Yesterday’s Today, Today’s Tomorrow
==========================================
Part Eleven by Malysa ([email protected])
Rating: PG
==========================================
MARCH 14, 1991 - 1800 LOCAL
MAC’S HOTEL ROOM
BETHESDA, MD
Mac laid on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. She had gotten leave time only by telling her CO that she
wouldn’t be in the office on Monday whether she had leave or not. Her request was approved only because her
superior hated the paper work that went along with declaring an officer AWOL.
No matter how hard she tried, Mac couldn’t get to sleep. Her odd revelation was eating at her very
soul. Could she be in love with
Harm? The very thought was absurd. How could she love him that way?
Knowing that lying in her dark room would be of no use, she jumped up and
grabbed her keys. She was out of the
room before the second hand on the clock could do half of a rotation.
==========================================
1830 LOCAL
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
BETHESDA, MD
Mac exited the elevator and walked quickly toward her best friend’s room. She was glad he was in a private room
because she might have felt bad for keeping the other patients up. It was when she got to the doorway that she
heard another voice in the room. Keeter
and Sturgis had a female visitor in the room, and she sounded distinctly like
Mac herself.
Sarah peeked in the door and saw the person she dreaded seeing--Diane. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her; they
were just so different though their looks were very much a like. The fact that Diane seemed to be taking her
place in Harm’s life was what really pissed her off. Deciding that there was no reason for her to sneak around, she
walked into the room with her head held high.
"Hey, Mac. You got leave,
right?" Sturgis asked fully in big brother mode. Ever since he and Keeter first met Mac, they were very protective
of her.
"Yes, I did. I couldn’t sleep, so
I decided to come back down here. Has
there been any change?" Mac questioned Keeter and Sturgis effectively
ignoring Diane. It wasn’t because she
was rude--the exact opposite actually.
She just didn’t want to get into an argument with the slightly older
female Navy officer in a hospital.
"The doctor doesn’t see any reason for him to not wake up within 24 to 48
hours," Diane responded with a sweet, but fake, smile on her face. She didn’t like Mac any more than Mac liked
her. She always felt as if she was just
a replacement because of Mac. Not that
Harm would ever do something like that…intentionally. "Hello, Mac. It’s
nice to see you again."
"Hi, Diane. Likewise."
"Well, I’m going to get some coffee.
Does anyone want anything?" Diane asked standing up. Everyone said no, and she was on her way.
"What?" Mac asked Sturgis annoyed that he was looking at her the way
he was.
"You’re jealous," he accused.
"I am not!"
"You are so jealous, Sarah Mackenzie," Keeter backed up his
friend. He grinned knowingly at the
woman he had grown to love as a good friend.
She was a very likeable person once you get to know her.
"Mac?" a quiet voice across the room choked out. The three other occupants of the room turned
in shock toward Harm who was struggling to keep his eyes open in the bright
light of the sterile white hospital room.
==========================================
Part
Twelve by Audrey <[email protected]>
Rating:
G
==========================================
SEPTEMBER
1978
FRIDAY,
1531 LOCAL
SCHOOL
YARD
Life
was great! Harmon Rabb Jr practically strutted down the front steps of the
school. Angela McMartin, a 17-year-old senior, had agreed to go the movies with
him! The same Angela McMartin who, just a month previous, had been supposedly
going steady with the despicable Sturgis Turner. It was a well known fact that
Harm and Sturgis hated each other - they competed over every little thing.
Including girls. The fact that Harm had effectively stolen the older girls
heart away from Sturgis only boosted Harm's growing ego.
"Harm!
Wait up!" Mac hurried down the steps after her friend. "Haarrm!"
Harm
stopped only long enough to catch up, then continued at a quick pace.
"What's
with the power walk?" Mac inquired, adjusting her backpack. He didn't
answer, so she continued. "Hey, so I was thinking. 'Star Wars' is still
playing down at the MegaPlex, and I usually spend Fridays at your house anyways
so...why don't we go see it again?"
"Can't."
Harm replied, hurrying across the street. "I'm busy."
Mac
looked slightly crestfallen. "You're never busy on Friday nights,
Harm."
He
shrugged. "Well, I am this Friday night."
"Harm!
I always spend Friday nights at your house!" This time, her voice
indicated the slight hurt she was feeling. As of late, the nights at her house
were getting real bad. The only thing that got her through the week was the
thought that she'd get to spend Friday night at her best friend's house.
"It's
only one Friday night, Mac."
She
gave no reply, only slowed her pace. If Harm noticed, he gave no indication and
just kept walking.
==========================================
1905
LOCAL
MAC'S
HOUSE
Mac
sat in front of her house, listening to the silence. It was quiet, but within a
few hours she knew that would change. Her parents fought more and more, and her
mom kept threatening to leave. She had, once, but had come back the next
morning after her father had pleaded with her to return. For a few days, things
had been harmonious. But it had quickly gone back to being routine.
"Hey,
Mac." She looked up as her friend Eddie approached, a paper bag in his
hands. "Took it from my dad's stash." He informed her, opening the
bag and handing her a bottle. "Vodka. Strong stuff. Drink enough and it'll
knock you out so you won't have to live through your dad's hell tonight."
"Thanks."
Mac accepted the bottle, cradling it to her. Harm knew she drank, and he'd kill
her if he knew that Eddie supplied her with most of the alcohol, but he was out
with Angela McMartin. Mac had seen the two of them leaving together. The
thought of Harm going out with a girl like Angela disgusted Mac. Angela was a
stuck up bitch. However, she was a very well developed stuck up bitch, and so
the guys were naturally attracted to her.
"I
heard that Angela's first time was when she was twelve." Eddie commented,
seemingly reading the thoughts on Mac's mind.
"First
time?" Mac questioned, before it dawned on her. Oh. First time. Got it.
She and Eddie sat in silence, watching as the stars began to twinkle into view.
She and Eddie were good friends, not as close as she and Harm, but good
friends. They spent a lot of time together lately because Harm always seemed to
be off with some girl, or trying to get in contact with his dad. Never before
had it bugged Mac that Harm was growing up, spending more time away from her.
But it did tonight. Perhaps because he had blown off what had become their own
Friday night tradition.
"You
think...?" She began, and then stopped.
