Marines Don't do Anything by HalfsAuthor: Rorie Spoilers: Ghost Ship, others? Author's Notes: at the end... JAG HEADQUARTERS Lt. (j.g.) Harriet Sims was standing in front of the mirror in the ladies' room, when she heard a noise coming from one of the stalls. Walking over she was rewarded with the sight of Major Sarah MacKenzie sitting on the floor emptying her stomach in a very un-Marine-like way. Harriet said nothing, she just pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket, went to the sink and got it wet. She then went back over to the Major and put the cool cloth on the back of Mac's neck. Harriet then sat down on the floor next to her friend and began to rub her back as the Major continued to be sick. Finally, "Have you told him yet, Ma'am?" "Told who what, Harriet?" Mac asked when she was able to speak. "Commander Rabb, that you're pregnant." Harriet replied. "I'm not pr..." Mac stopped as she thought about it. "Why would you say that I was pregnant, Harriet?" "Ma'am, I've been watching you for a week now. You come in here every morning at around the same time, and come out looking like I did when I left the head in the mornings when I was pregnant with A.J. You look like you're gonna be sick anytime anyone mentions food, and you haven't eaten a Beltway burger in at least that long. I'd say you are exhibiting all of the classic symptoms." "Well, now that I think about it... I am three weeks late, and I'm never late. I just thought maybe it was the stress of the Gregory case. It's not going as well as Lt. Lexor or I would like it to be." "With all due respect, Major, I'd say congratulations are in order." Harriet said as she helped Mac off of the floor. "Why don't you rinse your mouth out and wash your face, and I'll bring you some ginger tea to your office. It's supposed to help with the nausea." "Thanks, Harriet." Harriet left the room. Mac stared at herself in the mirror... Could I really be pregnant, like Harriet said? What is Harm gonna think? Mac finished washing her face, ran her fingers through her short, brown hair, and straightened her uniform. Then she left for her office. "Major!" a voice called to her just as she got to her office. "Lt. Lexor," Just what I need... "What is it?" First Lieutenant Arline Lexor was a petite blonde with enormous blue eyes. The kind of woman that at first sight inspired protective feelings in those around her, men and women. However, that feeling didn't last long: first, Lt. Lexor could take care of herself as well as any other Marine, and second, she had a personality that just grated on everyone around her. Lexor had many first dates, fewer second dates, and rarely made it to a third. "Ma'am we need to discuss the Gregory case... it's not going too well right now." Boy, is she good at stating the obvious, or what? "I know, Lieutenant, and I promise I'll find some time today. But right now, I have a stack of files on my desk that need my attention." "Yes, Ma'am. Just give a holler when you need me." Lexor left to go back to her own office. Mac breathed a sigh of relief as she finally sank into the chair in her office. She really didn't have the energy to face Lt. Lexor right now. "Here's your tea, Ma'am." Harriet said, walking into Mac's office. "Thanks, Lieutenant." 1700 ZULU Lt. Cmdr. Harmon Rabb, Jr. poked his head into his former-partner's office... she wasn't there. "Bud?" "Yes, Commander." Lt. Bud Roberts answered. "Have you seen the Major lately?" "Yes, Sir. She and Harriet left about five minutes ago to go to lunch. They seemed to be in a hurry, Sir." "Thanks, Bud." "No problem, Commander." That's funny, I thought we were gonna go to lunch today. I wonder what Mac and Harriet are up to... A STORE "Harriet, I'm nervous... I've never bought a pregnancy test before." "Would you like me to buy it, Major?" "Yes... No, I'm a Marine, I can face anything. Which brand is the best?" "I don't know... I used an E.P.T., it was easy..." "Okay..." Mac took a deep breath and picked a box off of the shelf, turned it over and read the instructions... "Harriet, can we go to your place to do this?" "Sure, Ma'am... How much time do we have before we have to be back at the office?" Harriet asked. "39 minutes, 25 seconds." "I wish I knew how you did that, Ma'am." Mac just smiled. ROBERTS RESIDENCE The timer dinged... "Major, it's time..." "Harriet, I'm not sure I want to look at it.... Could you...?" "Sure, Ma'am." Harriet went into the bathroom and came back out carrying the test in a paper towel. "Congratulations, Sarah," she said with a smile, "You're expecting!" Mac let out the breath that she had been holding, and plopped down on the chair she was standing next to. Then she started to laugh... "What's so funny, Ma'am?" "I was just thinking about the look that's gonna be on Harm's face when I tell him about this..." "I see what you mean, Major." Harriet started to laugh as well. "I