"Tiner! Would you tell Rabb and MacKenzie I want to see them in my office immediately!"

"Yes, sir."

"Commander Rabb?"

"Yes, Tiner?" Harm answered absently.

With a sigh, he threw the file he’d been looking through back on his desk

and stood up. He walked a few steps across the bullpen to Mac’s office and stuck his head inside her open door.

She put her pen down and stood up, smoothing her skirt. She joined him

in the bullpen and they walked to the Admiral’s area. Just short of Tiner’s desk, Mac reached out and touched her partner’s arm. He looked down at her, his expression unrevealing.

"Harm, about this morning. We need to…"

"We don’t have time for this right now, Mac. It’ll have to wait," he answered quietly, reaching out to carefully slide her hand away from him.

Slightly embarrassed, Mac clenched her hands into fists at her sides. At least he didn’t get ugly. May she could still try and repair the damage she’d done.

"PO Tiner, did you tell Rabb and MacKenzie I wanted to see them now and not tomorrow?"

Harm and Mac both rolled their eyes and Tiner hid a small smile as the Admiral’s voice bellowed through the intercom. Harm stepped forward and opened Admiral’s Chegwidden’s door before Tiner could announce them. He let Mac go in ahead of him and closed the door before they both came to attention.

"As you were," A.J. snapped.

"Aye, sir." They both answered.

"Have a seat, please."

The two did as he ordered, waiting expectantly for him to speak.

"There’s been an incident."

"What kind of incident, sir?" Harm asked, looking concerned.

"An F-14 from the Kitty Hawk on a routine training mission went down near Victoria, Texas."

"No one knows. Here’s what we do know. They went down on a ranch – the biggest in the state and quite probably the country. A team was sent in immediately following by air since the crash site isn’t accessible by car. There was no sign of the pilot or the RIO. The last transmission received onboard was about an incoming missile but the ship’s radar picked up no bogey activity. The family that owns the ranch has been pretty understanding but its turning into a damned circus. I want the two of you to go out there and meet with them. Then I want you to investigate the site. See what you can find," Admiral Chegwidden stated.

"The story doesn’t add up," Harm interjected. "They reported being shot at but there were no other planes in the sky? It would take some pretty heavy artillery to bring them down from the ground. Did they punch out?"

"The rescue team believes so. And that’s what I want you and the Major to find out. Who brought that plane down and why. Your first stop will be the Kitty Hawk to talk to the CO and then onto the ranch. Lt. Sims has all the information for you. Let’s get to it people."

Harm and Mac both stood and saluted.

"Dismissed," A.J. barked.

"Aye, sir."

"Yes, sir."

The pair went back to the bullpen and stopped at Harriett’s desk. She already had the file out with a smile on her face.

"How exciting, sir, ma’am. You’ll actually be going to a real cattle ranch! I have all the information on the ranch and the family here as well as your tickets, rental car, etc. If you need anything else just let me know," she told them.

Harm took the file from her with a smile. "Thanks, Harriett."

He turned toward his office then turned back toward Mac. "Shall we, Major?" he murmured, waving the file.

He allowed her to go in ahead of him and closed the door before sitting down behind the desk. Mac leaned forward in her chair as he opened the file and spread out the contents. There were several color photos of an impressive piece of land as well as aerial and topographical charts. Harm picked up a sheet on the owners.

"The McKenzie family." He shot her a quick glance. "With no A in the spelling so I take it they’re not relatives?" he grinned slightly.

Mac shook her head and offered a small smile in return. "No. What’s it say about them?"

"The ranch has been in the family for 5 generations. It’s current size and wealth are due to the oldest son, King." Harm looked at her and grinned. "And you thought my name was off the wall."

Mac smiled. "His parents must have high hopes for him."

"I guess so. Says here he sits on several boards and is the current president of the Cattleman’s Association. He also breeds and trains Arabians. There are six other brothers and their mother, Ellison, along with seven wives and assorted children. Four of the families have homes on the ranch, another lives in Lubbock in north Texas, one in Dallas and the other in Houston. King and the next oldest, Brett, run the ranch full time. Each of the brothers has equal interest and responsibilities, though." His voice trailed off and he read for a minute and then he let out a slight whistle.

"What is it?" Mac asked.

"Pretty impressive lineage. Out of the five remaining brothers, there’s a CIA agent, a Texas Ranger, a US Marshal and a Homicide detective. The youngest is a NASCAR driver."

"Wow," Mac nodded. "Anything else?"

Harm shook his head. "Just that we have their full cooperation. They’ve offered to have us stay at the ranch since they’re about an hour from the closest town. They’re expecting us tonight after a stop over on the Kitty Hawk."

"Guess I better go pack," Mac stated.

"There you are! I just called your office and Lt. Roberts told me you were going out on an assignment."

Harm closed his eyes. Jordan. The last person he wanted to talk to right now. "I don’t have time right now, Jordan. I have to get packed and go pick up Mac."

"You’re leaving town again? You just got back," she sighed hugely.

"Sorry," Harm answered, trying to keep his voice level. "I really do have to go," he stated evenly. {Before I say something I’ll regret.}

"You sound upset, honey. Are you all right?" she asked.

"I’m fine but, Jordan, we’re going to have a long talk when I get back."

"Oohh, sounds serious," she teased.

"Not the way you think," he answered flatly. "I know about your visit to Mac last night."

You could have heard a pin drop from Texas in the silence that ensued after his statement.

"Harm, I can…"

"I know, you can explain," he cut her off. "Problem is, I don’t want to hear about it right now. I’m not ready to discuss this subject but when I get back, I’m going to be very interested in hearing your reasoning behind this," he stated firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

"Fine," Jordan snapped, recovering some of her composure.

They were saluted immediately as they stepped off the helo onto the deck of the Kitty Hawk.

"Sir! Ma’am! Welcome aboard!"

"At ease, Ensign Walker."

The young man relaxed his stance and felt into step beside them. "It’s a pleasure to have you both with us. I’ll be your escort while you’re on board. Captain Hart is expecting you in Ops," he stated professionally.

Harm and Mac exchanged a glance. They remembered not so long ago when they were meeting Harriet this very same way. She had been nervous, too. The young man entered the ship ahead of them and Mac took the opportunity to touch her partner’s arm.

"Harm?"

He looked down into her upturned face and knew what she was going to say. Before she could continue, he covered her hand with his and smiled softly. "Truce for now, okay? I promise we’ll talk but right now just isn’t the time," he murmured, not wanting Ensign Walker to overhear.

Mac returned his smile with a tentative one of her own "At least you’re still speaking to me," she whispered.

"You’re my partner and my best friend, Mac. I won’t ever not speak to you," he answered earnestly.

Mac could still hear the hurt behind the words, though, and wished with all her heart she could take back her accusations from that morning. But the deed was done and now all she could was find a way to repair the damage.

A few minutes later they were escorted into Ops where Captain Michael Hart was poring over a plan with one of his officers.

"Sir, Lt. Commander Rabb and Major MacKenzie reporting," Ensign Walker announced.

All three came to attention and saluted the Captain. "At ease. Commander, Major, good to have you onboard," he smiled and shook both of their hands.

Captain Hart had heard of this illustrious team standing before him. They’d done a lot for the welfare of the Navy since they’d become partners. They had an insatiable hunger for the truth and assigning them to a case meant you’d get it.

"Good to be here, sir," Harm answered pleasantly.

"Why don’t we go down to dining room and have some coffee?" Captain Hart suggested. "We can talk there."

"Whatever you’d like, sir," Harm returned.

"Then lets make our way to the dining room."

A few minutes later they were seated at a round table with the Captain.

"What happened yesterday with Lts. Jackson and Turner?" Harm asked, immediately starting with their questions.

"We’re not exactly sure, Commander. They were on a routine session inland when Lt. Jackson reported artillery fire. Our radar showed no sign of bogey activity nor did the Lt. mention another aircraft. The rescue crew found the plane in a million scattered pieces but there was no sign of my men," Captain Hart explained.

"Did they punch out?" Mac questioned.

"They did. A sweep of the area showed nothing, not even a sign of their chutes."

Harm sat back in his chair and exchanged a bemused look with Mac. "It would take pretty heavy firepower to bring an F-14 down. And to have that power on the ground…" his voice trailed off. "What kind of pilot is Lt. Jackson, Captain?"

