TITLE: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Chapter 2 AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY: Summer 2003. Harm embarks on a new sideline and invites Mac to join him. NOTE: Story is played out without regard to Singer-Sergei-NCIS, or Paraguay storylines. CLASSIFICATION/RATING: J/S/R/A PG for language and some violence. SPOILERS: In any of our work, any JAG episode may be referred to. FEEDBACK: If you're so moved but never expected nor begged for. Addy is ssbpmn@aol.com. Please however, we request you respect the work, and the effort that goes into writing it. NOTE: All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there is no R nor NC17 content there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} +++++++++++++++++++++++ From the Conclusion of Chapter 1— She turned a soft smile on the head coach. "Not unless you feel like we need to." She ran a gentle hand down his arm, pressing her fingertips lightly. "I don't know about you, but I'm pretty happy with what's happening between us." "I think I am too," he replied, and before the moment could be lost, he leaned down and touched his lips to hers. "And that counselor was the proof." "And very nice it was," she smiled, coloring bright pink. "Looked good to me too from where I'm standing," AJ called. "Well done Mr. Rabb." "Yes sir, thank you," Harm grinned, and Mac colored even further. "Carry on you two. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't be late." "No sir." Mac finally found her voice and neither moved until AJ had begun to drive away. "I got a well done," Harm grinned. "But that wasn't my best." "Something to look forward to," she smiled back. "You planning on demonstrating that best soon are you?" "Yes ma'am. Date night Saturday remember. I'm even wearing a suit." "No dress whites?" "Hell no. You told me they were over-rated remember." "Well I may have been too hasty." "Rush to judgment," he teased, shouldering two of the equipment bags and started toward the car. When he was about ten feet from her, he flung back over his shoulder. "I'll wear them for our wedding." She was too shocked to reply before a small smile crept over her face. Things had definitely changed between them. And the change was real good. ***************** "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" Chapter 2--- Saturday Night Mac's Apartment "Wow" she smiled as she let Harm in. "Nice suit. I guess this is a real date." "Oh yeah" he smiled as well as he admired her in the pantsuit that accented just how thin she was. "Very nice." "You like?" she asked as she whirled around. He reached for her as she was turning to him and before she realized what was happening their lips were locked in kiss. "Still not my best" he whispered when they parted. "Guess that means we'll have to keep practicing" she managed when she could breathe again. "Isn't that what we keep telling the kids? Practice makes perfect?" "Yes it is" he smiled. "I guess we'll have to work it into our busy schedules. But for now are you ready for our night out?" "Very much so. I take it we're going somewhere good since we're dressed like this." "Sam and Tommy's in Herndon. Then tickets to the Symphony." "Impressive" she nodded. "Sounds very much like a real date to me." "Good. Shall we?" ================ They were seated at a small table in the upscale restaurant a short time later and Harm boldly reached across the table for Mac's hands. "You're full of surprises" she blushed. "Like the kiss before and now this." "Well spending all this time with you recently has just reinforced what I've known for a long time" he said softly. "I like being with you Sarah Mackenzie. A lot." "And I like being with you. A lot. And I keep thinking how glad I am you asked me to be a part of your little league team." "Me too. It has been fun. And interesting. And it has given us a chance to be together outside of JAG. Which was really my main goal." "You've succeeded. And I think it's going to be wonderful summer. With a few minor problems." "Like what?" he asked. "I was talking to Gary, Sam and Alex's dad when he picked them up. Apparently him and his wife are closer to splitting than I realized. He even asked if we might be able to help him if it comes to that. He's going to try and keep it together for the summer but I'm not sure they can do that." "Did you ask him about the guy who was watching them the other night?" "Yeah. Some guy she met where she's taking classes. He doesn't like him and he said he told Diane to keep him away from the girls. Obviously she doesn't listen." "If you see him again, let me know" Harm frowned. "I'll have a few words with him." "Harm you can't tell someone not to watch the games" she laughed. "Even if he is a little strange." "True. I just don't like the idea of this guy hanging out and watching the girls so closely." "Me neither. And of course I feel bad for Sam and Alex cause they're stuck in the middle of the whole mess. Gary said they were staying together for the girls sake but now it just might be making it worse for them." "What a mess" Harm sighed. "Exactly. So I'm going to keep an extra eye on them and see if there's more we can do to help." Harm nodded. "Thank you. You really take this coaching seriously don't you?" "Only because I know what it's like to need an adult to be there for you" she said quietly. "I'm sorry you had such a tough time growing up. But that just makes me more impressed with what you are today." "You're impressed with me?" she smiled. "More like I'm impressed with you." "You've worked a lot harder than I have to get where you are." "Maybe. But I think we've both worked hard. And I like giving some of that back to these kids. Giving them the inspiration they need. Even if Diane Winters thinks I'm a horrible influence on her daughters." "You're a great influence. More so than she ever will be." "Thank you for that," she smiled. "Like I said, as I look back now, I