TITLE:  "Starting Again VII-Sacrifice For Love"
AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner  
SUMMARY:  The seventh in the Starting Again series of post-Adrift 
stories, in 
which Harm has all but conquered his distrust of flying when a person 
from a past 
nightmare surfaces to bring new meaning to the word fear---and to the 
word love.
   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-Sacrifice For Love”---

 "Hey, Marine, time to move that cute six of yours" Harm called from 
the 
 bathroom. "Mac?"
 
 "Coming" she moaned as she pushed herself out of bed.
 
 "You okay?" he asked as she stumbled into the bathroom. "You're not 
looking 
 so good."
 
 "Just tired" she said with a long yawn. "I'm fine so take that worried 
look 
 off your face."
 
 "Mac, you've been tired for the past week. I'm getting worried about 
you." 
 He stopped shaving and turned to look at her. "I love you you know."
 
 "I know" she said giving him a quick kiss. "I'm fine. I promise if it 
 doesn't go away soon I'll visit the doctor."
 
 "I'm holding you to that."
 
 It was after 8:00 when they finally arrived at JAG and Tiner meet them 
at 
 the elevator. "Sir, ma'am, the Admiral wanted to see you when you got 
in."
 
 "Thanks Tiner, we'll be there as soon as we grab some coffee" Harm 
said as 
 he led Mac to her office. "You stay here while I get us some coffee."
 
 "Harm, I can walk to the break room" Mac protested. "I was just a 
little 
 tired this morning."
 
 "I know but I want to" he smiled. "I'll be right back."
 
 A short time later they were in the Admiral's office.
 
 "At ease" AJ said as they stood at attention. "Have a seat. Remember 
the 
 Dylan case you two handled last year. PO Alex Dylan, accused of 
murdering 
 his bunkmate, PO Jason Riley aboard the USS Truman. Serving a life 
sentence 
 in Leavenworth. "
 
 "Yes sir, we prosecuted that case" Harm replied.
 
 "Well it appears that some new evidence had come to light and PO Dylan 
has 
 hired an outside attorney to try and get his conviction overturned."
 
 "What kind of new evidence sir?" Mac asked.
 
 "Apparently another inmate at Leavenworth claims to have killed 
Riley."
 
 "Sir, this isn't evidence" Harm scoffed. "This is one prisoner lying 
to get 
 another off."
 
 "Now wait a minute Commander. The other inmate, PO Roger Martin was 
aboard 
 the USS Truman at the time of the murder. He shared the cabin next to 
Petty 
Officers Dylan and Riley."
 
 "Why is he in Leavenworth now?" Harm asked.
 
 "Was sentence to 20 years for attempted murder about a month ago" AJ 
 replied. "He attacked another crew member aboard the Truman."
 
 "Sir, that still doesn't mean that Dylan wasn't guilty of the murder" 
Harm 
 countered.
 
 "I realize that but there's enough evidence to warrant you to looking 
into 
 it further. I suggest a trip to Leavenworth to talk to both Dylan and 
Martin 
 again. If they are lying to get one out, you two should be able to 
trip them 
 up and catch them. If not, then we don’t want an innocent man behind 
bars 
 now do we?"
 
 "No sir" they said in unison.
 
 "Good.  Let me know what you find. Otherwise, I'll see you in a couple 
days. 
 Dismissed."
 
 "Sir, isn't it really necessary for Mac to come with me?" Harm asked 
to 
 Mac's utter surprise. "I mean, we don't both need to go."
 
 For a moment AJ just stared at his officer. Since Harm's mishap, Mac 
had 
 gone on every case with Harm. Now he didn't want her to go with him. 
He 
 would never understand these two if he lived a million years.
 
 "Sir, I have no problem going to Leavenworth" Mac spoke up, at the 
same 
 time, giving Harm a long glare. She had no idea why he'd suddenly 
decided he 
 could handle this on his own.
 
 "And you should go" AJ confirmed. "Commander, the Colonel will go with 
you 
 to Leavenworth. Do you have a problem with that?"
 
 "No sir" Harm said quietly before walking out.
 
 "Harm, what the hell was that all about?" Mac demanded as she followed 
him 
 into his office, closing the door behind her.
 
 "I don't want you anywhere near Clark Palmer" Harm snapped. "I have 
enough 
 nightmares about him without worrying about you being near him."
 
 "Harm, we're not going to see Clark Palmer. We're going to go see 
Dylan and 
 Martin."
 
 "Well you'll still be in the same building as that wacko" Harm sighed. 
"And 
 that is too close for my comfort level thank you. Not to mention you 
haven't 
 been feeling well. There's no reason for you to go when I can handle 
this 
 alone."
 
 "And I'd feel any better about you going out there by yourself?" Mac 
asked.
 
 "I'd handle it somehow" Harm sighed. "Anything would be better than 
you 
 being there with me."
 
 "Well, that's not going to happen sailor. You heard the Admiral. I'm 
going 
 with you."
 
 "I'm not liking this" he moaned as she walked over to him, wrapping 
her arms 
 around him.
 
"It's going to be okay" she whispered. "Nothing is going to happen. Now 
stop 
 worrying."  She fell silent in his arms, wondering if she might be 
able figure out a 
way to visit her Uncle Matt. She could use some of his words of wisdom 
right 
about now she thought.  She  wrote to him frequently, but it wasn't the 
same as 
talking to him in person.

For several minutes Harm simply held her, willing comfort through his 
warm arms.
 
 "You know you don't need to go" he said quietly, taking her silence 
for concern 
over the impending mission. "I'm sure I can handle this one alone. 
You've got 
plenty of other things to attend to right here.  Both the Repaski and 
Jelleff courts 
martial for one thing.
 
 "We both prosecuted the case," Mac reminded him. "And we'll only be 
there a 
day."
 
 "Save me from stubborn Jarheads," he sighed and stroked her cheek 
lightly.  
"Client meeting with Corporal Downs and his attorney.  We can argue 
this later.  
See you soon."
 
With a kiss to her cheek he was gone before she could reply and she 
shook her 
head as she walked back to her office. Harmon Rabb was one person she 
would 
never figure out in this lifetime, no matter how much she loved him.
 
======= 
DULLES AIRPORT
1800 Eastern

"We made it," Harm panted, holding her hand as they ran despite the 
fact that 
they were in uniform, both with sizable carry-on bags.  

"Barely," the gate agent glowered.  "Would it be so hard for people to 
allow 
themselves extra time."

"Sorry ma'am, next time I'll ask for an early recess so we don't 
inconvenience 
you," he returned, exasperation with the whole trip making him sharp.

"Ignore him.  He's in a mood," Mac told her, pushing him down the 
jetway.

It was not until they were seated that he took a good look at her, 
seeing her still 
panting from their run and definitely extremely pale.  

"Mac for godsake what's wrong with you?" he gasped, cupping her face 
with a 
gentle palm.  

"Nothing and everything and no I don't want to talk about it," she 
sighed, leaning 
back against the seat.  

"Because?"

"Because I don't want to talk about it," she snapped sharply.  "Harm 
it's been a 
bad day OK.  First your little histrionics in the Admiral's office 
about this case, and 
then I hear you're having lunch with the prosecutor.  Ms. Shapely Hips 
I believe 
her name is, or was that last week.  This one might have been Ms. 
Bleached 
Blonde, or as I think of them all--Renee clones."

He simply stared at her, his face impassive, waiting for the apology he 
knew was 
forth coming.  He did not have to wait long.

"That was uncalled for and out of line and I'm so sorry," she gasped, 
willing down 
a sudden tearfulness in her voice.  "I love you and I don't know what's 
the matter 
with me.  I suddenly feel like I'm in someone else's body or 
something."

"I know something's been at you all week," he said softly, "and I 
respect that you 
don't want to talk about it--to a point.  But honey when you're 
seemingly sick, I get 
scared.  Just like you would if it were me."

"I'm not sick," she protested, again slightly tearful.

"Well you're not well either," he said firmly.  
 
Before she could answer the plane jerked to a halt on the runway, 
poised for take 
off and she automatically reached for his hand.  

"I think I'm OK," he assured her, proud of his newfound capability to 
cope with 
flying since the incident at Fallon.

"You want to solo then?"

The plane began to gather speed and he looked at her and then past her 
through 
the window at the airport buildings seemingly rushing past. 

"I think so. . .uh no," he decided as the ground began to fall away.  
His hand 
closed over hers, but it was without the death grip he usually applied.   
She knew 
he was holding his breath, and she squeezed his fingers between hers.  

"Easy Sailor, we'll be level in a minute."

"Honest I'm OK," he breathed, and then forced his attention back to 
her.  "Mac. . 
.Sarah. . ."

She gave him her 'give it a rest' warning look and he fell silent.  
"I'm going to rest a 
little if that's OK," she said.

"Of course it is."  His arm went over her shoulders to allow her to 
rest her head 
against him and she was asleep nearly at once, unusual for her. 
 
Out of the corner of his eye, Harm watched her sleep and an enormous 
wave of 
protectiveness overcame him suddenly.   Stronger than usual in fact.  
Which 
made it almost overwhelming.  He knew when something was not right with 
her--
knew from the months they had been together since his mishap; and knew 
because of how much he loved her and how in tune they were.  She had 
been fine 
the first three weeks since their return from Fallon, recovering nicely 
from her 
drugging and settling in back at JAG.  Then a week ago something seemed 
to 
snap within her and everything was wrong, despite her denial.

That feeling that something was amiss was given manifestation a short 
hour later 
when the plane suddenly pitched downward in a stomach dropping motion 
caused 
by a sudden downdraft.  Mac's head banged sharply against his shoulder 
and she 
sat up straight, her eyes wide with apprehension.  "Harm what's going 
on?"

The familiar bolt of fear of flying passed through him at the same 
time, and he 
forced himself to ignore it in the face of her obviously being 
unnerved. Suddenly it 
was her turn to be an anxious flyer.  "Just a little turbulence.  Must 
be approaching 
a squall line."  He hoped his voice sounded more calm than he felt 
inside, as he 
kept his own emotions in check, knowing she needed him this time.  
"Squall line," 
he repeated as calmly as he could, and reached for her hand, for his 
sake as well 
as hers.

His words were born out a moment later when the captain ordered all 
passengers 
and crew to sit and buckle.

"We'll be OK won't we?"

"Oh yeah.  We're just going to bounce a bit while he gets clearance to 
change 
altitudes and get away from it."   Brave words for a man for whom the 
thought of 
flying struck terror just a short month ago.  He patted her hand and 
when he took 
his gaze from the window to her, was startled to see how pale she was.  
"Mac it's 
OK.  You're overreacting here.  That's what you always told me 
remember."

"Well maybe you were contagious," she gasped and forced herself to 
focus on 
him.  "You doing OK?"

"I won't lie and say I'm enjoying it," he admitted.  "But right now I'm 
much more 
concerned about you.  You look bad and you're trembling."

"I'm not good right now," she admitted, and that alarmed him but 
nowhere near as 
much as what happened next, for she fumbled for the airsick bag and 
burst into 
tears at the same time.

 "Mac" Harm said anxiously as she lost the contents of her stomach, 
crying 
 even harder when she finished.   Thankfully the flight attendant 
saw--and heard--
her distress and brought her a wet cloth and a can of gingerale.

 "It's okay" Harm said gently as he wiped her face with the cloth, her 
 crying continuing.  "Shh, you're okay."
 
 "I'm sorry" she managed a few minutes later, having finally calmed 
enough to 
 take a sip. "I'm so sorry."
 
 "Nothing to be sorry about" Harm said softly. "Just sit back and 
relax. You nursed 
me through many of these meltdowns remember.  Now you just let me take 
care 
of you."
 
 "Thank you" she whispered, leaning back against him. The flight 
attendant 
 returned with another wet cloth and he laid it against her forehead.
 
 "Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" Harm asked when she had calmed 
and 
her breathing and color were nearly normal. "You know you didn't have 
to come 
with me.  I didn't want you to and this is all the more reason you 
should have sat 
out."
 
 "I'm not sick," she protested weakly.

