Title: A Christmas to Remember
Author: TC Amlin
Disclaimers: I do not own these characters; they belong to CBS and DB.
Classification: Harm/Mac
Spoilers: As you will read in the challenge below what is supposed to happen. As for my take on it, nearly everything after Gypsy Eyes didn’t happen so no court marshal for Mac, Mac encouraged Harm to get his eyes check and fixed, she supported his return to flying and of course they got married. Sergie still happened and so did Buxton, but at an earlier date as you will gather as you read.
Summary: What happens when Santa brings you what you want.
The challenge
In keeping
with the Christmas/New Year's season and the fact that
while 'Ghost of Christmas Past' was a nice epsiode, it was rather
depressing.
how about this:
Harm and Mac are most definately together, either planning on getting
married or already married.
Mac should be heavily pregnant, nearing term, somewhere between
Christmas day and New Years.
add your favorite stressor, as long as it's not Palmer.
for the topper, have Webb surprise everyone by bringing Harm's father
home for Christmas.
now for that to work you guys can either ignore 'To Russia With Love'
and 'Gypsy Eyes' or work around them.
Mic and Renee should either be long gone or never in the picture to
begin with.
except for the stressor everyone should be having a good time and no
fighting between characters
December 24, 2000
Rabb Residence
1600 EST
Harm came in and found Mac asleep on the couch curled up with Jingo at her feet. He smiled as he thanked God that he had finally been reassigned to a stateside post in September after spending two years on a carrier.
He then leaned back against the doorframe and reviewed the past few years since he and Mac had finally gotten past their fears and admitted their love for each other. It started with his search for his father in Russia when Mac followed him there. After the run through the woods and the final confrontation on the airstrip where his search had ended and the final goodbye to his dad taking place in the hills near the Tigra River, he let go of the past with her help and they started a new future.
After the trip home he and Mac found themselves spending more and more time together. It was during that time when he found out the he had been misdiagnosed with his night blindness and with some prodding from Mac got his vision fixed and returned to flying.
It was hard to leave her but with her waiting at home for him whenever he got leave as his wife made the separation easier. Now a year and a half later they were expecting their first child in February. He couldn’t tell who was more excited him or Mac. He smiled as he went over their arguments over whether baby Rabb was going to join the Navy or Marines. He thought his argument was better since the baby was conceived while she was investigating a case on the carrier he was serving on.
“What are you smiling about now Sailor?”
“How lucky I am to have you in my life.”
She smiled back at him, “Well what does the weather look like?” As she reached out for him to help her sit up since she needed help because of the baby.
“Well we still have power but I don’t know for how long. We are snowed in and it doesn’t look like it is going to stop anytime soon so I gassed up the generator and brought in enough wood for a few days from our stockpile. So we are ready for anything.”
“Are you sure about that?” Mac asked as felt a twinge, one of many she had felt during the day.
“Well I hope so unless you have thing up your sleeves.” He asked as he pulled her to her feet. “Mom and Frank called and said that they would fly out next week and spent time with us since the weather isn’t cooperating. Grams said the same thing.”
“When did you talk to them?”
“About an hour ago, right before the phones went dead. The radio reported that a water main broke from the cold and shorted out a main bus box for the local phones. We are lucky that our water comes from a different line, but unlucky that our phones don’t. Plus the new front is playing hell with cell phone reception.”
“And I bet that it isn’t helped with everyone trying to use theirs since they have no phones?”
“You’ve got it. Are you hungry?”
“Stupid question Flyboy. I am always hungry and have been for the past several months thanks to you.”
“Well I warmed up some of that stew that Grams sent home with us from Thanksgiving and it should be ready in about 30 minutes. Unless you want something now?”
“I can wait, just need to empty my bladder that your child is using for a punching bag.”
“Why is it my child and my fault? Hmm, I seem to remember this Marine that couldn’t keep her hands off me on the Seahawk while she was investigating a case in May that helped in creating this baby.” He asked as he rubbed her tummy.
They both laughed at the on going joke that had been going on since she found out she was pregnant. Of course they found out after she bribed Alexi into driving her into Chechnya after Harm when he was sent on special assignment to Russia in June. It was a trip to remember that included Harm meeting his younger brother.
Harm nearly had a fit when he found out after all was said and done that she risked herself and the baby to come after him. Her only recourse was that they found out after she got sick on the flight home and after he made her go to the doctor. The look on his face was priceless.
She wiped away a tear as she thought of the struggle Harm was going through. He was doing his best to hide the fact that he wanted to run over there and find Sergie who was MIA. Everyone knew that if it weren’t for the fact that she was pregnant that Harm would have been gone three weeks ago.