think my god why didn't someone notice. Anyone--a teacher, a neighbor, anyone. Of course I blame myself some too." "You're not serious," he gasped. "Why in gods name would you?" "Because I knew it was wrong. I looked at my friends and knew they came from nice normal families where drinking and screaming and swearing didn't happen. I should have reported it-- well actually I did once try. There was a student teacher who took a special interest in me. She tutored me all one Fall in math and I finally one day was in tears and told her how bad it was at home--that I couldn't study half the time, couldn't concentrate on something like fractions because of the turmoil. About a week later a social worker came but the stupid woman called first. So when she got there. . . ," she stopped and laughed. "This is so ludicrous now it's actually funny. So by the time she arrived for her appointment, the house was cleaned up of the liquor bottles, the slip covers were washed, and get this--my mom bought a frozen apple pie and put it in the oven so the house smelled of that instead of. . .well you get the idea." "So she didn't help?" "The social worker? Hell no. My mom and dad deserved an Emmy for that night. Not only did it not help, but Ms. Dix got in trouble for making a false report and had to leave our school." "Honey I'm sorry," he whispered. "No I'm sorry," she returned, sniffling down a small sob. "This is our night out and no way should I be bringing all this up." "Well I bet you've never really talked to anyone about all that. I'm told I'm a good listener you know." He gave her hands a hard squeeze. "Any time any of this get to be much, I want you to dump on me." "You may be sorry you said that," she smiled. "Now let's eat. Dissolving into an emotional basketcase always makes me hungry." Two hours later as the house lights dimmed in the Kennedy Center, he lifted his arm over the back of her chair in silent invitation. Even with the lack of light, he could see her smile and the shine in her eyes. That same look she had in the desert the year before. When had the missiles not been flying he might have. . . Just before the first notes of the prelude, he did exactly what he wished he had done that night, meeting her lips in a gentle kiss before they settled back, his arm now closely around her shoulders. Two hours flew by, and when the lights returned, she was loathe to get up. "Mac you OK?" "I didn't want it to end," she whispered. "Me neither, and I'm in no way ready for the evening to be over. You want to have me over for coffee?" "Oh yeah I do," she nodded eagerly, feeling her heart pound and sure he could tell that it was doing just that. ============ MAC's APT 45 Mins. Later "Make yourself at home on the sofa," Mac urged. "Coffee in ten. Movie or music?" "Music would be good," he replied and a few seconds later the apartment was filled with soft jazz and the aroma of coffee brewing quickly followed. "I don't remember when I've had such a good time," she sighed. "I hope the coffee isn't bad like that night you drove seventy-five to see me." "The coffee was OK that night too, it was the company I needed. The company and her wise counsel. Plus the sight of her in the PJs was nice too." "I was going to grab my robe but then I figured what the hell, he's seen me in less," she giggled. All too soon the coffee was done and Harm looked at his watch. "I should let you get to bed. I wear you out at work, which reminds me, prepare to eat dirt on that Lomax kid. I'm going to nail his hide to the wall." "Not on your best day," she laughed. "Anyway, I wear you out there, on the baseball field, and now on an evening out." "I'm fine," she assured him, leaning forward to set her cup down, and when she leaned back, it was into the curl of his arm. "You want to say a proper good night?" "Oh yeah I do," he breathed, "but if I start, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to stop." "Who said I'd want you to," she whispered, and that was all the invitation he needed. It was the ringing of her phone a moment later that made him stop the deep kiss. "It's probably a wrong number" she whispered. "And if not the machine will get it." He nodded and once again his lips found hers just as a small frightened sounding voice came over the answering machine. "Coach Mac it's Jimmy. Are you there?" "Jimmy" Harm gasped as he pulled away. "Something must be wrong." She ran for the phone but by the time she reached it all she got was a dial tone. "He hung up" she sighed. "Do you have his number?" "Not with me" he groaned. "It's in my book at home. You should have answered that. He could be in trouble." "I'm sorry" she whispered. "I didn't know it was going to be something important like that. I'll just dial star sixty-nine and get the number that way." Harm waited anxiously and a moment later she called back the number. She handed the phone to Harm when it started to ring. "Jimmy its Coach Harm. What's going on?" "Dad didn't come home," Jimmy said tearfully. "He's never been this late before. And I'm kind of scared being here alone." "When was he supposed to be there?" Harm asked. "A few hours ago. And he usually calls if he's going to be really late. Mom left for her shift cause she thought he'd be home by now." "Okay stay cool. I'll be over to stay with you until he comes home. I just need you to give me your address again. And then I'll give you my cell phone number and you can call me while I'm driving over." "Thanks Coach. I didn't know who else to call." "No problem Jimmy. What's your address?" With the address in hand and Jimmy now in possession of Harm's cell phone number Harm hung up and let out a long sigh. "His Dad didn't come home. And he's scared and alone." "He didn't call?" Mac asked quietly. "No. I'm going to drive over and stay with him until we find out what's going on." "You think something happened to Scott?" "I don't know. He may have just gotten tied up on something but