TITLE:  "Starting Again II-Strengthening Bonds"
AUTHORS:  Anne R. [amrsecret@yahoo.com]
                    Pat Steiner [ssbpmn@aol.com]
SUMMARY:  The second in the Starting Again series of post Adrift stories, 
leading up to our take on the actual events of Adrift, which will be covered in Chapter IV.  
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 II-Strengthening Bonds”---

 JAG HQ's
 07:30 AM
 
 It was quiet in the JAG bullpen as Mac made her way across to her office, 
 the only other light on in the Admiral's office. With a sigh she realized he 
 was probably going to ask her about what had happened in Norfolk last week. 
 This was their first day back since the incident in Norfolk, Mac having 
 talked Harm into taking the rest of the week off after what had happened. 
 She knew he'd told the Admiral that it was simply because he wasn't still 
 back into shape physically, but she had a feeling AJ hadn't bought it. Mac 
 had taken the two days as well, not wanting to leave her partner alone when 
 he obviously needed her. Tonight was his first counseling session, and she 
 was glad to be going along with him.
 
 "Morning Colonel" AJ said as he walked into her office a few minutes later.
 
 "Morning sir" Mac smiled. "Harm and I will have our full report for you on 
 what happened in Norfolk before noon." They'd faxed him a preliminary report 
 the night of the incident, letting AJ know the basics of what had 
 transpired.
 
 "I'll be expecting it" AJ said as he sat down at her desk. "In the meantime, 
 how about giving me a quick synopsis of how Harm is handling everything. I 
 know he said he was taking a few days off because he wasn't quite up to par 
 yet, but I just want to make sure that everything is okay with him."
 
 Mac was silent for a second as she collected her thoughts. She'd promised 
 Harm that she would not mention his panic attacks and nightmares to the 
 Admiral just yet. She was hoping that the counselor would be able to help 
 with both and so she wasn't willing to let the Admiral know just yet what 
 was going on with her partner.
 
 "He's doing fine," Mac said finally. "He was a little worn out after what 
 everything so I suggested that he take a few days off."
 
 "So it was your idea that he take off?"
 
 "I suggested it and he agreed" Mac replied.
 
 "Okay, but how is he handling things emotionally?" AJ questioned. "I'm 
 extremely curious about your little dip in the Chesapeake."
 
 Mac managed to suppress a shudder as she thought about those moments again. 
 Watching Harm dive in only to not see him resurface. Diving in after him and 
 pulling him up. "It wasn't something I'd care to repeat any time soon," Mac 
 said quietly. "But Harm did fine with it." She knew that the report they 
 were going to hand in said nothing about both of them nearly drowning, only 
 that they'd both gone in to try and save Chief Knighton and had failed.
 
 "So you're saying he's fine with everything?"
 
 "For the most part" Mac said carefully. "He has told me he's had a few 
 nightmares since the crash which is pretty normal I'm sure."
 
 "Tonight's his first counseling session, correct?" AJ asked and Mac nodded.
 
 "And I'll be going with him sir" she replied "He asked me to come along with 
 him."
 
 "Good" AJ smiled as he stood up. "Then I trust that you'll let me know if 
 you feel he's not up to handling something."
 
 "Yes sir, I will"
 
 Harm stepped off the elevator just as AJ was making his way out of Mac's 
 office.
 
 "Morning Commander, how you feeling?" AJ asked as Harm made his way across 
 the bullpen.
 
 "Fine sir" Harm assured him.
 
 AJ nodded and continued back to his office, while Harm headed to Mac's.
 
 "You didn't" he started
 
 "No I didn't" she assured him quickly. "I promised I wouldn't say anything 
 and I didn't. Though I'll admit it isn't easy to lie to that man. I swear he 
 can read minds."
 
 "Thank you" Harm said quietly. "And I'm sorry I'm making you lie to the 
 Admiral."
 
 "I don't like doing it" Mac admitted. "And the only reason I am doing it is 
 because you're promised you're going to tell the counselor everything that's 
 going on. Starting tonight."
 
 "You remembered" he sighed.
 
 "Of course I remembered. I'm going with you and then you're buying me 
 dinner. How could I forget a free meal?"
 
 He smiled at her comments and gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Thank you for 
 not letting me get all funked about going to this tonight. I think I spent 
 most of the night awake worrying about this."
 
 "That's what I'm here for" she smiled back. "Don't worry about the 
 counseling part. We'll get through it and then we'll have dinner and talk 
 about everything afterwards. And I won't leave you alone if tonight upsets 
 you too much. I've got a perfectly good sofa that you're more than familiar 
 with so if there's nothing to worry about."
 
 "Have I told you recently how much I appreciate what you're doing" he said 
 softly.
 
 "And didn't I tell you on the boat back to Norfolk that I'm more than happy 
 to do what I'm doing" she said quietly. "I made a promise to the Man 
 upstairs that I'd be there for you. And that's one promise I intend to 
 keep." She stopped and turned away as she felt the tears brimming again. It 
 was still hard to think about how she'd almost lost him that night and she 
 wondered if she wouldn’t need some counseling as well one day. There was 
 still so much she'd hadn't dealt with concerning that that night. But for 
 right now she was concentrating on his needs first. Once she knew he was 
 okay, then she'd worry about her.
 
 "And I'm so glad you are" Harm said softly. "I suppose the Admiral is 
 looking for the full report on what happened."
 
 "I told him he'd have it by noon" Mac replied as she finally turned back to 
 face him. "So why don't we grab some coffee and get to work on it."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Harm smiled.

"Are you comfortable with leaving out the part about my losing it?" he asked quietly two 
hours later as they read over the finished product.  

In answer she took the paper from him and signed "Sarah Mackenzie, LTC, USMC" with a 
flash of the pen.  "We're going to handle things between us for now," she reminded him.  "If 
in my judgment that stops working, well then a re-think is in order. But for right now, yeah I 
am.  We got through Norfolk, and we'll handle anything else that comes up.  In the meantime 
we have your appointment.  And for right now let's get this report to Tiner and then I've got a 
meeting over lunch with that fool Douglas Allbright's attorney."

"Anyone I know?"

She smiled and shrugged.  "His name is Troy McMillan and if he thinks I'm going to be 
talked into a plea bargain he better think again."

"Let me guess, about thirty-five, dark hair, rugged good looks, fills out a suit like a dream."

"Have you been ODing on your medication Commander," she groaned.  "I have not met Mr. 
McMillan so I don't know; but you can be sure that I won't be noticing how he fills out a suit."  
She patted his shoulder and pointed to the door.  "Deliver our report like a good boy and let 
me read over this file again please."

"Come see me as soon as you get back," he begged as he reached the door.

"Promise," she laughed lightly.  Harm had the door nearly closed before she called, "the only 
suit I want to see filled out is a set of dress whites."

"Yeah right," he called back, but was unaccountably relieved.
================
Two hours later Harm was at Tiner's desk when Bud approached him.  "Sir I'm looking for 
the Davis case file--the embezzlement case from Key West?"

Harm gave him a blank look.  "Do I know about this?"

"Well Colonel Mackenzie does," Bud frowned.  "But she's not...never mind.  Here she comes 
now and would you look at that car.  I thought her Corvette was bitchin' but would you look 
at that.  That's a Viper sir, with the optional spoiler package and who is she with?  Has to be 
a doctor or lawyer to afford..."

"At ease Lieutenant," Harm ordered, following his gaze out the window where Mac was 
indeed being delivered to the front door.  And a figure, very much like Harm had 
presupposed, jumped out to help her out.  They talked for a moment and he drove off.

"Bud, sir, what are you looking at?" Harriet questioned.

"Colonel Mackenzie's lunch date," Bud yelped.

"Oh please," Harm groaned, making it a point to be back in his office before Mac got inside, 
and when he saw her approach his office, he immediately picked up the phone, not wanting 
to deal with what he just saw right then.  Logically he knew it had been a business lunch, but 
this McMillan, reminding him so much of Dalton Lowne who had once taken her from him, 
was not a matter he wanted to cope with.

"Hey," she called.  "Oh sorry you're busy.  I'm back and I've got a pile waiting, not to mention 
the Admiral wants me.  Talk to you later."  

He could only nod as she hurried to her office.

Was it his imagination or did she seem more cheerful since lunch?  It was not surprising.  
Here was a charming handsome attorney, who probably took her to one of the nicer places.  
As opposed to himself, still suffering after affects of his accident and dealing with what 
seemed to him numerous other mental instabilities at the moment.

He brooded alone for the rest of the afternoon, until Mac breezed into his office carrying a 
large bottle of fruit juice for him.  "You're awfully quiet Sailor.  You haven't been out of this 
office all afternoon.  Anything you want to share?"

"No," he said sharply and gasped at her hurt expression.  "I am so sorry.  You didn't deserve 
that tone."

"I didn't think I did either," she replied lightly.  "Drink your juice.  I need to talk to you."  She 
looked up to make sure the door was closed before continuing.

"You're bailing on my counseling and having dinner with Mr. McMillan?" he offered.

"Huh?"  It took her several seconds to recover from that accusation.  "I'm doing no such 
thing.  Where did that come from?"
 
 He avoided her look, staring out the window instead. "Harm" she prodded. 
 "What is going on in that mind of yours?"
 
 "Nothing I just figured after lunch with Mr. Hotshot in his Viper maybe 
 you'd gotten a better offer for dinner" Harm said finally.
 
 "I've already got the best offer for dinner" she smiled.
 
 "I don't know about that" Harm sighed. "Dinner after watching my next freak 
 session with the shrink. Sounds like loads of fun."
 
 "Hey, stop that right now" Mac ordered sharply. "First off, Mr. Hotshot is 
 married with two kids. Which is all he talked about. Secondly, I didn’t find 
 him the least bit attractive. He reminded me too much of Dalton and we both 
 know how that ended up. And finally, I told you I was going to be with you 
 through these sessions. I'm not ditching you flyboy. Sorry but you're stuck 
 with me."
 
 "And for that I'm eternally grateful" he said giving her a small smile. 
 "Sorry. I guess I’m still in the feeling sorry for myself mode."
 
 "And that better stop soon" Mac said quietly. "I know this isn't easy but 
 you're being way to hard on yourself. You've been through a lot. And you're 
 still going through a lot. But you're not alone."
 
 "I know. And I'm sorry about my sucky attitude today. I guess I'm a little 
 nervous about talking to the shrink. What if he decides I'm not fit for 
 duty?"
 
 "Harm, don't hold back from him" Mac said seriously. "I know you're worried 
 but you need to work these things out. If you don’t, it's just going to get 
 worse."
 
 "I'm not sure it could get any worse" Harm sighed. "If it weren't for you 
 being there for me."
 
 "Sorry but it is going to get worse," Mac said quietly. "The Admiral 
 assigned me the Grenin Case. My flight to Chicago leaves at 07:00 tomorrow."
 
 "What?" Harm screeched. "Mac, you can't. I need you." The words came rushing 
 out before he could stop them and she gave him a small smile.
 
 "I know you do sailor," she said softly.  "And it's not my choice to leave 
 you in the middle of all this. But what was I going to say to the Admiral? 
 That I can't go out of town because you can't be alone."
 
 "Yeah I suppose that wouldn't have sounded to good" Harm said as he sank 
 down in his chair. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't plan this."
 
 "If there was any way I could get out of this without telling the Admiral 
 the real reason I would do it in a minute. But there was nothing I could 
 do."
 
 "At least you're not leaving until tomorrow. I'm dreading tonight so much 
 I'm not sure I could go without you."

 "That's why I'm not leaving until tomorrow" Mac smiled. "I told the Admiral 
 this morning that I was going with you tonight."
 
 "Did he say anything about it?"
 
 "I think he was actually glad I was going" Mac replied. "He's just concerned 
 about you. Like everyone else is."
 
 "Yeah and I appreciate everyone's concern" Harm sighed. "I know it may not 
 seem like it sometimes but I do."
 
 "I know you do" Mac smiled. "So would you mind taking me to the airport 
 tomorrow?"
 
 "Of course not" Harm said quickly. "After everything you've done for me it's 
 the least I could do.
 
 "Thanks. You ready to go?"
 
 "As ready as I'm ever going to be" Harm said quietly. "Do I really have to 
 do this?"
 
 "Yes you do sailor," Mac said seriously. "Harm, this is the only way you're 
 going to get through this."
 
 "You're doing a pretty good job with me" Harm said with a small smile. 
 "Can't I just talk to you about all this?"
 
 "Yes but I’m not a trained psychologist" Mac replied.  "And the Navy wants 
 you to see a psychologist. Move it sailor, we've got an appointment to 
 make."
 
 Bethesda Naval Hospital
 45 minutes later
 
 "Harm, sit" Mac ordered as she grabbed his arm.  He'd been pacing the 
 doctor's waiting room for the past five minutes and it was making her crazy.
 
 "Sorry" he sighed as he sank down in the chair. "I bet you're regretting 
 agreeing to this."
 
 "There you go again" she chided him. "I am not regretting being here. How 
 many times do I have to tell you that before it sinks in."
 
 "Well you know how thick headed I am" Harm smiled. "You might have to keep 
 repeating it before it finally gets through."
 
 "Well then I guess I'll just have to keep doing that" Mac smiled.
 
 "Commander Rabb, Captain Taylor is ready to see you now" the receptionist 
 called.
 
 "Come on squid" Mac said as she stood up and reached for his hand. He gladly 
 accepted it, squeezing it hard as they walked to the doctor's office.
 
 Mac sat quietly through most of the session, listening carefully to what the 
 doctor was asking and Harm's responses. She was surprised when Captain 
 Taylor asked the question that had been on her mind since that fateful 
 night.
 
 "Harm, why did you have to get to Andrews that night? What was so 
 important?"