"Well you're sure as hell not well," he answered with exasperation.  
"And whether 
you like it or not I'm going to be taking extra good care of you."

"Mothering, " she groaned but smiled at the same time.  It was done out 
of love 
and that she knew for a fact.  "OK mom, I'm going to try to sleep 
again.  Wake me 
when we get there."

His eyes hardly left her for the next forty minutes, until they were 
coming down 
into the airport. 

"Mac we're about to..." he started and the bump beat his warning.  
"Touchdown," 
he finished lamely.  "Feeling better?"

"Yeah I think so.  Between the heave, the tears, and most of all the 
company, I 
think so," she smiled and squeezed his hand.  "Harm please do me a 
favor.  Try 
not to treat me any differently on this case.  I need to feel like I'm 
still Colonel 
Mackenzie even though that's about the last thing I want to be right 
now."

"I can promise to try," he responded, "but don't expect much.  I'm 
pretty worried 
about you right now."

"If I promise to tell you if I need help?"

"Deal," he relented.  Five minutes later her look reminded him of that 
when she 
reached into the over head for her case and his arm shot ahead of hers 
to get it.  

"Excuse me all to hell," he laughed pulling his arm back quickly.  She 
laughed as 
well, and for the moment at least there was normalcy between them.
=============
International Airport
Kansas City, MO.

"Did you get our rental car?"

"I did," he nodded and then frowned.  "So what's with the bags?"

"That trained chimp that puts them on the belt is a little slow 
tonight," she sighed.  
"Must be on a banana break."

"Cute Marine."

"So how far is it again to Leavenworth?"

"Further than I think we should drive tonight only to crash in the 
guest house 
there," he told her, having consulted with the agent at the car rental 
agency.  
"Almost two hours in traffic.  So while you were stuck here waiting for 
that chimp, I 
made an executive decision and we now have a room here at the Airport 
Hilton. 
We'll get up early in the morning and make the drive."

"You're not serious."

"I certainly am," he declared.  "And I've got another thing to wow you 
with.  I 
understand they have a wonderful restaurant for our dining pleasure."

"Harmon Rabb you're asking me to dinner aren't you?"

He shrugged, catching her teasing tone as if he was asking her for a 
date.  "I'm 
going to eat and I'd be glad for you to join me."

"It's just a matter of semantics," she scolded him.  "And I'd like that 
very much.  
Could I have some time to clean up, maybe explore the far reaches of 
the 
bathtub?"

"All you need," he grinned just as the luggage began dropping.  "Long 
as I can join 
you."
============
Airport Hilton
Room 2525

"Harm I wanted a low floor," she sighed as the glassed in elevator 
climbed higher 
and higher, the lobby falling away below.  "Ever since we saw that 
special, 
remember, on high rise fires."

"Did you impart that news to me?"

"No but you're supposed to be in touch with my inner most thoughts," 
she pouted 
teasingly.    

When they reached the room she wasted no time in fishing through her 
bag for 
her toiletries and robe.  "At least there's that big tub," she sighed.

"Save me a spot," he called as he began to look for his own things.

"Harm, please, if you don't mind--a little time alone?"

"Uh . . . yeah sure," he stammered in puzzlement and reached for her 
with the 
intention of hugging her. 

"Thanks," she smiled retreated for the bathroom, leaving him mystified.

 "Okay" he said with a long sigh as he flopped down on the bed, 
reaching for 
 the remote. He flipped through the channels several times before 
finally 
 settling on a baseball game. He was nearly asleep when he felt soft 
hands 
 rubbing his back.
 
 "Nice hands Marine" he murmured without opening his eyes.
 
 "Why don't you come and join me in the tub" she said softly.
 
 He opened his eyes at once and looked up at her. "You sure?" he asked. 
 "Cause I got the feeling you wanted some space."
 
 "Well I did but now I want you" she said with a small smile.
 
 "You know you can always have me" he grinned as he sat up. "Though I 
have to 
 say I'm getting whiplash from the mood swings here."
 
 "Sorry. Blame PMS."
 
 "Okay, I know better than to touch one" he said as he stood up and 
quickly 
 undressed, following her back to the bathroom. Moments later she lay 
against 
 him in the warm water.
 
 "This is better" she sighed happily. "And I'm sorry I've been so 
grouchy 
 recently."
 
 "I can handle it. As long as you tell me it's nothing I'm doing 
wrong."
 
 "Of course not" she said as she turned to look at him. "You're doing 
 everything right. I mean, everything has been wonderful since we got 
back 
 from Fallon. I just haven't been feeling like myself this past week."
 
 "Exactly why I didn't want you to come with me on this little trip. I 
could 
 have handled this alone you know."
 
 "I know. But I don't like the idea of you alone at Leavenworth with 
Palmer 
 anymore than you like me being there. Besides, I really want to talk 
to 
 Uncle Matt. Last he knew I was 2 weeks away from marrying Mic."
 
 "You'll be correcting about that right?"
 
 "Yes sir" Mac smiled. "There's only one sailor in my life and it's the 
one 
 who's been there from the start."
 
 "And he'll be there till the end" Harm whispered as his lips found 
hers in a 
 long kiss.
 
 It was another hour before they finally emerged from the tub.
 
 "Dinner?" Harm asked as he reached for his clothes.
 
 "How about room service" Mac said with a long yawn. "Besides, I'm 
really not 
 that hungry."
 
 "Okay into bed" he directed. "I want you to rest while we're waiting 
for 
 dinner. What do you want?"
 
 A long hour later their dinners finally arrived.
 
 "So you're really going to tell Uncle Matt about us?" Harm asked 
between 
 mouthfuls of soup.
 
 "Sure, why wouldn't I? It's not like he's going to tell anyone. 
Besides, 
 Terri knows about us. And you know it's just a matter of time before 
we have 
 to tell the Admiral."
 
 "So what do you think he's going to say when he finds out you didn't 
marry 
 Mic?"
 
 "Trying to find out if Uncle Matt was behind me marrying Mic?" Mac 
asked 
 with a smile. "Cause if you want the truth the answer is I think he'll 
be 
 very relieved when I tell him I didn't marry Mic. I think he knew from 
my 
 letters and the few phone calls we had that I didn't love Mic enough 
to 
 marry him. Course he also wasn't going to say anything to stop me 
either."
 
 "So he won't be upset that you're with me instead?"
 
 "The guy who got him the reduced sentence?" Mac smiled. "I think he'll 
be 
 ecstatic. He was always asking what happened to my sailor."
 
 "Your sailor?" Harm smiled. "Smart man."
 
 "Yes he is" Mac agreed as she pushed the last of her soup away. "I'm 
done. 
 And I'm ready to crawl into that big bed with you."
 
 "You barely ate" Harm said as he looked at her bowl. "Mac, I'm really 
 worried about you."
 
 "I'm fine, just tired" she assured him as she climbed into bed.  
"Trust me, 
 there's nothing for you to worry about."
 
 He wasn't convinced but cleaned up the remnants of their dinner before 
 joining her in bed. She snuggled up to him at once, falling asleep 
almost 
 immediately as he stroked her hair.
 
 "I love you" he whispered as he kissed her hair before turning off the 
 light.
 
 It was the middle of the night when he carefully extracted her from 
his arms 
 for a trip to the head. Not wanting to wake her, he tiredly made his 
way 
 across the room in the dark, his eyes only half-open. Seconds later he 
let 
 out a sharp gasp of pain when his toe collided with the bottom of the 
 toilet.
 
 "Harm, you okay?" Mac demanded as she sat up in bed. "Harm?"
 
 "I'm fine" he moaned as he sank down on the toilet seat, holding his 
foot. 
 "Sorry I woke you."
 
 "What happened?" she asked as she stumbled into the bathroom. "What 
did you 
 do to your foot?"
 
 "Toe" he corrected. "I ran into the bottom of the toilet."
 
 "Ouch" she said sympathetically as she knelt down in front of him. 
"Let me 
 see it."
 
 "It's okay" he sighed. "I'll just take some Advil. It'll be fine in 
the 
 morning. You go back to bed. I'm sorry I woke you up."
 
 Before she could protest he led her back to bed, carefully avoiding 
placing 
 any weight on his toe as he walked. He would definitely need those 
Advil.

The last few steps he was limping even more noticeably and she pulled 
from his 
grasp.  "Harm no, this is wrong.  I'm fine and you're hurt.  Now get 
down here and 
let's get some ice for that to go along with the Advil.  Bet it's 
broken."

"Hey Ms. Gloom and Doom, it's just bruised or smashed or something.  
Let's not 
go for broken OK."

"You just lay down there and let me wrap some ice in a washcloth, and 
get your 
Advil," she ordered.

Realizing the futility of arguing with her at that moment, he did as 
she asked, 
resting his foot on a pillow and his back against two others.

She busied herself at the bathroom sink and a moment later he heard her 
curse 
lightly as she bent over to pick up something she dropped.  To his 
horror, she 
seemed to suddenly lose her balance and grabbed the edge of the sink, 
trying to 
catch herself and barely succeeding, staggering to keep her footing.

He gave a coarse cry of her name and leaped from the bed, only to give 
a cry of 
his own when his foot, the injury forgotten in his panic over her, felt 
his weight.

"Harm get back in that bed I'm OK," she ordered sharply.  "I just bent 
over too far 
and came up too fast and that's all.  I'm fine."

He stood uncertainly, torn between wanting to go to her and the pain 
that was now 
shooting through his leg from the new impact.

"Down, I'm coming right now anyway," she insisted.  "And fine, like I 
said."

 Eager arms reached for her when she returned to the bed, only to have 
her wave 
him off to give him his first aid.  "Harm I'm fine."

"You looked anything but fine as you were about to take a header onto 
the floor," 
he groused.  "This goes back to you being sick on the plane and not 
eating and all 
that doesn't it.  When we get back you're seeing a doctor.  In fact if 
one more thing 
happens you're seeing the inside of the infirmary at Leavenworth.  Are 
you 
reading me Marine?"

"You know you get me excited when you're in order giving mode," she 
tried, 
wanting to divert his attention.

It did not work.  "I'm so far from kidding here it's not remotely 
funny.  Honey 
something is wrong with you and I'm worried about you.  Please."

"Harm I'm a big girl, and I know when I need to be taken care of," she 
told him 
sternly.  "It's just PMS stuff--female stuff I'm sure.  And I'm also 
sure you don't 
want to hear about it any more than I want to go into it with you."

"Well I don't agree," he retorted stubbornly.   "Further you're just 
being you're 
usual stubborn Jarhead. . .owwwww that's cold what's the matter with 
you you 
trying to kill me there."

"Suck it up Sailor."  She held the ice on his toe until it melted and 
finally crawled 
up onto the pillow, praying she felt better in the morning.  If not, if 
Harm did not 
send her home, the Commandant at Leavenworth just might take one look 
at her 
and declare her unfit for duty.
=================
6AM

She was sleeping extremely soundly when he gently extracted himself 
from 
around her the next morning, himself having not slept well thanks to 
his throbbing 
foot.  Deciding a shower would help he levered himself from the bed, 
setting his 
teeth against the pain he guessed would shoot through his leg the 
minute the foot 
touched the floor.  He was right.  He managed to keep his yelp to 
himself and 
hobbled into the shower.

"Harm you in there?"  Her voice pierced the shower water twenty minutes 
later as 
he was leaning against the back wall, willing the warm water to force 
some life 
back into a weary body.

"Yeah honey I am," he answered with forced cheerfulness and then he 
realized he 
did not know how she was feeling.  "Mac you OK?  You need me or what?"

"I always need you Squid," she retorted, laughing lightly as she opened 
the door.  
"Yeah I feel better than I did yesterday thanks.  "How's your foot?"

"Oh just wonderful," he chirped.  "I hope Leavenworth has a liberal 
uniform policy 
because no way is a shoe going to touch this toe."

"Two words Harmon Rabb--X Ray," she growled, dropping her robe and 
joining 
him in the shower.  Despite his admittance that it was sore, she was 
not prepared 
to see it so swollen and bruised.

"OK yeah, but only at the infirmary there.  I don't want a civilian 
doctor messing 
with it," he groused.  "And while we're there we're getting you checked 
too."

