Title: The Gifts of Life
Author: Hollyjp
Summary: This is a Harm and Mac story, in some ways typical of most of my stories - mostly about romance, relationships, and happily ever after...but I threw in a few things along the journey that were a little different for me. I guess it would be considered AU as I don’t see most of this happening ever on the show we watch.
Spoilers: Anything through Season 10 including spoilers for upcoming Season 10 episodes and my own speculations.
Disclaimer: JAG is the property of Bellisario Productions, CBS, and Paramount. I have borrowed their characters for entertainment purposes only. No monetary gain will result from their appearance in my story.
Chapter 1
January 7, 2005
1845 Local
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm closed the door to his apartment behind him as he flipped on the light switch by the door. Hanging up his keys he proceeded to his bedroom where he set his cover on the shelf, hung up his long black coat and began removing his uniform. It had been another long day at JAG. Something wasn’t quite right but he was having trouble identifying the exact problem, which made it difficult to fix.
He smiled to himself imagining Mac telling him it was another one of his obsessions, always trying to fix things and make them right. In a way he supposed she was right. However, there was one glaring problem with his own life that he couldn’t seem to fix. He felt so alone. He had family - his mother and step father, a grandmother, a step-brother and sister-in-law, even a godson. Yet for all of those family members, he still felt alone. He didn’t have someone that needed him and that cared about his needs before all others.
While Mattie had been with him, and even having Jennifer Coates next door, he could take care of them. They needed him to do things for them. They enjoyed doing things to help him. They had helped him to open up and not only show how he felt, but express those feelings. Now they were gone.
Mattie had returned to her father. They still talked on the phone, and Harm saw her about once a month went he went to Blacksburg to work on his plane. He enjoyed seeing her and hearing about her life. Her father, Tom Johnson, had become a friend and he was glad that things had worked out for him.
Jennifer had needed a big brother when Harm had come into her life. He had been there when she needed him and in turn, she had been there to help him take care of Mattie. Together Mattie had repaired her life and had been able to get her father back. Jennifer had chosen to pursue an education in the field of psychology and had enrolled at the University of Maryland. She was able to take courses on line and through interactive TV as well as at their satellite program in Washington, DC. Jennifer no longer needed Harm as she once had, and had recently moved away from him after her experience with Pia coming back into her life and trying to destroy her.
So here Harm sat in his comfortable soft worn and faded jeans and a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up, nursing a bottle of cold water to quench his dry throat and wishing he wasn’t alone. He thought about fixing dinner but couldn’t think of anything he really felt like eating.
He glanced at the phone on his desk, but couldn’t think of who he would call. He had promised Mac he would let her come to him. Since Christmas Eve and her accident they had been growing closer. She was more open with him and they were finding more time to spend together. She still needed to feel in control and he had agreed to let her set the pace. Funny things was, he had forgotten to ask her if he could call if he needed her.
Shaking his head in puzzlement again, Harm spoke aloud to himself, “I need Sarah Mackenzie in my life. Without her nothing seems to make sense. I lack purpose and direction...and hope.” From somewhere inside him years of after action psychological reviews, words of wisdom from his family and commanding officers, and even his own advice to clients the advice he needed screamed in his own head.
Sorting through the noise to find it however, was turning out to be more of a challenge then he had thought. The noise in his brain created a pain that he couldn’t stand and he covered his ears trying to block the noise to no avail. The roar in his ears increased and the pain forced him to curl into a ball to find relief. His last conscious thought as he hit the floor, was that the cold felt good on his face.
Same Time
Mac’s Apartment
Georgetown
“Chloe! It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“I’ve missed you Mac. Are you okay?” Chloe asked.
“I’m getting there. For the first time in a long time I think I will be alright.”
“Are you seeing Harm?” Chloe hedged.
“Chloe, Harm and I have been trying to regain our friendship...and I feel good about that. He’s been very kind and patient with me as I’ve dealt with every thing this past year.”
“You mean he’s not being a jerk?”
“No, he’s not. Chloe. He’s been here for me whenever I need him...and he’s given me space when I need it too. When I had my accident at Christmas, he came to the hospital and sat with me all night long. We’ve been talking, Chloe and getting to know each other again.”
“So are you going to give in and tell him how you feel?”
“Chloe, I’m not sure how I feel anymore.”
“Mac, you’ve got to be kidding me! Let’s take this from the top...”
“Chloe,” Mac warned as the teenager warmed up to this favorite form of torture she had perfected over the years.
“Chloe, nothing...Now listen to me, Mac.” Chloe’s voice was filled with love despite her taking the upper hand. Resigning to the inevitable Mac acquiesced.
“I’m listening.”
“Did you or did you not say that your intuition or whatever you call it only works with people you have a deep connection with?”
“Yes I did.”
“Did you or did you not pinpoint a spot on a chart that led to Harm being found in the middle of the Atlantic?”
“You know I did.”
“Does that mean you have a deep connection with Harm?”
“Yes, I guess it does.”
“Very good. Now, did Harm give up the one thing that you felt meant the most to him to come rescue you?”
“Yes.”
“And why do you suppose he did that?”
“Because that’s Harm, Chloe.”
“Would he have given up his career for Mattie?”
“I guess not...he found a way to bring Mattie with him when he returned to the Navy.”
“Right.”
“I wasn’t expecting that question Chloe.”
“I know...I’ve learned I have to vary my questions or you come up with new excuses.”
“You’re pretty smart...” Mac’s voice drifted off.
“Mac, what is it? You sound funny all of a sudden.”
“I don’t know...I just had the strangest feeling that Harm needs me.”
“Duh! Mac, you two need each other. That’s what I’ve been trying to get you to realize.”
“No...I mean I think he needs me right now. Chloe, I’m sorry but I’ve got to go.”
“Call me later and let me know what happened, okay?”
“I’ll call when I can, Chloe...thank you.” Mac disconnected the call and grabbed her cell phone trying to reach Harm. His answering machine came on at his home address and his voice mail picked up on his cell. With her cell phone in her hand she grabbed her things and headed for her car. She may end up feeling like a fool, but she wasn’t going to stop now. She wasn’t going to take a chance that this was a false alarm. She didn’t get feelings this strong that often and when she did they usually proved to be very real. Tossing the cell phone on the seat beside her, she headed toward Union Station.
1921 Local
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
“Harm?” Mac called as she knocked on the door. She thought she heard a moan, but nothing else. Trying the door, she found it unlocked and she carefully pushed it open calling his name again.
“Harm? Are you here?” Stepping inside the room , she found him laying on the floor by the island, his hands holding his head. He was moaning as he lay on the floor.
“Harm! What is it? Are you hurt?” Mac rushed to his side, alarmed at the heat she felt rolling off his body when she knelt by his side. Brushing his hair off his forehead, she felt for a pulse and found it rapid under her fingers and then she would lose it only to find it again. Rubbing his shoulder, she tried to rouse him but his muttering was intelligible from his moans. Grabbing for the phone she called 911.
