TITLE: "Let Every Heart"
           AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
           SUMMARY:  Christmas 2002.  This is the second chapter in series that will run 
probably through 2003 as plans are now.  Chapter 1 was "To Ask the Lord's Blessing" in 
which Harm and Mac met Seaman March, and learned that he still loved a woman in his 
home state, a woman who, unbeknownst to him, had given birth 4 months earlier to his son.
	In this series, the events of Afghanistan have occurred but we will not deal with the 
Singer/Sergei story line.
           CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   S/R/A    PG for language.
           SPOILERS:  In any of our work, any JAG episode may be referred to.
           FEEDBACK:  If you're so moved but never expected nor begged for.  Addy is 
ssbpmn@aol.com.  Please however, we request you respect the work, and the effort that 
goes into writing it.
           NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other 
works, are available at 
                         
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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.}
====================
Previously in Chapter 1---En route back to DC from returning Seaman March to his home in 
the Norfolk area, Mac opens a letter from Allison which Dale had discarded unread.
 
"Let Every Heart"
  
  "Mac what is it?" Harm demanded.
  
  "It's Dale's son," she said finally. "He has a son Harm."
  
  "What? How do you know it's his son?"
  
  "Because she said it is. Allison sent Dale a picture of his son. I think she 
  wants to get back together with him."
  
  "Mac" Harm groaned. "You're stretching it a bit don't you think?"
  
  "I am not. Harm she's reaching out to him. And I'm sure if he'd known what 
  was in this envelope he would never have thrown it away. He needs to find 
  out about this."
  
  "Maybe. But how do you plan on telling him you found out he has a son? Oh by 
  the way I took the mail from your trash and read it? I'm sure that would go 
  over real well."
  
  "Okay so I'll have to think of something else. And in the meantime, I'm 
  going to call and talk to Allison. Maybe I can get her to come here for 
  Christmas."
  
  "Mac does it say anywhere in there she wants to get together with him?" Harm 
  asked.
  
  "Well no. It's just a picture. But she sent it because she wanted him to 
  know. And I'm sure it's because she wants to make things right with him."
  
  "And you gathered that from what? Mac it's just a picture. There's nothing 
  there that says she wants him in her life again. You're meddling counselor 
  and you're going to make Dale very unhappy when he finds out what you're 
  doing."
  
  "And you don't think he's already unhappy?" she retorted.
  
  "I can tell this is a pointless conversation" Harm sighed. "You're going to 
  do this no matter what I say."
  
  "I'll take your advice Commander but I'm not wrong here. Allison didn't just 
  send him this picture for no reason. And I will prove it."
  
  "You're really going to track her down and haul her to DC for Christmas 
  without telling Dale?"
  
  "I may. But first I need to talk to her and find out how she feels. I might 
  be wrong but I'm betting she's going to be happy to see Dale again. And so 
  will he too once he gets over his initial shock."
  
  "Anyone ever tell you you're a hopeless romantic" Harm smiled.
  
  "Harm they're young and they've had some rough spots. But I think they love 
  each other. And if that's the case they belong together."
  
  "I wish someone would have felt that way about us" he murmured under his 
  breath. Seven years might not have gone by if someone had.
  
  "What was that Sailor?" she asked.
  
  "Nothing. But just for the record I'm not going to be a part of this little 
  endeavor of yours."
  
  "Fine. I'm sure I can handle it on my own anyway. If I have to fly to 
  Illinois to talk to her myself, I will."
  
  ********************
  JAG HQ's
  2 Weeks Later
  
  "Welcome back Colonel" Harriet smiled as Mac stepped off the elevator. "How 
  was San Diego?"
  
  "A lot warmer than here" Mac groaned. "When did this cold hit?"
  
  "Last week. You and the Commander were lucky to be gone for the ice storm on 
  Thursday. Fortunately now it's just snow."
  
  "Why am I suddenly wishing I was still in San Diego" she sighed. "And I'm 
  afraid to see my desk."
  
  "Yes ma'am I would be too" Harriet smiled. "It's not a pretty sight."
 
 "Then I'd better get some coffee first," Mac groaned.  "I assume there is coffee?"
 
 "Yes ma'am."  They had started to walk away when the adjoining elevator opened and Harm 
stepped off.
 
 "Mac, Harriet," he smiled, and his gaze lingered on Mac just enough to make her blush 
before she returned his look and headed for the kitchen, Harriet in hot pursuit.
 
 "Ma'am OK something is going on that wasn't before you guys left," she panted excitedly.
 
 Mac set down her coffee cup and fixed a stern look on the younger woman.
 
 "Oh my god that was incredibly out of line.  I'm so sorry," Harriet gasped.  "Permission to go 
start the paperwork demoting me to Petty Officer."
 
 "Harriet relax," Mac smiled, unable to hold her look any longer in the face of her friend's 
agitation.  "Harm. . .Commander Rabb. . .and I had a good two weeks away that's all.  We 
were in forced confinement together, did some talking, and well it was a good two weeks and 
that's all I'm going to say."
 
 "Yes ma'am thank you," Harriet gasped again and fled the kitchen, much to Mac's 
amusement, which increased when she nearly collided with Harm coming in.
 
 With a mumbled 'excuse me sir' she hurried away, leaving a startled naval officer in her 
wake.  "I guess you can tell she's pregnant again."
 
 "Yeah that and that I was kind of yanking her chain about us."
 
 "Oh yeah?  And what about us?"  He took a furtive look around and walked over to her, 
letting his arm brush hers.
 
 "I simply was candid in that we had a good trip and that we came away better understanding 
each other and stuff like that," Mac giggled.  "I guess after two weeks of being confined 
together in that tiny guest suite it was either get closer or kill each other.  Not that we didn't 
have a couple of moments when that seemed like a good way out."
 
 "No argument there," he grinned.  "Have you seen your desk?"
 
 "Not without coffee," she sighed.  "I assume you've looked at yours?"
 
 "Yeah but I closed the door and ran."
 ===============
 By afternoon Mac had made some headway in at least getting the backlogged to an 
organized chaos and she pulled the letter from Allison Hargrove from her purse, staring at the 
picture of the baby as she looked at the few lines once more.
 
 >>>>>Dear Dale,
 I thought it was time you knew about this little guy.  He's the light of my life right now.  And 
before you ask---yes I'm sure he's yours.  You were--and still are--the only man I've ever been 
with.  With it being Christmas almost and all, well like I said, it was about time.  He's 
wonderful Dale.
 
 And my life is good right now.  Getting away from Enterprise was the best decision I've ever 
made.  Well except for deciding to go ahead and have this baby.  I've got a good job here in 
Mt. Vernon, a nice little apartment and a wonderful grandmotherly lady to watch Christopher.  
 
 I miss you Dale, and I pray every night that you're doing good.  Chris deserves to know his 
dad, and you deserve to know him.  
 
 For Christmas maybe?
 
 Allison<<
 
 For the time they had been in San Diego Mac had been too wrapped in the lengthy court-
martial to give the matter of Allison a great deal of thought.  Now that was done and JAG 
would be entering the Christmas lull.  Plans were already in place for Dale to spend 
Christmas in DC.  Now it was time to assure that he at least knew of a small baby boy whom 
he had fathered.
 
 "Marine you look awful serious for someone who's about to have dinner with a handsome 
Sailor," Harm called from the door.  "What brought on that scowl?"
 
 "Dale March and Allison Hargrove."
 
  "Mac" he groaned. "You're not meddling again. Please tell me you're not."
  
  "I am so if you don't want to know about it don't ask me. I told you I'm not 
  going to just let this go."
  
  "He is not going to like this" Harm sighed as he sank into a chair in front 
  of her desk.
  
  "Harm he needs to know. And I'm going to make sure that happens. It's 
  Christmas Harm. The time for loved ones to be together."
  
  "You sound like a Hallmark card."
  
  "Fine. Make fun of me. But when I get those two together and Dale is happy 
  you'll be singing a different tune."
  
  "And how do you plan on doing all this?"
  
  "I'm going to go see Allison. And invite her to share Christmas with us. I'll tell 
  her that Dale will be  here and this will be her chance to make things right 
  with him."
  
  "You're going to go see her?" he frowned.
  
  "I want to talk to her in person. I've got leave time on the books and 
  things are pretty slow around here. I'm sure the Admiral won't mind if I 
  take off some time next week. And hopefully I can persuade her to come with 
  me and I'll show up with Allison and you'll have Dale and we'll be all set."
  
  "Set for the big explosion maybe. This isn't fair to Dale."
  
  "He'll be okay with it. Trust me."
  
  "Okay but don't be surprised when I say I told you so" he sighed.
  
  "You won't be. Now what was that about you taking me to dinner?"
  
  "I figured we needed a night out after our first day back. Specially since 
  we came back to this mess."
  
  "Good thinking. And I'm with you sailor. I just need to make a phone call 
  first."
  
  "You're calling Allison aren't you?" he groaned.
  
  "Well I can't just book plane reservations without making sure she's going 
  to be there" Mac smiled. "Can you wait five minutes?"
  
  "I said I wasn't going to be a part of this and I'm not," he said as he 
  stood up. "I'll be in my office when you're done playing cupid."
  
  She nodded and pulled out the piece of paper where she'd written Allison's 
  phone number. She dialed and waited, disappointed when she got the answering 
  machine. She hung up; knowing this was something she couldn't just leave a 
  message on the machine about. She'd have to try her later.
  
  "Okay I'm ready," she said as she breezed into Harm's office a moment later.
  
  "That was quick. Did she hang up on you?"
  
  "She wasn't home. I just remembered as I was walking over here that they're 
  an hour behind us. I'll try later."
  
  "So we can go eat?" he asked.
  
  "Yes sir. And I for one am starving."
  
  A short time later they were seated at a table at a nearby Italian 
  restaurant, Harm leaning across the table once the waiter had taken their 
  order and reaching for Mac's hands.
  
  "Okay tell me why this Dale and Allison think is such a big deal to you."
  
  "Because I think they love each other," she said softly. "And if that's the 
  case they need to at least give it a chance. For themselves and for 
  Christopher. He should grow up with a father. His father. You of all people 
  should understand that."
  
  "Mac I do. But that doesn't mean we can make things happen that aren't meant 
  to be."
  
  "Who says this isn't meant to be? We won't know unless we guide them in the 
  right direction."
  
  "I never pictured you as the hopeless romantic" he smiled. "But I guess you 
  are."
  
  "Harm there's that one someone out there for everyone" she said softly. "The 
  soul mate we all want to find. And when we do, we don't ever want to lose 
  them."
  
  "Have you found yours?"
  
  "Maybe" she smiled. "At least I hope so."
  
  "Me too. Because I'm pretty sure I've found mine. And I'm looking right at 
  her."
  
  "Harm" she whispered, not sure what to say.
  
  "You know this is the first Christmas in thirty some years I've looked 
  forward to" he continued softly. "And you know why that is?"
  
  "No" she whispered again.
  
  "Because I'm going to be spending it with you" he smiled.
 
 "Yes I'd like that a lot,"  she smiled, realizing he was referring to coming to be with him while 
Dale was sharing the holidays.
 
 "You'd like it a lot?  You sound like I'm just inviting you now.  I thought it was a foregone 
conclusion."
 
 "I. . . OK it's just going to take some getting used to," she smiled.  "I'm way too in the habit of 
thinking of us as separate and distinct."
 
 "Yeah well when you get those thoughts why don't you remember our last night in California 
on the beach."
 
 "Oh yeah," she breathed, her eyes taking on a dreamy look.  The case was done, and they 
were taking a night to visit with Trish and Frank.  The night was warm, and the ocean warmer,  
and they were going to take a midnight swim.
 