"In your dreams mister.  I have a perfectly good woman doctor---one I 
share with 
Harriet in fact---civilian besides, back in Arlington and she is the 
only person on 
the face of this planet--other than you--whom I intend to allow to poke 
around. . 
.never mind.  Just start washing my back."
  
 It was another long half-hour before they emerged from the shower, 
Harm 
 quickly hobbling to the bed, grateful to be off his feet.
 
 "I think I'll be doing the driving" Mac said as she walked over to 
him. "You 
 are definitely not up to it."
 
 "This sucks" he moaned a short time later as he attempted to put his 
shoe 
 on, only to give up and throw the shoe down in frustration.
 
 "I know," she said sympathetically. "And I'll carry our bags down. 
There's 
 no way you can handle them and hobble around."
 
 "Oh no" Harm said as he forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain 
that 
 action caused. "You are not lugging those bags all the way across the 
 parking lot to the car. Not after the way you've been feeling."
 
 "Harm" she said with a long look. "I can manage."
 
 "Yes and this is a first class hotel that has bellboys" Harm said as 
he 
 hobbled to the phone. "We'll simply have someone come and get out bags 
and 
 pull up the car for us."
 
 She shook her head but knew better than to argue with him. Minutes 
later the 
 bellboy arrived and happily carried their bags while Mac helped Harm.
 
 "We'll stop for breakfast before we get to Leavenworth" he informed 
her as 
 they walked through the lobby. "Unless you want to eat now."
 
 "No but I'm going to grab one of those donuts" she grinned as they 
passed 
 the continental breakfast that was set up. "You want some coffee?"
 
 She grabbed a donut and two coffees and hurried out to where the 
bellboy had 
 pulled up the car. "Thank you" he said as he gratefully accepted the 
coffee 
 from her when she climbed in.
 
 "Just sit back and try and relax" she soothed as she pulled the car 
out of 
 the parking lot. "And as soon as we get to Leavenworth, you're going 
 straight to the Infirmary. I'll just go talk to Dylan and Martin 
alone."
 
 "No way" Harm said firmly. "We are sticking together. I'm not letting 
you 
 out of my sight in there."
 
 "Harm, in case you forgot this is a prison we're going to. The people 
are 
 behind bars. They don't roam free."
 
 "I know" he sighed. "I just don't like the idea of you in this place. 
We 
 prosecuted most of these people. I'm sure we're not at the top of 
their most 
 liked list."
 
 "Hey, will you quit worrying. We'll be fine."
 
 "Since Fallon, I have a hard time letting you out of my sight. Last 
time I 
 did that I almost lost you."
 
 "Never going to happen sailor," she said softly. "You are so stuck 
with me."
 
 He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He was nearly asleep 
when he 
 felt the car make a sudden move to the right and come to a halt.
 
 "Mac what's " he started, stopping as she flew out of the car. He 
hurried 
 out after her, finding her bent over behind the car.
 
 "I'm okay" she managed as she looked up at him. "But the donut wasn't 
a good 
 idea."
 
 "You should not be here," he said as she leaned up against the car. 
"You are 
 not well and I should drive you straight back to the airport and put 
you on 
 the first plane to DC."
 
 "But you're not going to" Mac sighed. "Because we are handling this 
 together. Just like we have everything since the crash."
 
 "Mac" Harm protested.
 
 "Harm, if I go back to DC, you're going with me" she said firmly. 
"Because 
 you are in no better shape than I am at the moment. In fact, I'm 
probably 
 better now. So it's up to you. We either go to Leavenworth together or 
we 
 call the Admiral and tell him we're both coming home."
 
 "Did anyone ever tell you you're a stubborn jarhead?" Harm said with a 
long 
 sigh as he pulled her into his arms.
 
 "Lots of times and I take that as a compliment" Mac smiled as he held 
her. 
 "And really I'm much better now."
 
 "Okay, but if one more incident like that and I am taking you home" he 
said 
 seriously. "And I am going to make an appointment for you when we get 
back."
 
 She helped him back into the car and the rest of the drive was made 
without 
 incident. They stopped for breakfast just outside of Leavenworth, Mac 
simply 
 having toast to calm her still churning stomach.
 
 "How you doing?" he asked as she pulled into Leavenworth a short time 
later. 
 "Feeling okay?"
 
 "I'm fine" she assured him. "The toast was exactly what I needed. How 
you 
 doing?"
 
 His response was a cry of pain as he placed his weight on his foot and 
she 
 quickly hurried over to assist him.
 
 "Infirmary for you" she said firmly as she helped inside the building. 
After 
 signing in with the guard she secured directions to the infirmary and 
 minutes later helped him into one of the chairs in the waiting room.
 
 "Thank you" he sighed, closing his eyes against the pain.
 
 "You're really hurting aren't you?" she said softly as she sat down 
beside 
 him. "You should have let me take you to the ER last night."
 
 "I'll be all right," he said giving her a weak smile.
 
 The nurse at the desk walked over, informing them that there were 
several 
 others patients ahead of him and there would be a wait for the 
corpsman.
 
 "Mac, why don't you go ahead and see if you can visit Uncle Matt" Harm 
 sighed. "No reason for you to sit around here."
 
 "I could go talk to Dylan and Martin" she offered.
 
 "NO" Harm said quickly. "I don't mind you going to see Uncle Matt but 
you're 
 not going to see those two without me. As soon as they're finished 
taking 
 care of this I'll head over there. You can join me then."
 
She gave a long sigh and looked around unsure of what to do, her logic 
telling her 
she was wasting precious time she could be spending with Uncle Matt, 
and at the 
same time not wanting to leave Harm.

Reading her thoughts, he gave her a gentle push.  "Go now.  You know 
they're 
not going to give you long with him.  Only because you're from JAG did 
they 
authorize the visit when it's not visitor day."

"I hate to leave you," she protested, "not to mention he's going to 
want to see you.  
I wanted you to come with me."

"I can maybe get permission for us to both say goodbye," he pointed 
out.  "Plus 
really Mac, you know he wants to see you and it will be less awkward 
for both of 
you if you don't have to explain me."

"Oh I've already done that," she giggled lightly.  "I told him I 
finally got my Sailor."
=================
"This way ma'am."  The young Army sergeant showed Mac into the visitor 
center 
and a few minutes later Matthew Phillip O'Hara was brought to her.  For 
a long 
moment they simply stared and then she hurried to hug him.

"Sarah this is wonderful," he whispered.  "So good to see you."  He 
held her back 
from his grasp and they looked closely at each other.

"You're looking great Uncle Matt," she smiled and kissed his cheek.  
"Whatever 
they're feeding you around here is agreeing with you."

"I wish I could say the same for you," he frowned.  "You're pale and I 
can feel you 
shaking.  Sarah child what's wrong?  Doesn't that sailor of yours take 
good care of 
you?"

"He takes great care of me," she smiled.  "Too much so sometimes.  No 
I've just 
got a bug or something I can't shake right now.  So fair warning, if I 
go running out 
of the room, you'll know what happened to me.  But really I'm fine.  I 
want to know 
about you.  Are they treating you good here?"

"Sure," Matt smiled.  "I'm too old any more to be considered a trouble 
maker.  So I 
have my own cell in the trustee wing.  I'm allowed to write and read, 
and 
sometimes the Commandant consults with me and I like that.  Basically 
I'm pretty 
content.  Not to mention grateful to your Mr. Rabb for what he did for 
me."

He was glad to," she smiled, remembering fondly back to their first 
meeting, and 
that Uncle Matt was their first case.

"You were falling in love with him even then," Matt smiled, knowing 
what she was 
thinking.

"With that pompous ass?   I was not," she yelped, her eyes belying her 
words.

"Right," Matt smiled.  "Tell me all about it now.  He's recovered from 
his crash?"

"Getting there," she nodded.  "He went through hell in the Atlantic, as 
did I, 
waiting.  And he's had some adjustments to go through but he's doing 
well.  We 
both are, and we're both seeing a Navy psychologist that we can talk to 
without 
feeling like he's going to gig us for being crazy."

"And you and Harm are going to stay together?"

"Oh yeah," she smiled.  "Just pity the poor schmuck who tries to get us 
apart."
===================
"Commander you did a number on this foot," the corpsman groaned.  "What 
happened--an elephant step on you?"

"Yes that's exactly what happened," Harm answered sarcastically.  
"Please could 
we just one, get it to stop throbbing, and two, fix it so I can walk on 
it."

"Well first it's going to take an X-ray to see what the damage is, and 
then we'll 
know how to fix it.  I'm going to start an IV so I can give you 
something for the 
pain, which is only going to increase when we set it."

"Now there's something to look forward to," he groaned.

"Follow me sir."  The medic caught Harm's arm as he lowered himself 
from the 
treatment table and led him first to the Xray lab and then to a 
treatment area.  
"Clark, you're getting a room mate," he called as he unlocked the door.

Harm froze.  Clark.  Would it be too much to hope that the young man 
was talking 
to Joe Clark, and not Clark. . .yes it would.

"Harmon Rabb I don't believe it," Clark Palmer spoke from a nearby bed.

"You let prisoners and regular patients mix?"  Harm wheeled around to 
the medic 
in alarm.

"Sir he's not going anywhere."

"No I'm not," Palmer chimed in, holding up his wrist that was cuffed to 
the bed rail.  
"Not unless I drag this here bed with me and I don't see it fitting 
through the door."

Harm glowered but said nothing, allowing himself to be installed in 
another bed.

"So Harm what brings you here today?  Looks like you've got a bum leg."

"Is there no other place I could do this?" Harm begged the medic.

"Sir, not really.  And Clark is harmless.  Just tell him to shut up if 
he gets on your 
nerves."

"Already there.  What's he here for?"

"Gotta bad ulcer," Palmer spoke up.  "Stress."

Harm directed an expletive at him as he settled onto his pillow, 
wincing when the 
IV went in.  

"One advantage here is that his is going to make you out of it enough 
so that you 
can easily ignore your friend," the medic told him.

"No friend of mine," Harm muttered, leaning back to close his eyes.  

A half hour later he was nearly asleep when he heard Mac's anxious 
voice, 
entreating someone to hurry and let her in.  Once the door was opened 
she flew 
to his bedside, alarmed at seeing him propped on pillows, an IV going.

"Harm, god Harm are you OK?" she gasped.  "None of these people will 
tell me 
anything."  She turned around and raised her voice.  "And you can be 
damn sure 
I'm taking names."

"Honey relax," he soothed.  "I'm just getting something for pain here 
while they 
look at my Xray which they've obviously sent to Photomat to be read or 
it wouldn't 
be taking so long. Calm down please and my god you look worse."

"Thanks a helluva lot," she groaned.  "I've already heard that from 
Uncle Matt."

"I don't think she looks bad at all."  Palmer from the bed.  In her 
hurry to get to 
Harm, Mac had paid no mind to the other patient.  Now she turned around 
to stare 
at him coldly and had no trouble recognizing him.

"Clark Palmer."

"Yes ma'am.  And you're. . . ?  If we had the pleasure I know I would 
recall."

"Sarah Mackenzie, Commander Rabb's partner," she said coldly, turning 
away 
from him.

"Rabb you call all your partners honey?" Palmer taunted.

"Just ignore him," Mac said quickly, noting Harm's face as he realized 
what he 
had done in his alarm for her.  

"Idiot," he muttered, reaching for her hand as she sat down.  "Are you 
OK really?"

"No better no worse," she shrugged.  "I promise I'll get checked when 
we get 
back.  Now what's happening with you?"

"He's getting a light cast on that foot that's what," the doctor said 
as he entered.  
"Mr. Rabb I'm Captain Hatcher.  And you have a broken bone right here."  
He ran 
his pen along Harm's foot as he spoke.  "So what's going to happen is 
that I'm 
going to have one of my people set it for you and I want you to stay 
here a couple 
hours so that pain medication can wear off.  Then we'll fit you with a 
crutch for 
support once you can safely navigate."

"But he's going to be OK?" Mac asked anxiously.

"Colonel it's a foot injury, not a sucking chest wound," Palmer 
chortled.  "And what 
am I doing here still doctor?"