"Do
I think what?" Eddie questioned, tilting his head to look at her.
"Nothing."
Mac replied, eyes darting from him back to the sky. "Thanks Eddie. I owe
you."
Her
friend shrugged. "No problem. See you later."
Mac
sighed as she watched Eddie disappeared into the distance. From inside her
house she heard her father beginning to ramble about the news on television. It
was starting. It always started with him upset at all the bad news on
television. Sighing again, she reached for the bottle of Vodka. It was going to
be a long night.
==========================================
2215
LOCAL
HARM
AND MAC'S STREET
No!
Damn him! Damn her! Harm stalked angrily down the street, hands jammed into his
pockets, kicking at a small rock on the ground. He watched as it tumbled down
the street ahead of him, getting lost in the darkness.
He
and Angela had been at the movies. About halfway through the movie, Angela had
excused herself to go to the restroom. She had never returned. As Harm walked
out of the theater, he had caught a glimpse of Angela in the backseat of Jon
Allen's car. Jon Allen, as in the MVP of the school football team. Jon Allen,
as in Sturgis Turner's best friend. Harm had confronted her, of course. And her
response?
"Too
young!" Harm spoke those hated words aloud. "She said I was too young for her!"
Harm
stopped in his tracks at the sound of something breaking. He stood in front of
Mac’s house and could see her parents arguing forms silhouetted against the
window. Almost instantly guilt overtook his anger. He could have had a nice
evening catching a movie with his best friend. Instead he had left her
to...this...while he was out with Angela feeling like a total idiot.
“H...Harm?”
Mac emerged from the side yard on wobbly legs.
“Mac?”
Harm moved to her side. “Mac are you....” The stench of alcohol was all over
her. It was strong enough to make him take a step back. “You’ve been drinking!”
He accused.
“Vodka.”
She confirmed. “I got halfway through the bottle and....” She paused, putting a
hand to her mouth and burped quietly. “...and got sick. I was trying to hurry
around to the backyard so Dad wouldn’t see me and I tripped. Spilled the rest
of the bottle down my front.”
“Come
on.” Harm urged, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “You can get cleaned up
at my place. I think I have some stuff you can wear while we wash your
clothes.”
They
made their way slowly to Harm’s house, pausing momentarily for him to unlock
the door. “Mom’s gone tonight.” He explained. “On a date with some guy.”
“How
was...Angela?” Mac slurred, as they stepped through the doorway.
“Don’t
ask.”
Despite
herself, Mac grinned. “I thought you told me no one could resist the Rabb
charm?”
Harm
only snorted in reply, fighting to withhold the smile that threatened to creep
across his face. “Go on and wash up. I’ll see what if I have any clean clothes
for you.”
Half
an hour later, Mac stretched out on the sofa as Harm pulled a blanket over her.
“Bad?”
Harm asked, sitting on the floor beside her.
Mac
knew what he meant. “Yeah. I guess there was a fatal shoot out at the bank
today that made the news. You know how Dad hates news like that. He started
drinking before the newscast was even over.” Before he could respond, she
settled in, eyes closing sleepily. “Thanks Harm.”
“Always.”
He replied, watching as she drifted off to sleep. He gently brushed a strand of
her hair away from her face, reveling in the softness of her skin. “’Night
Sarah.”
Quietly
he got to his feet and, after looking back at her once, he went off to bed.
==========================================
Part
Thirteen by Pat [[email protected]]
==========================================
BETHESDA
NAVAL HOSPITAL
"Harm,
oh Harm thank God," Mac breathed, at his bedside at once, taking his hand
in hers.
"Mac
what are you doing here?" he gasped.
"Could someone turn out the light?
It hurts. Sturgis, Keeter? OK what's going on? My head is killing me. Where the hell am I any way. Why are you guys aboard?"
"Whoa
slow down Sailor," Mac said softly, stroking the back of his hand. "I know you're not supposed to be
getting all upset. You've given us all
a scare, especially me. Do you remember
anything?"
"The
storm. The storm and the carrier,"
he gasped again shielding his eyes as Turner turned off the bright light. "It was storming, bad. The deck was pitching. I was about out of fuel. Had to make it in that pass. Too low.
Too low. Glide path too
low. He was waving me off. But I couldn't go around again. Ramp strike. And fire.
Everywhere. I don't remember
anything else. But how did you guys get
out here so fast?"
"Harm
it's been about seventy-two hours since it happened," she said gently,
stroking his hair back from his forehead.
"And you're not on the carrier.
You were medivac'd to Ramstein and from there to Bethesda." She had to choke down a sob before she could
go on. "I was so afraid you were
never going to wake up."
"I'm
so confused," he murmured, putting his hand to his eyes. "My RIO? How is he?"
Sturgis
and Keeter both stepped forward when Mac did not reply right away.
"OK
tell me," Harm demanded.
"He's
dead Harm, I'm sorry," Sturgis spoke up.
"He was killed on impact."
Harm's
eyes squeezed shut and he sank deeply into his pillow. "I should have died too."
"Harm
please don't even think that," Mac begged tearfully. "It's going to be OK. All that matters is that you're awake. You're going to be OK now."
"You
now my career is over," he murmured.
"The crash is my fault. I'm
not going to be flying paper planes when the investigation is
finished." He choked off a sob of
his own and added bitterly, "I hope McDonald's is hiring."
"OK
Rabb, that's it," Keeter groaned.
"You're not going to lay there and feel sorry for yourself. You've got plenty of expertise you can give
the Navy. They're not going to get rid
of you even if you don't fly any more.
So knock that off and be glad you're OK and be glad there's a woman here
who cares enough to put up with you.
Though God knows why."
"Oh
my God he's awake," Diane gasped from the doorway. "Harm I've been so worried."
==========================================
Part Fourteen by Rising Sun ([email protected])
==========================================
AT THE DUCK POND
Mac had been searching for Harm all day. She hadn’t
spotted him at school or on the route to or from school. It was as if he had
disappeared. The day before had been
his sixteenth birthday and his mom had had a small gathering for him after all
sixteen was a milestone!
She had resorted to looking for him in their
various haunts and she had just one more left. If he were not there then she’d
lie in wait for him at his house and ambush him. She headed for the duck pond on the edge of town.
