TITLE: "Time Gives and Time Takes Away" Ch.1
                AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
                SUMMARY:   The first chapter of what
will be an ongoing series.  Introducing a new 
character with whom Mac shares an initial attraction. 
In this chapter, Harm keenly feels the 
affects of looking toward turning 40, while Mac and a
handsome fighter pilot deal with their 
attraction to each other as all three investigate a
series of mishaps at Patuxent River NAS.
 Story begins in the summer of 2002, without  Sergei,
Singer, and the events of Enemy Below 
not a factor.
                CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   J/S/R/A    PG
for language and mild 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 
                              
                                          
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containing our stories:
                              
                                  
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http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag
                                            
                                            or the
Harm-Mac shipper archive at    
http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html  [sadly,
not always up and running]
                              
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http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction
archive.}
===============================

JAG HQ
AUGUST 2002

 "Morning ma'am," Harriet called as she came into the
kitchen. 
 
 "Harriet," Mac replied.  "How are you?"
 
 "Sleepy.  Bud stayed up and watched Sleepy Hollow and
then had bad dreams all night.  I'm 
going to kill him."
 
 "Please do.  I have to oppose him this morning and
just between you and me, I haven't got a 
case."
 
 Harriet laughed and lowered her voice
conspiratorially.  "Ma'am have you given any thought
to 
the Commander's birthday?  I mean I'd really like to
have that surprise party for him if you think 
we could pull it off."
 
 Mac gave her a pained expression.  "Harriet I
honestly don't know.  He doesn't seem to be the 
surprise party type.  I mean I can't imagine him being
thrilled at all of us jumping out of the 
closet and yelling surprise at him.  Probably give the
poor guy a stroke.  Plus of course he's 
still gone and it's just four days off."
 
 "When does he come back from Oceanside ma'am?"
 
 "I talked to him day before yesterday and he growled
when I asked.  The case is not going 
well I gathered."
 
 "Lose the party idea ma'am?"
 
 "I think so Lieutenant.  Sorry to disappoint Bud."
 
 "Yes ma'am but he'll bear up."
 
 The matter of a certain Commander's birthday did not
come up again until forty-eight hours 
later when Harm called her for some assistance on the
case.
 
 "Harm yeah I'm getting it, but you're talking faster
than I can write," she grumbled.  "Got it, 
yes.  Lance Corporal Thomas Vincent Castor.  Writing
here.  And Donovan Wayne Dorchester.  
I'll take care of it.  Now how are you doing?  You
sound tired."
 
 "I'm just ready to come home," he sighed.  "I've got
a pain in my shoulder that won't give up, 
and my back is objecting to something.  Not sure if
it's the sitting or the standing, plus I'm 
having a real hard time reading these. . ."
 
 "Harm?"
 
 At the other end of the connection he had paused,
looking down at the printouts on the desk in 
his temporary office.  He decided not to mention that
he was having to hold them at arm's 
length and that his arms seemed to be getting shorter.
 "Nothing.  It's not important."
 
 "OK.  Hey someone's got a birthday coming up in two
days.  You think you'll be back?"
 
 "Oh please yes I hope so," he groaned sarcastically,
"so I can have a cake that looks like a 
forest fire and please don't forget to rent a pony and
let's have a lot of balloons and jokes 
about getting old on funny cards."
 
 Whatever reaction she was expecting, that was not it.
 "Actually Flyboy I was thinking more 
like I'd take you to dinner at Garibaldi's, that new
Italian place," she finally said softly, confused 
by his response.  "And you may have a rain-check until
you get back."
 
 "Or we could forget it," he snapped.
 
 "Or we could forget it," she replied, unable to keep
the hurt from her voice, which he heard at 
once.
 
 "Mac I'm sorry.  That was uncalled for.  I'm just
stressed to the max with this case.  I really 
needed you on it and you had the Harrelson thing
going.  And I didn't even ask you how that 
was.  I'm sorry."
 
 "I think Bud is going for the kill this afternoon and
it will all be over thank god," she answered.  
Call me tonight will you."
 
 "Yeah, and Mac I'm. . ."
 
 "Forget it Flyboy.  It's on your tab."
===============  
  JAG HQ's
  Next Morning
  
  "Colonel" AJ smiled as Mac walked into the break
room. "Just the person I 
  was looking for this morning."
  
  "Why do I get the feeling that's not a good thing"
Mac groaned as she 
  reached for a coffee cup.
  
  "You wrapped up Harrelson yesterday correct?" AJ
continued.
  
  "Yes sir. My case load is very light at the moment
but I'm guessing it's not 
  going to stay that way is it?"
  
  "Well it would if your partner would wrap things up
in Oceanside. Any word 
  from him?"
  
  "None I can repeat" Mac smiled.
  
  "That good huh. Well then I guess you'll have to
start this investigation 
  and he can join you when he gets back. Why don't you
follow me to my 
  office?"
  
  "Yes sir" Mac replied as she poured her coffee.
  
  "There was an incident at Pax River last night" AJ
said a few minutes later. 
  "A Tomcat went down. The pilot and RIO managed to
eject and they're going to be fine."
  
  "Reason for the crash sir?"
  
  "Pilot claims it was sabotage" AJ sighed.
  
  "Sabotage? As in someone wanted him dead?"
  
  "That's what you're going to find out" AJ smiled. "I
figure you can get 
  started on finding out what's happening out there
and then when Mr. Rabb 
  returns he can join you."
  
  She returned to her office and at once called Harm's
cell phone number. As 
  she suspected she got his voice mail and she waited
for the beep.
  
  "Hi it's me. I'm heading to Pax River for an
investigation.  It sure would 
  be nice to have you around for this one. Give me a
call and let me know when you think you'll 
be back."
  
  **********
  Two hours later she made her way to the Tomcat
hangar at Pax River. She'd 
  turned her head to watch at the sound of one of them
taking off behind her 
  and seconds later found herself colliding with
something. More specifically 
  someone.
  
  "I'm sorry" Mac started as she looked back to find
herself staring into the 
  most beautiful baby blue eyes she'd ever seen. Blue
eyes, dark hair and just 
  a bit shy of Harm's height, it was almost like
meeting Harm for the first 
  time nearly seven years ago.
  
  "It's okay ma'am" he smiled. "Can I help you?"
  
  "I'm Colonel Mackenzie from JAG" she managed
finally, still unable to take 
  her eyes from him. It was like being transported
back in time. And in an 
  instant she realized how much she and Harm had
changed in seven years.
  
  "You must be handling the crash investigation."
  
  "You weren't the pilot were you?" Mac asked.
  
  "No ma'am. That was Grady. "
  
  "And you would be?" she prodded.
  
  "Lt. Cdr. Hunter Reed at your service" he smiled.
"I'm sure I'm on your list somewhere to talk 
to."
  
  "And why would that be?"
  
  "Because how else would I get to take a pretty
Marine like you to dinner?" 
  he smiled. It was that Flyboy grin. The one that
always melted her heart. 
  Only normally that only worked if it was being worn
by Harm.
  
 Commander Reed," she smiled as well, hoping he was
not hearing her heart pound.  "You are 
on the suggested interview list and also I was told
you would be showing me around."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  Captain Jacoby assigned me this morning
to escort you.  And I don't mind 
admitting I was thinking, oh goodie--I don't have
better things to do than show a stiff lady 
lawyer around this place, a thought for which I do
apologize."
 
 "Be at ease Commander," she smiled.  "I'm just here
to find out what's going on, and as I told 
the Captain earlier, I do appreciate the escort.   So
you fly these Tomcats do you?"
 
 "Yes ma'am, but I'm scheduled to be retrained on the
F-18 Hornet.  You know Tomcats are 
being obsolesced."
 
 She nodded and looked around the large hangar area. 
"OK I'll want the five cent tour, but 
first, it was a long ride out here and I'm so ready
for coffee and we could talk.  Work for you?"
 
 "Yes ma'am.  I have my vehicle outside."
 
 "How long have you been at Pax?" Mac asked as he
started them off away from the hangar.
 
 "Almost three years now ma'am.  I volunteered for
Hornet training and I should be getting my 
orders any time.  I'm ready for sea duty again in
fact.  Most of us Tomcat wranglers are being 
given the opportunity to be retrained.  Except the
older crowd that's being put out to pasture of 
course."
 
 "Right," she nodded, thinking of Harm at that remark.
 "Hey when my partner joins us, better 
not mention that."
 
 "Ma'am?"
 
 She gave him a sheepish grin.  "Commander Harmon
Rabb.  He's a Tomcat jockey, but I 
doubt he's being offered retraining.   At least I
would hope not."  
 
 "Ma'am why if I can ask?"
 
 "For one thing he had a major mishap a year ago and I
really don't want him going back up," 
she smiled.  "Though I can live with him doing quals. 
Re-training implies a lot of flight time, 
and he's a JAG now anyway, not a full time pilot."
 
 "Well my understanding is that only those of us under
35 are being considered anyway," he 
grinned, "and I've got around two years on the cut-off
age.  Your partner?"
 
 "Let's just say he won't see 35 again and leave it at
that," she sighed, remembering Harm's 
birthday explosion.
  
  "I see" Hunter nodded. "One of the old guys."
  
  "Again, I wouldn't say that around him" Mac smiled.
  
  "Of course not ma'am. We'll just keep that our
little secret." He flashed 
  her a smile again and she could just feel herself
melting under his charm.
  
  They reached a small diner near the air station and
a few minutes later she 
  took a long sip of coffee.
  
  "So what can you tell about last nights incident?"
Mac asked as she opened 
  her case and pulled out a legal pad.
  
  "Standard night ops. Nothing out of the ordinary
until Grady radioed that 
  something was wrong. Few seconds later he's punching
out and that was it."
  
  "How long have you known Lt. Grady?" Mac asked.
  
  "He's been at Pax for about six months now" Hunter
replied.
  
  "And what's your assessment of him as a pilot?"
  
  "Between you and me?" he asked as he leaned forward.
  
  "Anything you tell me is on the record Commander.
This is an official JAG 
  investigation."
  
  "Then on the record, he's a fine pilot" Hunter
smiled.
  
  She gave him a long look, knowing he had been about
to say a lot more than 
  just that. "Commander is there something else you
want to tell me about Lt. 
  Grady?"
  
  "How about over that dinner I'm going to take you to
tomorrow night?" he 
  grinned. "When we're not talking officially."
  
  "Who said I was free for dinner tomorrow night?" Mac
countered with just a 
  hint of smile.
  
  "Are you?"
  
  "Maybe"
  
  "Then I know a great steak place that you'd love" he
smiled. "Unless of 
  course you're one of those seafood lovers. But you
don't strike me as that 
  type."
  
  "And what type do I strike you as Commander?" she
asked.
  
  "I'll tell you tomorrow night over dinner."
  
  "You're pretty sure I'm going to be joining you for
dinner" Mac smiled.
  
  "Of course you will" Hunter grinned.
  
  As she stared at the confident, if not cocky young
man in front of her, she 
  couldn't help but think back to the first case she
and Harm had worked on 
  together. And how he'd been so much like Hunter. And
how he was so different now. How 
time had changed him.
  
  "Ma'am did I lose you?" Hunter asked, finally
pulling her from her reverie.
  
  "Sorry just thinking of something else."
  
  "Someone else?" Hunter prodded. "You had a dreamy
look on your face. Is 
  there someone I should know about in Colonel Sarah
Mackenzie's life?"
  
  "No" she said honestly. And there wasn't. She and
Harm had made no 
  commitments to each other. There had never been any
real discussion between them 
regarding their relationship.
  
  "So there's no one else?"
  
  "No there's not. And we need to get back to official
business here 
  Commander."
  
  "Of course ma'am" he nodded. "Sorry. We can talk
more about that at dinner 
  tomorrow."
  
  "Did you see the incident?"
  
  "Yes ma'am. I was flying with Lt. Grady last night."
  
  "Are you aware that Lt. Grady is claiming his plane
was sabotaged?" Mac 
  asked.
  
  "Sabotaged?" Hunter laughed. "Oh come on. He can
come up with a better 
  excuse than that can't he?"
  
  "You don't agree?"
  
  "Ma'am, I will tell you this. Lt. Grady has never
fit in here at Pax. But no 
  one here would do anything that would risk anyone's
life."
  
  "Are you sure of that? Because he seems pretty sure
that this will happen 
  again?"
  
  "To him?" Hunter asked.
  
  "To anyone flying a Tomcat" Mac replied. "He thinks
someone wants the 
  Tomcats out of commission for good."
   
 "Someone with a grudge maybe," Mac mused.  "Or
someone who's got reason to promote 
Hornets over Tomcats."
 
 Hunter shrugged and shook his head at the same time. 
"I don't know.  Tomcats were great in 
their day but there's advantages to the Hornets too. 
But more it's a matter of it being more 
economical to go with a new line than to try to keep
fixing aging aircraft.  Same thing with 
pilots--better to train from fresh meat than to
retread, but some of us were lucky enough to be 
selected."  He gave her a short laugh and went on,
"it's a young man's game.  I'm just thirty-
three and already I can see the hill.  Your partner on
the other hand must really feel it, going 
down the back side to forty right?"
 
 "Something like that," she smiled.  "But the man has
a flight career to be proud of, and then 
when that was taken away, he turned into a brilliant
JAG lawyer, went back to flying for a time, 
and when that didn't work out, came back to JAG and
picked up right where he left off."
 
 "Sounds like you're pretty proud of him ma'am."
 
 That gave her pause and her smile broadened.  "Yeah I
am.  He's good people."
 
 Hunter smiled as well and downed the last of his
coffee. "Ma'am my non-flight time has been 
given over to you, so tell me what you want to see."
 
 Mac regarded the younger man and shook her head.  All
Naval Aviators had to be cut from 
the same mold.  Bright and cocky and eager to please,
as long as it suited them.  And as he 
looked intently at the man, her instinct told her he
had more to share.  She would explore that 
later when she felt comfortable being off the record
with him.  In the meantime a little less 
formality would not hurt.  "Commander when it's just
you and me, why don't you call me Mac 
and lose the ma'am please.  And I'll call you Hunter. 
Rank and protocol can get in the way at 
times."
 
 "Yes Ma. . .I mean Mac," he grinned.  "Thank you. 
Would you like to start with the hangar and 
the flight line?"
 
 "Please."
 ===========
 "And this would be Master Chief Jonathan Kidwell." 
Hunter led her up to the man who could 
have been her father.  "Master Chief has been our
NCOIC of this shop forever, and without 
him, these birds wouldn't stay long in the air. 
Master Chief, Lieutenant Colonel Sarah 
Mackenzie, JAG HQ."
 
 "Master Chief," Mac nodded, returning his salute. 
"You guys lost one last night."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  Big time.  It hurts when that happens,
but I've seen it before.  They're like cars 
ma'am--when you see one on the side of the road you
think OK, they'll take care of that, but 
when something goes wrong with one of these, it's not
like you can pull over and pop the 
hood."
 
 "Thank you Chief," Mac smiled.  "I assume you'll be
helping with the uh. . .autopsy. . .of 
Grady's bird."
 
 "Yes ma'am I sure will.  The salvage boys are out
this morning but the water doesn't give it up 
easily.  She broke up pretty bad."
 
 "OK," Mac nodded and looked to her notes, writing
quickly.  "You've been doing this a long 
time Chief?"
 
 "Yes ma'am, and I don't mind telling you it's not for
us old guys any more.  Well physically that 
is.  The knees and back don't take kindly to climbing
up and down, wiggling into the tight 
spaces to fix engines and so forth."
 
 "And you must be nearing thirty and your retirement?"
 
 "Yes right now, right this minute, I should be in
Ocean City, joining my brother in his deep sea 
fishing operation.  Taking tourists out at $100 a pop
for a morning doing something I love.  
Instead I'm here holding these babies together with
bailing wire."
 
 "Master Chief's retirement application got denied for
the good of the service," Hunter 
explained.  "And I'm not going to say I'm sorry."
 
 "Easy for you to say," he growled.  "Plans I'd had in
place for two years went into the toilet."
   
  "I see" Mac said slowly, mentally adding Master
Chief Kidwell to her list of 
  suspects.
  
  "Don't pay no attention to Master Chief" Hunter
smiled. "He loves being here 
  don't you Chief?"
  
  "I can deal with you Reed. It's those sissies like
Grady I can't stand."
  
  "You don't like Lt. Grady?" Mac asked.
  
  "Look ma'am. I'm not out to say anything bad about
anyone. But there's some 
  that just got and some that don't. God knows how
they get through flight 
  school but I guess even those at the bottom of the
class get to fly. Now 
  guys like Hunter here are a natural when it comes to
handling these babies."
  
  "So you think the accident was Grady's fault?" Mac
frowned.
  
  "I didn't say that ma'am," Chief Kidwell said
quickly. "I just said some 
  know how to handle them better than others. I always
knew I'd have work to do after Grady 
flew."
  
  "So I guess you're not the only one who doesn't
think highly of Lt. Grady" 
  Mac murmured as she and Hunter made their way
through the hangar.
  
  "Did I say that?" Hunter smiled innocently. "If my
recollection is correct, 
  I told you Grady was a fine pilot."
  
  "And you were lying out your six" she countered.
  
  "I told you I'd tell you off the record over
dinner."
  
  "Will you tell me anything about Master Chief
Kidwell?" she prodded. "Or is 
  that going to require another dinner?"
  
  "Maybe" he grinned. "But since I like you I think I
can work it all into the 
  first one. Our second dinner can be for getting to
know each other better."
  
  "And you think I want to get to know Hunter Reed
better?" Mac laughed, at 
  the same time hoping he couldn't hear her pounding
heart. There was 
  something about Hunter Reed that was creating a stir
in her like few men had ever been able 
to do. Maybe it was those disarming blue eyes. Or the
Flyboy smile. Or the confidence he had 
about himself. Or maybe. . . her mind stopped as she
realized that all those qualities were 
exactly what had attracted her to Harm initially.
  
  "Of course you do" Hunter said softly as he stopped
walking and looked at 
  her. "I know I want to get to know Colonel Sarah
Mackenzie better. A lot 
  better."
  
  She was saved from replying but the appearance of
two pilots and for the 
  next two hours spoke to the other men who'd been
flying with Grady that 
  night. None would come out and say it straight but
Mac knew that they held 
  the same opinion of Grady that Hunter did. That his
skills weren't that of 
  the others and that the accident could have been
avoided.
  
  "So tell me Hunter, do you think the incident could
have been avoided last 
  night?" she asked.
  
  "Mac there's no reason Grady couldn't get back and
land that bird" Hunter 
  said slowly. "Maybe that's just pilot bravado
talking but none of us would 
  have punched out and let her go like that without
trying harder. He wimped out."
  
  "But he's alive isn't he?" Mac countered.
  
  "I guess" Hunter shrugged. "But I know I would have
fought her the whole way and got her 
down before I bailed like he did. He wasn't that far
out. He 
  could have made it back."
  
  "Then you might be dead if that was you flying that
plane last night?"
  
  "Yes ma'am but at least I'd gone down fighting" he
smiled. "Course I'd be 
  sorry that I missed meeting you."
 
 "Well that makes two of us," she smiled.  "This is
turning out to be a pleasant assignment so 
far.  You'd be amazed at the number of places I've
been where people weren't so welcoming.  
As far as punching out, well you know there's the
school of thought as to how much the Navy 
has invested in the man."
 
 Hunter shrugged again.  "Yes OK.  Do you do this to
your partner?"
 
 "What?"
 
 "Point and counter-point?"
 
 "Oh you bet we do," she grinned.  "Only we don't
always act real friendly while we do it."
 
 "And how about you and him personally? He's happily
married. . .I hope."
 
 "Oh wait until you meet him," she chortled loudly. 
"Happily married?  Someone's going to 
have to get him pregnant first."
 
 "Well then he won't mind you and me. . .uh enjoying
each other's company?"
 
 "OK there's another matter," she sighed, thinking of
Brumby, Lowne, Farrow, even Mario the 
cop.
 
 "So where does that leave us?" he scowled.
 
 "In the first place there is no 'us'," she said
firmly.  "There's me who is in charge of an 
investigation, in which by the way you are considered
a suspect since I haven't ruled out any 
possibility, even the most extreme."
 
 He flashed her his grin and shook his head.  A grin
that was every bit as 'Flyboy' as Harm's 
and then some.  "Colonel you know that I. . ."  He
stopped and touched her arm.  "Your next 
interview."
 
 Mac looked up to find a young woman in a flight suit
approaching.  "And this would be?"
 
 "Lieutenant Evelyn White," he whispered.
 
 "Ah, Grady's RIO," Mac nodded, looking again at her
notes.  "Babydoll?  You're kidding."
 
 "I don't name 'em Ma'am," Hunter smiled, but this
time the smile did not reach past his mouth.
 
 "Lieutenant," Mac nodded to the new arrival.
 
 "Ma'am, Commander," Evelyn acknowledged them. 
"Lieutenant Evelyn White reporting as 
ordered."  She paused a beat and looked to Hunter. 
"Aaww cute.  You've made a new friend."
 
