Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters do not belong to me. I don't make any
money for this.
Classification: PG
Category: Harm and Mac Romance/Humor/Drama
Summary: This is a sequel to 'In Another's Shoes' and 'Something
More'. This story assumes that all the events of season six and seven have occurred.
Gabe finally gets his Christmas wish.
Part 2
Expecting the house to be chaotic, she was amazed to find the boys clean and dressed in their pajamas sprawled on the floor doing their homework. Anna was dressed for bed in her nightie sitting close by playing with several of Gabe's most prized hot wheels.
"Hi Mom!" The boys called out first.
"Hi Mommie!" Anna grinned and held up a small red corvette. "Gabe let me play with his vette."
"I see that. Where is Daddy?"
"He's asleep. Don't wake him up, cause he's sick." Gabe warned.
Mac eased into the bedroom and found Harm sleeping with an occasional cough that did not seem to disturb his slumber. She picked up the prescription bottle and read the label 'Amantadine 200mg take one daily.' "So you did go to the doctor." She kissed him softly on his forehead and picked up his glass to go refill it.
The dark sedan sat silently several houses down and watched as the lights went out throughout the house.
Harm awoke early and looked around his room. He had slept alone, his coughing had probably keep Mac up, and she moved to the sofa. He groaned as he sat up and a harsh cough escaped. 'Another day of feeling like crap'. Slowly he made his way into the shower and stood under the warm water trying to shake the chills. Finally he gave up and dressed in thick sweats, picked up the Tylenol bottle and painfully swallowed a couple of pills followed by the amantadine. This stuff was supposed to shorten the length of his flu and ease they symptoms. 'Yea right'.
He thought he heard noises from the kitchen so he gingerly made his way in the direction of activity.
"Morning Dad!" Gabe said a little too cheerfully and loudly for Harm's aching head.
"Morning. What are you doing up so early?" Harm whispered and eased into a chair.
"I made you some tea." Gabe carefully balanced a cup on a saucer and placed it before Harm.
"Wow." Harm tried to sound impressed but failed miserably. He picked up the cup and debated whether to drink the watered-down lukewarm beverage with a half of a lemon floating in it. Cautiously he sipped the liquid and winced.
"Do you like it Daddy? I put lots of honey in it. Honey is supposed to be good for sore throats and coughs." Gabe explained and waited for his father's reply.
"I should be cured then." He squeaked. "Thanks Gabe. I thought I heard you talking to someone." Harm placed the cup back on its saucier.
"Mom was up. She is taking a shower in our bathroom 'cause she didn't want to wake you up."
"What time did she get in last night?"
"Around nine. We stayed up and waited for her to get in since you were sleeping."
Mac walked into the kitchen wearing a thick terry robe. "Morning sailor. Are you feeling any better?"
"Why didn't you call and let me know you were going to be so late?" He grouched irritably.
"I should have, but Mic and I were so close to finding the information we needed that I didn't realize it was so late."
"Mic?" His voice strained causing it to sound high pitched.
"Mic is part of the delegation. I told you the SecNav had me working with the delegation."
"And just when did you loose your incredible powers of knowing what time it is without a watch!" He picked up Gabe's tea and took a large swallow ignoring its excessive sweetness.
Mac shot him a look that would freeze hell. Will, in the mean time walked in and began to dig through the refrigerator. Harm stood up angrily and immediately regretted the move as everything seemed dance before him. "Harm please sit down before you fall down. You are making something out of nothing."
"The kids are hungry." His voice squeaked hoarsely. "Someone needs to fix them something." He opened the pantry door roughly causing it to slam against the wall. He grabbed the oatmeal box and walked over to the cook top and proceeded to prepare breakfast. Will and Gabe tried to make themselves blend in with the furniture as they watched their parents storm around the kitchen.
"Okay be that way!" Mac replied icily and left to go get Anna dressed.
Harm sat steaming bowls of oatmeal on the table along with some milk and the remainder of the honey. He then stomped back to his bedroom and climbed into the bed pulling the covers completely over his aching head. When he woke up it was almost lunchtime, and the house was deserted.
Feeling guilty, he decided to call Mac and apologize. He reached a secretary who informed him that she had gone to lunch with several of the delegation members. "Brumby is like a damn boomerang. Just when you think he's gone forever he shows up and hits you in the ass." Harm muttered feeling sorry for himself.
