TITLE: "For Heaven is High and Earth is Deep"  Chapter 2
                           AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
                           SUMMARY:   Picks up immediately at the 
conclusion of 
   Merry Little Christmas.  Mac, Mattie and Harm are still at the Wall 
as the 
   story opens.
                           CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   J/S/R/A    PG for 
language.
                           SPOILERS:  In any of our work, any JAG 
episode may be 
   referred to.
                           FEEDBACK:  If you're so moved but never 
expected nor 
   begged for.  Addy is ssbpmn@aol.com.  Please however, we request you 
respect 
   the work, and the effort that goes into writing it.
                           NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous 
chapters, 
   as well as much of our other works, are available at 
                                         
                          
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories
                                         
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users-no 
   subbing required.  Please ignore any notice of adult content you may 
see-there 
   is no R nor NC17 content there.
                                         
                Other archives containing our stories:
                                         
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   http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag
                                                                             
                                    or BTL-
                     http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/
                      http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M 
Fanfiction 
   archive.}
    
    WARNING:  Character Death.  Please note that we did not choose 
death for 
   expediency in the matter of Mac and Harm.  Any competent writer 
could have at any 
   time resolved the matter of Mac and Clay without his death, and most 
   certainly long before the events of "Take it Like a Man".  As anyone 
who reads our 
   work knows, we very much like Clay Webb.  However the Clay Webb we 
write is the 
   man of "Game of Go" and "Embassy".  Not the stranger who has graced 
Mac's life 
   since Paraguay.  That Clay Webb we don't know-nor do we want to-and 
it is that 
   Clay Webb who has met his fate in this story.   

PREVIOUSLY in Heaven:
Mac left Mattie and Harm at the Wall to meet Clay for their 'date'.  
But this was no romantic Christmas Eve 
midnight supper.  Clayton Webb died at the hands of Sadk Fahd, and for 
many hours Harm thought Mac had 
met the same fate.  The connection between them born of faith—and 
love—took him to her, and he and Mattie 
got her to the hospital.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&


For Heaven is High and Earth is Deep, Chapter 2--

COUNTY HOSP
Winchester, VA
48 HRS Later

"Hey you two look better than when I saw you yesterday," Mac smiled the 
second Harm and Mattie walked into 
the room.

"Well I could say that about you too," Harm grinned, and with a small 
start realized Mac seemed genuinely 
glad to see him.

"Did you make this guy get some rest?" she asked Mattie.

"Yes ma'am.  Harriet cooked for us, and then we went back to his place 
and we both cleaned up and the last 
thing I remember is Harm saying good night until this morning.  Harriet 
and Bud are great and their kids are 
super fun."

"That's what I hear," she nodded.  "Are we good to go?"

"Yeah, and like I promised yesterday, no more talk of you not 
attending.  Harriet is going to meet us at your 
place and help you get ready," Harm explained.  "Mattie and I will come 
for you two and meet Bud and the 
others at the chapel at Ft. Myer.  Clay is being buried in the family 
plot at Ft. Lincoln and Mrs. Webb is  happy 
with what Sturgis and Chaplain Turner planned.  She wanted something 
simple and I'm sure he'll deliver."

"Then what are we waiting for Sailor."

"We haven't talked about what's going to happen to you after," he 
replied calmly.  "Mac you're not well enough 
to be alone.  Harriet and the Admiral have offered you guest rooms but 
that doesn't solve the problem of you 
being alone.   And because I think you'll be more comfortable in your 
own place, and because there's two of us 
to help out, I want you to let me and Mattie come stay with you."

"Harm I'm not an invalid," she objected, getting to her feet and 
cursing when the sudden movement made her 
at once unsteady.

"We're not talking about you needing help the rest of your life 
dammit," he exploded, letting some of the 
tension of the past few days escape as he caught on to her and helped 
her to sit back down.  "Just a few days 
until you can at least get up and walk to the kitchen or bathroom 
without falling on your face."  He paused and 
could not resist adding,  "like you almost just did."

"I hate this," she muttered.  

"Is my company that odious?" he asked gently.

"No no of course not," she replied quickly.  "I meant I hate being 
helpless.  The Marine in me hates it."

"Well the Sarah in you can tell the Marine to. . . never mind.  I have 
your papers.  Shall we?"

At the appointed time Harmon Rabb, resplendent in his dress whites, 
knocked at Mac's door.  Mattie stood at 
his side, in a simple skirt and sweater Harriet had gotten her, her 
hair cascading down her back.  "You look 
awfully nice," Harm said softly.  "In the rush of getting ready I don't 
think I told you that."

"Well so do you Commander," she replied.

"Commander," Harriet said softly when she opened the door.  Instead of 
standing them aside and motioning 
them in, she held her finger to her lips and stepped out.

"Harriet what's wrong?"  Harm's alarm was deep and immediate.  "Mac's 
OK isn't she?"

"I just wanted to let you now she's a little upset," she replied.  "Sir 
I'm having a real hard time reading her here.  
I know Mr. Webb was a friend--that you both had worked with him and 
all, but this is more than that."

"Yeah I know," Harm nodded.  "Thanks for the heads up Harriet and don't 
worry about it.  We're all just walking 
on eggshells here.  Is she decent?  I'll go in to her."

"Yes sir, she's dressed.  But right now she's just sitting in a chair 
and looking out of the window.  She really 
hasn't said anything at all, but sir, her sadness.  I know exactly what 
it's like to lose someone you know.  This 
is about the same thing."
  
 "Thanks. I'll go talk to her."
 
 With a long sigh he headed inside, knocking softly before walking in.
 
 "Mac?"
 
 She didn't move and it wasn't until he reached a gentle hand to her 
shoulder 
 that she acknowledged his presence, looking up at him with a somber 
face.
 
 "Is it time to go?"
 
 "Only if you tell me what's going on in that head of yours," he said 
softly.
 
 "He shouldn't be dead Harm" she whispered. "It's not fair. Why is he 
dead? 
 And why not me?"
 
 Her words ended in a sob and at once he reached for her, lifting her 
to her 
 feet and bringing her to him.
 
 "I'm sorry" he whispered. "So sorry. But I'm not sorry it wasn't you 
Sarah. 
 If you'd died with him, I don't know what I'd do."
 
 She sobbed softly in his arms for several minutes before finally 
pushing him 
 away. "I have to stop this. Clay wouldn't want me to be carrying on 
like 
 this."
 
 "He loved you Sarah." The words tumbled out before he could stop them 
but if 
 he expected her to be surprised she wasn't.
 
 "I know" she sniffled. "I know he loved me and I…." She stopped once 
again 
 and Harm felt that familiar stab of jealousy. More and more he was 
beginning 
 to think that Sarah Mackenzie had been in love with Clayton Webb.
 
 "We'd better go," he said softly. "You don't want to miss the 
services. And 
 since I'm going to speak…"
 
 "You?" she gasped. "You're going to speak?"
 
 "Mrs. Webb asked me if I would. Is there a problem with that?"
 
 "No I just…well I didn't think you were that close to Clay."
 
 "We haven't been recently" Harm shrugged. "Maybe because…" This time 
it was 
 him that stopped the thought, not wanting to admit it was because he 
was 
 jealous of Mac's relationship with Clay.
 
 "Because why?"
 
 "We need to go" he sighed. "We're going to be late."
 
 A larger crowd than Harm had expected was gathered at the chapel at 
Ft. Myer 
 and he took a deep breath as he led Mac and Mattie inside.

 "Front please" she whispered. "I want to sit near Mrs. Webb."
 
 He nodded and walked to the front, finding three empty spots in the 
row 
 behind Mrs. Webb that Sturgis had saved for them.
   
"Mac good to see you," Sturgis greeted her warmly, standing up to let 
the three of them pass and leaning 
down to kiss her cheek.  "I'm happy to see you.  Just wish this wasn't 
the circumstance."

"Thanks.  Me too."  All the while walking up the aisle, Harm's hand  
around her arm, she had kept her eyes 
averted from the casket in the front center.  Now as she sat she could 
not help but see it, and a small sob 
passed through her.  She could only guess the condition of the body, 
already sealed inside.  

"Mac?" Harm whispered, feeling her shudder against him.

"I can do this," she told him firmly.  "Just promise me you won't leave 
me."

His eyes widened at that.  "Honey I'm not going anywhere," he 
whispered. putting his arm around her 
shoulders and being surprised when she leaned sideways against him.  
Surprised and pleased that she had 
initiated contact.  'Comfort Rabb--she's seeking comfort' he counseled 
himself as Chaplain Turner mounted to 
the podium.

"Good afternoon friends in Christ," he began.  "On this beautiful 
winter's afternoon we are here to celebrate the 
life and to mourn the passing of Clayton Aaron Webb.  I know of him 
only in the pictures and stories his mother 
shared as we planned for this day and thus Commander Harmon Rabb will 
deliver the eulogy."

Harm drew a sharp breath for courage and when he pulled his arm from 
Mac's shoulders she caught his hand 
and gave him a small smile.  

Harm walked to the center aisle and past the casket as he climbed to 
the podium.  For a long moment he 
stood there, gathering his thoughts, his eyes falling first on the 
shiny steel box and then on Mac.  She gave 
him another small smile and a nod and he cleared his throat.  He would 
speak as he did in court, from his 
heart and mind, with no notes.

"Good Afternoon.  Clayton Webb was a friend of mine.  I can say that 
easily; though being his friend was not 
always easy.  There were times enough in the eight years I knew the man 
that I wanted to kill him myself.  But 
one thing that I can say unequivocally about him is that he loved this 
country and he believed passionately in 
his work.  He believed he was making a difference, making a 
contribution, and for that he has my undying 
admiration."  

A pause for a sip of water and he continued, hoping no one noticed how 
tightly his hands gripped the sides of 
the podium.   "I believe him to have been a good and decent man, and to 
that end he need not be 
remembered larger in death than he was in life.  I would also offer 
this."

His eyes fell to Mac and he smiled gently.  "A person I care very much 
about, whose judgment and opinion I 
value above any one else's in this world---Clay and Sarah shared a love 
that will be theirs alone to understand.  
His death leaves a void in her life.  What I'm trying to say here is 
that if this man was someone she could love, 
he must have been all right."  Only then did he take his eyes from her 
and look back to the gathered mourners.

"Clayton Aaron Webb you will be missed."
 
 Somehow he made it back to his seat, Mac's face wet with tears as he 
sat 
 down next to her. At once she reached for his hand and he squeezed 
hers 
 gently.
 
 "You sure you can handle the rest of this?" Harm asked as he helped 
Mac to 
 her feet as the other mourners left the chapel following the services.
 
 She nodded but did not speak. She knew that if she did, she would only 
burst 
 into further tears. Harm's eulogy had been emotional for her and she 
didn't 
 trust herself to words at that moment.
 
 "You made me cry" Mattie whispered as she reached for Harm's other 
hand. 
 "And I didn't even know him."
 
