FF: Downtime
Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG doesn't belong to me.
Classification: PG-13
Category: Harm, Mac and most of the other characters humor/drama
Summary: Since I wasn't sure the direction this current season 7 was taking, I came up with this. How many of you out there find it hard to believe that Harm seems to walk away from his near death experiences without any residual damage? This is a year after Adrift II. He was limping pretty badly, so after the little Jeep incident in the desert, I believe he needs some follow up.
Special Thanks to Susan for beta reading. Any remaining mistakes belong to me. Also thanks to Abby for the great graphic on the archived site.

Bethesda National Navy Hospital
Third West Nurses Station
June 10, 2002
1800

"Guess who's on the surgery schedule for Friday!" The tall red headed nurse grinned as she sat in the break room with two other nurses taking a much needed break. She got more than her share of long stares from all the male staff and patients in the large medical facility.

"Brad Pitt, no he's not in the Navy or any other military branch although he was a CIA agent in that last film...Spy something. Ah George Clooney, nope same reason as Brad baby doesn't qualify for the benefits." Tessie Magee played along. Her big brown eyes gazing upward as if in deep concentration. Her dark brown skin glowed attractively as she made various faces as if struggling to retrieve some vital piece of information hidden deep within her brain.

"You are close but this one is in the Navy." Meg Falls smiled slyly while twirling a strain of red hair that had escaped the tight bun at the base of her neck. The game of guess what I know and you don't was one of her favorites.

"Give us another hint." Katie Boyer, the cute petite Hispanic of the group begged as she popped another chip into her mouth. She was the youngest of the three, but not by much. They had all received their commissions as Navy nurses within the last two years. Katie had come aboard some eight months earlier.

"He's tall, dark and oh soooo handsome." Meg giggled and snatched a chip from the youngest of the group.

"Not the pilot. Oh, don't tell me, girl!" Tessie's eyes grew round on her pretty brown face as she pretended to fan herself. Known for being melodramatic, Tessie knew when to get down to business when the time came.

"THE PILOT!" Meg nodded and grinned even more. Soft freckles on her face made her look naturally beautiful.

"THE PILOT!" Tessie sighed heavily.

"Who's the pilot?" Katie stopped her crunching momentarily and watched her friends pretend to swoon.

"Oh girl, he is the finest looking thing in the military." Tessie explained in a tone that implied that she was the expert in judging such matters.

"What's he having done?" Katie bit into her club sandwich still not impressed. Tessie and Meg were always talking about some guy. She truly believed that's why they signed up to be Navy nurses...to see the men...lots and lots of them. She on the other hand, signed up for the adventure. Yeah right.

"Wellll, it's not an appendectomy, cholecystectomy, hemorrhoidectomy and for sure a not a hysterectomy. It is an ectomy." Meg answered with a raised eyebrow and a glint in her eye, "And as I recall he has a cute tush."

"You are so bad." Tessie groaned.

"We do work on the POST OP ORTHOPEDIC unit. Let her figure it out!" Meg replied sarcastically.

"So he's having some sort of orthopedic procedure?" Katie replied innocently ignoring the tone.

"Now this girl's got potential. Head nurse material all the way. Captain Tubbs better watch out!" Tessie rolled her eyes and cackled.

"Knee surgery, meniscectomy and repair of the ACL." Meg chuckled gently, but answered without the earlier sarcasm.

"Arthroscopic or open?" Katie continued to quiz.

"If it's arthroscopic he'll be in and out before the second shift reports. Now if the poor guy has to have and an open, it will be at least twenty four hours before he'll be released. That is with the help of our TLC." Meg batted her eyes flirtatiously.

"Lieutenants Fall, Magee and Boyer! I thought I ordered you to have the clean utility inventoried and straightened before you report off!" The female voice of Captain Tubbs barked sending the three nurses scampering out of the break room.

**********

"Sooo the Admiral's allowed you to take a couple of weeks off of leave time. You must have a real nice vacation planned for your downtime." Colonel Sarah 'Mac' Mackenzie watched the tall Naval officer pour his cup of coffee after handing her a cup.

He picked up the cup and shrugged slightly, "I plan to get a lot of rest."

"Restful? Going to see your mother?" Mac pressed as the curiosity was getting the most of her.

"No, if I went to my mother's she would have me clean out the attic storage." He laughed and continued to sip his hot coffee.

"Grandma's?"

Harm rolled his eyes, "You don't know my Grandmother. Her idea of a vacation means painting the house."

"Where are you going, Harm?" Sturgis's deep baritone voice joined the conversation.

"Not far. Oh by the way, thanks for taking the Richardson court marital." Harm made a quick transition from personal to office business and then glanced down at his watch. "I better go, I'm supposed to meet a client." He strolled away with a hint of a limp ignoring the exasperated looks his coworkers were giving him.

"He's up to something." Mac looked at Sturgis who nodded in agreement.

"Maybe he's going TDA to a carrier to get in some flight hours." Sturgis theorized.

Mac's expression darkened. "Yea, I guess it's time again for his quals."

"Don't go there, Mac." Sturgis seemed to read her mind. "You've seen him fly since last year. He's got it together."

"You weren't here, Sturgis. He scared the hell out of me...ah, all of us last year." Mac said softly without malice.

"No, but I've heard about it, and Harm's been back up in the air more than ever this year." Sturgis replied reassuringly. "You were with him on the Seahawk."

"You're right, besides who said he was flying, maybe he has a new girlfriend and is going to some lush deserted island." She said with a touch of jealousy in her tone.

"Mac, he's not seeing anyone." Sturgis reassured. "I take it you haven't shared your little secret with him. Why haven't you two talked?" He was now sipping on a cup of black coffee in no hurry to change the subject.

"We're working on it. We see each other outside the office more now."

"Discussing cases isn't what I was talking about." Sturgis smiled.

"It's complicated, Sturgis." Mac snapped and walked away suddenly feeling cornered. "You don't understand." She muttered under her breath.

"And so goes the days of our lives." The black officer mumbled to himself.

**********

Harriet Sims stepped out of the elevator, as Harm was about to enter. With Bud still on the Seahawk, she missed her friends and was glad when they returned from the Middle East. "Commander! I'm so glad I caught up with you. I just wanted to remind you about little AJ's program at his nursery school Friday night."

Harm's face immediately indicated he had completely forgotten. "Harriet, I'm sorry, I won't be able to attend. I've made some...plans...that I can't change."

"Oh...I understand. AJ will be disappointed. He's so enjoyed having you come see him since Bud's been away." Harriet tried to mask her disappointment, but only succeeded in making Harm feel guiltier.

Harm winced and stepped into the vacant elevator. "I'll make it up to him when I get back from my leave."

"Yes Sir, I mean you don't have to." Harriet stammered.

Harm stuck his hand out to stop the elevator doors from closing. "Do you have a minute?"

********

The two stepped out of the elevator. "Okay Commander, I promise I won't say anything about your knee surgery, but don't you think you should at least let the Colonel know?" Harriet suggested.

"Harriet, I really just want to have this done and behind me. Besides the Admiral knows." Harm smiled uncomfortably.

"What about your brother?"

"He's started taking classes at Georgetown. I told him I had a little outpatient procedure scheduled. He'll pick me up that afternoon after the procedure and take me home."

"You really didn't tell him either."

"No." Harm squirmed.

Her eyebrows raised accusingly.

"I just don't want anyone hovering. Last year after the crash, Renee nearly drove me crazy." Harm confessed.

"Well the Colonel is not Renee."

