TITLE:  "Starting Again IX-Christmas Spirits"
AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner  
SUMMARY:  The ninth in the Starting Again series of post-Adrift 
stories, in which a 
man long dead  intervenes in a life and death situation. Rated PG for 
mild language 
and violence. 
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.  Feedback addy is SSbpMN@aol.com

NOTE:  All parts of this story will be available at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories.   

"Starting Again IX-Christmas Spririts"

 December 20th
 JAG HQ 
 
 "This sucks" Harm muttered as he and Mac walked out of the Admiral's 
office. 
 "I can't believe he's sending us to Bremerton right before Christmas."
 
 "Tell me how you really feel sailor" Mac teased, only to receive a 
long 
 glare from her partner as they walked into his office. "Okay, sorry. 
Harm, 
 it's not the end of the world. Maybe we'll get this wrapped up and be 
home 
 in time for Christmas. If not, at least we'll be together."
 
 "Yeah I guess"
 
 "Okay what's going on in the Rabb mind?" Mac asked as she closed the 
door. 
 "Because for a second there it sounded like you didn't care that we 
would be 
 together."
 
 "I do care" Harm sighed. "It's just that you know I spend Christmas 
Eve at 
 the Wall. And if I'm in Bremerton Washington I obviously can't do 
that."
 
 "No, you can't" Mac said softly. "But that doesn't mean you can't 
still 
 think about your Dad and talk to him like you would if you were there. 
Harm, 
 he's with you all the time. Not just when you're there."
 
 "It's not the same" Harm pouted. "I've gone to the Wall every year. 
This 
 will be the first time I haven't."
 
 "It isn't Christmas Eve yet" Mac reminded him.
 
 He gave her another long look and this time Mac walked over to him, 
wrapping 
 her arms around him.
 
 "You okay?" she asked.
 
 "Yeah, this just wasn't what I had planned for our Christmas" Harm 
sighed.
 
 "Harm, we'll still be together," she said softly. "Isn't that what 
matters? 
 Not where we are but that we're together on our first Christmas 
together."
 
 "You're right" he sighed. "After all that's happened, you'd think I'd 
just 
 be thankful that I've got you with me."
 
 "I know I am" Mac smiled as she stepped back from him. "Six months ago 
I 
 almost lost you forever. I'm happy to be anywhere with you as long as 
we're 
 together."
 
 "Me too" he said with a forced smile. "I need to take care of a few 
things 
 and then I'll be ready to go. Meet you in 10."
 
 He waited until she was gone before picking up his phone and dialing.
 
 "Grams, it's Harm" he said when she answered.
 
 "Harmon, you better not be calling to tell me you're not coming" Grams 
 sighed.
 
 "Sorry, duty calls" he said quietly. "Mac and I have to go to 
Bremerton. I'm 
 not sure we'll be back by Christmas."
 
 "I'm sorry to hear that. I was so looking forward to meeting Sarah. 
Does 
 this mean you're postponing what we talked about earlier?"
 
 "Yes, for now" Harm sighed. "Maybe we can make it up for New Years 
instead."
 
 "I'll be here" Grams assured him.
 
 He hung up and with a long sigh gathered his stuff. He'd been looking 
 forward to surprising Mac with the trip to Grams' on Christmas Day. 
Now he'd 
 have to wait until New Years for his surprise.
 
 "You ready?" Mac asked a few minutes later as she walked into his 
office. 
 "If we're going to make our transport out of Andrews we need to get 
moving."
 
 "Yeah I'm ready," he said as he grabbed his coat, draping it over his 
arm.
 
 "You might want to wear that instead of carrying it sailor" Mac said 
in her 
 best motherly tone. "Last time I checked it was snowing outside."
 
 "Thanks mom but I'm plenty warm already" Harm sighed.
 
 "You feeling okay?" Mac asked as she looked at him. "You were pretty 
 restless last night."
 
 "Mac, I'm fine" he assured her. "It's just a little warm in here. Can 
we go 
 please?"
 
 After a quick stop at Mac's to pick up their stuff they headed to 
Andrews, 
 arriving just in time for their flight.
 
 "First class all the way" Harm sighed as they climbed aboard the large 
 transport plane.
 
 "You going to be okay on this?" Mac asked. "You seemed fine on the way 
home 
 from Chloe's."
 
 "You weren't with me for the ride there" Harm said as he sank down in 
on of 
 the small seats. "I almost broke Jenny's hand."
 
 "Jenny?" Mac inquired. "You were holding another woman's hand?"
 
 "Jealous?" Harm smiled, loving for the moment that she was so 
protective of 
 him.
 
 "So tell me about this Jenny" Mac said quietly.
 
 "Mac, she was a little girl flying for the first time alone" Harm 
grinned. 
 "She was almost as scared as I was. Almost. We sort of helped each 
other 
 through the ride."
 
 "Well you know whose hand you can hold onto here" Mac smiled as she 
reached 
 for his. "And since we've had that little talk with the Admiral, I 
don't 
 think anyone will mind."

"At least there are parachutes in here," Harm sighed, looking at the 
overhead racks. 
"No wait what am I saying.  No way.  No way another spell in the 
freezing ocean.  
Next time I go down with the plane.  Not that there's going to be a 
next time."

"Hey Squid, give it a rest," she chided him.  "This plane is perfectly 
safe."

"Yeah well that's a maintenance chief talking to the crew," he 
muttered.  

"Oh you've never talked to your mechanic?" she retorted.  "And I don't 
know 
anything about this.  You're psyching yourself into a melt down here 
that you've 
gotten over.  Take my hand and relax."

"Sir that's good advice," the nice looking Air Force Colonel grinned as 
he slipped 
into the seat ahead of them.   "In fact Colonel if you're tired of this 
Flying Swabbie 
you can come join me."

Through their joined hands, Mac felt the tension rise suddenly in Harm 
and she 
squeezed hard.

"Thank you Colonel. . .Walters."  Mac focused on his nameplate.  
"Actually this 
Flyboy is my fiance."

"I see," Walters smiled broadly. "A jarhead and a swabbie.  Wow. God 
does have a 
sense of humor.  Well I hope you'll be very happy."  He stuck his hand 
out to Harm.  
"Sam Walters.  What's your ride?"

"Harm Rabb. Tomcats," Harm sighed.  "But not lately.  I racked up one 
in the 
Atlantic in late May and I'm not flying just now."

"A flying JAG," Walters smiled again, seeing his insignia and then 
recognition 
dawned.  "You're the guy they pulled out of the water that they'd about 
given up on 
right?"

"Yes," Harm nodded, forcing himself to speak about the night.  

"I read the account in the journal," Walters nodded in awe.  "Most guys 
would have 
given up and let the water take them."

"Bingo," Harm grinned. "But I had a reason to live."

"Yes I guess so," Walters smiled broadly as he looked Mac up and down.  
"And I'm 
sorry to know she's taken.  I was going to ask her to dinner once we 
arrived."

Mac blushed slightly.  "Colonel I'm sure you have no problem getting 
dinner 
companions."

"Never a Marine though," he laughed and turned back to sit down as the 
aircraft 
pushed back from the ramp.

Harm glared at the back of the officer's head as his hand closed 
tightly around 
Mac's, making another vow to get a ring onto her left hand as soon as 
possible.  
Having another man show interest in her, plus talk about his mishap, 
was not what 
he needed on top of the realization that he was not going to make his 
customary 
Christmas Eve visit at the Wall.

The plane gave a large shudder and stared down the runway.  Harm turned 
his face 
to the window, determined to remain impassive, especially with Colonel 
Walters but 
two feet in front of him.  His distress was minimal, manifested in his 
grip on her 
hand, and when they leveled off he let out the breath he was holding, 
which exited 
his body in the form of a cough.  

"Breathe Sailor," Mac laughed lightly patting his back.

"Trying," he gasped and her laughter died as she realized he was in 
distress.  

"Easy honey," she whispered, remembering his experience with the gas at 
Leavenworth and hurrying to rub his back.  "Slow deep breaths."

"I'm OK," he groused, irritably trying to move away from her 
ministrations.

"If you were OK, you wouldn't be turning blue here," she snapped, 
causing Walters 
to turn around.

"You two OK? Anything I can do?"

"No I'm fine, as I already pointed out to Nurse Nancy," he sighed, his 
breaths 
coming easier as the spasms stopped.

"Excuse me for caring," she muttered, removing her hand from his back.

"Could you just see if there's any advil or something on this bucket 
for my head," he 
begged, "and maybe a blanket.  It's damn well freezing in here."

"This from the man who refused his coat in the snow," she moaned, "and 
then it 
really was cold.  It's comfortable in here right now."

"Well not to me it's not.  It's bloody well freezing in here."

"OK, imitating Mic Brumby will get you no where."   With a long sigh 
she stood up 
and reached into the overhead compartment, coming up with not only a 
blanket but 
a pillow, and then into her bag for the advil and a bottle of water.  
"Does the 
Commander require anything else?"

"Yeah, some quiet," he grumped as he took the things from her, and then 
added 
softly, "but thanks.  I'm being a bear."

"That wasn't the word I had in mind," she sighed, reaching for the case 
file.

 To her surprise he fell asleep almost immediately, tossing and turning 
 beside her as she reviewed the case file. An anonymous tip had been 
called 
 into the base CO regarding possible sales of weapons to a mountain 
militia 
 group. The names of several base personnel had been included in the 
tip and 
 it would be their job to sort out fact from fiction.
 
 "No way will we be home for Christmas" Mac sighed to herself as she 
closed 
 the file. "Sorry sailor" she whispered as she looked over at Harm.
 
 He awoke midway through the flight, finally opening his eyes and 
looking 
 over at her.
 
 "You feeling okay?" she asked. "You're not looking too hot sailor."
 
 "Yeah I'm fine" he replied, despite the fact that he felt anything 
but. "Any 
 interesting reading in the case file?"
 
 "No, just that we've got our work cut out for us on this one."
 
 "Great" he muttered. "Our luck we'll be stuck there for New Years 
too."
 
 "You're just full of good cheer today aren't you?" Mac said shaking 
her 
 head. "Harm, we're stuck with this assignment and there's nothing you 
can do 
 about it. Groaning and complaining about it isn't going to make it go 
away."
 
 He didn't say anything and with a long sigh she dropped her head back 
and 
 closed her eyes. There was some reason for Harm's bad mood and it was 
more 
 than just the fact that they wouldn't be home to go to the Wall on 
Christmas 
 Eve.
 
 She reopened her eyes when the wheels of the plane hit the runway at 
 Bremerton.
 
 "I'm sorry," she said softly when she realized how tightly he was 
holding 
 onto the seat arms. "You should have woken me."
 
 "I'm okay," he said as the plane came to a halt. "We just hit a bit of 
 turbulence right before the landing."
 
 "You still could have woken me" she chided him.
 
 Minutes later they were met by the Base CO's assistant.
 
 "I'm Petty Officer Justin Marlow" the young man introduced himself. 
"Captain 
 Wells asked me to meet you and get you set up at the BOQ."
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie and this is my partner Commander Rabb" Mac smiled. 
"And 
 that sounds wonderful."
 
 "Captain Wells has scheduled to meet with you at 07:00 tomorrow" the 
Petty 
 Officer continued as he led them the waiting vehicle. "I'll take you 
by his 
 office before I drop you at the BOQ so you know where to go in the 
morning."
 