As she approached on her bicycle she saw the
familiar form of Harm. In one fluid motion the bike came to a halt, Mac jumped
off and she flung herself on her best friend.
“Hey!” he jumped.
“Harm I was worried! I couldn’t find you anywhere!”
The eleven year old wailed.
“I’ve been around squirt.” He said.
“I’ll be twelve next month so watch who you call
squirt.” Came her automatic response. “Did you play hooky?”
When he didn’t reply she continued, “Is it that bad turning sixteen?” “No.” he whispered, “It\s that bad moving on.” She frowned “Sorry? You not making sense.” She plonked herself next to him. He didn’t reply immediately and they sat watching the ducks glide about in the pond. Harm took a deep breath and began to
speak “I’m going away Mac.” “NO!” The pre-teen screamed “Harm you can’t!” She was becoming hysterical. “Don’t leave me please!”
She was already sobbing. “You’ll be back?”
“Uh huh.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
She struggled to get control of herself “What kind
of answer is that! What are you going away for anyway!
He looked even more sober. “I’m going to get my
dad.”
Mac looked shocked “Say what?”
“You heard me.” He said.
“I heard something.” She retorted.
“I’m going to Vietnam then I’ll be back cause I
have to graduate so that I can enter Annapolis. You are still going right?”
She looked
skeptical. “You and Uncle Matt are the people closest to me, but if you are
leaving me.”
“I’m not leaving you Mac. I’m going on a mission …
I will be back. And we will go to Annapolis.
I’ll go NAVY and you’ll be a Marine like your Uncle. We’ve talked about
this. Don’t back out on me now.”
She remained silent.
“Mac I need to know you’ll be here when I get
back. Wait for me please.” He tried a
new tactic. “If you want I’ll beg.” He
tickled her.
She giggled “No fair Harm!”
He tickled some more “Say yes.” He commanded.
“Stop!” She squealed.
He continued, “Say yes!”
“Yes! Yes!” she surrendered.
He stopped. “Good.”
“Harm.”
“Mmmm.”
“Come back safe.” She asked.
“I will jarhead.” He promised.
“Squid.” She grinned.
==========================================
NOVEMBER 13, 1979
MACKENZIE RESIDENCE
For the first time in a long time Sarah Mackenzie -
Marine in waiting celebrated her birthday without Harm.
She was twelve years old and it had been a crappy
day and one she vowed she’d forget.
She picked up the phone and dialed. “Hey Eddie.” She said as he answered the
phone. “What you doing?”
“Hanging around.” He replied.
“Wanna meet at the old mill?” She asked.
“A bring what you drink meeting?” he inquired.
“What else!”
“See you in fifteen.” He promised.
She hung up. Yep it was a day she’d soon forget.
==========================================
NOVEMBER 13, 1979
FIVE MINUTES LATER
PUBLIC PAYPHONE SOME WHERE IN VIETNAM
Harm finally hung up the phone.
“Any luck?” Gyn his newly made female friend asked.
He shook his head. “It’s her birthday today maybe
her folks took her out.” But he didn’t sound convinced.
“Maybe.” Gyn echoed.
==========================================
Part
Fifteen by Malysa ([email protected])
Rating: PG13 (There are some swear words...)
==========================================
1845
LOCAL
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
BETHESDA, MD
"Diane, what are you doing here?" Harm asked trying to process it
all. Everything seemed so confusing and
unreal. How could this be
happening? Why was it happening to him?
"When I heard about your crash, I was on the next available
transport. Would you expect anything
else?" Diane told him. She walked
up to him and kissed him gently on his forehead. Internally, she took pleasure in Mac's backward step. Externally, she was only the concern
sort-of-girlfriend.
"Of course. Sorry. I guess, I'm in shock still. If you guys wouldn't mind, I kinda want to
be alone," Harm said to his friends giving them each a look. As they all said goodbye and backed toward
the door, he stopped Mac. "Hey,
Mac, could you stay for just a minute?"
Mac nodded and turned to the others.
"I'll catch up with you later." Slowly and even a bit hesitantly, she approached Harm's bedside.
"How long have you been here?" he asked her. Somehow he knew that she had been there
since he arrived.
"I think you know the answer to that, Stickboy," she replied using
her favorite nickname for him from childhood.
His tall lanky frame from back then fit the description, and now it was
just fun to tease him with.
"I figured as much, Squirt," Harm retaliated. She wasn't the only one with potentially
embarrassing nicknames and memories to use.
"Watch who you call 'Squirt', Squid," she smirked at him. She sobered up and looked down at the
floor. When she brought her face back
up, her eyes were filled with tears that began to run down her cheeks. "You had me scared there for a second
or two, Harm."
"Sarah..." Harm murmured thumbing away her tears. All his problems slipped away when he saw
her cry. It had always been that way
for him. Mac had always been the most
important thing in his life. "You
know as well as anyone that it would take a lot more than just a plane crash to
take me down. I'm too stubborn."
"Damn straight," Mac chuckled wiping away the remaining tear tracks
on the face. "Flyboy, you do know
that although you can be a huge pain in my ass, I do need you. You’re my best friend. I love you, and I'm not sure if I can live
without you in my life. I don't want to
have to find out either."
**I love you Harm … come back to me. I can’t live without you.** Harm remembered hearing that somewhere, but
he couldn't place it. It wasn't said
like Mac would have said it, so there was no way it could have come from
her. It was said as a lover would say
it. Diane? He couldn't recall her saying that to him, but it would have to
be. She was the only woman he really knew
who was that open with her emotions.
"I love you; too, Mac, and I hope that neither of us ever has to worry
about living without the other. No God
could be that cruel. Not after
everything we've been through together."
"You're right."
"I usually am."
"Watch it, Sailor."
"What of it, Jarhead?"
"Go to sleep, Harm."
"Will you stay? Just until I fall
asleep?"
"Will you go to sleep?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Promise?"
Mac's only response was silence. She
groaned exasperatedly at her best friend.
He was always so complicated. He
was worse than most four year olds.
Ever since meeting him, she had more respect for parents of young
children.
"Harm, you need to sleep. Whether
I stay or not, you still do. So either
I go or you promise to get some sleep.
Which is it?"
"I'll sleep."
"Was that really all that difficult?"