Harm gasped so loud it echoed through the small room.  "I....I was keeping a promise.  Mac 
wanted me there--it was important to her, and I was keeping a promise."

"So much so you risked your life," Capt. Taylor observed mildly.

"Well I didn't think of it as that at the time," he retorted.  "I mean a pilot feels like he can 
handle anything.  If he doesn't, he doesn't belong in the air.  I wasn't ordered not to take off; 
plus the exact cause hasn't been determined yet.  I'm not blaming the weather entirely, and I 
sure as hell am not ready to call it pilot error if that's what you're leading to."  His eyes 
flashed angrily and Mac squeezed his hands hard, hands she had not let go of once since 
Capt. Taylor's initial greeting.  

"Harm no one is accusing or suggesting anything of the sort," she whispered.  "The Captain 
simply would like to know why you didn't hold up when the storm was bad.  I mean you could 
have left at dawn and still been there.  The wedding wasn't until 1100 after all."

He looked blankly at the doctor and then turned a tortured face to her.  "I promised.  That 
must have been what it was.  I promised and I was determined to not....that had to be what it 
was......right?"

"That's something only you can answer from your heart," Capt. Taylor suggested gently. 
"Mac it was important to you for him to be there obviously."

"Of course," she nodded readily.  "I was getting married.  He's my best friend.  Has been for 
five years.  Of course I wanted him there."

"Were you upset at the thought he might not be?  That he allowed something else to conflict 
with the time?"

"You're saying I pressured him to come," she gasped, now her turn to be angry.

"I'm saying there's a lot of sides to this whole thing."

"I would never have wanted him to risk his life to come," Mac retorted.  "No matter how we 
parted.  Something I'm more than ashamed over."

"Angry words?"

"I was hurt, and yes angry," she admitted, avoiding Harm's eyes.  "I wanted desperately for 
him to be there.  It bothered me that he had disregarded the weekend to schedule his quals, 
but I was handling it the best I could.  At least I thought I was."

"And I wanted desperately to come," he added.  "Something was driving me to come.  My 
promise.  You know I told you once I hadn't made a promise I didn't plan to keep."

"And something was driving you to want him there," the doctor told Mac.  

"I just needed him there," she gulped, shaking her head with confusion.  "Is that not 
enough?"

"It is if it's the whole truth," the doctor nodded.  "Please think about that, for next time.  That's 
your homework.  I want both of you to think about why it was so vital that Mr. Rabb be at the 
wedding."

"That's all then?" Harm asked and the captain nodded.  "Too much and it becomes 
overwhelming to you.  We did good tonight, and you were pretty forthright, so it was easy.  
Just when you're able, this week think on it some.  If it gets to be distressing, let it go and 
come back to it.  And Mr. Rabb..."  He paused and looked to Mac, seeing her hands still 
tightly around his.  "Let this woman help you.  You sir are a lucky man."

"You got that right," Harm grinned and relaxed for the first time.  "Now I'm going to buy her 
dinner as part of payback."

"You bet you are Sailor, and McDonalds it's not going to be."
===============
Bernadette's
Bethesda, MD.

Harm had grown increasingly quiet through dinner, all the while denying anything outside the 
usual was bothering him.

"Ready?" he asked when he had paid the bill.

She crossed her arms over her chest.  "I think we're going to talk about what's on your mind 
please."

"I'm really pretty talked out," he sighed.

"Then I'm not ready."

"OK," he groaned and sank back down.  "I want to spend the night with you."

Her eyebrows shot up before it could register he wasn't referring to THAT.  Nevertheless she 
smiled teasingly.  "Excuse me?"

"I mean I want to stay with you tonight since you're leaving in the morning.  Please."  His 
eyes begged her consent and she smiled even more broadly as she slipped her hand over 
his. 

 "I told you before when you felt like you couldn't handle the nights you were welcome.  I 
also told you I got pretty used to seeing the lump that was you sleeping there."

"Thanks," he breathed gratefully.  "It wasn't so hard to ask after all."

"Harmon Rabb when is that thick Sailor mind of yours going to realize you don't have to 
hesitate to ask me for help.  If the situation was reversed, could I not count on you?"

"In a heartbeat," he vowed so seriously that she smiled.  "OK then lets run by my place so I 
can get things for tomorrow, and then in the morning I can drop you at the airport."
    
 "Sounds like a plan sailor."
 
 A short time later they were back at her place. "Make yourself comfortable" 
 Mac said pointing to the sofa. "I'll get some sheets and a blanket."
 
 "I really hate that you have to go up to Great Lakes" Harm sighed as they 
 sat watching TV a few minutes later. "You sure you can't get out of it?"
 
 "Not unless you want me to tell the Admiral the truth"
 
 "No, I'm already afraid Captain Taylor is going to tell him I'm crazy."
 
 "Speaking of that, do you want to talk about anything?" Mac prodded gently. 
 "You know I'm willing to listen if you want to talk."
 
 "Thanks but I really am talked out."
 
 "Do you mind if I talk a little?" she asked quietly. "Cause we never really 
 talked about the fight we had that morning."
 
 "Mac it's okay" Harm said quickly. "I know you were just stressing about the 
 wedding."
 
 "Well I still shouldn't have been that way with you. When you were missing I 
 keep thinking that how the last words I'd said to you were angry words. And 
 I begged God to bring you back so that I could fix that."
 
 "And you have" Harm whispered. "You've been there for me every step of the 
 way."
 
 "And I will be for the all the rest of the steps along the way" Mac smiled.
 
 "No more talking for tonight please" Harm begged. "I really just want to 
 relax with you."
 
 "No problem" Mac said as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
 
 They watched TV for a while before Mac finally pushed herself off the couch. 
 "Hey where you going?" Harm asked as she stood up.
 
 "Sorry sailor but I've got a long day tomorrow" Mac sighed. "And an early 
 flight. And I'm sure you're exhausted after tonight anyway."
 
 "Yeah a little" Harm admitted.
 
 "Get some sleep" she smiled. "I'll see you in the morning."
 
 "Night Mac" he said softly. "Thanks for coming with me tonight."
 
 "Night Harm" she whispered. "And there's no where else I'd be but with you." 
 She padded off to the bedroom and with a sigh he dropped back against the 
 pillows.
 
 His scream shattered the silence a few hours later, jolting Mac out of her 
 sleep. She quickly grabbed her robe and headed to the living room where he 
 was once again thrashing in his sleep, screaming her name.
 
 "Harm wake up" she said as she shook him. "Harm, it's okay. It's just a 
 nightmare. You're here with me."
 
 She managed to break through his nightmare and his eyes finally opened as he 
 stopped fighting. "Mac" he whispered before she drew him into her arms, 
 holding him tightly.
 
 "It's okay, I've got you sailor" she soothed.
 
 It was several minutes before he started to relax and Mac's hold on him 
 never wavered. When he was finally calm again she gently pulled back to look 
 at him.
 
 "You okay?" she asked softly as she soothed his hair back from his sweat 
 covered forehead.
 
 "I think so" he whispered.
 
 "This was the same dream you had at the cottage wasn't it?"
 
 He nodded but didn't say anything. It was the same dream. The one where he 
 couldn't get out of the parachute cords and he was being pulled under. And 
 he knew he was going to die. And that he was never going to see Mac again.
 
 "I'm sorry I woke you" he said finally. "I should have stayed at my place."
 
 "And then what would you have done" Mac said patiently. "I'm glad you were 
 here and not home alone."
 
 "Well I'm going to be alone for the next few days" he sighed.
 
 "Harm, do you want me to tell the Admiral I can't go to Great Lakes" Mac 
 asked quietly. "If you tell me that's what you want I'll do it. But I'll 
 have to tell him why I can't go."
 
 "No" Harm said shaking his head. "You got to Great Lakes. I'll be okay."
 
 "I'm not convinced of that but if you're sure, I'll go."
 
 "I'm sure. But you know I'll call you every night" Harm said with a small 
 smile.
 
 "I would hope so" Mac smiled back. "I'm going to miss you. I've gotten 
 pretty used to having you around."
 
 "You mean you've gotten pretty used to being waken up every night by my 
 screams" Harm sighed.
 
 "Well at least you're still here to wake me up" Mac said quietly. "Because 
 the alternative is not something I care to think about."
 
 Neither said anything for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. It was 
 Harm that finally broke the silence a few seconds later.
 
 "You better get back to bed. You need to get a little sleep."
 
 "You sure you're okay now?" Mac asked gently. "Cause I'm happy to stay with 
 you for a while if you want. You know I can function in a few hours sleep."
 
 "Yeah but you shouldn't have to. I'm fine. Go on and get some sleep."
 
 He was still sleeping when she woke the next morning and she headed to the 
 shower first. She could smell the aroma of the coffee when she stepped out 
 of the shower a short time later and she happily headed to the kitchen.
 
 "Coffee thank you" she said as she gratefully accepted the cup from him.
 
 "Figured you might" Harm said sheepishly.  "And I'll get my six moving so we 
 get to the airport on time"
 
"Yeah we're going to have to get started, much as I hate to," she sighed, touching his cheek 
with a gentle palm.

"Hey I don't want you worrying about me," he chided her.  "You need to take care of 
yourself.  I know it's not like you're going to combat, but you still need to pay attention to 
what you're doing. You can't do that if you're thinking about me."

"I like thinking about you," she grinned.  "For a while there I was afraid I'd only be 
visiting...never mind.  Dark thoughts on a beautiful morning.  Get your shower sailor."

"No sponge bath?"

"You're not still incapacitated there mister," she chided him, trying to keep a straight face.  
"Nursing you was fun, but those days are gone."  She gave his backside a quick swat.  
"Move that six Squid."
=======================
Harm pulled the car up to the departure drop off point and stopped, giving a long sigh and 
not looking at her.  "OK.  I promised myself I was going to handle this good.  So you're going 
to get on your flight and I'm going to work."

"That's right," she encouraged.  "And I'm going to call you later this morning.  Promise me 
that tonight you'll do something that doesn't involve brooding.  Get Bud and go to a game or 
something."

"Yeah I'll think about it.  I may just want to be alone though."

"That sounds suspiciously like brooding" she admonished him.  "If I have to I'll get Harriet to 
check up on you."

"Mom I'll be fine," he grinned, finally looking at her.

"I know you will," she smiled as well, giving his hand a firm squeeze.  "Later."  It took every 
ounce of will for her to exit the car, and she had to call up an extra measure of that as she 
watched him pull away.  He needed her just now as his recovery continued, but she also 
needed him.
==========================
JAG HQ
Four hours later

She still had not called.  And Harm was now staring at the TV monitor in the bullpen, his 
teeth clenched.  

"Sir is there some news story I can help you with?" Tiner asked.

"I'm waiting to see the film of the crash of a D.C. to Chicago plane," he said morosely.

"Sir?"

"Colonel Mackenzie's plane," he sighed sheepishly.  "She was going to call me when she 
arrived, and the only logical explanation is that her plane crashed." 

"Sir I don't think that's..." Tiner began, puzzled as to why Harm would think the worst.

"Or possibly that she was delayed enroute.  Or my personal favorite, that she went right to 
work," AJ intoned from behind them.  "Commander was there some particular reason she 
was going to call you?"

"Uh no...no sir," he stammered.  "I dropped her at the airport and she was going to call when 
she arrived.  No special reason.  Just one of those things one person says to another--you 
know, I'll call you soon as I get in."

"Well instead of driving the rest of my staff wacky, maybe you could wait in your office for 
this call."

"I'll do that, thank you sir," Harm nodded, making a hasty retreat.  He closed the door behind 
him, leaning on it as he took a deep breath, and another, and another, attempting to calm 
himself.  Which he had nearly succeeded in accomplishing after twenty minutes when there 
was a light tapping.  "Whoever--not a good time," he called.

"Sir it's important, it's about the Colonel," Gunny's voice came through the door. 

Harm leaped for the door and all but yanked him inside, looking at him expectantly.

"Sir, there was a news report just now," Gunny began, looking closely at Harm.

"Gunny should I sit down?" he gasped, trying for some self-control while his mind imagined 
the worst.

"Sir I'm sure she's fine," Gunny told him, frightening him further.

"Gunny for godsake why would you feel the need to tell me that?"

"Because her flight had to make an emergency landing in Cincinnati," he said quietly.

"No," he gasped again, grabbing onto the desk for support.

"Commander, she's fine.  There were no injuries.  Apparently there was an electrical 
malfunction and they landed as a precaution.  They landed, and the passengers and 
luggage were put right on another flight.  They should be getting there..." He paused and 
looked at his watch.  "Really any time now."

Harm had to swallow twice before he could speak.  "How did you find out about this?"

"It came over ZNN a couple minutes ago sir.  Tiner and I drew pencils to see who would 
come tell you."

"Did you lose Gunny?"

"Yes sir," he admitted. "Sir that you and she...well that you care for each other...is not a 
secret, and I should have requested permission to speak freely before I spouted off about..."

"Never mind that.  But they did say there was no injuries right?"

"Yes sir."

Harm rose and walked to the window as his phone rang.  Gunny waited a moment to see if 
he would turn to pick it up and when he did not, reached for it himself.  "Commander Rabb's 
office....Yes ma'am,he's right here....Ma'am?....Yes in fact I just told him...A little, yes ma'am, 
but he's going to be fine in about two seconds."

Harm at that point was eagerly reaching for the phone, knowing it was her, his knees 
shaking with relief, and looking like a little boy wanting to talk to daddy when he called home 
from his business trip.

"Ma'am let me give you to the Commander," Gunny smiled. "He's mildly anxious to talk to 
you. I'm glad you're OK."
  
 "Mac" he gasped as Gunny walked out of his office, carefully closing the 
 door behind him. "Please tell me you're all right."
 
