Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Just like to play with 'em.

Falls Church A.J. Chigwidden's POV

Sometimes it is no fun being the Admiral. Once you get the gold braid it takes away you ability to deal on a human level. It's why I goaded Harm into his resignation or part of the reason. I knew he would do it. All I had to do was leave him no option. I left him no choice. We both knew he was going after Mac but I couldn't give him the official capacity or leverage. We both knew no one else was going to do it. I used him and now the guilt is eating me up. I just hope that if he finds her alive that he wakes up and realizes he can't live without her. He's too good of an officer sometimes. He would bend the rules to help a client or fellow officer, but he won't bend them to have the woman he loves. Maybe if, no, when they get back I can to put my contingency plan into action. I have been preparing for this for ages. Still the guilt, the weight of my command overwhelms me sometimes.
I decide to walk through the bullpen. It is after hours and most everyone has left for the day. Only one light remains burning, I walk over to Bud's office and peek in the door. She has her face covered by her hands and I see her shoulders shake with silent sobs. With all the stealth my SEAL training gave me I walk over and put my hand on her shoulder. She looks up with surprise and before she can come to attention I motion for her to sit. "Lt. Sims, Harriet," I say. "It's going to be okay." Before I can check my actions I pull her into a hug. She's like a daughter to me and we share common pain.

Falls Church LT Harriet Sims POV

Petty Officer Coates was almost my undoing. I had convinced myself that this was one of this tight spots that the Colonel and Commander got themselves into from time to time and they would come away from it again with a new anecdote to share. I almost had myself fooled, but then Jen brought me back to reality. I don't know if it's the hormones or the fact that I have known loss firsthand, but I feel it closing in around me. I force myself to be strong for them, offering words of comfort to Jen and bravado to Bud, but I have nothing to offer myself.
I went to the Admiral not really knowing what I would say when I got there. I knew he must also be worried. He had been with the Colonel and the Commander for so many years. They were almost like family to him. I offered a shoulder to lean on and a friendly ear. I don't know what I expected from him, but his dismissal left me with an empty, lonely feeling.