TITLE:  "After the Mistletoe VI-Death on the High Sea”
     AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
     SUMMARY: The kiss of Answered Prayers leads to more.  Rated PG for 
mild 
language. Some chapters will contain mild violence as well.
            The sixth of the After the Mistletoe series in which Harm 
and Mac deal with 
the ramifications of the mistletoe kiss.  Note that the arrival of 
Sergei is not a factor 
in this series.
     DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al.  No copyright 
infringement is intended with this work of fiction.
     FEEDBACK:  Never expected but always appreciated by both of us-- 
to 
[SSbpmn@aol.com].  To those who don’t find our work to their liking, we 
can 
respect that.  In that regard we ask you to respect our desire not to 
have that 
shared with us.

       NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous chapter will be 
available at 
                 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
          No subbing is required to read from the message archives.
     
    Also, previous chapters, as well as our other efforts, should be 
available at
    
    http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/
    
    or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at    
http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html  
[not always up and running]
   

Previously in ATM:    Harm and Mac travel to Ft. Drum NY to handle a 
death 
investigation, narrowly avoiding tragedy at the hands of the frozen 
North Country.  
Home in DC now, another assignment awaits.


“After the Mistletoe VI:  Death on the High Sea  
 
 Mac's Apartment
 April 8th, 2002
 
 "Come on sailor" Mac said as she gave him a playful swat on the six. 
"Rise 
 and shine."
 
 "Already" Harm groaned as he rolled over to face her, grimacing 
slightly as 
 he did so.
 
 "You okay? You're back still bothering you?"
 
 "No, I'm fine" he said as he leaned over and kissed her forehead. 
"Will you 
 quit worrying."
 
 It had been a month since their return from Ft. Drum, and a long three 
weeks 
 of rehab for Harm. Rehab that hadn't seemed to help as much as it had 
the 
 first time, the pain still lingering. He'd done his best to keep that 
pain a 
 secret from everyone, including Mac. She'd hovered enough and he 
wasn't 
 going to let on to anyone that he was still having problems. Their 
 relationship had continued to sail along, both settling into living 
 together.
 
 "I'll always worry," she said softly. "Comes with the territory of I 
love 
 you."
 
 "And I love you too" he smiled. "And I'm fine."
 
 "All right. I'm going to head to the shower," she said as she pushed 
herself 
 off the bed. "Remember the hot water doesn't last for long."
 
 "I'll be there in a minute" he promised as she headed to bathroom. He 
waited 
 until the door was closed before finally sitting up, stifling a groan 
as he 
 did so.  With a long sigh he headed to the bathroom to join Mac.
 
 "I was hoping you were joining me" she smiled as he stepped into the 
shower.
 
 "You think I'd miss the best part of my day" he grinned.
 
 ************
 JAG HQ's
 2 Hours Later
 
 "Warning, Admiral in bad mood" Sturgis sighed as Harm and Mac stepped 
off 
 the elevator.  "I'd stay out of his way if possible."
 
 "Thanks for the warning" Mac smiled. "How was your weekend with Lucy?"
 
 "Pretty good" Sturgis said as a small smile crossed his face. "You two 
 should have joined us."
 
 "No camping for this sailor for a while" Mac said as her hand gently 
rubbed 
 his back. "The last thing he needs is to sleep on the hard ground."
 
 "We could have gone" Harm countered. "I could have managed."
 
 "Yeah well there will be other times" Sturgis assured him. "Lucy loves 
the 
 outdoors so we'll be heading up to the Shenandoah again soon."
 
 "You and Lucy are getting pretty serious aren't you?" Mac inquired. 
"She's 
 been up here every weekend hasn't she?"
 
 "We might be getting a little serious. Right now we're just taking it 
one 
 day at a time."
 
 "Rabb, Mackenzie my office now" AJ yelled as he stepped from his 
office.
 
 "Good luck" Sturgis grinned as he took off for his office.
 
 "This doesn't sound good" Harm groaned.
 
 A few minutes later they both stood at attention in front of AJ's 
desk.
 
 "At ease" AJ growled. "And you might as well have a seat."
 
 "Sir, is something wrong?" Mac asked slowly.
 
 "Danny Walden" AJ sighed. "That should just about explain everything."
 
 Harm and Mac exchanged puzzled looks and before AJ could speak Tiner 
opened 
the office door.  "Sir Dr. Walden as you requested."

AJ immediately rose and walked around to Sydney, taking her arm and 
guiding her 
to a chair.  "Good now I don't have to explain this twice," he said 
softly, sitting next 
to Sydney rather than behind his desk, and to the surprise of Harm and 
Mac, 
actually reached over and covered her hands with his.  "Danny is in 
trouble aboard 
the USS Bataan in the South China Sea," he went on softly.  "They were 
in port a 
month ago, and since then there's been some drug trouble.  One Sailor 
died from 
what the autopsy showed as an allergic reaction."

"Sir is Danny accused?"  Mac asked gently when AJ paused for breath.

"He's mentioned as being a big part of the problem."  AJ gestured 
toward the case 
file on his desk.  "Of course he's not the only one.  The XO, Commander 
Dandridge, has been tasked to ferret out the guilty ones and end the 
problem so it's 
to her you'll be reporting.  I did mention you'd be going to the Bataan 
did I not?"  

"Uh. . .no sir, but we kind of assumed," Harm smiled, inwardly groaning 
at the 
thought of subjecting his back to life aboard ship with its narrow 
ladders and small 
hard beds.  Not to mention the fact of he and Mac having to be apart. . 
. .

"Commander did I lose you?"  AJ spoke sharply.  

"Sir no sir."  Harm jumped in his seat and a jolt of pain went through 
him, such that 
he was unable to keep from grimacing.

"Harm?"  Mac had looked over to him in amusement at AJ's rebuke and was 
now 
all concern.

He shook his head immediately, waving off her anxiousness and glad that 
she did 
not know the full extent of his discomfort.  However she was having 
none of that 
and looked to AJ. "Sir may I suggest that I go alone, or with Commander 
Turner 
perhaps?"

AJ's eyes widened at that, but no more so than Harm's.

"I'm listening," AJ held up his hand to stifle the protest on Harm's 
lips.

Despite feeling Harm's eyes bore into her, she said clearly, "Sir I'm 
not quite sure 
the Commander is up to such an assignment after his back injury is 
all."

"If you think I'd let you go alone out there, even with Sturgis, you'd 
better think 
again," Harm exploded, unable to keep silent another second.

"Thank you Commander, may I be in control here," AJ growled.  "Now, do 
you have 
a medical condition that would preclude you from carrying out this 
assignment?"

