TITLE:  Two Heroes
AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
SUMMARY:  Speculation for the episode In
Country---taken to the shipper 
max.
DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to Paramount, CBS et al.  No
infringement is 
intended with this work of entertainment only.
FEEDBACK:  Always enjoyed; never expected---however as
we respect your 
right 
not to like our work, please respect our request to
not share that fact 
with 
us.

The story will be posted in its entirety today.

"Two Heroes" Part 1---

 In the heart of Afghanistan. In the middle of a war.
Two heroes will 
search 
for the enemy. One wrong turn could be dangerous. One
wrong step could 
be 
deadly.  Out of the horror that is war, two heroes
will fall in love.


 "Mac" Harm yelled.
 
 She jerked the wheel hard to the right to avoid the
animal in her 
path. As 
 she did so, a mine exploded, on the front left side.
The combination 
of the 
 two events sent Harm flying from the vehicle and
brought the vehicle 
to an 
 abrupt stop, Mac flung hard against the steering
wheel. The breath 
knocked 
 out of her, it was several long moments before she
finally moved. With 
a 
 long groan she raised her head up, looking around
anxiously for Harm.
 
 "Harm" she gasped when she saw him lying on the
ground. She started to 
move, 
 gasping in pain and freezing as her sore ribs
protested the movement.
 
 "Mac" Harm groaned as he looked up at her cry of
pain. "Mac I'm okay. 
Just 
 hang on. I'll be right there."
 
 Gingerly he pushed himself up, his own body aching
from the brutal 
assault 
 of landing on the desert floor. With a deep breath he
managed to get 
to his 
 feet and was about to take a step when Mac looked
over at him a look 
of pure 
 panic on her face.
 
 "Harm don't move" she screamed. "We're in a mine
field."
 
 He couldn't stop his stride and she closed her eyes
as his foot hit 
the 
 ground, fearing the worst was about to happen and not
wanting to see 
it. She 
 waited for the explosion and finally opened her eyes
when nothing 
happened. 
 He stood froze in place and she let out a long hard
breath.
 
 "Thank you god" she murmured. "Harm are you okay?"
 
 "I'll be better when I'm not standing in the middle
of a mine field" 
he said 
 with a long sigh. "Are you okay?"
 
 "Just a little banged up" she admitted. "And I know
you have to be 
too. That 
 was a hard landing sailor."
 
 "It's going to be an even harder landing if I make a
wrong step" he 
sighed.
 
 "Don't even think it" Mac said sharply. "We're going
to get you out of 
there 
 without that happening."
 
 "What's your plan Marine?" he asked, his eyes holding
fast to hers. 
"Because 
 I can't stay like this much longer."

"Yes you can," she ordered.  "Don't you dare move. 
I'm going to come 
for 
you."

"Like hell," he exploded.  "The only thing you're
going to do is get 
away 
from here while I figure out what I'm supposed to do."

"No."

"No?"

"You got sand in your ears or something.  No.  I'm
staying right here 
and 
we're going to get you out of here.  These are likely
to not be set 
real 
sensitive."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning you can find them with a stick.  I'm going to
start towards 
you and 
you're going to start towards me and when we meet
we'll be able to walk 
out 
in my prints.  Pull one of those plants right next to
you.  The ground 
is 
soft and it should be simple enough to feel one.  Like
this."

Before his horrified eyes, she took a step forward,
her own stick in 
hand and 
made three pokes into the ground in front before
taking another step.  

"Mac get out of here," he gasped.  "I see how it's
done.  Now back off 
and 
let me do it."

"I already said no.  Now get past that and start.  If
you find one, 
move your 
stick a foot ahead and try there.  Go ahead, do your
first one."

"I'd feel better if . . "

"Harm please.  I've got ribs that are killing me here.
 I need to get 
off my 
feet," she screeched.  "And I'm not going to do that
until we're back 
on the 
road.  Now move that Navy six mister."

"How bad are you hurt?" he whispered, for the moment
forgetting his own 
difficulty, knowing for her to bring it up at all she
must be in pain.

"I just banged my ribs against the steering wheel is
all.  But sitting 
down 
would be good right now.  And I can't do that until
you're out of 
there.  
Start.  Now."

He took a long look at the desolate countryside, and
the jeep which he 
was 
sure was disabled.  Hearing that she was hurt did
nothing to ease his 
anxiety 
and at that moment all he wanted was to get to her,
minefield or no.  
"OK 
first poke."  Very gingerly he inserted the stick,
feeling nothing but 
soft 
sand.

She watched his technique and nodded her approval,
holding her breath 
as he 
took another step.  She had no intention of leaving
him to go this 
alone.  
Truth be told, she was not afraid to die with him. 
She was however, 
terrified to live without him. 

