TITLE:  "I'll Be Seeing You "
           AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
           SUMMARY/SPOILERS:   Based on the spoiler that JAG would be doing an episode 
that pays tribute to s Nurses.  Any JAG episode may be referred to in our work.  The story is 
set late summer 2002, without regard to Sergei or Bud's injury.
          CLASSIFCATION/RATING: 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.}

NOTE:  A HUGE thank you to Mary Ann for suggesting the title.  It's from the song of the 
same name and was a signature tune during World War II.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I'll Be Seeing You"
 

  "Sailor we still on for lunch?" Mac asked as she breezed into Harm's office.
  
  "Lunch?" he frowned.
  
  "Yeah the lunch you owe me because I kicked your six yesterday in court" she 
  grinned. "Remember we had a bet about who would win and you lost."
  
  "I thought you'd forgotten about that."
  
  "You thought I'd forgotten about a free lunch?" she laughed.
  
  "Yeah what was I thinking" he smiled. "Can you wait about ten minutes? I'm 
  just trying to finish this up for the Admiral before he leaves for the day."
  
  "Sure just holler when you're ready. I'll be the one in the office next to 
  you starving" she teased.
  
  He shook his head as she walked out, for a moment forgetting about the 
  report in front of him as he watched her. Since they'd come back from 
  Afghanistan, things had remained smooth between them. The comfortableness he 
  thought was gone forever had returned and now it was like the old times 
  again. Life was good again.
  
  Ten minutes later he signed his name to the report. All he needed to do was 
  drop it in the Admiral's office and he and Mac could go to lunch.
  
  "Lunch yet?" she asked as she peered into his office again.
  
  "Yes ma'am" he smiled. "All done."
  
  As he spoke his phone rang and he reached for it, hoping it wasn't anything 
  that would detain them any longer from lunch.
  
  "Commander Rabb."
  
  "Commander, I'm not sure you remember me but this is Mary Walters. I live 
  next to your Grandmother."
  
  "Of course" Harm said as he sat down, something telling him that he wasn't 
  going to like what he was about to hear. "Is she okay?"
  
  Mac had started out towards her office but stopped at his words, not sure 
  what was wrong.
  
  "She's at the hospital in Altoona" Mary Walters continued. "They're running 
  tests to find out what's wrong with her. I found her this morning in her 
  garden.  She'd collapsed and they weren't sure what had happened to her."
  
  "Oh god" he whispered. "They don't know what's wrong?"
  
  "Not yet. But I wanted to tell you in case you wanted to see her."
  
  "Thank you" he said quietly. "I'll be up this afternoon."
  
  "I thought you might. I'm going back to see how she is. Hopefully they'll 
  know something. I'm going to give you my cell phone number. If there's any change at all, 
  please let me know."
  
  "Of course. And I'll tell Sarah you're on your way if she's awake."
  
  He gave her the number before hanging up, his hands shaking slightly as he 
  did so.
  
  "Harm are you okay?" Mac asked as she walked in.
  
  "No" he whispered. "That was Mary Walters. Grams is in the hospital. She 
  collapsed and Mary found her this morning."
  
  "Oh Harm I'm sorry" Mac gasped. "Do they know what's wrong with her?"
  
  He shook his head. "No. I'm going up there as soon as I give this to the 
  Admiral." He reached for the report, only to knock over the mug of coffee 
  that was sitting beside it. He managed to grab the report before the coffee 
  hit it and Mac quickly grabbed several Kleenex from the nearby box to help 
  sop up the mess.
  
  "Easy sailor" she soothed. "I've got it. Go take the report to the Admiral 
  and I'll clean this up. And then I'll drive you see Grams."
 
 "Oh no way," he yelped.  "Mac that's four hours up there.  And not what you'd call interstate 
all the way."
 
 "I'd sooner walk it than stay back here and worry about you driving in your state right now," 
she retorted.  "Harm you're shaking here.  Not to mention what if you get up there and then 
there's. . .well decisions and choices that need to be made.  A cooler head would be 
welcome.  Am I right?  On both counts?"
 
 "Yeah you are," he sighed.  "It's just that you know I don't ask for help good."
 
 "No you don't, but you're getting it anyway.  Now go tell the admiral what's up and by the time 
you come back here I'll be ready to go."
 
 "So what did he say?" she asked a short time later as she finished straightening Harm's 
desk.
 
 "To be careful driving," he smiled sheepishly.  "We work for a good man."
 
 "Yes we do.  Now a swing by our places to grab some stuff and we're gone."
 =============
 An hour out of DC he still had not spoken, a silence which had begun as soon as he got into 
the car.
 
 "Harm I didn't realize you and your grandmother had gotten especially close," she offered 
tentatively, "and if you don't want to talk about it, tell me to stuff a sock in it.  It's just that you 
don't much mention her."
 
He shook himself from his thoughts and smiled softly.  "Used to be I'd go see her a couple 
times a year, try to get up for the holidays and all; and then. . .well like in the last two years 
I've been much more conscientious about keeping in touch.  I've been spending about one 
weekend a month up there in fact.  Never mentioned it I guess, but I go up on Friday and she 
cooks good stuff and I work around the place and then we do church and Sunday dinner and. 
. .well bottom line yeah we've gotten closer, and she's not getting any younger, but she's 
always been active.  Now I'm not sure what's going to happen to her.  If she has to leave that 
farmhouse for some kind of nursing home I may as well put a gun to her head.  She'll be dead 
in a month anyway."
 
 Mac nodded, content to let him talk.  
 
 "I really like it up there," he went on.  "And it's going to be mine someday.  I'm going to retire 
there and open a part time practice, maybe work on antique planes like the Stearman on the 
side.  In other words I'm bailing from the city."  He drew a long breath and cast her a sidelong 
glance, leaving out for now the fact that of late as he thought about those plans, she was 
starting to loom large as a part of the image.
 
 "Sounds nice," she smiled.  "And I can't wait to meet your grandmother."
 
 "She's going to adore you," he grinned and sobered quickly.  "At least she would if she was 
well and. . ."  A quick sob choked off his last words and he swallowed it down.  "I'm sorry."
 
 "For what?" she demanded.  "Being emotional about someone you love?  I would think 
something was wrong with you if you weren't."
 
 His hand slid across to her arm and he squeezed hard.  "Thank you.  And for putting up with 
me---thank you in advance."
 
 "You've certainly put up with me in all stages and phases of life," she reminded him.  "Now 
while you've got the chance, put your head back and close your eyes.  I won't need you for 
directions until it's time to exit the Turnpike."
 
 "I can take a turn," he insisted stubbornly.
 
 "OK deal--you rest now, and when we exit, you can take over."
 ============
 ALTOONA GENERAL HOSP
 3 Hours Later
 
 Harm had fallen into his silence as they traveled from the Turnpike to Altoona, concentrating 
on his driving, and now as he pulled into a parking space, his hands trembled again.  "God 
Mac what if we get inside and they say she's already gone?  What if we're too late?  What if 
she died without me telling her. . ."
 
 "What if you stop the dramatics and we go find out," she chided him gently.  "And remember 
you are not alone here. Whatever there is to be dealt with, I'm here--just like in Afghanistan.  
We're together."
  
  "Thank you" he managed finally. "I don't know how I'll ever pay you back for 
  this. Just add it to the long list of stuff I owe you for already."
  
  "Stop that. We're friends Harm. You've been there for me and I've been there 
  for you. That's what friends do for each other. Now lets go see what the 
  news is."
  
  He nodded and they headed inside the hospital, stopping at the first 
  information desk.
  
  "I'm looking for Sarah Rabb," he said to the young woman behind the desk. 
  "She was brought in this morning."
  
  "Fourth floor" she replied. "If you stop at the desk up there, they'll be 
  able to point you in the right direction."
  
  "Well I guess that's a good sign" he sighed as they headed to the elevators.
  
  "Come on, let's keep a positive attitude here sailor" she chided him gently.
  
  Once on the forth floor he headed directly to the nurses station, waiting 
  impatiently for the nurse to finish a call.
  
  "Can I help you?" she asked when she'd finally hung up.
  
  "I'm looking for Sarah Rabb. She's my grandmother. They said I'd find her up 
  here."
  
  "Yes we have Mrs. Rabb here. She's in room 425."
  
  "How is she?" Harm asked.
  
  "Stable for the moment. Doctor Burnett is finishing his rounds if you'd like 
  to talk to him. I can tell you we're treating her for gallbladder. But 
  there's Doctor Burnett and you can talk to him yourself. Doctor, this is 
  Mrs. Rabb's grandson."
  
  "Harmon Rabb" Harm said to the older man. "This is my friend Sarah 
  Mackenzie. How is Grams?"
  
  "Better than she was. Your grandmother has an inflammation of the 
  gallbladder caused by gallstones. Our normal treatment is to do surgery 
  right away but in this case I'm waiting until your grandmother is a little 
  stronger."
 
  "Stronger?" Harm questioned.
  
  "Your grandmother is slightly undernourished. She hasn't been eating 
  properly because of the pain caused by the gallstones. So right now she's 
  weak and that's not how I want her to be when we do surgery. Especially at 
  her age."
  
  "But she's going to be okay isn't she?" Harm whispered.
  
  "Mr. Rabb in any surgery there's a risk" Doctor Burnett replied. "The fact 
  that your grandmother is the age she is just increases that risk. But we 
  don't have a choice in this case. I'll wait a day or so but then we'll have 
  to do the surgery."
  
  "I want to see her," Harm said quietly. "And then we'll talk more."
  
  "Of course" the doctor nodded. "Go on. She's in Room 425. I'm sure she'll be 
  happy to see you."
  
  "Harm do you want me to wait out here?" Mac asked quietly when they reached 
  the room.
  
  "No I need you with me" he said as he turned to her. "Please don't leave me 
  now. I'm not real good with this kind of stuff. Especially when it comes to 
  Grams."
  
  "Then I'll be right here with you," she said as she reached for his hand and 
  gave it a quick squeeze.
  
  "Thank you. I'm not going to forget this." With that they walked into the 
  room, Harm managing to suppress a gasp when he saw Grams in the bed. The 
  normally healthy woman he was used to seeing was anything but now.
  
  "Hi Grams" he said softly, her eyes opening at the sound of his voice.
  
  "Harmon what are you doing here?" she said weakly. "Mary called you didn't 
  she?"
  
  "Yes and I'm glad she did. Grams why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling 
  good."
  
  "I figured it would just go away" she sighed. "But I guess not. That crazy 
  doctor is saying something about surgery isn't he?"
  
  "Grams you should have told me. Hell I should have noticed you weren't 
  well."
  
  "You haven't been up for a few months" she reminded him. "And last time you 
  were up it wasn't acting up so bad. And why are we talking about all this 
  when you haven't even introduced me to the young lady with you."
  
  "Sorry" Harm said sheepishly. "Grams this is my partner, Sarah Mackenzie."
  
  "It's nice to meet you Mrs. Rabb" Mac said softly as she stepped forward.
  
  "Grams please" the older woman smiled. "And I feel like I already know you. 
  Harm has said so much about you."
 
 "Well that can't be good," Mac laughed and Grams smiled as well.  "I'm sorry we're meeting 
like this but I am glad we're meeting.  Unfortunately Harm hasn't said that much about you.  
The man just doesn't talk a lot about personal things so I had no idea he'd even been up to 
see you or anything like that."
 
 "On the other hand he talks about you for half the weekend," Grams smiled again.  "I 
especially got an earful the year before this past one.  You and the bozo you were engaged 
to.  And that was when he was being nice."
 
 "Grams please," Harm gasped.  "Next you'll be telling her where the baby albums are."
 
 "Oh something to look forward to," Mac giggled.
 
 "Grams I wish you had told me about all this," Harm said, returning to the subject at hand.  "I 
would have come up and helped out.  Remind me to award Mrs. Walters the Navy Cross for 
calling me.  You probably wouldn't have."
 
 "Oh I would to have," she retorted.  "Soon as it was all done.  There was no reason for you to 
worry.  Not to mention I have all the company I can handle with my church people checking 
on me.  And I know once the surgery is done and I'm home, I'll have the help there too.  So 
you can satisfy yourself that I'm OK and then march your little butts back to DC and do 
whatever it is that Uncle Sam is paying you the big bucks for."
 
 "In a pig's eye," he yelped.  "I'm not going anywhere until I know you're one hundred percent 
back on your feet."
 
 "Harm that could be awhile," she said, suddenly quietly, "which brings me to something else.  
I am not going to a nursing home." 
 
 Harm shot Mac one of his 'I told you so' looks that he often did in court, then leaned over his 
grandmother.  "Grams please.  You may have to just to get back on your feet, but that's down 
the road.  There's no point in fretting about that now."
 
 "You listen to me mister," she hissed.  "And Mac you hear this good too.  You're both 
attorneys, OK fine.  I know there has to be some legal thing I can do.  No nursing home.  I 
would rather live a month in my home and die in my bed than spend three years dying by 
inches in a nursing home.  Promise me. Promise Harmon."  A surprisingly strong hand shot 
from the bed and locked around his wrist.  "I'm not letting go until you promise.  And I want 
something drawn up that I can sign.  Before the surgery.  Or I won't even consent to the 
surgery."
 
 "Harm, she means it," Mac said softly when he did not reply.  "It's not an unreasonable 
request."
 
 When he still did not reply, Mac leaned over the other side of the bed and took her other 
hand.  "He'll do it.  We promise.  I'll have something for you to sign next time we come."
 
 Harm shot her a huge glare which she ignored, only mouthing 'we'll talk later'.
 
 "Bless you child.  Now I have another request.  That you both go on home to the farm.  I'm 
not up to any more entertaining, but more importantly, you've had a long trip, and you need to 
rest and eat, and there won't be anything decent around here.  My freezer and canning 
shelves are full of good food.  I'll see you in the morning.  Mac you'll be the one with the 
document for me to sign."
 