I don't have a good feeling about this." "I'm sorry for not answering the phone right away." "No I'm sorry for yelling at you" he sighed. "It wasn't your fault. When I heard his voice I just freaked a little." "Do you mind if I come with you?" she asked. "I was hoping you would. I want you to try and call Fort Belvoir and see if you can find out what's going on. And that way I can keep my line open in case Jimmy calls." She nodded and they hurried back down to his car. Mac immediately dialed Fort Belvoir and waited impatiently for someone to answer in the MP's office. "Nothing?" Harm asked and Mac shook her head. Finally a harried young woman answered the phone. "I'm looking for Scott Nelson" Mac said to the woman. "Is he available?" "I'm sorry ma'am but I can't answer that. May I ask who's calling?" "Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. I received a call from his son who informed us he never came home tonight." "No ma'am he didn't." "Can you tell me why he didn't?" "There was a domestic incident at a home. He went to break it up and he's now being held hostage." Mac took a long breath, remembering back to the news report the Sergeant had told them to watch. There had been an ugly domestic scene and it was believed the man had weapons and was threatening his family. The SWAT team was called, bringing the newscasters and an hour later it ended peacefully with the accused Sergeant giving himself up. "Is this the same case as Sergeant DeFloria from the news?" Mac asked, her keen mind remembering the name, and Harm shot her a sharp glance. "Yes ma'am I'm afraid so." "Thank you," Mac sighed and hung up. "I can almost guess, but you'd better tell me," Harm groused. "Seems that the good sergeant did it again. They let him go. I'm guessing his wife stood up for him and they let him go, and now he's done it again. I wish we could help." "I'm going to take you to Jimmy's and then I'm going down there," he said firmly. "To do what, other than to get yourself shot at," she gasped. "Harm let the MPs handle it." "Maybe." It was not a convinced 'maybe'. Mac quickly dialed Jimmy's number. "Hey Jimmy it's Mac. You OK?" "Yes ma'am. I'm not normally afraid to stay by myself, but it's never been this long. Normally I have Mrs. Brown downstairs when they both have to be gone but she's not home either. Must be at her sister's." "OK Jimmy, you did the right thing by calling us," Mac soothed. "We'll be there in ten. Let's you and me just keep talking OK." She felt Harm give the accelerator a little push and she smiled despite her concern. "Make that less than ten. Jimmy, we talked to Ft. Belvoir and they know where your dad is. He's not missing or lost." "OK that's good news right? Then he'll be coming home soon right?" "Yeah I hope so. Real soon. Is your door locked?" "Yes ma'am. It's a dead bolt with a key. I get grounded if I forget." "OK good man. We're turning onto Benning now. Won't be too much longer." "You said you know where my dad is? Why can't he call me?" The young boy's plaintive voice touched a chord with Mac and she gave a long sigh, taking the phone down from her mouth. "Harm, if this ends badly we're going to be the ones. . . " "Who have to tell him unless his mother gets there." He finished for her. She shot him a helpless glance and picked up the phone, hearing the boy calling for her. "Sorry Jimmy. Look we'll try to explain better when we get there. But we're not going to leave you until we know everything's OK." For the next five minutes, they kept the line open but except for an occasional soft murmur, Jimmy was quiet. Harm pulled up in front of his building and stopped as if to let Mac out. "No you don't Sailor. You're coming up with me. Please." "I feel like I could help somehow," he moaned. "Look come up first, let's see if we can find out how bad it is, and then maybe Mrs. Nelson will be home and we can both go." "Oh that's gonna happen," he scoffed. "I'm going to take you to a hostage situation? Think again." She could not help a small smile, seeing his protective nature indicate how much he cared about her. "Park this beast and let's get up to Jimmy. We'll see what we need to do from there." Mac knocked lightly. "Jimmy it's OK. Harm and Mac, let us in." The door was opened and a tearful young boy flung himself against Mac. "I'm pretty scared. Why can't I talk to my dad," he sniffled. "Let's go sit down," Mac urged, leading him to the sofa, Harm following closely. "First, have you called your mom?" "I'm not supposed to unless there's an emergency, like this. So I did, and talked to her supervisor. Sergeant Mike. He's great. Anyway, she's on stake out and he promised she'd call me but she didn't yet. This is not supposed to happen. I'm supposed to have dad at night and when he can't Mrs. Brown downstairs. Mom wouldn't have gone to work if she didn't think dad was coming. She wouldn't have left me." "There needs to be better coordination with all this," Harm snapped. "Hey chill," Mac scolded. "These people do the best they can. It happens. Remember two weeks ago--Bud thought Harriet was picking up AJ and vice versa. He was still at his day care at 7PM." "Our children are not going to go through this," he retorted. "No way." "Which children would those be?" she gasped. "Told you he liked you" Jimmy smiled in spite of everything. "The ones we're going to have one day" Harm sighed. "Provided I ever get my act together. But right now is not the time to talk about that. Mac I'm going down there to see what's going on. I can't just sit here." "Promise me you'll be careful" she whispered. "I just want to find out what's going on and what's being done to resolve this situation." "You'll keep in touch?" "Keep the phone on. Hopefully this will end soon." "Is my Dad going to be okay?" Jimmy asked. "He's going to be fine" Harm assured the young boy. "Just stay here with Mac until your Mom comes home or I come back with your dad. Okay?" Jimmy nodded and