"Don't you think I know that? Just don't say anything will you? Besides, I'm not the only one around here that doesn't tell everything he should." He gave her a knowing look referring to her failure to tell Bud about the house purchase. She nodded reluctantly and received his usual trademark smile before heading down the hall.

******

The room was large and looked like an old gymnasium decorated in balloons and crepe paper streamers. Music blared from a live band that was playing tunes from the forties. This seemed so odd, why was he here? He looked around all the men were wearing uniforms, but they too were from a style he remembered seeing in his grandmother's pictures and on the walls of one of the buildings at Annapolis. His Navy whites morphed into a tan long sleeve uniform shirt with matching tan trousers and tie. Was he at a costume party?

Several women passed by wearing shirtwaist dresses that flared with billowing gathers of fabric. They giggled as he walked around the room still feeling disoriented. He then spotted Admiral bouncing to the beat of a Glen Miller tune, 'String of Pearls' as he directed the band with a small baton. This was getting weirder by the minute.

Bud and Harriet were swing dancing in the middle of the room. Soon he recognized Tiner dancing with a pretty red head. The SecNav stood at the refreshment table serving punch. "Only one cup at a time, don't spill it and mess everything up." He repeated as he served.

Sturgis walked up to him. "Hey buddy, glad to see you here, but I didn't think you could dance." He patted him on the back and then ambled over to a group of woman and pulled one on to the floor to dance. Harm watched as Sturgis dipped Bobbie and danced in perfect step to the music.

"Want to dance, Sailor?" The voice was familiar. He turned to see Mac dressed in a flowing red dress with a deep scooped neck accentuating her femininity. Her hair was curled softly around her face, and she wore a deep red shade of lipstick to match the dress.

She was stunning. He tried to step forward towards her, ready to dance, but his legs wouldn't move. He stood helplessly as she waited. He tried again to move, but his legs would not cooperate.

"You're not going to disappoint me now are you?" She smiled seductively gesturing with her finger for him to come closer.

"I can't dance anymore." He tried to explain, but the music got louder. He felt panicked as several sailors began to surround Mac with intentions to dance with the raven-haired beauty. "Mac, please don't dance with anyone else." He yelled over the music. She stopped talking with the sailors and gave him a soul searching look.

She stepped forward just out of his reach and asked seductively. "Who should I dance with?"

"Me, just me." He found himself answering.

The music slowed and the lights dimmed as she stepped slowly into his waiting arms. He felt hypnotized by her eyes as she placed her long elegant arms around his neck and began to sway. Everyone in the room disappeared as 'Moonlight Serenade' played dreamily in the background.

"I've been waiting to hear you say that." She whispered huskily into his ear.

Harm's arms encircled her waist, and he pulled her closer his legs no longer paralyzed. This felt so good...so right.

"Commander...Commander." Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Go away. You can't cut in." He mumbled.

"Commander Rabb." The voice persisted.

"NOT NOW." He growled.

"Wake up. I want you to wake up now."

He turned around to face the irritating voice and everything began to fade into a white blurry haze.

"That's right. Open your eyes."

He felt suddenly so sleepy and struggled to open his eyes.

"Commander Rabb, we're going to move you to a room now."

"What room? I want to stay at the dance." He mumbled.

"After a month or so of physical therapy, you can dance." The voice chuckled and Harm drifted into a dreamless sleep.

"He must like your choice of music." One of the nurses remarked to the surgeon.

"Good thing I don't like rap when I perform surgery." The doctor retorted with another chuckle as he hummed 'In the Mood'.

********

"I'll take the new admit!" Meg volunteered uncharacteristically.

"I believe I'm up for the next admit." Tessie interrupted her nurse manager and her red headed friend.

"I think the empty room is on my end of the hall." Katie added with a grin while receiving dirty glares from her co-workers.

Captain Tubbs eyed the three young RN's suspiciously. "Rachel, we're getting an admit straight from surgery. I want you to take it. Knee repair staying for observation. Had some sort of reaction to the anesthesia." Tubbs suppressed a smile as she saw the looks of disappointment flash across three young faces.

"Rachel's still in orientation. She's just out of school." Meg pointed out.

"I'll be glad to help her." Katie volunteered.

"I'm her preceptor." Tessie added quickly.

"Do I detect a special interest in this patient, a Commander Rabb?" Tubbs quizzed as she perused the set of orders she held. The three nurses exchanged a tense look.

"He was a patient up here last year after a F-14 crash." Tessie explained trying to sound matter-of-fact.

"Oh yes, I remember. You and Lt. Falls were here then." Tubbs recollected.

"Yes Ma'am. We thought it would make him...." Meg began with Tessie picking up the beat.

"Commander Rabb."

"Feel more at ease." Meg stammered and grinned.

"If he had some of his former nurses. You know." Tessie finished awkwardly and smiled.

"Consistency in care and all that." Katie added sweetly.

Tubbs looked intently at the three angelic expressions wondering what in the hell they were up to now. Without removing her gaze, Tubbs handed the orders to the Ensign Rachel Myrick. "Rachel can handle him." Her voice was firm leaving no room for argument or discussion.

"Yes Ma'am." They all chorused while maintaining their innocent smiles. Tubbs then turned and headed into her office chuckling as she turned her back on her staff.

"Rachel, if you need any help. Let us know." Meg offered in faux cheeriness and turned around and looked at Tessie, "Consistency in care my butt." She blurted and stormed down the hall pouting.

"I doubt that young thing has even seen a man naked." Tessie huffed to Katie as she gave Rachel the once over and walked away.

Rachel looked slightly confused to Katie who simply shrugged.

*******

His knee was throbbing and that annoying voice was back. "Commander Rabb."

He drowsily opened his eyes and worked to focus on the figures that stood over him.

"Brother?" Sergei looked worried.

"Commander?" Harriet smiled weakly.

"Commander there was too much scar tissue to perform the procedure with the scope so I had to open up your knee. You had a reaction to the anesthesia so will be staying longer than we anticipated." Dr. Morris his surgeon explained.

"Okay, I think I'll sit this one out." Harm muttered sluggishly and returned to his post anesthesia stupor to the amused looks of his visitors.

"I need to call the Admiral." Harriet excused herself leaving Sergei with the doctor.

"Will he be alright?" Sergei asked the older man.

"I am a little concerned about the reaction to the anesthesia. We had trouble getting him to wake up. Other than that, I was able to repair all the damage. With physical therapy, there should be no reason for him not to return to normal active duty. Of course I don't recommend contact sports." He added with a chuckle.

Sergei gave him an odd look. "Contact sports? Does this mean he cannot play golf?"

"I've seen Harm play golf. Yes, he can play, but tell him not to give up his day job." The surgeon again chuckled and scribbled in the chart. "Oh, and he should be cleared to fly if he'll just stay in the plane till it lands. I'll check on him later tonight. He'll most likely sleep the rest of the evening and be more alert tomorrow."

"Thank you doctor." Sergei pulled up a chair and sat down ready to watch over his big brother.

A gentle knock on the door awakened him sometime later. "Hi, I'm Ensign Myrick." The pretty young nurse introduced herself shyly. "I'm Commander Rabb's nurse until 1900. I need to take his vital signs and check his dressing."

Sergei stood and moved awkwardly out of the way. He was mesmerized. The nurse looked like a vision of purity and innocence. He watched intently as she carefully applied a blood pressure cuff around his brother's arm. She next placed delicate narrow fingers on his pulse. Sergei felt his pulse bounding in his chest and for a moment wished he were the recipient of her ministrations. She continued to assess the IV as well as the large bulky dressing and drain on Harm's knee.