Not wanting to sit around and think about Bugme, he picked up the phone and dialed Bud. Bud gave him some information related to the investigation, but so far they had found no true leads. The weapons were missing from several delivery points and not just from PAX. Lt. Miller could not have been in all those places at the same time. "Damn."
Harm rubbed his eyes and resigned himself to watching some mindless TV show in the den. He wrapped up in an afghan and drifted into a fevered sleep.
Mac was so engrossed in her work and did not see the shadow of a man approaching her. He lifted his hand ready to strike. The shine of the sharp metal blade as it caught the light meant no chance of survival or escape.
Harm frantically tried to warn her, but he could make no sound. He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Mac's voice startled him from his dream.
"Mac! What time is it? Aren't you home early today?" His voice sounded strained.
"Yea, I took a few hours comp time from yesterday. I had more important matters to attend to today." She handed him a glass of Gatorade.
Harm looked at her questioningly as she explained. "My husband is sick, and he and my children need me more than the Pentagon." She placed a pillow behind him.
"Mac, I'll be okay. I'm sorry I acted like an idiot this morning." Harm looked morose and rather pitiful.
"You don't feel well, and I haven't been there for you or the kids. Last night when I came home, I expected everyone to be at lose ends, but our children had everything under control. Part of me is proud that they cope so well, but most of me feels guilty." She sat down on the arm of the chair next to Harm and continued, "I'm my parents all over. When my father was so drunk he couldn't function, my mother would shut down, and I had to take over. I became the parent, and she was the child." She paused, not sure if she could continue. "I should have been here. Instead I became defensive, and we fought." Tears streamed down her face.
Harm pulled her into his lap. "Honey, you are not your mother, and I am not your father. I have the flu. I will get better and be able to do my part." He reached up and touched her face. "When we decided to get married, you took the transfer when you would have been happier staying at JAG. You are still adjusting and feeling the pressure to prove yourself. This is a temporary situation, and you should be proud of our children. I certainly am. And I'm so proud of you." Harm struggled with his raspy voice to get the words out. She reached up, took his hand in hers, and kissed it.
"I'm sorry I've been such an ass. I hate being sick. And as for Brumby...you once asked me what I would give up for you because he was willing to give up his country and career for you. I wonder sometimes if you think you made the right decision, because you seem to be the only one making sacrifices around here." He looked down as he spoke. Mac smiled at his confession. He was surprising her more each day with his openness.
"It's ironic that Mic left me because he felt I didn't love him enough and that I just didn't want to be alone. I didn't make any sacrifices for him, and he couldn't handle that." She was leaning back against Harm while he held her. "He was right. He asked me if I loved you on the plane the other day, and I told him...with all my heart. Well I'm definitely not alone, and I haven't seen anything that I've done for this marriage as a sacrifice. I'm just following my heart for a change, and it feels so right." Mac smiled gently and stroked his hand as he kissed her head.
"I've put some tea on and stopped by the pharmacy to pick you up some of that mentholated vapor ointment to rub on your chest. I do remember my mom doing that when I had a cold." She said as she stood up and turned to him with a smile.
Harm smiled, "My grandmother used to do the same thing."
About that time a door opened and a whirlwind of chatter and activity descended on them as the Rabb children entered the house followed by their Uncle Sergei.
"I had Sergei pick them up. He's going to stick around for a few days." Mac smiled.
"But he was in New York."
"He called last night when you were sleeping and decided to come back. He's a natural uncle you know."
"Hey big brother, you feel any better?" Sergei entered the room with Anna on his back and the two boys hanging from each leg.
"Now I do. Thanks for coming."
"Come on kids, I will show you a Russian game and then you must start on your books." Sergei herded the young crowd towards the door to the back yard.
Will stopped and returned to give his Mom and Dad a quick hug before chasing after his uncle and siblings. "I guess this is one of those bad times when we stick together." Harms said with a small smile as he watched his children happily follow their uncle. "But somehow it feels like one of the good times."
"I called Dr. Stringer and he wants you to come in this afternoon for a chest x-ray. He said you should be feeling better with the medication he gave you." Mac pulled on her husband's arm to help him up.
"Awe Mac, I hate going to the doctor." Harm whined and then began a lengthy coughing spell.
"I'm sure he's just as thrilled about seeing you too. Suck it up Sailor. Try to act like a Marine." She added with a twinkle in her eye.