 Mac sent the Lieutenant a sharp glare at her
insubordination and raised an eyebrow at 
Hunter, awaiting and expecting his reaction.
 
 He replied with a sheepish smile.  "Colonel you
should probably know that the lieutenant and I 
were involved at one time."
 
 "No kidding," she responded dryly.  "But thank you
for admitting that.  I like to know where we 
stand.  Lieutenant join us please.  You were cleared
by the doctors?"
 
 "Yes ma'am.  Suffered no ill effects from the
punchout.  Now what can I do for you?"
 
 "Take it from the top please," she requested, pulling
out her legal pad once more.  It took the 
better part of an hour for Mac to be satisfied with
the information, pulling the story from her with 
pointed questions which received rambling answers. 
Finally Mac simply closed the binder.  
"OK Lieutenant I don't feel we accomplished a whole
lot but it was a start.  You will make 
yourself available to me again please."
 
 "Yes ma'am.  Maybe next time we can speak alone," she
sighed as she got to her feet and 
executed her dismissal.
 
 "That was awkward, and I apologize for not preparing
you,"  Hunter sighed before Mac could 
speak.
 
 "She was your RIO once?"
 
 "Yeah and we were. . ."
 
 "Involved," Mac supplied.
 
 "Yes ma'am.  And we were found out, given a letter of
reprimand and she was reassigned to 
Grady and I got Channing.  Ricky Channing I hasten to
add.  And I can assure you he and I 
are not involved."
 
 "Thank god for that because that's a whole other can
of worms that I don't wish on myself," 
she smiled.
   
  "Yes ma'am" he laughed. "And I do apologize for not
telling you about my uh 
  relationship with Lt. White."
  
  "I guess you didn't part under the best of
circumstances" Mac commented.
  
  "Long story. But it wasn't my fault."
  
  "It never is" Mac laughed. "Well Lt. it's been a
long day and if you could 
  point me in the direction of the BOQ I'd be very
appreciative."
  
  "Glad to" he smiled. "And don't forget about our
dinner tomorrow night."
  
  "I never said yes."
  
  "You never said no either" Hunter grinned. "So I
took that to mean yes."
  
  "You would" she smiled. "All right. Dinner it is
then. But I better get 
  answers to my questions."
  
  "You will" he promised.
  
  Hours later she was nearly asleep on her bed when
her cell phone rang, 
  instantly waking her.
  
  "Colonel Mackenzie" she said sleepily.
  
  "I woke you didn't I?" Harm sighed. "Sorry. I should
have just waited until 
  morning."
  
  "About time you called me back," she said as she sat
up. "You're not still 
  at Oceanside are you?"
  
  "Don't ask. You don't want to know. How's Pax?"
  
  "The usual. Cocky Flyboys who think they know
everything but don't want to tell anything."
  
  "So you need me to help get answers?"
  
  "I'm doing just fine on my own Commander" she
laughed. "I swear they make 
  you all from the same mold."
  
  "So have you come up with anything?"
  
  "Got a master chief who thinks the pilot shouldn't
have gotten out of flight 
  school. A RIO who wouldn't give me any answers. And
a bunch of other guys 
  who think Lt. Grady wimped out and bailed before he
should have. And yes I 
  could probably use your help getting through the
macho pilot bravado to see 
  what's really going on."
  
  "Well one day I'll get out of here" he sighed.
"Maybe tomorrow if there's a 
  god. But I'm not counting on it."
  
  "Guess we're going to have to make that a belated
birthday dinner then" Mac 
  said softly.
  
  "Belated till next year would work fine" he groaned.
"Course next year is 
  even worse so forget I even mentioned it. Trust me I
can do without 
  celebrating the fact I'm another year older."
  
  "Does that bother you?" she asked.
  
  "Of course it does" he snapped. "They don't let guys
fly forever you know. 
  And every year just gets me a little closer to them
making me give up my 
  wings for good."
  
  "Sorry. I didn't know that meant that much to you."
  
  "Look I'm sorry" he sighed. "I'm just sick of this
case and of being here 
  and of a lot of things right now."
  
  "Anything you want to share? You know I'm a good
listener."
  
  "I know. But you don't need to listen to me whine
and complain about getting old. So I'll spare 
you that. And I'm sorry."
  
  "It's okay. Just promise me if you want to talk
you'll call me."
  
  "Thanks. You're a saint for putting up with me you
know that."
  
  "That's what I've been telling people for years" she
teased. "But no one 
  seems to believe me."
  
  "I'm serious Mac. You are. And I promise to lose the
attitude by the time I 
  get up there."
  
  "Good. And I'm still taking you to dinner. We just
won't call it your 
  birthday dinner."
  
  "Thanks Mac" he said with a small smile. "You always
know how to make me 
  feel better. I'll see you as soon as I get this mess
wrapped up here."
  
  With that he was gone and with a sigh she dropped
the phone. For a moment 
  the image of Hunter Reed flashed through her mind
and she quickly shook it 
  away. He was younger than her. And even more cocky
than Harm.
  
  "Not quite" Mac smiled to herself as her mind
drifted back to when she and 
  Harm had first met. He'd thought so highly of
himself back then. And as much 
  as she'd wanted to hate him, she'd found herself
drawn to him more and more. He'd opened 
doors no one else had before and she'd let him into
her life. 
  Unlike anyone she ever had before or likely ever
would.
  
  **********************
  "Morning Mac" Hunter greeted Mac with a wide smile
the next morning. "I hope you slept 
well."
  
  "Fine thank you" she smiled as well.
  
  "So where to today?" he asked.
  
  "Lt. Grady" Mac replied. "I've heard all guys' sides
of the story. I want to 
  see what he has to say."
  
"Yes ma'am, but before we do that, put my mind at ease
and assure me we're on for dinner."
 
 "You are nothing if not persistent Mr. Reed," she
smiled.  "I would love to have dinner with 
you.  But know that I'm considering it to be a working
dinner."
 
 "Fifty-fifty," he bargained and she groaned.  
 
 "Ma'am you should know that Grady is not going to be
in a good mood since he's on stand 
down while the investigation is on-going.  No pilot
likes to be removed from the cockpit, but this 
guy is going to be really bad about it."
 
 "I've dealt with stubborn egotistical pilots before,"
she smiled.  "I'm partnered with one 
remember."
 
 They found Lt. Brian Grady at the squadron
headquarters, sitting behind a desk staring at a 
computer screen.  He barely looked up when they
approached until Hunter bellowed, "attention 
on deck mister."
 
 "Sorry I didn't see you ma'am," he mumbled,
scrambling to his feet.
 
 "Right.  My name is Mackenzie and I'm investigating
your mishap Lieutenant.  Where can we 
go to talk?"
 
 "Alone just you and me?"  Grady glared at Hunter, who
glared right back.
 
 "Commander Reed is assisting me at the request of
your C.O.," she replied, keeping her voice 
calm and level.  "I'm relying on his expertise to tell
me when someone is trying to BS me 
Lieutenant if you get my drift.  Now we can talk here,
but I'm sure you'd prefer someplace more 
private."
 
 "I'd prefer not to be doing this at all," he growled.
 "I belong in the air.  My squadron is going 
out for dawn traps in the morning and I'm not going to
be joining them.  It sucks ma'am.  
Excuse me but it does."
 
 "Grady, let's you and me and the Colonel go into the
conference room, have some coffee and 
talk about what happened," Hunter told him.  "Candor
will help you.  Whining will not."
 
 "You wouldn't be saying that stuff so easily if it
were you," Grady retorted, nevertheless getting 
to his feet and leading the way.
 
 Once they were settled at the long conference table,
Hunter looked from Grady to Mac.  
"Ma'am you should know that there's no love lost
between us."
 
 "Hey deaf, dumb and blind I'm not," she replied. 
"And does this have anything to do with 
Lieutenant White?"
 
 "Only everything," Grady muttered.  "Plus a certain
Lieutenant with less time in grade than me 
who made Lieutenant Commander."
 
 "He means me ma'am," Hunter smiled sheepishly.  "And
he's right.  I did beat out a couple of 
the guys and get the slot.  But time in isn't
everything.  Efficiency reports and. . .well you know 
exactly what goes into a promotion."
 
 Mac nodded as she was making her notes.  "OK
Lieutenant, from the top, talk slow, don't 
leave anything out and watch your insubordination
tendency.  It doesn't look good in my 
report."
 
 It took the better part of two hours, but Mac finally
got what she considered to be a credible 
overview of the incident.  She would want to discuss
it further with Hunter--whom instinct told 
her she could trust, and even more so with Harm.
 
 More interviewing, a quick lunch with Hunter, and she
was on her own for the afternoon while 
he attended his own duties.  At 4PM her cell phone
rang with his reminder of dinner.
 
 "If I wasn't counting on getting some information I
don't have and have a hunch I'm going to 
need, I'd be in front of the TV in my room with my
feet up," she laughed.  "Give me till 1530 to 
recover from the walking I've done today can you?"
 ==========
 Once back at her quarters, Mac attempted a call to
Harm, getting his voice mail only.  "Hi 
Flyboy.  Just wanted to touch base with you and whine
about how much I need my partner 
here," she sighed.  "I'm going to dinner but I won't
be late.  Call me if you can.  Prepare to hear 
whining."
 
 Just about the time a nap seemed like a viable
alternative to dinner, Hunter arrived and she 
decided she was in fact hungry.  
 
 "I'm actually on call tonight," he sighed as he took
her arm and admired her soft blue dress at 
the same time.  But I told the CAG I had a dinner date
with a beautiful woman and that he 
could give me a break.  With any luck we can at least
get through dessert.  Sex may have to 
wait."
 
 "It wasn't on the agenda anyway," she giggled and
gave him a push.  "I swear you guys. . 
.well it has to be genetic."  As she took his arm to
walk to his car, she could not help a long 
sigh.  She and Harm did not joke like that.
 
 "Well there's always tomorrow night" he grinned.
 
 "Like you're going to get tomorrow night too" she
scoffed teasingly.
 
 "Of course I am. You like me Sarah Mackenzie. Despite
yourself telling you that you shouldn't 
you do."
 
 "Pretty sure of yourself aren't you?"
 
 "Just call it the way I see it" he smiled as he
helped her into the car.
 
 The steak place he'd mentioned was just outside the
base and a short time 
 later they were seated at a quiet corner table, side
by side.
 
 "So tell me about Hunter Reed" Mac said once the
waitress had taken their 
 order.
 
 "Not much to tell. Grew up in Virginia in a Navy
family. My Dad's a retired 
 SEAL and my sister is a Lieutenant aboard the USS
Constellation."
 
 "How come you didn't become a SEAL?" she asked.
 
 "Wanted to fly" Hunter grinned. "I was five when Dad
took me to my first 
 airshow. I knew then what I wanted to do. And I made
it happen. My turn now. 
 Tell me about Sarah Mackenzie."
 
 "Not much to tell. My uncle was a Marine and when my
life got a little 
 messed up he pointed in me in the right direction.
Became a Marine and 
 haven't looked back since. Now tell me why is there
no Mrs. Reed."
 
 "Haven't met Mrs. Right" he smiled. "Not for lack of
trying of course."
 
 "Of course" she smiled. "I guess those gold wings get
you what you want 
 every time."
 
 "We'll find out later" he grinned. "What about you?
Why is a smart and 
 beautiful woman like you still single?"
 
 "Haven't met Mr. Right," she said softly.  "I'd
almost convinced myself I 
 had a year ago. Got all the way to the night before
wedding."

 "What stopped you?" Hunter asked.
 
 "Harm crashing" she admitted. "I couldn't go on
without knowing what 
 happened to him."
 
 "But that must have only taken a few hours for him to
be rescued. You could 
 have still had the wedding."
 
 "Yeah I could have" she nodded. "But in the end I
kept postponing and 
 finally Mic got the idea and he went back to
Australia."
 
 "Idea about what?" Hunter prodded. "Or can I guess
that it was because of 
 how you felt about Harm?"
 
 *****************
 At that moment, Harm was making his way to the hangar
at Pax, in search of 
 Mac. He'd finally wrapped up at Oceanside and had
hopped the first plane to 
 Pax. He'd stopped at the BOQ first and found her room
empty. Thinking she 
 might have worked late, he'd gone back there to see
if anyone had seen her.
 
 "With Lt. Commander Reed" the CAG informed him. "They
were having dinner at The 
Steakhouse."
 
 Figuring they were having a working dinner Harm
headed to the Steakhouse. 
 There were still a few hours left of his birthday and
being with Mac might 
 make an otherwise forgettable day better.
 
 *******************
 "I don't know" Mac said slowly. "I just know that I
couldn't go through with 
 it."
 
 "Well whatever the reason, I'm glad you didn't"
Hunter smiled. "Because now 
 I get a chance with you."
 
 "You think you have a chance?" Mac laughed.
 
 "Tell me you don't like being with me" Hunter said
softly as he reached for 
 her hand.
 
 "I can't" Mac said softly. "Because you are quite a
piece of work Hunter 
 Reed. There's something about you."
 
 "Something you like?"
 
 "Yes" she admitted. "Very much."
 
 "Please don't kill me for this" he whispered as
turned to her, his lips 
 finding hers in a gentle kiss. Her shock quickly
faded and she found herself 
 getting lost in the kiss. Gentle hands reached around
her, pulling her 
 closer to him.
 
 "Evening Colonel. I see you're hard at work on the
case."
 
 At the sound of Harm's voice they both froze and Mac
pulled herself from 
 Hunter.
 
 "Harm" she managed finally her heart pounding with
surprise at seeing him. "What are you 
doing here?"
 
 "I came to help with the investigation," he said
quietly. "But from the 
 looks of it you've got it covered. I'll leave you and
Mr. Reed alone."
 
 "Harm wait" she said as she quickly stood up. "Please
don't go."
 
"Look I came over here only because I assumed this was
a working dinner," he replied.  
"Which I can see it's not and I'm exhausted and not
feeling that great so by all means, carry on 
and Mac I'll talk to you later about the case or in
the morning.  Good night."  With that he 
turned on his heel and strode out.

For a long minute Mac stared after him, consternation
on her face.

"Mac I'm sorry," Hunter whispered.  "Really I am. 
That was awkward for you and out of line for 
me.  You probably should go after him."

"No I should not," she replied.  "He's pouting, and
I'll fix it right with him later.  But for now you 
and I are going to enjoy our dinner, and each other's
company."

"You're sure?  You know I saw his face.  He was upset
at us. . .well at me. . .kissing you."

"And I'm sorry for that.  Hunter I don't really want
to go into a lot of detail with Harm and me, 
but we've had a lot of chances in the past and none of
them have materialized. We're best 
friends, now and probably always will be; but anything
else---well I wouldn't make book on it.  A 
lot of the time it just doesn't seem like it's going
to come to pass."

"And do you want it to?"

"I'm going to take the fifth there," she smiled and
blushed.  "Obviously I find you incredibly 
charming and attractive, so that alone would tell you
that I'm at this point at least halfway open 
to other possibilities."

Hunter gave a long sigh of relief.  "That's good to
know.  Can I ask you something?"

"If I can not answer if I so choose."

"Always."  Hunter gave her an intense look before
going on.  "You're not setting me up to get 
his attention are you?

"No."  Her answer came back firm and strong in denial.
 "I don't play games like that.  Not with 
emotions."

"Fair enough," he nodded.  "And I can simply sit back
and enjoy our company and let what 
happens happen."

"Then Mr. Hunter I think we understand each other. 
Now who do I have to kill to get a steak 
put in front of me."
==============
Two hours later after dinner and then a visit to the
lounge where they talked more, Hunter 
returned Mac to the BOQ.  They had had an interesting
conversation at some point concerning 
Grady.  A drink and the fact that they were off-site
had made Hunter a little more forthcoming 
and Mac was able to get a truer picture of the pilot
who had lost his ride.

"This is good night," Hunter smiled.  "I won't see you
tomorrow right off now.  I'm going to get 
some sleep and then we have exercises, but I'll find
you noon time or so for lunch maybe."

"Yeah that sounds workable," she sighed, looking up at
the building, her mind wondering which 
window was Harm's.  Something Hunter read right away. 
"He's there somewhere.  You're 
going to stop at his room?"

"Yeah I'll check with him," she smiled and put a hand
on Hunter's arm.  "Best if you. . .well stay 
away from that area of my life."

"I understand Sarah," he smiled as well walked around
to open her door.  When she alighted 
from the car, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. 
"Tomorrow."

"You got it."  She turned to go and then turned back. 
"Be safe in the air Commander."

"Careful is my middle name."  
===========
The duty desk provided Harm's room number, just a few
doors down from hers, and with a 
long breath for courage she tapped at the door.  No
response.  Another attempt with the same 
result. 'I'm not feeling that great'.  He words of
earlier came to her in a rush.  "Harm?"  She 
knocked more loudly and called his name once more. 
"Harm open up."

  It was several seconds before the door finally
opened to reveal a disheveled 
  Harmon Rabb.
  
  "You okay?" she asked.
  
  "I was before someone woke me up" he retorted.
  
  "I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were
okay. You said earlier you 
  weren't feeling well."
  
  "Not feeling well as in I'm tired, cranky and seeing
my partner attached at 
  the lips to some Flyboy is the last thing I needed.
And now can I please go 
  back to sleep?"
  
  "Harm I want to talk" she said quietly. "I'm sure
you didn't eat and maybe 
  we could go to the diner that's just off base and at
least get some coffee 
  and talk."
  
  "Mac" he groaned.
  
  "By the way Happy Birthday" she said with a small
smile. "I guess this 
  hasn't been one of your better ones. Getting stuck
on a case and then having 
  to come here."
  
  "No it hasn't. And for that reason it's best if you
just go back to your 
  room."
  
  "What are you going to do?"
  
  "I don't know" he sighed. "Now that I'm awake I'll
probably go find 
  something to eat."
  
  "Then let me come with you" she urged. "That way you
won't be alone."
  
  "Where'd your boyfriend go?" he asked.
  
  "He's not my boyfriend thank you."
  
  "You look rather chummy tonight. And I'm impressed.
I didn't think flyboy's 
  were your type."
  
  "They're usually not" she retorted. "Because
sometimes they can be the most 
  annoying men on earth. Like right now."
  
  "Look I'm tired and this is really not a good idea"
he sighed. "I don't want 
  to argue with you Mac. And that's all we're going to
do if we continue 
  this."
  
  "We don't have to argue" she said quietly. "I just
want to go with you while 
  you grab dinner. We don't have to talk about
anything except the case if you 
  don't want to. But I want to go with you."
  
  "Why?"
  
  "Harm it's your birthday. Yes I still owe you that
real dinner but I want to 
  spend a little time with you. I do care you know."
  
  "Fine" he said finally. "Give me a few minutes to
look presentable. Which 
  room is yours?"
  
  "Three doors to the left. I'll be waiting."
  
  It was a half hour before he finally knocked on her
door, freshly showered 
  and more awake than he had been before.
  
  "I guess things didn't go well in Oceanside?" she
asked as they drove to the 
  diner.
  
  "No. Not one of my better moments" he sighed. "And
I'll leave it at that."
  
  "Sorry. Well I'm glad you're here to help with
this."
  
  "You looked like you had it under control" he
retorted before instantly 
  regretting his words. "Sorry. I told you this wasn't
a good idea."
  
  "I can deal with it" she assured him.
  
  "So who is he?" Harm asked suddenly. "And what's so
special that you're 
  practically making out with him after you just met
him."
  
  "His name is Hunter Reed. And I don't think there's
anything special. We 
  just seemed to hit it off really well."
  
  "So I guessed" he said quietly.
  
  "Harm I'm not dating the guy for goodness sake. We
just had dinner. And part 
  of the reason we went out was so he could tell me
more about what was going 
  on here."
  
  "I see. And what did he tell you?"
  
  "Nothing good" she sighed. "Seems that besides being
a poor pilot, Lt. Grady 
  is the least liked person on this base. He's had run
ins with everybody on 
  the squadron and in the hangar."
  
  "You think his accident wasn't any accident?" Harm
asked.
  
  "I don't know. Hunter swears that nobody would do
anything like that. But at 
  the same time, I can't find one person who's sorry
about what happened to 
  Lt. Grady."
  
  "Is Mr. Reed on your list of suspects?"
  
  "Everyone is on my list of suspects" she retorted.
"But I can tell you from 
  the amount of time I've spend with him, he's not
involved in this."
  
  "Of course not" Harm scoffed.
 
  She gave him an exasperated look.  "Harm have some
faith in my instinct and judgment will 
you?  I don't believe he's involved, and I'm not
especially looking to him as a suspect."
 
 He sent her a sidelong glare and they did not speak
again until they were at the table in the 
diner and he was glancing through the notes she had
set before him.  "Why did you let him 
kiss you?"
 
 "That's really bothering you isn't it?"
 
 "Don't answer my question with a question," he
snapped, rubbing his temples as he spoke, 
adding quickly in a more mollified tone.  "Please. .
.and sorry."
 
 "Harm it just happened OK," she replied, giving him a
helpless shrug.  "Come on now, I know 
you've kissed a woman before for no reason, or simply
because you were having a good time 
or you found her attractive.  The Colonel's wife in
Panama for example, or Lt. Schipperelli.   
Which leads me to point out that it's
possible--farfetched but possible--that this man could
be 
attracted to me."
 
