Summer Surprise
Title: Summer Surprise
Author: TC Amlin
Classification: Harm/Mac
Disclaimers: I don’t own them, wish I did and if I did we wouldn’t be wondering about any weddings. CBS and DB own the show and all of its characters.
Spoilers: Everything up till the Sixth Season with some of the storylines still taking place. Harm and Mac are married and this is just another part of the series At Home With the Rabb’s. Just an everyday look at my favorite couple if I wrote the storylines.
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The other thing is this is dedicated to my late stepfather who died last year from lung cancer whose birthday would have been this week. So this is for you Jean, your sense of humor and great Cajun cooking are missed as well as the person you were. The ladies at the bingo hall say things just aren’t the same.
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July 11, 2001
JAG HQ
15:30 EST
Mac walked out of her office into the bullpen cursing her husband and Mother Nature. All she could think about was how hot it was and that from now on between September and January Harm wouldn’t be allowed to touch her. Never again would she be pregnant in the middle of the summer.
"Ready to go Mac?" Harm asked as he saw her scowl.
"I am more than ready. Let’s go." She said tugging at her uniform jacket.
Harm followed a step or two behind her knowing that anything he said would more than likely have him sleeping on the couch, again. With the increase in temperatures there was a correlated decrease in Mac’s tolerance of anything.
He tried to keep the smirk off his face as he remembered their outing with friends on the 4th of July. It had been a fun day for the most part and Mac had sucked it up and didn’t complain too much about the heat but everyone knew she was miserable, as one could be nearly eight months pregnant.
After a quiet ride in the elevator and stroll to the car Harm finally got the nerve to talk again as the cold air blasted out of the vents in his SUV.
"So you think that Doctor Mitchell will give you a date to start your leave?"
Starting to feel better with the AC blowing on her Mac sighed, "I guess she will. She has hinted a couple of times that I could work right up to the day I deliver but I am also kind of ready to just stay at home and putter around the nursery, finishing things up."
Harm glanced over at Mac, "I just want you to know, because we have skirted the question several times, I will back you in what ever you decide to do."
Mac smiled over at him, he had been great through out the entire pregnancy by not forcing her to slow down too much at JAG, though she knew it drove him crazy not too, and by not smothering her. Which everyone knew took everything in him not to do it. It actually surprised her in the beginning that he was laid back over her working and being pregnant till she asked him one night about his nonchalance.
What she was rewarded with was Harm unloading all of his fears about what could go wrong and how he felt about her job and everything else but that he was also trying to curb his obsessive behavior and let her take the lead. He told that he knew that she knew her limits but that her limits were driving him crazy.
"What?" He asked as he pondered her smile.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am to be married to someone like you. And I want to thank you for giving me the freedom the last several months even though you have been about to explode over some of the things I’ve done."
He grunted a reply as he thought over her last out of town case in April where the client she was prosecuting nearly attacked her. Bud stopped the young marine with a chop to the back of the neck as marine came across the table.
Twenty minutes later Harm turned off the SUV and ran around to help Mac out. Taking her hand in his they walked into the clinic.
It would be another thirty minutes before they were called back to the examining room and then fifteen minutes before Dr. Mitchell arrived to exam Mac.
"Sorry I’m running behind, but babies come when they want to," she said burying her head in Mac’s chart, " I see that you weight is up and just right, that your blood pressure is just where we want it. Blood sugar is okay and that you are due for a sonogram today after I get finished. Any pains or aches other than the normal ones Sarah?"
Mac took Harm’s hand as the doctor came over to her, "No, just the usual back aches and swelling of my feet. That and the baby has gotten quite active the past couple of weeks."
"Well the baby is losing space as he or she grows so expect a lot more activity till you give birth." She said as she measured Mac’s stomach and poked around. "Well we will confirm it with the ultra sound but it looks like the baby is head has already dropped down and ready to come on out. Everything on the outside looks good. Let’s see how everything else is." Putting on a pair of sterile exam gloves, the doctor finished her exam of Mac.
"Well?" Harm asked as he watched the doctor start writing in Mac’s chart.
"You are about eighty percent effaced and dilated four centimeters which means you could deliver anytime between now and your due date in August. I would like you to go on half days at least till August and then home till junior here makes their appearance."
"What is the chance of the baby coming early?" Mac wanted to know as she worried about how far she was already dilated.
"Like I said when I walked in, babies make their own schedule not me so I can’t really say but you are only six weeks from your due date so the baby should have few, if any, problems should it decide come early."
Mac squeezed Harm’s hand as she tried to put aside her fears of the baby coming early.
"Just give Gayle a few minutes and she will be in to give you two the newest pictures of your baby." And with that the doctor was out the door.
