Chloe slid out of bed quietly, pulling on shorts and sneakers. Just enough time to make her morning run before meeting Private Peter Witton for lunch. They'd gone to boot camp together, and Pete was in town before getting his assignment. He had hated Bryan, so she hoped he might have some insight to the rock through her window. At least he might be able to calm her down. She didn't want Kris to know how much that night haunted her.

The phone rang and Kris rolled over sleepily, intending to poke Chloe. "Hey," she murmured, opening one eye. "Damn jarhead," she said as she realized Chloe was out running. Kris leaned over and grabbed the phone. "'Lo?"

Pete answered her with an audible grin. "Hey, can I speak to Chloe?"

"Sorry, she's not in," Kris muttered, flinging a hand over her eyes to block out the rising sun. "Can I tell her who called?"

"Sure, tell her that her main man is running late, I'll meet her at 9 instead of 8." He laughed mentally at their inside joke.

"Will do," Kris said sharply and hung up. She rolled over and buried her face in a pillow with an angry grimace.

Chloe quietly reentered the apartment, setting a paper bag down on the island in the kitchen before heading to the shower.

Scrubbing away the sweat and grime that had collected during her run, she glanced at her watch. Only seven. Plenty of time to have breakfast with Kris before meeting Pete. *Her main man,* she laughed mentally. It had become a running joke between them.

Stepping out of the shower, she dried off before reaching for the jeans she'd draped over the rack on the back of the door. Tugging them on, she wandered into the bedroom to find a clean shirt.

Kris peeked out from under the pillow and grunted once. She stuck her head back under the pillow and muttered angrily, "Your boyfriend called."

Chloe blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Your boyfriend. Your 'main man'," she said, raising her voice, furious.

"Pete?" Chloe asked, puzzled. She sat on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, he's my 'main man.' He's the one I told you about. He got ditched by his father when he was a little kid, and he never knew his mother. We spent a lot of time talking about being orphans. He was my 'main man' to confide in." She reached out and cupped Kristin's face. "You can't really believe he's more than a friend?"

Kris sighed, sitting up and rubbing tiredly at her eyes. "I guess not," she muttered, climbing out of bed and heading into the bathroom.

"Whoa, wait a second." Chloe stood and followed her. "What do you mean, you 'guess not?'"

"Nothing," Kris said softly, her voice almost covered by the sound of rushing water. "I'm just tired, okay?"

"I don't think so, lightweight," Chloe said firmly. "You're not going to hide from me. I want to know what's bugging you."

Kris stripped quickly and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water pound her tired back. The past few weeks had been hell and they were taking their toll on her, physically as well as emotionally. "Stop trying to force a confrontation, Chloe," she said, a clinical coldness to her tone. "I'm not interested. I just want a shower and some breakfast, okay?"

Chloe stepped back, her face a mask of pain. "Whatever you say. I brought bagels. They're in the kitchen. I'll be out all day. See you tonight." She turned and fled the bathroom, jamming her feet into her sneakers as she raced out of the apartment, toward the one person she knew could help.

Kristin dropped her head into her hands and bit her lip violently. "No," she whispered fiercely. "No." With that, she raised her head and cut off the water, stepping out into the bedroom and finding clean clothes in the pile of fresh laundry. She grabbed the cordless and dialed the now- familiar number.

Chloe's feet mechanically pounded the pavement. Finally stopping on a street corner, she drew in a ragged breath. Glancing at her watch, she realized it was nearly time to meet Pete. Seven-forty-five. He'd have to wait.

Harm leaned towards the bedroom window as he spotted Chloe. "Hey, Mac, Chloe's here!" he called into the other room.

Mac exited the bathroom and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Morning, sailor. I'll let her in if you make breakfast."

Harm kissed her forehead. "All right. Eggs and bacon again?"

"Sure." Mac smiled up at him before opening the door to a bedraggled Chloe.

The phone rang behind him and Harm grabbed it. "Good morning," he said cheerily. "Rabb residence."

"Harm? It's Kristin," Kris muttered tearily. "Can I talk to Mac?"

Harm glanced at Mac, who was welcoming Chloe into the apartment. "She's kind of busy. Can I help you with something?" he asked gently, thinking something must be wrong if she didn't know where Chloe was.

Chloe nearly fell into her big sister's arms. "Mac, I need your help."

"Let's go into the..." Mac paused, seeing Harm on the phone.

Harm nodded, waving them towards the bedroom. "Talk to me, Kris," he said as the door closed behind them. "What's wrong?"

"Chloe and I had a fight," Kris admitted. "I wanted to talk to Mac, but..."

"I'm a good listener," Harm said softly, his voice gentle. "And you're family."

"Thanks," Kris murmured, wiping away a tear. "I just think Mac will understand, no offense."

"None taken."

"Can you ask her to call me when she's done?" Kris asked.

Harm nodded to himself. "Sure, Kris. No problem."

"Bye." She hung up and crawled into bed, curling into a little ball.

Mac turned to face Chloe. "What's wrong, kiddo?" she asked gently.

Chloe stared at the floor. "Kris..."

Mac prodded gently, "What about Kris?" When Chloe didn't answer, she said, "I can't help you unless I know what's going on. Did the two of you have a fight?"

Chloe nodded miserably. "My friend Pete called. He and I have had this running joke, from boot camp, about him being my main man. Kris got jealous, and then she wouldn't talk to me."

"And what did you do?" Mac asked knowingly.

"Left," Chloe admitted sheepishly.

"How's this?" Mac leaned forward and gently smoothed a strand of hair from Chloe's forehead. "We'll eat breakfast, you will do whatever you have to do today, after making yourself look semi-presentable, and I'll try to take Kris to lunch."

Chloe nodded, leaning into Mac's embrace for one moment. The older woman was the closest thing to a mother she'd ever had. Pulling away, she managed to tease lightly, "Yeah, Harm'll have my head if his breakfast is spoiled." She stood and followed Mac out to the kitchen.

Harm smiled gently at Chloe. "Feeling up to some eggs?" he asked, indicating the frying pan.

Chloe grinned. "That you cooked? Sure. Just as long as I know Mac was nowhere near the preparation."

Glancing at Mac with a teasing grin, Harm nodded emphatically. "You think I'd let her anywhere near a stove?" he asked incredulously.

"Hey!" Mac protested. "I happen to resemble that remark."

"Exactly," Harm said, leaning over to kiss her cheek quickly. "That's why we love you."

Reaching up to capture his lips with her own, Mac murmured, "You'd better, sailor."

"Ugh," Chloe mocked, covering her eyes with her hands. "Don't you two ever quit?"

Pulling away reluctantly, Mac grinned unrepentantly at her little sister. "Nope."

Harm looked contrite and started to dish out breakfast. "Oh!" he said suddenly, recollection flashing through his baby blues. "I almost forgot." As Chloe dug into her eggs, Harm leaned over and murmured, "Kristin called while you were in the bedroom with Chloe. I think something's wrong."

"Yeah, Chloe said they had a pretty bad fight," Mac whispered in return. "I'll call Kristin after Chloe leaves. Maybe I can help. Chloe seemed to think so at any rate."

Chloe glanced up at the pair. "Thanks, Harm, Mac. Breakfast was great." Her eyes were caught by the wall clock. "Oh, shit," she cursed. "I was supposed to meet a friend nearly 20 minutes ago. I have to leave."

Harm grinned at Chloe. "Well, that was longer than most of your visits. We'll see you in about what? A month?" he kidded her.

"Funny, stick boy," Chloe shot back. She set her plate gently in the sink before embracing the duo. "Call me later, Mac?"

The older woman nodded, and turned to her fiance as Chloe exited the apartment. "I hope they'll be okay."

