TITLE: "Money Can't Buy Love " Chapter 3 [concluding] AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY: For all those who have ever dreamed of lottery riches. Be careful what you wish for. In this story, the events of Afghanistan have occurred but we will not deal with the Singer/Sergei/Lindsey story line. CLASSIFICATION/RATING: J/S/A/R [Harm-Mac] PG for language and mild violence. 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, as well as the majority of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please simply click through any notice of adult content you may see-there are no R nor NC17 stories there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} Much of our work is also featured at Http://www.capitalcitycollaborations.com ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ From the conclusion of Ch 2--- "So what would you like to do today?" Harm asked as he dropped down in the lounger next to Mac. "Or is this your duty station for the day?" "My duty station for the day" she smiled. "With the exception of taking a dip in the ocean with my favorite sailor." "I think that can be arranged. Besides you need a day to relax. I've been dragging you all over town for the past two days." "You know I could get really used to this" she sighed. "Not working or the sun?" he laughed. "Both. But that doesn't mean we're going to quit tomorrow." Two hours later they'd just returned from a swim in the ocean when Trish walked out onto the deck, a troubled look on her face. "Mom is something wrong?" Harm asked. "There's someone here to see Mac" Trish said slowly. "She says her name is Deanne. And that she's Mac mother." """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" "Money Can't Buy Love" Chapter 3 Mac's face paled and Harm quickly reached an arm around her. "She's here?" Mac whispered. "Yes she is. If you'd like I'd be happy to tell her you and Harm aren't here." "No" Mac said finally. "I'll talk to her. I just need a moment please." Trish nodded and headed inside and Harm tightened his grip around Mac. "Honey you okay?" he asked softly. "How'd she find me?" Mac whispered. "Likely from all the publicity about us winning the lottery" he sighed. "I'm sorry." "No it's okay. I can deal with this." "Not alone you're not. You're my fiancée now Mac. I'm not going to let her upset you." "Always my protector aren't you?" she said with a small smile as she looked up at him. "Always" he said softly. "You ready to do this and get it over with?" "I hate that my mother comes under the category of getting it over with," she sighed. "When my dad died we kind of reached the point where we understood each other and realized we no longer had anything going for us in terms of being a part of each other's lives and we were both OK with that. Honestly though I'm not surprised she's surfaced here. I bet there's a few thousand people wishing they could lay claim to being kin to us." "I can talk to her." "No thanks. My problem. But you'll be with me?" "Always. Forever and always," he vowed and lifted the hand that bore the ring. "That's what this says." "I love you Mr. Rabb," she sighed and gave him a long kiss before taking his hand and marching inside. "Mac she's in the den in the front," Trish told her, her eyes troubled but for what reason neither Mac nor Harm could discern. "Thanks Trish" Mac nodded. She and Harm walked into the den, Deanne Mackenzie giving her daughter a small smile when she saw her. "Hello Sarah. You look lovely as always." Mac studied the woman she hadn't seen in years, not surprised that she seemed the same as she had then. "Hello Mom. This is a surprise." "I'm sure it is" Deanne nodded. "And I'm sure I'm the last person you want to see right now but there was no one else I could turn to." "Turn to for what?" Mac frowned. "Can we go somewhere and talk alone?" Deanne asked as she looked at Harm. "Whatever you have to say you can say in front of Harm" Mac said quietly. "We have no secrets from each other." "I can't have five minutes alone with my daughter?" "No" Mac sighed. "Now why did you come here Mom?" "Can't we at least sit down?" Deanne said quietly as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "And could I possibly get some water. I'm afraid I just don't have the energy I used to have." "I'll be right back" Harm said finally "Mac honey, do you need anything?" "No I'm fine" she nodded. He nodded and hurried from the room and headed to the kitchen where Trish was sitting. "Can we get some water for Deanne?" he sighed. "And then I'm giving her five minutes to say whatever she has to say and then she's out of here." "Harm she's still Mac's mother" Trish said as she got a glass and filled it with bottled water. "I know. But I have no clue how someone as lovely as Mac came from that woman." He made his way back to the den, the frown on his face deepening as he noticed Mac listening intently to Deanne. "Surgery. The doctors says if I don't have it done, well it's just a matter of time." "What kind of surgery?" Harm asked. "Valve replacement" Deanne replied as she took the glass from Harm. She took a sip and gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you." "Valve replacement?" Mac frowned. "As in your heart." "Yes dear. And that's why the doctor says if I don't have it done, well he can't guarantee how much longer I have. Maybe months, maybe just weeks." Mac's gasped at her words, her face paling considerably. "You'll die if you don't have this done?" Deanne nodded. "I'm sorry for dropping all this on you" she said softly, tears slowly trickling down her face. "I just didn't have anyone else to turn to." "I don't understand" Mac frowned. "Is there a problem with you having the surgery?" "I don't have any money or insurance dear. And without either of those, no one will do the surgery. Hospitals don't do work for charity anymore. Even with Medi-cal I have to have some front money." "Mom I won't let you die" Mac whispered. "We can help you." "I don't have any right to ask you for this" Deanne sniffled. "I've never done anything for you and now I'm asking you for help. I'd understand if you turned your back on me." "No Mom I won't" she said softly. "We'll take care of the surgery. And I'll even be there with you when you have it." She looked to Harm for confirmation and he nodded, trying to keep his face impassive. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Trish. She had been enroute from the kitchen with a tray of cookies and had stopped, wanting to give Mac and Deanne a little privacy apparently, but she could still hear easily. "Deanne, just let us know what you need," he said carefully and moved to take the tray from Trish, offering the serving plate to Deanne who grabbed up two cookies eagerly. "Well I don't need it all right away. Just ten percent for the hospital and surgeon through Medi- Cal," she sighed. "Otherwise I can get on the waiting list for the freebie but they're saying I won't make it." "Then go ahead and arrange it and let me know who to send the money to," Mac told her firmly, again looking to Harm who nodded his support. Mac barely noticed that he followed Trish back to the kitchen and could not see that he closed the door. "OK Mom spit it out," he said quietly. "You don't believe her do you?" "In a word, no," Trish sighed. "Son it comes from being in business as long as I have. I'm a good reader of people. I'm sorry, it's just too convenient that she needs a chunk of money for surgery right now. You should at least ask to see the medical reports. And don't tell me that's such an off the wall idea Mr. Lawyer." "No it's not, but that's going to have to be Mac's call. I'm not going to interfere there." "Son she's heading for heartache," Trish warned and Harm groaned. "Good grief Mom you sound like one of those country songs you listened to while I was growing up. Give it a rest Loretta. I'll talk to her but I'm not going to tell her what to do. And anyway you were the one pointed out Deanne's still Mac's mother." "Well that was speaking as a mother," Trish smiled. "And I'm in no way going to interfere. Except to mention that the Burnet group also supports a charitable foundation, and I serve on the board. We've heard some zingers you would not believe." Harm made a face and returned to Mac, finding her in tears as she listened to Deanne's story. If the woman was making it up, she was doing a helluva job of it, he decided. He had seen drama on TV that was not that heartfelt. He moved to Mac's side at once, and also at once she clung to him. "Deanne, that's really about enough," he said firmly when the older woman stopped to breathe. "We don't need the gory details here, and Mac doesn't need the guilt trip. You don't see her trying to make you feel bad for her childhood." "I did the best I could by her," she sniffled. "No you did not, and I only know a small part of all that went on," Harm told her sharply, despite Mac's hand on his arm. "Now where are you staying?" "I have a room in L.A. over the restaurant where I work when I'm able," she answered, her eyes boring into Mac. "How did you get here?" His tone was quiet but that same one he used in court when he left no doubt he was expecting an answer. "I came down by bus and then took a cab. My tip money--when I can work--covers things like that," she said, her eyes begging Mac's understanding. "Harm she can stay here tonight can't she? Spend the rest of the day here and then we can take her back in the morning maybe. Please." "Honey this is not our house," Harm reminded her, not wanting the woman to stay, not wanting her to lay any more guilt on Mac. "It's fine Sarah really," Deanne maintained, coughing slightly. "If you can just take me back to the bus station even, that would be good. I can wait there for the next bus back tonight. Just knowing that you're going to help me through the surgery is enough. Harm resisted well his urge to roll his eyes and looked down at Mac, seeing her tears. "If you want, I'll tell Mom Deanne is going to sleep over in one of the extra rooms. I'm sure she won't care. For you I can do that." "Thank you" Mac said softly. "Mom would you like to go outside on the patio for a while. Maybe take a walk on the beach if you're up to it." "I like that" Deanne smiled. Mac led her mother outside and Harm frowned as he watched them from the kitchen. "How's it going?" Trish asked. "Mac wants her to stay tonight" Harm sighed. "I told her it would be okay with you. It is isn't it?" "It's okay because Mac is your fiancee and whatever she needs, I'm willing to do. But I don't trust that woman Harm. And I wouldn't leave Mac alone with her too long." "Well I got the idea I wasn't invited out on the deck. I'll go out later. It's possible we're both just over-reacting here you know." "Maybe. But mark my words Harm, that woman is trouble." "If she wants money, fine she can have it" Harm sighed. "We have enough that I don't care what Mac does with it. If giving it to her Mom makes her happy, that's fine. My concern begins and ends with Mac and how she is with all this." "Well I meant trouble for you and Mac. She's going to try and worm her way into your lives. And cause problems." "I won't let that happen" Harm vowed. "I love Mac and no one is going to come between us." "Harm's parent's have a pretty nice place here" Deanne remarked as she and Mac sat on the deck. "Frank is Harm's stepdad. His father was a POW after Vietnam and eventually was killed in Russia." "I'm sorry to hear that. So how involved are you and Harm?" "We're engaged actually" Mac smiled as she held out her hand for her mother to see. "Family heirloom?" Deanne asked as she carefully studied the ring. "Trish's grandmother's" Mac nodded. "It's gorgeous isn't it? It's old fashioned