She caught him staring at her and blushed. He smiled and she smiled in return. "Is Commander Rabb related to you?" She asked demurely dropping her eyes.

"He is my older brother." Sergei explained happy that she had not finished her duties and left just yet.

"His vital signs are strong and the dressing looks good." She commented and then turned to leave. She stopped at the door. "You've been here a long while. Would you like some coffee or soda?"

"Do you have hot tea?" He smiled.

"Yes, I'll bring you a cup." With that she disappeared, leaving one love struck puppy in the room.

*******

Harm searched unsuccessfully through crowds of people. He bumped into the dancers who seemed to ignore his presence. He found Sturgis who was clinging tightly to Bobbie in a slow dance. "Sturgis, have you seen Mac?" He tried to get his friend's attention. Sturgis seemed to be in a world of his own as he spun Bobbie gently and then embraced her as they continued dancing.

Frustrated from being pushed and bumped by more couples, Harm tried to make his way through the crowded dance floor. He was growing tired, but he had to explain something to Mac. His head throbbed and he couldn't remember what he needed to tell her. Someone turned roughly and collided with him. He felt himself falling and he tried to grab someone, but he felt his legs slide out from under him and he landed on his knee.

"Ohhh." Harm grimaced. His knee was throbbing painfully and he was in a semi awake state unable to fully realize the cause of the pain.

Sergei jumped up at the groan from his brother. "Harm? Are you awake? Are you in pain?"

Harm opened his eyes and looked around the hospital room remembering his surgery. "My knee hurts." He moaned and tried to reposition it. "Is it time to go home?" He rubbed his thigh.

"The doctor said you could not leave for a few more days. He had to use a knife and cut your knee." Sergei explained and offered Harm a sip of water.

"Oh yea, now I remember." Harm groaned as the pain in his knee became more pronounced.

"I will get Ensign Rachel Myrick. She is your beautiful nurse." Sergei offered bringing a thoughtful expression to his brother's face.

"Beautiful nurse? What have you been up too while I was sleeping?" He smiled groggily still feeling extremely disoriented.

"I have been sitting by your side." Sergei replied defensively.

"Oh, I don't mind. When did the dance end?" He added with sing-song voice causing his brother to frown in confusion. "I could use a little something for the pain." He moaned.

Rachel soon entered with a syringe in hand. First she checked Harm's vital signs again and looked up at Sergei with another blushing smile. Sergei grinned back and the two stood smiling at each other.

"Why don't you ask her to dance?" He still felt so muddled, and his knee was giving him holy hell. "I think I'll sit this one out, my knee hurtz..." He mumbled.

"This is something for the pain, Sir." Rachel quickly swabbed off the access site of the IV tubing and slowly injected the narcotic.

Harm felt the warm swirling sensation move from his arm straight to his head and his eyes closed involuntarily as the pain became less of a nuisance as he began to drift to sleep. "I wonder where Mac went?" He thought fleetingly.

******

Visiting hours had been over for nearly an hour when Sergei gallantly volunteered to escort Rachel to her car at the end of her shift. In the meantime, Harm was getting a roommate from the emergency room.

Captain Lars Bradford admitted with a fractured tibia and a concussion as the result of an automobile accident earlier in the evening was settled into the bed next to Harm's. Harm was oblivious to the activity and slept through the whole ordeal in his own dream world...

Harm could hear the music of Count Basie in the distance. The lights to the dance flickered as he lay on a deserted beach. The sand was soft and warm and the ocean stretched out before him. His solitude was abruptly disturbed by the sound of someone coughing and gasping for breath. He turned in the direction of the sound and saw a man stretched on the sand with someone leaning over the gasping man. Harm thought he should help out, but the sound of the ocean lulled him to sleep. Where was Mac? He thought in his dream. Mac could help him.

******

Harriet had rushed home the evening of Harm's surgery. She had picked up ingredients to make cookies to take to her son's godfather when she visited the next day. After feeding and bathing little AJ she put him to bed and headed to complete her project.

The phone rang as she dipped cookie dough onto the cookie sheets. "Robert's residence." She answered sprightly.

"Harriet, its Mac."

Harriet smiled as she recognized the voice. As she wiped her sticky hands on a kitchen towel, she inadvertently knocked a carton of eggs on the floor.

"Oh darn!" She exclaimed as she looked at the mess on her floor.

"What are you doing?" Mac's voice asked with a chuckle.

"Oh, I was baking cookies to take to the hospital for Harm and I just dropped a dozen eggs on the floor." She replied in frustration.

There was an immediate silence on the other end of the phone. "Mac?"

"Back up Harriet. I just thought you said you were baking cookies for Harm. He's in the hospital?"

Harriet's eyes grew round, and she tried to think up something to say, "Did I say hospital. I meant to say for his trip." She winced as she realized how lame that sounded.

"Harriet, why is Harm in the hospital?" Mac's voice left no room for negotiation.

"He had surgery on his knee, and he made me promise not to tell anyone." Harriet gushed.

"He's at Bethesda?"

"Yes."

"Who else knows?"

"The Admiral and Sergei, but if it makes you feel any better, he didn't tell Sergei that he was having surgery. He found out today after the doctor had to do an open procedure to repair his knee and then Harm had a bad reaction to the anesthesia." Harriet could feel that her explanation wasn't helping matters.

"A bad reaction?" Harriet sensed the anxiety in her friend's voice.

"He was slow to wake up and had some confusion. The doctor said that happens sometimes, but he'll be okay." She explained.

"I see." Mac's voice sounded hurt.

"Mac, he just didn't want to worry anyone. You know how he hates for anyone to hover." Harriet stepped on a few egg shells in her bare feet and felt the raw egg in between her toes. The sensation added to her distressed sound over the phone.

"I guess he's never going to completely trust me." Mac sighed.

"It's not about trust. It's his way of trying to protect the people he cares most about."

Mac frowned and felt tears suddenly collect in her eyes, "You think?" Her voice sounded unlike the strong Marine Harriet was accustomed.

"Mac, I'm going to get myself in deeper than I already am with Harm for suggesting this, but why don't you go see him in the morning. For all of his male bravado, if he's anything like Bud, he really would want you to come check on him." She added gently while making circles of sticky egg on the floor with her toes. "Besides I don't think Sergei really knows how to deal with Harm yet." She chuckled.

"You're right. Sergei needs someone to show him how to deal with his pig headed brother." Mac smiled.

"Mac."

"Yea."

"Why did you call?"

"I was wondering if you had heard from Harm. I was out of the office all day and had this feeling I needed to check up on him." She laughed softly.

"I know what you mean. I've had those feelings about Bud lately." Harriet sighed.

*******

Instead of her usual five mile run, Mac got up and headed to the hospital. She called Sturgis after her conversation with Harriet. Harm was not going to shut his friends out.

Together they entered the hospital elevator. As the doors slowly began to shut an officer stuck his hand in to stop the doors and Admiral Chegwidden stepped into the elevator. The group exchanged awkward greetings.

"Well, I'm impressed Colonel, Commander. How did you find out about Rabb's vacation?" The Admiral gave his two officers an inquisitive look.

Mac and Sturgis didn't want to implicate Harriet. "Oh, you know I had this feeling." Mac replied receiving raised eyebrows from the Admiral.

"Really? I figured Lt. Sims spilled the beans." He added dryly and exited the elevator. "Speak of the devil."

Harriet stood at the nursing station chatting with a young black nurse. "I brought Commander Rabb some cookies, would it be alright for him to have them?"

"Ma'am there was a situation last night..."