"Me, too," Harm said with a worried expression. He glanced down at Mac with a little smile. "If you need any help with Kris, I'll be glad to do what I can," he added, loading the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. "Just let me know."

"I will." Mac walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Harm, I'm scared for them. Even in a society, a military, where gay relationships are allowed, there are too many people who commit hate crimes for no reason other than their own prejudices."

Harm shut off the water and turned in Mac's embrace, squeezing her tightly. "I know," he said softly, worry filling his usually calm voice. "Just because they're allowed doesn't mean they're accepted." He sighed mentally. "But we're going to do everything we can to protect them, right?"

Mac nodded firmly. "Of course. But Harm, she's more than my kid sister, she's practically a daughter to me. You know why. And Kris is becoming one as well."

"I know, honey," Harm said, trying to comfort her. "You know Chloe means the world to me, too. And Kris is so sweet, you can't help loving her." He paused, trying to organize his thoughts. "You're thinking we need to follow up on the brick through the window, aren't you?"

"Aren't you?" she countered. "Someone is after them, Harm. I want whoever it is charged with everything I can think of. And I think that brick through the window just might be what's bugging Kris. You know she's been open a lot longer than Chloe. This is probably not the first time something like this has happened."

"You're right," Harm agreed, a germ of a plan slowly fomenting in his head. "I have an idea," he said, kissing her forehead quickly and heading into the bedroom to find his sneakers. "Call Kris," he called, "and I'll see what I can do, okay?"

"Sure," Mac called after him, somewhat helplessly. She shrugged to herself and picked up the phone, hitting speed dial number two. "Kris? It's Mac. How are you doing?" she asked compassionately.

Kris sighed, burrowing further under the comforter. "I'm in hell," she muttered. "And I can't see my way out."

"Would you like to talk about it?" Mac asked sympathetically.

Kris nodded before she realized Mac couldn't see her. "Yeah," she said with a stifled sniffle. "Lunch?"

"Sure, sweetie. Why don't you come here? It will be quiet. Harm is going to be out," she added, anticipating Kristin's reticence should anyone else be present.

"Okay," Kris agreed immediately. She poked her head out from under the blanket and peered at the clock. Only 8:30. "I'll be there around noon, okay?"

"Sounds good," Mac agreed. "What would you like? I can have almost anything that we can order in."

"Burgers and fries?" Kristin asked hopefully. Comfort foods were the best.

"Beltway okay?"

"Hell yeah!" Kris said with a little giggle. "They're the only reason I stayed in DC after my mom...." she trailed off with a sigh. "Never mind. I'll see you at 12."

"I always knew you were a girl after my own heart," Mac responded, choosing to ignore the girl's obvious slip. "I'll be here, with burgers, fries and plenty of ice cream."

"Rocky Road or Phish Food?"

"Phish Food. I only go for quality," Mac rejoined lightly. "And Chocolate Mint Chip. Oh, and Baskin Robbins, peanut butter and chocolate."

"Oh, god. I'll be there early. Bye!" Kris said, clicking off the phone and hopping out of bed. She grabbed her sandals and bag, then turned, feeling like she'd forgotten something. "Bob!" she gasped suddenly. Kristin ran back into the bedroom and dropped to all fours, reaching blindly under the bed. She squealed as her hand made contact with the object of her search. "Gotcha!" Kris muttered, dragging the whining ferret out by his tail. "Come on, Bob-o, outta here. You know Mom'll kill me if you're in the bedroom when she gets home." She dropped the rodent onto the couch and shut the bedroom door. "Be good!" Kris called as she locked the door.

Mac hung up the phone and grinned. She glanced around the kitchen, searching for her car keys. She could do the grocery shopping, then stop at Beltway on her way home. Finding them, she entered the bedroom to grab her purse.

Harm stood up as Mac entered the room and he grinned. "All right, Ninja Girl, enjoy your estrogen-fest. I'm outta here."

"Funny, Harmon, very funny. I'll do the grocery run before Kris gets here. Oh, and sailor? Call before you come home tonight." She emphasized the last word, knowing he would understand.

"Yes, ma'am," Harm said, nodding understanding. "Oh, while you're out, get me a package of veggie burgers, okay?" he yelled, closing the door behind him. He grinned, knowing it drove Mac insane that he ate what she referred to as "cardboard imitation burgers" in front of her. It absolutely killed her to *buy* them. *Oh, well,* Harm thought. *I guess we're even then. Tampons for veggie burgers.*

Mac growled slightly as she slipped on flats. *Tampons doesn't cut it, squid. You'll be buying me Godiva this time around. Ugh,* she shuddered, *cardboard.* Straightening, she grabbed the grocery list and headed for Shoppers Food Warehouse.

Harm, meanwhile, headed in the opposite direction, towards the outskirts of McLean....and CIA headquarters. If anyone could help, it was a spook.

Chloe rushed into the Starbucks, glancing around for her friend. Spotting him at a small corner table, she dropped into the chair across from him. "Sorry I'm late. Tough morning," she apologized, studying her friend.

Pete grinned and shrugged. "You're worth the wait," he laughed, sipping at his third cappuccino. "What's up?" he asked, slightly concerned at the look on Chloe's face.

"I had a fight with Kris this morning," Chloe replied dismissively.

"The lovebirds can fight?" Pete teased. "What, you got between Miss Feminine and her hair dryer?" he laughed, playing off what Chloe had told him about her fiancée.

"Right," Chloe snorted. "Kris, a hair dryer? I'm not sure she even knows what a hair dryer looks like." She considered a moment. "Then, neither do I." Sobering slightly, she replied, "Someone tossed a rock through our window right after we graduated. Bryan Kaplan harassed us at dinner, but I can't be sure it was him. And how far would he take it?" She shrugged uneasily. "It's really bugging Kris."

"Whoa, back that truck up," Pete ordered, his eyes darkening to storm-cloud grey. "What did Bryan say?"

Chloe studied her dark-haired friend a moment, considering her words. When she'd first met him, he'd looked familiar, it was deja vu all over again, she remembered thinking. She still had no idea who he reminded her of, but she was getting a glimmer. Letting the thought simmer in the back of her mind, she replied in measured tones, "Bryan was his usual self. He was crude, lewd and really annoying. He said he'd never seen one 'dyke' propose to another, and that Kris could be fixed with a 'real man.' "

"That *bastard*," Pete growled. "I'll 'fix' his sorry ass."

"Let the law handle it, Peter," Chloe replied sharply. As his eyes darkened, the idea began to ferment. Now if she could only get ahold of it...

Pete dug his nails into the palm of his hand, planning what he'd do the next time he saw that sorry son-of-a-bitch. "All right," he agreed reluctantly. "But we have to do something."

"We will," Chloe replied with a calm she didn't feel. "I have a couple of contacts working on it, along with, I'm sure, Harm and Mac."

"No, I mean *us*," Pete said emphatically. "Jekyll and Hyde to the rescue, right?" He grinned slightly.

"Oh, brother," Chloe moaned. "And I always thought Batman and Robin was bad enough."

"Hey, we made a great team, need I remind you?" Pete reprimanded her with a grin. "The incident with the Wall and the blow-up doll? They're *still* talking about it at Parris Island!"

"I know," Chloe groaned. "You have no idea how many blistering letters I got from Mac and Kris. They know it was me." Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh, holy shit," she whispered.

"What?" Pete asked, leaning forward.

Face pale, Chloe only managed to shake her head.

"Talk to me, Madison," Pete growled softly. "Now."

"You remember when I met you I said you reminded me of someone?"

"Yeah," Pete said, relieved that it wasn't anything serious.

"I realized who you look like," Chloe began, studying him intently. "And I can't believe it."

"Who?"

"Pete, you said you weren't even sure of your parents' names." Chloe looked to him for confirmation, remembering the conversation they'd had the night they got drunk together.

