TITLE: "Phantasm" Chapter 3 [of 4]
                         AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
                        SUMMARY:  On assignment to a Naval Station 
undergoing security breeches, 
Harm and Mac attempt to adjust to a newly achieved next level in their 
relationship while 
keeping their cover personas in tact.
                                	NOTE:  Story was written before the 
events of Fortunate Son, 
Second Acts, Ice Queen etc.  Singer, Sergei, Lindsey, NCIS etc are not 
a factor.  
                                           CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   
J/S/A/R [Harm-Mac]    PG for 
language and mild violence.
                                           SPOILERS:  In any of our 
work, any JAG episode may be referred 
to.
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work, and the effort 
that goes into writing it.
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Note regarding this chapter and the next:  With the criminal situation 
at Pascagoula resolved, 
Harm and Mac find even greater peril in their lives, having nothing to 
do with man's cruelty to 
man but of a woman long ago denied in love coming to claim her due.
***************
From the conclusion of Chapter 2---

Reluctantly they moved apart, setting the trap that Holly had suggested 
with the approval of 
Tracy and Commander Rhodes.  Harm and Holly would go in first, with Mac 
following a minute 
later.  As soon as the crime was committed, a signal to Tracy would 
send in the team to do the 
wrap.

At least that was the plan.  A plan that went to hell, with a lot of 
help from Master Sergeant Holly 
Blake.   Mac's hunch had been right.  Harm had misplaced his trust and 
the woman was 
dangerous, if not deadly.

In a few short minutes the warehouse was turned into a hellhole of 
bullets and flame.  At the 
first shot, Mac went with her gut about Holly and grabbed her radio, 
knowing if she was wrong 
she would hear about it later, but better that than there be a 
massacre.  "Tracy.  Tracy it's 
blown.  It's a set up.  We need help.  Now," she screamed before 
charging in to find Holly and 
Harm.

 She ducked behind a large crate just as Holly looked in her direction.
 
 "Over there" Holly ordered and a moment later Jason Grimes stepped 
out. "Get 
 her. Before the others get here. The NCIS team wasn't far behind."
 
 "Come on Colonel" Jason said as he moved towards where she'd hidden. 
"You 
 can't hide in here forever. We'll get you just like we got your 
partner. You 
 JAG officers thought you were so smart. Now lets see who's the smart 
ones."
 
 "Dear Lord please let him be okay" Mac murmured before ducking behind 
 another large crate. She had to find Harm. She had to make sure he was 
okay.
 
 "Colonel we're going to find you. This little game won't last long." 
      """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
       "Phantasm" Ch. 3, Part 1---

 
 "Not until I find Harm" she whispered. She moved behind another large 
pile 
 of crates, barely suppressing a cry a moment later when she saw Harm 
lying 
 on the floor, a large gash on his head bleeding profusely.
 
 "Oh God" she whispered as she dropped to the floor. "Harm please you 
have to 
 be okay."
 
 She heard Jason's footsteps approaching and knew there was little she 
could 
 do. There was no where else to go. And she wasn't leaving Harm. Her 
hands 
 clutched her weapon tighter and she knew she wouldn't go down without 
a 
 fight.
 
 The fight never came as the NCIS team stormed the warehouse a moment 
later. 
 Her cry for help had been heard and the team hadn't hesitated to take 
 action. Jason Grimes was dead before he could level his weapon at Mac 
and it 
 wasn't long before Holly Blake, Scott Grodin and Cliff Wallace 
surrendered 
 to the NCIS team.
 
 "I need a medic in here" Mac wailed as one of the NCIS team members 
hurried 
 over to her.
 
 "Gibson, get the medics" Agent Mike Tolliver said into his mike. "One 
of 
 the JAG officers is hurt."
 
 "Harm you're going to be okay" Mac whispered as she gently stroked his 
 cheek. "You hear me. I love you sailor."
 
 For a brief moment he stirred and opened his eyes to look up at her 
before 
 they closed again.
 
 "Colonel" Tracy called as she hurried into the warehouse. "What 
happened?"
 
 "It was a set up" Mac whispered. "Holly and Grimes were behind it. 
Somehow 
 they must have found who Harm and I were and they set us up. I should 
have 
 known better. My gut told me something wasn't right. I should have 
convinced 
 him not to do this."  She choked back a sob and Tracy put a comforting 
hand 
 on her shoulder.
 
 "Ma'am he'll be okay."
 
 "He has to be" Mac whispered.
 
 She looked up a moment later when Holly was brought past in handcuffs 
along 
 with Scott and Cliff.
 
 "I knew you were behind this" Mac glowered at the young woman. "It was 
you 
 all along wasn't it."
 
 "It was Jason's idea first  The rest of us just got swept up."
 
 "Somehow I don't believe that. And I guarantee I'm going to make sure 
you 
 and your partners in crime here spend the rest of your lives locked 
away. 
 And so help me God if Harm isn't okay, I'll make sure you pay for that 
too."
 
 "He was so easy. If it weren't for you, this whole thing would have 
gone off 
 like we'd planned."
 
 "Get her out of here" Mac said to the NCIS agent and a moment later 
the 
 paramedics arrived on the scene.
 
 "Did you see what happened to him ma'am?' Julianne Butler asked Mac as 
she 
 began to attend to Harm.
 
 "No" Mac said softly. "I found him like this. He's going to be okay 
right?"
 
 "Was he conscious at all?" she asked.
 
 "Only for a second. But he never said anything."
 
 "Nasty head injury Frank" Julianne said as her partner appeared. "She 
didn't 
 see what happened though."
 
 "That's bad," Frank nodded, confirming Julianne's initial diagnosis as 
he shone a penlight into 
Harm's eyes.  "And this is worse.  Let's get him out of  here."

"What's worse?" Mac gasped, holding onto Harm even more tightly.  "I 
don't understand."

"Ma'am he's not responding to light right now, meaning he's got a 
serious head injury."

"Oh my god he's going to die."  The words had been meant as a scream 
but came out only as a 
hoarse whisper.

"Not if we can help it.  Let's get him to the hospital.  Ma'am you can. 
. ."

"Don't even think about telling me I can't be with him," Mac hissed.

"Ma'am really we should. . ."  He looked to his partner, his eyes 
begging back up.  If this man 
was die enroute, which at that moment seemed a real possibility, did 
they want someone who 
obviously cared about him to witness that.

Julianne laid a hand on Frank's arm.  "She needs to be with him.  She 
might have to tell him 
goodbye."

