TITLE:  "Brother Against Brother"

AUTHORS:  Anne R and Pat Steiner

DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to Paramount, DPB Prod. et
all.  No copyright 
infringement is intended with this work of
entertainment only.

SUMMARY/SPOILERS:   A young man desperate to stay in
the US.  His brother 
torn between helping him and not wanting what little
family he has ripped apart.  Any 
JAG episode may be referred to in this work.

CLASSIFICATION/RATING:  J/S/R/A    PG13 for Language
and Violence

NOTE:  Last spring before it became apparent DB was
intending to do the war as 
the May finale episodes, it seemed likely those 4
episodes would focus on Sergei.  
After all, surely something was planned other than
that wonderful Wall scene in 
Answered Prayers?!  So we wrote what we thought would
make a credible finale 
story, featuring the resolution of the Sergei
question.   Had he not done the war, 
maybe he would have gone with something like this.

FEEDBACK:  Never expected let alone demanded.  Always
appreciated.  We simply 
ask that the work and the effort be respected. 
Feedback addy is 
SSbpMN@aol.com.
NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous chapters,
as well as much of our other works, are available at 
    
                
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registered Yahoo users-no subbing required.  Please
ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there
is no R nor NC17 content there.
    
    Other archives containing our stories:
    
         http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or
http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag
                  
                  or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at  
 http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html  [sadly,
not always up and running]
    
              or BTL-
              http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/
              http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M
Fanfiction archive.}


"Brother Against Brother" Part 1---
 
  JAG HQ's
  May 20th, 2002
  
  "Good Morning Harm" Mac smiled as her partner
crossed the bullpen towards 
  his office. He barely acknowledged her presence,
looking up at her with a 
  scowl as walked into his office.
  
  "Okay so much for good morning" Mac murmured to
herself as Sturgis walked 
  by.
  
  "Morning Colonel. Trust you had a nice calm weekend
after all the excitement 
  of nabbing the terrorist."
  
  "Morning Sturgis. And I'll take calm for a while"
Mac sighed.
  
  The slamming of Harm's office door made them both
turn and look and Sturgis 
  immediately looked at her.
  
  "Hey don't look at me. I didn't do it. All I said
was good morning."
  
  "That'll do it every time" Sturgis teased.
"Seriously, you don't know what's 
  up with him?"
  
  "No. We haven't really had time to sit down and chat
about life you know. I 
  can take a guess. I'm sure it's got something to do
with Sergei."
  
  "Ahh" Sturgis nodded. "You're probably right. Maybe
I should try talking to 
  him."
  
  "Enter at your own risk" Mac smiled. "Course he has
to come out for the 
  Admiral's staff call."
  
  "Maybe I'll just wait."
  
  "Chicken" Mac laughed.
  
  "Hey I've known Harm long enough to know when he's
in a bad mood you stay 
  clear."
  
  "Morning Commander, Colonel" Singer smiled as she
breezed past. "Is the 
  Commander in? I need to talk to him about the
Carroll court martial now that 
  you two are done saving the world."
  
  "Gee thanks for appreciating our work" Mac murmured
under her breath as she 
  walked away.
  
  "So is he in?" Singer demanded. "I don't have time
to waste here."
  
  "Oh he's in there" Sturgis smiled as he walked away.
  
  With a shake of her head she marched over to Harm's
office door, knocking 
  loudly.
  
  "Commander, I need to see you" she called.
  
  The door opened and Harm looked at her with a long
scowl. "What is it 
Lieutenant?"
  
  "I want to see if you're willing to make a deal on
the Carroll case. Do you 
  have a minute?"
  
  "Can't this wait Lieutenant?" Harm sighed. "Now is
not a good time."
  
  "When is a good time for you Commander?" she
snapped.
  
  "Watch it Lieutenant"
  
  "Oh please Commander. You know I'm sick of the
treatment I've been getting 
  since I went out with your brother."
  
  "What you do in your personal time doesn't not
concern me" Harm retorted. 
  "And I'm not going to discuss my brother with you."
  
  "Fine. And when you find time to talk about work,
let me know."
  
  She stormed from his office just as AJ walked out of
his office for the 
  morning staff call.
  
  "Anything I should know about Commander?" AJ asked
as Harm walked out a 
  second later.
  
  "No sir" Harm sighed.
  
  "Good. I'll see you in the conference room."
  
  Twenty minutes later the meeting was over, everyone
noticing Harm's mood.
  
  "Harm is everything okay?" Mac asked finally as they
walked back to their 
  offices following the meeting.
  
  "Just peachy" he snapped.
  
  "Okay never mind" she sighed. "Sorry to bother you."
  
  "Mac no wait. I'm sorry. You're just being nice and
I'm snapping at you for 
  no reason."
  
  "There's obviously a reason," Mac said gently. "You
want to share? You know 
  I'm always willing to listen."
  
  "It might be nice to unload this all on someone" he
sighed. "Do you have 
  time for lunch. That is if I haven't killed Singer
before then."
  
  "Sure. My treat" Mac smiled.
  
  "Sounds great" Harm smiled as well. "Thanks."
  
  Just before noon she strolled into his office and he
looked up with 
  surprise.
  
  "It's that time already?" he groaned.
  
  "You want to cancel?" she said quietly. "It's no
problem."
  
  "No I need to get out for a bit" he sighed. "As long
as you don't mind that 
  I'm going to be whining and complaining the whole
time."
  
  "Isn't that what friends are for?" she smiled.
  
  "Thanks. Let me save this file and then we can go."
Moments later he stood 
  up and was on his way around the desk when the phone
rang.
  
  "Whoever it is can leave a message" he sighed. "I'll
deal with it when I get 
  back."
  
  She nodded and they started across the bullpen, only
to be stopped by Tiner 
  as they waited for the elevator.
  
  "Sir, I've got a call for you. It's your stepfather.
Says he needs to talk 
  to you right away."
  
 "Tell him I died," Harm groaned, shaking his head.
 
 "Excuse me sir?  I don't think I can do that," the
young petty officer frowned.
 
 "You enlisted men are good for nothing," he retorted,
shaking his head, leaving a 
confused Tiner in his wake as he pushed past him.
 
 "What did I do ma'am?"
 
 "Nothing Tiner, don't worry about it," she sighed,
staring after Harm.  Something 
was bothering him, and bothering him a great deal.  
 
 "Ma'am?"
 
 "Tiner go it's fine.  I'll take care of it."  With
Tiner assured he was not about to be 
thrown in the brig, she walked slowly to Harm's
office, noting that he had closed the 
door, which would explain the loud door slamming sound
she had heard.
 
 It was five minutes later when he emerged, his face
dark with what she could 
interpret as anger, and against his step-father she
was not sure what could be the 
cause.
 
 "And the hits keep on coming," he muttered, taking
her arm and leading her toward 
the elevator.
 
 "Harm you sure you want to do lunch?"
 
 "More than ever.  I need some air.  And I need to
talk."
 
 "You got it," she nodded, her tone saying she was
ready to help.  "Partners and 
best friends remember."
 
 "Well after I dump on you, you may not feel like
that, but by the same token, I 
always do it to you, and you always come back for
more.  Maybe you should 
mention that next time your mental fitness is
evaluated."
 
 At that she stopped in her tracks and looked at him
in puzzlement.  "I hope you 
didn't mean that like it sounded."
 
 "No I didn't," he sighed, realizing what he just
said.  "I'm sorry.  In fact I'm sorry in 
advance for anything I might say or do to you until
this is fixed."
 
 "You do sound like you need to talk Flyboy," she said
quietly.
 ==============
 THE RUSTY SCUPPER
 Tysons Corner, Va.
 
 "Harm I would have been happy with Burger King," she
smiled.
 
 "You can't get a drink at Burger King," he groused as
the server approached and he 
ordered a bourbon and water.
 
 "I guess not," she smiled and covered her hand with
his.  "Harm whatever this is, 
you're starting to scare me.  Did you get a woman
pregnant or something?"
 
 "I wish."
 
 "Excuse me?"  Her one eyebrow went to its zenith at
that.
 
 "I'm sorry.  I don't mean it like that.   I mean that
would seem simple compared to 
this.  OK not really.  Why don't I just tell you."
 
 "I'm all ears Sailor."  
 
 "You know I'm desperate to get Sergei admitted here
based on paternity."
 
 She nodded and he went on.
 
 "OK, well it's hitting a dead end.  And Mom is a big
part of that roadblock."
 
 "I'm sorry.  You've tried talking to her I assume."
 
 "Letters, email, and IM.  Plus a two hour phone call
Sunday during which ended 
with her in tears and me yelling.  She's got very
little left of my Dad.  Not even as 
much as I do.  I have the pictures and tapes, his
medals, his flight jacket.  She got 
rid of all his uniforms, personal clothing, this type
thing when she moved into the 
house in LaJolla with Frank.  I have no idea why she
didn't put it all in a big trunk or 
something.  I mean it's not like there's not room in
that mausoleum.  Anyway, you 
know she has the letters.  And she's decided she's not
disturbing them.  I've seen 
them.  There's 180 of them for the six months he was
there.  One a day.  Most of 
them just a page, saying how much he loved her and me
and so forth.  Not much he 
could talk about his missions.  Anyway, the letters
are the one thing she has of his 
that are purely personal.  Plus now that she's had
time to think about the whole 
Sergei thing, she's gone into denial that her Harmon
would do anything like that.  
She says he never would have stopped trying to get
home to her.  And no way he 
would have entered into a relationship with an older
Russian woman anyway."
 
 He paused for a long sip of his drink and she took
the opportunity to say, "you know 
she could be right."
 
 "Sergei is my brother," he hissed in reply at once. 
"Why would he claim to be 
otherwise?  How would he know what he knew about the
roller coasters?"
 
 "Hey I'm just playing devil's advocate here," she
pointed out.  "Like we do when we 
prepare a court case OK.  KGB had long arms and big
ears in those days.  There's 
ways of finding out information.  But disregarding
that, how about the fact he looks 
nothing like you.  Nothing.  Zero.  Zilch."
 
 "Sergei is my brother," he replied stubbornly.  "And
if you can't believe that and help 
me prove it, then maybe I don't need your help after
all."  He started to rise and she 
put a calming firm hand to his arm.
 
 "OK sit down mister.  I never said I wasn't going to
help.  You know I will.  But part 
of that help, because I care about you, has to be
helping you to accept the truth, no 
matter what it turns out to be.  OK?"
 
 "Yeah OK," he nodded after a minute, covering her
hand with his.  "You are a good 
friend Sarah Mackenzie and I don't say that often
enough."
 
 "Some things don't have to be said," she smiled.  "So
go on."
 
 "Well like I said, we argued for two hours, and she
hung up in tears, I was shouting 
and I've felt like such a shit ever since.  I sent her
a long email this morning after I 
calmed down.  But apparently she hasn't.  Frank just
got home after a trip and found 
her still real upset.  He's now on his way here.  He
has to be in Philadelphia 
tomorrow night anyway he said, and he's taking a
detour through DC a  day early.  
Probably coming to kill me."
 
 "Nah he'd have to stand in too long a line," she
teased.  "OK so he'll be here 
tonight?"
 
 "He's meeting me at my place at 1830," he sighed
miserably.  "See I was hoping to 
enlist him as an ally.  Now he's coming to lay me out
for upsetting Mom.  You know 
how I get though when I get my mind set on something."
 
 "No I have no idea," she replied sarcastically.  "Now
is all this leading up to asking if 
I'd come with you?"
 
 "Bingo.  And when I hear it aloud, I realize I have
no right to subject you to that.  
Forget it."
 
 "I'd love to meet Frank," she smiled.  "What time
should I be there?"
  
  "Mac you don't have to do this" Harm sighed. "I
should warn you that Frank 
  and I don't have a very good relationship."
  
  "Who do you have a good relationship with?" she
teased.
  
  "No one at this moment" he glared.
  
  "Sorry. Just kidding. Harm I know you and Frank
never got along. You've told 
  me that before. And I'm more than happy to be there
to help diffuse the 
  situation."
  
  "Thank you. I know this isn't going to be a fun
evening and I appreciate you 
  doing this. I feel like I'm in the middle here and
being pulled from all 
  directions. I don't like doing this to Mom but I
have to help Sergei."
  
  "Is he pressuring you about this?" Mac asked.
  
  "Yes. We've got into several times about why Mom
won't give up the letters. 
  He doesn't understand her point and at the same
time, she doesn't understand 
  how desperate he is to stay here."
  
  "Sounds like there's a little tension at home."
  
  "When he's home. You know he's been seeing
Lieutenant Witch. I tried to warn 
him but he wouldn't listen. We just ended up going
round and round even more and 
  finally I just told him to do what he wants."
  
  "He's getting you ready for parenthood" Mac smiled.
  
  "And I'm failing miserably at it" Harm sighed.
"Course the problem is I'm 
  trying to please everyone and I'm just making
everything a bigger mess."
  
  "I'm sorry," she said sympathetically. "I know
you're caught in the middle 
  here on this."
  
  "Yes I am. I just want to do the right thing Mac. I
don't want to hurt 
  anyone."
  
  "I know," she said as she patted his hand. "And this
will work out somehow. 
  Let's just get through tonight first."
  
  "Frank had suggested we go out but I think maybe we
should do dinner at my 
  place" Harm sighed. "That way if we get into a huge
fight it won't make the 
  cover of the Navy Times."
  
  "What about Sergei?"
  
  "He's been spending most of his time with Singer.
I'm sure he won't be 
  around. And if he is, maybe Frank can talk some
sense into him. He's more 
  used to dealing with stubborn people thanks to
dealing with me all those 
  years. And Sergei might be willing to listen to
him."
  
  "You really think he will?" Mac asked.
  
  "No. He's terrified about going back to Russia and I
can't say I blame him. 
  At the same time, I can't make Mom do something she
doesn't want to do. The 
  letters are all she has left of Dad and if she's not
willing to part with 
  them, I understand that."
  
  "You really are stuck in the middle aren't you?" Mac
said softly.
  
  "Yeah I am" Harm sighed as he took a long drink of
the bourbon. "I'm glad 
  Sergei's here but at the same time it's just made
things more complicated 
  than ever. And I hate that Mom and I are at odds
like this. In all the years 
  I was growing up she never got this upset with me."
  
  "I'm sorry. Maybe tonight with Frank will help."
  
  "Somehow I doubt that but thanks for coming along.
At least if you're there, 
  Frank won't kill me. Or better, you'll save me from
killing him."
  
  "No one is going to kill anyone" she smiled. "You're
just going to talk."
  
  "You don't know me and Frank" Harm sighed. "We've
never been real good at 
  talking."
  
  "It'll be fine," Mac said as she motioned for the
waiter. "Two cups of 
  coffee please."
  
  "Thanks" Harm said with a small smile after the
waiter had brought them 
  their coffee.
  
  "Just drink up. The last thing you need now is the
Admiral finding out 
  you're hitting the bottle on your lunch hour."
  
  "You really are a good friend you know that" he said
quietly after a few 
  sips of coffee.
  
  "You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you.
We've been through too much 
  together for it to be any other way."
  
  "Yeah we have" he nodded. "We really have seen each
other at our worst 
  haven't we?"
  
  "You've been there for me and I've been there for
you. That's what friends 
  do. And I know I can always count on you and you
know you can always count 
  on me. At least I hope that's how it is."
 
  "Yeah it is" Harm sighed. "And for that I can't
thank you enough."
  
  "You can make it up by taking me to dinner some
time" she smiled. "We 
  haven't done that in a while."
  
  "No we haven't. Only because my life is such a mess
right now. Don't think 
  it hasn't been on my mind."
  
  "It has?" she said softly.
  
  "Yeah it has. But something always seems to come up.
And since Sergei came 
  to town, everything has just been one giant mess.
And now that his time is 
  running out, I just feel like I should be doing more
to help him."
  
  "Harm you can't fix everything" she said gently. "I
know that's hard for you 
  to understand but you don't have control over
everything in this world. You 
  can't always make things right."
  
  "Don't I know that" he sighed as he looked over at
her. "It's been six years 
  and I still haven't made things right with us."
  
  "Hey we're a lot better than we were at this time
last year. Don't you 
  think?"
  
  "Yeah we are. You're not engaged to a man you don't
love and I'm not living 
  with a woman I don't love."
  
  "Exactly" she smiled. "And there's still time for us
to make things right 
  Harm. But right now you've got a full platter
already. Until you get this 
  situation with Sergei wrapped up, your mind is
elsewhere."
  
  "I know. But that doesn't mean I don't think about
what we talked about at 
  the JAGathon that day. Cause I do."
  
  "The beginning," she smiled.  "But Harm since then
there's been one thing after 
another, I know that.  Mostly I've been just sailing
along.  We've been getting along 
well, we're enjoying being around each other.  I guess
I haven't wanted to rock the 
boat."
 
 He picked up her hand and toyed with her fingers
briefly.  "You're not afraid are 
you?"
 
 "I think I'll take the fifth on that one counselor."
 
 "No you don't.  Witness will answer the question."
 
 "Yeah OK I am," she admitted, the challenge in his
eyes provoking her response.  
"For a long time my best friend and I weren't hardly
friends any longer.  Well OK 
he's back now and I don't want him taking off again."
 
 "He's not going any where," he said firmly.  "I think
a lot about us.  And making 
things right.  And telling you in the right terms how
I feel and what I want us to have 
and. . ."
 
 "Hey I know you're not drunk from one bourbon but
when we talk like that, and I 
hope we will. . .let's make it when we're both clear
headed and have the time and 
place right OK?"
 
 "You think that's going to come about?"
 
 "If we make it happen," she returned, her eyes never
leaving his until he looked 
away and she knew he was approaching overload.  "We'll
talk another time.  
Promise.  Finish your coffee so we can get back before
the Admiral has cause to 
question why he keeps us around."
 
 He took a long last gulp and nodded he was finished.
 
 "OK but I'm driving back.  Just in case."
 ================
 HARM'S APARTMENT
 6PM
 
 The strong knock at the door told him Frank had
arrived.  With a last check of the 
chicken in the oven he opened the door.  "Hi Frank,"
he said quietly.  "Come in."  
 
 "Harm.  I'm here to talk."
 
 "Yes sir.  Dinner is about ready.  Come in.  This is
my partner, Sarah Mackenzie.  I 
asked her to join us.  Sometimes a third party can
help, and she's about as level-
headed as they come."
 
 "Ms. Mackenzie," Frank nodded.  "Harm has talked
about you incessantly."
 
 "I have no doubt," she smiled, holding her hand to
the older man.  "Mac please.  
How was your flight?"
 
 "Long, bumpy and unpleasant."
 
 "Sorry to hear that.  But Harm's food should fix you
right up.  He's a great cook."
 