 "I'm fine" she assured him. "Harm, really it was no big deal."
 
 "Okay tell that to my pounding heart" Harm sighed. "I was so scared when you 
 didn't call and then Gunny came in here and told me about the plane making 
 an emergency landing and I.."
 
 "Harm, breathe" Mac ordered. "Before you have a heart attack and I have to 
 catch another flight back to DC."
 
 "All right I'm calm," he said after a few deep breaths. "You just don't know 
 how worried I was about you. I kept waiting for the news flash that your 
 plane had gone down or something equally awful."
 
 "Easy there sailor" Mac said gently. "We had a little trouble but the cute 
 little pilot did a nice job of getting us on the ground in one piece."
 
 "Thank god" he whispered. "Have I told you how much I hate you being away?"
 
 "Miss me already" Mac said softly.
 
 "More than you know" Harm sighed. "And the Admiral probably thinks I am 
 crazy."
 
 "He already knows that" Mac teased. "Why what did you do now?"
 
 "Never mind. I'll tell you about it later. You'll call me when you get in 
 tonight right. Otherwise you know I won't get a wink of sleep until I know 
 you're safely at the hotel."
 
 "Yes I'll call" Mac promised. "But I don't want you sitting around brooding 
 either. Did you make plans to go out with Bud?"
 
 "Yeah of course I did" Harm lied. He really wasn't up to being around 
 everyone else yet. And as much as he liked being with Bud and Harriet he'd 
 rather just be alone. "But I won't be out long."
 
 She promised to call him later and with a sigh he hung up the phone a few 
 seconds later. The rest of his day passed quietly and has he headed home he 
 suddenly realized how much he'd gotten used to her being around. His place 
 seemed quieter than he remembered and he flipped channels on the TV for 
 something to watch. As usual there was nothing and he found himself drifting 
 to sleep, lack of sleep from the night before catching up with him.
 
 The ringing of his phone woke him several hours later and he hurried to grab 
 it.
 
 "Hello" he said tiredly.
 
 "Hey it's me," Mac said softly. "I woke you didn't I? Sorry I knew it was 
 late but I didn't want to not call."
 
 He looked up at the clock realizing it was past 11:00. "No it's okay, I'm 
 glad you called. How did it go today?"
 
 "Pretty good. Best case scenario I'll have this wrapped up quick and catch a 
 late flight home tomorrow. Worst case, I'll be here for a few days."
 
 "Okay, I'm putting in my request for the best case scenario" Harm said with 
 a small smile.
 
 "I'll talk to PO Grenin and tell him you said that" Mac smiled. "How you 
 doing otherwise?"
 
 "I'm fine" he assured her.
 
 "Why don't I believe you sailor?"
 
 "Okay, I miss you horribly" Harm sighed. "And I'm not ashamed to say it 
 either."
 
 "Well I miss you too," Mac admitted. "And if I can get home tomorrow night, 
 I'll be there. Even if I have to take the last prop plane out of Chicago."
 
 "I'd rather you just waited and took a real flight. You know how dangerous 
 those prop's are."
 
 "Where on earth is that coming from?" Mac asked and then it dawned on her. 
 "Harm, you're not afraid of flying are you?
 
 "I'm afraid of something happening to you," he admitted.
 
 "Harm, I'll be fine" Mac assured him softly. "Please don't worry about me. 
 You've got enough to deal with."
 
 "I'll worry about you until you back here safely" Harm replied. "And I 
 should let you go so you can get some rest. Sounds like you had a long day."
 
 "You take care sailor," Mac said softly. "I'll call you tomorrow when I get 
 a chance to let you know how it's going."
 
 "You take care too" Harm whispered. "Night Mac."
 
 "Night Harm."
 
 He headed to bed, falling asleep almost instantly. But it wasn't long before 
 the nightmares began again and he awoke with a start, his heart pounding and 
 the sweat dripping from him. There was no Mac to comfort him this time and 
 he hugged his pillow tightly. It was a long time before the nightmare faded 
 and his eyes remained open long into the morning hours.
 
 2 Days Later
 JAG HQ's
 
 Harm was sitting at his desk trying to keep his eyes open. The past two 
 nights of nightmares and no sleep were catching up with him. Mac was still 
 in Chicago, the worst case scenario having played out. PO Grenin wasn't 
 cooperating and she wasn’t sure when she'd be back. He was doing his best to 
 put up a brave front when she called but he was really beginning to miss 
 her. He hadn't told her about the nightmares, not wanting to worry her more.
 
 "Commander the Admiral would like to see you"
 
 The sound of Tiner's voice pulled Harm from his reverie and he looked up at 
 the Yeoman.
 
 "I'll be right there" Harm replied.
 
 "At ease" AJ said a few seconds later. He looked at his officer closely, 
 noticing at once the dark circles from an obvious lack of sleep. "You okay, 
 Harm?"
 
 "Yeah I'm fine sir" Harm said quickly.
 
 "Any word from your partner yet?"
 
 "Grenin still isn't cooperating" Harm sighed. "She said it may be a few more 
 days before she's back."
 
 "You up to handling an investigation on your own until she gets back?" AJ 
 asked.
 
 "Yes sir. What is it?"
 
 "An incident on the Henry. One Ensign Margaret Hannon was found dead in her 
 cabin. She died of a drug overdose."
 
 "Drug overdose? What kind of drug overdose?"
 
 "Heroin" AJ replied. "You're job is to find out how she got the drugs and 
 from who. Captain Ingles is anxious to find out what happened and why this 
 young lady is now dead. According to him she was one of the best and 
 brightest. Had a promising career ahead of her. You think you can handle 
 this?"
 
 "Of course" Harm said with a confidence that he didn't quite feel.
 
 "Good. You can take a transport out from Andrews this afternoon. When Mac 
 gets back she can join you if you haven't already got this wrapped up."

"Yes sir I think..."  He paused as he realized what AJ had just told him.  "A plane sir?"

"Unless you plant to swim which I wouldn't advise," AJ frowned.  "Commander you're not 
going to have a problem with that are you?"  His eyes narrowed and he pressed a hand to 
Harm's shoulder.  "Son if you're hesitant to fly after what.."

"No sir I'm fine," he snapped all in one breath. 

AJ stepped back and stared, waiting.

"I'm sorry sir, the tone was totally out of line.  No excuse sir."

AJ regarded the younger man for a long minute, enjoying Harm's squirming under his 
scrutiny.  "You damn right no excuse mister.  Now as I was saying, if you're hesitant to fly 
after what happened, I can understand that."

"Sir I'll be fine," Harm assured him, again trying for a confident tone.

"See that you are," AJ frowned once again.  
=========================
JAG HQ 
4PM

"Tiner I don't see Commander Rabb."  Mac stood over the desk of the young man, noting 
with amusement he was playing Tetris Challenge.

"Ma'am," Tiner jumped to his feet as the game announced he had lost.  "Uh no ma'am, he's 
on assignment.  I uh....I don't believe we expected you back."

"Colonel, good to see you," AJ boomed.  "And Tiner is right, we didn't expect you.  Did you 
throw up the white flag?"

"No sir, just the opposite," Mac smiled happily.  "I threatened to throttle him.  No I threatened 
I was washing my hands of him and he'd best start cooperating because JAG would make 
him a better deal than he'd get from the local authorities.  So that's all resolved pretty 
favorably considering."  She looked around the office once more.  "Sir if I may, Commander 
Rabb?"

AJ gave her a tolerant smile.  "On his way to the Henry.  Drug case."

"By plane?"  She knew her expression was alarmed and could not help it.

"You know I had that conversation with Rabb.  Yes by plane, unless he bailed out by now 
and is swimming the rest of the way.  What is it with you two, and it had better not be 
something I should know."

"Uh no sir, I was just thinking that this would be his first flight since...well you know sir...and 
he might have...he could have...well some anxiety sir."

"Colonel that's what they have airsick bags for."  AJ shook his head with bemusement.  
"Now I told Mr. Rabb you could join him if necessary.  Meanwhile I'm sure you have plenty to 
occupy yourself here."  With that AJ returned to his office.  

"Tiner, if Commander Rabb should call through you, I want the call transferred to me no 
matter what I'm doing," she said quietly before going to her office.  

As she sat down a strong feeling of unease came over her as she remembered Norfolk and 
their experience there.  Her gaze fell onto the phone and she sent Harm a silent entreaty.  
"Call please.  Call and tell me you're OK."
===================
Aboard the Transport Plane
Same Time

Commander Harmon Rabb was anything but OK at that moment, on the inside.  On the 
outside, he was keeping his feelings to himself.  He stared out the window, feeling every bit 
of turbulence the transport encountered as they made their way toward the black dot in the 
distance, the dot that would be the aircraft carrier Patrick Henry.

Around him the few men and women aboard were joking and laughing, giving the one 
crewman riding with the passengers a hard time.  He gave a long sigh, remembering when 
flying meant everything to him.  Now he was not sure what meant that much, with the 
possible exception of a dark haired Marine to whom he was growing closer with each 
passing day.  Closer or more dependent upon?  That thought shook him from his flying funk 
for a few seconds and he made a quick mental note to bring that up with her.

It was a white-knuckle landing for Harm.  Those around him took no notice, and as the 
capture hook secured the plane and jerked it to a halt it took every ounce of will for him to 
keep from moaning aloud.

"Commander Rabb I'm glad to see you," Skates greeted him as soon as he stepped from 
the plane, throwing him a hasty salute.

"Lieutenant," he panted, returning her salute.  "Skates, good to see you too.  They must 
have told you I was coming."

"Yes sir," she nodded, motioning for him to follow her.  "Sir Capt. Ingles asked me to be your 
liaison while you're aboard since we know each other so well."

He nodded and followed her into the elevator.  "Though I suppose you know the way to the 
VIP cabins by now."

Once the doors closed he leaned back against the wall, wiping his sweat-dampened face.

"Sir you don't look well," she gasped, seeing him closely.  "Is there anything I can do?"

"Well you can stop the sir when we're alone please," he sighed. "Harm will do fine.  And no 
there's nothing else.  I'm afraid I'm not reacting well to...well to reminders of the accident.  
How about you?  Being aboard here doesn't bother you apparently?"

"I haven't requested reinstatement to active flight status yet," she admitted, "but the doctor, 
and the psychologist told me they'll back me up when I was ready."

"And are you?"

"I think so sir," she smiled.  "I'm gathering you're not?"

"In total confidence--between you me and the wall here--no," he admitted.  "I'm having a lot 
of issues as the psychologist would say, but I'm determined it's not going to ruin my career."

"Sir...uh Harm...there are worst things than not having flight status, " she reminded him 
gently.

"Now you sound like Mac," he smiled wistfully.

"And you wish she was here with you."

"Oh yeah.  Am I that obvious already?"

"Transparent.  Come on, let's drop your things, you get washed up, and we'll get some 
coffee into you."  She lowered her voice even though they were totally alone.  "And I'd like to 
talk to you about the murder if I could.  She was a friend of mine."
 
 Harm stopped at those words. "How good of a friend?"
 
 "Good enough to know she wasn't using drugs" Skates said quietly. "That was 
 no accidental drug overdose. She was murdered."
 
 "You're not making me feel any better Skates" Harm sighed. "Okay, give me 
 five and then we'll get some coffee and then you're going to tell me 
 everything you know that's going on around here."
 
 A short time later after a stop at the mess for coffee they were back in the 
 cabin and Harm took out his legal pad and looked over at Skates.
 
 "Okay, tell me everything. And don't leave anything out."
 
 Skates explained to Harm her friendship with Ensign Hannon and how this was 
 the first incident that pointed to drug activity on board. There had been 
 several assaults, with ship security unable to determine who was behind 
 them.
 
 "Quite frankly, Harm, everyone is a little scared around here" Skates 
 admitted. "Myself included."
 
 "Why didn't you mention any of this when I was out here doing my quals?" 
 Harm asked.
 
 "Because you were out here doing your quals" Skates grinned. "I didn't want 
 to distract you with this. Plus it really wasn't as bad then. But the past 
 few weeks have been really weird around here. And then with Margaret's 
 death, well I know something is really wrong."
 
 "How do you know for sure she wasn't doing drugs?"
 
 "Harm, the girl was squeaky clean. She wasn't involved in that. She was here 
 to serve her five years and then she was going to college. Her parent's 
 hadn't had the money to send her so she joined the Navy. Figured she'd see a 
 little more of the world than Kansas where she grew up and then go to 
 college. I can assure you she wasn't doing drugs."
 
 "You have any idea why she was murdered then?"
 
 "She worked in the ship's security office" Skates said quietly. "And I think 
 that the reason why security hasn't been able to find out who's behind the 
 assaults is because Security is involved in whatever is going on."
 
 "You are making me like this less and less" Harm sighed as he dropped the 
 legal pad on the table.
 
 "Sorry Harm" Skates said with a small smile. "And the only reason I'm 
 telling you is because I know you won't just blow me off."
 
 "No I won't" Harm replied. "All right. I guess I'm going to need to talk to 
 whoever's in charge of security around here now."
 
 "That would be Commander Roger Jennings" Skates replied. "You want me to 
 arrange for you to talk to him tomorrow."
 
 "Yeah that works I guess" Harm sighed. "I was going to suggest tonight 
 but.."
 
 "But with all due respect, you look like hell and you really should get some 
 rest" Skates finished. "And you know I'm here if you want to talk about 
 anything."
 
 "Thanks but I'm talking to everyone already" Harm smiled. "And Mac has been 
 there most of the time…"
 
 "You and her have been getting closer since she called off the wedding?" 
 Skates asked.
 
 "Right now we're rebuilding what we lost. And yes we've gotten closer. She's 
 been there for me like no one else and truthfully I'm not sure I'd sitting 
 here if it weren't for her. I'd probably be in a padded cell at Bethesda."
 
