Part 3 -- The "Reel It In" JAG Ficathon

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Date Posted: 17:49:44 04/22/09 Wed
Author: .
Subject: Part 3
In reply to: . 's message, "Part 2" on 17:48:28 04/22/09 Wed

Chapter 4

Mid Afternoon
Sadik�s Hacienda
Chaco Boreal
Paraguay

Diving head first at the opening barrage of bullets, Clay managed to snag Harm by the feet, slamming him hard onto the ground. The duo tumbled end-over-end to the right in a smothering cloud of dust and debris, out of the line of gunfire.

Harm scurried for cover beside the shed then surveyed the horizon for armed terrorists. Clay followed closely on his heels, groaning with each movement, before once again forcefully throwing his body against Harm�s.

�Get off me, Webb,� Harm gave him a shove then reached for the handgun in the belt of his jeans.

�S�kay,� Webb wheezed, ��s�only�Gunny.�

�What?!� Harm screeched back, ��are you both mad?!�

�Noooo�noo�trip wire,� Webb gasped, ��had to�stop�yoou.� Webb rolled onto his back, dropping his head on the ground and continued to groan. �Ohhh�think�I�m�dying�here.�

�Well, you better hurry up about it then, before I kill you first,� Harm shimmed up onto his knees and scooted to the corner of the building.

�Gunny!� Harm called out, �Gunny, is there anyone else out there besides you?�

�No sir,� Gunny quickly closed the distance to the shed, ��not that I can see. But if anyone else is around, we�ve surely announced our presence by now.� Gunny grimaced apologetically at Harm, �Sorry about that, sir�I didn�t know how else to warn you, and I didn�t figure Mr. Webb would reach you in time.�

�Kind of�off target�a little there�Gunny,� Webb flapped a weak hand in the air, still sprawled flat on his back.

�What makes you say that, sir?� Gunny flashed the subtlest of smiles. �Way I see it�I was dead on. I aimed just left of the Commander�s feet, figuring that�d send him veering to the right. That gave you just enough time to tackle him off to the side of the shed. Didn�t earn that Expert Rifle badge for nothing,� Gunny shot off a full-fledged dimpled-grin at the agent�s expense.

�Could�a warn me,� Clay briefly lifted his head, before dropping it back heavily into the dirt.

�Didn�t hurt yourself there, did ya, sir?�

�Nothing to worry �bout,� Clay sighed, ��few more bruises to the skin�lot more to the ego.�

�Can we cut the chatter, please?!� Harm threw both men a threatening glare, �Maybe get back to the issue at hand?�

�Sorry sir,� Gunny crawled up next to Harm. �See the wire, Commander,� Gunny pointed to the wooden stakes driven in 10 feet from the entrance to the shed. �I spotted it just as you took off. If you look closely, the wire travels to the porch, and from there to the doorframe. I suspect it might be a trip wire for explosives, although we won�t know for sure without further investigation.�

�Jeez,� Harm gasped, ��I could�ve blown us both up!�

�Knowing Sadik, I suspect it was rigged to just hurt you,� Clay had finally managed to push himself into a sitting position, and was slowly crawling toward them, ��but was probably intended to kill Mac. That way he could make you responsible for her death.�

���I will destroy something special to you.� That sick bastard!� Harm doubled over and repeatedly retched. �He knew that would be�the best way�to get to me�make me responsible�for killing her.�

�Yeah, he�s great at playing mind games,� Clay patted him on the back, ��so whatever you do, don�t let him in.�

�You talking from experience?� Harm gasped, still sprawled on all fours, while blinking rapidly to clear away the tears blinding his eyes.

�Only too well,� Clay shook his head somberly, ��only too well. Come on,� Clay offered a hand, tugging Harm up from the dirt, ��let�s go check on Mac.�

The three men crept around the corner of the building toward the entrance of the shed. Harm painstakingly avoided the trip wire, while stepping onto the porch. Motioning for the other two men to hang back, he slowly advanced to the door; body hugging tightly against the wood fa�ade of the building.

�Gunny,� he called when arriving at the doorframe.

�Sir?�

�I can see the wire threaded through eyelets in the doorframe. It disappears under the header. I�m going to need your help tracing it beyond there�I don�t want to risk setting anything off while I�m trying to get Mac out.�

�Okay sir, I�m coming around, but what about Mr. Webb?�

�Tell Webb to hang back�keep a look out. I don�t want Sadik getting the drop on us while we�re preoccupied.�

�Got it, sir.�

Harm inched further forward peeking around the rough cedar framework of the door. Mac was shackled to the table by heavy arm and leg-irons just as before. She was lying deathly still; her face diverted away from the doorway.

�Mac?� Harm called out softly, still unsure of Sadik�s whereabouts. When he received no reply, he tried again. �Mac, it�s Harm�We�re here to get you!� She didn�t move a muscle or respond in any way to the sound of his voice.

�Commander,� Gunny arrived at his side, ��I take it the Colonel�s inside?�

�Yes,� turning his head briefly, he acknowledged the other man, ��but she�s not responding.�

Between the two of them, they were able to trace the trip wire, as it traversed the room from the header until it disappeared beneath the base of the wooden torture table restraining Mac. Gunny dropped to his belly and commando crawled across the concrete floor cautiously burrowing under the legs of the rough-hewn slab.