but I fell in love with it as soon as Harm pulled it out." "Just beautiful. But I would have thought he would have picked you out something just for you. "Mom this means more to me than some flashy diamond" Mac said softly. "And there's something I need to ask you. How did you find me here?" "Well I tried calling JAG and they said you were on vacation here. And now I have to be honest with you and tell you that I saw the story in the newspaper about how you and Harm won the lottery money." "So that's why you're here," Mac said quietly. "No" Deanne said quickly. "I've been trying to get the nerve up to call you. But I was afraid of what you'd say when I did. So I waited and now of course the doctors are saying if I wait much longer it's going to be too late. And I didn't want to leave this earth with you making amends with my daughter." "Mom you're not going to die" Mac whispered. "You're going to have the surgery and you're going to be fine. I already told you we'll pay for everything and I'll be with you the whole time." "I wish I could believe that. But it's not like I've taken good care of myself over the years. Course I have no one to blame for that except myself. But before the good Lord takes me home, I want to spend some time with my daughter." "And you will" Mac promised. "You up for that walk?" "Just a short one" Deanne nodded. "Until I have the surgery, I have to be careful not to over do it. But I'd really like a walk with my little girl." Harm shook his head as he watched Mac and Deanne make their way down from the deck to the beach. "Mom I'm going out for a while" he sighed. "Where are you going?" she frowned. "In case Mac asks." "Tell her I had to run an errand for you." "But you're not." "No I'm not. I'm going to see what I can find out about Deanne Mackenzie." "Harm be careful," Trish warned. "She is still Mac's mother. And if Mac finds out your digging into her mother's life, she's not going to be happy with you." "I have to do this. She may be totally on the up and up Mom, but for my own security I need to find out for sure." "And if you find out she's lying?" "I don't know. I'll deal with that when I get to that point. Right now finding out the truth is the important part." "Harm don't be too eager there," Trish said softly. "I'm sorry? You don't think I should expose her to Mac?" "It's not the money is it?" "Well no. I mean the kind of money she's talking about is like before when I wrote a check for coffee and the newspaper at Starbucks. No not at all is it the money. Mom this woman is bad news for Mac. Their last encounter bothered her for a while. I mean she never said anything but it did." Harm ran his hand through his hair in irritation. "Damn her for showing up. Damn the Navy for insisting we be public with the prize." "Harmon all I'm saying is think carefully what you're doing." "Mom I don't owe that woman anything. Considering I'd both kill and die for Mac, well you get the idea. Not to mention regardless of the money, she has Mac convinced she's dying. Mac doesn't need to live with that. She's not good with the whole subject of death anyway, being a Marine aside, and this is just not warranted. Mac doesn't need the guilt. In fact if anyone should be guilty it's Deanne for the way Mac had to grow up." Trish refrained from comment until Harm took a long breath and looked away, indicating he was finished. "Sorry. Thanks for listening to me whine. And you probably don't want to know what I'm about to do." "You're probably right. I'll be in the garden." Cautiously Harm returned to the living room and gave a sigh of relief to note that Deanne had left her purse. Luck was still with him for inside was a paystub with her social security number. A quick memorization and then swiftly he strode to Frank's den, closing and locking the door. His stepfather's computer sat on the desk and Harm turned it on, praying it was not password protected. And with another prayer he logged into the JAG network with his official ID and password. From there it was a simple matter to get into the Social Services/Medi-Cal site. For the next half-hour he navigated the site, finding no information about Deanne Mackenzie's impending surgery. With a sigh he shut off the computer and leaned back in the chair. Somehow he was going to prove she was false. But first he would need some more information. Information he could only get in LA. And if he wanted to do that before Deanne returned, he would have to do it today. "All right I'm going to LA" he sighed. "If Mac asks, tell her I'm doing something for Frank." "Good thing he's working late tonight" Trish replied. "How long do you plan on being gone?" "As long as it takes. Hopefully I'll be back by dinner. If not, I'm sure you can handle entertaining Mac and Deanne." "You're going to LA aren't you?" "Yep. I have her address from the pay stub and I'm going to see if anyone there knows about this surgery she's supposed to desperately need." "You don't want to talk to Mac first?" Trish asked. "No I'm going to do what any good lawyer does. Gather the evidence and then present it to the jury." "What if the jury is biased?" "She'll believe me. If I prove it, she'll believe me." "Harm don't you think it might just be easier to give her the money and let this go?" "It's not the money Mom. It's having that woman in Mac's life that's the problem. She's just going to hurt Mac. And I won't let that happen." ****************** "Thank you" Deanne panted as she and Mac made their way back up to the deck a short time later. "That was wonderful." "You okay?" Mac asked. "You didn't over do it did you?" "No I'm okay. Just a little short of breath. I'll be fine as long as I sit for a bit." "Can I get you anything?" Mac asked. "Some water?" "That would be wonderful dear. And some more of those cookies would be great too." "I'll be right back. You just rest." Mac made her way inside the house, frowning when she didn't see Harm around. "Harm" she called. "Harm you here?" "He's out dear," Trish said as she came out of the living room. "He had to go help Frank with something." "Why didn't he say he was leaving?" Mac frowned. "I guess you were out walking and he didn't want to disturb you and your mother. He'll be back later." Mac nodded and headed to the kitchen to get the water and cookies for her Mom. She was surprised Harm had left without telling her but at the same time she'd gotten the impression he hadn't been thrilled with her Mom being there. "Where's Harm?" Deanne asked when Mac returned to the deck. "He's helping Frank out with something" Mac sighed. "Trish said he'll be back later." "So when did he pop the big question to you?" Deanne asked. "Last night" Mac smiled. "And that doesn't bother you?" Deanne said slowly. "I don't understand. Why would it bother me?" "It's nothing dear. I'm just happy for you two." "Mom what did you mean by that?" Mac frowned. "Well don't you think it's odd that he finally decides to ask you to marry him after you won the lottery?" Mac's eyes flashed angrily. "Mom that's a horrible thing to say. I didn't win anyway, we won together. It was a fun thing we were playing around with, and we agreed we'd share. Good grief he didn't need to marry me to have plenty of money. Twenty-five million is enough for anyone. And we have loved each other for a long time. Even back at the time of Dad's dying." "OK OK sorry I said anything. I guess that's more money than I can even conceive of and I question motives that's all. I was born to a poor family child and I grew up poor and I've been poor all my life." "And I was born into that poverty," Mac agreed. "But it doesn't matter. Thanks first to Uncle Matt, and then to Harm, I'm happy with my life. And that happiness has nothing to do with this money. Not the deep down happiness where I go to sleep in the arms of a man who loves me. Which when it comes right down to it, is all I ever wanted." Deanne made a snorting type noise and reached for the TV remote. "Be sure to tell Trish thanks for letting me stay." ============== "Trish I'm getting worried about Harm," Mac frowned three hours later when he was not back. "Oh don't be. I'm sure they're just off putzing. Frank has a new boat and if they stopped at the Marina to see that, likely Frank took him for a ride through the area and then that was followed by a stop at Cruise Control for a beer that led to two and then the basketball or baseball or something. Frank always tells me not to worry about him without good reason." "OK I guess," she sighed. "I guess I'm just not comfortable with him out of my sight." "I understand, but you'll get used to it," she smiled. "Most men don't like to account for their time. How's your mom?" "She fell asleep in front of the TV but she seems OK. I gave her $100 for medicine for when she gets back." Trish raised an eyebrow and bit down on her lip to keep her comment to herself. She prided herself on being a good judge of people and this woman she did not trust at all. And she was spared further discussion by the phone ringing. "Your man no doubt," she smiled and Mac dove for the phone. "Burnet residence is that you Harm?" "Hi honey. You sound anxious. Everything OK?" "Yeah I'm just lonely and missing you and wanting you here and I just realized how whiney that sounded so I'm shutting up now and just asking you when you're coming back." "I'm actually enroute now. And hey I could get used to this limo travel," he laughed. "Everything OK? How's Deanne?" "She fell asleep in front of Wheel of Fortune. I'll be waiting for you. Harm we're doing the right thing here." "Yeah honey," he replied. "I love you." "Love you," she whispered and hung up the phone. In the semi-darkness in the back of the limo Harm did the same as he stretched out his legs and willed the driver to hurry. His quest for information on her surgery had been futile, and he was not sure that was information he wanted to share. =============== Mac was waiting for him when he finally returned and at once he took her into his arms. "I missed you. How was your day?" "Good. Mom and I had a nice talk and walk," Mac said softly as she let go of him. "I wish you hadn't run off though. I was hoping we could all have some time together." "I'm sorry. I just figured you want to catch up with her yourself. You understand right?" "I guess. I just have one question for you? Did you leave today to be nice or were you avoiding my mother." "Mac" he started. "Harm I know she's not like Trish. But she's still my Mom. She is the woman who gave birth to me. And she needs me now. No matter what she might have done in the past she needs me." Harm opened his mouth and promptly closed it as he looked at Mac. He'd been planning on telling Mac that he'd gone to find out information about Deanne. But now he knew he couldn't. At least not until he had more solid proof that she was lying than he did now. "And you're a wonderful person for doing all this" he sighed as he brought her into his arms again. "I just don't want to see you hurt again. I care about you very much and I know how much she upset you the last time you saw her." "She's different now Harm" Mac whispered. "Maybe it's because she's sick but she's different. She's more understanding and she wants to know about me. About us and our life." He managed to hold back his comments, knowing it would do no good at this point to upset Mac. In a few days they'd go back home to DC and Deanne would be out of their lives again. "I'm glad you're okay with her being here," he said finally. "I was just afraid she'd upset you again and that was the last thing I wanted." "No she hasn't. Honest it's like she's a totally different person now. I really think her illness has made her realize what's important in life." Money, Harm