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| Mac smiled as she watched Evelyn and Serena gazing out the window of their hotel room. They had a perfect view of Cinderella's castle. She didn't know how Harm had gotten such a great room on short notice, but she wasn't the one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Speaking of Harm... She found him in their room, setting down the suitcases. He seemed out of breath. "Harm, are you okay?" she asked, walking over to him. "Yeah," he replied. "Why?" "You look like you're going to pass out!" Harm laughed. "Mac, I'm fine. What do you say we see what the girls want to do?" She sighed, not believing him for a second, and put a hand to his forehead. "What are you doing?" He was a bit annoyed now. "You have a fever," she stated. "I'm fine. Are we going out or what?" Before Mac could answer, the girls rushed in. "Daddy, I want to see Mickey Mouse!" Serena exclaimed. "I want to see Jasmine!" "Lets go then," Harm said, ignoring the look Mac gave him. ***************** Mac kept watching Harm, worried that he'd drop Serena if he collapsed. She didn't know how he could just keep walking. She felt a tug on her shirt. "Yeah, Evie?" she said, looking at her daughter. "Is Daddy okay? He looks like Rena did when she threw up last month." "I don't know, honey. Daddy is too stubborn to listen to me, though." She could tell Evelyn wasn't happy with her daddy right now. "Why don't you tell him you're tired?" she said with a wink. Evelyn nodded. "Daddy, can we go back to the hotel? I'm too tired," she whined. Mac had to stifle a giggle at Harm's apparent sigh of relief. "If you're sure," he replied. Luckily when they got back to the hotel, Serena and Evelyn went into their room and quietly began playing a game. Mac took the opportunity to talk some sense into her husband. "Harm," she called. She found him leaning over the toilet. If he didn't look so pathetic, Mac would have laughed at him. Instead, she knelt next to him. "I don't know who's more stubborn. You or me." "I'm sorry, Mac," he replied weakly. She helped him up. "It's not your fault, Harm. Come on, lets get you into bed." "I'm not talking about being sick." "What do you mean, Harm?" Mac asked, sitting next to him on the bed. He shook his head. "It's not important." "Harm," she said, taking his hands in hers. "It must be important if you feel the way you do." Harm sighed. "It's my fault Annie Forrestor kidnapped you and the girls." Mac started to say something, but Harm stopped her. "I was going to take the case. In fact, I talked with the Admiral about it at some length." "Harm, we both decided that neither of us were going to take it," Mac reminded him. He nodded slowly and she could see the guilt grow in his eyes. "No, Harm, it is not your fault! Do you understand me! You can't blame yourself for Annie's stupidity, her weaknesses." "But, Mac..." Mac looked into his eyes. "Harm, you trust me, right?" He nodded again. "Trust me when I say you are not at fault with this." "Thank you, Sarah. I think that's what I needed to hear." Harm winced at the pain in his head. Mac hugged him. "I love you, Sailor. Now, why don't you lay down and I'll get you some water and Aleve." "I love you, Sarah..." **************** An hour later, Mac was watching Beauty and the Beast with her daughters. "Mommy," Evelyn said, "I'm hungry. It's been 5 hours and 23 minutes since we ate last." Mac laughed. Apparently Evelyn had inherited her mother's internal clock. "Yeah," Serena chimed in. "I wanna eat with Mickey Mouse!" "Well, let me check on Daddy first. I don't think he'd want to miss that!" The girls nodded excitedly. "Why don't you get ready?" "Okay!" they shouted, running off to their room. "Harm," Mac said. He was sound asleep on the bed. His face was flushed with fever. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his forehead. "Harm," she said, again, shaking him. He stirred. "Mac?" "Yeah, honey. How are you feeling?" "Like shit." "I guess food would be out of the question?" she asked. Harm nearly turned green at the mention of food. "No thanks, Marine." "Wimp," Mac said with a laugh. "I'm going to take the girls out, do you think you'll be all right?" "I'm sure I can handle lying in bed, Mac," came the reply. She shook her head. "If you weren't sick..." She leaned down to kiss him. "Hey, careful, we have children in the other room!" "Daddy!!" Serena shouted, jumping onto the bed. She looked at his face and frowned. "Your sick?" "Yeah, Rena." She hung her head. "That means you can't go with us, right?" "Not today, honey. I'll try to get better tomorrow." Serena began to cry. "But you won't be able to eat with us. I don't want to go anymore, Mommy." She slid off the bed and ran out of the room. Harm sighed. "I'm sorry, Mac." "It's not your fault, Daddy," Evelyn said. "I'll go talk to her." Mac watched her leave. "Evie, the voice of reason. She's right. You know, you have a strange habit of thinking everything's your fault. Quit it, cause I'm sick of talking about you." "Hilarious, Mac." She smiled, getting up. "I thought so. I'll get you some more water and Aleve." After Mac had delivered the items to her husband, she sought out Serena and Evelyn. Serena was on the floor, facing the wall. Evelyn was trying to get her up. "Come on, Rena, you know Daddy can't help it. He's upset that he can't come with us, but if he does he could get really sick." "Evie's right, Rena." The little girl ran into her mother's arms. "Daddy wants you to have fun whether he's with us or not." "Okay, Mommy." *************** Harm noted how quiet the place was and realized they were probably still out. He grabbed the end table to steady himself, wondering what was wrong with him. Even as a child he hardly ever got sick. This seemed to creep up on him. Finally making it to the bathroom, Harm looked into the mirror. "Lovely," he muttered. After doing his business, he washed his hands and turned to go back into bed. Anything to keep himself from shivering. However, the dizziness in his head had other plans for him. Harm couldn't catch himself as he fell to the floor, hitting his head on the corner of the sink. |