 "Thank you Petty Officer" Mac nodded.
 
 "How do you want to handle the rooms?" Mac asked once the Petty 
Officer had 
 dropped them at the BOQ.
 
 "I don't care" Harm muttered. "All I want is a bed."
 
 "Tell me again you're okay" Mac sighed as she walked into the BOQ. As 
always 
 they secured two rooms, with Mac following Harm to his room instead of 
going 
 to hers.
 
 "You want to go grab dinner?" Mac asked once they were settled.
 
 "Honestly, I'm not hungry" he sighed as he sank down on the bed. "I 
think 
 I'll pass on dinner."
 
 "You want me to bring you something back?"
 
 "No"
 
 "Okay sailor, what's wrong? I can't tell if you're just pouting or if 
you're 
 sick. You want to clue me in."
 
 "Both so do yourself a favor and just stay away" he grumbled as he 
crawled 
 under the blankets. "I just need to sleep and I'll be fine in the 
morning."
 
 "Whatever you say," she said as she reached for her coat. "I'll see 
you in a 
 bit."
 
 "Mac, I'm sorry" he groaned as she reached the door. She turned at his 
 words, waiting for him to continue. "I'm sorry I'm being such a pain. 
It's 
 just that I had my heart set on you and me being somewhere else for 
 Christmas."
 
 "I know sailor," she said softly as she walked back to him. "But we're 
 together and that's what matters. And whatever you had your heart set 
on 
 doing, I'm sure we can do another time."
 
 "Of course we can" he sighed as he reached for her hand. "You want me 
to go 
 with you while you get dinner?"
 
 "Not unless you want to. I'm perfectly capable of walking over to the 
O'club 
 alone and getting dinner."
 
 "Yeah and some sailor will whisk you off your feet cause he doesn't 
know you 
 belong to me" Harm muttered. "I think I'll go with you."
 
 "Harm, no one else is going to whisk me off my feet. I love you. No 
one 
 else. And if someone hits on me, I'm sure I can handle it. I am a 
 Marine remember. You don't feel good and there's no reason for you to 
go out 
 with me. Stay here and rest and I'll bring you back some soup or 
something."
 
 "You sure you'll be okay on your own?" he sighed.
 
 "Yeah I'm sure," she said before placing a kiss on his forehead, 
noting at 
 once that he seemed a bit warm. "Get some rest sailor. I think you're 
coming 
 down with something."

"Later you can rub my chest with Vicks and put a flannel on me," he 
murmured, 
waving her away.

"Excuse me?"

Her obvious confusion made him stick his head out from the blankets.  
"Rub Vicks--
that awful smelling stuff on my chest and then you pin a square of warm 
flannel to 
my pj top," he sighed.  "Honestly Mac you can't tell me your mom never 
did that.  It 
was a ritual of getting sick.  Or weren't you ever sick as a kid."

"I guess I was," she frowned, "but I don't remember that.  In fact I 
don't remember 
being taken care of much."

"I'm sorry," he told her sincerely.  "I'll take care of you if you get. 
. .God Mac stay 
away from me."

"Harm you've got a cold, not ebola," she chided him.  "I'm not going to 
stay away 
from you.  Now get some rest.  We have an 0700 with Captain Wells and 
at this rate 
you're going to look like you've been on an all night binge."

He groaned and threw his head back into the pillow at that.
==============
Dining Facility

"May I join you Colonel?"  

Mac looked up at the voice, startled from her reading.  "Excuse me?"  

The tall Naval Commander stood above her with a bemused smile.  "The 
tables are 
full up, and I see you have a vacant chair.  I'm Peter Reavis.  Call me 
Pete."

"Of course," she smiled and closed the case file she had been looking 
at.  "I'm 
Sarah Mackenzie.  Mac.  Are you permanent party here?"

"I am, for almost two years now.  You?"

"JAG HQ, on a case," she explained.  

"Ah the missing munitions.  I'm probably on your list of people to 
see."

"You could very well be," she said warily.  "But my partner and I 
haven't been 
briefed in yet.  We just arrived."

"Then we won't talk shop tonight," he smiled again and lowered his 
voice, "but do 
come find me at some point even if I'm not because I want to talk to 
you."  Quickly 
he slipped her his card.  "OK business over.  Tell me about yourself."

She was totally taken aback by his request and simply smiled and shook 
her head.  
"Pass Commander.  But I wouldn't mind hearing about you.  Where have 
your 
assignments taken you?"

"I was aboard the Patrick Henry before I came here," he told her and 
almost at once 
she choked on her bite of pork chop.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked.

"No not at all, but you and my partner have something in common.  He 
was an 
aviator aboard the Henry for six months in 99.  You might know him.  
Harmon 
Rabb."

"Not off hand," he sighed.  "But then we admin types didn't mix much 
with the upper 
deck folks."   

Their talk led to other subjects and before she realized an hour had 
passed.  "Hey 
I've got to get some soup for my partner and get back," she groaned.  
"He's under 
the weather and I left him sleeping, but by now he's probably worried.  
Plus it's a 
good walk back."

"Hey no my car is right out front," he protested.  "I'll be glad to 
take you.  It's chilly 
now too.  Once the sun goes in all warmth goes with it.  They're 
getting snow in the 
mountains in fact."

"OK thanks," she nodded.  "Let me get his soup and I'll be right with 
you."

"Which billet are you?" Pete asked as he turned onto the blocks of 
officer's quarters.  

"P3."

"You're kidding.  Me too.  Fourth floor.  You'd be on two in Visiting 
Officers country."

When he parked she exited and when he saw her juggle the case files and 
Harm's 
food, came around to help her.  "I'll walk you up."

Just as she put the key into the door of Harm's room, it opened from 
the other side, 
revealing a very disheveled Commander in boxer shorts but nothing else.  
"Where 
the hell have you been?" he screeched.  "Do you know how worried I've 
been?  I 
was about to call the SP's.  I couldn't get your cell, and I had no. . 
."  He finally saw 
Pete and stopped speaking at once, feeling a bright flush creep over 
his face. 
"Commander.  Uh. . .is something wrong?"

"Pete Reavis, my partner Commander Rabb," Mac nodded.  "Pete and I were 
talking 
and I didn't notice the time.  I'm sorry.  I know you're starving.  
Pete we'll talk in the 
next couple days.  Good night and thanks."

"My pleasure Mac.  Maybe we can have dinner again," Pete smiled, giving 
her a 
quick salute before trotting toward the stairs.

"What the hell is going on?" Harm demanded the second she closed the 
door.  
"What the hell. . ."  Anything further he might have said was lost to a 
spate of 
coughing.
  
 "In bed sailor" Mac ordered as she helped Harm towards the bed. "You 
sound 
 and look like hell."
 
 "Don't change the subject" Harm said irritably when he finished 
coughing.  
 "What was that all about?"
 
 "What was what about?" Mac sighed as she helped him into bed. "If you 
mean 
 Pete, he was just someone who could be helpful in our investigation."
 
 "Pete, huh?"
 
 "Harm don't even say it" Mac warned. "All I did was have dinner with 
the 
 guy. And then he offered me a ride back."
 
 "So what else did Pete have to say?" Harm said irritably.
 
 "He just said he might be able to help us out with our investigation. 
He 
 gave me his card and told me to call him."
 
 "You don't find it a bit strange that he just came up to you like 
that?" 
 Harm demanded. "He's probably one of the guys involved in this mess."
 
 "Harm, if he's involved do you really think he'd tell me to call him" 
Mac 
 sighed. "I think he'd try and avoid me."
 
 "Yeah well, I still don't think you should trust him" Harm muttered 
before 
 another round of coughing stopped him.
 
 "And I think you should eat some soup and get some sleep" Mac said as 
she 
 handed him the bag from the dining facility.  "And if you don't sound 
any 
 better in the morning, I'm hauling your six to the infirmary."
 
 "No way" Harm protested. "I'm not letting you handle this on your own. 
Not 
 with guys like Pete ready to make their move."
 
 "I'm going to ignore that comment" Mac sighed. "Eat your soup sailor. 
I'm 
 going to go find the bathtub and soak for a while."
 
 Forty-five minutes later she emerged from the bathroom, not surprised 
to 
 find him asleep, the half eaten carton of soup pushed aside. She 
tossed it 
 in the garbage before gently sliding into bed beside him.
 
 "Sorry such a jerk" he murmured as she wrapped her arms around him.
 
 "Yeah I'll forgive you" she said softly. "But you seem to keep 
forgetting 
 that I love you and no other sailor is going to lure me away."
 
 "Love you too" he murmured.
 
 ***************
 She was in the shower when he stumbled into the bathroom the next 
morning.
 
 "Why didn't you wake me?" he complained.
 
 "Because you were sleeping" Mac replied. "How you feeling?"
 
 "Like hell but that doesn't mean I'm letting you handle this on your 
own" he 
 muttered.
 
 She shut off the water and stepped out of the shower a second later. 
"Harm, 
 you don't have to go with me on this. I can handle the meeting with 
Captain 
 Wells."
 
 "Yes I know you could but I'm going with you" he managed before a 
coughing 
 spate stopped him.
 
 "Harm, I really think you should stay here and rest" she said gently.  
 "You're not going to get any better unless you do."
 
 "Mac, I'm going with you. End of subject."
 
 She shook her head as she walked out of the bathroom, leaving him to 
the 
 shower.
 
 1 Hour Later
 Captain Wells Office
 
 "Commander, Colonel, glad to have you here" Captain Wells greeted 
them. "I 
 hope you two can get to the bottom of this before anything else turns 
up 
 missing."
 
 "Yes sir, we hope to" Mac spoke up while Harm unsuccessfully attempted 
to 
 stifle a cough.
 
 "Little under the weather Commander?" Captain Wells inquired.
 
 "Yes sir, but I'll be able to handle the investigation with the 
Colonel" 
 Harm assured him.
 
 "Well we've got an excellent infirmary if you need it" Captain Wells 
 replied. "And now let's get you up to speed on what's been going on 
around 
 here."

For the next twenty minutes, Wells explained how munitions had been 
disappearing 
from storage and how it had been rumored that some of the men from the 
Naval 
station had been selling them off. There was nothing concrete, just 
talk, along with a 
few calls to the tip hotline but nothing that could be used to make an 
arrest.

"Captain, what do you know about a Commander Reavis?" Harm spoke up, 
spotting 
his name on the long list of people possibly having information, and 
frowning when 
he saw that he worked in procurement.

"I've spoken to him a few times, why?" Wells asked and Mac glared at 
Harm.

"Let's not be singling anyone out shall we," she murmured.

"Hey he's the one who hit on you."

Harm's choice of words made Wells raise his eyebrows.  "Should I be 
here for this 
conversation?"

"Yes sir, it's nothing," Mac told him, continuing to pierce Harm with 
her glare.  "Sir, I 
had dinner with the man last night while Commander Rabb was 
indisposed."

"And he walked you home. . . .to our--your--room," Harm added lamely.

"Sir my partner is mixing business and personal here," she pointed out 
sharply.  
"And your first instinct was correct, it's nothing you need to be 
concerned with.  The 
Commander and I are. . ."