She was cut off as the impressive group of officers approached the pair. "Good morning Lt. Sims. How is our lame Commander this morning." The Admiral smiled at his own joke. The group started towards Harm's room.

Tessie looked nervously down the hall as a stretcher with a sheet-covered body was pushed out of the door of a nearby room. "Could you wait just a minute please."

About that time Harriet noticed the stretcher, dropped the cookie canister on the floor, and covered her mouth in a gasp. The others immediately became aware of the cause of her distress. Mac turned pale while the two men froze.

Tessie ran up to the group. "This isn't what you think. That's not Commander Rabb. That was his roommate. He died early this morning. We moved the Commander into a room across the hall."

"He didn't have a roommate when I checked on him last night." Harriet swallowed deeply still rattled by the scene.

"He was a late admit." Tessie picked up the canister and handed it back to the shaken lieutenant. "Let me show you to Commander Rabb's room. I'm sure he'll be happy to see all of you."

"I wouldn't put money on that." Mac added softly receiving a nod from Sturgis.

Sergei met them at the door and whispered a warning. "He is like a bear awakened too early from his hibernation."

The Admiral stiffened and strolled over to his officer's bedside, "Rabb, I've received a report that you are not behaving in the manner of a Naval officer and a gentleman."

Harm looked irritably towards the younger Rabb, "I believe my brother is mistaken." He snapped. "I just asked if he would please go on to his classes and that I didn't need a babysitter."

"You are my brother. It is my duty to stay and insure that you are receiving proper care." Sergei responded stubbornly with arms folded tightly.

"Sergei, go to class and that's an order." Harm growled.

"I told you they were both mules." Mac turned to the others and commented.

"Mules, Colonel? I believe the term is jack asses." The Admiral added flatly receiving amused looks from everyone but Sergei.

"Who is this Jack Ass?" Sergei frowned in confusion.

"That's why it's important for you to go to class to expand your vocabulary." Harm replied sarcastically and gave his co-workers a sharp look.

"Oh, I have already learned a few new expressions like..."

"I'm sure you have, Sergei, and Harm is probably right. The nurses will take care of him today and you should go to class." Mac responded surprising the ill commander by agreeing with him.

The debate was interrupted when a very young looking nurse entered the room with an IV piggyback. "Excuse me Commander, but I need to hang your antibiotic." She reached over, checked her patient's armband, and hung the small bag of IV fluid. She then looked shyly over to the young Russian and smiled coyly. Sergei wore a goofy grin on his face as he stared at the attractive girl.

She started towards the door while everyone silently watched the nonverbal interchange. Before leaving she turned, "I'll be back when your company leaves to give you your bath, Commander."

The spell was broken as Sergei looked unhappily at his brother who flushed with embarrassment.

"I wonder how old she is?" Harriet mumbled loud enough that everyone heard.

"I was thinking the same thing." Sturgis added with a bemused expression.

"She looks young enough to be your daughter, Commander." The Admiral added clearly enjoying the moment while Mac covered her mouth suppressing a giggle.

"I hate hospitals." Harm groaned.

"I will stay." Sergei folded his arms daring his brother to object.

"No you won't, and she's not giving me a bath!" Harm responded with an overly controlled tone in his voice.

Overhearing the remark, Ensign Myrick stood by the door looking like she was about to dissolve into a puddle of tears. Sergei gave his brother a frustrated glare and replied in a series of Russian words that made Mac's eyebrows raise.

Harm pushed himself up angrily and started to swing his legs off the side of the bed in an effort to regain control of the situation. The Admiral's hand and voice quickly stopped the frustrated patient. "Just where in the hell do you think you are going, Commander Rabb?"

Harm by this time discovered how much his freshly repaired knee could hurt. "No where." His voice was strained as the jolting sharp pain that ran down his leg replaced all the momentum from his anger.

Harm meekly returned to a semi recumbent position and took several slow deep breaths. "Sorry, this is why I really would just like to be left alone." He added softly still grunting in pain.

Sergei looked immediately repentant and tried to apologize, "I am sorry my brother. I just want to be of help."

"Please just go on to class. I'll be right here when you get out later this afternoon. Okay? You can bring me my cassette player and earphones when you come." His voice was gentle and more typical.

"I will do this for you. But you must promise to call me if you need anything." The younger Rabb held up the cell phone.

"Promise." Harm smiled.

"We need to get back to work. I'll call later." Admiral Chegwidden added.

"Take care buddy. Don't try to run any marathons." Sturgis teased.

"Sir, I brought you some cookies, but they may be kind of crumbly." Harriet handed Harm the canister.

Mac stayed back as the others walked out with Sergei, "Harm, try to relax and give yourself some time to heal."

"Mac, you don't think I came across too authoritarian with Sergei?"

"You definitely have mastered the big brother role." She chuckled lightly and then added. "Sergei's just being a typical Rabb and worrying excessively."

"I think he's got his mind more on a certain Navy nurse." Harm grinned.

"Is that bad?" Mac smiled.

"He just seems to fall for the first skirt that smiles at him." Harm replied in mock exasperation.

"I believe I've heard this speech before." Mac challenged.

"Mac, I just don't want him rushing into anything." Harm defended rubbing his leg unconsciously.

"Well, no one will ever accuse you of that mistake." She responded with a sarcastic laugh.

His expression surprised her. He looked hurt.

"This isn't the time for this. You need to get some rest." She then replied gently.

Harm simply nodded quietly and lay back into his pillow. He looked tired and lines of pain creased his face.

She started to leave when he spoke. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this surgery thing."

She smiled, "You think you can keep secrets from me, Sailor?"

He smiled back, "I hope not Sarah."

She lingered for a moment with a soft smile on her lips before leaving.

*******

"That was the second death this past month on this unit." Meg stated as she finished documenting in a chart and slid it back into its slot before pulling another.

"What do they say...deaths always come in threes. I wonder who will be next." Tessie shuttered.

"You don't believe that do you?" Katie lay her chart down and looked at the two nurses.

"I believe it. I've seen it happen myself." Tessie replied seriously and looked over to Meg who nodded in agreement.

"Well I don't want to lose anyone on my watch." Katie frowned.

"No one does." Meg responded. "This is getting morbid. Let's talk about something else."

"You just want to talk about our pilot/Jag patient." Tessie taunted good-naturedly.

"Well Captain Terror Tubbs chewed our sweet little Ensign a new six for not completing Flyboy's am care today." Meg giggled evilly.

"I told you she couldn't handle it. The girl doesn't know how to handle men, especially injured cranky sailors. I'll bet you ten bucks that she never had to give a man a bath in nursing school." Tessie challenged.

"You can't get out of nursing school without giving a man a bath. No way." Katie replied incredulously. "I can still smell the dial soap on my hands from all those bed baths."

"I remember the first male patient I bathed." Meg sighed deeply with a dreamy little smile. "He was so good looking, and I was so proud when I finished. I even gave him a back rub. He told me it was the best bath he had ever had." Her grin faded a little. "Then my instructor came by and asked why I bathed the ER doctor on call."

"Oh you didn't, girl." The two others burst into a fit of uncontrolled giggles.

The sound of someone clearing her throat interrupted the moment of merriment.

"Falls since you are highly qualified at giving baths, I have three male patients that need your expertise." Captain Tubbs directed.

"I'll be glad to do Commander Rabb's am care." Meg brightened.

"That won't be necessary. I helped him myself." The middle aged matron smirked as she watched the looks of disappointment and surprise cross her staff's faces. "Nice looking man." She muttered just loud enough for the young nurses to hear as she picked up her clipboard and walked down the hall whistling Anchors Away.

