TITLE:  "Starting Again VI-Wings of Love"
AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner  
SUMMARY:  The sixth in the Starting Again series of post-Adrift stories, wherein 
Harm continues to cope with the fact that he may never return to flying, and he 
and Mac encounter an old friend, which brings new insecurities for her.
   Rated PG for mild violence and language. A Harm-Mac shipper story.
DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to Paramount, CBS, et al.  No copyright is intended 
with this work of entertainment only.
FEEDBACK:  Please, if you would like to express your enjoyment.  If our work 
does not appeal to you for any reason-we have no problem with that, but 
please, no need to share that with us.  Feedback addy is SSbpMN@aol.com

NOTE:  All parts of this story will be available at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories.  No subbing is required to 
read from the message archives.

“Starting Again VI-Wings of Love”

 
 JAG HQ's
 08:15 EST
 
 "Remember I have court today" Mac said as they rode up the elevator. "And if 
Singer decides she's got another witness, we'll never get this case wrapped."
 
 "No lunch then?" 
 
 "Sorry sailor" she sighed. "Not today. But don't forget tonight is. . ."
 
 "Yeah, I know," he said with a long sigh. "We get to tell Captain Taylor about my 
little freak session."
 
 The elevator doors opened before she could reply and he stepped off.  
 
 "Commander, Colonel, good morning" AJ said as he walked past. "Commander, 
can I see you for a few minutes once you're settled please."
 
 "Yes sir" Harm replied, wondering what the Admiral wanted now. 
 
 "Hey, I'll see you later" Mac said as she stopped into his office a few minutes 
later. "You going to be okay?"
 
 "Do I have any choice?" he said quietly. "I just wonder what the Admiral wants to 
talk about. I'm praying its not another case somewhere."
 
 "We'll get through it if it is," she said as her hand reached for his, giving it a 
gentle squeeze. "I love you" she whispered, mindful of the others outside his 
office. 
 
 "Me too" he said with a small smile.
 
 Minutes later he sat in front of AJ's office, waiting nervously for what the Admiral 
was about to say. 
 
 "Aren't you missing something this morning Commander?" AJ asked as he 
studied his officer carefully. 
 
 "No sir. I just felt that until I earn my wings back I shouldn't be wearing them."
 
 "Commander is there something more going on that I should know about?" AJ 
inquired, his gaze never leaving Harm. 
 
 "No sir" Harm shifted uncomfortably in his chair, feeling for a moment like he 
was on the witness stand. The Admiral's eyes told him that he didn't believe a 
word of what Harm had just said.  "Really sir, there's nothing go on."
 
 Knowing he was meeting the Rabb stone wall, AJ shook his head. He'd find Mac 
later and corner her about what was going on with her partner. "Good. Then 
there won't be any problem with me sending you to Fallon to handle an 
investigation will there?"
 
 For a brief second Harm opened his mouth, about to tell the Admiral that yes 
there would be a problem with that. He'd barely made it back to DC and now he 
wanted him to go to Fallon. But he closed his mouth just as quickly; knowing that 
he wasn't about to share is problems with anyone besides Mac right now. "No sir, 
no problem at all" Harm managed finally. "What's the case?"
 
 "A third member of the Top Gun class has died" AJ said soberly. "The initial 
report was accidental death, just like the first two. However, the CO of Fallon 
wants someone to look at this, as well as the two others, a little closer. If there's 
foul play involved, he wants to find out who's behind this before there's anymore 
deaths and before the media picks up on it. The last thing he wants is some 
headline about Flyboy Murders. I want you to head out there ASAP and find out 
what's going on before that happens."
 
 "Yes sir" Harm replied. 
 
 "I assume there won't be a problem with you going out now and the Colonel 
joining you when she finishes her case?" 
 
 "No sir" Harm lied. The last thing he could do was make the flight to Fallon 
without Mac. He'd tried that in California with little success. He didn't want a 
repeat of the episode in San Diego. Course at the same time he also didn't want 
her on the same plane with him. The last two flights had scared him enough as it 
was. 
 
 "Good. Check with Tiner then for your travel arrangements. And I want to be 
kept informed on what's going on with this investigation when you get out there."
 
 "Understood sir." Harm managed to escape the Admiral's office before letting out 
a long sigh. He was going to have to do this alone. He doubted Mac would be 
done today with court, leaving him no choice but to go alone. He stopped at the 
Yeoman's desk and forced a smile.  "Tiner, I need a flight to Fallon ASAP."
 
 Minutes later he returned to his office, his 2:00 PM flight to Fallon booked. Now 
all he had to do was figure out how he was going to be able to do. He suddenly 
remembered his appointment with Captain Taylor for that evening and picked up 
the phone to cancel when a sudden thought crossed his mind. He could simply 
ask Captain Taylor for a refill on the prescription that he'd given him for the San 
Diego trip. He hadn't said anything about what had happened when he'd made 
the appointment. And if he just took one of the pills, he might be able to make it 
through the flight. 
 
 "Captain Taylor, it's Commander Rabb" he said when he was finally connected 
with the doctor.
 
 He was a bit calmer when he hung up the phone, having secured another 
prescription from Captain Taylor that he could pick up before the flight. He lied to 
the doctor, telling him he'd left the prescription in California at his mom's. He'd 
explain all that later. Right now he was only concerned with getting through the 
flight. 
 
 He waited at JAG until the last possible moment to see Mac; discouraged that 
she hadn't been able to rap up her case so she could go with him. He'd be 
silently praying that would happen since the Admiral had assigned the case, but 
now he was faced with dealing with this himself. He closed his door before 
picking up his phone, wanting to leave a private voice mail for her before he left. 
 
 "Hi Mac. I was hoping to see you before I left but I guess that's not going to 
happen. The Admiral assigned me to an investigation at Fallon and I've got a 
2:00 flight there. Somehow I'll get through it. I'll call you when I get to Fallon. I 
love you and I'll talk to you later." 
 
 JAG HQ's
 1 hour later
 
 Mac frowned at the sight of Harm's dark office. He hadn't said anything about 
leaving during the day, though she knew it was possible the Admiral had sent 
him somewhere locally. Most of the JAG staff was still out to lunch and she 
headed to her own office to see if he'd left her a note or voice mail. She got his 
voice mail seconds later, her heart lurching at the thought of him trying to make 
this flight alone. 2:00 PM. With a little luck she might still be able to make it to the 
airport before the flight took off. 
 
 "Colonel, finished already?" AJ asked as he walked into her office. 
 
 "Captain Sebring listened to Singer for a bit before finally dismissing the case" 
Mac replied. "Uh, Harm is on his way to Fallon?"

"Yes he is.  I wanted him to get on out there.  From your last status report it 
looked as though you could be a couple more days in court.  This third death is 
too much.  Two might have been dismissed as horrible coincidence.  Three no 
way."  He paused and looked more closely at her, noting her fidgeting and 
frowning.

"Colonel, I'm getting a real strong feeling something is happening that I'm not 
being informed about.  And it's not a feeling I like.  You know I'll work with the two 
of you.  Hell I've been cutting you two slack all along."

"Yes sir," she nodded soberly, "and don't think it's not appreciated and noted.  
We owe you big time sir and we won't forget it."

"I'll be calling in that marker at some point," AJ replied.  "Meanwhile since you're 
done, why don't you see if you can catch up to your partner."

"Yes sir, thank you sir."   

She had just reached the door when AJ called out to her.  "Colonel, one more 
thing.  Why has Mr. Rabb removed his wings?"

She froze for a long moment, swallowing hard before turning around.  "Sir, he 
simply feels that right now, aviation is not. . .well not where his head and his 
heart is.  You know the wings are symbolic anyway.  Once a pilot and all that. . ."

"Dismissed," AJ said quietly after a moment's thought.  The matter was not a 
closed one by any means, but for now he would let it pass as another in a long 
line of differences in his two officers.

With Marine precision, she drove into D.C., blessing her good sense to keep a 
bag packed so that all she had to do was throw a few things on top and she was 
speeding to the airport.  

And thanks to Tiner's taking care of the ticketing, she was able to secure a seat 
on the same flight as Harm.  Now all she had to do was make the gate.  The gate 
agent was announcing the final boarding as she ran panting to the area.  To her 
undying surprise, Harm was pacing the area, the sole passenger unboarded.

"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed, coming up behind him and putting a 
comforting hand to his back.

"Oh thank god," he gasped and then looked at her helplessly.  "I was praying for 
you, or praying for the strength to get aboard."

"Well you've got me, but now you're about to have the ramp agent's boot up your 
butt," she whispered. "They're ready to leave here.  The man thinks you are. . ."

"Certifiable, I know.  And I wouldn't disagree," he moaned, letting her propel him 
along down the jetway.

"You realize people think we're on our way to Reno to get a divorce," he went on.  
"Something you may want to keep in mind for when I drive you over the edge. . . 
.and we're not even married yet."

"Exactly," she smiled and gave his back an affectionate pat.  "I at least want to try 
it out.  Move it Sailor, you're holding up progress."

With a quick word to the flight attendant on the sparsely populated aircraft they 
were able to arrange seats together.  

"Here," he said suddenly just before he buckled his seat belt.  "I had these filled.  
Captain Taylor took pity on me."  He reached into his pocket and withdrew the 
bottle of pills.

"Harm I. . ." she began and then felt her eyes tear.  "Harm. . ."

"Relax," he smiled slightly.  "I only took one, just before they called boarding.  
One, honest.  You can count them even."

"No I don't need to do that," she returned, letting out a sigh of relief, "and in fact 
I'm not going to hold them for you.  I'm not your mother.  I'm only the woman who 
loves you deeply."

"I know," he sighed.  "And I don't plan to ever let that woman down or betray her 
trust ever again."  As he spoke he opened his hand for hers, steeling himself 
against the thrust of take off.

"You can breathe now Sailor," she whispered.  "Open your eyes Harm.  You're 
OK."

With the aid of the pill making him just drowsy enough not to be overwrought, the 
three hour flight passed uneventfully.  

"Landing," she whispered, starting to stow the files she was looking at.  

He sat frozen in his seat as the plane made its descent, making not a sound until 
the wheels thumped hard onto the runway, and then allowing a soft cry to escape 
before he clamped his lips together.

"I think he'd better go back and practice that one again," Mac groaned.

"Don't even think that," he shuddered.  "One chance at me is all this guy gets.  
We'll draw someone else for the flight back."

She gave his arm an affectionate punch, shaking her head.  "You're an idiot 
Rabb," she laughed lightly as she pushed him into the aisle.

Getting the bags and procuring the rental car took the better part of the next hour 
but they were finally on the road for Fallon.

"Good thing you're driving, because that pill is still with me," he sighed, leaning 
back and closing his eyes.  "So what do you make of this case?"

"Three dead pilots?  Nothing good," she sighed and gave a slight shudder, which 
even in his slightly dazed state he noticed.  His hand shot across to her and 
came to rest on her arm.  "Something you want to talk about?"

"Just brings up a few unpleasant things, like how the pilot in my life was nearly 
dead," she sighed and patted his hand.

"Well you know it's bothering me that you're here to begin with," he sighed as 
well.  "I mean when I was waiting for you I wanted you to come so bad I could 
taste it, but then I tried to convince myself I could handle this and not have you 
anywhere near what might be a murder investigation and. . ."

"And would you listen to yourself," she interrupted.  "Partners, remember.  
Professionally and now personally."

 "Yes ma'am" he said with a small smile. "What would I ever do without you?"
 
 "Lucky for you, you'll never have to find out" Mac smiled.
 
 They arrived at Fallon a short time later, Harm finally shaking off the 
 remaining effects of the pill he'd taken.
 
 "Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie to see Captain Mulright" Harm said 
 when they reached the CO's office.
 
 "Right this way sir, ma'am" the ensign said as he led them to the office.
 
 "Glad you two are here" Captain Mulright said as he motioned for them to 
 take a seat. "The last thing I need is any more dead bodies around here. 
 When Lt. Keene was found there was no reason to suspect that it was anything 
 but an accident. But then Lt. Markowitz was found and now Lt. Greene, I'm a 
 lot less comfortable with initial findings of accidental death. If there is 
 someone going around killing the Top Gun class I want them found ASAP."
 
 "Yes sir" Harm replied. "We'll do our best to get this wrapped up as quickly 
 as possible."
 
 "Good. If there's anything you need, please let me know."
 
 "Okay, where to first sailor?" Mac asked once they were excused from Captain 
 Mulright's office. "Dinner at the O'club and then some rooms at the BOQ?"
 
 "I hope you meant room" Harm said quietly.
 
 "You know we have to get two rooms and then I'll come and join you later" 
 Mac said gently.
 
 "One day we're going to have to remedy this situation" Harm sighed as they 
 headed to the car. "I hate that I have to pretend that we're not together."
 
 "I know. We did that for enough years. But the Admiral has his own ideas 
 about us anyway."
 
 "Did he hit you up for information too?"
 
 "Yep. He knows there's more going on than we're telling him. And he seemed 
 pretty concerned that you weren't wearing your gold wings."
 
 "I don't have to ask if you told him anything cause I know you didn't" Harm 
 said with a small smile. "And for that I will owe you for a lifetime."
 
 "Just taking care of my partner" she said as her hand reached for his. 
 "We'll get through all this and one day those gold wings will be back where 
 they belong."
 
 "You've got so much more confidence in me than I do" Harm sighed. "But right 
 now I'm just worried about this case. I can't imagine there would be some 
 kind of serial killer on the base but what else explanation would there be."
 
 "We need to go over those autopsy reports first and see if there's anything 
 in them that would lead us to believe that they weren't accidents" Mac 
 countered. "Before we go jumping into this idea that there's a serial killer 
 roaming around."
 
 "You know we may want to bring Terri in on this. We may need her expertise 
 if nothing stands out in the autopsy reports."
 
 "Why don't we see what we can find out ourselves first" She wasn't 
 successful in hiding her insecurity at the name of the Terri Coulter and 
 Harm looked over with surprise.
 
 "Is there some reason you don't want Terri around?" he asked with amusement. 
 "She's always been helpful with our cases before."
 
 "And I'm sure she would be this time. I just think we should try and figure 
 out what's going on on our own first" Mac said defensively.
 
 "You're jealous" Harm grinned.
 
 "I am not" she retorted. "It's just......" She stopped and looked away, not 
 wanting him to know how insecure she really was.
 
 "Just what?"
 
 "Just that we're together but no one knows it and she's always had her 
 sights on you" she said before she could stop herself. She pulled into the 
 parking lot of the O'club seconds later and Harm immediately reached for 
 her, drawing her into his arms, not caring who might see them at that 
 moment.
 
 "Mac I love you" he said softly. "And only you. And even if Terri had her 
 sights on me it's too late. I'm very much in love with my fiancée. And I'm 
 sorry I haven't gotten you a ring yet..."
 
 He was gently silenced with her fingers to his lips as she pulled away to 
 look at him.
 
 "I'm sorry" she said quietly. "Sorry for acting like the jealous girlfriend. 
 I should never doubt your love. I don't need a ring to tell me you love me. 
 You show me that every day."
 
 "I do love you Sarah" he whispered. "More than anything else in this world. 
 My world would end if you weren't in it."
 
 "As would mine" she said before her lips gently brushed his. Seconds later 
 they were in each other's arms again, the kiss deepening. Finally, they 
 pulled apart, Mac looking around the parking lot to see if anyone had seen 
 them.
 
 "We'd better continue this later" Harm smiled. "Otherwise we're going to be 
 the talk of the base."
 
 "Shall we get some dinner Commander?" Mac grinned. "And yes, we'll 
 definitely continue that later."

"Is that a promise?"

"Oh yeah," she grinned again, giving his mouth another quick kiss before backing 
out of the car.  

As they were walking into the club a four-aircraft squadron passed over head, 
practicing close order maneuvers and Harm froze, looking up.  He shuddered 
slightly, which Mac felt at once and tightened her arm around his waist.  "This is 
an air station remember," she said softly, "we're going to be seeing a lot of that."

He did not answer and she studied his face, seeing the fear she expected but 
something else as well this time.  For a brief second she imagined she saw 
almost envy.  "Hey you," she called softly.  "Starving Marine who loves you here."

He nodded silently as the planes disappeared into the darkness, only the glow 
from their thrusters visible for another second.  

"You wanna tell me what that was about?" 

"What?  Just looking.  I always look."

"Yeah you do," she agreed.  "But you always look with that look that says better 
them than you.  This time you were different.  So, I say again, something you 
want to tell me?"

His hand went to his chest where his wings would normally have been.  "I don't 
know what. . ." he stammered.  "OK, see ever since I got my wings, always 
before when I'd see planes, I'd wish I was in the cockpit.  Until the accident.  And 
then I. . .well you know what happened.  But just then it was odd.  For just a real 
brief second, I had that same wish feeling back.  Then I remembered and it was 
gone.  Certifiable remember."

She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, smiling happily, and feeling for the first 
time just a surge of hope.  Perhaps flying was not a total loss yet.  "Well maybe 
you're not one hundred percent ready to give it up," she suggested softly.  "Time 
has a way of righting these things you know."

He shrugged and shook his head.  "Well my flight out here was only 
accomplished through medication.  And that's not going work for being in the 
cockpit of a Tomcat."  He shook his head more vigorously.  "Not something I 
want to get into right now.  Right now I want to feed the Marine I love and 
continue our earlier discussion."

"Oh I want to continue that," she grinned, "but I think we're way past the 
discussion stage."  She paused and took his arm.  You know that whatever you 
feel you need to do about flying I'm one hundred percent behind you." 

"I know, and that's one of the hundreds of reasons I love you.  And I know you 
have to love me.  Only someone who did could put up with one tenth of my crap."

