TITLE:  “Starting Again I-Friendship Revisited”
AUTHORS:  Anne R. [amrsecret@yahoo.com]
                    Pat Steiner [ssbpmn@aol.com]
SUMMARY:  The first in a series of post Adrift stories.  Rated PG for 
mild violence 
and language. A Harm-Mac shipper story.
DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to Paramount, CBS, et al.  No copyright is 
intended 
with this work of entertainment only.
FEEDBACK:  Please, if you would like to express your enjoyment.  If our 
work 
does not appeal to you for any reason—we have no problem with that, but 
please, 
no need to share that with us.


“Starting Again I-Friendship Revisited”---

 JAG HQ's
 07:55 AM EST
 
 The tall dark haired Marine sat at one of the tiny tables in the JAG 
 courtyard, waiting anxiously for him to arrive. She knew he still had 
a few 
 minutes but she couldn't help worrying about him. A small smile 
crossed her 
 face as his vehicle pulled into the lot and a few seconds later he 
slowly 
 made his way over to her. She stood up as he neared and gave him a 
large 
 smile.
 
 "Colonel Sarah Mackenzie" she said as she extended her hand. "Friends 
call 
 me Mac."
 
 For a moment he stared at her, finally extending taking her hand in 
his.
 
 "Commander Harmon Rabb" he said finally. "Harm"
 
 "Nice to meet you Harm. I'm looking forward to working with you 
again."
 
 "So am I" he replied before the flyboy grin that had always melted her 
heart 
 crossed his face. "And hopefully with better results this time."
 
 They both gave way to laughter and it felt good to both of them to 
laugh 
 like that again.
 
 "Permission to give the Commander a hug to properly welcome him back" 
Mac 
 smiled.
 
 "Permission granted" Harm said as she stepped into his arms. For a 
moment 
 they savored the feel of each other before she finally stepped back.
 
 "Shall we go inside Commander" she smiled. "Before the Admiral thinks 
you're 
 still on leave."
 
 "Good idea. After you Colonel."
 
 They'd just gotten off the elevator when they were nearly mobbed by 
the rest 
 of the JAG staff.
 
 "Commander, it's good to have you back" Tiner greeted him first. "It 
hasn't 
 been the same around here without you."
 
 "Quieter I'm sure" Harm grinned.
 
 "I'll agree with that" Mac teased.
 
 "Sir, we did miss you" Harriet gushed and Bud nodded in agreement at 
his 
 wife's statement.
 
 "Glad to see you back, sir"
 
 "Thanks guys" Harm said as he made his way to his office. "I 
appreciate the 
 warm welcome back."
 
 "And we're glad you're back" AJ piped up as he walked out of his 
office. 
 "Staff meeting in the conference room in 15 minutes. We've got work to 
do 
 around here people."
 
 "Aye Aye sir" Harm smiled as he headed into his office.
 
 "Harriet organized everything for you while you were out" Mac smiled 
as she 
 poked her head in his office a few minutes later.
 
 "Remind me to thank her" he said as he stood up. "Stop at the break 
room for 
 a cup of coffee before we head to the meeting?"
 
 "Definitely" Mac said as they walked down the hall together.
 
 "There's something different about them Bud" Harriet whispered to her 
 husband. "They seem like two new people."
 
 "Well they have been through a lot," Bud said quietly. "Looks like 
they're 
 starting over again."
 
 A short time later they were all seated around the conference room 
table 
 waiting for AJ to begin the meeting.
 
 "First off, a welcome back to Commander Rabb. You've been sorely 
missed as 
 you'll soon find out from the piles that will be making their way to 
you" AJ 
 smiled.
 
 "Thank you sir, I'm looking forward to getting into the swing of 
things 
 again" Harm replied.
 
 "Good cause that's the second order of business around here. 
Commander, you 
 and the Colonel will be defending Petty Officer Charles Greer. PO 
Greer is 
 currently in the brig in the Washington shipyard, for drunkenness and 
 disorderly conduct after an incident this weekend at one of the local 
bars. 
 Lt. Singer will prosecute."
 
 The meeting ended a short time later and Harm and Mac walked back to 
his 
 office.
 
 "Okay, did you put the Admiral up to that one" Harm asked as he 
dropped his 
 legal pad on the desk. "Drunken & disorderly. I can't remember the 
last time 
 I had one of those. Bud usually handles those ones."
 
 "No, but I think it's a good idea" Mac answered. "You don't need to 
plow 
 full steam ahead into anything right away after what happened. And I 
know 
 how you get when it comes to a case."
 
 "Mac, I'm fine. And remember, no talk of that anymore. It's all in the 
past 
 with a lot of other things."
 
 "Temporarily in the past" Mac said quietly. "You know that Mattoni is 
 investigating what happened."
 
 "Tried to forget that but yes I know he is" Harm smiled wanly. "Can't 
say 
 I'm looking forward to that."
 
 "Just remember that whatever happens, you're not alone" Mac said 
softly.
 
 "I know and you don't know how much that means to me. But I don't want 
you 
 to worry about me."
 
 "Part of caring is worrying" Mac said softly. "And you've given plenty 
of 
 reason to worry remember."
 
 "Almost behind us" Harm said quietly. "Now what do you say we go see 
about 
 our client this morning and then stop and get lunch?"
 
 "You buying Commander?" Mac teased.
 
 "If that's what it takes to get you to lunch, yes"
 
 "You're on sailor" she smiled.

The drive into D.C. was silent until they crossed the river and Harm 
stared for a 
minute into the water, slowing down unconsciously.

"Sailor I'm not in a big hurry, but that eighteen wheeler behind us 
wishes you'd 
move a little faster," she pointed out gently.

Harm shook himself from his thoughts and waved, hitting the gas pedal.  
The truck 
driver waved back and Harm sighed.

"Thanks."

"For what?" she frowned.  "Oh for saving us from becoming a pancake 
back there-
-no problem."

"No for not asking if I'm OK," he grinned.  "I'm fine really--and if 
I'm ever not, you'll 
be the first to know I'm sure."

"Sure," she smiled easily.  "Long as you promise to tell me when you 
need help."

"Well my problem with that is that's all I did the first two weeks 
after I got out of the 
hospital."

"Hey I told you I was glad to have you," she smiled again.  "It helped 
me a lot too.  
Being able to look in there and see that blanket covered lump and know 
you were 
there."

"Well the lump needs another favor," he sighed.

"Speak up Squid.  I'll put it on your tab."

"That tab is miles long already," he groaned, "but OK here goes.  I 
have an 
appointment at Bethesda next week."

"Harm why?" she interrupted, fearing some complication from his ordeal.

"I'm going to have my head examined," he groaned with a small grin.  
"My mom 
will be pleased.  Many times as she's said to me, boy you need to have 
your head 
examined.  Anyway, they've ordered me to have some sessions to talk 
about my 
feelings and I'm allowed someone to hold my hand.  So will you?"

"Of course I will.  And I'll even drive you--but of course the meal 
after is on you."

"Done," he grinned and gave her hand a quick pat.  For what she had 
done while 
he was recovering--insisting that she would take care of him rather 
than him going 
to a convalescent facility--he felt he owed her more than he could ever 
repay.

"You ready to see what PO Greer has to say for himself?" He asked as 
they 
parked ten minutes later at the Navy Yard.
 
 _ 
 "You ready to see what PO Greer has to say for himself?" He asked as 
they 
 parked ten minutes later at the Navy Yard.
 
 It was a sullen looking Charles Greer that brought into the small room 
where 
 Harm and Mac waited.
 
 "I'm Colonel Mackenzie and this is Commander Rabb" Mac said as the 
young 
man 
 sat down. "We'll be defending you."
 
 "Well I'll make it simple for you. I’m guilty and that's all there is 
to it. 
 I'm willing to accept whatever punishment they see fit to impose on 
me."
 
 "Why don’t you at least tell us what happened the other night?" Harm 
 suggested.
 
 "There's nothing to tell. I got drunk, caused a scene and they 
arrested me. 
 End of story."
 
 Mac rolled her eyes at Harm, seeing their client wasn't going to be 
much 
 help in his defense. "Where you at the bar alone PO?"
 
 He didn't answer right away and Mac waited for his answer. "Yeah" he 
said 
 finally. "I was alone."
 
 "So you went to the bar alone and got drunk" Mac continued. "And then 
you 
 got into some kind of altercation with someone that lead to the police 
being 
 called right?"
 
 "Yeah something like that"
 
 "Who did you get into it with?" Harm asked. "And what was it about?"
 
 "Look, I told you I'm guilty and let's just leave it at that" Greer 
said 
 irritably. "I don't need you two to save my six. So just tell the 
judge or 
 whoever that I'm guilty and let it go."
 
 "What are you trying to hide?" Harm prodded. "Because I'm sure my 
partner 
 here would agree with me when I say there's more going on here than a 
simple 
 bar fight."
 
 Greer was silent as he avoided Harm's gaze. "No, there's not" he when 
he 
 finally looked up at the two. "And that's all I'm going to say. I 
don't want 
 no trial and you just tell the judge I plead guilty. And now I'm done 
 talking to you two."
 
 Mac sighed as she called for the guard and a few minutes later their 
client 
 was led back to his cell.
 
 "Okay, what was that all about?" Mac asked as she sat down next to 
Harm.
 
 "A lot more than he's letting on about" Harm replied. "We need to find 
out 
 who he got into it with at the bar. And see what really happened that 
 night."
 
 "Harm, your client has just told you he wants to plead guilty and not 
go to 
 trial" Mac reminded him.
 
 "Yes but he's hiding something Mac' Harm countered. "It's our duty to 
find 
 out what really went on."
 
 "No, it was our duty to handle a simple Drunk & Disorderly case" Mac 
smiled. 
 "Simple being the key word here."
 
 "I thought you said you had nothing to do with me being assigned this 
case."
 
 "Okay, so maybe I did have a little hand in making sure that your 
first case 
 was easy" Mac admitted. "And before you say a word, it's because I 
happen to 
 care and yes I do worry about you."
 
 "I know and I do appreciate that" Harm sighed. "But I'm ready to get 
back 
 into things again Mac. And remember I was given a clean bill of health 
by 
 the doctor and cleared to return to work."
 
 "Yes but unless someone constantly reminds you to take it easy, you 
won't" 
 Mac smiled. "And I do know that your return to work was with assurance 
that 
 you wouldn't over do it at first."
 
 "I would have said anything to get the doctor to let me go back to 
work" 
 Harm grinned. "Your place is nice but the four walls of your living 
room 
 where starting to get to me."
 
