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Date Posted: 00:26:28 01/21/14 Tue
Author: Nettie
Subject: Inferno 2/3

Disclaimer: not mine but the mistakes are.

Inferno Part 2/3

While Mac was in the tub right now, Harm didn't consider it to be the safest place. After all, if the house burned, the bathtub wouldn't save them. Going out the back door, Harm checked out the large water tank located 50 metres from the house. Peeling off half the metal cover, Harm was pleased to find the tank three quarters full. Racing back to the house, he entered the bathroom and told Mac they needed to conserve as much water as possible.

Moving rapidly through the house, Harm collected woollen blankets, a few items that Harm knew Frank treasured, a supply of food and water, all of which he put into multiple plastic bags and hooked them to the inside of the tank so they'd be prepared for any situation.

With the sound of the fires roaring closer, Harm knew their time was now extremely limited. With very little he could do to save the cottage or the car, Harm went and got Mac from the tub. While she was doing better than she was before her bath, she wasn't quite herself and Harm found it easier to scoop her up and carry her out the back rather than explain and argue why it was necessary.

"Just get in," he said as he stood below her on the makeshift steps he'd fashioned.
"I just had a bath," she replied, not moving.
"Mac, get in the water tank," he said firmly. "It's our only chance."
"For what?" she questioned, seemingly oblivious to the nearby raging fire.
"For god's sake," he yelled, frustrated. Jumping up beside her, Harm grabbed Mac and tossed her into the tank, ignoring the obscenities and very vocal protests.
"What the hell?" she shouted as he climbed in after her.
"We need to be in here," he said calmly. "It's too late to leave the mountain."

Whether it was the crashing of a nearby burning tree or the stifling air which was burning her lungs as she struggled to breathe or a lifting of the dehydration confusion, Mac began to realise the peril they were in.
"Shit, the fire," she said looking around and finally registering the danger they were facing.
"We're okay," he said, taking her arm and pulling her closer to him.

Mac couldn't believe the situation they were in, nor could she believe she hadn't been aware of it any sooner. One look at Harm's face told her he was well aware of the risk which now confronted them and even more concerned about her.

"I'm okay," she said, looking at him and allowing herself to be pulled through the water to him.
"I know," he agreed, wrapping an arm around her as he pulled the blanket around their shoulders.
"It's my fault we couldn't leave, isn't it?" she questioned, raising the cover above her head.
"Let's not worry about fault," he replied, raising the blanket so he could investigate a splash in their tank – it was a falling branch, its flames doused by the water. Quickly, he tossed it out before covering them over once more and trying to submerge further into the tank, highly concerned about the amount of burning debris now falling on and around them.
"Harm," Mac said quietly as she pressed into him. "I'm really sorry."
"It's okay," he repeated, now certainly wasn't the time for blame and recriminations.

Even in the darkened space they were enclosed in under the blanket, Mac could read his face. She knew he was worried, even scared, though he was trying hard not to show it. Knowing she had put them in this predicament, Mac struggled with her guilt as they clung together in the warming water. The roar of the approaching fire filled her ears and the smoke seeped through and under the blanket stinging her eyes.

In all her life she had never found herself in such a perilous place. If it was only herself, she would accept that she had been reckless in taking off that morning when she had been warned by Frank about the fire risk in the area, and take whatever fate handed her. However, it wasn't just her – she had put Harm in the firing line, literally, and the thought made her feel physically ill.

Knowing time could be ebbing away from them, Mac decided to act. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed flush against Harm, her legs wrapping around his as they struggled to stay as far beneath the surface as possible.
"I've got you. I've got you," Harm all but yelled into her ear, wanting to be heard over the firestorm above them.

Mac's reply came in the form of a sound kiss to his lips. At first, Harm thought it was an accidental contact, as it was very dark under the blanket. However, as Mac deepened the kiss, Harm was left in no doubt that her actions were definitely intentional and so he responded in kind. If the worst was going to happen, he wasn't going to die without one last kiss with Mac...which technically, would only be their second real kiss, their first at her engagement party. Harm mentally shook his head – why couldn't they get their act together in less volatile situations?