Coming back up, eyes gawking saucer-wide, he announced, �Grenade, sir�just a grenade! It would certainly be enough fire power to kill the Colonel, or at the very least, severely injury her,� he shook his head, ��but I don�t get the elaborate set-up. What�s the point?�

�To make me responsible,� Harm sighed in disgust, continuing to hover just out of reach of Mac�s body. His fingers itching to touch her, to confirm that she was still alive. �Did you disarm it?�

�No sir, I couldn�t find the pin and didn�t want to chance setting the thing off. I figure if we can gently lift the Colonel away�get the hell out of here, we should be good in shape.� He jumped to his feet and waited to assist as directed.

�Mac,� Harm cautiously moved in, ��Mac, can you hear me?�

�She�s not answering, sir.�

�I can see that, Gunny!� Harm bit back, then took a deep calming breath. He leaned in closer still and gently slid his fingertips over her neck. �I can feel a pulse�it�s strong and steady, and she�s definitely breathing.�

�Maybe she�s just sedated,� Gunny shrugged his shoulders, throwing out hopeful suggestions. �It wouldn�t have done Sadik�s plan much good, if she�d have thrashed around and set the grenade off before you arrived.�

�Help me unfasten the shackles!�

The two worked hastily together, and soon had Mac free of her restraints. Harm carefully checked for injures. Running his hands up the length her legs, he found no evidence of breaks. He cautiously unzipped her jacket, while Gunny turned away, offering some small modicum of modesty to the superior female officer. Harm quickly searched across her abdomen and upper chest, but found only superficial bruising. Sliding her sleeves up her arms, he found more of the same. He gently brushed aside her hair, feeling along both sides of her neck. It was there he located the only area of injury, a deep bruise at the base of the left side of her skull.

�I think I might have figured out why she�s unconscious,� Harm tersely whispered, ��we need to get her to a hospital.� Before he tried to mobilize her for evacuation, he shifted her ever so slightly onto her right side.

�Gunny, can you help me check her back?� They found more bruising and an unusual amount of mobility over the left shoulder, but no other evidence of cuts or breaks. Finally, Harm opened each of her eyelids and peered into her eyes; the pupils seemed to equally react.

�Other than bruises, the only significant injures I can see are to her left shoulder and neck,� Harm pointed out. �I�m guessing that Sadik caught her from behind and probably knocked her out. I�m hoping that it�s only a concussion, but we won�t know for sure until she�s been evaluated by a doctor.�

�Are you ready to try and move her, sir?� Gunny hovered close by, awaiting further instruction, but anxious to be on their way.

�Yeah, um�I think I can pick her up and carry her by myself, if you�ll just make sure that the table stays perfectly still. Now, wouldn�t be a particularly good time to set off that grenade of yours, Gunny.�

�Hey, just because I found it doesn�t make it mine, sir. I, for one, never read the �finders keepers, losers weepers� rule in the UCMJ�but if we manage to get out of this alive, I�m certainly willing to search for it, sir,� Gunny flashed him a disarming smile.

�I don�t think that will be necessary, Gunny,� Harm quirked a brow, then cautiously slid his hands under Mac�s lithe body. �Okay, I�m going to lift on three. One�two�THREE!�

Mac�s body fell heavily against his chest, arms dangling free, and her face lulling forward into the crook of his neck. Gunny held the table firm, never allowing it to move so much as a quarter inch. They both remained rigid and still for several seconds, praying to God for no explosions or fireworks.

Finally, Gunny broke out in a satisfied grin, �Ready to get the hell out of here, sir?!�

�Lead the way, Gunny�lead the way!�

The two traversed their way backwards, past the trip wire, carefully landing each step. Once outside, they quickly cleared the porch and rounded the side of the building to find Clay vigilantly standing guard with gun drawn in hand.

�Any sign of trouble, Clay?� Harm asked and ever so gently shifting Mac in his arms.

�No, haven�t seen hide or hair of Sadik, which is starting to worry me.� Webb closed in, quickly covering the space, �How is she?�

�Unconscious,� Harm slipped a hand up to support her head, ��we need to get her to a hospital fast.�

�We�re at least three, four hundred miles from Ciudad del Este,� Webb roughly rubbed the back of his neck. �Do you think she�ll last that long?�

�I have no intention of going anywhere near that godforsaken city, Webb. Sadik was able to waltz in and abduct her once from there already. Plus, I don�t trust Hardy. I think we should head the other direction to Asuncion�toward the American Embassy.�

�That�s still hundreds of miles away, Rabb!�

�What about that clinic, Mr. Webb,� Gunny offered, ��the same place I took you. She would at least have access to a doctor, and they could transport her by ambulance��

�Fine,� Webb threw up his hands, ��whatever, let�s just get the hell out of here. We can discuss it further on the way. I still say Ciudad de��

�It�s not your call anymore, Webb!� Harm roared back, �I�m taking control of this mission��

�Oh, you�re taking control��

�Sirs, how about we seek medical care first, argue later. Correction,� Gunny held up a finger, ��how about I go retrieve the car, bring it back, then we take the Colonel��

�Fine!� The other two men echoed together.

Ten minutes later, Gunny had returned with the jeep. Harm gently scooted into the back seat with Mac in his lap. He grabbed a blanket from the cargo hold and tucked it in all around her. Assuring that her head was well supported against his chest, he soothingly stroked his fingers through her hair.

Webb slid into the front passenger seat and glanced at the pair in the back, �You going to hold her all the way there?�

�Yes.�

�You know, it�s a fair ways to the clinic. We could always fold the backseat flat, allow her lie down. That way you wouldn�t have to��

�She�s just where she belongs,� Harm rubbed his cheek softly against her hair, and stared out the side window.