“Yes, this is Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. I need an ambulance for Commander Harmon Rabb Junior. I found him on the floor, unconscious and moaning. He is holding his hands over his ears and he feels warm. His pulse is fast when I can get it, but sometimes it fades and then comes back.” Mac gave his home address as well.
“We have dispatched an ambulance to that address, Ma’am. Stay on the phone with me so I can get more information. Is he breathing on his own?”
“Yes, but it seems shallow...or something...I can’t quite describe what’s different about it.”
“Is he face down or face up?”
“He’s on his stomach and his head is turned to his left, so the right cheek is on the floor.”
“Can you turn him over?”
“I think so...I have to put the phone down.” Mac dropped the phone and positioned herself so she could roll Harm over.” As she eased him over his hands came away from his ears, and she could see how red the skin was as if he had been trying to block out a loud noise for some time.
“Okay, I have him on his back,” Mac told the operator.
“Very good. Do you know how to take a pulse?”
“Yes.”
“Please try to get a reading...carotid if possible.”
Mac picked up the pulse but she was only able to maintain it for eight seconds before she would loose it again. In frustration she went back to the operator.
“I could only get a steady pulse for six to eight seconds before I would lose it again. At six seconds I had about ten beats and at eight I got to thirteen before I lost it again.”
“How long between the time you lost it and you would get it back?”
“I hear the sirens now.”
“Good...how long?”
“Three to four seconds...sorry.”
“Okay, can they get in?”
“Yes...I’ll go to the door so I can see them when they get to the top of the stairs or come off the elevator.”
“They’ll take it from here, Colonel.”
“Thank you...” Mac disconnected the call and reluctantly left Harm’s side to get him the help he needed. “In here...he’s over here.”
“Yes, Ma’am...just step back and let us see what we’ve got here.” The two EMT’s worked quickly and calmly. Harm’s shirt was opened exposing his chest as they listened to his heart and attached electrodes to monitor his heart beat. His temperature was taken and found to be elevated. His breathing was shallow but he was breathing on his own.
“How long has he been out, Ma’am?”
“I found him this way twelve minutes ago. I had tried to call him before that and he didn’t answer his phone. He could have been out at least thirty minutes now...maybe longer.”
“Are you family?” the older EMT asked watching Mac and waiting for a response that didn’t come. “Does he have family nearby?”
“No...he’s been my partner at work for over eight years and my best friend...he’s...he’s...important to me.”
“We’ll put you down as family then,” the EMT smiled at her. Mac gave him a weak smile in return as the other EMT strapped Harm to the gurney and they prepared to leave to get him to the hospital.
“Where are you taking him?” Mac asked as she followed them out grabbing Harm’s keys, shoes and bomber jacket as she went locking the door behind her.
“Bethesda, Ma’am...unless he takes a turn for the worse.”
“Thank you...” Mac rushed to her car and headed for Bethesda as quickly as she could, knowing that she couldn’t travel as fast as the ambulance did. On the way she contacted General Creswell.
“General Creswell.”
“It’s Colonel Mackenzie...Commander Rabb is being rushed to Bethesda...something is wrong...I found him collapsed at home on his floor...”
“Mac, calm down...I’ll have Commander Turner meet you there.”
“Thank you, sir.”
2103 Local
Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
“What is taking so long?” Mac demanded as she paced the waiting room again.
Commander Sturgis Turner watched her circle the waiting room again, not quite understanding her level of distress.
“Mac, they’ll let us know what’s wrong when they know something. Pacing is just going to exhaust you and it doesn’t help Harm.”
“I know...but I can’t sit still.”
“So tell me what you know.”
“He was really warm...I think I heard the EMT say his temperature was 102 but I’m not sure. His heart was beating really, really, fast and then I would lose it and then it would come back again. His ears were red like he had been pressing on them before he lost consciousness. His breathing was shallow...”
“Had he complained of not feeling well recently?”
“No. We worked all day yesterday and today on a case. The only time we were apart for more then a few minutes, was when I went to pick up lunch today.”
“Food poisoning?”
“I don’t think so Sturgis...we shared Lo Mein...”
“Flu?”
“He didn’t show any signs that I noticed today or yesterday.”
“Maybe it hit fast...”
“Sturgis, Harm has talked about the sick feeling you get before the flu hits several times. He knows when he’s getting sick. He would have said something to me.”
“Even now?”
“Yes...even now. He would have said something and made an excuse for us to not work closely together because he wouldn’t want me to catch it.”
“So then we wait for the doctor.”
“I hate this!” Mac declared vehemently as she threw herself into the chair next to Sturgis.
Commander Sturgis Turner had known Harm for more then half their lives, and their relationship had gone up and down over that time. Their respect for one another as well as the common bond of being at the Academy together had weathered more then one storm in their friendship. His stint as acting JAG he figured would be nothing more then more of the same. The one thing that Sturgis wasn’t sure he and Harm could get through was the unexplainable relationship between Harmon Rabb and Sarah Mackenzie.
Sturgis had his own issues with Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, that he wasn’t sure he could explain to anyone. On one hand the woman scared him. He had no doubt that she could take him in any physical competition with the exception of a foot race, and both she and Harm had given him a run for his money a few years ago at the JAG-a-thon.
It was the uneasy feeling Sturgis had around Mac that really got to him. It was as if she got close to him, she would know what he was thinking and feeling without him saying a word. Yet for all of her perception, she and Harm were as clueless about each other today as they had been three years ago when he met her. Bud and Harriet and even Bobbie Latham had talked about this unexplained connection the two of them shared.
Sturgis was convinced that the woman Harm had talked about when he had come to JAG by saying that she had him although he didn’t have her, was none other then Sarah Mackenzie. Mac had even admitted to him that she was in love with Harm, but had threatened him that he couldn’t share that secret. She had seemed shocked that she had said it out loud. From that day on she had seemed to build her walls tighter and higher to protect herself and her secret.
Sturgis had watched Mac come unglued when Harm had been arrested for Singer’s murder and then not allowed to be involved in the case in anyway. Harm come unglued after he was cleared and Mac had gone on a mission with Webb to Paraguay. Neither of them handled the aftermath of Paraguay well, and yet this past year he had watched them take steps back toward each other. It was like a giant magnet pulled them together or pushed them apart depending on how things lined up. Recently the friendship magnet seemed to be realigned, pulling them together once again.
Sturgis had also noticed that Harm had changed this past year. He was no longer brash or arrogant with Mac like he had once been. He was protective of her and it had been the result of his own differences with both Mac and Bud that had driven this latest wedge between him and Harm.
Harm had come to his office and informed him that he could expect his full cooperation while he was acting JAG, even though he disagreed with the Admiral and SecNav’s decision. He himself didn’t want the job, but he felt Mac should have been given the opportunity. He also told him that he felt his appointment was the direct result of his statements about Lt. Commander Roberts and Lt. Colonel Mackenzie to the SecNav.
