Disclaimer: The characters of JAG don't belong to me. I just borrowed them from Bellisarius Productions, Paramount and CBS for this story. No infringement intended.

Forever Not Yours

1342 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Harm was muttering silently when he stepped out of the elevator and shuffled through the doors into the bullpen. His covers was tucked under one arm, while under his other arm he was carrying a pile of folders and a shattered briefcase. His white uniform pants were covered with stains of dark brown mud, his shoes spotting the usual white color in only several small places.

He raised his hand when he passed Tiner to stop him from whatever he was about to say after he had scrutinized him from head to toe. He didn't need to hear that right now, he knew he looked messy. And all for that monster their neighbors called a dog. Sometimes he got the impression that stupid animal was trained to chase after every kind of uniform in his way.

He walked into his office and gave the door a push which came crashing into its angles, the blinds flattering. He dropped everything he was carrying under his arms onto his desk, then flopped down in his car. Searching for something to clean his shoes, he pushed open a drawer and found a box of cleenex. He pulled out about a dozen of the paper tissues and bent down to clean his shoes.

He was halfway done cleaning his left shoe when he heard the door behind opened. He already cringed. How he hated it when people didn't even bother to knock!

"Did you drop something on the floor?" Mac asked as she poked her head through the door.

Harm's head shot up, and his mood immediately lightened. A smile appeared on his face when Mac entered the office. She closed the door behind her again and leaned against it.

"So, what are you doing behind that desk?" she asked again.

Harm just gave her a look and lifted one of his legs so she could see the muddy shoes and the stained pants.

"Oh no, don't tell me he did it again."

"He did. Appeared out of nowhere and my briefcase was gone within a second. That's gonna be the third briefcase they have to pay for in only six weeks. They really have to do something about that dog. I don't understand why they let him run around the neighborhood anyway if they know he's chasing after people."

"He's still a puppy, he's just playing." Mac crossed the short distance towards the desk. "Take off your pants, Sailor."

Shocked by that remark, Harm's eyes grew wide and he gapped at her.

Mac rolled her eyes, and laughed, "C'mon, I just wanna get them cleaned for you. Besides, it's nothing I haven't seen before."

She bent foward, her hands resting on either side of the chair and leaning close to him, whispering in his ear, "I bet you would have liked it better if I had asked you to shed your boxers, too. Oh wait, no, the Commander is wearing briefs today."

"Ah, we changed from the feisty Marine into the naughty mood now," he replied, tapping the top of his desk with his fingers.

Moodswings - that was the keyword. Harm had thought he had been spared those when Mac hit the 2nd trimester of her pregnancy, but it seemed like she had deliberately pushed that back into the 3rd trimester. This morning he had seen the feisty Marine when she had left the house 30 minutes earlier and without him after a short, but heated argument about something he couldn't remember at all, and now he had to deal with the naughty Marine.

"Now what is that supposed to mean?" she asked and leaned back into an upright position, crossing her arms over her baby belly. "All I wanted to do was help you getting cleaned up," she exclaimed, her voice getting enraged, "but if you think you don't need my help..."

And there it was again, changing moods from one second to the other, and she was obviously mad as hell at him for something he couldn't put a finger on. One thing he had learned though in the last 3 weeks when her moodswings had mysteriously appeared out of nowhere: it was better to keep your mouth shut. Arguing with an angry, pregnant Marine - you wouldn't even want to start with that.

He grinned at her sheepishly, shrugged his shoulder and said nothing. He just watched after Mac as she left his office and slammed the door shut behind her. Through the open blinds, he could see her storm into her office, slamming her office door shut as well.

Harm sighed heavily. Things had finally started to calm down after his grandmother's death, and now he was arguing with Mac day in day out about some irrelevant things which seemed the most important in the world to Mac. He swore to himself, if Mac being pregnant would be like that every time, this baby would be their only one. It was tiring to argue with her, and most of all it hurt when seeing her break out in tears again over an argument which had happened quite a few times in the last weeks.

He rubbed the last few stains of mud off his shoes, then realizing that his pants where covered in mud almost an inch and a half high, he decided they needed to be cleaned too. He was due in court that very same morning, and it would be inappropriate for prosecution to show up with uniform pants completely covered in mud.

He threw the paper tissues into his wastebasket, then got up and left his office for the restrooms. Passing Mac's office, he saw that not only the door was closed, but also the blinds drawn. Not a good sign, he must have unintentionally pissed her off very bad with whatever he had said or not said, had done or not done.

He just shook his head and then left the bullpen to make his way to the restrooms to quickly get his pants cleaned.

1412 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Being due in court in 15 minutes, Harm was running late. It had taken him a lot longer to clean his pants, but after all, he had been successful, the stains were barely noticable at all. The blinds to Mac's office were still drawn when he passed it, and he heard Mac's voice emanating through the closed door, so he figured she was talking either on the phone or to a client.

If he interupted her now to apologize for his behavior, it would most likely just end in another argument because she would probably ask him if he realized what he had done wrong which he had to answer no. On the other hand, if he went straight to court, he would be doomed too as she would bring up the fact that he didn't even bother to talk to her and apologize before going to court.

Harm chose not to interupt her. That would spare him the headache of arguing with Mac until after court where he needed a clear mind. He walked over to his office, only to find the blinds drawn too. A little irritated as he had not closed them before he left his office earlier, he reached for the doorknob and pushed the door open.

"Hello, Harm," a voice greeted him when he stepped into his office, and he immediately froze in his tracks.

There in his chair sat the dragon lady! Dressed in a white Navy uniform, now the Captain's bars on her shoulders. Obviously the Navy hadn't found a way to get rid of her yet. Leisurely, she was leaning back in his chair, her hands folded in her lap.

"This is the first time I have seen you speechless, Commander," she laughed and got up from the chair.

"I am due in court in 15 minutes. Whatever you want, cut it short," he replied coldly as he gathered several folders from his desk and stuck them under his arm.

"I have business at JAG," she responded, crossing the short distance towards Harm. "I guess we will be seeing more of each other the next few weeks."

"Unless it is official, I highly doubt that."

"I can make this official if I need to. These," she pointed at her Captain's boards, "can do so many things. They could open new doors for you."

Harm just stared at her coldly. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Bud appeared in the open doorway.

"Sir, we are due in court in 10 minutes," he said, obviously irritated by his visitor and the cold atmosphere in the office.

"Lieutenant Roberts, I think you remember Commander, Captain," Harm quickly corrected himself, "Krennick."

"Nice to see you again, Ma'am," Bud uttered more out of politeness than of actual interest in meeting her again, and extended his hand in Krennick's direction. She nodded, then shook his hand.

"Sir, if you have any urgent business at the moment, I can go ahead to court and meet you there in 10."

"That won't be necessary," Harm replied quickly, wanting to get away from Krennick as fast as possible, "If you will please excuse us."

Harm turned towards the door and leaned against it, showing Krennick that he did not want her in his office if he wasn't there. Once she didn't comply to leave his office fast enough, he reached his arm out towards the bullpen, gesturing for her to leave the office immediately.

She looked at him with eyes as cold as the ice in the Antarctis as she passed him and left the office. Turning right, she passed Gunny who had quietly observed the short encounter at the doorway to Harm's office before he picked up the folder lying on the desk in front of him and approached Harm and Bud.

"The information you wanted, Sir," he uttered and handed the folder over to Harm, who took it with a nod.

"Sir, Capt. Krennick has an appointment with the Admiral, but he is just on the phone with the SecNav. I told her to wait, but surely not in your office. If I had seen her going in there without your permission, I would have removed her myself."

"It's fine, Gunny, but you better keep a very close eye on her. She is up to something, I can't just put my finger on it."

"Aye, aye, Commander. And before I forget it, the Colonel wants to see you for lunch when you get out of court around noon."

"Oh, she's not taking to me personally?" Harm cringed.

"She went down to records with Tiner just about a minute ago while you were in your office, and I guess she didn't want to disturb you, seeing you had a visitor. I told her I could do the research for her, but she insisted she wanted to do it herself. I made sure though that Tiner will carry the heavy stuff for her upstairs if she needs anything or that she will call me and I will bring it up for her."

"That is very considerate of you, Gunny, thank you."

"You're welcome, Sir. Now I do have to remind you though that you are due in court in 5 minutes. Admiral Seabring wasn't in a very good mood this morning when he came in, so you might try not to be late today. Your client alread arrived 10 minutes ago and is waiting for you in front of the court room."

"All right, Gunny. If you see the Colonel, tell her lunch at noon is fine with me. And try to keep her out of Krennick's path. An encounter with the dragon lady is the last she needs at the moment."

"Aye, Sir."

Gunny nodded at Harm and Bud before he turned on his heels and went back to his desk. Harm's glance wandered over the busy bullpen again, just to see that Capt. Krennick was now arguing with Tiner in his office, obviously not being pleased with the fact that the Admiral was making her wait so long. He shook his head slightly, then walked off and left the bullpen.

1712 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Harm was running late for his lunch date with Mac, but court hadn't been in recession until 5 minutes ago. Her office had been empty when he returned, so he figured he might find her where he usually was able to find her these days - in the kitchen.

He dropped his belongings in his office and grabbed his cover from his desk, ready to head out for lunch once he had found Mac. He rushed through the bullpen, and towards the kitchen. Upon entering, he already saw that Mac wasn't in there, but someone else who he had rather not run into that very same moment.

"Well, hello again, Harm. I was hoping I would see you again today," Krennick purred and put down the cup of coffee she was holding on the counter next to her.

Harm rolled his eyes, and turned without even responding to her. He didn't get far though, when she grabbed him by his arm and held him back.

"I heard you are prosecuting that gunnery sergeant who deserted his troops in Kuwait."

"That wouldn't be any of your business as far as I know."

"It might be," she replied, pushing Harm against the doorframe.

Even with her petite figure, she had the strength to back him against the door. Her fingers were pressing into his arm, her fingernails scratching the flesh. Instinctively, his other hand reached for her upper arm to keep her away from him.

"Yeah, I heard you like it rough, Commander," she groaned, stepping closer to him, bringing their bodys in physical contact.

"Let go off me," he uttered sternly, tightening his grip on her arm, but not being able to push her away from him completely when she hooked one of her legs around his.

"I guess you don't know that I like it rough too."

She let go of Harm's arm, and within a second, her hand had clutched the back of his neck, and she was pulling his face close to her. Harm's eyes opened wide in shock when her lips pressed against his. His hands pushed against her upper arms, put she was keeping such a strong grip on him that he wasn't very successful in pushing her away.

"Harm?" a voice suddenly called from the hallway, "Are you..."

Mac's voice trailed off and she stopped dead in her tracks. Bud, who was walking behind her, obvisouly lost in his thoughts, bumped into her, and then looked up. In the doorway to the kitchen they saw Harm, a woman in his arms, and he was kissing her!

Obviously, he had noticed them, so he kept pushing against Krennick even harder, and within a second, had freed himself from her grip. In shock, he stared at Mac, who just stood there stunned, her eyes wide in confusion. Then she shock her head, slapped him across his face, turned, and ran away.

"Mac!" Harm called after her, making an attempt to run after her, but when he felt Krennick's fingers claw into his arm once again, he whirled around, his eyes reflecting with fury when he addressed her.

"You stay away from me, you hear me? You'll be sorry for having this done," he spat at her as he reached for her hand and pulled it away from his arm.

Then he turned without paying anymore attention to Krennick, pushed past Bud who just stood there in the hallway completely confused, and hurried after Mac. He ran into the bullpen, but couldn't see her anywhere. The door to her office was open, but she wasn't inside. His eyes darted around in hopes to spot her, but he didn't.

Turning on his heels, he pushed through the glass doors, and to his right towards the ladies' room. He pondered for a moment if he should go in or not, but then thought to hell with it and pushed the door open. The room seemed to be empty at first sight.

"Mac?" he called and walked passed the first stall, bending down and looking if someone was inside.

Sniffing sounds emanated from the last stall at the end of the room.

"Mac, please," he pleaded, knowing she was in there.

"Go away, Harm," she called.

"No, please, let me explain!"

"NO!" she yelled at him, "What is there to explain? You kissed another woman!"

"No, I did not!" he started to argue, "She kissed me, that's different."

"Are you telling me I can't even trust my own eyes anymore? Harm, I saw you kissing her!"

"Mac, please, get out of the stall and let us talk about it."

The door to the stall swung open and Mac stepped out, tears trickling down her cheeks.

"They've all warned me. Don't get involved with Harmon Rabb, he will just break your heart. You'll just be another notch in his gun. Oh, they were all so right about this."

"No, Mac, please!" he pleaded, his hand reaching out towards her to keep her from walking away.