 "Yes ma'am," she smiled and impulsively kissed her cheek.  "I sure do see where Harm gets 
a lot of that Rabb stubborn."
    
  "Grams I don't want to leave you" Harm's protested. "We just got here."
  
  "Harm I'm not going anywhere. You can come back tomorrow."
  
  "Grams" he started.
  
  "Harmon Rabb I'm not telling you again" she said stubbornly. "You take this 
  young lady back to the farm and both of you eat and rest. I'll see you in 
  the morning."
  
  "Yes ma'am" he sighed. "And we'll be back first thing in the morning."
  
  "I know you will" she smiled. "Now go."
  
  Reluctantly he left the room, Mac walking out with him. He said nothing and 
  she knew he was still upset about her agreeing to do the form for Grams.
  
  "Can we talk?" she said once they were in the car.
  
  "I'd rather not," he said crisply.
  
  "Harm please don't be mad at me."
  
  "Mac I don't want her to die" he snapped. "And I'll take her alive in a 
  nursing home instead of six feet under."
  
  "Did you think about what she might want?" she asked quietly. "That the idea 
  of living in a nursing home should something happen to her is more scary 
  that the alternative. Would you want her to live like that if it came to 
  that?"
  
  "I don't know" he sighed. "I just know I don't want anything to happen to 
  her."
  
  "I know. And right now there's no reason to think she won't be okay. But I 
  understand her desire to have her wishes known should something happen 
  during surgery."
  
  He was silent the rest of the way to the farm and Mac didn't press him to 
  talk. Only when they pulled up in front of the old farmhouse did he speak 
  again.
  
  "I'm sorry about earlier" he sighed as he turned off the car. "I know you 
  were just trying to help."
  
  "It's okay. Come on let's go see what Grams has in the freezer and then we 
  can talk some more if you want. I know this isn't easy for you and you know 
  I'm here for whatever you need." For emphasis she reached for his hand, 
  squeezing it gently.
  
  "Thank you. I'm sorry for being such a jerk earlier."
  
  "I'll forgive you" she smiled. "If you feed me."
  
  A hint of a smile crossed his face at her words and moments later they were 
  wandering through the old farmhouse.
  
  "This place is wonderful," Mac said as she looked around. "It's so cozy." 
  She headed to the living room, smiling as she reached up to the mantel and 
  pulled down a picture of a much younger Harmon Rabb.
  
  "You are not allowed to look at the pictures," he said as he tried to take 
  the picture from her.
  
  "Why not?" she grinned. "Harm you were so cute as a baby. I guess I now have 
  my answer to what your child would look like."
  
  "You've wondered what my child would look like?"
  
  She blushed slightly, realizing she'd given away more than she'd intended. 
  "Well we did have a deal," she said softly.
  
  "I haven't forgotten about that" he smiled. "Now do you think we can go find 
  dinner instead of looking at Harm through the years."
  
  "Sure" she smiled. "I do hope you're planning on cooking though. You know 
  the extent of my cooking expertise."
  
  "If Grams was well she'd show you" Harm said quietly. "I learned from her."
  
  "Harm she's going to be okay" Mac said softly. "You have to keep positive."
  
  "I know" he sighed. "But I'm worried Mac. I've never seen her like this. 
  Grams has always been the strongest person I know."
  
   "And she's going to make it through this just fine too," Mac assured him, coming up behind 
and shyly slipping her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back.
 
 "Thank you," he whispered, to her surprise not stiffening or pulling away but actually leaning 
back slightly to savor her embrace.
 
 "For?"
 
 "For this.  For what you're doing right now.  For being here.  For putting up with me.  For not 
killing me now or later."
 
 "Getting deep in here," she groaned.  "Harm I'm not going anywhere, and know this too.  If 
the worst happens, if the absolute unthinkable happens, I'll be there to hold your hand 
through it."
 
 "I don't think I could handle that," he sighed, "but just having you say the words does help.  
Now lets see what there is in the freezer that we can make a meal of."
 
 She let go of him after a second hard squeeze and moved to set out plates while he put a 
frozen blob of soup into the pot to warm.
 
 "Why did she tell us to leave so quickly?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.  "Was our 
being there bothering her?"
 
 "Harm you would know her better than me," she said slowly, looking up from the bread she 
was slicing, "but off hand I'd say she was embarrassed by us--you--seeing her like that.  You 
just said she was the strongest person you know.  She's got a rep to uphold you know.  She 
doesn't want to think of you seeing her at less than her best."
 
 "There's no shame in being sick," he muttered.  "I mean you've seen me at less than my 
best, physically and mentally."
 
 "Especially that last one," she laughed and poked his arm.  "Harm she's going to be fine.  
She's not having a heart transplant here.  And think how much better she's going to feel 
afterward.  I don't know a whole lot about a gall bladder but I do know that anything with 
digestion makes a person miserable.  And obviously she hasn't been eating well."
 
 "OK yeah kick a person when he's down.  I should have been here."
 
 "Harm we don't exactly living next door and for part of that time we were gone, and excuse 
me for including myself here.  But I liked her at once, and I care a lot about you and now I'm 
in for the duration."
 
 "And I thank God for that," he smiled, brightening slightly.  "Come and sit.  We'll eat and then 
we can maybe take a walk down to the river?  You will not believe how well you'll sleep after 
some of this fresh mountain air gets into your lungs."
=========== 
 "That was amazing," Mac pronounced once the soup and bread were history.  "You make 
that?"  
 
 "Yeah probably.  Sometimes on Sundays, especially if it was too rainy to work much, I was 
making batches of this kind of thing, taking some home, leaving some here."  He gave her an 
elaborate shrug.  "You want to walk that off now?"
 
 "You'll have to wheel me out."
 
 Once they were on the well worn path that meandered to the river, he reached for her hand.  
"I hope this is OK?"
 
 "It's perfect," she smiled.  "Especially since racing you is totally out of the question since I 
can't hardly move I'm so stuffed."
 
 By the time they reached the riverbank the sun was setting behind the mountain which 
towered above them.  "Beautiful," she whispered in awe.  "No wonder you love it up here."
 
 "Oh yeah," he smiled, guiding her to sit on a large rock.  "I'm loving my Naval career, and I 
plan to hang for twenty of course, but after that. . .well I want to be young enough to have a 
second life."  He took a long breath and ran his hand down her arm, smiling when it gave her 
visible goosebumps.  "Of course I need someone to share that dream with."
 
 She blushed at his words and averted her eyes for a few seconds.  "I can understand that," 
she finally said quietly.  
 
 He put a gentle finger to her chin and turned her face up to his.  "Can you?" he whispered. 
  
  "Yes" she whispered before their lips met in a gentle kiss.
 
  "I hope you didn't mind that" he whispered when they parted.
  
  "Why should I?" she smiled.
  
  "I'm so glad you're here" he sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. "And 
  not just because I'm going to go crazy worrying about Grams."
  
  "I know. And I'm glad I'm here too."
  
  They walked a little further before heading back to the house, Mac's long 
  yawn signaling to him that she was tired from the long day. Once back at the 
  house they headed upstairs to the bedrooms.
  
  "The guest room should be all set," Harm said as he opened the door to the 
  one bedroom. "As always Grams has it ready to go."
  
  "Where will you be?" she asked.
  
  "Right next door in my room" he smiled. "Been my room since I was a kid. "It 
  was Dad's room when he was growing up."
  
  "So you're right at home," she said softly. "Can I peak inside?"
  
  "Sure" he laughed as he opened the door.
  
  It was the typical boy's room, several Navy posters hanging on the wall. On 
  the dresser was the picture Mac recognized at once, little Harm in the 
  cockpit with his father standing next to him.
  
  "You were so cute" she smiled as she picked up the picture. "You were born 
  to fly weren't you."
  
  "Just like Gramps and Dad" he said softly. "Fortunately I've had a little 
  more luck that they did."
  
  Another picture caught her eye and for a moment she thought it was Harm with 
  his Dad again before realizing the plane wasn't a jet.
  
  "Dad and Gramps" he offered. "Gramps was a pilot during World War II."
  
  "So it is in your blood."
  
  "Yeah I guess so. Which is why it was so hard to give it up?"
  
  "You still miss it don't you?" she asked as she turned and looked at him.
  
  "I do and I don't. Yeah I miss flying but I'd also miss someone if I weren't 
  at JAG anymore."
  
  "Singer?" she teased.
  
  "Yeah Singer" he laughed. "I meant you. It was hard enough to leave you the 
  first time. I don't think I could do it again."
  
  "I thought that was easy for you," she said softly. "I was the one crying 
  like a baby."
 
  "You just never saw my tears" he whispered.
  
  "I thought when you left that was what you wanted?"
  
  "It was until I said goodbye to you. Course if I'd known how messed up 
  everything was going to get after I left, I wouldn't have gone."
  
  "That's behind us now," she said softly. "We've gotten back most of what we 
  lost haven't we?"
  
  "Yeah we have," he said with a small smile. "And I'm going down memory lane 
  here and I'm sure you're tired."
  
  "Does this place have a bathtub?" she asked. "I could use a long soak in 
  some hot water."
  
  "A big old cast iron tub with feet" he smiled. "I think you'll enjoy it. And 
  while you soak I'm going to zone for a bit downstairs with the TV. I think 
  Grams has everything well stocked in there. If you need anything, just 
  holler."
  
  "Thanks. And if you need anything holler. Otherwise I'm going to head to bed 
  once I'm finished."
  
  "I'm fine. Just a little edgy worrying about Grams."
  
  "She'll be okay sailor," Mac said with a gentle hand to his arm. "She's a 
  strong woman who obviously still has a lot to live for. Don't count her out 
  yet."
  
  "Thanks. I needed to hear that."
  
  "Go zone. I'll see you in the morning sailor."
  
  "Thanks again for being here" he said softly. "I really do appreciate it."
  
  "Glad to be here" she smiled.
 
 He smiled as well, turning to go and then turning back.  "Mac about before, about by the 
river, about what we did. . ."
 
 "What about it?" she laughed softly.  "But if you're going to ask if I have any regrets or I don't 
want you to ever do that again now that I've thought it over. . .well none of the above thank 
you.  I'm fine with being here with you, and I'm fine with what happened and now I want that 
tub."
 
 He grinned broadly, letting out the breath he was holding.  "Straight through there."
   
 An hour passed and the house settled as it had every night for the past eighty-seven years 
that it had sat nestled in the valley between three mountain peaks.  Harm was dozing slightly 
in front of ZNN and Mac comfortable in the large tub, half reading and half zoning as Harm 
has called it, thinking about everything that was happening around her.  Including how 
wonderful it could be to live in that wonderful old house, raising children. . .Rabb children.  
 
 A giant clap of thunder tore into her thoughts, followed almost at once by a second that left 
no doubt that its accompanying lightning bolt had hit nearby for the house was plunged into 
blackness.  Unlike in the city during a power failure, this blackness was utter and  complete.
 
 A floor below, Harm leaped from his chair, startled from the fog of almost sleep.  His first 
thought was for her, and he groped his way to the stairs, blessing that his grandmother was 
not one to rearrange the furniture.  "Mac can you hear me?" he yelled.   "Are you OK?"
 
 "I didn't know it was going to storm," she shouted back.  "I don't think a tub of water is the 
best place for me."
 
 "No it's not, but I don't want you moving around up there either.  It's pitch black and you'll hurt 
yourself.  I'm going to get the flashlight and be right there.  Just don't move except get out of 
that tub."
 
 Another bolt of lightning hit nearby, giving him enough light to make sprint halfway to the 
kitchen before the house was once more plunged into darkness.   He made the rest of the 
way easily enough and reached into the pantry, his hand closing around the flashlight that he 
knew would be on the shelf.  From there it was a simple matter to get the matches and begin 
to light candles, plus the emergency oil lamps that Grams kept on the sideboard.
 
 "Mac you OK?" he hollered when he got to the stairs.  "Hang tight another minute.  I'm on the 
way with an oil lamp so you can see to get dry and dressed."
 
 "My hero," she laughed, managing to get to the door and open it just enough.  He pressed 
the lamp into her hand a few moments later.
 
 "Now be real careful," he urged.  "Lamp oil burns real hot.  I'll wait right here for you."
 
 "Good because my heart is still pounding," she smiled, not totally kidding.  "Harm I was 
having an Afghanistan flashback there.  The night we spent in the desert.  I mean the noise.  
It was just as loud as the first missile."
 
 "Yeah it was," he agreed, his mind flashing on that night, how he had held her, how she had 
bought into his line about body heat.
 
 "Harm?  You still there?"
 
 "Uh. . .yeah I am sorry, didn't hear you," he stammered.
 
 "What happened?" she demanded again.   "I mean does that happen often?"
 
 "Lightning hit the substation transfer line most likely," he replied.  "I'm sorry.  I wasn't paying 
attention and I had a cable channel on else I would have heard the warning.  It's most likely 
off for the night.  I hope you were ready for bed."
 
 "I was falling asleep in the tub," she confessed.  "Well I guess plugging in my Donald Duck 
nightlight is out of the question."
 
 "I'm afraid you'll have to do with a candle.  I might have something in a cartoon character you 
can use though."
 
 "Uh thanks. . .I uh. . .I'm afraid of candles," she said softly as she emerged, quickly handing 
him the oil lamp.  "But I'm also afraid of the dark."
 
 If she had told him she had just flown in from Mars he could not have been more surprised.  
 
 "Yeah OK just don't give me the but Mac you're a Marine look OK," she begged.  "I'm not 
going to freak on you.  And I was kidding about the Donald Duck nightlight.  It's actually a lava 
lamp, but when I travel I make do with like the bathroom light or something.  Bottom line I 
can't sleep when it's pitch black."
    
