A friend in need.

Chapter 3

See previous chapters for disclaimer……..it still applies.

Thanks again for all the reviews….they really help get the chapters out faster. This will probably be done in maybe two more chapters. Please keep reviewing J

Harm made his way around the apartment. It was late, he knew he should probably be trying to sleep. Mac hadn't said much after the detective left. He was hoping that after releasing some of her pent up emotions she would be able to talk to him. Instead she had said she was exhausted and went to her room. She tried, although not very hard, to convince him to go home. Knowing it was a battle she had no chance of winning she relented and escaped to her room. Harm grabbed his duffle bag from the entry way, he might as well change and try to get some rest. Turning the lights out he finally settled himself down of the couch. The days events and the assignment he had been on caught up to him quickly. In a matter of minutes he was asleep.

Mac turned in her sleep, her good arm came up from her side trying to block the blow she knew was coming. She was so cold. The concrete beneath her bit sharply into her back, Her uniform blouse was gapping open, she was completely exposed from the waist up. She struggled with everything she had, she had been fighting him for what seemed like forever but couldn't have been more than twenty minutes. For every move he made she made a countermove, she knew she was tiring quickly now. His hands reached down lower, groping her roughly. She could feel his breath against her neck, she breathed in deeply, fighting a wave of nausea against the smell that assaulted her……his hands became more forceful. As a last ditch effort she raised her head up quickly, not even thinking she sank her teeth into his neck, raising her knee at the same time. She connected right where she intended and the man rolled over screaming, his knees pulled up to his chest, a hand flew to his neck and came away bloody. Scrambling as quickly as she could she managed to get herself under the car. Moving slowly and painfully, she pulled herself till she was under the engine of the car. The cement barrier of the garage and her car giving her a place of refuge, she knew he was to large to get under there. With everything she had left she began screaming.

Harm launched himself off the couch, his heartbeating erratically, was he dreaming or did he just hear Mac scream? The noise pierced through his heart again and in three strides he was in her room. He watched for just a moment as she struggled in bed, she seamed to be calming down when she instantly sat up in bed, a strangled 'no!' rising from her throat. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her to him…….he knew better. Slowly he walked a little closer to the bed, whispering " Sarah…….it's Harm. You were having a bad dream. It's just me, baby." Mac slowly looked up at him…….a single tear made it's way down her cheek. She took a few unsteady breaths, her head pounded, and she felt like she had just been run over by a truck. " I'm o.k. Harm……it was just a dream, I'm ok."

Gently he sat down on the bed. He reached a hand out and softly covered hers with his own. She was cool and clammy to his touch. Looking down at her arm with the cast she looked back at him. " It wasn't just a dream…….every time I wake up, I think it was a dream, and……and then I realize, it wasn't." Harm rubbed her arm soothingly. " It's ok now…..you're safe now." Mac swallowed past the lump in her throat, " I know……I'm ok." Taking another breath she went on. " That's the first time I've had the dream all the way through……usually I wake up just after he grabbed me, or when he ripped my blouse." Harm couldn't stop himself any longer, he slid a little closer to her on the bed, pulling her to him he tucked her head into the crook of his neck and started rubbing her back.

Mac could feel Harm trying to calm his breathing…….he kept taking deep breaths, in through the nose out through the mouth. Gently she felt something hit her neck, then another. She reached a shaky hand up to touch it and was shocked when she realized it was his tears. She reached  her arm around his shoulder. Harm straightened a little, biting his lower lip. " I'm sorry……I," He pulled her close again, " God, Sarah……I can't stand to see you hurting this way." Mac scooted over on the bed in silent invitation. Harm turned himself around, staying on top of the covers he leaned against the headboard. Without a word Mac slid back over into the safety of his arms.

Harm awoke to the ringing of the phone…….he glanced around just a little confused. He was in Mac's bed. He heard the shower running and everything came back. Getting up he quickly went to the living room to answer the phone. " Mackenzie residence…." There was a brief pause on the other end. " Commander Rabb? This is Maggie Reynolds, we met last night, I'm just returning Sarah's call. When I came in this morning there was a message from her." Harm walked into the kitchen with the phone……by the looks of it Mac had been up for a while. Coffee was already made. " I can let her know you called Detective, she's in the shower right now." Harm helped himself to the coffee, seeing Mac's cup on the counter he refilled it for her. " How is she Commander?" Harm took a big breath, " Um…..ok, I think. She's stating to deal with it all I think." He finished quietly.

Mac walked in then, already in wind pants and a USMC t-shirt, she smiled at him quietly and raised her eyebrows in question. " Actually, Detective here she is now." Mac nodded and took the phone from him with her right hand. Her left was encased in a plastic grocery sac that was wrapped in duct tape at the elbow. Harm pointed to it and smiled. Holding her arm out to him Harm began to remove it for her.

Mac winced slightly when her skin tried coming of with the duct tape. " Good Morning Maggie…..how are you." Mac answered a few brief questions about how she was feeling. " Um….listen Maggie I remembered something else last night. Whoever this guy is that we're looking for,…….he probably has a bite mark on his neck." Mac wouldn't meet Harm's gaze and she smiled slightly into the phone, " yes,……I said a bite. Uh huh. It would be on the left side." Mac could hear her writing the information down.

 " Um……listen Sarah, I was going to call you later but I might as well tell you now. I have a suspect that I'm going to be bringing in. And with what you've just told me, we should be able to wrap this up pretty quickly if it's him." Mac was a little in shock, she didn't know what to say " Sarah….are you still there?" Mac cleared her throat, " Yeah, I'm here……I'm just surprised is all. I didn't really expect things to move this quickly." Harm looked at her sharply, his interest evident. Mac talked a little longer, and then hung up the phone.