 "I really came to talk," Frank insisted.
 
 "Over dinner like civilized people please," Harm told
him.  "Come on.  Have a glass 
of wine and relax.  I know we can work this out. 
How's Mom doing?"
 
 "Not good.  And that Harm is the whole point of my
visit.  She's not been well Harm.  
And this whole thing of your father's illegitimate
child, wanting his letters, all that is 
too much for her."
 
 "Just how sick is she?" Harm gasped, feeling Mac's
hand tighten over his arm.
 
 "She's having some unstable angina and her blood
pressure is soaring.  Medication 
is helping some, but the tension of this whole thing
is badly bothering her," Frank 
said sharply.  "Harm you've got to stop.  You've got
to let it go." 

  "Oh god" Harm whispered. "Why didn't you call and
tell me this sooner?"
  
  "Because she didn't want you to know and frankly I
wasn't sure you cared" 
  Frank snapped. "You've been dumping one thing after
another on her without 
  even thinking about how this is effecting here."
  
  "You weren't sure I cared?" Harm snapped back. "How
dare you even say that? 
  You know damn well I care about her."
  
  "Well you sure as hell have a funny way of showing
it" Frank retorted.
  
  "And what is that supposed to mean?" Harm demanded.
  
  "Think about it Harm" Frank sighed. "You rarely
visit her. And when you do 
  its always something about your father or this
Sergei character. Its bad 
  enough that every time she sees you she's reminded
of him. And now you've 
  gone and tainted all her memories of him with this
ridiculous claim that 
  this kid is your father's son."
  
  "I'm sorry" Harm said with a long sigh. "I'm not
trying to hurt her."
  
  "Well that's what you're doing. Dammit Harm, your
mother has mother has been 
  through enough in this lifetime already. I'm not
going to stand by and watch 
  you or anyone else destroy her like this."
  
  "I'm not trying to destroy her" Harm retorted.
  
  "Well it may not be your intention but that's what
you're doing" Frank 
  countered irritably. "Little by little this is
slowly killing your mother."
  
  "Okay, why don't we try a little break here" Mac
said quietly. "We've said 
  enough for now."
  
  "I don't want to hurt her" Harm whispered. "That's
not what I'm trying to 
  do. I'm just trying to help Sergei."
  
  "At what expense Harm?" Frank demanded. "Why does
this kid mean so much to 
  you? More than your mother it seems."
  
  "That is not true and you know it" Harm snapped. "I
would never put Sergei 
  above Mom."
  
  "Then stop hounding her about this. And tell your
so-called little brother to leave 
  her alone as well. Cause if he calls her again
there's going to be hell to 
  pay."
  
  "What?" Harm demanded. "Sergei's called her? When?"
  
  "Several times that I'm aware of. More I'm sure she
didn't tell me about. 
  Right after she told you she wasn't going to give up
the letters he started 
  calling her. I figured you knew about it."
  
  "Jesus Frank, do you really think I'm that
heartless" Harm snapped. "I had 
  no idea that he'd contracted her. If I'd know about
it, I would have put a 
  stop to it."
  
  "Well you know about it so you better make sure he
doesn't call her again."
  
  "Guys truce here for a minute" Mac tried again.
"Let's just both take a deep 
  breath here and try and calm down. You're both on
the same side here."
  
  Harm sighed and walked around the kitchen as he ran
his hand through his 
  hair. He hadn't known that Sergei was contacting
Trish. And he hadn't known 
  that she wasn't well. If he had known about either,
he would have put a stop 
  to it sooner.
  
  "Look, maybe we should just skip dinner" Frank
sighed. "I'll just go hang 
  out at the airport. I've said what I wanted to say
anyway."
  
  "No, come on both of you sit down" Mac ordered.
"We're going to finish 
  talking about this rationally. Harm come on."
  
  Reluctantly he sat down at the table, Frank doing
the same at Mac's 
  insistence.
  
  "Look, you both want the same thing here. You don't
want Trish hurt any more 
  than she already has been by all this."
  
  "The only way that's going to happen is if this is
all put to rest once and 
  for all" Frank sighed. "I thought when you'd come
back from Russia it was 
  over. For the first time your mother finally had
closure. And now it's all 
  being opened up again."
  
  "I know Frank" Harm said quietly. "I didn't mean to
hurt her. I was just 
  trying to help Sergei. I didn't know this was
bothering her that much. When 
  I first told her about Sergei she seemed okay with
it."
  
  "She was never okay with it Harm. But you wouldn't
know that. She put up a 
  front for you because she didn't want you to know
that what you'd told her 
  had hurt her so much. How what you'd told her had
tarnished every single 
  memory she had of your father."
  
  "I'm sorry" Harm whispered. "I didn't mean to do
that. I was just trying to 
  help Sergei. I'm sorry."
  
  "Please Harm, let this go" Frank begged. "I know you
care about this kid but 
  you have to think about your mother."
  
  "I'll talk to Sergei" Harm said quietly.
  
  "Thank you" Frank sighed. "I love your mother very
much Harm. I won't let 
  anyone hurt her like this."
  
  "I won't either" Harm promised. "Because I love her
just as much as you do."
  
  "Okay, I think we've finally found common ground"
Mac said softly. "Frank 
  why don't you stay and have dinner with us?"
  
  "I need to call Trish first. I told her I'd call
when I got to DC."
  
  "Does she know you were coming here?" Harm asked.
  
  "No. I told her I didn't have time to see you. I
figured we could keep this 
  between ourselves. No sense in upsetting her anymore
than she is."
  
  Harm nodded and Frank walked to the living room to
call Trish on his cell 
  phone.
  
  "You okay?" Mac said softly as her hand reached out
for Harm's.
  
  "I've been better" he sighed. "Thanks for being here
though. You don't know 
  how much I appreciate you. I'll be buying you dinner
for a month to make up 
  for this."
  
  "I'm just glad I could help" she smiled.
  
  "How is she?" Harm asked when Frank returned to the
kitchen.
  
  "She sounded okay. I just hated leaving her alone
this time. But I did ask 
  Melinda my secretary to stop in tomorrow and check
on her."
  
  Harm nodded and was about to reply when the door
opened and Sergei walked 
  into the apartment.
  
  "Sergei this is Frank Burnett, my stepfather," Harm
said at once.
 
 "And this is the Russian bastard that's been hounding
my wife," Frank raged.
 
 "Frank that kind of talk isn't going to get us
anywhere," Harm growled.  "Sergei, 
Frank tells me you've been trying to talk to my
mother."
 
 Sergei looked from one face to another in the room. 
"Yes I have," he mumbled.  "I 
thought perhaps if I was to speak directly to her I
might persuade her.  I might 
convince her of the importance of the letters.  You
know it is not easy to have a 
future resting in the hands of strangers."
 
 "Sergei I'm glad you're here,' Harm interjected. 
"What we're going to do now is all 
sit down and eat and talk like adults about what's now
becoming a serious problem."
 
 "I am not very hungry but I will sit with you," he
conceded.  "Frank I did not tell you 
before but I am pleased to meet you, and I wish very
much to meet my brother's 
mother."
 
 "Over my dead body," Frank muttered, receiving a look
of surprise from the young 
Russian.
 
 "Sergei sit.  There's a lot you don't know,"  Harm
told him.  "A lot I didn't know 
either."
 
 "And how do you know this man is being straight?" he
scowled suspiciously, looking 
to Frank, his attempt at good will toward the man
beginning to evaporate.
 
 "Look I'll be the first to admit that Frank and I
have not had the best relationship," 
Harm said slowly, guiding his brother to the table. 
"But my mother loves him, he 
loves my mother and he's been good to her--and good
for her--all these years.  
That's good enough for me to take his word."
 
 Sergei's scowl deepened but he allowed himself to be
seated.  "Perhaps you will 
hear my story Mr. Burnett?"
 
 "Please spare me the part about growing up a poor kid
without a dad will you," 
Frank groaned.  "Because I did exactly the same thing.
 My dad was a cop and he 
was killed when I was three.  There was my mom and
three sisters and I know all 
about hand outs and hand me downs and no money for
anything."
 
 "But you do not know of the terror of political
unrest," Sergei yelped.  "To be afraid.  
I love my homeland but I cannot go back."
 
 Harm shot Frank a long look as he served up the
chicken.
 
 "OK I'll hear what you have to say.  Never let it be
said that Franklin Burnett is not a 
fair minded man," he said finally.  "But that's not
going to change the fact that my 
wife's health is being threatened by all this and no
way can I let that continue."
 
 "A fair hearing is at least a start," Sergei sighed
and for the next half hour told of his 
life growing up, how he joined the army only to get
involved with the Chechnya 
matter, and finally how he learned of his paternity
and then of his arrest and 
imprisonment.
 
 "Sergei you tell a heart wrenching tale," Frank
finally said as he wiped his mouth, 
having listened impassively.  "But the fact of the
matter is, my first concern and 
responsibility is to my wife.  And Harm, dinner was
great thank you.  But I have a 
flight to catch.  I have a breakfast meeting in Philly
at 7AM and this is the last flight 
out.  If I get going now I'll just about make it."  He
rose from the table and walked to 
the bathroom while Harm shook his head and started to
clear the table.  
 
 Sergei sat for a moment contemplating what was
happening around him, finally 
getting to his feet and followed Frank toward the
bathroom.
 
 "This is bad," Harm sighed to Mac when she brought a
stack of plates to the sink.  
"Nothing good came from tonight."
 
 "You tried Sailor--you tried," she soothed.  "I don't
know what the answer is.  
Sending Sergei back would not be good but if it's
upsetting your mom as badly as 
Frank claims--truly affecting her health--that can't
be allowed either."  She patted his 
arm in sympathy and walked back to the table in time
to hear both Frank and Sergei 
begin to argue, their voices raised in anger.
 
 "Hey OK you two.  Time out," she ordered sharply. 
"That's not going to help."
 
 "I am not going back," Sergei screamed, his rage up
full and he unaccountably 
started toward Frank.  
 
 "Sergei freeze," Mac shouted, throwing herself in
front of the young Russian.  "You 
need to calm down right now."
 
 Harm shut off the water and heard the shouting,
hurrying to the living room in time 
to hear Sergei once more.
 
 "Get out of my way woman," the Russian raged, giving
her a hard shove.
     
  Her attempt to stay upright failed and to Harm's
horror he watched as she 
  awkwardly fell, her head clipping the side of the
desk as she did so.
  
  "Mac" he screamed as he hurried over to her. She lay
dazed on the floor, 
  fighting to stay conscious as the world swam around
her. He quickly reached 
  her, gently lifting her so that he was cradling her
against his chest.
  
  "Mac can you hear me?" he said gently.
  
  "Yeah I'm okay" she managed after a moment. He
gently laid her on the floor 
  before turning his attention back to Sergei.
  
  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he
shouted. "Why did you do 
  that?"
  
  "I will not go back," Sergei shouted back. "I belong
here just as much as 
  you do. If you cannot make Trish understand, I will
talk to her myself."
  
  "You stay away from my mother" Harm yelled. "You
will not talk to her again. 
  Do you hear me? And if you so much as come near Mac
again, I swear you'll 
  regret ever stepping foot in the US."
  
  "You cannot do this. You have to help me."
  
  "No I don't" Harm said coldly as he walked over and
threw open the door. 
  "Not after what you've done. Now get out."

  "If you will not help me, I will go to San Diego
alone" Sergei yelled. "I 
  will get those letters from her."
  
  "Stay away from my mother" Harm repeated. "So help
me God if you go near her 
  there's going to be hell to pay. Now get out."
  
  "You cannot just kick me out of here and make me go
away. I belong here as 
  much as you do."
  
  "No you do not" Harm snapped. "You are not a Rabb.
Now get out before I 
  change my mind about letting you walk out of here."
  
  "Harm" Mac whimpered and he forced his attention
away from Sergei long 
  enough to look down at her. It was just long enough
for Sergei to land a 
  fist to his stomach and moments later the two men
were on the floor 
  exchanging blows.
  
  "Frank do something" Mac wailed as she looked over
at the older man who'd 
  stood quietly throughout the whole exchange.
  
  Before Frank could reply, Harm roughly pulled Sergei
to his feet and gave 
  him a hard shove out the door.
  
  "Stay away from my mother and Mac" Harm shouted. "If
you ever touch either 
  of them, you're a dead man." He slammed the door
shut and quickly hurried 
  over to Mac's side.
  
  "How are you?" he said softly.
  
  "Head hurts a little but I'm okay" she said with a
forced smile. "Are you 
  okay?"
  
  "I'm fine. Just worried about you. I can't believe
he did that."
  
  "And you wanted to help him" Frank spoke up finally.
"And this is how he 
  thanks you. Harassing your mother and trying to hurt
Mac."
  
  "I don't understand" Harm sighed. "But he's worn out
his welcome here."
  
  "I'm sorry all this happened Harm" Frank said
quietly. "But maybe now he'll 
  leave us alone. Especially your mother."
  
  "He'd better. Or else he's going to be sorry."
  
  "Harm I have a flight to catch" Frank sighed. "I'm
sorry to drop all this on 
  you and run."
  
  "No it's okay, I know" Harm nodded. "Go. Just call
me and let me know how 
  Mom is doing would you?"
  
  "Of course. I'll call you when I talk to her. Just
make sure that bastard 
  gets out of here before he causes any more trouble."
  
  Harm nodded and Frank hurried out. With a long sigh
Harm sank to the floor 
  beside Mac, reaching for her and pulling her against
him.
  
  "You sure you're okay?" he said softly.
  
  "I'm okay. I'm a little worried about you. Are you
okay? You've had quite a 
  night tonight. First you and Frank and then you and
Sergei."
  
  "I don't know Mac" Harm sighed. "Right now I don't
even want to think about 
  it. I just want to get you home and make sure you're
okay."
  
  "I'm fine will you stop fretting."
  
  "Let's get you on your feet and then we'll see how
you are" Harm countered.
  
  He gently lifted her to her feet, keep a firm arm
around her as she wavered 
  unsteadily.
  
  "I'm okay, just a little dizzy. It'll pass in a
minute."
  
  "Maybe I should take you to the ER" he fretted.
"Just in case."
  
  "No ER. I just need some aspirin and I'll be fine."
  
  "I'm really sorry about this" he sighed. "I should
never have involved you 
  in this."
 
 "Partners and best friends," she said softly.  "You
would be there for me if I was 
having a crisis."
 
 "Anytime, anywhere," he vowed quietly.  "Now I'm
taking you home."
 
 "Really I'm OK."
 
 "Then you won't mind proving it by allowing me to see
you home," he told her, 
keeping his arm around her as he led her to the door. 
Not until he was helping her 
fasten the seatbelt did he release her.
 
 "Harm I'm so sorry," she whispered before he could
back out of the car, soft fingers 
touching his cheek as he spoke.  "You and Sergei were
trying to. . .well you're 
brothers and you were trying to make something of
that."
 
 He nodded and closed the door, not speaking again
until he had pulled out into 
traffic.  "I blew up at him big time.  But suddenly I
just felt this wall of anger at him, 
for hurting you, for hurting Mom.  I can't let him do
that.  I know he's had it rough 
growing up and I wish to God I could have done
something about that, but it's done 
now.  I know he's afraid to go home and I don't want
to see anything happen to him, 
but I can't allow him to hurt people I love."
 
 If he realized what he had said, he did not
acknowledge it as he stared through the 
windshield, looking out into the soft rain that was
now falling.  Somewhere in the dim 
recesses of a brain dulled by a pounding headache she
heard it though.  'People I 
love'.  His mother and. . .herself.  She dared him a
sidelong glance but he was still 
staring straight ahead, and she read that as wanting
his quiet.
 
 Only when he pulled up in her parking lot did he turn
back to her.  "Sit tight I'm 
coming around."
 
 "Harm I'm fine," she objected, opening her door as he
exited from his.  He rounded 
the back end just in time to see her step down and her
footing fail her.  Only his 
quickness--his pilot's reflexes--got him to her side
in time to catch her.  
 
 "Bad call to come here," he muttered.  "Back in the
car.  ER time."
 
 "No.  No way," she hissed, nevertheless letting him
take her weight which her legs 
at that moment did not seem capable of supporting. 
"You get me upstairs.  Soon as 
I sit down with my feet up, some aspirin and an ice
bag I'll be fine."
 
 "Yeah and I'm Jesus Christ."
 
 "Harm don't be blasphemous," she scolded, dropping
her head to his shoulder.
 
 "Do I need to carry you?"
 
 "Only if you want to end up in worse shape than I'm
in.  Just help me up the back 
steps please."
  
  "I should be taking you to the ER" he muttered the
whole way up.
  
  "Harm I'm fine. Now stop it."
  
  With a long sigh he led her inside, guiding her at
once to the sofa.
  
  "You stay there. I'll get you some aspirin and ice."
  
  "I'm not going anywhere" she sighed. "And I wish
you'd stop fretting."
  
  "I'll stop fretting when I know you're okay" he said
when he returned with 
  the ice and aspirin and water. "Two aspirins and
then lay back and relax."
  
  She did as directed and a few moments later he was
gently stroking her cheek 
  as he held the ice to her head.
  
  "Thanks for taking care of me" she said softly.
  
  "The least I could do after what I've put you
through tonight" he sighed. 
  "I'm really sorry about all this. I can't believe
everything is such a 
  mess."
  
  "I'm sorry you have to go through all this. I'm sure
this isn't easy for you 
  to dredge up all the past like this."
  
  "No but I hate what it's doing to Mom even more. She
doesn't deserve to go 
  through this. Not after everything else she's been
through already. I need 
  to talk to Sergei again and make sure he understands
that he needs to leave 
  her alone."
  
  "Well don't do that until you're both calm" Mac
urged. "Or when I'm there."
  
  "Oh no" Harm said quickly. "You are not getting
involved in this mess 
  anymore. I don't want Sergei anywhere near you."
  
  "Harm he was just upset" Mac started.
  
  "You're defending him? Mac come on. He had no right
to hurt you like that. 
  He's lucky I didn't do worse to him."
  
  "Okay calm down sailor. Getting upset again isn't
going to help. But I want 
  you to promise me you won't get into again with
Sergei."
  
  "With any luck he'll go spend the night with Singer"
Harm sighed. "Otherwise 
  I don't know where he'd go. I hate to think of him
on the street somewhere, 
  especially in my area."
  
  "Go find him" Mac urged. "You're worried and you
won't rest until you do."
  
  "I'm afraid of what I'll do when I find him" Harm
admitted. "I still want to 
  throttle him for what he did tonight. God Mac, I'm
so confused I don't know 
  what's up or down tonight."
  
  "Go home sailor. I'm fine and there's no reason for
you to hang out here 
  with me."
  
