TITLE:  Red, White & Blue Blessings
AUTHORS:  Anne R. [amrsecret@hotmail.com]
                    Pat Steiner [ssbpmn@aol.com]
SUMMARY:  The 6th Chapter of the Blessings series.  Previous chapters are 
posted on the archives.  Harm has recovered from his injuries and is starting 
back to work as Mac and Seth work together and she copes with her pregnancy.  
Set against the backdrop of the Independence Day holiday.
DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to CBS et al.  The following work of entertainment 
does not represent a copyright violation.
FEEDBACK:  Our readers who enjoy our work know we love a note to that effect.  
Those who don’t need not respond.



Sun. June 10, 2001
Rabb Farm

"This is awful," Grams wailed.  "I can't bear to see you leave."

"Oh Grams you know you're looking forward to the peace and quiet," Mac chided 
her.  "Plus we'll be back in three weeks for the wedding and the fourth anyway."

"You can always come to DC with us," Harm called.

"Now why would I do that when you two, and my great grandchild, in a matter of 
weeks or months, are going to end up back up here, with no thought of returning 
to DC," the older woman returned.

"I hope so," Mac smiled and looked to Harm who merely nodded.

"It's no good if it's not something we both want equally," Mac reminded her 
gently.  "Harm's not ready to let go yet."

"When it's my idea," he said softly.  "That's when I'll be ready."

"I hope this baby doesn't get a good dose of that Rabb pride," Harriet sighed as 
she helped little AJ down the steps.

"Actually I do," Mac corrected her.  "Because channeled properly it's a good 
thing.  It's when it becomes Rabb stubborn that it's a brick wall."

"I guess you've seen all of that you want since I got out of the hospital," he 
laughed softly.  "So much of what I said and did is emblazoned on my memory, 
along with my other not so proud moments like Sydney Harbor."

"It's OK.  I plan to get even with you when I'm in labor," Mac grinned.

"OK this is the last of it," Bud called, lugging a suitcase through the door.

"I really appreciate you guys coming up for the weekend and then helping with 
this," Harm said again and Bud merely waved him off.  

"We've had another wonderful weekend.  This country air...and AJ loves it here," 
Harriet smiled.  

Two weeks had passed since the Memorial Day weekend which had culminated 
with the tornado.  That black swirling cloud brought about a storm in Harm's heart 
as well, for from the moment he had held his Sarah, wet and cold but alive and 
well, it was as if a weight had been lifted from him.  His heart that had been so 
heavy was suddenly lightened again, and the old Harmon Rabb had emerged.  
He still used his cane except during moments of being especially stubborn, and 
with continued therapy the hesitancy in his speech had all but vanished.  Memory 
loss was still an issue, though he maintained that as long as he could remember 
how much he loved Mac it was not a problem. 

"You ready to go home Flyboy?" Mac asked, squeezing his arm and holding on 
to steady him down the steps.  

"You better believe it," he declared.  "And ready to go back to JAG tomorrow."

"Just remember that's only provisional depending on how you do," she 
admonished him.  "I see you getting tired and your six is being hauled home.  I'm 
not at all convinced a morning of working and then a few hours of rehab on top of 
that is going to work."

"Have a little faith in me please," he begged, hugging her hard.  "I want it bad 
enough after all."

"I know you do Harm," she whispered.  "And I'm behind you all the way, you 
know that.  You also know I worry.  Put yourself in my place.  I mean if I were 
having pregnancy complications you would be..."

Harm shuddered and gave her a sharp shake.  "Don't even...please," he begged.  
"The thought of anything happening to you or my child is beyond what I can bear.  
And that's what the tornado was all about.  God was giving me a message, one 
last chance, to get through my thick head that I am so lucky to have you, and that 
life can be very fragile."

He stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked from her to the sky.  "I didn't 
mention it that day--too busy being grateful you were alive, but I felt it Sarah.  
See I was praying of course.  But I was also making a deal with Him, that if He 
sent you back to me, I would be more careful than ever with us.  I think He heard 
me."

"I'm glad," she whispered tearfully, as she realized that in fact it had to be 
intervention from above.  Harm had changed that day.  Not one hundred percent, 
but his impatience lessened as his determination to bring himself back increased.  
Most of all there had been a new quiet serenity about him, a gift from Heaven.

"Tonight we'll sleep in our on bed," she smiled, tugging his arm, and he leaned 
down and whispered in her ear, making her blush.

"Mac what's he telling you there," Grams demanded.

"Nothing I could repeat in polite company," she called laughing.

Grams walked to the car and hugged Harm and then Sarah.  "Take care of each 
other," she whispered.  "You two are my family."


 "We will Grams" Mac assured her softly. "Thank you for everything. I'm not 
 sure we would have made it through all of this without you." Her hand 
 reached for Harm's and he squeezed it gently.
 
 "I'm just glad to see you two back the way you were" Grams smiled. "Not that 
 I doubted for a second that you wouldn't be okay. Your love and faith will 
 see you through anything."
 
 Final tearful good-byes were made and as the two vehicles pulled out of the 
 driveway, Grams stood on the porch, wiping the tears from her eyes. She'd 
 grown used to having them with her, and she knew it would be a long three 
 weeks until they returned. And hopefully soon they would return for good.
 
 "I miss her already" Mac sighed an hour later.
 
 "Me too" Harm admitted. "Especially her cooking. "
 
 "Hey" Mac said giving him a playful swat. "I can cook." He gave her a long 
 look and she laughed. "Okay, not as well as Grams. And I'm going to miss 
 that too. Coming home every night and having a home cooked meal on the table 
 instead of frozen something or another."
 
 "Well maybe one day you'll be home cooking that meal for our kids" Harm 
 smiled.
 
 "Can you really picture me at home all day?"
 
 "Very easily" Harm nodded. "Only if that's what you want though."
 
 Hours later they arrived in DC and after Bud and Harriet had helped bring up 
 their stuff they were finally alone.
 
 "How's it feel to be home?" Mac asked softly as they snuggled together on 
 the couch.
 
 "You know I never realized how noisy it is here" Harm sighed as the sound of 
 sirens once again broke through the night. "And as nice as this place is, I 
 really don't like the idea of raising our children here."
 
 "Whenever you're ready," Mac said softly.  "But it is nice to be alone 
 again."
 
 "Yes it is" Harm whispered before his lips met hers in a long and passionate 
 kiss. "I think we should continue this in the bedroom" he said breathlessly 
 when they finally parted.
 
 "Good idea" Mac smiled as she helped him to his feet, gently looping her arm 
 around his waist to steady him.
 
 "Not quite as romantic as the last time" Harm said quietly as they walked to 
 the bedroom.
 
 For a moment it didn’t register with Mac and then she remembered the last 
 night they'd spent together before the crash. He'd carried her to the 
 bedroom that night, something he'd done several times before. But something 
 she knew he wouldn't be able to do again for a while.
 
 "No but we're together and that's all that matters" Mac whispered.
 
 "You're right," Harm said softly as he lowered himself to the bed, bringing 
 her with him. "I love you Sarah Rabb. Now where were we?"
 
 "Let me refresh your memory" Mac smiled as she wrapped her arms around 
him.
 
 *****************************************
 "You sure you're up to this" Mac fretted as she helped Harm with his tie the 
 next morning. "You look a little tired this morning. Maybe you should wait a 
 few days.."
 
 "Well if someone hadn't worn me out last night I would be fine" Harm teased.
 
 "Can I help I missed my husband?" Mac whispered as she stopped adjusting his 
 tie and wrapped her arms around him, her lips meeting his in a long kiss. 
 "And I didn't hear any complaining from you last night."
 
 "No ma'am you didn't" Harm smiled. "And as for your earlier questions, I'm 
 fine so stop worrying. It's not good for you or our baby to be stressed 
 about me all the time."
 
 "Yeah, like that's ever going to happen" she grinned as she started back on 
 his tie. "Okay sailor, you're good to go."
 
 "I guess I'm ready" Harm said taking a deep breath. "Why do I suddenly feel 
 like it's my first day at JAG?"
 
 "You've been gone for two months" Mac reminded him.
 
 "Yes and sometimes it feels like a lifetime" Harm sighed as he grabbed his 
 duffel bag for rehab in the afternoon. "All right, let's go."
 
 "Cane" Mac said he started towards the door. He groaned and she handed it to 
 him. "It's going to be a long day."
 
 "Yes ma'am"
 
 *********************************
 "Commander it's good to see you again" Tiner greeted them as they stepped 
 off the elevator.
 
 "Thank you Tiner it's good to be back" Harm smiled. He started towards his 
 office and then stopped. "Uh, Mac, is Seth still..."
 
 "Seth's down the hall in one of the small offices" Mac replied as she led 
 him to his office. "It's all yours again. "
 
 "Thank you" he said giving her a small kiss. "I'm sure you had something to 
 do with that."
 
 "Actually it was Seth's idea. He didn't feel right take your office, even if 
 you are only here part time."
 
 "I'll have to remember to thank him for that" Harm smiled as he sat down at 
 this desk. "Boy this feel weird."
 
 "Good morning Sarah, Harm" Seth said as he walked in. "Getting reacquainted 
 Harm?"
 
 "Yes it's just a little strange right now," Harm admitted. "Hey, thanks for 
 giving up my office."
 
 "No problem" Seth said with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's your office. I'm 
 just temporary here anyway."
 
 "Good you're all here" AJ said as he strode out from his office. "I need to 
 talk to the three of you and Mr. Roberts. Grab some coffee and then I'll 
 meet you in my office in five. Oh and Harm, it's good to have you back."
 
 "Thank you sir, it's good to be back" Harm smiled.
 
 Five minutes later they gathered in AJ's office.
 
 "I apologize for the timing of this" AJ started. "But I just got the report 
 on Friday and I want to start the ball rolling on this ASAP before the trail 
 gets too cold." He paused and four puzzled faces stared back at him. "This 
 is the report from the NTSB on the crash. They determined that the crash was 
 a result of sabotage." Mac let out a gasp and Harm reached for her hand, 
 squeezing it in his.
 
 "Mac, you okay?" AJ asked.
 
 "Yes sir" Mac whispered. "I just…well..I never thought.." She stopped as she 
 took a deep breath to compose herself. "I always thought it was just an 
 accident."
 
 "That's what someone wanted everyone to believe" AJ continued. "But the 
 engine was tampered with."
 
 "Someone didn't want Commander Rice to testify" Harm said quietly and AJ 
 nodded.
 
 "I'm pretty sure that whoever sabotaged the plane is the person or persons 
 that Commander Rice was going to blow the whistle on" AJ replied. "And I 
 want to nail them. Seth, effective immediately this case is your top 
 priority. Whatever you were working on I'll assign to Lt. Roberts and Lt. 
 Singer. As for your partner on this case…"
 
 "Sir" Harm started.
 
 "No" AJ said before Harm could even ask. "I can't allow you to investigate. 
 It's bad enough that your wife is going to have to work with Seth on this."
 
 "With all respect sir, I don't want her on this case" Harm said quietly.
  
AJ's eyes opened in surprise.

"I don't want her on this case," he repeated, ignoring the glare she was sending 
him.

"Sir do not listen to my husband," she spoke up.  "I want this case very much.  To 
get to the people who killed two men, and very nearly Bud and him.  You bet your 
six I want this case."

"That's exactly why you should be far away from it.  You may still look like a 
Marine Colonel in that uniform but to me you are my pregnant wife.  It's one thing 
to have you here trying cases, but another to have you in the field.  Sarah my 
god these men who didn't want Rice to testify aren't going to want to be 
questioned either."  He turned to AJ, his eyes begging the C.O.'s understanding.

"Harm I'm concerned too," AJ said slowly, "but listen to me now.  If I start 
showing her any special treatment, I'm going to have the Secnav crawling up my 
six.  And none of us want that.  He's been ignoring the fact that you're married 
pretty well so far.  Let's not do anything to jeopardize that."

"No let's not," Mac spoke up.  "And let's also remember the person in question is 
in the room here."

"Well let's remember Mayport as long as we're remembering," Harm went on.

"Not likely to forget that, " Seth smiled.  "I still can't shave properly."

Harm's gaze fell to Mac's arm, the lower part bearing the scar of where the bullet 
dug a small furrow as it passed by and he shuddered.

"Harm even if you were able to help, you have your rehab to do," she reminded 
him.  "It's going to be fine."

"It wasn't this time," he returned, his finger tracing the scar on her arm, "and like 
Seth says he was...

"People."  AJ banged his fist on the desk.  "Closed subject here.  Colonel 
Hawkins and Colonel Mackenzie will head this up, with Lieutenant Roberts 
assisting as needed.  Commander Rabb will provide behind the scenes expertise 
as needed.  That's all."

The four of them filed out, Harm looking so decidedly unhappy that Mac gave his 
ribs a playful poke.  "At least you can come and see what the case files have.  
See how far the case has gotten since the crash.  Conference room, five 
minutes."

"I don't hardly remember this," Harm fretted as he spread the file out before him 
and Mac.  "Rice of course I remember, going to pick him up, but at some points I 
go blank."  

"Well there's Phillip Muscraven." Seth pointed to his picture.  "Long been 
rumored to have a profitable black market weapons business, recruiting 
personnel as suppliers and arming anyone with the money, from your street punk 
to your garden variety terrorist group."

"Commander Rice was going to spill what he knew," Bud nodded, "but without 
his testimony there's not enough to go after Muscraven."

"I propose that we phony up some paperwork and get me assigned to him," Seth 
said softly.  "I'm a computer whiz after all.  Should be a simple matter to spend 
some time in his office, getting to know the layout and then getting the 
information documented.  With any luck we can take him down not only for illegal 
arms but for the plane crash and murder."
===============================
Fairfax Hospital
4PM Eastern
	
"There's my Sailor," Mac smiled, walking into the rehab facility in search of Harm.  
"You look tired.  They give you a good work out?"

"I'm going to be ready to outrun you when I finish with this," he sighed, grateful 
for her supporting arm to lead him to the car.  "But the leg and arm are getting 
stronger every day.  I feel it.  I'm not ever going to have the reflexes back to fly a 
fighter, but that's OK.  I have Sarah--the plane Sarah--to mess with."

Her heart fluttered at his words.  "You're not going to attempt to keep up your 
quals then?"

"No I'm not," he smiled.  "I'm wanting to remember the last time I flew.  On the 
Henry, pushing that Tomcat along back to the deck.  It's a good memory, and 
that's the one I want to have."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.  "I know what a big part of your life that was."

"It was, and for a long time I was angry it was taken from me.  But God sent me 
so much more in its place."  He plucked a stray piece of hair from her face and 
kissed her.  "You and the baby are my life now.  And right now I want to go 
home.  Please."

"Your limo is waiting," she smiled. 
 
 A short time later Mac helped her exhausted husband up the stairs to their 
 apartment. She led him straight to the couch and he gratefully sank down in 
 the cushions.
 
 "You rest, I'll start dinner" Mac said giving him a quick kiss before 
 heading into the kitchen. Harm closed his eyes as he leaned back against the 
 cushions, worn out from his first day back. He was asleep when Mac returned 
 from the kitchen a few minutes later and she stood beside the couch for a 
 few seconds, staring down at the man she loved. That he was still with her 
 was something she thanked God for every morning. The phone rang and she 
 hurried to answer it before he woke.
 