“I don’t like your attitude Sturgis. I’ve had to reexamine who I am and how I do things. It’s tough, but I hope you do the same. It will make you a better person and a better leader.” Harm had excused himself from Sturgis at that point and had gone on to follow Sturgis’ directives - even if he didn’t like them. Harm had given Sturgis no reason to complain, yet made sure that his thoughts were known to Sturgis at the very least.
“Excuse me...are you here for Commander Rabb?” the emergency room doctor stood before them in blue scrubs.
“Yes. I’m Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. This is Commander Sturgis Turner. How is he? What’s wrong?”
“I’m Dr. Stevenson. We’re not sure what’s causing his symptoms, but we have started some treatments that he is responding to. We have determined that he has some sort of agent in his system that is reacting like an infection...hence the fever. We have him on an IV and are pumping antibiotics into him and fluids. His temperature has dropped to just over a hundred, which is a good sign.”
“What about his breathing and heart rate?”
His breathing is better and although his heart rate is down, and slightly more steady we are watching it and it still concerns us. We’ve done more blood work and are calling in a forensic specialist to examine him.”
“A forensic specialist? I thought that was for autopsies and the like,” Mac questioned with a frown.
“Normally it is, but I want to rule out an injection, bee sting, or other things that we wouldn’t necessarily see with the naked eye.”
“Will it hurt?”
“No...but we’d rather do it while he is still unconscious as it can be pretty humiliating to be searched that thoroughly when awake.”
“Dr. Stevenson, are you calling in NCIS to do this?” asked Sturgis.
“Yes. Dr. Mallard is actually here now.”
“Can I speak to him?” asked Mac.
“When he’s done I’ll ask him to give you a report. Will you be here?”
“Yes.”
“This could take a while.”
“I’ll be here.”
Chapter 2
2103 Local
Naval Medical Facility
Bethesda, Maryland
“Ducky...glad you could make it.”
“What do you have for me Rick?”
“Commander Harmon Rabb Junior. Forty-one years old...single...aviator...lawyer...”
“I know this chap...helped prove him innocent over a year ago. Tell me what you’ve got.”
“Brought in unconscious with fever, irregular and rapid heart rate, shallow breathing...No symptoms of cold or flu just two hours before he was found unconscious in his home by his friend and partner, Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie.”
“Ah yes, the lovely Colonel.”
“She’d like to see you when you are finished with your exam.”
“Very well...let’s see what we can find Commander...are you hiding any secrets from us...or have you learned your lesson?” Dr. Mallard kept up his chatter to his unconscious patient as he began his exam. He began with a special magnifying glass and light and explored the area in front of and behind the commander’s ears, along his jaw and throat and down his neck toward his collarbone.
“Well, Commander, let’s slip this gown off you so I can check other hiding places...” Dr. Mallard, with Dr. Stevenson’s assistance removed Harm’s hospital gown and draped a sheet over him from the waist down. Dr. Mallard continued along Harm’s collarbone and down his arm. He then lifted his arm and checked the arm pit area, up and around the pectoral muscles. He then repeated the process on the other side.
Satisfied that there was no hidden secrets on Harm’s upper body, he continued toward Harm’s naval and into the groin. Harm’s genital region was exposed as the sheet was completely removed.
“Sorry about this Commander, but we need to make sure that someone hasn’t compromised you and this is the best way to be sure. Just relax and it will be over soon.” Dr. Stevenson shook his head as Dr. Mallard spoke to his unconscious patient.
“Oh...what have we here, Commander?”
“Find something, Ducky?”
“I’m not sure...” Ducky adjusted his light and position as he carefully examined the Commander’s genitals. “Rick, look at this...tell me what you see.” Ducky stepped back so Rick Stevenson could look.
“I’m not sure...it could be a scratch...”
“Get my camera, Rick. Hold him like this so I can get a clear shot of the area. We can take the imagine and blow it up...study it in more detail.” After taking the pictures, Dr. Mallard continued with his examination of Harm’s inner thighs and legs. He found two more suspicious areas which he photographed, both appearing to be little more then red raised areas at first. The exam covered every inch of the front, back and sides of Harmon Rabb Jr. as well as all orifices.
“Rick, help me to put him on his side and position him as if he was sitting.”
“Together they managed to move the two hundred pound unconscious man into a rough sitting position while laying on his side. From the back, Ducky noted that the areas of concern he had photographed were not as visible as he had anticipated. He moved to the front, and immediately thought he had identified the problem.
“Rick, I suspect that this man rarely sits on his buttocks as most of us would. It would be quite uncomfortable I would think after a while. Grab a couple of those wedges for me and help me to place them between his knees.”
Once the foam wedges were in place, Dr, Mallard again examined Harm from the front and back.
“Rick take a look at this.” Rick Stevenson stepped behind Harm on the bed, and noted what Dr. Mallard was again photographing. The underside of Harm’s genitals were clearly visible between his legs and the suspicious areas were all in the same general location in this position.
“What are you thinking, Ducky?”
“Our Commander here, has apparently sat on something that was tainted and it is causing an infection.”
“Accidental or intentional?” Dr. Stevenson asked as he watched Ducky take a scraping from each of the areas and put them on slides, marking each one carefully and placing them in his bag.
“Good question. He’s not the type to go to an infirmary without significant symptoms or a serious problem thereby inflicting this type of personal examination on himself willingly. My guess is that when it happened he probably ignored it not wanting to let on. I’d like to talk to the lovely Colonel and see if she is aware of anything unusual happening - any discomfort he might have had or expressed to her in the past few days.”
“Let’s get him comfortable and covered again and I’ll take you to her. I knew if any one could figure this out, you could.”
“Let’s see what the blood work and scrapings show so we can get you well again Commander. When you come around you’ll have some tenderness but it won’t last long.” Dr. Mallard excused himself from the room.
2210 Local
Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Mallard found Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie waiting alone in the waiting room staring out the window.
“Colonel?”
“Dr. Stevenson, is there any news?”
“Maybe. This is Dr. Mallard. He just completed a thorough forensic exam on the Commander and has some questions for you.”
“Alright...go ahead.”
“Colonel, do you recall any time in the past couple of days when the Commander might have sat on something?”
“No...yes! I think it was Monday...We were in the courtroom and Harm sat in his chair and then jumped up. I asked him what was wrong. His face got red, and he said nothing. He wiped off the chair muttering something about spilling his coffee on the seat. I never gave it another thought.”
“Do you know how often they clean the court room?”
“I think they sweep every night.”
“Would the chair likely be in the same place?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Thank you Colonel. We may have found the cause.”
“Can I see him yet?”
“That’s up to Dr. Stevenson.”
“Dr. Stevenson?”
“You can go sit with him for an hour and then I think you should go home and get some real sleep.”
Mac entered Harm’s room and gasped at what she saw. He was obviously naked under the thin sheet that was placed over him. While it served to cover him, the sheet was thin and left little to the imagination. Harm would be mortified to find out then anyone that came in to see him would see him this exposed and vulnerable. Mac had often kidded him about being a prude, but the truth of the matter was he was a very modest man, despite his dashing good looks, beautiful face and well toned body.
