TITLE:  "New Beginnings XIII-From Beyond"
    AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
    SUMMARY:   The thirteenth in the New Beginnings series as Harm and 
Mac 
endeavor to keep their promise to each other—to make 2002 'their' year. 
All 
chapters are rated PG for mild violence and language.
    DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al.  No copyright 
infringement is intended with this work of fiction.
    FEEDBACK:  Yes, if you're moved to do so, to [SSbpmn@aol.com] and 
it would 
be much appreciated by both of us.  However, if your intent is only to 
tell us you are 
not liking our work, please don't spend the time.  While we realize our 
work does 
not please everyone, we do ask that the journey be respected.
    
    NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as 
much of our 
other works, are available at 

             http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories

      The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users—no 
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nor NC17 content there.

Other archives containing our stories:

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              or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at    
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          or BTL-
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          http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.}

Previously in NB:  Ryan's ex-wife is killed, and the man who murdered 
her is still to 
be found.   

From NB XII-

At that point Ryan reached her and once again his arms wrapped around 
her, 
holding her fast.  This time instead of screaming, she collapsed 
against him in a 
torrent of weeping.  "Mac and Harm," she managed to choke and Ryan held 
her 
tightly, not letting himself think any further than the woman in his 
arms right then, 
not willing to deal with the reality that was but a few feet away.

The fire burned off quickly and it wasn't long before the chief began 
the search.  AJ 
insisted he was fine after a few breaths of oxygen and came to stand 
with Brooke 
and Ryan.  

"Sir I'm so scared," she whispered while Ryan was too shocked to speak.

"They'll find. . ."  

"Admiral?"

AJ stopped and turned to the fire chief.  "Sir?"

"We found them.  Man and a woman.  Not badly burned it doesn't look 
like. 
Superficial there on their arms and legs, but they breathed in a lot of 
smoke and 
gases.  We'll do CPR all the way in on both."

"Then they'll be OK?"  Brooke turned her tear stained face toward the 
older man.

"Frankly I just don't know.  I'm sorry ma'am.  We don't have a pulse on 
either right 
now."
***************************

 "New Beginnings XIII-From Beyond"—

 "No" Brooke whispered as the world began to spin around her. They 
couldn't 
 die. Not Harm and Mac. Not the two people who'd become her best 
friends. Her 
 big brother and big sister.
 
 "Brooke" Ryan wailed as she suddenly went limp in his arms. "Brooke."
 
 "Set her down over here" one of the paramedic's said as he looked over 
at 
 Ryan's cry.
 
 "What's wrong with her?" Ryan demanded as he lowered her onto the 
gurney the 
 medic pointed to.
 
 "Probably just overwrought" the medic said gently as Brooke began to 
stir.
 
 "Brooke it's okay" Ryan said softly as she opened her eyes and looked 
up at 
 him. "You passed out on me but you're okay."
 
 "Harm and Mac" she whimpered.
 
 "I don't know," he said softly as the ambulance carrying them roared 
out of 
 the parking lot.
 
 "No" she sobbed hysterically. "They can't die."
 
 He reached for her and this time she pulled away at his touch. "I'm 
sorry," 
 he said quietly as he stepped back.
 
 "Ma'am, you need to calm down" the medic urged. "I know you're worried 
about 
 you're friends but you need to calm down."
 
 "They can't die" she wailed, ignoring both Ryan and the medic, too 
lost in 
 her grief to care about anything else. "It's not fair."
 
 The medic looked at Ryan who let out a long sigh as AJ walked over.
 
 "Sir maybe you can get her to calm down."
 
 "Lieutenant." AJ said gently as he knelt down beside her. "You need to 
calm down 
 now. Carrying on like this isn't going to help Harm and Mac."
 
 "Sir, what if they die?" she managed between sobs. "It's not fair. 
They just 
 got together. They have so much left to do together."
 
 "Brooke these things aren't in our hands" AJ said quietly. "But I 
wouldn't 
 give up on them just yet."
 
 "I’m so scared" she sobbed. "I don't want them to die."
 
 "I know" AJ said as he awkwardly wrapped his arms around the sobbing 
young 
 woman. "And they're not going to die. They're going to be okay. We 
just have 
 to believe that."
 
 "We need to go to the hospital," she said as she tried to regain her 
 composure.
 
 AJ nodded and offered a hand to help her up. She gratefully accepted 
it, 
 rising unsteadily to her feet.
 
 "Ryan" AJ said quietly. "You'll be coming with us right?"
 
 "No sir" Ryan said quietly. "I have something I need to do first. I'll 
meet 
 up with you at the hospital later."
 
 "Son what's this about?"
 
 "Sir, this shouldn’t have happened" Ryan said in a slightly trembling 
voice. 
 "I'm betting this is the work of Reynolds."
 
 "And if it is you'll let NCIS and the others handle this" AJ said 
sharply.
 
 "Admiral Chegwidden" a voice called and AJ turned to see a middle aged 
woman 
 coming towards him.
 
 "Yes" AJ said impatiently.
 
 "I'm Shelby Rogers, NCIS" she replied.
 
 "Look Ms. Rogers, right now is not a good time" AJ snapped. "Two of my 
 officers are on their way to the hospital and god only knows if 
they're 
 going to make it. I know you have questions but they'll have to wait 
until I 
 know they're going to be okay."
 
 "Yes I have questions and I was going to ask you if it would be okay 
if I 
 came with you" she said quietly. "My partner is going to handle things 
on 
 this end but I'd like to talk to you and the Lieutenant since you were 
both inside 
 when this happened."
 
 "I'm sorry I snapped at you" AJ sighed. "It's been a hell of an 
evening."
 
 "I know. And I'm not here to make things worse. I'm just here to find 
the 
 person responsible for this."
 
 "We have some ideas," AJ said as he looked at Ryan. "Which we'll be 
happy to 
 tell you about once we get to the hospital and find out the condition 
of 
 Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie."
 
 "Understood. I'll just follow you if that's okay" she replied.
 
 He nodded and with a gentle hand to Brooke's arm started to lead her 
to his 
 car.
 
 "Major" he said sharply when Ryan remained rooted to the spot.
 
 With a long sigh Ryan followed his superior officer, looking back once 
more 
 at the building and feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt. If they'd 
been 
 able to find Reynolds this wouldn't have happened. His friends 
wouldn't be 
 fighting for their lives.
 
 The ride to the hospital was made in silence; both Ryan and Brooke too 
lost 
 in their grief to talk. For his part AJ was still dealing with the 
shock of 
 what had happened, praying that when they got to the hospital they 
would get 
 good news.
 
 "I'm Admiral Chegwidden," he said to the woman behind the information 
desk 
 at the hospital. "Two of my officers were brought in here. Harmon Rabb 
and 
 Sarah Mackenzie. I want to know how they're doing."
 
 "If you'll have a seat sir, I'll get Doctor Kline" she replied.
 
 "Are they okay?" AJ demanded.
 
 "Sir, the Doctor will be out in a moment," she said quietly.
 
 "Oh god, they're dead" Brooke wailed. "That's why they won't tell us 
 anything. They're dead." She started to sob again and Ryan walked 
slowly 
 away as he fought back his own tears.

AJ leaned back against the wall, his hand running back and forth across 
the top of 
his head.  "How did this happen?" he murmured to know one in 
particular, 
attempting to reach for Brooke and when she stepped away, his hand 
dropped 
weakly to his side.  "Major your partner needs you," he called to 
Ryan's back.  

Ryan kept walking, his only acknowledgment of his C.O.'s words a 
negative shake 
of his head.  "I'm the last thing she needs right now," he muttered to 
himself, 
walking outside and taking in deep breaths of the night air, the 
realization washing 
over them that she might have been killed tonight along with. . .the 
other two 
people he was closest to in the world after her.  A small sob wracked 
his body and 
he choked it back.  Feeling sorry for himself was so uncalled for in 
the face of what 
had happened to Harm and Mac.

Brooke looked longingly after Ryan and dropped heavily beside AJ.  "Sir 
how could 
this have happened?"

"I was asking myself the same thing Lieutenant," he assured her.  "And 
the answer 
is, I don't know.  I know we're going to find out.  I know that I'm not 
going to rest 
until we find out."

"Well said Admiral."

AJ turned to see Shelby Rogers walking up to him.  "Ms. Rogers.  I'm 
expecting the 
doctor any time about my people."

"I'll wait with you if you don't mind Admiral."

"Not at all.  This is Lieutenant Brooke Hastings.  She and her partner 
Major Ryan 
Nichols have been working closely with Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie and 
Commander Rabb."

Shelby looked sympathetically to the obviously upset young woman.  
"Lieutenant 
I'm sorry.  If it helps, I promise we're going to find out what 
happened there.  The 
FBI is being called in.  Bombing of a federal facility you know."

AJ's eyes narrowed.  "There's no way this was an accident--some kind 
of. . .?"  He 
stopped as he listened to himself.  "No of course it wasn't.  There's 
nothing that 
could have caused it."

"No there's not," Shelby sighed.  "I'm sorry."

"Admiral, this is Doctor Kline," the nurse called quietly before AJ 
could speak again.

"Admiral," the doctor nodded, motioning for him to keep his seat and 
took the chair 
opposite for himself.  "I'm sorry."

"I knew they were dead," Brooke gasped, her hand clamped to her mouth.

"Are they?" AJ asked, gripping the arms of the chair in an attempt to 
remain calm.

"Neither were badly hurt by the blast or the fire.  But the fumes and 
the smoke. . 
.well we don't have spontaneous respiration or heartbeat.  They're both 
on life 
support.
 
  
  Brooke's heart wrenching sob echoed through the room and AJ reached 
for the 
  young woman just as Ryan walked back in.
  
  "Sir" Ryan whispered. "They're not. Please tell me they're not dead."
  
  "They're on life support" AJ managed as he held onto Brooke who 
continued to 
  sob hysterically.
  
  "I wish I could give you tell you better news" the doctor said 
quietly. "And 
  unfortunately the odds are against them. In most of these cases we 
don't 
  have a positive outcome."
  
  "No" Ryan shouted. "This isn't fair. This shouldn't have happened to 
them."
  
  "I'm sorry son" Doctor Kline said gently. "Admiral do you know who 
holds the 
  medical power of attorney's for the Commander and the Colonel."
  
  "I believe they're listed as each other's emergency contact" AJ 
sighed.
  
  "Then we'll need to contact their family members" Doctor Kline 
replied. 
  "Would you like me to do that or is that something you'd rather do 
  yourself?"
  
  "I'll see what I can do" AJ managed. "Can we see them?"
  
  Doctor Kline nodded. "Of course. I'm not saying we won't have a 
favorable 
  outcome here but I'm just trying to prepare you all for the worst."
  
  "Admiral I'll wait out here for you" Shelby Rogers said quietly. "If 
there's 
  anything I can do, please let me know."
  
  "Thank you" AJ said quietly. "But unless you can call in a favor with 
the 
  Man upstairs there's not much anyone can do."
  