With one last kiss on the dark steps, she opened the door and pushed him 
inside.

"You know I hadn't thought much about this case until I actually read the file," he 
mused later between bites of chicken.  "Three dead pilots.  Beyond coincidence 
there."

"Harm please," she pleaded, to his surprise.

"Mac this case is going to bother you a lot more than you've been letting on isn't 
it?"  His concern was immediate.

"I'm going to handle it," she said firmly, convincing herself as well as him.  "But 
I'm not going to ruin our evening talking about it please.  I need to like 
compartmentalize it or something.  On duty and off duty time or something."

"You got it," he smiled, his eyes locking with hers for a moment, a silent message 
of love conveying between them, and a plan beginning to form in his mind.
=============
"Harm where the hell are we going?"  She had been resting her head with her 
eyes closed, enjoying that pleasant full-of-food feeling when she realized the 
lights of the base were getting further behind them.

"Remember when I got up to use the head," he said slowly as he watched ahead 
for the road he was searching for.  "Well I made a phone call too.  There's 
nothing we can do on this case tonight.  No one we need to see is present for 
duty right?"

"Yeah so?"

"When you said you needed to separate your off duty self and all that---well that's 
when I got the idea."

"Harm you're scaring me," she teased.  "What idea?"

"One minute," he promised after a long pause, spotting the turn off he was 
seeking.

"We're not staying in the BOQ tonight are we?"

"No ma'am," he smiled softly as the rental SUV bounced slightly on the old road.  
"There's no housemother at the BOQ.  We put our names in for rooms, but no 
one is going to do bed check.  Good thing too, because this is where we're 
bedding tonight."

"Song of the Desert Cabins?" she gasped, finally looking out the window at the 
sign.  "When did you turn into such a romantic Rabb?"  

"Since I fell in love, really in love, for the first time," he whispered and then gave 
her a helpless look.  "I guess it's just a combination of everything.  My guilt for all 
I've put you through, my gratitude and all, but what inspired me was our talking 
earlier."  He drew her into his arms once more.  "I think it might be time."

"Flyboy you sometimes do have wonderful ideas," she smiled just before his lips 
captured hers.  
 
 They finally parted and made their way to the small building that served as 
 the office for the cabins. Moments later Harm pulled the rental car in front 
 of the cabin they had been given.
 
 "I hope this is okay" Harm said as he opened the door and let her into the 
 cabin. "He said something about a..."
 
 "Hot tub" Mac finished enthusiastically as she quickly made her way through 
 the back patio doors and out to the deck where the large four person hot tub 
 waited.
 
 "Course we didn't pack any suits" he said with a wide smile.
 
 "Who says we need a suit sailor?" Mac grinned back. "We're out here by 
 ourselves."
 
 She started to unbutton her blouse and Harm's gaze never left her as she 
 slowly slid off her uniform.
 
 "You just going to stand there and watch or are you going to join me?" Mac 
 said seductively.
 
 "Well I was enjoying the show" he whispered as he stepped closer to her.
 
 "Need some help Flyboy" Mac smiled as her hands reached up and began to 
 unbutton his shirt. Seconds later it fell to the floor next to the pile of 
 her clothes. "I think you can handle the rest" she whispered. "I'll see you 
 in the hot tub sailor."
 
 He watched her walk out on the deck, admiring the view before stripping down 
 to his boxers. She was already in the tub when he walked out onto the desk, 
 the starry moonlit sky bathing them with light.
 
 "I don't believe I've seen those before" Mac smiled as she did her own 
 admiring of him as he slid into the hot tub beside her. "Knit boxers. Very 
 nice Commander."
 
 "We aim to please" Harm grinned as he drew her into his arms, his lips 
 descending upon hers in a long and passionate kiss.
 
 "Keep that up and we're going to be right back inside" Mac whispered when 
 they finally parted. "Not that I'm complaining of course."
 
 "Is this what you want?" he asked softly.
 
 "More than anything else in the world" she smiled as her arms went around 
 him again.
 
 "I love you Sarah" he whispered before her lips found his again.
 
 "I love you too" she said breathlessly a few moments later.
 
 Without another word he reached for her hand, carefully leading her from the 
 hot tub and back inside. He quickly grabbed a towel from the bathroom and 
 dried her off before leading her to the bed, stopping and looking at her 
 closely.
 
 "Are you sure?" he asked again softly.
 
 "Harm did you ever watch Top Gun?"
 
 For a moment he looked at her like she was crazy. "Uh, I'm sure somewhere 
 along the line but what does that have to do with this?"
 
 "Hammer, you big stud" Mac grinned. "Take me to bed or lose me forever."
 
 "I can arrange that" he smiled.
 
 He lifted her into his arms, their lips meeting as they did so. Seconds 
 later he carefully deposited her onto the bed. The wet knit boxers were 
 quickly discarded as were the rest of her undergarments.
 
 "I love you" they whispered softly to each other before they became one.
 
 She lay in his arms later, her head resting gently on his chest.
 
 "You okay?" he asked softly as he kissed her hair.
 
 "More than okay" she smiled as she raised her head to look up at him.
 "What about you?"
 
 "It's like making love for the first time" he said softly. "Course it was 
 never love until now."
 
 "No it wasn't" Mac whispered as her hand reached up and gently traced his 
 face. "But this is."
 
 "Yes it is" he agreed. "Forever and always. I have no idea what I did to 
 deserve you but I'm going to get down on my knees every night and thank God 
 that you're in my life."
 
 "Me too" Mac smiled. "Cause I don't know what I did to deserve you. And this 
 was a wonderful idea tonight. Much more fun that we would ever have had at 
 the BOQ."
 
 "I second that. Course you know this is just for tonight. Tomorrow we'll 
 probably be knee deep in the case we won't have time to think about this."
 
 "Maybe you won't but I will" Mac teased. "That was quite an impression you 
 made tonight sailor."
 
 "Me or my knit boxers" Harm grinned.
 
 "Both" she managed before his lips found hers again.

"You know this makes things different between us," he said after that long, long 
kiss.

"Yeah now you have to marry me," she laughed and buried her head in his chest, 
teasing him with her lips across the wide expanse of skin.

At once he hooked a finger under her chin and made him look up to her.  "You 
don't doubt for a second that's exactly what I intend to do, right?"

She smiled and shook her head, giving him a tender kiss.  "Not for a second.  
When my sailor makes a promise, he keeps it."

"You bet your butt," he grinned happily.  "It's just that with all. . ."  His voice trailed 
off and she smiled quickly, putting her hand on his cheek.

"Hey I know," she assured him.  "We've got nothing but time.  I just ask that you 
make me a mother before I look like a grandmother."

"Another promise," he grinned.  "But you know what, when I made that first baby 
promise on the steps that night, I was deadly serious."

"So was I mister, so was I," she chortled and grabbed his hand.  "OK, back to the 
hot tub.  Maybe we'll last a little longer there this time."

"Well we made a whole half hour that time," Mac sighed when they had 
abandoned the tub and made love a second time.  "You know what, for an old 
man you've still got it."

"And if we don't get some sleep here we'll be dead tomorrow," he whispered, 
drawing her as close as possible to his warm body, tucking her under him before 
they closed their eyes in sleep.
============
6AM

"You're kidding," Mac groaned when she heard the alarm and her arm flailed to 
turn it off.  "Good morning."

"Good morning," he murmured.  "You're beautiful first thing in the morning you 
know that."

"And you're a lying sack of you know what," she smiled.  "Besides it's not like we 
haven't woke up together like this for a long time now."

"No but it's different this morning isn't it?"

"Yes it is," she smiled contentedly.  "Yes it is.  I feel like--well like I belong totally 
and completely to you, and you to me, and nothing or no one can take that away 
from us."

"Like they could have before," he scoffed and kissed her.

"Well a lot of things--and people--tried and succeeded for a lot of years," she 
whispered, her finger tracing his jawline. 

"Yeah they did," he agreed seriously, "until one horrible night in May when 
everything came clear."

"Crystal," she smiled, "and in terrifying living color that it was all going to be too 
late."

There was silence for a moment and a second later their mouths came together 
in a renewed sense of urgency.  "To hell with the case," he whispered, "for the 
next thirty minutes or however long we need, to hell with the case."
===========================
Naval Air Station
Fallon

Harm pulled up in front of the BOQ, picking an out of the way parking spot so 
they could have a proper goodbye.  "Now we're each going to our rooms and 
emerge as JAG partners, fellow officers, and friends, but nothing more, right?" he 
teased, trying to keep a straight face.

"Nothing more," she laughed and melded into his arms.  They clung together for 
a long minute, and when they emerged from the car, simply nodded and strode 
deliberately into the building.

Fifteen minutes later, they met in the hallway, in full uniform and looked each 
other up and down.

"Good morning Commander," she smiled.

"And Good Morning to you Colonel," he smiled as well, trying to keep an 
otherwise straight face.  "Shall we avail ourselves of breakfast and then start 
checking on the circumstances."

"Yes we shall," she managed to get out before dissolving into laughter.

Two hours later they were in the basement of the hospital, studying the medical 
examiner's reports.  The bodies of the second and third victims were being held 
down the hall pending the outcome of the investigation.  The first had been 
simply released to his family, the NCIS having no inkling then there could be foul 
play.

"Harm I'm not sure I'm going to be up to looking at these bodies," she said softly.  
"I've seen death, even death under fighting, but to have a drawer open and the 
body of a young healthy man slide out in front of me. . ."  Her voice trailed off and 
she shuddered.  "Some Marine I make."

"You are the one Marine I would trust with my life," he smiled and squeezed her 
hand, adding with a barely audible voice, "and certainly the only one I'm in love 
with."

She sniffled slightly and smiled, thinking of the night they had shared.  The 
magical night that had been just like she imagined making love to him would be.  
And she uttered a silent prayer for hundreds more like them in their life together.

Another hour passed and she excused herself to the ladies room, nodding in 
answer to his unspoken but real 'are you OK?'.

Shortly he was lost in thought once more, reading the career file once again of Lt. 
Brian Greene.  

"Harm?"  

He froze before turning around, instinctively trying to identify the voice.  "Terri?"

"None other," she laughed lightly and when he did turn, he found himself 
wrapped in her warm hug of greeting.

"You're looking good Mr. Rabb," Terri said, not releasing him, and it was that 
sight which greeted Mac when she returned from the washroom.

"Commander," she said, hating the fact that the word came out hesitant and 
quiet, and further hating the enormous wave of jealousy and insecurity that was 
washing through her.
  
 "Mac, how are you?" Terri asked as she finally let go of Harm.
 
 "Fine. I wasn't aware you would be joining us" Mac's gaze fell to her 
 partner and Harm knew at once what she was thinking. But before he could 
 reply Terri spoke up.
 
 "I got a call from Captain Mulright yesterday" Terri explained. "He thought 
 I might be able to help you guys out."
 
 "So did you bring her up to speed yet Commander?" Mac asked irritably.
 
 "No Colonel I didn't" Harm retorted. "Terri just got here."
 
 It was on the tip of Mac's tongue to say and because you were too busy 
 hugging her but she managed to bite her tongue before anything came out.
 
 "Actually, I'd like to take a look at the bodies before you tell me 
 anything" Terri replied. "It's going to take me a few hours and there's no 
 sense you two waiting around for me. Why don't we plan on meeting at the 
 O'club for lunch around 13:00?"
 
 "Is that acceptable for you Colonel?" Harm asked, his gaze falling to Mac.
 
 "That's fine."
 
 If Terri detected any of the undercurrent between the two, she didn't voice 
 it outloud.
 
 "All right" she smiled. "I'll see you guys later then."
 
 Harm waited until they were outside the hospital before pulling Mac aside.
 
 "Okay, what is up with you?"
 
 "Nothing" Mac retorted.
 
 "You want to try that again. Because I get the impression you have a problem 
 with Terri being here. God only knows why."
 
 "I do not have a problem with her being here."
 
 "Then what is your problem?" Harm demanded. "Because all of a sudden I'm the 
 bad guy and I have no clue what I did." He stared at her for a moment and 
 she looked away uncomfortably. "Wait. This is because you saw me hugging 
 Terri isn't it?"
 
 She didn't answer and he knew right away he'd hit the nail on the head. He 
 suddenly remembered her hesitation the other day when he'd mentioned calling 
 Terri.
 
 "Mac, I love you" he said quietly. "No one else. Terri Coulter is a friend. 
 That's all."
 
 "You looked pretty friendly in her arms" The words tumbled out before she 
 could stop them and she looked away as she felt tears brimming.
 
 "Friends Mac" he repeated. "Nothing else."
 
 "Only because you were always with someone else" Mac countered. "Jordan, 
 Renee."
 
 "Mac, I'm with you now" Harm reminded her gently.
 
 "Yeah, but she doesn't know that" Mac sighed. "Far as she's concerned, 
 you're available."
 
 "Well, I'm not. If you want me to tell her that you and I are together, I 
 don't have a problem doing that. I'm sure she isn't going to run off and 
 tell the Admiral."
 
 "No, I'll deal with it" Mac said a few seconds later.
 
 "Mac, I love you" Harm repeated again. "I have no desire to be anything but 
 friends with Terri. And if the subject comes up, I'll let her know that's 
 the case. In the meantime, I wish you'd have a little more faith in me."
 
 "Sorry. Something just sort of snapped when I saw you hugging her" Mac 
 admitted. "I know I have no reason not to trust you."
 
 "No, you don't" Harm affirmed. "My heart belongs to only one woman."
 
 "Navy Commander?" Mac teased with a small smile.
 
 "Marine Colonel" Harm corrected softly, glancing around quickly to see if 
 they were alone before pulling her into his arms, his lips descending upon 
 hers in a long kiss.
 
 "What was that for?" she whispered breathlessly when they parted.
 
 "Just so you don't forget who I love" Harm smiled. "Now, what do you say we 
 do some investigating before Captain Mulright calls the Admiral and 
 requests a new set of investigators?"
 
 "Do able" Mac replied. "Where to first?"
 
 "Over to the hanger" Harm said after a moments thought. "We need to start 
 talking to the rest of the guys in the class."
 
 They started across the base to the hanger, Harm's gaze heading upwards as 
 the tomcat's flew overhead.
 
 "You going to be okay with this?" Mac asked gently.
 
 "Yeah, I'll get through it" Harm said with a small smile. "Course if you 
 thought the guys at Pensacola were cocky, just wait till you talk to these 
 guys."
 
 "I can handle them" Mac assured him. "I'm more concerned with how you're 
 going to handle them." Her eyes traveled to the spot on his uniform where 
 the gold wings had previously resided, knowing this wasn't going to be easy 
 for him.

She touched the spot on his shirt and gave him a soft smile.  "In my heart, you'll 
always be my Flyboy."  With that she gave his hand a quick squeeze and shortly 
they reached the hangar from where the murder victims' class was operating.

"Attention on deck," the duty officer announced.

"As you were," Mac rejoined immediately as she and Harm returned the young 
Ensign's salute.  "Ensign we're here to speak to Captain Childress.  Mackenzie 
and Rabb from JAG HQ."

"Yes ma'am.  I'll show you the way to his office."

Now it was Harm and Mac's turn to be attention before their superior, and 
Childress motioned them down.  "I never ever like to see JAG people on my 
territory," he sighed. "And not when I've got a class where three people have 
suddenly just dropped dead.  What if that had happened in the air?  In a matter of 
minutes that aircraft could have been over Reno, hitting some high rise hotel or 
something.  Admiral Walker has grounded this group until the mystery is solved 
and I don't blame him.  Of course this looks bad for me and you can bet I'm not 
going to be the only one to go down in flames."

"Sir we're here to see what happened," Harm soothed.  "And Admiral 
Chegwidden sent you his best."

"You could be a pilot with that attitude," Childress smiled for the first time.

"I was," Harm said and immediately launched into his first question to forestall 
any inquiry into that statement.

They emerged an hour later with little to go on.  Childress simply confirmed what 
the file had shown.  Marcus Keene had been found in his bed that morning--he 
simply did not roll out when the wake up call sounded.  Donald Markowitz 
slumped over in the cockpit during preflight check, and Brian Greene collapsed in 
the chow line after complaining of a sudden terrible headache.

"Time to meet Terri for lunch anyway," Harm sighed, a hand to her back to guide 
her out.  "Then we'll start interviewing each member."

She was silent for the walk to the car and once he started the engine, turning on 
the welcome air conditioning, he turned to her.  "You're going to be OK with this 
Terri thing now right?"

"Harm, there was an attraction there," she pointed out, sidestepping his question.

"Yeah when we first met with the Blackhorse case, yes of course," he admitted, 
"but we both realized it was nothing more than that.  She's a helluva woman, no 
question.  Attractive in her own way, certainly pleasant and funny, not to mention 
brilliant."

She nodded and bit her lip, holding back any comment.

"But. . ." he went on, taking a finger to turn her face to his, "even back then, even 
before Jordan came into my life, I would never have given her serious thought.  
Hell at that time Dalton was gone, so was Annie, and I was having thoughts 
about you and me."

"Oh right," she scoffed.

"No I was, honest," he protested, "but then was Bud and Harriet's wedding and 
the extra work from them being gone, and by the time they came back, well there 
was Russia and all that we went through--all that you did for me there.  Which is 
permanently etched in my memory, second only to what you've put up with for 
these past weeks."

"No need to go over all that," she smiled wanly.  "But OK, I admit to having some 
insecurity--hell let's just call it what it is--some old fashioned jealousy where Terri 
is concerned.  So please, just ignore me and let me work through it.  It's my 
problem."

"You haven't let my problem be quote my problem," he retorted.  "We are 
together in everything here future Mrs. Rabb.  Just be assured that I love you.  
And if Terri and I tease some, well that's the way we are. It's meaningless.  OK?"