"No sir," he said as firmly and calmly as he could manage.  His back  
may have 
been a continuing source of pain, but there was no way he was going to 
permit 
Mac to undertake what could be a dangerous assignment without him 
along.

"Sir please," Mac tried once more.

"At ease Colonel.  Even if I wanted to send Mr. Turner with you I 
couldn't do so.  
He's about to take on Lieutenant Marsh's defense in his murder trial.  
He and 
Lieutenant Roberts are going to be totally involved there for the next 
few weeks.  
Tiner will make the arrangements for you to get out to the Bataan.  In 
the meantime 
here's the case file."

Harm reached for it and turned to Sydney.  "Dr. Walden we'll find out 
what 
happened.  The truth."

"Please," she breathed.  "I'm afraid for him.  He says he's being 
threatened."

"That's all."  AJ dismissed them.

"Colonel I'd like a word with you please," Harm told her as they walked 
out.
    
 She could tell by his tone he wasn't happy with her comments in the 
 Admiral's office and with a long sigh followed him back to his office.
 
 "What in the hell was that all about?" he demanded once they were 
behind 
 closed doors.
 
 "It's called being concerned" she snapped back. "The last thing you 
need is 
 to be maneuvering those cramped hallways and narrow stairs. Not to 
mention 
 sleeping on a bunk."
 
 "Well thank you for your concern, but in case you forgot, I was 
cleared for 
 duty" Harm retorted. "Fully duty. Not sitting at a desk."
 
 "I know you were. But I'm just worried about you."
 
 "Mac, I'm fine" he sighed.
 
 "Then why do I keep seeing you grimacing in pain" she countered. "And 
don't 
 tell me you don't because I'm not blind."
 
 "Occasionally it still hurts," he admitted. "But the doctor said that 
was 
 the way it was going to be from now on and that I'd have to get used 
to it. 
 So I'm getting used to it. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't 
question my 
 ability to do my job in front of the Admiral."
 
 "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I wasn't trying to do that."
 
 "I know" he sighed. "And I'm sorry for giving you a hard time. I'm 
just a 
 little cranky today."
 
 "You're forgiven. But I want you to promise me that if this is too 
much for 
 you you'll let me know. And I mean it."
 
 "I'll be fine," he said giving her a forced smile.  "Stop worrying."
  
 
 *******************
 USS Bataan
 South China Sea
 24 Hours Later
 
 "You okay?" Mac asked as they stepped off the chopper and onto the 
deck of 
 the USS Bataan.
 
 "Fine" he lied as an ensign approached them. The hours of riding in 
the 
 plane and helo's had done nothing to help his back but he wasn't about 
to 
 let her know that was the case.
 
 "Sir, ma'am, welcome to the Bataan. The Commander said to show you to 
your 
 quarters first and then she'll be expecting you in her office."
 
 "Well at least we're close to each other" Mac sighed once they were 
shown to 
 their quarters.
 
 "Won't be the same though" Harm said with a small smile. "I've really 
gotten 
 used to being with you."
 
 "Me too. But we'll have to deal with it. I don't think we'll be able 
to get 
 away with sharing a cabin here."
 
 "Probably not a good idea" Harm sighed. "Shall we go find Commander 
 Dandridge?"
 
 "Thank you for coming" Commander Melissa Dandridge said as they sat 
down in 
 front of her desk. "I appreciate the help in getting this situation 
 resolved."
 
 "What leads do you have so far?" Harm asked as he shifted 
uncomfortably in 
 his seat, a move that didn't go unnoticed by Mac.
 
 "Not much unfortunately" Commander Dandridge sighed. "Just that there 
is a 
 drug problem here that seems to have started when Mr. Walden came 
aboard. 
 And that I've got one dead sailor because of it."
 
 "Has there been any problems with Seaman Walden before?" Mac asked.
 
 "He's been nothing but a problem" she sighed. "Since the day he 
arrived he's 
 been in the middle of everything. Fighting with his bunkmate, 
disobeying 
 orders. You name, it's on his record already."
 
 "Is there anything to link him to the suspected drug use?" Harm 
questioned.
 
 "No. And not for my lack of trying either. I know he's involved, I'm 
just 
 not sure how he fits into the puzzle."
 
 "Because you have good reason to believe or because he's here because 
of a 
 prior arrest for substance abuse?" Harm prodded.
 
 "Look Commander, I'll be straight up here. Seaman Walden has done 
nothing 
 but cause trouble since he got here. I have no idea how he managed to 
squeak 
 his way through boot camp but I suspect he had some help with that. 
That 
 being said, my suspicions of him are not based on his prior record. 
It's 
 based on his attitude here."
 
 "Commander, besides Seaman Walden, do you have any other suspects?" 
Mac 
 asked.
 
 "Here's the list I have so far" she said as she handed the list to 
Mac.  
 "The other person at the top of the list is Seaman Riley. He and 
Seaman 
 Walden were originally bunkmates. Until we had to split them apart."
 
 "This happen right away?" Harm asked
 
 "No. They were fine in the beginning. Then suddenly they're ready to 
kill 
 each other. "
   
Harm and Mac exchanged glances and nodded to Melissa for her to 
continue.  "Are 
you interested in grist from the rumor mill?" she asked hesitantly.

"I'm interested in anything that might break this case," Harm told her.  
"If it helps, 
we didn't hear it from you."

"Seaman Andrea Stillwater," Melissa smiled.  "You know I'd be the first 
one to 
defend a woman's right to serve in all areas--witness my own duty right 
here.  I 
wouldn't be in the Navy if all I could was head up a steno pool on some 
base.  But 
there are times aboard this boat when I need a full time Dear Abby to 
keep 
relationships sorted out."

"We'll certainly talk to Seaman Stillwater," Mac smiled, "and anyone 
else who can 
give us a clue.  I'm concerned that something is being hung on Walden 
simply 
because of the terms of his enlistment and his prior record, which by 
the way he 
should have been allowed to start out with a clean slate."

"Colonel you know as well as I do that your slate reflects everything 
that's ever 
happened to you," Melissa sighed.  "And all of us have things in our 
careers and 
personal lives we're not real proud of."

"Yeah," Mac said quietly and Harm instinctively patted her hand.

If Melissa took note of that she did not comment as she looked back 
into the case 
file.  "Captain Jefferies dumped this whole problem into my lap.  With 
a not so 
gentle hint that I might be manning something other than a bridge if 
this mess 
doesn't get cleared up.  Admiral Markham is giving him a hard time he 
says.  Gee I 
can't imagine why.  We've only got a drug ring aboard and a man dead."