 "Hello"
 
 "Sarah it's Grams"
 
 "Grams, how are you?" Mac said as she sat down on the edge of the couch next 
 to Harm.
 
 "Missing you two like crazy. So I figured I'd call and see how everything 
 went on Harm's first day back."
 
 "He did good, but it wore him out" Mac smiled as she ran gently fingers 
 through his hair. "He fell asleep almost as soon as he got on the couch. And 
 of course he won't listen when I tell him to take it easy."
 
 "No of course not. You know Harm. How are you feeling dear?"
 
 "I'm fine Grams" Mac sighed.
 
 "Something else wrong Sarah?" Grams asked.
 
 "No, just something I wasn’t expecting" Mac said quietly. "We got the report 
 today on the crash. It wasn’t an accident Grams, the plane was sabotaged."
 
 "Sabotaged" Grams whispered. "Why on earth would someone do that?"
 
 "They were trying to stop the man Harm and Bud had gone to get from 
 testifying" Mac sighed. "And they succeeded. The Admiral has assigned Seth 
 and I the investigation and Harm wasn't too happy about it."
 
 "I think I see why" Grams replied. "Sarah are you sure this is a good idea?"
 
 "Grams, I want to get the guy who did this. I want him to pay for what he 
 did to my husband."
 
 *******************************************************************
 Friday
 JAG HQ's
 08:15 AM
 
 "Bud anytime you want to leave, I'm ready," Harm said as the young Lt. 
 walked past his office.
 
 "Be ready in one second sir" Bud promised as he headed to his office.
 
 "Leave for where?" Mac frowned as she walked into Harm's office.
 
 "Quantico. Bud and I are going down to talk to Corporal Mullins about his 
 alleged assault of Corporal King. Didn't I tell you?"
 
 "No, you didn't sailor" Mac sighed. "What about rehab?"
 
 "Bud's going to drop me off on the way back" Harm replied as he made his way 
 over to her. "And my lovely wife will pick me up later."
 
 "Guess this means I don't get lunch with my handsome husband" Mac smiled as 
 she wrapped her arms around him.
 
 "Not today" Harm said softly before giving her a quick kiss. "I'll see you 
 later."
 
 "Be careful" Mac whispered as she suddenly drew him back into her arms.
 
 "Hey, we're just going to Quantico" Harm smiled as he pulled away to look at 
 her. "No reason for you to worry."
 
 "It's just…well…the last time you and Bud went somewhere…" her voice trailed 
 off and she turned away as she felt the tears brimming.
 
 "Nothing is going to happen" Harm whispered as he hugged her again. "I'll 
 see you later."
 
 She watched him and Bud leave before heading back to her office, wiping the 
 stray tears from her eyes.
 
 "Ma'am you okay?" Harriet asked.
 
 "Yes I'm fine," Mac said giving her a small smile. "Just tell me it's normal 
 for a pregnant woman to be totally emotional for no reason."
 
 "Very normal" Harriet smiled. "Why?"
 
 "Oh, it's just that this is the first time that Harm has gone out somewhere 
 since the crash" Mac sighed. "And for some reason my mind is conjuring up 
 all kinds of bad things again."
 
 "They'll be fine ma'am" Harriet assured her. "They're just going to 
 Quantico."
 
 "You're right and I'm being over emotional" Mac smiled. Her phone rang and 
 she quickly reached for it. "Colonel Mackenzie"
 
 "Hey, it's Seth" the voice at the other end replied.
 
 "Seth, how's it going out there?" Mac asked. The paper trail sending Seth to 
 Phillip Muscraven had been completed days before and Mac had been waiting 
 for word from him.
 
 "Nothing yet" Seth replied. "This may take a little more time than I 
 thought. Muscraven is pretty cautious."
 
 "Just keep me posted" Mac sighed. "And if you need me to do anything besides 
 sit here."
 
 "For now no. I'll let you know when I need you."
 
 "Be careful," Mac said before hanging up. She'd been hoping that Seth would 
 have been able to find out something right away. She wanted to nail Phillip 
 Muscraven for what he'd done to Harm.
 
 She dealt with other cases the rest of the morning; her attention not 
 totally focused on anything. Her mind kept drifting to Harm and Bud and she 
 resisted calling Quantico to check on them. By 1:15, she kept watching the 
 elevator for Bud to return. It didn't take that long to interview the 
 accused and she knew Harm's rehab started at 1:00. She finally headed to 
 Harriet's desk to see if Bud had called.
 
 "No ma'am" Harriet replied. "But I'm sure he'll be back any minute. You're 
 not having that strange feeling like you did when the plane crashed."
 
 "I don't know what I'm having" Mac sighed. "I keep telling myself it's just 
 hormones. And I'm praying that's the case."

"Ma'am..uh ma'am's," Tiner stammered as he came up to them.  Harriet and Mac 
looked up at him, trepidation on their faces, which only increased when they 
heard the Admiral's voice.

"Tiner I'll do it," AJ called softly.  "I'm off the phone."

"Sir what's wrong," Harriet gasped, beginning to tremble and her hand rested on 
her belly, just beginning to show a soft roundness.  Mac reached for her hand, for 
support for her and for herself.

"Sir, please," she begged, "you're scaring us to death here."

"OK.  Here's all I've got.  There's a hostage situation at the brig at Quantico.  
Commander Rabb and Lieutenant Roberts are inside.  And let me add quickly, 
no one has been hurt so far.  I'm on my way down, and I'm going to let you two 
come because I'd rather drive you than have you on the road upset and I know 
you're just going to follow me anyway."

"You got that right," Mac declared and added hastily, "sir."  It was only then that 
the full impact of the situation hit her and Harriet's hand trembled in hers.  
"Harm's been through so much.  This can't be happening to him.......and you 
know him.  He'll feel like it's his responsibility to stop it somehow."

Harriet 's reaction was one of pure fright, and her hand pressed against her belly.

"Harriet you OK?" AJ asked her gently, his concern immediate.  "Tell me you're 
not having pains or anything like that."

"No sir, not like that but just...oh God I'm scared.  Please let's go."

It took nearly an hour to reach the base in the traffic.  Mac and Harriet sat 
together in the back-seat of AJ's car, neither speaking, their hands still joined 
together in common fear for the men who were the essence of their life.

"You knew something was wrong didn't you?" Harriet whispered.  "You knew 
there was a problem.  Ma'am how?"

"I don't know," Mac admitted, shaking her head.  "I truly don't know.  It's like 
someone is telling me that Harm needs me.  And yet at the same time I don't feel 
as scared as I might.  I feel like he's OK.  I think I can hear him in my 
mind...hearing him telling me that he's fine and not to worry."

"If the situation weren't so grim I would be humming the Twilight Zone theme," AJ 
said.  "Mac do you really believe you can know these things?  This is something 
like when Chloe disappeared isn't it?"

"Yes sir," Mac nodded.  "And also when the plane crashed.  I wish I knew how to 
explain it."

"I wish you knew that Bud was OK," Harriet said quietly.

"I think he must be," Mac pointed out.  "If Harm is OK, and Bud would be with 
him."

AJ pulled up to the sentry gate and a very young corporal shook his head.  "No 
admittance.  Base is closed", he yelled.

"Son you want to try that again," AJ ordered, showing his ID as the Judge 
Advocate General as he stood up, letting the boy get the full view of his uniform.  

"Sir yes sir," he gasped, coming to full attention and saluting for good measure.  
"Proceed with my apologies sir."

Keeping his ID out, AJ drove toward the Brig, parking as close as he could.  "You 
two holding together OK?"

"Yes sir, please, we just need to be with our husbands," Harriet begged.  

"Yeah I know," AJ smiled.  "Stay close with me now.  No running off.  Don't make 
me sorry I brought you.  That's an order for both of you."

"Yes sir," Harriet nodded and Mac followed suit. 

His ID on display, AJ strode purposefully toward the brig, corralling the first 
Lieutenant MP he could.  "Who's in charge here son?"

"Sir that would be Colonel Day right over there." 

"Colonel Day?  AJ Chegwidden, Judge Advocate General.  What the hell is going 
on here?"

"Sir.  We've got five inmates with smuggled in weapons who think they're going 
to waltz out of here because they've taken a few hostages.  That's not going to 
happen sir."  He gestured behind him as a gray van drove up and sharp shooters 
began to file out.

"Hey no," Mac gasped.  "Hostages remember?  Hostages that could be hurt.  
Hostages that happen to include our husbands."

"Colonel I understand your concern," Day said calmly, "but at the same time we 
can't let these men walk out of here either.  But the effort to talk them out is 
ongoing believe me.  I have my best negotiator in there on the phone with their 
instigator."

"How serious a threat is this?" AJ asked quietly.

Day shook his head.  "Serious enough for them to threaten to kill the hostages.  
Five of them as I understand it.  Your two officers, and three prison staff, 
including a nurse who answered a sick call from the cell."

"Please God no," Harriet breathed and Mac shook her head, keeping tears at bay 
for the moment.

"Colonel Day, Major Calhoun for you sir," one of Day's officers called, holding a 
phone out to him.  "That's my negotiator," Day explained before taking the phone 
and stepping away.

"I feel so helpless," Mac moaned.  "Sir there has to be something we can do."

"Let's let the man who's paid to know what he's doing do his job," AJ offered 
gently.  

It was at that moment a shot rang out from the inside.  Harriet grabbed onto 
Mac's arm, swaying on her feet in shock.

Mac held tightly to her, trying to comfort her as she stared in horror at the 
building.  

Colonel Day looked back at AJ as he handed the phone back to his man.  "Sir I'm 
sorry.  We've lost a hostage.  Negotiations are over.  Time to take them out."

"Bud," Harriet whimpered.

AJ stared at the officer before him.  "ID on the casualty?"  

"One of the men, nothing more than that." Day answered.

 It was suddenly a bad rerun of two months ago when they'd reached the site 
 of the crash. "No" Harriet wailed while Mac stood there frozen. This 
 couldn't be happening. Not now. Not when they were starting to put the 
 pieces of their lives back together again.
 
 "Get them back" Day ordered and AJ quickly pushed the two woman back 
towards 
 the car.
 
 "Bud" Harriet kept crying. "Oh Bud."
 
 "Lt., stay calm" AJ ordered. "We don’t know who was shot. There's no reason 
 for you to get yourself upset." He was suddenly regretting bring two 
 pregnant women down without knowing what was going to happen.
 
 "Mac, I'm so scared" Harriet whispered as she turned to her friend who stood 
 there emotionless. "Mac."
 
 "They're going to be okay" Mac whispered. "They're going to be okay."
 
 The sound of gunfire erupted as the sharp shooters made their move.
 
 "God please keep them safe" Mac whispered with a glance heavenward. 
"Please 
 keep them safe."
 
 It a matter of minutes the gunfire ended, an eerie silence coming over the 
 area for a minute before chaos ensued.
 
 "Sir, we need to get in there" Mac pleaded. "We need to make sure they're 
 okay."
 
 "Wait here" AJ ordered.  "I'm going to talk to Colonel Day. When he says 
 it's clear, I'll let you know."
 
 "Sir" Mac protested.
 
 "Colonel, that's an order" AJ said sharply. "I am not going to answer to 
 either of your husbands why I allowed their pregnant wives anywhere near 
 this until it was safe."
 
 He turned and headed over to Colonel Day.  "Colonel, I want in there now. I 
 want to find my men."
 
 "I understand sir" Colonel Day replied. "This way." He and AJ started 
 towards the building, Mac and Harriet quickly trotting after them.
 
 "Colonel, Lt, I thought I told you to wait over there" AJ glowered as he 
 turned around.
 
 "With all due respect sir, my husband is in there" Mac snapped. "And I will 
 not stand out here and wait."
 
 "Must be my marine" The tired voice of her husband made Mac look up, and she 
 let out a small cry as she ran the few feet to him where he was being helped 
 out of the brig, a small gash on the side of his forehead the worst thing 
 she could see.
 
 "Harm" she cried as she threw herself into his arms, nearly knocking them 
 both down. Fortunately the Marine that had been helping him out hadn't let 
 go of Harm and managed to steady both of them.
 
 "Shh, I’m okay" Harm said as he held her as best he could.
 
 "Ma'am, we need to get him to the medic so we can get that gash looked at" 
 the young Marine said as he gently tried to pull Mac away.
 
 "Of course" Mac whispered as she wrapped an arm around Harm's waist to 
 support him. "I'll take him." As she slowly maneuvered Harm over to the 
 waiting medic, Bud made his way out of the brig, Harriet too throwing 
 herself into his arms.
 
 "Looks like your people are okay, Admiral" Colonel Day said with a small 
 smile.
 
 "Thank God" AJ sighed under his breath as he made his way over to where the 
 medic was looking at the cut on the side of Harm's head that was more of a 
 bruise than a cut. Harm was sitting on the gurney, Mac next to him as she 
 held his hand tightly.
 
 "Doesn’t appear to need stitches" the medic said as he cleaned the cut. "But 
 you're going to have one ugly bruise there. What happened?"
 
 "I tried to negotiate" Harm smiled weakly as he squeezed Mac's hand tighter. 
 "They weren't in the mood to listen."
 
 "Commander haven't you learned yet that sometimes it's best to keep your 
 mouth shut" AJ teased as he stood by.
 
 "No sir" Harm ginned. "I thought maybe they'd listen to reason."
 
 "Looks like they hit you with something pretty hard" the medic commented.
 
 "Back end of a gun" Bud supplied as he and Harriet made their way over to 
 them.
 
 "Harm" Mac gasped, visions of him in the coma again drifting through her 
 mind. "Corporal, I want him taken to the base hospital and checked over now" 
 Mac ordered as she tried to keep her voice calm.
 
 "Mac" Harm started.
 
 "Ma'am, it's just a little cut and bruise. Sir, did you ever lose 
 consciousness?" the medic asked.
 
 "No" Harm assured him and Bud nodded in confirmation.
 
 "Ma'am, there's no reason" the medic started.
 
 "Yes there is" Mac shouted as she tried to keep her tears at bay. "In case 
 you've forgotten Mr. Rabb two months ago you were lying in a coma. What if… 
 " Her voice broke as she lost the battle with the tears and Harm gently 
 pulled her against him as she sobbed.
 
 "Mac, don’t" Harm whispered as he held her tightly. "I'm okay. There's no 
 reason for you to get all upset like this."
 
 "Harm, why don’t you humor your wife and let them take a quick look at you?" 
 AJ suggested. "I think we'd all feel a lot better."
 
 "Will it make you feel better if I let them check me over?" Harm asked Mac 
 softly. She nodded as she raised her tear stained face from his chest. 
 "Okay, Corporal" Harm sighed. " I guess we're going to take that ride to the 
 hospital."
 
 "Thank you" she whispered and he kissed her forehead gently.
 
 "Well I can't have you getting all worked up" Harm said softly. "It's not 
 good for you and our baby."
 
 It was a short ride to the base hospital and Mac's hand remained firmly 
 around Harm's as he was helped inside.
 
