A/N: So here is Chapter 38. I was going to make it longer, but decided I liked where it ended. And my lunch break is over so now I have to go back to work…

I've probably said similar before, but I can't believe this thing has gone on for 38 chapters with more to come. I've had to make a document with all the chapter titles so I make sure I don't duplicate anything. So far, so good. (I think).

Delicate

Chapter 38: Long Night

0712 Local

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Bethesda, MD

Mac dozed in fits and starts at Harm's bedside. She was certainly uncomfortable, the chair she was sitting in not meant for slumber, but more than that, she couldn't stop the images and dreams haunting her mind every time she closed her eyes…

She was irritated. She had just arrived home after a long flight—actually several long flights, had barely made it through the door to her loft, and now her phone was ringing. Taking a pull from the beer she'd managed to grab before being so rudely interrupted, she answered with a terse "Rabb."

Wait…She was MacKenzie. And she certainly didn't drink beer…Mac sank back into her dream.

Dammit. Someone had broken in into the storage garage where she housed her 'vette. It had been vandalized, said the manager there, Mr. Ehrlich. She had thought keeping her 'vette in a garage out of sight would have prevented this sort of thing from happening again. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

She grabbed her jacket, tossed a longing look at the beer now sweating on the counter, and headed out. It was probably for the best; she had just remembered she was supposed to stop in at JAG and touch base with the admiral. One more thing to do before finally being able to call…

Mac. She was Mac. She didn't have a storage unit. She didn't drink…

She walked up the drive to her unit. Funny, everything looked intact; the roll up door down, no evidence of vandalism from the outside. She slid the key into the lock and the door creaked open. It was dark in there and the deep cloud cover of the day did not do much to illuminate her surroundings.

But still…nothing seemed out of place. The 'vette was intact. 'What in hell?' she said out loud…but then the hair on the back of her neck and arms stood up. She whipped around and found herself staring into burning blue eyes.

"What in hell, indeed, Commander."

No, no. She was a lieutenant colonel. This was all wrong. She mumbled her protest in her sleep.

"You…" she breathed. Any further words were cut off by a sudden and excruciating pain in her left arm. The force of whatever had hit her drove her back a few paces into the hood of her car. She fell onto it, knowing that if she didn't move quickly, she'd just be a sitting duck for her tormentor. She rolled across the now bloodied hood, leaving a smear of ominous maroon in contrast to the bright cherry red of her beloved corvette.

She hit the concrete floor, instinctively catching herself on her hands. She nearly crumbled to the ground as the impact sent a white-hot pain up her left arm; the bullet she assumed had hit her had likely hit bone, rendering her left arm completely useless. Blood continued to run down the injured limb and she thought with curious detachment that at least the bastard hadn't hit an artery. Still, though, she was weakening, and the sound of her ragged breathing was a roar in her ears.

She knew she had just one chance to stop this man that had brought so much evil into their lives. Gathering the little strength she had left, she rushed at him. The impact drove him to the ground with her on top of him. She knew he still had a gun in his right hand but unfortunately there was nothing she would be able to do with her left arm to get it away from him. She shimmied up his body, intent on crushing his larynx with her uninjured arm. The man wheezed and grunted below her. Maybe she managed to break a few of his ribs in the fall…

But wait…that wasn't a wheeze. The man was laughing. The sonofabitch was laughing. He easily pitched her off of him and the brunt of the impact was borne by her shattered arm. She couldn't stop the agonized scream that tore from her throat, or the other scream when the bastard strode around her and kicked her right where the bullet had struck. She automatically curved into herself, biting her lip bloody to keep any more of her weakness from escaping.

She then heard the rustling of his clothing and a voice that sounded suspiciously like Harm's shouted in her mind to move! She rolled over with her last remaining bit of strength, feeling a lancinating pain across her brow. She fought to maintain consciousness and once again the reedy sound of the man's laughter filled her ears. She waited for another shot to sound, finally ending her life but it didn't come. Instead, she felt him dig in her pockets and pull out the keys to the 'vette. A few seconds later, she heard the familiar sound of the car's engine turning over. So, was he planning on running her over? She didn't have enough strength to move away and she cursed herself for her failure.

