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Date Posted: 19:19:15 06/29/13 Sat
Author: Nettie
Subject: Mountains and Molehills Part 2/2

Disclaimer: All the usual

Mountains and Molehills

Part 2/2

It was 45 minutes before they pulled into the Bethesda emergency bay. Knowing Harm couldn't walk and would hate a wheelchair, Mac felt she was better off dropping him at the door before parking. It was a good plan until the guard on security detail came over as she opened his door.

"You can't park here, ma'am," he said, coming from behind her.

"I'm not," she snapped. "I'm just dropping him off."

"Ma'am, you can't use this bay. It's for ambulances only," he continued.

"Alright," she conceded as Harm slipped from his seat and stood beside her. "You take him and I'll move the car."

"Ma'am, that's not my job," he protested."Sorry, ma'am."

"It's not ma'am, it's Colonel Sarah MacKenzie," she barked and the guard looked panicked; it was, after all, his first day on the job.

"Sorry, Colonel, ma'am," he said scurrying to help Harm. While he may have been instructed as to his specific duties, an unhappy colonel was another matter altogether.

By the time Mac returned to the emergency room, Harm was already on a bed in a cubicle at the back. When she'd been told only family members could go through, Mac informed the nurse she was Harm's partner and was quickly let in.

"How many more people did you scare?" Harm asked with a grin, the morphine taking away any pain he felt.

"I didn't scare anyone," she said, moving to the bed and reaching for his hand.

"Sure," he said. "You didn't see that kid's face. I was sure he was going to wet himself."

"Well, what did you want me to do? Make you walk from the car park?" she challenged, entwining her fingers with his.

"No, I was more than happy with the door to door service?" he said before yawning.

"Have they said anything about your foot?" she asked, looking down at the injured part which was currently covered by a crisp, white sheet.

"That they think it's broken," he said, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. Now the pain was gone he could feel just how tired he was.

"You okay?" she asked, running her hand through his hair.

"Yeah," he said with a sigh. "Think it's catching up with me."

"I can wait outside if you want to..." she started but he shook his head and captured her hand once more.

"I want you to stay," he said quickly. "Unless you want to go."

"No, I want to stay," she said with a smile.

"Good," he said closing his eyes.

It was only a few minutes later the doctor came in. "Good morning, Commander Rabb," he said, checking the chart. "Ma'am," he said, nodding at Mac. "Now, what trouble have you gotten yourself into?"

"Had a fall when we were hiking," he said leaving out the specifics. "Went backwards down an embankment and my foot got caught in the undergrowth. Thought my problem was the grazes and splinters in my leg but realised my ankle was worse when I went to stand."

"Well, it looks like you've made quite a mess," he said, making some notes. "Now, what time this morning did it happen?"

Harm looked to Mac as he always did when it came to matters of time. "It was 1853 last night, doctor," she said and he frowned.

"You're ankle has been like this for..." he began.

"12 hours and 39 minutes," Mac supplied before nodding. "We were hiking when it happened and couldn't get out due to the storm. Is that a problem?"

"Yes," he said, adding more notes. "The pain must have been significant." Harm nodded. "And the circulation has been compromised in that time. Now, due to the swelling an x-ray may not tell us everything so, I'm sending you for an MRI instead," he said, writing the order. "It will tell us just how much damage you've done."

It was an hour before Harm went for the MRI and Mac took the opportunity to get some coffee and some fresh air; she hated hospitals. Sitting outside, she checked her cell to find no messages needing her attention. Taking a deep breath she enjoyed the few minutes of sun on her skin before throwing her cup into the bin and heading back to see what was happening with Harm.

It was another 20 minutes before Harm was brought back to his cubicle and another 90 minutes before the doctor returned, most of which Harm had slept through.

"What's the verdict?" Mac asked the moment the doctor appeared.

"There is a break, along with damage to the tendons," he reported and Mac squeezed Harm's hand. "It's too swollen for the fibreglass cast that we'd normally fit so we'll go what is commonly known as a 'moon boot'," he said, tapping the chart. "It'll be on for about 8 weeks and you'll require some physical therapy. So, no hiking for awhile, I'm afraid."

"At least there's no surgery," Harm replied, that was a bonus.

"No surgery," the doctor agreed. "I'll refer your case to the orthopaedics department and you'll receive an appointment from them for a review later this week. They'll take it from there."

It was another four hours before Harm was finished at Bethesda and Mac was driving him home.

"You haven't had breakfast or lunch," she said, as she drove from the car park. "Would you like me to stop and pick you up something?"

"Will you eat with me?" he asked, not wanting their time together to be over despite everything that had transpired.

"Sure," she said, with a nod, after all, she had no plans to be anywhere else but his place.

Deciding to stop at the grocery store, rather than pick up take out, Mac left Harm in the car but took a list in with her of things he thought he'd need for the next few days. Filling the cart with fresh produce, milk and an assortment of other products, Mac added a few of the things she needed for the coming days, most coming from the confectionery aisle and the deli.