Mac found a stack of hospital gowns on the shelf and selected one. She managed to work it up both arms, a little at a time and then snapped it behind his neck. She tucked it around the sides of his body and by averting her eyes, was able to pull it down to cover him to mid thigh. She then placed a heavier sheet over his lower body and found a light weight blanket to cover him from mid-chest down as the room was quite cool.
She touched his forehead and realized that his temperature was closer to normal. Harm had always given off abundant body heat, so it was hard to tell if it was normal for him or just closer to normal.
Smoothing the hair on his forehead with a gentle hand, her face was close to his. When his eyes flickered open, Mac was there to give him an encouraging smile.
“Hi...how you feeling?”
“Don’t know...sore...what happened?”
“I found you unconscious on your apartment floor. You had a fever and your pulse was fast and ‘thready’ they called it. I called 911 and they transported you to Bethesda in an ambulance. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you so they started treating you for an infection and had a forensic specialist come in and take a look at you.”
“What do you remember?”
“Feeling odd...alone...like something wasn’t right...ears hurt and the noise was awful.”
“Where are you sore, Harm?”
“Mac...you’re not my doctor...”
“I know that...I just wanted to make you comfortable and I needed to know where it hurt before I could help.”
“I need to see the doctor...”
“Alright. I’ll get Dr. Stevenson for you.”
Mac left Harm’s room and asked the nurse to send Dr. Stevenson to see Harm as soon as possible as he was complaining of being sore but wouldn’t talk to her about it.
Dr. Stevenson informed Mac she needed to go home and she could see him tomorrow during regular visiting hours. Reluctantly she left.
“Commander Rabb...glad to see you are awake. How do you feel?”
“Like somebody tried to scrape the skin off my...burns like hell.” Harm complained.
“I’ll have the nurse come in to tend to you. You’ll feel better after a sponge bath and there’s some ointment she can apply to the area that should help the discomfort.”
“No thanks doctor...I’ll wash up and put the ointment on myself...”
“Did you dress yourself as well?”
“Excuse me?”
“When we finished your examination, we left you with just a sheet over you thinking you would be more comfortable...now you have a johnny on with a heavy sheet and a blanket over you.”
“I was naked under a sheet?”
“Now, Commander, there’s no room for modesty when we are trying to help you.”
“Like hell there isn’t! Oh God...Mac...”
“Is that the lovely Colonel that was here to see you?”
“Did she...I mean...I think she must have dressed me...”
“Well then I’d thank her because no one around here would be that concerned about your need for modesty...and I’ve sure you don’t have anything she hasn’t seen before.”
“You’d be surprised.” Harm muttered.
“Maybe I would be...however, your fever is down; we think we identified the source of the problem, hence the soreness you’re complaining of; and your pulse is finally starting to stabilize. I would say you are on the mend. When we get the lab results back tomorrow I’ll be up to see you and we’ll go over the treatment plan and see if we can’t get you out of here and back home soon. Dr. Mallard may want to talk to you in the morning as well.”
“Dr. Mallard?”
“The forensic doctor we called in to go over you with a fine tooth comb so to speak.”
“Oh God! Did he...?” Harm felt his face flush from embarrassment at the doctor’s affirmation. “This just gets better and better doesn’t it?” Harm remarked sarcastically.
“Listen, Commander, we knew that something had been introduced to your system somehow to cause you to spike a fever, show signs of an infection and become unconscious. You’re damn lucky you were discovered when you were given that it was a Friday night and from what I’ve garnered, you could easily have gone until Monday morning before someone noticed you were missing.
“The embarrassment of the kind of exam you under went is not a lot different from what a female rape victim has to endure in order to prove she did nothing wrong. That said, you should be thankful that Dr. Mallard was able to locate the site as quickly as he did. Yes you will be a bit sore, but that’s the only way we could be sure what was introduced to your system and make sure that any site infection is taken care of.
“I’m sure the idea of losing any of your vital equipment would not please you either, and if some type of agent is found still in the area, that eats the flesh or creates long lasting effects, I doubt you will want to face that either. Start thinking of this as the lesser of the evils and get past it,” Dr. Stevenson spat having totally lost it with his pretty boy, prima donna naval officer patient. “I’ll send a nurse in.” he added before leaving the room.
Harm lay silently in his bed stunned. He had behaved badly and he knew it. He didn’t quite know why he had lashed out at the doctor who’s job it was to help him. He didn’t know why he got angry with Mac for trying to protect his virtue in case he had other visitors. He certainly should be glad they had found the problem and were treating it. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Suddenly the exhaustion closed in on him. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him away. He was unaware of the doctor and nurse returning. He slept while they cleaned his wound and applied an ointment to help him heal.
0735 Local
Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
“Rick, I’ve got some more information for you on your Commander.”
“What you got Ducky?”
“Abby has been working on the toxicology and isolated three substances that were introduced to his system. We also found all three substances in the samples we took - one from each of the three areas. Alone, nothing much would happen, but together in his body it created a chemical reaction that left alone would have caused his system to shut down. One of those substances was a bacteria, one an accelerate, and one a virus. The virus I’m still concerned about. The bacteria will be killed off from the high antibiotic you started him on. The accelerate can be counteracted with high doses of Vitamin B-12 and C. The virus however, we are trying to isolate further and see if we have a vaccine or anything that can control or isolate it. How is the patient doing by the way?”
“Well he had the typical irrate reaction when he realized the type of examine we had given him. He felt violated and ungrateful and pretty sorry for himself.”
“Did you go the unappreciated doctor route or you’re damn lucky to be alive route?”
“Kind of a combination of the two.”
“He come out of it?”
“Don’t know yet. Haven’t seen him yet this morning. I suspect he’ll bounce back.”
“He should be started on a series of injections over the next five days that include the antibiotics, B-12, C and hopefully soon we’ll have some idea of what can address what appears to be viral. If it is the vitamin C should help as well. ”
“Sounds like he’ll be here as our guest for awhile.”
“Probably. The virus-type agent is what appears to be causing the heart to race and behave erratically and that’s nothing to mess with. I hope Abby and I can isolate it and refine the treatment within the next few hours.”
“Keep me posted, Ducky...and thank you.”
“It’s nice to keep one alive once in awhile.”
1100 Local
Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
“Yes, is Dr. Stevenson available please?” asked Mac at the nurses’ station.
“I’ll page him.”
“Thank you...” Mac waited by the nurses station and five minutes later a tired Dr. Stevenson joined her.
“How is he doctor?”
“Angry, humiliated, remorseful, sedated, and improving.”
“Oh...is that to be expected?”
“Yes. Come with me.” Dr. Stevenson led Mac into an office two doors from the nurses’ station. “Look, I’m not sure if it will help or hurt for you to know what he’s been through, but I’m going to explain it to you so you can decide for yourself what kind of land-mines you might be negotiating while he recuperates.”
“Alright.”
“The examination that Dr. Mallard gave him was quite humiliating due to the location of the punctures. I tell male patients that feel violated by this exam that its no different then what a female has to go through when they’ve been raped. In order to get evidence and to figure out what level of help is needed, it’s a necessary evil.”