"Don't touch me! Don't you ever touch me again!" she hissed and shrugged herself out of his grip. "I am done with you, Harmon Rabb."

"Mac, I did not kiss her, she kissed me! Please! Will you just let me explain this."

Mac whirled around, fury playing in her teary eyes, "It's so typical for you men. It's always 'it's not what it looked like' and 'please, let me explain it'."

"You know I would never do anything to hurt you, Mac."

"So? Then it was just my imagination I saw you kissing another woman in the kitchen?"

"Do you honestly think I could be attracked to a woman like Krennick?" Harm let out a sarcastic chuckle, "She's been after me ever since my first day at JAG. The more I turned her down, the more she hit on me. I thought she'd be out of my life forever when she left JAG shortly before you came here. And suddenly, I found her in my office this morning! Believe me, there is no other woman for me than you, Mac. Especially not Krennick. She is disgusting. Backed me up against the wall and kissed me."

"Yeah, sure, and there was nothing you could have done to prevent this, you are just 5 inches taller than her and what, maybe 60 pounds heavier?"

"I know this sounds... heck, I think I wouldn't even believe it myself if I had seen it with my own eyes, but I did not kiss her, she kissed me, you have to believe me, please!"

"Give me one very good reason why I should believe you, Harm."

"Because I love you and I would never betray your trust and your love. Mac, please! Please trust me! I did not kiss her."

"I - I don't know what I should think, Harm. I am sorry."

With that, she turned around and left the ladies' room. Harm hurried after her, but when he saw her vanishing in her office and slamming the door shut behind her, he thought better of it and give her the time she needed.

1728 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Running his hand through his hair, Harm took a deep breath and sighed. What a mess he was in! Krennick back at JAG, and to top it off, she had kissed him and Mac had witnessed the whole thing.

His glance wandered around the bullpen, in hopes to spot anyone he could talk to, but when he only saw Gunny and Tiner, he thought better of it and went into his office. He plumped into his chair and leaned onto the desk, resting his head in his hands. Welcome to hell!

"Sir?"

His head shot up when he saw Bud standing in the doorway. It was only then when he fully realized that Mac hadn't been the only one standing in the hallway earlier and witnessing something that was never ever to happen.

"Bud, I know what you are about to say, and to my defense, it was not what you think it was."

"Sir, knowing your past with Captain Krennick I know you would never kiss her voluntarily," Bud stated and closed the door behind him after he had entered the office.

"Thank you, Bud. That makes you the only one though," Harm sighed, "This is a goddamn mess!"

"Do you want me to ask Harriet to talk to the Colonel?"

"No! I don't want this to be all over the bullpen within seconds," Harm stopped when he realized of what he had just accused Bud and Harriet of doing, "I am sorry, Bud, I am not implying that you and Harriet are..."

"It's okay, Commander. I understand. If there is anything though I can do to help you settle things with the Colonel, or if you need anyone to talk, you know where you can find me."

"Thank you, Bud. I think I have to straighten out things with Mac on my own though. Dragging others into this mess will just make it worse."

There was a knock on the door, and without even waiting for a reply, it was being pushed open slowly, and Tiner poked his head in.

"Commander, the Admiral wants to see you ASAP," he announced.

"Thank you, Tiner, I will be there shortly," Harm replied, not in the mood to face the Admiral for whatever reasons.

"Sir, I think you might want to meet with him immediately. He looked very..." Tiner shortly searched for the right word, "agitated after Captain Krennick left."

"Captain Krennick was with him?"

"Yessir. She stormed into his office 5 minutes ago though I told her the Admiral didn't want to be disturbed."

Groaning, Harm rose from his chair.

"And there I go from hell straight into the lion's den, can it get any worse?" he uttered through gritted teeth and left his office, making his way straight to the Admiral's office.

The door was open, so he stopped in the doorway and knocked at the doorframe.

"Come in and close the door behind you, Commander," the Admiral said and Harm did as he was told.

Observing the Admiral closely while walking towards his desk and taking a seat in one of the chairs, he noticed that something was terribly wrong at JAG, and whatever it was, the Admiral seemed to believe that once again Harmon Rabb JR was the culprit.

"Commander, I have a case of sexual harassment on my hand."

Harm cringed at AJ's tone, "Sir, I think Lt. Singer might be a better lawyer to handle this one."

"Oh, she sure is," AJ replied and leaned his forearms on his desk. "I don't need you as prosecution or defense in this care. You are the accussed, Commander."

"WHAT?" Harm exclaimed. "Who's accussing me of sexual harassment? Oh wait, she didn't dare!"

"If you mean Capt. Krennick, she did. I heard her version of it, now I want to hear your version, Commander."

"Admiral, you have to believe me, I never came on to the Captain sexually in any way. I don't know what she told you, but she sexually harassed me!"

"Rabb, no one is going to believe this."

"Sir, I did not sexually harass her. She sexually harassed me!"

"She told me you attacked her in the kitchen and kissed her. She even mentioned two witnesses."

"The hell I did," Harm burst out, "she pushed me against the wall and kissed me!"

"You are accusing a Captain of lying here. What else than your word do I have to back up your story, Commander? Krennick named me two witnesses, Mac being one of them."

"Sir, I can't give you anything else than my word on this. I did not sexually harass her. She kissed me without my consent. And to think that Mac had to witness all this makes it even worse!"

"Commander, you know I can't ignore this accusation. This will go to an article 32 hearing if not worse. You will need a very good attorney."

Harm nodded, solemly, "Will the Admiral assign someone to my defense?"

"I will assign Lt. Singer as prosecution, and then I will try to find a JAG lawyer for you outside of JAG HQ, Commander. Till then, by all means, straighten things out with Mac."

"Yessir. If she would just listen to me."

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"Thanks for the offer, Admiral, but I think I have to get things straight with her myself. I want her to know that I did not do what everyone is accusing me off."

"Very well then, Commander. Oh, and I also have to ask you to hand over your current court assignment to Lt. Roberts completely. You know the rules, I can only allow you to work on paper work as long as you are under investigation."

"I know, sir." Harm rose from his chair, "Would the Admiral allow me to extend my lunch break by 30 minutes to try and talk to Mac?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'll let you know as soon as I have found a lawyer for you. You are dismissed, Commander."

Harm snapped to attention, "Aye aye, sir!"

He turned on his heels and then left the office, closing the door neatly behind him.

1755 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

"Bud, have you seen Mac?" Harm asked after he'd left the Admiral's office and met the Junior Officer in the bullpen.

"Ah, yeah, I think she left," Bud replied, getting a surprised look from Harm, "At least I saw her at the elevator a minute ago, her car keys in hand. She looked a little bit, uh, enraged."

"Dammit!" Harm exclaimed, "Bud, you will have to be in court on your own this afternoon. The Admiral odered me to paper work only. I need to go find Mac in the meantime and talk to her. You think you can handle the case?"

"Of course, Sir. You don't have to worry about the case, there are more important things for you to take care of."

"Thanks, Bud."

Harm turned on his heels and ran out of the bullpen, towards the emergency stairs, pushed the door open, taking 2 steps in one as he raced down to the ground floor and scurried outside just in time to see Mac turning on the engine of her corvette as the rear lights came to life.

Rushing over to the car park, he saw her pull out of her parking space. Acting quickly, he blocked her way, placing his hands on the back of her car as if he was trying to stop the car and push it back into the lot. Brakes screeched, and the car came to a complete stop.

Mac was dumbfounded for a second, which Harm used to pull open the door to the passenger seat and hop inside.

"Get out of my car!" Mac yelled at him, slapping his hand away as he tried to reach for the car keys in the ignition.

"No!" Harm replied insistently, "Not until we have talked."

"There is nothing to talk about, now get out of here and leave me alone!"

"I won't leave you alone, Mac. I want to explain this to you."

Harm's fingers had finally gotten hold of the car keys. He tightly closed his fingers around them as he quickly pulled them out of the ignition.

"Gimme the keys," Mac demanded, extending her hand in Harm's direction.

"Not unless you agree to talk to me!"

"I said, give me the keys, Harm!"

"And I said, not unless you agree to talk to me! I won't let you leave this parking lot without you having talked to me first."

"You wanna talk? Okay, we talk," Mac fumed, "I have eyes, Harm, and I am not dumb. I saw you kissing another woman. Heaven only knows what else has been going on when I wasn't around."

"Nothing was, is and ever will be going on between Krennick and me! I already told you that, can't you just believe me?" Harm paused for a moment and took a deep breath, "Krennick is one very manipulative woman, she always has been. She accuses me of sexual harassment!"

"Suits you right."

"You can't mean that, Mac."

"Sure I do. You get what you deserve. You screw another woman behind my back, that's the result of it."

"Mac!" Harm exclaimed in shock, "You know me, please! You know I wouldn't cheat on you, neither would I sexually harass a woman. What does your heart tell you, Sarah?"

"Don't call me that!"

Mac reached for the door and pushed it open, getting out of the car. Harm looked after her before he quickly exited the car as well and followed her.

"Stop right where you are," Mac threatened him. "You come any closer to me and I will have the guard arrest you!"

Harm stopped dead in his tracks and raised his hands, "Okay, okay. Why don't you just calm down and we'll talk at home tonight."

"You come home tonight, I won't be there anymore."

"Oh no, Mac, please!"

"This conversation is over, Commander. Do I have to get the guard now so you will leave me in peace or will you leave on your own?"

Harm just nodded silently as he stepped back from the car.

"Keys please!" Mac demanded, reaching her hand out in his direction.

He hesitated for a moment before he threw the keys over to Mac. She shot him a look that could have killed before she climbed into the car again, started the engine and drove off.

Harm stood in the parking lot for a while, watching after the red corvette which sped out of the lot and onto the street, turned left and soon had vanished in the distance.

He sighed heavily before he walked back into JAG Headquarters. He pulled the door open and stepped inside without really looking where he was going and bumped into someone. When he looked up, his eyes started to glare with fury.

"How dare you!" he uttered through gritted teeth, "Is that want you want? Ruin my career and take my family away from me? Hear me, you will never have me, never ever, no matter what you do!"

"I don't know what you are talking about, Commander," Krennick hissed as she pushed past him outside of the building.

"Oh, you know exactly what I am talking about," Harm called after her, "You have done it years ago, you are doing it now. You can't have me, so you destroy me. But I tell you something, it is not going to work."

"Ha, you think?" she replied and turned to face him again, "Who do you think the jury will believe? You or me? I have two witnesses for my accusations. Oh, and as far as I remember one of them is your fiancée."

"You will not get through with this."

"We'll see, Commander. At least I could see that certainly your fiancée does believe me."

"Not for long, Krennick. She'll see that she can trust me and that you are playing foul."

"Like I said, we'll see, Commander."

"I will not bow to you, Krennick!"

"You will come crawling on your knees begging for mercy, I can assure you that. Now if you excuse me, I have an appointment at the Pentagon and I am certain that the SecNav will not be very pleased with me if I show up late."

With that, Krennick turned and pushed through the swing doors, leaving a fuming Harm behind.

2025 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Harm sat at his desk, his fingers nervously playing with the phone cord. For the last 12 minutes he had been put on hold, and the constantly repeating tune was driving him crazy. He was about to smash the receiver down when they tune suddenly stopped and the phone was answered on the other end.

"Cmdr. Turner speaking, how may I help you?" a voice said.

"Sturgis, this is Harm."

"Harm!" Cmdr. Sturgis Turner uttered pleasently surprised, "Haven't heard from you in a while. How are you?"

"Not that great, Sturgis. I have a couple of problems and I need your help."

Sturgis let out a short chuckle, "Yeah, the only time I ever hear from Harmon Rabb is when he needs me to pull his six out of the mud. So what's up? What can I do for you, buddy?"

"I desperately need a lawyer."

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah. I am being accused of sexual harassment."

"You've got to be kidding me," Sturgis laughed out loud.

"I am deadly serious," Harm replied, a little annoyed by Sturgis' reaction.

"Okay, okay. Sorry for my little outburst," he apologized, "So you need my legal expertise."

"Yes. How fast can you be in DC?"

"Harm, I have a job here to do. I am swamped with work, I can't just leave."

"I really need your help, Sturgis."

Sturgis sighed, "Don't you have any lawyer friends there at JAG?"

"I do, but you know that certainly would be a conflict of interest. Besides, two of them are witnesses for the other side."

"That definitely doesn't sound good."

"No, it doesn't. Look, Sturgis, I really want and need your help. If you have a problem getting things worked out with your CO to come and help me, I will go to Admiral Chegwidden and have him call your CO to get this going."

"If you can make this an official request from the JAG, there surely wouldn't be a problem for me to come and help you."

"There won't be a problem getting a request for your immediate help here at JAG."