Loading the bags into the back of the SUV, Mac returned the cart before climbing into the driver's seat, smiling when she realised Harm was asleep. He didn't wake when Mac had parked in his building's underground car park, right near the elevator. Opening the passenger side door, Mac gently caressed his face and called his name, it didn't help. Calling louder had no effect so Mac closed his door and opened the trunk. Collecting the bags of groceries, Mac took them up to Harm's apartment before doing the same with their bags and putting the coffee maker on.

Trekking back down to the car park, Mac opened his door once more and this time she shook him while she called his name. Opening his bleary eyes, Harm tried to focus on Mac, smiling wearily as she caressed his face.

"Finished shopping already?" he asked before yawning.

"Yes, and it's already unpacked in your apartment," she said as Harm blinked a few times and took in his surroundings.

"We're home?" he asked blinking again.

"We are," she confirmed, helping him turn his himself around and slide out, landing on his good leg. "Whoa, steady!" she added, wrapping her arms around him as he overbalanced.

"Sorry, Mac," he said, holding to her. "Those meds are doing things to my head."

"We'll take it slowly," she said, ensuring he was steady before she let him go to retrieve the crutches from the back seat. "Here you go."

Once they were inside the loft, Mac helped him sit in the armchair, moving some furniture so he could have the footstool in front of him. Easing his leg up, Mac gently placed it on the plush cushion top before ensuring he was comfortable. Moving over to the kitchenette she prepared lunch for both of them but by the time she brought over the fresh salad sandwiches, Harm wasn't hungry, he wasn't comfortable and he wasn't feeling all that well either.

"I'm sorry," he said pointing to the food. "I just feel like crap."

"How about you go and get some proper sleep?" she said, leaving the plates of the coffee table.

"I don't think I have the energy," he said, not too sure what was going on with him.

"Let me help you," she said, before moving the stool and helping him stand. "Easy does it."

"It's supposed to be my leg that hurts, not my whole body," he said as she wound her arms around him and walked with him to the steps.

"Maybe it's the painkillers," she said, helping him hop up the three steps. "When you're in bed, I'll phone Bethesda and see what they say."

Nodding, as speaking took too much energy, Harm made it to the side of his bed.

"Okay, let's get you changed for bed," she said, loosening the drawstring of the surgical pants they had given him to wear after they had cut his jeans from him.

Once they were loose enough to fall to his knees, Mac helped him sit down and pulled them the rest of the way. Watching as she carefully pulled them over his new boot, Harm thought he should feel embarrassed but by this point he wasn't feeling much of anything. He simply yawned and waited for her to take off his sweater.

When he was finally in bed, Harm struggled to find a position which felt comfortable. Never one for sleeping on his back, he found it was the only position which didn't compromise his leg. However, lying flat made his head swim.

"How about I move your pillows?" Mac offered, sitting by his side as he fidgeted.

He nodded, and leaned forward. Grabbing his other pillows, Mac stacked them behind him and carefully eased him back, hoping the added height would help. While it helped his head, it didn't make the rest of him feel better and he sighed.

"Still not right?" she questioned, raking her fingers through his hair.

"Nah, it's fine," he grumbled. "Don't think any position would help."

"How about you get some sleep?" she said, continuing her ministrations. "I'll sit with you a bit."

Whether it was his fatigue or Mac's touch, Harm drifted off to sleep. Once she was sure he was truly asleep, Mac walked out to the kitchen and phoned Bethesda. Speaking to his doctor about his symptoms, the doctor agreed that it sounded like an adverse reaction to the painkillers and said he would give Harm something different. He was off duty soon but would leave it at the Emergency Room counter for her to pick up.

Knowing she really couldn't leave Harm in the state he was, and knowing that he needed the new medication, Mac called Bud and explained everything before arranging with him to go to Bethesda for her. When he arrived at Harm's, he woke Mac who had been dozing in the armchair.

"Come on in," Mac said quietly, opening the door for him.

"How is he?" Bud asked, handing her the package.

"Not well," she answered truthfully. "But I think these will make him feel a bit better, thanks."

"Anything else I can do?" Bud offered and Mac shook her head before she remembered something which needed doing.

"Um, actually, my car is still out there," she said. "Any chance you were planning a family drive?"

"Well, I was planning on taking AJ for a driving lesson," he said slowly. "Perhaps Mikey can come too and drive your car back."

"Aha," Mac said, not all that thrilled with the thought of Mikey driving her car.

"Or he can drive mine and I'll drive yours," he said, catching Mac's expression.

"That'll be good," she said quickly. "So long as it's not too much trouble."

"Hey, what are friends for," he said and took the keys from Mac's hand. "If you think of anything else you need just call. Mikey's not free until 1500 hours, so we'll go then."

After Bud departed, Mac went in to check on Harm and found him to be awake.

"Not comfortable," he grumbled.