�Yes, I�d have to agree,� Webb whispered softly, �...I think she finally is exactly where she belongs.�

The two men sat in silence for several more minutes, before Harm eventually spoke. �Where�s Gunny? We need to be on our way.�

�Uh-huh,� Webb shrugged, ��he said he was taking care of something once and for all.�

At that moment, Clay spotted Gunny far across the yard lying on his stomach. Reaching for the binoculars beside him on the seat, he gazed through the window and watched Gunny raise a rifle to his shoulder, peer in the sight and pull the trigger. Almost instantaneously, a small pile of rocks imploded near the wooden stakes, followed by a large explosion decimating the entire torture shed. Everyone ducked on instinct, shocked by the magnitude of the blast.

Gunny quickly sprang up and ran for the cover of the car, as debris rained down from the sky. Jumping behind the steering wheel, he flashed an apologetic grin, �Sorry, I had no idea it would be that big!�

�What the heck did you do, Gunnery Sergeant?! Webb bellowed.

�I was just making sure that torture shed wasn�t used again anytime soon, sir! I only expected a grenade to blow up. Apparently, it was rigged to additional explosives. Sir!�

Harm�s head shot up, eyes growing wide, �Are you telling me?�

�Yes sir, we�re lucky to be alive!�

�Gunny, just get us to the clinic,� Harm dropped his head back wearily onto the seat and hugged Mac�s body closer to his chest.

As Gunny engaged the gears and backed the jeep from the driveway onto the dirt road, none of the car�s occupants noticed the sinister figure watching them from a stony perch hidden high amongst the trees.

***

Early the Next Morning
Centro Medico Bautista
Asuncion
Paraguay

Clay peered through the glass of the hospital room door, gazing at the couple beyond. He watched Harm shift uncomfortably in the small bedside chair, wrestling for a degree of comfort. The proud officer rotated one way, then the other, before finally giving up and slouching forward, elbows planted on knees. His head dropped down, then pivoted right, as his eyes sought respite from the rising sun. Clay frowned at the ineffectiveness of his diversionary tactics, and wondered why the stubborn man didn�t just close the blinds. It was then that the snooping agent noticed the delicate hand nestled securely within the other�s grasp. Shaking his head at the predictable sign of endearment, Webb rapped his knuckles once against the door, before entering the room.

�Morning, how�s she doing?� He extended a steaming cup of coffee in Harm�s direction.

�Still sleeping,� Harm whispered, accepting the offering and took a cautious sip. Tipping his head in approval, he deeply inhaled the aroma wafting off the steam. �This is good,� he swallowed a larger gulp, ��must not have come from here.�

�No,� Webb pulled up another chair to the bedside, ��I stopped at a little coffee shop around the corner on my way in.� He tipped his head and eyed his friend with a critical eye, �Did you get any sleep last night?�

�Didn�t need any,� Harm mumbled around another mouthful of rich black heaven. �Needed this though,� he raised the cup toward Clay, ��thanks. Means I won�t have to leave her bedside.�

�I could always stick around for a little while, if you�d like,� Clay reached into his pocket and withdrew a plastic hotel card key, ��you�re welcome to use my room for a quick shower and shave.�

�No,� Harm shook his head, ��I want to be here, when she wakes up.�

�Has she,� Webb gestured toward the bed, ��woken up, I mean?�

�No.�

�What are the doctors saying?�

�Concussion,� Harm shifted awkwardly in his seat, never releasing her hand, ��they say she could wake up today, tomorrow�soon.�

�You can�t sit here forever, Harm,� Clay flashed him a look of uncomfortable sympathy.

�Yes, I can,� Harm stared off into space, ��I failed her once; I won�t do it again. I�m not letting her out of my sight.�

Clay leaned forward in his chair, resting a hand on the other man�s forearm, �Harm, it�s not your fault that Sadik got to her. If that were the case, then it�s my fault too.� Harm�s eyes shifted to Clay, boring into the other man, leaving no doubt as to his co-assignment of blame.

Clay jumped up and began nervously pacing in the enclosed space of the small room, �Look Harm, I�m sorry I brought Mac down here. I�ll concede responsibility and sole ownership of that blame.�

�Why did you?� Harm�s words were curt and barely controlled.

�Don�t know,� Clay shrugged, ��I needed help. Kershaw wouldn�t listen. The two of you have always come through for me in the past.�

�But you didn�t ask for both of us this time,� Harm�s steel grey eyes threatened to slice the smaller man in two.

�No, I didn�t,� Webb diverted his gaze, rubbing a palm over the tense muscles in his neck. �Look, you were on trial, or had just been acquitted. I needed a woman for my cover�Mac fit the bill.�

�But why her?�

�Why not?� Clay glared back defiantly.

�Because��

�Because why, Rabb? Because she�s yours?� Clay stalked toward the bed, ��your partner, your friend, your��

�Yes!� Harm snapped, then dropped his head, �No, I mean�I don�t know.�

�Well, for Sarah�s sake, don�t you think it�s about time you found out?�

With a heavy sigh of regret, Clay dropped back into his chair, �Look, I�m really sorry for a lot of things that happened on this mission, Harm. I�m sorry I got Mac involved in this mess, and I�m sorry for trying to come between the two of you. But most of all, I�m sorry that I took advantage of our friendship.� Clay extended his hand, �Maybe one of these days, you�ll both be able to forgive me.�

Harm stared at the extended hand, but made no attempt to accept it. Just as Clay was about to give up and leave the room, Harm reached for the agent�s hand, �Thanks for helping me get her out of there yesterday, Clay. And I�d really appreciate it, if you could assist with getting the both of us safely home.�

�Don�t I always,� Clay flashed his customary smug grin then turned and exited the room. Turning back at the door, he pointed to Harm and winked, �And it comes with breakfast too. I�ll see to it myself�be back shortly.�

As the door swung shut, Harm shook his head and laughed, �You know, Marine�just between you and me, I might have to admit to kind of liking that spook. He generally comes through�in his own befuddled, self-serving way�But, if you tell anyone, I�ll deny it!�

He clasped her hand between the two of his and stared down at her still form resting quietly in the bed. Her breathing was relaxed and even. If it hadn�t been for the fading bruises on her right cheek, and her heavily bandaged shoulder, she might have just appeared to be sleeping. He reached up a finger and gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, then stroked the pad of his thumb across her cheek. There was no response, none whatsoever to his subtle tactile gestures.