"One day, I'm going to make Captain, and I'll give all the good looking guys their baths." Meg pouted.

"And I thought you became a Navy nurse so you could serve your country." Her dark skinned friend sighed with mock exasperation.

"I love nursing and being in the Navy. I'm as patriotic as the rest of you, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying what you do." Meg added firmly with a wink.

Harm scanned the channels for the tenth time. The choices were limited. There weren't even any TNN or sports channels. TV had never really appealed to him and daytime TV really sucked. He had not planned this extended stay in the hospital, so he had not brought any reading materials. The last time he was stuck in the hospital Renee showered him with magazines, books and even arranged for him to have a VCR with any movie he desired. She also nearly drove him crazy. Oh well, maybe he could call headquarters and see how the Henderson case was going. No that would make him sound a little pathetic. He had called his mother and convinced her that it was just a minor surgery and not to come. Why had he been so insistent on keeping everyone at bay? So they would think you were helpless he thought as he looked at the heavily bandaged knee with an Cryocuff in place. Face it Rabb, you are somewhat helpless.

'Damn, I hate hospitals' he thought and turned on the TV and began to watch some talk show where the mother married her daughter's ex-husband who was also her ex husband's brother. He grimaced as the woman and her daughter began to fight and pull at each other's hair. This was going to be a long hospital stay. Maybe he should call Mac and see if she was going to be in the area at lunch.

******

A soft tentative knock on the door followed by steps failed to awaken Harm who finally asked for some pain meds and opted to sleep.

The figure stood watching Harm's slow even breaths associated with his slumber. Slowly a hand reached towards the sleeping man. Harm jumped in alarm as the hand touched his shoulder.

"Damn Webb, you could at least knock."

"I did. You didn't answer."

"Maybe because I was sleeping? When did you get back?"

"About the same time you did...What are you watching?" The CIA agent frowned as he looked up to see another talk show of equal quality playing on the TV.

"I was sleeping, remember? Besides there is nothing on TV." Harm punched the remote silencing the TV. "Why are you here and don't tell me you are checking up on me." He added with a note of sarcasm.

"You don't think I could drop by to check on a friend in the hospital?" Clay looked distressed.

"Clay, this is me you're talking to and no, I don't." Harm rolled his eyes.

Clay shifted a little. "Last night one of Naval intelligence's people died." He waited for Harm's reaction.

"Sorry, was it anyone I knew?"

"It was a Captain Lars Bradford. He was your roommate here for a short time."

Harm gave him a blank look. "I didn't even know I had a roommate. Do you suspect foul play?"

"The initial autopsy report suggests a massive pulmonary embolism."

"Why was he here?"

"Motor vehicle accident with a fractured leg and concussion. He was supposed to have surgery on his leg this morning."

"Is it unrealistic to think he could have thrown a blood clot from his leg to his lung?"

"No, but he's the second NI guy that has died within the last month." Webb gave Harm a steely gaze.

Harm frowned, "Coincidence?"

"Maybe, Lt. Commander Jack Wells died of a fatal dysrhymia after having elective knee surgery."

"Ouch."

"You don't remember anything."

"I had some sort of reaction to the anesthesia. I was having all sorts of strange dreams." Harm admitted.

"Maybe one of them wasn't a dream."

"I did have this dream where I thought I was on the beach. Someone was laying a few feet away from me having difficulty breathing. Then someone came to help him."

"Harm, do you remember who the person was that was helping. Can you describe him." Webb implored.

"Clay, it was a weird dream. I'm not even sure it was a man helping the so called victim in my dream. Besides I am not a good witness, remember I was still under the effects of a narcotic."

"I know. I know." Clay began to pace.

"Why do you think that they were murdered?"

"Both Wells and Bradford were working on a very hush hush project."

"Same project."

"Same project."

"The plot thickens."

Clay sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Yes, it's a real quagmire. I guess I need to go. Thanks for trying and take care of yourself."

"Sorry, I wasn't any help, but if I remember anything I'll give you a call." Harm nodded.

"Oh, I brought you this. Thought you may be bored." Clay reached into his pocket, pulled out a small electronic game, and tossed it to Harm.

"Thanks Clay, I was bored. You actually made my day." Harm chuckled.

"Well that's a first." Clay retorted as he strolled out.

******

Mac stood up, "I object, Your Honor, he is badgering the witness."

"Let me rephrase, Petty Officer did you call the Ensign an empty headed Academy reject?" Sturgis read from the transcript of an earlier witness's testimony."

"I was only joking." The Petty Officer stammered.

"I have no further questions." Sturgis looked to the judge.

"Do you wish to redirect, Colonel?"

"No Sir, the defense rests."

"Court will resume tomorrow with summations." The judge announced and the gavel dropped.

Sturgis approached Mac, "You going by to check on Harm?"

"I'd better. He's called twice today. I think he's ready to climb the walls." Mac chuckled.

"Send him my best, and I'll drop by tomorrow." Sturgis replied.

"You don't want to run by this evening?"

"Mac, he called YOU, not me." Sturgis smiled.

"He also called Harriet." Mac pointed out as the two walked into the hallway outside the courtroom.

"He called Harriet to tell you to be sure and call him." Sturgis quickly corrected.

"Have you been gossiping, Commander?" Mac replied in surprise.

"I...ah...it just came up in passing conversation." Sturgis struggled to regain his bearings.

"And just what was the conversation about?" Mac tilted her head slightly and continued to interrogate.

"I'm pleading the fifth, Colonel." Sturgis looked almost as if he were blushing.

********

Sergei leaned against the hallway smiling at the young petite Ensign. "How long have you been a nurse?" He asked as she stood at the medication cart pouring up her medications.

"I just graduated and passed my boards. You shouldn't be talking to me while I prepare my medications. I could make a mistake." She gently admonished the attractive young Russian.

"I am so sorry, I will stay quiet and just watch you." He grinned.

"You look more like your brother when you smile." Rachel smiled softly.

"We have the same father, but different mothers." Sergei explained.

"Neither of us knew about each other until last year." Sergei added noticing Rachel's interest.

"Your are Russian, and he is American. There must be a story behind this." She continued.

"Yes, if you would agree to let me take you to dinner, I will tell you." He looked hopefully.

"I would like that. I get off at 1900." Her eyes lit up.

"I will be in my brother's room when you are ready. I know a quaint little Tai place where the food is excellent." He sounded excited.

*******

Sergei paced around the hospital room checking his watch repeatedly.

"Sergei, do you need to be somewhere?" Harm already felt antsy and his brother's behavior didn't help.

"I have a date." He stopped and confessed guiltily.

"Anyone I know?" Images of Lauren Singer hanging on to his brother made Harm grimace unconsciously.

"She is a Naval officer." Sergei admitted.

Harm's face paled.

"Are you alright Brother? I will cancel my plans if you need me." Sergei responded quickly.

The door to the room swung open following a brief soft knock. A large plant obstructed the face of the person that entered.

"Speak of the devil." Harm murmured as Lauren sat the plant down on the overbed table.

Sergei smiled warmly, "Lt. Lauren Singer, it is so good to see you again."

"Hey Sergei." She smiled briefly and then turned to Harm. "Sorry, I am late getting this to you Commander, but I was just told about your hospital confinement this afternoon in staff meeting. As the chairman of the Sunshine Committee, I should have been told sooner so that I could have delivered the plant from the department in a more timely manner." She babbled.

"Sunshine Committee?" Harm gave her a confused look.