Those words rocked Mac to the core and she cradled him to her chest, 
heedless of the blood.  "I 
have to stay with him.  Regardless of what.  I have to stay with him."

"Let's do it."

With that, the nightmare that would be the next three hours was set 
into motion.   

At the infirmary, the attending ER physician Major Hollis walked slowly 
toward Mac.  She had 
not moved from where he had left her over an hour before.  "Ma'am."

"If you're going to tell me he's dead, I'm never going to forgive you 
for not allowing me to be with 
him," she said softly, not turning around.

"No ma'am.  Somewhere inside that injured head is the mind of a man who 
wants to live.  Who 
obviously has something to live for.  I'm guessing that's you." 

Mac swallowed the last of her current sob and turned to the younger 
officer.  "He's going to be 
OK?"

"Don't make me make that promise please.  Just know that he's still 
alive, and to give him the 
best chance at not only staying that way, but to make the best recovery 
possible, I'm ordering 
him to the Medical Center at Tulane.  Based on his initial tests and CT 
scan. Just in case."

Her breath caught in her throat.  He was alive.  The man she loved was 
still alive.  "Just in case 
of what Major?" she asked, her words barely audible.

"In case he needs surgery.  Brain surgery."

"No.  Please he can't."

"He may," Maj. Hollis told her quietly.  "And I don't want to wait 
until he does to make that kind 
of decision.  I want him there, with a neurosurgeon minutes instead of 
an hour away.  ETA on 
the chopper is ten.  And I've already told them you'd be accompanying."

"Thank you for that.  Thank you for taking care of him," she managed.  
"I need to see him.  Now.  
Before I lose it completely."

"Of course.  The nurse is wrapping him for the trip.  Go on in."

"He's good to go," Elaine smiled, giving Harm's shoulder a final pat as 
she finished.  "I'll be 
praying for both of you."

Mac nodded silently, her hand to her mouth, forcing down the nausea 
that was rising in her 
throat as she looked at the man on the stretcher.  He had been swaddled 
in blankets to keep 
him warm but it was his head that was wrapped as well.  No sign of the 
blood that had covered 
him, instead there was little of the man she loved showing at all and 
the skin which she could 
see was deathly pale.

"I love you Harmon Rabb.  I love you and I need you," she whispered, 
leaning down to kiss his 
lips.  A gentle kiss at first then more firmly, needing him to know 
that he had her to come back 
to.

His breath was warm on her face and his lips twitched as she broke the 
kiss.  Twitched and a 
puff of air came from them in the form of a two syllable word.  
"Diane."

"Harm no it's Mac," she gasped.  "Your Sarah."  No further response 
came from him and as she 
watched him for any sign of consciousness, the medivac team arrived. 

"Ma'am we need to get in there please."

It took every fiber of her being for her to step back from him, her 
mind still reeling from his 
utterance.  How could he think she was Diane.  Or even more disturbing, 
could he wish she 
was?
  
  She followed along side as he was wheeled up to the top of the 
infirmary 
  where the chopper was waiting and then stood back so the medics could 
get him 
  inside, waiting for them to tell her she could climb in.
  
  "Okay ma'am" the flight nurse nodded. "You can come aboard."
  
  A few minutes later she clutched his hand as the chopper lifted into 
the 
  air. She was still reeling from his earlier word. Diane. Why did he 
think 
  she was Diane? And what scared her more was that he'd called her that 
before 
  this had happened. What if he woke up and didn't remember her? What 
if he 
  only remembered Diane Schonke?"
  
  It was long before they gently touched down on the roof of the 
Medical 
  School and Mac once again moved out of the way as the doctors and 
nurses 
  rushed to greet their patient. She managed to stay beside him as he 
was 
  quickly wheeled down, finally being pulled away as he was taken 
through a 
  set of double doors.
  
  "Ma'am you'll have to wait here" the nurse said gently. She took one 
look at 
  Mac's appearance and led her to a nearby chair. "Is there anything I 
can get 
  you dear? Someone I can call to be with you?"
  
  It was then Mac realized that she was still wearing her bloodied 
uniform. No 
  wonder Harm had thought she was Diane. She needed to shower and 
change into 
  something before she saw him again.
  
  "I need to clean up" Mac whispered. "Is there somewhere..?"
  
  "There's a lounge and I can get you some hospital sweats for the time 
being" 
  she replied. "By the way I'm Lucy. And while you're doing that, I'll 
see 
  what I can find out about your friend."
  
  "He's my partner" Mac whispered. "We're JAG officers. We were set up 
and he 
  got hurt and now I'm afraid he's not going to be okay." Tears 
trickled down 
  her face and she choked back a sob. "I love him and I can't lose 
him."
  
  "Doctor Stegmeyer is one of the best" Lucy assured her. "He'll take 
good 
  care of him. Now why don't I show you to the lounge so you can get 
cleaned 
  up? You'll scare him if he sees you like that."
  
  "Thank you" Mac sniffled and followed the older woman down the hall.
  
  A half-hour later she returned and stood at the desk waiting for 
Lucy.
  
  "I'm sorry honey. There's been no word yet. I promise as soon as 
Doctor 
  Stegmeyer is out I'll have him talk to you."
  
  "Is that bad?" Mac whispered.
  
  "Not necessarily. He's probably just running the full range to 
  assess Mr. Rabb's condition."
  
  Mac nodded and numbly walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. 
She was 
  in a nightmare and all she wanted to do was wake up and find herself 
in 
  Harm's arms. Like she had been before Holly Blake had knocked on his 
door 
  and set him up. She berated herself once again for not going with her 
gut 
  feelings when it came to the woman. She should never have let Harm go 
in 
  alone.
  
  At some point she fell asleep, the long day and even longer night 
catching 
  up with her. It wasn't until she felt a gentle hand on her arm that 
she 
  awoke, waking to see Lucy looking at her.
  
  "Harm?" Mac whispered. "Please tell me he's okay."
  
  "He's starting to show signs of improvement" Lucy informed her. "But 
Doctor 
  Stegmeyer is keeping a close eye on him."
  
  "Can I see him please?" Mac begged. "I just want to sit with him so 
he knows 
  I'm here."
  
  "You can do that" she smiled. "Come with me please."
  
  Mac followed the nurse and a moment later slipped her hand around 
Harm's as 
  she sat down in the chair next to his bed.
  
  "Harm I'm here" she whispered as she pressed his hand to her cheek. 
"I love 
  you and you're going to be okay."
  
  It would be several hours before he finally responded to the fact 
that 
  someone was holding his hand. Mac had dozed off in the chair but as 
soon as 
  she felt his hand move in hers she was awake.
  
