Disclaimer: No, I don't own them...yes, I took some artistic license. It's AU!!

Reviews: Yes, please! I'm still writing and could use the good, bad and indifferent ones please :) Thanks to everyone that has reviewed so far, they really do help. If any of you have suggestions or would like to see something specific happen, just let me know, I'll try to work them in. You'll get credit, of course.

Notes: Anything in italics is someone's thoughts

Sorry it took so long for an update, that thing called life got in the way, the nerve.

I hope you enjoy!

7:00pm Hump Bar – Friday Night

Walking through the door of the Hump bar, Denise scans the room to find her group. The bar seems to

be nearing it's capacity. What is it wet t-shirt night or something.

Spotting them sitting near the far end of the bar, she makes her way through the sea. Grabbing the stool

next to Pamela, who has Claudia Joy to her left, with Roland to her left and Roxy tending bar.

"I can't get over this crowd, I had to park on the side of the bar, until tonight I wasn't even sure you

could park there. It's so secluded."

Wiping the counter down "Yeah, well seems like everyone has had a long week. I'm done in five and

have made more tips during this short shift than I do on long ones."

"So this is the place to be?"

Hearing an all too familiar voice Denise spins around on the barstool and sees Harm towering over her.

Leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. Finding it a little hard to find words. "I see you found the place

alright."

"Yeah, it is right off the highway just like you said, not to hard."

"Well, let me introduce, Harm this is Pamela, Roland, Roxy and you already know Claudia Joy.

Everyone this is Harm, Frank and I knew him when we were in D.C."

Taking the stool that was saved next to Denise, Harm orders the beer on tap from Roxy.

"Here you go. I'm just going to go to the back and close out, so I'll be back in a few."

She had to wear a dress tonight? Get it together Harm. Black, scoop neck, with a hemline that falls

mid thigh when she sits. She really is trying to kill me.

8:00pm Hump Bar

The crowd has fizzled out a bit, leaving the usual size crowd for a Friday remaining. The group has

relocated to a round table close to the center of the bar. Roland, sitting next to Pamela, next to Roxy,

with Claudia Joy, Denise, and Harm who is in between her and Roland.

"Where's the head?" Asking Roland, Harm excuses himself from the table.

As soon as he was out of ear shot, "You know your naked right?" Everyone looks at Roxy, kind of

puzzled by her statement. "Oh yeah, he's been looking at you like a pig looks at slop during feed time,

no it's not an insult."

Suddenly feeling her face get a little warm, "No, Harm is just a friend. That's all." It's that obvious? I

hope I'm not as blatant as him. Hmm... Harm picturing me naked, if only he knew, STOP IT. I'm yelling

at myself now, just great.

"Oh no, I've seen it too." Leaning in Pamela grabs her glass and finishes the rest of her bottle. "Denise,

he has it bad, I think we can all see it, I mean just ask Roland, he's a guy."

"Well, yeah, there is something there, well you did say he kind of invited himself here tonight. I mean

don't get me wrong I think he seems like a good guy, but it seems like he wishes you two were alone."

Yeah, he did kind of invite himself, but I also repeated the fact that I was coming to the bar so many

times, that I think he just did it to shut me up. The last thought bringing a little bit of a smile to her

face.

Joining the table again. "First time I ever saw a line at the men's room."

Looking down at his watch, Roland finishes the last of his drink. "Well, I have to get going, early

morning."

Getting up he shakes Harm's hand, "It was nice meeting you."

"Yeah, you too."

Although more space is added, Harm does not take the opportunity to move from Denise. Turning back

towards the group his knee brushes up against Denise's bare thigh. He moves it away from her, but not

right away, first taking the time so it remains in contact with her leg until he reaches her knee.

"So anyway I think I'm going to go..." Get a grip Denise, it's a knee, not his naked body covering

mine. I hope Pamela isn't saying anything important. I know, I'll just. Adjusting in her seat to make it

look completely natural, Denise lets her legs cross, so her left leg is over the right, which allows her left

foot to graze, then rest against Harm's lower leg. Feeling his whole body tense up. Am I playing

footsies with Denise? Should 40+ people even be playing footsie? Who cares.

Reaching underneath the table Harm brushes his hand across the side of Denise's thigh, near her knee.

Literally shivering, okay, now that's a hand, and it's near my knee. Noticing the glances from the

other members of the table.

"I got a chill, must be a draft from somewhere."

"So Harm, Denise told us you had some pretty exciting adventures while in D.C." Denise can't tell if

Pamela was actually interested or felt something weird going on and wanted to break the awkwardness.

"Yeah, I definitely had some interesting things happen. Once Bud, a Lieutenant in the office had to

accompany this former Special Ops. guy, Raglan. Well they had to inspect the security of bases and...

As Harm regales the group with stories of his past, Denise finds her right hand landing on Harm's

thigh, giving it a squeeze. Wow, he is good, not even a pause in his story. Well let's see how he deals

with this.

Gliding her hand slightly north, to about mid thigh, then slowly moving it to the inside. It's at that very

moment, that Harm's hand reaches underneath the table, and covers Denise's. Instead of removing it he

holds it in place, in fact pushing it gently so she has a better grip on his leg. Glancing over at him, she

squeezes once more on his leg, then brings her hand back to the safety of the tabletop.

Realizing that Harm finished his story, Denise figures now is the best time as any to leave. Seeing that

she has lost all ability to concentrate, as well as the ability to not be shivering every five minutes.

"Well, I think I'm going to be heading out." Getting up she grabs her purse from the table.