  "I happen to like hanging out with you" he said with
a small smile.
  
  "Yeah well you're not so bad to be with either" she
smiled as well. "Go. I'm 
  okay."
  
  "You sure? I don't like leaving you like this."
  
  "I'm sure. Now go. I'll see you in the morning."
  
  "All right" he said finally. "You'll call if you
need anything?"
  
  "Of course.  But I won't need anything. I'm fine."
  
  "Take care Marine" he said softly as he stroked her
cheek again. "I'll see 
  you tomorrow."
  
  "Night Harm" she said softly.
  
  "Night Mac" he whispered before letting himself out.
  
  He was on his way home when the urge to expend some
of the pent of energy 
  hit him. He headed to the park and for the next
half-hour wandered the paths 
  trying to make sense of everything. Frank's words
about Trish being ill rang 
  through his mind and with a sigh he realized he
shouldn't have just dumped 
  this on her. And he should have known this would
upset her.
  
  With a sigh he headed back to his car and a short
time later arrived back at 
  his place. He noticed Sergei's car in the lot and
took a deep breath before 
  heading up.
  
  "Sergei" he called as he walked in. "Sergei."
  
  He got as far as the kitchen before freezing at the
sight on the floor.
  
  "Oh god" he cried as he dropped to the floor.
"Sergei"
  
  The knife was still in his chest and without a
thought Harm reached a 
  trembling hand to try and remove the knife, hoping
there was some way he 
  might still be alive.
  
  "Sergei" Singer called as she walked into Harm's
place. "Oh my god. What did 
  you do to him? You killed him."
  
  "No" Harm said quickly as he stood up. "I did not. I
just got here and found 
  him like this."
  
  "You killed him" Singer screamed. "He told me you
two had gotten into a big 
  fight. But I never thought you would kill him."
   
 "Loren he was my brother.  I would not have killed
him no matter what," Harm 
replied, his tone dulled by the shock as he held the
knife in one hand and checked 
for a pulse with the other, knowing even before his
fingers touched the already 
cooling skin that there would be none.
 
 "He's dead Harm."
 
 "I'm aware," he said quietly.  "Dammit who could have
done this."
 
 "Nice try," she muttered as she pulled out her cell
phone and dialed 911.  "I need to 
report a murder."
 
 She gave the address and hung up, walking carefully
over to where Harm still 
crouched over the body, too shocked to move.  "It's
pretty obvious what happened 
here," she said evenly.   "Sergei called me and told
me everything was in a huge 
mess and could I come over. Obviously that was a total
understatement since he 
was about to be killed.  By his own brother no less."
 
 "You know better than that."
 
 "No I most certainly do not," she shouted.  "It's
obvious there was a major struggle 
here.  Sergei said you had taken the Colonel home and
he was waiting to talk to 
you. OK you came back but you did very little talking.
 Sergei said he had 
accidentally hurt her.  Hurt your precious partner. 
So you got in a little revenge 
didn't you."
 
 "Shut up Loren.  You don't know shit about what
you're talking about," he spat, 
unable to take his eyes from his brother's face.
 
 "I know enough," she spat back.  "You're going to the
Big House Commander.  You 
killed him.  He and I were. . ."  Her initial shock
and anger gave way to emotion and 
she stepped forward, collapsing to her knees next to
Sergei and taking his hand.
 
 "You weren't in love with him," Harm scoffed.  "You
barely knew him.  Never mind 
that he's ten years younger and totally naive."
 
 "You know nothing of what we had," she whispered
tearfully.  "Get away from him.  
Let me at least say goodbye."
 
 Numbly Harm rose, stepping backwards until his knees
hit the sofa and he 
dropped, staring straight ahead in shock.
 
 The police arrived fifteen minutes later in the form
of two uniformed officers, guns 
drawn.  By the time Harm and Singer had established
their identity and the police 
realized they were no threat, homicide detectives had
reported to the scene.
 
 "Commander Rabb, we do meet in the oddest of
circumstance," the detective 
smiled and shook his head.  
 
 "I'm sorry.  Forgive me if I'm a little slow here,"
Harm sighed.  "I mean I'm only 
looking at my brother lying dead in a pool of blood.
You are. . .?"
 
 "Does a stolen Corvette three years ago help?  I was
working GTA back then. Now 
I'm in the big leagues.  Homicide."
 
 "Oh yeah now I know," Harm sighed.  "Mac's friend. 
Detective Mario Bigi."
 
 "How is Sarah?  She's never called me for that dinner
yet," he smiled again.  "Never 
mind.  We can talk social affairs later.  This is my
partner Emily Loring."  He paused 
and continued in that same easy tone.  "You want to
tell me what happened here?"
   
  "He killed him," Loren shouted as she looked up from
her place beside 
  Sergei. "They were fighting and he killed him."
  
  "I did not," Harm shouted back. "He was like this
when I got here."
  
"Emily take. . .I'm sorry what's your name?" Mario
asked.
  
  "Lieutenant Loren Singer" Singer replied.
  
  "Navy too? You don't happen to work at JAG do you?"
Mario asked.
  
  "Yes sir. And I can tell you an earful about what
was going on with 
  Commander Rabb and his brother."
  
  "Emily take Ms. Singer downstairs and get her side
of the story while I talk 
  to Mr. Rabb here" Mario directed.
  
  Emily nodded and reached for Singer.
  
  "No wait" Singer said tearfully and to Harm's
irritation she leaned down and 
  kissed Sergei. "Goodbye Sergei" she whispered before
standing up and 
  following Emily out.
  
  "And the Academy award for best acting goes to. . ."
Harm muttered.
  
  "Have a seat Commander" Mario motioned. "Sounds like
it's going to be a long 
  night."
  
  "I didn't kill him. You can't believe a word that
little witch says. She 
  hates me and she'd do anything to get me out of her
way at JAG."
  
  "Let's stick to the story shall we? Tell me
everything that happened."
  
  For the two hours Harm explained how Sergei had
gotten to America and how 
  they'd been unable to prove his parenthood because
of Trish's unwillingness 
  to turn over the letters from his father. And how
this unwillingness was 
  causing growing dissension between Harm and Sergei,
along with Sergei seeing 
  Singer. And finally how the whole thing had blown up
in the fight earlier, 
  ending with Harm throwing him out. During this time
the coroner's office 
  arrived and Harm watched quietly as Sergei's body
was loaded into the black 
  bag and carried out.
  
  "Where did you go after you threw Sergei out?" Mario
asked.
  
  "I took Mac home. She's was still a little dazed
from hitting her head and I 
  wanted to make sure she was okay."
  
  "So Sergei walked out. Your stepfather Frank left.
And then you and Mac 
  left. How long were you at Mac's?"
  
  "About a half hour. I just made sure she was okay
and then I left."
  
  "Did you come right back here?"
  
  "No. I stopped at the park and took a walk. I wanted
to clear my head in 
  case Sergei came back."
  
  "How long were you at the park?"
  
  "Probably a half hour or so. Why?"
  
  "Did anyone see you there?"
  
  "No. What are you getting at here?" Harm demanded.
  
  "I think you know Commander. You've been an
investigator as long as I have. 
  I'm trying to establish your whereabouts at the time
of Sergei's death."
  
  "I didn't kill him" Harm sighed. "I'm telling you I
didn't kill him."
  
  "Who do you think might have?"
  
  "I don't know. Have you considered it might have
been a burglary gone bad?"
  
  "No sign of forced entry."
  
  "Sergei wouldn't have known not to let strangers in.
He didn't understand 
  that some of the people in this neighborhood were
dangerous. He'd survived a 
  Chechen POW camp so he wasn't scared of anything
here."
  
  "I'll talk to the neighbors and see if anyone heard
or saw anything."
  
  "They'll probably tell you about our fight" Harm
said quietly. "I said some 
  things I didn't mean."
  
  "Such as?"
  
  "I told him if he went anywhere near my mother or
Mac he'd be sorry" Harm 
  sighed.
  
  "So you threatened his life?" Mario asked.
  
  "It was the heat of the moment" Harm countered. "I
said a lot of things in 
  anger. But I did not kill him."
  
  "Mario I'm finished," Emily said as she walked back
into the apartment. 
  "She's going to be down first thing in the morning
to make her official 
  statement. By then you and I will have had a chance
to compare notes."
  
  "I think we're done here too" Mario nodded. "Mr.
Rabb, I'm going to ask that 
  you not leave town for a few days."
  
  "You want to tell my CO that" Harm snapped.
  
  "I can if you want. But until we've had a chance to
sort this all out and 
  get the coroner's report, I'd recommend you stay
available."
  
  "You're going to charge me with his murder aren't
you?" Harm sighed. "You're 
  not listening to a word I said here. I didn't kill
him."
  
  "Harm you know how this works" Mario said quietly.
"And you know if you were 
  investigating this crime you'd be saying the same
thing."
  
  "Yeah whatever. You know where you can find me."
  
  Mario nodded. "Do you have a place you can stay
tonight? Our guys will need 
  some more time to go over this place."
  
  "I'll find a place" Harm sighed. His first thought
was Mac but after the 
  evening she'd had he wasn't going to disturb her at
this late hour. He'd 
  simply spend the night in a hotel.
  
  With Mario and Emily watching him, he threw a few
items in his bag and with 
  a long look at the stained floor in the kitchen he
followed them out.
 =================
 Mac slept fitfully, her mind replaying the scenes
from the night before over and 
over.  She had tried to call Harm several times
getting only his voice mail, 
alternating that with waking and sleeping until
finally at dawn she put her uniform in 
the car and dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, made
the drive across town.  
Hopefully Harm and Sergei had reached some kind of
understanding.
 
 With a prayer to that effect, and decided she would
offer to buy them both 
breakfast, she mounted the stairs to Harm's floor. 
Movement at the end of the hall 
in the area of his apartment caught her eye and she
quickened her pace, gasping in 
horror at the sight once she reached the door, for it
was standing open, with yellow 
crime scene tape stretched across it about two-thirds
the way up.
 
 Crouched on the floor was a man dressed in a jacket
reading Crime Scene 
Investigation on the back, and two more similarly clad
figures were in other parts of 
the room.
 
 "My god what happened here?  Where is Harm. . .Mr..
Rabb, the person who lives 
here," she demanded, her voice rising an octave with
each word as fear took over 
and her eyes fixated on the large blood stain.
 
 "Lady I don't know," the one from the floor groaned. 
"All I know is that I got woke 
up out of a sound sleep and told to report here to get
evidence in a murder.  A pretty 
bloody one judging from the soaking of the carpet."
 
 "Who. . .who was killed?" she gasped, hardly able to
get the words out.
 
 "Some guy.  How the hell do I know.  There were two
other murders over night.  
Going to be a busy day and I don't have time to play
twenty questions.  Run along."
 
 "Hey do not tell me to run along," she screeched.  "I
happen to care a lot about the 
man who lives here.  I want know who died.  Now."  She
felt herself growing more 
frantic by the second as she contemplated that she
might be looking at the murder 
scene of one Harmon Rabb.
 
 "Look, they don't tell us these things," he tried
again, in an exaggeratedly patient 
tone.  "It doesn't matter to us who.  Just how and by
whom."
 
 "It matters a helluva lot to me," she all but yelled,
feeling tears threaten as she tried 
to envision the scene of the crime and if Harm in fact
could be. . 
 
 "Talk to Detective Bigi. . ." he offered but she was
already gone.
 
 She ran as fast as she could from the hallway,
headlong down the steps and did 
not stop until she had reached her car, where she let
herself in and gave way to the 
sob she had been holding back.  
 
 How long she sat she was not sure.  Finally the
ringing of her cell phone brought 
her from her stupor.  "Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie,"
she said automatically but so 
quietly as to be barely audible.
 
 "Mac is that you?  It's Harm.  I can hardly hear
you."
     
  "Harm" she whispered. "You're okay? You're not
dead?"
  
  "No I'm not and why would you even think that?"
  
  "I came to your place to see how you and Sergei were
doing" she sniffled. 
  "And they said there'd been a murder but they
wouldn't tell me anything 
  else." She stopped as she choked back a sob. "I
thought it was you."
  
  "Oh God Mac, I'm so sorry" he whispered. "I didn't
even think about you 
  going over there or I would have called you and told
you. Are you still 
  there?"
  
  "I'm in the parking lot" she managed.
  
  "I'm on my way. Don't move. And for godsake, keep
your door locked in that 
  neighborhood."
  
  "You're really okay?" she whispered again.
  
  "I'm fine" he assured her softly. "I'm sorry if you
were worried. I just 
  didn't want to call you last night and wake you up
again. But I'll explain 
  everything when I get there."
  
  "Harm who was murdered?" Mac whispered.
  
  "Sergei" he said quietly. "I found his body when I
got home last night."
  
  "Oh god" Mac gasped. "Harm I'm so sorry."
  
  "It's gets even better from there but I'll explain
that when I get there. 
  I'll be there in a few minutes."
  
  True to his word his SUV pulled up next to her vette
a short time later and 
  at once she leapt from the car.
  
  "Permission to hug the Commander" she whispered when
she reached him.
  
  "Permission granted," he said softly and at once she
threw her arms around 
  him, holding him tightly. For a brief time she'd
thought she'd lost him and 
  right now she just needed to hold him.
  
  "Please don't ever scare me like that" she whispered
when she finally let 
  go.
  
  "I'm sorry" he sighed. "I can't imagine what I'd do
if I went to your place 
  and saw what you did up there. I'd probably go
crazy."
  
  "That was my next step," she said with a small smile
before it quickly faded 
  again. "Harm what happened last night?"
  
  "I don't know. I came home and I found Sergei dead.
He'd been stabbed with 
  one of the kitchen knives."
  
  "What do the police think happened?"
  
  "Well your friend Mario doesn't think it was a
random murder or burglary. 
  There was no sign of forced entry."
  
  "Mario" Mac smiled. "He's working the case."
  
  "Yeah he's moved up to Homicide. And I'm not sure
what he thinks but I won't 
  be surprised if they charge me with Sergei's
murder."
  
  "Harm" Mac gasped. "Oh my god. Why would they do
that?"
  
  "Because if I were investigating I would probably do
the same thing" he 
  sighed. "Look why don't we go somewhere we can talk
and I'll tell you what 
  happened. You probably haven't eaten have you?"
  
  "No and I'm not sure I'll be able to after what you
just said. But I'm sure 
  we could both use a nice strong cup of coffee."
  
  "I know I could" Harm said with a weak smile. "It
was a helluva night."
  
  "You should have called me" she chided him. "You
could have stayed with me 
  last night."
  
  "I didn't want you mixed up in this mess."
  
  "Harm we're partners and friends remember," she said
softly. "Come on. Let's 
  get that coffee and then you can tell your lawyer
what happened last night."
  
  A short time later they were settled in a booth at a
local diner, both 
  passing on food and sticking with just coffee.
  
  "So tell me what happened," Mac said quietly. "After
you left my place. You 
  went home?"
  
  "I went to the park first. I was still upset with
Sergei for hurting you and 
  I wanted to cool off before I talked to him again.
So I walked for about a 
  half hour and then I went home."
  
  "Was the door open?"
  
  "If you mean unlocked yes. But that was normal.
Sergei had no concept of 
  what the neighborhood was like. He always left it
unlocked."
  
  "So you walked in and found him."
  
  "He was in the kitchen," Harm said quietly. "The
knife in his chest. I 
  wasn't thinking and I tried to pull the knife out."
  
  "So your finger prints will be on it."
  
  "My finger prints would be on it anyway. It was the
knife I used to make 
  dinner. Remember we never cleaned up?"
  
  She nodded. "Go on. Then you called police."
  
  "No, then Singer walked in" Harm sighed. "And she
called the police. And 
  told them I killed Sergei."
  
  "What?" Mac gasped. "What was she doing there?"
  
  "Sergei called her after we left and told her what
happened. And when she 
  got there I was leaning over Sergei."
  
  "She doesn't actually believe you killed him does
she?"
  
  "Yes she does" Harm sighed. "And I think she
convinced Mario's partner that 
  I'm the guilty one."
 
 "Maybe a bust in her chops would help."
 
 "My case?"
 
 "No my mood.  Harm you're amazingly calm here.  This
is awful.  My god Harm you 
could end up in Leavenworth or oh god this could be a
capital murder case."  She 
looked like she was about to burst into tears and he
quickly took her hands.
 
 "Hey calm please.  In the first place I've got the
best lawyer in the business who 
also happens to be my partner and my best friend and
someone I care a whole 
helluva lot about."
 
 "Harm we're going to need to establish. . .," she
began, and his last few words hit 
her.  "Careful partner you're pretty close to a
Hallmark moment there."
 
 "I know.  I scared myself," he teased, rubbing his
thumbs over the backs of her 
hands, his eyes holding hers.
 
 "Said partner cares a whole helluva lot you," she
replied.  "And I would be honored 
to be your attorney, but it's not going to come to
that."
 ===============
 JAG HQ
 
 It was almost three hours later that she would be
proved wrong.  She had just 
finished court and saw Harm standing in the bullpen,
talking to Harriet and Bud.  
She caught his eye and he motioned for them to wait,
walking toward her.
 
 "How did it go?"  
 
 "Not good but right now I want to know that you're
OK.  Everyone is surprised that 
you came in."
 
 He shrugged and sighed at the same time.  "I couldn't
stay home.  You know why.  
And even if they were done I couldn't be in there.
It's going to reek of blood. . .and 
death.  I won't be going back."
 
 "Except to get your things so that you can move in
with me while you're deciding 
what to do next."
 
 "Oh no. No way, but thanks.  I'll be fine in a
hotel."
 
 "Not going to happen," Mac told him firmly.  "Just
for a few days if that's all you can 
see your way clear to agree to, but you're going to
stay with me.  You're not going to 
be in a hotel alone.  Do not argue.  I spent the
morning arguing fine points of search 
and seizure with Sturgis.  I have one nerve left and
he's already on it.  Don't push 
me."
 
 "Just for a few days until this all gets straightened
out," he conceded.  "Thank you.  
I will owe you.  Again."
 
 "It's all on your tab Sailor and that payback is
going to be one SOB."  She rested 
her hand on his arm, squeezing tightly.  "You're not
alone in this."
 
 "I'm glad to hear that Colonel.  I just heard what
happened.  Not from you 
Commander.  Now may I know why?"  AJ strode to them,
reading from a note pad, 
"starting with why you're here."
 
 "Sir I didn't want to be by myself and I don't have
use of my place right now 
anyway.  As for not telling you I do apologize, but
it's just not something I can talk 
about.  Here I can be in denial."
 
 "Still I'm sorry for your loss son.  Is there
anything I can do?"
 