"Yeah. Witton is my dad's last name, but I don't know my mom's. Why?" he pressed.

"When you got mad, a minute ago," Chloe whispered. "Your eyes were dark. You looked enough like Mac to be her son...or her brother."

"Yeah, right," Pete teased, his eyes lightening. "I could totally see me having a sister I didn't know about. Get real, Private."

"Goddess, Peter, I'm not kidding," Chloe replied sharply. "It's hardly something I would joke about. You know I've always wanted a sibling. Mac is like a big sister, a mother, to me, and you know you're like a brother."

Pete grinned, shaking his head. "You're incorrigible. Anyway, can we go somewhere else? I'm starving."

"Are you not listening to me, Peter?" Chloe demanded. "Don't you want to know?"

Pete sighed, settling down. "Yes, of course I do. Enlighten me."

"I can't!" Chloe cried, growing frustrated. "But if you really were, you could get some answers. There's always DNA testing."

Shaking his head, Pete grinned and stood. "I'll get over to Mac's for a blood sample tomorrow. Right after you introduce us," he laughed, standing. "Now come on. You've delayed my lunch long enough." But the idea had taken root and would eventually surface again, of that Pete was sure.

Mac nudged the door open, making it to the island just in time to keep from losing her load of bags. Emptying the grocery bags into the refrigerator, she went back to close the door.

Kris caught the door with her hand. "Hey," she said quietly, pushing it open. "Anyone home?"

"Yeah," Mac called out, pushing a bar stool out with one foot. "Have a seat, have a burger and a chocolate milkshake," she offered, pushing the bag toward the young woman.

"Yee-haw," Kris grinned, digging out the burger patties and jug of chocolate milk. She poured it into the blender and added some vanilla ice cream. Kris hit "puree" and yelled over the whirring, "Do you know how to cook a burger?" she hollered. "'Cause I'm not sure I do."

"That much I can do, no matter what Chloe and Harm have told you."

Kris giggled, powering down the blender and pouring the thick shakes into two frosted mugs. She handed one to Mac and raised her own in a toast. "To....." she trailed off with a frown, unable to think of anything to toast to.

"Healing," Mac offered quietly, dropping the patties into the frying pan.

Nodding, Kris cast her eyes toward the floor. "To friends?" she offered as an afterthought.

"To friends," Mac echoed, clinking her mug against Kris'. She opened the refrigerator, digging out tomato, lettuce and onion. "Pickles, ketchup, mustard, mayo?" she queried.

"Load mine up," she grinned, scrambling up onto a stool.

Mac plopped the items onto the counter between them. "Load your own up, wench," she grinned, flipping the burgers with a spatula and handing Kristin a plate with a bun on it. "Chips are in the cabinet; we have both barbecue and sour cream and onion. Oh, and some Fritos."

"Oh, man, now I see where Chloe gets it," Kris grumbled good-naturedly. She pulled out the corn chips and piled them high on her plate, next to a burger, dripping with toppings. She settled down at the counter and bit in happily.

"So what happened this morning?" Mac asked casually, sipping her milkshake.

Kris sighed, sucking uselessly at the straw. She pushed the cup away and rested her arms on the counter. "I kind of accused Chloe of dating Pete."

"Why?" Mac asked gently, not bothering to point out how ridiculous that idea was. She knew Kris knew that.

"Because I was angry," Kris admitted, "angry that she's probably going to leave me in a week, angry about Bryan harassing us, angry about the brick. Angry about *everything*." Behind her voice was a layer of sadness. Her eyes were unfocused, as if Kris were thinking about something entirely different from the morning's fight.

"I see," Mac replied quietly. "You know, you should talk to Chloe about this. The anger is understandable. If I were in your place, I doubt I could be so calm. Things like that are terrifying. But you know everything possible is being done to get to the bottom of this. What aren't you telling me, Kris?"

Kris shook her head. As much as she wanted to, she just could not tell anyone what had gone on. "Nothing," she lied, fiddling with her burger.

Mac thought for a moment. She knew Chloe had tried to use sarcasm, so she was going to go for bluntness. "You're lying," she stated flatly. "I want the truth, Kris. It's not doing you or Chloe any good to keep it inside. You're going to blow up, or get drunk. And when you get drunk, it's hard to pull out of that blissfully forgetful haze."

"I don't get drunk," Kris snapped, her hair flying back as she spun her head to meet Mac's accusing eyes. "That's my mother, not me."

"And it was my father, not me," Mac countered. "And then, all of a sudden, it was me. And I was the bitch who was drunk. And I was the one screwing up my life with a man who hit me. And I was the one who killed my best friend!"

Kris' eyes widened and she whispered, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Mac reached out and covered Kris' hand with her own. "It is hell to get through, Kris. I survived alone. Then my uncle Matt saved my life. But Harm, Harm saved my soul. He forced me to open up to him, and then he saved my heart. You need to have one person who will listen to you unconditionally, without judgment. Chloe can be that person, but I would be honored if you would consider me for a position of trust, too."

Kris lowered her eyes again, squeezing Mac's hand as if to reassure herself that someone was actually there, actually listening. "My mom was a drunk," she said, unnecessarily. "My dad was a good guy, but he didn't know how to deal with her." Kris paused, wiping away a tear. "I was 18 when I came out to them. I expected my mom to flip, and she did. But my dad...we'd always been close. I expected more from him. I learned not to expect," she laughed harshly.

Mac squeezed her hand in return. "What happened?"

"He kicked me out of the house. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. Almost all my friends dropped me immediately when I told them. Except Greg." Kris stopped, biting her lip.

"What did you do?" Mac stood and led the girl to the sofa, hoping more comfortable surroundings would help her deal with the painful memories. She could sense that there was much worse to come.

Kris sank into the couch and drew her knees up, shielding herself. "I stayed at a shelter for six months," she replied softly, her insides churning. She had never told anyone this, not even Chloe. "Then Greg got an apartment and offered me the couch, so I took it. I was working full-time, trying to save up to go to college and get a car. It was nice, at first. Greg was really sweet. We used to do stuff all the time, have parties and barbecues and things."

"And something happened," Mac prompted. "It changed?"

"He..." Kris could barely get the words out. "One night, he came home from work. I was sitting on the couch with a new friend from work, Melissa. We all had a few beers and Melissa went home around eleven. Greg and I had a couple more...and I mentioned how cute Melissa was." Kris started to shiver slightly and hugged her knees tighter as if to ward off a chill.

Mac said nothing, her wordless sympathy manifested in her hand slowly rubbing Kris' back.

Kris started to cry softly, choking the words out between gasps for air. "He...he told me...that I just hadn't found the right man. I thought he was kidding!" she insisted brokenly. "Then he tried to kiss me. I pushed him away and stood up. He...he threw me down and sat on me." Kris' eyes were wide with fear. "He started to open his belt and I tried to scream but he hit me. I don't remember much else, I just remember waking up on the floor. I was sore and my face was all bruised. And I...I could still smell him," she whispered weakly. "All over me." Kris laid her head on her knees and tried to catch her breath.

"Oh, sweetie," Mac cried softly, pulling her close. "It wasn't your fault. I know you feel...dirty, like you can't ever be completely clean. But you need to realize, to understand, that this was not your fault. You could not have changed it."

"I could, too," Kris insisted, pushing Mac away and swiping at her tears. "If I hadn't been gay, he wouldn't have done that. I should've just shut my fucking mouth!"

"Nothing gives any human being the right to hurt another. Rape is the most vile form of desecration. Your being gay had nothing to do with it. He would have raped you anyway, your being gay was just an excuse. You were only being true to yourself. Sweetie, you have to get over this stifling pain before it cripples you. It's controlled your past, don't let it shape your future."