 They followed the hearse to Ft. Lincoln and with Harm holding onto 
both 
 Mattie and Mac, they made their way to the gravesite. Chaplain Turner 
said a 
 final few words and then it was over. Mrs. Webb sobbed softly, Mac 
breaking 
 from Harm to wrap her arms around the woman.
 
 "I'm so sorry" Mac whispered, her own tears coming again.
 
 Harm stood back, not wanting to intrude on the two women. More and 
more he 
 was sure that Mac had developed more feelings for Clayton Webb than 
he'd 
 first realized.
 
 "Harm don't you want to go to her?" Mattie whispered beside him when 
Mac and 
 Mrs. Webb moved to the casket, giving it one final hug. "She needs 
you."
 
 "No" he whispered. "She's where she needs to be. Saying good-bye to 
the man 
 she loves."
 
 "She loves you too."
 
 He shook his head somberly. "No Mattie. Mac and I will always be 
friends. 
 She did what she did for me because she's a good friend. That's all."
 
 "You're wrong. Let me talk to her…."
 
 "No" he hissed. "Mathilda Grace this is not something you are going to 
get 
 yourself involved in."
 
 "If she knew how you felt…"
 
 "What I told you is between you and me," he said quietly. "And you 
will not 
 repeat a word of it to anyone. I mean it Mattie."
 
 Mattie finally gave up, realizing she wasn't going to get him to 
change his 
 mind. But instead of standing with Harm, she moved forward to Mac.
 
 "I'm sorry Mac" she whispered.
 
 Mac turned around at the sound of her voice and looked at the young 
girl who 
 was holding her arms open to her.
 
 "Thank you Mattie" Mac sniffled as she gave Mattie a hug.
 
 "Would you like a hug from Harm too?" Mattie said softly. "He wasn't 
sure he 
 should come over."
 
 "Right now I'd love a hug from him" Mac managed and Mattie turned to 
Harm 
 and motioned him over.
 
 "I think she'd like one from you too," she said to Harm.
 
 "I'm sorry Sarah. More sorry than you'll ever know" Harm said as he 
took Mac 
 into his arms.
   
"Commander thank you for beautiful words," Mrs. Webb smiled softly when 
she stepped back from the casket.  
"I was right in having you speak.  Of the people my son associated 
with, he spoke of you often and with both 
respect and incredulity.  But he thought of you as a friend."

"As I did him," Harm nodded sincerely.

"Come back to the house.  There's coffee and warm food.  Sarah you in 
all likelihood should not be out of the 
hospital."

"She's got your number," Harm smiled.  "You ready?"

"No. "

"I'm sorry?"

"I just need a minute.  Alone.  Please.  Mrs. Webb is that OK?"

"Of course it is," the older woman smiled.  "Commander why don't we 
walk back toward the cars and you can 
introduce me to this pretty young lady here.  Who looks like in a few 
years she'll be breaking hearts in high 
school."

Mattie blushed and giggled at the same time, while Harm held back.  

"Commander please.  If she needs a minute, let her have it," Porter 
urged.

"Yes ma'am."  He took Porter's arm and Mattie's hand and walked away, 
sending one backwards glance to 
Sarah Mackenzie, now resting her hand on the casket.

"Harm don't read too much into that," Mattie cautioned as they walked, 
again with that wisdom beyond her 
years he had come to know from her already.

"I'm not reading anything but a woman who lost the man she loved," he 
replied.  "Mattie I'll deal with it."

"Is this something I should be aware of?" Porter Webb asked softly.

"No ma'am not at all," Harm assumed her quickly.  "Your son loved 
Sarah.  And it would seem she returned 
that love."

"Can I assume that you'll take care of her from now on Commander?"

"I'd like it if you would call me Harm ma'am and yes I will.  As much 
as she'll let me.  Mattie get in the car and 
get warm.  You too Mrs. Webb.  I'll wait for Mac."

On the small rise of ground, Mac trailed her fingers along the coffin.  
"Clay this is all wrong.  This wasn't meant 
to end like this," she whispered.  "You and I weren't meant to not have 
a chance to. . ."  Her throat closed 
painfully and she felt herself unsteady on her feet as a strong chill 
went through her.  "Good bye Clay," she 
breathed and turned to go.

It was not until she was almost back to the road that she saw Harm 
waiting for her.  "Hey," he called softly.  
"I'm not going to ask if you're OK, because I can see that you're not.  
But I am going to hold you for a minute if 
that's OK." 

  "Please" she murmured as she all but fell into his waiting arms.
  
  "Mac?" he said anxiously. "Are you okay?"
  
  "I will be as soon as I sit down. I'm just a little tired."
  
  "Yeah you've way over done it today. Come on Marine. Let's get you to 
the 
  car."
  
  His arm stayed around her waist as he led her, both Mattie and Porter 
Webb 
  noticing at once how pale she suddenly looked.
  
  "Sarah maybe you should have the Commander take you home" Porter 
frowned. 
  "You do not look well my dear."
  
  "No I'm fine," Mac said with a weak smile. "I want to go back to the 
house 
  with you. We were going to talk some more about Clay."
  
  "Of course dear. I just want to make sure you're okay."
  
  Mac nodded and leaned her head back against the seat, her eyes 
closing 
  almost immediately. Harm glanced over at her anxiously several times 
as they 
  made the drive back to the Webb family estate, more than once 
thinking he 
  should take her home. But he did not want to go against her desire 
and a short time later he pulled the car in 
front of the large home.
  
  "Mac" he said softly.
  
  "I'm awake" she murmured, forcing her eyes open. "Are we there?"
  
  "Yes we are. And don't you dare move. I'm coming around to help you. 
You're 
  way too unsteady on your feet to be moving on your own."
  
  He was at her side a moment later, his arm once again going around 
her waist 
  as he helped her from the car.
  
  "Thank you" she sighed, knowing at that moment she needed his help.
  
  "Your welcome. Come on let's get you inside and find you a chair and 
maybe 
  some food."
  
  "No I can't eat. My stomach has been in knots all day. That's why I 
didn't 
  eat anything earlier."
  
  "Mac you need to get something in you" Harm urged.
  
  "Sarah I've got a lot of food" Porter told her. "I'm sure you can 
manage to 
  eat a little bit. Clayton would be upset if he knew you weren't 
taking care 
  of yourself."
  
  "I'll try a little" she sighed. "Thank you."
  
  Harm led her inside, immediately installing her on the small sitting 
sofa in 
  Porter's living room.
  
  "What can I get you?" he asked as he knelt in front of her.
  
  "You can start by stopping your worrying" she sighed. "I'm okay Harm. 
Just 
  tired."
  
  "Okay I'll try. What else?"
  
  "I'll take some water to start. Then I'll walk myself over there and 
get 
  some food. You're not going to nursemaid me."
  
  "Yes ma'am. I'll be right back with that water."
     >
 Mattie intercepted Harm and took the water from him.  "I'll take it to 
her."  
 
 For a long moment, Harm did not release the bottle.  "Mattie, I want 
your word that you won't bring up 
anything about Mac and me to her," he whispered.  "For a lot of reasons 
but not the least of which is she's got 
a lot to deal with right now and she doesn't need to be concerning 
herself about that."
 
 "Yeah well what if she wants to but thinks you don't care," Mattie 
hissed back, tossing her long hair as she 
pulled the bottle from his hands.  "But OK.  Even though I think you're 
being pig headed."
 
 "Thanks.  It's a chance I'll take."
 
 "Hi," Mattie said softly as she sat next to Mac who was alone.  Mrs. 
Webb was busy with her friends for the 
moment and Mac was glad of the opportunity to not have to socialize.  
She opened the top of the water and 
handed it to Mac.  
 
 "Hi yourself," Mac gave her a wan smile.  "I'm glad you're here.  Is 
Harm OK?"
 
 Mattie looked surprised by the question, and by Mac's concern.  "Uh 
yeah he's just worried about you that's 
all," she stammered.
 
 "He's a good guy," Mac smiled again.  "And much as I hate to admit it 
I need him right now."
 
 "Well he needs you too," she said carefully.  "So don't shut him out."
 
 "I won't.  I couldn't if I wanted to.  He wouldn't let me, but more to 
the point, I need him to help me through 
this; much as the Marine in me hates to admit to it."
 
 "Can I ask you something and if it's too personal you can tell me to 
shut up," she whispered after digesting 
Mac's last words.
 
 "You can ask me anything.  Anytime.  Long as I have the write to 
refuse to answer," she replied with a small 
smile.
 
 "You and Mr. Webb.  Were you in love?"
 
 "You're right.  That's pretty personal," Mac began, and by the time 
she had formulated her reply, Harm was 
walking over to them.  
 
 "My two favorite ladies OK?"
 
 "Your timing sucks," Mattie hissed as she left them alone.
 
 "Something I said?" he frowned, taking Mattie's place by Mac.
 
 "Women talk.  I need to speak to Mrs. Webb."
 
 "Mac the lady is not going anywhere.  If you don't talk to her today 
you can just about any other time."
 
 "No I'm sure she has questions that she would like to ask me."
 
 "And do you know the answers?"
 
 "Not really," she admitted.  "But I'm probably the last person alive 
that he talked to." 
 
 "Well lets get some food into you and then maybe she can talk without 
wanting to call the undertaker for you."
 
 "I don't look that bad," she objected.
 
 "Wanna bet?"
 
 Mac did feel marginally better after a plate of food and in fact it 
was Mrs. Webb who sought her attention, 
sitting down beside her with a glass of wine.
 
 "You don't look quite as likely to pass out as you did earlier," 
Porter smiled.  "Now from you maybe I could get 
a straight answer as to why my son was in a cabin in the Shenandoah 
instead of accepting my invitation to go 
to midnight services."
  
 "Ma'am I wish I could tell you" Mac whispered. "I just don't remember. 
I 
 know he wanted me there but I don't know why."
 
 "Maybe to propose?" Porter said softly.
 
 "I don't think it was that kind of meeting ma'am" Mac gasped. "Clay 
and I 
 were close but…"
 
 "Sarah he loved you. He told me so himself. Why would it be so 
surprising to 
 you?"
 
 "And I loved him. But not…" Her voice trailed off and she looked away. 
If 
 she were to be honest with herself, she had not idea what her real 
feelings 
 for Clayton Webb were. They were mixed up with her feelings for Harm. 
 Feelings she didn't really understand.
 
 "But not like the way he loved you" Porter finished. "And I understand 
that 
 dear. You have another man in your life. One who cares about you just 
as 
 much as my Clayton cared about you."
 
 "He's just taking care of me right now."
 
 "I think it's more than just that Sarah."
 
 "Well right now I'm not quite ready for anything more than that" Mac 
sighed. 
 "Everything is quite confusing right now. And of course not knowing 
why Clay 
 wanted me there is driving me nuts. Not to mention not knowing who the 
other 
 woman with him was."
 
 "It'll come back in time. I hope anyway. I know nothing will bring 
Clayton 
 back but at the same time I'd like to know why my son is dead."
 
