A/N: This is a fairly short chapter, but it seemed like a good place to break. It's a little bit of filler. But 18 is my favorite number, just sayin'!

Gone

Chapter 18: Late

July 2005

0531 Local

Mac's House

Whitefish, MT

"Harm?"

Harm looked up from the suitcase he was packing to see Mac standing in the doorway of her bedroom. Her eyes were still red and puffy, and he knew she hadn't gotten any more sleep than he had.

"I'm sorry about last night," she continued.

The night before, after he told Mac about Bud and Harriet naming their little girl after her, he'd gone into the bathroom to check on her. She was sitting up against the tub, legs hugged tightly to her, looking almost tiny as she curled herself into a ball. She was sobbing into her knees and he crouched down next to her, softly speaking as he stroked her hair and rubbed her shoulders. She eventually collapsed against him and he wrapped her in his arms, and through her sobs, he could hear her ask 'why' over and over. He tried to answer her, tried to tell her Bud and Harriet had named their baby MacKenzie because they loved her, but she'd refused to hear it. When she'd calmed again, he'd wanted to take her back to bed, but she refused. "You go, Harm. I just want to be alone for a while," she'd said, and he'd had no choice but to leave her to her thoughts.

"Okay, Mac," he'd whispered, then kissed her hair before he stood up and left the bathroom. Nic had trotted in as he left, and when he turned his head to glance back at Mac, he saw her pull the cat onto her lap and bury her face in his fur. Harm had felt a stab of jealousy, but he'd merely turned away again without saying anything and returned to the bedroom. At least she had someone…something, he corrected himself, to comfort her. He'd stayed up and waited for her to come back to bed, but she never did, and he found himself only dozing in fits and starts.

Back in the present, Harm nodded in acknowledgement, then turned back to his packing. He wasn't angry with her, but he supposed he was hurt that she hadn't come back to him for comfort. He zipped up his duffle bag closed after adding his shaving kit, hearing a sniffle coming from Mac's direction as he lifted his bag onto his shoulder. He wanted to remain aloof, but Mac's tears always had a way of undoing him. She'd never cried that often, so when she did, his heart would break and he would have the overwhelming desire to comfort her, to make whatever was hurting her go away. He tried to maintain his current stoicism, but another sniffle and a watery plea from Mac finally did him in.

"Harm, please…" Harm dropped his bag and rushed to her side to pull her into his arms. She clung to him and choked out another apology, but he shook his head, gently shushing her before kissing her hair. Eventually, he tried asking her about what had happened last night, but as usual, she refused to answer. Harm didn't push; he in no way wanted to leave with her angry with him, so he did the only thing he could do. He just held her until he absolutely had to leave for the airport, whispering his goodbyes against her hair before silently departing with one last 'I love you'.

As he drove away from Mac's house, a feeling of unease blossomed in his chest, a feeling he knew wouldn't abate until he could hold Mac in his arms once again…or at least he hoped it would.

1600 Local

Glacier Park International Airport

Kalispell, MT

"What do you mean, cancelled?" Mac asked the agent at the check-in counter, something like panic settling in her chest.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. The plane scheduled to fly to Salt Lake City is having mechanical issues and the flight crew has already logged too many hours. I can get you on the flight leaving tomorrow at the same time with the same itinerary, but of course that would delay your arrival by a whole day."

Mac stared at the agent, her eyes filling with tears. It was embarrassing, but for the last few days she'd been uneasy, the feeling that something was going to go wrong with this trip tormenting her as she moved about the aisles of the store or tried to sleep at night. It appeared her fears had been warranted, for here she was, facing an almost unacceptable delay. "Is that the only option? Are there any other flights, other itineraries, that would get me there sooner?"

The agent at least seemed sympathetic as she started to type something on her keyboard. Her fingers flew but by her expression, Mac was losing hope. Then, just as the agent started to shake her head, her disappointed expression morphed into one of triumph.

"Okay—there's one more seat on a flight to Seattle. It leaves in 3 hours. With connecting flights and layovers, you'll be getting to Harrisburg just a couple hours later than you originally planned. From Seattle, you'll go to—"

"I'll take it," Mac interrupted, and the agent nodded and started booking the flight.

"There you go," the other woman said as she handed Mac her boarding passes. "It will be leaving through Gate 1. You'll have about an hour layover in Seattle before you leave for Dulles."

Mac's head snapped up at the mention of the DC-area airport. Her heart started to pound, and she suddenly felt dizzy. "D-Dulles?" she stammered out.