Harm let out a long sigh. "I'll call you as soon as I know something." "Can I at least get a hug?" she whispered and under Jimmy's gaze Harm gave her a quick hug and kiss. "Will you tell me what's going on?" Jimmy asked Mac when Harm was gone. "Well you know how your Dad sometimes has to break up fights between people?" "Yes. He does that all the time." "Well he was doing that tonight when one of the guys decided he didn't want to be arrested. So he took your Dad hostage so the police can't arrest him." "But he's going to be okay isn't he?" "Of course" Mac smiled. "They'll talk to the guy and then he'll let your Dad go." "Soon I hope" Jimmy sighed. "Me too" Mac said as she hugged him. "Me too." Her cell phone rang a short time later and she quickly grabbed it. "Harm?" she said anxiously. "I'm here. I just spoke to the SWAT team leader and if he doesn't let Scott go in five minutes they're going to do the tear gas to get him out." "Great. But he's okay isn't he?" "So far as we know. They haven't seen Scott recently which is why they're going to make their move." "Dear Lord please let him be okay" Mac murmured. "You're keeping back aren't you?" "Yes ma'am. No where in the line of fire." "Keep me posted. Please." "I will. I'm going to go. I think they're going to make a move." He hung up and with a sigh Mac closed her cell phone. Hopefully the nightmare would soon be over. "Jimmy" an anxious voice called as the key turned in the door a short time later. "Jimmy are you okay?" "Mom" Jimmy wailed as he hurried from the sofa into the arms of his mother. "Dad didn't come home. He's a hostage." "Hi I'm Colonel Sarah Mackenzie" Mac said to the woman. "I'm one of Jimmy's baseball coaches" "Cindy Nelson. What happened to Scott?" she whispered. "There was a domestic dispute that got out of hand and Sgt. DeFloria took your husband hostage. My partner is down at the scene right now." "I need to go" Cindy said quietly. "Would you mind staying with Jimmy a little longer?" "Of course not. But I'm expecting Harm to call any minute to let me know what's going on." "I don't think I can wait. If anything happened to Scott" Her voice trailed off as she looked at Jimmy. "I'm sure he's okay," Mac said gently. As she spoke her cell phone rang and Cindy froze as Mac answered it. "Harm please tell me you have good news," she said softly. "Yeah I. . ." he managed before a fit of coughing cut him off. "Scott should be calling in a minute. The Lieutenant is taking his report." At once Mac heard the effort it was for him to get those words out and her eyes narrowed sharply. "Harm why are you sounding like. . .oh my god you were in the gas weren't you?" Before he could answer she heard another voice, firm and scolding. "Commander Rabb why is that mask off? You need that oxygen." "Harmon Rabb what the hell is going on there. Hello, someone talk to me," she screamed into the phone. "Who is this?" the question came back to her, but it was not Harm's voice. "Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, USMC. Who the hell is this and where is Commander Rabb and what the hell is going on there?" Her voice had raised to a shriek and she did not care. "Ma'am calm down please. I'm Sgt. Daniel Chambers, Army Medic. Your friend--and I'd call him your idiot friend except that he's an officer and would pound me--went into the house after we'd released the gas to get out Sgt. Nelson. We're going to run both him and Nelson over to DeWitt so they can get this stuff cleared from their lungs. And I'm sure he'll tell you the whole story when he can talk without choking but right now if he takes off that oxygen mask again I'm going to take his temperature. And not by mouth." "Coach Mac are you OK?" Jimmy had been watching her face, seeing the color drain from it as she listened. "Mac--Scott?" Cindy whispered and pulled Jimmy into a hug. "He's OK isn't he?" Mac swallowed hard and nodded. "They're both OK, but they're going to need to be checked over from the tear gas." "Where are they taking him? Dewitt?" "Both of them yeah. I need to get down there. I know it's horribly late for Jimmy but you can't leave him here either. Shall we?" "Oh yeah," Cindy nodded. "Right now. You know as a cop I see tragedies every night and I can remain calm cool and collected but when it's the man who's your life. . .well maybe you wouldn't know about that yet." Mac smiled softly, sniffling back a small sob and remembering what they had been doing when Jimmy's phone call came in. "Oh there's where you're wrong Cindy--except Harm and I haven't gone there yet. Not that we haven't been close to almost a few times." "How did Harm get hurt? I don't get it," Jimmy spoke up. "I don't either," Mac growled, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "But they're going to be OK and that's all that matters right now. We can find out what happened later." =========== DeWitt Army Medical Center FT BELVOIR VA "Rabb. Commander Harmon Rabb. Where is he?" Mac demanded. "And Sgt. Scott Nelson. We need to see both of the now." "Calm down ma'am" the young corporal smiled. "It's okay." "It'll be okay when I see my partner. Now where is he?" "Rabb. Okay that's right. The two guys who got the tear-gas. I believe they're still being treated. Why don't you have a seat while I check that out?" "Look Corporal Weingart" Mac said as she read his nametag. "I'm Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. I want to know where my partner is now. Not in a minute." "Of course ma'am. I'll find out right now." "Thank you" she sighed as he hurried to talk to a nurse that was coming from the treatment area. "Colonel" the nurse said as she walked over. "Corporal Weingart said you were inquiring about Commander Rabb and Sgt. Nelson." "Yes ma'am. Are they okay?" "Both are going a lot better now that we've had a chance to clear their lungs. In fact the Commander has been quite anxious to get out of here but we'd like to have him and Sgt. Nelson