Title: A Chance At Love

Rating: T

Author: Bellafiamma

Pairing: H/M Romance

Disclaimer: Don't own em and certainly not making any money. Please review. I live off the stuff.

Also, this was one of my first fanfics, so its not as smooth as some of my later pieces.

Part I

October 2, 2000

6:30 EST

Falls Church, Virginia

JAG Headquarters

Mac tried to suppress another cough and concentrate on the paperwork before her, but her attempt was futile. She had been fighting a cold for a week now and had come to accept the fact that she was, indeed, sick.

"Hey Mac, you ok?"

She took in a staggering breath and nodded. Thinking Harm had walked away, she set her pen down and rubbed her eyes. She had just broken off the almost-engagement with Mic a few days ago and now she felt so lonely. She knew it was for the best, but she was thinking she would never find anyone, and she wasn't getting any younger.

Harm's eyebrows furrowed in concern and he entered the office, shutting the door behind him. He knew something was bothering his partner, and not just a cold. "Mac, what's wrong?"

Mac nearly jumped out of her chair at the sound of his voice. She hadn't even heard him come in, or shut the door. She didn't seem to notice anything, her whole body seemed intent on fighting this cold. She looked up and offered a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Nothing."

"Mac, we've known each other long enough to know when something is bothering the other. What is it?"

She really didn't feel like getting into it with Harm at that moment. After all, he still had Renee, even if she hadn't heard about the video princess for a while. But she did want to talk to Harm, feel his comforting arms giving her a reassuring hug, telling her she wasn't alone, she still had him. 'You're just kidding yourself, Sarah.' She reprimanded herself. No, she couldn't tell him how she felt, he'd laugh and think her sentimental feelings gave the Marines a bad name.

"Just a cold." She swallowed the scratchy feeling rising in her throat and blinked her eyes to clear her vision so she could finally concentrate on the work in front of her.

Harm could tell she wasn't going to talk, but had a feeling it had something to do with her breaking up with Mic.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?" He asked. He was feeling pretty lonely and thought they should spend the lonely night together instead of alone. He had broken up with Renee a week ago, but just hadn't told Mac. He didn't know what to say. 'Oh hey, Mac, I broke up with Renee. Welp, that's all I had to say.' It wasn't that easy. Every time he nearly told her, he stopped himself. He was just waiting for the right moment.

Mac looked up at him. Wasn't Renee going to come over? She voiced her thoughts.

Harm shrugged and looked away. Maybe this was the right moment. "We broke up a week ago."

Mac felt her heart lift and suddenly her cold and Mic's departure weren't so important anymore. She was thankful that a violent sneeze made her turn away, hiding her smile of happiness.

"I'm not much company right now . . ." She began.

"Come on, Mac when was the last time you and I had dinner together? It'll be like old times again. I'll even order pizza." He flashed her his famous flyboy grin that would make her to accept his dinner invitation no matter how sick she was.

Mac gave a weak smile back at him. "Sure. I want everything on my half."

Harm stood and laughed on his way out. "Yes, ma'am."

7:45 EEST

Georgetown, Virginia

Mac's Apartment

Mac took another swig of cough medicine before leaving the house. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself as a gust of cold wind hit her full force. She felt as if a heavy weight had descended upon her, making breathing difficult and her head feel like it was twice it's normal size. She really didn't feel up to going, but Harm had seemed happy about her accepting the dinner invitation, and she didn't want to disappoint him. Besides, she was really looking forward to spending the evening with him. Especially now that she had found out that Renee was out of the picture.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn't hear the footsteps behind her and was caught off guard as a thick cloth covered her mouth and nose. Before she knew it, she had slipped into a blanket of darkness.

The man threw down the chloroform-soaked rag and dragged her to his car quickly, making sure nobody was around. Within seconds he was speeding out of the parking lot, Mac unconscious in the passenger seat.

9:00 EST

North of Union Station, D.C.

Harm's Apartment

Harm had long ago started pacing his apartment, frantic with worry. Mac should have been at his apartment long ago. He had tried calling her house a dozen times, all to no avail. He had tried to tell himself that she just got caught in traffic or something, but he had a bad feeling in his stomach that something else had gone wrong. 'Of course something is wrong!' A little voice piped up inside his head. 'Do you really think it takes her this long to get to your apartment?' He muttered angrily in reply and after trying her cell phone again, grabbed his coat and keys and walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him. He was going to kick Mac's six once he found her for worrying him like this.

Fifteen minutes later he pulled up at her apartment building and abruptly stopping the car, hopped out. He all but ran to the door of the building, but stopped when he saw Mac's keys on the ground near her car, and a rag near them. Her purse was lying on the ground, its contents scattered on the rough pavement. He picked the rag up tentatively and slipped it into his pocket. It looked like it was soaked with something, but he wasn't about to find what. The already bad feeling in the pit of his stomach was growing wider by the minute as he tore open his coat pocket and flipped open his cell phone. He quickly dialed a number.

"Admiral, sir, I'm sorry to disturb you at home." He began. What was he going to say? He finally forced the words out, not caring if he sounded stupid to his CO. "But I think Mac has been kidnapped."