 "Ma'am, you're going to have to leave" the nurse said once Harm was situated 
 in the examination room.
 
 "I'm not leaving" Mac said firmly. "I'm staying right here." Her hand 
 remained firmly entwined in Harm's and it was going to take more than the 
 young nurse to pull her away.
 
 The young nurse looked to her patient for help, knowing there was no way 
 this Marine was going to listen to her.
 
 "Mac, go" Harm ordered. "I'll be out before you know it."
 
 "I’m too afraid to leave you" Mac whispered as she stroked his forehead 
 nervously.
 
 "There's nothing for you to be afraid of" Harm said softly. "Now go and 
 relax for a little bit. We'll be out of here and on our way home before you 
 know it."
 
 "I can't," she insisted again.  "You were hurt before and I wasn't even..."  She 
paused and put her hand to her head, as if she was trying to think of her next 
words. "I wasn't even..." she tried again, now pressing her fingers to her temple.

"Mac what's wrong?"  Alarm was rising in him, making him forget his own 
headache as he stared at his wife.

"I'm OK.  No I'm...dizzy and my head is pounding," she admitted and she began 
to sway gently.  Harm's arms shot out and grabbed her at once.

"Nurse...Nurse need some help here," he shouted to the nurse who had been 
working with him, now writing in his chart.  The young woman looked up and 
hurried to them, helping Harm support her.  

"Ma'am what's wrong?  Are you feeling dizzy?"

"The room is spinning, and my head hurts," she said softly.  "I'm pregnant, almost 
four months."

"Have you been having problems or complications?"

"No she hasn't and why is she now?" Harm yelped in fear, holding her with one 
hand and running his fingers along the side of her head at the temple with his 
other.

"Possibly stress from seeing you hurt," she said, "but I'm no expert and..."

Before she could continue Mac went limp, falling forward into Harm's arms.

"Sarah no--my god what's wrong," he screamed, all thoughts of his own pain 
fleeing in his fright.

"I need a gurney and for an OB here stat," the nurse shouted and Harm tightened 
his hold of his wife, his face white with fear. 

"She cannot lose this baby, she can't," he whispered.  "We can't.  And I can't lose 
her.  Help her.  For godsake help her."

The orderlies arrived a few seconds later, reaching for Mac.  Harm looked at the 
dazedly and back to her.  "OK Harm," the young nurse said softly.  "Let's let them 
take her and get her some help.  She's going to be fine.  It may be something as 
simple as she didn't eat this morning.  In the meantime I'm going to make sure 
you're checked and then you can go to her."

"I love you Sarah," Harm breathed lifting her up from him and pressing a quick 
kiss to her forehead.  "I love you."  The orderlies swept her from his arms, lifting 
her carefully to the gurney.  "Make sure they know she's almost four months 
pregnant.  Make sure they check the baby."

"We're going to take her right up to OB," one of the men assured him.  "They'll 
take real good care of her.  We do good work here."

Harm did not release her hand until she was rolled away from her and his eyes 
never left her still form until she was through the door.

"OK Mr. Rabb let's get you cleaned up and a quick Xray and then you can see to 
your wife."

"I don't care anything about anything besides her being OK," he declared 
forcefully.  

"Well that may be, but she's going to be fine, and it's going to upset her all over 
again if you don't have a clean bill of health," she told him with surprising insight.
=============================
OB Ward
1 hour later

"My wife is in there," Harm said sharply to the young Lieutenant.  "I'm going to be 
with her, with or without your permission."

"Sir, you can't..." she tried and Harm simply walked past her, passing through the 
doors behind her.

"I'm looking for...I need to find...Could someone tell me..." he tried to attract the 
attention of anyone bustling past him, the pain in his head making him on edge 
and he was starting to regret his decision to refuse something for it."

"Goddammit I'm looking for Sarah Rabb," he shouted, and the bustling stopped 
as everyone turned to look at the crazy person.  "Could someone help me 
please," he added in a lower voice.

"You're her husband?"  An older woman doctor stepped forward, smiling softly.

"Yes ma'am, Commander Harmon Rabb.  Please.  How is she?  I'm scared out of 
my mind here."

"I'm Dr. Wood, and we have her resting and on a monitor," she explained gently.  
"She was still synco...well passed out in your vocabulary...when they brought her 
up here.  Sir, her blood pressure was off the chart.  She's been under some 
strain since the beginning of her pregnancy maybe?"

"Strain?  Oh no, just a husband who nearly died in a plane crash and then when 
he was allowed to live and come home, turned into the biggest pain in the ass in 
the history of the planet," he moaned.  "Strain doctor--that would be me."

Dr. Wood smiled gently.  "Well right now she's trying to get up because she left 
her pain in the ass in the ER hurt."

"I'm fine.  And I don't matter.  Only her and the baby," he insisted.  "Now in 
English, slowly--man with a headache here--what's wrong with her and more 
importantly are she and the baby OK?"

"I'm waiting for final test results but I'm right now putting her fainting to stress, 
high blood pressure, low blood sugar and anemia."

"Oh God, that sounds serious."

"Well we'll get her back on her feet, but she's going to have to be careful from 
here on out.  I've seen this in Marines before.  They're so used to their bodies 
being totally at their command that they don't take into consideration what a 
pregnancy can do."

"My god she did this once before," he gasped suddenly, remembering the day in 
Belleville when a terrified Brandon came for him.

Dr. Wood nodded and made note.  "I'm not surprised.  These things sometimes 
come and go like that.  Exertion or stress sets it off.  And speaking of stress, get 
on in there Mr. Rabb.  She right now needs to know you're OK so she can stop 
fretting over you.  And of course she's scared for the baby.  I turned the monitor 
mike on--that noise is your baby's heartbeat."

Despite his fear, that brought a broad grin to face.  "Wow.  Thank you."

"Hey you, scare a partner to death why don't you."  Harm slipped through the 
door and was folded into her outstretched arms a few seconds later.

"You're OK--tell me you're OK," she sobbed, relieved to see him.

"Not even a concussion," he smiled.  "Told you.  But it's you we need to be 
concerned about here.  You and the baby.  Dr. Wood said she was running some 
tests.  Mac you're going to have to..."

A quick but gentle hand to his mouth stopped him.  "Ssshh I know.  I haven't 
been as careful as I should."  Her hands touched the bandage at the corner of his 
forehead.  "But when my husband goes and scares me to death, what do you 
expect."

"I'm fine, promise."  He took her hand kissed it, and it was then he realized she 
was having an IV administered.  "Mac they didn't tell me this.  I don't understand.  
It's serious isn't it."  

"Precaution they told me.  Plus medication for my blood pressure.  I guess I had 
a spell like this on the mountain that time too."

"I guess you did," he declared.  "We're going to start being a whole lot more 
careful with you."  He rested his hand on her belly before continuing.  "This baby 
is very much wanted.  You're very much wanted.  You're very much needed--by 
me."

"I love you too," she smiled at his distressed face.  "And I want to go home."
 
 ****************************************************
 Saturday, June 23rd
 11:30 AM EST
 Harm & Mac's Apartment
 
 "I'm so glad you guys are doing something fun while we work on the wedding 
 plans" Mac said as she helped Harm finished getting ready. "Otherwise you'd 
 be bored stiff."
 
 "Well, I did promise Brandon the ball game" Harm smiled. "And I'm glad he 
 didn’t mind AJ and Bud coming along as well so Harriet and Sydney could be 
 included in all the wedding stuff."
 
 "I'm glad Maggie and Josh decided to have the wedding at Grams" Mac said 
 happily. "It's going to be nice stretching the weekend into the 4th of July 
 holiday and spending some time with Grams. I can tell she misses us."
 
 "Yeah right" Harm teased. "She's still recovering from the six weeks with 
 me."
 
 "You didn't make it easy on her that's for sure" Mac said as she wrapped her 
 arms around her husband. "But she still misses you. And I know I miss being 
 there."
 
 "Mac"
 
 "I'm not starting again," Mac said quickly. "Just mentioning how much I miss 
 Belleville and Grams. Especially after last weeks incident at Quantico." She 
 shuddered as she thought about those seconds following the gunfire when 
 she'd been so afraid something had happened to him.
 
 "Well at least it was me in there and not you" Harm said quietly as he 
 pulled Mac closer to him.
 
 "That doesn't make me feel any better" Mac sighed.
 
 "It does me," Harm said as he pulled away to look at her. "And if I could 
 convince the Admiral to keep you inside in the courtroom, I'd do it."
 
 "Harmon Rabb, I may be your wife and carrying your child but I am still a 
 Marine" Mac reminded him sharply. "As it is, I get the feeling Seth has 
 purposely been keeping me in the dark on the crash investigation for that 
 reason."
 
 "Smart guy" Harm smiled. "And before you even ask, no I did not tell him to 
 keep anything from you. If he is, he's doing it on his own."
 
 "With a few hints from you I'm sure" she scoffed. "Seriously though, I wish 
 he'd tell me more of what was going on. I swear he's just as bad as you when 
 it comes to assuming that he's the man and can handle things."
 
 "Like I said smart guy" Harm grinned before Mac gave him a playful swat as 
 the doorbell rang.
 
 "Okay, Mister you're saved by the bell this time" Mac smiled. "But I'll 
 remember that when you get home."
 
 A short time later everyone had arrived and the men headed to Baltimore for 
 the game while the woman worked out the final plans for next weeks wedding.
 
 "One more week till the big day," Bud said to Josh once they were in the car 
 and on the road. "You ready?"
 
 "More than ready" Josh said with a glance to the back seat at Brandon. 
 "Looking forward to it."
 
 "Uh, Josh, how'd you pop the question?" AJ asked and Harm looked at his CO 
 with a smile.
 
 "You been thinking about asking Sydney to marry you, sir?"
 
 "Well, I, uh, yeah" AJ stammered. "I just want to do it the right way. Make 
 is special. How'd you ask Mac?"
 
 "I had a little help from Grams on that one" Harm admitted with a smile. "I 
 hadn't planned on asking Mac to marry me when I asked her to go to Grams' 
 with me for Christmas. It just sort of happened and Grams provided the 
 ring."
 
 "You're no help" AJ sighed. "Bud, how did you ask Harriet?"
 
 "Sorry sir, it was over the phone" Bud smiled. "After Harm and I got back 
 from the Tiger Tiger cruise I knew I wanted to be with Harriet and I didn't 
 want to wait a second longer."
 
 "Josh, help me out here" AJ begged. "Didn’t you take Maggie somewhere 
 special?"
 
 "Up to the mountains in New York" Josh nodded. "Just her and me in a little 
 mountain cabin."
 
 "Finally someone with a plan" AJ grinned. "I like that. Now all I have to do 
 is find the right weekend to take Sydney away."
 
 "You could take her up to the Pocono's after the wedding on Saturday" Bud 
 suggested. "It's nice and romantic there."
 
 "I might just do that" AJ smiled, the planning hatching in his mind.
 
 "Are we done talking about girls and weddings" Brandon complained and the 
 others laughed. "I thought this was the guys days out."
 
 "No more wedding talk" Josh said as he reached over and ruffled the boy's 
 hair. "Promise."
 
 ************************************************
 
 "Sydney is something wrong?" Mac asked, noticing how quiet her friend had 
 been as they talked about the wedding.
 
 "No, I'm fine" Sydney smiled. "I just, well, AJ's been acting kind of 
 strange recently. I think maybe he's beginning to have doubts about us. 
 About our relationship."
 
 "Never" Mac scoffed. "He's very happy with you. I'm sure there's something 
 else bothering him."
 
 "You think so" Sydney sighed. "I hope so. I love AJ and I want us to be 
 together, but if he's not sure…"
 
 "Oh, I think he is. He loves you. I'm sure before you know it you'll be 
 joining the rest of us old married ladies."
 
 "That's what I'm hoping for" Sydney said quietly. "I want to spent the rest 
 of my life with AJ."
 
 "Patience, Dr. Walden" Mac smiled. "It will happen."
 
 ******************************************
 JAG HQ's
 Monday AM
 9:00 AM
 
 "Harm, I should be out of court by noon" Mac said as she walked into his 
 office. "Provided Lt. Singer doesn't object to every statement I make."
 
 "Should I have Bud on standby to get me to rehab just in case" Harm grinned. 
 "Because I know she's going to object to everything you say."
 
 "Might be a good idea" Mac sighed. "Sorry."
 
 "Hey, not your fault" Harm said as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sure 
 Bud won't mind. And good luck."
 
 "Thanks" she said giving him a quick kiss. "Love you. I'll see you later." 
 She started out and stopped. "Oh yeah, and if Seth calls, get a number where 
 I can reach him. I'd really like to know what's going on with the 
 investigation."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Harm grinned. "I'll do that."
 
 He watched her walk away and went back to the case file in front of him. It 
 was several hours later before Tiner stuck his head in Harm's office.
 
 "Sir, Colonel Hawkins is on the line. I told him Colonel Mackenzie was in 
 court. He asked to talk to you."
 
 "I'll take it" Harm said and waited for Tiner to transfer the call. "Seth, 
 it's Harm."
 
 "Harm, hey, I'm actually glad I got you" Seth sighed. "I've been trying to 
 keep Mac out of this as much as possible."
 
 "And for that I am eternally grateful" Harm said as he leaned back in his 
 chair. "What's going on up there?"
 
 "Muscraven is definitely the one" Seth said quietly. "I'm supposed to meet 
 someone tonight who has proof he was the one who sabotaged the plane."
 
 "Seth you shouldn't be doing this alone" Harm said softly. "What if this guy 
 you're meeting is just setting you up?"
 
 "Trust me I've been thinking about that" Seth replied. "And I hope you don't 
 mind me saying I'd rather not have your wife as my back up on this. I know 
 the Admiral assigned her the case with me.."
 
 "I have no problem with you saying that at all" Harm sighed. "Just don't 
 tell Mac I said that. She'd be furious if she knew we were even talking 
 about her like this. I do have an idea though. What if I came up there?"
 
 "Harm, I don't know" Seth started. "I think I'd be better off with you mad 
 at me for involving your wife then getting you involved and having to 
 explain to Mac when something goes wrong."
 
 "I'll handle Mac" Harm promised. "Seth, I want the guy who did this just as 
 much as anyone else. He took a lot away from me."
 
 "All right" Seth sighed.

"Now where are you?"

Ten minutes later Harm was on the road.  He had left a note for Mac saying he 
was checking on a sudden break in one of his solo cases, and that he would see 
her at home later.  That would get him through the rest of the afternoon while she 
dealt with Singer and the court case.  By the time she would return from court he 
would be halfway there and too late to stop.  A quick call to Harriet, asking her to 
make Mac come home with her, covered him for the evening.  That she would be 
upset went without saying.  That he did not want her any where near these men 
was a foregone conclusion.  He had also left an email, on his auto-AOL system, 
addressed to AJ, telling him where he had gone, set to be dispatched in twenty-
four hours.  

"Harriet what are you talking about?" Mac demanded, dropping the files from the 
court case.  "Harm went to check a witness.  Then he's coming straight home 
and I'm going to see him there.  That's what his note says."

