A/N: Sorry, I tried to get this out last night, but the site was being anything but cooperative,

The Admiral clears his throat from the corner of the room, audibly voicing his presence. He had seriously considered letting his officer squirm for a little bit, wanting to see how Harm would answer Mac's question, but he decided that the man had been through enough tonight already.

Harm takes the rest of the cards left in his hand, and throws them across the bed at Mac accusingly, "You knew he was here!"

Mac starting laughing so hard, the tears begin streaming down her face as she mutely nods.

Harm folds his arms over his chest, and pouts, "That is playing pretty dirty there Marine."

Mac almost falls out of her chair, holding her sides while she continues to laugh hysterically. She sputters, "I'm sorry, Harm, the opportunity was too perfect to pass up. I just couldn't resist. The look on your face was just priceless."

Harm grumbles an audible "Hmm" before deciding to turn the tables on her, "Well, Mac, I'm aware that you are sorry, but the least you could do is apologize."

It's her turn to throw her cards at him, "Why?! You little piece of…!"

Harm is about to tell her that there is absolutely nothing "little" about him before remembering that their Commanding Officer is in the room, and that probably wouldn't be the best idea right now. He wouldn't want him to pull out any of the remaining hairs on his head. He can't afford to lose them.

The Admiral merely stands in the corner rolling his eyes. He finally decides to say, "Well, I guess I didn't need to worry about the two of you in my absence. Here I was concerned that Mac would have you pinned to the floor for scaring her, but after her last question, I feel that you might be inclined to do the same to her. Either way, I'm not sure that my presence is required for the remainder of the night." He turns to Mac, "Colonel, why don't you go get yourself a cup of coffee and something to eat, and take a short walk to stretch your muscles. I will sit with Harm to make he doesn't do anything stupid while you are gone. Then, I am going to go back home to try and catch a few remaining hours of sleep since he seems to be doing better now."

Mac stands up, holding on to the bottom of her purple shirt to ensure it doesn't ride up, and goes around the bed collecting the various cards that they both threw all over the place during their little battle. She didn't remember suggesting fifty-two pick up as one of their games.

Before she leaves the room, the Admiral calls, "Oh by the way, Mac, the last time I counted there were thirty-six, but I might have lost a few more of them tonight thanks to the two of you."

Mac sheepishly responds, "Yes, Sir."

She gives Harm a glaring look as she is proceeding out the door. Harm's eyes tell her, "Don't look at me, you started it!"

Once she leaves the room, the Admiral inquires, "Ok, Commander it's time to fess up. What aren't you and the doctor telling me that I need to know?"

Harm questions, "Sir?"

The Admiral rubs his hands over his mostly bald head as he sits down in the chair that Mac just vacated. He stares at Harm pointedly, "I'm not stupid. I know that there is something regarding your condition that you guys aren't telling me. The Captain remarked that they hadn't found anything physically causing your blood pressure spikes. Therefore, it has to be mental, emotional, or psychological. He can't tell me since that information since is guarded by patient/doctor privilege, but you can. Add that to the fact that Harriet mentioned you seemed 'euphoric' the last time you bumped your head, and I can put two and two together. You're having some un-natural thoughts about your partner, aren't you?"

Harm quietly replies, "I wouldn't call them un-natural, Sir."

The Admiral agrees, "You're right, Mac is a beautiful woman. It would be natural to be attracted to her."

Harm arches both his eyebrows in response, utterly surprised that AJ is admitting this to him.

The Admiral simply rolls his eyes at his junior officer, "I might be her CO, and consider her a daughter, but that doesn't make me a blind man either."

Harm relents, "Understood, Sir. It's just…Mac and I declared a new beginning after the JAG-A-Thon. We have finally gotten our friendship back to where it used to be. It has taken a lot of effort on both of our parts to get over the hurt we inflicted on each other. I just don't want to push too hard, and push her away. I know that if I decide to go that route, there are demons from the past that we will have to deal with. They can't just be brushed under the rug, or it will never work. These thoughts, or visions would be a more appropriate term, that I have been having tonight, definitely push that envelope way past the point of friendship."

The Admiral chuckles, "Well son, you could definitely do worse."

Harm smiles, "Yes, I could be like Bud. He seems to hallucinate about UFOs. That's what he asked me if I was seeing when I fell out of your chair." Harm continues, "Renee actually mentioned once that Harriet told her that Bud cheated on her with space men."

The Admiral outright laughs, "Only Bud would fantasize about little green men instead of women." Somberly he adds, "Seriously though Harm, you need to tell the Colonel how you feel. Don't worry about work, we will figure something out. You two need to address what has been in front of you for a very long time that the two of you have been too blind to see. Your feelings aren't a one-way street. I'm pretty sure that the Colonel feels the same way that you do. Maybe this injury was what you needed to make you see that, and finally have the courage to do something about it. I'm not saying that you necessarily have to act on it tonight, but you do need to do something about it soon."

Harm considers his words, thinking that the man sounds more like a father than his commanding officer at the moment, and tells him, "I'll definitely give it some thought, Sir."