"Yeah," she said quietly, wanting him to drop the subject, not at all sure of her 
own feelings in the matter.
=================
Officer's Club,
Fallon NAS

"Hey there you are."  Terri called pleasantly from a nearby table.  "I'm starved 
here."

"How can you eat after doing what you do," Mac sighed as she sat down.  "Just 
thinking about it takes my appetite."

"Now that's a first," Harm smiled.

"Harm sit on the other side of me," Terri requested, a light hand to his arm when 
he moved to sit by Mac.  "I want you to get a good look at this stuff, but let's order 
first.  I'm starved."

"That much I got," Mac murmured, not looking up from her menu."

They gave their orders and Terri opened her files, spreading out pictures on the 
table.  "Of course there was no trauma to the bodies," she went on.  "And nothing 
to indicate cardiac arrest, stroke, anything like that.  Unfortunately the first body 
was cremated, but they did keep some samples so that's one break we caught."

"Is there a point anywhere in our future," Mac sighed, with more irritation that she 
intended.  "Sorry Commander I know you're doing your job."

"This case isn't setting well with Mac," Harm explained and Mac glared at him.

"I'm going way out on a limb, and I won't be sure until I get the tox reports back, 
but I tested for PBH.  Which I'm not going to even begin to say for you, but it's a 
cousin of GHB, the date rape drug," Terri said slowly, looking from one to the 
other, trying to fathom the undercurrents she was sensing.

"Is that a guess?" Mac asked, again in that sharp tone.

"Yes," Terri admitted, eyeing her curiously, "but it's a pretty educated one."

"Commander we need cold hard facts here," Mac retorted.  "Guesses, educated 
or not, we're not going to be able to take into court."

"Mac I said I was awaiting the tox reports," Terri answered, now looking to Harm 
in confusion.

Harm simply shook his head slightly, not sure how to tread in these waters.

"OK, see I think maybe they were slipped a sedative and then the drug injected.  
It's a slow acting drug."  She paused to pull out another picture, this time a close 
up of a foot.  "I think it could have been injected between the nail and skin on the 
big toes."

"Excuse me please," Mac said softly, standing up slowly, wanting to make a 
dignified retreat to the ladies room and not quite succeeding.

"Terri, I told you she was not handling this well," Harm hissed, his concern for her 
obvious as he stared after her for a moment.

"Harm I'm sorry," Terri gasped in true surprise.  "I mean I thought she would be 
OK.  She's a Marine after all and an investigator and. . ."

"And I've put her through hell these past weeks," he finished for her.  "Excuse 
me."

 He ran to the ladies room, leaving a stunned Terri sitting at the table. 
 There was obviously something between the two partners, something that 
 hadn't been there the last time she'd seen them together. Course at that 
 time Harm had been with Renee Peterson and Mac with Mic Brumby. Obviously 
 something had happened during the past few months to change all that.
 
 "Mac" Harm called as he knocked on the door to the ladies room, praying 
 no one would see him going in. "Mac"
 
 She was bending over the sink, rinsing her pale face with cold water.
 
 "You okay?" he asked softly as he walked over to her.
 
 "Anything but" she said with a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I know the way I just 
 acted was totally inappropriate."
 
 "At the risk of getting decked, yeah I'll agree" Harm said quietly.
 
 "Right now I'm too upset and tired to care that you agree" Mac whispered, 
 the tears slowly sliding down her face. "And now I'm going to sit here and 
 cry..." Her voice broke off and at once he gathered her into his arms.
 
 "It's okay" he soothed. "I've put you through so much these past few weeks 
 and now this case and I know it's not easy for you."
 
 "And now I'm sitting here crying like a baby in my partners arms" Mac 
 wailed. "I couldn't even handle those pictures. What kind of Marine am I?"
 
 "Not just your partner, but the man who happens to love you" Harm said 
 gently. "And you are an excellent Marine. Who as I'll remind you again has 
 already had enough to deal with thanks to her partner. As for the pictures, 
 Mac, you're not a pathologist like Terri. She looks at dead bodies all the 
 time. You don't."
 
 He held her tightly and she buried her head in his shoulder, seeking the 
 comfort of his arms at that moment. His hands gently stroked her head as he 
 whispered soothing words.
 
 Neither saw the door to the bathroom open slightly and Terri poke her head 
 in. She said nothing and quietly closed the door again.
 
 "I guess we should get back before Terri thinks I'm a complete head case" 
 she said quietly.
 
 "You want to take the afternoon off?" Harm asked. "You can go back and rest 
 at the BOQ for a while."
 
 "No" Mac said with a deep breath. "You and I have an investigation to 
 conduct here today. And me sitting in my room isn't going to get us any 
 further along."
 
 "All right, but if this becomes to much for you, I want you to tell me" Harm 
 said seriously. "You ready to go back out there now?"
 
 "Ready as I'll ever be" Mac said with a long sigh. "Let's go."
 
 They headed back to the table, Terri still sitting there pouring over the 
 files.
 
 "Mac, you okay?" she asked.
 
 "Yeah I'm fine" Mac said with a forced smile. "I'm really sorry I snapped at 
 you earlier. This kind of stuff isn't easy for me to handle."
 
 "It's okay" Terri assured her. "Not everyone can deal with this. I tend to 
 forget that sometimes. I'm so used to it now that it doesn't bother me."
 
 "Thanks" Mac said quietly.
 
 Lunch passed without further incident and once they were finished Terri 
 stood up to leave.
 
 "I'm going to go check and see if the lab results are in yet. I'll meet you 
 guys back here later and see if you come up with anything."
 
 "Sounds good" Harm nodded. "18:00 for dinner?"
 
 She nodded and headed out, leaving them alone again.
 
 "I think we should start talking to their roommates" Harm said when Terri 
 was gone. "If they were all drugged, maybe we can find a common thread 
 between the three."
 
 "Works for me" Mac said as she stood up.
 
 They made their way to the quarters of the Top Gun students and moments 
 later knocked on the door to Lt. Keene's roommate and RIO.
 
 "Lt. Mayfield, I'm Commander Rabb and this is Colonel Mackenzie from JAG" 
 Harm introduced them. "We're here to talk to you about Lt. Keene."
 
 "Yeah sure come in" the Lt. said as he led them into his quarters. "I hope 
 there's something I can tell you that will help figure this all out."
 
 "Why don't you start by telling us a little about Lt. Keene" Mac spoke up. 
 "Who he hung out with, places he went. That kind of thing."
 
 An hour later they'd learned that Lt. Marcus Keene had hung out at one of 
 the local bars outside the base, a place frequented by base personnel. 
 According to his roommate, he had no steady girlfriend, but had been known 
 to pick up a local girl from the bar from time to time. There had been no 
 indication of any personal problems, and no reason why anyone would have 
 wanted to hurt him.
 
 "So he got along with everyone else in the class?" Mac asked.
 
 "As well as you can considering we're all going for the Top Gun Trophy 
 ma'am" Lt. Mayfield replied. "The only guy you really trust is your partner. 
 I'm sure you know how that is."

"Very well," Harm smiled disarmingly. "With my life.  You've never known Marcus 
to do drugs I take it."

"Sir you know we're subject to random drug testing around here.  I swear 
everytime we turn around we're being handed a cup to pi. . .to use, excuse me.  
No way.  And Marcus wanted this so bad sir, ma'am.  He wanted it so bad he 
could taste it.  And then that morning he didn't get up I didn't know what to do."  
The young man looked back and forth frantically from Harm to Mac.

"Did he get in the night before on time?" Mac asked.

"No ma'am," Mayfield sighed.  "He said he fell asleep and had to sleep it off 
before he could get back to the base.  I didn't pay that much attention, barely 
woke up when he crawled in."

"Time?"

Mayfield shrugged helplessly.  "I didn't look at the clock.  Didn't want to open my 
eyes that wide, but it was still dark if that helps."

"Not a lot," Harm frowned.  "And then he didn't get up at reveille?.  

"No sir.  I shook him, and he was all cold."

"How well did you know the other victims?"

"About the same as the rest of the class," Mayfield sighed.  "We partied together, 
worked together and so forth, but I was only close with Marcus.  We know we're 
all going to be split up at graduation so it's better not to get too attached."

Several more questions later, Harm closed his notebook and Mac followed suit.  
"Keep yourself available Lieutenant, and if you want to talk to us, well we're 
around."

Meetings with the RIO's of Markowitz and Greene provided similar information 
regarding the night before their death.  

"Harm look at this class list," Mac pointed out.  "We're going to need to split it up 
and talk to these people separately or we're going to be all of tomorrow if we go 
together to each of them.  Frankly I'm not sure what they can provide since the 
RIO's knew so little."

"OK, I guess," he agreed reluctantly.  "We should go see what Terri found out I 
guess.  And I want to check out that bar that keeps coming up.  Country music no 
less.  The Bird of Paradise?"

"OK you can't tell me when you took this at Miramar that you didn't have a hang 
out," Mac she scoffed.

"I stayed in my room and studied every night," he grinned.  

"Boots, I need hip boots," she wailed.

Harm laughed and hooked his arm around her neck.  "Come on let's find 
Commander Coulter."

"Harm let me," she spoke up suddenly.

"Mac she's at the morgue," he protested.  "You don't want to. . ."

"Yes I do," she said firmly.  "I need to apologize for one thing, and for another. . 
.well I think she and I might do this case some good if we talked.  It's a woman 
thing."

"Well excuuuuse me," he chortled.  "OK.  I'm going back to the hangar then and 
talk to the mechanics.  Sometimes they know a lot more than pilots."

She was quiet while Harm drove her back to the hospital and as she started to 
get out he caught her arm.  "Mac you don't have to do this.  You have nothing to 
prove to anyone, least of all me."

"I do to myself," she said softly.  "I'm pretty bothered by how I acted earlier.  And 
I'd like to square it with Terri.  Humor me please."

"Promise you'll call me if you need me?"

"Yeah," she nodded quietly, leaning back to accept his quick kiss before exiting 
the car.

"Terri?"  She knocked lightly on the door, seeing her through the window panel 
but not wanting to startle her.

"Mac come in," Terri called.  "No Harm?"

That familiar tightening in her belly again, but she forced her voice calm.  "No he 
went to talk to some of the tool-heads over there.  We're trying to not duplicate 
the effort here or we'll never get through this.  What's the word on the lab 
results?"

"Non existent at the moment," she sighed.  "How about getting a cold drink in the 
lounge?"

"I'd like that," Mac smiled.  "I was hoping we could talk."

Settled on a pleasant porch off the snack bar with cold sodas, Mac and Terri both 
started to speak at once.  "No go ahead please," Mac urged.

"About lunch," Terri said slowly.  "I am so sorry.  I honestly didn't think.  My god 
I've gotten so I can eat a sandwich with one hand and cut out a liver with the 
other.  It's a skill you learn quick, or this job will burn you out in a year.  So 
sometimes in the heat of an investigation, I just start presenting my findings, not 
even thinking that someone could be bothered."

"Much more bothered than an investigator should be," Mac sighed.  "I'm sorry.  
Sorry because I made you look bad when you did nothing wrong and that was 
not my intention."

"Well Harm certainly was right after you," Terri smiled.  "I was afraid he was 
going to be arrested for peeping or something."

"He worries about me," Mac smiled, adding carefully, "we've been through a lot 
since his crash in May."

"Is that why he doesn't wear his wings?" she asked quietly.  "I didn't want to ask 
him."
 

 "I'm glad you didn't" Mac said quietly. "It's not something that's easy for 
 him to talk about right now. He just feels that until he gets back up there 
 again he doesn't want to wear the wings."
 
 "When's he going to requal?"
 
 "I don't know" Mac said honestly. It was a subject that she avoided with 
 Harm because she knew how hard it was for him to deal with. Simply flying on 
 a commercial jet was enough of an experience for him.
 
 "Sounds like this hit him pretty hard this time" Terri replied. "But it 
 seems like you are a lot closer than you were before."
 
 "Almost losing your best friend is quite a wake up call. I was on the helo 
 that found him" she added softly.
 
 "How'd you manage that?"
 
 "A friend at Andrews and a little help from the Man upstairs" Mac smiled.
 
 "Didn't all this happen the night before your wedding?"
 
 "Yes it did" Mac admitted quietly. "And as I'm sure you figured out I didn't 
 marry Mic."
 
 "Because of Harm?" Terri prodded.
 
 "Because of a lot of things" Mac said quickly.
 
 "And Renee is out of the picture as well now?" Terri asked.
 
 Mac nodded but didn't say a word. She didn't want to get into this any 
 deeper with Terri. At least not yet. Her and Harm's relationship wasn't 
 something she was ready to share just yet.
 
 **************************
 "Lt. Billy Jeffries" Harm asked as he walked up to the young man.
 
 "Yes sir" he said as he came to attention.
 
 "At ease. I'm Commander Rabb from JAG. I'm looking into the deaths of your 
 three classmates."
 
 "Captain Childress mentioned you might be around to talk to us" Billy 
 Jeffries replied, studying Harm carefully. "Hey, aren't you the guy who 
 crashed back in May. Your crash was the first of three caused by some 
 mechanical problem that you found."
 
 "Yeah that would be me" Harm said with a long sigh.
 
 "You don't fly anymore?" Billy asked, immediately noticing the missing wings. 
 "You turned your wings back in?"
 
 "Not yet, but I'm not wearing them right now" Harm replied. "I haven't 
 gotten requalified yet."
 
 "Why not?" the young man asked with amazement. "You're the one with two 
 DFC's right. You can't tell me you're not going to get back up there."
 
 "One day. Now do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your classmates 
 that were killed?"
 
 "Sorry sir. Of course. I'll be happy to help out in any way. We all want to 
 win the Trophy here but none of us want to get it by default."
 
 Harm suddenly remembered that two of the deceased had been one and two in 
 the points standings. The idea that someone would kill to get the Top Gun 
 trophy hadn't crossed his mind.
 
 "Keene and Markowitz were at the top weren't they?" Harm asked and Billy 
 nodded.
 
 "Keene was good. Real good. The rest of us didn't stand a chance against 
 him. Only Markowitz was close to being as good as him."
 
 "Did you ever go to the Bird of Paradise Bar?" Harm asked.
 
 "Of course, all of us hung out there" Billy replied.
 
 "Ever see any of the deceased there?"
 
 "All the time. Keene picked up some chick there right before he was died."
 
 "You remember her name?" Harm asked.
 
 "Julie" Billy replied. "Julie Kapner. She's a waitress there."
 
 Harm nodded, deciding that a trip to the Bird of Paradise might be the next 
 item on his agenda list.
 
 "Is that all?" Billy asked.
 
 "For now. If I think of anything else, I'll stop back."
 
 "Yes sir" Billy replied. "Good to meet you sir. Hope you get back in the 
 saddle soon. You know they say the longer you're away from it the harder it 
 is to get back into."
 
 "Yeah I know" Harm said with a forced smile.
 
 He left the Lt.'s quarters feeling out of sorts again. As he walked to the 
 car, the familiar roar of the tomcat engine made him look up. He watched for 
 several moments as they did their maneuvers, wondering if he'd ever find 
 himself in the cockpit again.
 
 "Two DFC's and you're afraid to fly in a commercial jet" he muttered to 
 himself as he climbed into his car. He didn't deserve to wear the wings and 
 he wondered if maybe he shouldn't just admit defeat and turn them in once 
 and for all.
 
 He started the car, intending to head back to the hospital and pick up Mac. 
 But he soon found the car leaving the base, heading in the direction of the 
 Bird of Paradise Bar. He wasn't ready to face Mac and Terri just yet.  And feeling 
the need for a cold beer was only part of it.  He was also investigating.  Or so he 
told himself.  Right now the only thing he was motivated to investigate was that 
cold beer.

He found the place easily enough, and from the cars with the temporary military 
stickers on them, knew the information they were given was correct.  All 
installations seemed to have that one place that was 'the' place to go.

Casually he approached the bar and ordered a long-neck bottle, turning to look 
around at the small group gathered there.  

"Commander Rabb?"

"That's right."  He stared at the young man for a long minute before placing him, 
having seen a string of new faces. 

"Dixon, sir.  Pete Dixon, Don Markowitz's RIO."

"Sorry, having a hard time keeping names matched to faces," Harm smiled.  "Buy 
you a beer son?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Dixon grinned.  "Lets get a table."

Harm nodded, following the young man to a corner table.  If he had something on 
his mind, a beer and the relaxed setting could only help him to spill it.

"Hey Julie, Mr. Rabb is buying," Dixon called.  "I'll have what he's got."

"Well I'll have what he's got too," Julie smiled, flirting outrageously as she 
sauntered over, putting her hands on his shoulders.  "How about it cowboy."

Harm was about to object when he realized. . .Julie.  Julie Kapner.  Keene's pick 
up.  "Julie I've heard a lot about you from the guys at the school."

"Well don't tell me you're a student there," she smiled.  "I mean no offense, but 
you're not exactly. . .well you're old enough. . ."

"The commander is looking into the deaths," Dixon said quietly.  "And I'm sure 
he's wanting to speak to you about them."

"The commander is off duty and working on a beer," Harm spoke up.  "So while I 
do want to speak to the lovely young woman, it's not about the murders.  Not at 
the moment.  I do reserve the right to return to that subject thank you."

"I've got a break coming due myself," Julie announced.  "Pete let me get you that 
beer and one for myself if that's OK with Mr. Rabb's tab."

Harm gave her an affirmative gesture with his bottle and shortly she returned with 
another for him, as well as one for herself and Dixon. 

"Tell me about yourself Mr. Rabb," Julie invited.