  >>>"Somehow those waves didn't look as big from the deck up there," Mac smiled, looking 
for the deck to the water and back again."
 
 "What kind of a Marine are you, scared of a little water?"
 
 "The kind who can outswim a squid that's for sure," she declared hearing the challenge in his 
words, and giving him a push to throw him off balance, ran ahead of him into the surf, turning 
around to taunt him.
 
 He ran in after her,  laughingly chasing her down until he caught her around her waist and 
pulled her to him, imprisoning her in a bear hug, her arms pinned to her sides.
 
 She struggled a moment, debating whether to use a Marine move to free herself and a few 
seconds later relaxed in his grasp.
 
 "Much better," he smiled as the water swirled around them.  "Beautiful night.  Beautiful 
woman, completion of a case.  I think this would be in order."   A long kiss followed, soft and 
gentle, a kiss that bespoke of the feelings that were growing stronger between them all the 
time.<<< 
 
 "Mac. . .Mac are you OK?  I think I lost you."  Harm was giving her shoulder a gentle shake 
and she forced herself off the beach, out of his arms, and back to the reality that was JAG.
 
 "Sorry, just reliving that moment for a minute there," she smiled sheepishly.  "Where were 
we?"
 
 "You were agreeing that I was right about not messing with Dale and Allison," he offered.
 
 "Nice try Sailor," she groaned.  "Now are you going to feed me or rag on me."
 =============
 CHILI's RESTAURANT
 1 Hour later
 
 "Harm you are super quiet," she finally said.  "Does me wanting to talk to Allison bother you 
that much?  You know if it doesn't work that's OK but it won't hurt to try.  I honestly do believe 
he still loves her, and I know she wants him.  She's extended the first hand, wrote that sweet 
letter, and that was not easy to do. After all, he betrayed her."
 
 Harm shrugged.  "Yeah he made a mistake.  All of us including you and me have things in 
our past we're not proud of.  But he's straightened his life out now and gone on, and most 
probably feels like she should do the same.  Hence the pitching of her letter."
 
 "Or he could feel like he doesn't deserve her love," she pointed out quietly.  "Point is, it won't 
hurt to let them confront each other.  We'll both be there in case it explodes."
 
 "I feel like we're inviting the boy on false pretenses or something.  He's being ambushed 
Mac."
 
 "Like I ambushed you on the ferry?"
 
 "Something like that yeah," he replied at once.  "It's not a good feeling to be suddenly blasted 
with a load of emotion, especially if you're not good with your own feelings and don't know 
how to say what you're feeling.   So you stand there and mumble something that doesn't 
make any sense to yourself.  And certainly not the person you're talking to.  And then you let 
her go and watch her go to another. . ."  His voice quieted as he caught sight of the sad smile 
she was giving him.
 
 "I guess we're not talking about Allison and Dale all of a sudden," she whispered.
   
 "No we're not," he admitted. "Do you have any idea how many nights I dreamed 
 about that night? And everything else I should have said but didn't?"
 
 "What did you want to say?" she whispered.
 
 "That I wanted it as much as you but I was too scared. And if I'd seen it 
 coming I might have been able to tell you that. But I didn't and you ran off 
 to Mic's arms."
 
 "Ancient history now sailor."
 
 "Yes it is" he nodded. "I just don't want Dale to feel like that."
 
 "So tell him on the car ride back to DC" she offered. "That way he can't 
 back out on us and he'll have a chance to figure out what he might say to 
 her."
 
 "I could. Of course I'm going to tell him this was all your idea."
 
 "I can live with that. I accept full responsibility for whatever happens."
 
 "I honestly hope it does work out for them," Harm said softly. "Dale is a 
 good kid and I bet he'd make a good father to Christopher. And maybe him and 
 Allison can work it all out."
 
 "If not at least he'll know about his son. He can be a part of Christopher's 
 life."
 
 *******************
 It wasn't until Mac got home that she finally got a chance to call the 
 number for Allison again. She held her breath as the phone rang, a young 
 woman's voice finally answering.
 
 "Is this Allison Hargrove?" Mac asked.
 
 "Yes this is Allison. Who is this?"
 
 "My name is Sarah Mackenzie. I'm a friend of Dale's."
 
 "And you're calling me why? Dale has made it pretty clear he doesn't want to 
 be bothered with me any more."
 
 "I'm calling because I want to help you and Dale get back together," Mac 
 said with a deep breath.
 
 "How did you find me?"
 
 "I got the letter you sent to Dale. The one with the picture of Christopher 
 in it. Dale threw the letter away but I took it and I have it."
 
 "I figured he hadn't read it" Allison said softly. "I knew it was a long 
 shot but I thought he might at least open it and see Christopher's picture 
 and call me."
 
 "He thinks he blew it with you. And likely he figured your letter was just 
 telling him you'd found someone else or at the very least gone on without him. But he still 
loves you. I know it."
 
 "And I still love him" Allison sniffled. "Despite what he did. I hated him 
 at first but now I just want us to talk about everything. To see if there's 
 still something there."
 
 "I think there is. And I'd like to help you."
 
 "Can you get him to talk to me?" Allison asked.
 
 "I can do better. You can see him. He's going to be coming to DC to spend 
 the holiday with my friend and me. And I'd like you to join us. You and 
 Christopher."
 
 "I'd love to do that," Allison said softly. "But I can't drive all that way. 
 Not with my old hunk of junk. It gets me around here okay but I wouldn't 
 dare take it across country like that."
 
 "So I'll get you a ticket and you can fly here" Mac offered.
 
 "I can't do that."
 
 "Why not?" Mac asked. "It's not that expensive and it would be my present to 
 you and Dale."
 
 "No that's not the reason. I've never flown before. I don't think I can get 
 on a plane alone. I'd freak."
 
 "You've never flown before?"
 
 "No ma'am. I've never really had any reason to. And the thought of even 
 getting on a plane terrifies me. I know they say they're safer than driving 
 but my mind just doesn't get it."
 
 "What if I were to fly out there and fly back with you?" Mac asked. "Would 
 that work?"
 
 "Quite truthfully I'm not sure. But we could try it. It would probably be 
 easier with Christopher if I did fly."
 
"I think so.  Now I could drive out for you but we're talking the better part of two days and 
that's two days versus less than two hours on the plane," Mac urged.

"You're right of course," Allison sighed.  "But I'm still confused here.  Why are you doing this?"

"It's pretty simple, but I'll explain more when I see you.  Right now just know that I think Dale 
loves you still, and feels like he's destroyed all chance with you."

"Yeah well that's pretty much the impression I gave him when we had our goodbye fight," 
Allison sighed.  

"Well there's nothing that's happened so far that's not fixable," Mac reminded her.  "I wish 
Dale had opened your letter, but he didn't and I can't shove it down his throat, much as that's 
a temptation.  Men.  Anyway, I'm going to make flight arrangements and I'll get back to you 
tomorrow night.  Meanwhile you take good care of that baby boy and tell him he's going to 
see his dad soon."

"I still don't know why you're doing this and I don't know how I'll ever pay you back," she 
sniffled.

"Why will become clear, and payback we'll discuss another time.  Goodnight Allison."

"Goodnight.  Thank you."

The young woman's wistful voice tore at Mac's heart and she made a renewed vow that she 
would help her.
================
MAC's APARTMENT
Sun.  Dec 22

"Sailor when you tell a woman you're going to make her a going away dinner you go all out," 
Mac declared, pushing away the plate containing nothing but cake crumbs and picking up her 
coffee cup.

"I wish I had a better feeling about this," Harm sighed.  "And now I wish sort of that I was 
going with you."

"Only sort of?"

"Well it's hard to be more positive about something I can't say I fully approve of.  But it's not 
just that.  I'm just generally discomforted by the whole thing.  Mac you don't know this girl, the 
weather is not that great and. . . "

"Go on?"

"I don't even know where I was going with that," he sighed. 

"Harm I'm going to get on a flight of an hour's duration, rent a car and drive to Mt. Vernon.  I'll 
be there by midnight.  Tomorrow afternoon me and a sweet baby and a very nice, if not 
scared, young woman are going to reverse the whole process.  You will then pick us up at 
1600, having spent your day getting Dale here.  What could be simpler?"

"You staying here.  Or me going with you since you're so insistent."

"Go get my bag Sailor," she groaned in exasperation.
===================
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT
1 hour later

"You'll call me the minute you land and then the minute you walk into Allison's right?"

"No."  Said with such seriousness, it made him look sharply at her until she laughed and 
slipped her hands around his arm.  "You are so easy Flyboy.  Yes of course I'm going to call 
you.  And I'm going to miss you."

"It's just this one night," he sighed.  "But I'm going to miss you too."

By then they had reached the security checkpoint and she pulled him aside.

"How about giving your Marine a proper goodbye?"

A slow smile came over his face.  "Your Sailor would love to."  Gently he pressed his palms to 
each of her cheeks and kissed her gently.  "Promise me you'll be safe."

"I can promise you I'll try," she smiled, not releasing the hold her eyes had on him.  "And if I 
don't go, they're going to board without me.  This time tomorrow I'll be home with Allison and 
Christopher and you'll be bringing Dale to us.  It's going to be a great Christmas."

"Yeah it is," he whispered.  "One for the road Colonel."  Another kiss ensued, longer than 
before and she turned and all but fled to the security line.  He watched from a distance, and 
as soon as she was cleared through, turned to go, not wanting to do another good-bye.  He 
was not happy that she was going, not only because he was not convinced reuniting the two 
was the right thing to do, but because he was feeling a sense of dread about her personally.  
For the immediate future, he knew he would not breathe easily until Flight 632 was safely on 
the ground in Evansville.

With that in mind, he headed directly home and to his computer, the immediate plan to 
monitor flight status and await her call.

The online report of the flight's safe arrival gave him a measure of relief, and the ringing 
phone twenty minutes later even more so.  "You got there OK?" he gasped as soon as he 
answered.

"What happened to hello?" she giggled.  "Yes I did Commander Worrier.  And I'm in the line at 
the rental car while Suzy Fumblefingers processes reservations.  And how are you?  You 
haven't been fretting all evening I hope."

"Who me hell no.  I came home and went to bed," he lied.  "After I watched the news, worked 
on some paperwork and fell asleep."

"Sounds like a full evening," she laughed.  "OK I am going to drive to Mt. Vernon and from 
there I'll call you even though it will be late.  You sure you want me to?"

"Yes of course I do," he exploded, the tension he felt finally getting to him.  "Mac I should 
have come with you.  When you first said you were bound and determined to do this, I should 
have swallowed my misgivings or something and come."

"Harm calm please.  It actually worked out fine.  You're going to get Dale, I'm getting Allison 
and we'll all be together tomorrow night.  In hindsight in made much more sense to split up 
like this, not that I don't miss you."

"OK but I'm not liking it.  Next time I listen to my instincts.  And I'm going to let you go.  You'll 
be careful driving and call me from Allison's."

"I will.  Bye Sailor."

"Take care Marine."   
  
 The drive was anything but easy and Mac spent most of it hunched forward to 
 see better through the snow.  Several times she contemplated pulling off and 
 finding a hotel but decided to forge forward when she saw the sign for Mt. 
 Vernon.
 
 She exited the highway and followed Allison's directions to the small town. 
 The small town roads were less traveled than the highway and Mac slowed even 
 more as she navigated through the snow. Her let out a long sigh when she 
 finally saw the street sign for Allison's street and a few moments later 
 pulled up in front of the apartment building. She made her way up with her 
 overnight bag and knocked on apartment 3E.
 
 The door opened and a petite young woman with short red hair looked out at 
 her.
 
 "Hi I'm Sarah Mackenzie" Mac smiled. "You're Allison Hargrove?"
 