Wells held up his hand for quiet.  "Look I don't care what you are, or 
who you are.  
I've got a two star Admiral who happens to be my boss wanting this BS 
wrapped up.  
I have some illusion that I'd like to make the admiral's list.  Now 
here's what's going 
to happen.  You two are going to find out who's behind the munitions 
sales, and who 
is involved with this mountain militia group.  And my concern begins 
and ends there 
unless I don't think you're doing the job."

"We understand fully sir," Mac spoke up at once.  

When they were dismissed Mac strode from the office, Harm moving more 
slowly 
behind her, and she looked back at him, making sure he was following 
her.  "You 
want to explain what that was about?" she demanded when they were 
outside 
walking toward the car.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh quit with the innocent look," she retorted.  "You deliberately 
zeroed in on Pete. . 
.uh Commander Reavis because he had the temerity to share a meal with 
me."

"I don't trust the guy," Harm told her.  "And call me unreasonable, but 
I don't like the 
way he homed in on you, got you talking and told you to talk to him.  
At the very 
least he may want to feed us a line; and at the most he may want to be 
sure we 
aren't around to continue the investigation."

"I didn't realize paranoia was a side effect of your colds Commander," 
she glared. 
"We have no reason to suspect this man of anything but wanting the case 
cleared 
up.  Being attractive does not make him guilty."

"See you admitted it," he yelped.  "Admitted you're attracted to him."

"I said he was an attractive man. And don't play that witness stand BS 
with me," she 
warned.  "Don't turn my words on me.  I'm better at it than you 
anyway."

"All right look I don't have the strength to argue with you," he 
groused.  "We've got a 
lot of names to cover.  I'll take Reavis---provided that's OK with 
you."

"Of course it's OK," she murmured.  "Unless you think--for the sake of 
the case--that 
he is going to be more forthright with me."

He opened his mouth to object and then gave her a sheepish sigh.  "OK, 
you've got 
me there.  All I want to do is wrap this case and go home and die 
anyway."

"I'm sorry you're sick," she said, her hand instinctively going out to 
check his 
forehead.  "You think you can handle a few interviews and then meet me 
for lunch?"

He pulled his head away from hers.  "Of course I can.  It's a cold 
remember.  And a 
sore throat.  And my ears are stopped up and aching."

"I'm sorry," she said again with exaggerated patience.  "Why don't you 
check in at 
the infirmary."

"Yeah I'll do that so you and Pete can make dinner plans," he muttered.

"I am not going to touch that," she growled.  "What I am going to do is 
give you one 
of the sheets with the names, and what you do after that I'm not sure I 
care.  You 
get the ones that are around the headquarters so you don't have to 
worry about the 
car.  I'll take these others.  And I'll see you for lunch at 1230.  
OK?"

He nodded, stifling another cough, as they reached the car.  When she 
pulled up to 
drop him off she caught his arm before he could exit.  "Hey, I love 
you.  Try to 
remember that will you.  I love you Sailor."

His eyes fell to her hand, now to him screamingly devoid of a ring.  "I 
needed to hear 
that, thanks.  I love you too."  They kissed quickly and he pushed 
himself from the 
vehicle, giving a short prayer that he might make it through to lunch.
   
 
 ************
 Dining Facility
 12:35 PM PST
 
 "Okay, sailor where are you?" Mac sighed as she looked around again 
for 
 Harm. She knew she'd told him 12:30 and she wondered what would be 
keeping 
 him.
 
 "We meet again Colonel"
 
 Mac looked up to see Pete Reavis standing at her table. "Commander" 
she 
 nodded. "You're on my list of afternoon interviews."
 
 "I know and I thought we might be able to handle that over lunch" 
Peter 
 smiled. "May I?"
 
 "Uh, actually I'm waiting for my partner so we can go over the case" 
Mac 
 replied.
 
 "And that would be him" Pete said as Harm walked into the dining room.
 
 "Commander" Harm said tersely as he looked at Pete. "Am I interrupting 
 something Colonel?"
 
 "I'll leave you too alone" Pete smiled. "I'll see you this afternoon 
then 
 Colonel."
 
 "What the hell was that about?" Harm demanded as he sank down into the 
 chair. "What..." He started before being cut off by a long coughing 
spell. 
 "What was he doing here?" he gasped when he finally stopped coughing.
 
 "Harm, you are not well and you need to go to the infirmary" Mac 
sighed. 
 "Please let me take you after lunch."
 
 "Don't you have a hot date with Pete" Harm managed between coughs.
 
 "If that's going to be your attitude, yes I do" Mac snapped.
 
 "Fine" he snapped back.
 
 She sat there silently for several seconds, waiting for his apology.
 
 "I'm sorry," he said finally. "I'm way out of line and you have every 
right 
 to kick my six from here to Alaska."
 
 "And don't think I haven't thought about doing it" Mac said with just 
a hint 
 of a smile. "Harm, I don't know what's wrong with you all of a sudden 
but 
 you have no reason to be jealous like this. I have no interest in Pete 
other 
 than getting information for our case."
 
 "Look, I hate the fact that we're together and no one knows it" he 
sighed. 
 "If you were wearing my ring..."
 
 "So this is what this is all about. You're afraid I'm going to run off 
with 
 Pete because I'm not wearing your ring yet?"
 
 "No" he yelled, another long cough following. "I trust you. It's him I 
don't 
 trust. At least if you were wearing my ring, he'd know to back off."
 
 "Harm" Mac said with a long sigh. "I wish you wouldn't be so worried 
about 
 this guy. I can handle him. He tries anything, I'll just remind him 
I'm a 
 Marine."
 
 "Funny Ninja-girl" Harm sighed.
 
 "Harm, let me take you to the infirmary" Mac tried again. "That cough 
is 
 only getting worse. At least let them take a look at you and make sure 
it's 
 not something more serious than just a cold."
 
 "It's just a cold and I'll be fine. If I go see them, they'll just 
make me 
 stay in bed and that isn't going to get this case solved. I am not 
spending 
 New Years here too."
 
 "Fine" Mac sighed. "So what did you come up with?"
 
 "Nothing" Harm moaned. "Everyone around here is being completely tight 
 lipped."
 
 "Which means they know something and they're either too afraid to tell 
us or 
 they're involved in it" Mac sighed.
 
 "Bingo. Any luck on your end?"
 
 "About the same as you" Mac said quietly. "Harm, I know you don't like 
Pete 
 but he may be our only hope in cracking this case. I think if I got 
him 
 alone I might be able to get him to tell me something."
 
 "I'm not liking the sound of this" Harm pouted. "Let me guess, you 
want to 
 go to dinner again with him?"
 
 "Only because I really think he knows something and will tell me if 
we're 
 somewhere alone."
 
 "What do you mean alone?"
 
 "Alone as in off the base" Mac said quietly. "Away from here so he'll 
open 
 up."
 
 "No way" Harm said shaking his head vigorously, a movement he 
instantly 
 regretted as the world swam dizzily around him. Despite the fact he 
was 
 sitting, he still grabbed on to the table.
 
 "Harm, what's wrong?" Mac demanded. "You are not okay and I should 
haul your 
 six to the infirmary right now."
 
 "Mac, I'm fine," he said as the dizziness subsided. "But if you think 
I'm 
 going to go for you and lover boy going off base somewhere, you're 
crazy."
 
 "It's that or we spend New Years here" Mac countered. "Your choice 
sailor."
 
 He sat there for a moment considering his options. As much as he 
wanted this 
 case to be wrapped so they could spend New Years at Grams' he still 
didn't 
 like the idea of Mac going out with Pete Reavis.
 
 "Fine, on one condition" Harm said finally. "I follow you and Reavis."

"Harm if you think I'm going to agree to that you must have one helluva 
fever," she 
sputtered.  "In the first place I can take care of anything that might 
come up, in the 
second you don't belong running around the countryside sick, and third, 
the fact that 
you don't trust me makes me question. . ."

She paused at the look of horror that was immediately on his face at 
her last words.  

"Please don't say you question us, or my love," he breathed.

"No I don't," she sighed.  "Honest I don't.  In fact I'm going to tell 
Pete that you and I 
are engaged."

"No don't," he sighed, sinking back onto the bed.  "You're right.  If 
this guy can 
provide information a little dinner is not going to hurt what you and I 
have.  But I can 
sure see why partners don't get involved."

"You and I are way more than partners," she reminded him with a soft 
smile.  "You 
are the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with.  But for 
tonight, I want you to 
stay back at the room and rest.  Not just for that reason but because 
you know if he 
spots you, it's going to destroy any credibility I might have.  Which 
I'm sure isn't 
much.  I think he wants to talk, he's scared, and I want to play on 
that.  Maybe he 
needs an immunity offer to open his lips."

"OK, I can stay home," he sighed.  "But promise me you'll stay in 
public and you'll 
call me at least once to let me know you're OK."

"I can do that," she smiled.

Harm picked at his sandwich but did at least down his soup, and Mac 
shot him 
worried glances through the meal.  "Harm once more--sit out this 
afternoon.  Let me 
drop you at the quarters."  She lowered her voice and added, "Honey I'm 
getting 
more concerned about you all the time.  I happen to love you."

Mac was not sure whether to be relieved or more worried when he agreed, 
and an 
hour later she was sitting with Commander Peter Reavis in his office.  
"How's your 
partner Colonel?" he asked right off.

"Not good, but he won't check with the doctors," she sighed.  "His 
breathing worries 
me.  His lungs were affected back in May when he had a mishap and 
punched out--
hours of breathing salt spray; and then he got some tear gas a couple 
months ago.  
Now this so called cold is really getting him down and that's not what 
I'm here to talk 
about.  But thanks for your concern."

"Men can be stubborn about taking care of themselves," Reavis smiled.

"Tell me about it," she groaned.  "OK, to work please."

"Come on, lets walk outside and talk.  It's a beautiful day," Reavis 
told her, 
motioning her to join him.  "And we can talk without worrying about 
being 
overheard."

He led her to a small picnic area near the buildings and sat down, with 
her following 
suit.  "How far off the record can I go?"

Mac sucked her breath in sharply.  "Are you telling me you know 
something?  If so, 
you could go as far as immunity unless you've committed a capital 
offense."

"I know a lot of somethings," he confirmed.  "And for immunity and a 
ticket out of 
here--like to Europe--I could be persuaded to come across.  You don't 
have 
anything more than conspiracy on me anyway.  At first it was just for 
the money 
anyway.  I uh. . .I'm pretty heavily in debt.   Anyway, I didn't know 
what they were 
doing.  I mean there's private collectors pay a pretty penny for this 
stuff.  The gun 
nuts you know?  But that's not what's happening."

"You can prove all this?"

"Oh yeah.  I'll bring a sample of what I've got to dinner tonight. 
Obviously it's not 
something I keep around the office.  If it looks like we can do a deal, 
we'll fix the time 
for the rest of the information, and you'll get me off this base and 
somewhere safe."

"Commander if what you have pans out, I can get you put up in a safe 
house in DC 
in twenty-four hours," she nodded.  "Then I'll see you tonight.  Time 
and place?"

"1800, Pelican Bridge Restaurant on the water."

"I'll be there," she nodded.

"Colonel,  it may be that. . .well sometimes I feel like I'm being 
watched.  So, no 
uniforms and no partner.  If it looks like a man out with an attractive 
woman. . .well 
you get the idea."

"Understood, see you then."
==================
HARM's ROOM
535 PM

"Jesus Christ do you have to look that nice?" Harm yelped when he she 
came in to 
say goodbye.