 "It's been that bad?"
 
 "That bad" Harm sighed. "I wasn't sure I was going to make out here on the 
 transport."
 
 "Flying or the water?" Skates asked knowingly.
 
 "Both. But don't you dare repeat a word of this to anyone. Right now Mac is 
 the only one who knows about this. I'm trying to keep the Admiral and the 
 rest of the Navy from finding out I can't handle being near the ocean."
 
 "You're secret is safe with me" Skates said quietly. "But tell me you're at 
 least going to the counseling sessions and talking to someone about this."
 
 "I am" Harm said quickly. "And of course I talk to Mac about it. Speaking of 
 which, I should try calling her."
 
 "You want me to leave?" Skates smiled.
 
 "Cute Lt.. And no you don't need to leave. I'll just be a minute and then 
 we'll go grab some dinner." He picked up the phone and a few minutes later 
 was connected to JAG HQ's
 
 "Sir, the Colonel has been waiting for your call" Tiner said when he 
 answered. "Just one second."
 
 "Harm" Mac's anxious voice came across the line a few seconds later and he 
 couldn't help but smile at the sound.
 
 "Hey, I guess you got back. You threaten Grenin or what?"
 
 "Yes I did, but I don't want to talk about Grenin. I want to talk about you. 
 How are you?"
 
 "I'm okay," he said quietly, turning away from Skates. "I'm not sure I'm 
 ready to take that transport plane back any time soon but I'm okay."
 
 "Do you want me to come out there?" Mac asked. "I'm sure I can grab a helo 
 or something out of Andrews and be out there in a couple hours."
 
 "No, I'm fine" Harm said quickly. "Skates has given me some good leads on 
 what's going on around here and I should be able to get this wrapped up 
 pretty quickly."
 
 "You want to clue me in on what's going on? The Admiral just said it was a 
 drug case."
 
 "Drugs and murder" Harm sighed. "It was a murder that someone wanted to look 
 like a drug overdose."
 
 "Harm, I don't like the sounds of this. I don't think you should be alone on 
 this one."
 
 "Hey, I'm a big boy" Harm smiled. "I can handle it. I'd rather you weren't 
 involved in this one."
 
 "Yeah and I'm a Marine" Mac countered. "And your partner. And we're supposed 
 to work together."
 
 "I know that. But really I'm sure I'll have this wrapped up pretty quickly."
 
 "You going to be okay out there on your own?" Mac asked softly. "I mean with 
 the water and all…"
 
 "Well I can assure you I won't be going up on the flight deck unless I have 
 to" Harm said quietly. "Otherwise, I'm okay with being out here. Really. I 
 don't want you to worry about me."
 
 "Like that's ever going to happen" Mac smiled. "Not in this lifetime sailor. 
 And I was really disappointed when I got back and you weren't here. I miss 
 you."
 
 "So do I" Harm sighed. "But I couldn't very well tell the Admiral that I 
 didn't want the case."
 
"I know sailor I know," she sighed, at that moment not at all sure she agreed with him.  
"Getting back to me coming out there."

"No. Do not come."  This time it was with such vehemence that Skates hurried to his side, 
her look asking if he was OK.  He nodded to her and went on in a lower voice.  "Mac really 
there's not any point right now.  You've just come back from your own trip.  Let me play with 
it for a couple days and see if I can't resolve it."

There was silence on Mac's end and Harm bit his lip, praying for her agreement.

"Forty-eight hours Squid, and then I'm coming to help.  I'll tell the Admiral there's more leads 
than you can handle or something, but I don't think you should have to hassle it longer than 
that alone.  We're partners, and we should be working together.  In fact you should have 
waited for me."

"Well it's done now.  I'll take my forty-eight hours thank you and I bet you dinner at Sofia's I 
have it wrapped up and I'm on my way home before the time's up."

"Pasta at Sofia's," she smiled.  "You're on Sailor.  OK, I'm going to let you go get to work.  
But you listen up.  You be careful, you ask for help if you need it and most of all call me.  I'm 
so far from kidding it's not remotely funny."

"Yes ma'am," he smiled.  "I miss you a lot Marine and I'll call you tomorrow with an update."

"I miss you just as much," she returned, "and see that you do."

He held the phone still and quiet for a long minute after she broke the connection, not 
moving until he felt Skates' firm hand on his arm.  "Sir?  Permission to ask why you didn't 
accept her offer to come?"

"Because I want to handle this myself," he answered after a long pause.  "I need to know 
that I'm still--well let's say I'm not planning to roll over and let the aftereffects of the accident 
beat me."

"Good for you," she smiled.  "Come on, let's see what the Mess is turning out."

It wasn't until he had mainly finished with his food in a deserted corner of the dining facility 
that she spoke again.  "Harm, be honest.  The real reason you didn't want Mac here.  You're 
afraid for her."

"Oh no not at all," he hissed.  Skates had struck a nerve.  "There's some kind of drug ring 
aboard this ship, complete with maniac who killed a woman who got too close.  Why the hell 
would I be concerned about bringing my best friend into something like that."

"Because the feelings you're having for her encompass much more that friendship," Skates 
smiled, undaunted by his mini tirade.  "And I just wanted to see if I could get you to admit to 
as much.  When you were hear doing quals and talking about her wedding...well if you could 
have seen yourself."

He took a long drink of coffee before he spoke.  "I need to apologize to you."

"Huh?  Apologize for what, and what the hell's that got to do with Mac's wedding?"

"I risked your life attempting to get me there that's what," he sighed.  "I had no right to 
involve you.  I had to do it, but you, no.  You should have waited."

"Harm you know they would not have let you off with no RIO," she scoffed.

"I might have gone anyway," he murmured.

"Whoa OK I didn't hear that a senior officer was confessing that he was thinking about 
stealing a multimillion dollar aircraft for personal use," she whispered, and mischievously 
pinched the skin on the back of his hand.  "You better not be having those kinds of thoughts 
Commander, or the only thing you'll be flying is a commode in Leavenworth."

"Roger that," he grinned slightly.

"What in gods name were you so desperate to get there for anyway?" she demanded, not 
having given it that much thought before, but now realizing he had been hell-bent on getting 
out of there that night.

"I....I promised," he said simply.

"I know, but there's more to it than that," she speculated.  "Harm I remember now.  I didn't 
think about it at the time because we didn't think the storm would be that bad, and because I 
was god awful eager to see Corey, but now as I look back--we must have been out of our 
collective minds."

"Exactly.  I should never have let you risk it.  It was my compulsion, my need to get to her."

"All this for a promise."

"More than a promise," he maintained.  "It was because I was going to.."

Before he could continue, Skates poked his arm.  They were being approached by a young 
seaman.  "Sir, Ma'am.  Seaman Koch, security detail.  Commander, Lieutenant Commander 
Crawford requests you report to him ASAP sir.  There's been another body found."

"Who please?" Skates gasped, her hand over her mouth.

"Ma'am I don't know," the young man shook his head.  "I'm just delivering the message for 
Commander Crawford."

Harm threw his napkin onto his plate.  "Lead the way Sailor."

Skates rose and hesitated.  "I'd like to come."

Harm nodded and motioned her ahead of him as they followed Koch, who led them down a 
series of corridors and ladders into the lower part of the ship.  

"Commander Rabb?"

"I am," Harm nodded, "you're Crawford?"

"Yes sir."  Crawford pointed to an area behind some boxes.  "She's been dead a couple 
days.  I'm not sure why she hasn't been reported missing but I'm sure as hell going to find 
out."

Harm nodded again and approached the body.  Not the first one he had seen by any means, 
and yet he brought his hand to his mouth as soon as he saw.  She was lying face up, her 
throat cut, her eyes staring at the ceiling and her face in frozen horror.

"Oh God."  Skates had pushed her way to him.  "Ginger," she got out before losing the 
contents of her stomach.
 
 Harm quickly guided her away from the body, needing himself to get away it 
 as well. There was something about staring into the eyes of a dead person 
 that he wasn't quite ready to deal with.
 
 "I'm going to take Lt. Hawkes back to her cabin" Harm said as he turned back 
 to face Crawford.  "In the meantime I want this area sealed of and nothing 
 touched. I'll be back in a few minutes."
 
 "Yes sir" Crawford replied.
 
 "I'm sorry," Skates said as Harm led her back to her cabin. "I guess I've 
 never seen a dead body like that. You must be more used to it of course."
 
 "Not really, I'm just better at hiding it" Harm said giving her a small 
 smile. "You never get used to looking at that."
 
 "How could someone do that to her?"
 
 "Desperate people do desperate things" Harm sighed. "Whoever is running this 
 drug ring realizes it's coming apart around them. And they'll do whatever it 
 takes to stop that."
 
 "I can't believe they killed Ginger" Skates whispered. "Harm, I know she 
 wasn’t involved in any drugs either."
 
 "Did she work with Ensign Hannon in security?" Harm questioned trying to 
 find a link to the two victims.
 
 "No, she worked in the public affairs office. But she was Margaret's 
 roommate."
 
 "Whoever killed her must have thought that Ensign Hannon had told her 
 something" Harm sighed. "I'm liking this less and less."
 
 They walked in silence the rest of the way back to Skates' quarters and 
 Skates gave him a weak smile when they reached the door.
 
 "Thanks for the escort back. I think I can take it from here."
 
 "I'll feel better if I at least walk in with you and check it out" Harm 
 replied. "Call me paranoid but the fact that two people you knew pretty well 
 are both dead doesn't give me a warm and cozy feeling."
 
 "Yeah, me neither" Skates sighed as they walked into her quarters. "I still 
 can't believe that Ginger's dead too."
 
 "You gonna be okay alone?" Harm asked.
 
 "Well as much as I'd love to have you stay and keep me company the rest of 
 the night, I know you've got a job to do" Skates smiled. "And I don't think 
 I can explain why I needed someone to hold my hand at night. I'll be fine. 
 What about you? You holding up okay."
 
 "I'll survive" Harm assured her. "Do me a favor and keep your door locked 
 and don't let anyone. And then tomorrow you and I are going to talk some 
 more about what's going on around here."
 
 "Yes sir" Skates said giving him a mock salute.
 
 He returned to the scene of the murder, avoiding look at the deceased as 
 much as he could. There was something particularly eerie about a dead person 
 staring up at you and Harm did his best to try and block it all out. The 
 lump in his throat finally seemed to go away when she was covered with a 
 sheet and he could finally breathe a little easier.
 
 "Sir, Captain Ingles just called" Crawford said as the victim was carried 
 away. "He wants you on the bridge ASAP to update him on what's going on."
 
 "Sure, no problem" Harm said slowly. The bridge. Over looking the water. And 
 the flight deck. An area he'd hoped to avoid.
 
 "You okay, sir?" Crawford asked as he gave Harm a curious glance.
 
 "Yeah sure, just a little tired" Harm said with a weak smile. "It's been a 
 long day. But I'd better not keep the Captain waiting."
 
 Crawford nodded and Harm headed up to the bridge, trying to ignore the dark 
 ocean that surrounded the ship. He took a deep breath as he approached the 
 Captain, determined not to let anyone else know that he hated being there.
 
 "Commander Rabb, good to see you around again" Captain Ingles smiled. "I 
 take it you've recovered fully from the accident."
 
 "Back on full duty and doing fine sir" Harm smiled as well. He didn't have 
 to know that he was anything but fine. He would get through this and get 
 back to his quarters and everything would be okay.
 
 "Glad to hear it. Why don't you and I step out on the deck so you can tell 
 me what the hell is going on around here. I don't think everyone around here 
 needs to know what's going on."
 
 "Of course sir" Harm said as he followed the Captain out. The last place 
 he'd wanted to be was on the deck. Looking down at the dark ocean. 'Stop it' 
 his mind screamed. 'You can do this.' The lump in his throat had returned 
 and he swallowed hard as they reached the railing.
 
 "Okay, Commander, tell me what's going on."
 
 Quietly Harm explained where and how the latest victim was found as well as 
 how the victim was killed.
 
 "Have you found anything out about Ensign Hannon's murder yet?" Captain 
 Ingles asked. "I realize you've only been on board a few hours but we need to 
 hustle and find out who's behind this."
 
 "I know sir" Harm replied. "I did spend some time talking to Lt. Hawkes and 
 she gave me some information on Ensign Hannon. She also informed me that the 
 latest victim, Ensign Carter was Ensign Hannon's roommate. I'm working on 
 the assumption that Ensign Carter was killed because someone thought Ensign 
 Hannon had told her something. I'll be searching their quarters ASAP to see 
 if there's anything in there."
 
 "Do what you have to do" Captain Ingles replied. "My security detail will be 
 happy to assist in anyway they can."
 
 "Uh, sir, I'd rather they weren't involved" Harm said slowly. "Skates told 
 me that Ensign Hannon worked for the security office. She seemed to feel 
 they might be behind this. And to be honest, I'd rather handle this without 
 them."
 
 "I assume your partner Colonel Mackenzie will be coming out then? If you're 
 going to get this figured out before someone else gets killed you're going 
 to need some help."
 
 "Uh, sure" Harm said finally. He didn't want Mac out there. Not with someone 
 going around murdering women. "I'll check in the morning and see when she 
 can come out."
 
 "Good. I want this wacko stopped. Now."
 
 "Understood sir" Harm nodded before quickly escaping back inside, nearly 
 running back to his quarters. Once inside he sank down on the bunk, praying 
 that somehow he'd get through this investigation.