He sighed heavily, raising her hand to his lips and caressed the soft flesh with tender kisses. Rotating her arm, his lips inched their way across the fragile skin of her wrist. He cupped her palm around his cheek and held it there, breathing her in.

Closing his eyes, he yearned with all his might for her to wake up or merely acknowledge his presence. He promised her anything and everything, a pocketful of wishes, all the stars in the sky, if only she would come back to him. After all, he was an expert in this art of mental wishing; he had perfected it over the last several years. It was the actual verbal declarations that had proved to be too much. If only she could hear the steadfast vows silently pledged by his heart, instead of all the befuddled utterances tripped over by his tongue. She thought he didn�t love her, but her conclusions couldn�t be more wrong.

Objection, Your Honor�Rush to judgment�Assumes facts not in evidence.

How was it that a man who made his living by eloquent words, could find himself at a complete loss for them in that exact moment when they mattered the most? He shook away the bewildering thoughts and gently placed her arm back upon the bed.

�You know, Mac,� his fingers stroked a meandering pattern along the length of her arm, ��I really need you to wake up right now. I�m starting to go a little stir crazy, and I could use some of that no nonsense marine dispassionate planning of yours.�

His breath burst forth in short hot gusts, as he warred with himself for emotional control. Goosebumps rose in a path along her arm, a testament to the warmth of his close proximity. Comforted in no small part by this tiny response to him, he moved in closer still and watched with fascination, needing even more. He willed it with his mind, he communed it with his heart, and finally he found the courage to speak the words with his tongue.

�There was a brief moment yesterday, when I thought I�d lost you. And I realized then�well, you�d think I would�ve learned my lesson by now, especially since I�ve been down this road before. That old adage: �Don�t wait until tomorrow, because tomorrow may never come��well, let�s just say it�s frighteningly true, when�� he shook his head, ��I don�t know why I can�t manage to be more eloquent at this. Put me in a courtroom and I�m fine, but strip me naked in front of you, and I, uh�I well�um, uh, let�s save that particular thought for another time,� he shook his head and chuckled self-consciously, mumbling under his breath, ��like maybe the next time I find you alone in a bubble bath. Can�t believe I didn�t take advantage of that particular golden opportunity to, ah�um, well, never mind.�

He cleared his throat, picked up her hand, took a deep breath and tried again, �You know, I always thought I was gonna be, I don't know, special. But I'm not. I'm just...I'm just an ordinary person. And that's OK. Because...you make me special. Don't you know that? Don't you know that you're everything in this world to me? And we're gonna make it through this because we are a team. So don't you �EVER� think about leaving me again...because I need you. I love you. And if I were to ever loose you, then I don�t think I could go��

He stopped mid sentence, when she opened her eyes. �Mac? Mac, can you hear me?�

She blinked against the glaring rays of the bright morning sun, then grimaced and turned away in pain. �Wheeere?� Her voice was scratchy and weak.

�Just a minute,� he jumped up and quickly lowered the shades. Returning to her side, he retrieved a glass of water from the bedside table and encouraged her to drink, �Try a few sips, then I�ll go fetch the nurse.�

She tentatively swallowed, then pushed it away, �Where am I?� She pulled her hand from his, and massaged her temple, allowing her eyes to drift closed.

�It�s okay, you�re in a hospital in Asuncion.� He looked away, �You probably don�t remember.�

She turned toward him, squinting her eyes and fought against the throbbing pain for any remnant of the memories. They seemed to dance just out of reach. �Sadik?�

�Yes,� was his simple reply.

�Clay?�

�Webb�s fine,� he slouched in disappointment ��maybe I should go find the nurse.�

�Wait,� she stared at the ceiling, ��don�t remember�all.� She sighed in frustration, rubbing a hand across her brow, �Rescue�plane crash�us fight�Maria Elena dead�Sadik.� She rolled her eyes toward him, panting heavily with pain, �Hotel�I�I�left.� Her scowl lines deepened, as she glanced around the room, �Hospital�why?�

Harm dropped his head then looked away, �I should get the nurse. She can give you something for the pain.�

Mac reached out and limply grasped his arm, �Why?�

�Sadik abducted you, night before last.� His eyes remained diverted to the floor, �Near as we can figure, he got you after you left the hotel room. He must have struck you from behind, because you had bruising over the base of your skull and left neck with a concussion. You also have a dislocation of your left shoulder. The doctor said the concussion should resolve without further intervention, but he feels you should obtain a surgical consult on your shoulder once back in the States.�

�Wheeere�where,� her voice trembled, ��did you find me?�

�Back at the hacienda,� his eyes flicked briefly toward hers then danced away, ��he sent me a package with your shirt and a note. Gunny, Clay and I drove back there to resc...� he tripped over the word, ��to get you back.�

�I was there with Sadik and his men?� Her voice crackled with terror.

