Standard disclaimers and all.I don't own they. I just take them out to play and put them back as I found them.

Thanks for all the great reviews. You're keeping me going.

Roberts Residence

Harriet couldn't sleep. It was the same as last night and the night before and for so many nights in recent memory. It all began after the Commander's arrest for the murder of Loren Singer. She worried then as she did now for her two best friends as well as her husband. Mac was always inclusive in Harriet's fears for Harm because she knew that the bond they shared was special and whatever affected one would affect the other.
She rolled out of bed gently so not to wake Bud. He hadn't been sleeping well either. He seemed to take everything that had been happening to Harm lately too hard. She knew so much of it was guilt because of his inability to do any thing for the commander; after all, the commander had stayed by his side when he had almost died. And Mac, as well, it was impossible to think of one without the other.
She made her way to the kitchen and steeped a cup of tea. Chamomile tea always helped her relax. After grabbing a couple of cookies she went into the den and relaxed on the sofa, it was the quietest room in the house and the happiest. Rows of family pictures lined the mantle of the fireplace. Her eyes fixed on one in particular; a photo of Harm and Mac with little A.J. on the day of his christening. They were so happy. He had placed his arm around Mac and held little A.J.'s hand. She could never understand why they never got together. Sure there were the regulations, but Mac was on the bench now and she was certain it wouldn't take much to make her position permanent. They obviously had feelings for each other. Even Bud had seen that. With a sigh she went to the bookcase and removed an album. When she had settled again and was comfortable she opened it to the first page; a picture of the JAG softball team. What a day that had been, Harm and Mac bantered in their usual Navy-Marine Corps way, but underneath, if you looked, you could see the bond. When they posed for the picture he stood with his arm around her shoulder, peeking at her out of the corner of his eye. She had her head slightly inclined and was looking over at him. They were always sharing looks like that. They had it bad. She knew this because on few occasions Harm's proximity to her had reduced him to, for want of a better word, Budisms. Like the time the Admiral had put him in charge of JAG and he fell out of the chair and hit his head. He just got goofy sometimes. Harriet had to smile. "Now that's something I haven't seen enough of lately."

Harriet turned to see Bud leaning against the doorframe. "Hi sweetie, I hope I didn't wake you."

Bud hobbled over and sat next to her. "I really don't sleep much anymore." His hair was disheveled from sleep and there was a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. The nightmares were back.

She thumbed the pages of the book. "I can't help thinking about them. I know they've been in dangerous missions situations before, but something feels different."

Bud took her hand in his. "Well, Harm's never resigned before. He was really worried about Mac. I think something has changed with them."

They sat in silence for several minutes looking at the photos. Finally, Bud turned to her. "Can I ask you something without you getting angry? " "Of course sweetie."

"You've always had a thing for Harm haven't you?"

"Bud.."

He held up a hand to silence her. "Don't misunderstand. I know you love me and would never, well, you know. It's just that all women seem drawn to him, he just has this.I don't know, charm?" Bud shrugged. " I guess if I could pick a person to be it would be him. Uh, with you, I mean."

Harriet was thoughtful for a minute. "Harm is kind of like the fancy shoes you see in a store window. The ones with the high, high heels and pointed toes. They look great in the window. You think you want them, but they aren't practical, they're very uncomfortable and they just won't make you happy."

Bud puzzled over it for a second or two. "Harm makes you uncomfortable?"

Harriet couldn't help but laugh. "No Bud, I mean the happiness would be short lived and you find they really aren't what you wanted, not like the comfortable ones you already love."

He smiled in understanding. "You're not comparing me to an old shoe are you?"

"Honey, you're shoe nirvana." Harriet replied as she kissed him.

They snuggled a few minutes before their attention fell on the album again. "It's not going to be the same without Harm around anymore."

Sensing his mood change she took his face in her hands. "They're coming back, Bud."

He looked at her skeptically, "Yeah, but even if they do, Harm resigned."

Harriet smiled cryptically, "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Right before I sealed the personnel packet that was going to BUPERS the Admiral came in and took out the letter of resignation and paperwork. I don't think I was supposed to see."

"Really?" Bud thought about it for a bit. "That old sea dog!"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you see? The Admiral had to get Harm to retire. He couldn't send him to Paraguay on active status; the man is a walking international incident. This way if there was trouble all he had to do is wave the letter of resignation around and say he didn't know."

"He must have decided to not turn it in then."

Bud smiled for the first time in days. "Not yet, anyway. He knows something. He has a plan!"

TBC. IDEAS?