  With a long sigh he and Brooke and Ryan followed Doctor Kline.
  
  "This isn't happening" Brooke kept sobbing as they walked. "It's not 
real. 
  I'm going to wake up and none of this is real."
  
  "Mr. Rabb is in here" Doctor Kline said pointing the room in ICU. 
"Ms. 
  Mackenzie is right across the hall. I'll be around so if there's 
anything I 
  can do, please let me know."
  
  Brooke's sobs increased as she walked into Mac's room, despite what 
she'd 
  been told nothing prepared her for the sight of her friend on life 
support.
  
  "Oh Mac, why did you have to go after him?" Brooke sobbed.
  
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>  Between worlds
  
  There was no more pain. No more choking smoke and burning flames. 
Just an 
  overwhelming sense of calm. She was finally calm. The anxiety that 
she'd 
  been living with for the past few weeks was finally gone. But where 
was 
  Harm? The last conscious thought she remembered was finally reaching 
him and 
  both of them collapsing to the floor.
  
  "Harm" she cried as she looked around.
  
  "Mac I'm here" he whispered and at once his arms were around her. The 
safe, 
  comforting arms of the man she loved. Whom she would love forever.
  
  "Where are we?" she said as she finally let go of him. "Are we..." 
she 
  paused and choked on the word. "Dead."
  
  "I don't know" he said softly. "If we are I'm not sure where the 
welcoming 
  committee is. But at least we're together."
  
  She nodded and clung tightly to him. No matter what had happened at 
least 
  they were together. As long as that was the case she could handle 
anything 
  else.
  
  The sound of sobbing reached her and she looked around.
  
  "Harm someone's crying" Mac whispered as she finally let go of him. A 
small 
  gasp escaped both of them as they saw the reason for the sobbing.
  
  "Why?" Brooke sobbed again as she stood beside Mac's bedside. "Why 
did you 
  have to go after him?"
  
  "Because I love him so much" Mac whispered. "That I'd rather be dead 
than be 
  without him."
  
  Inside the ICU room Brooke looked around, swearing she'd heard the 
voice of 
  her friend tell her that she loved Harm. With a long sniffle Brooke 
reached 
  for the hand of her friend.
  
  "I know you loved him" she whispered. "And I hope that wherever you 
are, you 
  two are together. But it's not fair." She choked back another sob as 
she 
  turned and ran from the room, running into Ryan who'd just walked out 
of 
  Harm's room.
  
  "We are together" Mac said softly as Harm wrapped his arms around 
her. 
  "We're together Brooke. And we always will be."
  
  "Ryan" she sobbed as she reached for him.
  
  He wanted to hold her. Wanted desperately to hold her and tell her 
that 
  everything was going to be okay. But he couldn't.
  
  "I'm sorry" he managed in a choked voice. "I'm so sorry." With tears 
  brimming he turned and ran, down the hall and to the backstairs.
  
  "Harm" Mac whispered. "Why did he do that? She needs him."
  
  "He's carrying some heavy guilt right now" Harm said quietly. "And he 
  doesn't want her to be hurt anymore. He just doesn't realize how much 
he's 
  hurting her by doing this."
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  
  For several seconds Brooke stood in the hallway between the two rooms 
  silently sobbing.
  
  "You always seem to be in distress when I meet up with you 
Lieutenant."
  
  Brooke whirled around at the sound of Clayton Webb's voice, sniffling 
  loudly.
  
  "How did you find out?" she whispered.
  
  "Word on something like this gets around quick" Clay replied. "And as 
soon 
  as I heard it was Harm and Mac I came as quickly as I could."
  
  "Oh god Clay" she sobbed. "It's not fair. They were just making it 
work."
  
  He opened his arms to the sobbing young woman and with nowhere else 
to turn 
  she gratefully walked into his comforting arms.
  
 "No one knows that more than me," Clay sighed, rubbing her back 
awkwardly.  "I 
was so glad to see it.  Where is your partner anyway?  I thought you 
and him. . ."
 
 "He's gone again," she whispered, swallowing a last sob.  "Oh Clay 
since his 
wife's. . .ex-wife's. . .funeral, things have been totally different.  
He's pushed me 
away completely, he's not home at night and during the day he looks 
like a zombie.  
I don't know if he's seeing someone else or drinking or. . ."
 
 "Stop now," Clay ordered her gently, still trying to rub her back 
soothingly.
 
 "Did I miss something here?"  AJ had been watching Clay and Brooke 
quietly up 
until then.  "I didn't know you two knew each other."
 
 "Panama AJ, and don't be an ass," Clay snapped, feeling the tension 
well up in 
him.  "Nichols should be here with her and obviously he's chosen not 
to."
 
 That brought another quiet sob from her and she lifted her head.  "Sir 
I'm sorry.  
You don't need all these personal complications.  This is why partners 
don't get 
involved."
 
 "Yes it is," AJ said kindly, "but now that you are, we're dealing with 
it OK.  Well at 
least we were until this whole Reynolds thing.  I knew he wasn't 
handling it well, but 
I figured it was just shock and he'd snap out of it."
 
 "No sir.  He loved her," Brooke sniffled again.
 
 "OK now I have to get involved," Clay sighed.  "That's not true.  He's 
been working 
on the team that the company put together to help bring down Reynolds."
 
 The widening of her eyes was second only to that of AJ's.  "Webb I 
might have 
known your fine hand was mucking this situation up."
 
 "No that's now how it is AJ," Clay growled.  "Ryan came to me and 
asked if I knew 
of a way he could participate.  He hated what happened so much--felt so 
much 
guilt for it--that he was willing to risk everything to try to fix it."  
He turned to Brooke 
and when he spoke again his tone was much more gentle.  "Apparently 
part of that 
risk was what he had with you.  He only mentioned you to me once.  At 
the outset 
he said emphatically that you were not to be involved."
 
 "I don't know what to think," she whispered.  "Except that it's you 
who's holding me 
and not him."
 
 "And for that I'm sorry," Clay told her sincerely.  "Sorry that he's 
not here when you 
need him.  I didn't know there was a problem with you two.  Let me take 
you home.  
AJ there's nothing more we can do here tonight is there?"
 
 "Not a thing.  And Clay thank you for taking care of her."
 
 "Yeah."
 
 "I'm not leaving."  She lifted her head from Clay's chest and shook 
her head.
 
 "Oh yeah you are," Clay told her.  "You're shaking and if I wasn't 
holding you, you 
wouldn't be standing up.  I'm taking you home.  And when I see your 
partner I'm 
going to have a few things to say to him."
 
 "I'm not leaving."
 
 "Lieutenant you are relieved for the night and will stand down," AJ 
ordered.  "I do 
not need another officer in the hospital.  Mr. Webb is seeing you home 
and you are 
to remain there for the next at least six hours unless you hear from 
me.  Are we 
clear?"
 
 "Yes sir," she mumbled, leaning more heavily on Clay as the shock of 
what had 
occurred set in more fully.  "Sir please. . .Ryan. . ."
 
 "I'll be speaking to the Major all right," AJ muttered.  "Webb you're 
still here?"
 
 "Leaving.  Now."  Clay hitched his arm around her waist and led her 
out.
 
 "Admiral I know a diner that makes a great cup of coffee and some 
wonderful 
scrambled eggs," Shelby offered seeing him standing alone uncertain of 
his next 
move.
 
 "I uh. . ." he stammered.
 
 "Oh come on.  I worked through dinner myself on another case, and I do 
need talk 
more about this mess," she urged.  "If necessary you can be back here 
in ten."
 
 "Thanks," he smiled after a moment's thought.  "I really am too wired 
to go home."
A short time later they were seated at a booth in the diner.
  
  "Just coffee" AJ said to the waitress. "I don't think I can keep 
anything 
  else down."
  
  "Maybe some toast?" Shelby urged and he nodded.
  
  "I still can't believe all this" AJ sighed when the waitress left. 
"God it's 
  worse than anything I ever imagined."
  
  "You're pretty close to the Commander and Colonel" Shelby asked 
gently.
  
  "Harm's been a pain in my six for the past seven years" AJ said with 
a small 
  smile. "Mac's been under my commander for six years. Both of them 
have 
  driven me crazy but they always been like family to me." He paused 
and let 
  out a long sigh. "I have to call Harm's mother," he said quietly. "I 
don't 
  even know how to reach Mac's mother."
  
  "I'm sorry Admiral" Shelby said sympathetically. "I'm sure this isn't 
easy 
  for you."
  
  "No it's not. And you can call me AJ."
  
  "Short for?" Shelby prodded.
  
  "Albert Jethro" AJ said with a small smile. "Now you know why I go by 
AJ."
  
  "Did you see anything that happened tonight?" Shelby asked quietly.
  
  "Unfortunately no. I'd just gotten back with Harm. He ran off to find 
Mac. 
  Couldn't have been more than a few minutes later that I heard the 
explosion. 
  I was heading to the library when Brooke came running. I tried to get 
in to 
  get them." His voice choked at the end and he quickly looked way.
  
  "I'm sorry," she said softly. "You did what you could."
  
  He nodded and let out a long sigh. "I want the bastard who did this 
to pay. 
  And I don't mean life in Leavenworth."
  
  "AJ we'll find whoever did this. I promise. But you said earlier that 
you 
  had some ideas who might be behind this."
  
  "Colonel Reynolds. He was responsible for the murder of his 
girlfriend, 
  Kelly Nichols. Ryan's ex-wife. She had enough information to put him 
away 
  for a long time. And my guess is he thought that she'd given that 
  information to Harm and Mac before he had her killed."
  
  "We'll look into him first" Shelby promised. "And if he is guilty 
we'll nail 
  him. I promise."
    
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  "I think the Admiral has made a friend" Mac smiled as she watched AJ 
and 
  Shelby.
  
  "Matchmaking?" Harm smiled.
  
  "He deserves someone. And I like Shelby."
  
  "Well at least he's not alone," Harm said as he hugged her again. Why 
they 
  were where they were still wasn't apparent to them and he was simply 
glad to 
  be with her.
  
  "Harm we have to do something about Ryan and Brooke. They need each 
other 
  right now.  And I hope Clay knows that."
  
  "Mac he's just looking after Brooke. He won't do anything."
  
  "You don't know Clay very well" Mac scoffed. "And Brooke is so 
vulnerable 
  right now. She's hurting so much."
  
  "I didn't know we'd made that much of an impression in her life" Harm 
said 
  quietly.
  
  "You didn't know that she considers you her big brother" Mac smiled.
  
  "And you her big sister" Harm returned. "But I agree. I don't always 
trust 
  our friend Mr. Webb."
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  
  Brooke's Apartment
  
  "Brooke you should eat something" Clay urged as she stared at the 
sandwich 
  he'd put together for her.
  
  "Clay thanks but you I think I'd rather just be alone" Brooke sighed. 
"I 
  appreciate you bringing me home but right now I just want to be alone 
in my 
  misery."
  