thought to himself. The money is what made her realize what was important. But he didn't have enough proof to tell Mac that. And he wouldn't until he did. "I'm sure it has," he said instead. "So now that I'm back what do you say we do a little alone time? Maybe take a quick dip in the water?" "I'd love to" she smiled. "Do I need my suit?" "Only till we get into the water" he grinned. ******************** "Trish thank you for everything" Deanne smiled the next morning as Harm and Mac prepared to take her back to LA. "You're welcome. We were happy to have you. And I'm sure we'll see you again when Harm and Mac get married." "God willing" Deanne said softly. "I've always dreamed of seeing my little girl get married. I just hope I can be there." "You will be Mom" Mac assured her. "You're going to have the surgery and everything is going to be fine." "Are we ready?" Harm asked. "I'm sure you're anxious to get back home." He said little on the ride to LA, instead pretending to concentrate on driving through the traffic. Mac and Deanne chatted until they reached the tiny apartment Deanne called home and at once Mac looked up sadly at the apartment above the restaurant. "It's not so bad," Deanne said with a small smile. "At least I don't have to fight traffic to get to work." "We can get you better," Mac said softly. "You deserve better than this." "Honey it's fine. It's nice and cheap and it's got plenty of space for me. Besides with the surgery coming up I don't want to be thinking about moving." "Afterwards" Mac promised. "We'll get you set up in something nicer. And we'll take care of all the work." "Well honey if you feel you want to I wouldn't object but it would have to be on the bus line. My driving days are over." "And that's something we can talk about after the surgery and your recovery and we're going to make sure you're well taken care of for that," she said firmly. "Now do you need anything? Maybe some groceries?" "If I made a quick list would you mind? My last check didn't cover much and tips were down because I didn't work all that much these past couple weeks," Deanne murmured. "Of course Harm won't mind will you honey?" "No of course not," Harm sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable with the fact that there was no verification of Deanne's story to be found. Deanne breathed laboriously as they climbed the three flights of stairs, and once inside sat down immediately to make a list of things she needed. "I'll be right back with this and then Mac we need to get on back to Mom's. There's still enough of the day left to enjoy." "Harm we're not on any time schedule," Mac rebuked him, more sharply than she intended. "What's the problem if we stay a little bit." He opened and closed his mouth several times, realizing that anything he might have replied was going to come out jealous or whiny or both. "Whatever," he finally settled upon and grabbed the list, leaving without stopping to kiss Mac goodbye. "I'm afraid I've irritated him," Deanne smiled. "I don't want to make trouble for you two." "He'll get over it," she replied. "You know men--they don't like their plans disrupted, even though they weren't real plans." Deanne leaned back on her sofa and turned on the TV while Mac rose and walked around the apartment. The single large room was small and cluttered, and when she sat on the bed it sank and sagged badly, probably a victim of her mother's weight. The sofa and chair were likewise lumpy and tattered, and Mac made a firm mental note that her mother would need a refurbished apartment to return from the hospital to, plus some help until she was on her feet again. It wasn't but an hour before Harm returned, his arms filled with the bags and Mac immediately reached to help him, wanting to put away the groceries for Deanne. "OK Mrs. Mackenzie, I think we're finished here," he called when that was accomplished. "Mac I really do want to get back down there. It's not like it's a twenty minute drive. Ma'am I'm sure you'll be in touch." "Oh of course. I'll set the date and let you know how to get the money to me. Probably a cashier's check?" "Or we could wire it right to the hospital," Harm offered. "No no don't do that," Deanne insisted at once. "They're so bad about that kind of thing. They'd get it and have no record of it and . . .well just don't." "Whatever you say. Mac I'll pull the car around front so don't dawdle up here. It's a no parking zone and it's not our car." "Yes sir, I'll be right with you," she groused. "And I want to talk to you anyway." "Yeah me too to you," he replied with another nod to Deanne before hurrying out. "That sounded like a threat," Deanne said with some amusement, though her eyes narrowed when she spoke. "Sarah he doesn't like me. He's not going to let you send the money." "Mom relax would you. He doesn't have the final say in the matter. We're sharing that money and it's more than we can spend anyway. You need this surgery and you're going to have it. You need a better place and you're going to have that. I'm just sorry we're rushing off." "You go on ahead. I don't want him here if he's going to be unhappy with me. Or you. I'll talk to you soon as I get the arrangements made OK?" "You better or I'll be back out here finding out why," Mac declared, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "See you soon." "Honey no. Your place is in DC with your job and Harm. The money is more than enough that you're doing." "Well we'll talk about that later. I love you Mom." Harm was waiting impatiently for her, drumming his knuckles on the steering wheel. "I was about to come back up for you." "Harmon Rabb stop being an ass," she scolded. "I was just saying goodbye. She is my mother and she's sick and that kind of negates everything else and you know what I mean." "No but that's OK. We'll go home and send her the damn money and that finishes the matter," he grumbled, pulling away from the curb in a roar of the powerful engine. "OK just what the hell is your problem," Mac demanded, "and slow down please. I want to get back to your mom's in one piece." "My problem is about three hundred pounds of Deanne Mackenzie," he snapped. "And that's all I want to say on the subject." "Good thing," she snapped back, "because if you're taking that attitude and tone, I don't want to talk to you at all." The long drive back to LaJolla was accomplished in stony silence and once they were inside the stone house Mac immediately headed out the back, kicking off her shoes as she reached the kitchen. "I'm getting some air," she flung back at him. "Don't follow me." "Don't worry. That's not going to be a problem," he shouted before starting to head upstairs, only to confront Trish on the landing. "What's going on," she frowned. "I have not heard you two have a cross word in days and now suddenly you're at each other?" "We're having a divergence of viewpoints on her mother. And we're taking a break from each other. Excuse me please," he replied, turning sideways to slip past her. "You're upset about wanting to send her the money?" "Mom for the last time, the money means nothing to me. Nothing. I'm upset about this woman worming her way back into Mac's life. I don't want to see Mac hurt. That's not so hard to understand is it?" He didn't wait for her answer as he went to the bedroom, the door slamming behind him. Damn Deanne Mackenzie for walking into their lives and ruining everything. Why couldn't make see her for the money grubber that she was? They spent the afternoon apart; Harm pouting in his room while Mac stayed outside on the deck. Dinner was accomplished in more silence and when Harm retreated once again to his room after dinner, Trish decided to talk to Mac. "Mind if I join you?" Trish asked as she brought to cups of coffee out on the deck. "I come bearing coffee and cookies." "Of course not" Mac said quietly. "Thank you." "I'm not going to ask you to talk" Trish continued as she sat down. "But if you want to talk, I'm here to listen. Cause for the record, I know exactly how frustrating my son can be to deal with." "He hates her. For no reason. I mean, I know she's not you. But she's still my mother. And she needs our help." "Mac I don't think he hates her. He's just doesn't completely trust her." "It's my share of the money" Mac retorted. "If I want to give it away, that's none of his concern." "Honey it's not the money he's concerned about. It's you." "He sure has a funny way of showing it. You should have seen him today. I asked to get some groceries for Mom. He acted like it was such a big deal. And then I want to get Mom a nicer place after the surgery. He practically had a fit." "I'm sorry. I wish he'd been more supportive of you. But just remember his heart is in the right place. His concern for you is what's making him act like this." "You know when we first got here everything was so wonderful" Mac sighed. "Now I feel like maybe this is all wrong. That we got together because of the money and it's not going to work." "Mac, Harm loves you" Trish said firmly. "Money or no money. He wants to share his life with you. Don't you even think that's not the case." "You believe that?" "Yes I do. And that's all I'm going to say on the subject. You and Harm will have to work this out." ******************* Two Days Later "Thanks again Mom" Harm said quietly as he gave Trish a hug. "You two are welcome anytime," Trish said as she gave Mac a hug as well. "And please let me know if you want any help with the wedding." "Thanks. Will it be okay if I stop by when I'm out here for Mom's surgery?" Mac asked. "Of course. You know I love having you. Just give me a call when it's scheduled so I know when to expect you." "I will. Thanks." They rode in silence to the airport, the issue of Deanne Mackenzie still hanging between them. They hadn't talked about it since the fight that afternoon, instead just ignoring it for the moment. They'd been cordial but cool to each other and both were willing to leave it that way for now. "I think I'll be going to my place when we get home," she said once they were airborne. "That way we can have some time apart to think about this." "If that's what you want" he said as he leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. "No it's not but I think it's what you do" she snapped. "In fact, what I'm thinking I should do is give you your damn ring back and all the money so you'll be happy." "You really think that's what I want?" he demanded as he sat up. "You are so wrong. What I want is for things to be the way they were before we won all this stupid money. We were doing just fine then. Now look at us." "That's because you're so worried about Mom taking the money." "I'm worried about you getting hurt. But you're too damn stubborn to understand that." "Why are so sure my mother is going to hurt me?" she demanded. "Besides that you don't like her because she hasn't done much for herself in life. Maybe if she'd married a rich man like Trish did, she wouldn't have had this kind of life." "With or without Frank's money, Mom always knew how to treat people" Harm retorted. "She didn't walk out on me when it got tough. Do you think it was any easier for her to raise me alone? But she did it. She didn't just leave me on the street somewhere and say figure life out on your own." "Mom did the best she could" Mac whispered. "Like hell she did" Harm countered. "She didn't care about you then and now suddenly she does. I'm sorry but I'm not buying it." "She needs me. I won't turn my back on her. Not when I can help her. Harm it's so little money compared to what we have." "Dammit woman when are you going to understand it's not about that," Harm raged, totally forgetting where he was and letting his voice rise. "Sir please. Ma'am