"A good one. He’s a Tiger but he’s not reckless."

"He has a good history."
"Yes, he does, Major. That’s why it’s all the more important to me to find out where he and Lt. Turner are."

"Has anyone from here questioned the family that owns the ranch?" Harm asked.

"No. It was suggested that we leave that to you two," Captain Hart answered. "They witnessed the entire event and called the local police to report it. Our liaison did get in touch with their local Sheriff and they promised to stay away from the site. I understand, though, that it’s not accessible by car. If you’ll let us know when you’re ready, I’ll send a helo out to fly you up there," he offered.

"Thank you, sir," Harm nodded. "We’ll keep that in mind."

"This place is so beautiful."

Harm glanced over at his partner’s face, momentarily distracted by the enraptured look on her beautiful features.

"It certainly is something," he agreed, looking out the windshield.

After the helo from the Kitty Hawk had dropped them off at the airport, it had taken them about an hour to make the drive from Victoria, TX to the McKenzie ranch. According to the maps Mac had been following, they’d actually been on the ranch for quite awhile. They found the turn for the compound clearly marked and headed for the home site.

When it came into view, they were both stunned anew. The actual compound consisted of several buildings. The main house sat in the center; a white two-story ranch house with an additional wing that was only a single-story. Several feet to the side in both directions were smaller buildings and there were at least a half dozen corrals. Trucks were parked in rows all around the front of the house and they grinned at each when they realized the wisdom Harriett had in renting them a Chevy pickup. They pulled up behind the last truck and got out, stretching their legs and looking around the compound. Harm pulled their suitcases out of the back of the back of the black truck and set them down.

"Glad to see y’all made it without getting lost."

They whirled at the sound of a man’s voice and saw several people coming out the front door of the house.

"I feel a little out of place," Mac murmured under breath, indicating her uniform.

The group coming toward them was all dressed in jeans and boots, the mean wearing cowboy hats and belts with wide buckles.

"Feel like maybe we walked into the middle of a scene from ‘Bonanza’?" Harm murmured, smiling at her as they walked forward.

"A little," she grinned back. "But there certainly won’t be any mistaking them for country bumpkins. This isn’t some backwoods family," she reminded him.

"True," Harm agreed.

"I’m King McKenzie. Good to have you here with us."

One of the tallest, most attractive men Mac had ever seen stepped forward, his hand outstretched. He wasn’t as tall as Harm but he was bigger in stature and looked hard enough to chew rattlesnakes. He had dark hair beneath the brim of his straw hat and very dark green eyes that were warm and open. They both shook his outstretched hand.

"Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. and my partner Major Sarah MacKenzie."

"We were afraid you might get lost and we weren’t sure exactly what time to expect you."

A slim, beautiful woman with strands of silver threaded through her brown hair stepped forward with her hand out as well. "Ellison McKenzie. Glad to have you both. Did you have any trouble on the road out here?"

"No, ma’am," Harm answered.

She laughed softly, her voice husky. "Please, just call me Ellie. I feel old enough when the boys call me ma’am," she stated. "Let me introduce the rest of the brood to you. "

Thankful that they both had a penchant for remembering names, Mac and Harm found themselves enveloped in the small circle of husbands and wives. They discovered that it wasn’t typical of the whole family to be on hand but since the crash, the ones that weren’t already there came down to see what had happened. And to meet the two JAG lawyers coming to stay for the investigation.

A few minutes later, they were all inside the large house. "We hope you’ll be comfortable here. King and myself and Ellie are the only ones that live here in the main house. I don’t know whether it’s a blessing or not but all the kids are with King’s Aunt and Uncle in East Texas," This came from King’s wife, Storm. A pretty woman with flaming red hair in wild curls to her waist and dark green eyes, who was just a couple of inches shorter than her husband.

"I’m sure it will be fine. It was very kind of you to have us here with you," Mac answered, smiling.

"Well, as you can see, the drive is long and there’s very little in between. We figured you’d want to be out here closer to the crash site."

The group moved into the big front living room and settled in various chairs. Mac stayed close to Harm, thinking to herself that it was a good thing all these women were married. She felt a little dowdy in comparison to these women who were all sizes and coloring but each was astoundingly beautiful.

She would have been surprised to know her partner was thinking of something along the same lines as she was except he was grateful these McKenzie men were all taken. They would have to be blind not to notice how beautiful Mac was – even compared to their wives. But maybe that was his own opinion.

"Have you been out to the site at all?" Harm asked.

King shook his head. We weren’t sure what had been done on your end or what the two of you intended to do. We are a little curious about what happened, though."

"The Admiral told us that someone here witnessed the crash?" Harm asked, pulling out a notepad from his briefcase.

"Brett and I did and several of our hands," King answered, indicating his younger brother who trained quarter horses on the ranch.

"Tell me what you saw, please," Harm urged, pen poised over the paper.

"Well, we were working some of the horses around…. Oh, I guess it was around two. The fighter had been overhead for awhile doing maneuvers before we heard the sounds of artillery. We weren’t sure at first if he was shooting or not but the next thing we knew he plane exploded," King explained.

"Did you see the pilots eject or were they too far away?" Mac asked.

"No, we saw them after their chutes opened. It was right after that when we called the Sheriff Anderson. He called back about an hour later and told us an officer from the Kitty Hawk had called and said they were sending a rescue crew," Brett put in.

Harm looked at Mac. So far all the points of the story were coinciding. The look they exchanged didn’t go unnoticed by King.

"Do you to know something you aren’t talking about yet? Was this something classified?"

"You seem to know an awful lot about military procedures, King. Were you ever in the service?" Harm inquired.

King laughed easily, leaning back in his chair and crossing one booted foot over the opposite knee. "I wasn’t, but he was," he nodded in the direction of the third oldest, Wade.

"I was Special Forces before I joined the Agency," Wade told them, referring to the CIA.

"No wonder you know so much…." Harm grinned. "To answer your question, there was nothing classified going on. We’re concerned about what brought the plane down," he admitted.

"Well, we already know there weren’t any other planes in the vicinity. Their plane was the only one flying over here all afternoon," Brett mused.

"Do you think this could have anything to do with the cattle we’ve been missing?" Storm asked.

King looked at his wife for a moment then looked at Harm and Mac. "We’re moving into round up and we’ve been finding some of the herds from the north pastures gone. Nothing we would typically miss – just one or two here and there," he explained.

"Is that unusual on a ranch this size? I don’t know much about ranching but there are wild predators out here that could bring down a steer, isn’t there?" Mac questioned, meeting King’s gaze.

"There are," he nodded slowly. "But typically we find something left behind. Or there are buzzards circling. We don’t normally have trouble with slaughter from predators, though. These steers just disappeared altogether."

An idea was beginning to form in Harm’s mind and he looked over at Mac. "I don’t like the feeling I’m getting," he stated.

"How so?" she asked.

Harm turned back to the members of the family. "Have you noticed any signs of activity on the property outside of what you find form your hands?"

"No, but then we’ve been awfully busy with the herds. Generally, I do a sweep by air about once a month. I should have done this month’s last week but I didn’t have time. I was planning to go up this week. Why?" King questioned, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"I’m wondering if maybe you don’t have some unwelcome visitors on your property, King."

They could see the idea hadn’t occurred to the other man. "Visitors? Like terrorists or something? I don’t imagine just anyone’s gong to have access to what they would need to shoot an F-14 out of the sky," he answered flatly.

"I don’t know if I would say terrorists but maybe a militia group. Incidents like that aren’t unheard of around these parts," Harm reminded, referring to the Ruby Ridge incident.

"The area of the crash is only accessible by air or horseback. It is feasible that someone could be holed up there for a good amount of time before they were discovered," King admitted. "We could take you up in the helicopter tomorrow and let you have a look for yourself," he offered.

"Mac, ever been on a horse?"

Mac eyed her partner with speculation. "It’s been a while but I can ride if that’s what you’re asking."

Harm turned back to King. "Can you give us directions to go in on horseback?" he asked.

"Better than that, we can take you up there. First of all, it’s about 80 miles to the site and it would take up 6 days to go in on horseback. We can trailer the horses up to the bottom of the area and ride the rest of the way in. Even though it would be easier to fly in, I think I know why you asked about doing it this way. You don’t want to make anymore noise to alert whoever’s up there, do you?"

