AN INTERVENTION OF FRIENDSHIP

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WEBB ESTATE

"Good evening Mrs. Webb, I hope this isn't a bad time." Harm said.

"Commander, when is it a good time?" Porter replied.

"I'm sorry," Harm replied. "I came to see Clay."

"He won't see you," Porter said.

"He won't have a choice," Harm said walking to the stairs. "I assume he is upstairs."

"Thank you Commander," Porter smiled. "Harmon, you're a true friend."

"Let's hope Clay thinks so," Harm stated and went up the stairs.

WEBB'S BALCONY

"How are you?" Harm asked as he walked out to the balcony.

"Fine," Webb replied, never turning to look at Harm.

"Where's Tatiana?" Harm asked.

"Sleeping," Webb replied.

"Do you mind if I go and look in on her?" Harm asked.

"Suit yourself," Webb replied and took a sip of his drink.

Harm went into the nursery and looked at the sleeping baby.  She was cherubic looking as she slumbered, softly and rhythmically breathing.  Harm looked around the room and saw everything a baby could possibly want or need.  It was obvious that Webb had spared no expense in preparing the room.  He had assuredly met all of Tatiana's needs, the question was who was meeting Webb's needs?

"She's a beautiful baby," Harm said returning to the balcony.

"I know, thank you." Webb replied.

"So how have you been?" Harm asked.

"I'm fine," Webb replied.

"Are you really?" Harm asked. "Have you looked in a mirror lately?"

"I'm sorry, had I known you were coming I would have donned a tux," Webb replied sarcastically.

"No, if you knew I was coming, you would have gone into hiding," Harm replied.  "Clay you look like hell."

"I don't remember asking for your opinion." Webb snapped.

"Clay, what are you doing to yourself?" Harm asked. "This isn't the Clayton Webb I know."

"You don't know me," Webb said. "We aren't friends or pals or buddies.  We are two people who have worked together."

"Fine, but I know the man I worked with would not be sitting on some balcony, shutting himself off from the world and drinking himself stupid!" Harm snapped.

"Get out of my house," Webb shouted. "You have no right to come here and speak to me like that."

"Clay, you lost someone you love. It hurts, I understand that.  But you have your life and Tatiana's.  Don't let the memory of Zoya destroy you." Harm said.

"What do you know about losing someone?" Webb asked. "You are going to leave here and go home to Mac.  You have no idea what I am feeling."

"Clay, I do understand what it's like to lose someone." Harm said quietly, "And I had to investigate her death."

Webb just turned and stared at Harm.  Harm's face suddenly had a pain that Webb had never seen before. 

"Diane and I went to the academy together, my love for her developed after we graduated.  She was in cryptology and I went to fly jets.  She was stationed on the Sea Hawk and when they finally came back into port we were going to get together that night and talk.  However, I was called down to Norfolk to investigate a murder, which meant our talk would have to wait.  They never told me who the victim was, I found out as I was standing there.  I pulled open the body bag and there was the first woman I ever loved." Harm relayed to story to Webb.

"I'm sorry," Webb mumbled. "I had no idea."

"You see, I do understand." Harm said and finally sat down. "Clay, talk to me. Let me help you."

"There's nothing you can do," Webb said.

"For starters, I can watch Tatiana while you go take a shower and shave." Harm smiled. "When was the last time a razor touched your face?"

Webb rubbed his hand across his chin and gave Harm a small smile.  He then got up and went into the bedroom and then to the bath.  Thirty minutes later he returned to the balcony in a pair of freshly pressed khakis, a polo shirt and he was clean shaven.

While he was showering, Harm took the liberty of asking Porter to have dinner sent up for them.

"I hope you don't mind," Harm said.

"Would it make a difference?" Webb asked.

"Not really," Harm laughed. "Your mother mentioned that you haven't had a decent meal in months."

"My mother, quiet honestly, is a pain in the neck." Webb said rather tongue in cheek.

"I never thought I would hear that coming from you," Harm laughed. "She's worried about you."

"I know," Webb said quietly. "It's just been so hard to figure out what I am supposed to do.  One minute, I was asking Zoya to marry me and the next I was a single father."