 "OK I can't argue that," he sighed.  "And I can see
that he might find you attractive even. But 
you still let him.  And yes, I'll answer you--it did
bother me.  And it bothered me even more 
because you weren't doing it for my benefit."
 
 "Yeah well in this life, not everything is about
you," she smiled sweetly.  "You want to tell me 
what went so awful in Oceanside?  How did you get done
so quick when it was so balled up?  
You talk your client the schmuck into pleading guilty
or what?"
 
 "My client hung himself in his cell."
 
 Her mouth fell open and for a second she felt like
she had been punched in the stomach.  
"Harm I'm sorry.  I had no idea.  I'm so wrapped in
this case and. . ."  She put a quick hand on 
his arm.  "I'm sorry."
 
 "Well it gets better, long as I'm talking about it,"
he sighed.  "Carrera left a note.  Said he felt 
like he wasn't getting good representation and that he
wasn't spending the next twenty years in 
prison."
 
 "Harm I. . .I don't know what to say," she gasped,
feeling tears not for the victim but for her 
best friend.  "Was he guilty?"
 
 "Yeah he was, otherwise I might have thought about
joining him."
 
 Her gasp was long and loud, combined with a short sob
as she took him one hundred percent 
seriously for a few seconds.
 
 "Hey no.  Sorry.  That was uncalled for.  I said it
to shock you and because I'm feeling sorry 
for myself.  I wouldn't.  I'm a lot of things, but
suicidal is not one of them."
 
 "I've never thought you were but this talk about
hanging and then your comment hit me," she 
sniffled and swallowed hard.  "Thanks for telling me. 
No wonder you're not your usual perky 
self.  And you've got a headache besides huh?"
 
 "Since the moment I found him."
 
 "You. . .oh Harm."  Her hand squeezed his arm tightly
and he covered it with his.  
 
 "Hey it's OK.  I wasn't even going to tell you, but
then I guessed you deserved to know what's 
wrong with me.  At least partly."
 
 "You may as well spill the rest Flyboy."
 
 "No.  That's the main thing and I'll  handle it."  He
was not about to pour out the rest of his soul 
about his birthday and its attendant feelings of aging
and inadequacy.  He took a long drink of 
his coffee and a small bite of his tuna sandwich,
trying to smile.  "Anyway, I'm glad I'm here, 
and thanks for listening.  I probably just gave you
nightmares."
 
   "No I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about."
  
  "Hey don't worry about me. I'll manage. And I do
appreciate you listening to 
  me."
  
  "I still owe you that birthday dinner," she said
softly. "And once we're 
  home I'd like to take you somewhere special."
  
  "Mac it's no biggie" he sighed. "It's just another
day. One I'd like to 
  forget about anyway. Save it for next year when you
can all throw me the 
  he's over the hill party."
  
  "Harm you're not over the hill."
  
  "Mac I'm 39 and look at my life" he sighed. "And
before we have that 
  discussion lets not. I'm not sure I can handle that
tonight."
  
  "All right but just for the record I don't think
you're over the hill. Yeah 
  neither of us is getting any younger but that's what
happens."
  
  "Thanks" he said as he dropped the tuna sandwich
back on the plate. "And 
  honestly I'm not hungry but I am exhausted so if you
don't mind I'd like to 
  go back to the room and try and get some sleep."
  
  "Harm you barely touched that sandwich" she frowned.
"You sure you're okay?"
  
  "Yeah just tired and cranky and desperately in need
of some sleep. Hopefully 
  life will look better tomorrow."
  
  "I'm sorry," she said automatically. "But it's not
your fault. You were 
  doing the best you could for your client."
  
  "He didn't see it that way," Harm said as he stood
up and threw down some 
  money on the table to cover the bill. "And frankly
I'm not sure he wasn't 
  right."
  
  "Okay no more of this" she chided him as they walked
to the car. "Harm I 
  know you. You've always defended everyone to the
best of your ability no 
  matter what you thought of their guilt or
innocence."
  
  "Maybe I didn't this time" he sighed. "I don't
know."
  
  "No you don't know because you're tired and worn out
and you need some rest and in the 
morning you'll realize that you weren't the reason
your client took 
  his life."
  
  "Yeah maybe you're right."
  
  "Of course I am" she smiled softly. "In the morning
this will all be 
  better."
  
  "Yeah maybe you kissing Hunter will have all been
part of this awful 
  nightmare" he groaned as he closed his eyes and
leaned back in the seat.
  
  "That really bothers you doesn't it?" she prodded.
  
  "Yes and I'm leaving it at that."
  
  She smiled slightly at the thought of that and
turned the car in the 
  direction of the base.  A few minutes later she
followed him to his room at 
  the BOQ and he gave her a weak smile.
  
  "Night Mac. I'll see you in the morning."
  
  "You going to be okay?" she asked softly, her hand
gently touching his arm. 
  "You seem really out of sorts sailor."
  
  "Yeah I'll be fine. Thanks for caring."
  
  "Thanks for caring?" she frowned. "Harm you know I
care about you. You're 
  very important to me."
  
  He opened his mouth to say something and promptly
closed it. "We'll have 
  that discussion another time. Right now I just need
to sleep."
  
  "Yes you do. And yes we will have that discussion.
Sleep sailor. I'll see 
  you in the morning."
  
  *******************
  "So where's your boyfriend?" Harm asked the next
morning as he and Mac 
  headed to the hangar. I figured he'd be around to
take you to breakfast."
  
  "He said he'd catch us for lunch. He had training
exercises this morning."
  
  "So what does Lt. Cdr. Reed fly?" Harm asked.
  
  "At the moment Tomcats" Mac said slowly. "But he's
going to be retrained on 
  the Hornets."
  
  "So he is younger than you" Harm mused. "Cause last
I heard only the young 
  guys were getting retrained."
  
  "Yes he's younger. Is that a problem Commander?"
  
  "It's your life" he countered. "Why should I care if
you start dating 
  younger men?"
  
  "Harm I'm not dating him" she sighed. "We had
dinner. That was all."
  
  "So the kiss meant nothing?" Harm prodded.
  
  Before she could answer the sound of sirens cut
through the air and they 
  peered out of the hangar to see the emergency crews
making their way out to 
  the runway.
  
  "Someone must have a problem" Harm frowned as he
looked up into the sky.
 
  Mac followed his gaze skyward and she unconsciously
grabbed onto his arm at the same 
time, as if she need to assure herself he was right
here beside her and not in the air like he 
was that terrible night. . .  or another time several
months later, more recent and almost as 
frightening.  This time she could hear his
voice--'sustained battle damage. . ."
 
 "Mac?  Mac let go. . ."
 
 It was from a great distance that she heard him, and
it was not until he tugged his arm that 
she loosened her grip.
 
 "You were digging your nails into me," he yelped. 
"What do you do, file those things to a 
point?"
 
 "Harm I'm sorry," she gasped.  "I know you're used to
this, but I'm not."  Her arm swept a wide 
arc as the emergency equipment made for the runway. 
"Why doesn't he punch?" she gasped.
 
 "Because that's the total last resort," he reminded
her quietly.   "He must feel he can bring it 
in."
 
 She nodded and fell silent, listening for the drone
of Tomcat engines.  It came a few seconds 
later as the first of the squadron streaked across the
field, leading the way.
 
 "Here comes the cripple now," Harm told her.  Smoke
trailed from one engine of the F-14 and 
it wobbled badly as it tried to line up with the
strip.  "Hold her easy Pilot," he breathed.  
"Throttle back.  You can do it.  Let the plane do the
work.  You're just there to guide it in.  She'll 
land herself if you let her."
 
 Mac listened to him in amazement, unable to take her
eyes from the plane though she knew 
she might be about to witness two people die a flaming
death fifty yards away.
 
 Harm had that exact thought as the fighter dipped low
into view and he reached for her, 
instinctively wanting to protect her.
 
 "Hunter." 
 
 One word from her but the tone said it all.  Until
she could see the plane clearly, she had not 
allowed herself to even imagine it might be him.  Now
it consumed her thoughts, and she could 
see his face, superimposed over flames.  He was
calling to her.   
 
 To Harm's undying amazement she jerked away from him
and began to run toward the 
landing area, kicking off her heels in her first two
strides and her pants-clad legs ate up the 
ground.  So startled was he that she was a good ten
yards ahead of her before he could start 
after her.  His mind at once painted a gruesome
picture of her reaching the runway just as the 
jet did.  It would burst into flames, enveloping her
in the ensuing fireball.  It was at that point he 
screamed her name and executed a full flying tackle,
bringing her to the grassy surface only a 
few yards from the runway.
 
 "Keep still," he hissed, feeling the heat from the
damaged plane as it touched down in front of 
them and he tucked himself over her as fully as he
could, steeling himself for the explosion he 
feared and wanting to protect her.  The explosion that
never came as the fighter barreled past 
them.  He dared to look up a few second later, seeing
it come to a safe halt, accompanied by 
the scream of sirens as the emergency vehicles
surrounded it.
 
 "Mac it's OK.  Whoever it is, he landed safe," he
whispered, his mouth to her ear.  "Are you 
OK?  I didn't hurt you landing on you did I?"
    
  "Hunter" she whispered. "Oh god, what if it was
him?"
  
  "Mac whoever it was they're okay" he said quietly as
he moved away from her. 
  She started to get up, wanting to go towards the
plane and at once he 
  grabbed her arm.
  
  "What are you doing?" she demanded as she tried to
yank free of his grasp.
  
  "Mac you can't go out there" he hissed. "They've got
enough to worry about 
  without you getting in their way."
  
  "I need to see if it's Hunter" she wailed and at
once he let go of her.
  
  She taken but a few steps towards the damaged plane
when a voice called out 
  to her, an arm wrapping around from behind her.
  
  "Mac where you going?"
  
  She whirled around at the sound of Hunter's voice
and moments later was in 
  his arms, holding onto him for dear life.
  
  "Thank god" she whispered as she held onto him. "I
thought for a minute it 
  was you. I was so scared."
  
  "You were worried about me?" he smiled as he let go
of her.
  
  "Of course I was. You said you were flying and I
just thought the worst."
  
  "Not me this time. That was Bell. Fortunately he's
one of the best. If that 
  was Grady he would never have landed."
  
  "I'm just so glad it wasn't you" she whispered.
  
  "Beginning to like me?" he grinned.
  
  "Of course I am" she said softly.
  
  "Well I guess this answers Mac's question about
whether the unfortunate pilot was you or 
not"Harm said as he walked over to the pair.
  
  "Commander how are you?" Hunter smiled.
  
  "Fine. Mac whenever you want to get to work on
things, I'll be at the 
  hangar." With that Harm walked away and for a moment
Hunter stood there 
  quietly.
  
  "He doesn't like me does he?" he said finally.
  
  "No it's not that.  He's just a little jetlagged and
tired" Mac sighed. "I'm sure once he gets to 
know you he'll be fine."
  
  "Yeah sure" Hunter nodded. "But I'm sure it has
something to do with the kiss 
  last night."
  
  "Whatever his problem is it's not you.  At least not
totally. Trust me."
  
  "If you say so. Shall we catch up to him though? I
thought you two were 
  supposed to be working together on this."
  
  "Yeah we should" she nodded. "But right now can I
just get another hug. I 
  was imagining the worst things."
  
  "Come on Colonel" Hunter smiled as he hugged her.
"You know me better than 
  that."
  
  "I know you told me you'd go down in blaze of flames
before punching out 
  like Grady did" she whispered. "And I was so sure
that was what was going to 
  happen."
  
  "Yeah well it wasn't me this time."
  
  "This time?" she frowned as she let go him. "You
think this has something to 
  do with Grady's accident?"
  
  "Mac you really don't think Grady's accident was an
accident do you?"
  
  "I don't know. I just assumed it was. You believe
his theory of sabotage?"
  
  "Second problem in less than a week?" he asked.
"What do you think?"
  
  "I'd say run of bad luck" Mac replied. "But you
wouldn't agree with that 
  would you?"
  
  "You're the investigator ma'am" he smiled. "I'm just
the guy assigned to 
  show you around."
  
  "You know more than you're telling me" she said as
she looked carefully him. 
  "I guess I'm going to have to have dinner with you
again."
  
  "I don't think that's going to go over very well
with your partner" Hunter 
  smiled.
  
  "He'll live with it. But honestly Hunter, if you
know something, you need to 
  let me know."
  
  "Yes ma'am I will. Right now it's just gut
instinct."
  
  "I'll take that. You know these guys better we do.
If there's something 
  going on besides accidents, I want to know about
it."
  
  "Like I said it's just gut right now" he nodded.
  
  "Yeah we'll I'd trust the gut instinct of a fighter
pilot any day" she said 
  quietly.
  
   "And with your life?" He asked gently, gesturing to
her partner several feet ahead and 
walking fast.
 
 "Been there, and in a heartbeat," she admitted.
 
 "I'm glad," Hunter said sincerely.  "I hope he lets
me get to know him.  I know from the way 
you talk about him he has to be a good guy.  Not to
mention if you think highly of him, that's 
good enough for me."
 
 "He's one of the finest men I've ever met," she said
softly, at the same time marveling that it 
was so easy for her to voice that emotion with a
comparative stranger.
 
 "Then I'd really like to get to know him," Hunter
said sincerely, taking her arm and quickening 
his pace.
 
 "Commander Rabb," he called when they were closer.
 
 Harm turned around expectantly and Hunter paused mid
step.  "Sir I have orders to escort the 
Colonel and now that you're here I'm assuming that
applies to you as well.  And I'd hate that 
we got off on the wrong foot.  And we do have
something in common after all.  Well actually 
more than one thing."
 
 "OK I'll bite Mr. Reed.  You're on a roll, go with
it."
 
 "Well aside from our gold wings which we know we both
worked our sixes off to earn, we both 
think pretty highly of the Colonel here.  Am I right? 
Sir."
 
 "Yeah OK fair enough on both counts," he sighed,
disarmed slightly by Hunter's forthright 
style.  "And Commander, you're going to have to kind
of put up with me I'm afraid.  My head's 
in kind of a strange place right now and what happened
to me at Oceanside didn't help much."
 
 Mac wrapped her hands around his arm at that point,
reminding him that she was still there for 
him and Harm gave her a small smile, then gestured to
the commotion still happening on the 
field behind them.  "We need to get in line to talk to
that pilot."
 
 "I'll fix it," Hunter promised.  "We should be able
to see him at the infirmary later."
 
 "OK meanwhile may I meet some of the people you two
have talked to?  I feel like I'm playing 
catch-up here."
 
 "Right this way Commander," Hunter motioned.  "We'll
start with Master Chief Kidwell."
 
 "Well I'm glad you two have recovered from the
excitement so quickly," Mac snapped 
suddenly after they had walked but a few feet.  "I
guess that's the make up of a pilot?  To see 
near-death in front of you and then go on."
 
 "Actually something like that," Hunter smiled and
Harm nodded.  "Obviously what happened is 
just hitting you.  Would you like to sit for a minute
Colonel?"
 
 "No I'm fine," she replied crossly, all the more
irritated that she was feeling that way in the first 
place, and truth be told, still not over the fact that
it could have just as easily been Hunter's 
plane if there was in fact sabotage happening.
 
 For the remainder of the day, Mac was quite content
to let Hunter show Harm around, and to 
talk to some of the same people they had already
spoken to.  The near miss had affected her 
more than she wanted to admit and she was glad to let
Harm take over some of the lead.
 
 Finally at the end of the afternoon Hunter caught
Mac's arm with an amused smile.  "You 
know he's going to need to meet Evie.  And of course
Lt. Grady we still need to locate."
 
 "Babydoll."
 
 "Excuse me," Harm yelped.  "Lt. Grady's call sign is
Babydoll?"
 
 "No Fool, his RIO, Lt. Evelyn White," Mac laughed and
looked to Hunter.  "She's off duty and 
has an apartment in Lexington Park, shall we drop by?"
 
 "Let's take a ride."
 
 Forty five minutes later the three Naval officers
were knocking at the door of apartment 4G in 
the Turtle Lake complex.  
 
 The response from inside was anything but what they
expected.  "Ev, pizza's here and it's 
about damn time.  Better not be cold either."
 
 The door was opened a moment later.  Lt. Evelyn White
in short tight denim shorts and a 
white halter top that barely covered her more than
ample essentials stood before them, her 
mouth open.  
 
 Harm's mouth dropped open as well, taking in an
eyeful of the shapely Lieutenant.  
"Commander Rabb, you need a tissue?"  Mac's question
broke into his observation.
 
 "Huh?" 
 
 She gave him a firm nudge.  "For your drool problem."
 
 "Colonel, Hunter and someone I don't know," Evelyn
gasped.
 
 "Commander Rabb Lieutenant," he smiled.  "May we come
in?"
 
 "Evie for godsake stop flashing the pizza guy and get
it in here."  Again Grady's voice, and a 
few seconds later Grady himself, clad in boxers and a
tight tank top.
 
 "Whoa excuse me," he had the good grace to gasp.  
 
 "Now who's drooling," Harm hissed, returning Mac's
nudge.
   
  "Well well Evie" Hunter smiled. "I see it didn't
take you long to get hooked 
  up again now did it?"
  
  "Hunter don't start," she said as she shot him a
long look.
  
  "Grady?" Hunter continued. "I was sure you would do
better than that after 
  me."
  
  "Reed you are so full of yourself" Grady retorted.
"You think you're God's 
  gift to the world. But you ain't nothing."
  
  "Okay time out" Harm sighed. "Whatever little lovers
triangle we have here 
  let's just take a break from shall we? I'm a little
more interested in 
  talking to you Lieutenant about what happened the
other night."
  
  "Fine I'll talk" Grady replied. "To you alone. I've
done enough talking in 
  front of Mr. Reed."
 
  "Mac why don't you and Hunter take a walk" Harm
sighed. "I'll chat with the 
  two Lieutenants here."
  
  She nodded and she and Hunter stepped outside.
  
  "I can't believe she's with that loser" Hunter
commented once they were 
  alone.
  
  "What do you have against Lt. Grady?" she asked.
  
  "Nothing. It's just a feeling. I don't like the guy.
I couldn't explain it 
  if I had to but I just know I don't like him."
  
  "Well that doesn't help me much" Mac sighed.
  
  "Sorry. I'd love to give you something concrete. But
it's just that gut 
  instinct."
  
  "Well we'll see what Harm's gut instinct says. And
then we'll go back and 
  talk to Bell and the Chief again."
  
  It was another hour before Harm emerged from the
apartment.
  
  "So what do you think?" Mac asked as they climbed
into the car.
  
  "About Grady?" Harm frowned. "Nothing. Why? You
think he's behind this?"
  
  She said nothing and Harm turned around to look at
Hunter. "Let me guess. 
  You think he's behind it."
  
  "With all due respect Harm, I've flown with the guy.
He's not a good pilot 
  and everyone knows it. He doesn't get along with the
other guys and he's 
  never attempted to fit in."
  
  "So why would he sabotage his own plane?" Harm
asked. "And nearly get 
  himself killed in the process."
  
  "If I had those answers sir I'd be sitting in your
seat" Hunter grinned. 
  "I'm just the guy who's supposed to show you around
and tell you what I 
  know. And that's what I'm doing."
  
  "Harm why don't we go back and talk to Lt. Bell" Mac
suggested. "And then 
  you can talk to the Chief again. Maybe he's had a
chance to find out what 
  happened."
  
  "Yeah sure" Harm sighed. "Sounds great."
  
  They headed back to the base and Hunter directed
them to the infirmary and 
  moments later they located Lt. Bell, who was about
to be released.
  
  "Nice flying Lt." Harm commented.
  
  "Thank you sir. I was determined to get her down on
the ground in one 
  piece."
  
  "Yeah well that was pretty impressive. What happened
up there?"
  
  "Same thing that happened to Grady. Maybe someone
should talk to Chief 
  Kidwell and see what's going on around here."
  
  "We'll do that" Harm nodded.
  
  ***********
  "So what do we know about Kidwell?" Harm asked once
they'd finished 
  interviewing Bell.
  
  "Good record. Excellent Master Chief."
  
  "Anything else?" Harm asked. "Any reason to sabotage
planes."
  
  "Well there is the little issue of his retirement
being denied" Mac said 
  slowly. "He wasn't happy about that."
  
  "Harm Master Chief Kidwell is the best there is"
Hunter spoke up. "And he 
  may not like Grady but there's no way he would have
sabotaged a plane Lt. 
  Bell was in."
  
  "Well I'd like to talk to Master Chief again" Harm
countered. "Let's go back 
  to the hangar."
 =================
  "Ma'am, sirs," The young ensign on duty stammered. 
"I'm sorry.  Master Chief wasn't feeling 
well--stomach virus--and left a while back.  Something
I could help you with?"
 
 "Did he go home Ensign?" Mac asked.
 
 "Yes ma'am.  I had one of the enlisted drive him.  He
doesn't live nearby though, not like the 
rest of us.  Has a place down on the Point."
 
 "Point?" Harm frowned.
 