stay just a little longer since they are still coughing a bit." "I'll see to it that he does" Mac nodded. "Can we see them please? This is Mrs. Nelson and their son Jimmy." "Of course. I'll take you back to where they are." The nurse led them back and Mac hurried into the small treatment room where Harm was while Cindy and Jimmy went to see Scott. "What part of stay out of trouble did you not understand?" she sighed as she sat down beside him. "I'm fine. I'm sorry if I freaked you earlier." "Freaked is putting it mildly. You want to tell me what happened?" "No because you'll freak more" Harm said with a small cough. "But the short version is I snuck around to the back of the house while the other guys were busy. I saw Scott in there with DeFloria and just as they shot off the tear gas, I went in to make sure he got out." His words ended with another cough and Mac frowned more. "You do not sound good. And I bet your eyes are bothering you." "I'm fine. When do we get out of here?" "We are not going anywhere until the doctor says so. So don't even think about it mister." "Mac" he started before more coughing stopped him. "Will you listen to yourself" she sighed. "No where until the doctor says it's okay. And I still can't believe you did that." "Scott would have been a lot worse by the time they'd gotten to him" Harm managed. "Course there's a Master Sergeant who wasn't too happy with me." "I'll bet. And there's a Marine Colonel who's very unhappy that you put yourself at risk like that." "I think you know me better than that." "Of course. Super Harm to the rescue as always." "Mac" he sighed. "All right. I won't yell at you anymore. Just next time promise me you'll stay out of trouble." "I'll try," he said with a small smile. "Was Jimmy okay?" "He and Cindy were a bit panicked when you called but I'm sure now that they've seen Scott they're okay." "He was trapped inside Mac. I could see that but no one else did because their orders were to stay with the perimeter. I heard the pop of the grenade launchers and I just. . ." Coughing stopped him and he wheezed heavily getting his breath. "You are not OK," she fretted and before he could object she had flagged down a nurse. "Ma'am this man is not recovering here." "Sorry," Harm croaked. "She's in Marine mode." "That's OK. This is an Army hospital so a Marine is a pleasant change," the nurse smiled. "Let me take a listen to you." "See what you've done. I want out of here," Harm glared as Mac moved out of the way. "Not any worse than I would have expected," she pronounced. "The gas has irritated and inflamed his bronchial tubes and he's going to cough for a while. Long as fluid isn't collecting he's not in any real difficulty though you may get sick of that noise. Plus he'll no doubt whine at some point. Did he mention his eyes?" "No he didn't," Mac growled. "What?" "The vision is blurry," Harm confessed, one-upping the woman. "And he'll be discharged with drops for the inflammation. Did he mention he'll need to have someone with him for the next twenty-four hours while the drops work and his vision clears. Else he might walk into a wall." "No of course he didn't mention that either." "Well it will be in his discharge directions. Right now he just needs to relax. In a few days this will be but a memory." "Yeah for him. What about me," Mac sighed. "Oh hey it's always harder on the person who loves the patient," the nurse smiled as she hurried off, leaving the word hanging in the air between them. "I uh. . .I think I need some coffee," Mac mumbled and started to rise, only to have Harm grab her wrist. "Come right back?" His little boy needy tone touched her heart and she smiled softly, leaning down to touch her lips to his cheek. "Yeah of course. I'm not through yelling at you for what you did yet. And then when I'm through with that I can tell you how proud I am of you and how much I admire your courage." "You're going to make me cry," he whispered, only half teasingly. "It's been a long night. Listen, while you're up, please check on Scott for me OK. He'd already breathed a couple of lung-fulls by the time I got to him." "I will. You just rest like the nurse said. Then I'll see about getting you out of here." "Thanks Mac. I'm sorry if I worried you." "Just don't make it a habit," she said with a small smile before heading out of the room. She stopped first for information on Scott and a few minutes later stuck her head in the room he was in. "You sound as good as Harm does" she said as she walked in. "Quite a night wasn't it Sergeant?" "Would have been a lot worse if it weren't for Harm" Scott said with a weak smile. "Your partner is something else Colonel." "Yeah he is" Mac nodded. "I'm just glad worked out okay. You had us worried there for a while." "Well thank you for taking care of Jimmy" he managed between coughs. "Above and beyond the call of duty for a little league coach." "No problem. And I know you're supposed to be resting too so I'll catch up with you in a bit." "Thanks Mac" Cindy sighed. "For everything tonight." "We're just glad to help. I'll be back when they release them." Mac made her way to the small cafeteria for coffee before heading back to Harm's room. "I thought you'd be sleeping," she said as she sat down beside him again. His answer was muffled by a cough and she gave him a long look. "I'm okay" he managed. "How's Scott?" "Sounds like you do. But if that's the worst of the evening, he did pretty good. And you never did say what happened to DeFloria." "He's dead," Harm said soberly. "He tried to shoot his way out after the tear gas and they had no choice but to kill him." "I'm sorry. I'm just glad he didn't hurt anyone else." "Me too" Harm sighed. "Am I getting out of here soon? I'd really like to go home and crawl into my own bed." "Not alone you're not. You heard the nurse earlier. You need someone with you." "So you're crawling into bed with me?" he smiled. "I like the sound of that." His