 "Yes ma'am and so would I. And I promise you I'm going to find out 
what 
 happened."
 
 An hour later Harm casually made his way over to Mac. "I think you've 
had 
 enough for one day," he said softly. "Can I take you home now?"
 
 "Only if you promise not to fret the whole way" she sighed. "I'm 
really just 
 tired."
 
 "I know. But you're also supposed to be taking it easy and today was 
not 
 taking it easy. So I may fret a little."
 
 Mac was silent on the way home and Harm had shot Mattie a warning look 
not 
 to force her into conversation. She'd been through enough for one day.
 
 "Harm would it be too much to ask for some time alone" Mac said once 
they 
 pulled up at her apartment. "I know you're in fretting mode but right 
now I 
 just need to be alone."
 
 "I'm not real comfortable leaving you alone when you're like this."
 
 "All I'm going to do is collapse on my sofa and veg" she sighed. "I 
just 
 want to do it alone."
 
 He let out a long sigh, trying to decide what to do. He was worried 
about 
 her and he didn't like her being alone. Not just because of her 
physical 
 state but because he wasn't sure what her emotional state was.
 
 "This is what you want?"
 
 She nodded. "Tonight it is. If that makes any sense."
 
 "Yes it does" he nodded. "And for tonight I'll give you that alone 
time."
 
 "Harm I could stay with her" Mattie spoke up from the back-seat.
 
 "Mattie thanks for the offer but I really need to be alone tonight" 
Mac said 
 with a small smile. "And that includes you."

"Sorry," Mattie murmured.

"Honey no you have nothing to be sorry for," Mac assured her hastily.  
"I just need some solitude that's all.  I'm 
going to put on some music or maybe an old movie, take a pill and curl 
up under a soft blanket and sleep."

"Well I'll walk you up.  Give me that much please," Harm begged.

"Thanks.  I'd like that."

"I'll wait here," Mattie smiled.

'Oh I don't know," Harm fretted.

"Will you relax.  I'll lock the doors."

"OK.  I won't be long."  He came around and opened the door for Mac, 
helping her out and waiting to hear the 
click of the locks before slipping his arm around her back to lead her 
upstairs.

She unlocked the door and he stepped inside ahead of her for a quick 
look around.  "Pardon my paranoia," he 
grinned, and ushered her in.

"Thank you sir but I can take it from here."

"All right.  But I'm trusting you to call if you need anything.  You 
did it Marine.  You got through the day like you 
said you would."

"I wouldn't have though--not without you.  Thank you."

"I'll always be there for you Sarah.  Always," he told her quietly.

"And you have no idea how much that means to me, now more than ever.  
Good night Harm."

"Good night," he whispered and gently took her face in his two hands, 
placing an ever so gentle kiss on her 
forehead.  For a long moment he did not move, leaving his lips touching 
there.

"Harm there's so much I have to say to you right now and no way I'll 
ever get it all out," she murmured, making 
no move to release herself from his hold.  "Can I just ask for some 
patience and time."

"All you need on both counts," he murmured.  "Now what did you promise 
me?"

"That I'd call you if I need anything."

"That's right.  Now because I know you won't cook for yourself, I'm 
going to call you tomorrow afternoon and 
see if you're up to getting some food with Mattie and me."

"OK deal.  Good night."  This time she did pull back from him, stepping 
back inside the apartment.  "Take care 
of Mattie.  She's great."

"I know.  Good night."

She closed the door and he waited to hear the lock turn before he 
hurried back to Mattie.

"Mac OK?" she asked at once.

"No but she's handling this in her own way."

"If she knew you loved her it would be easier and don't say it.  
Shutting up now."

"Thank you."
   
  Upstairs in her apartment Mac let out a long sigh. She'd changed into 
her 
  pajamas and taken her pill and was now heading to the sofa. It had 
been a 
  long day and she was drained both physically and emotionally.
  There were too many thoughts in her. Thoughts about Clay. And Harm. 
Finally 
  she closed her eyes, letting the medicine do its job. Sleep would 
provide 
  her a break from all the jumbled thoughts in her mind.
  
  ********************
  "You didn't sleep did you?" Mattie asked Harm the next morning. "I 
heard you 
  up all night."
  
  "Yeah well I had a lot on my mind" he sighed. "And how did you know I 
was 
  awake unless you weren't sleeping yourself?"
  
  "Well the sirens sort of woke me," she admitted. "Is it always this 
noisy 
  around here?"

  "I guess I've gotten used to it but yeah it usually is. And now that 
I think 
  about it, maybe I should start looking for something in a little 
nicer 
  area."
  
  "But you like it here. You did all the work in here yourself didn't 
you?"
  
  "Yeah and it was fine when it was just me. But I'm not so sure I like 
the 
  idea of you here."
  
  "Harm please" Mattie groaned. "I lived by myself. I think I can 
handle it."
  
  "Well for the moment it'll have to do" he sighed.
  
  "You're going to call Mac this morning aren't you?" Mattie asked. 
"And make 
  sure she's okay and see if she wants to get together with us."
  
  "I was going to give her a little time to sleep" Harm said with a 
small 
  smile. "But yes I'm planning on calling her and making sure she's 
okay."
  
  "So what are you waiting for?"
  
  "Mattie."
  
  "What?"
  
  "Nothing. I'm going to the phone and calling Mac. Are you happy?"
  
  "Yes I am" Mattie smiled.
  
  Harm shook his head as he made his way to the phone. A moment later 
he 
  waited while Mac's phone rang, breathing a sigh of relief when she 
answered.
  
  "Hey how are you?" he asked.
  
  "I'm alive so stop worrying Commander."
  
  "Did you sleep?"
  
  "Actually yeah. Right after you left I was out and I just woke up."
  
  "You were exhausted," he said softly. "I'm glad you got some rest. Do 
you 
  think you might be interested in having a late lunch with us?"
  
  "Yeah sure" she nodded. "That would be nice. I really like Mattie."
  
  "Yeah so do I. All right we'll be over in a little bit. I'll come up 
and get 
  you. I don't want you doing the stairs alone yet."
  
  "Harm" she sighed.
  
  "I'm serious. I know you're still unsteady and I don't want you 
falling. So 
  just wait for me."
  
  "Fine. I'll be waiting."
  
  "She wants to go?" Mattie asked. "I hope we're going somewhere nice 
and not 
  just to McDonalds."
  
  "First off, I don't eat at McDonalds" Harm smiled. "So if that's on 
your 
  list of favorite places we're in trouble. Second, I was thinking of 
  something a little nicer than that."
 
 "Well at the very least someplace where some cute guy goes 'I'm Chad 
and I'll be your server' please," Mattie 
laughed.  "I'll get dressed."
 ===========
 "Mac it's me," Harm called, rapping softly at the door.
 
 "Coming."  A few seconds later she opened the door and he gave her a 
low teasing wolf whistle.
 
 "You like?" she blushed and smiled, turning once to show off her jeans 
and V-neck shirt.
 
 "I do," he nodded.  "But there's not much of you there.  In your 
uniform I don't notice it so much but you've lost 
a few pounds there Colonel."
 
 "Maybe a couple.  But since when do you notice my waist line anyway."
 
 "Since always," he laughed.  "Come on Mattie's waiting.  Hey I'm glad 
you and her. . .well thanks for liking her.  
She's become a big part of my life."
 
 "I know.  I'm glad.  You needed someone like that."
 
 "She fills part of a need absolutely."
 
 She cocked her head quizzically.  "Only part?"
 
 "Only part yes that's right."  For a long moment their eyes held as 
questions unasked passed between them.  
He shook his head and took her arm, breaking the spell.  "Shall we?"
 
 "I am actually a little hungry," she admitted, submitting to his 
helping her on with her coat.  "What did the 
Commander and Mattie have in mind?"
 
 "How does Greek sound?  The Acropol?"
 
 "Sounds like a plan."
 
 Mattie was watching anxiously for them when they came down and at once 
unlocked the doors for Harm to 
assist Mac inside.
 
 "Mattie something wrong?" Harm frowned, sensing agitation in the young 
girl.
 
 "I'm not sure," she murmured.  "If I tell you, you won't think I'm 
just being hysterical will you?"
 
 "Of course not.  What's up?"
 
 "Well there was these two men," she hesitated.  "And then two more.  I 
don't think they knew I was in the car.  
They were talking, but not English and they kept looking around and 
gesturing inside and then upstairs and I 
don't know.  It's sounding silly now but after what happened to Mac, it 
just. . .well creeped me out."
 
 Harm and Mac exchanged glances and Harm hastily pulled the seat-belt 
over Mac.  "Hold that thought honey.  
Tell me when we're started."
 
 He pulled away from the building.  "Mattie do you see them still?  I'm 
going to make the block.  You tell me if 
you do, and go on with your story."
 
 "Well they were talking fast and like I said it wasn't English."
 
 "OK," Harm nodded, adding hopefully.  "I don't suppose it was 
something like French."
 
 "They didn't look French even," she said.  "I don't think I was really 
scared before but now since you're taking 
it seriously maybe I should be.  Is it because of what happened to 
Mac?"
 
 "Yeah honey it is," Mac spoke up.  "Without going into gory details, 
last spring I made a serious enemy in 
Paraguay named Sadik Fahd.  Clay was still trying to run him down.  I 
was helping and I suspect the 
information we were being brought had to do with his whereabouts."
 
 "OK.  Then I should be scared?" she asked in a small voice.
 
 "No sweetie.  Just tell us what happened," Mac urged.
 
 "Well like I said, they were all talking and. . .oh god there he is.  
One anyway.  I don't see the others." 
 
 "Are you sure Mattie?" Harm asked seriously.  
 
 "Yeah.  Same guy.  In the blue jacket."
 
 "I see him," Harm nodded, slowing down just slightly to regard the man 
who was obviously of Mid-Eastern 
extraction.  "The others were like him?"
 
 "Yeah they were," she whispered, trying to stave off tears.  "Like I 
said I don't think they knew I was in the car.  
These windows are so dark you can't see in from the outside right?"
 
 "No.  It's pretty hard to see inside unless it's direct sunlight," 
Harm nodded.
 
 "What are we going to do now?"
 
 "There's nothing we can do," Mac spoke up.  "The city is full of 
people who are descendant from that part of 
the world.  Including me.  A lot of them run shops on M Street that's 
just a few blocks from here."
 
 "Do any live in your building?" Harm asked and Mac shrugged 
helplessly.
 
 "Well not that I've ever seen but then who's ever home to actually 
know the neighbors.  People come and go 
weekly in there."
 
 "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it," Mattie whispered.
 
 "No.  No you did the right thing," Harm told her firmly.  "Any time 
you have a concern.  I've made a note of the 
description which we're in luck.  It would only fit five or six hundred 
guys in the city.  Now let's go eat."
 
 "So where are you taking me anyway?" Mac asked.
 
 "I thought we could have brunch at one of the restaurants down on the 
water" 
 Harm answered. "If that's okay with you."
 
 "No that's fine" she nodded. "Thank you. And thank you for letting me 
have 
 some time to myself last night. I really needed that."
 