Once again, Harm and Mac were surprised by his astuteness. But it just stood to reason that a man of his position and wealth didn’t get there by being a dumb ass.

"I don’t want to announce to the whole world that we’re here. I’d rather have them believe the rescue transport was all that’s going to show up – at least for the time being."

"Do you think they might have Jackson and Turner?" Mac put in.

"Maybe and it could be that no one’s up there at all. I’m just grasping at straw right now. What I do know is that it would take at least a rocket launcher to bring that fighter down. That isn’t something you just walk into a gun shop and buy," Harm stated.

"I vote we table this discussion for the time being and get in to supper. You two are probably hungry and I know this brood is," Ellie announced, rising to her feet.

Mac rose as well. "Can I help you with anything?" she asked.

"No, darlin’. You two just go on up and let Storm show you to your rooms so you can freshen up or change. And come on back down when you’re done. Supper’ll be on the table."

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door that connected Mac’s room to Harm’s by way of a bathroom.

"Come in," she called.

Harm walked in, studying the line of her back as she unpacked something from her suitcase to change into. She turned and caught his look just as he turned away.

"What do you think about all this?" he asked softly, walking over to stand at the window.

The sun was setting on a view that was nothing short of spectacular. As far as the eye could see there were trees and green grass, hills in the distance and the faintest sign of the red-coated herds milling on McKenzie Acres.

"I think this is definitely a new situation for us. This is nothing like chasing down criminals onboard a ship or a base," Mac grinned.

"I guess I wasn’t sure what to expect," Harm admitted. "But these people are really nice. I was hoping not involve them at all but since this is they’re property, they have a right to know what’s going on," he added.

"And no one would know the way to the site better than them. I’m surprised they’re willing to take us up there when they obviously have their hands full here. You know what, flyboy?" she grinned mischievously. "You never did mention if you could ride a horse."

"I can ride," he laughed softly. "It’s been awhile but I hear it’s like riding a bike," he teased, his voice low and playful.

A tendril of wistfullness curled around Mac’s heart at his words. This was the way things should always be between them and she didn’t realize how much she enjoyed it until it was missing.

"Harm…" she turned toward him.

"I’ll see you out in the hall in a few minutes," he cut her off and disappeared back through the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Mac gritted her teeth in frustration. How could she make amends when she couldn’t pin him down long enough to talk? {Well, fine, if that’s the way he wants to treat this then I won’t say another word. He can just come to me when he’s ready and then we’ll see who has time to talk.}

Dinner was finished, the dishes cleared and the kitchen cleaned up and they were all once again in the big front room gathered for what Mac and Harm learned was family time. It was rare for all the members of the family to be home at the same time so they liked to do something together on those special occasions.

While the group talked for a moment, Mac took the opportunity to reflect on the close knit group. They were certainly a study in contrasts. There was King and Brett, who ran the ranch, and their wives, Storm and Stephanie, a private nurse who worked with the blind. Then came Wade, the CIA agent and his wife, Katie, a beautiful petite woman with black hair and sky blue eyes that were blind to the world around her. She and Wade lived in Lubbock on a smaller ranch where she would be headed tomorrow. Wade was going to stay behind and go up to the crash site with the rest of them.

Then there was Steve, a US Marshal who was married to Jessie, a tall, stunning woman with sable hair and eyes who was known to most of the world as the Wild Rose of country music. Harm and Mac had both recognized her the instant she was introduced. It would have been hard not to given her worldwide fame. They had a home on the ranch. Then there was Tyler and his wife, Christy, another brunette with green eyes. She was much shorter than her husband but had a strong, forward personality. They were former partners in the Homicide division of Houston PD who still worked together but not with each other anymore because of their marital status. They reminded Mac of herself and Harm. Regulations were something they had to face everyday and moving past their friendship would certainly throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Left in the bunch was Travis, a Texas Ranger married to Jenny, his best friend since grade school and the Assistant District Attorney in Dallas where they lived. She was going to stay behind at the big house with Ellie, Storm and Christy while the men were with Mac and Harm. The youngest of the family was Tucker, the NASCAR driver. He was married to a lovely blonde he affectionately called Nic. She traveled with her husband on the racing circuit after deciding she much preferred it to working and being away from him. She would also be staying at the big house.

As a whole, they presented a very united front and the love in the house was tangible. It made Mac a little sad for it reminded her of something she may never have – a family of her own. Her eyes drifted to Harm’s face. She wanted so badly to…

"Mac? You still with us?"

She jerked her head around at the sound of Storm’s voice, feeling her cheeks redden slightly. "Sorry," she smiled. "I was thinking about the case," she fibbed quickly.

"Jessie was going to sing a song for us and since you’re our guest, we thought you might have a favorite," King put in, draping his arm around Storm and hugging her close.

Jessie was seated at the grand piano across the room, smiling expectantly. "Pick anything you like," she urged. "My husband has a dreamy voice and so does King so they can help me if I need it," she whispered conspiratorially.

Mac laughed and looked over at Harm. "I always like the ones you do," she murmured. "Why don’t you pick one?" she suggested softly.

"Do? Harm, are you a singer?" Jessie piped up, her interest piqued.

Harm laughed a little self-consciously. "Not anywhere close to the league you’re in," he returned.

"Nonsense," Jessie retorted, grinning. "Do you play?" she asked, nodding toward the piano.

Harm shook his head. "Guitar," he answered.

"Wonderful!" Jessie clapped her hands together. "So does King."

A second later, Harm found himself holding a beautiful lightweight guitar with the rest of them watching him expectantly. "Oh, please, I’m going to embarrass…" he began his protests anew.

"There won’t be any embarrassment around here," Steve stated firmly. "Just ask Mama over there. She can’t carry a tune in a bucket," he announced dryly.

Laughter broke out around the room. A small stab caught Mac off guard as she caught the loving expression on Ellie’s face. Resolutely she pushed it away. She was determined to enjoy herself and there would be no bad memories of the past allowed tonight.

"He’s right," Ellie admitted. "But I’m not the only one. Wade’s the only other one that can sing. The rest of them take after me," she stated smugly.

This brought more laughter.

"Com on, flyboy. I’ve never known you to be shy," Mac teased gently.

"I’ve never been in the same room with the Wild Rose hearing her ask me to sing, either," he retorted.

"You’re a very good singer," Mac commented, hoping to reassure him.

Her words surprised him a little. She’d heard him sing before but he didn’t think he’d ever heard her say she thought he was good.

"Then it’s settled. Pick a song, Commander," Jessie ordered playfully.

Harm strummed the guitar for just a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. His eyes skittered over Mac for just the briefest of a second before he looked back to Jessie.

She nodded encouragingly. "You start and I’ll pick up once I hear what you’re doing," she told him.

Harm nodded and began to play, his deft fingers changing slowly over the chords.

You are the love of my life,

You are the reason I’m alive,

And baby, baby, baby,

When I think of how you saved me,

I go crazy.

I’ve never known love like this,

It fills me with a new tenderness,

And I know, I know, I know,

You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul,

You’re all I can’t resist.

And I need to tell you,

The first time I held you,

I knew….

You are the love of my life.

I spent a lifetime waiting,

Always hesitating until you,

I was lost so deep inside my shell,

‘Til you came and saved me from myself,

Now all I really know is I need you…

Harm finally lifted his head and his eyes found hers. The other couples in the room who were cuddled close to each other faded away until the world narrowed in on just the two of them. Mac had never saw such shining emotion from him before. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest as he continued.

You are the love of my life,

All the joy and tears that I cry,

And baby, baby, baby,

You don’t have to say a word,

I see it in your eyes.

As we stand together,

I promise forever,

‘Til the day that I die,

You are the love of my life.

I spent a lifetime waiting,

Always hesitating until you,

I was lost so deep inside my shell,

‘Til you came and saved me from myself,

Now all I really know is I need you…

You are the love of my life,

You are the reason I’m alive…

The deep, loving words struck such a chord inside of Mac that it took every ounce of her willpower not to break down into tears. The final chords of the guitar and the piano faded away and for a second there was silence in the room. Then a round of applause and cheers erupted.

"That was wonderful!" Jessie exclaimed, turning on the piano seat. "Thank you so much for sharing that with us. You know, Commander, if you ever decide to change careers I could use a man like you in my crew," her eyes twinkled playfully at him.