"You are going to go on," Harm said. "It's not going to be easy, but you have to.  Zoya would expect you to live your life. Not shut yourself out."

"I'm not shutting myself out," Webb said. "I am taking care of my daughter.  She already lost her mother.  I can't risk her losing her father too."

"So you plan on being the only person in her life?" Harm asked. "That's a bit selfish"

"Excuse me?" Webb asked.

"I just mean, if you don't let her out of your sight, you are going to raise a daughter who is scared of her own shadow.  Zoya was a bit of a free spirit, can you imagine her daughter being anything else?"

"When did you become an expert on child rearing?" Webb asked.

"When you became so terrible at it," Harm smiled.

"I'm a good father," Webb sighed. "At least I am trying to be."

"You can't keep her sheltered from the world," Harm said. "You can't keep yourself sheltered either.  People get hurt, it's all part of the game."

"I never thought I would be one of the ones that got hurt." Webb said. "I never saw this as my life."

"I think you did," Harm said. "I just think you won't admit it.  Mac always says you have a heart somewhere under that three-piece suit."

"You got a good one there," Webb said. "Protect her. Protect her better than I protected Zoya."

"Is that what this is about?" Harm suddenly asked. "Do you blame yourself?"

"It was my fault," Webb said. "I got her killed."

"Clay, Abdullah killed Zoya." Harm said. "There was nothing you could have done."

"You saved your wife," Webb said.

"No I didn't," Harm said. "I had nothing to do with Mac getting out of there.  It was because the Secret Service asked for her assistance that she got out when she did.  If they hadn't she would have been right there with us."

"I don't know what to do," Webb said. "For the first time in my life, I don't have an answer ready. I don't even have a job.  I've never not worked before."

"It's not like you really have to," Harm teased.

"Very cute," Webb said taking a sip of wine.

"So what are you going to do?" Harm asked.

"I don't know," Webb replied.

"What do you want to do?" Harm asked.

"I want to go back in time…" Webb trailed off.

"I wish I could send you my friend," Harm said. "I wish I could."

Before another word could be spoken, Tatiana's soft cries could be heard from the nursery.  Webb immediately rose to get her.

"Clay, Geoffrey is with her." Harm said, stopping him. "Let someone else tend to her."

"Ok," Webb said and sat back down.  He acquiesced for about thirty seconds and then he went to the nursery.  When he got there, he saw Geoffrey cradling his daughter.  His first impulse was to take the baby from him, but he realized Harm was right and returned to the balcony.

"Have you ever taken a look at the stables here?" Webb asked.

"No, are they worth seeing?" Harm asked, completely confused by the question.

"I have some decent Thoro-Breads down there," Webb stated.

"Clay, did you ever consider working with horses?" Harm asked.

"I'm considering it," Webb said. "I've got the time."

"Then what's stopping you?" Harm asked.

"Everything," Webb replied, "Everything."

The two men spoke for a while longer and then Harm decided it was time to leave.  He did something he never thought he would do.  He hugged his friend.

"Remember you have friends, we're here for you and Tatiana." Harm said as he left.

"I know," Webb said and smiled, "Harm."

"You're welcome." Harm said and left.

RABB HOME

Harm arrived home thirty minutes later.  Mac was sitting in the living room reading a case file when he walked in.

"Put that away," Harm stated as he threw his jacket on the couch.

"How did it go?" Mac asked.

"It was fine," Harm said. "I think I got through to him."

"That's wonderful," Mac said and hugged him.  "I guess he just needed the annoying persistence of yours."

"Mac, I love you." Harm said.

"I love you too, Harm." Mac replied.

"No, I mean it.  I really love you." Harm said as he wrapped his arms around her. "I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you."

"Harm, what's gotten into you?" Mac asked.

"I just realized when I was talking to Clay, that it could have been you that died." Harm said. "I want to make sure that no matter what happens in our lives that you always know I love you."

"I know you do," Mac said.

"I promise a day will never go by that I don't tell you or show you how much I love you." Harm said.

"That's a pretty big promise," Mac smiled.

"You know I always keep my promises." Harm replied as he led Mac to the bedroom.