TITLE:  "Fatherhood I-It All Began When. . "
        AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
        SUMMARY/SPOILERS:   From an old liaison comes a new love.  An Annie Pendry story.  
[If you were an Annie fan likely you will not like the way we have interpreted her character] .  
Any JAG episode may or may not be referred to in this work.  Neither Sergei nor Afghanistan 
play a role here.
       CLASSIFCATION/RATING:  J/S/R/A       PG for mild violence and language
        DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al.  No copyright infringement is 
intended with this work of fiction.
      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 
         
                      http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
         
               The message archives are open to all 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.}
 
**********************
"Fatherhood I-It All Began When. . ."

 "Would you look at this," Harm laughed, motioning to Sturgis to catch up to him.  "Our opposing 
counsel is attempting to psyche us out Mr. Turner.  She invites us in for a plea discussion and 
she sits reading the paper."
 
 "Oh your client is so full of guilt it's running out his eyeballs," she scoffed.  "I'm only entertaining 
your offer because I happen to like you two.  Well one of you.  How are you Sturgis?"
 
 "Cute Marine, real cute," Harm groaned and sank into the chair.  "Real nice way to treat your 
partner."
 
 "Guys I don't have time for the Harm and Mac Goodtime Hour this morning," Sturgis objected 
just as his cell phone rang.  He listened for a moment and shook his head.  "All right.  Tell Lt. 
Baker I'm on my way and to not say another word."  He put away his phone and looked up in 
disgust.  "Rain check guys.  I've got a Lieutenant causing a prison riot at Quantico."
 
 "We'll be here," she laughed.  "You'll know Harm.  He'll be the one begging."
 
 "Harm make me proud while I'm gone," Sturgis sighed.
 
 For the next few minutes Mac continued to read while Harm sat idly by.  "Whenever you're 
ready to talk serious guilt, I'm listening," she said finally.
 
 "I'm starting with no confinement," he warned.  "Mac the man is. . ."  He paused when he 
realized her expression had changed as she stared intently at the paper.  "Mac what is so much 
more interesting there than me?"
 
 "You think Annie still lives in Baltimore?"
 
 "Yeah I had a Christmas card from her but. . .Annie's in the paper?"
 
 "Yeah it has to be the same one then."
 
 Another long pause and her face took on an unreadable expression.
 
 "Mac what is it?" he demanded, reaching for the paper, only to have her fold it up before he 
could.  "Look are you going to tell me or not?"
 
 "There was a bank hold up yesterday morning at the bank where she's branch manager," Mac 
said slowly.  "Apparently she's some kind of hero for IDing the guy, getting the plate number of 
the car and so forth."
 
 "And this concerns me how, since she didn't even write anything but 'we're fine, hope you are 
too' on her card."
 
 Mac looked once more at the paper.  "There's a picture.  The caption starts off, Anne Pendry, 
shown here with her daughter. . ."
 
 "Huh?  That doesn't make any sense.  Annie had Josh and that was all," he scowled.  
"Daughter?  What daughter?  What the hell is it talking about?"
 
 "It says here she's two and a half Harm," she said gently and slowly.  "You wanna do the math 
or should I spell it out for you?"
  
  "What math.." he started before his eyes widened as he realized what she was 
  saying. "You don't think it could be" he stopped again and snatched the 
  newspaper from her hands to look at the picture himself.
  
  "You tell me," Mac said quietly. "I uh, assume you two were intimate. And 
  unless you think that Annie was sleeping with someone else while she was 
  with you, I'd say that more than likely that child is yours."
  
  "Why on earth wouldn't she have told me?"
  
  "Harm when did anything Annie ever did make sense?" Mac said gently.
  
  "Don't start with the Neurotic Annie stuff again" Harm groaned. "Please. Not 
  while I’m still trying to make sense of this."
  
  "Sorry. And I'm not trying to be mean. But you know yourself she wasn't the 
  most stable person. Didn't she just throw you out of her and Josh's life 
  after the Tiger Tiger cruise?"
  
  "She didn't handle things well," Harm admitted. "But I still don’t believe 
  she would have had a baby and not told me. Especially if it was mine."
  
  "Well I think there's only one way you're going to find that out. You have 
  her address in Baltimore right?"
  
  "Yes I do" Harm nodded. "You know except for the Christmas cards I haven't 
  talked to her since the day she walked out of here."
  
  "Well if she was pregnant that might explain it" Mac smiled. "You know how 
  Harriet was when she was pregnant."
  
  "God I can't believe I might be a father" he sighed.
  
  "Not what you wanted?" Mac questioned.
  
  "No it's what I've wanted for a while now," he admitted. "Course you have to 
  find the right person to have a baby with."
  
  "Renee was willing" Mac pointed out.
  
  "Yeah well she wasn't the right person. She may have been willing but it 
  would never have worked. I didn't love her remember."
  
  "Did you love Annie?"
  
  "I don't know" Harm sighed. "I guess maybe I thought I did. Course maybe I was just more 
  in love with the idea of having a ready made family to take care of."
  
  "And Josh adored you."
  
  "Yeah he did. Course he probably hates me now. I can only guess what Annie 
  told him when we split."
  
  "So what are you going to do?" she asked.
  
  "I guess I'm going to have to go to Baltimore and see Annie. I need to know 
  the truth Mac. If that child is mine, I want to know about. I want to be a 
  part of her life."
  
  "How do you think Annie is going to react when she sees you?"
  
  "She'll probably flip. But I don't care. I have the right to know the 
  truth."
  
  "Would you like a third party around just in case she goes ballistic?" Mac 
  offered.
  
  "You'd go with me? I mean I know you never really liked her."
  
  "Harm that wasn't a real good time in my life either remember?" Mac said 
  quietly. "I wasn't exactly on stable ground myself then."
  
  "I know. And I appreciate the offer. It might not be a bad thing to have you 
  there in case things don't go smoothly."
  
  "I'd be happy to go. I'm guessing you're not going to call first and warn 
  her you're coming?"
  
  "No we're going to go with the surprise attack" Harm nodded. "That way she 
  won't have time to try and come up with a story to make me believe 
  otherwise."
  
  "You think she's yours don't you?" Mac said softly.
  
  "Mac Annie would never have slept with anyone else then. She'd just moved to 
  Baltimore. She barely knew anyone besides me. I would bet a year's salary 
  that that little girl is mine."
  
  "Do you want her to be?"
 
 His mouth opened and closed several times while he attempted to formulate an answer and 
then he simply shrugged helplessly.  "I just need to talk to Annie right now.  You sure you want 
to come?"
 
 "Positive.  You may need legal advice.  But Harm listen to a word of womanly advice first.  
Don't attack, and don't think you're just going to march in to this child's life and announce you're 
daddy.  It's not going work that way, even if Annie is willing, which I'd say she's not since she 
failed to notify you she was pregnant with your child.  Of course there's always the possibility it's 
not yours.  You don't know for sure if she was exclusive you know."
 
 "Thank you for pointing out the obvious to me," he snapped and added quietly, "sorry."
 
 "Excused.  Just that Harm you tend to go off the deep end on these things sometimes."
 
 "When do I--did I--do that?" he demanded with a scowl.
 
 "Dar-lyn, Roscoe, your father. . ." she replied with a soft smile.
 
 "Never mind.  I withdraw the question.  Can we go?"
 
 Just over an hour later Harm turned onto the tree-lined street that he recalled easily and drove 
toward the house, slowing but not stopping.  "Oh my god," he breathed and Mac looked to 
where he was staring.
 
 Sitting on the front step was a young woman, apparently the baby-sitter, and contentedly 
playing behind a chain link fence was the child in question, chasing two puppies across the 
yard.  
 
 Harm swallowed hard, slowing almost to a crawl before a horn blasted behind him.  "I guess I 
didn't expect to see her this close or this soon or something," he gasped before hitting the gas 
and sending the car careening around the corner.  
 
 "Harm stop," Mac screeched, "slow down, take your foot off the gas pedal."  
 
 "OK sorry there," he breathed.  "Did I scare you?"
 
 "No I often scream and have a bladder accident while my life flashes before me.  Now listen, 
park the car.  We'll simply walk by the house and then we can decide.  I'm guessing the girl is 
the sitter.  It's still the workday after all."
 
 "Yeah OK thanks," he panted.  "I'm glad you're here."
 
 "Oh you're going to owe me big time after that little stunt," she smiled, resting a calming hand 
on his arm.  "Park here Commander, and remember we're not in a tomcat--you're not going to 
be tail hooked.  You have brakes."
 
 The parking accomplished, he turned off the engine but made no move to exit the car.
 
 "Well," she prompted.
 
 "Getting cold feet.  You know how I am under pressure."
 
 "Everywhere but the courtroom or cockpit," she chided him.  "Move it Commander.  We can't sit 
here all day without being arrested."  She gave his arm a tug and opened her door, and when 
he came around to her side, he reached for her arm.  Even more surprising, his hand slid down 
until it was encasing hers.
 
 "I'm ready," he whispered.  "Let's not scare her or the sitter now."
 
 Mac squeezed her fingers against his and stepped forward, pulling him at first but after a few 
steps he fell into step with her.  Casually they walked toward the yard, slowing down when they 
came near.
 
 The little girl chased one of the puppies toward them and Harm stopped their progress.  "Hey 
cute puppies," he said hesitantly, not wanting to frighten the child nor alarm the sitter.  As it was 
the girl rose from the step and walked down the sidewalk quickly.  
 
 "Hi," Harm said, flashing her that disarming smile that worked every time.  "Cute puppies.  And 
what a sweet little girl.  Not yours I'm sure."
 
 "No sir.  I'm the sitter," she nodded, keeping her distance from the fence.  The child paused her 
play when she focused on Harm and Mac and came over slowly, the sitter picking her up before 
she could get too close.
 
 "You're a pretty little one," Harm breathed.  "What's your name?"
 
 "Mikayla," she said shyly.  Her dark hair framed her face, curling from her perspiration.  Her 
face was streaked with dirt as were her clothes.  
 
 Mac gave Harm a questioning look and he shook his head, not sure what to think.  Not sure 
until a second later when the child's eyes opened wide and she smiled at the same time.  Eyes 
of Rabb green, and a smile that perfectly matched her father's.
 
 "Mikayla time to feed the puppies and get you cleaned up," the girl said firmly.  "Say bye bye."
 
 "OK.  Bye bye man and lady," Mikayla chortled as the girl hurried her inside, the puppies 
following at her heels.
 
 "Are you OK?" Mac asked after a long moment, seeing Harm staring after them, still watching 
even after the door shut.  He did not reply and Mac wrapped her hands around his arm, 
realizing he was in semi-shock.  "Come on.  We'll get some coffee or something."  Still he did 
not move and only until she pulled insistently did he make any effort to follow her.
 
 "She's Rabb," he finally managed by the time they reached the car.  "Mac she's my daughter."   
  
  "I know" Mac said gently. Even to her there was no doubt the little girl was 
  Harm's. "Give me the keys Flyboy. You're in no condition to drive."
  
  Wordlessly he handed her the keys and she made sure he was in before 
  hurrying around to the driver's side.
  
  "Mac why wouldn't she have told me?" he asked as she drove. "I don’t 
  understand. I have a right to know about my child."
  
  "I don't know Harm. But we'll figure all that out. Right now I'm going to 
  find us a coffee shop and we're both going to get a nice hot cup of coffee."
  
  He nodded and sank back in his seat, a million thoughts running through his 
  mind. He was a father. That beautiful little girl was his. And he wasn't 
  going to not be a part of her life.
  
  Mac finally spotted a Starbucks and a short time later they sat sipping 
  their coffee.
  
  "I don't understand" he murmured. "Why wouldn't she have told? It couldn't 
  be because she thought I'd be upset because she knew I wanted kids. I just 
  don't understand it."
  
  "You're going to have to talk to Annie to get those answers," Mac said 
  quietly. "I'm sure she had her reasons."
  
  "I still can't believe I'm a father. It's all so surreal."
  
  "Do you want to go back later and talk to Annie?" Mac asked.
  
  "Hell yeah. I want answers. Do you realize if you hadn't had your nose in 
  the newspaper I would never know about this?"
  
  "See I'm good for something" Mac smiled. "Just don't tell Annie. She always 
  hated me."
  
  "I think she just felt a little inferior next to you. You were always so in 
  control and she was always on the edge."
  
  "Is that all there was to it? I got the feeling she was a little possessive 
  of you there for a while."
  
  He smiled but said nothing. Annie had always been uncomfortable with his 
  relationship with Mac. He still remembered her asking if he was secretly in 
  love with Mac.
  
  "Earth to Flyboy" Mac said as she tapped his hand. "You still there?'
  
  "Yeah. Sorry. Just zoning again. It's been a weird day."
  
  "It's not every day that you find out you're a parent" Mac said softly. "I 
  envy you."
  
  "You'll make a great Mom one day Mac," he said quietly.
  
  "Like that's going to happen" she scoffed. "We're not getting any younger 
  here Commander."
  
  "We still have two years left on a contract we made" he smiled. "Even if you 
  did tell me last year that the contract was null and void."
  
  "Yeah well I was in another world back then," she admitted. "So we still 
  have a contract?"
  
  "I haven't backed out on it have I?"
  
  "No you haven't?" she nodded. "Neither have I."
  
  "So see there's still a chance Colonel" Harm smiled. "And you already see 
  what my half of the genes can look like. I can only imagine what our child 
  would look like."
  
  "My brains and your looks" Mac smiled. "What did I tell you?"
  
  "I think he would have your looks and my brains."
  
  "Not another Flyboy with your brain" Mac groaned. "She should look like you 
  and have my brains. That way she'll know how to take care of herself."
  
  "That would work. Though I know Grams is still holding out hope that I'll 
  have a son one day so that the Rabb name will continue."
  
  "I could so see you with a son" Mac said softly.
  
  "One day. Right now I have to find out about my daughter. And why Annie 
  didn't want me to find out about her."
  
  "Well she has bankers hours right?" Mac smiled. "She should be on her way 
  home now. What do you say we go meet her?"
  
  He nodded and Mac turned the car back towards Annie's house. The car in the 
  driveway told them she was home and Harm took a deep breath.
  
  "I'm really glad you're here," he said quietly. "Because I'm going to do my 
  best to stay calm but right now I just want answers and if she doesn't give 
  them to me I might lose it."
  
  "Your voice of reason is here" Mac smiled as she patted his hand. "You ready 
  sailor?"
  
  Together they walked to the front door and with a slightly trembling hand 
  Harm knocked on the door. A few seconds later the door opened and a huge 
  smile crossed Josh Pendry's face.
  
  "Harm" he shouted. "It's you. I don’t believe it."
  
  "Hey buddy" Harm smiled. "How you doing?"
  
  "Great. I can't believe you're here. I always ask Mom about you and she said 
  she didn't know what you were doing anymore."
  
  "You know I didn't leave you right?" Harm asked quietly.
  
  "I know it wasn't you" Josh nodded. "Mom told me it was but I knew it 
  wasn't. She was mad because we lied to her."
  
  "Is your Mom home?" Harm asked.
  
  "Josh who" Annie called, stopping when she saw who was at the door. "Harm. 
  What are you doing here?"
  
  "I need to talk to you Annie. About Mikayla"
  
  "I have nothing to say to you Harm. Josh, go to your room."
  
  "Mom" Josh started.
  
  "I said go to your room young man" Annie snapped. "Now."
  
  "You order me around like I'm in plebe camp--where I'm not ever going to be according to 
you," he snapped and ran up the stairs, his feet pounding out an angry pattern.
 
 "Harm this is the last thing I need right now," she said irritably.  "I've got a job making me crazy, 
a guy in my life doing the same, a boy who's going to be the death of me and a willful child who 
exhausts me in the few hours I'm able to carve out of my so called life to spend with her.  I don't 
want to do this with you."
 
 "We need to talk Annie. . ."  A long piercing wail from upstairs cut off his words and he looked 
at Mac in alarm.
 
 "It's nothing," Annie told him, reading his thoughts, then yelling up the stairs.  "Joshua Lucas 
Pendry do not torment your sister."
 
 "Then tell her to stay the hell out of my things."
 
 "He's not the same boy you knew four years ago Harm," Annie said quietly.  "And if you knew 
anything about a domestic household you'd know that the hours between the time a woman 
gets home from work and the time she gets her family to bed and collapses in exhaustion and 
tears are the absolutely worst time to try to talk about anything more than someone set the table 
and for godsake stop the child from eating out of the bag of dog food."
 
 "Yeah OK you're right," he conceded.  "OK.  But I know she's my daughter. Don't make me go 
to court and get a DNA order.  You've cut me out of more than two years of her life and I won't 
allow you to have any more."
 
 "Harm. . ."
 
 "No I'm talking you're listening now," he snapped.  "Tomorrow.  Noontime.  Name the place."
 
 She gave him a defiant look, which he returned in kind.
 
 "Haussner's.  Near the harbor.  I'll be there at noon."
 
 "OK that's doable.  Let me see my daughter please."
 
 Another wail from upstairs emphasized Annie's next words.  "This is not a good time.  I told you 
that."
 
 "I'm not leaving until I see her."
 
 "Mac can't you. . ."  Annie pleaded.
 
 "I'm on his side," she said firmly.  "Plus---and I hope it won't come to that---I'll be representing 
him in whatever legal action he elects.  Now why don't you let him see Mikayla.  Just for a 
couple minutes.   And to speak to Josh too.  Then we're out of your hair."
 
 "Mac. . ." Harm breathed, ever fiber of his being exuding gratefulness at that moment.
 
 "Josh bring Mikayla down here.  Now," she shouted.
 
 "You can take her out into the backyard.  She's scared of strangers but with Josh with her she'll 
be OK.  Excuse me.  I've got laundry to do."
 
 She was gone by the time Josh had carried Mikayla down and he looked around in confusion.  
"Harm what's going on?"
 
 "Your mom said we could go to the backyard," Mac interjected.  "Harm just wants to get 
acquainted with Mikayla is all."
 
 Harm could only stare at the child.  
 
 "What are you doing here anyway," Josh scowled, motioning them to follow him through the 
kitchen.   "Sorry about the mess.  Stuff just doesn't get done around here."
 
 Mac sent Harm a sharp look as they passed through and he shook his head.  Mess was putting 
it mildly as every surface was covered with a used plate or glass, boxes of cereal and cookies 
sat open and there was mail and papers piled everywhere.
 
 "Harm I asked what you're doing here after all this time," Josh said, sitting on a broken glider.  
Mikayla had stopped squirming, now staring at Harm.  Josh released her and she got off his lap, 
still staring at Harm, keeping her distance for the moment.

 Harm drew in a long breath.  "Josh what did your mom tell you about Mikayla?  When she was 
born I mean."
 
 "Just that I was going to have a baby sister," he shrugged.  "I never thought much about it back 
then.  Didn't think it much affected me.  I didn't know I was going to have to help out.  Have you 
ever changed a poopy diaper Harm?"
 
 "No can't say as I have," he admitted, his eyes fixed on Mikayla who had taken a step toward 
him.  
 
 "Yeah well it's not fun.  And it's not fun to be stuck here at home responsible for a kid who can't 
keep out of trouble.  Every second she's awake she's into something.  My life is crap Harm.  
And I don't even have the Academy to look forward to.  Mom when she had her. . .like for a long 
time. . .she just wasn't normal you know.  We were in separate foster homes for a while even till 
she got her act together.  Well enough to fool the social worker I mean.  She's still wasn't OK.  
Always screaming at me and the baby."
 
 "Josh I'm sorry," Harm said sincerely.  "It's not easy with you and a little one I'm sure."
 
 "Yeah well how would you know--you left her.  You left her and me, and you didn't even come 
see the baby.  You're her father for christsake.  At least that's what mom said."
 
 Harm looked as if he had been hit between the eyes with a two by four, and Mac put a 
restraining hand on Josh's arm.  
 
 "Mikayla," Harm called softly and the little girl gave him a shy smile.
 
 "She won't go to you," Josh spoke up.  "She hates people she doesn't know.  We've had one 
sitter after another.  They don't stay."
 
 "Mikayla," Harm repeated, ignoring Josh's words for the moment.
 
 "She won't. . ." Josh tried again.  "Well I'll be damned.  She's never. . ."
 
 Mac followed Josh's gaze and what she saw nearly brought her to tears.  The child had climbed 
into Harm's arms, and the Naval officer was now rocking her back and forth, his big hand resting 
in the dark curly hair.  "She's my daughter Sarah," he whispered.
     
  "Of course she is" Josh scoffed. "You knew that."
  
  "No I didn't" Harm said quietly. "Josh your Mom never told me about 
  Mikayla."
  
  "No way."
  
  "Yes way. I only found out because Mac read the story about the robbery at 
  the bank. Otherwise I would never have known."
  
  "Mom didn't tell you?" Josh questioned.
  
  "No she didn't. And the only reason I haven't been around is because she 
  made it perfectly clear she didn’t want me near you. Otherwise I would have 
  been here."
  
  "Even after you and Mom split?"
  
  "Yes. I didn't just care about you because I was dating your Mom Josh."
  
  "Then why didn’t you ever come and visit. You could have worked something 
  out with Mom if you'd really wanted to."
  
  "I guess I could have" Harm admitted. "I'm sorry. I didn’t know you missed 
  having me around."
  
  "Harm you were so much cooler than any of the other geeks Mom has gone out 
  with. Bradley is the biggest jerk ever and I swear Mom is going to marry 
  him."
  
  "Who's Bradley?" Mac asked.
  
  "Bradley Lyons, VP at the bank. He thinks he's so cool but he's just a big 
  geek. I can't believe Mom would even consider marrying someone like him."
  
  "You don't like him?" Harm smiled.
  
  "He doesn't like us" Josh sighed. "He puts on a good front for Mom but he 
  hates kids."
  
  "Your Mom is going to marry this guy?" Harm asked.
  
  "Well he hasn't asked her yet. But they've been seeing each other for a 
  while now. He helped her through her rough time."
  
  "I think she likes you" Mac said softly as Mikayla buried her head against 
  Harm's chest even more, her little arms curled up at her sides.
  
  "You think?" Harm smiled as he gently stroked the little girl's hair. "I 
  can't believe I'm holding my daughter."
  
  The door to the house swung open and Annie raced over to them.
  
  "Give me my baby" Annie demanded. "Now."
  
  "Annie I'm not hurting her" Harm said calmly. "Just let me hold her for a 
  few minutes."
  
  "No" Annie shouted as she attempted to take Mikayla from Harm. Her loud 
  voice frightened the young girl and she started to cry.
  
  "For godsake Annie you're upsetting her" Harm said as he hugged Mikayla 
  tighter. "Stop it."
  
  "Give me my baby now" Annie screamed. "She's mine and you are not going to 
  ruin her like you ruined Josh."
  
  "Annie calm down" Harm ordered, not relinquishing his hold on his child.
  
  "Mom he's not doing anything to her" Josh interrupted.
  
  "Get in the house Josh" Annie yelled. "And give me my baby before I call the 
  police."
  
  Mikayla wailed even louder and started to struggle in his arms and finally 
  Harm relented and handed her back to Annie as Josh slowly walked to the 
  house.
  
  "Get out of here and don't you dare come back" Annie hissed. "This is my 
  child and you are not going to be involved in her life."
  
  "No way Annie" Harm shook his head. "No. She's my daughter and I have every 
  right to be a part of her life. And I'm going to be."
  
  "No you don't" Annie shouted. "I won't let you."
  
  "We'll see you in court then" Mac said quietly as she and Harm walked past 
  Annie.
  
  "You won't take her from me" Annie called.
  
  "I don't want to take her from you" Harm said quietly as he turned to face 
  Annie. "I just want to be a part of her life. But if you can't deal with 
  that, then I will make a motion for full custody of my daughter."
  
  "What do you know about having a child?" Annie cried. "You have no idea 
  what's it's like raising a child alone."
  
  "No but I know what's it like to grow up without a father" Harm countered. 
  "And I can assure you my child is not going to grow up that way. I'll see 
  you in court Annie."
  
  With one last glance at his daughter he turned and walked to the car. He 
  didn't say a word as they climbed in and Mac looked over at she started to 
  pull away.
  
  "You okay?" she asked softly. "That was pretty awful back there."
  
  "Awful for Mikayla and Josh" Harm sighed. "That woman is not stable Mac. I 
  want to find out what happened when Josh said they were in foster homes."
  
  "You think she might have had a nervous breakdown?" Mac asked.
  
  "I'm betting that's it. Unless she neglected them or something. God I hope 
  that's not the case. I can't imagine she'd hurt them intentionally but I 
  just don't know."
 
 "Harm please don't think this is coming from. . .well I mean Annie and I never really were 
friends. . ."  She stopped and looked at him helplessly.
 
 "Mac spit it out for godsake.  You and I are a lot better than not being able to be straight when 
we talk."
 
 "OK I thought the woman was neurotic, you know that.  But it wasn't just a put down.  Harm she 
really did not seem all that emotionally stable to me.  Of course I'm sure that losing the man you 
love could do that and then well you know since that case in Texas especially, there's been a lot 
in the news about post partum depression, psychosis even.  But you've known her all these 
years.  You'd know better."
 
 "Not really," he sighed, running a hand through his hair.  "God Mac I'm getting scared for them 
now.  I wonder if I should get some kind of court order.  Or get Child Protective Services to 
intervene or. . ."
 
 "Or you could calm down and look at it logically," she said softly, squeezing his hands.  "Neither 
of them looked abused.  Josh didn't say she was mistreating him right.  Mikayla had no bruises.  
She certainly seemed happy--remember her playing with the puppies."
 
 "But the house," he objected, his voice tortured.
 
 "So she's not a housekeeper," Mac shrugged.  "Likely Josh doesn't help much--even more 
likely he makes more of a mess than he helps clean up."
 
 "He's so unhappy.  You saw that."
 
 "I saw a fourteen year old boy who doesn't like being told what to do and when to do it and to 
be asked to do something around the house.  Was Harmon Rabb Junior at fourteen a jewel to 
live with?"
 