wonder if it'll be anything like Bud's when I told him that I was pregnant with A.J." "Well, Lieutenant, we have 15 minutes, 29 seconds to get back to the office before we're late." Mac said without looking at a clock, as usual. JAG HEADQUARTERS Harm walked past his former partner's office on the way to the head, as he passed he heard Mac on the phone, "Thank you, Dr. Castle, I'll see you tomorrow." What's wrong... Why does she need to see a doctor? "Mac, how's it going?" he asked trying to probe for information. "I missed you at lunch." Mac smiled her sweet, light-up-a-room smile, her brown eyes sparkling, "Everything's wonderful... absolutely fabulous. Harriet and I just had some errands to run." "Okay..." So she's not going to tell me... but it doesn't look like anything is wrong, still.... He continued on his way. Mac laughed, he had such a concerned look in his eyes when he stopped. Did he overhear me? If he did, he's got to be so worried. But I can't tell him until I know for sure, those tests aren't always accurate. She got up and went out towards the admiral's office. "He in?" she asked PO Tiner, motioning toward the admiral's door. "Yes, Ma'am, I'll tell him you're here." Tiner picked up the phone, "Major MacKenzie's here to see you, Sir.... Yes, Sir." he hung up the phone. "You can go in, Major." Mac walked into the admiral's office, and snapped to attention. "At ease, Major... you wanted to see me?" Adm. A.J. Chegwidden asked his junior officer. "Yes, Sir... I was wondering if I could come in late tomorrow, Sir. I have an appointment at Bethesda." "Why, is there something wrong, Major?" Chegwidden asked, suddenly concerned. "No, it's just routine, Sir." Mac replied. "In that case, Major, you may have the morning off. I'll expect you at 1300 hours." "Thank you, Sir." "Dismissed." Mac snapped to attention again. "Aye-aye, Sir." She turned to leave. The admiral's voice stopped her, "Major?" "Sir?" she said as she turned back around to face her CO. "Have you told the Commander about the appointment?" "No, Sir, I haven't." "OK, Dismissed." Attention again, "Aye-aye, Sir." She left the office. Everyone sure is concerned with when I'm gonna tell Harm...first, Harriet, now, the Admiral. "Major!" Lt. Lexor called out. "Lieutenant. If you'd like, we can go over the case now." Nothing could spoil Mac's good mood at this point. They headed for Mac's office for several hours of intensive work on the Gregory drunk-and-disorderly/assault-with-a-deadly-weapon case. 2130 ZULU (1630 EST) Finally, she was able to leave... Mac couldn't wait to get home and slip into a hot bath, with a good book, and some quiet music and candles. It was one of her favorite ways to relax after a long day at the office. It was something very few people knew about her, and most wouldn't believe it anyway... she had a reputation as being a no-nonsense, by-the-book Marine. She walked out to the parking lot and got into a red corvette, and waited. Finally, Harm walked out.... "What took so long, Flyboy? I've been waiting for 6 minutes, 7 seconds." she said as the tall, handsome lawyer got into the car. Harm leaned over and kissed his wife passionately. "Am I forgiven, Marine?" Mac smiled seductively, "Do that again and I'll think about it." Harm promptly complied. RABB APARTMENT After unlocking the door to the apartment that had been Harm's before their marriage a year-and-a-half ago, Mac headed straight for the bedroom to get undressed for a bath, while Harm went into the kitchen to start dinner. "Hey, Marine, what would you like tonight?" Harm called to his wife. "I don't know, Flyboy, what sound good to you?" she answered. "How about some of my killer spaghetti?" "Sounds good to me... you got everything you need?" "I think so, if I don't I'll just wing it." "Ha, Ha, not funny, Flyboy." 2300 ZULU (1800 EST) Mac came out of the bathroom, dressed in her favorite bathrobe, looking quite relaxed. "Mmm, something smells good in here." "Well, it's about time, I was about to start without you." "I've only been in the tub for 41 minutes, 27 seconds, that's short for me." "Don't I know it..." Harm said as he playfully put his arms around his wife's slim waist and twirled her around. Laughing, "Watch it, Flyboy, you could get in real trouble doing that to a Marine." "You wouldn't dare, Mac..." "Wouldn't I..." she said slyly, as she sat down at the table. "Let's eat this before it gets cold..." "Okay, I'm starved..." 0100 ZULU (2000 EST) The couple sat on the couch, Harm sitting in the corner with Mac laying with her head in his lap. They were watching "Sleepless in Seattle," one of Mac's favorites, another fact most people wouldn't believe about the tough Jarhead lawyer. "Harm?" Mac said as she adjusted her position so she could look at her husband's face. "What is it, Sweetheart?" "Do you want ice cream?" "I don't think we have any in the freezer." "Darn...Harm, could you go get some? I am really craving chocolate right now." "Mac, you never want chocolate ice cream, you always ask for butter pecan." "I know, I just wanted something different this time." "Aye-aye, Marine!" He leaned down and kissed his wife, then shoved her off of his lap. "Hey, Flyboy, that wasn't very nice!" "Well, Marine, how do you expect me to go get ice cream if you're on top of me?" Harm said, as he got up off of the couch laughing. 