For a long time he remained in that position, hunched over, holding his head in his hands, 
asking his Maker to stay with him through this.  Finally when exhaustion forced him to lie 
down, he curled into a tight ball and fell asleep, only to be wide awake two hours later.  A 
new nightmare, this one of Mac in a cabin aboard the Henry.  He opened the door to call 
her, finding her lying on her cot, her back to the door.  When she did not answer he walked 
to her, rolling her over to face him.  Her throat was slashed and her eyes stared up at him, 
her face bearing the same look of horror as that of Ginger Carter.  "Maa--aaaac."  His 
scream echoed in the small cabin and he sat upright, drenched with sweat and holding his 
breath in prayer that no one had heard him.  

For the remainder of the night he paced his cabin.  And by dawn he was more determined 
than ever that Mac would not join him.  He would not allow her aboard a ship where women 
were being killed.  Deciding some juice and coffee might help he headed for the shower first, 
hoping when he emerged there would be an improvement in his appearance.  "Well it was a 
good try," he mumbled as he began to shave.  

"Sir it's Skates," she called, knocking lightly at the same time.

"Open" he hollered back, not thinking he was clad only in boxers.

"Good morning sir, and you should save that look for someone who can appreciate it," she 
said softly, breezing into the room.

"I'd hurt you but I don't have the energy," he sighed.  "As for the look, live with it.  What's up?  
How are you doing this morning?"

"Better than you sir.  You look like hell."

"I didn't sleep well, and thank you for that vote of confidence.  Are you OK?"

"Well I've accepted it I guess," she murmured, "as much as anyone can accept that two 
friends have been murdered.  Sir you are going to find out what happened right?"

"Going to do my damnedest," he assured her quickly.

"And have you called Colonel Mackenzie?"

"No," he returned sharply.  "And I'm not going to.  I'm going to handle this case.  String the 
bastard who did this up by his...well you get the idea...and then I'm getting the hell off this 
boat and she doesn't have to be involved."

"Harm this is more than you can handle alone."

"Lieutenant, do not presume to make decisions for me," he ordered irritably.  "My mind is 
made up and you worked with me long enough to know that I don't give in.  Now we're going 
to go to the mess and get some coffee and then I'm going to start talking to people.  
Everyone who ever came into contact with these women.  That's where you can help me.  I'll 
need duty rosters too.  And I want to have some time with Crawford.  You can help me fix all 
that.  Got it?"

"Yes sir," she said formally, "but I still think..."

"Don't," he warned.  "Because you're either with me here or you need to get clean away 
from me.  What's it going to be?"

She raised herself up to her full height, still falling short of his.  "I'm in for the duration sir."

They went to the mess hall and Harm drank part of a cup of coffee, before pushing it away in 
disgust, then fidgeted impatiently while Skates ate her breakfast.  

"Sir you should eat..."  She stopped short at his warning glare.  "Sorry sir."

The day wore on, question after question to anyone and everyone.  At 1300 Skates grabbed 
hold of his arm.  "Sir let's hit the mess.  You had nothing to eat this morning, and it's really 
not good for you to be on an empty stomach, especially since we're picking up some swells.  
Storm tonight they're saying."

"All the more reason to get done and get out of here then," he insisted, his mind inwardly 
reeling at the thought of another storm at sea.  "And I don't care for anything to eat.  I'm 
going down below and look for this Ensign Reilly.  You go eat and find me later."

"Yes sir," she nodded and he began to pound his way backwards down the ladder.  Midway, 
the carrier gave a slight list to one side, normally not enough to be bothersome, but for a 
man with no sleep nor food, it provoked a wave of dizziness and he easily lost his balance, 
falling hard against the metal step, banging both his ribs and his head.

"Harm?"  Skates was beside him a few seconds later, not sure whether to help him up or 
make him lie still.  "Harm can you hear me?"  His eyes were at that moment tightly closed 
and his head lolled weakly.  "Harm?"  She was just about to reach for the nearest security 
phone when he groaned and opened his eyes.  

"Good you're awake," she breathed.  "OK you can walk to the infirmary.  Or should I still call 
someone?"

"I'm not going anywhere except to talk to Reilly," he gasped, nevertheless holding his ribs, 
his face white from the pain.  "If the medics get hold of me I'll be in bed with an IV and never 
get off here."  

"Sir please," she begged.  "You need to be looked at.  You might have broken something, 
like your head."  Gingerly she touched the large lump that was forming at the hairline.

Angrily he pushed her hand away.  "Leave me be Skates.  I'll be with Reilly and then I'm 
heading forward to talk to Personnel about why no one knew where Carter was assigned 
and thus she wasn't even missed."

Resignedly, Skates helped him to his feet and down the ladder the rest of the way before 
releasing him.  "I'm going to take a meal break sir, and then I'll find you."

He nodded and moved away slowly, his arm holding to his chest and painfully sore ribs.

Skates watched him until he turned the corner and then headed in the direction of the dining 
room, but first she had a stop to make.
====================
JAG HQ
Same Time

"Look at that rain ma'am," Tiner groaned when Mac joined him at the window.  "Flash flood, 
severe weather--you name it and we're under alert for it."

"Thank you Petty Officer for cheering me up," she sighed.  "I hope there's a plan in effect for 
all of us to bunk here when we can't get home."

"I'll look it up," Tiner grinned.  "Do we have to have gender-based dorm arrangements?"

"Tiner don't you have something to do before I start wondering why I keep you on staff 
here?" AJ bellowed in time with the ringing phone.  "Like maybe answering that?"

"Sir, yes sir," Tiner gasped and ran for his desk.

"Colonel, everything OK?"

"Yes sir, just...well...sorry sir I'll get back to work."

"I know you're concerned about him.  And you know if anything was wrong you'd hear about 
it," AJ soothed.

"Yes sir thank you."

"Ma'am, call for you from the Patrick Henry," Tiner announced.

"You see," AJ smiled and returned to his office.

"Thank you Tiner, I'll take it in my office."

She closed the door behind her and picked up the phone.  "Harm thank god.  I've been 
really worried. How are you?  Is there any progress?  You ready for me to come and bail you 
out yet?"  

"Ma'am it's not Harm.  It's Lieutenant Hawkes, and I'm calling about the Commander."

Weakly she sank into her chair, fearing the worst.  "Lieutenant, is he OK?"
 
 "Far from it ma'am" Skates replied. "Of course he's not going to tell you 
 that."
 
 "No of course not" Mac sighed. "You want to tell me what's going on out 
 there since I know he won't."
 
 "He hasn't been sleeping ma'am" Skates replied "I know you were out of town 
 when he came out here and I don't think he was sleeping then either. And 
 it's gotten worse since he's been on board. And today he hasn't eaten a 
 thing." She decided against mentioning Harm's tumble down the stairs, 
 figuring she would find out when she got there.
 
 "I knew he wasn't okay," Mac said quietly. "And I have no idea why he 
 thought he could handle being on a carrier right now."
 
 "Uh, there's more ma'am" Skates continued. "There was another murder."
 
 "What?" Mac screeched. "Why didn't Harm call me and tell me that?"
 
 "Because he doesn't want you out here ma'am" Skates said quietly. "Course 
 I'd appreciate if you didn't tell him I told you that. I'm not his favorite 
 person right now cause I've been harping on him about calling you for help."
 
 "And you're meeting the Rabb brick wall right?" Mac sighed.
 
 "You got it ma'am" Skates replied. "Which is why I'm calling you myself. I'm 
 not sure how much more he can handle. And of course there's a storm coming 
 in tonight."
 
 "Yeah I know it's here right now," Mac said quietly. "Skates tell me about 
 this second murder so I have something to take to the Admiral. I'm coming 
 out there but I don’t want the Admiral to know the real reason why."
 
 "It wasn't pretty ma'am. It was Ensign Hannon's roommate, Ginger Carter. She 
 was a good friend of mine as well."
 
 "Skate's I'm sorry," Mac said quickly. "Was she killed the same way as 
 Ensign Hannon."
 
 "No ma'am" Skates said softly. "Her throat was cut."
 
 "Oh god" Mac whispered. "I'm sorry. And now I'm even more furious at Harm 
 for not telling me about this. There's no way he should be investigating 
 this alone."
 
 "Yes ma'am, that's what I tried to tell him. But he was very adamant about 
 you not being involved in the investigation."
 
 "Well I'm going to be involved. Don't tell him I'm coming but I'm going to 
 head to Andrews and catch the first plane out when this storm lets up. In 
 the meantime, if you can keep an eye on Harm. You know he hasn't been 
 handling things to well since the crash and I'm afraid that it's just going 
 to be too much for him."
 "I'll do my best ma'am" Skates replied. "Like I said, I'm not his favorite 
 person right now."
 
 "I'll be out there as soon as this storms lets up" Mac promised. "Just keep 
 him out of trouble until then."
 
 She hung up with Skates and took a deep breath before heading to the 
 Admiral's office. She would simply tell the Admiral that there had been 
 another murder and it was necessary for her to get out to the Henry ASAP to 
 help Harm track down all the leads.
 
 "What's the word from Commander Rabb?" AJ asked as Mac stood in front of his 
 desk a few minutes later.
 
 "Not good sir. There's been another murder. The first victim's roommate was 
 found with her throat slashed. "I'd like permission to head out to the Henry 
 ASAP sir to assist Harm in the investigation. The Henry is a large ship and 
 he's going to need help to follow up on all the leads."
 
 "Yes he will" AJ replied. "And you have permission to go, but I doubt you'll 
 be going anywhere for a few hours. Not with that storm out there."
 
 "With your permission I'll head to Andrews sir and wait so that as soon as 
 the weather clears I can take the first helo out."
 
 "Any reason for the big rush, Colonel?" AJ questioned.
 
 "Uh, no sir, just concerned about my partner's safety" Mac replied. "With 
 the second murder it's obvious that this wasn't just a random act of 
 violence. And the particularly violent method of death with the second 
 victim shows just how desperate the perpetrator is."
 
 "How is he handling being on the carrier?" AJ asked.
 
 "He sounded fine" Mac lied. There was no reason for the Admiral to know that 
 Skates had been the one calling and not Harm.  He should have been the one 
 calling and when she got to the carrier he was going to get a little 
 reminder about being partners. After she made sure he was okay. Something in 
 Skates' tone worried her and she knew the Lt. wouldn't have called unless 
 she felt Harm wasn't able to handle things.
 
 "I expect you'll let me know if it's otherwise when you get there" It wasn't 
 a request, it was order.
 
 "Of course sir" Mac said quickly. Of course that was another blatant lie. 
 She had given Harm her word that she wouldn't tell the Admiral what was 
 going on until he'd had a chance to work through it himself. She was 
 starting to regret that promise, especially after Skates' call.
 
 "All right get out of here. And I'll expect a little more updating on the 
 situation than Mr. Rabb has provided me so far."
 
 "Yes sir"
================
 
ABOARD THE PATRICK HENRY 
 
 After calling Mac, Skates headed off to find Harm. She hadn't liked leaving 
 him, especially not in the condition he was in. But the call to Mac had been 
 necessary and she had had no choice. He wasn't with
 Ensign Reilly and she found him a short time later in Personnel, hounding 
 one of the assistants for information.
 
 "Sir, I'm sorry, I don't know where this paper came from" the assistant 
 wailed.
 
 "I want to know how Ensign Carter was reassigned from public affairs without 
 anyone in this office realizing it" Harm said irritably.
 
 "Yes sir. Right away sir" the young woman said as she headed off.
 
 "Uh, how's it going?" Skates asked cautiously.
 
 "Peachy, just peachy" Harm sighed as he leaned back in the chair and closed 
 his eyes. "Someone put through a notice that Ensign Carter was no longer 
 working in Public Affairs. But there was no other notice saying where she'd 
 been assigned to."
 
 "Sir, at the risk of getting my head bit of completely, why don't you let me 
 take you to your quarters and then I'll bring you something back from the 
 mess. You look like hell and I should have hauled your six off to the 
 infirmary in the first place."
 
 "Yeah well I feel like hell" Harm growled. "But I'll deal with it. Right now 
 I've got a murder investigation to handle."
 
 Mac's words of "Rabb brick wall" passed through her mind as she looked at 
 Harm. She had to admit he was the most stubborn man she'd ever met.
 
 "I can call Captain Ingles and tell him what happened earlier" Skates 
 threatened. "Course that might bring up other questions."
 
 "You wouldn't" Harm said sharply.
 
 "I would because I'm worried about you sir" Skates replied. "As your friend 
 I won't let you do this to yourself. I'm taking you back to your quarters 
 and you are going to rest. And I'm not taking no for an answer."
 
 "Yeah OK, for a little while," he sighed, realizing the pounding in his head was preventing 
him from any rational thought at the moment, and the aching in his rib cage only added to 
his misery.  "Maybe I'll call Mac and whine."

"There you go sir," Skates nodded, keeping carefully to herself her own phone call to the 
Colonel.  She escorted him to his door, which she opened and pushed him inside.  "Take 
some aspirin please sir, and lay down.  I'm going to give you an hour to sleep and then bring 
you some soup."

"Thanks and Skates, be careful please.  Watch yourself.  We still don't know what's going on 
around here.  I'd hate for anything to happen to you.  Best RIO in the business."

"Thanks.  I will.  Please rest."
======================
ANDEWS AIR FORCE BASE

"You're not serious," Mac gasped, staring at the Air Force Officer in front of her.

"No I'm making this up as we go along.  Look the weather is not expected to improve here 
for about six hours, and by then it will be bad out there.  Unless this was a priority, I am 
prohibited from arranging any kind of transport out there for you.  I'm sorry.  Twenty-four 
hours from now, yes most likely.  The low pressure system causing this weather will move, 
the front will be through and you can hitch a helo easily."

"This is a nightmare in living color," she moaned.  "I need to get out to that carrier."

"Twenty-four hours.  Leave me your name and phone number and I'll even arrange 
something for you and call you.  This is for your own safety you know, and the safety of the 
crew."

