"Yeah, Gunny. He seems a few fries short of a happy meal. I wonder what it is he has against you Marines," Tiner replied.
"I don't know but he'd better get rid of the attitude or he's in for some real trouble." Tiner nodded in agreement.
~~~~~
Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie Rabb headed up to JAG ops where she would meet her husband. They were going to the doctor's for the first ultrasound of their second child. Mac had to leave headquarters to pick up their 2 year old daughter, Evelyn Rose. She and Harm felt it would be a wonderful experience for Evelyn to meet her little brother or sister before he or she was actually born. Everyone smiled at mother and daughter as they stepped out of the elevator to the fourth floor. Evelyn had short curly brown hair like her mother and intense hazel green eyes like her father.
Mac noticed some sort of frenzy going on just outside the doors and tightened her hold on Evie's hand. The new Navy Lieutenant, Jackson Whillig, was yelling at a Marine Corporal. "You and you're kind are not welcome at JAG," the Lieutenant sneered. "So why don't you take your drab metals and get the hell out of here!"
Mac was angry. Not because a Naval Officer was yelling at a Marine, but because Whillig was being unreasonable. *This could get bad, Sarah,* she told herself. Her Marine instincts told her to break it up, but her motherly instincts told her to stay out of it for the sake of her children.
However, she couldn't just let the Lieutenant carry on. Besides, what could he do to her with so many people around. "Attention!" she exclaimed.
The Marine stood at attention and the other was about to as well. That is, until he noticed what manner of person had called attention. Instead, Whillig pulled out a gun and fired at the Marine Colonel.
~~~~~
The JAG staff were at their weekly meeting when the gunshot went off. All heads in the room snapped up. "Sir," Tiner called, "lieutenant Willing just shot a someone!"
"What?" Admiral Chegwidden replied, jumping from his seat. The others in the room followed him out.
Harm's breath caught in the back of his throat. He let it out when he realized that it couldn't be his wife. She wouldn't be there for another hour or so. Relieved, Harm went to see what had happened.
Arriving at the doors to JAG ops, all eyes turned to him. "What's going on?" he asked. The wave a people parted and lying in a poll of blood was Mac.
"Daddy!" A little voice cried.
"Oh my God!" Harm cried, rushing to Evelyn. "Evie!" Picking her up, he gave Evelyn a hug and gave her to Aunt Harriet. As soon as she was safe, Harm ran to Mac's side.
"Commander, you have to move away and let us do our job!" One of the EMTs exclaimed.
"But..."
"Commander, we need to get her to a hospital. Move away."
Harm couldn't find any words. It was as if his voice box had been torn from his throat. "Young man," the Admiral said, "Commander Rabb is that woman's husband. Treat him with respect."
"God, I'm sorry, Commander. Is there anything we should know about her?"
"She's... she's pregnant...."
The EMTs' eyes widened. The woman, Sarah MacKenzie Rabb, had been shot in the stomach. "Let's get her to the hospital quickly!" he said.
Harm's world tilt. He knew that she might not have enough time. 'Sarah...'
~~~~~
Arriving at the hospital, Harm was beside himself. He knew he should be strong for Evelyn's sake but he didn't know what was going on, and that frightened him. Two people he loved were fighting for their lives. Looking over at Harriet, he noticed Evelyn had fallen asleep. It was just the three of them in the waiting room at the moment. "Harriet..."
"Yes, Sir?" Harriet replied. Tears were brimming in her eyes. She chuckled quietly when he gave her a stern look. "Yes, Harm?"
"Thank you so much for helping me ... us. You don't know how much it means to me."
Harriet smiled. "You and Sarah would do the same for us." Harm nodded and sat next to her. "Sir, why don't you get something to eat?"
"I don't think I could eat anything at the moment, Harriet, my stomach is doing flip flops."
"Daddy... I'm hungry."
"Okay, Pumpkin, I'll get you something," Harm told her.
"No," Harriet said, "let me. I think you two could use some father/daughter time." She was going to give Evelyn to Harm, but she clung to Harriet tightly.
Harriet tried to ignore the look of pain in Harm's eyes. He shook it off. "Thanks again, Harriet."
