The House on the Hill – as it was referred to by most locals – was actually the Brookhaven House. Several miles South of D.C., it rested almost in Virginia and was known by local historians as being haunted. It was open daily to the public for tours since none of the original Brookhaven family members were still alive.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look?"

Mac turned bright eyes to him in the dim interior of the SUV. "Several times," she murmured. "But you can tell me again," she added playfully.

Harm laughed and reached over to squeeze her hand. They were dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming. When Mac had opened the door of her apartment to him, the breath had swooped right out of him. Her dress was made of yards and yards of white satin and chiffon, flaring out from her tiny waist and falling in a rushing trail behind her on the ground. It was designed in an off-the-shoulder style with long, tight sleeves that ended in slight points on the backs of her hands. The bodice was tight and pushed her breasts upward, almost forcing them out of the tight confines of the dress. Around her neck was a choker of white velvet ribbon. In the center of it was a blazing emerald that perfectly set off her dark brown eyes and hair. Stunned, Harm had taken her hand and turned her in a slow circle, his eyes memorizing every line.

Smiling coyly at him, Mac had lifted the skirt of her dress.

"You have to check and see if the glass slipper fits," she murmured.

Harm lifted an eyebrow and she held up a tiny high-heeled pump made of some type of hard material that did indeed resemble the proverbial glass slipper. He took it in his big hand and led her to a kitchen chair. Mac sat down and lifted her skirts to reveal the long, bare length of her legs. Harm swallowed down a lump in his throat as he eyed their silky expanse. She wasn’t wearing nylons, having opted instead for comfort. He reached out and picked up her small foot, idly brushing his thumb over her toenails, painted a shimmery white.

Mac watched him carefully, almost holding her breath. He lifted his head and gave her a tender smile that had her toes curling against the palm of his hand. With utmost care, he slid the shoe onto her foot. Then he studied her beneath half-raised lids.

"Looks like a perfect fit," he murmured.

She only smiled and from behind her back, brought her hand out to reveal the other shoe.

"Ahh, you have the shoe that wasn’t left behind. Then you must be the princess I was dancing with before the clock struck midnight."

Mac couldn’t contain a breathless giggle at his words. He was seriously getting into his role as Prince Charming. And he certainly looked the part. He was wearing his formal dress whites but Mac had the Taylor add several strands of gold rope. There were also gold epaulets on his shoulders and a wide sash of gold circled his trim waist. He wore his white gloves and a long saber at his side completed the elaborate costume.

Now here they were in front of the old stone mansion where decorations galore had been strung up to give the old place a haunted air. Other couples were streaming in through the wide front doors as valets assisted with parking. Harm extended a hand to her and helped her out of the car before a valet drove it away

"Major! Commander!"

Mac and Harm paused halfway up the stone steps and turned to see Bud and Harriett.

"Oh, ma’am, you look so beautiful! "Harriett breathed, taking in Mac’s gently curling hair and the glitter that dusted her eyelids and cheeks and the tops of her bare shoulders.

"Thank you, Harriett, and may I return the compliment?"

Harriett and Bud had chosen Sir Lancelot and Lady Gweneivere and the young couple looked wonderful in the stately old dress.

"May I say that all four of you look especially good tonight?"

The foursome turned at the Admiral’s voice and found a real life version of Hamlet staring at them.

"Admiral," Harm greeted.

"Sir, you look very handsome," Mac teased, smiling fully at him.

"Thank you, Major. Shall we go inside?" he nodded toward the open doors.

The front rooms of the Brookhaven house were dimly lit and completely transformed into a haunted spectacle. If Mac hadn’t know better she would have thought they’d stepped into the dankest, darkest condemned house around. She couldn’t help the tiny shutter that traveled through her as they looked around.

"They went all out, didn’t they?" Harm murmured, his warm breath fanning her ear.

"Yes, they did," she answered.

From somewhere in the distance came the sound of gut wrenching screams followed by agonizing moans. Then it was silent and then they heard a maniacal, pure evil laugh ring throughout. Cringing, Mac buried her face against Harm’s upper arm, tightening her grip on him. He chuckled softly and lifted his other hand to curl around her cold fingers.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

"I won’t be able to sleep for a week," she moaned against his jacket.

Harm’s eyes widened slightly. "Don’t tell me you’re scared?"

Mac peaked up at him with one eye, the other still hidden by his sleeve. "I might as well admit to it ‘cause you’ll find out anyway. I’m a wimp, Harm. I’ll have to sleep in the car after we get done here tonight," she admitted in a rush, her words almost tripping over themselves.