 "I was a pain in the ass," he said with a small smile.  "My mom threatened every day to send 
me to military school.  Only difference was she used to say--boy I can't wait until you get to 
Annapolis.  Let them deal with you.  Let them try to make a man out of you because lord knows 
I'm not succeeding."
 
 "Wonderful woman--I have to meet her some time," Mac giggled.
 
 "I want you to," he sighed.  "And to have her meet Mikayla.  My god she has a grandchild."
 
 "Whoa Cowboy, let's get this handled first.  Hopefully by lunch tomorrow Annie will have 
calmed down and will talk reasonably.  Harm you know you're going to need to offer child 
support."
 
 "I can handle that.  Just as long as I get time with her.  You know I don't get it.  Annie said 
Mikayla is such a handful and yet she doesn't want me to have her at all.  You'd think she'd 
want the respite."

"Pride maybe," Mac offered.  "Or anger.  Harm she loved you and when you betrayed her--in 
her eyes--it was a blow.  Likely she was pregnant during the Tiger cruise and it just made it all 
seem ten times as bad."
 
 "God this is awful," he sighed, burying his face in his hands for a moment.  "OK now what.  We 
have to meet with her tomorrow.  That could be OK.  Maybe we'll be able to work out 
something.  I can be agreeable to just about anything that provides for my daughter to know 
me."
 
 "You hold that thought," Mac told him.  "And in the meantime I'm going to put some music on 
and you need to calm down and relax.  You've just become a father."
 
 "That's so scary," he gasped.  "I mean what the hell do I know about kids and families."
 
 "Harm you're not alone."  As she spoke she stopped the car in a line at a traffic light, giving her 
the opportunity to turn to him, taking his hand again and squeezing it hard.  "I told you I was 
your attorney.  I'm also your friend.  And you know I love kids.  So I say again, you're not alone."
 
 "I can't ask you. . .I mean you've got a life," he whispered, nonetheless his eyes were focused 
on hers as he knew what she was saying was what he wanted--and needed--to hear.
 
 "You are a big part of my life Mr. Rabb," she whispered softly.   "A big important part."
 
 "Thank you," he breathed, feeling a sudden rise of a sob that he choked down.
 
 "Rest, close your eyes," she ordered as the traffic moved and she freed her hand and turned 
up the music.  "We'll be back in D.C. soon enough."
 
 He was able to fall asleep, the emotionalism of the day haven taken its toll, and Mac headed 
directly for his apartment rather than make the long trip out to Falls Church when the duty day 
was already nearly over anyway.  "Flyboy you are home," she announced.
 
 "I didn't even know I'd fallen asleep."  He started to get out and then turned back to her.  
"You're coming up aren't you?"
 
 "Am I being invited?"
 
 "You're being begged.  Please.  Being alone is the last thing I want right now."

   "You sure?" she asked.
  
  "Positive. I'll just go crazy imagining what Annie could be doing to them if 
  you're not around to keep me sane."
  
  "You left yourself wide open there Flyboy" Mac smiled as she got out of the 
  car. "But I'll be gentle on you given the day you've had."
  
  "I still can't believe I'm a father" he sighed as they walked up to his 
  place. "What's even more unbelievable is if you hadn't had your nose in the 
  newspaper I would never know it."
  
  "You never had any clue?"
  
  "None. We'd been drifting apart and then the Tiger cruise was the last straw 
  for her. But I had no idea she was pregnant."
  
  "Well we'll get this all squared away" she assured him as she led him to the 
  sofa once they were inside. "You park it and I'll find the phone and order 
  us some dinner. What are you in the mood for?"
  
  "Whatever you want" he sighed as he sank down on the sofa. "You know I feel 
  bad about Josh. He was right. I could have forced Annie to let me see him."
  
  "I doubt that would have gone over real well. She hated you remember."
  
  "I know but Josh needed someone around. I shouldn't have deserted him like 
  that."
  
  "Harm Annie didn't want you around" Mac said gently. "What were you supposed 
  to do? It's not like you had any legal right to him like you do Mikayla."
  
  "I know. And she can't keep me away from her."
  
  "Hopefully she'll be more reasonable tomorrow and agree to allow you to see 
  Mikayla whenever you want. You don't want to take her away from Annie. You 
  just want to be a part of her life."
  
  "We hope. If not I'm going to fight her for custody."
  
  "I know and I'll be right there with you the whole way" Mac said gently.
  
  "Thanks. Have I mentioned lately how glad I am to have you around?"
  
  "Not since we were on Seahawk a few months ago" Mac smiled.
  
  "Well I am. You're more than a friend to me Mac. I hope you know that."
  
  "I do. And that's why I'm here. Now what do you want for dinner? Pizza or 
  Chinese?"
  
  ************
  JAG HQ's
  Next Morning
  
  "So did you strike a deal with Mac?" Sturgis asked when he saw Harm the next 
  morning in the break room.
  
  "Actually we had something else come up," Harm said slowly. "We never did 
  get to discuss that."
  
  "Morning Sturgis" Mac smiled as she walked in. "How's the Lieutenant who caused the riot?"
  
  "Safely locked in isolation" Sturgis smiled. "Harm said you two never worked 
  a deal on McMurphy. What did you two do all afternoon while I was gone?"
  
  "I'll let Harm cover that" Mac said with a gentle hand to Harm's arm. "You 
  know where to find me if you need me. And don't forget our lunch appointment."
  
  Harm nodded and Mac walked out of the room, Sturgis giving him a curious 
  look. "Okay what did I miss yesterday? Because you two seem awfully close 
  this morning."
  
  "I had an interesting day yesterday" Harm sighed. "Come with me to my office 
  and I'll tell you about it."
  
  "Okay so what's up?" Sturgis asked once they were safely behind closed 
  doors.
  
  "You remember Annie Pendry, Luke's wife right?"
  
  "Barely but yeah I think I may have met her once or twice."
  
  "When Luke died, I investigated the crash. Annie and I stayed in touch 
  afterwards and four years ago when she moved to Baltimore, she and I..uh. 
  started seeing each other."
  
  "I didn’t know that. So what happened?"
  
  "She sent me packing one day after I lied to her about where I was taking 
  Josh, her son."
  
  "I'm sure there's more to it than that" Sturgis smiled. "Go on."
  
  "When Mac was reading the newspaper yesterday she saw a story in the 
  newspaper about a bank holdup in Baltimore. Where Annie worked. Seems she 
  got the license plate of the car and they were able to track down the 
  robbers. Anyway there was a picture of Annie in the paper. With her three 
  year old daughter Mikayla."
  
  "So" Sturgis started before he realized what Harm was saying. "Wait. Her 
  three year old daughter. As in a child conceived while you were seeing 
  Annie."
  
  "My child" Harm nodded. "Annie had my child and never told me."
  
  "What? You're kidding. You sure it's your child?"
  
  "Mac and I went to see her yesterday. She's my child Sturgis. There's no 
  doubt about it."
 
 "You're awfully sure without any blood work."
 
 "She has my eyes Sturgis.  My eyes and my smile, and she hates people they said OK.  But 
me she went right to.  Snuggled right down with me."
 
 "Harm that doesn't mean anything," he cautioned.  "You are going to get confirmation right.  I 
mean you can't be one hundred percent positive that. . ."
 
 "Hey I know all that.  I had the same lawyer training that you did remember," he interrupted 
irritably.  "I know.  I know.  I need to get a court order to get her tested and I will."
 
 "But in the meantime you're thinking of her as your daughter."
 
 "You damn right I am."
 
 "Harm just be careful is all I'm saying."  Sturgis held up his hands in surrender.  "You can't be 
sure she wasn't getting a little on the side.  Not to be crude."
 
 "Too late."
 ==============
 A half hour before they were due to leave Harm walked into Mac's office.  "You're early Flyboy."
 
 "Yeah I know.  I wasn't getting anything done so I packed it in.  "How's your morning been?"
 
 "Oh perfect.  I let Singer best me on a point of law that a first year student wouldn't let get past 
them.  Fortunately she blew the cross so we're even.  Obviously I had something else on my 
mind."
 
 "I'm sorry," he sighed, knowing she was referring to him and the matter of Mikayla.
 	
 "Don't be.  My fault for getting distracted.  I'm just going to write up this investigation report on 
that stupid McGarrity breaking and entering.  You want to plant it somewhere before you make 
me crazy."
 
 He managed all of ten minutes before he reached over and grasped her arm.  "Mac am I being 
insane here.  I mean what do I know about being a dad.  And do I have any right to disturb this 
child's life.  She doesn't know me from Adam.  Now suddenly I'm going to move in and take 
over.  Uproot her from her home some of the time.  What the hell am I thinking?"
 
 She looked up from her computer and gave him a patient smile.  "You're thinking that you 
fathered a child a few years ago and that you have a right to know, and to help raise, that baby 
girl.  It's just that simple."
 
 He drew his breath in sharply at her words.  "Yeah that's exactly what I'm thinking.  Exactly 
what I believe.  I'm not asking for anything more than I'm entitled to am I?"
 
 "No you're not," she assured him.  "Remember I'm on your side for this thing.  You are not 
alone.  Not now as we settle all the legal stuff and not later when you start making a home for 
her."
 
 "I don't deserve you."
 
 "I've been telling you that for years," she teased.  "OK let's get this done.  Come on Daddy."
 =============
 HAUSSNER'S 
 BALTIMORE MD WATERFRONT
 
 "I knew it.  She's late on purpose," Harm fretted.  "Trying to psyche us out or something."
 
 "Or maybe she got held up at work," Mac smiled, grasping him by the wrist.  "Harm your heart 
is going a mile a minute here.  Your pulse rate is like you've been running in Jagathon again.  
Calm down OK.  This is all pretty cut and dry when you think about it."
 
 "It's so easy when it's someone else," he snapped and shook his head with immediate regret.  
"I'm sorry.  I'm wound pretty tight I guess."
 
 "No kidding.  And you're not going to do your case any good like that.  This is going to require a 
cool head throughout.  Particularly. . ."  She paused and ran her hand up his arm to emphasize 
her next words.  "Particularly since you're going to probably need to impress a judge with what a 
calm cool collected guy you are so that he looks favorably on your custody petition."
 
 "You'll testify for me right?"
 
 "That you're calm cool and collected?  Under oath?  You really are a psycho," she teased.  "I'm 
your attorney remember.  No we'll parade some character witnesses for you.  Let's see, there's 
Renee and Mic and the SecNav. . ."
 
 "Maaa-aaac," he wailed until he realized she was playing with him.  "Cute Marine. Real cute.  
And there's Annie now."
    
  "Harm this is a bad idea" Annie started as she sat down. "I don't have time 
  to talk about this now and to be honest I'm not ready to get into this with 
  you."
  
  "Annie please just a few minutes of your time" Harm begged. "I want us to 
  work something out."
  
  "Why does this matter to you so much?" Annie demanded. "Why won't you just 
  let me raise my daughter the way I want?"
  
  "Because she's not just your daughter. She's my daughter too. And I have the 
  right to be a part of her life."
  
  "Why so you can turn her against me like you did Josh?" Annie screeched.
  
  "I did not turn Josh against you."
  
  "You did too. Josh was a wonderful loving child until you came into our 
  lives. You taught him to lie and disobey me. And that damn dream of the 
  Academy. Do you know how many times I've heard how unfair it is that he 
  can't go to the Academy?"
  
  "Annie, Luke would have wanted Josh to go to the Academy" Harm said quietly.
  
  "Don't tell me what my husband would have wanted," Annie shouted, ignoring 
  the curious glances from the others in the restaurant.
  
  "Annie calm down" Harm sighed. "Please. I don’t want this to turn into a 
  shouting match."
  
  "If I let you have time with Mikayla you're going to do the same to her" 
  Annie continued. "You'll turn her against me. Just like you did Josh. And 
  god knows what dream you'll put into her head. No, I won't let it happen."
  
  "I want to be a part of Mikayla's life" Harm said quietly. "You can't stop 
  that from happening."
  
  "Oh yes I can" Annie snapped. "I'll fight you all the way Harmon Rabb."
  
  "Annie, he's just asking to be a part of Mikayla's life" Mac spoke up. "He's 
  not trying to take her away from you."
  
  "And I'm just supposed to let him do that" Annie glared at Mac. "And isn't 
  it nice that Harm has you by his side for this. Tell me Mac, have you and 
  Harm ever taken this platonic relationship you supposedly have any further? 
  Like to the bedroom?"
  
  "Annie stop it" Harm hissed. "We're talking about me seeing Mikayla. Not Mac’s
  and my relationship."
  
  "You are not going to see Mikayla."
  
  "Then I guess we're going to court," Harm said quietly. "Because I have a 
  right to see my child. And maybe while I'm at it, I will petition the court 
  for custody of Mikayla."
  
  "You wouldn't" Annie gasped. "So help me god Harm if you try and take her 
  away from me you'll be sorry. I'll bring up every sordid detail of your life 
  in court. No judge in his right mind will grant you custody when I'm done."
  
  "I have nothing to hide Annie. I would be just as good of a parent to 
  Mikayla as you are. Probably better."
  
  "You're never around. You travel all the time. Who's going to take care of 
  Mikayla then?"
  
  "Mac" he said without a second thought.
  
  "Or whoever you're sleeping with that week" Annie shouted, gaining them even 
  more attention. "My child is not going to be taken care of by your woman of 
  the week."
  
  "Harm I think maybe we should try this another time" Mac murmured. 
  "Somewhere more private."
  
  "For your information Mac and I are not sleeping together" Harm hissed as he 
  glared at Annie. "And whatever other dirty thoughts you have are wrong. And 
  Mac's right. We'll have this discussion another time. In the court room."
  
  "Fine" Annie snapped as she stood up. "I'll see you in court then. But I 
  will not let you take my baby away from me."
  
  She stormed from the restaurant and with a long sigh Harm looked over at 
  Mac.
  
  "I'm so sorry. I had no idea it was going to be that bad."
  
  "You didn't honestly think she was going to just hand her over without a 
  fight did you?" Mac asked quietly.
  
  "No. But I didn't expect her to talk like that. I'm really sorry."
  
  "It's okay. She and I never really got along anyway" Mac smiled. "So it's 
  okay. Now are you really going to petition for full custody of Mikayla?"
  
  "Mac you see what she's like. She's totally unstable. I know I could be a 
  better parent to Mikayla than she is. Even if I'm not around all the time. 
  There's you and I'm sure I could ask Harriet to watch her as well."
  
  "What about her threat about playing dirty?" Mac asked.
  
  "Mac you already know every sordid detail of my life" Harm sighed. "Do you 
  really think I'd be any worse of a parent than Annie?"
  
  "Of course not" she smiled. "You'd be a great parent."
  
  "Not without your help," he sighed again.  "You did promise didn't you?"
 
 "Of course I did, and like someone else, I don't make promises I don't keep," she smiled and 
slipped her hand onto his across the table.  "Let's have something to eat."
 
 "No thanks.  I couldn't."
 
 "You can eat a tuna salad or something light," she frowned.  "You're going to need to be 
healthy for this.  I'm getting the feeling we're in for the legal fight of our careers here."
 
 "OK tuna plate then," he conceded, not wanting to argue.  After they had ordered, he shook his 
head.  "Can I have a couple minutes please.  I need to walk around the block or this food isn't 
going to stay with me long."
 
 "Sure OK.  You want some company?"
 
 "No.  Thanks."
 
 By the time he returned he was wearing a totally distressed expression--so much so that she 
was alarmed at once.  "OK Commander Gloom 'n Doom, what's eating at you now."
 
 "I want a new attorney."
 
 Her eyes widened and her face betrayed both her shock and hurt.  "I'm sorry?"
 
 "No whoa wait that came out totally wrong," he gasped, catching her expression.  "Mac this is 
not going to be a pretty case.  There's going to be a lot of shit hitting the fan.  I don't want any of 
it to land on you."
 
 "Oh good god is that what this is about," she groaned.  "Like I have a spotless career file.  Even 
more important, like I'd leave you to go this alone.  Get real Rabb.  I happen to care about you.  
And frankly I'm looking forward to having that beautiful little girl around some of the time.  So get 
your head out of six, accept that it's going to be hell on wheels, and let's get it handled."
 
 "I just don't want your career hurt on my account," he protested, his eyes conveying his misery.  
"And there's the other possibility.  What if this sends Annie into some kind of psychotic episode 
and she takes it out on you."
 
 "OK now you're more than out there," she scoffed.  "Annie is upset.  And unreasonable.  
Psychotic I don't think so.  Eat your food commander.  We're going to need to prepare a petition 
for paternity."  Her breath caught in her throat before she could continue.  "Which is going to 
involve you and me talking about intimacies with you and Annie.  Like how many times."  And 
with an impish grin she continued, "or should we just call it every time and be done with it."
 
 "Hey I do manage to keep it zipped some of the time," he protested.
 
 "Well around me you certainly have. . .OK I didn't say that," she gasped.  "Sorry.  Withdrawn 
your honor."
 
 He smiled and shrugged.  "Only because when I take you to my bed, it  won't be for a roll in the 
sack.  It will be me putting in to action how I feel about you."
 
 The forkful of pasta fell to her plate with a clatter as she stared at him.
 
 "May be we'd better move on to a safer subject Sailor," she finally managed.
 
 "OK," he nodded solemnly, "but this is a topic we're going to re-visit."
 
 "Who are you and where is my Harmon Rabb," she sighed with a small smile, praying that he 
could not detect the pounding of her heart.

  "I am your Harmon Rabb," he said softly. "I'm just starting to realize 
  what's important in my life that's all."
  
  "I see" she smiled. "I take it that's a good thing."
  
  "Yeah it is" he smiled.
  
  They finished lunch and headed back to JAG, finding AJ waiting for them.
  
  "Long lunch" AJ commented as they walked past him in the bullpen.
  
  "Sorry sir" Harm replied. "I uh had some personal business to take care of 
  that Mac is helping me with."
  
  "Something I should know about?" AJ prodded.
  
  "Yeah probably" Harm said after a moment's pause. "Can we talk in your 
  office?"
  
  "Is this something that's going to make me wish I'd put in my application 
  for retirement?"
  
  "No sir. It's not bad. Well it might get a little messy."
  
  "My office" AJ sighed. "Before you give Lt. Singer the dirt she's been 
  looking for on you."
  
  "Good luck" Mac whispered as AJ walked away. "I'm sure he'll understand."
  
  "Okay Commander what is it now?" AJ asked as he leaned back in his chair.
  
  "Sir you remember Annie Pendry don’t you."
  
  "Widower with the young son you dated a few years ago" AJ nodded. "She sent 
  you packing after the Tiger cruise. She was a little off wasn't she?"
  
  "Yes sir that would be her. I uh just found out that Annie had a little girl 
  about three years ago. I believe she's mine."
  
  "I see" AJ said slowly. "Have you seen this child?"
  
  "Yes sir. I know she's mine. Of course Annie won't admit it. She won't even 
  let me see her again. So I'm going to petition the court to order a DNA test 
  to prove I'm Mikayla's father."
  
  "And then what?"
  
  "And then I may petition the court for full custody" Harm replied.
  
  "You think you can do a better job of raising this child than her mother?" 
  AJ questioned.
  
  "Sir, Annie was never real stable. She was always on the edge. And I have 
  reason to believe she's had emotional breakdowns since then."
  
  "And you dragging her into court is only going to make her more unstable" AJ 
  said quietly.
  
  "Yes sir. I tried to talk to her today about her allowing me to see Mikayla. 
  But she went off the deep end and I have no choice but to go before the 
  court."
  
  "You never knew about this child before now?" AJ asked.
  
  "No sir. I hadn't talked to Annie since the day of the Tiger Cruise. She 
  never told me sir. If she had I would have been a part of Mikayla's life 
  before now."
  
  *************
  Baltimore County Courthouse
  One Week Later
  
  "Okay sailor you ready?" Mac asked. "We're on in a few minutes."
  
  "God Mac, I've never been this nervous before" Harm groaned. "I'm going to 
  sound like a total idiot up there."
  
  "Just relax," she said gently. "It's going to be okay. We're just trying to 
  get the judge to order the paternity test. We're not asking for custody yet. 
  Right now we're just trying to establish that you're Mikayla's father."
  
  "What if they don’t believe me?" Harm sighed. "What if Annie lies and says 
  we were never together?"
  
  "Harm there's a dozen people I could call that would testify that you and 
  Annie were together."
  
  "Well none of them would know whether we were intimate" Harm countered.
  
  "Harm I don’t think she's going to try and stop the paternity test. That's 
  not her battle. Her battle is keeping you from getting custody."
  
  "Okay I can do this" Harm said with a deep breath.
  
  "Yes you can" Mac said with a gentle hand to his arm. "You ready Commander?"
 
 "No."  The resolve he had just a few seconds earlier had vanished.
 
 "Harm knock it off and show me some of that Rabb spirit" she ordered.  "You're fighting for your 
daughter's well-being here.  Now let's see some backbone here Sailor."
 
 "Mac we could lose out right here.  We may not even get to first base."
 
 "Stop that negativity," she scolded and tugged his arm to get him to move ahead.  "I've got 
affidavits here from everyone at JAG who knew the two of you had a relationship during that 
time period, including my own.  Now let's go."  Swiftly her hand slipped down his arm to wrap 
around his and she squeezed hard.  "We can do this--together."
 
 They were just getting seated at their end of the long table when Annie walked in, accompanied 
by a man Harm and Mac guessed was the Bradley Lyons to whom Josh referred as the man in 
Annie's life.
 
 "I'm sorry your honor if we're late," he panted.  "Kevin Martin ma'am for the mother."
 
 "She's got an attorney," Harm gasped.
 
 "So do you remember," Mac admonished him.  "Relax will you."
 
 The judge summarized the case and invited Harm to speak first, prompting Mac to rise.  "Your 
honor Sarah Mackenzie for the father.  Mr. Rabb is asking simply for a paternity test to establish 
his rights in this case.  We have good reason--very good reason--to believe that Mikayla Pendry 
is his daughter.  If that is the case, Mr. Rabb wishes to negotiate for his rights and privileges as 
her father."
 
 "Never," Annie hissed and Mr. Martin put a hand on her arm.  "Remember we talked about 
this."
 
 "Your honor during the time period in which the child would have been conceived it was 
common knowledge among Mr. Rabb's friends, myself included, that he and Ms. Pendry were 
engaged in a relationship.  I have several affidavits to that effect, again including my own.  Right 
now ma'am all we're asking is that she and the child be ordered to submit to a simple DNA 
swab."
 
 "They're going to take my child away," Annie sobbed suddenly, and a fleeting look of pity and 
guilt crossed  Harm's face.  
 
 Mac squeezed his hand under the table.  "Remember we're doing only what's right and fair," 
she spoke into his ear.
 
 The judge nodded, glaring in Annie's direction as her attorney once again subdued her, and 
leafed through the papers in front of her for the next few minutes.  "Ms. Pendry are you 
prepared to deny that you were seeing Mr. Rabb during this time period?  The affidavits in front 
of me would dispute that pretty convincingly."
 
 "Your honor I have advised my client to submit to the test," Kevin said quietly.
 
 "Then so ordered," the judge smiled and tapped her gavel.   
 
 "I've been screwed," Annie objected despite Kevin's attempt to keep her calm.
 
 "Before you leave here, I want you four to determine the date this test will take place and give it 
to my CSO," the judge spoke up.  Let's make it within the next week.  No need to delay.  Mr. 
Martin?"
 
 "Understood your honor," he nodded, guiding Annie to her feet and walking over to Mac and 
Harm.  "Maybe we could have a cup of coffee and decide on a good time."
 
 "Agreeable," Mac said quickly before Harm could speak.  "Mr. Martin why don't you lead the 
way."
 
 With his hand firmly around Annie's arm, Kevin walked them to the coffee shop in the 
courthouse basement.  Once they were seated with coffee, he looked to Annie.  "Now let's 
make this as painless as possible.  When is a good time for you?"
 
 "Never."
 
 "Annie don't add a contempt charge.  Judge Hope was very pleasant, but she's not one to fool 
with."
 
 "Have I mentioned how much I hate this?"  She glowered at Harm who started to speak, only to 
have a squelching hand put on his arm by Mac.
 
 "In the last five minutes, not more than six times," Kevin smiled.  "Just suck it up and do it."
 
 "Spoken like a Marine Mr. Martin," Mac smiled.
 
 "Who do you think sent me to law school," he grinned and took a long breath.  "In fact I was 
thinking maybe you and I could do lunch one day soon Colonel and talk about our Marine 
experiences."
 
 Annie despite her distress could not suppress a short laugh at Harm's immediate stricken 
expression.  
 
 "Thank you Mr. Martin," Mac replied with a gentle smile. "But there is someone in my life."
   
  "And in your bed" Annie smirked.
  
  "Annie" Harm said sharply. "Do not start in with that again."
  
  "Oh please Harm. We all know that you and Mac aren't just friends. So lose 
  the innocent act."
  
  "Yes we're more than just friends," Harm admitted. "But that and what we do 
  is none of your damn business and I don't want to hear the subject brought 
  up again."
  
  "Can we just stick to the topic at hand?" Kevin said quietly. "Like when 
  we're going to do the test."
  
  "This is not a good week for me at work" Annie said irritably. "I don't have 
  time to run Mikayla somewhere for a paternity test."
  
  "Fine I'll do it" Harm sighed. "I'll arrange it and I'll come and get 
  Mikayla and take her. I don't want to inconvenience you."
  
  "Is that acceptable?" Kevin asked Annie.
  
  "What does it matter what I think?" Annie snapped. "I don't have any choice 
  in the matter anyway."
  
  "Not unless you want to be in contempt of court which I'm sure you don't" 
  Kevin reminded her. "Mr. Rabb go ahead and make the appointment for this 
  week."
  
  "I have to get back to work" Annie said as she leapt to her feet.
  
  "I'll call and let you know what day I'm going to take Mikayla" Harm 
  reminded her.
  
  "Whatever" Annie snapped before rushing off.
  