words ended with a cough and she shook her head. "Well I still don't like the sound of that." "Mac I'm going to cough" he sighed. "That's what the nurse said. But I'm okay." "Yeah I know. But you scared me tonight sailor. Real bad. One minute I'm talking to you and then I hear you coughing and wheezing and some medic is telling me you can't talk to me." "Sorry. But I knew I had to help Scott. The team was more worried about getting DeFloria." "Well I was worried about you." "Okay Commander" the nurse smiled as she sailed into the room. "We're finally going to let you out of here." "Thank you" he sighed. "It's about time." "Ma'am here's the drops," she said as she handed Mac the small bottle. "If he's still having blurry vision, you'll need to take him back to the doctor. And of course if the coughing and wheezing gets worse, take him right in." "She's not my mother," Harm groaned. "No but for the next twenty-four hours she is going to be your nurse," Mac informed him. "My place or yours?" "Do you have any idea how many times I've wished to hear that from you?" Her mouth dropped open in momentary shock. "Well now you have," she recovered. "Your place is probably better. You'll be more comfortable." "Do I need to be here for this conversation?" The nurse smiled and shook her head. "Remember the drops are going to keep your eyes pretty blurry. Be careful when you try to move around. Ma'am you'll be able to change in front of him and he won't be able to appreciate it." Harm gave out a long groan. "Kill me now. Listen I want to stop and be sure Scott is OK, so just put on your guide dog harness and lead the way." "It's going to be a long twenty-four hours isn't it," Mac sighed. "Yes ma'am," the nurse laughed. "and the real whining hasn't even started yet. Oh his clothes. He doesn't have any." "Oh yeah? He has to wear one of those skimpy gowns?" Mac asked with playful hopefulness. "No we send them home in hospital sweats." "Damn." She helped him out of bed, urging him to move slowly since the coughing seemed to be aggravated by movement and helped him dress. "OK Flyboy you're good to go. You want to see Scott?" "Please yes, and then my bed is starting to sound really good." "I bet." She wrapped her hands around his arm and led him carefully down the hall. Scott was sleeping now, oxygen tubing beneath his nose, and Cindy beside him, holding his hand. "Hey how is he doing?" Harm called softly, trying to muffle the cough speaking brought on. "He's got to stay the night," she replied, attempting to hold back tears and suddenly she jumped up and threw her arms around Harm. "Thank you. He's got a little mild asthma see, and he's normally fine with his medicine and his inhaler but in that gas. . .he could have died." "You're very welcome. He and eye don't know each other really but he would have done the same for me. I know the type." "The type who would get himself killed for someone else," Cindy sighed. "Tell me about it," Mac spoke up, "Come on Commander Hero. You're through for the night. Oh Cindy, where's Jimmy?" "My neighbor, Mrs. Brown, who looks after us like she was my mother, came and got him. Bless her heart. Talk about owing more than I could repay." "Good. He was pretty scared but he was very brave," Harm added. "And to know to call us was pretty good thinking." "Well he's too young to have to be in those kinds of situations, but sometimes there's just no choice," Cindy sighed. "We're there to help," Mac reminded her, tugging on Harm's arm. One of the MPs had brought Harm's SUV to the hospital and it was a welcome sight. Mac pushed him into the seat and pulled the belt over him. "You doing OK there Sailor?" "Bed," he murmured, leaning his head back. "Coming right up. I'll be tucking you in soon." She gave his forehead a soft kiss as she backed out of the front seat and smiled when he gave a small sigh, his eyes closing. With one final look to him, she started the car, giving a sigh of her own. This one of relief. It had been a long eventful night starting with their dinner date, and one that had given a jump- start to the emotions that were already swirling around them. ******************* JAG HQ's Monday Morning "Interesting weekend for you I read" AJ said to Harm as he met him and Mac in the break room. "I was a little surprised I didn't have a call from Master Sergeant Garrett on my machine this morning." "Obviously he had time to cool off" Harm said with a small smile. "He uh wasn't real happy with me at the time. Nor was my partner." "I told him to stay out of trouble" Mac sighed. "Did he listen?" "Well I'm sure Sgt. Nelson was happy with you. You feeling okay after all that?" "Yes sir. Mac made sure I took it easy yesterday and of course drove me in this morning." "Someone has to look after you" AJ grinned. "Any word on your UA Colonel?" "No sir. I called this morning and they still have located him. I think he's back in Mexico again. So I'm in a holding pattern right now." "Maybe the Commander would like some help with the Jeffers case." "Commander would" Harm nodded. "I have Major Johansen coming in this morning so we can go over her testimony. I could use someone to play defense attorney." "Be glad to." A half-hour later Major Charlene Johansen arrived at the JAG offices and Harm quickly introduced her to Mac. "Colonel Mackenzie is going to help with our practice testimony" Harm explained. "She's going to be the defense attorney." "This isn't going to be easy is it" the young woman sighed. "They're going to try and make this sound like it was my fault." "Yes they will" Mac answered. "But the more prepared you are the better. I'm sure the Commander has told you that they're going to come at you pretty hard." "Yes ma'am. And I'm pretty sure I can hold it together." "Well that's what we're going to practice," Harm said to her. "We'll walk through it just like it'll happen. I'll ask my questions and then Colonel Mackenzie will ask the kinds of questions