"Harm," he specified.  "And I'd much rather hear about you if you don't mind."  
The Rabb charm at full throttle.
===================
"You're not real comfortable talking about this with me," Terri observed gently.

Mac gave her a small smile.  "I'm not comfortable talking about it with anyone.  
Harm and I, well we're right now trying to get past what happened."

"Exactly how badly was he traumatized?," Terri frowned.

"He's working through it, with my help and the help of a professional," she 
answered guardedly.  "In a lot of ways, he's his normal self."  She laughed and 
went on, "you know the guy, arrogant, cocky, pig headed stubborn."

"So far I'm right with you.  But he has his moments?"

"Yes he does," Mac nodded.  "Moments when he doesn't manage as good as he 
should yes admittedly.  But he's determined to get through it.  And too much talk 
about that is not good for his career.  He's not a candidate for a padded cell."  
She spoke her last words more sharply than she intended and Terri gave her a 
tolerant smile.

"Mac, no one said--or even thinks--that.  But they might if you are too quick to 
defend him you know.  Just a bit of advice."

Mac bit back the first comment that popped into her head and instead answered 
quietly.  "I would both die and kill for him Commander.  And that's enough on that 
subject.  How about those lab results?"

"He's lucky to have someone like you," Terri smiled, knowing when to back off.  
"Yes let's go light a fire under that tech."
  
 Minutes later they had the results.
 
 "Just as I suspected" Terri said as she read over the technicians report. 
 "PBH. Definitely no accidental deaths here."
 
 "Okay, so we know we've got a murderer on the base" Mac sighed. "Now we just 
 have to figure out who and why."
 
 "What time was Harm coming back?" Terri asked as she checked her watch.
 
 *******************
 
 "So you are a pilot?" Julie smiled at Harm. "I wasn't sure. Why aren't you 
 wearing your Gold Wings?"
 
 "Not flying at the moment" Harm replied before taking another swig of his 
 third beer.
 
 "Why not?" Julie inquired. "You get grounded or something."
 
 "Crashed" Harm admitted.
 
 "Hey, yeah you're the guy who spent the night in the ocean" Lt. Dixon said 
 as he looked at Harm. "I wasn't sure at first. Man, that must have sucked."
 
 "That's one way of putting it"
 
 "So are you ever going to fly again?" Julie asked.
 
 "Julie's only asking cause she doesn't date anyone unless they're a pilot" 
 Dixon grinned. "Ain't that right sweetie."
 
 "Yes sir" Julie smiled.
 
 "Technically I'm still a pilot" Harm said as he flashed her his flyboy grin.
 
 "Yeah you are" Julie sighed. "Tell me, do you guys practice that smile in 
 flight school?"
 
 "Of course we do. So you only date pilots. You and Lt. Keene go out a few 
 times?"
 
 "We did" Julie admitted. "Nothing serious though. I haven't found Mr. Right 
 yet." Her eyes never left Harm's and he took another long swig of beer.
 
 "Maybe you haven't met him yet" Harm offered.
 
 "Uh oh" Dixon said as he looked up. "Trouble just walked in."
 
 Both Harm and Julie turned to look and Julie gave a long sigh. "I wish that 
 loser would realize he doesn't belong in here anymore."
 
 "Someone want to fill me in?" Harm asked as he looked at the tall skinny 
 blonde headed young man who'd just walked in.
 
 "Lt. Craig Morgan" Dixon supplied. "Used to be one of the top in the class."
 
 "What happened?" Harm asked.
 
 "He pushed the limits one too many times" Dixon replied. "Nearly got himself 
 and his RIO killed more than once. The final straw came when he had a near 
 miss with Keene. If Keene hadn't been the pilot he was, both he and Mayfield 
 would have been dead."
 
 "Well now he is" Harm added somberly. "So Morgan was kicked out of Top 
Gun?"
 
 "Yep. I heard there's an Article 32 pending. He'll never fly again that's 
 for sure. Captain Childress will make sure of that."
 
 "Hey Julie" Craig called from the spot he'd taken at the bar. "You going to 
 serve me or what?"
 
 "I'm on break Craig" she retorted. "I'm sure Jim will be happy to take care 
 of you."
 
 "If you won't come and see me I'll just come to you" Craig said as he made 
 his way over. "Who's your new friend?"
 
 "None of your business" Julie replied.
 
 "Commander Harmon Rabb, JAG" Harm offered.
 
 "What are you doing hanging out with him. I thought you only hung out with 
 pilots."
 
 "He is a pilot" Julie said smugly as she draped her arm over Harm's 
 shoulder. "Now what do you want Craig?"
 
 "You and I have some unfinished business."
 
 "We are finished" Julie sighed. "I have nothing left to say to you."
 
 "Well I still have something to say to you" Craig said as he reached for 
 her arm. Before he could grab her, Harm's arm intercepted him.
 
 "I think the lady said she'd rather not talk to you" Harm said coldly.
 
 "And I think you should mind your own business mister" Craig sneered.
 
 "Morgan, let it go" Harm warned.
 
 For a moment the young man considered the tall Commander before him before 
 yanking his arm away.
 
 "This ain't over" he said to Julie and Harm before walking out of the bar.
 
 "Well I don't know about you but I need another beer" Julie sighed. "Harm?"
 
 "Yes sure" Harm replied. "So you dated Morgan?"
 
 "When he was at Top Gun. Of course when I found out he wasn't ever going to 
 be fly again, I broke it off."
 
 "Is that when you started dating Keene?"
 
 "Yeah, maybe?" she shrugged. "Does it matter?"
 
 "It might" Harm sighed. "How about that beer?"
 
 *************************
 
 "Dammit Harm where are you?" Mac sighed as she snapped her cell phone 
shut.
 
 "No answer again?" Terri asked and Mac shook her head.
 
 "I don't understand. He said he was going over to talk to the mechanics and 
 then he'd be back. He didn't say he was going anywhere."
 
 "Mac, I'm sure he's okay" Terri said gently, detecting the worry in Mac's 
 voice.
 
 "In case you forgot, we have three dead pilots at this base already" Mac 
 snapped, her fear for the man she loved growing by the second.

"OK OK," Terri soothed, not needing an hysterical JAG partner on her hands.  "I 
can't leave here just now--I'm waiting on some reports and a phone call.  But take 
my car and go over to the hangar.  Bet you find him there, dead cell phone in 
pocket, jacking his jaw with some pilot while they look for the measuring stick."

Mac smiled slightly at that, realizing she was over-dramatizing slightly.  "Thanks 
a lot.  I owe you big time."

Terri handed her the keys.  "White Malibu on the side.  Call me when you find 
him."

By the time Mac reached the hangar on the other side of the base, most of the 
men had gone and there was no sign of Harm or his car.

"Ensign where is everyone?" Mac asked, using that tone when she wanted a 
straight answer.  "Commander Rabb specifically."

"I recall him leaving about two hours ago ma'am, but he was alone.  I was out at 
my car and he blew past me.  Heading down the road that way ma'am toward 
town. . .well toward the Bird of Paradise actually is more likely."

"Thank you Ensign."  She got back in the car and closed the door before she 
allowed herself to make a noise of frustration over him, a small screeching sound 
that made her sound eerily like her mother and she stopped at once, deciding 
instead simply to kill him.
=====================
BIRD OF PARADISE Saloon

"Ready for another Commander?"

"Yeah I. . .no good god is that the time?" Harm frowned.  "I was supposed to 
meet my partner an hour ago.  She's going to kill me."

"You know you could be married and be whipped," Dixon commented and Harm 
shot him a deadly glare, thinking guiltily of Mac, and her place in his life.  He rose 
from the table and took a step, finding his footing none to steady.

"Commander stay and have some coffee," Julie urged.

"No I'll be fine as soon as I get out in the air," he insisted.  "Two beers don't affect 
me."

"Three," Dixon corrected, earning him another glare.

"You people keep yourselves available," Harm ordered.  "This isn't done, but 
thanks the afternoon.  I needed the distraction."

He got the car pointed back toward the base, keeping the window open to allow 
the fresh air to hit his face.  He was not drunk, but nor was he completely sober.  
"I'm coming Mac," he sighed.  "Prepare to kill me."

Being a back desert road, it was sparsely traveled and Mac had met only two 
oncoming cars when she saw coming over the rise what she knew to be the front 
of their own rental car.  "OK Rabb, and this better be good," she muttered and 
leaned hard on the horn to get his attention.

Harm had been on the verge of dozing, keeping only half an eye on the road.  
The blast of the horn startled him and he jerked the wheel, sending the car 
sideways into the oncoming lane.  Instinctively he slammed the brakes, bringing 
it to a halt across the lane.  

At first Mac froze, her mind unable to comprehend that Harm's car was directly in 
the path of her own.  With a small cry of fear she crushed the brake pedal.  The 
tires screamed in protest, the noise joined a second later by the impact and metal 
ground against metal glass shattered deafeningly.  The airbag slammed into her 
chest and her next breath brought pain and then blackness.

For Harm the impact rocked him back and forth as he instinctively held the wheel 
as tightly as he could.  The airbag did not trigger since it was a side impact and 
his head slammed into the door frame.  Blood trickled down from the resulting 
gash and he irritably wiped it away before pushing his way out of the door, 
intending to check on the other driver.

"Hey in there, you OK?" he yelled as he approached the car, even more alarmed 
to see smoke begin to roll from beneath the hood.  "Hey this thing could blow.  
Let's get you out of there."  The driver was all but obscured by the spent airbag, 
slumped over the wheel, and he yanked the door open and pushed the bag 
away.  It was then that he saw and his blood turned to ice.  "Mac.  Oh god Mac."
 
  
 
 For a moment he couldn't move, stunned by what he'd just done. Finally 
 something in his brain clicked and he leaned into the car.
 
 "Mac, honey, it's Harm, can you hear me?" he whispered as he gently leaned 
 her back against the seat.
 
 He was rewarded with a low moan seconds later.
 
 "Mac, come on, open those beautiful brown eyes for me" he pleaded. To his 
 infinte relief she finally forced them open.
 
 "Hurts" she whispered, the pain in her voice tearing at his heart. In a 
 hundred years he'd never imagined he could hurt her like this.
 
 "I'm so sorry" he whispered. "I'm going to call for an ambulance right now. 
 You stay here and I'll be right back." He started to back away from the car, 
 only to have her arm reach for him.
 
 "No Harm don't" she said quietly. "I'm okay." Even in her dazed state she 
 hadn't missed the smell of alcohol on his breath.
 
 "You're anything but okay. I want you to go to the hospital."
 
 "And I don't want you to end up in the brig" she cried softly, giving into 
 both the tears of pain and frustration.
 
 "I don't care about what happens to me" he said quietly,leaning into the car 
 again to gently gather her into his arms, mindful that she'd probably 
 bruised some ribs. "All I care about is making sure you're okay."
 
 "You don't look so good yourself there sailor" she said as she pulled away, 
 her fingers gently going over the cut on the side of his head that still 
 seemed to be bleeding.
 
 "I don't care about me" he repeated. "But I'm going to the car and getting 
 my cell phone and calling an ambulance for you."
 
 "NO" She grabbed his arm again, tears streaming down her face. "I won't let 
 you do this to your career. You know what will happen if anyone finds out."
 
 "The hell with my career" Harm nearly shouted. "All I care about is you. I 
 hurt you. Don't you get it. All I've done is hurt you.  You should have just 
 left me to die that night."
 
 Her eyes widened at his words, a loud sob escaping. "Don't you ever say that 
 again" she sobbed. "I love you Harmon Rabb. I would have died that night if 
 you hadn't lived."
 
 "You would have been better off without me"
 
 "Stop it" she shouted. "I would never be better off without you. What will 
 it take for you to realize that?"
 
 "Nothing" he said quietly. "Because I don't deserve you. And you don't 
 deserve what I've done to you these past months. Now, I'm going to get my 
 cell phone so I can call for the police and an ambulance."
 
 "Harm, please" she begged, sliding out of the seat of the car when he didn't 
 stop.
 
 "Are you crazy, what are you doing?" he demanded as he hurried back to her 
 side, gently helping her to the ground.
 
 "I'm trying to stop you from throwing away your career and your life" she 
 cried.
 
 "Mac, please"
 
 "No" she said stubbornly. "I do not need to go to the hospital. What I need 
 is to go back to my room and take a hot bath and some advil and I'll be 
 fine."
 
 "You need a doctor."
 
 "Fine. I know a doctor. We'll call her. We have to anyway. It's her car I 
 was in."
 
 "If you mean Terri, the answer is no" Harm said firmly. "She is not a 
 medical doctor. And I don't want anyone else lying for me."
 
 "Harm, she's going to find out anyway when I tell her about the car. Now 
 hand me the cell phone and I'll call her."
 
 Without a word he did as she directed before walking over to take a look at 
 the car. Their rental was still driveable, but Terri's wasn't.
 
 "Terri will be here in a few minutes" she said quietly when he wandered back 
 over to where she was sitting.
 
 He nodded but didn't say a word and Mac knew he was sinking back into his 
 mood.
 
 "You want to tell me how many beers you had tonight?" she asked gently.
 
 "Three or four" he shrugged.
 
 "I don't suppose you had anything to eat with those three or four beers did 
 you?"
 
 "No" he said with a long sigh. "Look, can we not talk about this. Looking at 
 you in pain and seeing what I've done here tonight is hard enough to deal 
 with."
 
 He stood up, his stomach starting to churn, the lack of food coupled with 
 the beer and the stress of what had happened causing it to revolt.
 He managed to make it to the other side of the car before what little he'd 
 eaten for lunch came back up.
 
 "Harm" Mac called anxiously as she pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the 
 pain in her ribs as she hurried over to where he was. "Harm"
 
 "I'm okay" he said a few seconds later. "Please go and sit until Terri gets 
 here."
 
 "Not unless you sit with me" she said stubbornly, tugging his arm at the 
 same time. "You are in no better shape than I am."

"Not only have I hurt you dozens of times emotionally, now I'm the direct cause of 
your physical pain," he snapped, pulling his arm away.  "You need to stay away 
from me Sarah Mackenzie.  I'm poison to you right now.  In fact you need help.  I 
keep hurting you and you keep coming back to me.  Why in god's name do you 
do that to yourself."

"Because you screaming idiot, I happen to love you," she shouted and her ribs 
screamed out their own protest.  She doubled over and dropped to the sand.

"Mac. . .Sarah," he gasped and dropped down with her, gingerly lifting her to 
cradle onto his lap.  "I'm so sorry.  When we get back to D.C. we're going to take 
a good long look at where we are and where we're going because I can't live with 
what I'm doing to you."

She stiffened in his arms and despite his  holding her and the pain from her ribs 
that ensued, she pushed herself up from him.  "OK you better hear me mister," 
she hissed, her voice low and deadly when she was making a point.  "I love you.  
I love you with every fiber of my being and I do know what I'm talking about.  I 
spent over a year of my life with a man I tried to convince myself I loved but 
didn't.  So I know the difference.  And I know that I can't live without you in my 
life.  As I've often told you I almost learned what that would have been like.  I 
won't go there again.  You're not going to walk out of my life Harmon David 
Rabb.  I love you, and I need you and yes that includes you with all your faults.  
Of which they are numerous but then so are mine.  And what happened here 
we're going to get through."

She stopped to breathe through the pain and when she focused on his face she 
was surprised to find two silent tears snaking their way down his cheeks.

"It's OK, I promise you," she whispered, her finger tracing the tracks the tears 
had left.  "We're going to get through this."

"I don't know how," he whispered as well, turning his face from hers.

"Look at me."

No response.

"I said look at me damn you," she ordered, forcibly turning his face to hers. 
"Good.  Now do you love me?"

"Mac I don't. . ."

"Answer me Harmon Rabb.  Right now."  Her dark eyes, still filled with pain, 
pierced his heart.

"With all my heart and soul," he breathed, and at that moment both knew the sum 
total of the truth.  "Is that enough?"

"It is for me," she said firmly.  "Because everything else is just small potatoes."

He shuddered and sniffled, and a grimace of pain passed across his face.  

"You need to be looked at," she said softly, touching his gash with gentle fingers.  

Before he could answer there was the sound of an approaching car and both 
looked in that direction.  It had been just sheer luck that no one else had 
happened along.  

"Terri," Mac hoped and sure enough a government sedan pulled up beside the 
two wrecked cars. 

"Harm?  Mac?"  Terri stepped from her car and looked around frantically.

"Here Terri," Harm called.  "Thank god you're here.  Mac needs a doctor."

Terri could not take her eyes from the wreckage as she walked to them.  "You 
should have called an ambulance right away," she gasped, seeing Mac lying 
against Harm and the blood running down the side of his head.

"Thank you.  That's what I said but stubborn Marine here. . ."

"Stubborn Marine does not want pig headed partner in trouble," Mac spoke up, 
and Terri nodded, smelling alcholol from Harm and recalling Mac's words that 
she would die for him.

"I'm afraid for her Terri," Harm pleaded.  "She is a lot of pain here."

"Does that include the one in the rear?  She told me on the phone basically what 
happened so I wouldn't be shocked when I saw my car."

"Terri I'm OK, like I told you," Mac protested, "and the rental car is totally insured 
by the government."

"Well mine's just a loaner too," Terri scoffed.  "Look we can talk all that later.  
Right now we need to get you two looked at."

"NO."  Mac sat up more fully and pulled out of his grasp.  "He doesn't need a 
drunk driving charge on his file."  Her eyes flashed indignantly and Terri smiled.  
Here was a she-lion protecting her mate.

"He doesn't care what happens to him as long as she's OK," he objected.

"Look, most likely the airbag simply has bruised her chest wall and made her ribs 
sore," Terri soothed.  "Painful but not critical.  You on the other hand are bleeding 
and that does need to be taken care of.  I think we can handle it among 
ourselves though."  She gave a long sigh and looked at the cars.  "And this road 
is not public--it's on the Navy's property so we don't need to notify the state or 
county."