Harm felt the heat creep into his cheeks. "Thanks, Jessie, but I think I better stick with my day job. Besides, my Jarhead over there would have to break in a new partner," he teased, managing to somehow find his voice.

"Well, some of us are going to head upstairs. Dawn comes mighty early around this place," King drawled, standing up and drawing Storm up beside him.

The others rose one by one to head out as well – either upstairs or off to their own homes.

"You two do whatever you’d like," Ellie ordered gently. "Watch TV, go out and sit on the porch. Take your pick," she encouraged. "You don’t have to turn in just because the rest of us are."

"I think I’d like to sit on the porch for awhile," Mac murmured. "Harm?"

He shook his head. "I’m going on upstairs."

Mac nodded and walked outside with the others. A few minutes later all was quiet inside and out. Mac breathed deeply of the fresh country air. She lowered herself down on the old-fashioned porch swing and gently set it to rocking with her foot. The other leg she drew up to her chest, resting her chin on her knee. It was so different here from where they lived. The stars overhead sparkled so brightly she felt as if she could reach out and touch them. Th sounds of the night were all around. Crickets chirping, a faint rustle of the wind through the trees, an occasional whinny from a horse and off in the distance, the faint lowing of the cattle.

"It’s very quiet here, isn’t it?"

Mac whirled around, dropping both feet to the floor. "Harm! I thought you were going upstairs?"

"Didn’t mean to startle you," he murmured, staring off into the distance as he moved to the porch railing. "I did but I changed my mind. It’s very rare we get exposed to a place like this. I guess I’m a little wound up," he shrugged negligently.

Mac’s eyes hungrily traced the long lines of his back as he stood before her. He’d changed earlier into jeans and a plain white T-shirt, which did every bit as much for him as his uniform as far as she was concerned. He’d gotten that haircut she’d wondered about, his dark hair close-cropped now but still long enough for her to imagine running her hands into it. It was dark around them but the moon was bright, silhouetting his stance. She shifted a little on the swing, leaning forward a bit.

She could tell he was distracted. Despite the darkness, she knew him well enough to read every line of his tall form. His hands were braced on the porch rail, the muscles in his forearms bunched from clenching the smooth wood. There seemed to be a touch of melancholy in his demeanor. He looked… down trodden. Like the weight of the whole world somehow rested squarely on his broad shoulders. Her heart ached for him.

She knew he was struggling every bit as much as she was but they both seemed powerless to stop what was happening. Hesitantly, she rose to her feet and moved up to him. She stood for just a moment right behind him, feeling the warmth of his body.

Harm heard her first gentle movement on the swing just as clearly as he could hear the whisper of her breathing. She was wearing jeans and a dark red tank top and he heard every brush of the denim when she shifted. A moment later she rose and came up behind him. He tensed just a tiny bit as he waited to see what she’d do. He could feel her nearness, her warmth. Slowly, he released the porch rail and straightened up, bringing them even closer as she was right at his back.

Uncertainly, Mac lifted her hand but stopped just short of touching him, wavering for a second on indecision. Then she laid her palm flat against him, feeling the slender indentation down the middle of his lower back. Slowly, she lifted her other hand and placed it on his back as well, moving the first one over a little. Then she leaned forward the last couple of inches and laid her head against him.

Of all the things Harm expected her to do, that wasn’t it. Stunned, he stood perfectly still, relishing the feel of her. She was so small compared to him, her body soft where it touched him. She moved then and her hands slid around his waist, coming to rest on his flat stomach. Tentatively, he covered her small hands with his.

Mac felt him tense a little with her first touch but he didn’t show any reaction otherwise. Sliding her hands around him, she felt the hard muscles in his stomach contract at the first gentle touch of her palms. Then he surprised her by covering her hands with his, pressing them flat against him. She allowed herself to relax, feeling his tall form shift to support her weight.

"Come here," he whispered huskily.

He tugged on her hands, bringing her around between his body and the porch rail. Before she realized what he was doing, he grasped her by the waist and lifted her to sit on the rail. Purposefully, he stepped between her legs and slid his arms beneath hers, drawing her up against his chest. Surprised, Mac could only sit there. This was one of the last things she would have thought he’d do.

Then sensation took over and there was no more hesitation.

Brought almost to eye level by her new position, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around his wide shoulders, holding on as if her life depended on it. His own embrace contracted, almost taking her breath away. She sensed a sort of desperation in him and knew it was no less than the desperation she felt in herself. He shifted a little, his jaw sliding against her temple. She shifted then, too, tipping her head back just enough to find his gaze and sliding her arms down.

"Harm…"

He cupped her jaw in one big hand and pressed the pad of his thumb to her lips, effectively silencing her. "I don’t want to talk, Mac. I just want to feel."

And those few whispered words went straight into the darkest part of her heart. Mac’s hands slid up his arms to his shoulders, moving closer even as he was drawing her in. He brought her down from the porch rail with barely a flicker of movement, holding her tight against him and they slowly began to move. It was then that Mac realized in some distant part of her mind that music was coming from one of the windows on the second floor.

Eyes locked, they began to dance. Mac found herself drowning in the spell he was weaving. He tucked one of her hands against his chest and drew her a little closer, their bodies brushing just enough to tantalize them both. Mac lowered her head and let her eyes drift shut. She felt Harm shift and then his cheek was resting against her temple. One big hand splayed across her back above the line of the tank top, his callused fingers just a little rough against her smooth, silky skin. She shivered slightly.

"Cold?" he murmured, his breath stirring her hair.

"No."

And she realized it was the truth. She wasn’t cold at all but was instead losing herself to sensation. Mac lifted her head and met Harm’s eyes. He studied her intently, his gaze steady. The delicate scent of jasmine wafting off her skin was driving him to distraction, as was the dreamy look in her eyes. He knew they were treading dangerous territory here but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. All he ever thought about was her. Being close to her, the smell of her perfume, the light in her eyes, the warmth in her smile… everything about her.

Mac tried desperately to relax against Harm but was finding it to be a losing battle. There was just too much tension in the air. Her stomach felt like one of the herds was stampeding through it. His was drawing a tiny pattern on her back, making it darn near impossible to think straight. She wondered if Harm was even aware of his petting and then decided it didn’t matter because she desperately wanted this contact with him - had been wanting it for a long time. Slowly, she slid her hand free of his grasp and wound it around his neck where the other one rested, slowly massaging the tight muscles she found there.

Harm tensed slightly at the touch of her fingers. He dropped the arm that had been holding her hand and clasped her hip, his fingers flexing against her jeans. Harm could barely hear the music as they continued to move. It was more of a feeling really. He could feel the hard beating of her heart and realized she was nervous. He was nervous, too, and his own heart was beating out an answering staccato. They were headed into unknown territory where they were both strangers but Harm had known from that kiss in his apartment that they’d already come too far to turn back. Bending his head slightly, he nuzzled his cheek against hers, feeling the difference between his own stubbled skin and the silky softness of hers.

Sighing almost inaudibly, Mac tilted her head into the caress, pressed so close to him now that it didn’t feel like they were two people anymore. Encouraged by her positive response, Harm turned his head slightly and touched his lips to the same spot. Moving slowly, almost not at all, his pressed a string of barely there kisses to the curve of her jaw and down to the warm, scented hollow of her throat. His fingers clenched on her hips for a second before sliding around her fully, gathering her in even tighter than before if possible. Mac sensed the small changes in him, from the tightening of his body around hers to the slight increase of his breathing.

Her own breathing sounded none too steady at that particular moment. Reveling in his tenderness, Mac dug her fingers into his shoulders, feeling as if she would fly away if she didn’t hold tight to him.

Harm’s mouth brushed against her earlobe and she gasped, feeling the touch zing clear to her toes. A tingling started deep in her tummy, causing the muscles to clench. Heartened by the tiny sound that reached his ears, Harm slid his tongue across the spot, enticing her further. Aching for more than just a darting touch, Mac restlessly turned her head toward his.

Harm watched her from beneath half-lowered lids, wanting desperately to kiss her but knowing he couldn’t let this go any farther. They were already way in over their heads and with so much else going on, this wasn’t the time to get this particular ball rolling. There in the dark, under the glow of the moon, he tried to find a way to show her that without her thinking he was rejecting her. He wanted nothing more than to whisk her away somewhere where they could hide away and never come back. Somewhere he could lay her down and make the sweetest, slowest love to her. Without him saying a word, Mac understood what he was trying to communicate to her and nodded slowly. There was no need to rush because they had all the time in the world. They also had some things to solve before they let this - fire between them flare to life. There was too much else at stake.