"You're here for the night Mr. Palmer so you may as well relax," 
Hatcher told him, 
not bothering to look at him.

Harm's foot was taken care of, Mac holding his hand while they did so, 
and both of 
them ignoring Palmer.

"OK, Captain Hatcher will be back to discharge him in about two hours," 
the medic 
told them.  "Until then just hang loose."

Mac wiped the pain-induced beads of sweat from Harm's forehead and at 
his 
anxious urging made her sit down.  He wanted to hear about her visit 
with Matt 
and was attempting to keep his eyes open while she talked.  Mac had her 
back to 
Palmer, and when Harm lay back, Palmer was out of his line of sight.  
Mac 
however was not, and she could feel his eyes boring into her back.  

Finally she got up to use the bathroom and when she was gone, Palmer 
gave a 
low whistle.  "Rabb I can't fault your taste in women that's for damn 
sure. Even 
now--with her not feeling well--she's a babe."

 
 "Stay away from her" Harm said coldly. "Don't you even look at her."
 
 "Stuck a nerve huh" Palmer grinned. "This one must be special to you. 
Even 
 more so than blonde was. Is this one going to be the first Mrs. Harmon 
Rabb 
 Jr.?"
 
 "Shut up Palmer."
 
 "Harmy boy finally found his soul mate" Palmer continued. "Sitting by 
his 
 side all the time. Ain't that special."
 
 "Palmer, if you say one more word…"
 
 "I have to say she's a real looker Harm. I mean, that shrink you dated 
was 
 hot and all but this one is something else. Those long legs…"
 
 Anything else he was about to say was cut off as Harm was at his side, 
his 
 hands about to reach for Palmer's throat. "You lousy" Harm started, 
stopping 
 only when the medic returned to the room to check on them.
 
 "Commander, what the hell are you doing on your foot?" the medic 
demanded.
 
 "You say one more thing or look at her I promise you you're dead" Harm 
said 
 quietly to Palmer before allowing the medic to help him back into bed.
 
 "Is there something going on I should know about?" the medic asked as 
he 
 looked at the two men.
 
 "No, the Commander and I were just catching up on old times" Palmer 
grinned. 
 "We go back a long ways don't we Harm?"
 
 "Shut up Palmer" Harm said as he closed his eyes against the pain.
 
 "Commander I suggest you stay off that foot until Captain Hatcher says 
you 
 can be on it" the medic continued as he headed for the door. 
"Otherwise 
 you're not going to be going anywhere either."
 
 "Hey, we'll be roomies for the night" Palmer grinned and Harm shot him 
 another glare. The medic simply shook his head as he walked out, 
nearly 
 bumping into Mac as she hurried back in.
 
 "You okay?" Harm asked as she sat down beside him.
 
 "I'd be better if we weren't here" she sighed, feeling once again 
Palmer's 
 eyes on her. "But I'll be okay. How are you? And how's the foot?"
 
 "Hurts like hell" he admitted. "But as soon as they say I can leave 
we're 
 out of here. And maybe before then" he added as he glared at Palmer 
again.
 
 "You just lay back and take it easy" Mac said softly. "You're not 
going 
 anywhere until Captain Hatcher says you can."
 
 "Listen to the little woman Harm" Palmer spoke up again. "She knows 
what 
 she's talking about."
 
 "Palmer, shut up" Harm said irritably, wishing for all the world they 
were 
 anywhere but in the same room as Palmer. "Unless you want me to make 
good 
on 
 my promise."
 
 "What promise?" Mac asked her ears perking up at once. "Harm what's 
going 
 on?"
 
 "Nothing" Harm sighed. "Just ignore him."
 
 They managed to do just that until Captain Hatcher returned, finally 
 allowing Harm to leave.
 
 "Well you're not going to break any speed records today" Mac teased as 
they 
 slowly made their way out of the infirmary, Harm using the crutch 
they'd 
 provided for support along with Mac's gentle hand.
 
 "Cute Marine" Harm groaned. "Let's just see what Dylan and Martin have 
to 
 say and get out of here. I don't know about you but I'm ready to go 
home."
 
 "I hear you sailor" Mac sighed tiredly.
 
 "You doing okay?" he asked softly, stopping at once to look at her.
 
 "Fine, just want to get this over with like you do," she said with a 
forced 
 smile.
 
 Minutes later they made their way down the cellblock to PO Roger 
Martin's 
 cell, escorted by one of the guards. That didn't stop the men behind 
the 
 bars from calling out to Mac and Harm's discomfort with her being 
there grew 
 by the second.
 
 "They don't get many women back here" the guard explained.
 
 "Yeah I can tell" Mac said as she unconsciously moved closer to Harm. 
Her 
 head was beginning to ache, her stomach on the verge of revolt again.
 
 "PO Martin" the guard yelled as they reached the cell. "Commander Rabb 
and 
 Colonel Mackenzie from JAG are here to see you."
 
 "Well well" Martin said as the guard opened the cell. "Commander and 
the 
 Colonel. I didn't think anyone was taking me seriously."
 
 "If this is all just a ploy to get Dylan out, it isn't going to work" 
Harm 
 said sharply. "And if we find out you and Dylan made up this little 
story, 
 you'll never see the light of day again. Now if you have some facts, 
we'd be 
 happy to hear them."
 
 "You mean whether or not I killed Riley" Martin leered. "Is that what 
you 
 want to know?"
 
 "Harm" Mac whispered as she suddenly grabbed his arm. "Harm, I have to 
get 
 out of here. I think I'm going to be sick." Her pale face attested to 
that 
 fact and at once Harm yelled for the guard.
 
 "Take Colonel Mackenzie back to the infirmary" Harm ordered, wanting 
to do 
 so himself but knowing it would take him to long to hobble back down. 
"Mac, 
 I'll be down as soon as I'm finished here, okay."
 
 She nodded and Harm gave her hand a quick squeeze before allowing the 
guard 
 to take her arm. Harm watched her leave the cellblock before sinking 
down on 
 the chair in Martin's cell.
 
 "Start talking Martin" Harm said as he pulled out his legal pad.

"No you start talking," Martin returned.  "I want to know what's in 
this for me.  I'm 
confessing to a murder, solving a case, absolving a fellow service 
member.  
Twenty years is like a lifetime in this hole.  I want out--moved to one 
of them 
country club prisons."

Harm dropped his pen and pinched the bridge of his nose in 
exasperation, part of 
his mind on Mac and her illness.  "Do I look like Jesus Christ sitting 
here?" he 
bellowed.  "Son I'm here to investigate the validity of your tale.  And 
let me tell 
you, as a convicted attempted murderer now, your credibility is pretty 
weak.  Now 
why don't you tell me why you murdered Riley for starters."

"Self defense," Martin said, his voice now defiant.

"Riley threatened you?"

"Riley was hitting on me sir."

Again the pen hit the table as Harm stared in disbelief.  A whole new 
can of 
worms could be opening up if Martin was making allegations of gay 
sexual 
advances.  "Perhaps you'd better start at the beginning," he sighed.
==============
"Colonel you don't look very well," Captain Hatcher said kindly, 
admitting Mac to 
sick bay.  "In fact you look bloody awful."

Mac stiffened at those words, hearing Mic, and she shuddered slightly.  
"Australia?"

"Actually yes, I just got back two months ago from a year TDY as 
medical officer 
attached to the consulate," he admitted.  "Now you're nauseous right?"

"Totally," she sighed.  "Not even water is staying down right now and 
I'm starting 
to cramp besides."

"OK," Hatcher nodded.  "I'm going to have you lay down and I want to 
get an IV 
going for fluid replacement.  Kidney failure is not a fun experience.  
And I'll give 
you an injection for the nausea.  Also do some blood work just in case 
we're 
dealing with something that needs to be considered.  Can I ask you if 
you're 
pregnant---or could be?"

"No of course not," she yelped in protest, her eyes blazing.  

"OK OK," Hatcher smiled, "didn't mean to upset you.  It's just that you 
and the 
Commander are. . ."

"Are none of your business," she snapped and was at once sorry.  "Hey 
that was 
uncalled for.  You're just trying to help.  It's not something I want 
to get in to.  
Harm and me I mean.  Please."

Hatcher nodded. "OK. I understand. I'm going to send the nurse in to 
help you get 
into some hospital sweats that you'll be more comfortable and then 
we'll get 
started.  Be right back."

Hatcher left her for a moment, stepping in to the hallway and flagging 
down Nancy 
Crosby, the nurse on duty.  "Nancy, I need a saline IV with Compazine 
added for 
Colonel Mackenzie.  And then I want you to draw blood and urine for the 
usual 
tests.  I also want an HCG serum run, but don't tell her you're doing 
that.  She 
may be pregnant, and if she is, she's in denial of the possibility."

"Yes sir."
===============
One Hour Later

"Captain how's Colonel Mackenzie?"  Harm's anxious voice made Hatcher 
look up 
from his desk in surprise.  

"Commander come in.  And don't look so worried.  She's resting, 
sleeping 
actually, and the nausea has calmed down. No one died from 
gastroenteritis. . .or 
the other possibility, morning sickness."

Harm had to grab the desk to steady himself.  "My god, she's pregnant?"

"Well our lab is notoriously slow, so I can't verify that, but I think 
it's possible.  
Technically I shouldn't be sharing that with you, but despite her 
feeble attempt to 
pass it off, you and she are. . ."

"Very much," Harm gasped.  "Pregnant?"

"Just a possibility Commander.  Right now I'm more worried about her 
dehydration, which is being fixed as we speak.  She'll feel better in a 
couple hours.  
You can go sit with her.  I have her in an area separated from Palmer."

"Thank god for small favors," he sighed, still reeling from the news 
that he could 
be pending fatherhood.  "Pregnant?"

"Yeah," Hatcher grinned and clapped his shoulder.  "Remember it's just 
possible.  
You go be with her and I'll light a fire under the lab."

 Harm hurried to the room Hatcher had directed him to, sinking down 
into the 
 chair beside the gurney as he reached for her hand. She stirred at 
once, 
 opening tired eyes to look up at him.
 
 "Hey, how you doing?" he asked softly.
 
 "Better" she sighed. "Whatever they're giving me seems to be doing the 
 trick. I must have picked up some kind of bug."
 
 "Mac, Captain Hatcher thinks you might be pregnant" Harm said softly.
 
 "No, I can't be" she shook her head.
 
 "Because you don't want to be," he said quietly, interpreting her 
words as 
 meaning she didn't want his child. He'd been thrilled when Captain 
Hatcher 
 had mentioned pregnancy. But Mac seemed anything but.
 
 "Harm, no" she said quickly. "I just, I'm not sure I'm ready…" Her 
voice 
 trailed off and she looked away as the tears started to brim.
 
 "You're not ready to have a baby yet" Harm finished. "And you're 
probably 
 right." He hoped she couldn't hear the disappointment in his voice but 
he 
 wasn't entirely successful at keeping it out.
 
 "Harm, I'm sorry" Mac whispered. "Please don't think I don't want to 
have 
 your baby. I do. I'm just confused right now. I don't know what I'm 
feeling 
 right now."
 
 "Just tell me you still love me," he said softly. "And that no matter 
what 
 that tests says that won't change."
 
 "Of course I love you," she said as her hand reached up to his face. 
 "Nothing will ever change that."
 
 "Not even you being pregnant?"
 
 "No way sailor" she promised. "And if I am pregnant…"
 
 "Then we just move up those wedding plans," Harm said softly. "And 
before 
 you say a word, I asked you to marry me when we were in San Diego. I'm 
just 
 thinking that if we are going to have a baby we should make some more 
 definite plans. That's if you still want me."
 
 "Do you still want me?" she whispered.
 
 "Always and forever" he smiled as he brought her hand to his lips and 
kissed 
 it. "Never doubt that Sarah Mackenzie."
 
 "You are too good to me" she sighed. "How are you doing? How's your 
foot?"
 
 "Been better but I'll live. I got Martin's story and then all I could 
think 
 about was making sure you were okay. You had me worried Marine."
 
 "Sorry. Really I'm feeling better now. Maybe I could go with you when 
you go 
 talk to Dylan."
 