******
"I think we've finally come to an understanding about the weapons that were found. The delegation from Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines and Australia are beginning to accept the possibility that we are not supplying the Korean terrorist groups with weapons." Mac explained trying to keep her disgruntled husband's mind off the long wait to see the doctor. "We just need proof."
"American made weapons are showing up in the South Pacific?" Harm suddenly realized the implication of her statement.
"That's what I've been talking about for the past twenty eight minutes."
"Mac, I've been investigating discrepancies in our supply of weapons to our bases." Harm explained.
"Someone is stealing weapons designated from our bases and selling them to North Korea terrorist groups. Do you know who is doing this?" Mac asked.
"I was in the middle of the investigation when I came down with this flu!"
"You suspect some of our own people are involved?"
"We have solid documentation that the correct order numbers are shipped from the factory, then we loose track once the weapons are distributed. It has to be insiders."
"That will not go over well with the delegation." Mac groaned.
"Mac, we're not talking about that many missing weapons. Whoever is doing this may just want it to look like we are supplying weapons to those terrorist groups."
Mac sat thoughtfully. "You could be right."
"I interviewed a Lt. Miller yesterday. He seemed tense like he was hiding something."
"You did what?"
"I had to get out anyway, so I made a quick trip to PAX and caught him before he left." Harm realized he had told on himself.
"No wonder you aren't getting better. What part of get some rest and don't go to work do you not understand!" Mac fussed.
"Mac someone needs to follow up on Miller...find out where has he been stationed? Who are his friends and relatives? What is the connection to this terrorist group."
"Dropping chaff again flyboy. I've already targeted and put a lock on your six so you won't get away this time. No working! I'll check out Miller." Mac replied firmly.
Outside Bethesda in a parked car...
"He talked with Miller yesterday, and his wife is Colonel Sarah Mackenzie Rabb advisor to the delegation. It won't be long before they figure this out...Yes I know what must be done. It will look like a robbery that went south. We will use the recent string of robberies in the area as our cover. No one will ever suspect any thing different." The man ended the call and observed the couple walk to their vehicle.
"Mac, I promise I'll stay in bed and take all my medicine."
"Harm, you have pneumonia! The doctor recommended that you be admitted for IV antibiotics and respiratory therapy."
"He recommended it, but didn't require me to stay. He said I could go home and take my medication."
"One time, just one time that I find your six anywhere but in the bed or walking to the bathroom, and your butt is going straight back here."
Later that evening...
The kids sat around the kitchen table busy coloring 'get well' pictures for Harm while Mac and Sergei prepared dinner.
"Why does Daddy have to stay in bed?" Gabe asked again for the tenth time.
"Because he has pneumonia and the doctor wants him to rest so that he can get better." Mac explained again and rolled her eyes at Sergei who was busy chopping cabbage for minestrone soup.
Mac's cell phone rang for the tenth time, "Mac, I'm bored. Could you bring up my briefcase. I left it in the den last night." Gabe may not have been Harm's biologic child, but he had taken on many of his adoptive father's personality traits, Mac thought.
"Harm, I know you're just trying to aggravate me until I give in and tell you that you can come down here, but it won't work. Dinner is almost ready, and I'll bring you up some soup and crackers. Is there anything else you need?" Mac replied patiently.
"Could you just stay up here a while?" Harm's voice sounded pitiful.
"I'll be up in four minutes, Sailor." She turned to the kids and inspected their work. Gabe of course drew pictures of airplanes and jets while Will drew pictures of each of them playing ball. Anna's picture was more Picasso style so it could be interpreted as about anything.
"Okay let's take Daddy his dinner and your pictures." Mac placed a bowl of soup and crackers along with several beverages on a tray. Sergei picked up Anna and carried her piggyback style. The boys gathered up their pictures along with a box that they had been secretly discussing all evening and followed the entourage.
Harm was propped up anxiously awaiting everyone when they paraded into the bedroom. Mac cleared the bedside table and placed the tray on it. Following their Mom's instructions, the boys stood around the edge of the bed hesitant to speak or move. Anna pulled down from her Uncle Sergei's arms and immediately climbed on the bed and handed her picture to him. "I drawed you a picture Daddy." She smiled sweetly and waited for him to comment.
"This is so pretty, pumpkin! It is so...colorful. You have some of my favorite colors here. Tell me about your picture." Harm had done this before.
"It's flowers!" Anna announced proudly.