"Well, Bud has just dropped off your new meds, so how about you take some of them and see if things improve?" Mac suggested and Harm shrugged. He hated taking drugs, prescription or otherwise, and now was no exception.

Giving them to him anyway, Mac settled herself on the other side of his bed and Harm reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. It was another few minutes before Harm rolled his head around after he thought he heard her sniffle.

"Hey," he said, squeezing her hand once more. "Why are you crying?" He moved his hand to caress her face, his action clumsier than he had anticipated.

"I'm really sorry for doing this to you," she said, her eyes drifting from his. "I just wanted space, I never, ever intended to hurt you."

"Not even a little bit?" he asked with half a smile.

"What do you mean?" she countered looking at him.

"Are you saying that up on the mountain when you were obviously very upset with me, that not even for one minute did you want to hurt me?" he asked.

"Oh, then," she said with a sigh. "I wanted to kill you...but, no, seriously, I never wanted to maim you."

"Can you come a little closer, please?" he asked and slowly Mac resettled herself so her head was on the pillows with his. "Now," he continued, shuffling around until he had one arm behind Mac and her head was on his chest. "I am sorry I didn't tell you about Emily. I wasn't expecting her and hadn't had a chance to talk to you and then when I did..."

"I wasn't talking to you...sorry," she said, closing her eyes.

"You know, Mac," he said as his fingers started raking through her hair. "We've known each other, what, nine years?"

"Aha," she replied, trying not to drift away.

"And I don't think I have ever heard you apologise as much as you have done today," he said, pressing a kiss to her head.

"That's because I don't think I've ever been as sorry," she said, not daring to look at him.

"What do I need to do to help you understand that all is forgiven?" he asked. "Because the way I see it, we're both as guilty as the other. If we were better at this whole communication thing then I would have told you a long time ago that you are the only woman for me." He felt Mac's body stiffen. "And I would have told you that I live for the moments like this...a sign that you have similar feelings towards me. And I would have told you that you are the most intelligent, courageous, strongest, beautiful person I have ever met and that, despite all my actions and words to the contrary, I am, without a doubt, very much in love with you."

Pressing up, Mac turned to look at him, a look of surprise and confusion on her face.

"Don't look so surprised," he said. "And before you say anything, you need to know that this isn't the medication talking. I really do mean it, and, if you need any further convincing, there's an engagement ring sitting in the top drawer of that bureau for you. I've had it a while now and am hoping against hope that, one day very soon, we will be in a place where I can ask you to marry me."

Completely at a loss for words, Mac continued to stare at him. Harm didn't want to say anything else, lest his words lose their impact. Eventually, Mac snuggled into him once more.

"When we're in that place, I'll say yes," she said quietly, her fingers kneading his chest. "Because ... well, the way I see it is when you have found your soul mate, found the other half of you, then it would be madness to even consider a future which didn't revolve around you both being together – permanently."

"That's my thinking too," he said, kissing her head once more.

"And, although I denied it earlier, I will admit that I was jealous of Emily," she continued. "And not just a little bit either...it was a lot more than a little bit. I spent time recently, and not so recently, thinking there was something more going on between us and all of a sudden there was another woman in your life. I couldn't help but think of the times I'd turned up here, hoping our relationship was going to go this way, only to find another woman. I didn't want to discuss it with you because I didn't want you to confirm it. I didn't want to face you because I was feeling jealous and extremely hurt."

"Sorry," he said, kissing her head twice. "I'm just glad that this time it all turned out right."

"Hardly," Mac said, propping herself up on an elbow. "You broke your ankle."

"My ankle is much easier to fix than my heart," he whispered. "And my heart would have shattered if you hadn't been feeling the same way about me as I do about you."

Pushing herself forward, Mac leant on Harm's chest, before pressing up and kissing him tenderly. "I love you, Harm, very much," she declared with quiet confidence. "And I promise you that I am going to work much harder on communicating with you."

"And I promise to do the same," he replied kissing her back. "And I promise to never make you regret loving me."

"I promise the same," she said, brushing her lips across his and despite what blowing everything out of proportion had resulted in, she had one more promise to make. "And I definitely promise not make mountains out of molehills."

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Replies:

[> This was great, Nettie! Can always imagine H&M when you have them talking and expressing themselves. Just goes to show what a wonderful author you are. Thanks, for #11 for June. WOW.... -- carramor, 19:46:18 06/29/13 Sat [1]


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[> [> Wonderful story, as always. We have come to expect great things from you and you never dissappoint, always great visuals from your words! -- JoyZ, 23:11:08 06/29/13 Sat [1]


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[> Great job! -- cd, 09:21:54 06/30/13 Sun [1]


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[> another awesome story Nettie -- Bev uk, 09:52:00 06/30/13 Sun [1]


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[> Thank you Nettie for another great story! Love reading your stories :) -- Ciara, 11:48:07 06/30/13 Sun [1]


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[> This was a great story and love the way you brought them together in this story. -- Can Sheshe, 20:13:55 07/30/13 Tue [1]


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