"I know, I know," she murmured.  A quick call to AJ telling him she would be delayed and 
she went home.  A call to the ship to speak to Harm was not successful, further discouraging 
her.  All ship lines were being kept open for emergency traffic only.  "Can this day get any 
better," she moaned before collapsing onto the bed.  "I'm sorry Harm, so sorry," she sighed 
and closed her eyes.

ABOARD THE PATRICK HENRY

As Skates promised, she brought Harm some food, noting if anything that he looked worse.  
"I can't even call Mac," he sighed, taking a small spoon of soup into his mouth.  "Routine 
traffic isn't getting out in anticipation of the storm."

"Yeah I know," she nodded, grateful she got her call out just ahead of the communications 
shutdown.  "Harm, please, stand down for a while.  Make yourself rest just until morning.  
The storm will be over---you'll feel better---and we can start fresh."  She took his hand and 
pressed two white pills into it.  "For pain.  You need them."

He swallowed them with a gulp of milk and a glare at her and began to finish his food.  What 
he did not know was that they were not just ordinary pain pills, but also contained a 
sedative, and by the time he was finished his soup he was already looking drowsy.

"Tired sir?" she asked innocently.

"Yeah I am.  I'm going to sack out for a couple hours and then I'm going to consolidate my 
case notes and see if I can corral some of the third shift people I didn't see earlier.

"Right.  Well I'm going to leave you alone and let you get some rest.  See you in the morning 
Harm."

"Yeah good night...and Skates, thanks for everything.  Remember what I said about being 
careful.  Don't be going into any place aboard alone OK."

"Good night.  I'll be fine."

She watched him stretch out onto the bed before she closed the door.  Her friend in sick bay 
promised her he would sleep for several hours if he took those pills.
==================
Water...water everywhere.  Thunder and lightning....waves, waves tossing him.  Bringing 
him up thirty feet only to drop him down the other side.  Fighting for breath.  His 'chute lines 
wrapped around him, holding him like a multi-tenacled octopus pulling him under.  He was 
going to drown.  Drown there in the turbulent waters of the Atlantic.  Drown without Mac 
knowing how he felt.  Drown and let her become Mrs. Mic Brumby.

Just like in the motel in Norfolk, he woke soaked, the sheets drenched, and screaming her 
name.  As soon as consciousness fully returned, a new terror enveloped him, for he realized 
the storm was not in his dream, but was happening live, right that moment.  The ship was 
tossing in the waves, and with his cabin near the hull instead of being deep inside, he could 
hear the thunder, and the sound of the water smashing against the sides.

He rolled from the bed, staggering from the influence of the drugs and the pain in his chest, 
and groped for the phone, praying he could bluff his way to an outside line despite the 
minimize condition being imposed.  Thankfully there was a young sailor at the controls who 
bought into his story that he was making a priority one call to JAG HQ.
============

She sat bold upright at the ringing phone, not sure whether she wanted more for it to be 
Harm or Andrews.  She lifted the receiver and before she could say hello, she heard Harm's 
tortured cry of her name.
 
 "Harm it's okay, I'm here" she said quickly.
 
 "Oh Mac, thank god" Harm cried.
 
 "Harm, tell me what's wrong" Mac said as calmly as she could. "You had that 
 nightmare again didn't you?"
 
 "Yes" he wailed. "I was drowning. I was going to die. I wasn't ever going to 
 tell you…" His voice dropped off in a small sob and Mac felt her own tears 
 brimming.
 
 "Tell me what Harm?" Mac whispered. "Harm, talk to me please. What weren't 
 you going to get to tell me?"
 
 "I don't know" he whispered, his mind once again stopping him from answering 
 that question. "Mac, I need you. It's storming and I can feel the waves and 
 it's just like I'm back out there again."
 
 "Oh Harm" Mac cried. "I can't get out to the carrier tonight. They've 
 suspended all flights out of Andrews until the storm passes."
 
 "Then talk to me, please" he begged. "I need you to tell me it's going to be 
 okay. Please don't leave me."
 
 "I'll talk to you as long as you want me to" Mac promised. "I'm not going to 
 leave you. It's going to be okay. I promise. Don't think about the storm 
 outside or the waves. Think about something else."
 
 "What?" Harm moaned. "Tell me what to think about."
 
 "Think about me" Mac said softly. "Remember how we got through the tunnels 
 in Virginia. You looked at me. Do the same thing now. Just close your eyes 
 and picture me. Imagine I'm right there with you."
 
 It was several minutes before she could hear his breathing starting to 
 relax.
 
 "Harm" she said softly. "How you doing sailor?"
 
 "I need you Mac" he whispered. "I don't think I can get through another 
 night alone."
 
 "I'll be out there as soon as I can" Mac promised. "I won't let you go 
 through another night alone. I promise."
 
 She stayed on the line with him until he was nearly asleep again, finally 
 prodding him to hang up. With a sigh she hung up, wishing she'd been able to 
 get out there tonight. He'd been more distraught than the last time, and she 
 knew being on the carrier wasn't helping him. She dropped her head back 
 against the pillows and closed her eyes, praying Andrews would call soon. 
 That prayer was answered a few hours later when her phone rang again. It was 
 Andrews, with word that a helo would be taking off shortly.
 
 "I'm coming Harm" she said as she drove to Andrews. "I'm coming."
 
 ******************************
 "Harm. Harm open this door or I'm calling ship security."
 
 At the sound of Skate's anxious voice Harm forced himself off the bed, 
 groaning at the pain in his ribs and his head.
 
 "Harm" she called again as she banged on the door.
 
 Seconds later he opened the door and Skates gasped when she saw him. She 
 hadn't thought it possible but he looked worse now than he had the night 
 before.
 
 "Harm, my god, are you okay?" Skates asked as she quickly closed the door 
 behind her and put an arm around him to support him.
 
 "Do I look okay?" Harm said irritably.
 
 "No you look like hell" Skates retorted. She glanced down at the bed, the 
 still damp covers strewn about.  "What happened to the bed?"
 
 "The nightmare was back" Harm sighed as sank down on the edge of the bed. "I 
 had to call Mac in the middle of the night."
 
 "Harm, I'm sorry" Skates said automatically. "When I left you were sleeping 
 pretty good."
 
 "Well that didn't last for long. I think it was the storm. Whatever it was I 
 woke up screaming Mac's name. And somehow I go through to her. She talked to 
 me until I fell asleep again. She's coming out here too."
 
 "She is?" Skates pretended to be surprised. "I thought you didn't want her 
 out here."
 
 "I need her" Harm said quietly. "I'm not sure I can handle another night out 
 here alone. And that goes no further than these four walls."
 
 "Harm, I'm not going to say anything to anyone. The only reason why I 
 threatened to tell Captain Ingles was because I was concerned about you. And 
 I still am."
 
 "I appreciate your concern" Harm said with a small smile. "But really the 
 only thing that's going to help is solving this case so I can get off of 
 here and back on dry land. Hopefully when Mac gets here we can find out who 
 put through the change of duty for Ensign Carter. I'm guessing whoever did 
 it was the one who killed her."
 
 "When was the Colonel coming out?" Skates asked.
 
 "As soon as she could get a ride out of Andrews. I'm sure by now she's on 
 her way."
 
 "I don't suppose you're going to stay in bed and rest until she gets here" 
 Skates asked.
 
 "No, I'm going to take a shower and you're going to the mess to grab us some 
 coffee before we go hound personnel."
 
 "Yes sir" Skates sighed. "Uh, while I'm up there I'll check and see if 
 there's any word on the Colonel's arrival time."
 
 She left and he lay back against the pillows, closing his eyes against the 
 pounding headache. He couldn't hear the waves lapping against the ship as 
 they had last night during the storm and he guessed that it had finally 
 passed. His intention was to simply lay there for a minute before getting up 
 but his exhaustion was too much and seconds later he was asleep.
 
 Skates headed up to the bridge, pleased to find that the helo with Mac would 
 be leaving Andrews shortly. She hoped that Mac would have better luck 
 getting Harm to take care of himself, seeing as how she wasn't. After a 
 quick stop in the mess for their coffee she headed back to the room.
 
 "Harm" she called as she opened the door. "You better be decent."
 
 She walked in, surprised to see him lying across the bed sound asleep. 
 Quietly she stepped out of the cabin, deciding she would let him sleep for 
 now. She would meet the Colonel's helo and hopefully get a chance to talk to 
 her before Harm woke up.

"Lieutenant what brings you up here?"  Lt. Churchill looked up from his clipboard and gave 
her a quick smile when she reached the flight deck an hour later.  

"I'm meeting a helo in from Andrews," she frowned, looking up at the darkening sky and 
watching the last of a returning squadron.  "What's going on?  I thought we were through 
with heavy weather."

"I think it's God's sense of humor," he groaned.  "The front was moving off, and then the low 
stalled and it's winding up again."  He pointed out to the eastern horizon.  "See, we're going 
to get hit again.  Flight operations are suspended again.  You said there's a chopper 
inbound?"

"Yeah, with a JAG officer aboard.  Maybe they turned back."

"No probably not.  This just happened, so if they got off, likely there're beyond half way and 
will just keep coming, but they're catching hell I'm sure.  Radar figures we've got thirty 
minutes before it hits here again."

"This is not what Harm needs right now," she murmured.  "Teddy, if you hear anything will 
you page me please."   

She stood at the rail for a long time, thinking what to do as she watched the approaching 
wall of storm.  Finally she knew Harm would realize the storm had returned, and put two and 
two together.  She needed to go to be with him.

"Harm?"  She knocked gently at the door and then opened it, to find him halfway awake.  
"Hey."

"Skates hi."

"You feeling better?"

"Alive.  Hey Mac should be here any time now."  He brightened considerably at that thought.

"Probably on her way," she agreed.  "But there's a problem."

He face changed abruptly.  "I'm not sure I can take a problem right now frankly, but you'd 
better tell me anyway."  His eyes searched hers as he spoke and she reached over to touch 
his hand.

"The helo is likely beyond the point of no return," she said quietly, wanting to be straight with 
him.  "But the storm is coming back.  The system didn't clear like they thought.  They're 
going to have to fly through it."

"No."  His voice was both desperate and denying.

"I'm sorry."  She shrugged helplessly, hating to see her friend in pain.  

"Let's get to the radio room," he gasped, rising quickly despite the wave of dizziness that 
caused.  "I want them to raise the helo and make sure they're OK."

"Harm just take it slow now please," Skates begged.  "You need to be careful.  Besides if 
you're in sick bay when she gets here that's just going to upset her.  And dealing with one 
upset JAG officer--that's you--is my limit."

"I'm fine," he assured her, "well I'll be a lot better when I'm holding her...I mean seeing her...I 
mean.."

"Commander I know what you mean.  Let's go."

After taking a few minutes to make himself look presentable, Harm and Skates arrived at the 
radio room.  "Lieutenant you should be getting a signal from an inbound chopper out of 
Andrews," he said urgently, trying not to intimidate the young operator.  "Please try to raise 
them for me."

Lt. Randy Nance looked up at the harried Commander, and then around for his supervisor, 
distressed to see that he was alone at this console. 

 "Please son.  I'll take full responsibility," Harm said quietly.

"Yes sir," Nance nodded and put through the call, listening intently into his headset.  "OK sir, 
I've got them, but the noise from the storm and the static is bad.  Before Harm could so 
request, he flipped the speaker on and spoke into his microphone.  "Repeat your last 
please."

"This is Lieutenant Anson Marbury.  We're about twenty-five minutes out Henry.  Storm is 
bad but not impossible.  We're holding together."

Harm could stand it no longer and grabbed the mike.  "Lieutenant this is Commander 
Harmon Rabb, JAG.  You've got a Marine aboard.  How's she holding up?"

There was a long pause and Harm was about to speak again when Mac's voice came back.  
"Harm it's me.  I'm OK.  Scared but OK."  

Hearing her voice with the storm in the background gave him cold chills.  "OK Mac.  I'm here 
waiting for you.  They'll bring you through I know."  And under his breath he added, "Please 
Jesus."

"You hang on Sailor, I'm coming, and then together we'll figure out what's going on there," 
Mac went on.  "I should have been there with you all along you know that don't you."

"I do now," he sighed.

"Well just don't forget..."  There was a large burst of static and then dead air.

"Mac? MAC?  MAAA--AAAC."  Harm's panic quotient grew with each syllable.  "Lieutenant, 
do something.  For godsake do something."

The young man's eyes grew wide at the Commander's explosion and he spoke urgently into 
his mike, attempting to again raise the chopper.  "Sir, it's possible their radio has just been 
knocked out.  I wouldn't panic...."  His words trailed off as he looked at the frantic officer 
before him.  

"I'll check with radar, " Skates offered, squeezing his arm as she passed.

He nodded numbly, his eyes transfixed on the radio speaker, as if not removing his gaze 
could keep her within his grasp.  Unconsciously he began to rock back and forth, and in his 
mind he was hearing the word Sarah over and over as he concentrated on a prayer that he 
hoped would be bringing her to him.  The alternative was not something he could let himself 
think about, lest he lose it all right here.

"Sir I'm sorry.  Sir?  Harm?"  Skates' voice finally broke through to him.  "Sir, they've got 
nothing.  But they may simply be having trouble maintaining altitude and be under the 
scope.  Give them a few minutes to get righted.  You want to go up on the bridge and watch 
for them?"

"Under the scope.  OK.  Uh yeah....I think anyway."  He stood undecided, not sure if he 
wanted to face the storm and looking down into the dark water from there.  In reality what he 
did not want to face was the final word that the helo had been lost.  "OK let's go but 
Skates...Skates stick by me huh.  I'm hanging by a thread here and I'm not too proud to 
admit it."

 
 "Right here Sir" Skates said softly. "Not going anywhere. Let's go on up."
 