As Harriet left the waiting room, Evelyn said, "Will my mommy be okay?"
"I'm not sure, sweetie."
Harm broke down in tears. 'God, my world is falling apart...'
~~~~~
"Commander Rabb." Harm looked up to see the doctor, Captain Ryan. "Please, don't get up." Harm nodded a thanks as Captain Ryan continued, "You're wife has lost a considerable amount of blood. We were able to remove the bullet which bounced around and nicked her lung."
"W-will she be all right?"
"It's hard to say at this point, but she's a fighter."
"What about ... about the baby?"
"Luckily, the bullet missed the baby completely. The only thing we have to worry about is whether or not he or she will have enough oxygen."
Harm's vision swam as he tried to take it all in. He could lose them both in a matter of days. "C-can I see her?"
"They're moving her to ICU right now. I'll send a nurse in to tell you when she's there," Captain Ryan replied.
"Thank you, sir." Ryan nodded and left Harm alone.
"Harm," Admiral Chegwidden called.
"Sir..." He was trying very hard to keep his emotions in check, but tears escaped nonetheless. "I-I'm sorry, sir."
"For what? Crying? Commander, I'd only kick your ass if you weren't!"
"Commander Rabb, your wife has been moved to ICU, if you'd like to come with me."
Harm nodded to the nurse and shook the Admiral's hand. "Thank you, AJ." He and Mac had taken to calling the Admiral AJ since making him Evelyn's godfather.
~~~~~
Mac felt like her lung was on fire. Every breath she took made her feel like it was her last. Her heart beat faster when she thought of her baby. Was her child going to be all right? "This is all my fault... Harm is going to hate me."
"Sarah."
Mac's eyes snapped open. "Harm! How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," he replied, walking to her side. He took her hand in his. "Our baby is going to be fine, Sarah, you'll see."
"But Harm, I almost killed..."
Harm put a finger to her lips. "No, that guy almost killed you both. You had nothing to do with it!"
"Oh God, Evie!"
"She's fine. She was a little shaken ... shaken up but she's fine." Harm began to cry again. "I-I'm sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't do this in front of you. It's just that ... if I lose you both, my world will fall apart. I know that have to be strong for Evie but I'm scared..."
Mac wiped a few tears from his cheeks. "Don't apologize. And Harm, it's all right to be scared. God knows I am. I don't want to leave you alone with Evie. I want to watch her group to be a beautiful young woman. I want to see her graduate from the Naval Academy."
"Or the Marine Corps," Harm added.
"Or the Marine Corps," Mac replied. "Although I think Daddy's little girl might follow him."
Mac yawned. "I'm sorry, I'm a little tired."
"It's all right, honey. You rest now and get better for you and our baby." Harm leaned down to kiss her on the lips, then kissed her belly. "I love you both."
"We love you too, Harm. Give Evie a kiss for me and tell her she can come tomorrow."
"I will. G'night, Marine."
"Night, Sailor!"
~~~~~
Harm lie awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He longed to reach out beside him and find Mac there. He also had an urge to kill the son of a bitch who shot her.
"Mommy..." Harm got up and went into Evelyn's room. "No, daddy, I want mommy!" she cried as he attempted to hug her.
"Evie, mommy can't come right now. She's hurt and has to stay at the hospital."
Evelyn smacked Harm across the cheek. "No! I want MOMMY!" she screamed.
"I... I'll see what I can do, baby," Harm replied quietly as he headed to the phone. He hesitated before he picked it up. She was the only one who could calm his daughter's fears. Sighing, he gave in and dialed the number.
~~~~~
"Thank you for coming by so fast, Harriet. I'm sorry I had to wake you up."
"It's not a problem, Harm." Harriet eyed him sadly. He had tears in his once bright eyes as well as a red mark on his cheek. "Where is she?"
"Her bedroom. I'm sorry about this Harriet. I shouldn't have bothered you, besides, I can call...." He trailed off. Harm really didn't have anyone else to call. His mother and Frank wouldn't be arriving until late tomorrow afternoon.
