Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters do not belong to me. This is purely
for entertainment purposes.
Classification: PG- 13
Category: Drama, Harm and Mac
Summary:
This is what I imagine will happen after Adrift part 1. Mac
has put her wedding on hold because of the news that Harm's plane
went down in the ocean. For those of you who have read? 'Romancing
the Rock' you will recognize the four Coasties. Romancing the Rock
will be posted soon!
Thank you again Marianne for all of your talent in helping me archive my stories.
Part 2
The small wooden rowboat dipped and rose with the waves as it approached the buoy and the water soaked man attached to it. "Ahoy! Are you alright fella?" Harm opened his burning swollen eyes and tried to focus on the blurred object floating towards him.
"Here...over here." His voice failed him as he tried to call out. "Hang on there sonny, help has arrived. Darby Keenan with the Life-Saving Service. Just hang on a few more minutes, and I'll have you out of that cold water." The man called out as Harm slipped back into unconsciousness.
************
"We spotted him! Look to the south east ...near the buoy!" The pilot called out and guided the Dolphin towards the buoy. "Get ready." He ordered the crew as he adjusted the controls to bring the craft to a stable hover 50 feet above the buoy. A rescue swimmer was lowered into the cold waters near the downed pilot.
"Commander!" The rescue swimmer called out over the continuous thumping sound of the helicopter overhead. Harm who opened his eyes and looked at the man swimming within a few feet of him. "He's alive! I'll attach the harness to him." The swimmer communicated to the hovering craft.
Slowly Harm was lifted into the helicopter where he was immediately covered with blankets.
"We're heading directly to the Naval Hospital in Washington." Lt. Com. Keenan announced and headed the aircraft north west. " Arrival time approximately 0600."
************
A cheer erupted simultaneously in the bridge of the Patrick Henry, throughout the USCG cutter Reliance and in the bullpen of JAG headquarters.
************
The emergency room at Bethesda was on standby to receive the pilot. The wedding party arrived minutes ahead of the Coast Guard helicopter carrying their friend.
Harm had been in and out of consciousness mumbling about Skates and the wedding he needed to attend.
An anxious group watched in dismay as the gurney was pushed through the doors to the ER with Harm's pale figure. The medical staff immediately surrounded him and directed the gurney into one of the rooms.
His pulse and respirations where slow. Monitoring equipment was attached as well as warmed humidified oxygen via mask was applied. The wet clothes were cut away and replaced with warm dry blankets. His legs and arms were left exposed to prevent the cold blood in his extremities from circulating to his body too quickly causing cardiac dysrthmias. An IV of warmed saline was initiated.
"I'm Captain Ellis, Commander Rabb's physician." The medium built middle-aged man wearing scrubs approached the Admiral and extended his hand. "I understand you are his CO."
"Yes, how is he?" The Admiral's voice and demeanor filled with concern.
"Considering he spent the night in a cold stormy ocean, I'd say he's holding his own. We are treating the hypothermia and dehydration with warmed IV's and oxygen as well as blankets. We are about to move him to CCU or the Cardiac Care Unit where we can monitor him more closely. " The doctor explained.
"When can we see him?" Mac asked unable to keep quiet any longer.
"Once we get him settled in CCU you can see him for a few minutes, but he needs rest. I'll have one of the nurses come get you." The doctor replied.
A hand moved slowly to her shoulder drawing her attention away from the doctor, "Sarah, he's going to be alright." Mic said gently.
She looked directly at him for the first time in hours and saw the sad look on his face. She looked at the clock on the wall realizing how disoriented she had become. "Oh Mic it's almost eight o'clock. The wedding ...as soon as I check on Harm we can head to the church."
"Sarah, slow down...let's find somewhere to talk." Mic took her gently by the arm and walked towards an empty waiting room. "Sarah, I don't think today is a good day for a wedding." Mic said slowly.
"Of course, we need to make sure Harm's alright, and I want him to be there." Mac began to chatter nervously.
"I don't think any day will be a good day for our wedding." Mic reached up and held her hands in his.
"What do you mean?" Mac looked confused and squeezed his hands.
"I guess I realized that you may have agreed to wear my ring, but you will never give me your whole heart." Mic continued sadly as he stroked tears away from her tired face.
"Mic?" Mac pulled away from his grasp.
"You are everything I've ever wanted Sarah, but I'm not everything to you. It would hurt too much to know that you are thinking about someone else, worrying about him, wishing I was ...him." Mic 's voice broke.
"Mic, I care for you. You have offered me everything I've ever dreamed about...a home...a family." Mac cried softly.