 "Well I hope you slept more than Harm did" Mattie spoke up. "He was up 
most 
 of the night worrying about you."
 
 "I couldn't sleep" he murmured when Mac looked over at him. "Too much 
going 
 on I guess. You said you slept OK though?"
 
 "Yeah actually I did" she nodded. "I took my pill and that was about 
all I 
 remember."
 
 "Well you look a lot better than you did yesterday. I'm glad you got 
some 
 rest."
 
 They were nearly to the restaurant when Mac noticed Harm glancing in 
the 
 rearview mirror.
 
 "Harm?"
 
 "Look I'm going to make a few more loops around the block," he said 
without 
 taking his eyes off the car behind him. "I might be paranoid but I 
think 
 we're being followed. Mattie don't turn around either."
 
 "Harm maybe we should go to the police" Mac suggested quietly.
 
 "Not yet. And if I go anywhere it's over to the Agency. So someone can 
tell 
 us what the hell is going on and why someone is following you."
 
 He turned onto the next street and made a loop around the city block, 
the 
 dark sedan continuing to follow them. It wasn't until he turned back 
onto 
 the other street that the sedan finally headed in the other direction.
 
 "Okay they're gone for now" Harm sighed. "But only because I think 
they knew 
 I was onto them. We're going to get brunch and then I'm dropping 
Mattie off 
 at Bud and Harriet's and you and I are going to have a talk with some 
old 
 friends of mine."
 
 "Harm no" Mattie protested. "I want to stay with you and Mac."
 
 "Honey I don't know what's going on here" Harm said seriously. "And I 
don't 
 want you getting hurt. You'll be safe with Bud and Harriet and that's 
all 
 that matters to me."
 
 "What about Mac? Aren't you worried about her?"
 
 "Yes I am," he said as he looked over at Mac. "Very worried. But I can 
watch 
 out for her. I can't watch over both of you at the same time."
 
 "I can take care of myself" Mac sighed. "I'm a Marine Mattie. I know 
how to 
 fire a weapon, probably better than Harm does. And I agree totally 
with him 
 wanting you to not be involved in this. If Sadik is behind this, well 
it's 
 best you're nowhere around us."
 
 "He's a bad man isn't he?"
 
 "Very" Mac said softly, her mind at once going back to Paraguay and 
the hell 
 Clay had endured. Endured only to die in a horrible death. A death 
that 
 might well have been caused by Sadik.
 
 "Okay you two stick close to me" Harm said as he parked the SUV. He 
hurried 
 out and a moment later had each of them on his arms, his eyes glancing 
 around for the dark sedan. There was no sign of it at the moment and 
he 
 hurried them inside the restaurant.
 
 "Wow Harm" Mattie smiled once they were inside. "This is way better 
than 
 McDonalds."
 
 They were seated at a small table and Harm looked around them, now in 
a 
 heightened state of worry. Clayton Webb was dead. And now there was a 
good 
 chance someone was after Mac as well.
 
 "Harm relax," she said softly as she reached her hand across the table 
to 
 touch his. "We're fine here."
 
 "I'm trying" he sighed. "But it's not going to be easy."
 
 He managed just slightly during the meal, Mattie and Mac doing most of 
the 
 talking. Not that he minded that. It made him feel good to know the 
two of 
 them got along so well.
 
 "Okay you are going to Bud and Harriet's" Harm said once the meal was 
 finished and they were on their way to the car. "Then Mac and I have 
 business to take care of."
 
 Mattie was about to protest when she caught Harm's look. Despite their 
short 
 time together, she knew exactly when she could and could not push 
things 
 with him. This was not one of their times.
 
 "Mac where's your jacket?" Mattie asked as they neared the car.
 
 "On the back of my chair" she sighed. "I knew I forgot something. My 
brain 
 is just not all together yet."
 
 "I'll go back in with you to get it" Mattie offered. "That way Harm 
can pull 
 up the car for us and you don't have to walk."
 
 Mac nodded and just as she and Mattie turned to head back into the 
 restaurant, Harm pushed the button for the automatic locks as he 
walked to 
 the SUV. It was but a millisecond later that an explosion rocked the 
 vehicle, the force of the blast sending him to the pavement as well as 
 Mattie and Mac behind him.

Harm felt the blast of white hot heat and he automatically threw up his 
hands in a vain attempt to protect his 
face.  At the same time he instinctively tried to turn to see about 
Mattie and Mac, only to find himself too dazed 
to focus.  They were behind him he could take comfort in that he 
thought as he fought to get his breath and get 
his feet under him.  He heard Mac scream his name and Mattie just 
simply scream.

Mac managed to roll upright and she felt Mattie at her side.  "Mattie 
are you hurt anywhere?  Talk to me 
sweetie."

"I'm OK but what happened," she sobbed, rubbing an elbow that she 
banged in her fall.

"I don't know.  Something awful."  She held on to her arm with one hand 
and stretched the distance to Harm.  
"You OK?"

Harm turned around to face her,  forcing himself to forget the searing 
pain that was affecting his arms and 
face.  "I guess.  You and Mattie.  Oh my god you and Mattie. Come 
here."  In his shock and fear he was not 
sure what he was saying or doing he would realize later.  For now he 
grabbed both of them and simply 
wrapped them into a long hug.

The next half hour was a blur of police and paramedics as they were 
transported to Georgetown University 
Hospital's trauma center.  The ER doctor took one look at the red skin 
on Harm's face and on his forearms 
where his jacket sleeves had fallen away when he raised his arms and 
his face and had him taken away for 
treatment.

Mac and Mattie were similarly escorted to another room, allowed to stay 
together while they were checked 
over.

"So what the hell happened anyway?" the young resident demanded.  "This 
says an SUV several feet from 
you literally exploded."

"That pretty much sums it up," Mac whispered, wrapping her hand around 
Mattie's.  "Must have been a short 
or something."

"Unless it was the same people who. . ." Mattie started and Mac at once 
gave her hand a hard warning 
squeeze.  

"What was that?" Dr. Mackey asked her.

"Never mind.  We need to see about Harm--the guy who was with us," she 
said softly.

"Well first I'm going to have them Xray your elbow that you're holding 
funny," he told her.  "Hurts doesn't it."

"Yeah like I was inline skating and banged it is all," Mattie nodded.  
"It's probably nothing."

"Or you could have a bone chip or something.  So let me play doctor and 
get an Xray please," he smiled, 
revealing a slight dimple on one cheek that Mattie noticed at once and 
despite her upset, giggled slightly. 

"If it's needing a cast will you do it?" she asked shyly.

"I will.  Promise."  With that he turned his attention to Mac.  "OK 
ma'am, what hurts?"

"Everything but nothing that needs attention," she sighed.  "Please I'm 
worried about our friend."

"I saw his face and arms.  Like when you open an oven to check the cake 
and a blast of heat hits you, but 
where that would be about three-fifty, this was probably double that.  
So what he's got now is like sunburn in 
its most extreme form."

"He will be OK though right?" she asked with trepidation.

"Of course.  But he's going to hurt for a couple of days and look like 
a cooked lobster."

"We can live with that," Mac sighed.  "Can we see him please."

"I'll have a nurse take you to where he's being treated.  Right now I'm 
sure he could use a friendly face and 
he's probably ready to do some whining.  Unless you want to stay with 
the young lady here while she's taken 
care of."

"Mattie?"

"No I want you to go to Harm.  I'm sure he's worried about us.  I'll be 
OK and then they'll bring me too you right 
Doctor?"

"You can call me Joey, and that's right.  You know if you were about 
five or six years older I'd be asking you to 
dinner."

Mattie smiled and blushed at that and Mac sighed with relief.  She 
would be all right.  Now to see to Harm.
 
 Her composure threatened to crumble when she saw him and it was only 
with a 
 deep breath that she managed to keep the tears at bay as she walked 
into his 
 room.
 
 "Hey sailor" she said softly and at once his eyes opened.
 
 "Mac, are you and Mattie okay?" he asked at once, his hand reaching 
for 
 hers.
 
 "I'm fine and Mattie's having her elbow looked at" Mac told him. "But 
it's 
 nothing serious and she's enjoying the company of a very cute young 
doctor."
 
 "Thank God" he murmured.
 
 "Harm you know that was meant for me" she whispered. "They wanted me 
to die 
 just like Clay. Only they nearly killed you instead."
 
 "Not quite. It's going to take a lot more than that."
 
 "Harm I'm scared. And not for me. For you and Mattie. You have nothing 
to do 
 with this. This is my mess from Paraguay."
 
 "Correction. Our mess. I was there in Paraguay too Mac. The only part 
I 
 agree with you is I'm afraid for Mattie. We're going to have to get 
her to 
 Bud and Harriet's and then figure out what our next move is."
 
 "Your next move is to bed" she whispered, her hand gently going to his 
face. 
 "I'm so sorry about this."
 
 "Mac I'll live. It hurts a little but I'll manage. Right now I'm more 
 concerned about the fact that someone wants you dead."
 
 "And I'm concerned about the fact they didn't care who they hurt doing 
it." 
 Tears pooled in her eyes and her resolve started to crumble as she 
thought 
 about how close it had actually been. If Harm had been closer to the 
car 
 when it had blown, she might have lost him like she'd lost Clay.
 
 "Don't" he whispered as she choked back a sob. "Mac it's over. I'm 
going to 
 be fine. Mattie's going to be fine. That's all that matters."
 
 "Harm I can't lose you too. Not after losing Clay."
 
 "I'm not going anywhere. I promise. As soon as they let me out of here 
we're 
 going to call Bud and Harriet to come and get Mattie and then we're 
going 
 over to the Agency."
 
 "You need to rest" she sniffled. "I'm sure they could give you 
something for 
 the pain that would let you sleep."
 
 "No. Not till we find out what's going on here. And I want you to go 
back 
 and check on Mattie. Make sure she's really okay."
 
 "Well they were x-raying her elbow so it might be a little bit before 
I 
 know" Mac sighed.
 
 "Then stay here with me," he said softly. "I don't want to let you out 
of my 
 sight. I just keep thinking how lucky we were you forgot your coat. 
You both 
 could have been standing right there."
 
 "I don't even want to think about it" she whispered. "If anything had 
 happened to Mattie because of me I would never have forgiven myself."
 
 "Well she's not going to be around either of us until we figure this 
all 
 out."
 
 "Harm someone wants me dead."
 
 "Well it's not going to happen. I won't let it. I'll be with you 
twenty four 
 seven if that's what it takes to keep you safe."
 
"I can't let you," she whispered, feeling tears pool in her eyes.  "I 
can't be the cause of your death."  With that 
she started to back away from his bed, making only a few inches before 
his hand shot out and grasped her 
wrist with surprising strength.

"You're not letting me.  I'm not even giving you the option.  Marine 
don't you understand  I don't want you out 
of my sight.  I couldn't bear anything happening to you."