"Yes," he pouted. Sliding
over in his hospital bed, he looked in Mac's eyes. "I know that you won't go to your hotel tonight just as you
hadn't since I've gotten here so come on and lay down. Really, Marine, you look like hell."
Mac laughed at his strange sense of charm and climbed into the bed beside
him. She laid her head down on his
shoulder, and they both got some much-needed rest.
==========================================
Part
Sixteen by Audrey <[email protected]>
Rating:
G
==========================================
19
NOVEMBER 1980
1705 LOCAL
KITCHEN
- RABB RESIDENCE
"I
hate Shakespeare."
Mac
looked up from her homework and glanced across the table at her friend. Harm glared
at the books that lay open before him on the table, shifting through papers and
folders. A smile flitted across Mac's face. "Why?"
Noticing
his young friends grin, Harm snorted softly. "Just wait, Mac." He
promised. "Just you wait until you're seventeen and stuck in Mrs.
Klinger's English 101 class. That woman is a witch. All this Shakespeare....I
don't even think this is English!"
Mac
laughed. "Yeah, well if you'd pay attention to the lecture and not the
girl beside you I bet you'd understand Shakespeare better."
Before
Harm could fire back with a suitable retort, adult laughter filtered in from
the living room, followed by the appearance of Trish and Frank. Frank Burnette
was the new man in Trish Rabb's life. A fact Harm didn't like.
"Hi
honey." Trish greeted her son warmly. "How was school?"
"Fine."
Harm replied, his gaze fixed on Frank a moment before shifting back to his
work. He gave the man no greeting - he didn't trust himself to be able to be
civil to him. Harm didn't like Frank and that was that.
"Better
than fine." Mac quipped with a knowing grin directed at her friend.
"You told me that LeAnna..." The grin turned to a frown as she was
kicked underneath the table.
Trish
chuckled. "I see. Hello Mac, nice to see you again."
"You
too, Mrs. Rabb." The thirteen-year old replied. "And you too,
Frank." She added.
Frank
smiled back at her, returning the greeting with a warm smile. He seemed
relieved that at least she seemed to like him; Harm had buried his nose back in
his book.
Trish
moved across the kitchen, opening cupboards and pulling down ingredients for
dinner. "Frank is staying for dinner." She said. "He makes a
wonderful veggie lasagna."
Frank
chuckled, moving to help her. "I've been cooking since I was seven,"
He informed her. "My veggie lasagna has had years to be perfected."
Trish
laughed, and Mac smiled appreciatively. Harm caught his friend’s gaze and
rolled his eyes before returning to his homework.
"Would
you like to stay for dinner, Mac?" Trish asked.
"There'll
be plenty of lasagna to go around." Frank added.
Once
again, Harm caught Mac's eyes, seemingly pleading her to stay. "I'd love
to." She replied, smiling to the adults. "Dad probably won't be home
'til late and Mom doesn't bother too much with dinner when he's not home."
+ + +
ONE
HOUR LATER
"Smells
delicious, Frank." Trish informed him as the four sat down to dinner.
Mac
silently agreed. It had been quite a while since her mother had prepared a meal
such as the one set before her on this night: veggie lasagna, a large salad,
and freshly baked breadsticks. She inhaled the wonderful aromas, a smile
gracing her features.
Dinner
was filled with little conversation, and afterwards everyone, Harm included,
agreed that Frank's veggie lasagna was heavenly. Harm and Frank even managed to
exchange a few jokes between themselves without any of the normal tension
between them.
Mac
smiled, watching her friend actually enjoying the time with Frank. Trish was
apparently thinking the same thing for a smile could also be found on the older
woman's face. When Trish leaned over to exchange a quiet word with Frank, Mac
turned to see Harm smiling at her.
"Not
such a bad guy, now is he?" She inquired softly, leaning a tad closer to
him so they could speak without being overheard.
"I
guess not." Harm replied. "And he IS a good cook."
Mac
laughed, and across the table Trish cleared her throat softly.
"Harm?
There's something I would like to talk to you about."
Harm's
smile faltered a bit as he glanced between Frank and Trish. Something was up.
He knew it. Mac felt her friend tense beside her and looked from him to the
adults seated across from them.
"Harm,"
Trish began. "Frank and I have been thinking..."
"About
what?"
Trish
and Frank exchanged a quick look. "About getting married." Trish
finished, taking a hold of one of Frank's hands in hers.
Harm
looked like he had been slapped. "Wh... what?" He stammered. Before
anyone else could speak he went on. "What about Dad?"
Trish
leveled her son with a steady gaze. "Harm, we've talked about
this..."
"He's
not dead!" Harm exploded, knocking his chair over as he stood angrily. Mac
watched her friend storm out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.
The trio gathered around the table looked at each other in stunned silence for
a moment.
Finally,
Trish spoke. "I am so sorry, Frank." She said. "I thought it
would be a good time to bring it up. You and he were getting along so well I
thought..."
Frank
nodded and patted her hand, which gripped his firmly. "It's alright,
really."
"Maybe
if I go talk to him..."
"I'll
go." Mac interrupted Trish, quickly standing. "I know all his
brooding spots."
With
a nod of consent from the older woman, Mac hurried out of the house and after
her friend.
+ + +
THE
DUCK POND
1853
LOCAL
The
stars were beginning to twinkle against the sky as Mac made her way to the
pond. She had checked all of Harm's other haunts and had yet to find him, so
that left only the pond and the park. She doubted, however, that he would pick
the park to brood, as there was almost always someone there. At the pond, there
were only the ducks. It was the perfect spot.
Her
instincts proved correct, and in the growing darkness she saw Harm's form
perched on an old log near the waters edge. The ducks glided quietly over the
water, heading towards the reeds to settle in for the night. The only sounds in
the air were the few local pond frogs, a cricket, and every few moments the
sound of a rock being skipped across the water.
"Hey."
She greeted softly, sitting beside him on the log.
Harm
grunted a reply, one leg drawn up to his chest, his chin resting on his knee.
He reached down to the ground, selected a rock, and sent it skipping over the
water. One, two, three...plop.
"Betcha
I can get four." Mac challenged, selecting her own skipping rocks.
"Puh.
I bet I can get six."
For
a long while, they didn't discuss what had occurred at dinner. They only
laughed and skipped rocks across the water. They only stopped when Harm's last
rock skipped ten times and hit a duck in the reeds. The duck quacked loudly at
the interruption and took flight.