 "I know. But it's still my job to look after you. Comes with the 
territory 
 of being friends and partners."
 
 For a moment they were both silent, knowing how close they'd come to 
losing 
 both forever. "And I'm the luckiest person on earth to have you for a 
friend 
 and partner" Harm said softly.
 
 "It's a tough job, one that only a Marine could handle" Mac teased. 
"And one 
 I wouldn’t trade for the world."
 
 "So you agree we should find out what happened the other night at the 
bar?" 
 Harm asked quietly.
 
 "Yes we should" Mac sighed. "Where do you want to start first?"
 
 "Let's see if the bartender remembers anything" Harm suggested. "After 
we 
 talk to him we'll grab some lunch."
 
 They headed to the small local tavern, nearly empty at that time of 
the day.
 
 "Can I help you?" the man behind the bar asked as when he saw the two 
 military officers enter.
 
 "I'm Commander Rabb and this is Colonel Mackenzie" Harm said as he and 
Mac 
 strolled to the bar. "We're the lawyers for Charles Greer."
 
 "Oh yeah, the kid who got into the other night and caused a big 
ruckus" the 
 man replied. "What do you want?"
 
 "We're just trying to find out what happened that night" Harm replied. 
"Were 
 you here?"
 
 "I'm here every night" the man replied. "Sam Jones, owner."
 
 "Mr. Jones, what happened that night?" Mac asked.
 
 "Greer was in here with some girl" Jones replied. "They looked like 
they 
 were fighting or something and he just keep pounding down the liquor. 
They 
 were about to leave when this other guy came in. Him and Greer had a 
few 
 words, started pushing each other around and that's when I called the 
cops."
 
 "Greer wasn't there alone?" Mac questioned.
 
 "No ma'am. Like I said they didn't look too happy to be together, but 
he 
 defiantly wasn't alone."
 

"You want to describe the girl please," Harm urged, pulling out his 
notebook and 
then smiling disarmingly at the man.  "Or did you not look, and I don't 
for a minute 
believe that."

Jones leered.  "Of course I looked.  Early twenties, not any more than 
twenty-two, 
red hair, not bright, more auburn, half way down her back.  Ma'am your 
height or 
just a tad smaller and a real babe...excuse me."

Mac nodded impassively.  "And they argued?  Yeah and then this guy came 
in.  
Navy guy."

Harm stopped writing at once.  "And you know this because?"

"Because I've owned this place ten years and I know a Sailor when I see 
one, at 
least like guy.  Master Chief, liked to throw his weight around."

"I don't suppose you've got a name?"

"I don't ask names of my customers.  Big guy, bald, and I mean billiard 
ball bald.  
At least as tall as you sir, but probably has forty-fifty pounds on 
you."

"OK, so they argued."

"And she cried, and said she wasn't doing it any more.  Which I don't 
have a clue 
what that means, and then the big guy grabbed her wrist and hurt her.  
That's 
when your Greer tried to take him out.  Well I didn't want to see the 
little guy 
murdered so I was glad the cops showed up."

"And what happened to the Chief?" Mac asked.

"It's not a crime to be arguing, and there was a half dozen witnesses 
said Greer 
was the aggressor, so they put him in cuffs and hauled him out.  I 
tried to say that 
the Chief had been hurting the girl, but she wouldn't go along so I 
butted out.  I 
can't afford to have this place off limits or known as a trouble spot."

Harm nodded and produced his card.  "Please call me if you think of 
anything, or if 
you see the girl or the Chief again.  Something is wrong here, but I 
just don't know 
what."

Mac nodded as well and smiled.  "Thanks Mr. Jones."

They walked out into the bright sunshine before speaking.

"Back to Greer?" she asked.

"Marine you're reading minds today," he grinned.  "There's something 
going on 
here.  Greer didn't say a word about a girl or the other guy being 
Navy, assuming 
Jones is correct."

"Lets get lunch after we nail Greer's six to the wall," she smiled. 

NAVY YARD BRIG
20 Mins later

They were once again admitted to the cell block and as they were 
walking down 
the long corridor to Greer's unit, Harm caught her arm.  "Go ahead, 
I'll catch up", 
and he gestured to the men's room.  "And yes I'm fine."

"I didn't think you weren't," she smiled and he grazed her shoulder 
with his hand 
as she walked past him.

When he emerged he strode quickly to the day room of the unit and not 
finding 
Mac, called her name.  No response.

"Sir if you're looking for that Marine, she walked into Greer's cell," 
one of the 
inmates called.  "It's a few down from me on the right."

Harm nodded and found it easily, seeing Mac standing with her back to 
the open 
door, staring down at what appeared to be Greer's sleeping form.

"Mac what's the problem?  Looks to me like the man is ignoring an 
officer," he 
called casually.  Mac did not move and Harm frowned.  "Mac what's 
wrong?"  He 
came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder.  Even through her 
uniform 
he could feel how cold she suddenly was.  Her arm went out shakily and 
he 
followed her pointing to Greer.  Looking closely, he could see the 
length of wire 
wrapped around his neck.  Petty Officer Charles Greer was very dead.
 
 
 "Oh boy" Harm said quickly. "Let's get you out of here." He wrapped an 
arm 
 around her waist, guiding her out of the cell and back down the 
corridor, 
 finally leading her out of the cellblock to where the guard was.
 
 "Is there a problem Commander?" the guard asked.
 
 "Yeah, a big one" Harm replied. "PO Greer is very dead in his cell. I 
want 
 his cell sealed off until the coroner gets here. I don't want anyone 
 touching anything."
 
 "Yes sir. Sir, do you know what happened to him?"
 
 "He was murdered" Harm said quietly, the notion that this was a 
suicide not 
 even an option in Harm's mind. Not after what they'd heard from the 
 bartender.
 
 The guard hurried off to take care of the situation and Harm led Mac 
 outside, hoping some fresh air would help. She hadn't said a word 
since 
 they'd left Greer's cell, and she was still trembling as he put his 
arms 
 around her.
 
 "You okay" he asked as he held her tightly.
 
 "I just thought he was sleeping" Mac whispered finally. "I reached 
down to 
 shake him and when he didn't move I rolled him over. And that's when I 
saw…" 
 Her voice broke and she took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves.
 
 "Shh, it's okay" Harm said gently. "Don't even think about it. Just 
take a 
 deep breath and try and relax."
 
 She did as he said, closing her eyes and trying to block the image of 
the 
 dead man from her mind as Harm gently rubbed her back.
 
 "Thank you" she said a few seconds later as she finally stepped back 
from 
 him.
 
 "You sure you're okay?" Harm asked as he looked at her closely. There 
was 
 only concern on his face and she gave him a small smile to assure him.
 
 "Yeah, I'm okay" she sighed. "You'd think by now I could handle seeing 
a 
 dead body."
 
 "Mac, I don't think anyone ever gets used to seeing a dead body," Harm 
said 
 quietly. "Especially someone who's been murdered like that."
 
 "You have no doubt he was murdered do you?" Mac asked. "What about 
suicide?"
 
 "I'm sure that wire wasn't just sitting around his cell. And after 
what 
 Jones told us at the bar, I'm almost certain it was murder. There was 
a 
 reason Greer didn't want us to find out what happened the other night. 
He 
 was scared. Scared of whoever he had a run in with that night."
 
 "You think the guy at the bar had something to do with Greer's 
murder?"
 
 "Jones said the guy was Navy. If they were involved in something 
together 
 and he was afraid that Greer was going to squeal, he could have had 
Greer 
 guilty. In any case, we've now got a murder investigation."
 
 "Wait a minute, sailor. No one said we were handling this."
 
 "Mac, it was our client that was murdered. Of course we're going to 
handle 
 the investigation into his death. Especially when we already know he 
had a 
 run in with someone that night. Someone who may have wanted him dead 
to 
keep 
 him quiet.
 
 She didn't say anything, not liking the fact that a simple Drunk & 
 Disorderly had turned into a murder investigation.
 
 "Okay, what are you thinking?" Harm asked when she remained quiet. 
"You 
 don't think I'm up to handling this do you?"
 
 "I think we should go back to JAG, let the Admiral know what has 
happened, 
 and let him decide who should handle the murder investigation."
 
 "Mac" Harm protested. "I can handle this."
 
 "Harm, I know you" Mac countered. "You won't rest until you find out 
who 
 murdered Charles Greer. And normally I love that quality about you but 
right 
 now I'm just concerned that you'll be more worried about the case than 
you."
 
 "That's why I have you to look out for me" Harm grinned. "Mac, come 
on. 
 Don't even suggest to the Admiral that someone else should handle 
this. 
 Please." He flashed his famous flyboy grin and she groaned as she knew 
he 
 was going to win her over.
 
 "Okay sailor. But on one condition. You promise me that you are not 
going to 
 jump headfirst into this investigation. I want your word that we will 
handle 
 every step of this investigation together and that you will not over 
do it."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Harm said as he gave her a mock salute.
 
 "Cute flyboy, real cute" Mac smiled. "So do I have your word on this?"
 
 "You have my word" Harm said seriously. "Mac, I can handle this. You 
know 
 this should be our investigation."
 
 "I know" Mac sighed. "And it will be. I'm sure the Admiral won't have 
a 
 problem with us handling the investigation."
 
 "You ready to go back inside?" Harm asked. "Or would you rather wait 
out 
 here until after the coroner takes the body away?"
 
 "No I think I can handle it" Mac said taking a deep breath.
 
 "You sure. Cause you know I worry about you too"
 
 "I'm sure" Mac smiled.
 
 They headed back inside, Harm keeping his hand on her back as they 
walked 
 in.
    >>

Mac felt his hand and looked up at him sideways, seeing him stare 
straight ahead 
as they walked.  

"I'll take the left side of the cell block," she announced when they 
reached the area 
of Greer's cell.  

"You sure?  Sure you're going to be OK?  We could stay together."  His 
fingertips 
bored further into her back.

"I'm OK, yes," she told him, hoping her voice sounded more confident 
than she 
felt.  "How about you?"

"Doing good," he assured her.  "We're going to handle this 
investigation.  Just like 
the Rabb and Mackenzie of the old days."

"That's Mackenzie and Rabb," she grinned teasingly, giving his arm a 
push as she 
hurried to the other end of the cell block.

An hour of questioning followed, taking names, asking who was with 
Greer before 
he died, who had last seen him alive and on and on.  