"Commander the A team is here," Harm smiled in that disarming way of 
his.  "We're 
going to find out what happened and get it stopped."

"You'll be working with Lieutenants Jonathan Chaffey and Ashley 
Peters," Melissa 
went on.  "Speaking of relationships.  Just try to ignore them if they 
make goo goo 
eyes at each other."

"We understand," Harm smiled, and Mac blushed just slightly.

Melissa frowned and looked from one to the other, pressing her fingers 
to her 
temples.  "You know there are times that steno pool doesn't look so 
bad."  She 
touched a button on the intercom.  "Sparks, send for Chaffey and 
Peters.  Have 
them meet Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie for coffee in the 
Captain's 
ward room."

"Yes ma'am." 

Ten minutes later Harm and Mac were introducing themselves to Ensign 
Chaffey 
and his partner.  Jonathan was as tall as Ashley was short, standing a 
good foot 
above her diminutive five-two.  With short curly blonde hair and her 
baby face, she 
could have been a high school cheerleader rather than a Naval Officer.

"This whole thing stinks," Ashley spoke up at once.  "Danny. . .Seaman 
Walden. . 
.is being set up here."

"Oh put a sock in it," Jonathan groaned.  "Sir, ma'am, what Ashley 
isn't saying is 
that she and Walden at one time were. . ."

"We broke up weeks ago," she said sternly.  "A fact the Ensign is very 
well aware 
of.  I just don't want to see him punished any more than he already has 
been.  He's 
had a rough go of it."

Jonathan made a gagging noise and grabbed his throat.  "Puh-leeze."
   
  
  "Okay, let's stick with the facts here" Harm sighed. "When were you 
involved 
  with Seaman Walden?"
  
  "Before I went to OCS," she said quickly.
  
  "Good, for a moment I thought we had a case of fraternization" Harm 
replied. 
  "Go on."
  
"I met Danny. . .uh. . . Seaman Walden right before I left for OCS. We 
were seeing 
  each other for a few weeks. But when I came back from OCS I didn’t 
get 
  involved with him again. We're friends and all, but that's it."
  
  "Well now that we've got that cleared up, what else can you tell us 
about 
  Seaman Walden?" Mac sighed.
  
  "He's not well liked among the crew" Ashley continued.
  
  "Because he's a hotheaded jerk" Jonathan retorted. "Sir, ma'am, in 
the short 
  time I've been aboard, he's caused all the trouble that he's been 
in."
  
  "Is that true?" Harm asked as he looked at Ashley.
  
  "I suppose" Ashley sighed. "Look Danny didn't want to be here. He was 
forced 
  into the Navy and he really doesn't belong here."
  
  "We're well aware of how Seaman Walden got into the Navy Ensign" Harm 
  sighed. "Do you know anything about Seaman Stillwater?"
  
  "Danny and Seaman Riley were fighting over her" Ashley smirked. "She 
was 
  playing them both for fools."
  
  "Is there someone else involved?" Mac asked.
  
  "It's just rumor ma'am."
  
  "Right now we're listening to everything" Mac replied. "Was Seaman 
  Stillwater involved with someone else?"
  
  "Seaman Cruise ma'am."
  
  "Okay so we have three guys fighting over one girl" Harm sighed. 
"This tells 
  us nothing about who is pushing the drugs."
  
  "Agreed. I think we need to go see Seaman Walden and see what he has 
to say" 
  Mac replied. "Do you know where Seaman Walden's is right now? "
  
  "Yes ma'am" Jonathan spoke up as he pulled out the file. "He should 
be off 
  duty right now. We'll be happy to take you to his bunk. Commander 
Dandridge 
  assigned us to assist you with whatever you needed."
  
  "Let's go then," Harm said as he stood up. Mac missed the look of 
pain that 
  crossed his face but Ensign Chaffey did not.
  
  "Sir you okay?" he asked and Mac immediately whirled around.
  
  "I'm fine Ensign."
  
  "You're back's hurting again isn't it?" Mac demanded as she looked at 
him 
  closely.
  
  "Mac, please don't start" he sighed. "It's fine. It's just a little 
sore 
  from the helo ride."
  
  "He injured his back punching out a few months ago" Mac explained to 
the 
  pair. "And it's still not completely healed. He shouldn't be here."
  
  "I was cleared for duty Colonel" Harm reminded her sharply. "And more 
than 
  capable of handling my duty."
  
  "Sure you are" Mac sighed. "Ensigns, take us to Seaman Walden 
please."
  
  They made their way through the cramped corridors of the ship, Mac 
turning 
  around frequently to check on Harm. Despite his insistence he was 
fine, she 
  knew that wasn't the case. His face carefully masked the pain, but 
she could 
  tell by his slow movements that he was hurting.
  
  "Seaman Walden, Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie from JAG to see 
you" Ensign Chaffey announced.
  
  For a moment Danny smirked before remembering protocol and rising and 
  saluting them.
  
  "At ease Seaman. We'd like to talk to you for a few minutes."
  
  "I suppose the Admiral sent you out to check on me" Danny smirked. 
"How is 
  the old guy doing?"
  
  "You think you're funny Seaman" Harm glared as he got in Danny's 
face. 
  "Because you're not."
  
  "So throw me out of the Navy" Danny retorted.
  
  "That's what you'd like isn't it?" Mac interrupted.
  
  "I'm only here because of the Admiral. If he'd kept his big mouth 
shut I 
  wouldn't be here."
  
  "Well there's always prison" Harm retorted. "Course at the way you're 
going 
  you're going to end up in Leavenworth real quick. Especially if 
you're the 
  one who peddled the drugs that killed Seaman Landry."
  
  "It's not me," Danny said quickly. "And no one believes me because of 
my 
  past."
  
  "We're willing to listen" Mac said quietly. "If you want to tell us 
the 
  truth."
 
 "You know about me and Riley and our problem over Andrea. . .Seaman 
Stillwater?"
 
 "We're starting to get a picture there," Harm said easily.  "And right 
now you've got 
our attention.  Go with it."
 
 Danny both smirked and shrugged. "Riley and I came aboard at the same 
time out 
of boot and were assigned the same bunk rack.  He was a nice guy and we 
got 
along good.  I was happy keeping to myself as much as possible except 
him."
 
 "And Ensign Peters," Mac interrupted.
 
 "I. . .I didn't want to make any trouble there," Danny stammered.  "It 
was just a fling 
thing and it broke off as soon as she got her appointment."
 
