TITLE:  “Past Present Future XIII-To Run is to Hide"
AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
SUMMARY:  The thirteenth chapter of the PPF series, in which the 
matters of Lt. 
Harmon Rabb Sr. and Sergei Zhukov are re-visited.  All will be Harm-Mac 
stories of 
course, with Clayton Webb; and rated PG for mild language and violence.
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, as well as much of our 
previous efforts, will be 
available to registered Yahoo users at:  
                     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
              No subbing is required to read from the message archives.
       
 Other archives where our work may be found:

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http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag
         
         or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at    
http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html  [sadly, not always up and 
running]
     
     or BTL-
     http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/
     http://destined.to/btlarchive – {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.}

Note:  For purposes of this story, the events of any episode after 
Adrift do not play a 
part.


Previously in the PPF series:   Their rescue from the deranged General 
McNamara 
accomplished, calm in the life of Harm and Mac is short lived.  Clay 
and his partner, 
Madison Malone, bring them disturbing news of a re-surfacing of Sergei 
Zhukov.

The close of PPF Chapter XII-Calm Before the Storm:
  
 The elevator doors opened on the first floor and Harm and Mac exited 
first, 
  Bud and Harriet behind them, while Clay and Madison took the rear.
  
  "So what is the old married couple doing for lunch?" Harm asked once 
they 
  were outside.
  
  "Well sir" Bud started as he walked beside Harm.
  
  The rest of what he said was cut off as the barrage of gunfire began. 
  Harriet's screams echoed through the parking lot as the six dove for 
cover.
 
****************
  
“Past Present Future XIII-To Run is to Hide"

 With the sounds of gunfire all around them, Bud had pushed Harriet to 
the ground 
and covered her as best he could.  Instinctively at the first shot, Mac 
pushed Harm 
indicating he should go one way and she the other, while Madison had 
grabbed 
Clay firmly around the neck and pulled him down behind the nearest car.
 
 After what seemed like five hours but was more like thirty seconds, 
the incoming 
rounds ceased as the well-armed, well trained Marine guards immediately 
returned 
fire, turning JAG HQ into a war-zone and driving off the attackers as 
it was obvious 
their targets were well covered and well protected.
 
 Harm clung to the car behind which he had taken cover, wishing Mac was 
less of a 
Marine and had let him protect her.  As it was he had not been able to 
see her 
during the attack--had no way of knowing if she was all right and that 
fact was 
making him crazy.  Twice he had lifted his head, and twice experienced 
a bullet 
whizzing past his ear.  Finally an eerie silence fell and he slowly got 
to his feet.  
 
 "I need an ambulance.  Now."  Bud's voice seemed to come from a 
hundred miles 
distant.  Harm looked over to him, seeing Clay and Madison getting 
slowly to their 
feet with Clay keeping his arm tightly around her, out of the corner of 
his eye.  
 
 For a long moment, Harm was frozen in place, staring at his young 
friend, now 
holding his bleeding wife across his lap.  "Help them," he breathed to 
Clay, his belly 
turning to ice as he realized Mac was not emerging from behind the 
truck where she 
had crouched.  "I need to find Mac."  Now his own voice was that same 
distant tone 
as Bud's.
 
 The Sergeant of the Marine Guards arrived on the run at that point and 
took one 
look at Harriet.  A second later he had a 911 call out over his radio 
and he was 
kneeling beside Bud, who was too much in shock to do more than whisper 
into her 
ear that she would be all right.
 
 Clay looked from Harm to Madison and back to Harm, reading the panic 
across his 
face and one sweep of the nearby area told him why.  Mac was not 
joining them. 
 
 "She was over there somewhere," Harm pointed, his arm shaking as he 
started in 
that direction.  
 
 "Madison help Bud with Harriet please," Clay whispered, squeezing her 
arm before 
catching up to Harm.
 
 "She pushed me aside and then tried to take cover over there," Harm 
whispered.  
"Clay what if. . ."  A tortured cry of Mac's name escaped his lips and 
he felt his legs 
buckle as he started for the truck which he believed she had used for 
cover.
 
 "Let me," Clay said firmly, grabbing his arm to stop him and to hold 
him up at the 
same time.  
 
 "I need to find her."
 
 "I know but right now you're not moving that good.  Sit down here and 
let me get 
her for you," Clay ordered, firmly pushing him down onto the bumper of 
the nearest 
truck.  "Stay put."
 
 Harm gave him a dazed nod, pleading with his eyes.  
 
 "I'll find her." 
 
 "Mac where are you?" Clay called softly, rounding the front of a large 
van and to his 
relief she was sitting up, her back against the van's door.  She was 
holding a 
tattered tissue to the corner of her forehead, the tissue doing little 
to stop the blood 
flow.
 
 He was down beside her in a second.  "Mac what happened?  Where you 
shot?  
Let me look?"
 
 "I hit my head," she said vaguely, touching the growing lump.  "When I 
dove in 
here, on the bumper I think. I'm OK. . .where's. . . ."  Her face took 
on a look of 
horror as she realized Clay was alone.  "Clay where's Harm?  Oh god 
Clay he was 
shot again?  Where is he?"   

 "No he's fine" Clay assured her quickly. "He's not hurt at all. Just a 
 little unsteady on his feet thanks to all the excitement."
 
 "Thank god" she sighed. "You're not just telling me that are you?"
 
 "No he's fine. It's Harriet that's hurt."
 
 "Oh god, how bad?" Mac whispered. "Is she going to be okay?"
 
 Even as she spoke the wail of the sirens could be heard and by the 
time Clay 
 had helped her up, the ambulance pulled up in front of the building.
 At the same time Harm had grown impatient waiting for Clay and was 
slowly 
 making his way over.
 
 "Mac" he wailed. "Mac"
 
 "Harm" she called back as she hurried to meet him. They fell into each 
 other's arms, barely able to keep each other up.
 
 "Are you okay?" he managed. It was then that he saw the blood and he 
let out 
 a gasp. "You've been hit."
 
 "No, I hit my head when I dove" she corrected. "It's not a gunshot."
 
 "It still needs to be looked at" he said firmly.
 
 "Please is she going to be okay?" Bud wailed as the paramedics 
attended to 
 Harriet.
 
 "Looks like it went straight through the shoulder sir" the paramedic 
 replied. "From the looks of the amount of blood it might have nicked 
 something when it went through. But we'll take good care of her."
 
 "You and Madison okay?" Harm asked as Clay made his way over to them.
 
 "Yeah we're fine," Clay said quietly. "And I'm sure Harriet will be 
too."
 
 "This shouldn't have happened Clay" Harm sighed. "The only reason she 
got 
 shot is because of me. You know that bullet was meant for me."
 
 "We underestimated Sergei a little. But nothing like this will happen 
 again."
 
 "Damn right it won't. Because I'm not going to put the lives of my 
friends 
 in danger like this again. He obviously doesn't care who else he hurts 
 getting to me."
 
 "I don't like the way you're talking Flyboy" Mac said quietly. "What 
are you 
 thinking?"
 
 "I'm thinking that I need to get away from the people I care most 
about 
 before anyone else gets hurt" Harm retorted. "I've already watched you 
and 
 Clay get hurt because of this. Now Harriet. I'm not going to allow 
anyone 
 else to get hurt."
 
 "Harm please calm down" Mac begged. "You're sounding like you're going 
to 
 get in your car and drive away from everyone. That isn't going to 
solve 
 anything."
 
 "Yes it will. It will keep you from getting hurt again. And everyone 
else I 
 care about."
 
 "Okay, we need to sit down and talk about this rationally" Clay 
interrupted.
 
 The paramedics loaded Harriet into the ambulance, Bud hurrying in with 
her.
 
 "Anyone else hurt?" the paramedic asked. "We've got the second 
ambulance 
 here."
 
 "Her" Harm said as he tugged Mac's arm. "She hit her head."
 
 "Harm I'm fine, it's just a little bump" Mac protested. "Honestly, I 
don't 
 think I need to go the hospital."
 
 "Why don't you let us be the judge of that ma'am" the young man 
smiled. 
 "Sir, you okay? You don't look too good either."
 
 "He's not" Mac spoke up.
 
 "I'm not who's head is bleeding" Harm retorted. "I'm fine. Just take 
care of 
 her please."
 
 "Why don't you have a seat over here ma'am" the paramedic said as he 
led Mac 
 to the second ambulance, gently helping her down on the gurney. The 
other 
 ambulance with Harriet pulled away and Harm let out a long sigh.
 
 "Harm whatever you're thinking, stop it" Clay ordered. "We'll handle 
this 
 together."
 