Within minutes the fast and furious fire seemed to have passed overhead, Harm reluctantly pulled back and took a look at what now surrounded him. There were trees still smouldering and ash and debris still falling. As he scanned the area, his eyes widened – the cottage, though a little charred on the near side had escaped relatively unscathed.
Mac turned around to face the same direction and smiled when she saw the building still standing.
"Frank will be relieved," she said, leaning back on him, her energy sapped.
Harm sighed; he was more than relieved himself.

Tentatively, Harm reached out and touched the corrugated iron which made up the tank, it was still too hot to touch so he used the blanket to protect his hands before pulling himself against the side and looking at what was around the base and whether the steps he'd fashioned were still usable.

"Okay, we should be right to get out," he said, pulling Mac over to the side with him.
"Okay," Mac agreed, looking at the steps which seemed too far below for them to get out without injuring themselves.
"I'm going to help you out first," he said. "I'll give you a boost. Stand yourself on the edge, then just step down to the frame, then jump to the top step. I'll keep hold of you, you won't fall."
"How will you get out then?" she asked, knowing it wasn't going to be an easy feat.
"Don't worry about me," he said with a reassuring smile. "I have a plan."

Mac got out easy enough though a slight slip at the end saw her graze her shin. Harm's plan on the other hand resulted in a significant gash to his thigh and burns to his hands as he tried to clamber over without help. The injuries were something he had anticipated as there was no safe way for an individual to get out of the tank in the circumstances and he was more than willing to accept the pain to ensure Mac was unscathed.

The instant Mac saw the bloody streak across his sweats she was back to him. She went to grab her shirt and it was then she realised she was only in her bra.
"What happened to my shirt?" she asked, more than surprised by her state of undress.
"You took it off on your run," Harm gritted out as he tried to hold the cut closed.
Mac thought about it for a moment then nodded – there was something vaguely familiar about what he had said, she remembered running and feeling suffocatingly hot, so, not really in her right mind, she'd taken it off.

Leaving Harm propped on a box, Mac raced back into the house and returned with a sheet she'd torn so she could fashion it around his leg. Pulling the makeshift bandage tight, Mac grimaced as Harm moaned in pain.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeated as she ensured it was tight enough and the blood flow had been stemmed.
It was only once his leg had been managed that Mac realised his palms were burnt.
"I need to take you to the hospital," she said, trying to kick the marine into action through the haze she was in.

After wrapping her arm around his waist, Mac tried to help Harm to the house. Each step was an experience in pain as he tried to avoid putting his weight on either his leg or on Mac. Propping him on the arm of the sofa, Mac ran to grab his keys before opening the front door and discovering the car was not an option – it was, in fact, a burnt out, smouldering wreck; a testament to just how close the fire had come.

Closing the door, Mac turned back to face them.
"Change of plans?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sort of," she replied, padding across towards him. "Car's destroyed – sorry! We're going to have to wait for help to come to us."
Not really believing what Mac had said, Harm hobbled to the door and opened it, taking in the very same sight.
"Sorry," Mac repeated as she came to help him to the sofa. "You lie down and elevate your leg," she instructed. "And I'll get something for your hands."

Making up some cold compresses, Mac wrapped up Harm's hands before using a jug to douse his hands in cool water, something she continued to do every ten or so minutes in between trying to get help via her cell. Something easier said than done.

"I'm going to have to go down the driveway to get help," she said, pulling on a tee.
"No," he replied, struggling to get up. "You're not going anywhere."
"Harm, you need to get medical help. That's a very deep and nasty gash," Mac argued as she tried to get him to lie down once more.
"You're not going," he reiterated. "You're going to stay here with me." After everything that had happened that day, there was no way on earth he was going to let her out of his sight.
"Harm..." she started.
"Mac..." he countered.
They were at a stalemate.

For several minutes they remained with eyes locked on each other – neither willing to concede.
"Look, Mac...Frank and mom know we are here," Harm started to explain. "The fire service knows we're here..."
"How?" she questioned.
"I called them when you were in the tub when we got back. They said the roads were closed and the tank was our only hope," he reported, hoping it would make her realised she needed to stay with him.