 "Yes ma'am" she smiled as well. "I was getting worried about you. Was the 
 drive real awful?"
 
 "I've done worse. And your directions were perfect."
 
 "Please come inside" Allison said and Mac followed her into the small but 
 nicely kept apartment. "I'm sorry I've only got the one bedroom so I hope 
 you don't mind the sofa. I'd be happy to give you my bedroom but then 
 Christopher sleeps in there with me and I can't guarantee he won't be up all 
 night. He's got a cold and he's been fussy most of the night. I finally got 
 him to sleep but I'm sure that won't last."
 
 "The sofa is fine" Mac assured her. "I do need to make a phone call before 
 my friend sends the state police to find me. He's probably hanging by the 
 phone as we speak getting poised to dial."
 
 "Sounds like more than just a friend" Allison smiled. "Can I get you 
 anything while you do that? Maybe some tea?"
 
 "Tea would be wonderful" Mac nodded. "Thank you."
 
 While Allison headed to the kitchen to make the tea Mac sat down on the sofa 
 and pulled out her cell phone.
 
 "Mac thank god" he answered. "Are you okay?"
 
 "I'm fine. It's a little snowy here so the drive took longer than I thought. 
 But I'm here at Allison's and everything is fine. Hopefully tomorrow we 
 won't have to deal with the snow when we drive to the airport."
 
 "Well leave yourself some extra time" he sighed. "Cause I don't want you to 
 rush to make the flight."
 
 "I won't. We'll probably leave here late morning just to be sure."
 
 "But otherwise everything is okay?" he asked. "How's Allison?"
 
 "Well I just met her but she seems like a very nice person. And now that I'm 
 here I'm even more sure we're doing the right thing."
 
 "You'll call me tomorrow when you leave there?"
 
 "Yes. And then when we get to the airport and before we take off so you'll 
 know whether we're on time or not."
 
 "Thank you. I really wish I were with you."
 
 "You have your mission sailor" she smiled. "Getting Dale there so we can 
 have the happy reunion."
 
 "I hope you're right about that."
 
 "I am. Now go get some sleep. I'm sure you've been stressing all evening 
 about me."
 
 "I miss you," he said softly.
 
 "Miss you too. I'll call you tomorrow."
 
 She hung up just as Allison appeared with two cups of tea and they both sat 
 down on the sofa.
 
 "I still can't believe you're here to take me to DC to see Dale" Allison 
 said quietly. "When I didn't hear from him I just figured it was over for 
 good. That he'd moved on with his life and forgotten about me."
 
 "No way" Mac smiled. "He's still very much in love with you."
 
 "How did you meet Dale?" Allison asked.
 
 "Through the Adopt a Sailor program. The USO coordinator couldn't find 
 enough families in the Norfolk area so she went around to some of the 
 agencies in DC. Ours was one of them and we got paired up with Dale. He 
 spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with us."
 
 "I'm surprised he signed up for that. Dale's kind of shy and reserved around 
 people. He's not one to make friends easily."
 
 "He told us that. But he got along real well with our friends from JAG. We 
 did a big Thanksgiving dinner and it went perfectly. Then he hung out with 
 us the rest of the weekend, watching football and helping Harm with his 
 Vette."
 
 "Harm is your friend?" Allison asked.
 
 "My friend, partner and to be determined" Mac blushed. "We've been together at 
 JAG for six years but we're just finally getting us together."
 
 "That's a long time" Allison smiled. "Dale and I knew the minute we met 
 there was something. Well at least there was for a while."
 
 "Until he cheated on you?"
 
 "I hated him for that" Allison admitted softly. "I had this naive belief 
 that he and I were soul mates and we'd be together forever. That this first 
 love wasn't going to be like all the others. But then he went out with her 
 and everything was suddenly different. And I didn't want him around 
 anymore."
 
"I've been there," she sighed.  "Well maybe not to that extreme but still.  Harm left me for 
another love once.  Sea duty and flight status you see.  And it took me a long time to stop 
resenting him for that.  But like you, the minute we met we knew there was something there.  
We just never figured out what exactly to do about it before now.  And we're still kind of 
fumbling through it."

Allison shrugged.  "I want to believe he wants us.  But you don't even know that for sure do 
you?"

"Only in my heart," Mac smiled.  "And I know that you owe it a shot with him for your baby's 
sake if not your own."

"Well I've promised myself to give it this chance," Allison nodded.  "In fact you know that even 
before you came along, I did try.  But I made myself not expect much.  I wasn't disappointed.  
As you well know, he didn't even read my letter much less reply."

"No he didn't.  And that was a mistake, but he's going to get the chance to rectify that."  She 
stifled a yawn and noticed Allison's eyes were drooping.  "You better go get some sleep.  
Lot's going on tomorrow."

"Including my first flight.  Do you need anything?  The bathroom's right through there, and the 
sofa is pretty comfortable.  I was so lucky to find this place.  And the woman who minds Chris 
while I work is great too.  I shudder to think now that I almost decided not to have him."

"I can't wait to see him," Mac smiled.

"Well he's a lot cuter when he doesn't have junk running out of his nose, but then I don't see 
him staying well all winter when I have to haul him out every morning in the cold and of 
course he's around the other kids she watches.  Anyway, we both need to sleep.  Good 
night."

It was a fast three hours later when Christopher's screams awoke them both.  Mac rolled from 
the sofa, unsure at first where she was until the baby's cries brought her back to the reality of 
the chilly apartment in Illinois.

"Allison you need any help?" Mac called through the closed door.

"No thanks.  He's just not able to breathe good with this congestion.  You can come in if you 
dare, but it's a mess in here."

Mac opened the door and could not help a smile at the baby boy perched on his mother's 
shoulder, sniffling and coughing.  "What did the doctor say?"  

"I asked Mrs. Morrisette if I should take him and she said just to get something from the drug 
store," Allison sighed.  "Said it was a dime a dozen cold and he'd get over it.  I'm afraid he's 
not going to make much of an impression on his father being sick."

"His father will love him," Mac assured her, reaching over to rub the small baby's back.  "He is 
precious.  Even with the cold.  The picture didn't do him justice Allison."

  "No it didn't" the young mother smiled. "He is pretty adorable. At least he 
  is when he's not goobering all over the place. My poor little guy is so 
  miserable."
  
  "Is there a twenty-four hour drug store around?" Mac asked. "I'd be happy to 
  go get something for you."
  
  "Not around here" Allison laughed. "Nothing is open twenty-four hours around 
  here. They don't allow it."
  
  "Oh yeah small town America" Mac smiled. "Sorry. Used to living in the big city where 
  there's always something open twenty-four hours."
  
  "I'm sure he'll be okay" Allison sighed. "I'll call the pediatrician in the 
  morning and see what he recommends. Maybe there's something else I should be 
  giving him."
  
  "Well if there's anything I can do let me know."
  
  "Thanks. I'm sorry we woke you. He's fine if I hold him so I'll do that so 
  at least he'll settle down. Hopefully he'll fall back asleep."
  
  "It's okay. I only sleep a few hours a night anyway. But please let me know 
  if there's anything I can do to help."
  
  "I will. I'm sure he'll crash eventually and then I'll get a few hours 
  myself."
  
  Mac nodded and made her way back to the living room. She lay down on the 
  sofa and fell asleep almost at once, waking several hours later when she 
  heard footsteps walking past the sofa.
  
  "Everything okay?" Mac asked as she sat up. "Is Christopher okay?"
  
  "He seems okay" she sighed. "He finally fell asleep. I called the 
  pediatrician and he gave me some suggestions on what to get for him."
  
  "You want me to run to the pharmacy?" Mac yawned. "If you point me in the 
  right direction I'll be happy to go."
  
  "You wouldn't mind?"
  
  "Of course not. I'd be happy to."
  
  "Thank you so much. To be honest I still need to do some packing so that 
  would work really well if you could."
  
  "No problem. As long as I can get a hot shower first."
  
  "Sorry. I know it's a little drafty in here. But this was the best thing I 
  could find for the money. It's not the greatest but at least it's in a 
  decent area of town."
  
  "It's fine. You're doing the best you can. For a single young woman on their 
  own you're doing pretty good."
  
  "Thanks" Allison sniffled. "It hasn't been easy that's for sure. But coming 
  here was the best thing I did."
  
  "The town you and Dale grew up in isn't that nice?" Mac asked.
  
  "It's okay. But I'm guessing you know about the problems Dale had with some 
  of the guys there."
  
  "He told us he was running with a not so good crowd" Mac replied.
  
  "That's a nice way of putting it. These guys were thugs. I was actually 
  relieved when I'd found out Dale had gone into the Navy. He would have only 
  gotten in more trouble if he'd stayed there."
  
  "Were they into drugs?" Mac asked.
  
  "No. More like stolen property. Anything they could get their hands on. Like 
  I said Dale was lucky he got away from them."
  
  "Sounds like it. And he's getting his life together pretty good now."
  
  "I'm so glad," Allison said softly. "He needed someone to help him with 
  that. And he wasn't going to get it here."
  
  "The military is a good place to go when you're not sure what to do. And 
  before I start babbling on like a public service announcement I should get 
  going so I can get you some medicine for Chris."
  
  "Holler if you need anything. I'm going to get in gear with packing. I was 
  going to do this but then I was afraid you weren't really going to show up 
  so I didn't."
  
  "You didn't think I was going to come?" Mac frowned.
  
  "I wasn't sure. I mean it was all so strange. Someone calling me out of the 
  blue and telling me they want to take me to DC so I can see Dale. I guess I 
  just didn't want to get my hopes up to high."
  
  "You really miss him don't you?" Mac said softly.
  
  "Yeah I do. More than I want to admit."
  
  "Well in a few hours you'll see him again" Mac smiled. "And I bet he's going 
  to be as happy to see you as you are to see him."
  
 Mac showered and dressed, and armed with the pediatrician's suggestions and the 
directions, left for the drug store in time to be there when it opened.  Driving back, the 
apartment building was not where she expected it to be and she realized she must have 
made a wrong turn.  "Some Marine you are Mackenzie," she muttered.  "Can't even recon 
your way back from a drug store."  The streets of the town suddenly seemed all alike and it 
took her an extra ten minutes to get back to the residential street on which Allison's apartment 
was located.
 
 An old black car cut her off as it sped away from the building and she muttered again, this 
time a curse and she was sorely tempted to raise a middle finger to the man hunched over 
the steering wheel.  It gave her an eerie feeling as she looked up to Allison's apartment 
windows and she wasted no time in getting inside.
 
 She knew something was wrong the minute she got to the door, which was standing open an 
inch and from inside was the sound of soft sobbing.  On alert at once, she kicked the door 
open.  The apartment was in shambles, and to her horror, Allison was curled in a ball on the 
sofa, clinging to a small blue blanket, which Mac recognized as having been wrapped around 
Christopher earlier.
 
 "My god what the hell happened," Mac gasped, taking in the disarray as she strode toward 
Allison.  The apartment was silent save Allison's quiet sobs and after a quick look in the 
bedroom and the now-empty crib,  Mac dropped beside her on the sofa.  "Allison talk to me.  
Where is Christopher?  Where is the baby?"  As she spoke she took firm hold of her 
shoulders and pulled her upright, gasping again when she saw the ugly bruise on the side of 
her face.
 
 "Allison, what happened?" Mac demanded again.
 
 "Brett and Duane happened," she whispered, her shock so great she could barely speak.  
"Oh god Mac they came and took my baby.  They found me somehow."
 
 "I don't understand," Mac gasped in shock herself now.  "Did you call the police?"
 
 "I can't."
 
