Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and Characters do not belong to me. This is strictly
for entertainment.
Classification: PG Humor/light romance
Category: H/M
Summary: Someone has surgery. This was written before Adrift in
season six. Special thanks to Marianne for beta reading and cleaning
up my copies so they could be archived.
"I don't have time for this. You can't just treat it with medication?"
"You are all out of options. For the past two months we have tried medication and the problem continues to reoccur. Do I need to contact your CO and explain why you need the medical leave Commander Rabb?"
"No, I would rather explain it to the Admiral myself. Now when are you scheduling the surgery?" Harm finally surrendered to the inevitable.
"Friday, my nurse will call you concerning your pre-operative instructions." Captain Brooks looked up from the chart observing the frustration in his patient. "You need to plan on missing at least a week of work, Commander."
"A week!"
1300 same day
Admiral Chegwidden's office
"Enter." Admiral Chegwidden glanced over the rim of his glasses to see Commander Rabb standing at attention. "At ease, Commander? You needed something?"
"Well, yes sir.. I need to take some leave time..Starting Friday." Harm asked hesitantly. This was a really bad time to ask for time off. Everyone was overwhelmed with their caseloads, and Harm dreaded asking.
Looking up from the file he had been reading, the Admiral pulled off his reading glasses and frowned, "Commander, I hope you have good reason for requesting leave at this time, because if you don't you are wasting both of our time."
"I need to take a medical leave." Harm continued reluctantly.
"Are you having additional eye surgery? And can't it wait?"
"Actually, I tried to convince my doctor to let it wait, but he insists that I need to have... my tonsils removed Now." Harm added feeling embarrassed.
"Commander, you didn't have your tonsils removed when you were a child?" the Admiral looked a little surprised.
"No Sir, I wasn't ever really sick until this past fall. I've had recurrent tonsillitis. I've been on antibiotics for almost two months and it doesn't seem to want to clear up. The doctor believes I have an abscess, and a tonsillectomy is the only way to clear up the infection."
"Ok, I'll grant your request... Harm, I didn't know you have been ill. You haven't missed work." The Admiral leaned back in his chair and spoke with concern.
"I've handled it, but lately I have had problems losing my voice. It's supposed to be outpatient surgery. I'll go home the same day and take a few days to recover. It's supposed to be a piece of cake." Harm smiled.
***********
Thursday 1600
Harm's office
"Harm, why didn't you tell me you were going to have surgery!" Mac appeared at his door looking frustrated and concerned.
"Mac, it's not open heart surgery. I'm having my tonsils removed. It's no big deal. I'll be out Friday and a few days next week." Harm looked back at the file on his desk. She continued to stand over him with her arms crossed.
"What?"
"Is your Mother coming?... She doesn't even know, does she?"
"You're making a big deal out of this. It's bad enough for a grown man to have to have his tonsils out. No I'm not calling my mother." Harm rolled his eyes and resumed reading hoping this would end the conversation.
Mac sighed and quietly asked, "Is Renee taking you to the hospital tomorrow?"
"Renee is in California for the next two weeks filming a project of some sort." Harm did not even look up.
Sounding more frustrated, "Harm do you plan to drive yourself to and from the hospital tomorrow. You probably plan to assist the surgeon while you're at it."
"I'll take a cab." Harm cleared his desk and reached for his cover to leave.
With that she turned and walked out of his office and straight to the Admiral's.
********
0600 Friday morning
Harm's apartment
Knock, knock
"Just a minute" Harm was throwing a few things into a small bag preparing to leave.
He opened the door expecting to see the cab driver, but instead "Mac! What are you doing here at this hour?"
"I'm taking you to the hospital. The Admiral decided you needed an escort, so don't argue, I'm under orders." She crossed her arms in front of her and gave him that 'I dare you' look.
He stared at her a moment and broke out into a smile. "I guess I better not argue with a Marine."
***********
0900
Outpatient surgery waiting room
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Mac had read every old magazine in the waiting area and was beginning to feel worried. Harm had been shot at, survived a crash in a Tomcat and dealt with terrorists. She didn't worry this much when he was in Russia. Why did this simple operation make her feel so apprehensive? She walked towards a window and muttered to herself, "What is taking so long. I thought a tonsillectomy wasn't suppose to take this long."