Harm couldn’t contain the laugh that escaped him and she punched him lightly. "I’m sorry," he murmured." But this was the last thing I ever would have expected from my kick-ass little Jarhead."

"I can’t help it," she muttered. "I’ve been this way since I was little. I can barely bring myself to watch a scary movie. I couldn’t watch them at all when I was little and my Mom loved them. She always made me go to my room or I’d keep her up all night with nightmares."

He squeezed her fingers tight. "If it gets too bad you can come home with me tonight," he offered, his eyes alight with something Mac didn’t recognize.

"Will you check under the bed and in the closet for monsters?" she whispered, her eyes trapped in his gaze.

"And I’ll put a night light on."

"I might have to take you up on that," she whispered.

Music was playing from another room so they wandered closer to the door.

"It’s not yet midnight so can I interest you in a dance, Cinderella?" Harm asked courteously, bowing at the waist to her.

"I’d love to, Prince Charming," Mac replied, giving him a dainty little curtsey.

Harm took her hand and led her into the crowd of dancers. Many of the people were fully costumed, making it impossible to tell their real identities but tonight seemed to hold a certain sense of magic so it didn’t seem to matter.

With his hand at the small of her back and her other hand tucked close to his chest, Harm began to move them around the floor. The song playing was one he’d never heard before but Vince Gill was singing so his ears perked up.

Talk about striking a familiar chord. Harm tightened his grip on her hand, flattening her palm against his heart, his eyes never leaving hers. Mac titled her head to the side just a bit, her gaze wide and unblinking. They moved effortlessly through the crowd, drawn into a silken spell by the words and the music – which turned out to be a duet with Barbra Streisand.

As the music faded away they found themselves at a standstill – the rest of the crowd fading into the background.

"That song…." Harm began, trying to figure what it was he wanted to say to her.

"Sir, ma’am, Harriett and I are going to go on the tour of the house. Would you like to join us?"

Bud’s voice broke into the spell weaving its way around Harm and Mac. Regretfully, Harm backed his gaze away from Mac and looked at his junior officer. He cleared his throat slightly. "Mac?" he sent her a questioning look and she nodded. "Sounds good, Bud. Lead the way."

It turned out to be just the four of them and the guide, who led them deep into the house. Not an inch of the stately old place had escaped the holiday. The guide carried a gas torch as she led the way, pointing out things of interest among the cobwebs and spiders. There was even some kind of goop on the walls and some of the furniture that glowed in the darkness. A flutter of movement caught Mac’s eyes – almost as if someone walked past. She slowed to a stop and Harm looked in the direction of her gaze.

"What’s wrong?" he asked.

"I thought I saw someone," she whispered.

"I don’t think there’s anyone else up here but us," he returned.

Mac saw the flash again and turned her head toward it but there was nothing there. "I know I saw someone move across the doorway of that room," she whispered urgently.

Harm glanced down the hall where Bud and Harriett and gone on ahead with the guide, not realizing they weren’t with them. "Let’s take a look," he told her.

Carefully, they backtracked in the darkness to the door of the room in question. Inside the came to a stop and peered around the wide expanse. Like the rest of the house, masses of cobwebs hung everywhere. The goo dripped from the walls. Hairy spiders dangled from odd places and the glowing eyes of sewer rats blinked at them.

"It’s so dark," she murmured.

"We’ll have to be careful," he agreed.

The flash of movement again caught the corner of Mac’s eye and she whipped her head around but there was nothing there.

Mac turned her head back to Harm. "What?"

"Hmm?" He mumbled, looking up at the ceiling.

"You called my name. What did you want?" she repeated.

Harm turned and gave her a funny look. "I didn’t call you."

"There you go again!" She almost stamped her foot in frustration.

"There I go again what? Mac, I didn’t say anything! How could I when I’m looking right at you?" he demanded softly.

He had a point. Mac looked around the room and rubbed her arms. "Someone called my name," she whispered.

"Called your name? I didn’t hear anything," he noticed her look of distress and stepped closed to her. Harm rubbed he arms with his own hands and drew her to him. "Why don’t we go back to the party?" he suggested.

"Make it stop, Harm!" she cried softly, burying her face in his chest.

"That’s it. Let’s get back downstairs."

Harm jerked around mid-step and his gaze swung wide across the room. "Who’s there?" he called.