  "Harm" she said softly as she leaned forward. "Harm can you hear me?"
  
  She watched as he finally managed to push open his eyes and look up 
at her.
  
  "You're here" he murmured.
  
  "Of course I'm here" Mac smiled. "Where else would I be?"
  
  "It's seems like it's been so long since I've seen you" he whispered 
as he 
  reached a hand to her touch her face.
  
  "Well it's seemed like a lifetime but it's only been about ten hours 
since 
  this whole nightmare started" she sighed. "I swear Harm I was so 
scared when 
  I found you in the warehouse. I thought I was going to lose you 
then."
  
  "Never" he murmured.
  
  "You rest," she said softly. "I'm not going anywhere. I love you Harm 
and 
  I'm never leaving you."
  
  "Love you Diane" he whispered before his eyes dropped shut once 
again.
 
 Diane.  Again.  The name was beginning to be burned into her brain.  
Diane was dead.  Long 
since dead, and yet she kept coming up.  Coming between them.  
"Mackenzie you have totally 
lost it.  You're jealous of a dead woman," she moaned out loud.
 
 "Ms. Mackenzie are you OK? I heard you speak and you sounded 
distressed," Dr. Stegmeyer 
called softly.  Anything I can do?" 
 
 "Yes you can tell me why this man thinks I'm a dead woman," she 
snapped, the worry and 
tension getting to her.
 
 "Hey I only treat physiological problems.  Mental difficulties are 
five floors up," he replied softly.  
"You want to share this?  And as I think about it, I'd like you to.  
Altered reality can be a 
symptom that bears investigating."
 
 "Well I don't really want to confess my neurotic tendencies," she 
groused, "but at the same 
time, if it relates to his recovery.  Short version--Diane was a woman 
he was involved with, I'm 
not sure to what extent, about a year before we met.  That would make 
it seven years ago or so.  
The really odd thing--this woman and I look more alike than some 
twins."
 
 Peter Stegmeyer raised an eyebrow.  "You're serious?  That defies the 
laws of probability all 
right."
 
 "Yes sir.  Totally.  Now she was in the Navy.  I'm a Marine, but on 
this job we've just come from 
I was using the guise of a Naval officer.  Seeing me in the uniform. . 
.well you see where I'm 
going here?"
 
 "I do.  And I know you're in love with Mr. Rabb."
 
 "With all my heart.  So now I'm wondering if it's not Diane he wants, 
or Diane he wishes I was 
or. . ."  That was as far as she got before she burst into tears.  
 
 Peter lay an awkward hand on her shoulder.  "Let's worry about getting 
his body well first of 
all."
 
 "Please God yes," she sniffled, realizing the wisdom in what she was 
hearing.  "Please tell me 
he's going to be OK."
 
 "Twenty-four hours from now I might tell you I'm hopeful," Peter 
sighed.  "I'm afraid that's the 
best you're going to get out of me.  Are you up to hearing a little 
reality?"
 
 "I'm a Marine so yes lay it on me," she sighed.  "Truth be told, only 
his death could make me 
more upset anyway."
 
 "OK.  Here it is.  People who recover from these injuries sometimes 
don't come all the way 
back."  He paused and as he expected felt her tremble under his hand.
 
 "How much disability are we talking," she asked hoarsely.  "Doctor, 
this man is a Naval officer 
and an aviator.  If that's taken away. . ."  
 
 "I just don't know.  If he's extremely lucky, he'll have nothing 
noticeable.  If he's extremely 
unfortunate, he may not be able to feed himself or tend to his personal 
needs."
 
 "If that's the case I may as well put a gun to his head because he 
won't want to live," she 
whispered tearfully.
 
 "Well that was worst case.  I wanted you to be prepared, but not to 
give up hope.  You get 
some rest.  My intern will keep an eye on him, and in the morning I'll 
evaluate him again."
 
 "OK.  Uh. . .doctor, please.  I need you to be honest with me.  Not to 
sugar coat.  I have to 
know I can trust what you're telling me and that it's not going to be 
something worse down the 
road."
 
 "You have my word. Good night."
    
 He left her alone with Harm and with a long sigh Mac reached for 
Harm's hand 
 again. Whatever happened they would make it through. No matter what, 
she 
 would never leave him.
 
 "I love you Harm" she whispered softly. "We'll get through this. I 
promise."
 
 Sometime later she fell asleep and in the early morning she awoke to a 
 gentle hand on her shoulder.
 
 "Tracy hi" Mac murmured as she looked up at the young woman. "What are 
you 
 doing here?"
 
 "Checking on you and the Commander. How is he? I couldn't find a nurse 
 around here who would tell me anything other than his room number."
 
 "When the doctor left last night he didn't sound the most positive" 
Mac 
 sighed. "And there hasn't been any change since then."
 
 "Has he regained consciousness at all?" Tracy asked.
 
 "For a few seconds. And of course those few seconds upset me more than 
if he 
 hadn't."
 
 "I don't understand?" Tracy frowned. "Why would that upset you more?"
 
 "It's a long story. The short version is Harm knew a woman named Diane 
 before he and I met. She was Navy like him and they were at the 
Academy 
 together. She happened to look just like me and she was murdered 
before I 
 came to JAG. Anyway, since we've been on this assignment he's called 
me 
 Diane more than once. And when he woke up last night he thought I was 
 Diane."
 
 "Colonel he has a bad head injury. And you have been wearing a Navy 
uniform. 
 It's possible he's just confused."
 
 "Or maybe still in love with her." The words were out before Mac could 
stop 
 them and Tracy gave her a small smile.
 
 "I doubt that. Not when he's in love with you. I'm not that blind 
Colonel. 
 I've seen what's been going on around here while you two have been 
 undercover."
 
 "I want to believe that" she sighed. "But I just don't know. Of course 
right 
 now I'd be happy with someone telling me he's going to be okay."
 
 "Did the doctor tell you anything?"
 
 "Nothing I wanted to hear. Just that he could be totally fine or he 
could 
 end up needing help taking care of himself."
 
 "That's not going to happen. You have to think positively Colonel."
 
 "I hope you're right. And I'm sorry for leaving you with the mess back 
 there."
 
 "I wouldn't have expected you to be anywhere besides with your 
partner" 
 Tracy said gently. "And it's all taken care of. Except for the court 
 martials of all those involved. But Commander Rhodes is going to make 
sure 
 that happens right away."
 