21 FEBRUARY Mac sat up in bed and looked over at her husband who was still sleeping soundly, "Wake up, Sleepyhead, it's time to go for our run." She leaned over and kissed Harm on the lips... suddenly, he grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him and deepened the kiss from just a peck to one that took Mac's breath away. Finally, they broke the kiss, Mac gasped for air for a few seconds. "Are you sure you really want to go for a run right now, Sarah...?" Harm asked in his most seductive voice. "No, I'm not..." she replied as she bent back down to kiss him again, "But if I don't, I won't feel right all day." With that, she got out of bed and got undressed to get into her running gear. God, how did I get so lucky? Harm just stared at his wife's slender figure as she changed. "What are you staring at, Flyboy?" Mac asked with a seductive smile. "Nothing... only the most beautiful woman in the world." "Flattery will get you everywhere, Harm!" Mac said as she turned to leave the room. "Are you coming?" she asked over her shoulder. "Of course, I just thought I'd give you a head start... also I'll get the better view." "Red light, Commander..." she said jokingly, remembering the time, a couple of years ago, when Harm was describing his experience in the hospital: "I slept the first day, but after that, the nurse threatened to tie me down if I so much as stuck my nose out the door." "Kinky." "Yellow light, Major." "Oh, come on, Harm, haven't we reached the point where we can drop the traffic signals." "Absolutely. Have I ever told you why a female Marine is like the Energizer bunny?" "On second thought, let's not." Laughing, Mac left the room.... RABB APARTMENT Preparing to leave for their various destinations, Maj. Sarah MacKenzie and Lt. Cmdr. Harmon Rabb, Jr., went out the door to the apartment. "Harm, I'll be back in the office at 1300 hours. Adm. Chegwidden gave me off until then." Mac told her husband, who had a worried look on his handsome face. "Don't give me that look, Flyboy... I'm all right." "I don't know, Sarah, you sure seemed pretty sick half an hour ago..." "Well, I'm fine now, as long as no one mentions food, I'll be OK." "Are you gonna tell me where you're going this morning?" "Later..." "Well, in that case, I've got to go now..." Sarah, why won't you tell me about the doctor's appointment...is there something wrong?... God, I'm gonna be a wreck until she tells me what's going on around here. At their cars, Harm grabbed Mac's arm and kissed her passionately. She could see the concern in his eyes, but she wasn't ready to tell him about her secret quite yet. In fact, she had the whole thing planned out... telling him in the parking lot wasn't in the mission plan... BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL Mac sat in the waiting area outside Dr. Rowanne Castle's office. As was usual for military hospitals, things weren't running on time. Ten minutes later, Mac was still sitting there. She was already a little apprehensive, and the wait wasn't making things any better. How many pregnant Naval personnel can there be in this area? Why is it taking so long... I've already been waiting for 15 minutes, 25 seconds... she thought, distractedly. Finally, "Major Sarah MacKenzie?" the nurse called. Mac got up to go into the office... After the examination, Cmdr. Castle told Mac she could sit up... "When was your last period, Major?" "January 2nd." "Uh, huh... Congratulations, Major, I'd say that you can expect an addition to your family around October 9th. I believe that the tests will show that you are approximately five-and-a-half weeks pregnant." "Thank you, Doctor." "I had nothing to do with it... I just told you about it." Mac just smiled with a beautiful expression on her face, and a definite blush. "Now, Major, there are some things that you're going to have to do for yourself and for your baby..." "My baby"... that sounds so strange, and yet, so wonderful. "...You need to get plenty of rest, eat right, exercise, use common sense. I'll give you a booklet of things to watch for and expect. How have you been feeling lately?" "Fine, usually... except for in the mornings... I get very queasy, and spend more time than I'd like in the head. After that, I'm fine, as long as no one mentions food." "The morning sickness will pass... you should be fine in another month or so." "Another month?!" Mac exclaimed. "Maybe less... meanwhile, there are some things that