 "Yes you can," Mac yelped and reached for the phone, only to have Allison grab her wrist.
 
 "I can't.  They were part of Dale's problem.  A big part.  They want the money Dale got for 
their last business deal.  Dale got out of their reach and then they went to jail.  I thought that 
was the end of them.  I prayed it was.  But they're out now.  And they know Dale gave them 
up."
 
 Mac ran a hand through her hair while she digested her words, finally pulling her into a quick 
hug.  "Go on."
 
 "They found out where I was," she sniffled.  "They must have made someone tell them."
 
 "Allison we have to call the police," Mac insisted.  "They're getting further away every 
minute."
 
 "No I know where they're going.  Brett's dad has a hunting shack about thirty miles north of 
here.  They'll hurt Chris if they see police Duane said.  And he's dead serious.  Mac I'm so 
scared.  These guys have hurt people before.  Hurting a baby is going to be nothing to them.  
He's my life.  I need him and I love him and I'm so scared."  She gave out a long sob and Mac 
rocked her while she attempted to calm herself and think.  She knew without looking at the 
clock that by this time of the morning Harm would be half way to Norfolk.  Calling him would 
only serve to upset him when there was nothing he could do.
  
 "How much money do they want?" Mac asked.
 
 "Ten thousand dollars" Allison sobbed. "They said if I don't get them the 
 money by sun down they're going to kill Chris."
 
 "They won't do that," Mac said quickly. "They know if they do they'll never 
 get anything. They just said that to scare you. But I really think we need 
 to call the police on this."
 
 "NO" Allison shouted. "You don't know them. I do. They just got out of jail. 
 If they see police they'll kill him. I know they will."
 
 "Okay calm down. We'll figure something out then. I don't know what yet but 
 we'll figure something out."
 
 "I want my baby back. That's all I care about is getting my baby back."
 
 "I know" Mac soothed. "And we'll do that. You sure this hunting shack is 
 where they're going to go?"
 
 "Oh yeah. It's their hide out. Dale told me about it several times."
 
 "You know exactly where it is?" Mac asked.
 
 Allison nodded as she wiped her face. "Will you help me get Chris back?" she 
 whispered. "Because I'm going there and I'm going to get him. I want my baby 
 back."
 
 "I'll help you" Mac said quietly. "But I'm not sure doing this alone is the 
 best idea. Especially if we're not armed."
 
 "I have a gun," Allison said to Mac's surprise. "I got it when I moved down 
 here alone with Chris. Even though the neighborhood is pretty good, I still 
 wanted some kind of protection just in case someone tried to break in."
 
 "Have you ever fired it?" Mac asked.
 
 "No. I just bought it and stuffed it in my locked box that I keep under my 
 bed. I have the bullets for it."
 
 "Then I guess we are armed."
 
 "So we're going to go get Chris back?" Allison whispered.
 
 "Yes we are" Mac said after a long moments pause. "I just pray we're doing 
 the right thing here."
 
 "He's sick Mac" Allison wailed. "And I know they won't take care of him. 
 He's only going to get worse out in some damp shack."
 
 It was those words that made Mac realize they had little choice but to act. 
 The little boy was already sick and as Allison had said he would only get 
 worse. She wouldn't even allow herself to think of how they were likely 
 treating him, knowing she needed to focus on what they were doing.
 
 "Okay we're going" Mac said finally. "Get me your gun and let's go. We're 
 getting your son back."
 
 ****************
 Newport News, VA
 Four Hours later
 
 "Hey where's Mac?" Dale asked as he opened the door to his apartment to let 
 Harm in.
 
 "She had to go out of town," Harm said carefully. All the way down he'd 
 debated whether or not he was going to tell Dale that Mac was in Illinois 
 visiting with Allison. And that she was bringing Allison back for the 
 holiday. And even now he wasn't sure what he was going to tell Dale.
 
 "Right before Christmas?" Dale frowned. "That sucks. She's going to be back 
 for Christmas isn't she?"
 
 "Oh yeah. She's looking forward to this."
 
 "So am I actually. Thanksgiving with everyone was a lot of fun. Better than 
 any I've had before."
 
 "Well Christmas should be even more exciting" Harm smiled.
 
 "I bet. I'm all set. Can you grab that box of presents over there for me?"
 
 "What are all these?" Harm asked as he lifted the box.
 
 "Presents of course" Dale laughed. "I got a little something for everyone. 
 Well a more like a lot of something for you and Mac since you've been so 
 great to me."
 
 "Dale you didn't have to do that."
 
 "I know. I wanted to. I just wanted to say thanks for all you've done for 
 me. You've helped me get myself a little more together. Even my CO was 
 saying what a better attitude I've had since Thanksgiving. And instead of 
 sitting here all the time feeling sorry for myself I've made some friends."
 
 "Well I'm glad we helped out like that."
 
 "So where is Mac anyway?" Dale asked once he and Harm were on the road. "I 
 hope somewhere better than around here."
 
 "Um actually she's in Illinois" Harm said slowly.
 
 "Great Lakes?" Dale asked. "I hear that place is really horrible in the 
 winter time."
 
 "No she's not away on JAG business. She's visiting someone. Someone you 
 know. Allison Hargrove."
 
 "Allison?  How does she know Allison?"
 
 "She doesn't. Well at least she didn't before she flew out there last night 
 to see her."
 
 "Why did she go to see Allison?" Dale demanded.

"Because she saw two people whom she says love and need each other," Harm smiled.

"Allison needs me in her life like she needs four impacted wisdom teeth," he grunted.  "And 
anyway how the hell did she find out about Allison.  That's a part of my life I left behind a long 
time ago, except for a letter from her that came at Thanksgiving. . .a letter I didn't open and 
threw away."

"That would be the one.  The letter she fished from your trash and opened."

"Isn't that a federal offense?"

"No.  Once you throw it away, it becomes in the public domain.  Dale I don't know what to tell 
you except that this is something she got in her heart and wouldn't let go," Harm sighed.  "So 
she went to bring Allison back for you."

"Allison does not need me.  We had this huge goodbye fight.  I cheated on her and she told 
me to get out of her life and I did.  Things were getting serious between us and then I knew I 
was no good for her.  I was in shit up to my eyeballs and facing serious jail time when they let 
me enlist instead and besides I knew I was no good for her."

"OK calm down," Harm soothed.  "That's all in the past.  And all Mac has in mind is that the 
two of you see each other with open minds and see if there's still anything there that you want 
to explore."  He carefully left out that the young man with whom he was standing was a father.  
That news would be better delivered by Allison in person.

"I could refuse to go back with you."

"Of course you could.  But I hope you won't.  I hope you'll be open minded enough to see 
what she has to say.  You might find you can still be friends if nothing else."

"Even if I wanted to, she. . ."

"She gets to make up her own mind.  You don't get to make that decision for her."  Harm took 
hold of his arm.  "Let's go Seaman.  The weather is closing in and I don't want to get stuck on 
the road.  I want to be there when Mac and Allison get off the plane."

"Did you hear the forecast?" Dale asked, resigning himself to the inevitable and  turning his 
attention to getting his bag finished and zipped.

"Yeah and I didn't like it.  "From cold and cloudy they were saying yesterday to a sixty percent 
chance of snow and then freezing rain on top.  Move your six Seaman.  That drive can be hell 
on wheels in good weather."

The snow started just outside Fredericksburg. and with a long sigh Harm turned the wipers 
on.  "Dale you haven't opened your mouth since you got into the car," he finally got out.  "If it's 
any help, I think you're doing the right thing.  Love is too rare and precious to waste when it 
does happen."

"Harm I came this close to ruining her life," he sighed, holding up his fingers in demonstration.  
"And she was crystal clear when we had that fight that she didn't want to see me again."

"Well obviously there was a mind-set change because she sent you that letter, and I know 
what it says.  She wants to see you.  She feels there's a chance.  You owe her that much I 
think.  You're not going to deny you have feelings for her still are you?"

"No hell no," he muttered.  "But it's a matter of what's good for her."

"And there's more than just you two to consider," Harm countered before biting back the 
thought.  He was determined that it be Allison who told him of their son.

"Whatever," Dale sighed.
==============
ENROUTE TO NEWTON LAKE

Allison's soft sniffles kept time with the windshield wipers as Mac pushed the speed limit, 
trying to be cognizant of the deteriorating road and weather conditions at the same time.  "If I 
had the money I'd give it to them," she sobbed finally, breaking the silence.  "I'd do anything 
to have my baby back.  They must think Dale and I are together, else they wouldn't have used 
him for leverage."

Mac nodded soberly.  "Do you know what became of the money they're talking about?"  

"That I know of it was never that much.  Mostly nickel and dime stuff they were messing with.  
What little money Dale had he paid in fines and restitution anyway.  No this is more of a 
ransom demand.  But Mac even if we get Chris back, they'll just come after him again."

"Yeah well you won't be around to let that happen," she replied firmly.  "We're going to get 
that baby and get both of you away from them.  Harm and I will take care of you guys and I'll 
be helping you file charges.  Christopher Dale March will be in the Navy himself before they're 
free again."

"No police until he's safe remember," Allison whispered.

"Of course," Mac nodded.  "They're not going to be expecting us two women and that's a 
huge advantage.  Plus we're going to be there a whole lot sooner than they would have 
thought.  I just hope they're taking care of him.  Feeding him and all."

"Probably Jolene is with them.  Brett's girl," she sighed.  "She'd know about bottles and stuff."
 
 "She'd help them take care of a kidnapped baby?" Mac frowned. "What kind of 
 people are these?"
 
 "Not good. That's why I moved away and that's why I was so glad Dale left."
 
 "Tell me again that we're doing the right thing then" Mac sighed. "The two 
 of us going in against them."
 
 "We don't have any choice" Allison whispered. "Please don't back out on me 
 now. I need your help. I'll never get Chris back alive if you don't help 
 me."
 
 "I'm not going to back out. I promised I'd help you get Chris back and I 
 will. No matter what it takes. I just wish Harm were here."
 
 "Didn't you need to call him?" Allison asked.
 
 "He's probably on his way back home by now" Mac sighed as she looked at her 
 watch. "And I don't even know if he's told Dale what I was doing so I hate 
 to call him. I'll just wait until we get this all figured out."
 
 "He's going to be worried."
 
 "He'd be more worried if he knew what we were about to do. It's better that 
 I tell him later. I don't want him having a coronary while he's driving."
 
 "He must love you a lot" Allison sniffled again.

 "As I do him" Mac said softly.
 
 *******************
 En route to DC
 
 "Okay how long have we been sitting here?" Harm groaned.
 
 "Long enough to know that we're not going to be moving anytime soon" Dale 
 sighed. "There must be some major mess up there. And with the way this snow 
 is coming down it isn't going to get any better anytime soon."
 
 "And of course there isn't anything on the radio except Christmas music" 
 Harm sighed as he flipped stations again. "I guess I might as well call Mac 
 and see how things are going. I'm actually surprised she hadn't called yet 
 to tell me her and Allison are on their way to the airport." As he said the 
 words, the bad feeling that he'd had when he'd taken Mac to the airport 
 returned. He'd been so caught up in driving and worrying about the weather 
 that he hadn't even thought about Mac not calling. Now he could suddenly 
 feel his stomach dropping as a million thoughts flashed through his mind.
 
 "Maybe Allison doesn't want to see me. Maybe Mac was wrong."
 
 "No" Harm said slowly. "Mac's not usually wrong about these things. And now 
 that I think about she promised she'd call me so I would know for sure if 
 their plane was taking off on time. They should be to the airport by now."
 
 "Well if they get out of Illinois they'll probably get to the airport before 
 we will" Dale sighed. "That's if they even got out. If it's like this 
 everywhere, they may have grounded the flights."
 
