Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB, Paramount, CBS et al. This is for fun, no copyright infringement is intended.


"Sarah!"

"Now, now, Commander. Easy, everything is okay."

Harm blinked several times but his vision stayed blurred.

"Mac?"

"Commander Rabb, can you hear me?"

He realized that a male voice was talking to him. He tried to focus.

"Admiral?"

Now there was amusement in the voice. "No, but maybe one day. I'm Captain Nolan your doctor. You caused us a lot of trouble, Commander."

"Doctor? I'm in hospital?" Harm tried to sit up but groaned at the pain in his chest and back.

"Don't try to move now. You'll be pretty sore the next couple of weeks but you'll heal. Relax. You need to rest."

It was too difficult to resist. Harm drifted to sleep.

- Bethesda Naval Hospital, Harm's room, two days later

Harm groaned softly as he tried to find a comfortable position. His chest was aching, his back was sore and he had to move carefully because he was surrounded by a lot of tubes and medical equipment. But he was glad to be alive.

"The nurse found a vase for the flowers." Mac walked back into the room and put the bunch of flowers on the bedside table. "You've read the card?"

"Yes. Would you thank them all on Monday?" Harm flipped the card towards the flowers.

"Of course. You need another pillow?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you. Better than you would expect a man being stabbed by a terrorist a few days ago."

Mac's expression grew serious and she looked away. Harm swallowed a sigh.

"Hey, Mac, have you -" He was interrupted by a short knock at the door. Before either of them could answer it opened and Clayton Webb strode in.

"Morning, Harm. Mac," he greeted them with a nod.

"Webb. That's a surprise."

Webb put his hands in his pant pockets. "It is? Why?"

"Well ..." Harm was at a loss of words. Webb actually grinned.

"How are you? They think you'll live?"

"Webb!" Mac shook her head.

"What? I've got the trouble here. Haven't you read the newspapers?"

"Well, I can remember the headline 'Shootout in Baltimore - Gang of drug dealers arrested after battle with police' - who's idea was that?" replied Mac malicious.

"Better than 'Terrorists in our front garden'," shot Webb back. "And why bother anybody with a problem that is solved now. But you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes."

"Webb you're rude. You can't put it that way," Harm shook his head then looked uncomfortable, "That bad?"

"It's a battle of its own. Thank God my head is not at stake so far. But Harm you could do me a HUGE favor: Next time I ask you to stay away - just do it."

"I will," Harm said with a rueful smile.

Webb raised his brows and turned to Mac.

"You know the name of that drug? I may need it sometime."

Mac laughed out loud. It felt good.

"Hey, I really appreciate that you were looking for me, Clayton," Harm interjected. He had heard Mac's part of the story though the spy would probably never tell his one. "I mean, I missed the interesting part. The last thing I remember is that guy with the knife and after that - nothing."

"Well, Commander Turner nearly sprained his ankle as he jumped into the pit and you fell into it head over heels. But you're right, you owe me - again." Webb pointed at Mac. "And you do too."

Mac just snorted.

Harm smirked. "We'll see. I can invite you to lunch."

"Harm, be careful," Mac warned smiling. "That used to be expensive."

"Oh, I've thought about buying him a hamburger - and maybe a milkshake."

Harm really couldn't explain where that came from but while Mac laughed at his suggestion Webb's smile fell off his face for a moment. The spy recovered quickly and forced a short laugh.

"Now I know for sure you're drugged." He checked his watch. "I've got to go. Duty's calling."

He opened the door and stepped out into the corridor but gave Harm one last confused look over his shoulder.

Mac was still giggling. "Clayton Webb and a hamburger plus milkshake. What a nice picture."

Harm stared at her and nodded slowly. "Oh, yeah. What a nice picture."

Mac sensed that he wasn't talking about Webb anymore and got silent.

Harm cleared his throat. "I don't think I've told you how much I appreciate that you were looking for me too."

"Hey, we're partner, remember?" Mac saw the seriousness in his eyes and was suddenly very busy arranging the flowers on the bedside table.

Harm gently reached out and took her hand in his. He locked eyes with her.

"I mean it, Mac. Thank you very much."

She gulped. Her voice was just a whisper. "For what?"

Harm squeezed her hand. She could barely hear his answer.

"Thank you for caring."


The End.

Author's note: THANK YOU SO MUCH for the reviews! It's a huge encouragement!