It took the better part of a half hour as she worked
her way toward him 
and 
he toward her.  Finally they were within arm's length
and they at once 
reached for each other, locking hands around arms.

"Are you OK?" he demanded, seeing pain etched on her
face now that she 
was 
close.

"Hanging in there, feeling better now that you're
through that."

"Well all we did was get you into the minefield with
me," he grumped.

"Yeah but now we've got footprints to walk back out
on.  Just be 
careful 
where you put those clodhoppers down Commander."

  "You know I will" he murmured. One bad step would
take out both of 
them and 
  that was the last thing he wanted.
  
  Slowly and cautiously they retraced her steps back
to the jeep and 
with a 
  long sigh they both dropped into the two seats.
  
  "Okay now tell me where you're hurt" he demanded
after a few moments.
  
  "Well you're not going to look at it" she scoffed.
"I told you I've 
likely 
  bruised some ribs is all. And no you can't check
them." Her last 
words were 
  delivered with a smile despite the situation and he
couldn't help but 
smile 
  as well.
  
  "All right. Is that all that hurts?"
  
  "Yes. How about you?  Don't tell me you're not
feeling anything after 
that 
  tumble you took out of here."
  
  "Besides every bone in this old body nothing" he
sighed. "I'm just 
sore. I 
  don't think I actually hurt anything though."
  
  "Thank god for that. I wouldn't want to have to
carry you back. 
Seeing as 
  how this nice vehicle we're sitting in isn't likely
to get us 
anywhere."
  
  "You're joking right?" Harm groaned. "Tell me we're
not stuck out 
here."
  
  "Sorry sailor but without a left front wheel we're
not going 
anywhere" she 
  sighed.
  
  "Mac you can't walk all the way back with your ribs
hurting you like 
that."
  
  "You want me to call Triple A? Harm in case you
forgot we're in the 
middle 
of the desert of a hostile country. I don't think
they're going to come 
and 
pick us 
  up. If we want to get back, we're going to have to
make it on our 
own."
  
  "Well at least I can carry you if I have to" he
sighed.
  
  "Not while I'm still conscious" she scoffed. "And
remember Navy that 
I'm in 
  a lot better shape than you are for this."
  
  "I don't have broken ribs" he countered.
  
  "Bruised. Not broken. Don't exaggerate and make
things worse than 
they are. 
  And we don't know if you've actually hurt anything
or not."
  
  "Would you like to check?" he teased, again for the
moment forgetting 
that 
  they were in the middle of enemy-held lands.
  
  "Cute Rabb" she groaned. "Can we be serious here for
a minute 
please?"
  
  "Sorry. Just trying to lighten things a bit. It's
been a while since 
you 
and 
  I have gotten ourselves into a mess like this."
  
  "And we'll get out of this one just like we have all
the others" she 
said 
  quietly. "Okay sailor, you ready to do some
marching?"
  
  He didn't reply his gaze now on something in the
distance.
  
  "Harm you still with me?" she asked as she followed
his gaze. "What 
are you 
  looking at?" She squinted in an attempt to see what
he was looking 
at, the 
  distance just far enough that she could barely make
out that it was 
men on 
  horseback.
  
  "Harm" she started.
  
  "Come on" he said as he reached for her hand. "I'm
not sticking 
around here 
  to find out which side they're on. We'll go up into
the rocks over 
there 
  until we know who sure who it is." He started to
step out of the 
jeep, 
  remembering at the last second that the land around
them was full of 
mines.
  
  "Follow my steps to where you were" she counseled
behind him. "And 
then 
  we'll just have to take it slowly."
  
  He nodded and gently stepped from the jeep onto her
earlier 
footprints and 
  with his hand grasping hers took a step.
 
 "Slow and easy," she cautioned, pushing ahead of him
and keeping a 
wary eye 
on the riders at the same time.
 
 "Who said you get to take point," he objected at
once.
 
 "It's hardly going to matter," she reminded him.
"Either of us steps 
wrong, 
the next time we see each other will be at the Pearly
Gates where St. 
Peter 
is laughing his six off when you request entrance."
 
 "Oh real cute," he muttered.  "Speaking of sixes move
yours.  Those 
guys are 
going to be near enough to spot us real quick.
 
 With a long sigh of relief from both the finally
cleared the sand and 
began 
to make their way among the rocks, looking for a place
in which to 
conceal 
themselves.  Still in the lead, Mac pointed to a
likely looking spot, 
starting to head in that direction, when the rock on
which she had her 
weighted foot tore lose.  Her hand was wrenched from
his as she was 
sent 
sprawling and sliding away from him several feet down
the hill.
 