  "Well then you're sleeping in the wrong room" he sighed. "The guest room 
  just has a tiny window that barely lets in any light from outside. But we do 
  have the candles."
  
  "I'll never sleep with those," she said quietly. "I'm not sure which is 
  worse. Being in the dark or worrying about the candles."
  
  "Okay let me think. Maybe Grams has a flashlight somewhere that I missed. I 
  can go back down and check."
  
  "No that's okay," she said quickly, not wanting him to leave her. "I'll 
  manage. Just don't leave me alone up here."
  
  "I won't," he said with a small smile. "Why don't we do this. I'll get you 
  settled into my room, which at least has a large window out front. I'll go 
  blow out the candles down stairs and then I'll come back up here with you."
  
  "You're letting me stay in your room?"
  
  "I'll be staying with you. It's not like we haven't shared rooms before."
  
  "Thank you" she whispered. "Sorry I'm so freakish about this."
  
  "It's okay. Just give me a minute and I'll be back up with you."
  
  He led her to his bedroom, carefully carrying the oil lamp to the room and 
  setting it down on the dresser.
  
  "Okay. I'll be back once I make sure we're locked up and all the candles are 
  out."
  
  "Harm aren't you taking the lamp?" she asked when he started out of the 
  room.
  
  "No I'll be fine" he smiled. "I've gone down the stairs plenty of times in 
  the dark. Trust me I'll be fine."
  
  "Be careful" she urged as he disappeared into the dark hall. She listened 
  for his footsteps on the stairs, breathing a sigh of relief when she 
  realized he'd safely made it to the bottom.
  
  Minutes later she heard his footsteps again and she smiled as he made his 
  way into the room.
  
  "All locked up and all the candles are out downstairs. Feel better?"
  
  "Yes thank you."
  
  "Okay let's try and get some sleep then. It's been a long day and I want to 
  get to the hospital early to see how Grams is doing."
  
  "Of course" she nodded. "I really feel bad about taking your bed though."
  
  "You're not" he smiled. "We're sharing. Scoot on in there Colonel. And don't 
  hog all the covers."
  
  "I'm not sure we ever shared a bed" she murmured as she climbed into bed.
  
  "First time for everything" he said softly as he joined her a few seconds 
  later after he'd slipped down to his boxers. "You okay? You need anything?"
  
  "No I'm fine. Thanks."
  
  "I'm not sure the lamp will make it all night" he frowned as he looked over 
  at it. "Will you be okay?"
  
  "As long as you're still with me."
  
  His response was to reach his arm around her, gently pulling her to him so 
  that her head was resting against his shoulder.
  
  "Thank you" she whispered.
  
  "I owe you for today anyway" he said softly. "I'm not sure I could be 
  handling this without you."
  
  "Being in the dark" she teased.
  
  "Worrying about Grams" he sighed. "Mac I really am scared she's not going to 
  be okay. And I know she's dead serious about not living in a nursing home."
  
  "Harm you have to think positive here. She's a strong woman and I'm sure 
  she's going to make it through this just fine."
  
  "And if she doesn't?" he whispered.
  
  "Then I'll be here for you," she said softly. "But let's just take this one 
  day at a time. Let's get her the form she wants so she'll agree to the 
  surgery and then we'll see how that goes."
  
  "Thank you for being my voice of reason."
  
  "Any time. Now why don't you try and get some rest. You've had a rough day 
  and the next few aren't going to be any easier."
 
 "I'm going to close my eyes, hold on to you, and thank God you're here while I'm asking Him 
to look after my grandmother," he whispered.  "Mac she's the only thing I have of my dad.  OK 
no that's not right.  I mean I have my mom, but she's moved on.  And I have things, but 
they're just things.  She's an actual blood tie to my dad.  You know sometimes I think if I'd just 
been older.  If I could have known him a little better first.  If we could have talked some.  I 
mean he and I related only as dad to little boy and all but a few of my memories are just so 
fuzzy and. . ."  He stopped and choked down his words and a sob at the same time.  "Sorry.  I 
don't need to dump all that on you."
 
 "I've dumped on you in the past," she reminded him with a quick laugh and a brush of her 
hand against his face to catch a stray tear.  "Let it go for now.  Please.  You're not going to do 
her any good if you're exhausted.  She's going to need you to be clear headed."
 
 "OK, thanks.  Good night Sarah."
 
 Her breath caught in her throat at the use of her given name and she leaned back against 
him, amazed at how comfortable she was in his arms.  Almost too comfortable for something 
that was not going to last.
 
 As if reading her thoughts, he tucked her closer to him.  "You think there's something in fate 
or poetic about you and Grams sharing a name?"
 
 "I wouldn't be surprised," she sighed.  "Good night Harmon."
 
 "Harm is bad enough thanks," he groaned.  "Besides Grams calls me that when she wants 
my attention.  Like she did when I was six."
 
 "I'm glad I'm here," she said after a few minutes, sleepiness slurring her words.
 
 "Me too."
 =====================
 He awoke with a groan, the bright sun coming through the window hitting his eyes.  At first he 
could not recall where he was and why and he jumped slightly, which roused her.
 
 She turned in the tight protective grip of his arm and touched his face.  "Hey Sailor.  You 
need a shave."
 
 "Coffee," he croaked and cleared his throat.  "Coffee yes.  Are you OK?"
 
 "I slept fine," she gasped in surprise.  "I didn't think I would.  I mean after the storm and the 
power failure and the candles and all.  But I didn't even dream.  Maybe it was the company."
 
 "You think so?" he asked with a sly smile, not sure if he wanted to confess how much he had 
liked holding her.
 
 "I know so," she laughed and pushed him from the bed.  "Coffee Sailor.  Is the power back?"
 
 "I bet not but the boys will be out this morning for sure.  We can stop on the way.  This may 
be the boonies but there is a Starbucks on the way to Altoona."
 
 She nodded and rolled off the bed.  "Hey about last night.  Thanks on two counts.  One for 
not laughing at my dark and candle phobias, and two for. . .well for just being there for me."
 
 "My pleasure, and I sincerely mean that," he said softly, and as she was about to walk past 
him caught her arm.  "Good morning," he said with a quick smile and before she could move, 
touched his lips to hers.
 
 "Good morning to you," she managed in the midst of blushing bright red and hurried out.  It 
was going to be an interesting stay.
 ===================
 "Morning Grams," Harm sang out as he walked into the room.  "How are you doing?"
 
 "Well I survived breakfast," she grumped.  "No small feat around here.  Would you believe 
they insisted I eat that crap.  Harm look at it.  What I couldn't manage is still there."
 
 Harm lifted the dome from the plate and wrinkled his nose at once.  "Yeah I see your point.  
The Waffle Emporium it's not.  Any news on your surgery?"
 
 "Three days.  The doctor was in this morning," she frowned.  "That means I've got to lie here 
doing nothing for three days.  Thank goodness Aggie brought my needlework and magazines 
and the TV for my stories.  Now where's that pretty young woman you're going to marry?"
 
Her question and assumption brought him up short.  "Uh. . .Grams no one said anything. . ."
 
 "No one has to.  I see it in your eyes, and hers.  Now where is she?"
 
  "Getting the form you wanted" Harm sighed.
  
  "Good girl" Grams smiled. "I like your Sarah Harm."
  
  "She's not my Sarah, Grams," he said with a small smile.
  
  "Of course not" Grams teased. "Harmon I've known you long enough to know 
  when you've got feelings for a young woman. And you've got feelings for 
  Sarah."
  
  "Grams" he groaned.
  
  "Okay I'll spare you until later. But I've been around long enough to know 
  these things."
  
  "Morning Grams" Mac smiled as she walked into the room a second later. "How 
  are you feeling?"
  
  "Cooped up" she smiled back. "How are you dear?"
  
  "I'm fine. And I've got the form you wanted. Which is good since the nurse 
  said you'll be having your surgery in three days."
  
  "Yes three days of laying here doing nothing" Grams sighed. "And thank you 
  for doing this dear."
  
  "Grams are you sure this is what you want?" Harm spoke up as Mac handed 
  Grams the form, which she quickly scanned. "I mean have you really given 
  much thought to it."
  
  "Harmon when you get to be my age you give a lot of thought to this kind of 
  stuff. And I can tell you that this is exactly what I want. I do not want to 
  wither away in some home not even knowing my name while you come to visit 
  because you feel obligated to do so. I'd much sooner join your father and 
  grandfather than do that. I'm sure you don't understand that but one day you 
  will."
  
  "I do" he sighed. "I just don't like it."
  
  "Thank you Sarah" Grams said as she handed the signed form to Mac. "Now I 
  feel much better about this whole surgery thing."
  
  "I'm glad" Mac replied. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
  
  "No dear" Grams smiled. "And I don't want you and Harm hanging out here all 
  day either. "
  
  "Grams" Harm started.
  
  "You can hang out for a bit this morning but when my stories come on later I 
  want you both out of here."
  
  "Yes ma'am" he sighed. "But we're coming back later."
  
  "Of course. Did you show Sarah around the farm yet?"
  
  "We took a short walk last night" he answered. "Before the storm hit."
  
  "Did you lose power?" Grams asked. "I swear every time we get a good storm 
  the power goes off."
  
  "Yeah most of the night. It was still off when we left. I'm sure by this 
  afternoon they'll get it fixed."
  
  "I hope so" Mac smiled. "Otherwise Harm is going to be cooking over the 
  campfire."
  
  "Sounds like your territory Marine" Harm smiled as he looked over at her.
  
  "Oh no" Mac laughed. "You're the chef on this trip Commander."
  
  Grams smiled as she watched the pair. Despite her grandson's insistence she 
  knew there was much between them that he admitted.
  
  "Grams you're going to have to get better soon so you can give Mac your 
  crash course in cooking" Harm said to her.
  
  "You don't cook Sarah?" Grams asked.
  
  "No ma'am" Mac admitted. "Not unless it's frozen and you put it in the 
  microwave."
  
  "We will definitely have to fix that" Grams declared. "As soon as they let 
  me out of this place."
  
  "When you're better Grams" Harm cautioned.
  
  "Harmon you worry too much" Grams smiled. "It's going to be fine."
 
 "I know.  Allow me to worry will you.  I have very few special people in my life so you'll 
pardon me if I worry about the ones I've managed not to alienate."
 
 Both Mac and Grams laughed and Mac gave him a quick hug.  "You can worry about me if 
you'd like.  In fact it's kind of nice after so many years of being alone to have someone who 
cares that much."  She started to step back from him, only to have him grab onto her more 
tightly.  
 
 "Sailor?" 
 
 "Sorry, I just wanted to hold you a second.  That's OK isn't it?"
 
 "Well of course but you did hold me all night," she smiled.
 
 "Whoa did I miss something?" Grams yelped and Mac blushed at once.  
 
 "Uh we didn't have power and I'm afraid of the dark and candles both," she admitted 
candidly, "so he installed me in his bed and climbed in after me but we just. . .well we didn't. . 
."
 
 "Honey-child you both are adults, you both have obvious feelings for each other and I 
guarantee it's nothing I don't see every other minute on my afternoon stories," she smiled.  
"So don't be embarrassed on my account, either of you."
 
 "Thanks Grams," Harm grinned.
 
 For the next two hours they talked, with Grams filling Mac in some of Harm's adventures as a 
young man and Mac and Harm sharing some stories of their partnership.  
 
 Finally Grams looked at the clock.  "OK you two, this has been great but I hear lunch coming 
and then I'm going to nap a bit and then my stories.  Please."
 
 "Grams are you sure?"
 
 "More than.  Remember Harm, I'm coming home from here and if you're going to be there 
some, we'll have plenty of time together." 
 
 He gave her a reluctant nod and bent to kiss her cheek, Mac following suit.
 
 "Sarah that form?  Should you leave it with me?"
 
 "It needs to be put in your file," Mac nodded.  "But it also needs to be signed by Harm and 
me as witnesses."
 
 "Do it now please."
 
 "Grams," he whined at once.
 
 Mac glared at him and pulled the folded paper from her purse.  "Make your X on there 
Flyboy.  Now."
 
 "OK I can't argue with both of you.  Can I put an asterisk that it was under protest?"
 ============
 "I like her so much," Mac told him as they pulled up in the front yard of the farmhouse.  
"She's so you.  Or rather you are so her I guess.  She's nothing short of amazing."
 
 "Yeah I know," he nodded, coming around to open her door.  "And that's why I don't want 
anything to happen to her.  Why I hate that she insisted on that document."
 
 "Harm if you could step back and get a little perspective here," she told him gently, allowing 
him to help her down.  "It's for just that reason she won't do that.  If God has seen fit to take 
her, she wants to go.  You know the nursing homes are full of people who's bodies have 
failed them long ago.  She's determined that not happen, and I can't help but admire that."
 
 "Well it's done anyway," he grumped.  "And I do have the satisfaction that we're doing what 
she wanted."
 
 "Amen.  Now that noise you hear is my growling stomach."
 ===========
 After the ate, Mac asked to see more of the farm so Harm led her down a different path, this 
one toward the river but he stopped short of the bank, pointing instead to a cove almost 
hidden by the trees.  "You've heard of the old swimming hole right?  Well this is it."
 
 She laughed and ran slightly ahead of him to see the pond, where remnants of an old 
Tarzan-like rope still hung from an overhanging tree branch.  "You're right, this is like 
something out of Huck Finn," she yelped, reaching to catch the rope as he caught up to her.  
"So you would get a running start and let go I'm guessing."
 
 "Of course," he grinned.  "Naked."
 
 "You're kidding.  You skinny dipped?"
 
 "Of course.  Unless there were girls, but that wasn't very often.  I wasn't here enough to 
make too many real close friends since I was back and forth between here and California 
after Mom married."
 
 She took a long look at him and the rope and the water all at the same time.  "I dare you."
 
 "Excuse me?" 
 
 "I dare you to do it again.  To show me.  And not even butt naked, just in your skivvie 
drawers Sailor."
 