 "No, you stay here and rest" Harm said firmly. "I can handle this 
alone. And 
 as soon as I'm finished and Captain Hatcher says you're okay, we are 
getting 
 out of here."
 
 "Sorry folks, the lab is backed up," Captain Hatcher said as he walked 
into 
 the room. "There's only one lab technician today and she's got a few 
other 
 things ahead of your test."
 
 "Guess we'll have to wait a little longer to find out" Harm said 
softly as 
 he squeezed her hand. "I'm going to go talk to PO Dylan. You rest."
 
 "Harm, really I'm feeling much better, let me go with you" Mac 
protested.
 
 "Mac, I'll be fine," he said as he pushed himself to his feet, 
grimacing as 
 he put the weight on his injured foot. "Honest."
 
 "Commander, you really should try and stay off that foot" Captain 
Hatcher 
 advised. "That's not going to get any better with you on it all day."
 
 "I know" Harm sighed. "But I need to interview one more inmate. As 
soon as 
 I'm done with that, trust me, I'll be more than happy to get off this 
foot."
 
 Captain Hatcher nodded and walked out, leaving them alone again.
 
 "I'll be back in a little bit," he said softly. "And by then we'll 
know." He 
 reached for her hand, squeezing it softly.
 
 "Yes we will" she whispered. "I love you."
 
 "Love you too" he said before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "You 
rest 
 and take it easy."
 
 He hobbled his way back to the cellblock, the guard taking him to PO 
Dylan's 
 cell.
 
 "Commander, I didn't think you'd be here to talk to me" Dylan smirked 
as 
 Harm walked into the cell.
 
 "Just trying to get all the facts PO" Harm said as he sank down in the 
 chair.
 
 "You didn't care about the facts when you prosecuted me" Dylan 
countered. 
 "What makes you so interested now? Maybe cause I hired myself a real 
lawyer 
 to find out what happened?"
 
 "Why don't you tell me about PO Riley" Harm said as he pulled out his 
legal 
 pad. He wanted to see if Dylan mentioned anything about Riley's 
possible 
 sexual advances.
 
 An hour later his foot was beginning to throb in tune with his head 
and he 
 rubbed his temples as Dylan continued to talk. He closed his eyes for 
a 
 moment, tuning out Dylan as his mind wandered to Mac. What if she was 
 pregnant? Would he be a good father?  At the same time his mind 
imagined 
 holding their baby, a little girl who looked just like her mommy.
=============
In the infirmary Mac stirred and woke, her hand reaching for his and 
when she 
realized he was not there, came back to rest on her belly.  "Is there a 
baby Rabb 
in there?" she murmured softly.  A little boy with Rabb green eyes and 
that grin 
that could charm a cookie from a mom five minutes before dinner.

"Colonel I'm sorry.  There's still no word yet," a harried nurse 
stopped by long 
enough to tell her.  "But if you're feeling well you can get up now.  
Your IV is 
finished and the medication should have helped.  You want to see if you 
can 
manage?"

Slowly Mac sat up, pleased to note that at least the room was not 
spinning and 
her stomach was for the moment at least not churning butter.  "My 
partner is down 
in the cell block interviewing a prisoner and I should go join him," 
she sighed.  
"Though frankly that medication is kind of making me say what the hell 
for."

"It does that.  You're the people from JAG?"

Mac nodded.  "And we didn't expect to be guests of your infirmary.  
I've just never 
had anything hit me this hard.  If I have nine months of this, this kid 
will be an 
only."

"So you're hoping yes?"

Mac opened her mouth to speak and caught her breath.  "Yeah, yeah I am.  
I was 
shocked at first at the thought, but now yeah. Plus we'd have nine 
months to get 
used to the idea."

"Now what idea would that be?  And Julie I thought you were coming back 
to give 
me that sponge bath."

Mac gasped and fell silent while Julie spun around.  "Clark how the 
hell did you 
get away from your bed?"

"Someone wasn't real careful when they put me back in," Clark Palmer 
taunted, 
lifting his wrist so that the cuff swung back and forth.  "So I thought 
I'd take a walk.  
I didn't know the two prettiest ladies in the infirmary would be in 
here together."  
Casually he sauntered to Mac's bedside, standing beside Julie.

"Clark stuff a sock in it," Julie moaned.  "You are so full of it your 
eyeballs are 
brown.  Plus you know this is going to cost you some time in solitary.  
Unless you 
go back and I forget I saw you."

Palmer's eyes narrowed.  "No chance pretty nurse.  And if this pretty 
Marine 
wasn't here, I'd want you and me to spend some time together but you're 
here all 
the time and you and I will have another chance.  Right now I want to 
enjoy the 
Colonel here."

Mac swallowed hard, the thought of him coming near her bringing a new 
round of 
nausea to her almost at once.

"Clark I'm going to report this," Julie threatened, edging away toward 
the door. 

"No you're not," he said, his voice deceptively calm, and to Mac's 
horror he sent a 
stinging backhand to the side of her head, knocking her to the floor 
where she lay 
still.

"Come on Colonel, we're going to find someplace a little more private."

Mac could not take her eyes from Julie on the floor and Palmer took 
advantage of 
her shock to yank her roughly from the bed, quickly getting her arm 
behind her 
back in a painful hold.  Despite the pain she managed to get her foot 
out and to 
attempt a Marine-taught take down, bringing Palmer to his knees, which 
only 
served to enrage him as he scrambled to his feet, still keeping her arm 
twisted.  
"Don't try that again or I swear I'll break this in four places," he 
hissed, "and you 
know I could do it."

"It's better than what you've got in mind," she told him, again using 
her feet.  This 
time he was ready for her.  Weakened by the dehydration and still under 
the 
effects of the medication she was not able to gain any leverage over 
him and he 
quickly took his other arm to her throat, effectively cutting off her 
will to resist by 
making her concentrate just on breathing.  A task made even more 
difficult a 
moment later when Palmer covered her mouth with tape from a supply 
drawer.
===============
"Dylan. . .Dylan please," Harm held up his hand for quiet.  Once the 
man had 
gotten started he was unstoppable.  "This is good for today.  I need to 
check out 
some of this before we go further.  And if Riley did come on to you. . 
.well that's 
not a reason for murder, but it does explain some things."  Harm folded 
the legal 
pad into his case and looked outside into the large common area, 
scowling as he 
noticed small knots of prisoners gathering.  A quiet buzz had replaced 
the 
raucousness of earlier.  At the same time Dylan himself started to 
fidget.

"Something going on here?" Harm asked him, his instincts for trouble on 
alert and 
his thoughts on his Marine in the infirmary.

"Yes sir there is," Dylan said miserably.  "Brig break.  You should not 
be here."

Harm's first thoughts were to Mac and a prayer for her safety.  "I need 
to get back 
to the infirmary," he gasped, looking out at the gathering men.  

"They're not going to let you," Dylan predicted.  "You'll be hostage 
here until Ryder 
and his guys get out."

 Before Harm could react an explosion rocked the area as a seemingly 
 innocuous trash can in the center of the floor burst into flames with 
the 
 sound of a hundred rounds of machine gun fire. At the same time the 
lights 
 went off, leaving the area lit only by the daylight coming in the 
windows. 
 Prisoners who had been heretofore unseen stormed from their cells and 
the 
 guards, caught by surprise by the explosion, were surrounded.
 
 Harm hurried to the cell door, intent on getting out and to the 
infirmary to 
 see Mac. He got as far as the door when he was met with two large men.
 
 "Dylan who the hell is this?" one of the men demanded.
 
 "Commander Rabb from JAG" the young man replied quickly.
 
 "What the hell is going on in here?" Harm demanded.
 
 "Hey I know you," the other man said as he looked closely at Harm. 
"Ryder 
 this is the JAG lawyer that put me away."
 
 "Is that so" the man named Ryder said as he looked at Harm. "Now that 
you 
 mention it, I think he was the one who sent me to this hell hole."
 
 "Whatever you two are planning, it isn't going to work," Harm said 
calmly. 
 "They'll just come in here with guns blaring and shoot first and ask 
 questions later."
 
 "Not when we've got ourselves a little hostage" Ryder grinned. 
"Sellers, tie 
 up our hostage here so he doesn't get any ideas about trying to get 
away."
 
 Harm's attempt to get past Sellers was futile, his injured foot 
hampering 
 him. Sellers grabbed his arm, shoving him hard against the cell bars.
 
 "Ryder, you're making a big mistake" Harm threatened as Sellers 
grabbed his 
 arm, yanking it hard behind his back before tying his hands together. 
"This 
 is only going to ensure that you never see the light of day again."
 
 "No Commander this ensures my safety" Ryder grinned. "No one is going 
to 
 come blasting through here when they know there's a big JAG lawyer in 
here."
 
 "You really think having me here is going to make a difference?" Harm 
 challenged as Sellers whirled him around, his hands now tied behind 
his 
 back.
 
 "It better, cause if it doesn't, you're going to be our human shield" 
Ryder 
 laughed as he shoved Harm into the chairs. He noticed Harm's cell 
phone 
 sticking out of his pocket and grabbed it. "Thank you Commander. Time 
to see 
 if they're going to negotiate."
 
 "His partner is around here too" Dylan spoke up and Harm gave the 
young man 
 a long glare. "Colonel Mackenzie I think is her name."
 
 "She good looking?" Ryder asked.
 
 "Ask Martin" Dylan smiled. "I think he had the pleasure of seeing the 
 Colonel earlier."
 
 "Where's you partner Commander?" Ryder asked. "We'd like to have her 
join 
 our little party over here. The more hostages we have the more likely 
they 
 are to listen to us."
 
 At that second Harm was eternally grateful Mac was still in the 
infirmary. 
 The thought of her here with him sent a chill down his spine and he 
prayed 
 the infirmary would be secured.
 
 "I'm waiting Commander" Ryder leered.
 
 "No where you can touch her," Harm said coldly. He received a sharp 
backhand 
 to the head for his remark, knocking him from the chair to the floor. 
He lay 
 there stunned for a second before Sellers roughly pulled him back onto 
the 
 chair.
 
 "We'll see about that" Ryder laughed. "Let's try this again Commander. 
Where 
 is your partner?"
 
 "Go to hell" Harm muttered. Another smack sent him to the ground 
again, his 
 head hitting the cell bars hard. The world started to blacken around 
him, 
 only Ryder's words keeping him from giving in to the pain.
 
 "What do you bet Mr. JAG has his partner on speed dial?" Ryder grinned 
as he 
 opened the cell phone. "I'm betting she's number one on his list."
 
 *******************************
 Infirmary
 Same Time
 
 "Looks like there's a little trouble out in the cell block" Palmer 
grinned 
 as the sirens sounded. "See Colonel, you're lucky you're in here with 
me. 
 Otherwise you be out there in the middle of a prison riot." He laughed 
as 
 her eyes widened with alarm. "Oh that's right, Harmy boy's out there 
isn't 
 he? I sure hope the guys don't rough him up too much."
 
 After securing her hands behind her back, he reached down and removed 
the 
 tape from her mouth and she took in large deep breaths.
 
 "You'll never get away with this" Mac gasped. "And neither will the 
 inmates."
 
 "I don't know" Palmer grinned. "If they've got a Navy Commander as a 
 hostage, they might do okay. And seeing as how I've got you Colonel." 
His 
 hand brushed her cheek and she shuddered at the touch.
 
 "Don't worry Colonel" Palmer whispered in her ear. "You and I are 
going to 
 get to know each other real well."
 
 Her cell phone in her purse rang and Palmer immediately grabbed it.
 
 "Rabb that you?"
 
 "Palmer, what are you doing with the Colonel's cell phone?" Ryder 
demanded.
 
 In the cell Harm forced himself to stay awake, the words Palmer and 
 Colonel's cell phone hitting him at once. He'd left Mac in the 
 infirmary…where Palmer was. Somehow he'd gotten to her. A wave of fear 
 rushed through him, knowing Palmer would do anything to hurt him. And 
 hurting Mac would be the best way to hurt him.
 