"Mrs. Rabb?" a doctor in green scrubs tapped her on the shoulder.
Not thinking about what the doctor called her, she jumped up anxious to hear about Harm. "How is he?"
"Well, he's been in recovery for about 45 minutes, but continued to have some bleeding. That's not all that uncommon especially in adults.
So we are going to keep him a little longer today."
"He's going to be alright?" Mac looked concerned.
"We are going to move him to outpatient recovery in a few minutes, and you can sit with him. He's still pretty sedated and will have a pretty bad sore throat, so he won't feel like talking." The doctor smiled. A nurse will come find you when we get him settled.
Finally Mac was escorted to a room where Harm was sleeping on his side. He looked extremely pale and made soft snoring sounds as he breathed. She walked over to him and gently stroked his face; he stirred a little and drowsily opened his eyes.
"Throat hurts." He whispered and drifted back to sleep. Mac suddenly felt a desire to cry as tears blurred her vision. "Suck it up Marine, just because you've never seen Harm look so helpless, doesn't mean you should fall apart." Mac thought.
She sat and watched him sleep deeply still under the effects of the anesthesia while the nurses repeatedly checked his vital signs. After what seemed like a couple of hours, Harm began to move around and groaned. "Harm are you going to decide to wake up?" Mac stood up next to the bed and smiled.
"Mac...I'm. Going to ...be sick."
******
"Nausea and vomiting are not uncommon after this procedure, but to be on the safe side I'm going to keep him overnight."
Captain Brooks, Harm's surgeon explained reassuringly.
"Dr. Brooks, Harm has had bleeding and now nausea and vomiting. What else should I expect that is 'not uncommon' after this procedure?" Mac responded using her 'I'm a Marine so don't push me' tone.
"The bleeding caused the nausea and vomiting. The vomiting has caused more bleeding. We're watching him closely, Mrs. Rabb. You don't need to become overly concerned." Captain Brooks replied soothingly. "Why don't you go get something to eat while the nurses move him to his room for tonight."
"I don't think I need to leave him like this." Mac said more softly.
"Very well, I'll see that you have a cot next to his bed." The Captain smiled.
**********
"A piece of cake." Admiral Chegwidden sighed after hearing Mac's account of Harm's surgery. "I assume you're planning on staying the night?"
"Sir, I just hate to leave him..."
"Take a few days, Colonel. Knowing how pig headed the Commander is..he won't follow any of the doctor's orders. I need him back, not sick." the Admiral gave Mac a half smile.
That night was one of the longest Mac had ever experienced. Between being sick and the pain that followed being sick and the medication for the nausea and pain that just made Harm totally unable to function unassisted, Mac was totally exhausted. She finally collapsed on the cot for a couple of hours before the doctor came in and decided to discharge Harm.
Armed with postoperative instructions and prescriptions, Mac directed Harm into his SUV and headed for his apartment.
Harm followed her directions unable to talk and too drugged to focus. She led him to his bed where he collapsed and immediately fell asleep fully dressed. Mac sucked in a deep breath and proceeded to remove his shoes, socks, pants and shirt. "OK sailor, you've got to wake up enough to drink something."
For the next few hours she managed to get several glasses of cold clear liquids down him before she collapsed next to him on the bed and slept.
Harm begins to wake up and realize that Mac was still with him. He recalled waking up for brief moments to see her holding his head when he was sick or ordering him to drink something when all he wanted to do was sleep. She looked so peaceful sleeping next to him. He smiled and drifted back to sleep after he snuggled up close to her.
**********
Harm's apartment
1600
A few hours later a persistent knocking could be heard at the door.
Mac forced herself to wake up and saw Harm was still sleeping soundly.
Knock Knock Knock
"Ok, Ok, keep your pants on" Mac mumbled and opened the door.
"Webb!"
"Geez Mac I thought Rabb had the surgery." Webb gave Mac the once over noting her disheveled appearance.