"It's a nice restaurant and I'm supposed to be on a sort of date here," 
she smiled.  "I 
didn't think the sweats I schlep around the room in seemed 
appropriate."

"Uniform?" he whined.

"Date," she parried back.  She had refrained from telling him that 
Reavis was 
planning to turn information over to her.  As far as Harm was 
concerned, they were 
going to talk and she was going to see if Reavis would open up to her.   
She figured 
he would worry less if he did not realize there was a deal in the 
works.

"Date," he growled.  "You're taking your cell phone?"

"Dead," she sighed.  "But I've written down the name of the place in 
case you need 
anything.  I'll also call you at some point if it will put your mind at 
ease."

His next words were lost to a fit of coughing and she took that 
opportunity to kiss his 
cheek, rubbing his back.  "At least you don't seem quite as warm.  You 
may have 
turned the corner there Flyboy. I'll be back soon."

"Be careful," he croaked out.

"Always," she smiled.  "I've got a wedding to plan, remember."

 "Like I'd forget" he managed between coughs.
 
 "Get some rest sailor" she said softly. "I'll see you later."
 
 He waited until she was gone before climbing out of bed. If she 
thought he 
 was simply going to allow her to go on this "date" alone, she was 
crazy. He 
 quickly dressed and minutes later crept out of his room. He'd secured 
a car 
 earlier and quickly headed to it.
 
 *****************
 Pelican Bridge Restaurant
 One Hour Later
 
 "Dinner, was wonderful" Mac said as she sank back in her chair. "Thank 
you."
 
 "No, thank you" Pete Reavis smiled. "It's not everyday I get to go out 
with 
 a beautiful woman like you. I can't believe someone hasn't snatched 
you up 
 yet."
 
 "What can I say" Mac smiled. "Shall we talk business now?"
 
 "Yes" Pete sighed as he looked around uneasily. He slid a small file 
out 
 from his coat pocket and handed it to her.  "Names, dates, etc." he 
said 
 quietly.
 
 Mac nodded as she glanced at the file, recognizing several names as 
base 
 personnel.
 
 "There's more. There's going to be another delivery of stolen goods on 
 Christmas Eve."
 
 "Where and what time?" Mac demanded. "If we can catch them in the act 
we've 
 got an open and shut case. You might not even have to testify in 
court."
 
 "Mount Baker , the Snoqualmie National Forest" Pete replied. 
"Christmas Eve. 
 Around 13:00 hours."
 
 "Can you be a bit more specific?" Mac said with a small smile. "I'm 
sure 
 there's like thousands of acres of National Forest."
 
 "Clearwater Wilderness Trail" he replied. "Here's the directions. 
They'll be 
 at the beginning of the trail. Since it's Christmas Eve they're not 
worried 
 about anyone seeing them."
 
 "Thank you Commander" Mac said with a long sigh. "I'll make sure that 
you 
 are on the first transport out of here. Just give me a few hours to 
make it 
 happen."
 
 "Understood" Pete nodded as they stood up. "Well thank you for dinner. 
 Despite the circumstances, I really did enjoy it. I don't suppose 
there's 
 any chance of us" he smiled slightly.
 
 "Actually, there's someone in my life" Mac admitted as they walked out 
of 
 the restaurant. "He's..." Whatever else she was about to say was lost 
as a van 
 came screaming towards them, Pete seeing the gun before Mac did.
 
 "Down" he yelled as he yanked Mac behind a nearby car as the gunfire 
 started. There were several gunshots before the van quickly drove off.
 
 Across the lot, Harm came barreling out of his car, having witnessed 
the 
 horror of seeing Mac being shot at.
 
 "Mac" he screamed as he neared the car which he had seen them duck 
behind. He 
 arrived to see Pete on top of her, the obvious stain of blood on the 
ground.
 
 "Oh god no" he screamed. "Mac"
 
 He quickly rolled Pete off her, seeing at once that Pete had taken a 
bullet 
 in the chest.
 
 "Harm, I'm okay" Mac managed as she finally pushed herself up. 
"Pete..."
 
 "He's not" Harm said grimly before being cut off by a long coughing 
spell.
 
 "Harm, what the hell are you doing here?" Mac demanded. "You're 
supposed to 
 be resting."
 
 "I'm covering your six" Harm gasped when he finally stopped coughing. 
 "Obviously I had good reason to be worried. What the hell is going on 
Mac? 
 Why was Reavis killed?"
 
 "Later" she whispered as the siren's sounded the arrival of the 
police. 
 "I'll explain it later. Whatever you do, don't mention anything about 
our 
 case to the police."
 
 He was about to say more when the police pulled up, and he quickly 
closed 
 his mouth. He knew Mac hadn't told him everything and he would find 
out 
 later.
 
 Two hours later they'd finally answered all of the questions for the 
police 
 and a weary Mac led an even wearier Harm to the car.
 
 "Okay, tell me what's going on here" Harm sighed as he leaned back in 
the 
 seat. "Why did someone kill Reavis?"
 
 "Because he gave me this" Mac said as she handed Harm the file. "He 
wanted 
 immunity in exchange for information about what was going on. We were 
 meeting off base because he was afraid he was being followed."
 
 "Why the hell didn't you tell me this?" Harm shrieked.
 
 "Harm, calm down please" Mac sighed. "I didn't tell you for precisely 
this 
 reason."
 
 "What else did Reavis tell you?" Harm demanded.
 
 "There's going to be another delivery on Christmas Eve" Mac said 
quietly. 
 "He gave me the location."
 
 "Where?" Harm asked tiredly.
 
 "Mount Baker. One of the wilderness trails. We should be able to catch 
them 
 in the act. Seeing as how they killed our witness."

"We need to get a team in there."

"And spook them so we get nothing?  No way.  We'll take a camcorder and 
document the location and the activity.  Then we'll move on them.  
Between that and 
the information Pete gave me.  Pete. . ."  She paused and took a ragged 
breath.  
"He was a nice guy Harm.  And he may very well have saved my life.  He 
didn't 
deserve to die like that."

"No he didn't," Harm agreed soberly.  "And we'll make his contribution 
a matter of 
record as soon as we can clear all this up.  What he did more than 
makes up for any 
wrong doing.  Unfortunately sometimes when you dance with the devil. . 
."  He gave 
her hand a long squeeze.  "You ready?"

"Yeah," she sighed.  "I'm ready for bed, and ready for you to hold me.  
And then it 
looks like we're going to spend Christmas eve in the mountains."
===================
24 DEC 01
5AM

"Temperature must have dropped twenty degrees overnight," Harm groused 
as he 
loaded their bags into the car.  They were carrying food and water and 
blankets, 
plus a change of clothes, prepared for a possible overnight stay as 
they awaited 
their quarry.  "Why in gods name would these people make a delivery on 
Christmas 
eve."

"Because Santa doesn't make a good witness," Mac smiled, looking up 
from where 
she was putting two service weapons into the glove box.  "You dress 
warm enough 
Sailor?  I see you shivering and I know you didn't sleep last night."

"I kept you awake.  I'm sorry."

"That's not why I said it," she chided him.  "I had thought you were 
getting better, but 
today I'm not so sure.  Your coughing is bad."

"When I get a cold I cough," he shrugged.  "And if you suggest once 
more that I not 
go with you I'm going to lose it here."

"Get in the car partner," she smiled, giving him a little push.  "I 
want you sleeping.  
We've got a long drive and I want you resting."

 "You'll wake me to take a turn in a couple hours," he stipulated when 
he got settled, 
his eyes closing almost at once.

"Not likely Flyboy," she murmured.  

In fact it was at the foot of the mountain four hours later when she 
stopped for gas 
that he awoke with a start, and immediately was seized by coughing he 
could not 
stop for a full minute, and when he did he was wheezing to get his 
breath while she 
rubbed his back.

"This is insane," she hissed.  "You no more belong out here than I 
would if I was 
nine months pregnant.  We are going back."

"Mac no, please," he gasped when he could breathe.  "We're almost 
there.  I see the 
sign.  Let's do what we came for, and then we'll come back down here 
and get a 
room.  At the inn."

She burst out laughing at that and leaned in to kiss him.  "Harmon Rabb 
I love you," 
she sighed, "and right now I'm scared for you."

"Once we get there I'll be fine.  Now let me take my turn driving.  You 
have to be 
exhausted."

"Yeah but not stupid," she retorted.  "We're going to be driving up 
mountain roads.  
I'm not going to let you send us over the side because you start 
coughing and can't 
stop.  You sit tight, I'm going to get you a bottle of orange juice."  

"Ma'am are you heading up the mountain?" the station attendant asked as 
she paid 
for the gas and the juice.

"Yeah we are," she nodded.  "Should we not?"

He shrugged elaborately. "Going to snow ma'am.  That's not sunshine 
over the 
mountain.  I see you've got four wheel drive, but if it starts the 
passes fill up quick.  
You need to start back as soon as the flakes start or you won't make 
it.  Why the 
hell are you driving up there anyway?"

"Looking for Santa's elves," she sighed.  "Thanks."

"Everything OK?" Harm asked as soon as she got back.  "You look 
bothered."

"No it's fine," she lied, her eyes going to the mountain and the dark 
cloud hanging 
above it.  "Drink your juice.  You need it.  And when we get back to 
Bremerton the 
only place this car is going is the infirmary and I swear if you argue 
with me I'm on 
the phone to the Admiral and recommending you be recalled.  You got 
that?"  Her 
eyes flashed angrily as she spoke and he threw up his hands in 
surrender.  

"If it will lessen your worry, and nagging," he sighed.

"Does it occur to you that I do that because I love you and I'm scared 
for you?"

"Of course it does, like I would be for you," he admitted grudgingly.  
"Look, let's go 
or we're not going to make the drop point before these guys do."

With increased speed and a wary eye on the growing storm cloud, she 
began the 
climb up Mount Baker.


  Christmas Eve
 1:00 PM
 
 "Harm, this is crazy" Mac sighed as she looked over at him. Despite 
the 
 layers of clothes, he was still shivering and his coughing had only 
gotten 
 worse.  The snow that had begun to fall had done nothing to help their 
 situation and she cursed herself for even considering this. They stood 
in a 
 clump of trees, waiting for the exchange to take place.
 
 "Mac, I'm fine" he managed between coughs. "They'll be here any minute 
and 
 as soon as we get the tape we'll be out of here."
 
 "Do you realize you're making me put my job above you" Mac said 
softly. "I 
 don't like this Harm."
 
 "Will you stop worrying" he sighed. "You can dump my six at the 
infirmary 
 when we get back and I'll be fine."
 
 The fact that he was actually asking to go to the infirmary did 
nothing to 
 make her feel any better and she prayed this would be over soon.
 
 "There they are" she whispered a few seconds later as one of the 
vehicles 
 pulled up.  "Recognize any of them?"
 
 "Several" Harm nodded. "I interviewed the tall one the other day."
 
 "Well now we just have to wait for their customer to show up," Mac 
said as 
 she raised the camcorder, filming the men as they opened up the back 
of 
 their vehicle.
 
 "There's the missing weapons" Harm whispered as they finally got a 
view of 
 the crate of weapons.
 
 "And here's our buyers."
 
 She continued to videotape as the other car pulled up, a group of 
rough 
 looking men climbing out.
 