 "You dare me?"
 
 "In fact I double dare you."
 
 "OK that's it.  Double darers go first."
 
 "Since when?"
 
 Since I was a kid," he retorted.  "A double darer had to go first.  And then I will.  And you can 
have the same deal, just in your skivvies."
 
 "Harm there's more to my . .well underthings than those," she objected.
 
 "You went topless for Brumby."
 
 "You don't know that.  Besides, is that a request?"
 
 "Might be.  Might be a dare," he teased back.  "So Marine you dared first.  What's it gonna 
be?"
  
  "Turn around" she ordered. "Cause I'm not doing a show here."
  
  He laughed but did as she asked. With a deep breath she slowly slid off her 
  clothes, leaving her in just her underwear and sports bra.
  
  "All right" she said finally. "You can turn around now."
  
  "Jockey for women" he smiled as his eyes traveled up and down her. "Nice 
  Colonel. But I have one complaint."
  
  "And what would that be?"
  
  "The bikini showed more" he laughed.
  
  "Maybe one day" she teased. "And now if you'll excuse me I have a river to 
  jump in. And then I'm going to enjoy watching you do the same."
  
  "Just don't break your neck" he fretted.
  
  "Harm I think I can handle jumping from the rope into the water. I am a 
  Marine remember. Just chill sailor and I'll show you how it's done."
  
  He watched as she stepped back before making a run for the rope, grabbing 
  onto it and swinging out before letting go and dropping into the water 
  below. He waited anxiously for her to reappear and seconds later her head 
  broke the surface, a wide smile on her face.
  
  "Your turn sailor" she called. "Let's see those boxers."
  
  "Your wish is my command" he grinned and promptly stripped out of his 
  clothes.
  
  "Nice boxers sailor" she smiled as she admired the view the knit boxers 
  provided. "Can't wait to see those wet."
  
  His answer was to step back before running to the rope, grabbing and 
  swinging out just like she had. Seconds later he dropped into the water with 
  a loud splash.
  
  "Real graceful sailor" she laughed as she swam towards where he'd gone in 
  "You get a zero for form."
  
  She expected him to resurface right away and she looked around worriedly 
  when he didn't appear a few seconds later.
  
  "Harm" she called anxiously.
  
  She allowed just a few more seconds to pass before deciding that something 
  had to be wrong. She took a deep breath in preparation of diving under to 
  find him when suddenly she felt something behind her in the water and she 
  whirled around just as Harm emerged.
  
  "Miss me" he gasped with a smile.
  
  "Not funny sailor" she said with a long sigh. "You had me scared to death."
  
  "You're lucky I didn't grab your leg and pull you under" he smiled.
  
  "You would have been one sorry sailor if you had. And if you scare me like 
  that again you'll be in trouble."
  
  "You really were worried?"
  
  "Yes I was. In case you forget, I happen to care about you Mr. Rabb. Very 
  much actually."
  
  "Well I happen to care about you too" he whispered as he gently pulled her 
  closer to him. "Very much. And I'm really glad you're here with me. I'm only 
  getting through this because of you."
  
  He leaned forward and moments later their lips met in a long kiss, his arms 
  wrapping gently around her as he pressed her against him. It was only when 
  the need for air became too great that they finally parted.
  
  "Mac I'm sorry" he started, only to be silenced by her lips again. His hands 
  reached around her and he fumbled to unlatch her bra before finally managing 
  to remove it.
  
  "Harm" she panted when they parted again.
  
  "Do you want me to stop?" he whispered. "Because I will if you want me to."
  
  "No" she said softly as her hands gently reached down and slowly began to 
  slide away the knit boxers.
  
  "Have you ever made love in the water?" he breathed as her hands finally 
  removed the restricting piece of clothing, while his hands gently slid off 
  her underwear.
  
  "No" she whispered as he brought her close to him, their bodies pressed 
  against one another. Anything else she was about to say was lost as his 
  mouth came down upon hers and in the middle of the river behind the 
  farmhouse their two bodies became one.
  
  "Was this your intention when you brought me out here" she smiled happily as 
  they made their way from the water.
  
  "No but I'm not sorry it happened" he whispered as he dropped a quick kiss 
  on her forehead.
  
  "And neither am I before you ask" she smiled.  "That was quite an experience 
  sailor."
  
  "I've never done anything like that," he said, his voice showing the awe he felt.  "You see 
what you inspire in me don't you."
 
 "Well you were magnificent," she assured him, her hand wrapped by his as he pulled her 
from the water.
 
 "Thank you," he said softly, pulling her into a long hug.  "Thank you for not killing me. . .or 
maiming me."
 
 "No no way," she said solemnly.  "I wanted it as much as you did.  And I'm not going to be 
sorry in an hour or day or whatever."
 
 "Thank you," he whispered, his attention diverted when the sun went behind a cloud.  "And 
we'd best move it.  Another storm."
 
 "At least it's daylight," she laughed, grabbing up her clothes.
 
 They made it back to the farmhouse just ahead of the first drops and stormed inside, 
laughing all the while.  He caught her in his arms as he closed the door.  "It was a helluva an 
afternoon.  Shall we get cleaned up?"
 
 "Yes by all means, before the power goes out," she laughed, catching the back of his head 
with her cupped hand before they separated to bring him down for a fast kiss.  "It was an 
amazing afternoon."  Their eyes met once more and each knew the other was saying it was 
OK.
 
 After her shower, while he was taking his, she found herself wandering the house, imagining 
how it would be to live there.  How it would be to sleep in Harm's bed, to give birth to his 
children, to. . . "Mackenzie you are losing it," she groaned.  Her restlessness took her to the 
back steps, which Harm had told her led to the attic and she walked up, inhaling a delightful 
scent of mothballs, cedar, and memories of past lifetimes, a treasure trove.
 
  Suddenly shy and hesitant, rather than looking around, she simply sat down in an over 
stuffed chair and drew in another deep breath as she picked up a baby doll from a nearby 
cradle and held it to her.  JAG and DC and anything associated thereof suddenly seemed a 
million miles and as many years away.  
 
 Harm came from the bathroom and as soon as he dressed looked for her.  "Mac where'd you 
go?"   That there was no answer did not alarm him at first until he went downstairs and she 
was neither on the first floor nor out on the porch or in the yard.  "Mac where are you?" he 
shouted, hearing panic in his voice and trying to shake it off.  There was no reason to think 
anything was wrong, still he hollered her name even louder.
 
 That broke through her thoughts and she gave a guilty swallow before shouting, "Harm I'm 
up in the attic."
 
 His feet pounded the steps shortly after and he arrived on the run.
 
 "I'm sorry.  Should I not be up here?" she asked at once.
 
 "Of course it's OK.  I was just concerned about you that's all.  This is a museum up here you 
know."  
 
 "I can tell," she laughed softly.  "Your grandmother moved in here when?"
 
 "Just before Dad was born.  Gramps's folks owned the house then.  He was lost in World 
War two, and she found out she was pregnant and they had her to come live with them," he 
explained.  "My dad was born in the house here, except his father wasn't alive to see him."
   
  "I can't imagine how Grams got through that" Mac sighed. "To be that young 
  and all alone with a new baby."
  
  "She's quite a woman," Harm said with a small smile. "She's endured a lot 
  and always come through stronger than she was."
  
  "Which is why you shouldn't worry about the operation so much" Mac said 
  gently. "She's going to be fine."
  
  "I hope so. She really is the last link to Dad."
  
  "Well it looks like you've got all kinds of memories up here" she said as 
  she looked around.
  
  "To be honest I have no idea what Grams has up here. It's been years since 
  I've ventured up. But I can assure the doll was not mine."
  
  "It wasn't?" she laughed. "I thought for sure she was yours."
  
  "No" he laughed as well. "Likely that's something she had around for when 
  she was watching kids. All the neighbors used to bring their kids by for her 
  to watch."
  
  "What about the stuffed bear over there?" Mac asked as she pointed to the 
  very worn animal.
  
  "Mine" he said quietly as he reached for the worn out teddy bear. "I got him 
  the Christmas Dad was shot down."
  
  "Harm I'm sorry" she said softly. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
  
  "No it's okay. I'd forgotten about the bear. I didn't even realize Grams 
  still had it. I figured by now she would have gotten rid of it."
  
  "You and the bear were pretty close?" Mac asked.
  
  "Very" Harm said as he looked down at the bear. "Grams got it for me for 
  Christmas. Mom and I hadn't been planning on coming here for the holidays so 
  she'd sent out to our house. I got it a few hours before we found out what 
  happened to Dad."
  
  "So teddy was your friend" Mac said softly.
  
  "Yeah he was" Harm sighed. "I can't tell you how many night I cried myself 
  to sleep hugging him."
  
  His words brought tears to her eyes and without a word she turned and pulled 
  him into her arms and held him tightly.
  
  "You've got someone else if you need someone to cry on" she said softly.
  
  "Just promise me if anything happens to Grams you won't leave me" he 
  whispered.
  
  "I'll be there sailor" she promised. "Whatever you need I'm here. Don't ever 
  forget that."
  
  He finally pulled away and she could see his own eyes were damp with unshed 
  tears. "Thanks. I'm so lucky to have you in my life."
  
  "And I'm happy to be in your life" she smiled. "You okay?"
  
  "Yeah. I guess I'm more worried about Grams than I realized. I figured I 
  would be handling this better."
  
  "You're doing just fine. And we'll get through this together. I promise."
  
  ****************
  3 Days Later
  
  "Mac I'm not sure I can do this" Harm sighed as they walked to Gram's room.
  
  "Harm it's okay. You're not saying goodbye to her forever. She's just having 
  surgery."
  
  "I know. My mind keeps telling me that but I'm just not getting a good 
  feeling about this."
  
  "Well keep that feeling to yourself" she urged. "The last thing Grams needs 
  is to see you all agitated. Likely she's a bit scared herself and you being 
  all anxious isn't going to help her."
  
  "All right" he said with a deep breath as they reached the room to her door. 
  "Calm and cool Rabb."
  
  With that they walked in, finding Grams being prepped for surgery.
  
  "Hi Grams" he said with forced cheerfulness. "Ready for your big moment."
  
  "Ready as I'll be" she sighed. "Honestly Harm I don't you waiting around 
  here all day either. You know how long these things take. Go out and enjoy 
  the day."
  
  "I'll feel better if I stay here and wait for you," he said as he reached 
  for her hand. "If that's okay with you."
  
  "It's not but I know how stubborn you are" Grams smiled. "And you're going 
  to do whatever you want anyway."
  
  "Yes he will" Mac spoke up. "He doesn't listen to anyone."
  
  "No he doesn't" Grams agreed. "But maybe you can convince him to go back to 
  the house for a while and relax. I really don't want you two sitting here 
  all day."
  
  "I'll try. But you just worry about yourself right now. I'll take care of 
  your grandson."
  
  "Thank you dear" Grams said softly. "You don't know how much better that 
  makes me feel. I've worried about Harmon for years and now I know he's in 
  good hands."
  
  Mac nodded and looked up at Harm.  "Would it be OK if Grams and I had this room for a 
minute?"
 
 "Uh. . .yeah sure OK I guess so," he stammered, noting that the hospital staff had vacated.  
"I'll be right outside."
 
 "OK child what is it?" Grams asked when they were alone.
 
 "I just wanted you to know that you have my word to take care of him for as long as he'll let 
me.  As long as he'll have me," she whispered.
 
 "You love him very much."  It was a statement, no question inflected at all, and the older 
woman smiled softly.
 
 "Yeah I do.  Very much," Mac admitted.  "But we're kind of easing into that.  We've had a lot 
of false starts and set backs over the years.  So it's got to be handled delicately or it's going to 
crash and burn."
 
 Grams nodded, reaching for Mac's hand.  "Honey there's a time for delicacy, and a time to 
say to hell with it and go for it.  I think you'll be able to figure that out though.  You impress me 
as pretty smart.  Now that grandson of mine, him I'm not too sure about.  To be his age and to 
not have found someone. . .well until now that is."
 
 Mac blushed at that, thinking of their experience in the water.  "So you think he and I. . ."
 
 "I'd bet the farm on it," she declared.  "The love on his face, in his eyes, when he looks at 
you."
 
 Mac blushed again, more deeply this time.  "It's no more than I feel for him I'm sure."
 
 "Good.  He deserves someone like you in his life, as you do him," Grams smiled.  "And 
they're going to be coming for me and I need a word with him so would you skeedaddle."
 
 "Yes ma'am, and we'll be here when you wake up."  
 
 Grams tugged her hand and Mac squeezed hard back.  She had not  known the older 
woman but a matter of days, and loved her already.  A kiss to her cheek and she hurried out, 
nodding to Harm who was leaning against the wall outside.  "She's quite a woman there 
Flyboy, and she wants to see you."  She caught his hand as they passed, silent signal that 
she was there for him.
 
 "Yeah Grams," Harm smiled, picking up her hand and kissing the back.
 
 "Listen up now," Grams told him firmly.  "I'm trusting you to look after the place, and my 
affairs.  My lawyer, Rudy Davenport in town--he has all the papers you'll need if something 
happens.  Including my living will, and my request that heroic measures not be used."  
 
 Harm looked away and she jerked him back sharply.  "Look at me when I'm speaking to you 
mister.  I can't do this thing if I don't know that things are being looked after.  That my wishes 
are going to be carried out.  He's also got instructions for my funeral and cremation."
 
 "Graaaaams," he wailed sharply.
 
 "Don't Grams me.  Just do what I'm telling you.  And Harm, take care of Sarah.  She does 
love you.  And I know you love her."
 
 "Yes ma'am," he nodded miserably. 
 
 "Can I count on you?  I want your word."  
 
 The orderlies were at the door before he could answer and she again jerked on his arm.  
"Harmon, your word."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  As an officer and a gentlemen."
 
