TITLE:  "Murder at Annapolis"
AUTHORS:  Anne R. [amrsecret@yahoo.com] Pat Steiner [ssbpmn@aol.com]
SUMMARY:  Post Adrift 2 fic.  But does not take into account Mac's assignment 
away from JAG.  A reunion weekend at the Academy.  Rated PG for mild 
violence and language. A Harm-Mac shipper story.
DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to Paramount, CBS, et al.  No copyright is intended 
with this work of entertainment only.
FEEDBACK:  Please, if you would like to express your enjoyment.  If our work 
does not appeal to you for any reason-we have no problem with that, but 
please, no need to share that with us.

"Murder at Annapolis"

JAG HQ
Monday 11 Jun 01
0745 AM Eastern

"Mic hi," Mac spoke quietly into the phone, seeing her door was open and not 
wanting to share her private business with the rest of the JAG staff.  "What's 
going on?  You get on duty OK?"

With the wedding not to be, Mic had  spent a few days in D.C. to clear up his 
affairs, and then simply returned to Sydney.  He and Mac had shared a cordial 
goodbye outside Harm's hospital room and he was now calling her to let her 
know he was settled.  She had agreed they would stay in touch.

"That sounds good," she said, listening to him describe his new duties and his 
new home.

"Mac good morning."  Harm's voice, and Mac froze at the sound, looking up to 
see him standing in her doorway, reading over the top sheet in his stack of files 
and papers.

"Harm?"

"Who else?"  He looked up and flashed his smile at her.  "Hey I'm sorry, I didn't 
realize you were on the phone."

"Huh?"  His appearance had taken her totally by surprise.  She had understood 
he was on orders to rest at home another week.

"Sarah?....Sarah?"  Harm could clearly hear Mic's voice pleading with her.

Mac looked from the phone to Harm and back.  "Uh OK Mic yeah I'm right here.  
So is Harm.  Why I have no idea.  He's supposed to be on convalescent leave."

"Tell him I was going crazy at home.  If I stayed there another day I'd need that 
padded ward at Bethesda."

"I think I'll just call him back later," she murmured and passed that along to Mic 
before hanging up the phone.

"So is he back to being Commander Brumby?"

"Yeah he is, and sounding pretty happy about it.  I'm glad for him.  I hurt him 
bad."

"To marry him would have been worse, for him and for you," he reminded her 
quietly.

"Yeah," she agreed equally as quietly, as her mind went back over the events of 
the past weeks.  Harm's mishap and the canceled wedding playing before her in 
living color.  "And that brings me to what you're doing back at work mister."

"I'm cleared for light duty," he grinned, fumbling with his stack of papers.  "Well 
it's here somewhere.  Anyway, I won't be going on any field missions for a few 
weeks, but I'm able to do desk work as my lungs recover from the salt water I 
breathed into them."

"OK...I guess," she said doubtfully.  "But if you could have seen yourself when I 
did.  You were more dead than alive."

"And feeling every bit of it," he grinned.  "Anyway I'm glad it's done and I have a 
huge favor to ask of you."

"Long as I can refuse, lay it on me," she smiled.

"It's reunion weekend at the Academy," he explained.  "My graduating class is 
getting together.  I really wasn't going to go, but would you believe Keeter is 
coming.  I can't believe it.  Normally he hates anything like this.  Anyway, he's 
been nagging at me to come; and to bring you.  Please."

"As much as I'd love to see him and reminisce about our time in Iran," she said 
slowly, "that's really something you and Renee should share."

Harm bit his lower lip and looked out the window before speaking.  "Mac, Renee 
and I have parted ways.  She's gone to New York and doesn't plan on coming 
back."

"Harm I'm sorry," she gasped in surprise.  "I had no idea."

"Well it was coming on," he said slowly.  "It was inevitable at some point.  I told 
you I wasn't marrying her.  And to be perfectly honest, I did a lot of thinking in 
that ocean.  Amazing what clarity you can have while you're thinking your next 
breath might be your last."

"Anything you'd like to share with me Flyboy?"

"Yes," he said firmly with a sheepish smile.  "But not until I get a good handle on 
it myself.  Getting back to the weekend, it starts Friday night with a barbecue.  
Saturday is a dinner-dance and there's other stuff planned in between.  I didn't 
want to go much at first, but with Keeter's nagging, and the thought of you 
coming, I'm getting some enthusiasm.  Please."

"Only because you're still recovering and I feel sorry for you," she teased.  
"Actually it could be fun.  A weekend with a couple hundred good looking sailors.  
What's not to like."
 
 "Mac" he groaned.
 
 "Just kidding sailor" Mac smiled. "Yes I'll go. I take it the dinner-dance 
 is formal?"
 
 "Yes ma'am. Is that okay?"
 
 "You in dress whites?" Mac grinned. "I can think of worse things. Though if 
 memory serves me correctly every time you and I have gone anywhere formal 
 someone always ends up dead."
 
 It was on the tip of his tongue to say that would be the case again but he 
 decided to leave out the part about the murder mystery game that was planned 
 for Friday night after the barbecue. He wanted her to come and he wasn't 
 sure if he told her that she still would.
 
 "I'm sure that won't happen this time" Harm smiled. "Unless of course Keeter 
 starts hitting on someone's wife."
 
 "Which you know will happen" Mac smiled. "It actually does sound like lots 
 of fun and I'm sure I can find something in my closet for Saturday night. 
 And if not, well I've been looking for an excuse to do some shopping 
 anyway."
 
 "Thanks for doing this. I really appreciate it."
 
 "Don't think there won't be a pay back for this sailor" Mac teased.
 
 "Would a few dinners cover it?"
 
 "Maybe. We'll see after the weekend. Now if I find some handsome sailor who 
 sweeps my heart away..."
 
 "Okay, I'm out of here" Harm groaned. "The piles on my desk are calling."
 
 "Hey, just remember you're on light duty" Mac reminded him. "You're supposed 
 to be taking it easy. Those piles will still be there."
 
 "I will mom" he grinned. "I'll see yah later."
 
 She watched him walk out before turning her attention back to the case in 
 front of her. But somehow her mind kept thinking of a certain handsome 
 sailor in dress whites.
 
 
 JAG HQ
 Thursday
 
 The week had passed quietly, Mac keeping her eye on Harm to make sure he 
 wasn't overdoing it. She's spend the night before going through her closet 
 looking for something to wear for Saturday's formal, deciding that nothing 
 seemed to fit the occasion. She snagged Harriet when she came in that 
 morning, prepared to beg if needed to get her to go shopping with her that 
 night.
 
 "What's the occasion ma'am?" Harriet asked.
 
 "Um, I'm going with Harm to reunion weekend at the Academy" Mac admitted, a 
 slight blush creeping across her cheeks. "There's a formal dance Saturday 
 night and I don't like anything in my closet."
 
 "You're going to Harm's reunion with him?" Harriet smiled.
 
 "Yes, as a friend" Mac said quickly. "Keeter's coming in this time and Harm 
 asked if I'd go with him. So will you go with me?"
 
 "Of course. Let me just make sure Bud doesn't have anything planned that I 
 don't know about."
 
 He didn't and following work Mac and Harriet headed to the local mall.
 
 "Let's find the formal dress first," Mac said as they walked through the 
 mall. "And then I want to look for some other outfits for the weekend."
 
 An hour later they were still in the dress shop, Mac having tried on what 
 seemed like every dress in the store.
 
 "Nothing looks right" Mac sighed as she took of the latest dress.
 
 "What are you looking for?" the saleslady asked irritably. "You haven't said 
 what kind of dress want."
 
 "I don't know" Mac retorted. "I just know when I see it I'll know it's the 
 right dress."
 
 The saleslady walked away muttering under her breath and Harriet smiled at 
 her friend. "I thought this was just a weekend with a friend?"
 
 "It is but I want to look good" Mac sighed. "I'm sorry. You're probably 
 bored stiff."
 
 "I don't mind really" Harriet replied. "Besides it's not often I get out 
 like this. I'm just curious why you're so worried about this weekend"
 
 "Harriet" Mac groaned. "I told you I'm going with Harm as a friend."
 
 "Yeah sure" Harriet smiled as the saleslady came in with another handful of 
 dresses.
 
 "See if any of these work for you" she said as she hung the dresses on the 
 hook before hastily leaving.
 
 It was another half-hour before they left the dress shop; Mac finally 
 settling on a navy blue spaghetti strapped dress that Harriet thought looked 
 wonderful on her. Mac wasn't as sure, but she needed something and it was a 
 nice dress.
 
 "Let me buy you dinner for putting up with me tonight" Mac said as they 
 wandered through the mall. "I'm sorry it took so long."
 
 "So how's Mic doing?" Harriet asked once they were seated in one of the 
 small tables of the Food Court.
 
 "Good. He's back at RAN as Commander Brumby and I think he's actually really 
 happy to be back there" Mac replied.
 
 "You okay with everything?" Harriet asked quietly.
 
 "It was for the best" Mac sighed. "And yeah I'm fine with it."
 
 "I'm glad you didn't marry him," Harriet said in a sudden burst of honesty. 
 "You just never seemed happy with him, is all."
 
 "I was settling Harriet" Mac admitted. "And that's why it would never have 
 worked in the end. Mic is a great guy and I'm sure he'll make someone a 
 wonderful husband. But I'm just not the right someone."
 
"But you wish you had told him long before don't you," Harriet observed astutely.

"Yes, very much so," Mac sighed.  "Of course I also have a lot of wishes in that 
whole area."

"As relate to a certain Commander?" she asked mischievously.

"Harriet," Mac warned.  "Right now Harm and I are just figuring out how to be 
friends again after all that's happened since he went to sea duty.  Nothing more."  
Even as she said that she felt her stomach tighten.  It was hard to not think of 
Harm and not feel a wave of emotion; even at times that emotion bordered on 
annoyance and/or anger.

"Yes ma'am," Harriet grinned, "but no man is going to want to be just friends with 
you in that dress."

"Would you quit," Mac ordered, again feeling her stomach pitch and roll.  "You're 
giving me butterflies here.  Harm just wanted someone so he wouldn't be one of 
the stag losers at these things--you know the guys who stand against the wall 
and talk sports all night; which for that matter he may very well do anyway I don't 
know."

"Ma'am with you in that dress, the only thing he's going to lean on is you."
=======================
Friday Afternoon
4PM Eastern

"OK Sailor we're out of here," Mac told him from the doorway of her office.

"Serious?" he gasped in surprise.  "The Admiral..."

"Left me in charge before he took off," she grinned.  "I got the impression he and 
Dr. Walden have plans."

"Oh yeah?" Harm raised an eyebrow in surprise.  "Well so do we Marine.  Let's 
get it on...uh let me rephrase that real quick before I'm looking at sexual 
harassment charges.  "Let's move out."

What conversation there was on the two hour drive they kept carefully light, 
discussing their current case load some and Harm entertaining her with a few 
Keeter stories.

"Now you're making me really look forward to getting back together with him," 
Mac giggled.  "We didn't do a lot of talking on the desert."

Harm was just about to ask what exactly what it was they did do on the desert 
when a truck careened past them barely avoiding a sideswipe of the passenger 
side, and then before it had completely cleared them cut into their lane, coming 
across the front of the SUV.

"Hold on" was all Harm had time to scream as he jerked the wheel hard left and 
applied the brakes at the same time.  The SUV scraped violently against the 
retaining wall as the truck flew past and he successfully got them stopped.  "Mac 
you OK?" he demanded at once, turning to her and shocked to see how pale she 
was.  "Mac?"  He scraped her cheek with the back of a knuckle.  "Tell me you're 
OK."

"Yeah I think so," she breathed, rubbing her middle where the seatbelt had pulled 
against her.  "That was scary.  You on the other hand were magnificent.  I know I 
wouldn't have been able to pull of that evasive maneuver."

He gave her a quick grin.  "Like dogfighting.  Air to air.  Instincts take over, but 
I'm afraid age has slowed my reaction time a little."

"Well all I could think of was Russia and you avoiding that missile in the MiG," 
she laughed.  "I kept waiting for you to pull my ejection seat like you did before."

"Surprised you then didn't I," he grinned.  "Well let's see what the damage is.  I 
hope we can keep going.  You stay put there."  He opened the door, sliding out 
painfully in the little space between the SUV and the wall.  

Despite his request that she remain, she quickly joined him.  "Oh Harm I'm so 
sorry.  I know you thought a lot of this thing."  The left quarter panel was badly 
scraped and crumpled.

"Hey it's still drivable," he told her.  "And I'm heavily insured.  But the most 
important thing is...well what I do think a lot of is you, and that you're OK."

"Harm," she whispered, blushing intently at his tender words.  "Well I got the 
license number anyway."

"You're kidding," he gasped and threw his arms around her, yelling, "Sarah 
Mackenzie I love you."

It wasn't until her heard her gasp of surprise he realized what he was saying.  
"Mac I mean..I'm sorry, I just mean..."

"Hey I know," she grinned, enjoying seeing him squirm.  "Harm please.  I'd like to 
think we're beyond the point where we have to be so careful what we say.  I 
know you meant you loved my sharp eyes and quick wit."

"Exactly," he grinned, happy she let him off the hook that easily.  
 
 The rest of the trip was completed without incident and a short time later 
 they were making their way to the registration table at the Dorm.
 
 "Uh, what's the sleeping arrangements sailor?" Mac asked as she realized 
 that most of the other couples were most likely married.
 
 "I don't know" Harm said sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't even think about 
 that."
 
 "Well it's not like we haven't shared a room before" Mac smiled.
 
 "About time you got here Rabb" a voice yelled and they turned around to see 
 Keeter making his way over to them. "I was wondering if you'd backed out 
 this weekend." He gave Mac an admiring glance and she smiled back. "Major, 
 you're looking lovely as ever."
 
 "It's Colonel now" Mac grinned. "And it's good to see you too Keeter."
 
 "How long has it been since the desert?" Keeter smiled.
 
 "Okay, if you two are done having your reunion we need to get checked in" 
 Harm said irritably as Mac and Keeter shot each other grins.
 
 "Mac, we'll have to finish this later" Keeter teased. "Harm, we're rooming 
 together. I already checked on the rooms and you and I are sharing. Just 
 like old times buddy."
 
 "Great, I'm never going to get any sleep" Harm groaned.
 
 "That's the whole point Harm" Keeter smiled. "We're here to have a good 
 time. When was the last time we got together anyway and had some fun? Well 
 besides the desert."
 
 "Yeah I'll bet you had fun" Harm scowled. "Come on Mac, let's go find our 
 rooms and then we'll head down to the barbecue."
 
 He started to walk and Keeter grinned at Mac. "He's so much fun to tease"
 
 "Well, don't be too hard on him" Mac replied. "This is his first week back 
 since the crash and I think he's still a little out of sorts."
 
 "Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that" Keeter said quietly. "He seems okay. 
 Is he?"
 
 "I think so. He was only on light duty this week and I've made sure he 
 doesn't over do it. I'm not sure who he coerced into letting him back on 
 duty but he was supposed to be out another week."
 
 Keeter didn't miss the concern in her voice and he smiled as he realized 
 that what he'd seen in the desert 2 years ago hadn't vanished.
 
 "We'd better go find Harm before he thinks we took off together" Keeter 
 replied. "Here let me take your bags."
 
 "Quite the gentleman aren't you?" Mac teased. "If you're trying to impress 
 me, it's not going to work."
 
 "I know you're off limits" Keeter smiled as he grabbed her bag and started 
 after Harm.
 
 Mac stood there for a minute musing over what Keeter had said before she 
 took off after them.
 "Here's your room Mac" Harm said as he and Keeter stopped at the door. "I'll 
 be back in about a half hour and we'll go down to the barbecue?"
 
 "Sounds good sailor" Mac said giving him a smile. "Keeter, I guess I'll see 
 you later as well."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Keeter replied and Mac shook her head as she headed into her 
 room.
 
 "So where's our room?" Harm asked.
 
 "Just down at the end of the hall" Keeter directed. "Not too far away from 
 Mac."
 
 Harm rolled his eyes at Keeter's comment, but said nothing.
 
 "Come on Harm, when you going to admit you have feelings for that woman?" 
 Keeter prodded.
 
 "When are you going to mind your own business?" Harm countered.
 
 "Okay, I'll let it go for now" Keeter grinned as he opened the door to their 
 room.
 
 "Why am I suddenly wishing I hadn't let you talk me into this weekend" Harm 
 groaned.
 
 "I'm sure it wasn't so much me as it was that lovely Marine Colonel that got 
 you to come. Course I never got a good look at her under all those clothes 
 she was wearing when we were in Iraq."
 
 "And you better keep your eyes and everything else off" Harm said seriously. 
 "Mac just broke off a long engagement. The last thing she needs is someone 
 like you in her life."
 
 "Yeah, I remember you mentioning something about her and that loser 
 Australian. Why'd she break it off?"
 
 "You'll have to ask her that one" Harm sighed. "It's not on the list of 
 acceptable subjects between us yet. We're still sort of working through all 
 the bumps from when I left to go flying."
 
 "Which I never understood" Keeter commented and received another glare from 
 Harm. "I take it that's not on the acceptable subject list."
 
 "Bingo" Harm smiled.
 
 "You're not being any fun Harm" Keeter complained. "Here I was looking 
 forward to finding out what my good ole buddy has been up to the past two 
 years."
 
 "Making a mess of his life" Harm sighed as he sat down on the bed. "A big 
 mess."
 
 "You want to share any of those thoughts in your head?" Keeter asked 
 quietly.
 
 "Maybe later" Harm said with a small smile. "Just not yet."
 
 "Any of that going to be what happened a couple weeks ago?"
 
 "I was wondering how long it would take you to ask about that" Harm sighed.
   
"I have a hard time picturing you punching out," Keeter remarked casually.  
"You're more the go down with the ship...uh plane...type."

"I tried to hold it together," he sighed in defeat.  "In fact I was debating whether to 
ride it out.  In the end some primal survival instinct took over and I pulled the 
handle."

"How long were you in the water?"

"Almost eleven hours--but that's from what they told me.  I don't remember 
anything after the raft got away from me.  I guess I kept going in and out."

"So what is the first thing you remember after?"

"Mac ordering me to wake up.  Somehow she bullied her way out to the carrier.  
Not only that, but onto the rescue helo.  She left her wedding rehearsal dinner.  
Her and the Admiral drove to Andrews, somehow commandeered a helo, made 
the Henry, and then she ended up aboard the rescue chopper.  One of the 
medics said she held me the whole way back.  Which I wish I had some memory 
of that.  Anyway, I don't remember anything from the time I pulled the handle until 
I heard her voice telling me to get my sorry six in gear.  I woke up screaming her 
name with her holding my hand."

"Sounds like love to me," Keeter grinned and Harm pitched a pillow at him. 

"Don't even.  We're working real hard on regaining a friendship that I sacrificed to 
flying.  What you saw in the desert vanished pretty quick when Harmful Rabb 
decided he needed sea duty again."

"What I saw in the desert was two people in love and terrified they were never 
going to see each other again," Keeter pointed out calmly.  There was silence for 
a minute and Keeter looked at his friend intently.  "Harm she cried both nights 
until she fell asleep, and both nights she woke up screaming your name, 
swearing you were dead--that you'd gone down at sea."

Harm's eyes widened at that news.  "She never told me.  I did think we were 
getting closer when we came back though.  But then I went through my usual 
Christmas depression thing, plus I met Jordan and...and do you look like Dear 
Abby? Why am I telling you all this?  Let's get out of here.  I need a beer."

Both men changed into shorts and when Keeter opened the door, Mac was 
standing there, poised to knock.  "Rabb, my date's here," he called.

"Did she bring a friend?" Harm bantered back, "because I don't like doing the 
stag...." He stopped mid breath when he caught sight of her, looking nothing like 
the Marine Colonel she was in another life.  This Sarah Mackenzie was dressed 
in khaki shorts, a halter top, and a shirt atop that, the shirttails tied at the ends 
just high enough to leave a few inches of midriff showing.  Harm unashamedly 
looked her up and down, his gaze finally resting on the low-heeled sandals she 
wore.  "Comfortable shoes?"

"Yes they are," she grinned, "and I came looking for a good man."

"At your service ma'am," Keeter spoke up.  "But of course you knew that, about 
me being good I mean."

"You were adequate," she grinned, taking Harm's arm, and then Keeter's.  "You 
two Sailors going to show a Marine a good time or what."

"I need that beer," Harm groaned.  "You think the US could invade some small 
country like in the next twenty minutes so I can get called for combat?"
=======================
"Well this has to be the place.  I smell dead flesh cooking," Harm sighed as they 
walked across the parade grounds to a large grove of trees.

"You really know how to kill an appetite," Mac told him.  "Besides, the menu on 
the information that's in the room said there was grilled shrimp and tuna."