"It will be okay Mac, Rabbit is just eager to meet his or her mommy that’s all."
"I hope so."
"I know so, besides I was a month early myself and see how I turned out." He said as he leaned back to give her a view of himself.
Mac smiled at his attempt to get her to lighten up and then seriously she added, "That really doesn’t make me feel any better, Commander."
They both then laughed as he leaned back over to her to kiss her. "Really Mac, it will be okay or the doctor would have had more concerns than she did."
Mac’s come back was stopped by a knock on the door as Gayle the ultrasound tech entered. "Ready for a look at the baby?"
"More than ready." Came Harm’s enthusiastic response.
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Part 2
Later that evening
At Harm and Mac’s
Harm sat on the couch staring at the TV screen watching the video of his and Mac’s child that Gayle handed them on their way out of the clinic. Doctor Mitchell reassured them after seeing the ultrasound and data that the newest Rabb, whenever he or she came, would be just fine. That now the baby was just adding weight, the lungs were fine and that he or she was already a big one.
"Harm?"
"In the den Mac, you need something?"
"No," she said coming to join him on the couch, "I was just wondering where you were."
"How was your bath?"
"Great thanks. Just what I needed to relax after my appointment."
He turned to face her as he hit pause, "Sarah, the baby will be just fine, you are doing great and you are going to be a great mom. So just sit back and relax for the next few weeks and realize that our life is now controlled by the little person," he patted her extended tummy, " in here. From now on we don’t plan on anything that doesn’t include Rabbit." He smiled at her as she placed her hand on top of his, "Kinda scary isn’t it?"
"I know it is, I just guess that doctor Mitchell telling us that anytime scared me. Made this more of a reality that in a few short weeks that I am going to be totally responsible for someone."
"I can’t wait. I can’t wait to see if we have a son or daughter, I can’t wait to hold them and play with them."
Mac stared at the picture of the screen on the TV screen, her baby. "So you’re ready to be a father?"
"Want the truth?"
"Yes."
"I am scared to death Mac." He chuckled. "But I figure if Bud Roberts can do it so can this flyboy."
She laughed with him and slapped his leg. "Be nice Harm." And then asked, "So are you still trying to figure out the sex by the video?"
"If you remember correctly, Gayle stayed away from those parts when they were shown."
"But there is enough evidence for what?"
"I think that my guess will just have to wait till Rabbit comes out because I don’t care what it is as long as he or she is healthy." He finished as he rubbed her extended tummy.
A tear escaped as she placed her hand over his, "Me too."
July 17th
Rabb Residence
0430 EST
It was all Harm could to do not let Mac know again that she was keeping him awake. All night long she tossed and turned and the one time he asked if she was okay she nearly bit his head off. So here he lay, attempting to get some sleep. Finally after hearing her agitated breath, "Would you like a back rub?"
"What I would like is to be able to sleep on my stomach like I used to, what I would like is to be thirty pounds lighter and see my feet again with out the aid of a mirror and I would like my back to stop hurting. I would also like your child to go to sleep so I can." She said as she settled on her back.
Harm tried to keep from laughing to no avail and ended up with her arm coming across his chest causing him to groan and laugh harder.
"Harm, this isn’t funny."
Catching his breath, "After lying here all night with you trying to get comfortable, the lack of sleep is making everything funny." Sitting up he reached over to the night stand and pulled out a wooden stick figure will small wooden balls on it for massages, "Lie on your left side, dear and let Mr. Happy here help your back pain"
"Whatever."
After a few minutes of him rubbing the small wooden device Mac began to relax some as the pressure in her back subsided. As he felt her relax he put the toy down and began to rub her stomach like they learned in class. It wasn’t long till she finally nodded off as he felt the baby slow down his or her kicking. He leaned over, "Thank you, Rabbit. Mommy needs her sleep."
0800 EST
Mac woke up and couldn’t believe the time and that she actually slept, must remember to have Harm give me messages earlier in the night that first thing in the morning. She felt bad that she’d kept him awake all night but darn it, it was his fault too. She started to stretch and then felt dampness along her legs and on the sheets of the bed. Before she could think Harm wandered over half dressed but not for work, "I think it happened about an hour ago, I felt it and figured that if it didn’t wake you up then your labor must not be in full gear yet. My adrenalin is there and has been as I have sat here waiting for you to wake up."
Mac was going to smile and then the pain struck, "Harm!"
He was at her side in a flash, "Just breath Mac, just breath like we learned in class." He chanted as he timed the contraction. After it was over, which he knew as soon as the blood flow returned when she let go of it. "Let’s get you changed and to the hospital."
