Title: Starting Over

Author: Anaika Skywalker

Author's Email: lindsay30@austarnet.com.au

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I don't own JAG; I just like to spread my wings occasionally.

Author's Note: I have to admit, I made a blooper, and yes even I do that occasionally. I wrote it had been thirteen years since Kat's father had died. In fact it's only twelve, sorry about that. Lets just say the brain wasn't working that day, it went on holidays without me. Which is way I had a break, as short as it was it did help. Except for my other story Gold Wings and Dress Whites, which I still have writers block on. Oh well there's always next year to finish it. Happy reading.

Winjan: Don't worry everything will turn out, I promise.

Kiwi: Thank you for thinking it was awesome.

Lisa Brown: Calling Kat, Mac, now that an interesting idea???

DD2: I'm glad you still think it's a great fic, despite Mac and Harm moving on.

Hopechest6: I hate to break this too you, but Tonka-Toy is a happily married man with three children. Sorry. (Actually he's based on my brother, so I can't really see the character with Kat.)

Kd2151a: I'm sorry you wont be reading any more, most keep an open mind even though Mac and Harm aren't together.

Timber: I'm not planning on Harm and Kat ruining their careers, all will be revealed. I promise.

Cates: Don't worry, all will turn out and this chapter will be longer.

Jeffrey Ayers: I'm sorry you think it's too far a field for you, but thank you for thinking my writing is good.

Kim: I must admit the bantering between the pilots came from remembering what my friends and I use to be like when we hung out in the break room.

Thanks also to: Kittenmommy, Bernadette. Oh and MrRemy2U, it's just a story and if you've read any of my other JAG stories you'd know so far I haven't written Harm and Mac together.

Starting Over

Chapter Seven: Making it back

300km West/South West

Of Baghdad

Harm woke to the tell tale whistle of an incoming missile, he pushed his sleeping companion to the ground and covered her body with his own. The impact was close by, shaking the ground they were laying on. Now awake, Katherine scrambled around to grab their survival gear, as was Harm.

"Get your helmet on!" He yelled, slipping his own on as another missile hit near them.

She did so, scrambling out of the makeshift tent behind him. They were imminently showered in dirt from another exploding missile. Harm grabbed Katherine's hand and pulled her alone with him as they ran from the explosions.

"Cag, up a head!" Katherine called out.

Two bright orbs were getting closer; this was either extremist or the Marines they'd been waiting for. His gut told him it wasn't extremist. "This could be our ticket out of here Kat!"

"I hope so!"

Running through the darkness with the flashes from the impacts to prove light was not what they'd been hoping for. As the orbs got closer, Harm drew his weapon, as did Katherine. Skidding to a halt they stood prepared, despite having the headlights in their eyes.

"Captain Rabb, Lieutenant O'Reilly?" A voice called out, it wasn't America it was Australian.

"Yes." Harm called back.

"Get in Sir, Ma'am. We don't have much time."

Their hesitation was seconds long, running to the hummer they jumped in putting the pistols away. There were two men in the front of the hummer, and one in the back, proving cover fire with the mounted machine gun. The drive turned them around and headed the way they'd come.

Second later they heard the high pitch of turbines as a squadron of F/A-18's went over.

"Hornets." Katherine said to on one in particular.

The flash of impacts lighted up the night as their targets were hit, the extremist had been practically on top of them.

"Damn that was close," a deep voice announced behind them.

Both looked back seeing a mountain of a man in his thirties, sitting behind them, having been at the machine gun.

He gave them a sheepish smile. "Sorry Sir, Ma'am. Corporal David Read. Up front driving is Private Jason Stephen; his passenger is Corporal Nathan Stuart. We're from the 1RAR stationed outside Baghdad," he introduced. "We heard two American's were shot down, and we were to keep an eye out."

"What happened to the Marines that were in the area, Corporal?" Harm inquired.

"They're looking in the wrong direction, sir," Corporal Stuart told him with a smirk. "Don't worry sir, we'll let them know you're all right."