“Does he know I dressed him?”
“He came to that conclusion.”
“I didn’t see anything...but I wanted to protect him if someone came to visit.”
“I think he’ll understand that, even if he’s a little embarrassed at first when he sees you.”
“What is the prognosis?” Mac asked as she waited for the doctor to review his case notes.
“For the bacterial infection and accelerate we identified, we’re in good shape. The antibiotic he’s getting with his IV, the injections and some topical ointment should take care of those issues. As for the virus-type agent that was introduced to his system, we are still trying to identify exactly what we are faced with and determine the best course of action. He will be hospitalized for at least five days for a series of injections.
“Can he have visitors?”
“For now.”
“May I go see him?”
“Yes. Just remember if he lashes out at you its coming from embarrassment and coping with all he’s endured. Try not to take it personally.”
Mac straightened her back ready to deal with whatever Harm sent her way. She paused outside his door and took a deep breath and found a dazzling smile to wear on her face as she entered.
“Hey Harm. How you feeling?”
“Mac...I feel a bit like an over exposed pin cushion at the moment. I rang for the nurse, but I haven’t gotten a response. Could you see if one is available?”
“Can I help?”
“Just get the nurse for me...and wait in the waiting room for a few more minutes.”
Mac turned to leave and then turned back to Harm, “Just so you know, I did put the johnny on you and the sheet and blanket before I left last night...I didn’t want you to wake up or have visitors like that...I didn’t see anything Harm...”
“Mac!” Harm called to her as she turned to leave. When she stopped he went on. “Thank you. Tell the nurse I need to use the head.” Mac continued on her mission with a smile. In his own way, Harm was showing that he trusted her and that felt good.
“Nurse, Commander Rabb needs to use the head,” Mac told the nurse that bustled behind the desk.
“He can’t get out if bed yet. Please give him the urinal and pull the curtain around the bed. We’ll be by later to take care of it. Thanks...we are short staffed today and have an emergency to deal with.” The nurse rushed off again. Harm was not going to be happy.
Without a word, Mac returned to the room, pulled the curtain around Harm’s bed and handed him the plastic container.
“Sorry. They have an emergency and they don’t want you getting out of bed yet. They’ll be by to take care of it later. I’ll be back in five.” Mac left an astounded partner in his bed as she left the room. Once out of sight she couldn’t stop her grin.
Behind the curtain Harm groaned. The continued indignities of hospitalization just made him cringe. It was use the plastic container to relieve his bladder or risk embarrassing himself in other ways. This was the first time he had emptied his bladder since being in here and they had been pumping fluid in him for twelve hours! With another groan, he managed to shift himself and get positioned so that he could use the offensive container.
Once he was done he had to sit it on the bedside table while he covered himself. With that done he carefully turned to set the almost full container on the far side of the bed on the floor. He knew the odor would be apparent to anyone walking into the room so he made up his mind to have Mac dump it when she returned...if she didn’t mind. His luck changed however, as the nurse bustled in and removed the offending item before Mac could return to his room. The nurse noted his output on the chart which hung at the foot of his bed and then pulling back the curtain she gave a cheery wave and departed.
“Harm...can I come in?”
“Yes...thanks Mac...I know I’m not making this easy on anyone...its just...I feel so exposed.” Harm was making an effort to talk but Mac could hear the strain it was on him.
“I know Harm, and I think we all feel vulnerable and exposed when we are ill and in a hospital. I’ll do what I can to make it better for you, you know. But I want you to rest and let the treatments make you better.” Mac hoped that Harm would understand and let her take care of him, the same way she knew he would want to take care of her.
“Did you feel exposed when I sat by your hospital bed Christmas Eve?”
“No...not until after I was feeling better then I thought about how little I had on when you were here with me.”
“I don’t think I’d better think about that right now...I’ll save that image for later when I feel better,” Harm grinned as his eyes drifted close. He felt Mac’s hand on his face as he fell asleep.
Mac went to place some calls. She started with Commander Turner.
“Sturgis?”
“Yes Mac. How is Harm doing?”
“It looks like he will be in the hospital for at least five days. They hope to identify the viral agent that was introduced into his system soon. Has NCIS been by to get the chair and check the courtroom for possible evidence?”
“Whoa...back up Mac...what evidence...what chair?” Sturgis asked totally confused.
“They have reason to believe that something was inserted in the chair that Harm used in the courtroom and that he sat on it...were you there when he jumped up and then brushed at the chair? I thought he had spilled hot coffee...but that wasn’t it at all. Something sharp was in that chair and it had contaminates on it that introduced bacteria, accelerate and a virus into his system.”
“I’ll secure the courtroom until they can pick it up and investigate.”
“Thanks Sturgis. Talk to you later.”
Mac returned to Harm’s bedside and waited for word from the doctor’s and for Harm to wake up. She sat quietly next to his bed as he slept not realizing that she was chewing her lip as she thought over the past few months.
It had only been three weeks since her accident on Christmas Eve. She had been calling Harm’s name and the EMT had thought to look in her PDA and found Harm’s name and number. Due to his unusual name it hadn’t been hard to track him down.
As he sat beside her hospital bed that night she realized that he had in fact meant what he said about always being there for her. He also did as she asked and if she indicated she needed space he gave it to her. She had told Dr. McCool that it had always bothered her how self-centered they became when trying to deal with a relationship between the two of them.
She didn’t realize until she had relived that conversation the night of her accident that she, Sarah Mackenzie, was the one that made the relationship self-centered. She had somehow tried to test every man and when one, Harm, gave her what she asked for, she found fault because he did. She was the one that set the rules of engagement and then found them lacking. Harm on the other hand had only cared that she was happy and if she said she was, then he accepted it and supported her. If she wasn’t happy then he gave her advice and suggestions of how to handle the situation, but although he gave his opinions - and he had plenty of them - he abided by her decisions.
Tears sprang to her eyes when she thought back to the year that so many people they knew were pregnant - Loren Singer...Harriet...Renee...and what did Harm do, ask if she wanted to move up the time table. Like a fool she had said no...yet thinking back on it, maybe her chances of conceiving two years ago would have been better. Maybe Paraguay and Clay could have been avoided. Maybe they could have made it work back then. They had become so close. They finished each others thoughts and were often on the same page.
Harm had thought she would want to have a baby like the others around her and so had offered to adjust the time table on their deal...even though he hadn’t been able to say the words then, somehow she knew his reasons were the same then as they were now. Instead of pushing her and saying, “Mac, I’m tired of waiting and I think we should go ahead and do this now,” he had asked her and accepted her refusal.
Then last year, shortly after returning to JAG he had come to her and asked for her to be a reference so he could become a legal guardian to a teenage ward, she got angry because he hadn’t told her sooner and then to add insult to injury she had gotten angry because he didn’t fight her when she had said ‘never’ in regards to them having a relationship.
She had at least been able to partially redeem herself by showing up in court and almost baring her soul completely. When that hadn’t been enough, she had gone to Tom Johnson and the judge and pulled a few strings to make it happen.