 He had the presence of mind not to cry out, instead
dropping flat and 
turning around to her.  She as well had managed to
stifle a cry of pain 
and 
alarm, though both were plain on her face.
 
 "Lie still, I'm coming," he called as loudly as he
dared.  "Are you 
hurt 
bad?"
 
 "No I don't think so," she answered though her voice
belied her 
denial.  
"Nothing permanently damaged I don't think.  Where's
our guests?"
 
 "Still in the distance.  Don't try to move.  I'm
coming."
 
 "I'm OK I'm telling you."
 
 "Your face doesn't look like you're OK," he retorted,
starting down to 
her.
 
 "Harm no.  Harm be careful.  There's no footing on
this side."
 
 "Tell me about it," he gasped at the same time as the
stone beneath 
one foot 
rocked and he grabbed frantically to restore his
balance.
 
 "I'm coming up to you before you break your neck
trying to save mine."
 
 Harm nodded and watched her plant her feet and manage
about two feet 
before 
she stopped, panting hard with the effort.
 
 "You are hurt," he accused, renewing his effort to
reach her.
 
 "Just sore ribs Commander," she snapped.  "And
remember we've got 
visitors 
on the way."
 
 "Yes we do," he gasped as he looked up and saw they
were decidedly 
closer.  
"Keep your head down now--I'll be sending rocks down
as I come."
 
 Ignoring his warning at first, she attempted to make
some progress up 
to 
him, and soon found she could not manage enough
leverage.  It was a 
grateful 
Marine who felt his hand touch hers and then his
fingers lock around 
her 
wrist, pulling her as soon as he was able.  She came
to him in a rush, 
landing in his arms, both panting hard.
 
 "OK?" he whispered, pushing some hair from her face
and leaving dirt 
in the 
wake of his fingers.
 
 "Yeah I think so.  What's another ache or pain," she
groaned and 
attempted 
to push away from him, only to have him hold fast to
her.  
 
 "No rush, get your breath," he urged.
 
 "Harm we've got people who could not be on our side
looking around the 
area," she reminded him.  "Let me up.  We need to get
out of sight.  
Now."
 
 "Yeah OK," he agreed, but keep his hands on her as
they both struggled 
to 
their feet.  "Hang on to me now.  I swear that just
before you fell, I 
spotted a cave or at least a hollow in the rocks where
we could fit."
  
  "Lead the way sailor" she sighed, looking out
towards where the group 
on 
  horseback was getting closer.
  
  With her hand firmly in hers they started towards
the area and he let 
out a 
  long sigh of relief when he saw the cave opening.
  
  "Harm wait" Mac gasped. "How do we know there's not
someone already 
in here 
  that those guys are coming to meet?"
  
  "Mac we don't have much choice" Harm sighed. "And we
know that there 
are 
  people out there coming. We'll just have to risk
it."
  
  She nodded and led them inside the cave.
  
  "I think we're safe," Harm said as he looked around.
"At least for 
the 
  moment." He gently pulled her to the ground with him
and with a long 
sigh 
  she sunk back against the cave wall and closed her
eyes.
  
  "How are you?" he asked gently.
  
  "I'm okay," she said as she opened her eyes to look
at him. "Hurting 
a 
  little but nothing major is hurt."
  
  "I'm sorry. I wish there was something else I could
do."
  
  "Hey it's not your fault" she reminded him. "I'm the
one who swerved 
to 
  avoid the goat and nearly got you killed."
  
  "You know if you didn't want me for a partner
anymore you could have 
just 
  said so" Harm teased. "I can take a hint. You didn't
have to dump me 
in the 
  middle of a minefield."

  "Isn't that where we've been the last few years
anyway?" Mac said 
quietly. 
  "In the middle of minefield of feelings and
emotions. Neither one of 
us 
sure 
  where to step for fearing setting off an explosion."
  
  "You sure you didn't hit your head?" Harm asked as
he attempted to 
brush 
  away the subject. "Maybe I should be thinking about
getting you back 
for 
  medical attention."
  
  "Okay never mind. Forget I said anything. It was
stupid of me to 
think we 
  were ready for that discussion."
  
  "Mac we're in the middle of Afghanistan without a
way back to our 
camp in 
an 
  area prevalent with the enemy. And you pick now to
decide to have 
that 
  talk."
  
  "I said never mind" she snapped irritably. "I'm not
in any condition 
to 
  argue with you anyway."
  
  "Mac was there something wrong with the way things
have been?" Harm 
asked 
  quietly. "I mean we've been getting along pretty
well haven't we?"
  
  "Yes we have" she sighed. "Look I'm sorry I brought
it up. Just 
forget 
about 
  it."
  