 She relaxed back onto the pillow and smiled.  "Good boy.  And one more thing.  While I'm in 
the OR you take that woman of yours out somewhere and enjoy this day.  I'll see you later."
 
 Harm nodded numbly and Mac came back in while they settled Grams on the gurney.  Harm 
shrank back against the wall while they moved her out, giving her a final wave and a thumbs-
up.  Only when she was gone did he allow himself to slide down the wall to the floor, burying 
his face in his hand while he prayed.

"You okay?" Mac asked gently as she knelt down beside him.
  
  "I don't know" he whispered as he looked up at her. "Mac I'm so scared I'm 
  going to lose her."
  
  "Maybe we should find the hospital chapel instead of this floor." She held 
  her hand out to him and with a long sigh he stood up.
  
  "I'm sorry. I should be able to hold it together better than this."
  
  "Harm it's okay. That's why I'm here with you. So you don't have to worry 
  about anything."
  
  "Thanks" he said softly. "And let's skip the hospital chapel. There's 
  somewhere else we can go."
  
  He headed back towards the farm but instead of going there continued into 
  the small town of Belleville. Mac smiled as she looked around the tiny town, 
  made up of just a few buildings.
  
  "It's hard to believe there's still places like this. Especially after 
  living in the city for so long."
  
  "This is almost like another world compared to DC isn't it?" Harm sighed. 
  "It's one of the few places that you can sit out at night and not hear 
  anything besides the sounds of the insects and the animals."
  
  "Sounds wonderful. Maybe one night we'll sit out and listen to just that."
  
  He nodded and finally pulled up in front of a small church.
  "I thought this might be a little better than the hospital chapel" he said 
  as they climbed out of the car.
  
  "I agree" she nodded. "And then we can go back to the house for a while 
  before we head to the hospital."
  
  He led her inside and she admired the simple church.
  
  "Can I help you?" a voice called and they turned around to see an elderly 
  man coming towards them.
  
  "Pastor Jon?" Harm asked as he looked closely at the man.
  
  "Harmon how long has it been?" Jon smiled. "Almost ten years hasn't it?"
  
  "Something like that" Harm nodded. "I hope you don't mind us coming in. 
  Grams is having her surgery today and I uh just wanted somewhere to come."
  
  "Yes Mary had told me she was having that today" Jon nodded. "And of course 
  you're concerned."
  
  "Yeah I am. And I'm standing here like an idiot and having even introduced 
  you to Mac. Pastor Jon this is my friend Sarah Mackenzie."
  
  "So is it Sarah or Mac?" Jon asked. "Because you are much too pretty child to 
  be called Mac."
  
  "Sarah is fine" Mac blushed.
  
  "Is this the next Sarah Rabb?" Jon asked, making Mac blush even more. She 
  opened her mouth to say no but was stopped by Harm's words.
  
  "Not yet" he smiled.
  
  "Ahh so there is still hope that you won't be the last Rabb" Jon smiled. 
  "Good. Grams is looking forward to seeing her great grandchildren you know."
  
  "I know" Harm laughed. "She's told me often enough. And hopefully one day 
  that will happen."
  
  "Well I'll let you and Sarah have some time alone. If you need anything I'll 
  be in my office in the back. And please let me know how the surgery went. 
  We've all been praying for Sarah this week."
  
  "Thank you" Harm said softly. "We appreciate that."
  
  Jon nodded and headed back to his office while Harm led Mac to the front of 
  the church where they finally sat down in the first row.
  
  "Jon has been here since I was a kid," Harm said softly. "He was here when I 
  came to stay with Grams after my crash."
  
  "But you've been back since then haven't you?"
  
  "Yeah I just never seemed to make it over here when I was in town. Course 
  Grams was always here every Sunday."
  
  "Sounds like she has a lot of people pulling for her" Mac said gently.
  
  "I just hope it's enough" he sighed. "I just got the feeling that something 
  wasn't right. That she made us do all that paper work for a reason. Like she 
  knew."
  
  "Let's try and have a little faith" she said softly as she reached for his 
  hand. "But if something does happen you know I'm here."
  
  He was silent on the return to the hospital and Mac didn't try to push any 
  conversation. She'd done her own praying, not just for the woman who'd gone 
  through surgery but for the man beside her who would be so devastated if 
  something happened to her.
  
  Robotically he came to help her out of the SUV when they arrived and she took advantage 
of that to give him a warm hug.  "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here," he whispered.  
"And this time tomorrow we'll the three of us be sitting there laughing and making fun of my 
panic."
 
 "Absotively," she grinned, sliding her arm around his back as they walked to the building.
 
 "She's not in here," Harm gasped when they got to Grams' room.  "Mac she's not in here."
 
 "Hey let's not start funeral arrangements there Flyboy," she chided him, trying to keep a light 
note.  "She's probably still in recovery, maybe waiting to bring her up here."
 
 "They said four hours, it's been four and a half, where is she?"  His words fell forth in his 
alarm and she tightened her hold of him.  
 
 "Let's go find out," she said firmly, tugging him along with her to the head nurse's station.  
"Ma'am we're looking for Mrs. Rabb?  We thought she'd be back from her surgery by now."
 
 "Oh sure.  Uh. . .no sorry, no sign of her.  I could call down for you, but you'd feel better I'm 
sure if you went.  Surgical lounge on the second floor.  Tell the volunteer whom you're waiting 
for news of and she'll make sure the doctor speaks to you."
 
 Five minutes later Mac was trying to no avail to get Harm to sit down.  So far the only 
information they could glean was that Grams was in recovery but not ready to move back 
upstairs.  Finally a long fifteen minutes later the doctor came out and was directed to Mac and 
Harm.
 
 "For Sarah Rabb right?"
 
 "Yes sir," Harm gulped.  "I'm her grandson and this is my friend, Sarah Mackenzie and how is 
my grandmother please."
 
 "I'm Dr. Davis and I did the surgery.  Which went totally well.  Her gall bladder was badly 
inflamed and full of stones and it was textbook to remove.  In fact my surgical resident did 
much of it --it was that uncomplicated."
 
 "So that's good right?  So why isn't she up in her room?"  Harm's eyes narrowed 
suspiciously, knowing there was something Dr. Davis was not saying.
 
 The doctor looked from Mac to Harm and back as if debating what to say and how much.
 
 "Doctor Mr. Rabb asked you a question that deserves an answer."  Mac had automatically 
used her witness interrogation voice and Davis gave her a short smile. 
 
 "OK straight.  She's not waking up, well rather we're not happy with her level of 
consciousness.  Her responsiveness to stimuli in other words."
 
 Harm looked at Mac, too alarmed to speak at first and Mac gave his hands a tight squeeze.  
"OK so what exactly does that mean?  Are we talking coma here?"
 
 A sharp shudder went through Harm at the bluntness of Mac's question and she looked up at 
him quickly.  "Harm we need to know what we're dealing with, and we don't want medical 
mumbo jumbo or hearts and flowers either.  We want the straight story."
 
 "No we're not talking coma.  Not near there yet," Davis assured them quickly.  "Sometimes 
patients, especially the elderly, well sometimes surgery is a trauma to their systems and they 
simply retreat for a while.  Go someplace to recover on their own maybe.  I have no reason to 
think she won't wake up and be just fine.  Her vitals are good--we see no reason for this at 
all."
 
 "She's not. . .I mean like brain. . .like she didn't get oxygen maybe?" Harm stammered.
 
 "Not that we can determine at this point.  Her EEG is showing normal brain wave activity."
 
 "Then dammit why doesn't she wake up," Harm screeched, taking a step toward the doctor 
and Mac quickly stepped between them.  
 
 "Harm calm," she ordered firmly.  "This man is on our side.  Let's keep it that way.  Doctor, 
what now?"
 
 Harm paused and Mac felt him lean on her back while the doctor began to speak.
 
 "I'm going to send her to ICU.  They're much better equipped there to monitor her.  Now 
there's technically no visiting up there but Mr. Rabb I'm going to let you go up with her and 
watch us settle her in so you know she's OK.  Unless you think. . .well remember she's going 
to have a lot of tubes and wires and she's being helped to breathe right now.  Can you handle 
that?"
 
 "If Mac. . .Sarah here. . .she can be with me?" he pleaded.
 
 "Of course.  All right we'll be along directly."
 
 "Maa-aac," he wailed softly when they were alone again.
 
 "I know honey," she whispered, resting her head on his shoulder.
 
 A few minutes later the real shock set in, for the woman who was wheeled from the recovery 
room toward the elevators was nothing like the woman whom they had left that morning.
 
 "Oh my god."  Harm's legs buckled slightly and Mac caught him. 

 "Hey Flyboy, hold it together now.  She's going to be OK."
 
 Harm barely nodded, allowing Mac to lead him along.  He watched in stony silence while 
they settled her in bed at the ICU, making sure her connections were functioning, and the 
nurse then nodded to Harm that he could speak to her.
 
 "Grams I'm here.  Mac and I," he managed.  "Please.  Wherever you've gone, please come 
back to me.  To us."
 
 Mac stepped forward and took her hand.  "Grams we both love you.  And because I know 
that's what you would want, I'm taking your grandson back to the farm now.  When you wake 
up, they'll call us.  Meanwhile the last thing you'll want is us fussing over you, especially since 
we can't be in here anyway."
   
  "I'm not leaving her" Harm whispered. "Not like this."
  
  "Harm you can't stay" Mac said gently as she turned back to him. "The doctor 
  was kind enough to let us in to see her. But we can't stay."
  
  "I can't leave. What if she. . ." He choked on the word, not wanting to even 
  think about her dying.
  
  "She's not going to die. And she's going to be very upset when she wakes up 
  and finds out you've been hanging around here. You're very upset and right 
  now the best thing is for us to go back to the farm for awhile."
  
  Numbly he allowed her to led him out to the SUV and she installed him in the 
  passenger seat, knowing he was in no condition to drive. He sat motionless 
  during the drive back to the farm, not moving until she pulled up at the 
  farm. Then he suddenly leapt from the vehicle, hurrying inside before she 
  could even get out of the car.
  
  "Harm" she called as she rushed in after him. The phone was ringing but 
  there was no sign of Harm and she grabbed the phone, fearing it might be the 
  hospital with bad news.
  
  "Rabb residence" she said breathlessly.
  
  "Mac it's AJ. I just called to see how things were going with Harm's 
  grandmother."
  
  "Not good sir" Mac sighed. "She had the surgery this morning but she hasn't 
  come out of it yet. They've but her in ICU and the doctor is optimistic that 
  she'll wake up but right now Harm is pretty upset."
  
  "I'm sorry. I guess that means you'll be staying with him."
  
  "Yes sir. I couldn't leave him in this condition."
  
  "All right. We'll manage somehow. Keep me posted on her condition if 
  anything changes."
  
  "I will sir."
  
  She hung up and with a sigh set off in search of Harm. A quick check of the 
  downstairs told her he wasn't there and she headed upstairs, expecting to 
  find him in his bedroom. He wasn't and she realized where he might have 
  gone. She headed up the stairs to the attic, tears forming at the sight of 
  him. He sat on the floor, holding the teddy bear close to him, his face wet 
  with tears.
  
  "Harm" she said softly as she made her way over to him.
  
  "I don't want her to die" he whispered. "I wanted her to be at my wedding 
  one day. I wanted her to see her first great grandchild." His voice broke 
  and like a little boy he buried his head against the teddy bear as he cried.
  
  "Harm I'm so sorry" Mac whispered as she wrapped her arms around him, 
  hugging both him and the teddy bear close to her. His sobs tore at her heart 
  and she felt her own tears start to fall. How long she sat there holding him 
  she didn't know but finally he lifted his head and looked up at her.
  
  "I'm sorry" he sniffled. "I'm falling apart on you and you're probably 
  wondering why I'm such a basket case."
  
  "Harm someone you love very much is sick" Mac said gently. "And you're 
  afraid you're going to lose her. Your reaction is totally normal."
  
  "I got Max all wet" he said quietly as he looked down at the teddy bear. 
  "Course I used to do that all the time so I'm sure he's used to it."
  
  She couldn't help but smile when he talked about his teddy bear. This was a 
  very personal side of her partner that she rarely saw.
  
  "You going to be okay?" she asked gently.
  
  "Only if she is," he said with a long sigh. "Mac I'm not sure how I can deal 
  with it if something happens to her."
  
  "Well let's not count her out just yet. I think she'd be rather upset if she 
  heard you talking like that. She's been through a lot in this world and this 
  isn't going to stop her yet."
  
  "Yeah she has" Harm said as he looked around the attic. "I wonder what else 
  she saved up here. Besides Max."
  
  "Well we've got some time," Mac said gently. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind us 
  poking around up here."
  
  Harm nodded as he opened an old chest, smiling as he pulled out a pile of 
  old papers and pictures.
  
  "Gramps" he said as he showed her the picture.
  
  "Reminds me of someone" Mac smiled as she looked at the young man in the 
  photo. 
  
  "Someone a few years ago maybe" Harm sighed. "Gramps was pretty young when 
  he went to Pearl."
  
  "Yeah but you still look a lot like him," Mac said softly. "Are those 
  letters?"
  
  "Probably between Grams and Gramps" Harm said as he carefully unfolded the 
  paper and began to read, Mac looking over and reading along with him.
  
  >>"Dear Momma,
  
  Pearl Harbor is a million miles away from Altoona and I miss everyone more 
  than I'd imagined. But I'm proud to be serving my country at this time when 
  I'm needed most.
  
  I met a handsome pilot today. Would you believe he was from Belleville? We 
  talked for hours after I'd taken care of him. We talked about home and how 
  much we both miss it. His family has a large farm outside Belleville and he 
  hopes that after the war he can go back and take over for his father. His 
  name is Peter and it was so funny that we'd meet here.<<
  
  "Grams was at Pearl Harbor?" Mac asked.
  