"It's
just not fair." Harm stated finally, watching the duck disappear into the
night.
"What?
That your mom has found someone that makes her happy?" Mac asked, toying
with the laces on her shoes.
"My
dad made her happy." Harm said firmly. "He's still alive. I don't
know why she'd ever want to marry someone else. It's like...adultery or
something."
Mac
swallowed and said carefully, "Harm? If your father is alive, why hasn't
he come back? Maybe he is dead." He turned his head sharply to glare at
her, but she continued. "You should be proud of your mom! My mom said that
there is one person for everyone. Your mom has found TWO. She's lonely, Harm.
Don't you see it when you look at her? With you growing up and moving away soon
she will be totally alone in that big house. She needs someone."
Harm
sighed, turning his gaze to the water. Truth be told he HAD noticed. But he was
so sure that his dad was alive..."I am proud of her, Mac." He said
finally, softly. "But it's...hard. Frank...he's not...he's..."
"Not
your dad." Mac finished. "And he never will be. But don't you think
you can give him a chance? For your mom's sake? He treats her like royalty.
He'd never do anything to hurt her, you know that."
"Yeah,"
Harm said. "But I don't need a step dad..."
"But
she needs a husband, Harm." Mac took her friends hand in hers. "Give
him a chance?"
Harm
studied her for a long minute, the sighed and turned away. "I guess."
With
a small smile, Mac leaned over and gave him a hug. "She's very lucky to
have a son like you."
Harm returned the hug. "And I'm lucky to have
a friend like you." As they held each other, Harm's thoughts were of his
mother. For her, he'd give Frank a chance. For her, and because Mac had asked
it. But it would be only one chance.
==========================================
Part
Seventeen by Pat [[email protected]]
==========================================
BETHESDA
NAVAL HOSPITAL
Diane finally wandered back, having taken a walk to clear her head, and now met
up with Keeter in the hallway and he gestured into the open door of Harm's
room. "They look kind of cute
don't they?"
"Yeah adorable," she muttered.
"Look I'm not going to stay right now. Harm has all the support he needs and he's obviously going to be
OK. I'm not good in a crowd especially
when I feel I'm competing."
"Diane don't be dumb. Harm is glad
you're here."
"If he was all that glad, it would be me sharing his bed," she
snapped.
"Not necessarily. Remember Harm
and Sarah have grown up together and been best friends forever. What he feels for her and what he feels for
you are surely two different things."
"Yeah one is love and the other isn't."
"You don't know that," Keeter chided her. "Aren't you at least going to hang around to say
goodbye?"
"No I've only got forty-eight hours pass and I'm not going to waste it
here being the extra wheel. There are other people I could be with instead of
hanging around the halls of this mausoleum.
He knows where to find me when he wants to see me." With that she turned on her heel and marched
down the hallway.
Sturgis caught up with Keeter in time to see Diane disappear. "OK what's with her?"
"She's getting a dose of reality," Keeter smiled, gesturing toward
the bed.
"Ah. A little competition,"
Sturgis smiled. "Did you try to
tell her it's not like that?"
"Yeah but I wasn't very convincing," he sighed. "Probably because I wasn't believing it
myself."
It wasn't for another two hours that Harm awoke, stirring uncomfortably and
waking Mac.
"You OK?" She rolled to her
side and sat up groggily, smoothing some sweat-damp hair off his forehead.
"Yeah I think so, just a hurting a little," he murmured. "And very ready to get out of
here. When can I?"
"You're whining there Sailor," she smiled. "I guess in a couple days.
What then?"
"I want to go to Grams," he said after a moment's thought.
"Not to your mom?" she frowned.
"No. Frank and I aren't on the
best of terms yet," he sighed.
"Me being there is just going to be tense. Besides I kind of feel like a more laid back
thing that I can get on the farm."
He took a long breath and cupped her cheek with his palm. "I want you to come. With me.
For as much as you can. If you
can get leave."
"Me? Me? Not Diane?" she stammered.
He looked around to make sure Diane was not in the area before he
answered. "You. I need a best friend right now. Someone who's unselfish enough to take care
of me, as needy as that sounds. Diane
is. . .well she's clingy and needy and I can't deal with that right now, not
combined with how messed up I
am. Please say you'll come."
For a long moment she froze, hardly daring to breathe, trying to determine if
his desire for her was simply in friendship and need or rooted in something
more--something he could not articulate.
"Of course I will. I'll
call my XO for leave."
==========================================
Part Eighteen by Rising Sun ([email protected])
==========================================
END OF SUMMER OF 1981
AT THE DUCK POND
Harm’s going to Vietnam had been a blow to Mac and
it had taken some doing but she and Harm were back to being as thick as two
peas in a pod. This day they sat as
they had done two years ago to say good-bye.
“We’re getting too good at saying good-bye” Mac
observed.
“Mac…” Harm said.
“It’s ok.” She assured him as she watched the
remaining ducks in the pond. Soon they too would be gone as they migrated
south. “This time I’m ready. Last time
you just sprung your leaving on me.”
“You’ll come see me off?” He asked.
Mac stood, walked away and went to lean against a
tree. He followed.
“That’s a hard request Harm.” The thirteen year old
confessed.
He followed her. “Mac you’re crying.” He was
shocked. Mac didn’t usually cry. He
felt bad that he was the cause. He
reached over and wiped first one then the other cheek. She looked at him and their eyes
locked. By mutual unspoken consent Harm
leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.
Mac had never been kissed before… well not in that way but her instincts
kicked in with a vengeance. She slipped
one arm round his waist, the other round his neck and she parted her lips. The instant she did that a wave of pleasure
washed over her and threatened to drown her.
At seventeen Harm had obviously done this before
and when Mac parted her mouth he slipped his tongue and deepened the kiss. He
held her close as though his soul depended on it.
Suddenly the kiss ended abruptly and Harm stepped
back gasping. “Oh God I’m sorry Mac!”
She was confused “Sorry?” Her bottom lip
trembled. “Was it that bad? I have
nothing to measure it by.”
Now he was lost “Bad? No! No! It was great!”
Her confusion deepened “Then what?”