Harm reluctantly drew back a little, putting some space between them. He cupped her lovely face in his hands and stared down at her for endless moments, his bottomless gaze unwavering. Finally, he tilted his head forward and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. Mac reached up to cover his hands with her own and closed her eyes for a moment, feeling an almost overwhelming urge to cry. Then he stepped back away from her and the tiny tendrils that were wrapped around them separated… for now.

Dawn was just beginning to spread its first tiny rays of light across the sky as the house came to life the next morning. Mac came down the stairs just seconds before Harm and found Ellie in the kitchen packing food into saddlebags.

"Good morning, Mac. Did you sleep all right last night?" she asked,

"Just fine, thank you. Can I help you with anything?"

"No, honey, but you may want to grab you a bite to eat. I’ve already fed the other men," Ellie answered, gesturing toward an island where several covered dishes sat.

"Is that coffee I smell?"

Mac and Ellie turned and smiled as Harm came stumbling through the door, sniffing the air appreciatively.

"Help yourself, son. It’s on the table over there with breakfast."
"Did we oversleep?" he asked, looking at Mac.

Ellie laughed and answered before Mac could.

"No, you didn’t oversleep. We changed things around just a little this morning so the boys could get everything ready for the trip to the crash site.

We have a full-time cook for the hands and they eat out in the bunkhouse. Besides, I wouldn’t imagine the two of you get up this early when you’re at home," she mused.

"Not quite this early," Mac laughed. "I try to run every morning before I go to work. My partner here isn’t a morning person," she teased.

They both filled a plate and ate quickly; just finishing up when Storm came in through the back door.

"Good morning!’ she greeted, smiling brightly. "Y’all sleep okay?"

"Just fine," Harm smiled back.

"Good, I see Ellie fed you. She likes doing that to all of us but I have to watch myself around her sweets," The younger woman confided with a soft laugh and a conspiratorial wink.

"Mac will fit right in around here then," Harm drawled, grinning.

"This from the man who will hardly touch red meat," Mac shot back.

Ellie laughed. "Don’t say that too loud around these parts," she teased.

"I wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am."

"It’s pretty earlier for all this partying to be going on."

This came from King as he came through the screen door, smiling his good morning. "We’ve got everything about ready. Have you two had breakfast?" he asked.

"Just finished," Harm answered. "Mac, you ready?"

Mac nodded then looked at King. "Am I dressed okay for this and is there anything special I need to bring?"

King eyed her outfit; jeans, hiking boots and a tank top with a button down shirt layered over it and tied at the waist. "You look fine but you’re probably going to want a hat," he suggested.

"I have a extra one in my bag," Harm offered.

"You might also want to pack a small bag of your toiletries. Storm already packed a bag with towels and washcloths and few other odds and ends for the packhorses. And you should pack a change of clothes and a couple pairs of socks. It’s unlikely anything will happen but you can never be too prepared out here," King explained.

"Okay," Mac agreed. "It will just take me a minute."

"Me, too," Harm concurred, straightening from where he’d been leaning against the counter.

A few minutes later they both came back downstairs, both wearing Navy bill caps. Harm was carrying a duffel bag with both of their things in it to save on baggage.

"Uh, oh, Mac… you better be careful no one sees you in that hat. You wouldn’t want word to get out that a marine was wearing a Navy hat," Storm teased.

"You got that right," Mac muttered, drawing a laugh from them.

"It’s better than nothing," Harm reminded her.

"Maybe," she shrugged coyly.

They said their good-byes to Ellie and Storm and followed King, who’d already said his own, out front. The two biggest Chevys, four-door duals, were hitched to the horse trailers where the animals were loaded and waiting patiently.

"Let’s get moving!" King called and they piled into the trucks.

It took them a little over two hours to make the 75-mile drive on one of the many dirt roads that traversed the property. They rolled to a stop at the edge of tree break and the trailed they would be taking was the side of a mountain that went straight up.

"I know you two haven’t ridden in awhile but this is the best of my herd so I don’t want you to feel nervous about anything," King began, walking over to take a set of reins from Brett as they backed the horses out of the trailer. "This is Blackjack, my horse and the stud of our top line. Brett’s got Diamond Rio, Travis is riding Queenie, Steve has Double Deuce, Ty’s got Black Magic, Wade has Ace of Hearts and Tucker’s riding Straight Flush." He dropped Blackjack’s reins and murmured a command to stay then took the lead of another horse from Travis. "Mac, this is King of Spades. We call him Spade. He’s got a gentle gait and he responds almost by mental telepathy so you shouldn’t have any trouble with him. He’s a lover so he might pester you to death when you’re not riding him," King told her, affectionately rubbing the velvety nose of the pure black horse.

Mac stepped forward and he handed her the reins. Spade immediately butted his nose against her shoulder, seeking her touch. She laughed softly and rubbed his nose and then the long, clean lines of his neck. "He’s very beautiful," she stated admiringly. "They all are."

"Thank you, ma’am. They’re quite a staple of our business here, " King answered casually but she could see the pride in his face. He handed her a pair of yellow leather gloves that would protect her hands during the ride.

He turned away and brought another horse forward from Wade. "Harm, this is Deuces Wild. He’s a little strong willed and he needs a firm hand but I believe you can handle him. He likes attention as much as the rest of them but he’s got sure feet and a good temperament."

Harm took the reins stroked the big animal, this one black as well except that he had four white socks.

"Let’s get moving then," King drawled. "It will take us the better part of the day to get up the first part of the trail."

The sun was filling the sky now, the cool air starting to burn away as daylight took hold. It was just a few minutes after 0800. They mounted and started out two by two, the two packhorses in the back behind Brett and Wade. Harm and Mac fell into place beside King who sat atop Blackjack like he’d been born in the saddle.

"How do you keep up with a place this size?" Mac inquired.

King laughed softly. "I grew up with all this so I guess it’s just second nature to me. But some days it takes a lot more effort than others. I have a lot of good help and we keep things well organized. That helps a lot."

"It’s very beautiful out here," Mac commented.

"That it is. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. What do you think we might find up there?" he asked, glancing over at them.

Harm shrugged lightly. "I don’t know. Maybe nothing. I hope it’s nothing but two of our pilots are up there somewhere. And we at least have to try and find them. As civilians we don’t want you involved once we get closer. Especially if we run into trouble," Harm stated evenly.

"Well, this is my land and I’ll back you up anyway I can. And besides, you’ve got four law enforcement officers behind you. That oughta count for something," he grinned.

Harm nodded and laughed. "Yeah, I guess it does."

"We’ll stop here for the night. The last few miles are steep so we’ll start out again at first light," King announced, bringing Blackjack to a stop.

They brought their horses in behind him at the edge of a large, grassy clearing. Dusk was beginning to blanket the area, the sky a vibrant red as the sun lowered itself behind the mountains. They’d stopped briefly for lunch around noon and King offered to break for camp then but Harm and Mac insisted on moving forward. Now, after hours in the saddle, both were stiff and tired but in good spirits. They’d traveled through some beautiful countryside and saw a lot of wonderful little surprises courtesy of Mother Nature.

Mac slowly lowered herself to the ground, holding tight to the saddle when her legs threatened to buckle. Harm was at her side instantly.

"You okay?" he murmured.

She glanced up at him and smiled tiredly. "I will be as soon as I can walk again," she grumbled.

"I figured you would be. I brought along some stuff that will help."

King came up to them and held a jar out to Mac. "It’s an old home remedy but I guarantee you it’ll work," he stated softly, knowing from experience just how much she was hurting.

Mac twisted the lid off the jar and then instantly put it back on. "Whew! It smells horrible!"

King laughed, his deep voice calming. "Yeah, it does. Take your pick, Marine. Feeling better or smelling good?"

Harm laughed at that. This big man who’d so graciously accepted them into his home and his life sure had them pegged. Mac wrinkled her a little but sighed in resignation.

"I’d rather feel better," she muttered.

"Good girl. There’s a small pond right through the trees over there. You can wash up and take care of that. Just watch for snakes and if you have any trouble at all, you holler. Got me?"

"Yes, sir," Mac managed a grin, feeling the urge to salute. But she knew he meant well.