"Ma'am I don't know," Harriet sighed, shaking his head.  "He called, told me to 
just listen, not ask questions, and then he said I was to be sure you came home 
with me because he wasn't going to get back tonight after all."

"This is crazy," she frowned.  "If he had to be gone, why would he not tell me?  
He would have called me personally..."  Her voice trailed off as her frowned 
deepened.
"I'm going to see the Admiral."

"Ma'am he's gone for the day," Harriet told her quickly, and pressed her hand 
over Mac's.  "Look I don't know what's with Harm, but you know he gets these 
wild hairs sometimes.  I'm sure he'll call you later.  Come on home with me.  
Maybe we can get Sydney and see a movie.  Lord knows Bud will just be 
plopped in front of the sports channel."

"This feels totally wrong," Mac fretted.
======================================
As Harm had neared the area, he called Seth, and as promised, Seth was 
waiting for him in the parking lot of the Walmart.  To Harm's surprise, waiting 
along side him was a petite red-haired young woman.  "Harm good to see you," 
Seth greed him warmly.  "Commander Harmon Rabb, Special Agent Amy Cole, 
FBI Pittsburgh field office, and formerly a lieutenant in the Marine Corps."  

"Ma'am...uh Agent Cole," Harm stammered.  "You're working on this case?"

"Amy please," she smiled and Harm took immediate note of her dimples.  "Yes I 
am.  In fact Seth and I knew each other from Camp Pendleton about four years 
ago, but we lost touch."

"Well the ring you were wearing kind of made that happen," Seth smiled, and 
Harm watched as his eyes rested on her.

"Geez you make one mistake and your friends never let you forget it," Amy 
groaned and looked up to Harm, smiling at the more than a foot difference in 
their height.  "Match made in hell.  But the ring is gone now and so is he and I 
was never so surprised to see Seth waltz in to Muscraven's office.  I've been 
there six months trying to nail this guy."

"Why don't you sleep with him like he wants and then maybe you'll have all you 
need," Seth growled.  

Harm gave him a knowing look.  Something like that he might have said to Mac 
in the early days of their partnership.   

"Commander don't listen to him," Amy moaned in exasperation.  "Yes I've been 
getting closer to him, but not like that.  I'm willing to do a lot for the oath I swore, 
but there are limits.  But right now Commander the most immediate problem is 
tonight, because not only should you not be here, but I've told Stubborn here that 
the arrangements were made with me, and he needs to back off."

"Well Stubborn and whatever other names you've got in mind is no way in hell 
going to allow you to walk onto that boat alone."  Seth's eyes flashed angrily, and 
at the same time his hand lightly closed over hers.  Harm began to understand 
more fully.  Here was someone Seth cared about, much like he had cared about 
Mac in the early days of their partnership.

"Commander would you listen to this," Amy spouted and turned to him.  "I don't 
know why he called you.  And believe me it's only because I'm a lady that I'm not 
using the name I want right now."

"Call me Harm please.  And you know I could have stayed in D.C. and gotten 
grief like this from someone I'm in love with," he joked.  "Look come on, it's ninety 
degrees in this sun.  A cold drink, and we'll talk.  And now that I'm here, I'm going 
to stay and help bring down Muscraven.  I have a personal stake here."
 





 
 "There's a little diner nearby" Amy replied. "We can talk more there."
 
 Harm nodded and a short time later they were seated at a quiet table of the 
 diner.
 
 "I'm going to be honest here Harm and say I'm not exactly thrilled with you 
 being here," Amy said quietly. "The fact that you are personally involved 
 dictates you shouldn't be here. Again I'm not sure why Seth called you.
 
 "And if I were in your place I'd probably say the same thing" Harm agreed. 
 "And the reason he called me is because his back up on this case happens to 
 be my pregnant wife who Seth knows I want no where near Muscraven."
 
 "Does you wife know you're here?" Amy questioned.
 
 "No, and I'm asking that you don't run off and call her" Harm smiled. "Try 
 and understand where I'm coming from. We all know how dangerous Muscraven 
 can be when he feels he's being threatened. I don't want Mac involved for 
 that reason."
 
 "She's a Marine right?" Amy asked, remembering Seth had mentioned her 
 before.
 
 "Yes she is" Harm nodded.
 
 "She's going to kick your six when she finds out about this" Amy grinned. 
 "From what Seth has told me about her, she doesn't like to be treated 
 differently because she's a woman. And I know where she's coming from on 
 that."
 
 "I'm willing to take that risk" Harm smiled lightly. "Because the 
 alternative of having her here is out of the question."
 
 "You love her very much" Amy said softly, her eyes glancing over at Seth who 
 had remained quiet through most of her and Harm's conversation.
 
 "That's an understatement" Seth smiled. "More like they have the kind of 
 love that most of us only dream of finding."
 
 "We are blessed" Harm said softly. "And I'd like to keep her and our baby 
 safely away from all of this. I hope you understand that."
 
 "I do" Amy said finally. "But I have to ask another question. Are you sure 
 you can handle this tonight? I mean, if things go wrong, Seth and I won't be 
 able to cover your six."
 
 "Don't worry about me" Harm replied. "I can handle it." He glanced down at 
 his right hand, a hand that on occasion still shook when he was nervous.  A 
 hand that hadn't held a gun since before the accident.
 
 "I hope so cause I don't want to do any explaining to your wife" Amy sighed. 
 "I still not comfortable about this."
 
 "Amy, please" Harm pleaded. "I don't want her involved. If she knew I was 
 here she'd want to be here beside me. I don't want her here."
 
 "All right" Amy said finally. "Now here's the plan. Muscraven things he's 
 making the deal tonight to a new militia group. Which is actually going to 
 be my agents. He's asked me to go along. I'm assuming he trusts me enough 
 now to involve me."
 
 "Or he know you're trying to bring him down and he's setting you up" Seth 
 said quietly. "Which is why you shouldn't have agreed to do this."
 
 "Don't start with me Mister" Amy threatened. "I told you I was on 
 Muscraven's tail long before you were. I'm not throwing away six months of 
 work because you're worried about me."
 
 "You won't win Seth" Harm said with amusement. "Trust me. The Marine always 
 gets in the last word. Especially a woman Marine."
 
 "Besides if I back out now, Muscraven is going to know something is up" Amy 
 continued. "So this is the way it's going to be."
 
 "I know you're right but it doesn’t mean I like it" Seth sighed.
 
 "Harm, Seth knows where the deal is to take place," Amy said as she ignored 
 Seth's remark. "I'll be there with Muscraven and like I said, my guys are 
 the one's Muscraven thinks he's selling to. You and Seth are really just 
 there because he insisted that JAG be included in this."
 
 "I owe you another one Seth" Harm smiled.
 
 "I'll add it to your tab" Seth grinned.
 
 "What's all that about?" Amy asked.
 
 "He didn't tell you about Mayport?"
 
 "No, what about Mayport?" Amy questioned.
 
 "Nothing" Seth said quickly.
 
 "Taking a bullet that was meant for my wife is not nothing" Harm countered 
 and Amy's eyes widened in surprise.
 
 "You didn’t tell me you got shot?" Amy exclaimed. "I have to hear these 
 things from a stranger. How bad was it?"
 
 "It was not big deal, really" Seth sighed. "Thanks Harm."
 
 "Sorry" Harm grinned. "Amy, he's fine. Don’t worry. He spent the Memorial 
 Day Weekend at my Gram's place in Belleville and she and Mac took good care 
 of him."
 
 "You needed someone to take care of you?" Amy demanded. "That sounds 
pretty 
 serious Seth."
 
 "It wasn't that bad" Seth countered. "Really I'm fine. My shoulder is just a 
 little stiff now and then but I'm fine. And don't even suggest I not go 
 tonight because of it. It's fine and so am I."
 
 "I hope so" Amy fretted. "I'm liking this less and less."
 
 "Amy, I can handle myself and so can Harm" Seth assured her. "We want to 
 nail Muscraven as much as anyone does. "
 
 "And that's what I'm afraid of" Amy muttered under her breath.
 
 ***********************************************************
 
 "Harriet, I can't sit through a movie" Mac complained as she followed 
 Harriet into the restaurant. "Harm is up to something and I know its 
 trouble."
 
 "You're not getting that feeling again are you?" Harriet's eyes widened in 
 alarm, remembering the prior week's events at Quantico. Her friend had known 
 something was wrong even before they'd been told.
 
 "No, not yet" Mac sighed. "But I know something isn't right."
 
 "I know you're worried about Harm but I'm sure he'll be fine," Harriet said 
 as the waitress seated them. "And a few hours at a movie will do you good. 
 Remember you're not supposed to be getting stressed. It's not good for you 
 and the baby."
 
 "Tell that to my husband" Mac retorted. "He's the one who took off leaving 
 me some cryptic message and then tells you to keep me entertained for the 
 evening. Like he thinks I'm not going to worry about him."
 
 "Try not to worry about him" Harriet said as she patted her friends hand. 
 "I'm sure he wouldn't do anything stupid. He has too much in his life now. 
 You and the baby are his biggest priority. "
 
 "I hope so" Mac sighed.
 
"Whatever Harm did, there had to be a reason he didn't want you involved.  Or 
more likely, it's all innocent and routine," Harriet went on, "and look, there's 
Sydney."

"Sorry I'm late," she panted.  "Late patient.  You know, you either want a 
vasectomy or you don't.  Anyway, what's going on and Mac you look terrible."  
She paused and gasped.  "My god what's happened now.  Harm?  The baby?"

"No nothing like that--at least not yet," Mac sighed.  "The man is making me 
crazy. He's disappeared.  Well not really.  I mean he left word that he was 
checking a witness and no one has heard from him since.  Harriet thinks it could 
be just that he's wrapped in one of his cases.  Me I can't shake the feeling that 
it's more than that, but I can't say I know he's in real trouble either.  It's just this 
terrible feeling of disquiet and on that note I'm going to shut up and feed myself 
like the doctor nags me to do."

"Good plan," Sydney approved.  "And then we're going to do that movie.  You 
sitting and brooding isn't going to help."

"Thank you," Harriet grinned.  "I've got Bud home watching AJ, without acting like 
I'd just sentenced him to Devil's Island.  So I'm going to enjoy an evening out."  

"Well I have some news, but I'm not sure what to make of it," Sydney frowned.  "I 
had flowers from AJ this afternoon at the office.  So after I got over my fainting, 
and read the card, he wants us to leave her Friday noontime and then meet you 
all Sunday for Maggie's wedding."

"Flowers are sweet," Mac laughed, her mind temporarily off Harm.  "Where does 
he want to take you?  

"He wouldn't tell me, and when I called to accept, he just put me off," she wailed.  
"If it weren't for the flowers I'd think he wanted us to have a last weekend 
together before he told me he wanted to see other people."

"Oh that's gonna happen," Harriet scoffed.  "That man pants after you like a 
puppy."

"Well you know after Danny and all, I was happy that we were just enjoying each 
other once again.  But now, well I don't know.  I want him to want more, but I'm 
scared too--scared that it will overwhelm him and make him back off."

Mac shook her head.  "Nah I don't think so.  He's a pretty smart man, pretty in 
touch with what he wants.  If he says he's ready, you can be sure it's from his 
heart."
========================
Amy Cole's Apartment
Pittsburgh

"OK good.  Yes I understand.  No don't worry.  If your people follow the plan, it's 
going to come off just fine.  I'll see you there in forty-five."  Amy hung up the 
phone and avoided Seth's steely glare as she checked her weapon for the third 
time.

"Amy this feels wrong.  I don't like it," Seth groaned and looked to Harm for 
agreement.

Harm shrugged and shook his head.  "If it comes off, then we've got Muscraven 
for selling illegal arms and what about proof of the sabotage?"

"There's a guy on the inside buried so deep I don't even know who he is," she 
sighed.  "And this is they guy who told Seth he had proof that the plane was 
being tampered with."

"Yeah and I haven't seen his face either," Seth admitted, "but he's pretty 
convincing on the phone.  He's part of this whole thing tonight.  Have I mentioned 
how horribly wrong this feels?  When it was just going to be me and him, and him 
slipping me the information, I was fine with that, but now with Amy involved, an 
armed team moving in...I'm sorry, I just don't like it."

"It should make you feel safer," Amy reminded him.

"Well it doesn't.  I've just found you again after all this time apart and I....excuse 
me, I need some air."  With that Seth vaulted from the apartment.

"Men," she screeched, throwing a wadded napkin at the closed door.

Harm gave her a tolerant smile, seeing himself in the Marine officer.  "Amy, he's 
starting to care for you--again.  I would guess feelings he had before never really 
went away, and seeing you again has brought it all back."

"Well it has for me too," she sighed, collapsing into a chair.  "I made the biggest 
mistake of my life letting Brad Duncan.....well I don't even like to think about that 
time.  We all worked together at Pendleton.  Brad and Seth were Majors then, 
and I a new lieutenant.  Seth and I were partners, and Brad worked alone.  There 
was something between me and Seth but we couldn't get past the partner-
superior officer hang up, though I would have transferred in a heartbeat to make 
it work.  As it turned out, Brad...well he kind of just charmed his way into my life, 
and Seth--damn him--stepped back out of it."

"This could be a script for the months after I returned from sea duty," Harm 
smiled, remembering the days of Brumby.

"Well since he's been here--after I got over the shock of seeing him--we've been 
having lunch together, a couple working dinners, a movie once.  Kind of feeling 
our way back to see if there's anything there," she went on.  "And we're both 
scared of what we might find."

"And terrified that you're going to lose each other before you can do that," Harm 
nodded knowingly.

"Very."



 
 It was shortly before they were to leave that a sheepish Seth returned.
 
 "I'm sorry about earlier," he said to Amy.
 
 "We'll talk after this is all over" she replied. "Right now we've got 
 business to take care of. And remember, you two are strictly backup in all 
 this. You don't make a move unless you have to."
 
 Seth opened his mouth to say something and promptly closed it. Harm wasn't 
 any happier about the situation, but he knew it was Amy's operation.
 
 "Understood" Harm said finally. "Seth and I will keep a safe distance away."
 
 "Let's go" Amy said determinedly.
 
 They followed Amy through the streets of Pittsburgh, finally coming to a 
 warehouse along the river. Amy pulled up close to the door, while Seth 
 parked far enough back that they could just see the door of the warehouse.
 
 "I don't like this" Seth said to Harm as they watched her slip into the 
 warehouse. "She shouldn't be going in there alone."
 
 "She's not alone" Harm reminded him. "Remember the buyers are her guys."
 
 "Yeah, well I should be in there with her" Seth retorted.
 
 "I know how hard this is for you" Harm said quietly. "Trust me, I've been 
 there."
 
 "Does it ever get easier?" Seth wailed.
 
 "Never" Harm smiled. "Once you know you love her, you'll never stop worrying 
 about her when she's doing something like this."
 
 "I don't know what I feel" Seth sighed. "I just know I hate not being with 
 her on this."
 
 "Now you know how I felt in Mayport" Harm said quietly. "And why I was so 
 dead set against Mac going with you. I didn't think anyone else would cover 
 her six like I did. I was sure glad you proved me wrong. Point is, they'll 
 be watching out for Amy."
 
