Title: And Should I Fall Behind
Author: Ali Cherry
Summary:
Disclaimer:


And Should I Fall Behind


We said we'd walk together
Baby come what may
Back come the twilight
Should we loose our way
As we're walking
A hand should slip free
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me.  --- Faith Hill

Harm smiled at his best friend as she presented herself before him. Her puffy white wedding gown glistening in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows. The entire congregation stilled, their conversations sliding into an uncomfortable buzz around the couple.

"Dance with me, Flyboy? For old times?" Mac's smile lit up the area around Harm, but the tears trickling her cheeks expressed more than her words.

"Only if you promise not to step on my toes." Harm offered her his gloved hand, and led her out to the floor. The rest of the couples dancing to the gentle music stilled though, as the strains ended.

Harm caught sight of Bud, thwacking the DJ over the head as he pointed to a CD with an expression that said, that one or else. A gentle Spanish type melody drifted over the group and Harm pulled Mac close, one last time. Then with a deep rich tone a country singer's voice fell across the milling couples.

But to Harm the rest of the world disappeared, and it was just his Mac and he dancing, to a tune that defined his view of their relationship. She followed him farther than Russia, she followed his every step on the floor, their bodies rubbing, brushing, and challenging each other. She led his brain, demanding his best. But in the end his best wasn't enough.

Harm pressed his cheek to hers, and just let go, the emotions swelling in him, tears trickling down his cheeks. He'd have to thank Bud and find out the name of this song.

Mac sniffed and Harm pressed her head to his shoulder. If Harm had looked, he would have noticed Harriet's tears or the Admiral's pensive look. If he were in a bad mood, he would have noticed the indentation the diamond/wedding ring set left in his hand. The slight green that rubbed off on his white gloves.

The song ended and Harm and Mac pulled back. Each reaching with their hands to wipe away tears. They laughed self-consciously and each turned to find new partners. Bud and Harriet were on hand and Harm pulled Harriet into a loose embrace.

"So, you leave for Pearl Harbor, tomorrow, sir?" Harriet asked.

"Tonight. I had to call in some favors to get that." Harm smiled down at Harriet's teary eyes. "I've got to warn you, Lieutenant. I'm going to ask for you and Bud to be transferred as soon as I can. After all what would I do without you guys?"

"Yes, sir. What would you do without us." Harriet's eyes held a secret something in the blue, and Harm was magnetized. "You won't forget to write?"

"Of course not. E-mail everyday and a letter a week with pictures."

"I'm going to miss you, sir."

"I'm going to miss you too, Harriet." Harm's watched beeped. He looked down at it in disappointment.

"The clock strikes twelve, sir?"

"Excuse me?"

"Like Cinderella. She has to leave at midnight."

"Yeah like Cinderella." Harm leaned down and hugged Harriet close. "Be really good, Harriet and take care of my god son for me."

"I will, sir."

Harm walked towards the Admiral. "I just wanted to say goodbye, sir."

"I'll be out next month for an inspection. I expect you to do good, Rabb. Don't disappoint me."

"Yes, sir." Harm shook hands and saluted, saying goodbye to other Jag friends gathered around the Admiral.

Bud wandered over and Harm hugged him. His watched beeped a second time and he looked at Brumby and Mac dancing in the middle of the floor, lost in their own world. Mac caught his eye. He lifted a hand. She lifted hers, and then they lost sight of each other in the crowd. Harm left to the car he had rented for the day.


6 years later


Mac waited impatiently for the people next to her to unload. She wanted off this damn plane. She wiped at her cheeks, trying to keep her emotions in check. Her left hand felt oddly bare, where it rested on her enlarged tummy. The white band surrounded by tan the only remainder. She grabbed her garment bag and walked slowly up the gangway. She spotted him easily, tall and gorgeous in his whites, his Captain bars and wings gleaming in the afternoon light. Mac sniffled a bit more. Soon she was in front of him.

She looked up at him, her emotions finally finding an outlet. "Why didn't it work? Why didn't he love me enough?" She found herself cradled in his strong arms. Arms that a year ago she had watched shake as he cried over his wife leaving him. Bitch woman, as Mac had called her, had left him for a more exciting man, a test pilot.

"It wasn't that he didn't love you enough, Mac. It just wasn't the time." Harm tried to soothe her.

"He said he wanted my baby. Why doesn't he want her now?" Mac blubbered into Harm's shoulder, feeling the baby kicking slightly.

"I don't know, Sarah. But I promise, one day I'll beat it out of him." She burrowed into his shoulder.

"I'm just really tired, Harm."

He let her go, grabbed her bag and pulled her to his body as they walked towards the exit. "Hawaii is the perfect place to catch up on your rest then. A great place to heal."

"Then why did you come to Washington to heal?" Mac looked up at him, from where she rested under his shoulder, letting him guide her.

"Because I needed something only Washington could provide." He said, a tear dripping down his face.

"What?"

"You, Sarah." They continued to walk towards the entrance where the Roberts and their two children sat, and a little boy played on the tile squares trying to jump without touching the cracks. He fell more often then not. And Harm started to smile.

The little boy looked up as he fell, and broke out in a huge smile. "Dad." The word sounded more like dada, but who's counting, Mac thought to herself. The little boy toddled over to them, his face bright, his arms outstretched. Harm swooped him up.

"Hey Monster. Were you good for Bud and Harriet?" The little boy smiled and nodded, already playing with his dad's wings. Bud and Harriet both shook their heads. Harm smiled. "Nathaniel, this is my friend, Mac. Mac, my son, Nathaniel."

"Hi Nathaniel." The little boy smiled at her. Mac smiled back.

"Ma!" He leaned over to hug her.

The Roberts and Harm laughed, while Mac was left clutching a two year old that wasn't letting go. He tangled his fingers in her hair, his legs around her rather large middle, and his candied breath was close to her neck.

"I gave up telling him no, after the twentieth woman he called that."

"He only calls women in uniform, Ma, ma'am. If they're civilians they're just women." Harriet explained to Mac and Harm.

"His mom was a civilian, though?" Mac asked gently.

"I have no idea where he picked it up." Harm said, and they gathered everyone up. Mac kept her grasp on the boy. It felt like home as she fell into step with Harm, him changing his stride so that she could stay by his side. She never had to ask him to wait for her.