is this man bothering you?" Harm's agitation had drawn the immediate attention of the nearest flight attendant who was at his side at once. "Yes he is but he's harmless," Mac muttered. "We're just having a domestic discussion and Commander Mouth here tends to get carried away with himself." "OK well an aircraft isn't the place for that given the nervous state of flying today," the attendant said firmly. "Sir I'm formally asking you to keep it down. If I have to ask again, I'm going to have to have security meet the flight. You understand I'm sure." "Yes ma'am and I do apologize. You won't have any more trouble from me because I won't be saying anything else the rest of this flight. I may as well be talking to that cup there." "Good. May I bring you another drink?" "No thanks. I'm fine." With that he turned away to face the window and as he had promised, he did not speak until they landed. "I'm going to make sure you're safely back at your place and then I'm going to mine," he told her firmly as soon as they had retrieved their baggage. "I think that's a good idea," she nodded and held out her hand to him. The hand that bore his ring. "You want this?" "Do you want to give to me?" She bit her lower lip and shook her head, withdrawing her hand. "No I don't. I'm not ready to give up on us." "Neither am I." No further words were exchanged during the ride to her apartment. He pulled up out front and when she started to get out he caught her wrist. "I love you. Don't ever doubt that." "I love you too," she responded at once. "But that's not the issue here is it?" "No but nor is it the damn money," he returned. "Right now we're hitting a bump in the road. No matter what it's about," she returned. "OK yeah and we'll get over it." "Not without talking about it," she sighed. "Well right now I can't talk without yelling and I'm afraid I'm going to yell something I can't take back easily. So a break is in order. I'll call you later OK?" "Yeah." She leaned forward and touched her lips to his. "I'll be here." ***************** JAG HQ's 1 Week Later They spent the week apart, Mac staying at her apartment while she and Harm attempted to work through their bump in their relationship. They kept their difference to themselves, managing to maintain an amicable working relationship. "Mac do you have. . .?" Harm stopped talking as he walked into her office and realized she was on the phone. "Hi Mom it's me. I was just calling to see how you were. I'll try calling you later." She hung up and whirled around in her chair to face him. "Sorry I didn't know you were on the phone." "It's okay. She wasn't home anyway. What are you looking for?" "The Carter file. I need to finish my report for the Admiral before I leave." "Leave for where?" she frowned. "Mayport. He didn't tell you?" "No he didn't. What's in Mayport?" "Commander Tamara Martin. Accused of having affairs with several of the men under her command in the NCIS office. SecNav wanted someone else to handle the investigation." "How long do you think you'll be gone?" she asked. "No clue. Depends on how willing everyone is to talk. But hopefully not more than a few days. I figured you wouldn't miss me anyway." "Harm I want us to work this out" she said softly. "You know that." "And so do I" he sighed. "I'm just not sure how we're going to do that." "You're going to have to accept that my mother is a part of my life now. And if you want to be with me, you'll live with that." "I want to be with you. I just don't want someone like your mother messing up our relationship." "Harm she's not doing anything. You're the one that's making a big issue out of all of this." "Maybe I am" he sighed. "But it's for good reason. I love you and I don't want to see anyone hurt you. And I'm sorry if you don't understand that. And I promised I wouldn't start this up again so I'm just going to say goodbye now before this gets out of hand." "I'm sorry too," Mac said softly. "Everything was so right before. Now suddenly it's not. And I don't have a clue how to make it better." "I do. And when I come back from Mayport we'll talk about it. But this will give us both some more time to clear our minds. And hopefully when I come back things will make a lot more sense." "I hope so. I just know that I want us to work but I don't know how that's going to be possible with the way you feel about my mother." "We'll figure out something," he said quietly. "But I have to run. I have to get the Carter report to the Admiral and then get to Mayport tonight." "Be careful," she said softly. "And call me when you get in so I know you're okay." "I will" he nodded. "I guess I'll see you in a few days then." He walked out of her office and Mac let out a long sigh. This wasn't the way things were supposed to be. Everything had been so perfect before. Before they'd won the money that had totally changed their lives. And them. ******************** Two Days Later "Urgent call from your mother Colonel" Tiner said as Mac walked back from the courtroom. "She wants you to call her right away." "Did she say what was wrong?" Mac demanded. "Is she sick?" "I don't know ma'am. She just asked that you call her as soon as you were available." "Please let her be okay" Mac murmured as she hurried back to her office. She quickly picked up the phone and immediately dialed Deanne's number. "Mom it's me. What's wrong?" "Hi honey. Nothing's really wrong except that they had a cancellation and I can get in tonight if I can present the deposit. I think I need to go ahead. Can you wire me the funds?" "Mom of course I can, but I can't get away right now. Harm is gone and I'm in the middle of a trial here. I can't up and leave." "Honey that's fine. I don't need anything but the payment. I'll be fine in the hospital, and then when I come out maybe you can come out here and help me relocate like you promised." "Of course I will but I wanted to be there for your surgery too." "No. You have a job to do there. I'll let you know when it's finished. Please honey. I'd feel much better knowing you were back in DC at work, not risking your career." "All right Mom. I'm not going to argue. You're still banking at Wells Fargo like you told me before?" "Yeah. You've got the numbers I sent you right?" "Yes I do. Mom, what hospital?" "Rampart. They're doing the surgery at Rampart," Deanne sighed. "I'll be fine. They said I'd only be out of it for a day so I'll call you as soon as I can. You'll send the money tonight right?" "Yes Mom. I'm going to go to the bank right away. You take care of yourself and please don't forget to stay in touch." "No I won't. And Sarah, you might not want to mention this to Harm. It was such a sore point with him and I don't want to make trouble between you two." "I'll handle Harm. He's down in Mayport on an investigation anyway. Take care of yourself Mom. Stay in touch." She broke the connection and for a long time stared out of her window in thought. Her mother needed her and she could not go. The trial was at a critical juncture and she knew better than to even ask. Her day finished and she was just walking into the house when Harm called. "Hi. Just wanted to make sure you were home OK. I tried to get you earlier and when you didn't answer I panicked. Everything OK?" "Yeah." "Doesn't sound like it. Where were you?" "I stopped at the bank to arrange the money be sent to mom and then I went for a run," she replied, her tone clearly indicating there was no discussion going to ensue. "I see. OK." He refrained from making any further comment on Deanne and asked instead, "You're OK then?" "Of course I am. I'm just tired. The trial is making me crazy. I've got an idiot for a client and a mother about to have heart surgery and a fiance whom I'm barely getting along with. I'm tired." "When I come back we'll talk. I promise. This time apart hasn't been good. Well except for making me miss you." She sniffled slightly at his words and suddenly opened her heart to him. "I miss you too Sailor and I don't want this thing with my mom hurting us any more. OK? I'm going to make sure she gets taken care of but I can do that and love you too. Can't I? I mean I'm a Marine right? I can handle it. I can do both?" "Are you convincing yourself or me?" "Both," she admitted, her voice small and quiet. "We'll talk. Like I said." "I don't want to lose you Harm." "You'll never lose me Sarah. Never. I love you." His tender words brought more tears to her eyes and she blew her nose. "Sorry. OK any word on how much longer?" "Things are moving real slow so I don't think any time in the next three or four days dammit," he sighed. "And that's the other thing I had to tell you. I'm getting a chopper hop out to the Grant in the Atlantic to talk to a couple people who supposedly have information. I'll be there forty-eight hours at least." "Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm not going anywhere either," she replied. "My client, Ensign Moron, is hanging tough." ******************** JAG HQ's Two Days Later "I don't stand a chance do I ma'am?" Ensign Michael Riley sighed after the judge called for afternoon recess. "That's what I've been trying to tell you" Mac said quietly. "Commander Turner was offering you the best deal you were going to get." "Is it too late to take it?" he asked. "I'll speak with the Commander and see if he's still willing to deal." She left her client with the Marine guard and headed to Sturgis's office. "You still willing to deal?" she asked as she walked into his office. "Your client starting to feel the heat a bit?" Sturgis smiled. "I told you he didn't have a chance." "I told him that too. But he didn't think his attorney knew anything. But after your last witness he realizes it's a pretty hopeless situation and he's willing to take your offer if it still stands." "I could say no" Sturgis smiled. "But you won't because you know we're wasting taxpayer dollars on this as it is" Mac sighed. "All right. I'll talk to Admiral Morris and see if it's okay with him. If it is, then we're finished." "Thanks Sturgis. Let me know as soon as you find out. I've got something else I'd like to attend to if this is over with." "Well I know it's not Harm" he smiled. "It's my Mom. She had valve replacement surgery yesterday. And I'd really like to be there for her." "I didn't know. I'm sorry to hear that. Do they think she'll be okay?" "I think so. She hasn't really told me much about it" Mac admitted. "I dont think she wanted me to worry about her. But of course I still am." "I'll see if I can talk to Admiral Morris right away then. If he agrees, maybe you can be on a flight tonight to her." "That would be nice" Mac smiled. "I'd like to be there so I can take her home. Surprise her you know." "Well let me stop talking and go find the Admiral." Admiral Morris accepted the terms of the plea bargain and once her client had been taken back into custody Mac made a beeline for the Admiral's office. "Sir do you have a moment?" Mac asked as she knocked on his door. "What is it Colonel?" AJ asked as he motioned her in. "Sir, I finally got Ensign Riley to take Sturgis's plea. And now that we're wrapped there, I'd like to take some leave time if possible." "Again?" he frowned. "Sir when I was in California, I got in contact with my Mom again. She's ill and she had surgery. I'd like to go out and be with her for a few days." "Of course. Why didn't you say something sooner? I could have had someone take over the case for you." "Well I knew Harm was out and we've been swamped around here. So I figured I'd wait for this to be over. Fortunately Riley saw the writing on the wall and gave it up. But if it's not a problem, I'd like to go now for a few days." "Of course. Let me know how she is when you get there." "Thank you sir." "Does