"Get that official request in my CO's office by tomorrow morning and I can be there at JAG Monday morning."

"Will do. Thanks, Sturgis."

"You're welcome."

Harm hung up at the phone and leaned back in his chair. At least one thing was turning to the better now, he had Sturgis Turner as his defense. He couldn't think of anyone else he'd rather have - unless he'd be able to get Mac or Bud as his defense, but that was way out of question. For once, they were witnesses, and second, he had learned during Mac's trial that once you got too close and have crossed a certain barrier, you simply were not able to be completely objective anymore.

He quickly scribbled a note for Tiner to let the Admiral know that he should call Sturgis' CO and request his presence at JAG. He wasn't in the mood to face the Admiral in person right not, it certainly would end in another conversation about these accusations, but all he wanted at that moment was being alone and dwell in misery for a while.

Not that it would do him any good at all, he knew that, but what other options did he have? Mac wasn't willing to talk to him. And damn, he could understand her. If it had been him seeing her kiss another man and she had told him it was not what he thought it was.... that was the oldest excuse of a cheater! Heck, what else could he do to make her believe him? Wasn't his word enough? Wasn't his love for her enough? Why couldn't she trust him on his word this one time?

A knock on his door broke him out of his revery. He looked up and saw Tiner standing in the doorway, carrying a stack of folders under his arm.

"Sir, the Admiral wants you to work on these for the time being," he said as he dropped the files on the desk in front of Harm.

"Thanks, Tiner."

"And the Admiral wants to see you in his office ASAP as well."

"Do I have to be worried about going in there now?" Harm groaned and got up from his chair. So much for dwelling in misery and not facing the Admiral.

"He doesn't look enraged anymore if that is what you mean, Sir." Tiner pondered for a moment, before he added, "Sir, may I speak freely for a second?"

"Go ahead, Tiner."

"I just wanted to warn you off Lt. Singer. After the Admiral assigned her to your case to investigate, she seems to be on some kind of a power trip. I heard her speak to Lt. Shepard earlier, she wants to take you down on this one, no matter what it will take."

"Well, I expected nothing else from her."

Tiner nodded silenty, then turned and left the office, Harm following him to the Admiral's office where he was already expected.

"Please close the door behind you, Commander," the Admiral said without even looking up from the paper work he was reading in.

Harm closed the door behind him, then walked over to the desk and stood at attention. The Admiral finally looked up. He took off his glasses and then got up from his chair.

"Commander, I have thought about these accusations brought up against you. As your CO, I could handle them with an Admiral's Mast."

"I am very well aware of that, Sir," Harm replied, staring off at the distance since the Admiral had not yet told him to stand at ease.

"Do you want this to be handled by an Admiral's Mast?"

"Permission to speak freely, Sir?"

"Go ahead, and at ease, Commander."

Harm stood at ease, and turned to face the Admiral, "I have thought about asking you to handle this with an Admiral's Mast. I have doubt though that Captain Krennick will accept your decision no matter what you decide to do with me. I do not want there to be any chances that she will accuse you of prejudgement."

"Very well, Commander, I respect your wishes."

"I have another favor to ask. About my defense counsel," Harm asked, and waited for a moment to see the Admiral's reaction before he went on, "I have called an old friend from the Academy. He is currently stationed in Florida. I trust him as my defense counsel, Sir. He would need an official request for his presence at JAG though."

The Admiral sighed, "All right, Commander. Leave his number with Tiner and I will see what I can do about it."

"Thank you, Sir. I really do appreciate this."

"Now I think you should get back to work, Commander. I believe my Yeoman dropped off a caseload of folders on your desk."

"Yes, he did, Sir, and I will get right to them."

"You are dismissed."

"Aye, aye, Sir."

Harm snapped to attention before he turned on his heels and left the office. Outside, he let out the breath he was holding. When he walked into the bullpen, he found Bud waiting for him.

"Sir, do you have a minute for me?" he asked and walked by Harm's side back to his office.

"What is it, Bud?"

"Harriet called me 5 minutes ago. She wants you to drop by at our place after work."

"Ah, that's really a bad timing," Harm replied and entered his office, Bud still in tow, "I need to fix things Mac tonight."

"Yeah, that's exactly why Harriet wants you to stop by after work," Bud retored and stopped in front of Harm's desk, "She's at our house."

"Mac?" Harm uttered surprised.

Bud nodded, "Harriet said she's apparently in some state of shock or something. Mac wouldn't even talk to her, she'd just sit there and cry."

"Thanks for telling me, Bud. I just hope I can get this worked out somehow."

"You will. It may take a little time, but I am sure you will."

With that, Bud turned and left the office.

2255 ZULU
Thursday, May 23rd
Roberts Residence
Rosslyn, VA

"Thanks for coming over," Harriet said as she greeted Harm at the front door.

"How long has she been here?" Harm asked upon stepping into the house and taking his cover from his head.

"She appeared around 2 this afternoon carrying an overnight bag and asking if she could have the guestroom for a couple of days. When I asked her why she needed to stay with us, she broke out in tears. What happened between you two?"

Harriet lead Harm into the living room where they both sat down on the sofa.

"She didn't tell you?"

"No, she didn't. I called Bud and he said he would send you over. Will you tell me what happened between you two? I have never seen Mac this upset about anything!"

Harm sighed, "Harriet, you know I would never cheat on Mac."

"Of course not."

"She believes I did."

Harriet took a deep breath before she said, "Well, if she believes in that, you probably must have given her a reason to believe so."

"It's all so damn complicated," Harm took a deep breath before he continued, "A couple years ago, I had a some problems with a senior officer at JAG. That all happened before Bud, you or even Mac came to JAG. She was Cmdr. Krennick, working under the Admiral's command like I did. Apparently, she had taken a special interest in me. It happened several times that she came on to me. She was persistent and obsessive. When she was transfered to Europe, I thought it had all stopped. Guess I was wrong. She appeared at JAG this morning, continuing just where she had stopped all those years ago. She tried to come on to me again, I tried to resist, but she backed me against the kitchen wall and kissed me."

"And Mac saw that."

Harm just silently nodded.

"Have you tried talking to her about it?"

"I tried twice, but she wouldn't listen to me. She left HQ without even giving me a chance. She was so enraged."

"Okay, you two have to talk about this."

Harriet got up and walked towards the door.

"She won't listen to me, Harriet. She's fixed on this idea that I cheated on her."

"Just let me handle this, okay?"

Harriet vanished upstairs. Harm waited for several minutes, then he got up and started to pace the floor, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. He had to get things straightened out with Mac, he just had to.

After 10 minutes, and a lot of convincing, Harriet finally succeeded in getting Mac downstairs to the living room so they both could talk.

"Here are the ground rules," Harriet announced, while Mac stopped in the doorway and Harm stood in the opposite corner of the room, "Rule number 1, no yelling and swearing, there are kids in the house. Number 2, you let the other talk without interrupting them. Number 3, you won't leave this room until you have straightened things out between the two of you. Who wants to go first?"

They both shrugged their shoulders.

"All right, then I will choose," Harriet turned towards Harm,"Tell her your story and you," she pointed at Mac, "listen."

"Mac, I am sorry for what happened earlier. Yes, you saw another woman kiss me in the kitchen, but I want you to believe me that I didn't want this and that I didn't kiss her back. I was looking for you and ran into Krennick. She came on to me like she had done so many times before. Remember I told you about that a couple years ago? Don't ask me how it happened - I don't know it myself - but suddenly she was backing me up against the wall, talking dirty to me and when she heard you calling for me, she kissed me."

"And why exactly would she do that, Harm?"

"She always wanted me, but I never wanted her. Heaven knows what is going on in that woman's mind, I have no idea. I thought I had finally gotten rid of her and her constant getting on to me when she was transfered to Europe. I told her that I had no interest in her like I had told her so many times before. I don't know what brought on that physical attack now, maybe because she figured she needed more than words to convince me now that I am in a relationship. I figure, she wanted to get between us. And she'll succeed if you draw away from me now. I don't want to let her win, Mac."

Still leaning against the doorframe, Mac remained silent. The expression on her face had soften, fury had turned into anger.

"She really accuses you of sexual harassment?"

Harm nodded, "Yes, she does. She must have gone to the Admiral straight from the kitchen."

Mac took a deep breath before she stepped into the room and stopped next to Harriet.

"It hurt what I saw, Harm. I tdeeply hurt."

"I know."

"What did the Admiral say about her accusation?"

"He had no other choice than pulling me off any cases I am currently working on and ordered me to paper work while he is conducting an investigation."

"He would have never done that on Krennick's word alone," Mac uttered irritated.

Harm shook his head, "Krennick told him she had two witnesses to back up her story - Bud and you."

"Oh, now I get this! If this is going to court, you need someone on your side..."

Harriet butt in before Harm could say anything, "I doubt that is what Harm had in mind."

"I can speak for myself, thank you, Harriet," Harm made two steps towards Mac, "Mac, this is not about a sexual harassment charge or a possible court martial, this is about you and me. I don't care if you speak for me or against me in court as long as you say the truth about what you saw. I don't want you to lie for me if you're implying that. All I want is to straighten things between us, even if my career goes to hell. I have no other proof than telling you that Krennick kissed me and that I did not kiss her back. In your heart you know that you can believe me."

"At the moment I really don't know what to believe, Harm. My mind tells me one thing after seeing you in the kitchen with another woman, but yes, my heart tells me differently. I can't listen to one though and scrap the other. If I listen to my heart, some doubt will always be in my mind."

"I know you can't just turn off your mind and listen to your heart, that part has never worked for either of us," Harm let out a short chuckle.

He walked closer to Mac, stopping about a feet away from her.

"I want you to come home, Mac. I love you, and I need you with me."

"I need some time and space to breath, Harm. Come to grips with all this. I need to deal with this my way, I hope you can understand that."

"Of course I do."

"Thank you."

Mac stepped forward and took Harm's hand in hers, gently squeezing it before she let go off it again, turned and left the living room.

0045 ZULU
Saturday, May 25th
Rabb Residence
Reston, VA

Friday had been hell. Paperwork was driving Harm nuts, and though he had let Lt. Singer know he would not talk to her without his lawyer being present, she was pestering him about an interview. He had also seen Krennick show up at JAG, and later had learned from Tiner that she had had a meeting with Singer, giving her an explicit statement of what she was accussing him of.

Then he learned from Bud that Mac had called the Admiral that morning to ask for a day of emergency leave which the Admiral had granted her. She was still with Harriet and the kids, and he had decided to give her the time she needed to clear her mind.

He had also heard from Bud that Lt. Singer had scheduled witness interviews with both Mac and him first thing Monday morning since Mac wasn't in the office to do it Friday.

The only bright thing that had happened that day had been a phone call from Sturgis - that he would arrive in DC Sunday afternoon. Harm had told him he'd pick him up so they could go through his case before he'd be led into the lion's den Monday morning to meet Lt. Singer.

Saturday had started where Friday had left off. First call to the Roberts' residence to talk to Mac, he got the machine. Second call, AJ picked up, telling him his father was busy putting the groceries into the fridge before the boy hung up. Third call he got hold of Bud who told him that Mac and Harriet were still out. Fourth call Harriet answered the phone, telling him that it was no good idea to talk to Mac at the moment but that she will pass on that he had called. And all that happened well before 11am.

By 3pm he was home from a 5 mile run, 30 minutes later he was showered and completely refreshed. Rememberring that there wasn't much left in the fridge, he decided it was time for some grocery shopping. By 6:30pm he was back, having picked up some Chinese food for dinner as well.

The boxes of Chinese food now were sitting half empty on the table in the living room.

Harm sat stretched back on the sofa, his feet propped up on the small coffee table. The TV was turned off, there was nothing watchable on that moment anyway.

He sighed before he rose from the sofa and picked up his guitar which had been stored in its case in the back of the living room. It had been ages since he had played on it. Guitar in his hands, he returned to the sofa and sat down. Maybe playing a little would help him lighten his mood.

He adjusted the strings, tuning the guitar before he started to play.

When you gonna come back home
When you gonna see it’s been too long
When you gonna come back home to me

Standin’ at the door and I turn the key
I’m holding my breath half expecting to see
you lyin’ on the bed, smilin’ up at me
I’m goin’ crazy ‘cause I just don’t know
Which way your heart’s gonna go
I only pray it leads you back to me
Darlin’ let your heart
Lead you back to me

He looked up from his guitar when he heard a noise coming from the hallway only to see Mac standing in the doorway, her overnight bag in her hand.

"Haven't heard you play in a while," she simply said and dropped the bag on the ground.

"I just felt like it," he replied and placed the guitar next to him in the couch.