"Beer," he muttered.  "Beer first."

"I'm going to go look for Mark Colton," Keeter announced just before they 
reached the crowd.  "Harm you remember him--Tokyo."

"Oh yeah, another moment in my life I want to relive," he sighed.

Mac's ears immediately perked up as Keeter moved away from them.  "I want to 
hear that story," she yelled after him.

"No you don't," Harm sighed, guiding her toward the bar tent, his hand around 
her arm. 

They walked through the crowd, most people taking no notice of them until there 
was a stifled scream from a woman standing in their path.  Everyone turned as 
the woman pointed to Mac, who looked at her wide eyed, not sure whether to be 
afraid.

"Diane.  It's Diane," she squealed.  "No it can't be but..."

"Oh my God I didn't think," Harm gasped.  "I never once thought..."  His arm went 
around Mac as she looked up at Harm, at first in confusion and then in 
realization.  

"Diane," she whispered.  "I look like Diane.  Harm I'm so sorry."
 
 "It's okay, it's not your fault" Mac replied, all the while feeling the 
 stares of everyone on them. "Uh, you might want to explain who I am though."
 
 "Yeah that might be a good idea" Harm sighed. The woman who had let out the 
 scream was still staring at Mac as if she'd seen a ghost and Harm guided Mac 
 over to her.
 
 "Tell me I'm not seeing things" the woman whispered as Harm and Mac 
 approached.
 
 "Angela this is my partner Sarah Mackenzie" Harm said to the woman.
 
 "My god you could be her twin sister" Angela murmured as she continued to 
 stare at Mac. "It's so uncanny."
 
 "I'm sorry, I hope I didn't scare you" Mac said quietly.
 
 "No, you didn't" Angela said finally recovering herself. "It was just seeing 
 you and Harm together was sort of like déjà vu I guess. You work with Harm?"
 
 "Yeah at JAG" Mac replied.
 
 "God Harm what did you think the first time you meet Sarah?" Angela asked. 
 "I mean, I still can't believe how much you look like her."
 
 "About the same thing you did" Harm admitted. "Déjà vu."
 
 "I can imagine. Look I'm really sorry about making a scene. You just really 
 caught me by surprise."
 
 "It's all right" Mac assured her. "I'm sure you won't be the only one 
 surprised."
 
 "I'm sure I won't" Angela replied.
 
 They continued on to the bar tent, Harm keeping his arm around Mac as they 
 walked.
 
 "I'm really sorry about that," he said as they walked.

 "Harm it's okay" Mac assured him with a smile. "Stop worrying sailor. We're 
 here to have a good time remember?"
 
 "Yes we are" he smiled back. "What can I get you to drink?"
 
 "Tonic water with lemon is fine" she replied.
 
 He returned a few minutes later with her water and his beer and they sat 
 down at one of the tables.
 
 "Okay am I being paranoid or is that guy over there staring at me" Mac 
 whispered a few minutes later. "Not that he's not cute and all but..."
 
 Harm turned to see who she was looking at. "Sean Rivers" Harm scowled. "And 
 yes he's staring at you."
 
 "I take it he wasn't one of your favorite people" Mac said raising an 
 eyebrow at his obvious dislike of the man. "Care to fill me in on why?"
 
 "I just didn't like him" Harm replied.
 
 "Okay, that's real helpful" Mac said shaking her head. "A little more info 
 here sailor."
 
 "He was an arrogant son of a gun who used more than a few of the women in 
 our class" Harm said finally.
 
 "Diane included?" Mac inquired.
 
 "No" Harm nearly shouted. "She was smarter than that. She knew what he was 
 like."
 
 "Okay, sorry. I just wondered because of the way he's been looking at me."
 
 "He looks that way at every woman" Harm glowered.
 
 "Well he's coming this way so you'd better get rid of that look," Mac said 
 just before the man approached them.
 
 "Harm, I thought that was you" he smiled. "Course I did a double take with 
 Diane's twin here?"
 
 "Sean Rivers meet Sarah Mackenzie, my partner at JAG" Harm sighed as he 
 introduced them.
 
 "Mac" she said as she extended her hand. He held it in his hands for more 
 than a second, before finally letting it go.
 
 "Pleased to meet you Mac" he smiled at Mac before looking over at Harm. "Oh 
 yeah, that's right you're at JAG.  Had to give up flying didn't you?"
 
 "Yeah well I'm pretty happy at JAG" Harm replied.
 
 "Well if I had someone this beautiful as my partner I'd be pretty happy to" 
 Sean said as his traveled over Mac. "Didn't know the Navy had such beautiful 
 women."
 
 "I'm a Marine" Mac smiled.
 
 "Smart, beautiful and tough" Sean grinned. "And a dead ringer for Diane. 
 How'd you get so lucky Harm? I'd give up flying in a minute if someone 
 handed me a partner like this."
 
 "Guess someone likes me" Harm replied. "If you'll excuse us, we need to go 
 find Keeter."
 
 "Yeah of course" Sean said as they stood up. "Mac it was a pleasure meeting 
 you."
 
 "Nice meeting you too" Mac smiled.
 
 "Good seeing you Harm. I'm sure we'll see each around this weekend."
 
 "Yeah sure" Harm said as he took Mac's arm and led her away.
 
 "Easy on the arm there sailor" Mac said once they were away from Sean.
 
 "Sorry" Harm said as he instantly dropped his hold on her arm. "That guy 
 just bugs me."
 
 "No really" Mac teased. "I would never have guessed that."
 
 "The way he was looking at you" Harm continued.
 
 "And you didn't look at me like that?" Mac countered.
 
 "No of course not" Harm said quickly. "I'm just not used to seeing you out 
 of uniform is all. You know it's been a while since we've gone out outside 
 of work."
 
 "You stick to that story" Mac smiled.

"I plan to," he grinned.  "So how's your room?  Did they give you a good room 
mate, especially since I was taken?"

"And I wish you and Keeter all the best," she bantered.  "I haven't met her yet.  
She hadn't gotten in when I left, but the card on the door says Lieutenant 
Commander Beth Levy."

"I hardly remember Beth," he grinned, "except for her and Russell Adams.  They 
were the subject of mess hall gossip all senior year.  Then a year later I hear 
Rusty married a civilian at his first duty station and I know nothing of them since."

They continued to walk through until they located Keeter in the food line and 
once again Harm had to explain about Mac and Diane.  

"I'm sorry," he said again.  "I should have known this was going to happen.  I 
must have had my head up my six."

"Well it wouldn't be the first time," she smiled, holding her plate and for the cook 
to put a large burger on it.

They were walking toward one of the tables when Keeter stopped suddenly.  
"Harm there's Amanda Dennison over there.  She had a thing for me remember."

"I remember she begged me to make you leave her alone," Harm grinned.  "You 
were making her crazy each day in Chemistry."

"That was then.  I've changed, but come with me.  She might be kinder to me 
with you along."

"Keeter I want to eat here," he protested.

"And you have a date.  I need one," Keeter wailed.

"Go ahead.  I'm going to sit down here," Mac told them, shaking her head in 
mock exasperation.

"You've got five minutes," Harm growled, setting his plate down and then shoving 
Keeter in the direction Amanda had gone.

Mac had just started to eat when she felt a light hand on her shoulder and she 
stiffened slightly. 

"Mind if a Sailor joins a Marine?" Sean Rivers asked, not waiting for an answer 
before he sat down.  "Not that you look like any Marine I've ever known.  So 
you're up here from D.C. with Rabb?  Where's he been keeping you all these 
years?"

"Harm and I have worked together for the past five years," she replied, sliding 
slightly away from him on the bench.  "He doesn't keep me, in any sense of the 
word.  I can assure you of that.  What is it you do for the Navy?"

"I'm a finance officer aboard the Lexington right now," Rivers replied, "thinking 
about requesting D.C. when my sea duty is up in two months.  Especially if there 
was something to encourage me to want that area."  He eyed Mac up and down 
with those words and she flushed uncomfortably under his gaze.

"D.C. is not an easy place at times," she answered warily.  "It's expensive, the 
traffic is a nightmare, the heat and humidity are bad and.."

"And if I didn't know better I'd say you were attempting to discourage me," he 
grinned easily and his tone changed suddenly.  "It must be hard for you to be 
here looking so much like Diane.  She and Harm were pretty tight."

"That's what I understand," Mac nodded.  "Did you know her well?"

"Oh yeah," Rivers smiled, and a small gleam came to his eyes.  "Diane was a 
party girl."

Mac gave him a blank look and took a bite of her burger, thinking that over.  
Harm had not given her that impression.
===========================
"Keeter the woman didn't want you then, so why are you so surprised she didn't 
now," Harm was telling him as they walked back toward where they had left Mac.

"Look I may not possess the charming handsome former aviator air that you do, 
but I'm not a bad guy," he returned.  

"It's not me you need to persuade," Harm chortled.  "But if I was a woman I'd 
think...and who invited him to join us?"  

Keeter looked to where Harm was staring at their table, seeing Rivers in happy 
conversation with Mac.

"They're just talking, what's the problem?"

"I didn't like the way he looked at her," Harm hissed.

"All the men are looking at her.  Why not?  She's beautiful," Keeter smiled.  
"Something I knew two years ago."

"I'm going to ignore that temporarily while I focus on this other jerk," Harm 
returned.  "Keeter Diane was afraid of him.  They dated before she and I got 
close.  And he never left her alone even after that.  After she told him she wasn't 
interested he was still sending her flowers and calling and BS like that."

"Long time ago," Keeter snorted and then added slyly, "Hey you wouldn't deny 
Mac's happiness would you."

"Unless time changes people, this guy is just looking for another notch on the 
bedpost.  You know that.  You remember the stories."

"I remember the stories about me, and most of them weren't true---unfortunately."

"Well I care too much about Mac to risk doubting," Harm told him, quickening his 
pace.

"Maybe you should tell her that," Keeter called after him.
========================
Harm reached the table just in time to see Rivers apply the back of his knuckle to 
Mac's cheek and lean his head down to her.  

"You'll be saving me a dance tomorrow night I hope," Harm heard him say.  "Or 
better yet, why not tell Mr. Rabb someone has made you a better offer."

"Because Mr. Rabb wouldn't like that very much," Harm boomed.  "Rivers what 
the hell are you doing?"

"Just recapturing some old good times with Diane here," Rivers smiled affably.  
"Of course it's not Diane, but still we could have some fun.  What do you say 
Sarah?"  With those words he dropped a heavy arm around her shoulders and 
put his mouth close to her ear.  The smell of liquor on his breath made her bring 
her hand up to her mouth and she again attempted to slide from him.

"I think you should let go of me," she said, her voice low and threatening.  
"Please."

Instinctively Harm began to move closer, only to have Keeter grab his arm.  "Let 
her."
 
 "I'm not going to ask again," Mac said tersely.
 
 "Well if you change your mind and decide you want a real man, I'll be 
 around" Rivers said as he removed his arm and got up from the bench. He gave 
 Harm and Keeter a long glare but said nothing as he walked away.
 
 "You okay?" Harm asked as he sat down next to Mac. "I'm sorry about that 
 jerk."
 
 "Hey it's okay" Mac assured him. "Not your fault. Besides, he was two 
 seconds away from ending up on his six."
 
 "Now that I would have liked to have seen" Keeter grinned.
 
 "Keeter" Harm moaned but Mac just smiled.
 
 "Harm it's okay. I'm fine and I'm sure he'll find someone else to bother. 
 He's just fascinated with me because I look like Diane."
 
 "Well if he comes near you again he's going to wish he'd skipped this 
 reunion" Harm muttered irritably.
 
 "Harm, I can handle him" Mac smiled. "Please we're supposed to be having fun 
 here. Let's just forget about him. You can tell me how it went with Amanda."
 
 "Struck out" Keeter sighed. "Something about not if I was the last man on 
 earth would she consider it."
 
 "She just doesn't realize what a nice guy you are" Mac said as she patted 
 his hand affectionately, much to Harm's dismay.
 
 "Thank you" Keeter smiled as Harm rolled his eyes.
 
 They had just finished eating when Keeter let out a low whistle. "Harm, 
 you're not going to believe who's here"
 
 "Try me" Harm smiled.
 
 "Miranda Davies. And she's coming this way."
 
 With that both Harm and Mac turned around to see the tall redhead walking 
 towards them. Mac watched as Harm's eyes traveled up and down Miranda, and 
 wondered what the connection was with the two.
 
 "Hello Harm" Miranda smiled as she reached the table. "Good to see you 
 again."
 
 "You too" Harm smiled. "Uh, you remember Keeter."
 
 "Of course" Miranda said without even looking in Keeter's direction. "Who's 
 Diane's twin?"
 
 "Colonel Sarah Mackenzie" Mac said before Harm could reply. "Harm and I are 
 partners at JAG."
 
 "Ain't that nice" Miranda replied. "So you and Harm are just friends?"
 
 For a moment there was silence as Mac watched Harm debate the answer to 
that 
 question. A question they'd never themselves been able to answer. There was 
 obviously more than just friendship to their relationship but they'd never 
 actually discussed how they felt about each other.
 
 "Yes we are" Mac said finally, deciding to save Harm from having to face 
 answering that question. "Uh, Keeter why don't you show me around a bit. I 
 think Harm and Miranda have some catching up to do."
 
 "Mac you don't" Harm started.
 
 "It was nice meeting you Sarah" Miranda interrupted.  "I'm sure I'll be 
 seeing you around. Keeter."
 
 "Harm, I'll see you later," Mac said as she and Keeter stood up.
 
 "Mac wait" Harm said as he grabbed her arm.
 
 "Bye Harm. I'll see you later. Besides Keeter and I need to catch up as 
 well. Been a few years since we spent the night in the desert together."
 
 With that she took Keeter's arm and they strode off together, Harm staring 
 after them with amazement.
 
 "I should go after her," Harm said to Miranda.
 
 "I don't know she looks pretty chummy with Keeter" Miranda smiled. "Besides, 
 you and I have some catching up to do. It's been a while since that weekend 
 at the ocean."
 
 "Yes it has" Harm smiled, remembering that long ago weekend.
 
 "Why don't we get some drinks?" Miranda suggested. "And then we'll find 
 somewhere quiet where we can talk."
 
 "Yeah sure" Harm said with one final glance in the direction Mac and Keeter 
 had gone.
 
 "Keeter, I think I'm just going to go back to my room" Mac said as they 
 walked around. "I hope you don't mind."
 
 "Mac, don't pay any attention to Miranda" Keeter said as he turned to look 
 at her. "She's always had her sights set on Harm and most of the time he 
 realized what a bitch she really is and never paid attention to her."
 
 "Most of the time?" Mac's heart lurched at Keeter's words, realizing that 
 Harm had been intimately involved with this woman.
 
 "Well he is human" Keeter grinned and Mac shook her head as she kept 
 walking.
 
 "Mac, wait" Keeter said grabbing her arm. "Just because he had a weekend 
 with her doesn't mean anything."
 
 "Well seeing as how Harm and I are just friends it doesn't matter anyway" 
 Mac retorted.
 
 "You never gave him the chance to answer that," Keeter said quietly. "How do 
 you know that's what he would have said?"
 
 "He didn't jump up and say otherwise now did he?" Mac countered. "Now I'm 
 sure you have other people you want to see and I'd really just like to go 
 back to my room."
 
 "I thought you wanted to do some catching up of our own" Keeter smiled. "Or 
 was that just for Harm's benefit."
 
 "Well yeah of course I wanted to" Mac stammered.
 
 "Give up Colonel. I can see right though you. You just said that to make 
 Harm jealous. I'm not naïve enough to think that anything has changed 
 between you and Harm since the desert."
 
 "Actually a lot has changed" Mac said quietly. "We're not the same people we 
 were back then."
 
 "Yeah but one thing hasn't changed. You're both still in love with each 
 other."

Mac stopped short at those words.  It was one thing to know in the back of your 
mind, or deep in your heart, the truth, but another to hear it flung at you.  "On 
some plane or other I have loved him since I met him," she said quietly, not 
letting her eyes meet Keeter's.  "And if you tell him I said that I'll deny every 
syllable."

"For godsake why?"

"Because that's not how we play the game," she smiled ruefully.  

Keeter now looked totally confused.

"The game we've been playing since that warm winter day in the Rose Garden," 
she explained.

"And you don't think it's time to stop it?  Not just you, but him too?"

"I've tried to a couple times," she defended staunchly, and then added more 
quietly, "of course so has he.  We just never have managed to want the same 
thing at the same time."

"Well that's pretty pathetic," Keeter groaned, hooking his arm around her neck 
playfully.  "You know we could give Harm something to be jealous about."  With 
that he drew her to him and before she knew what was happening, he was 
kissing her.  A serious kiss, nothing playful or teasing.  

For all of two seconds, Mac went with it, as her imagination gave her a vision of 
Harm and Miranda.  Then with her hands doubled into fists she used them as 
leverage to push herself back from Keeter.

"No," she said simply but firmly.

"I'm sorry," he gasped, her tone and action telling him his advance was not 
welcome.

"You should be."  Mac shot him a look that was laser beam intense.  "You're 
taking our teasing about what happened--what did not happen--on the desert too 
seriously sir."

"I know, and I am sorry," he whispered, suitably chastised.  "It won't happen 
again, and I'm not even going to beg you not to tell Harm.  I deserve a punch in 
the mouth."

She smiled slightly then.  "No need.  It's not his business, and he does seem to 
be plenty occupied.  You can redeem yourself though.  Tell me about Miranda."

"Summer camp.  Weekend liberty and they went off together."  Keeter shrugged 
his shoulders.  "He came back Monday morning with a big smile.  What can I 
say.  We were all young back then.  It was common practice.  And if it didn't 
interfere with good order and discipline, it wasn't stopped."  He took a long look 
at her distressed face and smiled.  "Mac it was a very long time ago.  The fact 
that they didn't stay in touch would tell you something."

"Well they looked pretty in touch now," she sighed.  "God I must have been out of 
my mind to come.  I don't fit in with these people."

"Stop that," he scolded.  "You do.  You're an officer--a well respected officer.  
And you're here because Harm wanted you here.  And I was thrilled to learn you 
were coming.  Come on, lets take a walk.  And I promise, my hands--and the rest 
of me--to myself."

"Under those conditions, OK," Mac smiled, and she herself took his arm.  "On my 
terms," she grinned, leading him back toward the lake.

They began to walk around the path which encircled the water, talking quietly, 
catching up on what each had been doing since the desert, and Mac found 
herself telling him the story of Sydney and beyond.  "It feels good to talk to 
someone not intimately involved," she smiled, stopping to lean against a tree.  
"But you see that's where Harm and I are.  Not an impasse exactly, but not 
actually moving ahead.  And at the same time, on one hand I feel like we need 
some time to let the dust settle, and on the other I feel like we've wasted too 
much time already."

"I'm going to vote for the latter," he grinned.  "Mac his accident should have told 
you something--things have a way of happening.  Just when you think life is 
fine..."  He stopped and she waited impatiently for him to continue, then realized 
he was staring at something behind her.

"I think we need to start back," he mumbled, taking her arm urgently.

"Keeter is there a bear behind me?" She asked with a nervous laugh and without 
waiting for his reply, turned to see Harm and Miranda, locked in what could only 
be construed as a passionate embrace, complete with kiss.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, pulling her arm away from him and starting back 
the way they had come at a fast trot. 

"Mac no don't," Keeter called urgently.

"Leave me be," she hissed and with that broke from the pathway to plunge into 
the trees.  

Keeter took another look at Harm and Miranda and then started after Mac, only 
to realize very quickly that she had disappeared into the dark woods and could 
have gone in any direction.  He looked back toward Harm and Miranda, and at 
that moment, felt nothing but anger for his friend, that he would hurt this woman 
who obviously cared so much for him.

With a long sigh, Keeter walked back to the picnic grove, stopping at the bar tent 
for a beer, and was sitting alone when Harm found him thirty minutes later.

"I thought you were with Mac," he frowned, kicking his feet aside so he could 
pass.  "Where is she?"
   
 "What do you care?" Keeter snapped.
 
 "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Harm demanded.
 
 "Exactly what it means" Keeter said tersely. "You don't care about Mac. If 
 you did you wouldn't have been sucking face over there with Miranda."
 
 "Oh god Mac saw us" Harm groaned. "Where is she? I have to explain."
 
 "Explain what Harm? I think she got the message loud and clear. I thought 
 you had more class than that."
 
 "Keeter, Miranda is the one who kissed me," Harm said defensively.
 
 "Yeah and it really looked like you were resisting" Keeter scoffed. "Man, I 
 can't believe you'd treat Mac that way. You don't deserve someone like her 
 in your life."
 
 "You're right," Harm said quietly. "And that's exactly why I've stayed out 
 of her life so far. She's already been hurt enough without me adding to that 
 hurt."
 