Harm know you're going?" AJ asked as she started towards the door. "No sir. But he's out on the Grant and I'm sure I'll be back before he does. And quite honestly, I'd rather he didn't know I was going out there." "Anything you want to share?" AJ frowned. "You know I haven't stuck my nose into your business since you two came back but I've been wondering. Seeing as how you're wearing his ring but barely talking to each other." "It's complicated sir. But it has to do with my mom and that's why I'm not telling him I'm going there." "All right. But if he calls and asks for you, I won't lie to him" AJ said seriously. "No sir, I wouldn't expect you to." Several hours later she boarded the late flight to Los Angeles. She felt a slight twinge of guilt for not calling Harm but at the same time she knew it would only cause another argument between them. And with him on the Grant, it wasn't like he needed to know that she was going to LA. Likely she would be home before he would come close to figuring out his case. ================== Mac arrived in L.A. at dawn California time and felt an overwhelming sense of weariness as the taxi pulled away from the airport. Her calls to the hospital had been fruitless except to be assured that if Ms. Mackenzie had listed her as NOK, she would have been notified if there was any news. Otherwise they could give out no information over the phone and if her mother had not called, it was likely that she was not sufficiently recovered to use her phone. No help at all. The taxi took her to Rampart as she requested and with weariness from lack of sleep combined with the stress of the trial and worry over her mom all dogging her steps, she managed to get to the Information desk. "Yes ma'am?" "Good morning. My name is Sarah Mackenzie. You have a Deanne Mackenzie here as a patient. She's my mother and I need to see her." "Spell please and I'll need to see some ID." With exaggerated patience, Mac did as requested. "Sorry ma'am. Nothing." "Excuse me. You'd better check again. She's a Medi-Cal patient if that helps. She's having heart surgery." "Maybe it was delayed," the clerk offered. "That happens a lot. Patient will report for surgery and then have a cold or something and it has to get postponed. Would you like to try calling her at home?" "Would you like to try looking again?" Mac snapped, nevertheless taking the phone the woman was offering. Her mother's number rang with no answer while the clerk again typed in her name. "You're sure you're spelling it right?" "Yes ma'am. There are no Mackenzie's listed as patients here. You probably should go on out to her place." "I guess so," Mac sighed, shouldering her bag once more. The cab driver, only too glad of a long ride to Deanne's neighborhood, dropped her at the front door of the restaurant and Mac made the long climb up the steps. The door to the apartment was partly opened and she could hear the sound of a vacuum cleaner. "Mom? Mom it's me Sarah," she called stepping through. A woman she had never seen before continued to vacuum, having not heard her, and Mac reached down and pulled the plug, her eyes wide at finding this stranger. "Oh I'm sorry," the woman smiled. "I'm Mollie Day. You're here to see the apartment?" "I'm here to see my mother," Mac gasped, still in surprise. "Deanne Mackenzie. I'm Sarah Mackenzie." "Honey somewhere there's been a communications breakdown for sure," she laughed. "Your mama paid up what she owed me and if that wasn't shock enough, told me she was leaving town. For good. I asked where she'd gotten that kind of money and she said a relative had died. Lucky her. I wish I had a relative to die and leave me some. Well relatives I've got--the kind that ask me for money all the time. Anyway, how come you didn't know this? You been out of the country or something?" "She. . .she was supposed to be having heart surgery," Mac stammered. "Yeah? Well if so that's the first I ever heard of it," Mollie laughed. "That woman could tell a whopper when she wanted to though. Especially when it came to ponying up the rent dough." ================= JAG HQ's Same Time "Admiral, Commander Rabb is on the line," Tiner said as he walked into AJ's office. "He wanted to know where the Colonel was and I told him I didn't have that information." "Transfer him to me" AJ sighed. "I'll handle it Tiner." "Sir, where is Mac?" Harm demanded as soon as he was transferred. "California Commander. She went to see her mother. Said she was having surgery and she wanted to be with her." "Dammit. I knew this would happen. When did she leave?" "Last night. Can I ask what about Mac seeing her mother upsets you so much Commander?" "Her mother is not sick sir. I couldn't get all the information to prove it but I can guarantee you she is not having surgery. She's using Mac for the money. That's it. And now Mac is going to find out and she's going to be hurt real bad. Which is exactly what I didn't want to happen." "You're sure of this?" AJ frowned. "I had no proof that Mac would believe" Harm sighed. "But when I talked to Deanne's neighbors no one knew anything about the surgery. And that she hadn't been sick at all." "Her mother made this all up to get money from Mac?" AJ asked. "Yes sir. She appeared on my mother's doorstep while we were in La Jolla. She claimed to be sick and needing surgery that she couldn't afford. Of course Mac fell for it hook line and sinker and long story short when I tried to mention that Deanne might not have the best intentions, she and I got into it." "So Mac went out there thinking she's going to be with her sick mother. Who's really not sick." "Exactly sir. And I need to get to her." "Commander you're in the middle of an investigation." "Sir, Mac is going to be devastated when she finds out Deanne lied to her about the whole thing. And it's all because of this damn money. I swear sir I wish we'd never won that lottery." "You wouldn't be the first. But I can't just pull you off the investigation." "Sir I'll get back to it as soon as I make sure Mac is okay." "Tell you what Commander. Why don't you try calling her first and talking to her? You might be surprised to find that she's handling this better than you think." "All right sir. I'll do that. But if I'm not happy with the way she sounds, I'm going to Los Angeles." ************* "It was all a lie" Mac whispered as Mollie's words sunk in. "Everything." "What kind of surgery did she tell you she was having?" Mollie asked. "Heart valve replacement" Mac said mutely. "She seemed to know so much about it." "That's because she knew all about mine. I had that done six months ago." "She used me. It was all a lie. Just so she could have the money. All she wanted was the money." Tears slid down Mac's cheeks and Mollie gently patted her arm. "I'm sorry honey. But those of us who knew Deanne knew better than to believe a word she said. She could weave quite a tale when she wanted too." Mac nodded before turning and running from the apartment, her bag still on the floor. The cab now gone, she simply ran down the street, not caring where she was going. She just wanted to escape, to get as far away from the betrayal as she could. Mollie watched the young woman go with a sigh before realizing she'd left her bags behind. The shrill ring of a cell phone startled her a moment later and she fumbled through the bag for the cell phone. "Hello" she said as she answered it. "Where is Mac?" Harm demanded. "Who is this?" "I'm Mollie. Is the Mac you're looking for Deanne's daughter?" "Yes. Now where is she?" "She just took off" Mollie sighed. "She came here looking for Deanne and I told her Deanne had left town. She was quite upset about the whole thing." Harm ran a hand through his hair as he tried to picture the situation. Tried to imagine Mac upset and unthinking and leaving the apartment in that state. "Why are you answering her phone anyway?" "She left her bag here. I was hoping it would be someone who was concerned about her. Sir, hopefully she'll come right back soon as she gets her wits about her. But. . ." Mollie's voice trailed off as she was unsure how much to say. "Ma'am, what? Make your point dammit." "It's just that this area. Parts of it are fine. The couple blocks around this apartment are fine. But you get more than say four blocks over, across the bridge there say, and it's not a place. . .well I would never go there even during the daytime. Maybe she would know better. Deanne did." "How the hell would she?" Harm exploded. "She's never been there. If she's just walking at random she could easily get into trouble. Right?" There was silence and Harm screamed, "am I right?" "Yes you are, but I don't know what you think yelling at me is going to do about it," Mollie sighed. "At the same time, maybe she'll stop and think and come back. She doesn't have her bag, no money or ID. She won't go far." "I don't know if I dare trust that," he snapped. "OK here's what's going to happen. I'm going to give her one hour, and I'm going to call back on this number, and pray that she answers. Mollie please help me out here. I love her and I'm scared." "OK OK no need to beg," Mollie groaned. "I'm going to be right here--got two hours of cleaning ahead of me so it's not a big deal. And if she comes back I'll see if I can get her to call you." ================= At that same time Mac's legs were eating up the pavement, moving as fast as she could in the throng of people who seemed to be just milling about on the sidewalks. It had been as if her mother's apartment was stifling her, making it hard to breathe once she had heard the news. Not only was she hurt over her mother's betrayal but the full realization of how she had pushed Harm away was hitting her. "Mackenzie how do you manage to be so stupid," she panted, leaning up against a building and wiping unwanted tears from her eyes. Harm's face swum before her and she wanted his arms around her. Wanted to tell him she was sorry she let this come between them. ================= Aboard the Grant, Harm paced the ward room for the first half hour, and then decisively returned to his cabin to pack. He was going to be ready in case. Fifty-five minutes later he could wait no more and he dialed Mac's number. "Hi it's Mollie again. I'm sorry I haven't seen or heard from her." Harm banged his fist against the wall in frustration, unreasonably cursing the fact that he was not on a carrier as he began to envision helping himself to a Tomcat. "Goddammit." The word echoed off the walls of his small cabin. "Listen Mollie please. I need you to help me out here. I'm begging you OK?" "You in love with Deanne's daughter or something?" "Yes I am. My name is Rabb, and I'll play you well for helping me to find her. Do we have a deal?" "Yeah sure what the hell. But if it involves me going into any of those neighborhoods, well Mr. Rabb I can't spend money if I'm dead now can I." "It's that bad" Harm said with a sharp intake of breath. "Look Mr. Rabb I do the best I can but I don't live next to Beverly Hills. Those streets out there are not nice. Even in broad daylight." "I need you to find her," he said quietly. "Please. You know the police won't do anything until twenty four hours are up and by then it will be too late." "I can call my son," she said finally. "He might be willing to help. But you're going to have to make it worth our while." "I can do that" Harm assured her. "Both of you." "Just so I'm clear, how much are we talking?" Mollie asked. "Ten thousand" "I'll call him right now" Mollie gasped. "We'll find your lady friend." "Thank you" Harm sighed. "I'm going to give you my cell phone number so you can call me. In the meantime I'll be there as soon as I can arrange it." He hung up after giving her his number and strode to the