 "Harm he's right" Madison spoke up as she joined them. "I'm sorry we 
didn't 
 realize Sergei was here already."
 
 "It's not your fault" Harm said miserably. "It's mine." He swayed 
unsteadily 
 and Clay quickly grabbed his arm and led him over to where Mac was, 
gently 
 pushing him down on the back of the ambulance.
 
 "Harm what's wrong?" Mac demanded, trying to get closer to him while 
the 
 paramedic attended to her.
 
 "I'm okay. I just need to sit for a minute" he assured her.
 
 "You need to go home and back to bed" she countered. "You had no 
business 
 being here in the first place."
 
 "The only place I'm going is to the hospital with you to make sure 
you're 
 okay and that Harriet is going to be okay" he sighed. "I'm not real 
 concerned about me right now."
 
 "Well that's going to stop real quick mister" Mac said firmly. 
"Because even 
 if you don't care about you, I do. I love you remember."
 
 "And that was your first mistake" he said miserably.

"Yeah I've regretted every second of it," she scoffed.  "Do you men 
ever listen to 
yourselves when you speak?"

"No they never do," Madison sighed, sticking her head in the back of 
the ambulance.  
"Mac how are you?  How is she Harm?"

"Hard headed Jarhead," Harm answered before Mac could.  "But she's 
going to get 
her head checked out."

"Yes she is," the medic said firmly again before Mac could speak.  
"These things are 
nothing to fool with.  Concussion or even a fracture under there."

"You heard the man.  I'll be riding with her," Harm said.  "Madison you 
and Clay?"

"We'll see you there," she assured him, feeling Clay's hands at her 
waist to guide 
her back from the ambulance.  The doors slammed and with the siren 
making a low 
wail, the vehicle took off.

With a deep breath Clay guided Madison away from the pandemonium around 
them, seeing that AJ was now firmly in charge.

"We need to get to the hospital," she pointed out, starting toward 
Clay's car, only to 
have him grab her arm. 

"I know we do.  Just slow down a minute before my heart gives out," he 
panted and 
she turned to look at him quizzically.

"Clay you've been under fire before," she reminded him.  "What's 
bothering you so 
about this?"

"Nothing, not a damn thing," he snapped after looking at her in 
disbelief that she 
could not understand.  "Get in the car.  I want to see how everyone 
is."

"Hey watch who you're talking to mister," she snapped back.  "You may 
be the 
senior agent, but I'm your partner, not some intern you can just mouth 
off to."  

For a long moment they stared at each other, neither willing to give.

Finally he stepped past her and unlocked the car door.  "Would you get 
into the car 
please so that we may go to the hospital," he said, his tone much 
mollified.

"I'd be happy to Mr. Webb," she returned, still puzzled but happy at 
least that he was 
not using that earlier tone with her.

They were silent for the drive to Fairfax, following the route the 
ambulances would 
have used.  When he parked she was out of the car and walking in ahead 
of him.  

"You really have no clue as to what's bothering me do you," he yelled, 
sounding for 
all the world like a wounded child.

"Not an inkling," she shot back over her shoulder.

Once inside, she slowed to allow Clay to catch up to her, and they 
flashed their 
badges at the harried clerk, receiving directions to an exam room down 
the hallway.

Inside Mac was sitting up at the end of an exam table while her head 
wound was 
being cleaned once again.  "Ma'am that's going to need a couple 
stitches," the intern 
announced.  

"Yeah whatever, she replied, her eyes closing in exhaustion.  

"But she's going to be OK?"

"Sir yes, for the tenth time.  Her Xray was negative for anything more 
than this 
laceration.  We removed a few teensy slivers of metal and now the 
stitches and you 
can take her home where she can nurse her headache, which if you don't 
quit 
hovering over her, is only going to get worse."

"It's what I do best," Harm sighed.  "Hover that is.  After the fact."

"Who are you two?"  The intern saw Clay and Madison out of the corner 
of her eye.  
"Never mind.  I don't even care."

Mac managed to set her teeth against the sharp pain of each stitch and 
Harm held 
tightly to her.  

"Sir you'll need to keep an eye on her tonight," the doctor cautioned. 
"Sometimes 
these things seem fine and then come back to bite you in the ass.  She 
may have 
some nausea or dizziness.  The real danger being that she could fall 
and hurt 
herself."

"No I won't let her out of my sight," he vowed.  "Not for the 
foreseeable future that's 
for sure."

"So much for peace and quiet," Mac teased, nevertheless melding into 
his arms.  It 
had been a close call all around.  "we need to find out about Bud and 
Harriet."

"I thought maybe I would have Clay and Madison take you and I would do 
that," 
Harm ventured.

"This from the man who hasn't been steady on his feet all damn day," 
she muttered.  
"No way Flyboy.  I'm as worried as you are."

"Maybe so but it's not your fault she's hurt."
==============
Harriet had been taken to a room in another part of the ER wing, in 
shock and 
bleeding.  With the supportive care she regained consciousness and Bud 
was 
permitted to stand by her while they awaited word that an O.R. was 
open.

"You're going to be fine honey," he whispered, allowing himself to 
relax for the first 
time since he had taken her into his arms, stunned by the blood that 
was pouring 
from her.

"I'm all floaty," she whispered, looking up at the IV.  "No more pain. 
. . ."  With that 
her face turned panic stricken and she attempted to grab at the IV 
needle in her 
arm.  "No please no, you can't" she screamed.  "No the baby.  You have 
to be 
careful what you 're giving me.  I can't lose this baby."

Bud's eyes enlarged to the max.  "Baby?

"Mr. Roberts didn't you tell me your wife wasn't pregnant on the 
history form?" Dr. 
Burroughs frowned.

"Uh. . . yes I did," he gasped, trying to calm her at the same time.  
"I had no idea. . 
.Harriet are you?"

She bit her lip as tears formed.  "Yeah I am.  I just didn't want to 
tell you.  I was so 
scared.  I know you didn't want us to try again right yet so I didn't 
tell you I stopped 
the Pill.  I'm sorry.  And now this baby could be. . ."  A giant sob 
racked her body 
and Bud reached to hold her.
  
  "Honey it's going to be okay" Bud said softly as he looked up at the 
doctor. 
  "It is isn't it?"
  
  "Now that we know it will be" Dr. Burroughs nodded.  "It's okay Mrs. 
  Roberts. Just try and stay calm. We're going to get make sure both 
you and 
  the baby are just fine."
  
  "Bud I'm so sorry" Harriet sniffled. "I should have told you."
  
  "It's not important sweetie. All that matters is that you and the 
baby are 
  going to be fine."
  
  She nodded and allowed herself to relax against him, word that the OR 
was 
  now ready coming minutes later.
  
  "I'll be waiting sweetie" he whispered as they took her away.
  
  He was still staring through the OR doors when the other four found 
him.
  
  "Bud how is she?" Harm asked as he approached the young man.
  
  "The doctor said her and the baby should be okay," Bud said quietly.
  
  "Baby?" Mac gasped. "What baby?"
  
  "The one she hadn't told me about. She's pregnant. We're going to 
have 
  another baby."
  
  "Bud I'm so sorry" Harm said miserably. "This is all my fault."
  
  "Sir, how is it your fault?" Bud asked.
  
  "Because it's very likely that the person shooting as us was Sergei" 
Harm 
  sighed. "And the person he was trying to hit was me."
  
  "Why would your half-brother be trying to kill you?" Bud asked.
  
  "He's not my half brother. And that's all I'm going to tell you 
because the 
  less you know the better you'll be. It's a big mess that I've gotten 
  everyone mixed up and I'm sorry."
  
  "Sir, it's not your fault."
  
  "Thank you for saying it's not but it is Bud" Harm sighed.
  
  "Okay sailor, enough of the blame game" Mac said firmly. "How many 
times do 
  you have to be told that this isn't your fault before it sinks into 
that 
  thick skull of yours?"
  
  "Mac it is my fault. And I almost got Harriet and their baby killed."
  
  "He's not going to listen" Mac said as she shook her head.
  
  "Look why don't we all go down to the cafeteria and get some coffee 
and sit 
  for a few minutes" Madison suggested.
  
  "I don't really want to leave Harriet" Bud said quietly.
  
  "How long ago did they take her in?" Madison asked gently.
  
  "Just a few minutes ago" Bud admitted. "I guess it's going to be 
awhile 
  before she comes back."
  
  "Probably" Madison nodded. "And since none of us had lunch we can at 
least 
  get some coffee or juice. I'm sure no one is really hungry but we can 
at 
  least sit down and relax."
  