�Just Sadik.�

�Did he�� tears flooded her voice.

�Nooo!� He flew to her side. �No, he didn�t do anything else. He took you to the hacienda to lure me there. He wanted to kill me for destroying his missiles. He set a trap, but all four of us got out alive. We never saw Sadik.� When he saw the tears sliding down her cheeks, he gently took her in his arms, �I swear, Mac�Sadik didn�t do anything else to you. The doctor did a full exam just to be sure. You were hit on the back of the head, and as a consequence have a concussion. You most likely dislocated your shoulder in the ensuing fall. Nothing else, sweetheart�nothing else.� He gently embraced her with one arm, while rubbing her back with the other. �It�s okay, sweetheart. I�m so sorry I let him get to you, but I will never let it happen again�I promise. I�m so sorry. I love you.�

She stiffened in his arms, and he carefully lowered her to the bed, fearful his movements were inducing more pain than calm. �I�m sorry, if I hurt you, sweetheart. Let me go find the nurse about those pain meds.� He reached out to stroke her cheek, �I�m so thankful that your alive and safe. I can�t tell you how worried I was��

She closed her eyes and turned away. Shrinking deeper into her pillow, she recoiled from his touch.

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[> [> [> Part 4 -- ., 17:51:07 04/22/09 Wed [1]

Chapter 5

The flight home was tense and silent. Webb, true to his word, had them on a first class flight out of Paraguay just two days later. As far as Harm was concerned, the whole South American experience could best be summed up as a six day �no expense-paid� rollercoaster ride into hell. He had never experienced so many volcanic eruptions of emotional highs and lows compressed into such a short time period in his life: She was missing, no dead�no she�s alive, no crashed�no alive� dead, alive, unconscious, angry, aloof. Hell, he needed a scorecard just to keep track!

He shifted in his seat trying to shake away the pins-and-needles numbness, which had taken up permanent residence in his feet. His knee bumped against hers, and she shot him a warning glare.

�Sorry,� he tried to look appropriately chagrinned, but failed miserably when his elbow staked full claim to their shared armrest.

She released that heavy indignant sigh of hers, the one that hailed from somewhere deep within the depths of her soul. He was sure she saved them up just for him. Counted up each of his annoying ticks and habits, kept track of them on her fingers and toes, and when she had amassed enough of them, just couldn�t take it anymore, they�d erupt and spew forth. In the last 24 hours, he�d made a habit of annoying her just to see her react. It had become something of a challenge really, each attempt a little more exasperating and aggravating than the last. He�d learned his basic skills on the playground, honed them as a fighter jock out at sea, but the true perfecting of them�ah, that he had saved for battling her in the courtroom. She was a worthy opponent, and it had taken time and patience to find all the right buttons to push, the pigtails to pull, the knees to skin, and at that exact ideal moment�the cheek to kiss. But what he had been woefully and inadequately prepared for�was for her to clobber him right back!

He watched her from the corner of his eye all the while pretending that he wasn�t staring. She was stubbornly ignoring him just as she had for the last 48 hours. And what had he done that had been so horribly wrong, so depraved and immoral, as to deserve such unwavering disregard? His unforgivable and grievous sin had been to tell her that he had a deep and abiding affection for her. In fact, he�d gone so far as to admit that he loved her! Well, it wasn�t so much the admitting that was the problem, not completely anyway�it was his unending insistence against her objection that had been his mortal flaw.

It had started as soon as she had regained consciousness. He should have known something was amiss from her cool demeanor and rigid response, but it wasn�t until he had confronted her with the letter that the enormity of her misinterpretation became apparent. She assured him that while they would remain the closest of friends, a knee jerk emotional reaction, based on a misplaced sense of obligation and a fear of loss, was not an adequate foundation for building a long-term romantic partnership. When he attempted to counter her arguments and �make his case,� she deflected him point by point. It felt more akin to negotiating the terms of a plea bargain than begging for this single, solitary chance at an opportunity for happiness in their life. It was unnerving and all so damn frustrating! He wanted to yell at her, shake her�hell, just kiss her until she shut-up. How was it that they had suddenly switched places?

He chanced a glance her way and noticed her eyes drifting shut. Reaching for a magazine in the seatback before him, he flipped through the pages searching for a throwaway cardboard ad. Finding the object of his desire, he quickly scribbled a one-line message in large block letters across the card, then nonchalantly dropped it into her lap.

She retrieved the note card, scanned the words and tossed it back. Without so much as a gander, she mumbled into her upturned palm, �No, you don�t.�

�Yes, I do,� he just as casually countered her response. He stretched his legs, re-pocketed the magazine and looked up and down the aisle. The flight attendant noticed his interest and immediately walked his way.

�May I help you, sir,� the dark-haired beauty smiled enticingly.

�Yes, water please, if it�s not too much trouble,� Harm returned her smile.

�Anything for your wife, sir?�

�Sweetheart,� he leaned in close to Mac and stroked her arm, ��would you like anything?�

She scowled at him and addressed the attendant directly, �Water would be nice, thank you.�

Harm chuckled, �You�ll have to excuse my wife. She had an accident in Paraguay and has a wicked headache. I�ve been trying to get her to take a nap, but she can�t seem to get comfortable. I thought perhaps, if she took some of her pain meds.�

The flight attendant chuckled at the thoughtful attractive man, �Well, I�m sure if you put up the armrest, she could find a comfortable spot on your shoulder.�

�Now, why didn�t I think of that,� Harm rolled his eyes, feigning innocence, then proceeded to do just that. Placing his arm around Mac�s shoulder, he tucked her in close, �See honey, isn�t this so much better. Once you�ve taken your meds, I�m sure you�ll fall fast asleep.� He leaned down and placed a quick peck on her forehead.