Kris looked up, her eyes red and teary. She could hardly believe her ears. No one had ever told her that it wasn't her fault that she was raped. When Kris had tried to tell her father about the incident, he blamed her. *"You throw it in people's faces and this is what happens. If you're gonna be a dyke, at least shut up about it."* "That isn't what made me snap at Chloe," Kris admitted. "It took all morning for me to realize it, but it wasn't..." she trailed off, unwilling or unable to finish.

"Oh, sweetie, there's more pain in your past than any one person should have to handle," Mac murmured. "What else?"

Kris rubbed at her face, trying to clear the red blotches she knew must have appeared since she started crying. They were always a dead giveaway. Taking a deep breath, Kris shook her head. "You don't need to hear this. From what little I know, your past isn't much better than mine. I'm sorry to put all this on you."

"Listen to me, kiddo," Mac said firmly, no condescension, just love, in her voice. She made what others would use as a slighting term into a loving nickname. She took Kris' chin in her hand, meeting the girl's eyes. "My past is exactly why you should talk to me. I understand. I not only sympathize, I empathize. What else?"

"Chloe doesn't know why this thing with Bryan upset me so much. I haven't told anyone this, but..." She paused, taking a deep breath. "When I was in college, I was attacked."

"Do you want to tell me about it?" Mac gave the girl an out. It had been an arduous afternoon. She could take a break before they talked again.

Kris sighed softly. She'd gotten so much off her chest, she might as well go for the whole thing. "Not much to tell, really. I was walking from a late class to my car, and as I was getting in, some random guy passed by. He saw my rainbow bumper sticker and decided he'd have a little fun with the 'lesbo'." Kris' face twisted into a cruel imitation of her attacker. "He came right up to me and asked if I liked dick. I said, 'No', so he shoved me up against the car and started slapping me around." Kris shrugged. "Nothing much, actually. He was kind of a pussy. One knee to his groin and I was able to drive away. But what really bothered me..." Kris shuddered at the memory. "What really got me was what he screamed as I drove away. 'I'll kill you, bitch. I'll find your dyke ass and kill you.' I remember it to this day." Kris turned a tear-splashed face to Mac and pleaded with her. "Do you know what it's like to be threatened for being who you are? No one understands, not even Chloe. Not really."

"No, I don't understand being threatened for being who you are. Not precisely." Mac hesitated, judging the girl's emotional state. "Several years ago, someone killed my ex-boyfriend. He'd been stalking me. The frightening thing was, someone picked up where he left off." She took a deep breath. "They bugged my home, vandalized my car, and eventually kidnapped me. I fell off the wagon for the first time in ten years. I still remember Harm's words, 'You're not just a drunk, you're a mean drunk.' But Harm helped me. He got a tracking device, and when I was kidnapped, he saved my life. The part that terrified me, even more than all the pictures the man had of me, was that he was a cop. One of the good guys. It was more terrifying than being under fire in Bosnia, Kristin." She ran a hand across her eyes.

Kris reached over and ran her hand up and down Mac's arm momentarily. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her mind lost in the past. She hadn't told the entire truth, and the little she'd left out was bothering Kris more than anything else.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Kris. It's those who perpetrate the hate crimes who will have to apologize, in the end." Mac glanced at the girl. "Talk to Chloe," she urged softly. "She won't understand all of it, but she will try."

"I can't, Mac," Kris murmured. "I can't let her see how weak I am. Look at me!" She waved her hand dramatically. "I'm a mess."

"And? Chloe loves you, and love doesn't care about facades, or appearances. The purpose of love is to get past the walls." Mac grinned. "Besides, if being a mess were a problem, Harm would have ditched me years ago."

Kris giggled slightly through her tears. "Point taken. Thanks, Mac." Kris leaned over and hugged the General impulsively. "I don't know if I'm going to tell her...but thanks for letting me tell you."

Mac hugged her in return. "You're welcome. I'm here anytime you want. And as for Chloe leaving town...I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"Why not?"

"She wants to go into JAG. Even with Harm's misadventures, it's not the most popular posting. Anyone who wants to study law is given slightly preferential treatment. The brass doesn't want them to change their minds. Chloe may go to law school in D.C."

Kris' face seemed to brighten the entire room as a smile slid across her pretty features. "Really?" she exclaimed excitedly. "God, that's good news!"

Mac held up a warning hand. "Now, I'm not saying it's definite. I don't want you to get your hopes up on my personal opinion." Relaxing slightly, she added mischievously, "But it's a very possible option."

Kris winked at Mac. "Come on. You're a Major General and Harm's the JAG, for crying out loud. If anyone can pull a few strings for Chloe, it's you two."

Mac winced. "Actually, we're the ones with the least pull. It's well-documented how close she is to the two of us. And besides, morally, we wouldn't feel right in using our influence to do something like that. It isn't...just."

Kris nodded with a frown. Then her eyes lit up again. "So who makes these kind of decisions?"

"Several people, Kris. So don't think about harassing them, or they might decide to transfer Chloe to Greenland. The Admiral always threatened it, and you know, he actually did transfer Harm once, for about a month."

"To Greenland?" Kris looked amazed.

"Uh-huh," Mac grinned. "But he took him back eventually."

"Wow." Kris grinned wickedly. "I didn't say anything about harassing. Pleading, maybe."

"Not a good idea," Mac warned, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Greenland is not a nice place. Can you imagine the long distance bills?"

Kris giggled. "I have free long distance through school," she threw back.

"But Chloe doesn't. And Chloe would probably never be in when you called," Mac retorted.

"Point. Set. Match," Kris said, raising her hands in defeat. "Now you mentioned Phish Food?"

"Freezer, spoons in the drawer," Mac pointed. "I claim the peanut butter and chocolate."

"Works for me." Kris jumped up, grabbing the spoons and ice cream. She tossed a pint to Mac and dove headfirst into the Ben and Jerry's.

Mac sighed in pleasure. "There is nothing better than ice cream for what ails you."

"Amen. Preach it, sistah!" Kris giggled as she devoured the chunks of chocolate and caramel.

Mac laughed at the younger woman, sharing the simple things in life...chocolate! Settling back into the couch, she concentrated on her ice cream, flipping on the news.

* * *

Harm walked through the first set of metal detectors without a problem. As he approached the second set, a large gentleman with muscles as big as the lawyer's head held up his hand. "ID." It wasn't a request.

Flipping open his wallet, Harm declared, "Rear Admiral Harmon Rabb, Judge Advocate General Corps. I'm here to see Clayton Webb."

The very large guard leaned over and pressed a few buttons on the phone. "Mr. Webb, there's a Harmon Rabb here to see you." Harm could hear the swearing through the receiver. "Yessir. Thank you."

Minutes later, Clayton Webb came sauntering down the stairs. "What do you want?" he asked, eyes narrowed mistrustfully.

"I'm here to ask a favor."

Webb sighed, gesturing to the elevators. "Come on up. There's something I have to show you, anyway. Now's as good a time as any, I suppose."

They rode up together in silence and as the doors of the elevator whooshed open, Webb led Harm to his office. He pushed open the door and stepped in, shutting it quietly behind them. "He's here."

Josh Pendry glanced up from his seat behind the desk. "Harm!" He stood and stepped forward, reaching out a hand to the older man. "It's good to see you again."

Harm's eyes lit up as he pulled the boy--*young man*, he corrected himself--into his arms for a quick, back-slapping hug. "Josh," he said quietly. "It's been too long." He released the younger man and leaned back, looking him over. "How's your mom?" he asked after a moment.

Josh's face assumed a carefully neutral expression. "She's okay, I guess." He paused a moment before clarifying, "She didn't exactly endorse my career choice." Knowing the older man would wonder, he continued, "I did get my pilot's license, but I decided to come work for Webb after a friend's father was murdered. He was a cop, and I remember thinking that if I was a cop, I would have been able to find out who did it. I guess I never gave up on that. Besides, I like working here. I don't have to salute all the time."