 "Actually sir I don't think it's hit me yet.  But
thank you."
 
 "So do the police have any ideas to suspect or
motive?"
 
 Harm looked at Mac in surprise and she shrugged and
shook her head.
 
 "OK what am I missing?" AJ demanded.
 
 "You don't know the whole story do you sir?"
 
 "Obviously not, but I'd like to.  Now."
 
 "Well last time I checked, they had a suspect sir. 
Me."
 
  "What?" AJ gasped. "My office now. Both of you. I
want to know what the hell 
  is going on."
  
  "What are you doing here?" Singer demanded as she
caught sight of Harm. "Why 
  aren't you behind bars where you belong?"
  
  "Lieutenant," AJ thundered. "What the hell is the
meaning of this?"
  
  "He killed him sir. He had the knife in his hand
when I got there" Singer 
  wailed. "He killed his own brother."
  
  "Sir, do not listen to her" Harm sighed. "I did not
kill Sergei."
  
  Before AJ could reply, the elevator doors opened and
Mario and Emily stepped 
  off, accompanied by a uniformed policeman.
  
  "Can I help you?" AJ asked as the trio walked over
to them.
  
  "Admiral Chegwidden, I'm Detective Mario Bigi and
this is my partner 
  Detective Emily Loring. We're investigating the
murder of Sergei Zhukov."
  
  "What have you come up with so far?" AJ demanded.
  
  "That Harmon Rabb killed the deceased in a fit of
rage last night" Emily 
  spoke up. "Mr. Rabb, you are under arrest for the
murder of Sergei Zhukov."
  
  "Mario" Mac gasped. "You know he's not guilty. You
can't do this."
  
  "Sarah I'm sorry. But based on the evidence we have
so far, we have no 
  choice but to arrest him. Carl read him his rights."
  
  The police officer moved forward with his handcuffs
and Mac cringed as the 
  handcuffs were placed around Harm's hands.
  
  "You have the right to remain silent "Carl started.
  
  "Yeah I know" Harm sighed as he looked over at Mac.
"You were saying."
  
  "Harm I'm sorry" she whispered. "It's going to be
okay. We're get you 
  released on bail and then we'll find out who really
killed Sergei."
  
  "You're looking at the killer" Singer gloated. "He
had the motive and the 
  opportunity."
  
  "Lieutenant," AJ said sharply. "Don't you have work
to do? Before I decide I'm over 
  staffed here and start the paperwork for you
transfer to Iceland."
  
  "Yes sir" Singer snapped before walking away. 
 
  "I'm going with him sir" Mac said as Carl started to
lead Harm to the 
  elevator.
  
  "I know" AJ sighed. "Go on. And keep me posted as to
what's going on. In the 
  meantime, I'll see what I can do to get the case
moved to our office."
  
  ************
  "Harm I'm so sorry" Mac sighed once he'd been
processed at the police 
  station. They were now alone in the small interview
room and Mac gently 
  rubbed Harm's shoulders as she stood behind him. "I
wish I could have done 
  more."
  
  "You did your best. I guess I can handle a night
here."
  
  "You shouldn't have to. I still can't believe they
think you did this."
  
  "They must have been listening to Singer" Harm
sighed. "Course you know all 
  the evidence is against me."
  
  "Which is why I need to find out who the real killer
is."
  
  "Easier said than done. If it was a random killing,
it's not going to be 
  easy to track down the killer."
  
  "Harm is there anyone else who would have wanted to
kill Sergei?" Mac asked. 
  "Someone he was hanging out with here maybe?"
  
  "I don't know Mac. We didn't talk about who he spent
time with. I know he 
  was afraid of going back to Russia. Maybe it's
possible someone from over 
  there came and tracked him down."
  
  "I can talk to Webb. He might know who Sergei was so
afraid of."
  
  "Thank you for being here" he sighed as he reached
for her hand, gently 
  pulling her around to face him.
  
  "Hey where else would I be" she said softly. "We'll
get through this. We'll 
  find the real killer Harm."
  
  "That's what I'm afraid of" Harm sighed. "Mac
someone killed Sergei. If you 
  go poking around, they might come after you. And if
I'm in here, I can't 
  protect you."
  
  "Harm I'm a Marine remember. I can handle myself."
  
  "I know you can handle yourself. But you didn't see
Sergei lying in the 
  middle of my floor with a knife in his chest. I
couldn't stand if anything 
  happened to you Mac. I don't want you involved in
this."
 
 "I am involved.  I plan to stay involved.  End of
that.  Now what we have to figure is 
how we're going to defend you."
 
 "Mac you're not listening to me.  I don't want you
investigating this.  Do you realize 
what it would do to me if you were hurt in my behalf. 
No."
 
 "For someone behind bars you're tending to give
orders pretty good here mister," 
she teased.  "Stop worrying about me.  I'm very
capable.  Why don't we talk defense 
instead.  The prosecution has got your prints on the
knife, but I'll testify myself that 
the knife was used to prepare dinner.  And basically
that's all they have."
 
 "Motive.  And their star witness, Lieutenant Mouth."
 
 "She can only pray I don't get her up there on
cross," Mac grinned, and then 
sobered at once.  "I'm scared Harm.  You and I have
both seen, and prosecuted, 
cases with a lot less where the guy was found guilty. 
I'm scared."
 
 "Me too honey," he whispered, using the term of
endearment as naturally as if he 
had always said it.
 
 "Harm," she gulped and a second later found herself
being folded into his embrace, 
crying softly unwanted tears.  Unwanted because she
knew from experience--long 
nights of crying into the pillow beside her--that
tears, despite their reputation, do not 
help.
 
 For how long he held her, rocking and rubbing her
back, he was not sure.  Finally 
she pushed herself back from him and he cupped her
face, thumbing away the last 
remnants of her tears.  
 
 "Thank you.  Enough of that," she murmured.  "What
kind of attorney am I that cries 
in her client's arms?"
 
 "There was another time when you did that," he
grinned slightly.  "You were trying 
to tell me something then.  Something I was too caught
up in recapturing a lost life 
to want to acknowledge."
 
 "I remember all too well," she sighed.  "And I
remember what came after that.  You 
came back and there was months of distance between us.
 And a ring, and a man 
named Brumby and a woman named Renee, and then so much
since then.  Now 
this. We've just gotten lost in the maelstrom."
 
 He took a long breath and held her face gently in his
hands.  "What last May started 
to teach me, this is driving home," he whispered. 
"None of us our guaranteed 
tomorrow."
 
 "No we're not, so we try to make the most of today,"
she sighed, catching his hands 
with hers.  "But I'm not sure I know how to do that
very well."
 
 "When this is over.  When we know who murdered Sergei
and he's safely in 
custody. . ." His words failed him and he tried to
make the connection with his eyes, 
tried to convey to her by that means what he was
thinking and feeling.
 
 "When this is over," she said slowly, choosing her
words carefully so as not to place 
too much pressure on him.  "Maybe you and I can take a
few days. . ."
 
 He let out a long sigh of relief at those words. 
"Yes.  Please.  I'd love to show you 
my Grams farm and then maybe a cabin in the Poconos or
a cottage along the 
Outer Banks."
 
 "Harmon Rabb you'd better stop and listen to
yourself.  You're awfully close to 
agreeing that you and I should try to get away and see
if. . ."
 
 "You better believe that's what I'm doing," he
replied, gathering her into his arms 
once more.  "So we're going to need to find a way out
of this because it's going to 
be damn hard to have a relationship if one of us is a
convicted felon."
 
 In the safety of his arms she began to giggle, and as
hard as she had cried earlier 
she now laughed.  "Why don't we get to work on your
case Flyboy," she finally 
gasped out and added teasingly, "Because I secretly
taped that conversation and 
I'm holding you to every word."
 
 Finally three hours later she closed up her laptop
and folded her tablet closed.  
"Harm that's all we can do for now.  I'm going to
drive back out to JAG and hope the 
Admiral has some inkling to getting the case moved. 
If he's denied we're going to 
have to petition for bail.  Harm that could involve
calling Frank for the up front cash."
 
 "That's the last thing I want--for my mom to know
about any of this," he sighed 
miserably.  "Thanks.  Thanks for everything,
everything especially. . .well what we 
talked about.  It gives me hope you know?"
 
 "Of course I do," she smiled.  "You hang loose and
stay out of trouble.  I'll see you 
later OK."
 
 "Yeah.  Please drive safe out there."  
 
 She nodded and stepped away from him only to have him
catch her hand.  "Mac, 
you do believe me don't you?"
 
 "Hey I'm insulted that you asked me that," she
exploded, the tension getting to her.
 
 "I need to hear it," he persisted and breathed a sigh
of relief when her face 
softened.
 
 "You're a lot of things Harmon Rabb but you're not a
murderer."  Impulsively she 
leaned down and kissed his cheek.  "And that's not
something I do for the majority of 
my clients."
  
  
  "I hope not," he said with a small smile. "Go on and
get out of here. I'll 
  see you tomorrow."
  
  "Take care of yourself" she said softly. "I'll see
you tomorrow."
  
  *******************
  JAG HQ's
  Next Morning
  
  "Mac I just heard" Sturgis said as he found her in
the break room. "Is there 
  anything I can do?"
  
  "Thanks but for the moment we're still waiting for
word that the 
  prosecutor's office is going to hand the case over
to JAG. When they do, I'd 
  be happy to have all the help I can get."
  
  "Count on it. You got some time to tell me what
happened?"
  
  "Sure. But I think we should talk in my office.
There's someone around here 
  who thinks Harm is guilty."
  
  "I understand" Sturgis nodded. "Let's go."
  
  For the next hour Mac explained the situation to
Sturgis, the frown on his 
  face growing as she continued.
  
  "So you can see this isn't going to be an easy case"
Mac sighed when she 
  finished.
  
  "You've got your back to the wall that's for sure.
Who do you think did in Sergei?"
  
  "Either it was a random murder or someone from
Russia found out where he 
  was. I know he was scared to death of going back
there."
  
  "And if either is the case, you're going to have a
hard time finding the 
  responsible party" Sturgis sighed. "Harm really has
himself in trouble this 
  time doesn't he."
  
  "Well I defended him once before and got him off"
Mac said with a small 
  smile. "And that time he was holding the murder
weapon as well. So I'm not 
  giving up hope."
  
  "I know. We'll get this figured out."
  
  "Thanks Sturgis. I needed to hear that. And I want
to go check with the 
  Admiral and see if they've gotten the case moved
here yet."
  
  "I'll go with you" Sturgis smiled. "Might as well
let the Admiral know that 
  I'll be sitting second chair to you on the defense
side."
  
  She nodded and together they walked over to the
Admiral's office.
  
  "I was wondering how long you'd give me," AJ said
with a sigh as Mac and 
  Sturgis walked in.
  
  "Sir is there any word yet?" Mac asked.
  
  "Waiting for the call back but I suspect there won't
be any problem having 
  Harm's case moved here. You know he's still going to
be held at the Brig 
  until his Article 32."
  
  "I know. But I can live with that."
  
  "I'm going to need someone to prosecute" AJ said as
he looked at Sturgis. 
  "Someone I can trust to be unbiased."
  
  "Sir, if you ask me to do it I will" Sturgis said
quietly. "But I was going 
  to ask if I could sit second chair to Mac."
  
  "All right. It'll look better if we bring someone
from the outside in 
  anyway" AJ sighed. "Commander Lindsay is always
jumping at the chance to be 
  here I'm sure he won't mind."
  
  "I'm sure he won't" Mac sighed.
  
  "I'll let you know everything is set and then I'll
see what I can do to get 
  Harm's Article 32 expedited."
  
  "Thank you sir" Mac nodded.
  
  Mac spent the rest of the morning trying to
concentrate on her other work 
  but her mind kept drifting to Harm. Just before
lunch she received word that 
  Harm was going to be transferred to the Brig at the
Navy Yard and she 
  secured approval from AJ for her and Sturgis to go
see him.
  
  "You ready?" Mac asked as she stuck her head in
Sturgis's office.
  
  "One second and I'll meet you at the elevator."
  
  Mac nodded and headed to the elevator, reaching it
just as the doors opened, 
  an older woman stepping off.
  
  "Mac?" the woman questioned as she looked closely at
Mac.
  
  "Yes. I'm Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. Can I help you?"
  
  "I'm Trish Burnett. Harm's mother."
  
  "Mrs. Burnett" Mac gasped. "Uh, Harm didn't mention
you were coming in 
  town."
  
  "He didn't know. It's sort of a surprise. We've been
having a few 
  differences and I didn't like the way we'd left
things.  I guess I should 
  have called and made sure he was going to be in
town."
  
  "Well he is in town," Mac said cautiously. She knew
Harm hadn't wanted Trish 
  to find out about his arrest and she tried to think
of a reasonable excuse. 
  "He's just not here right now."
  
  "Is he expected back some time soon?" Trish asked.
  
  "Mac I'm ready" Sturgis called as he walked out of
his office. "Oh I'm 
  sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
  
  "Sturgis, this is Mrs. Burnett, Harm's mom" Mac said
slowly.
  
  "Harm's mom?"
  
  Mac whirled around at the sound of Singer's voice.
"Lieutenant, this is none of 
  your concern" Mac said calmly.
  
  "So you're the one who wouldn't give up the letters"
Singer said as she 
  glared at Trish. "It's because of you that Sergei is
dead."
  
  "Dead?" Trish gasped. "I don't understand. Did
something happen."
  
  "Lieutenant, come with me" Sturgis said as he
grabbed Singer's arm.
  
  "Yes something happened" Singer said coldly. "Your
son murdered Sergei."
 
 Trish fell back against the wall at Singer's words,
holding her arm over her face as if 
to protect herself.  Mac quickly caught her other arm.
 "Ma'am it's OK.  Please come 
into the lounge and we'll talk."
 
 "Your son is a murderer," Singer shrieked after them,
trying to pull away from 
Sturgis.  Her cries brought AJ from his office almost
at once.  
 
 "What the hell is going on out here," he bellowed. 
"Commander Turner, Lieutenant 
Singer--my office.  Now."
 
 "Keep your hands off me," she snapped at Sturgis who
let her go, but kept within 
reach in the event she might approach Trish and Mac. 
She did in fact take two 
steps in that direction before turning on her heel and
marching toward AJ's office.
 
 The Admiral was waiting beside the door and closed it
behind them.  "Sit both of 
you," he ordered, "and let's start with you Mr.
Turner.  You and the Colonel were 
supposed to be on your way to see Mr. Rabb."
 
 "Yes sir, but we were waylaid by the arrival of his
mother, who had not been 
informed of his arrest."
 
 "I informed her pretty good," Singer gloated.
 
 "You certainly did," Sturgis said mildly.  "In a
reprehensible unprofessional display."
 
 "Don't you dare. . ." she began, only to be stopped
by AJ's hand.  

"Lieutenant Singer you are relieved of duty for the
remainder of the day.  Please 
remove yourself from JAG property."
 
 "Sir I did nothing. . ."  Her words trailed off as
she saw AJ's stern visage.  "Yes sir.  
Perhaps a day away to deal with my grief would be
wise.  Thank you."
 
 Sturgis had to clamp his jaws together when he heard
that.
 ==================
 "You're the Sarah that Harm talks about all the
time," Trish smiled and allowed Mac 
to guide her to the visitor lounge despite her
confusion.
 
 "Yes ma'am that would be me," Mac nodded.  "Why don't
we have some coffee and 
I'll explain the best I can where Harm is."
 
 "That woman that was screaming about Harm being a
murderer.  Is she deranged 
or just what?  And why would he kill his own brother
even if what she said was true?  
I'm really not understanding any of this," Trish
moaned softly.  "The last time I talked 
to Harm. . .well we didn't talk--we screamed--about
these letters.  And I really didn't 
like how we ended our conversation.  I was hoping I
could make him understand 
how I feel."
 
 "He does ma'am, he does," Mac sighed.  "And there is
no way he killed Sergei. 
They were having problems.  I mean OK they were half
brothers, but that doesn't 
mean they were automatically close.  They were
strangers until almost two years 
ago after all."
 
 "So what did happen please," she begged, "and first,
where is he?  He is OK isn't 
he?"
 
 "Oh yes ma'am he's fine.  They're holding him now
pending the Admiral securing 
jurisdiction for JAG over the case.  But he's fine,
and I'm sure it won't be much 
longer."
 
 "Are you his attorney?"
 
 "You better believe it," she said firmly.  
 
 "OK that does make me feel better.  Someone who both
cares about him and 
believes in him."  Trish paused and smiled softly. 
"And I know you care about him.  
It's on your face when you talk about him."
 
 "Guilty ma'am," she smiled and blushed at the same
time.  "If you're feeling up to it, 
why don't I take you to him, and on the way I'll tell
you what happened."
 
 "Just tell me it's going to be OK," she murmured. 
"That he's not going to prison."
 
 "That would destroy me too," Mac confided, "so you
can be sure I'm going to do my 
damnedest that it doesn't happen that way."
 
 "My son is lucky to have you, and I don't mean just
as his attorney."
 
 Mac blushed again and was about to speak when AJ
poked his head inside the 
door.
 
 "Colonel Mr. Turner tells me we have a visitor.  Keep
your seat and introduce me to 
this lovely woman."
 
 "Yes sir.  Trish Burnett this would be. . ."
 
 "Admiral Chegwidden of course.  My pleasure.  Now
tell me what we're doing to get 
my son out of this mess he's gotten into."
 
 "First of all we're going to get him out of a cell."
 
 Mac's mouth dropped open.  "Sir you're. . ."
 
 "JAG is now prosecuting the case," he nodded.  "But
there's a lot of people 
watching, so it's not something we're going to be able
to sweep aside.  But for now 
first thing's first.  Mr. Rabb has been released to my
personal custody as the JAG.  
And in turn Colonel as his lawyer, I'm making you
personally responsible for his 
conduct. In other words, if he skips out you'd better
be with him."
 
 "No sir.  We're going to see this through.  Harm is
not guilty.  Can we take Mrs. 
Burnett and pick him up?"
  
  "Of course" AJ nodded. "Just make sure you stay with
him at all times once 
  he's in your custody."
  
  "I can handle that sir" Mac said with a small smile.
"Mrs. Burnett if you're 
  ready we'll go get Harm."
  
  "Please" Trish said as she stood up, AJ and Mac both
offering her a hand of 
  support when she wavered slightly.
  
  "Are you okay?" Mac asked, remembering at once
Frank's words about her being 
  ill.
  
  "Yeah just been having a few dizzy spells," Trish
said with a weak smile. 
  "I'm okay though. Just anxious to see Harm."
  
  "Of course" Mac nodded.
  