There was no answer but instead they heard the soft sounds of weeping. Mac and Harm looked at each other and then around the room, trying to determine where the sound was coming from.

"It sounds like it’s above us," Mac whispered, her voice still loud in the silence.

Keeping one arm tightly around her, Harm moved toward the wall, peering through the darkness and cobwebs. He thought he saw… yes, there it was. It looked like a door. He reached out one hand and searched for a knob.

"It feels like it’s sealed," he told her.

Mac reached out a hand, too, and traced the edge of the door. "There’s an indention on this side, almost like an opening. Is there anything here we can pry it open with?" she asked, looking around.

The crying was becoming more agitated. "Help me… Mommy… Daddy… where are you? I can’t find you! Mommy? Mommy, is that you? Mommy, please come get me."

Mac’s fingers tightened until Harm thought she was going to tear his jacket sleeve. He removed her hand from his arm and held it within his own larger one instead. A cold touch passed over Mac’s shoulder and she let out a small cry, jumping toward Harm. He held her tight, feeling the violent pounding of her heart.

"Something touched me," she gasped.

Harm looked around them and Mac felt the touch again. She jerked away from it, nearly knocking him over. He tightened his grip on her.

"Stand still, Mac. Shhh, honey, stand still for a minute," he soothed

"What did you call me?" That got her attention.

"I called you honey," he smiled slightly. "Worked, didn’t it? Stand still for a minute and let’s see what happens."

Mac did as he said, her fingers curling in the front of his jacket. They heard the sound of weeping again, louder this time. Mac felt the brush on her skin again but she forced herself to remain still.

"There it is again," she whispered. "It’s almost like someone touching me with their hand."

Just then Harm felt the same thing on his cheek. He jerked his head around. "I just felt it, too. It’s almost like a sensation more than an actual touch," he muttered, glancing around. "Let’s see if we can get this door open. Stay right here."

Mac waited while Harm looked around and finally produced an old fireplace poke. Carefully, he dug around the edges of the door until he eventually pried it open far enough to get his hands in. It took all his strength but he finally managed to drag the heavy door open enough for them to get past it. He held onto the poker for safety measures and turned to grasp Mac’s hand.

"Ready?" he asked quietly.

"Ready," she nodded.

They squeezed through the narrow opening into a short hall that met a flight of stone steps. The sobbing was definitely louder now.

"Harm, look!" Mac whispered urgently.

The stairs curved around out of sight and beyond that point a soft, pale green light began to glow. They looked at each other and Mac tightened her grip on Harm’s hand. Slowly, they started up the steps.

Harm looked down at her, smiling slightly where her face was pressed into his sleeve. "Why don’t you try talking to it?’ he murmured.

That brought her head up with a jerk. "Talk to it? Are you crazy? We don’t even know what ‘it’ is!" she retorted.

"And that’s what we’re trying to find out."

Mac glanced back at the stairs. "You don’t think this is all part of the set up for the house, do you?"

"I don’t think so," he answered, shaking his head. "It would have to be extremely elaborate but something about this just doesn’t feel right. Besides, there are countless rumors about the house being haunted. If you don’t want to do this we’ll turn around and leave right now, Mac."

She searched his eyes for a moment. "You don’t seem at all scared," she mused.

Harm took her hand and gently pressed it over his heart. It was pounding furiously beneath her palm.

"Does this feel like I’m not scared?" he asked dryly.

She flashed a brief smile. "No."

"I’m scared to death since we have no idea what’s going on or what we’re up against. I’m afraid you’ll get hurt somehow or that we’re walking into a trap. But I’ll admit my curiosity is about to get the best of me," he explained.

"Mine, too. I guess a hidden part of me has always believed in the paranormal – that ghosts really do exist but not actually facing the reality of one…" her voice trailed off. "I’m scared to death," she admitted with a shaky laugh.

"Then we’ll be scared to death together," he promised, lifting her hand to brush a tender kiss across her knuckles.

Pressed close together, they started for the stairs again. About halfway up, the light began to glow brighter and the air in the stairwell grew frigid. Mac huddled closer and Harm put his arm around her, covering her bare shoulders. Up and up they climbed, cringing as the heart wrenching sobs got louder and louder.

Mac glanced at Harm again and cleared her throat. "Mommy’s here, honey! Where are you?"

A blast of hot air hit them full in the face as they rounded the last curve, coming to another door. Before either of them could react, the door swung open and they were confronted with the source of the light. The whole room was bathed with it and the air was again freezing cold – like the inside of a meat locker.