 "That's not an issue here.  Move on," Harm directed.
 
 "So then Andrea arrived and she and I was tasked with her orientation.  
We had 
laundry duty together that first week too and had a chance to do a lot 
of talking.  
We both come from the same kind of background, no father. . a mom who 
was 
always busy."
 
 "Hey you're breaking my heart here," Mac groaned.  "Save that for your 
social 
worker and stick to the facts."
 
 "I liked her.  It's just that simple.  But Riley did too, and he and 
me couldn't get past 
that.  And about that same time Riley got in with a different group of 
guys.  CPO 
McShane's bunch."
 
"You know I'm going to need a scorecard to keep all these players 
straight," Harm 
groused.  "Who would be McShane?"
 
 "Kenny McShane.  He's kind of an operator.  Or thinks he is," Danny 
sighed.  "I 
know the type.  Been around plenty of them before."
 
 "You want to give him up?"
 
 Danny looked at Harm incredulously.  "Rat him out?  Even if I had 
information no 
way.  Ever seen one of those prison movies where one inmate is running 
things?  
Well that's McShane."
 
 Mac looked up from her notes. "Commander Dandridge didn't even mention 
him 
as being part of the problem."
 
 "Of course not.  The man's got the whole officer corps thinking he's 
the greatest 
thing going.  He's not a man to cross.  He's about to finish his twenty 
and take his 
organizational skills to the civilian world, living off Navy pension."  
Danny gave 
another of his now-patented smirks and rested his gaze on Mac.  
"Colonel, the man 
doesn't think women should be in the military, and he's not a man to 
cross."
 
 The tone of that warning sent a cold chill down Harm's back and he 
shifted 
uncomfortably, both from the note of fear and the pain in his back.
 
 "I've run across his type many a time," Mac said slowly, not missing 
Harm's 
discomfort.  "He'll treat me with the respect I've earned or he'll be 
one sorry sailor."
 
 "Ma'am you don't understand," Danny said softly, his voice almost a 
plea.  "Don't 
mess with this guy."
 
 "Seaman you're not telling me this guy could actually be a serious 
threat to a 
Marine Colonel, and one from JAG besides?" 
 
 "Are you saying that?" Harm's gaze bored into Danny sharply.
 
 The young man flushed uncomfortably.  "Sir, Ma'am, I'm just saying be 
careful 
that's all.  Mr. McShane has a good thing going here.  The officers are 
totally 
buffaloed by him and I shouldn't even be telling you this."
 
 "Why are you then?" Mac asked.
 
 "I wanted you to know I'm telling you the truth that's why," Danny 
said, and for a 
moment his general sneer was replaced by a little boy lost look.  "I 
don't want to go 
back and do time, and I don't want brig time.  I just want to be left 
alone, do my 
time and get out of here and go home.  That's not to much to ask."
 
 "No it's not.  Not if your nose is clean," Mac said, herself feeling a 
wave of 
sympathy for the boy.  "Go on back to duty Seaman.  We'll talk later."
 
 Danny came to attention and was dismissed.  
 
 "Mac I'm not getting a good feeling about any of this," Harm said 
slowly, again 
shifting in his chair, unsuccessful in his attempt to find a 
comfortable position for his 
back.  "I don't want you near this McShane, especially not alone."
  
  "Why don't we have this discussion back in your quarters" she 
suggested. 
  "You need to get off your feet for a while.  Don't even tell me 
you're not 
  in pain."
  
  "Maybe a little" he admitted.
  
  "More like a lot" she scoffed. "Come on. We'll go over our notes 
while you 
  lay down. Not that that bunk is going to help your pain any."
  
  His lack of argument told her he was hurting and she quickly guided 
him back 
  to his quarters.
  
  "Down you go" she said softly as she helped him to the bed. With a 
long 
  grimace he stretched out on the bunk and Mac sat down beside him. 
"You 
  okay?"
  
  He nodded and let out a long painful sigh. "Yeah I'll be fine."
  
  "Harm this is crazy. You shouldn't be here."
  
  "If you think I'm leaving after what Danny told us, you're crazy" he 
  snapped. "Did you not listen to a word of what he said? This guy is 
dangerous."
  
  "Please calm down" Mac begged. "You're getting over excited for no 
reason."
  
  "No reason except I love you and if anything happened to you I'd just 
as 
  soon throw myself overboard" Harm retorted. "If even half of what 
Danny said 
  was true, this guy could be big trouble. I will not leave you out 
here alone 
  to handle this."
  
  "I love you too and I hate seeing you hurting like this" she sighed. 
"And I 
  know if you were back at JAG you'd be in a lot less pain that you are 
here. 
  These stairs and corridors are going to be way too hard on your 
back."
  
  "Mac I'm not leaving you here. End of discussion."
  
  "You know I could order you back" she threatened.
  
  "And I'd disobey that order" he retorted. "So don't even go there 
Colonel."
  
  "Okay, I can see I'm getting no where with Mr. Stubborn" Mac sighed. 
"So 
  I'll drop it for now. Let's see what we've got so far."
  
  "We've got Danny's story about this McShane guy" Harm sighed. "And 
somehow 
  we're going to have to find out if he's telling the truth or just 
making 
  this up to cover his own sorry six."
  
  "How do you suggest we do that? Without going to McShane?"
  
  "We need to talk to some more of the crew. See if anyone else says 
anything 
  about McShane. If he is the main player, Danny can't be the only one 
who 
  knows about him."
  
  "Agreed. And we'll find out more about this lovers triangle in case 
there 
  more to it than we're being told."
  
  "Sounds like a plan" Harm said with a long sigh.
  
  "Can I get you anything?" Mac asked softly.
  
  "I know we're on duty but I'd really love for you to lay down here 
with me" 
  he said quietly. "I hate that we've been arguing all day and right 
now I 
  just want to hold you."
  
  Without a word she slid down next to him, allowing him to wrap his 
arms 
  around her. It didn't take long for him to relax and it wasn't longer 
after 
  that Mac gently extracted herself from him once he'd fallen asleep.
  
  "Rest sailor" she whispered as she dropped a quick kiss on his lips. 
"I love 
  you."
  
  Quietly she left his quarters and headed off in search of Ensigns 
Chaffey 
  and Peters.
  
  "Ma'am, where's the Commander?" Jonathan asked once she caught up to 
them 
  again.
  
  "Taking it easy for a while. And while he's doing that you two can 
tell me 
  about a guy named McShane."
  
  Jonathan looked at her blankly but she could tell that Ashley knew 
  something.
  
  "Should we find a private place to talk Ensign?" Mac asked the young 
lady.
  