Harm grinned broadly. "No, you certainly don't. I'm proud of you," he said quietly.

"Yeah, yeah," Webb interrupted. "Kodak moment. Can we get a move on?" He glanced down at his Rolex. "I have a lunch."

"Sure," Harm said agreeably, making a mental note to kill Webb. "I need a favor. Someone's been stalking a friend of mine, and I need the guy caught."

"Wow, he doesn't ask much, does he?" Webb asked Josh, rolling his eyes.

Josh grinned slightly before looking at Harm. "Who's your friend?"

"Chloe Madison."

Josh let nothing through in his expression, but answered, "We've already got somebody on it. Can you tell us anything? We know about the brick through the window and Bryan Kaplan harassing her. Do you have anything to add? Anything that might help us?" Realizing he sounded a bit desperate, Josh stopped and took a deep breath. "We take stalking very seriously."

Harm nodded. "I don't have much to add, outside of the obvious. She was well-liked in her boot camp classes, other than Bryan. She had a few problems as a young girl and teenager, but nothing since about age fifteen." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Her fiancée seems more worked up about it than Chloe does. I'm worried for her."

"Kris'll be fine," Josh replied without thinking. Realizing what he'd said, he looked up, his eyes wide. Pushing his light brown hair off his forehead, he picked up a pen and began tapping it on the desk.

"You know Kristin?" Harm asked, leaning forward just slightly, hopefully to intimidate Josh.

"Yes," Josh admitted, glancing at Webb. "She and I went to school together for awhile before my mom decided to move again. We sort of kept in touch, but not very well. Then, a few years ago, I ran into Chloe. I knew who she was when she was introduced, thanks to you and Mac. We started talking, and found out we had a lot in common. I got re-introduced to Kris, and we've been friends ever since. Chloe and I keep in touch more than Kris and I do, but I'm happy for the two of them...and frightened."

Harm nodded swiftly, satisfied with the explanation. "So that's why you're already on it," he said, a hint of fatherly pride in his voice. "Good."

Webb cleared his throat. "Can we *please* wrap this up? My lunch date is expecting me."

Harm raised an eyebrow but kept silent on the subject of Webb's 'date'. "Is there anything else you can do besides watch and wait?" he asked.

"Not much, Harm. You know how it goes. We're keeping a close eye on Bryan, though." Josh stood, indicating that time was short. "I promise I'll call when we find something." He reached out a hand once again. "See you soon, Harm."

"You can count on it, Spook," Harm grinned. "Thanks, Webb."

"Anytime. And by that, I mean never again." Webb strode out the door, motioning for Josh to follow him.

Harm headed down to the car, still dissatisfied with the progress being made. He sat with the engine running and wondered about the next step.

Josh followed Webb downstairs. "Lunch date?" he teased. "I don't know if taking your mother's dog to the vet counts as a date, Clay."

"She's the best dog a man could have," Webb growled as he stalked out the front of CIA Headquarters. "Shut your trap, Pendry."

Josh chuckled to himself before deciding that Beltway Burgers could do with a visit. Particularly if he had to go talk to Mac. Especially with Mac, knowing her protectiveness of Chloe.

* * *

Chloe glanced over at her friend as they walked together along the gravel paths of the Mall. "You're reporting for duty tomorrow?"

"Yes, ma'am," Pete grinned. "I got a post right in Norfolk, at Base of Ops for Marine-Navy combo training."

"Lucky," Chloe said wistfully. "At least you know where you're going to be. I can't plan ahead because I don't know whether I'll be around to follow through. I want to go to Georgetown to law school, but I can't do that without being sent there."

"You know you're going to get a post here, Madison," Pete said. His voice hinted at envy. "Your brother-in-law is the JAG."

"Not sure," Chloe shrugged. "Harm and Mac are really careful about any hints of impropriety. They might make sure I'm stationed on the other end of the country just to prove that they're objective."

Pete shook his head firmly. "I don't think so. They like you too much...though God knows why," he teased. "Well, it's getting late, and I promised Marie I'd meet her for a movie at two o'clock. I'll see you soon, okay?"

Chloe reached up to hug him. "Tell her I said hi. We definitely need to double some day soon." The smile faded slightly. "Maybe after this whole mess is taken care of."

"Absolutely," Pete said. In a rare moment of sensitivity, he patted Chloe's cheek. "Semper Fi, Marine. We'll catch that bastard soon," he promised as he turned and walked away.

"We? What do you mean we?" Chloe called after him. "Peter, don't do anything stupid. I mean it!"

"I won't do anything you wouldn't admit to not doing if you were questioned under oath by your sister!" Pete called back with a laugh.

Chloe unlocked the apartment door quietly and slipped inside. Toeing off her sneakers, she left them under the chair beside the door and headed for the bedroom. Stopping for a moment in the living room, she glanced into a cage. "Need some food, huh, Bob?" she asked rhetorically. Shaking her head, she filled the ferret's food dish, reaching in and stroking his silky white fur before closing the lid and continuing down the hall. Entering the bedroom, she laid down on the bed, trying to relax her tense muscles.

Kris slid her key into the lock and was surprised to find it disengaged. She pushed the door open silently and tiptoed towards the bedroom. Standing still in the doorway to the bedroom, Kristin stared at Chloe silently, trying to muster up the courage to speak.

Without cracking her eyes, Chloe asked wryly, "Are you just going to stand there and stare at me all day?"

Kris didn't answer, just shoved her hands in her pockets and tried to stifle the desire to smack her lover.

Chloe continued to push her luck. "I mean, I know I'm gorgeous, but really."

"Shut up, Chlo," Kris said quietly.

"Why? So you'll push me away like you did this morning?" Chloe finally opened her eyes, judging how far she could push before Kris blew up. She wanted her at the edge, talking, not over, hysterical.

Kris turned away, walking slowly into the living room. She was ready to apologize, but not if Chloe was going to be a bitch about it.

*Damn,* Chloe cursed mentally. That wasn't how she'd expected it to go. Levering herself off the bed, she followed Kris to the living room. Catching hold of her shoulder, she gently turned the other woman around. Looking into her eyes, Chloe said with intensity, "I'm sorry, Kris. But we need to talk. Really talk. This thing is bugging you more than you're letting on, and I'm getting worried."

Kris turned away and fiddled with the TV remote, picking at the label. "I was ready to talk and you were making jokes."

"I know." Chloe blew out a breath. "Sorry. It's a defense mechanism."

Kris turned with a half-smile and reached for Chloe's hand. She wrapped her fingers around her fiancee's. "So is my withdrawing," she said quietly. She led Chloe towards the couch, sitting down with a sigh.

Chloe leaned back against the cushions, pulling Kris along with her. "I know. I was hoping you'd open up. Didn't work." She leaned her head back over the soft cushions, hoping her neck would pop and bring her tense muscles some relief.

Kris reached behind Chloe and found the spot that made her neck go limp. She was trying to focus on what she was going to say, and barely realized she was even touching Chloe.

Chloe relaxed under her fiancée's talented hands, but knew she couldn't let herself go completely limp. The talk they needed to have deserved all her attention. Kris deserved her attention. "Why?" she prompted gently. "Why did you make those accusations this morning? You know guys are only friends to me."

"I know," Kris said quietly. "I just get worried sometimes...a lot of the time...that you're going to realize who I am and not want to be here anymore."

"I always want to be with you. The past is the past, only now it's affecting the present. You need to talk it out with someone if you feel you can't trust me." Chloe tried not to let the hurt creep into her tone.

Kris glanced up at Chloe and shook her head. "I trust you. I just didn't want to burden you." She paused, quirking her lip in a smile as she remembered the afternoon with Mac. "Besides, I talked it over with Mac. I'm okay."