the defense will ask. And she's not going to be nice about it either." "Okay" Charlene nodded. "This is probably a good idea then." "Yes it is. You ready?" Mac listened as the young woman told her story of how she'd stayed at work late on night only to have her boss, Colonel Jeffers make a move on her. Alone in the office, he'd attempted to sexually assault her. She'd fought him off, but in the end he'd broken several of her ribs and given her a concussion. "Okay that was the easy part," Harm said once she was finished. "Now comes the hard part. If I time it right, I should be able to get a recess before they do the cross-examination. If not, they're going to come right at you." "I know" she sniffled. "And I'll be ready. I think." "Let's see. Go on Colonel." Mac played the part of the defense attorney and bombarded Charlene with question after question like the attorneys would. She broke down into tears and Mac stopped her questioning. "I'm sorry Major," she said softly. "I know this is hard. And it's not going to be any easier when they ask the questions. In fact it'll probably be worse." "I don't know if I can do this" she wailed. "Major I need you" Harm sighed. "Please don't back down on me. I know this isn't easy but we can't let Jeffers get away with this. If we do, he'll just hurt someone else." "I'm sorry. I just didn't think it would be so hard." "Why don't we get some coffee and then we can talk some more" Harm offered. Charlene nodded as she wiped her eyes and Harm let out a long sigh. "Would you mind getting some coffee?" he asked Mac. "Of course not. Be glad to. You okay?" "I'm fine. Sometimes it's not easy doing this." "I know," she said with a gentle hand to his arm. "I'll be right back with that coffee." Left alone with Harm, Charlene swallowed her last sob and smiled softly at him. "She likes you. I envy her." "She and I have been friends for a long time," he replied. "And I don't know if she'd agree with your envy. I make her pretty crazy." "Do you love her?" Harm startled at the direct question. "Uh. . .Colonel that's pretty private, and I don't really discuss my private life with clients or witnesses or complainants. I know you understand." "I do," she nodded, getting to her feet and to his surprise she put a hand on his shoulder and ran it down his arm. "Commander my injuries are pretty well healed." "OK," he frowned, watching her hand go back up his arm to his shoulder and then over to brush just beneath his ear. "Major what's going on here?" "Sir, just letting you know that I wouldn't mind a little bit of your off duty time," she answered. "I thought that's what was happening." He took her hand firmly in his and pushed it back towards her. "Don't do that again. I'm not interested." "Hey I don't mind sharing you with a fellow Marine. I'm not looking for commitment here. Only offering you a good time. I can tell you've got things to be proud of under that uniform." "Major, I don't know what you think you're doing here but I'm ordering you to be at ease at once. You're coming on to me and your attentions are not wanted. Be at ease Major." Charlene regarded him with intense scrutiny. "Certainly sir. I'm sorry. Sorry if I misread your signals." "Excuse me? What signals would those be?" "Your grabbing and kissing me sir." "Major you are out of your mind," Harm exploded, backing up to the door at once. "You stay right there. Do not move." He backed out of the door, nearly colliding with Mac as she returned, carrying a cardboard tray and three coffee cups. "Harm what the hell's with you? Are you OK?" Charlene heard Mac's voice and let out a sigh of relief. "Colonel thank goodness. Things were getting a little tense in here." Mac set the coffee down on the table and looked from one to the other. "Do tell. Someone want to share?" Harm bit his lower lip, unsure of what to do. If this woman had come on to Colonel Jeffers, he might have responded. "I think I want to talk to Sturgis about his client," he finally said. "And I think the Major has had enough for today anyway. I know I have. Mac would you walk her out and then come find Sturgis and I." "Uh. . .yeah sure," she frowned and Harm grabbed his coffee and disappeared. "You know I will never figure out men," Mac sighed as she held the door for Charlene. "Are you OK? Just try to relax until you hear from us." "Yes ma'am. I actually feel better for having the rehearsal," she nodded. "I'm ready to make him pay for what he did. He hurt me Colonel." "I know he did. And he's not going to do that to anyone else. Promise." "Ma'am how well do you know Commander Rabb?" Charlene asked suddenly. "We've been partners for seven years. Why?" "Has he ever made an advance on you? Like tried to kiss you?" "Major I'm not sure where you're going with this" Mac frowned. "But the Commander and I have a very different relationship than you and Colonel Jeffers had." "So he has kissed you?" "That is none of your concern Major. I really don't understand why you're asking these questions but it's very inappropriate." "I'm sorry ma'am. Of course it's inappropriate. I just couldn't help but notice how close you and the Commander seemed." "We are close Major. At work and off duty." "I thought so" she nodded. "And thank you again for helping me get prepared for this. I really want to make him pay." "We will" Mac promised. "We will." She showed the young lady to the elevator before making her way to Sturgis's office where Harm was sitting alone. "Is she gone?" Harm asked. "Yeah. You want to tell me what's going on?" Mac asked as she sat down in the chair beside Harm. "Colonel Jeffers isn't totally guilty here," Harm said quietly. "When you and I were alone in the conference room, she started coming on to me." "Is this some kind of joke?" "Mac I'm serious. That woman is not all there. As soon as she was alone with me, she was a totally different person. I know it's hard to believe but I'm not even sure Colonel Jeffers is guilty