First chapter disclaimers

Harmon Rabb walked briskly down the aisle of the hospital. He had just arrived at J.A.G. Headquarters for the morning when he had received a phone call. Porter Webb had called. Clayton had been in a "freak accident." If anyone wanted to see him, he was allowed visitors.

A quick vote had gotten Harm nominated to go and get a full report. Mac had taken over his work and Chegwidden had surprisingly ordered flowers to be sent.

Harm stopped in front of the room that the nurse had indicated. With a short rap on the door, he entered the room. Clayton Webb lay on the standard hospital bed. His coloring was pale, and his face was bruised. His right hand sported two splinted fingers. Whatever other damage there was, was covered by the sheets.

"I'm guessing I don't look too good right now," Clayton spoke before Harm could summon words.

"That would be one way of putting it," Harm replied as he sauntered over to Clay's bedside.

"Well, I suppose I'm better off than I should be considering what happened."

"Care to tell me exactly what did happen?"

"I had a building fall on me."

"I'm guessing the rest is classified?"

"Actually, the fact that the building fell on me is classified, but I knew you wouldn't fall for a freak accident at the family stables."

"No. The fact that you haven't been in the country for three weeks pretty much ruled out that possibility."

"How did you know I wasn't in the country?"

"Because we called your office looking for you. If we had called and you were in the country, you would have been able to contact us because you would have been able to slip away from whatever assignment you had."

Clay snorted, "It figures. I get a chance to earn some IOU's, and I'm gone. I take it you did fine without me?"

"Well, I'd hate to break it to you in your condition, but, yes."

"Into everyone's life a little torrential flood must sometimes flow and rip out all existence of civilization; I suppose."

"It isn't that bad, Webb."

"I beg to differ."

Harm shook his head and tried another route, "So, is your girlfriend coming to visit you?"

"What girlfriend?"

"The one you stopped and tried to talk to me about."

"Oh, we broke up right before I took my, 'business trip.'"

"Didn't take well to you being a spy?"

"I really don't know. One moment, she is telling me how she knows I'm hiding from her. So, I tell her the truth, and she goes ballistic on me and tells me to never talk to her again."

"What can I tell you, if women are an enigma to the man that knows Mac's dress size, I'm sure they are impossible to figure out."

"Oh, you're a lot of help, Rabb. Remind me never to have you as my legal counsel."

"I work for J.A.G. I can't be your legal counsel anyway."

"Aren't you supposed to be here giving me support?"

"I am. Clay, you don't like it if you aren't antagonized. You should see yourself. Your skin tone has improved 50 since I came in here."

"Fine."

"You're sulking."

"Of course I'm sulking. Didn't anyone ever tell you that the blue-blooded rich sulk like children when they don't get their way?" Clay twisted his face into a bitter expression.

"I'm guessing from your expression that that comment wasn't directed at me," Harm said as he studied the man in front of him.

"My… girl, she sort of had a disdain for rich people. You know, I know how to handle being injured and mentally attacked by my enemies. I know how to handle being physically injured by my friends. But, I can't seem to handle this whole situation. I've been dumped before for worse reasons. How come I'm not springing back?"

Harm looked directly at Webb's face, "Because you were never really in love before."

"I had a terrible feeling you were going to say that. That makes two for true love and one against."

"Who's against?"

"Mother thinks that if it was true love, she would never have dropped me like that. She also thinks that I would never fall in love with a woman that didn't love me with equal passion, so she just thinks I'm under a great deal of stress."

"Clay…"

"Don't! Look, Rabb I appreciate you coming to see me, but you're right. I can't handle empathy from you. I tried being open. It didn't work, and I probably made a mistake on my last mission because of it. Why don't you just go and have fun with your honest friends. I'll be back being irascible as soon as I'm through with the physical therapy."

Rabb smiled, "You sure you don't want me to tell you what a jerk you are before I go?"

"Nah, if I get lonely for insults, I'll just call Chegwidden. He has a flair you really don't."

"'Bye Webb."

"Bye."

Clay watched with a heavy heart as Harm left his room. How was he ever going to recall his objectivity?

Meg patted her hair down nervously as she walked into the J.A.G. Headquarters. One month after her breakup with Clay, she had been offered a transfer back. After a moment's hesitation, she had agreed. A small thought nagged at the back of her head that she might run across Clay if she returned. She was not certain if she relished the possibility or if she was petrified by it.

After being properly sworn into her post, she was left to meet her new workmates.

"Welcome back, Meg," Harm grinned at her shock as she whirled around.

"Commander, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that."

"Ah, but you aren't 'people,' Meg, you're a friend. That gives me the right to surprise you."

"And he does worse, let me assure you. Are you sure you don't want him back? I'd be happy to give him," Mac said as she came up beside Harm.

"Oh, you must be Mac."

"I must be. And you are Meg, I take it?"

"Yes, I am, Colonel."

"Well, welcome to J.A.G. I assume Harm hasn't introduced you to anyone yet?"

"No, the Admiral did, but he got called away."

"Hey, I haven't introduced her to anyone yet because someone I know is hogging talking time," Harm protested.

"Oh, Harm, you can be such a cry baby," Mac smiled as she began to move Meg down the hallway.

Harm looked towards the ceiling and sighed. He had a bad feeling about those two woman talking to each other.