"And I don't want you hurt because of me.  Clay is dead because of me.  
Mattie could easily have been.  No 
Harm.  I'm going to just go and try to figure this out."

"Clay is dead because he lived the life of an undercover operative and 
eventually it had to catch up to him," he 
said, still gripping her arm.  "It was divine providence that you and 
Mattie weren't standing right by the car, and 
that I happened to think of using the remote to open it.  Normally I 
forget I have it and just walk up and unlock 
it.  Now what are you talking about, going?  Going away you mean?  
Alone?"

"Yeah I think that's what I should do," she nodded, trying to turn away 
and finding she could not with the way 
he was holding her fast.

"That is so ludicrous it doesn't even bear discussing," he told her.  
"I think getting out of DC is probably a good 
idea.  But not alone.  Not without me."

She shook her head, tears pooling in earnest now.  "I don't know.  
Since Paraguay I've been so mixed up.  
Then there was you gone and come back and Catherine Gayle and Mattie 
and Clay.  Oh my god Clay."  A 
fresh burst of tears and she managed to get her arm loose, fleeing his 
bedside just as Mattie and Dr. Mackey 
were walking in.

"Mac?" Mattie called after her anxiously and when she did not stop 
Mattie sent a long glare in Harm's direction.  
"OK now what did you do to her?"

"Hey.  Nothing and everything.  I'll try to explain it all to you as we 
go, but first Doctor, how is she.  Her elbow?"  
His eyes narrowed when he focused on the large bandage around it.

"It's bruised and there's a tiny hairline fracture of a non-moving bone 
that's going to hurt but it's not worth the 
aggravation of a cast," Joey smiled.  "I've given her an 
anti-inflammatory and the ice will help.  No tennis 
playing."

"I'm right handed and I don't know how," Mattie giggled.  "What does 
suck is that it's not going to get me out of 
school work."

"'Fraid not.  Mr. Rabb you're looking a little more alert than when you 
passed by me earlier."

"Yes sir.  Whatever they gave me and spread on me helped.  I must look 
like something from The Outer Limits 
though.

"It's going to help with that redness a lot.  You were awfully lucky 
sir."

"Not really when someone is trying to. . ." Mattie spoke up, stopping 
at Harm's warning look.

"Never mind."

"OK," Joey frowned.  "If anyone needs anything tell the nurse to page 
me.  I've got really sick people to check 
on."

"Thanks doctor," Harm nodded and Mattie simply watched him go, 
obviously taken with the young and 
handsome type.

"Mattie, put your eyes back in and go find Mac," Harm begged.  "She's 
upset and I don't want her wandering 
around alone."
 
 "What did you say to her?"
 
 "Nothing. Please go find her. Then we're all getting out of here and 
I'm 
 taking you to Bud and Harriet's until we get this figured out."
 
 Mattie opened her mouth to protest but at the look on Harm's face new 
better 
 than to argue. "Yes sir. I'll go find her right now."
 
 "Thank you."
 
 Mattie made her way down the hospital hallway before finally spotting 
Mac 
 sitting in a corner lounge, crying softly.
 
 "Mac" she said softly. "Are you okay?"
 
 "Not really" Mac sniffled. "But that's not your fault. Nor is it 
Harm's."
 
 "He's really worried about you."
 
 "He's a good man" she whispered. "Which is why I can't let him do what 
he 
 wants to do."
 
 "You mean take care of you?" Mattie said with a small smile. "Mac he 
won't 
 leave you. No matter what you say. He knows you're in trouble and 
nothing is 
 going to make him leave you until whoever did this is caught."
 
 "And what if something happens to him before that. No I won't let him. 
You 
 need him and his place is with you."
 
 "He won't see it that way."
 
 "I know but that's the way it has to be."
 
 "Mac do you really want to handle this on your own?" Mattie asked.
 
 "No" Mac admitted softly. "But at the same time, I don't want Harm 
involved. 
 I don't want him hurt Mattie. That would kill me. I lost Clay. And 
losing 
 Harm…" Her voice trailed off and she swallowed hard at the image of 
the 
 exploding SUV ran through her head again.
 
 "You love him don't you?" Mattie whispered. "You love him so much you 
can't 
 stand the thought of losing him."
 
 Mac could not deny the young girl's assessment, tears pooling in her 
brown eyes as she nodded slowly. Of  
course she loved Harmon Rabb. She always had. Despite the ups and downs 
life 
 had given them, there was still a bond between them. A bond deep 
enough to 
 be most assuredly called love.
 
 "Then let him take care of you. Mac he'll go crazy if you leave and 
take off 
 on your own. You weren't with him when he thought you were dead. I 
was. I 
 saw how badly he was hurting. Part of him died with you that day. He 
would 
 never have gotten over losing you."
 
 "I'd never get over losing him."
 
 "You can't leave him and go off alone. Please don't do that to him. 
It'll 
 kill him. Not knowing if you're okay or not."
 
 "Mattie do you realize how serious these people are?" Mac whispered.
 
 "Yes ma'am. And I'm scared for both you and Harm. But I think you 
stand a 
 better chance together than alone. He won't let anything happen to 
you."
 
 "That's what I'm afraid of Mattie."
 
 "I know ma'am. In the short time I've known Harm I've realized 
something. 
 There's nothing he wouldn't do for the people he loves."
 
 "Mattie he doesn't love me."
 
 "Do you really believe that?" Mattie asked softly. "Deep down do you 
really 
 think Harm doesn't love you?"
 
 "I can't talk about this right now" Mac sighed.
 
 "Okay. Then let's go back and get Harm and then figure out what's 
 happening."
 
 Harm breathed a sigh of relief when Mattie brought Mac back into his 
room. 
 "Okay Harm. I'm going to go see if you're sprung or not."
 
 "Thanks Mattie" he nodded as she walked out.
 
 "Harm this isn't going to work" Mac whispered. "I won't let you do 
this."
 
 "You have no choice Sarah. I'm not leaving you alone until we find out 
 what's going on."
 
 "If anything happens to you, I'll never forgive myself."
 
 "Nothing is going to happen to either of us" he vowed.
   
"Do you know how many men's lives I've cost just by knowing them?"

"Yeah I'm going to make a list when I have time," he groaned.  "Three 
things are going to happen the rest of 
today.  And because you're upset you're going to let me be in charge 
for the moment.  First we're going to take 
Mattie to Bud and Harriet's.  We'll owe them for the rest of our lives 
for that one, but friends don't keep score.  
Then we're going to call Catherine Gayle."

"What?  Of all the things next might have been, that's not one of 
them," she whispered.  "But OK I'll bite, why 
are we doing that and anyway, she should be a mom by now."

"Most probably yeah, but that doesn't mean she doesn't still know 
people, retired or on leave of absence or 
what.  She owes me a favor."

"Yeah one about six or seven pounds," she returned, just the trace of 
an impish smile mixing with her distress.

"She said not and we don't have time to do the math right now.  Stay 
with me here will you. If we tell her our 
problem, she might be able to get us some help. Then we need to get out 
of DC.  I'm thinking we go to my 
grandmother's.  She's got plenty of room and it's deserted and out of 
the way and we'd be safe there."

"Harm we can't hide there the rest of our lives," she objected and then 
that impish smile came back. "Or could 
we--change our names, become country folk."

"I hope it doesn't come to that," he replied, stepping over her 
facetious comment and going right to reality.  
"Witness protection and all that."

"I don't even want to think about that."

He gave her a trademark Rabb grin and reached for her hand.  "Now don't 
tell me you've never thought about 
leaving this life behind and waking up as a new you."

"Only hundreds of times," she returned.  "But this is not one of them."

"Well we're not there yet."

"Are you going to call your grandmother?"

"No, we'll surprise the old girl.  You'll love her.  She's incredible 
at her age what she still does without help--
keeps house, drives, so active."

"We'll need to pack, and get Mattie's things too.  You better call 
Harriet."

"Yeah it's going to be a full couple of hours, but I don't want to talk 
practicalities for the moment.  I want to talk 
about you and how you are.  I'm so sorry about all this."

"What?  Rabb this is not your problem remember," she scoffed.

"Oh you are so--ooo wrong Mackenzie," he returned.  "This became my 
problem a long time ago.  When you 
and I met and whatever has held us together all these years formed."

"Pretty sappy there mister," she sniffled.

"Blame the medication.  And anyway, if the situation were reversed, 
well the Sarah Mackenzie I know wouldn't 
let me talk about abandoning her and going off."

"Not in a million years," she replied at once, words straight from her 
heart.

"I didn't think so.  We're going to see this through together.  Matter 
closed.  I'll call Harriet and then see if 
Catherine Gayle can see us."

"You have her private number?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Point taken.  Harm I don't want her risking herself, most especially 
her baby."

"I'll mention that, and look here comes Mattie with the warden.  And 
hopefully my pardon."

  "Yes Mr. Rabb" Joey smiled. "You're sprung. But remember we've given 
you 
  some pain medication so you're going to be a little woozy. And of 
course 
  you're going to need to keep putting the cream on the burns."
  
  "I'll make sure that happens" Mac assured him.
  
  "Good. Then he's free to go. The nurse will be by with the release 
papers."
  
  "I need to call Harriet" Harm sighed. "Or do you think we could dare 
just 
  drop in on them? I just want to make sure they're home."
  
  Mac pulled out her cell phone and dialed, smiling slightly when 
Harriet 
  answered. "Harriet hi it's Mac. Uh Harm and I need to ask a favor of 
you and 
  Bud. Can we come by in a little bit?"
  
  A short time later they climbed into a taxi. The first stop was 
Harm's place 
  where they gathered stuff for both him and Mattie.
  
  "Harm do we dare go by my place?" Mac asked as she watched him put 
stuff in 
  his bag.
  
  "Actually I was just thinking it might be best not to" he sighed. 
"They were 
  there when we came to pick you up. Lord knows what they might have 
rigged. 
  Including your car. We'll just stop and get a few things for you."
  
  Mac nodded, knowing he was likely right. And she wasn't about to risk 
him 
  getting hurt again just because she wanted her stuff.
  
  Once they were packed, another taxi took them to Bud and Harriet's.
  
  "Sir oh my gosh" Harriet gasped when she opened the door and saw 
Harm's face 
  and arms. "What happened?"
  
  "We'll explain inside" Harm told her. "And yes Mattie has her bags 
because 
  we need to ask a huge favor of you."
  
  "Come in please" Harriet motioned. "Bud it's the Commander and 
Colonel."
  
  Twenty minutes later Harm finished telling a stunned Bud and Harriet 
what 
  had transpired. "And that's why we need you to look after Mattie for 
a 
  little bit. Until we get this figured out."
  
  "Of course. We'll be happy to. But what are you two going to do?"
  
  "We're not exactly sure" Harm lied. "But we'll be in touch. I 
promise. Right 
  now I just want to get Mac out of town before anything else happens."
  
  "This is because of Paraguay isn't it?" Bud asked and Mac nodded 
slowly. 
  "And why Mr. Webb was killed."
  
  "Unfortunately yes" Mac whispered.
  
