|
The Right Reasons 9: Bridge Over Troubled
Water
Rating: IM15
Summary: Please don’t kill me, I know I left Webb in a
less-than-comfortable position. However, I think Mr. Super-Spy has gotten enough
spotlight for a while, so I’m returning back to our favorite flyboy and Marine,
who have been woefully neglected for the past two chapters.
Disclaimer: See Part 1 for disclaimers.
Spoilers: All the way through the Season 9 finale. Let’s hope I get this
done before Season 10 begins.
Wednesday Morning
JAG Headquarters
Harm walked into Mac’s office, closing the door behind him. “Have you made your
doctor’s appointment yet?” He didn’t want anyone overhearing their conversation
– for her sake more than his.
“I’ve been busy,” Mac replied, defensively. “And anyways, what about you? You
have to live up to your end of the deal.”
“I have to drop off my sample on Friday,” and he shuddered with discomfort, “and
they’ll have the results to me by Monday afternoon. So now it’s your turn. Do I
need to dial the number for you?” He reached for the phone, and Mac stopped him
with her hand.
She picked up the receiver and dialed. “Hello, this is Colonel Sarah MacKenzie.
I had a laparoscopy last week and would like to schedule a follow up to discuss
my options. Tomorrow at nine? All right. I’ll see you then.” She hung up.
“Happy?”
“Happy, no. I would be happy if you didn’t have to go through this at all. But I
am proud that you’re following through. Tomorrow morning at nine, huh?” and he
scrawled the time on a Post-It note. “I don’t think I have to be in court, so I
can probably swing the morning off.”
“You don’t have to-” Mac began.
“I know I don’t, but I want to. I told I’d be by your side, and that’s
not something I take lightly. So you can keep arguing if you want to, but that’s
not going to change my mind. I’m still going.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Mac smiled at him.
“What? You’re not fighting me on this?” He got up and with mock concern, reached
out to feel her forehead. “Do you have a fever or something?”
She pushed his hand away, laughing. “Get out before I change my mind.”
“I’m going, I’m going,” he replied, chuckling as he got up from the chair and
walked to the Admiral’s old office to talk to Sturgis, who was the acting JAG
until the Admiral’s replacement was appointed. He only told him that he needed
to go with Mac to a personal appointment the following morning, and that they
would both be in late. Sturgis looked at him oddly, but didn’t question him.
Thursday Morning
Doctor’s Office
Mac paused at the door to the waiting room and turned to face Harm. “Are you
sure you want to come with me?”
Harm closed his eyes. “The answer is the same as it was when you asked me over
lunch yesterday, after dinner last night, and when I picked you up this morning.
Yes.” He shook his head. “When are you going to get it through your head that
you won’t go through this alone?”
Mac smiled slightly. “I’m beginning to understand.” Harm returned the smile.
Harm pulled the door open for her. “Ladies first.”
Mac checked in with the nurse and then they settled into chairs in the empty
waiting room. Before long, the doctor called her name. Harm went back with Mac.
The doctor took them to her office. “Please, have a seat.” She shut the door
behind them.
“Colonel MacKenzie, as I mentioned in your last appointment, the fibroids are
what’s causing the pain you’ve been experiencing. Because of the location of
some of the tumors, they are certainly going to interfere with conception.”
Mac nodded. “That’s why I’m here today. I wanted to talk about my options, to
increase my chances of getting pregnant.”
The doctor explained the various surgical options. “The first, and the one I’d
recommend, is a hysteroscopy. It’s an outpatient procedure that uses a tube
instead of an incision, so the risks are lower and your recovery time is
quicker. The other is a laparoscopic procedure, which, given the size of your
fibroids, I don’t believe is necessary.
“I need to caution you that neither procedure is a permanent cure. There’s a
good chance the fibroids will come back. So I’d advise waiting until you two are
ready to start trying to have children before having this done.”
“Uh, he’s not my …” Mac’s voice trailed off. What exactly was he? True, they had
made a deal, but were they actually going to follow through with it?
Harm smoothly cut in, “I’m her best friend, ma’am.” For now, he added
silently. Mac looked gratefully at him and he covered her hand with his.
“Oh,” she replied, nonplussed. Well, stranger couples had come through her door.
She continued, “Regardless, this is not a procedure you have done, ‘just in
case’. First, decide you want to start trying. Then, come back and we can set up
a date for the procedure.” She stood up, indicating the appointment was over. “I
hope to see you again soon, Colonel.” She leaned over and shook her hand. “And
nice to meet you, Commander.”
Harm and Mac left the doctor’s office and they drove to JAG HQ.
“So …” Harm began as they pulled into the parking lot.
“… I think we have a few things to talk about,” Mac finished.
“I don’t want to rush through this discussion,” Harm said.
“Neither do I. How about tonight at my place?” Mac offered.
“That works for me. Mattie and Jen have their weekly ‘girls’ night’, so I don’t
need to be around.” Harm grinned. “In fact, they’d prefer I not be
around.”
“It’s a date, then?” Mac asked hopefully.
“Absolutely.” They walked into the building together.
To Part 10
|