  "Well now I can't. Because there's obviously
something you want to 
talk 
  about. So let's talk about it."
  
  "I thought you just said you didn't want to talk
about this now" she 
  groaned.
  
  "Well just in case we don't get out of here in one
piece maybe we 
should 
  have that talk" Harm said quietly. "Because you were
right. Even 
though we 
  have been getting along we've avoided a lot of
issues. We've been 
tiptoeing 
  our way through it all."
  
  "Yes we have" she nodded. "And I'll be the first to
admit that I 
haven't 
  wanted to ruin what common ground we've found by
pressing you about 
stuff."
  
  "Neither have I. After all the bickering I was just
happy to have you 
back 
  as a friend. I mean for a while there I wasn't sure
that was going to 
  happen."
  
  "You were the one who was angry with me for going on
my TAD" Mac 
reminded 
  him.
  
  "Mac I wasn't angry" he said quietly. "I was hurt.
You left before I 
could 
  tell you how I really felt. And when I tried to tell
you on the 
Guadalcanal, 
  you ran away from me."
  
  "I did not" she countered so vehemently that she
clutched her sore 
ribs.
  
  "Hey easy. Maybe we shouldn't talk about this now.
You're hurting and 
I 
  don't want to upset you."
  
  "No I'm okay," she said after a moment's pause. "And
I do want to 
talk 
about 
  this Harm. If you're not too afraid too."
  
  "I've never been afraid of anything in my life Sarah
Mackenzie" he 
  whispered. "Except for falling in love with you."
  
  "Why are you afraid of that?" she whispered.
  
  "Because I don't want to hurt you" he said softly as
his hand gently 
  caressed her cheek. "With the others I never cared.
But it's so 
different 
  with you."
  
 "You wouldn't hurt me," she returned.  "I mean I'd go
into it with my 
eyes 
open.  But if it's any consolation I have my own
fears."
 
 "You've had your share of misses," he acknowledged. 
"And for a while 
I was 
afraid that I was going to be one of those misses."
 
 "After the Jagathon race why did you say you thought
we were at the 
end?  
Were you that eager to give up on us?  I was really
surprised when you 
said 
that.  Of all the things I was expecting to hear,
 that didn't make the list of the top one hundred."
 
 "I notice you had a quick answer," he smiled gently.
 
 "You're damn right I did," she yelped indignantly. 
"Giving up was the 
last 
thing I wanted.  And I was afraid you did.  I was
afraid you already 
had on 
the Guadal in fact."
 
 "I was just tongue tied," he groaned.  "I knew
exactly what you had 
asked 
me, and I just needed a couple seconds to be sure of
my answer."
 
 "You needed to think of your answer?"  She gave him
an incredulous 
stare.  
"You weren't sure?"
 
 "Yes I was sure.  Never was I more sure.  But you ran
off.  It was one 
of 
the most important questions I had ever answered and I
wanted the 
answer to 
be something heartfelt.  In the end all I could come
up with was 'I 
would' 
but by then I was talking to myself."
 
 "I didn't know," she whispered softly.
 
 "It was a done deal anyway," he went on.  "When I
left Renee in 
Minnesota I 
knew it was over.  When all I wanted was to leave her
in good hands and 
get 
back to DC--to you--I knew it was done.  I just didn't
want to tell her 
right 
then with her dad and all."
 
 She nodded quietly and he went on thoughtfully, "but
as far as giving 
up on 
us like after the race.  No that wasn't what was
happening at all.  I 
just 
knew I wanted you to be in my life--to not lose
you--same thing I told 
that 
night at the Admiral's, so if all we were destined to
be was what we 
were 
right at that moment, then I was prepared to accept
that."
 
 "And that was not what I wanted," she smiled.  "So I
hoped by starting 
over 
we could do it better, and we did.  Didn't we?"
 
 "Of course we did," he agreed eagerly.  "It's been
great.  We're 
friends, 
and we're happy when we're with each other and maybe.
. .just maybe. . 
.there's more there than we're giving ourselves credit
for."
 
 "You think so?"
 
 "Yeah I do," he whispered, turning toward her
slightly and putting his 
hand 
to her side to urge her to do the same.  
 
 "Ahh. . .ow."  Her face contorted in pain and he
yanked his hand away 
in 
alarm.  
 
 "I'm sorry.  I must have hit a sore. . .oh god Mac
you're bleeding."
 
  "I am" she said as she immediately reached her hand
to her side. "I 
knew it 
  hurt but I didn't realize it was bleeding."
  
  "Let me see it" Harm said as he reached to lift up
her top.
  
  She gave him a long look but allowed him to do so
and he frowned as 
he 
  looked at the spot.
  