 "Obviously not collectors" Mac whispered and Harm nodded as he managed 
to 
 stifle a cough. Mac videotaped the sale, Harm sitting beside her as he 
 attempted to keep from giving away their position. Just as the sale 
was 
 about to wrap, a long hard cough escaped him. At once the men looked 
around 
 and Mac grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.
 
 "Let's get out of here" she hissed as she pulled him along.
 
 "Over there" one of the men called and Mac turned just in time to see 
one of 
 the men raise his shotgun at her and Harm. She pulled Harm along as 
the 
 gunshot cut through the quiet and she heard his gasp of pain a second 
later.
 
 "Keep going" he gasped as she stopped to look at him. "I'm okay."
 
 She knew he was anything but okay but continued to run, pulling him 
along 
 behind her as he started to cough again. Several more gunshots were 
fired at 
 them and she let out a sigh of relief as they reached their vehicle.
 
 "Hang on Harm" she said as she pushed him inside before hurrying 
around to 
 the other side. She took off just as the men reached them, another 
gunshot 
 shattering the side mirror before she sped away.
 
 "Damn, they're following us" she said as she realized they were still 
behind 
 her. She turned her attention to Harm for a second, freezing with fear 
as 
 she watched him struggle to catch his breath as he coughed. "Slow deep 
 breaths" she counseled. "Harm, come on you're scaring me."
 
 It seemed like eternity to her but he finally stopped coughing, 
finally 
 managing a hoarse "I'm okay."
 
 "Harm, I'm so sorry" Mac whispered. "I'm going to get us out of this. 
Just 
 hang on sailor."
 
 She pushed the gas pedal a little more, spotting what looked like 
another 
 road. She made the quick turn onto it, pushing the SUV through the 
 snow-covered path that led into the woods.
 
 "I think we've lost them" she sighed a few minutes later. She slowed 
the 
 vehicle down, looking around to determine where they were. "I'll try 
and 
 turn us around so we can get you back. How you doing?"
 
 She stopped the car and for the first time took a good look at him. 
His 
 breathing was labored and she could see the sweat beading on his 
forehead. 
 It was then that she also saw the blood on his arm.
 
 "Oh god, you've been hit" she cried. "Harm, why didn't you tell me 
sooner?"
 
 "Just grazed it I think," he said weakly. "It just needs to be 
wrapped."
 
 "Harm, this is not good" Mac fretted as she reached into the back seat 
and 
 pulled out one of her bags. She located the first aid kit and with 
gentle 
 hands reached for his arm. "It doesn't seem to be too bad," she said 
with a 
 prayer of thanks. "But the sooner we get you back the better.  We're 
 stopping at the nearest hospital. I'm not waiting to take you back to 
 Bremerton."
 
 She quickly wrapped his arm and once finished, put a cool palm to his 
now 
 very warm forehead.
 
 "I'm getting you out of here" Mac said determinedly. "You're burning 
up 
 sailor."
 
 He didn't argue with her and she started up the car, looking for a 
place to 
 turn around. Another long cough from Harm told her he wasn't going to 
hold 
 much longer and with a sigh she turned the wheel of the SUV, intending 
to 
 make a U-turn on the small path. At once the wheels of the vehicle 
sank in 
 the deep snow and she let out a curse as she climbed out, realizing at 
once 
 that they were stuck.
 
 "Can I help?" Harm called weakly as he stuck his head out the door.
 
 "No" Mac sighed. "You stay in there. You don't need to be out in 
this."

"I won't sit here and let you be out there," he protested, only to have 
her push him 
back into the seat.  "Let me see if anything can be done first.  I 
think we're pretty 
stuck."  

She released him and took a few steps toward the front wheel only to 
hear him start 
to get out of the vehicle.

"What part of stay put do you not comprehend," she demanded, turning to 
face him.  
As she did so, her footing faltered and she feel down into the snow, 
beneath which 
the trail fell off sharply and she rolled over and over, falling away a 
good ten feet 
before her flailing arms and legs stopped her.

Involuntarily he screamed her name and plunged after her.  His scream 
echoed 
through the mountain and by the time he reached her he was coughing and 
panting 
hard.  "Sarah?"  The word came out as a hoarse cry as he threw himself 
down into 
the snow next to her, rolling her to rest in his lap.

To his unwavering relief, her eyes opened as she felt his touch.  "I'm 
OK, really," 
she gasped.  "Just winded I think."  She struggled to get up and he 
held her fast.  

"Don't be so quick to move," he got out between cough.  "Let's make 
sure you're not 
hurt."

"No I'm OK," she insisted, "and right now far more worried about you.  
Harm even 
through your jacket here I can hear your breathing.  It's not good.  
Now let's get back 
to the car.  Now."

She moved off him as much as he would permit and clinging together they 
helped 
each other up.  

"Move Rabb," she ordered, giving him a push back up toward the car.

"Mac we've got to get out of here," he panted, his coughing increasing 
again, as 
they made their way back up the hill, still holding to each other.

"Then when you see Santa's sleigh pass over tonight you'd better fire a 
flare gun," 
she panted back.  "Before I fell I had enough time to see that we're 
buried up to the 
floor boards.  This baby isn't moving before spring thaw."

"So now what?" he coughed, fumbling for the door handle.  "I'm so cold 
and so sick I 
can't think."

"Yeah I know you are," she whispered, pressing her lips to what little 
of his face was 
exposed, feeling the fever burning through him.  That he would admit it 
was even 
more alarming.

"At least we have a full tank so we can get some heat," she went on, 
urging him 
inside.  "And the guy at the gas station down below knows we came up 
here."

She installed him in the passenger seat and when she got in he 
deliberately 
reached past her and locked the door.  "As if that would help," he 
sighed.  "Mac 
other people know we're up here too.  People who don't want us to ever 
leave."  

"Yeah I know," she nodded quietly, watching him as he took both service 
weapons 
from the glove box and checked each one.

"Listen to me now," he said between coughs as he handed her a weapon.  
"If these 
guys come back and if you get the chance--I don't know how you 
would--but if you 
do, I want you to take off out of here.  There's no way I would make a 
quarter mile, 
but you could."

"No."

"Mac."

"NO," she returned, her eyes flashing.  "You absolute idiot.  Don't you 
get it?  I'm not 
at all afraid to die with you.  I am terrified however to live without 
you."

"Sarah I love you," he whispered, his eyes filled with tears.  Tears of 
pain and 
misery, and tears of love.

"I love you too," she whispered.  "I have loved you forever, and if we 
have to die 
together, we've at least had that."  She pressed her lips to his and 
they shared a 
long, gentle and loving kiss.  

"I'm going to get that ring on your hand and make you my wife."

"I don't need a ring to know I belong to you," she sighed.  "You've 
held my heart for 
a very long time now."

He gave a small sob and pulled her to him.  

"Sleep sailor," she ordered.  "I'm on watch here."
    
  She held him as he fell into an uneasy sleep, her cool hands gently 
pushing 
  the sweat soaked hairs from his forehead, her fear for him growing 
with each 
  passing second.
  
  "I'm so sorry" she whispered as she pressed her lips to his cheek. "I 
should 
  never have let you come out here with me."
  
  For the next two hours she held him, turning the vehicle off for 
short 
  periods of time to save fuel. The snow had continued and the cold 
evening 
  would be settling upon them soon, She had no idea how they would stay 
warm 
  until someone found them, and she's already started whispering 
prayers 
  heavenward.
  
  He awoke with a start, looking around anxiously.
  
  "Harm it's okay" she soothed. "I'm right here. Everything is going to 
be 
  okay."
  
  For a second he just stared at her. "We have to get out of here" he 
said 
  suddenly. "Now."
  
  "Harm, what are you talking about?" Mac asked worriedly as she 
reached her 
  hand to his forehead, alarmed at how high his fever now was.
  
  "We have to get out of the car now" Harm said as he reached for her 
arm.
  
  "Harm, we can't go out there. We have to stay in here. You know that. 
We 
  leave the car, we could get lost."
  
  "I know Dad" he said as he looked past her Mac's eyes widened with 
alarm. 
  "She's not listening to me."
  
  "Harm, who are you talking to?" Mac asked quietly, trying to control 
her 
  fear.
  
  He reached over her and unlocked her door before jumping out. Seconds 
later 
  he yanked open her door, pulling her from the vehicle with a strength 
she 
  didnt realize he had.
  
  "Harm, what the hell" she started only to stop as she heard a 
crackling 
  noise. He pulled her away just as one of the nearby trees came 
toppling 
  down, the weight of the snow and ice sending it crashing onto the 
vehicle, 
  crushing it.
  
  They lay panting in the snow for several seconds before Mac finally 
moved.
  
  "Harm, how did you do that?' she whispered. "We would have been 
killed if 
  we'd stayed in the car."
  
  "Dad told me" Harm said calmly. "He's right there. Don't you see 
him?"
  
  "Harm, you are scaring me real bad here" Mac whispered as she looked 
to 
  where he was pointing. "There's no one here but you and me."
  
  "Mac he's right there."
  
  "Okay, easy sailor" Mac soothed as she drew him close to her. "Right 
now 
  we've got more important things to worry about. Like finding 
somewhere to 
  stay warm."
  
  His response was a long hard cough and she rubbed his back until he 
dropped 
  against her exhaustedly.
  
  "Think Mackenzie" she chided herself. The life of the man she loved 
was at 
  stake and if she didn't do something, he wasn't going to survive much 
longer 
  out in the cold. His obvious hallucinations of his father only scared 
her 
  more and she looked around the dark woods.
  
  "Please Lord" she prayed. "We need help."
  
  Suddenly Harm sat up, looking in the direction of the woods.
  
  "Mac, this way" he said as he pushed himself to his feet.
  
  "Harm, stop" she ordered, grabbing his arm at the same time. "You're 
heading 
  towards the woods. No one will find us there."
  
  "Dad says there's a cabin we can stay in" Harm managed between 
coughs. "He's 
  going to show us the way."
  
  "Harm, there's no one there" Mac whispered.
  
  "Mac, he's there. We have to follow him. He's going to help us." He 
grabbed 
  her arm and began to walk towards the woods.
  
  "Dear Lord, please don't let me regret this" Mac said as she followed 
Harm 
  into the woods.
  
  They'd traveled but a short ways when his coughing forced them to 
stop. The 
  cough was getting worse, his breathing more labored as he exerted 
himself in 
  the cold air.
  
  "Easy sailor" she whispered as she rubbed his back, tears brimming as 
she 
  watched him struggle to breathe.  She was becoming more and more 
resigned to 
  the fact that this time she might very well lose him.
  
  "Have to keep going" he gasped. "Not to much farther."
  
  She nodded and with an arm to his waist helped him in the direction 
he 
  seemed to be led.
 
 They walked another mile and she firmly planted her feet, needing to 
get her 
breath, suffering from the exertion of the walk and the fact that he 
was leaning more 
and more heavily on her.  "Hold up Sailor.  Let's take ten."
 
 "OK," he agreed, allowing her to ease him down onto a fallen tree.  He 
coughed 
hard, leaning down to put his head between his knees as nausea added to 
this 
woes.
 
 "Harm where are we going?" she asked gently.  "Where are you taking 
us?  Right 
now we're just walking and floundering in the snow and it's making you 
worse."
 
 "He's showing us the way," he maintained and jerked his head from her 
when she 
attempted to check him again for fever.  "I'm not delirious here.  He's 
showing us a 
place we can be safe."
 