  "Okay well I guess now that that's settled I'm out of here as well," Kevin 
  said as he stood up. "Could you just let me know when you're having the test 
  done?"
  
  "Of course" Harm nodded. "I'll try and get it done right away."
  
  "Thanks. Sorry about all the trouble today. But I guess you know better than 
  anyone how emotional Annie is."
  
  "Yeah I do" Harm sighed.
  
  "Nice meeting you Sarah" Kevin smiled. "I'll see you again I'm sure."
  
  "I'm sure you will" Mac smiled.
  
  "He likes you" Harm mused when they were alone.
  
  "He was just being nice. And in case you missed it, I told him there was 
  already someone in my life."
  
  "Is this someone anyone I know?"
  
  "Just a tall handsome Navy Commander who drives me crazy but who I happen to 
  care very much about" Mac said softly.
  
  "Sturgis is a lucky guy" Harm teased.
  
  "Cute Flyboy" Mac said as she playfully smacked his arm. "I was not talking 
  about Sturgis and you know it. I was talking about you."
  
  "You were?"
  
  "Yes I was. And before we have a hallmark moment we'd better get going. You 
  need to arrange a paternity test and we need to get back to JAG and get some 
  work done."
  
  "Yes I do" Harm nodded. "Since Annie couldn't be bothered."
  
  "Harm she wasn't going to help you take her kid away from her. And that's 
  exactly how she sees this."
  
  "I know. But that's not my intention. Unless there's reason she shouldn't 
  have custody of Mikayla."
  
  "One step at a time sailor. First the paternity test."
  
  "I'll call as soon as we get back."
  
  "Why don't you make the test for the morning and take the day off" Mac 
  suggested. "Then you could spend the day with her."
  
  "Hey great idea" he smiled. "Will you come with me?"
  
  "Harm don't you want to spend the day alone with your daughter?" Mac asked.
  
  "I'm going to need all the help I can get. I'm not exactly a pro at this 
  parent thing."
  
  "And you think I am?" Mac laughed.
  
  "You know more than I do. So what do you say?"
  
  "I'd be happy to spend the day with you and Mikayla" Mac smiled. "Thank you 
  for asking."
   
  "Mac serious now, I want her to get to know you.  I want you to be a part of her life as you are 
mine.  The best part."
 
 "Sailor I don't know if it's something in that bottled water you drink or becoming a father, but I'm 
liking these changes in you," she laughed and blushed slightly as she wrapped her hands 
around his arm.
 
 "You've done a little changing yourself," he reminded her.  "Things are a lot different now than 
they were a year--hell six months--ago."
 
 "It's been a helluva three years since the day you left," she agreed lightly and added hesitantly, 
"you know that we were almost . . .no let's not go there.  Let's leave it that I'm liking a lot where 
we are right now."
 
 "So am I, but I can't help but feel I'm sucking you into something," he sighed.  "This thing with 
Annie could blow.  I just really get a bad feeling when I'm around her.  Like she's a time bomb or 
something. I know that sounds paranoid, but it's the truth.  She's making me really nervous."
 
 "Talk to Josh," she shrugged, keeping her voice casual.  "I mean the boy is old enough to know 
what's going on, and big enough to protect Mikayla in the unlikely event she does have a 
massive freak out."
 
 Harm froze in place.  "You think it's likely don't you?"
 
 "No I don't."  She shook her head firmly urging him on to the car.  "I think she's unstable, 
neurotic, impossible to deal with calmly maybe.  But not to the point where she'd do anyone real 
harm.  But like I said, talk to Josh.  If you let him know he can come to you. . ."
 
 "You know what, once in a while you have a good idea," he grinned, feeling himself relax some 
and added teasingly.  "And today wasn't a total loss for you.  You met a handsome dashing 
Dalton clone who would love to get to know you better."
 
 "Not going to happen," she smiled, catching his mood.  "I'm taken.  And happy."  To emphasize 
her message, she gave his cheek a kiss as he helped her into the car.  "Take me back to work 
Flyboy before the Admiral gives Singer my office."
 ===========
 FOLLOWING MORNING
 
 "Mac the Admiral wants to see us about the Moriarity court martial." 
 
 She looked up from her desk, both startled and relieved to see him.  "Good morning to you 
Commander Fifteen Minutes Late who worried his partner and who looks like hell."
 
 "Guilty.  Didn't sleep; then overslept," he sighed.  "And don't bother scolding.  I already got that 
look from the Admiral that said, I have no comment but you know it's going to be reflected on 
your next fit rep."
 
 "So what's the problem anyway?" she asked, reaching for his hand in her concern.
 
 "Nothing and everything."
 
 "Well thank you for clearing that up," she smiled.  "Shall we see what the admiral wants.  I hope 
it's not going to keep us from leaving."
 
 AJ briefed them on the case and then closed the folder.  "So Commander you and the Colonel 
are spending a day with your daughter?"
 
 "Yes sir, but sir, the lawyer in me says that's not a proven fact yet."
 
 "Does it have to be?"
 
 "No sir.  She's a Rabb.  Every instinct in my body says that."
 
 "When do I get to meet this young lady?"
 
 "Uh. . .I think I want to wait until it's all settled if that's OK sir.  I'd just feel better once I have a 
custody or visitation order."
 
 "By all means.  You get a good lawyer?"
 
 Harm was about to reply when he realized the Admiral was baiting him.  
 
 "Yes sir, the best," he smiled and reached for Mac's hand, catching sight of AJ's raised 
eyebrow as he did so.  "Maybe you should sir be aware that we've kind of. . ." he stammered 
and AJ held up his hand.
 
 "Just keep it discreet whatever it is.  And good luck today."
 
 "Yes sir thank you."
 
 "Commander dismissed.  Colonel a word please."
 
 "I'll pull the car up," Harm told her, already wondering why AJ needed to speak to her alone. 
 
 "Sir if this is about. . ."  she began when they were alone and he stopped her.  
 
 "Why don't you let me tell you," he smiled.  "I just wanted to say that he's pretty tense right now 
isn't he?  And I wanted your assessment--is he going to be able to handle this OK?"
 
 "Between the two of us, yes sir we'll take care of what ever comes up.  He's not alone on this.  I 
won't let him be, and I hope that's not going to be a problem."
  
  "As long as it doesn't affect your duties here of course not."
  
  "It won't sir. If that's all, I'd better go before Harm has a stroke 
  wondering why you wanted to see me."
  
  "Go" AJ smiled. "And tell Mr. Rabb not to worry about anything except his 
  daughter today."
  
  "Yes sir" Mac smiled as well before hurrying out.
  
  "Everything okay?" Harm asked anxiously as she climbed into the car.
  
  "Fine. Now let's go get your daughter and prove that she really is your 
  daughter."
  
  "God Mac I'm so nervous," Harm said as they pulled up at Annie's house. 
  "What if she cries the whole time she's with me?"
  
  "Like that's going to happen" Mac scoffed. "She was pretty content with you 
  last time."
  
  "I hope so" Harm sighed as they climbed out and headed to the front door.
  He knocked and was surprised when Annie opened the door.
  
  "I didn't think you'd be here," Harm said quietly. "I thought you had to 
  work."
  
  "I do but I'm not at work right now thanks to Josh" Annie said tersely. "He 
  got in some trouble this morning with the kids at the bus stop and was 
  suspended for the day. I just got back from picking him up. God only knows 
  what I'm going to do with him. I gave Margo the day off because you were 
  taking Mikayla."
  
  "We can take Josh with us" Mac offered. "If you need to get to work we'd be 
  happy to look after him for the day."
  
  "Oh I'm sure you would" Annie said sarcastically.
  
  "Annie we're just trying to help" Harm said calmly." If you need to get to 
  work, we'd be happy to take Josh with us. It's not a big deal."
  
  "Fine. You can make dinner for both of them as well. I'll probably be late 
  and the last thing I need is two kids whining about dinner when I get home."
  
  "I can do that. What time do you want them back?"
  
  "Right after dinner. Do you think you can handle that?"
  
  "Yes Annie I can" Harm sighed.
  
  "Fine. I'm going to leave then. Josh has a key to the house. Make sure you 
  lock up when you go."
  
  With that she pushed past them and Mac just shook her head as she and Harm 
  walked into the house.
  
  "Josh" Harm called.
  
  Minutes later he emerged from upstairs, his little sister trailing behind 
  him.
  
  "What are you doing here?" he asked sullenly.
  
  "Josh what happened?" Harm demanded when he saw the boy's bruised face. "Who 
  did this to you?"
  
  "Jeff Masney" Josh sighed. "We got in a fight this morning."
  
  "Did your Mom put anything on that?" Mac asked gently as she knelt down in 
  front of him.
  
  "No she was too busy screaming at me for ruining her day" Josh said quietly.
  
  "Harm why don't you take Mikayla and I'll get Josh's face cleaned up before 
  we go" Mac directed.
  
  "Hey honey" Harm said softly as he reached for Mikayla. For a moment she 
  shied away from him, going at once to Josh and clinging to him.
  
  "It's okay Mikayla" Josh told her. "This is Harm. Remember he was here the 
  other day. He's a good guy."
  
  "Hi Mikayla" Harm tried again as he held out his hand to her. "I'm not going 
  to hurt you."
  
  She finally walked forward and took his hand and Harm gently took her little 
  hand in his.
  
  "Come on Josh" Mac said as she reached for his hand.  "Let me take care of 
  your face for you."
  
  He sat quietly in the chair as Mac finally located some antiseptic cream and 
  gently washed and cleaned the bruised area.
  
  "So who's this Jeff kid?" she asked as she worked on his face.
  
  "Some dork" Josh sighed.
  
  "What were you fighting about?" she asked.
  
  "He thinks he's so cool because his Dad is an instructor at the Academy and 
  he's always going on and on about how he's going to go to the Academy when 
  he finishes school."
  
  "I see" Mac nodded.
  
  "And of course the only thing Mom is going to let me do is go to college and 
  be some geek banker like her and Bradley."
  
  "Harm and I are geek lawyers" Mac smiled.
  
  "No you're not. You're both cool. You're a Marine and Harm is a pilot. Mom 
  goes to work and counts other people's money all day. And she wants me to do 
  the same. I'll die of boredom if that happens. She just doesn't understand 
  that I want to fly like Dad and Harm."
  
  "I know" Mac said sympathetically. "But you've got a few more years before 
  you could do to the Academy anyway. She might change her mind by then."
  
  "Not likely" Josh sighed.
  
  She was about to reply when Harm's cry of her name came from the living 
  room.
  
 "Just keep the faith Joshua," she flung over her shoulder, taking the stairs two at a time to get 
to Harm.
 
 He was sitting on the edge of the coffee table, Mikayla in his arms, rocking her back and forth, 
a totally stricken look on  his face.
 
 "Harm what in god's name is wrong?" she gasped.
 
 "She's hurt Mac.  Someone hurt this baby."
 
 "OK OK calm down now," she soothed, striding forward.  "Hurt how?"
 
 "Remember we talked about if she was bruised.  If Annie was tempted to hurt her.  Well right 
here's the proof," he whispered, gently maneuvering her leg to show Mac.  "Well?" he 
demanded anxiously as Mac studied the dark mark about the size of a fifty-cent piece on her 
thigh.
 
 "OK let's not go off the deep end," she said softly.  "If for no other reason than you're going to 
scare her.  It is a bruise, but there's no evidence it was inflicted."  
 
 "And god help that woman if I find out it is."
 
 "Harm, the child," she reminded him again urgently. 
 
 "Yeah OK," he breathed, turning Mikayla's face upward and kissing the small forehead.  "How's 
Josh?"
 
 "He's OK, but Harm he does have a lot of issues that need working on.  You know I was a 
troubled kid, and it doesn't take much to recognize another one."
 
 "Mac I know, but we can't do everything.  I mean we've got her and we do still have careers 
and jobs."
 
 "Don't worry about me, I'll be just fine." Josh interrupted coldly.
 
 "Josh that didn't mean I didn't care," Harm tried.  "I do, very much.  But when you get yourself 
in trouble, sometimes you have to get yourself out.  I do very much care and I'm sorry that we 
were out of touch these past few years.  I was simply respecting your mother's wishes, which I 
hadn't been very good about doing.  I would have hoped if you had a problem you would have 
picked up the phone."
 
 "Mom told me you didn't want to hear from me."
 
 "Your mom lied.  And I know that's harsh but there's no other way to say it.  I never told her I 
wanted to be shut off from you.  And I was nothing but surprised when she said she wanted to 
break things off between us.  I mean I knew we weren't doing that great, but I figured it was just 
a rough spot."
 
 "You know what she said to me when we got home after the Tiger Cruise?"
 
 Harm shook his head, solemnly rocking Mikayla as he looked into the boy's defiant face.
 
 "She told me you loved Mac and there wasn't room for us in your life."
 
 Harm drew a hard breath and looked to Mac who simply shook her head, at a loss for words.
 
 "That wasn't the reason Josh.  She couldn't forgive me for the Tiger Cruise.  I thought it was 
important that you go, and I lied to her.  It was wrong, and I apologized and I realized it was 
wrong.  Not wrong to take you, wrong to take you when I knew it was against her wishes."
 
 "OK I can understand all that," he nodded slowly.  "But would you have married my mom?  And 
don't answer that.  I know you wouldn't have."
 
 "Probably not no," Harm replied honestly.
 
 A slow smile came to Josh's face.  "I knew it.  You were in love with Mac then and you are now.  
It's pretty simple.  You're not going to deny that are you?  I mean would you  sit there and deny 
you're in love with this woman?"
 
 "You'd make a good lawyer," Harm said slowly, "if you didn't have aviation in your blood."
 
 "You're evading the question sir," Josh grinned, getting caught up now.
 
 Harm looked to Mac who gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
 
 "Take the fifth Sailor.  It's OK.  Really it is."
 
 "No it's not."
 
 "Excuse me?"
 
 "I don't need to take the fifth," he said firmly.  "Counselor would you repeat the question please, 
just so we're all clear."
 
 "Sure," Josh laughed.  "Commander Rabb isn't it a fact that you are now and were back then, 
in love with Colonel Mackenzie?"
     
  "Yes" Harm said softly as he looked at Mac.
  
  "Since when sir?" Josh continued.
  
  "Since the moment I laid eyes on her" Harm smiled. "She had me from hello."
  
  "So Mom was right. You were in love with Mac."
  
  "Yeah I just didn't know it then" Harm said softly. "I didn't realize it 
  until it was almost too late."
  
  "So Colonel, do you feel the same?" Josh prodded.
  
  "Yes" Mac smiled to Harm's amazement. "And he had me from hello as well."
  
  "It was love at first sight then," Josh asked.
  
  "Yes it was" Mac agreed.
  
  "But if you two were in love why did Harm go out with Mom and why did you 
  date that lawyer."
  
  "Because love isn't simple" Harm spoke up. "And you'll find that out soon 
  enough big guy."
  
  "Yeah tell me about it" Josh sighed.
  
  "Is there someone in your life Mr. Pendry?" Mac smiled.
  
  "No" the young boy blushed. "Thanks to Jeff that is."
  
  "You can tell me the story while we're waiting for Mikayla to get her test 
  done," Mac said gently. "Harm we have to get going if we're going to make 
  the appointment."
  
  "Yes we do" he nodded as he reached for Mikayla. The bruise on her thigh 
  caught his attention again and he looked at Mac. "What are we going to do 
  about this?"
  
  "Are you talking about her bruise?" Josh asked and Harm nodded. "She ran 
  into the coffee table the other morning when we were playing. Why what do 
  you think happened?"
  
  "See I told you not to go off the deep end" Mac said with a gentle smile.
  
  "Did you think Mom did that to her?" Josh demanded.
  
  "For a minute yes" Harm admitted. "Josh your Mom has always been a little on 
  edge but she's seems even more so now."
  
  "Mom has never hurt me or Mikayla" Josh said firmly. "She might yell and 
  scream a lot but she's never hurt us. At least not intentionally."
  
  "What do you mean at least not intentionally?" Harm said quietly.
  
  "I shouldn't have said anything," Josh said as he looked away.
  
  "Josh if something is going on, I need to know about it" Harm said gently.
  
  "Why so you can take Mikayla away and leave me here with Mom and Bradley" 
  Josh shouted. "That's what you're going to do isn't it."
  
  "That's not my intentions Josh. I'm not planning on take Mikayla away. 
  Unless I think there's reason that she shouldn't be with your Mom. And if 
  that was the case, I wouldn't leave you here."
  
  "Yes you would" Josh shouted, tears running down his face. "You love Mikayla 
  because she's yours. You don't care about me anymore."
  
  "Josh that's not true. I care about you too."
  
  "No you don't" Josh wailed before turning and running upstairs. Mikayla 
  started to cry and struggle in Harm's arms with Josh's abrupt departure and 
  Harm finally relented and set her on the floor. She immediately took off 
  running upstairs to Josh's room and Harm let out a long sigh.
  
  "Okay I'm handling this real well today aren't I?"
  
  "It's your first day parenting" Mac said gently. "No one said it was easy."
  
  "I guess not. And we do need to get going if we're going to make the 
  appointment. Would you try talking to Josh?"
  
  "I think you should. He already thinks that you're more concerned with 
  Mikayla than him. And we both know that's not true."
  
  "All right. Will you at least come up with me and get Mikayla?"
  
  "Sure" she smiled gently. "And then we need to talk about the answers you 
  gave to Mr. Pendry's line of questioning."
  
  "Yours too" Harm smiled. "But later. After we get things straightened out 
  around here."
  
  She nodded and together they headed upstairs, Harm gently knocking on Josh's 
  door before walking in.
  
  "Josh can we talk?" Harm said quietly.
  
  "Go away. I don't want to talk. Just take Mikayla and go."
  
  Mac gently reached for the little girl who at first wouldn't leave her 
  brother's side. She finally relented and Mac took her from the room as Harm 
  sat down on the edge of Josh's bed.
  
  "Josh I don't want you to think I don't care about you" Harm said quietly. 
  "Because I do."
  
  "Then why did it take you four years to come back" Josh sniffled. "As soon 
  as you found out Mikayla was yours you came running back to be with her. But 
  you never came back to see me."
  
 "Josh you're going to have to try to understand that.  I had no legal claim to you.  There was no 
way I could make your mom let you see me or me see you.  I certainly couldn't have set up any 
kind of meeting you in secret.  They have names for guys who do things like that; and spending 
the next ten years in Leavenworth didn't appeal to me.   Your mom told me to stay away from 
you.  If I hadn't she could have made a lot of trouble for me and my career.  Is this getting 
through to you?  Mikayla is my daughter--at least we're ninety-nine percent sure of that, and I do 
have a right to have a say in her life."
 
 "Do you have time for me as much as her?"  Despite all his swagger, at that moment he 
sounded very much like a small boy.
 
 "I need to get to know her," Harm said slowly, "but that doesn't mean I don't want you around.  
As long as you have your mom's permission that is."
 
 "OK I can deal with that."  He looked away and looked back before continuing.  "Hey I got you 
big time didn't I?  About Mac and being in love with her I mean.  Got you big time."
 
 Harm grinned as well, hearing Mac's answer ringing in his ears as well as his own admission.  
"You got me all right mister.  You're on my list.  Come on, we're going to go do the test, and 
then to the mall for some lunch and a tour of every shoe store in the place.  And we're going to 
talk about your suspension.  You know I got in my share of scrapes and bore my share of 
punishments.  My mom used to say when it came to common sense I got the short end of the 
stick."
 
 "Mine just calls me stupid."
 
 "Seriously?"  Harm's brow knitted with concern.
 
 "Yeah.  And then Bradley agrees with her.  They gang up on me.  And I hate him."
 
 "You mentioned that.  I had a step dad too.  I can relate.  And right now we're going to get 
going."  He put a firm hand on the boy's arm.  "Come on.  We'll try to make the best of the day.  
Though you should be in school."
 
 "It's stupid."
 
 "That's a discussion we'll postpone.  Move your butt Pendry."
 
 "Yes sir," he sighed.  "You know when you order me around it's somehow easier to take than 
when Bradley does it."
 
 "Maybe because you respect me and you don't him," Harm suggested, moving him toward the 
door.  "But you might want to find something, at least one thing, you can like about the guy.  
You're a long way from eighteen and leaving home."
 
 "My friend Justin didn't wait."
 
 "Excuse me?"
 
 Josh shrugged.  "Justin's dad beat him and he took off.  Lives downtown now.  He calls me 
once in a while to catch up on the kids."
 
 "This is a kid you know who ran away you're telling me?"
 
 "Yep.  He just took off.  Now he lives with a guy and he's cool."
 
 "What does this cool guy do to support himself?" Harm frowned.
 
 Now it was Josh's turn to shrug.  "Lots of guys with cash in their pockets like to take a shot at 
young hot guy."
 
 Harm gasped and grabbed his shoulder hard.  "Don't even ever think about something like that.  
You got a problem, you come to me.  Me or Mac.  Understand?  You don't ever think about 
running off.  You hear me now don't you?"
 
 "Yeah. . .yes sir," Josh flushed.
 
 "OK move out."
 
 "There you guys are," Mac called.  "We're getting pretty restless down here."
 
 "Josh and I have opened a dialogue on several fronts," Harm sighed.  "And we're just 
beginning."
 
 Mikayla gave a short squeal when she saw Josh and Harm and held her arms out to be taken.  
Harm stepped away so that Josh could reach her, and at once she turned away from her 
brother, wanting Harm.
 
 "I'll be damned," Josh whispered.  "I have never seen her take to anyone.  I mean dumb old 
Bradley can't even get her to smile and he's here all the time.  She hates him too."
   
  "She has good taste" Mac smiled. "Are we all set now?"
  
  Their first stop was at the clinic and while Harm took Mikayla for the test, 
  Josh and Mac sat in the waiting room.
  
  "So tell me about the woman in your life" Mac said gently.
  
  "I'd rather not" Josh blushed.
  
  "Hey you got me and Harm to confess. Least you could do is fess up as well."
  
  "Do you really love Harm?" Josh asked. "Or did you just say that because you 
  didn't want to make him feel like a dork."
  
  "I meant it Josh" Mac smiled. "I wasn't just saying that."
  
  "I always knew Harm didn't really love Mom. I just hoped he and Mom would 
  stay together because he would have been cool to have as a Dad. Especially 
  compared to Bradley the Geek."
  
  "Why is Bradley such a Geek?" Mac smiled.
  
  "He just is. He's like Mom. They're afraid to do everything. And I know he 
  doesn't really like Mikayla and me. He just pretends he does for Mom."
  
  "Josh you said earlier that your Mom has never hurt you or Mikayla 
  intentionally" Mac said quietly. "What did you mean?"
  
  "If I tell you will you promise to keep this our secret?"
  
  "Honey I can't do that if it's something Harm should know about. I can't lie 
  to him."
  
  "I know. That's why I don't know if I should tell you. I don't want Harm to 
  flip out on Mom."
  
  "Why don't you tell me and then I'll decide if Harm should know about it" 
  Mac said after a moment's pause.
  
  "All right" he sighed. "Mom has this habit of taking off and disappearing. 
  If she gets too stressed about everything she leaves us."
  
  "Alone?" Mac demanded.
  
  "Yes ma'am. A few times she called Bradley later and had him come and stay 
  with us but most times she just leaves us alone."
  
  "For how long?" Mac asked. "A few hours?"
  
  "The whole night" Josh admitted and Mac's eyes widened.
  
  "She left you alone to take care of Mikayla?"
  
  "Yes ma'am. And the first time I was pretty scared but then it happened 
  again and I guess I've gotten used to it."
  
  "Josh you know I'm going to have to tell Harm about this" Mac said quietly. 
  "He needs to know about this."
  
  "I know. But I don't want them to separate Mikayla and me again. That's why 
  when the social worker comes I act like everything is okay. Mom does her 
  best but sometimes she just can't handle us and she leaves."
  
  "I guess that's better than doing something else" Mac said softly.
  
  "She's never hit us. She's thrown a few things but never at us. She just 
  leaves."
  
  "I'm sorry," Mac said sympathetically. "It's not much fun growing up like 
  that is it."
  
  "Not when all the other kids have normal parents" Josh said quietly. "But I 
  can deal with it."
  
  "You shouldn't have to" Mac said as she reached for the young boy and gave 
  him a quick hug. "I know what it's like Josh and I want you to know that 
  Harm and I are going to do everything we can to help you and Mikayla."
  
  "Mom's not a bad person," Josh said softly. "She just can't handle stuff."
  
  "I know she's not. And Harm does too. He's not going to try and do anything 
  to hurt her. You know that right."
  
  Josh nodded as Harm and Mikayla returned to the waiting room.
  
  "All done?" Mac asked.
  
  "For now" Harm sighed. "We just have to wait 4 days for the results."
  
  "So I guess we're ready to find lunch and then maybe a park?" Mac smiled as 
  she reached for Mikayla. The little girl happily went to her and Harm smiled 
  as he watched them.
  
  "One day we'll have to get you one of your own" he whispered.
  
  "Is that a promise?" Mac blushed.
  
  "It's a contract remember?" he grinned before looking over at Josh. "You 
  ready for lunch big guy?"
   
  "Harm remember you promised me a mall and shoe stores," Mac reminded him.
 
 "Yes I did and a gentlemen always keeps his promises," Harm told her, catching her eye.  "All 
of them, especially if it's in a contract."
 
 "Please," she breathed, her heart suddenly pounding.
 
 "OK Pendry this is your turf.  Where would you like to go eat?  Shoe stores and good food.  
We're counting on you."
 ==========
 MONDAWMIN MALL
Baltimore MD
 
 "OK it now occurs to me I have no clue as to what this child eats," Harm signed.  "What gave 
me the idea this was going to be easy I haven't a clue, but. . ."
 
 "Calm Flyboy," Mac smiled and looked to Josh.  "OK big brother, what does she like in a food 
court."
 