 "Oh now you're really pathetic" Keeter said shaking his head. "You know if 
 you would just get past whatever it is that keeps you from admitting that 
 you have feelings for the woman you two might actually be happy."
 
 "And what makes you think she has feelings for me?"
 
 "God, you are clueless. The woman cares about you. When are you going to get 
 that through your thick skull?"
 
 "Where did she go Keeter?" Harm demanded. "I should be finding her instead 
 of having this pointless conversation with you."
 
 "She might still be around her somewhere. Course she said something about 
 wondering why she came up here since she didn't fit in. I have no idea why 
 she'd think that. Except that maybe because the jerk she came up here with 
 dumped her to make out with some chick he had a fling with years ago."
 
 "Okay I deserved that" Harm said quietly. "Now just tell me where she went, 
 please."
 
 "She took off into the woods about a half hour ago" Keeter said finally.
 
 "And you didn't go after her" Harm screeched before turning and running 
 towards the woods.
 
 "Clueless" Keeter muttered to himself before taking off after Harm. That the 
 two loved each other was so obvious to everyone except them.
 
 She'd given into the tears when she'd finally stopped running, burying her 
 head in her hands as she sobbed against one of the trees. She should have 
 known better than to think anything had changed with her and Harm. Or that 
 he'd changed. He obviously had no intention of them ever being anything more 
 than friends. He was just going to replace Renee with another bimbo that he 
 could take to bed.
 
 "You are such a jerk Sarah Mackenzie" she muttered to herself when she 
 finally stopped crying. "Total jerk to think that that man cares about you 
 as anything more than a friend."
 
 With the determination that she was going to pack her bags and head back to 
 DC via cab, she started back out of the woods. Harmon Rabb could find 
 someone else to amuse him while he was here. And she knew exactly who that 
 someone would be. Miranda Davies.
 
 She heard a rustling in the bushes not too far away and she froze. Not sure 
 if it was an animal or a person, she cautiously stepped forward. It was hard 
 to see in the rapidly darkening night, but from the distance she could see 
 what looked like someone carrying something that they soon dropped to the 
 ground. With a large gulp she realized it looked very much like a body. She 
 quietly stepped away, knowing she needed to get help. She took running 
 before a large arm reached out a few minutes later, stopping her at once.
 
 "Looky who I found" Sean Rivers said as he whirled her around to face him. 
 "What are you doing all alone out here?"
 
 "Let me go" Mac panted as she tried to jerk away from River's grasp.
 
 "Now come on Sarah" Rivers smiled as he held onto her arm tightly. "You know 
 you find me attractive. And seeing as how Rabb has ditched for Miranda, well 
 I figured you'd be begging for me to pay some attention to you."
 
 "Let go or I'll scream" Mac threatened. She was prepared to do whatever it 
 took to get away from this man. She didn't care what she had to do, she just 
 knew she wasn't going to let him touch her.
 
 "Like anyone is going to hear you out here" Rivers grinned. "God, you are so 
 beautiful. Just like Diane. You know she loved me. If it hadn't been for 
 Rabb telling her to stay away from me she would have been mine. But I'll 
 settle for you instead."
 
 "Not in this lifetime" Mac said as she managed to land an elbow into his 
 gut. He released her at once, doubling over in pain. She took off running, 
 glancing back to see him still standing there in pain. She ran as fast as 
 she could, and in her haste didn't see the large root sticking out. She went 
 flying as her feet tripped over it, landing hard on the ground, her head 
 striking a rock. There was a moment of pain before everything went black.
 
 Harm berated himself as he made his way through the woods. He should never 
 have agreed to go off with Miranda. He should have stayed with Mac.
 
 "You are a jerk Rabb" he moaned, realizing how he'd screwed up everything 
 again. One would think that after nearly drowning in the ocean he would have 
 gotten a little more clarity about life. But no, Harmon Rabb was still being 
 stupid. He continued on, only to let out a gasp when he saw a figure lying 
 on the ground ahead. That figure being one Sarah Mackenzie.
 
 "Mac" he said anxiously as he reached her. "Oh god Mac, please be okay." He 
 gently lifted her upper body into his lap, cradling her against him. So 
 caught up in his worry he didn't notice Rivers approach before taking off in 
 the other direction.
 
 She stirred in his arms, and he let out a large sigh of relief. She started 
 to struggle against him, afraid Rivers had gotten her.
 
 "Mac, it's okay it's Harm" he said softly and she immediately relaxed again. 
 A few seconds later she opened her eyes, looking up at his concerned face.
 
 "Where's Miranda?" she asked.
 
 "I don't know and I don't care right now" Harm replied. "I'm a little more 
 worried about why you were lying here unconscious."
 
 "Rivers" she murmured.
 
 "He did this to you" Harm whispered. "I'm going to kill him."
 
 "No, I was trying to get away from him" Mac explained, wincing at the pain 
 in her head. "He was in the woods and he grabbed me."
 
 "I'm still going to kill him" Harm said quickly. "But first we need to get 
 you to the infirmary and get you checked over."
 
 "No, I'm fine, and there's something else" Mac said as she sat up, Harm's 
 arm remaining around her.
 
 "Mac, there you are" Keeter panted as he reached them. "You okay? What 
 happened?"
 
 "No she's not okay, she needs to get to the infirmary" Harm fretted. "Rivers 
 tried to grab her."
 
 "That lousy son of a bitch" Keeter screeched. "Which way did he go? I'll 
 find him and set him straight once and for all."
 
 "Thank you both for your concern but I'll handle Rivers" Mac replied. "But 
 there's something you do need to do. Before I ran into Rivers I thought I 
 saw someone. Someone dumping a body."

"OK that's it, now I'm sure you need the infirmary," Harm groaned.  "You were 
unconscious and delusional both.  Keeter help me get her up.  I'm carrying her 
there myself."

"If you do it will be kicking and screaming," she warned.  "I don't want someone 
poking me.  Please Harm.  I'll tell you if it gets worse.  Right now I just want an 
ice bag and something to take, but most of all--I wasn't delusional.  I saw what I 
saw.  Someone on the trail back there, putting down or dropping what could only 
be a body."

Before he could answer, she put her hand to her head as a wave of dizziness 
and a sharp pain both assaulted her, the effort of getting him to listen to her too 
much.

Harm gasped and pulled her to him, looking at Keeter with desperation.  "She 
needs help."

"She needs you," he whispered.  "I'll help you get her back to our room.  We can 
always call an ambulance from there."

"OK, I can live with that," he decided and with Keeter's help to hold her, 
scrambled to his feet, bringing her up with him.

"I think I could probably walk," she murmured.

"Yeah you probably could," he agreed, "but when you've got someone who wants 
to carry you--in part to make up for what an ass he's been--why?"

"Mac let him do his penance.  We don't often get to see him like this," Keeter 
ordered.
=========================
In the shadows of a building long deserted, he was waiting.  "Well?"

"It's done, but someone saw us.  I heard footsteps and looked around.  I couldn't 
make out who," she whispered.

"No," he gasped and then refused to let that take away his pleasure.  "She's 
gone, she's really gone, out of my life forever.  As for someone seeing you, well if 
they start spouting off they're going to be plenty sorry.  Your brother?"

"Miles from here already," she assured him.  "Now get on back to your room.  
Remember in the morning you have no idea.  You left the party early with a 
headache and she never came back to the room."

"Exactly," he hissed, drawing her to him for a long kiss before releasing her to go 
their separate ways.
========================
"Harm put me down and let me walk the rest of the way before you have a stroke 
carrying me," Mac insisted.  "I'm really fine.  I've had headaches before.  Besides 
Sailor I'm worried about you.  This is not good for you.  I know you're not one 
hundred percent just yet."

"Harm she's right," Keeter urged.  "I'm right here, but I can't carry both of you and 
right now you're breathing pretty hard there buddy."

"Harm now," Mac ordered, her alarm increasing at Keeter's words.

"OK, just to get my breath," Harm agreed and lowered Mac to the ground, 
keeping firm hold of her as her feet touched.  

"I'm fine," she promised.  "But Keeter's right.  You're not doing so well."  Her 
hand reached up to cup his cheek and he leaned into it.  

"I'm OK.  You're all I care about right now."

"Go both of you," Keeter ordered, giving them both a push.

The residence hall loomed ahead of them and Keeter wasted no time in getting 
them up to the room he and Harm were sharing.  "I'm going to get some ice.  
Harm get Mac comfortable and then take a spot yourself."

Harm lay Mac down carefully onto the bed, sinking quickly next to her.  "Marine 
that's a good size lump you've gotten yourself."  With gentle fingers he probed 
through her hair, grateful for the icy cloth Keeter handed him a moment later.  
"Be still now."
 
She submitted to the first few minutes of his ministrations and then pushed his 
hand away.  "Harm what about what I saw.  We need to get people out there."

"In the morning, if you're up to it, the three of us will take a look," he told her 
soothingly.  "It's pitch black out there now and if we call out security and there's 
nothing we're going to look like six kinds of fool.  Not to mention, I don't want you 
moving again until we're sure you're OK.  You could have a concussion here."

Yielding to the pain and his will, she sank into the pillow, letting him hold the icy 
wetness to her throbbing head.  Keeter brought her some Advil and she 
swallowed gratefully.

"And now Harm and you have something to talk about," Keeter said firmly, 
"involving a certain little witch named Miranda."

"I don't really want to hear it," Mac sighed, closing her eyes.  "Harm's romantic 
exploits are not my concern.  We are friends but that's all."

"I need another beer on that note," Keeter announced.  "Be back later; and I 
expect to hear that you two have gotten through this little obstacle."  He gave 
Mac's hair an affectionate ruffle as he left them.

There was an uncomfortable silence and Mac finally opened her eyes, letting her 
gaze meet his.  "Harm it's OK.  She's an old friend, someone you have a history 
with.  And she's obviously available, as are you and..."

"I hope you're listening to yourself," he interrupted, "because you are trying to 
convince yourself aren't you?"

Her eyes flashed at that.  "Harmon Rabb you have much too high an opinion of 
yourself where I'm concerned."

"I don't agree."  He flashed her one of his quick grins before resting his palm 
against her cheek.  "I am available thank you for noticing that.  But having a 
weekend fling or even a long term shallow relationship isn't my style."

"Since when," she demanded.

"Since I nearly died in the center of a very large ocean," he answered, his voice 
barely audible.
 
 "Harm, I'm" Mac started and was silenced with a gentle finger to her lips.
 
 "Let me finish" Harm said softly and she nodded. "I had a lot of time to 
 think about things while I was out there. It's amazing what you're willing 
 to admit to yourself when you're not sure how much longer you've got. And 
 one of the things I realized was I wanted a real relationship with someone 
 that I really love. That's why Renee and I broke up. I never loved her and I 
 was just with her to keep from being alone. I don't want to spend the rest 
 of my life in a relationship like that. As sappy as it sounds I'd like to 
 get married one day and spend the rest of my life with the woman I love and 
 our ten kids. Course I have to find the woman that's willing to do all 
 that."
 
 "You sound pretty serious about this now" Mac said as she studied him 
 closely.
 
 "I am. Mac, I'm not getting any younger and well, this time really scared 
 me" he admitted. "I kept thinking all the things I was never going to get to 
 do. Never get married and have those kids. But you know what bothered me the 
 most?" She shook her head and he took a deep breath before continuing on. 
 "What bothered me the most was that the last words we'd said to each other 
 weren't exactly friendly. And I hated that."
 
 "I know" Mac whispered. "Because that's all I could think about too. That I 
 was never going to see you again and the last words I'd said to you had been 
 so awful. After everything we'd been through..."
 
 "I wasn't much better. I'd been overstepping the bounds of our friendship 
 since your engagement party" Harm said quietly. "And I was totally out of 
 line with my comment when you left."
 
 "It may have been out of line but it was the truth" Mac said quietly. "I 
 guess that's why I was so mad at you. You were hitting way to close to 
 home."
 
 "At the risk of overstepping the boundaries of friendship again, what made 
 you decide not to marry Mic?" Harm asked. "Was it because of the crash?"
 
 "I did need you there" Mac answered softly. "But not to make it work. I 
 needed you there to stop me from doing it. From marrying a man you knew I 
 didn't love."
 
 "I thought I had done enough of that at the engagement party. It wasn't my 
 place to stand up and tell you not to marry him. I was trying to tell you to 
 think about what you were doing."
 
 "And I did. Unfortunately it took you crashing a tomcat into the ocean for 
 me to think" Mac said with a small smile.
 
 "And what did that have to do with you marrying Mic?" Harm inquired softly. 
 "Besides that I wasn't going to be there to stop you."
 
 "That's exactly it" Mac admitted. "I realized that I was going to have to 
 stop the charade all by myself. Course you could have found another way to 
 do that without almost getting yourself killed."
 
 "Yeah well you know me," Harm said with a small smile. "Always have to do 
 things the hard way."
 
 "Yeah you do" Mac said softly.
 
 "Can I explain what happened with Miranda now? Or am I still going to get my 
 head bit off?"
 
 "Let's hear you argument counselor. And it's going to have to be mighty 
 convincing to sway this juror."
 
 "Yes I had a weekend thing with Miranda" Harm started. "And in my defense 
 that was when I was younger and stupider. And no comments from the peanut 
 gallery please."
 
 "Keeping my mouth shut till I hear all the evidence" Mac smiled.
 
 "Like I said I was young and stupid. Call it a moment of weakness I guess. 
 It didn't mean anything and I never wanted a relationship with her. I knew 
 what she was all about and I wanted no part of it."
 
 "So I guess I didn't see you and her lip locked earlier?"
 
 "No you did" Harm sighed. "And I'm sure you're not going to believe me but 
 she was the one who made the move. I should never have let you walk away in 
 the first place. I didn't want to be with her. I wanted to be with you."
 
 "You have a funny way of showing how you feel Commander" Mac replied.
 
 "Okay so I screwed up again. I admit it. Can you forgive me?"
 
 "Well you know I was ready to pack my bags and go back to DC" Mac said 
 quietly. "Course I could be convinced to stay."
 
 "I promise I won't leave you for the rest of the weekend" Harm smiled. "And 
 I can assure you that I won't be hanging around with Miranda anymore. I 
 invited you up here for this weekend cause I thought it would be a good way 
 for us to, well, you know, start getting back what we'd lost."
 
 "You want that?"
 
 "I want that very much" Harm said softly.
 
 "Well then I guess I'll stay. Course I want you to promise me that we're 
 going to go out first thing in the morning and go look for the body I know I 
 saw being dropped out there."
 
 "Okay, we'll go looking for this body" Harm sighed.
 
 "You don't believe me do you?" Mac said irritably. "You think I was just 
 hallucinating."
 
 "Mac, I'm sure you saw something. But I highly doubt someone was dropping a 
 body in the woods. And yes I think you did hit your head pretty hard and 
 it's possible you imagined the whole thing."
 
 "Harm I did not imagine it. And if you don't believe me I'll just go check 
 it out myself."
 
 "Oh no you are not going anywhere alone" Harm said quickly. "Not with Sean 
 Rivers chasing after you like he is. That guy is trouble and I'm not going 
 to let him near you."
 
 "Well I won't argue with you on that one" Mac sighed. "He gives me the 
 creeps the way he looks at me. I know I look like Diane and all but I swear 
 he thinks I'm her."
 
 "He was obsessed with her. And that's probably why he's doing this to you. 
 I'd forgotten all about him or I wouldn't have asked you to come up here."
 
 "He told me he was in love with her" Mac said quietly. "And that it was only 
 because of you that he didn't get her."
 
 "I tried to steer her away from him that's for sure" Harm said finally. "She 
 didn't need to be with someone like him."
 
 "Did you love her Harm?" Mac asked softly.
 
 "In a way yes" Harm said with a small smile. "But not like you think I did."
 
 "That was the impression you gave me the night you went after Holbart. That 
 you were getting revenge for the love you'd lost."
 
 "Oh I was getting revenge all right" Harm admitted. "But not for a lost 
 love."
 
 "For what then?" Mac prodded. "What was your relationship with Diane?"

"Diane was fun.  And yes I know I said that about Renee, but Diane was fun.  
She took nothing seriously.  Me on the other hand--except for a few well defined 
moments which I won't embarrass myself by going into--I was all seriousness at 
the Academy.  I studied a lot, so much so that I couldn't do much else.  I wanted 
my rank and my wings and nothing was going to get in my way."

"Well I certainly know how you are when you get your mind set," she nodded, an 
action she immediately regretted as pain and dizziness washed over her.  "Don't 
even," she told him in response to his immediate look of concern.  

He rested a hand against her cheek and she leaned against it, drawing comfort 
from his warm touch.  

"Mac promise me you won't be anywhere alone," he said after a few quiet 
moments.  "Rivers bothers me a lot.  He did then, and he still does.  He was 
always a strange one, and in fact our senior year he very nearly washed out in 
the psychological panels we all had to pass.  The rumor was he was deemed 
unstable and then the next thing he's still right in line for his commission.  Diane 
told me he threatened the chief of the department.  I didn't pay much attention, 
but...well just the same.."

"I can handle Rivers," she told him confidently.  "He surprised and startled me 
tonight but I had something else on my mind."

He gulped guiltily.  "Mac, Miranda is....look I can only say I'm sorry.  I'm not 
perfect.  I make mistakes.  We all do."

That hit home.  "I've made my share the past few years."

He stroked her cheek with his thumb as he smiled.  "And I'm sure neither of us 
wants to make a list of ours.  Are you ready to sleep?  I'm concerned about 
taking you back to your room if you're going to be alone.  Hopefully Beth has 
come along by now.  In fact if she hasn't I'm going to make you stay here and I'll 
take the chair."

"Harm you're being hysterical," she groaned.  "I'm fine and I'm just down the hall. 
Besides sleeping in here with you two while you do the championship snore-off is 
not my idea of restful.  And I'm very tired thank you."

"OK, but if Beth isn't there, you're leaving the door open so I can check on you."  
Carefully he took away the wet cloth and was relieved to see no further bleeding 
and the swelling at least did not seem any worse.

"Close call tonight," he whispered.  "You might have really been hurt."

She read the concern in his eyes and smiled.  "Well I was, but more by what I 
saw.  And yes I took it too seriously, but it hit me hard.  Especially after we 
seemed like we were...well that being friends was important again and that 
there's more..."  Her voice trailed off and she flushed.  "Please make me stop 
babbling."

"OK."  He gave her a quick mischievous grin and touched his lips to hers.  "Don't 
hurt me," he yelped when he pulled back, seeing her eyes widen in surprise.

"Harm what was that?," she gasped.

He helped her from the bed before he would answer, enjoying her shocked 
expression, and taking a few seconds to make sure his courage was up full.  
"Just my way of showing you the only person I want to kiss in the foreseeable 
future is one dark haired beautiful Marine, who happens to be my best friend."

Just when she thought she could not grow more surprised.  "Harm..."

"Let's get you to bed," he told her, suddenly back to all business.

Meekly she allowed him to lead her to her room, and when they opened the door, 
they were surprised to find Beth Levy in the process of getting ready for bed.  
"You must be my roommate, uh Sally?"

"Sarah," Mac told her.  "Sarah Mackenzie--call me Mac, and this is..."

"I do believe I've met Mr. Rabb," Beth smiled, "though we were never intimately 
acquainted."

"One you missed."  Mac could not resist the tease.

"Cute Marine.  Good night.  Oh Beth.  Please.  Mac had a bad fall earlier and 
she's got a real nasty lump.  Naturally she won't let me take her to the infirmary, 
but I'm right down the hall if she needs anything.  Can you keep an eye on her 
please."

"Sure, long as I can do it while I'm asleep," Beth groaned.  "It's been a very long 
night."

"I'll see you for breakfast and the survival game then," Harm told Mac, letting his 
fingers scrape her cheek as he backed out.

"Good night Harm, Mac smiled softly as she closed the door.

"How did you end up with that one?" Beth asked, shaking her head in 
amazement.

"We're partners at JAG," Mac replied warily, not at all in the mood to hear of any 
more of Harm's romantic exploits.

"I could tell you stories, but I can't keep my eyes open," Beth told her, flinging two 
mud encrusted shoes from her feet.  

"I know the feeling," Mac sighed, dropping onto the bed, clothes and all.  She 
would clean up in the morning.

"How did you hurt yourself anyway?"

"Embarrassing story.  Marine who can't do a night march without falling," Mac 
groaned.  "Good night."  With her back to Beth, she could not see the sharp look 
the woman threw her and she sank gratefully into her pillow, the memory of 
Harm's lips touching hers making for the promise of pleasant dreams.
================
Keeter returned to the room he was sharing with Harm to find him standing at the 
window, watching the moon shine off the lake.  "So what's with you old man?"

"Thinking about some things is all," Harm told him, his mind still going over the 
evening, ending with the memory of a soft kiss, so little and yet so much.