She grabbed the bathroom counter as a cramp struck her abdomen. “Oh please Junior don’t do this today.” She begged.
Unfortunately her body wasn’t listening as she felt her water break.
“Harm!”
Hearing her yell out his name he sprinted to their bedroom and found her leaning against the bathroom door. “ Mac what’s wrong?”
As she regained her wits she pointed to her sweats that were wet and took a deep breath. “I hope you are prepared for this.”
“What? Now? Its too early.” Harm stuttered out as her took her hand and lead her over to the bed. Just as he sat her down the power went out. “Okay, this isn’t funny.” He spat out at the ceiling.
“No duh Harm. What are we going to do? It’s too early.”
Harm stood over her as he helped her change out of her wet clothes into something dry. Taking a deep breath and then her hands, “It will be okay Sarah. I promise you it will. But with the roads like they are and the phones out it looks like we are stuck here at home with junior on the way sometime today. I’m scared too but we will get through this like everything else we have conquered in the past few years.”
Mac tried to smile as another contraction hit. Harm watched the clock on the wall as he coached her through it.
“Grab one of my older nightgowns and lets get me comfortable on the coach.”
“Is that where you want to be?”
“For now.”
“How long have you been on labor Mac, or do you know?”
“I guess all morning,” She said as she rubbed her stomach looking away from him. “I have been having some cramps off and on since we went to bed last night and just passed them off as Braxton-Hicks.”
“It’s okay, and I said it will be okay. Lets get you settled and I’ll get everything we will need later.” He said as he held out a shaking hand to her.
After getting her settled they both read through one of the many baby books they had around the house. They both felt better knowing that 6 weeks early wasn’t the best scenario but that the baby should okay.
1800 EST
Mac was ready to kill Harm as he did his best to make her comfortable on the couch. “Harm I need to push.” She ground out as he took a peek and saw hair.
“I can see hair Mac, it’s almost over.” He answered back taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. He knew she was hurting ands that he could do nothing for her. He had tried several times to try and call 911 but the cell phone lines were still out or busy. “Come on Mac, push with the next contraction.”
Like I needed to know that she thought as she took a deep breath and pushed.
“Come on Mac, that’s it push, you’re doing great honey. A couple of more and he’s out.”
“Still sure it’s a boy huh?” She asked through gritted teeth, huffing and puffing.
“We’ll know in a minute.” He gave her his best flyboy smile and grabbed some towels.
“Oh boy, he comes another one.”
“Push Mac, the heads almost out, come on Mac.” He kept chanting as the baby’s head came out followed by the rest of it.
They both had tears in their eyes as the newborn started to cry weakly at first and then stronger as Harm wiped it off.
“Well what do we have?” Mac asked as she took the bundle from Harm as he placed it on her chest.
“A son Mac, just like I told you we would. He looks good and he has your lungs.”
She swatted him as she looked over the miracle in her arms. She continued to cry as Harm kissed her and the baby as he calmed down as Mac whispered to him.
Thirty minutes later after Harm had cleaned up everything he came back into the living room to find Mac feeding their son. He grabbed the camera he had stashed on the TV and took a few. Mac returned his smile as she attempted to get more comfortable on the couch.
“Well since I lost the toss on naming the baby, what is my sons name Ma’am?”
“Harmon Rabb the Third. If that’s okay with you?”
“Huh? I though you said one Harmon Rabb in you life was enough?” He asked as he stroked the boys fine hair.
“Well one is but two makes it richer. I just figured that since he was bound and determined to come tonight that he deserved a name that is special with tonight.”
Knowing what she was getting at he leaned over and kissed her. “Thank you. I love you so much. And yes I like the name, it suits the occasion and I just hope he knows how special his mother is.”
Part 2
December 25, 2000
0400 EST
Harm awoke with a start when Little Harm started crying. Suddenly the night came back with a rush as he went over and took his newborn son in his arms. The baby quieted immediately and stared into his fathers face. “Merry Christmas little Harm.”
“Is he hungry?”
“I don’t know. He seems content right now but I am certain that his appetite will be like his mothers and he will eat all of the time.” Harm said as he carried the baby over to Mac.
“When did we end up in the bedroom? I don’t recall falling asleep in here.”
He handed the baby over to her and watched as she placed him to her breast to feed, still awed by the site. “It was just as easy to keep our room warm as the living room so I moved us back in here while you were sleeping. You were exhausted after everything and needed some decent rest. You don’t even remember feeding him a couple of hours ago do you?”
“It’s coming back. Thanks honey for everything. For him and being here with me through yesterday.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Just wish the phones would come back on and the streets would clear up so I could take you two in and get you both checked out along with calling everyone and letting them know that Little Harm is here.”