  "I need to go back to the jeep" he sighed. "This
needs to be cleaned 
and 
  bandaged. I'm pretty sure there were some supplies
in the back of the 
jeep."
  
  "No" she shrieked. "You're not going back there. At
least not alone. 
I'll 
go 
  with you."
  
  "No" This time it was his turn to shriek. "You are
in no condition to 
be 
  moving around. I want you to stay put."
  
  "If you think I'm letting you walk through that
minefield alone while 
I 
just 
  sit here you're crazy" she countered.
  
  "Okay then I'm crazy. And you are not going
anywhere."
  
  "Harm please it'll keep. I don't want you going out
there alone. 
Besides 
the 
  minefield you don't know who else is out there. Like
people who 
wouldn't 
  hesitate to kill you on sight."
  
  "So you're worried?" he said with a small smile.
  
  "Dammit Harm of course I'm scared. I don't want to
lose you."
  
  "You'll never lose me Sarah" he whispered as he
leaned closer. "Not 
as long 
  as I have anything to do with. But I need to go back
to the jeep and 
I want 
  you to stay here and rest."
  
  "Please be careful" she said softly as she reached a
gentle hand to 
caress 
  his cheek. "I need you in my life sailor. Especially
since we still 
haven't 
  quite finished that talk."
  
  "We will finish that talk" Harm promised. "As soon
as I get back and 
get 
you 
  taken care of. You sit tight." To her surprise he
dropped a quick 
kiss on 
  her lips before turning and heading out of the cave.
  
  "Lord please keep him safe" Mac whispered. "Please."
  
  Slowly Harm made his way out of the cave, looking
for any sign of the 
people 
  they'd seen coming. His eyes caught sight of
something and he quickly 
  dropped in between the rocks. He peeked his head up
just long enough 
to see 
  the men on horseback casing the jeep.
  
  "Great" he murmured to himself. He raised his head
again to see one 
of the 
  men pointing up to the rocks and he quickly ducked
back down again, 
praying 
  they hadn't seen him.
  
  He wasn't sure how long he'd been hiding out when
the rumble of a 
fighter 
  jet over head rocked the area. At once the men on
horseback scattered 
and 
  Harm let out a long sigh as he watched them take off
in the other 
direction.
  
  "Thanks buddy" Harm said as he watched the plane
disappear out of 
sight.
  
  He waited until he was sure the area was clear
before slowly coming 
out 
from 
  behind the rocks. He took a deep breath as he
reached the sand again, 
  looking for their footsteps from before.
  
  "Here we go" Harm murmured before taking the first
step. It was a 
slow 
  process and every time he stepped he held his
breath, waiting for 
something 
  to happen. He finally reached the jeep and let out a
long sigh of 
relief.
 
 "Dear god keep me safe so I can help her," he
breathed, scooping up 
the 
backpack from the rear of the jeep and the metal first
aid box.  "OK 
Rabb you 
can do this," he counseled himself, stepping again
into the footprints, 
accepting that each step could be his last.  The last
print before the 
large 
step to the rocks and he held breath as he took the
step.
 
 "Mac it's me--don't shoot," he called softly at the
entrance, dropping 
at 
once beside her.  "And I've brought goodies.  There's
food and water in 
the 
bag I'm sure, and we can bandage your side.  That's a
nasty looking 
scrape, 
like you got sliced on a rock when you slid."
 
 "Yeah I imagine," she grimaced.  "Quit staring at it
will you.  Wash 
it off, 
put some antiseptic and a bandage on it, and get on
with it.  Starving 
Marine 
here now that you've mentioned food."
 
 "I need more room to work with it," he smiled
sheepishly, starting to 
help 
her out of her cammie jacket.
 
 "You're loving this way too much."

 "Not loving that you're hurt," he said softly, not
waiting for her to 
object 
when he pulled her Marine green tee shirt away as
well.
 
 "This is going to need stitches," he gasped and she
contorted her 
upper body 
to see it, a four inch gash from her side to her back.
 
 "First aid there Sailor.  We just had the refresher
last month 
remember.  
That nurse from Bethesda. What was her name?"
 
 A slow grin spread across his face as he began to
bathe the area with 
a 
bottle of the water from the bag.  "Uh. . .Bonnie. 
Looked like a model 
except of course her hair was pinned up."
 
 "Bet she offered you her card like Caroline did," Mac
groaned.
 
 "Actually she did, but it ended up in the same place
as Ms. 
Architect's 
did," he laughed.  "I'm not on the market Sarah."
 
 "And why would that be?" she asked, seizing the
moment.
 