Harm just smiled. For once his pretty little Ninja Girl obeyed a direct order from someone other than the Admiral. But he could tell from the look on her face she was in a lot of pain. Slowly, she straightened and released the saddle. Harm tensed, ready to catch her if her legs gave out. Mac shook her head slightly, telling him to back off. Resolutely, she clenched her jaw and started walking. Once step at a time, one foot in front of the other. Just like when they taught her to march.

"She’s a tough little thing," King commented softly.

Harm chuckled. "That she is. Don’t let hear you call her little."

King just laughed. "She’s no bigger than a minute to me," he took a few steps and turned to look back at Harm. "And you can tell I said so!"

Pretty sore himself, Harm gritted his own teeth and went to help with the set up of their camp. He would take his turn at washing up when the rest of them went. In the meantime, there was too much to do.

"The last few miles are going be nearly straight up. Try to relax and grip your grip firm but let your horses do the work. They can manage this trail fine," King stated, looking back at Mac and Harm.

The weather had been bad since they started at dawn and it was growing steadily worse. Clouds heavy and fat with rain scuttled overhead, darkening the sky to an ugly pewter. They started up the last portion of the trail – a narrow, single file path that barely looked wide enough for the horses. The air was thin and cool as they climbed higher into the small mountain range. Mac kept her eyes trained on King’s back, determined not to worry about the long drop if Spade should fall and throw her. They rode for twenty minutes before the trial evened out onto flat ground and they entered a clearing. In the center was the remains of the F-14. They moved the horses into a circle and looked at the wreckage.

"Before y’all start looking around, we need to unsaddle the horses and secure our belongings. It’s fixin’ to get really ugly," King announced. He pulled to rolled bundles out of one of the saddlebags and tossed them to Mac and Harm. "Put these on."

The bundles were actually black dusters that matched the ones the other men were donning. They shrugged into the heavy garments and latched them up. It took them several minutes to unload the packhorses and to remove all the saddles and tack from their individual mounts. By that time thunder was shaking the ground and streaks of lightning were illuminating the darkening sky. King barked out orders for everything to be tied to some of the sturdiest trees so it wouldn’t wash away.

Once they had everything up to his satisfaction, Mac and Harm strode over to the F-14. It was covering an are about the size of a block and they could see debris in some of the trees as well. It was in a million pieces, jumbled about like a giant had thrown them up in the air and let them fall wherever. Thoughtfully, Harm started to look through some of the pieces. Mac watched him pick up a few things up and study them, then he walked around looking at the ground. Suddenly, he stopped and went back tracked a few steps.

"Did you find something?" she asked, squatting down beside him.

"I’m not sure." He held up a piece of something. "It looks like part of a mortar casing."

He rose to his feet and walked a few yards. He hunkered back down to look at several sets of footprints. "Some of these aren’t from the rescue crew," he stated.

"How can you tell?" Mac asked.

"The tread is wrong. These look more like boots an Army enlisted might wear," he mused.

"But no one has been up since the rescue crew," Mac frowned.

"Someone is up here, Mac. These prints are new. I bet they were made by someone else after the team left. Jackson and Turner are up here somewhere. They punched out and chuted in so they would have tried to direct themselves here. If they came down in another place, then they would have hiked here to meet up with the crew or at least stay with the wreckage," Harm explained.

"But what about…"

She never got to finish as a tremendous crack of thunder boomed overhead. Lightning followed and then the rain started in a deluge. Harm grabbed Mac’s hand and they ran back to where the others were gathered with the horses.

"Hang tight to your reins and lets move into the trees!" King yelled about the rising wind.

Fighting against Mother Nature, the wound themselves into the tree line. Thunder and lightning rolled again in quick succession and the ground shook beneath their feet. Spade whinnied nervously and pulled at Mac’s hold on his reins. She tightened her hold and rubbed his neck, trying to soothe him. Harm moved close to her, urging her up against the side of a tree wide enough to shield them both. The rain was coming down so hard now it obliterated their vision. Wind howled, whipping up the hems of their dusters so that rain soaked their jeans. They became aware of a low rumbling sound in the distance. Mac looked up at Harm. He tried to smile reassuringly at her.

"Hang on!" King yelled. "That’s the water coming! If you get caught up, let go of your horse so you don’t get pulled under!’

"Oh my God!" Harm heard Mac exclaim.

He looked up and saw a solid wall of water coming right at them. It swept through the clearing, picking up the pieces of the F-14 and dragging them along. Harm curved his body around Mac, pushing her into the rough bark of the tree for protection. Then it was upon them. Water sprayed everywhere, soaking them and knocking their feet out from under them. Pieces of debris slammed into the tree trunks. Harm lost his contact with Mac and he looked around wildly, trying to keep his head above water. The McKenzie men let go of their horses so he did the same, watching the animals struggled with their own footing. He looked around again for Mac and caught sight of her trying to stand. The water jerked her legs out from under her and she went under for a second. Just as she came back up, Steve’s arm shot out and snagged her coat. Harm was knocked over again and then he was moving with the current. A tree loomed ahead and he twisted to help break the impact. Holding onto the tree, he managed to get back to his feet.

"Harm!"

He turned toward the sound of King’s voice and saw the other man swirling a lasso over his head.

"Grab the loop!" King yelled and let it fly.

The end of the rope sailed past Harm’s head and hit the water with a splash. He lunged for it, losing his footing again when he let go of the tree. The rope jerked taught as it took his weight. Kicking against the water, he started to pull himself back up and when something heavy slammed into him.

"Harm!" Mac screamed his name when she saw him go under. The rope King had thrown to him floated free and there was no sign of her partner.

"Tie the end of this around your waist!" Steve ordered, handing her the end he was holding.

She did as she was told and he moved away from her. Instantly, she lost her footing but the rope yanked taut, keeping her from getting swept away. Holding onto another rope that Wade had thrown him, Steve started pulling way toward his brothers. They were all spread out but had somehow managed to get a cross section of ropes out to anchor themselves to. Mac watched as they moved forward to try and catch Harm. King was the closest to him and he reached out to grab the taller man when another wave hit them, sweeping Harm out of his grasp.

Mac struggled to keep her own head above the raging tide. Another streak of lightning rent the air, striking a tree nearby. The acrid smell of burning wood filled the air as the giant oak tumbled over, landing with a horrific crash right in the middle of them.

"Harm!" she screamed again, frantically searching for some sign of him.

Lightning lit up the sky yet again and she caught sight of his dark head. He was coming close to where she was floating against the pull of the rope. Mac let go of her hold on the rope and almost lost her breath when it jerked around her middle. Gritting her teeth, she tried to find a foothold and lunged toward Harm. She could see the other men working their way toward her but if she didn’t get him this time, he would be swept further away from them all.

Taking a deep breath, she thought she found the ground and pushed with all her strength, propelling herself toward him. She almost wept with relief when her fingers close around the duster. Another rush of water slammed into them and she felt her grip sliding. Letting out a yell that would have done any Marine proud, she flung her other hand out and yanked on her partner with all her might. She got him close enough to wrap her arms around him and held on tightly.

Tucker was the first to reach her and added his support at Harm’s side. One by one, the others fought their way through the rushing current until they were all together. They were all held firm by ropes but struggling to keep their footing and their heads out of the water.

"He’s not breathing!" Mac yelled to King, her eyes fearful.

"We have to get to higher ground!" King yelled back. He moved closer to her side. "Let me have him!" he ordered.

"No!" she answered with a shake of her head.

"Move it, Marine!" King bellowed. "He’s too heavy for you!"

She knew was right but she didn’t want to relinquish her hold for one second.

"We’ve got him, Mac. Let go and go with Brett!" King commanded.

Mac could barely make out his features beneath the brim of his hat but she knew she had to trust him. She let go of Harm but he didn’t go anywhere as King and Tucker held tight to him. Brett grabbed Mac around the waist and steered her off in another direction. She twisted in his grasp, trying to see the others and realized they were following close behind. They pushed on through the trees, fighting the current and the wind.

Lightning continued to strike and it hit another tree, showering them with sparks. Mac screamed and Brett turned her away, shielding her with his own body as they tree fell over, narrowly missing them. Brett pushed her onward until they reached an embankment of sorts. Mac grasped at the protruding rocks, trying to haul herself up out of the water. Brett lifted her from behind until she could catch hold of a tree branch. Gasping for breath, she tightened her grip and pushed with her feet, struggling to get further up the muddy slope. Hand over hand she went until her entire body was out of the rushing water. The ground leveled out enough so she wouldn’t slide back into the water and she turned and stuck her hand out to Brett.