"But I'm not the man you dream about Sarah." Mic reached for her hand. "I love you enough to walk away so that you can find that dream."
Fatigue and sorrow slowly took over, and she had no more fight left in her. Mic pulled her into his arms and kissed her sweetly, "Goodbye luv...go check on your best friend."
"You may see him, but only two at a time for just a few minutes. " The nurse instructed and looked to see who would be first?
Renee and Mac stood simultaneously and looked at each other tentatively. "This should be interesting." The Admiral mumbled.
"Sir?" Bud responded after hearing the comment.
Mac eased back into her chair, "Admiral, why don't you and Renee go ahead."
The Admiral nodded and accompanied Renee and the nurse to see Harm.
Mac let out a sigh and set further back into her chair.
"Mac." Bud's voice drew her away from her thoughts.
"Mic told me the wedding was off. Is there anything I can do? I know this has been stressful. Maybe after things settle down he will reconsider." Bud consoled.
"Like you said in your toast Bud, maybe everything is a matter of destiny?" Mac smiled sadly.
Bud nodded.
**********
Renee entered the room that was dimly lit and walked to the bed. She flinched as she reached out to touch his cold hand that remained out from under the blankets. Harm didn't respond but continued to appear in a deep sleep with an oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth.
The Admiral moved closer to Renee and placed a comforting hand to her shoulder, "He's tough Renee. This isn't the first scrape he's been in and knowing Harm it won't be the last." He smiled.
"How do the people that care about you handle this." Renee said softly. The Admiral looked at her with a furrowed brow.
"My marriage couldn't survive my career. So to answer the question, sometimes people can't handle it. Renee, Harm's in the Navy. Being a pilot is a part of who he is. The
Navy is in his blood."
"So maybe I should get while the getting is good." Renee chuckled sadly.
"It would be better to leave before a relationship becomes more serious." The Admiral responded as if he were thinking of another place and another time.
"I'm sure Mac and Bud are anxious to check on him." Renee squeezed Harm's hand and leaned over and kissed his forehead. "We'll talk later flyboy."
************
Mac and Bud stopped at the door to Harm's room as Mac stiffened and drew a deep breath before entering. Bud cautiously watched her reaction as they made their way next to his bed.
"He looks pretty out of it. " Bud observed with concern.
Mac nodded and swallowed deeply but did not reply.
Sensing her anguish Bud excused himself by explaining he needed to check in with Harriet. He walked to the door and turned around about to ask Mac if there were any arrangements that he could handle for the cancelled wedding. The words froze as he watched her total demeanor of control slowly slip away.
Mac's shoulders dropped as she reached and touched Harm's cheek and gently stroked it. Tears trickled down her face as all the fear and worry from the night released itself. Damn you Harm. Why do I always end up being the one who cries."
Bud smiled in understanding and walked away.
Harm shifted slightly in the bed.
"Harm?" Mac reached for his hand and held it sandwiched between hers.
His eyes slowly fluttered open. A look of confusion formed on his face. He mumbled something and attempted to remove the mask on his face.
"Wait a minute. You need that." Mac quickly wiped away her tears and deflected the hand that was about to remove the mask.
He drew in a deep breath and attempted to focus more on the woman at his side. His gaze was met with a tender smile and a warm soft hand that stroked his forehead. He smiled weakly and drifted back to sleep.
Mac's smile quickly faded as she reminded herself that he wouldn't be in this situation if she had not insisted he make it back for her wedding. Her mind replayed their last conversation. "I'm so sorry Harm. "
Several days later...
Harm stared out the window of his hospital room contemplating the past few weeks.
Why had he waited so long to try to tell Sarah how he felt? She had made it clear to him that she had intended to marry Mic and was happy with her decision. He shook his head sadly as he thought how he had misjudged her feelings for him. Now her chance at happiness was gone because of him. His decision to try to return to D.C. for her wedding had not only jeopardized Skates life and his, but had ruined her wedding. Sharp pains of guilt swept through him.
Meanwhile...
Mac stared out the window of her apartment watching the drops of rainfall slowly from the sky joining the tears that fell from her eyes as she thought how she had pushed Harm to return for her wedding. She had made him feel guilty about missing the rehearsal dinner and possibly the wedding. Because of her, he took a risk that nearly cost him his life. Sharp pains of guilt swept through her.
***********
Torre, Blandino, VanHuysen and Denney strolled back to their ship after stopping by the hospital to see the Commander. While they were there, the Colonel was just leaving and by her expression the guys could tell that everything was not smooth sailing.
"Didn't you guys think it was weird that Commander Rabb called the XO by his grandfather's name?" Torre exclaimed as he recounted their visit at the hospital.