"I can see that." Harm responded positively while the boys looked over his shoulder at the picture.
"I don't see any flowers." Gabe replied sarcastically while Will giggled.
Anna's face clouded up in anger, "They are Daddy's flowers?" She then dove over Harm towards her brother.
Sergei intercepted the angry almost three-year-old, "Sergei thinks they are most beautiful flowers my little princess." Anna smiled easily charmed by her uncle and gave him a big kiss.
Gabe and Will snickered until they received a threatening glare from Mac, "Remember what I said. If you misbehave you can't come check on your Dad."
"Sorry Mom, Dad I drew you an F-14 and a steerman." Gabe handed his picture proudly to Harm who nodded in appreciation.
"They look like the real thing. Great detail Gabe." He replied with a smile.
Will handed his picture to Harm and waited anxiously for Harm to respond.
"I see Mom, Anna, Gabe, Sergei, you and me playing ball. Nice job, Will!" He watched Will grin with pride.
"Will and me brought you a surprise Daddy. Don't show anyone. It is for when you get bored. It's guy stuff." Gabe whispered as he pushed the box underneath the covers.
"I'm sure I'll appreciate that and so will your Mother." Harm gave Mac a sheepish look and began another round of harsh coughing.
"Okay gang, time to go eat your supper with Uncle Sergei." Mac ordered and stroked Harm's back as he tried to suppress the coughing spasms.
Once he settled down, she placed his dinner tray over his lap. "Sergei's special, minestrone. He said that was one of the few things he liked to cook that you would eat."
"He's right. Don't let him cook for the kids. He'll fix them all kinds of cow organs." Harm groaned.
"Don't worry, they hate his cooking more than yours."
"My cooking is healthy." He sounded offended.
"That it is. By the way, I'm taking off tomorrow." Mac announced as Harm picked at the food on his tray.
"But you need to follow up on the weapon's investigation from your end. I'll call the Admiral to get someone assigned from our end." Harm argued with what little voice he had.
"I called Mic. He's following up on your theory, Harm. I'm staying with you." Mac responded firmly and crossed her arms ending the discussion.
"Are you going to rub my chest with that vapor rub?" Harm moved the tray to the bedside table and scooted down under the sheets.
"Just call me Flo Nightingale." She pulled the jar out of her pocket and held it up with a smile.
**********
Harm was still sleeping while Mac and Sergei got the kids ready for school. Sergei had a class and was going to drop Anna off at day care so Mac could care for Harm.
Bud called to tell Mac that the Admiral had officially put him on the investigation. After Harm's theory was explained, Bud said he would call back when he knew something.
Mac opened the blinds to let light into the room and noticed the dark sedan parked across the street. She felt a sudden chill run down her spine and thought that she was glad that the kids were not at home. A man exited the car, walked to her neighbor's house, and entered. Mac chuckled in relief and dismissed her ominous feelings.
She sat down at her desk and began to sort through several files that she brought home and soon became preoccupied with her task.
The door creaked as it opened attracting her attention. "Harm? Are you up?"
She listened again and soon heard the familiar coughing from the bedroom. She made a quick stop by the kitchen and headed up to the bedroom. "Morning. How are you feeling?" She handed him several pills and a glass of juice.
"Tired. I hate being sick." He downed the pills and drank the juice. "I think I could sleep for a week."
"Go on back to sleep, I'll wake you for lunch." Mac sat by the bed until he drifted back to sleep.
She walked back to the kitchen for a cup of coffee when a hand grabbed her around the mouth and another attempted to push her down. She managed to plant her elbow into her attacker's side causing him to let go enough for her to push away and scream, "HARM!" He immediately tackled her sending them both along with several dishes crashing to the floor.
Harm awoke to the scream, not sure if he was dreaming or not. The sound of breaking dishes confirmed his fear. He quickly reached into the nightstand looking for his handgun to remember that he and Mac had locked them up to keep the kids from finding them. He got up and looked around for something to use as a weapon when the box that Gabe and Will brought him toppled onto the floor.
Harm smiled and picked up several of the items and stealthily made his way towards the kitchen. The intruder held Mac down on the floor with a knife held to her throat when Harm walked in. "Drop the knife or I'll blow you to the park two blocks away." Harm held his weapon steadily with two hands.
"I'll cut her first." The man threatened and pushed the knife towards Mac.