"Then we can just call a tow and let the insurance fight it out."

"Then that means you're both covering up for me," Harm sighed miserably.

"It won't do anyone any good for you to have a drinking gig in your jacket," Terri 
pointed out.  "It won't change what happened here.  Besides, I think the guilt 
you're living with right now is worse than any punishment an Article 32 might 
impose."

"You got that right," Harm murmured, looking down at where Mac was still 
holding to her ribs.

"First thing is to get both of you back to the hospital.  The basement will have 
cleared out by now and I can tend to your head and wrap those ribs.  Mac can 
you drive?"

She nodded and Harm's arms went immediately around her to help her up.  

"Put her in the car Harm and then we'll push mine to the side," Terri directed.

"You OK?" Harm asked anxiously as they started off, following Terri now.

"I will be soon as I know you are," she replied, nodding to the cut on his head.
 
 "I'll be fine" he sighed as he leaned his head back against the seat, the 
 combination of the hit and the alcohol causing a pounding that didn't want 
 to stop.
 
 "Yeah we'll see how fine you are when we get back to the hospital" Mac 
 retorted. "That gash isn't pretty."
 
 "Well I'm sure the bruises on your ribs aren't either" he countered. He was 
 about to say more when his stomach revolted again. "Pull over" he managed 
 and Mac quickly maneuvered the car to the side of the road. He managed to 
 get out of the car before vomiting again. He sank weakly back into the seat 
 when he was finished and Mac reached a gentle hand to his forehead.
 
 "How you doing?" she asked softly.
 
 "Shoot me now" he moaned.
 
 "Don't tempt me" she teased. "You gonna be okay?"
 
 "Yeah keep going" Harm said as he pulled the door closed. "I'll holler if I 
 think that's going to happen again."
 
 He managed to make it back to the base without further incident and Terri 
 quickly smuggled the pair down the backstairs and into the basement of the 
 hospital.
 
 "Okay, who's first?" Terri asked.
 
 "Him" "Her"
 
 "Executive decision here" Terri sighed. "Harm, have a seat. I'll take care 
 of that cut first."
 
 "No, take care of Mac first" Harm protested. "I'm fine."
 
 "Yeah and you're going to bleed all over the place" Terri retorted. "Now sit 
 so I can clean out that cut and see whether or not I need to stitch that 
 up."
 
 "It doesn't need stitches" he sighed as he sank down in the chair. "It's 
 just a little cut."
 
 She shook her head and proceeded to clean out the gash. He gasped when she 
 put the antiseptic on and Mac reached for his hand. He gave her a small 
 smile of appreciation and Terri knew there was definitely more between these 
 two than Mac had told her.
 
 "You're lucky I don't get to practice my stitching skills tonight" Terri 
 smiled when she'd finished cleaning it. "It's nasty but it doesn't need 
 stitches."
 
 "Good, now you can take care of Mac" Harm said as she finished taping the 
 gash. "Your turn Marine."
 
 A half-hour later Mac's ribs had been taped and Terri has secured some pain 
 medication for her as well. "All set. You'll both be hurting in the morning 
 but fortunately neither of you were seriously injured."
 
 "Thanks for doing this" Harm said quietly. "I don't know how I'll ever repay 
 you for this."
 
 "Promise me you'll never do something that stupid again" Terri said 
 seriously. "God, Harm, you could have killed yourself and Mac."
 
 "I know, and please don't yell" Harm begged. "I've got the mother of all 
 headaches and the stomach is still in major revolt right now."
 
 "Terri, he knows" Mac spoke up quietly.
 
 "Okay, no more lecture." She stopped and looked at Harm seriously. "Whatever 
 it is that's bothering you, don't let it get to you like this. Talk to 
 someone about it. Just please don't ever do that again. I'd rather not do 
 the autopsy of someone I consider a good friend."
 
 Harm nodded and Terri looked at Mac. "I'll help you get him back to his room 
 at the BOQ."
 
 "Thanks" Mac smiled her appreciation. "For everything. I know we kind of put 
 you on the spot tonight."
 
 "It's okay. Let's get you two to your rooms so you can get some rest."
 
 A short time later Mac and Terri helped Harm into his room, gently helping 
 him to the bed. "Okay, I'm out of here" Terri said once Harm was settled. "I 
 won't expect to see you two in the morning. I'll stop in later and make sure 
 you're okay."
 
 "Thanks again" Mac said as she followed Terri to the door.
 
 "No problem. I'll see you tomorrow."
 
 "You're staying right?" Harm asked once Terri was gone.
 
 "Like I'd leave you alone in this condition "she scoffed. "How's the head?"
 
 "Pounding" he sighed. "Mac, I am so sorry about tonight. I can't believe I 
 almost killed you."
 
 "You want to tell me why you were drinking anyway?" Mac asked as she slid in 
 bed beside him. "I would have thought that experience in California would 
 have cured you of that for a while."
 
 "I wasn't ready to face you again" Harm said quietly.
 
 "This is about you flying isn't it?" Mac said with a long sigh. "Who did you 
 talk to and what did they say that sent you off the deep end."
 
 "Someone who'd heard about what had happened to me. He was surprised I 
 hadn't flown yet. Couldn't believe that someone with two DFC's hadn't gone 
 right back up."
 
 "Harm, he wasn't there that night," Mac said quietly. "He didn't go through 
 what you went through. He has no idea what it was like."
 
 "I keep trying to tell myself that. But somehow I keep coming back to I 
 should be able to do it. Hell Mac, I can't even fly on a commercial flight 
 without being drugged."
 
 "That's right now" Mac countered. "You'll get past this. I know you will."
 
 "I'm thinking about turning in my wings for good" he said quietly.
 
 "Harm don't" Mac whispered. "Wait. Don't make a decision like that right 
 now. You're not in the right frame of mind to be making that kind of 
 decision."
 
 "Well I don't think I'll ever be in the right frame of mind to fly again 
 either" he whispered. "I'm just going to have to learn to deal with."
 
 "Okay, we'll talk about this later" Mac said with a long sigh as she laid 
 her head against his shoulder.  "Let's get some rest sailor."

"I don't have to be invited twice," he murmured, resting his chin on the top of her 
head and closing his eyes.  Which lasted all of an hour before he was throwing 
her off him and running to the bathroom.  

She gave him a few moments and then hurried to his side, finding him crouched 
over the toilet, pale and shaking.  "If you aren't a sight," she sighed, shaking her 
head, wanting to take him in her arms but also wanting him to know what he had 
done to himself.

"You would have thought I learned about drinking when I was in California," he 
sighed.  "Please leave me be.  I don't need to have you see me like this.  Leave 
me to my humiliation.  But in my defense, I think I established a good connection 
with these people.  We need to talk to all of them.  We've barely scratched the 
surface.  So I had a couple drinks with them.  Next time we'll do it together."

"Bingo--well except for the drinking," she smiled gently, reaching out to run her 
hand down his back.  "If you had said you wanted to visit the Bird of Paradise to 
talk to these guys more informally you know I would have gone with you."

"Well that's not the whole truth," he admitted.  "First thought was escape.  That I 
do admit."  His hands went to his temples and he pressed hard, looking up 
pleadingly at her.  

"OK OK, no more now.  I want you to lay down and then we'll see if you can keep 
some food down."  He nodded slowly and allowed her to guide him to his feet, 
starting to lean heavily on her.  They walked three steps and he pulled away from 
her in horror.  "NO."

"What the hell is the matter with you?" she frowned in total puzzlement. 

"Are you kidding?  You're hurt too.  Remember?  Thanks to some drunk who 
threw his car in the path of your's."

"I'm fine," she laughed.  "Just sore.  Nothing that won't feel better by morning.  
And you were not drunk.  In fact you were pretty much sober when I got to you."

"Yeah well there's something about realizing you nearly killed the woman you're 
passionately in love with that would tend to sober one up," he groused, relenting 
some to let her lead him back to bed.

They had almost reached their goal when he pulled from her and ran back to the 
bathroom.  "Harm I'm sorry," she called softly.  "I wish I could help."

"Just having you alive and with me is doing that," he sighed when he came back 
to bed.  "I can manage anything else, and I mean that literally.  Anything but 
having you gone from my life."

"You're never ever going to have to know what that feels like," she promised.  
"I've already told you if it came to a choice between career and you--well unless 
you order me away from you. . .and even then I'm not sure I would go."

"I love you," he said softly, feeling tears threaten and he wiped at his eyes.  

"I know," she smiled, once again leading him back to bed."
=========
3 Hours Later.

"I'm calling Terri."

"No you're not.  I'm OK," he gasped, unable to look up from the bowl even long 
enough to say that before another round of heaves.

"I'm calling Terri now," she repeated.  "Or I'm hauling your six over to the ER at 
the hospital.  You should not be sick like this after just a few beers.  It's gone way 
past the serves you right stage." 

His arm flailed for her and she made a need sidestep as she backed away.  "Not 
this time Rabb."

"Terri, Hi.  It's Mac. . . I'm OK thanks but Harm is not.  In fact I'm pretty scared for 
him. . .Bad headache that he can't shake, but more than that, he's not keeping 
even water down. . .OK, thank you.  Thank you so much."

"She's on her way," she reported back to Harm.

"Oh goodie.  Someone else to witness my death."

"That's what we're trying to avoid," Mac told him, unable to keep the worry from 
her voice as she guided him once again to lay down.

A long half hour later Terri was at his door.  "Thank you for coming," Mac 
breathed, feeling a sudden teariness.

"Hey he's going to be OK," Terri soothed.  "No one died from a hangover, though 
usually they don't set in until several hours later.  Now where is Superman?"

Mac stepped aside and let her see Harm, now sprawled across the bed.  "I'm 
scared," she whispered.

Terri patted her hand and lifted her bag with her other hand.  "This will straighten 
him out, promise."  Deliberately she strode to the bed and looked down at her 
friend.  "Rabb you are one sorry sight."

"Glad to see you too," Harm murmured.  "I hope you've brought something to put 
me out of my misery.  More importantly, out of Mac's."

"Yeah it involves a needle," she smiled.  "But it's not going to kill you.  That would 
be too easy.  Let's have you."

"Excuse me?"

"Drop trou mister," she ordered.  "I've got a shot for you and it works best in the 
butt."

"Kill me now," he murmured.  

"That's Plan B," Terri told him and Mac quickly sat on the bed, yanking his sweat 
shorts down to expose a nice rounded area of flesh.  

"Can I draw you a bulls-eye?" Mac asked, giving the spot a quick smack.

"You're just loving this aren't you, both of you," Harm groaned.

 "Actually no, I'm not," Mac said softly as she ran her fingers through his 
 tousled hair. "I don't enjoy seeing you like this."
 
 "Well this should fix him right up," Terri said once she'd given him the 
 shot. "I'm sure he'll be fine. Course I don't think he's going to be moving 
 from this bed for the next 12 hours at least."
 
 "We have an investigation to complete" Harm moaned as he rolled onto his 
 back to look up at the two.
 
 "The only thing you're investigating is that bed mister" Mac said firmly. 
 "I'll handle the rest of the interviews."
 
 "You're not going alone," Harm said as he pushed the covers back, intending 
 to get up. He was met with Terri's firm hand, pushing him back into the bed.
 
 "Harm, you are going no where today. I'll go with Mac on the interviews. I 
 went with you two when we handled Jordan's murder. I'll let Mac do most of 
 the talking and I'll just take notes. We know we're looking for a serial 
 killer…"
 
 "We do?" Harm questioned. "Back up. When did we find this out?"
 
 "When you were getting drunk at the bar" Terri smiled. "All three victims 
 had high counts of PBH in their blood."
 
 "You two are not going out investigating alone," Harm said firmly. "If this 
 is a serial killer…"
 
 "Who's killed male flyboys not female JAG lawyers and a pathologist?" Mac 
 said as she rolled her eyes. "Harm, you're staying here while Terri and I go 
 talk to the rest of the guys in the hanger."
 
 "Don't I get a vote in this" Harm protested.
 
 "Nope" Mac smiled. "Terri, as long as we're up you want to grab an early 
 breakfast at the mess and see who we can find over at the hanger."
 
 "Sounds good to me" Terri replied. "You want me to stay with Harm while you 
 go back to your room and get ready?"
 
 "Yeah sure" Mac said slowly, feeling that familiar stab of jealousy. She 
 leaned over to Harm and ran a gentle hand down his back. "You take it easy 
 sailor," she said softly. "I'll see you later."
 
 "Mac, please be careful today" he begged, his hand grabbing hers. "I mean 
 it."
 
 "I will be. You just rest."
 
 She hurried to her room, taking a quick shower and dressing just as quickly. 
 It wasn't that she didn't trust Harm with Terri, she just didn't like the 
 idea of him alone with her. She was back at Harm's room in less than a 
 half-hour, relieved to find him asleep.
 
 "You sure it's okay to leave him?" Mac asked softly as she looked down at 
 him.
 
 "He'll be fine" Terri assured her. "The stuff I gave him will stop the 
 vomiting. We can come back in between and check on him."
 
 "Thanks" Mac said with a small smile. "I tend to be a little more protective 
 of him since the crash. Almost losing someone you care about makes you that 
 way."
 
 "I got that feeling" Terri said as they walked out. "What happened to him 
 that night? I heard all kinds of stuff but I wasn't sure what was the truth 
 and what was rumor."
 
 "Technically when they found him he was dead," Mac said quietly, her voice 
 still trembling with emotion as she said the words. "If I hadn't been on the 
 chopper that found him, he probably would be. They were ready to declare him 
 dead."
 
 Terri's eyes widened. "I had no idea. I mean, I'd heard he was critical but 
 I had no idea he was that critical."
 
 "Yes he was" Mac said soberly. "And they almost lost him again at the 
 hospital. So you can see why I tend to worry about him."
 
 "He'll be okay," Terri said giving her a reassuring smile. "But we can go 
 back and check after we eat."
 
 They did just that after breakfast at the mess, Mac happy to find him still 
 sound asleep.
 
 "What ever you gave him its working wonders," she said quietly. "I don't 
 think he got more than an hour sleep all night."
 
 "Neither did you then" Terri countered. "You're going to be dead on your 
 feet."
 
 "I'm used to just a few hours sleep" Mac smiled. "Okay, now that I now he's 
 okay let's head over to the hanger."
 
 A short time later they walked into the hanger, finding just a few men 
 around that early in the morning.
 
 "Can I help you?" one of the men asked as he approached them, walking slowly 
 with a slight limp. He wasn't in uniform and Mac guessed he was one of the 
 civilian contractors.  He looked to be slightly older than Harm, a tint of 
 gray streaking his hair.
 
 "I'm Colonel Sarah Mackenzie and this is Commander Terri Coulter. We're 
 investigating the three deaths." It was on the tip of her tongue to say 
 murders when she remembered that wasn't common knowledge.
 
 "Barry Lewis" the man replied. "What are you investigating? I thought the 
 three deaths were all ruled accidental."
 
 "Well, three accidents tends to make people look at things again" Mac 
 replied. "Did you know the deceased?"
 
 "Yeah I knew them. Typical arrogant pilots. Thought they were something 
 special."
 
 Mac didn't miss the note of bitterness in the man's voice. "What do you do 
 here Mr. Lewis?" Mac asked.
 
 "I’m a consultant. I check over the aircraft and make sure they're ready up 
 to shape before they fly."
 
 "How long have you been doing that?" Terri spoke up.
 
 "Two years. Prior that I wore the uniform just like you did. Then I had a 
 crash and the Navy decided I couldn't fly anymore. So I resigned my 
 commission and became a consultant. Best move I ever made. Now if you'll 
 excuse me, I've got to get these planes checked over."
 
 He walked away before Mac could say anything and Mac let out a long sigh. 
 "He's a really ray of sunshine."
 
 "Sounds like Mr. Lewis has a chip on his shoulder" Terri said quietly.
 
 "I'm going to call Bud and have him pull Mr. Lewis' service record" Mac said 
 quietly. "Let's see if anyone else is a little more friendly than him."
 
 Terri nodded and for the next few hours they talked to several others who 
 worked in the hanger. Compared to Barry Lewis all were pleasant and willing 
 to answer Mac's questions about the three dead pilots. Finally, Mac's desire 
 to check on Harm took over and she and Terri headed back to the BOQ.
 
 "Harmon David Rabb" she screeched when she opened the door and heard the 
 shower running.

"He's incredible," Terri sighed and then gestured to the bed.  "That would be 
why."

"Oh my god," Mac gasped, feeling her knees weaken at the sight of the mess in 
the bed.  "Terri he's really sick."

"I'll check him again," Terri assured her.  "More likely he was sound asleep, this 
hit him and he couldn't move fast enough.  The medication tends to make you a 
little weak and disoriented."

Mac's eyes went from the bed to the bathroom and back, immediately picturing 
him falling in the shower.  "Harm."  It came out as a hoarse strangle and she ran 
for the bathroom.  

"Harm," she yelped as she opened the bathroom door just as the water clicked 
off and he stepped out of the shower stall.

"Oh very nice Commander," Terri called through the open door.

Harm looked like that proverbial deer in the headlights, then quickly fumbled for 
the towel.  

"Here you are, and for crying out loud the woman is a doctor.  She's seen it 
before," Mac told him, nonetheless feeling that familiar stomach tightening 
thinking of Terri admiring him in that way and she hastily closed the door.

"Now what's going on with you?" she demanded, taking hold of his arms to 
steady him.  "You got sick again?"

"I was sound asleep and couldn't get up in time.  My legs wouldn't work and I was 
all tangled in the blankets and I was yelling for you like you were my mother of 
course.  Who else do I run to when I'm in trouble."