The attendant smiled sweetly, �I�ll be right back with that water.�

When she walked away, Mac struggled against his chest, �Harm, let go of me.�

He kept his arm in place, �Look Mac, you�re exhausted. I know you have an awful headache, because I�ve experienced more than a few concussions myself over the years. You haven�t slept a wink, since we left the hospital six hours ago, and this flight isn�t due to land for several more hours. So what say you give it a rest for a while, both literally and figurative, and use me for a pillow. I promise not to make any untoward advances on you in your semi-conscious state.�

When she considered him with bleary, unsure eyes, he gave a soft sincere smile, �Please?�

�Okay�thanks,� her response was so quiet, he almost didn�t hear.

When the flight attendant returned, they managed to get Mac comfortably settled with pillows, blankets and meds. She was asleep with little protest and Harm relaxed himself for the first time in days. He watched over her while she slumbered, adjusted her blankets, stroked her hair.

His eye caught sight of the contested note tossed away earlier in the flight. The words �I Love You� were scribbled across the card. It was the key element in his battle plan. He intended to tell her as loud and as often as possible, every hour of every day, in every way he could imagine. He would say it, write it, show it�sing it if necessary. One way or another she would eventually listen�and believe him!

*

Letting his head fall back against the wall, he scrubbed a hand across his face trying to wipe away the exhausting memories, and with them the furrows of stress now deeply embedded across his brow. They�d been back stateside less than a week, and somehow it felt more like a month. The pace since stepping off the plane had yet to slacken.

Over the ensuing few days, Mac had been briefly admitted, evaluated and released from Bethesda, and was now participating in an outpatient rehab program for her shoulder. As a requisite to her discharge, the surgeon had insisted that she identify a responsible person available to assist her with at home day-to-day care and therapy. Harm had enthusiastically volunteered for the post, over her rather loud and contentious objections. She had finally relented, when the doctor threatened to withhold discharge without full compliance to his prescribed plan.

Between debriefings, hospital visits, therapy sessions and the Navy�funny how he thought that part of his life was over, only to find himself sucked back in. Oh well, that was a thought for another day, another time. Suffice it say, Chegwidden could still surprise the hell out of him. He lifted the grocery sacks from their position on the floor, struggled with her apartment key, and prepared for the next arctic encounter. Who knew wintry blizzards came in the middle of June? And along the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard no less!

Pushing the door open, he expected to meet Harriet�s smiling face, but was instead disappointed to find Clay�s. He practically dropped his armload at the sight of the spook, only barely managing a less than graceful save. Stumbling toward the kitchen, he failed to notice the small turquoise bag that had slipped away from the rest.

�Webb, what brings you by,� he mumbled over the tops of the celery leaves protruding from one of the sacks. �And please don�t tell me you�re here to recruit me. The Admiral says that all JAG personnel are off limits to the Company from here on out.�

Clay followed him into the kitchen, �Just thought I�d stop by to say �Hi�.� When Harm shot him a dubious glare, the spy relented, �I came to check in on Mac�drop off a small bouquet of flowers.�

Harm glanced at the �small� vase containing two dozen yellow long-stemmed roses, and quirked a brow, �That�s what you call a �small� bouquet? What gives, Webb?�

�Don�t worry, Harm,� Clay pulled a chair up to the bar and watched the taller man unload the groceries. �Say, you certainly know your way around Mac�s kitchen,� the spook smiled when Harm shot him a warning glare, ��and in case you didn�t notice, the roses are yellow�the color of friendship! I got the hint loud and clear back in Paraguay, no poaching on another man�s turf. I thought I apologized sufficiently for that already.�

�First of all,� Harm tossed Clay a bottle of water, ��Mac is her own woman�she�s no man�s �turf�.� He pointed a finger at the man, �You are one damned lucky fool that she isn�t in here right now making you pay for that remark. Second of all, what makes you think I have any say over who Mac sees or��

�I�d say the little turquoise box tied up with the cute white ribbon,� Clay dangled the gift bag from his finger by the silk cording, ��in the turquoise gift bag marked Tiffany & Co. might have something to do with it.�

�Give me that, Webb,� Harm lunged for the sack, ��how in the world did you find out?�

�Well,� Clay flashed his trademark arrogant grin and held the sack just out of reach, ��I could tell you, but then I�d have to kill you. Besides, you should know by now, Rabb�I know everything!� The spook cackled with laughter, as he fled the kitchen.

�I guess I best be on my way.� Harm followed him through the living room and to the front door. �Hey, tell Mac I said goodbye, and that I hope she�s back on the mend soon.�

�Where is Mac?� Harm craned his neck, glancing around the living room.

�Uh-huh,� Clay grinned, ��headed to her bedroom last I saw. She was muttering something under her breath about needing a bath and a shampoo. I didn�t figure you would appreciate me offering to help.�

�That�s why Harriet was supposed to be here.�

�Apparently, she had to cancel.�

�Great, just great�now, she�ll be in a bad mood all night long,� Harm�s chin dropped to his chest, as he exhaled loudly. �There go all my plans.� Webb just continued to grin like an irritating fool.

�What?!� Harm groused.