now. Maybe she did this whole thing herself." "She beat herself up and broke her own ribs?" Mac frowned. "Harm come on. Do you have any clue how ludicrous that sounds?" "Trust me I was in the room and I couldn't believe it was happening. I'm telling you Mac; the woman has two personalities. It was actually pretty scary." "She came on to you. Describe please." "You don't believe me do you?" he frowned. "Mac I wouldn't lie about something like this. Come on you know me better than that." "I didn't say you were lying. Maybe you just misinterpreted something she did." "Oh I suppose I misinterpreted I'd like to see you off duty. And I don't mind sharing with a fellow Marine. She didn't mean anything by that." "She said that?" "Mac I'm telling you it was like being with two people. One minute she's sobbing, the next minute she's running her hand up and down my arm and asking me if we can get together later." "She said that?" "After she said something about me kissing her. The woman is bonkers." "You kissed her?" "I'm not dignifying that with an answer. Mac you know me better than that." "Sorry. And you know what's funny is after you left she asked about our relationship. And if you'd ever kissed me." "I'm telling the Admiral I want off this case" Harm sighed. "I think we should both talk to him. Have you talked to Sturgis about this yet?" "No he's still out. I just had to get out of there Mac. Before she did something really strange." "You did the right thing. I just wish now I hadn't left you alone with her. Harm someone like this could ruin your career if she were to file charges." "And my life" he sighed. "They'd never let me coach little league with a sexual misconduct accusation like that. And that would be just for starters." "Maybe we're jumping the gun here. Who says that's what she's going to do?" "I'm afraid of what else she might do," he admitted. "The woman is scary. And I don't want you anywhere near her again." "Now you've lost me again." "What if she's really unstable or bi-polar or just F-ing crazy," he yelped. "What if she sees you as some kind of roadblock in her path to me." "Oh good lord Harm. Just because she made a pass at you you're going off the deep end here. She's a lonely woman and saw you as an attractive man, not wearing a wedding ring and maybe she was a little overboard but dangerous to me is a stretch. Now capable of ruining your career is another matter and that does frighten me. Badly." "I want you to stay away from her," he groused. "And I'm not going to participate in sending an innocent man to confinement and his career into the toilet." "Your word against hers," Mac sighed. "And you're getting into that gray area of confidentiality when there's not an actual client-attorney relationship." "Some days I wish I had become a shoe salesman instead of a JAG lawyer," he muttered. "This woman really unnerved you didn't she," she said softly, resting her hand atop his only to have him pull away as if he was burned. "Excuse me. Sorry." His mouth dropped open as he realized what he had done. "Mac I didn't mean that. I'm sorry. Your attentions are welcome and wanted. I'm just a little stressed right now on behalf of you first of all, Col. Jeffers and then me." "What does Col. Jeffers say happened? I never thought about his side of the story because why would anyone make up such a thing I figured." "He denies the entire incident. They worked late and he went home. Last time he saw her she was getting into her car. That's as far as I knew too. Standard denial to a not uncommon scenario except this one was violent." "And that's why you want to talk to Sturgis?" He nodded, his face troubled. "And I'm not ever going to allow myself to be alone with her again that's for damn sure. Not without cameras and mikes at least which now that I've said that might not be a bad idea, except that it doesn't clear Jeffers." "Whom we can't be sure is innocent anyway," she reminded him with maddening logic. His head dropped to his hands and he gave a frustrated sigh just as the intercom buzzed. "Rabb." "Sir, Commander Turner just called. He's hopelessly mired at Quantico and then he's going straight home. He says whatever it is, it can wait until morning." "Yeah just as well. Thanks Tiner." "Just as well?" she questioned. "Sturgis is MIA for the rest of the day. I need to pull back a bit and stew before I hit him with this anyway. I'm glad we have practice tonight. For three hours I can just be Coach Harm." "Yeah well I don't want to see Coach Harm overdoing," she warned. "Your lungs are not ready for you to be running." "Oh I'm fine. I had some good nursing this weekend. It was fun having you over like that, though I hope there's another time when I'm not hacking up a lung or needing to be led to the bathroom like I was two." "There will be. You're not getting rid of me easily this time Flyboy," she told him sternly. "We've let too many other chances get away from us. Not any more." She rose to go and turned around with a sly grin. "Besides so far you're mentioned dress whites for our wedding and taking care of our children. I'm keeping score." His hand shot out to grasp hers and he smiled softly. "I want you to. Because we're going to figure it out this time. We're going to take it slow and get it right, but by god we're going to." He swallowed hard and added, "long as that's what the Colonel wants of course." "Commander, that's very much what the Colonel wants," she said softly, remembering with a rush what they had been doing when Jimmy's call interrupted. And how it felt to spend a solid twenty-four hours looking after him. "Pick you up for practice tonight?" "Yep. Going to iron my t-shirt," she teased. "Harm, about what happened earlier, let it go. It's going to work out. We'll figure it out and take care of it. Together." "Thanks," he breathed. "I need you on this." "You've got me, in every way," she smiled. THE END Chapter 3 will begin on Sat. 19 Jul 03