“Mac brothers and sisters don’t kiss like
that. I crossed the line and I was
apologizing for that.”
She smiled “Oh” She understood.
“Don’t do that.” He begged.
“What.”
“Grin.”
Now she chuckled “Harm you’re an idiot.” She poked
him.
“You have no idea do you.”
“Harm you are seventeen years old speak in
English!” She commanded.
“OK.” He said. “You’re beautiful Sarah.”
“Sarah?
Harm you haven’t called me Sarah in years. “ Then it registered
“Beautiful? Me?”
“Uh huh. You have a beautiful spirit and a gorgeous
face with a body to kill for.” He blushed “Er sorry Mac.”
“It’s ok.
Nice to know what other folks think of me.”
“Not other folks Mac.“ He corrected “Me.”
“You.” She corrected.
He nodded. “I’ve known for years that I was born to
be your bodyguard.”
She snorted.
“It’s true!” He protested. “Mac when you get to Annapolis you are going
to be the center of attention! And it will fall to big brother here to stop
those slimy maggots from getting to you!”
She giggled “Harm you are so funny when you are in
earnest. Come sit.”
They returned to their original position but this
time they lay out in the dying summer sun.
After a while her regular breathing told Harm that she had fallen
asleep. He grinned. Mac could sleep anywhere, a definite asset in the Military.
She was going to be a formidable Marine of that he was convinced.
He watched his best friend/sister sleeping and
remembered the kiss they just had. He
had been deadly serious. Sarah Mackenzie at thirteen was good looking by
eighteen when she joined him at Annapolis she’d be a beauty and by her twenty’s
she’d be gorgeous.
Sarah Rabb popped into his head. He frowned.
He’d heard that men and women couldn’t be friends but he and Mac had
always proved the exception to that rule. Until today.
He was already jealous of the man she’d marry and
he knew why. His love for her had
changed hence the kiss hence his thoughts of being married to her.
He thanked God that he was leaving soon. His present relationship with her, his
sibling devotion to her was too precious to be lost on something as transient
as intimate love.
He poked her in the ribs. She rolled over and collided into him and awoke. “What?”
“Time to go sleepy head.”
“OK.”
==========================================
D-DAY
MACKENZIE’S RESIDNCE
Mornings were the best time of day at Mac’s house.
Her dad was either human or out cold either way it was a safe time. This morning he was human.
She’d woken up with a dying need for a drink. Harm
was departing today and she had twenty-five minutes fifteen seconds to get to
his place. But the bottle in the back
of her closet called to her. God how
she needed that drink! But if Harm
smelt it and he would even if she brushed and used Listerine he’d smell it…
he’d go ballistic.
“Mac!” Joe Mackenzie appeared in the door. “Aren’t you going to see Harm off?”
“Yes!” She replied and headed for the shower.
“Thanks pop!”
“Anytime my Little Marine.” He called after her.
==========================================
D-DAY
RABB’S RESIDNCE
Trish Rabb watched her son pace. “Harm you are going to put a hole in the
carpet.” She teased.
“She promised mom and the taxi will be here soon.”
“… and she’ll be here son. Take it easy.” The bond between Harm and Mac was a
phenomenon that she had watched with fascination over the years. The two had gone from adversaries to best
friends to siblings to… Trish didn’t know what but she was a grown woman and
she knew when a relationship was shifting gears. Nothing had happened yet her
intuition told her but it was happening and neither teenager knew it.
“I’m going over there.” He suddenly said.
Before she could reply he began to move towards the
door. “Why?” a voice asked.
Trish heaved a sign of extreme relief. Of late only
Mac seemed able to exert any controls over her son and today of all days she
needed to control Harm. He thought that a taxi was coming when it was really
Frank Burnette. Harm didn’t like the
man.
“Where were you!” He demanded.
“Over slept sorry.” She explained sheepishly.
“Uh huh.” Harm was suddenly lost for words. Trish left the room.
“Awkward moment number three hundred and ten.” She
chuckled.
He smiled. “You and your awkward moments.”
Suddenly she moved forward and enveloped him in a
bear hug. “I’m going to miss you
squid!”
He hugged her back; her hair was still wet from her
shower. He closed his eyes a vision of Mac in the shower is not want he wanted
to take away with him. “Promise you’ll
write?” he begged.
“Promise.” She assured him.
I’m sorry.” He said.
“You seem to be doing that a lot. What now?”
“I’m going to miss your birthday.” He explained.
She shrugged.
“Thirteen and fourteen were not all that great I have no expectations
for fifteen.”
“But still...”
“Shh” She placed a finger on his mouth. “Be still. It’s ok. Really.”
Trish returned to find them that way in the hug
with Mac’s finger on Harm’s mouth. Uh
huh she thought to herself I’m right there is something emerging here. She
coughed. “Harm honey it’s time.” Then
she plunged in “Frank is here.”
Mac felt her friend tense. He was still holding her and the grip
tightened. She gasped “Harm. Harm I can’t breathe.” She managed.
He let go suddenly. She staggered and he steadied her “Sorry Mac. You ok?”
She nodded and then said softly for his ears
only. “You are going away to become an
officer and a gentleman. Start now, with Frank and the ride.”
Trish watched as Mac said something to Harm and his
entire body language changed. She couldn’t hear what was being said but she saw
the control being exerted even if the controller and the controlled didn’t know
it was happening.
Harm replied just as softly “Aye ma’am.” He
straightened himself and turned to his mother.
“Ready.”
[Bless you Mac] Trish mentally thanked the young
woman.
Harm picked up his case and they all walked out of
the house. Trish was going all the way to Washington DC with him.
As Mac stood in the yard watching Harm place the
case in the boot she remembered the bag in her hand. “Oh wait!” Mac called “I almost forgot.” She handed him a parcel
with instructions. “Don’t open it till you get there.”
He grinned.
“Thanks Mac.” He kissed her on
the cheek then joined his mother and her boyfriend in the car. Mac watched till the car rounded the corner
at the end of the block taking with it the most influential person in her life.
She returned to her room and finished the three
quarter bottle of whiskey.
+ + +
Trish heard the paper tearing and turned
round. “Harm!” she admonished. “Mac
said to wait.”
“And she knows that I won’t. What she meant was for
me to open it when she wasn’t around.” He explained. He gasped.