Mac shook her head – once again it all came back to it being her fault. Had she not run, had he not had to look for her, had she not gone in the bath when they returned they may have been able to flee. As it was, she was relatively fine whilst he had burns to his hands and a gash which would definitely need stitches and a tetanus shot. The guilt was beginning to overwhelm her.
"I'm not lying," he said, misreading her actions.
"No, I know," Mac conceded dropping her head, ashamed to even look at him. "I'm sorry."

Taking a deep breath, Harm motioned for Mac to come closer to him but she wouldn't.
"Please?" he whispered holding out his hand to her. "Please?" Mac took a step towards him and stretched out her hand so their fingers touched. Harm took the opportunity to take hold of her hand and tug her towards him. "Come here."

With his hands out of action, Harm used the heels of his hand and wrapped one around Mac's leg to bring her closer still.
"Mac, I don't want to argue," he said quietly, absolutely fatigued by the events of the day and the blood loss he was experiencing. "Right now, I just need to rest...to sleep...and I'm not going to be able to do that if I think you're going to take off the minute I close my eyes."
"I won't," Mac said just as quietly.
Harm didn't want to take the risk but he knew voicing this opinion would cause more arguments. "Humour me, Mac, please," he whispered, his throat giving up. "Just lay here with me and nap...twenty minutes max."

Looking at the size of the sofa, Mac wasn't too sure how they could both lie there if Harm was to continue to have his leg elevated. Realising what she was thinking, Harm pushed back as far as he could into the cushions and rolled slightly onto his side, still ensuring his injured leg was raised.
"Please," he requested before coughing, the smoke in the cottage, and in his lungs still a problem.

Slowly, Mac neared the sofa. She didn't want to do anything to upset him further but she was reluctant to put them in such close proximity.
"I won't bite," Harm promised with a small chuckle, one which resulted in another coughing fit.
Mac didn't see the humour in it at all. This whole disastrous experience was caused by the fact that Harm wouldn't or didn't want to do anything to her.
"What?" he asked when he saw the anger flash across her face.
"Nothing," she replied. Even though the man was infuriating, he had saved her life and she owed him everything.

Begrudgingly, she lay down next to him and while she tried to avoid pressing into him, it was nigh on impossible.
"Just relax," he said, snaking one arm under her neck and using the heel of his hand to pull her closer.
"Ow!" she grimaced as he pushed on one of the many deep wounds on her back the undergrowth had caused during her run that morning.
"Sorry, sorry," Harm said quickly, raising his hand to her neck. "So sorry."
"It's okay," Mac said with a cough.

Little more was said between the pair as they settled into the small space they were now sharing. Aside from a string of coughs, there was an odd silence – gone was the birdlife which had been prevalent the day before; gone was much of the mountain beyond their front door.

Now the adrenaline had waned, Harm was feeling the full effects of the day and of his injuries and slipped into a restless sleep quickly. The pain in his leg was growing, as was the pain in his hands. His chest felt heavy and tight and his eyes were painfully dry. Still, he had Mac and she was alongside him and despite everything else that had happened, he could honestly say that all was right with the world.

The next time he opened his eyes, it was to see a fireman standing over them.
"Glad you're alive," said the young man who had thought the worst finding them both unmoving on the sofa.
"Me too," he managed before coughing.
"You okay?" he asked as Harm woke Mac.
"Need some medical attention," he said, "But nothing major."
"Okay," said the man. "We have our truck outside; we'll get you to the hospital."
"How are things out there?" Harm asked as Mac stirred reluctantly in his arms.
"Bad," he replied. "Lots of properties gone..."
"People?" Harm asked, after all buildings could be replaced.
"Unconfirmed – yes," he said with a sad nod. "Up along the ridge alone we have nine unaccounted for. Over in Lextill, most of the town's gone but not too sure about the residents."
Harm just nodded as the overwhelming feeling of just how lucky they had been washed over him.
Swallowing hard, Harm kissed Mac's head. "Come on, sleepyhead, time to go."

Riding down the mountain, Harm and Mac barely spoke. The beautiful forest which they had admired only the day before on their drive to the cabin was now forever scarred by the fires which had raced through. The air was still thick with smoke and debris and there were many stumps aglow; a last sign of life in once vibrant trees.