"Little AJ is having some friends over for a sleep-over. The house is packed, so I thought the last they'd need was me being there. I hope it's okay I came back. If not, I can find a place elsewhere."

"Mac, don't say that," Harm interupted her before she could say anything else, "This is your home, too."

"I..." Mac paused a moment before she went on, "I just didn't know if you wanted me back, I said some terrible things..."

"Shhh," Harm raised his hand to silence her and got up. "I know you were hurt."

"Yes, I was. And I still am. But I had a lot of time to think, and I don't know why I forgot about this, but Krennick, that name sounded familiar and then I remembered why when Bud made some comment about the Seahawk. And somehow, I also have this strange feeling that I really do mean something to you."

"You do, Mac. More than anything in this world."

"I can't really trust you again right away, Harm, I hope you can understand that, but you do mean a lot to me as well, and I want to help you through this - if you will let me."

Harm didn't know how to reply to this. He just nodded silently and slowly crossed the distance between Mac and him. He stopped about a feet away from her.

"I never meant to hurt you in any way, Mac," he said with a low voice and hesitatingly reached out a hand towards her face to brush a strand of her hair out of her face.

"I know," she replied and took his hand into hers, "I hope you can forgive me for reacting the way I did."

"There is nothing I have to forgive you, Mac. If there is anyone who has to apologize, it is me. This is all my fault. I could have done something about Krennick. I should have never let her go that far. There must have been something I could have done to prevent what she did."

"Maybe there was something you could have done, maybe there wasn't. We will never know that. It happened, and we can't change it."

"No, we can't. I just wish I could turn back time and make this all undone. See what happened to us."

Mac let out a short sigh, "Whatever happened between us was because of emotions flying high. I am back here with you now, Harm. And I will stay."

"You don't know how glad I am you came to me. It was driving me nuts thinking that I might have lost you and the baby over this."

"I can't tell you that you will never lose me, that would be a lie. I just can tell you that you will not lose me because of this."

Mac felt a kick in her lower abdomen and looked down at her baby belly and placed Harm's hand she was still holding in hers on top of it.

"He doesn't want to lose his daddy either. Not over this."

Her gaze fixed with Harm when she said this.

"Do you care to tell me what happened between you and Krennick all those years ago?" Mac asked after a while of silence between them. "You never really told me the whole story, I just heard bits and pieces from you."

"Do you really want to know?"

"I want to understand, Harm."

Harm quickly turned to the coffee table on which the still half full boxes of Chinese food were sitting. Then he turned back to Mac.

"I have some Chinese food left. Are you hungry?"

Mac smiled lightly, "Junior and I are starving."

Harm chuckled about the answer he had already expected when making the offer. Mac was always hungry. He picked up the boxes of food from the table.

"Let me heat it up for you and then I'll tell you everything about Krennick," he paused shortly before he added, "It's going to be a long talk."

1048 ZULU
Sunday, May 26th
Reagan National Airport
Washington, DC

Harm was running late to pick up Sturgis from the airport. He had been caught behind a traffic accident and rushed into the Airport terminal just in time to see Sturgis emerge from the baggage claim.

"Sturgis!" he called out, waving his hand in the air to get his attention.

Sturgis saw him and waved his hand back before making his way through the crowd of people and meeting with Harm.

"Sorry I am running late."

"I am a little disappointed, I was waiting for a driver holding a sign with my name on and with a large black limousine outside," Sturgis smirked.

"All I can offer you is a silver SUV."

"I guess that will work, too."

They went outside the terminal where Harm had parked the car in the short term parking area right off the street.

"What happened to that nice Corvette you had last time I was here?" Sturgis asked as they packed his suitcase in the back of the SUV.

"Got stolen some time ago."

"Sorry to hear that."

They both got into the car, and Harm started the engine.

"Do you want me to take you to the hotel?" he asked after he had pulled out of the parking space.

"Let's go over the case first. How about your place and some nice dinner, I am starving." Sturgis replied shortly.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked when Harm made a turn towards the Virginia borderline, "This is not the way into the city as far as I remember."

"To my place. Like you suggested."

"Didn't you live right smack in the middle of the city as far as I remember?"

"You're asking too many question, Sturgis," Harm chuckled lightly, "Save that for later when we go over the case."

"All right, all right. It would be nice to know where we are going though."

"Like I told you, to my place. I live in Virginia now."

They remained silent until they pulled into the driveway of the Rabb residence some time later. Sturgis whistled softly when he studied the house closely.

"Big house, big front yard, white picket fence... this is so unlike you, Harm."

"Everyone settles down sooner or later."

"Not the Harmon Rabb I knew."

Harm smiled, "C'mon, let's get inside."

He let Sturgis inside and showed him to the living room where they sat down on the sofa. Sturgis looked around curiously, taking in each and every detail in the living room. Pictures stood on the mantlepiece over the fireplace. On some pictures he recognized Harm's mother, on others his father and on still other pictures he saw his grandmother. But on most pictures he recognized a woman he had known a long time ago, a woman he knew had found a terrible death several years ago already. The pictures looked recent to him though.

Harm noticed that he was starring at something, so he turned into the direction he was looking at. He smiled when he saw that his friend was staring at the pictures of Mac and him.

Sturgis had a look of disbelief on his face when he turned to look at Harm.

"She's dead... how?" he stammered.

"I know she looks like her but it's not her. It's not Diane."

"She looks exactly like her."

"Yes, I know she does. She's my partner," Harm replied.

"Sarah Mackenzie? This is the Marine Colonel?"

"Yes, this is the Marine Colonel," Mac piped in as she stepped into the living room.

Sturgis' head shot in her direction, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Sturgis, this is Mac. Mac, this is Sturgis," Harm quickly introduced the two.

"Nice to meet you, Sturgis," Mac uttered before she turned to Harm, "I heard you come in. I was just about to make dinner for me as I didn't expect you to come back this early. I'll go and get all of us something for dinner then. What do you guys want?"

"Whatever you got is fine with me," Sturgis replied.

"Ah, you don't wanna see the fridge, Harm did the shopping," Mac smirked, "I'll stop by the Mexican place and pick us up something, I am craving the hot stuff. Is that okay with you, Sturgis?"

"Yeah, absolutely fine with me."

"For me the semi-hot stuff, please."

"Alright. Be back soon."

With that, Mac turned and left the house.

Sturgis turned back to look at Harm, a look of disbelief on his face.

"What?" Harm asked, shrugging his shoulders.

"Her," Sturgis replied, nodding his head in direction of the door.

"Mac?"

"Yes, Mac. What's going on between her and you?"

Harm chuckled, "Sturgis, don't tell me you really have to ask."

"She's your partner, Harm! And she looks like Diane!"

"She may look like Diane, but she is nothing like her, you can trust me on that. I fell in love with Mac, not with Diane."

"And a baby on the way.... where the hell is that Harmon Rabb I knew a long time ago?"

"I think that part of Harmon Rabb you knew got lost somewhere when I met Mac. Here is the new Harmon Rabb now, and I also hope the better."

Sturgis let out a short laugh, "I have to see about the new Harmon Rabb first before I can say if he's the better one or not."

He winked at Harm before he reached for his briefcase which he had put down on the ground next to him.

"I read in the stuff you faxed me that she is key witness for prosecution. How did she take what she saw?" he asked and placed a folder on the coffee table in front of you.

"Like the feisty Marine she is. Stormed out of HQ and moved out of here. She came back yesterday, and I am now sleeping in the guestroom."

"The question is, what do we have to expect from her in court. Does she believe you?"

"We had a very long talk last night. I can't say she's trusting me 100%, but she's on my side. She wants to help me."

"That's good to know. Then let's start with you now. I want to hear everything that is not in these papers. And when I say everything, then I mean everything."

"Then we're going to have a very long talk."

1835 ZULU
Monday, May 27th
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

The interview with Lt. Singer was done in 10 minutes, since all her questions were answered by Sturgis with a "my client refuses to answer this question". Still, Harm was in a very bad mood, so he decided to do some research in the basement for some of his unimportant work. He was alone there and didn't have to worry about anyone asking him about how he was doing.

In the meantime, Sturgis had had a nice talk with Bud, and had made several calls. He was expecting a visitor from Annapolis. He was supposed to meet this witness for defense around 130 so he decided to get a quick lunch before that.

When Harm returned from lunch it was shortly after 130 and the bullpen was practically empty since everyone was out for lunch. He went into Mac's office to grab a folder from her desk. He opened it and started to sort through the papers while walking back to his office when he suddenly bumped into someone. He looked up from the folder.

"Meg!" he exclaimed surprised, "What are you doing here?"

"I got a call from a Cmdr. Turner, saying you needed my help," Meg replied, shifting the sleeping toddler she was carrying on her other arm.

Harm stared at her with surprise, then quickly showed her to his office.

"Thanks," Meg breathed after they'd sat down, "She always falls asleep riding in the car, but she's getting a little bit too heavy for me."

"What's her name?" Harm asked.

"Cat. She'll be 3 in two weeks. She's growing up so fast."

Harm just smiled. Meg Austion a mother, that was something he had never expected. Well, when he was partnered with Meg, he also couldn't see him being a father one day.

"So Sturgis called you?"

"Yeah, he called this morning saying you are being court martialed and need my help. He didn't tell me what this was all about though. Will you tell me what happened?"

"Guess who's back," Harm chuckled with sarcasm, "Krennick, being her old self. Just this time, she went one step too far. She didn't stop with just making googoo eyes at me."

"What did she do?"

"She's accusing me of sexual harassment."

Meg burst out in laughter, "She's charging you with sexual harassment? I am wondering why you never charged her with that. Seriously, Harm, this is a very bad joke."

"I wish it was."

Harm looked up when he saw Sturgis walking towards his office. He got up and met with him outside, carefully closing the door behind him so Meg wouldn't hear what they were saying.

"Sturgis, you could have told me you called Meg Austin."

"I left you a note on your desk as I couldn't find you when I left for lunch."

"Why did you call Meg Austin?" Harm hissed, getting a bit frustrated with Sturgis.

"She was your partner when you had your first encounters with Krennick. I need to know if she can be of any help to your case, and from what I have heard from her on the phone so far, she definitely will be. Since she's living in Annapolis now, I asked her if she could meet me here so we can talk in person rather than over the phone. Is that enough for you?"

"Yes, it is, thank you."

"Okay, then let's go and talk to your old partner."

They both went back into Harm's office. Sturgis sat down in Harm's chair behind the desk while Harm took the chair next to Meg. He was closely following the questions Sturgis had for Meg and the answers she gave him when he noticed that Meg's daughter had woken up and was looking at him.

When the little girl realized that he was looking at her, she burried her face in Meg's shoulder. After a couple of seconds, she looked up again and smiled at him, then shortly after burried her face again in her mother's shoulder.

"Hey Cat, are you playing hide and seek with Harm?" Meg cooed at her daughter and turned her around in her lap so she was facing Sturgis on the opposite side of the desk.

"Hi mister Navy!" she cheered joyfully and placed her hands on the desk, ready to climb upon it.

"No, no, no, you better stay off the desk," Meg chuckled and lifted her up, then stood her on the ground.

"Mister Navy!" Cat exclaimed again and ran over to Harm's chair, patting her tiny hands on his thighs.

Harm smiled at her and picked her up, placing her on his lap, the little girl facing him.

"Oooooooooh, wings!"

Tiny chubby fingers reached for the gold wings attached to Harm's uniform, gently tracing the outline.

"How about I take you some place where you can play and your mommy can talk to the other Mister Navy over there?" Harm cooed at the girl in his arms.

Cat didn't reply, she didn't even take notice of what he had said. He was too absord in playing with the shiny golden wings.

"Meg?" Harm asked, turning his head to his side to face his former partner.

Meg nodded silently at him with a smile on her face. Harm returned the smile, then got up from the chair with the girl in his arms. Suddenly, Cat became aware that she was being taken somewhere away from her mother. She looked up at Harm big eyed, then turned towards her mother.

"It's fine, honey, go with Harm," Meg appeased her daughter who just turned her head back to Harm and continued to stare at him wide-eyed.

He went outside into the bullpen, in hopes to find Harriet so she could take care of Cat as long as the interview was taking, but he couldn't find her. She was probably still out for lunch. Not knowing where he should take the girl, he turned for Mac's office.

He closed the door behind her and sat the girl down on the ground. She looked around, a bit unsure about her new surroundings. Then she looked up at Harm, crooking her head to her side as if asking him what she was doing in this office.

"Let's see, there have to be some crayons here so you can color, is that okay?"

Cat didn't say anything, she just crooked her head to her other side, scrutinizing Harm from head to toe and showing no interest in coloring. So Harm discarded the idea. But what to do with her? The computer! He knew Mac had a children program on it she used to play with AJ and Christina when they were in the office and she had some time to spare.