Sadik was going to win. She heard his footsteps on the concrete and was surprised she was still conscious as his footsteps paused. Suddenly she heard the thud and crash of various objects striking the floor. There was the sound of metal scraping against concrete and more pain as her shelving unit unceremoniously crashed on top of her. The shelves were heavy, and there was no way she'd be able to work her way free.

As blood obscured her vision, she heard the slide of the rolling door as it came down and made contact with the concrete. Dear god, he was going to leave her here to die from CO poisoning if the gunshot wound didn't get her first. More importantly, he was leaving her to go and kill…Mac.

But she was Mac. He'd already killed her…she lay under a mess of metal and debris and the air was rapidly filling with carbon monoxide. No, she wasn't the one lying there. It was Harm. He was the one now helpless on the ground, and where was she? Dear god, she had to get to him. Harm couldn't die. No. NO NONONONONONONO! She called out his name.

0716 Local

Bethesda Naval Hospital

Bethesda, MD

"Harm!" He was in danger. She had to save him. She had to…had to…

But she couldn't. There was a heavy weight on her head holding her down but then she felt gentle fingers glide through her hair. And glide again. A soft, loving voice came with it…

"It's okay, Sarah. It's okay. I'm okay. It's okay."

Mac gave a shuddering breath and forced her eyes open. Her chocolate-brown orbs met ocean-blue depths. Harm!

She lifted her head and captured his hand in hers. "Oh, Harm," she sobbed. She shakily stood, ignoring the protesting of her neck and back muscles as she unfolded herself from her chair. Teardrops fell off her cheeks and nose and landed on Harm's as she leaned forward and rained kisses down his forehead to his cheeks until she finally caught his lips. The kiss was tender, and something released in Mac as she felt his answering touch. Finally, she sat back down, still clutching his hand. She brought it to her cheek and his hand immediately shifted in her grip to brush her tears away. The familiar gesture only brought out more tears.

"Oh baby," Harm whispered, his voice roughened from his recent ordeal. "Don't cry, sweetheart, don't cry."

"I can't help it. It's just…it's so good to hear your voice." She gave him a watery smile.

"It's good to hear yours. I missed you, Ninja Girl."

"Not as much as I missed you, Flyboy."

Harm's eyes had filled with tears by now as well. "I doubt that," he choked out, voice breaking.

Mac kissed his knuckles then turned his hand to press her cheek against his palm. "I'm so sorry, Harm."

Harm looked confused. "For what, sweetheart?"

"For—" She gestured to his body with her free hand.

"Sarah, honey, I'm pretty sure you had nothing to do with this."

Mac didn't contradict him, but she didn't agree with him either. She looked deeply into his eyes. "Harm, do you remember what happened?"

The lines in Harm's forehead deepened and his gaze drifted upward. "I remember…getting back to my apartment, getting a beer from the fridge…" Harm thought for a moment. "I got a call…my car had been vandalized…" Harm shook his head. "That's it…until just now."

Mac didn't know whether to worry or be grateful that Harm didn't remember much…she knew deep within her soul that her 'dreams' had been visions of what he had suffered. Unless he remembered on his own, she was going to spare him the gory details. She realized Harm was asking her a question. "Say again, honey?"

"How did…how did I end up here?"

"Sturgis found you in your storage garage…your 'vette was running…you had been shot, you were bleeding, your big shelf had fallen on top of you. Sturgis got you out."

Harm closed his eyes for a moment and she had the impression he was praying. His eyes then opened again and he drew in a shaky breath. "I'll have to thank him."

"Me too."

They were both quiet for a while, Mac reveling in just being close to Harm again. She thought he he had drifted off to sleep again so she decided to get up and walk out the kinks a bit and then perhaps find some food. She wasn't very hungry but the last thing she'd eaten was a pack of pretzels on the plane. She needed water, too; she could feel the slight lightheadedness that came from dehydration.

She was halfway to the door when Harm's voice stopped her. "Mac? You're leaving?" He sounded slightly panicked.

Mac turned back and was at his side in an instant. She ran her hand through his hair then kissed the undamaged portion of his forehead. "Just going to get a bite to eat and something to drink. I'll be right back."

Harm nodded. "That's a good idea. You're still too thin."