  "If you want to know about McShane it better be very private" Ashley 
said 
  quietly.
  
  "My quarters then" Mac decided after a moment's thought. "We won't 
have to 
  worry about anyone hearing us there."
  
  "Okay, what am I missing here?" Jonathan asked. "I know who McShane 
is but I 
  don't get why you want to talk in private."
  
  "You haven't been here long enough to know who McShane really is" 
Ashley 
  replied.
  
  "Come on, let's go back to my quarters" Mac urged. "We can discuss 
all this 
  there instead of out here in the passageway."
  
  The trio headed to Mac's cabin and Mac pulled out her legal pad and 
motioned 
  for the two to have a seat.
  
  "Okay, everything about CPO McShane. Fact, fiction or otherwise."
  
  "Yes ma'am" Ashley replied. "I can tell you that I've never had 
contact with 
  him directly. Everything I know is from what I've heard."
  
  "From Danny?" Mac frowned.
  
  "Some of it ma'am. But a lot of it I've heard from others."
  
  "Go ahead. Whatever you have at this point might be helpful."
  
"Hunter McShane is an operator," Ashley said slowly.  "He's supposedly 
got his 
fingers into a lot of things.  A little drugs, a little black market, a 
little gambling, even 
a little prostitution."
 
 "On this ship?"  Mac was incredulous.
 
 "And in port," she nodded.  
 
 Mac sat up straighter in her chair and pierced Ashley with a long 
sharp gaze.  
"Ensign when we were talking before you did not mention CPO McShane as 
being 
a possible part of the problem.  You want to tell me why?"
 
 "I. . .I just didn't think. . " she stammered and Mac sent her a look 
of total 
exasperation.
 
 "Ensign you're speaking to a superior officer here, and a lawyer to 
boot.  Do not 
bullshit me."
 
 "Yes ma'am," she sighed, looking nervously around the room.
 
 "I'm waiting."
 
 "I've had indications that the man is trouble before," Ashley said 
softly, barely 
audibly and she looked to Jonathan, her eyes pleading his 
understanding.  "You 
remember Alan Murphy?"
 
 He drew his breath in sharply.  "Yeah of course."
 
 "Well I don't," Mac yelped.
 
 "Sorry ma'am," Ashley sighed.  "Alan Murphy was a newly assigned CPO 
here 
who tried to give up McShane to me.  He died Colonel.  Died before he 
could make 
a statement.  The death was ruled suicide--that he broke into the drug 
locker and 
OD'd on valium and sleeping pills."
 
 "You didn't buy that?"
 
 "No ma'am.  And when I questioned McShane. . ."  Her voice dropped off 
to 
nothing and again she turned pleading eyes to Jonathan.
 
 His eyes narrowed at once and he looked at her suspiciously, 
understanding 
dawning.  "What did the sonofabitch do?  Did he threaten you?"
 
 Ashley swallowed hard and looked miserable under Mac's gaze as well.  
"Ma'am. . 
. ."
 
 A wave of sympathy for the young ensign washed over Mac.  Not that 
long out of 
training, on her first assignment, and afraid she was failing and 
afraid period Mac 
was realizing.
 
 "Ensign did he threaten you?" she asked, her tone leaving no doubt she 
expected 
an answer.
 
 With a long breath, Ashley squared her shoulders.  "Yes ma'am.  He 
told me he 
would make my life miserable and then I would die.  Painfully."
 
 "No," Jonathan gasped and his hand went to hers.  "He's a dead man.  
And why 
didn't you tell me about this?"
 
 "Because you would have freaked," she smiled, patting the hand that 
was covering 
hers.  "Like you're about to do."
 
 "You're damn right I'm about to freak," he yelped.  "This man sounds 
like a psycho.  
And like he doesn't make empty threats."
 
 "Well I've now opened myself up to dereliction charges for not 
pursuing him," she 
sighed miserably, a note of tearfulness in her voice.
 
 "No that's not going to happen," Jonathan protested fiercely.  "I 
won't let anything 
happen to you Ashley.  Nothing."  He looked to Mac in desperation.  
"Ma'am?"
 
 "OK why don't we all relax here," Mac smiled gently, getting a good 
sense of the 
caring that existed between the two.  "No one is going to be charged 
with 
dereliction first off.  Second, if McShane is involved in illegal 
activity, we're going to 
take him down.  The big boys from JAG are here to help."
 
 The sighs of relief from the Ensigns were in unison, long and loud, 
and Jonathan 
squeezed hard on Ashley's hand, bringing another smile from Mac.
 
 "I want you two to go on about your business the rest of today," she 
went on.  "I'm 
going to talk to my partner and let's get together later.  How's the 
mess in this 
place?"
 
 "Not McDonald's ma'am," Ashley laughed.  "Thank you for coming here.  
I guess I 
should have asked for help a long time ago."
 ==============
 Pain.  Pain shooting through his back.  He could stand that, as long 
as he was 
holding the woman he loved.  Struggling to wakefulness arms closed 
around her. . 
.and found only air where he expected there to be her warm soft body.  
"Mac?  
MAC?  Maaaaa-aaaaaaaac."  
 
 His scream echoed down the corridor just as Mac opened the door from 
her cabin.
 
 "I think your partner is paging you ma'am," Jonathan grinned slyly. 
  
  Another loud scream of her name could be heard before Mac hurried 
into his 
 quarters.
 
 "Harm I'm right here" she said calmly as she sat down on the side of 
the bed 
 next to him, wrapping her arms around him. "Shh, everything is fine."
 
 "Where did you go?" he demanded, finally relaxing at the feel of her 
arms 
 around him.
 
 "To my cabin. And I had a nice little chat with Ensign Peters about 
our Mr. 
 McShane. How you doing?"
 
 His face gave her the answer and she gently stroked the hair back from 
his 
 forehead. "You're still hurting aren't you?" she said gently.
 
 "Nothing I can't live with as long as you're here," he said with a 
long 
 sigh.
 
 "We need to talk about this. I want you to be straight up with me 
sailor 
 about what's going on here."
 
 "The only thing going on is you and I are going to finish this 
investigation 
 together. And that's the most we're going to talk about it. What we 
will 
 talk about is what Ensign Peters told you."
 
 "She had a very interesting story about the man fast becoming our 
prime 
 suspect" Mac replied. "Appears there was another death on board that 
was 
 ruled a suicide but she's pretty sure McShane was behind it."
 
 "I'm liking this case less and less" he growled. "Now we have two 
murders."
 
