Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge May 2008 A chance to fix things

Harm: “Why didn't you tell me?”
Mac: “Need to know?”
Harm: “Well, I guess I needed to know.”

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

HBX Challenge May 2008

A chance to fix things

Mac looked in the mirror for the hundred time that night, she put her hands over her belly. She was definitely starting to show; the once flat stomach now had a more rounded form. She decided she looked good, different, but good. She took one last look before she left her bedroom.
She heard a knock on her apartment door as she entered the living room, and went to open up. She came face to face with Clayton Webb.

“Hey Sarah, you look good.” He smiled and kissed her on the cheek, before he put his hand on her belly. “And the baby have grown since I saw you last.”

“Well, I am almost six months along. Are you in town for long?” Mac went to find her jacket and purse as she spoke.

“I'm not sure yet, maybe a week if I'm lucky. I have an assignment waiting for me, but that's...”

“Need to know?” Mac smiled.

“That's right.” Clay took her purse and jacket, he helped her put on the jacket before he handed her the purse. Then he opened the door for her and closed it after them.

“I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow, maybe you would like to go with me?” Mac said as she locked the door and followed Clay outside.

“I would love to go with you; you know I'm here for you and the baby.” He hesitated before he continued, unsure how to break it to her. “Have you spoken to Harm yet?”

“No, he haven't responded to any of my calls...” Mac said with hurt in her voice.

“He...hmm...Harm got fired from the CIA.” Clay watched as Mac came to an abrupt stop beside him.

“Why? He was just all over the news...Oh...I guess that's why.” Mac felt her heart lighten a little.. “Have you talked to him?”

“No, I haven't. I have wanted to, but I knew if I saw him I would have slipped something else.” He looked at her belly. “And I promised you I wouldn't say anything until you could tell him yourself.”

“I have been trying to tell him, but it's not something you leave on the answering machine.” Mac smiled a sad smile.

“I'm sorry. I wasn't sure if I should tell you about him being fired...” Clay put a hand on her back and steered her towards his car, he opened the car door for her.

“Well, I guess I needed to know.” Mac entered the car and waited for Clay to get in. “Let's just enjoy dinner, I'll worry about everything tomorrow.”

“That sounds good.” Clay started the car and they drove off.
The next day

Mac entered the elevator that would take her up to Harm's apartment. She was nervous, she could feel her palms sweating and her heart beating faster. One part of her hoped he wouldn't be home, another part just wanted to get it over with.

Mac walked out of the elevator and walked to Harm's apartment door. She lifted her hand to knock, but then she let it fall down without it even touching the door. She took a deep breath and then she knocked.

Suddenly the door opened and she looked in to his eyes; everything came rushing back to her. The passion filled night of lovemaking in Paraguay, the best night in her life. On the other hand; the worst night in her life. After Gunny and Clay interrupted them and Clay had collapsed, they had to get a new room. The words that passed between them then had been the source of many sleepless nights the weeks that followed.

“Mac.” Was Harm's only response.

“I took a chance you'd be here.” Mac didn't meet his eyes, she focused on a spot on the wall behind him.

“Where else would I be?” Was his sarcastic response.

“I've left you a lot of messages the last six months. Is it just my calls you don't answer?” Mac still didn't meet his eyes, she was afraid of what she would see in them.

“I have been away a lot, but if you want to know the truth I didn't feel that we had anything more to say to each other.” He turned around and went inside the apartment, leaving it her choice to follow him or go home.

Mac watched him sit down on the couch and take a sip of his beer. She walked inside. “Well, I guess you were wrong.”

For the first time that night he looked at her. “You're pregnant.”

“Congratulation, you're going to be a dad.” Mac felt her eyes water as she said it. “It's going to be a boy.” She felt a tear escape her eye and she wiped it away.

Harm stood and put his beer on the table. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“It's not something you leave on a answering machine.” Mac smiled a sad smile. “I wanted to tell you in person.”

Harm looked away. “I don't know what to say.”

Mac moved closer to him. “You don't need to say anything. You can be as involved as you want, but I'm not expecting anything.”

Harm looked up and met her eyes. “I'm going to be a dad Mac, off course I'll be involved.”

Mac felt her heart relax for the first time that day. “I figured you would say that.”

Harm sat down on the couch and ran his hands over his head in frustration. “I wish there was something I could say to make you reconsider what you said in Paraguay. I've been thinking about it a lot, I just didn't know how to approach you.”

“Do you blame me for saying never? Really blame me? You hurt me Harm, like no one has ever hurt me. One minute you are making love to me, and the next you are accusing me of sleeping around. I stick by what I said Harm; we will never work as a couple. I'm not sure I can forgive you for what you said.” Mac felt her eyes water again, as she spoke.

Harm's voice was filled with regret. “I wish you could, but at least let me be there for you and the baby.”

“Let's just see what happens. You'll always be a part of this kids life, I would never take that away from you.” Mac said calmly, letting him know that she meant what she said.

Harm stood and put a hand on her belly. “You'll let me know when you have Doctor appointments? I want to be there with you.”

“I had one today.” Mac pulled an envelope out of her purse and gave it to Harm. “This is the picture from the ultrasound.”

Harm removed his hand from her belly and took the envelope. “Have you been dealing with this on your own?”

Mac smiled when she thought about how wonderful her friends had been. “Everyone have been great and supportive, they are wondering who's the father though. I didn't want anyone to know before you did; only the Admiral and Clay know that you're the father.”

Harm darkened at the sound of Clay's name “Are you with Clay now?”

“No, I'm not. He's been there for me, but we're just friends. I'm going to go now, I'll call you about Doctor appointments.” Mac turned to leave.

Harm watched her go, feeling for the first time since Paraguay that he had a chance to fix things.