 "Fries and ketchup to dip them, cheese pizza cut up in small pieces, any kind of smooth ice 
cream that she can smear in her hair.  Really just about anything that's easy for her to hold and 
chew.  Me I'm ready for Chinese.  I like the vegetable moo shu.  In fact I don't each much meat.  
Mom says stop being weird.  I guess she doesn't remember you're the same way Harm."
 
 "Well I'm not.  I'm heading for Steak N Shake," Mac declared.
 
 "Go ahead, and then you can keep an eye on her while we get ours," Harm nodded, his eyes 
never leaving her as she threaded her way through the lunch crowd.
 
 "I guess you really do love her," Josh sighed, in wisdom beyond in years.
 
 "For a long time," he nodded.  "And she tells me that your mom sometimes leaves you guys 
alone.  I don't like that."
 
 "I don't either.  But it's not real often.  I mean not like once a week or nothin'.  If it was just me I 
wouldn't care but Mikayla you can't not watch every second.  She's never still and always has to 
have her hands into something.  Most of the time trouble.  And I would hate myself if anything 
happened to her when I was watching her.  She's a pain in the butt but she's still my sister."
 
 "OK I know, I know," Harm soothed, taking the napkin out of the child's mouth as he spoke.  
 
 "Just don't tell mom you got it from me," he begged.  "Stuff like that gets Bradley on my case, 
like he's practicing to be my dad or something.  If he moves in. . .never mind."
 
 "Never mind is right," Harm told him.  "If he moves in, you will be polite and not cause problems 
that could hurt your mom or Mikayla.  Think of it as doing time until you finish school."
 
 "I already do."
 
 There was silence for a few minutes while Harm played with Mikayla, and thought about what 
he wanted to say to Josh, finally speaking up.  "Josh, your mom would hate me for saying this to 
you, but let me remind you that you're going to be eighteen before plebe camp starts.  You don't 
need her permission."
 
 A slow grin spread across his face as Mac returned with her tray.
 
 "I don't do I?"
 
 "Don't what if I can join this male bonding experience," she laughed.
 
 "Need my mom to sign for me to go to the Academy," he laughed, looking brighter than he had 
all day.
 
 "Harm you're meddling," she groaned, "but no that's right.  Of course she may never speak to 
you again.  I'm not sure it's worth it.  Then there's the matter of attitude and grades and staying 
out of trouble."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  Not something that comes easy to me.  Any of it.  Like at home when I'm trying to 
study, she's all the time wanting me to take Mikayla off her hands.  I know she has a long hard 
day at the bank, but hey school is no day at Disney World and the homework is hard some 
nights."
 
 "You're breaking my heart," Harm groaned.  "Watch the excuses mister and go get you and me 
a plate of that vegetable moo shu stuff and something for your sister here."
 
 "He's a good kid," Mac said softly when they were alone.  "Just needs some guidance and a 
firm hand, and some love of course."
 
 "He's Luke's son," he said quietly.  "But he's got a lot of me in him too.  I was hell on wheels to 
live with between junior high and the time I shipped out for plebe camp.  I swear my mom 
thought about changing the locks."
 
 "Well you came out of it--mostly," she teased and squeezed his hand.  "You before, what Josh 
made us own up to---well that's not how I envisioned us finally confessing what we were feeling, 
but that doesn't mean I was any less serious or meant it any less.  I do love you.  And I'm not 
sorry you know."
   
  "Neither am I" he said softly. "I do love you too Sarah Mackenzie."
  
  Before she could reply Mikayla reached over and grabbed one of the French 
  fries from Mac's plate.
  
  "Fry" she smiled before take a bite of it.
  
  "You like French fries" Mac asked the young girl.
  
  "More fries" Mikayla smiled as she reached her little hands over again.
  
  "Well I guess she's not a health food nut like you" Mac smiled as she put a 
  few French fries on a napkin in front of Mikayla.
  
  "I'll have to fix that" Harm frowned. "She'll have clogged arteries before 
  she's a teenager."
  
  "Harm all kids love junk food" Mac laughed. "I don't think she's going to 
  eat your tofu."
  
  "You never know. She might like it."
  
  "Like what?" Josh asked as he returned with the two plates.
  
  "Tofu" Mac smiled. "Harm thinks he's going to turn Mikayla into a health nut 
  like him."
  
  "Yuck. Even I won't eat that. Now Mikayla might play in it but I don't think 
  she'll eat it."
  
  "Well lets see if she'll eat any of the veggies from this" Harm said as he 
  took one of the plates. He was about to set a large piece of broccoli in 
  front of her when Mac quickly snatched it up.
  
  "Little pieces Harm" Mac reminded him as she cut up the broccoli and 
  returned it to Mikayla.
  
  "She just puts it in her mouth" Josh explained. "She doesn't think about 
  whether it's too big to swallow or not."
  
  Harm looked horrified and Mac patted his hand gently. "It's okay Flyboy. 
  You'll get used to this."
  
  "You think?" he sighed. "I mean honestly what do I know about being a 
  parent?"
  
  "The same as everyone else does when they first become parents" Mac 
  shrugged. "Nothing. You learn as you go."
  
  "What if I mess up?"
  
  "Harm I'm sure you'll do fine. Now will you stop worrying and eat you lunch 
  so I can go do that shoe shopping you promised me."
  
  "Harm tell me we don't have to go shoe shopping" Josh groaned. "Please."
  
  "You're both off the hook" Mac laughed. "You two can hang out somewhere and 
  I'll take Mikayla with me."
  
  "Mac I can't ask you to do that."
  
  "I'm offering. It's no biggie. I've gone shopping plenty of times with 
  Harriet and little AJ. I can handle it."
  
  "Cool Harm" Josh smiled. "We can go hang out at the video arcade for a 
  while."
  
  "See we're all set" Mac smiled. "You and Josh can go do the guy thing and 
  Mikayla and I will be fine."
  
  "I'm not sure I like this" Harm said slowly.
  
  "Harm we're at a mall for goodness sake. Nothing is going to happen."
  
  "All right I'm sure you're right and I'm just being overly protective" he 
  sighed.  "But crowded malls are a perfect place for child snatchers you 
  know."
  
  "I won't let her out of my sight" Mac promised. "We'll be fine. Where do you 
  want to meet and what time?"
  
  "Back here in an hour" Harm said firmly.
  
  "Barely enough time to get started" Mac smiled. "All right. We'll be back 
  here in an hour."
  
  She finished eating before taking Mikayla with her as she headed to the 
  first shoe store while Harm and Josh headed to the arcade.
  
  "Thanks for being so cool today Harm" Josh said as they walked to the 
  arcade. "Mom would have locked me in my room for the day."
  
  "Well you're lucky you're not. What did I tell you about fighting?"
  
  "Jeff deserved it" Josh retorted and Harm gave him a long look. "Okay so 
  maybe he didn't."
  
  "What did this Jeff do?"
  
  "Besides always rubbing it in my face about going to the Academy one day he 
  asked Ashley to the dance. When he knew I was going to."
  
  "Ahh there's a woman involved here" Harm smiled. "So tell me about this 
  Ashley."
  
  "She's really pretty and smart and she's been helping me out in some of my 
  classes. I was going to ask her to the dance but then Jeff the jerk asked 
  her first."
  
  "And you thought hitting him was going to make things better?"
  
  "Okay so maybe it wasn't the smartest thing" Josh sighed. "But with 
  everything that's been going on I wasn't really thinking to straight."
  
  "Josh I'm sorry" Harm said quietly. "I didn't mean to throw your life into 
  an uproar. That's not what I'm trying to do anyway."
  
  "I know. But Mom's been off the deep end since you showed up again."
 
 "Josh I want you to listen to me real close now," he said seriously.  "I think you're grown up 
enough to handle this.  I need to know if your mom is seeming like she could hurt  you or 
Mikayla.  And I mean . . . well you're old enough to know what I'm talking about and it's not 
whining that she made you be in before eleven."
 
 "I understand," he nodded somberly.  "I don't think it will get that bad.  She's just having a real 
hard time dealing right now."
 
 "Well this is no trip to the zoo for me either," Harm sighed.  "But I'm bound and determined to 
be my daughter's father."
 
 "And what if the test says you're not?  Even though we both know it's not gonna.  Do you just 
vanish again?"
 
 "Not if I can help it," he answered firmly.  "But that gets into a whole sticky thing about whether 
your mom can forbid me to see you.  I would hope she wouldn't.  But son really, it's a moot 
point.  You know I'm Mikayla's father."
 
 "Yes sir," he grinned.  "And Harm about school and Jeff and all.  I'll apologize to Jeff and to the 
AP.  Even though it won't make it right."
 
 "Good man," Harm nodded.  "You ready to get your butt waxed in X14?"
 
 "Not on your best day," Josh yelped and pushed back from the table.
 =============
 "Josh wrap it up.  Time to go back and find Mac and Mikayla," Harm urged, clapping his 
shoulder to get his attention away from the video game in which he was entranced.  
 
 "Shit," he screeched as his space craft dissolved in a blast of light.
 
 "You mister are not a Sailor yet," Harm cautioned.  "Watch the mouth.  When you're with your 
friends hanging out that's one thing.  Around your mom, or even Mac, it's another."
 
 "You don't?"
 
 "Not very often.  I try not to. But yeah on occasion I've let forth with a string that would wilt 
lettuce," he grinned.  "Come on."
============ 
 "I don't see her," Harm said at once, as soon as they reached the food court.  
 
 "Harm chill.  She's shopping and lost track of time.  Big deal."
 
 "Mac doesn't lose track of time," he growled.  "And if she got delayed she knows I've got my 
cell phone."  He looked around frantically as he spoke, running a distracted hand through his 
hair.
 
 "If you've got your cell phone, then you can call her," Josh told him with that irritating logic of 
youth.
 
 Harm glared and dialed at the same time.
 
 "Harm I was just calling you."  Mac's voice.  High-pitched and upset.  "Harm she's gone.  Oh 
my god she's gone."
   
  "You lost her" Harm screamed. "You lost my daughter."
  
  "Harm I'm sorry" Mac wailed. "I was writing a check to pay for my stuff and 
  she took off."
  
  "I should never have left you with her" he screeched. "Have you called 
  security?"
  
  "Of course" Mac whispered. "Harm I'm sorry."
  
  "Where are you?" he demanded roughly. "I'll bring Josh down there."
  
  "I'm at Rack Room shoes," she said quietly.
  
  "Don't move" he ordered before slamming the phone shut.
  
  "Something wrong?" Josh asked.
  
  "Mac lost Mikayla" Harm said irritably. "She was busy doing something else 
  and when she turned around she was gone. I mean how hard is it to pay 
  attention to a kid."
  
  "Harm, Mikayla does that all the time" Josh sighed. "Mom has lost her more 
  times that I can count in this place. And every time she did she was fine."
  
  "Well Mac should have been paying attention more" Harm snapped. "What if she 
  was snatched by some child molester? And why am I standing here discussing 
  this with you when my daughter is missing. Come on."
  
With a long sigh Josh followed Harm as he wove his way through the crowds 
  towards the Rack Room Shoes that Mac said she was at. There was a crowd of 
  security guards at the store and Harm quickly pushed his way past.
  
  "Excuse me, I'm Harmon Rabb, the missing child's father. Did you find her?"
  
  "Not yet sir. But we've alerted the mall and we've got every available man 
  looking for her. We tried to tell your wife that we had it under control but 
  she took off to find her."
  
  "She's not my wife" Harm sighed. "And I told her to stay put."
  
  "Well maybe if you hadn't yelled at her like that" one of the clerks spoke 
  up. "She was in tears when she ran out of here."
  
  "She shouldn't have lost my daughter" Harm retorted.
  
  "Sir, children run off all the time," the security guard said patiently. 
  "And 9 out of 10 times we find them lost in the mall."
  
  "And what about that other 1 out of 10?" Harm snapped.
  
  "Billy we got her" one of the guards yelled. "She's fine. The mother found 
  her in the KB Toys."
  
  "Where's KB toys?" Harm demanded.
  
  "Come on I'll take you down" the guard smiled. "See I told you there was 
  nothing to worry about."
  
  Harm didn't reply as he and Josh followed the man down to the KB Toys. As 
  soon as he saw Mac and Mikayla he ran to them, practically snatching Mikayla 
  from Mac's arms.
  
  "Oh thank god you're okay" Harm murmured as he held her tightly.
  
  "Harm I'm sorry" Mac said softly.
  
  "I trusted you to watch her Mac" Harm snapped. "And you let her run off."
  
  "I'm sorry" Mac whispered before turning and fleeing towards a nearby exit.  
  Harm made no effort to stop her and Josh gave him a long look.
  
  "What?" Harm demanded.
  
  "Harm you don't know nothing about being a parent" Josh retorted. "And that 
  was mean what you did to Mac. It wasn't her fault."
  
  "Come on we're going home" Harm sighed.
  
  "What about Mac?"
  
  "I'm sure she's outside waiting for us" Harm groaned. "Now come on."
  
  There was no sign of Mac at the car, only a note under the windshield wiper.
  
  "She left didn't she?" Josh demanded as Harm read the note. "She left cause 
  you were mean to her."
  
  "This is none of your business Mr. Pendry" Harm snapped.
  
  "You know you're no better than Mom and Bradley" Josh muttered as he climbed 
  into the car.
  
  He watched as Harm attempted to get Mikayla into her car seat, only to have 
  her start screaming when he snapped her in.
  
  "Honey its okay" Harm soothed. "You're fine."
  
  She continued to scream and Harm took a deep breath for calm before leaning 
  back into the car to try and soothe her. She fussed and screamed louder and 
  Josh smirked from the front seat.
  
  "What now?" Harm sighed.
  
  "Harm she's tired and cranky cause she hasn't had her nap yet" Josh 
  explained. "If you start driving she'll fall asleep."
  
  "Fine" Harm said as he climbed into the driver's side.
  
  As Josh predicted it wasn't long before her fussing stopped and when Harm 
  stopped at a light a few minutes later he turned around to see she was 
  already asleep."
  
  "Told you."
  
  "Fine. So I don't know everything about kids. I'm learning."
 
 "You don't know much about women either," Josh smirked again.  "Mac is pissed. But more 
than that she's hurt.  She was scared and upset just as much as you were about Mikayla.  More 
than that, she was scared and hurt about how you'd react.  Obviously with good reason."
 
 "Look when I need a fourteen year old boy to tell me how to run my love. . . ." he began and 
then brought himself up short.  "OK you're right, but she didn't need to run off like that either."
 
 "Would you have stayed if you had both hurt and disappointed the one person you love most in 
the world?"
 
 Harm gave a long aggrieved sigh.  "This is not going to be near as easy as I had hoped.  Josh, 
when I mess up, please--you have my permission to tell me.  And I should have listened to you 
about Mikayla getting away.  She obviously knew right where she was going."
 
 "Of course she did.  The big Blues Clues Dog out front remember.  She saw that when Mac 
walked by there with her, and first chance she had, she took off.  Remember what I told you.  
She's a royal pain.  She runs off, or at home she's into something every second.  All the 
neighbors know to watch for her.  Remember the fence--we thought that would keep her in.  It 
wasn't up three days before she learned to work the latch.  She needs a leash."
 
 "At this point don't wait for me to disagree," he sighed.  "OK now what.  What time does your 
mom get home?  What's the plan for the afternoon?"
 
 "You're going to carry her up and put her in her bed.  I'll call mom and tell her we're there and 
pray she's either called Margo or Stacy or coming home so I'm not stuck there the entire rest of 
the day."
 
 "And if not?"
 
 "Then I'll stay," Josh murmured.  "I'd ask you to stay too but you need to find Mac."
 
 "Yeah I do.  I've got to make sure she's OK.  "Harm fell into silence thinking about her and Josh 
leaned back and closed his eyes.
 
 Once at the house, he carried the totally limp little girl up to her bed, taking a moment to sit on 
the edge and stroke her hair back from her slightly damp forehead.  
 
 "She's wiped out.  Don't worry.  She'll sleep a couple hours," Josh whispered.  "She really really 
likes you."
 
 "Of course she does.  I'm her daddy," Harm grinned.
 
 Josh walked him back to the door, and punched his arm lightly.  "Call me later and tell me you 
found Mac OK will you. She's a special lady."
 
 "Very," Harm grinned and gave his shoulder a squeeze.  "Look I know things are a mess right 
now, but we'll get it all straight.  Promise."
 
 "Just promise me I can have a shot at the academy," he begged.  "Just a shot. I can't ask for 
more."
 
 "My best.  You've got my word.  Take care of your sister."
 
 "My word," he grinned.
 
 Josh closed the door and Harm dialed Mac's cell phone as he walked back to the car.  Not 
surprised when he received only her voice mail, he hung up in frustration, only to call back 
again.  "Sarah we need to talk.  I was out of line.  Big time.  I'm leaving Baltimore now.  Please 
call me and tell me you're OK first of all, and then that you don't hate me.  And then I want to 
see you."
 
 He put the phone in its holder with a prayer that she would get his message and began the 
hour drive back toward D.C. heading directly for Georgetown.
 
  **************
  "Thanks" Mac murmured to the cab driver as he dropped her in front of her 
  building.
  
  "You okay lady?" the guy asked as he looked at her tear stained face. 
  "You're not going to jump off a bridge or anything are you?"
  
  "No" Mac sighed. "Thanks."
  
  With a long sigh she climbed out and started up the stairs to her apartment. 
  She had no idea how the day had gone from perfect to horrible in such a 
  short time. Harm's harsh words still echoed through her head, outweighing 
  the I love you he'd spoken earlier in the day.
  
  She made it to her apartment before giving into the sobs again as she flung 
  herself on the sofa. Her phone rang a few moments later and she made no 
  attempt to answer it even when the machine picked up.
  
  "Mac it's me. If you're there please pick up. I need to talk to you. I need 
  to apologize for earlier. I'm on my way there and I'm not going to leave 
  until I talk to you."
  
  She didn't move and with a loud beep the machine cut him off. She continued 
  to cry, burying her head in the pillow. The phone rang again and again she 
  waited for the machine.
  
  "Mac please pick up. I really need to talk to you. You have no idea how bad 
  I feel about everything. Please pick up. At least so I know you're there. 
  Please."
  
  She grabbed the phone just as it was about to hang up. "I'm here," she said 
  quietly. "So you can stop calling."
  
  "Mac thank god" Harm sighed. "I was so worried about you."
  
  "Well now that you know I'm here, you can stop worrying. And there's no 
  reason for you to come over so don't."
  
  "Mac wait" Harm called as she started to hang up. "Please don't hang up. I'm 
  sorry about how I acted earlier. I was a jerk and you have every right to be 
  mad at me. But please let me come over so we can talk."
  
  "You made it pretty clear earlier how you felt" Mac sighed.
  
  "I was in panic mode and I said some things I regret" he sighed. "Mac I love 
  you and I'm so sorry for saying those things to you. Not after everything 
  you've done for me."
  
  "Why did you yell at me" she whispered as she felt the tears brim. "Do you 
  have any idea how upset I was at what had happened? And then for you to 
  scream at me like that was just too much."
  
  "I'm so sorry honey. I know it wasn't your fault. I was just scared and I 
  took my frustration out on you. And I shouldn't have."
  
  "No you shouldn't have," she said softly. "But I can forgive you for that. I 
  know this parenting thing is new for you."
  
  "So you'll let me in?"
  
  "Where are you?" she asked as she walked to the door.
  
  "Open up and you'll see" he said softly and waited as she unlocked the door 
  and finally opened it. "Hi Sarah."
  
  "You can hang up now" she sighed. "And yes I'll let you in."
  
  She turned and returned the phone to the base as he walked in, gently 
  closing the door behind him.
  
  "I am so sorry for what I said earlier," he said quietly when she turned to 
  face him.
  
  "Harm you hurt me" she whispered. "You acted like I'd lost Mikayla on 
  purpose. You made me feel like you would never trust me again to take care 
  of her."
  
  "I'm sorry" he groaned. "I was upset and in panic mode and I shouldn't have 
  said any of that. And I know that you didn't purposely lose Mikayla. And 
  Josh told me that she's done that to Annie several times. I didn't realize 
  how quickly they can get away from you. As of course I would trust you with 
  Mikayla."
  
  "Are you sure?"
  
  "Mac I said I was sorry. I really didn't mean anything I said earlier. 
  Please forgive me."
  
  "Including the part about loving me?" she whispered.
  
  "Good God no" Harm gasped. "I meant every word of that. I love you. You have 
  to believe that."
 
 She stared at him for a long minute, studying his face and holding his gaze.  "I want to.  I want 
to so much.  Because I love you.  With every fiber of my being I love you."
 
 Very slowly, almost as if in slow motion, he lowered his head to hers, kissing the corner of her 
mouth and then brushing his lips across hers before settling in for a more serious kiss.  "I love 
you Sarah.  And I was scared this afternoon.  Scared that I had lost you because I didn't stop to 
think how hurtful my words were.  I was so far out of line.  In fact I'd feel better if you'd yell at 
me."
 
 "OK Sailor, stop beating yourself up," she sighed.  "You were scared for your daughter."
 
 "Yeah and then I calmed down and I was scared for you.  I didn't know where you'd gone or 
how you'd gotten home.  Just how did you anyway?"
 
 "Cab to train, train to DC, cab to here," she smiled.  "No biggie."
 
 "Yeah well if something had happened to you while you were out there alone I never would 
have forgiven myself," he moaned.  
 
 "Hey apology accepted.  Mikayla is OK right?"
 
 "Yeah she is.  She's perfect in fact."
 
 "Sounds like a woman has Daddy wrapped around her little finger."
 
 "She's fine," he repeated.  "And home safe and not who I want to focus on right now.  For right 
now the only woman I want is the woman I'm holding.  I love you Sarah."
 
 "You said that already."
 
 "It doesn't hurt to repeat it."
 
 "No it doesn't but maybe you'd like to show me instead."  Her lips fluttered to his, almost 
touching once more.
 
 "Is that a request?"
 
 She answered in the form of a long deep kiss that didn't stop as he led her to the sofa, pulling 
her down with him so that she was all but in his lap.
 
 "I love you Harm.  In case you had any doubt," she giggled, sobering quickly.  "And I was 
scared too, scared to death that I had ruined any chance for us by being careless with your 
daughter."
 
 His only answer was another long kiss.  A little slip of a girl had brought them to each other's 
arms.  From now on, they would travel together.
 ================
 JAG HQ
 One Week Later
 
 "Colonel would you do me a favor please?" Harriet asked shyly.
 
 "If I can without compromising my dignity," she smiled.  
 
 "So far I've struck out on any precedents for the Collins court martial and the Commander is 
going to kill me," she sighed.  "You think you could buy me a couple days?  I'm going to try the 
law library at Georgetown but I have a dentist appointment this morning."
 
 "Not a problem.  Look I know he's in a mood.  Waiting for news on Mikayla isn't easy for him."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  He wants it real bad."
 
 "Real bad," she smiled her agreement.  "But more it's the not knowing for sure."
 
 Harriet opened to her mouth to answer and in the same instance Harm's hoarse cry of "Maaaa-
aaac" came from his office.
 
 "Tend to your duties Lieutenant.  I'll take care of Commander Grump."
 
 "Yes ma'am thank you."
 
 Mac quickly hurried to Harm's doorway, finding him standing at his desk, holding the phone in 
one hand and rubbing his forehead with the other. "You bellowed my Commander?"
 
 "It's them.  The lab."  
 
 "Well finally.  So what's the news?"
 
 "I'm afraid to find out.  Talk to them for me.  Please.  I told them to give the information to you."
 
 "This from the man who's got ice water in his veins when he's in a Tomcat's cockpit," she 
groaned, taking the phone in one hand and his hand in the other.  "Colonel Mackenzie 
speaking."
   
  Harm stood frozen as he waited for Mac to finish the call. When she finally 
  hung up and turned to him it was with a wide smile.
  
  "Congratulations Dad" she said softly. "She's all yours. Not that we ever 
  had a doubt."
  
  "She really is" Harm whispered as he sank into his chair. "I'm really a 
  father."
  
  "Yes you are. And you're going to be one of the best."
  
  "I don't believe it" he murmured. "I mean I guess I really didn't doubt it 
  but until it was confirmed I didn't want to get my hopes up too much."
  
  "So what do you want to do next Mr. Rabb?"
  
  "I told Annie I wasn't going to take her away. And I meant that. As long as 
  I don't think she'd doing anything to hurt them. I just want to be able to 
  visit Mikayla when I want."
  
  "Then that's how we'll proceed" Mac nodded. "But you know it's like Annie 
  will try and fight you on this."
  
  "If she does then I will go for full custody. She can't keep me from my 
  daughter Mac."
  
  "Harm what about Josh?"
  
  "I don't have a legal right to him" Harm sighed. "But I won't leave him 
  alone with her if I think she's unstable. That's not fair to him."
  
  "Good" Mac smiled. "That's what I wanted to hear. I'll call Annie's lawyer 
  and let him know we've got the results. Do you want to call Annie and let 
  her know?"
  
  "At the risk of her going off the deep end yes I will. I just hope she can 
  hold herself together."
  
  "You want to be alone for this phone call?" Mac asked.
  
  "Actually I'd love to have you here so if I start to lose it you can take 
  over" Harm admitted. "You know how unreasonable she is sometimes."
  
  "Yes I do. And I'll be happy to stay here."
  
  "Thank you" he said as he picked up the phone and dialed Annie's work 
  number. "Hi Annie it's Harm."
  
  "What do you want?" she snapped.
  
  "I have the results of the test Annie. Course I'm sure you know what it is."
  
  "I know she's yours" Annie retorted. "So fine. You know that now."
  
  "Yes and now I want to be a part of her life. You can't deny me that."
  
  "Why did you have to come back?" Annie shouted. "Why couldn't you leave me 
  and my children alone?"
  
  "Annie she's my child too" Harm sighed. "You know I have the right to see 
  her. I'm going to petition the court for joint custody."
  
  "No" Annie shrieked. "You can't do that."
  
  "I can and I will" Harm retorted. "I'll see you in court." He slammed the 
  phone before he could stop himself and Mac gave him a patient look. "Sorry. 
  That woman is so damn frustrating."
  