The agent looked up from her computer screen with a smile. "Yes. Dulles to Harrisbu—ma'am? Are you okay?"

Mac was sure she'd gone absolutely white and she had already broken out into a cold sweat. She had to get away before she humiliated herself, so she mumbled an affirmative reply and hefted her carryon bag onto her shoulder. She headed first to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face, then stumbled into a stall, locking the door before sitting down hard on the toilet.

Dulles. Dulles. Dulles, she kept chanting in her mind, rocking back and forth as she tried to collect herself. There was no way she could get on a plane to DC. Absolutely no way. Shakily she reached into her purse for her cellphone, intent on calling Harm to tell him she'd be delayed by a day, but then remembered where she was. She wasn't about to be one of those people who chatted while on the toilet.

Mac splashed more water on her face before she left the bathroom, then pulled out her phone and flipped it open. Her thumb hovered over the 'dial' button for several seconds before she angrily flipped it shut. Glancing at the check in area, she saw the line had grown exponentially and by now, with so many people needing to be rebooked, the flight from here to Salt Lake City could very well be full.

Mac felt her trip to Harm slipping through her fingers. She missed him terribly of course, but for some reason, this time she was almost desperate to see him. It was almost as like if she didn't see him now, she'd never see him again. Finally, with a deep sigh, she gathered her things, making up her mind then and there that she'd get on that plan to Seattle. She'd call Harm once she made it through security and let him know of the slight delay, and then do her best to keep calm. Besides, hundreds of flights left from Seattle and hundreds of flights went through Dulles. There were millions of people between the two cities. The odds of her running into someone from her past had to be nearly astronomical.

She'd be fine.

1545 Local

Rabb Farm

Belleville, PA

Harm stepped out on his grandmother's front porch and scanned the long gravel driveway and the road beyond. He had expected Mac to be here a good forty minutes ago, but there was still no sign of her.

He'd intended to pick her up at the airport in Harrisburg, but when she'd called and told him she'd be delayed, they'd decided she'd just rent a car. Harm had had a meeting earlier today regarding the sale of some of his grandmother's fields. Bob Miller had been farming that land for years and since Harm knew he'd never take up actual farming and Bob was offering him a more than fair price, he'd decided to sell. The meeting was a success, but with Mac's change of schedule, he wouldn't have been able to pick her up for at least a couple of hours after her arrival.

Harm had to admit she'd sounded a little off when she'd called to tell him she'd picked up her rental and was on her way. He at first passed it off as fatigue; after all, she'd spent the night on an airplane, but now, with her becoming later by the second, he'd grown worried. Very worried. Something wasn't right here.

Ten minutes later, when Harm was about to try Mac's cell for the third time, a small red sedan turned into the drive. A few seconds later he could make out Mac's form in the driver's seat, and he practically wilted in relief.

He hopped off the porch as she parked the car in front of the house, not bothering to wait for her to shut off the car before he opened her door.

"Mac! Where've you been? I was getting worried!" he declared as she unbuckled her seatbelt. It was then that he noticed her hand was shaking, and when he finally took a good look at her, he was shocked at what he saw.

Mac was absolutely white, and It wasn't just her hands that were shaking. Her whole body trembled, and Harm felt his heart thump hard in his chest. "Mac?"

"I-I missed a turn leaving Harrisburg…had to backtrack," she said in near-monotone as he stepped back so she could get out of the car. He steadied her with a hand on her arm.

"Oh. That's okay, Mac, but what—"

"I had to fly to Seattle instead of Salt Lake City," she continued, and though she seemed to be speaking to him, answering him, she didn't seem entirely aware of his presence. He moved in front of her and cupped her face in his hands, lifting it so he could look her directly in the eye.

"Mac, honey…what happened?" His heart continued to beat frantically while he gazed into her unfocused eyes. "Mac," he repeated after several seconds and when she didn't respond, he finally just shouted at her. "Mac!"

At that, she gasped and stumbled backwards. He caught her around her waist and back and pulled her into his chest, holding her tightly as she shook and trembled. He was almost relieved when she started to sob. Words started to tumble from her mouth, but he could only make out a few of them…cancelled…Salt Lake…Seattle…Dulles…

Dulles? Did she actually mention that? Dulles in DC? Harm shifted his arms to her shoulders and pushed her back a little. "Mac? Did you just say—" Mac nodded and dissolved into a new bout of tears, and then she said something that made his blood go cold…

"H-Harm…I saw…Stur—Stur—"

"You saw who, Mac?" He started to feel a little sick.

"I saw Sturgis."'

End Chapter 18