  "You got real close to Harm and Mac didn't you?" Clay said quietly.
  
  "Yes" she sniffled, the tears coming once again.
  
  "I'm sorry," Clay said as he reached for her, gently pulling her into 
his 
  arms as she started to sob again. "I know this isn't easy for you."
  
  "It was so horrible Clay" she wailed. "And there was nothing I could 
do. I 
  tried to get Mac to stop but she wouldn't."
  
  "You mean to tell me as long as you've know Harm and Mac you haven't 
  realized that there isn't anything those two won't do for each other. 
  Including die along side the other. You know Mac wouldn't have been 
able to 
  live without Harm anyway."
  
  "I know" Brooke sobbed. "I know that's why she did it."
  
  "Shh" Clay soothed as he gently held her and rubbed her back. "It's 
going to 
  be okay. I promise."
  
  "And Ryan hates me" she continued with a long sob. "God Clay 
everything is 
  just going out of control."
  
  "He doesn't hate you. And it's his loss if he does. You're a 
beautiful young 
  woman Brooke. You deserve someone who will love and treat you right."
  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
  "Tell me he's just comforting her and not trying to put moves on her" 
  Mac sighed as she watched Brooke and Clay together.
  
  "I would hope Webb wouldn't stoop that low" Harm replied. "But you 
never 
  know with him."
  
  "He's going to answer to me if he does."
  
  "Honey, we're not there anymore" Harm reminded her gently. "We can't 
stop 
  him from doing anything."
  
  "Harm we have to do something" Mac sighed. "She belongs with Ryan. 
He's her 
  soul mate. Not Clay."
   
  "Well we can't exactly pick up the phone and call her," Harm moaned.  
"And 
anyway, ease back honey.  Clay is not making any moves on her.  He's 
just there 
right now.  There because she's hurting and shouldn't be alone."
 
 "You men are all alike," Mac groaned.  "Harm he was kind of interested 
in her in 
Panama.  Ryan sensed it then."
 
 "Maybe so, but love will find its way."
 
 "Yeah.  That explains you and Renee and me and Mic," she sighed.
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 BROOKE's APARTMENT
 
 "Thanks Clay."  She gave a long sniffle and pushed back from him, only 
to stagger 
as she did so. 
 
 "Hey easy," he gasped in immediate concern. "OK bedtime for you.  And 
if you 
need anything I'm going to be right here on this sofa."
 
 "Clay you don't have to," she objected.  "You have a life."
 
 "Not really," he grinned.  "And I could shoulder some of the blame 
anyway. I 
should have told Ryan to butt out and leave this to the 
professionals--well not that 
he's not one, but that it was being taken care of, and that he had a 
responsibility to 
you.  I had no idea you and he. . .never mind.  You're exhausted and 
I'm making it 
worse."  He turned her toward the bedroom and walked her to the door.  
"You need 
any help?"
 
 "No I'm fine, thank you.  And thanks. . .for staying.  I guess I'm 
nervous about if 
Reynolds could still be around and well. . .just having you out here 
helps.  Good 
night."
 
 "Good night," he smiled and kissed her forehead.  "You holler if you 
need 
anything."  With that he guided her into the room and closed the door.
 
 For the next hour he flipped channels on her TV and when he did not 
hear any 
signs of distress from her room, stripped down to his undershirt and 
boxers.  With 
one more listen at her door, he dropped exhaustedly onto the sofa.
 
 Two hours later he was sleeping soundly when there was a loud pounding 
at the 
door and he was awake at once, rolling to his feet and coming up gun in 
hand.
 
 The insistent pounding returned and Clay looked back at the bedroom 
door, 
thankful she had not emerged.  Very cautiously he approached the door, 
keeping 
to one side, and dared a glance through the peephole.
 
 "Nichols," he breathed and opened the door.  
 
 At once the smell of stale beer hit him and he stepped back to admit 
the Marine 
Major, disregarding the fact that he was clad just in his boxers and 
undershirt.
 
 "What the hell are you doing here Webb?" Ryan hissed, his eyes 
widening at the 
sight before him.  "Never mind.  I don't even want to guess.  Where's 
Brooke?"  He 
was about to open his mouth to scream Brooke's name and Clay clamped a 
firm 
hand over it.
 
 "Don't," Clay ordered.  "She's exhausted and half sick from worry.  
The last thing 
she needs right now is a drunk Marine."
 
 "I see she didn't mind seeing you.  Was she good for you Webb?  Did 
she do that 
special thing she does with her. . ."
 
 That was as much as he got out for Clay backhanded him sharply, then 
grabbed a 
handful of his shirt, getting into his face.  "You're drunk and I'm not 
going to deal 
with you.  And she's most certainly not.  As for that accusation, 
that's so ludicrous 
I'm not going to deal with that either.  She loves you Nichols, god 
knows why.  Get 
out.  And don't come around her again until you're cleaned up and 
sober."  With 
that he opened the door and pushed him out, leaving an astonished Ryan 
Nichols 
on the floor of the apartment hallway.

  For several minutes the Marine sat there before finally pushing 
himself to 
  his feet. Clay was right. God only knew why Brooke loved him. He'd 
done 
  nothing but bring grief to her and when she'd needed him tonight he'd 
ran 
  away.
  
  "Brooke I'm so sorry" he whispered as he looked at the door to her 
  apartment. With a choked sob he tore out of her building and to his 
car. For 
  several minutes he sat there as the tears slid down his face. He was 
losing 
  everything in his life that meant anything and there was nothing he 
could do 
  about it.
  
  He finally turned on the car and for the next several hours drove 
around the 
  city before finding himself at the hospital.
  
  "Can I help you sir?" the young nurse asked as he walked past the 
desk in 
  the ICU area.
  
  "I need to see Harm" Ryan whispered. "Please."
  
  "You mean Mr. Rabb," she said gently and he nodded.
  
  "There isn't any change is there?" Ryan asked.
  
  "No I'm sorry. But you can go on in and see him."
  
  Ryan nodded and with a long sigh made his way to Harm's room. He 
hadn't been 
  able to handle seeing his friend like this earlier and it wasn't any 
easier 
  now.
  
  "Damn it Harm this isn't how it's supposed to be" Ryan whispered as 
he sat 
  down in the chair beside the bed. "You and Mac had so much to do 
together. I 
  should have been able to get Reynolds before he did this. This is my 
fault.
  
  The tears welled up again and angrily he swiped them away.
  
  "You can't do this" Ryan said as he choked back the tears. "You can't 
die. 
  There are too many people who still need you. Including me." A small 
sob 
  escaped him and he finally gave into the tears, sobbing softly. "I've 
messed 
  up everything with Brooke and she hates me. And if I lose you and Mac 
I'll 
  have nothing left in my life." His head dropped forward as the sobs 
racked 
  his body.
  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
  "Oh Harm" Mac whispered at Ryan's tearful words. "He's hurting so 
bad."
  
  "Yes he is" Harm said quietly. "He's blaming himself for everything 
and 
  that's not fair."
  
  "Clay didn't help" Mac fretted. "Ryan thinks Brooke doesn't love him 
and 
  that's the furthest thing from the truth."
  
  Harm nodded and stepped forward towards the young man, dropping a 
gentle 
  hand to his arm.
  
  "Ryan it's going to be okay" Harm said softly. "Brooke doesn't hate 
you. She 
  loves you and you'll find that out. And Mac and I are together. And 
we'll be 
  together forever."
  
  Ryan's head snapped up at the touch and sound of his friend's voice. 
But 
  there was no movement from the man that lay in the bed.
  
  "Harm" Ryan whispered leaning forward. "Harm can you hear me?"
  
  The only noise in the room was beeps from the machine and with a long 
sigh 
  Ryan leaned back in the chair. He'd obviously been imagining the 
sound of 
  Harm's voice. It had just been wishful thinking on his part. But he 
hadn't 
  imagined the feel of someone's hand on his arm.
  
  "Harm if you can hear me I want you to listen" Ryan whispered as he 
leaned 
  closer to the bed. "You have to fight this. You and Mac both have to 
fight 
  this. We need you. Especially me."
  
  He was still sitting at Harm's bedside when AJ walked in a short time 
later.
  
  "You look like hell Major" AJ said quietly. "You never went home last 
night 
  did you?"
  
  "I don't know where I went" Ryan sighed. "At some point I ended up 
here."
  
  "All right on your feet, I'm taking you home."
  
  "With all due respect sir, I need to find Reynolds before he hurts 
anyone 
  else. And that's what I'm going to do."
  
  "Already done Major" Shelby Rogers said as she walked into the room. 
  "Morning AJ. I tried reaching you at home and when I didn't get you I 
  figured you'd be here."
  
  "They've found Reynolds?" Ryan demanded as he stood up. "Where is he?  
I'm 
  going to kill the son of a bitch."
  
  "Get in line" AJ muttered under his breath.
  
  "I don't know how to tell you this so I'll just say it. Reynolds 
didn't 
  cause the explosion at JAG. We found his body. He committed suicide a 
few 
  days before."
  
  "Reynolds is dead" Ryan whispered. "You're sure."
  
  "Very dead. I'm sorry. But he's not the person responsible for this."
  
  "My god, who would want to hurt Harm and Mac like this if it wasn't 
  Reynolds?" Ryan said quietly.
  
  "That's what I was hoping you could tell me" Shelby replied.
  
  AJ made a disparaging noise.  "My god Shelby they have enemies.  
That's not 
hard to imagine.  You have them too.  People you've sent to prison, 
gotten 
removed from the Navy, you know the drill.   Off hand the names Palmer, 
Coster, 
Hodge come to mind right away.  We'll get someone to go through the 
computer 
and get you a list and we'll be doing our own checking.  This is a 
nightmare."
 
 "Yeah I know," Shelby nodded soberly.  "And our best choice for perp 
killed 
himself days ago.  So we're basically back at the beginning.  In the 
meantime I've 
ordered a 24 hour guard for their door."
 
 "Unfortunately what's probably going to end their lives you can't 
guard against," AJ 
muttered and turned his attention to Ryan.  "Mr. Nichols, and this is 
an order.  Go 
home and get cleaned up.  You look and smell like you spent the night 
with the 
winos under the bridge.  Where is your partner this morning anyway?  
Getting 
some rest I hope."
 
 "Oh yeah, she and Mr. Webb are quite comfortable at her place."  Most 
of the night 
was fuzzy, but seeing Clay open the door of her apartment dressed only 
in boxers 
and undershirt was a crystal clear memory.
 
 "OK, you tell her. . .what?"  AJ finally heard what Ryan was saying.  
"Excuse me?  
Brooke and Clay?  Nichols I know you were drinking, but you didn't tell 
me you 
were hallucinating.  Brooke and Clay?  Since when?"
 
 "Since I wasn't there for her last night," he sighed miserably.  
"Apparently Webb 
was all to eager to step up to the plate.  I thought she loved me sir."
 