"You and Mac get things ironed out?"

"Pretty much," Harm smiled.

"You know you just ought to kiss her and have done with it," Keeter moaned, 
falling into bed.  Between exhaustion and three beers, it was easy for him to add 
without thinking, "It's pretty pleasant."  

"How would you know?  Just how would you know that?"  Harm unaccountably 
found himself growing angry with his friend and he forced himself to speak more 
calmly.  "Is there something you want to tell me, and while we're on that 
subject..."  He paused for another few seconds to calm himself, something Mac 
had said earlier now playing on his mind.  'Snore-off'.  "And just how does Mac 
know you snore anyway?  Which you do, like a freight train."

Keeter gave Harm a deer in the headlights look.  The kiss he had taken earlier.  
He had all but confessed.  Deciding to misdirect, he took a long breath.  "Snoring 
is from the desert Harm.  We were sleeping in the open.  I told you she had 
nightmares both nights remember."

"OK," Harm nodded, the kiss forgotten for the moment.  "But if nothing happened 
out there, I can be sure it wasn't because you didn't want it to."

"Go to bed Harm."

 "Yeah I guess I will" Harm sighed as he dropped onto his bed.  "But one day 
 I want to know exactly what happened in the desert."
 
 "Why, you're not going to believe me anyway" Keeter retorted.
 
 "Okay, let's drop this conversation until a time when we're both not half 
 asleep and one of us isn't half drunk" Harm said as he closed his eyes.
 
 "Not half drunk" Keeter muttered a few seconds later.
 
 "Night Keeter"
 
 *********************************************
 Next Morning
 Mac's & Beth's Room
 
 Mac was awake just as the sun began to stream through the dorm windows. 
With 
 a groan, she pushed herself up. She still had a slight headache but for the 
 most part she was no worse for the wear. A quick glance across the room told 
 her that her roommate was still asleep and Mac quietly grabbed her bag and 
 headed down the hall to the women's showers. It was early and Mac took 
 advantage of the fact that most of the others had slept in, standing in the 
 shower longer than usual to relax her sore muscles.
 
 Keeter's snoring had kept him awake most of the night and with a sigh Harm 
 finally climbed out of bed early the next morning. He wanted to check on Mac 
 and make sure she was okay after the last night. He hadn't liked leaving 
 her, not sure that her roommate was the least bit concerned about her. 
 Quietly he walked down the hall, knocking lightly on their dorm room door a 
 few minutes later.
 
 "Mac, it's Harm" he called softly. "You awake?"
 
 There was no response and he knocked a little louder the second time, before 
 realizing the door was unlocked. He quietly made his way in, noticing at 
 once that Mac's bed was empty. A wave of fear swept through him, thoughts of 
 Sean Rivers taking her away in the middle of the night running through his 
 head.
 
 "There better be one hell of a good reason why you're standing in my room" 
 Beth said as she raised her head from the pillow.
 
 "Where's Mac?" Harm demanded, ignoring her comment.
 
 "How should I know?" Beth retorted. "I'm guessing that since it's morning 
 she's either in the showers or down in the mess getting breakfast. Now if 
 you don't mind, I was sleeping."
 
 After giving her a long glare, Harm hurried out of the room and down the 
 hall to the showers. For a moment he stood outside the women's shower, 
 debating what he was about to do. But his concern for Mac overshadowed 
 everything else and he yanked the door to the women's shower room open and 
 hurried in.
 
 "Mac" he called as he stepped in. "Mac, you in here?"
 
 From the shower stall Mac heard Harm call, not believing he was really in 
 there.
 
 "Harm, what the hell are you doing in the women's shower?" Mac screeched. 
 "And don't you dare come any further."
 
 "Thank god you're okay" Harm sighed as he leaned against the door.
 
 "Why wouldn't I be?" Mac yelled back. "I told you I was fine last night."
 
 "Yeah and I told you I didn't want you going alone anywhere" Harm retorted. 
 "Did you forget our friend Rivers?"
 
 "Well unlike you, he probably knows better than to go into the women's 
 shower" Mac countered.
 
 "Excuse me for caring and being worried about you" Harm snapped back. "You 
 know maybe I should just leave and you can spend the rest of the weekend 
 with Keeter. Seeing as how you two were so close anyway."
 
 Mac turned off the water and seconds later stood in front of him, her hair 
 dripping wet with only the towel around her.
 
 "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Mac asked irritably.
 
 "You know what it means" Harm retorted as he tried to keep his mind off the 
 fact that she was in front of him wearing only a towel. Yes he'd had this 
 hallucination before, but this was no hallucination.
 
 "No I don't. For your information Keeter and I did nothing in the desert. I 
 cried myself to sleep and listened to him snore. That's it."
 
 "Then how does he know what it's like to kiss you?" Harm countered, suddenly 
 remembering what Keeter had said last night. "Or are you going to deny that 
 too?"
 
 "He kissed me" Mac retorted. "Just like Miranda kissed you."
 
 "He kissed you" Harm screeched. "When?"
 
 "When you were off sucking face with Miranda. And why does it matter to you 
 anyway what I do?"
 
 "Why does it bother you so much that she kissed me?" Harm countered.
 
 "Why does it bother that Keeter kissed me"
 
 "Because that's what I've wanted to do since we got here" Harm whispered as 
 he stepped closer to her. Before she knew what was happening, she was in his 
 arms, his lips on hers.

Mac's eyes grew larger as the kiss deepened, and when he finally released her, 
she was breathless.

"Before you ask, that was me showing you how I feel," he said softly, his hands 
moving to hold her face between gentle palms.  "And by the way, Keeter was 
correct.  It was very pleasant and I should have tried it--a long time ago.  Things 
should never have gotten to the point they did, the distance between us, Brumby 
and Renee, none of that should have happened and I take full responsibility for 
allowing it to."

She smiled and shook her head, letting go of the bottom of the towel to put a 
finger to his lips.  "No Sailor, there's more than enough blame to be shared there.  
I was never the same toward you after you left for the Henry, and I allowed Mic to 
throw me in your face and I should never have.  Forgive me please."

"More than forgiven," he smiled and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose.  
"And now I'm going to let you get dressed."

"The subject of this conversation--us I mean--is one we'll come back to though 
right?" she asked softly.

"Oh yeah," he grinned.  "Because us is just beginning."  

"Thank you.  And Harm, we have that errand to see to--the woods and all."

"Right after breakfast. Let me grab a shower and I'll be right with you.  And you 
might want to dress."  He released her and made for the door, only to have it 
swing open just as he reached it.  

The woman coming in gave a little cry of surprise and then fell into laughter.  
"Harmon Rabb you haven't changed one iota."

"Good to see you too Jeannie," he groaned and headed for his room.

"I take it you know Harm," Jeannie Mosley grinned as she passed Mac. 

"Yeah I do, and more closely all the time."

"Lucky woman," Jeannie smiled and walked into the shower.
======================
Harm was humming when he walked back to his room, humming until he saw 
Keeter curled up in a ball on the bed, still snoring.  Harm lifted his foot and made 
firm contact with his backside.  "What the hell were you thinking, kissing Mac?"

Keeter was so startled by his outburst he attempted to roll away from him and fell 
onto the floor with a resounding bump.  "Who told you that?"

"She did of course.  We have no secrets."  

"I'm sorry--I wasn't responsible for my actions--I'll never do it again--Don't hurt 
me--She was so beautiful--I wanted to, since the desert, where nothing 
happened by the way."  Keeter was babbling and cowering at the same time and 
Harm began to laugh, unable to stay upset with his friend.

"Nothing happened?"

"No honest Harm.  She cried herself to sleep like I told you.  And both nights she 
woke up screaming and I held her until she was calm and that's all."

"I think I owe you for taking care of her," he said softly, extending his hand to his 
friend and pulling him to his feet.

"She was terrified for you," Keeter sighed.  "I'm pretty ignorant about these things 
but I knew then how she felt--if I didn't already when I saw you two hugging.  So 
it's no wonder I was floored when I hear from you next and you're dating some 
shrink."

"Mistake in judgment," he grinned, "but not as big as the one I made with the next 
woman."

"Keeping her around to warm your bed."  Keeter shrugged.  "We've all been 
there."

"For a few days or weeks maybe," he sighed, "but not for more than a year.  My 
god what kind of a man does that to a woman, the fact that he doesn't love her 
notwithstanding."

"Quit beating yourself up over something you can't change," Keeter frowned. "I 
want breakfast.  And we promised Mac we'd check out her dead body."
=======================
Beth sat up groggily when Mac returned and blinked several times, trying to 
recall why this Marine made her nervous.  "Harm find you?  He was pretty 
panicked this morning."

"He can get that way at times and yes he did," Mac nodded, pulling on a pair of 
jeans and then a pair of heavy shoes.

"Going hiking?" Beth frowned.

"Into the woods yeah," Mac smiled absently, her mind on Harm and the kiss as 
she buttoned a long sleeve shirt over her tee shirt, tying the tails together in front.  
"I thought I saw...well something really strange last night when I was out there 
and Harm is going to help me check it out."

Beth gave her a long look, remembering her words that she had fallen on a night 
march.  

Mac took no notice as she hurried to get ready for breakfast.  "See you later 
Beth," she said as she hurried out the door.

"Hungry Marine?" Harm greeted her.

"No, not at all" she groaned, walking faster.  

They were just sitting down when the doors swung open and a man in the 
uniform of a two star Admiral strode inside, walking quickly down a long aisle to 
the front of the room as the officers present rose to attention.

"As you were.  People my name is Admiral Marshall Mansfield.  And we have a 
missing person."

"Here it comes," Harm groaned and Mac looked at him in puzzlement, surprised 
first of all that he was talking when an Admiral was speaking.

"I should have told you I guess.  But the theme of this weekend is a murder 
mystery.  Like Agatha Christie or something where we're all suspects."

"Harm I may have really witnessed..." she began and stopped when she sensed 
the Admiral's glare resting on their table.

"Lieutenant Commander Russell Adams' wife Lorna disappeared sometime last 
night," he went on.  "Commander Adams went to bed early last night not feeling 
well and Mrs. Adams never returned to their room."

"See now they're going to have her turn up dead and we're supposed to use let's 
see how did they put it, obvious clues, to track down the murderer."

"Harm I'm not interested in this game," she protested, putting her hand on his 
arm for emphasis.  "I'm sure there's a real murder happened out there.  I am sure 
of what I saw, more sure..."  Her words died on her lips as Mansfield spoke 
again.

"In view of this situation, the simulated murder case scenario is canceled."

"Harm," Mac's hand tightened on his arm and he quickly reached over and patted 
it.  "We'll check it out.  Eat your breakfast."

"Harm should we talk to the Admiral?" Keeter hissed.

"Not until we see if there's anything to report."

"You still don't believe me."  Mac looked at him in surprise and pulled her arm 
away from his hand.  "Your still questioning what I saw.  I don't believe you.  
Harm I'm a Marine, and a trained investigator and you're questioning what I saw."  
With that she threw her napkin onto her plate and began to stride from the room.

"Harm we're not going to let her go alone," Keeter yelped.

"No we're not," he said firmly, moving quickly to follow her. 
 
 "Mac, wait" he called.
 
 "Wait for what?" Mac said irritably as she turned around to face him. "For 
 you to believe me. No thanks."
 
 "Wait for Keeter and I go to go with you" Harm said calmly. "You're not 
 going out there alone. If you did see what you think you saw, I sure as hell 
 don't want you out there alone."
 
 "I thought I didn't see anything?"
 
 "I never said that" Harm argued. "I just said we wouldn't say anything to 
 the Admiral until we checked it out."
 
 "Meaning you won't believe me until you see the body" Mac retorted.
 
 "Instead of debating what I meant, can we just go check this out" Harm 
 sighed.
 
 "Fine" Mac said as she started off again.
 
 "Nice move Harm" Keeter smiled. "You really know how to make her mad don't 
 you?"
 
 "Shut up Keeter" Harm muttered as he took off after Mac, Keeter simply 
 shaking his head as he followed the two.
 
 Mac led them into the woods, ignoring the fact that Harm and Keeter was 
 behind her. Despite their earlier kiss she was still irritated with him for 
 not believing her. She knew the idea that someone had dropped a body in the 
 woods was far-fetched but in light of Mrs. Adams disappearance it didn't 
 seem so far out.
 
 "Mac, hey ease up there Marine" Harm panted as he tried to keep up with her. 
 She'd kept up the torrid pace since they'd left the mess building and he 
 wasn't quite up to that just yet. Even Keeter was ahead of him and at Harm's 
 call they both stopped and turned back around.
 
 "You okay buddy?" Keeter asked.
 
 "Yeah, just wasn't ready for the marathon with the Marine" Harm replied as 
 he stopped to catch his breath.
 
 "Harm, what's wrong?" Mac demanded. "Are you okay?"
 
 "I would be if you'd slow the pace a little please," Harm said with a small 
 smile. "Uh, the lungs aren't quite ready for this."
 
 "I'm sorry," she said as she put her arm around him. "I forgot you weren't 
 up to this yet. We'll take it slower. It's not much farther....well at least I 
 don't think it is."
 
 "You're not sure where you were when you saw it are you?" Harm asked and 
Mac 
 nodded sheepishly.
 
 "Sorry. But I'm pretty sure we're going in the right direction."
 
 "Well let's keep going then" Harm said as he took a deep breath.
 
 They continued for another few minutes before Mac stopped. She was pretty 
 sure this was the area where she had seen the body being dropped.
 
 "I think this is it," she said slowly as she looked around.
 
 "Keeter you look over there" Harm directed. "Mac and I will look around 
 here."
 
 Keeter nodded and headed off and Mac and Harm looked carefully around the 
 immediate area for any sign of a body.
 
 "Harm" Mac screamed a few minutes later. She'd seen the tree she remembered 
 crying at and had looked around that area, remembering that was when she'd 
 seen the body. "Harm, come here please."
 
 He ran to her where she was, her hand pointing to the body of a woman lying 
 in the brush. She'd been strangled, the wire still around her neck.
 
 "That must be Mrs. Adams" Harm whispered. "My god Mac, you saw the 
murderer. 
 And if they saw you.."
 
 "I'm sure they didn't," she said quickly. "And it was dark. I never got a 
 good look at the person. I couldn't even tell you if it was a man or woman. 
 I just saw the body being dropped."
 
 "Keeter" Harm yelled. "Keeter get over here now."
 
 Seconds later Keeter came through the trees, letting out a gasp when he saw 
 the dead woman.
 
 "Mrs. Adams?" he said quietly.
 
 "Has to be" Harm replied. "We need to get the authorities out here."
 
 "I'll go back and get them" Keeter offered. "You guys stay here."
 
 He turned and ran back towards the campus and Harm led Mac away from the 
 body.
 
 "Tell me everything you remember" Harm ordered. "Everything."
 
 "There's not much to tell" Mac sighed. "It was almost dark and I really 
 couldn't see. I'd started walking back when I heard the noise in the bushes. 
 I stopped and that's when I saw the figure drop the body. I knew it was a 
 body. And then I took off."
 
 "What about Rivers?" Harm asked. "When did you run into him?"
 
 "Shortly afterwards" Mac replied. "He was waiting for me a little ways 
 away."
 
 "So he couldn't have dropped the body and ran ahead of you then" Harm 
 questioned.
 
 "No" Mac shook her head. "There's no way. It wasn't him."
 
 "Well that's one less suspect to consider" Harm sighed.  "Mac, I think once 
 you answer all the questions and give your statement to the authorities we 
 should head back to DC."
 
 "Harm, why on earth would we want to do that?" Mac asked. "There's been a 
 murder. We're trained investigators. We can help them find who did this."
 
 "No we are not," Harm said firmly. "We are going to go back to DC before 
 whoever did this realizes that you might have seen something. I'm not going 
 to let you be the next victim."
 
 "But I didn't see anything" Mac reminded him. "And we're not going anywhere. 
 I bought a new dress for tonight's formal and I plan on wearing it. Besides, 
 I'm looking forward to seeing a certain sailor in his dress whites."
 
 "Keeter?" Harm teased, momentarily forgetting the seriousness of the 
 situation.
 
 "Oh yeah, that's what I've been dreaming about since you asked me to come up 
 here with you" Mac grinned. "Uh, no I think I'm looking forward to seeing my 
 very handsome partner is his dress whites again. It's been a while."
 
 "Handsome partner?"
 
 "Very handsome but sometimes slightly overprotective partner" Mac smiled. 
 "We've got a murder to solve sailor. And we're going to solve it."
 
 "Did you say you bought a new dress just for the occasion?" Harm inquired 
 with a smile.
 
 "Yes I did. And the only way you're going to see it is if we stay here for 
 the dance"
 
"I'm still not comfortable with this," he yelped suddenly, "and you're trying to 
distract me. Stop that.  I'm concerned with your...." he paused and coughed hard.  
"Your safety and you know I won't...."  More coughing and he bent over, hugging 
his chest.

"And I'm concerned about you right now," she exploded.  "Harm what the hell's 
going on with you and be straight with me or so help me I'll kick your six up 
between your shoulder blades."

He gave her a sheepish smile and swallowed a few times before he attempted to 
speak again.  "My lungs were affected by the cold and the sea water spray I 
breathed into them.  It's a form of...."  Another pause to cough and this time her 
arm went across his back, holding him to her, alarmed at how shaky he was 
becoming.

"Harm you're scaring me bad here," she whispered, pressing his head to her 
shoulder.  "I'm going to get you to the infirmary.  This is not right."

"Form of pneumonia," he finished.  "I have medicine for it.  It was the first time I 
had run like that since....the accident and the doctor said I'd need to gradually get 
back into exertion."

"Harm I'm so sorry," she gasped, her free hand to her mouth.  "I didn't know.  I 
should never have run like that.  Common sense should have told me you 
weren't back full, but you didn't say anything."

"I didn't want you to worry," he smiled.  "Honest I'm OK.  I mean I'm not going to 
pass out on you or anything.  I'm also never going to fly again."

"Excuse me?"  

"I'll never pass a flight physical again--I won't be able to breathe the oxygen well 
enough."  He coughed long and hard and she looked at him to determine 
whether he was actually coughing or sobbing.  She was not able to tell and she 
wrapped both arms around him.  "I'm so sorry. You need a doctor, now."

"No I don't honestly," he panted.  "I have medication to take when the spasms get 
like this but I hate it.  It makes me sleepy.  As for being sorry, well my priorities 
have changed.  It's not a big thing in my life any more.  It's cost me too much.  It 
almost cost me you."

"Harm," was all she could manage as her own tears welled.  "We can talk about 
that later.  You need to get some of your medicine in you mister.  I can hear you 
wheezing here and it's scaring me to death.  Just as soon as Keeter gets back 
and we tell them what happened."  

She gulped hard then and shuddered slightly.  "You know I've seen death before, 
but I've never gotten used to it."

"You shouldn't ever half to," he whispered, his voice muffled by keeping his head 
on her shoulder.  Then it was his turn to shudder.  "Mac I want us to go back to 
DC as soon as you make your statement.  Do you realize you were in these 
woods with a killer last night.  Do you realize if he saw you I'd be IDing your body 
right now.  Do you realize...."

"Do you realize you're sounding rather hysterical at this point," she smiled and 
placed a small kiss on his forehead.  "I'm much more concerned about the state 
of your breathing here than what might have happened last night."

His next words were choked off by coughing and she looked up frantically, then 
breathed a long sigh as she saw Keeter approaching, followed by a team of men.

"Good.  I can take you to bed," she breathed.

"You know how many times I've fantasized you saying that," he smiled and 
coughed at the same time."

"Stop that," she scolded and looked to Keeter.  "Keeter thank god.  Harm's not 
doing well here."

"I can see that, although he doesn't look too uncomfortable," Keeter smiled, 
leaning over Harm.  "Buddy you going to make it?"

"I'm not dead yet," he groaned and nodded toward the team now looking at the 
body.  "Glad you're here though."

In the uniform of a lieutenant commander, a pleasant looking woman 
approached.  "Colonel Mackenzie, Commander Rabb I'm Commander Melinda 
Mellon.  I see you've solved our missing person's case.  Except now we have a 
murder."

"I saw them dump the body last night," Mac spoke up and Mellon raised her 
eyebrow.  

"I'm listening ma'am."

Mac rapidly related the circumstances of her night visit to the area, with Mellon 
making notes. If she wondered why one JAG officer was holding onto another, 
she did not question it.

"Commander that's all I have," Mac finally insisted.  "And this man is not well.  I'm 
taking him to bed...I mean I'm taking him to his room to rest."

"I'm getting the idea," Mellon smiled.  "I'll know where to find you."

"Mac I'll give you a hand with him," Keeter told her.

"Let's stop talking about me like I'm an invalid," Harm protested, his finishing 
cough denying his words.