"Harm a couple of the prisoners are saying there was a visitor matching 
the 
alleged Chief's description..." she murmured and her voice trailed off 
as she saw 
Harm standing at the side of Greer's cell while the body was removed.

Harm turned upon hearing her and immediately held his hand up to her to 
stay 
back.  "Nothing more to see here," he told her, quickly hurrying to her 
side. 

She steeled herself as they passed by several feet away, shuddering 
only slightly.  
"I'm sorry.  I've seen death before.  You'd think I could handle it."

"Maybe too much," he said quietly, taking her arm to lead her out.  "I 
think we've 
done all we can for now here.  Lunch break.  We can always come back."

"Harm about the Chief..," she began only to have him hold up his hand.  

"It'll keep until we're in a place to sit and talk."

"Yeah OK," she nodded and looked at him closely.  "You're looking a 
little ragged 
around the edges yourself Commander."

"I'm ready for a break," he admitted, "but I'm fine."

"You'd better be being straight with me Sailor," she warned.
=========================
Osage's Deli
Near Navy Yard

"OK you were saying," Harm prompted her as he dug into his Greek salad.

"I found two guys who would admit that they saw a visitor with the so 
called 
Chief's description visit Greer in the twenty-four hours he was held.  
But the girl is 
no clue so far."

He nodded and opened the folder.  "Where is Greer assigned?" he 
murmured.

"Pentagon," she replied through a mouthful of fry.

"I know, but to whom?"

Harm gave her a blank look and delved into the paperwork.  When he 
found the 
entry he silently turned the file for her to see, his finger resting on 
the words, 
'Office of Naval Intelligence'.

"Oh my God," she gasped.  "Motive maybe."

He nodded soberly.  "Our D and D is turning into a lot more.  I want 
this case.  I'm 
going to oppose any attempt to take it from us."  Somewhere inside a 
tiny small 
voice was attempting to raise a caution flag and he ignored it.  He 
wanted to get to 
the bottom of Greer's death.  It was the type of investigation they had 
handled so 
well together in the early days of their partnership, and it was what 
he wanted to 
do again.  Rabb and Mackenzie, together.



 
 Mac wasn't so sure. She knew Harm was anxious to get back into things, 
but 
 this case was sounding less and less like something she wanted him to 
handle 
 right now.
 
 "We need to talk to the Admiral," she said finally. "He needs to know 
this 
 is no longer a D&D but a murder that may be intelligence related."
 
 "But you won't suggest someone else handling it right?" Harm asked 
quietly.
 
 "I won't" she sighed. "But remember you're promise. We're heading back 
to 
 JAG to talk to the Admiral and then we're taking it easy the rest of 
the 
 day."
 
 "Mac" Harm protested. "We need to find this girl what was with Greer."
 
 "Not today we're not," Mac said firmly. "Harm, it's your first day 
back. 
 We'll start talking to Greer's family and friends tomorrow. We're 
going back 
 to JAG to tell the Admiral what's going on and then we'll spend the 
rest of 
 the day finding out everything we can about Greer."
 
 "All right" Harm sighed. "I guess I can live with that."
 
 "No choice sailor" Mac smiled. "I'm looking out for you remember."
 
 "Yes ma'am. But really I'm okay."
 
 She didn't say anything, knowing he was doing his best so that she 
wouldn't 
 worry. She would just have to keep her eye on him as they handled the 
case.
 
 A short time later they were on the way back to JAG HQ's and this time 
Mac 
 watched him carefully as they crossed the river. He didn’t seem to 
notice 
 that she was staring at him, his eyes glued forward as if he were 
trying to 
 block out the water around them. She was suddenly glad he had asked 
her to 
 go with him to the counseling sessions the Navy was making him go to. 
 Despite his assurance he was okay, she wasn't quite sure that was the 
case.
 
 "Did I grow a second head?" he teased as he finally looked over at 
her, 
 noticing that she was staring intently at him. They'd crossed the 
river and 
 he'd visibly relaxed again.  "Or are you enamored with my good looks 
again?"
 
 "It's your good looks" Mac smiled. "Guess I missed having you around 
the 
 past few weeks."
 
 "Not as much as I missed being around" Harm replied.
 
 They arrived back at JAG HQ's, heading directly to Tiner's desk.
 
 "Tiner, we need to see the Admiral ASAP. Is he in?" Harm asked.
 
 "Yes sir, go right ahead" Tiner replied and Harm and Mac headed into 
the 
 Admiral's office.
 
 "How's your D&D?" AJ asked as they entered.
 
 "Dead sir" Harm replied. "Murdered to be more specific."
 
 "Have a seat and tell me exactly what's going on"
 
 AJ listened intently as Harm recounted the morning's events, including 
their 
 talk with bar owner and the other inmate's description of the Chief 
who had 
 entered Greer's cell shortly before he was murdered.
 
 "I can't even send you two on a simple Drunk and Disorderly" AJ 
sighed. 
 "Murder, possible espionage."
 
 "Sir, we'd like to handle the investigation into Greer's death" Harm 
said 
 quietly. "It's our client and we've already got a few leads on what 
happened 
 that night and it only makes sense for us to handle it."
 
 "You in agreement with that Colonel?" AJ asked as he looked at Mac. He 
would 
 trust her judgment on this, knowing she knew her partner better than 
anyone 
 else. He also knew that Mac would keep an eye on her partner and not 
allow 
 him to over do it.
 
 "Yes sir" Mac said finally. Harm shot her a look of pure gratitude, 
sensing 
 the Admiral's hesitation to give them the case.
 
 "All right, but I want daily updates on this" AJ said firmly. "This 
may turn 
 out to be a simple lovers triangle or it may be a serious case of 
espionage. 
 Either way I want you to watch each others sixes on this one."
 
 "Yes sir" they said in unison.
 
 "I'll inform Lt. Singer she doesn't have to worry about prosecuting 
this 
 one" AJ said as they stood up.
 
 "Thank you" Harm whispered as they walked back to his office. "I got 
the 
 feeling he wasn't going to let us have this one until you agreed."
 
 "Just don't make me regret my decision sailor."
 
 "I won't I promise. Now what do you say we start digging up everything 
we 
 can on Charles Greer."
 
 Hours later they had a pile of information they'd obtained via the 
Internet 
 and from Greer's personnel file.
 
 "Okay sailor, let's call it a day" Mac said just before 5:00.  She'd 
seen 
 him try and hide a few yawns the past half-hour and she knew he was 
probably 
 exhausted.  "We’ll muddle through all this tomorrow."
 
 He was about to open his mouth to protest when he looked up at her, 
the look 
 on her face telling him she was serious.
 
 "Yes ma'am" he sighed.  "We'll start at the Office of Naval 
Intelligence 
 tomorrow? Talk to his co-workers and see if anyone around there 
matches the 
 Chief's description."
 
 "Do able. Why don't I pick you up in the morning and we'll go straight 
 there."
 
 "How about I pick you up?" Harm suggested as he reached for his 
briefcase.
 
 "I can live with that" Mac smiled. "Will you do me a favor and call me 
when 
 you get home?"
 
 "Mac I think I can handle the drive home"
 
 "I know but just humor me please. Otherwise I'll just spend the whole 
night 
 imagining all kinds of awful things and not get a wink of sleep. As it 
is 
 I'm still getting used to the lump not being on my sofa at night"
 
 "Have I thanked you recently for everything you did?" Harm said 
quietly as 
 he gazed deep into his partners' eyes.
 
 "I have all the thanks I need" Mac said softy. "I still have you 
around. Now 
 go on and get out of here before we have a Hallmark Moment or 
something like 
 that." She quickly turned away so he wouldn't see that the tears were 
 brimming in her eyes.
 
 "I'll see you at 08:00" Harm said as he headed for the door. "And I'll 
call 
 when I get home."

He slipped through the door and leaned back against it briefly.  
"Hallmark 
moment," he sighed.  "Someday.  If you keep your head on straight Rabb.  
Your 
track record in that area is sadly lacking."
 =================
HARM's APARTMENT
45 Mins. LATER

"I'm home mother," Harm said in response to her hello.

"Thank God," she breathed into the phone with more feeling than she had 
intended to impart.  

"Mac I'm really OK," he laughed lightly, not caring to go into the 
bridge, the water, 
and how he tensed the whole way across, staring straight ahead, his 
knuckles 
white on the wheel.  He also carefully left out the part where the 
truck's horn blast 
unnerved him so he was heading for the guard rail and the dark Potomac 
below 
until he hastily corrected his steering and reached the D.C. side.

"Harm I'm wanting to believe you," she returned.  "But you know I'm 
still having a 
hard time with all this myself.  I still have nightmares of the Admiral 
telling me...."

"You're kidding aren't you?" he interrupted.  "Mac I don't want you 
suffering on my 
account."

"It's fine," she told him hastily, not wanting him worrying about her.

"Well I doubt that, but I also know from experience I'm not going to 
get much more 
out of you," he returned.  "So we'll have to trust each other that 
we're fine, right?"

"I can live with that," she agreed.  "So what's your plan for tonight?"

"Beer, chips, basketball, bed," he grinned.  "And a renewed 
determination to nail 
down whatever happened to one Charles Greer."
================================
Mac's APARTMENT
0330 Hrs Eastern

She was deeply asleep, a rarity for her, when the phone rang.  Once, 
twice, three 
times.  "Mackenzie," she murmured into the receiver.

"Mac it's Harm."

"Harm you OK?"  She fought through the fog of sleep and sat straight up 
in bed, 
already flinging the covers from her in anticipation of needing to go 
to his aid.

"I'm...well OK," he said slowly, "and feeling very foolish right now 
for calling you in 
the middle of the night."

"How so Flyboy?"

"I just needed to hear your voice," he admitted.  "Needed to know you 
were there, 
and to know that I can get you when I need you."

"Of course you can," she frowned, and when she thought over his words 
added, 
"Are you sure that's all there is to this?"

"Yeah."

"Harm I'm not buying that.  You're going to have to be more 
convincing."

"Mac really.  I just...OK I had a really strange dream about you."

"Oh yeah?"  She laughed in an attempt to lighten the moment.  "Tell me 
I'm fully 
clothed in this dream please."

An awkward silence, and then his voice, now tortured sounding.  "You 
were my 
RIO and we had to punch out.  I could see you in the water, gasping for 
breath 
and ...."

"Whoa Flyboy," she cautioned, sensing his emotions were getting the 
best of him.  
"You're getting into a state for nothing.  I can assure you I am not 
now, nor have I 
ever been, anyone's RIO.  I get sick remember."