Chloe relaxed slightly. If Kris had talked with Mac, she'd be okay. Chloe didn't know all of Mac's past, but she knew more than anyone but Harm, probably. She remembered being a child of 10, sleeping over at Mac's, hearing the older woman wake from screaming nightmares and wander the apartment for hours until the sun rose. "I'm glad you talked to her. I'm glad the two of you get along. I just hope you'll let me in some day."

"You're already in, doofus," Kris said lovingly, rubbing Chloe's neck. "There's just some stuff you don't need to know. Like..." she took a deep breath, "...how I was raped. And attacked. And about my mom, the drunk."

Chloe froze. "Raped?" She ignored the rest of Kris' sentence. "I'll kill him," she growled.

"Stop," Kris said softly, squeezing Chloe's neck in a Vulcan death grip.

Chloe slowly relaxed. "What happened?" Raising a hand, she continued, "I promise, I'll stay calm. I want to know everything, Kris. That's how marriage works; you can talk to each other. Without communication, a relationship is nothing. So talk, lightweight," she managed to grin.

Kris shrugged her shoulders, continuing the massage idly. "Long story short, he decided I wouldn't be lesbian any more if he showed me the wonders of his pee pee."

Chloe choked at Kris' telling, but quickly sobered. "Uh-huh. I somehow think there's more to it than that." She leveled her gaze at the redhead, staring into her green eyes. "Well?"

"Nope, that's it," Kris said, breaking her eyes away.

"That's it, huh? Kris, tell me," Chloe pleaded. "Or would you like me to interrogate you about the attack? Your drunken mother doesn't sound much different than my drunken step-father, or his drunken girlfriend."

"She wasn't," Kris acknowledged. "But really, there's nothing more to tell. He was an asshole on a power trip."

Chloe was silent a moment, before beginning to slowly speak. "I remember when I asked Mac if I could live with her. It was Christmas, or almost. I told her I didn't care about my step-father, he was a drunk who didn't really want me, and his girlfriend was hurting me. But, you know, I found out later that I did care. He took care of me. Not very well, but he did. He didn't kick me out, he fed me, he even went to a couple of parent/teacher conferences. Not many, but..." she trailed off. "I looked him up when I was in high school. I was out here visiting Mac, and I knew I needed some sense of closure. I guess I wanted to make sure I wasn't like him. I don't know. I went to him, and we talked for awhile. I don't know why, but I guess I felt I always had to measure up to him. To Mac, too. She hadn't gotten the closure she so desperately needed with her father, so I knew I should try for mine. For some reason, he was the first person I came out to. I don't really know why. But he accepted it. It startled me, and I still remember him saying, 'You don't have to live for anyone but yourself. Be happy with yourself, and it won't matter what others think.' It made me think that if he could accept me, my close friends surely could. I went home, back to my grandparents, and I came out." Chloe snorted. "Big mistake. My grandmother was cool about it, but Gramps...he threw a fit. It took him awhile. And out in the sticks...I was ostracized in town. I finished my senior year, not letting them drive me out, but then I went away, and never looked back. I've never gone back there. I'm scared of what I'll find. And Grams and Gramps, the only reasons I loved it there anyway, are gone." Chloe looked down sheepishly. "What I'm trying to say, in my own long winded way, is that I understand how coming out can be traumatic." She fell silent, staring at her hands. She didn't usually make such long speeches about anything. Being the center of attention wasn't her style. She waited to hear what Kris would say.

Kris shook her head, fairly amazed at the torrent of words that just came forth from her soulmate. "God," she giggled, "I've never heard you say that much!" She paused, sobering. "It's not the coming out that bothers me, Chlo, it's *staying* out. It's facing ignorant assholes like Bryan and trying not to worry about what he might do...about what Jack did."

"I know. Jack's the one who raped you?" Without waiting for confirmation, Chloe continued, "You can't let fear run your life, Kris." She hesitated a moment before suggesting, "Why don't you take some self-defense classes? Even without being gay, they're a good idea for any woman."

"No," Kris said softly. "Jack's the one who attacked me." She shook her head with a little smile. "I'm a brown belt in tae kwon do, baby, yet another thing you don't know about me. Are you sure we should be getting married? You barely know me," Kris teased.

"Sure," Chloe said lightly. "So I can have plenty of time to learn all about you. It's fun, like a new present each day." She trailed her fingers through Kris' long, silken hair. "Jack attacked you? What happened?"

Kris grinned, rolling her eyes at Chloe. "You're a nut." She sighed as she processed the question. "He just decided to take his Napoleon complex out on me."

"Napoleon, huh? Conquering the world?" Chloe pulled Kris against her shoulder, laying further back against the couch.

"No, making up for being small....in his case, having a small dick," Kris giggled, wrapping an arm around Chloe's waist and burying her head in the other woman's hair.

Chloe made a face. "Ugh. Thanks for that mental image." She held her fiancée tightly, her lips brushing against Kris' forehead.

Kris laughed softly, tilting her head up and capturing Chloe's mouth with her own.

Chloe deepened the kiss, her tongue sweeping past the barrier of Kris' lips. Her hands roamed her lover's body, settling restlessly on her back and the curve of her cheek.

Kris pulled away from Chloe with a grin, glancing at the clock. "Honey, we can't. We're meeting Harm and Mac for dinner. I promised Mac that if you and I made up, we'd be there."

"We are?" Chloe mumbled. She reached for Kris again, pulling her close. "We can be late."

Kris shook her head, running her hand over Chloe's firm shoulders. "No, we can't. I promised Harm."

"Sure?" Chloe glanced impishly at her fiancée. "Harm won't mind..."

"I'm positive," Kris said tauntingly. "But if you're good during dinner, I'll be dessert." She stood and scurried into the bedroom, searching for her new jumper.

Chloe grinned and jumped up, following her to the bedroom. She searched out a pair of slacks and a peasant shirt, stepping into crushed velvet boots to match. She pinned Kris with an evil glare. "You don't play fair. Now you've said that and I'm going to be thinking about it all during dinner. Harm and Mac will never let me live it down." She paused. "By the way, where are we meeting them?"

"Chart House," Kris said, with her head buried in the sock drawer. "Have you seen my knee-highs?"

"Hanging in the bathroom, where you left them to dry," Chloe replied promptly. "All right! Good clam chowder!"

Kris raced into the bathroom and grabbed her stockings, tugging them on. "Yeah, the best. And I hear the lobster's phenomenal." She grabbed her purse off the closet door, straightening her blouse quickly. "How do I look?" Kris asked, pirouetting.

"Great," Chloe replied. "You're going to get lobster?" She followed Kris to the door, dropping her wallet in her back pocket.

"I might," Kris said, checking her hair in the hall mirror. "Or maybe some linguine with clams...mmmm..." She licked her lips teasingly,.

Chloe trapped her against the door. "Don't do that, or we'll never leave," she growled playfully, leaning forward and pressing a hard kiss on Kris' lips.

Kris giggled, turning her head mid-kiss so Chloe caught her cheek. "I'm not staying, so either come with me or stay home with the ferret."

"Right now, the ferret is winning," Chloe grumbled, backing off and opening the door. "Bob doesn't tease me like you do."

Laughing playfully, Kris stepped out into the hall. "But Bob doesn't put out, either."

Chloe groaned. "You evil woman." She followed Kris into the hall, locking the door behind her. "Let's go before you get me into any more trouble."

Giggling, Kris walked downstairs and climbed into Chloe's truck. "You know you love it," she said as they headed towards Alexandria.

With a long-suffering sigh, Chloe teased, "I suppose I do. After all, I put up with you."

Kris leaned her head back against the seat, trying to fight the tide of exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm her. After the emotional roller-coaster that the day had been, she just wanted to eat and curl up in bed.