"I think I might have something you like, Cat."

He picked the girl up once again and sat down in Mac's chair, placing the girl in his lap. Then he turned towards the computer and opened the game, which fascinated the girl right away.

1917 ZULU
Monday, May 27th
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

When Mac returned from her lunch break together with Harriet, she found the door to her office closed and the blinds drawn. She knew she had left it open when she went out for lunch, so she wondered who had closed the door and drawn the blinds. Carefully, she opened the door and found Harm sitting in her chair, a little girl unknown to her in his lap.

They were both so engrossed in their game on the computer that they hadn't realized her yet, so she approached the desk and bent over, trying to see what they were doing on the computer. It was then when Harm and Cat realized her.

"Are you two having fun here?" she asked, smiling down at the girl in Harm's lap who looked up at her wide-eyed, "Care to introduce me?"

"Sure," Harm replied, then turned to Cat, "Can you tell Mac your name, honey?"

"Cat," the girl murmured before she shyly burried her face in Harm's chest.

"I see you have a new friend there. Who is she?"

Harm got up from the chair and sat Cat down in it. She immediately moved to her knees and pushed the button on the keyboard like Harm had done before to continue the game.

"Kitty!" she exclaimed joyfully and pushed the button again.

Seeing that she was engrosed in the computer game, Harm gestured for Mac to step outside the office so they could talk.

"I am watching her for her mother. She's with Sturgis at the moment. They are talking about my case."

"Still, you haven't told me who her mother is."

"My former partner, Meg Austin."

Mac just gaped at him when suddenly Cat appeared next to the them, tugging at Harm's leg.

"Needa go potty please," she begged, trembling impatiently.

Harm cringed at this request. How could he take a girl he barely knew to the restrooms? Not that he had done that with Christina numerous times before, but she was his goddaughter and this girl was basically a stranger to him. He looked up at Mac, shrugging his shoulders and silently begging her to take the girl off his hands for this task.

"How about I take you?" Mac offered and extended her hand in Cat's direction, but the girl didn't take it. She just silently stared at her.

Mac bent down and snickered to her, "This big sailor here wouldn't be very comfortable taking you to the girl's room."

Then she whispered something to the girl who immediately began to giggle and then took Mac's hand.

"What did you tell her?" Harm asked, having only understood the first part but not the rest.

"Trust me, you don't wanna know," Mac chuckled and turned around, walking away from Harm with the little girl firmly attached to her hand.

"Bye Mister Navy!" Cat called and waved her hand in his direction before they vanished around the corner.

Harm waved back at her, then went back to his office just to see that Sturgis and Meg were finished with the interview.

"Where is Cat?" Meg asked when she saw Harm had returne without her daughter.

"She needed to go to the bathroom. Mac took her," he replied as he held open the door for Meg to step outside into the bullpen.

"Your partner," Meg said more to herself than to Harm and Sturgis, "I read a lot about you two in the Navy Times."

"Don't believe everything that is printed there. We are not as bad as they make us look like."

"I know you, Harm," was Meg's response, a big smile plastered on her face.

"Mooooommmeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" a little voice suddenly called, and two tiny feet tapped on the floor, running through the bullpen as fast as her little feet were carrying her.

Meg held her arms open for her daughter and scooped her up, hugging her close to her chest.

"Did Harm take good care of you?"

"He didn't wanna take me go potty," the girl replied, nodding her head enthusiastically to emphasize what she had just said, "Marine Lady took me," she added and pointed at Mac who joined them a moment later.

"If you would excuse me now, I have something important to take of," Sturgis excused himself when he saw Lt. Singer entering the bullpen through the double doors, leaving Harm, Mac and Meg behind.

"I have to get back to work now, too. It was nice to meet you," Mac hastily uttered before she left for her office as well.

When they were alone, Meg turned to Harm, "So this is your new partner."

"Not exactly my new partner, we've been partnered for almost 7 years."

"I saw the pictures of you two in your office. I guess it right she is more than just your partner?"

Harm nodded silently.

"Congratulations on the baby then."

"Thank you," Harm practically beamed, "What about you? Are you still in the Navy?"

"That's a long story, but no, I am not in the Navy anymore. My ex-husband wasn't very pleased with me constantly being on assignement anywhere but home. He was not military, I guess he couldn't understand."

Harm raised his eyebrows when he heard the word ex-husband, "You are divorced? I am sorry to hear that."

"It was the best for Cat and me. How do they call it? Irreconcilable differences. We are still good friends though, and he adores his daughter."

"What do you do now that you are not in the Navy anymore?"

"I have a clerical job at the Academy part-time. It isn't paid well, but it is enough for Cat and me to have a good life," Meg shifted Cat on her arm, "We have to get back to Annapolis now. I'll be in contact with Sturgis about your trial. I'll be there to speak for you."

"Thank you. I think I will need all the help I can get. We'll keep in touch this time."

"Of course we will."

They had said that the last time as well when they were broken up as partners and Meg was send to Japan. Reality looked like after 2 emails, they had lost contact. And most probably, this time it wouldn't be any different after the trial was over.

Harm gently ruffled Cat's hair before he said his goodbyes to Meg, and his former partner and her daughter left JAG HQ.

1315 ZULU
Thursday, May 30th
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

It was the day of truth. Upon request of the SecNAV and pressure from the media who had somehow learned about this case of sexual harassment, an article 32 hearing had been set as fast as possible to avoid any further delay in processing this case.

Sturgis had done good work. Though telling what they saw, Mac and Bud would speak in favor for Harm, however prosecution would probably question their liability due to Bud's close friendship with Harm and Mac being involved with him.

Other witnesses for defense were - besides Harm's old partner Meg - a Commander from Krennick's former assignment in Japan whom she obviously had stalked the same way she had stalked Harm all those years back when she had been at JAG. However, she had never crossed the line with him like she had with Harm not long ago, but the stalking pattern was almost the same.

These witnesses had to be enough for the article 32 hearing. Though Sturgis had found a lot more people he could have called to the stand to disgrace Krennick, he had a good feeling that the witnesses he had put on the witness list where enough for the hearing.

Lt. Singer on the other hand had added no other witnesses to the list than Mac, Bud and Krennick herself. Apparently she either hadn't found anyone to speak in favor for Krennick or she was convinced that she had a strong case on her hand. Most probably she would be going for the femal factor in the accusation, that it was always the weaker sex being abused and harassed. Sturgis was best prepared for that.

Harriet had put her free time into this case preparation as well. She had done research in statistics that there indeed were a lot of men sexually harassed by women but that most of them did not make such incidents public as it would show them to be weak.

Appointed as their judge was Captain Seabring. Harm wasn't sure if that was good or bad. He just knew he had had his encounters with Krennick as well so maybe it was a good choice. But then on the other hand, Seabring was very hard to read and his findings could surprise both defense and prosecution. If Harm had to name one person he surely would never play poker with, it would be Seabring.

They were sitting behind their tables now, Sturgis next to Harm on the side of defense, Lt. Singer on the side of prosecution with Lt. Shepard by her side. Visitors were not allowed inside as the media had shown a great interest in this case and they surely wanted to keep them outside. Only Admiral Chegwidden sat alone in the very last row on the left, impatiently waiting for the hearing to start like everyone else in the room.

Opening comments were heard, and 20 minutes later prosecution called their first witness to the stand, Captain Krennick. Lt. Singer questioned her only about the incident in the kitchen the week before. Her line of questioning and Krennick's answers showed Harm in a very bad light.

Harm just shock his head about what Krennick had to say, her having twisted the truth in a way to her advantage. An occasional lie added here and there, and Harm looked liked he was the worst stalker and most probably also rapist out there who had to be locked up right away. Krennick's last statement that he was in desperate need of psychological help almost pushed Harm over the edge.

Sturgis held him back when he felt that he was about to jump up to object. He turned to his friend and just shocked his head no. Harm glared at him, but then backed down and leaned back in the chair. Then it was Sturgis' turn to question Krennick. He rose from his chair, a quick glance at his notes before he approached the stand.

"Captain, do you remember an incident in the Commander's appartment in March 1996?"

Lt. Singer immeditiately rose from her chair, "Objection your honor, relevance."

"Your honor," Sturgis started as he approached the bench, "this question is in direct connection to the incident of sexual harassement the Captain is accusing the Commander of. We want to show the court that the Commander is not the perpetrator but the victim in this accusation."

"Overruled," Captain Seabring ordered, "Make it short, Commander."

Once again, Sturgis turned towards Allison Krennick.

"Captain, would you please answer the question?"

"March 1996 was a long time ago. I don't remember," Krennick replied shortly.

"Isn't it that you came to the Commander's place early in the morning to warn him off your new CO, Admiral Chegwidden?" Sturgis questioned and started to pace the floor in front of the stand and the bench.

"Yes, I remember doing that."

"Did you also warn him off someone else?"

Krennick nodded, "I also warned him off the Admiral's legal aid."

"Who was his legal aid at that time?"

"That was me, Commander."

"So you were the Admiral's aid at that time. Why did you warn the Commander off you? Wasn't it that you felt he was posing a threat to you here at JAG? That he was the hotshot who would soon be in the Admiral's favor instead of you?"

"Yes, I guess I felt that he was a threat to me back then."

"Would you please tell us what the Commander," Sturgis pointed at Harm with the pen he was holding in his hand, "answered you to this?"

"Like I said, it was a long time ago, I don't clearly remember."

"Would you please try to remember, Captain."

"I think he said that he wasn't that good to be a threat to me."

"You think?" Sturgis inquired, shooting out his questions like bullets from a machine gun.

"Yes, I think," Krennick hissed, "I don't remember every bit of our conversation anymore."

"Then you most probably also don't remember what you told him then."

"No, Commander. I don't remember."

"Isn't it that you told the Commander that he was good and that that was the reason why you wanted to sleep with him?"

"Objection, your honor!" Lt. Singer exclaimed when she saw the horror cross Krennick's face and sprung from her chair, "Prosecution is badgering the witness."

"I withdraw the question," Sturgis said before Judge Seabring interfere, "No further questions your honor."

1355 ZULU
Thursday, May 30th
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

"Prosecution calls Lt. Col. Sarah Mackenzie to the stand," Lt. Singer uttered,standing straight behind her table.

A minute later, Mac was at the stand and sworn in.

"Colonel, would you please tell us your relationship to the Commander?" Lt. Singe started her line of questioning.

At first, Mac was a bit startled by that question, but then she answered," Commander Rabb is my partner at JAG."

"And your relationship outside JAG?"

Sturgis energetically rose from his chair, "Objection, your honor. Relevance."

"Your honor, it is of revelance whether the witness is biased or not. A personal relationship with the Commander would certainly declare her biased."

"Overruled," Judge Seabring ordered and turned towards Mac, "Colonel, would you please answer the question?"

"We're living together," Mac replied shortly, looking over to Harm who nodded at her with a weak smile on his face to reassure her that it was okay to say whatever she needed to say, "He's the father of the baby I am expecting."

"Colonel, you witnessed the interplay between Capt. Krennick and Cmdr. Rabb, didn't you."

"Yes, I did."

"Can you please tell us what you saw," Lt. Singer asked as she started to walk away from the stand and pace the floor.

"I saw the Captain and the Commander kissing."

"Would you say either of them was enjoying what the other was doing?"

"Objection, your honor," Sturgis butt in, this time without rising from his chair, "Calls for speculation."

"Sustained," Judge Seabring decided in Sturgis' favor, "Please rephrase your question, Lieutenant."

Lt. Singer sighed, before she once again asked, "Could you see where the Commander's hand were?"

Mac nodded, "He was holding the Captain's wrists tight because she..."

"Thank you, Colonel," Lt. Singer interrupted her before she could finish, "No further questions, your honor."

While Lt. Singer returned to her seat next to Lt. Shepard, Sturgis rose from his chair and approached the stand.

"Colonel, would you please finish your sentence," he inquired.

"I was about to say that the Captain's hands were gripping his upper arms and to me it looked like he was trying to pry them away."

"What did happen when the Captain and the Commander realized you were standing in the doorway?"

"They broke apart. The Captain was grinning at me while the Commander looked horrified."

"Colonel, for how long have you been partnered with the Commander?"

"For almost 7 years," Mac replied, once again glancing over to Harm who was closely following Sturgis' line of questioning.

"In these 7 years you have known the Commander, did it ever happen that he treated a woman with disrespect or that he even forced himself onto a woman?"

Mac shook her head, "The Harmon Rabb I know wouldn't do such a thing. He always treated woman with the respect they deserved. He has never forced himself onto any woman."

"Thank you, Colonel," Sturgis turned towards Judge Seabring, "No further questions, your honor."