Harm was sitting in a chair next to the hospital. His color had improved but as Blandino exclaimed, "Sir you look like sh...ah like you are feeling better."
Harm smiled at the four Coasties and the Coast Guard officer who accompanied them.
"I wouldn't recommend spending the night overboard in a stormy sea."
"Hey what a great idea! We could come up with a new ride for Bush Gardens where you are thrown into this large water tank with wind and waves." Blandino chattered excitedly.
"Shut up Blandino!" The other three petty officers replied.
"Commander Rabb this is Lt. Commander Keenan. He's our XO and the pilot of the Dolphin that found you." Torre pointed out while Lt. Commander Keenan extended his hand to Harm who immediately stood and reciprocated and looked a little confused.
"Something wrong Commander?" VanHuysen observed.
"I was pretty out of it when I was picked up. I could have sworn that I was picked up by a boat." Harm seemed a little embarrassed. "Too much salt water I guess. But anyway, I can't thank you enough. If you ever need anything, Lt. Commander Darby Keenan please feel free to call on me."
Keenan gave Harm an odd look before responding. "Ted Keenan...just was doing my job Commander. I'm glad we had a happy ending." Keenan smiled. "Besides let's just call it even for getting these guys out of trouble in Columbia."
"These guys are pretty resourceful. I have a feeling that they can handle themselves without much help when push comes to shove." Harm smiled as the four young petty officers grinned.
"Commander I understand you are third generation Navy. I'm fourth generation Coast Guard." Keenan changed the subject.
"My great grandfather was with the ......." Keenan was interrupted by Harm.
"Life Saving Service. Darby Keenan?" Harm finished and sat down.
"Yes, that's right. He drowned trying to rescue a sailor of the coast of Virginia somewhere close to where we picked you up. How did you know about my great grandfather?" Keenan responded hesitantly.
"You wouldn't believe me." Harm mumbled and rubbed his forehead.
"Sir? Are you alright?" Denney broke in.
"Maybe we should be going. I think the Commander needs his rest." Keenan directed the group towards the door.
"See you later Commander." Torre called back.
Back to the present...
"Yea, I got the impression that maybe ole Darby Keenan was out there with the Commander." Blandino added.
"Now you believe in ghosts Blandino?" VanHuysen replied sarcastically.
"Maybe." Blandino responded arrogantly, "Just because you don't believe doesn't mean it can't happen."
"You've been watching X Files too much." VanHuysen replied and shook his head.
"Speaking of something I can't believe." Torre interjected.
"I can't believe that they haven't figured this out!" VanHuysen exclaimed as he kicked a can across the sidewalk.
"Who has figured what out?" Denney joined in the conversation.
"The Commander and the Colonel." VanHuysen replied emphatically.
"Yea, can't those two realize that they are deeply in love with each other?" Torre sighed.
"It's liked the script writers of their lives just keep screwing up the plot." Blandino added Rather melodramatically.
"Alright Danielle Steel maybe you need to rewrite the ending to this story." Denney chuckled.
"Not Danielle Steele! Her stories are too full of angst and heartbreak!" Torre argued and kicked the can further down the walkway.
"How would you know what Danielle Steele writes?" VanHuysen shared a smile with Denney and Blandino..
"My mother reads her books." Torre stammered.
"No she doesn't!" Denney challenged.
"Are you saying my mother can't read!" Torre frowned and tried to through the focus of the statement into another direction..
"No... I've been at your house. She reads Tom Clancy and John Grisham." Denney returned with a 'got you' attitude.
"Confess Torre. " VanHuysen stood in front of Torre stopping their forward motion.
"Okay...I've watched a few of her stories that were made into movies on Lifeline with my fiancée." He added sheepishly. "You are a real wuss, Torre." Blandino laughed.
"Hey! I'm the only one of us in a steady serious relationship. Maybe you should take lessons." Torre drew his shoulders up and began to walk towards the ship.
"Maybe you could give the Commander a few lessons on what to say to the Colonel." Denney added with a frustrated sigh.
"Oh, it's not what you say to a girl...it's in your kiss!" Torre smiled bringing on an immediate chorus of from all four of the Coasties... "It's not the way he smiles ..oh no....if you want to know if he loves you so it's in his kiss..."
**********
"Blandino would you please turn out the light! Some of us need our beauty sleep." A grouchy VanHuysen yelled.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures!" Blandino responded and continued to write...
Dear Abby,
I know this guy and this girl who are obviously in love. The problem
is they just can't seem to get it right...any suggestions will be
appreciated.
The End for now....rescue me...I need you in my arms...rescue me...
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