The case was supposed to be open, and shut. Things never seem to work out that simply for them, though. Despite the date, and the sweltering heat Mac, and Harm still continue to compile evidence for their case. Every single time they make headway on the case there is a delay. It's late, and they're both exhausted. They sit in her living room on the floor. She sits on one side of the coffee table, and he sits on the other. There is a mountain of papers between them.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asks her.

"I just want to get this over with."

"You would think that he would be smart enough to take a deal."

"A smug bastard like him? He thinks that he can charm someone into believing him."

"Did you get the report back from the psych evaluation?"

"Yes, it's in the green folder," she points.

He looks at his watch, "It's late, and we have to be up early. You should probably turn it."

"I'm fine."

"Sarah, please."

"Whatever," she rolls her eyes as she hoists herself off the floor.

"Hopefully we can get this wrapped up in the next two weeks."

"We don't have much of a choice," she reminds him as she heads for the stairs.

He continues to work on the case for the next couple of hours.

0400—June 2nd

She heads down the stairs wearing one of his white t-shirts, and a pair of pajama bottoms. She enters the living room, and finds him passed out on the floor. She nudges his leg with her foot.

"Mac, go back to sleep," he growls, with one eye open.

"Come on, Harm."

"What time is it?"

"Four o'clock."

"I'm just going to sleep down here. Turn the light off."

"Fine, I'm leaving."

"Okay, I'll see you later."

She heads towards the door. She manages to take three steps before he realizes what she's just said, "Wait, where are you going?" He sits up.

She rolls her eyes, "Really? Where do you think that I am going at four o'clock in the morning?"

He shrugs, "Out for ice cream?"

"I wish."

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to the hospital."

"We're not supposed to go for two more weeks."

"Obviously, your daughter has other plans."

"What?"

"I am in labor. I am going to the hospital. You can come, if you decide you want to be there."

"What do you mean you're in labor?"

"I have been having contractions since last night."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I thought that they were Braxton-hicks."

"How do you know that they're not."

"Because my water broke."

"Oh."

"Are you coming, or not?"

"I'll drive."

"I wasn't going to walk," she growls.

Three hours later he sits in an uncomfortable hospital chair, sound asleep. He snores as the nurse begins to fill with people. The nurse elbows him.

"Wake up! You're about to be a dad!"

He suddenly finds himself wide awake. He stands up, and makes his way to the head of the bed. He holds Mac's hand as she pushes. Less than half an hour later the doctor lifts the baby onto her chest. The little girl turns bright red, and begins screaming. The nurse hands him a pair of scissors, and he snips the cord. He finds himself completely mesmerized. He follows the nurse to the warmer. He stares at the newborn in complete silence. He blocks out most of what's going on around him. He finds himself having a case of tunnel vision.

Until he hears someone say, "I am going to need two units of packed red blood cells."

He turns around, and looks at Sarah. He finds that all color has drained from her face. The doctor begins to bark orders.

"We need to take her to OR, her uterus may have ruptured."

He watches as the flurry of activity shifts. She is quickly whisked out of the room. He waits in the waiting room for an hour. Finally a nurse retrieves him, and takes him back to the room. He finds his daughter, but no sign of Mac.

"Any word?"

"I haven't heard anything."

He nods understandingly. She leaves the room. He lifts his newborn daughter from the basinet, and takes a seat with her. Her studies the sleeping baby closely.

"Welcome to the world, little girl. You look just like your mom," he realizes.

He stays in the room with her, until he falls asleep too. He wakes up some time later. A nurse stands before him. The baby sleeps in his arms.

"Is she out of surgery? Is everything okay?"

"She is in recovery. You can see her now," she informs him.

He returns the baby to the nursery. The nurse leads him into recovery. Another nurse greets him, and leads him into her room. He takes a seat next to Mac, who remains unconscious.

"How is she?"

"She is still unconscious. We had to administer a general anesthetic."

"Did her uterus rupture?"

"No. Unfortunately there was a uterine laceration. The doctor had to go in, and repair it. That was the source of all of the bleeding."

"How long until she wakes up?"

"Anytime."

The nurse leaves the room, and Harmon takes a seat in a chair next to her bed. He reaches out, and squeezes her hand.

"Mac, please wake up. You need to wake up so you can see our daughter. She is perfect. She looks just like you. Mac, I need you to wake up now. I can't do this on my own. Look, I know that we have had to jump over a lot of hurdles over the past few years, and that you have a lot of doubts. I can't blame you. I just realize now, that I want you. All I want is you, and our little girl. I just want to be a family. I don't know if you even want that. One of us will have to give up our post, and I won't ask you to do that. I am completely in love with that little girl, and I would be more than happy to stay home with her. I know how much your career means to you. Please just wake up. Sarah, there is no way I can do this without you. She needs you. I need you."

"Are you done?" She questions.

He looks up at her, and finds that her eyes are wide open.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Sometime shortly after, 'please wake up'."

"Oh."