 "I'm going to ask Commander Dandridge about this other death. And then 
I 
 think I need to talk to CPO McShane."
 
 "We need to talk to him" Harm corrected irritably. "You are not going 
 anywhere near that man alone. What part of he might be a murderer 
isn't 
 sinking in."
 
 "Harm" she said calmly. "You're freaking on me sailor."
 
 "I'm freaking because I love you and you're talking about going to 
talk to 
 some guy who could have killed two people alone. I don't want anything 
to 
 happen to you."
 
 "Nothing is going to happen to me," she said gently. "You're so 
uptight 
 sailor. You need to relax."
 
 "I'll relax when we're off this ship" he sighed.
 
 "Why don't I go down to the mess and bring us something back to eat" 
she 
 suggested. "And then we'll figure out what the next step is."
 
 "I'll go with you," he said as he forced himself to a sitting position 
on 
 the bed grimacing as he did so. "God, I hate this."
 
 "Me too" she said softly, seeing him in so much pain hurting her as 
much as 
 it hurt him. "Come on, let's take that walk."
 
 Together they slowly made their way down to the mess, running into 
Commander 
 Dandridge along the way.
 
 "Commander do you have a few minutes?" Mac asked, wanting very much to 
ask 
 her about Alan Murphy's death.
 
 "Sure, any luck so far?" she asked as she followed them into the mess.
 
 "Not really" Mac admitted. "It appears we have more questions than 
answers 
 at this point."
 
 "Welcome to my world" Commander Dandridge sighed. "What kinds of 
questions?"
 
 "What do you know about CPO McShane?" Harm spoke up.
 
 "What does he have to do with any of this?" she asked. "He isn't even 
on the 
 list of suspects I gave you."
 
 "No he isn't but his name has been mentioned twice in the course of 
our 
 investigation" Mac replied.
 
 "As a possible suspect? By who? Seaman Walden?"
 
 "By a few people" Mac lied.
 
 "Not possible" Dandridge said firmly. "I know CPO McShane and there's 
no way 
 he's involved in this. Whoever's telling you this is snowballing you."
 
 "There was another death aboard" Mac continued. "Allan Murphy?"
 
 "It was a ruled a suicide and we had no reason to believe otherwise" 
 Dandridge replied. "Don't tell me someone told you that wasn't the 
case."
 
 "Was it ever looked into as a possible homicide?" Mac prodded.
 
 "It was investigated and determined to be a suicide" she said tersely. 
"Look 
 Colonel, I don't know what direction you've taken this investigation 
but it 
 doesn't sound like it's the right direction."
 
 "I'm just investigating all the facts," Mac said calmly. "Do you have 
a 
 problem with that Commander?"
 
 Harm watched the exchange with a slight look of amusement. Commander 
 Dandridge was about to find out what it was like to go up against 
Colonel 
 Sarah Mackenzie.
 
 "No I do not," Commander Dandridge said finally. "Though I can assure 
you 
 you're wasting your time going in the direction you're going."
 
 "We'll see won't we" Mac smiled.
 
 "Just remember that Captain Jefferies wanted this cleared ASAP" 
Dandridge 
 reminded her. "And if you're done with your questions, I need to get 
back to 
 work."
 
 "I think that's it for now" Mac replied.
 
 "Woah, Marine" Harm smiled when Dandridge was gone. "What was that all 
 about?"
 
 "Nothing" Mac smiled. "What do you say we get some dinner shall we?"

"Yeah I need to. . ." he stammered looking around for some convenient 
excuse.  
He had decided to visit the infirmary and request something for the 
pain.  The pain 
he was keeping the severity of to himself so the last thing he wanted 
was for her to 
suspect it was driving him to see attention for.  "Let me meet you 
there in about a 
half hour could we?"

She gave him a look of total puzzlement.  "I don't understand.  If you 
want to go 
check on something else why didn't you just say so.  I'll come."

He looked around uncomfortably again.  "No it's not that.  Mac look. . 
.Mac I. . ."

"What is it Harm?" she asked, in a cross between concern and 
frustration with 
some irritation mixed in.

"Mac I just need thirty minutes," he yelped.  "That's not too much to 
ask. Please, go 
to the officer mess and let me have it."

For a long minute she did not respond, her eyes searching his face for 
answers.  
Finding none, she gave him a barely perceptible nod and turned on her 
heel, 
marching away from him.

"Rabb you handled that well," he muttered, hating himself but at the 
same time the 
pain was a more driving force.  He knew if he did not get some relief 
there was no 
way he was going to be able to hide the extent from her.  And once she 
knew 
about it, she would see to it that he was ordered off full duty in her 
concern for him.  
And if that happened she would be carrying on without him, and without 
his 
protection, protection that his heart bound him to give with his love 
for her.
============
OFFICER MESS

"Colonel you seem to be sans partner," Jonathan said softly.  "Did you 
want to be 
alone or may I join you."

"You too Ensign--without partner I mean," Mac sighed.  "Mine bailed on 
me.  And I 
don't even know why.  You men are odd creatures.  Sit.  And maybe you 
can tell 
me what the hell this is."  She gave the meat on her plate an impatient 
poke.

"You're braver than I am ma'am," he smiled.  "I think that's the 
meatloaf but I 
wouldn't touch it."

"I'm suddenly not that hungry," she decided.  "So where is your fellow 
Ensign?"

"Ma'am I don't know," he sighed miserably.  "Something is bothering 
her. A lot."

"Personal or professional?"

He shrugged helplessly.  "Both.  Neither.  Hell I don't know."  "Ma'am" 
he added 
lamely.

She shook her head in sympathy.  "You care about her don't you?"

"Yes ma'am.  Does it show that much?"

"Oh no not at all," she returned, letting her sarcasm through.

"We care for each other ma'am," he said cautiously.  "I think you and 
your partner 
do as well if you'll pardon my impertinence."

She nodded in reply, giving the meatloaf another poke.  "But this is 
about you and 
Ensign Peters right now.  You think this is case related?  Because if 
not--if this is 
something personal between the two of you--it's totally inappropriate 
for me to be 
involved."

"Seaman Walden came up to the office about two hours ago and asked to 
see her.  
She didn't invite me to join them, and then they left together.  I was 
hoping she was 
down here.  Walden has laundry detail tonight according to the duty 
logs and he's 
not reported in yet."  

  "How much do you know about Ensign Peters and Seaman Walden?" Mac 
prodded.
  
  "Not much ma'am" Jonathan admitted. "I just knew she was involved 
with him 
  before we meet at OCS. When we both were sent out here, she said 
she'd 
  broken it off with him."
  