  "I guess that went well. I'll start working on the petition for joint 
  custody."
  
  "Excuse me sir but the Admiral wanted to see you" Tiner interrupted as he 
  walked into Harm's office. "He said it was urgent."
  
  "Isn't it always" Harm sighed. "Okay Tiner I'll be right there."
  
  "You go see what the Admiral wants" Mac urged. "I'll deal with this."
  
  "Have I mentioned recently how wonderful you are?" he said softly. "I can't 
  thank you enough for everything you've done."
  
  "No problem Dad" Mac smiled. "Now go before you're unemployed Dad."
  
  "Thanks" he smiled before hurrying to the Admiral's office.
  
  She was in her office working when Harm returned, a sullen look on his face.
  
  "I have to go to Oceana" he sighed. "There was a mishap between two jets at 
  the Air Station. I asked the Admiral if someone else could go but he wants 
  my expertise on this one."
  
  "I'll handle all this" Mac assured him. "Don't even worry about it."
  
  "Will you check in with Josh and make sure everything is okay" Harm sighed. "Now 
  that I've totally sent Annie off the deep end I want to make sure she 
  doesn't do anything irrational."
  
  "I can do that. How long do you think you'll be gone?"
  
  "Day or two at the most. With any luck by tomorrow night."
  
  "Good luck. And I promise I'll make sure Josh and Mikayla are okay."
  
  "Thank you" he said softly as he reached to close the door to her office. 
  "Can I get a proper goodbye?"
  
  "Goodbye Commander" she smiled as she stood up and walked over to him, only 
  to have him pull her into his arms as his lips found hers in a long kiss.
  
  "Now that's a proper goodbye" he smiled. "I love you. I'll see you soon."
  
  "Call me when you get there so I don't worry. You know how that drive is."
  
  "I will. You sure you can't handle everything with Annie while I'm gone."
  
  "Under control sir" she said with a mock salute.
  
 "Mac be careful of her," he said with sudden seriousness.
 
 "Harm for crying out loud I'm a Marine.  I can handle one well meaning if neurotic woman.  You 
know if we even remotely think she could be harmful, we should be doing something about it---
but we don't really do we?"
 
 "No I guess not," he admitted.  "OK standing here is not getting me there.  I love you.  I'll call 
you soonest."
 
 Another last kiss and he was gone.
 
 The rest of the day passed quickly and it was not until late in the afternoon just before she was 
due to leave that she reached Josh.  "Hey guy.  It's Mac.  Harm wanted me to check with you.  
He's on his way to Oceana.  Everything OK?"
 
 The words were no sooner out of her mouth when she could hear Mikayla wailing in the 
background and Annie's screaming voice.  "OK I can hear that it's not," she went on as calmly 
as she could.  "Talk to me Josh."
 
 "It's OK Mac," he sighed.  "Mom is just having her normal freakout when she gets home.  The 
house is a mess, Mikayla wants her attention and she's cranky and hungry.  Mom that is.  
Mikayla too though.  It's not a big deal.  I'm going to take Mikayla off her hands I guess and then 
she'll calm down.  She already told me about Harm--I got hit with that soon as I walked in.  But I 
knew it.  There wasn't any other guys around before Mikayla was born.  I guess he's pretty 
happy.  Mikayla's lucky."
 
 "Yeah he's thrilled," Mac smiled.  "Your mom wasn't but she'll have to learn to deal.  And Josh, 
there's room for you in the scheme of all this.  Never forget that Harm and I both care about 
you."
 
 "Yeah right. . .no I didn't mean that," the boy sighed.  "I know you do."
 
 "Yes we do.  OK.  I'm going home but I want you to call me at home later and tell me things are 
better.  And Harm will be in his quarters later.  He'd like it if you'd call him."
 
 "OK I can do that.  I'm also hoping to get out with my friends at some point."
 
 "I know.  Just remember Harm's counting on you OK?"
 
 "I know and I won't let him down," he said quietly.  "Look I've got to go.  Mikayla's into the 
kitchen cupboards and that sends Mom into orbit."
 
 With that the phone went dead and Mac hung up quietly.  She had grown up in a house of 
constant chaos as well.  It was survivable, but barely.
 
 The apartment was empty and quiet when she let herself in.  For the past week she and Harm 
had shared their evening time, coming to her place for dinner and work or TV and then he would 
drive home at the end of the night.  She had just set her cover and briefcase down when the 
phone rang.
 
 "Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie."
 
 "Hello Beautiful."
 
 "Rod what a nice surprise.  You in town?  I'm free tonight if so."
 
 "Who the hell is. . ." Harm screeched before realizing she had baited him.
 
 "You're a regular riot Alice," he groaned.  "What's up?  You're inside and locked up right?"
 
 "Harm it's only 1743.  But yeah I locked the door when I came in.  Are you OK?  You sound 
tired."
 
 "Just missing you.  And it was a long drive and then I'm probably going to be up on charges 
because I'm going to kill both pilots, neither of whom is talking to me."
 
 "I'm sorry.  So what's your plan of attack?"
 
 "The O Club."
 
 "I meant for the case."
 
 "Oh.  Like I said, murder is looking good right now.  But I want to know that you're OK and did 
you talk to Josh?"
 
 "I did.  He's doing OK.  I called at a bad time.  Annie had gotten home and Mikayla was tired 
and cranky.  I'm going to check with him again later and a word from you wouldn't hurt either."
 
 "Did you talk to Annie?" he asked with a long sigh.
 
 "No I didn't try.  That would have been a huge mistake.  The last thing she wants is to hear 
from me.  We have to trust that Josh has got a good handle on things."
 
 "I wish I was there."
 
 "Well you and me both mister.  This apartment is pretty lonely.  I'm used to having those big 
feet of yours on my coffee table.  Not to mention having your arms around me while we watch 
TV.  Hell I don't even have anyone to fight with."
 
 "I'll be home soon enough.  Uh. . .Mac you're really OK with all this with Mikayla and with you 
and me and. . .?"
 
 "Yes I really am," she answered quickly and assertively.  "I'm really looking forward to helping 
you raise her, and to being a friend to Josh and all that.  Obviously there's a lot of decisions and 
changes coming up.  But it's not something we can't handle. . .together."
 
 "OK I like the sound of that," he sighed tiredly.  "I'm going to get some food and a drink, and if 
I'm lucky, Heckyl and Jeckyl will have formed a murder-suicide pact by morning.   I'll call you 
later for a good night OK."
 
 "You better. I love you Sailor."
 
 "I love you.  Always."
  
   With a smile she hung up the phone, the words I love you still so hard to 
   believe. He said them with such ease now and it was almost like they'd 
   always been this comfortable with each other.
   
   She prepared dinner for herself and was stretching out on the sofa when he 
   called back a few hours later.
   
   "Are we calmer now?" she asked.
   
   "No. I ran into the Heckyl part of the duo in the O'club. Sufficient to say 
   I did not have an enjoyable dinner."
   
   "I thought they weren't talking to you?"
   
   "Oh he wanted to talk. More like bite my head off. Honestly Mac these guys 
   are getting younger and cockier by the minute."
   
   "No you're just getting older Sailor" Mac teased.
   
   "Am not. I'm not that old."
   
   "As long as you don't consider thirty nine old" she grinned. "So you didn't 
   have a nice dinner."
   
   "No" he pouted. "And besides that I miss you."
   
   "Poor thing. And if it's any consolation I miss you too. Any hope of getting 
   Heckyl and Jeckyl to admitting who's wrong so you can come home soon?"
   
   "Doubtful" he sighed. "But enough about them. I want to talk about you. And 
   us."
   
   "I like the sound of us" she smiled.
   
   "Mac are you really okay with a ready made family?" he asked.
   
   "As long as that doesn't mean we can't add our own to the bunch" she said 
   softly.
   
   "Of course it doesn't. We have a pact on that remember. Besides I'm sure 
   Mikayla would love a baby brother."
   
   "Little Harmon Rabb Junior" Mac smiled at the thought. "I'm going to need 
   lots and lots of patience with that one."
   
   "You think" he laughed.
   
   "Oh I know it" Mac laughed as well. "I can only imagine what you were like 
   as a child."
   
   "And then we'll have to have another one so we can have a little girl who 
   looks just like you."
   
   "So you'll have two little girls to spoil," Mac said softly.
   
   "Three" Harm smiled. "You forgot about you."
   
   "There's those sappy bones again Rabb" Mac whispered.  "Is this really my 
   Harmon Rabb?"
   
   "He's all yours" Harm whispered before she heard him try and stifle a yawn.
   
   "I should let you go. You probably want to relax after such a long 
   afternoon."
   
   "Yeah I should try and make sense of this mess and then try and get some 
   sleep" he sighed. "What about you? You're in for the night right?"
   
   "Perched on the sofa for the rest of the evening" she assured him. "Go get 
   some rest sailor. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
   
   "I love you," he said softly.
   
   "Love you too" she whispered before finally hanging up.
   
   She spent the rest of the evening watching TV, finally falling asleep on the 
   sofa a few hours later. The ringing of the phone woke her with a start just 
   as Leno was finishing and with a groan she reached for it.
   
   "Colonel Mackenzie" she said sleepily.
   
   "Mac it's Josh"
   
   "Josh what's wrong?" Mac asked, instantly awake.
   
   "Mom left and she didn't come back" Josh said tearfully. "And Mikayla's sick 
   and I don't know what to do."
   
   "How sick?" Mac asked.
   
   "She keeps throwing up all over the place" Josh wailed. "I tried to get her 
   to stay in the bathroom but she wouldn't and then she got sick again in the 
   bedroom and now there's a mess in there as well as in the hallway."
   
   "How many times has she thrown up?" Mac asked.
   
   "Three or four. I tried to get her to drink some juice but she can't keep 
   anything down."
   
   "Okay sit tight. I'll be there in an hour or so. I'm going to try and stop 
   somewhere first and get some Pedialite for her and then I'll be over. It's 
   going to be okay Josh."
   
   "I'm sorry I had to call you" he wailed. "I didn't know what else to do."
   
   "You did the right thing by calling. I'll be there as soon as I can."
   
   She hung up and quickly threw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before 
   hurrying down to her car. She pushed the speed as much as she dared at that 
   late of the night and after a quick stop at the all night store pulled into 
   the driveway of Annie's home.
   
   "Josh it's Mac" she called as she knocked on the door.
   
   Seconds later the door opened and Josh literally threw himself at her when 
   he saw her.
   
   "Hey it's okay," Mac said as she gently stroked his hair. "I'm here and 
   everything is going to be okay. Where's your sister?"
   
   Mikayla's wail from upstairs told her where she was and Mac quickly hurried 
   upstairs, dodging the mess in the hall to find the little girl in her now 
   soiled bed.
  
  "Josh you didn't tell me I should have brought my gas mask," she smiled and ruffled his hair.  
"Hey lighten up.  She'll be OK.  Where the hell is your mother anyway?"
  
  "She left with Bradley about 7," he whispered.  "I've been calling and calling every ten minutes 
since she first barfed."
  
  "I don't understand--she took off out of here and left you with a sick baby?  It's questionable 
that you're old enough to be left alone yourself, let alone with responsibility for a little one," she 
sighed, stepping up to the bed.  
  
  Mikayla lifted her arms to Mac, whimpering softly now.
  
  "She's going to get you all messy."
  
  "I'll clean up," she smiled, scooping the little girl up.  "Hey honey it's OK, Mac is here and 
you're. . ."  She froze mid-word, her hand going to the child's forehead and then feeling all over 
her back under her nightgown.
  
  "Mac what's wrong?"  Josh immediately picked up on her alarm.
  
  "She's got a lot of fever," she told him as calmly as she could.  "Where is the thermometer, and 
please tell me first that you have one and that it's not the kind that goes in the butt."
  
  "Nah it's the kind that goes in her ear, but she's going to scream like you were torturing her 
anyway.  I'll get it."
  
  "And we need to get her out of these filthy nightclothes and into a tub," she said softly, rocking 
her gently while she awaited Josh.
  
  "OK here it is, and I even know how to do it," he smiled.  Just as he had predicted, Mikayla let 
out a scream as if she had been stabbed with a hat pin.
  
  "Well?" Mac looked at him expectantly, juggling the now almost hysterical child.
  
  "I've. . .I've never seen it this high.  It's 104.  Never," he gasped, looking totally frightened.  
"She needs help."  He choked on his last word and a wave of sympathy went through Mac.  
Here was a boy, scarcely more than a child himself, coping with things difficult for an adult.
  
  "She's going to be fine," Mac assured him.  "Get your clothes on.  I'm going to clean her up 
some.  And get me a sweater or something of your mom's will you."
  
  "Are we going somewhere?"
  
  "The ER, and quick."
  ====================
  ST. PAUL's HOSPITAL
  Baltimore, Md.
  
  Mikayla was taken from her arms as soon as they arrived, the doctor promising to let her know 
as soon as she knew something.
  
  Josh sat in a hard chair, looking small and scared and Mac put a warm hand on his shoulder, 
her eyes asking about his mother.  "I still can't get her.  Or Bradley.  At this point I don't know 
what to think," he whispered.  "And right now all that matters is Mikayla being OK.  Did you call 
Harm?"
  
  Mac shook her head.  "No.  Not until we know something.  It will just scare him, and the last 
thing I want  is a panicked Rabb driving back here."
  
  "I'm scared too."
  
  "So am I."  She was scared for Mikayla, but also scared for Harm and how he was going to 
react.  
  
  With a tired sigh she sank down in the chair next to Josh's and a few minutes later the tired 
boy had leaned his head against her shoulder. 
  
  "You're a good man Joshua Pendry," Mac smiled despite her worry, and her own eyes closed 
with a small prayer for a small girl-child.

     It was another half-hour before a weary nurse finally called for her again.
  
  "How is she?" Mac demanded. "Is she okay?"
  
  "Stomach flu complicated by an ear infection ma'am" the nurse replied. 
  "We've given her a compazine suppository to stop the vomiting and some 
  Tylenol for the fever. Now that we've gotten her quiet."
  
  "What do you mean now that you've gotten her quiet?" Mac demanded.
  
  "She threw quite a fuss at first" the nurse admitted. "But she's fine now."
  
  "And she's going to be okay right?" Mac asked as she clutched Josh's hand.
  
  "Yes ma'am" the nurse said sympathetically. "She'll be fine. You can come 
  back and sit with her until the doctor says she can go."
  
  "Thank you" Mac breathed and she and Josh followed her back to the room 
  where Mikayla was. She held out her arms when she saw Mac and at once Mac 
  pulled the little girl into her arms.
  
  "Hey sweetie" Mac whispered. "You're going to be fine."
  
  She snuggled against Mac and a few moments later lay sleeping against her 
  chest.
  
  "She really likes you" Josh sighed. "And I'm so glad you came. I didn't know 
  what else to do."
  
  "You did the right thing calling me. I have no idea where your Mom went."
  
  "It's not the first time she hasn't come home. And usually I can handle 
  Mikayla."
  
  "I'm sure you can. But you were right to call me. And once Mikayla is okay 
  I'll call Harm and let him know and pray he doesn't flip."
  
  ***************
  "Josh honey I'll be right back for you" Mac called as she lifted Mikayla 
  into her arms. She'd finally been allowed to take Mikayla home and Josh had 
  promptly fallen asleep in the front seat of the car.
  
  The house was still dark and with a sigh Mac dug for the key Josh had given 
  her earlier. Moments later she had the little girl in her freshly made bed 
  before heading down for Josh.
  
  She managed to get him on his feet enough so that she didn't have to totally 
  carry him and a few minutes later he was in his bed as well.
  
  "Okay Mackenzie now what" Mac murmured to herself. The bathroom was still a 
  mess from Mikayla's earlier accidents and Mac promptly started to work on 
  cleaning that up. That task complete she finally sunk down on the floor of 
  Mikayla's bedroom, falling asleep almost at once.
  
  **********************
  It was Mikayla's little fingers to her face that woke her the next morning.
  
  "Hi sweetie" Mac said as she opened her eyes. "You better?"
  
  Mikayla nodded and with a long sigh Mac pushed herself up, 
  groaning as she realized the time. It was way past 8:00 and she reached for 
  Mikayla and lifted her into her arms.
  
  "We need to call the Admiral" Mac said to the young girl. "And then I'll get 
  you some breakfast okay?"
  
  She nodded and Mac carried her down to the kitchen and into a chair before 
  reaching for the phone.
  
  "Where in the hell have you been?" AJ thundered when Tiner connected her.
  
  "Sir I have a good explanation. Josh called last night because Annie never 
  came home and Mikayla was sick. I spend three hours at the ER with her and 
  by the time we got home and I got things cleaned up it was late."
  
  "Is she okay?" AJ asked. "And where the hell is her mother?"
  
  "Stomach flu and ear infection. And I have no idea where Annie is. Josh told 
  us that sometimes she doesn't come home."
  
  "I take it you won't be in then" AJ sighed.
  
  "No sir. I can't leave them alone like this. I hope that's not a problem."
  
  "We'll manage. I did get word from your partner that he's on his way back 
  from Oceana this morning."
  
  "He got one of them to confess?" Mac asked.
  
  "Yes he did. And I don't want to know his tactics but whatever it was it 
  worked. So he'll be here in a few hours."
  
  "Sir I haven't told him Mikayla was sick yet" Mac sighed. "Please don't say 
  anything."
 
 "I'd be more concerned about where the mother is," AJ sighed.  "Did she just run off with a guy 
or what?"
 
 "No clue sir.  None.  She can be reported missing tonight if she doesn't show up."
 
 "Well meanwhile you've got instant motherhood," AJ grinned.  "Good luck Colonel.  I'll handle 
your partner when he arrives."
 
 "Thank you sir and I'm real sorry about all this.  There just wasn't any other choice.  Soon as I 
can get things together here, we'll head down there, assuming I haven't heard from Annie, but 
right now--well there was very little sleeping done last night for one thing and this place is a real 
hellhole.  Sir I'll be there tomorrow even if it's with Josh dressed up like a Seaman first class and 
with Mikayla strapped to my back."
 
 "Colonel relax.  We'll manage.  The Commander will be back shortly."
 
 "Yes sir, thank you.  Tell him to call me if you would please."
 ==============
 JAG HQ
 2 hours later
 
 "Commander good afternoon."  Tiner was the first to see Harm when he arrived.
 
 "Hey Tiner.  I see the place is still standing."  Even as he was speaking his eyes were 
sweeping the room for Mac.  "Uh. . .where's Colonel Mackenzie?"
 
 "She didn't come in this morning sir," Tiner shrugged.  "Some kind of family emergency."
 
 "Tiner I'm her family," he screeched in his alarm and realized what he was saying.  "Let me 
rephrase that. . ."
 
 "Mr. Rabb leave the boy alone," AJ called. "Colonel Mackenzie is fine.  Go give her a call."
 
 "Sir you're not just. . ."
 
 "I'm not doing anything but wanting to get some work out of my people," AJ growled.  "Go give 
her a call."
 
 He all but ran to his office.  Family emergency?  What could have. . .  His mind was still racing 
when she answered, and she sounded out of breath.
 
 "Mac it's me.  What in the hell is going on?  Where are you?  And most important are you OK?"  
His words poured forth in one breath.
 
 "Harm chill.  Yes I'm fine.  Uh. . .I'm in Baltimore with Mikayla and Josh."
 
 "Because?" he gasped, confused as well as alarmed now.
 
 "I'll explain it all later when I see you," she replied with another heavy sigh.
 
 "OK something happened that kept you from coming in today.  Mikayla?  My god did something 
happen to Mikayla?"
 
 "You mean your daughter who just emptied all the lower kitchen cupboards?  She's fine," Mac 
assured him.  It was true enough.  She was fine---now. "Look I'm leaving shortly.  I'll see you at 
JAG."
 
 "Mac I am really confused here," he wailed.  "Family emergency leave is not something to joke 
about."
 
 "All when I see you Flyboy," she assured him.  "And if I don't get things back in order around 
here I'm going to be that much longer getting there.  See you soon.  I love you."
 
 Harm froze for a second.  It was all still new.  "Sarah I. . ." he stammered.
 
 "What Harm?" she asked, not sure what he was trying to say.
 
 She heard him clear his throat.  "I'm sorry.  I love you too."
 
 "So you're sorry you love me or what?" she teased.
 
 "I'm hanging up before I get in trouble," he groaned, "but I do love you."
 
 "Go to work Sailor and I'll see you soon," 
 ===========
 It took her the better part of an hour to get Josh and Mikayla finally ready, an overnight bag 
packed for each of them, and making sure she had brought the little one's medication.
 
 "Mac are you OK?" Josh asked her suddenly as they were walking to the car.  "You're not 
looking real good."
 
 "Huh?  Oh yeah I'm fine, just tired," she murmured.
  
 She strapped Mikayla into her seat and loaded the car before climbing into 
 the driver's side. For a moment she sat there as her stomach did somersaults 
 before finally starting up the car.
 
 "Mac can we stop somewhere for lunch?" Josh asked. "Maybe McDonalds."
 
 The thought of McDonalds made her stomach turn again and she took a deep 
 breath as she felt a wave of nausea rise up.
 
 "Can we wait until we get back to JAG?" she managed finally.
 
 "Yeah sure" Josh nodded. "You sure you're okay?"
 
 "I'm just really tired from last night," she said with a forced smile. "It's 
 been a while since I've survived on a few hours sleep like that."
 
 "Sorry."
 
 "Hey there's nothing for you to be sorry about" she said quickly. "This 
 wasn't your fault. You did the right thing calling me."
 
 "I just hope you didn't catch whatever Mikayla had" he sighed.
 
 "I'm fine. Honest."
 
 She was anything but a half-hour later when she was forced to pull off the 
 road as her stomach revolted. She managed to open the door and climb out 
 before losing that morning's breakfast.
 
 "Mac you okay?" Josh asked anxiously as he leaned over the seat to look out 
 at her.
 
 "Yeah I'm fine" she gasped despite feeling worse than she ever remembered. 
 Besides her revolting stomach she was hot and dizzy and she clung to the car 
 as the wave of dizziness washed over her.
 
 Mikayla started to cry in the backseat, the idea of being stuck in her seat 
 while the car wasn't moving not sitting well with her.
 
 "Okay honey we're going to be going here in a minute" Mac sighed.
 
 "She hates sitting in the car when it's not moving" Josh said as he turned 
 and tried to amuse his little sister. Her screams got louder and with a long 
 sigh Mac climbed into the car again.
 
 "Okay we're going" she soothed as she started the car up and carefully 
 pulled back into traffic.
 
 Mikayla's tears stopped once the car was in motion again and Mac let out a 
 long sigh before realizing that her stomach wasn't going to hold again. She 
 once again managed to pull off the road, this time just managing to get the 
 door open before getting sick.
 
 "Mac you're not okay are you?" Josh asked anxiously.
 
 "I will be" Mac groaned. "Just give me a minute."
 
 Mikayla's screams started again and Josh did his best to try and console his 
 little sister while Mac waited for her stomach to settle again. She could 
 feel the little beads of sweat on her forehead and she knew that she'd 
 gotten whatever Mikayla had had.
 
 "Mac do you want me to call Harm?" Josh asked.
 
 "No I'll be okay in a few minutes" Mac sighed. "I don't want him to freak."
 
 Mikayla continued to fuss in her seat and finally Josh reached back and 
 unstrapped her from her seat when it became apparent they weren't going 
 anywhere real soon. He'd just brought her to the front seat when Mac sprang 
 from the car as her stomach revolted again.
 
 She was still hanging onto the back of the car when her cell phone rang and 
 at once Josh grabbed it.
 
 "Hello"
 
 "Josh this is Harm. Where are you? I thought you guys would be here by now."
 
 "We would have been but Mac's sick."
 
 "What? Where are you?" Harm demanded. "And how sick is she?"
 
 "We're on the side of the road" Josh replied. "She's puked three times since 
 we left home. She's outside puking again right now."
 
 "Where are you?" Harm asked again. "I need specifics Josh so I can come and 
 get you guys."
 
 "We're on the BW Parkway near Greenbelt Road" Josh replied.
 
 "She's outside the car on the BW Parkway" Harm shrieked as images of cars
 plowing into their car or them on the side of the road ran through his head. "Josh 
 don't you move from that car. Tell Mac I'll be there as soon as I can and 
 for her not to drive any further."
 
 "Yes sir" Josh replied. "Harm I think she's really sick. She was all pale 
 and sweaty. She didn't look good."
 
 The young boy's words did nothing to calm Harm and he took a deep breath 
 before answering.
 
 "Okay I'm on my way," he said as calmly as he could. "You just sit tight. 
 Tell Mac I'm on my way."
 
 "You can tell her yourself," Josh said as he handed the phone to Mac. "It's 
 Harm."
 
 "Harm I'm sorry" she groaned. "I'll be there real soon."
 
 "Honey it's okay" he said softly. "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you 
 were sick?"
 
 "I wasn't sick earlier" she sighed. "It just hit all of a sudden. And" She 
 threw the phone back at Josh as she bolted from the car again.
 
 "Mac" Harm screamed. "Mac are you okay?"

"Harm she's not OK.  Not at all," Josh gasped into the phone.  "I don't know what to do for her."

"OK son I know," Harm told him, trying to keep a calmer tone.  "Listen now I'm counting on you.  
It's going to take me a good forty-five minutes to get there.  You're going to have to take care of 
Mikayla, and get Mac to sit down in the car.  Maybe if she drank some water it would calm her 
stomach.  I'm on my way."

"I'm scared Harm," he whispered.

"You and me both, but as soon as we get you guys off that highway it'll be OK.  Go take care of 
your sister and Mac now."  With that plea he disconnected the call and ran from the building, 
stopping only to shout to Tiner that he had an emergency.

"I thought the Colonel was the one with the emergency," he muttered, glancing at AJ's door 
which he was glad to see was tightly closed.