 "I wish I could prosecute that" Mac said bitterly. "As it is, I'll 
just be 
 happy to testify and put her away for what she did. I can't believe 
she had 
 Harm fooled like that. And I should have known better. My gut was 
telling me 
 the whole thing was wrong."
 
 "She was convincing. I believed her Colonel, and trusted her."
 
 "I just wish I'd listened to my feelings" Mac sighed. "If I had, we 
 wouldn't be sitting here."
 
 "Colonel you need to get some rest" Tracy said quietly. "Have you 
slept at 
 all since you got here?"
 
 "Here and there" Mac shrugged. "But I'm not leaving him. Not until I 
know 
 for sure he's going to be okay."
 
 "I'm guessing that means you haven't eaten either. And I know I'm 
lower 
 rank, but you are going to get up and get some food Colonel. And I 
brought 
 some clothes in case you want to change."
 
 "It might not be a bad idea" Mac sighed as she looked at the hospital 
sweats 
 she'd been wearing. "I'd probably scare him looking like this."
 
 "It won't take long for you to change and grab a bite to eat. Then you 
can 
 come back and sit with him."
 
 "Does the Admiral know what's going on?"
 
 "He does. And of course he sends his prayers and said to tell you he 
won't 
 expect to see you until Harm is released."
 
 "Thank you. He knows us too well."

"Well he did say something about it's about time," she giggled.  "So 
I'm happy for both of you.  
You know what, when I first arrived, I took one look into those big 
green eyes and said OK 
Manetti here is someone you could be interested in.  Then as soon as I 
saw the two of you 
together, I was like--OK no. Never had a chance."

Mac blushed slightly as she squeezed his hand.  "This is our time," she 
said softly.  "Finally it's 
our time, and a little head injury is not going to stop us."

"Good for you.  You keep that faith," Tracy urged.  "And you let me 
know if you need anything."

"Thank you.  Hopefully you won't be sorry you made that offer."

"Faith Colonel," she smiled and left Mac alone.

For the remainder of that day, Mac left his side only as far as the 
bathroom.  She refused all 
offers of meals, managing to down only some soup and crackers on one 
occasion and for a 
long while after was not even sure that was going to stay with her.  
Harm had not regained 
conscious save for a now and then moan which sent her heart soaring 
with hope, only to have it 
crash back down when he would fall back into oblivion.

At midnight she found out why.  "I'm afraid the intra-cranial pressure 
is increasing," the resident 
reported to her when they had taken some further tests. 

"That can't be good," she whispered.

"Not in any way, shape or form.  Did Dr. Stegmeyer explain about that?"

"Surgery," she croaked out.

"Well we're not quite there yet.  Twelve hours should tell the story.  
If it doesn't drop, then yeah 
we'll have to go in and relieve it."

"Is that. . .could it. . .he could die?" she managed, her hands closing 
tightly around his.

"In the surgery?"

"Yeah."

"Any surgical procedure is risky of course.  One thing is certain in 
this case, if the swelling goes 
unchecked, brain damage and death follow.  I know that's not what you 
wanted to hear."

"No it's not," she whispered.  "This is a nightmare."

"Of course it is."  The younger woman shook her head.  "I'm making 
neurosurgery my field, and 
so much of the time it's an injury rather than an illness so there's 
the shock to the family that has 
to be dealt with.  Which leads me to saying that you look like you have 
not slept or eaten in god 
knows how long.  Is this man family?"

"Oh yeah. Very much so." 

"Well you're going to do yourself no favors getting sick.  Nor him 
because he's not going to walk 
out of here and go back to work a few days later.  He's going to need 
care and a lot of it."

"He'll have whatever he needs.  I'm not letting him out of my sight.  
Maybe forever."

"Then all the more reason to take care of yourself," she advised. 
"We've got twelve more hours 
 before we make a decision about surgery and during that time you 
should get some rest. If we 
do have to do surgery, you're going to need all your strength too."
 
 "I don't even want to think about it" Mac whispered. "I keep hoping 
for a 
 miracle."
 
 "The chapel is on the second floor," the resident said softly. "If 
you're 
 wanting a miracle, that's the first place to go and ask for one."
 
 "Thank you" Mac nodded and waited until the resident was gone before 
 reaching for Harm's hand again. "Okay sailor this is not going to 
work" she 
 said softly. "You're going to get better. You hear me. I need you in 
my 
 life. I just got you and I'm not going to let you go just yet."
 
 She swallowed a small sob and leaned forward to drop a kiss on his 
lips. 
 "I'm going to start asking for some help here" she whispered. "You 
just hang 
 tight and don't even think about leaving me."
 
 Mac found her way to the second floor and the hospital chapel and sat 
down 
 in the back before finally making her way to her knees. "I'm not real 
good at this Lord" she 
whispered. "But right now I'm sure you're the only one who can help me. 
I love Harm more than 
anything in this world and I don't want to lose him."
 
 *************
 It was another ten hours before her prayers would be answered. Somehow 
she'd 
 fallen into an uneasy sleep beside his bed and it was with a cry of 
his name 
 that she woke.
 
 "Ma'am you okay?"
 
 She opened her eyes to find Tracy there and the younger woman gave her 
a 
 gentle smile. "You okay?"
 
 "I just had a nightmare" Mac murmured. "It just seemed so real."
 
 "About the Commander?"
 
 "She wanted to take him away," Mac said slowly. "She said he belonged 
to her 
 and she was taking him with her."
 
 "Who?"
 
 "Diane" Mac whispered. "Dear Lord I hope that doesn't mean. . ." Her 
voice was 
 cut off by a sob and she tightened her grip on Harm's hand.
 
 "Mean what ma'am?" Tracy frowned. "I don't understand."
 
 "Diane. She's dead. If she was coming for Harm, it's because"
 
 "Ma'am that's not the case. I spoke to the doctor before I came in. He 
said 
 the Commander is doing better. The pressure is decreasing. They won't 
need 
 to do the surgery."
 
 "He's going to be okay?" Mac whispered.
 
 "It's too early for them to tell if he's going to be totally okay," 
Tracy 
 said slowly. "But they're much more optimistic than they were last 
night."
 
 "Please Lord let that be the case."
 
 It would be several more hours before she breathed a true sigh of 
relief 
 when he finally began to stir again.
 
 "Harm come on sailor" she urged. "Open those eyes and look at me. I 
know you 
 can hear me."
 
 Under her gentle prodding he finally pushed his eyes open and looked 
up at 
 her. A moment later her heart sank once again as he uttered his first 
words.
 
 "Diane."
 
 "It's Mac" she whispered. "Your partner. Remember me."  She barely 
managed 
 to hold back a please as he continued to look at her.
 