"Just temporary in need of rest," she assured him, helping him to stand as Keeter 
took his arm.

"Should I carry you squid?" she asked when they had gone halfway.

"Thank you, no, Wonder Woman," he groaned and he had had to stop several 
times to cough.  "They didn't tell me it was going to be this bad."

"Well I'm sure they didn't tell you that you were going to bounce back to normal 
like it never happened either.  Not to mention you were supposed to take another 
week.  Besides, it's my fault for being irritated and running."

"Quit blaming yourself.  I didn't think either," he reminded her.  "But I sure as hell 
didn't think when they said residual lung problems they meant this.  It had better 
clear before I have any kind of fitness testing or I may be flipping burgers as my 
next duty station."

"Don't even think that way," she ordered, more sharply than she intended as she 
thought of a Rabb-less JAG.  "And for right now you worry about breathing and 
walking."

Once inside the room Harm and Keeter shared Mac kept a watchful eye on him 
while he took his pills and collapsed onto the bed.  "I just need a little time and 
then I'll be fine," he insisted, taking hold of her hand. "No way are you getting out 
of that dance tonight.  Just promise me please you'll behave yourself and stay 
out of trouble this afternoon.  Not only is there a murderer out there, but there's 
Rivers too."  He strained to look past her, seeing Keeter.  "Hey I'm counting on 
you to take care of her."

"You know I will," his friend smiled.

"Harm I'm perfectly capable, Marine remember," she admonished him.  "Rivers I 
can easily take care of if he wants to play games.  The murderer I'm not threat to.  
I saw nothing that could ID him--or her--sadly.  Now what can I get for you?"

"You.  Yourself.  Lying here next to me until I fall asleep...unless that's being too 
needy," he whispered.

"Not at all," she smiled.  "I can't think of a better way to pass the time."  

His arms opened for her and she crawled in next to him, letting him wrap her in 
his embrace.  

"You two look real good like that," Keeter observed with a broad grin, and then 
added, "when something is right, it's right.  Why would you pretend otherwise?"

"When did you get half a brain?" Harm moaned, coughing lightly as he closed his 
eyes. 
 
 "Sleep sailor" Mac ordered. "Otherwise you won't be going to that dance 
 tonight."
 
 "Yes ma'am" he sighed tiredly.
 
 She stayed in his arms until he was asleep, quietly sliding off the bed and 
 heading out of the room. Keeter had left earlier, and she'd promised to meet 
 him outside for the survival game once Harm had fallen asleep. But she 
 headed to her room first, wanting to clean up after the morning run through 
 the woods. She walked in just as Beth was about to walk out.
 
 "Oh hi Sarah" Beth said as Mac walked in. "Hey, you're not the one that 
 found Mrs. Adams are you? I mean, you said something this morning about 
 seeing something weird last night. "
 
 "I guess the word is out then," Mac said quietly. "Yeah that's what I saw. 
 Course I never saw the person so I wasn't much help."
 
 "That's scary. I mean to think someone around here is a murderer."
 
 "Yeah it is" Mac agreed. "Did you know Mrs. Adams?"
 
 "No. I knew her husband, Russell, since he was in my class obviously. Real 
 shame. I heard they'd been married for almost 20 years."
 
 "I didn't know that" Mac replied. "I wonder why someone here would want to 
 kill her though. Seems kind of strange."
 
 "Well, I'd better get going, I'm supposed to be meeting a friend" Beth 
 smiled. "See yah later. You are going to be at the dance aren't you? I mean, 
 we're all dying to see Harmon Rabb in his dress whites."
 
 "We should be there" Mac smiled at Beth's words.
 
 "I'll see you guys there then," Beth said as she headed out.
 
 A short time later she'd cleaned up and after a quick check on Harm to make 
 sure he was okay headed down to find Keeter. She'd just closed the door to 
 Harm's room and started down the hall when she saw Miranda Davies making 
her way towards her.
 
 "Hello Sarah. I was trying to find Harm. Is he around here somewhere? He and 
 I have to finish catching up with each other."
 
 "Well you'll just have to do your catching up another time" Mac said 
 tersely, all the while telling herself she wasn't going to let this woman 
 get to her. "Harm isn't feeling well and since he just fell asleep, I don't 
 want him disturbed."
 
 "Ain't that cute," Miranda said sarcastically. "Taking care of Harm like the 
 good little friend that you are. I'm sure Harm won't mind if I wake him for 
 a bit."
 
 She started towards the door and Mac quickly stepped in front of her.  "I 
 guess you didn't understand it when I said I don't want Harm being 
 disturbed."
 
 "And you think I care what you want" Miranda retorted.
 
 "No" Mac said calmly. "But you're still not going into his room."
 
 "Look here Little Miss Marine" Miranda said angrily. "You are not Harm's 
 girlfriend. I'm sure the only reason Harm even pays any attention to you is 
 because you look like Diane. I guess you just got lucky."
 
 For a moment her words struck a nerve and Mac had to force herself to 
 remember the talk she and Harm had had earlier.
 
 "No I'm not Harm's girlfriend" Mac said calmly. "But I am his partner and 
 his friend and I'm not going to let you disturb him. I'll be happy to tell 
 him you stopped by to see him though."
 
 Seeing she wasn't going to get anywhere, Miranda turned around and stomped 
 off down the hallway. Mac quietly opened the door to Harm's room, wanting to 
 make sure her confrontation with Miranda hadn't woken him. He was still 
 asleep and she smiled as she watched him for a few minutes before closing 
 the door once again. Deciding Keeter was probably going to declare her MIA 
 soon, she hurried down the corridor to the back stairs of the dorm room. 
 Seconds later she was face to face with Sean Rivers, an odd smile on his 
 face.
 
 "Hello Sarah" Sean smiled. "We meet again finally."
 
 "Sean"
 
 She tried to walk past him and his arms immediately grabbed hers, and with a 
 none to gentle shove he pushed her against the wall, pinning her arms at her 
 sides.  "Where do you think you're going?" he hissed.
 
 "Let go of me" Mac said coldly as she tried to break from his hold.
 
 "Oh no" Sean grinned. "You're not getting away from me this time. We're 
 going to have a little fun. And you know you want to."
 
 "Let go of me" Mac repeated.
 
 "You know you may look like Diane but at least she knew when to have some 
 fun" Sean leered. "She didn't fight me like you do."
 
 She opened her mouth to scream, only to have his hand clamp down over it 
 before she could get anything out, his body pressing against hers against 
 the wall so she couldn't move.
 
 "Now that's more like it" he grinned as she struggled against him. "And with 
 everyone out for the survival game we shouldn't have any interruptions."
 
 ****************
 Keeter looked around the area again for Mac, wondering where was. She'd 
 promised she'd come down as soon as Harm fell asleep. With a grin he 
 suddenly realized that it was possible that Harm wasn't quite as sick as 
 he'd let on, and that they'd just wanted to be alone.
 
 "Hey Keeter you want to come with us?" one of the guys in a large group 
 called out. "We need one more. Rivers was supposed to show and of course 
 he's not here."
 
 At the mention of Rivers' name Keeter turned and ran towards the dorm. 
 Maybe it was just a coincidence that Rivers was missing at the same time Mac 
 was but Keeter wasn't about to risk it. He should have known better to let 
 her out of his sight with that lunatic running around. He didn't want to 
 have to answer to Harm if anything happened to Mac while he was supposed to 
 be watching her.
 
 ****************
 Mac continued to struggle against Rivers, finally managing a knee to his 
 groin. He let out a groan but someone still managed to keep hold of her. She 
 immediately let out a scream, not knowing if anyone would hear her or not.
 
 "You little bitch" Sean seethed as he grabbed her arm, twisting it hard 
 behind her back. She screamed in pain and it was that scream that greeted 
 Keeter as he started up the stairs.  "You shouldn't have done that."
 
 "Mac" Keeter yelled as he hurried up the stairs, two at a time.
 
 "Dammit" Sean screamed. He let go of Mac and took off running just before 
 Keeter reached the landing where they were.

Mac began to slide down the wall despite her struggle to regain her footing.  
Keeter's first instinct was to run after Rivers and pound him, but seeing Mac's 
distress he instead went to her, catching her in his arms.  "I'd kill that guy, but 
Harm is going to insist on first dibs," he muttered, holding her close.  "How bad 
are you hurt honey?"

"I'm OK really.  He just twisted my arm bad," she panted.  "I tried to get him off 
me, but I couldn't push him.  He had all his weight on me and he knew how to pin 
my legs. I wanted to bring my knee up and hit him right...well you know where.  
Next time I will.  If not worse."

"I think you'll have to stand in line behind Harm and me," Keeter grinned.  "I'm 
sorry this happened.  I was supposed to be looking out for you.  Harm is going to 
kill me right after he deals with Rivers."

"I don't want Harm to know about this," Mac said firmly, pulling away from Keeter.  

"Because?"

"Because he has a habit of acting first and thinking later.  Something stupid about 
pilot's instinct.  Besides you said so yourself--he may do something to him.  And 
he and I are just finding our way.  I sure as hell don't want to be defending him on 
an assault charge--or worse.  And besides that, there's the little matter of 
vengeance is mine."

"Mac please, please don't take on this man," Keeter begged.  "He was unstable 
back when he was a cadet but somehow he managed to rig the tests, or bribe 
the testers I'm not sure which.  And he was obsessed with Diane.  She told Harm 
she was afraid of him.  She had good reason."

Mac raised her eyebrow.  "How so?"

Keeter opened his mouth to speak and then stopped short.  "Come on, I'll walk 
you back to your room."

"You'll also tell me."

"I will," he promised, keeping his arm around her and tugging her along.

Beth was not in the room and Mac sat on the bed, absently rubbing her sore arm.  
"Give mister."

"Not much to tell.  Harm and Diane were friends, and they hadn't gone any 
further than that.  But Rivers and her, well it was a fun thing with them.  
Recreational sex.  I said he was obsessed with her, but she was with him to 
some extent.  Then about six months after they started, she started to have 
serious feelings for Harm.  And she wanted to break it off."

"And Rivers wouldn't hear of it," Mac guessed.

"Something like that," Keeter nodded.  "She was walking back from the library 
one night and he jumped her.  Beat her pretty bad.  I suspect he raped her, but 
she wouldn't admit that."

"Oh my god," Mac gasped.  "He told he me didn't have to force her."

Keeter shrugged.  "He wouldn't have thought of it as force anyway, not in his 
twisted mind.  So this is why I'm saying, stay away from him.  If anything he's 
going to be after you more strongly I'm afraid--you've got him angry."

"OK I'll be cautious of him, but Keeter I'm serious here.  If our friendship means 
anything, I don't want Harm to know.  In thirty-six hours we'll be gone, never to 
see this guy again.  And in the meantime, if he does come near me, I plan to be 
ready for him this time.  Vengeance is mine."

"Mac that's not a promise I want to make," he protested.

"But you're going to because you and I are friends.  And because you're Harm's 
friend and you don't want him in trouble either. And because if you don't, I could 
break your arm while we're sitting here."

"OK you've got it," he sighed.  "Just remember your part--you're staying away 
from him."

"Promise.  Now let's go see how Harm is." 

Keeter helped her up and walked her down the hall.  Harm was just stirring when 
they walked in and he murmured her name automatically.

"Here Harm," she smiled and when his arms opened to her, she went at once 
into his embrace."

"I don't think you too need me," Keeter grinned.  "Maybe I'll see what Miranda is 
doing.  I still need a date for tonight."  He walked to the door and stopped.  "Mac 
remember what we talked about."

Harm waited until the door closed before focusing on her, attempting to clear the 
fog of medication from his mind.  "What did you and Keeter talk about?  And 
don't tell me nothing."

"Just things friends talk about," she replied carefully.

"I'm not buying that but this stupid medicine is making me too fuzzy to care.  Will 
you lay with me for awhile again?"

"That's what I'm doing Sailor," she replied, resting her palm against his cheek as 
she lay her head on his chest.  "At least you're not wheezing," she sighed, "you 
really did scare me.  You should have told me to expect that.  I thought you were 
about to cough up a lung there."

"It had pretty much stopped when I came back to work.  Anyway, I'm sorry."

"And I'm sorry about your flying?"

"Are you really?"  He smiled and tilted her face up to look into her eyes.

"No," she admitted sheepishly, "because it took you away from me."
 
 "Yeah and I've regretted that decision everyday" Harm sighed. "For that 
 reason exactly. Everything we had started to unravel at that point."
 
 "I'll agree with you on that" Mac said quietly. "The beginning of the end so 
 to speak."
 
 "Culminating on a ferry ride in Sydney when yours truly really mucked things 
 up."
 
 "Again I'll agree with you" Mac said with a small smile. "But it's not all 
 your fault. I was the one who went straight into Mic Brumby's arms."
 
 "Cause I didn't give you any choice" Harm pointed out. "You were trying to 
 tell me something that night and I wasn't ready to face it."
 
 "Are you now?" Mac whispered.
 
 "I think so" he smiled. "At least I hope I'm not stupid enough to throw away 
 another chance with you."
 
 "Well you know Keeter's waiting in the wings if you are" Mac teased.
 
 "Yeah and he'll break your heart faster than I did" Harm grinned. "You 
 thought I was commitment phobic. Keeter will never settle down."
 
 "With the right woman he might" Mac countered.
 
 "Maybe him and Miranda will hook up" Harm replied.
 
 "God I hope he doesn't end up with that..." Mac managed to stop herself before 
 the word came out and Harm gave her a curious glance. "Sorry, I shouldn't 
 have said that."
 
 "Don't worry Keeter's smarter than me" Harm grinned.
 
 "Oh by the way, I guess I should tell you she came to visit earlier when you 
 were sleeping" Mac said quietly. "She wanted to finish catching up on old 
 times with you. But I kind of sent her away. I hope you're not mad."
 
 "Why would I be mad?" Harm questioned. "You did me a favor. I have no desire 
 to do any more catching up with Miranda Davies."
 
 "Really?" Mac asked softly. "You know she said the only reason you pay 
 attention to me is because I look like Diane."
 
 "She's way off base. Yes you look like Diane but like I told you that night, 
 you are completely different from her. And when I look at you I don't see 
 Diane. I see Sarah Mackenzie.  Someone I happen to like very much and want 
 very much to have something special with."
 
 As his words ended he leaned towards her, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. 
 "Just as a reminder of who I want to be with" he whispered.
 
 "As much as I'm loving this conversation you should be resting" Mac reminded 
 him. "It's going to be a long night at the dance."
 
 "Okay I'll rest but only if you stay" Harm pleaded. "I very much like having 
 you in my arms."
 
 "All right, I'm sure Keeter can handle the survival games on his own" Mac 
 sighed as she closed her eyes as well. And after the run in with Rivers she 
 was more than happy to stay in the safety and comfort of Harm's arms.
 
 ************************************
 "So who are you going to the dance with?" Mac asked as she and Beth got 
 ready for the dance.
 
 "Going stag" Beth replied. "The guy I'm involved with back home couldn't 
 make it in for tonight. But there's plenty of others going alone as well so 
 I'm not concerned."
 
 Mac nodded and pulled out the dress she and Harriet had picked out.
 
 "Nice dress" Beth commented. "You're going to knock Harmon Rabb's socks off 
 in that. And it's Navy blue. I'm impressed."
 
 "I hope so" Mac smiled. She'd been looking forward to this part of the 
 weekend since Harm had mentioned it. It had been a long time since they'd 
 been together anywhere formal like this and she planned on enjoying this 
 night. Nothing was going to spoil tonight.
 
 "Geez, Harm how many times are you going to look in the mirror?" Keeter 
 teased as they finished getting ready. "You know I look better in my dress 
 whites and Mac isn't going to be able to take her eyes off me anyway."
 
 "Keep dreaming buddy" Harm smiled. "Besides, Mac is my date this weekend."
 
 "When did she move up to your date" Keeter quizzed with a grin. "I thought 
 you and her were just friends."
 
 "Not if I have any say in that" Harm replied. "And now I'm off to pick up my 
 date. I guess I'll see you over at the auditorium."
 
 He headed down the hallway, knocking on Mac and Beth's door a few seconds 
 later.
 
 "Commander don't you look handsome" Beth commented as she opened the 
door. 
 "Sarah, your sailor's here."
 
 Mac stepped towards the door, looking up to see Harm and for several seconds 
 their eyes locked and neither moved. She was as breathtaking as the night 
 they'd gone to the Sudanese Embassy party for Webb. For her part Mac hadn't 
 taken her eyes off the tall handsome man that stood in front of her in dress 
 whites.
 
 "Uh, earth to either of you" Beth said finally breaking the spell.
 
 "You look beautiful" Harm whispered as he stepped forward to take Mac's arm. 
 "You ready to go?"
 
 "You're not too shabby looking yourself sailor" Mac smiled as she linked her 
 arm around his. "And yes I'm ready. See yah later Beth."
 
 "I take it this is the new dress you bought?" Harm asked as they walked to 
 the auditorium.
 
 "Yep. Harriet helped me pick it out" Mac replied. "I take it you like it."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Harm grinned. "You look spectacular."
 
 "See aren't you glad we stayed for the dance?" Mac smiled.
 
 The auditorium had been decorated for the dance and round tables filled part 
 of the room, the other half left open as a dance floor. They had just gotten 
 in and were looking around for Keeter when Mac heard the annoying voice of 
 Miranda Davies.
 
 "Harm, there you are" Miranda called as she made her way over to them. "Wow. 
 I'd forgotten how good you looked in dress whites. What do you say you and I 
 finish catching up?"
 
 "We already did enough catching up" Harm replied, his hand reaching for 
 Mac's as he spoke. "And I'm here with Mac tonight."
 
 "I see" Miranda said tersely. She glared at Mac for a few moments before 
 stomping away.
 
 "Harm, Mac, hey, wow Mac" Keeter said as he walked up to them. "At the risk 
 of getting decked by your date, you look hot."
 
 "Date?" Mac smiled.
 
 "Yeah well you are my date" Harm said sheepishly.
 
 "Harm you have got to be the luckiest guy" Keeter continued, his eyes still 
 on Mac. "So how many dances do I get tonight Colonel?"
 
 "Depends on how many I'm free for" Mac smiled as she looked at Harm. "What 
 do you think sailor? Am I going to have time to dance with Keeter?"
 
 "Highly unlikely" Harm grinned. "Sorry buddy. But this beautiful lady is 
 with me. You might try Miranda. I think she might be available."
 
 
  "I'd rather stand by the wall and pout," Keeter sighed.  "Hey no what am I 
saying.  I'll see where she went.  Maybe she's got a friend."

 "Keeter I'll save a dance for you," Mac called laughing at the forlorn Sailor, who 
waved as he strode off.  "Harm I really like him a lot you know.  I did from the first 
time I met him."

"Should I be jealous here?" he asked, keeping his voice light but his eyes 
searched her face.

"Oh for godsake no," she hooted.  "I mean as a just a nice guy.  He really does 
deserve someone in his life."

"Commitment-phobic remember," Harm grinned.

"Well I know of someone else who fits that description."

"Guilty ma'am, all charges and specifications," he grinned and then caught her 
arm, turning immediately serious.  "That was the old Rabb you know.  The new 
and improved model has shed all his fears in that area and he knows what he 
wants."

She nodded slowly as their eyes locked.  "OK, I'll bite."  She held her breath and 
asked, "what does the new Rabb want?"

"You," he said at once.  "You and me.  Together."

"I think there's room for negotiation there," she said slowly, her eyes never 
leaving his.  

"Thanks but no thanks," he told her emphatically.  "Negotiation time is over.  
Enough time as has been wasted."  Before she could react, she was in his arms, 
with no thought of resisting or objecting as his lips found hers, drawing her into a 
gentle kiss.
 
"What about Keeter?" she whispered.

"We'll make him best man," Harm murmured as the music started and he began 
to walk to the dance floor only to find her unbudging.

"Excuse me," she yelped.  "You wanna clarify that Sailor?"

He broke into a long slow grin and shook his head.  "No I don't think so.  It just 
kind of came out."

"Well you can't just say things like that and not take them further," she protested, 
trying without success not to laugh.

"Yes I can," he told her.  "I'm a man.  We're not supposed to make sense where 
these things are concerned.  Now do you want to dance or should I find 
Miranda?"

She regarded him solemnly for a long minute.  "I want to do much more than 
dance with you Harmon Rabb.  But I'll settle for dancing right now yes."

Harm pulled her closely into his arms as they began to sway with the music.  "Is 
this 'more' something we can discuss in polite company?"

"I think we have a lot to discuss," she said softly, "but tonight is for dancing.  I 
mean you're not going anywhere are you?"

"No way in hell," he answered at once and with such vehemence she smiled.  
"I'm staying by your side and we're going to see exactly where we're going with 
all this.  OK?"

