A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. My teachers think that if you are sleeping you are not working hard enough. Plus I have three hours of crew practice a night. And thanks to PR for beta reading this during Algebra II/Trig. ---- " " denotes dialogue, ' ' denotes thought.

Spring Fever Chapter 5 The walk back to the hotel was in silence. Both still reeling from the previous events. Even though their impromptu dip was mostly innocent, it was not exactly plutonic. Harm and Mac needed time to fully process what had happened and the implications it held. Everything was a blur, a mix of hormones, longing, and happiness.

Mac walked on, pensive, unsure, and unresponsive to most non-verbal queues. It hit her. She was scared. This realization felt like she was falling, falling into a painful nothingness, with no end, and no one to catch her. ' I want Harm, I love Harm, it's just I don't know if I can loose him. With Mic, it didn't matter. I never loved him. But with Harm, I love him so entirely, I would be nothing if I lost him. This insecurity is getting annyoing. I am a Marine for God's sake. I should be able to face my fears and charge right through them. Oorah, right? I promised myself that I would let all of this crap go and allow myself to open up to Harm. Well, I did, for a minute, and now.now I'm a basket case. Due to my little stunt, his expectations are going to be raised, what if he.'

"Mac" was all Harm said before he paused. It was so quiet, as if he was afraid. As afraid as she was. Mac was suddenly broken out of her musings. Harm's behavior worried her. 'Why was he so quiet? Was he feeling like everything was a mistake' Mac sincerely hoped not. She wanted this so badly; she just needed to sort out all the sudden changes.

"Yeah" Her voice almost drowned out by the crashing waves.

"We should talk" Harm's gaze was glued to his feet.

She paused, one step at a time she thought.

"Yes, yes we should." Mac said, to her that was one large step in the right direction.

'Wow' thought Harm, 'She didn't run, or try and skirt the issue. She maybe ready to let me in behind that wall.' Harm was more than shocked.

No sooner had they reached the lobby of their hotel, than Mac was called to the front desk.

"Ms. MacKenzie, you have a message." The tinny voice of the concierge penetrated the room. As Mac walked over to the counter, she was trying to regain any sort of composure. With her peripheral vision, she watched Harm retreat in the direction of his room. While waiting for the somewhat incompetent clerk, she noticed a sign,

Locksmiths are changing locks on all rooms. Please exchange

your key for a key card. Thank you for your patients.

When the woman returned with the message, she exchanged her key and left. Not thinking very much about it.

Harm stood at his door, just staring at the lock. "Now this a predicament." He stated out loud. There must be a conspiracy against him. First Mac teased him with that little swim, then she closes up, and now he is locked out of his room. "Great, this is just great!" He leaned against his door and slid down to the ground. Lost in thought, he didn't hear Mac approach.

"Hey, come in with me, and we'll talk. Harm, come on."

He just followed her in, sat on the bed and chuckled. " I never once imagined that I would share a bed with you because the locks on my hotel room were changed."

Mac laughed and her eyes showed relief. " Situations like this have been happening since I met you. I should have anticipated this one."

The gleam in her eyes let him know that everything was going to be all right.

"Well my stomach is starting to tell me is about time for dinner. When do you want to eat?"

"How about in an hour."

"Sounds good." Mac agreed as she threw herself on the bed next to Harm. They found a movie on TV to watch, and just laid there going over the day's events. Mac's attention was glued to the movie, while Ham's gaze could barley be forced from her beautiful figure for more that a few seconds. His eyes roamed from her gentle sculpted legs to her soft, shiny, touchable dark brown hair. It about 20 minutes later when Mac suddenly remembered the message.

"Hey, Strugis needs the McClellan file. Before we left I told him I thought it was in my office, on my desk, but he can't find it, and I forgot I gave it to you. The Admiral has him going out to the "TR" (U.S.S. Teddy Roosevelt) to interview witness and the some of the crew."

"OK, I'll give him a call now." It took Harm another 10 minutes to get up off the bed.

"Hey Stickboy, let's leave for dinner after you're done, because if we don't we'd be here 'til midnight, at your pace."

Harm shot her a "I'm not that bad" glare. But inwardly, he was smiling, 'It was great to have her teasing him again. She must have gotten over whatever was bothering her.' The room lightened both were feeling much better emotionally. They could now truly share a wonderful dinner. After finishing eating the setting sun turned the sky into a flaming backdrop to the glittering ocean. The moment was too perfect to pass up.

"Harm, let's go for a walk." Mac wistfully suggested. Harm needed no prodding. He had been hoping to take a long walk on the crisp white sand, holding the hand of his Sarah. They paid they bill and headed to the beach. When they reached the water's edge Mac slipped off her sandals letting the ocean nip her feet. The pair started down the beach, in a nagging silence. The feelings Sarah MacKenzie was burying were about to burst. She could no longer hold in the feelings that so desperately needed to be free.

"Harm. I love you."

"Sarah-"

"No, Harm let me finish, otherwise I might never. I love you. I love totally and completely. I have since the day we met in the Rose Garden. I am so sorry; I have done things, things that hurt you. I never wanted to drive you away. That was the last thing I wanted to do. I just wanted you to love me. I have been, and, well, I still am so scared. Think of me a US Marine scared. Well I am so scared I am going to loose you. I think what scares me the most is I have never felt the way I do when I am with you. When you kissed me on the Admiral's porch, it was more explosives than fire works, and more breath taking than nothing I have ever experienced before. I am scared of getting hurt, no, scared of letting my self get hurt. It's just. I don't think I can loose you."

With that a silent tear fell, cascading down her smooth cheek. It hurt Harm to see her cry. Instinctively he brought her close to him in a huge hug. His strong arms surrounded Mac. It felt right to have her against him. He soothed her.

"Shh, Sarah, all the matters is that I am here with you now, and I love you more that life its self. You are my future, my life, my hope. my world."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead then brought her face to be looking at his. Her dark chocolate eyes were staring into his. 'Who ever said eyes were the windows to the soul, was absolutely correct.' Harm thought. 'And what a beautiful soul she has.' Another wave of tears flooded her eyes.

"Sarah, don't cry, it hurts to see you cry."

"Harm, don't worry, these are tears of joy. What did I ever do to disserve you?"

"You know, I was asking myself the same question."

They walked back to the hotel in tranquil and peaceful silence. Harm's arm around her waist, and hers around his. Gliding into the lobby Harm went to obtain his key card from the front desk, but no one was to be found.

"Oh well" Harm said, over exaggerating the disappointment in his voice. "I guess we'll have to keep the present rooming assignment."

Mac slapped him on the arm, but then said, "Come on sailor, I'm sure it can't be that hard." as she headed to her room.

* Next chapter the two get a surprise visit from a few unexpected and unwelcome gusts.