He clasped her forearm and she pulled with all her strength, falling backward as he came up beside her. King and Tucker were next with Harm and it took all their efforts to get his inert form up on the flat part of the slope. Mac immediately bent over him, checking for a pulse. There was nothing.

Sliding her hand beneath his neck, she tilted his head back and bent over him. There was no sign of breath from his either. Dimly, she was aware of Tyler moving up to Harm’s other side. Pinching his nose, she fitted her mouth to his and blew gently. The she looked over to Tyler who started CPR.

"One-one thousand, two-one thousand…" When he reached six he stopped and Mac blew again into Harm’s mouth.

His lips were tinged blue and skin was chilled. Frantically she checked for a pulse again. Still nothing. Tyler counted out six more pushes. Then there was another breath from her. And six more pushes. And then Harm started coughing. Mac felt tears spilling down her cheeks as she rolled him onto his side so he wouldn’t choke. Gently, she patted his back as he spit up the water he’d swallowed. She eased him back down and leaned over him.

"You scared the hell out of me," she stated flatly.

Harm tried to muster a grin. "Sorry, Mac. Don’t know what came over me," he grimaced and lifted a hand toward his head.

"You’ve got a pretty deep cut there, flyboy," she murmured, gently probing the edges of it.

"Something hit me," he groaned as her fingers touched a particularly sensitive spot.

"It was a piece of the wreckage. I didn’t see it until it was too late to warn you," King put in from Mac’s side. He looked between them. "We need to get him warm and dry before he goes into shock."

Mac was starting to realize just how cold it had become. She looked back down at Harm who was trying to suppress his shivers.

"Where can we go?" Mac asked, looking back up at him

"It’s a bit of a hike but there’s a small cave just past the wreckage site. Well, it’s not really a cave but it’s enough of an overhang for us to get dry and build a small fire," King told her.

"I remember where that is. You can only see it from the air of you approach at the right angle," Brett added.

King nodded. "That’s the one.

"Well, let’s go," Steve prodded, struggling to his feet.

The rain was still coming down in icy sheets as the small, bedraggled group gathered together to forge on. King and Wade supported Harm on either side, holding him upright when the world tilted and threatened to pitch him on his head. Mac was in the lead with Brett, who kept her tucked against his side, pushing her onward when the driving wind pushed her back. Watching the swaying lines of her body, Harm would have laughed under any other circumstances. His Jarhead was almost maniacal at times about taking help from anyone – even him. It was almost comical to see the way these big, kindhearted men ordered her around.

They kept the ropes tied around each other in case someone slipped and fell. It would keep them from rolling back into the rushing water. They slowly made their way across the treacherous slope toward the overhang. The entire crash site was underwater and there was no sign of the F-14 wreckage. Harm glanced longingly at the spot, knowing all their evidence had just been washed away.

It took them about twenty minutes but they finally made it to their destination. It was little more than an indention in the side of the cliff but it was higher then the water and appeared to be dry inside for the most part. Once inside, they all collapsed on the hard ground, struggling to calm their breathing after the climb up the steep slope. Mac crawled over to Harm’s side and slid her arms around his waist. He was shivering violently and she was just as wet as the others but she needed to be close to him. After sitting just for a moment, the other men stirred and the two JAG lawyers watched to see what they would do next. Mac almost managed a small smile when she saw King working with a few rocks and some sticks to make a fire.

"Primitive, I know, but it works," he shot them a grin.

It did take him several long minutes but finally they were rewarded with a curl of smoke as a small flame flickered to life. Brett added some leaves and smaller twigs while King kept up the movement until a small fire was going. Sighing with relief, they quickly gathered around as King continued to add kindling, building it higher and higher. Mac struggled out of the heavy, wet duster and then helped Harm get out of his.

"How bad is that cut?" King asked.

"It stopped bleeding," Mac answered. "It doesn’t look as bad as I first thought. But there’s a nasty bruise around it. How do you feel?" she questioned Harm.

"Cold. I’m a little dizzy," he admitted.

"Take your shirt off," she ordered briskly.

"Major, we have company," Harm scolded lightly.

Mac looked at the others. "He can’t feel too bad if he can still be a smart ass," she stated.

The other men just laughed.

"You’ll have to suffer with the wet jeans but at least you’ll warm up faster," she continued. "Let me clean this cut up."

Around her, the seven brothers stripped out of their coats and shirts as well and she cursed being a woman under her breath because she couldn’t partially strip as well.

"That rain isn’t going to slack up anytime soon and we can’t travel until the water recedes so y’all might as well try and get some sleep. We’ll take turns keeping the fire going," King told them. "If we aren’t going anywhere, neither is whoever else is up here."

Sometime later, Mac sat with her back against the cave wall, cradling Harm’s head in her lap so he could sleep. She’d volunteered to keep watch for awhile and after much cajoling, managed to convince the mighty King McKenzie that she was perfectly all right and could handle it for a few hours. Besides, she was too wound up still with adrenaline to sleep. He finally conceded with a few grumbled words and made himself as comfortable as possible.

He built the fire up fairly good before settling down and it was still blazing away, filling the tiny area with warmth. They were as far back from the entrance as they could get to avoid the cold air and wind. The rain had just stopped within the past thirty minutes and now Mac listened to the receding sounds of the thunder. Alone with her thoughts, the enormous reality of the morning came back full force. She looked down at Harm’s face. The gash on his forehead stood out starkly and his normally tan skin was a pasty shade save for the twin spots of red on his cheeks. He was burning with fever. They needed to get him back to Victoria to a hospital but she knew he wouldn’t leave until they found what they came looking for.

Tenderly, she stroked her fingers through his hair. The cool strands had long since dried and they were silky around her fingers. She stopped halfway through and pressed her fingers gently against his scalp. She flexed her fingers and then slid her hand through the rest of the way. Over and over she repeated the caress, catching her fingers in his soft hair before starting all over again. She lifted her other hand and slid the pad of her forefinger over his bottom lip. In her mind an image came of him smiling at her. He had such a wonderful smile. She loved the way he looked at her. Lately, his looks had been all together a different kind. There was so much still standing between them. It would be so much easier if she could just tell him she loved him. But that wasn’t something she’d been able to reconcile in her own mind yet. There was no way she could bring it to light until she could make it stable.

The water level in the tiny valley was finally starting to go down. It would still be awhile before they could go anywhere. Harm stared out at the darkened afternoon sky. It was going on three and he’d been awake just long enough to talk Mac into going to sleep. He’d awakened restless and achy, unable to lie still anymore on the hard ground.

Mac was convinced he was running a low-grade fever but there wasn’t anything they could do about it now. Other than a dull throb behind his eyes, he felt fine. Now he reclined against the stone wall with his partner curled up in his lap asleep on his chest.

"You love here, don’t you?"

Harm started when he heard King’s softly whispered question. He hadn’t realized anyone else was awake. The other man stood up to feed the fire.

"Yeah, I do," Harm admitted softly. Then he smiled thoughtfully. "Is it that obvious?"

"Maybe not to anyone else but we’ve all been down that road," King grinned and shrugged negligently.

Harm looked down into Mac’s sleeping countenance. "I don’t know if she feels the same," he confessed.

"You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen her this afternoon. But it was obvious to us when you sang," King chuckled to himself. "I would have recognized the signs without it, though. Storm and I went down a pretty rocky road. You and Mac both looked pretty unraveled. Love’s a lot like ropin’ the wind. You try and try and try but you never can quite get a grasp on it. At least that’s how I felt. Storm was running from an awful past and every time I thought I’d made some headway, she dropped me on my butt."

{Boy, can I relate to that, Harm thought} Stroking a broad hand over her silky hair, he smiled at the image of he and the other man being knocked down the two women. "You seem incredibly happy," he commented out loud.

"We are now. "We’ve been married three years now and her and the kids are my life. But we came very close to losing it all. I knew she was afraid of the future but she kept some things from me and when I found out about them, I was livid. I thought she’d lied to me deliberately and I told her to get out of my life."

Harm’s eyes widened slightly. It was hard to imagine the couple he’d witnessed at the house. He’d never seen two people more in love.