 "Me and the Colonel are having a little quiet time" Palmer grinned as 
he 
 quickly clamped his hand over Mac's mouth.  "Tell the Commander I'm 
enjoying 
 his girlfriend very much."
 
 "Girlfriend" Ryder grinned. "I thought the Colonel was his partner."
 
 "Oh they're partners all right" Palmer laughed. "In the court room and 
in 
 the bedroom."
 
 "Hey Rabb, Palmer says your girlfriend is pretty good" Ryder taunted 
as he 
 held the phone out. "You want to say hi."
 
 "You bastard, leave her alone" Harm yelled into the phone. "Palmer, I 
mean 
 it. If you so much as lay a hand on her."
 
 "You'll what Commander" Palmer laughed. "I don't think you're in any 
 position to make threats."
 
 "Palmer, I promise you I'll kill you with my bare hands if you so much 
as 
 touch her" Harm yelled.
 
 "I've already done that" Palmer grinned. "You did real good this time 
Harm. 
 This one was real good."
 
 "Nooooo" Harm shouted, the image of Palmer with Mac too much too 
handle. He 
 was quickly silenced once again by Sellers backhand that sent him to 
the 
 floor and Palmer laughed as he listened.
 
 "Hey Ryder, put Harm back on" Palmer ordered. "I have someone who 
wants to 
 talk to him."
 
 "Not sure the Commander can talk right now" Ryder laughed. "He's on 
the 
 floor."

"Get him up," Palmer ordered, ignoring Mac's desperate squirming as she 
could 
hear the conversation.

"Hey we're having a pretty good time with him," Ryder responded.  
"Turns out this 
is the bastard who sent me and my friend Sellers here to this hellhole 
way back 
about five years ago.  Big hot shot attorney from JAG.  Well he don't 
look so hot 
right now with blood on his face."

Palmer smiled and released his hand from Mac's mouth in time for her to 
scream 
Harm's name.

Sellers jerked Harm to his feet by his collar, keeping his arm behind 
his back and 
Ryder held the phone to his ear, shouting, "OK Palmer, Rabb's ready to 
listen."

"Harm Harm are you OK?" Mac screamed into the phone.  "You men leave 
him 
alone or I swear you'll never in your lifetime walk out of here."

There came the sound of a body blow and Harm's immediate moan of pain.  

Palmer smiled again and looked down at Mac, now distraught with fear.  
"What's it 
worth to you to get me to make them leave you alone?  To make them stop 
hurting him.  Before they maybe kill him."

"Anything," she whispered, tears sliding down both cheeks.  "Anything 
in my 
power to give you."

Palmer nodded and spoke into the phone.  "Sellers, get Rabb awake.  He 
needs 
to hear this."

"OK he's sort of conscious," came the report a moment later.

"Rabb listen up now," Palmer hissed.  "Your partner here has told me 
she'd do 
anything in her power to get me to call off Ryder and Sellers, before 
they do 
anything to you can't be fixed.  OK here's the deal. They're going to 
leave you 
alone as long as she does what I want.  Willingly."

"NO."  Harm's scream came back through the phone. "Mac no.  Don't.  
Don't let 
him touch you.  Think of the baby.  Mac noooooo."  His voice was cut 
off and Mac 
closed her eyes, willing back more tears.

"Harm it's OK," she shouted.  "I don't want you to be hurt any more.  
It's OK."

"Then we have a deal do we?" Palmer demanded.  "You--willingly.  Making 
it good 
for me."

"Deal.  Just please don't let them hurt him any more."

Palmer put the phone to his mouth.  "Sellers, Ryder.  Listen to me.  I 
want Rabb 
left alone.  Tie him up and leave him be.  I mean it.  Unless you hear 
from me the 
deal's off--in which case he's all yours.  You mess me up and you'll 
both be sorry 
and you know I mean it."

Harm was still struggling as best he could, trying to get to the phone.  
"Palmer 
you're a dead man," he managed to shout with his remaining 
consciousness.  
"Mac don't let him.  I'm not worth it."

"Yes you are Harm.  I love you," she shouted back tearfully.  "Yes you 
are."  And 
the words she had said to Terri Coulter a few weeks before came to 
her--'I would 
both kill and die for him'.  

Palmer broke the connection and pocketed the phone.  "OK I'm going to 
assume 
you're a Marine of your word.  You screw with me, and I pick up the 
phone and tell 
them the deal's busted and they can do what they want with him.  I'd 
think about 
that.  Sellers has a rep for being a man who takes. . .well you get the 
idea.  Let's 
walk this way.  I know a private area."  The tape went back over her 
mouth as he 
pulled her through a door and into a deserted hallway.  Long months of 
finagling 
and charming had given him privileges and freedoms and he was now 
putting that 
to good use.
========================
"Stay out of this O'Hara," the prison Commandant, General Burnside, 
ordered the 
anxious man before him.  "I know your niece and her partner are caught 
up and 
we're going to do our best to get them out.  You need to let my people 
handle it.  
Plus I've got reinforcements coming from off duty personnel."

"General what you've got is a recipe for disaster," Matt gasped.  "And 
my niece is 
in the middle of it.  Do you have any idea where she and Commander Rabb 
are?"

"Colonel Mackenzie was in sick bay not feeling well, and Commander Rabb 
in Cell 
block D," Burnside told him. "Go back to your cell Matt, or I'll have 
you escorted 
there.  I don't have time for a conversation right now."

"You best know what you're doing or you're going to cause a lot of 
grief," Matt 
glowered, slamming the door on his way out.
===============
Harm's hands were bound behind him, attached to a bar of the cell while 
Ryder 
and Sellers talked on the phone, making their demands.  He was drifting 
in and 
out, the pain making him do so, and in fact he welcomed the respite; 
for when he 
was alert, his mind swam with visions of Palmer and Mac.  Mac, possibly 
pregnant 
with his child, allowing Palmer to touch her.

 "Ryder why we keeping him alive if they ain't going to meet our 
demands"
 
 Sellers voice forced Harm back to consciousness, not so much caring 
what 
 they would do to him but what Mac was doing because she thought they 
 wouldn't hurt him if she did.
 
 "Who died and left Clark Palmer boss around here anyway" Sellers 
continued. 
 "I thought you was running the show."
 
 Harm forced open his eyes open, giving the two men a long glare.
 
 "I do run the show around here" Ryder said irritably. "And for now 
we're 
 going to keep our hostage alive. But I don't answer to Clark Palmer. 
If I 
 don't start getting results, we'll just have to let them know we're 
serious 
 in here." He walked over to Harm, yanking his head up to look at him. 
"And 
 you know what that means don't you. You die regardless of what your 
 girlfriend does for Palmer." With a laugh he shoved Harm's head back 
against 
 the cell wall. Harm's last conscious thought was that Mac was 
sacrificing 
 herself for nothing.
 
 ************************************
 Matthew O'Hara had been a model prisoner since the day he'd arrived at 
 Leavenworth. He'd accepted the punishment for his actions and had 
always 
 followed the rules. Until now. The life of his niece meant more to him 
than 
 anything else in the world. Including his freedom.
 
 "Matt, where you going?"
 
 With a long sigh he stopped and turned around to see one of the guards 
from 
 his cellblock, his weapon drawn.
 
 "Jim, I'm going to go find my niece" Matt said quietly. "And you are 
not 
 going to stop me, please."
 
 "I heard about your niece" Jim Marlowe replied. "If she was in sick 
bay 
 she's fine. The riots in the cellblock where Commander Rabb was at."
 
 "Oh god, is he okay?" Matt demanded, knowing that if anything happened 
to 
 her sailor, Sarah Mackenzie would die along with him.
 
 "They're holding him as a hostage" Jim said quietly. "I shouldn't even 
be 
 telling you this but I know that your niece and him are real close."
 
 "What are their demands?"
 
 "Nothing they're going to get" Jim sighed. "And of course once they 
realize 
 that we're not going to do what they want, well, you know he's as good 
as 
 dead."
 
 "Jim, I need to get to sick bay. I need to find Sarah. If she's heard 
about 
 the riots she's probably going crazy."
 
 "Matt, I can't let you go down there. You're supposed to be back in 
your 
 cell like everyone else is during the lockdown."
 
 "Dammit Jim, this is important" Matt pleaded. "Sarah is the only 
family I 
 have. I need to make sure she's okay and I need to be there for her in 
case 
 anything happens to him."
 
 "And how do I know you're not going to try anything stupid?"
 
 "Because you know I would never do that" Matt said quietly. "And I 
promise 
 that as soon as I know Sarah and Harm are okay I'll go back to my 
cell. But 
 right now, I have to find her."
 
 "You know what I'm about to do could get me fired" Jim sighed.
 
 "You can tell them I ambushed you and made you go with me. I don't 
care. I'm 
 willing to take the heat for this. But I need to get down to sick 
bay."
 
 "All right, let's go"
 
 *******************************
 "Finally, we can be alone" Palmer grinned as he pushed Mac into an 
office 
 near the infirmary. "Not quite as nice as the beds in sick bay but 
we'll 
 just have to make do with what we got."
 
 He shoved her to the floor and seconds later removed the tape from her 
 mouth.
 
 "You're going to be nice and quiet right?" Palmer asked and Mac 
nodded. She 
 would do whatever it took to keep Harm alive. Even if it meant doing 
this.
 
 "Good, cause we don't want anyone interrupting us" Palmer smiled. "I'm 
going 
 to untie your hands but just remember, one false move and I call Ryder 
back 
 and you'll never see the great Harmon Rabb alive again. Understand."
 
 "Yes" she whispered and seconds later he untied her hands.
 
 "Lay down" he ordered and she did as directed. Seconds later he lay 
beside 
 her on the floor, his hands moving at once to unbutton her blouse. She 
 closed her eyes and swallowed hard, knowing she had to do this. For 
Harm. If 
 she didn't, they would kill him. And she could never let that happen.
 
 "So beautiful Colonel" Palmer whispered as his hands caressed her 
breasts. 
 His lips made it to her neck and she fought back a shudder as they 
traveled 
 up to her lips. She could feel the nausea rising up again and she 
swallowed 
 hard again, praying she could do this.
 
 "Something wrong Colonel?" Palmer leered as he pulled away. "You don't 
want 
 to do this now. Should I call my friend Ryder?" For effect he pulled 
out her 
 cell phone and she grabbed his arm.
 
 "NO" Mac cried. "No, please don't. I'm sorry. Please don't call them."
 
 "Only if you make love to me like you make love to Harm" Palmer 
grinned. 
 "Can you do that Colonel?"
 
 "Yes" Mac whispered, as she forced the tears back. She could do this. 
She 
 had to.

"Good," Palmer breathed.  "You can start right now.  Show me how you 
make love 
to him."

With hands shaking so badly they barely worked, she began to attempt 
the 
buttons on his shirt while he lay back, keeping the cell phone an easy 
grab.

"Come on baby that's right.  Show me what you've got," he urged, 
reaching for her 
once again, "talk to me now.  Tell me what you want.  Tell me what you 
like."

"I. . .like it. . . when you. . ." she tried, knowing her voice was 
trembling.  
Nevertheless she managed to get most of his clothing opened by keeping 
her 
mind on Harm and knowing what she was doing was keeping him alive.

"Tell me, tell me what you want Clark to do to you," he persisted, now 
starting to 
push her hospital sweats out of the way. 

Reviled by his touch, the nausea rose in her throat once again and 
then. . .

"Sarah where are you?  Sarah answer me now."

Matt's voice.  Looking for her.  Palmer looked up as well, hearing the 
interruption.  
"O'Hara your ass is mine," he muttered.

Sizing up the situation, and desperate with fear for Harm, she pushed 
Palmer as 
hard as she could and screamed, "Uncle Matt I'm over here. . .Maaaatt"

A second later came the sound of running feet and Palmer's face melted 
into a 
vicious mask.  "Bitch," he swore and pushed her as hard as he could, 
knocking 
her away from him.  Her temple struck the corner of the desk and she 
hit the floor 
hard just as Jim same through the door, Matthew O'Hara right behind.

