Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge June 2008 Troubles

HBX Challenge June 2008

The characters are not mine, I'll just use them for this story.

Harm and Mac are married, Harm is having a hard time.

Troubles


He knew he should have stopped the minute the waitress put the drink in front of him, but he hadn't. Now two drinks later people were starting to look blurry; he should have stopped. He didn't drink much these days, making him extra sensitive to the alcohol; he usually knew better than to drink as much as he did this night. His misery made his judgment weak, making him an easy target when Keeter decided to drag Harm with him to a bar.

“You need it Harm.” Keeter had said a few hours earlier. “You'll feel better.”

Harm had said yes and gone with his friend, thinking he would stick to beer. He had been drinking one beer, then he started on the stronger drinks. He was going to feel like hell the next day. Where would he spend the night anyway? He couldn't go home when he was this drunk, he would never go home drunk to Mac. He just couldn't do that to her, considering her past.

“I think we should get you home buddy.” Keeter laughed. “You are going to have one hell of a headache tomorrow.”

“I can't go home.” Harm rubbed his head, feeling a headache appear.

“Because you and Mac are fighting? That's married life Harm, you would think you were used to it after five years of marriage.” Keeter laughed again.

“It's not because of the fight.” Harm started to feel like an ass; he shouldn't have gone out with Keeter tonight. He should have stayed home, trying to make things right with his wife. He had been a jerk to her earlier in the day; and what did he do? Went out and got drunk.

“Why don't you stay in my hotel room with me, I have a couch there.” Keeter rose from his seat and threw some money on the table. “Or maybe I'll just take you home and you can sleep in the guest room.”

“I guess I could do that.” Harm rose as well.

“Are you leaving already boys?” A tall, skinny blond with the tiniest dress Harm had ever seen, appeared at their table. “I think you should stay and keep me company.” She directed the last thing to Harm.

Harm ignored her. The last thing he needed was for Mac to find out he'd been approached by a woman in a bar. “Come on Keeter, let's go.”

“I'm Angela.” Skinny blond woman said. Clearly she couldn't take a hint.

“I'm going.” Harm started to walk away.

“Why are you doing this?” Skinny blond woman asked; she looked like she couldn't believe that any man would ever say no to her.

Harm turned around to look at her; she was an attractive woman, ten years ago he would have slept with her. Now he didn't even consider the idea, even if he was drunk. “Because it's the right thing to do.”

“Any man here would be glad to spend time with me, what's wrong with you?” Skinny blond put her hands on her hip and looked at him with an accusing glare.

“I'm only interested in one woman, she's probably at home thinking out a hundred different ways to hide my body...” Harm laughed. “I'm actually surprised she didn't deck me earlier today. But she's my one and only. I might be drunk, but I'm not going to throw away the one thing that means more to me than anything else in the world, just because some blond woman in a tiny dress wants me to.”

“I've stopped trying to stop you, but just so you know it you're making a mistake.” Skinny blond woman said before she turned around and found some other guy to harass.

“I sincerely doubt it.” Harm said quietly before turning towards Keeter. “Come on Keeter, I need to go home now.”

Keeter slapped Harm's shoulder. “You know Harm, I'm impressed; If she had hit on me, I would have taken her straight to my room.”

“But you're not married.” Harm walked out of the bar. The cold air outside made him sober up a little. “If you had what I have, you would have done the same as I did.”

Keeter laughed. “That's probably why I'm not married, I never was able to say no to anyone.”


The next day

Harm stretched in bed and opened his eyes. He grabbed the clock on the night stand and saw that it was a little past eleven. He put his hands to his head and rubbed them a few times over his face, to try and wake up completely. He decided it didn't help, he needed a shower and some strong coffee to get his day going. He slowly got out of bed and left the guest room to go to his and Mac's room; he had slept in the guest room so Mac wouldn't have to sleep next to someone smelling of alcohol.

Twenty minutes later he was dressed and feeling somewhat better than before he showered. Now he had to go face his wife; hopefully she would speak to him, he had some serious apologising to do.

The house was quiet for a Saturday, usually their kids would be running around playing with their toys. Harm went to the kitchen where his wife was seated by the table. He felt a sting of guilt when he saw her; he really had to stop being a jerk. After five years of marriage, two years of dating and four years of friendship you would think he had learned to know what wasn't fitting to say when they argued, but he clearly needed a few more years before he was able to know that. Maybe when they had been married for five more years he would know and maybe then he'd be able to stop putting his foot in his mouth.