"Very OK," she sighed and turned her face up to meet his kiss.  A kiss that told of 
future promise as the music swept them into the dance.

"Hey there's Keeter," Harm laughed and pointed.  He was happily dancing with a 
woman with long dark hair, too young to be one of the class mates.  "Someone's 
wife no doubt," he sighed and shook his head.  "The man will be lucky not to be 
killed before Good Night Ladies."

An hour passed in no time as they danced each dance.  Through the last dance 
she could sense his breathing was getting heavier and he began to cough lightly.

"I'm fine."

"Now why did I know you were going to say that," she groaned, stepping away 
from him to look him up and down.  "OK break time.  Some punch and a walk 
outside in the fresh air.  I saw a path that looks like it ran down to the river.  If you 
play your cards right, there will be a kiss in the moonlight for you."

"Hey I could handle that," Harm grinned, his hand closing around her arm to lead 
her to the punch table.

"Ahh," she gasped involuntarily, his fingers having closed over the muscle that 
Rivers had pulled when he twisted her arm.

"Hey I'm sorry, what did I do?"  Harm's words spilled out in his alarm.

"No it's OK," she assured him.  "I just pulled a muscle there.  Nothing to worry 
about."  

"You're doing that kind of funny thing with your mouth when you're not being 
totally straight with me," he growled.  "Let me see."

"You want to look at my arm?  It's just a pulled muscle and it's bruising some."

"Still let me see."

"I'm not showing you mine so you'll show me yours," she retorted lightly.  "And 
you're trying to distract me anyway from getting you something to drink and some 
fresh air.  I'm fine.  I'm not the one about to start that scary wheezing again that's 
going to land me back in my room in bed."

"No I'm fine," he insisted at once, not willing to forego a minute of the evening.

"And so am I," she countered, nevertheless his breathing still concerned her.  
"Drink and air, now."
 
Sean Rivers watched them from an inconspicuous spot, leaning against a wall 
near the back.  Never in his life had he had a woman he wanted so badly to get 
away from him.  Sarah Mackenzie would not be the first.  
 
 "Drink sailor" Mac ordered as she handed Harm the cup filled with punch.
 
 "You worry too much" Harm said after he took a long drink. "I'm fine." A 
 small cough betrayed his words and Mac gave him a long look.
 
 "Yeah, we'll see" Mac said as she watched him carefully. "But if I get any 
 inkling that you're not, I'm having Keeter haul your six back to the dorm."
 
 "Yes mom" Harm smiled. "Do I still get my walk by the river?"
 
 "A nice leisurely walk, yes" Mac said as she took his hand.
 
 "And my kiss?" Harm reminded her as they walked across the auditorium.
 
 "Hey where you two running off to?" Keeter asked as he stopped them half 
 way. "Or is that none of my business?"
 
 "None of your business" Harm smiled.
 
 "We're going for a walk by the river" Mac replied. "Mr. Rabb here was over 
 doing it again and I think he needs some fresh air."
 "You know Harm if you need to go rest I'll be happy to take care of Mac for 
 you" Keeter teased.
 
 "No thanks buddy" Harm grinned. "I'm fine. Just needed a little break." He 
 coughed again lightly and Mac looked at him again.
 
 "Harm" she started.
 
 "Mac, I'm fine. A little fresh air is all I need. Please I'm having a really 
 good time and I don't want to leave because I'm coughing a little."
 
 "Well if it turns into any more than a little, we're are going back to the 
 dorm," Mac said firmly. "This morning was scary enough for me thank you."
 
 "Okay you two love birds fight it out" Keeter smiled. "I see someone who 
 looks a little lonely." He started off towards a tall blonde standing alone 
 and Harm shook his head.
 
 "Come on" Harm said as he took Mac's arm. "We'll get some fresh air and I'll 
 be fine."
 
 She wasn't convinced but allowed him to lead her outside the auditorium and 
 down the path that led to the river. Neither noticed that Sean Rivers 
 followed as well, keeping a safe distance behind so that the pair didn't see 
 him.
 
 "See I told you I just needed some fresh air" Harm smiled as they walked 
 along the shore of the Severn River.
 
 "Yeah well I still don't want you over doing it" Mac fretted. "I do worry 
 about you you know."
 
 "I know and I'm glad you do" Harm said softly as he stopped and turned to 
 Mac. "And I worry about you just as much. I'll be happy when we get back to 
 DC and away from Rivers and the murderer."
 
 It was on the tip of her tongue to say she would be happy to be away from 
 Rivers too but she managed to hold back her comments. She didn't want Harm 
 to know about earlier and how much Rivers had scared her.
 
 "Harm, the murderer never saw me and I didn't see them so there's nothing 
 for you to worry about" she said finally. "And I'm sure Rivers is making 
 himself scarce."
 
 "I worry because I care remember" Harm whispered. "I care a lot about you 
 Sarah Mackenzie. It's taken me a long time to realize just how much I do and 
 I don't want anything to happen to you."
 
 "I care a lot about you Harmon Rabb" Mac said softly.
 
 His lowered his lips to hers and his arms went around her as a long and 
 passionate kiss ensued. She didn't resist and wrapped her arms around him as 
 he pulled her closer.
 
 In the bushes behind them Sean Rivers blood began to boil. Harmon Rabb 
 wasn't going to win again. He didn't deserve her. She belonged to him. Not 
 that hotshot ex-pilot that all the women still swooned over.
 
 Harm finally pulled back, smiling softly at Mac. "Uh, I'm not quite ready 
 for that," he said breathlessly before coughing again.
 
 "Sorry" Mac grinned. "I guess I got carried away."
 
 "Not that I'm complaining of course" Harm smiled. "Just take it easy on the 
 old guy here."
 
 "I will" Mac promised.
 
 Harm heard the noise behind him but it was too late to react. Suddenly Sean 
 Rivers was barreling at them, Harm just able to fling Mac to the side before 
 Sean plowed into him, his momentum knocking both of them to the ground and 
 dangerously close to the water. Harm hit the ground hard, and before he 
 could even catch his breath, Rivers was on him.
 
 "You're not going to get her again," Rivers yelled as his hands went around 
 Harm's throat. "She belongs to me."
 
 "Stop" Mac screamed as she tried to pull Rivers off of Harm. As she reached 
 for him, he caught her arm, suddenly giving her a large push back. She lost 
 her balance in the heels, toppling backwards into the river. She landed 
 hard; stunning her momentarily as the chilly waters of the river suddenly 
 surrounded her. She tried to push herself up right, but movement was not 
 easy in the clingy evening gown. She managed to get to the surface, gulping 
 in air and yelling for Harm before drifting below again.
 
 Suddenly Rivers leapt to his feet and jumped into the waters where Mac had 
 gone under. Without a second thought, Harm dove in after him, not knowing if 
 Rivers was going to help Mac or hurt her. His lungs were burning as he 
 resurfaced, and he coughed hard as he looked around before heading under 
 again. He finally spotted something in the murky water, that something being 
 Mac. He tried to pull her up with him, only to be met with resistance. He 
 realized at once that Rivers was holding her under.
 
 *******************************
 "Harm, Mac, where are you?" Keeter called as he made his way down the path. 
 He'd overheard someone mention seeing Rivers heading towards the path along 
 the river and he knew it meant trouble. He knew Harm and Mac were taking 
 that path and the only reason Rivers would be out there was to hurt them. He 
 continued to run, letting out a gasp as he saw Rivers in the water, Harm 
 suddenly appearing beside him as the two men began to fight. He took off for 
 the water just as Rivers pushed Harm under the water.

As he ran, Keeter was unable to take his eyes from the scene playing out before 
him.  Harm and Rivers fighting, and no sign of Mac.  At once he knew Harm 
would weaken quickly with his lungs in the shape they were and without 
hesitation dove into the water.  His strong arms pulled Rivers from Harm before 
the man knew what was happening.  Keeter held him above the surface for a 
bare second, enough to smash a beefy fist into his face and then let him go.  
Rivers promptly sank below the surface and Keeter gave him not another thought 
as he turned his attention to Harm, wrapping a long arm around his chest to pull 
him to shore.  

"No don't...don't touch me...Mac," Harm screamed, trying to pull back from Keeter 
and being too weak to do so.  

"Harm I'll get her, but let me get you out of the water first," Keeter insisted, giving 
him a large shake.

"No I want to get her.  I want..." he shouted and again pushed away from Keeter.

For a brief instance, Keeter was tempted to give Harm a smash like he did 
Rivers, just to enable him to get him to the edge.  Instead he hooked his arm 
across him more tightly and shook him hard.  "Listen to me you fool.  You can't 
help Mac without drowning yourself and if you weren't so goddam pig headed 
you'd know that.  Let me get you on land and then I'll get her, I promise."  

His urgent words got through Harm's wall of panic and he helped kick them to 
shore, coughing as they went.  

Keeter heaved him the last couple yards until his feet could touch bottom and 
then turned and with a huge breath, dove for the spot they had last seen Mac.  
He suspected she was entangled in the folds of the dress and knew there was 
just a matter of seconds left before her lungs would scream for air, and fill with 
water instead.

Harm staggered to the shore, dropping to his knees as soon as his feet touched 
dry land.  Coughing and sputtering, nonetheless his concern was for the woman 
he loved.  "God please, please God, don't take her from me now," he breathed.

With his own lungs about to burst, Keeter started for the surface, only to have his 
hands close around silky fabric and then a solid body.  "Please," he prayed as he 
hauled her to the surface.

"Thank you," Harm breathed as soon as he saw them.  "Keeter she OK?" he 
shouted frantically, starting toward them.  His heart lurched when he heard the 
answer.  

"I don't know."

Harm walked a few feet into the water, his arms already reaching for what Keeter 
was bringing to him.  When he could stand, Keeter lifted Mac from the water and 
shuddered when he felt how limp she was.  Trying to suppress his coughing, 
Harm reached to take her and together they lowered her to the riverbank.

"She's not breathing Keeter, she's not breathing," Harm gasped at once, feeling 
for her pulse.  "Keeter."

"CPR," Keeter panted, trying to recover from his dive.

For a long second Harm stared down at her, unmoving, his mind telling him she 
was dead, screaming the word inside him.

"NO," he shouted as loud as he could, bringing on a round of coughing that he 
suppressed as quickly as he could to begin rescue breaths.

".....Four....Five, breathe.  One...two..."  Harm repeated the cadence four times, 
coughing and panting at the same time.

"Let me try," Keeter told him firmly, gripping his arm.

"No I can do it...I can...I have to," Harm panted.

"Rabb you're barely able to breathe for yourself.  Get out of the way before it's 
too late to help her," he ordered roughly, and without waiting for Harm's answer, 
pushed him off Mac, taking his place.

To Harm it was suddenly as if he was watching a movie.  In his own dazed state, 
he could not come to grips with the fact that he was watching his friend attempt 
to breathe life into the woman he loved beyond all reason.

"Keeter, please, don't let her die," he breathed and then turned his gaze upward.  
"God you know I need her in my life.  I've never asked You for much but now I..."

A small cough interrupted his plea and as Keeter backed away from her, Harm 
was looking into the most beautiful pair of chocolate brown eyes.

"Hey beautiful, welcome back," he whispered, his voice hoarse from coughing 
and now sobbing softly.

"Where did I...I was gone?" she gasped.  "I hit the water.  I don't remember 
much.  Rivers.  Cold water."

"Yeah you were gone, but it's OK.  You're back now," Harm told her, lifting her 
against his chest and placing a tiny kiss on her lips.  "Rest now.  I've got you."  
Another long cough from him and Mac immediately struggled in his grasp. "Harm 
you're.."

"I'm having some difficulty yes, but I'm OK," he told her.  "This is about you right 
now.  You need warm and dry and.."

"We all do, and you both need the infirmary," Keeter interrupted.  "I'm going to 
get some help.  You two stay here."  He looked up at the long trail, the club sitting 
at the top and slowly got to this feet, only to have Harm grab his wrist and nod to 
Mac lying in his arms.

"Thank you," he managed in a cross between a sob and a cough.  "I owe you her 
life."

Keeter gave him a wink and a mock salute as he started up the trail.  "Maybe this 
would be a good time to make sure she knows how you feel."

Harm watched him go and then looked down at her, his palm cupping her face. 
He cleared his throat and swallowed a cough at the same time.  "He's right.  And 
it's about damn time.  OK, I've...I've tried to be clear this weekend, but in my 
usual fumbling way, I'm not sure I was getting the depth of how I feel over to 
you."

"Harm you don't.." she tried, only to have his hand gently cover her mouth.

"Yes I do," he sighed.  "You almost died here.  And I was ready to, watching you.  
Now you need to know, in the exact words."  He choked down another cough and 
went on.  "I love you Sarah Catherine Mackenzie.  I can't be any more plain than 
that."

"Harm I...I..." she began and her face went blank, her eyes slowly closing.  
Whatever she was about to say would have to wait.

His panic at having her pass out in his arms was abated only slightly by his 
realization of her even breathing and he prayed it was due only to exhaustion.  
"You're going to be OK," he whispered, "and just as soon as I can, I'm going to 
repeat what I just told you."  He bent closely over her, trying to keep her warm, 
hugging her tightly to him as he swayed back and forth.  He was coughing and 
knew he was wheezing, and at that moment, his only concern was lying limply in 
his arms.

A long ten minutes later he saw Keeter coming toward him, and at the same time 
he heard the distant wail of sirens.  "Help is here honey," he whispered.  "We're 
going to be OK."
 
 When the ambulance arrived it was only with Keeter's prodding that Harm 
 relinquished his hold on Mac, allowing the paramedics to take her so they 
 could treat her.
 
 "Harm, she's going to be fine" Keeter assured his friend. "She's in good 
 hands now. Just relax and let this pretty lady take care of you now."
 
 "Sir, he's right" the paramedic smiled and Harm finally allowed her to 
 assist him onto the gurney, suddenly overwhelmed by all that had happened.
 
 It was a short ride to the academy infirmary with Keeter riding along with 
 them, at that moment very much concerned for his two friends. They were 
 quickly whisked away once they reached the ER while Keeter was given some 
 dry clothes to change into. When he returned to the waiting room, Commander 
 Mellon was waiting for him.
 
 "Commander Keeter, you want to tell me what happened tonight?"
 
 "I only caught the end of it but that wacko Rivers attacked Harm and Mac" 
 Keeter explained. "It's not the first time he's tried it this weekend 
 either. He attacked Mac in the stairwell of the dorm this morning."
 
 "Why wasn't I notified about this?" Commander Mellon demanded. "If this man 
 has been causing trouble I should have been informed."
 
 "Because I got there before he could do anything and Mac didn't want Harm to 
 find out about it" Keeter sighed. "She figured she could handle him. I don't 
 think any of us thought he'd try to kill them."
 
 "Are they going to be okay?" she asked.
 
 "I think so" Keeter replied.
 
 "We're still looking for Rivers" Commander Mellon continued. "Course it's 
 getting dark so I'm not sure we'll find him tonight. Did you see him get out 
 of the water?"
 
 "If he did, I was too busy to notice. I was a little more concerned about 
 saving my two friends."
 
 "I understand" she smiled. "But until we find Sean Rivers or his body, you 
 may want to keep an eye on Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie."
 
 "Trust me, I will" Keeter assured her. "That son of a bitch better not come 
 near here if he knows what's good for him."
 
 She nodded and after promising to keep him posted on the status of Sean 
 Rivers she left him alone in the waiting room. He'd started to pace when the 
 nurse finally called for him.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie is starting to wake" the nurse informed him. "She's been 
 checked over and she's fine. You can go back and see her if you'd like. 
 We're still treating Commander Rabb."
 
 "He's going to be okay isn't he?" Keeter asked worriedly.
 
 "After we finish giving him a breathing treatment and he gets some rest he 
 should be okay" the nurse replied. "Of course we're going to keep him 
 overnight to make sure of that. Would you like to follow me back to see 
 Colonel Mackenzie?"
 
 "Yes of course" Keeter said quickly as he followed her to Mac's room.
 
 "Hey Marine" Keeter said as he slipped into the chair beside Mac's bed. "How 
 you doing?"
 
 "Tired" she murmured, not totally awake yet.
 
 "You just rest then," Keeter said gently. "I'm going to be right here."
 
 She lasted for all of about three seconds before full awareness of what had 
 happened returned and her eyes flew open again. "Keeter, where's Harm?" she 
 demanded as she sat up and grabbed his arm.
 
 "Easy girl" Keeter soothed. "Harm's okay. He's just being checked over by 
 the doctors."
 
 "Keeter you'd better be straight with me. I remember him coughing when he 
 was holding me. He's not okay is he?" Her voice trembled at the end and 
 Keeter reached for her hand.
 
 "He'll be all right. Right now they're giving him some sort of breathing 
 treatment and then they're going to keep him overnight to make sure he's 
 okay. But there's no reason for you to panic."
 
 "Have you seen him?" Mac asked. "Is he really okay?"
 
 "No I haven't seen him yet," Keeter admitted. "But I'm sure they're taking 
 good care of him."
 
 "So you don't know if he's okay?" Mac wailed. She knew she was being a 
 little unreasonable but she didn't care. After everything she'd been through 
 she was entitled to be unreasonable.
 
 "Mac, please don't upset yourself like this" Keeter fretted. "Harm is going 
 to be fine and you getting yourself all worked up is just going to upset him 
 when he finds out. And that's the last thing he's going to need."
 
 His words struck a nerve and she sank back against the pillows. "Keeter, he 
 told me he loved me" Mac whispered as a few tears slid down her face. "I 
 remember him saying it."
 
 "Yeah like you didn't already know that" Keeter smiled. "But I'm glad he 
 finally told you. It's only take him how many years to tell you?"
 
 "I didn't get to tell him I loved him too. I wanted to but I was too tired."
 
 "You can tell him in a little bit" Keeter promised. "He's going to be okay 
 Mac. I promise."
 
 "As I always tell Harm, don't make promises you can't keep sailor" Mac 
 whispered.
 
 "I don't" Keeter said as he squeezed her hand. "You rest. In a little bit 
 you'll be able to see Harm."
 
 It was almost an hour before she was able to see Harm; Keeter helping her 
 down to the room he'd finally been situated. He'd appeared to be sleeping 
 but they walked into the room his eyes opened.
 
 "Mac" he murmured tiredly. The medication they'd given him was making him 
 sleepy but he was fighting going to sleep until he knew Mac was okay.
 
 "Hey sailor" she whispered as she made herself comfortable on the edge of 
 his bed. Keeter gave them both a smile before slipping out of the room.
 
 "Are you okay?" he asked as he forced himself to focus on her. She appeared 
 to be okay and for that he was eternally grateful to the Man upstairs. He 
 knew just how close he'd come to losing her this time and he managed to 
 suppress a shudder at the thought.
 
 "Doing a lot better than you. You had me worried flyboy."
 
 "I'm fine," he said with a small smile. "Nothing a little medication and a 
 good nights sleep won't fix. And you were the one who scared me to death." 
 His face turned serious as he reached for her hand. "I almost lost you" he 
 whispered. "I did for a few seconds. I've never been so scared in my whole 
 life. When Keeter pulled you out and you weren't.." The rest of what he was 
 going to say was cut off as he was silenced by a gentle finger to his lips.
 
 "Don't," she said softly. "It's over and I'm fine and you're going to be 
 fine and that's all that matters now. I love you Harmon Rabb." At his look 
 of surprise she smiled. "Yes I heard you before and I was going to tell you 
 the same."
 
 "I love you Sarah Mackenzie" he whispered tiredly as he pulled her against 
 him, his eyes closing once again.
 
 "You need to rest" Mac said gently. "I should have Keeter take me back to my 
 room."
 
 "No" he said firmly, his eyes flying open again. "Please stay."

She smiled at his words.  "I can do that.  I'll bring over the chair here"

"What's wrong with right where you are?" he demanded, scooting over to 
demonstrate there was room for her.

"We'll be the talk of the hospital," she giggled, hurrying to settle herself against 
him.

"I don't care.  I need you," he whispered.  "Honestly Mac, I for a few horrible 
minutes there I thought you were gone from my life.  And I wanted to die too."

She gave him a soft smile and buried her head deeper into the crook of his neck.  
"No way Squid, no way.  You've invited me into your life, and I'm not going to 
leave now--not willingly."

"Thank you," he whispered, his long arms going around her in his protective 
grasp.  "I love you."

"Love you," she murmured, thinking how good it felt to stay that aloud.  "Love 
you...love.."  Her voice trailed off as her eyes closed, exhaustion setting in.
=============
"Jeannie, I'm supposed to examine Mr. Rabb but there's something on his chest," 
a very young looking intern complained to the head nurse.  "I think it's Mrs. 
Rabb."

"I don't care if it's Mrs. Bush.  You get her moved, and you get Mr. Rabb checked 
over for release," the nurse ordered sternly.  "Honestly Eddie, you need to be 
more assertive."