It took Matt only a second to conclude what had happened, what Palmer 
had 
wanted with his niece.  "Bastard," he shrieked and flung himself onto 
Palmer 
before the man could react.  "Bastard," Matt screamed again and his 
hands 
closed around Palmer's throat, his legs pinning him to the floor.  
Palmer was no 
match for O'Hara's fury and weakened quickly from the lack of oxygen, 
he soon 
fell limp under his grasp.

"Matt let up---now," Jim ordered from where he was bending over Mac.  
"Don't kill 
him.  You don't need to.  He's finished.  And your niece needs you." 

At once Matt let Palmer go, dropping his head to impact none too gently 
with the 
hard floor, and scrambled over to Mac.  

"She's starting to come around," Jim told him, reaching up onto the 
desk for a wad 
of kleenex to hold against the gash across her temple.

"Oh Sarah I'm so sorry," Matt breathed, trying to rearrange her 
clothing as he held 
her.

"Don't touch me," she shrieked before she realized it was Matt and not 
Palmer 
holding her.  "Uncle Matt," she gasped and fell into his grasp.  
"Palmer?"

"Threat neutralized," Matt whispered, nodding to Jim that he had Mac.  
Jim 
understood at once and brought out his handcuffs, rolling Palmer to his 
stomach 
and putting them on him, then speaking into his radio to give orders 
that the 
former operative be picked up immediately.

"Harm, I need to get to him," she begged, now pushing back from Matt.  
"I need to 
know he's OK."

"You're going to the infirmary," Matt told her firmly, wanting to say 
something 
further about what had happened between her and Palmer and not knowing 
what 
or how.  "The guards are taking care of the situation down there.  Harm 
will be 
fine.  Jim?"  He looked over to where Jim had his radio to his ear, 
listening 
intently.  

"Understood, thanks,"  Jim looked down at Palmer. "OK there's people on 
the way 
for him, not that he'll be feeling like moving.  But the news from the 
cellblock isn't 
great.  The time limit the Commandant set up for the surrender is past.  
They're 
going to put teargas down and then go in.  Armed."

"Blood bath," Matt gasped and Mac immediately pulled herself away from 
him.  
"We have to get down there, now."

"What do you think you're going to accomplish there but get in the 
way?" Jim 
scoffed.  "He'll be coughing a little but he'll get out."

"No you don't understand," Mac shrieked.  "He's got a hurt foot, he 
can't get 
around well.  Plus they've been beating him and since his crash---his 
lungs aren't 
in the best shape.  He's not going to be able to breath at all in that 
gas.  I've got to 
get to him."  With that she pulled herself to her feet, her hand going 
immediately to 
her head as pain shot through.

"Don't even," she warned Matt as he reached for her.  "Jim is there a 
better way to 
get to the cell block?"
  
 
 "Ma'am, I don't think this is a good idea" Jim said as he lead them 
back to 
 the cell block.
 
 "Jim, save your breath" Matt sighed as he held onto Mac's arm. "She 
isn't 
 going to listen to you."
 
 Mac didn't reply, her thoughts only on one person. He had to be okay. 
She 
 wouldn't allow herself to think anything else. She prayed that the men 
who'd 
 held him hadn't gone through with their wishes.
 
 "Jim, what the hell are you doing bringing those two up here" one of 
the 
 armed guards asked as he waited outside the doors to the cell block.
 
 "Did they let off the gas yet?" Jim demanded.
 
 "Few minutes ago. We're waiting to see if they all go out the other 
entrance 
 and get rounded up before we go in."
 
 "We have to go in now" Mac wailed to Matt. "He's probably hurt and he 
can't 
 get out."
 
 "Ma'am, you can't go in right now. They haven't secured the area yet."
 
 "I don't care" Mac cried as she broke free from Matt's grasp and 
started 
 towards the doors. The world spun dizzily around her and if hadn't 
been for 
 Matt's quick reaction she would have fallen to the floor.
 
 "Sarah, you are in no condition to do anything" Matt said as he gently 
laid 
 her on the floor.
 
 "He needs me" Mac cried almost hysterically, her last bit of composure 
 crumbling.
 
 His niece's sobs tore at his heart and in that instant, Matthew O'Hara 
knew 
 he had to act. Before either man could stop him, he ran through the 
door 
 into the cellblock area.
 
 "Dammit Matt" Jim shouted. "Keep an eye on the Colonel" he ordered the 
other 
 guard. "I'm going in after him."
 
 Matt hurried through the cell block, darting in and out of cells 
looking for 
 Harm. The cloud of tear gas still hung over the area, making it 
difficult to 
 see. His own eyes and lungs were starting to burn from the gas but he 
 continued on. It was Harm's coughing that finally led Matt to him, Jim 
right 
 behind him. He was bent over from the coughing, and Matt quickly 
hurried to 
 him.
 
 "Mac" Harm gasped between coughs. "Where is she? Is she okay?"
 
 "Doing a lot better than you" Matt said as he quickly untied Harm. 
"Can you 
 walk?"
 
 Harm nodded and Matt helped him to his feet, only to nearly fall to 
the 
 ground before Matt's arm saved him. "Jim, give me a hand" Matt ordered 
and 
 Jim hurried over to assist. With Harm between them, the two men made 
their 
 way back towards the exit. By the time they reached the door, they 
were 
 nearly carrying Harm. Fortunately the guard was waiting on the other 
side 
 and the door opened just as they reached it.
 
 "Harm" Mac cried as they came through the door.
 
 "We're going to need the medic's down here" Jim told the guard as he 
and 
 Matt helped Harm to the floor. "ASAP."
 
 "Oh Harm" Mac whispered as she finally made her way over to where he 
lay. 
 She gently lifted him against her, the tears falling as she looked at 
his 
 bloodied and bruised face, his labored breathing scaring her even 
more.
 
 He managed to open his eyes long enough to look at her, his eyes 
taking in 
 her tattered appearance. Palmer had hurt her. She'd let him hurt her 
to save 
 him. "I'm so sorry Sarah" he whispered before his eyes closed again, 
his 
 head lolling against her.
 
 "Harm" she cried as she lowered her head to his chest and sobbed. 
Somewhere 
 in her mind she knew he would be okay, but the emotional strain of the 
day 
 was suddenly too much. Seconds later the medics arrived and attempted 
to get 
 Harm away from her so they could attend to him as well as to her.
 
 "No" she protested, not wanting to be separated from Harm again. "I 
need to 
 stay with him."
 
 "Sarah honey, it's okay" Matt said as he gently pulled her away from 
Harm. 
 "They need to treat him and you."
 
 "NO" Mac wailed, attempting to get back to Harm who was now being 
loaded 
 onto a waiting gurney. "I need to be with him."  She managed to break 
free 
 of Matt's hold, only to take a few steps before the world around her 
spun 
 wildly. She heard Uncle Matt call her name as the darkness enveloped 
her.
================
INFIRMARY
One Hour Later

"Commander Rabb if  you remove that thing again I'm going to take your 
temperature, and not orally," the corpsman threatened.  "You know this 
is the only 
job where a sergeant could threaten an officer and get away with it.  
I'm serious 
here.  The doctor says the gas in your lungs has caused inflammation 
that won't 
quit."  Jerry Reynolds warned him as he tried to secure the mask over 
his face.

"Sarah," Harm croaked.

"Mackenzie, I know," Jerry grinned.  "Look Dr. Hatcher is with her.  
They're 
checking her head injury and trying to get her to let them examine her 
for. . .well 
Matt O'Hara told us what Palmer did."

Harm looked blank and his eyes begged for an explanation.

"Oh God," Jerry gasped.  "Matt said you knew.  But you don't know. . 
.or you don't 
remember?"

"No," Harm yelped, ripping the mask off, his eyes wide with fright.  
"Everything is 
so fuzzy.  I was hurting and I remember Palmer on the phone and yelling 
for Mac 
and the pain and. . .what did that sonofabitch do to her?  Tell me."

Jerry's mouth opened and closed several times as he looked for the 
words, and 
then suddenly Harm knew, knew from his hesitancy and the look on the 
man's 
face.

"Oh God."

"Sir  I'm so sorry.  But she's being looked after."

"I need to get to her," he murmured, two tears immediately prominent on 
his face 
as he thought of what she had been through.  "Sarah."

"You are going to stay right in that bed until you're breathing 
better," Jerry told him 
firmly.  "And you're going to let them take care of her.  I'll see if 
Colonel O'Hara 
can't come in to talk to you."
===============
"You are not touching me," Mac shrieked.  "You have nothing to see.  
Nothing 
happened and I forbid you to examine me there.  Nothing happened.  He 
tried and 
nothing happened.  I don't know how to be any more plain than that.  
Now let me 
up.  I need Harm.  I need to be with him---need to know he's OK."

"Ma'am he's getting treated and he's going to be fine.  If he lets them 
do their job," 
Nurse Caroline Barkley sighed.  "In the meantime we really would like 
to see if 
there's any damage.  You know pretending like it didn't happen is not a 
healthy 
way to deal with it."

"I said no," Mac replied, this time her voice low and quiet, leaving no 
doubt she 
was serious. Get me the doctor and my uncle.  Now."

Mac's tone left no doubt she expected to be obeyed and Caroline 
returned a 
moment later with Matt.  "Ma'am the doctor is with another patient but 
he'll be here 
shortly."

Mac nodded and looked up to Matt as soon as they were alone.  "Uncle 
Matt, I 
need to be with Harm.  Fix it please.  Or get the doctor, or hell just 
help me out of 
this bed and get me in there." 

"You heard her say the doctor will be right here," Matt told her with 
exaggerated 
patience, sitting down to hold her hand.  "I'm so sorry all this 
happened.  
Honestly."

"Matt it's going to be OK," Mac sighed.  "Palmer scared me and he 
tried, but he 
didn't do anything.  You got there before he could.  The deal didn't go 
through."

"Deal?  Now I'm confused.  I know what he did, but I don't know 
anything about a 
deal."

Mac turned red and looked away.  "Sorry.  He said if I would do what he 
wanted. If 
I would be. . .well be like I am with Harm, then he would make those 
bastards stop 
beating on him.  Matt it was horrible listening to him pound him and 
hear him in 
pain.  I would have done anything to make them stop.  Anything."

"OK honey, I understand," Matt sighed.  Here was love in the highest 
form.  "I 
understand you did it for love, and I salute your courage."

"Matt I did nothing really.  Don't you understand and why don't you 
believe  . . ." 
she began only to be interrupted by Jerry Reynolds opening the door 
part way.

"Colonel, and Colonel," he smiled.  "Matt, can I see you for a second?"

"Commander Rabb?" Mac yelped, struggling to get up.

"He's doing fine I promise," Jerry smiled.  "Soon as his breathing is 
better and his 
blood gas results are normal, he can get up.  He's real worried about 
you too."

"I need to go to him," she protested.  

"And you can get up as soon as the doctor clears you," Jerry soothed.  
"A little 
patience please."

Mac glared and collapsed onto her pillow, willing back tears of 
frustration.

Jerry closed the door after them and moved them down the hall a short 
ways.  
"Matt, Commander Rabb is asking about the Colonel.   I'm sorry--somehow 
I 
thought he knew what happened to her and he didn't and I let it out."

"OK son, I'll talk to him," Matt assured him.  "But these two need to 
be together.  I 
want you to fix it while I'm doing that."

"I'll try, sure."

"Harm," Matt said softly when he walked up to his bed.

"Matt thank god.  Is it true?  Did Palmer. . .did he hurt her?"

 "I don't know Harm" Matt sighed. "She says that I got there before 
Palmer 
 did anything. Course knowing Sarah she's just saying that because she 
 doesn't want to deal with it right now because she's so worried about 
you."
 
 "But when you got there?" Harm prodded. "Please, I need to know what 
 happened."
 
 "When I got there it looked like, well you know.." Matt's voice 
trailed off 
 and he left the thought unfinished.
 
 "No" Harm whispered. It was the worst nightmare he could ever imagine. 
He 
 could have handled anything they would have done to him. But he wasn't 
sure 
 he could handle this. "I need to see her. Now. I don't care what you 
have to 
 do I want to see her."
 