Clay extended the Tiffany & Co. gift bag, �What do you care? You got the girl.�

Harm snatched up the sack; his facial expression an odd mixture of excitement, anxiety and remorse all rolled up in one. Shaking his head warily, he muttered, �I certainly hope that�s true.�

�Rabb, she was always yours�you just needed to get over your fears and take the plunge.� Clay smacked him on the chest and walked out the door. Turning back, he said more sincerely, �Don�t worry so much, Harm. Just tell her how you really feel, and make sure she actually listens�it�s not all that hard. Enjoy your spoils, man!� He clapped him hard on the upper arm.

�Don�t worry, I will!� Harm yelled after the retreating spook, closing the apartment door behind him.

Clay wandered down the hall muttering under his breath, �Yeah, rub it in, why don�t you.�

Harm crept across the apartment and tentatively knocked on her bedroom door, �Mac? Mac, are you in there?�

�Go away!�

Sighing, he leaned his forehead against the door, �Sweetheart, you can�t stay in there all night. Now, Clay just left, and I brought home the ingredients for one of your favorite meals.�

�I�m not hungry,� there was a pause, then, ��and stop calling me that!�

�I�m allowed to call you that as a term of endearment, because I love you and��

�No, you don�t!�

�Yes, I do!�

�Go away!�

�Mac, I�m not leaving. Now, Clay said that Harriet wasn�t able to come over, so that means no one helped you with your bath�that is unless, Clay helped��

�He most certainly did not!�

�Good�well, I�m glad to hear it. That means he was kind enough to save it for me,� he grinned to himself just imagining the expression on her face.

Her bedroom door swung open, �It will be a cold day in hell, before I allow you to see me in a bathtub��

�Actually,� he struck a pose against the doorframe, arms crossed on his chest, and one foot casually hooked over the other, ��if I remember correctly, I�ve already seen you in the bathtub covered in a mountain of bubbles. I�d forgotten how beautiful you were at the time, but I promise I�ll never make that mistake again.�

�Arghhh,� she grunted and turned to slam the door, ��why can�t you just leave me alone.�

He caught the edge of the door and followed her inside, �Look Mac, I have a lovely dinner planned for tonight, and I have no intention of allowing your mood to ruin it. Now, I understand that you�ve been through a lot, and I know that it�s frustrating to need help. I also know that you�re in pain and don�t particularly like to take your meds. I�m sorry that Harriet didn�t make it over this afternoon to assist you with your more intimate and personal hygiene needs, but you cannot lift your left arm above your chest�therefore I�m offering to help.�

�And how exactly do you propose to do that?�

�I don�t care,� he shrugged, ��wear a towel, a bathing suit or your birthday suit. I really don�t care.� He turned to leave the room, �I�ll go run your bath!�

When he came back five minutes later, he found her submerged in the bath and up to her neck in bubbles. He smiled at the memory-inducing image and opened his mouth, �I�d forgotten how beau��

�Don�t start,� she glared.

Chuckling, he shook his head, and set a glass of sparkling water at her side. �Thought you might enjoy that, while you�re soaking in the tub.� He picked up her shower gel and the back scrubber, �Would you like me to wash your back?�

�Harm, I can bathe myself,� she barked, then relented and looked away. Glancing back, she chewed her lip, �I�m sorry�I know you�re just trying to help. It�s just so frustrating and embarrassing.� She stared down into the mounds of bubbles then mumbled, �I don�t like to ask for help.�

He knelt down beside her, �Mac, I don�t mind�and I�m here, because I love you.�

�Don�t,� she looked away, but not before he caught the tears sparkling in her eyes.

�Mac,� he ran a finger across her glistening shoulder, up her neck and under her chin, rotating her face back to his view. �Sweetheart, why won�t you believe me?�

�Because you couldn�t say it when�before�� she shook his hand off, ��I don�t want to be just another obligation�your latest obsession or fad.�

He stared at her incensed, �You think I didn�t feel this before?�

�No,� her gaze dropped to the water, ��I think you love me like a friend, and I thank you for that.�

He stood up and paced angrily to the door, �You think I would resign my commission, throw away my career, and risk my life for just anyone?�

�Not just anyone, but for family and friends,� her voice grew softer still, ��yes.�

He threw up his hands, �You�re wrong, Mac! You�re just wrong! I�m sorry that I didn�t admit it when you first asked me. You don�t think I go back and relive that moment every minute of every hour of every day in my mind? Do you think that I don�t wonder about the �what if�s�? What if I�d only answered you honestly at that moment�maybe we wouldn�t have fought�maybe you wouldn�t have left�maybe Sadik wouldn�t have abducted you�and maybe I wouldn�t be grasping at straws right now for some way to prove to you how much I have loved you for the last several years!�

She watched him turn and stalk out of the room. She sat there in the quiet of her bathroom listening for any sounds of him. There was nothing, no noise at all, save for the popping of bubbles. Tears burned hot in her eyes, streamed in torrents down her cheeks. She glanced around the room, realizing she was stuck in the bathtub and just as she was about to give up, he reappeared. He dropped on the floor beside her, never uttered a word, only offered up his hand in support. They sat there for several minutes, hands intertwined, heart rates finally slowed, breathing as one.

With a deep reluctant sigh, he finally whispered, �Will you give me one more chance to explain?�

She nodded her head uneasily, but didn�t speak.