can help you now. Saltine crackers eaten before you even get out of bed, plenty of fluids, and a proper diet. Ginger tea also helps with nausea." "Thank you..." "Well, that's all we need to do now... the nurse will want to draw some blood and do a urine test on you. After that, you need to make an appointment to see me in a month. Take care of yourself, Major, not only for yourself, but also for the little one you're protecting." Cmdr. Castle said as she left the room to send the nurse in. JAG HEADQUARTERS Harm looked up from the file he was studying to see his wife standing in the doorway of his office. Mac had one of her patented light-up-a-room smiles on her face. "Just wanted to let you know I was back in the office, Flyboy." she said before turning to go to her own office... Harm jumped out of his chair to follow her. "Mac," he said as he reached her office, "Are you going to tell me what this is all about?" "Tonight, Harm. Right now I've got work to do... the Gregory case isn't going as planned." With that, Mac picked up a file and proceeded to ignore the look on her husband's face. "Sarah, I know about the doctor's appointment... Is everything all right? You're not sick or anything, are you? I mean this morning it looked like you were never going to be able to leave the bathroom. Then all of a sudden you were fine, until I asked you about breakfast, then back to the head." "I know... there's absolutely nothing wrong with me... we'll talk about it later. By the way, do you have any chocolate stashed away any where? I have the strangest urge to eat chocolate right now..." Harm turned around to leave with an exasperated look on his handsome face. Mac just smiled. A STORE Wandering through the aisles, Mac picked up various ingredients for dinner. She was planning a special surprise for her clueless, overly-worried husband. Before she had left the office, she had stuck her head into Harm's office and told him she'd be stopping to get stuff for dinner, so he didn't need to. Stopping in the florist section of the grocery store, Sarah picked up a bouquet of pink roses with baby's breath stuck in. Smiling at the symbolism, she headed to the front to the checkout lines... On the way out, she picked up a free area real estate guide. RABB APARTMENT Mac struggled with the door and the bags that she was holding. Suddenly, it swung open to reveal her husband standing there with an amused look on his face. "I know you're a Marine and all, and that you can take care of yourself... but you could have rung the bell and I would have had this open sooner." "*Thanks,* Squid!" she retorted as she headed for the kitchen to put things away. "I'm going to change, so stay out of things... it's a surprise..." "Aye-aye, Ma'am." Harm said as he snapped off a sharp salute. 2245 ZULU (1745 EST) Mac headed back for the kitchen, humming to herself. Startled, she realized she had been humming "Baby Mine" from the Disney movie, Dumbo. Now, where did that come from... I haven't seen that since I was a kid... It must just be in the back of my mind somewhere. 2305 ZULU (1805 EST) "Harm, you can come to the table now..." Harm came in... the table was set with 2 places of the best china, there were candles and a vase of roses in the center... and a newspaper at his place. "What's all this?" "You'll see..." Mac answered with a secret smile. When he sat down, he noticed that the paper was a real estate guide. "Mac?" he said with a questioning look on his face. "What's this for?" "Oh, nothing... I just saw some places in it that I liked... Here, eat your dinner." she said as she turned on the CD player with the remote... 2345 ZULU (1845 EST) "Sarah, this was wonderful... now are you going to tell me about the doctor's appointment and why you went to all of this trouble for dinner?" "All right, Flyboy, you talked me into it..." she answered with a sparkle in her deep-brown eyes. "I don't think this place is big enough, do you?" "Big enough, for what?" Harm asked with a puzzled look. "Harm, darling," she said with a blush rising up her neck, "there's something I've got to tell you... I haven't been sick these last few days... I've been... pregnant!" she finished quickly, and looked at her husband to see what his reaction would be. "Pr-pregnant?" he asked in a small, shocked voice. "Yes... Harm, are you OK with this?" she asked in a voice full of trepidation. Harm snapped out of his reverie, "Hell, yes... I'm thrilled... you and me... we're gonna be parents." He said in a shout as he picked Mac up and twirled her around. "When?" he asked when he finally set her back onto her own two feet. "Cmdr. Castle thinks I'm five-and-a-half weeks along. She says it'll be around October 9th." "October... the perfect month for a baby..." Sarah just smiled. JAG HEADQUARTERS Mac looked up from the file she was reading as Harriet knocked on her door. "Come