Captain's office. He was going to get to LA tonight. And nothing was going to stop him. Captain Maria Fleming was more than sympathetic to his situation, arranging for a chopper to take him from the Grant and back to Mayport. Once there, he quickly headed to Jacksonville airport where he booked the next flight that went to LA. "Sir it's Harm" he said a short time later when he called AJ. "I'm going to LA. Mac's in trouble." "What happened?" AJ sighed. "Apparently she found out her mother had just used her. She skipped town with all the money Mac had sent her." "You had her pegged Commander. I just wish this time you hadn't been right." "So do I sir. I've got someone trying to find her but apparently she ran off into the bad area of town." "Did you call the police?" AJ asked. "They won't do anything sir. Not for twenty-four hours. I can't wait that long." "Keep me posted. And if I hear from her I'll let you know. It's possible she just took off and will get her head back together and call here." "I hope so sir" Harm sighed. "I hope so." ****************** STREETS OF LOS ANGELES "Hey baby. What you doin down here?" Mac whirled around to see a group of young men looking at her from across the street. It was only then that she realized she no longer had any clue where she was. She'd run for so long and now she was lost. "You lost honey?" one of them called as he started across the street towards her. Several others followed him and for a moment she didn't move. But as the men neared her, she saw the gang markings and she turned and ran. Ran as fast as she could, not stopping until she found herself in an alley. The men had given up chase and she leaned against one of the buildings as she tried to catch her breath. Tears ran down her face and it wasn't long before she was sobbing uncontrollably. All she wanted was to get out of this awful place and go home to Harm. Home to the person who really loved her. She'd been such a fool to believe that her mother had really wanted to be a part of her life again. A fool to think that she'd wanted anything except the money. She finally stopped crying and wiped her tears. She needed to get out of here. She made her way around the building, finally spotting a payphone down the street. She couldn't call Harm, the fact that he was on the Grant making it impossible for him to help her. But there was someone closer that might be able to help her. As she reached the phone she realized she had no money. She'd left her purse at Mollie's. Along with everything else. But she picked up the phone and dialed O for the operator. "I'd like to make a collect call" she whispered before giving the number to the Burnett home in San Diego. With the first ring she allowed herself a short sigh of relief, sensing Help was near. That relief lasted only through the next four rings and she got their answering machine. "I'm sorry ma'am," came the calm voice of the operator. "Try back later huh?" "Yeah." She was about to ask the operator to ring JAG HQ and then decided against it. People three thousand miles away could not help. With a stifled sob she hung up the phone and took several long breaths. If she had been disoriented before, she was totally lost now. The streets were all the same and she had no idea how to begin to make her way back to Deanne's. Asking someone seemed to just point out how alone and vulnerable she was at that moment. Footsteps behind her got her attention after a few minutes and she forced herself to look. Two men, looking like they might be homeless, were ambling down the street, poking through the trash as they went. "Keep moving Mackenzie. You've got to get help," she counseled herself. "Not everyone In this neighborhood can be bad." The men approached and she turned and walked ahead of them, keeping her focus straight ahead of her. "Hello little lady where are you off to in such a hurry," one called when he realized she was obviously not from the area. "Bet you're pretty lost. Can I help?" "No thanks. I'm fine," she flung back over her shoulder. "I'm going to a friend's house just up the street there. I'm fine." "You don't look real fine to me does she Pete?" "Jake don't mess with her," the younger man told him. "She probably belongs to someone. It's not healthy for us to. . ." His words died, only to be replaced by footfalls and Mac dared a look Around to see what had become of the two men. They were long gone, halfway down The block, chased off by another group of men who quickly surrounded her. "OK baby. You are one lost lamb and we know just how to take care of you." ===================== LOS ANGELES 3 Hours Later "Mee-ma she's waking up. Mee-ma you better come. Meee-maaaa." It was the voice of a young child ringing in her ears. Her head was Pounding and even though she was sure her eyes were open she could see nothing but dimness. "Carly for crying out loud shut up that noise. I'm not deaf though lord knows I will be the way you screech." Another voice which she could not identify. She sat up slowly, and a second later the room was filled with light as the door opened and the overhead light turned on. "Well my lands she is awake," the woman smiled. "I hope Carly didn't bother you. I just told her to check on you." "No, that's OK," Mac said slowly, her hands gripping the edge of the mattress as the room spun around. "This is going to sound like a total cliche, but where am I?" "You're with me and my granddaughter," the older woman smiled. "I'm Louise Fisher and this is Carly and you've been in some kind of a fight or something. We found you outside our back door when I put out a bag of trash." "It was Leonard and his boys. I know it," Carly said solemnly. "They dumped you there." "Carly let the woman tell her story," Louise admonished the eight year old. "And she doesn't even feel up to that right now. Get her ice bag refilled girl and bring her a cup of tea. Now." "Yes ma'am," Carly squealed and grabbing the icebag took off. "My head hurts," Mac whispered, reaching up to touch a lemon-sized lump at her temple. "I'm most sure it does," Louise smiled sympathetically. "Do you remember what happened?" She shook her head. "Not really. Just these men kind of reaching. . .grabbing. . .and I ran. I do remember that. I ran and then I think I fell." "Well I won't even ask what you're doing in this neighborhood when it's clear you don't belong. You got family I can call?" "No family" Mac said miserably, her mind thinking back to her mother's betrayal. "Well there must be someone," Louise said as she looked at the ring on Mac's hand. "He's in the middle of the Atlantic on a Navy ship" Mac sniffled. "I was trying to call his mother when those guys came after me." "Where's his mother honey? We can call her and hopefully we can get you out of here." "San Diego. She wasn't home when I tried earlier." "Well we can try again. Before it gets dark anyway. After that we won't even want to consider leaving the house until morning." "How late is it?" Mac frowned, realizing she had no sense of time anymore. Between the change from East Coast to West Coast and her run in with the men she'd completely lost track of what time it was. "Almost five. You've really lost track of your day haven't you?" "It's all been a blur since I got to Mom's" Mac sighed. "But I thank you for picking me up from where ever it was I landed. I'm Sarah Mackenzie and Harmon Rabb is my fiance. His mother's name is Trish Burnett and my head is killing me." She grimaced again as her hand went to her forehead, Carly arriving at the moment with a new ice bag. "You just rest for a bit more" Louise urged as she replaced the ice bag. "And if you give me the number for your fiance's mother, I'd be happy to call her." Mac recited the number to Trish's and Louise ran off to make the call. Mac let out a long sigh and closed her eyes against the pounding in her head. She was lucky these people had found her. Lucky she'd gotten away from the men who'd been after her. "No answer honey" Louise said as she walked back into the room. "Are you sure I can't call someone else?" "If Harm wasn't on the ship" Mac whispered as tears pooled in her eyes. "Now don't cry" Louise urged. "It's going to be okay. You can stay here if you have to tonight. I'm sure not going to let you back out on those streets alone." "I can't impose" Mac sniffled. "You've already been too kind to me already." "Well I know you don't belong down here. And obviously something happened that caused you to wander into this neighborhood." "My mother lied to me" Mac whispered, suddenly needing to tell someone the story. "She told me she was ill. That she needed surgery. But it was all a lie. Just so she could get money from me. I came here and found out she'd taken the money I sent her and left town." "My heavens what on earth kind of woman would do something like that" Louise gasped. "I should have known" Mac said as the tears slid down her face. "I hadn't seen her in years. She's never been part of my life. The only reason she showed up now is because she knew I had the money." "Wait a minute" Louise said as she peered at Mac. "Are you the young woman who won the big lottery back east with that sailor? The ones everyone was talking about all over the country because you weren't quitting the military." "That's us. We were out visiting Harm's Mom when my Mom showed up. He warned me about her but I didn't listen to him. I believed everything she told me." "I'm sorry honey. So you found out what she'd done and you took off and ended up down here?" Mac nodded as she wiped her tears. "And now all I want to do is go home and forget all about the lies she told me." "Well we'll think of something" Louise assured her. "But for right now why don't you rest? Maybe your fiancee's mother will be home soon. I'll keep calling." "Thank you Louise. I'll pay you back for this. I promise." ********************* Los Angeles International Airport Three Hours Later "Where to sir?" the cabbie asked as Harm climbed into the car. He gave the man the address of Deanne's old apartment, hoping that by now Mollie and her son had been able to track down Mac. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Mac's number, hoping Mollie would answer. Finally the older woman answered and Harm held his breath. "Mollie did you find her?" "I'm sorry Mr. Rabb. Nothing so far. Edward's been out looking but there's no sign of her around here." "Damn" Harm sighed. "Okay I'm on my way. If you find anything, call me. Please." He hung up and let out a long sigh. He had to find her. Nothing else in life mattered except finding her. He pulled out his phone again as a thought crossed his mind. "Mom it's Harm" he said when his mother's answering machine picked up. "I'm in Los Angeles. Mac is missing. If she's tried to call you, please call me right away." He drew a long sobbing breath and swallowed hard. "I'm sorry Mom. I should better be in control. Anyway, I've got my cell if you know anything and I'll try back. . ." "Harm that is you." Trish's voice. "Yes ma'am thank god," Harm gasped. "You're home?" "Well obviously since I'm talking to you. We just got in and I was coming to check messages when I heard you. Now what the hell is going on. Why are you so upset?" "Mom, she's gone. Missing. Taken. Run off. I don't know. I had to go on a case and she came out to L.A. to be with her mother. For the surgery. For surgery that she lied about having." Another swallowed sob and he heard Trish's breath draw in sharply. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to be right. But I don't understand. She's missing? My god where? How?" "I came out to L.A. to find her and her mom's landlady told me what happened. Mollie told her about Deanne leaving the area and Mac ran off. I guess she just needed some space but she's lost and she could be in trouble. Mom L.A. is a big dangerous city and I'm scared to death. I am so stupid. I knew this was wrong. I knew it smelled of last week's tunafish right from the start and I let it come between us. Instead of staying by her side and letting her know I would support her, I just backed away. What if I never see her again." "OK what if you calm down and stop beating yourself up first of all," Trish told him sternly. "We've been gone all day and had the machine on since only Lupe was here and she doesn't speak enough English to answer the phone. I've got eleven messages. Hopefully one of them is from your fiancee. So what I'm going to do is call you back on my cell phone while I listen to the tape." "Yes ma'am," Harm sighed, grateful for his mother's calm sternness. He held his breath, saying a fervent prayer as he was reconnected with her a few minutes later. "Harm your guess was right. She was trying to call me. But that's not important. This message is. I'm going to put the phone up to the mike and maybe you can hear it." Barely but enough to make out, Harm heard Louise Fisher's quiet voice. "Mrs. Burnet my name is Louise Fisher and Sarah Mackenzie is trying to reach you. She's had an accident and she's staying with me. My number is 323 555 2210. Don't worry, she's in good hands until family can claim her." "Harm did you get that?" "Yes ma'am. My god she's had an accident. How bad?" "Do I impress you as a mind reader son? Call the woman and find out, and then call me back right away. Right away Harmon. I'm dying here." "OK yeah. Stay by your phone." As he was dialing Louise's number he leaned forward to the cab driver. "Pull over please. There may be a change in destination." A few seconds later the call was answered by a gruff-toned male. "You've reached the Fisher residence. Kindly state your message." "I'm Harmon Rabb. Sarah Mackenzie is staying with you and. . ." His words were cut off by the sound of the call being picked up. "Hi this is Carly." The young girl's voice made him smile despite his state of anxiety. "Hi Carly. My name is Harm. I'm looking for Sarah Mackenzie. Someone called my mother and said she was there. Please let that be so, and let her be OK." "You talk funny," Carly giggled. "Sarah's here. She's in bed with an ice bag. Some guys hurt her." "How bad is she hurt?" Harm gasped. "Please tell me she's not hurt bad." "Not real bad. She's just got a big bump on her head." "Can you take the phone to her?" Harm asked. "So I can talk to her." "The cord doesn't stretch that far" Carly laughed. "She's in the bedroom lying down and I'm in the kitchen." "Is there a phone in the bedroom?" Harm asked patiently. "One that might be closer to her." "Carly honey who are you talking to?" Louise demanded as she realized Carly was still talking. "Some nice man looking for Sarah. He's real worried about her." "Good Lord child why didn't you say something sooner" Louise said as she took the phone from the young girl. "This is Louise. Who am I speaking to?" "Harmon Rabb. Please I want to speak to Sarah if she's able." "Just calm Mr. Rabb. Your Sarah is okay. She's got a little bump on the head but she's fine. How did you find us?" "I called my Mom and she played me the message you left. I'm on my way to you if you just tell me where you are." "How are you coming?" Louise asked. "Because this isn't a real good neighborhood Mr. Rabb. Especially after dark." "I'm in a cab right now." "Well if you hurry you should be okay. I'm not sure about getting out of here but if you don't stay long you should be fine." She gave him directions that he quickly relayed to the cab driver. Fortunately the man didn't seem phased by the neighborhood and headed in the right direction. "Louise can I speak to Sarah please?" Harm asked. "I just need to make sure she's okay." It was but a moment later that her tearful voice came through the phone line. "Harm it's really you" she cried. "Yes honey it's me" he said softly. "I'm coming to get you. And everything is going to be okay." "I was such a fool" she sobbed. "Mom only wanted the money. You were right about everything." "Shh it's okay. It's over now. The money isn't important to me. What's important is that you're okay. I love you Sarah. All I care about is having you. Not the money. Not about being right. Just about you." "I don't deserve you" she sniffled. "I should have believed you. And trusted you. Not Mom." "Honey it's over. Please just relax and I promise I'll be there real soon." "I love you" she whispered. "And I'm sorry." "You have nothing to be sorry about" he said softly. "I love you and nothing is ever going to change that. I promise." For the first time in hours he finally relaxed as he hung up the phone. She was safe. That was all that mattered to him. Nothing else. More and more he was realizing what meant the most to him in this world. And it wasn't the money. The cab finally pulled up in front of the old home and Harm pulled out his wallet. "Can I get you to wait here?" he asked. "Depends on how much you're paying" the cabby smiled as he looked around the area. "For the right amount of money I'd be happy to." "This work?" Harm asked as he handed him a hundred-dollar bill. "And I promise I'll have another one of those if you're still here when I come out." "I'll be here" he assured Harm. Harm hurried to the front door of the home and once Louise was sure it was him she let him into the house. Mac was waiting behind her and as soon as Harm was inside she threw herself into his arms. "Thank God you're okay" he breathed as he hugged her tightly. "You have no idea how scared I was." "I'm sorry" she whispered. "And I'm so glad you're here." "Ma'am I can't thank you enough for taking care of her" Harm said to Louise when he finally let go of Mac. "But I would like to repay you if I could." "Not necessary Mr. Rabb" Louise smiled. "Yes it is. And tomorrow I'll be back with that repayment. Right now I just want to get Sarah somewhere for the evening." "I understand. I'm just glad you two are back together." "Thank you again" Mac said to Louise. "You're welcome dear. Just let this nice man of yours take care of you. He obviously loves you a lot." "Yes I do" Harm said as he put his arm around Mac. "Louise, I'll be back tomorrow. You lock up and stay safe once we're gone." Louise nodded and followed them to the door. Once outside Harm hurried Mac to the cab and he breathed a small sigh of relief when they cab took off. "It's over honey" Harm whispered as he pulled Mac to him. "Just relax and I'm going to take care of everything." "I need that right now" she whispered. "I'm so confused." "Where to mister?" The cabbie's question came before she could go on. "I need to get her to a hospital," Harm called. "No please no. No hospital. I just want to go somewhere where you can hold me," she begged at once. "I'm not hurt really. I mean I hurt everywhere but I'm not really hurt." "Mac you were unconscious. A head injury is nothing to fool around with. Besides you don't know what happened to you. What if the guys chasing you. . .what if they. . . " The word 'raped' stuck in his throat and he could not even say it. "No Harm I know what you're thinking and I promise that's not what happened These guys were bothering me and I ran. I don't remember much but I remember I got away from them. But I fell. I remember tripping over something. I fell and then the next thing I know I'm in bed at Louise's. Harm we have to do something for them. She could have just closed her door and not helped me." "Yeah tomorrow. Right now you need a hot bath at least and some food. When was the last time you ate anyway?" "I don't think I know. But a hot bath sounds wonderful. A hotel please. Not a hospital." He bit his lower lip in thought, unsure of what he should do. In the end it was the pleading in her eyes that made up his mind. "Cabbie the nearest hotel please, but a nice place." "Yes sir. The Hyatt is about a mile from here." "Thank you," she breathed and relaxed against him. "Yeah OK but the first dizzy spell or bad headache and I'm on the phone with 911," he warned. "Deal." Thirty minutes later he was unlocking the door to a tenth floor room. "OK good, it is big enough for both of us," he smiled and gestured to the whirlpool tub. "I was hoping it would," she sighed. "Because right now I don't think I want your arms very far from me. I'm sorry I'm such a baby. The Marine in me seems pretty far removed right now I have to admit. I was so sure that everyone was wrong. That she was my mom and I knew best and the rest of you weren't even trying to understand." "SShhhh OK," he soothed. "Good grief how many times have I leaped off the deep end, and most of those times I dragged you along with me." He led her to the tub and turned it on, adding a vial of the bath oil resting on the ledge. "Apricots. Come on Colonel lets have you." She sniffled once as she allowed him to help her from her clothes and shortly they were both submerged, his arms going around her so that she could rest her head on his chest. "Do you know what happened? With Mom I mean? I guess you can easily fill in the blanks if you don't" "I know you got to her place and found out it was all a scam," he said gently, "and how hurt you must have been." "I was sure. So sure," she murmured. "Harm I pride myself on being a good judge of people. I mean look what happened when I met you." "Instant hate?" "No moron. I knew right away there was a connection forming between us. No with Mom I guess I just wanted so much for it to be so that I totally ignored all the advice and cautions and even my own misgivings. Stupid stupid stupid." "No just a woman looking for the mother she never really had," he soothed. "And like I said, I've pulled some real doozies. You're entitled." She lifted her head and gave him a long tender kiss. "I don't deserve you. I'm so sorry for the way I've treated you these last couple weeks too." "I love you. That you love me back is all that matters." = = = = = = = = "Mac I do not believe you were on foot in this area," Harm whispered the next morning, looking apprehensively out the cab window. "Apparently I just started walking-or more accurately running---and I didn't stop. But really it's not any worse that parts of DC." "No part I'd ever allow you in," he returned. "Are you folks sure this is where you're supposed to be?" the cabbie demanded as he turned onto Louise's block. "Yes sir. There's a fifty dollar tip in it for you to come back in thirty. We'll be heading to LAX straight away." "Yes sir you got it," Louise Fisher opened the door cautiously when they knocked, and then with a big smile ushered them insde. "I wasn't sure I'd see you again, but honey you do look better than you did yesterday." "Yes ma'am I feel one hundred percent better on all counts," Mac smiled. "Despite my total stupidity it all turned out OK." "And we can't thank you enough for what you did," Harm added. "A lot of people would have locked their door, or maybe called the police, but to take her in like you did, well that was above and beyond." "Just being a Christian," Louise smiled and blushed. "Louise where's Carly? I wanted to say goodbye," Mac spoke up. "School dear. That child is smart. All A's. Her mother was nothing, and when my son brought this little scrap of a baby to me eight years ago I thought he was out of his gourd wanting to raise a child, expecting me to help him to, but she's the light of my life." "Her dad is where?" Harm asked. "On the aircraft carrier Stennis," Louise said proudly, motioning them to a nearby bookcase where a handsome young Lieutenant's picture rested. "Go Navy," Harm laughed. "I hope to meet him some day." "Well he