"Anyway, we had a lot of obstacles in our path. She’s fourteen years younger than I am and I was sure she’d get tired of me and go looking for some younger man," he grinned to himself at the memory. "The biggest problem was still her past. After she left me that day, Brett took her to a motel. When he came home, he knocked me flat on my ass and never stopped swinging.

Ellie and the other hands pulled us off of each other and then she marched Brett and I right into the house. Talk about being mortified. Both of us were spittin’ mad and here was our mother hauling inside by the backs of our shirts. At least the hands knew enough not to laugh until we were out of sight. She made us sit down and told us a good little story about Storm’s past. I won’t go into all the ugly details but I felt like ten kinds of a fool after she was done. But you know the funny thing? When I went after her, she was still concerned that I hated her. She overlooked all the ugly things I’d said to her at the house and begged me to forgive her for not being more open. I was stunned."

Harm brought his gaze back to Mac again. There were more similiarities. Her lack of trust in telling him about Chris and John were still fresh in his memory. He knew she hadn’t deliberately lied to him but finding out like he did still hurt. He’d forgiven her and stood by because he didn’t know how to do anything else as far as she was concerned. She meant the world to him and if he could only make her understand that… he shook his head. Their time was coming. He looked back up at King.

The older man added one more piece of wood to the roaring fire and stoked it a bit. "I almost lost her because I was too stubborn to see her side of things. She thought she was protecting me and she did what she thought was best for both of us. I was too blind to see it that way. One failed marriage had showed me that women were snakes. I guess I was afraid to trust my own heart, too. I didn’t want to lay myself open to anyone who had the power to hurt me. The only piece of advice I would even think of offering you is not to choke on your pride. I can see why it’s one of the seven deadly sins. It can cut a man off at the knees and let him bleed to death."

The early morning sun made clear the destruction left behind by the rains. Nearly all of the F-14 was gone except for a few pieces lodged in the trees. Their belongings had weathered it by being tied down and it was all still dry thanks to the waterproof pack bags. That included their weapons and individual badges. What amazed Mac and Harm the most was the sight of the horses foraging through the grass at the edge of the clearing.

"I thought for sure they would drown or run away," Mac exclaimed.

"Nah, too well-trained," King joked.

"Don’t let him fool you. He spends hours on top of hours training those animals," Brett put in.

"I bet," Harm grinned.

"How do you…" Mac started but broke off suddenly, her gaze fixed in the distance. "Harm, look!"

They all turned in the direction she was pointing and saw a thin plume of smoke rising over the trees.

"Anything over there?" Harm asked, looking at King.

"Nothing that smokes. Either the lightning started a brush fire or we just found our mystery visitors. You up to checking it out?"

"I am. Let’s go," Harm answered.

It took them several minutes to gather the horses and get them saddled and then to get their belongings loaded as well. Then they were on their way.

When they got closer to the rise of smoke, they dismounted and advanced on foot, weapons drawn until they could see what they were up against. When they came to a clearing in the trees, they gazed below into a small, shallow valley. There in the middle of it was a camp. A military camp from the looks of the equipment.

"It’s a militant group." Wade stated flatly, peering at the scene.

"What are we going to do?" Brett asked.

"We aren’t going to do anything. I don’t want any of you involved in this. It will be too dangerous," he ordered.

"We have badges," Travis shot back, emphasizing the ‘we’ like Harm had done. "We can back you up adequately."

"I’m not worried about how you’ll back us up. Besides, there’s too many for us to handle alone," Harm answered practically.

"That bump on the head must’ve scrambled your brains, flyboy," Mac remarked cheekily. "That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you admit you can’t save the world single-handedly."

Harm tapped the bill of her cap. "It’s a momentary aberration so don’t get used to it. How fast can you make it back to the trucks?" he asked, looking at King.

"Not fast enough to do any good but I can go you one better," he grinned cockily.

He left them for a minute to go back to the horses and returned holding a cellular phone. "Having money has its advantages," he drawled softly.

He handed the phone to Harm who punched in a number. A few minutes later several connections were made and he was speaking to Captain Hart. Quickly he explained the situation to the other man.

"Is there any sign of Jackson and Turner?" The Captain asked.

"We haven’t seen them but I’d bet ten to one they’re here," Harm answered.

"I’ll have a team there within the hour," Captain Hart promised.

"Harm, look, there’s Lt. Jackson!"

Harm stared hard in the direction she indicated. Sure enough, the two pilots were being led out of a tent, their hands bound behind them.

"We can’t wait any longer. We have to get them out of there." He looked at the seven McKenzies. "You still game?" he asked.

"Say the word," Wade answered slowly, speaking for all of them. "This is your show, Harm. Tell us want you want to do."

"I don’t want to alert the whole camp to our presence. I say we spread out and move in only on those closest to our men. The team should be here soon and they can handle the rest. If we get in trouble, take cover and try to hold them off. Agreed?"

They all nodded.

Within minutes they were down in the valley, still shadowed by trees as they made their way to the area where they’d spotted Jackson and Turner. Harm and Mac went one way together, guns drawn. They could see the two men sitting on the tailgate of a truck. They were tightly bound and gagged.

Stealthily, the pair moved forward, ducking at the front of the truck. The man who’d brought out the two pilots was nowhere to be seen. A twig snapped and they both turned to see another man coming, a rifle slung over his shoulder. He hadn’t seen them yet – to their advantage. Harm motioned for Mac to stay where she was and he moved away, going up one side of the truck. Harm came close to the back of the truck and peered up over the edge. Lt. Jackson saw him first and glanced down, his eye wide. Harm motioned for him to be quiet and look away. The young Lt. blinked once to signal that he understood and turned face forward.

Harm crept back to Mac and motioned for her to move forward toward the tent they’d brought the pilots out of. She nodded and crept forward, pausing at the entrance before disappearing inside. Harm went back to the tailgate.

"Can you stand up a little?" he whispered.

They nodded and wiggled their way to the edge of the tailgate. Sliding off of it, they stood, knees bent so it didn’t quite look like they were standing up. Harm moved as close as he could and started to cut them loose.

"Mmmpphf. Mmmpf."

Harm looked up and saw Lt. Jackson jerk his head in the other direction. Harm turned and looked around their legs and saw a man coming toward them. He quickly slid back around the side of the truck and the two Navy pilots tried to adopt casual poses. Harm peered under the truck and watched the man’s feet. He was headed for the tent where Mac was!

Inside the tent, Mac was watching the camp from one of the screens. She heard the rustle of the tent flap and spun around quickly. The man stepped inside and froze when he saw her. A split second later, Mac hurled herself at him, catching him the middle. They crashed to the ground, knocking over a small camp chair. The man grabbed at her hair, jerking her head back. Mac brought her hand up, catching him under the chin and stunning him. His grip slackened and she rolled away from him. Coming up on all fours, her foot shot out, connecting sharply with his head. The man crumpled into a heap. Jumping up, she went to the tent flap and cautiously peered out. She caught Harm’s worried expression and flipped him a thumb’s up. He grinned and went back to the pilots. He released Lt. Jackson and started in on Turner.

"Hey! What are you doing? Stop!"

All four of them heard the yelling at the same time. The need for caution gone, Mac came out of the tent straight for her partner and the two pilots. They ripped off their gags as harm gave one of them a push.

"Run toward those trees!" he yelled, pointing his gun toward the spot where the McKenzie men were waiting.

They did as he ordered, knowing they were of no use without guns. Shots rang out and one hit the truck next to where Harm was standing. Grabbing Mac with his left hand, he turned and fired at the men running toward them. Their shots were alerting the rest of the camp. He and Mac started running for the trees, turning to fire.

"Come on, come on," Wade muttered under his breath. "We can’t shoot until the two of you are clear!"

Harm turned to fire again. "Run, Mac, I’ll cover you!" he cried.

"No! We go together! Keep going!" se answered.

They were only a few feet away now.

A movement off to the left caught Steve’s eye as he watched their progress. Turning, he saw two men coming from the direction, guns drawn.

"Harm! Mac! Look out!" he called, moving forward a little.

Mac, who was ahead of Harm, turned to see what Steve was yelling about. She saw the rifle pointed in her direction the same time Harm did.

"Mac! Get down!" Harm shouted.

Several shots rang out and his heart stopped beating when he saw her go down.

The End