“What is it?” Frank asked.
Harm bristled but remembered Mac’s advice. He
showed it to his mother who described it.
At first she was over come with emotion then she
said. “It’s a three picture frame. To the left is a picture of Harm and Mac
when he returned from Vietnam to the right is a picture of Harm Sr, with Harm
at five and I and in the middle is the poem Desiderata. “ She sniffed. “It’s beautiful.”
Harm took the precious item from her and said, “I
know.”
=======================================
Part Nineteen by Malysa ([email protected])
Rating: Strong PG-13 (sexual situation - tastefully
done)
***AN: Though I live in the state of Pennsylvania,
I've never been to Belleville and have absolutely no idea what it's really
like. Please forgive any flaws. Also, since Grandma Sara hasn't made any
appearances on the show, I'm molding her into my own person. She's made in the image of my own Abuela who
I absolutely adore.***
=======================================
1630 HOURS LOCAL
RABB FARM
BELLEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
"Finally!" Harm exclaimed standing up and
stretching next to Mac in her car. He looked up the hill at his beloved
grandmother's home and relaxed for the first time in days. Since his father went MIA when he was 6
years old, there were only two places he felt at peace: Mac’s arms and Gram’s
farm. Both of the women had always been
able to calm and sooth him.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. At least you could have slept," Mac
smiled at him. She had to drive since
Harm had just gotten released from the hospital.
Instead of sleeping like he should’ve been, he had
decided to stay up and complain about everything she did the entire way. By the time they had reached Pennsylvania,
she was ready to through him out the window.
The only thing that stopped her was the thought of having to tell Grams
that she...lost the woman’s grandson somewhere along the road. Sarah loved the older Sara deeply, but she
should have seriously been a Marine.
"Harmon!
Sarah!" Sara Rabb called from the front porch. She stood tall just like her son and
grandson with the same dark hair and blue-green eyes. Even at her age, she was as youthful as ever, living
independently and easily on her shrinking family farm.
"Grams!" both officers said at the same
time with matching grins. They lifted
their bags from the back seat and walked quickly up the stone pathway. it had been a long time since they'd come
here together. Of course, over the
years, they had come separately whenever they could get leave. They both missed the eldest Rabb very much.
When Harm and Mac reached the porch, Sara enveloped
them both in a tight embrace.
"Come inside!
It's chilly out here, and you wouldn't let an old woman freeze to death,
would you?" Sara joked ushering them both through the front screen door.
"You'll never be old, Grams," Harm smiled
with a boyish, hopeful smile. He felt
better now than he had in years, and the irony of it all was that less than
twenty-four hours earlier, he had felt like his life was over.
+ + +
A couple hours later...
"More?" Sara asked Mac pointing to the
stew pot. She had made her special beef
stew that she knew the young marine liked, and since her grandson was such a
picky eater, she thought to make eggplant Parmesan. Her efforts didn't go unappreciated.
"I couldn't eat more if I tried, Grams. It was great," Mac smiled at the woman
she considered more family than her blood.
"It was really good, Grams. I can't remember the last time I had a home
cooked meal," Harm added.
"So, Harmon, have you started to think of
other possibilities yet?" Grams questioned carefully. She knew that the wound was still fresh and
her prying would be much like salt.
"I haven't had time to begin to believe that
this is all happening yet," Harm admitted. He stood up after a minute of silence. "I'm going to go for a walk around the property. I'll be back in a little while." He left the women alone in the country-style
kitchen.
"I have always believed that things happen for
a reason," Sara stated softly.
"I've had to.
My husband passed when my son was only a small boy, and my son went
missing before he got to witness his boy growing up. Harmon was on a path of self-destruction when he met you. He was only ten years old, and he had the
eyes of a fifty year old man. You saved
him and stayed with him. You've always
been with him. Maybe God knew what he
was doing when He made Harmon's plane go low.
Maybe He has some kind of plan for Harm...and you, too, Sarah."
Sara Rabb left the room and Mac to ponder the
meaning of the wise woman's cryptic words.
+ + +
1955 HOURS LOCAL
RABB FAMILY FARM (OLD BARN)
BELLEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
"I knew I'd find you in here."
Harm looked up from the dirt floor in front of him
to see his best friend standing at the entrance of the old, unused barn. She was dressed differently than he was use
to seeing her. Ever since they were
kids, Mac was a tomboy and usually dressed in jeans and t-shirts, but now she
stood in front of him in a blue flowered sundress that ended just below her
knees. He smiled at the accessories
that were purely Sarah Mackenzie: a pair of running shoes and his old black
leather flight-style jacket from high school.
The woman really didn't give a damn what people thought of her. Then again, it wasn't as if many people were
going to see her out here in the dark.
In her arms she had a wool blanket that he recognized as theirs.
"I was thinking," Harm explained looking
away from her. The kerosene lantern
that hung from one of the low rafters dimly lighted the wall across from where
he was sitting, and he focused on an irregularity in the wood.
"Oh, no!
Hit the deck!" Mac joked walking over slowly and sitting down on
the aging bench next to him. That got a
short chuckle from her older best friend.
"Seriously, Harm. What are
you thinking about?"
"Everything seems so different now," he
mumbled looking down at his hands in his lap.
There was no one besides Mac in the world that he would admit his inner
thoughts and feelings to. She was the
only person her trusted completely.
"Flying is the one thing I've wanted to do forever--since I was a
kid. You know that. It's what I trained my whole life to
do. Now, I can't do it any more. The other guys on the ship...They have other
things in their lives--wives, kids, families.
I don't have that. All I
have--had was flying."
"You have me," Sarah reminded him in a
whisper. She was hesitant about
bringing up the revelations she had made over the course of the last few days.
Harm turned to her with an unreadable expression on
his face. He knew there was something
different about her. They had a unique
relationship. They were both aware of
that fact. At times, it was like they
were brother and sister fighting over the television remote or something
equally stupid. Other times, things
were red hot and awkward between them.
They had only gone toward that flame once. They had kissed, and that threw Harm off a lot when it came to
understanding "them". Somehow
he had the feeling that they were heading there again.
"I do?" he replied.
"You do," she murmured, as their faces
got closer. Before she could realize
what was happening, his lips were on hers.