The judge nodded, then addressed Mac, "You can leave the stand now, Colonel."

Mac rose from her chair, then crossed the distance towards the table where Sturgis and Harm sat and smiled reassuringly at them before she left the court room.

"Lt. Singer, please call your next witness."

Lt. Singer rose from her chair after Judge Seabring had spoken to her," Prosecution calls Lt. Bud Roberts to the stand."

Bud entered the room, and immediately took his place at the stand. He was being sworn in, and it didn't take long until Lt. Singer started her verbal attack on him.

"Lieutenant, do you know the victim, Capt. Krennick?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Bud replied honestly, "I met her several years ago on the USS Seahawk when I was still stationed there. The Commander and her were there to investigate a murder."

"And this was the only time you met Capt. Krennick?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I haven't seen her since s e appeared at JAG last week."

"Would you please tell what happened that day between the Commander and the Captain?"

"I have to start with an incident that happened earlier the same day," Bud replied, but was cut off by Lt. Singer right away.

"I only want to know what happened in the kitchen, Lieutenant."

"Well, Colonel Mackenzie and I were on our lunch break and were looking for the Commander when we found the Captain and the Commander in the kitchen, kissing each other."

"What happened when the Commander noticed you?"

"I don't know if he noticed me, but he noticed Colonel Mackenzie who was walking ahead of me," Bud answered, making a short pause and looking over to Harm before he went on, "I bumped into Colonel Mackenzie who had stopped dead in her tracks when she saw them kissing. I couldn't really see what was happening then since the Colonel was blocking my way. I just saw that the Colonel slapped the Commander and then she ran away. The Commander told the Captain to stay away from him and then he ran after the Colonel."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. No further question, your honor."

Sturgis got up from his chair and approached the stand after Lt. Singer had returned to her seat.

"Lieutenant, you mentioned an incident between the Captain and the Commander earlier. Would you please tell us what happened?"

Bud nodded, "I was on my way to the Commander's office because we were due in court only a short time later. I found the Captain in the Commander's officer and they were obviously having a very heated conversation."

"Could you understand what they were talking about?" Sturgis inquired.

"No, sir, not what had been said before I entered the room. The Commander introduced me to the Captain and then told her to leave his office. She wasn't complying with this at first, so the Commander gestured for her the way out and she left but not without looking at him like she was ready to kill him. Gunnery Sergeant Galindez informed me after that obviously the Captain had entered the Commander's office without his knowledge when the Commander wasn't in. I can imagine that the Commander wasn't very pleased with that."

"Thank you very much Lieutenant. No further questions."

1500 ZULU
Friday, May 31st
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Court had been in recess since 1130 the day before. Prosecution had called all their witnesses, as was defense able to call Meg Austin and the Commander from San Diego. All who was left now to speak was Harm himself. Due to Captain Seabring having another appointment in court Thursday afternoon, Harm's article 32 hearing had been postponed until Friday afternoon.

Sturgis had a very good feeling that this whole fiasco would be over by Monday morning when he expected Captain Seabring to say whether there was enough evidence and this was going to court or if all accusations would be dismissed. Prosecution hadn't been able to come up with any evidence other than Krennick's statement yet - and that as very weak compared to the evidence Sturgis had shown in court.

Defense however had 2 witnesses who saw the interplay between Krennick and Harm a bit different, then Harm's former partner who could tell several stories about Krennick where she had mentioned that she was sexually interested in Harm, but that he was in no way interested in her. And of course there was this Commander who could tell a story about Krennick very similar to Harm's.

Harm and Mac sat outside JAG HQ, eating lunch in silence before Harm was due in court. At least they were sitting together again, even if they were not talking, but it as a step forward.

Harm suddenly broke the unbearable silence, "Will you sit with Sturgis later when he is questioning me?"

Mac looked up surprised. That was something she hadn't expected.

"If you want me to, I will."

"Yes, please."

Mac nodded, to which Harm mouthed a silent 'thank you' in response. She smiled at him, knowing how much her support meant to him.

At exactly 1400, they were inside the courtroom, and Harm's hearing continued. 5 minutes later, Harm was at the stand and was being sworn in. Sturgis approached him and asked his first question.

"Commander, please tell us about the incident in question."

Harm made a short pause before he started, "I was in search for Colonel Mackenzie when I found Captain Krennick in the kitchen. She asked me about a case I was working on when she suddenly backed me up against the wall and started to talk dirty to me. I tried to push her away from me, but she held onto my upper arms closely," Harm turned towards Judge Seabring, "I can show the court the scratches from her nails."

"Please do so, Commander," Judge Seabring ordered, and Harm rolled up his sleeves, revealing several scratch marks on both his arms as well as tiny small bruises the size of fingertips.

"Thank you, Commander," Judge Seabring turned to Sturgis, "Please proceed, Counselor."

"Commander, what happened after the Captain had backed you against the wall?"

"As I said, I was trying to push her away but I wasn't very successful. She clutched the back of my head and a moment later, her lips were pressed against mine. I was in complete shock as I had never expected such a move from her. She let go off me when Colonel Mackenzie appeared in the doorway."

"Has anything like this ever happened before?"

"No, the Captain never came on to me physically before. I can tell you several stories though where she verbally talked in a very inappropriate way to me."

"Would you please clarify the word inappropriate, Commander?" Sturgis inquired.

"She told me on several occassions that she wanted to sleep with me. The first time she voiced that proposal, I thought it was a very bad joke, but I learned very fast that it wasn't."

"You never accepted her proposals though,"

Harm energetically shook his head, "No, I never did. I never showed any interest in her. I also told her that. However, it didn't stop her from still making these indicent proposals."

"Thank you, Commander. No further questions."

Lt. Singer rose from her chair even before Sturgis had returned to his place.

"Commander, you are what, 6'4 and approximately 190 pounds? And you are telling the court that Capt. Krennick who is 5'8 and 120 pounds backed you against the wall?"

"Yes, Lieutenant, that's exactly what I am saying."

"Why didn't you report to your CO that the Captain allegedly sexually harassed you in the kitchen?" Lt. Singer went on.

"Captain Krennick was faster. When I returned to my office about half an hour later, the Admiral informed me that the Captain already had been with him, accussing me of sexual harassment."

"Thank you, Commander. No further questions, your honor."

"If defense has no additional questions, you can return to your seat, Commander," Judge Seabring uttered.

"Defense has one final question, your honor," Sturgis spoke and got up from his chair.

"Go ahead, Commander.

"Court knows you didn't report any sexual harassment the day of the said incident, Commander, but why didn't you report it all thos years ago when Captain Krennick was still here at JAG?"

"She warned me off, telling me I would regret it if I ever mentioned anything to Admiral Chegwidden about this. Knowing what she was capable of, I kept silent. I knew she would have tried to ruin my career - exactly what she is trying to do now."

"No further questions, your honor."

"You may return to your seat now, Commander."

Harm nodded and rose, walking back to his place next to Mac. She looked at him, and then reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly before they both turned their attention back to Judge Seabring who spoke up.

"Since both prosecution and defense have called their witnesses, I will now retreat to come to a conclusion concerning the accusations brought up against Commander Rabb. Court is in recess until Monday, 1000 when I will announce my findings."

Judge Seabring hit the gravel on the bench before he got up, gathered his papers and left the court room.

0310 ZULU
Friday, May 31st
Rabb Residence
Reston, VA

Harm still sat over some paperwork he had to turn in Monday morning and had neglected the last few days. Folders and books were scattered over the dining table in the kitchen since he hadn't found time yet to set up an appropriate work desk upstairs.

Mac had sat with him for an hour, helping him with the paper work, but then had retreated upstairs about half an hour ago to take a refreshing bath before going to bed.

About 10 folders were left to complete until Monday, but Harm felt tired and had no energy left to concentrate on the paper work. He pushed the folders away and leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling.

Though he had a good feeling that the nightmare he was currently living in would be over by Monday, but then some thoughts kept nagging at him that Captain Seabring was very well known for surprises, and he had had a few of those surprise sentences as well.

What was going to happen if this was going to a court martial? What would be happening if he was found guilty? What would happen to Mac and the baby? The least he was concerned about was his career, he knew he probably had to face a discharge from the Navy if he was found guilty, but most probably also a jail sentence, and then what would happen? He had sworn he would be there for his son, he had sworn he would see him grow up.. and all of sudden there was this slight chance that nothing of this might happen, that he would lose Mac and
their son.

"What are you thinking about?" Mac's voice brought him out of thoughts at the right time.

"My life is a mess," he replied and turned towards Mac who stood to his left, dressed in a bathing robe and drying her hair with a towel.

"It'll be over Monday," Mac reassured him and sat down in a chair next to him at the dining table, "There is no way Krennick will get through with her accusations."

"I should have told the Admiral that I rather wanted an Admiral's Mast like he offered."

"He offered you an Admiral's Mast?" Mac asked surprised, "When?"

"The day this all happened. He asked me if I wanted this to be handled by an Admiral's Mast or a court martial. I chose the court martial. I think I should have taken the Admiral's Mast. Then all this would probably be over now."

"Why didn't you accept the Admiral's Mast? Why did you want a court martial?"

"I was afraid that Krennick might drag the Admiral into this as well. Whatever he decided to do with me, she probably would not accept it. The least I wanted was the Admiral be accused of prejudgement."

"Harm, trust me. There is not enough evidence that this will go to a court martial. I wouldn't be surprised though if suddenly sexual harassment charges would turn up against Krennick."

"Not from me, that's for sure. Once this is over I never ever want to see her again in my whole life."

"Then no charges of sexual harassment, but at least for false accusations and lying in court. She needs to pay for what she did to you. Or do you just want her to get away with it?"

"No, I don't want her to get away with it, but I also never ever want to cross paths again with her. You don't know her, Mac. You don't know what she is capable of."

"No, I don't, and I guess from what you told me I don't even want to know," Mac closed the folder which was lying in front of her on the table and placed it aside, "Why don't you forget about this stuff for today? I'll help you with it tomorrow."

"Thanks for the offer," Harm smiled at her, "but you have work of your own to do. The least you need to do is helping me with my work."

"Still, you have worked enough on these for today. Come to bed with me."

Did he just hear right? Was she asking him to come back to bed with him? For the whole week he had been sleeping in the guestroom and had waited for her to invite him back into the bedroom. He had pondered the thought of telling her how much he missed her during the night so many times, but he didn't want to pressure her. And so he had waited for her to tell him it was fine to share a bed with her again.

Mac reached her hand out towards him when she felt he was hesitating, "It's fine. I hate sleeping without you by my side, you know that."

He took her hand in his and smiled, "I do, too."

Mac returned his smile and got up, her hand still locked with his. They turned off the lights in the living room and went upstairs, but instead of the bedroom, Mac led him to the nursery. She stopped at the door, putting her hand on the knob.

"I want to show you something," she said, opened the door and turned on the lights, "I put this up yesterday when you were out with Sturgis."

On the far end of the nursery right above where they had talked out setting up the crib, about a dozen wallhangings the shape of airplanes were hung up. Harm was totally surprised, he just gapped at Mac.

"Frank sent a package earlier this week," Mac uttered and went to the corner of the room where she picked something out of a box standing on the floor. When she turned to face Harm, she was holding a mobile in her hands, half a dozen airplanes dangling at the strings.

"Frank sent that?" Harm asked disbelieving.

Mac nodded, "And a couple other baby items. He called this morning and wanted to know how you liked them. I told him you haven't seen them yet but that you probably would be thrilled. I was."

"Did you tell him about the sexual harassment charges?"

"You know, I was about to, but then I found it very strange that he didn't ask me about how the hearing was coming along so I figured you hadn't told them yet."

"I didn't know how to. Just calling them and saying 'hey, I am being charged with sexual harassment' sounded a bit off to me. Besides, my mom would just worry."

"You should really call and tell them. They should know. Call them and say thanks for the baby items and then tell them."

"My mom would just freak and then decide to fly out here. I don't want her here at this moment, Mac."

"Please, Harm, call and tell them. And if your mom decides she needs to fly out here and you can't talk her out of it, let me try."

Harm sighed deeply, then said, "I wouldn't know what I would do without you, Mac. I love you."

He then placed a tender kiss on her forehead before hre turned and left the nursery to go make a call he had been dreading the whole week.

1623 ZULU
Sunday, June 2nd
Rabb Residence
Reston, VA

Harm was out for his Sunday run. Usually, he was back by 11 for their Sunday brunch, but today he had decided to extend his run by 2 miles to clear his mind and not think about anything else than running for a short while. So Mac was enjoying brunch alone this morning. She had set the table on the back patio and was now reclining in one of the lounge chairs, enjoying the beautiful and warm June morning when the door ball rang.