Harm chuckled to himself. Sure right after they rubbed it in about finding them first. He put his hand on Katherine's shoulder and felt the dampness, frowning when he realized what it was. "Shit!" He twisted in his seat a little. "Corporal, I need a medical kit and a torch."

Read got the medical supplies and a torch, he gave that to the Captain and opened the supplies.

"We need to take a look Phantom," Harm told her.

"I know," she unzipped her flight suit and shrugged painfully out of the top half.

Harm switched on the torch as she winced when lifting her shirt. The dressing he'd used was socked with blood.

"Keep us steady, Jace!" Read yelled to his mate.

"Got it!"

He removed the dressing and cleaned the wound, hearing the Lieutenant suck in her breath. "Sorry Ma'am."

She bit her lip. "Just finish up Corporal."

"Yes Ma'am." He redressed the wound. "It'll need stitching when we get to base," he eased her shirt down. "Can I give you anything for the pain Ma'am?"

"No, thank you. I'll be fine."

Harm helped her back into her flight suit. "Don't be brave on my account Phantom."

"Wouldn't think about it, Cag."

He handed the torch back to the Corporal. "Nice work, Read."

"Thank you sir," he put everything away.

The hummer hit a bump that through Katherine into Harm, he grabbed her stopping her from being thrown about.

"Sorry Sir, Ma'am." Private Stephens apologized.

Katherine swore under her breath in a language none of them recognized.

"Easy Kat," Harm said, as he released her, wondering what she'd said.

"Aye sir."

Arriving at the base, both Harm and Katherine removed their helmets, keeping a tight grip on them though.

Read jumped out of the hummer. "Let me give you a hand, Ma'am."

She accepted his help. "Thanks."

"The infirmary is this way, sir, Ma'am."

Harm grabbed the rest of their gear. "Lead the way Corporal."

He nodded and did so, Stephens and Stuart followed, M-16's at the ready.

Inside the infirmary the two aviators were ushered away by nurses and doctors, neither saw each other until a few hours later. They'd had their wounds tended to and they were given a chance to clean up and shower, being settled in a room, than left alone.

"Are you all right, Cag?" Katherine asked him; she knew a nurse was stationed just outside their room, so she kept her voice down.

"I'm fine Kat, you?" He answered with his own question. His concern was justified by his feelings for her, though anyone else would had seen it as a commanding officer concerned for his junior officer.

"Other then six stitches in my shoulder, not bad," she smirked, but she understood his meaning.

He smiled warmly. "Get some sleep, Phantom."

"Aye sir."

Both slept as well as could be expected with nurses checking on them, making sure they had everything they needed. Dr. Hallows arrived, as they were finishing breakfast. "Good morning Captain, Lieutenant."

"Morning doc," both greeted.

"I hope my nurses didn't disturb either of you too much during the night?"

"Doc, we're use to sleeping on a aircraft carrier," Harm informed. "If anything it was too quiet."

He chuckled a little. "Sorry to hear that. The CO, Major Crosby, gives his apologizes, he won't be able to talk with you, duty calls," he stated. Then continued. "There's a Marine Lieutenant outside however who does want to see you both, so I'll let him in. He has clothing for you from your ship."

"Thank you doc."

"Now Lieutenant, let me take a quick look a that shoulder,"

"Yes sir,"

He did quickly pleased with what he saw, replacing the dressing. "Looking good Lieutenant, report to the flight surgeon once your on board your ship, he'll be clearing you for duty, but I don't see any problems," he informed doing up her gown.

"Thank you sir."

"You're welcome Lieutenant," he said with a smile and left the room.

Harm heard him talking to the Marine Lieutenant outside the room, arching an eyebrow. "I know that voice," he announced and smiled as the Marine walked in carrying two bags. "Well Gunny, you made Lieutenant."

The Marine grinned. "Yes sir, you could say they made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

Harm laughed. "It's good to see you, Victor,"

"You too sir," he dropped one bag on the end of his bed and the other on the Lieutenant's. "Good morning Ma'am."