  "Good idea since someone is supposed to be home resting" Harm said as 
he 
  looked at Mac.
  
  "And you're well?" she retorted.
  
  "Okay, I think Madison had a good idea about us all taking five and 
  relaxing" Clay spoke up. "Including you two. Bud we'll let the nurse 
know 
  where we are and if they're done sooner than we think she can have us 
  paged."
  
  Bud nodded and after a quick stop at the nurse's station they headed 
to the 
  cafeteria. They managed to keep Bud long enough for him to drink a 
cup of 
  coffee before he hurried back upstairs.
  
  "So what's our next move?" Mac asked once they were alone.
  
  "Will you stop saying our next move?" Harm snapped. "You are out of 
the 
  picture on this from now on. I almost got my friend's wife and baby 
killed. 
  I don't need that to happen to you."
  
  "Harm you are not responsible for what happened to Harriet" Mac said 
  quietly. "And I am not out of the picture. We are in this together."
  
  "I hate this" Harm moaned. "I don't want to see anyone else I care 
about 
  hurt."
  
  "And I don't want to see you killed because you think you have to 
handle 
  this on your own" Mac said softly.
  
  "Harm she's right" Clay said quietly. "And as much as you don't want 
Mac 
  with you that might just be the best thing right now."
  
  "Are you nuts?" Harm shouted. "It's the worst thing."
  
  "Harm he knows how much she means to you" Clay continued calmly. "And 
he 
  won't hesitate to use her as a way to get to you. He did it before."
  
  "Oh god" Harm whispered, finally understanding what Clay was saying. 
"No I 
  won't let that happen. He'll have to kill me first before I let him 
lay a 
  hand on her again."
  
  "Well hopefully it won't come to that" Clay sighed. "But as much as 
you hate 
  it, you two are better off together. You can watch out for each other 
and 
  there's no danger he'll use one to get to the other."
  
  "You heard the man," Mac said softly. "We're sticking together 
Flyboy."
  
  "Clay I can't just go about life here when he's still out there" Harm 
  sighed. "I can't risk anyone else getting hurt because of me."
  
  "I know and I'm trying to figure out how to make sure that happens."
  
  "I know how it's going to happen," Harm said quietly. "I'm not going 
to be 
  around anyone until this is resolved. I won't go to a safe house but 
Mac and 
  I are going to leave DC for a while. How long will it take for you to 
get us 
  a car and some cash?"
  
  "Harm I'm not sure this is the best idea" Clay sighed. "A safe house 
would 
  be better."
  
  "And then we'll never get this resolved" Harm countered. "At least 
this way 
  no one else will be in Sergei's way. And if he finds us, we'll settle 
this 
  once and for all."
 
 "That smacks of you hanging yourself out as bait," Clay said quietly.  
"And I'm on 
record as opposing this.  A safe house and let the professionals handle 
it would be 
the way to go."
 
 "Advice noted . . . and disregarded," Harm returned.  "Clay thanks but 
no thanks.  I 
have this really bad awful feeling if I stay here something is going to 
happen to 
people I care about.  Something that can't be fixed.  I almost caused 
my godson to 
be motherless tonight.  That's enough.  More than enough."  Abruptly he 
rose and 
walked across the floor to the large picture windows, staring out over 
the dark 
woods beyond the hospital grounds.
 
 "Mac you don't agree with him do you?" Clay asked softly.  
 
 "If I can be with him, then yes," she smiled.  "Right now that's the 
bottom line.  I 
know this can be worked out.  As long as we're together."  With that 
she rose and 
walked to his side, wordlessly wrapping her arms around him from behind 
and 
resting the side of her head against his back.
 
 "They're very much in love. . .you were so right," Madison whispered 
to Clay in 
awe.
 
 "Yeah I know," he sighed.  "And I wish I had a better feeling about 
all this.  Sergei 
has some powerful people working with him, and you know he can't go 
back to his 
superiors with the job not done."
 
 She nodded thoughtfully and very tentatively reached to cover his hand 
with hers.  
"You want to share what was bothering you before?  And please don't 
tell me 
nothing."
 
 "Oh it's far from nothing," he scowled.  "It's plenty."
 
 "Then I'm all ears," she offered.
 
 "Three years ago, Istanbul," he scowled again.  "You and me, walking 
with the 
Sultan.  Shots.  And a few seconds later I'm holding you while you're 
gasping for air 
and I'm praying I get the chance to. . ."  His eyes reached hers and he 
shook his 
head, leaving that thought undone.  "Anyway, tonight was a total 
flashback to that 
night.  I'm sorry.  It just hit me hard that's all and when you shook 
it off so easily. . ."  
Another thought unfinished.
 
 "You couldn't know that since that night, a lot of nights, I wake up 
gasping," she 
said softly.  "I felt myself dying Clay.  I was slipping further and 
further from you.  It 
was getting darker all the time and then suddenly it wasn't dark any 
more.  I guess 
that was the point at which I was. . ."
 
 "Hey let it go," he begged.  "If I hadn't trusted the guy so much it 
never would have 
happened.  I was the trained man--the senior agent--and I should have 
sensed it 
was all a set up.  It cost the Sultan his life, and very nearly yours.  
And furthermore, 
it's a frequent visitor to my nightmares too.  Do you realize the 
doctor said to me--
and I can hear her exact words and tone to this day--I'm sorry Mr. 
Webb, I'm not 
sure we can save her.  And right then my entire world blew apart."
 
 "Is that why you ran?" she asked softly after a moment to absorb what 
he was 
telling her.  "Because you were scared?"
 
 "Big time scared," he agreed.  "All of a sudden it just seemed easier 
to be away 
from you than to risk losing you; or to risk being the cause of your 
death.  So once I 
knew you were OK and in good hands, I took the leave I had on the books 
and lost 
myself in the Rockies for a month.  When I came back you were gone and 
it was 
just as well."
 
 "I figured you hated me," she whispered, her voice now tearful.  "I 
almost turned 
down the assignment of working with you this time."
 
 "I'm glad you didn't," he said vehemently.  "Because I've grown up a 
lot in that time.  
But tonight just sent me reeling back to that night in Turkey."

 "Can you handle this?" she asked quietly. "Us working together on 
something 
 like this?"
 
 "I hate that you're on this case with me" he admitted. "And today just 
made 
 it even more clear how dangerous this is. I don't want anything to 
happen to 
 you Madison. I thought I'd buried all those feelings for you but 
they're 
 right back again."
 
 "I know" she whispered. "Because the moment I walked into your office 
again 
 I knew I couldn't forget what had happened between us before."
 
 "This isn't going to be easy you know" Clay said softly.
 
 "Nothing in life worth having is" she smiled. "And right now our main 
 concern is keeping those two people alive so they can have a chance 
too."
 
 "They deserve it more than anyone else I know" Clay sighed. "They've 
been 
 through so much together. All they want is a their chance at 
happiness. And 
 now this."
 
 "We'll get them through this. Together. But don't you dare try and 
ditch me 
 on this one Clayton Webb. Because I'll be mighty upset if you do."
 
 "Just promise me no heroics" Clay whispered. "I can't go through what 
I went 
 through in Turkey again."
 
 "I'll do my job Clay. I'm not going to back down from anything. You 
know how 
 I am."
 
 "Yes I do" he sighed.
 
 "We should go check and see if there's any word on Harriet yet" 
Madison said 
 softly. "You want to stay with them?"
 
 "Why don't we leave them alone for a few minutes" Clay smiled. "They 
should 
 be okay. As soon as we get word Harriet is going to be okay, we'll put 
 Harm's suicidal plan into motion."
 
 "He's just trying to protect his friends" Madison replied. "You know 
if you 
 were in his shoes you'd do the same thing."
 
 "I know. But these are real good friends we're talking about here. I 
nearly 
 died a couple weeks ago when McNamara arranged their deaths. The only 
thing 
 worse than losing them would be losing you."
 
 "Well I'm on the case and I'm going to make sure we don't lose anyone" 
she 
 said with a small smile. "I know Harm and Mac are good friends and 
we'll get 
 them through this. And when it's all over, we'll go on a double date."
 
 He smiled at that and gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Thanks. I needed 
to 
 hear something like that."
 
 "It's going to be okay Clay" she promised. "Now let's go check on 
Harriet 
 and hopefully give Harm some good news when we come back."
 
 "When is this nightmare going to end" Harm sighed as he finally turned 
and 
 brought Mac into his arms, holding onto her tightly.
 
 "Soon. But just remember you're not alone anymore Flyboy."
 
 "I don't want anything to happen to you" he gulped. "I don't' know 
what I'd 
 do if I lost you."
 