"Mac.  I. . ."  His breath rattled in his throat and his eyes closed.  
The pressure from his hand on 
hers that had increased when he awoke slackened and she sank back into 
her chair, feeling hot 
tears threaten.  For several minutes she stared into his still 
features, finally leaning down to his 
ear, letting her lips brush against it.

"Harm listen to me.  It's not Diane. It's Mac.  Sarah Mackenzie.  Your 
partner.  The woman who 
loves you."  She swallowed a sob and added, "the woman whom you love."

Nearly three more hours would pass before he attempted another effort 
at consciousness.  This 
time he groaned, his eyes opened and he attempted to sit up all in the 
same moment, nearly 
overwhelming her as she had been dozing.

"Whoa, as you were mister," she ordered sternly, forcing the grogginess 
from her mind.  

"Mac?"

It was just a one syllable word, one that he had said a thousand times 
before and yet it was as if 
it was the first time she had heard it.  And it was beautiful sounding.

"Yeah Harm.  It's me.  Scared to death but here with you."

"I don't know what. . .hospital?  Why?"  His eyes darted around the 
room in alarm and he again 
attempted to get up.

"Sssshh don't try to do it all at once now," she admonished him, still 
shaking with relief that he 
had least knew her name, and holding him still as best she could.  "You 
were hurt in the raid.  
Do you remember any of that?  Holly Blake and warehouse?"

"All I've got is snatches," he sighed.  "Raid?  You were there?  I was 
hurt?  Oh god are you 
OK?"

"I am, and you need to be still.  It will come back to you.  And if it 
doesn't, it doesn't matter.  
We're through here except for me writing the final report.  Tracy will 
do the rest of the mop up 
and I'm taking you back to DC as soon as they'll let me."

"Am I OK?"

She took a long breath and stifled a sob at the same time.   "It wasn't 
a sure thing for a while.  
They were afraid you were going to need surgery.  But the doctor says 
you're on the way back."

"OK that's good and it's good you weren't hurt."

"And you need to stop talking," she told him.  "They're going to come 
in here and kick me out for 
letting you get too excited."

"I'll be good.  Hey would you tell Diane to come in.  I want to see 
her."

Mac froze, her hand squeezing his so hard in her shock that he grimaced 
in pain.  "I'm sorry.  
Harm Diane isn't. . .Diane is dead Harm.  She's not here."

"No.  No she's not," he screamed with more volume than she ever dreamed 
he could muster 
given his condition.

"Diane is not dead.  She's been right with me.  You hear me, she's not 
dead.  She's not.  She's 
not dead."  His voice grew even louder and more high pitched.  Mac 
could only stand by the bed 
in horror, not knowing how to address the matter.  And a few moments 
later the nurse was by 
his side, injecting his IV line with an amber liquid.  

"This will calm and quiet him.  He should not be agitated like this.  
Ma'am you're not going to be 
able to stay if you're going to upset him."

"It's not me. . . I didn't. . ."  Her tears would no longer be denied 
and with a final look to Harm to 
be sure he was all right, she fled the room.

 She ran outside, finally stopping at a bench outside in a courtyard. 
There 
 she buried her head in her hands as she sobbed.
 
 "Ms. Mackenzie."
 
 At the sound of Doctor Stegmeyer's voice she looked up, wiping away 
her 
 tears as she did so.
 
 "He thinks Diane is alive" Mac whispered. "He thinks she was there in 
the 
 room with him."
 
 "And you told him she wasn't?"
 
 "Yes. And he freaked. Doctor she's been dead for almost eight years. 
He 
 knows that."
 
 "He used to know that. He may not know it now."
 
 "But he knew who I was. I met him after Diane was killed. How could he 
 remember me but not remember that Diane was dead?"
 
 "He's suffered a severe head trauma. His memories are going to be 
mixed up. 
 And likely the fact that you were dressed in a Navy uniform right 
before 
 this happened is adding to his confusion."
 
 "How long will it take before he gets things straightened out?" Mac 
asked.
 
 "In terms of what he remembers? Maybe not ever."
 
 "You mean he's going to have to go through the whole ordeal of 
realizing a 
 woman he cared for and possibly loved is dead all over again."
 
 "If he doesn't remember that Diane is dead, yes."
 
 "God this is a nightmare" Mac moaned. "It's taken him years to put her 
out 
 of his mind as it is. He spent three years trying to figure out who 
killed 
 her."
 
 "Did he ever?"
 
 "Yes. And the man responsible thought I was Diane and was killed when 
he 
 fell into the water between the ship and the dock."
 
 "You look this much like her?" Doctor Stegmeyer asked.
 
 "I could be her twin. I know it sounds totally off the wall but it's 
the 
 truth. And I'm sure that's what's adding to Harm's confusion. The 
first time 
 he woke he thought I was Diane again. Then he woke up again and he 
knew it 
 was me. But then he flipped when I told him Diane was dead."
 
 "So when he sees you, he's not sure who he's looking at right now."
 
 "Maybe I shouldn't be here then" she whispered. "I don't want to upset 
him 
 and make this worse. But I don't want him to wake up and be alone 
either."
 
 "Well he's going to sleep for a while now. And I think it might be a 
good 
 idea for you to go and get some rest as well."
 
 "What if he wakes again and freaks like that? Not that I was much help 
of 
 course."
 
 "We'll manage" Doctor Stegmeyer said with a small smile. "I promise 
we'll 
 take good care of him."
 
 "Can I give you my cell phone number? That way you can call me if 
anything 
 changes before I come back."
 
 A few minutes later she hailed a cab to a nearby hotel. With a long 
sigh she 
 crawled onto the bed, giving in once again to the tears. It wasn't 
fair. 
 Just when they'd gotten everything worked out, it was all taken away 
from 
 them. But she was grateful that he was alive and she told herself that 
was 
 all that mattered. Somehow they would get through this.
 
 *****************
 "How is he?" Mac asked the nurse the next morning as she stood outside 
 Harm's room.
 
 "He just woke up" the nurse informed her. "But he did ask where Sarah 
was."
 
 "Did he ask about Diane?"
 
 "No. He just asked about Sarah."
 
 "Please Lord let that mean he knows what's going on" Mac murmured. 
With a 
 deep breath and prayer heavenward she walked into the room. "Hi" she 
said softly as she 
slowly approached the bed.
 
 "I was wondering where you were. I thought you'd left me."
 
 "I would never do that" she whispered as she sat down. "Harm do you 
know who 
 I am?"
 
 "Of course I do" he frowned. "Why are you asking me that?"
 