  "Are you sure?"
  
  "Why would she be with me then?" Jonathan said irritably.
  
  "Because life isn't always that simple" Mac sighed, remembering how 
she'd 
  spent a year of her life with a man she didn't really love. "Look, 
where do 
  you think they might be?"
  
  "There's not to many quiet places on board ma'am" Jonathan sighed. 
"There's 
  a few places below deck they might have gone to. Uh, Ashley and I 
have gone 
  there when we wanted to be alone.  I'll show you where."
  
  "Let's go then," Mac said as she stood up. "We need to find out what 
these 
  two are up to. I have a nagging suspicion that the story she told me 
earlier 
  was just that. A story."
  
  "I'll kill that lousy bastard if he put her up to it. This could ruin 
her 
  career."
  
  "Unless she had good reason for doing it" Mac sighed. "Come on."
  
  "Ma'am, what about your partner?" Jonathan asked.  "Don't you think 
you 
  should wait for him."
  
  As he spoke Harm walked into the mess, less stiff thanks to some 
painkillers 
  that he'd been assured wouldn't put him to sleep. At least not right 
away.
  
  "I'm uh sorry about earlier," he said quietly, ignoring Jonathan for 
the 
  moment. "There was something I needed to take care of."
  
  "It wasn't case related was it?" she prodded.
  
  "No and I really don't want to get into right now. Is there something 
going 
  on that I should know about?"
  
  "Ensign Peters went off with Seaman Walden a few hours ago" Mac 
replied. 
  "And he hasnt shown up for duty."
  
  "You think they're up to something?" Harm asked.
  
  "I don't know what to think anymore" Mac sighed. "But I want to find 
them 
  and see what's going on. Ensign Chaffey thinks they might be up below 
deck 
  somewhere"
  
  "I'm going with you" Harm said firmly. "Ensign you can come along as 
well."
  
  She opened her mouth to protest before promptly closing it. She knew 
it was 
  pointless to argue with him and with a sigh she led them out of the 
mess and 
  towards the desk.
  
  "You okay?" Mac asked Harm as they reached the lower decks. She knew 
the 
  stairs had to be killing his back and she and Jonathan had to stop to 
let 
  him keep up.
  
  "Yeah I'm okay" he assured her.
  
  "Over there" Jonathan whispered a few minutes later when he spotted 
them. 
  "Ashley."
  
  The pair whirled around in surprise and Harm and Mac caught a glimpse 
of 
  something on the floor beside them. Something that looked very much 
like a 
  body.
  
  "Both of you freeze" Mac ordered as they closed in on the pair.
  
  "Danny" Ashley wailed. "You said no one would find out about this."
  
  "Jonathan you take Ashley" Mac directed. "We'll handle Seaman 
Walden."
  
  Suddenly Danny turned and ran and Mac and Harm scurried after him, 
wasting 
  no time to stop and check the body of the young man that lay dead.
  
  "Jonathan call security" Harm yelled over his shoulder.
  
  "Come on" Jonathan ordered as he roughly grabbed Ashley's arm. "We 
need to 
  help Harm and Mac."
  
  "Jonathan I'm so sorry" she wailed. "I didn't know he was going to 
kill 
  McShane. Honest."
  
  "Save it" he snapped. "Come on." He led her away, at the same time 
pulling 
  out his radio and alerting security to what was going on.
  
  Meanwhile Mac had managed to keep up with Danny, Harm lagging behind 
them.
  
  "Hold it Walden" Mac called as she reached Danny, grabbing a hold of 
his leg 
  as he climbed the narrow stair ladder that lead to the next deck. He 
shook 
  her off and continued up, Mac scurrying up after him. He reached the 
next 
  level and for a moment Mac thought he'd taken off. She'd reached the 
top 
  step when a pair of hands suddenly gave her a hard push. She 
desperately 
  tried to hang on, somehow managing to get one hand around the bars. 
But 
  another hard shove sent her falling back, her scream mixing with 
Harm's as 
  he arrived just in time to see her fall, unable to reach her in time 
to stop 
  her from hitting the deck.
  
  "Mac" he cried as he reached her, to frightened to even touch her. 
From 
  above he saw Danny Walden smirk before he ran off.
  
  "Oh my god" Jonathan shrieked as he reached Harm. "What happened?"
  
  "He pushed her" Harm managed. "Get the corpsmen down here now."
  
  Jonathan nodded and quickly called for corpsmen before taking off in 
the 
  direction Danny had gone. Ashley stood quietly over Harm and Mac, 
silent 
  tears streaming down her face as she listened to Harm gently talk to 
Mac.
  
  "Hang on honey" he whispered. It took all his control not to lift her 
into 
  his arms, knowing that it might hurt her more if he did. "You're 
going to be 
  okay. Just hang on please. I love you Marine. You hear me. I love you 
and I 
  need you. Don't you even think about leaving me."
  
 Ashley could hear Jonathan in her radio, calling for help in his 
search and 
reporting McShane's death. "This is a nightmare," she gasped to no one 
in 
particular, as she saw Mac, bloodied and still, and thought of Jonathan 
chasing 
down this man.  "Commander I need to go help my partner," she said 
softly, putting 
a soft hand on his heaving shoulder for a second.  The colonel will be 
OK, she's a 
tough lady."
 
 "You save him for me."
 
 "Excuse me sir?"
 
 Harm looked up at her, his face a tortured mask of fear and hatred for 
a brief 
second.  "You save that sonofabitch for me.  That's an order Ensign."
 
 "Yes sir," Ashley said uncertainly, and then turned and fled the area 
just as the 
medics arrived.
 
 "Commander let me through there please," the first medic ordered.  
"Tight quarters 
sir.  Move it please."
 
 "I uh. . .I can't leave her," Harm mumbled, still frozen in place.
 
 "Sir for my partner and I to help her we're going to have to get 
there," the young 
Ensign explained gently.  "I'm Adams--Gina Adams, and this is Ensign 
Justice."
 
 "Call me Deanne sir, but move it please," the curly haired redhead 
begged.
 
 Harm tried to keep his hand in place on her forehead and make room for 
the two 
Ensigns at the same time with no success.
 
 "Sir you may outrank us, but right now we're in charge," Gina snapped.  
"Get out of 
my way or I'm going to have to call someone to remove you."
 
 As if in slow motion, Harm backed away from Mac, his eyes never 
leaving her 
face.
 
 "She fell backwards from the top of the stair ladder?" Gina gasped as 
she began to 
realize what the situation was.  "OK she's going to need the collar and 
then we'll 
get her onto the backboard.  Sir you didn't lift or move her did you?"
 