 "I hope so"
 
 They waited 15 minutes before Seth began to get edgy. "Something's wrong. 
 Why isn't anyone else around?"
 
 "Maybe Muscraven found out he was being set up and booked" Harm sighed. 
 "He's been one step ahead of us the whole time."
 
 "I'm going to go see if I can see what's going on," Seth said finally. "I 
 can't sit here and do nothing. What if Muscraven's got her?"
 
 "Seth, wait" Harm urged. "Just give it a little more time."
 
 "Harm I can't" Seth countered. "I just can't help feeling something is 
 wrong."
 
 "All right, but I'm going with you" Harm said as he reached for his gun. 
 "Let's go."
 
 They crept out of the car, slowly making their way towards the warehouse. 
 Neither man saw the two men who had been watching them from the shadows.
 
 "Remember, don't kill them" the first man whispered to the second. 
 "Muscraven wants them alive so he can find out what they know."
 
 The second man nodded and as Harm and Seth passed them, they suddenly 
jumped 
 out behind them. Before either man could react, their assailants leveled 
 blows to the back of their heads, dropping them to the ground. Their guns 
 fell to the ground and were quickly snatched up.
 
 "Hurry up" the first man ordered as he swung Seth over his shoulder. "Before 
 those FBI agents inside realize what's going on out here."
 
 Seconds later Harm and Seth were bundled into the waiting van, which quickly 
 sped away.
 
 "So what happened to Muscraven" one of the FBI agents asked Amy as they 
 waited in the warehouse. It was a half-hour past the rendezvous time and 
 there was still no sign of Muscraven.
 
 "I don't know Phillips" Amy sighed. "Unless he got wind he was being set up 
 again. I swear he's always one step ahead of us. There has to be someone 
 helping him."
 
 "The same someone helping us" Agent Phillips replied. "In which case we're 
 probably the one's getting screwed because Muscraven pays and we don't."
 
 "I knew this was too good to be true," Amy said growing frustration. "Every 
 time we get close to this guy he slips threw our hands."
 
 "How much longer you want to give him?" Phillips asked.
 
 "If he isn't here now, I doubt he's coming. Let's get Seth and Harm and call 
 it a night. We'll regroup in the morning and find out what's going on with 
 Muscraven."
 
 She and the other agents started out of the warehouse, looking around 
 carefully as they stepped out. The summer night was warm and humid, the hint 
 of a storm brewing in the air. Despite the warmth, Amy felt a distinct chill 
 as she walked out and glanced around anxiously.
 
 "You okay Amy?" Agent Phillips asked.
 
 "Yeah, fine" she replied. She saw Seth's car and started towards it, picking 
 up the pace when she realized they weren't in it. "Phillips, get over here" 
 she called. He turned and started towards her.
 
 "What's wrong?" he called.
 
 "Seth and Harm aren't in the car," she said anxiously. "They were going to 
 wait out here."
 
 "Did they go inside maybe?" Phillips asked.
 
 "No, we would have seen them" Amy said quickly. "Something's wrong. I can 
 feel it. They wouldn't have gone inside unless they thought there was 
 trouble."
 
 "Well everything looks normal," Phillips said as he looked around the car. 
 "No sign of foul play."
 
 "Well where are they?" Amy wailed. She was on the fast track to losing it 
 and only her prior Marine training kept her from completely falling apart.
 
 "Calm Amy" Phillips urged. "Let's do a sweep of the area and see if they're 
 around here."
 
 She nodded and followed his lead around the area surrounding the warehouse. 
 A long hour later there was no sign of Harm and Seth and Amy knew something 
 was wrong.
 
 "I think we were set up," she said quietly. "Muscraven knew he was being set 
 up and he decided to play hard ball."
 
 "You don't think he took them?" Phillips questioned.
 
 "Yes I do" Amy replied. "I have no idea what he plans to do with them but 
 I'm sure he's behind this."
 
 **************************************************
 Harm and Mac's Apartment
 Same Time
 
 Mac had paced the floor of the apartment for what seemed forever her 
 exhaustion finally took over and she'd fallen asleep on the couch. But 
 without the comforting arms of Harm around her, her sleep was anything but 
 peaceful. Harm was in the forest again. The same forest that the plane had 
 crashed in. But it wasn't the plane crash nightmare. It was different. He 
 was held being held somewhere, by someone who wanted to hurt him. 
Someone 
 who had hurt him.
 
 "No" she screamed a vision of his pale face suddenly looming in her 
 nightmare. "Oh God no"
 
She rolled from the sofa, wrapping the worn blanket around her to ward off the 
midnight chill, and began pacing.  That Harm was hurt and in trouble there was 
no doubt.  And that he was in the area the plane had gone down, she also was 
sure of.  But how to explain that to AJ and to get out to search was another 
matter.  She picked up and put down the phone several times to call AJ, realizing 
the time, realizing how ludicrous she was going to sound, and not sure what a 
plan of action would be anyway, except that with every fiber of her being she 
wanted to go to her husband's side.
=====================================
JAG HQ
730AM 

"Sir, thank god," Mac gasped.  She had been waiting in AJ's office and when he 
came through his private door she was on her feet at once.

"Colonel you look terrible," he said quietly.  "And I know why."

That brought her up short.  "You do sir?"

"I had a call from Special Agent Amy Cole, FBI Pittsburgh, just before I left."

"Seth," she gasped, her mind momentarily off Harm.

"And Harm," he sighed.  "Agent Cole is working with Seth in Muscraven's 
operation.  Seems our Colonel Hawkins called here yesterday and talked to 
Commander Rabb.  Who, not wanting you to join Colonel Hawkins, took it upon 
himself to go.  Something which I'm going to have strong words with him about.  
Not so much because he did that but because he disregarded my orders that he 
wasn't to be involved."

"Harm is with Seth?"  Her hand went to her mouth and she did not know whether 
she was more frightened or angry.  "What...what happened sir?"

"Seems Mr. Rabb and Mr. Hawkins were accompanying Agent Cole and a team 
of Agents, and both simply vanished.  They swept the area, and are still combing 
it this morning, but nothing has turned up so far."

"No sir, they're not there," she told him, deceptively calm, and she smiled slightly 
at his raised brow.  "Sir they've been taken to the national forest, to the area 
where they met Rice and where they plane crashed.

AJ gave her a quizzical and then sympathetic look.  "Just how would you know 
this?"

"I do sir.  I don't know how or why.  Harm and I..we're...hell I don't know.  Linked 
or something.  I know I have to get up there."  She made a valiant attempt, not 
totally successful, to choke back a sudden sob.  "I'm sorry sir.  At least I know 
he's still alive.  And sir, again, I have to get there.

"Yes I know you do.  Our flight leaves out of Reagan in two hours."
=======================================
AIRPORT
PITTSBURGH PA

Agent Amy Cole paced the gate area, awaiting the arrival of the Colonel and the 
Admiral.  Her eyes were red rimmed from tears, but her outward demeanor was 
calm as she watched the passengers file off.

"Admiral sir," she called when she spotted him.

"Ms. Cole," he greeted her.  "Colonel Mackenzie...uh Rabb and I'm AJ 
Chegwidden."

"Yes sir, ma'am," she smiled wanly.  "Ma'am I heard a lot about you in a short 
time yesterday from your husband."

"Call me Mac please," she tried to smile as well.  "This would be my husband 
who's going to get his six caught in a wringer for being up here?"

"Yeah that would be him," AJ put in.  "Come on let's get some coffee and see if 
we can sort this all out."
===================================
UNKNOWN LOCATION

"Harm, Harm you OK?"

Pain wracked his body, but somehow he recognized Seth's voice and forced 
himself awake.  "Yeah I think so, except I wish this guy with the mallet that's in 
my head would give it a rest.  You?"

"Not bad I guess.  That guy's twin must be over here though.  Harm...Amy....we 
don't know what happened there.  What if they hurt her?"  His voice was hoarse, 
and Harm could tell he was holding back emotion.

"You don't know what happened there, that's exactly right," he reminded him.  
"Try to have a little faith, but I'm having my own panic over here.  I know Mac is 
going to be on her way up  here."

  
    
 
 "And Amy as well" Seth sighed "If she's okay. If Muscraven has hurt her in 
 anyway, I swear I'll kill him with my bare hands."
 
 "Easy Colonel" Harm couldn't help but smile despite his pain. "We'll get 
 Muscraven. I take it your feelings for Ms. Cole are a little clearer this 
 morning."
 
 "Yeah, nothing like a good knock on the head to make me realize I was a fool 
 to let her go the first time without a fight" Seth replied. He was silent 
 for a moment before looking over at Harm. "You sure you're okay? I'm not 
 sure how longer either one of us was out but I'm sure after what happened 
 with the crash this can't be good for you."
 
 "I have a surprising thick skull" Harm joked. "Just ask Mac sometime. She'll 
 tell you how thick headed I am."
 
 Knowing Harm was waving off his concern, Seth let it go for the moment, but 
 made a mental note to keep an eye on Harm.
 
 "So I'm guessing Muscraven knew he was being set up last night" Seth said 
 finally.
 
 "And decided to get himself two stupid officers as negotiating tools" Harm 
 finished with a small smile. "We should have been paying more attention."
 
 "Well I was worried about Amy" Seth admitted. "And truthfully I never 
 thought about him figuring it was a setup. My mistake on that one."
 
 "We share the blame equally" Harm sighed. "Course you know we're going to 
 get our sixes chewed out by the Admiral for this too."
 
 "I hope that's before you wife gets a hold of us" Seth smiled. "Cause after 
 Mac's through with us, we're both going to be sorry."
 
 "As long as we're still around to be sorry," Harm said quietly. "Any idea 
 besides using us as bargaining tools what Muscraven intends to do with us?"
 
 "Figure he wants to know what we know" Seth replied. "You because of Rice 
 and me because I've been watching his operation for the past week or so. 
 After that, your guess is as good as mine."
 
 Harm closed his eyes, trying to block out the little guy with the mallet who 
 was still pounding on his head.
 
 ***************************************
 FBI Office
 Pittsburgh
 
 Amy had taken them straight to her office, wanting to get started as much as 
 they did on finding Seth and Harm.
 
 "We've swept the area but there's no trace of them" she repeated for Mac's 
 benefit.
 
 "They're not there" Mac spoke up quickly and Amy looked at her with 
 surprise. "Please, I know this is going to sound off the wall but I know 
 where they are."
 
 "I'm listening" Amy said quietly.
 
 "I think Muscraven has taken them up to Allegheny Forest. There's where Harm 
 went to pick up Commander Rice when he was going to testify against 
 Muscraven. They were at some cabin up there in an area called DeYoung. I 
 know that's where he's taken them."
 
 "You seem quite sure of this. Can I ask how you know?"
 
 "It's a bit unscientific I suppose" Mac said quietly. "But I had a dream, 
 well nightmare last night. I saw Harm in the forest. The same forest that 
 the plane crashed in. They're there I know it. And they're alive. "
 
 "God I hope you're right" Amy sighed deeply, for a moment letting her fear 
 for Seth show. "I shouldn't have let them come with me last night. If Seth 
 hadn't been so darned stubborn and insisting they along."
 
 "Ms. Cole, trust me, no one is blaming you" AJ spoke up. "Colonel Hawkins 
 has only been under my commander for a short time but I can see the stubborn 
 streak in him. And I'm sure that Commander Rabb had a big part in this as 
 well."
 
 "How soon can we get up to DeYoung" Mac asked, her only concern at the 
 moment getting to her husband.
 
 "Not that I don't believe you but why are you so sure about this?" Amy 
 asked.
 
 "The night the plane crashed, I dreamed it" Mac said quietly. "What happened 
 in reality happened in my dream. And last night it was the same thing. I 
 know they're up there."
 
 "It's a six hour drive from here" AJ broke in. "Can you get us a charter up 
 there?"
 
 "I'll damned try" Amy replied. "Give me a few minutes to go over this with 
 my superiors. What you're saying makes sense. Let me just convince them of 
 that."
 
 "If they need any convincing let me know" AJ smiled and Amy nodded as she 
 hurried out of the office. "How you holding up?" he asked as he turned his 
 attention back to Mac.
 
 "I’ll be better when he's in my arms and then I'm going to kick his six for 
 worrying me like this" Mac sighed. "I know he's alive but I'm still scared 
 to death."
 
 "He'll be okay" AJ tried to reassure her. "And Seth is with him."
 
 It took a little over an hour but they finally headed back to the airport, a 
 charter plane ready to take them to Jamestown, and from there they would 
 drive to DeYoung. Amy and Mac climbed into the second row of seats, AJ and 
 Agent Phillips in the front. Once they were in the air, Mac looked over at 
 Amy, noticing for the first time the fear in the young woman's eyes.
 
 "I get the feeling you and Seth didn't just meet on this case" Mac said 
 quietly.
 
 "We didn't" Amy smiled wanly. "I used to be in the Marine Corp. Seth and I 
 were stationed together at Pendleton."
 
 "What happened?" Mac questioned.
 
 "I was younger and stupider" Amy sighed. "And thought I was in love with 
 someone else. Turns out I let the right man get away."
 
 "Did you marry Mr. Wrong?"
 
 "Fortunately no. I was smart enough to realize it before it was too late. 
 Course by then I'd given up the Corp and lost track of Seth."
 
 "I think I can relate" Mac smiled. "Sounds very similar to someone I know."
 
 "Yeah that's what Harm said when we talked last night," Amy said quietly. 
 "Seth was a little upset about the mission and he and I, well we had a few 
 words before it. He went out for a little air and Harm and I talked for a 
 little bit. He's a great guy by the way. You're very lucky."
 
 "Yes he is and yes I am" Mac said as she absently rubbed her stomach. 
 "Though at the moment I'm not sure if I'm going to hug him first or yell at 
 him for worrying me to death like this."
 
 "You know this is exactly what he didn't want to happen" Amy replied. "He 
 didn't want you anywhere near Muscraven."
 
 "Well he should have thought about that before he took off and did something 
 stupid" Mac retorted. "And of course he seems to forget I'm a Marine. I can 
 handle things. And Seth is no better."
 
 "Save the brow beating of Seth to me" Amy smiled. "I'm right behind you in 
 that not knowing whether to kiss him or throttle him when we find them."
 
 "Kiss then throttle" Mac smiled before frowning again. "Do you have any idea 
 why Muscraven took them?"
 
 "I can only assume he knew we were closing in on him and decided to get 
 something to bargain with" Amy said quietly.

Mac shuddered.  "You know Harm and I have talked about ditching JAG.  And I 
can't help but think by the time we do it, it's going to be too late."

"You don't really want to leave JAG do you Colonel?"  AJ asked gently, knowing 
in fact that the question had come up before.

"Sir, yes I think I do," she sighed.  "Nothing definite.  I want us to take Grams up 
on her offer to come live there and raise our kids there and get the farm working 
and for me to be active in their school and church and...and I'm babbling.  Sorry 
sir."

"Not a problem Mac," he smiled.  "You and Harm will have to do what's best, and 
remember there's another life to consider now."

"I think it's wonderful that you're pregnant," Amy spoke up.  "With all the death we 
see, that you're carrying life is wonderful."