 "Humor me and tell me who I am."
 
 "Okay but I don't get why you're asking me this. You're Colonel Sarah 
 Mackenzie. My partner at JAG."
   
"Bright boy," she smiled and took a deep breath, running through the 
possibility of bringing up 
Diane, and further, how much of her and their life together did he 
actually really recall.  Her 
hopes were dashed a second later at his next words.

"Where's Diane?  She should be here too."

She shook her head, not trusting her voice at that second and at once 
his face clouded.  

"You're not going to lie to me again are you?"

"Harm I wouldn't do that to you ever," she said slowly.  "Just like I 
would never leave you."

"I need Diane.  I need to talk to her.  We were going to talk that 
weekend.  We never got to.  
She's not dead Mac."

"Harm I don't know what to tell you," she whispered, her eyes filling 
with tears.  "Diane was 
killed months before you and I met, and then about a year later I 
helped you get the guy who did 
it."

His eyes grew larger as she spoke and he began to shake his head.  
Finally he lifted a 
trembling arm and his hand shook as he pointed to the door.  "Get out.  
And don't come back 
until you can tell me the truth."

"Harm.  Please. Please no. Please don't do this to yourself.  To us," 
she pleaded, knowing she 
was begging and not caring.  

"Us?  What us?  Get out."  With that he turned his head from her and 
she could hold back her 
emotions no longer, fleeing the room as she had done before.  

Not until she was outside the hospital did she slow down, taking in 
great gulps of air.  The heat 
assaulted her at once, and she sank down on the nearest bench, deciding 
to give in to her 
tears.  Tears that came in a rush and left just as quickly as some of 
her Marine spirit welled up 
inside her.  "Dammit I am not going to allow this to happen to us," she 
swore.  Harm had told 
her very little about the time he and Diane had shared, though the 
details of the nightmare of 
her death were embossed in her memory.  Her death.  Bud had been there 
for both her death 
and knew of Hobarth and how he had died.  

With renewed determination she strode back inside to the main desk and 
secured their fax 
number, then dialed Bud at JAG.  "Lieutenant, it's Colonel Mackenzie."

"Yes ma'am.  How's Mr. Rabb?"

"Work in progress Bud.  Listen I need you to do something for me.  
Diane Schonke's obituary 
and anything else in print relating to her death.  I need it faxed to 
me here."

"Can I ask why ma'am?"

"The Commander is just a little confused right now and I need some 
stark reality to hit him 
upside the head with," she retorted.  "Good enough?"

"Yes ma'am.   Shouldn't take me any more than about twenty minutes.  I 
know it was in the 
Navy Times and the local paper.  Probably the local TV stations as well 
had it."

"Just do it Bud.  Thank you."

She suppressed her strong desire to go back to Harm, instead waiting on 
the faxes.  Finally the 
clerk strongly suggested she go sit down and she would call her when 
they came in.  

"Thank you," Mac sighed and walked to the nearest chair, leaning her 
head back against the 
wall and all at once the exhaustion overcame her and her eyes closed.  
Almost at once the 
vision appeared.  In a bloodied white Naval uniform.  

"He's mine Sarah.  He's mine and you will not have him.  We belong 
together."

Her eyes flew open as the vision faded.  "Diane?"  The word came out as 
a hoarse croak.

"Ma'am?  You OK?  Can I help you?"  The desk clerk had her cry and 
walked over to her.  "I'm 
sorry, there's no one here but you and me."

"There wasn't just a woman. . ." Mac began, and shook her head as her 
senses returned.  "No 
of course there wasn't and I'm sorry to be a pain.  I must be exhausted 
or I wouldn't be 
delusional like this.  I'm seeing dead women of all things."

"Yes ma'am," she frowned.  "How about some coffee?"

"Please.  And my faxes?"

"Not yet.  Ma'am are you sure you didn't pass out or something?  I 
thought you were asleep but. 
. ."

"I'm fine thank you," Mac interrupted sternly. "Did you say there was 
coffee?"

Twenty minutes later, her resolve reinforced by a shot of caffeine, and 
carrying the evidence 
Bud had sent her, she marched back into Harm's room.  He looked up at 
her warily.

"What?"

"I'm glad to see you too," she retorted.  "And this is going to be hard 
for you, but it's the truth 
and you're going to have to face it."

"Is this about Diane?"

"Of course it is.  I have some stuff here I want you to look at.  It's 
not pretty."

 "If you're going to keep telling me this bull that she's dead, then 
don't."
  
  "She is Harm" Mac said as she handed him the top sheet. It was a copy 
of the 
  Navy Times article about Diane's murder. "And here's the proof that 
I'm not 
  lying to you."
  
  "NO" he said as he shook his head as he saw the first headline. "NO. 
This is 
  all wrong. How can she be dead?"
  
  "Harm she died eight years ago. See the date. Eight years ago."
  
  She handed him the other pages and he stared blankly at the pages. 
Diane was 
  dead. It didn't make any sense. How could she be when he'd seen her?
  
  "Do you believe me now?" Mac whispered. "I'm not trying to hurt you 
Harm but 
  this was the only way to make you see that I wasn't lying. Diane died 
before 
  you met me. She was murdered. And two years later you got her 
murderer. 
  Don't you remember the pier at Norfolk?"
  
  "I remember kissing her on the pier" Harm said quietly.
  
  "No" Mac shook her head vehemently. "That was me. Not Diane. Me. 
Sarah 
  Mackenzie. Your partner and the woman who loves you."
  
  "You love me?" he frowned.
  
  "With all my heart and soul. And I thought you loved me."
  
  "I do love you," he said without a second thought. "But Diane."
  
  "No Harm. There is no Diane. Diane is dead. You just read it 
yourself. She's 
  not here anymore."
  
  "But she is."
  
  A chill ran down her spine at his words. Had he possibly seen her? Or 
was it 
  all part of his confused mind?
  
  "No she's not. Please Harm. Understand that. Diane is dead."
  
  "No. This doesn't make any sense. I was going to see her. We were 
going to 
  talk."
  
  "Talk about what?" she whispered. "Did you love her Harm? Is that 
what you 
  were going to talk to her about? You and her being together."
  
  For a moment he didn't answer and Mac held her breath. All these 
years she'd 
  assumed that he hadn't loved Diane. But maybe deep down inside he had 
loved 
  her. And not just as a friend.
  
  "We were just going to talk. She was coming home and we were going to 
talk 
  about us."
  
  She wasn't expecting the word "us" and she drew in a sharp breath. 
Maybe 
  there had been more to his and Diane's relationship than she'd 
realized.
  