 Inside her examination room, Mac finally had had enough. There was 
still no 
 sign of Captain Hatcher and she was tired of waiting to see Harm. She 
slid 
 off the gurney, holding on to it when a wave of dizziness washed over 
her. 
 She waited a few seconds before attempting to walk and then slowly  
made her 
 way to the door. She carefully opened the door and peered out, happy 
to see 
 the corridor empty.
 
 She tiptoed down the hall, not even sure which room Harm was in until 
she 
 heard him.
 
 "Harm, you'll see her as soon as Captain Hatcher makes sure she's 
okay" Matt 
 said gently.
 
 "I want to see her now" Harm shouted, at the same time trying to sit 
up.
 
 "Harm I'm right here" Mac said as she hurried into the room, past 
Uncle Matt 
 and into Harm's arms.
 
 "Mac, I'm so sorry" Harm whispered as he held her tightly before 
somehow 
 finding the strength to help her onto the gurney with him. He pulled 
her 
 close to him, and Matt just shook his head with amazement. "You 
shouldn't 
 have don’t done that. You shouldn't have let him hurt you like that."
 
 "I didn't do anything" Mac said softly as she raised her head to look 
at 
 him. "Harm, nothing happened. He got a few feels in but that was it. 
Uncle 
 Matt got there before anything else could happen."
 
 Sensing their need to be alone, Matt slowly walked from the room, 
running 
 into Jerry.
 
 "Okay, I talked to Captain Hatcher and he'll arrange for the Commander 
and 
 the Colonel to be moved together" Jerry informed Matt.
 
 "Too late" Matt smiled as he pointed to Harm's room. "They took care 
of it 
 already."
 
 Jerry started towards the room, only to be stopped by Matt.
 
 "Give them a few minutes alone" Matt said quietly. "They need it."
 
 "He needs to be treated" Jerry sighed.
 
 "Right now he's got the best medicine in his arms" Matt smiled. "Come 
on. 
 Just a few minutes and then you can interrupt them."
 
 "All right. But you're going to be the one explaining this to Captain 
 Hatcher" Jerry sighed.
 
 "Harm, nothing happened" Mac repeated as she looked at him. "I'm okay. 
I 
 promise."
 
 "He hurt you" Harm whispered as his hand gently touched the cut on her 
 temple. His eyes traveled over her as he tried to see if there were 
any 
 other injuries.
 
 "It's just a little cut" Mac assured him. "And that's all that 
happened. 
 Harm, you have to believe me."
 
 "Why did you do that? Why did you tell him you would do anything to 
save 
 me."
 
 "Because I would have" Mac whispered. "I would have done whatever I 
had to 
 do to make sure they didn't hurt you anymore than they already had.  
Do you 
 know how terrified I was they were going to kill you?"
 
 "As terrified as I was that Palmer was going to hurt you" he said 
quietly. 
 "And he did."
 
 "Harm, listen to me" Mac said firmly. "He didn't do anything. Nothing 
 happened. Please you have to believe me."
 
 "I want to. I don't want to think about his hands on you. I don't want 
to 
 think about how you were willing to let him do that."
 
 "I was willing to do it because I love you and I couldn't stand the 
thought 
 of living the rest of my life without you. I could stand anything but 
that. 
 Don't you know that?  Don't you know that I would do anything to make 
sure I 
 never lose you."
 
 "Yes and that's scares me to death" he whispered. "Mac, I would have 
rather 
 died than let you do that. If there had been anyway to stop you I 
would 
 have."
 
 "Then I would have lost you" Mac said softly. "And I couldn't let that 
 happen. I love you and I will never let anything happen to you."
 
 "I don't deserve you" he whispered as he drew her back into his arms.
 
 They were that way when Captain Hatcher walked into the room a few 
minutes 
 later, Jerry and Nurse Barkley with him.
 
 "Okay, folks visiting hours are over. Colonel, Nurse Barkley is going 
to 
 take you back to the examination room so I can do my exam. Commander, 
Jerry 
 is going to get you set up for your treatment. Those lungs aren't 
going to 
 get well on their own."

"I have everything I need to get well right here thank you," Harm 
sighed, trying to 
suppress another cough.

"Mr. Rabb, you're flirting with breathing difficulty for a long time," 
Hatcher warned.  
"That gas is inflaming bronchial passages that could give you chronic 
bronchitis or 
worse."

"You're scaring me," Mac said softly, turning troubled eyes to the 
doctor.

"Good, now tell him to be a good boy and take his treatment, and then I 
want to 
take a good look at you."

"I'll sit with him while he's having it, and then you can have me," she 
bargained.

Hatcher threw up his hands.  "OK, cave."

As they had said, the treatment Jerry performed was neither pretty nor 
comfortable as Harm was forced to cough violently to clear his lungs.  

"OK Commander not bad," Hatcher approved as he sank back onto the 
pillow, 
sweaty and weak, tears on his cheeks from the pain and the effort.  
"We'll redo 
that in the morning and then release you.  Colonel, five minutes."

"No."  The word was out of Harm's mouth before he could stop it, even 
though he 
knew full well she needed to be checked.  "Sorry.  Right now is just 
not a good 
time for me to be letting her go.  Now after what happened."

"She'll be right in the next room.  I won't let her out of my sight, 
and you can have 
her back soon as I sign off on her being OK," Hatcher promised.  "It's 
not an 
option Commander."

"I'll be fine.  I don't want to leave you either but there isn't any 
choice," Mac 
sighed.  "Or we're never going to get out of here."

"Five minutes like I said," Hatcher told them and they were left alone.

She snuggled against him for the first minute in silence, just enjoying 
simple 
reconnection.  

"Mac about before--what happened," Harm began, only to have her clamp a 
gentle hand to his mouth.  "Harm it's OK honest.  I did what I had to 
do, and I 
would do it again in a heartbeat.  Please let it go."

"I don't know if I can," he sighed.  "I never would have allowed you if 
I'd known."

"Which is why it's a good thing that you didn't," she retorted.  "Harm 
I would have 
done a lot more to stop them from beating on you.  Please try to put it 
out of your 
mind.  I'm trying to.  The memory of his hands on me isn't pleasant, 
but actually 
it's not even the worst thing that's ever happened to me.  Now let it 
go."

"I love you," he breathed.  "I love you so much."  His green eyes 
clouded with 
misery as he held her to him, rubbing her back and wishing with all his 
might they 
could start this day over.

"Let's have you Colonel.  And then I promise you can come back.  I just 
can't do a 
good exam of one patient while she's sprawled across another."

"Go on Sarah.  Please.  I need to know you're OK or I'm not going to 
get any rest. 
I love you and I'll see you soon."

She raised her head and kissed him softly, allowing Cassie to help her 
extract 
herself from his grasping arms.

"I need that right back Nurse," he said, his voice light but with an 
undercurrent of 
desperation.

"Promise," she smiled, taking Mac's arm to lead her to the next room.

"He loves you big time.  You're very lucky," Cassie smiled as Dr. 
Hatcher 
prepared to check her over once more.

"I know.  As I do him," Mac sighed.  "We waited a long time to figure 
it all out.  And 
now it's very precious to us, as is this little life inside me here.  I 
was shocked at 
first, but now I'm kind of getting used to the idea."

There was silence in the room and Mac could not miss the look between 
the two 
medical professionals.  

"Sarah I'm sorry then," Cassie said, sensing it would come easier from 
another 
woman.  "The test was conclusive--and negative.  You're not pregnant."

Mac's hand went to her mouth as she gasped in shock and surprise.  "I 
didn't think 
I was, but then suddenly it was like, well OK I must be, and now--now 
I'm not?"

"No sorry," Hatcher said gently.  "Low grade virus would be my 
guess--coupled 
with too much work and stress.  And that's still an issue, with this 
Palmer thing."

"Well nothing happened there," she said in dismissal, "but Harm is 
going to be 
disappointed.  Like I am."

Harm was waiting anxiously for her when she was brought back to him, 
with an 
extra bed being wheeled in behind her.

"You're OK right?"  The first words out of his mouth.

"My head is fine, just a contusion he called it," she assured him, 
melding easily 
into his waiting arms.  "But there's something else that isn't fine."

"Palmer--Palmer hurt you somehow.  You or the baby," Harm gasped, 
immediately assuming the worst.

"No, Palmer didn't do anything really but want to remember," she 
reminded him, 
wondering how many more times she was going to have to specify that was 
the 
extent of it.  "No it's just that. . .well we were wrong in our 
assumption Harm.  All of 
us, even the doctor.  The test shows without a doubt there's no baby."

She managed to get out the last word before the small sob closed over 
her throat 
and she clung to him.  Tears for the baby who for a few short hours had 
grown 
very real to her; and tears for the man she could have easily lost to 
an angry mob 
that day.

"I want to go home Harm," she whispered.  "Please."

 He could only hold her, not able to offer any words of comfort at that 
 moment.
 
 ******************************************
 Next Morning
 General Burnside's Office
 
 "Commander, Colonel, I can't tell you how sorry I am about what 
happened" 
 General Burnside said to the two officer who stood before him. "You 
can be 
 assured that those men will be dealt with swiftly and severely."
 
 "Nothing you do to Clark Palmer will be severe enough" Harm said 
quietly and 
 he looked over at Mac.
 
 He and Mac had spent the night in each other's arms, neither willing 
to let 
 go of the other. Sleep had eluded both of them. For Harm, it was 
nightmares 
 of Palmer hurting Mac. He'd woken up twice screaming her name and 
she's held 
 him tightly as his tears had mixed with hers. For Mac the memories of 
Palmer 
 and the thoughts of the baby that hadn't been had kept her awake.
 
 "A few months in solitary confinement is the best I can do" General 
Burnside 
 sighed. "But I share your sentiments Commander. Colonel, I took the 
liberty 
 of arranging for your Uncle to come up here to see you before you 
leave."
 
 "Thank you sir" Mac replied.
 
 "He's in one of the offices down the hall," General Burnside said as 
he 
 stood up. "I'll show you the way."
 
 Minutes later Matt held Mac tightly in his arms. "Are you sure you're 
okay?" 
 he asked as he finally let her go.
 
 "I'm fine" she assured him.
 
 "Harm, how are you?" Matt asked.
 
 "Fine sir. I think I owe you a thank you for yesterday. For getting 
that 
 bastard away from Mac and for saving my six."
 
 "Just glad I was there" Matt replied. "Course I should have killed the 
 bastard when I'd had the chance."
 
 "No, then you'd never get out of here" Mac said softly. "And I'm still 
 looking forward to that day."
 
 "So when you two going to make this all official?" Matt asked with a 
small 
 smile.  "Is there a wedding in the near future?"
 
 "There will be a wedding" Harm said as he draped his arm over Mac. 
"I've 
 already asked your niece to marry me and she was crazy enough to say 
yes."
 
 "We just have decided when" Mac said softly. "If I'd been…." Her voice 
 trailed off and she blinked back tears.
 
 "If you’d been what?" Matt asked before it dawned on him. Her 
sickness. "If 
 you'd been pregnant? I guess this means you're not."
 
 "No" Mac said quietly, two tears sliding down her cheeks.  "I'm not."
 
 "Honey it's okay" Harm whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. 
"We'll 
 have a baby one day."
 
 "I know" she sniffled as she stepped away and wiped her face.
 
 "Sounds like one day I'll be having a great nephew or niece" Matt 
smiled.
 
 "Yes you will" Harm assured him as he checked his watch. "Mac, we've 
got to 
 go if we're going to make our flight."
 
 She nodded and turned to Uncle Matt. "Take care of yourself" she said 
as he 
 gave her a long hug.
 
 "You too Sarah" he said before finally letting her go. "Harm, I trust 
you'll 
 take care of her."
 
 "Yes sir" Harm said as he shook his hand.
 
 Hours later they boarded the flight to DC and settled into their 
seats.
 
 "How you doing?" he asked softly as he brought her head against his 
 shoulder. "You okay?"
 
 "As long as I still have you I'll be okay" she whispered as she looked 
up at 
 him.
 
 "I love you Sarah," he said as he dropped a kiss on her forehead. "And 
 you'll have me. Always and forever."
 
 The End…To be continued in….????