“I’m such a fool!” Mac jumped as she said the incriminating words aloud. Setting up she looked to see if her outburst had disturbed Harm. He seemed to be asleep still, so she relaxed again in her seat.
Fifteen minutes later Dr. Stevenson returned. He quietly checked the monitors and the chart at the end of Harm’s bed. He checked the IV and noted the chart before turning to Mac.
“How long has he been asleep?”
“About an hour.”
“His vital signs are looking much better. Dr. Mallard has isolated the third substance and has found three possible treatments. He hopes to have a suggested course of treatment or an antidote as well. They will be bringing lunch in shortly. Try to get him to eat something. Also, he can have all the water and gingerale he wants. I’d like to get him off the IV and up on his feet as soon as we can. Risk of pneumonia is too great otherwise.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Mac assured Dr. Stevenson. “Actually I’m surprised he’s sleeping through us talking.”
“I’m not...” Harm muttered with his eyes still closed. “The lights in here hurt my eyes so I’ve been keeping them closed. I’ve been awake for awhile now...thinking.”
“I’ve turned the lights off Commander,” Dr. Stevenson informed him.
“Thanks.”
“Are you more comfortable?”
“Yes. When are you going to let me get up?”
“Your heart rate has stabilized although it’s still a little faster then I’d like. As I told the Colonel, if you eat some lunch and start getting fluids, I’ll remove the IV and then we’ll try going ambulatory.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Commander, I don’t think you have any idea how weak you are at the moment. Walking to the head and back will probably take as much effort as a half-marathon.”
“Harm, look...I know you want to get your independence back, but until we know exactly what we’re dealing with, I don’t think we should take any unnecessary risks,” Mac insisted.
“Alright. But will you call Sturgis and have him pull the case file he and I were working on last summer.”
“Which one Harm?”
“The one that he and I had our big fight over...he’ll know which one.”
“Harm...”
“Mac, please...I’m having a little trouble concentrating...remembering details...of the case...I just know we had a real blow-out over it.”
“Alright...I’ll call him now.”
“Thank you.” Harm waited until Mac had left the room before asking the doctor what he wanted to know.
“Is there a chance that this...injury...or the substances...could impact my ability to father a child?”
“Yes...but we can do a test.”
“What does it entail?”
“When you are up to it, you provide us with a sample of your semen and we test for motility.”
“The sooner the better.”
“You let us know and we’ll run the tests.”
“Thank you, Dr. Stevenson.”
“I’ve got some other patients to check on and then I’m heading home for dinner with my family. I will be back later.”
“Thanks again, Doctor.”
Harm relaxed against his pillow with the head of the bed raised. He had been pushing Mac to think positive about her chances of conceiving. Now, he had to hope that he still had the ability to live up to his end of the bargain.
Chapter 3
One Week Later
Bethesda Medical Center
1912 Local
“Dr. Stevenson, I’ve had enough! I would rather recuperate at home. This is wasting tax-payers money for me to be here when I could be in my own home doing the same thing.”
“Commander, I understand you are frustrated. The antibiotics we had you on alone were enough to create havoc with your system, but when we were forced to add prednisone to your treatment, it created another dilemma. Your resistence was already weak, and prednisone has made your immune system even weaker. It will take another two to three days for your blood counts to level off. Once that happens, I will sign you out of here.”
“Fine!”
Dr. Stevenson shook his head and left the irritated patient to brood on his own. As he closed the door to the room, he turned and saw Lt. Colonel Mackenzie approaching. The woman had been here by his side every evening until he had fallen asleep and had spent most of the weekend here by his side as well. They had a bond and a trust that the nurses all talked about. He had to admit, despite Rabb’s growing impatience to go home, he had made a remarkable recovery. He was obviously delighted at having the Colonel nearby and it was a fascinating relationship to watch. He suspected that she was the reason he was concerned about the ability to father a child.
“One moment Colonel...” the doctor stopped Mac from entering the room.
“Dr. Stevenson, how’s he doing?”
“He’s angry because I won’t let him go home yet. I forgot to do one thing while I was in there before. Could you wait just a few minutes before you go in?”
“Of course...Can he have coffee yet?”
“Yes.”
“Great, I’ll go get him a cup downstairs.”
“Commander Rabb,” Dr. Stevenson spoke as he entered Harm’s room again.
“What?”
“Are you still interested in having that test done we spoke of?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then I’ll put a container in your bathroom and if you’re feeling up to it you can leave a sample. The fresher the sample the more reliable the results so let the nurse know so they can get it to the lab right away.”
“Great...”
“Look, if you want your guest to help you just ask the nurse to give you some privacy...”
“My guest?”
“Colonel Mackenzie will be here shortly. I just thought...”
“Stop thinking! We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“I’m sorry...my mistake.”
“Did you say anything to her about my request to have this test done?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good. Please don’t.”
“Anyway, I thought it might be easier for you to leave the sample here before you go home. It’s up to you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Harm watched the doctor leave again and then got out of bed and slipped on his robe. He was looking forward to going home, wearing real clothes and sleeping in his own bed. Mac had stopped at his place and picked up some pajamas and a robe so that he at least had those.
Harm was amazed at how easy their conversations were becoming - most of the time. He made his way into the bathroom and swung the door shut. He had been ready to celebrate when he had finally been allowed to walk to the bathroom on his own and had not had to use the urinal and bedpan. As he emptied his bladder he spotted the cup on the shelf the doctor had left for him. Shaking his head he thought about what he would need to do to leave that sample. Mac had called him a prude before and he supposed in some ways he was, but he had ended up mastering some self-serving techniques between the time that Renee had left and now. There had been opportunities to be with women, and some had interested him to some degree, but they weren’t the woman he wanted so he had held off.
He was washing his hands when he heard someone enter the room.
“Harm?”
“Oh hi, Mac...be right there,” Harm called as he dried his hands and returned to his room.
“I brought you some good coffee, if you want it.” Mac gestured to the bed table where she had set the coffee cup.
“Great...thanks.”
“How are doing today?” Mac asked as she watched him return to the bed and sit on the edge.
“Really starting to go stir crazy...you know Mac, you don’t have to spend all this time with me. I know you have other duties and responsibilities and this is just adding to your work load.”
“Harm...you are not a duty or a responsibility...I happen to like spending time with you...usually. Do you really think that coming to visit you is work?” Mac asked dismayed at her partner’s attitude.
“No...I guess not.”
“Harm what is it?”
“It’s nothing, Mac, really. So you got any interesting cases we can talk about?”
“I don’t want to talk about cases...I want to talk about what’s eating you.”
“Nothing is eating at me Mac...I told you, I don’t do hospitals all that well and I’m ready to go home and the doctor is not ready to let me go. You know, if it wasn’t for your daily visits I don’t think I would have made it this far.”
“Yes you would. Oh, Harm...here’s the file you asked me to get for you from Sturgis. He said to read it over and call him if you think it gives you any insights.”