 "She still should have called me. I'm going to call her."
 
 He pulled out his cell phone and dialed her number, frowning even more when 
 he got her voice mail.
 
 "Mac it's me. Where are you? You said you were going to call me today. I'm 
 getting worried. Call me as soon as you get this."
 
 "No answer?" Dale asked.
 
 "No. And I had a bad feeling about this last night. I shouldn't have let her 
 go alone."
 
 "Do you know for sure she got to Allison's?" Dale asked.
 
 "Yeah she called me from there last night. And she said Allison was real 
 nice and they were going to talk and then in the morning they were going to 
 head to the airport. And she always has her cell phone on. I don't get it. 
 Something isn't right."
 
 "Harm maybe she just forgot to put her cell phone on."
 
 "No. Mac knew I wanted to talk to her today. She wouldn't have forgotten."
 
 "Well unfortunately there's not a lot we can do right now" Dale sighed. 
 "Unless you know a way to get us out of this parking lot."
 
 "No I don't" Harm said with growing frustration. "What I can do is try and 
 call Allison's place and see if they're still there."
 
 "You know her number?" Dale asked.
 
 "I'm sure information will have it. I know the name and the city. That's 
 what 411 is for." As he spoke he dialed 411 and waited for the operator.
 
 "City is Mt. Vernon Illinois. I'm looking for Allison Hargrove."
 
 "She moved to Mt. Vernon?" Dale frowned. "When did she move?"
 
 Harm ignored his comments as he waited for the operator to return, sighing 
 loudly when she reported no number.
 
 "Damn" he said as he flipped his phone closed. "There's no listing for her."
 
 "You're really worried about Mac aren't you?" Dale asked. "You think she's 
 in some kind of trouble. Meaning her and Allison could be in trouble."
 
 "I hope I'm wrong" Harm sighed. "But that's exactly what I'm thinking."
 
"Harm I don't understand.  What kind of trouble could they be in?  I mean she was picking 
Allison up right?  How could that be a problem?"

"Hell I don't know," he groaned.  "Like I keep saying, something has not felt right about this 
whole freakin' thing."

"I'm sorry," Dale whispered in sudden misery.  "If I've brought trouble to you guys, I'm sorry."

"Trouble seems to find us at times," Harm sighed.  "And anyway, there would have been no 
dissuading Mac from doing this.  I just should have pulled my head out of my six and gone 
with her that's all.  God I can be such a zero at times."

"I hope you're worrying for nothing," Dale said quietly.  "We're supposed to go meet their flight 
right?  Maybe they'll just be on it and your stroke will be for nothing."

"Yeah."
===========
NEWTON LAKE AREA

"Pull off here," Allison directed.  "The cabin is about two miles up this road.  We'll need to 
come through the woods."

"You'd make a good Marine," Mac smiled despite her concern.  

"Well they won't expect us or anyone this soon.  They told me to call them when I had the 
money.  I'm sure I'm right about them being here.  They wouldn't dare take Chris back to 
Enterprise.  Everyone knows everyone and they'd be spotted in two minutes."

"Let's do it," Mac smiled with an assurance she did not feel.  When she climbed from the car 
she pulled her coat around her more tightly and checked the weapon in her pocket.  A 9mm 
with an extra clip should be more than enough stopping power.
============
REAGAN NATIONAL
2 HOURS LATER

"I thought we'd never get here," Harm sighed, exhaustion beginning to set in, exhaustion from 
the tension and the drive both.  "Let's see if the flight is in."

"Yeah there it is," he pointed a few minutes later when they had made their way to one of the 
screens.  "OK we're going to meet them at the Starbucks on the main concourse, and that's 
this way."

"Please let them be there," Dale breathed.

"I take it your feeling better about Allison's coming?" Harm smiled despite his worry.

"Well I haven't gotten back to that," Dale admitted.  "I'm stuck on worrying that they're OK 
after what you said.  I guess though that would mean that I still do care.  It's just been a long 
time since I dealt with those feelings."

"I know all about pushing feelings aside," Harm panted, trying to talk and walk 
simultaneously.  At the same time he remembered what Allison was carrying with her.  A 
small baby boy who could be a deciding factor--either way.

"Damn no sign of them," Harm groaned as soon as they reached the small coffee shop.  
"Dale look over by the restrooms or something while I ask," he went on.  When Dale was out 
of earshot he hurried to the counter.  "Ma'am I'm looking for a pretty dark haired woman about 
five-nine.  She's traveling with another woman and I don't know what she looks like but they'd 
have a baby with them.  Can you help me?"

"Oh hey no I'm sorry.  And I've been here all afternoon.  I'd notice a baby for sure.  I'm going 
to be a grandmother, twice over, this month."

"Yes ma'am thank you," Harm sighed, mentally calculating the flight arrival time, knowing that 
even allowing for baggage claim Mac and Allison would have easily beaten him and Dale to 
the meeting place.  As he watched for Dale to return, he again dialed Mac's number, and it 
took all the self-control he could muster not to throw the phone in frustration when voice mail 
came up once again.

"Harm I don't see them anywhere," Dale fretted.   "What now?"

"Now I'm going to the United counter, flash my ID and find out if they checked in for that 
flight,"  he hissed.  "And depending on the answer, I'm then booking us on the next flight 
there.  OK?"

 "Sounds like a plan" Dale nodded. "Let's go."
 
 Harm pushed his way to the front of the United ticket counter, receiving 
 glares from angry holiday travelers as he did so.
 
 "Sir what do you think you're doing?" the young woman behind the counter 
 snapped.
 
 "I’m Commander Rabb from the Judge Advocate General's office" Harm retorted. 
 "This is official military business. I need to find out if a Colonel Sarah 
 Mackenzie checked in on a flight that landed a short time ago from 
 Evansville, Illinois."
 
 "Sir why don't you go to the airport information center. They'll be able to 
 page her for you."
 
 "I don't think she's here" Harm snapped. "That's why I want you to see if 
 she ever got on the plane."
 
 "How do you spell the name?"
 
 "M…A…C…K…E…N…Z…I…E" he said with growing impatience. "Sarah Mackenzie. She 
 was traveling with an Allison Hargrove."
 
 "Yes they were booked on the flight. But neither of them checked in. They 
 weren't on the plane sir."
 
 "Damn it" Harm muttered us his breath. "You're sure?"
 
 "It's right here in black and white on the screen" she sighed. "Now if 
 you'll excuse me there are people who need to get checked in."
 
 "I want two seats on the next flight to Evansville" Harm said quickly. "What 
 time does the next plane leave?"
 
 "I'll be happy to give you two seats" she sighed. "But you're not going to 
 be going anywhere for a while. They've been closing airports one by one from 
 Chicago east. That's why this place is such a zoo."
 
 "I need to get there right away" Harm moaned. "There has to be a flight 
 going somewhere."
 
 "Florida. Until we're grounded here which won't be much longer. In fact I'm 
 betting the flight to Florida won't even get out."
 
 "This is a nightmare. You're telling me not one airport in the Midwest is 
 open right now? You have to get me somewhere close to Illinois."
 
 "Sir I wish I could help you but I can't" she sighed. "And as I speak we've 
 just been given notification that all flights have been grounded. I'm sorry. 
 If you want I can book you on the next flight to Illinois but I can't tell 
 you when it will be taking off."
 
 "Harm we can't just sit here and wait" Dale groaned. "What if something did 
 happen to them?"
 
 "You're right. How far is it by car?"
 
 "About twelve to thirteen hours on a good day" he sighed. "In this, at least 
 double that. We'll be lucky if we get there by this time tomorrow."
 
 "We'll start driving and if we can find an airport that isn't snowed in 
 we'll see if we can get a flight out of there. But you're right that we 
 can't just sit here."
 
 Harm nodded and moments later they were sprinting through the crowded 
 airport and back to their car. The weather had only gotten worse and Harm 
 let out a long sigh.
 
 "This isn't going to be fun driving. And I'll understand completely if you'd 
 rather I just drop you at my place so you can wait there."
 
 "No way in hell" Dale said quickly.  "Besides you'll need the help driving. 
 You can't drive straight through without taking a break. At least not in 
 this mess. We can take turns and that way we won't have to stop."
 
 "Good plan. And in the meantime we keep trying Mac's cell phone. They have 
 to be somewhere."
 
 "I’m sorry about this" Dale sighed as Harm carefully made his way out of the 
 parking lot. "This is my fault. You and Mac were trying to do something for 
 me and now she's in trouble. See what I mean about me bringing nothing but 
 bad stuff into people's lives."
 
 "Dale this is not your fault. If anyone is at fault it's me for not going 
 with her. I should never have let her go alone. And I'm sure whatever 
 detained them isn't your fault. There's a million possible reasons why they 
 didn't make the flight. It's just that none of them are good."
 
 "No they're not. And I'm sorry."
 
 "Stop with the sorry" Harm ordered. "We'll find them and they'll be fine and 
 at some point we'll probably be laughing about this whole thing. Just not 
 yet."
 
 "You want me to try the cell phone again?" Dale asked.
 
 "Please. Not that I'm expecting any answer. But we can keep trying."
 
 Dale nodded and reached for Harm's phone, scrolling through Harm's list of 
 numbers for Mac's cell. He waited as it rang; sighing and flipping it shut 
 when he got voicemail.
 
 "Nothing. Sorry."
 
 "Don't worry about it. We'll get to them. Somehow."
 
 "What if we don’t?" he said somberly. "Harm I've read the stories about 
 women who just disappear. Never to be seen again."
 
 "Don't even think that" Harm snapped. "That's not going to happen. They're 
 somewhere and we're going to find them no matter what."

"Can we call the FBI or something," he fretted.  "And I'm serious about these missing persons 
cases Harm.  You have to know there's hundreds of them every year.  People who just 
vanish."

"Dale if you're trying to make me more freaked, it's working so knock it off," Harm growled.  
"I'm trying to hang on to a small bit of sanity here by allowing myself to think that there's a 
really logical reason for this and that we've just had a communications breakdown 
somewhere."

"Sorry.  Opps.  I mean. . ."  Dale looked at him helplessly.

"Hey it's OK," Harm assured him, clapping a hand to his shoulder.  "Why don't you just take a 
deep breath.  I'll do the same.  And we'll start in that direction.  I know Mac will call at some 
point.  We'll either be heading for her or get the word to turn around because everything is 
fine.  Either way we'll be prepared."

Dale nodded and dutifully followed him to the SUV.   It took four long hours but the SUV got 
them through to Charleston W.Va., and Harm pulled off the highway for gas and coffee.  

"Harm you ready for me to take a turn?  You should try to get a little sleep maybe?" Dale 
offered.

"I don't know if I can," he sighed and shook his head.  "No no thanks.  I'm better if my mind is 
on driving.  I'll let you know when I need a breather."

"Yeah OK," Dale nodded and went on slowly.  "Harm I. . .I wish I knew what to say.  And I 
may be just a kid, but I do know that she loves you.  A helluva lot."

"As I do her," he replied.  "And I hope she knows that.  We haven't said it.  I mean I figured it 
was a given, but more I figured there would be time for it."  His last words came with a short 
sob and he quickly turned his head, not wanting the Seaman to see an officer in the throes of 
emotion.
================
NEAR LOUISVILLE KY
Midnight

Harm had previously refused Dale's offer to drive but as they neared Louisville he could feel 
his head nodding and his eyes wanting to close.  Dale was dozing fitfully in the seat, his head 
leaning against the window and Harm shot him a sympathetic glance.  So far he had withheld 
the information that there was a small baby boy with the two women.  And along with the 
hundredth prayer for Mac he added one for that baby and his mother.

