author's notes: There is no money being made off of this. No infringement is intended. I only wanted to play in the playground that was created for us all by Bellisario and Company. All recognizable characters belong to them anyway. The songs used in this chapter are Blind Faith by Warrant and The Search Is Over by Survivor. There is even a line from a song by Bon Jovi, if you spot it, I'll bake you a cupcake. I hope you all like where this is going. I was finally able to crash through the brick wall I hit while I was on vacation. And let me warn you, if you ever go on vacation to New England and you are having nice weather, DON'T, I repeat, DON'T let your Dad even jokingly ask if its snowing where you are at.

But seriously, I asked for 10 reviews the last time, and I guess some of you just din't feel like leaving one. I am letting you off the hook, though. And as for some people (though not that reviewed this story), who seem to think authors hold their chapters "hostage" for reviews, that is our right. Just look at my other stories that I wrote , and even though they are every bit as good as this one, NONE have gotten even half as many of reviews (sorry about the soapbox, I just read someone's story where they went off on that and it got me mad). I hope everyone who reads this will review it, good or bad, but PLEASE no flames. I did have fun writing this chapter, and I hope you enjoy reading it. And again, I must thank Browneyeez for all of her support and encouragement. I don't think my story would be half as good without her influence, and that of a certain spook.

Always,

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur

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0800 ZULU
December 26, 2003
North of Union Station, Harm's Apartment
Georgetown

"Sarah, I can't believe I am finally home." I expressed to the woman I loved as we walked through my doorway.

"Harm, I feel the same way. But I do have a confession to make." Sarah looked at me questioningly.

"What?" I asked.

"Well, I uh," She stammered.

"Spit it out Marine." I quipped.

She blushed, a very becoming shade of red before she continued. "I have to confess that I did spend quite a few nights over the past three months sleeping here. I just missed you so much that it was the one way that made me feel close to you."

"Oh, Sarah," I leaned in towards her and pulled her into a tight hug. "I am glad you did. It just makes me love you even more than I already do. Since we don't have to be at the meeting until 0800 our time, I think we should both turn in and get at least a little bit of sleep."

We silently made our way to my bedroom. I changed in there while Mac changed in my bathroom. By the time she came out, I was already in bed and under the covers. I patted the empty space beside me, and Sarah climbed in. We snuggled together and drifted off to sleep.

The next thing I knew, I was awake for some reason. I looked at my clock, and realized that only about an hour had passed since we went to sleep. I tried, rather unsuccessfully, for the next half hour to fall back asleep. I gave up and started to get up, when I noticed my guitar propped up beside my bed. Instead of getting out of bed, I sat up and reached for my guitar. I softly started to strum a few notes, and when Sarah didn't wake up I started singing too.

Darlin' I know you're sleepin'
But there's something I've just got to say
Wonder if you'll hear me
While you're dreamin'
You make a lifetime
Out of every day
Thanks to you now I know
All my dreams can come true
Blind Faith in you I got
Blind Faith in you oh yea
Your eyes keep things well hidden
Just a hint of what
You're holding inside
And the first day that I met you
I consider that the first day of my life
Thanks to you now I know
All my dreams can come true
Blind Faith in you I've got
Blind faith in you
And I'm not sure I deserve
A women so true, but I love
That you think I do
With You and Faith, beside me
I'm feelin' stronger every day
Blind faith in you I got
Blind faith in you it's true
Blind faith in you I got
Blind faith in you
And I'm not sure I deserve
A woman so true but I love
That you think I do.

When I finished the song, I looked over at Sarah and noticed she had tears streaming down her face. "Sarah, I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Harm, it's not that. It's just that I can't remember anyone ever singing me a more beautiful song. I've always enjoyed listening to you sing." She told me.

"Thank you. Blind Faith has always been one of my favorite songs, but I have never had anyone special enough to sing it to before now. And the song is true, I'm not sure if I deserve a woman so true. But I do love that you think I do. And I do love you with all my heart and soul. I don't think I can wait another minute for this. It isn't exactly how I planned this, but here goes." With that I broke into another song that I had been practicing for years for this moment.