 "Yes sir, Point Lookout.  Sometimes he has cookouts
down there.  Great place, but not a fun 
drive.  Has to be thirty miles and the roads aren't
great."
 
 "But it's not a bad drive either," Hunter spoke up. 
"And I know a place we can get a catfish 
dinner."
 
 "You know where it is then?" Harm asked him.
 
 "Yes sir I've been down there a couple times."
 
 "Let's do it."
 =============
 "Take the shotgun," Harm offered, opening the front
door of the government sedan for Mac.
 
 Hunter, already behind the wheel, laughed at his
choice of words.  "Come on Colonel.  It's 
only fitting as senior officer."
 
 Mac shrugged and started to get in only to have
Harm's hand clamp to her shoulder.  
"Everything OK?  You're pretty quiet."
 
 She looked up at him, trying to read in his face the
reason for his question and when she 
could not, simply shrugged off his hand.  "Yeah just
tired I guess.  Case and other things on 
my mind too."  What she did not tell him was the fact
that she was concerned about him as 
well,  especially after his experience at Oceanside.  

 
 He gave her a quick smile and squeezed her shoulder.
 
 "Just sit back and enjoy the ride, it's a pretty
one," Hunter smiled.  "I think we'll take the scenic 
route out by the water and then cut back."
 
 "Whatever," Harm sighed.
 
 Hunter turned the radio to an oldies station and
after a few minutes looked back over his 
shoulder.  "Commander your fruit salad says you've
been around.  Care to share?"
 
 "Harm has two DFC's," Mac spoke up to Harm's
surprise, pride in her voice.
 
 "Yes he does," Hunter laughed, "and some other good
stuff.  Desert storm?"
 
 "Yeah, and Libya.  Sent a message to Khaddafi.  And
then in 99, Kosovo."
 
 "On the Henry right?"
 
 "For six months."  He gave a snorting noise and
added, "my attempt to return to what I was 
born to do."
 
 "Didn't work out?"
 
 Mac held her breath awaiting his reply.  The months
starting from the time he left to the time of 
his crash were not the stuff of which memory book
entries were drawn up.
 
 "No.  An aviator who's been away for as long as I was
just isn't able to pick it right back up.  
And obviously my aviator days are numbered anyway with
the demise of Tomcats.  I'll have to 
stick to flying Sarah.  My old plane I mean."
 
 "Well I won't say I'm sorry."  The words were out of
Mac's mouth before she could stop them 
and Hunter immediately sent her a long look.
 
 "You don't want a partner who flies?"
 
 She responded with a sheepish laugh.  "I don't want a
partner who ejects in a storm over a 
freezing ocean and scares me to death."
 
 "And he did this?"
 
 Hunter looked from Mac to Harm and back.
 
 "Year ago May, coming from doing quals on the Henry,"
Harm nodded.  "Mac tends to make it 
sound worse than it was."
 
 "Nearly dying is pretty bad," she objected,
shuddering hard at the memory.
 
 Hunter at once snapped his fingers.  "And that's
where I've heard your name.  I've been 
racking my brain since.  You were the pilot they
pulled out after they just happened to search 
that quad."
 
 "Well it didn't just happen," Harm smiled.  "Mac told
them where I was.  She saved my life."
 
 "And you knew, how?" Hunter scowled.
 
 "I don't know," she shrugged helplessly.  "I just
could. . .I honestly don't know except that 
we've been friends for a long time and. . .I don't
know how to explain it, and I don't even really 
like to think about that whole time.  Not just his
mishap, but a lot of other stuff that was 
happening then.  There's a two year period in my life
I'd sooner didn't happen thank you."
 
 "Amen," Harm added and from his tone Hunter knew the
conversation was closed, saying only 
"Speaking of storms, I'd say we're going to get one."
 
  "Great" Harm frowned. "Where does heck is this place
anyway?"
  
  "I told you it was out there" Hunter laughed.
"Master Chief likes his 
  privacy."
  
  "I guess so" Harm sighed. "And from the likes of
those clouds we're in for a 
  doozy of a storm."
  
  "Hopefully we'll get to the Master Chief's before
then" Mac spoke up from 
  the back-seat.
  
  "Going to try ma'am" Hunter replied with a long
yawn. "Sorry. Up this 
  morning at the crack of dawn."
  
  "You should have said something" Harm said as he
looked over at the younger 
  man. "I would have been happy to drive."
  
  "Yeah well it's a little confusing getting to the
Master Chief's" Hunter 
  replied. "One wrong turn and you're lost. I figured
it would just be better 
  if I drove."
  
  "Mr. Reed I can follow directions if you point me
the right way" Harm 
  scoffed. "Pull over at the next place and we'll
trade spots."
  
  "Can't stand being a passenger can you?" Hunter said
with a smile. "Neither 
  can I. That's why I offered to drive."
  
  "What is it with you guys?" Mac asked. "Is it so
important to be in 
  control?"
  
  "Yes" came the reply from both of them at the same
time.
  
  She shook her head and Harm motioned to Hunter.
"Pull off at the little 
  store there. I'll drive."
  
  For a moment Hunter opened his mouth to protest but
caught a glance of Mac's face in the 
back-seat and promptly shut it. "Whatever you say sir"
Hunter 
  said as he pulled in.
  
  Moments later they'd changed spots and Harm pulled
back out onto the road.
  
  "Much better" he murmured.
  
  As he spoke the clouds that had threatened finally
let loose, the rain 
  coming down in sheets around them.
  
  "You're going to be turning onto another road here
shortly " Hunter said as 
  he strained to see through the torrent of rain.
"That's the road that takes 
  us to the Master Chief's road."
  
  "Just let me know where to turn" Harm frowned as he
peered through the 
  windshield, trying to see the road in front of him.
The rain continued to 
  pour down around them as they drove and Harm kept
the car at a controllable 
  speed.
  
  "Coming up on your left" Hunter said a few minutes
later.
  
  "This dirt road?" Harm asked. "You're kidding
right."
  
  "No this is the way. If you take it easy you'll be
fine."
  
  "I know how to drive" Harm retorted. "I just want to
know why on god's 
  creation anyone would want to live this far out."
  
  "Like I said he likes his privacy" Hunter replied.
"And I'd be happy to take 
  over again if you can't handle this."
  
  Harm gave him a long glare and Mac sighed again from
the back seat. "Harm 
  maybe it would be a good idea to let him drive since
he knows where he's 
  going" she said quietly.
  
  "Mac I can handle this" Harm retorted.
  
  "Okay. Forgive me for interrupting. I'll just sit
back here and be quiet."
  
  The car slowly made its way down the now mud road,
Harm keeping an eye in 
  front of him.
  
  "There's a turn off coming up on your left" Hunter
announced. "That's where 
  you'll turn."
  
  "Where?" Harm scoffed as he squinted to see through
the driving rain. "I 
  don't see it."
  
  "On your left" Hunter repeated. "It's just a small
opening between the trees. You might want 
to start slowing down."
  
  It wasn't until they were right on top of the road
that Harm finally saw it. 
  He hit the brakes without thinking and at once the
car slid on the mud 
  covered road. He yanked the wheel in an attempt to
keep it from sliding off 
  the road, but failed as the car headed towards the
large ditch.
 
 The passenger side tires hit sodden earth and the
back end of the car did a giant fish-tail.  It 
was over in less than five seconds time, the rear
wheels hopelessly entrapped by the roadside 
culvert.
 
 For a long minute Harm could only grip the wheel, his
eyes closed and the adrenaline in his 
veins leaving him slightly shaky.  
 
 "Mac you OK?  Mac?"  He could hear Hunter's voice and
expected it to be followed by Mac's 
assurance that she was fine.  An assurance than did
not come.  There was only silence from 
that corner of the back seat.
 
 "Mac talk to me," Hunter demanded as Harm tore his
seatbelt away from himself and 
attempted to turn around given the confined space
behind the wheel.   At the same time 
Hunter had released his own belt and with his leaner
build had managed to fling himself over 
the front seat to awkwardly crouch near her..
 
 "Is she OK?" Harm gasped, making a noise of
frustration as the steering wheel kept him from 
getting himself to her.
 
 "She's breathing.  I think she may have hit her head
or maybe the seatbelt made her lose her 
breath," he replied, smiling slightly at the concern
in Harm's face.
 
 "Breathing is good, being awake and conscious and
talking would be better," Harm exploded 
with impatience before jerking his door open and
running around the car to her side, ignoring 
the fact that he was soaked in five seconds and the
mud was ankle deep, making him stumble 
and falter.
 
 Meanwhile Mac opened her eyes and murmured softly, 
finding Hunter holding her head 
between his palms.  "Don't worry I'm OK," she said. 
"Hunter, you?"
 
 "Just shook up," he grinned.  "But we weren't getting
an answer from you for a minute there."
 
 "We?  Harm?"  Her eyes opened wide, trying to focus
on the driver's seat.  "Oh God.  Harm? 
Where is he?" she shrieked.
 
 "Hey relax be still he's OK," Hunter soothed.  "He
got out of the car to come around to you is 
all.  We were both worried about you."
 
 She pulled away from Hunter and opened her door, in
time to see Harm pulling himself up 
from where he had fallen.
 
 "Harm you OK?"  she demanded at once, attempting to
get out despite Hunter's restraining 
hands.
 
 "Hey no stay," he yelled.  "I'm fine."  He reached
her door and peered in at her, giving a long 
sigh of relief.  "Well you look better than you did a
minute ago.  You scared me.  Uh. . .us."
 
 "I banged my head I guess," she admitted, "and for a
minute I couldn't seem to move or 
speak.  I'm OK now."  Unconsciously her fingers
touched the side of her head where she had 
impacted the window and at once Harm's fingers joined
hers.  
 
 "Whoa you may be OK but that's a lump and a half," he
declared, looking over her head to 
Hunter, conveying that he was worried about her and
that they needed to get moving.  "I want 
you to lie back and take it easy while Hunter and I
get this crate out of here."
 
 "How bad is it?" Hunter asked at once.
 
 "Not good," Harm sighed, his eyes never leaving Mac's
face, still concerned about her.  "The 
back wheels, which I noticed as I was falling by the
way, are in mud to the hubcaps.  But this is 
four wheel drive.  I think we can coax it out."
 
 "Then let's do it.  Mac you're sure you're OK?" 
Hunter's gaze joined Harm's in studying her.
 
 "Yeah there's just three of you guys now."
 
 "Maaa--aac," Harm wailed at once.
 
 "Kidding.  It's just a headache.  I'll live, and I
don't want to stay here any longer that's for sure."  
Before Hunter could stop her she had slipped from her
seatbelt and was half out the door.  
Unprepared for the tilt of the car she slid forward,
landing in Harm's arms and them both falling 
into the mud.
 
 "If the two of you could see yourselves," Hunter
hooted.
 
  Harm gave him a long glare as he helped Mac up.
"Okay Reed let's see about 
  getting this thing out of here."
  
  "You want me to push while you steer?" Hunter asked.
  
  "Harm no" Mac protested. She'd managed a look and
knew there was no way just one of 
them was going to push the car out. "I'll sit in the
drivers seat and 
  steer and hit the gas."
  
  "She's right Harm" Hunter nodded. "It'll probably
take both of us to get 
  this thing out."
  
  "All right but strap yourself in" Harm ordered as he
led her to the driver's 
  seat. "In case we push too hard and this thing takes
off on you."
  
  "I'll be fine. You two are the one's who are
standing out here in the rain 
  getting more soaked" she sighed. "Just tell me when
to hit the gas."
  
  Ten minutes later the car hadn't budged, hopelessly
stuck in the mud despite 
  Harm and Hunter's pushing.
  
  "Harm you better take a break there buddy" Hunter
panted. "You're looking a 
  little winded there."
  
  "I'm fine" Harm gasped. "Just keep pushing."
  
  It was Hunter who finally declared they were killing
themselves trying to 
  free the car and called an end to the pushing. Both
he and Harm leaned 
  tiredly against the car and Mac climbed out of the
driver's seat and made 
  her way back to them.
  
  "Harm are you okay?" she demanded as she reached
him. His face was red and she could 
hear his heavy breathing.
  
  "I told him to take a break and let me do the
pushing" Hunter sighed. He 
  wasn't nearly as winded as Harm and Mac reached at
once for Harm's hand and led him to 
the car, gently pushing him down in the driver's seat.
  
  "Mac I'm fine" he managed finally.
  
  "Yeah that's why you look like you're about to have
a heart attack" she 
  retorted. "Just take it easy for a few minutes so we
don't have to call 
  911."
  
  "We couldn't even if we wanted to" Hunter said as
stood behind them. "It's 
  next to impossible to get a signal on the cell
phones out here."
 
  "So we're stuck out here" Mac groaned when she
realized what he was saying.
  
  "Not quite. There's a few scattered houses out
here."
  
  "How far away is the Master Chief's?" Harm panted.
  
  "Another ten miles at least" Hunter replied. "I'm
pretty sure there's 
  another house before his though. We could get there
and call for help."
  
  "Mac isn't in any condition to hike several miles in
this" Harm countered. 
  "And I'm not leaving her alone out here."
  
  "I'll go alone" Hunter offered.
  
  "Hunter no" Mac spoke up. "Harm we can't let him go
by himself."
  
  "Mac I can handle it" Hunter smiled, touched by her
concern. "I agree with 
  Harm that you're not up to a long walk. You and Harm
can stay here and I'll 
  get help."
  
  "No that's not right. We should all go together.
What if something happened 
  to you?"
  
  "Mac you need to take it easy" Harm sighed. "In case
you forgot you have a 
  lump on your head that needs medical attention."
  
  "Mac he's right."
  
  "Yeah well I out rank both of you" Mac reminded
them. "And as the senior 
  officer of this group, I say we all go together."
  
  "Is she always this stubborn?" Hunter sighed as he
looked over at Harm.
  
  "Always" Harm growled.
  
  "I learned from the best" she countered. "Come on
guys. We're wasting 
  daylight here."
  
  "At least let me hold your hand so you don't fall in
this slop" Harm said as 
  they started down the road. She sighed but allowed
him to take her hand. 
  And with Hunter in the lead they walked in the
pouring rain down the muddy road.
  
  "Harm I need to stop" Mac murmured after they'd
walked for an hour.
  
  "Mac what's wrong?" he demanded at once as he
stopped to look at her, 
  noticing at once how pale she suddenly was.
  
  "Head hurts" she sighed. "I just need to rest."
  
  "Hunter wait up" Harm called. Hunter turned around,
frowning as he saw Mac.
  
  "She should have stayed in the car" Hunter sighed.
"I could have handled 
  this on my own."
  
  "I tried to get her to do that but she wouldn't
listen" Harm countered.
  
  "Hey I'm still alive here" Mac murmured.
  
  "Barely" Hunter said before suddenly reaching for
her and lifting her into 
  his arms effortlessly.
  
  "If she needs to be carried, I should be the one
carrying her" Harm growled.
  
  "Harm with all due respect, you're good to just get
yourself there" Hunter 
  replied.
 
 "Harm he's right," she fretted.  "I can hear you
wheezing. Exertion coupled with breathing in 
this cold wet air is not good for your lungs."
 
 "Yeah well then how come he's hardly broken a sweat,"
Harm demanded, gesturing to Hunter, 
"and the first one of you guys who mentions the six
year age difference in us is off my 
Christmas card list.  End of discussion of my lungs
thank you."
 
 "Well as long as we're giving orders here, Hunter put
me down."
 
 "No ma'am."
 
 "Excuse me?  You said no to a superior officer?"
 
 "I certainly did," he said firmly.  "You need a
break.  I can do a mile like this easily and then we 
should be almost there."
 
 "Harm make him put me down," she yelped.
 
 "No.  Sorry."  With that he took several steps ahead
of them, glad that she was being looked 
after and hating that he was not the one doing it.
 
 "I hate this," she yelled ahead to him.
 
 "I'm not loving it," he retorted.
 
 They covered another mile until Hunter called a halt.
 "Sorry, I need a break myself at this 
point."
 
 Mac had closed her eyes, her head resting on his
shoulder and when he stopped she lifted 
her head and looked around.  "I was hoping we were
there."
 
 "No but I remember that creek up ahead there and once
we get across the bridge I know 
there's a couple of houses.  I was just getting afraid
I was going to drop you."
 
 Quickly Harm reached for her, helping her from
Hunter's hold, transferring her to his arms for 
a second before easing her to her feet.  Once she was
down he bent down to look intently into 
her face.  "Are you OK?  Truth now Colonel."
 
 "Just a headache honest."  She took a step forward
and that action at once made a liar out of 
her as she stumbled from the wave of dizziness that
overcame her as soon as she moved.
 
 "Mac?"  Hunter started for her at once, only to back
off at Harm's sudden scowl.
 
 "I've got her Mr. Reed thank you," he told him
sharply, sweeping his arm around her.  "You are 
such a liar Colonel," he whispered, pressing her to
his side. 
 
 "I'll be fine as soon as I can get warm and something
for this headache."  Nevertheless she 
leaned against him, knowing her own legs were not
working that well.
 
 "OK Commander, take the point," Harm ordered.  "Find
us a house we can ask for help."
 
 They started off once more and Harm kept his long arm
around her tightly, matching his pace 
to hers.
 
 "There I was right," Hunter screeched after they had
crossed the bridge and walked another 
half mile.  "I knew I remembered that blue house with
all the stuff in the yard.  See Snow White 
and the Seven Dwarfs, and the plastic flamingos."
 
 "Please let there be someone home," Harm breathed,
giving his arm a hitch.  "Mac you're still 
with me right?"
 
  "Barely" she managed. "Just tell me we don't have to
walk any further."
  
  "Just up the driveway and if there's a god someone
is home" he sighed.
  
  Hunter ran on ahead and Harm let out a long sigh of
relief when he saw the 
  door to the home open.
  
  "Thank god" he murmured. "Come on honey, just a
little further."
  
  They stumbled to the door of the home, arriving just
as Hunter turned back 
  to them.
  
  "They want us to go through the garage" Hunter
directed. "Seeing as how 
  we're all covered in mud."
  
  "We can do that" Harm nodded as he directed Mac
towards the garage door, 
  which was now opening.
  
  "Goodness what happened to her" an elderly lady
exclaimed as she met them in the garage.
  
  "She hit her head when we slid off the road" Hunter
answered. "We'd really 
  like to just use your phone and call for help."
  
  "Well yes of course" she replied. "By the way I'm
Bea and that's my sister 
  Claire who's peering out from the door there. Claire
dear it's okay. They're 
  military folk. And the young lady is hurt."
  
  At those words Claire stepped out into the garage,
looking carefully at the 
  trio.
  
  "Bea I bet she could fit into some of my old things"
Claire announced. 
  "That way she can get out of those wet clothes."
  
  "If you could that we'd be most appreciative" Harm
spoke up. "Is there a 
  phone we can use so we can call for someone to pick
us up?"
  
  "In the house" Bea replied. "But you'll need to get
out of those wet and 
  muddy clothes first. I can't have you going through
the living room like 
  this."
  
  "This I want to see" Mac murmured.
  
  "Me too honey" Bea smiled as she looked at Harm and
Hunter. "Claire why 
  don't you take the young lady inside to use the
shower there off the mud room."
  
  "What's your name dear?" Claire asked as she helped
Mac inside.
  
  "Sarah. And thank you for this."
  
  "No problem dear" Claire said as they stopped at the
mud room. "You can 
  strip down here and the shower's right inside there.
I'll be back with 
  something for you to wear. Will you be okay in the
shower? You're not too 
  dizzy are you?"
  
  "I think I can manage" Mac said with a weak smile.
  
  "Okay I'll be right back. Just yell if you need
anything."
  
  Mac had finished her shower by the time Claire
returned with the clothes and 
  a few minutes later was on the sofa wrapped in an
afghan.
  
  "I'll get you the phone so you can call since Bea
won't let the boys in 
  until they get cleaned up" Claire informed her.
  
  "Do you have something for them to wear as well?"
Mac asked.
  
  "Goodness no" Claire laughed. "Bea and I have lived
here alone the past ten 
  years. Our husbands both passed away the same year.
We gave all their stuff 
  away along time ago. But we can at least dry up
their uniforms so they're 
  not sitting around soaking wet."
  
  "Harm why don't you go on ahead" Hunter sighed when
Bea informed them the shower was 
now available.
  
  "No you go ahead. I'll keep."
  
  "Mac probably wants to see you first" Hunter
countered.
  
  "Would one of you just get moving," Bea said with a
long look. "You're both 
  standing out here freezing for no good reason."
  
  "Hunter go" Harm ordered.
  
  "Yes sir" he said before following Bea inside.
  
  "Is Mac okay?" Harm asked when Bea returned to the
garage.
  
  "Sarah you mean" Bea smiled. "Claire took good care
of her. She's wrapped up 
  nice and warm with a cup of tea."
  
  "Thank you" Harm sighed. "We do appreciate it."
 
 "You really do look like a freezing drowned rat
there," Bea laughed.  "Sorry, but we so seldom 
get visitors out here I'm enjoying you."
 
 "I'm just glad you were here for us and I thank you
especially for looking after Mac."
 
 "That's no name for a girl you know," Bea laughed.
 