She smiled at him as his face lit up every time he said their son’s name like that. “I hope you don’t mind but I would kinda like to call him Trey for his number.”
“I don’t mind, its just that little Harm is what my dad called me so I want to call him that in honor of his grandfather too.” He said as Mac handed the baby to him to burp. Gently rubbing the boys back he was rewarded with a small one that brought smiles to both parents.
Noon
Harm was cleaning up the last of the lunch dishes when he heard a knock at the door. ‘ Who in the world is out in this weather?’ Was all he thought of as he checked Trey who was sound asleep as Mac took a shower.
“Clay? What are you doing here in the middle of the worst snow storm in years?”
“Nice to see you too Rabb, can we come in?”
Harm looked from Clay to the other man standing with him. Both were bound up from head to toe in coats and scarves. “Sure.” He replied as he stepped out of the way so they could enter.
“How do you have power when the rest of the block is out?”
“I bought a generator along with enough fuel to last several days. I just have it on long enough to warm up the water and cook lunch. Would you two like some coffee?”
“In a minute Harm, I have something to tell you and since it wouldn’t wait.”
Dreading what Clay was about to tell him, “Sergie, what’s happened to him?”
“He is fine, recovering in a Moscow hospital.”
Harm let loose a sigh of relief, “Thank you Clay. You don’t know what it means to hear that he’s okay.
“Harm I do know and I have something else to tell you.”
“What now Clay, what are you not telling me.”
“It took some doing but I found out some more information on your father. I found out that he didn’t die that day as you and Sergie were told.”
“Excuse me? Why am I just finding this out?”
“As your friend, I knew what finding an answer about your dad did for you. It finally gave you some closure and gave you and Mac a chance at a life. I decided that until I was 100 percent sure about this that I would sit on it till I died.”
“So what happened to him after that day and where is he?”
For the first time since entering the house the other man spoke. “He was taken to another village several miles away and kept there till he was strong enough to leave. He just wandered for several years till he found a new home near Moldavia. He stayed silent for years about who he was until he read a newspaper article about a young naval commander, his wife and a young Russian soldier who saved Putin’s life. He couldn’t believe that in that one photo was both of his sons and his daughter-in-law. After that he slowly made inquiries to the American consulate and they gave him over to Mr. Webb here.”
“And I did some intense research on him. I made sure his story was straight. He knew things that only Lt Harmon Rabb would know.”
“So he checks out, my father is alive then and I gave up just short of finding him.”
“I don’t consider what you did as giving up, I just wish I had know that you were there looking for me.”
Harm watched as the older man removed his jacket and the scarf that was covering his face. It was like staring at an older version of him. “Dad?”
The older mans face broke out into a smile, “ Yes Harm its me. I am so sorry that I didn’t come home sooner but,”
Harm stopped him, “It’s okay. Really, just having you here alive is enough. Mac has taught me that the past is something you leave behind you and that you only look back on the happier moments.”
Before Harm could continue the third generation let it be known that he was awake and not happy being ignored.
“What’s that?” Clay asked as he watched Harm walked over to the bassinet by the couch. Then realized what it was “ Oh, I thought that the baby wasn’t due for a few more weeks.”
Without realizing what he was saying, “Little Harm surprised us and came yesterday evening.”
“How’s Mac?” Clay asked as he walked over to where Harm was whispering to the baby.
“Fine, she’s taking a nap.”
“Little Harm?” The elder Rabb asked. “Clay didn’t tell me about this, he told me a lot about you but not this.”
Harm Jr turned to Harm Sr and smiled, “Yes sir, your grandson, Harmon the third.” Showing the baby to the two men
“Harm what’s going on, is the baby okay? I thought I heard him crying.”
“He’s a real cutie Mac.” Clay said as he turned to Mac as she entered the room with a surprised look on her face at visitors being in her living room.
“Clay what are you doing here?” she asked as she came up beside Harm.
“Just bringing one generation home to meet another.”
Mac looked from her husband to the older man who now held her son, both men lost in the wonder of the moment as three Harmon Rabb’s bonded together. She was about to question further when she caught her husband’s eye and he whispered later.
“Nice to meet you Colonel. Clay has told me a lot about you and what you have done for my son. I know that we have a long way to go from today but it does please me to know that Harm here has met and married a woman like you.” Elder Harm spoke to her as he handed the baby back to his son.
“Thanks, and you can call me Mac or Sarah. But what to do with three Harmon Rabb’s.”
“Heaven help us. Mac I could really use a cup of coffee and these three could us time alone.”
Mac lead Clay to the kitchen and turned one last time to watch her boys, she smiled as she caught a look she never had seen before on Harm’s face. It was the look of a little boy who finally got what he wanted for Christmas.