  ***************
  "You have no idea how glad I am to see you" Harm
sighed when the guard led 
  her to his cell.
  
  "Well it's your lucky day sailor. Your case has been
transferred to JAG and 
  the Admiral arranged for you to be released into my
custody."
  
  "So I'm out of here" he smiled as the guard opened
the cell.
  
  "Yes sir. But don't you even think of doing any of
that running bit you did 
  last time. Otherwise my career goes down with
yours."
  
  "Won't happen" he promised. "We'll see this through
together."
  
  "Good. And there's something else I need to warn you
about" Mac said slowly.
  
  "This doesn't sound good Marine" Harm sighed. "Now
what?"
  
  "Your Mom is here and she knows all about the murder
and your arrest."
  
  "What?" Harm screeched. "You told her. Mac how could
you? You know what 
  Frank said about her not feeling well."
  
  If he'd slapped her she wouldn't have been more
surprised. "I didn't tell 
  her Harm" Mac said quietly. "She came to JAG to see
you and Singer told her. 
  I tried to get her away from Singer before she could
say anything but it was 
  already too late."
  
  "I'm sorry" he sighed. "I didn't mean to explode
like that on you. Of course 
  you wouldn't have told her. So where is she and how
is she?"
  
  "She says she's okay but she doesn't look it. And
she's out front waiting 
  for us. I wanted to warn you so you didn't flip when
you saw her. Like you 
  just did."
  
  "I'm sorry. I didn't want her to know about all
this. Did she say why she's 
  here?"
  
  "To talk to you. I think the fight you two had the
other day wasn't setting 
  well with her so she decided to come out in person
to try and smooth things 
  over."
  
  "Of course" Harm sighed. "I was such a jerk to talk
to her like that. And 
  you just now. "
  
  "I'll forgive you" Mac said softly. "I know you've
got a lot on your mind. 
  Just try and remember I'm on your side here."
  
  "I know. Let's go find Mom and get out here," he
said quietly.
  
  Trish was waiting anxiously and as soon as Mac and
Harm walked out she 
  hurried to meet them.
  
  "Harm are you okay?" she demanded.
  
  "Mom I'm fine" he sighed as he reached out to give
her a hug. "I'm sorry 
  about all this."
  
  "I was so shocked when that woman called you a
murderer" Trish whispered as 
  she held her son tightly. "Thank goodness Mac was
there to explain 
  everything."
  
  "Why don't we go to my place" Mac said quietly. "You
two can talk more 
  there. I think we can find a way to all squeeze in
there."
  
  "Can't we go back to Harm's?" Trish asked.
  
  "That's where the murder took place" Harm sighed.
"And it's going to be a 
  long time before I go back there."
  
  "Oh dear God I didn't realize it had happened at
your place" Trish gasped.
  
  "It's a very long story Mom. I'll explain it all to
you when we get to 
  Mac's."
  
  "I can get a hotel room if it's too much to have
both of us" Trish started.
  
  "Absolutely not" Mac said quickly. "You can have my
bedroom and Harm can 
  have the sofa and I'll be more than happy on the
floor on an air mattress."
  
  "I can't ask you to do that" Trish sighed.
  
  "I'm a Marine ma'am" Mac smiled. "I can sleep just
about anywhere. It will 
  be fine. Harm has to stay with me and I'd like very
much for you to stay as 
  well."
  
  "Thank you dear. I do appreciate that. This way Harm
and I can talk."
  
 "I'm glad you're here Mom.  At least I think I am.  I
just don't want you stressing over 
this."
 
 "Why would she stress?  Her son is accused of murder
but he's got the best 
attorney in the game representing him," Mac spoke up,
slipping her hand into his 
and taking Trish's arm at the same time.  "Ma'am he's
innocent and we're going to 
prove that."
 
 "Well it makes me feel better when you say it
though," Trish smiled.
 
 They were about to pull out into traffic when Harm
spoke up.  "Mac I should go by 
my place and get some of my things," he sighed.  "I
don't have anything but what I'm 
wearing.  Not even shaving stuff."
 
 "Harm you said you couldn't go back there," Trish
reminded him.  
 
 "Well I can't walk around naked either."
 
 "I'm not touching that," Mac smiled.  "But I think
it's better if we stay away from 
there.  Harm there's stuff at the place.  In a box in
the back of my closet."
 
 "Oh goodie," he groaned.  "I can do a review of the
men in your life by the items 
they've left behind."
 
 "It's all clean and pressed and the name tags are
removed," she teased.  "And 
when the police say you can get back in, I'll go with
you."
 
 "I don't think so."
 
 "Harm you're lucky the Admiral didn't order me to
handcuff myself to you.  So if we 
need to stop over there we will.  I can handle it. 
I'm more concerned about you."
 
 "And I'm concerned about you.  You've already been
there once."  Harm turned to 
his mother as if hoping she would support his point of
view.  "Mom it was awful for 
her.  She saw the crime scene tape and couldn't be
sure it wasn't me.  My god if I 
had walked to her door and saw the tape and the blood
and thought she had been 
murdered. . .well I would have put my weapon in my
mouth."
 
 "Harm," both women shrieked at once.
 
 "Sorry OK bad mental image," he sighed.  "But I made
my point."
 
 "And don't do it again," Mac ordered, shaking her
head and trying to not show him 
how that affected her.
 =======
 "Oh Mac this is cute," Trish smiled when they stepped
inside her apartment.
 
 "It's a rent controlled building and I happened to be
here when they removed the 
body of the old lady who had it before me," she
laughed.  "What's sad is I'm not 
kidding.  Please sit down.  What can I get you?"
 
 "Anything cold and wet thank you," she smiled. 
"Fruit juice, ice tea--anything.  Let 
me help you."
 
 "Ma'am sit please," Mac told her.  "Harm make your
mother sit down.  If I need any 
help, I'll get it from you."
 
 "Mom sit.  When she uses that tone you can't argue
with her.  Mac do you need any 
help?"
 
 "Thanks no, I'll manage," she laughed, letting her
hand trail along his arm as she 
passed him, non-verbal communication.  Soft music
drifted through the apartment 
as she went into the kitchen and Harm guided his
mother to the easy chair by the 
window, taking the one facing it.
 
 "Mom I want to apologize first and foremost for my
shouting at you on the phone," 
he said slowly.  "That was unconscionable and
inexcusable.  And I'm sorry.  Those 
letters are your property and your decision to do with
or not do with, and I had no 
right."
 
 "Well I could have been more understanding," she
sighed.  "And I feel like I 
contributed to the boy's death by not helping him."
 
 "Oh bullshit. . .whoa excuse me.  I mean no way," he
gasped, his ears turning pink 
from embarrassment.
 
 "Harm I married a sailor remember," she smiled.  "Now
why don't you tell me what 
happened."
  
  "Well you know Sergei was pressuring me to get you
to turn over the 
  letters," Harm said slowly. "And I told him that it
wasn't going to happen. 
  He got real upset and said he was going to go to San
Diego to talk to you 
  himself. And that's when things went crazy."
  
  "Harm I'm sorry. I didn't know he was that
desperate."
  
  "Mom it's not your fault. He had enemies in Russia
and he was afraid of 
  going back. But at the same time I wasn't going to
let him bully you into 
  turning over the last pieces of Dad that you have."
  
  "So what happened?"
  
  "He got rough and pushed Mac" Harm said quietly.
"She hit her head and I 
  freaked. I told him to get out and that if he came
anywhere near you or Mac 
  he would be sorry. I took Mac home and when I got
back I found him dead at 
  my place."
  
  "Okay so why do the police think you did it" Trish
sighed.
  
  "Because the knife that killed him was from my
kitchen and only had my 
  prints on it. And all the neighbors heard me
threaten him."
  
  "Okay I'm not a lawyer but most of this sounds
circumstantial" Trish said 
  quietly.
  
  "Well I also have no alibi for the time he was
murdered" Harm admitted. 
  "After I left Mac's I stopped at the park to cool
off before I went home."
  
  "So they do have enough to convict you" Trish
gasped.
  
  "That's not going to happen" Mac said as she walked
into the living room 
  carrying a tray of glasses. "It's all
circumstantial. And if I can find the 
  real killer then there won't be any doubt."
  
  "Mac you know I don't want you doing that" Harm
sighed. "This could be 
dangerous."
  
  "And I can't handle that?"
  
  "I can't handle anything happening to you" he
whispered. "Someone murdered 
  Sergei in cold blood. I don't want them coming after
you."
  
  The emotion in his voice did not go unnoticed by
Trish who smiled softly as 
  she watched the two.
  
  "Harm I can handle it. I'm not going to let you sit
in prison for something 
  you didn't do."
  
  "Okay enough about this" Harm sighed. "Before we all
get stressed."
  
  "Good idea" Trish said softly. "Though I just have
one question. When did 
  you plan on telling me what had happened?"
  
  "When it was over," Harm said with a small smile. "I
didn't want you 
  worrying. I know you haven't been feeling well"
  
  "Woah wait. Who told you that?"
  
  "Frank" Harm admitted, mentally kicking himself for
mentioning it. He 
  purposely hadn't mentioned Frank being at his place
so Trish wouldn't worry 
  anymore than she already was.
  
  "When did you talk to Frank?" she asked.
  
  "He called a few days ago" Harm said vaguely. "To
tell me how much this 
  thing with Sergei was upsetting you. Which I should
have known and I should 
  have put a stop to it a long time ago. And he
mentioned you hadn't been 
  feeling well."
  
  "I wish he hadn't done that. I didn't want you
worrying about me. You've had 
  plenty on your mind with Sergei as it is."
  
  "Mom I always worry about you" Harm said softly.
"And if I had taken a 
  moment to think I would have realized how hard this
whole thing must be for 
  you."
  
  "Do you know what bothered me the most?"
  
  He shook his head and she reached for his hand.
"Fighting with you. In all 
  our years we've never been like that to each other."
  
  "I know" Harm said quietly. "And I hated myself for
acting like that. You 
  don't deserve that from me."
  
  "I just want us to be okay" Trish smiled. "You're my
son and I love you very 
  much. And I didn't want to have us pulled apart
because of this young man. I 
  lost your father and I didn't want to lose you."
  
  "I'm so sorry Mom" Harm whispered as he reached for
Trish. They held each 
  tightly for several seconds; neither noticing that
Mac had quietly slipped 
  from the room to give them some privacy. She watched
them from the kitchen 
  for a moment before turning away, wiping a stray
tear as she did so.
  
  "Hey why'd you leave?" Harm asked a few minutes
later as he walked into the 
  kitchen. "Everything okay?"
  
  "Yeah it's fine," she said with a small smile. "You
know you're very lucky. 
  That's one special Mom you have out there."
  
  "I know. And it just makes me feel like even more of
a jerk for acting like 
  I did" Harm sighed.
  
  "Well you can fix that now," Mac said softly.
  
  "Yes I can" he nodded. "And thank you for offering
to let her stay here. 
  That means a lot to me."
  
  "I didn't want to send her off to a hotel alone" Mac
said quietly. "After 
  what Frank told you and seeing her I didn't think
that would be a good 
  idea."
  
  "No it wouldn't. This has obviously upset her a lot.
I just hope my Article 
  32 doesn't make it any worse."
  
 "We'll just have to make sure we get it taken care of
right then, and not let it go 
further," she said firmly.  "It stops there."
 
 "I could plead it out."
 
 Her eyes opened as wide as they ever had.  "Are you
nuts?  Has your little red 
trolley gone around the bend?  Are you out of your
mind?"
 
 "Listen. . .Just listen.  It was a fight, a heat of
the moment thing.  I lost my head.  I 
was so angry.  I plead to involuntary and I'm out in.
. ."  His face changed as he 
spoke and his chin dropped to his chest.  
 
 "Harm?"
 
 "I was just hearing myself," he sighed.  "It's not a
good idea is it."
 
 "It sucks," she yelped.  "No it's not a good idea. 
What exactly do you think you'd do 
when you got out.  Disbarred, a convicted felon, you'd
be lucky to flip burgers or 
sweep floors."  She punched his arm none too gently. 
"Get a grip Rabb.  You're not 
pleading anything but innocent.  And the prosecution
is going to play hell proving 
otherwise."
 
 "Thanks.  You know what, knowing that you believe in
me is almost enough."  
Impulsively he hooked his arm around the back of her
head, pressing her forehead 
to his chest.  "But what I want to know is what you
were so quiet and kind of hiding 
out here for."
 
 "Well you and your mom needed some time and privacy
and that's going to be in 
short supply in these cramped quarters," she said, her
voice muffled by this shirt. 
 
 "We'll deal.  What else?"
 
 "What makes you think there's something else?"
 
 "Because I know you that well," he smiled and turned
her face up to his, holding her 
chin between his thumb and forefinger.  
 
 "Just envy you and your mom," she admitted after a
minute.  "Always wanted a 
mom to be close to."
 
 "You can borrow mine.  She's got plenty of love to
spare."  For a long second their 
eyes remained locked and he ducked his head, touching
his lips to hers.  
 
 "Did it rub off on her son?" she whispered, her eyes
never leaving his.
 
 "Only for you Sarah."
 
 "I see I'm interrupting," Trish smiled from the
doorway.  "Don't mind me.  Mac I was 
just going to ask you if it would be OK if I took a
warm shower and a nap.  And by all 
means carry on there.  You two are so perfect for each
other, and so cute."
 
 "OK that's it.  I can't have my mother calling me and
my. . .well partner. . .cute," 
Harm laughed.  "I'll be on the sofa watching the
afternoon soaps."  
 
 "Mrs. Burnett I'll come give you a hand," Mac called.
 "In fact I've got some new 
shower gel that's supposed to be both wonderful for
the pores and give you 
aromatherapy for relaxation at the same time."
 
 "Maybe you and I could try it later," Harm teased.
 
 "It's going to take a lot more than that little kiss
to get you into my shower Flyboy," 
she laughed and gave his hands a quick squeeze before
pulling away from him.
 
 "Harmon this woman is beautiful and kind and tender
and sweet, and a lot more 
than you deserve," Trish moaned, letting Mac take her
arm.
 
 "You got that right," he said earnestly.  "Yes
ma'am."
 
 "Harm good grief tell the woman you love her and be
done with it," Trish called over 
her shoulder.
 
 "She knows," Harm grinned sheepishly, letting the
kitchen door slam before she 
could react.
  
  "You do?" Trish smiled as she looked at Mac.
  
  "News to me" Mac smiled. "Your son is not exactly
the best at communicating 
  what he's thinking or feeling."
  
  "No he's not. Never has been. But I think he just
gave you a clue."
  
  "Yes he did" Mac blushed. "And I'll leave you to
enjoy your shower. I'll get 
  fresh sheets on the bed for you so you can lay down
when you're done."
  
  "Thank you Mac" Trish said softly as she reached for
Mac's hand. "For taking 
  care of me and Harm. He's lucky to have someone like
you in his life."
  
  "I'm lucky to have him" Mac smiled. "Your son means
a lot to me Mrs. 
  Burnett. He's been there for me through some very
tough times. And I'm going 
  to be there to get him through this."
  
  "And I know he's in good hands with you as his
lawyer" Trish smiled. "And 
  thank you again for everything."
  
  "You're welcome. If you need anything just holler."
  
  She headed back to the living room where Harm stood
looking out the window.
  
  "So I'm supposed to know that you love me," Mac said
softly.
  
  "Did you ever doubt it?" he whispered as he turned
around to look at her.
  
  "I'd hoped. I'd wished. But I wasn't sure I'd actual
hear you say the 
  words."
  
  "I tried that night at the Admiral's party. I've
tried so many times to tell 
  you how much you mean to me Sarah."
  
  "How much do I mean to you?" she whispered.
  
  "I love you Sarah. It's so plain and simple I can't
believe it took me this 
  long to figure it out."
  
  "Me neither" she smiled. "Because you know what.
I've tried a million times 
  to tell you how much you mean to me. And you know
what. I love you Harmon 
  Rabb. I've tried to deny it for so long but I can't
anymore."
  
  "You love me?" he whispered.
  
  "Did you ever doubt it?" she smiled as she parroted
his earlier words.
  
  "Uh a few times in the past" he admitted. "Like when
you were wearing the 
  ring of another man."
  
  "That was part of that denial period," she said
softly. "When I tried to 
  convince myself that I didn't need Harmon Rabb in my
life. But it didn't 
  work."
  
  "I'm glad" he smiled before his face became serious
again. "Mac I didn't 
  mean to throw this on you now right before the
Article 32. And if this 
  doesn't work out like we think."
  
  He was silenced by gentle fingers to his lips.
"Don't even say that" she 
  whispered. "You're not going to spend the rest of
your life in prison. I 
  won't let that happen."
  
  "Mac if it does" he started again.
  
  "NO" she said forcefully. "It won't. You did not
kill Sergei."
  
  "I know that and you know that. But we also both
know that sometimes the 
  innocent people still end up in prison."
  
  "Not this time" Mac shook her head vehemently. "I
won't let it happen."
  
  "I hope you're right" he whispered. "Because when
this is all over I want to 
  take you way like I said I would. And prove to you
just how much I do love 
  you."
  
  "I'll be looking forward to that sailor."
  
  ******************
  JAG HQ's
  Three Days Later
  
  "You ready Flyboy" Mac asked softly as she walked
into her office where Harm 
  had been waiting. "It's time."
  
  "It's going to go to Court Martial isn't it?" Harm
said quietly. "Thanks to 
  Singer and her lies. I can't believe she got up on
the stand and said that 
  BS about me threatening to kill Sergei. It was all
lies Mac."
  
  "I know," she said gently. "And once we get you
cleared I'm going to have 
  her disbarred for lying under oath. But right now
you're my main concern. 
  And even if it goes to Court Martial that doesn't
mean it's over."
  
  "Mac I know you're doing your best" he sighed. "But
with the circumstantial 
  evidence and Singer's lies there's not much hope is
there."
  
  "Would you listen to yourself" she groaned. "Harm
its not over yet. Not by a 
  long shot. We may have lost the battle with the 32
hearing but we'll win the 
  war where it counts."
  
  "I don't know what I'd do without you" Harm sighed
and she gently reached 
  for him and pulled him into her arms.
  
  "It's going to be okay sailor" she whispered. "I
promise."
 
 "You need to cut your losses," he said softly,
stroking her hair as he spoke.
 
 "Uh, I'm not following you there Commander," she
murmured, rubbing his back to 
mimic his stroking of her hair.
 
 "You may want to dis-associate yourself with a
murderer," he said bitterly.
 
 "Harmon Rabb I do not believe the words that are
coming from your mouth.  These 
are not the words of a man who refused to give up in
the Atlantic a year ago.  Not 
the words of a man who could have easily let himself
die but didn't.  Let me see 
some of the backbone and guts you had that night.  We
are going to see this thing 
through.  All the way.  Together.  And no way are the
members going to buy that 
you murdered your brother."
 