 "Her choosing.  Sarah of course is her real name, but
she prefers Mac.  Says it helps to level 
the field with her and the men she works with."
 
 Bea smiled and shrugged.  "I guess I'm too old to
understand that sort of thing.  Do you call 
her Sarah some?"
 
 Harm actually blushed at that.  "A couple times. 
When I do it. . .well it should mean 
something.  Something I'm trying to convey," he
stammered and gave a hard cough, wrapping 
his arms more tightly around himself.
 
 "You hold that thought for a time when you're
warmer," she told him, noting he was shivering 
violently.  "In fact let's have you go ahead and
strip."
 
 "Ma'am I can wait," he protested.
 
 "Nonsense.  Out of those clothes now.  And let me
have them.  And no guff either mister.  I 
was married to the most cussed stubborn man on the
face of the planet and raised three of his 
boys with the same temperament.  Couldn't none of them
face off with me and I'm not going to 
let you.  Not to mention you ain't got nothin' under
those wet clothes I haven't seen a thousand 
times and been unimpressed each time."
 
 Her arms went out expectantly and Harm sheepishly
began to undress, starting with the 
buttons of his shirt.  "You should meet my
grandmother.  You two have a lot in common."
 
 "I'd love to," she smiled, all the while holding her
hands out for his clothes.  "OK now let's go 
check on the status of that shower and hope your
friend didn't use all the hot water."
 
 "I'll kill him," he muttered, meekly following her,
thankful his boxers were only damp else she 
would have demanded them also.
 ================
 Hunter emerged from the bathroom, having re-donned
his own just slightly damp boxers.
 
 "Hunter there you are," Claire smiled.  "Hang on a
second and let me get you a blanket not 
that the view is that bad."   
 
 Mac's head turned at her comment and she could not
help a quick look herself.
 
 "You see something you like Colonel?" he teased.
 
 She blushed brightly, caught looking, and before she
could answer, the door to the mud room 
opened and Harm strode through, being urged along by a
determined Bea.
 
 "I would have insisted we join you earlier if I had
known there was going to be a floor show," 
Bea laughed.  "If I put on some music would you guys
dance and show it off?"
 
 "Beatrice," Claire gasped.
 
 "I managed a semester of my college doing that,"
Hunter admitted with a wry laugh.
 
 "Why am I not surprised," Harm murmured and Mac's
eyes went to him.  "Mac you don't have 
to look.  You've seen it before."
 
 That drew the surprised gasp from Hunter he was
expecting and Bea pushed him toward the 
bathroom.
 
 "Mac I thought you and he. . ." Hunter stammered and
at Mac's raised eyebrow clamped his 
hand to his mouth.  "Ma'am I'm sorry.  None of my
business and very out of line."
 
 "At ease Commander.  It's OK," she smiled, blushing
even further as she focused on his well-
muscled chest.  "But yes, my personal affairs. . .uh
business. . .is just that--personal."  
 
 Claire pressed a blanket around his shoulders,
leaving a folded one next to Mac.  "For the 
other Adonis," she explained.
 
 "Gladly changing the subject, how are you feeling?"
he asked gratefully wrapping in the 
blanket and dropping into a chair next to hers.
 
 "The tea and the pill are helping a lot," she smiled.
 "Bless Claire for having broken her ankle 
last winter and still having some pain medication
left."
 
 "Harm was pretty upset over the whole thing," Hunter
mused after a few minutes.  "I'm not 
sure I understand how he missed the turn off.  Even in
the rain it was pretty easy to see."
 
 "So I missed it.  I'm sorry," Harm snapped from the
doorway.  "I didn't see it OK.  Now you 
know.  My eyes just couldn't pick it out."
 
 "Sir I'm sorry," Hunter gasped, embarrassed yet
again.  "I meant no disrespect."
 
 "Then you maybe should try to remember your place,"
he retorted.  
 
 "Harm that's really uncalled for," Mac said gently
but firmly.  "Power down will you.  Marine 
with a headache here, but more importantly, we're a
team working together here.  I don't blame 
you for the accident.  It was raining and foggy and. .
."
 
 "And I don't need you making excuses for me," he
snapped again.  "I didn't see the road until 
it was too late and then I misjudged the turn and
didn't slow down.  I screwed up OK.  I 
screwed up and I'll face the consequences.  I already
have to live with that you were hurt.  
Almost punishment enough."
 
 Hunter started to speak and she silenced him with a
wave of her hand, holding that same 
hand out to Harm.  "Stop ranting Commander and come
sit down.  Please.  It could have been 
a lot worse and you're looking like an idiot in front
of these nice ladies."
   
  He said nothing as he made his way over to her,
gratefully accepting the 
  blanket.
  
  "Did anyone call to see when someone can come and
get us?" Hunter asked.
  
  "I talked to Captain Jacoby and he'll have someone
out to get us shortly" 
  Mac informed him. "Hopefully by then your uniforms
will have dried a bit."
  
  "Drying as we speak" Bea told her. "Harm can I get
you something? Some tea 
  maybe?"
  
  "Thank you" he said quietly. "And I apologize for my
earlier outburst."
  
  "Quite all right" Bea smiled. "You've had a
frustrating day. Just relax and 
  I'll be back with some tea for you."
  
  She scurried off with Claire following and with a
long sigh Harm leaned back 
  against the sofa cushions and closed his eyes.
  
  "You okay?" Mac asked softly, her hand gently
touching his arm.
  
  "Yeah peachy" he growled. "Totally F-ing peachy."
  
  "Harm we're all all right so I wish you'd chill" Mac
sighed. "It could have 
  been a lot worse and it wasn't."
  
  "She's right Harm. Anyone not familiar with the area
could have done the 
  same thing" Hunter spoke up.
  
  Harm opened his mouth to speak and Mac promptly
clamped a hand over it.
  
  "Harm drop it. It's over and done with. Just let it
go."
  
  "Fine" he grumbled when she finally removed her
hand.
  
  "Here's some tea Harm" Bea said a minute later as
she handed him the 
  steaming cup of liquid. "Drink up. You got pretty
chilled out there."
  
  "I'm fine" he sighed at Mac's questioning look.
"You're the one who needs 
  to see the doctor when we get back to the base."
  
  "Harm I don't need a doctor. I'm already starting to
feel better now that 
  I'm warm and rested."
  
  "You're still getting checked by the doctor when we
get back."
  
  "It probably wouldn't hurt" Hunter nodded. "Just to
make sure you're really 
  okay."
  
  "All right fine" Mac sighed. "I'll go. Just so I
don't have to listen to 
  both of you."
  
  "Glad you see it our way" Harm said with a small
smile of satisfaction.
  
  Bea had just returned with Harm and Hunter's
uniforms when the jeep from the base pulled 
up in the driveway.
  
  "You two go get dressed" Mac smiled. "I'll let them
know you'll be out in a 
  minute."
  
  She couldn't help but watch as the two men quickly
exited the living room 
  for the bedrooms, her gaze following both of them.
  
  "You're a lucky lady Sarah" Claire smiled as she
walked up behind her. 
  "Those two young men both like you."
  
  Mac blushed as she hurried to the door to meet the
Lieutenant who'd been sent over from the 
base to pick them up.
  
  "You okay ma'am?" he asked at once.
  
  "I'm fine Lieutenant. My partners in crime will be
out in just a minute. Thank you for coming to 
get us."
  
  "No problem. Was that your vehicle in the mud a ways
back there?'
  
  "Yes it was. Do you think you might be able to get
it out?"
  
  "We can try ma'am" the Lieutenant nodded.
  
  "No we won't" Harm said as he walked out. "You're
going back to the base and 
  getting checked over by the doctor remember. We'll
worry about getting out 
  here later for it."
  
  "Harm we're this close to seeing Master Chief" she
sighed. "It doesn't make 
  sense to go all the way back just to turn around and
come back out here 
  after the doctor tells me I'm fine."
  
  "Well we should let the doctor decide that" Hunter
added as he joined the 
  group in the foyer. "Hey Riley. How you doing?"
  
  "Not bad. Were you the one who lost the truck in the
ditch?"
  
  "No that was my smooth move" Harm sighed.
  
  "Sorry sir" Riley said at once. "No disrespect meant
there sir."
  
  "At ease Lieutenant. If we're all ready, I'd like to
get out of here before we 
  cause these nice ladies anymore trouble."
  
  "Oh no you've made it quite an enjoyable afternoon"
Bea smiled. "We were 
  glad to help."
  
  "Sarah you take good care of these men," Claire
giggled and Bea poked her.
 
 "Count on it," Mac grinned and playfully looped her
arm in Harm's.  
 
 Riley looked around once they were all outside.  "OK
what's the plan sir, ma'am?"
 
 "She's going to get some medical attention," Harm
spoke up.  "Seeing the Master Chief can 
wait."
 
 "Harm. . ."  She took a long look into his face,
seeing the stubborn set of his jawline. "OK I'm 
caving," she sighed.  "Only because I'm tired and
don't feel like I'll give it my best shot."
 
 "I have to agree with Harm anyway," Hunter nodded. 
"So we need to see about getting the 
vehicle out of the ditch and get the Colonel back to
the base."
 
 "OK listen up," Harm spoke up firmly when Mac did
not.  "Lieutenant Riley, please ensure that 
Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Reed are taken back to
Pax.  Hunter make sure she gets 
a check up."
 
 "No wait what are you going to do," Mac objected.
 
 "I'm going to take a couple of these guys and get the
SUV out of the mud, since it's totally my 
fault it's there in the first place."
 
 Again the firm set to his jaw made her sigh and shake
her head.  "Look let's just get going.  
Harm I'll see you back at the quarters then?"
 
 "Yes, soon.  Mr. Reed I'm making you responsible for
getting her looked at."  
 
 "Yes sir," Hunter nodded, reaching his arm out for
Mac, all too eagerly for Harm's taste.
 
 "I wish you were coming back with us," she said
softly, her eyes on Harm.
 
 "I feel like I need to do this," he told her.  "We
can have a late dinner and talk."
 
 "I'd like that," she smiled.
 
 "Me too," Hunter grinned teasingly and Harm groaned.
 ==================
 GUEST QUARTERS
 Mac's Room 
 5 Hours Later
 
 With the doctor's assurance that she was OK, and his
instruction to simply take it easy for the 
rest of the day, Mac had returned to her quarters and
enjoyed a nap, expecting Harm would be 
along shortly after she awoke.  Now with darkness
outside there had been no word from him.  
Calls to his cell went unanswered and he was not in
his room, and she was growing alarmed.
 
 She was about to call the Pax operator and attempt to
locate Lt. Riley or his unit to see if he 
had reported in when there was a light tapping at her
door.
 
 "Harm thank god," she yelped as she flung it open.
 
 "No sorry, only me," Hunter smiled.  "I didn't hear
from you guys and came to see if you 
wanted to  grab a pizza or something."
 
 "I haven't heard from him," she replied, trying to
keep her voice calm.  
 
 "And you're scared," Hunter smiled, sobering quickly
when he realized exactly how scared she 
was.
 
 "I'm trying not to be," she sighed.  "I'm sure he's
OK, but still. . ."
 
 "Well if you were that sure you wouldn't be so
agitated here," Hunter chided her gently, 
reaching for the phone.  "Let me see what I can find
out.  Riley's CO should know where he is 
or if he's reported in.  You sit down.  The doctor did
tell you to take it easy the rest of the day."
 
 "Hunter I can't take it easy when Harm is in the
woods or god knows where," she screeched.  
"What if they were trying to get that stupid vehicle
out and there was some kind of accident?  
Damn him for feeling like he had to do it himself."
 
 Hunter set the phone down and took firm hold of her
arms, guiding her to a chair.  "Sit 
Colonel.  If Harm comes back and finds you're not well
it's going to be my butt in the sling."
  
  "I don't care about me" she moaned. "I want to know
that Harm is okay."
  
  "Mac I'll see what I can find out. But you need to
chill now. And I know you 
  outrank me but that's an order."
  
  She nodded quietly and he started back to the phone.
He'd dialed just a few 
  numbers when there was a knock at Mac's door. At
once she leapt from the 
  chair to the door, flinging it open.
  
  "Harm" she gasped when she saw him. He was once
again covered in mud from the waist 
down but it wasn't the mud that concerned her the
most. It was the look on his face that told 
her at once that something was wrong. "Harm what it
is? What happened?"
  
  "Master Chief Kidwell is dead," he said soberly and
both Mac and Hunter 
  gasped at his words.
  
  "Dead?" Hunter repeated.
  
  "I'm sorry" Harm continued as he leaned tiredly
against the door jam. "After 
  we got the truck out I decided to go see the Master
Chief." He paused for a 
  moment and Mac gently reached a hand to his arm.
  
  "Harm what happened to him?" she said quietly.
  
  "It appears he committed suicide" Harm sighed.
"Single gunshot to the head."
  
  "NO" Hunter shouted. "There's no way Master Chief
would do that."
  
  "I'm sorry. Of course until the medical examiner
still has to do the 
  autopsy. But from what I saw there wasn't much
question as to what 
  happened."
  
  "I still don't believe it" Hunter shook his head.
"He wouldn't have done 
  something like that."
  
  "Unless he did it because he knew he was guilty of
causing those crashes" 
  Harm countered.
  
  "You may believe that Commander but no way in hell
do I" Hunter snapped. "I 
  knew the Master Chief. He was not responsible for
what happened."
  
  "Okay time out both of you" Mac interrupted.
  
  "Look I'm sorry he's dead" Harm continued. "But the
fact that he took his 
  own life should tell you something."
  
  "I do not believe he took his own life" Hunter said
quietly. "The man I knew 
  would never do that."
  
  "Well the medical examiner will let us know if they
find anything 
  inconsistent with a suicide. Until then, I'm going
to go with what I saw." 
  He let out a long sigh before looking over at Mac.
"I hope you weren't 
  waiting for me for dinner."
  
  "Of course I was," she said quietly. "I was worried
about you. Why didn't 
  you call? I would have come out there with you."
  
  "I know. And that's exactly why I didn't. You didn't
need to see that."
  
  "Neither did you. Not after what just happened."
  
  "Yeah well I guess I'm just bad luck these days"
Harm sighed. "Look I'm 
  sorry you waited for me for dinner. But to be honest
right now I'm in no 
  mood to eat and I think I'm just going to crash
after I get cleaned up."
  
  "Harm you need to eat" she countered. "We'll wait
while you take a shower."
  
  "I'm not sure that's a good idea," Harm said as he
looked over at Hunter.
  
  "Look Commander, how would you react if someone told
you someone you've 
  known for three years had suddenly committed
suicide?"
  
  "Probably like you have" Harm sighed. "But I'm just
telling you what the 
  facts are."
  
  "When you get all the facts from the medical
examiner then I'll believe it" 
  Hunter said quietly. "But in the meantime, I'm
entitled to my own opinion 
  just as you are."
  
  "I can live with that" Harm nodded.
  
  "Harm go get showered and changed and then we'll all
go grab a pizza" Mac 
  said softly.
  
  "Mac honestly I'm not in the mood to hang out right
now" Harm sighed.
  
  "I know and that's why I'm not leaving you alone.
That's the last thing you 
  need to be right now. Now go get showered."
  
  "Mac" he groaned as he pushed himself away from the
door.
  
  "Harm you're coming. Now move it sailor."
  
  She reached up to his shoulder to give him a gentle
turn towards his 
  quarters. At once he let out a loud gasp of pain and
Mac instantly removed 
  her hands.
  
  "Harm what is it?" she demanded. "What's wrong?"
  
  "Oh just another part of what's been a real gem of a
day," he muttered.  "I wrenched or 
bruised or something in my shoulder pushing the SUV
out of the ditch."
 
 "And what have you done about it, oh person who
insisted my head get attention?"
 
 "Oh god yeah what happened with that?  Are you OK?" 
His own pain was forgotten in his 
renewed concern for her.
 
 "Just a bump, nothing to be concerned about," she
told him, at the same time trying to pull his 
jacket from him.  
 
 "Mac if we're going to do this, we should get rid of
the child first," he sighed, gesturing to 
Hunter.
 
 "You don't do cute well Commander,"  she scolded. 
"Let me see.  And I say again did you get 
this looked at?"
 
 "Pass on the showing it off thank you, also on the
doctor.  It's nothing that won't heal itself.  
Now I'm going to that shower, and then we'll discuss
pizza.  I really think you two should just 
go though.  I'm going to be rotten company."
 
 "Harm. . .I'm not going without you.  I don't think
you should be by yourself right now."
 
 "OK let me just get cleaned up and maybe I'll be more
of a mood.  But right now, well after my 
client and now Kidwell. . ."  His expression took on a
haunted look and she stepped forward, 
carefully wrapping his arms around his middle. 

 "You're not alone here Harm."
 
 "Thanks," he sighed, giving her an extended hard hug
in return.  "I'll come back soon as I can 
get these layers of mud off me."
 
 Mac took hold of his good arm to walk him to his
door, Hunter watching from the doorway to 
her room.
 
 "You care so much about him," Hunter told her softly
when she returned.  "I just hope he 
appreciates what he has in you."
 
 "He's had me for a very long time," she replied. 
"But I'm not sure it's ever going to come 
about."
 
 "Because?"
 
 She shrugged helplessly.  "You know if I knew the
answer to that I'd know better how to 
resolve it."
 
 Hunter put his arm around her shoulders and led her
back into her room.  "If it's right it will 
work out you know."
 
 "And if it doesn't will you be standing in the
wings?" she teased.
 
 "I could be--if you'd want," he replied solemnly.
 
 She shook her head, leaning lightly into his
shoulder.  "I probably could want, but right now 
everything is pretty complicated."
 
 "I knew that word would come up," he grinned.
 
 "Why doesn't a hot Flyboy like yourself have someone
already?" she challenged.  "Or do you 
just go from one to the other anyway?  Lt. White for
example."
 
 "That was a mistake and a bad one," he admitted as
they sat down.  "She actually scares me.  
Both personally and professionally."
 
 "Are you questioning her skills as a RIO?"
 
 "I'm saying she's not someone I ever intend to
entrust with my life again," he scowled.
 
 "OK there's probably a story there but we can table
that.  How about other times in your life?"
 
 "Once.  Her name was Katie."
 
 "And?" Mac prompted.
 
 "And I don't talk about her," he said, his tone
indicating he would not be swayed.
 
 "Okay we won't. Sorry for asking."
 
 "Look Katie is a part of my past I'd rather forget
ever happened. Let's just 
 leave it at that. And I'm just tired and hungry and a
bit cranky and I'm 
 sorry if I'm a bit snappy."
 
 "It's okay. I shouldn't be prying."
 
 "No you're not prying you're just asking questions.
And I'm just over 
 sensitive when it comes to Katie."
 
 "I can relate. I have a few Katie's in my past."
 
 "You do?" he laughed. "I wish you'd told me that
sooner Colonel."
 
 "You know what I mean" Mac laughed as well. "You know
you're really a piece 
 of work Mr. Hunter."
 
 "I aim to please" he smiled. "Now if you partner
would get his six in gear 
 we could eat sometime tonight."
 
 "Cut him a little slack would you?" Mac said quietly.
"His client on the 
 case before this committed suicide. He's had a rough
week on top of turning 
 thirty nine."
 
 "I am. But there's no way that the Master Chief
committed suicide. And I'll 
 prove it myself if I have to."
 
 "Harm's just going with what he saw. If that wasn't
the case, the coroner 
 will tell us and we'll start looking at new suspects.
Though honestly I 
 don't know where we'll begin."
 
 "You had the Chief on your list of suspects?" Hunter
asked.
 
 "At the top to be honest" Mac admitted. "He had
motive and opportunity when 
 it came to Grady. Bell was a bit more of a stretch."
 
 "He wasn't the one behind this" Hunter said
seriously. "I'd stake my life on 
 it."
 
 "Well I'd rather you didn't. Hopefully Harm and I
will figure out who's 
 behind this before anything else happens."
 
 "You worried about me?" he smiled.
 
 "I'd rather not see anything happen to you" Mac said
softly. "I told you I'm 
 getting used to you Mr. Hunter."
 
 "Yeah and if Mr. Rabb wasn't your partner I might
stand a better chance 
 huh?"
 
 "Mr. Rabb is my partner and a very good friend but
that is all at the 
 moment" Mac reminded him. "We have no commitments."
 
 "That's what you say" Hunter smiled. "I think the
Commander has a little 
 different thought on that."
 
 Before she could reply there was a knock at her door
and moments later she 
 let Harm in.
 
 "How's the shoulder?" she asked.
 
 "Hurts like hell but I'll live" he sighed. "Honestly
all I want to do is 
 grab some food and then fall into bed."
 
 "Harm you really should have that looked at" she
fretted. "What if you've 
 sprained something?"
 
 "Mac it'll be fine in the morning. And I'm sure
Hunter would rather grab 
 dinner than sit at the infirmary for a few hours."
 
 "Whatever the lady wants to do" Hunter replied. "But
she's right. You should 
 have that looked at just in case."
 
 "Dinner and then we'll see how it's doing" Harm
countered.
 
 "I can see what you two have in common" Hunter
sighed. "You're both stubborn as hell."
 