 "Shh, you're getting all worked up for nothing" Mac soothed as she 
gently 
 rubbed his back. "It's going to be okay. We'll find Sergei and this 
will be 
 over."
 
 "That's all I want" he murmured. "I want it to be over and I want you 
and I 
 to be able to go on with our lives."
 
 "We will," she said with a small smile. "I've waited way to long for 
that to 
 let anyone stand in our way. Including Sergei Zhukov."
 
 "Mac he's dangerous" Harm whispered as he hugged her tighter. "Don't 
forget 
 that. The only reason you're coming with me is because I'm more afraid 
to 
 leave you behind than to have you with me."
 
 "I know he's dangerous," Mac said softly as she stepped back to look 
at him. 
 "But we'll get through this Harm. Together."
 
 "We should go check on Harriet" Harm said with a long sigh. "I hope 
her and 
 the baby are okay."
 
 With their hands joined together they made their way back up to the 
OR, 
 finding Madison and Clay waiting with Bud.
 
 "Any word yet?" Mac asked.
 
 "The nurse just told us she's on her way to recovery" Bud replied. 
"Both her 
 and the baby are doing fine. I'm going to go sit with her as soon as 
they 
 get her situated."
 
 "Thank god" Harm sighed. "Bud I'm so sorry about this."
 
 "Sir, it's not your fault. Mr. Webb was just telling me your crazy 
plan and 
 I wish you'd reconsider."
 
 "Bud its the best thing for everyone" Harm said quietly. "I already 
hate 
 myself for what happened today. I won't let anyone else get hurt."
 
 "Mr. Roberts, we've got your wife settled if you'd like to come sit 
with 
 her" the nurse called.
 
 "Thanks for staying here with me" Bud said as he stood up. "Sir, 
please be 
 careful. Little AJ needs his god parents and Harriet and I need our 
 friends."

"We plan on doing just that," Harm said soberly.  "This nightmare can't 
end as long 
as other people are involved.  And if I wasn't more afraid of leaving 
her here, I'd 
make Mac stay away from me too."

"Yeah you and what Army," she retorted.  "Bud tell Harriet we'll see 
her real soon 
please.  Just as soon as we can.  And congratulations on the new baby.  
It's going 
to be fine."

For a long moment the two CIA agents and the two military officers 
shared a time of 
silence.

"Harm is there anything I can say that's going to persuade you to not 
do this?" Clay 
demanded finally.

"Yeah when I look at Sergei's body and know this horrible game is 
over," he 
answered.  "And anyway, how do we know that once he's dead they're not 
going to 
send someone else in his place?"

Clay shrugged helplessly.  "An answer I don't have I'm afraid.  But no 
one is going 
anywhere tonight.  I've made a call and we're all going to a place in 
Vienna.  There's 
a guy there who works for us who provides short term like one or two 
day stays for 
people we need to just get out of the way.  The four of us have rooms 
for the night, 
and it's there you'll have your car delivered and some cash to 
supplement what you 
can lay your hands on."

"Clay no," Harm objected at once.  "I want to get away from here."

"Harm if you can't think of yourself, think of Mac," he pointed out 
calmly, gesturing to 
the obviously exhausted woman leaning heavily on him.  "Both of you are 
so rocky 
you're hardly standing up.  This is not negotiable.  You want my help. 
. .our help. . 
.you'll play it my way.  Gene Sudoff is a friend of the agency's.  Hell 
my dad knew 
the man.  We'll be more than safe there."

Harm looked down into Mac's face, seeing the exhaustion Clay spoke of 
mirrored 
there.  "Yeah all right but only until morning," he agreed reluctantly, 
every fiber of his 
being crying out to get away from the D.C. area as far and as fast as 
they could.

Gene Sudoff lived in an old farm house off Route 123, well back in the 
trees and in 
the pitch darkness there, they could almost feel safe.  Clay pulled up 
out front and 
flashed the lights in the prescribed sequence, looking back to where 
Harm and Mac 
were resting in a tangled embrace on the back seat.

"OK you two, we're home," Clay called.

A moment later the tall graying figure of Gene Sudoff appeared on the 
porch, a rifle 
held casually across his chest.  "Let's get inside," Clay urged, coming 
around to 
meet Madison coming out and then both of them stood ready to assist Mac 
and 
Harm.

"Clayton your friends look like hell," Gene laughed once they were 
inside the sturdily 
built house, the door locked with an iron bar behind them.

"Thank you sir, we're glad to meet you too," Harm grinned, feeling just 
a small bit of 
his spirit returning in the warmth of the home.

"Gene this is Harm and Mac and. . ."

"Madison Malone," Gene finished.  "Yes Clay's told me about you."

Madison blushed lightly.  "Pleased to meet you sir.  I know about you 
too."

"Well get in here all of you," Gene told them.  "I've got coffee and 
sandwiches 
made."

Harm's arm tightened across Mac's back as they followed Gene into the 
dining 
room.  "How're you doing Marine?" he whispered.

"Hopefully better than you look," she returned, her dark eyes full of 
concern.

"Well I'm not the one with the head injury," he retorted.  "All I need 
is a good night's 
sleep."

"Right," she scoffed and shook her head.

Once the coffee and sandwiches were finished, Gene pointed them down a 
narrow 
hallway.  "Guest rooms that way, two of them.  I'm not the housemother 
so however 
you split up is up to you."

"Thanks Gene," Clay grinned.  "We'll figure it out from here.  Good 
night."

The older gentleman nodded and headed off to his room, leaving the four 
 alone.
 
 "Well guys, I guess we'll see you in the morning" Harm said as he 
guided Mac 
 towards one of the bedrooms.
 
 "Uh, yeah sure" Clay said as he looked at sheepishly at Madison. "I 
uh, 
 guess we're sharing."
 
 "I could think of worse people to have to share a room with" Madison 
smiled 
 as she opened the door to the other bedroom.
 
 "I'll take the chair" Clay said when he spotted the big old living 
room 
 chair tucked in the corner of the bedroom. "You can have the bed."
 
 "Like you'll get any sleep in that" Madison scoffed. "We'll share the 
bed. I 
 don't bite you know."
 
 "I was just trying to be a gentleman" Clay said quietly.
 
 "You are a gentleman. And we're both adults here and I think we can 
handle 
 sharing a bed."
 
 "I hope so" Clay murmured under his breath as he watched her climb 
into bed.
 
 "Come on" she said as she patted the side of the bed. "It's been a 
long day 
 for both of us."
 
 Slowly he made his way to the bed, sliding in carefully next to her so 
as 
 not to touch her. It wasn't that he didn't want to touch her. He was 
just 
 afraid of what would happen if he did. He hugged the edge of his bed 
until a 
 pair of soft hands gently tugged at him.
 
 "You're going to fall off the bed if you stay over there. There's 
plenty of 
 room here."
 
 With a deep breath he rolled closer to her, looking over at her 
smiling 
 face.
 
 "What are you smiling about?" Clay asked.
 
 "You and me. You know how many times I've dreamed about having you in 
bed 
 with me? Course usually in those dreams you're not afraid to be close 
to 
 me."
 
 "I'm not afraid. I'm just giving you space."
 
 "You're afraid" Madison continued. "Just like you were then. Isn't 
that why 
 you ran away?"
 
 "I don't know" he sighed. "It was complicated."
 
 "No it wasn't" she whispered. "It's only as complicated as you make it 
Clay. 
 We both know what we feel."
 
 "What I know is that we're in the middle of very dangerous situation 
and I'm 
 scared to death of something happening to you" Clay said softly, his 
hand 
 gently reaching over to stroke her cheek. "I almost lost you the last 
time. 
 I can't go through that again."
 
 "Are you going to let that fear control your life?" she questioned.
 
 "I don't want it to" he whispered.
 
 "Then don't" she said as she moved closer, her lips gently touching 
his in a 
 soft kiss. "See that wasn't so bad was it" she smiled.
 
 "You're not making this easy" he whispered.
 
 "I know" she smiled. "But the best things in life aren't easy to get 
now are 
 they?"
 
 "No and you are one of the best things in my life ever. I screwed it 
up so 
 bad when I left you the last time."
 
 "I'm over that. Why else do you think I agreed to this assignment? I 
could 
 have turned it down. But I never stopped thinking about you Clay."
 
 "And I never stopped thinking about you" he admitted. "You know I kept 
tabs 
 on where you were all the time. Just to make sure you weren't in any 
trouble 
 anywhere."
 
 "Funny I used to do the same thing" she said softly. "Doesn't that 
tell you 
 something?"
 