 "Because even though we haven't finished that talk,
we've said a lot, 
and I 
know where my head and more importantly my
heart--are."
 
 She gasped sharply as the antiseptic hit the area and
for a few 
seconds she 
could not speak.  "OK Flyboy I'll bite.  Just where
are they?  Take all 
the 
time you need."
 
 "That's just it.  I don't need any time," he sighed. 
"And maybe 
talking is 
over-rated anyway."
 
 "You think so?"  She attempted to turn back to him
only to have him 
put a 
stilling hand to her shoulder.  
 
 "Quit wiggling.  I'm almost done."  
 
 She fell silent while he taped a pressure bandage in
place.
 
 "That has to hurt," he whispered in sympathy.
 
 "I'll deal with it.  Unless of course you'd like to
take my mind off 
the 
pain."
 
 "Is that a request?"
 
 "You're a bright Flyboy.  Why don't you figure it out
for yourself." 
At this 
point their eyes were locked together and a hundred
non-spoken words 
were 
being sent back and forth.
 
 "I'm going to take it as an invitation," he breathed.
 
 "Smart man," she whispered, and to be sure that there
was no doubt, 
her lips 
found his, returning the surprise kiss he had given
her earlier.
 
  "Sarah" he whispered when they parted. "I want you.
But this isn't 
how I 
  imagined our first time."
  
  "You've imagined our first time?" she smiled softly.
  
  "Only since the moment we met."
  
  "Then what are you waiting for sailor" she
whispered.
  
  "I don't want to hurt you" he breathed.
  
  "You won't" she whispered before her lips found his
again. The kiss 
deepened 
  as he pulled her closer to him, careful of her
injured side.
  
  "Sarah are you sure?" he panted when they parted
again.

  She nodded and with that permission his hands
reached to remove the 
  restricting garments in his way, while her hands
worked to do the 
same. 
  Seconds later he spread out his cammie jacket and
gently lowered her 
to the 
  cave floor.
  
  When it was over she lay sleepily in his arms and
Harm dropped 
another kiss 
  to her forehead.
  
  "I love you Sarah" he whispered, sure she was asleep
and wouldn't 
hear him.
  
  "Love you too" she murmured softly.
  
  "You do?"
  
  She opened her eyes and with a wide smile looked up
at him. "Yes I 
do. For 
a 
  very long time Harmon Rabb."
  
  "Why didn't you say something sooner?"
  
  "Oh I was just supposed to announce that I loved
you" she giggled. 
"Harm 
  here's the Anderson brief and by the way I love you.
Especially when 
I 
  didn't have a clue how you really felt."
  
  "I thought you knew," he said softly. "Remember your
engagement 
party."
  
  "You were talking in code that night" Mac smiled.
"And I wouldn't let 
myself 
  believe that that might be the case."
  
  "It is the case" he smiled. "I love you.  And when
we get out of this 
  godforsaken country I'm going to prove to you just
how much."
  
  "I'll be looking forward to that Sailor" Mac said
tiredly.
  
  "You rest" he urged as he pulled her closer to him.
"I'll keep 
watch."
  
  "What about you?" she sighed as she snuggled against
him. "I know you 
have 
  to be exhausted too."
  
  "I'll sleep when we're safe. Right now making sure
you're okay is all 
that 
  matters to me. Now rest. That's an order."
  
  "Yes sir" she murmured as her drifted shut again.
  
 It was about three hours later when she began to
stir, whimpering 
softly in 
her sleep.
 
 "Sarah honey you're OK," Harm soothed, wakened from
his own dozing by 
her 
movement.  "We're still safe.  Are you hurting?"
 
 Her eyes fluttered open and almost at once she
relaxed, realizing she 
was in 
fact in the safety of his arms.  "No I'm OK.  But I
was dreaming.  
Dreaming 
that we made love here in this cave."
 
 "Not a dream," he assured her, suddenly apprehensive.
 "Unless you're 
sorry, 
in which case we can put it all down to strain of the
moment and never 
speak 
of it again."
 
 "Not a dream," she murmured, sinking back into his
embrace.  "You're 
sure?"
 
 "Well I've had a silly stupid smile on my face
since," he teased.  
"And then 
there's the fact that you're not really in your
cammies.  Body heat you 
see.  
Skin to skin.  Cammies on top of us."

"So I see," she breathed, moving beneath the pile of
clothing to get 
more 
comfortable.  "I'm in love with you," she added
sleepily, exhaustion 
overcoming her once again.
 
 "Yeah I know.  We established that a few hours ago. 
I'm in love with 
you 
too.  Hopelessly deeply passionately.  For as long as
I can remember.  
And I 
also meant every syllable of what I said about making
things right 
between 
us.  Just as soon as I possibly can."
 ===============
 "Webb you can't be serious.  They would not have
gotten this far off 
course," Gunny growled, squinting into the rising sun.
 