Groaning, she rose from her chair and went back inside to open the front door. She couldn't imagine who would be at the door Sunday morning 11:30am. Harm would enter through the back door which remained unlocked when someone was at home. Harriet came to mind while Mac crossed through the living room to the front door, but then she crossed out the thought knowing that Harriet would call before she came over.

When she reached the door, Mac peered through the peep hole, and recognized someone she didn't want to talk to, neither who she should talk to, but nevertheless she opened the door.

"Why are you here?" she spat at Krennick who stood outside on the front porch.

"I need to talk to Harm," Krennick replied and tried to push her way inside, but Mac blocked her way.

"He's not here," Mas responded and stepped outside, closing the front door behind her.

"Of course he's not here," Krennick uttered sarcastically, "Let me inside, I need to talk to Harm. It's urgent."

"I said he's not here," Mac repeated, "Besides, you have no business with him anyways."

"I do have business with him," Krennick tried to reach past Mac for the door knob, "It's important, I need to talk to him."

"How often do I have to say he's not here. Please leave now."

"Of course you are supposed to tell me he's not here. I never thought Harmon Rabb was chicken enough to send his girlfriend instead of talking to me in person."

"Captain, please leave!" Mac uttered, this time more sternly, and adding her Marine tone to her voice.

"I won't leave until I have talked to Harm."

"I will call the police if you don't leave."

"Do what you have to do. I still won't leave until I have talked to Harm."

"Krennick, LEAVE!" a voice from the front yard called and Harm jogged up the front steps, taking two steps in once.

He stopped next to Mac and opened the front door. Then he turned to Mac and said, "Call the police. That's the only way she will understand."

"I only need 5 minutes, Harm," Krennick begged after Mac had gone inside to get the phone.

"You're not even worth talking to you now."

Mac came back outside, holding the cordless phone in her hands. Silently, she handed it to Harm who immediately turned it on. He pressed button number 9 when Krennick spoke up.

"This is not over, Harm, not in a long shot," she spat at him, then turned and left the front porch.

Harm remained outside on the front porch, looking after her and making sure Krennick got into her car and drove off before he went back inside. He neatly closed the door behind him and locked it before he went into the kitchen where he found Mac pouring him a large glass if ice cold water. Silently, she handed it to him.

Harm immediately took a big gulp out of it, then asked, "Did she threaten you?"

Mac shook her head, "She wanted to speak to you but I told her you weren't here. Of course she wasn't believing me."

"I'll talk to Chegwidden about a court order tomorrow to keep her away from you." Harm ran his fingers through his hair, "Why can't she never have enough?"

1408 ZULU
Monday, June 3rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

When Mac entered her office, she found a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates sitting on her desk. Irritated, she droped her briefcase on her desk before she reached for the card which was attached to the flowers.

She turned the card in her hands before she opened it. It just read a preprinted 'Thank you for your help. It was greately appreciated' without a name on it or anything else.

Mac rose her eyebrows, trying to think about a person who would send her flowers. Of course they weren't from Harm, he surely would have signed the card with his name and then of course would have either given her the flowers personally or would be in her office by now, asking her if she liked the flowers.

The only other person Mac could think of was a Second Lieutenant she had successfully defended in court the week before and who had hit on her several times though it was obvious to everyone that she was taken, with a baby on the way.

Smiling, she reached for the box of chocolates, then went back to her chair to do some paper work before she had promised Harm to be in court with Sturgis and him when Captain Seabring was telling the verdict.

She digged into the box a moment later, eating about a dozen of them while doing her paperwork before she was supposed to be in court. She was supposed to meet with Harm and Sturgis in front of the court room shortly before ten.

About quarter to ten, she started to feel a bit dizzy and not well, but still, she decided to meet with Harm. She knew how much her support in court meant to him, and since she had felt a bit queezy in her pregnancy a lot of times before, she didn't think much of it.

They sat in the court room, waiting for Judge Seabring to make his appearance. Sturgis, Harm and Mac on one side, Singer and Shepard on the other like every other time before in this trial. Even before Judge Seabring appeared in court, Mac had to excuse herself, and in a hurry left the court room, leaving a baffled Harm behind.

Outside the court room, Mac was on her way to her office. She waddled through the swing doors when Harriet caught sight of her - and she didn't like what she saw. Mac was completely pale and holding her stomach while she stumbled into her office.

Immediately, Harriet sprung up from her chair and hurried into Mac's office where she found her slumbed down in her chair.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Harriet asked hastily.

"I am not feeling very well, Harriet. Can you get me some water please?"

"Of course!"

Harriet rushed to the kitchen to get Mac a glass of water and returned to the office a couple of minutes later. She almost dropped the glass out of shock when she saw that Mac had doubled over in pain. Immediately she was by her side.

"Mac, what is it?"

"I think I am having contractions," Mac cried, tears welling in her eyes, "It's too early!"

"You need medical attention right away," Harriet reached for the phone on Mac's desk, "I will call your doctor. What's her number?"

"Speed dial 10," Mac replied, still holding her baby belly tightly.

Harriet made the call to Mac's doctor who told her to meet at Bethesda immediately. She would send them an ambulance, but Harriet denied, telling her they'd bring Mac themselves. It would be faster than waiting the 10 to 15 minutes until the ambulance would get there.

Meanwhile, Harm was out of court and in search for Mac. He already saw something was wrong when he noticed Mac was slumbed over in her chair and Harriet was on the phone, so he ran into her office and dropped to his knees by her side.

"Mac, what is it? What's wrong?"

"It is too early," was all Mac could muster through the pain she was in.

"Is it the baby?"

Mac just nodded silently, tears now trickling down her cheeks.

"Okay, okay, try to stay calm. We'll get you to hospital."

"I already talked to her doctor," Harriet piped in when Harm helped Mac getting up from her chair, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist to hold on to her close and help her stay on her feet.

"Harriet, please inform the Admiral where we are."

Harriet nodded, "Of course I will. Call us later!"

Harm just waved his hand as he guided Mac outside the bullpen and down to the parking lot. Five minutes later they were on their way to Bethesda. They were in luck, the beltway wasn't very crowded and Harm drove 70 mph straight till they drove out the exit for Bethesda.

The emergency entrace was blocked by two ambulances so Harm couldn't drive to the door. He was in luck though and found an empty parking spot only about a 100 yards from the emergency entrance.

He brought the car to a complete stop, rushed over to the passenger seat to help Mac out who was still having painful cramps. She needed all her strength to cross the short distance to the hospital entrance where Mac's doctor was already waiting for them with a wheelchair.

"Okay, Mac, tell me what happened," Dr. Brandis asked after Mac had sat down in the wheelchair.

"I don't know. I suddenly started to have cramps. Please tell me these are not contractions. It's still too early," Mac pleaded with her.

"We'll take you to one of the examination rooms now and see," Dr. Brandis said, then turned to Harm, "I am sorry, but you have to wait outside. Why don't you go to the waiting room over there and I'll be with you after the examination is over."

Harm nodded solemly. He placed a quick kiss on Mac's forehead before the orderlies wheeled her away. He stood in the middle of the hallway for a while, first having watched after Mac and where they were taking her, now just staring off in the distance. When a nurse approached him and asked him if he needed assistance, he just shook his head and went to the waiting room.

He paced the floor for a little over 30 minutes, driving the other people sitting there in the waiting area almost crazy before he finally was told that he could join Mac in examining room 4. Only a short moment later, he entered the examining room and was a bit shocked by what he saw. Mac was hooked up to 3 different IV's, a fetal monitor controlling the baby's heartbeat, another machine monitoring the contractions, and a third one checking Mac's heartbeat and blood pressure.

"Hey, how are you doing?" he said, choking back the lump that had formed in his throat.

"Better," Mac replied putting a weak smile on her face, "Dr. Brandis just got a call that the blood test results are in."

"Do they know yet what it is?" Harm asked and sat down in the chair next to Mac's bed, taking her hand into his.

"I was definitely having contractions," Mac sighed, "They gave me something to stop them. The pain is better now, but they are not completely gone yet."

"It'll be alright, Mac. Our little one will be fine," he tried to reassure her, but his own voice was betraying him.

"I hope so."

"Can I get you anything? Some water maybe?"

Harm needed to get out the room for a moment. He was terrified about the baby's condition, and he needed a moment to compose himself. He didn't want Mac to see how afraid he was.

"Water would be fine."

"Okay, I'll be right back."

Harm got up and hurried out of the room. A couple yards away, he leaned against the wall, running his hand over his face. Why was this happening? Why now? He pulled himself together when he saw Dr. Brandis walking down the corridor towards him.

"Cmdr. Rabb, it's good to find you out here. I want to talk to you in private before I talk to your fiancee."

"This doesn't sound very good."

"It is not that bad. I have her blood results here," Dr. Brandis held up a folder, "Your fiancee has a very high level of prostaglandin in her blood. That's a drug to induce labor. Do you have any idea how the prostaglandin got into her blood stream?"

Harm was baffled by what he had just heard. He shook his head, unable to say anything.

"We've hooked her up to terbutaline, calcium channel blockers and pain medication. She is responding to them just fine, and I am sure we can stop the contractions completely. We have to keep her here for a few days though to monitor her closely," Dr. Brandis stopped shortly before she added, "still, we need to know how the prostaglandin got into her blood stream. We're talking about a prescription drug and I didn't prescribe it."

"I have no idea how it got into her blood stream. I am sure she didn't take it on purpose. I never saw her take any kind of medication the last few days."

"We are not talking about days here, Cmdr. Rabb, we are talking about hours. Your fiancee reacted very fast to the prostaglandin like she reacted very fast to the terbutaline. My guess would be she took the prostaglandin sometime between 8 and 9 today, whether she willingly took it or had no idea what she was taking."

"Why don't you ask Mac about it? Like I said, I have no idea how it got there and I am sure she didn't take it on purpose."

Dr. Brandis nodded, and they both went into Mac's room. Mac realized immediately that something was wrong.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

"I have your blood results here. You don't have to worry, you and the baby are doing fine and I am sure the contractions will stop completely in a few hours," Dr. Brandis explained, "However, we found prostaglandin in your blood, a drug to induce labor. Can you tell me how it got there?"

"No, I have no idea. I didn't take any kind of medication," Mac replied confused.

"What did you eat and drink for and after breakfast today? Maybe we can find out this way how it got into your blood stream."

"Harm and I had breakfast at home together, but I prepared that myself. I only had a couple glasses of water after that. Oh, and I had some chocolates."

"Chocolates?" Harm inquired.

"They were a present. They were in my office this morning."

"Who sent them, Mac?" Harm asked, having a very bad feeling, and praying to God that what his gutt was telling him couldn't be true.

"I don't know. The card just said 'thank you for your help'."

"Okay, enough of this for now," Dr. Brandis cut it when she saw that Mac's blood pressure was rising, "We will take you upstairs to a private room now. You have to stay for a few days so we can be absolutely sure the baby is fine. You also need some rest, so I suggest your fiance returns home to get you the things you will need for your stay here."

Harm nodded, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

He gently kissed Mac before he rushed out of the room. He wasn't going home like Dr. Brandis suggested, first there was something else he had to take care of.

1625 ZULU
Monday, June 3rd
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA

Harm pushed through the double swing doors, in search for Lt. Singer. She wasn't in her office, so he hoped he would find her somewhere in the bullpen.

"Commander," he heard Harriet call behind him, "how is the Colonel?"

"Not now!" he brushed her off when he spotted Lt. Singer coming out of the Admiral's office.

"Where is Captain Kennick?" he yelled at her, grabbing her by her upper arm to stop her from passing by him.

"Excuse me!" Lt. Singer exclaimed, wriggling her arm out of his grip.

"Where is Krennick, Lieutenant?" Harm repeated sternly, "I have to have some words with her."

"If there is something you need to tell Capt. Krennick, you tell me and I will run it by her," Singer retorted.

"Tell her she's not getting through with this!" he glared at her, then turned and went to Mac's office.

He closed the door behind him, then went to the desk where the half empty box of chocolates was still sitting and the card laying next to the bouquet of flowers. He retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket, picked up the card with it to not leave any fingerprints on it and put it in the box of chocolates which he then closed.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and he could see Harriet standing outside. He gestured for her to step inside. Harriet opened the door and entered the office.

"Sir," she began, unsure of whether she should ask or not since Harm seemed to be really furious and that surely didn't mean good news.

"Harriet, whatever you have on your mind, spit it out," Harm urged her.

"What happened with the Colonel? Why are you not with her? Is she alright?"

"Harriet, please close the door behind you."

Harriet did as she was told and firmly closed the door behind her.

"I need your help, Harriet."