Chloe glanced over. "Are you sure you're up to going out?" she inquired, concerned. "Harm and Mac won't mind if we call them and tell them we're too tired."

Kris opened her eyes, twisting her head to see Chloe. "No, I'm fine," she said softly, reaching over to take the Marine's free hand. She closed her eyes again, a small smile playing across her lips. "I love how you look out for me, though."

"Always," Chloe vowed, a sudden lump in her throat. She squeezed Kris' hand gently and murmured, "Close your eyes. You might as well get a little rest on the way."

"Always....I like that," Kris murmured as she settled back against the seat.

Chloe glanced over at her fiancée, who appeared to be dozing lightly. She looked back at the road, concentrating on getting through the kamikaze D.C. traffic. Thirty minutes later, she found a parking space along the waterfront and gently shook Kris' shoulder. "We're here," she whispered.

Kris opened her eyes with a drowsy smile. "Mmm," she murmured softly, rubbing her eyes. Climbing out of the car, she came around to Chloe's side and immediately reached for her hand.

Chloe pulled her close, tangling their fingers together as they wandered along the uneven sidewalk. She glanced out at the water, seeing the ships moored at the docks. Reaching the restaurant, they gave their names and were ushered upstairs to a secluded table facing the window.

Kris slipped into her chair and promptly scooted closer to Chloe, so their knees were touching.

Chloe smiled, glancing over the menu. "We're waiting for some friends," she informed the waitress.

As the waitress departed, Kris leaned over and shared the menu with Chloe, abandoning her own.

"Clam chowder," Chloe said decisively. "And a salad."

"Clam chowder," Kris agreed, "but forgo the salad and bring me the calamari." She grinned broadly as Harm and Mac approached the table. "Hi," Kris said softly, winking at Mac surreptitiously.

Harm smiled to see the girls so close again. "Hey," he said, pulling out a chair for Mac.

Mac returned Kris' wink as she sat down, moving close to Harm in a move that uncannily echoed Kris' from earlier. "Hey, guys." She glanced at the menu. "Fettucine with clams, scallops and crab meat."

Kris glanced up, surprised. "You're reading my mind, Mac," she declared, reaching for her water glass.

Mac grinned. "Great minds..." She glared at Chloe when the younger woman seemed about to make a comment.

Chloe stifled her laughter and looked up as the waitress came over. "One cup of clam chowder, and make mine a bowl, please? And a salad with Italian dressing, calamari and..." She turned to Kris.

"Two Seafood Fettucines."

"Make that three," Harm threw his order in, passing his menu to the waitress.

"Anything to drink?" the waitress inquired.

"I'll stick with water," Chloe said.

"Ditto," Mac agreed.

"I'll have a Bud," Harm said, reaching under the table for Mac's hand.

"White zinfandel, please," Kris said softly, glancing at Mac. She knew what the woman must be thinking, but it was her life, no one else's.

Mac smiled at her. She knew that one drink didn't make a person an alcoholic. And seeing how close the two were, she knew Kris must have talked to Chloe.

"D'you want that calamari and salad before your main course?" the waitress asked. "And can I interest you in any appetizers?"

"You can bring them with the soup," Kris said slowly.

"No problem," the waitress replied, gathering the menus and walking away.

Kris raised an eyebrow at Mac, as if to say, "What's she *on*?"

Mac grinned at Kris, their eyes meeting in understanding. "She must be new," she offered a feeble defense.

Kris giggled softly, biting back a rude comment. "That must be it," she agreed. The calamari arrived within minutes and she reached for a small piece, offering it to Chloe.

Chloe waved it off. "I don't think so. How can you eat that stuff?"

"C'mon, Chlo," Kris pleaded with a nudge. "It's good. Try it."

"Had it," Chloe grimaced. "It's rubbery. No way." She shook her head adamantly.

Kris made a sad face and popped the fried squid into her own mouth, chewing slowly, a look of pure ecstasy on her face. "Delectable," she commented after swallowing.

Harm reached for a piece, dipping it into the little bowl of marinara sauce.

Mac grinned. "Gee, the Squid eating squid. Kind of ironic."

Harm rolled his eyes, swallowing the chewy septapod and grinning at Mac. He leaned over and whispered into her ear, "I could be eating a Marine instead."

Mac blushed, avoiding the amused gazes of the pair across the table. Giving as good as she got, she slid her hand up his thigh under the table cloth, murmuring, "Not in a public restaurant, you couldn't."

Harm shivered slightly and pushed her hand away. "Not even," he murmured.

Kris giggled as she watched them. "They're so cute," she whispered to Chloe.

"Not as cute as us," Chloe denied. "But yeah, do you realize I've been waiting nearly 15 years for this to happen?"

Nodding, Kris squeezed Chloe's hand. "Fifteen years is a long time to wait to be happy."

"We won't wait. I don't do eternity," Chloe murmured. "Besides, if even Harm has let go, we should be a cakewalk."

"You better do eternity," Kris teased. "That's how long you're stuck with me." She swiped another piece of calamari and leaned back in her chair.

"You know what I meant," Chloe protested, glancing at Harm and Mac, who were too wrapped up in each other to pay any attention to the conversation occurring across from them.

Kris grinned. "I know, baby, I was teasing you." Kris' clam chowder arrived and she held out a spoonful to Chloe. "How 'bout this?"

"Mine's coming...besides, I'll start on my salad," Chloe grinned as the small salad was placed in front of her.

Mac and Harm finally came back to the world when her soup arrived. "Clam chowder," Mac mumbled, "food of the gods."

Dropping her spoon into her soup with a little clang, Kris leaned back and crossed her arms. A tiny pout crossed her lips. "Fine, reject my advances."

"Never," Chloe laughed. She leaned over and whispered, "But if I were to accept them here, who knows what it could lead to? I remember the last time you offered me a taste of something at a restaurant."

"The bathroom did have nice tiles, didn't it?" Kris laughed.

"More than we needed to know," Mac interjected. "Please, enough with the show and tell?" She glared at Chloe when the girl began to snicker.

Kris turned bright red and fixated on her clam chowder, devouring each spoonful slowly.

Mac laughed as Chloe returned her gaze steadily, an evil glint in her eyes. "Need I go into the time I heard about you and Harm in a conference room?"

"Lay off, Private," Harm teased. "Concentrate on your dinner."

"Me?" Chloe put on a mock-innocent face. "I don't know what you could be talking about. I'm a little angel."

"You're the devil incarnate," Kris laughed, spooning up more soup.

"Am not!" Chloe protested. "My halo's just a little bent."

"I'd go with cracked," Mac contributed.

"Non-existent," Harm volunteered.

"And I thought you guys were my friends," Chloe mocked.

"We are. Can you imagine if we *didn't* like you?" Kris teased.

Chloe shuddered. "Don't give me nightmares."

Kris squeezed Chloe's knee and quickly changed the subject. "So, Mac, any word on where Chloe's going to be stationed? I *know* you have your ear pressed to the grapevine on this one."

Mac smiled. "The brass is keeping it on the QT. I have absolutely no idea. I think they're afraid I'll spill. Now where they would get an idea like that, I have no clue." She smiled innocently.

Smiling, Kris just shook her head and bent over her linguine. The shadow passing over the window didn't even register with her. Creeping like darkness personified, the shadowy figure crouched in the bushes outside the restaurant, until it was satisfied. It stood, unobtrusively making its way back to the black Camaro idling in a corner spot.

Chloe grinned. "They just know you too well, Mac. You know you don't want to let me go." She lifted Kris' hand from her knee, cradling it in her own.

Kris tightened her fingers around Chloe's and murmured, "I don't want you to go, either." Louder, she said, "Then *I'd* be stuck cleaning Bob's cage."