 "That's one thing" Mac smiled. "And on that note, I
think we should go find 
 dinner. Pizza okay with everyone?"
 
 "Fine with me" Harm nodded.
 
 "I know a great little Italian place that serves a
pretty good pizza," 
 Hunter added. "They have other stuff if you're not in
the mood for pizza."
 
 A half-hour later the hostess of the restaurant led
them to a booth in the 
 back. For a second Hunter and Harm both stood back as
Mac slid in first, 
 neither wanting to make the first move to sit next to
her.
 
 "Are you two just going to stand there?" she laughed.
 
 "Uh go ahead Hunter" Harm said awkwardly. "You can
sit next to Mac. I'll sit 
 on the other side."
 
 "Sure whatever you say," Hunter said as he sat down
next to Mac. "I have no 
 problem sitting next to this beautiful woman."
 
 "Of course not" Harm murmured inaudibly while he
studied the menu.
 
 "Harm I want to know what the coroner finds out about
the Master Chief" 
 Hunter spoke up. "Because the more I think about it,
there's no way the man 
 committed suicide."
 
 "And why is that?" Harm sighed as he looked up at
Hunter.
 
 "Because he wouldn't do that. He had a lot of plans
ahead of him. The 
 business he was going to open when he retired.
There's just no way he killed 
 himself."
 
 "Reed can we drop this for tonight" Harm sighed as he
absently rubbed his 
 aching shoulder. "It's been a helluva few days."

"Sure of course," Hunter agreed readily.  "But he
didn't. . .OK shutting up now."

"Thank you," Harm sighed, wincing as he lifted a piece
of pizza from the pan and tried to cajole 
it with the other hand onto his plate.  Mac saw his
distress and rescued the piece at once 
before it could hit his lap.  "Thanks.  So Hunter
you're pending retraining and reassignment?"

"Yes sir.  I'm hoping for a carrier, no surprise
there."

"None," Harm nodded, careful to keep any gloating out
of his voice.  This man would soon be 
gone out of his life---and Mac's.

"In fact I'm more than a little surprised and
relieved," he sighed.  "See I have a sub specialty in 
public affairs and I was afraid they were going to
have me doing press releases for the base 
softball team someplace."

"They wouldn't dare," Mac grinned.  "Once a Flyboy. .
."

"Not so," Harm sighed, remembering his own experience
on the Henry, something which she 
picked up on at once and hastily covered his hand with
hers.  "Unless they're going through 
the window God opened once He closed a door."
=================
320AM
BOQ Guest Quarters

"Mac?"  The word plus a corresponding knock on her
door drove deeply into her sleep fogged 
mind.  She knew as soon as she became semi-conscious
it was not time to get up.  Even 
without her internal clock, the dark room told her
that.

"Mac it's Harm.  I'm sorry.  But I need help."

Those words brought her mind to full alertness even if
her body was hesitant to follow, making 
her stumble across the floor, half tangled in bed
covers.  "Harm what's wrong," she demanded 
as she opened the door, getting her answer as soon as
she turned on the light and saw his 
pain filled face and the way he gripped his shoulder
with his good arm.

"OK Sailor looks like you're ready for the ER," she
gasped.  "Get in here while I get dressed.  
And I am going to say I told you so but I'll hold it
for when you're better able to take it.  Hurts 
doesn't it?"

"Oh yeah.  This has to be more than a bruise."  He
leaned back against the wall, declining a 
chair for being too hard to get up once he was down.
=======================
PAX RIVER NAS Infirmary
1 Hr Later

"More than a bruise is absolutely right Commander,"
the doctor on duty said quietly, looking up 
at his Xray.

"Well I thank you for making it stop hurting whatever
it is," Harm sighed, referring to the IV 
dripping into his hand, a hand that Mac was holding as
she stood beside his gurney.

"You sure you weren't playing football and got
tackled?  This is a classic shoulder separation, 
like if 300 pounds of defensive lineman plowed into
you."

"Actually it was several hundred pounds or so of
steel--an SUV stuck in the mud.  I pushed it, 
and it rolled back and clipped me," Harm admitted,
feeling Mac's hand tighten.  

"I should not have let you go out there," she
whispered.

"It was my fault, and my job to make right," he hissed
back.

"Well whatever," Dr. Kennedy sighed.  "But for the
next little while you won't be using it.  You 
write with this arm?"

Harm shook his head, already scowling at the
prognosis.

"Good thing.  Just don't be planning anything that
needs two hands for the next few weeks.  
One of my associates will be along to be sure you're
comfortable for the procedure."

"Excuse me?  Just what are you doing to me, which by
the way I'm pretty attached to this arm."

"I'm sure, and that's why you'll be good as new as
soon as all that heals."

As soon as they were alone, Harm turned to Mac, a
baleful expression on his face. "Would 
shooting me be totally out of the question?"  

"Hell no.  If I had my weapon I'd use it now in
retaliation for you not getting this tended to hours 
ago.  Of course then I'd use it on myself for letting
you get away with not."

"I'm sorry," he whispered, in such a little boy tone
she could not help but feel a wave of 
sympathy and she kissed his forehead.

"It really has been a rotten few days for you hasn't
it."

"Well I've had worse I guess but this stretch has to
number in the top five."  

Their conversation was cut short as the nurse came in
and added a drug to his IV line, which 
about the time the door closed, he was feeling the
effects.  "Try to relax Sailor.  You're not 
alone in this--or any other problem," she reminded
him.

"Thank you for that," he sighed, his eyes closing.

"I meant it," she assured him, stroking a stray lock
of hair off his forehead.  With him calm and 
quiet it took no time for the orthopedist to set the
shoulder in place, strapping his arm down to 
his chest with the aid of a sling.

"And another one good to go," the young doctor
grinned.  "Ma'am soon as he's coherent again 
I'll sign his release papers.  Probably be a couple
hours.  You might want to get some rest and 
come back."

   "I'd rather stay with him" Mac said softly. "Is
that okay?"
  
  "It's your body that's going to be aching from
sitting in that chair" he 
  smiled. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
  
  "I'll manage. I just don't want him to wake up and
be alone."
  
  "I understand" he nodded. "Like I said it'll
probably be a few hours. If you 
  want to try and sleep go ahead."
  
  "Thank you" Mac smiled tiredly.
  
  With her hand wrapped around his it didn't take her
long for sleep to 
  reclaim her and it wasn't until she felt a gentle
hand to her shoulder that 
  she woke again. She pushed her eyes open to find
herself looking up at 
  Hunter.
  
  "Hunter what are you doing here?" she murmured.
  
  "When I didn't find you or Harm in your rooms I
figured this might be the 
  likely place" he said softly. "They said out front
that he'd dislocated his 
  shoulder."
  
  "Yeah he came to my room about three o'clock this
morning in major pain" she said quietly. "I 
should have had him looked at it sooner."
  
  "You really think he would have agreed to that"
Hunter smiled.
  
  "No probably not. That's Harm."
  
  As she spoke he stirred and at once she reached for
his hand, a gesture not 
  missed by Hunter.
  
  "Harm I'm right here" she said softly. "How you
feeling?"
  
  He opened his eyes at the sound of her voice,
looking up to see her and 
  Hunter.
  
  "Morning Harm" Hunter smiled. "How's the shoulder?"
  
  "I'll live" he sighed. "Mac when am I getting out of
here?"
  
  "Now that you're awake they might consider letting
you go back to your 
  quarters" she replied. "But that's your duty station
for the day."
  
  "Mac what about the investigation."
  
  "You are in no condition to investigate anything
right now. A day of rest 
  won't hurt."
  
  "It won't get this mess figured out either" he
sighed.
  
  "Hunter and I will continue the investigation."
  
  "I didn't know Mr. Reed worked for JAG" Harm
scowled.
  
  "I don't but Captain Jacoby assigned me to assist
JAG with whatever they 
  needed" Hunter replied. "And I'm more than happy to
help Mac out today while you rest."
  
  "I'm not taking the day off. I'll be fine. I want to
find out what the 
  coroner found out about Chief Kidwell."
  
  "Commander you're being released to your quarters
only" the doctor said as 
  he breezed into the room. "If you're not going to
take it easy, I'm not 
  letting you leave."
  
  "I'm not staying here" Harm countered.
  
  "Then I guess you're going to return to your room
for the rest of the day 
  now aren't you?" the doctor returned.
  
  "Harm it's a losing battle" Mac spoke up.
  
  "Fine. I'll go back to my room and rest" he sighed.
"You and Hunter can find 
  out what's going on with Chief Kidwell's autopsy.
But as soon as you do I 
  want to know what it is."
  
  "Deal" Mac nodded.
  
  "And I'm trusting you to keep her out of trouble"
Harm said as he looked at 
  Hunter. "If Chief Kidwell didn't commit suicide, we
may have a murderer on 
  our hands."
  
  "I'll take good care of her Harm" Hunter assured
him.
  
  With Mac and Hunter assisting, Harm made his way
back to his room. Mac 
  gently helped him to a comfortable position on the
bed before sitting down 
  beside him.
  
  "All right sailor" she said softly. "I'll be back in
a few hours to make 
  sure you're okay. You just rest and take it easy."
  
  "Yeah thanks" Harm sighed. "You'll let me know what
you find out right?"
  
  "Promise. Now you take it easy."
 
 "I'll be fine as soon as this stuff they gave me
wears off and therefore the room stops 
spinning," he sighed.
 
 She smiled and brushed that unruly lock of hair off
his forehead.  "Just give your body a day to 
recover while we do some of the legwork here and then
we'll see where we go.  You know I 
want you with me before anything major goes down."
 
 "Yeah OK, twenty-four hours," he pouted and then
pierced Hunter with a long look.  "You 
Commander and this is an order, you don't take any
chances that put her at risk."
 
 Hunter broke into a broad grin at that, that same
grin that all the aviators seemed to possess.  
"Sir as I recall, she's the investigator. I'm just
showing her around."
 
 "Exactly," he growled.
 
 "OK this is getting nothing done.  Harm I'm coming
back with lunch for you.  Meanwhile you 
rest and if you need me sooner, you have my cell
phone."
 
 "Mother he'll be fine," Hunter chortled, earning
himself a glare from Harm.
 
 "You don't mind if I enjoy being taken care of just a
little bit do you Mr. Reed?"
 
 His voice was so plaintive that Mac smiled and kissed
his cheek.  "Try to rest Sailor.  We'll see 
you soon with lunch."
 
 Harm leaned back and closed his eyes, and with a
final squeeze of his hand, Mac left with 
Hunter.
 
 "I hope I have someone like you in my life someday,"
Hunter said softly as he walked with her 
to their car.  "You care so much for him.  You know
what too--you talk about you and him not 
being committed and all that.  You talk a good tale
Colonel, but if you were honest with 
yourself, never mind me, that man up there holds your
heart in his hands."
 
 "You Mr. Reed are a romantic at heart," she giggled. 

 
 The base was buzzing with the news of Kidwell's
alleged suicide, and to a man [woman] 
everyone Mac spoke to swore no way he would have done
such a thing.  Several people 
pointed them in the direction of another Master Chief,
indicating he was as close to Kidwell as 
anyone.
 
 "Last stop before lunch," Mac said firmly as they
walked up to the shop were Master Chief 
Martin Fleming worked.  "I want to make sure Harm is
OK.  I haven't wanted to call him in case 
he's sleeping but at the same time I can't shake the
image of him lying on the bathroom floor or 
something and yes I know how silly that sounds so
don't pay me any mind."
 
 They were shown the way to Master Chief Fleming, who
shut down his drill press when he 
saw them coming.  "You want something done right these
days gotta do it yourself," he 
growled.  "These kids they send me don't know a piece
of equipment unless they can put a 
video game in the fu . . .oh excuse me ma'am--sir." 
The older man actually blushed and came 
to attention.
 
 "Relax Master Chief as you were," Mac told him. 
"First we're sorry to hear about Master Chief 
Kidwell.  I understand you and him were close
friends."
 
 "We were yes ma'am.  Did some fishing together, drove
up to Baltimore to Camden now and 
again for a ball game this type thing.  I've known him
for a good twenty-five, thirty years since 
we were kids, but of course a lot of that time we've
been apart."
 
 "I understand," Mac nodded.  "Did he ever mention
anyone who might have wanted him 
dead."
 
 "Are you writing this down?" he asked, eyeing her
notebook.
 
 "I don't have to write down the source," she offered.
 "At least for the time being.  I won't 
promise your name won't come up again."
 
 Martin furrowed his brow in thought, considering his
options.  "Yeah OK.   I know you're 
looking at causes related to what's been happening
around here but does a wife what left him 
a couple years back count."
 
 Mac drew her breath in sharply and looked to Hunter
who shrugged.  "Colonel not in the time I 
knew him did he mention a woman, and I know he didn't
wear a ring."
 
 Mac nodded and looked intently at Martin.   "I'm all
ears Master Chief."
 
  "Her name was Jackie. About five years ago she
walked out on the marriage. 
  Claimed he was fooling around. They had a big fight
and then she left."
  
  "Was he fooling around?" Mac asked.
  
  "Hell no" Martin said quickly. "She was one of those
paranoid types. Always 
  thought he was messing around with someone here at
the base. Course he 
  wasn't."
  
  "But she's the one who left right?" Mac asked.
  
  "Yes ma'am. Like I said she was a bit paranoid and I
think she was a little 
  emotionally off if you know what I mean. Jonathan
did everything he could 
  for her but she just wasn't all there."
  
  "Did he ever talk about her?"
  
  "No ma'am. I didn't bring it up because I know how
much it still bothered 
  him."
  
  "So you don't know when the last time he saw her
was?" Mac asked.
  
  Martin shook his head. "Not for a while ma'am. But I
think he still had 
  contact with her. Despite everything that had
happened, Jonathan still loved 
  her."
  
  "Okay well I'll look into this further" Mac nodded.
"So you don't believe 
  what happened to Master Chief Kidwell has anything
to do what's going on 
  here?"
  
  "I don't know ma'am. But I can tell you that
Jonathan didn't kill himself. 
  Like I said, I've known him for over twenty-five
years. He had way too much 
  to look forward to."
  
  "That's what everyone seems to think" Mac sighed.
"Yet the man had a bullet 
  in his head."
  
  "Well you best keep looking into things," Martin
said seriously. "There is 
  no way he took his own life. Someone may have wanted
it to look like that, 
  but obviously they didn't know him well enough to
know he'd never do that."
  
  **********
  "You sure you want to come with me on this?" Mac
asked as she and Hunter 
  went headed to the coroner's office.
  
  "Do I look like the squeamish type Colonel?" he
teased.
  
  "Just checking" she smiled. "I don't want to be
pulling your six off the 
  floor when we get there."
  
  "Not likely" he scoffed. "I can handle it."
  
  An hour later a white faced Hunter emerged with Mac
from the coroner's 
  office.
  
  "You okay?" she asked.
  
  "Yeah I'm fine," he said with a deep breath. "And
now we can go back and 
  tell your partner that I was right."
  
  "Someone drugged the Master Chief and then pulled
the trigger for him" Mac 
  said soberly. "Now we just have to find out why."
  
  "I'm telling you why. He found out what was going on
at the base. And they 
  killed him."
  
  "I hope you're not right" Mac said with a long sigh.
  
  "Mac what else makes sense?"
  
  "His ex-wife came back for revenge."
  
  "No. That's not it. It's got to do with the
accidents that have happening 
  around here. I know it."
  
  "Is that your gut speaking Mr. Reed?" she asked.
  
  "Yes ma'am. And I live by those gut instincts so I'm
telling you I'm right."
  
  "So who's your prime suspect?"
  
  "You'll laugh if I tell you."
  
  "I will not. Just spill it Flyboy. Who do you think
is behind this?"
  
  "Grady."
  
  "Grady?" she frowned. "In case you forgot he was the
one who had the first 
  accident."
  
  "I know. Doesn't mean he's not behind this though."
  
  "Is that your gut talking or the fact that he's now
sleeping with your ex?" 
  Mac asked.
  
  "I don't care who Evie sleeps with. And I'm telling
you Grady bugs me and 
  it's not because of that."
  
  "Okay why don't we keep this between you and I right
now" Mac sighed. "Harm isn't going to 
be real receptive to your ideas I'm afraid."
  
  "Fine. You and I can do some checking on our own" he
smiled.
  
  "Hunter" she groaned.
  
  "What. You don't think I'm right on this one?"
  
  "I don't know who's right" she sighed. "And until I
figure this one out I'm 
  open to all possibilities."
 
 "Including a deranged ex-wife?"
 
 "Now she's deranged?" Mac raised an eyebrow and
Hunter shrugged.  
 
 "Well it makes more sense if we're going to consider
her a suspect.  And Mac, if we're talking 
suspects here let me get back to Grady for a second. 
It's possible he could have staged his 
mishap.  Harm will tell you there are ways to make a
system fail and then switch it back on.  
What better way to throw suspicion off himself."
 
 "Hunter you're giving me a migraine, or rather adding
to the one I've got worrying over Harm," 
she sighed.  "I'm officially on a break here.  Let's
stop and get some food and take it to him."
 
 "OK, I know a place makes great burgers, inch thick
jobs that they make the patty by hand 
with onions galore."
 
 "Perfect.  Now we just have to think of something for
Harm," she smiled.  "He doesn't eat red 
meat."
 
 "You're kidding," Hunter smiled.  "OK we'll take him
a cup of yogurt."
 
 "With a fruit salad and some bread now you're
talking," she grinned.  "Me however, show me 
to the burger joint."
 ===============
 HARM's QUARTERS
 30 Mins. Later
 
 "Harm it's Mac and Hunter," she called anxiously,
letting herself in.  The room was still 
darkened and she quickly opened the blind before
focusing on him as he sat up slowly.  
 
 "You guys back already?"  His hair was tousled and he
sat up slowly, holding onto his arm.
 
 "It's not really already," she replied, handing the
food bags to Hunter.  "You've been asleep 
since we've been gone I take it."
 
 "Yeah I guess so.  I took a pill and laid down and
that's the last I remember."
 
 "Well good thing you're not in the air," she teased. 
"Got you some yogurt and a tropical salad 
with those straw things you call crackers.  I hope
you're hungry because you need to eat."
 
 "Yeah I am, and while I'm eating one handed and
making a big mess, you can tell me the 
latest on the case.  Which by the way I'm going out
with you this afternoon."
 
 "Not while I'm conscious mister," she gasped, sitting
down beside him on the bed.  "You're 
going to rest here.  I know it sucks, but I don't want
to haul your sorry six over there in the 
middle of the night again.  Worrying about you is not
fun."
 
 "Do you?  Worry about me that is," he asked, making
that little boy face that went so well with 
his hair hanging down across his forehead.
 
 "Only all the time," she admitted with quiet candor,
pressing his hand between hers and to his 
surprise, not to mention her own at her action, she
placed a gentle kiss on the back.  "Eat your 
fruit and we'll tell you about our morning."
  
  "You got the coroner's report?" he asked.
  
  "It wasn't suicide," Mac said soberly. "He was
drugged. He didn't pull the 
  trigger himself."
  
  "He was murdered?" Harm frowned.
  
  "That's what it looks like right now" she sighed.
"We're working on possible 
  suspects. Including a deranged ex-wife."
  
  "This gets messier by the minute" Harm groaned. "And
it's possible this has 
  nothing to do with what's going on around here."
  
  "I think it does" Hunter spoke up.
  
  "Do tell Mr. Reed" Harm said as he looked over at
him.
  
  "I think Master Chief found out whose been
sabotaging the planes. And they 
  killed him."
  
  "You've got it all figured out don't you?"
  
  "Look Harm I know you don't like having me around on
this" Hunter sighed. 
  "But I know the people around this base better than
you and Mac do."
  
  "So who do you think is behind this?"
  
  "I have my theory. But this is you and Mac's
investigation so I'll keep that 
  to myself."
  
  *************
  Two Days Later
  
  "Harm you're really not in any shape for this" Mac
fretted. "I wish you'd 
  let me and Hunter handle this."
  
  "Last time I checked I was your partner" Harm
snapped. "Not Hunter."
  
  "I know you're my partner" Mac sighed. "I just don't
think you're ready to 
  be up and around yet."
  
  "I've spend two days in bed Mac. I'm not spending
another. We have an 
  investigation to conduct."
  
  "Excuse me for caring. Hunter should be here any
minute to take us to see 
  Master Chief Fleming."
  
  "Does he have to come everywhere with us?" Harm
frowned.
  
  "Harm he's been assigned to help us. And we can use
all the help we can get. 
  Will you stop complaining?"
  
  "I'm sorry" he sighed. "I shouldn't be taking things
out on you."
  
  "No you shouldn't" she agreed. "But I'm guessing you
are because your 
  shoulder is still bothering you. Am I right?"
  
  "Yeah you are," he admitted. "But it's going to for
a while so there's 
  nothing I can do about. And I'm not spending another
day in bed."
  
  "I wasn't even going to suggest it" she groaned.
"And I think Hunter is 
  waiting if you're ready."
  
  He nodded and she helped him outside where Hunter
was waiting.
  
  "Morning Harm" Hunter smiled. "Feeling better?"
  