Another man entered distracting Mac's attacker long enough for Mac to knock the knife away. Harm turned towards the other intruder and dodged a bullet that whizzed by his head.
He hid behind the pantry as another bullet struck the woodwork. Harm reached inside his flannel boxer pocket and tossed some marbles on the floor in front of his assailant as he moved towards him. The man's feet flew up in the air and his gun slid several feet away.
Mac rolled over and was on her back when the first man lunged at her. She kicked him in the groin doubling him over in pain.
Harm and his opponent scrambled for the gun at the same time while Mac pulled herself up away from her attacker. She grabbed a heavy skillet from the cook top and whacked her attacker across the head knocking him unconscious.
Harm continued to battle for control of the gun but was quickly running out of adrenaline and energy. He reached into his pocket one more time, pulled out the last of his 'weapons', and threw it on the man's face. Shocked, the man let go of the gun in attempt to get away from the snake. Harm quickly planted the pistol into the man's gut.
"Now one wrong move, and I will carry out my original threat." He wheezed breathlessly and began to struggle to suppress a fit of coughing.
Mac moved over and took the gun from Harm maintaining a close vigilance over the attacker while Harm pulled himself up and headed to the phone.
An appliance cord was used to tie up the conscious intruder while they waited for the police. Harm sat in one of the kitchen chairs with his head propped up on his hands recovering from the action while Mac watched their captives.
"Nice work MacGyver." Mac grinned. "Where did you get the gun?"
"It was Gabe's water pistol. He and Will made me a care package last night in case I got bored." Harm smiled tiredly.
"Water pistol, marbles and a rubber snake?" Mac began to chuckle.
"Sounds almost kinky." Harm laughed only to start coughing again.
"You are oxygen deprived." Mac retorted.
"Among other things." Harm dropped his head on the cool kitchen table.
*********
The police, CIA, FBI, Naval Intelligence as well as Webb, Bud, the Admiral and Mic Brumby had all taken turns interrogating everyone at the Rabb residence. The Korean terrorists had obtained the American made weapons by threatening the relatives of key Navy officers who had married Korean women when stationed in South Korea. Apparently, a member of the delegation had masterminded the plan in an attempt to break the naval agreement with the South Pacific nations.
Everyone was now standing around discussing the situation when Mac decided that she had just about enough of everyone tramping through her house.
"If you have collected all the information you need gentlemen, get out of my house! No disrespect intended Sir." She looked at the Admiral, "All of you! Out! Now!" Mac threatened. Harm looked ready to pass out, and the kids would be home any time.
Mic looked at Bud and the Admiral with raised eyebrows. "She's gotten quite bossy."
"Mac is one strong willed woman. You got away just in the nick of time, Mic." The Admiral replied with a smirk as the group exited the Rabb residence.
"Commander, take care and don't come back to work till you are medically cleared. That is an order!" The Admiral shouted as he closed the door.
Mac turned to her husband with concern, "You don't look so good sailor."
"I'm tired, but I didn't get bored today." He smiled weakly.
"To bed with you now." Mac pulled him up and wrapped her arm around his waist while he draped his arm over her shoulder.
"I disobeyed direct orders Ma'am, are you going to have me confined to the hospital?"
"No, I've called the SecNav and requested leave until you go back to work. I kind of like having you around even when you are sick, a pain in the butt, hard headed…"
"Hey don't I get any sympathy for being sick?"
"No, you might learn to like it too much."
"You are a mean Marine. And to think I was jealous of Bugme."
"Watch it! I think it was sweet that you are jealous."
"Well, I got over it. If some guy wants to come sweep you off your feet just tell him that it's a package deal. Three kids go with you. He'll run the other way screaming."
"So you'll keep the fourth one?"
Harm stopped and looked confused. "Fourth one?"
Mac patted her abdomen and smiled. "Little Rabb number four present and accounted for."
The end
"Mom's going to have a baby." Will picked up a tiny BMW and examined it.
"That's what you get when you suck face, I mean kiss." Gabe groaned and lined up several yellow little cars.
"I'm never going to kiss a girl." Will announced disgustedly.
"What if the baby's a girl! We guys won't out number 'em anymore!" Gabe suddenly unhappily deducted.
"Guys, when it comes to the women in your life, we'll always be outnumbered, out maneuvered and out ranked." Harm chuckled as he shook his head and reached over to pick up a miniature mustang. "Hmm...a Ford...Fix Or Repair Daily."
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