 "Son if you realized how pathetic you sound right now," AJ sighed.  "I 
don't know 
what's going on, and I don't think I want to.  Right now you are to go 
get cleaned up 
before you're declared a public health hazard.  Don't think any further 
than that 
order.  Hear?"
 
 Ryan had the wherewithal to bring himself to attention.  "Yes sir.  
And thanking the 
Admiral for going easy on me."
 
 "Get out," AJ growled.
 
 "AJ you care a lot for your people," Shelby observed when they were 
alone.  "I like 
that in a boss."
 
 "Well I've worked with Rabb and Mackenzie for a long time," he sighed.  
"Nichols 
and Hastings are new, but I see so much potential in both of them.  
Young and 
bright, eager--all that crap that a C.O. admires.  We just have to get 
them through 
this."
 
 "Nichols is pretty eaten with guilt isn't he."
 
 "Yeah.  The only thing worse would have been for Brooke to be lying 
here."
 
 She nodded and there was silence between for a few minutes until a 
Marine 
Gunnery sergeant approached them.  "Gunnery Sergeant Conway Cavanaugh 
sir, 
ma'am.  I was told to report for guard duty."
 
 "Make yourself comfortable Sergeant," Shelby nodded.  "The Admiral 
here was 
just going to let me buy him a cup of coffee."
 ============
 BROOKE'S APARTMENT
 9 AM
 
 "Some guard you make," Brooke giggled, seeing Clay sprawled on the 
sofa, still in 
his underwear, sound asleep.
 
 "Hey," he gasped, hastily pulling the sheet up.  "Good morning.  You 
slept good 
didn't you.  I didn't hear from you all night."  He held his breath 
awaiting her 
answer, not sure whether to tell her of Ryan's visit if she hadn't 
heard them.
 
 "Yeah I took a pill," she confessed.  "Just an over the counter thing 
but they make 
me die.  I would have thought you'd have gone by now.  You slept in 
yourself."
 
 "It was a long night.   I didn't get to sleep until a couple hours 
ago," he told her 
guardedly.
 
 "A bomb could have gone off out here and I wouldn't have. . ."  She 
stopped and 
gasped, a sob quickly following.  "Clay, Harm and Mac. . .are they OK 
this morning.  
Have you heard?  Have you called?"  
 
 "If there was a change, the Admiral would have called me," Clay 
assured her.  
"And you're getting yourself upset is not going to help them.  I'm glad 
you slept 
good.  You were scaring me last night.  I was afraid you were on the 
verge of 
passing out or something."
 
 "I just about was," she remembered.  "Clay it's not bad enough that 
Harm and Mac 
are hurt, but I don't even have Ryan. . ."  Another sob broke through 
and she 
buried her face in her hands, turning away from him.  
 
 At once he leaped from the sofa and took her in his arms, holding her 
as she cried.

 >>>>>>>>>>>>
 "I'm glad Clay is taking care of her," Harm said softly to Mac.
 
 "I'm not," she snapped.  "You want to re-think that Sailor.  What he's 
doing now is 
above and beyond compassion and caring."
 >>>>>>>>>>

 "Brooke don't cry," Clay whispered, kissing her dampened cheeks and 
then a 
second later, his lips were dangerously close to hers.  "Brooke it's 
OK.  I'm here."
  
 "NO" Mac shouted and Brooke suddenly backed away from Clay.
 
 "Did you hear that?" she whispered. "I swear it was Mac's voice."
 
 "I didn't hear anything" Clay lied as he felt a chill go down his 
spine. 
 He'd distinctly heard the voice of Sarah Mackenzie but he wasn't going 
to 
 tell Brooke that.
 
 "Clay I think maybe you should go" Brooke said quietly. "Thank you for 
 staying last night but I'll be fine getting to the hospital myself."
 
 "You sure?" he asked.
 
 "Yeah really go on. I'm going to shower and then go see if there's any 
 change."
 
 He nodded and reached for his shirt. "Brooke, I'm sorry if I did 
something 
 wrong" he said quietly.
 
 "Clay it's okay" she said with a small smile. "And thanks for staying 
last 
 night. I do appreciate it."
 
 "You sure you'll be okay alone?" he asked. "I know how hard this has 
been 
 for you and I don't want to leave you unless you're going to be okay."
 
 "I'm okay" she said with a long sigh. "As okay as I can be right now. 
I just 
 want to go to the hospital and check on Harm and Mac and see how 
things are 
 going with finding that bastard."
 
 "That's where I'm going first" Clay assured her.
 
 "I'm going to shower now" she said quietly. "Can you just make sure 
you lock 
 up on your way out."
 
 "Will do" he nodded. For a moment they just looked at each other 
before 
 Brooke finally headed to the bathroom.
 
 With a long sigh Clay watched her go before quickly slipping on his 
pants 
 and shoes.
 
 "Thanks Mac" he murmured to the empty room. "I have no idea what that 
was 
 about but I wasn't going to hurt her." With one last glance towards 
the 
 bathroom he finally left the apartment, making sure the door was 
locked 
 tightly behind him.
 
 >>>>>>>>>>>
 "Yeah right" Mac scoffed as she watched Clay leave. "I do not believe 
him. 
 How could he take advantage of her like that."
 
 "Mac calm down" Harm said gently. "You managed to interrupt before 
they 
 could do anything."
 
 "And it's a good thing. Harm she belongs with Ryan. We can't let 
anything or 
 anyone come between them."
 
 "Honey why is this so important to you?" Harm asked.
 
 "Harm why do you think we're here and not in heaven."
 
 "I'm not sure but I'm sure you're going to tell me" he said with a 
smile.
 
 "Because we have to make sure Brooke and Ryan don't end up like us" 
she 
 sighed. "Why else would we be stuck in this world? We have to help 
them 
 realize that they belong together."
 
 "Is that so?" Harm smiled. "And tell me how you figured all this out."
 
 "I don't know" Mac admitted. "But I do know that we're here for a 
reason and 
 I believe that reason is to help Brooke and Ryan."
 
 "And what happens once we do help them?"
 
 "Then we get to spend the rest of eternity together" she said with a 
small 
 smile. "Since we didn't get the rest of our time together on earth."
 
 "I'm sorry" Harm said softly. "I'm sorry we didn't have more time 
together. 
 I'm sorry we wasted so much of the time we could have been together."
 
 "It's okay" Mac whispered. "We're together now. And that's all that 
matters. 
 We may not have gotten a chance to be together on earth but we'll 
always be 
 together here."
 
 "I love you so much Sarah" Harm whispered as he wrapped his arms 
around her. 
 "Nothing will ever keep us apart again."
 
 "And nothing will keep Brooke and Ryan apart either" she murmured. 
 >>>>>>>>>>>>
 
 "Sir" Brooke whispered as she walked into Harm's room at the hospital. 
She'd 
 seen the guard outside the two rooms and wondered what was going on.
 
 "Brooke how are you?" AJ asked as he and Shelby looked over at the 
young 
 woman.
 
 "I'm okay. I guess there's no change is there" Brooke said softly as 
she 
 looked over at Harm, the tears once again forming.
 
 "No" AJ said quietly. "I'm going to need your help though. We need to 
find 
 the person who did this."
 
 "It was Reynolds wasn't it?" Brooke said with a puzzled look. "That's 
why 
 there's a guard outside. In case he comes back."
 
 "He's dead" Shelby said quietly. "Has been for several days. AJ and I 
were 
 going to start going through Harm and Mac's recent cases to see if 
there was 
 anyone we could tie to this."
 
 "I don't understand" Brooke whispered. "Why would someone want to kill 
 them?"
 
 "That's what we need to find out" AJ replied.
 
 "I'll do whatever I can to help" Brooke said quietly. "I want whoever 
did 
 this to pay."
 
 "We're going to head over to JAG" AJ continued. "Why don't you come 
with 
 us?"
 
 "I just want to stop and see Mac for a minute" Brooke replied. "Then 
I'll be 
 ready."
 
 AJ nodded and Brooke turned to leave Harm's room. "Sir have you heard 
from 
 Ryan?" she asked as stopped and turned back to face AJ.
 
 "He was here this morning when I got back. I think he spent most of 
the 
 night here. I sent him home to get cleaned up."
 
 "Was he okay?" Brooke asked.
 
 "He's hurting Brooke" AJ said quietly. "And I don't know what's going 
on 
 between you two but he's hurting bad."
 
Brooke flushed uncomfortably, not eager to discuss  her personal life 
with her C.O.  
"So am I sir, and I figured he and I should be hurting together, but he 
doesn't want 
that.  Where is he?"

"I told you I had to order him home to shower and clean up," AJ told 
her, studying 
her carefully and then turning to Shelby, his look to her begging 
advice.  She gave 
him a small nod and he took a long breath.  "Brooke, one reason Ryan 
was so 
upset had to do with you and Clay."

"He didn't kiss me sir," she exploded at once.

"This is why I try to stay out of these things," AJ sighed.  "I know 
nothing of kissing 
thank you.  I know of a man who answered the door wearing underwear to 
greet 
the man the woman he was staying with supposedly loved.  And I've just 
given 
myself a headache."

"Sir I'm confused.  Clay was in his underwear but who. . .oh my god, 
Ryan?  Ryan 
came to my place?  When?"

"Sometime during the night Lieutenant.  And apparently Clay answered 
the door in 
his state of undress and naturally Ryan jumped to the wrong conclusion.  
Now 
where Clay and you and kissing comes in I'm drawing the line at knowing 
about."

Brooke sank weakly to the nearest chair.  "Thank you sir.  I need to 
find him and 
set him straight.  I was feeling so upset when we left here that Clay 
stayed, but 
nothing. . .well practically nothing. . ."  

"Too much information again," AJ warned.

"Yes sir.  Excuse me.  I'll just be checking on Mac."  Brooke all but 
fled the room, 
sitting down beside her friend's bed.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Mac I need you.  I need you so bad,"  Brooke whispered.  "Everything 
is so 
messed up.  You and Harm are all but gone and right now I'm aching to 
be in 
Ryan's arms.  Well part of me is.  Part of me doesn't understand what's 
going on 
and that part of me doesn't want him if he's going to be the way he is.  
I know that 
didn't make any sense."

"Yes it did."

Brooke at once looked around for the source of the comment.  The room 
was 
empty, and silent save the noise of the life support and monitor 
systems.

"I made perfect sense.  You're in love, you're disappointed he's not 
there for you."  
It was Mac's voice, the same voice that stopped her and Clay from 
making a 
mistake earlier.  "Honey he'll come around.  He's hurting right now.  
Physically too 
from his night of drinking.  Now that he knows it wasn't Reynolds who 
caused the 
explosion at JAG, he should be feeling better about himself.  Of course 
that leaves 
him to find out who did."

"Now I know I'm losing it," Brooke sighed.  "I'm having a conversation 
with a dead 
woman."  Her hand flew to her mouth when she heard herself.  "No I'm 
not. . .I 
mean she's not dead."