"Of course, sir, whatever it is."

"Mac was given some sort of medication to induce labor. I suspect that the drugs are in these chocolates and that Krennick sent them to get Mac and the baby out of the way."

"Oh my God, how is she doing?"

"She is doing better, she was given something to stop the contractions. Looks promising at the moment since she is responding to the medication. She has to stay in hospital for a few days though," Harm answered as he wrapped the box of chocolates into the handkerchief, "I want you to have this checked for fingerprints and crosschecked them with Krennick's. Call Sgt. Carruthers of DC police, he owes me a favor."

Harriet carefully took the wrapped box out of Harm's hands.

"Please keep me informed about how Mac is doing," she uttered, while she turned to open the office door behind her.

"I will. I have to go home now and pick up some things she might need in hospital. She will probably already wonder where I am."

Harm and Harriet left the office and ran into Admiral Chegwidden, who obviously was in search for Harm.

"Commander, I would like to have a word in private with you," he said, and gestured for Harm to follow him back to his office.

He did as he was told and followed the Admiral to his office, where he sat down in one of the stairs standing in front of the Admiral's desk.

"Commander, the last place I was expecting you today was here. I heard you brought the Colonel to hospital. Why are you not with her?" the Admiral inquired, and sat down in his chair as well.

"She has to stay in hospital for a few days so I was going to pick up some stuff she might need."

The Admiral raised his eyebrows, "Here at JAG?"

"Sir, this is a bit complicated," Harm replied, squirming in his chair because he didn't want to tell the Admiral about his suspicions.

"You have all the time you need, Commander. What are you doing back here at JAG? And what was your business with Lt. Singer earlier?"

Harm sighed, "I was in search for Capt. Krennick."

"Capt. Krennick? Didn't I tell you to stay away from her? I don't want to see another sexual harassment fiasco in this office."

"Yessir, you did. This was important though."

"Okay, Commander, spill it. There is something important here you are not telling me."

"Mac was given drugs to induce labor," Harm simply replied.

"And you think it was Krennick?"

"I don't think she was it, I know it. Krennick went by our house yesterday, demanding to speak to me but I was out for a run. Of course, she didn't believe Mac when she said I was not in. She was ready to break her way free into the house when I returned. I told her to leave, but she wouldn't until we said we would call the police. She threatened us, saying that it wasn't over. Then this morning Mac found a box of chocolates in her office. Not long after she had eaten a few of them she got sick. And then we learn in hospital that she was given drugs. Krennick couldn't get me, so she starts destroying my family."

"Your accusations are based on speculations only, Commander. Do you have any proof to back this up?" Chegwidden asked.

"No, Sir, but I will soon. The box of chocolates is being checked for fingerprints."

"Who are you calling in for favors this time?"

"Sgt. Carruthers of DC police. You might remember him, Sir. He owes me a favor."

"Good. I will contact Sgt. Carruthers about the outcome of his investigation. I want you to stay out of this, Rabb. If there is any proof that Krennick had anything to do with this, I want her nailed. I don't want to give anyone any reason to think you might have placed any false evidence in revenge for what she put you through."

Harm nodded, "Got that, Sir."

"Then let me handle this from here on and you return to Mac and be with her until she gets better. Dismissed."

Harm snapped to attention, "Aye, Sir!"

2032 ZULU
Monday, June 3rd
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, MD

When Harm had returned to the hospital, he had found Mac asleep since she had been given something to rest. She was still hooked up to several different machines monitoring her vital signs, those of the baby and the contractions which had gradually decreased over the last few hours, however had not completely vanished yet.

He sat by her bed side the whole time, waiting for either Mac to wake up or for his beeper to go off with news from JAG HQ about the outcome of the finger print check of the box. Of course, he knew he probably wouldn't get any news before tomorrow anyway since DC police
labs always were swamped with work, but he hoped that Sgt. Carruthers was able to put it rush on this in some way.

Harriet had beeped in three times in the last few hours though, always asking how Mac was doing, but he had never called her back. He was sure she would beep him again soon. And so she did.

"Your pager is beeping," Mac mumbled in turned over to face Harm who immediately sat on the bed next to her, taking her hand in hers.

"It's only Harriet, asking how you are doing."

"Better," Mac replied wearily, "Whatever they pumped into me, it knocked me out like a light."

"I know," Harm brushed a strand of her hair out her face, "You've been sleeping ever since I got back."

"So, what's the verdict?"

"Dr. Brandis said you might be able to get out of here tomorrow."

Mac shook her head, "I meant yours. What did Judge Seabring say?"

"He says there wasn't enough evidence that would justify a court martial against me. However, he said that there surely was enough evidence to charge Capt. Krennick with sexual harassment. There's going to be another article 32 hearing concerning sexual harassment at JAG."

"I thought you didn't want that."

"No, I don't want it, but Seabring made it clear he wanted to see those charges brought up as well as charges of false accusations and statements in court. Krennick's career in the Navy is over, and I think she already knew it when she came by yesterday. She's going to blame
me for that."

"Let her blame you if she wants to. There is nothing she can do to really harm you."

"Sadly, there is," Harm replied, nervously shifting on the bed.

"What may that be? Is there something you didn't tell me?"

"I told you everything there is about my history with Krennick. There is nothing she could useagainst me, however, there is one way she knows she can hurt me more than anything else - by hurting you or the baby, Mac."

Mac was astonished, "You think she did this to me?"

"I don't think she did it, I know she did it. Think, Mac, who else would have a motive and the means and opportunity to do something like that? She has proven quite well of what she is capable of."

"The question is, can you prove it, Harm?"

"Not right now, no, but I soon will have proof. The box of chocolates you found in your office this morning will be checked for fingerprints. I'll be damned if they can't find anything useful."

"But how would she get the medication that I was given? It's a prescription drug you can't just buy anywhere."

"I made Harriet call Carruthers. I know he'll not stop by just checking the fingerprints. If they turn out positive, he'll try to find out where she got the drugs from."

"And if they turn out negative?"

"Then we'll find another way to nail her. And if it means I have to go to the end of the world, but she will pay for what she did to you. She's not getting away with this. If she needs to attack me, fine, I will let her, I can defend myself pretty well, but when she's attacking my family to get to me, dragging innocents into this, she's going too far. She's not going to stop until she's locked away, not after this. I need her nailed to know you and the baby are safe."

"What do you think brought this all up? Why now? Why not earlier? I mean, she was out of your life for several years and all of a sudden, she comes back just to ruin you? I don't understand that, Harm."

"Neither do I. And honestly, I don't wanna understand. And I hope the day will never come that I can understand her, otherwise I am ready for the funny farm."

"Keep me updated about what Carruthers finds out, will you?"

"As soon as I get any news from him, I will let you know. I am pretty sure though I won't hear from him until tomorrow, if at all that early. Until then, Krennick is somewhere out there on a revenge trip since she probably already knows her plan wasn't very successful. I arranged for someone to stay with you all the time so you are not alone."

"Do you really think I need protection?"

"She's proven us already what she's capable of," Harm said, "Sturgis will stop by around 1800 and stay with you so I can go home and get some things done. I'll be back around 2200 to stay the night with you. It's all arranged with Dr. Brandis."

"Harm, please promise me you won't do anything stupid."

"I wouldn't do anything stupid, Mac, you know me."

"I know you well enough to know you would. Promise me you will let Carruthers handle this."

Harm rolled his eyes, "Mac...."

"Promise me!" she urged him.

"Okay, I promise you."

"Thank you."

Harm kissed Mac gently on the lips, then got up from the bed.

"Sturgis must be here any minute. I'll wait for him outside, I need to have a word with him in private."

"If you need to talk to him about me, you can do it in here as well."

Harm cringed, "It's just some men stuff."

"Remember you promised me not to do anything stupid."

"I know, and I will keep my word."

With that, he smiled at her and then left the room.

2114 ZULU
Monday, June 3rd
Metro Police Station
Washington DC

Harm walked into the bullpen in search of Sgt. Carruthers. When he had called earlier, he had been told that he was working late today and was still at his desk. Carruthers spotted Harm immediately and waved for him to come over to his desk.

Harm crossed the short distance from the door to Carruther's desk and sat down on the chair next to it as he was told to.

"I was just about to call you when your call came in. I have news for you," Carruthers said and retrieved a file from the stack to his left, placed it in front of him and opened it.

"I hope only good news," Harm replied.

"Depends. I put a rush on the lab results you needed. I had the contents of the chocolates checked and indeed, there was some drug added to it. I will get the result on the combination of drugs in about two days. Preliminary results though show that it's a derivation of prostaglandin like you told me. They need to identify the medical product though so we know what kind of medication we are looking for."

"So I was right."

Carruthers nodded, "Yep, absolutely right. We were also able to pull off a complete thumb print and a partial index finger print off the inside of the box. I had them checked with the finger print data your Lt. Simms brought with her from Naval records. They were an absolut 100% match."

Harm let out the breath he had been holding since Carruthers had started telling him the news.

"And now the bad news," Carruthers went on, shocking Harm.

"Bad news?"

The police Sgt. nodded, "Falls Church is not my jurisdiction, you know that. This also happened on military grounds, so I have no legal rights there. I need to hand this over to military police to handle this. However, I am more than willing to assist them in any way I can."

"Okay. As long as you can get her arrested ASAP, it doesn't matter to me if you lock her away or military police."

"That shouldn't be a problem. There is enough evidence to bring her in for some questioning and keep her for 48 hours. By then, the drug results should be back. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find out where she got the drugs from. I think I know a couple places where to ask."

"Thanks, Carruthers. Now I owe you one," Harm uttered, extending his hand towards him.

"We're even," Carruthers smiled and shook hands with him, "Keep me updated about how Mac is doing."

"She's doing fairly good at the moment giving the circumstances. We will have a healthy baby after all in a few weeks."

"That's absolutely good news to hear."

They both got up and Carruthers walked Harm to the door.

"There's one more favor I have to ask for though."

"Shoot."

"I want to be there when Krennick is arrested. I want to see her face when she realizes it's finally over."

"I think that can be arranged. I'll give you a call."

0332 ZULU
Monday, June 3rd
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Bethesda, MD

Harm was running late when he returned to Bethesda to spend the night with Mac. He had paged Sturgis to call him on his cell, but when he didn't return the call he figured he might have turned off his pager so he called the hospital and had a nurse tell Mac that he would be late.

When he entered Mac's room, he found Sturgis and Mac in an amid conversation which they abruptly stopped when they realized who had entered the room.

"Of course, Harmon Rabb JR can never be on time," Sturgis snickered and got up from his chair which stood next to Mac's bed to make place for Harm.

"This time I have a very good reason though," Harm replied and closed the door behind him.

Then he walked over to Mac and gently kissed her on the lips before he said," It's over. Krennick's locked up."

"You're kidding me," Mac uttered astonished.

Harm just shock his head, "I met with Carruthers after I left you earlier. They were able to pull fingerprints off the box of chocolates which matched with Krennick's. Lab also found traces of prostaglandin in the chocolates. A complete drug result will be ready in about 2 days."

"JAG HQ is out of DC police jurisdiction though. How was Krennick arrested?" Sturgis inquired.

"Carruthers informed military police. They arrested Krennick about 45 minutes ago in her hotel room. That's why I am so late, I had asked to be there. I needed to see her face when she realized that this time she wouldn't win."

"She's going to have a heap of problems now. Add attempted murder and severe bodily harm to the sexual harassment charges...," Sturgis whistled, "She's going to need some damn good lawyer."

"Why don't we recommend Singer?" Mac replied, half chuckling.

"I see you are definitely getting better," Harm chuckled as he sat down on the bed next to Mac.

"Yep, ready to go home tomorrow. Contractions stopped, and Junior is doing absolutely fine."

"That's fantastic news."

"The not so good news though is that Dr. Brandis put me on leave till the baby is born. No more work for me," Mac sighed.

"What's so bad about that?" Harm asked, "It gives you all the time to prepare for the baby. Just the time you have been moaning about that you were lacking."

"We'll see."

When Mac looked past Harm she realized that Sturgis had silently sneaked out of the room. A smile curved her lips, when she asked, "Now that Krennick is locked away, will you still spend the night with me?"

"Of course. You never have to spend another night without me."

"I am taking your word on that."

Mac scooted a bit to the side on the bed, making just enough room for Harm to lay down next to her. Then she patted the empty spot next to her, inviting him to spend the night in the hospital bed sleeping right next to her.

Harm hesitated for a moment, but when he as well realized that Sturgis had left them alone already, he lay down next to Mac. His arm went around her protectively immediately, keeping her body in close physical contact to his.

"I love you, Mac," he whispered into her ear, "I always have and always will."

"So do I, Harm. Forever."