"Please God take care of them," Harm gasped as he gunned the engine and tore from the 
parking lot.  The trip around the Virginia half of the beltway took forever, but finally the bridge 
loomed before him.  "Thank you God," he breathed, grateful that the traffic was running 
smoothly.  Once across he floored the gas, risking the speeding ticket in his desperate desire to 
get to them.

Onto the Parkway at last and approaching the exit, he began to watch for them.  Then exactly 
the sight which he did not want to see was up ahead.  Red and blue flashing lights.  Emergency 
vehicle.  "No God please."  His plea came out as a hoarse sob.

Josh spotted Harm first, seeing his car dive from the lane and pull in behind the police car.  "Sir 
that would be Commander Rabb," he told the police officer.

"Looks like a man on the verge of cardiac arrest," he smiled, striding forward.  "Commander 
Rabb I'm Jerry Kelly, Maryland state police.  Saw your lady here and these two kids pulled over 
and I stopped to make sure they were OK."

"How is she?" Harm gasped, trying to see past the burly trooper.

"She's pretty miserable.  But she'll be OK soon as she can get out of the sun and get lying 
down.  The little one is pretty upset too, but the boy is doing a good job calming her.  You 
should be real proud of him."

"Oh yeah," Harm nodded, allowing himself a small measure of relief as he pushed past Kelly to 
get to Mac.  She was sitting inside the car in the front passenger seat, her head leaned back 
and her eyes closed.

"Honey I'm here," he said softly reaching to touch her cheek with the back of his hand and 
realizing at once how warm she was.  

She struggled to get her eyes open.  "Harm.  Harm I'm sorry."

"Sorry?  What in the hell for?"
 
  "For being sick" she sighed.
  
  "Yeah like it's your fault," he said gently. "And all that matters is 
  getting you home and making sure you're okay."
  
  "Where's Mikayla and Josh?" she asked as she lifted her head to look around.
  
  "With the nice Officer who stopped to make sure you were okay. They're fine. 
  Now let's get you into my car. You think you can walk?"
  
  She nodded and he helped her out of her car and over to his. Once she was 
  safely installed in the front seat he returned for Mikayla and Josh and a 
  few minutes later he pulled back into traffic.
  
  "Just tell me if you need me to stop" Harm said gently.
  
  She nodded but kept her eyes closed and Harm maneuvered through the 
  afternoon traffic, glancing over at Mac to make sure she was okay.
  
  "Harm pull over" she gasped when they were almost to his place.
  
  He did so as quickly as he could and she threw open the door and hopped out 
  even before he'd come to a complete stop. He hurried out after her and drew 
  her into his arms when she finished.
  
  "Shh it's okay" he soothed as tears of misery slid down her face.
  
  "I'm sorry" she gasped. "And you should stay away. You're going to get 
  whatever this is. I'm sure I have what Mikayla had last night."
  
  "Wait. You said Mikayla was okay. She had this last night?"
  
  "Yes she did. But she's fine now as you can see. And I will be too."
  
  "You need to tell me what's going on here Marine" he sighed. "But right now 
  I'm more worried about you. Maybe I should take you to the ER."
  
  "No it's okay," she said quickly. "I'll be fine once I go home and lie 
  down."
  
  "You're burning up," he sighed as he put a cool hand to her warm 
  forehead. "You should see the doctor."
  
  "It's just stomach flu. It'll run it's course and then I'll be fine."
  
  "I'll be the judge of that. You okay to go back in now?"
  
  "I think so," she said with a deep breath. "Not promising it won't happen 
  again before we get home."
  
  Mikayla's wail from the car reminded them they needed to get going and Harm 
  helped Mac back into the car.
  
  They made it to Harm's without further incident and Harm helped Mac upstairs 
  while Josh took his little sisters hand and followed behind them.
  
  "Into bed with you" Harm said as he led Mac straight to his bedroom.
  
  "Harm no I can't take your bed. The sofa is fine."
  
  "Mac you're sick. You need to be in bed. Now stop arguing with me and let me 
  take care of you."
  
  "All right" she sighed and allowed him to help her into bed. He went to the 
  bathroom and wetted a washcloth with cool water before returning and placing 
  it on her forehead. Josh and Mikayla wandered into the room and Mikayla 
  quickly climbed up on the bed next to Mac.
  
  "I think she's getting used to you" Harm smiled.
  
  "Probably cause Mom's not around" Josh sighed.
  
  "What? Where's Annie?"
  
  "She never came home," Josh said quietly. "That's why I called Mac last 
  night. Mikayla was sick and I didn't know what else to do."
  
  "And you didn't call me?" Harm demanded as he looked at Mac.
  
  "Harm please don't yell" Mac sighed. "Woman who doesn't feel good here."
  
  "Okay sorry" he sighed. "I just wish you'd called me sooner."
  
  "So I could have a heart attack worrying about you driving up from Oceana 
  last night" she countered. "No thank you. I knew you'd freak if you found 
  out and I didn't want you driving under those conditions."
  
  "Is she okay then?" Harm asked as he reached for Mikayla and lifted her into 
  his arms.
  
  "Yeah. She still has an ear infection. Josh can you get Harm her medicine. 
  It's about time for her next dose."
  
  Josh nodded and headed off to find the bag Mac had packed with all their 
  stuff and Harm sat down on the side of the bed next to Mac. At once Mikayla 
  crawled out of his arms and back over to Mac.
  
  "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. You went and took care of Josh 
  and Mikayla and I can't thank you enough for that."
  
  "It's okay. You know I'd do anything for them."
  
  "I want you to rest," he said as he stroked her forehead. "I've got 
  everything under control here now."
  
  "I just want to sleep--or die," she sighed.  "I have never in my life felt this rotten, but now that 
my stomach is empty it should start to ease up."
 
 "Well you're still burning up," he fretted.  "And about yesterday, I can't thank you enough.  I 
should have been here."
 
 "Harm you had an assignment.  I'm just glad I was.  And Josh--Josh you did real good.  You 
kept your head and kept it under control."
 
 "Yeah thanks Josh," Harm nodded and Josh flushed uncomfortably with the praise.  
 
 "Can I be excused to go watch TV?"
 
 "Yeah of course.  Help yourself to the fridge," Harm told him.
 
 "Harm what are we going to do about Annie?" Mac murmured, closing her eyes.
 
 "We are not going to do anything.  You are going to rest.  I'll figure this all out.  Talk to Josh and 
all."
 
 Before she could reply, Mikayla curled up next to her, wedging herself in so that her head was 
resting on Mac's shoulder.
 
 "I think I found a friend," Mac sighed, kissing the small forehead.
 
 "She really does like you," he smiled approvingly.  "You'd make a better mother to her than the 
woman who gave birth to her that's for sure."
 
 "I wouldn't mind having the job," she mumbled, her eyes closing finally.
 
 "As far as I'm concerned it's yours," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her dry lips ever so 
gently, giving Mikayla's cheek a peck as well.
 
 When he walked into the front room he clapped Josh's shoulder.  "Nice job today Pendry."
 
 "Just taking care of business," he shrugged and looked up at Harm with troubled eyes.  "What 
are we going to do about Mom?"
 
 "How often does this happen?  I mean has she ever been gone for more than a day?"
 
 The boy shook his head with a long sigh.  "No never.  She always comes back the next day.  
She just says she needs to get away.  I guess she goes off with Bradley but I don't know.  When 
I ask her she just looks at me."
 
 "Just what the hell would you do in a real emergency," Harm growled, slamming his fist into the 
sofa.  "This is crazy, and she's just helping me make a good case."
 
 Josh shrugged again.  "I guess I should care more but I don't.  I can't.  I feel like I'm just 
marking time until I get out of there.  I still want the Academy, real bad.  Real bad Harm."
 
 "Look, you keep up your grades and keep your nose clean.  And don't give up on that as your 
goal."
 
 "No I won't," he replied somberly.  "But sometimes it just seems so impossible.  And like with 
Mikayla, I can't even study at night while she's up.  And then when she finally does go to bed, 
assuming Mom is home, all I want then is to get out with my friends."
 
 "I know Josh," he sighed.  "Just try to hang on.  Mac and I are going to help get it all straight.  I 
promise.  And I promise some changes will be made."
 
 "Thanks.  How's Mac?"
 
 "Pretty sick."
 
 "And you're pretty worried."
 
 "Yeah.  But she's sleeping now.  Mikayla too.  Best thing for both of them."

Josh nodded.  "It's OK if I sack out too isn't it?  We didn't get a lot of sleep last night.  Are we 
staying here for the night?"
 
 "Yes we are.  All of us."
 
 "Even Mac?"  Josh had a mischievous glint in his eye.
 
 "Especially Mac.  Take your nap."
 
 The apartment was quiet when he wandered back to the bedroom.  Mac was sleeping fitfully, 
with Mikayla totally unaware, dead to the world, and cuddled against her side.  Harm took the 
wet cloth from her forehead and refreshed it, again noting how high her fever was as he wiped 
her face and pressed it against her forehead once more.  "I love you Marine," he whispered 
before stretching out beside her.  "And thank you Lord for keeping them safe this afternoon."
  
  He'd no sooner fallen asleep when he heard Josh race to the bathroom, not 
  quite making it to the toilet before getting sick.
  
  "You too?" Harm said gently as he made his way into the bathroom where the 
  young boy was now sitting.
  
  "Sorry" Josh wailed.
  
  "Hey it's okay. Not your fault" Harm soothed as he stroked his back.
  
  He led Josh back to the sofa and tucked him in before heading back to clean 
  up the mess in the bathroom. He'd no sooner finished that when he heard Mac 
  call out for him.
  
  "I'm right here honey," he said softly as he hurried back into the bedroom.
  
  "What's wrong? Is Josh sick too?"
  
  "Yeah. I should have known you'd all get it eventually. But I can handle it 
  and there's nothing for you to worry about. You rest. Can I get you 
  anything? A little water maybe?"
  
  "No I'm fine" she sighed. "I'm sorry you're stuck taking care of all of us."
  
  "Well this way when I get sick you can all take care of me" he smiled as he 
  stroked her cheek. "You rest. I'll take care of Josh."
  
  She nodded and he stayed with her until he heard Josh making the run again 
  and with a sigh headed to the bathroom. It was going to be a long night.
  
  He'd just gotten Josh on the sofa with a wet wash cloth to his forehead when 
  Mikayla came wandering out from the bedroom.
  
  "Hey sweetie" he smiled as he lifted her into his arms.
  
  "Hungry" she informed him.
  
  "Of course you are" Harm sighed. "And I probably have absolutely nothing 
  here that you'd even consider eating."  He looked through the refrigerator and cupboards for 
anything that a  three-year-old would want to eat.
  
  "How about some oatmeal?" he asked and she shook her head. "Pancakes?"
  
  She nodded and minutes later he was whipping up the batter for pancakes 
  while she sat on the floor playing contentedly with the pots and pans from the 
  bottom cupboard. The phone rang and he quickly grabbed it.
  
  "Hello."
  
  "Hey Harm its Sturgis. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Tiner 
  said you took off and said there was some emergency."
  
  "Yeah Mac is sick. She got it from Mikayla. And now of course Josh is sick."
  
  "And you're taking care of everyone" Sturgis laughed.
  
  "Hey I'm doing okay," he said as he looked down at Mikayla. "I'm new at this 
  but I'm trying."
  
  "Is there anything I can do to help?"
  
  "Actually I could use some normal food here. Well normal as in what kids 
  would eat. Josh and Mikayla are going to be here for a while."
  
  "What happened to Annie?"
  
  "She up and vanished the other night. Josh called Mac because Mikayla was sick 
  and he didn't know what else to do."
  
  "Woah. She's gone. Like she's left you with the kids."
  
  "Yes and I'm going to take care of both of them. And as soon as I can I'm 
  going to petition the court for custody of both of them. But right now my 
  concern is getting everyone well again."
  
  "I'll stop by with some real food" Sturgis assured him. "Anything else?"
  
  "No I think I've got it under control."
  
  Things were anything but under control when Sturgis arrived an hour later. 
  He could hear Mikayla screaming outside the door and with a smile he knocked 
  on the door.
  
  "Harm it's me Sturgis" he called.
  
  "Sturgis thank god" Harm groaned as he opened the door. "I have no clue 
  what's wrong with Mikayla. She hasn't stopped screaming and Josh was sick 
  again and I have to go clean up the mess and Mac is trying to sleep and I 
  think I'm going to lose it here."
  
  "Uh. . .excuse me.  I'm in the wrong apartment," Sturgis gasped, seeing the chaos spreading 
out behind Harm.
 
 "Harm what's going on?"  This from Mac who was now standing by the table, wearing only her 
tank top and boxers.  
 
 "Harm you should have invited me over sooner," Sturgis grinned.  "I didn't know it was party 
time."
 
 "Turner grow up," he snapped and turned to Mac.  "What are you doing up and don't answer 
that it was a stupid question given that we've descended into the bowels of hell.  I'm sorry."
 
 "I should be helping," she said softly, taking a step forward, only to find that her legs were not 
cooperating and she stumbled badly.
 
 Combining sheer luck and determination, Harm managed to catch her, grabbing her arm and 
pulling her close to him, all but lifting her off the floor.  "What the hell are you doing up," he 
raged.  "Have you lost your mind as well as all of your stomach contents?"
 
 "Harm you need help," she tried.
 
 "Yes I do, but not from someone who can't hold her head up, much less stay on her feet.  And 
Sturgis is here to help anyway.  Please God don't let him leave."
 
 "I'm not going anywhere.  My conscience wouldn't allow it," Sturgis sighed.  "OK you get her 
back to bed.  No fooling around back there either.  I'll see if I can't get Mikayla calmed.  Josh are 
you OK for now?"
 
 "Yes sir, just leave me here and let me die quietly."
 
 "I can do that," Sturgis told him.  "Rabb you're still here.  Move."
 
 "Harm please, the room is spinning.  I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have gotten up."
 
 Her plea made him move, holding her close and supporting her all the way, he took her back to 
the bed, lying her down as gingerly as he could.  "You don't need to be sick again do you?" he 
whispered softly, cupping her face with his palm.
 
 "No.  That's past and now I just feel like I've been hit by a train," she sighed.  "Hey I'm OK.  Just 
go tend to your daughter."
 
 He nodded and started to rise when he suddenly realized. . .silence.  For the first time in god 
knows how long, there was silence.  "Go I see how she is," Mac murmured.  "Come back and 
tell me."
 
 Holding his breath, Harm walked into the front room and his eyes widened at the sight.  Josh 
was lying on the sofa, half asleep, half watching a movie.  But it was Mikayla who was now all 
smiles.  She was sitting on the floor by the coffee table, popping Cheerios into her mouth with 
one fat fist while she spooned up yogurt with the other, managing to get part of each spoonful 
actually into her mouth with the Cheerios.
 
 "How did you. . .wow," Harm breathed.  "I can see I'm going to have to do some shopping."
 
 "No I already did, and there's bananas and applesauce and rice.  Also crackers and noodle 
soup.  Stuff that's easy on the tummy," Sturgis smiled.
 
 "Tummy is an odd word coming from you," Harm muttered.  "But thanks.  I owe you big time.  
Josh you holding your own there son?"
 
 "Yes sir.  My eyeballs hurt but at least my stomach isn't churning."
 
 Harm took a long breath.  "OK it's getting a little better.  I have the mess where Josh didn't quite 
make it and then just the general mess.  Sturgis you got Mikayla?"
 
 "I do, and Harm--she's beautiful.  A Rabb child."
 
 Harm's grin was ear to ear.
 
 He was just putting the mop away when he heard Mac's moaning call of his name and 
something that sounded like gingerale.  
 
 "Gingerale run," he told Sturgis, sprinting to the kitchen and back through, setting off a hail of 
laughter from Mikayla.
 
 "Here honey," he said softly, holding the cup to her dry lips.  "Mac serious now.  If you're not 
any better in the morning, you're going to the doctor.  No argument."
 
 "I'm trying, honest," she smiled as best she could.  "And thanks.  That tasted good.  I want to 
get up and help but I can't seem to make my legs work."
 
 "You are most helping me by being right where you are," he said softly, stroking her hair back 
from her forehead.  "Remember I love you."  
 
 "And she loves you," Sturgis supplied from the doorway, his eyes wide with amusement.
    
  "This was a private conversation" Harm groaned as he turned around. "Could 
  we have a little privacy around here?"
  
  As he spoke Mikayla came running into the room; her yogurt covered hands 
  reaching for Harm.
  
  "You were saying about privacy?" Sturgis laughed.
  
  "Hi sweetie" Harm smiled as he lifted Mikayla into his arms. She immediately 
  smeared her hands onto his shirt, smiling as she did so.
  
  "She is so adorable Harm" Sturgis said as he looked on.
  
  "Yeah she is" Harm said softly as he stroked the little girls hair. "I still 
  can't believe she's mine."
  
  She saw Mac and started to reach for her and Harm pulled her back.
  
  "No honey. Mac is sick. She needs to rest."
  
  "NO" Mikayla shouted. "Wanna stay with Mac." She struggled against Harm's 
  hold and burst into tears when he tried to lift her away.
  
  "Harm it's okay. She can lay here with me. She probably misses Annie and 
  needs to have a female around."
  
  "You need to rest" Harm countered. "You're not going to be able to do that 
  with her climbing all over you."
  
  "Harm she might actually settle and go to sleep" Mac reminded him. "She was 
  up most of the day. I'm sure she's exhausted. Just let her stay with me."
  
  "All right" he sighed as he lowered the child to the bed. She happily 
  snuggled next to Mac who gently stroked her head.
  
  "Hi sweetie. It's okay. You can stay here with me."
  
  "Try and get some rest" Harm begged as he leaned down and dropped a kiss on 
  Mac's forehead. "And just holler if she's bothering you."
  
  "She won't bother me" Mac assured him. "She'll probably be asleep before me. 
  We were up most of the night and she didn't nap but that little bit so I know she's tired."
  
  "All right. I love you. Just rest and I'll take care of everything."
  
  "I never imagined you the domestic type" Sturgis smiled as he and Harm 
  walked back to the kitchen. "But you seem quite happy with this fatherhood 
  thing."
  
  "I've always wanted a family Sturgis. I just never found the right person to 
  have that family with. Well I did but it took us a while to admit to each 
  other that we felt that way."
  
  "So when did you admit that you loved her?"
  
  "When Josh was playing lawyer and got us both to admit to it" Harm smiled.
  
  "Cute" Sturgis laughed. "So this is what you want?"
  
  "Exactly what I want. And with Annie MIA I guess I'll petition for full 
  custody of both of them. I have no idea what we'll do about the rest of the 
  school year but I'm sure we'll figure something out. But right now I'm just 
  worried about getting through the next twenty four hours without anyone else 
  getting sick."
  
  "You know you're next buddy" Sturgis smiled.
  
  "No way. I haven't been sick in years."
  
  "We'll see. You got everything under control now?"
  
  "Yeah thanks" Harm sighed. "I appreciate the help buddy. I'll call the 
  Admiral in the morning and let him know what's going on. Obviously I can't 
  leave them if they're all sick. And if Mac's not better, I'm hauling her to 
  the doctor right away."
  
  "She'll be fine," Sturgis said as he patted his shoulder. "It's just a bug. 
  Once everyone gets it out of their system they'll be fine."
  
  "I hope so," Harm said with a small smile. "Thanks for coming over."
  
  "If you need anything holler. I'll be happy to come back over and help out."
  
  "I think I can manage" Harm sighed as he led him to the door. "Thanks."
  
  It was quiet once Sturgis was gone and Harm made his rounds around to check 
  on everyone. Josh was now asleep and Harm lifted the blanket over him as he 
  slept on the sofa. He wandered to the bedroom, happy to find both Mac and 
  Mikayla asleep as well. He gently stroked both foreheads and dropped quick 
  kisses before heading back to the kitchen. He spent the next hour cleaning 
  up the mess Mikayla had made before finally dropping into the chair in the 
  living room and falling asleep himself.
  
 Mikayla awoke almost two hours later, happy and alert, and at once crawled into Harm's lap, 
waking him up.  At the same time the phone rang and Harm scrambled to answer it, balancing 
her on one hip and trying to listen and write notes at the same time.  The Baltimore police 
reported that nothing at Annie's house had been disturbed.  There was newspaper still on the 
steps and mail tucked into the box on the wall of the house.  Her description had been sent to 
all counties in Maryland and the surrounding states but so far nothing had turned up.  Bradley--
contrary to Josh's assertion, not only was not with her but also claimed to know nothing of her 
whereabouts.
 
 "Thank you sir," Harm sighed and hung up, his mind already imagining the content of the 
petition he was going to present to the judge in Baltimore.
 
 The sound of Mac moving around stirred him from his thoughts and he hurried to the back, still 
holding Mikayla.  "Mic," she cooed.
 
 "Uh that's Mac," Harm corrected hastily, setting Mikayla on the bed and leaning over Mac.  "Hi 
honey.  You OK?"
 
 "No something is wrong.  I'm soaked," she whispered and he realized she was shivering badly 
and was in fact drenched.  "I hope this is just sweat," she added miserably, feeling the damp 
sheets beneath her.
 
 He placed a quick hand to her forehead and smiled broadly.  "Marine looks like your fever 
broke.  Now get out of that bed and into a shower to warm up while I change the sheets."
 
 "I do feel some better I guess," she said softly, taking his hand and putting a soft kiss in the 
palm.  "Thank you for taking care of me.  I'll be able to work tomorrow."
 
 "Yeah that's gonna happen," he growled.  "No way in hell.  Not to mention I've got to be there 
for the Rodriguez hearing and you know Singer won't let me out of it.  So assuming you're well 
enough to be left, you're on childcare duty until we can figure this all out."
 
 "OK I can do that.  No word on Annie?"
 
 "No.  She's just plain gone right now.  Oh I'm sure she'll turn up, but I'm petitioning for custody 
of both of them."
 
 She nodded soberly.  "You're going to need a lot of help."
 
 "Didn't you already volunteer for that assignment?"
 
 "Yes I did," she smiled.  "I love you remember."
 
 "Oh yeah I do," he grinned happily, lifting her from the bed and not letting her go until she was 
steady on her feet.  "You want your back washed by a hunky sailor?"
 
 "Hey yeah I do.  Give one a call and let me know when he gets here would you?"
 
 "Cute.  You're a regular riot Alice.  Just leave that door cracked and call me if you need help.  
I'd rather your modesty got hurt than you fell and hit your head."
 ================
 FOLLOWING MORNING
 
 "Hey Marine.  Just checking on you," Harm said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and 
cupping her cheek gently.  "Josh says he's feeling a lot better and Mikayla is bouncing off the 
wall out there so they're OK.  I'm not going in though unless I know you're going to be able to 
manage them."
 
 "Actually I think I feel almost normal," she said slowly.  "Just kind of wrung out.  And I died last 
night I guess.  I barely remember coming out of the shower."
 
 "I tucked you in and crawled in beside you," he admitted sheepishly.  "Well first I made Mikayla 
and Josh beds in the other room and then by the time I got back to you, you were snoring so I 
just climbed in next to you."
 
 A slow smile spread across her face.  "OK this is just barely sort of starting to sound familiar.  
You held me didn't you?"
 
 "I did not," he screeched indignantly.  "I was the perfect gentlemen and stayed on my side of 
the bed."
 
 "Damn.  Then it was a dream," she muttered.
 
 "On the other hand, if you're going to be disappointed, then OK I confess.  I was being good 
and then you kind of rolled into my arms."
 
 "That's your story?"
 
 "And I'm sticking to it."
   
  "You do that" she smiled. "And honestly I'll be fine here with Josh and 
  Mikayla. They're not that much too handle."
  
  "You sure?" he asked. "I don't mean to dump you with all this."
  
  "It's okay. But you know you're going to have to make some decisions about 
  what you're going to do. I mean as nice as this place is, there's not 
  enough room for you and both of them."
  
  "No there's not" Harm nodded. "And I don't want them in this neighborhood 
  anyway. They need a home with a yard and a park nearby so they can play."
  
  "Yes they do. But first you have to get custody of them and find out what 
  happened to Annie."
  
  "First I have to get through the afternoon in court with Singer" Harm 
  sighed.
  
  "Yes and you'd best get going so you can get prepared."
  
  "You sure you're okay with staying here with them?" Harm asked again.
  
  "Positive. I'm going to head out to the sofa and spend the day curled up out 
  there. We'll be fine."
  
  "Okay. Then I'm going to hit the shower and get out of here before I get 
  totally stuck in traffic."
  
  She wandered out to the living room while he showered, finding Mikayla and 
  Josh perched in front of the TV and eating Cheerio's from the box.
  She made all of them some toast and juice and was just finding her spot on 
  the sofa with them when Harm emerged.
  
  "Okay I'm out of here" he said after quickly downing some coffee and toast. 
  "I'll call you later to make sure everything is okay."
  
  "Harm we'll be fine. Don't worry."
  
  "I'll worry anyway" he said softly as he dropped down and placed a quick 
  kiss on her lips. "Rest and take it easy. Josh you too."
  
  "Yes sir."
  
  He gave Mikayla a quick hug before hurrying out and as he stood on the other 
  side of the door he let out a content sigh. Being a father seemed so 
  natural. And being in love with Mac just as natural.
  
  ***********
  "Didn't think you'd make it" Sturgis smiled as Harm stepped off the 
  elevator. "How's the family?"
  
  "Much better" Harm smiled. "Thanks for your help last night."
  
  "Anytime. I just hope I don't get whatever it is they all had."
  
  "Who had what?" Singer asked as she walked up to the pair.
  
  "My daughter" Harm replied without a second thought. "She had a stomach 
  virus that she gave to Mac and her brother."
  
  "Well you better not have brought it to work" Singer groaned. "Those of us 
  without children do not need to be subjected to all those germs they carry." 
  With that she walked away and Sturgis shook her head.
  
  "Deep down I'm sure she's a nice person" he said with a wry smile.
  
  "Yeah right" Harm scoffed. "And if anyone gets it, I hope it's her."
  
  He spent the morning preparing for the afternoon in court, ignoring the 
  slight churning his stomach was doing. There was no way he was going to be 
  sick like everyone else.
  
