Author: usmgrad
Subject: HBX Challenge November 2008 - Speechless

Title: Speechless - HBX Challenge November 2008
Author: usmgrad

Challenge Lines:
Breathe for me.
I....can't.
Your heart is racing.
Nerves I guess.

A/N1 - the last challenge line is split between two sentences, separated by a period.

A/N2 - I started this the beginning of November, the first part was easy. Then RL got in the way (weddings and holidays will do that) and then I was stuck for an ending and a title. I have tried to get on "paper" my interpretation of Harm's reaction to a monumental occasion in his life. Hopefully I have succeeded.





"Okay Mac one more time."

"I . . . . can't"

"Yes you can Marine, one more"

She was tired, but somehow his words of encouragement gave her the strength she needed. He said one more and that's what she gave him. Now she waited for him to tell her everything was alright.

"Harm . . ."

Gently patting her leg he tried to reassure her, "Its okay, you can relax now."

It was just the two of them; help didn't arrive in time. Harm worked quickly and quietly. He was doing everything he knew to do, whispering as he worked, "come on breathe for me."

She had an uneasy feeling; it shouldn't be taking this long. "Harm?"

"Everything's okay, just give us a minute." He knew what she needed to hear.

Mac's concern was quickly turning to panic; she was afraid the Mackenzie curse had reared its ugly head.

"He's not crying."

Harm issued his first command to the new arrival, "Come on little man, mommy wants to hear a cry."

His son obeyed.

Harm was finally able to hand his wife their bundle of joy, squalling his head off. "Here you go mom, Matthew Mackenzie Rabb - I think he's a little upset at being so rudely pushed out into the real world."

Mac's hands shook as she took the precious bundle from her husband, "Is he alright?"

"He's fine, are you alright?" Harm's concern was now focused on his wife.

Once her son was securely in her arms Mac was able to reply honestly, "I'm fine now."

Harm helped his wife get comfortable and then sat beside her. With Matthew safely in her arms and her husband next to her, Mac was finally able to relax settling into Harm's embrace.

"Harm, your heart is racing"

"Is it? I can't imagine why." Harm kissed his wife on the forehead and finally took a deep breath to settle his nerves.

"I guess I can cancel those reservations for the delivery room next week. I wonder if your doctor will split his fee with me, after all I did all the work."

"And what exactly was I doing?"

Harm smiled "well, you helped too."

Counting fingers and toes, Mac asked again, "are you sure he's alright?"

"With your looks and my brains, he's perfect."

Pulling her into a reassuring hug Harm kissed his wife again and helped cover his son with the makeshift blanket, "He's fine, just fine."

Life was returning to normal, or rather calming down after the excitement of the unexpected delivery. Matthew had stopped crying and was very contend to be in his mother's arms. Mac was quietly singing a lullaby to her son as she slowly rocked him to sleep. Harm was placing calls, making sure the ambulance was on its way and notifying the doctor of the delivery. After a while Mac realized her husband had stopped talking.

"Harm?"

He didn’t reply.

His calls had reassured him he had done everything he could and that help was on the way. Finally Harm was able to relax and see the vision before him, his wife and their newborn son. She had once told him things would never work out between them and yet here they were, together. The doctors had told them a child was impossible but in his wife's arms was their son, a little bit of him and a little bit of her.

"Are you alright?"

Harm looked up, his eyes moist with tears, and shook his head. He had been many places and seen many things in his life, both good and bad. But today, for the first time, Harmon Rabb was speechless.