"Well I just know this baby needs both its parents," she sighed.  

They fell silent as the plane droned on, and finally descended into Jamestown 
where they were met by another FBI agent with a large SUV.  Agent Ted Spelling 
shook hands all around and the next leg of the journey began, this time taking 
them to De Young where Sheriff Maxwell met them.

"I didn't expect to see you people again," he smiled, shaking hands all around.

"Just tell me you know the location of the cabin," AJ told him.

"You bet your a...."  Maxwell grinned and noted the women.  "Uh....yes of course 
I do.  But you know what I told you before.  That's really rugged country up there.  
On the side of a mountain, and there's no way to get close with these vehicles."  
Again he shot a long glare at Mac and Amy.

"Do not waste your breath," Amy ordered and Maxwell looked to AJ, who gave 
him a helpless shrug.

"I wouldn't begin to have the strength to keep them from going.  Plus you know 
this one is a Marine, and the other an FBI agent.  Let's get started."

Maxwell and two deputies climbed into their jeep and led the way.  The 
countryside quickly swallowed them, and he took them up an old logging road, 
similar to the ones near the Rabb Farm.  Three miles later he pulled over.  "This 
is where we start walking.  What's the plan?"

"We're going in there and getting our people back," AJ declared.  "With surprise 
on our side.  Muscraven hasn't made any demands yet so he won't have any 
idea that we're a step ahead of him in that we know where they are."  He paused 
and looked to Mac.  "Even if it's a huge leap of faith here."

"You're not bringing us up here on a hunch I hope," Maxwell yelped.

"Partly," Mac admitted.  "But remember they've used this cabin before.  Logically 
they would bring them here out of the way while they formulated what they 
wanted to do with them."

"And the hunch part?"

"Let's just say sometimes I get these feelings where my husband is concerned," 
Mac said slowly, flushing uncomfortably.  "Look I don't think I'm wrong, but if I 
am--well no one is going to be more upset than me."

"Well me," Amy spoke up with a rueful smile.  "But I have to agree.  We knew 
there was a place in this area that Muscraven was using for a lot of things."

Mac shook her head and walked ahead a few feet, feeling a desperate 
restlessness and a new unease come over her at the same time.  "Please could 
we get started," she begged, wanting them to hurry, but not wanting to share that 
an increasing sense of foreboding was coming over her.  Harm was hurt and 
getting worse.


   
 _ 
 
 To her relief, Sheriff Maxwell nodded and the small group started off.
 
 "Mac, you okay?" Amy asked as her and Mac trailed behind the men.
 
 "Yeah, I'm just worried," Mac said quietly.
 
 "Please tell me you're not getting a bad feeling about Harm and Seth" Amy 
 said anxiously. She'd been doing a good job of keeping her own fears for 
 Seth in check so far but if he wasn’t okay she wasn’t sure how she would 
 react.
 
 "Not Seth, just Harm" Mac replied. "I'm sure you know all about what 
 happened to him after the crash. And he's still not totally himself. And I 
 just have this feeling he's not okay."
 
 "He'll be okay" Amy tried to offer some comfort, but knew that until Mac saw 
 for herself that Harm was okay she would worry.
 
 **********************************************
 "Harm. Hey, you still with me?" The faraway sounding voice of Seth was 
 drawing Harm back to consciousness. He'd drifted out again, the darkness 
 providing a welcome relief from the never-ending pain in his head.
 
 "Harm, come on, wake up" This time a gentle shake followed Seth's anxious 
 voice and Harm forced his eyes open, looked over at Seth.
 
 "I'm awake" Harm said vaguely, finally focusing enough to see Seth's worried 
 face in front of him.
 
 "Good. You were scaring me there for a minute. How you doing?"
 
 "I'd be better if the little guy with the mallet would take a break" Harm 
 sighed. "What's going on?"
 
 "I heard vehicles pulling up outside" Seth said quietly. "I have a feeling 
 Muscraven is back to figure out what he's doing with us."
 
 The door to the cabin opened and they looked up as Muscraven and two men 
who 
 had grabbed them the night before made their way in.
 
 "Commander Rabb and Colonel Hawkins" Muscraven laughed as he walked 
over to 
 them. "So nice of you to join me in my little retreat up here."
 
 "I don’t think we had much choice in that" Seth retorted. "What do you think 
 you're going to gain by holding us here?"
 
 "A lot" Muscraven replied. "First off you're going to tell me all that your 
 cute little agent friend of yours told you."
 
 "What have you done with her?" Seth demanded.
 
 "Wouldn't you like to know?" Muscraven laughed. "You tell me what she told 
 you and I might tell you what happened to her last night at the warehouse."
 
 "Don’t listen to him," Harm said quietly to Seth. "He's just trying to get 
 to you."
 
 "Commander Rabb" Muscraven said as walked over to Harm. "You were 
supposed 
 to be dead after the first time you left here."
 
 "That's what you wanted wasn’t it?" Harm said coldly. "You didn't want Rice 
 to testify against you so you sabotaged the plane to get rid of all of us. 
 Too bad it didn't work that way."
 
 "Too bad for you" Muscraven growled. "Because you're not getting out of here 
 alive this time Commander. You and the Colonel here are going to tell me 
 everything you both know and then we're going to have a little bon fire with 
 this cabin. With you two in it. So instead of the quick and easy death you 
 were supposed to have in the plane crash, you'll have a slow and torturous 
 one here instead. Now someone start talking."
 
 Both Harm and Seth remained quiet, neither one willing to tell Muscraven 
 what they had on him.
 
 "Maybe they need a little coercing" one of Muscraven's men laughed.
 
 "I think you're right Billy" Muscraven replied and the two men walked over 
 to Seth and pulled him to his feet before pushing him against the wall of 
 the cabin.  "You gonna talk or what Colonel?"
 
 Seth didn’t say a word and one of the men sent a fist into his stomach, 
 doubling him over in pain. The other man leveled a blow to his back, sending 
 him to the floor. That was all it took for Harm to push himself to his feet, 
 not willing to sit there and watch a fellow officer get beat on. He was able 
 to grab one of the men, whirling him around and connecting a fist to his 
 face that sent the man to the floor. The other man came at Harm, plowing 
 into him and sending the two men to the floor. Harm was momentarily stunned 
 as his head hit the wood floor hard and the breath was knocked out of him. 
 The man immediately began to punch Harm and Seth pulled himself off the 
 floor, managing to reach the man and pull him off of Harm.
 
 "Enough" Muscraven yelled and Seth froze as he saw Muscraven's gun trained 
 on him. "Good idea Colonel because I won't hesitate to use this." Seth let 
 go of the man and he shoved Seth back to the floor.  Harm groaned as he 
 pushed himself to a sitting position, Seth offering a hand to help him.
 
 "I can see you're not going to cooperate" Muscraven continued. "And if 
 you're not going to work with me, there's no reason to keep you two around."
 
 **************************************
 
 "Mac, you okay?" AJ asked as he turned around to check on her. Despite the 
 fact she was a Marine in excellent shape, she was still a pregnant woman 
 who'd had a few scares already.
 
 "Doing okay" Mac panted lightly. "How much further?"
 
 Maxwell pointed ahead to the cabin tucked in the giant trees and the group 
 stopped. The vehicles in front of the cabin told them Mac hadn't been wrong 
 and she felt a little bit of relief knowing they were in the right place.
 
 "Okay, what's the plan?" AJ asked.
 
 "We go in and we get them out" Mac said determinedly.
 
 "You are staying behind me" AJ ordered. "I'm not answering to your husband 
 why is pregnant wife was in the main line of fire."
 
 "Sir" Mac protested.
 
 "That's an order Colonel" AJ said firmly. "Maxwell, you and me will go in 
 first, with Amy and Ted behind us. Mac you're in the rear. Now let's move 
 it."
 ==============================
Muscraven yanked Seth back to his feet, seeing Harm was not any kind of threat 
at the moment.  "OK Colonel, now why don't we talk a little about the information 
you've gathered against my operation?"

"Not likely," Seth shook his head, giving Muscraven as defiant a look as he could 
muster.

"OK...OK," Muscraven nodded slowly, looking thoughtful.  "Maybe I should get in 
touch with some people back in the city.  I could see if your girlfriend would like to 
speak with us, knowing your life is in danger out here."

Seth gasped involuntarily, the thought of him or any of his men anywhere near 
Amy sending waves of panic through him.  "If you hurt her in any way there won't 
be a rock on this planet I won't turn over to find you and kill you."

Muscraven laughed and gave his arm a hard punch.  "Try again Colonel."

Stiffening his back, Seth stared at him straight on.  "Seth Jacob Hawkins, 
Colonel, United States Marine Corps, 450-...." he began and was rewarded with 
a sharp smack across his face.

With that Harm forced himself to his feet, only to be pushed back to the floor 
none too gently by Billy.

A second later all hell broke loose, with the beating in of the door the resulting 
blast of gunfire.  

"We've been found," Harm gasped as Muscraven and Billy ran from them to the 
front of the cabin.  Harm and Seth exchanged panicked looks, each knowing 
what the other was thinking.  "Please don't let her have come," Harm breathed, 
though he knew deep in his heart there was nothing that could have kept Mac 
away.

The gunfire continued sporadically as Harm pulled himself upright, only to have a 
pregnant Marine flinging herself against him as soon as he had done so.  "Sarah, 
oh God why did you come," he breathed, trying to hug her and protect her at the 
same time.

"Don't waste your breath on stupid questions Sailor," she ordered, fighting off his 
hands so she could check him.  "You know I had to come, had to see what kind 
of trouble my arrogant pig headed husband had gotten himself into this time."

"Mac, where's Amy?" Seth interrupted, the continuing gunfire making him more 
frantic.

"She's with the Sheriff, a couple of her people and the Admiral."  Mac gestured 
vaguely to the sounds of the gunfire.  "She insisted on coming in with them.  I 
was ordered to stand down so I had to locate my husband."

"I need to get to her," Seth moaned, now on his feet.  "Mac keep an eye on him.  
He's gotten a couple knocks on the head and I'm worried about him."

Her eyes opened wide with alarm and she gently cupped his head between her 
hands.

"Mac I'm fine.  Really.  Just a little dizzy is all."

"I don't like the sound of that Flyboy," she told him, feeling her heart lurch as she 
recalled the days of his coma and how she nearly lost him then.  "You just take it 
easy here.  We're going to get you some help."  She attempted to rise, only to 
have him pull her back.  

"No ma'am," he ordered sternly.  "As long as they're still firing out there you're 
staying right here.  My pregnant wife is going no where near that."

As he finished speaking the firing that had begun to lessen increased in a sudden 
burst.  

"Amy.  Aaa-my," Seth yelped and tore from back of the cabin.

Seth reached the front of the cabin in time to see Amy make a rolling dive onto 
the floor, firing a round in the direction of Muscraven who returned a single shot 
at her before AJ dealt with him in the form of two rounds to his chest and all was 
eerily quiet.

"Good to see you Colonel," AJ nodded in Seth's direction.  "I see you're in one 
piece and I trust Mr. Rabb is the same?"

"A little worse for wear maybe," Seth sighed.  "He needs to be looked at.  But yes 
sir, he's having his reunion with Mrs. Rabb which I'm about to do the same 
with..."  His voice trailed off as he realized Amy had not moved, but was curled 
into a ball on the floor.

"Amy?"  For a long second he stood frozen, staring at her, and the blood that 
was beginning to puddle beneath her.  "Oh Amy."

Seth's hoarse gasp tore at AJ's heart and he looked to where the FBI agent had 
fallen.  "Seth let me check her first."  

Seth nodded numbly and AJ knelt beside her.  The fingers with which he felt for 
pulse at her neck came back bloody, but AJ gave a long sigh of relief to realize 
she was alive.

"She's alive Seth," AJ gently told the Marine officer, "alive but she needs help."

Seth broke out of his frozen fear and dove to the floor, lifting Amy onto his lap in 
one swift motion.  "Amy?  Amy honey can you hear me?"

Her shirt was rapidly soaking with her blood and he pressed her close to his 
chest.  "Amy it's Seth.  Can you hear me?"

Her eyes opened slowly at the sound of his voice and she reached a shaky hand 
to touch his cheek.  "You're OK?"

"I'm fine, other than being scared to death about you," he whispered.

She closed her eyes in relief and relaxed against him.  "Hurts," she whimpered 
softly and fell unconscious.

"How bad?" Harm asked quietly from the doorway, where Mac was holding him 
upright.

"She needs a hospital--ten minutes ago," AJ told him grimly, "and from the looks 
of you, so do you."

  
 "I'm…" Harm started before a blank look crossed his face and his eyes closed, 
his 
 head lolling forward.
 
 "Harm" Mac screamed as she felt him go limp against her. Fortunately AJ had 
 been watching and was at her side a second later, gently taking Harm from 
 her and laying him on the ground.
 
 "Oh god Harm, you have to be okay" Mac wailed as she clutched his hand. She 
 looked up at her CO with terror filled eyes.
 
 "He'll be okay, we just need to get him to the hospital" AJ said quickly, 
 hoping that would in fact be the case.
 
 Sheriff Maxwell came running up, looking at where Seth was holding Amy and 
 where Harm lay on the ground "How bad?"
 
 "We need to get these two to the hospital ASAP" AJ said quickly. "Can a 
 chopper get in here anywhere?"
 
 "There's a clearing just on the other side of the woods that they used as 
 the airstrip" Maxwell replied. "I'll get on the radio to them and get them 
 on over. Course we'll have to carry them over there."
 
 "I've got her" Seth quietly as he stood up. Realizing he was going to have 
 to carry Harm, AJ nodded.
 
 They arrived at the clearing just as two choppers landed. Minutes later the 
 two choppers took off, heading to the University of Pittsburgh Medical 
 Center. To Mac, it was like reliving her worst nightmare all over again. 
 Only months before she'd sat in the same seat, praying he would be okay. And 
 this time she was even more scared. Her hand remained around Harm's the 
 entire trip, and it was only when they reached the medical center and he was 
 pulled away from her that she let go.
 
 "Ma'am you're going to have to wait out here" the nurse said gently as she 
 stopped Mac at the ER.
 
 "Sir, you can't go in there" another nurse said as she stood between Seth 
 and the doors where Amy had just been taken through.
 
 "Please, that's my husband" Mac pleaded. "You don't understand."
 
 "Honey, we're going to take good care of your husband" the nurse said as she 
 reached for Mac's arm. "Now you just go on and wait out there and as soon as 
 we know something you'll be the first to know."
 
 "I don't want to wait out here" Seth yelled as he tried to step around the 
 nurse. "I need to be with her."
 
 "And you will but first I think you should let the doctor take a look at 
 you" the other nurse said as she gently reached for his arm.
 
 "No" Seth said as he jerked his arm away from her. "I don't care about me. 
 All I want is for her to be okay."
 
 The two nurses exchanged long sighs before something finally registered in 
 Mac that she should intervene. Despite her own anxiety over Harm's 
 condition, she knew Amy's was much graver.
 
 "Seth" Mac said gently as she reached for his arm. "Come on. They're going 
 to take good care of her. In the meantime, you should let the doctor look 
 you over."
 
