Author: fananicfan
Subject: Overcoming Obstacles, Part 3, B

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, PART 3, B

For Disclaimer: see the first part one of the story. Parts one and two are now listed on the October 2008 challenge story archive page.

AN: Since I didn't plan on making this more than a one shot story, I'm finding that the chapters are not as well planned as I'd like them to be, and because of that you're getting this extension to Part 3.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, PART 3, B


THE NEXT MORNING, SUNDAY

HARM'S POV

I wake up because of a prickly, tingling feeling in my arm, the kind of feeling that's on the cusp of pain when you've cut off the circulation from lying on it.

With my body spooned behind a female form and my hand on her hip, I know before opening my eyes that the weight that I'm feeling on my arm isn't my own.

I'm reluctant to open my eyes to see with whom I'm sharing a bed. Then the morning fog of sleep starts to clear from my mind, and I remember the storm, the talk and Mac's invitation to share her bed.

I open my eyes and, even though all I see is the back of her head, I know that it's her. I'm in bed with Mac. Suddenly, the feeling of pins and needles being poked into my arm under her head isn't so uncomfortable after all.

I lie there, staring at her. She hasn't been sleeping well, so I don't want to wake her, but I'd like to get the feeling back in my arm ... and a trip to the head is in order, as well.

I extract my arm from under her head, laying it above her head on the pillow and keeping my position behind her. There's no movement from Mac. I roll over onto my back, but keep my side against her back, maintaining as much contact between our bodies as possible through the covers that she's under, and, again, she seems content to lie there asleep.

It takes a couple of minutes, but when my arm has the returned to pain-free normality, I decide that it's time to get up. I sit up first and look back at Mac. She hasn't moved. I get to my feet and look down from my standing position next to the bed to make sure that I haven't awaken her ... .so far, so good.

After a trip to the head, I check on Mac once more. She's rolled over and pulled the pillow into her arms that I used last night. I smile at the sight of her "hugging" my pillow before heading to the kitchen.

KITCHEN

I'm looking in a cabinet when I hear: "You should've awakened me." Mac's sleepy voice comes from behind me.

I turn and shrug. "You needed your rest." I look back into the almost bare cabinet. "You weren't kidding about being low on supplies last night." I move a little so that she can see the inside the cabinet. "Since the power has been restored, I was looking for something to fix us for breakfast, but all the cupboards and the refrigerator look like this cabinet."

"There's some leftover pasta salad ... and some leftover Chinese take out from a couple of nights ago," she offers with a sheepish grin.

"I'm not feeding you either of those for breakfast," I say as I close the cabinet door. "Go get dressed. I'll take you to breakfast and then I'll take you grocery shopping."

"You don't have to do that. I can shop by myself."

"I know you can, but, today, you can have my company."

"But Mattie's coming back today. You should go," she says like she's trying to get rid of me.

"She won't be back until this afternoon. We've got plenty of time for breakfast, shopping and, if you hurry up and get dressed, there may even be time for me to help you put things away before I have to head back to my place to meet Mattie."

I notice that the corners of her mouth take a slightly upward turn, but she doesn't let it get to a smile before she says, "I'll be ready in less than ten minutes." Then she turns to leave the kitchen. "You're buying me breakfast, right?" she asks over her shoulder as she exits.

"Yeah, I'm buying," I answer, hoping that she heard me in the next room.

She must have heard me because she responds, "Good, because I'm starving."

I smile at her comment, though she can't see it.

A few hours later, I'm headed to my place with a smile on my face.

When I was at the door ready to leave her apartment, she gave me a hug and said, "Thank you for the good night's sleep, breakfast and the company for grocery shopping this morning ... .thank you for being my friend."

I know that the memories and the pain that she's been carrying for the last year can't be dealt with in one night, but I'm hopeful that, after a good night's sleep, a big breakfast and showing her that I'm there for her if she needs me, it will give her the strength to take the next step.


I know it was short, but another part is coming, hopefully soon.