Pamela places her hands on the table on each side of her. "Are you girls still coming over tomorrow

night?"

A round of yeahs is heard from the group. "You said your going to have a babysitter there, so I can

bring the boys?" Roxy questions.

"Yeah, Sara will be there."

"Okay, we'll then I'll see you all then."

"I think I'm going to leave also." Getting up from his stool, "It was very nice meeting all of you."

Reaching around to each person, he shakes their hand. "Denise, I'll walk you out."

"Thanks."

The three people remaining at the table watch, as they walk out the door.

"Wow, what is going on between those two?" Looking over at Claudia Joy, Pamela figures she is the

best person to go to for answers.

"Nothing, I mean not that I know of, besides if something is or were to happen, Denise will tell us.

When she is ready, she will tell us, we shouldn't push anything."

Parking Lot Hump Bar

Denise and Harm are walking towards her car, which is now alone on the side of the Hump bar parking

lot.

"Your friends seem like a really good group."

"Yeah, we're all so different, yet so much alike, we mesh really well. I'm lucky." Stopping when they

reach the driver's side door, Denise stands between the door and Harm.

Reaching out to brush the stray hair that has fallen in front of Denise's face, Harm's hand strokes her

cheek as he pushes it behind her right ear.

"You know I'm glad, that this all happened." Running his fingertips up and down her arm, she can feel

the goosebumps start to form.

"Harm, I'm marr..." Bringing two fingers to her lips, silencing the word he knows she was about to say.

The word he didn't want to hear, the one that brought guilt to his mind and heart.

"I know, just please, hear me out." Moving from her lips he grips both of her arms, not in a forceful

way, but a way that expresses comfort and tenderness. "So often people go through life, not sure of

things. They are scared to try something different and new, for the simple fact that their life may

change. Well you want to know something, all those years ago when I first knew you, that's how I was.

I was afraid for me and for you, not wanting to disrupt either one of our lives. Then you left, withdrew

after that night, Denise I have never felt such emptiness. After awhile I convinced myself I would never

see you again. It didn't fill the emptiness, or make me want to forget you, but I thought my chance was

gone. Then there we were running into each other at the hospital, and the moment I saw you I knew

that I had my second chance. I'm sorry if it scares you to hear this, but I can't let you go this time, at

least not without trying to convince you how much I need you in my life." His eyes remained fixated

on her throughout his whole confession, and not so much what she heard but what she saw scared her.

In his eyes she could see the desire, could feel his blue eyes reaching into her soul, with each word.

Cupping her face in his hands he leans down and his lips touch hers, a soft almost barely touching

graze. Then slowly using slightly more pressure, he slides the tip of his tongue across the slit, as if to

ask for entry. Opening her lips a little wider, his tongue enters, and begins it's exploration of her mouth.

Her hands which until now rested on her sides, are creeping up his back, pulling him closer to her. The

slow, steady, testing the waters kiss, begins to grow. Her tongue pushing back as his hands slide to the

small of her back, bringing her to him, until their bodies are tightly pressed against one another. Her

hands slide down his back, slowly she goes under the hem of his shirt massaging him. Their

tongues begin dueling, both fighting to capture the other's. Harm's hands go down until they are resting

on her bottom. Pushing her up, her legs fall to either side of him, not wrapping around his waist, but

hanging from the sides. As she allows herself to be held up by the car door and Harm, a soft moan

escapes from her throat as she can feel his hands kneading her rear. Her hands have left his back and

somehow found their way to his hair. Running her fingers through his thick hair, she lets her

head fall back so he has access to her neck. Within seconds Denise feels his hot lips leaving a trail of

kisses and nibbles down her throat, until her reaches her neckline. Pulling his lips away Denise brings

her head forward, her breath ragged and her brown eyes dark with desire, hunger. Another moan

escapes her as she realizes the lost connection. Bringing her legs back to the earth, he holds her for a

minute to ensure that she can support herself.

"Denise as much as I want to continue this." Gently swaying her in his arms, "and I do, I really do. I

can't, that kiss, no, that's to simple of a word. I just, you need time to process, think about things, and as

hard it is to let you go tonight, I need to be assured that this wasn't some heat of the moment thing. I

need you Denise, all of you."

Realizing he's right, she places her hand on the side of his face. "Harm, thank you. I'm sorry for all of

this." Cursing the responsibility and rationality that comes with age. Denise realizes twenty years ago

she would be headed towards a night of being in this man's arms, instead of facing a night, a week, or

more of endless soul searching.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Leaning down once again to give her a soft kiss on the lips. He

opens the door for her, watching as she gets in, and drives off. His eyes focusing on her car as it

disappears into the night. Walking over to his own car he gets in and driving in the opposite direction,

he too disappears into the night.

Please Review!! Just click that little button, you know you want to.

Notes:Sorry it took so long to update, updates should happen faster now. One – things have slowed down. (Life wise) Two – I have a pretty good idea as to where this story is going. Again, I am always open to suggestions, so if you would like to see a particular scene, just say so. I would probably be able to work it in.

Some of you may not be happy that I did not have more Pamela, Roland, Roxy interaction. The way I look at it is, yes Denise cares for these three people, but they are not Claudia Joy. I feel with the confusion she would feel as well as the uncertainty she would not be so quick to let these others in on everything, at least not right away. Don't worry though there will be more interaction with the group at Pamela's house in the next chapter.

Thanks to all who have reviewed so far, and to those that will review. Also, thanks for reading, I hope you are enjoying it.