"Yes Sir, last month in staff meeting I suggested we needed a committee that would send cards, flowers and so forth whenever someone has a death, a baby or surgery." She replied as if he should have known.

"I must have missed that meeting." Harm muttered. "But thanks, it certainly brightens up the room." He added. "Oh, and if you weren't told, I had knee surgery, not a baby." He smirked.

Her serious expression never changed as she responded. "Sir, I am sorry to hear about your knee replacement surgery. I guess you will be taking a medical discharge." She said trying to sound sincere, but failing miserably.

"I did not have a knee replacement, Lieutenant. I had my ACL and a meniscus tear repaired. I will be returning in a couple of weeks." Harm added coolly debating whether he could use the excuse of being under the influence of narcotics when he used the large plant to take her out. On second thought, he could just call Harriet. A slight evil grin crossed his lips.

A soft tapping at the door interrupted the exchange. "Enter." Harm replied through gritted teeth.

Mac walked in and immediately noticed the tension. "Harm, I didn't realize you would have company. I just wanted to stop by, but I can come back tomorrow."

Two male voices replied in harmony, "No please stay."

Lauren raised an eyebrow. "Well I guess I need to leave. I have an important case to prepare for in the morning."

Harm and Mac smiled tightly, "Thanks for coming by Lieutenant." Harm managed to reply civilly.

"I need to go also. I am taking Ensign Rachel Myrick to dinner." Sergei smiled and walked over to Harm.

Harm's sudden look of relief did not go unnoticed by Mac. "Ensign Myrick? That's good. She looks like a nice girl. Do you need some money?" Mac smirked as she thought he sounded more like a dad than a big brother.

"No, I am fine." Sergei patted Harm on the shoulder and gave Mac a quick hug.

After he left, Mac turned an amused look to Harm. "I thought you didn't want him chasing everything in skirts."

"I don't, but." Harm gave her one of his you caught me looks.

"I know, she beats the alternative." Mac grinned and walked closer looking at the plant. "Nice plant."

"It's some of Singer's sunshine." Harm smirked.

"Now that's a real oxymoron. What is it a Venus Fly Trap?" Mac grinned. "How are you holding up?"

"Besides going stir crazy and my knee giving me hell, I'm great." He smiled. "Webb came by and brought me an electronic game. Bud would be envious."

"Clay always manages to surprise me."

"He had an ulterior motive. He's investigating the deaths of a couple of NI operatives."

"What do you have to do with that?" Mac unconsciously sat on the edge of Harm's bed facing Harm.

"They both died here. One was the roommate I never met."

Mac's expression darkened. "Harm, you could be in danger?"

"Mac, I was out of it, and besides right now it seems they died of medically related conditions."

Not appeased by his explanation, "Harm, I don't like this." Her hand automatically reached for his arm.

"I'll be out of here tomorrow. And I have nothing to do with Naval Intelligence or their case." Harm reached over and took her hand in his.

"I guess I'm having a moment of deja'vu. Remember when you landed in the hospital with that little encounter with the car." She smiled.

Harm grinned. "This time I'm in a Naval facility and there are no women in labor on this floor!"

"Or terrorist or heart transplant patients?" She squeezed his hand.

"We made a pretty good team." Harm smiled warmly holding her hand and rubbing it with his thumb.

"Still do." Mac returned an equally warm smile.

Harm squeezed her hand affectionately.

****

"Clayton, what is going on?" Mac cut to the point as she stood in the CIA director's office the next morning.

"What are you talking about, Colonel." Clay tried to fend off the remark with ignorance.

Mac sat down directly in front of him and folded her arms. "Bethesda, murder, Harm? Ring any bells?"

The agent sighed slowly before responding, "I don't know why this is called a covert investigation, at this rate, it will be discussed tomorrow on the Today Show."

Mac fought back a chuckle.

"Like I told Harm, who obviously can't keep a secret, two Naval Intelligence officers have died recently in what I would call unusual circumstances. They both worked on an undercover project that was a combined effort of this office and the NID. One of the men was Harm's hospital roommate. I asked Rabb if he remembered anything, but he was too looped to give me anything solid. End of story."

"You think someone in the hospital possibly murdered the two agents?"

"I don't know that for sure, but there are two too many coincidences."

"Are you dragging Harm into this, because if you do so help me Clay I'll, I'll..."

"You'll what Mac? You are certainly being a little overprotective. What's going on between you two?" Clay raised his eyebrows in interest at the baffled attractive Marine sitting across from him.

"Clay, quit blowing smoke and tell me if you are involving Harm in this or not." She regained her composure and gave him an icy glare.

"I am setting up a sting operation at the hospital, different floor. Harm doesn't know anything about it and is not involved." Clay admitted.

Mac visibly relaxed.

"Feel better?" Clay gave her a small smile.

"A little."

"Okay, I answered your question, you answer mine. Now what is going on between the two of you now that Renee and Mic are out of the picture?" Clay leaned forward waiting for a reply.

"We're just close friends, Clay." Mac answered with a little smile.

"Yea right, and I'm Robert Kennedy." The agent replied sardonically.

*******

"How was your date with Rachel?" Harm moved uncomfortably up in the bed as Sergei entered the hospital room the next morning.

"She is so...so...sweet. We go to the restaurant and eat and talk until it closes." Sergei beamed.

"I'm surprised you had that much in common to talk about." Harm looked intently at his brother.

"Oh, she even speaks a little Russian. She had a Russian roommate in college." Sergei continued. "She wanted to know all about my family."

Harm didn't feel good about this relationship but couldn't put a finger on just what made him feel that way. "Sergei, don't rush into this relationship. You could get hurt." He warned.

"And you have never been hurt in a relationship before?" Sergei challenged.

"Yes and that's why I'm warning you."

"You don't like any of the women I am interested in." Sergei tensed in frustration.

"Sergei, you are new to this country. You still don't understand the nuances of this culture." Harm shifted again trying to relieve a throbbing cramp that was building in his affected leg.

Sergei started to reply, but paused as he watched his brother's painful expression. "I think will talk about this another time. I will call the nurse to bring you something for your pain."

"I'm alright, I don't want anything. It's just a cramp." Harm rubbed his thigh restlessly. "Besides I'm supposed to get to go home this afternoon after physical therapy."

Sergei exited the room and headed towards the nurses' station. "Stubborn brother." He muttered to himself.

Katie sat at the desk and looked up into the blue eyes of the cutest guy she had ever laid eyes. "Can I help you?" She smiled sweetly.

"My brother, Commander Harmon Rabb, needs some medication for pain." Sergei grinned back at the dark eyed petite beauty.

"Oh, his nurse is off the unit, but I'll check to see what he has ordered and I'll get it." Katie continued to smile as she pulled the chart from the rack and flipped to the orders. "I'll be down to his room in a minute. Can I get you anything?"

"I am not in pain. I do not require any medication." Sergei responded innocently bringing a chuckle from Katie.

"You are so funny." She smiled even larger than before and walked towards the medication room chuckling leaving a slightly confused Sergei.

Katie prepared several pills of the prescribed narcotic and was exiting the med room when Rachel appeared. "The unit secretary told me Commander Rabb needed something for pain."

"You were at the pharmacy so I got it." Katie responded and started towards the hallway.

"I'll give it!" Rachel demanded surprising Katie with her tone. Her voice immediately softened, "I mean I know you are busy with your patients."

Katie gave her a puzzled look, "We help each other out on this floor and besides you know the rule, you draw it up you give it."

"Yes, you're right. Thanks." Rachel blushed.