 "Then why does that look like their jeep," Webb
retorted.  He was 
standing 
on the floor of their own jeep, sweeping the area
ahead with 
binoculars, 
which quickly handed to Gunny.  "Pedal to the metal
Marine."
 
 Once they reached the jeep, the broken axle and the
tracks and 
footprints 
told the story.  Disabled transportation, and the
mines, and that they 
were 
forced to seek shelter ahead of the cold desert night.
 
 "Should I fire a shot and see what pops out?" Gunny
asked, eyeing the 
caves 
that they could make out.
 
 "I think we'll surprise them.  Too much likelihood of
the people we're 
looking for finding us first."
 
 "OK but watch where you step.  I'll take the lead,"
Gunny insisted.  
"Glad 
the wind has been quiet so the tracks have stayed
visible."
 
 It took but a few minutes for them to scale the rocks
and on the third 
try, 
they located the right cave.
 
 "Oh my god," Gunny whispered, holding his hand up to
Webb.  "You are 
not 
going to believe this."
 
 "No and no one else will either without pictures,"
Webb gasped when he 
had 
peered around Gunny.  "Good think I brought this." 
Swiftly he produced 
a 
mini digital camera and with just the slightest
clicking sound took a 
few 
shots of the sleeping duo.  "OK now to finish telling
the story in 
pictures.  
Get them on their feet Gunny."
 
 "Mr. Webb that's not. . ."
 
 "If you don't I will," he grinned.  "Do it."
 
 "Attention on deck," Gunny bellowed.

   Harm was the first to snap to his feet, his sleepy
mind simply 
acting on 
the 
 command. The cammie that had been covering him and
Mac dropped to the 
floor 
 and Clay couldn't help but smiling, snapping pictures
as he watched.
 
 "Webb" he groaned as he looked at the smiling agent.
"What the hell 
are you 
 trying to do? Give us a heart attack or something."
 
 "Harm" Mac murmured as her arms reached for him only
to find empty 
space. 
 She finally opened her eyes letting out a gasp when
she saw Gunny and 
Webb 
 and reaching for her cammie cover.
 
 "Stop looking Webb" Harm ordered as he followed
Clay's gaze to where 
Mac was 
 trying to cover herself. Gunny had the good graces to
look away and 
Harm 
 reached down to help Mac with her shirt.
 
 "Sorry" Clay smiled. "And it's not my fault you two
decided to get 
skin to 
 skin."
 
 "We were staying warm" Harm retorted. "So keep all
comments to 
yourself 
 Webb."
 
 "I'm sure that was the case sir" Gunny spoke up. "And
when Mr. Webb 
shows 
 the picture, that's what you can tell the Admiral."
 
 "Picture" Mac gasped. "What picture? Clayton Webb so
help me god if 
you took 
 pictures of us like this I'm going to wring your
scrawny little neck."
 
 "She can do that too sir" Gunny smiled.
 
 "Yeah I know" Clay sighed. "Fine. I won't show the
Admiral the 
pictures. As 
 long as you two admit that you were doing more than
keeping each other 
warm 
 here. I wasn't born yesterday you know."
 
 "Should we tell him?" Mac asked as she looked at
Harm.
 
 "I don't have a problem saying the words" Harm
smiled. "Do you?"
 
 "No."
 
 "Saying what?" Clay laughed. "That you're in love
with her. Hell Harm 
we all 
 had that one figured out a long time ago."
 
 "Well for the record, I am very much in love with
this woman" Harm 
smiled. 
 "There are you happy now?"
 
 "Not until you tell us what really happened in this
cave last night?" 
Clay 
 smiled.
 
 "Harm kept me warm" Mac smiled. "That's all Clay."
 
 "Yeah right" he scoffed. "And unfortunately we don't
have time to 
discuss 
 this right now. We'll give you two a minute to finish
getting dressed 
and 
 then we need to get going."
 
 Harm watched them walk out before helping Mac to her
feet and back 
into her 
 clothes.
 
 "You think he'll tell the Admiral" Mac smiled.
 
 "So what if he does. He has no proof we were actually
doing anything 
you 
 know. And at this point do you really think the
Admiral would be 
surprised?"
 
 "Probably not" she laughed. "After all these years
there's not much we 
do 
 that surprises him anymore."
 
 "No there's not" Harm smiled. "Course I have one that
will really 
surprise 
 everyone."
 
 "You care to share?"
 
 To her surprise he dropped back onto one knee and
removed his Academy 
ring 
 before reaching for her left hand.
 