  "No but I'll survive" he growled. "And are you
always this cheerful?"
  
  "Only when I get to spend the day with a lovely lady
like your partner. How 
  are you Mac?"
  
  "I'm fine" Mac smiled. "Is Master Chief waiting for
us?"
  
  "Yes ma'am" he smiled before looking over at Harm.
"You sure you can handle 
  the walk over to the hangar?"
  
  "I'll manage" Harm sighed.
  
  Hunter nodded and the trio started across the base
to the hanger.
  
  "Master Chief Fleming this is Commander Rabb" Hunter
said a few minutes 
  later.  "And of course you remember Colonel
Mackenzie."
  
  "Of course" Fleming nodded. "I take it you have some
questions of your own 
  Commander?"
  
  "If you don't mind Master Chief" Harm replied.
  
  "They'll manage without me for a few minutes" Martin
Fleming sighed. "Why 
  don't you and I go somewhere we can talk."
  
  Harm nodded and followed Fleming to a small office,
Mac and Hunter following behind them.
  
  "Mac I want to go see if Grady is around" Hunter
whispered when Harm was out of earshot.
  
  "Hunter" Mac warned.
  
  "I won't do anything. I promise. I just want to see
if he's around."
  
  With a sigh she watched him go and she turned her
attention back to Harm and the Master 
Chief. Harm was asking the same question she had asked
and she found her mind wandering 
to Hunter and his theory about Grady.
  
  "Harm I'll be back" she said when Harm paused to
take notes.
  
  "Where are you going?" he asked.
  
  "Just to check on something. I'll be right back."
  
  Harm nodded and returned to his task of interviewing
Fleming, not noticing 
  that Mac hadn't returned until Hunter came up behind
him.
  
  "Harm where's Mac?" he asked.
  
  "She's not with you?" Harm asked anxiously. He'd
assumed she'd gone with 
  Hunter somewhere and he felt the warning bells go
off when he realized she 
  wasn't with him.
  
  "No. I thought she was with you."
  
  "Okay let's not panic" Harm said as he stood up.
"I'm sure she's around here 
  somewhere."
  
   Hunter raised his voice in a shout of her name,
hearing it echo through the vast hangar, and 
when there was no answer his look of concern met
Harm's equally anxious one.
 
 "Harm she wouldn't just wander away without saying
something would she?"
 
 "Well I wouldn't go that far," he grumbled.  "But I
do want to find her."  He turned to Fleming.  
"Master Chief, you can call her on the P.A. system can
you please?  Ask her to report here."
 
 "Of course."  He reached behind him for a mike and
keyed a toggle switch on the board.  
"Colonel Mackenzie is requested to meet Commanders
Rabb and Reed in Master Chief 
Fleming office immediately."
 
 The words echoed, going to the far reaches of the
hangar.
 
 "Works every time," Fleming grinned.  Except that
there was no reply.  "Sorry sirs.  What else 
can I do?"
 
 Harm scowled and looked at Hunter.  "OK when we came
in you said something to Mac and 
then vanished.  And then she did the same thing a
minute later.  Now where did you go?"
 
 "I wanted to talk to Grady, but I couldn't find him,"
Hunter shrugged.  "No one had seen him in 
a good while.  It's not really that unusual for a
pilot to slide out on a long lunch or break though.  
Or he might have just been in the head.  Wait, I told
Mac I was going to look for the man.  But I 
thought she was staying with you."
 
 "Well she didn't," Harm snapped irritably.  "Dammit
why don't people do what they're 
supposed to do.  Master Chief page Grady now."
 
 "Yes sir."  Fleming did as he requested.  "Sirs again
I say how can I help?
 
 "You can't but thanks," Harm groaned.  "I just hope
I'm in panic mode here for nothing.  Hunter 
walk through again and see if any of your buddies saw
her will you?"
 
 "What are you going to do?"
 
 "Talk to the squadron commander.  Which would be who
please?"
 
 "Commander Miles.  The offices are. . ."
 
 "I know where they are," he snapped once again. 
"Come find me as soon as you know 
something."  
 
 Upset with himself for his anger and impatience, he
strode off.  His logical mind attempted to 
tell him Mac was simply working and had not checked
in, and yet the little warning voice that 
all aviators possessed was screaming out that
something was wrong.
 
 "Commander Miles?  Sir, Harmon Rabb JAG corps
Washington investigating the mishaps 
around here.  You were on our list of contacts but
you'd been gone.  Have you got a minute?"
 
 "Only just about that much Commander.  I'm on my way
to a meeting with the base 
Commander and I don't keep the man waiting."
 
 "Yes sir.  Sir I'm looking for Lt. Grady.  Do you
have any idea where he might be?"
 
 Miles gave him an exasperated snort.  "It's not my
week to watch the man Rabb.  Seriously, 
check with my XO Lieutenant Commander George if you
want the duty roster, but dollars to 
donuts he should be in the area.  Thing is, with Grady
you can't be sure.   He was always a 
loose cannon on the ground.  Now he's getting that
same reputation in the air.  Talk to 
Commander George."
 
 "Yes sir thank you."  Harm endeavored to keep his
tone civil and hurried out, all but running to 
George's office, where he was able to learn that Grady
was in fact on duty and did not have 
clearance to be anywhere but the hangar area or the
squadron offices.  
 
 "Would you attempt to locate him in that case," Harm
insisted.  "I'm sorry to be a pain, but I 
have a really uneasy feeling about him and my partner.
 Also I'm desperate for news on said 
partner.  Colonel Sarah Mackenzie."
 
 George frowned at him, staring intently.  "Commander
you're acting like she was abducted by 
aliens or something.  Are you two joined at the hip
and can't be separated or what?"
 
 "Are you always in the habit of questioning the
motives of superior officers Mister?" Harm 
hissed.  "Now I want you to locate Grady and call my
cell phone the second you do."  He threw 
down one of his cards on George's desk and hurried
back to the hangar, hearing running feet 
as he did so.
 
 "Reed over here, where's the fire," Harm called. 
"You find Mac?"  
   
  "She's gone Harm" Hunter panted. "I've been through
this entire place. 
  There's no sign of her anywhere."
  
  "Did you find Grady?"
  
  As he spoke Lt. Grady walked into the hanger behind
him. "You looking for 
  me?"
  
  "Where the hell have you been?" Hunter demanded.
"You're supposed to be on 
  duty mister."
  
  "And I was. I was over at the other hangar talking
to a friend. Is it a 
  capital offense to take a walk for a few minutes."
  
  "Have you seen Colonel Mackenzie" Harm asked. "She's
disappeared."
  
  "You lost her?" he smirked.
  
  "Grady this isn't funny" Hunter snapped as he
grabbed the younger man's 
  flight suit. "Have you seen her?"
  
  "No. I told you I was over in the other hangar. I
never saw Colonel 
  Mackenzie."
  
  Hunter gave him a long look and finally let go of
him. "Come on Harm. We can 
  talk to him later."
  
  Harm nodded and the two men headed out of the
hanger, standing there for 
  several seconds as they looked around, not sure
where to go.
  
  "I don't think Mac took off voluntarily," Hunter
said quietly.
  
  "My thoughts exactly" Harm sighed. "And I'm getting
a real bad feeling about 
  this."
  
  "Keep cool. We'll find her. If someone took her they
couldn't have gotten 
  far with her."
  
  "Harm maybe I should check her quarters" Hunter said
suddenly. "She might 
  have gone back there for some reason and ran into
someone."
  
  "I'll come with you. We might as well stick together
until we find her. That 
  way when we find her and she's fine she'll think
we're both crazy for 
  worrying like this."
  
  "You don't really believe that do you?" Hunter asked
as he and Harm started 
  towards the BOQ.
  
  "No I don't" Harm sighed. "Right now I just want to
find her and make sure 
  she's okay."
  
  "You care a lot about Mac don't you?"
  
  "Yeah but that's not a subject I'm going to discuss
with you."
  
  Hunter opened his mouth to say something before
promptly shutting it again. 
  This wasn't the time to talk to Harm about his
feelings for Mac.
  
  They headed to Mac's room, Harm the first to notice
the smoke coming from 
  under Mac's door.
  
  "Her room is on fire" he gasped. At once he reached
for the handle, only to 
  find it locked. "Mac" he yelled. "Mac you in there?"
  
  "Move" Hunter ordered as he grabbed Harm's arm,
pushing him back before 
  giving the door a hard shove with his shoulder. Two
more hits and it finally 
  gave, Harm rushing in ahead of Hunter. Mac lay on
the bed and he hurried to 
  her, coughing hard on the thick smoke in the room.
He attempted to lift her 
  into his arms, his shoulder screaming in protest and
he had to let her down 
  on the bed again.
  
  "Rabb move it" Hunter ordered between coughs. "I'll
get her."
  
  He quickly lifted her into his arms and together
they both hurried out of 
  the building, the sirens in the distance telling
them someone had already 
  alerted the base fire department. Hunter headed to a
the lawn nearby the 
  building, gently setting Mac down on the ground,
Harm quickly pushing him 
  out of the way as he checked to see if she was
breathing.
  
  "She's not breathing" he gasped when his fingers
couldn't locate a pulse.
 
 "She has to be," Hunter screeched, crowding Harm out
of the way and looking around 
frantically for help.  The building was emptying but
the fire sirens were still off in the distance.
 
 "Reed she's not breathing," Harm screamed
frantically, fighting him for position.
 
 "Let me there Harm please," Hunter said, softly this
time so he would be heard.  "Let me help 
her."
 
 Reluctantly Harm leaned back and let him check her.  
 
 "OK there's a pulse, it's weak but it's there.  She's
likely just congested from the smoke, but if 
we don't get her breathing we won't have a pulse for
long either."
 
 Harm nodded and at once closed his mouth over hers,
trying to remember exactly how this 
was supposed to be done.  It was so easy in a training
situation, but when it was someone one 
cared about it was as if all knowledge fled.
 
 Hunter hovered over them, watching him, keeping his
fingers encircled around her wrist.  "Five 
breaths," he coached.
 
 Harm did so, and there was no response.  "Mac don't
you do this," he gasped.  "Mac please 
don't.  Mac I. . .I need you in my life.  I love you."
 Those last words were barely a whisper to 
her but Hunter heard them.  He gave a small smile,
hearing confirmation of what he suspected 
and then with a powerful shove, moved Harm off her.
 
 "My turn."
 
 "No."  To Hunter's surprise, Harm gathered her
tightly to his chest with his one good arm, as if 
holding her alone could bring her back.
 
 "Harm let her down," he screamed, now more alarmed
than ever.  He knew seconds were 
ticking away.  "Harm you said you love her.  Fine. 
Good.  OK.  Now let me help her or the only 
flowers you'll ever take her to show her that you do
will be the ones you put on her grave."
 
 Harm gave him a dazed look, the words almost but not
quite penetrating his fear.  A slight 
shake of his head was all Hunter needed to take
action.  "Sorry Harm" he said softly, bringing 
his fist up in a sharp uppercut, catching Harm just
where his chin met his jaw.  Stunned by the 
pain, Harm fell back away and Hunter snatched the
Marine from his lap, wasting no time in 
laying her out properly, clearing her airway.  Another
check of her pulse and this time he could 
not find it.  "Dammit all to hell," he raged, knowing
it was now going to take more than rescue 
breaths.  At once he began chest compressions, keeping
in perfect time with his rescue 
breathing.  Out of the corner of his eye he could see
Harm sit up, rubbing his chin and staring 
in horror at the scene before him.  
 
 Harm made no move to assist, his own mind shutting
down as he was sure he was watching 
her die and cursing the injury that was keeping him
from taking charge.
 
 What he did not consider was the will to live of this
Marine, and on the second rep, she 
coughed and opened her eyes, drawing in a huge gasp of
air a second later.  "Harm?" she 
managed that was more of a cough than a question.
 
 Hunter felt a pang of disappointment wash over him,
but it was minor compared to his elation 
that she was all right.  "He's right here Sarah," he
said softly, giving him a poke.  
 
 Harm had not yet come from his stupor, now
unbelieving that she was coming back to him.  
"Harm, you're being paged here," Hunter reminded him. 
"The Marine is back with us."
   
  Before he could move the paramedics arrived, quickly
pushing both Harm and 
  Hunter out of the way as they attended to Mac. Harm
stood by with a dazed 
  look still on his face, watching as the paramedic
secured the oxygen mask 
  over her face despite her objections.
  
  "Mac don't argue with him" Hunter spoke up. "Please.
There's two guys right 
  here who nearly had heart attacks a few moments
ago."
  
  She conceded and sat quietly for several minutes,
her gaze never leaving 
  Harm who still sat there expressionless.
  
  "Harm she's okay" Hunter said finally as he turned
to him. "You didn't lose 
  her."
  
  "I would have" he whispered. "You saved her life.
Not me."
  
  With that he scrambled to his feet and took off
running across the base. Mac 
  tried to rise as well, only to be stopped by the
paramedic's strong hand as 
  he pushed her back.
  
  "Ma'am you're not going anywhere except over to the
infirmary."
  
  "I need to go after him," she said as she tried to
push the oxygen mask 
  away. "Please he's upset."
  
  "He'll be fine. You on the other hand need to keep
breathing that oxygen." 
  As he spoke he attempted to secure the mask again,
only to have her push it 
  away again
  
  "Hunter please" she begged. "Go after him."
  
  "Mac I think he needs some time alone. Once they
take you over and I know 
  for sure you're okay I'll go find him."
  
  "We're taking her now" the paramedic informed him. A
stretcher was brought 
  over and despite her objections she was loaded onto
it and wheeled to the 
  waiting ambulance, Hunter remaining with her.
  
  "Hunter" she tried again.
  
  "Mac I'm staying with you" he said firmly. "And I'm
sure that's what Harm 
  would want me to do. And no more arguing."
  
  Too exhausted to fight him she sunk back on the
stretcher as she was loaded 
  in. Hunter climbed in as well and she gave him a
long look.
  
  "I'll find him once I know for sure you're okay" he
sighed. "Mac a few 
  minutes ago you weren't even breathing. So just
humor me and allow me to 
  stay with you until I know for sure you're okay.
Then I promise I'll find 
  Harm."
  
  It was a short ride to the base infirmary and he
remained with her until he 
  was forced back to the waiting room. With a sigh he
sunk into one of the 
  chairs, his mind still trying to digest what had
transpired. Harm's 
  declaration of love hadn't really come as a surprise
to him. He'd known that 
  despite Mac's insistence that nothing was there,
there was definitely a bond 
  between the two partners. But at the same he
couldn't help his feelings for 
  Mac. His fear when he'd realized she wasn't
breathing had been very real and 
  he knew he was falling for the beautiful Marine
Colonel.
  
  "This is getting too complicated" he sighed. And not
just because of the feelings he had for 
Mac. Someone had tried to kill Mac. Likely the same
person who had killed the Master Chief.
  
  He was still pondering that when the nurse informed
him that they'd finished 
  treating her for the smoke inhalation and that he
could see her.
  
  "She's okay right?" he asked the nurse as he walked
back.
  
  "She's fine. Of course her getting out of here comes
with the orders that 
  she take it easy for the rest of the day."
  
  "I'll see to that" Hunter nodded, his mind already
planning that he would 
  take her home with him. And Harm when he found him.
  
  "Hunter thank god" she wailed when he walked in.
"Did you find Harm?"
  
  "I told you not until I made sure you were okay," he
said gently. "You 
  scared me Colonel."
  
  "Hunter you have to find Harm. Please."
  
  "I will. I promise. But can I worry about you
first."
  
  "You saved my life didn't you?" she said softly and
he nodded as he reached 
  for her hand.
  
  "Well I think if I hadn't your partner would have
gone right along with 
  you," he said quietly. "And maybe I'm an eternal
optimist but I'm still 
  hoping that maybe I have a chance with you."
  
  "Hunter" she started.
  
  "I know. It's too complicated" he sighed. "But know
this Colonel Sarah 
  Mackenzie. You are a very special lady and if you
ever figure out that Harm 
  isn't the one for you, I'll be waiting."
  
  "And you're a very special guy" she whispered. "And
if Harm wasn't in my 
  life, I can guarantee you would be the first person
I'd want there."
  
  "Well then I guess it's not hopeless yet" he smiled.
"And as soon as the 
  doctor says you can go I'm taking you home. To my
place that is."
  
  "Hunter no I can't" she started.
  
  "Mac your room at the BOQ is ruined. And likely they
won't let anyone stay 
  there tonight anyway. And when I find Harm, I'm
hauling his six there too. 
  We need to regroup and find out what's going on
around here. Someone tried 
  to kill you."
  
  "I was walking through the hangar and someone
grabbed me from behind" she 
  said quietly. "That's all I remember."
 
 Hunter's eyes narrowed.  "All you remember?  Did they
hurt you?  Hit you over the head?"
 
 "Uh. . .no I don't think so.  I just remember someone
grabbing hold of me and then I couldn't 
breathe and the next thing I really couldn't breathe
because of the smoke.  I don't know, and 
right now I'm concerned about Harm and I can't think."
 
 "Harm is fine.  I promise you.  He just wanted some
space after what happened.  He was 
pretty dazed and shook up and I'm sure he just wanted
some time to cope with what he was 
feeling."
 
 "I  hope he doesn't hate me."
 
 "Now why on gods green earth would he hate you?  Make
sense Colonel."
 
 "I can't," she wailed softly.  "My head is pounding,
I'm worried about him and I'm afraid we've 
totally screwed up this investigation.  I mean I've
totally. . ."  Idly her hand went to her shoulder 
at the top of her back and she rubbed and clawed at it
while she spoke.
 
 "I doubt that seriously," Hunter scoffed.  "It's just
going to take some unraveling is all.  I bet 
you've had a lot tougher ones that you've cracked. 
Now what the hell is wrong with your 
shoulder?"
 
 "I don't know.  It's sore or something," she frowned.
 "But not like I banged it.  Like something 
stuck or cut. . ."  She pulled her hospital gown down
as much as she dared and looked to 
Hunter.  "Can you take a look?"
 
 "Yes ma'am.  The Commander would be most happy to
volunteer for the mission,"
 
 "Marine with a headache here," she groaned, leaning
forward.
 
 "There is something there," he reported, touching
with gentle fingers.  "It's puffy and kind of 
warm and there's a mark in the center of where it's
puffed out."
 
 "I trust I'm not interrupting," the nurse smiled as
she pulled back the curtain and followed 
Hunter's gaze to Mac's shoulder.  "Looks like you've
had some kind of injection there."
 
 "Maybe you were drugged," he offered mildly and
turned to the nurse.  "Ma'am could you test 
her blood for drugs?  Something that someone might
have given her to knock her out?"
 
 "Hunter I'm supposed to be the investigator here,"
she moaned and then nodded to the nurse.  
"Please do it yes--it could be evidence, and then may
I please get the hell out of here."
 ================
  It took another hour but Hunter was finally walking
Mac into his apartment, located not far 
from the base.
 
 "Hey this is cute," Mac smiled, gesturing to the neat
living room and kitchen.  "You don't have 
a passion pit instead of a bedroom do you?"
 
 "Excuse me?"
 
 "You know--mirrors on the ceiling, round sunken bed,
maybe a trapeze," she giggled.  "A 
bachelor pad."
 
 "What does Harm's look like?" he countered, laughing
at the image.
 
 "Harm has a loft that he fixed up pretty much
himself," she smiled.  "I haven't been over there 
a whole lot lately."
 
 "There's a story there?"
 
 "Well only that he was with someone else for a long
while," she answered softly, "but then so 
was I, and all of that is a very long story that I've
effectively erased from my memory banks.  I 
wish."
 
 "Got it," he smiled, watching her dial Harm once more
and drop the phone in discouragement.  
"Look soon as I see that you're resting like you're
supposed to, I will drive around and locate 
Mr. Rabb.  I can ask a few people to see if they see
him as well--leave a few messages around 
for him."
 
 "Thank you," she smiled, eyeing the sofa longingly. 
"Look what they gave me is helping the 
pain but increasing the fuzziness.  I want so much to
look for him but I know I can't so I have to 
trust you to find him.  I'm worried about him Hunter. 
I've never seen him quite like that; though 
the Harm Rabb mystique never ceases to amaze me I
guess."
 
 "You rest.  I will find this man who means so much to
you," he grinned, taking a long breath as 
he recalled Harm's words of before, words declaring
his love for the pretty Marine officer.
   
  "He does mean a lot to me" Mac murmured as her eyes
started to close. 
  "That's why you have to find him and make sure he's
okay."
  
  "I will. You rest."
  
  He waited until she was asleep before leaning down
and dropping a quick kiss 
  on her lips.
  
  "I'll bring him back to you" he sighed. "Even though
I wish you would want 
  me as much as you want him."
  
  His first stop was to the O'club, thinking Harm
might be drowning his 
  sorrows in a drink. When he didn't find him there he
headed back to the BOQ, 
  only to find it off limits while the fire
investigators conducted their 
  investigation. With growing frustration he headed
towards the hangar to see 
  if anyone had seen him there.
  
  "He was here" Master Chief Fleming informed him.
"Asked where the nearest 
  bar was outside the base. Gave him directions to my
favorite place."
  