"Mrs. Rabb, Mrs. Rabb we need to check your husband."  Eddie gave Mac's 
shoulder a firm shake, causing her to jump almost out of Harm's grasp.

"She's not Mrs. Rabb," Harm mumbled, starting to wake up at hearing his name.  
"At least not yet."

That was enough to bring Mac to full wakefullness, her mouth open in surprise.  
"Not yet?  You're kind of presumptuous aren't you sailor?"

"Don't tell me you've never thought about it," he teased.

"Only hundreds of times," she confessed and kissed him gently.  "And on that 
note I'm going to let this doctor, who looks like he might be a high school senior, 
take a look at you."
===========================
DINING FACILITY 
Same Time

"Commander Mellon, may I join you?" Keeter asked over her shoulder, balancing 
a tray of food as he did so."

"Commander Keeter, by all means," she smiled.  "And if we're going to share a 
breakfast table, please call me Melinda."

"Jack," he grinned, "but everyone calls me Keeter.  Or worse."  He made himself 
comfortable next to her and took a long drink of coffee before he spoke again.  
"Any word on Rivers?"

"I have ten people searching the area as of dawn," she sighed.  "In fact I'm glad 
to see you.  I don't suppose you can tell me anything else?"

"Sorry," he shrugged.  "Except I'm not going to apologize for what I did.  This 
man was...well it was like he was crazed.  He was attacking Harm, had already 
pulled Mac under and would have attacked me.  I might have tried to pull him out, 
but I was too busy saving my friends' lives."

Melinda smiled at that.  "And that's what my report shows.  Keeter no one is 
planning to crucify you here.  I've just had this case dumped on me, and I've got 
to resolve it somehow.  Right now I'm especially concerned that if he happened 
to pull himself out of the water downriver, he'll be back.  The information I'm 
getting frightens me.  Sean Rivers is pending a discharge as unfit, on mental 
grounds."

"I'm not surprised," Keeter said quietly.  "And now seeing Mac, who looks so 
much like Diane Schonke, well that may have lit his fuse so to speak."

"I'm afraid so. Please impress on her that she's not to go anywhere alone until we 
get him--or his body.  If he's still alive, she's now the one who got away.  And 
that's going to make him more determined than ever to have her."

"Count on it," he replied firmly and his eyes strayed to this attractive woman's left 
hand.  Seeing the third finger ringless, he gave her a quick smile.  "Hey if all this 
is over by tonight, would you join me for the farewell cruise?  It's going to be a 
beautiful night.  Of course if you're busy or have other plans or if you've already 
got a date or don't think you'd enjoy me..."  He stopped to catch his breath and 
she broke into laughter.

"Mr. Keeter I am totally free.  And you're right, it's going to be a beautiful night to 
cruise the harbor.  I would love to, assuming duty lets me."
==========================
"Eddie he's OK right," Mac asked anxiously, hovering over his shoulder, watching 
the young doctor check his vitals.  

Eddie, Dr. Concannon actually, nodded slowly.  "He's still got some congestion in 
his lungs.  I'm going to let him go for now, but I want him back here at 1300 for 
another breathing treatment.  I don't think it's serious, but untreated he could 
develop full blown pneumonia and we don't want that."

"No we certainly don't," Mac yelped, looking all the more alarmed.

"Hey I'm here and conscious," Harm objected.  "And to get out of here now, I'd 
agree to anything thank you."

"OK," Eddie nodded.  "Go get something good to eat, lots of fluids, no exertion, 
but you don't need to stay in bed either unless you feel yourself tiring.  See you 
later."

"Breakfast, now, not hospital food either," Harm said firmly when they were 
alone, extending his hand to Mac.  She pulled him from the bed and could not 
suppress a large giggle when she saw how little of his 6'4" frame the hospital 
gown had covered.  Mac they had given sweats to wear when they realized they 
weren't going to admit her.  "I'll see if I can find you something a little less 
revealing to wear out of here," she giggled further.  When she got to the door she 
was still laughing.  "But cute six there mister."

With some sweats secured for Harm, they rode the shuttle bus back to the dorms 
and she kept a firm hand on him as they walked up the stairs, not liking at all that 
he was nearly breathless from the three-flight climb.  

"I'm fine," he groused, reading her thoughts.  "Go get dressed and I'll do the 
same."

She at first did not move and he dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head.  
"I'm fine.  Go, but I like that you care."

"You know I do more than that," she sighed, giving him a quick hug before 
hurrying to her room.

She was glad to note that Beth was not in the room, though she obviously was 
until just recently as her side of the room was in a state of disarray.

Deciding on a quick shower, she picked up her travel case only to have it dump 
over.  Repressing a curse, she dropped to the floor and scooped up her 
shampoo and other toiletries.  Chasing an errant bottle of body lotion under the 
bed, her hand closed instead on a smooth piece of paper.  Irritably she pulled it 
out, located the bottle and stood up, brushing the dust bunnies off both the bottle 
and paper.

Her eyes opened wide when she saw what she was holding and she clutched it 
to her chest.  "Oh my god...they were...they were having an affair," she 
whispered, staring at the images in the computer generated photo and then the 
very explicit letter that was attached to it.  A smiling Beth Levy, in the arms of 
Russell Adams, and the letter told of their stolen weekend and a promise--a 
promise that they would have many more of them as soon as Lorna Adams could 
be dealt with.  "Murder," she gasped.  "And here's the motive."
 
 "Don't move or say a word" the voice behind Mac said coldly. Mac felt the 
 gun press against her back and she swallowed hard as she turned just enough 
 to see Beth and Russell Adams behind her. "I won't hesitate to use this."
 
 "Yeah and everyone will hear it and come running" Mac replied. "That 
 wouldn't be very smart."
 
 "Dammit Beth, she's right" Russell wailed. "What are we going to do?"
 
 "We are not going to panic" Beth said firmly. "We've waited too long for 
 this to let anyone stop us. Mac and I are going to take a little walk in the 
 woods. No one will pay any attention to us. You can meet us out there and 
 then we'll dispose of her like we did Lorna. We'll go first. Meet me at the 
 spot where we dumped Lorna in an hour."
 
 "You sure this is going to work?" Russell asked anxiously.
 
 "Trust me" Beth said as she nudged the gun into Mac's back a little more. 
 "Move it Marine. Or I will use this now."
 
 Deciding that Beth was serious and that she'd have a better chance to escape 
 once she was in the woods and Russell wasn't around she did as she was told. 
 She also knew that when she didn't return for breakfast with Harm he would 
 know something was wrong and look for her.
 
 "Down the back stairs and out the back door" Beth said quietly as they 
 walked down the hallway. "And don't try anything funny."
 
 ***************************
 Harm and Keeter's Room
 10 minutes later
 "Hey buddy, how you doing?" Keeter asked as he walked into the room. "You 
 look just slightly better than last night. You sure you're supposed to be 
 out of the hospital."
 
 "Yeah, I'm fine" Harm assured him. "Thanks to you." He was silent for a 
 second as he tried to put together the words to say to Keeter. "I really owe 
 you this time," Harm said finally.
 
 "Hey, don't get sappy on me Harm" Keeter said quickly. "You and Mac saved my 
 six in Iran and I just repaid the favor."
 
 "You saved her life Keeter. I would have lost her if you hadn't come when 
 you did."
 
 "Just glad I was there. I assume that since when I left last night you two 
 were pretty comfy together that you and Mac have finally gotten past 
 whatever it was that was keeping you two from being together."
 
 "I think so," Harm said with a small smile, remembering how much he liked 
 the sound of Mrs. Rabb.
 
 "Where's is Mac?" Keeter asked. "I thought she was with you."
 
 "She went to take a shower before we go grab some breakfast why?" Harm 
asked 
 as the alarm bells went off in his head.
 
 "Because they still haven't found Rivers. I just had breakfast with Melinda 
 and she said there's still no sign of him. And she got word that he was 
 about to be discharged for mental reasons."
 
 "Mac" Harm cried as he tore past Keeter. Seconds later he was pounding on 
 the door to Mac and Beth's' room. "Mac, its Harm. Are you in there?" He 
 waited two seconds before bursting through the door, Keeter right behind 
 him. He noticed at once her bag on the floor, an indication to him that 
 she'd suddenly been taken from the room.
 
 "She's not here" Harm moaned. "God, Keeter, if he's hurt her."
 
 "Let's not jump to conclusions," Keeter said quickly. "Let's check the 
 showers first just to make sure and then we'll call Melinda and get some 
 people looking for her."
 
 "She's gone" Harm wailed after a check of the showers had yielded no sign of 
 Mac. "He's got her and he's going to hurt her."
 
 "Harm, you don't know that. Why don't you stay here and rest and I'll get 
 Melinda and let her know what's happened" Keeter offered.
 
 "Keeter the woman I love is missing, probably kidnapped by that lunatic. If 
 you think for one second that I'm going to go sit in my room and wait for 
 someone else to find her, you're wrong."
 
 "It was worth a try" Keeter sighed. "All right, we'll both go."
 
 They had just stepped out of the dorm and started across the campus for when 
 they saw Melinda coming towards them.
 
 "Melinda we've got a problem," Keeter said as they reached her. "Mac is 
 missing."
 
 "Well it's not Sean Rivers this time" Melinda replied. "They just found his 
 body several miles down the river. That's what I was coming to tell you."
 
 "Then it has to be whoever murdered Mrs. Adams" Harm said quickly. "Do you 
 have any leads on that?"
 
 "I'm sorry Commander, but we haven't been able to come up with anything" 
 Melinda sighed. "You think that's who took her?"
 
 "Has to be" Harm replied. "No one else here would have any reason to want to 
 hurt her."
 
 "When was the last time you saw her?" Melinda asked. "I'll get everyone I can 
 searching for her. Maybe someone saw something."
 
 A few minutes later the dorm and surrounding area was full of Melinda's 
 security team as they swept the area for any sign of Mac. Harm had refused 
 to sit and wait, following Melinda around as she interviewed anyone who had 
 been in the area.
 
 "Commander, Harm, I know you're worried but don't you think you should 
 resting?" Melinda asked as they finished talking to another person who hadn't 
 seen anything. "We'll find Ms. Mackenzie for you."
 
 "Save your breath Melinda" Keeter sighed.
 
 "I appreciate your concern but right now the only thing that matters is 
 finding Mac" Harm said quietly.
 
 "Hey, are you looking for Mac?" Jeannie Mosley said as she approached them. 
 "Someone said she's missing."
 
 "You saw her recently?" Harm demanded.
 
 "Yeah. About 45 minutes ago. She and her roommate Beth looked like they were 
 going for a hike in the woods. They took the trail right over here."
 
 "Why on earth would she go with Beth?" Keeter questioned. "That makes no 
 sense."
 
 "Unless Beth Levy murdered Lorna Adams" Melinda said quietly. "I've suspected 
 all along that the murder was one of the guests this weekend. I just 
 couldn't figure out why Lorna would be killed here where no one knew her.  
 Except that this wasn't a random killing. This was arranged."
 
 "By Beth and Russell" Harm finished and Melinda nodded. "And Beth knew Mac 
was 
 the one that found the body."
 
 "Yeah but Mac couldn't even tell us if it was a man or woman" Melinda 
 countered. "Mac must have found something that linked Beth to the murder."
 
 "We're wasting time," Harm said anxiously. "I'm going after Mac."
 
 He took off towards the trail and Keeter turned to Melinda. "I'll go after 
 him. How soon can you get your people out there?"
 
 "We'll be right behind you" Melinda assured him. "Go and please be careful. If 
 Beth Levy is desperate, she could be very dangerous."
 
 Keeter nodded before running after Harm. Minutes later Melinda had her group 
 organized and they panned out over the wooded area in search of Mac.
 
  "Harm...Harm...Rabb," Keeter called, catching sight of him.  "Rabb slow down," 
he yelled as loud as he could.  "Harm if you collapse you're not going to do her 
any good."

Harm stopped short at that, leaning up against a tree to catch his breath and 
praying the coughing would not start, despite the tightness he was feeling in his 
chest.

"Keeter these woods go on for miles," he panted.  "If we find her it will be a total 
miracle.  If we find her alive even more so."

"And you need to stop giving up so easily," Keeter chided him.  "Besides Mac is a 
Marine.  Need I remind you.  She's going to be looking for a way to get out this 
herself."

"They're going to want to dump her body," Harm said thoughtfully, pondering 
Keeter's words.  "Keeter, they might do it in the same place they dumped Mrs. 
Adams--that big ravine near the river.  They're familiar with that area."

Keeter nodded and fished for his cell.  "Melinda--Keeter.  We're thinking Beth 
might be taking her toward the area where Adams' body was found...OK please 
yeah---and we'll see you there."
==========================
Mac walked along with Beth a step behind her, the weapon jabbing her in the 
back every now and then as a reminder it was there.  After the first half mile, Mac 
began to recognize the area, and to know what Beth was planning.  They were 
going to get her out of hearing range of the rest, and then shoot her, dumping her 
body where they had dumped Lorna Adams'.  She tried to listen, tried to hear 
what she hoped was the sounds of a team searching for her, but the woods were 
silent save an occasional bird.

A plan in mind, she began to pant and then to cough, just slightly at first and then 
more as they walked, slowing her pace all the while.

"What the hell's the matter with you?" Beth demanded, giving her back a poke 
with the gun.  

"Asthma," she panted hard.  "Too much exercise."  And with that she dropped to 
one knee.  

"You've got exactly one minute to get up and start moving," Beth growled, 
hovering over her for a moment and then backing off.  

Mac did not look up, but her hands closed around one of the thick sticks that 
littered the forest floor.

When Beth once again poked her to demand that she move, Mac rose up slowly, 
bringing the stick up with her and then swinging it like a baseball bat, smashed it 
against the side of Beth's head.  Stunned, Beth staggered backwards and Mac 
reached for the gun.  

"Beth where are you?"  It was a hoarse whisper through the trees and Mac 
gasped, knowing it could be none other than Russell Adams.  Against the two of 
them she would have no chance.  

"Rusty, here," Beth called back and Mac could hear the sound of approaching 
footsteps crashing through the undergrowth.  Mac looked from Beth to the noise 
and back again.  With a deep breath she slammed the stick into Beth once again, 
her side this time, and without waiting for her response took off running, crashing 
through the undergrowth.  She had gone about twenty feet when she heard the 
sharp crack of the weapon being fired, and simultaneously felt her side explode 
with burning pain as the bullet grazed her just under her rib cage.  Not a serious 
wound, it was nevertheless making her shirt at once soaked with blood as she 
ran headlong, trying to stay on her feet.
=======================
"My god that's a gun shot," Harm gasped at once, stopping short and feeling 
terror wash through him.  Keeter caught up to him a second later and gripped his 
arm. 

"OK Harm, OK, stay with me now," he soothed.  "We're going to find her, and 
she's going to be OK."

Harm's look to him was of pure fright.  "Keeter I need her in my life.  I can't...I 
can't not have her.  Not when we've..."

"I know," Keeter said quietly, patting his arm.  "This way...it came from over 
there."

"Go first please," Harm begged.  "If I see her lying on the ground, I'm going to 
lose it completely."

"Of that I'm sure," Keeter answered, plunging ahead.
==================
Mac held to her side, feeling the pain change from sharp to a deep burn.  She 
knew Beth was not following her but she also knew she was not at all sure in 
which direction she was running, her mind growing fuzzy from the pain and blood 
loss.

"Hey," a voice to one side called sharply.

"Harm," she gasped instinctively and fell into a pair of strong arms.

"Not Rabb," the same voice sneered.  "But I'll take care of him too if he shows."

Mac gasped at that, and automatically sent up a silent prayer that he would stay 
away as Adams closed his arms around her tightly, making her cry out in pain.  
"OK now let's get you taken care of.  I plan to be a long way away from here 
before anyone even knows what's happened."  He began to drag her along, the 
pain in her side keeping her from putting up resistance.
=================
Keeter's cell phone rang and Melinda reported that they were closing in.  "Keeter 
I heard the shot," she said softly.  "We'll be there."

Harm looked around, trying to quell his rising panic, and movement in the trees 
caught his eye.  He gripped Keeter's arm so tightly it hurt.  "Keeter that's Beth."

She was walking along slowly, trauma apparent to the side of her face where 
Mac had struck her, and holding her ribs, also a victim of Mac's attack, trying to 
look for Adams.  Harm was at her side in a few quick strides, grabbing her arm 
and gentleness not on his mind.  "Beth Levy you're under arrest.  Suspicion of 
murder.  Now where is Sarah Mackenzie?"

"You are raving Commander," she scoffed.  "I know nothing of murder, and I 
certainly don't know where she is.  I came out here for a walk thank you."

"And I suppose you got your face messed up in the shower?"

"I fell.  Hurt my head and my ribs," she countered.

"Right.  And I'm the CNO," Keeter spoke up.

"Where is she?" Harm demanded, feeling his patience vanish and he gave her a 
firm shake, making her gasp from her ribs.

"You're hurting me," she whimpered. 

"I'm going to really hurt you if you don't tell me where Mac is," Harm warned.  
"Tell me what happened to her.  What have you done with her?"  Another shake 
and another whimper.

"Harm," Keeter cautioned, and backed off a second later at his look.

"She ran off in that direction," Beth waved vaguely.  "Try following the drips of 
blood.  And that's all I've got to say."

"Blood?  BLOOD?" Harm shrieked, feeling his already-fragile hold on his self-
control slipping.
 
 "Calm down Harm" Keeter said quickly. "Mac's going to be okay."
 
 "If she doesn't bleed to death first" Beth smirked before quickly cowering 
 back as Harm moved towards her, Keeter stopping him before he got to her.
 
 "Harm, don't" Keeter warned. "We'll worry about her later. We need to find 
 Mac."
 
 At that moment Melinda appeared several other security personnel with her.
 
 "Hold her" Harm ordered. "I have to go find Mac."
 
 "I'm going with you two" Melinda replied. "Jimmy, keep an eye on Ms. Levy 
 until we get this all figured out." The Lt. with her nodded and Melinda 
 followed Harm and Keeter as they took off.
 
 *******************************
 "Come on" Russell said as he dragged Mac along. She was getting lightheaded 
 from the blood loss and she stumbled again as the world around her began to 
 spin.
 
 He yanked her to her feet again, cursing her as he dragged her along. "I 
 could just leave you out here and let you bleed to death" he threatened.
 
 Harm tore through the woods, Keeter and Melinda right behind him. Knowing 
Mac 
 was hurt was making him crazy and he pushed himself harder, ignoring the 
 tightening feeling in his chest. If she had been shot and was bleeding he 
 needed to find her ASAP. He caught a glimpse of something ahead realizing at 
 once that it was Russell Adams dragging an obviously hurt Mac.
 
 "Mac" he whispered. "Hang on honey. I'm coming." He waited, watching for the 
 opportunity to make his move. A few seconds later he saw Mac drop to the 
 ground and he didn't hesitate.
 
 "Let her go" he yelled as he charged towards Russell.
 
 Russell looked up just in time to see the angry sailor coming at him. He 
 tried to grab for Mac again but Harm was on him before he could reach for 
 her. The two men struggled on the ground trading punches before Harm finally 
 got the upper hand on the smaller man. He had just leveled another hard 
 punch as Keeter and Melinda reached him.
 
 "Harm, stop" Keeter said as he pulled his friend off the man. "We've got him 
 and Mac needs you."
 
 "Mac" Harm panted as he stumbled over to where she lie, Melinda on her cell 
 phone as she attended to her. "Mac, honey, are you okay?"
 
 "Harm" she said softly as he reached for her hand. "You found me."
 
 "Of course I did" he whispered. "And you're going to be okay. Just hang on 
 Marine. I've got you and we're going to get you out of here and to the 
 hospital real quick."
 
 "It looks like the bullet just grazed her side" Melinda informed him as she 
 finished inspecting Mac's wound. "But there's lots of blood loss. I've 
 called for an ambulance and they'll be waiting for us at the beginning of 
 the trail. We're just going to have to get her back there."
 
 "I'll carry her," Harm said quickly.
 
 "Harm, no" Mac protested. "You're not supposed to even be out here." Despite 
 her own fuzziness she knew he wasn't well and she could hear his labored 
 breathing. "I can walk."
 
 "No" Harm shouted. "That will just make the bleeding worse. I'm carrying 
 you." He started to lift her into his arms to carry her only to start 
 coughing as he did so.
 
 "Harm, put me down" Mac ordered and Harm sank back to the ground. "You 
can't 
 do this. Please."
 
 "Yes I.." He was cut off by another hard cough and Mac looked up anxiously 
 at Melinda.
 
 "Harm, I think she's right" Melinda declared. "You are in no condition to do 
 anything."
 