That brought the laugh she expected and she relaxed, sensing more 
calmness 
from him. 

"OK now I feel like a total fool," he sighed.  "But I knew I wouldn't 
get back to sleep 
until I knew you were OK.  Now the question is, can you?"

"I'll be fine," she promised.  "And I don't want you to feel anything 
but ready to 
sleep.  Actually hearing your voice in the middle of the night isn't 
that unpleasant.  
It reminds me of all the nights you stayed here."

"And woke up thinking I was drowning," he added.  

"Yeah," she sighed, recalling his vivid nightmares, sometimes as many 
as five a 
night, during the first days of his recovery.  "Harm can you sleep 
now?"

"I think so," he said, hoping he sounded more certain than he felt.

"Good night then.  I'll see you in four hours and twenty-two minutes, 
OK?"

"Good night Mac."  He clicked off the phone, dropping back onto the 
pillow and 
finding it dripping wet.  "And no Mac to change it," he moaned, 
reminded of the 
nightmares at her place.  Irritably he threw it onto the floor and 
rolled until he 
found a dry spot on the sheet, staring at the darkness framed by the 
window.  It 
was not until dawn lightened the sky that he was able to sleep.
==================
MAC's APARTMENT
0810 Hrs Eastern

She paced between the window that looked out on the front of the 
building, the 
phone, and the door where she would listen for his footfalls.  His cell 
phone was 
not answered, nor was his apartment.  Voice mail on both counts.

"Harm where are you?" she moaned, debating whether to drive to his 
place to 
check on him, all the while fighting the rising tide of worry that was 
threatening to 
turn to panic.



 
 Ten minutes later after still no answer on either phone she grabbed 
her 
 purse and briefcase and headed for the door. There were a million 
possible 
 reasons why he was late, but the only ones she could think of involved 
him 
 being hurt or sick. The drive to his place was made in record time 
despite 
 the traffic, Mac receiving more than a few glares from people who 
weren't 
 happy that the little red corvette had cut them off. She hurried up to 
the 
 stairs to his apartment, digging through her purse for the key he'd 
given 
 her when he'd been staying at her place and she'd needed to run to his 
place 
 for his stuff. She finally found it and seconds later burst through 
the 
 door.
 
 "Harm" she called as she cautiously made her way in. "Harm"
 
 She headed to the bedroom, a small gasp escaping her when she saw him 
spread 
 out on the bed, one arm hanging over the side. For a second she froze, 
 fearing the worst. She was about to move towards him when he started 
to 
 stir.
 
 "Thank you god" she whispered under her breath and started towards the 
bed. 
 He lifted his head just as she reached the bed, looking up at her with 
 surprise.
 
 "Mac" he mumbled tiredly. "What are you doing here?"
 
 "Having a heart attack" she sighed and he groaned as he looked up at 
the 
 clock.
 
 "I'm sorry" he moaned as he pushed himself to a sitting position. 
"Just give 
 me a few minutes and I'll be ready."
 
 "Not until you tell why you look like you never slept last night," Mac 
said 
 as she sat down on the edge of his bed. "You never went back to sleep 
after 
 you called last night did you?"
 
 "Eventually" he said as he avoided her gaze.
 
 "Like about an hour ago" Mac inquired and he slowly nodded.
 
 "I guess I couldn't fall back asleep," he said quietly.
 
 "Yesterday was too much for you" Mac fretted. "Both physically and 
 emotionally. You're not ready for a case like this Harm."
 
 "Yes I am" Harm protested. "I just didn't sleep very well last night. 
I 
 guess I was more used to sleeping at your place than I realized."
 
 "You know you're welcome to come back" Mac said softly.
 
 "Mac, I have to learn to deal with this" Harm sighed. "Somehow."
 
 "I know you do. And that's precisely why I didn't want you to handle 
the 
 Greer's murder investigation. You're dealing with enough stuff without 
 having a major investigation on top of it. It's too much for you right 
now. 
 I'm going to call the Admiral and tell him you're taking the day off 
so you 
 can get some rest and that he needs to assign someone else the case."
 
 "Mac, please" Harm pleaded. "I can't just sit in the office doing 
paperwork. 
 I know that's what you and the Admiral think is best for me but it's 
not. I 
 need to be working on something that's going to keep my mind occupied. 
 Sitting at my desk reading contracts is only going to make me think 
about 
 everything more."
 
 "You're not making this easy for me sailor" Mac sighed. "I'm only 
doing what 
 I think is best for you."
 
 "I know. But I want to be on this case Mac. I need to be on it."
 
 "You also need to be taking it easy and getting sleep" Mac pointed 
out. 
 "Harm, I'm just worried about you. You know that's the only reason why 
I 
 would even suggest to the Admiral that you shouldn't be on the case."
 
 "I'll be okay. Last night was just one of the bad nights."
 
 "And what if tonight's another bad night?" Mac asked.
 
 "Then I knock on your door at 2:00 AM instead of calling" Harm said 
with a 
 small smile. "Just kidding. I'll handle it. I promise."
 
 "That offer to use my sofa is still open" Mac smiled. "If that's what 
it 
 takes for you to sleep, I'm more than happy to have you."
 
 "Yeah and I'm supposed to tell the Admiral I'm sleeping on your sofa 
because 
 I still can't handle this" Harm said quietly.
 
 "I think he'd understand. Harm, no one is expecting you to bounce 
right back 
 from what happened. Especially the Admiral."
 
 "Well, let's just keep this to ourselves for now."
 
 "Only if you promise me you'll let me know if you can't handle this" 
Mac 
 said quietly.
 
 "Promise"
 
 "Then I won't say anything to Admiral about pulling you off the Greer 
 investigation for now."
 
 "Thank you" Harm said softly. "I'm not sure what I would do without 
you."
 
 "Partners and friends" Mac whispered as she reached for his hand, 
squeezing 
 it gently. "And I'll always be here for you."
 
 "I'd better get my sorry six in the shower," Harm said softly and she 
 finally let go of his hand.
 
 "I'll make you some toast while you're showering" Mac said as she slid 
off 
 the bed. "Can't start the day without breakfast."
 
 "Yes mom" Harm said as he flashed her his flyboy grin. She gave him a 
 playful swat before heading to the kitchen while he made his way to 
the 
 shower.
 
 A good part of the morning was spent at the Office of Naval 
Intelligence, 
 where to their surprise they learned Charles Greer had just recently 
 transferred from Norfolk. He'd been in DC for just days prior to his 
death. 
 Few of the staff had gotten to know the young man and Harm and Mac 
quickly 
 realized that they were going to need to talk to the people he'd 
worked with 
 in Norfolk to find out what he might have been involved in.
 
 "What do you say we head to Norfolk?" Harm said as they headed to the 
car. 
 "Plenty of time to get there before every one leaves for the day."
 
 "Maybe we should wait until tomorrow," Mac said slowly and Harm shot 
her a 
 long glare. "Okay, I know. You'll let me know if you can't handle it."
 
 "Correct" Harm smiled. "Besides, I can sleep for a little bit in the 
car on 
 the way down."

"Yeah well see that you do," she ordered sternly.  "That's a good three 
hours you 
can get in."

"No whoa wait," he objected.  "I'm not allowing you to drive the whole 
way.  You're 
operating on reduced sleep yourself, thanks to some jerk who called you 
in the 
middle of the night."

"If I need to be relieved you'll be the first to know," she muttered, 
giving him a 
quick shove in the car's direction.

With a quick stop at each place to pack an overnight bag in case the 
afternoon 
turned into night, they were shortly on I-95 heading for Richmond and 
then the 
turn eastward toward Norfolk.  By the time they reached Fredericksburg, 
Harm 
had dropped off to sleep, having left her a firm order to change 
drivers in 
Richmond.

With no intention of waking him, she sailed through Richmond, and they 
were 
halfway to Norfolk when he stirred and began to thrash, obviously in 
the throes of 
a nightmare.  Her hand clamped around his arm, and she gave him a 
gentle 
shake, trying to wake him without startling him.

"Harm....Harm it's OK.  You're here with me.  You're not in your 
Tomcat," she 
called softly.  She suspected he had been reliving the mishap, as she 
had heard 
him do so many times during his recovery.  But not this time.  This 
time no 
screams came from him, but rather just a single soft sob, and then 
tears flowed 
profusely as he struggled to wake himself.

"Harm...Harm please stop," she begged, the tears ripping at her heart.

Finally he opened his eyes and stared at her, uncomprehendingly at 
first.

"OK?" she asked gently and to her relief he nodded slowly.

"Harm you weren't having the punch out dream were you?" she asked in 
puzzlement.  "Want you tell me about it?"

"It was one of the others," he confessed to her surprise.

"Just how many are there?" 

He gave her a sheepish smile as she handed him a wad of tissue to wipe 
his face.  
"Basically there's two with the Tomcat--first that I can't get out.  
That the ejection 
seat fails, which for a second there I did think was about to happen; 
and then what 
really did, where I'm tangled in the chute lines.  Then the one where I 
nearly 
drown because of the raft getting away from me.  All those are 
screamers."

"OK."  She kept her face carefully impassive.  "And this one was....?"

"This is the one where none of that happens.  I mean I get through the 
storm and 
land at Andrews OK," he said softly, turning his face from her to stare 
at the 
window before continuing.  "This is the one where I get to the church, 
and find out 
you're Mrs. Brumby."

"Oh God," she gasped, hearing that for the first time.  "Harm I'm so 
sorry."  She 
reached again for his hand, trying to keep an eye on the road, steer 
with one 
hand, and empathize at the same time.

"Hey it's all over and done with," he reminded her.  "It didn't happen.  
But my mind 
seems like it's still afraid it did."  It was on the tip of his tongue 
to ask her one of 
the few things they had not talked about--what would have happened had 
the 
news of his disaster not come to her.  Would she have gone through with 
the 
wedding.  He bit the question back, not wanting to hear that in all 
likelihood she 
would have.

"It is over, but not done with until you get over all that went with 
it.  And only time, 
and counseling, can do that."

"You left out the most important thing," he told her.  "The love of a 
friend."

"Well you've got that Flyboy.  Never doubt it."

"Never," he echoed and relaxed back into the seat for all of three 
seconds until he 
shot forward again.  "Hey I haven't had my turn to drive."

"And I told you I'd let you know if I needed relief," she retorted.  
"I'm fine, and we'll 
be there in thirty anyway.  Why don't you figure out where we're going 
to go before 
we hit that traffic and I'm in the wrong lane and I have to cut someone 
off and we 
get the bird." 