 "You and I both know it doesn't always work that
way," he sighed.  "And like I said 
you're going to be known as the JAG lawyer who was
partnered with the guy who 
was convicted of murder."
 
 Reluctantly she forced herself from his arms,
standing up and pressing his face 
between gentle palms.  "Look at me Harm.  Look at me
straight in the face and tell 
me you murdered your brother.  Hell tell me you were
even in the apartment when it 
happened."
 
 "Mac I. . .I. . ."
 
 She gave him a gentle shake.  "I'm serious here Rabb.
 Tell me you're a killer.  You 
know as your attorney it goes no further.  As the
woman who loves you I want to 
hear you admit it--if you can."
 
 His eyes squeezed shut in anguish.  The words he had
longed to hear so long. The 
beauty of hearing that she loved him, coupled with the
stark reality of a brutal 
murder.  A murder in which he had no part.  He
reopened his eyes and when he did 
so they were wet with unshed tears.
 
 "No I can't.  I can't tell you that I did.  I wasn't
even there.  I'm innocent Sarah."   
The last word poured forth in the company of a short
sob and she held him tightly 
again.
 
 "Of course you are.  And you are not going to prison.
 If we have to, we'll disappear.  
You and me."
 
 "No.  No way.  No way in hell," he hissed in shock.  
"Are you listening to yourself 
here?  You're talking about throwing away your career
and possibly your life if you 
did that.  No.  If the worst happens, if I'm
convicted, after you've exhausted my 
appeals, what is going to happen is that you're going
to forget all about me and go 
on with your life."
 
 She let go of him completely and backed up to the
door, her face showing the 
revulsion she was feeling at that moment.  "You listen
to me Mr.  Rabb.  You are my 
life.  Without you there isn't a life to go on with. 
We'll talk about that another time 
when we're both calmer."
 
 She slammed the door behind her and with as much
calmness as she could 
muster, walked to the ladies room.  Relieved to find
it empty, she locked the door 
and then turned on both sinks.  With the running water
to drown her sorrow, she 
gave in to her tears of fear and frustration.  Ten
minutes and she was marginally 
calmer, washing her face, pressing a cold paper towel
to her eyes and repairing her 
make up.   Finally she returned to her office, finding
Harm in the same position in 
which she had left him.
 
 "I'm sorry," he said simply.  "I need to have more
faith in myself, but most of all in 
my attorney.  And even more, in our love."
    
  "Yes you do" she said quietly. "We'll get through
this. I don't know but 
  somehow we will."
  
  Before he could answer Trish appeared at the door.
  
  "Mac I think they're ready for you" she said
quietly.
  
  "Thanks" Mac said giving her a small smile. "How you
holding up?"
  
  "I've been better" Trish admitted. "It's not easy to
sit there and listen to 
  these lies about my son."
  
  "Exactly why I didn't want you here" Harm muttered.
"You don't need to go 
  through this."
  
  "Do you think I'm going to just pretend this isn't
happening and go back to 
  San Diego?" Trish snapped. "You're my son Harm.
We're talking about life in 
  prison here."
  
  "That's not going to happen" Mac said quickly. "Even
if this goes to a court 
  martial that doesn't mean we're going to lose."
  
  "I hope you're right" Trish sighed. "But either way
I'm not going home until 
  this is resolved."
  
  "Mom this is too much for you" Harm said softly. "I
heard you up last night 
  and I know you haven't been sleeping. Or eating for
that matter."
  
  "Well neither has Mac" Trish countered. "Who do you
think has been 
  entertaining me at 2 in the morning?"
  
  At her words Harm looked closely at Mac, finally
noticing the dark circles 
  and the tired look on her face.
  
  "Okay I want both of you to listen to me" Harm
sighed. "The idea that this 
  is doing this to both of you is not setting well.
Mac if this is too much 
  then I want you to turn this over to Sturgis."
  
  "Absolutely not. Harm I can handle this. Yes I
haven't been sleeping much 
  but I've had a lot on my mind."
  
  "I won't have you and Mom driving yourselves crazy
over this. I love both of 
  you too much for that. And Mom I don't want you here
if this is going to 
  upset you more. You could be relaxing back at Mac's
place instead of sitting 
  here listening to this BS."
  
  "Neither of us are going anywhere" Trish spoke
before Mac could. "So just 
  lose that thought from your mind right now mister.
We're all in this 
  together."
  
  "I hate this" Harm sighed.
  
  "Mac it's time" Sturgis said quietly as he stuck his
head in. "You guys 
  ready?"
  
  "As ready as we'll ever be" Mac murmured before
looking at Harm. "Whatever 
  the verdict, we're not quitting remember. We'll
fight this the whole way. I 
  love you. I'm not going to lose you now."
  
  "I love you too" he whispered as he squeezed her
hand.
  
  "We'd better go" she said softly and he nodded.
  
  "I'll be in for the decision" AJ said as he met the
group in the bullpen. 
  "Trish do you mind if I join you?"
  
  "Please do" she said softly.
  
  A few minutes later they stood in the court room and
waited for Admiral 
  Morris's decision.
  
  "Will the defense please rise"
  
  With a long sigh Mac and Harm and Sturgis all rose,
Trish sitting anxiously 
  behind them with AJ beside her.
  
  "It is the finding of this court that there is
sufficient evidence to 
  warrant a general court martial."
  
  Trish's gasp echoed through the nearly empty
courtroom and AJ reached a 
  comforting hand to her.
  
  "No" she whispered. "He's not guilty. How can they
do this?" Her words were 
  cut off as she suddenly clutched her hand to her
heart.
  
  "Trish are you okay?" AJ demanded.
  
  Harm turned around at AJ's words and to his horror
he watched as she 
  suddenly slumped against AJ.
  
  "Mom" Harm screamed as he pushed past Mac to get to
his mother's side.
  
  "Oh god no," Mac whispered, knowing that if
something happened to Trish, much 
of the will to fight would be gone from her son.
 
 Reacting without being ordered, the Marine sentry
radioed for an ambulance as 
Harm reached his mother's side.  "What the hell
happened," he demanded.
 
 "Harm she just grabbed her chest and went out," AJ
said helplessly, at the same 
time checking for pulse and breathing. 
 
 "It's her heart I just know it," he cried, and Mac
wrapped a quick arm around his 
body. 
 
 "Just hang tight Sailor.  Your mom is one tough
lady."
 
 "This is my fault  . .totally," he whispered.  "I
should have taken her first no and not 
ever brought it up again."  He leaned low over his
mother, speaking into her ear.  
"Mom, please.  It's OK.  I can handle whatever happens
to me.  I just can't handle 
you being sick.   Please Mom.  Please be OK."
 
 Mac rubbed his back in silent sympathy as Admiral
Morris ordered the courtroom 
cleared.
 
 "She is breathing OK isn't she sir?"
 
 "And her pulse is there," AJ nodded.  "It's you
that's breathing funny Commander.  
Relax please before they have to dispatch other
ambulance."
 
 Mac looked at him in alarm and quickly encircled his
wrist.  "Harm he's right.  You're 
pulse is chugging like a freight train here.  Try to
calm down please.  For me.  
Because I love you and don't want anything to happen
to you."
 
 AJ's eyes widened into large circles and he looked to
Sturgis, who had the good 
grace to attempt to look surprised.
 
 "Mac is it OK to tell Harm now?" he teased
 
 "He knows," she smiled as well despite the gravity of
their current situation.
 
 "I don't know," AJ yelped.
 
 "Sir if you think about it--you do," Sturgis told
him, a bemused smile on his face.
 
 "One crisis at a time," he moaned, hearing the siren
scream.
 
 "Harm are you OK," Mac demanded, seeing how pale he
was becoming as he 
stared transfixed at his mother, watching the slow
rise and fall of her chest.
 
 "No," he whispered and backed away anticipating
immanent the arrival of the 
paramedics.  "She can't die Sarah, not over something
that's my fault.  God wouldn't 
be that cruel would He?"
  
  "She's not going to die" Mac said quickly. "And I
want you to sit down 
  before you pass out yourself." She gently pushed him
into a nearby chair, 
  her gaze going back and forth between Harm and
Trish.
  
  "This is my fault" Harm moaned. "I shouldn't have
let her come here. I knew 
  she wasn't well."
  
  "Blaming yourself is not going to help" Mac soothed.
"And she's going to be 
  fine once we get her to the hospital."
  
  As she spoke the paramedics burst into the courtroom
and Mac held Harm's 
  hand tightly as they attended to her.
  
  "She's going to be okay isn't she?" Harm whispered.
"Please tell me she's 
  going to be okay."
  
  "Try and relax sir" the paramedic said gently.
"We'll know more once we get 
  her to the hospital but for now she's stable."
  
  "Please don't let anything happen to her" Harm
pleaded.
  
  "We'll take good care of her" the young lady assured
him.
  
  Minutes later she was wheeled to the waiting
elevator, Harm and Mac staying 
  with her. Harm continued to clutch his mother's hand
during the ride to the 
  hospital and it was only after he was forced to let
go that he did. He 
  turned around, going straight into Mac's arms.
  
  "It's okay," she said gently as she held him
tightly. "She's going to be 
  okay."
  
  "What if she's not" he whispered. "Oh god Mac I
can't lose her. Not right 
  now."
  
  "Shh don't even think that" she chided him. "Your
mother is a very strong 
  person. She's survived a lot in her life and she'll
get through this too."
  
  "It's all my fault," he said miserably. "I should
have just pled out and 
  not made her go through all that."
  
  "And you think watching her son hauled off to
Leavenworth for a crime he 
  didn't commit was going to make her feel better" Mac
countered. "How do you 
  think that would have made her feel?"
  
  "I don't know. I just know I want this whole
nightmare to be over."
  
  "I'm sorry I couldn't stop it from going to court
martial" she said quietly. 
  "I should have done more. Anything to stop that from
happening."
  
  "Woah wait a minute. You did the best you could
given the circumstances. 
  Don't even say you didn't."
  
  "I know. But I wish I could have done more. You
don't deserve this. And 
  neither does your mother."
  
  "Mac I'm just so scared she's not going to be okay"
Harm sighed.
  
  "Come on, let's go find the cafeteria and get some
coffee and get you to try 
  and relax" Mac said softly. "By the time we get back
I'm sure they'll have 
  some news for us."
  
  He nodded and allowed her to lead him down the hall
to the cafeteria where 
  she purchased two steaming cups of coffee for them
before leading Harm to a 
  small table.
  
  "Drink. You need it. If they had anything stronger I
would have gotten it 
  for you."
  
  "Mac I need to call Frank" Harm sighed. "Mom is
going to want him here. 
  Course I don't even know where he is. I know he was
going to Philly but he 
  didn't say where he was going after that."
  
  "Is there someone you can call and ask?" Mac asked.
"His secretary maybe?"
  
  "Yeah I think I have a number somewhere for his
office" Harm sighed. 
  "Probably back at JAG. But I'm not going anywhere
until I see Mom."
  
  "Of course not. And I'll be right here with you the
whole time" Mac said 
  softly.
  
  "You have to be" he reminded her somberly.
  
  "Even if I didn't have to be you know I would be
here. I love you and I care 
  about you remember. You're not in this alone anymore
Harm. You've got me."
  
  "I don't deserve you but I'm so glad you're here" he
sighed. "Can we go back 
  and see if there's any word yet?"
  
  "Of course. Come one."
  
  She led him back to the ER where she stopped at the
desk to ask if there was 
  any word.
  
  "Mr. Rabb I'm Doctor Kline" a young man said as he
approached them. "I've 
  been attending to your mother."
  
  "Is she okay?" Harm demanded. "Can I see her?"
  
   "We are running numerous tests," Dr. Kline sighed
tiredly.  "She did not have a 
stroke or a heart attack.  Her blood pressure was off
the charts however.  I'm 
guessing her stress level has been incredible."
 
 "Oh gee I can't imagine why," Harm groaned.  "A son
on trial for the murder of his 
half brother, the same son who has given her a hard
time for weeks about 
something she didn't deserve to be dragged into.  In
other words, he's a real prince 
of a guy."
 
 "Uh. . .Mr. Rabb I think you need some rest too," Dr.
Kline said uncertainly, looking 
to Mac who had put a soothing arm across his back.
 
 "Doctor we're all under strain right now," she
explained softly.  "Mrs. Burnett is 
going to be OK?  That's the bottom line."
 
 "She's resting comfortably at the moment.  Like I
said, we're running a lot of tests.   
So I'm going to hedge for the moment if you don't
mind.  That's for the sake of my 
malpractice insurance.  She's asking for you and
Frank--your dad?"
 
 "Step dad," Harm nodded.  "I need to get hold of him.
 Can I see her then?"
 
 "Harm she should know how to get in touch with
Frank," Mac pointed out.
 
 "OK of course go in.  Just please, I don't want her
agitated about anything right 
now.  She's on IV medication for her blood pressure
and I've also given her 
something to calm her.  She won't really rest until
she's seen you obviously.  Twenty 
minutes.  Happy talk only."
 
 "From her son the murderer," he muttered and Mac
poked him.
 
 "Mom hi," he called softly, approaching the bed. 
"You gave us all a scare.  Big 
time."
 
 "Hello Mrs. Burnett," Mac added.  "And you did scare
us to death."
 
 "I'm fine.  Such a lot of fuss over nothing," she
sighed.  "Mac, tell me please that I 
didn't hear them find my son guilty."
 
 Harm and Mac exchanged glances.  "I wish I could,"
she finally said quietly.  "But 
that was just a skirmish.  The real war is coming. 
And the rules of engagement are 
different there.  The prosecution has to prove Harm
did it.  Not just that there's 
enough reason to think he might have."
 
 "OK I guess I understand," Trish nodded.  "Harm, I
need Frank.  Please call him in 
London and ask if he can fly home tonight.  I thought
I could go this alone, but 
obviously I can't.  I need him to help see me through
this."
 
 "Of course you do.  Just tell me how to reach him." 
 
 "You can call his secretary in the home office.  She
always knows how to get in 
touch with him.  I can write the number down for you."
 
 
 "Just tell me Trish," Mac urged, reaching for a pad
by the phone.  She wrote the 
number down and smiled to Trish.  "I'll go out to
call.  And don't worry, I won't upset 
him."  She dropped a swift kiss on Harm's cheek as she
left.
 
 "You are a lucky man Harmon to have her," Trish
smiled when they were alone.
 
 "Oh yeah," he smiled.  "In that area.  It's only the
rest of my life that's crap.  My 
brother is dead, you're sick, and I'm likely going to
be sentenced. . ."  His voice 
trailed off and he left the though unfinished, not
wanting to upset her.
 
 "If you were the attorney instead of the accused,
what kind of a chance would you 
give yourself for beating this?"  Her eyes pierced his
and he knew she expected a 
straight answer.
 
 "If I was the prosecutor I think I'd have a bottle of
champagne chilling," he sighed.  
"But then I have a pair of aces in the hole.  Mac
defending me for one, and my 
innocence for the other."
 
 "You trust her that much don't you."
 
 "With my life mom.  In fact. . ." his voice dropped
to an even lower tone.  "She 
swears if the worst happens, that she and I are going
to disappear."
 
 "Oh Harm. . " she gasped and at once he was sorry he
had told her.
 
 "Hey you're supposed to be resting," he scolded, "and
I promised I would not upset 
you."
 
 "I'm not upset, just concerned.  Would you do that? 
Would you just go underground 
with her like that?"
 
 "No.  At least I hope I wouldn't.  I hope I'd make
her forget me and go on with her 
life, no matter how much I would want to be with her."
 
 "Well it's a moot point anyway," she sighed.  "You
and her are going to be together-
-after you're cleared of all charges."
 
 He nodded and they were silent for a moment.  "Mom
you know I'm in love with her; 
and that I want to marry her, right?"
 
 "The first part of that of course I did.  I was only
hoping for the second, and of 
course the grandchildren that go along with that."
 
 "I want it all.  And that's hitting me really hard
right now because I feel it's all about 
to be taken from me."  He suppressed the sob that came
with those words and she 
reached for his hand.
 
 "I'm sorry Mom.  I should not be laying any of this
on you.  You need to get well and 
that's all you should be worrying about."
 
 "I need Frank," she whispered, her eyes closing under
the influence of the 
medication.
 
 Harm tucked the blanket over her and kissed her
cheek.  "Sleep.  We'll talk later."
 
 Ten minute later Mac slipped back into the room, with
AJ at her back.
 
 "Sir," Harm gasped, getting to his feet.
 
 "As you were.  I'm just verifying in person that my
prisoner is still in the area.  Like 
you'd be anywhere else with your mom like this."
 
 "No sir.   Not going anywhere.  I'm innocent
remember.  Mac did you get Frank?"
 
 "On his way to the airport," she reported with a
glance to Trish.  "Harm he sounded 
really odd.  Maybe it was the shock of hearing Trish
was ill or something, but. . .well 
odd is the best I can do there."

  "Well he probably was in shock" Harm theorized. "I
mean he had no idea she 
  was even here probably."
  
  "You're right. He just really sounded strange when I
told him what had 
  happened."
  
  "Well it's not every day your step son is accused of
murder either" Harm 
  sighed. "Course I'm sure he's not sad that Sergei is
dead."
  
  "Your stepfather knew about Sergei?" AJ questioned.
  
  "Yes sir. They actually had quite a run in at my
apartment the night Sergei 
  was killed" Harm replied.
  
  "When was this?" AJ asked.
  
  "Several hours before Sergei was murdered" Harm
shrugged. "Why?"
  
  "Before you answer that I think we should take
conversation elsewhere" Mac 
  spoke up. "We don't want to upset Trish any more
than she already is. She 
  didn't know Frank was here that night either."
  
  "Good point" AJ nodded. "Let's go find somewhere
quiet that we can talk."
  
  "Sir, I know what you're thinking but there's no
way" Harm said when they 
  reached a quiet corner of the waiting room. "Frank
left hours before Sergei 
  was killed."
  
  "What if he came back?" AJ countered. "You said
you'd left to take Mac home 
  and then went to the park. What if he came back
while you were gone?"
  
  "Sir there's no way Frank killed Sergei."
  
  "Harm he was pretty upset that night" Mac
interjected. "I was there 
  remember. I saw them almost go at each other."
  
  "Mac I wanted to go at Sergei that night. A lot of
things are said and done 
  in the heat of the moment. There's no way."
  
  "What time did his flight leave?" AJ asked.
  
  "Honestly sir I have no idea. When he left he just
said he had to make his 
  flight to Philly. But I think you're both way off
here."
  