  By the time he was due in court, he was feeling anything but fine. With a 
  deep breath and a prayer that he could get through this, he headed into the 
  courtroom.
  
  An hour later Singer was still objecting to every word he said, adding to 
  the pounding of his head and the churning of his stomach. Several times he'd 
  felt like he was going to be sick but somehow had managed to keep the 
  nauseous feeling down.
  
  "Objection your honor" Singer snapped again as she rose to her feet.
  
  "Your honor please" Harm sighed. "The Lt. has objected to almost every word 
  I've said here today. This is getting ridiculous."
  
  "Both of you approach" Commander Amy Helfman ordered.
  
  "Ma'am I'm sorry but the Commander has been out of line all morning" Singer 
  said as they approached the bench.
  
  "Why because I called your client guilty" Harm retorted before grabbing onto 
  the bench as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
  
  "Both of you please" Commander Helfman snapped before looking at Harm. 
  "Commander are you okay?"
  
  "No ma'am" he managed before suddenly vomiting all over Commander Helfman's 
  bench.
  
  "Court is in immediate recess," she yelped, startled beyond belief.  "Commander what is the 
meaning of this?"
 
 "It means I'm sick ma'am," he gasped, staggering slightly and grabbing onto the bench for 
support.  "Just give me a minute.  I'll be fine."  
 
 "I'm not staying anywhere near you," Singer shrieked.  "Ma'am move for a continuance."
 
 "So ordered," she agreed, sounding the gavel.  "Commander what can I do to help you, just as 
long as I don't have to touch you."
 
 "Just let me go sit down.  I'll be fine."
 
 "You don't look like you can hold your head up at the moment.  Why didn't you ask for a 
continuance earlier?"
 
 "I thought I could suck it up.  Look just please as soon as I get my breath I'll be fine and I'll help 
you get cleaned up there."
 
 "Guard get janitorial personnel in here now," Helfman ordered.  "And send for Commander 
Turner to help with the Commander."
 
 Harm moaned in misery and his thoughts went to Mac and how she was sick enroute from 
Baltimore.  They were so lucky that day.  So lucky that she did not have an accident.
 
 "Harm what's wrong?"  Sturgis clamped a firm hand to his shoulder a few minutes later.  "OK 
never mind I see.  And smell.  Why don't I take you down to the locker room and get you 
cleaned up and then take you home."
 
 "I'm fine."
 
 "You are not, and if you think you are you're delirious on top of being sick," Sturgis retorted.  
"You should see yourself.  The part of you that's not green is all flushed, and then there's these 
big white places on each cheek.  No shame in having what the family's got."
 
 "I don't get sick," he groaned.  "I haven't in forever."
 
 "Record broken," Sturgis grinned and looked up at Helfman.  "Thank you.  I'll see to the 
Commander's getting home.  But you realize he's most likely infected us all."
 
 "Oh god you're kidding," Singer screeched.  "Sir if that's the case I'm going to. . ."  She left her 
thought unfinished and fled the room.
 
 "Is it being too bad to pray she got the majority of my germs," Harm sighed.
 ==============
 "Did you call Mac?" Harm asked when he emerged from the shower.  
 
 "No.  I didn't want to scare her," Sturgis replied, handing Harm a towel and some sweats to 
change into.  "Besides she'll get a good look at you soon enough."
 
 That moment happened forty-five minutes later when Harm opened the door, finding Josh 
playing Nintendo and Mac working at her lap top, with Mikayla curled on a blanket on the floor, 
thumb in mouth and tattered rabbit under her arm, sound asleep.
 
 "The plague claims another victim," Sturgis announced.  "Once in court, twice on the way 
home.  Bless plastic bags."
 
 "I'd kill for cyanide capsule about now," Harm groaned.  "Do I look as bad as I feel?"
 
 Mac leaped to her feet at once.   "You look horrible," she gasped, wrapping her arms around 
him.  "What the hell happened?  Sturgis?"
 
 "He rolfed all over Helfman's bench.  It's going down in the same annals as when he fired the 
gun in the courtroom."
   
  "Harm you didn't" she gasped.
  
  "I did" he sighed. "I now I just want to die."
  
  "Not going to happen just yet" she teased as she led him towards his bedroom 
  before he suddenly broke free of her arm and hurried towards the bathroom.
  
  "Mac you want me to stay" Sturgis called as Mac headed to the bathroom.
  
  "No we'll manage" she sighed. "Thanks for bringing him home."
  
  "No problem. If you need anything just give me a call."
  
  "How you doing sailor?" Mac said softly as she wetted a washcloth and held 
  it to his forehead.
  
  "Horrible" he murmured. "Just shoot me now."
  
  "Sorry. I like you too much to do that. Besides Mikayla and Josh need you. 
  So that's not going to happen."
  
  "God I feel so horrible" he groaned.
  
  "I know. But it'll pass. You just got what the rest of us had. Course none 
  of us threw up on the bench."
  
  "Don't remind me please. I am never going to live that one down. They still 
  haven't forgotten about me firing the gun in the court room and that was how 
  many years ago."
  
  "Shh it's okay," she said softly as she sat down beside him and gently 
  cradled his head against her shoulder. Moments later Mikayla wandered to the 
  bathroom door, looking curiously at Harm.
  
  "Hi sweetie" Mac smiled. "It's okay."
  
  "He sick?" Mikayla asked as she pointed to Harm.
  
  "Yeah he is. And I'm going to help him to bed and then I'll come out and get 
  you some lunch okay?"
  
  Mikayla nodded as she walked into the bathroom, finally sitting down on 
  Mac's lap. Her tiny fingers touched Harm's warm forehead and he gave her a 
  weak smile.
  
  "Hey you" he said softly. "You shouldn't be in here. I don't want you to get 
  sick again."
  
  "I think we're pretty much immune from it now" Mac smiled.
  
  "Still" Harm sighed. "I don't want to go through another round of this with 
  everyone."
  
  "Welcome to the world of children. Whatever they have, you get."
  
  "There goes my perfect attendance record," he said with a long sigh. "Okay, 
  I think I'm ready to fall into bed now."
  
  "Let me help you" she said as she gently lifted Mikayla off her lap before 
  turning and helping Harm to his feet.
  
  "Did you feel this bad?" he asked as she led him to the bedroom.
  
  "Probably. It hits you like a train at first. But you'll be better by 
  tomorrow."
  
  "I doubt that" he muttered.
  
  "Harm all of us have survived" Mac sighed. "You will too. This is not life 
  threatening."
  
  "Tell that to my body" he whined as she helped him into bed.
  
  "Poor thing" she teased. "Can I get you anything?"
  
  "No just leave me in my misery."
  
  "Will do. Come on Mikayla. Let's go see what's for lunch?"
  
  "Don't mention food" he groaned as she and Mikayla walked out of the 
  bedroom.
  
 "Josh you hungry at all?" Mac offered.  "I'm sure Mikayla is.  She's bounced back better than 
the rest of us."
 
 "No thanks.  I'm just starting to feel better.  I don't want to mess with it, but I'll come fix 
something for her.  You should sit down.  You were sick too."
 
 "That's sweet but I'm OK," she smiled.  "I'm just concerned about you guys.  Now Harm of 
course."
 
 "I guess you love him a lot," the boy shrugged.  "And I guess Mikayla because she belongs to 
him, but why you're being so nice to me I can't quite figure."
 
 "It's not that hard," Mac smiled, cupping the back his head with her palm.  "You're very 
important to Harm, and that makes you very important to me.  Not to mention, you're a pretty 
good kid."
 
 Josh's eyes opened to their widest point.  "Wow.  No one--no one--ever tells me that.  Mom just 
tells me what a pain I am and how I don't help enough and Bradley calls me a top drawer screw 
up and my teachers are all like Joshua you can do a lot better than this and. . ."  Sudden tears 
sprang to his eyes and Mac at once pulled his head to her chest in comfort.  

"You have me and Harm.  Always."
 
 "I want to believe that," he said softly.  "Harm even says he'll help me with the Academy.  I 
hope so.  I want it so bad.  Even if Mom doesn't.  She doesn't know what's right for me in this 
case."
 
 Before Mac could answer Harm's groan echoed through the apartment and she smiled and 
shook her head.  "I'll take care of him, you take care of your sister, and relax will you.  You're in 
our care now."
 
 He gave a long sniffle and picked Mikayla up.  "Thanks Mac.  I'm sorry I'm a baby."
 
 "No you're not."  She dropped a quick kiss on the top of his head and patted his shoulder.  
"You're a kid who's had to deal with more than you should is all."
===============
 "You bellowed Commander?" she called as she approached the bed.
 
 "I'm sorry," he gasped, looking aghast at the mess he made.  "I tried to get up, honest but I was 
all tangled in the covers and I couldn't.  Don't hate me."
 
 "If the other boys in the squadron could see you now," she laughed.  "Into the shower and I'll 
change the bed.  Can I get you something?"
 
 "Yes---my weapon."
     
  "Sorry but you are very needed around here Commander" she said as she helped 
  him from the bed.
  
  "I hate this" he moaned as they headed to the bathroom.
  
  "We all do. But it will run it's course and in a few days we'll all be fine. 
  Now hop in the shower while I clean up."
  
  "I'm sorry," he said again.
  
  "It's okay" she smiled as she kissed his cheek. "Go clean up. Your bed will 
  be waiting for you when you're finished."
  
  "Thank you. For everything."
  
  "You took care of me, I take care of you" she said softly. "Now go get 
  showered."
  
  She stripped the bed and had just finished remaking it when he emerged from 
  the bathroom. She quickly guided him back into bed and tucked the cover 
  around him.
  
  "Get some rest" she said as she stroked his cheek. "I'm going to go make 
  some food for Mikayla and see if I can't get Josh to eat a little bit."
  
  "And I'll just lay here and die" he moaned.
  
  "You do that" she laughed. "I'll be back to check on you later. Try and get 
  some rest."
  
  Hours later she finished tucking Mikayla and Josh in for the night, placing 
  gentle kisses on both their foreheads before heading to Harm's bedroom. He'd 
  slept quietly during that time and she stood there for several minutes just 
  watching him sleep before finally climbing in beside him.
  
  "Mac" he murmured.
  
  "Hi sailor" she said softly as he opened his eyes and looked over at her. 
  "How you feeling?"
  
  "Like crap."
  
  "Well at least we've progressed from the dying stage" she teased. "Can I get 
  you anything? Some gingerale or water?"
  
  "No. As long as it's empty nothing can come back up" he sighed.
  
  "All right. Try and get some more rest then."
  
  "How's the kids?" he murmured as his eyes closed once again.
  
  "They're fine. Fed, bathed and tucked in for the night" she said softly.
  
  "Thank you" he murmured. "You take good care of us."
  
  "That's because I love you" she whispered as she dropped a kiss on his still 
  warm forehead. Her fingers gently pushed back the damp hair from his 
  forehead before gently stroking his cheek. "I love you very much Harmon 
  Rabb. Don't ever forget that."
  
  **************
  It was the middle of the night that Harm's tossing pulled her from her 
  slumber and she awoke to find the sheets drenched as his fever finally 
  broke.
  
  "Mac" he wailed as he lay there shivering.
  
  "You're okay sailor. You just broke your fever. And it looks like we need 
  another set of sheets. And a shower for both of us."
  
  "If I didn't feel so crappy that would be a wonderful thought" he groaned.
  
  "You'll start feeling better now that you've gotten rid of the fever" she 
  assured him. "Come on sailor. Shower while I change the sheets."
  
  "I thought you were joining me?" he said with a weak smile.
  
  "Someone is starting to feel better" she laughed. "Now go shower. And you're 
  not up to having me shower with you."
  
  "I'm always up for that" he grinned.
  
  "I'm sure you are. Go. I have a bed to make."
  
 She was just finishing tucking in the last sheet when he walked back out, wrapping his arms 
around her middle from behind her.  "I feel much better.  Now my only question is how you're 
managing to keep your sanity through all this?"
 
 "I think being in love with you helps," she smiled, holding up the covers.  "In Flyboy.  You're 
recovering but you're not well. You're going feel like you got hit by that train tomorrow."
 
 "There's something to look forward to," he sighed.  "But at least I'll be well enough to hold the 
fort.  I wish we'd hear something about Annie.  Josh is worried even if he won't admit it, and I 
know Mikayla has to be confused."
 
 "Hey 329 AM is not the time for these discussions," she groaned, pushing him down onto the 
bed and climbing in after him.  As if it was choreographed, he rolled to press his chest to her 
back, his arm going over her protectively.  
 
 "I'm glad for all this--well not the sick but everything else," he whispered into her ear.  "I love 
you."
 ==============
 A week passed with Harm and Mac doing a patchwork of arrangements for Josh to finish 
school and to work and care for Mikayla.  A week in which there was no news of Annie at all.  
Bradley claimed he had not seen her.  Her credit cards and ATM card had not been used.  All in 
all she was simply gone.  Josh spoke of her little, and Mikayla, while she could not understand, 
seemed to be thriving under the care of Harm and Mac.  
 
 "Commander you got a minute?" Mac asked, knocking at his open door.
 
 "Oh yeah.  I'm ready to throw in the towel."  He looked up and smiled, a certain soft smile 
reserved just for her until he saw the tall red-haired Lieutenant behind her.  "And Lieutenant 
Butler is with you.  To what do I owe this honor?"
 
 "Marsha is leaving us remember?  Going to Naples for a year."
 
 "I do remember," he nodded, his expression clearly indicating he was not sure how this 
affected him.
 
 "Marsha has a four bedroom house in Vienna that she and her husband are interested in 
renting out for the year they're going to be gone.  I know Josh maybe doesn't want to leave his 
friends, and there's always the possibility that Annie could come back.  But, well it was a 
thought.  Commuting between here and Baltimore isn't possible."
 
 "That's for sure," he muttered, "and my place is impossible.  No room, no privacy, no way to let 
Mikayla play out and I sure as hell don't want Josh making friends with the kids there."
 
 "Sounds like you'd be interested then Commander?" Marsha asked.  "It's a special place and 
we don't want to rent to strangers if we can help it.  Four bedrooms, fenced back yard, there's a 
community pool.  Good schools, shopping nearby."
 
 "OK whoa stop or I'll be writing you a check on the spot."
 
 "What if Annie comes back?" Mac asked gently, putting an enthusiasm-restrainig hand on his 
arm.
 
 "She's not getting them back."  His face darkened as he spoke and she looked at him 
quizzically.
 
 "I mean that," he added quietly.  "This little disappearance act is proving she's an unfit mother.  
She's making my case for custody.  I'm going to petition for full custody of Mikayla and to make 
Josh a ward and release to me."
 
 "Should I be here for this conversation?" Marsha asked nervously.
 
 "Of course.  Since likely we'll be moving into your place," Harm said, his tone lightening.  "May I 
see it tonight?"
 
 "Just give me a call," Marsha nodded, scribbling down her number.
 
 "You're serious about this aren't you?" Mac said softly.  "You know there is the possibility Annie 
didn't go of her own free will."
 
 "I'd be more inclined to believe that if she hadn't pulled these things before," he muttered.  
"You'll come see the place with us right?"      
 
  "You need a woman's opinion?" she teased.
  
  "Of course. So you'll come then?"
  
  *************
  Vienna, VA
  7:00 PM EST
  
  "This must be it" Harm said as he pulled the SUV into the drive of the 
  address he'd been given.
  
  "Look at the yard" Josh said happily as he tore out of the SUV. "There's 
  plenty of room to play baseball here."
  
  "I think he likes it" Mac smiled as she reached into the back to unstrap 
  Mikayla from her seat.
  
  "So do I" Harm smiled as he looked around.
  
  "Hello Harm" Marsha said as she came out to greet them. "And who is this 
  darling little girl with Mac."
  
  "My daughter Mikayla" Harm said proudly. "It's a long story but she's one of 
  the reasons I'm looking at renting your place."
  
  "Well she's a doll. And come on in and let me show you around."
  
  "Nice place" Harm commented as she led them through the well taken care of 
  home. "I can see why you and your husband don't want to rent to just 
  anyone."
  
  "Exactly. We'd like it to still look like this when we come back" Marsha 
  smiled.
  
  "Harm it's perfect for the kids" Mac said as they finished touring the home.
  
  "Yes it is" he nodded. "Marsha I'll take it."
  
  "So are we going to move here?" Josh asked as he ran up to them.
  
  "Do you want to live here for a while?" Harm asked.
  
  "Sure. It's got a cool yard, there's a park down the street."
  
  "You don't mind moving away from your friends?" Harm asked. "I know 
  everything has been pretty crazy the past few weeks for you."
  
  "No this is okay" Josh assured him. "I saw some kids out back. They already 
  invited me to play ball with them."
  
  "There's lots of kids in the neighborhood" Marsha nodded. "Even some the 
  same age as Mikayla."
  
  "Well that makes it official" Harm smiled. "We're moving in."
  
  ***************
  Harm's Apartment
  3 Hours Later
  
  "Night Josh" Mac smiled as she tucked the blanket around him.
  
  "Mac you're moving in with us too aren't you?" Josh asked sleepily.
  
  "I uh don't know Josh," she said softly.
  
  "I hope you do" he sighed before closing his eyes.
  
  She kissed his forehead before doing the same to Mikayla. She turned around, 
  nearly colliding with Harm.
  
  "I didn't know you were behind me" she stammered.
  
  "Come with me" he said softly as he took her hand and led her to the 
  bedroom, gently closing the door behind him.
  
  "Okay sailor you've got me in your bedroom? Now what?"
  
  "Mac a lot has happened the past few weeks. More than I ever imagined would 
  happen. I found out I'm a father and I realized I was in love with you."
  
  "Are you going somewhere with this counselor?" she teased nervously.
  
  "I want you to move in with us. And not just because I need your help with 
  Josh and Mikayla. But because I love you and I want to be with you. Of 
  course I'll understand if you're not ready for this"
  
  He was silenced with a gentle finger to his lips. "I love you too sailor" 
  she whispered. "And I would love to come and live with you and Josh and 
  Mikayla."
  
  "You would?" he smiled. "I'm not promising its going to be fun all the time. 
  Look at last week."
  
  "I can handle sick kids. And I can even handle you sick. I love you 
  remember. And to be honest I'm falling in love with Josh and Mikayla too."
 
 "Well not in the same way you love me I hope," he laughed and sobered quickly.  "Is that a 
yes?"
 
 She drew a deep breath for courage.  "Oh yeah Flyboy, it's a yes," she whispered as her arms 
wound around his neck.  They shared their most serious kiss to date and she clung to him 
afterward, shaking slightly.  
 
 "You OK?  You can still change your mind you know."
 
 "No I'm fine," she sighed.  "Just a little overwhelmed with it all.  How much I love you, how I'm 
getting the family I've wanted.  How I'm getting the man I've wanted forever."
 
 "That man has wanted you forever too," he whispered before his lips touched hers again and a 
second later they were in the midst of another huge long kiss.  "I don't want to let you go," he 
breathed, guiding her to the bed still in his arms.  
 
 "Then don't," she answered, melding to him.  "I love you Harm.  I love you and I trust you.   
With my life, and with my heart."
 ===================
 "You OK with last night?" Harm asked anxiously, feeling her move against him and he 
instinctively tightened his grasp of her.  The morning sun was filling the room and he felt warm 
and relaxed.
 
 "More than OK," she murmured, opening her eyes in time to receive his kiss.  "It was 
wonderful.  You were wonderful.  Exactly as I always thought you'd be--generous and gentle 
and loving and caring."
 
 "So you've thought about us doing that before," he laughed quietly and tickled her.  "How about 
thinking about us doing it again right now."  His mouth had just touched hers when Josh's 
plaintive voice came through the door.
 
 "You guys up?  Mikayla soaked through her diaper.  Again.  We're both starving and Harm the 
fridge is making that funny noise again."
 
 "I think we need a raincheck," she giggled as Harm groaned.
 
 "Keep your pants on boy.  We'll be right there.  Hey be a good guy and put on some coffee 
would you."
 
 "Welcome to the wonderful world of domestic bliss," she laughed and kissed him soundly 
before she rolled from the bed to dress.
 ========================
 JAG HQ
 2 Hours Later
 
 "We can do this now right?" Harm whispered outside AJ's door.  "We can present our case that 
we can live and work together."
 
 "I think so," she nodded with a confidence she was not totally sure was warranted.
 
 "What are you two lurking out there?" AJ called.  "You wanted to see me.  Get in here."
 
 "Sir yes sir," Mac responded.
 
 "So when's the wedding?" AJ asked once they were both seated, much to their conjoined 
amazement.
 
 "Sir?" Harm finally stammered.
 
 "Oh so you two are not here to tell me you're getting married," AJ laughed.  "Sorry I'm in a good 
mood this morning.  Mr. Turner scored a big win in the Isanti murder and I have a well done 
from the Secnav so I get to go another day without him asking for my retirement.  Now what can 
I do for you two?"
 
 "Good mood huh sir," Harm smiled.  "Well I hope this doesn't spoil it.  On the other hand, 
maybe this is a good time to bring it up."
 
 "You have a point there Commander?" AJ scowled, looking down over his reading glasses.
 
 "Sir yes."  He paused again and Mac smiled and reached for his hand, sensing his hesitancy 
and uncertainty.
 
 "Sir, Harm and I. . .well OK sir you know that Harm has his daughter and Annie's son," she 
began slowly.  "And there's no word on Annie's whereabouts at all.  And you know Lt. Butler is 
about to PCS."
 
 "I'm with you so far.  Now is there a point coming?"
 
 "Yes sir," she smiled softly.  "And because I know you appreciate straight talking, I'm going to 
give it to you all at once."  She felt Harm squeeze her hand and took courage from that small 
action.  "Harm is renting the Lieutenant's house in Vienna for him with Mikayla and Josh.  And 
me."
  
  "Wait back up. You two are moving in together? Is this just so you can help 
  Harm out?"
  
  "Uh, no sir" Harm spoke up. "Mac and I have sort of uh gotten involved since 
  all this has happened."
  
  "Involved as in you are seeing each other?"
  
  "Yes sir" Harm nodded. "With intentions of this becoming permanent one day."
  
  "So I wasn't far off with the wedding comment" AJ grinned as Mac blushed.
  
  "So there won't be any problem with this then sir?" Mac asked.
  
  "As long as you keep your relationship at home and not in my office I don't 
  see why it would be a problem."
  
  "Thank you sir" Harm replied. "We will uh keep our personal affairs at 
  home."
  
  "Good. And keep your germs at home next time too Commander. I didn't enjoy 
  explaining to the SecNav why half the staff was at home with the stomach 
  flu."
  
  "I know better now sir" Harm said with a small smile.
  
  "I would hope so" AJ grinned. "Commander Helfman is never going to forget 
  that move."
  
  "No sir, I'm sure she won't" Harm sighed.
  
  ************
  Two Weeks Later
  
  "Mac where's Mikayla" Harm asked as he dropped the box in the already 
  cluttered living room. The movers had moved most of their belongings into 
  the house and now Harm and Mac were moving the last of the few boxes they'd 
  brought over in Harm's SUV.
  
  "Isn't she with Josh?" Mac frowned as she stopped unpacking and looked 
  around.
  
  "No I just saw him running down the street with some other kids" Harm said 
  anxiously. "And she wasn't with him."
  
  "Mikayla" Mac called as she hurried through the house.
  
  "I'll go check outside" Harm yelled as he hurried out the front door and 
  quickly scanned the yard for any sign of the little girl. He was about to 
  head down the street when he heard Mac call his name.
  
  "Did you find her?" Harm demanded as he reached the front door.
  
  "Sound asleep behind all the boxes in her bedroom" Mac smiled. "With the 
  stuffed bear you got her tucked tightly under her arm."
  
  "Thank god" Harm sighed. "For a minute I was having flashbacks to that day 
  at the mall."
  
  "Yeah me too" Mac said as she dropped down on the sofa in the living room. 
  "But she's safe and we both need a breather so have a seat sailor."
  
  "Glad to. You're giving me that massage tonight right?" he smiled as he sank 
  down beside her.
  
  "Me giving you a massage" she laughed. "I'll be the one needing the 
  massage."
  
  "We could give each other massages" he whispered seductively before leaning 
  towards her for a quick kiss.
  
  "We could do something else while Josh is outside playing and Mikayla is 
  sleeping. Course the bed still isn't setup since you told the movers you 
  would handle it later."
  
  "Who said we needed a bed?" he grinned. "There's plenty of space in the 
  family room."
  
  "What are we waiting for then?" she asked with a wide smile.
  
  He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the family room, gently 
  placing her on the floor. Moment's later they were fervently removing each 
  other's clothes when Mikayla's scream echoed through the house.
  
  "Sorry Flyboy" Mac panted as she managed to pull away from his kiss. "I'd 
  better go get her. She just woke up in strange house and she's probably 
  scared."
  
  "I know," he said with a long sigh. "Just point me in the direction of the 
  cold shower."
  
  "Down the hall and to the left" she smiled as she gave him a quick kiss 
  before hurrying off to Mikayla.
  
 "Maaaa," Mikayla wailed holding her arms up to be picked up.  "Hungry.  Want juice.  Want 
Blues.  Where Jossie?"
 
 "Motherhood looks good on you," Harm said softly from the doorway, having followed Mac 
instead of heading for the shower.
 
 "Motherhood feels good on me," she smiled happily, feeling the chubby toddler arms go around 
her neck as Harm's arms closed around her waist from behind.  "But we know that it could all 
come crashing to a halt when Annie comes back."
 
 "IF," he said firmly, resting his chin on her shoulder.  "Plus you know I've got the paperwork in 
motion.  With the DNA results it won't be an issue with Mikayla and with Josh, all he's got to do 
is say he wants to live with us--just a matter of getting a judge to sign off on our motion.  It's a 
done deal."
 
 "You always were a cocky Flyboy you know that," Mac sighed, turning her face just enough to 
kiss his cheek.  "And we've got unpacking to do."
 
 "You won't run away will you?"  Harm's question came from out of nowhere and Mac froze in 
place, startled by the sharpness and directness.
 