joined up because there was nothing here but these mean streets," she smiled. "Carly talks about doing the same. Of course she also talks about being a ballerina and a doctor so who knows." "Sit down, there's coffee and I'm just making a batch of cookies," Louise urged. "Can't be going home on an empty stomach. You are going home right?" "Yes ma'am. First class too." Harm looped his arm around Mac's neck. "Going home sadder but wiser." They left a half hour later. Louise had refused to take any payment from Harm, so as she and Mac were hugging goodbye, Harm simply left five one hundred dollar bills under Lt. Fisher's picture. Louise would know where it was from. It wasn't until they were aboard the plane that Harm totally relaxed. "You okay?" he asked. "You've been pretty quiet since we left Louise's." "Yeah" she said softly. "Just thinking about everything. I'm sorry you had to come out here because I was such a fool." "Honey all that mattered to me was making sure you were okay. And if I had to go through every neighborhood in LA to find you, I was prepared to do it. I love you. You're all that matters in this world." "Why did she do it Harm?" Mac whispered. "Why did she lie? If she'd just asked me for the money I would have given her some. Why did she have to lie to me?" "I don't know. And I wish I could have spared you all that hurt. That's all I was trying to do when we were fighting." "I know. And I was so stupid to believe her over you. You have never once let me down in life. Not once. And all she's ever done is let me down." "Well I'm pretty sure you won't be hearing from her again," he said quietly. "She got what she wanted and now she's out of your life again. And I'm sorry to say this but hopefully for good." "I don't want to talk to her again. She's made it pretty clear what's important to her and it's obviously not me." "If it's any consolation, you're very important to me. And I can't imagine my world without you." "Thank you" she sniffled. "I needed to hear that." "I'll be happy to say it as often as you need to hear it" he smiled. "I love you. And I hope that now maybe we can settle down and start making some wedding plans." "You still want me?" she said with a small smile. "Nothing could not make me want you," he said seriously. "Nothing. So start getting used to the idea that you're stuck with me forever." "I think I can live with that." "Good" he said as he leaned back in the seat. "Why don't you lay back and relax? We've got a long flight back." She nodded and leaned her head against him and closed her eyes. She was safe again. Safe in the arms of the man who loved her. That was all that mattered. ************** JAG HQ's 1 Week Later "Kicked your six today didn't I?" Mac smiled as she and Harm walked back from the courtroom. "You got lucky. Next time your client gets in trouble he's not getting off." "There won't be a next time. I've warned him that the next time he's out." They walked into her office and Mac frowned as she looked the pink memo note on her desk. "You won't believe who called," she said quietly. "Mom." "You're kidding," he said as she handed him the paper that Tiner had filled out. "I don't believe she had the nerve to call you again." "I'm not planning on calling her" Mac sighed. "Ever again. I don't care what she wants." "I'm sorry she's doing this to you" he said softly as he pulled her into his arms. "I thought she'd realized she'd hurt you enough the first time." "She probably wants more money. Which I'd gladly give her if she promised to leave me alone." "Is that what you want?" he asked. "For her to leave you alone?" "Yeah it is" she sighed. "Harm I never had a relationship with my Mom and I never will. Especially not after what she did." "Then why don't I call her and make a deal" he said quietly. "And then she won't ever bother you again." "It's not going to be that easy," she moaned. "No matter how much you offer her, she's going to keep asking. She can't bother me unless I let her. I can choose to be affected by her or not. What I do know is that I love you and that I'm not going to allow her to destroy me. To destroy us. We've waiting too long and come too far for that." "Your mom. Your decision," he replied. "Just as long as you know that I won't let her hurt us again." "My protector." "Well if I hadn't been such a jerk before you wouldn't have felt you had to go to Los Angeles like you did. I could have lost you then." =============== THREE MONTHS LATER "This is maddening," Harm groaned, sitting at the dining table surrounded by paper. "Invest, don't invest. Buy, don't buy. Keep the money protected from the government. At this point I'd sooner let the government have it." "Well the government's got more than they need already and they don't have a clue how to manage it either," she giggled. "We could always give it away." "Right." "No I'm serious," he yelped. "Seriously serious. Hear me out. We set up trusts for you and me, for our children, for little AJ, for Sean and Kelcie's baby and Alisha, for Carly and Louise and. . . ." "Harm you're raving." "Managing this money is a full time job," he groused. "On top of the full time jobs we already have." "Well who said he thought we could do it ourselves?" she pointed out with maddening reasonableness. "I must have been drinking heavily," he groused. "Mac we have more than we need. More than we could ever spend. It's not even like we need to worry about retirement. Speaking of which, both of us will be doing that in several years. We need money to travel and enjoy of course, but not multi-millions." "Harm where are you going with all this?" she asked gently, drying off her hands and coming to sit next to him. "Something I've been thinking about for a long time," he admitted. "I want to call in that guy Sturgis knows to give us a realistic idea of what we might need. We can even figure in what it would cost to buy that land and build the house on the beach next to Mom and Frank's. But honestly I don't see much use for us having the rest. Except to give me a migraine when I mess with this. And there's the no small matter of taxes too. I'm not even talking about paying them. Just the hassle of getting them done." "Is there a point anywhere in the future?" "Yeah. What would you say to divesting ourselves of the rest?" ======================== LA JOLLA CA 1 Year later "What are you doing out here Mrs. Ninth Month?" Harm demanded, hearing her soft footfalls on the sand behind him. "Keeping my sanity. Harm I'm rattling around that house." "I know honey, and I meant to come right back. I just got kind of involved here." "Oh all you boys like to watch grown ups build stuff," she giggled, waving her hand toward the house that was going up for them. It would not be in time for the birth of Joseph David Rabb, due any day now but that did not matter. A nursery awaited him in the big house. "It's going to be beautiful," she sighed. "I can't wait to rock your son on our deck with the ocean waves in the background. Harm we made a good decision didn't we?" "You know if I had a dollar for every time you've asked me that, I'd have back the money we divested ourselves of. And I don't know why you're not resting but sit the hell down." "You worry about me far too much." "Well excuse me for loving you and not wanting anything to happen to you and our baby Mrs. Rabb." That brought a large smile to her face and she allowed him to urge her into a nearby beach chair. "How long has it been?" "Three weeks, five days, four hours, seven minutes," she giggled, remembering the day on the beach that she walked proudly to him, large with his child, so they could pledge their love before God. Frank and Trish were witness, along with AJ and Sturgis, and Bud and Harriet. "I'm glad we didn't decide to wait for the baby," she sighed, rubbing her belly and her back at the same time as she leaned forward. "So am I," Harm smiled. "I love that you're my wife for the birth. And you looked beautiful coming to me. I couldn't be happier Sarah." She gave her hand a hard squeeze and walked off to watch the construction more closely. Ten minutes later with her bladder in revolt she rose slowly from the chair, steadying herself as best she could and feeling the chair wobble beneath her. "Harm." Her first yell for him was barely heard over the noise of the construction and yet he sensed almost at once she was in trouble. He spun around in time to see her wobble and fall, the chair collapsing under her. He screamed her name and ran for her, dropping beside her, unsure whether to make her lie still or to gather her in his arms. "Mac tell me how to help you," he gasped, fighting the urge to panic. "Tell your son to hold off being born until you get me to the hospital please," she whispered and she rubbed her belly once more. "Joseph Rabb you wait. You hear me. This is your mother talking." Their son was listening and it would be another four hours before he made his entrance into the world, straight into the waiting arms of his proud father. "Is he okay?" Mac demanded as she strained to see and a moment later Harm placed the wailing infant in her arms. "Good pair of lungs" the nurse smiled as she wiped the baby's head and placed a blanket around it. "Looks pretty good to me." "Our son" Harm whispered as he looked at his wife and child. "And he's perfect." "Yes he is" Mac sniffled as she cradled her son close to her. Everything she'd ever wanted in life she now had. A husband, a child and the wonderful support of Harm's family. All the money in the world couldn't have bought her this. And she wouldn't ever trade it for all the money in the world. *************** Three Months Later "Mac where's my uniform" Harm yelled from the bedroom. "I can't find anything in here." "Of course he can't" Mac smiled at her son. "I guess we need to help Daddy otherwise he's never going to make it to work on time." Joseph smiled brightly at her words and with a sigh she headed to the bedroom where Harm was frantically looking through the closet. "Uniforms" he said when she walked in. "Did you even bring them over yet?" "I knew I forgot something last night" he grinned sheepishly. "I guess I was more worried about getting the other stuff over from Mom's that I completely forgot about our clothes." "Am I surprised" she laughed. "I'll walk over and get one for you. Can you keep Joseph entertained for me?" "Of course I can" Harm smiled as he took his son from her. "I don't get to spend enough time with this little guy as it is." "Your choice" she reminded him as she headed out. "And the right one" Harm murmured. With most of the money given away, Harm had decided to stay on with Navy and had transferred to the JAG office in San Diego when they'd come to California the year before. They tucked away some of the money for the future, but Harm had wanted to finish out his time with the Navy before retiring. Mac had resigned her commission when she'd found out she was pregnant, a decision they had both agreed to. "Your uniform sir" Mac said as she returned a few minutes later. "Thank you" he sighed. "What would I do without you?" "Lucky for you you won't ever have to find out" she smiled. "And hopefully by the time you get home tonight this place will be in some kind of order. Mom said she and Frank are going to come over to help me today. Which translates to they're going to take their grandson and get him out of my hair so I can work." "I'm so glad we came out here," Harm said softly. "You know this is my dream come true. Being here with you and our son with Mom and Frank right next door." "Mine too" she smiled. "And you know it wasn't the money that made the dream come true." "No it wasn't" he smiled. "Cause there's just some things money can't buy." The End.