“Moments”

by Dancer

 

Category:  H & M vignette

 

Rated:  Teen 14

 

Feedback:  dancersgrace@mail.com

 

Author’s Notes:  The following was written as a speculation on “Critical Condition” based on the episode previews and one picture of Harm and Mac in particular.  If things seem bit different than you remember them, please understand that this was written before we saw the episode.

 

 

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He looked so lonely sitting there.

 

When she found him again, Mac could see why he’d left the office.  He was sitting by himself on a bench resting against a bulkhead in this little used part of the ship.  It was private – like his grief over what had happened to their friend.

 

Harm didn’t seem to notice her at first.  He was leaning forward with his elbows resting on knees staring into palm of one hand as he rubbed it with the fingers of the other.  It was like a magic trick.  If he concentrated hard enough on the answer, he could make everything all right again, but it wasn’t working.   

 

At the sound of approaching footsteps, Harm sat back suddenly resting himself against the corrugated metal wall behind him but keeping his gaze low to hide his eyes from view.  It was only when he knew it was Mac that he looked up and let her see the tears.

 

Her heart went out to him. The anguish on his face was so plain and so much a reflection of the hurt they both felt inside at the news of Bud’s injury, she had to go to him.  As she settled down beside him on the bench, Harm dropped his head forward as if she wouldn’t see him cry.  She reached up with her right hand to gently stroke his hair and the back of his neck while sending out her left hand to touch his in a gesture of comfort.  It was as close as she could get to an embrace, but he understood it perfectly.

 

He met her glance, however briefly, then brought her left hand up to his face to press it to his cheek and throat.  He was holding her to him in the only way they could in public, in uniform.

 

She felt the tender warmth of his tears on her skin and felt her own beginning to fall.  They needed each other now in more ways than they could explain, but they didn’t have to.  They had each other. 

 

And as Mac nestled in closer to lay her head on his shoulder, Harm pulled her close beside him in the only way he could. 

 

Together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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