Katie returned to the nurse's station where Tessie and Meg were now charting. "Have you seen Commander Rabb's brother? He is a hottie." She pretended to fan herself to the amusement of her two coworkers.

"I believe Katie girl is smitten." Tessie commented.

"Punctured by Cupid's arrow." Meg added.

"Taken the love train." Tessie picked up.

"Sailing on the love boat." Meg smirked.

"Doing the heart flip flop." Tessie remarked.

"Walking on the clouds." Meg added without missing a beat.

"Singing in the rain."

"Dancing in the street."

"ENOUGH! I just said he was cute." Katie shook her head.

"When are you two going out?" Tessie continued.

"I just met the guy, besides Rachel has her claws in him." Katie frowned.

"Rachel has claws?" Meg quizzed.

"She nearly took my head off for going to give our Flyboy something for pain while she was off the unit." Katie responded.

"I don't trust Miss 'I'm Too Sweet To Be True'." Meg put her pen and chart down.

"Rather be sexy than sweet." Tessie offered.

Meg grinned mischievously and began singing, "I'm too sexy for my clothes..."

"You going to give Ensign 'Sugar Britches' a run for her money?" Tessie asked Katie.

"No way, Jose." She pretended to ignore her friend at that point.

"I just love it when you speak in your native tongue." Meg leaned over towards Katie.

Katie rolled her eyes, "You know I was raised in Brooklyn. The only Spanish words I know are taco and nachos. Oh and if that counts I know a few Italian words...pizza and lasagna...French words...quiche'..."

"I got ya, if we ever take an assignment in Europe at least we won't starve." Meg grinned.

"But we may get in trouble if we need to go to the little girl's room." Tessie chimed in.

"I'll work on the translation." Katie smiled forgetting about her confrontation with Rachel.

*******

Clayton had the sting operation in place on the eighth floor neurology unit. Several agents posing as transporters and technicians inconspicuously roamed around the unit. They had Lt. Roy Rogers admitted with low back pain. He was the third NID agent who worked with Bradford and Wells.

*******

Mac stared blankly at her computer screen. Flashes of a man pushing a wheelchair that made a screeching sound as he headed down a hallway...Harm in a hospital bed in obvious pain...Harm calling for her to help him. The flashes disappeared as quickly as they started. Mac turned off the computer and picked up her purse and cover. It was 1800 and she needed to go to the hospital.

"Colonel, did you file the motion for dismissal on the Hancock case?" Admiral Chegwidden stopped the distracted Marine as she walked across the bullpen.

"Sir? Oh the Hancock case. Yes, Sir."

"Is everything alright, Colonel?" The Admiral responded to her tense demeanor.

"I don't know Sir." She replied uncomfortably. "I had this thought that Commander Rabb may be in some sort of trouble."

He directed her towards his office and picked up the phone. "Commander, how are you feeling?" The Admiral's voice boomed, and he set the phone on speaker.

A slight groan could be heard "I think they're trying to kill me." Harm's voice sounded strained.

Mac paled, "Harm, what's wrong?" She sounded a little panicked.

"Physical therapy. I think they are trying to bend my knee in a position that God didn't intend it to bend." He groaned bringing a look of relief to both the Admiral and Mac.

"Suck it up, Sailor. I need you back at work." The Admiral replied.

"Yes, Sir." Harm replied irritably. The Admiral smiled and picked up a file leaving Mac in his office alone.

"Harm, I had this..."

"Vision?"

"That sounds so hokey." Mac sounded exasperated.

"You had a hokey vision?" Harm's voice took on a note of humor.

"At least you haven't lost your sense of humor."

"No just my dignity and my independence. Ouch! Damn my knee hurts."

"Did you get something for the pain?"

"I hate that pain medication. It makes me have strange dreams, and I feel weird."

"The medication has nothing to do with you being weird."

"Oh now you're the comedian. When are you coming to see me?"

"I thought you didn't want anyone hovering."

"You don't hover, you entertain me...Wait I didn't mean to say that. You distract me."

Mac laughed. "So now I'm a distraction?"

"Maaccc, give me a break. Please come." He sounded just helpless enough that Mac felt her heart ache.

"Were is Sergei?"

"He has a class."

"Okay, can I bring you anything?"

"No, you're all I need...to distract me that is...until the doctor comes around to discharge me." The first part came out before he realized how much he meant it.

Mac smiled softly to herself. "I'll be there in an hour. In the mean time get something for the pain."

"Yes, Ma'am."

******

Meg watched Rachel as she prepared an IV medication. "Where did you go to nursing school?"

Rachel finished tapping the bubbles out of the tubing and allowed solution to flow through the tubing. "I graduated from the University of Alabama."

"I finished at Harvard." Meg chuckled.

"It's supposed to be a really good school." Rachel replied bringing a frown to Meg.

"Harvard's the tops." Meg watched the younger nurse.

"I wanted to go there, but my parents wanted me closer to home." Rachel gave a sad look. "I really miss them."

"I'll check your medication for you." Meg replied coolly.

"Thanks." Rachel replied warmly.

Afterwards, Meg grabbed Tessie and Katie and pulled them into the break room. "Ensign Sugar Britches is pure aspartame!"

"What are you talking about?" Tessie looked at her frustrated friend.

"She's a fake! I teasingly told her I went to Harvard Nursing school, and she told me she wanted to go there."

"Harvard doesn't have a nursing school." Katie spoke softly.

"Exactly! But she gave me the poor sweet little me wanted to go to school close to mommie and daddy so they wouldn't let her."

"Do you think she's up to something?" Katie looked fearfully at her friends.

"What if she's not even a nurse? She could hurt someone." Tessie gasped. "I've read stories of pretenders."

"We need to tell Captain Tubbs." Katie suggested.

"What are we going to tell her? She thinks Harvard has a nursing school? Tubbs will laugh us out of her office." Meg sighed. "We need more."

"But she could hurt one of our patients in the meantime." Katie argued.

"Not if one of us watches her at all times. She's still in orientation, she has to be monitored." Meg responded.

"She's giving her afternoon meds. I'll go check behind her." Katie volunteered.

"No, she doesn't like you. You're trying to steal her boyfriend." Meg grabbed her arm. "I'll watch her. She thinks I'm funny."

"She thinks you are stupid." Tessie huffed.

"Then I'm perfect. If she's up to something, she'll think I'm too stupid to figure it out." Meg smiled.

Tessie and Katie exchanged dubious looks.

"I can handle her and get a chance to check on Cutie flyboy too." She grinned and headed towards Rachel.

"Meg, stay focused and don't go ga ga when you go into Commander Rabb's room." Tessie warned.

"I'll put on my secret anti-ga ga glasses to protect me from going mindlessly ga ga when I look at an incredibly handsome hunk." She reached in her pocket, pulled out her safety glasses used to maintain universal precautions, and popped them on her face.

"Maybe we should risk the wrath of Captain Tubbs." Katie mumbled as she watched Meg stroll down the hall.

Rachel gave all of her meds without error or incident and charted with the efficiency that would make a nursing instructor proud. Meg returned to her co-conspirators and reported no indication of foul play.

Harm had procrastinated requesting pain medication hoping the pain would lessen with rest, but it didn't. Finally he pressed his call light. Rachel answered. "How can I help you Commander Rabb?"

"I need something for the pain in my knee. I don't want something that will knock me out. I'm supposed to go home later this afternoon."

"I'll see what the doctor has ordered." Rachel responded.

Meg watched her as she methodically checked the chart and then headed to the medication room with Harm's medication record. Rachel stopped at the door and turned to Meg. "Lt. don't you have to sign out with me on a narcotic?"