"Yes ma'am," he smiled, shaking off the last vestiges of his dream.

"OK, now Greer did admin work for Norfolk's ONI detachment," he went on 
slowly, 
reading the file and checking the facility map at the same time.  

Under his guidance Mac shortly had them at the right place.  When she 
exited 
their car she turned and looked at Harm, watching him closely.  

"I'm fine," he mouthed.

"I know, but humor me worrying about you," she smiled.  "I have to be 
glad once 
in a while you're here for me to worry over."

"And I have to be glad you're still in a position to do that," he 
smiled back. 

Once inside the building, they were all business, locating Lt. Cdr. 
Peter Blaine, the 
OIC of the unit.

"I can't say as I'm surprised," Blaine sighed when between them they 
had told him 
the story.  "Greer was being investigated here off the record.  I 
didn't like the kid.  
Something about him didn't sit well with me."  Blaine went on to detail 
several 
incidents of documents misplaced, transmissions lost, etc. 

"And when the opening at the Pentagon came up, he requested the 
transfer and I 
wasn't sorry to see him go, even though I knew I was sending them a 
potential 
problem, which yes I did inform them and Admiral Sexton said she would 
handle it 
from there."

"OK," Mac nodded thoughtfully and proceeded to describe the elusive 
Chief.   

"Chief Knighton?  Rodney Knighton?"  Blaine was amazed.  "Well it sure 
sounds 
like him.  Let me get my clerk to pull up his picture from the 
personnel files."  He 
spoke into the phone and then punched up a computer screen.

"Could be yes sir," Harm nodded.  "Where would we find him?"

"He's left for the day," Blaine replied.  "He works my early shift, and 
I gave him two 
hours off, so he's home.  I'm sure you can reach him there, probably 
playing with 
his kids.  Real family man."

Harm and Mac exchanged glances but neither commented, thinking of the 
woman 
in the bar, who's

"Address please."

"He's got off post quarters--across the bay--through the tunnel--in 
Kiptopeke," he 
answered.  "Nice place on the water.  But it's a good little drive."  
He handed them 
a slip of paper with Knighton's address and they were dismissed.

"Across the bay," Harm repeated when they were back at the car, 
thinking of the 
long bridge that led to the even longer tunnel.
   



 "You want to drive?" Mac asked, not hearing his comment about the bay.
 
 "Yeah sure" Harm said taking the keys. "You drove the whole way down 
here. 
 Which you weren't supposed to do."
 
 "You needed to rest" Mac countered. "And I was perfectly fine with 
driving." 
 She tried to hide a yawn as he started up the car and he gave her a 
long 
 look.
 
 "I think it's a good thing we decided to grab stuff for overnight. You 
are 
 not going to be able to drive back tonight."
 
 "And neither are you Squid. After we talk to Chief Knighton we'll find 
rooms 
 somewhere. Deal."
 
 "Deal"
 
 He headed off the base and towards the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel 
that 
 would take them across to Kiptopeke. Harm tried to quell the growing 
anxiety 
 that seemed to be taking over as he thought about the drive across the 
 17-mile bridge tunnel. Surrounded by water. And under water. He 
gripped the 
 steering wheel tighter as they made their way across the bridge, the 
 Atlantic Ocean shimmering around it.
 
 "Harm, you okay?" Mac asked, having glanced over at him and seeing his 
 obvious anxiety. "Harm."
 
 "Yeah I'm fine" Harm said without taking his eyes off the road in 
front of 
 him. To look at her would mean he would have to look over the side and 
see 
 the water. The water that seemed to be all around him. He took a deep 
breath 
 in an attempt to calm his anxiety, but it wasn't working.
 
 "You don't look fine," Mac said quietly. Besides the grip he had on 
the 
 steering wheel, she could see the little beads of sweat on his 
forehead and 
 could hear his deep breaths as he tried to contain his anxiety.
 
 He didn't reply, his heart starting to pound rapidly as they neared 
the 
 tunnel part of the crossing. The bridge dipped closer and closer to 
the 
 water before it finally ducked under the water and they were in the 
dark 
 tunnel. Unconsciously his foot pressed down on the accelerator, the 
panic 
 suddenly beginning to overwhelm him. Common sense told him the tunnel 
was 
 safe, but his mind was having no part of common sense at the moment. 
All he 
 could see was the cold deep waters of the Atlantic surrounding him 
again. 
 And he wanted out. Out of the tunnel, off the bridge, away from the 
water. 
 His foot continued to press down on the accelerator, and Mac's eyes 
widened 
 as she realized how fast they were going. At the same time she 
realized that 
 her partner was on the edge of a major panic attack, as evidenced by 
the 
 look of terror on his face. His shaking hands continued to grip the 
steering 
 wheel as if it were his lifeline, his white face and heavy breathing 
scaring 
 her even more.
 
 "Harm slow down and pull over" Mac said gently but firmly.
 
 For a moment her words didn't register with him, his only thought 
being 
 getting out of the tunnel. Away from the water. He swallowed hard, the 
lump 
 in his throat seemingly bigger than before.
 
 "Harm slow down and pull over" Mac repeated, this time more firmly. 
Her 
 voice finally cut through his panic and as they started to come out of 
the 
 first tunnel and back up above the water, he began to slow the car 
down, 
 finally pulling it over to the side of the road. The waters of the 
Atlantic 
 seemed even closer at the side of the road and he sat there, his 
trembling 
 hands still clutching the steering wheel as his breaths came in short 
gasps.
 
 "It's okay" Mac soothed as she reached over to Harm, gently rubbing 
his 
 back. "We're out of the tunnel. Try and take slow deep breaths. Don't 
think 
 about the water. Close your eyes and think of anything else but the 
water."
 
 He did as directed, closing his eyes and trying to stop his racing 
heart. 
 Mac continued to gently rub his back, the gentle touch finally 
beginning to 
 relax and ease his breathing. Eventually he released his hold on the 
 steering wheel, sinking back against the seat tiredly.
 
 "You okay?" Mac asked softy.
 
 "I think so" he said finally, his voice anything but confident about 
that 
 statement. "I'm sorry."
 
 "There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm sorry I didn't think about 
this when 
 we left the base. Not that I'm sure sitting in this seat would have 
made it 
 any easier for you." She stopped for a moment and looked at her 
partner 
 closely. He seemed to be okay again, though she wasn’t sure how okay 
he 
 really was. And that worried her. From what he'd told her in the past, 
she 
 knew he'd had a hard time dealing with his first crash. And this time 
she 
 had a feeling the emotional toll on him had been even more than it had 
been 
 that time. They'd never talked about the hours he'd spent in the water 
that 
 fateful night mostly because Harm had avoided the subject and Mac 
couldn’t 
 bring herself to put him through that again. But she knew the 
psychiatrist 
 would when he went to the counseling sessions, and she was suddenly 
very 
 glad he'd included her.
 
 "I don't either" Harm sighed. "But we can't sit here forever." The 
cars 
 continued past them, giving them curious glances as they went by.
 
 "Why don’t I take the drivers seat?" Mac suggested.
 
 He didn’t move at first, and she quickly realized why. To switch seats 
meant 
 he would have to come around to the passenger side, which was right on 
the 
 edge of the bridge.
 
 "Harm" she said softly. "Harm, it's okay. I'll come around and walk 
you back 
 around."
 
 For a moment he was silent as he stared ahead. "Thank you" he 
whispered as 
 he finally turned to face her. The tortured look on his face tore at 
her 
 heart. She had no idea what he was going through at that moment, and 
 couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for him to admit his fears.
 
 "It's going to be okay Harm" she whispered as she squeezed his hand 
tightly. 
 "Somehow, it's going to be okay. You're going to get through this. And 
I'm 
 going to be right there with you."
 
 "And for that I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to 
me," he said 
quietly, in between deep breaths as he attempted to calm himself.

Mac exited the car and walked around to the driver's side, opening 
Harm's door 
and offering him her hand.  He put both of his on it, and she tugged 
him forward, 
backing up to allow him to clear the car, keeping focused on his face, 
her eyes 
locked to his.


So intent was she on keeping him distracted, she backed too far, her 
feet traveling 
onto the roadway.  It was the long blast of an airhorn that got both of 
them to look.  
She stared, transfixed, at the oncoming 18-wheeler, its horn blasting 
and its 
brakes beginning to squeal as the driver lay on them.

"Mac....MAAC," Harm screamed in panic and yanked her forward toward him 
with 
such force that they both fell backwards against the car.  The truck 
skimmed past 
with barely a foot to spare as she landed against him, cradled in his 
arms.  There 
was eerie silence and for a long few seconds neither spoke.

"Nothing like seeing your best friend nearly squashed flat to make you 
forget your 
own little neuroses," he panted, holding her tightly to his chest.  

"Your heart is pounding."  She was panting as well, from alarm and 
fear.

"I guess so," he gasped.  "God Mac I could have just witnessed your 
death."

"No, you saved me," she reminded him quietly, willing herself to calm 
down.  
"Really, it was probably not any where near as close as it seemed."

"Uh, you weren't in a position to make that call," he chided her.  
"From my angle I 
was about to have to tell you goodbye before I..."  He caught himself 
and 
swallowed hard.  "I'm just glad you're OK," he finished lamely.  
"Should we get 
going?  Are you going to be OK or you want me to drive again?"

"No I'm fine," she nodded and looked down to where his hands were 
holding her 
still tightly.  "I think you can let me go now."

"Oh yeah OK, right," he murmured, making no move to do so.

"Harm we're in the middle of a bridge, under a sign that says emergency 
stopping 
only.  I think we need to move."  The amusement in her tone lightened 
the 
moment and he finally released her, all but her hand to which he held 
fast as she 
led him toward the passenger side of the car.  

The blue water of the bay lapped below them--far below them, and he 
tensed at 
his first glance.  

"It's just water," she soothed, "just a big body of water.  Which we're 
going to see 
more of around Knighton's house."

"OK.  I'm OK.  I'm good," he told her, moving deliberately now into the 
car, trying 
to convince himself as well as her.  "Be careful when you get in over 
there 
please."

She got inside without further incident and started the engine, looking 
over to him.  
"Put your seatbelt on there Ace."

Wordlessly he complied, his gaze now fixed on the water.  Cautiously 
she pulled 
back into the stream of cars and a few seconds later the tunnel mouth 
appeared 
before them.  His gasp of horror filled the car and she turned to him 
as best she 
could, keeping her eye on the road.