"Thanks Clay. What do you want? Harm's not going to be up to helping you with one of your 'projects'." Mac responded irritably.
"Actually I came by to check on him. I heard he had a rough time of it, and I brought him some Vichyssoise from La Tours." Webb countered coolly.
"The Tin Man has a heart." Mac rolled her eyes and stepped back from the door so he could enter.
Webb took a bag to the kitchen and began to look around.
"He's asleep." Mac read his thoughts, "Did you think he was out jogging?"
"Someone hasn't gotten much sleep lately." Webb replied unscathed by her sarcastic remarks.
"Sorry Clay, you're right. Have a seat." Mac replied wearily.
"I brought you a steak while I was getting Rabb's soup. I figured he didn't have anything you'd like to eat." Webb pulled a take out container and a container of soup from the bag and placed them on the counter.
Mac smiled and spoke more gently, "Thanks Clay...How did you know I'd be here?" She frowned as she began opening the take out container. The food smelled wonderful, and she remembered she hadn't eaten since yesterday.
"It's my job to know these things." Clay smiled slightly and responded without missing a beat.
Knock knock knock
"You eat Mac. I'll get it."
"Webb?"
"Admiral, Dr. Walden."
"What are you doing here?" AJ frowned as he brushed by with Sydney at his side.
"He brought Harm some cold potato soup and me a steak." Mac called out from the kitchen while busily cutting her steak.
"It's Vichyssoise" Clay responded indignantly.
Handing Clay a bag, "We brought ice cream, put it in the freezer."
The Admiral directed and looked around the apartment.
"Harm's sleeping." Mac pointed with her fork towards the bedroom.
AJ peaked into the bedroom seeing Harm's sleeping pale face, "Is he any better?"
"He's been able to keep clear liquids down and at least he's sleeping."
"You don't look like you've had a whole lot of sleep or food Colonel." AJ frowned as he observed Mac attacking her steak.
Knock Knock Knock
Everyone looked at Webb, "I'll get it"
"Mr. Webb!" A surprised Bud and Harriet Roberts stood at the door.
"Come in and join the party." Webb stated slightly sarcastically.
"Admiral, Dr. Walden, Colonel" Bud acknowledged the group sitting at the bar. "We brought Commander Rabb some Popsicles."
"They're the frozen fruit juice bars," Harriet added with a smile,
"Little AJ loves them when he's sick."
Webb took the package and placed the box into the freezer. "Can I get anyone something to drink, some ice cream, a fruit bar."? Webb acted a little put out and pretended to play host. Bud frowned "No thank you .." and began looking around.
"Commander Rabb's sleeping." Mac said between bites.
"Oh... Colonel are you feeling all right. You look a little.." Bud asked.
Mac put down her silverware, "I'm fine Bud. What is it with all of you?" She looked at the three men.
"You look like hell, Colonel." AJ responded matter of factly. Sydney shot him a look. "Well it's true. But you do look better than Rabb."
Sydney and Harriet gave Mac a sympathetic look. "Taking care of a man when he's sick is the most difficult task a woman will ever have to do." Sydney defended.
"That's the truth." Harriet added emphatically bringing a smile to Mac's face.
"No way." all three men chimed in.
"Granted, taking care of Commander Rabb should qualify as hazardous duty, but I'm not that bad." The Admiral replied incredulously.
Sydney rolled her eyes while Mac and Harriet burst into laughter.
"Colonel, where is Miss Peterson?" Bud decided to change the subject before he became the next target.
"Harm said she was in California filming a project. I don't think he told her about his little surgery." Mac grinned and shook her head.
"Why would he tell her, when he's got you Mac." Webb retorted.
"He doesn't HAVE me Clay. It's just that...well...you know how he is... he would never ask for help."
"Except from you." Harriet added.
"We're friends!"
"What does Brumby think about you playing nurse to Harm?" AJ quizzed.
"This has nothing to do with Mic and I.."
"He doesn't know." AJ finished. No one looked surprised, except Mac.
"He's in New York on a case. besides I would do the same for any of you." Mac defended.
Clay rolled his eyes. Bud shifted uncomfortably and looked out the window, while the Admiral raised an eyebrow and let out a single, "Ha!"