in, Harriet..." "So??" "Huh?" "Ma'am, Sarah, did you tell him?" "If you're speaking of my gorgeous husband, then, yes, Harriet, I told him." "If you don't mind me asking, how did he take it?" "Well, first he was stunned. Then he tried to get me demonstrate what morning sickness does by twirling me around ecstatically. Overall, I'd say he liked the idea.... Harriet, don't say anything to anyone yet, we're planning on announcing the pregnancy this weekend at Bridget's birthday party. First, we need to tell our relatives." "Yes, Ma'am... I understand." HARM'S OFFICE "Bud?" "Sir?" "How did you feel when Harriet told you she was pregnant?" "Sir?... I felt stunned at first, then very happy... probably a little giddy, too." "That's what I thought... I wasn't sure if I was normal or not." "Sir? Are you saying that the Major..." "Yes, Bud, we're gonna be parents... but don't say anything yet, we're not telling anyone yet." "Aye-aye, Sir, and congratulations..." WEBB RESIDENCE "Auntie Sarah! Uncle Harm!" Bridget Webb yelled as she launched herself at her honorary aunt and uncle. "Bridget-bear!" Mac said as she enfolded the little girl in her arms. Harm reached for the girl, "How's the birthday girl?" "Fine, Uncle Harm... I'm five today!" she held up the requisite number of fingers to demonstrate her point. "Come on, Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bud, and A.J. are in the living room. Bridget grabbed one of Harm's hands and one of Mac's and led them into where the others were. All conversation stopped as they walked into the room. Harm and Mac exchanged puzzled looks as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it, Mommy." Bridget called as she ran to the door. A moment later, she returned followed by the Admiral and Carolyn Chegwidden, carrying their year-old, sleeping son, Mark. "Well, it looks like the gang's all here..." Lucy Webb remarked as she tried to get up off of the sofa. "Lucy, stay seated. What do you need done?" Harriet asked. Lucy was now seven-months pregnant with their second child, and Harriet knew how she felt. "It's all done... I just needed to bring the last platter to the table in the dining room." she answered. "I'll get it." Bud volunteered and he left to bring it in. After a flurry of present-opening and childish excitement, A.J. and Bridget were sent upstairs to play in Bridget's room so that the adults could talk. Mark lay asleep on a blanket in the corner. "This was a nice, quiet party," Harriet remarked, "A.J.'s got his heart set on King's Dominion for his birthday in May." "That's why a winter birthday is better, can't go out to the parks." Clay said. "Well, Clay, you messed up in your planning... the next one's due in April." Harm joked. A look passed between Harriet and Sarah. "Speaking of due..." Mac began. "Yes?" "Harm and I have some news..." she took a deep breath and reached for her husband's hand, "We're expecting!" "Congratulations, Major, Commander." A.J. said as Carolyn moved to hug Mac. "When?" Lucy asked. "October 9th." Harm answered. "How'd the family take it?" Clay asked, remembering his own mother's reaction to Bridget's impending arrival. "Well, it was all we could do to convince Trish that she didn't have to jump on the first plane out here. Grandma Sarah was thrilled... my mom was pleased." Harm saw a fleeting look of sadness pass over Sarah's face. After the first step at their wedding, the relationship between Mac and her mother stalled. She loved her sisters, they were great, but her mom just couldn't understand her eldest daughter. "Steph and Jillie can't wait until they're aunts... they started suggesting baby names on the phone." "Yeah, things like 'Iris' and 'Jebadiah,' where do they come up with this stuff?" Harm said, trying hard not to laugh. "Oh, be nice," Mac said as she playfully slapped her husband's arm, "They were just trying to be helpful." "Yeah, help the kid right into a complex and years of expensive therapy." "Well, maybe we can get Jordan Parker to do it for free." Mac replied, wickedly. "Ouch." Harm made a face at the mention of his old girlfriend. "At ease, you two." A.J. said, with a mock serious tone. "Aye-aye, Sir." they replied in unison, before beginning to laugh. 2300 ZULU (1800 EST) "Happy birthday, Bridget-bear. Thank you for inviting us to your party." Sarah said as they were getting ready to go. "Auntie Sarah?" "Yes, Honey?" "When your baby gets here, will I be able to play with it?" "Honey, when the baby gets here, it will be too small to play with yet. Besides, you're gonna have your own baby to play with then." She hugged the little girl before she turned to join her husband at the car. IN THE CAR "I hope our child turns out as sweet as Bridget." Sarah remarked. "I hope our child turns out as sweet as its Mom." Harm replied. 