  "Sir, ma'am don't you think it would be go into a safe house or 
something?" 
  Bud asked.
  
  "We can't hide forever Bud. We just need to figure out what's going 
on first 
  and then we'll end this once and for all."
  
  He nodded. "I understand sir. And we'll take good care of Mattie."
  
  "I hate this" Mattie wailed a few minutes later as Harm and Mac got 
ready to 
  leave. "I don't want you to go. I'm so scared for both of you."
  
  "Honey it's going to be okay" Harm promised as he gave her a long 
hug. "Mac 
  and I are going to be fine. And I promise we'll call you when we 
can."
  
  Mattie nodded and sniffled at the same time. "You'll take care of 
each 
  other."
  
  Mac smiled slightly at the young girl's words. "Yes ma'am we will. I 
promise 
  I won't let him get into any trouble."
  
  With one final hug they finally made their way out the door, Harm 
letting 
  out a long sigh. "We're doing the right thing. I know it."
  
  "Yes we are" Mac nodded. "I don't want her involved. It's bad enough 
you're 
  involved."
  
  "Mac don't start that again. You know I'm not leaving you."
 
 "Yeah and I also know I'm not letting being with me endanger you," she 
returned, allowing herself one small 
tearful note before she regained control.  "You once said all the men 
I'd ever been with were dead or wished 
themselves so.  Harm I care about you way too much to let you follow 
Clay into keeping that prophecy true.  
Even the second part--I don't want you to come to hate me."
 
 "Good grief have you been sniffing something," he groaned with a small 
laugh and slipped his arm around her 
shoulders to walk to the cab. "In the first place I was so far out of 
line when I made that half-assed comment.  
Would you like to know why I said it?"
 
 "I. . .sure."
 
 "It was my clumsy way of telling Sturgis that he should not consider 
you someone he would want to get to 
know better.  And because I was feeling sorry for myself anyway that 
things had gotten--once again gotten--so 
lousy between us."
 
 "But they did get better after the Jagathon," she reminded him, 
smiling gently and leaning into his arm's 
embrace. 
 
 "Yeah for a while they did.  We were in calm waters," he agreed 
easily.  "Then came Sergei, and Singer's 
death and my trial and just when I thought I could breathe, Paraguay."
 
 "And let's not go there," she said firmly.  "Where was my common sense 
when I could have told Clay no way 
in hell.  But truth be told, I was ready to get away."
 
 "Yeah well next time choose Disney World," he told her, guiding her 
into the back-seat of the taxi and 
following her in.  Once safely on their way, she leaned against him and 
closed her eyes.  For the short ten 
minute ride to where they were meeting Catherine, she let herself be 
lost in the comfort his arm around her 
provided.
 
 As soon as they walked into the small diner, Catherine was on her feet 
to greet them, a baby sling attached to 
her front.
 
 "Oh wow you brought him," Harm breathed.  "I wasn't sure you would."  
With one finger he pulled aside the 
fabric and staring back at him was the cherubic face of a baby boy.
 
 "He's precious," Mac gasped, at once enchanted.
 
 "He's Clay," Catherine whispered.
 
 "He's beaut. . .what?" Harm's eyebrows shot up.
 
 "Yeah.  Remember I told you it was before I knew you," she smiled 
sheepishly.  "From the Angel Shark thing, 
he and I had a short but wonderful time together.  Then he was gone, 
but he left me pregnant with his child."
 
 "Oh," Harm managed to choke out, not daring to look at Mac at that 
moment. If she had loved Clay--but this 
was before--but still. . . His mind was whirring and Mac finally took 
his elbow.
 
 "Harm, lady carrying a load there who has asked us twice to sit down."  
She looked into his eyes for a quick 
instant.  "I know what you're thinking and it's OK.  Honestly it is."
 
 Catherine looked at Mac quizzically.  "You and Clay?"
 
 "Yeah in Paraguay," she nodded.
 
 Harm cleared his throat. "OK before this conversation deteriorates 
into a discussion of the man's. . uh. . 
attributes, Catherine we need help.  You know about Sadik Fahd.  He's 
looking for us."
 
 "Me," Mac put in.
 
 "Doesn't matter," Harm glared.  "Catherine, can you help us. Anything 
you can do?  Without endangering 
yourself of course."
 
 "I'm actually on a year's sabbatical while I enjoy motherhood," she 
smiled. "You're thinking friends who owe 
me favors maybe?"
 
 "Yes exactly," he nodded.  "There has to be a way to stop this man.  
He's a danger to us but he's a terrorism 
threat to this country."
   
 "And likely the man responsible for Clay's death" Mac said softly.
 
 "You believe that?" Catherine asked quietly. "You really believe he 
killed 
 Clay."
 
 "I'm almost sure of it."
 
 "Then I'll do whatever I can to help. Clay didn't deserve that. No one 
 does."
 
 "Thanks Catherine" Harm sighed. "You have no idea how much we 
appreciate 
 this."
 
 "No it's okay. I want to help. You two were lucky today. You easily 
could 
 have been killed as well. And he has to be stopped. I'll call in 
whatever 
 favors I can. What's your plans?"
 
 "Not sure. Right now just to get out of DC for a while and get some 
quiet 
 time to figure out what to do next."
 
 "I understand. Is there a way I can reach you?"
 
 "My cell phone" Harm told her. "It'll always be on. You know the 
number."
 
 Catherine nodded. "Okay I'll do what I can. Just take care of 
yourselves 
 please. This man is very dangerous. But I don't have to tell you 
that."
 
 "I know. That's why we're getting out of here."
 
 Ten minutes later they were on their way out of DC, Harm watching the 
 rearview mirror for any signs of anyone following them.
 
 "You should have let me drive" Mac fretted. "That way you could have 
rested. 
 And don't tell me that isn't hurting you now. It's been hours since 
they 
 gave you that pain medication."
 
 "It's a little uncomfortable," he admitted. "But I'm fine. Besides you 
don't 
 know the way to Grams' anyway."
 
 "Harm are you sure it's a good idea for us to go there?" she asked. 
"What if 
 Sadik follows us? I don't want to put her life in danger."
 
 "Well we could go somewhere else first if that would make you feel 
better."
 
 "I'm just worried that these people will follow us right to her. I 
couldn't 
 live with the guilt of anything happening to your grandmother because 
of 
 me."
 
 "Okay we won't go there right away," he said after a moment's pause. 
"I know 
 some other areas up there in the mountains we can go to first. Dad had 
a 
 cabin tucked way up in the woods that I went to a few times when I 
needed to 
 escape everything. It doesn't come with any modern conveniences 
though."
 
 "I can handle it. I'd just feel more comfortable doing that right 
now."
 
 "Then we'll go there. When we get closer we'll stop and get some 
supplies. I 
 haven't been up there in years so there's nothing there."
 
 "I want you to let me know if you need me to take over driving. You 
can 
 direct just as well from the passenger seat."
 
 "I'm fine. Mac stop worrying please. We'll get through this. Together. 
I 
 promise." He reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
 
 "I just don't want anything to happen to you."
 
 "Nothing will. You're stuck with me Marine."
 
 She smiled slightly at his words before frowning again. "Harm did you 
know 
 about Catherine and Clay?"
 
 "I was as surprised as you were. She never told me who the father was. 
Not 
 that I was concerned. She said right off it wasn't mine."
 
 "You and Catherine didn't…uh never mind. You don't need to tell me."
 
 "She turned me down actually."
 
 "She did?" Mac couldn't help but smile at that. "Was that a first?"
 
 "Contrary to popular belief, no. And I'm actually glad she did. It 
would 
 have been a mistake."
 
 "Why do you say that?"
 
 "Because she knew were my heart really was," Harm said softly.
   
"So you and her never. . ." Mac asked slyly.

"Now I didn't say that either," he grinned.  "She simply said I was 
high-risk and wasn't interested in a 
relationship with me."

"Now that's a term I don't think I've ever considered using regarding 
you.  One of the few and. . .wait, she 
knew where your heart really was?  What kind of a comment is that?"

"Mac when I was so desperate to find you, she put me through a few 
hoops and I'm sure I was pretty 
transparent given how upset I was."

"I see.  You know I used to think the time in my life that I was with 
Mic was a confused time.  But it had nothing 
on Paraguay.  And that of course started the night I came to see you 
before we left."

"You have no idea how badly I wish we could rewind life to that night," 
he said ruefully.  "You were waiting for 
me to say something.  You had that same expression the night of your 
engagement party when you had your 
hand on the doorknob and looked back at me."

"Harm I. . ."

"No just answer me.  Please."

"Yeah.  Yeah I did.  That night I was so ready for you to say 'Sarah 
lets go back inside and end this farce right 
now'.  But you didn't, and I opted for the sure thing.  Mic loved me 
Harm.  He gave up his whole world for me."

"Yes he did," Harm nodded.  "And at the risk of blowing my own horn, I 
did the same for you two years later."

"Yes you did, and I was too overwhelmed at the time to understand and 
appreciate what you did.  Since then 
I've had many a nightmare of being tied down in the torture shack and 
how you burst through the door just in 
time."  She reached over and squeezed his hand.  "Thank you kind sir."

"You my lady are most welcome."

They fell silent and Mac was dozing until the SUV took a large bump too 
fast and she awoke with a start.  
"Good grief you should not have let me sleep."

"And why not?"

"Well I should be watching your back or something," she replied lamely.  
"Where are we?"

"Comfort stop, also coffee and supplies.  And then I'm going to let you 
take the wheel if you don't mind."

"See I knew it.  You are hurting."

"I'm just tired and don't want to risk an accident," he told her.  
"Soon as you tuck me into bed I'll take one of my 
pills, but for right now I'm fine."

"Lord save me from stubborn squids," she sighed.  "I assume you've kept 
an eye out behind us?"

"You bet.  Nothing has stayed with us.  For right now I think we're OK.  
We're pretty much out in the boonies."  
He climbed from the SUV and walked around to her side in time to help 
her down.

"Little Marine's room," she gasped almost at once.  

"Yeah I'll join you," he smiled and at her raised eyebrow added 
quickly, "you know what I mean."

The old man behind the counter rang up their purchases with efficiency 
as he watched them both.  "You folks 
taking a little romantic getaway or what?"

"Yes sir," Harm nodded.  "We both work for Social Security down in 
Baltimore and we're escaping to Elks Horn 
for a few days."

"Pretty country up there," the clerk smiled.  "Anything else?"  

"That's got it thanks."

"So we're now pencil pushers in civilian clothes," Mac giggled once 
they were back on the road, her behind the 
wheel this time.

"Yes we are.  Now if someone asks for a Marine and a Sailor out of DC, 
you and I shouldn't come to mind.  
Plus we're going West.  Elks Horn is Northeast."

"Wow Flyboy, not bad," she smiled.  "You must have read a lot of 
mysteries when you were a kid."
  
 "Just trying to keep us safe" he sighed.
 
 With his directions she was able to navigate the SUV into what seems 
no 
 man's land and an hour later she pulled up at the rundown cabin.
 