Dale sensed they had stopped and he came awake, sitting up slowly, blinking in the garish 
lights of the interstate gas station.  "Commander you look like hell.  I'll be relieving you at this 
point sir.  Don't fight me please."

Harm opened his mouth to do just that and decided against it.  "Yeah I do need a couple 
hours I guess, but I don't expect to sleep."

Dale nodded and stared at the cell phone, now attached to the charger and resting in its 
holder.  "I don't have to ask.  You would have told me."

"Yeah.  I've tried every ten minutes.  OK let's gas up and I'm going in for some juice.  Coffee 
for you?"

"Hot and black please."

Harm paid for the gas and was walking back to the SUV, coffee cup in one hand, juice bottle 
in the other when Dale leaped from the front seat, waving the cell phone.  "Harm it's. . .it's 
them but. . .I don't know. . .but something is awful wrong," he screamed, nearly incoherent.
 
   Without a word Harm pushed the coffee and juice at Dale and grabbed the cell 
   phone from him.
   
   "Mac it's Harm where are you?" he shrieked into the phone.
   
   "This isn't Mac" came the tearful voice. "It's Allison."
   
   "Where's Mac?" Harm demanded. "Dammit Allison what happened and where is 
   she?"
   
   "That's Allison" Dale gasped. "Oh god is she okay? Is she hurt? What 
   happened? Let me talk to her." He reached for the phone from Harm and Harm 
   shoved his hand away.
   
   "I need to find out where Mac is first," he shouted. "Then you can talk to 
   her. Allison this is Harm. Where is Mac?"
   
   "It was so horrible sir" Allison wailed. "We went to get Christopher back. 
   And at first I thought it was going to be okay and then at the last minute 
   Brett pulled out the gun as we got to the car" Her voice broke and all Harm 
   could hear was loud sobbing on the other end of the phone.
   
   "Wait I don't understand" Harm shrieked. "Get Christopher back from who and 
   why did they have a gun and why am I talking to you and not Mac?"
   
   "Brett and his friends kidnapped Christopher. They wanted to get Dale to 
   give them back the money. And Mac and I went to get him back."
   
   "Allison this is important" Harm said with a deep breath. "Where is Mac? I 
   need to talk to her."
   
   "You can't" she sobbed. "She got shot. We were almost out of there when 
   Brett shot her."
   
   "Oh god" Harm whispered, all color draining from his face. "Tell me she's 
   not." His couldn't even manage to choke out the word dead and Dale's eyes 
   widened as he watched the expression on Harm's face. "No, please don't tell 
   me that."
   
   "She's not" Allison sobbed. "But I don't know if she's going to be okay. I 
   haven't gotten to see her since we got to the hospital."
   
   "Where are you?" Harm whispered.
   
   "Good Samaritan Hospital in Olney" she sobbed. "I'm so sorry. This is all my 
   fault. She's hurt and I don't even know if either her or Christopher are 
   going to be okay."
   
   "They hurt Christopher?" Harm managed, his thoughts of Mac momentarily 
   distracted by this newest piece of news.
   
   "He was sick" she wailed. "And they had him at the hunting shack in the 
   woods. And now he's in a warmer and they can't even tell me he's going 
   to live."
   
   Harm closed his eyes, the nightmarish picture Allison was painting getting 
   worse by the second.
   
   "Harm are you still there?" she sobbed.
   
   "I'm here," Harm said finally. "Look we're going to try and find an airport 
   and see if we can get there, not that I have any clue where Olney Illinois 
   even is."
   
   "Dale knows where it is" she sniffled. "Please can I talk to him?"
   
   "I need you to promise me something," Harm said somberly. "I need you to 
   promise me that if they let you see Mac you'll tell her that I'm on my way. 
   And that I love her and she had better not even think about leaving me. You 
   got that."
   
   "I do" she whispered. "And I'm so sorry."
   
   He said nothing; instead handing the phone to a stunned Dale who had 
   listened to the entire exchange.
   
   "Allison?" he whispered as he took the phone from Harm. "Is that really 
   you?"
   
   "Yeah it's me. I'm so sorry I made such a mess of everything. I just wanted 
   to come to DC with Mac so I could see you. And so you could see Christopher. 
   But I don't even know if you'll ever get to see him." She broke down in sobs 
   again and Dale took a deep breath.
   
   "Allison what happened? Who's Christopher? And why did you and Mac have to 
   get him back?"
   
   "He's your son," she whispered so quietly that at first he wasn't sure he'd 
   heard her right.
   
   "Did you say my son?" he asked.
   
   "Yes Dale. Christopher is your son. I was going to surprise you for 
   Christmas thanks to Harm and Mac. But now you might never get to see him."
   
   "My son. What happened to my son?"
   
   "He's sick. Very sick. And they don't know if he's going to make it."
   
  Dale looked up in shock at Harm.  "I. . .I have a baby boy."
  
  "Yeah I know.  It was going to be part of the surprise," Harm whispered, attempting to hold 
back his own emotion.  "Get in the car boy.  Get me to Mac.  And let's get you to your son."  
To emphasize his words he gave the younger man's shoulder a quick shove.  Dale handed 
him the phone and the SUV sped from the station.
  
  "Allison this is Harm again," he said, keeping as calm as he could manage.  "How bad is 
Mac hurt?  Are they just not telling you?"
  
  "They took her and Christopher both," she replied, her voice now almost inaudible.  "They 
took one look at them and took them away.  Chris is having a real hard time breathing.  His 
lungs are congested from the cold air and the cold he had.  It's pneumonia they're saying.  
And Mac. . .god Harm there was so much blood."
  
  Those words did nothing to make Harm feel better and he squeezed out two tears before he 
could speak again.  "Allison where is Mac now?"
  
  "They took her to surgery.  That's all I know honest."
  
  Harm handed the phone to Dale, turning his head to the window in his grief.
  
  "Allison it's Dale," he said softly.  "I don't know what to say except that we're coming as fast 
as we can.  I. . .Allison you had my baby?"
  
  "Yeah I did," she sobbed.  "He's beautiful Dale.  He's you.  Please hurry."  With that she 
clicked off the phone.  The last thing Dale heard was a few seconds of her sobbing hard.
  
  "How long until we get there?" Harm gasped, the effort to talk from his constricted throat 
painful.
  
  "In this weather, maybe six hours," Dale sighed, edging the gas pedal more to the floor.  
"Harm I'm a father.  A father of a baby I may not ever get to hold."
  
  "I know son," he replied.  "I wish I knew what to say."
  
  "You knew this didn't you?"
  
  "It was part of the surprise," he admitted quietly.  "I thought it was Allison's place to tell you."
  
  There was total silence in the car save the swish of the wipers and the crunch of the tires in 
the muck for the next three hours until the phone rang again. Harm snatched it up and when it 
was to his ear could barely get out his hello.
  
  "Harm it's me.  She survived the surgery.  The doctor doesn't know how, but she did and 
she's in recovery.  I don't think they're going to let me see her."
  
  "I understand," he gasped, shaking with relief to know she was alive and he looked over to 
Dale.  "Mac's alive still."
  
  "Good. My son.  Please ask."
  
  "Allison, how's the baby?"
  
  "He's not any worse and they're saying that's good," she whispered.  "I guess things could 
be a lot worse.  Will you guys be here soon?"
  
  "Not real soon."  He bit his lip and shook hard from the effort of concentrating.  "Look Allison 
I want you to get yourself into Mac's room.  However you have to.  Then when you do I want 
you to call me back."
  
  "I don't understand."
  
  "I have something she needs to hear."
  
  "Harm she can't. . ."
  
  "She will.  Just do it."
    
  "All right" she whispered. "It's the least I can do since this all happened 
  because of me. Give me a few minutes since I'll have to wait until the 
  nurses are out of sight."
  
  "I'll be waiting" Harm said softly. "Just don't call back until you're in 
  Mac's room."
  
  "I'll do my best" she promised before hanging up.
  
  "They're both still alive" Dale whispered. "We're going to get to them and 
  they're going to be okay."
  
  "You got a special line in with God that I don't know about?" Harm sighed. 
  "Because I wish I was feeling as confident about them as you are."
  
  "No I don't" Dale said soberly. "And maybe you're right. I haven't done much 
  in this life to deserve a second chance with Allison and now my son that's for 
  sure."
  
  Harm was silent for several moments as they drove down the nearly empty 
  highway. It wasn't until he caught sight of a sign noting a small town ahead 
  that he spoke again.
  
  "Pull off here" he ordered.
  
  "Why?" Dale frowned. "We got gas. You need to stop for something else?"
  
  "Yes we do. Just pull off and start looking for the nearest church. I'm sure 
  there's one around here somewhere."
  
  "We're going to a church?"
  
  "Well let's just say that sometimes it doesn't hurt to go directly to the 
  Man himself and do some good old fashioned praying" Harm said quietly. 
  "Cause like you I'm not real sure I've done much in life to warrant another 
  chance with Mac. God knows he gave us enough chances and most of the time I 
  blew them."
  
  "Harm I don't go to church much" Dale said after he'd quickly located the 
  old brick church in the center of town. "In fact, I can't even tell you the 
  last time I went to church. Probably when I was a kid and my Mom made me."
  
  "Well I'm not exactly an altar boy myself" Harm sighed as Dale brought the 
  car to a stop in front of the building  "But right now this just seems like 
  the right thing to do."
  
  Dale nodded and followed Harm up to the front of the church. Even at three 
  in the morning the doors of the church were open and Harm and Dale quietly 
  crept inside.
  
  "Okay so what do we do now?" Dale asked sheepishly.
  
  "Just start talking to God" Harm said as he walked to the front of the 
  church.
  
  Dale stood there watching him before sinking down in a pew in the back of 
  the church. His world had been irrevocably altered; the knowledge that he had fathered a 
  child suddenly hit him hard. And even scarier was the fact that he might never 
  get to see that child.
  
  "I'm not real good at this" Dale said quietly as he looked forward at the 
  cross. "So just bear with me. I haven't done a lot of things right in this 
  world. But of course you know that. But if I'd have known about Christopher I 
  wouldn't have left Allison. I would have stayed there and taken care of 
  them. And now that I know about this, I want to make things right. But I 
  can't do that if you take Christopher away from us. Allison needs him. I can 
  tell. She loves him more than anything else. You can't take him from us. 
  Please don't take my son away."
  
  Despite his attempts to keep them back, tears slowly ran down his face. The 
  woman he loved had given birth to his son. And now that son might be taken 
  away even before he could ever see him. And Allison. What would she do if 
  she lost Christopher?
  
  At the front of the church, Harm went to his knees, begging God not to take 
  the woman he loved from him.
  
  "She's my world," he said quietly as he looked upwards. "Please don't take 
  her away from me. I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with 
  her. This time I promise I'll make it right."
  
  His cell phone rang as he wiped away the tears that had once again fallen.
  
  "Allison?" he sniffled.
  
  "I'm here Harm. In Mac's room. Whatever you need to say, you'd better make 
  it quick because they'll be back real soon."
  
  "Put the phone next to her hear so she'll hear" Harm ordered. "And then give 
  me a minute."
  
  She did that and he took a deep breath to compose himself before speaking.
  
  "Sarah honey it's me. Harm. The guy who loves you and doesn't want to spend 
  the rest of his life without you. So you need to keep fighting. I promise 
  I'm going to be there real soon. And when I do, I want to see those brown 
  eyes open so I can look into them and tell them how much I love you. And how 
  all I want for Christmas this year is you in my life. You can't leave me 
  Sarah. I need you so much. You make me complete. I can't get through a 
  lifetime unless it's with you at my side. Don't make me walk the rest of my 
  life without you. I can't bear it Sarah. I love you so much. You can't leave 
  me." His voice broke as the sobs wracked his body. His sobs were so loud 
  that Allison heard him, taking the phone once again.
  