 "Marry me Sarah" he said softly. "When we get back to
the ship."
 
 "Harm you're not serious are you?" she whispered.
 
 "Of course I am. I love you Sarah. We've wasted so
much time already. 
Why 
 waste anymore?"
 
 "I don't know what to say" she whispered.
 
 "Say yes" he smiled.
 
 "Yes" she whispered tearfully and he slid his ring in
place.
 
 "Not a good fit but that will work for now," he said
softly. "When we 
get 
 back I want Captain Johnson to arrange to marry us.
If that's okay 
with you."
 
 "It's more than okay" she smiled.
 
 "Are you two coming or what?" Clay yelled. "Or would
do you want me to 
leave 
 you alone out here for another night?"
 
 "We're coming" Harm called and quickly finished
dressing.
 
 "What took you so long?" Clay asked when they finally
emerged from the 
cave.
 
 "Sorry. Just taking care of a few things" Harm
smiled. "Hey Clay when 
we get 
 back to the ship can you do us a favor?"
 
 "What kind of favor?"
 
 "We're going to need a witness."
 
 "Witness for what?" Clay asked.
 
 "A wedding Clay" Mac smiled. "Mr. Rabb just proposed
and I said yes."
 
 "What?" Clay gasped. "You spend six years dancing
around each other 
and I 
 leave you alone in the desert one night and suddenly
you're getting 
 married."
 
 "Hell Webb you should have done this a long time ago"
Gunny grinned.

"You know it.  I think I have a whole new career in
arranging 
marriages."  

"Harm we're really going to do this?" Mac breathed,
dressing as fast as 
she 
could.

"Unless you don't think we should."  He held his
breath, giving her the 
out.

"On the contrary, I think it's the best idea you've
had in forever," 
she 
smiled.  "I just don't want you to be sorry after."

Before she could move or speak again, he had clamped
his hand to the 
back of 
her head and brought her to him for a long kiss.

"The only thing I'm sorry for is how long it's taken
me to get off dead 
center and tell you that I love you.  I want to take
you back to D.C. 
as Mrs. 
Harmon Rabb."

"You got it Sailor," she whispered just before she
returned his kiss.

"Hey do that on your own time," Webb screeched.  "I
promised I'd keep 
the war 
on schedule here."
============
Captain Johnson regarded the two officers at attention
before them.  
"OK let 
me get this straight.  You want to stand on Vulture's
Row and have me 
and 
Chaplain Henry marry you."

"Yes sir.  That's not so out of line is it?" Harm
asked quietly.  "Sir 
after 
9-11, a lot of people started to give a lot of thought
to what was 
really 
important to them.  Well I've figured out what was
really important to 
me.  
My career and my country, my duty--all of that of
course will always be 
a 
huge part of my life.  But sir, this beautiful Marine
here is the other 
part 
of my life."  He paused and took a long breath.  "Sir
if I may, I see 
you 
wear a wedding ring.  You must have someone too."

The Captain dropped his head.  "For twenty-nine years
I did.   Her name 
was 
Mary.  I buried her last year."

Mac gasped sharply.  "Sir I'm so sorry."

"We had a long good life together, and if the two of
you want that, you 
should have it."  He touched a button on his phone. 
"Tell Chaplain 
Henry 
he's to perform a wedding in one hour.  Have him
report to me then."
===========
'To have and to hold--to love and cherish--from this
day forth'.  The 
time 
honored words were heard over the noise of the flight
deck below.  On 
Vulture's Row, a man and a woman stood holding hands. 
 

A Naval Commander and his bride.

EPILOGUE~~~~~
JAG HQ 
10 Days later

"Good Morning Mrs. Rabb."

The words brought a smile to her face everytime, even
though in the 
office 
she was still Colonel Mackenzie and nothing outwardly
had changed.

"We already said good morning, and very nicely too,"
she giggled at her 
husband of ten days.  "What's up?"

Harm smiled and held a legal-size brown envelope over
her desk.  Out 
fell a 
square box, covered in wedding gift wrap and done up
with a gold bow.  
"From 
Clay.  You open."

"Did you dunk it in water first?"  Gingerly she untied
the ribbon and 
slit 
the paper with her letter opener.   "You've got to be
kidding me."  For 
there 
enfolded in white tissue was a dozen photo prints. 
The pictures Clay 
had 
taken in the cave that morning.  

'For your album, with my complements' the note read.

"We won't be showing these in our wedding album," he
grinned, "but for 
private viewing----well, thanks Clay."

"If he hadn't gotten us involved we might never have.
. ."  She began 
and 
then looked into the green eyes she knew and loved so
well.  "No that's 
not 
true.  We would have found our way together."

THE END