 "Well you did say it didn't have the comforts of home" she giggled as 
they 
 walked up to it. "And it sure doesn't."
 
 "Sorry but it's the best place for now. There's a stream down the back 
hill 
 where we can get water. Not sure about wood for the fireplace."
 
 "I'll find something" Mac told him. "You go inside and take one of 
those 
 pain pills. I know you're hurting."
 
 "After we get situated. I'm not leaving this all on you."
 
 "I can handle it mister. Now  go."
 
 "I'll take our stuff in" he sighed. "That much I can do. And once you 
find 
 some wood, I'll cook dinner."
 
 He kept peering out the window of the cabin for her while she 
collected the 
 wood and she finally returned, her arms full of logs to burn.
 
 "I've got more close by but this will get us started. And hey this 
isn't 
 bad."
 
 The one room cabin had a bed in the corner and an old sofa in the 
middle. A 
 table and two chairs were in the back for eating along with a sink 
without 
 running water.
 
 "For the moment it'll work" Harm nodded.
 
 It didn't take long to get the fire going and Harm soon found the iron 
 skillets for cooking over the fire and set to work on dinner.
 
 "I haven't roughed it like this for a while" she smiled as she joined 
him at 
 the fire.
 
 "Sorry. I hope it's okay."
 
 "I can manage. Marine remember. It's you I'm worried about. You 
Sailors are 
 used to the comforts of home."
 
 "I'll manage. I spent many weekends up here before."
 
 "When?"
 
 "Well after my first crash" he admitted. "I haven't as much recently 
of 
 course."
 
 "Can I help with anything?" she asked.
 
 "Just find us some clean dishes and we'll be all set."
 
 After dinner she guided him to the bed where he finally gave into her 
 requests to take the medication.
 
 "Let me get the cream and then you can crash" she said softly.
 
 "We both can crash" he corrected. "Don't tell me you're not exhausted 
too. 
 This has been a lot for you today. Especially since you're not even 
totally 
 well yet yourself."
 
 "I'm not sure I can sleep anyway."
 
 "Mac you should at least try."
 
 "If there weren't a thousand thoughts going through my head maybe I 
could" 
 Mac sighed. "Right now everything is so jumbled up."
 
 "Let it go. We're here and we're safe and that's all that matters."
 
 "I guess. Now let's have those arms so I can put the cream on."
 
 Gentle hands applied the cream to the red skin and Harm leaned back 
and 
 closed his eyes.
 
 "Better?" she asked softly.
 
 "Thanks. And the other stuff is already making me sleepy."
 
 "Good. You need to rest."
 
 "I need to make sure you're okay," he said as his eyes opened again. 
"You've 
 been through a lot. I don't want you shutting me out."
 
 "I'm okay," Mac said with a forced smile. "Honest. You rest."
 
"I'd rest a lot better if I knew you were as well," he said softly.  
"Is it Clay?  Sadik?  Me?"

"It's everything," she smiled.  "Right now I just feel a long way from 
home, which is dumb because I've slept on 
the desert in Afghanistan, and in the bowels of a sub and in a shack in 
Paraguay and now here I am safe with 
my best friend and I feel strange."

"Well come here then and let that best friend hold you.  Unless you 
need to pace."

She opened her mouth to speak and then smiled softly.  "No I don't need 
to pace.  I think having you hold me 
would be better."

"I would love to," he smiled softly, opening his arms to her.  "Are we 
locked up?"

"Yes we are.  Locked and loaded," she laughed and gestured to the 
weapon beside the bed.  And I want you 
to sleep.  I'm going to do the Marine sleep thing."

"And that would be?"

"I'll be sleeping with one eye open."

"OK.  Then our lives are in your hands," he grinned and turned her face 
to his.  "Good night Sarah."

"Harm," she whispered and kissed his cheek before burrowing her face in 
his neck, for a long minute taking 
comfort from his warm embrace.  "Good night."  With that she rolled to 
her side facing the room and did not 
offer any objection when he curled into her back.

Sometime during the night she did let down some of her guard and rolled 
to face him.  His arms went around 
her in his sleep and she rested her head on his shoulder, willing her 
mind to turn off even if just for a few 
hours.  Here, lying in the protective arms of the large man who was so 
much a part of her life for so long, she 
could almost forget Paraguay.  Forget hearing Clay's screams of pain, 
forget her surprise at Harm's arrival and 
how she had been unable to accept what he was offering.  The one thing 
she had wanted from him for most of 
the time they had known each other he was offering and she could not 
bring herself to accept it.  It was almost 
like too good to be true.	  At least that was the only reason she could 
come up with.

And Clay.  A tear slipped from her eye as she thought of him.  He had 
suffered so horribly, and with courage 
and determination had pushed himself past the torture, determined to 
get Sadik before he could be a threat to 
anyone else.  Clayton Webb had paid the ultimate price.  Now she would 
make it her business to bring that 
enemy down.  With the help of the man who was holding her.  Else they 
would not know another moment's 
peace.  And despite the fact she had objected to him making this 
journey with her, deep inside there was 
nothing but gratitude. . .and love.  She may not yet be ready to share 
that emotion with him, but it was 
consuming her being, even more so as she lie sheltered by his arms.  

Somewhere around dawn she was able to turn off her thoughts and sleep 
came to her, holding her in its grip 
until the smell of coffee and bacon woke her.

"Wow Flyboy you really do know about roughing it don't you," she said 
softly, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.  
"You sure you weren't a Marine in a past life?"
  
 "Morning" he smiled. "Sleep okay?"
 
 "Yeah actually I did," she said as she joined him near the fire. "How 
about 
 you? How's your face and arms?"
 
 "Like the day after a sunburn. But it's not as bad as yesterday. You 
 hungry?"
 
 "Starving actually and that smells wonderful. When did you learn all 
these 
 skills Sailor?"
 
 "Spent enough time up here when I was younger."
 
 "Well I'm impressed."
 
 They ate at the small table and when they were finished Mac went down 
to the 
 stream to get some water to clean up the dishes.
 
 "It's beautiful down there" she said when she returned. "Can we take a 
walk 
 around the area?"
 
 "Sure. It won't hurt for you to be familiar with it anyway. Not that I 
think 
 Sadik is going to find us up here but then again whoever thought he'd 
track 
 down you and Clay again."
 
 Mac shivered momentarily, Sadik's name sending the cold chill down her 
spine 
 once again. And once again she vowed to make him pay for all he had 
done to 
 Clay and to her. And for what he'd almost done to Harm and Mattie.
 "You okay?" Harm asked.
 
 "Yeah just thinking about everything. You really think we did the 
right 
 thing going away?"
 
 "For now yeah" he nodded. "He was too close there and we needed to get 
some 
 space between him and us until we can get some help here."
 
 "Harm the only way to stop him is to kill him" she said softly.
 
 "Whatever it takes to keep you safe. If it comes to that, I'll do what 
I 
 have to do. I did in Paraguay."
 
 "You saved my life."
 
 "And took a few doing it" he shrugged. "But I had no choice. And I'll 
do 
 what I have to do now to make sure nothing happens to you."
 
 "That scares me Harm" Mac whispered. "I can't tell you how much that 
scares 
 me."
 
 "And I can't tell you how much it scares me to know Sadik wants you 
dead 
 like Clay" Harm sighed. "Mac we'll get through this together. Whatever 
it 
 takes. I won't let anything happen to you. That is a promise."
 
 "I don't deserve you in my life. You've been there for me through this 
whole 
 mess."
 
 "Not quite. I wasn't there for you when you came back. I didn't know 
this 
 was still an issue. I thought it was all over."
 
 "Clay wasn't sure" she sighed. "And I didn't see any reason to worry 
you 
 about it. I really didn't think Sadik would come back. I thought he'd 
be out 
 of the country and would have forgotten about us."
 
 "But he wanted revenge."
 
 "Yes and he got it" she whispered. "And Clay paid the ultimate price. 
What 
 Sadik didn't get to do in Paraguay, he finished here."
 
 "I'm sorry" Harm said honestly. "Mac I know you had feelings for Clay. 
And I 
 wish none of this had happened."
 
 "We had something. I just don't know what it was or what it might have 
been. 
 Of course I never knew about him and Catherine so obviously we weren't 
as 
 close as I thought we were."
   
"Well you know I got the impression that Catherine first of all is not 
looking for anyone long term in her life--
Lord knows she turned me down easily enough."

"Did you want that?  That badly I mean?" she asked carefully.

"I just wanted someone to be a part of my life that's all," he replied 
candidly.  "Someone to share a meal with 
now and then or a movie or. . ."

"We can leave bed out of this discussion."

"Thank you.  Anyway, sounded to me like--first impression here--that 
she and Clay were just kind of doing 
exactly what I would have done with her, and little Webb happened."

"He didn't know.  Or if he did, he didn't. . . ," she began and then 
shook her head.  "Actually maybe he did.  We 
did get onto the subject of babies and all a couple of times.  Your 
name even came up."

"Now that's scary," he smiled.  "Anyway, my point is, don't go by what 
he and Catherine did before you and he 
got close.  Don't let that cloud your memories of him."

"Unfortunately my best memories are of him screaming," she sighed.  "A 
sound like I've never heard before 
and don't want to ever hear again.  And the thought of you having to go 
through that is just beyond horrible to 
me.  Which is why it scares me when I hear you vow you'll keep me safe.  
Noble as it is of you, it still scares 
me witless."

"No brag-just fact ma'am," he smiled and almost shyly reached for her 
hand.  "Shall we take that walk?"

"I need to put on something warmer."

"I'll give you a hand."

"Like you offered on the Seahawk," she smiled with the memory.  "We 
were so in tune then."

"Yes.  One of our in-tune periods," he laughed.  "One of the times when 
we both seemed to know what we 
want, and to want it at the same time."

"And then we let it get away."

"Yeah."  He regarded her solemnly for a moment.  "Clay saw what he 
wanted and went after it.  You.  
Reminded me of an Australian a couple years before."

"And what of your desires Commander?"

"I guess I'm kind of funny about that," he smiled sheepishly.  "Only 
with you."

She cocked her head quizzically.  "You can go after what you want can 
you?  Not with me.  You did it with 
flying, and with Mattie just to name a few.  But you never have put up 
much of a fight for me.  Or at least you 
backed off awful easy.  Mic's interest sent you running."

"Well I beg to differ a bit with you there my dear," he laughed.  "A 
ring, no matter on which hand, especially a 
rock like that one was--it was pretty clear what his intentions 
were--that he was possessing you.  And you were 
letting him. That's a hell of lot of 'interest'. You're damn right I 
backed off.  I do have some pride.  Somewhere."
    
  "Yes you do. And between your pride and my own well let's just say 
sometimes 
  I don't think we stand a chance in hell."
  
  "We can change that. I'm not the same man I was back then Sarah. I 
know what 
  I want now and I'm not afraid to go after it."
  
  "You sure?"
  