 "No I don't know how but somehow I had better sense," he said softly.
 
 "Good man.  OK collar in place and her breathing is good.  She could 
have some 
internal injuries that we don't know about, but at least her breathing 
and BP aren't 
bad.  Hopefully she's just in shock.  It does look like a broken ankle 
here though."
 
 "She might have head injuries," Harm breathed, remembering in full 3D 
color how 
she hit the deck, first on her back and then hearing the back of her 
head slam 
against the metal.
 
 "They'll check.  Commander we have a good facility here, but we're not 
a trauma 
hospital.  You need to be prepared for the possibility of her being 
evac'd to Tokyo."
 
 "I just want her to be OK," he said quietly.  "And yeah if it means 
getting the hell off 
this ship, that's fine."
 
 "OK let's get the board under her," Deanne ordered.  "Sir need to ask 
you to get up 
again.  You can help us lift her but we need to get the board along 
side her first."
 
 "Yeah," he answered numbly, starting to rise from his squatting 
position and giving 
a sharp cry of pain as he did so.
 
 "Sir?"
 
 "I'm fine, don't worry about me.  She's your only concern," he 
snapped, holding to 
his back with both hands as he got to his feet.  It was then that it 
hit him--his back, 
the secret he had been keeping as to the severity of the pain, was the 
reason he 
had not been able to keep up with her.  His own stubborn pride, his 
refusal to risk 
having to stand down--and the woman he loved was paying dearly.

  He watched as the two women slid the board under Mac before lifting 
her up. 
  He attempted to help, only to be hindered by his own aching back.
  
  "Let's get her to sick bay now" Deanne ordered and with Harm beside 
her they 
  started to move. He held her hand in his, offering silent prayers to 
the Man 
  upstairs as he walked.
  
  "What have we got?" Chief Corpsman Donald Mullins asked as Mac was 
brought 
  in.
  
  "Head injury, possible back and neck injury" Gina said quickly. 
"There may 
  also be internal injuries. She fell quite a ways."
  
  "Sir, you can't stay in here," Mullins said to Harm. "We'll let you 
know as 
  soon as we know something."
  
  "No you don't understand" Harm whispered. "I have to stay with her. I 
have 
  to make sure she's okay."
  
  "Commander, I know you're worried about your partner" he said gently. 
"But 
  we'll take good care of her. Gina, take the Commander out to the 
waiting 
  area please."
  
  "Commander, this way please" Gina said as she reached for his arm 
while 
  Chief Corpsman Mullins turned his attention to his patient. For a 
moment 
  Harm didn't move, looking only at the still figure of the woman he 
loved. 
  This was his fault. No matter who else he tried to blame, he was the 
one 
  responsible.
  
  "Commander" Gina tried again.
  
  He started to move only to stop at the Chief Corpsman's next words.
  
  "Commander was Colonel Mackenzie pregnant?"
  
  "What?" Harm whispered.
  
  "I asked if she was pregnant?"
  
  "No, not that I knew" Harm answered. "Why?"
  
  "That's all Commander. Deanne get Captain Simmons in here ASAP. Gina, 
get 
  the Commander out of here please."
  
  "What's wrong?" Harm demanded. "Dammit tell me. What's wrong?"
  
  "Commander, I can't save her life if I'm talking to you" Chief 
Corpsmen 
  Mullins snapped.
  
  His words hit Harm hard, the full impact of what had happened finally 
  sinking in. She could die. He could lose the woman he loved. And if 
that 
  happened he didn't care what happened to him.
  
  "Commander" Gina said gently. "This way please."
  
  He broke free from her grip and suddenly ran from the sick bay, down 
the 
  passageway. There was only one thought in his mind as he ran. 
Wherever Danny 
  Walden was, he was a dead man.
  
  He'd just made his way up to the upper decks when a shot rang out. He 
ran 
  even faster, pushing his aching body. He finally reached the small 
group 
  that was huddled around a figure on the ground.  Ashley was sobbing 
in 
  Jonathan's arms and as Harm approached one of the men from security 
stood up 
  from the body.
  
  "He's dead."
  
  "Lousy bastard" Jonathan muttered under his breath. "Shh, it's okay 
honey. 
  It's all over. He can't hurt you anymore."
  
  "What happened?" Harm asked quietly.
  
  "He grabbed Ashley" Jonathan replied. "He would have killed her if I 
didn't 
  shoot him. You can ask them, they saw it."
  
  "That's one happened Commander" one of the men nodded. "Walden was 
going 
to 
  strangle her to death if Ensign Chaffey hadn't taken him out when he 
did."
  
  Harm nodded and without a word turned and walked away. His wish had 
been 
  granted. Danny Walden had paid for what he'd done to Mac. His only 
regret 
  was he hadn't been the one to pull the trigger.
  
  "Commander I heard what happened" Commander Dandridge said as she 
approached 
  him. "I'm sorry."
  
  "I need to get in touch with Admiral Chegwidden" Harm said numbly. 
The 
  adrenaline rush now over, his body suddenly didn't want to cooperate 
  anymore. "He knows Seaman Walden's mother. He should be the one to 
tell her 
  what happened."  He moved to take a step, the pain radiating through 
his 
  back with such force that he nearly dropped to his knees. The world 
spun 
  around him wildly and he wavered unsteadily.
  
  "Commander are you okay?" she asked. "Commander?"
  
  Her voice was lost in the darkness that started to surround him and 
he 
  gratefully gave into it. He didn't hear her scream for help, nor did 
he feel 
  the pair of hands that gently lowered him to the deck.
  
  ************
  Mac. His mind screamed her name as he pushed himself through the fog 
of 
  medication. She'd been hurt. Badly. He needed to make sure she was 
okay.
  
  "Mac" He finally got his voice to cooperate and with some effort 
managed to 
  open his eyes as well, shocked to see AJ in the room with him.
  
  "Sir" Harm whispered, his mind suddenly fearing the worst. "Oh god, 
no." She 
  was dead. He'd lost her. The only woman he would ever love was dead. 
"NO" he 
  screamed.
  
  "Harm calm down" AJ ordered as he hurried to his side. "She's not 
dead."
  
  "She's not?" he whispered.
  
  "No" AJ said slowly. "They're pretty sure she's going to be okay."
  
  "What aren't you telling me?" Harm demanded, sensing something else 
was 
  wrong. "Sir, what is it?"
  
  "The baby," AJ said quietly. "They did what they could but they 
couldn't 
  save the baby. I'm sorry Harm."
   
 THE END