"Nonsense, Harm. I'm here and I'm going to help both you and Evelyn get through this. After she falls asleep, I'll come in here and we can talk. Everything will be fine, trust me."
Harm nodded solemnly and sat on the couch as Harriet went to check on Evelyn. "This is crazy," he said to himself. "If I can't be strong for myself, how can I be strong for Evie..."
Slowly, he drifted off into a fitful sleep.
~~~~~
Harriet sighed. Evelyn had finally fallen asleep. The little girl was so scared and she wouldn't turn to her father for the comfort. Harriet didn't know what was going to happen if Sarah didn't... 'No, stop thinking like that, Lieutenant!' she scolded herself.
Walking into the living room, she found Harm in the throes of a nightmare. His arms were reaching out and he kept muttering, "Don't leave me, Sarah! Please..."
"Harm!" Harriet said, rushing to him. "Harm, wake up, it's okay. Everything's all right, you're having a nightmare!" She put a hand on his forehead and he calmed down and opened his eyes.
"H-harriet?" She nodded. "Is Sarah all right? I need to see her!"
"She's fine," Harriet replied. "Just relax."
Harm laid back down on the couch and closed his eyes, satisfied with Harriet's answer for now.
~~~~~
Harm wasn't the only person who could sleep. A certain Lieutenant Colonel couldn't either. She was tired... too tired to fall asleep. She was also afraid that if she fell asleep, she'd never wake up. "God... please help me to live through this. If not for my sake, then for Harm, Evelyn, and our new baby. Please!"
Mac didn't know that the man who had shot her had escaped. That he was just outside her hospital room, deciding when to go in and "finish the job". The door opened and Mac immediately recognized the man from JAG.
"Lieutenant Whilling!" she cried out. "What are you doing here?"
"I have some unfinished business, Colonel. I must take care of you so that my father can be avenged."
'This guy sounds like he's from some cheesy novel...' "What do you mean?" Mac asked. "Why must your father be avenged? I think I have a right to know why you want to kill me. Why you want to kill all Marines."
Whilling sighed and explained how his father was a Corporal in the USMC. He had just returned from active duty after Vietnam when they called him back for some reason. No one ever told him what for but his superior officer put him in a dangerous position. "All of the Corps did! They're the reason my father didn't come back home! All Marines should burn in hell!"
"Lieutenant, I didn't even know your father."
"Neither did half the Marine Corps and look where it got him! Sent home in a body bag!" Whilling pulled out a syringe. And Mac couldn't help but wonder what was in it. He must have gotten it from a nurse. "This won't be too long, Colonel. I actually don't know what's in it, but that's okay. It doesn't matter."
"It sure the hell does!"
Whilling turned around. "What? Who are you?" he asked.
"Commander Harmon Rabb, that's my wife you're about to inject."
"You married a Jarhead? Are you crazy, sir? She'll turn on you like they turned on my father!"
"You have a lot to learn, Whillig. Now, give me the syringe."
Whilling looked ready to hand it over. Instead, he stabbed Harm in the shoulder with it. "Harm!" Mac cried.
"That wasn't very nice," Harm muttered, taking Whilling out with one punch. "Sarah, call button..." With that, he slumped to the floor.
~~~~~
Harm woke up with a pounding headache. Looking to his right, he noticed that he was in the same hospital room as Mac. "Hey Sailor, how are you feeling?"
"Like someone hit me with a Mack truck."
Mac smiled. "It's good thing all that syringe had in it was a sedative."
"It sure the hell is!" Harm smiled back at his wife. "Are you all right?"
"I'm going to be fine, Harm. And so is the baby."
Harm sighed with relief. "Thank God! I love you, Sarah."
"I love you too."
~~~~~
"You just can't stay out of the hospital, can you commander?"
"I guess not, sir."
"Colonel, you're going to have to teach that child of yours your habits and not Harm's," AJ said with a laugh.
"You're right about that, sir!"
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Evie!" they exclaimed as she was picked up by Bud to hug each of them.
"I missed you mommy!" she whispered.
"Oh, baby, I missed you too!"
"Daddy!"
"Hi sweetie. Are you feeling better?"
Evelyn nodded happily. "My family is okay!"
The End.