 "Yeah it does" Clay smiled. "When this is all over, maybe we could. . 
.uh. . .try 
 and put all the pieces in place again."
 
 "I think we can work on that" she promised.
 
 "We'd better get some sleep" he said quietly. "God only knows what's 
going 
 to happen next. This might be the last good night of sleep we get in a 
 while."
 
 She nodded and moved closer to him, his arms finally going around her. 
It 
 felt good to hold her and he whispered a silent prayer that they would 
all 
 get through this alive.
 
 ******************************
 Harm and Mac's Bedroom
 4 Hours Later
 
 It had taken Harm a while to settle, despite the comfort of Mac in his 
arms. 
 The day had been one of the worst he could remember and when he'd 
finally 
 drifted to sleep it had been anything but peaceful. His ear piercing 
scream 
 of her name pulled Mac from her sleep with a start in the early hours 
of the 
 morning.
 
 "Harm" she said quickly, realizing he was in the midst of another 
 nightmare. "Harm, I'm right here."
 
 He continued to scream her name over and over again even as she 
wrapped her 
 arms around him, trying to convince him she was right there with him.
 
 "Harm stop" she ordered again. "I'm right here."
 
 Her words got through to him and his screams stopped just as Clay 
burst into 
 the room, Madison right behind him.
 
 "What's going on?" Clay demanded. "Mac you okay?"
 
 "I'm fine, he just had another nightmare" Mac said as she held onto 
Harm 
 tightly, his screams now small sobs of her name. "Shh" she soothed. 
"I'm 
 right here and it's okay."
 
 "Thank god" Clay sighed. "For a moment I thought someone was murdering 
you 
 in here."

 "I'm sure we scared our host too."  She continued to smooth Harm's 
hair back from 
his forehead, holding him while he trembled and gradually calmed, his 
sobbing of 
'Sarah' lessening until he was able to breathe and speak.

"Harm she's OK," Clay said softly when he sure his friend was able to 
grasp that.

"No thanks to me," Harm muttered.  "Clay you'll be taking Mac back with 
you in the 
morning."

"Oh that's going to happen--when I tie her up and gag her."

Mac for her part simply sat back from him and looked at him as if he 
had grown 
another head.  "Clay don't listen to him.  He's obviously still in some 
sort of sleep 
delusion.  He'll be leaving here without me only if he's unconscious."

"Mac please.  These dreams are messages from my dad.  Messages that 
something 
horrible is going to happen.  Don't you remember Russia.  The train?"  
He searched 
her face, his eyes drinking her in for a moment as he remembered what 
happened.  
"Sarah, you were dead in my arms.  I'm never ever going to forget that 
as long as I 
live, and I don't want to.  I want to always remember how I risked 
losing you.  How I 
played a dangerous game and almost lost the one thing in this world 
that matters 
most to me."

"SSSHHH calm down now.  You're starting to shake again," she soothed, 
rubbing 
his back.  "Clay, Madison we're fine.  Go on back to bed."

"Clay you heard what I told you," Harm got out through chattering 
teeth.

"Yeah but I heard Mac loud and clear and she could hurt me," he 
laughed.  
"Seriously Harm, I won't help you get away from here alone."

"Clay."

"Don't 'Clay' me," he ordered.  "The two of you belong together.  Good 
night again."  
With that he took Madison's hand and led her back to their room, 
leaving Harm and 
Mac alone in the dark.

With a long shuddering sigh he lay back, drawing her down with him.  "I 
don't think 
I'll sleep again," he whispered.  "I'm too afraid of the dreams."  

"Then lie awake and let me hold you," she whispered.  "I love you and I 
won't let you 
be alone."

"I love you Sarah," he whispered tearfully, overwhelmed by the depths 
of her 
devotion.  "I love you and I'm not ever going to experience what life 
would be like 
without you in it."

Feeling in the dark she found his face and touched her lips to his, a 
light kiss at first 
that deepened as they clung together.
=================
"Are they OK?" Madison whispered while she lay back down.

"Soon as this is over they will be," Clay assured her, dropping on to 
his side of the 
bed once more.

"Clay there's enough room between us for another person," she giggled.  
"Didn't we 
have this discussion?"  There was a long pause and she added 
hesitantly, "Unless 
there's some reason you don't want to lie next to me."

"Yeah there is but not what you're thinking," he whispered.  "I'm 
afraid."

"Of me?"

"Of me.  Of me getting so involved and attached that I don't ever want 
to let you go."

"And this is a bad thing?"  She reached out until she could cup her 
hand against his 
cheek.  "Clayton Aaron Webb you've held my heart all this time we were 
apart.  Now 
you can hold me."
 
 With a long sigh he reached for and drew her closer to him. She 
snuggled 
 comfortably against him and a few minutes later he could tell she was 
 asleep.
 
 "And you had my heart as well" he whispered as he gently kissed her 
 forehead.
 
 ************
 "Morning" Gene greeted Clay and Madison as they walked into the 
kitchen. 
 "You two get any sleep. I thought I heard some yelling last night. Can 
I get 
 you anything?"
 
 "Just Harm and his nightmare" Clay said as he dropped into the kitchen 
 chair. "I'll take some of that coffee I smell."
 
 "Coming right up" Gene smiled. "Madison, how about you?"
 
 "Same. Nice and black please."
 
 Gene nodded and moments later handed them two steaming cups of coffee. 
"So 
 how long you guys going to be staying?"
 
 "Should be out of your hair sometime today" Clay replied. "As soon as 
they 
 deliver the car and the money Harm and Mac are on their way."
 
 "You don't sound like you agree with this" Gene said as he joined them 
at 
 the table.
 
 "I don't" Clay sighed. "I think there's better ways to handle this but 
Harm 
 is too stubborn to listen to reason."
 
 "Yes and that's why I'm counting on you guys to be behind us on this 
one" 
 Mac said quietly as she walked into the kitchen and sat down beside 
Madison.
 
 "And we will be" Clay promised. "Harm still asleep?"
 
 "Finally" she sighed. "He wouldn't go back to sleep after the 
nightmare. 
 He's only asleep now because he's totally exhausted. This is the last 
thing 
 he needed right now. He hasn't recovered fully from the gunshot as it 
is."
 
 "You can't talk him out of this can you?" Clay asked.
 
 "Clay you know Harm. There's no way he'll stay here if he thinks 
anyone else 
 will get hurt. And I'm staying with him no matter what."
 
 "I know you will" Clay said with a small smile. "How are you feeling? 
You 
 okay after yesterday?"
 
 "Just a little sore but I'm fine. So when do we head out of here?"
 
 "Soon as we get the car and the money. I figure by midday you two will 
be on 
 the road. Do you have any idea where Harm plans on going?"
 
 "No. I just know he wants to get away from DC."
 
 "You know you need to call AJ and let him know what you two are doing" 
Clay 
 reminded her.
 
 "You don't think he'll try and stop us do you?" Mac sighed.
 
 "I know AJ and I know he won't like it" Clay replied.
 
 "Well I'm sticking behind whatever Harm does," Mac said firmly. "With 
or 
 without the Admiral's approval."
 
 "He means that much to you doesn't he?" Madison said softly.
 
 "Yes he does" Mac whispered. "I won't let him go through this alone. 
I'm too 
 afraid of something happening to him if I'm not with him."
 
 "Nothing is going to happen to anyone if I can help it" Clay said 
firmly. 
 "Our goal here is to get Sergei before he gets anyone else."
 
 Mac nodded and Gene stood up. "Can I get you something Mac?"
 
 "Just some coffee is all."
 
 An hour and several cups of coffee later Mac got up from the table. 
"I'm 
 going to go check on Harm."
 
 She'd just reached the bedroom when he called out for her.
 
 "Harm it's okay" she said as she hurried in. "I'm right here."
 
 "Thank god" he sighed as she sank down on the bed next to him, his 
arms 
 going around her at once. "I woke and you were gone."
 
 "I was hoping you'd still be sleeping" Mac said softly. "You look 
pretty 
 worn out sailor."
 
 "I'll be a lot better when this is all over. I hate this so much."
 
 "I know and we'll get through it together" Mac soothed.

Harm simply shook his head, knowing she knew he was thinking how much 
he 
needed her, and how much he did not want her all at the same time.

"Go get a shower and some coffee," she went on.  "Madison and Clay are 
in the 
kitchen with Gene."

"Another person we owe," he grumbled.  "I hope God isn't expecting me 
when the 
time comes--I'll never get off Earth--too much in debt to people here."

"Oh good grief you do need coffee," she groaned, giving his messed hair 
an 
affectionate ruffle.  "Besides these things have a way of evening out.  
You know 
Clay.  Likely there will be a time he'll be asking us for help."

