Title: The Call
Author: Aimee
Email: harmonrabb.sarahmackenzie@gmail.com
Website: http://darkbeauty.org
Rating: PG
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Harm and Mac do not belong to me. I’m just playing with them for a while.
Summary: Harm comforts Mac.
Author’s Notes: Thanks to Dev for the beta. You’re very much appreciated.

0630 Zulu
Georgetown
Mac’s Apartment

The loud, incessant ringing of the telephone woke her from a deep slumber. She opened one eye and glared at the offending device before she picked up the handset.

“Hello,” she said.

“Sarah MacKenzie?” a voice on the other end inquired.

“Yes, this is Sarah.”

“This is Nurse Owens with the Washington Medical Center. Your father, Samuel MacKenzie, arrived here early this morning. He suffered a heart attack. I’m sorry to inform you he didn’t make it.” She paused. “Please contact us as soon as you make funeral arrangements.”

“I will,” Mac told her softly and hung up the phone. In shock, Mac stared at the phone in her hand.

Coming out of her daze, she picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.

“Hello,” a masculine voice answered, still groggy with sleep.

“Harm,” she said in a tearful voice.

He immediately became alarmed. “Mac, what is it?” he asked, but all she could do was cry. “I’m on my way,” he told her, pulling clothes out of his closet.

20 minutes later, an anxious knock sounded at her door. With tears streaming down her face, she let him in. “Mac, what’s wrong?” he asked softly. His tender voice made her cry even harder. He pulled her into a comforting embrace.

Steering her in the direction of the couch, he gently pushed her into it. “Mac, what’s wrong?” he asked again.

“Daddy died,” she sobbed uncontrollably.

“Oh, Mac,” he sighed.

He gave her time to get her crying under control, then asked, “what can I do?”

She gave him a sad smile and replied, “You’re doing it. Just being here helps more than you know.”

He smiled at her tenderly. “You two were close, weren’t you?”

She smiled and nodded. “I was Daddy’s little girl. From the moment I was born, I was his world–and he was mine. When I was a little girl, we were inseparable; I was his little shadow. Even though the amount of time we spent together diminished as I grew up and made friends my own age, that closeness never waned.” She paused, remembering, “he was so proud when I became a Marine. When I passed the bar and joined JAG, you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.”

“He sounds like he was a good man and father,” he told her. “I wish I could’ve met him.”

“He would’ve loved you, Harm.”

“Why do you think that?” he asked her.

“He told me that he would love anyone that makes me happy. And you do, Harm–so very much.”

“Oh, Mac, what would I do without you?”

She smiled at him affectionately, the love she had for him evident in her eyes. “The same thing I’d do without you,” she told him.

He looked at her questioningly.

“Be lost.”

He smiled. “You’re right about that, Mac. How could I live without the love of my life and best friend?”

She smiled at him.

He took her hand, stood up and pulled her with him. “Come on, let’s go back to bed. It’s still early.”

“But I need to make funeral arrangements,” she protested.

“You have time, Mac. The funeral homes don’t open for a few more hours.”

“I don’t think I can go back to sleep,” she told him.

“Just rest then.”

“Okay.”

They walked into the bedroom and climbed into her bed. Harm pulled her into his arms and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he whispered.

“Oh, Harm. I love you so much,” she said, looking into his eyes.

“I love you, too, Mac,” he told her, kissing her.

“You’re my world, Harm,” she told him simply.

“I thought that distinction went to your father.”

“It did–until I met you. Harm, when you came into my life, my whole world changed–for the better. You are the one person I know will never abandon me. Your love brings color and sunshine to my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Her words bring tears to his eyes, which cascade down his face. She kisses them away.

“I love you, Harmon Rabb Jr.”

“And I love you, Sarah MacKenzie.”

Mac laid her head on his chest and snuggled deep into his arms as he tightened them around her. The next few hours just disappeared as they laid together, content to bask in the joy and comfort of their remarkable love.