Mac was sitting in the middle of the front seat, the driver on one side, his attention solely on the road and the mission to get these two survivors down to the evacuation centre. There had already been enough tragedy for one day; he wasn't going to add to it. Harm was on her other side, his eyes red through the smoke and ash, just like hers were. A couple of times he looked at her but the words didn't come, so he returned his attention to the abyss beyond the windscreen.

Eventually, the truck pulled into a community hall which was the evacuation centre for Hemingway Mountain. A volunteer paramedic met the vehicle and helped Harm out, a radio call from the driver alerting them to their imminent arrival and situation. Rather than taking them into the hall, Harm was loaded into an ambulance, the blood and soot stained sheet wrapped around his leg told that the bleeding wasn't fully under control.

Mac went to climb in with him but was told she couldn't. After arguing her point, they allowed her to sit in the passenger's seat at the front. She went gladly. While she needed to be with Harm, she wasn't all too sure she could face him at the moment.

The hospital was a crowded, hectic place. Most of the people in the waiting room were suffering smoke inhalation or minor burns; there were a few more serious already beyond the ER doors. Anticipating a long wait, Harm sat up and tried to get off the ambulance gurney, he was quickly restrained by the paramedic and Mac.

"Sir, I'm not sure you realise just how serious your wound is," the young man said. "It's imperative the doctor sees you as soon as possible."

The paramedic was right. It was a serious wound and one which saw Harm in surgery within the hour. The cut was through to the bone, only marginally missing a large artery. The ragged edge of the tank had serrated his flesh and left rust particles embedded in the wound and Harm as a prime candidate for infection.

With Harm being operated on, Mac sat in the surgical waiting room with an IV drip in one arm for rehydration, and a gallon of water beside her to drink. Her eyes had been washed and the wounds on her back seen too; all in the waiting room she had refused to leave.

By the time they were wheeling Harm from the OR to recovery, Mac was more on edge than ever before. Trying to jump up, her IV caught and the needle was ripped out, not that it registered at the time.

"Mrs Rabb?" a nurse said, grabbing her arm to stem the blood. "Your husband will be okay for a few minutes, you need to let me fix your arm and IV."

Mac ignored the wrong name being used; after all, they had often been mistaken for a couple over the years. Besides, seeing Harm was on far more importance than discussing names.

"Ma'am," the nurse insisted, helping Mac to sit. "Please...we are busy enough as it is without having you pass out on us."

There was something in the nurse's tone which caught Mac's attention and she dutifully obeyed. She'd done enough damage to others today by being caught up in her emotions; she wasn't going to do it again.

It took 15 minutes before the IV was reinserted into Mac's other arm and the bleeding from the first site had been stopped and the wound managed. After promising to take things slowly and to report back if anything was amiss, Mac was escorted into the recovery room.

Mac's gasp was audible as she caught her first sight of Harm's pale face. He looked lifeless in the bed and her stomach dropped, causing her to grab onto her IV pole for support.

"He's doing well, ma'am," said another nurse, making some notes on his charts. "The wound has been cleaned and stitched. 42 internal and 35 external. He's on a saline drip with added antibiotics, he's been given a tetanus shot and all his vitals are good."

Mac nodded; her eyes now fixed on the cut across his forehead, why hadn't she noticed that before?

"Before he went under, he said he'd gotten that..." the nurse explained, pointing to the wound Mac was staring at, "Colliding with a tree branch when out running this morning. I have no idea what would have possessed him to run on a day like this...you'd think he'd know these things being in the Navy."

"Aha," Mac replied, although it wasn't much of a response at all.

Moving up the bed, Mac gently caressed his face and placed the gentlest of kisses on his forehead before the nurse ushered her out, saying she could see Harm again once he was in a room.

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Replies:

[> love reading this again Nettie -- Bev uk, 09:00:00 01/21/14 Tue [1]


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[> Been watching for pt.2, thanks Nettie -- JoyZ, 16:24:51 01/21/14 Tue [1]


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[> Love reading this one again! -- Shazam, 01:49:05 01/23/14 Thu [1]


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