  "Harm" she sniffled, the sound of his tears bringing more of her own.
  
  "Thank you Allison" he managed. "We're coming. We'll be there as soon as we 
  can."  He hung up just as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Dale, who 
  sank down beside him.
  
  "Is everything okay? Mac's okay isn't she? She's still holding on right?"
  
  "Yeah" Harm managed. "I just lost it there for a minute."
  
  "You love her so much don't you" Dale asked softly.
   
 "She's been my life for a very long time.  I was just too stupid to let myself realize it," Harm 
sighed.  "But no more.  I'm going to rectify that.  And that's what I wanted to vow to God 
above.  That if he would give me the chance I'd fix it.  She can't die Dale.  It can't end 
between us like this."
 
 Dale pressed a firm hand to the older man's shoulder, a man he was starting to think of as an 
older brother.  "Harm let's go.  God's not going to take her away.  The same God who's not 
going to take my son from me and Allison."
 
 They walked in silence back to the SUV, each man kicking the snow ahead of them.  "I'm still 
driving," Dale stipulated.  "You're kind of swaying on your feet."
 
 "Yeah I know.  OK I'll try to sleep some.  But we change over when we stop for gas again.  
And we should try to eat something I guess, though I'm not sure it will stay with me."
 
 "Me neither."
 =============
 Christmas Eve dawned with a watery sun and snow everywhere though the sparse traffic 
managed to keep moving until they were about five hours out of Olney when everything 
ground to a halt.  Harm was sleeping finally, making little snoring noises, and Dale could tell 
from his facial expressions he was also having fleeting nightmares.
 
 "Harm we've got major problems," he said finally, giving his arm a shake.  
 
 "Did Allison call?" he gasped, coming awake at once.  "And why are we not moving?"
 
 "No Allison.  Hopefully Mac is OK and Allison is getting some sleep.  I was figuring we'd get 
gas at the next stop, but we've been sitting in this non moving traffic for forty minutes now and 
the gas light is on.  I'm sorry.  I didn't think it would be a problem to wait, and it wouldn't have 
been if we'd been moving.  I'm sorry."
 
 Harm sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to get his muddled mind to focus.  Up 
ahead as far as he could see was a line of cars.  "Have we moved at all?"
 
 "Maybe half a mile.  An accident maybe.  Thing is, when the gas goes, there's no place to 
pull over."
 
 Harm frowned and looked to the shoulder.  Or what would have been the shoulder had the 
snow plows not deposited the heavy white stuff which they had scraped from the roadway.
 
 "Hang tight and pray," he sighed.
 
 It was a prayer that went unfulfilled for twenty minutes later, with only another quarter-mile 
progress, the engine coughed and died.
 
 "I'm sorry," Dale gasped, fighting off how close he was to tears of fear and frustration.
 
 "Just sit still while I pop the hood so the cars behind us know we're dead in the water," Harm 
told him.  "And we'll figure out what to do.  We may have to walk to the exit.  I do have a gas 
can in the well.  How far to the exit?"
 
 "Has to be five miles," Dale sighed.  "God I am so stupid."
 
 "You couldn't have known this would happen and you've got a lot on your mind," Harm 
soothed. "So just take a breath.  Allison call while I was out?"
 
 He shook his head.  "I'm  hoping that means everything is fine and she's getting some rest.  
She would have given the hospital this number anyway so no news and all that BS and god I 
am so scared."
 
 "You don't have the market cornered there son," Harm sighed.  "But gas is our first 
consideration here.  One of us stays with the vehicle, one of us gets the gas."
 
 "Well the only problem with that is none of these cars are moving," he replied morosely.  "But 
you stay with the car and phone.  I'll tend to the gas."
   
 "Be careful" Harm sighed as Dale climbed from the car. "And bundle up. It's 
 freezing out there."
 
 Dale nodded and zipped his jacket before heading from the car. He headed to 
 the right berm, walking slowly past the cars that were sitting as though 
 they were in a parking lot. Several people offered him help, but he kept 
 walking. The closer he got to the exit, the sooner he would get off once the
 traffic finally did start moving.  He wasn't sure how far he'd walked when he finally noticed 
that the cars were starting to move and he immediately turned to face the cars in hopes 
 that someone would give him a ride. His wish was granted a moment later as a 
 car stopped next to him.
 
 "Need a lift son?" an older gentleman called from the driver's seat.
 
 "Just to the exit if you don't mind" Dale replied. "My friend and I ran out 
 a gas a few miles back."
 
 "No problem. We're getting off there anyway. I told Millie we might as well 
 have walked to her sister's than drive. We would have gotten there a heck of 
 a lot faster."
 
 "You sure you don't mind?" Dale asked as he looked at Millie.
 
 "It's no problem" she nodded. "Warren is in no hurry to see Millie anyway. 
 And it's Christmas Eve and I'm sure you and your friend are trying to get 
 home to someone."
 
 "Yeah we are" Dale said softly as he climbed into the back seat.
 
 It took but a minute to reach the exit once the traffic finally began to 
 move steadily and Warren quickly pulled into the nearest gas station.
 
 "Thank you so much. I really appreciate this."
 
 "You're welcome son. Have a Merry Christmas."
 
 "You too" Dale said softly before closing the door. He hurried inside the 
 station and purchased a gas can, which he quickly filled before heading back 
 towards the highway.
 
 He'd walked a few miles when he saw Harm's vehicle slowly being pulled by a 
 large pickup truck.
 
 "Looks like you got a ride" Dale said to Harm when the vehicle came to a 
 stop.
 
 "This is Jim" Harm said as the man in the pickup got out. "He was kind 
 enough to give me a tow."
 
 "This must be your friend" Jim smiled. "He's got the gas can so I'll get you 
 unhooked."
 
 In a matter of moment's the SUV was filled with enough gas to get it to the 
 exit and after bidding a thank you to Jim they took off, heading straight to 
 the gas station when they reached the exit.
 
 "Did Allison call?" Dale asked once the SUV was refueled and they were back 
 on their way again. The freeway had finally cleared, the final remnants of 
 what had been a multi-car pile-up now on the side of the road.
 
 "Yeah. There's no change on either Mac or Christopher. But they say that's a 
 good sign. I don't know how but that's what they say."
 
 "Well they're no worse. I guess that's why it's good. I just wish we were 
 there. And I'm sorry about this."
 
 "Hey it's not your fault. We'll still get there. How much further is it?"
 
 "Another five hours" Dale sighed. "Hopefully there won't be anymore 
 problems."
 
 The next three hours passed without incident, but their luck ran out a few 
 hours outside of Olney as the weather suddenly worsened again, blizzard 
 conditions quickly surrounding them.
 
 "Easy" Harm murmured as he brought the SUV down to a more manageable speed 
 given the current weather.
 
 "This does not look good" Dale sighed.
 
 "Just hang tight," Harm said as slowed even more. "Hopefully this won't keep 
 up."
 
 The snow fell even faster as they continued along, cars moving to the side 
 of the highway as the blinding snow became thicker and thicker. Harm 
 carefully inched along, determined to get to Mac as soon as he could.
 
 "Harm look out" Dale shouted as the driver of a car in front of them suddenly slammed on its 
 brakes, spinning around wildly on the slippery snow covered roads.
   
Harm hit his own brakes as hard as he dared, blessing the anti-lock system as the SUV's big 
tires bit into the snow.  The SUV began to slow almost at once and Harm turned the wheel 
intending to guide it off the road, only to have the car behind him sound its horn as its brakes 
were not holding.  The smaller lighter vehicle clipped Harm's at the back left  and careened off 
like it was a carnival bumper car, heading for the car that had started the melee.  That car 
was still in its spin and the two met with the deafening sound that could be made only by 
splintering metal and breaking glass.

With reflexes born of years in the cockpit, Harm let off the brake and floored his accelerator, 
attempting to get them out of the path of the ricocheting vehicles.  The second vehicle hit him 
once more, in nearly the same spot, as the first dove for the side of the road, ending up in the 
snowbank.  

Harm took a long breath, feeling the adrenaline course through his body and leave him weak 
and panting.  "Dale you OK?"  

"Yeah I think so.  Wow.  That happened in like the space of ten seconds and yet it was like it 
was playing out in slow motion.  Nice maneuvering there Pilot."

"Yeah thanks.  Let's check on the others.  Call 911 too."

"I hope it's not bad," Dale breathed, picking up the phone while Harm exited the vehicle.

Dale was still on the phone with the dispatcher when Harm returned to him.  "Dale it's more 
than bad.  And we can't leave."

"What do you mean?  We've got to leave.  The car is still driveable isn't it?  Harm we've got to 
get going.  You know why."  Dale ran his hand through his hair frantically.

"I also know that we've been involved in accident where there's a fatality," he said quietly.  
"You know we can't go.  Not until we tell the police what happened.  We can't be with Mac 
and Allison if we're under arrest."

Dale nodded.  "Who died Harm?"

"A woman in the first car.  No seatbelt.  It's pretty bad in there."
===================
3 HOURS LATER

"OK Mr. Rabb you're good to go," Officer Beltrain smiled and shook his head.  "Now let me 
give you the lecture on how bad the roads have gotten into Olney."

"Please spare me," Harm sighed.  "We have to get there.  There's a woman. . ."

"I know all about it," Beltrain reminded him.  "Her name is Sarah but she's called Mac and she 
was hurt in that shooting they had down in Mt. Vernon and you need to get to her."

"I guess I've mentioned it," Harm sighed.  "We're free to go right?"

The phone was ringing as they pulled away from the scene of the accident and Dale grabbed 
it at once. "Allison hi."

"Hi Dale," she managed before tears took her voice. 

"Allison what's wrong?" Dale's words were almost shouted as panic tore through him and 
Harm jerked the wheel involuntarily in his alarm.

"I just needed to hear your voice," she sniffled.  "I'm so alone here.  This place is deserted for 
the holiday.  I was sitting with Christopher and now I'm sitting with Mac but she's just the 
same.  They say she should wake up, but she's not."
 
   "But she's not any worse right?" Dale asked softly.
 
 "Is something wrong with Mac?" Harm demanded as he attempted to keep his 
 attention on the road but not entirely succeeding. The sound of a horn 
 quickly brought his attention back and he jerked the wheel back.
 
 "She's the same. But they said she should be awake by now and she's not" 
 Dale reported quietly.
 
 "Give me the phone" Harm ordered and with a long sigh Dale handed the cell 
 phone to Harm. "Allison it's Harm. I want you to put the phone next to Mac 
 again. I need to tell her something."
 
 "Yes sir" Allison whispered before putting the phone next to Mac's ear 
 again.
 
 "Sarah honey it's me. I know I promised I'd be there and I will. It's just 
 taking me longer. But I need you to listen to me. I love you and when I get 
 there I want you to be awake. No more scaring me like this. I'm going to be 
 there in few hours and I want to see those big brown eyes when I get there. 
 I love you Sarah. And I'll be there soon. I promise."
 
 He handed the phone back to Dale who waited for Allison to return.
 
 "Hi it's me again," he said softly. "You okay?"
 
 "I will be if Harm stops making me cry" she sniffled. "I feel so damn guilty 
 as it and then he says stuff like that I just feel even worse. They love 
 each other so much and if something happens to her it's my fault."
 
 "This isn't your fault. It's mine for getting involved with those jerks. And 
 for leaving you behind to deal with them."
 
 "I tried to get away" she whispered. "That's why I left and went to Mt. 
 Vernon. Cause I knew they would get out one day and cause trouble."
 