 "OK," she sighed, not wanting to tell him she felt he was simply 
leading them to a 
place where they would eventually lie down together and die; for no way 
would she 
desert him.  If he was going to die, she would join him in death, for 
this world held 
nothing for her if she had to live life without him.
 
 "Let's go," he said suddenly, with new urgency, after about six 
minutes had 
elapsed.
 
 "What's your hurry?"
 
 "Not sure, just know we need to move," he coughed and panted.  "But 
it's not much 
further."
 
 "OK Sailor, OK," she whispered, feeling tears wet her face.  She 
pulled him to his 
feet and pulled his arm across his shoulders.  "Bet your arm is 
bleeding again too.  
Is it hurting?"
 
 "No, but I can't feel it at all," he admitted.  "Come on.  Dad says 
it's just on the other 
side of the hill."
 
 "Lieutenant Rabb I hope you're right," she gasped and prayed at the 
same time.
 
 To her undying amazement, they crested the hill, stopped to catch 
their breath, and 
below them not more than twenty yards, was a small cabin.
 
 "Tell your father I'm sorry I doubted him," she whispered in awe.  "I 
don't believe it.  
Must be a hunter's cabin?"
 
 Harm nodded and pulled away from her, starting a headlong plunge down 
the hill in 
his excitement.  "Come on Marine, come on," he shouted as he rolled in 
the snow, 
too happy to notice his discomfort for those few moments.  
 
 She ran after him, calling his name and falling into his arms when he 
staggered to 
his feet.  "We're going to be OK," he chortled.  "We'll get inside, get 
warm and dry 
and something to eat."
 
 "That's breaking and entering," she laughed, catching his enthusiasm, 
the 
improbability of them finding the place, let alone that they had been 
led there by a 
man long dead, not on her mind at that moment.
 
 Weakly he slammed his shoulder into the door, feeling it hold solidly, 
and the effort 
brought a fresh round of coughing.
 
 "Let me try," she ordered, moving him out of the way.  
 
 "Little you?" he scoffed. "You don't have a hundred pounds to put 
behind that."
 
 "One twenty," she corrected, "but thanks."  She hit it hard, and heard 
the wood 
splinter and give way.  As it did, she knew she could not have done it 
alone and she 
reached for Harm.  "Thanks partner."
 
 "For what?" 
 
 "For saving me a broken shoulder."
 
 "I didn't," he objected.  "I was coming to, but I didn't.  I was 
coughing and I. . OK.  
Thanks dad."

 "Thanks Lt." Mac echoed and helped Harm inside the one room cabin. She 
led 
 him straight to a bed in the corner of the room, gently lowering him 
down. 
 She found a lantern, lighting it and looking around.
 
 "Let's get you out of that wet coat" Mac said as she started to unzip 
his 
 coat. Seconds later she tucked him under the blankets, her hand gently 
 touching his forehead.
 
 "Not good sailor" she sighed. "I'm going to go outside and see if 
there's 
 any wood to get a fire started."
 
 He nodded weakly, closing his eyes as he leaned back against the 
pillows. 
 She sat there for a second before pushing herself to her feet, knowing 
she 
 needed to get him warm.
 
 She found a small pile of wood behind the cabin and it wasn't long 
before 
 she had a warm fire in the fireplace. That task accomplished she 
headed to 
 the small primitive kitchen to see if there was some food. She found a 
few 
 cans of soup and minutes later she placed the pot over the fireplace.
 
 "Harm" she said softly as she sat down on the bed beside him.
 
 "Mac" he murmured, pushing his eyes open to look at her. "You okay?"
 
 "I'm fine. Doing a lot better than you. I've got some soup warming on 
the 
 fire. I want you to try and eat a little."
 
 "Not hungry" he murmured before he started coughing again. She helped 
him to 
 sit up, gently rubbing his back until the spell passed. He fell back 
against 
 the pillows exhausted and she pushed a few strands of hair from his 
 forehead.
 
 "Rest sailor" she whispered. "I'll have that soup ready soon."
 
 She headed back to the kitchen looking for a medicine kit, not that it 
would 
 do much good. He needed more than just aspirin for his raging fever. 
He 
 needed a hospital and she had no clue how she was going to get them 
out of 
 this. Finding the cabin had taken care of their momentary needs. But 
the 
 fact was he needed medical attention. And without anyone knowing where 
they 
 were, she wasn't sure how they would get help.
 
 "One step at a time Mackenzie" she said to herself as she looked 
through the 
 cupboards. She found nothing and with a sigh headed to the fire to 
check on 
 the soup.
 
 He managed but a few spoonfuls of the soup before dropping back into a 
 troubled sleep. His fever seemed to be worse and she went out and 
brought in 
 a large bowl of snow, allowing it to melt into water before dipping a 
 washcloth in it.
 
 "I'm right here Harm" she whispered as she gently placed the cool 
cloth on 
 his forehead.  He continued to toss and turn, moaning her name in 
between 
 the coughs that still wracked his body. There was little she could do 
and 
 she fought back the tears as she continued to wipe his face with the 
cool 
 cloth.
 
 The next several hours passed with little change, save his more 
labored 
 breathing and his deepening coughs. Mac continued to place the cool 
cloths 
 on him, but it did little to stop the raging fever.
 
 "Dear Lord, please help us" Mac prayed as the tears slid down her 
face. "I 
 don't know what You can do but You have to do something. I can't lose 
him."
 
 She gave into the tears as she cradled him against her, praying like 
she had 
 the night she'd almost lost him to the angry cold sea.  She couldn't 
accept 
 that God had saved him that night only to take him away from her now. 
He 
 couldn't do that to them.
 
 It was just before midnight when she saw the starlight through the 
small 
 cabin window. She stood up and looked out, realizing that the snow had 
 finally stopped. Not that it would help them much now. There was no 
way she 
 would leave him to find help.
 
 She headed back to Harm where he continued to mumble as he tossed in 
his 
 sleep. She hadn't been able to make out most of his words but what she 
heard 
 as sat down beside him froze her with fear.
 
 "Dad" he murmured. "You're here."
 
 "Harm, it's Mac" she said softly. "I'm the one who's here."
 
 "No Dad is here" Harm managed before coughing long and hard. He was 
gasping 
 for breath when he finally stopped coughing and Mac pulled him against 
her 
 again.
 
 "Shh, it's okay" she whispered. "Don't talk. Just breathe sailor."
 
 "Dad's here" he managed again a few seconds later. "He's here Mac."
 
 "No" Mac whispered, remembering the session at Captain Taylor's office 
when 
 Harm had recounted the night of his crash. How he'd seen his father. 
How his 
 father had come to take him away.
 
 "I love you Sarah" Harm gasped and she cradled him closer as she 
sobbed 
 against him. "I always will."
 
 "I love you too" Mac sobbed. "Please, Harm. Just hang on sailor." She 
buried 
 her head against him again, sobbing and praying as she hoped that Harm 
 seeing his father wasn't what she thought it was.
 
 "Sarah"
 
 She froze at the sound of another voice in the cabin. Similar to 
Harm's, but 
 not his.
 
 "No" she whispered, not daring to look up. She buried her head further 
 against Harm, not wanting look.
 
 "Sarah, look at me" the voice commanded.
 
 "NO" Mac cried as she finally looked up. For a moment she could only 
stare 
 as she looked up at the man who looked so much like Harm. "NO" she 
shrieked 
 suddenly, clutching Harm closer to her. "No, you can't have him. I 
won't let 
 you take him away from me."
 
 She sobbed hysterically, the fear that she was about to lose Harm for 
good 
 very real. The life they'd imagined together was slipping away and she 
 wasn't ready to lose it or him yet.

"I came for my son."

"No.  NO.  I won't let you.  He's got a life to live here on this 
earth," she screamed as 
loud as she could.   "We're going to be married, I'm going to someday 
soon I hope 
give birth to your grandchild.  You can't take him."

"I am here to show him the way to Heaven."

"You did that once and God sent him back," she said, now her voice 
barely audible.  
"He wasn't ready for him and He's still not.  But if you have to take 
him now, you'd 
better take both of us.  I won't live long without him."

The apparition said nothing in response and a few moments later was 
dissolved.  
Harm coughed in her arms and opened one eye part way.  "What's. . .?"

"Nothing Sailor, nothing you need to be concerned about," she 
whispered, leaning 
over him as close as she could, as if she could protect him with her 
body.

"What time?"

"Just a little after midnight," she replied, closing her eyes tightly 
to suppress tears he 
did not need to see."

"Dad's gone?"

She opened and closed her mouth several times before she could answer.  
Harmon 
Rabb Sr. had been for those few moments as real to her as the man she 
was now 
holding.  "Yeah he is."

"He wanted me to come.  I told him I wasn't ready."

"Well I told him I wasn't ready for you to go," she said tearfully. "I 
love you Harm and 
I told him we had our lives to live out here first."

His hand groped for hers and she quickly took it, pressing the back to 
her lips.  
"Sleep Sailor.  We've got hours till dawn."

His coughing continued throughout the night and he tossed back and 
forth on the 
small bed, sleeping only fitfully, with Mac holding him when he would 
waken to 
cough and moan.

Finally the sky over the mountain streaked pink and she roused herself.  
"Merry 
Christmas my love," she whispered, pressing her lips to his forehead 
and then 
drawing back at once in shock.  Gone was the hot dry fevered skin, 
replaced by cold 
and damp and even his hair was wet."

"Fever--no fever," she screeched.  "Harm your fever's broken.  You're 
going to be 
OK."
 
"If you say so," he murmured, coughing hard once again.  "I love you 
Sarah.  
Always."  And with that his eyes closed again.

She was warming up the soup to try to get a little into him when she 
heard it.  Faint 
at first, just the noise in the distance and then it was louder.  A 
steady hum and then 
a rumble.  Running to the window to see, she emitted a sharp gasp of 
fear and 
surprise.  The sound of snowmobile engines and it was getting louder by 
the 
second.  With a sinking heart she realized the only people in these 
woods besides 
them would be the men they encountered.  Men who would see them dead.

She glanced over at Harm, debating whether to wake him as she made a 
grab for 
the two service weapons, thankful they had remembered to take 
protection.  The 
clips were in and she brought them to the bed, determined that whoever 
came 
through that door would be met with a round of gunfire.
===========
Naval Facility
Bremerton

Captain Wells was not happy when he came to his office.  Shortly after 
dawn of a 
Christmas morning, it was not where he wanted to be.  Almost at once he 
was 
struck by the amount of activity in the corridors, and was even more 
surprised when 
he walked into security and found men signing out and checking weapons.  
"Commander Marshall what the hell is going on here," he bellowed.  
"This is 
Christmas Day, not a day for war games."

"No sir," the Commander answered at once.  "We've got a tip on where 
these militia 
suppliers are, up on Mt. Baker."

"Tip from whom?"

"Beats me.  I got it from my XO who assures me it's on the level.  
Apparently he got 
a call from an informant I guess.  Hell I don't know.  It wasn't even 
daylight.  All I 
know is there's information that these guys are on Mt. Baker.  I need 
you to 
authorize us a chopper for a drop in.  Otherwise it's going to take 
hours to get there."

"I swear if you got me out of bed for nothing the next thing that's 
going to be 
dropped is you, with no chute," Wells growled, accepting the clip board 
and signing 
his name with the flourish.   "Go get 'em Tim."
 