"Sounds like a plan to me." She said back with an edge of fear that was eased by Harm as he talked to her stomach.
"Well Rabbit, looks like we are finally going to meet today."
Fifteen minutes later they were walking out the door, contractions about 2 minutes apart. Harm stopped before he closed the door, "What Harm?"
"This place will never be the same after we bring Rabbit home."
"Why do you say that? And why now?"
"Because in a few short hours Rabbit will be with us and if he or she is like us I fear the curse of the Admiral. And now because Rabbit will be here in a few hours." He barely finished before his hand was squeezed tightly. "Breath Mac, breath."
0900 EST
Bethesda
Labor and Delivery
Mac was just getting settled with contractions a minute apart when the nurse came in to do an exam to see just how far along Mac was.
"Well Mrs. Rabb you must have been in labor all night long, you are a nine nearly a ten with the baby a plus 2 nearly a three. It shouldn’t be another 30 minutes or so till your baby is here." Nurse Debbie informed Mac and Harm. "If you had waited any longer to come in Commander you would have been delivering your child. I will go and let Dr. Mitchell know, she is down the hall with another patient."
"Don’t say a word, I was just trying to let you sleep."
"Yes and now I can’t have an epidural, thanks Harm."
"I thought that the gung ho marine didn’t want to use drugs?"
Through gritted teeth, "That was before I knew what this was going to feel like."
Harm knew better than to smile, "I’ll remember that next time." He said leaning over to kiss her brow.
A few minutes later
"Harm, I need to push really badly."
"Well then go for it Sarah, Debbie has the tray all ready and from what I see, your baby is ready." Dr. Mitchell said as she entered the room.
Harm came up beside Mac and took one of her legs while the Nurse took the other, "How about a good push on the next contraction?"
"Then here it comes," Mac said as she bore down.
"Good Sarah good, take a deep breath and push again."
"I can see the head Mac, come breath honey and push."
"Easy for you to say." Mac replied as she whimpered when the head started to come out. "Oh it hurts."
"Easy Sarah, easy pushing here while the rest of the head comes out." Then the doctor, "Stop and rest for a second Sarah, I need to suction the baby’s mouth and nose. And now an easy push."
Harm stood there in awe as he held Mac’s hand and watched as their child slide out of Mac’s body.
Both parents started crying when the newborn let loose letting everyone know that he was unhappy. "9:27 am, well mom and dad, it’s a boy. Dad do you want to cut the cord?" The doctor asked as the baby was laid upon Mac’s chest.
Wiping the tears from his eyes, "Yes."
Harm took the scissors and cut between the clamps. And then took a spot beside Mac as they looked over, touched and kissed their new son. " I love you Sarah, with all my heart. Thank you so much for our son."
"I love you too, sailor."
The nurse took the baby from them so she could measure him and get his vitals while the doctor finished with Mac. Harm ended up standing by the isolet.
"Good weight here for someone who decided to come 4 weeks early, 7 pounds and 2 ounces, 24 inches long. Sarah you would have had a nine or ten pounder had this young man waited to come out." The nurse said as she wrapped the baby up and handed him to Harm.
Doctor Mitchell stood up and let the aide clean up around the bed, "So what is the little guy’s name? I am sure that it isn’t Rabbit anymore."
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Part 3
Harm came over and gave the baby back to Mac, "Well, we haven’t totally decided yet. There are a few names we had in mind but we decided to wait and see which one would fit him."
The doctor peered at the baby wrapped in blue, "Sorry Sarah but he is going to be a replica of his father. Blue eyes and all; just let the staff know so they can finish his birth certificate. They will need to take him down to the nursery for a check up but that shouldn’t take long and then you can keep him here in your room till I discharge you."
"When will that be?" Mac asked
Tomorrow evening or Friday morning, just have to wait and see."
The doctor and the nurse left giving them five minutes before she came to take baby boy Rabb to be examined. "So Harm, is it going to be Ben or Harm the III?"
He stared at his son, "I don’t care Mac, and you pick. I will go with whatever you say but he does look a lot like me, except his skin tone."
The little boy looked at his mother with same blue eyes as his father, yawned and closed them to go to sleep. Mac felt the tears falling again as she pondered how she could love someone as much as she loved the child in her arms. She felt Harm’s fingers wiping away some of them.
"I guess Harmon Scott Rabb the III it is."
"Are you sure Sarah? Benjamin Scott Rabb is fine with me, too."
"Family tradition here Harm, besides I like the name Harmon but I don’t want to call him Little Harm."
"Hey, I was called that," he said in mock hurt as he stroked the baby’s cheek, "but I guess we will just have to call him Trey."