 "Mac, you don't understand" Seth wailed.
 
 "I think I do" Mac smiled slightly. "You're in love with Amy. It's not that 
 hard to see that Seth. And Amy and I did talk a little on the way up. I'd 
 say she feels the same."
 
 "God Mac what if she dies" Seth whispered and without a second thought Mac 
 reached her arms around the tough Marine, giving him a much needed hug.
 
 "She's not going to die" Mac said with as much confidence as she could 
 manage. "She's going to pull through and she'll be okay."
 
 "I'm so scared Mac" he whispered as he buried his head in her shoulder. 
 "What if I lose her? I never told her how I felt. We had a fight last night 
 before…"
 
 "Don't Seth" Mac said quietly as she pulled away to look at him. "You're 
 just going to make yourself crazy. She's going to be fine. Course a few 
 prayers wouldn't hurt either. I'm pretty familiar with the chapel here and 
 after you get checked over by the doctor I'll be happy to take you down. I 
 need to say a few prayers of my own."
 
 It was only then that Seth realized that the woman comforting him was 
 dealing with her own emotions.
 
 "Mac, I'm sorry" Seth said softly. "I didn't even think how hard this must 
 be for you. Being here again after everything that happened."
 
 She nodded and turned away as the tears started again. She'd been trying 
 hard not let her fears take over but the truth was she was scared to death. 
 "I'm all right" she managed tearfully. "Go on and get checked over. And 
 that's an order Colonel."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Seth said quietly. "And I'll take you up on that offer to go to 
 the chapel when I get back." He finally allowed the nurse to take him back 
 and Mac sank into one of the waiting room chairs.
 
 She'd been sitting but a few minutes when the nurse who'd originally stopped 
 her came out.
 
 "Mrs. Rabb, if you'll please come back with me"
 
 "What's wrong?" Mac demanded as she stood up. "Harm, please tell me he's 
 okay."
 
 "He will be once he calms down" the nurse smiled. "He's conscious now and 
 won't settle until he sees you. He's going to be going up to the CT lab and 
 you can go up with him. Hopefully that will get him to relax a little. And 
 you."
 
 Mac followed the nurse back and a few seconds later was at his side.
 
 "This is getting to be a little too familiar sailor" Mac said softly as she 
 took his hand. "Way too familiar."
 
 "Sorry" Harm said with a weak smile. "I didn't mean to scare you again."
 
 "Scared doesn't begin to explain it" Mac whispered as she fought back the 
 tears. "And once they tell me you're okay you and I are going to have a 
 little talk about what you and Seth did."
 
 "How's he holding up?" Harm asked, knowing that if it had been Mac on the 
 ground with a bullet wound he would have lost it.
 
 "As well as can be expected. I finally convinced him to let the doctor check 
 him over. There's nothing he can do anyway but wait."
 
 "How you doing? You and the baby okay?"
 
 "If Daddy would stop scaring Mommy to death we'd both be a lot better. But 
 I'm fine. And I don't want you worrying about anything. You relax and take 
 it easy."

"That's exactly what I was about to order you to do," he returned, taking hold of 
her hands and tugging her down to sit on the edge of the mattress.  "I'm sorry 
about all this," he went on.  "My intentions were nothing but the best.  Seth 
called, told me this was about to break and the thought that you would be 
wanting to go to him for the resolution was tearing me up.  And he didn't think 
much of the idea of you coming either.  And don't you dare tell him I told you that.  
He was concerned and rightly so."

"Harm the two of you can't always protect me," she objected.  "I can either do my 
job or I can go on light duty."

"And that would be bad?" he demanded.

She opened her mouth to scream yes, and then closed it as she thought of the 
baby within her.  "Harm honestly I'm just torn right now.  Torn between wanting to 
do what I swore an oath to do, and wanting to be one hundred percent sure that 
this little one...that nothing happens to him."  Her hand rested hard on her belly 
and he covered it with his large on.  

"I love you, and I love this baby, and to keep the two of you safe and well I'm not 
embarrassed to admit there's nothing I wouldn't do."

"I know," she sighed, "and when it comes down to it, I would do the same.  For 
you or for the baby."  She fell against him, seeking the comfort of his arms which 
he gladly gave.  They were still like that ten minutes later when the orderly came 
to wheel him for his CT scan.
===========================
Pronounced battered and bruised but not injured, Seth was now haunting the 
hallway outside the surgical suites, alternating praying and berating himself for 
not doing something to prevent her from being hurt.

"And you're waiting for news on your wife?" one of the nurses asked him gently.

"Uh...no," he smiled slightly, feeling his heart leap at the equating of Amy and 
wife.  "Amy Cole please.  I'm Seth Hawkins.  We work together is all."

"Well for 'is all' you seem pretty agitated," she smiled again.  "Not to mention 
you're not looking all that well yourself.  Please, come and sit.  Have some coffee 
or juice, and I'll check on her for you."

"I guess I can do that," Seth sighed and allowed her to show him to the surgical 
lounge.  "Sit Mr. Hawkins.  Before I have to call for a gurney for you."  She gave 
his shoulder a quick pat.  "'Is all' my butt."

"Not 'is all'," he murmured, leaning his head back onto the back of the chair and 
closing his eyes.  "Much more."  And with that he let sleep take him.
======================
"We're going to call it a mild concussion and have him lay down for a few hours 
just to keep an eye on him," Dr. Blakely explained to Mac when he came from the 
CT lab.  "Other than that, he's in pretty good shape.  They'll be bringing him out 
in just a minute.  I am concerned though about his previous head injury.  You 
know these things tend to be cumulative.  Ten years down the road he could be 
in for some health problems.  Try to get him to avoid these things can you?"

"I'd love to," she sighed, shaking slightly with relief at the good news he had 
imparted.  "But it's a perk of the work we do I'm afraid."  As she said that, her 
mind painted a vivid picture, not of JAG and court cases and investigations, but 
of the warm house on the Rabb farm and of family and home.  At that moment, 
she was more than ever sure that changes needed to be made.

"Give us fifteen minutes to get him into a room and you can come be with him all 
you want." Dr. Blakely's words broke her from her reverie.

"Yeah thanks," she smiled gratefully.  "I need to see to a friend."
===========================
"Mr. Hawkins, they're estimating another hour on Ms. Cole before she'll be taken 
to a room where you can sit with her," the nurse was saying as Mac reached the 
area.

"How is she?" he asked, his voice barely controlled.

"I'm sorry," the nurse said softly, "not good."

A soft sob escaped the Marine Colonel and Mac hurried to his side.  "Why don't 
we make that walk to the chapel," she said quietly, looping her arm around his 
back.  "God and I have a few things to discuss anyway."





 
 He could only nod and allowed Mac to lead him to the quiet little chapel. 
 For a moment she had a sense of déjà vu, remembering the last time she 
 prayed in the small chapel. She'd been at the breaking point then, her faith 
 in God very shaky at that point. She'd almost given up that day, but somehow 
 with Harriet's help had found her faith again. And God hadn't disappointed 
 her. She led Seth into one of the pews and sat down beside him.
 
 "I don't want to lose her, Mac" Seth whispered as the tears slid down her 
 face. "There's so much I never said to her."
 
 "I know" Mac soothed. "And you'll get that chance."
 
 "What if I don't?" he wailed. "It's not fair. All those years we wasted. Why 
 is this happening now that we've just found each other again?"
 
 "As a wise friend once told me, we don't have those answers" Mac said 
 quietly. "We just have to believe and have faith in God. I know it's hard, 
 but you can't give up. Just keep praying and those prayers will be 
 answered."
 
 "I'm just so scared" Seth whispered. "I don't know what I'll do if I lose 
 her. I never stopped loving her. Even after she was with Brad a part of me 
 still loved her."
 
 "You're not going to lose her," Mac said gently. "She's going to be okay."
 
 With that Mac knelt down in the pew and began to pray. First for the woman 
 that lay fighting for her life upstairs.  The woman that the man beside her 
 so desperately loved and needed. 'Dear Lord' she said silently. 'Give them 
 the second chance they deserve. The second chance you gave me and Harm." 
She 
 glanced over at Seth, who was now on his knees praying at well. Her heart 
 went out to him, knowing exactly the pain he was feeling. She looked 
 heavenwards again, this time uttering a prayer of thanks that Harm was okay. 
 Somehow she knew that those in heaven were still looking out for them.
 
 Seth sat back in the pew a short time later and Mac did the same, her hand 
 going out to her friend.
 
 "How you doing?" she asked softly.
 
 "Better thanks," he said giving her a small smile. "You don't have to stay 
 with me though. I'm sure you're anxious to get back to Harm."
 
 "Yes but he needs to rest anyway" Mac said quietly. "And I don't want to 
 leave you alone until I know you're okay."
 
 "I'll only be okay if she's okay" Seth sighed and Mac gave his hand a quick 
 squeeze. She understood how he felt, and also knew there was nothing she 
 could say to take away his pain. All she could do was offer her support like 
 the others had done for her.
 
 They sat quietly in the chapel for a short time longer before heading up to 
 see about Amy.
 
 "You can sit with her now" the nurse said when Seth and Mac approached. Mac 
 followed Seth to the room where Amy now lay, hooked up to so many machines 
 that it was hard to see the person in the bed.
 
 "Oh Amy" Seth cried as he walked into the room. Mac felt the tears brimming 
 as she watched Seth sit down beside the bed, grabbing Amy's hand and 
 clutching it to him. An overwhelming urge to be with Harm suddenly washed 
 over and she quickly stepped out of the room. She hurried back down to where 
 Harm was to be brought, quickly finding his room and rushing in.
 
 "Hey, I wondered where you…" he started before the look on her face made him 
 stop. "Mac, what's wrong?" It was then that he remembered that Amy had been 
 shot. "Oh god, tell me she's not dead."
 
 "She's not doing very well" Mac whispered and Harm's arm opened up and 
 seconds later her head was buried in his chest as she sobbed. And once the 
 tears started, they didn't stop. Everything suddenly caught up with her and 
 all she could do was cry in her husband's arms. Harm simply held her, 
 whispering soothing words as he gently rubbed her back. He knew she'd been 
 through a lot, and part of that was his fault. She finally lifted her head 
 from his chest and he gently wiped her tears away.
 
 "You okay?"
 
 "I think so. I'm sorry."
 
 "Nothing to be sorry about" Harm chided her gently. "It's been a rough 24 
 hours for you I'm sure."
 
 "It hasn't been a picnic that's for sure" Mac sighed.
 
 "How is Amy?" Harm asked.
 
 "Critical" Mac said quietly. "Seth is with her now. We spent some time in 
 the chapel earlier. He's having a hard time dealing with this."
 
 "I can't imagine what he's going through" Harm whispered as he pulled Mac 
 closer to him. He didn't even want to think about what he'd do if that was 
 Mac. He made a mental note to thank AJ for keeping her away during the 
 shooting, knowing she could very well have been the one that had gotten 
 shot. He shuddered at the thought, knowing that losing her or the baby would 
 be more than he could ever handle.
 
 "What were you thinking just now?" Mac asked softly.
 
 "How easily that could be you up there. And how if it were I'd be going 
 crazy." He took her hands in his, and looked at her seriously. "More and 
 more I keep realizing how dangerous what we do is. I know that there are no 
 guarantees in this world but I also know that doing what we do doesn't make 
 the odds any better. I don't ever want to lose you or our baby because of 
 some maniac like Muscraven."
 
 "You know I'm ready any time" Mac whispered. "Just say the words."
 
 "I want to" he sighed. "But I can't. Not yet."
 
 "Because you still have to prove that you can come back from what happened?"
 
 "Do you hate me for that?" he asked at he looked deep into her brown eyes.
 
 "First off nothing would ever make me hate you," she said quietly. "And 
 second, I know this is something you feel you have to do. And I support you 
 completely in that."
 
 "Thank you" Harm said as he pulled her against him. "Soon I promise."
 
 "I know" Mac sighed as she closed her eyes, issuing another prayer that God 
 would watch over them until that day.
 
====================
Seth was leaning over the bed as far as he could, holding Amy's hand and 
speaking softly when the doctor approached.  "Please don't make me leave her," 
he begged.

"No, not necessary," Dr. Morgan assured him.  "We know now that patients do 
better when there's someone there for them.  Just as long as that someone can 
handle the bad with the good."

"I'm a Marine colonel sir," Seth said slowly.  "I've seen my share."  His next words 
choked and he blinked back hot tears.  "Even if she were to die, I'd rather be 
here.  Wouldn't want her to die alone."

"Well we're not there yet," Dr. Morgan sighed.  "But that she's alive at all shows 
she's got a lot to live for We did lose her twice on the table, and both times she 
clawed her way back."

Seth blinked again.  "Dr. Morgan, I love this woman.  Please, please don't let her 
die."

"No sir, not on my watch if I can help it," the doctor told him.  "You keep talking to 
her.  Let her know she's got the best reason in the world for getting well."

"I can do that, thank you."
==================
7PM Eastern
6 HOURS LATER

"You know I thought I saw enough of this place last time," Grams sighed as she 
breezed into Harm's room, Pastor Jacob following her.

Harm's eyes flew open to look at his Grandmother's gentle face.  "Grams 
how...?"

"AJ called me of course," she told him, stopping to give Mac a warm hug before 
leaning down to kiss Harm's cheek.  "How else would I know what's going on.  
And Jacob was kind enough to bring me.  AJ told me you were OK, but I needed 
to see for myself, not to mention I made him admit that you all were up here with 
no way to get back.  So Jacob brought the church van and of course you'll be 
coming back with us."

"Grams we can't for a while yet.  Seth..well Seth was involved too."

"Oh my.  He's hurt?"

"No, but Amy is, badly," Mac said softly, stifling a sob in sympathy.

"You just lost me," Grams complained.

"Sorry.  Amy is an old friend of Seth's, an FBI agent now, and they were really 
close once.  Like Harm and me---almost but not quite there," Mac explained from 
the shelter of Harm's comforting arm.  "And she was hurt.  She's critical right 
now.  I don't really want to leave Seth here to deal with that alone.  That, and 
what might happen."

Grams nodded soberly.  "And now she and Seth are finding there way back 
together I'm assuming?"

"Right," Harm sighed.  "And I know exactly how he feels.  He's terrified she's 
going to die before he can say the words to her."
======================= 
"I love you Amy Marie Cole," Seth was at that moment saying, though the person 
to whom he was speaking was not responding.  At least not outwardly, for in her 
dreams she was in a field of flowers, resting on a blanket, her handsome Marine 
husband beside her.  Two little towheaded boys chased each other nearby, and 
deep within her, a baby girl was growing.

"I love you Amy," he repeated, his mouth to her ear.

"Love...love you," her lips formed, and the words were the barest rush of air, then 
still.

For a brief moment, she had touched the face of God, and He had given her a 
glimpse of her future; then returned her to the man with whom she would live that 
dream.




 
 
 "Amy" Seth whispered. For a second his heart stopped, fearing he'd lost her 
 forever. But seconds later he began to breathe again as her eyes slowly 
 opened.
 
 "Seth" Her voice was barely audible but he heard it and to him it was music 
 to his ears.
 