Chloe snorted. "Yeah, you know that ferret has you twisted around his paw. You love him. You even let him run around the apartment. And don't try to deny it. I've seen little white hairs on the couch." She grinned across the table at Mac. "Hell, I think she'd let the damned rodent sleep on the pillow if I weren't around."

Mac laughed, setting her hand on Harm's on the table. She leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment as she studied the pair across the table. They were a study in opposites: Kris with her fair skin, red hair, and green eyes was extremely intelligent and much more outwardly feminine, whereas Chloe had shorter dirty blond hair, Marine regulation, was more of a tomboy in her style of dress, and looked more fit for action than the courtroom she planned to dominate.

Kris nodded emphatically. "Who do you think kept me warm while you were off gallivanting and Semper Fi-ing?"

Chloe wrinkled her nose. "You did wash the sheets thoroughly, right?"

"Absolutely," Kris said, crossing her fingers under the table. What Chloe didn't know couldn't possibly hurt her.

"Why don't I believe you?" Chloe asked suspiciously, picking up the check the waitress had just delivered.

"Because you know her too well," Harm pointed out with a wry grin. "The same reason I never believe your sister when she says, "I'm fine, Harm"."

Mac elbowed him in the ribs. "Watch it, sailor. I never lie to you. I just...loosely interpret the truth." She glanced at Kris. "Ignore the two of them. They're kind of annoying. How about you and I go and leave them the check?" she winked.

"Sounds like a plan!" Kris said, standing and grabbing her purse. "I never pay anymore," she grinned. "I love it!"

"Hey!" Chloe protested weakly as she watched her fiancée and big sister walk out the door together. She glanced wearily at Harm. "Half and half?" she offered.

Harm sighed long-sufferingly. "As usual. How is it that we always get stuck paying?" he asked, pulling out his wallet.

Chloe thought of a rather rude response, but held her tongue. "Because we're suckers," she decided. She pulled out her own wallet, a gift from Mac when she had traveled to Spain on a case, and counted out half the bill. "We should order dessert and make them wait out there."

"Yeah, but then we'd both be sleeping on our respective couches," Harm warned Chloe, pulling out a few bills and tossing them on top of the growing pile.

"Hey, our couch is comfy," Chloe returned. "And no one would be hogging the covers." She sighed. "But I guess it's not such a good idea." She stood, re-pocketing her wallet. "Ready?"

"Not a good idea...that's an understatement if I ever heard one." Harm flashed her a grin and stood, following her out into the lobby of the restaurant. "Greater people than we have died for less," he said, raising an eyebrow dramatically.

Chloe giggled. "You're such a ham, Rabb. You sure you didn't major in theater?"

"No, I'm not a ham," he protested as they stepped out into the cool Virginia night. "I'm a *Harm.*"

Chloe groaned. "You're terrible, Harmon." She turned to Mac. "Your fiancé is a terrible punster. Can't you cure him of that?"

Eyes twinkling, Mac retorted, "I don't see the harm."

Kris burst into giggles, holding her stomach as she laughed so hard it made her sides ache. "You're....awful...." she gasped. "And perfect for each other."

"Awful? Us?" Mac linked her arm through Harm's. "Well...I suppose," she considered. She glanced down the street. "We're parked down there."

"Ditto," Chloe responded. "A little further away than you are. We'll walk with you."

Kris wrapped her arm around Chloe's waist and hugged her briefly.

Chloe squeezed her waist and they meandered down the road, glancing back at Harm and Mac as they followed. "So have you two set a date yet?"

Nodding, Harm said, "Well sort of. We decided on a month...next June."

"Nine months?" Chloe asked, surprised. "I'd have thought you two would want to get married sooner than that. I mean, you've been waiting for forever."

"We're waiting until the baby's born," Harm teased. "We're short one flower girl."

Mac choked. "Harm!"

Grinning like a wildcat, Harm raised a hand in surrender. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

"You'd better be, mister," Mac blustered. "I'm too old to be raising any kids." Her lighthearted tone covered the deep regrets she held about the past.

Sensing her big sister's discomfort, Chloe intervened. "Yeah, Harm, remember that discussion about sleeping on the couch?" she asked pointedly.

"No, you're not," Harm said softly. "You're a Marine, you can do anything you set your mind to, Mac." He cleared his throat softly. "And you," he turned to Chloe, "I've been playing this game a lot longer than you. You need to take notes, kiddo."

Chloe grinned. "Kiddo? I don't have to take that from you anymore, squid." She paused when they reached Mac's truck. "Well, we'll see the two of you this weekend at Sarah's birthday party?"

"Absolutely," Harm agreed, opening Mac's door for her. "Saturday at seven, right?"

"Yeah. What are you getting her?" Chloe asked suddenly. "We haven't gone shopping yet. I have no idea what to get her for her eighth birthday."

"I was thinking maybe a Barbie?" Harm suggested unhelpfully.

"Do you people *ever* talk to her?" Kris asked, hands on hips. "She wants the complete chemistry set, including sulphuric acid. And she specifically requested *no* dolls or puzzles. She loves Nancy Drew and I have a mile-long list in my sock drawer. We'll go shopping Friday night," Kris said decisively.

Chloe stared at her fiancée, speechless. "Okay, whatever you say," she replied weakly, exchanging a glance with Mac.

"Hey, don't look at me," Mac protested. "I have a list, too."

"I got AJ's, too, almost a year early," Kris grinned, leaning against the hood of the truck. "They're really organized kids. They couldn't possibly get that from Harriet, could they?" she giggled.

"Never," Mac responded teasingly. "I mean, they must have gotten it from Bud. The man who is still unbelievably awkward after all these years, even though he's a hell of a trial lawyer. Yeah, they must take after him," she said wryly.

Kris nodded, barely containing a smile. "Yeah, Harriet's Indian name is "She Who Writes Name In Underwear" but they got it from their father."

Chloe chuckled, a warm feeling bubbling up inside her as she watched the interaction between her fiancée and her big sister. It was wonderful that they got along so well. At least she knew Kris had someone to turn to if something should ever happen to her...she shook herself from that disastrous train of thought. "I don't know about y'all," she drawled, "but I'm tired."

"Not me, baby," Kris murmured, leaning back into Chloe. "I wanted to go dancing."

"Tomorrow," Chloe begged off. "I'm really tired."

Kris pouted for a moment and then gave up. "Fine. But you owe me," she teased with a smile. "Come on, let's go home."

Chloe laced her fingers through Kris' and pulled her away from the hood of the truck. "Let's go. I'm tired, and you need to feed Bob."

"Yeah, he's becoming a real porker. G'night," she said, leaning over to hug Mac quickly.

Mac released the girl. "We'll see you Friday night around eight." She watched as they started to walk away. "Get some rest, you two!"

"Seven," Kris corrected, then grinned, embarrassed. "I have a memory for numbers."

Mac laughed. "And they say I have a good memory! I must be getting old."

"I wasn't going to be the one to say it..." Harm trailed off, deciding he liked the idea of living to see another day.

"Watch it, sailor," Mac warned. "You're skating on awfully thin ice. And you know, Jingo keeps me warm at night just as well as you do."

The shadows behind the foursome rustled silently. This was too perfect. They were so easy to gauge...when they'd leave the restaurant...where they would stop and chat...

"Yes, but Jingo doesn't--" Harm paused mid-sentence and turned his head in the direction of the Camaro. "Did you all hear something?"

"No. You're paranoid." Mac embraced him loosely.

Chloe shook her head as well.

Mac froze against Harm. "Um, I heard something that time," she murmured weakly.

"Me, too. Sounded almost like an engine refusing to turn over...a clicking..." As the words left Harm's mouth, an earthquaking noise shattered the stillness of the night. The hood of Mac's truck exploded upward, splintering off as the shards hurtled back towards the earth.

End Ch. 3