  "It's no more ludicrous than someone believing you
killed Sergei" Mac 
  countered. "And with your career and life at stake
here, I'm willing to look 
  at any and all possibilities."
  
  "Not at Mom's expense" Harm argued. "Isn't it bad
enough that her son is on 
  trial for murder. Now you want to start accusing her
husband."
  
  "I'm trying to find the truth," Mac said patiently.
"Because we both know 
  that you did not kill Sergei. Someone did. And maybe
it wasn't Frank. But 
  maybe he did come back and maybe he saw who did. I
don't know what the 
  answer is Harm. But I'm going to look at every
option in order to save your 
  six from life at Leavenworth."
  
  "When he gets here I'll talk to him first" Harm
sighed. "I'm sure he's 
  already upset about Mom as it is and I don't want
everyone coming at him."
  
  "Promise me you'll let me talk to him though" Mac
prodded. "It's very 
  possible he knows something Harm."
  
  "I doubt that but fine you can talk to him. But only
after I've talked to 
  him and he's seen Mom and he knows she's okay. And
now if we're done with 
  this discussion I want to go back and sit with Mom."
  
  "You go with him" AJ urged as Harm started down the
hallway to his mother's 
  room. "I'm going to see what I can do to get the
court martial delayed for 
  at least a few days."
  
  "Thank you sir. Could you do one other thing since I
can't leave him? Can 
  you go over all the statements from Harm's
neighbors? If Frank did come 
  back, it's possible someone saw him and just didn't
remember that when they 
  talked to the police."
  
  "Gut feeling there Colonel?" AJ asked.
  
  "I was there sir. I remember how upset Frank was.
More so than Harm was 
  actually. It's very possible he came back to talk to
Sergei again."
  
  "All right. I'll see what I can do. In the meantime
you keep an eye on him 
  and Trish. He's not too far from a hospital bed
himself."
  
  "None of us are sir" Mac said with a weak smile.
  
  "Take care of yourself Colonel" AJ ordered. "And
that stubborn partner of 
  yours that you're in love with."
  
  "I'll try sir" Mac sighed. "It's not easy though."
  
   "But you can handle it.  Love makes all things
possible they tell me."
 
 "Sir you really are a bit of a romantic," she smiled
and sighed at the same time.
 
 "Yeah but don't tell anyone," he grinned, sobering
quickly.  "Mac, keep an eye on 
Rabb.  I really am concerned.  He's wound really
tight, and right now you may be the 
only thing saving him from snapping."
 
 "Yes sir.  Uh. . .sir I've promised him that I won't
abandon him, no matter what.  And 
that's all I'm going to say, but you should know
that."
 
 AJ's blank look lasted for all of three seconds as he
digested her words, realizing 
what she was implying.  "It's not going to come to
that Colonel."
 
 "I hope not sir.  But we're just being prepared for
any eventuality."
 
 "OK, just don't share with me anything I'm going to
have to deny later," he sighed.
 
 "Thank you sir," she smiled, realizing what an ally
they had in their C.O., even if he 
dared not be overt.
 
 Mac all but collided with Harm on his way out of his
mother's room, catching him as 
he swayed on his feet trying to lessen the collision.
"What's going on?"
 
 "What's going on is that you're going to be in your
own hospital bed if you don't eat 
and rest," she fretted, wrapping a surprisingly strong
arm around him.  "Is your mom 
OK?"
 
 "Yeah," he nodded miserably.  "In fact they've given
her something to make her 
sleep and they threw me out."
 
 "Remind me to put whoever 'they' is in for a silver
star.  Let's get out of here."
 
 "Mac no," he objected.
 
 "Harm yes," she retorted.  "Don't make me find the
Admiral so he can order you to 
stand down.  He's going to check on the possibilities
we brought up earlier."
 
 "OK for a few hours.  Until Frank gets in," he
bargained.  "But only if you're going to 
stay with me."
 
 "I wouldn't be anywhere else," she told him.  "So
we're going home with a stop at 
the Broadway Deli for something you'll eat, and then
I'm taking you to bed."
 
 "I wish I was up to the double entendre there."
 
 "You and me both," she grinned.  "You want a rain
check?"
 
 "You damn right I do," he sighed. "For the minute
this mess is cleared up."
 
 "You know my number," she teased.
 =============
 MAC's APARTMENT
 1 hour later.
 
 "Come on Harmy a couple more bites," she coaxed.
 
 "You know the last person who called me that is
probably wearing bridgework by 
now after I loosened three of his teeth," he muttered,
forking up another bite of 
Greek Salad for her.  "Honest Mom, I'm stuffed and
tired.  And remember what you 
promised."
 
 She nodded silently and offered him her hand, letting
him lead her to the bed.  
Without any hesitation both stripped to underwear and
slid beneath the cool sheets.  
"Do you have any idea how much I love you," he
whispered, "and how scared I am 
we're never going to. . ."
 
 "We are to going to," she interrupted quickly.  "I
refuse to allow myself to believe 
any other way.  I want it all Harm, now that it's
almost within my reach.  You, a 
home, a baby. . ."
 
 "Does a wedding ring fit there somewhere?"  Before
she could answer he turned 
her face toward his, moving so that his lips where
just a hair's breadth away from 
hers.
    
  "I hope so sailor" she whispered.
  
  "Count on it" he whispered before his lips found
hers in a long and 
  passionate kiss.
  
  "This could get out of hand" she breathed when they
finally parted.
  
  "And we're not ready for that yet" he said softly.
"I love you Sarah and I 
  want this to work out. And as much as I want to make
love to you right now 
  it's not the right time nor place. Not when there's
a murder charge hanging 
  over my head."
  
  "When this is over?" she asked hopefully.
  
  "I promised you a cabin somewhere and you're going
to have it" Harm smiled. 
  "And then I'll show you how much I love you."
  
  "And I'll be holding my breath until that moment"
Mac sighed. "And you need 
  to get some rest. Close those pretty green eyes and
try and relax."
  
  "As long as you stay here" he sighed as he did as
directed.
  
  "Not going anywhere" she promised. "I love you
remember. We're sticking 
  together through thick and thin."
  
  "And I love you too" he murmured. "Thank you for
everything."
  
  "You're welcome" she said as she dropped a light
kiss on his lips. "Sleep. 
  Everything is going to be okay. I promise."
  
  ***********
  Dulles Airport
  8 Hours Later
  
  "I hope they don't think I'm trying to flee" Harm
sighed as he and Mac 
  waited for Frank to arrive at the security gate.
  
  "I told the Admiral we would be at the airport. It's
not a problem. And I 
  would have been happy to let you sleep longer while
I came and got Frank 
  myself but you're in my custody remember."
  
  "Yeah I know. And under any other circumstances I
would love that 
  arrangement."
  
  "As soon as this is over we can work on that" she
smiled. "Only I'll be in 
  your custody."
  
  "That would be real nice" Harm smiled before
spotting Frank coming down the 
  long concourse. "There he is."
  
  "Harm how is she?" Frank demanded as soon as he was
on the other side of the 
  security gate.
  
  "She's okay. They're still running tests but she's
okay for the moment."
  
  "I want to see her first. And along the way you can
tell me what the hell 
  has been going on."
  
  "A lot" Harm sighed. "And none of it good."
  
  "Why in the hell are you being charged with Sergei's
murder?" Frank asked.
  
  "Because I was at the wrong place at the wrong time
and I have no alibi and 
  a woman who hates me enough to lie to send me to
prison."
  
  "But that's not going to happen" Mac said quickly.
"We lost the Article 32 
  but we're going to win the court martial."
  
  "My attorney has a lot more faith than I do" Harm
sighed. "But right now all 
  that matters is that Mom is okay. I'll worry about
the rest later."
  
  "Harm what if you don't win the court martial?"
Frank asked quietly.
  
  "Then I spend the rest of my life in Leavenworth" he
said just as quietly.
  
  "I won't let that happen remember" Mac hissed.
"We'll run before that 
  happens."
  
  "Are you serious?" Frank gasped as he came to a
stop. "You'd actually do 
  that. Both of you?"
  
  "If it came to it yes" Mac answered before Harm
could. "I love your step son 
  Mr. Burnett. I will not let him spend the rest of
his life in jail for 
  something he didn't do."
  
  "Did something happen since I was here the last
time?" Frank asked.
  
  "Yes sir" Mac smiled. "Harm and I have managed to
put into words what we 
  couldn't for a long time."
  
  "And now it could all be taken away" Frank
whispered.
  
  "I hope not" Harm sighed as he wrapped his arm
around Mac. "Because I love 
  this woman just as much and I want to spend the rest
of my life with her."
  
  "I need to see Trish" Frank whispered.
  
  "We'll get you there real quick" Mac smiled
sympathetically.
  
  He was strangely quiet on the way to the hospital,
leaning back against the 
  seat and closing his eyes. When they pulled into the
hospital lot he opened 
  them again and quickly hurried out of the car.
  
  Moments later he was at Trish's side and Mac gently
pulled Harm from the 
  room to give them some privacy.
  
  "Harm I want to talk to Frank about the night Sergei
was killed" Mac said 
  quietly when they were alone. "He's been very
strange since we picked him 
  up."
  
  "Mac he's just worried about Mom" Harm sighed.
"Don't stress him out 
  anymore."
  
  "Harm I'm telling you he knows something. I can
sense it."
 
  Harm shook his head stubbornly.  "He's just
stressed.  I mean he was a victim of 
the stress I was putting on mom even.  God I am such a
shit."
 
 "No but neither are you being real objective right
now," she said softly, pushing an 
unruly lock of hair from his forehead.  "And if you
are a shit, you're my shit and I love 
you."
 
 "Do you know how sweet those words are, and how much
I hate that it took this to 
make us both able to say them?"
 
 "Do you know how sappy you sound right now," she
smiled.  "Let's go home.  Frank 
is not likely going to want to leave her, and she's in
good hands with him."
 
 "I don't want to leave her either," he wailed.
 
 "I need you looking relaxed and rested and
confident," she reminded him sternly, 
"not like you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown. 
Come on now.  Or do I have 
to put on the cuffs."
 
 He gave her a slow smile.  "I know there's something
sexual in there but I'm too 
tired to go there."
 
 "Another time," she smiled as well.  "And I haven't
forgotten I want to talk to Frank, 
but it can keep until he's had some time with Trish."
 
 With a quick word passed to Frank that they were
going home and to call her 
apartment when he was ready to leave, Mac shepherded
Harm to the car.
 
 An hour later he was sleeping soundly in front of the
TV, the movie which he had 
seen only the open credits of playing softly in the
background.  Mac covered him 
with a soft blanket and kissed his forehead before
opening her case file.  More than 
ever she saw Frank as being a major player, a hunch
that would be born out two 
hours later when AJ came to the door.
 
 "Where's the prisoner?" were the first words out of
his mouth.
 
 Mac gave him an indignant glare.  "I have him tied up
in the back room and I'm 
using him as a sex slave long as I have the chance." 
"Sir," she added hastily.
 
 "Well as long as you know where he is," AJ grinned
and Mac laughed as well, 
stepping to one side so that AJ could see him sleeping
on the sofa.
 
 "You take good care of him."
 
 "We take care of each other sir," she replied
solemnly, "and always will.  If you get 
my drift."
 
 "Yes I do, and we need to talk.  Should we wake
Sleeping Ugly there?"
 
 "I'd rather we didn't," she whispered.  "Come on into
the kitchen.  We can close the 
door.  Coffee?"
 
 "You read my mind."
 
 "OK now what's so earthshaking that you drove all the
way over here instead of 
using the phone?" Mac asked, setting a steaming cup of
coffee in front of AJ.
 
 "There's man in Harm's building named Anthony
Caproletti.  Lives three doors 
down and heard the arguing that night," he began
slowly.
 
 "Yeah so did the entire building.  Probably the
people across the alley too but we 
didn't feel the need to line up thirty witnesses."
 
 "Right.  But Mr. Caproletti not only heard, he saw."
 
 "Oh my god--saw what?"
 
 "You were right Colonel.  Frank Burnett returned to
the apartment during the time 
Harm was gone."
 
 "OK no," she gasped in shock.  "I don't know Frank
real well, but he's not a 
murderer."
 
 "Sergei attacked him.  Tried to strangle him.  Frank
fell back against the kitchen 
counter and picked up the knife.  Sergei came at him
again and Frank stabbed him."
 
 "Sir there were no prints on the knife, none but
Harm's," she reminded him bitterly.  
"Much as I'd like to believe that."
 
 AJ smiled gently.  "I wouldn't expect you to know
this since cooking to you is 
peeling back the cellophane, but when I stand at my
counter and chop vegetables, I 
keep a towel at my fingers.  OK picture Frank reaching
behind him for something to 
use to fend off a crazed attack.  He feels something
hard and firm, but it's covered 
by a towel.  He grabs it anyway, and when he realizes
it's a butcher's knife, he uses 
it, but the towel is still wrapped around the handle."
 
 "Not according to the police report," she breathed,
trying to envision the scenario, 
her eyes widening.
 
 "No it was found nearby," AJ agreed, "obviously it
fell off."
 
 "Oh my god that's great."  Impulsively she grabbed
him and kissed him square on 
the mouth.
 
 "Obviously you two want to be alone," Harm growled
from the door way, running a 
hand through his tussled hair.  "Good evening sir by
the way."
 
 "Harm stop being an ass and come hear the whole
story.  We've got a witness that 
Frank killed Sergei."
 
 "And that's supposed to be good news?  What are you
two drinking anyway?" he 
demanded.
 
 "In self defense Mr. Rabb," AJ explained hastily. 
"In self defense.  All we have to 
do is get a Coroner's Inquest to establish that and
then all charges against you are 
dropped."  
  
  "No. There's no way Frank killed him. Not even in
self-defense. I don't 
  believe it."
  
  "Harm we have a witness. He saw the whole thing."
  
  "Then why the hell didn't he come forward before"
Harm demanded.
  
  "Most logical reason would be that he was afraid
Harm" AJ said patiently. "He 
knew Sergei was Russian and he was afraid to get
involved for fear it was 
something Russian Mob related."
  
  "No. Frank wouldn't do something like that. He would
never have run away if 
  he had."
  
  "Harm maybe he was afraid too" Mac said quietly.
  
  "No. You're both wrong. And I don't want you saying
a word about this to 
  anyone. I want to talk to Caproletti first and then
I'll talk to Frank."
  
  "Okay we'll do this your way" Mac sighed. "For now.
But I'm not going to 
  keep this under wraps at your court martial. You
will not go to jail for a 
  crime you didn't commit."
  
  "I just can't believe Frank would have done this"
Harm sighed. "There has to 
  be some mistake."
  
  "Let's talk to Caproletti" AJ urged. "Then you'll
see."
  
  An hour later they stood in Anthony Caproletti's
place as he recounted what 
  had happened to Harm.
  
  "You're sure it was this man?" Harm asked as he
showed him the picture of 
  Frank.
  
  "Very sure. But it wasn't his fault. Your brother
came at him first. He 
  would have killed him if he hadn't grabbed the
knife. It was self defense."
  
  "And then he ran away?" Harm asked.
  
  "Yes" Anthony nodded. "Took off running and didn't
look back."
  
  "Harm do you believe us now?" Mac said gently.
  
  "Why didn't you come forward sooner?" Harm asked
Anthony. "You knew I was 
  being charged with his murder."
  
  "I was afraid," Anthony said quietly. "I didn't know
if your brother had 
  been mixed up with the Russian Mob or what. I mean
the papers have been full of 
stories about those people for a year now. I didn't
want to be involved. So 
  I told the cops I didn't see anything. But I'm not
lying now."
  
  "I need to talk to Frank" Harm sighed. "I want him
to tell me what happened. 
  Then I'll believe it."
  
  "Let's go to the hospital then," Mac said quietly.
  
  Harm sat quietly in the back seat during the ride to
the hospital and Mac 
  didn't even attempt to try and get him to talk.
  
  "I want to talk to Frank alone" Harm announced as
they walked into the 
  hospital a short time later. "And don't you dare say
a word to Mom about 
  this."
  
  "Harm we're not going to say anything" Mac sighed.
"We're not trying to hurt 
  anyone here. We're just trying to get to the truth."
  
  "I'm sorry" Harm sighed. "I'm being a jerk and you
don't deserve this. But 
  finding out that Frank killed Sergei isn't exactly
good news. Mom is going 
  to be devastated."
  
  "Harm he's not going to go to jail for it" AJ said
gently. "It was self 
  defense."
  
  "I know" Harm nodded. "Okay I'm going to talk to
him."
  
  "Do you want us to wait here?" Mac asked. "Or can we
go talk to Trish?"
  
  "Only if you don't let her know what's going on," he
warned. "Promise me. 
  Because if she has to find out, I want it to be from
me."
  
  "Harm we won't say anything" Mac promised.
  
  They made their way to Trish's room where Frank was
still sitting at the 
  chair beside her bed.
  
  "How is she?" Harm asked softly as he walked in.
  
  "They say she's going to be fine. But the tests show
that she did have a mild heart 
attack."
  
  "She did" Harm gulped and Mac reached for his hand.
"She's going to be okay 
  though right?"
 
 Frank nodded and looked to his sleeping wife. "That
would be largely up to her at 
this point is what the doctors are saying.  They're
going to try medication to ease her 
angina pain, which of course she's been keeping from
me.  And she may need by-
pass surgery, but we'll get another opinion once we
get home.  She's got to eat 
better and lose thirty pounds too.  But yeah, they
don't think she'll be in any 
immediate danger."
 
 "Good," Harm breathed and Mac gave his cheek a quick
kiss.
 
 "Frank you and I need to find a place to talk," he
went on firmly.
 
 "Can it wait?"
 
 "No it really can't."  The tone of his voice struck a
chord in Frank and he rose from 
his chair, looking to Mac.
 
 "You going to stay with her?"
 
 "Like I was velcroe'd to the chair," she promised and
caught Harm's hand.  "Don't 
go far."
 
 Harm nodded and started out the door guiding Frank
along.  
 
 "Rabb stay close by," AJ warned.  "Don't make me send
the hounds after you."  
Before Harm could answer, he looked over to Mac. 
"Never mind.  I'd only need to 
worry if you two were together."
 
 "Yes sir," Harm nodded, understanding at once to what
his C.O. was referring.
 
 "This isn't going to be easy for him--well for either
of them," AJ sighed.  "But it will 
be much better for Harm if we can get Frank to agree
to come clean of his own 
volition.  If we subpoena him and Caproletti, the self
defense contention gets a little 
shaky."
 ==========
 "OK boy what's so all-fired important," Frank
demanded, accepting the cold can of 
soda Harm handed to him.  They were alone in a group
of chairs at the end of the 
corridor for which Harm was extremely grateful.
 