Harriet and Sydney smiled at each other knowingly.
The interrogation was interrupted by the appearance of a rather pitiful looking naval commander. Dressed in sweat pants and t-shirt, he drug himself into the living room and collapsed on the sofa. He looked around frowning as if to ask, "Why is everyone here?"
Mac slid off her bar stool and headed to the freezer retrieving one of the Robert's fruit bars and handed it to Harm. "Eat this Harm. It will help." This was more of an order than a suggestion.
"Well Commander, I see you have survived." AJ smiled.
Forgetting his throat momentarily Harm was about to respond but stopped abruptly when he felt the intense pain as he swallowed.
"I think that's debatable." Clay observed and received a 'drop dead' look from Harm.
Harriet found a pad and pen and sympathetically instructed, "Here Commander. Don't try to talk."
'I FORGOT I WAS HAVING A PARTY TODAY' Harm scribbled and slid the pad to Clay.
Smiling he read the message out loud. "The Admiral brought ice cream, so all we need is cake." Clay taunted.
"Let's see. In the Commander's own words, this surgery should be a piece of cake." AJ added. Bud laughed immediately receiving a sharp jab in the ribs from Harriet.
"You're turn is coming Bud Roberts and Mr. Webb. With all due respect, Sir, yours will too." Harriet asserted.
Sydney agreed and added, "AJ as I recall, two weeks ago when you hit your hand with that hammer..."
"Ok, Ok" AJ as well as the others backed off.
Harm smiled slightly at the sight of his CO being dressed down by Harriet and Sydney.
"We just came by to check on you. I see you are receiving excellent care Commander. By the way, I've postponed your court cases for the next two weeks, and I'd better not see your six in the office next week." The Admiral warned.
'THANKS FOR COMING BY, IF YOU'LL SEND OVER MY CASE FILES, I WILL FINISH THE BRIEFS ON THE MONTROSE AND JEFFERS CASES.'
"Commander, I don't think you understood my message. No work next week! And that's an order!"
Harm just nodded.
"I think I like you better like this Commander.... you don't argue back." the Admiral laughed.
After all the company departed, Mac brought him a pain pill and cold juice. Picking up the pen and pad Harm wrote
'THANKS, WHY DON'T YOU GO HOME. I'LL BE OK. I PLAN TO JUST SLEEP.'
"You can't even talk. I'm not leaving you." Mac said softly.
'YOU LOOK TIRED. I'M SORRY I'VE BEEN SUCH A PAIN.'
"You're always a pain. My being tired has nothing to do with that." Mac teased.
'FUNNY, MARINE, SERIOUSLY MAC, I DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH YOUR PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND.'
"What plans?"
'MIC'
"He's out of town, besides, he will just have to understand."
Harm shook his head.
"Harm why didn't you tell Renee you were going to have this surgery?"
'THE JOB SHE IS ON IS IMPORTANT. A BIG CAREER MOVE, BESIDES CAN YOU IMAGINE RENEE PLAYING NURSE' Harm smiled.
"Actually, I could, but not the same way you were imaging." Mac smiled mischievously.
'RED LIGHT' Harm raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"I'm glad you're beginning to feel better. Do you think you could eat some of Webb's potato soup?"
Harm shook his head no.
'HAVE YOU EATEN?'
"Webb brought me a steak."
Confused, 'HOW DID HE KNOW YOU WERE HERE?'
"Who else would be with you when you're in trouble, Flyboy?" Mac teased.
Harm's smile faded as his eyes met hers 'Who else indeed.'
"Drink up, the doctor said the more you drink' the better your throat will feel. Tomorrow you've got to try to eat something."
Harm groaned and swallowed painfully.
"I agree with the Admiral. I think I like you better when you can't argue back."
'I JUST DON'T GIVE UP EASILY.'
Except on us, Mac thought and quickly changed the subject.
"I'm going to take a shower and change into something more comfortable like a pair of your boxer shorts and a t-shirt" Mac teased. "I want to see that glass empty when I come back and that's an order."
Harm saluted in acknowledgement.
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