Harm was throwing the wet plastic bag away when Mac hung up. He looked at her expectantly. " She has a suspect she's going to try and bring in today." Harm looked at her, his eyes wide. " Wow…..that's fast." Mac just nodded her head in agreement.

Harm made his way through the bullpen, after an hour of them arguing about him taking care of some business at work Harm had finally relented. He assured her that he would only be gone 2 hours at the most. Making his way to Tiner's desk he asked if the Admiral was busy. " No sir……in fact I'm under orders to interrupt what ever he has going on if you were to come by. How is the Colonel sir?" Harm assured Tiner that Mac was recovering well and would, if she had her way about it be back at work next week. Tiner knocked and then announced Harm to the Admiral. A.J. put down the papers he had been going over, noting that he wasn't in uniform he simply pointed to the chair. " How is she Harm?"

Stopping at the grocery store Harm picked up a few essential and non-essential things, grinning he loaded them into the back of his car. It was time for a little distraction.

Mac made her way around the apartment, picking up odds and end .She grabbed the pillow and blanket from the couch and made her way to the bedroom. Putting those things away she went in the bathroom to pick up her dirty clothes. Turning, she caught her reflection in the mirror. Stepping closer she surveyed the women staring back at her. The knot on her forehead was nothing more than a small bump. Although still an array of angry colors, the swelling around her eye and lip was also almost gone. Lightly, she began tracing the marks left behind by her attacker. She had yet to really look at the bruises on the rest of her body. Her breasts and chest were heavily bruised, as well as her thighs. She pulled her t-shirt off slowly,…….gasping she took in the sight of her bruises. There were scratches as well, some from the guy that did this to her and some left by her as she tried to fight him off. Slowly, a couple of tears made their way down her cheeks.

Harm slid the key into the lock while juggling a couple bags of groceries. Closing the door softly in case Mac was asleep he made his way to the kitchen. Going back to the door he saw Mac just as she was coming from the bedroom. He gaze swept over her……she looked slightly lost. "Hey, you ok?" Mac met him at the door. She looked at him, her confidence returning " Yeah……..I am. I'm going to be anyway, thanks to you." Harm flashed her his trademark grin " Oh no Mac, I'm not taking any credit here. You're doing this, not me. I'm just here for a little moral support." Smiling back at him again she asked, " so what'd ya bring me……you promised a distraction."  Harm opened the door, " Patience, my dear……it's still in the car, be right back."

Mac went into the kitchen to wait, she rummaged through the bags a little…….curious if he gotten anything good to eat. When she saw what she wanted she reached in greedily…….she could'nt help but smile. Turning back to the living room she tore into the big 2 pound bag of plain M&M's.

Harm juggled the heavy load in his arms, with his foot he knocked on the door. Mac got up, opening the door she stared at him. "Harm…….those are pumpkins!" Harm just smiled at her. Setting them down on the coffee table he turned and reached into the bag of candy. Popping a handful into his mouth he said " It's less than a week till Holloween Mac! Everyone else has their pumpkins out but you." Mac just shook her head and laughed " So we're going to carve pumpkins huh? Ok, where are the patterns?" Harm looked at her in mock disgust, " Mac……contrary to popular belief these days, if you have to follow a pattern, you're doing it wrong!" Mac reached to pick one up but Harm shooed her away. Following him they made there way to the kitchen.

Mac starred at the mess her kitchen had become, there seemed to be pumpkin guts everywhere. One counter top was spread with seeds to roast. Her sink was filled with pumpkin guts, and the other side where the bar was, is where they carved them. Harm looked over at her, seeing the expression on her face he grinned again " Don't worry, I'll clean it up." Mac focused her attention at the man sitting beside her, he really was like an overgrown kid……he was loving every minute of this. He noticed her expression, feeling a little self conscious he raised his eyebrows at her. " What?" Mac just shrugged her shoulders, bestowing a true smile upon him. " Nothing…….really……. I'm just really enjoying your company Harm, thank you." Harm just smiled at her, his eyes trying to convey a silent message. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but as usual, it just wasn't the right time.

Later that evening, Mac began pacing the apartment……she was completely beside herself. She had been anxious all day, waiting to hear from Maggie. She wasn't sure if it was a good sign or a bad sign that they hadn't heard anything yet. Harm sat on the couch watching her. What she needed was to get out of the apartment for a little while. She hadn't left it in two days, he knew for her……that was a record.

Mac had stopped pacing and was standing by the window when Harm came up behind her. He reached out for her arm, a concerned expression in his eyes. " I'm fine Harm……I just expected to hear from Maggie by now." Turning back to the window she folded her arms across her chest. Without a word she stepped back slightly, putting her back flush against Harms stomach. Without hesitating he wrapped his arms around her……it was a natural reflex. He was about to suggest that they go for a walk, get some fresh air when she cut off his first word.

Her voice was quiet, soft… " What makes a man do these things Harm?…….Why are some men so intent on having control over women?" Harm wasn't sure if she expected an answer…..hell, he didn't think he really had one. Was she talking only about this bastard, or all the other jerks that had tried to tear down Sarah Mackenzie as well. Only one thing came to his mind. Rubbing his hands down her upper arms he began, " I don't really know Mac, in my mind…..this guy, and guys like him aren't men. Not a real man anyway, there out to prove something. And if you have to hurt a women, or any person, just to make a point or to prove something to yourself then they have some serious problems." Mac sighed, seemingly content with his answer. There was a knock at the door, Mac looked up at him quickly before going to answer it.