  "Harm I'm sorry. But Diane is dead. She is not here."
  
  "You're lying Mac. I've seen her. I know she's here."
  
  This time she felt the hairs on her arm rise up. "You've seen her?" 
Mac 
  whispered. "When?"
  
  "A lot yes.  Recently. Until you came."
  
  "Harm you just woke up. How could you have seen her?"
  
  "I don't know but I did. So I don't know why you're telling me she's 
dead. I 
  saw her Mac."
  
  "You weren't awake. They didn't even know if you were going to live." 
As she 
  spoke her mind suddenly remembered the vision she had. Diane. She'd 
  told her then that Harm would be hers. Was it possible the woman was 
  reaching out from the grave to him? She immediately shook the thought 
out of 
  her mind. It was just too crazy to even think about.
  
  "You were upset weren't you?" he said suddenly. "I remember hearing 
you talk 
  to me. But Diane told me it was going to be okay. That her and I were 
going 
  to be together."
  
  "No" Mac whispered. "You and I belong together Harm. Not you and 
Diane."
  
  "She loves me."
  
  "And so do I. And I know you love me."
  
 "I do love you. I've loved you for a long time.  But Diane.  Diane and 
I never had our talk.  We 
needed that talk.  I needed to tell her. . ."  His face went blank and 
he put his hands to his 
temples, pressing hard.
 
 "Harm what is it?  Pain?" Mac gasped, the matter of Diane tabled in 
her concern for him.
 
 He nodded, his eyes glazing over, and Mac lay on the nurse call 
button.  
 
 "He's in agony," she yelped soon as the first nurse appeared.  "My god 
what's wrong with him."
 
 "Ma'am calm now," Angelina smiled softly.  "He's going to have painful 
episodes after a head 
injury such as he suffered.  I'm going to give him something to help 
him."
 
 "Diane.  Diane no," Harm shouted as the nurse injected his line.  "Mac 
she's looking at you.  
Diane is looking at you.  She doesn't want you here."
 
 "Harm Diane is dead, and even if she wasn't, there is no place I'd be 
but right here," Mac told 
her sternly.  "Close your eyes and go with the medication will you.  
You obviously need to rest.  
Your brain is telling you things that just aren't so."
 
 Angelina gave her arm a soft pat.  "A concussion is in fact a brain 
injury remember.  Delusions 
and painful memories are not uncommon.  Hopefully when he gets home, 
into his own 
surroundings, along with the natural healing process, this will all be 
behind him.
 
 "I hope so.  Because right now he's being tortured by these memories 
or visions or whatever 
the hell you'd call them."
 ================
 It would be another twelve hours before Harm's eyes would open again.  
This time it was Tracy 
in the room, no sign of Mac.
 
 "Hey Commander," Tracy said mildly, looking over the edge of her 
newspaper when she heard 
Harm stir.
 
 "Hi.  Where's Mac?"
 
 She took a long breath and shook his head.  "Sir, they've put her to 
bed.  And I'm glad to see 
you too."
 
 "Put her to bed?  What's going on?"  He sat up slowly and hesitantly 
as a hedge against the 
pain he expected.
 
 "Sir she was half sick from exhaustion and worry and not eating," 
Tracy explained slowly, not 
sure how much to tell.  "But she was insisting she wouldn't leave you.  
Then she got up to go to 
the bathroom and she stopped just outside the door, gave this small 
scream and almost 
collapsed."
 
 "My god where is she," he gasped, pushing the cover back at the same 
time.  
 
 "Whoa there Jessie James.  Hold up on that train robbery," Tracy told 
him, catching his 
shoulders.  "Sir, you are not going anywhere.  She's just two doors 
down, and when I checked 
on her about forty-five minutes ago, she was sleeping soundly.  And 
more importantly, the nurse 
said her blood pressure was coming back down."
 
 "Blood pressure?"
 
 "Stress Commander.  She's been frantic over you.  Not just your injury 
but over Diane.  Which I 
don't even know the whole story there but it's apparently an upsetting 
topic, for both of you."
 
 "Never mind that now.  Mac--she's all right?  Go check again."
 
 "Sir I just came from there.  She's asleep and I can assure you the 
second she wakes up, she's 
going to be in this room.  Sir, one thing too, getting back to Diane.  
Last night, just before she 
kind of fainted or collapsed or whatever, that's what she yelled."
 
 "She yelled for Diane?" Harm scowled.
 
 "Well it was more of a cry of surprise," Tracy flushed uncomfortably.  
"Like this woman 
suddenly appeared in front of her."
 
 His eyes widened and for a moment Tracy thought she was going to need 
the 
 nurse again.
 
 "No" he whispered. "She can't do this. She can't."
 
 "Who can't do what?" Tracy frowned. "Commander you lost me."
 
 "I need to see Mac. Now."
 
 "Commander you can't get up" Tracy said when he attempted to move from 
the 
 bed. She didn't wait to argue with him, instead reaching for the call 
 button. "There. Let's see you argue with the nurses."
 
 "What seems to be the problem in here Mr. Rabb?" Angelina said as she 
 hurried into the room. "Where do you think you're going?"
 
 "To see Mac. Before Diane does."
 
 Tracy gave the nurse a shrug and Angelina quickly moved forward to 
push Harm 
 back into bed.
 
 "Mr. Rabb you are not going anywhere. And we're taking good care of 
Ms. 
 Mackenzie down the hall."
 
 "But you don't understand" he wailed. "Diane."
 
 "Mr. Rabb from what Ms. Mackenzie has told me, Diane is dead. She is 
not 
 here."
 
 "No, she's here. She's here because she wants to talk to me. We never 
had a 
 chance to talk." His agitation increased and once again Angelina 
injected 
 his IV line.
 
 "Just rest" she smiled. "This will all look better eventually."
 
 "No I need to be with Mac" he murmured. "You don't understand.  About 
Diane."
 
 He drifted back to sleep and Tracy gave the nurse a grateful look. 
"Thank 
 you. I really don't understand any of this."
 
 "Do you know who this Diane is?" Angelina asked.
 
 "No ma'am I don't.  Not the whole story," Tracy sighed. "But I guess 
I'm going to need to find 
out.  I know the Colonel had someone from the JAG office send up some 
information. 
 I guess I'll spend some time reading it while they're both sleeping."
 
 "Is it true that Ms. Mackenzie looks exactly like this Diane?"
 
 "So I'm told. And I guess that could be what's adding to the 
Commander's 
 confusion."
 