  "Thanks Chief" Hunter said gratefully before
hurrying off.
  
  He found Harm at the bar, several empty shot glasses
and beer bottles in 
  front of him.
  
  "Celebrating Commander?" Hunter asked as he sat down
beside Harm.
  
  "Is Mac okay?" Harm asked.
  
  "She's fine. She's at my place resting. But she was
worried about you. So 
  she sent me to come find you. And bring your six
back."
  
  "I don't think she needs me anymore" Harm sighed.
"And if she's staying with 
  you know she's in better hands anyway."
  
  "Cut the crap Harm. She's at my place because the
BOQ is shut down and I 
  thought it would be best to just take her back to my
place."
  
  "She belongs with you anyway," Harm said miserably.
"You'd make a better 
  partner than me."
  
  "Yeah well maybe that's true" Hunter retorted. "But
I'm not the one she 
  cares about. She's worried about you Harm. Now come
back with me and talk to her."
  
  "She would have died if you hadn't been there" Harm
whispered. "I couldn't 
  save her."
  
  "Harm it's over. She's alive and she's fine. Let it
go."
  
  "I love her Hunter" Harm said after another long sip
of beer. "I thought she 
  was going to die today. And you know if she had she
would never have known 
  how I felt about her."
  
  "Have you ever considered telling her how you feel?"
Hunter said quietly.
  
  "NO" Harm nearly shouted. "I can't do that."
  
  "Why not?"
  
  "Because if she doesn't feel the same way it's all
over. Our friendship, our 
  partnership. We wouldn't be able to work together.
I'd rather have it the 
  way it is than to lose her totally."
  
  "No guts no glory Commander."
  
  "In this case I have no guts," Harm said miserably.
"Not when it comes to 
  Mac. And that's why she deserves better." He reached
for his beer again only 
  to have Hunter take it from him.
  
  "Okay Commander that's enough" Hunter sighed. "Time
to go see Mac before she goes into 
freak mode worrying about you."
  
  He left some money to pay for the last of Harm's
drinks and helped the 
  intoxicated Commander from the barstool and out to
his car. It was a short 
  drive back to his place and he helped Harm inside.
Mac was still asleep, the 
  medication they'd given her still working.
  
  "She's really okay?" Harm whispered as he slowly
stumbled to the sofa where 
  she lay, dropping to the floor in front of her.
  
  "She's fine Harm" Hunter said quietly. "And I'm sure
when she wakes up and 
  sees you she'll be even better."
  
  Harm gently reached a hand to stroke her cheek,
needing to feel her and make 
  sure she was really alive and okay. She stirred
slightly but remained asleep 
  and Harm pushed himself to his feet.
  
  "Where do you think you're going?" Hunter asked as
Harm headed to the door.
  
  "I can't stay here" Harm sighed.
  
  "Commander you're drunk and there's nowhere else for
you to go. Now before 
  you fall on your face let's find the bedroom."
  
  "You don't have to give me your bed" Harm sighed. "I
can crash on the 
  floor."
  
  "Yeah and with that shoulder you'll never move in
the morning" Hunter 
  countered. "Take the bed Commander."
 
 "OK thanks," he agreed, feeling the room spinning
around him and wanting to be in the bed 
before he passed out.  "If she wakes up, tell her. .
."
 
 "That you love her?" Hunter grinned, mocking his
words back to her.
 
 "That I'm sorry and that we'll talk when I'm coherent
and then I'm resigning and going to 
Alaska to crew on a salmon fishing boat."
 
 "Salmon fishing, got it," Hunter laughed.  "Go to
bed.  Physically you know you're going to feel 
worse when you get up, but maybe that will make you
make more sense."  He took Harm's 
arm and guided him to the side of the bed.
 
 "Reed I know I should be thanking you here, but I
don't even know were to begin so for now 
I'm letting it go.  How can I thank someone for saving
the life of the woman that. . .well let's say 
you were right."  With that he lowered himself heavily
to the bed and closed his eyes.
 
 "Well the kiddies are in bed, it's Miller time,"
Hunter told himself, making himself at home in 
the recliner in front of the TV.
 
 Four hours later, Mac awoke, coughing slightly and
rubbing her eyes.  She could see Hunter 
asleep in the chair, bathed in the glow of the TV, and
as she listened closely, heard snoring 
from somewhere in the back of the apartment.  "Harm,"
she breathed and got slowly to her 
feet, not wanting to awaken Hunter.  "Please let it
be."  Unsteadily she walked to the bedroom, 
giving a long sigh of relief when she saw his familiar
form on the bed.  The smell of alcohol 
coming off him made her stomach lurch and she paused
for a moment, not sure if she could 
handle approaching him.
 
 A groan from him drew her attention to his face,
which showed even in sleep the pain his 
shoulder was still giving him when he moved.
 
 "Harm I'm here," she said softly, reaching a hand to
his forehead and then to his cheek.
 
 He opened one eye almost all the way at the sound of
her voice.  "Mac?"
 
 "Yeah Flyboy.  You are something else.  You've been
drinking on top of your pain medication.  
Not real bright Commander."
 
 "I want to talk," he murmured, his hand flailing for
hers.
 
 She caught quickly and placed a small kiss in the
palm.  "Not until later when you can actually 
be held responsible for what you say."
 
 He gave her a dazed nod and rolled over, pulling her
down onto the bed with him.  "Stay.  
Please."
 
 "Normally the guy buys me dinner first," she
whispered, uttering no objection as he drew her 
against him.
 ================
 Hunter woke several hours later.  His usual
habit--fall asleep in front of the TV and stagger to 
bed sometime later.  It wasn't until he was nearly to
that bed that he remembered Harm. . 
.Harm and Mac both it seemed.  She was lying on her
side, he behind her, curled around her 
tightly, his arm stretched protectively over her.
 
 "OK I'll take the sofa myself," he sighed and turned
to go, finding himself not quite able to look 
away.  He would not give up, but his chances with
Sarah Mackenzie were dwindling.  The 
bond between her and her Sailor was obviously a
powerful thing, even if they themselves 
could not acknowledge or truly deal with it.  Then
there was the fact that this case would be 
solved, and they would be returning to D.C. together.
 
 With an aggrieved sigh he returned to the sofa and
fell into a restless sleep.  
 
 He did manage a couple of hours finally, and when he
awoke, set about breakfast.  The smell 
of coffee and bacon filled the small apartment,
bringing Mac awake first.  That strong arm was 
still draped over her, resting in such a way to all
but keep her pinned to the pillow.   The events 
of the past twenty-four hours were muddled in her
sleep fogged mind and she pulled against 
the arm holding her.  "Hunter let me up."
 
   "Wrong sailor" Harm groaned tiredly as he pushed
her away.
 
 "Harm" she gasped.
 
 "Sorry to disappoint you. I'll be happy to get out of
here if Hunter is the 
 one you want."
 
 "He isn't" she sighed. "I just forgot where I was.
And would you care to 
 tell me what is going on with you?'
 
 He opened his mouth to speak and promptly closed it
as his stomach began to 
 roll, the smell of the bacon making him sick. His
hand flew to his mouth a 
 second later as he scrambled from the bed in search
of the bathroom.
 
 "I guess you two are awake" Hunter sighed as he made
his way to the bedroom 
 following Harm's quick escape to the bathroom. "And I
see the Commander is 
 pretty hung over."
 
 "Just slightly" she sighed. "And thanks for getting
him and bringing him 
 back here. And giving up your bed."
 
 "No problem. You hungry? I've got bacon and eggs
ready?"
 
 "Actually that sounds good" she smiled. "Thanks."
 
 "How you feeling?" he asked as she climbed from the
bed. "I heard you 
 coughing a bit still last night."
 
 "I'm all right. Just feel like I got run over by a
train."
 
 "Well come and get some breakfast and then you and
Harm can relax the rest 
 of the day. I'll go snoop around while I'm on duty
and see what I can find 
 out."
 
 The bathroom door finally opened and Harm stumbled
out.
 
 "Morning Harm" Hunter said brightly. "How you
feeling?"
 
 "Is that a rhetorical question?" Harm groaned.
 
 "Of course" Hunter smiled. "I was just about to get
breakfast for Mac. Can I 
 get you anything?"
 
 "Only a shotgun so I can shoot myself" he sighed as
he followed them to the 
 kitchen.
 
 "Sorry. Can't help you there. But I can offer you
some aspirin."
 
 "I'll take them."
 
 "I was just telling Mac you two are welcome to hang
out here today. I'm on 
 duty today but I should have time to find out if
anyone saw the person that 
 drugged Mac and took her to the BOQ."
 
 "You were drugged?" Harm asked as he looked over at
Mac.
 
 "There was a mark from what looked like a needle on
her shoulder" Hunter 
 continued. "I told them to test her blood and see
what it might have been."
 
 "You didn't see anyone?" Harm asked her.
 
 "No. I told Hunter I just remember walking through
the hangar and then 
 suddenly I'm in my room and I can't breathe cause of
the smoke."
 
 "Mac I want you to go back to DC" Harm announced.
"This is too dangerous."
 
 "Excuse me. I am not leaving in the middle of an
investigation and going 
 home. This was my investigation first and I'm going
to finish it."
 
 "No" Harm said firmly. "You are going home. End of
discussion."
 
 "I am not" she retorted.
 
 "Okay kids" Hunter interrupted. "Enough. Mac I have
to agree with Harm here 
 and say that it might be a good idea for you to go
home. Obviously someone 
 thinks you're a threat."
 
 "Thank you" Harm sighed. "A voice of reason."
 
 "I'll remind both of you that I outrank both of you"
Mac said crisply. "And 
 being the senior officer in charge, I decide if I'm
staying or going. And I 
 can tell you I'm not going anywhere until this is
wrapped up."
 
 "Mac" Harm groaned.
 
 "End of discussion Commander" she said firmly. "I'm
staying. Hunter if you 
 can find out anything today that would be great."
 
 "Yes ma'am" he sighed.
 
 Breakfast was accomplished in silence and an hour
later Hunter headed off to 
 the hangar, leaving the two of them alone.
 
 "So do you want to tell me why you ran away
yesterday?" she asked quietly.
 
 "Mac please. Don't make me think about yesterday. It
was a nightmare I never 
 want to happen again."
 
 "Harm talk to me. Please."
 
 "I can't" he whispered as the images of her lying
limp in his arms ran 
 through his mind. "I just can't."
 
 "Were you afraid you were going to lose me?" she
whispered.
 
  Stubbornly he shook his head and she refused to be
moved.  "Harm just say 
 it. Get it out in the open and then let it go," she
urged.  "It's over.  I'm
 fine.  In fact I'm likely better than you are at the
moment.  You know 
 liquor doesn't solve anything.  And you know I know
that all too well."
  
  "You were dead.  For the second time in my
lifetime--in our partnership--you
 were dead in my arms."  The words came from him in
torturous slowness and
 ended with a quick sob which he attempted without
total success to swallow.
 "I thought back on the Watertown I was going to lose
it and then yesterday
 was twice as bad."
  
  "I'm sorry," she whispered, cupping his cheek with a
gentle palm.  "You've
  had a rough couple of weeks."
 
He opened his mouth to speak and when he looked into
her chocolate colored
 eyes saw nothing but sympathy there.  "Yeah it's not
been my finest hour
 that's for goddam sure but I'm glad you're with me."
 
 "I needed you yesterday," she admonished him gently. 
"I had to rely on
 Hunter because the person I wanted bailed."
 
 "Yeah I know.  Like I said, I've had a lot of not
being my best," he 
 sighed. "It's like everything is closing in on me. 
My client's suicide, getting
 older, realizing the best part of the Navy is behind
me--all that.  Then
 coming here and seeing these young pilots, and the
not so young ones.  Reed
is a long ways past flight school but he's still in
the game."
 
"So were you at that age," she reminded him.  "Aging
is something that I
 guess we owe to when Adam and Eve screwed up or
something I don't know.  
 But it happens.  But then too, if you want my
opinion, you've got a huge number of good years 
ahead of you.  You and I have a deal we may yet
consummate."

 He gave her a puzzled frown, his head pounding.
 
 "You reminded me of it the night of my engagement
party," she coached.

 "Baby," he gasped.  "You still think about that?"
 
 "Oh yeah," she admitted with a sheepish smile and
leaned forward to brush her lips against 
his.  "Oh yeah."
 
His mouth dropped open in surprise and formed a slow
smile.  "So do I," he
said almost inaudibly.  "A lot in fact, and then I
think, OK what would she
 want with a broken down old fart like myself."
 
"Don't sell yourself short Commander," she laughed,
shaking her head.  "And
seriously, please, stop feeling sorry for yourself OK.
 I happen to think very highly of you 
professionally, which I should not even have to
explain that to you.  And personally, well. . .we 
neither of us are very good with that are we?"
 
 "No guess not," he murmured and then brightened.  "On
the other hand that
 thing you just did--that kind of said a lot.  You uh.
. .you meant to didn't you?  I mean you 
meant it to. . .Dammit this is what happens when I try
 with  that, and this damn headache isn't 
helping."
 
 She smiled and shook her head.  "Harm, you and I are
fine.  We're feeling our way here and 
that's OK.  I'm not going anywhere and neither are
you."
  
  "Then how come I keep being afraid you and Hunter
Reed are going to ride off
 into the sunset," he grumbled.
 
 "Because you're a paranoid schizophrenic," she
replied sarcastically.  "Have your coffee, take 
your pills, get a shower will you.  This is going to
come
as a surprise but you are not at your most attractive
right at this moment.
I think some fresh air might do us both some good.  I
know a day away from
here will.  You care to drive a lady down to the
ocean?"

  "Mac we have an investigation to conduct" he
countered.
  
  "We both need a day off. And we're taking one."
  
  "Mac" he groaned.
  
  "Rabb you were in no condition to do anything with
the hangover you have. 
  And I'm not at my best either so there's no sense
pushing ourselves."
  
  "You're not feeling good?" he demanded. "Because of
yesterday?"
  
  "Harm before you go into hyper mode I'm just tired.
And no I don't need to 
  go back to the infirmary so just close your mouth. I
need a day at the ocean 
  with a certain sailor."
  
  "Hunter's on duty" he said sarcastically.
  
  "I know smarty. I meant you. Harm you have got to
get over this thing with 
  Hunter. You act like I'm in love with him or
something."
  
  "I know you Mac. I know how you are when guys start
paying attention to you 
  like Hunter is."
  
  "You know what you can be such a jerk sometimes" she
whispered, his words 
  sounding very much like the night of her engagement
party.
  
  "Mac I'm sorry" he said quietly. "I shouldn't have
said that. And see this 
  is exactly why you don't need to be around me. I'm
hungover and I'm cranky 
  and you don't deserve this."
  
  "No I don't."
  
  "I'm sorry. And as much as I want to hate Hunter I
can't. He saved your 
  life."
  
  "Harm he's not a threat to you" she said softly.
"He's a nice guy that yes I 
  could very easily fall for if the circumstances were
right. But they're 
  not."
  
  "They're not?"
  
  "No they're not. And that's all I'm going to say.
Now do you want to go to 
  the ocean or not?"
  
  "Yeah sure" he said quietly. "And I am sorry about
what I said."
  
  "Forget it. Let's just go relax. We both need it."
  
  They spent the better part of the day at the ocean,
simply lying in the warm 
  sun or wading in the water.
  
  "Thank you this was a good idea" Harm sighed hours
later. "We did need 
  this."
  
  "Feeling any better?" she asked as she rolled over
onto her stomach.
  
  "I'll survive," he said with a small smile. "And
it's going to be a long 
  time before I have another drink."
  
  "Good. I can spare you the lecture then about
drinking."
  
  "Yes I know better" he sighed. "But at the time it
seemed like the right 
  thing to do. And I know it was stupid."
  
  "Very. But you've paid for it today. And now I guess
we should go back and 
  see what's going on."
  
  "A quick walk on the beach first" he asked.
  
  "Love to" she smiled as he offered his hand to help
her up.
  
  "Thank you for this. I guess I didn't realize how
much everything was 
  starting to get to me. It's just been such a crappy
few weeks."
  
  "I know. And once we get this wrapped up I think
you'll be a lot better. You 
  won't have to see Hunter Reed anymore."
  
  "I don't hate Hunter," he said quietly.
  
  "No you're just envious of him."
  
  He opened his mouth to protest and slowly closed it.
"Yeah I am," he 
  admitted finally.
  
  "Why?"
  
  "Where should I start" he sighed. "Besides with the
obvious. He gets to fly 
  and I won't be able to soon."
  
  "Yeah but he's not the top notch lawyer that you
are" she countered. "You're 
  one of JAG's best Commander. In case you forgot
that."
  
  "I haven't felt like it recently. My client kills
himself and we haven't 
  made any headway on this case."
  
  "Harm you're not superman. And something will break
in this case soon."
  
  "I hope so" he sighed. "Before someone else gets
hurt."
  
  They returned to Hunter's apartment before heading
back to the base and the 
  hangar to find Hunter.
  
  "Colonel nice to see you," the Squadron XO smiled. 
"Ma'am the last time I heard tell of you, 
your partner here was looking all over for you.  Man
does panic. . .sir."
 
 "Thank you Commander George.  She knows all about
it," Harm groaned.  "I see your guys 
are up.  I guess we'll just wander around and talk to
your support people, if that's OK."
 
 "Be my guest," George nodded.  "The squadron is doing
good guy bad guy stuff over the 
water but they should be back any time.  You'll hear
them."
 
 Harm nodded and ushered Mac back down to the hangar's
main floor.  "Don't wander away 
please."
 
 "Would that be an attempt at an order," she asked,
one eyebrow raised in an amused look.
 
 "No it's a plea.  It's me begging you to stay with
me.  It won't kill you.  But disappearing again. 
. .well let's say I don't need to relive what happened
the other day and Hunter isn't here to do 
what I should have been doing."
 
 "That's bothering you isn't it?" she whispered. 
"That you wanted to be the one to save me--to 
do the CPR."
 
 He closed and opened his mouth several times before
he could answer.  "Yeah OK guilty as 
charged.  I mean it's me that you're closest to right?
 And it's me that would have suffered the 
most from losing you, right?  It's not about making
you in my debt either.  It's about that I was 
scared to death and I didn't want to have to entrust
someone else with something. . .someone, 
that is as important to me as you are."
 
 "I don't often get such a heartfelt speech from you
Sailor," she said softly.  "Remember what I 
told you about him.  He's a friend, a friend whom I
like.  A friend for whom I harbor no romantic 
interest."
 
 "You may have to keep reminding my stupid stubborn
side of that."
 
 "As often as you want," she smiled, wrapping her hand
around his arm for a brief instance as 
they walked.
 
 Before they could talk to anyone, the roar of the
squadron returning was heard overhead and 
Harm automatically looked up, staring uselessly at the
ceiling thirty feet above.
 
 "Come on Harmie we can walk outside and watch the
planes land," she cooed teasingly.
 
 "You're going to pay for that one," he grumped, but
eagerly made his way toward the door.  
Four groups of four Tomcats flew over and then peeled
off to land.  Harm never took his eyes 
from the action overhead and Mac shook her head,
resting a hand on his arm.
 
 "I'm sorry," she whispered.  "I know you wish. . ."
 
 "You know only when I actually see it, hear it, smell
it, do I really give it a lot of thought," he 
sighed.  "With one exception.  When I have to be
around a cocky Flyboy like Mr. Reed.  Then I 
see myself, and see what I can't have."
 
 "Harm you're still a pilot," she reminded him, gently
touching the gold wings.  "You still wear 
these."
 
 "Yeah," he replied quietly, not wanting to bring up
with her that he knew his eyesight was 
going to take it away completely the next time he was
checked, without even regard to the fact 
that the days of the Tomcat were numbered anyway.
 
 "They're pretty good, just like you are," she smiled,
giving his back a quick rub.
 
 "Yeah."
 
 The first several landed and the next one lined up
with his wingman to come in.
 
 "Harm it sounds different doesn't it?  Or is it me?"
she fretted, shading her eyes against the 
sun.  
   
  He didn't answer, his eyes scanning the sky as well.
From experience he knew 
  something was wrong with the plane.
  
  "He's lost an engine" Harm whispered.  "He should be
able to get it on the 
  ground though."
  
  Before their eyes the situation suddenly worsened as
the second engine of 
  the plane suddenly went out. Control of the plane
vanished from the pilot 
  and to their horror they watched as the plane began
a quick descent to 
  towards the ground.
  
  "Eject" Harm murmured. "Eject. Come on. Before it's
too late."
  
  "Harm" Mac wailed as she realized what they were
about to see.
  
  The canopy to the jet exploded open as the RIO
ejected, the pilot following 
  a second later, ejecting just before the plane
crashed into the runway and 
  exploded. . At once Harm reached for Mac, turning
her away from the scene 
  of horror that was unfolding in front of them.
Sirens screamed as the 
  emergency crews hurried towards the scene.
  
  "Dammit" Commander George screamed as he pushed past
them. "What the hell is going on 
around here? First Grady, then Bell, now Reed."

THE END
Watch for Chapter 2 coming soon