 "Harm, I'll take Mac" Keeter offered. A still dazed Russell Adams lay on the 
 ground and Melinda quickly walked over and handcuffed the man.
 
 "I'll call and have Lt. Rogers pick him up later" Melinda informed them. 
 "Keeter take Mac. I'll help Harm."
 
 "I'm fine" Harm started to protest but was again stopped by another long 
 cough.
 
 "You're anything but" Mac fretted as she rubbed his back as he coughed. "You 
 need to get back and get that breathing treatment you were scheduled for."
 
 "And what about you?" Harm panted his eyes focusing on the blood that still 
 seemed to be pouring from her side despite Melinda's attempt at first aid.
 
 "Okay enough talking" Keeter said as he scooped Mac into his arms, Melinda 
 helping Harm to his feet, a supporting arm going around him as he coughed 
 again.
 
 "Go ahead Keeter" Melinda ordered. "Mac needs that to get that wound taken 
 care of ASAP. And Harm isn't going to be able to keep up. I'll call them and 
 tell them to have a second ambulance waiting."
 
 Keeter gave Harm a long look and Melinda smiled. "He'll be okay, Keeter" she 
 assured him. "I'll take good care of him."
 
 "Thank you" he said quietly and before Harm or Mac could protest started 
 off, Mac's head lolling weakly against his chest.
 
 "Harm she'll be okay" Melinda said as Harm looked up to see Keeter vanish 
down 
 the trail with Mac. "She needs to get that wound taken care of. Keeter will 
 get her there a lot quicker than you can."
 
 He nodded and swallowed hard as they started to walk again. It was at a much 
 slower pace that they made their way out of the woods, stopping every few 
 minutes as Harm's coughing continued.
 
 Keeter had continued his hurried pace through the woods, wanting to get Mac 
 to the waiting ambulance and get back to Harm and Melinda as well. As he 
 spotted the clearing ahead he let out a sigh of relief as he saw the 
 paramedics waiting for them.
 
 "We'll take her sir" the paramedic offered and Keeter shook his head, gently 
 setting Mac down on the gurney himself.
 
 "Harm" she moaned as the paramedics began to attend to her. She opened her 
 eyes to see Keeter and her hand reached weakly for his. "Keeter, you have to 
 help Harm."
 
 "I will" he promised as he took her hand. "As soon as I know you're going to 
 be okay I'll head back out to get him."
 
 "Sir, we'll take good care of her" the paramedic promised. "She's lost some 
 blood but they'll get her taken care of at the infirmary."
 
 "Go" Mac ordered.
 
 Keeter gave her hand a quick squeeze before taking off back into the woods. 
 He reached them a few minutes later, finding Melinda holding onto his 
 weakening friend.
 
 "Hey, I'm glad to see you" Melinda smiled as Keeter quickly help  to support 
Harm.
 
 "Mac" Harm gasped.
 
 "She's on her way to the infirmary" Keeter informed him. "She's going to be 
 fine. You on the other hand are not sounding so good buddy. And don't even 
 answer that. You just concentrate on breathing."
 
 The second ambulance was waiting for them and Keeter stood by anxiously with 
 Melinda as Harm was swiftly loaded into the ambulance.
 
 "I'll be over as soon as I take care of things" Melinda promised, her hand 
 gently brushing Keeter's. "I'm sure they're both going to be fine."
 
 "I hope so" Keeter sighed. "Thank you for everything."
 
 "You're welcome" Melinda smiled. "Go with Harm and I'll see you later. We 
 still have a boat cruise remember?"
 
 "Yes ma'am we do" Keeter smiled before climbing into the ambulance.

As they were pulling away, he winked at Melinda, who gave him a short little 
wave.  Annapolis was actually not that far he decided.

"Mac," Harm gasped once again, sensing Keeter's presence and pushing away 
the oxygen mask they were attempting to attach to him.

"Give it a rest will 'ya," Keeter laughed lightly, squeezing Harm's shoulder and 
pushing the mask back in place.  "She's got a good head start on us.  By the time 
we get there she'll be getting good care.  You on the other hand need to stop and 
breathe.  If you have any chance at all of making that cruise tonight, you'd better 
let them treat you, 'else I'm going to be there, and I'll have two beautiful women 
on my arm."

Harm groaned and fell back, relaxing enough so the medic could place the mask, 
only to take it off a second later.  "You should have stayed with her.  You should 
have made sure.."  

The medic gave Keeter a pleading look and he clamped the mask on once again, 
holding it in place.  "She's going to be fine.  And so are you---if you let them take 
care of you here.  Harm for godsake put yourself in her place.  She doesn't need 
to see you any worse off than you already are.  She cares about you--she loves 
you--remember.  God knows why."  He said those last words with a wry grin and 
again squeezed his shoulder.

USNA MEDICAL CENTER

The second the gurney bearing Harm burst through the double doors, he 
grabbed for Keeter's arm.  

"I know, I'm going right now.  I'm sure she's frantic about you as well."  Keeter 
pulled free from him, stopping the doctor who was approaching them.  "Did you 
see a Sarah Mackenzie?  Brought in about ten minutes ahead of us.  She has a 
bullet graze on her side."

"I took a quick look," Dr. Shattuck nodded.  "And sent her immediately to pre-op." 

"She needs surgery?" Harm gasped, overhearing and trying to sit up.

"She needs stabilizing," the doctor went on calmly.  "Her BP is a little lower than 
we'd like it.  So she's getting some immediate care and a couple units of blood.  
Soon as we can, we'll clean up the area she was hurt.  Friend of yours?"

"More," Harm gasped as a fit of coughing took over him.

"Doctor this man has damaged lungs," Keeter interrupted hurriedly.  "He was 
supposed to have a breathing treatment at 1300 today."

"And obviously needs it," Dr. Shattuck smiled.  "We'll take good care of him, 
promise."

"Keeter you're still here," Harm got out between gasps for breath.  "Mac, now, 
please."

"Going," Keeter yelped.

With a few kind words to the admitting clerk, Keeter was pointed to her room, and 
despite hearing the doctor explain her treatment, was still shocked at seeing her 
propped up in bed, an IV in each arm.

"Keeter thank god," she squealed.  "Where's Harm?  How is he?  Is he all right?  
I want to see him.  Get me the hell out of this bed."

"Do I look like I have that power," he grinned, walking up to her and taking her 
outstretched hand between his.  "I just left Harm.  He's coughing and wheezing 
pretty bad right now, but he's going to get that treatment he needs and then he 
should be fine.  You need to be worrying about yourself."

"You should have stayed with him," she scolded.

"Funny that's what he told me about you," he grinned.  "He made me come find 
you, and I knew you'd want to know how he is.  Besides, I don't think old room 
mates are welcome into the treatment rooms."

"I should be with him," she fretted and two tears appeared unwanted on her 
cheeks.

He took a tissue and brushed them away gently.  "You two have the rest of your 
lives to be together."

Her eyes opened wide and full at that.  "Oh Keeter you think that's what he 
wants?"

"I know him pretty well," he smiled.  "And I'd have to say, oh yeah, with every 
beat of his heart."

Two hours later Mac was lying in another bed, drifting in and out as she tried to 
wake up from the sedative they gave her when they repaired the gash across her 
side.

"If you're up for company I brought you a visitor."  Keeter's voice.  She struggled 
to wake up and focus, the events of the morning coming to her in her fog.  She 
had been shot, OK she could deal with that.  It was sore but nothing she could 
not manage, but Harm...Harm was having trouble with his breathing 
again...Harm.  HARM.  His name came out as a shriek as her consciousness 
returned in a rush and a second later his hands closed around hers.  

"I'm here Ninja-girl," he got out, his voice hoarse but to her the most beautiful 
sound in the world, and he could feel hot tears behind his eyes.  "You look 
beautiful.  I love you."
 
 "Are you okay?" she demanded as he sat down on the edge of her bed.
 
 "Well he's supposed to be resting but I knew that wasn't going to happen 
 until he saw you" Keeter spoke up.
 
 "I'm fine," he said softly. "A lot better now that I know you're really 
 okay. You were bleeding all over me and I was starting to freak."
 
 "And you don't think I was listening to you cough and wheeze like that" Mac 
 whispered, her own tears forming.
 
 "Well I'm okay now" he assured her. "Nothing for you to worry about."
 
 "I think I'll leave you two alone for a bit" Keeter smiled. "I don't think 
 you need me around here."
 
 "You have no idea how scared I was" Harm said softly as he got comfortable 
 on the bed with her. "At first I thought Rivers had come back and taken you. 
 And then when Melinda said they'd found his body, I knew it was the murderer. 
 Thank god Jeannie saw you and Beth going into the woods. If she hadn't, I 
 might have lost you."
 
 "Not yet sailor" Mac sighed as she leaned her head against his shoulder. 
 "It's going to be a long time before that happens."
 
 "I hope so" Harm smiled as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Are you 
 really okay?"
 
 "I'm fine" she assured him. "Just a little out of it from the medicine."
 
 "We don't have to do the cruise tonight you know. I don't want you over 
 doing it. It's been a rough weekend. I never imagined when I asked you to 
 come up here that you'd be attacked by that psycho and involved in a 
 murder."
 
 "Never a dull moment with us is there?" Mac smiled. "I want to go on the 
 cruise. But I'm worried about you."
 
 "Well I don't think we'll be doing any dancing but I think we can handle a 
 nice dinner."
 
 "Why don't we let the doctor be the judge of that. If he says no, we're 
 simply going to go back to the dorm and relax."
 
 "Yes mom" he said tiredly.
 
 "You need to rest" Mac fretted. "Now close those beautiful green eyes and 
 relax."
 
 "Only if you do the same" he sighed as he closed his eyes, sliding in closer 
 to her. "I love you Sarah Mackenzie"
 
 "I love you Harmon Rabb" she murmured softly.
 
 When Keeter stuck his head in the room a short time later, they were asleep 
 in each other's arms. Deciding they were fine for the moment, he headed off 
 to find Melinda.
 
 "Keeter" she smiled as he walked into the security office a short time 
 later. "I was just on my way over. How are Harm and Mac?"
 
 "They'll be fine. Thank you again for everything."
 
 "Just glad it all worked out. Russell and Beth are going to be charged with 
 Lorna's death. He's singing like a canary now. I think she was the 
 mastermind behind it but he didn't stop her either."
 
 "I'm not surprised" Keeter replied. "But I'm just glad it's all over. It's 
 been quite a weekend."
 
 "You still up for the cruise?" Melinda asked shyly. "I mean, if you'd rather 
 not, I understand."
 
 "No, of course I still want to" Keeter said quickly. "I've been looking 
 forward to getting to know Melinda Mellon a little better."
 
 "I've been looking forward to getting to know Mr. Jack Keeter" she blushed. 
 "Cause what I've seen so far I like."
 
 "Oh really" Keeter smiled.
 
 "Why don't we talk about it over coffee?" she suggested. "We've got some 
 time before the cruise."
 
 "I'd love too. And then I can check on them afterwards."
 
 ********************************
 It was with a wide smile that Keeter entered their room a few hours later. 
 Harm was just beginning to stir, looking up tiredly at Keeter a few seconds 
 later.
 
 "Hey buddy" Keeter said as he sat down. "How you feeling?"
 
 "I'm okay" Harm assured him quietly, not wanting to disturb Mac who was 
 still sleeping in his arms. "And I think Mac is going to be okay. Thanks to 
 you again. I really owe you big time."
 
 "Just do me a favor and don't mess things up with her. You two love each 
 other and there's no reason for you not to be together."
 
 "I'm not planning on messing it up. I've come too close to losing her to let 
 that happen. I know what's important in my life now and I'm not going to let 
 anything come between us anymore."
 
 "Good. I'm just glad you two are okay. You really had me worried there for a 
 while."  He paused for a moment before continuing on. "I'm guessing you 
 won't be able to fly again will you?" he asked finally.
 
 "Probably not" Harm said quietly. "I'm pretty sure I won't pass a preflight 
 physical anymore."
 
 "You okay with that? I mean, I know how much you hated giving it up the 
 first time."
 
 "The first time I didn't have this beautiful woman in my life" Harm smiled. 
 "I'm sure I'll still have a few twinges of longing when I step onto a 
 carrier but flying doesn't mean as much to me as this woman does. All I want 
 is too spend the rest of my life with her."
 
 "I don't think she'll have a problem with that" Keeter grinned.
 
 "Problem with what" Mac murmured as she stirred in Harm's arms.
 
 "Being with an old washed up fighter pilot" Harm smiled as he kissed her 
 forehead gently.
 
 "No problem at all" Mac sighed contentedly as she snuggled closer to him.

She was still all of three seconds before she raised her head once again.  "Wait, 
whoa what's this about you not flying again.  Sorry, I'm a little slow on the uptake 
here, but I could have sworn you said you weren't going to..."

He clamped a gentle hand to her mouth.  "Mac, it's OK.  My lungs are going to 
keep me from passing the physical.  It's hard enough to deal with the oxygen test 
with a good set of lungs.  And mine are far from it."

"But you love..."  

"No I love you," he interrupted with a soft smile.  "I love you and I want to make 
that the focus of my life from now on.  Not something I should have gotten over 
ten years ago.  As was once pointed out to me by a wonderful woman.  If I had 
listened that day, I would never have requested the change.  Flying cost me a lot.  
But it's not ever going to exact a price again."

"Harm," she whispered, tears in her eyes now at his beautiful words.

"SShhh, rest now," he urged.  "Tonight we're going to sail Annapolis Harbor and 
I'm going to hold you in my arms under the moonlight."

"You know what, I think during that little mishap, Commander Rabb was a victim 
of alien abduction," she whispered again, "but I have to say, I like the 
replacement they sent better.  You might even say I'm in love with him."
===================
RESIDENCE HALL
That evening

"Melinda, hello," Mac smiled as she opened the door to her room.  "I'm glad 
you're here.  I need zipper help."

"You certainly do," Melinda laughed, seeing the gaping space between the zipper 
edges at the back of Mac's cocktail dress.  "But this is beautiful.  Georgetown?"

"Yeah, a little boutique on M," she sighed.  "Between this and the gown from last 
night, now ruined of course, I'm going to be eating boxes of generic mac and 
cheese for a month but I don't care.  I don't often get to do something like this."

Deftly Melinda zipped it up, noticing Mac's wince of pain as the dress pulled tight 
around her.  "You should not be up should you?"

"I'll be fine.  I can sleep all tomorrow back home.  The Admiral has given both of 
us the day to recover.  But tonight I wouldn't miss this."

"I couldn't believe when Jack asked me," she sighed.  "He's like...well I've never 
know anyone like him.  You've known him a good while haven't you?"

"Yeah a couple years now, but I haven't seen him but a couple of times.  We 
spent two lovely nights in a desert tent once."

Melinda looked aghast and Mac smiled.  "Get him to tell you the story.  But I can 
assure you, nothing happened.  Though we've had fun teasing Harm about it 
these past couple days."

"I was hoping you knew him real well," Melinda sighed.  "See I'm...OK, I'm a thirty 
year old woman acting like she's fallen in love with the quarterback or something.  
And I was hoping you could...well validate my feelings."

"No I can't, because I don't know him.  But I do know Harm, and Harm thinks the 
world of him," Mac assured her.  

"You trust Harm's judgment?"

"Well in men I do," she giggled lightly.  "In women, well he's picked some pips.  
But then so have I.  Uh...in men I mean.  All the while trying to ignore that we had 
each other right before our eyes."

Melinda was silent and Mac went on gently, "so what I'm telling you is, keep your 
mind open to the possibility that you and Jack belong together."

"Thanks Sarah," Melinda breathed just as there was a loud knocking and 
Keeter's voice.  

"OK I know there's two women in there and one of them better be ready to spend 
the evening with me."

"On second thought.." Mac teased and opened the door.  

Keeter barely glanced at her as he got an eyeful of Melinda, standing shyly now 
in a pale cream colored dinner dress.  "Are you free for the evening?" he 
breathed.

"All yours," Melinda smiled and stepped into his waiting arms.

"Cute couple," Harm grinned, giving Keeter's backside a resounding smack as he 
passed him, his eyes now fixated on Mac.  "Sarah you look beautiful.  Are you 
OK?"

"Sore and tired," she admitted honestly and when he grasped her arms in 
concern she smiled and shook her head, "but with no intention of waving off this 
evening.  How about you?  In fact how about you really?  I can still hear that 
wheezing.  I know they released you but they didn't tell you to be doing dance 
marathons."

"I'm going to eat a wonderful meal and then I'm going to spend the hearing some 
music with my arm around the most beautiful woman in the place," he said into 
her ear, making her blush.

Melinda was likewise coloring, responding to a murmur from Keeter.  "Mac it's 
getting thick in here, we should go," she called.
============
ABOARD THE SS MIDDIE

"So much for dancing after that meal," Keeter groaned, pushing away the plate 
with his second piece of cake.  "They'll have to wheel me out."

"Oh no way--no way are you going to get out of dancing with me," Melinda 
ordered sternly.  "You've got the next two numbers to digest mister and then it's 
our turn."

Harm and Mac were leaned together, his arm around her shoulders, watching the 
sights of the Harbor pass.  "Let's walk up on deck," he urged.  "I think we've been 
witness enough to Keeter's gluttony.  Melinda you have my sympathy."

Keeping his arm tightly around her, Harm helped Mac to her feet.  The look of 
pain that flitted across her face tore at his heart, but it was gone as quickly as it 
had come.  

"I'm fine Flyboy, really," she assured him, letting her fingers brush his cheek.

"I know," he whispered, "but you know I'm going to worry about you."

With the bow area occupied by the dancing couples, he led her forward to the 
stern rail.  The moonlight sparkled brilliantly off the clear river, with the stars 
twinkling in time with the music.

He put his arms around her from behind and she rested her arms on his, leaning 
back against him, her head resting back on his shoulder.  They swayed from side 
to side as the music played and it seemed for a time there was no one else in the 
world.  Finally she turned within the circle of his embrace to look into eyes made 
more green than ever by the moonlight.

"I was going to tell you that I loved you," she said softly, "but I don't need to.  You 
already know that.  You have my heart Harmon Rabb.  You hold it in your hand."

"I don't want us to..." he began, and felt a jab of reticence rise in his throat.  
Swallowing hard he began again, his eyes never leaving hers.  "And you hold 
mine," he managed hoarsely.  "So much so that I want you to be my wife."
 
"Oh Harm" she whispered tears of happiness brimming.

"I know this is kind of sudden" he continued. "But after the crash and this 
weekend I don't want to waste anymore time. I love you very much Sarah 
Mackenzie. I've loved you from the moment you walked into my life six years 
ago. I just never knew how much until I almost lost you to Mic. And I 
promised myself that night that if I got through that, I wouldn't let you go 
this time. I want to be with you for always."

"I love you Harmon Rabb and I want to be with you" Mac said softly. "For 
always."

Their lips met and a gentle kiss sealed the deal.

"I promise as soon as we get back home I'm going to put the right ring on 
that finger" Harm whispered when they parted.

"I'm holding you to that one sailor" she smiled. "I should have gotten a 
witness in case you try and back out on me."

From behind them Keeter cleared his throat as he and Melinda walked over to 
them. "Don't worry Mac, you've got two witnesses" Keeter grinned.  "Sorry we 
didn't mean to intrude on a private moment. Harm, it's about time buddy. So 
when's the wedding?"

"Give us a little time" Mac spoke up before Harm could.

"But we're not going to wait too long right?" Harm asked hopefully.

"No flyboy we're not" Mac assured him. "I've waited six years already."

"I do hope I'm the best man" Keeter smiled.

"After everything you've done for us, there's no one else I'd even consider" 
Harm said seriously. "Course we'll give you as much warning as we can since 
you're always off in some odd part of the world."

"Well that's going to be changing a bit" Keeter replied, his hand reaching 
for Melinda's. "I'm going to be doing some work at the Pentagon for a few 
months. If it works out, I may stay on permanently."

"You're kidding" Harm gasped. "You're going to be living in DC? Why didn't 
you say something before?"

"I was waiting for the right moment. So you got a room for me until I find a 
place? It'll be like the good old academy days. You and me rooming together. 
We'll stay up all night, drink beer ..."

"Mac, save me" Harm groaned. "Please."

"I've got a nice bed that I'd more than happy to share with you" Mac smiled. 
"You're more than welcome."

"So I can stay at your place since you'll be staying with Mac" Keeter 
grinned. "Thanks, Harm. Appreciate it. Melinda, you'll love it. Harm here 
did all kinds of work to the place. It's real nice and cozy." He draped his 
arm over Melinda's shoulder and they started to walk away, still telling her 
about Harm's place.

"I guess you're moving in with me flyboy," Mac said as she wrapped her arm 
around Harm's waist again. "You think you can handle that?"

"No place I'd rather be" he whispered before their lips met again.

The End