Title: Support

Summary: takes place directly after hail and farewell. Harm and Mac support each other during a difficult time in their lives. A H/M shipper story.

Rating: PG13 I think

Spoilers: everything up to and including 'Hail and Farewell'

Disclaimer: don't own them, never did, never will, wouldn't mind owning Mikey Roberts though.

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"Will you always be there?" Mac asked.

"Yes" Harm responded with absolute certainty.

"Then you need know what the doctor told me," Mac said somberly.

"Mac, what is it?" Harm asked.

"Cancer," She replied simply.

"Oh Mac," Harm said as he took her hands in his, "what..."

"Ovarian cancer, specifically my right ovary," Mac explained, "They want to operate as soon as possible."

"How soon," Harm asked.

"They have an opening on June 2nd," Mac replied.

"That soon?" Harm asked surprised.

"They said that if they get to it soon enough they might be able to save my other ovary and I can still have kids." She explained.

"You're not going through this alone," Harm said with certainty and he turned to face her more fully, "I want to be there when you go back to the doctor and every time after that."

"Harm, what if I can't have kids?" Mac asked nervously, "will you still be there?"

"Mac, Sarah it's not just about children to me. It hasn't been for a long time." Harm told her. "Let's take a walk." He offered her a hand up and they headed down the path away from the officer's club.

"Then what is it about, Harm?" she asked and she took his arm.

"Us, Mac," He answered, "making us work."

"I was wrong in Paraguay wasn't I?" Mac asked, "About you wanting to be on top."

"I don't care where I am as long as I'm there with you," Harm replied as he glanced down at her to gage her reaction.

Mac was a little surprised at how open he was but not really about the sentiment behind his words.

"Harm, back on the Wake Island you said if I loved Clay it didn't matter what you wanted." Mac began, "Harm, I don't love Clay, not the way he wanted me to. What do you want Harm? And I need a straight answer from you."

Harm stopped and turned Mac to face him, he looked her right in the eye, "To make things work with the woman I love."

From the look in his eyes there was no question that he was talking about the woman in front of him. They turned and began walking again.

"Will you still want to make it work if I can't have kids and my hair is falling out because of the chemo?" Mac asked nervously.

"Sarah, if my love was conditional I would have given up a long time ago," Harm replied.

"I know we've been through a lot together," Mac said.

"And if we can get through all that we can get through this too." Harm said, "The only difference this time is that we'll have each other."

"I want you to know that what I'm about to say it isn't because of the pain meds I'm on or the grief or the fear, it's just me." Mac said looking up at Harm, "I want to make us work too. I love you."

Harm stops dead in his tracks, "Really?" He asked.

"Really," Mac stated as she placed a hand on his cheek. She then stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the mouth. It was a soft sweet kiss full of love and promises. She then took his hand and they continued walking.

"We're going to have to talk about this more," Harm said, "but now is neither the time nor the place."

Mac nodded her agreement.

"When's Clay's funeral?" Harm asked his voice full of sympathy.

"His body's being shipped back tonight." She replied soberly, "The funeral's on Sunday."

"I suppose it will be simple," Harm said, "It's not like the CIA can admit he was one of their best operatives."

"No," Mac agreed, "just a few close friends, some colleagues from work and his mother. They're having the star ceremony tomorrow at 1330. I've been invited to go."

"I should go with you," Harm said putting a hand on her arm, "you shouldn't be alone. Plus Clay was my friend too."

"Thanks Harm," Mac said nodding. She then reached up and hugged Harm tightly. She winced when Harm hugged her back and he made contact with the incisions from her laperoscopy.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Just a bit sore," she replied.

"Why don't I take you home?" He offered.

"Ya, that might be a good idea," she said, "I am pretty beat. We should go back and say goodbye."

Harm nodded and they headed back to the O club. Mac slipped her hand back into the crook of Harm's arm and he covered it with his own.