"Who else but the woman who loves you," she told him, taking the towel and 
helping him to dry, smiling when she realized he was not concerned about 
modesty in front of her, remembering their night of making love.

"Well you must, because no one else in their right mind would put up with me."

"You got that right," she smiled, holding his robe out for him to slip his arms into.   

"I can handle the boxers," he grinned and took them from her, only to nearly 
topple forward when he attempted the job.  

"Hang on cowboy," she sighed, holding him steady with one hand and guiding 
the boxers up his legs.  "We'll get through this."

When she opened the door she found Terri stripping the beg.  "Hey I'll get that," 
Mac objected, "you shouldn't have to do it."

"Neither should you," Harm sighed as Mac led him to the nearest chair and 
moved to help Terri.  

"Terri I can't leave him," she said softly.  "Not after this.  He shouldn't be alone."

"I can't make that decision for you," she said quietly.  "But what he needs is a 
little more sleep and then a gradual introduction to food would be in order.  It's 
not unusual for him to have another episode as he comes awake after sleeping 
off the drug."


"Hey 'he' is right here and hasn't died yet," Harm objected.  

"Come on back to bed," Terri called.  "I think you're going to be OK, but if not, I 
want you to call Mac's or my cell.  And we'll check with you too. . .unless Mac is 
staying here."

Harm gave a long sigh, wanting her to stay, not for his sake but because his 
protective self had kicked in.  At the same time he wanted her to make some real 
progress on this case, wanting them to get it wrapped so they could get home.  
He reached out and took both of Mac's hands as she walked back over to him.  
"I'm OK, promise.  I want you to finish what you started, long as you promise me 
you're not getting into anything dangerous and you'll be careful."

"All we're doing is the usual footwork," she assured him, trying to make the 
choice.  "Terri is kind enough to help.  And to watch my back."

"That's my job," he groused.

"As it will be always," Mac smiled and leaned down to kiss him gently, feeling a 
little bit  territorial with Terri watching them.  "Thanks Terri," she went on 
gratefully, seeing the bed re-made.

"We'll be back in a couple hours and we're going to see if we can get some jello 
and broth down you," Terri told him.  "You're going to need to rest and get back 
your strength today."

"I feel like a wet sponge," he sighed.  "A wet moldy sponge."

"Yes I know you do, and that's your body telling you you're better but you have to 
rest."

Mac helped him to his feet, keeping a firm arm around him to put him back to 
bed.  He closed his eyes the minute his head hit the pillow and Mac stayed with 
him a few more minutes to be sure he was sleeping comfortably, her fingers 
stroking his soft hair strands.

"You love him very much."  It was a statement, not a question, from Terri, said 
softly as they exited.

"I told you I would both kill and die for him," Mac reminded her.  "I wasn't kidding.  
We waited a long time for this.  Nothing, nothing or no one, is going to take it 
from us."

 "I can tell" Terri smiled. "And trust me, Mac, I'm not a threat to you. Harm 
 and I have been and always will be just friends. Not that I wouldn't have 
 ever entertained the idea of being more than that. And of course he's so 
 obviously in love with you now."
 
 "We've been through a lot together" Mac sighed. "And since his accident the 
 bond has only deepened."
 
 "So how long before you two make it official and get married?" Terri asked.
 
 "Not for a while. We haven't even told the Admiral we're seeing each other."
 
 "He must be slipping in his old age" Terri grinned. "Cause the moment I saw 
 you two together I knew something was different."
 
 "I think he suspects" Mac smiled. "We just have given him any verification 
 yet."
 
 "Well just make sure I get invited to the wedding, whenever it is" Terri 
 smiled. "Now, where are we off to now?"
 
 "We need to check back with Captain Childress" Mac replied. "Harm and I 
 never really interviewed him about what he knew."
 
 They headed to Captain Childress's office only to find his assistant not 
 at her desk.
 
 "I guess" Terri started only to stop when she heard raised voices. They 
 managed to make out a few words before the door suddenly swung open, a 
 nervous young ensign running out. He collided with Terri, nearly knocking 
 her to the floor.
 
 "Sorry" the young man said quickly. His eyes met Terri's before he ran out 
 of the office.
 
 "Colonel Mackenzie, I didn't know you were coming to see me" Commander 
 Childress said as he walked out of his office.
 
 "I guess we came at a bad time" Mac said with a small smile. "Problem?"
 
 "Nothing I can't handle" Childress replied. "Come in. How's the 
 investigation?"
 
 "So far nothing" Mac replied, giving Terri the look that she would handle 
 the talking.
 
 "Where's your partner?"
 
 "A little under the weather" Mac smiled. "Caught a flu bug or something. He 
 should be working with me tomorrow. In the meantime, Commander Coulter has 
 been helping me out."
 
 "Well if there's anything I can do, please let me know" Childress said as he 
 checked his watch. "I hate to cut you off, but I've got an appointment."
 
 "Of course" Mac said quickly. "Commander Coulter and I have a few more 
 things we need to check out at the hangar."
 
 He nodded and Mac and Terri headed out of his office. Once in the car, Terri 
 turned to Mac.
 
 "I know that kid" Terri said quietly. "He works at the hospital. In the 
 pharmacy."
 
 "And he and Childress were having a very heated discussion" Mac replied. 
 "Okay, let's stop for a minute. He has the access to the drugs. Why would he 
 want to kill those three?"
 
 "Maybe he didn't" Terri replied. "Maybe he was just getting the drugs for 
 someone else."
 
 "Childress" Mac whispered and Terri nodded. "That explains the part about 
 you never told me I had to do this that I heard him say to Childress. But 
 why would Childress want to kill his students?"
 
 "No clue. Maybe if we go back to the hangar and talk to some of the students 
 they might be able to tell us something. Unless you want to check on Harm 
 first?"
 
 "No, it hasn't been that long since we left. He needs to rest. We'll check 
 back on him after we talk to the students."
 
 
 *****************************************
 
 The ringing of the telephone pulled Harm from his slumber and with a groan 
 he reached for it.
 
 "Rabb" he moaned.
 
 "Commander...Harm...it's Julie Kapner. You know, from the bar."
 
 For a moment it didn't register and then finally he realized who it was. "Hi 
 Julie" he managed.
 
 "You don't sound so good Harm. You're not sick from last night are you?"
 
 "No, I think I caught some kind of bug" Harm said as he pushed himself to a 
 sitting position.
 
 "I'm sorry to bother you but I need to talk to you" she said in a low voice. 
 "It's about Craig."
 
 "And the murders?" Harm asked.
 
 "They were murdered?" Julie exclaimed and at once Harm realized he'd said 
 too much.
 
 "Yeah. Look, can you come here?" he asked. "I'm really not up to doing 
 much."
 
 "I can't. I have to cover the bar. Can you come here?"
 
 "Can you wait until my partner gets back?" Harm sighed. "At least she can 
 drive me then."
 
 "It can't wait" Julie pleaded. "By then Craig will be off duty. Please, I 
 need to talk to you before he comes back again."

Harm slowly got to his feet, testing his legs before he would answer her.   "Julie 
is this about the case, or do you just want to socialize?"

"No honest I have to talk to you it's about. . .please just come.  It's important.  
You won't be sorry.  I promise you."

"I'd better not be," he sighed.  "I'm going to call a cab and be there when I can."  
He put down the phone, again testing whether he could maneuver by walking 
over to the window.  The sky was overcast and there were dark clouds low on the 
western horizon.  "Storm, terrific," he muttered, beginning to get his clothes 
together and praying his hands would stop shaking.
================================

The hangar was still and quiet when Mac and Terri walked in.  Eerily quiet in fact.  
Mac motioned Terri to be cautious and quiet and she led her along a narrow aisle 
toward the back. 
"Someone has got to be around," she whispered, feeling the hair on the back of 
her neck prickle  and finding herself wishing for Harm.

The quiet was broken all at once by the sounds of clanking metal and Mac 
immediately started for it.  As abruptly as it started it stopped, to be replaced by 
another sound.  This time a sniffling-sobbing.  "The kid from the pharmacy that 
we just saw," Terri gasped.  "Rogers is his name."

"Attention on deck.  Petty Officer Rogers." Mac called sharply and the young man 
wheeled around.

"You OK son?"

"No ma'am," he sighed.  "Not at all, but Captain Childress wants some of this 
stuff cleaned up and I don't have much choice.  I never have much choice.  He 
just makes me do this stuff.  I didn't know I would be this involved.  I never 
wanted to be.  I just wanted. . ."  A long sob cut off his words and he stepped 
away from them.

"Something is very wrong here, and something is bothering that boy to the point 
of he's losing touch," Terri fretted.  "I've had some psychology classes.  Let me 
try to talk to him."

Mac nodded and watched as Terri approached him.  "What's your first name 
son?"

"Alan."

"OK Alan, Colonel Mackenzie and I are here to help you," she soothed.  "But we 
need to know what's going on.  What's wrong?  I know you and the Captain had 
words earlier."

"He won't leave me alone."

"Excuse me?"

"He won't leave me alone.  He keeps getting me more and more involved.  He 
just won't leave me be."  Rogers shuddered hard and choked back another sob.

"Is he issuing you lawful orders?" Mac asked softly.

"No ma'am.  He's making me help him.  Just because I have a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Mac asked, blackmail on her mind.

Rogers shook his head.  "No I can't tell.  I'll be sent to the brig."

"If you help us solve these deaths, I'll do all I can to help you," she promised.  
"Come on son, you don't want to go on any more like this do you?"

"Talwin," he whispered.

Mac looked puzzled but Terri nodded knowingly.  "It's a painkiller Mac.  And I'm 
guessing our young petty officer here has been filching a bit of it from the 
pharmacy and Captain Childress found out somehow."

"He saw me," Rogers sighed miserably.  "And I've been doing his scutt work ever 
since.  It wasn't so bad at first.  I got what I needed, his stuff didn't take up a lot of 
time and all.  And then came the first guy.  Lieutenant Keene.  Captain Childress 
looked it up on the Net what he wanted and then he came to me to get it.  Two 
weeks before the Captain had come to the infirmary for a headache, and went 
through the wrong door and saw me with the bottle in my hand see.  Anyway, 
that's when he knew I could be made to do what he wants.  I'm terrified of him 
ma'am's.  He's got power."

"OK OK," Terri said softly.  "Now why would Captain Childress want these three 
flight students out of his life?"

Rogers shook his head violently.  "I don't know."

"Freeze all of you."  Childress's cold voice came from somewhere behind Rogers 
and a second later he jumped into view, holding a large hand gun leveled at 
them.  

 "This isn't going to make this any better for you Captain" Mac said quietly 
 as the man approached them.
 
 "That's where you're wrong" Childress grinned. "You and your little helper 
 here are going to be sorry you ever started snooping around."
 
 "You can't kill all three of us" Mac said patiently. "How are you going to 
 explain three more dead bodies?"
 
 "Easily" Childress said as he suddenly pulled a syringe out, stabbing  
 Rogers arm before he could react. "See, Alan here has a small drug problem. 
 And everyone knows he's been on edge. So no one will suspect anything when 
 he overdoses on painkillers. Especially since he's leaving this handy little 
 typed suicide note. And now you two are going with me on a little trip."
 
 "You can't leave him like this" Mac shouted, watching in horror as the young 
 man dropped to the floor.
 
 "He'll be dead in a matter of seconds" Childress laughed. "Now move it 
 before I change my mind and kill both of you now."
 
 For a moment Mac didn't move and finally Terri gave her a nudge. "Go" she 
 hissed. Mac realized Terri was right, that if she pushed it now there would 
 be no escaping. Once they were alone with Childress wherever he was taking 
 them, they might be able to over power him. And by then Harm would realize 
 they hadn't returned.
 
 "You're getting smarter Colonel" Childress sneered as they headed out. 
 "There's a black van waiting outside the door. Get into without a word." For 
 emphasis he pushed the barrel of the gun into Mac's back and Terri quietly 
 moved along.
 
 As they reached the van, Mac looked around, praying someone would see them. 
 Her eyes caught sight of movement and for a moment she stared at Barry Lewis 
 before Childress roughly pushed her into the van. He didn't seem to notice 
 the man and Mac prayed that Lewis would be on their side.
 
 **********************************
 Bird of Paradise Bar
 
 "Stop here" Harm told the cab driver as they pulled into the Bird of 
 Paradise lot.
 
 "None of my business but this looks like the last place you should be going 
 buddy" the cabbie replied.
 
 "Yeah I know" Harm muttered as he handed the cab driver the fare.
 
 "You want me to wait?" the driver asked. "Or you going to be a while?"
 
 "Go" Harm said as he climbed out. He had no idea what Julie wanted to talk 
 to him about and how long it would take. And he could always call Mac and 
 have her come and pick him up. He knew she was going to be upset that he'd 
 even gone out there but it was better he handled this than her. Craig Morgan 
 wasn't someone Harm wanted Mac near.
 
 "Harm, thanks for coming" Julie said as she met him at the door. "God, you 
 look like hell."
 
 "Thanks I feel like it" Harm said as he sank down in the chair at one of the 
 tables. "Not to busy during the day is it?" he asked as he looked around the 
 empty bar.
 
 "Nah, we don't get too many customers till later" she replied. "But I still 
 have to be on duty. Can I get you anything? Ginger Ale, water?"
 
 "Ginger Ale" Harm said after a moments thought.
 
 She nodded and went behind the bar, returning a few seconds later with a 
 large glass. He took a drink as she sat down as she gave him a small smile.
 
 "So what did you want to talk about?" Harm asked before taking another 
 drink.
 
 "Well you know I told you that I had dated Craig until he was kicked out of 
 Top Gun" she started and Harm nodded. "Well, after I broke up with him I 
 started seeing Lt. Keene. Course Craig was totally furious with both of us."
 
 "And" Harm said as he looked at her, trying to focus on her as the she 
 suddenly began to blur. His head suddenly felt like a huge weight, and it 
 was an effort for him to stay upright.
 
 "Harm, you okay?" she asked as she walked around the table to him.
 
 "Yeah just a little fuzzy" he said as he blinked his eyes several times. He 
 obviously shouldn't have gotten up yet. All he wanted to do was lay his head 
 down and sleep.
 
 "Harm" From somewhere far away he could hear Julie's voice, but he couldn't 
 fight the darkness and gave in, his head dropping to the table.
 
 "Okay, he's out" Julie called and seconds later Craig Morgan walked out. 
 "Come on we need to get him back to the base."
 
 "You know you're lucky I still love you" Morgan said as he helped her get 
 Harm to the waiting car. "I'm not doing anything illegal here am I?"
 
 "Of course not" Julie smiled. "You're just helping me get a customer who 
 passed out at the bar back to his room."
 
 "Yeah well, there's better places I could think to leave him" Morgan said he 
 dumped Harm into the back seat of the waiting car. "Thought he could stick 
 his nose in my business."
 
 "Craig" Julie sighed. "Look, you're doing this for me" She wrapped her arms 
 around him once he'd closed the door, giving him a long kiss. "And because 
 you're going to get something you want later. As long as you do this for 
 me."
 
 "Fine, I'll make sure he gets back to his room at the BOQ" Craig sighed. 
 "When do I come back for my payment?"
 
 "Soon as you drop him off" Julie smiled. "I'll be waiting"
===================
The plain dark van pulled away, bumping roughly onto road as Mac and Terri 
held on from the cargo area.

"Mac I'm scared," Terri whispered.  "I know I'm a Naval Officer but I'm still scared.  
I've never remotely been involved in anything like this."

Mac gave a long sigh and patted her arm.  "I know.  And I'm sorry.  But as soon 
as Harm realizes something is wrong he's going to go into overprotective mode 
and we'll be looked for."

Terri allowed herself the smallest of smiles. "That's right isn't it.  Of course he's 
not in any great shape himself right now. "

Mac smiled herself.  "I know, but I also know how we are with each other.  I told 
you remember.  To both die and kill for.  But we're not going to wait on him in any 
case. If we can do something we will.  He's just one guy.  You're Navy, I'm 
Marine, we both know self defense."

"So does he," Terri pointed out quietly.  "He's got a Desert Storm Campaign 
ribbon.  You know he knows hand to hand."

"Well so do I," she countered.  "I put Harm on the mat last week.  I can still see 
the surprise on his face.  

The van sped away from Fallon, traveling into the Nevada desert as the sun 
began to sink low in the sky.

"He's going to kill us," Terri said suddenly. 

Mac shook her head.  "No, no way in hell.  I've got a lot to do yet.  I'm engaged 
to. . ."

That was as much as he got out before the look on Terri's face stopped her.  
"Excuse me?  You and Harm?"

"Well it's not official yet," she smiled sheepishly, waggling her left hand.  "But 
yeah, in California he asked me.  He was trying to talk me down in a little plane 
and thought I needed something to live for."

"I would say a ring from Harmon Rabb would do the job," Terri sighed, not quite 
successful at keeping all envy from her voice.  "But I see your point."

"I plan on walking down the aisle to him, and having his baby," Mac assured her 
with a wry grin.  "This one guy doesn't stand a chance."
======================
Morgan balanced Harm on against the wall while he fished the key to the room 
out of his pocket.  Opening the door he pushed him inside, letting him drop 
roughly to the hardwood floor.  "Sleep tight commander," he sneered.  "I know I 
will.  After Julie does her special magic on me."
=====================
Two hours passed and Childress stopped the van, keeping an eye on the sky as 
the storm crept closer.  Before he got out he took a quick look in the pouch on 
the seat.  Twin syringes, filled with a slow acting drug.  Insurance.  Insurance that 
the two women would not find their way back to civilization.  If his hunch was 
right, the back of the van had been hot and dusty.  His passengers would 
welcome a long cold drink of water.  Afraid that they would be too cautious to 
drink from open containers, he simply injected the drug into the neck of each 
factory sealed bottle.