"Brooke stop babbling and get over to Ryan's," Mac interrupted 
suddenly.  "He 
needs you.  Now."

Brooke's eyes grew large with sudden fear.  "Why?  What's wrong?"

"He's fallen in his bathroom," Mac told her.  "His head is bleeding."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Without even stopping to advise AJ, Brooke tore from the hospital, 
passing Clay on 
his way in.  

"Brooke where are you going?" he demanded.

"This is your fault," she flung back over her shoulder as she ran.

  Not sure what she meant but thinking the worst, he hurried up to the 
ICU 
  area.
  
  "AJ I just saw Brooke" Clay said when he reached AJ and Shelby in the 
hall. 
  "Harm and Mac, they're not" He stopped before the word and AJ shook 
his 
  head.
  
  "No. But there's no change either. And when did you see Brooke. She 
was just 
  in with Mac."
  
  "We passed at the entrance" Clay sighed. "She was real upset about 
  something."
  
  "Probably the fact that her and her partner aren't getting along 
right now" 
  AJ retorted. "Thanks to you."
  
  "Hey I didn't do anything wrong. I just made sure Brooke wasn't alone 
last 
  night."
  
  "Those two love each other" AJ said as he stepped closer to Clay. 
"And I 
  suggest you stay out of their relationship."
  
  "Nichols is the one who showed up drunk last night and started 
assuming all 
  kinds of stuff" Clay countered. "I did nothing wrong."
  
  "Yeah right" AJ scoffed. "I mean it Webb. Stay out of their personal 
  affairs. They have enough to deal with without you meddling. And I've 
got 
  enough to handle trying to figure out who's responsible for this."
  
  "It isn't Reynolds?" Clay asked.
  
  "He's dead" Shelby spoke up. "Killed himself a few days ago. They 
finally 
  found his body. AJ and I were going to start trying to find out who 
might be 
  responsible instead."
  
  "You've got Palmer at the top of the list right?" Clay asked.
  
  "Shelby already checked. Still locked tight at Leavenworth. And we're 
  checking the others but it's going to be a long process."
  
  "If there's anything I can do to help, let me know" Clay said 
seriously. "In 
  the meantime, I'm going to go and see Harm and Mac while I'm here."
  
  ************
  "Ryan open up" Brooke called as she pounded on his door. "Ryan it's 
me. 
  Please open up."
  
  There was no answer and she dug in her purse for the key to his place 
that 
  he'd given her when they'd been close. It seemed like a million years 
ago 
  now and she choked back the tears as she opened the door.
  
  "Ryan" she called, heading directly to the bathroom as Mac had 
directed. 
  "Ryan."
  
  She let out a gasp as she caught sight of him sprawled on the 
bathroom floor 
  and she hurried to his side. Exactly as Mac had told her, there was a 
gash 
  on the his head from where he'd struck the edge of the vanity, dried 
blood 
  surrounding it. For a moment she was afraid to touch him, afraid he 
was 
  already dead. Finally she managed enough calm to place to fingers to 
his 
  neck, letting out the breath she'd been holding when she found a 
pulse. He 
  stirred at the touch, groaning as he tried to force his eyes open.
  
  "Ryan it's Brooke" she said softly.
  
  "Brooke" he managed as he looked up at her. "What are you doing 
here?"
  
  "It's a long story that can wait until after we get you to the 
hospital" she 
  said gently.
  
  "No I don't need the hospital. Just help me up."
  
  "I'll help you up and then we'll discuss the hospital" she countered. 
"On 
  your feet Marine and then we're going straight to the sofa."
  
  With her assistance he pushed himself up, holding onto her tightly as 
the 
  room spun, a combination of the hangover along with the hit to the 
head 
  making him dizzy.
  
  "I think I'd better stay here" he started, turning just in time as 
his 
  stomach revolted again.
  
  She held onto him, gently pushing him to the bathroom floor when he'd 
  finished. She reached for a wash cloth, and after running it under 
cold 
  water, pressed it to his forehead as she sat down beside him.
  
  "You are quite a sight" she said softly.
  
  "I'm sorry" he said miserably. "Sorry about everything."
  
  "We'll talk about that later. Right now you're just going to relax 
while I 
  get that cut cleaned up. And then I'll decide if you need to go to 
the 
  hospital to get checked over."
  
  He nodded and dropped his aching head against her shoulder. "So how 
did you 
  know I needed you?" he whispered.
  
  "You'll think I'm crazy if I tell you" she sighed. "But then you 
already 
  know I am. Mac told me you were hurt."
  
  "You heard Mac's voice?" Ryan said as he pushed his eyes open again.
  
  "See I knew would think I was crazy."
  
  "No I don't. Because when I was at the hospital I heard Harm. I felt 
him 
  Brooke. His hand was on my arm. He told me you loved me."
  
  "I miss them Ryan" Brooke whispered as the tears welled up. "I miss 
them so 
  much."
  
  "I know" he said as he pulled her closer to him. "I miss them too."
  
  >>>>>>>>>>  
  "And we miss you" Mac sniffled as Harm drew her close to him. "See I 
told 
  you they belong together."
  
  "Did I doubt you?" Harm said softly. "And I always knew they did 
too."
  
  "No thanks to Clay and his meddling" Mac retorted. "Which reminds me 
I 
  wanted to give him a piece of my mind." She looked to where Clay 
stood at 
  her bedside and Harm reached out a hand to stop her.
  
  "Honey why don't you let me handle this one" Harm said with a small 
smile. 
  "You uh might scare our favorite spook to death."
 
 "Favorite Moron you mean," she gasped indignantly.  "Harm he was an 
ass and a 
half there."
 
 "I was not.  I was there because there was no one else," Clay spoke 
up, having 
heard the accusation.  "I didn't let anything happen."
 
 "Clay you would have."  This from Harm, his quiet voice letting the 
agent know he 
was aware of what happened.
 
 "I was comforting her," Clay exploded, trying to keep his voice down 
and at the 
same time not able to understand how Harm was communicating, given that 
he 
had a tube in his throat and that a machine was breathing for him.
 
 "Webb listen up," Harm ordered, using the tone that had made enlisted 
seamen 
quake.  "You keep any romantic notions you may have toward Brooke 
Hastings in 
check.  You were way out of line mister.  She's in love with Ryan 
Nichols.  And 
yeah things are not good with them right now but she doesn't need you 
confusing 
the issue."
 
 Clay threw up his hands in surrender.  "OK OK.  Hey I'm a guy, and 
she's an 
attractive woman, but more than that, she's someone I could be 
attracted to."
 
 "Yeah well you find someone in your league," Harm told him.  "And by 
that I mean 
someone who can understand the fact that you disappear for weeks at a 
time.  I 
mean it Clay.  Especially while there's a chance for her and Ryan.  
Leave her be.  
More than that, I'm asking you as a friend.  Not to mention, you're 
still not at the top 
of Ryan's popularity list over Panama.  You could wind up with another 
broken 
nose."
 
 "Yeah sure OK why not," Clay sighed.  "Especially since I'm losing my 
mind 
anyway, talking to you like this."
 
 "Clay I mean it," Harm growled.  "Leave them--leave Brooke--alone or 
you're going 
to be one sorry spook."
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>

 For a long minute Brooke cried softly, feeling protected enough by his 
arms to 
allow herself the luxury.  "OK enough of that.  Marine up you come.  
You've got a 
nasty cut here and you probably scrambled your brains.  You could have 
had a 
skull fracture.  What the hell were you thinking anyway?"
 
 "Please could you lower the volume there," he begged.  "I have the 
mother of all 
hangovers and I am never even looking at a bottle of beer again.  What 
I was 
thinking was that I had nothing in my life."
 
 "You miss Kelly that much?"  She avoided looking into his eyes while 
she awaited 
the answer.
 
 "No.  NO."  He screamed so loud that pain shot through him and his 
head lolled for 
a few seconds.
 
 "Hey OK stop," she ordered.  "You're hurting yourself here."
 
 "No I want you to hear me," he gasped, his eyes squeezing shut with 
the pain and 
the effort to focus.  "I used to be in love with her.  And every bit of 
that love left me 
the day I came into my house and found her with another guy.  I don't 
know how I 
can make you believe that.  But it is the truth."
 
 She let out the breath she was holding.  "I want to.  I want to love 
you.  I want to 
believe you love me," she whispered.  "Right now everything is so 
messed up and 
until Harm and Mac are OK. . ."  Her voice trailed off and she stifled 
another sob.  
"Get up Marine.  I can't lift you."  
 
 With her assistance he got his legs beneath him and halfway to his 
feet, nearly 
falling as soon as he tried to take a step.  "You are getting checked 
at the hospital," 
she muttered, staggering under the eighty or so pounds he outweighed 
her by.
 
 He made no objection as she took him to the bed, easing him back and 
pressing 
the wet cloth to the gash across his temple, gently cleaning away the 
blood.  "OK I 
guess it looks worse than it really is," she breathed.  "Do you have 
any idea how 
much you lying on that floor scared me?"
 
 "I know I've messed a lot up," he groaned.  "Please just kill me."
 
 "Actually that's plan B," she sighed.  "For right now I'm going to get 
some juice into 
you and some Tylenol and then you're going to rest a little bit.  And 
after that. . ."
 
 "Not the hospital."
 
 "Yes the hospital," she informed him.  "And if I have to, I'll call 
the Admiral.  Let's 
see you tell him not the hospital."
 
 He groaned again and closed his eyes, keeping them closed as she fed 
him a 
glass of juice and the pills, keeping them closed as he groped for her 
hand.  
"Brooke?"
 
 "I'm right here."
 
 "Brooke, I don't have any right to ask, but you could. . .would you. . 
.would you lie 
here with me?"

    "I think I can arrange that" she said softly as she slid in beside 
him.
  
  "I don't deserve you" he murmured as she gently stroked his forehead.
  
  "Yeah I know and we'll talk about that later" she teased. "You just 
rest 
  now."
  
  ************
  "Anything yet AJ?" Shelby asked as they poured through the files on 
the 
  computer.
  
  "Nothing" AJ groaned. "I have no idea what I'm even looking for. 
Anyone they 
  put behind bars could hate them. God Shelby this is a nightmare that 
never 
  ends."
  
  "I'm sorry" she whispered as she stood up and rubbed his shoulders. 
"I know 
  this has to be incredibly hard for you."
  
  "And it's only going to get worse when I finally get in touch with 
Harm's 
  mom" AJ sighed. "Right now she's out of the country somewhere and her 
  housekeeper couldn't give me a number where she could be reached. 
Said she'd 
  tell her I had called if Mr. Burnett called in for his messages."
  
  "So for now they stay like they are," Shelby said softly.
  
  "Which is a good thing?" AJ said quietly. "Cause I don't think any of 
us are 
  ready to let those two go just yet. I know I'm not. I have to stop 
myself 
  from yelling at them to get up every time I walk in there." With a 
long sigh 
  he stood up and paced the office. "It's just not fair. They don't 
deserve 
  this now. Not after everything they've been through. They'd just 
found each 
  other."
  