Harm nodded, his hair flopping into his eyes.  "Yeah I guess.  Hey you 
think him and 
Madison. . ."

She broke into a quick grin at that.  "Since when do you notice these 
things Sailor?"

"Since I was smart enough to realize how much I love you," he retorted, 
grabbing 
her and rolling her onto the bed with him.  A series of long kisses 
followed, leaving 
them both breathless and thinking of taking it further.

"Not here, not now," he panted finally. "But soon."

"Very," she agreed.  "Very soon Flyboy.  And yes, Clay and Madison 
apparently 
have a history and they're picking that up."

"That's good?"

"That's very good," she chortled and pushed him back down.  "Shower and 
breakfast.  Now."

"Can you wait for me?  And yes I know that sounds needy.  I'm sorry."

"I'll be right here," she smiled.  "And I've had plenty of my needy 
moments since this 
all began."
============
"Hey there you are," Madison frowned.  "Gone for a minute, came back 
and you 
were gone."

Clay was standing on the secluded front porch, staring off into the 
trees and when 
he heard her voice he turned around to see her standing in the doorway.  

"You want to be alone there Mr. Spook?"

"I've been alone for most of the past three years," he reminded her, 
lifting his arm to 
indicate he wanted her presence.  

She slipped under his arm, wrapping her arms around his middle.  
"You're stealing 
my heart again, you know that don't you Clayton Webb.  I'm getting 
sucked back in 
all over again.  Just being with you in the past couple weeks has 
sucked me right 
back in."

"This is a bad thing?"  His tone was light but his eyes searched her 
face.

In reply she rose on tiptoes and kissed his lips.  "No it's not a bad 
thing at all.  Not 
unless you get that flight urge again."

"Not this time," he sighed.  "I took one look at you that day two weeks 
ago and it 
was like we had never been apart.  We were almost there when you were 
hurt.  We 
can get it back.  If you want."

Her answer was another kiss, this time witnessed by Harm and Mac.

"Get a room," Harm groaned.  "And before this gets any harder we're 
ready.  I see 
the car is here."  He gestured to the driveway where a nondescript blue 
Ford stood.  
"We're going to call the Admiral later today after we've put some space 
between us 
and D.C.  He'll be PO'd and we'll probably face some disciplinary 
action, but at least 
we'll--hopefully--be alive to do that."

"Yeah."  Clay pressed an envelope in to Mac's hands.  "This will keep 
you going for 
a while.  There's some clothes and stuff in the trunk, and two service 
revolvers and 
ammunition under the front seats.  You take care of this Sailor now."  
He kissed her 
cheek and held his hand out to Harm as he let her go.

"Clay that's not going to do it," Harm told him seriously.  "Not after 
all you've done."  
And before the agent could react, Harm had taken him in a warm hug.

"Just take care of Mac," Clay whispered.  "You've waited long enough 
for this to 
happen for you two."

  "I will" Harm promised. "You guys take care of yourselves as well."
  
  "I'll make sure Clay stays out of trouble" Madison smiled. "And we'll 
get 
  this all sorted out as soon as possible."
  
  "I hope so," Harm said with a long sigh. "Mac you ready?"
  
  She nodded and with one last look at their friends they climbed into 
the 
  car.
  
  "You really sure you want to do this?" Harm asked. "It's not too late 
to 
  back out and stay with Clay and Madison."
  
  "No way sailor. I'm sticking with you."
  
  "Thank you. When this is all over I promise I'm going to make this up 
to you 
  somehow."
  
  "All I need is you," she said softly. "Just get us both through this 
and 
  that's the only thanks I'll need."
  
  "I plan on that," he said seriously. "I'm not going to lose you Sarah 
  Mackenzie. Not now. Not ever."
  
  "And I'm not going to lose you either" Mac said quietly.
  
  With that he started the car and moments later they were on the road. 
For 
  the first hour they drove in silence, Mac allowing him a little bit 
of 
  brooding time before finally breaking the silence.
  
  "Do you have any clue where we're going?" she asked.
  
  "Ohio."
  
  "Excuse me" she laughed. "Why on earth are we going to Ohio?"
  
  "Because it looked like a good place on the map" Harm said with a 
small 
  smile. "Actually I just knew I wanted to get out of Virginia and Ohio 
seemed 
  like a nice quiet place to go to."
  
  "We going to go hide out with the Amish" Mac smiled. "I know I read 
  something about there being some Amish living there."
  
  "Now there's a vision" Harm smiled. "You in a plain dress with a 
bonnet. I'd 
  love to see you in the kitchen."
  
  "Okay so I'd have a hard time blending in," she admitted. "I'd enjoy 
eating 
  what they made though."
  
  "I bet" he laughed. "But no we're not going to hide out with the 
Amish. But 
  there is an area down there I think we can hang out while Clay and 
Madison 
  track Sergei down."
  
  "I hope they find whatever they had at one time" Mac smiled. "They're 
so 
  cute together."
  
  "Almost as cute as us" he smiled. "Thanks for not letting me brood 
too much. 
  You know I have no clue what I'd do without you."
  
  "And lucky for you you won't ever have to find out" she said as she 
gently 
  stroked his arm.
  
  They stopped for lunch in Pennsylvania, Mac finally convincing Harm 
to let 
  her take the wheel for a while.
  
  "Why don't you try and get some rest" Mac suggested once they were on 
the 
  highway again. "You didn't sleep at all last night. And it's going to 
be a 
  few more hours before we get to Ohio."
  
  "I'd rather stay awake and make sure Sergei's not following us" he 
  countered. "I'll sleep when we get to Hocking Hills."
  
  "Hocking Hills. As in the place where the guy just fell of a large 
cliff and 
  died while he was hiking with some friends."
  
  "That's the place."
  
  "Okay well now that I know where we're going, you can sit back and 
relax and 
  get some sleep. And that's an order squid."
  
  "All right" he sighed as he leaned back in the seat. "But if you get 
any 
  inkling that something isn't right, wake me up."
  
  "Harm we're on the a highway full of cars. I don't think Sergei is 
going to 
  do anything. Course I'm sure he doesn't even know where we are at 
this 
  moment."
  
  "I hope" Harm murmured as he closed his eyes. "Just keep your eyes 
open 
  anyway."
  
  "Marine on the job" she said with a smile. "Stop worrying."
  
  To her relief he finally fell asleep, managing a few hours before he 
awoke 
  with a start, her name on his lips.
  
  "Hey it's okay," she said gently as she reached a hand over to 
reassure him. 
  "I'm right here and everything is okay."
  
  He finally focused his sleepy eyes on her, letting out a long sigh 
when he 
  realized she was okay.
  
  "Another nightmare?" she asked softly.
  
  He nodded. "Not like last night thankfully" he sighed. "But I'm still 
  getting a bad feeling about this. I wish there had been some other 
way than 
  this. Maybe we should have gone to the safe house."
  
  "Is that what you really wanted?"
  
  "No. But I also don't want anything to happen to you."
 
 "Not with you to protect me, but let's remember who's the Marine 
here," she 
laughed.  "And look a coffee shop coming up.  Hungry in need of coffee 
and the 
restroom Marine here."
 
 "OK and then I'll drive."
 
 "Harm I'm fine."
 
"Yeah but I'd rather drive than doze and nightmare here.  Some fresh 
air, a walk and 
a cup of coffee and I'll be fine.  You stay close by me when we get in 
here."
 
 "Hey I need to pee," she laughed.  "Harm really, people do not know 
we're here--
we're away from D.C. remember."
 
 "OK yeah," he relented and when she parked, gratefully stretched as he 
climbed 
from the old car.  "I guess it's not much to look at but it's getting 
us here," he sighed, 
kicking the tire lightly.
 
 Mac made a beeline for the ladies room as soon as they got inside, 
shouting her 
order over her shoulder.  Harm stood in line, trying to be casual but 
at the same time 
on guard.  
 
 "Hey mister I saw your car.  You're from Georgia?"  The red-haired 
eight year old 
boy came to stand in line behind Harm.
 
 For a second Harm froze. He hadn't noticed the plates, not to mention 
the first word 
from his mouth was going to tell this kid he was not from that Southern 
state.  
Obviously Clay had put Georgia tags on the car so as to not earmark it 
as being 
from the D.C. area.
 
 "No it belongs to a friend," he said carefully.  "He let me and my 
friend use for our 
trip."
 
 "Oh OK", the boy sighed.  "My dad lives there but I guess you wouldn't 
know him 
anyway.  I don't get to see him much."
 