 "And coupled with his head injury, it's not at all surprising that he 
would 
 be confused. And it may take a while before he's able to sort 
everything out 
 again. Course that doesn't explain Ms. Mackenzie's reaction."
 
 "No it doesn't" Tracy frowned. "Unless it's just the stress of 
everything 
 finally getting to her."
 
 "Very possible" Angelina nodded. "But he's going to sleep for a while 
now so 
 if you want to go see how she is, now might be a good time."
 
 Tracy nodded and walked down the hall to the room where Mac was still 
 sleeping. She picked up the briefcase of information Mac had had Bud 
send 
 down and began reading about Diane Schonke.
 
 It wasn't long before Mac stirred, Harm's name the first words from 
her 
 lips.
 
 "It's okay Colonel. He's fine."
 
 It took a moment but Mac finally opened her eyes and looked up at 
Tracy.
 
 "Harm. Where is he?"
 
 "Down the hall. He's resting again. And you're looking slightly better 
than 
 before."
 
 "She's here. She wants Harm back."
 
 "Excuse me?" Tracy frowned. "Ma'am I don't understand."
 
 "Diane. She's here for Harm. He wasn't supposed to live. He was going 
to die 
 and she was finally going to have him. But that didn't happen and she 
still 
 wants him back with her."
 
"Ma'am do you realize you just said the spirit of some long dead old 
flame has come for Harm?" 
Tracy gasped.

"Yeah that's exactly what I said," Mac sighed.  "And she considers me a 
threat to that."

"Well if my great grandmother Satoko were alive, you'd certainly have a 
sympathetic ear," Tracy 
said softly.  "She could commune with the dead, and would have totally 
understood.  Unlike 
me."

"That's all right.  I'm not sure I do fully either.  Just that when 
Harm was meeting her the 
weekend she was murdered, they were going to go to Maine I think it was 
and talk about their 
future."

"Sounds like Harm. . .I mean the Commander. . .was going to propose?" 
she offered.

"I didn't get that impression but it's possible I guess," Mac nodded, 
thinking back to that horrible 
night with the rain pouring down and her frantic drive to Norfolk to 
stop Harm from ruining his 
life.  A slow smile came over her as her thoughts turned to the events' 
close.  Their first kiss.  
He had not answered her when she had purported that he was kissing 
Diane.  It was one of the 
mysteries of her life and one she felt she might never know the answer 
to.

"Well Grandmother Satoko would have said she has unfinished business 
here on earth."

"That's not cheering me up Commander," Mac sighed.

"I didn't say I believed it," Tracy smiled.  "Question is, do you?"

"I know what I saw," she replied quietly.  "I got up from Harm's bed to 
use the bathroom and she 
was blocking my way.  I can't explain it Tracy.  But it was her.  Well 
it was like looking in the 
mirror at me but you know what I mean."

"They say that everyone has a double," Tracy frowned.  "Though I think 
one Southern Japanese 
American me is more than enough."

"Well whatever.  Let me out of this stupid bed.  I'm going to go to 
Harm."

"Ma'am respectfully, may I suggest a shower.  After you pulled your 
little passing out trick, I 
talked to him for a minute and he was pretty upset.  He'll be more 
relaxed if you look like you're 
feeling yourself, if you get my drift.  And maybe some food so you 
don't collapse and scare the 
poor man."

"Agreed.  If you go check on him and make sure he's OK, and being taken 
care of  and knows 
I'm here and that I'll be in shortly."

"Breathe Colonel," Tracy smiled.  "You know I was playing go-between 
last night.  Only it was 
him nagging me to check on you."  She turned to go, stopped and turned 
back.  "Ma'am a 
suggestion.  Find out from him what Diane meant to him.  Not that I'm 
putting any stock in what 
you're saying, but just on the one-tenth of one percent chance you're 
dealing with something 
paranormal, you should know the score."

"Thanks Tracy."

An hour later, feeling almost normal, Mac was at Harm's bedside, his 
hand firmly planted 
between hers, and shortly his eyes opened.  

She held her breath, waiting for him to address her as Diane.  Instead 
a slow smile came over 
his face. "My Sarah."

"Yeah it is Sailor.  Your very scared Sarah."  Her hands trembled 
around his and she swallowed 
a sob. "How do you feel?"

"No you first.  You passed out last night?  And you're having some kind 
of blood pressure 
problem?  What the hell is going on with you?"

"Gee I can't imagine what would have stressed me," she snapped.  
"Unless it was seeing the 
man I love with his head bashed in and being told he might not ever be 
remotely like he used to 
be.  Then the whole Diane thing isn't helping."

"You saw her didn't you?"

"Yes but I'm putting it down to stress and exhaustion.  At least that's 
what my logical self wants.  
The rest of me that knows what she saw, knows she saw Diane last 
night."

"I think you did too," he said quietly.  "She's here for me, and sees 
you as an obstacle to that.  I 
was supposed to die in that warehouse and we were finally going to be 
together like she 
wanted."

Mac swallowed hard and bit her lip.  "The time you went after Hobarth 
and we were talking 
about how she died, you said you and she were going to talk that 
weekend.  Were you going to 
propose?"
  
 Harm opened  and closed his mouth several times before finally 
answering her.
 
 "No. At least I don't think I was. We didn't have that kind of 
relationship. 
 Not at that point anyway."
 
 "But you would have been receptive to having that kind of relationship 
with 
 her?"
 
 "I guess. But we were in different areas and I didn't know if it would 
work. 
 And mostly what I wanted that weekend was to find out where her 
feelings 
 lay."
 
 "She was in love with you Harm. And she wants you. She thought she was 
 finally getting you back and then somehow fate intervened and she 
didn't."
 
 "She didn't because I wasn't going to leave you. We had too much 
unfinished 
 business for me to check out just yet."
 
 "You and Diane had unfinished business too," Mac said softly.
 
 "I can't help that. It wasn't meant to be. But you and I" His voice 
trailed 
 off and he reached for her hand. "I'm sorry for what I've put you 
through 
 the last few days. When I first woke up I couldn't get everything 
straight. 
 And I know I hurt you and I'm sorry."
 
 "It's okay. All that matters to me now is that you're okay."
 
 "Mac I'm scared she's going to hurt you" Harm said quietly. "When 
Tracy told 
 me you'd screamed her name before collapsing I knew it was her."
 
 "Harm she's dead. She can't hurt me."
 
 "Yes she can" he whispered. "She's here Mac. I know it sounds totally 
crazy 
 but I know she's here. And she's not going to be happy until she gets 
what 
 she wants."