 "Where did that come from?" she scowled, turning awkwardly with Mikayla in her grasp to face 
him.
 
 "I uh. . .I just had my cockiness replaced by a sudden round of insecurity I guess," he 
stammered.  "I mean people do leave.  My dad did, Annie did, you did to go with Dalton, I did to 
go fly.  It happens."
 
 "You must be tired Sailor or you wouldn't be like this," she smiled and set Mikayla down at her 
feet.  "OK listen up."  But instead of speaking, her lips engaged his in a long serious loving kiss.  
"The defense rests and I love you very much," she panted when she was finished.  "I've waited 
and prayed for a long time for this.  Us. You and me.  And these great kids are a bonus.  I'm not 
going anywhere."
 
 "I think we'll have to continue this tonight," he breathed, his eyes never leaving hers.
 
 "Bright boy."
 ===============
 
 The days of summer turned slowly as the Rabb family settled in.  Still no word from Annie and 
as Harm had predicted it was an easy matter to secure custody of Mikayla and for he and Mac 
to become Josh's foster parents.  Harm and Mac fell into the routine of parenting and of being 
together and their love grew.
 
 "Josh we're going to Walmart now," Mac called.  "Move it mister."
 
 "Mac no, Doug's coming over remember," Josh hollered back.  "He's bringing his X-box and Dr. 
Death and the City of Lost Souls.  He stood in line for three hours to buy it at midnight and it's 
so cool.  Please.  You know we're big enough to stay by ourselves here."
   
  She checked her watch, knowing Harm would be home soon. He'd stopped by the 
  Navy Yard to check on a client but had promised he wouldn't be long.
  
  "All right" Mac relented. "You can stay since Harm is probably on his way 
  home."
  
  "Thanks Mac" Josh smiled.
  
  "Stay out of trouble mister" she warned as she gathered Mikayla.
  
  "Mac its just Doug. He's been over a hundred times. You know we don't get 
  into trouble."
  
  "Yeah I know but it doesn't hurt to remind you either" Mac smiled. "And tell 
  Harm I'll be back shortly."
  
  Doug was walking up the driveway as she made her way out a few minutes 
  later.
  
  "Hi Doug. Josh is inside. I'm going to the store and Harm is on his way 
  home."
  
  "Cool you're leaving us alone" Doug grinned before hurrying inside the 
  house.
  
  "Tell me I'm doing the right thing Mikayla" Mac murmured as she strapped the 
  little girl into her seat.
  
  "Jossie not coming?" Mikayla asked.
  
  "No honey. It's just you and me" she sighed.
  
  *******************
  "I can't believe Mac left you alone" Doug said as he and Josh sat in his 
  bedroom.
  
  "Mac's cool. So is Harm."
  
  "So what are we going to do now that we got the place to ourselves?" Doug 
  grinned.
  
  "Nothing."
  
  "Oh come on Josh. Let's have a little fun. You said that Harm and Mac both 
  had guns right?"
  
  "Yeah so what?"
  
  "So haven't you ever wanted to hold a gun" Doug asked. "Come on Josh. Where 
  do they keep them?"
  
  "Doug I don't think it would be a good idea to play with their guns. And 
  Harm would kill me if he found out."
  
  "You chicken?"
  
  "No. I just don't think it's right."
  
  "They'll never find out so what's not right about it" Doug smiled. "Come on 
  Josh. We're not going to hurt anything by just looking at it."
  
  "All right" Josh sighed. "They keep them in a box above the refrigerator so 
  Mikayla won't get into them."
  
  "Are there any bullets?" Doug asked as he followed Josh to the kitchen.
  
  "I thought you just wanted to hold it" Josh countered. "I'm not going to 
  load it."
  
  "Quit being such a wimp" Doug scoffed and with a long sigh Josh pulled the 
  chair over to the refrigerator and climbed up to reach the top shelf. 
  Moments later he pulled down the metal box and Doug quickly grabbed it from 
  his hands.
  
  "Hey come on," Josh said as Doug opened the box and pulled out one of the 
  service revolvers.
  
  "Cool" Doug said as he lifted the weapon.
  
  "Give that back" Josh said as he tried to pull the weapon away from Doug.
  
  Harm pulled the car into the driveway, surprised to see Mac's car gone but 
  the front door to the house open. He climbed out and was on his way to the 
  door when he heard the sound of a gunshot inside the house.
  
  "Mac, Josh, Mikayla" Harm screamed as he hurried inside the house.
  He found two stunned boys in the kitchen; the gun still in Doug's now 
  shaking hand. Josh sat on the floor, holding his leg as blood poured from a 
  wound on his thigh.
  
  "Josh what happened?" Harm demanded as he quickly grabbed the gun from 
  Doug's hand and put it back above the refrigerator before dropping to the 
  floor next to Josh.
  
  "I'm sorry Harm" Josh sobbed. "I shouldn't have showed him where it was."
  
  "Shh its okay just stay calm," Harm said gently as he reached for a towel 
  hanging by the sink. "Doug get me the phone. I need to call 911."
  
  Doug turned and ran to the living room and grabbed the phone, returning to 
  the kitchen with it moments later.
  
  "He's not going to die is he?" Doug whispered once Harm had called 911.
  
  "No he's not," Harm said calmly. "He's going to be just fine once the 
  ambulance gets here."
 
 "Harm it hurts.  Harm.  Please.  I'm sorry.  Don't send me away. It was an accident.  I tried to 
take the gun away from him and I should have never gone near it in the first place.  I'm sorry."
 
 "Josh no one is going to send you away, and as for sorry, you have a butt-load of apology to do 
yes, but it's not important right now.  I want you to be still and quiet.  The more you move, the 
more you bleed.  Mac is at Walmart with Mikayla?"
 
 "Yeah."

"Oh Harm I'm going to jail aren't I?" Doug gasped, his face as white as refrigerator on which he 
was weakly leaning against, the sight of Josh bleeding making him ill.  "Harm it was an accident.  
Josh told me not to but I put the clip in, and then he grabbed it and it just went off.  I didn't even 
know I'd taken the safety off.  I'm going to jail I just know it."
 
 "No you're not going to jail," Harm told him, not looking up from where he was pressing the 
towel to Josh's thigh.  "But you are in trouble.  Both of you are.  And you're going to face that 
trouble like a man.  You made a mistake, you're going to admit to it, and accept your 
punishment."
 
 "My dad is going to kill me," Doug gasped.
 
 "Probably," Harm nodded, now looking frantically at the door, hearing the sirens in the distance.  
"Doug go out in the driveway and make sure they know it's this house.  The police will be here 
too.  Now listen to me.  Before you tell them what happened, you take a deep breath, calm 
down, and get it straight in your mind.  Can you do that?"
 
 "Yes sir," he nodded quickly, wiping at his eyes with his sleeve.
 
 "And you too Josh.  I'm going to have to explain why I have weapons in the house.  I did 
however think that you were mature enough to know to leave them alone.  Never mind that I 
told you they were there and that they were not to be touched by you."
 
 "I know," he whispered, his eyes beginning to glaze over from shock and blood loss.  "I'm sorry.  
I let you down."
 
 "Yes you did and that's a subject we're going to re-visit," Harm told him sternly as Doug brought 
the police and paramedics through to the kitchen.
 
 "OK let's have a look at you son.  I'm JT and this is my partner Raul and we're going to take 
real good care of you."
 
 Reluctantly Harm released the boy to their care and stood up to greet the police sergeant.  
"Commander Harmon Rabb.  US Navy JAG Corps.  I'm Josh's foster father.  And as you can 
see, the boys are in a big mess."
 
 "You're a JAG lawyer?" Sgt. Gillespie asked.
 
 "Yes I am.  And I'm going to say up front this was an accident pure and simple.  The weapons 
are in that box on the fridge.  They're service revolvers and both registered."
 
 "You know there's going to be an investigation," Gillespie said, not without sympathy as he 
looked to the boy.  "I'm a dad myself.   And I'm looking at my worst nightmare.  I swear I've told 
Dakota a thousand times not to even think about my gun, but kids are kids."
 
 "OK we're ready to transport," Raul called.  "Mr. Rabb he's doing OK here."
 
 Harm nodded.  "Thank God."  He grabbed up the phone and dialed Mac' s cell, not surprised 
when he got only her voice mail.  Shopping and dealing with Mikayla were enough.  "Hey it's 
me.  Uh. . .there's been. . .I need to talk to you.  Call me."
  
  He hung up and not wanting to leave Josh alone quickly hurried after the 
  paramedics who were loading Josh into the ambulance.
  
  "Harm" Josh said anxiously.
  
  "I'm right here buddy" Harm assured him as he climbed into the ambulance. 
  "You're going to be just fine."
  
  "I'm sorry. Please don't hate me."
  
  "I don't hate you" Harm assured him. "Just relax. You're going to be fine. 
  Everything is going to be okay."
  
  **************
  "God what a zoo" Mac groaned as she lifted Mikayla into her seat. "That was 
  not fun was it."
  
  "No" Mikayla said as she shook her head.
  
  "Well lets hope that Harm has started dinner" Mac sighed. "Otherwise we're 
  going to be eating real late tonight."
  
  Minutes later she neared the house, her heart pounding when she saw several 
  police cars in front of the house.
  
  "Dear Lord please let them be okay" she whispered as she pulled into the 
  driveway. She quickly hurried out of the SUV and hurried over to a nearby 
  policeman.
  
  "Do you live here ma'am?" the officer asked.
  
  "Yes. What happened? Where's Harm and Josh and Doug?"
  
  It was then that she saw Doug sitting in a police car crying, his father 
  sitting next to him. "Please tell me what happened?" she begged.
  
  "Accidental shooting ma'am. Seems that your foster son and his friend found 
  the weapons you and Mr. Rabb keep in the house."
  
  "Josh was shot" Mac whispered and the officer nodded. "Oh my god, how bad 
  was it?"
  
  "In the thigh fortunately. He should be fine. Mr. Rabb is with him."
  
  "I need to get to him," Mac said before hurrying back to the SUV. Mikayla 
  was crying in her seat and Mac instantly turned around to comfort her.
  "I'm sorry sweetie. It's okay."
  
  Once the car was moving again Mikayla settled and Mac chided herself for 
  leaving Josh alone with Doug. She should have known better than to leave him 
  alone.
  
  Minutes later she arrived at the hospital and with Mikayla in her arms, 
  hurried into the ER.
  
  "I'm looking for" was as far as she got before she heard Harm call her 
  name.
  
  "Harm oh god I'm so sorry" she wailed as they ran to each others arms, 
  awkwardly hugging each other with Mikayla between them. "This is all my 
  fault. I shouldn't have left him alone."
  
  "Hey stop that" Harm ordered. "This is not your fault. Josh knew better than 
  to play with our weapons."
  
  "What happened?" Mac asked as Harm led them to nearby chairs.
  
  "I guess Josh had mentioned us having the guns to Doug before. And Doug 
  talked him into bringing them down. Doug put the clip in and when Josh tried 
  to get it away from him, it went off."
  
  "Is Josh going to be okay?"
  
  "He should be fine. It was just in his thigh. He's going to be hurting for a 
  while but he'll be fine."
  
  "Harm I am so sorry" she whispered.
  
  "This is not your fault," he said gently. "Annie left Josh home all the time 
  with Mikayla. He's old enough to know better. And both he and Doug realize 
  they're in big trouble for this."
  
  "Harm they won't take Josh away because of this will they?" Mac asked.
  
  "I don't think so honey. We didn't do anything wrong."
  
  "God I was so scared when I saw the police at the house. I just knew Josh 
  was in trouble."
  
  "It could have been a lot worse," Harm said quietly. "He's very lucky it was 
  just in the thigh."
  
  "I don't even want to think about" Mac whispered as she closed her eyes and 
  leaned against Harm.
  
  "It's okay honey. He's going to be fine and we've learned that we have to be 
  a lot more careful when it comes to our stuff."
  
  "God Harm what if Mikayla had been there with him" Mac gasped as she hugged 
  the little girl tighter to her.
  
  "She wasn't and I think we can be pretty sure that Josh will never touch our 
  weapons again" Harm soothed. "He's learned his lesson the hard way."
 
 "I know we talked to him about the guns," she frowned.  "I thought we were pretty clear.  We 
told him they were up there, told him why we needed them and. . ."
 
 "Told him to leave his bloody hands off," Harm finished for her.  "But he's not going to do 
everything he's told.  He's a kid.  They're impulsive and they don't think and they screw up.  
Lord knows I did my share growing up.  Still do."
 
 "Mr. Rabb?  Josh's step dad?"  Harm and Mac both turned to face a harried looking nurse.
 
 "Half right.  Mr. Rabb foster father," Harm smiled anxiously.  "He's OK right?"
 
 "He is.  The bullet took a chunk out of his thigh muscle but that's all it hit.  He's very lucky.  
Femoral artery is just an inch away.  Likely he would have bled to death before the ambulance 
got there in that case.  But never mind that.  It's closed and bandaged and he's going to know 
he was hurt for a couple days despite his pain pills.  He's being transfused now and then we'll 
keep him overnight just to be sure.  You can see him now and take him home in the morning."
 
 "Oh thank God," Mac gasped, swaying unsteadily for a second, but long enough for Harm to 
grasp hold of her.
 
 "Oh he's pretty out of it," the nurse added as she led the way to his cubicle.  "Pain medication 
of course.  And sleep is the best thing for him anyway."
 
 "Jossie," Mikayla squealed the second she saw him and Harm lifted her from Mac's arms, 
holding her down to him so she could give him an awkward kiss.
 
 "Hey Josh," Mac said softly, running her hand from his forehead back into his damp tussled 
hair.
 
 "Hi Mac," he whispered.  "Mac I'm sorry.   I screwed up big time."
 
 "Yes you did, and we will be dealing with that," she told him.  "But right now all that's important 
is that you're going to be OK.  They're going to take you to a room and you're going to spend 
the night here.  And you're going to be fine."
 
 "How's Doug?"
 
 "He's dealing with the police, and you'll have to as well of course," Harm answered.  "But I don't 
see them saying it was anything more than an accident.  One thing's for sure--you won't do it 
again."
 
 "No not without permission," he sighed and looked up hopefully at the same time.  "But maybe 
you two would teach me how to shoot?"
 
 "We'll talk about it," Harm nodded.  "After we talk about this mess you're in."
 
 "But not now," Mac spoke up.  "You need to rest and this little one is going to have a meltdown 
if she doesn't get a nap so I'm going to take her on home and Harm will stay with you."
 
 "No that's OK.  Harm needs to go with you and take care of you and Mikayla.  I'm fine and I just 
want to sleep," he murmured.
 
 "Josh I should. . ." Harm began.
 
 "You should take care of your almost-wife and my sister," the boy smiled sleepily.  "You can 
come back later when I'm awake with some ice cream.  Chocolate chip cookie dough."
 
 "You are really pushing it mister," Harm laughed, leaning down to gently kiss his forehead.  "I'll 
see you later."

  "You okay?" Harm asked as he and Mac made their way home. Mikayla had fallen 
  asleep almost as soon as the car had started up and Mac had been strangely 
  quiet.
  
  "I keep thinking how much worse this could have been" she said quietly. "And 
  how it would have been my fault."
  
  "Hey stop that. This is not your fault. And I don't want to hear you say 
  that again."
  
  "Harm he could have been killed. Do you have any idea how many kids die 
  because they were playing with a gun?"
  
  "I know. But fortunately that didn't happen. And from now on we'll be more 
  careful."
  
  She nodded and was silent the rest of the way home. She reached for Mikayla 
  when Harm took her out of the car seat, hugging the little girl close to her 
  as they walked inside.
  
  "Oh god" Mac gasped at the sight of the blood on the kitchen floor.
  
  "Go take Mikayla to bed" Harm said gently. "I'll take of this."
  
  "I'm sorry" she whispered.
  
  "It's okay. Now go before she wakes up and then you'll never get her back to 
  sleep."
  
  Mac did as directed and by the time she'd returned from tucking in Mikayla 
  Harm had finished cleaning up the kitchen.
  
  "You hungry?" he asked and she shook her head.
  
  "I'd rather just lay on the sofa with your arms around me" she said softly.
  
  "I think we can arrange that" he said as he drew her into his arms. "It's 
  been a hell of a day hasn't it."
  
  "Being a parent is not easy" Mac sighed as headed to the living room. "I 
  swear I lived and died a thousand deaths on the way to the hospital."
  
  "No it's not" he agreed. "And there's likely to be plenty of rough spots 
  along the way."
  
  "I'm sure of that," she said as they sank to the sofa.
  
  "I'm just glad I have you here with me on this. This is definitely a 
  two-person job. I'm beginning to have more and more appreciation for what 
  Mom must have gone through with me."
  
  "Well you know I'm not going anywhere" she smiled as she looked up at him.
  
  "I would hope not. Besides the fact that this house would crumble without 
  you keeping us all in order, I happen to love you very much Ms. Mackenzie."
  
  *******************
  JAG HQ's
  Two Weeks Later
  
  "Colonel, Commander you got a minute?" AJ asked as they walked into break 
  room.
  
  "Ah sure sir" Harm said slowly. "Is this good or bad?"
  
  "Depends on how you look at it" AJ smiled. "Come to my office once you get 
  your coffee."
  
  Minutes later they were both seated in front of the Admiral's desk.
  
  "I've tried to be easy on you two since your recent adjustment to parenthood 
  but unfortunately I need to send you two on an investigation." He paused as 
  he handed them each a case file. "On the plus side, at least you're not 
  going to Great Lakes in the winter."
  
  "Well we knew that wouldn't last for long" Harm sighed as he and Mac made 
  their way to his office.
  
  "I guess we call in those baby-sitting favors with Harriet and Bud. Unless 
  you can think of someone else we can leave them with."
  
  "Not that I trust with our kids."
  
  "Shall we go beg?" Mac sighed.
  
  "Of course that's fine ma'am" Harriet assured her. "Mikayla and AJ will be 
  fine together. Poor Josh might get a little bored with the two of them 
  though."
  
  "He's real good with kids" Harm told her. "So hopefully he won't mind a few 
  days with them."
  
  "Is that how long you think you'll be gone?" Harriet asked. "Just a few 
  days."
  
  "We hope" Mac smiled. "Course it might be longer. Is that going to be a 
  problem."
  
  "Course not. We can manage them."
  
  "Thank you so much" Harm said seriously. "And of course you'll know how to 
  get in touch with us in case anything happens."
  
  "This is your first assignment away since you took custody of them isn't 
  it?" Harriet smiled.
  
  "Yes and we're both dreading it to be honest" Mac admitted.
  
  "They'll be fine. What time is your flight tonight?"
  
  "6:00. We were going to pick them up from the sitter at home and then have 
  dinner before we drop them off at your place."
  
  "Okay. That's fine" Harriet nodded. "And don't worry they'll be fine."
  
  "Well I do worry about Josh sometimes," Harm sighed.  "He's been pretty subdued since the 
shooting."
 
 "Hey he's a teenager," Mac reminded him, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze.  "And a lot has 
happened to him in the past few months."
 
 "I know, and I was sure no bundle of laughs when I was that age," he nodded.
 
 "Is this something Bud and I should know about?" Harriet frowned.
 
 "That's right Flyboy, scare off our sitter," Mac laughed.  "Harriet, he's just gotten a little quiet is 
all.  I mean he still loves to play on his ball team and likes to have a couple guys over to hang 
out with, but a lot of the time he's happy reading or watching a movie or playing video games.  
In fact oddly enough he actually likes playing with Mikayla some of the time."
 
 "Maybe he's mooning over a girl," Harriet offered and Harm and Mac both exchanged looks.
 
 "You want Bud to get it out of him with a rubber hose?" she giggled.
 
 "I'll be happy if he just doesn't do anything that makes you crazy," Harm smiled.  "OK we'll see 
you later then."
 
 Mac slipped her arm around his as they walked to the car.  "Josh has been on your mind a 
good bit hasn't he?"
 
 "This whole parenting thing is so new and strange," he admitted.  "I mean Mikayla, well she's 
like starting almost from the beginning, but Josh is not a work in progress so much any more.  
He's at least halfway to being a man."
 
 "And you're going to help him grow into a fine one," she said staunchly.  "But you can't 
micromanage him.  Deal with what comes up and leave the rest to God."
 
 "When did you get so smart," he grinned and leaned down to give her a swift kiss.
 
 The drive from Falls Church to Vienna was easily accomplished and the college student whom 
they employed for the remainder of the summer was happy to know she was getting a couple of 
days off.
 
 "Mr. Rabb, I think Josh has a girlfriend, or at least is interested in a girl," Susan whispered to 
Harm out of Josh's earshot.  "And please don't think I'm telling tales out of school, but well. . .my 
brother is sixteen and well. . ."
 
 "Susan what?  Just spit it out please," Harm begged.
 
 "Does he know about sex?" she yelped.
 
 "Oh God I don't know," Harm gasped, turning pale and dropping into the nearest chair.  
 
 Mac hurriedly came to his rescue.  "Susan thank you for the heads up.  And don't worry, we 
never had this conversation." 
 
 "Yes ma'am thank you," she squealed and ran out.
 
 "Well Flyboy looks like something else on that parenting to do list," Mac laughed and Harm 
glared.  
 
 "This is real funny to you?"
 
 "It's all part of being a parent.  How did your mom talk to you?"
 
 "She handed me a book," he mumbled, "and then asked our Pastor to speak to me.  God I was 
never so embarrassed.  Not to mention that was one of the times I needed my dad the most and 
he wasn't there."
 
 "I know you'll do better."  Mac cupped her hand at the back of his neck and gave him a quick 
kiss.  
    
  "Shall we go tell them we're sending them off to Harriet's" he sighed.
  
  "You really hate leaving them don't you?" she said softly.
  
  "Well after all that's happened I just hate to."
  
  "They'll be fine. And so will we."
  
  Mac called for Josh and Mikayla and minutes later they were all gathered in 
  the living room.
  
  "What's going on?" Josh asked, immediately sensing something is up. "Am I in 
  trouble again?"
  
  "No" Harm smiled. "Unless you've done something that we don't know about 
  that would get you in trouble."
  
  "No sir" Josh said quickly.
  
  "Good. But the bad news is that Mac and I have to go out of town for an 
  investigation. So you and Mikayla are going to be staying with Harriet and 
  Bud."
  
  "How long will you be gone?" Josh asked.
  
  "A few days at least" Mac sighed. "But we'll check in every night and make 
  sure everything is okay."
  
  "Okay" he nodded. "When do you leave?"
  
  "Tonight" Harm answered. "We're all going to pack and then we're going to 
  stop for dinner before we drop you off."
  
  Two hours later they pulled up in front of Bud and Harriet's apartment.
  
  "We can do this right?" Mac whispered as she unstrapped Mikayla from her car 
  seat while Harm grabbed her bag.
  
  "Of course. We're just going to be gone for a few days" he assured her.
  
  "Hi guys" Harriet smiled as she opened the door. "Come on in."
  
  "Thanks Harriet. We don't have much time," Mac said as she set Mikayla down. 
  "Dinner took longer than we thought."
  
  "You've got the number at Great Lakes right?" Harm asked. "And both our cell 
  phones."
  
  "Yes" Harriet said patiently.
  
  "Sorry. Nervous parents here" Harm smiled. "Mac we'd better say goodbye or 
  we're going to miss our flight."
  
  "Bye sweetie" Mac said as she lifted Mikayla back to into her arms. "You be 
  good for Aunt Harriet."
  
  "No bye" Mikayla said as she clung to Mac.
  
  "Honey it's okay" Mac said softly. "Josh will be with you."
  
  "No bye" Mikayla wailed as she started to cry.
  
  "Honey it's okay" Harm tried as he took her from Mac. "We'll be back soon."
  
  Mikayla only cried louder and Harm hugged her tightly, reluctant to let her 
  go.
  
  "It's best if you just leave" Harriet said gently. "She'll be okay."
  
  Reluctantly Harm set her down, her loud cries tearing at their hearts.
  
  "Bye Josh" Mac whispered as she hugged him.
  
  Harm did the same before they made a quick exit to the door, Mikayla 
  following them as they did so. They could hear her cries as they stood on 
  the other side of the door and Harm let out a long sigh.
  
  "God that was hard" he whispered.
  
  "Maybe we should wait and make sure she's really okay" Mac sniffled.
  
  "If we wait we'll miss our flight. I'm sure she'll be fine."
  
  "Then why aren't you moving?" she asked.
  
  "Because this is harder than I thought" he groaned. "But the Admiral will 
  have our heads if we miss our flight."
  
  She nodded. "Okay we do this. We can call later and check on them right. If 
  she's still crying we can come back."
 
 Harm formed an imaginary phone with his fingers.  "Sir, good evening.  The Colonel and I are 
abandoning our assignment because our daughter is having a tantrum and we can't leave her."
 
 "Yeah that would go over. . ." she began and stopped with a sharp gasp.  "Harm did you hear 
yourself just now?  What you just said?"
 
 "About Mikayla?" he frowned.  "Yeah I said our daughter was having a. . ."  A slow grin spread 
across him.  "OK yeah.  Our daughter.  I did say that."  "That's OK isn't it," he added hastily.
 
 "Oh yeah that's more than OK," she smiled.  "I was just marveling at how easy you came out 
with it.  I just wish it was true."
 
 "It is in mind and spirit," he said firmly.  "Annie is gone.  And even if she comes back she'll have 
to fight me to hell and back to get these kids back.  She left them.  Abandoned them without 
even making arrangements for their care."
 
 "I like it when you're assertive," she teased and sobered almost at once.  "Well anyway, it 
sounded nice when you said 'our'.  It kind of makes what we have all the more permanent."
 
 "Yeah well as far as I'm concerned this is it," he growled.  "You are so stuck with me."
 
 "And I am so glad," she smiled and squeezed his hand.  "It works out really well since I happen 
to love you."

THE END

Watch for Chapter 2 and their assignment that leads to further developments in an already 
complex family arrangement.