 "Thomas Jenson are you bothering people again?"  A young woman, 
obviously his 
mother, demanded, coming to take his hand.
 
 "Not at all," Harm assured her, turning to the woman, turning away 
from the man 
leaning casually against the wall near the bathroom corridor who 
unbeknownst to 
Harm had been studying him.
 
 She had just led him away when Mac returned and Harm gave a small sigh 
of relief.  
"OK my turn.  Obviously things behind the counter are not moving right 
along."  He 
gave her cheek a quick kiss as she took her place in the line and  with 
one last look 
around he strode toward the rest room, passing the man holding up the 
wall.  As he 
did so, he felt him looking him up and down and a feeling of unease 
came over him.  
The man did not move, though to Harm it was obvious he was watching 
him.  With a 
long glance back out at Mac, Harm debated whether to go in or not, and 
in the end 
decided he would risk it.  Nothing would happen in a crowded place.
 
 He emerged as quickly as he could and to his undying surprise, the 
same man was 
now leaning against the counter, talking to Mac as she awaited their 
order.
 
 "I'm here," Harm called sharply, and as soon as the man saw Harm 
approach he 
gave Mac a quick nod and walked away.
 
 "Who was that and why was he talking to you?" Harm frowned.
 
 "He wasn't hitting on me if that's what you're hinting at," she 
giggled lightly.
 
 "No it's not," he retorted.  "OK never mind, he just made me 
uncomfortable is all."  
His level of comfort was not improved when a minute later they were 
sitting down by 
the window and Harm saw him again, this time looking at their car.  As 
he watched, 
another car drove up and picked up the stranger.  For a second Harm 
continued to 
stare, his suspicions aroused, and finally with Mac tugging his arm he 
sat down.
 
 "Little jumpy there," she said softly, wrapping her hand around his.
 
 "Yeah I know," he sighed.  "There's so many strange people in the 
world anyway 
and now they seem like they're all after us."
 
 "Drink your coffee," she smiled, giving his hand a hard squeeze.   
"Your paranoia is 
showing."
 
 "You're not sorry you came are you?"  He searched her face anxiously 
before 
continuing.  "I know you didn't agree, but I'll never forget that you 
did."
 
 "You and I belong together," she sighed.  "It's just that simple.  You 
were 
determined to get away and I was determined you weren't going to do it 
alone."
 
 "OK," he nodded, leaning over to kiss her gently.  "Shall we get on 
the road?"
 
 "You tell me if you're getting tired," Mac admonished him as he pulled 
from the 
coffee shop and back onto the interstate.
 
 "No I'm pretty wired right now.  Couldn't sleep if I tried and if I 
did happen to drop 
off, well my dreams have been pretty scary of late.  I'm fine.  And I 
promise I'll tell 
you if not."
 
 "OK well so far the coffee isn't keeping me awake so I'm going to 
close my eyes," 
she sighed.  "I love you Harmon Rabb.  Always."
 
 "Always," he repeated.
 
 An hour later she was sleeping soundly.  The incident at the coffee 
shop was 
playing heavily on his mind.  He could not get the image of the man 
talking to Mac 
and looking at their car out of his mind.  With the map spread out on 
his knees, he 
surveyed the highway interchange coming up and turned north.  They 
would reach 
the Hocking Hills area, but not by direct route.
  
 He was still heading north when she woke again, looking around to see 
where 
 they were.
 
 "We took a small detour" he smiled. "After the coffee shop I just 
thought it 
 would be better if we didn't go right to Hocking Hills."
 
 "So where are we?" she asked.
 
 "Near downtown Cleveland."
 
 "Some detour sailor. Isn't that a few hours out of the way?
 
 "We'll probably spend the night somewhere up here and then head to 
Hocking 
 tomorrow" Harm said as he tried to stifle a yawn.
 
 "Yes we will," she said firmly. "Because you need to rest. You should 
have 
 woken me sooner."
 
 "Well you needed some sleep after I kept you up most of the night" he 
 sighed.  "And I didn't have the heart to wake you."
 
 "You should have" she chided him. "And I think we should call it a 
day. 
 We've been in this car all day and we need a break."
 
 "You know we're not going to be staying anywhere nice. We have the 
cash from 
 Clay but that won't hold out long if we spend it all at once."
 
 "I wasn't expecting the Ritz" she smiled. "And as long as I'm with 
you, I 
 don't care where we are."
 
 "I don't deserve you," he said with a long sigh as he exited the 
highway at 
 one of the downtown exits.  He drove east finally coming upon a 
rundown 
 motel a few miles from the highway.
 
 "I can't believe I'm actually taking you to a place like this" he 
groaned as 
 he pulled in the lot of the dilapidated Travel Lodge hotel.  "I keep 
saying 
 that when this is over I'm going to do something nice for you and I 
mean it. 
 Especially after this."
 
 "I've been in worse," she said as they got out of the car and walked 
to the 
 front desk.
 
 "Yeah well just stay close to me" he said as he reached for her hand. 
"At 
 least we're armed."
 
 They secured a room and after parking the car they walked to their 
room, 
 Harm keeping an eye around them.
 
 "Not bad" Mac smiled when Harm opened the door to their room. "It 
could be 
 worse."
 
 "You think the sheets are clean?" Harm cringed as he looked at the 
bed.
 
 "I think they'll do for tonight," Mac said as she reached for him, 
drawing 
 him into her arms. "I just hope you'll get some rest. You're looking 
pretty 
 worn out there sailor."
 
 "We need to get dinner first" Harm sighed. "I'm sure you're hungry."
 
 "There was a deli down the street" Mac offered. "We could walk there."
 
 "In this neighborhood" Harm scoffed as he pulled away to look at her. 
"No 
 way. We either order in or we drive somewhere. But we're not walking 
 anywhere."
 
 "Okay just relax" Mac said softy. "Why don't we just order in then. 
You're 
 exhausted and the last thing we need to be doing is driving around a 
strange 
 city at night."
 
 "Good idea" he said with a long sigh. "You think anyone delivers 
around 
 here?"
 
 She found a pizza place that did deliver and once she'd ordered them 
pizza 
 she led him to the bed.
 
 "Chill time sailor" she said as she gave him a gentle push down on the 
bed. 
 "You're way to tense."
 
 "You have a way to fix that," Harm said with a small smile.
 
 "As a matter of fact I do" she smiled. "On your stomach squid."
 
 He did as ordered and seconds later groaned Mac's gentle hands began 
to rub 
 his tense back muscles.
 
 "Easy there Marine" he sighed.
 
 "Well if you weren't so tense it wouldn't be so bad" she chided him. 
"Harm 
 you're going to work yourself into a stroke if you don't relax."
 
 "I'll relax when this is over and you and I can go on with our lives. 
When I 
 know Sergei isn't going to show up and hurt anyone else I care about."
 
 "That will happen soon. Clay and Madison will track him down and this 
will 
 be over. And we'll go back to JAG. . . oops I think we forgot to call 
the 
 Admiral."
 
 "Yes we did" Harm sighed.  "I guess I'd better call him and face the 
music."
 
 "I guess I can continue this later" she smiled as she reached for the 
phone. 
 "You want me to talk to him."
 
 "No I'd better handle this," he said as he took the phone from her.
 
 "Chegwidden" AJ said on the first ring and Harm took a long breath. 
 Obviously the Admiral had been waiting for his call and this wasn't 
going to 
 be easy.
 
 "Hello sir" Harm said quietly.
 
 "Where in the hell are you and Mac?" AJ thundered. "I got some damn 
cryptic 
 message from Webb about you taking off."
 
 "Sir it was the best thing" Harm sighed. "I didn't want anyone else to 
get 
 hurt."
 
 "So this was your idea?" AJ demanded. "What in the hell were you 
thinking?"
 
 "That I didn't want to see someone I care about get killed sir. Sergei 
 doesn't care who he hurts to get to me."
 
 "Harm there were other ways we could have worked this out" AJ sighed. 
 "Without you and Mac putting yourselves out there as bait."
 
 "Thank you for reminding me that I've involved Mac," he said dryly and 
she glared 
at him.  "Sir please, this is for the best."

"Where are you?"

"With respect sir, no.  It's better that you don't know."

"I don't agree Commander.  At least promise if all hell breaks loose 
you'll call for 
help."

"Sir, I would consider it a personal favor if you would not ask me to 
promise.  If I feel 
like I need to, and I can without risk, then yeah. . .uh yes I will.  
But I'm not going to 
promise.  And Mac and I have leave time out the wazoo.  Please tell Bud 
and 
Sturgis that we owe them big time for taking up our slack, and we'll 
make it up to 
them."