 
 ************************
 "Mac, what's wrong?" Harm asked sleepily as he looked over at her. She 
was 
 at the door, her weapon in hand. "Mac?" It was then that he heard the 
 snowmobiles, almost outside the door now. "They're back" he sighed.
 
 "Well they're going to be met with resistance," Mac said determinedly. 
"And 
 what do you think you're doing" she screeched as he pushed himself up.
 
 "I'm sure as hell not going to let you handle this on your own" Harm 
managed 
 before a coughing spell started.
 
 "Back in bed sailor" Mac ordered as she pushed him back down, wrapping 
the 
 covers around him again. "I'll handle this."
 
 "Mac, no" Harm protested as he pushed the covers back again. "Now give 
me my 
 gun. I know you're good but you can't fire both at the same time."
 
 With a sigh she handed him the weapon as the sound of the snowmobile 
engines 
 stopped.
 
 "It's them" she whispered as she peeked out the window and Harm slid 
off the 
 bed, crouching down beside her next to the bed. "And we're a little 
 outnumbered sailor."
 
 "Whatever happens I love you" Harm said softly as he looked at Mac
 
 "I love you too" she whispered and Harm leaned forward and left one 
last 
 kiss on her lips as they heard the crunch of feet in the snow.
 
 Seconds later the first man burst through the door. Before he could 
even aim 
 his weapon, Mac fired hers, taking him down at once. Another man 
behind him 
 fired and this time it was Harm's shot that took him down. A bullet 
 shattered the small window and Harm tried to shield her from the glass 
as the 
 another bullet came from the front. He quickly aimed and took out 
another 
 man, wondering how many more there were. Suddenly there was silence 
and Mac 
 looked anxiously at Harm.
 
 "What's going on?" she hissed.
 
 "Not sure" he whispered. "Stay down. I'll go check."
 
 "Are you crazy" she shrieked.  "You stay put. I'll check."
 
 "Over my dead body"
 
 "That's what I'm trying to avoid" she wailed.
 
 Before he could reply, the reason for the silence outside became 
evident as 
 Harm watched flames spread on the other side of the cabin, thick smoke 
 beginning to fill the cabin.
 
 "Mac, we have to get out of here" he screamed as he reached for her. 
"This 
 place is going to be gone in seconds." His words ended with a long 
cough and 
 she looked around anxiously.
 
 "Harm, they'll be waiting for us outside" Mac whispered. "We're 
sitting 
 ducks."
 
 "We'll be smoked ducks in here" Harm managed as he pushed her towards 
the 
 floor, the smoke and flames even more intense. "Mac we don't have a 
choice."
 
 She nodded, coughing hard herself from the smoke. Together they 
crawled 
 towards the door of the cabin, both uttering their own prayers for 
some kind 
 of miracle. With one last look at Mac, Harm started towards the door.
 
 *****************
 "There" Commander Marshall yelled, seeing at once the smoking cabin 
and the 
 armed men outside it. "Bring it down now."
 
 The pilot nodded, and quickly brought the chopper to the ground. At 
once the 
 men on the ground started to scramble, heading for their snowmobiles 
in an 
 attempt to escape.
 
 "Our miracle" Mac coughed as she and Harm crawled out of the cabin 
just in 
 time to see the snowmobiles head off.
 
 "Freeze" Commander Marshall yelled as he headed towards them, his 
weapon 
 drawn.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Rabb from JAG" Mac managed between 
coughs.
 
 "Sorry ma'am, sir" Commander Marshall said quickly. "Are you two 
okay?"
 
 "Been better Commander" Mac said as she looked over at Harm, still 
coughing 
 hard from the smoke. "How did you find us up here?"
 
 "Got a tip from an informant" Marshall replied. "Said the missing 
weapons 
 were up here. I didn't know you two were up here."
 
 "We came up yesterday and videotaped the sale" Mac explained. "They 
saw us 
 and we managed to escape. We got stuck on a road few miles back and 
somehow 
 ended up here."
 
 "I'm sure there's more to the story than that" Commander Marshall said 
with 
 a small smile. "Do you still have the videotape in case we don't catch 
up to 
 them again?"
 
 "It was in the SUV" Mac sighed. "Which was crushed by a tree. I'm not 
sure 
 if the tape is okay or not."
 
 "Where's the vehicle?"
 
 "Few miles back" Mac replied, shooting a worried glance at Harm, who 
lay 
 exhausted from the coughing next to her. "Commander, I'd really like 
to get 
 my partner to the nearest hospital. Can we talk about this later?"

Another long cough from Harm punctuated the urgency and Marshall nodded 
quickly.  "I'll send you two back in the chopper right now.  We've got 
a little cleaning 
up to do here and then we'll check for your vehicle and the tape."  He 
glanced off 
into the woods where sporadic gunfire could be heard.

"Commander your guys going to be OK?"

"I brought my A team," he grinned.  "We'll be fine."

"But how did you know where we were?"

Marshall shrugged.  "I'm not real sure who called who at this point.  
Time enough to 
sort that out when we get back.  Wilson get these two to the chopper 
and order 
Harrison to come back here soon as they're left off at the infirmary."

"Yes sir.  Ma'am, sir, this way.  Ma'am let me help you with him."

"We're fine thanks," Mac assured him, not willing to relinquish her 
hold on the man 
she loved.  "OK Sailor up you come."  She staggered slightly to her 
feet and pulled 
him up beside her.  "Work with me now.  The chopper's not far."

"You're OK right?" he murmured, the weakness making him unsure of what 
was 
happening around him.

"Oh just peachy," she smiled.  "Considering I had to fight your father 
to get to keep 
you last night."

"You had that dream about him too?" he murmured, a totally puzzled look 
across his 
haggard features.

"Dream? Harm it was. . .it's something we'll talk about later," she 
assured him.  
"Right now the only thing that's important is getting you looked at."  
She turned to 
Harrison, "Lieutenant what's the ETA?"

"Twenty minutes ma'am.  Does he need a boost up?"

"Thank you Lieutenant, I'll get myself in," Harm spoke up, weakly 
lifting his warms to 
the chopper door.

Mac stood back and let him try, giving him a last push to get him the 
last of the 
distance in.  Finally he was seated and strapped in, she beside him.  
Even in his 
sickness, his protective arm went across her.

Bremerton Naval Hospital
3 Hours Later

They were not letting her in to see him.  And that fact was making her 
frantic.  She 
had showered and changed into sweats they kindly had provided, and 
choked down 
some coffee and part of a roll.  Pacing outside the doors behind which 
he had 
disappeared had not hurried them along.  A harried corpsman did assure 
her he 
was being well looked after while they worked on clearing his lungs.  
Finally she 
wandered down to the chapel, surprised to find a small Christmas 
service under 
way.

She slipped into the last bench, letting the Christmas music wash over 
her and a 
few moments later became dimly aware of the chaplain's words.  "For 
unto a child is 
born.  For unto you a Son in given.  Born this day in the City of 
David, and He shall 
be called Christ the Lord."  Her hand went to her belly where she was 
sure for a 
brief time several weeks before a baby had begun.  A baby made of the 
love she 
and Harm. . .A soft sob wracked her body and she quickly put her hand 
to her 
mouth to stifle it.

At the same time she felt a presence next to her and she instinctively 
began to 
move over to make room for the new arrival.  There was no one there and 
yet she 
was sure. . .

For one brief moment Harm Senior was beside her.  "My son waits 
upstairs for you.   
My grandson waits in heaven.  When our Lord knows you are ready, He 
will send 
him to you."

"Ma'am. . .Ma'am are you OK?"  Harm Senior vanished as if being washed 
away, to 
be replaced by the kindly face of the aging Chaplain.  "You were 
sleeping ma'am, 
and starting to cry, like you were having a dream.  Is there something 
I can do for 
you?  A special prayer for a family member we're treating here?"

"Thanks no," she stammered.  "I already have the answer to my prayers.  
Excuse 
me."

  
 
 She hurried back to where she'd left him, finally finding the corpsman 
 again.
 
 "Please, I need to see my partner" Mac pleaded. "Can you please tell 
me 
 where he is?"
 
 "More than happy too" the man smiled. "He's been asking for you."
 
 "Is he going to be okay?" Mac asked as she followed him down the hall.
 
 "Couple days in here and he should be okay. We've given him a 
breathing 
 treatment to help clear his lungs and antibiotics to help the 
bacterial 
 infection. We patched up his arm and he's resting comfortably now. 
Just 
 anxious to see you."
 
 Mac nodded and seconds later got the only thing she'd wanted for 
Christmas 
 as she wrapped her arms around him.
 
 "How you doing?" she asked as she finally pulled back to look at him.
 
 "I'm okay" he assured her with a small smile. "Better now that you're 
here."
 
 She sat down on the edge of the bed beside him and gently pulled him 
against 
 her. "And I'm a lot better knowing that you're going to be okay. You 
had me 
 worried last night."
 
 "Mac, about last night. I did see my dad."
 
 "I know," she said softly. "Cause I did too."
 
 "You did?"
 
 "Yes I did."
 
 "So it was real?" Harm asked.
 
 "I don't know what it was," Mac said quietly. "I do know that if you 
hadn't 
 pulled me out of the car when you did I would have been crushed by 
that 
 tree. And if you hadn't led us to that cabin..." She left the thought 
 unfinished, not even wanting to think about what would have happened 
to them 
 out in the cold.
 
 "I guess Dad came to us since we couldn't come to him" Harm said 
quietly.
 
 "You know he came to take you away" Mac whispered.
 
 "And I told him I wasn't ready to leave" Harm said softly. "Just like 
I 
 wasn't ready that night six months ago."
 
 "Well I told him he couldn't have you anyway," Mac said with a small 
smile.  
 "No way was I letting you go yet. We've still got a lot of things left 
to do 
 sailor."
 
 "Yes we do" Harm said as he thought about the trip that had been 
postponed.  
 The trip that would take place before the year was up no matter what. 
"Merry 
 Christmas Sarah" he said softly.
 
 "Merry Christmas Harm" she whispered before placing a gentle kiss on 
his 
 lips.
 
 December 29th
 
 "Finally" Mac sighed as she finished packing their stuff. "I never 
thought 
 we'd get to go home. I was beginning to think we'd be stuck here for 
New 
 Years too."
 
 Harm kept back the smile at the words home. He'd taken care of their 
travel 
 arrangements and had sent them on a small detour.  He'd had some time 
while 
 Mac had wrapped up the case to make the plans and now he was anxious 
to 
 leave as well.
 
 "I told you that wouldn't happen" Harm said as he dropped a quick kiss 
on 
 her forehead. "You and I are going to do what we were supposed to do 
for 
 Christmas."
 
 "You never said what that was" Mac smiled.
 
 "I know and I'm not telling you know either" Harm grinned. "You'll 
just have 
 to wait and see."
 
 "I'm guessing we're not going to DC," she said a short time later as 
they 
 were dropped off at the airport in Tacoma.
 
 "Very good Counselor. We are not going back to DC. Not yet anyway."
 
 "Harm, you know you're supposed to be taking it easy" Mac fretted as 
she 
 grabbed their bags.
 
 "Yes mom. And trust me, where we're going that's exactly what we'll be 
 doing. I promise."
 
 "Pittsburgh?" she questioned when they reached the gate. "Why are we 
going 
 to Pittsburgh?"
 