Ignoring their pounding, he deposited the distributor wire from beneath the hood 
into his pocket.  They would not be going anywhere in this vehicle even if they 
knew how to hot wire.  And when an hour later the sound of chopper blades filled 
the sky he knew the plan had worked perfectly.  Leaving the cooler containing 
the water in plain sight on the seat, he quickly unlocked the back of the van and 
sprinted for the helo.   

By the time Mac and Terri spilled from the back of the van it was twenty feet 
above the desert floor, heading back to Fallon.

"Looks like we're alone," Mac sighed.  "And not going anywhere."  She gestured 
to the open hood, and the ravaged wires.  

"Now what?" Terri asked, absently pulled the seal from the neck of the water 
bottle and handing it to Mac, then opening the other one for herself.

"I don't know but right now this tastes good," Mac sighed, downing the last of the 
sixteen ounce bottle in one gulp.  "He sure wanted us away from Fallon."

"Why didn't he just kill us outright?"

"And bring down even more suspicion?  Not likely.  He wants us to simply 
vanish."

Terri tilted the bottle into her mouth and drank the first few ounces, wrinkling her 
nose.  "Tastes funny."

Mac shrugged, her mind on other things.  "It was cold and wet, that's all I noticed.  
OK, I know this is going to sound impossible but we can't just sit here.  We've got 
to start walking back."
=================
BOQ 
Two Hours Later.

"Commander Rabb? "  Lewis knocked on Harm's door.  "Commander?  It's Barry 
Lewis, I work on post here and I need to talk to you.  It's urgent."   

Ever since he had seen Mac and Terri with Childress, it had bothered him.  He 
did not trust the man.  A check with Captain Mulright's office had provided him 
with Harm's name and room number.  "Commander?"  He knocked once more 
and was amazed to find the door swinging open.  Morgan in his haste had not 
closed it tightly.  Harm was sprawled on the floor.  Drunk was Lewis's first 
thought as he knelt next to him, but there was no odor of alcohol.  Immediately 
he grabbed his cell phone and called for medics.

 By the time the medics arrived, Harm finally started to stir. His head was 
 pounding and he opened his eyes, looking up with confusion at the strangers 
 that were attending to him.
 
 "Welcome back Commander" the medic said as he quickly slipped the IV into 
 Harm's arm.
 
 "Where am I?" Harm asked, looking around. "What happened?"
 
 "You're in your room at the BOQ. And it appears that you took a little too 
 much of a sedative."
 
 "I didn't take…" Harm started, only to stop when his stomach rolled again. 
 "I think I'm going to be sick" he managed and the medic quickly assisted him 
 to a sitting position while the other handed Harm the nearby trash can. When 
 he was done he sank back on the floor, too weak to move.
 
 "Sir, did you take a sedative earlier today?"
 
 "No. I was sick all morning. I went…" He stopped again, realizing the last 
 thing he remembered was being at the Bird of Paradise Bar with Julie. How 
 did he end up back at his room? "I think I was drugged," he said finally. "I 
 meet someone earlier and she gave me something to drink."
 
 "You were sick this morning?" the medic asked and Harm nodded. "When was 
the 
 last time you were able to keep anything down?"
 
 "The last time I ate was lunch yesterday," Harm said weakly. "I haven't kept 
 anything down since."
 
 "Well a sedative on top of that isn't going to help any" the medic replied. 
 "You're most likely dehydrated. It's a good thing Mr. Lewis found you when 
 he did. Tom, let's get him over to the hospital ASAP."
 
 "Commander, I'm Barry Lewis" the other man in the room finally spoke up. "I 
 came to talk to you about your partner and her friend."
 
 "You know Mac?" Harm asked, struggling to sit up. "How?"
 
 "I talked to her and the Commander yesterday," Lewis admitted. "I wasn't 
 real helpful to them. But that's not the reason I came to see you. I saw 
 them today, with Captain Childress. He was leading them to a van."
 
 "When was this?" Harm demanded. "How long ago?"
 
 "Couple hours ago" Lewis replied. "Something didn't seem right about the 
 whole thing. Maybe it's just me but I get the feeling Childress is up to no 
 good."
 
 "Do you know where they went?" Harm asked. "Did you see what direction the 
 van went?"
 
 "Out towards the desert."
 
 "I've got to go find them," Harm said as he tried to stand up, only to be 
 met with the medic's strong hand pushing him back down.
 
 "Commander, the only place you're going is to the hospital to before you 
 collapse again."
 
 "My partner could be in trouble," Harm said irritably. "I am not going to go 
 sit in some hospital bed when I don't know where she is."
 
 "Sir, we'll contact security and have them start looking for your partner" 
 the medic replied.
 
 "No" Harm shouted. "I'm going to go find her. Take this IV out now or I'll 
 do it myself."
 
 With a long sigh, the medic did as Harm asked, saying "Sir, this really isn't a 
 good idea."
 
 "Mr. Lewis, would you mind taking me over to Childress's office" Harm asked, 
 ignoring the medic's comments.
 
 "Barry, please" the man replied. "And that's no problem at all. Like I said, 
 this has bugged me since I saw him with them. And of course, like I said 
 earlier, I wasn't real nice to your partner when I talked to her. She caught 
 me at a bad moment."
 
 He offered his hand to help Harm up and Harm accepted, standing there for a 
 second as the dizziness passed.
 
 "You okay Commander?" Barry asked.
 
 "Yeah I'll be fine" Harm said after a few deep breaths. "And Harm, please."
 
 "Mr. Lewis, if he gets any worse take him straight to the hospital" the 
 medic said as he closed up his bag and Barry nodded as he helped Harm out 
 the door.
 
 "Okay, Harm, where to?" Barry asked as he led him to his car.
 
 "Childress' office first. Maybe there's a logical explanation for all this." 
 He was praying that was the case. But the fact that Mac had never come back 
 to check on him told him something was wrong.
 
 They arrived at Childress's office a few minutes later and Harm didn't 
 bother to knock before walking into his office.
 
 "Commander, can I help you?" Childress asked.
 
 "Where the hell is Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Coulter" Harm 
demanded.
 
 "I haven't seen them since they stopped in here a few hours ago" Childress 
 said calmly. "Are they missing?"
 
 "Like you don't know," Barry said as he stepped into the office. "I saw you 
 put them to the van Childress. Where did you take them?"
 
 "I never saw them after they left this office," Childress shouted.
 
 "You liar" Harm said as he grabbed Childress and shoved him against the 
 wall. "Where the hell did you take them?"
 
 "He left them in the desert"
 
 At the sound of another voice Harm whirled around, a nervous young man 
 standing at the door. "I can't be a part of this anymore. He drove them a 
 few hours out and left them. I came and picked him up in the chopper. I can 
 take you there.
 
 "And you will" Harm said quickly.
 
 "It doesn't matter" Childress sneered. "By the time you get to them it will 
 be too late. They'll both be dead thanks to the nice little drug I slipped 
 in their water."
 
 "You lousy son of a bitch" Harm yelled as he shoved Childress against the 
 wall again, his hands at his throat this time.
 
 "Commander, Harm, don't" Barry said as he attempted to pull Harm's hands 
 away from the other man's neck. "You don't know they're dead. And you're 
 wasting valuable time here."
 
 At once Barry's words sunk in and Harm let go of Childress, who sank to the 
 floor. "You're right," Harm said quietly. "Come on Lt.," Harm said to the 
 other man. "You're going to take me to the spot where he left them."
 
 "What about him?" Barry asked, pointing to Childress.
 
 "Bring him with us" Harm directed. "Once we get to the hanger, we'll call 
 security and have someone pick him up and take him to the brig."
 
 Barry nodded and pulled the man to his feet and they headed outside, the 
 storm that had been threatening now hitting with full force.
 
 "Sir, there's no way they're going to let a chopper fly in this," the Lt. 
 said as Barry drove them to the hanger. "Not to mention even if they would, 
 no pilot in his right mind would even attempt it."
 
 "Well this pilot isn't in his right mind" Harm said quietly. "All you have 
 to do is sit in the back seat Lt. and tell me where they are."
 
 "Sir, you're not serious" the Lt.'s eyes widened with alarm. "Have you ever 
 flown a chopper before?"
 
 "No, but I'm sure I can figure it out" Harm replied.
 
 "I'll fly you" Barry spoke up suddenly. "I can fly a chopper."

"No, no way," Harm told him.  "I'll be glad to have you along, but we're going to 
have to help ourselves to the chopper and I don't want anyone but me doing that.  
It's my big mess--and it will be my head on the chopping block."

"Well when we get back it's going to get even bigger," Barry sighed and looked 
back at Childress.  "You're finished you sonafabitch.  I'm turning states evidence 
and telling what I know."

The captain's eyes grew large as saucers. "You wouldn't implicate yourself."

"Oh yeah," Barry nodded.  "You've killed the last person you're going to--ruined 
the last life."

Harm drove past the brig and slowed, then suddenly hit the gas.

"We're not leaving this guy off?" Barry questioned.

"No we're not," Harm told him, his voice low and quiet.  "If we find Sarah dead, 
my life will be over.  Therefore I would have nothing left to lose by exacting my 
revenge.  Childress if my Sarah is dead, you'll be joining her.  Except you'll burn 
in hell."

The car was silent as the threat sank in.  Harm reached the hangar, flashed his 
ID, and parked.  "Since the captain will be joining us, Lieutenant you're 
dismissed.  Consider yourself confined to quarters until I can see what should be 
done with you.  That you came forward is going to play a large part in your case."

"Thank you sir," the young man gasped and leaped from the car, sprinting across 
the grounds.

As Harm had expected, all choppers were grounded for the storm.  "Sir it won't 
be that long," Lieutenant Riley assured him.  "Radar shows it's going to clear 
enough in about two hours.  Captain Mulright has told us to cooperate completely 
with you.  I've got a bird on the pad, the one with the search light, ready to go just 
as soon as it's safe."  He gestured out the big plate glass window and Harm 
could see that he was telling the truth.

Out of Riley's view, Harm clenched his fists in frustration, hoping to diffuse some 
of his tension before he spoke.  "Thank you Lieutenant.  We'll get some coffee."

Forcing himself to calmly return to the car, he jerked Childress out.  "OK we're 
going to casually walk to the helo pad and take off.  Childress if you make any 
outcry, you're a dead man."

"I will be anyway," he moaned.  "You can't fly in this weather."

"Watch me," Harm growled and turned to Barry.  "Hey, you don't have to do this.  
I'm a combat pilot and I've seen enough choppers being flown.  I can manage the 
controls."

"On a clear dry day maybe.  Not in this storm.  You'll need all the help I can give 
you," Barry told him sternly.  "And it's the least I can do.  Besides I know a good 
lawyer."

"Yeah well don't be counting on me.  If I don't find her alive and well, I'll be a 
murderer in very short order."  Harm felt Childress shudder slightly.  The man 
was scared, and as he looked over at the tall Navy Commander, he had no doubt 
he was serious.


With the storm raging the flight line was deserted and dark save a few floodlights.  
"OK you go and then I'll be along with this bastard," Harm told Barry.  "If we're 
lucky we'll be out of here before they know anything is wrong."

"You're risking your career for her aren't you?" Barry said softly.

"I would die for her," Harm replied seriously, "borrowing a chopper is a very small 
thing."
=================
ON THE DESERT
Same time

"Terri wait," Mac panted.  "Stop.  I can't. . ." 

Terri looked back in time to see her cross her arms over her stomach, moaning 
softly.  "Mac?"  She knew she had been silent as they walked, but figured she 
was simply keeping her thoughts to herself, and trying to ignore the storm that 
was pounding around them.  "Mac?"

"My stomach is killing me, and I'm so tired," Mac answered.  "Headache too.  I 
don't know what's wrong with me."

"I'm not feeling great myself," Terri admitted.  "Here have some of my water.  But 
be warned, I tried a sip earlier and it still tastes funny."

"Thanks."  Mac got one mouthful and spit it out.  "Oh god you're right.  I didn't 
notice it before, but it does.  Has a really odd metallic. . ."  That was as much as 
she got out before she lost it all.  "Maybe that will help," she groaned. 

"Break time," Terri told her, easing her down onto the sodden ground.  "Doesn't 
look like your white knight is going to make it real soon."

"I know," she moaned.  "I'm afraid for him. Afraid he's gotten worse."

"Right now we need to be worrying about us, and you," she retorted.  With each 
lightning flash she could see how bad Mac looked.
 


"If he's not okay it won't matter how I am" Mac sighed as she closed her 
 eyes.
 
 "Why do I think you're totally serious when you say that" Terri sighed as 
 well.
 
 "Because I am" Mac whispered.
 
 ***************************
 
 Harm watched Barry make a run for the chopper, waiting until he was before 
 grabbing Childress and pulling him with him toward the chopper.
 By the time Harm reached the chopper, it was ready to take off. Harm could 
 hear the shouts as the others realized what he was doing, but he quickly 
 pushed Childress in before hopping in as well. As soon as they were in the 
 chopper lifted off the ground.
 
 "Just in time" Barry smiled as he saw the others reach the pad. He looked 
 over at Harm, who now sat frozen in the copilot's seat. "Commander, Harm, 
 hey, you okay?" he asked, reaching over and giving Harm a quick shake and 
 letting out a sigh of relief when Harm finally looked over at him.
 
 "Yeah...I..uh.." he stammered, the usual fear of being in the air kicking in 
 again.
 
 "Spit it out Commander" Barry yelled, suddenly needing Harm's help. "Cause 
 whatever it is you'd better get past it quick. I'm going to need all the 
 help I can get with this thing."
 
 "Rabb you were a fool to do this" Childress yelled from the back. "You're 
 going to get us all killed. And for what. She's dead by now."
 
 For a minute he blocked out everything around him except the thought of Mac. 
 She needed him. And he would do anything in his power to save her. No matter 
 what the cost. He swallowed hard as he looked out the window at the storm. 
 He could do this. He had to.
 
 "Commander I need your help here" Barry yelled. "Otherwise he's right about 
 us all getting killed."
 
 Something finally kicked in and seconds later Harm was helping Barry 
 maneuver the chopper through the storm.
 
 "Where did you leave them?" Harm demanded as he turned to Childress. "And 
 you'd better tell me the truth."
 
 Minutes later Barry piloted the chopper in the direction Childress gave 
 them, and a short time later Harm spotted the van.
 
 "Take her down" Harm ordered and Barry nodded as he carefully brought the 
 chopper down.
 
 Harm quickly hopped out of the chopper, screaming Mac's name as he ran to 
 the van. He realized at once she was gone, and that she most likely had 
 started to walk back.
 
 "Not there" he panted as he climbed back into the chopper a few seconds 
 later. "They must have decided to walk."
 
 "You'll never find them" Childress sneered from the back. Before he realized 
 what was happening, Harm's fist connected with his mouth.
 
 "For your sake you'd better hope we do" Harm shouted. "Cause if we don't, 
 you're not making it back the base."
 
 "I'll stay close to the ground" Barry suggested. "I hope you've got good 
 vision Commander. Cause it isn't going to be easy to find them."
 
 "We'll find them," Harm said determinedly.
 
 ***************************
 
 "Mac, wake up" Terri said as she shook her. "I hear someone. A chopper."
 
 "Too tired" Mac murmured.
 
 "Mac?" Terri said anxiously. "Mac, open your eyes and look at me now."
 
 "What?" Mac mumbled as she pushed her eyes open. "Terri, I'm too tired. I 
 just want to sleep."
 
 "No" Terri shouted, realizing that Childress had probably spiked their 
 drinks with something. "Mac, I need you to stay with me."
 
 The sound of the chopper came closer and Terri jumped to her feet and waved 
 her arms wildly in the air, hoping that someone would notice her.
 
 In the chopper Harm kept his eyes peeled for any movement on the ground. 
 Suddenly a flash of lightening lit up the area, and he caught a glimpse of 
 movement. Praying it was Mac and Terri, he yelled to Barry to take it down 
 again. Barry nodded and quickly turned the chopper around and back to the 
 spot.
 
 Harm leapt out of the chopper again, hearing at once Terri's cry for help.
 
 "Harm, thank god" she cried as he ran towards them. "I have never been so 
 glad to see you. Childress put something in our water and Mac drank all of 
 hers."
 
 "I know" Harm said quickly as he knelt down beside her. "Mac honey, its 
 Harm. Open your eyes and look at me."
 
 "Harm" she murmured, her eyes barely opening. "Are you okay?"
 
 "I'm fine," he said softly. "It's you I'm a little worried about."
 
 "Harm, we need to get her to the hospital ASAP" Terri said as she leaned 
 over his shoulder. He nodded and lifted Mac into his arms, somehow finding 
 the strength to carry her. Another flash of lightening lit up the area and 
 Terri finally got a good look at Harm, noticing at once that he wasn't looking
 good either.  "And you by the looks of it" she said as she walked beside 
 him.
 
 "Childress up front" Harm ordered when he reached the chopper. "And don't 
 try anything stupid. Barry, get us back to the base ASAP." Childress did as 
 ordered and Terri climbed in first, turning to help Harm lift Mac in.
 
 "How is she?" Barry asked as he peered around to look at Mac.
 
 "Not good" Harm said soberly as he sat down, taking Mac in his arms.
 
 "I'll get on the radio and tell them we're coming back and to have the 
 medic's and SP's waiting" Barry replied.  "And I'll tell them you're bringing in a 
prisoner.
 
 "Thanks" Harm said with a long sigh, the adrenaline rush that had kept him 
 moving from the moment he'd heard Mac was in trouble starting to wear off, 
 exhaustion now setting in.
  