Harm climbed up on the side of the bed so he could take is family in to his arms and they just held each other with Trey in Mac’s arms till Harm’s pager started going off breaking the moment.
"Oh crap."
"What Harm?"
"I just realized that we didn’t call in this morning. I was a little distracted and this is Gunny wanting to know why we aren’t there for the morning briefing."
Gently rocking Trey, "Well I guess you better call then before we raise Trey from the brig."
Harm chuckled, "I surely hope not." Harm picked up the phone and called JAG. "Tiner this is Commander Rabb, is the Admiral available?"
"You better have a good excuse as to why you aren’t here Commander." Came the gruff voice that even Mac heard.
"I do, I mean we do sir, Rabbit decided that today was the day."
From gruff Commanding Officer to concerned father and friend, "How’s Mac doing and why didn’t you call earlier? And how far along is she?"
"Not enough time too sir you know Marines, they always like to sneak things in on you and then proceed full speed ahead." Harm said as he kissed the boy’s head before the nurse took him away. He smiled at Mac while he took her hand, "Mac’s doing fine and labor went faster then we expected. We got here at the hospital around 830 and at 930 had a baby."
AJ chuckled and sighed a breath of relief that Mac didn’t deliver in his office, "That’s great Harm. Well what is Rabbit so I can announce the official word around here and let you and the Colonel off the hook instead of charging you with UA?"
"Harmon Rabb the III, 7 pounds 2 ounces, 24 inches long."
AJ smiled as he heard the pride come through in Harms voice over the birth of his son, "Congratulations son, take care of your wife and your son, you are on leave as of right now. Tell your wife to take it easy and get some rest and I’ll tell the rest of the staff for you and order them to wait to later today before bombarding you with visitors."
"Thanks sir."
"Tell Mac well done."
"I will. Later Sir."
Same time
JAG
AJ hung up the phone and called Sydney first and knew that she would be by to see Mac and Harm as soon as he hung up. He wanted to ask her to wait till later but knew it was a mute point. But his staff he could order. He got up and headed out to the bullpen.
"Attention on deck." He said and as soon as everyone stopped, "I have an announcement to make." He said as everyone looked at him for a minute wondering what was up, "Harmon Scott Rabb the third entered this world at 0927 this morning, mother and child are doing fine and the father is still alive." Pausing one more time as some people chuckled at the last statement, "And no one is to even think of visiting the new family till after 1700 is that understood."
A chorus of aye sir went around as Harriet and Carolyn wondered what they were going to do with the baby shower they were going to surprise Mac with that weekend.
Bethesda L&D
1100
Mac was sound asleep after the restless night and busy morning.
Harm sat and watched Mac sleep as he held Trey in his arms. The nurse brought the little one back about fifteen minutes ago and even though he could have left him sleeping in the bedside crib Harm couldn’t resist holding his son, his son, his and Mac’s son.
Harm thought over the things he couldn’t wait to do with Trey, taking him flying, sailing, camping and chasing dinosaur tracks with his mother. The thoughts were nothing new to him but now with the bundle in his arms a reality, reality was crashing down on him hard. Before the birth his mind never once thought over the feelings of awe that would pass through him.
A wiggling in his arms and then a whimper brought him from his thoughts and woke up Mac.
Stretching tired muscles as she raised the head of the bed. "When did they bring him back? And why didn’t you wake me?"
"About twenty minutes ago and you needed some sleep. But I think that he might be getting hungry though," as Trey started to fuss some, "The nurse said for us to call if we needed any help."
Mac started rearranging pillows and such so she could settle Trey in her arms for the first time to feed him. One-handed Harm helped her out of her gown and then reluctantly placed the baby in her embrace.
It was a couple of attempts before mother and son got things right with tears starting to fall down her face as she brushed the fuzz of dark hair back on Trey’s head.
Harm sat on the edge of the bed, wiping away some of the tears, "Careful dear, don’t want to drown him."
She sniffled, "I just can’t believe that he is really here. It seems like I have been waiting all my life for this moment."
"I know Mac, I know."
"What did the doctors say? Everything okay with him?"
"They said that he checks out okay, lungs are clear and should know everything when all of his blood work gets back. They say that he really shows no problems for a little guy coming a month early. So if you and he are doing fine tomorrow afternoon then I get to take you both home."
"Good because this bed sucks and I really want to have him all to myself without doctors and nurses coming in and out."
"Does daddy here get anytime with his boy?" He asked as Trey grabbed his finger causing Harm’s smile to broaden more.
Shaking her head at him, "Of course you do Harm, you get time to take him, change him and bring him back to me."
The smiles that plastered their faces caused them both to laugh.
To get Treys Version of his birth you can read A RABBits Tale