Mac and Harm looked at each other then around the room. There was nothing in it except for an old rotted bed in the far corner. Little more than a cot actually. They proceeded a little further into the room. The crying began again but this time a strange feeling settled over them both. Mac squeezed Harm tighter.

"I don’t like this," she whispered.

"It feels bad here now," he answered. "Like something distasteful just came in the room."

The weeping became so loud they both covered their ears against the decibel level. The door behind them began to open and close, hitting with such force that the floor beneath them shook.

"Mac! Look out!"

Harm jerked her tot he side just as the old cot sailed across the room, slamming into the far wall and breaking into pieces. Another door they hadn’t noticed on the wall farthest away from them began opening and closing. It yawned open like a huge, hungry mouth, blackness beyond it. Icy, swirling wind blew through the room, lifting their hair and clothes.

"Harm!" Mac called, reaching for him.

Mac found herself being pulled toward the door where it continued to flap open and closed.

"Mac!" Harm yelled in horror.

He lunged forward and grabbed her arms, pulling back with all his might. But the unseen force continued to pull her closer to the door. The banging reached ungodly levels and the wind blew harder and stronger, stinging their skin.

"Harm! Oh my God – help me!" Mac screamed, holding onto him as tight as she could.

They were at the door now and Mac was halfway through the gaping emptiness. Harm was on the floor, holding her with all his might. He braced both his feet against the wall next to the door and leaned back with all his might. Their struggle seemed to go on forever, terror reaching into the depths of both of them as Harm tried desperately to pull her back to him.

"I’m slipping!" Mac cried. "Oh, God, I can’t hold on much longer!"

"Don’t you dare let go of me, Marine! Damn it, hang on!" he bellowed at her.

Suddenly it was over as fast as it began. The wind dissipated, the crying stopped and Mac fell into his arms with enough force to send them tumbling backward, the door slamming shut behind her. Harm held her tightly for a second, almost afraid to move. Slowly, he rose to a sitting position, Mac cradled on his lap.

A voice boomed from all around them, making them both jump to their feet.

Harm started to back away, clutching Mac to him. Then they turned and ran for the door but it slammed shut before they could get to it. Harm grabbed the giant handle and tried to get it open. The heavy wood wouldn’t budge. Harm stepped back, breathing heavily.

"We can’t leave if you won’t let us!" he yelled to the empty room.

Harm looked at Mac. "Try answering her!" he urged.

"I’m here, sweetie! Where are you?" Mac called.

Mac looked at Harm.

"Where are you, honey? Mommy and I can’t see you!" Harm called.

"Tell us where you are, baby, and we’ll all go home," Harm cajoled.

There was a blinding flash of light in the room that temporarily stunned Mac and Harm. Rapidly they blinked away the spots in the eyes, looking around the room. Harm felt Mac press closer, grasping his hand tightly. The room began to glow again, this time a pale, smoky white. In a corner several feet from them, a tiny little girl appeared. She was dressed in clothes from an era long past – something Victorian and she had long, golden ringlets held atop her head by a satin ribbon.

Harm and Mac both felt their eyes widen in stunned surprise. They hadn’t really known what to expect but actually seeing this child wasn’t it. She was crying – deep, heart rendering sobs that tore at both their hearts. The front of her lacy little dress was dirty and in one hand she clutched a ragged, drooping daisy.

She was speaking directly to them now. She took a step forward and held out her arms to them. Mac felt herself beginning to move forward as well, almost drawn by a will other than her own.

The room erupted in chaos again. Yelling her name, Harm grabbed Mac and curled his body around her as the wind rose again. The infernal banging clamored all around them threatening to burst their eardrums. The temperature dropped again to well below freezing and putrid, rotten smell filled the room. Mac felt her eyes water and she covered her nose and mouth with her hand, trying not to breathe in the foul stench.

"Oh my God," Harm gasped. "Look!"

Cracks began to open up in the walls and some kind of slime oozed from them, dropping onto the stone floor. Angry burn marks appeared as well and smoke hissed from them. A crack split through the floor, almost to where they were standing and steam seeped from it.

Mac screamed and grabbed at Harm, drawing his gaze to where she was staring.

"What the hell…" Was all he managed to get out.

Across the room a creature appeared from right out of the wall. Harm felt his heart bottom out and he pushed Mac behind him in an effort to protect her. It moved toward them, slow halting steps that made the floor shake beneath their feet. It was tall, several feet over Harm’s height and covered with thick, slimy scales. It had a long pointed snout with sharp, pointed fangs that dripped with what looked like slobber. It’s glowing red eyes raked over them.