 He nodded and she led him up to the bridge, sticking as close to him as she 
 dared without someone questioning her. Captain Ingles was on the bridge and 
 Harm took a deep breath as they approached him.
 
 "Commander Rabb, I hear your partner is on her way out" Captain Ingles said 
 to Harm. "Not a good time to be flying though."
 
 "No sir, it's not" Harm managed as he looked out at the dark clouds. The 
 rain was coming down hard, the thunder and lightening crashing around them. 
 For a moment it was like he was back in the ocean again and he swallowed 
 hard to keep down the rising panic.

 "Commander you okay?" Captain Ingles asked as he stared at Harm. "You're not 
 looking so good."
 
 "Uh, just a little under the weather" Harm said quickly. He shouldn't have 
 come up to the bridge. He should have waited down in the radio room. He 
 wasn't ready for this. But he needed to be up there. He needed to watch for 
 Mac. He needed to see the helo and know that she was okay.
 
 "Captain" a voice called and to Harm's relief Captain Ingles excused himself 
 and headed off. Harm let out the breath he'd been holding and leaned weakly 
 against the wall.
 
 "Harm, you okay?" Skates asked. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea. I'm sorry. 
 Let me take you back to your quarters."
 
 "No" Harm whispered. "I have to stay."
 
 She understood why and with a quick glance around to make sure no one was 
 watching she gave his hand a quick squeeze.
 
 "She's going to be okay," Skates said quietly. "I know you don't think much 
 of those Air Force guys but they'll get her here safely."
 
 "Please god" Harm whispered.
 
 The next half-hour was utter torture for Harm as he watched the dark skies 
 for any sign of the helo. Skates stayed with him, not caring if anyone 
 thought it strange. She had wanted to go and check with radio communications 
 to see if they'd heard from the helo again but one look at Harm's face told 
 her he couldn't handle being alone. They both breathed a sigh of relief when 
 the helo finally set down on the flight deck.
 
 "Harm, come on. Let's go meet Mac."
 
 He didn't move at first and she finally took his arm, leading him up to the 
 flight deck. She knew he needed to see Mac probably as much as Mac would 
 need to see him. The storm was still all around them and as Skates started 
 to step out onto the flight deck he stopped, holding onto her arm tightly.
 
 "Skates I can't" he wailed.
 
 "Harm, it's okay," Skates said firmly. "I'm right here with you. You'll be 
 fine."
 
 With a gentle tug she pulled him out onto the flight deck at the precise 
 moment that Mac was helped off the helo. For a second she looked around 
 before spotting Harm and Skates. Harm looked up as well and seconds later 
 they were in each other's arms, oblivious to what anyone might be thinking.
 
 "Mac oh thank god you're okay," he cried as he held her tightly. "I was so 
 scared. I thought you weren't going to make it. That I was going to lose 
 you."
 
 "Never sailor" Mac whispered. She started to hug him tighter and he gasped 
 in pain, his ribs still sore from the prior day's fall. "Harm, what's 
 wrong?"
 
 She pulled away to look at him, finally noticing how bad he looked. Even 
 though Skates had warned her he wasn't well, she hadn't been expecting to 
 see him like this.
 
 "Harm, my god" she gasped. "What happened to you?"
 
 "Colonel, welcome aboard" Skates said as she walked over to them. "Why don't 
 we get you and the Commander down to your quarters?"
 
 "You can show me to the Commanders quarters for now" Mac replied. "We'll see 
 about my quarters later."
 
 "Yes ma'am" Skates nodded, understanding at once that Mac had no intention 
 of leaving Harm alone. "If you'll follow me."
 
 Mac reached for Harm's arm, alarmed at how unsteady he seemed. Her hold on 
 his arm remained as they made their way to Harm's quarters and once inside 
 she quickly maneuvered him to the bed. He sank down in the bed and Mac sat 
 down on the edge of the bed.
 
 "Okay Squid, what happened to you?" Mac demanded. She gave him all of two 
 seconds to reply before turning to Skates. "Lt.?"
 
 Ignoring Harm's glare, Skates proceeded to tell Mac the events that had 
 transpired, including Harm's tumble down the ladder and his refusal to go to 
 the infirmary.
 
 "What?" Mac screeched. "My god Harm, are you crazy? Or did you hit your head 
 that hard that you lost what little sense you had."
 
 "Mac please" Harm begged. "I admit it wasn't one of my more rational 
 thoughts. But at the time the only thing I was concerned with was keeping 
 you off this ship."
 
 "I'm going to head to my quarters" Skates said quietly. "Ma'am if you need 
 anything, please just give me a call."
 
 "Thanks Skates" Mac said giving her a small smile. "When I'm finished 
 reading Harm the riot act I'll let you know."
 
 She nodded and headed out leaving Harm and Mac alone.
 
 "I don't believe you" Mac continued when she was gone. "You know we're 
 supposed to be partners. The fact that you thought you could handle this on 
 your own because you wanted to protect me is something we need to talk 
 about. This case was more than you could handle alone and after the second 
 murder you should have called me."
 
 "Mac, I didn't want…" Harm started and then stopped. "Wait a minute. How did 
 you know there was a second murder? I know I was losing it last night but I 
 never told you about that. How did you know?"
 
 "Skates called me yesterday," Mac admitted. "Course I’m going to have to ask 
 her why she didn't mention your little accident when she called. She told me 
 there had been another murder and she wasn't sure you could handle it on 
 your own."
 
 "She was right" Harm said quietly. "And I'm not going to be mad at her 
 because I know I was being a pain the six yesterday."
 
 "No never" Mac smiled. "You would never be a pain in the six."
 
 "Yeah I would" Harm sighed.
 
 "Harm, I'm really starting to worry about you" Mac said quietly as she 
 reached for his hand. "I care a lot about you and I don't like seeing you 
 like this. Last night was not easy for me."
 
 "Me neither. Mac, I'm trying. I thought I could handle being out here. I 
 really did. But with the storm, I couldn't."
 
 "I know sailor" Mac sighed as she gently pulled him against her. "And I 
 don’t know what to do to help you get through this."
 
 "Just be here for me" Harm whispered. "The only way I'm going to get through 
 this is with you beside me."
  
"Where I should have been all along," she admonished him, wrapping cool fingers around 
his forehead as she held his head to her shoulder, "as long as we're on the subject.  What 
we really need to do is solve this case so we can get off this boat but beside that.  You 
should not have shut me out."

"Did you have to do much convincing of the Admiral to let you come?"

"Not really, I just told him that there had been another murder.  He thought I was getting that 
first hand from you. Which gee I can't imagine why.  It's the sort of thing one partner would 
inform another about you know."

"Mac I don't want you lying to him for me.  I don't want you making trouble for yourself on 
account of my neurotic tendencies here.  Your career is just really taking off.  Your 
promotion and your position and you do not need Harmful Rabb dragging you down.  You 
don't deserve that."

"I'll thank you to let me be the judge of what I deserve and what I can handle for that matter," 
she told him firmly.  "And if you weren't so sick I'd be kicking your six right about now for 
presuming so much.  And as for my career, you listen to me Mr. Rabb.  You're not the only 
one who got some clarity when you were in the ocean.  I managed a little of that myself 
while I was waiting to get word of you.  Waiting to find out if I would be standing by your 
grave handing your mother a folded flag to go with the one she has already."  A small sob 
followed that and she immediately put hand to her face.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to go that far."

He looked up and smiled slightly, not used to seeing her so emotional.  "But see, this brings 
us to why I didn't want to call you to come.  My own problems were minor I thought 
compared to the idea that I could be bringing you where two women have been murdered 
because they knew too much about a drug ring aboard.  You think I'm loony now.  Well 
imagine if I was having to look at your body, see your throat split open."  He shuddered 
violently then and it was his turn to sob.

"OK that's enough," she scolded, pressing her cheek to his forehead in comfort.  "I'm not 
some wimpy girl here.  I'm a Marine who's rated in self defense, and an expert marksman to 
boot.  And more than that, I'm your partner.  And your friend.  And I deserved to be with you, 
not shut out and worrying about you."

"I know," he whispered.  "Logically I know all that.  And yet my instinct to protect you was at 
full throttle up."  

"Right now you're not in shape enough to protect a hamster," she reminded him. "I hear 
you're not eating or sleeping, not to mention getting hurt.  So what's going to happen is that 
you're going to give me your case notes and I'm going to sit right there at that desk while 
you sleep.  I'm betting there's something there you're overlooking because the normal Rabb 
powers of deduction are not working.  In a couple hours if you're rested--and you've eaten 
something--then you and I can see where we are."

He gave her a resigned sigh.  "OK some sleep would be good.  I'm glad you're here.  I think I 
needed someone to tell me what to do.  Skates tried, but I can bully her.  Not to mention 
outrank her.  You I can't fight."

"Just keep that in mind Sailor," she grinned and stood up, helping him to lie down and 
pulling the blanket around him.

"I am going to owe you so big time it will take me the next fifty years to pay you back," he 
sighed.  

"Well I'm not going anywhere," she grinned and leaned down to touch her lips to his 
forehead.  "Please rest."  She turned to go only to have him grab her hand.  "Mac..just 
now..coming in here.  The Helo.  What happened?  You know we lost contact.  I lived and 
died a thousand lifetimes in those minutes."

She gave him a sheepish smile.  "You know places like Six Flags, people pay money for that 
kind of a thrill.  Lightning and a downdraft the pilot said.  All I know is it was like being fifty 
stories up in an elevator and the next second in the parking garage."

"Were you scared?"  A small smile played at his lips as he asked, wondering if she would 
admit to fear.

"Terrified," she told him seriously.  "Not so much because I'm afraid to die, but there's a lot 
of things I haven't experienced yet."

"Like?"

"The love of that good man," she answered without hesitation.

The smile broadened just slightly and he sank into his pillow.  "Someday," he murmured as 
his eyes closed, only to snap open again.  "I'm sorry.  Sorry about the helo I mean.  My god 
if anything had happened to you on my account...I would have..."  He left the thought 
unfinished, the threat implied.

"Stop that now," she scolded.  "I'm fine.  It was a good scare but it was over quick and the 
pilot was great.  He's cute besides."

His sharp gasp brought a smile to her lips, though not to his as he remembered a similar 
comment long ago about one Michael James Brumby.

"Hey I only looked," she laughed.  "Especially long enough to see his wedding ring.  Now lay 
yourself down there mister.  You're stalling sleep and I'm not getting any work done."  Her 
lips grazed his forehead again, and once again she tucked the blanket around him.

His eyes were troubled as he gazed up at her and she smiled again.  "It's all going to be 
fine.  Promise.  It would even look better if you would rest some."

"You were kidding about the pilot?"

She snorted loudly at that.  "Of course I was.  There's a pilot I'm interested in, but his wings 
are Navy, now no more talking.  Good night."

With that assurance, and her cool fingers on his forehead, he was able to fall asleep almost 
at once, her presence making him feel secure for the moment.

An hour later she was engrossed in the paperwork Harm had left her when there was a light 
tapping at the door.  "It's Skates," came the soft voice and Mac went to open in, coming into 
the corridor.

"How is he ma'am?"

"Mac please when it's just us.  He's sleeping.  Right now that's the best thing in the world for 
him.  I need to thank you for taking care of him, and thank you especially for calling me.  You 
did the right thing and I'm grateful."

"I care a lot about him ma'a...uh Mac," she smiled.  "Of course not like you do."

"Well that's not for right now," she blushed slightly.  "But you look like you've got something 
on your mind."

"Yes I do."  Skates looked up and down the corridor nervously.  "I had a visitor in my 
quarters a little bit ago.  Ginger and Margaret were close friends with another girl, Ensign 
Claire Magruder.  I was not.  She and I...well oil and water.  Anyway, she came to see me 
earlier because she knew I've been assisting Harm.  She says she's got something that will 
incriminate the leader of the drug operation, but she's not willing to give it to me, only to 
JAG, and only with assurance of protection.  As in she's taken off this tub tonight."

"Done, easily," Mac nodded, glancing back through the door to where Harm slept on.  "If her 
evidence is what she says it is.  Where can I meet her?"

"Flight Deck in fifteen minutes.  Harm?"

"I'll leave him a note," Mac nodded.  "Better for him to sleep."
  
 "You sure ma'am?" Skates asked. "He was really worried about something 
 happening to you out here."
 
 "He worries too much" Mac smiled. "I'll be fine."
 
 "At least let me come with you" Skates offered. "I'll just hang back so I 
 don't make her nervous or anything."
 
 Mac stood there for a moment thinking about Skate's offer before deciding it 
 wouldn't be bad to have some around just in case it was a setup. She didn't 
 really want to wake Harm now that he was finally sleeping.
 
 "Okay that works" Mac said finally. "Let me just leave Harm a quick note and 
 then we'll go up."
 
 Skates waited while Mac penned a quick note telling Harm that she and Skates 
 had gone to follow a lead on the flight deck. She dropped a quick kiss on 
 his forehead before heading up to the flight deck with Skates.
 
 "There she is" Skates whispered as she pointed to the young woman who stood 
 nervously by the side of the deck. With the rain and the storm still coming 
 down around them, the flight deck was empty with the exception of the young 
 woman.
 
 "Stay here" Mac ordered. "I'll go and talk to her."
 
 Skates nodded and dropped back so Ensign Magruder wouldn't see her.
 
 "Ensign Magruder?" Mac called over the rain as she cautiously approached 
 the woman. "I'm Sarah Mackenzie, from JAG. I was told you have something 
 you'd like to share with me."
 
 "Yes but only if you promise I get off of here tonight" she replied. "I'm 
 not going to end up like Ginger and Margaret."
 
 "Do you know who killed them?" Mac asked. "And do you have proof."
 