"I imagine we're going to have another kind of welcoming committee," Barry
 pointed out.
 
 "I'm sure.  But I'm taking full responsibility for everything.  This wasn't
 your problem and you risked your life to help us.  As long as she's OK I
 don't care what happens."
 
 "Wha'?  Harm?  Harm what's going on?"  Mac heard just enough of that to 
 rouse
 her and she struggled in his arms.  "Harm answer. . .answer me."
 
 "Nothing you need to be concerned with," Harm assured her quickly.  "It's 
 all
 going to come out in the wash.  The only thing---the only thing---that
 matters is that you're OK.  And we're setting down on the roof of the
 hospital real quick right Barry?"
 
 "ETA is six," Barry confirmed.
 
 "Close your eyes honey," Harm soothed.  "You'll be taken good care of."
 
 "Harm you've done some. . .something," she fretted, just before she fell 
 limp
 against him.
 
 "Terri?" He turned tortured eyes on her.  "Terri please?"
 
 Terri's hand snaked out to Harm's.  "It's going to be OK.  Lucky I've got
 some of the water left.  I'll have the antidote real fast.  Just ID the 
 drug
 is all it takes, and I even know what class of drug because of the symptoms
 and the taste."
 
 "She's going to be OK?  Please."
 
 "As long as they can keep her going while I work," she answered, and as 
 soon
 as the words were out she regretted them as Harm's face turned even more 
 pale.
 
 "Commander these drugs depress bodily functions like breathing and blood
 pressure," Terri said carefully.  "Now Mac is certainly in good health.  I
 don't think. . ."
 
 "But you don't know," Harm interrupted coldly, his own physical problems
 making his tongue sharp and his patience short.
 
 "No I don't know," Terri admitted sadly, looking at the man she had long
 considered a friend as he cuddled even closer the limp body of his fiancee.
 The full impact of what both had told her--that they would kill or die for
 each other--was being driven home.  And she had no doubt that if Mac were 
 to die, Harm would soon follow.
 
 "Harm you're going to need an IV and some good rest yourself," Terri told
 him, changing the subject.
 
 "I'm not going anywhere or doing anything until someone promises me she'll 
 be OK."
 
 "Look, if you let them treat you right away, by the time I get the antidote
 and it works, you'll be ready to see her and that way. . ."  She paused and
 put a hand to her head, her own headache starting to get worse.
 
 "Hey I'm sorry."  Harm was at once mollified.  "You're suffering too."
 
 "I'll be OK with just a pain killer," Terri told him, "besides I've got 
 work to do and I don't trust this to their own lab people."
 
 "Thank you," he breathed, feeling a sudden tearfulness and he bent over 
 Mac, burying his head in her hair.
 
 He remained like that until the chopper rested on the pad, and even then 
 kept his arms around her as the doors were pulled open.  They were met by the  
SP's and NCIS representatives as well as the medics.  Harm stepped out of the 
chopper, Mac in his arms, and he staggered under the weight.
 
 "Who's in charge here? I'm Commander Rabb, JAG HQ."
 
 "That would be me sir.  Lieutenant Warwick."
 
 "OK, now Lieutenant, this is the situation.  "Captain Childress is under
 arrest--suspicion of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping among other 
 things. I want him confined to the brig, and he is to have no visitors, no 
 contact with anyone.  And I. . .well I'm sure you'll be hearing from the airfield
 about a missing chopper."
 
 "Already got you on report sir," Warwick said.  "Lieutenant Riley called 
 us. I called the OD who called Captain Mulright.  You created quite a stir."
 
 Harm nodded soberly.  "I take full responsibility for my actions 
 Lieutenant. But right now the only thing that's important is that this woman be 
looked after.  I can guarantee you I won't be going anywhere."
 
 "I need to remand your custody sir."
 
 "I can do it," Terri spoke up at once.  "Lieutenant Commander Teresa 
 Coulter."
 
 "Yes ma'am, sign here."
 
 Terri quickly signed the form while medics rolled up a gurney.  "Let's have
 her sir,"
 
 "Not likely," Harm sighed, his arms trembling under the weight but refusing
 to relinquish her.
 
 "Rabb put that woman down on the gurney, NOW," Terri ordered, seeing him
 about to fall on his face, Mac still in his arms.
 
 Harm instinctively responded to the authority in her voice, doing as he was
 told, and falling forward almost to join her from the effort as his own
 weakness took over.
 
 "Lieutenant."  Terri turned her attention to the medic who with her team 
 was attempting to seperate Harm and Mac.  "This woman has been drugged.  
I'm going to analyze from what and draw up an antitdote.  Commander Rabb will
 need symptomatic treatment for a barbituate overdose. Get him down and 
 start treatment.  They're to be put in adjoining beds to recover.  Are you 
 hearing me Lieutenant?  If they wake up and don't see each other, there will be 
 hell to pay."
 
 "Yes ma'am" he said as he helped Harm onto the second gurney.
 
 "Terri, please don't let anything happen to her" Harm begged as the Lt. 
 started to wheel him away. "I need her in my life."
 
 "I'll take good care of her" Terri promised as she walked along side him. 
 "But you need to let them take care of you. I don't want to be dealing with 
 one very upset Marine when she wakes up and finds out you're not okay."
 
 "Take care of her please" Harm said weakly, closing his eyes as the last bit 
 of strength in him faded.
 
 "I will" she whispered as she squeezed his hand. "Lt., get him down for 
 treatment ASAP. As soon as I've got the antidote on the drug, I'll be up to 
 check on him."
 
 With Harm in good hands, Terri hurried to the lab with what was left of the 
 bottle of water. Ignoring her own headache she set to work analyzing the 
 water. It didn't take long to determine what Childress had put in the water 
 and a short time later she hurried up with the antidote.
 
 "Glad to see you Commander" Lt. Warwick said when Terri walked into the ER. 
 "Tell me you've got an antidote cause I'm starting to lose her. Her vitals 
 are starting to drop."
 
 "Then I'm just in time," Terri said as she injected the antidote into Mac's 
IV. "Okay, Marine, this better work. Otherwise I've got one very upset 
 Commander to deal with." Once she finished injecting the antidote, she 
 looked up at the Lt. "How is he by the way?"
 
 "Better now that we're getting some fluids into him. Dehydration was the 
 main problem."
 
 "He's been sick" Terri sighed. "The drug overdose on top of it didn't help."
 
 "He's down in the room if you want to check on him. As soon as we know this 
 antidote works and she stabilizes we'll move her down there with him."
 
 "I think I'll hang out here for a bit," Terri said as she watched Mac. "I 
 want to make sure this works first."
 
 She had her answer a short time later when Mac started to moan Harm's name 
 as she tossed and turned.
 
 "Mac, it's Terri" she said gently as she leaned closer to her. "Harm is 
 fine."
 
 Terri's words sank through her foggy mind and she seemed to settle again.  
 When the nurse came to check on her a short time later Terri let out a huge 
 sigh of relief when she realized Mac's vitals had finally stabilized.
 
 "Let's get her moved down to Commander Rabb's room before she wakes," Terri 
 said to Lt. Warwick.
 
 Minutes later Mac was wheeled down to Harm's room, Terri glad to see he was 
 still asleep for the moment. Once Mac was settled, she sank down in the 
 chair between the two beds.
 
 She'd just about fallen asleep when she heard Mac calling for Harm again. 
 She pushed herself to her feet and headed over to Mac's bedside.
 
 "Mac, its Terri. Can you hear me?"
 
 It took several minutes but Mac finally pushed her eyes open and looked up 
 at her. "Terri, what happened?" she mumbled.
 
 "You were drugged by Childress but your flyboy showed up at just the right 
 time" Terri smiled. At the mention of Harm, Mac's eyes opened wider.
 
 "Harm, he's okay right" she demanded.
 
 "Take a look for you" Terri said as she pointed to the other bed. "He's a 
 little dehydrated but he'll be fine. You were the one that had us worried. 
 It was a good think I kept that water Childress gave us so I could come up 
 with an antidote for it."
 
 "You saved my life" Mac said softly. "Thank you."
 
 "You're  welcome" Terri smiled. "I'm just glad I could help."
 
 "He's okay isn't he?" Mac asked anxiously as she looked over at Harm in the 
 other bed. She struggled to sit up, only to have Terri push her back against 
 the pillows.
 
 "Easy Marine. He's going to be fine. You both will if you rest and take it 
 easy." She was about to say more when Harm's scream of Mac's name made 
Mac 
 sit straight up in bed.
 
 "Harm, I'm here I'm okay" she called, trying to push the covers out of the 
 way and untangle herself from the IV's to get to him.
 
 "Mac, sit" Terri ordered, giving her a gentle push back into the bed before 
 hurrying over to Harm's bed. "Harm, it's Terri. Mac is okay. She's right 
 here in the room with you."
 
 His eyes flew open at once and he looked around the room, finally spotting 
 the woman that he loved sitting up in the other bed looking at him.
 
 "Mac, thank god you're okay," he cried, pushing back the covers and trying 
 to get up as well.
 
 "You two are going to be the death of me" Terri sighed, realizing that they 
 weren't going to be happy until they were in each other's arms. "Harm, hold 
 still and let me help you" she ordered. Seconds later she helped him from 
 the bed and over to Mac's, carefully bring the IV tree along with them.
 
 "I was so scared I was going to lose you" Harm whispered as he wrapped his 
 arms around Mac. "When I found out Childress had taken you I thought I was 
 going to go crazy."
 
 "Can't get rid of me that easily," Mac said as she buried her head in his 
 shoulder.
 
 "Okay, my work is done here" Terri smiled as she headed for the door. "Guys, 
 I'll check on you in the morning."
 
 "Thank you Terri" Harm called and she stopped and turned to look at him. 
 "Thank you for saving her life. I’ll never be able to repay you for this."
 
 "No repayment necessary" Terri said softly. "Just seeing you happy is good 
 enough for me." With that she walked out of the door, closing the door 
 behind her as she left.

"We owe Terri a whole lot," Mac murmured, still very sleepy.  "But Harm what did 
you. . .I know you're in some kind of trouble."

"Nothing I can't talk my way out of when I'm more coherent, and better able to 
face the fact that you nearly died without shaking all over," he whispered.

"I want to know," she insisted.

"I promise I'll tell you, when you're better," he promised.  "I don't think anything 
bad is going to happen."
===================
12 Hours Later.

"Good morning Colonel, Commander.  Please don't bother to get up."  Captain 
Mulright's amused voice roused them.  "Are we short on bunk space in this 
facility?"

Harm sat up slowly, rubbing his face in an attempt to wake himself.  Hastily he 
checked Mac, and then turned his attention to the superior officer.  "Good 
morning sir.  And no sir, not that I'm aware of sir.  The Colonel and I were having 
our. . .well reunion and then. . ."

"What's up?" Mac murmured, waking up enough to struggle within Harm's hold.  

"Busted," Harm told her, gesturing to the Captain.  

"Sir, good morning," Mac choked out.  "Sir we. . .Commander Rabb and I. . ."

"Are close friends, yes I can see that," Mulright nodded.  "And the Commander 
has bigger things to worry about.  Did you know Colonel he staged a raid on the 
flight line last night and helped himself to a chopper that he took into the dessert 
to bring back his partner."

Mac's eyes opened wide, and fully awake now she strugged upright, pulling away 
from him.  "Are you out of your  mind?  Where was your head?  What were you 
thinking?"

Harm looked at her helplessly and Mulright came to his rescue.  "I believe 
Colonel he was thinking he was going to save the life of the woman he loves."

"Thank you sir," Harm sighed gratefully.  "Sir that's exactly what happened.  No 
excuse sir.  And I will stand whatever punishment you suggest."

"Harm shut up," Mac hissed.  "As your lawyer I'm advising you not to say a word.  
Now shut up."

"Mac I'm not sorry," he reminded her.  "Nor remorseful.  I'd do it again in a 
heartbeat."

She gave him a long troubled sigh.  "Sir what dispostion of the charges are you 
planning."

"I'm not touching any of it," Mulright smiled and shook his head.  "What I am 
going to do is send you back to Admiral Chegwidden, with a copy of everything 
that happened, including my recommendation that you not be prosecuted.  I 
figure, even with the recommendation, he'll be in your face nicely.  Am I right?"

"Yes sir, absolutely," Harm sighed.  "Thank you sir."

"Get better soon, both of you," Mulright told them.  "And both of you too--well 
done.  That will also go back to D.C. with you."

"I think we may have squeaked by," Harm whispered when they were alone.  
"But I knew from the second I did it that I could be in deep doo-doo.  It was all 
worth it.   You're alive and in my arms and that's what's important.  I love you 
Sarah Catherine Mackenzie."

"I love you Harmon David.  And I have a question for you.  How is it you were 
able to fly in a chopper through a storm anyway?  I mean that's the stuff your 
nightmares are made of, right?"

He gave her a blank look.  "I uh. . .well there just wasn't any choice.  God's 
honest truth--the only thing that mattered was getting to you.  I was afraid you 
were dying--or dead--and all I could think about was getting to you.  I never 
considered anything about me."

"I think you just might be getting over it," she smiled happily.  
 =================
5 DAYS LATER

"Harm I'm pruning up and I need to pack," she laughed, pushing him off her, and 
laughing again when he landed with a large splash.  They were taking their last 
hot tub soak, needing to get to the airport.  Once released from the hospital, they 
decided to postpone their return and spend the following three days back at the 
little cabin. 
	
For seventy-two hours they saw no one.  Totally content to be with each other.  
To walk the desert floor once the sun had sank low; to relax in the hot tub upon 
their return and to go to bed where they would come together to share their love. 

"Back to real life," Harm sighed, levering himself from the tub.

Mac took a moment to appreciate the vision before her, the water cascading from 
his firm body.

"You going to look, or pack," he laughed, reaching back for her.

"I'll never get tired of looking," she giggled, running her hands down this chest.  
"Do we have time to. . ."
=================
"Ladies and gentlemen, boarding all rows all classes," the gate agent annouced.

"Harm, you're OK now?" she fretted.  "I'm not sure I believe how calm you are.  I 
keep waiting for you to. . "

"Have my freak out?" he supplied.  "I don't think it's going to happen."
  
 "Serious?"
 
 "Well I'm not promising I won't still be squeezing your hand pretty hard" 
 Harm smiled. "But I think I'll be okay."
 
 "Yes you will" Mac whispered, feeling the tears brimming. Her flyboy was 
 going to be okay.
 
 "And it's because of you that I will be" he said as pulled her into his 
 arms. "I love you Sarah."
 
 "I love you Harm" she whispered. "You ready?"
 
 He nodded and with his hand tightly in hers they boarded the plane together.
 
 ****************************
 Next Morning
 Mac's Apartment
 
 "Come on Marine" Harm called. "The Admiral is expecting us in his office at 
 08:00 sharp."
 
 "I know but you forget something," Mac said as she walked out of the 
 bedroom, his gold wings in her hand. "Especially after what you did."
 
 "You really think so," Harm said quietly.
 
 "I think so" she smiled as she put them on. "Much better Commander."
 
 "Have I told you recently how much I love you" he whispered before his lips 
 found hers.
 
 "We'd better get going" she smiled when they finally parted. "This is not 
 going to get us to work on time."
 
 "No, and one of us has to face the music" Harm sighed.
 
 "No, we face the music together" Mac corrected. "You did what you did to 
 save my life and Terri's."
 
 "I don't think the Admiral's going to see it that way"
 
 "We'll just have to convince him," Mac said as they headed for the door.
 
 ************************
 Admiral Chegwidden's Office
 
 "I don’t believe this,” AJ sighed, closing the file having read the reports of all 
concerned.  

“Sir I do have an explanation,” Harm spoke up, raising his hand to quiet Mac’s 
objection.  “I take full responsibility.  No one else need be blamed.”

“Admirable Commander, but actually I was referring to Captain Childress.  
Adultery, gambling, murder.  And this from a man who was in line for that first 
star.  I don’t know what happens to men sometimes.  On paper he had it all.”

“And he almost took it all from me,” Harm murmured, his hand wrapping around 
Mac’s, a move not unnoticed by AJ, but one he chose to ignore for the moment, 
wanting to keep the subject of the Commander’s actions at Fallon in the forefront 
of the discussion.  He leaned back in his chair and fixed his steely gaze on Harm.  
“Never a dull moment with you two is there.  Commander, go ahead with your 
explanation.”
 
 "Sir I believe I covered it pretty fully in my report but I’ll add right now--I did what 
I had to do" Harm replied. "And I would do it again if the situation ever arose."
 
 "That I figured" AJ sighed.
 
 "Sir, the Commander did what he thought was right to save my life and 
 Commander Coulter's" Mac spoke up, unable to keep silent any longer.
 
 "Thank you Colonel, I've read Captain Mulright's report. And yes I know the 
 Commander's actions did save your life."
 
 "So there's no reason to hand down any form of punishment then sir" Mac said 
 boldly.
 
 "Colonel, I do believe that is my decision" AJ retorted. He was about to say 
 more when he noticed that the gold wings were once again in place on Harm's 
 uniform.  He looked closely at his two officers, sensing something was 
 different about them.
 
 "Sir, I accept whatever punishment you see fit" Harm said quietly.
 
 A short time later they exited the Admiral's office, letting out a sigh of 
 relief when they reached Harm's office.
 
 "Very bold statement in there Colonel" Harm smiled as he closed the door.
 
 "Worked didn't it" Mac smiled as she wrapped her arms around him. "Besides, 
 I did what I had to do for you. As I always will."
 
 "And as I always will for you" he said softly.
 
 
 The End…To be continued in “Starting Again 7 – Sacrifice for Love”.