  "I'm sorry AJ. I wish there were something I could do. Right now the 
best I 
  can offer you is finding the person responsible and making sure they 
pay for 
  what they did."
  
  "Thank you" AJ sighed. "I'm sorry I've been a bit difficult to deal 
with."
  
  "AJ two people you care very much are just hanging on" Shelby said 
gently. 
  "I understand your frustration and your anger. It's okay."
  
  "It hurt Shelby" he whispered. "When I go home and I try and close my 
eyes 
  all I see is the library in flames. And I know they're in there but 
there's 
  nothing I can do to help them."
  
  "I know someone who helps people get through traumatic incidents like 
this," 
  she said softly. "I'd be happy to get you in touch with him."
  
  "I got through 'Nam I can get through this" AJ said sharply. 
"Somehow."
  
  "Course if you just need to talk, I'm here" she added quietly. Her 
cell 
  phone rang before she could reply and she walked away to take the 
call.
  
  "God how things ever end up like this" AJ sighed as he looked out the 
  window. "I'm sorry guys. I should have done more."
  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>  
  "He's blaming himself as much as Ryan is" Mac said softly as they 
watched 
  their CO. "And Shelby's trying to be there for him."
  
  "And he just pushed her away" Harm sighed.
  
  "We're going to have to fix that. He needs someone. This is too much 
for him 
  to handle alone."
  
  "If only I could have gotten to you" AJ chided himself again.
  
  "Sir, it's okay. We're together now. Mac and I are together and we 
always 
  will be now."
  
  At the sound of his senior officers voice he looked around the room, 
not 
  surprised to find it empty. He could hear Shelby talking outside the 
door 
  but there was no one else around.
  
  "Now I'm losing it" AJ groaned.
  
  "Sir, it isn't your fault. There wasn't anything you or anyone else 
could 
  do."
  
  Harm's voice again. He was losing it.
  
  "You're really together?" he whispered.
  
  "Yes sir. We're together. We don't want you to feel bad about what 
happened. 
  You did what you could. We want you and the others to go on."
  
  "Easier said than done" AJ sighed. "I don't know even know where to 
turn 
  too."
  
  "How about the woman out there who obviously cares" This time it was 
Mac's 
  voice and AJ couldn't help but smile.
  
  "I guess it wouldn't be bad to have someone to lean on," AJ said 
softly.
  
  "No sir it wouldn't" Harm agreed as he hugged Mac again.  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
  Still exhausted from the prior night Brooke had fallen asleep next to 
Ryan, 
  waking with a start when she heard someone pounding on the door.
  
  "Hang on" she called as she pushed herself off the bed, checking Ryan 
first 
  to make sure he was okay. His even breathing told her he was still 
sleeping 
  and with a long yawn she stumbled to the door.
  
  "Can I help you?" she asked the young woman who stood at the door.
  
  "Hi I'm Elizabeth. I'm a grad student at Georgetown and I'm doing a 
survey 
  for my marketing class. Do you have just a few minutes to answer some 
  questions?"
  
  "Now really isn't a good time" Brooke said quietly. "My uh boyfriend 
and I 
  were just about to leave. Some friends of ours are in hospital and we 
want 
  to get back and see them."
  
  "Please this will only take a few minutes" she begged. "I have to get 
at 
  least a hundred responses and you won't believe how many people have 
slammed the door in my face. I promise it will only take a few minutes. 
Please, 
  please."
  
  "All right. As long as it doesn't take too long" Brooke sighed.
  
  "Thank you" Elizabeth smiled. "And I'm sorry about your friends. Are 
they 
  sick?"
  
  "No they were hurt in an explosion last night," Brooke said softly, 
feeling 
  the tears well up again as she thought about what had happened.
  
  "The one at the JAG office" the young girl gasped. "You knew them?"
  
  "We worked with them" Brooke whispered as the tears slid down her 
face 
  again. "Harm and Mac were the best friends in the world."
  
"I'm sorry I guess I didn't catch your name."
  
  "Brooke. Brooke Hastings."
  
  "You must have known them for a while" Elizabeth remarked.
  
  "Actually I've only been with JAG since January" Brooke replied. "But 
we all 
  got along real well and we've got real close."
  
  "And we is.."
  
  "Ryan my friend" Brooke said softly. "Major Ryan Nichols. My partner 
at 
  JAG."
  
  "Brooke" Ryan called from the bedroom. "Brooke where are you?"
  
  "Out here Ryan. Uh, do you mind waiting one second while I go check 
on him? 
  He hasn't been feeling well either."
  
  "No problem" Elizabeth smiled. "I don't mind waiting. I just really 
  appreciate you not slamming the door in my face."
  
  "Why don't you have a seat and I'll be right back" Brooke said as she 
  started for the bedroom.
  
  "I'll just get my stuff ready" Elizabeth called as Brooke disappeared 
into 
  the bedroom. She looked around the living room, spotting the 
bookshelf with 
  several pictures on it. She walked over and picked up one of the 
pictures of 
  Harm, Mac, Brooke and Ryan together.
  
  "I hope you two are rotting in hell" she hissed as the picture. "And 
your 
  little friends are going to join you real soon."
 
 Brooke dropped a light hand on Ryan's forehead.  "Hey are you OK?  I'm 
right 
here."
 
 "I woke up and you were gone," he whined softly.  "Yeah I'm OK.  
There's only two 
guys pounding in my  head with the little mallets and you're down to 
three of you if I 
focus real close."
 
 "Just plan on focusing on that doctor real soon now," she told him, 
trying not to 
sound too alarmed by what he was saying.  "Look I'm going to talk to 
this girl for a 
couple minutes and then I'm going to help you get dressed."
 
 He groaned and turned his face to his pillow.  
 
 "Good I'm glad you agree," she whispered, trailing her fingers lightly 
through his 
hair for a second before returning to the living room.
 
 "Elizabeth my friend is really not well and I'm going to need to get 
him to the 
hospital real soon.  Please, can we cut this short?"
 
 "Of course we can," Elizabeth smiled sweetly.  "Here's the list of 
questions.  Just 
do the first ten if that's all you have time for.  Let me give you a 
few minutes to do 
that.  May I use the bathroom in the meantime?"
 
 "Yeah sure--it's right back there," Brooke sighed, distracted by her 
concern for 
Ryan and anxious to help the girl and get her on her way.  She was 
vaguely aware 
of Elizabeth walking past her as she leaned against the wall, then 
began to quickly 
write her answers.  What she did not hear was the door to the bedroom 
being 
closed by the young woman.

 >>>>>>>
 "Harm--Harm look"   Mac was focused on Ryan's apartment, and she shook 
his 
arm frantically.  "Harm you see who that is don't you?"
 
 "No I don't think so," he frowned, staring at the young woman who was 
now in the 
bedroom hallway.  
 
 "Harm open those green eyes and look damn you," she yelped.  "It's 
Loren Singer.  
My god Harm, it's Singer.  What the hell is she doing back here and 
what. . .oh my 
god no."
 
 Mac had now gotten every bit of Harm's attention and they were both 
fixated on 
the figure of Lauren Singer approaching Brooke, who had her back to 
her.
 
 In unison Harm and Mac screamed Brooke's name and Harm added "at your 
back."  
 
 Brooke swung just in time to get her arm up, warding off one hundred 
twenty 
pounds of charging former Navy Lieutenant.  They crashed to the floor,  
the back of 
Brooke's head impacting sharply with uncarpeted tile and for a moment 
she saw 
stars, and an instant later Singer's hands were around her throat.
 
 "Ryan. . .Ryan, Brooke needs you.  She needs your help," Mac 
screeched, seeing 
her friend struggling in the grasp of the woman who was both taller and 
who had 
her out-weighed, along with having the element of surprise  on her 
side.  The lack 
of oxygen was taking its toll and Brooke was weakening rapidly.
 
 From somewhere in the fog of his sleep, Ryan heard Mac's voice, joined 
quickly by 
the sounds of struggle and he pushed himself to a sitting position, 
waiting just long 
enough for the room to stop spinning before staggering to his feet.  
"Brooke I'm 
coming," he shouted as loud as he could and stumbled to the door.  
Nothing could 
have prepared him for the sight before him.
 
 "What in the hell is happening here," he roared and without further 
hesitation, 
grabbed Singer by the shirt at the back of her neck and pulled her away 
from 
Brooke, flinging her aside like a ragdoll.
 
 "Brooke honey can you hear me?" he whispered, keeping an eye on the 
intruder 
as he lifted her to cradle against his chest, his thoughts racing from 
was Brooke all 
right to calling the police to who this woman was and why she would 
attack and 
then back to Brooke.
 
 Guessing that Ryan would be too occupied with Brooke to want to come 
after her, 
Singer got painfully to her feet.  "This is not over," she hissed.  
"It's only just begun.  
I am going to make you all sorry.  Starting with her--the woman who 
took my 
place."
 
 Ryan's mouth dropped open, trying to make some sense of what this 
lunatic was 
raving about, his mind fogged by his own pain and his concern for 
Brooke.  
"Lieutenant Singer?" he finally managed.
 
 "None other," she smiled.  "Remember the name--you'll hear it again."  
And with 
that she fled the apartment. 
  
 "Ryan" Brooke croaked and at once Ryan turned his attention back to 
the 
 woman in his arms.
 
 "Brooke are you okay?" he whispered, the red spots on her neck 
standing out 
 against her pale skin.
 
 "I think so" was all she got before a long sob escaped her and he 
quickly 
 pulled her against him.
 
 "Shh it's okay. She's gone and you're going to be okay."
 
 He gently held her until her sobs ceased and she finally raised her 
head and 
 looked up at him.
 
 "Who was that?" she whispered. "Why did she attack me like that?"
 
 "Do you remember Harm and Mac telling us about Lt. Singer?" Ryan said 
softly 
 and Brooke nodded. "That was her. She said something about wanting 
making us 
 all sorry."
 
 "Oh god" Brooke gasped. "You don't think she's the one who set the 
explosion 
 at JAG."
 
 "I don't know but after this I wouldn’t surprised" he sighed. "She's 
 obviously lost it since she was discharged."
 
 "We have to tell the Admiral" Brooke said as she tried to get up, only 
to 
 have Ryan's arms hold her still. "And we need to get you to the 
hospital."
 
 "Please just let me hold you for another minute" Ryan whispered. "My 
god, 
 she could have killed you if Harm and Mac hadn't warned me."
 
 "You heard them again too" Brooke sniffled, the thought that their two 
 friends were watching out for them bringing on a sudden tearfulness.
 
 He nodded slowly. "I heard Mac tell me you needed me. And it's a good 
thing 
 she did. I guess they're watching out for us."
 
 "I wish they were here with us instead" Brooke whispered, her voice 
once 
 again choked with emotion.
 
 "Me too" Ryan said as he hugged her tightly again. She finally pulled 
away 
 and together they managed to get themselves to the sofa.
 