The voices blasted Harm and Mac at the same time. The angry, booming shout of the creature and the high pitched, frightened cries of the small girl. The creature came closer and Harm started backing away, keeping Mac behind him. Across the room, the second door was open again and he steered them toward it. He staggered beneath the force of the wind and felt Mac’s long dress blow around his legs. Pulling around next to him, he bent slightly and scooped up the yards of material, pushing them into her hands and freeing her legs.

"Run, Mac! Run for that door!" he yelled, giving her a push.

Mac did as he ordered, heading pell-mell for the door. The creature lashed its long tail at them as it turned around, barely missing Harm who jumped to avoid it. They dashed through the yawning door and into total blackness. Harm grasped Mac’s arm and kept gong forward, his other hand outstretched to keep from running into anything.

Ahead of them another green light began to glow, illuminating their way. They ran along what seemed to be a dungeon path. There was dirt beneath their feet and the walls were stone, dank and wet with moisture.

The voice of the little girl echoed all around them and they continued on, turning this way and that along the hall until they were almost dizzy. Behind them the heavy footfalls sounded.

Suddenly there was another door in front of them, the passageway coming to a dead stop. Harm grasped the handle and tried to push the heavy door open but it wouldn’t budge.

"Oh, no!" Mac cried. "Now what?"

The frigid wind swept into the narrow hall behind them and the smell again filled their senses, threatening to choke them.

Harm turned back to the door and hit it hard with his shoulder. It shivered under the impact and he backed up and did it again. They heard a splintering sound. He hit it again and again, wincing under the jarring pain in his shoulder but going on anyway. With one more mighty push, the wood cracked apart. Harm kicked it in the rest of the way with his foot and climbed through before turning to help Mac through it. They turned to run and came to a stumbling halt.

They were in a garden! A beautiful, lush garden with rows and rows of rose bushes, neatly trimmed hedges and stone statues of Angels. Holding tightly to Mac’s hand, the hurried onward, still hearing the whistle of the wind behind them and the babble of the creature form the other room. An entrance to the hedges beckoned at their left and they dodged through it, finding themselves in a maze. The pair ran on, turning this way and that down the aisles, feeling the springy grass beneath their feet as the moon overhead lit their way. Just as fast as they found themselves lost in the maze, it opened up to a courtyard.

Harm and Mac staggered to a standstill, breathing heavily as they heard the new voice. This one was deep and kind,

They both turned and sure enough, the tiny girl was standing near the fountain, still clutching the daisy in her small fist.

"We don’t even know where we are!" Harm yelled in frustration. "How can you punish us?" he demanded.

"Let us out of here!" Mac added angrily.

"Who are you? Damn it, let us out of here!" Harm shot back.

"Help for what?" Mac asked, turning to look over her shoulders when she heard the hedges in the maze rustling.

Harm and Mac looked at each other.

"We didn’t ask for any of this. Please just let us out of here," Harm pleaded, drawing Mac against him again.

The little girl came closer to them, the white, ethereal glow surrounding her. She held something out to them. Hesitantly, Harm extended his hand and found that he was able to take the proffered item from her. He held it up and they both gasped. It was a picture of them only they were dressed in clothes much like the little girl’s.

"Oh, my, God," Mac whispered. "No wonder she keeps calling us Mommy and Daddy."

"How much do you know about ghosts and spirits?" Harm muttered.

"Nothing! I’m too afraid to even watch a horror movie!" she answered plaintively.

Harm looked back at the little girl.

She sounded so happy now to see them. The other voice sounded above them again.

Lines from the song they danced to when the first arrived at the party played around them and they looked at each other.

The little girl began to cry again in earnest, the same terrified weeping that had originally drawn them to stone room.

"Wait, don’t cry," Mac pleaded, instinctively taking a step forward.

Mac started to reach for her when the little girl suddenly screamed and dropped to her knees, covering her head with her arms.

The booming voice form before blasted them and the creature came into the courtyard form the maze. Slobber dripped from its fangs and it reach long arms toward them, the hands tipped with razor-sharp, curved claws. Without a second’s hesitation, Harm scooped up the crying child, snatched Mac’s hand and started to run, darting around the creature and back into the maze. The creature roared furiously and another blast of cold lashed them.

"Tell us how to help you!" Harm cried to no one in particular as they ran on. "We don’t know what to do!"