  "News to me" Harm frowned. "She never really said how her and Gramps met. I 
  just assumed they'd met here. And she never said she was at Pearl."
  
  "Another lifetime probably," Mac smiled.  "Totally removed from life here in this garden of 
Eden." Idly she opened a nearby trunk and pushed back some tissue paper.  The trunk was 
full of different memorabilia and she carefully looked through.  "Does the letter say any thing 
else?"
 
 "Yeah that she had to go," he sighed.  "What have you got?"
 
 "The answer," she smiled gently after a minute.  She held up two framed documents and 
went on, "she was a lieutenant in the WAVES Harm, and a nurse besides.  Stationed at the 
hospital on Pearl obviously."
 
 His mouth dropped open and he stared in amazement, squeezing Max-Bear hard.  "OK she 
used to mid-wife in this valley because there wasn't much doctor coverage, and I remember 
neighbors always dropping over to get looked at or bandaged but I never thought much about 
it.  I swear she never once mentioned it."
 
 Mac shrugged.  "Maybe it was such common knowledge she thought you knew, or maybe--
and more likely--it was her past.  You know back in those days a woman married and gave up 
her career.  Even in the military.  Like two different lifetimes.  So she met your grandfather at 
Pearl, that's amazing."
 
 ~~~~~
 PEARL HARBOR
 Sept. 1941
 
 "Lieutenant I need some assistance here please."  
 
 "Yes doctor."  Lt. Sarah Elizabeth Montgomery hurried to his side.  "Sir?"
 
 "Patient in four.  Nasty cut on his leg.  Fell off his motorcycle or something.  You know the 
Navy pays good money for their training--this guy is an aviator no less--and then they risk 
their lives doing something stupid like hill climbing in the mud.  Never mind, just get it cleaned 
up and debrided and then I'll take another look."
 
 "Yes sir," Sarah nodded, mentally adding it to the other jobs she was juggling.  
 
 A few moments later she opened the door and was surprised to find a young pilot sitting on 
the exam table armed with a piece of gauze and trying to clean his own leg.
 
 "OK Flyboy, give me that," she scolded.  "Unless you've managed to graduate med school or 
at least gotten your RN, that's a job better left to someone who knows what they're doing."
 
 "Sorry, but you know we get so little time off duty that spending four hours here is not my 
idea of a good time."
 
 "Keep your shirt on. . .well what's left of it Lieutenant," she told him, taking the pad from him.  
"You can't just wipe at these things, you have to pour this stuff on first.  Otherwise you're 
risking infection and blood poisoning or gangrene or something equally unpleasant."
 
 "Right.  Could we just do it."
 
 "Sure," she smiled slyly and poured the contents of a bottle from the tray onto his wound.
 
 "You trying to kill me or what," he screamed.  "The injury didn't hurt that bad."  His hands 
closed over hers as she began to wipe away the dirt at first intending to push her away.  A 
few seconds later his hands relaxed as he looked into her eyes.  "By all means take your 
time," he whispered.  "And you have the prettiest brown eyes I've ever seen."
 
 "Haven't heard that before," she returned, nevertheless holding his gaze as well.  His green 
eyes stared back at her and she blushed.
 
 "I'm Peter Rabb," he said softly.  "And I'm very pleased to meet you."
 
 "Sarah Montgomery and the feeling is mutual," she managed, their eyes still locked tightly.
 
 "Lieutenant Montgomery where the hell are you?"  
 
 "And who would that be?" Peter asked, his face showing his amusement.
 
 "We are just so short handed around here it's not funny," she sighed.
 
 "Can I help?"
 
 "Yeah if you've got a medical degree to go with your gold wings.  Otherwise you'd better stick 
with flying. . .and with showing off, which is how you got this isn't it?"
   
  She hurried out and Peter Rabb leaned back against the pillow with a smile. 
  He was going to find out more about Sarah Montgomery when she came back. 
  There was something about those brown eyes and that smile that had captured 
  his heart.
  
  He managed to sit through the doctor's examination of her work before being 
  declared fit to go. He slid off the gurney, gingerly placing his weight on 
  his leg.
  
  "See that wasn't so bad" Sarah smiled as she walked in. "And it didn't even 
  take three hours."
  
  "I actually wouldn't have minded staying three hours," he said as his green 
  eyes looked into hers. "Especially with the right company."
  
  "I wouldn't have had time to keep you company anyway."
  
  "When do you get off duty?" he asked.
  
  "Not for another four hours" she said with a long sigh. "And then of course 
  I have the early shift in the morning."
  
  "Is there time in there anywhere for a cup of coffee with a sailor?" he 
  asked.
  
  "I don't know" she started before something in those green eyes made her 
  stop. "Okay. But just a quick cup. I really do have to be up early."
  
  "So do I" he smiled. "I'll be back when you get off."
  
  He was waiting as promised and Sarah blushed as she noticed the other girls 
  watching her walk out with Peter.
  
  "How's the leg?" she asked as they walked to the nearby mess.
  
  "Great. You have the magical touch."
  
  "Flattery will get you no where" Sarah laughed. "But I'm glad you're okay."
  
  "So what's a beautiful girl like you doing down here?" he asked once they'd 
  gotten their coffee.
  
  "Serving my country," she said proudly. "And seeing a part of the world I 
  would never have seen if I'd stayed in Altoona."
  
  "Altoona" he grinned. "As in Pennsylvania."
  
  "Yeah why?"
  
  "I'm from Belleville."
  
  "No way" she laughed. "I don't believe it. Here we are from practically 
  neighboring towns and we meet in Pearl Harbor."
 
  "Must be fate," Peter said softly as he once again stared into those brown 
  eyes.
  
  *****************
  Present Time
  
  "I can't believe I didn't know this about Grams" Harm sighed. "She was in 
  the Navy too."
  
  "I think that's so romantic that they met there" Mac smiled. "Talk about 
  fate."
  
  "You believe in fate?" Harm asked as he looked over at her.
  
  "Of course. Fate, destiny. Whatever you want to call it. How else do you 
  explain things like Grams and Gramps meeting?"
  
  "I guess. I wonder what else is in these letters that I don't know about. I 
  hope nothing scandalous."
  
  "Well if she was writing to her mother I don't think they would be that 
  scandalous" Mac laughed. "Especially in that time period."
  
  He nodded and once again hugged Max close to him. "Would you mind calling 
  the hospital and seeing if there's any change?" he asked softly. "I know we 
  gave them the number but I just want to make sure she's no worse."
  
  "Of course I don't mind. You going to be okay while I run down and call?"
  
  "Yeah I'm just going to dig through some more of the letters to see what 
  else is in here," he said quietly.
  
  "All right. I'll be right back. Can I get you anything else while I'm down 
  there? A sandwich or something?"
  
  "No. I'm fine. I don't think I could keep anything down even if I tried."
  
  "Well maybe later" she said softly before heading down the stairs to the 
  kitchen.
  
  With a sigh he unfolded another letter and began to read.
  
  "Dear Momma,
  
  I know you won't believe it but I think I'm in love. Peter is so wonderful 
  and I can't help falling in love with him. He's warm and caring and talking 
  to him about home has helped ease my homesickness. I know that one day he 
  will be sent off and I might never see him again, but for now I am 
  cherishing the time I do have with him.
  
  ********************
  Pearl Harbor
  October 1943
  
  "Peter oh my gosh this is so beautiful" Sarah gasped as he led her to the 
  cliff overlooking the ocean.
  
  "It's even better from above" he smiled. "But for now this will have to do."
 
  He spread the blanket out and set the picnic basket down before returning to her side, 
himself taking a deep breath at the spectacular view of the blue Pacific below them.
 
"It's perfect.  Totally perfect," she sighed and leaned back against him as his arms went 
around her middle.  "I wrote to Momma about you."
 
 "Oh that can't be good," he groaned.  "You know your folks and mine should meet, like for 
Sunday dinner."
 
 "Momma doesn't socialize much since she lost Daddy three years ago," Sarah sighed.  "He 
didn't leave us much since he was a mechanic.  The Army taught him that and when he got 
back from the war and married Momma he opened his own garage in Altoona like he 
dreamed of, but he worked six days a week to keep it going and. . ."
 
 She swallowed hard, choking down a small sob.  "I'm sorry.  I don't talk about him much."
 
 Peter rested his chin on the top of her head.  "I wish I could have known him."
 
 "He was a good man.  He wanted me to have my dream, to go to nursing school but when he 
died we knew that wasn't going to happen.  The money he had put away would have to be for 
living now.  Momma works the breakfast and lunch shift at Millie's.  That's a diner down by the 
factories and she comes home worn out too.  We had to sell our house and now we just have 
a two room place overtop the drug store that Mr. Lane was kind enough to rent to us and 
listen to me going on like this.  I'm sure your family is totally different with the farm."
 
 "Mom and dad are a totally typical farm couple," he laughed.  "He works in the fields and with 
the dairy herd and she keeps house and feeds him and the help three times a day and then 
they go to bed at 2100 because they get up at 0500 and start all over."
 
 "And you were drafted away from all that?"
 
 "Lord no.  I joined up.  I want to go back some day, but I wanted to have seen some of this 
world first.  Do you realize Mom has never been out of Pennsylvania?  Dad did time in Italy in 
the war but Mom has never wanted to be anything but what she is now."
 
 "Long as she's happy," Sarah smiled.  "Now I let the Navy make me a nurse, and when my 
time is up, I'll be going back home. Move Momma and me to a decent place and work in the 
hospital there."
 
 "What about us?" he asked suddenly, rubbing his shoe in the dirt.  "I mean there is you and 
me isn't there?"
 
 She turned around to face him with him keeping his arms around her.  "I told Momma I had 
fallen in love," she whispered.
 
 "Did you tell her the feeling was mutual?" Peter asked before his lips came down lovingly and 
longingly onto hers.
 
 She was hesitant at first and then with a long happy sigh her body went limp against his, 
desire welling in both of them.  Carefully Peter Rabb lowered Sarah Montgomery to the 
blanket and their bodies became as one.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 RABB FARM
 Present Day
 
 Harm looked up anxiously when she returned,  his face studying hers to get an appraisal of 
the situation.  
 
 "No change."
 
 "What the hell does that mean," he snapped.  "What are they doing for her for godsake."
 
 "Harm no change is good news.  Think about it.  She's holding her own.  They were very 
careful to say that.  Now power down and I brought you some ice tea anyway, and please try 
to eat a couple bites of this tuna fish."
 
 "She's OK?"
 
 "Yes she's OK," Mac replied with exaggerated patience.  "What did I miss in the Peter and 
Sarah saga?"
 
 "She wrote her mother and told her she was falling in love with him," he smiled, relaxing 
slightly.  "Just about to read more here.  This one is ten days later."
 
 "I'll read.  You eat," Mac told him firmly, taking the letter and shoving a plate of tuna salad at 
him.
 
 >>Dear Momma,
        I'm sorry I haven't written sooner but I swear I don't get a spare second.  I'm pulling 
double shifts at the hospital, trying to find time to spend with Peter, and somewhere in there I 
should be eating and sleeping.  
 	    Bad news.  Peter is leaving.  Thirty days training exercise. And that's all he can 
tell me.  Not where or why.  Last night I had the most terrible dream. I could hear planes 
overhead and suddenly the entire harbor was in flames.  Silly huh.  But it just shows how 
scared I am for him.  I love him Momma, and he loves me and somehow we're going to be 
together. 
 	    Have to go and wash the white stockings for duty.  Love you momma.  I'll write 
again soon.
        Sarah.<<
  
  
  *************
  Pearl Harbor
  November 1941
  
  "Sarah what's wrong?" Peter asked as they looked out at the harbor from 
  their favorite spot.
  
  "Nothing" she said with a forced smile. "I'm sorry."
  
  "Sarah" he said softly. "Talk to me."
  
  "I don't want you to go" she whispered. "I know you have to but I don't want 
  you to. I just have this awful feeling something is going to happen."
  
  "Nothing is going to happen. I'll be gone for thirty days but then I'll be 
  back. And nothing will change while I'm gone. At least for me it won't. I'll 
  still love you as much as I do now."
  
  "And I'll love you" she sniffled as he drew her next to him.
  
  "It's going to be okay Sarah. I promise. The thirty days will be over before 
  you know it."
  
  "I don't want to lose you Peter. I know I'll never love anyone like I love 
  you."
  
  "And I'll never love anyone but you Sarah. And you have to believe it's 
  going to be okay. I don't want you spending the next thirty days worrying 
  about me."
  
  "Of course I'm going to worry. That's all I'm going to do."
  
  "You don't trust your Flyboy" Peter smiled. "I haven't the most wonderful 
  woman in the world waiting for me. Of course I'm going to come back."
  
  "When you talk like that I feel like it's going to be okay" she sighed.
  
  "It is Sarah" he whispered. "But for tonight can we just forget that I'm 
  leaving soon. I want us to enjoy us."
  
  ****************
  Rabb Farm
  Present Time
  
  "She loved him so much" Mac said softly. "And she was so scared of losing 
  him."
  
  "And she did" Harm said soberly. "And she's lived all these years without 
  him."
  
  "I don't know how she's done it. I can't imagine living the rest of my life 
  without the man I loved. And it's so unfair that they had such a short time 
  together."
  
  "Yeah it is," he said as he hugged Max-Bear again.
  
  "Okay talk to me sailor. What are you thinking?"
  
  "That maybe what Grams wants now is to be with Gramps" he said softly. 
  "After all these years maybe it is time for her to be with the man she 
  loved."
  
  "Maybe" she said softly. "But I think she still has some plans left for this 
  earth. So don't count her out yet."
  
  He nodded and reached for another letter.
  
  "Dear Momma,
  
  The moment I dreamed of has finally come. Peter asked me to marry him.
  
  ***************
  
  Pearl Harbor
  November, 1943
  
  "Sarah Elizabeth Montgomery I love you" Peter Rabb whispered as he took her 
  hand. "And I'll understand if you say no. But I love you and I don't want to 