"OK Rabb, let's have it. Talk to me.  Tell me what's going through your 
mind," she 
encouraged, taking firm hold of his hand.  "Good thing I'm used to 
driving with one 
hand.  Of course that was back when I had a drink in the other.  Now 
tell me 
what's the problem.  Let's face it together.  We're coming toward the 
tunnel 
opening.  There's water around us and the tunnel in front.  Talk to me 
now."

"The water was all around me that night," he said slowly, his voice 
haunted.  "All 
around and..."

She waited a moment for him to continue and when he did not, squeezed 
his hand 
hard.  "Don't you hare out on me now Rabb.  You're doing fine.  Tell me 
the rest.  
The water was below you and?"

"And the spot I was heading for was dark and I hit hard," he went on, 
in that same 
voice.  "I hit hard and my lines tangled around me and I couldn't see 
or breathe 
and I thought I was never going to see..."  Again his internal censor 
took over.  "I 
thought I was going to die," he added quietly.  

Her hand trembled in his at those words but she remained silent as the 
tunnel 
drew nearer.  "Turn and look at me now," she ordered.  "Look at me, not 
at the 
tunnel.  Remember how much I care about you, how much I'm your friend.  
Don't 
take your eyes off me."

"I...I'm not sure.." he stammered, his gaze still fixed straight ahead.

"I am.  Do it," she snapped and his head turned toward her.  "Good.  
Now don't 
you move Sailor until I give you permission."

At that point they came out of the tunnel, with only the remainder of 
the bridge to 
go.  He gasped again when the water loomed out of her window, but said 
nothing, 
and in that fashion they reached the other side.

"Pull over as soon as you can," he whispered once the car had left the 
bridge 
behind.  

She did so and he launched himself through the door, bending over the 
guard rail 
to relieve himself of what little was in his stomach.  "Now my 
humiliation is 
complete thank you," he moaned.

 
 
 "Okay flyboy, we're calling it a day," Mac said as she wrapped an arm 
around 
 his waist and led him back to the car. "I think you've had about all 
you can 
 handle for one day."
 
 "I'm fine. We still need to see the Chief and.."
 
 "No we are not," Mac said sharply. "You are in no condition to do 
anything 
 besides fall into a bed somewhere. And that's what we're going to do. 
And 
 tomorrow morning we'll reevaluate this whole situation."
 
 "No" Harm shouted. "Mac, this is our investigation."
 
 "Was our investigation. I'm not going to let you do this to yourself. 
Harm, 
 I'm not sure you're ready to be back on duty yet."
 
 "Sitting at home is not going to make any of this go away," Harm said 
 quietly. "Look, I know I've still have some issues to deal with."
 
 "Slight understatement there sailor" Mac said softly. "Harm, I've 
known you 
 for six years and I've never seen you like that before. And I don’t 
have a 
 problem telling you that I'm worried about you."
 
 "And I appreciate your concern. But please don't take me off this 
case. I 
 need to do this Mac."
 
 She was silent for a few moments as she studied her partner's face. He 
 looked anything but fine and part of her knew she should haul his six 
back 
 to DC and tell the Admiral what had happened. She knew he'd only 
agreed to 
 allow Harm on the case because he knew she'd keep any eye on him.
 
 "Mac?"
 
 "All right sailor, you win this time" Mac sighed.
 
 "Thank you. And I need one other favor from you. I want your word that 
you 
 won't mention what happened today to anyone. Including the Admiral."
 
 "Harm I can't do that. You know the Admiral needs to know what's going 
on."
 
 "No he doesn’t" Harm said quickly. "There's no reason he needs to 
know."
 
 She shook her head. "Harm, you're in the Navy. What's going to happen 
when 
 you're assigned to go to a ship that's in the middle of the ocean?"
 
 "I'll deal with it. Mac, please. Do you have any idea how hard this 
is? Do 
 you think I liked the fact that you were witness to my freak session?"
 
 "I think it was a good thing I was" Mac said quietly. "You can't bury 
this 
 Harm. You have to deal with it."
 
 "I'm trying Mac, I am" he whispered. "Please I need your promise on 
this one 
 that you won't say anything to anyone about this."
 
 "Only if you promise that when we go to your counseling sessions next 
week 
 your completely honest with the doctor about what's going on" Mac 
countered. 
 "I'm your friend Harm, and I'm willing to help you anyway I can. But 
I'm 
 just afraid that you need more help than I can provide."
 
 "No, I just need to know you're there" Harm said quietly. "You got me 
over 
 the bridge and through the tunnels didn't you?"
 
 "And I was scared to death the whole time that I wasn't doing the 
right 
 thing" Mac sighed.
 
 "You did fine and I'm okay now" he said giving her a small smile. "So 
what 
 do you say we go to the Chief's?"
 
 "You sure?"
 
 "I'm okay really. Let's see what we can find out and then we'll get a 
place 
 for the night."
 
 "All right" Mac sighed. "We're this far. I'm guessing we'll stay 
somewhere 
 over on this side tonight."
 
 "If you wouldn't mind" Harm said sheepishly. "I'm not sure I'm ready 
to do 
 that again right now."
 
 They headed to the address they'd been given for Chief Knighton, 
pulling up 
 in front of the small home a short time later.
 
 "Doesn't look like we're talking to the Chief tonight" Mac sighed as 
she 
 knocked on the door one final time. "We'll have to talk to him 
tomorrow."
 
 "Why don’t we hang out for a bit?" Harm suggested as he checked his 
watch. 
 "They may be out to dinner or something."
 
 She looked up at the skies that were starting to cloud over and shook 
her 
 head. "I'd rather we grab some dinner and get a place for the night 
before 
 it storms and just relax. And this time I'm not taking no for answer."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Harm sighed as she led him back to the car. He'd wanted to 
find 
 Chief Knighton tonight but that obviously wasn't going to happen.
 
 Following dinner at the small restaurant in town they started the 
search for 
 a place to spend the night. "Looks like a cottage on the beach is the 
best 
 we're going to do" Mac said as she pulled into the parking lot. "That 
okay 
 with you?"
 
 "That's fine" Harm said as his gaze shifted to the darkening skies 
above.
 
 A few minutes later she opened the door to the two-bedroom cottage.
 
 "I think you should take the big bed," Mac said as she surveyed the 
rooms. 
 The one bedroom had a queen sized bed, the other a simple twin that 
looked 
 too small for his long frame.  "I'll take the twin."
 
 "More room for me to toss and turn in" Harm murmured just low enough 
that 
 she didn't hear. He could hear the sound of the waves lapping against 
the 
 shore and as he stared out the window he knew it wasn’t going to be 
easy to 
 sleep.
 
 "What was that?" she asked as she turned to see him staring out.
 
 "Nothing" he said quickly. "But if you want the big bed you can have 
it."
 
 "Harm, you'll never fit on the twin. I know you said you lose two 
inches 
 every time you punch out but I don't think you've lost enough to fit 
on 
 there. I'm taking the twin you get the queen. And while we're talking 
about 
 beds why don't you start getting your six ready for bed."
 
 "Yes mom" Harm sighed. "Do you mind if I take a quick shower?"
 
 "No go ahead. I'll take mine when you're done. Just don't take too 
long 
 cause I want to get in and out before that storm gets here."
 
 He nodded and headed to the bathroom, the warm water relaxing him a 
little. 
 Remembering she wanted to shower as well he didn't stay in long, 
coming out 
 just as the skies outside darkened considerably.
 
 "You'd better hurry if you want to get in there before the storm," 
Harm said 
 as he walked out to the small living area.
 
 "Going now" she said as she grabbed her bag. She stopped when she saw 
him 
 staring out the window again. "Harm, you okay?" she asked gently.
 
 "Yeah, I'm fine go on before the storm gets here."

"OK.  Just try to take it easy will you," she begged.  "Put the TV on 
or something.  
I'll be right back."

"Don't rush on my account," he told her.  "I'm fine."

"Yeah and I'm the pope," she returned and walked over to him, running a 
gentle 
hand down the length of his back before turning toward the bathroom.  
He made a 
quick grab of her wrist before she could get any further.

"I'm not fine and I need you," he whispered, making her draw her breath 
in sharply 
as she realized how not easy it was for him to say that.

"I know, and you've got me," she smiled.  "Be right back."

"I'll be here.  I'll be the one under the bed like a five year old 
terrified of the storm."

"Are you kidding," she laughed and punched his arm.  "I wouldn't try 
it.  Not only 
does it look like you'd not be able to get any more than your arm under 
there, I 
doubt they've vacuumed under there in twenty years.  Now behave 
yourself.  I'll 
be out in a minute and then I'm going to beat the boxers off your six 
in gin."

"Not on your best night Marine," he grinned, a spark of his old self 
returning.  
"Think they deliver pizza in the storms?"

"Of course, pizza delivery boys are like mail carriers," she grinned 
back, catching 
his spirit.  "Call one and I'll be right out.  And none of that 
broccoli crappola you 
put on the last one we shared.  I'm wanting pizza, not a steamed 
vegetable plate."

"You got it," he nodded and gave her wrist a hard squeeze before 
letting her go.

Satisfied for the moment that he was safe enough, she allowed herself a 
long 
warm shower, using the water to shut out everything if just for a brief 
moment.  A 
refreshing twenty minutes later, with the sounds of the storm just 
beginning, she 
began to dry off and dress in the tank top and shorts she favored for 
sleeping.  
"Harm you get that pizza ordered?"  No response.  "Harm?"  She flung 
open the 
door as prickles of alarm slammed into her.  "Harm goddammit answer 
me," she 
screamed, even though she could plainly see the small cottage was 
empty.

A brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the beach beyond the cottage 
and she 
spotted him through the window, standing in knee deep water, totally 
immobile 
save the swaying of his body caused by the winds.  For a long few 
seconds she 
stared at him, her mind not comprehending what her eyes were seeing; 
and then 
she was flying across the sand toward him, heedless of the chill rain 
that soaked 
her and the wind that tore at her.

To her horror, before she had covered half the distance, Harm began to 
walk 
further into the water.  Over his knees, over his legs, up to his 
waist.  He stopped 
again and she doubled her speed, screaming his name as she ran.  
Plunging into 
the water behind him, she grabbed his arm and he shook her off with 
surprising 
strength, dropping her into the chill water.  She landed on her back, 
the impact 
momentarily taking her breath, choking hard from the cold salt water 
assaulting 
her.  Her hand went up, imploring his help and she managed to gasp his 
name.