Mac tapped his nose with her finger. "Hey!" Her face softened into a smile to let him know she wasn't offended. "I was getting better…"

"How—how are you, Mac?" He reached up and curled his fingers around her arm, his thumb making gentle caressing motions.

"I was getting better." She repeated.

"And now?"

"Harm…he's back."

"Who's back…oh…Sadik."

Mac nodded. "He was there…at your parents' house. He killed Martha, Harm."

Harm's eyes widened in obvious horror then narrowed down with equally obvious confusion.

"My parents? Mac, why? How did you—"

"Harm, I…I've been in San Diego."

"With Mom and Frank?"

"Not at first…just for the last couple of weeks. I was going to tell you but then there was the communications blackout. Before that, I was at the Miramar VOQ."

"I thought you were going to see someone for counseling." Harm still looked confused.

"I did, Harm. The admiral…he recommended her and made arrangements for me to see her."

"Oh…" Harm turned his head away from her, an unreadable expression in his face.

"You're upset with me."

Harm shook his head but didn't say anything.

"Haaarm…"

Harm finally turned back to face her. "No…I just wish you would have told me…I could have—"

Mac interrupted him. "No, Harm. That's just it…you would have told your parents and had them rescue me. I hated being alone, but it had to be that way."

"What made you call them?"

Mac was a bit embarrassed and a light blush graced her cheeks. "Um, I had a rough day in therapy and I needed a mom." She wouldn't meet his eyes.

Neither said anything for a moment and Mac continued to avoid looking directly at Harm. Finally, she felt his hand on her face, his thumb brushing over her lips. "Mac…look at me. Please." She slowly brought her eyes to his. "Mac, it's okay to need someone."

"But she's your mom, not—"

"I'm willing to share, sweetheart. And Mom loves you too." He gifted her with a small, sweet smile, which she answered in kind.

"Well, I love her too. And Frank. Harm…they were so good to me. But now this…"

Something in Harm's eyes changed. He was scared. "Mac, my parents. Where are they? Who's protecting them?"

"They're okay, Harm. Clay, uh, Webb has them in protective custody." At that, Harm withdrew his hand away from her, his expression clouding then closing off as he turned his face away from her.

"Haarm…Please don't do that. I know how you feel about him, I understand why you feel that way about him, but he is still my friend. He got your parents to safety." Harm snorted at this. "Harm!" Mac spit out in frustration. "We've been through a lot together, and he got me here to you. He wants Sadik as much as we do and we're going to need his help. So, please. Don't shut me out every time he comes up. I'm not asking you to like him or even be civil to him…just don't turn away from me too!"

Harm stayed silent for a few more beats, then heaved a great sigh. He reached out for her again and she could see the hurt in his eyes when she hesitated before clasping his hand again. "I'm sorry, Ha—" she started to say but he shook his head.

"No, Mac. I'm sorry. It's just…it's going to be hard…after everything…I mean, I could so easily have l-lost y-you…and…" His words choked off at that point and though it wasn't the first time she had seen him cry, it tore at her to see her big, brave flyboy break down. She leaned down into him and buried her face in his neck. He appeared so fragile right now and it was time for her to be the strong one. She soothed away his tears with soft caresses and kisses, holding him to her as best she could as he lay in the hospital bed. Eventually he calmed, giving her a watery smile as she brushed the last bit of tears from his cheeks.

"We're quite a pair, aren't we, Flyboy." She smiled back at him, running her fingers again through his hair.

He chuckled a bit. "Yeah, we sure are, Ninja Girl." His expression turned pensive as he stared deeply into her eyes.

"What?" she asked.

"Mac, Sarah…you said you were getting better…"

"I was. I am. The nightmares…the flashbacks…they were, are, so much better. I guess I'm just afraid that with all this…I'll lose what ground I've gained…but Harm, I'm ready to face him. Face Sadik. This is going to stop," she said with grim determination.

Harm's eyes narrowed again at her. His gaze slid away again after a few seconds, but no before Mac saw the worry and fear in his eyes. "Mac," he said quietly. "Why do you have to face him at all?"

She closed her eyes briefly before taking a deep breath and opening them again. She knew the reason…she had known how it would be even as they watched him disappear down a Paraguayan railway.

"Because…I'm the only one who can end this."

End Chapter 38