“Thanks Mac...this is great! I had thought he refused and you just weren’t telling me.” Harm came off the bed to take the file from her and Mac noted the sudden change in his attitude - a change for the better. Mac watched the sparkle in his eye and the determination in his jaw.
“Does this have something to do with what happened to you?” Mac asked.
“It might.” He sat the file to one side, “I’ll read it over tonight, after you’ve gone and then maybe next time you come we can talk about it, okay?”
“Okay. Harm...can we talk about something?”
“Sure...what is it Mac?” Concern etched his face as he studied her face looking for clues as to what was bothering her.
“At Christmas, after my accident, you stayed with me at the hospital and then took me home and took care of me and made my Christmas...special. You made it easy for me to accept your help. I thought we were moving forward...slowly...but forward.”
“Yes. I did too.”
“Why are you pushing me away now?”
“Am I?”
“It feels like that at times.”
“I’m sorry. I’m glad you are here. I guess it’s the lack of privacy and the humiliation of having to undergo some of the tests and treatments they’ve done...you’ve called me a prude before Mac...”
“Harm do you think its been easy for me to talk honestly with you about my medical problems?”
“No...I don’t suppose it has...but you said I needed to understand what was going on.”
“And you think I don’t need to understand what’s going on with you?”
“Do you?”
“Yes...I do.” Mac’s gaze met Harm’s and she saw the truth of her words register in his brain.
“I’m sorry...how much has the doctor shared with you?” Harm knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but he also knew that Mac needed to understand some of the details in case he wasn’t going to be able to fulfill his part of the deal.
“I know that they had to give you a thorough examination while you were unconscious because you wouldn’t have stood for it if you were awake. I know that Dr. Mallard discovered some punctures and they think it may have been what was in your chair in court that morning. I know that the antibiotics have worked and you’re getting better but they are concerned about your immune system because of needing to put you on Prednisone.”
“You know most of it then.”
“Except?”
“We don’t know yet if the punctures, the stuff that went into my system could make it impossible for me to father a child...”
“When will they know?”
“When they run some tests - after I give them a sample...” Harm knew his face was turning red as he spoke.
“You mean you have to...?” Mac made a motion with her hand as she asked.
“Yes...It’s not funny, Marine!”
“You’re right Harm...it’s not...” Mac couldn’t stop the giggle that surfaced.
“Maacccc.....” Harm bit his lip trying not to smile yet having to admit that the situation - if not the reason - was humorous.
“I’m sorry Harm...it’s just you’re such a prude and the idea of you having to...well do that in a hospital room when anyone can walk in to check on you...How are you going to manage it?”
“It’s not going to be easy.”
“What happens if you can’t?”
“I’ll have to wait until I get home and try there...then I have to get it back here soon after to get the most accurate results from the test.”
“Oh Harm...I’m sorry for laughing...I more then anyone know how much you want to father a child and I hope that even if we can’t work things out you have that option...but the idea of you having to...you know...”she used the hand motion again, “is just too funny. Aren’t there any other ways?”
“Nothing I’d agree to if I don’t have to.” Harm remarked shuddering at the thought of a needle going in to extract a sample.
“If I thought I could help I would,” Mac told him suddenly becoming serious as she moved across the room to sit on the bed beside him.
“You would?”
“Yes...I mean I know we don’t have that kind of relationship yet...but we have to start somewhere eventually if we’re doing to do this, right?”
“Yes. Are you sure?” Harm asked her as he leaned a little closer, unable to take his eyes off her lips. He saw her moving closer and felt her lips touching his...her hand sliding up his thigh. He closed his eyes and tried to picture them in his bedroom at home. He deepened the kiss and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. “Sarah...”
“Harm...”
“Excuse me. Shall I come back later,” asked Sturgis from the doorway.
“Sturgis!” Harm pulled back and watched in dismay as Mac stood and returned to the chair reaching for her coat.
“I’ll talk to you later, Harm...I’ve got to go.” Mac glanced quickly at Harm and then scooted past Sturgis Turner as she hurried to her car and the safety of her home.
“Sorry, Harm...looks like I interrupted something.”
“Don’t worry about it...I mean, what do you think we’d be doing in a hospital room, anyway Sturgis...she was just giving me a good-night kiss.” Harm explained, his body still tingling from that too brief contact with Sarah Mackenzie’s lips.
“Did Mac give you the case file?”
“Yeah...I haven’t reviewed it though. Did you think of something?” Harm asked.
“I did. Remember the guy that had all those molding dishes in his house when we were there to investigate?”
“Yes...and we couldn’t connect him to the others at all.”
“Right. You may have provided us with the connection. We were convinced that someone dealt with biological warfare, but we over looked an important piece of the evidence...the moldy food on the dirty dishes.”
“Sturgis you are a genius!”
“Not really. I didn’t think of it until after Mac asked about the file. I pulled it out and reviewed it before I gave it to her. I started thinking about that whole case and when I remembered that filthy stinking house - something clicked into place.”
“We’ve got to call NCIS.”
“Done.”
“Thanks Sturgis...and I owe you an apology for the way I behaved during that case. I wasn’t in the best mood at the time.”
“No need. Have you and Mac worked things out?”
“Yes and no.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Sturgis, right now things are complicated and I can’t divulge Mac’s personal information and its tied up in mine right now. Maybe eventually...thanks for asking.”
“Let me get this straight...you have things you need to talk about but the only one you can talk to them about you aren’t comfortable talking with?”
“That about sums it up...although Mac’s been great and we are talking more easily now.”
“Yeah...I’d say the non-verbal communication is improving too.”
“Sturgis...”
“I’ll leave now before I step in something I don’t want to step in. I’ll let you know if I hear anything from NCIS.”
Harm watched Sturgis leave. He reached for the phone and dialed Mac’s phone number. She answered on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey...you okay?” Harm asked in a soft voice.
“Yes. You?”
“I’m fine. Look Sturgis reviewed that file before he gave it to you. Its given us a lead and he’s called NCIS.”
“That’s good news.”
“That it is...Look about earlier...”
“Don’t worry about it Harm.”
“I’m not worried...I just wanted you to know that I’m really sorry we were interrupted. I enjoyed the kiss and I hope when I’m home...we can try it again.”
“Oh...I’d like that.”
“And Mac?”
“Yeah?”
“About the other thing...I’m going to try and dream about where the kiss might go and see if that helps. Night.”
“Harm...” Mac only heard the dial tone in her ear. She smiled as she hung up the phone trying to not to think of where Harm’s dream might take him. She really didn’t want to take a cold shower before she went to bed.
Turning off the light and settling himself into bed, Harm could still feel Macs lips on his and her hand sliding up his thigh getting closer and closer to him. He allowed himself to imagine where things might have gone if Sturgis hadn’t shown up. Just thinking about the kiss effected him. He tentatively touched himself just to see if her touch would have caused him any pain, or if he was healed enough to have enjoyed having her touch him. His touch became a little firmer and still he had no discomfort.