  "Oh yeah" he nodded. "You don't know what I went through for those 
thirty-six hours when I thought you were 
dead. All I wanted from God was one more 
  chance with you. And by some miracle, I've been granted that. And 
this time 
  I'm not going to muck it up."
  
  "I'm sorry you went through that."
  
  "It was like Paraguay only worse. You were dead. When you were in 
Paraguay, 
  I had no clue what was going on. I could still hope you were okay."
  
  "Well I owed you for Paraguay and I owe you again for this time" Mac 
said 
  softly. "You saved my life again. I'll never be able to repay you for 
  everything."
  
  "I don't need repayment. I have you still in my life and that's all 
that 
  matters."
  
  "You're getting too sappy Rabb. Maybe we should take that walk now."
  
  "Good idea" he said with a small smile. "You get changed and I'll 
meet you 
  outside."
  
  She emerged from the cabin a few minutes later to find him looking 
out at 
  the wooded lands around them.
  
  "Everything okay?" she asked.
  
  "Yeah just making sure it's still quiet out here. You know. That no 
one 
  followed us up here."
  
  "You know he's not going to let up" Mac murmured. "He only got Clay 
the 
  first time. He wants both of us. Not to mention I'm sure you're not 
his top 
  ten list of favorite people either."
  
  "I know. And when the time comes, this will end once and for all. I'm 
just 
  sorry it didn't happen before he got to Clay."
  
  "Someone had to have ratted him out. Clay was so careful about 
things. He 
  always covered his tracks really well. I don't believe Sadik could 
have just 
  found him like that."
  
  "Do you think we did the right thing going to Catherine?" Harm asked 
  suddenly.
  
  "We had no choice. And if there is a rat in the Agency, well we'll 
find out 
  soon enough. She doesn't know where we were going though. So for the 
moment 
  I think we're safe."
  
  He nodded and reached for her hand. For a moment she hesitated before 
  allowing him to take her hand. "I know I'm going to say this a lot 
but 
  thanks" she whispered.
  
  "Nowhere else I'd be than here with you."
  
  For the next two hours they hiked the hills around the cabin, Harm 
  familiarizing Mac with the area in the event that their hiding spot 
didn't 
  remain a secret and they would have to set out into the woods to 
avoid 
  Sadik.
  
  "Nice country up here" she commented as they stopped for a break.
  
  "It is isn't it" he smiled. "When you've had too much of the world, 
this is 
  the place to come to. Not a soul nearby and you can pretty much 
forget about 
  everything else."
  
  "I wish" she sighed.
  
  "Something else on your mind Marine?"
  
  "Just thinking about Clay again," she said softly. "And I know it 
makes you 
  uncomfortable when I talk about him."
  
  "Mac he was a friend of mine too. Well until Paraguay."
  
  "You blamed him for what happened didn't you?"
  
  "I blamed him for taking you away from me" he said quietly.
    
 "I let him."
 
 "Yeah you did," he nodded, letting his tone carry his message--that 
there was blame there too.  After a beat 
he added, "but I blame myself for letting him.  And for letting you 
go."
 
 "Maybe that's the problem.  Too much blame," she offered tentatively, 
accepting the water bottle he handed 
her and letting her fingers clutch at his for a moment.
 
 "Yeah maybe," he agreed.  "I just know Clayton Webb, if he did have 
transgressions, has paid for them in full.  
It's you who is suffering.  You lost a man who loved you."
 
 "Yeah I know.  Like you said, dead or wished they were."
 
 "Mac please don't throw that in to my face.  Honestly I was so far out 
in left field with that comment.  Come on, 
haven't you ever said anything that you looked back on and went OK 
surely that was someone making my 
mouth move."
 
 "Oh yeah I'll give you that one," she giggled slightly.  "At a taxi 
stand in Asuncion, my mouth spouted off this 
drivel about how it's never going to work for us."
 
 "Then we're even," he laughed lightly and impulsively leaned forward 
and kissed the tip of her nose.
 
 She nodded and started off once more.  "Wish Catherine would call."
 
 "You're not bored with me already I hope," he chortled.
 
 "No but I'm not used to the inactivity either," she replied.  "It's 
hard to wind down.  And we can't hide in these 
hills forever."
 
 "Maybe Catherine will have some advice for us in a day or so," he 
soothed.  "You Colonel need to learn to 
vege out.  Let's give it forty-eight hours and see if we can see things 
more clearly."
 
 Those forty-eight hours they would not have.  At midnight of their 
second night there, Mac was wide awake 
and feeling close to tears.  Tucked in the crook of Harm's arm in the 
small bed she knew she would just disturb 
his sound sleep, so she slipped from under his grasp and walked out 
into the calm night.  The mountains did 
not give up their winter cloak easily, and she grabbed her sweat jacket 
to ward off the chill.  She would walk 
down to the water and back, hoping the fresh air would tire her and 
calm her at the same time.
 
 With the moon to light her way, the walk was pleasant and she felt 
some of the tension ease.  They would be 
OK.  She and Harm together.  They would figure out their next move.  
Not quite ready to go back she sat down 
on a fallen tree taking in several breaths of air.  
 
 She sensed before she saw or heard.  Eyes watching her.  Yellow eyes 
glowing in the moonlight.  A low growl 
and then the sharp white of teeth.  Canine teeth.  She had gone to the 
watering hole and now this animal had 
decided she was dinner.  He growled again and stepped forward.  German 
Shepherd like, his hackles raised 
and his teeth bared.
 
 Quelling the urge to run, she rose slowly and began to back away from 
the animal, praying that something 
else would catch his attention.  It did not.  Crouching low he matched 
her steps,  and for a few seconds she 
considered dropping into a protective ball to minimize damage until the 
Marine in her kicked in.  The cabin 
loomed behind her, and she knew at a dead run it would not take long to 
cover the trail.  Her hand closed over 
the water bottle that was in her jacket pocket from their earlier walk.  
 
 "OK Fido,  let's see you deal with this."  The dog was five feet from 
her and as if she was throwing a fastball 
over the plate, she heaved the bottle in his direction, hitting him 
squarely on the nose.  The animal yelped in 
pain stood still.  Mac wasted no time in turning for the cabin.
 
 Like the substance of so many common nightmares, she knew she was 
covering yards but it did not seem like 
the front door was getting closer.  The dog had quickly recovered and 
was behind her, panting hard.  She 
could feel his hot breath on her lower legs and knew she was about to 
be run down like some kind of wild 
quarry.  She took one long breath and screamed Harm's name just as 
powerful jaws closed around her ankle, 
sending her sprawling.
 
 In the cabin Harm heard her and at once knew she was in trouble.  
Presence of mind made him take up the 
weapon just before he burst through the door.  What he saw made him 
stop and stare, frozen in horror.  Mac 
lie on the trail quivering from shock and fright, and looming over her, 
poised for a second attack was the 
largest dog he could remember seeing.
  
 He made the decision in a split second, firing the weapon at the dog 
before 
 it could make its move. The bullet hit exactly where he wanted it to 
and the 
 animal dropped at once to the ground, dead with Harm's single shot. He 
 hurried to Mac's side, her eyes still wide with shock.
 
 "How did you do that?" she gasped.
 
 "Not important. Right now getting you inside and this taken care of 
is" he 
 whispered as he looked at the bite. "Mac this is not good."
 
 "No and it hurts like hell."
 
 "That was a wild dog. You're going to need a rabies shot. Not to 
mention 
 antibiotics for that wound."
 
 "Just help me inside" she murmured. "Then we'll figure this out."
 
 He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the cabin before 
gently 
 setting her down on the bed.
 
 "Mac there's no first aid supplies here" he sighed as he looked around 
and 
 finally found a towel to apply to the wound. "I need to take you to a 
 hospital."
 
 "Harm no. We can't do that. It's not safe. I won't let you put 
yourself at 
 risk like that. Can't you just go to the nearest town and get some 
stuff."
 
 "That is not going to take care of the rabies shot part. And the 
antibiotics 
 you're going to need. Mac I have no choice."
 
 "Harm no" she wailed. "There has to be another way."
 
 "I won't risk your life," he said quietly. "This needs medical 
attention. 
 And we're going to go get it."
 
 "Not to some big city hospital" she countered. "Harm he'll find us. 
We're 
 safe up here. All you need to do is go get some supplies and I'll be 
fine."
 
 "No."
 
 "Harm don't. Please."
 
 "Mac you need real medical attention" Harm sighed. "I'm sorry. I'd 
rather 
 face Sadik then watch you die here."
 
 "I would rather die here than see you face Sadik" Mac whispered. 
"Don't you 
 get it? Here we're safe. You're safe. I don't have to worry about 
something 
 happening to you."
 
 "No. We are not staying. We're getting packed and I'm taking you 
somewhere 
 now."
   
"Dammit no," she whispered, feeling tears start down her face, tears of 
frustration and fear.  And pain.  Fire 
shot from the bite up her leg.  Pain she had experienced in recent 
memory only once.  In another mountain 
setting, and that time too he had been there for her.

"Mac this is not negotiable.  An animal bite can cause the worst kind 
of infection.  I'm not going to watch you 
die of blood poisoning and you and I both know that's a real 
possibility with something like this even if the dog 
wasn't rabid.  But I have thought of kind of a compromise.

"I'm listening," she sniffled.

"Grams.  We're only about an hour's drive.  In the middle of the night 
no way anyone is going to see us drive 
there."

"What if Sadik has people watching the house?"

"He's not God Mac.  He can't be all knowing.  I don't think he can 
connect us to her.  Point is, she was a nurse 
and a midwife years ago and she'll know what to do."

"I don't think I need that second one," she said softly.  "But I still 
think it's too risky.  I won't bring an old woman 
grief Harm.  I just won't."

"If she was here right now she'd be yelling at me for not already 
getting us moving," he told her.  "It won't take 
long to load up our stuff.  How's the pain?"

"Awful," she admitted, the word out before she could stop it.

"Yeah and you're losing blood too," he groused.  "No choice."  Despite 
the urgency he felt, he flushed the 
wound once more with water and fashioned the best pressure bandage he 
could with what he had to work 
with.  Each gasp or whimper tore at this heart.  "I'm so sorry," he 
whispered when he was through.  "I should 
have warned you.  For years idiots from the cities have been dumping 
their unwanted dogs in these 
mountains.  Most die pretty fast but the ones that survive have bred 
kind of like a super dog or something.  
Survival of the fittest and all that."

"Poor thing. It thought I was dinner."

"Yeah I know.  OK you're going to lie down here and I'm going to load 
the car and then I'm coming back for 
you."

"I can't walk," she groaned.

"Well were would be the fun if I couldn't carry you," he smiled and 
brushed her cheek with gentle fingertips.  
"I'm going to get us through this.  A little trust OK?"

"Always," she whispered and grabbing hold of his hand before he could 
remove it, placed a gentle kiss in the 
palm.

"What was that for?"

"For being you.  When I don't deserve it anyway."

THE END
Watch for Chapter 3 in which the threat is driven home.  
 Coming Soon.