FWWATT Chapter 8 Section Five -- JAG Safe Haven Fan Fiction

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Date Posted: 14:25:45 03/07/06 Tue
Author: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett
Subject: FWWATT Chapter 8 Section Five
In reply to: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett 's message, "FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL Chapter 8" on 10:01:54 03/07/06 Tue

FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL

By Sylvia Bartlett Mohr

CHAPTER 8: Don't Let It Slip Away

Section Five Praying Every Day

Greetings, gentle readers�the faith shared in this chapter springs from my own personally held belief system. I do not wish to push my point of view on anyone else. An author always writes from who they are. I do not require any other person to believe the same way I do. It is not my goal to make converts. This is a story, but it is being written by me. I hope I have not offended any of my readers. I write from who I am and from experiences I have actually had in the area of health care and in my personal life struggles. Enjoy this at whatever level you wish. Sincere best wishes. For those familiar with the old Four Seasons song that this chapter's title is taken from, the next line really is 'praying every day'. This ends this chapter�which was by the way, still a repost of parts already posted. Sylvia 3-14-2006

As Sturgis and his father watched, Harm suddenly took a deeper breath than he had in quite a while, sighed and something subtle changed. His skin color improved and he seemed more relaxed, for a while.

When he next stiffened up, he asked. "Sturg, raise me up." When he coughed that time, it was a struggle, but the fluid seemed to pour out of him. Between coughs, he'd relax back into his friend's arms, leaning forward again when he was ready to cough more. When, at last, he relaxed from this coughing session, he just drifted back into sleep, without the nausea following as it had before. This happened twice more.

Out in the hall, Admirals Chegwidden and Boone, listening to the grave outlook presented by Doctor Studevant, decided they would not delay contacting Harm's Mom and stepfather this time, even with what was not very encouraging news. They walked down to Reyes office and the call was placed on scrambler.

It was a very subdued Trish Burnett they got on the phone. "I understand now why you wanted this explained to us in person." She spoke, cautiously. "Don't let anyone involved with this just get away with it. I want those individuals to pay for what they've done."

Chegwidden was equally grave when he answered. "That's what we want to."

"You have an update on my son, don't you?"

"Trish, it is Doctor Studevant. I wish I had better news. Harm appears to have fluid around his heart. He may be going into kidney failure, too."

Trish Burnett closed her eyes, despair washing over her. "We are losing him."

"Trish, don't you give up on Harm. He's a fighter." Tom Boone said with more confidence then he really felt.

"He's tired, Tom. He's so tired." Trish's voice broke. "I can't lose my baby too."

Harm suddenly opened his eyes. "Chaplain T?"

"I'm right here."

"They are scaring my mom half to death. Please, go down to Doctor Reyes office for me. Tell my mom I don't want her to be afraid. Tell her I'm going to make it. Tell her I promise I'll make it back. Please. Go now. Remind Mom I do never make a promise I can't keep."

Chaplain Turner nodded. "All right, Harm. Calm down."

As he headed for the door, it opened and Mac came in. Harm had sagged back against the pillows, exhausted by insisting the Chaplain go talk to his mom.

Sarah came over and put her hand gently on Harm's cheeks. His eyes fluttered back open. "Sarah?"

"Hey, fly boy. I was working on things when I got the strongest urge to come give you a kiss for little AJ. I'm supposed to kiss you better." She smiled, feeling a trifle silly.

Harm got a peculiar look on his face, but he responded. "If you are waiting for me to object, you'll have a long wait." She bent down and kissed his side, where the chest tubes were. "Hey. That tickles." She kissed him again, same spot. He barked a bit of a laugh. She kissed the bandage on his arm and his chest near the collarbone over each bronchial tube. She placed a gentle kiss right over his heart. She kissed each cheek and his throat.

"You had better not kiss my lips. I've been throwing up." She ignored him, pulled the mask off his face and kissed his lips, very gently for just a moment, then put the mask back.

Harm sighed and looked at Sturgis. "I think this lady really must love me."

"I'd say that's a safe bet, my friend." Sturgis eye's twinkled. "Try and rest some more."

Harm's eyes closed, again.

Chaplain Turner walked into the room as the doctors, Harm's folks and two Admirals discussed Rabb's condition. "Trish, this is Matthew Turner. I have been asked to give you a message from your son. He said the Doctor was scaring you half to death. He's worried about you."

"Harm's worried about me?"

"Yes. He said to tell you he does not want you to be afraid. He is going to make it. He said to tell you he promises to make it back and to remind you he would never make you a promise he couldn't keep."

In California, Trish Burnett looked at Frank with tears in her eyes. "He promised, Frank. He's going to make it."

Frank smiled. "You tell our boy this. Tell him I've got his mom in my arms. If she gets scared, I'll just keep reminding her. He promised and he always keeps his promises." He hugged his wife. "Tell him we'll see him soon."

"I'll do that, Frank. If you'll excuse me, I want to get back to him now."

"Matthew, tell him thank you from me." Trish added. "Tell him we love him very much."

"I will. Count on it." Chaplain Turner left the room.

Doctor Studevant looked at everyone in the room, as if they were a little crazy. "Nothing has changed. His condition is still very serious."

"Something has changed. Harm just made a promise to his mother. Trust me on this one, Doctor. Rabb doesn't make a promise he won't keep." Admiral Chegwidden spoke with conviction. "He'll do whatever it takes."

Stu shook his head. "Well, a patient's will, his desire to live, can make a tremendous difference. I hope you are all right."

"They are right, Doctor. My son will do whatever it takes. He's in this fight to win."

AJ laughed in his mom's kitchen. "Uncle Harm got his kisses from Auntie Mac. He promised his mommy he'll get better. He saw the Shepherd too." He giggled. "Harm thought the Shepherd's crook was a tail hook, Mommy."

Bud had just come in the back door as AJ said the last. "Well, that would be an honest mistake for an aviator to make, little boy. They are shaped sort of the same." He looked at his wife, as his son ran off. "What is little AJ talking about?"

"He prayed for Harm and I think maybe his prayers were answered."

Bud smiled. "The prayers of a child usually are. That's what Chaplain Turner likes to say. Children's faith is pure."

Chaplain Turner came back in Harm's room. As he came up to the bed, Harm opened his eyes, silently waiting. "I told her, Harm. She said to tell you thank you. She knows you will keep your promise. Frank said to tell you he'll keep reminding her you promised and you always keep your promises. They both said to remind you they love you."

Harm nodded and looked up at his friend's father. "I had a little visit with your CO. You think you can help me work on things?"

Matthew's face lit up. "My boy, welcome home. My Boss and I have been waiting for this for a long time. You never really left, you know."

"That's what He told me. He said He's had me in His hands ever since I prayed when I was little."

The Chaplain nodded. "I have been trying to tell you that for years, Harmon. This Thanksgiving is a very special one, my boy. There is so much to be thankful for."

Harm smiled fondly at the older man. "You are just loving this, aren't you?"

"It's what he lives for." Sturgis chuckled. "Get some rest, Harm."

Rabb closed his eyes and let himself drift off again, feeling the love that surrounded him, as he surrendered to the grace of a Father's love.

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Replies:

I Loved your mini-sermon in chapter four! I believe the same way! Good Job! ....... -- Deborah Brady, 19:02:05 03/07/06 Tue
- I believe like that too. I can't wait for the next part! -- harmsgirl, 06:52:11 03/08/06 Wed