Meg followed Rachel into the room and unlocked the narcotic box. Rachel pulled out an ampule of medication and signed out for it. She carefully drew up the correct dosage and then drew up five ccs of sterile saline to flush the IV before and after the medication was given. Meg accompanied Rachel to Harm's room and watched her carefully administer the medication.

"I thought IV meds were stronger than the pills." Harm winced as she proceeded to push the drug into the IV tubing, "That burned."

"Demerol will do that. I figured you would want the medication to act quickly and be out of your system sooner. This will be your last IV med. I'll come back in a little while to discontinue it." Rachel patted Harm on the arm. Meg followed the younger nurse out of the room.

"His IV site didn't look red or irritated to me. It shouldn't have burned like that." Meg mumbled as Rachel signed the medication record.

"He's had the IV since surgery. You know how IV sites get after a couple of days." Rachel rationalized

********

Mac ran into Webb as she exited the cafeteria with a sandwich for herself and several pieces of fruit for Harm.

"Caught your murderer?" Mac whispered.

Clay shook his head. "No, our guy has probably figured out that we would be watching the hospital. I'm going to close this operation down."

"CODE 99 Three West, CODE 99 Three West, CODE 99 Three West." Blared over the paging system.

"Doesn't that mean cardiac arrest?" Mac glanced worriedly towards Clay.

"Yes it does and that's Harm's unit." Clay and Mac rushed towards the steps.

They pulled open the stairwell door and noticed a flurry of activity as a nurse was pushing an emergency crash cart towards Harm's room as several doctors and respiratory therapists raced towards the room.

Mac paled as she approached the room so full of people that she couldn't see the bed.

Meg grabbed Rachel by the arm. "You called that Code as soon as you entered the room!"

Rachel tried to look shocked; "I had to. He wasn't breathing."

One of the doctors yelled out. "Who in the hell called this code?" He stepped back from a sleepy, confused Harm.

It was Rachel's turn to become pale. "I thought, it must have been the narcotics...his respirations were so shallow." She babbled.

Meg looked angrily at the young nurse, "Wrong!" She pulled out a vial of saline used to flush IV's. "I switched this vial for another while you retrieved the Demerol from the narcotic box. I'll just bet it's not saline."

Rachel started to back away while her fear and innocent look was replaced with an arrogant sneer. "You are much smarter than you let on." She then pulled a small handgun from her pocket. "Everyone just move to the wall."

Clay and Mac exchanged a quick look as Rachel began to ease away. Tessie stood by the dressing cart along the hall and carefully reached for a plastic container as Katie began to weep in fear. "Don't shoot us. Please don't shoot us."

Rachel turned towards the frantic nurse and grinned evilly. "Just stay put. I wasn't paid to kill you, but that doesn't mean I won't." She threatened.

Tessie seized the moment, flipped open the squirt container of betadine, and sprayed betadine into the assassin's eyes. "Argh!" She screamed and squeezed off a shot that hit the wall inches from Katie.

Clay and Mac tackled the small woman and disarmed her. Clay pulled a small radio transmitter from his pocket and instructed his agents to come to the hallway.

Mac looked around at the three disheveled nurses, "Good job ladies, you make the Navy proud."

The agents pushed Rachel away from the group that was now dispersing. Clay and Mac entered Harm's room. "You okay?" Clay asked.

"What happened?" Harm looked blearily between his two friends.

Mac smiled, "I'll explain it later."

"Between the pain medication and all the excitement, my knee doesn't hurt anymore." Harm smiled sleepily.

Clay rolled his eyes and left the two alone.

"You waited to take that pain medication, didn't you?" Mac lowered the side rail and sat on the edge of Harm's bed.

"It makes me so sleepy. I wanted to stay awake since you were coming." He admitted with drug glazed eyes.

"You had a trio of guardian angels looking out for you, or you may not have made it." She frowned at the thought and reached up to stroke his face.

"I always have had an angel looking out for me. Mac?" He mumbled as his eyes refused to stay open. He then mumbled something she couldn't understand.

"What, flyboy?"

"Do you like Big Band music?"

Mac chuckled, "You mean Glen Miller, Duke Ellington, Count Basie?"

"Yea," He smiled.

"I guess, why?"

He never answered as the effects of the Demerol finally won out.

********

Clay, Sergei, Mac, Harriet and the Admiral were all cangregated in Harm's living room where Harm sat with his leg propped up.

"As it turned out, Rachel Myrick aka Rachel Malcovich is the daughter of Petro Malcovich an assassin for defunct KGB. He's gone free lance and apparently trained his daughter to take over the business. Well's death apparently was of natural causes. Bradford was mistakenly killed. Rachel didn't check the armband and administered him the drug that was meant to kill Harm. We analized the vial of saline and it was potassium chloride. A large enough dose causes severe cardiac dysrhymias and is virtually undetectable once the victim dies. " Clay reported.

"Why me?" Harm frowned.

"When you investigated the Chinese last year and uncovered the double agent apparently you ruffled more than American feathers. Then you went back to China to get our aircraft and crew back and angered the someone else in China. Rachel was supposed to get rid of you."

"So Commander, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who finds you irritating at times." Admiral Chegwidden teased but his concern was still evident. "That was damn close."

Harm didn't laugh. "Did Bradford have a family?"

Clay looked down, "Yes, but this wasn't your fault."

Harm shook his head sadly.

"You tried to warn me about Rachel." Sergei looked to his depressed brother joining the guilt trip.

"Maybe you should call up one of those Navy nurses that saved the Commander?" Harriet suggested hoping to change the depressing turn of the conversation.

"I was thinking of asking the dark eyed one named Katie. She thinks I'm funny." Sergei began to grin.

"Katie's nice." Harm nodded in agreement.

"Besides she and her two counterparts are receiving commendations." The Admiral added.

"Yea, you could use a smart woman to watch your six." Harm smiled and gave Mac a quick glance.

********

Katie, Tessie and Meg sat at a trendy eatery near the bar watching people come in as they ate. "Well we earned commendations and even a 'good job' from ole Captain Tubbs, but here we sit without any guys." Meg spoke despondently.

"You don't think you'll hear from Commander Rabb? He is in your debt, after all." Katie asked as she played with the straw in her drink.

"You saw that Marine Colonel. He is_so_taken." Meg replied and crunched on a pickle.

"I didn't see a ring or anything." Katie persisted.

"Oh there was a ring alright it was just invisible, and he was wearing it in his nose. He just doesn't know it." Meg chuckled sarcastically. "Besides you just want me to double date with you and Sergei." She added musically.

"I'm swearing off Navy guys. I want to date from another branch of the military." Tessie announced. "I want to date a Coastie."

"Coast Guard is good." Meg nodded thoughtfully.

"Yea and they're all tall." Katie replied enthusiastically.

"No they're not." Meg argued.

"Yes they are. There is a requirement that you have to be at least six-foot tall to be in the Coast Guard. This Navy guy I dated once told me." Katie insisted.

Tessie started giggling. "They have to be at least six foot tall so if they fall off the boat they can walk back to shore...It's a joke!"

"Oh?" Katie frowned.

"Speaking of Coasties." Meg sat up straight adjusted her sweater and hair as she watched three cute guys walk in.

"Blandino, tell Denney to order me a beer." Vanhysen called out to his friend and fellow petty officer on the Coast Guard Cutter Decisive and gave the attractive red head a smile as he walked in her direction.

The END

...I'm too sexy for my clothes, I'm too sexy for my shoes...