 "Right here sweetheart" he said as he gripped her hand tightly. "Right here 
 and never going to leave you."
 
 "I know" she whispered, a small smile across her delicate face.
 
 **************************
 Three Days Later, Friday June 29th
 
 "Mrs. Rabb we really can't impose like this" Amy protested. "Not with the 
 wedding and all that you've got going on. You've got a house full already."
 
 "First off the only Mrs. Rabb in this room is Sarah over there and secondly 
 that house is plenty big to handle everyone. And the more filled up it is 
 the more I love it."
 
 "Give up Amy" Harm grinned. "Grams doesn't take no for an answer."
 
 "It's tempting but.."
 
 "No buts" Grams said firmly. "You and Seth will come home with us. Jacob's 
 waiting downstairs with the van."
 
 A few hours later they were settling Amy in on the couch in the living room.
 
 "You okay?" Seth asked anxiously as he sat down on the edge of the couch.
 
 "I'm fine" she assured him. "Just tired. So don't look so worried."
 
 "Well you gave me quite a scare there," Seth said softly. "I didn't think I 
 was ever going to get to tell you how much I love you."
 
 "You've got plenty of time now" Amy smiled.  "And I can assure you I'll 
 never get tired of hearing you say the words."
 
 "I love you Amy Cole" he whispered as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
 
 From the door Harm and Mac watched with smiles on their faces before heading 
 to the kitchen to help Grams who was preparing dinner for the crowd that 
 would be arriving later.
 
 "How's she doing?" Grams asked.
 
 "She's in very good hands right now" Mac assured her with a smile.
 
 "They remind me of you two" Grams smiled. "When you came up for Christmas 
 last year."
 
 "Why does that seem like a lifetime ago?" Harm asked as he sat down in one 
 of the chairs.
 
 "Because a lot has happened since then" Grams replied. "You two have been 
 through more in six months than most people go through in a lifetime."
 
 "That's for sure" Mac sighed as she came up behind Harm and draped her arms 
 over him. "This sailor of mine seems to know how to get into trouble."
 
 "Okay, you can tell me to mind my own business, but have you two given any 
 more consideration to leaving JAG" Grams asked quietly. "And coming up here 
 to live?"
 
 "One day Grams" Harm said quietly. "Just not yet."
 
 The sound of vehicles in the driveway a short time later sent them to the 
 front porch and soon the place was a buzz with activity. Bud and Harriet 
 arrived with little AJ, along with Maggie, Josh and the kids.
 
 "Where's AJ?" Harm asked Bud. "I thought you were all coming up together."
 
 "He and Sydney took the day off" Harriet grinned. "I think he was going to 
 pop the question."
 
 "Well its about time" Harm smiled.
 
 Grams was just putting the food on the table when AJ and Sydney finally 
 arrived.
 
 "Sorry we're late," AJ said quickly as he and Sydney found their places at 
 the table.
 
 "So did you ask her?" Brandon asked AJ.
 
 "Ask me what?" Sydney said as she turned to AJ.
 
 "Uh, nothing" AJ said as he looked away. He'd intended to ask Sydney to 
 marry him today, but somehow he hadn't been able to get the words out. He 
 tried to but every time he opened his mouth nothing seemed to come out.
 
 "But I thought you were going to ask her" Brandon prodded.
 
 "Ask me what?" Sydney asked again.
 
 "If you'd marry me" The words tumbled out before AJ could stop them and 
 Sydney's eye's opened wide with amazement.
 
 "Did you say marry you?" she whispered.
 
 "Yes" AJ sighed. "I've been trying for the past two weeks to figure out how 
 to propose to you in a special way. Every time I tried, I just couldn't seem 
 to find the right words."
 
 "So that's why you've been acting so strange" Sydney smiled. "I thought you 
 were trying to figure out how to break up with me."
 
 "Never" AJ said softly. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you Sydney 
 Walden. That is if you'll have me"
 
 "Of course I'll have you" Sydney whispered as he drew her into his arms.
 
"Whoa wait a minute," Harm demanded teasingly.  "You went through all that 
questioning of how we arrived at being engaged just to blurt it out like that.  Sir 
you have no romance in your soul."

"I beg your pardon," Sydney giggled, looking up from where her head rested on 
his chest.  "He most certainly does thank you very much.  But I would have been 
happy...I mean we could have..."  She took his hand and drew him back onto the 
porch where they were momentarily alone.

"AJ, I want very much to marry you, but only if it's what you want.  I mean, 
discounting how on edge you've been the past few days, I considered myself 
lucky that we found back what we had lost because of me.  We don't have...."

He immediately silenced her with a long kiss.  "Yes we do," he told her firmly.  "I 
love you too much to just let us go like we are now.  I want you to have my name.  
I want you to be my wife Sydney Anne Walden."

"Hey Sydney's crying," Brandon shrieked from the window.

"Brandon get away from there this instant," Maggie ordered.  "You're spying boy 
And not minding your own business."

"OK but why is Sydney crying?"

"She's happy butthead," Mollie told him, giving his arm a punch.

"Don't call your brother butthead," Maggie groaned, "and both of you come to 
dinner or I'll let Grams deal with you.  Honestly Grams you're sure you're going to 
be able to cope with these two while Josh and I are gone."  She gave a long sigh 
as she thought of their upcoming wedding trip to Cozumel and Belize and 
shuddered to think what havoc the two kids would raise on the farm.

"You know they don't give me any trouble," the older woman smiled.  "You they 
just push your buttons."

"Isn't that the truth," Maggie sighed and then laughed as Josh hauled both of 
them toward the table.
================
"Seth please I can be up long enough to eat," Amy insisted.  "I want to be with 
these people.  They're already feeling like family.  More so that the people I call 
relatives that's for sure."

"Amy you almost....I almost lost you," Seth choked.  "Please, please take it easy.  
You know they only released you because they knew you'd have good care."

"And I'm getting the best," she smiled.  "I'm also starving."

Seth regarded her somberly for a moment and then carefully scooped her into his 
arms.  The sight of her on the dirty cabin floor, blood puddling beneath her, was 
still very vivid in his mind.  "OK one more for dinner, but not by my choice," he 
called.

"Here put her down next to me," Mac urged, patting the chair next to her.  "Harm 
and I can sit apart for one meal."

"Watch it Harm," Josh joked.  "Next you'll be sleeping apart."

"Only when ordered to," he growled, hurrying to help Seth settle Amy, and 
catching the look of pain across her face as he did so, and seeing the familiar to 
him look of distress that caused Seth.  It was not easy to love someone who 
could be in danger, and this he knew full well.

"Does everyone remember I'm a flower girl tomorrow," Mollie piped up, typically 
not wanting the conversation to stray from her for very long."

"No shi....I mean you're kidding," Bud teased and ruffled her hair.  "And you'll be 
the prettiest one there, except your mom of course..well and my beautiful wife."

"Your beautiful getting fat wife," Harriet smiled, her hand rubbing her rounding 
belly.

Amy's eyes dropped to her middle and she smiled softly. God had promised her 
a life with the man now sitting down next to her.  A life of love, and a life of 
mothering two boys and a girl.

"What's on your mind Ms. Cole?" Seth demanded, catching her dreamy 
expression.  His voice did not penetrate her thoughts and his alarm was 
immediate.  "Amy what's wrong?"

"Huh, oh nothing.  Just thinking of our children," she murmured without thinking.

"Excuse me?" Seth gasped and grabbed her hand.  "I mean I love you and I 
hope that's what's going to happen, but..."

Amy put a gentle finger to his lips.  "I have it on the highest authority.  Two boys 
and a girl, fathered by my handsome Marine husband."

The rest of the table fell silent, hearing her reverent tone until Harm reached 
across and patted her hand, understanding as only someone who had been in 
that situation could.

"God let me see, let me see that I had to hold on, and then He sent me back," 
she said simply with a shrug of her shoulders.

 
 Seth could only stare at her, her words telling him that he had in fact lost 
 her. Even if it was for only a second, it was a second too long.
 
 "Seth it's okay" she said softly seeing his pained expression. "You didn't 
 lose me. I'm still here with you just like I'm going to be for a long time."
 
 "Thank God" he whispered. He'd been granted a second chance with this 
woman 
 and he made a vow to himself and God that he would never forget how close 
 he'd come to losing her.
 
 "Now let's eat" Amy smiled. "Grams this looks wonderful."
 
 "We'll put a little meat on your bones" Grams smiled as she looked at the 
 young woman. "Nobody leaves this table hungry."
 
 Following dinner the men took Josh out to Belleville's tavern for his 
 bachelor party. Seth had declined as first, and it was only after Amy 
 insisted that he went.
 
 "She'll be fine" Harm smiled as he sat down next to Seth. "She's in very 
 good hands back there."
 
 "I know" Seth said with a wan smile. "It's just after coming so close to 
 losing her, I'm afraid to let her out of my sight for even a second. Like if 
 I do, she'll be gone."
 
 "I don’t think you have to worry about that" Harm assured him. "You've got 
 her back Seth, just don't waste this chance."
 
 "I don't plan on it" Seth replied.
 
 "Good" Harm smiled. "Cause now that the Admiral's getting married, you're 
 the last bachelor."
 
 "Not for long I won't be. As soon as Amy's back on her feet again, I'll take 
 care of that."
 
 *************************************
 Saturday June 30th
 Rabb Farm
 
 It was to be a simple occasion, the wedding taking place in the back yard of 
 the farm. Josh and Maggie didn't want a big to do, just a simple ceremony in 
 the presence of God and their friends.
 
 "Mommy, do I look okay?" Mollie exclaimed as Harriet finished doing the 
 little girls hair.
 
 "You look beautiful" Maggie smiled. "You ready for the big moment."
 
 "Yes I am" the little girl smiled as she took her mom's hand. "I'm so glad 
 you're marrying Josh. I like him a lot. He's lot's better than my real 
 daddy."
 
 "Yes he is" Maggie said softly. "And he loves you and Brandon very much."
 
 "And we love him too" Mollie grinned.
 
 A short time later with their friends gathered around, Maggie and Josh 
 pledged their love to each other for eternity. Brandon and Mollie stood 
 right beside them as the vows were repeated, and when Pastor Jacob declared 
 them husband and wife, Josh kissed his new wife first, and then his two 
 children.
 
 "Getting misty there Mrs. Rabb?" Harm asked as Mac sniffled beside him.
 
 "I'm just so happy for them" Mac said as she looked at Harm. "After all they 
 went through it's so good to see them happy. Josh is such a good guy. And 
 the kids are going to grow up having a father that loves them."
 
 "Yes it is good to see them happy" Harm said as he draped his arm over her 
 shoulder. "Come on, let's go congratulate the happy family."
 
 A small luncheon prepared by the ladies of the church followed and 
 afterwards Maggie and Josh prepared to off to the Rabb cabin that Harm and 
Mac 
 had spent their first night in.
 
 "Grams, I don't know how to thank you for this" Josh said as he dropped 
 their overnight bag in the car. "As much as we love being with everyone its 
 going to be nice to have our place for the night."
 
 "As well you should on your first night as husband and wife" Grams smiled. 
 "And don't you worry none about Brandon and Mollie. I've got enough hands 
 around here to help out with them."
 
 "Thanks for everything" Maggie gushed as she gave Grams a hug before her 
and 
 Josh took off for the cabin.

"Remember our time there.  Did we do this that night?" Harm asked gently in 
Mac's ear, wrapping his arms around her from behind and pressing his hands to 
her belly, feeling the slight baby bulge.

"I don't know about that," she smiled and turned her head up so her lips met his.  
"But it's possible."

"I was magnificent that night wasn't I," he grinned.

"Which time?" she bantered back, remembering that they had not slept much that 
night.

"Mom's going to come back like Harriet and Mac," Brandon announced suddenly 
to no one in particular.  "With a baby in her belly."

"Hoooo-kaaay," Harm grinned, shaking himself from memories of his wedding 
night.  "Brandon are we going swimming or what?  And by the way what happens 
with your mom and Josh is not something for discussion."

Harriet blushed fully.  "I don't know.  I swear I was in high school before I knew 
about such things."

"And I'm still teaching her," Bud grinned and ducked away from a grape Harriet 
flung across at him.

Seth dropped down beside the lounge chair on which Amy lie, happily soaking up 
the occasion.  "You doing OK?" he asked.  "Remember you promised you're 
taking it easy."

"Seth I haven't moved in an hour," she objected laughing.  "Honestly I'm fine.  
And I do intend to be at the picnic and parade on the Fourth, and to stay for the 
fireworks."

"Oh you think so do you," he grinned and kissed her, and then sobered quickly 
as he looked into her soft eyes.  "I know I worry excessively.  I'm sorry.  Just 
consider it a measure of how much I care.  Please."

"I do," she assured him.  "And today was beautiful wasn't it.  Maggie was 
beautiful.  And looked so happy."  

"You'll look just as beautiful," he told her, gently cupping her cheek.  "In fact I 
don't even need to ask you to marry me do I?  God already promised that to 
you."

"He did," she giggled happily, "but all the same.  It wouldn't hurt to hear you say 
it."

"Sounds like a challenge to me Agent Cole," he grinned, and taking her hand to 
his mouth to kiss, went on, "Amy Marie Cole, I love you.  I love you very much.  
And when this farm is wearing its Christmas colors, I want to bring you here and 
make you my wife."

"And we can wear Mr. and Mrs. Santa suits and.." she began and tears 
overwhelmed her before she could go further.  

"Amy you hurting?" he gasped in alarm.

"Oh no, not at all," she assured him quickly.  "Just picturing the wedding and 
everyone here and..."  Words failed her once again and she buried her head in 
his chest.  "Of course I'll marry you then.  Seth Jacob Hawkins, I never stopped 
loving you."
======================
Fourth of July
Belleville Township, PA.

The day had begun with a parade and a massive picnic in the park, followed by 
games and swimming.  Now at dusk, with the fireworks to begin shortly, there 
was ice cream and watermelon, and the high school band was assembled to 
play.  

Harm nervously looked at his watch and then at the bandstand for at least the 
fifth time.  

"OK Flyboy let's have it.  What's going on with you?" Mac demanded.

"You'll see very shortly.  It's time," he told her and rising from their blanket, 
carefully helped her up and led her to the bandstand.  Keeping a firm arm around 
her, he helped her up the steps and installed her in a chair.

"Now you're scaring me," she frowned and he laughed and kissed her.

"I'll be right back, and then you'll see."

The mayor called the crowd to order and requested they gather around.  The 
band began to play very softly, and the Junior ROTC marched in with the Colors 
flying proudly.  And right behind them, resplendent in his parade dress uniform, 
was Commander Harmon Rabb.  He stopped to salute the Colors and then 
walked to Mac, taking her hand and stepping up to the microphone.

"Harm?"

"You'll see," he promised.  Very softly the band began to play the music, and in a 
strong clear voice, he began to sing, sounding remarkably like Lee Greenwood 
as his words carried over the now totally silent crowd.  He wavered only slightly 
at the words 'and I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me' as 
his thoughts went momentarily to his father and grandfather.  

Then with his arm tightly around his wife, he brought his voice up full for the end, 
"There ain't no doubt I love this land....God Bless the USA."

THE END