 The young ensign pulled out a file from underneath her jacket. "I think this 
 should be enough to make sure that monster is put away."
 
 Against the driving rain Mac flipped open the file, recognizing the name at 
 once. "You mean Crawford is behind this?"
 
 "Yes ma'am" she replied. "He recruited Margaret first because she worked for 
 him. He offered her some money for it, and well, she needed all she could 
 get so she did it. And of course it wasn't long before she got Ginger and me 
 involved." She pulled a cassette tape from her pocket and handed it to Mac. 
 "This was the last conversation I had with him when he forced me to put 
 through the phony paperwork about Ginger's change of duty."
 
 "This should be enough to get him locked up," Mac said as she perused the 
 documents.
 
 "Okay, then I want off this ship ASAP," the ensign said anxiously. "Cause 
 when he finds out I'm dead."
 
 "Go back to your quarters and wait there" Mac ordered. "Keep your door 
 locked and don't let anyone in unless it's me or Commander Rabb."
 
 "Yes ma'am" she said as hurried away.
 
 Mac stood there for a moment, reading the papers before deciding it would be 
 better to get inside. "Skates we've got what we need" she called. "Let's go 
 back and talk to Harm."
 
 "Skates" Mac called anxiously. "Skates are you okay?"
 
 She cautiously headed in the direction Skates had been waiting, wishing at 
 that second she'd woken Harm. She would never forgive herself if Skates had 
 gotten hurt watching her. She finally spotted Skates lying on the flight 
 deck when suddenly a strong arm reached out, wrapping around her neck and 
 pulling her back. Any attempt to scream was cutoff as the arm left just 
 enough room for her to take in small gasps of air.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie I presume" the voice whispered in her ear. "You should 
 have stayed back at JAG HQ's where it was safe. As it is you're going to 
 have a little accident. You and that little helper of yours, Lt. Skates are 
 going over board. Along with all this crap that Ensign Magruder gave you." 
 With that he pulled her towards the side of the ship, Mac continuing to 
 struggle to break free of his grasp. "Sorry Colonel" he leered as he lifted 
 her into his arms. "But I'm sure you won't feel a thing after you hit the 
 water."
 
 ******************************
 His peaceful sleep had suddenly turned violent once again, as images of Mac 
 dangling over the side of the ship ran through his nightmare. She was 
 hanging on to the rope, the dark and cold sea below threatening to swallow 
 her the second she let go. He could hear her calling to him, but he couldn't 
 move, seemingly frozen at that moment.  And then suddenly she started to 
 slip away, screaming for him as she couldn't hold on any longer. He ran to 
 the side of the ship only to see her drop into the black abyss below.
 
 "Mac" he screamed. "Noooooo"
 
 He sat up in bed, his heart pounding and the sweat pouring off of him. "Mac" 
 he cried only to realize he was alone in the room. "Mac."
 
 He climbed off the bed, stopping and leaning against the desk as a wave of 
 dizziness passed over him. When his vision finally cleared he saw her note.
 
 "No Sarah" he cried before running from his quarters.
 
 He reached the flight deck in record time despite the fact that the world 
 around was still whirling. But Mac was in trouble and the only thing he 
 could think about was getting to her before it was too late. He froze 
 momentarily as he stepped out, until he saw Skates lying on the deck. He was 
 at her side seconds later as she started to come around.
 
 "Skates, what's happened?" he demanded. "Where's Mac?"
 
 "I don't know" Skates said as Harm helped her sit up. "She was talking to 
 Ensign Magruder and that's all I remember. Someone knocked me out from 
 behind. I'm sorry I was supposed to be watching her. I guess I'm not good at 
 this investigator stuff."
 
 "We'll talk about that later," Harm said as he looked around. "Right now I 
 have to find Mac."
 
 It was then that he spotted the man trying to lift someone over the edge. 
 That someone being Mac.

Weakened by the lack of air in her lungs, she was able to offer but token resistance, gasping 
for breath as Crawford pushed her to the top of the rail.

Harm screamed her name and ran across the deck toward them, just in time to see him drop 
her over the side.  His long scream of "NOOOOO-OOOOO" melded with the wind and after 
a moment of frozen horror, started for the rail, only to be intercepted by Crawford.

"I think not Commander," he yelled, blocking Harm's path.

Harm looked at him for a long few seconds and in a rage like he had never felt before, 
leaped at him.  This man had just taken Mac's life, now Harm would take his.  Two hundred 
pounds of livid Naval officer landed on the suddenly frightened looking man, and Harm's 
hands closed around his throat despite Crawford's pounding his back with both fists held as 
one.

Crawford managed to flip Harm over, Harm's grip of his throat notwithstanding, and his 
hands grabbed for Harm's neck.  A second later there was a resounding whap and Crawford 
fell limp, the victim of a blow to the back of his head by Skates, wielding a metal pipe.

"Mac....Mac" Harm's tortured cry tore at Skates heart and he pointed to the rail.  "He...the 
bastard threw her over."  

Skates hauled Harm to his feet and tugged him toward the side, only to have him stop a foot 
short.  "I....I can't look," he gasped, not able to bear looking down from the height into the 
black water and the knowledge that Mac suffered the fate which nearly befell him.

She dropped his arm and ran to see herself, hoping against hope to see Mac somehow 
swimming in the water. Harm stood his ground, terror across his handsome features as 
Skates leaned as far over the side as she could.

"Sir. Harm.  Get over here now," she ordered.  "Here.  Now."

Harm shuddered and shook his head but something in her tone made him comply.  "Mac," 
he breathed when he saw what it was she was so urgently wanting him to see.  

Mac had not landed in the water but had managed to snag a line on the side of the carrier 
and was now clinging for all she was worth.

He looked around frantically for help, knowing with the storm the deck was deserted and that 
they were out of the line of sight of the bridge personnel.

"Mac, Mac for godsake hang on," he screamed.  

Skates meanwhile had the presence of mind to yank open the nearby storage locker and 
grabbed a coil of wire.  "You can lower me down sir," she pointed.  "Tie it off and lower me 
down."

Harm nodded and then almost at once shook his head.  "No.  You're not that big yourself.  
You might not be able to hold her and you'll both go in.  I'll do it.  I can more easily hold her."  
As he was speaking he was knotting the wire around the rail.  "You get up to the bridge and 
get some help to bring us up."

"Sir I don't think..."

"GO," Harm ordered, wrapping the wire around his waist, knotting it the best he could.  He 
pushed himself up to perch on the top rail and paused as he looked straight down into the 
dark watery abyss.  He lowered himself a few feet and stopped again.  It was that night all 
over.  The water coming up at him, him clinging to lines, praying they would not fail him.  In 
the end it was his feet and hands that worked independent of his fears as he began to lower 
himself. 

"Mac hang on now," he called softly.

"Harm?"  She was soaked and shivering, her eyes nearly blinded by the salt spray.  Her 
voice was barely able to choke out his name.

"Of course it's me," he told her, "and I'm almost to you.  Don't think about anything but 
hanging on."

"I'm not sure I can," she moaned and true to her word, one hand slipped.  Her body, now 
held by just one hand, swung out wildly from its mooring and fell back toward the side just as 
Harm reached the spot.  She crashed into him and his strong arms went around her, 
crushing her to him.  

"I've got you.  Don't struggle now," he hissed.  "I can't hold you if your squirming."  Now 
dangling from the cable, her in his arms, the wind was buffeting him against the side and he 
tried to shield her from the impact of the blows.  He knew there was no way he was going to 
climb back up.  His shoes would have no traction on the slippery hull and he could not walk 
and hold the cable carrying her.  "Be still now, help is on the way," he whispered into her 
ear, trying not to look down at the black water that seemed to reach up for him like some 
giant hand from hell.

"Harm.  HARM.  Hold on."  Skates voice reached him despite the wind and he forced his 
attention upward.  "You want to tie her off?"

"Yeah-NO," he screamed back doing a mid-air re-think.  "Too much jockeying around.  I'm 
afraid she'll fall.  Just pull me up.  I can hold her."

"Harm no you'll hurt yourself."  Mac heard his plan and attempted to pull away.  "You're not 
in any shape..."

"You let me be the judge of that," he ordered, clamping his arms around her more tightly.  
"Just put your arms around me as best you can and don't let go."

"This is crazy," she muttered but did as he directed.  He likewise wrapped her into his 
embrace and with a long sigh of relief felt them begin to rise.  The water fell away from him 
he saw with the one glance down he allowed himself.  "I beat you this time you sonafabitch," 
he whispered, not intending for her to hear.  "This one goes to me."

 She was about to reply when they were suddenly pulled over the side, several 
 pairs of hands grabbing them and helping them onto the deck. Almost at once 
 they collapsed into each others' arms, Harm holding onto Mac for dear life 
 as they both tried to catch their breath.
 
 "Mac, are you all right?" Harm gasped, holding her close as she shivered in 
 his arms. "He didn't hurt you did he?"
 
 "I'm fine, just cold," she said through chattering teeth.
 
 "I almost lost you" he whispered. "I thought I had. When I saw him lift you 
 over, I thought I'd lost you forever. I couldn't look. I didn't want to 
 look."
 
 "Never squid" she whispered as she buried her head in his chest.
 
 "Sir, ma'am, you both need to get down to the infirmary" Skates ordered. 
 "And out of those wet clothes before you're both sick."
 
 Harm nodded and pushed himself to his feet, keeping his arms around Mac as 
 he lifted her to her feet. He swayed unsteadily and Mac reached to steady 
 him, Skates grabbing his other arm.
 
 "Harm you okay? Mac asked anxiously.
 
 "Yeah, just a little dizzy" Harm said slowly. "I'll be fine."
 
 "You'll be fine once we get you down to the infirmary and get you checked 
 out" Mac fretted as they made their way across the flight deck.
 They were met at the door of the flight deck by Captain Ingles.
 
 "Sir, your murderer is lying on the flight deck" Harm said weakly. 
 "Commander Crawford."
 
 "Crawford" Captain Ingles exclaimed.
 
 "Sir, we'll explain it all later" Mac replied. "Right now we need to get 
 down to the infirmary."
 
 "Yes of course" he replied. "Do you need any help?"
 
 "I think we can handle it" Mac said with a small smile.
 
 Once they reached the infirmary they were each quickly taken to separate 
 examination rooms, Harm ordering Skates to be checked over as well. He hated 
 being parted from Mac, and it was only on the promise that she would be 
 brought to him as soon as she was checked over that he finally let go of 
 her.
 
 Following a warm shower and a change into dry clothes, Mac was given a quick 
 examination by the corpsmen.
 
 "I'm fine really" Mac assured the corpsmen. "I just want to see how my 
 partner is."
 
 "He's still being checked over" the corpsmen told her.
 
 "He's okay isn't he?" Mac demanded.
 
 "He'll be fine" the corpsman smiled. "Now if you just let me finish my exam 
 you'll be able to see him as soon as Captain Raines is finished."
 
 As soon as the corpsman was finished Mac was out of the exam room in search 
 of Harm. She was informed the doctor was still with him and she took a seat 
 in the waiting room.
 
 "Ma'am, are you okay?" Skates asked as she walked into the waiting room.
 
 "I'm fine Skates" Mac assured her. "You?"
 
 "Yeah, I've got a pretty hard head" Skates smiled. "I'm sorry I didn't do a 
 better job of watching out for you."
 
 "Well you made up for at the end," Mac said quietly. "You knocked out 
 Crawford and you helped save me and Harm. I'd say you did pretty good Lt."
 
 "Just doing my job ma'am" Skates replied.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie, you can see Commander Rabb now" the young ensign said to 
 Mac. "If you'll follow me."
 
 Seconds later she was ushered into the room where he lay.
 
 "Hey there" she said softly as she bent down and placed a kiss on his 
 forehead. "How you doing sailor?"
 
 "Better now that I know you're okay?" he smiled weakly. "You are okay 
 right?"
 
 "I'm fine and so is Skates" she assured him as she sat down on the edge of 
 the bed. "You're looking a little better."
 
 "Amazing what a little of this does for you," he said as he raised his hand 
 that had the IV in it.
 
 "Well its about time you took care of yourself" Mac chided him.
 
 "Yeah and while we're on the subject of taking care of yourself, what on 
 earth possessed you to go up to the flight deck alone to meet Ensign 
 Macgruder?" Harm demanded.
 
 "I wasn't alone" Mac countered. "Skates was with me."
 
 "Mac, you know what I mean. You shouldn't have gone up there without me. If 
 I hadn't come when I did.." He shuddered at the thought and she reached for 
 his hand.
 
 "But you did and I'm fine" Mac said softly. "I don’t know how you managed to 
 arrive at just the right moment…"
 
 "I had a nightmare" Harm whispered. "I saw you going overboard. And I 
 couldn't move. When I finally did, it was too late. You were gone. Swallowed 
 up by the ocean. It was horrible."
 
 "It's okay" Mac whispered as she gently pulled him into her arms, careful of 
 the IV. "I didn't get swallowed up by the ocean and neither did you. We're 
 both okay and we're going to be okay."
 
 "I was so scared Mac" he whispered as he buried his head in her shoulder. 
 "More scared then I've ever been. If Skates hadn't made me move…"
 
 "Shh" she soothed. "It's okay sailor. You saved my life. You were scared but 
 you did just fine."
 
 "I had to" Harm said softly as he raised his head to look at her. "I need 
 you in my life Mac. I can't get through this without you. I know I can't."
 
 "And you don't have to" Mac assured him gently. "I'm still here with you and 
 I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together remember. Partners and 
 friends." She squeezed his hand as she said the words and he squeezed it 
 back.
 
 "Partners and Friends" he whispered.

THE END
	The story will continue with “Starting Again III-Forever and Always.”