 "I don't know" Harm grinned.
 
 "Harm, are you taking me to meet Grams?" Mac asked.
 
 "Yes I am. I think it's about time that you meet Grams. She's heard so 
much 
 about you and she's really excited about meeting you."
 
 "This is what you were planning for Christmas?" Mac asked softly.
 
 "Yeah I wanted to take you to Grams' for a quiet little Christmas in 
the 
 country. But we can do that next year. But I still wanted you to meet 
Grams. 
 And this way we can celebrate New Years with Grams. I hope that's 
okay."
 
 "It's more than okay Flyboy" Mac smiled. "I can't think of a better 
way to 
 spend New Years."
 
 "I love you Sarah Mackenzie" he sighed as he settled against her 
shoulder a 
 short time later.
 
 "I love you too," she said softly. "You rest. It's a long flight and I 
want 
 you to sleep."
 
 "As long as you're holding me" he murmured tiredly.

As it turned out they held each other, sleeping on the three hours 
away.  She woke 
with the pilot's announcement of their descent, and nudged him gently.  
"Look alive 
Sailor, we are here."  To emphasize that, the wheels touched pavement 
with a 
decided thump.

"Hi," he murmured sleepily, and hooked his hand to the back of her head 
to help 
himself to a long kiss.

"I think I love you," she whispered with a quick smile, standing and 
helping him to 
rise.  "You're not too steady there.  You going to make it?"

"I'll be fine soon I un-stiffen and get some fresh air," he assured 
her.  "It's a good 
little drive."

"Which you're not doing all the driving," she stipulated.  "I may not 
have ever been 
here before but I can sure as hell read a map."

"OK," he agreed, almost too readily.  "I'll get us out of here and 
pointed to the 
Turnpike and then you can take over."

He was sleeping once again when the appointed exit loomed in front.  
"Harm wake 
up," she called urgently.  "We're nearly there and I haven't a glue 
which way to go."

"Hey I didn't mean to leave you with all of it," he objected.  

"Under control," she assured him, frowning as he coughed long and loud, 
struggling 
to get his breath.  "But you're going to scare your grandmother to 
death.  Either that 
or she's going to think you should be quarantined."

"I'm fine."

"You're not, but that's another issue," she retorted.  "I'm really 
looking forward to 
meeting her.  She gave birth to a fine man, who fathered the man I love 
with all my 
heart."

"As I do you," he replied, more sure than ever of what he would do at 
midnight New 
Year's Eve.

The old farmhouse loomed before them, its porchlight a welcoming 
beacon.

"Harm this is something out of the nineteen century," Mac gasped.

"Exactly," he grinned.  "Of course it's been remodeled since then and 
updated and 
all.  But it's basically the same house that Peter Rabb built about 
1850."

"Wow," she breathed as he pulled up.  "And I'm looking forward to three 
long days of 
total relaxation and recovery."

"R and R," he grinned, getting out of their rental car slowly on stiff 
legs. 

A large Collie greeting them, his barking echoing in the hills above.  

"Cody knock it off," Harm scolded and Grams added her voice from the 
porch.

"Harm, Sarah I'm glad to see you," she called after subduing the 
exuberant Collie.

"He's beautiful," Mac enthused, kneeling and letting the dog lick her 
face.

"He doesn't like everyone," Grams laughed.  "Come in and Harmon, you 
look 
terrible."

"Thanks Grams, I'm glad to see you too."

It took the older woman all of ten minutes to install them both on the 
sofa, with a cup 
of tea and a blanket tucked over Harm.  "Mac, thank you for bringing 
him so I can 
fuss over him."
================
The smell of breakfast brought Harm downstairs the next morning, moving 
slowly 
but feeling more normal.  "Grams didn't I tell you not to fuss," he 
admonished her.

"Hey I don't get to cook for family often," she retorted.  "In the last 
year how many 
times have I seen you?"

"Correction noted," he sighed.  "Grams, I need to talk to you about 
something.  
Something serious."

"Then you better have some coffee," she offered, motioning him to sit.  
"What's on 
your mind son?"

"The ring Grams.  The ring Dad never got to give to Mom.  I want to 
give it to Mac.  
At midnight  New Years Eve I want to ask her officially to be my wife.  
OK?"


 
 "Okay? Of course it's okay" Grams smiled. "From the short visit we had 
last 
 night I think Sarah is wonderful and you couldn't have found a finer 
person 
 to marry."
 
 "No Grams I couldn't have" Harm agreed. "And after everything that's 
 happened this year, I don't want to waste any more time."
 
 "I'm glad. And yes, the ring is yours. I'm sure your father would be 
 thrilled that it's finally going to be put to good use."
 
 Harm nodded and at the sound of Mac's footsteps on the stairs quickly 
turned 
 the conversation to something else.
 
 "Hey, I didn't expect to find you up already" Mac said as she wrapped 
her 
 arms around his shoulders. He turned and was greeted with a warm kiss 
before 
 she sat down beside him. "How you feeling?"
 
 "I'm fine. A good nights sleep and you and Grams fussing over me is 
doing 
 the trick" he smiled.
 
 "Well we'll keep fussing won't we Grams" Mac said as she looked over 
at her.
 
 "Yes we will" Grams assured her. "By the time you two leave here, Harm 
will 
 be rested and ready to go."
 
 "I guess the New Years celebration is pretty quiet here huh?" Mac 
asked. 
 "Not that I'm complaining of course. Nice and quiet is my speed right 
about 
 now."
 
 "Very quiet" Grams laughed. "I usually watch Dick Clark and the big 
ball in 
 Times Square."
 
 "That okay with you?" Harm asked with a quick smile in Grams 
direction. 
 "Just sitting here watching TV."
 
 "As long as I'm with you flyboy, I don't care what we do. And honestly 
 you're not up to much anyway."
 
 "How did you manage to get pneumonia anyway Harmon? "Grams asked.
 
 "By not listening to me and not taking care of himself" Mac spoke up 
before 
 Harm could. "Grams, honestly, this man has got to be the most stubborn 
man 
 I've ever met."
 
 "Close. His father and grandfather before him were just as stubborn" 
Grams 
 smiled. "It's that Rabb blood."
 
 "Hey, I'm still sitting here."
 
 "Yeah I know" Mac grinned. "Grams, we'll talk about him later. I'm 
dying to 
 hear all the stories about when he was younger."
 
 "On that note, I think I'll make myself scarce later" Harm smiled. 
"Grams 
 has enough stories about me to keep you busy for the next few hours."
 
 "And I plan on telling Sarah all of them."
 
 New Years Eve
 8:00 PM EST
 
 "You sure you're going to be able to stay up?" Mac asked as she and 
Harm 
 snuggled close together on the sofa.
 
 "I think I can manage" Harm smiled. All day his mind had been on what 
he 
 would say to Mac tonight.
 
 "There's something going on in that Rabb mind," Mac said as she looked 
at 
 him closely. "You going to share?'
 
 "Soon" Harm promised. "Right now I'm just enjoying holding you in my 
arms."
 
 "So am I" Mac sighed. "You realize a week ago we were stuck up in the 
 mountains and I was afraid I was going to lose you. Seems like a 
million 
 years ago after being here for a few days."
 
 "Yeah it does. Being here does that to you. As for the rest, you're 
never 
 going to lose me. You are stuck with me for a long long time Marine." 
He 
 leaned close and a long kiss ensued until Grams walked into the room 
 clearing her throat.
 
 "Sorry Grams" Harm grinned as Mac buried her head against him in 
 embarrassment.
 
 "You two are so cute together. I can't believe it took you this many 
years 
 to get together."
 
 "Remember that stubborn part. Well this Marine is almost as stubborn 
as me."
 
 "Guilty as charged" Mac said as she raised her head. "We both made our 
share 
 of mistakes. But that's all in the past now."
 
 "Yes it is" Harm said softly.
 
 He watched the clock for the next few hours, waiting until just before 
 midnight to sneak upstairs. Grams had given him the ring the night 
before 
 and he pulled it from his bag, looking at it again. Finally, the world 
would 
 know how much he loved Sarah Mackenzie.
 
 "Hey there you are" Mac said as he slipped back into the living room. 
"I 
 thought you were going to miss the New Years toast. Grams is getting 
the 
 sparking grape juice."
 
 "I wouldn't miss this" he smiled.
 
 "All set Harmon" Grams said as she handed each of them a glass of the 
juice.
 
 "Set for what?" Mac asked.
 
 "For this" Harm said softly as he knelt down in front of her.

"Harm what's going on?"

"This," he repeated.  "But first there's a story.  Halfway through 
Lieutenant Rabb's 
tour in Vietnam, he went on R and R in Bangkok.  While he was there he 
bought a 
diamond ring and he sent it home to Grams for safe keeping.  He told 
her when he 
came home he was going to give it to Trish to replace the little 
diamond that was all 
he could afford when they had gotten married seven years earlier.  He 
told Grams 
that there were two things he wanted to do right away when he got 
back--after 
seeing her and me of course.  First he wanted to give this ring to Mom 
and to re-do 
their vows and then he wanted to have another baby."

Mac sniffled and swallowed hard as her eyes never left his.

"He loved her Sarah, as much as I love you, and now I'm going to put 
this ring on 
that hand and ask you formally.  Will you marry me?"

"Oh yeah, oh yeah I'll marry you," she gasped, not bothering to stop 
her tears.  "I 
love you Harmon Rabb and I want to be your wife."

He nodded, not trusting his voice, and slipped the ring on her finger, 
then pulled her 
from the sofa onto his lap as best he could, rocking her as they melded 
together.

"Have you thought of a wedding date or site?" Grams asked softly, 
brushing her own 
tears away.  "Because I think we need to get Trish and Frank back here 
and that 
you should have it here.   In the spring when the mountains are all in 
bloom.  You 
think?"

"I think it sounds wonderful Grams."  Mac lifted her head and looked at 
the ring 
closely for the first time.  "And this is a beautiful ring, almost as 
beautiful as the story 
behind it."  She cocked her head and looked up into his eyes.  "So your 
dad wanted 
another Rabb baby that never got to be.  Maybe we're going to fulfill 
that part of the 
dream soon too."

"Well if we don't it won't be for lack of trying," he declared before 
he remembered 
Grams was in the room.  "Uh Grams. . .sorry."

"Hey it's OK.  I watch All My Children," the older woman smiled.  "If 
you want a 
baby, and if God decides it's right, you shall have one.  I wanted a 
house full of kids 
but once Peter was killed I was happy just to raise Harmon."  

Another round of the bubbly and Grams called it a night, leaving Mac 
and Harm 
huddled together on the sofa watching the first snow of the New Year 
drift down 
outside the bay window while the lights from the Christmas tree softly 
illuminated the 
room.

"There is so much love here right now," she whispered.  "You know what 
would 
make it perfect?"

He smiled and tilted her head up to look into his eyes.  "Our baby."

"Yeah," she smiled.  "This time next year.  Either growing healthy 
inside me or even 
better, lying in our arms here."

And in Heaven above, the grandfather of that baby smiled to himself, 
for he knew 
what would happen.  Knew that by the time the birth of the Savior was 
once again 
celebrated on earth, just as Mary had done two thousand years before, 
Sarah 
Catherine Rabb would deliver her first born son.   

Joshua Harmon Rabb would be born on Christmas Day, 2002.

THE END