  leave without asking you this."
  
  "Peter" she gasped.
  
  "I love you Sarah. And I want you to be my wife. If not now, when I come 
  back. Will you marry me Sarah?"
  
  "Yes" she sniffled. "I love you and I'll marry you."
  
  It was in the small chapel on base that they formally pledged their love to 
  each other for eternity a few days later.
  
  "It's the best day of my life and the worst day" Sarah sniffled as they lay 
  together on the blanket. "All my dreams have come true. I'm married to a 
  wonderful man. But you're leaving tomorrow."
  
  "I'll be back," he said softly. "You know that. It's only thirty days."
  
  "I know" she sniffled. "And I'm sorry to be like this. I should be stronger 
  than this."
  
  "It's okay. But I don't want you to be upset like this the whole time I'm 
  gone."
  
  "I'll try," she said with a small smile.
  
  "I'm going to miss you so much" he whispered. "I'm going to be counting 
  every minute until I come back to you."
 
 "I'm glad we didn't wait," she whispered back, burying her head into his shoulder.  "I'm glad 
we went ahead and married.  I love you so very much."
 
 "And I you," he replied.  "And things are really humming here so I know the time will pass fast 
for both of us.  And our squadron will be coming back here so that's what's important.  I just 
wish I knew if I was going to be able to write you much while I'm gone."
 
 "More important that you worry about taking care of yourself," she smiled and drew him into a 
long kiss.  "Make love to me Peter.  All night."
 =========================
 RABB FARM
 Present Day
 
 "Dear Momma,
 	He's gone.  He left me this morning.  Left me crying I'm ashamed to say.  I cried in 
his arms until I couldn't cry any longer.  But at least there's nothing left unsaid between us.  I 
am Mrs. Peter Harmon Rabb, and proud of it.  Now I'm marking off the days until he comes 
home to me." 

Harm put down the letter and leaned back against the wall.  "I see Gramps had a woman to 
cry on him when he shipped out too," he smiled softly, recalling the day he left for the Henry.
 
 "Yeah but they didn't leave anything unsaid remember," Mac replied carefully.   "I didn't 
intend to either, but then I couldn't.  Couldn't get the words out and I hated myself for that.  I 
replayed that scene over and over again while you were gone."
 
 "Well I had things I wanted to say too," he sighed.  "But you know how I get.  Right now I'm 
wishing I had inherited Gramps's ability to go after what he wanted."
 
 "Do you know what you want Sailor?"  She deliberately kept her eyes averted while she 
waited for his answer.
 
 "I pretty much think I do," he replied slowly, forming his words carefully.  "I. . .I've uh. . .known 
for a quite a while, but I just haven't known how to make it happen.  Maybe reading these 
letters is helping.  Like I said, I'm learning from a man who obviously had no trouble 
articulating his desire."
 
 "Well when you're ready to do your own articulating, you let me know," she smiled, giving his 
cheek a fast kiss.  "Oh look there's more letters, but they're in a different bundle."
 
 "Because they're to him," he realized, "and the ones she got back from him.  I'm not sure we 
should go there.  That's getting awful personal."
 
 "You're just afraid it's going to be mushy stuff," she teased, reaching for the one on top.  
"Suck it up sailor and listen."
 
 "My dearest Sarah,
           I'm hoping this gets to you intact.  Naturally I can't tell you where I am or what I'm 
doing.  Instead I'll focus on how much I love and miss you and how much I wish we had met 
outside of this craziness.  I just have to hold on to the fact that it's all going to be over soon.  
At least that's part of what I pray for when I hit my knees each night.  
           The days are long here.  Long and lonely but what keeps me going is the last night we 
spent together.  How many times did we make love?  Each more beautiful than the last."
 
 Harm paused for breath and Mac gave a long sigh.  "I bet given the chance he would have 
recited poetry to her.  Sailor, you may look like him but I swear I don't know if you got 
anything else from him."
 
 He scowled at her, his face screwed up in thought.  "Hey I sent you a letter just last month--
well it was an email but same thing.  Remember it?"
 
 "No."
 
 "I was in Philadelphia," he prompted.
 
 "Of course," she giggled.  "Mac, send me the Mercer file.  Tonight.  Harm.'  Real romantic."
    
  "Okay so I'm not as prolific as Gramps" he sighed. "I've never been real 
  good at talking about my feelings. Either in person or in a letter."
  
  "Well we can work on changing that" Mac smiled.
  
  "Yeah we can" he smiled as well. "Maybe I'll be half as good as Gramps one 
  day."
  
  "I think you can be. It just takes a little time and trusting the person 
  you're spilling your feelings to."
  
  "I do trust you. With my life."
  
  "Then trust me with your feelings too" Mac said softly. "Because I think we 
  both know what we want now."
  
  He nodded. "I do want us Mac. I don't want to ignore those feelings 
  anymore."
  
  "I know. And you're making big steps sailor."
  
  "You know I'll never be as good as Gramps was," he said with a small smile.
  
  "I can live with that" she smiled. "Now hand over those letters. We're 
  getting to the good stuff."
  
  "I didn't know you were into the romantic stuff" he laughed.
  
  "I maybe a Marine but I'm still a woman" she said softly. "And this whole 
  story is just so incredibly romantic. Unfortunately it's very tragic too."
  
  "Gramps never came back. I know he died before Dad was born."
  
  "So he never knew about his son?" Mac asked.
  
  "I don't think so. Course I never knew Grams was at Pearl Harbor either."
  
  "Harm do you realize she would have been there during the bombing" Mac 
  gasped as she suddenly realized the time frame. "Unless she came home before 
  then."
  
  "Gramps must have been utterly frantic," Harm said softly. "Eventually he 
  would have heard about it. And in those days it wasn't like they could just 
  pick up the phone and call each other. Especially if he was on some island 
  in the Pacific."
  
  "Did she ever mention it?" Mac asked.
  
  "No. But like I said she never really talked much about her life back then. 
  But given the time frame of what we've read she would have had to have been 
  there."
  
  "That had to be terrifying for her."
  
  "And him. I know how I would feel if you were somewhere far away and 
  something happened and I couldn't get to you."
  
  "Like I felt last May when they couldn't find you" Mac whispered.
  
  "Sorry. That was hard for you wasn't it?"
  
  "Very" Mac nodded. "And I have no idea how Grams survived being pregnant and 
  not knowing what happened to her husband. I would have gone crazy."
  "She's been through a lot," Harm said softly.
  
  "And she'll get through this. Let's see what's in the next letter."
  
  Dearest Sarah,  
  I can only pray that you get this letter. We finally got word of the attack 
  and my blood chilled when I heard the details. I praying that our God in 
  heaven was watching over you and that you are safe.
  
  My time here has been extended because of the attack and I have no idea when 
  I will be back to you. I miss you more than I ever imagined and you're the 
  last thought on my mind when I hit the bunk and the first thing I think of 
  when I wake up. I want so much for this all to be over so we can be 
  together. So I can take you home to Pennsylvania. To the home where we're 
  going to raise our children.
  
  
  "He never got to do that," Harm said quietly. "He never got to come back."
  
  "And he never knew that his wife was pregnant" Mac added softly.
  
  *****************
  Pearl Harbor
  January 1942
  
  "Sarah you okay?" Jane Roswell asked her roommate. "You're not sick again 
  are you?"
  
  Sarah nodded miserably as she looked up at her friend. "Jane I think I'm 
  pregnant" she whispered.
  
  "No" Jane gasped.
  
  "Yes" Sarah sniffled. "And Peter is gone and I don't know when he's coming 
  back. If ever."
 
 "Sarah the Navy is going to find out.  You've got to go to a doctor and as soon as they do. . ."
 
 "Hey I know the regs just like you do," she snapped.  "Well I don't have to right away.  I can 
fake some papers and run the pregnancy test on myself.  That whole lab is such a zoo they'll 
never know.  Meanwhile, I can pray for Peter to come home."
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 RABB FARM
 
 "He never got to come back," Harm repeated, his hand shaking with the letter grasped in his 
fingers.  "Mac this is why Grams didn't wake up.  More, it's why she insisted on a living will 
and no heroic measures and why she didn't want her life prolonged by nursing home care."
 
 Mac gave him a puzzled frown.
 
 "Don't you see?  She loved him so much.  All these years she's been figuring she'd go to be 
with him.  Well now's her chance."  His last words were delivered with a long sob that he 
attempted and failed to choke back.
 
 "Would you not write her off yet," she chided him.  "She's also got you, and maybe some 
hope of seeing you give her a great grandchild.  We do have a deal for that remember."
 
 "Yeah I do.  That I do remember," he sniffled.  "OK there's not but a few letters left.  Oh look, 
this one came back to her.  Not deliverable."  Before he opened it he stretched his muscles 
that were protesting the hard attic floor and maneuvered to lean against the wall.  Just before 
he got settled he tugged her to sit between his legs, resting her back on his chest.
 
 "Good," he smiled.  "Read."
 
 "Dearest Peter,
           I'm so scared.  So very scared right now.  Everything is wrong.  The country is at war.  
Hell the world is at war.  But you're gone.  I haven't heard from you in days.  I don't 
understand.  I want to believe it's just that you can't write, but now and then this nagging little 
voice says you're sorry you married me.  I know that's terrible, but I wanted to be honest.
 	     I need to be honest about something else too.  
            We're going to have a baby Peter.  I'm pregnant.  I was tested today.  No one knows.  
Well Jane suspects.  
             I need you to tell me what to do.  I need for you to come home.  And last but not 
least, I love you so much.
 Your Sarah."
 
 "OK now I'm sniffling," Mac sighed.  "And that letter never got to him?"
 
 "No.  And here's why."  Harm pulled out the yellowed with age telegram.  "It is with deep 
regret the President of the United States. . ." he began and handed it to her.
 
 "MIA," she gasped.  "Your grandfather was an MIA."
 
 "Not for long.  Here's the one changing his status."
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 FEBRUARY 1942
 Pearl Harbor
 
 "Lieutenant Montgomery, there are three beds in Ward C needing changing," the intern told 
her sharply.
 
 "Yes sir.  Just as soon as I give meds in there," she nodded.
 
 "Lieutenant Montgomery?"  Another voice.  Someone else wanting something.  
 
 "Look I'll be right with you," she snapped, turning around to face the hospital chaplain and a 
Commander whom she did not know.
 
 "Sarah," Chaplain Danfield whispered. 
 
 "Sarah Elizabeth Montgomery Rabb?" the other officer inquired, looking at his clipboard.
 
 "Oh my god," was all she got out.  The world spun around her and she grabbed onto her 
stomach as a painful cramp tore through her.  "My baby. . .don't let me lose my baby.  It's all I 
have of him."
 
 It was hours later when she awoke, lying in a hospital bed in a ward where she had so often 
served.  
 
 "Hi Sarah, about time."  Dr. Hugh Beasley was checking on her when she happened to come 
to and she managed a soft smile before it all flooded back to her.  
 
 "Peter's dead.  Peter's dead and I'm having his baby.  Unless. . .oh my god the pain.  Is the 
baby. . . ?"
 
 "Baby's fine.  No miscarriage but you are going to have to take it real easy.  And I'm so sorry 
about Peter."
 
 "Thanks Hugh."  Her hand went to her stomach and she began to sob once more, until an 
order from the doctor sent her back to where it was warm and safe.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 RABB FARM
 Present Day
 
 "I'm getting your shirt all wet," Mac sniffled, holding tightly too him as she cried, cried for the 
man who had died, cried for the woman who had loved him so, and cried for the man who 
was now holding her tightly to him, his own tears mingling with hers.
  
 "It's okay" he sniffled as well.
 
 "Harm that had to be so awful for her" Mac whispered. "I don't know how she 
 got through it."
 
 "I guess Gramps's family," Harm said softly. "I know she came here because Mom 
 told me that Dad was born right here in this house. They must have taken her 
 in when she got home."

 "At least she had them. But it's still so horrible. They had their whole 
 lives ahead of them. And the war took it away."
 
 "Just like Vietnam did to Mom and Dad" Harm said softly.
 
 She nodded and wiped her tears away as she pushed herself away from him. 
 "Okay sailor. I think we've both cried enough here."
 
 "We should go back to the hospital and check on Grams."
 
 "Harm I'm sure she's okay" Mac said gently.
 
 "I couldn't blame her for wanting to let go Mac" he whispered. "She's lived 
 all these years without the man she loved. And then her son was taken away 
 from her way before he should have been."
 
 "I know" she nodded. She knew in a way he was right. That the woman who had 
 endured so much in her life might simply have given up her will to live so 
 that she could go be with those she loved. "You want to go back now?"
 
 He nodded but didn't move, reaching once again for Max-Bear. 

 "Harm it's going to be okay" she said softly. "Whatever happens you know I'm 
 here for you. You're not alone this time."
 
 "Thank you" he whispered. "I'm not sure I'm going to get through this 
 without falling apart completely."
 
 "If you do I'm here to pick up the pieces. You know that."
 
 He sniffled and she reached for him, gently pulling her into his arms and 
 holding him tightly.
 
 "It's going to be okay" she whispered. "Somehow it will be okay."
 
 She held him until he finally moved away, his face still wet with tears.
 
 "You okay?" she asked softly.
 
 "I want to go to the hospital now."
 
 She helped him up, both sore from the long hours spent on the floor of the 
 attic. Together they made their way downstairs and minutes later they were 
 just about out the door when the phone rang.
 
 "Can you get that" he whispered. "In case it's the hospital."
 
 She nodded and quickly grabbed the phone. To her relief it was just a nearby 
 neighbor inquiring about Grams and Mac quickly informed her there was no 
 news before hanging up.
 
 "Harm it's okay. It wasn't the hospital."
 
 "I know. But I'm scared."
 
 "Yes you are. But I'm here and I'm going to help you through this. Now lets 