 "Neither of us is in any shape to drive" Brooke said as they sunk 
against 
 the sofa. "I think we should call the Admiral and let him know what 
happened 
 and have him come and pick us up." She picked up the phone and dialed 
the 
 Admiral's cell phone.
 
 "Sir it's Brooke. Can you come over to Ryan's with Shelby? It's 
important."
  
 >>>>>
 "Singer" Harm muttered. "I would never have guessed."
 
 "Harm she always hated you" Mac said quietly. "And maybe her intention 
 wasn't just us. Maybe she wanted to hurt everyone at JAG."
 
 "Well at least on that she didn't succeed" he sighed. "But she's going 
to 
 come after Ryan and Brooke again. You know she will."
 
 "At least they know who she is now. And once they tell the Admiral and 
 Shelby NCIS will start looking for her."
 
 "We're just going to have to watch out for them" Harm said seriously. 
"I 
 won't let her hurt either of them."
 
 "You care a lot don't you big brother?" Mac said as she gently stroked 
his 
 arm.
 
 "I don't want them hurt. Mac they have their whole lives ahead of 
them. Some 
 lunatic like Singer shouldn't have the right to take that away."
 
 "She took it away from us" Mac said softly.
 
 "I know" Harm sighed. "And you don't know how much I wish I could turn 
back 
 time and fix all that we didn’t get to do together. And it's exactly 
why I 
 won't let her do the same to Ryan and Brooke. They deserve to have 
what we 
 couldn't have."
 
 "Harm we have each other for eternity" Mac whispered. "Isn't that 
enough?"
 
 A small smile crossed his face and he reached for her again, holding 
her 
 tightly. "Yes it is" he said softly. "I love you so much Sarah. As 
long as 
 you're here with me nothing else matters." 
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
  "Ryan it's the Admiral" AJ called as he pounded on the door, Shelby 
right 
 behind him.
 
 "It's open sir" Ryan called back and AJ and Shelby hurried inside.
 
 "Okay first off are you two okay?" AJ demanded as he looked at the 
pair.
 
 "Ryan needs to go to the hospital and be checked to make sure he 
doesn't 
 have a concussion" Brooke spoke up. "I think I'm okay."
 
 "Your neck Brooke" Shelby gasped. "This Loren Singer did that to you?"
 
 "Yes ma'am" Brooke nodded.
 
 "I want you to tell me everything that happened" Shelby said as she 
sat down 
 in the chair beside the sofa. "And then AJ you'll have to tell me 
everything 
 you know about this woman."
 
 "Can I tell you on the way to the hospital?" Brooke asked. "I want to 
make 
 sure Ryan is okay."
 
 Shelby nodded and AJ helped Ryan to his feet, keep a steady arm around 
his 
 waist.

"OK this is dumb," Ryan sputtered as AJ tugged him to the door.  "I'm 
fine.  
Honestly.  I just cracked my head on the sink when I fell is all."

"Sir please, he's had double vision, he's been sick to his 
stomach---please don't let 
him talk you out of making him get looked at," Brooke begged, her voice 
still slightly 
strained from the assault and she was holding back tears at the same 
time.

"Thank you Lieutenant.  I think I can handle this," AJ said with mild 
amusement.  
"Mr. Nichols, you are to allow yourself to be checked out at the 
hospital.  And you 
will comply with the doctor's orders as if they were my own.  Are we 
clear."

"Very sir," he sighed, reaching his hand out toward Brooke, who looked 
hesitantly 
at AJ.

"Go ahead Lieutenant," he nodded.  "I don't think there's any secret 
that you care 
for each other."

"Sir it's not just that.  We've got some work to do on that before it's 
going to be like 
it was."  The words were out before she could stop them and her hand 
went to her 
mouth.  "I'm so sorry sir.  No way I meant to involve you in our 
personal affairs, not 
that we're having an affair, well OK maybe. . ."

"Lieutenant, stop babbling.  Take your partner's hand and get the 
door," AJ 
thundered.

>>>>>>>>>>>
"They do have some repair work to do don't they," Mac sighed.

"Are they in love?"  Harm raised his eyebrow as he posed the question.

"A question you already know the answer to Counselor," she retorted.  
"But 
sometimes, well it's not enough.  Look at us--how long have we loved 
each other?"

"Forever," he sighed and pulled her further into his arms.

"Exactly.  And we were just starting to make it work.  Ryan has done 
some serious 
pushing her away this past week or so.  Not going to be easy to 
overcome."

"Mac he just wanted to handle it by himself.  Didn't want her involved.  
Was trying 
to protect her--that sort of thing," he objected.

"Bingo Flyboy.  And she deserved better.  She deserved his trust."
>>>>>>>>>>

AJ wasted no time in installing Ryan and Brooke in the back seat, 
smiling when he 
saw the Marine drop his head almost at once to Brooke's shoulder and 
watched for 
a second as she kissed his forehead.  

"AJ they're good together," Shelby whispered as he closed the car door.

"Tell me about it," he smiled and helped her into the front seat.

During the drive to the hospital AJ explained the matter of former Lt. 
Loren Singer 
to Shelby.  

"So basically she was allowed to resign and avoid confinement," Shelby 
sighed.  
"That was very generous of you AJ.  She could have easily gotten brig 
time."

"Well you know truthfully I just wanted her gone.  And confinement 
would have only 
cost the taxpayers money to keep her."

"And now she's going to be charged with attempted murder," Shelby said 
firmly.  
"And Jesus Christ Himself could not keep her out of prison if she's 
found guilty."

"It wasn't Reynolds after all," Ryan murmured, trying to stay focused.  
"All those 
nights of looking for him. . .I could have been. . ."

"Sshhh we'll talk about all that later," Brooke admonished him, 
brushing some stray 
hair from his forehead.  

"Hurts," he murmured again, his head lolling weakly against her 
shoulder.

"Sir can't we do any better speed-wise," she yelped, her fear for him 
increasing 
even more.

"Two minutes Lieutenant," AJ promised.

At the ER, the resident took one look at Ryan and ordered him onto a 
gurney.  
"Ma'am you got fifteen seconds to say goodbye.  Your friend needs to be 
checked 
out.  Now."

"I'm scared Brooke," Ryan whispered, encasing her hand in a death grip.  

"Hey they're going to take good care of you.  You'll be fine.  You're a 
hard headed 
jarhead remember?"

"No that's not why."  Struggling to keep conscious, he pulled her 
weakly to him.  
"Scared for us."

"Later, remember," she promised.  "Soon as you're well we'll talk it 
all out."

"Love you."

"I love you," she responded.   "I love you and we're going to figure 
this all out."  At 
that point he was wheeled away from her, and they released hands only 
when they 
could hold on no longer.

"Sir excuse me I'm going to talk to Mac," she gasped, and without 
waiting for his 
reply, fled to the stairwell.

  "I'm getting too old for this" AJ sighed as he looked at Shelby.
  
  "They'll work through it" Shelby smiled. "They're young and they'll 
find a 
  way to make it work."
  
  "I hope so, for my sake" AJ said with a weak smile. "Course right now 
I'm 
  kicking myself for not sending Lt. Singer to Leavenworth. I had no 
idea she 
  was that unstable."
  
  "Which reminds I need to alert my people" Shelby replied. "You going 
to be 
  okay while I make some calls."
  
  "Yeah I think so. Thanks for hanging with me on all this. I've just 
never 
  felt so incredibly helpless in my life."
  
  "They're all going to be fine" Shelby said softly. "And maybe when 
this is 
  all over you and I can go out on happy note."
  
  "I'd like that" AJ smiled. "I just hope that it being over means that 
Harm 
  and Mac are going to be okay."
  
  "Why don't we go up and check on them?" Shelby suggested. "I'll make 
my 
  calls after that."
  
  *************
  Brooke ran up the stairs, fighting back the tears as she did. She 
wanted so 
  much for things to workout with her and Ryan. And she wanted Harm and 
Mac to 
  be okay.  It wasn't too much to ask for was it?
  
  She slipped quietly into Mac's room, needing to talk to her friend 
again. 
  Mac had always made her feel better about everything and right now 
she 
  needed that confirmation that things were going to be okay with her 
and 
  Ryan.
  
  "I think he's going to be okay now" Brooke whispered as she sat down 
at 
  Mac's bedside. "Thanks for warning me. And about warning us about Lt. 
  Singer."
  
  >>>>>>>>>>>  
  "We're always here with you" Mac said softly. "Don't forget that."
  
  "I wish you were here instead" Brooke sniffled. "And I promise we're 
going 
  to get this Lt. Singer for what she did to you two."
  
  "Brooke no" Harm warned. "Please stay away from her. She's 
dangerous."
  
  "But she has to pay for what she did to you two. It's not fair. She 
took 
  everything away from you two."
  
  "No she didn't" Mac said gently as Harm's arms tightened around her. 
"Brooke 
  we're together. And we always will be."  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>
  
  No one noticed as Singer crept down the hall towards Harm's room. She 
had 
  seen Brooke go into Mac's room but there was nothing to stop her from 
  carrying out part of her mission. She'd get rid of Harm first and 
then she'd 
  come back and finish Mac later. A simple flip of the switch was all 
it would 
  take to end the life of Harmon Rabb once and for all.
  
  With a quick glance around she walked into the room, looking at the 
figure 
  on the bed.
  
  "Goodbye Commander" she smiled as she walked over to the machine and 
without a second thought, flipped the switch to off.
  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    "I'm glad you're together" Brooke whispered. "But it's still not 
fair."
  
  "Honey it's going to be okay" Mac soothed. She was about to say more 
when 
  suddenly she felt Harm's arm leave her. She whirled around and he was 
gone. 
  "Harm where are you?" she wailed. "Harm"
  
  "Mac what's wrong?" Brooke demanded, hearing the panic in her 
friend's 
  voice.
  
  "He's gone" Mac cried. "Harm's gone. He not with me anymore. Where is 
he 
  Brooke?"
  
  Brooke leapt from her chair and hurried across the hall to Harm's 
room, 
  arriving just as Singer started to turn to walk out of the room.
  
  "No" Brooke screamed as she realized what Singer had done.
  
  "It's too late" Singer laughed. "He's going to go to hell where he 
belongs."
  
  Without a word Brooke charged at Singer, the two of them landing in a 
heap 
  on the floor. Despite her surprise attack, Brooke was no match for 
the 
  crazed Lt. who quickly gained the upper hand. She grabbed Brooke by 
the 
  shirt collar and slammed her into the wall. She slumped over 
unconscious and 
  Singer hurried to her feet, pushing past the startled nurses and 
doctors 
  who'd come running at the sound of the alarms.
  
  "What the hell?" AJ exclaimed as he and Shelby reached the area just 
in time 
  to see Singer running down the hall. "That was Lt. Singer."
  
  "We can catch up to her" Shelby said as she took off running, at the 
same 
  time dialing her cell phone. "This is Rogers. I need backup now."
  