How can I convince you what you see is real
Who am I to blame you for doubting what you feel
I was always reachin', you were just a girl I knew
I took for granted the friend I have in you
I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world, that was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever, the search is over
You were with me all the while
Can we last forever, will we fall apart
At times it's so confusing, these questions of the heart
You followed me through changes and patiently you'd wait
Till I came to my senses through some miracle of fate
I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world, that was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever, the search is over
You were with me all the while
Now the miles stretch out behind me
Loves that I have lost
Broken hearts lie victims of the game
Then good luck it finally struck
Like lightning from the blue
Every highway leading me back to you
Now at last I hold you, now all is said and done
The search has come full circle
Our destinies are one
So if you ever loved me
Show me that you give a damn
You'll know for certain
The man I really am
I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world, that was just my style
Then I touched your hand, I could hear you whisper
The search is over, love was right before my eyes

"Sarah," I asked reaching for her hand, setting my guitar aside for the time being. "I know I have wasted far too long on wanting to be sure, but if nothing else, this war has taught me that although I can promise you tomorrow, I can't buy back yesterday." I grabbed her hand and noticed she was crying even more now and I also realized that I was as well. "Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, will you do me the honor of accepting this ring and agreeing to be my wife?" I reached into the drawer of the bedside table and pulled out a ring box and handed it to Sarah.

"Oh, my, Harm. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!" She sobbed out loud as I took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. "Harm this ring looks really old, was it your Mom's?"

"In a way, yes it was. It was her ring from my Father, but it also was my Grandmother Sarah's ring, as well as her Mother's ring. But if you wanted something new, I can always get whatever you want, a bigger stone perhaps? I know it is a rather small stone." I said.

"Harm, there is no need for that. It is the ring of my dreams, truly. I have always preferred the simplicity of a slender band with a small diamond solitaire to that gaudiness that most girls go with these days. Is it silver or white gold?" Sarah asked me.

"Actually, its platinum. My Great-Grandfather apparently owned a platinum mine and designed the ring himself. Do you truly like it?" I asked tentatively.

"Harm, it is without a doubt, the most beautiful ring I have ever seen, but I do think that maybe we should get a little more sleep. After all, we only have three hours thirty-one minutes and nineteen seconds before we have to meet with the Admiral and your Mother in the morning, and I would really like to be fresh when we do." Sarah stated as a matter of fact.

I nodded in agreement as we curled up and went back to sleep. Two hours later, Sarah was dragging my sorry six out of bed and making me take a shower so we could leave. "Why so early?" I asked.

"I thought that maybe, since you missed your Christmas Eve visit with your Father, we could go this morning, together. Do you mind?" She inquired curiously.

"No, I don't mind, and I would very much like to introduce my future wife to my Father. I know you have met him there before, but this time it will be as my fiance." With that statement, I was up, showered and dressed in my uniform and ready to go within just a few minutes.

1230 Zulu
December 26, 2003
The Wall
Washington, DC

As we walked towards the panel that had my father's name on it, I noticed that they had made some repairs to his section, but I didn't pay close attention to it until I heard Sarah gasp. "Sarah, what's wrong?"

"Harm, your Dad's name is not there." She scarcely made the words loud enough for me to hear, but I did.

"Are you sure?" But as I was asking this, I was already growing frantic because I too had noticed this discrepancy. I looked around for a guard that might have been on duty, but I could find no one. The park was strangely silent for once. I don't even remember hearing a peep out of any animals. "Maybe they just rearranged the panels." But as I said this, I knew it was not true. So I just grabbed Sarah's hand and led her back to my car. And off we went to the JAG offices. "Maybe the Admiral will know what is going on." I managed to say before I got the car started and the rest of our trip was made in silence.

But unbeknownst to us a lone spook stepped out from behind a tree and got into his car. "This Christmas Season will be the best one for you ever, Rabb. I hope you appreciate it." He said to himself as he pulled away from the curb before heading to his first meeting of the morning.