It was that which broke through to him and he spun around, realizing 
all at once 
what he had done.  "MAA-AAC."  His scream of her name mingled with the 
thunder and he immediately lifted her into his arms, staggering under 
her weight 
and against the force of the water and the wind.

Weakly she lay against his chest, panting for breath and coughing up 
seawater at 
the same time.

"Mac, Mac I'm so sorry," he whispered, knowing she could not hear over 
the noise 
of the storm and the surf.  "Let's get you inside."
 
 Seconds later they were inside the cottage, the storm hitting with 
full fury 
 just as they stumbled in.
 
 "Are you okay?" Harm asked as he laid her on the large bed and sat 
down 
 beside her.
 
 "Yeah, I'm okay now. I just lost my breath there for a second and 
swallowed 
 some water. But I'm fine. It's you I'm concerned about."
 
 "You need to get out of those wet clothes," Harm said as he stood up. 
"I'll 
 get your bag." He started to get up and she grabbed his arm.
 
 "Harm, tell me what you're thinking. Don't shut me out."
 
 "I'll get your bag" he repeated as he pushed her arm away and walked 
out of 
 the room.
 
 She sighed as she leaned back against the bed, wondering what on earth 
had 
 just happened to him. He returned with her bag a few seconds later, 
leaving 
 it on the floor before walking out again, closing the door behind him.
 
 "You are not going to shut me out" Mac muttered between shivers as she 
leapt 
 off the bed. She threw open the bedroom door and stomped off to the 
living 
 room, finding him staring outside at the storm again. "Harm talk to 
me, 
 please" she said as she came up behind him.
 
 "Why the hell aren't you getting changed?" he shouted as he turned 
around.
 
 "I'm not changing until you tell me what is going on" Mac retorted.
 
 "Are you nuts? You're shivering like crazy. You're going to get sick. 
Now go 
 get changed."
 
 "Not until you tell me what is going on with you" Mac demanded. "I'm 
not 
 going to let you shut me out. There's obviously something going on in 
that 
 mind of yours."
 
 "Drop it Mac. Now go get changed before you get sick."
 
 "Harm"
 
 In one swift motion he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the 
 bedroom. "Get changed" he ordered as he dropped her on the bed. He 
looked at 
 her for a moment before heading out of the room again.
 
 Deciding she was cold, she finally changed out of the wet shorts and 
tank, 
 putting on a pair of sweats and sweatshirt to ward off the chill. 
She'd just 
 finished drying her hair when a loud crack of thunder shook the 
cottage and 
 they were plunged into darkness.
 
 "Great" she muttered as she tried to see her way through the dark 
bedroom, 
 the flashes of lightning providing the only light. She reached the 
door and 
 was starting to the living room when she ran into Harm.
 
 "Mac"
 
 "I'm right here," she said as she reached for his hand. "You okay?"
 
 "Yeah" His voice wasn't very confident sounding and she led him into 
the 
 living room.
 
 "Okay, let's have it squid" she said when they'd finally found their 
way to 
 the small sofa. "What in the hell where you doing out there tonight?"
 
 "I don't know. I don't even remember going out there. It wasn't until 
you 
 screamed my name that I realized I was out there. And I'm so sorry 
that I 
 hurt you."
 
 There was a tortured sound to his voice and she wished she could see 
his 
 face. "It's okay," she said gently as she gently pulled him so that 
his head 
 was against her shoulder. "I'm fine."
 
 She felt him flinch as another loud crack of thunder followed more 
lightning 
 and she pulled him closer to her. "You were serious about being afraid 
of 
 the storm weren't you?" she asked softy.
 
 "Yeah" he said quietly. "And I suppose you're thinking that as soon as 
we 
 get back to DC you're going to be recommending me for a psyche eval. 
God 
 knows I've given you enough reason to on this trip."
 
 "If I do it's because I'm worried about you. Harm, there's obviously a 
lot 
 going on with you right now. A lot more than even you realize."
 
 "I don't know what's going on anymore" Harm sighed. "I thought I was 
 handling everything but I'm beginning to doubt my own sanity anymore."
 
 "Hey, don't even say that" Mac chided him gently. "You're not crazy. 
You 
 went through a horrible ordeal. I can't even begin to imagine what 
that was 
 like. You're doing the best you can given what happened."
 
 "It was horrible" he whispered. "I was so afraid. So afraid that I'd 
never…" 
 His voice dropped off and she wished she could see his face so she 
could see 
 his expression.
 
 "Afraid that you'd never what?" Mac prodded.
 
 "Nothing" he said quickly. He didn’t want to deal with those thoughts 
right 
 now.  "Please, I don't want to talk about it."
 
 "Why don't we try and get some sleep then?" Mac suggested. "It's been 
a long 
 day and you didn’t get any sleep last night."
 
 "Yeah sure" Harm said, knowing full well that with the storm and the 
sound 
 of the water he'd never sleep. But there was no reason to keep her 
awake.
 
 They inched their way back to the bedrooms, Mac pausing in the hallway 
 before going into her bedroom.
 
 "You going to be okay?" she asked softly.
 
 "I'm okay. You get some sleep. You're just as tired I'm sure."
 
 "Yes but I'm also very worried about you. I care about you remember. A 
lot."
 
 "I know" he whispered. "And you don't know how much that means to me 
right 
 now.  I feel like I'm back in the ocean again, being tossed around. 
And I 
 can't do anything to stop it."
 
 "But you're not alone this time" Mac said softly as she wrapped her 
arms 
 around him. "I'm here for you Harm. I'm going to help you get through 
this. 
 I promise."
 
 She felt his grip on her tighten and her heart ached for the man she 
held in 
 her arms. Physically he'd survived the ordeal. But deep down inside 
she 
 wondered if the emotional scars would ever heal.
 
 "Let's get some sleep sailor" Mac whispered. "I'll be right next door 
if you 
 need me."
 
 She made her way to her bed and listened as he did the same. She tried 
to 
 stay awake to make sure he was asleep but the day quickly caught up 
with her 
 and she fell asleep a short time later. Harm tossed and turned in the 
large 
 bed, before finally falling asleep. But it wasn't long before the 
sleep 
 turned into nightmares. This time it was all the nightmares running 
 together. He couldn’t eject, and he closed his eyes as he braced for 
the 
 impact. Suddenly the dark waters of the ocean were surrounding him as 
he 
 struggled to escape the lines of the parachute. Only this time he 
couldn't 
 untangled from the ropes. He was going to die. Without ever telling 
her how 
 he felt.
 
 In the room next door Mac woke suddenly, something telling her that 
Harm 
 needed her. She suddenly heard a crash in his room followed by his 
scream of 
 her name and she hurried from her bed. She flipped the light switch, 
happy 
 to find that power had been restored. She made her way into his 
bedroom, the 
 light from the hallway providing enough for her to see that he was in 
the 
 throes of another nightmare, the lamp that had been on the night stand 
now 
 laying on the floor in pieces.

The sheets were in a tangled mass around him, reminiscent of the chute 
lines that 
were so prominent in his dream, and effectively trapping him in a 
straight jacket of 
soaked linens.

He screamed her name once again and she dove onto the bed, wrapping her 
arms around him as tightly and as fully as she could.  "Harm, Harm wake 
up."  
She was shouting, her own panic driving her emotions.  He struggled 
further, 
managing to throw her off him, and landing her onto the floor. Her 
upper arm 
scraped across one of the jagged pieces of porcelain from the lamp and 
a two 
inch gash opened.

Ignoring that for the moment, she renewed her attempt to calm him, this 
time from 
the back of him, wrapping her arms around him even more firmly, but now 
she 
spoke into his ear, her voice barely above a whisper.  "Harm you're 
having a 
nightmare.  That's all it is.  I want you to wake up now.  Please.  I'm 
right here.  
And you're right here with me."

He screamed her name once again and she felt him relax, collapsing 
against her, 
his sudden dead weight sending them both to the mattress in a tangled 
heap of 
arms, legs and soaked sheets.

"Mac?"  His voice was quiet, but still contained that tortured quality.

"Right here Sailor," she said, utterly relieved it was over.

"I'm sorry," he said, helpless as to what else he could say at that 
moment.

"Right at this moment, sorry about covers you," she told him lightly.  
"OK out of 
there, into a warm shower and then...well you can't come back in to 
this bed that's 
for sure.  I trust this is just sweat here."

"I can't promise that," he whispered, his mortification complete.

"Ewwww.  We'll have to check out early," she teased, moving off the bed 
and 
tugging him up after her, then propelling him to the shower.  She 
flipped the light 
switch and the bathroom flooded with light.  

"Thanks.  I can take it from here.  I'll just rest in one of the chairs 
after I...Mac what 
happened to your arm?"  Immediately his own discomfort was forgotten as 
he 
grabbed her forearm to focus on the gash, from which blood was running 
in small 
rivulets down her arm.

"I landed on a piece of your wreckage Flyboy," she told him, not 
wanting to tell 
him it was from his push.  "I'm going to get it cleaned up and 
wrapped."

"You're going to sit right here and let me do it," he told her.  "This 
is a long 
nightmare that just won't stop.  I'm so sorry.  When we get back, I 
expect you to 
put in a transfer to Guam."

"Yeah that's gonna happen," she growled.  "When you came out of the 
hospital--
when I was celebrating having you alive--and insisted that you come 
stay with me, 
I knew there was going to be aftereffects.  I signed on for the 
duration."  She 
paused a moment and watched him tenderly wipe the blood away and then 
press 
a damp washcloth to it to stop the bleeding.  "All I ask is that you 
take care of 
yourself, do what you need to recover including that counseling."  

"I need it," he admitted.

"You want to tell me the short version of this little episode?"

He gave her a sheepish smile.  "This was different a little, first I 
couldn't eject, then 
I did and almost drowned and then it rolled into me not having the 
chance to tell 
you..."  He stopped and his mouth tightened into a narrow line.

"Tell me what?" she prodded, squeezing his shoulder with her free hand.  
"Don't 
let it go.  Tell me what?"

"I never get that far," he whined, feeling his mind shut down before he 
could grasp 
and express what his dream was telling him.

"OK Flyboy, enough for tonight," she declared, seeing his look of 
distress.  "I'm 
going to get a bandage for this.  You get cleaned up and into dry 
things."

"Yeah."  He removed the cloth and satisfied the bleeding had stopped, 
let his eyes 
meet hers.  "I'm sorry.  Not just for this, but for stuff I'm probably 
going to do 
until..."