Friction however, might be different and so he tried skin to skin contact and again, ...no pain. That was a good sign. The agony of applying ointment was over and to do what needed to be done, wasn’t gong to be physically painful at least. Harm yawned and rolled onto his side. He decided to go ahead and indulge his fantasies until he fell asleep. Maybe by morning his dreams would make the task easier to complete.
0430 Local
Harm’s Room
Bethesda Medical Center
Harm awoke early as he had hoped. His dreams of Mac, inspired by their kiss the night before had been effective. Bethesda Medical Center was no different from any hospital and by 0500 the nurses were waking up patients and checking vital signs before the end of their shift. Harm eased out of bed without turning on any lights and made it to the bathroom closing the door and locking it.
Closing his eyes and continuing what had started in his dreams, he stroked himself slowly at first and then more rapidly, varying the speed and intensity, trying to imagine Sarah Mackenzie wrapped around him. He felt himself tighten and tried to prepare for the inevitable remembering the specimen cup at the last second. He couldn’t stifle the groan that came with the specimen as he caught it in the cup. Slowly, his heart rate returned to normal as did his breathing. He capped the specimen cup and returned it to the shelf.
Turning on the light he washed himself and relieved his bladder before flushing the toilet. Shaking his head he turned to go back to bed, hoping he could get some sleep before the nurses arrived. No such luck. The nurse was waiting for him as he stepped out of the bathroom.
“Are you alright, Mr. Rabb?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure? I thought I heard you groan when I first came in.”
“Old age.”
“Well, let’s check your vital signs. You are up very early this morning.”
“Yes well...”
“Did you sleep alright?” the bubbly young nurse continued.
“I slept fine.”
“You seem a little grumpy this morning, Mr. Rabb.”
“Yeah, well I have my reasons.”
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I”m fine, nurse. Just take the information you need and perhaps you could leave me alone for an hour or so.”
“Your pulse is a little elevated this morning...as is your blood pressure.” The nurse wrote the information on the chart and continued asking her questions. “Have you voided this morning or during the night?”
“Yes.”
“Did you measure your output?”
“No.”
“Oh, I see here you were going to leave a specimen for Dr. Stevenson to run some tests on. Were you able to do that?”
“Yes.”
“Where did you leave it?”
“On the shelf...” Harm’s mortification was now complete. This girl, his nurse, only a few years older then Mattie, would know what he had been doing in the bathroom while she waited for him.
He watched as she entered the bathroom and wrote his name on the label, affixing it to the container and placing it on the cart.
“We’ll get that right down to the lab.” She made another note on his chart and then smiled at him, “This would explain the slight elevations in your stats this morning. I’ll take them again in an hour or so before I go off duty, just to be sure.”
“Thanks.” Harm leaned back on his bed and started to grin. He wished he could share this with Mac. She would enjoy the discomfort he had gone through and yet he knew that talking about such intimate things with her would help draw them closer.
1622 Local
Harm’s Room
Bethesda Medical Center
“Commander Rabb, I have the results of your test for you.”
“Dr. Stevenson...can I father a child?”
“There shouldn’t be any problem. For a man your age, your motility and count are above average.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“If you are looking to father a child, it’s a great thing...of course, I’ve heard that men with high motility and sperm count are often those that father twins and triplets. Do multiple births run in your family?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Well I hope the news is welcomed.”
“It is.”
“I understand you were a bit embarrassed when the nurse picked up the specimen this morning. They are use to it. It happens more often then you might realize.”
“Well, when I think about the indignities this whole experience has put me through, I guess someone knowing isn’t that bad.”
“Well, we’ll need one more specimen today...”
“What?”
“Not that kind,” Rick Stevenson laughed at the outrageous look the Commander gave him before hearing him out.
“What kind?” Harm asked.
“The vampire type...we’ll need another blood sample today and if everything checks out with that, you’ll be able to go home tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” Harm was certainly relieved at that news.
“Now it will take another six weeks to wean you off the Prednisone and I want blood work done every other week. If you get a cold or notice bruising, I want you in the Emergency room immediately. If you notice any discomfort when you resume sexual relations with your partner, you should have it checked out.”
“I didn’t have any discomfort to give you the sample.”
“And I don’t expect any, but if you do, don’t be macho about it...get in here.”
“When can I return to duty?”
“Next week...limited duty. No traveling until we’re close to being off the Prednisone,” Dr. Stevenson informed him. “Now as for other activities, I would avoid people that you know are sick and I wouldn’t plan on running too far too fast just yet. Maybe start out with an easy mile for the first week.”
“A mile? I that all?”
“What are you use to doing?”
“Ten to fifteen miles at least three times a week...sometimes more...five on the off days.”
“Alright...one mile the first three days, then you can add a mile every other day until you’re up to the five miles...Don’t go over the five miles until after your next check up and blood work. The worse thing you can do is push yourself too far too fast.”
“Alright...I don’t want to end up back here, so I’ll do what you say.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
Chapter 4
1855 Local
Harm’s Apartment
North of Union Station
Harm had been home for two days thanks to Sturgis coming to get him. Mac had been sent TAD to the USS Stennis the day after their kiss and he hadn’t seen her yet. He hated to admit it but even after getting home, he still felt washed out and tired, way more then he liked. The first day he went running he couldn’t make the entire mile and ended up walking the last quarter of a mile. He walked another mile before turning back. He knew he needed to get moving.
The second day he had completed the first file but he walked the second mile again before turning and walking the two miles back to his apartment. He picked up some food at the grocery store on the corner and checked his email between naps. He hoped to hear from Mac, but so far nothing. He heard the phone ringing as he was unlocking the door.
“Rabb?”
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for an hour...are you alright?”
“Mac. It’s good to hear your voice. Are you home?”
“On my way...answer the questions ‘Flyboy’,” she ranted.
“Yes Ma’am!” Harm couldn’t stop the grin from bursting forth on his face. “I’ve been to the grocery store this trip. Earlier I went for a run, came home checked my email - and I didn’t have one from you by the way - took a nap, checked my email again - still nothing from you - and then I went back to the store to pick up some things so I can make supper. Want some?”
“Yes.”
“When will you be here?”
“In about fifteen minutes.”
“See you then Marine. Doors unlocked, just come in.”
Harm whistled as he went to work putting together a meal to share with Mac. The scallops in the broiler, the asparagus in the steamer and the salad veggies being chopped and diced as he waited for her to arrive. The salad was put in the refrigerator to chill before he heard the door open.
“Harm?”
“Hey, Mac. Come in...you’re still in uniform. Did you bring a change of clothes?” Harm asked as he approached her.
“Yeah, in my carry-on bag.” She held up the bag as Harm approached and then smiled as she realized what he was about to do. He bent his head and kissed her on the lips. It was a sweet gentle kiss, although short, but perfect to convey his joy at having her home with him.
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. And you’re really feeling better?”
“Yes...and I have lots to tell you if you want to listen after we eat.”
“I’d like that.”
“Go change...get comfortable...Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”
“Okay.”
Dinner dishes done, they took their cups of tea and headed for the sofa. They sat on each end, turned to face each other.
“You said you had a lot to tell me, Harm. Yo