Catch me when I fall.

Synopsis: After a near miss on the Seahawk, Mac and Harm talk. (Poem's my own. Any good?)

Did you hear,

When I cried out,

Into the roaring wind,

Did you hear,

When I lost..?

Did you see,

As I crashed down towards the waves,

Did you see,

When that brave soul died?

Did you know,

How I felt,

Did you know

What I saw,

Can you feel,

The burning pain inside?

Could you tell,

What I thought,

As I saw him die,

Can you tell,

What I feel inside?

' Try to be an individual. Just like everyone else.' - Anonymous.

Chapter One.

" Harm?" His RIO yelled above the sound of the roaring wind, " Harm? You still there buddy?"

" Yeah." Harm lifted his head, " J... just." He said quietly, his voice full of pain.
" D'ya think you can land her?"

" Yeah." Harm tried to sound confident, failing.

" Harm?"

" Yeah, yeah. I can land her." He snapped.

" Right." The RIO, Commander Rick 'Bubbles' Grant, didn't sound convinced, " All right." He got on the radio, " This is Bubbles and Hammer, comin' in. Hammer's injured, and there's a huge great hole in our plane. Other than that we're okay. Almost bingo fuel, no ammo."

" Got it Bubbles." The voice on the other end was the CAG, used to Bubbles' non-regs way of reporting, " Bring her in Hammer."

" Yes sir."

As the damaged Tomcat touched down on the deck, the cheers on the bridge were deafening. Mac looked at the skipper and they grinned at each other.

" Thought we lost him that time." The skipper said.

" Yeah." Mac breathed out heavily with a sigh, " If you don't mind sir, I'd like to check on him."

" By all means Major."

" Thank you sir." Mac saluted and smartly turned, leaving the bridge.

She hurried down to the infirmary, eager to check on her wounded friend. As she entered the busy room, she saw Harm sitting on the edge of one of the beds, a bandage round his side and on his forehead. His RIO was standing in front of him, yelling. Harm, tired and hurt, was just taking the abuse quietly, saying nothing. Mac stepped up, " What's going on Commander?" She asked Bubbles. Harm smiled at her gratefully.

" This idiot didn't tell me he had a head wound when he said he could land that bird!" Bubbles exploded.

" I landed her, didn't I?!" Harm shot back angrily. He winced and sat back.

" Commander, perhaps this would be better discussed at another time when you can both think rationally, and behave like adults, okay?"

Bubble spun round, glaring at her, then shrugged, " Whatever." He said, and walked off.

Harm stared after him, a confused expression on his battered face. Mac hauled herself up onto the bed next to him, letting her legs dangle over the side next to his, " So, how you doing squid?" She asked.

Harm grinned at her, " 'M okay." He looked down at the floor.

" Harm?" Mac asked.

" I... That was scary." He said in a small, child-like voice. Mac put a hand on his shoulder, gently rubbing it backwards and forwards, reassuringly, " I mean, it's not like I haven't flown injured before, just not since..."He fell silent.

" Yours and Skates' crash?"

He nodded mutely.

The ships doctor came over a minute later. He regarded the friends closely, made a note on his clip board. " All right, Commander." He said, " I'm releasing you. Colonel MacKenzie, you're responsible for him now, okay? Make sure he gets some rest." Harm slid off the bed and Mac nodded. Harm looked unstable and she put an arm round him, steadying him. " Harm, I don't want to see you back in here for at least a year. Last time was bad enough."

" Yes sir." Harm gave him a half-salute. The two men shook hands and Mac led Harm out.