 "I need to know what happened the night Sergei died,"
Harm said softly.  
 
 "How the hell would I know," Frank exploded.  "Are
you on drugs or something?   
You know I left for the airport."
 
 "Yeah I do, but I also know you came back," Harm
said, keeping his voice calm and 
neutral.  "I also happen to know that Sergei attacked
you.  And what happened after.  
I'm sorry Frank.  Sorry you had to go through that,
and sorry that I have to bring it all 
out into the open.  I'm sure Mac will be glad to
represent you at the inquest."
 
 Frank shook his head.  "No thanks.  I'm not going to
admit to being involved in a 
death.  You'll have to take your chances.  I took
enough pre-law classes and I know 
the prosecution has only got hearsay and conjecture."
 
 "For me that's true.  For you, there's an eye
witness.  Frank you're going to have to 
give it up.  It's going to happen with or without your
cooperation.  Mac is going to call 
the inquest and the man who saw you and Sergei
fighting is going to testify.  I don't 
want to throw you to the wolves but I have a future I
care about.  I'm not going to 
prison.  And neither will you if you're smart about it
and listen to your lawyer."
 
 "Just who is this guy who allegedly saw me?" he asked
guardedly.  "One of Sergei's 
Russian mob friends?"
 
 "I swear people have Russian Mafia on the brain,"
Harm groaned.  "Look if Sergei 
had enemies at all it was from his life in Chechnya,
which might explain his 
desperation to stay here.   And it doesn't even
matter.  You're going to tell Mac what 
happened that night and she's going to put you on the
stand."
 
 Frank wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. "This
is going to devastate your 
mother."
 
 "If we get lucky, we can maybe keep it all quiet,"
Harm offered.  "At least until it's all 
over."
  
  Frank nodded and with a long sigh looked over at his
stepson. "I only did it 
  to protect her" he whispered. "I didn't want her to
have to go through 
  this."
  
  "So you let me take the fall instead?" Harm
demanded.
  
  "No" Frank shouted. "I had no idea they would think
you were responsible.  
  You weren't even there. I figured they'd assume it
was a random killing and 
  leave it at that. I had no idea you were being
charged with the crime."
  
  "But when Mac called you you knew. And you still
weren't going to say 
  anything were you?"
  
  "I don't know" Frank sighed. "I didn't want your
mother hurt.  I hope I would have 
come forward if the worst happened in your trial."
  
  "You don't think it hurt her to see her son on trial
for murder?" Harm 
  shrieked. "That's when she collapsed. When she found
out it was going to 
  court martial."
  
  "Look I'm sorry. I was scared and I didn't think,
And when Mac called, all I 
  could think about was your mother."
  
  "Frank I need to hear the truth from you. What
happened that night?"
  
  For several moments he sat silently. "Harm this
could ruin me. My business. 
  My life with your mother. Everything I have could be
gone."
  
  "What about my life Frank?" Harm demanded. "My
career. My life with Mac. 
  Doesn't that matter at all?"
  
  "Yes" Frank sighed. "Yes it does."
  
  "You won't go to jail if this happened as Mr.
Caproletti said it did. It was 
  self defense Frank."
  
  "It did happen like that" Frank said quietly. "I did
go back. But it wasn't 
  to see him. I'd left my briefcase at your place and
I didn't realize it 
  until I got half way to the airport. When I went
back, he was there. I 
  didn't want to start anything with him but he
wouldn't let it go. He kept 
  going on and on about how he was going to go to see
your mother. And I 
  warned him to stay away from her and that if he
didn't I'd make sure he was 
  sent back to Russia. That's when he got livid and
attacked me. He was going 
  to kill me. And he would have if I hadn't reached
for the knife."
  
  "Did you have to kill him?" Harm whispered.
  
  "Harm I didn't mean to. I just grabbed the knife and
stabbed at him to get 
  him away from me. He would have strangled me if I
hadn't."
  
  "I'm sorry" Harm sighed. "I'm sorry you were put in
that position. I'm sorry 
  that I ever got you and Mom involved in all this."
  
  "I don't blame you. You had no way of knowing how
desperate he would get."
  
  "Thank you for telling me this" Harm said with a
long sigh.
  
  "I'll tell whoever I need to what happened," Frank
said quietly. "But I want 
  to be the one to tell your mother what happened. I
want her to hear it from 
  me. Not anyone else."
  
  "That's fine. Do you want me there as well?"
  
  "It might not be a bad idea for you to be there in
case she can't deal with 
  it" Frank sighed. "I don't know how she's going to
react to this. I killed a 
  man. A man that may have been her first husband's
son."
  
  "Frank it was self defense. Sergei would have killed
you. You had no 
  choice."
  
  "What if she doesn't see it that way?"
  
  "Mom will understand" Harm assured him. "She won't
see you as some cold 
  blooded killer. It was self defense Frank."
  
  "I just didn't want to put her through anything
else" Frank sighed. "She's 
  already had too much to deal with."
  
  "I know. And that's my fault" Harm said quietly.
"I'm the one who created 
  this mess."
  
  "No you didn't. You were just trying to help Sergei
out. You had no idea how 
  desperate he'd become."
  
  "No I didn't" Harm sighed. "And I'm sorry you got
stuck in the middle of all 
  this. I promise that Mac and I will take care of
everything."
  
 "That's more than I deserve but thank you," Frank
breathed.  "I was just so hoping it 
would blow over.  Harm I didn't want him to die. 
Believe that or not, but I swear he 
was within a half inch of ending my life.  I was
starting to black out.  In fact. . ."  He 
paused and pulled his turtleneck down away from his
neck.
 
 "Oh my god."  Harm could not help his utterance as
hesaw the stark bruises, still 
very much visible.
 
 "I wasn't able to speak for the first day," he
sighed.  "And I didn't want to see a 
doctor.  But I was seriously thinking the boy had done
some major damage there.  
And ashamedly I can also admit that I was thinking if
that was the case, I had my 
revenge."
 
 "Did you think to call for help for him?" Harm asked
softly, now picturing his 
brother's last seconds.
 
 "No he was dead.  I knew that right away," Frank
replied.  
 
 "Which was confirmed by the medical examiner anyway,"
Harm remembered.  
"Severed aorta, death following within seconds."
   
 "Well if it makes you feel any better son I'm going
to hear that death scream and 
see his face every night for the rest of my life,"
Frank sighed.
 ======================
  OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
 24 Hours Later
 
 "Frank you're not going to make yourself popular here
if you wear a track in their 
linoleum," Harm said softly.  "Come sit.  Pacing is
not going to make the man rule 
any faster."
 
 "I know.  I want to believe it's going to be OK," he
sighed.  "I could lose everything 
over this, and the thing is, it wasn't my fault at
all."
 
 "And didn't Mac present that well," Harm grinned and
squeezed her hand.  "You 
had the best."
 
 "Yes I did."  Frank allowed himself a small smile. 
"Sarah, no matter what--I thank 
you for your efforts.  No one, not even the
seven-figure guy that heads my legal 
department, could have done better.  AJ you've got a
fine team here in these two.  A 
smart C.O. won't let them get separated, for any
reason."
 
 "My A team?  Are you kidding," AJ smiled, his comment
taking both of them by 
surprise.
 
 It was another long ten minutes before they were
re-admitted to the small hearing 
room, standing this time around the desk.
 
 "In the case of the death of Sergei Anton Zhukov,"
the coroner intoned.  "Death is 
ruled self defense.  All involved are free to go. 
Case closed."
 
 Harm and Mac threw their arms around each other and
AJ at once shook Frank's 
hand.  
 
 "Thank god," Frank sighed.  "Now all I have to do is
explain this whole mess to 
Trish.  And then to take her home."
     
  "And I'm going to help you do that" Harm assured
him. "It'll be easier for 
  her if we're both there."
  
  They made their way back to the hospital, both happy
to see her sitting up 
  and looking better than she had in days.
  
  "I was wondering where you'd gone" Trish smiled as
Frank reached down to 
  kiss her. "Is everything okay?"
  
  "It's going to be" Frank said as he sat down and
took her hand "Honey we 
  need to tell you something."
  
  "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like
this?" Trish said as she 
  looked up at Harm and Mac.
  
  "Mom it's okay" Harm assured her. "All the charges
against me have been 
  dropped."
  
  "Oh thank god" she whispered. "What happened? Did
they find the real 
  killer?"
  
  "No he came forward," Frank said quietly. "Trish I
don't know how to say 
  this so I'm just going to say it. I'm the one that
killed Sergei."
  
  For a moment she just stared at her husband, unable
to comprehend what he'd 
  just said. "I don't understand" she whispered.
  
  "When I flew to Philadelphia last week I made a stop
over here to see Harm. 
  I knew this whole mess with Sergei was getting to
you and I wanted to put a 
  stop to it. While I was there, I saw Sergei. He
threatened to go to San 
  Diego to talk to you in person. I told him to stay
away from you or else. He 
  left and so did I. But I'd left my briefcase and
when I came back Harm and 
  Mac were gone but Sergei had come back. We got into
it again. He attacked me 
  and I did the only thing I could to save myself."
  
  "You killed him?"
  
  "He had no choice Mom" Harm spoke up. "Sergei would
have killed him if he 
  hadn't."
  
  "Why didn't you say something sooner?" Trish asked.
"My god, Harm was on 
  trial for his murder. He could have gone to prison
for this."
  
  "I would never have let that happen. And until Mac
called to tell me what 
  had happened to you I had no idea that Harm was
being charged with Sergei's 
  murder."
  
  "Why did you run away?"
  
  "I was scared honey.  Scared of what I feared could
be retaliation by his cohorts," 
Frank whispered. "Scared of what you'd do when you 
found out. I didn't want to be 
involved in a murder. Even if it was self-defense. But
mostly I was just scared of 
losing you."
  
  "I don't know what to say" Trish whispered. "Why did
he attack you? What was 
  he so angry about?"
  
  "Sergei was afraid Mom" Harm said quietly. "Afraid
of going back to Russia. 
  He had enemies there. He knew if he went back they
would come after him. 
  That's why he was so desperate to stay."
  
  "I'm sorry," she said softly. "This is my fault. I
could have turned those 
  letters over to you."
  
  "Mom it's not your fault" Harm sighed. "I'm the one
who brought him here 
  without figuring out how he could stay.  I don't
want you blaming yourself 
  for this either."
  
  "But if I'd turned over the letters" she started and
stopped. "So we'll 
  never know for sure if he was really your brother."
  
  "No we won't" Harm said softly.
  
  "Gut feeling Harm" Trish said as she looked at her
son. "Your instincts are 
  as good as your father's. Do you really think he was
your father's son?"
  
  "I don't know Mom. Part of me says no way. That
there's no way Dad would 
  ever have betrayed us that way. But then he was very
convincing. He knew 
  stuff. I don't know how but he did. I really don't
know. But it doesn't 
  matter now. It's all over. And I'd like for all of
us to put this behind us. 
  I'm sorry I trudged up the past and hurt you and
Frank."
  
  "It's okay Harm" Trish said as she reached for his
hand. "It's not your 
  fault either. And you're right. We all need to put
this behind us. And 
  that's exactly what we're going to do."
  
  ************************
  Dulles International Airport
  Three Days Later
  
  "You'll let me know you're in and everything is okay
right?" Harm asked as 
  he and Mac stood at the security gate with Trish and
Frank.
  
  "I will" Frank assured him. "And as soon as we talk
to the doctor out there 
  I'll let you know what's going on."
  
  "I don't want you worrying about me" Trish said as
she looked at her son. 
  "I'm fine. Now that this whole mess if over I feel
like a huge weight has 
  been lifted from my shoulders."
  
  "You know I'll always worry about you" Harm sighed
as he hugged her again.
  
  "I know but you've got someone else to worry about
now" Trish smiled as she 
  let go and looked over at Mac. "Thank you dear for
everything."
  
  "My pleasure" Mac smiled as she hugged her.
  
  "You know you two are welcome anytime you want to
come out" Trish said 
  softly.
  
  "We won't be strangers" Mac promised.
  
  "Harm I hope after everything this woman has done
for you you're going to do 
  something nice for her" Frank spoke up.
  
  "Oh I have a little plan" Harm smiled as he draped
his arm around Mac's 
  shoulder. "I promised Mac something when all this
was over and I'm going to 
  make good on my promise."
  
"Mac what's he talking about?" Trish asked.  "I'm
dying to know."
 
 "Well a few years ago he promised me a baby," she
smiled slyly, "but I don't think 
that's what we're talking here."
 
 "Not yet," he grinned.  "She'll find out, and so will
you and we'll send you pictures."
 
 "That had better be a promise," Trish groaned.  "OK
old man let's get me moving.  
But first, Harmon Rabb, you hang on to his one.  She's
good for you."
 
 Harm nearly choked, hearing Mac's words of over a
year ago come from his 
mother, excepting that the subject of the remark was a
totally different person.
 
 "Yes ma'am.  She's not going to be willingly allowed
to leave my life," he said softly, 
leaning to kiss his mother's cheek.
 
 "Bye Trish and Frank," Mac called and turned to Harm
with a soft smile as they 
walked away.  "That was a pretty strong remark for
someone who normally can't 
voice his emotions."
 
 "This is the new me," he grinned.  "The new me who's
in love with you and who has 
no problem letting the world know that."
 
 "Yes I'd say it is the new you," she replied happily.
 "And by the way, I love you too.  
Do I get my surprise now?"
 
 "Tomorrow.  And tonight I'll tell you a little about
it, but we have something else we 
need to do first.  At least I do.  And I'd like you to
come if you would, but if you don't 
want to I'll understand."
 
 "Of course I'll come, but what. . .where. . . ."
 
 "We're going to bury my brother."
 
 "Huh?  How?  I mean. . ."
 
 "Frank told me to have them release the body and paid
for him to have a plot rather 
than just be buried in Potter's Field," he explained. 
"He'll have a plot and a marker.  
It's the least I can do.  I wasn't a good brother in
life, but maybe in death."
 
 "Harm you told Trish you weren't certain. . ." she
began.
 
 "I know.  I just wanted her to have that doubt.  But
I've seen him up close Mac.  
He's got Rabb eyes."
 ================
 
 Garden of Gethsemane Cemetery
 2 Hours Later
 
 The casket was in place when they arrived, and they
were not the only attendees.
 
 "You called Singer?"
 
 "Yeah I did," he replied.  "I really have no clue
what was happening between them, 
but I figured she deserved a chance to say goodbye."
 
 "Harm this woman wanted you to go to prison."
 
 "Mic Brumby had a similar thought about you once
remember.  I just wanted to do 
the right thing is all."
 
 It was over almost as quickly as it had begun.  The
priest and Singer left together, 
Harm lingering at the casket, resting his hand on the
edge.  
 
 "You want a couple minutes?" she offered.
 
 "Alone?  Hell no.  I don't want you ever leaving me
alone," he said firmly, gathering 
her to his side.  "Now it's over.  We can go home."
 =================
 MAC's APARTMENT
 24 hours later
 
 "We're not going on safari," Harm groaned, surveying
the luggage she had spread 
out on the bed.  "It's only for five nights that we'll
be gone."
 
 "Yes but you haven't told me where we're going.  All
I got was pack from casual to 
dressy.  You men can get a way with jeans for casual
and dark suit for dressy.  It's 
not that easy with us."
 
 "I thought you Marines could pack your lives into a
twenty pound duffel.  Did you 
remember pajamas?"
 
 She stopped in mid-motion and sent him a long look. 
"What pajamas?  I actually 
thought I'd sleep in this."  She held up a semi-sheer
pale green gown, similar to the 
one she had worn on that long-ago night in the Moscow
hotel.
 
 "You wear that and there won't be much sleeping going
on," he sighed with a sly 
smile.
 
 "Why do you think I chose it," she grinned, running
her hand along the silky fabric 
just to frustrate him, and eliciting the moan from him
she expected.  "And I'm ready," 
she added with a decisive snap of the last suitcase.
 
 "I've been ready and we're running late but not to
worry, they'll probably wait for 
us," he growled playfully.
 
 BALTIMORE HARBOR
 1 Hour later
 
 "And here we are," Harm announced, pulling into the
parking lot.  "Now we just 
have to find Slip Forty-five and we're out of here."
 
 "A boat?  We're going on a boat?"
 
 "Just stay close and you'll see," he answered,
lifting out the bags and allowing her 
to take only one.
 
 It was not a boat exactly, it was a yacht. 
Twenty-five feet of sailing pleasure, 
captained by Tyler Chambers as the young man
introduced himself, and his 'first 
mate' Andrea Stone.  "So I understand we're off to
Bermuda?" Tyler grinned to Mac.
 
 "Happy surprise," Harm whispered.

   "We're sailing to Bermuda" Mac gasped.
 
 "Is that okay?" Harm asked.
 
 "More than okay" Mac said as she threw her arms
around Harm. "I love you 
 Harmon Rabb."
 
 *****************
 Two Days Later
 
 "Harm this is so wonderful" Mac sighed as she stood
at the rail and looked 
 out at the setting sun to the West.
 
 "So I did good?" he smiled as he walked up behind her
and wrapped his arms 
 around her.
 
 "You did very good" she said softly as she leaned
back against him. "Thank 
 you."
 
 "After everything you did for me it's the least I
could do. And I'm the one 
 who should be thanking you. You're the one who saved
my six from going to 
 Leavenworth."
 
 "I didn't have a choice" Mac whispered. "I couldn't
spend the rest of my 
 life without you around."
 
 "Would you like to have me around for the rest of
your life?" Harm asked 
 softly as he gently turned her around to face him.
 
 "Are you asking me something specific here sailor?"
Mac whispered, her heart 
 pounding a mile a minute.
 
 "Yes I am Sarah Mackenzie" he said as he pulled out a
small box from the 
 pocket of his shorts. "I'm asking you to be my wife"
he whispered as he 
 removed the diamond ring from the box.
 
 "Oh Harm" she managed as tears of happiness slid down
her face.
 
 "Will you marry me Sarah?" he asked as he slid the
ring onto her finger.
 
 "Yes" she whispered. "I would love to marry you
Harmon Rabb."
 
 "Thank you" he said softly before their lips met in a
long kiss.
 
 ************
 Burnett Home
 1 Week Later
 
 "Frank come quick" Trish called. "Harm emailed the
pictures from the trip he 
 and Mac went on."
 
 "So where did he take her?" Frank asked as he hurried
to the computer.
 
 "Bermuda" Trish smiled. "There's the yacht he
chartered. And there's the 
 island. And..oh my god, I don't believe it. Is that
what I think it is on 
 Mac's left hand?"
 
 "Looks like you've got a wedding to plan" Frank
grinned.
 
 THE END