�When I heard that you had gone missing, I went to the Admiral and requested to go after you. He denied both my requests for TAD and emergency leave. I knew I couldn�t live with myself, if I didn�t at least try to bring you back, so I resigned my commission. As I was leaving AJ�s office, he asked me, if I was successful and brought you home, what I would be willing to risk to keep you. At that moment in his office, I told him I didn�t know�that I hadn�t thought it through.�

She started to pull her hand away, but he held firm. Her voice cracked with tears as she spoke, �I don�t see how that changes things. In fact, it just proves my point.�

�It�s true, I hadn�t thought through all the consequences of my actions at that exact moment. I tend to act first, when the people I love are threatened, and worry about the consequences later. I think you were the first person to point that out.� He squeezed her hand and smiled, �Does the statement: �You�re being ruled by your emotions, and those emotions are going to get us killed,� ring any bells?�

She hopelessly shook her head, �The prior act goes toward pattern, thus proof of evidence. You were trying to save your father then.�

The fingers of his left hand began to nervously fidget, rubbing and crinkling the paper in his hand, �Yes, but I didn�t buy my father a ring before I left for Russia.�

�What?!� Stunned, she whipped her face around toward him.

He held up the receipt in his hand, �I told AJ I hadn�t thought it through in his office, but that didn�t mean I hadn�t thought it through long and hard before I left. All I knew was that we�d already wasted too much time, and I didn�t want to risk ever losing you again, so I made a purchase before I left for Paraguay. Because I wanted this �particular item� appropriately sized and engraved, I wasn�t actually able to take it with me. In fact, due to some personalized specialty requests, it wasn�t fully completed and available for pick-up until today.�

He carefully unfolded the receipt and rotated the paper toward her, allowing only the date to come into view. �Now, just so that we�re both perfectly clear, I want you to carefully note the original date of sale of this particular item.�

She glanced at the receipt and tears flooded her eyes.

�If you will, Counselor�could you please be so kind as to read the date aloud for the court,� his voice held a note of teasing.

�Let the record show,� she giggled with giddy tearful joy, ��that the purchase was made on May 20th, of the year 2003.�

�And Counselor, was this date before or after the defendant is purported to have left the country on a recovery mission to Paraguay to rescue the love of his life?�

�Let the record show that the date in question was before this brave man traveled 5,000 miles and damn near got himself killed just to find me,� she sniffed back tears. �But I have a question of my own to ask this brave man, sir.�

�And what would that be, Counselor?� He caressed away the tears on her cheek.

�Just what might this purchase be that proves beyond a shadow of a doooubt�� her words traveled off, as she kissed the upturned palm of the hand caressing her cheek.

He held up a small turquoise box adorned with a tiny white bow, and she reflexively gasped. He released the ribbon and pulled the top aside to reveal an exquisite diamond engagement ring, as unique and eternal as their love.

�Mac,� taking the ring from the box, he placed it onto the end of her finger, ��look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me. What do you say, will you marry me?�

�Yes,� she nodded, barely able to speak. He slid the ring on her finger.

�So tell me, am I now allowed to tell you that��I love you�?�

�Yes,� she hiccupped in reply.

�And will you tell me back?� He asked a bit tentative and unsure.

�Oh yes,� she tried to slide her injured arm around his neck. �Ouch! Damn it!�

He pulled back laughing, �That�s how you tell a guy who has just proposed to you, that you love him�Jeez Mackenzie, you�re kind of a hard sell!�

That had her laughing and crying and hiccupping all at the same time. He took advantage of the situation and stood up to shed his clothes.

Her eyes grew wide, �Wha-Wha-What are you doing?�

�Well, I made you a promise about the next time I found you in a bathtub covered in bubbles,� his shirt hit the floor.

�And just�when�was this,� she hiccupped between happy tears.

�In the hospital,� he toed off his shoes and socks, ��although in the interest of honesty, you were unconscious at the time.�

Her eyebrows disappeared into her hair, �And just what�� she trailed off mid-sentence when he dropped into the tub behind her, khaki shorts and all.

�The actual specifics of that fantasy will have to wait until you�re a little more up to the challenge,� he waggled his brow, then flashed an impish grin. �Now about that shampoo,� he pulled her back against his chest and cupping his hand, drizzled water over her hair.

She leaned her head back further, closing her eyes and enjoying his ministrations. The water trailed in tiny rivulets down her tanned perfect skin. He brushed the hair away from her face, tenderly wiping the droplets from her eyes, then stopped and just stared in awe.

�Harm?� Concerned with his silence, she opened her eyes to question, but was immediately swallowed up in the bottomless blue-grey depths of his.

�My gosh,� he reverently uttered on the softest breath of air, ��you are so beautiful.�

Tears flooded her eyes. �I love you, too,� she tenderly stroked his cheek, just before his lips finally caressed hers.

~ fin ~

A/N: Additional utilized prompts

Wyly King: �You know you were lucky to get her the first time.�
Eddie Bichon: �It was a damn miracle.�
From �Something to Talk About,� submitted by Anon

Riker: �You think it's possible for two people to go back in time, undo a mistake they've made?�
Troi: �On this ship? Anything's possible...�
(You don't have to use the "ship" part if it doesn't fit into the story.)
From �Star Trek: Insurrection,� submitted by Theresa

Birdie Pruitt: You know, I always thought I was gonna be, I don't know, special. But I'm not. I'm just... I'm just an ordinary person. And that's OK. Because... you make me special. Don't you know that? Don't you know that you're everything in this world to me? And we're gonna make it through this because we are a team. ... So don't you ever think about leaving me again... because I need you. I love you.
From �Hope Floats,� submitted by lisa

Riley Poole: What do you care? You got the girl.
Abigail Chase, Ben Gates: That's true.
Riley Poole: Yeah, rub it in.
Riley Poole: Enjoy your spoils.
From �National Treasure,� submitted by Mandy

Ike Graham: [on the perfect proposal] Look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me.
From �Runaway Bride,� submitted by Dea

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