Mac stood and walked to the kitchen counter, she filled a mug with coffee before she turned towards him with it.

“I guess you need some strong coffee after last night?”

Harm walked slowly towards her and took the mug she was offering. “Thank you.” He said before he took a sip. It was really strong coffee, instantly making him more awake.

“Keeter said you got a little too much to drink last night, thanks for staying in the guest room.”

“No problem.” He took another sip of the coffee. “Where are the kids?”

“Keeter took them to the park.” Mac smiled. “Adeline wanted to show uncle Jack how high in the air she could get the swing to go.”

Harm got a look of horror. “She should be careful with that swing.”

“She'll be fine, don't worry.” Mac went to sit down at the table again.

Harm leaned on the counter, eying Mac carefully. She didn't look mad, in fact she looked indifferent.

“So Mac, on a scale from one to ten, how mad at me are you?” Harm asked carefully.

Mac pretended to really think about it before she responded. “Well, if ten is the highest...nine and a half.”

“That bad huh?” Harm put his mug down. “I'm really sorry about what I said. I was so far out of line...to use your alcoholism against you like that...and then go out and get drunk... I'm really sorry.”

“I said some horrible things too.” Mac stated.

Harm walked across the room and joined Mac by the kitchen table. “You would think that after all our years together we would have learned to fight fairly.”

Mac leaned back in her chair and faced him. “Yeah, you would think so. I shouldn't have accused you of wanting to sleep with Lt. Johnson.”

Harm followed her move, he leaned back in his chair and faced her. “And I shouldn't have encouraged her to flirt with me. I'm her superior officer, I should have told her that her behavior was out of line.”

“Why didn't you?” Mac eyed him suspiciously.

Harm hesitated. “Because I felt flattered I guess. It was nice to have someone notice me, I felt appreciated.”

Mac was confused. “You don't think that I appreciate you?”

Harm hesitated again, but then he decided to jump in to their discussion with honesty. “I just felt that you were loosing interest in me. I have gained some weight lately and I'm not as young as I used to be. It's not that easy to keep up with you.”

Mac rose from her seat opposite her husband and went to sit down beside him. “You should have told me.”

Harm looked away. “I didn't want to seem needy. “He lifted his head and focused on Mac again. “Do you remember what you said to me after Adeline was born? You said that it was hard for you to have gained the extra weight, because you're so used to being well trained. I guess I feel the same way. I've been slacking with my exercise lately and I guess it shows.”

Mac placed a hand on his shoulder and caressed it. “I've never seen you doubt yourself like this before. I'm sorry if you feel like I'm loosing interest, but it's been crazy at work and with the kids, I guess I just didn't stop to think about spending time with you. As for your training schedule; you know Adeline and Thomas don't mind it if you go to the gym a couple of times a week instead of playing with them.”

Harm put a hand on top of Mac's and rubbed his thumb across it. “I just feel like there's just not enough hours in the day lately. With me traveling as much as I've done the last four months, I just feel like when I am home I should be with the kids. I don't want them to forget I exist.”

“I would never let them forget about you, we talk about you all the time when you're away.” Mac caressed his face with her free hand. “I know it's hard for you to be away from the kids as much as you are, but they wont forget about you. They love their daddy.”

Harm cupped her face with his free hand. “It's not just the kids I worry about forgetting me.”

Mac smiled. “I could never forget about you and I hate it when you are away.” She put her forehead against his. “I love you, don't ever forget that.”

“Even with the extra weight?” He teased.

“You are such a drama queen.” Mac laughed. “You are exaggerating, you look good. I think you are sexy.” She kissed him.

“You're not just saying that so I'll feel better?” Harm smilingly said when they broke the kiss.

“I promise you, you look really good. ”She kissed him quick. “Come on, let's go find Keeter and the kids. ”Mac stood and took Harm's hand.

“So does this mean that you forgive me?” Harm looked hopeful.

Mac laughed. “I'm thinking about it.”

Harm smiled and wrapped his arms around her from behind and walked her towards the door. “As long as you're thinking about it.” He smiled and started kissing her neck.