"Now you're not only sorry, but you're pathetic too," she groaned, 
wanting him out 
of that self-pity mode.  "Let's try to get a couple more hours rest 
before we find out 
about Knighton."
 
 
 She left him alone to shower and went to his bedroom to clean up. She 
found 
 another set of sheets in the hallway closet and quickly changed the 
bed 
 before carefully picking up the remaining pieces of the lamp as best 
she 
 could. She'd just finished when he came out of the shower.
 
 "You've got a clean set of sheets" she told him.
 
 "Thank you" he sighed. "I'm going to owe you for a lifetime."
 
 "Yes and I'm make note of all of it" Mac teased. "Now crawl into bed 
and 
 let's try and get some sleep."
 
 He did as directed and she pulled the sheet up as she sat down on the 
edge 
 of his bed. "I'm really sorry about all this," he said quietly.
 
 "Nothing to be sorry about" she chided him gently. "Now get some 
sleep."
 
 She awoke just few short hours later, knowing that if they wanted to 
catch 
 Chief Knighton before he left for work they would have to get moving. 
She 
 pushed herself out of bed, wishing she could crawl right back in. She 
headed 
 to Harm's room, not surprised to find him still asleep. She decided to 
take 
 her shower before waking him, knowing he needed every second of sleep 
that 
 he could get. He was still sleeping when she got out and for a moment 
she 
 considered leaving him sleep while she went to Chief Knighton's house. 
But 
 he stirred at the sound of her footsteps, opening tired eyes to look 
at her.
 
 "Hey" she said as she sat down at the edge of the bed. "How you 
doing?"
 
 "Tired" he admitted. "But we need to get going don't we?"
 
 "If we want to catch Chief Knighton at home yeah. I could go by myself 
while 
 you get some sleep."
 
 "Are you crazy?" he screeched. "Mac, the guy could be a murderer. 
There's no 
way you're going over there by yourself."
 
 "Okay, calm down sailor" she soothed. "It was just a suggestion."
 
 "Bad suggestion. I'm going with you. Give me a few minutes and I'll be 
 ready."
 
 "Harm, if Knighton isn't our guy we're going back to DC and we're 
going to 
 let someone else handle this case" Mac said quietly.
 
 "Mac"
 
 "No Harm" Mac said firmly. "This case is way too much for you to 
handle 
 right now. And my main concern right now is you. Not who killed 
Greer."
 
 "I've never given up a case" Harm sighed. "Do you realize what this is 
going 
 to look like?"
 
 "There's a first time for everything. And it doesn't matter what 
anyone 
 thinks. Harm, you're the only one who thinks you should be fine after 
what 
 happened. The rest of us realize that you went through a traumatic 
 experience and it's going to take some time for you to get over it."
 
 "If I ever do," Harm said quietly.
 
 "Don't say that" Mac said sharply. "Harm, you'll get through this. Not 
 overnight. Not next week. But you will. And I'll be there with you the 
whole 
 time."
 
 "What if I don't Mac? What do I do then?"
 
 "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it" Mac said softly. "One day 
at a 
 time sailor. That's how you need to start thinking. We get through 
today 
 before we start worrying about tomorrow."
 
 "How did I ever get so lucky to have you as a friend?" Harm whispered.
 
 "I guess someone upstairs decided you needed a take charge Marine in 
your 
 life" Mac smiled.
 
 "And they were right" Harm sighed. "I don't how I would have gotten 
through 
 all this without you. And I know this trip has been the trip from hell 
and 
 I'm sorry about all this."
 
 "Just be glad the Admiral didn't assign Singer to go with you" Mac 
grinned 
 and he smacked her with the pillow playfully.
 
 "On that note I’m going to go take my shower" Harm smiled.
 
 "Got you to smile didn't I?"
 
 A half-hour later they were on their way to Chief Knighton's house, 
hoping 
 they'd catch him before he left for work.
 
 "Car's still there," Mac said as she pulled into the driveway. "That's 
a 
 good sign."
 
 "Let's see what the Chief has to say for himself," Harm said as they 
exited 
 the car and started towards the front door. They knocked several times 
 without a response and Mac began to walk around the house.
 
 "Harm, around back" Mac yelled as she caught sight of a man running 
from the 
 back of the house. "He's trying to get away. He's heading for the 
water."
 
 Harm broke into a run and Mac followed, their eyes staying on the 
chief as 
 he headed across the dock. He suddenly lost his footing as he 
attempted to 
 turn and look back at them, tripping and falling headfirst into the 
waters 
 of the Chesapeake Bay.
 
 Seconds later they reached the end of the dock, Harm unbuttoning his 
jacket 
 as he ran, prepared to jump in after him.
 
 "Harm, no" Mac screamed as she realized what he was intending to do. 
"No." 
 She reached him just as he was about to jump in, grabbing his arm and 
 pulling him back from the edge of the dock.
 
 "What are you doing?" Harm yelled. "We have to get him."
 
 
"Are you crazy" Mac screeched as she held onto his arm. "Think about 
what 
you're about to do. I'm not going to let you risk your life to save a 
murderer."

He broke free of her hold and before she could stop him, dived into the 
water. He hit the water and suddenly he was back in the chilly waters 
of the 
Atlantic. The water surrounded him and his body froze.

"Harm" Mac screamed when he didn’t resurface. "Harm"

She waited only seconds before kicking off her shoes and diving in 
after 
him.

As she dove she could hear a dog barking furiously from the property 
that 
adjoined Knighton's and she uttered a quick prayer that its owner would 
summon 
help.  She disappeared below the surface into the exact spot Harm had 
been last 
seen and to her infinite relief her hands closed on his shoulders, 
grabbing 
handfuls of his shirt and attempting to haul him up.

Her feet kicked futilely as the cold water chilled her, short 
circuiting logical 
thought.  Part of her--the part that demanded self-survival--screamed 
that she 
needed to let him go, before he dragged her down beyond the point where 
she 
could surface.  Her mind screamed "NO" and she gave a powerful kick 
born of 
desperation and refusal to allow this man to die.  The kick propelled 
them upward.  
Another and another, and then their heads broke the surface.  

She took in a great huge gasp of air and to her relief heard him do the 
same.  
"Harm can you hear me?"  At the same time she attempted to turn him to 
face her, 
feeling her arms tremble with exhaustion and cold.

"I hear you.  Mac I don't know what happened.  How did..." he gasped as 
he 
squirmed around to face her.  

"You...jumped...in," she whispered and her hands slipped from him, too 
numb to 
hold on.  She was beneath the surface before he realized what was 
happening.  
He screamed her name and his hands reached for her.  The feeling of 
relief when 
his hands touched her was immeasurable and with every bit of strength 
remaining 
he yanked her upward, pulling her head about the water.  

"Mac?  Mac can you hear me?"

Her head lolled weakly against him, but at least she was breathing.  

"Mister, this way, come on hurry before you both freeze to death in 
there."  This 
plea was accompanied by another sound, the furious barking of a large 
Labrador 
Retriever on the dock, the same dog Mac had heard earlier.

Harm shook the stinging salt water from his eyes and looked up to see 
an older 
man, and a woman presumably his wife, standing on the dock, holding the 
pole of 
a fishing net to him.  "Son move it," he ordered.  "You need to get 
her--and you--
out of there and I can't jump in to help you."

"Mac we've got help here," he told her.

"Knighton," she murmured.

"You first.  I don't see him anyway.  He can wait."  With a few 
powerful arm 
strokes Harm closed the distance between them and put Mac's hands 
around the 
pole.  "Hold on now.  I want you out of this water."

"You," she gasped, afraid he would again allow himself to be taken by 
the water.

He clamped his hands hard around hers.  "Sir, pull her up please.  We 
could be 
here for ours arguing."

With a long glare at him, and never taking her eyes from him, Mac 
allowed herself 
to be towed the few feet to the dock.  If Harm had been compelled to 
sink back 
into the water, she was prepared to go after him again.

Their rescuer pulled back up onto the dock and she immediately turned 
back to 
make sure Harm was right behind her, helping to haul him up.  She and 
Harm 
landed together in a tangle of arms, both panting hard.  

"You're OK aren't you?  Please?" He struggled to sit up and brought her 
up with 
him, gently holding her face as he looked into her eyes.

"Yeah I think so," she panted, trying to get air back into her lungs.  
"You just 
learned something about me.  I'm not much of a swimmer."

"And you went in after me anyway?" he screeched.  "What the hell's the 
matter 
with you?"

She gave his arm a weak punch.  "I couldn't stand there and let my best 
friend 
drown now could I."
=====================
Seven Hours Later

It had been a very long day.  With the help of Don and Sandra Thomas, 
Harm and 
Mac had gotten into dry clothes and had coffee, and called NCIS out of 
Norfolk, 
along with the Coast Guard.  Chief Rodney Knighton's body was recovered 
five 
hours after he had gone into the water.  A search of his home turned up 
documents proving his complicity in the selling of secrets with PO 
Greer.  The 
woman involved remained a mystery, but that Knighton's family no longer 
lived 
there was clear.  

"Looks like we're done here," Coast Guard Captain Morgan called.  "I 
can ride you 
people back to Norfolk with the body if you'd like so I can sign off on 
my part.  One 
of my men can drive your vehicle back."

Ham and Mac exchanged glances.  "The man is a mind reader," Harm 
declared 
gratefully, thankful for not having to face the bridge-tunnel.

Side by side they walked up the gankplank, the backs of their hands 
brushing 
comfortingly.  Neither spoke again until they were away from the inlet, 
the now 
calm sea lapping at the cutter as they made for Norfolk.

"You doing OK Sailor?" she asked gently.  "It's been a helluva 
twenty-four hours."

"I've put you through hell you mean," he muttered. 

"Please don't say you're sorry," she urged.  "It's OK.  I knew what I 
was getting 
into."  She wrapped her hands around his arm before she spoke again.  
"You see 
when I saw you at Bethesda, before we knew you'd be OK, I was watching 
the 
machine breathe for you, and I made a deal with God.  I promised Him if 
He would 
let you be all right--let you come back to me--that I would help you 
through 
anything.  Well this is anything.  I'm here and I'm not going anywhere 
Flyboy.  Get 
used to it."

"I could, very easily," he said softly after letting her words sink in 
and reached up 
to pluck one of her hands from his arm to mesh his fingers through 
hers.  "I'm just 
afraid by the time this is all over you won't be able to stand the 
sight of me."

"You let me worry about that please," she smiled, squeezing his fingers 
between 
hers, "we Marines can take quite a lot."


THE END