0300 ZULU (2200 EST) Harm and Mac lay on their bed. Mac had her head on his shoulder, he had his arm around her. "Harm, have you given any thought to baby names, other than 'Iris' and 'Jebadiah,' I mean?" "Well, I have always like the name 'Amie.'" he replied. "'Amie'... I like it... 'Amie Joy." she said. "And if it's a boy..." he pointed at himself. "Oh, no. I told you once that one Harmon Rabb in my life is enough. But we *could* use your name for a middle name..." "Okay, I guess that'll have to do. Besides it would get kind of confusing around here with more than one Harm." "What do think about 'Benjamin?'" "'Benjamin'... 'Ben'...I like it... 'Benjamin Harmon Rabb,' United States Navy." "Well, in that case, 'Amie Joy Rabb,' United States Marine Corps." Harm laughed and rearranged himself so that he could kiss his wife. Then he proceeded to kiss his child goodnight. BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL "Maj. Sarah MacKenzie?" the nurse called. Mac rose to go to the exam room, Harm followed. A few minutes later, Dr. Castle walked in. "How are you feeling today, Sarah?" "Much better... the morning sickness seems to have stopped." "Good... and this is?" she said, looking at Harm. "Oh, sorry, this is my husband, Cmdr. Harmon Rabb. Harm, this is Cmdr. Rowanne Castle." "Nice to meet you, Commander." She turned back to Mac, "Are you ready to hear your baby's heartbeat?" "Yes..." Harm moved to stand by his wife who was now laying down on the examination table. "Okay, you're going to need to lift your blouse and pull down the top edge of your pants. This stuff is kind of cold, so be prepared. Mac did as she was asked... Dr. Castle poured some of what looked like blue slime onto Mac's abdomen... she gasped... it wasn't "kind of cold" it was *very* cold. Dr. Castle then touched the gel with a wand and moved it around...suddenly, the room was filled with a sound not unlike the galloping of horses. The doctor smiled, "That's it... that's your baby's heartbeat." Mac and Harm listened in wonder, their love had created this... "Wait a minute..." Cmdr. Castle sounded perplexed. Harm looked up with a start, "Doctor, is there something wrong?" Cmdr. Castle held up her hand to signal that she needed quiet while she was concentrating on what she was hearing... slowly, her lips curled up into a wide smile. "Congratulations, I hear two distinct heartbeats... you're having twins!" "Twins?! Are you sure?" Harm asked, slightly in shock. "Pretty much, but an ultrasound will tell us for sure... just a second." She stepped out of the room to get the ultrasound machine. "Did you hear that, Sarah... two!" "Are you sure we're ready for twins?" she asked apprehensively. "You're a Marine, I thought Marines were ready for anything..." "Yeah, but there are some things they don't teach us in OCS..." Dr. Castle came back in pushing a machine that looked like a fancy television screen with a cord attached. "This is going to allow us to see your babies, and confirm that there really are two." she explained. More of the gel, still cold, went onto Mac's abdomen, then the wand... On the screen, there was a lot of static and some vague shapes... Harm and Mac weren't sure what they were supposed to be seeing. Dr. Castle pointed at one of the shapes on the screen, "Here's a head, here's a beating heart." Then she pointed to another shape, "Here's the other head, here's the other beating heart. There are definitely two babies here." As they stared at the screen, Mac and Harm vaguely saw what the doctor was pointing out... twins! Harm leaned over and kissed his wife, "I love you, Marine." She returned his kiss, "You better, Flyboy, I'm having your twins!" COURTROOM Maj. Sarah MacKenzie was in the middle of a brilliant closing argument when suddenly she stopped, a look of intense pain crossing her face. "Major, are you all right?" the judge asked quickly, concerned for the very pregnant litigator. "Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir... As I was saying,... No, Sir, I think I'm going into labor." "This court is in recess... Lt. Lexor, would you please go get the Major's husband?" "Aye-aye, Sir." she said as she ran out of the courtroom. A few moments later, Cmdr. Harmon Rabb, Jr., ran into the courtroom and over to where his wife was sitting... "Sarah, are you okay? Is it time?" he asked in a voice laden with panic. Mac tried to smile a reassuring smile, but it didn't work as her body chose that time for another contraction. "Harm, I think we'd better get to the hospital... these kids are getting impatient to meet us." LABOR & DELIVERY ROOM "Okay, Sarah, it's not time to push yet... you're not completely dilated." Dr. Rowanne Castle said in a calm voice. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT TIME TO PUSH YET?! I WANT TO PUSH!!" Mac yelled, in a definite contrast to her usual calm self. "You need to be 10cm. dilated before you can push, you're only at a 7. It may be a while." "Doctor," Harm said jumping in before his wife decided it was time to show off some of her Marine training, "Is there anything you can give her for the pain?" "Yes, I'll have the anesthesiologist come in and start an epidural. She will still able to feel the contractions, but they will only feel like squeezing not painful." "Will it be okay, considering her history and all?" Harm asked, concerned about the effects of the drugs on Mac's alcoholism. "Perfectly safe, we've never had a problem before, even in patients with a history like Sarah's." "Anything... just make the PAIN stop!!" Sarah said, in a much calmer voice than before. The doctor left the room, a few minutes later, a tall, young man came in... the anesthesiologist. He calmly explained what he was going to do... "Sarah, I'm going to put this catheter into your back, it will hurt a little when it first goes in, but the anesthetic that will be injected will soon take the edge off of your contractions. Okay?" Mac nodded, and turned so her back was exposed. She gasped as the needle entered her back, but soon relaxed. Within a few minutes, she was totally relaxed. When the next contraction hit, her body tensed up, but she didn't feel the pain. "I think I like this stuff." she joked. A few minutes later, Cmdr. Castle returned, "Better, Sarah?" "Much!" After examining Mac, the doctor motioned for Harm to step out into the hall with her. "I'll be right back, Sweetheart." he said, Mac just nodded. In the hallway, "I'm concerned, Sarah's labor hasn't been progressing as it should. If it doesn't progress soon, we'll have to do a cesarean section or the twins will be in trouble. If the labor becomes too drawn out, they can suffer from hypoxia, or even anoxia. Do I have your consent to do the operation if it becomes necessary?" "Of course, I'll do anything for Sarah and the babies. Just make sure nothing happens to them." Harm replied, seriously, with the beginnings of tears in his eyes. He walked back into the room and over to Mac, who was obviously wearing out. She hadn't even begun to push yet and her body was already exhausted from the effort of the contractions. Harm took her hand. "Sarah, Dr. Castle says that there's a possibility that she'll have to do a c-section to help the babies be born. She says that your labor isn't progressing as smoothly as she'd like. She's worried that the twins won't have enough oxygen." "I understand, let her do whatever is necessary." she answered in a voice laden with exhaustion. Suddenly, a monitor started beeping loudly, a nurse ran into the room and looked at the fetal monitor, then ran back out... Dr. Castle ran in, "Harm, the monitor is showing signs of fetal distress, we definitely need to do the c-section, now! You can be in the room, the nurse will show you where to gown up." A nurse grabbed Harm's arm and led him to a changing area, while two transporters wheeled Sarah down to the OR to get ready for the surgery that would ensure the safety of her babies. OPERATING ROOM Harm held onto Sarah's hand, she was only under a local anesthetic because the doctor needed her conscious during the surgery. A drape was between her head and abdomen so she couldn't see what was going on, but Harm could. He blanched when he saw the doctor make an incision into his wife's abdomen. But he squeezed Sarah's hand reassuringly, and gave her a smile. A few moments later, Dr. Castle pulled out a red person from the incision in Mac's abdomen, a few seconds later, a beautiful cry echoed through the operating room. "It's a boy!" Cmdr. Castle exclaimed, as she handed the baby to the waiting nurse. She then reached back in to pull out the other twin... "It's a girl!" she said over the howls of the baby who was now protesting being removed from her warm home. Another nurse was waiting to take the little girl. The first nurse announced, "6 lbs, 7 oz., a very healthy son." as she brought the little boy over to his mother. Sarah took her son into her arms with tears running down her face. "Welcome to the world, Benjamin Harmon Rabb." she whispered to the baby in her arms. The second nurse announced, "6 lbs, 9 oz., a healthy little girl." as she brought the baby to her father. Harm almost looked scared to take her in his arms. "She won't break, Commander." the nurse said with a smile. Harm took the baby with tears in his eyes and a look of wonder on his face as his daughter clamped onto his finger with her tiny hand. "Welcome to the family, Amie Joy Rabb. We've been waiting for you." he said with a catch in his voice. Finally, the nurses came over to take the babies to the nursery and the transporters to take Sarah to her room. Harm went out to the waiting room where all of their friends were now waiting. The Admiral stood as Harm walked into the room. "Well?" "Mac's fine, as are our son and our daughter. They've taken the babies to the nursery to finish all the things they need to do with newborns, and Mac was just moved into a