"What amulet?" Harm yelled.

"Damn it! I don’t know what you’re talking about!" Harm shouted angrily to the voice.

Startled by her voice in his ear, Harm almost lost his grip on the child. She smiled at him, tightening her hold on his neck.

"Yes, I did. I’m sorry," Harm muttered, glancing over at Mac.

"If you say that one more time you can forget our help! Tell me where the hell it is!" Harm demanded.

Harm looked down at the child.

Heavy, stomping feet were right behind them, growing closer.

"Harm!"

Harm felt Mac’s hand slip from his grasp and he jerked to a halt, turning back to her. The creature was in sight now and it had a long, rope-like appendage wrapped around Mac.

"Wait here," Harm ordered as he set the child on her feet.

He ran over to Mac and grabbed at the tentacle surrounding her waist. Mac clutched at his shoulders, struggling to pull herself free.

"Let her go!" Harm bellowed.

"Like hell she is! You can’t have her!"

He looked around frantically but there was nothing he could use for a weapon. An idea occurred to him and he unpinned his gold wings. He stabbed at the creature’s hold on Mac. It let out a roar of fury and pain and snapped it’s tail around, catching Harm in the back of the legs and sending both he and Mac tumbling to the ground.

"Harm!" Mac screamed.

Harm rolled to the side just as the spiked tail smacked down again, leaving holes in the grass where it landed. Harm dodged around behind the creature, trying to confuse it. Mac was still struggling to get away from it as it pulled her along the grass toward its gaping jaws.

Harm heard the little girl yell and suddenly she was standing near him. "I told you to stay put!" he yelled at her.

She held a long chain out to him, an old tarnished medal hanging from it. Harm snatched it from her hand.

"Now what do I do?" he called.

There was no answer so he looked at the little girl. She only stared back at him.

"Harm!" Mac screamed again.

Harm’s head swiveled between Mac, the little girl and the creature, torn by indecision and frustration. Anger over took him and without another though, he drew back his arm and heaved the amulet at the creature. It hit square between the glowing red eyes and the creature let out a bellow that shook clear to their souls.

The hold it had on Mac was released and she scrambled out of the way. Grabbing the little girl, Harm darted around the screaming demon and grabbed Mac, too. A blinding explosion of light and sound flared up, throwing them all to the ground. Harm threw himself over Mac and the child, holding them both tight. The noise seemed to go on forever until their ears ached from the pressure and their hearts threatened to burst from their chests. Waves of heat washed over them, so intense it felt like their skin was blistering. Harm struggled to lift his head but the light was too bright and he couldn’t get his eyes open. Hurricane type winds swept through with a sound akin to waves crashing against a rocky shore. Then it turned cold and they were pelted with what felt like thousands of pieces of hail.

"Make it stop!" Mac cried, the wind whipping her voice away from Harm.

The little girl was crying again in earnest.

The noise and confusion, the heat, the cold and the wind and the hail seemed to go one forever. Mac felt the pressure mounting in her chest and it was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. The grass beneath pressed into her cheek where Harm was holding her down and she could hear his harsh breathing in her ear.

Then all at once it was deathly quiet.

Harm lay still for a moment, trying to slow the galloping of his heart. Beneath him, Mac stirred and cautiously he lifted his head. The creature was gone and they were on the cold stone floor of the room with the cot.

"What happened?" Mac moaned, touching her forehead.

"I don’t know," Harm mumbled.

He struggled to his feet and then lifted her up to stand beside him.

"Where did she go?" he asked wildly, looking around.

Mac knew instantly who he was referring to. "I don’t know. Wasn’t she with us?"

"I grabbed her right before I got to you. She’s just disappeared."

Just then the sweet sound of her laughter filled the room.

Mac and Harm looked at each other.

Harm realized he was holding something and he raised his hand, unfolding his long fingers. There on his broad palm lay the wilted little daisy she’d clutched for so long in her hand. Mac looked up at him and then placed her hand in his, carefully sandwiching the flower between them.

"No one will ever believe this," he murmured off-handedly.

"No one else has to know," she whispered. "It will be our secret."

They both smiled this time.

"You saved her, ‘Daddy’," Mac teased softly.

"Is that what I did? I’m not sure of anything at this very second."

The deep, soothing voice sounded around them.

The little girl’s voice echoed through them once more, ringing with an air of finality this time.

Mac looked back to his beloved face. "See? You saved us all."

And then she kissed him.

The End