  AJ stared into the room where the nurses and doctors were attending 
to both 
  Harm and Brooke and for a moment couldn't decide what he should do 
before 
  the desire to make the Lieutenant pay for what she'd done made him 
move. He 
knew that there was nothing he could do for Harm and that Brooke was 
already 
  being attended to. He finally turned and ran after Shelby, praying 
they 
  would finally catch Singer. And when they did she was going to rue 
the day 
  she ever crossed paths with him.
  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>  
  "Harm" Mac sobbed. "Harm come back to me please. Please I need you. I 
love 
  you."
  
  There was no reply and she sobbed even harder, the man she loved 
suddenly 
  taken from her. The eternity that they were supposed to share 
together was 
  now suddenly gone. She was alone and scared and all she wanted was 
Harm to 
  hold her again.
  
  "Sarah it's going to be okay"
  
  Another voice, strangely familiar to her. She whirled around but 
there was 
  no one there.
  
  "Harm" she sobbed. "Harm is that you?"
  
  "No Sarah. But it's going to be okay. Just have faith."
  
  "Lt. Rabb" she whispered, finally recognizing the voice of the man 
who'd 
  lead her to Harm on Christmas Eve. When she'd found him lying in the 
snow, a 
  victim of a mugging.
  
  "Yes Sarah" he said softly. "I promise it will be okay. You and Harm 
will be 
  together."
  
  "Why did he leave me?" Mac wailed. "We were going to be together for 
  eternity."
  
  "You will Sarah. You'll see. Please believe me."  
  >>>>>>>>>>>>>

  "OK Mr. Rabb is back online and the time elapsed should not have been 
long 
enough for any brain damage to have set in," the intern proclaimed, 
giving a long 
sigh of relief.  "How is she doing?"
 
 "Coming around now," the nurse reported, steadying Brooke who was 
coming to, 
struggling to get up.  "Ma'am you just take it real easy now.  That was 
quite thump 
into the wall you took."
 
 "I'm OK, just winded," she panted, and touched the back of her head.  
"Ow.  OK so 
it's hurting there.  How's Harm?  She didn't hurt him did she?"
 
 "No they got him back in time," she assured her, stepping aside for 
the doctor who 
was kneeling with them.  
 
 "Let me take a look at your bump there," he ordered, leaning her 
forward.  "Pain 
anywhere else?"
 
 "My back hurts a little, where I hit the wall I guess," she admitted, 
"but I think I'm 
OK."  
 
 The doctor nodded to the nurse and they helped her to her feet into a 
nearby chair 
and the nurse at once got her some ice for her head.  "I want you to 
sit there for a 
few minutes and make sure you're OK," the doctor ordered.   
 
 "I have to be sure Harm and Mac are OK, and I have a friend--a very 
good friend--
downstairs that's got a bad concussion or something," she wailed 
softly.
 
 "Just take a few minutes to be sure you're OK is all I'm asking."

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 "Brooke, Brooke do what you're told.  That's an order."   Mac's voice 
came to her 
and she relented.  "Brooke, Ryan is OK," Mac went on, "they're taking 
good care of 
him downstairs and. . . ."  She stopped as she felt a pair of arms wrap 
around her.  
"Harm?"
 
 "Yeah.  I told you I wouldn't leave you.  Whatever happens from here 
on out, it 
happens to both of us."
 
 "Hello son."
 
 Harm tensed at once, squeezing Mac hard.  "Dad?  How?  Why?"
 
 "Your Sarah needed some reassurance.  But you're both OK now."
 
 "Thank you," he breathed.  "I uh. . .I guess we'll be seeing you soon.  
You and 
Gramps."
 
 Harmon Sr. smiled gently, resting one hand on his son's shoulder and 
the other on 
Mac's.  "I don't think so.  Heaven isn't ready for the two of you yet.  
I have 
grandchildren to see born.  Your lives together are just beginning.  
Your lives here 
on earth.  Heaven will be here when that's over."  And with that he was 
gone.
 
 "Harm what . ." she murmured, trying to comprehend all that they had 
just been 
told.
 
 "Dad said he had grandchildren to look forward to," Harm smiled.  
"Obviously he 
knows something we don't.  I love you Sarah."
 
 "Love you," she whispered, stroking his cheek.  "Does that mean you're 
going to 
marry me at some point in the future?"
 
 "We should have asked Dad," he grinned.  "but that's sure as hell what 
it sounded 
like to me."
>>>>>>>>>>>
  
 Brooke sniffled as she heard, thinking of Ryan and envying what Harm 
and Mac 
had.  "I need Ryan," she whispered.
  
 Shelby's radio crackled with the news that Singer had been nearly 
intercepted at 
the rear door but had escaped by pulling a man from a waiting car and 
taking off.  
Now the gray Ford was speeding away from the hospital, heading for I66.  
"If she 
gets out on the beltway we're going to lose her sure," Shelby muttered, 
and began 
issuing orders for local law to watch for the fleeing vehicle.
 
 "AJ I'm going to join the chase."
 
 "Not alone you're not," he growled.  "I'm right behind you.  But 
Shelby you're right--
-between 66 and the beltway there's a helluva lot of exits and places 
she could 
double back."
 
 As it turned out, Singer's erratic driving called attention to 
herself, and it was but a 
matter of minutes before she was reported taking the Vienna exit.  
"That's not good 
either," Shelby muttered.  "That whole area is full of housing 
developments, 
hundreds of streets."  Her face was grim as she gripped the steering 
wheel, and 
two minutes later she was stopped at the end of the exit ramp.  "Left 
or right AJ?  
Give me a guess."
 
 AJ ran a hand through his hair and his eyes focused on the square M 
for the Metro 
subway sign.  "What if she's thinking she might abandon the car and hop 
on the 
train?"
 
 "Sound good to me" Shelby said as she turned the car in that direction 
and 
 at the same time radioed where they were going.
 
 "We have to find her," AJ said determinedly. "She can't get away with 
this."
 
 "We will" Shelby assured him. "I've got reinforcements coming in the 
other 
 direction and there's going to be nowhere for her to go."
 
 "Unless she gets on a train before we can find her" AJ sighed.
 
 They reached the station a few minutes later and to his relief AJ 
spotted 
 the gray Ford, several police pulling up beside it as they arrived.
 
 "She must be inside" one of the officers called. "Probably trying to 
blend 
 in with the crowd. We've already alerted the transit police and given 
them 
 her description. She won't get on board if she tries."
 
 "Come on" Shelby said as she grabbed AJ's arm. "You might be able to 
spot 
 her quicker than anyone else."
 
 He nodded and together they hurried into the station, AJ's height 
providing 
 him the advantage as he looked around the station.
 
 "Do you see her?" Shelby asked as she too glanced around.
 
 "There" AJ said as he finally spotted her at one of the gates. She 
looked 
 over at him at that moment and quickly bolted.
 
 "We can't let her get away," AJ yelled as he and Shelby took off after 
her. 
 They followed Singer outside the station, running towards the fence 
that 
 barricaded the tracks. Shelby soon over took AJ, passing him in her 
attempt 
 to reach the Singer. They watched Singer quickly maneuver her way over 
the 
 fence to the track but it didn't take long for Shelby to do the same.
 The sound of a train leaving the station caught Shelby's attention and 
she 
 realized if Singer made it across the tracks before the train passed 
and 
 they didn't she would escape across the field into the woods. The 
train was rapidly 
picking up speed and with an extra burst of speed Shelby closed in on 
the young 
woman.
 
 "No you won't catch me," Singer yelled as she neared the tracks, the 
train 
 now just feet away.
 
 With Shelby reaching for her, Singer leaped from her, out over the 
tracks.
 
 "Shelby" AJ screamed as he somehow managed to pull her out of the way, 
both 
 of them landing on the ground as the train slammed into Singer, 
throwing her 
aside like some kind of rag doll, the train grinding to a halt a few 
moments later as 
the engineer hit his emergency brakes.
 
 "Are you okay?" AJ demanded as he looked down at Shelby. "You're not 
hurt 
 are you?"
 
 "No I don't think so" she managed a few seconds later when she'd 
finally 
 caught her breath.
 
 "What were you thinking?" he yelled. "You could have been killed."
 
 "I was thinking you were right behind me to pull me away," she said 
with a 
 small smile. "What took you so long old man?"
 
 "I" he started and then stopped. "You're really okay right?"
 
 "I'm fine. We need to see to Singer."
 
 AJ nodded and together they made their way over to the tracks where 
the body 
 of Singer lay.
 
 "She's dead sir," the driver said grimly. "She just jumped out in 
front of 
 me. There was nothing I could do."
 
 "Not your fault" Shelby said quietly. "It's over AJ. We got her."
 
 He said nothing, his mind on his officer's back at the hospital. "I 
need to 
 get back to the hospital" he said somberly. "I need to find out how 
Harm 
 is."
 
 >>>>>>>>>>>> 
 "Harm" Mac whispered as she felt his arms leave her again. "Harm 
what's 
 going on?"
 
 "I don't know," he said as he was forced away from her.
 
 "Harm I don't want to leave you" she wailed as he moved farther and 
farther 
 away from her.  "I love you."
 
 "I love you too" he called. "And remember what Dad told us. It's going 
to be 
 okay. I promise."
 
 "Harm" she cried again. "I love you. Don't forget that."
 
 "I'll never forget it. And don't cry. We're going to be together. 
Soon."
 
 "Promise" she wailed.
 
 "Promise" he whispered. "I'll see you soon Sarah." 
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
 "Brooke my God what happened?" Ryan demanded as he reached the ICU and 
found her sitting in the chair outside Harm's room, the ice pack still 
to her 
 head. "Are you okay?"
 
 "I'm okay" she sniffled. "It's was Lt. Singer. She tried to kill 
Harm."
 
 "Is he okay?" Ryan asked as he dropped into the chair beside her.
 
 "They said he should be. Well as okay as he was.  Are you okay?"
 
 "I'm a tough jarhead remember" Ryan said softly. "I'm fine."
 
 "This nightmare needs to be over" Brooke whispered. "I just want Harm 
and 
 Mac to be okay and for us to be okay."
 
 "I can help with the second one" Ryan said quietly. "I wish I could do 
 something about the first part."
 
 He watched as one of the nurses walked past and into Mac's room, 
before 
 looking back at Brooke. "I'm sorry about a lot of things" he said 
quietly. 
 "And I want us to try and work this out."
 
 "Do you really?" she sniffled.
 
 "More than you know" he sighed. "But since Kelly's death everything 
has been 
 messed up. And I want us to find a way to fix it. I just don't know 
how."
 
 Before she could reply the nurse came running from Mac's room. "Get 
the Doctor," 
 she called to the nurse at the station. "Right away."
 
 "Oh god, Mac" Brooke wailed. "Mac, no."
 
 She stood up quickly, only to be overcome by a wave of dizziness. She 
fell 
 into Ryan's waiting arms as he screamed for help.
 
 The End
	Watch for the next Chapter of New Beginnings coming soon.