"All right Commander.  I'm out on a limb here and trusting your 
judgment," AJ 
sighed.  "Don't make me have to explain to the secnav why my two senior 
attorneys 
messed up."

"Not if I can help it sir.  Thank you.  Good night."

"He's upset huh," Mac smiled gently, reaching for Harm.

"He'll get over it.  This is going to end.  And when it does we'll go 
back and put it all 
straight.  Including you and me."

"Oh I think you and me are fine," she smiled, pulling him back onto the 
bed and 
brushing an unruly lock of hair off his forehead before kissing him 
firmly.  "I love you.  
You love me.  From there. . ."

The knocking at the door cut off her words and both were instantly on 
alert.  With 
cat-like moves she slipped beneath the covers, her hand closing over 
the weapon 
beneath the pillow.  Harm moved to the door, seeing the pizza delivery 
kid through 
the peephole and still not above taking precautions.

"I'm starving" Mac moaned when she could relax, Harm having paid the 
kid and 
locked the door.  

"Double deep dish," he grinned, pouring from the 2-liter soda bottle.   
"By the way, I 
washed the glasses first."

There was not even a crust crumb left when they had finished and with 
the groan of 
a man with a full stomach, Harm fell back on to the bed.  "You know I 
think we were 
in the middle of a massage that was to be continued."

"Oh you're pushing it Flyboy," she muttered.  "OK but I'm getting out 
of these clothes 
first, which means a hot shower.  Give me twenty huh."

"Getting on your pajamas?" He asked with a sly grin, remembering a 
shared hotel 
room so long before in Moscow.

"What pajamas," she grinned as well, getting the reference at once.

He watched her rummage in her bag, and then when she was starting to 
the 
bathroom he rolled from the bed, stepping ahead of her.

"Flyboy, what the hell do you think you're doing?  In case you didn't 
notice, that's a 
shower stall that's barely big enough for one in there."

"I. . .I guess I was going to check the bathroom," he admitted 
sheepishly, realizing 
that's exactly what he was planning and now silly it sounded aloud.

"Get some rest.  I think you need it," she groaned, pushing him back 
down onto the 
bed.

Dressed in a tank top and shorts that she favored for sleep, she 
returned to find that 
he had stripped down to his boxers, sprawled across the bed face down 
and was 
nearly asleep.  "I'm here," she whispered, crawling onto the bed beside 
him and 
resuming her rubbing of his back.  

He murmured and moaned in contentment with her touch and after several 
minutes 
suddenly rose up and grabbed her, pining her to the bed with his 
weight, both of 
them laughing.  His first kiss was light and teasing, with tickling 
playing a prominent 
roll on both their parts as they rolled around the bed, each trying for 
supremacy.

Finally he managed to pin down her wrists and with his body pressed to 
hers, this 
kiss was deep and demanding.  Her eyes widened in surprise.  She knew 
exactly 
what he was thinking.

"Harm?"  He did not respond except another long kiss that left them 
both breathless.

Something in her tone broke through to him and he froze, realizing what 
he was 
doing.  "My god Mac. . .Sarah. . .I am so sorry."

With that he fell back off her, flopping to one side on his back.  She 
followed him at 
once, this time straddling his chest.  "Sorry for?"

"For pawing you like you were some hooker I just picked up," he 
responded.  

"Do you want to make love to me?" she whispered, lowering her head so 
she could 
nibble at his ear lobe.

"I want to show you how much I love you," he answered with total 
honesty.

"Then do it," she smiled, and this time it was her who initiated the 
kiss, every bit as 
demanding as his last one.  "I want you to make love to me Harmon 
Rabb." 
       
  "This wasn't how I planned for this moment to be" he whispered. "You 
deserve 
  better than this fleabag motel."
  
  "You can make it up to me another time" she said softly. "Right now 
it 
  doesn't matter where we are. All that matters is that we're 
together."
  
  He nodded and moments later the last remnants of clothing were 
dropped to 
  the floor as they came together. For a short time there was only the 
two of 
  them. There was no Sergei, no threats hanging over them. The only 
thing that 
  mattered was showing each other the depths of their love.
  
  "I love you" he murmured later when they lay wrapped in each other's 
arms.
  
  "I love you too" she whispered as she rolled closer for another kiss. 
"Was 
  it everything you imagined?"
  
  "Better" he smiled. "And now I wish I could take you away from all of 
this. 
  Just you and me and none of this Sergei crap."
  
  "Our time will come sailor," she said softly. "I promise. But first 
we have 
  to get through this together."
  
  "I just want us to get through it with nothing happening to you" he 
said as 
  he pulled her closer. "I love you so much and I'm so afraid of losing 
you. I 
  couldn't stand that now Mac."
  
  "Shh" she soothed. "It's going to be fine. But I think you should try 
and 
  get some sleep. You've been on overdrive all day and you need to get 
some 
  rest."
  
  "I'm afraid when I go to sleep those nightmares will be back" he 
sighed.
  
  "So close your eyes and think of something good" she whispered as her 
  fingertips gently pushed his eyelids shut.
  
  "You mean like making love to you" he said with a small smile.
  
  "If that's a good thought," she said softly, her hands gently 
stroking his 
  forehead.
  
  "It is" he murmured softly.
  
  "For me too" she whispered as she dropped a kiss on his lips. Moments 
later 
  he was asleep and she curled up next to him, her head resting on his 
chest. 
  She had no idea what the next day would bring but at least they'd had 
this 
  moment.
  
  "I love you Harmon Rabb" she murmured as she drifted to sleep.
  
  *****************
  "I-71 South to Columbus" Harm said as he navigated his way across the 
  traffic to the interstate he needed. "And then to Hocking Hills."
  
  "Well at least I can say I have a good memory from my visit to 
Cleveland 
  Ohio" Mac smiled.
  
  "Yeah we can tell our kids about how we made love in a fleabag motel 
  underneath the neon sign" Harm groaned.
  
  "Our kids?" Mac said softly.
  
  "Uh, I guess I'm jumping the gun a little," he said sheepishly.
  
  "Maybe not" she said quietly. "After last night" Her voice trailed 
off and 
  she looked out the side window.
  
  "Would it be so bad if we had a baby?" he asked.
  
  "No" she said as she turned to look at him again. "At least to me it 
  wouldn't be. Since the day you offered to go halves on a kid I've 
dreamed 
  about what our child would be like. What about you?"
  
  "As long as this mess is over with I think it would be wonderful" he 
said 
  with a small smile. "Cause I've had that same dream."
  
  "Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see" she smiled.
  
  The landscape turned from city to farmland as they traveled south 
towards 
  Columbus. Harm pulled off the highway in one of the small towns 
between the 
  two large cities to fill up the car and a pit stop for Mac.
  
  "Nice and quiet out here" Mac sighed as she stepped out of the car.
  
  "Well I'll still be following you to the ladies room" Harm said as he 
looked 
  around. He was getting a strange feeling and he didn't like it.
  
  "Harm" she groaned.
  
  "Mac, please. I'll feel better if I know where you are at all times."
  
  "You're going to look a little silly standing outside the ladies 
room" she 
  countered but knew it wouldn't matter to him.
  
  "See nothing happened" she said as she walked out.
  
  "Good. Now we'll just fill up the car and then we'll be on our way."
  
  Together they walked back to the car and once Harm had pumped the gas 
they 
  started on their way.
  
  "Wrong way sailor" Mac smiled as Harm pulled the car onto the main 
road. 
  "The highway is the other direction."
  
  "Sorry, mind is elsewhere" Harm sighed. "I'll turn around as soon as 
I find 
  a drive."
  
  "Far and few between out here" Mac said as they drove along the quiet 
road.
  
  He didn't answer her as an overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over 
him. 
  Despite the fact he'd never been on this country road before he knew 
what 
  lie over the next hill.
  
  "Harm what's wrong? Harm?"
  
  "We have to get out of here" he whispered as he looked around for 
somewhere 
  to turn around. But there were no drives, just large ditches along 
the side 
  of the road.
  
  "Harm talk to me. What's wrong?"
  
  "It's my nightmare" he managed. "This road. I know what's going to 
happen."
  
  Before she could answer a car suddenly came roaring up behind them, 
bumping 
  the back of them. Harm floored the gas pedal but the old Ford was no 
match 
  for the large sedan.
  
  "Harm" Mac screamed as she saw the car pull up beside him.
  
  "Hang on" Harm yelled as the large car plowed into the side of them, 
forcing 
  the small Ford off the road.

THE END
	Watch for the next chapter of Past Present Future coming soon.