 go see how she's doing."
 
 A short time later they stepped off the elevator and headed towards the ICU 
 desk. His hand was locked in hers and she gently tugged him along.
 
 "Can I help you?" the nurse asked.
 
 "We're here about Sarah Rabb. Can you tell us how she's doing?"
 
 "Are you family?"
 
 "Yes" Harm whispered. "I'm her grandson. Did something happen to her? Is she 
 okay?"
 
 "Nothing happened" she said quickly. "But there's been no change since she 
 was brought up here."
 
 "So she's still not awake" he sighed, the disappointment evident in his 
 voice. Mac squeezed his hand to remind him she was there and he shot her a 
 grateful look.
 
 "No. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you better news."
 
 "Can we see her please?" Harm whispered.
 
 She nodded and led them back to the room. "We normally don't allow visitors 
 for long but I'm not going to say anything if you hang out for a while. It's 
 pretty quiet up here right now."
 
 "Thank you" Mac said with a small smile. "We appreciate it."

Harm took Mac's hand tightly as they walked in, and in fact hung back a little behind her.  
"Still the same," he said softly with a long sigh of relief.

"And that has to be a good sign.  She's not losing ground," Mac reminded him.

They sat down with Harm resting his hand on the older woman's arm.  "Grams Mac and I are 
here now  Please open your eyes.  I know you can.  I know you can do it for us."

The only sound came from the air being moved in and out of her lungs and the low steady 
beep of the monitor.  

"Grams we read the letters," he went on in a sudden burst of confession.  "I hope you don't 
mind.  We read the letters and know about you and the Navy.  You lived through Pearl Harbor 
Grams.  No wonder nothing much has phased you since then.  You had to be so totally 
scared.  One of the first things I'm going to ask you when you wake up is about the Navy.  No 
wonder it was so in my blood."

He fell silent and wiped a stray tear while Mac rubbed his back soothingly, forcing back a 
quiet sob of her own.

"Grams we're taking good care of the place," she said after a few minutes.  "Real good care."

"After all it's going to be mine someday," Harm added with a wry smile.  "And I want it Grams.  
I know before when we'd talk about the future of the place you thought I'd sell it and I guess 
that would have been the plan.  No longer.  When I'm through with the Navy, or the Navy's 
through with me, I'm going to come and live there.  You see, there's a beautiful Marine in my 
life now.  One I'm not letting get away from me--at least not willingly.  And I think if I play my 
cards right and I'm the luckiest man on the planet, she'll still be with me."

"Grams your grandson can sure talk the old windsong can't he," Mac giggled when she had 
gotten over her initial surprise at what he was saying.  More to the point, at what he was 
hinting.

"It must be the lawyer in me," he laughed, leaning over to kiss Mac's cheek.

"I. . .I uh hope that wasn't an idle threat," she said softly, cupping his cheek.  "You could get a 
woman's hopes up there."

"No idle threat," he replied seriously.  "We have a lot to talk about you and me."

"You know my number," she whispered.
=====================
"You're pretty quiet there Sailor," she said softly as they later drove back.  "Remember what 
you told me once.  Talk to your friends."  The lights of the oncoming cars illuminated his face 
and she could not help but notice he was drawn and haggard looking.

"I'm OK.  Promise.  Just doing a lot of thinking."

"About us?"

"Us, Grams, the Navy maybe," he shrugged.  "Perspectives and priorities are maybe 
changing.  I don't know. I just want Grams to be OK, and I want you and me. . ."

"To?" she prompted when he paused.

"To be OK too," he finished lamely.

"You and I are fine," she told him confidently.  "And getting better all the time."

They were quiet the rest of the way home and once inside he pulled her into a long hug.  "I'm 
not even going to say thank you any more.  I've said it so much it's meaningless."

"Good.  That's out of the way.  And I'm heading for the tub if that's OK."

"And when you come to the bedroom there will be hot chocolate and sugar cookies."

"You're on Sailor," she smiled and pulled back from him, only to find herself being held once 
more, and this time a long kiss went with the embrace. "You and I are fine."

Never had a hot bath felt so good, and the aroma of chocolate greeted her when she returned 
to his room.  Something else greeted her as well, for sitting on the pillows was Max-Bear.
 
 She smiled softly at the sight of the bear and moments later Harm walked in, 
 a tray with two hot chocolates and cookies in hand.
 
 "Is there going to be room for all of us in the bed?" she smiled.
 
 "I think so" he smiled as well. "And I hope the fact that I've been clinging 
 to my childhood teddy bear today remains between you and I."
 
 "Of course. Now how are you doing?"
 
 "Okay I guess" he sighed as he put the tray on the dresser before sitting 
 down on the side of the bed. "I just want her to be okay Mac."
 
 "I know," she said gently as she sat down beside him. "So do I. And 
 hopefully our prayers will be answered."
 
 He nodded and reached for the mugs of hot chocolate, handing her one along 
 with a cookie.
 
 "Thank you" she smiled.  "This is perfect."
 
 "The least I could do after everything you've done for me" he sighed. 
 "You've really been great throughout this whole thing."
 
 "And you know why that is don't you?"
 
 "Because you know I'm hopeless and I'd have totally lost it if you weren't 
 here?"
 
 "No it's because I care about you," she said softly. "Very much." She set 
 down the mug of hot chocolate and gently reached a hand to his cheek. "You 
 mean a lot to me Mr. Rabb."
 
 "And you mean a lot to me" he whispered. "And you can tell me to get lost 
 but right now I need you Mac. "
 
 No further words were necessary and the hot chocolate and cookies was 
 quickly forgotten as he gently pressed her to the bed, a long kiss ensuing.
 He pulled back a moment later, searching her face for any sign that this 
 wasn't what she wanted.
 
 "Don't stop now" she whispered and moments later their clothing lay in a 
 pile on the floor as they made love with Max Bear looking on.
 
 ******************
 He was already gone from the bed when she awoke the next morning and she 
 hurried downstairs.
 
 "Harm" she called as she walked into the kitchen. He was sitting at the 
 table, looking out through the back window. "You okay?"
 
 "Yeah I'm fine," he said as he looked up at her. "Did you sleep okay?"
 
 "Wonderfully in your arms" she said as she dropped down in the chair next to 
 him. "Did you sleep at all?"
 
 "I managed a few hours I guess."
 
 "Did you call the hospital yet?" she asked.
 
 "I was waiting for you," he said sheepishly. "If it's bad news I wanted you 
 to be here."
 
 "How about I make the call while you make us some coffee?"
 
 He nodded and she headed to the phone while he started the coffeepot. He 
 watched her face anxiously for any sign of bad news as she talked to the 
 hospital.
 
 "Thank you. Yes we'll be over right away."
 
 "Something happened?" he whispered as she hung up. "She's worse. That's why 
 we have to go right away."
 
 "No sailor" Mac smiled. "She's better. She's been moved out of ICU. She's 
 just starting to come around."
 
 "She's going to be okay?"
 
 "Looks that way. And I'm sure your face is the first thing she's going to 
 want to see."
 
 "She's really going to be okay?" he repeated, still not believing what she'd 
 told him.
 
 "Yes Harm" Mac smiled. "The nurse said they expect her to be up and out of 
 there in a few days. She's going to be fine."
 
 "Thank you Lord" he whispered with a look heavenward.
 
 He repeated that sentiment a short time later as he and Mac walked into 
 Grams' room, her eyes opening a few moments later.
 
 "Hi Grams" Harm smiled as he took her hand. "Welcome back. You know you gave 
 me a pretty good scare there."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.  "Sorry I scared you.  But it was good."

"Ma'am?" he questioned, genuinely puzzled.

"Seeing Peter and Harmon again," she sighed, her eyes drifting almost closed.

"Grams what are. . ."  he screeched and Mac quickly put a restraining hand on his arm.

"Ssshh calm," she whispered, "don't upset her.  Maybe she was."

He scowled and turned her aside.  "You think she was actually. . ."

"I think like the doctor said, she went away for awhile and now she's back.  Leave it there."

"Grams you really did scare us," he said softly, turning back to her.  "You look so much better 
than when we last saw you."

"I'm just like a limp washrag," she replied.  "And the last thing I remember is saying goodbye 
to you before I went to the operating room.  I had no idea all those hours have passed.  Is 
everything OK on the farm?"

"Oh yeah," he smiled at once, remembering their night.  Mac, knowing at once what he was 
thinking about, blushed slightly and Grams caught her eye.

"I was going to ask how everything is with you two but I don't think I need to."

Harm's turn to blush.  "No probably not, but we're just fine thank you.  In fact, maybe this 
would be a good time to mention how much in love I am with this beautiful woman."

Mac actually took a step back to steady herself she was so startled, her hand to her mouth.

"Oh tell me something I don't know," Grams groaned, giving Mac a small smile.

"Uh I didn't know it either," Mac started and then shook her head, "well OK I hoped.  I hoped 
as hard as I could because I'm very much in love with him."

There was total silence for a moment and then Grams made a snorting noise.  "Harmon for 
godsake kiss the woman and make it legal."

"Yes ma'am, and never let it be said I don't do what my elders tell me," he laughed and pulled 
her to him.  She made no objection and a long and hard, but loving, kiss ensued.

"Amen," Grams smiled, looking to the ceiling.   "Peter, Harmon, you were both right."

Harm swallowed hard as they broke apart.  "Grams we have to tell you that we opened the 
old trunk up in the attic and read the letters.  I'm sorry.  We invaded your privacy but once we 
started we couldn't stop."

"It's OK.  Honest it is," she said quickly.  "In fact I was going to encourage you to look around 
up there.  There's so much history and I knew Mac would love it.  I just planned to tell you the 
story myself."

"And when you're feeling up to it, that's a story I want to hear," he said firmly.  "You were in 
the Navy Grams.  I always admired you, and never more than when I found out about that.  
And then you survived the attack at Pearl.  Even a wow doesn't cover it."

"I'd love to tell you that whole story," she nodded. "I just don't have the energy right now."

"We understand Grams," Mac said quickly, "but can you say why you never mentioned it to 
Harm before."

"It was another lifetime," she smiled and her eyes closed.

"Grams?" he gasped.

"Harm she's fine.  Relax now."  Mac wrapped her arms around him and looked up into his 
eyes.  "So you love me do you?"
  
  "You had any doubt?" he whispered.
  
  "Well a few times yes" she smiled. "But I guess you've made it pretty clear 
  now."
  
  "In case it's not, I love you Sarah Mackenzie."

  "And I love you" she said softly. "And I want us to keep going from here. 
  We've started something wonderful sailor."
  
  "Yes we have" he nodded. "And there's no turning back now. "
  
  "Good" she smiled. "Cause I wouldn't let you turn back even if you wanted 
  to."
  
  "I don't. I've found out what's important in my life and I'm not planning on 
  ever letting her go again. Course you know we're a package deal."
  
  "Who is we?"
  
  "Me and Max" he smiled. "You think you can handle both of us?"
  
  "I'd love to have both of you in my life" Mac said softly. "For a long long 
  time."
  
  ****************
  Four Days Later
  
  "Okay right to the bed" Harm ordered as he helped Grams inside the house and 
  to the first floor bedroom.
  
  "I won't be able to talk to you and Mac from there" she complained.
  
  "You're not supposed to be talking. You're supposed to be resting. And we'll 
  just come in there to talk to you."
  
  "Good we cause we need to talk about you not hanging out here taking care of 
  me. There's no reason you and Sarah should use up your leave time when I've 
  got plenty of folks to keep an eye on me."
  
  "Grams" he started.
  
  "No. You've been fussing over me long enough. And as much as I love having 
  you here I know that you're needed back at JAG."
  
  "Grams you just got out of the hospital. You can't expect me to just leave 
  you now."
  
  "Yes I do. You and Sarah can stay another day and then I want you to go back 
  home. And don't argue with me because you know you're going to lose."
  
  "I don't like it" he complained.
  
  "Don't like what?" Mac asked as she walked into the room.
  
  "The fact that I'm making you two go back home tomorrow."
  
  "Grams no. We want to stay with you to make sure you're okay."
  
  "I know and as I told Harm I've got plenty of friends to take care of me. 
  You and Harm have spent enough time up here."
  
  "Don't even bother arguing" Harm sighed. "You'll never win."
  
  "We were really looking forward to staying" Mac sighed.
  
  "No reason you can't come up on weekends" Grams smiled. "But in the meantime 
  you have a duty and I'm not going to keep you from it."
  
  "Speaking of duty, you were going to tell us about your time in the Navy" 
  Harm said as he pulled up a chair and motioned for Mac to do the same.
  
  "Harm it really was another lifetime" Grams sighed. "And I was just doing 
  what I could for my country. I never thought I'd meet anyone like Peter."
  
  "You loved him very much didn't you?" Mac said softly.
  
  "Yes I did. And it wasn't until I had Harm's father that I finally got over 
  how unfair it had been."
  
  "You had so little time together" Mac sighed. "And yet it seemed like from 
  your letters that you loved each other more in that short time than most do 
  in a lifetime."
  
  "Yes we did" Grams smiled. "The moment our eyes met it was if we'd been 
  destined to be together. We just didn't know how short our time together 
  would actually be. That was the one comfort I had. We hadn't wasted a moment 
  of the time we'd had. And I hope that you two don't waste anymore time."
  
  "No Grams we're not" Harm said softly as he reached for Mac's hand.
  
  "Good. Because I want to see that wedding you've been promising me. Along 
  with my first great grandchild."
  
  "You will" Harm smiled. "Sooner than later."

Mac smiled and let her pull her into a long hug.  A woman with a history which they never 
would have guessed had brought them together, and together they would stay.

THE END

Watch for Chapter 2 in which events from the past become the present.