room." "So what are the names?" Harriet asked. "Benjamin Harmon Rabb, 6 lbs, 7 oz., and Amie Joy Rabb, 6 lbs, 9 oz." Harm replied with an obvious note of pride in his voice. "Wow!" Carolyn exclaimed, "13 pounds of baby, and I thought Mark was big at 9 pounds." "If you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to Sarah, and I've got some calls to make." "Of course, Commander. Dismissed." A.J. said with a smile. Harm turned to walk away, but then turned around, "Admiral, Carolyn, Mac and I were wondering if you'd serve as Godparents to Benjamin?" The Admiral answered quickly, "We'd be honored, Harm." "And Bud, Harriet, we'd like you to be Amie's Godparents." "We'd love to, Sir." Bud answered. "Thank you." Harm said as he walked out of the room to rejoin his wife and children. RABB RESIDENCE Harm opened the back door of the car and took out the car seat containing his son. Sarah opened the opposite back door and removed the seat holding her daughter. Together they walked up the walk to the front door of their new home, the apartment was definitely too small when they found out they were having twins. Harm juggled baby and keys and opened the front door. Across the entryway, there was a big banner that read: "Welcome home, Sarah, Ben, and Amie!" After setting Ben's car seat on the floor, and relieving Mac of Amie's, Harm leaned down and kissed his wife. "Thank you." "For what?" "For making me the happiest man in the world. I have everything I have ever wanted... the woman I love more than life itself, and now two beautiful children." "I love you, Sailor... you've made me so happy." Sarah kissed her husband again. However, their tender moment was interrupted by two very insistent cries. "I think they're hungry again." Mac said with a sigh. "Well, that's not my department... I don't have the requisite equipment." Harm said with a laugh. "Oh, you'll get yours... *you* get diaper duty!" RABB RESIDENCE "Daddy!" Amie Joy screamed as she launched herself at Harm's leg as he entered the house. "Amie Joy!" he exclaimed as he lifted his daughter up and swung her around before kissing her on the cheek and setting her back down. "Dad, Dad, DAD!" Ben tried to get Harm's attention. "What is it, Ben?" Harm asked as he picked up his son. "Momma's sick... she frowed up in the bathroom..." Ben informed his father. "'Gain." Amie supplied. Harm set the boy down and headed towards the master bedroom to check on his wife. She was laying on the bed with a cool cloth over her eyes. "Sarah? Are you all right? The kids said you were sick." Harm asked with a concerned note in his voice. "I'm fine... there's just something I need to tell you... Harm, I think I'm pregnant again..." "Wow! How long?" "About a month..." she replied. "Wow!... That's great!..." he thought for a second. "Sarah, what if it's twins again?" "God, if it's twins, I definitely want my tubes tied after delivery." LABOR & DELIVERY ROOM It was twins again... After one of them tried to make her entrance in the hospital bathroom, Sarah gave birth to identical twin girls: Catherine Anne and Jessie Beth. A day later, she had tubal ligation surgery. "You Marines don't do anything by halfs, do you?" Harm asked his wife with a smile as he prepared to take the second set of Rabb twins home. EPILOGUE: Benjamin Harmon Rabb graduated top of his class at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He went on to be the fourth generation of Rabbs to be a naval aviator, distinguishing himself in the second major conflict between Iraq and the United States. Amie Joy Rabb also went into the Navy, but she went into medicine. She became a surgeon at Bethesda Naval Hospital, the hospital where she and her siblings were all born. Catherine Anne Rabb decided against the military all together. But she did go into the family business... she became a trial lawyer with a prestigious Washington law firm. Jessie Beth Rabb went into the Marine Corps like her mother. She decided on law as well... she had to face her twin across the courtroom more than once. The baby, Matthew Alan Rabb (There always was that one-in-a-million chance of getting pregnant after a tubal ligation!), born seven years after the second set of twins, also graduated from the Naval Academy, but he chose the Marine Corps track. He also decided to fly, also distinguishing himself in the same conflict as his older brother. THE END! Notes: The description of how Mac told Harm about the pregnancy was from my friend, Molly, who used a real estate guide to tell her DH. The fact that one of the second set of twins was almost born in a bathroom is from a family friend who had twins-- her son tried to make his appearance in the ER bathroom. And, the fact that Mac had another kid *after* a tubal came from my friend, Leslie. Her mom had one, then 10 years later got pregnant with a daughter. |
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