Of course they had kissed before, but that had been her first time. She was inexperienced and unsure of what she
was even doing. Now, though, she knew
full well what a kiss between them could lead to.
The blanket she had been holding fell to the barn
floor unnoticed, and her hands went to the back of his next trying to increase
the delightful pressure. Harm responded
in kind, pulling her to him and slipping his hands beneath the coat she
wore. The jacket fell from her
shoulders, and she maneuvered it off her to join the blanket on the floor.
Harm's hands traveled to her back where he found
the dress's zipper. He began to inch it
down, and feeling no resistance, he urged her to the ground on top of the
discarded blanket and jacket. When
there were no longer any barriers of clothing between them, they melted into
one another with a passion like neither had ever experienced.
==========================================
Part
Twenty by Audrey <[email protected]>
Rating:
PG-13 (language, some abusive violence)
==========================================
10
DECEMBER 1982
2100 LOCAL
MACKENZIE HOUSE
"Damn it!"
Fifteen-year-old Mac didn't look up from the magazine she was pretending to
read. Her father paced the living room, stopping every few steps to take a
swill from the bottle in his right hand.
"Where the hell is she?" Her father demanded. When he got no answer
from Mac, he ripped the magazine from her hands. "I asked you a
question!"
"How the hell should I know?" Mac shot back, crossing her arms across
her chest. She sunk back into the couch cushions but still couldn't escape the
stink of alcohol on her father's breath.
He shoved the magazine at her, stalking off across the room to pull back the
curtains again. Mac watched in silence. Her mother had left that morning to go
grocery shopping. She had yet to return. Her father
continued to pace, curse and drink. Finally, Mac was fed up with it.
"I'm going over to Eddie's." She said, tossing her magazine onto the
coffee table and standing up.
"You sure as hell ain't!" Her father slurred from across the room.
"I don't like that Eddie kid. And you're not goin' anywhere 'til your
mother gets back." He took a drink. "Besides, you've got school
tomorrow."
"I don't think she is coming back!" Mac exploded. "I think she's
ditched out on us 'cause you're so damn drunk all the time!"
Her father wasn't the only one shocked at her words. Mac hadn't meant for them
to be said aloud.
"What," Her father breathed, inching closer to her. "Did you
say?"
"Nothing."
"Like hell it was nothing!" Her father exploded. "I work hard to
get enough money to keep you fed and clothed and all you go off and call me a drunk?"
Mac didn't have enough time to react. His hand slammed hard into her face.
Once. Twice. Three times. Mac cowered on the floor as he stood above her,
shaking the bottle in his hand at her dangerously. For one insane moment, Mac
thought he was going to use it on her. Instead he flung it to her right, where
the bottle smashed against the wall spilling glass and alcohol on the floor.
"I'm going out!" He announced, stalking across the room to grab his
coat and truck keys. "And you better damn well have that mess cleaned up
by the time I get home!"
Mac remained still for a few moments after he had slammed the door shut behind
him. She didn't move until she heard him peel off down the road.
Slowly, shakily, she stood. She caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror.
Both cheeks were badly bruised from the force that her father had hit her. It
would take a lot of make-up to cover it up. Or perhaps she'd just ditch school
with Eddie tomorrow, give her face some time to heal. Yes, that was it. Taking
a slow breath, she moved into the kitchen to grab the broom and dust pail to
clean up the broken glass.
+ + +
2120 LOCAL
RABB FRONT PORCH
Harm was finishing up some work on the front porch, a small plate of his
mother's chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk nearby. He was home from
Annapolis for the holidays and was taking the time off to hit the books and
work ahead a bit. He looked up from double checking his work as he heard Mac's
dad drive off down the road.
Harm knew things were far from harmonious at the Mackenzie house. Lately it
seemed as if all they ever did over there was argue and drink. Setting aside
his books, he decided to go check up on his friend.
All seemed quiet as he approached the front door. He knocked. No answer.
"Mac?"
There was nothing but silence on the other side of the door. But Harm saw a
figure moving in the house.
"Mac? It's me, Harm. Open up."
After another few moments of silence, he heard her voice tell him that the door
was unlocked. He pushed the door open and spotted Mac, her back to him, across
the room picking up broken glass.
"Hey, could you get me some paper towels or something?" She asked,
brushing some of the tiny glass slivers onto the dustpan. "I need to get
this brandy cleaned up before he gets home."
Harm was quick to help and grabbed a handful of paper towels form the kitchen.
"Where's your mom?" He inquired, walking back over to her. "I
thought she usually cleaned up after him."
Mac turned around, and Harm froze at the sight of her face. In just those few
minutes, the bruises had darkened to an almost black color.
"She's gone." Mac replied, taking the paper towels from her shocked
friend's hand. "So he's, naturally, rather upset about the whole deal. And
it didn't help matters when I told him that his drinking is probably the reason
she's gone." She turned back to her task, mopping up the spilled alcohol.
"Mac..." Harm breathed, finally able to move again. "Are you
alright? I mean, do you need some place to stay tonight 'cause I'm
sure..."
"I'm fine." Her voice was clipped and cool. "It was my fault,
really. I opened my big mouth and said things I hadn't meant for him to hear.
He won't be back until morning anyway and I'll be at school by then."
"Are you sure?" Harm asked, settling a hand on her shoulder. "I
mean, do you need to see a doctor or something?"
"I'm fine!" Mac snapped. "Just...leave me alone. Please."
"Mac, you're my friend. I care about you. I don't want you getting
hurt."
Mac felt herself soften a bit, and she tried to offer Harm a reassuring smile.
"I know. I know...But I'll be ok, really. I've survived for fifteen years.
I'm tough."
Harm smiled, although it was a sad one. "Well...if you're sure."
Mac nodded. "Sure as the sun rises in the east." She hugged him.
"But thanks Harm. If I do need anything, I'll let you know, alright?"
He hugged her back and held on for a moment. "Alright. Mom and I had
lasagna tonight. I'll bring you some leftovers tomorrow." He felt her nod
and released his hold on her. "See you tomorrow."
After he had left, Mac sank slowly onto the couch. Harm was real sweet, caring
for her like he did. But he didn't know. He didn't know what it was like to
live in a house like hers. Without a second thought, Mac picked up the phone
and dialed a familiar number.
"Eddie? It's Mac...."