 "I'm so sorry for that," Dale said softly. "But I promise things are going 
 to be different when I get there."
 
 "They will?"
 
 "Yeah they will. Just hold tight. We'll be there soon."
 
 "Thank you. And be careful. I heard the roads are pretty bad and I don't 
 think I can handle anything else happening right now."
 
 "We'll be careful."
 
 He hung and looked over at Harm. "I'm sorry. I wish there was better news 
 about Mac."
 
 "So do I" Harm whispered. "Because I'm not sure what I'd do if I lost her. 
 She's my world Dale. If anything happens to her, my life is over. I have 
 nothing left."
 
 "That's not going to happen. She's going to be okay. She knows you're coming 
 and she's going to pull through this."
 
 Harm nodded but said nothing. For several seconds there was silence before 
 he finally spoke again. "Sounds like you're thinking about fixing some 
 things in your life too."
 
 "I didn't realize how much I missed her until I heard her voice" Dale said 
 softly. "And now I can't wait until we get there so I can see her. So I can 
 just hold her again. I never let myself think about what I'd lost when she 
 left me. But now I know. She was a big part of my life and I want her back 
 in it."
 
 "Then I guess Mac did the right thing by coming out here" Harm said soberly. 
 "She was sure you two belonged together. I didn't believe her but she was 
 right."
 
 "Harm she's going to be okay."
 
 The remainder of the two hour drive was made in silence, both men lost in 
 their thoughts. The sign for Olney finally loomed ahead and Harm maneuvered 
 the vehicle off the highway and to the town. A few minutes later Harm pulled 
 the SUV into a parking space and let out a long sigh. They'd finally made 
 it. It was almost midnight and they'd been on the road for over twenty-four 
 hours. But they'd made it. He'd made it to Mac before Christmas.
 
 "Harm why am I suddenly shaking?" Dale asked as he and Harm made their way 
 inside the hospital.
 
 "Cause you're about to see the woman you love and your son for the first 
 time" Harm said with a small smile. "But there's nothing to worry about. It 
 sounds like you and Allison are going to pick up right where you left off."
 
 They stopped at the desk for directions and headed to Mac's room. Allison 
 was asleep on the chair next to Mac's bed and both men stopped as they 
 entered the room.
 
 "She's so beautiful" Dale whispered as he looked at Allison. "God I was a 
 fool to let her go."
 
 But Harm's attention wasn't on the young lady in the chair. It was on Mac. 
 He stood there staring at her, swallowing hard at the sight of her so still 
 and pale on the bed. For a moment, he thought that Allison had been lying to 
 him. That there was no way Mac was going to be okay.
 
 And as he stood there staring at her, she suddenly stirred. At first he 
 thought he'd imagined the movement but a moment later the brown eyes of the 
 woman he loved looked up at him, a small smile on her lips.
 
 "What took you so long?" she murmured.
 
 "Mac" he whispered. "You're awake."
 
 "Merry Christmas" she said softly. "And I love you too."

"You knew I. . .you heard me. . ." Harm stammered.  "I hoped. . .I prayed that you did, but I 
was so afraid."

Weakly she lifted her hands toward him and still he did not move.

"Harm?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you stuck in place?"

"No.  No I'm not," he whispered.  "I'm just afraid that I'm so tired that I'm delusional.  That 
you're not awake and that I'm not talking to you and that as soon as I touch you, you're going 
to vanish."

"Harm please," she whispered.  "I need you."

"And I need you," he gasped, and that gasp turned into a gut-wrenching sob as he dropped to 
the side of her mattress, taking her hands and pressing them to his face.  "Sarah I've been so 
scared."

Dale stood to one side uncertainly until Allison, disturbed by Harm, stirred in her chair and 
struggled to get her eyes open.  

"Are you a doctor?" she murmured, seeing Harm leaning over Mac.

"No Allison, he's her Harm," Dale said softly, stepping forward.  "Hi."

"Hi yourself," Allison replied softly, realization coming to her, her eyes darting from him to 
Harm and back.  "I'm glad you're here Dale."

Dale swallowed hard as his eyes fixated on her.  "I am too.  How's our baby?"

"Why don't we go take a look," she whispered, nodding to Mac and Harm.  "I think they need 
to be alone."

Hesitantly Dale reached his hand out to her.  "Take me to our son would you please."

"I want you to see him," Allison said softly, her hand reaching back to his.  "He's beautiful 
Dale, and right now he's so sick."

Dale nodded and took her hand, letting her lead him away.

Once they were alone Harm put her hands down and leaned over to kiss her dry lips.  "You 
knew I was coming didn't you.  I promised you I would."

"Yes you did.  I waited up."

"I. . .I love you," he managed to get out before he succumbed to tears of exhaustion and 
worry.  

"Harm please," she begged, reaching up to stroke his damp cheek with the back of her hand.  
"I'm going to be OK.  You look like hell on the other hand.  Talk about five o'clock shadow."

He took her hand and kissed the palm once more.  "The past twenty-four hours have been a 
nightmare on wheels, and I never ever will forgive myself for not coming with you."

"I don't care about anything but being glad you're here."  Her last words were slurred as the 
strength which she had stored gave out, and her eyes closed.  "Just be here with me," she 
managed before she drifted off.

"Forever my love," he sighed, allowing himself a small measure of relief as he leaned over 
her, his arm going carefully across her middle and his head resting on the mattress.
===============
"This is your son Dale," Allison whispered, pointing to the baby sleeping quietly in the light 
oxygen mist that swirled above his head.  "They're keeping him sedated and quiet while he 
breathes that medicated vapor."

Dale swallowed hard and looked down at the baby boy, angelic in sleep, and turned to her, 
putting gentle hands on her shoulders to bring her to face him.  "He's beautiful.  And so are 
you.  And I was a fool for not making a place for you--and him--in my life."

"I was angry too," she admitted.  "So angry that at first I didn't want you.  So it wasn't just you.  
And I tried to pretend there wasn't ever a you and me.  For a long time I tried.  But it didn't 
work.  Every time I look at this baby I see you.  He deserves his daddy.  You deserve him."
 
  "I want to be a part of his life. And I want you to be a part of mine. I was 
  so wrong for doing what I did."
  
  "It's over now. I've forgiven you for that. And I'm proud of you for joining 
  the Navy and getting away from here. That was probably the best decision you 
  ever made."
  
  "I'm so sorry they hurt you and Christopher" he whispered. "I had no idea 
  they'd do anything like that. If I had, I would never have left you here 
  alone. I should kill them for what they did to you and Christopher." As he 
  spoke his hand gently reached to touch her bruised face.
  
  "No, just let it go" she begged. "They were arrested and this time they 
  won't get out of jail. At least not for a long time. Kidnapping and 
  attempted murder should keep them locked up for a while."
  
  "I'll let the law handle it this time. But I'm sure Harm would be right 
  behind me in wanting to kill them for what they did to Mac."
  
  "She saved Christopher's life" Allison said softly. "I know he'd be dead if 
  she hadn't gone in to get him. I just thank god that Jolene had already 
  bailed on them and called the cops. If she hadn't, I don't know what would 
  have happened to Mac and Christopher."
  
  "I don't know how I got lucky enough to have Harm and Mac for friends. But 
  I'm going to make sure I thank them for everything they did."
  
  "Mac was wonderful" Allison nodded. "And yes we will have to do something to 
  thank them. If she hadn't come out here, I don't know what I would have done 
  when they took Christopher."
  
  "I don't even want to think about it" he whispered. "Right now all that 
  matters is he's going to be okay."
  
  "You need to get some rest" Allison said softly as she looked at the lines 
  of fatigue on his face. "You and Harm must have had some adventure getting 
  here. All I've heard on the news is how horrible the roads are everywhere."
  
  "Adventure is putting it mildly. But I have never been so glad to be here 
  with you."
  
  "Let's see if there's somewhere you can at least lie down" Allison urged. 
  "You're dead on your feet. And they said it's going to be a while before 
  they bring Christopher out of the sedation."
  
  "He's so beautiful. I wish I'd known sooner. I would have been there for 
  you."
  
  "It's okay. I managed. One day I'll tell you about his delivery. But right 
  now you're exhausted and we're going to find a place to rest."
  
  She led him to a nearby lounge where they curled up together on one of the 
  sofas.
  
  "Thank you for coming" she whispered as she leaned her head against his 
  shoulder.
  
  "Thank you for taking care of my son. You've given me the best Christmas 
  present ever."
  
  ******************
  Christmas Day
  Noon
  
  It was the soft hands gently stroking through his hair that woke Harm the next 
  morning. For a moment he couldn't remember where he was and then suddenly 
  everything came rushing back.
  
  "Mac" he whispered as his eyes flew open and he looked up at her.
  
  "Hi" she said softly. "You still look like hell but I'm so glad you're here."
  
  "Well you are the most beautiful sight in the world" he smiled as his hand 
  gently reached up to stroke her cheek. "And I love you so much. And don't 
  you dare scare me again like that."

  "Sorry. Please tell me Christopher is okay."
  
  "So far as I know he's doing okay."
  
  "Good" she sighed. "All I wanted was to make sure he was okay. And Allison 
  and Dale are doing good?"
  
  "I think they're a bit more than okay" Harm smiled. "You were so right about 
  them honey."
  
  "Women know these things" she said with a weak smile. "And wait till you see 
  Christopher in person. He's so adorable."
  
  "I'm sure. And I'll see him soon. Right now I just want to be here with 
  you."
  
  "I'll allow that for a few minutes" she sighed as she reached for his hand. 
  "But then you and Dale probably should find a place and get cleaned up. And 
  Allison too."
  
  "I was just telling him that" Allison smiled as she and Dale walked in. "And 
  you have no idea how glad I am to see you awake. I owe you so much for 
  saving Christopher's life. I'm sorry you got hurt like this."
  
  "I'm just glad it worked out" Mac said softly. "And I can see I wasn't wrong 
  about you two." Her gaze fell to where Dale and Allison's hands were locked 
  together and both smiled.
  
  "No you weren't" Dale smiled. "And I'm so glad you meddled in my life. If 
  you hadn't I would never have realized how important Allison is to me."
  
 "Mac, what does the doctor say?" Allison asked gently.  
 
 "That she's going to be fine," Harm spoke up, his relief making him almost giddy.  "She's 
going to be sore and weak for a while from the surgery and blood loss, but I'm going to be 
able to take her home in four or five days.  Home to bed of course."
 
 "Whose home?" Dale laughed.
 
 "Doesn't matter," Harm returned.  "I just know I'm not for a second letting her out of my sight 
for a long time to come."
 
 "I think I can handle that, which is a good thing because I couldn't fight off a feather," she 
sighed, lifting her arms up to him anyway,  At once he slipped his arms beneath her and 
carefully brought her up to his chest, pressing her gently against him.  
 
 "I think I'm in love with you," he sniffled softly.
 
 "Well I know I'm in love with you," she smiled and a second later his lips found hers.
 
 "They're so cute," Allison smiled, leaning against Dale.  
 
 "Yeah they are," he whispered, turning her face up to his and kissing her gently.  "Mac we're 
glad you're OK.  Really glad."
 
 "I'll be fine.  How's the baby?"
 
 "Much better this morning.  The medication they've been giving him finally kicked in and he's 
doing much better," Allison chirped happily.  "His lungs are clearing and he's breathing 
easier."
 
 "Merry Christmas," Harm breathed, kissing his lady love once more.  

From the P.A. system the soft strains of Joy To The World filled the hospital room while 
outside the newly fallen snow glistened in the sun.  It was a glorious Christmas morning.  

~~~Peace on the Earth, good will to men from Heaven's all-gracious King.~~~

THE END

Watch for the next Chapter—New Years events