the twins made, 
and that the pitter patter would never fade.

The End