"Lieutenant," she smiled warmly.

Harm got out of bed, opening his bag. "Lieutenant Katherine O'Reilly – Lieutenant Victor Galendez."

"Nice to meet you Ma'am."

"You too Lieutenant," she said as she opened her bag, pulling her uniform shirt out she stopped abruptly.

Harm saw her do so. "What's wrong Phantom?"

She held up the khaki shirt, instead of the usual silver Lieutenant's bars, there was now a gold oak leaf on the collar.

Victor smiled. "Captain Garret said to say congratulations Ma'am and sorry he didn't get to do the ceremony with the Captain's," he informed, than saluted them both. "I'll wait for you outside, Captain, Lieutenant Commander."

Harm grinned at Katherine's stunned expression as she stared at her shirt, ignoring the Marine as he left. He also took the opportunity to pull on his boxes and t-shirt, then his trousers before walking around the bed to her. "Congratulations Kat." With a happy squeal, she hopped off the bed and into his arms. He hugged her carefully. "Get dressed Lieutenant Commander," he ordered lightly, chuckling at her actions.

"Yes sir," she said grinning, though before she left his embrace, she stole a quick kiss, than stepped back.

Chuckling again, Harm went back to getting dressed, keeping his back to her, forcing his mind off the fact she was getting dressed behind him.

Katherine dressed, finding certain items of clothing not as easy to get on because of her shoulder, but managing to accomplish it. Even getting her shoes on, which wasn't as easy as she thought it would be with her shoulder being sore. Once they were done, they shoved their gear inside the bags, including helmets and boots.

"Ready to go Lieutenant Commander?" Harm asked her.

She finished doing up the bag, smiling. She liked the way her new rank sounded when he said it. "Yes sir."

He swung his bag over his shoulder, than took hers. "Lets go."

Outside the room, Victor was waiting with two bulletproof vests. "Sorry sir, Ma'am, they're required."

"No problem, Lieutenant," Harm told him; dropping both bags he took the one handed to him.

Victor approached Katherine. "If I may Ma'am?"

She nodded. "Thank you Lieutenant."

He helped her put it on, having been warned about her shoulder. "How's that Ma'am?"

"Find thank you Lieutenant and since you're a friend of the Cag's, you'd better call me Phantom."

He grinned. "The guys call me Lt, Phantom."

"Lt it is than," she said cheerfully.

Harm chuckled and grabbed his bag, letting the Marine take Katherine's they followed him out. Walking beside her, he whispered. "Flirt."

"Jealous?" she whispered back, smirking.

"Hell yes," he growled quietly.

Katherine laughed. "Good," she mused.

Corporal's Stuart and Read were standing near the helio with Private Stephen's. All three saluted as they approached, noticing the new rank on O'Reilly's collar. "We wanted to say goodbye, Ma'am, sir," Read informed.

"Thank you for all your help," Harm said and shook their hands.

Katherine did also. "If you're ever stateside and find yourselves in Washington, my Uncle owns a pub called O'Reilly's, tell Uncle Jack I sent you. He'll treat you like relatives."

"We'll do that Ma'am." Read agreed happily.

Nodding she followed the Cag onto the helio, the Marine was last in, he gave the order and the helio took off.

Harm lent closer to Katherine. "So do I get to met Uncle Jack?"

"Of course, I've told him all about you."

"You have?"

"I email him regularly, he took me in after my mum throw me out. He's looking forward to meeting you."

"Than I definitely want to meet him. I want to thank him for having such a great niece."

She laughed, since she'd said nearly the same words to him. "I look forward to introducing you sir."

Victor Galendez eyed the two, but didn't say anything. He knew aviators had their own bond, so he didn't want to speculate what their relationship was. What he could see was this wasn't Harmon Rabb the lawyer; this was definitely Harmon Rabb the aviator. The Cag and he liked this side of him too.

USS Ticonderoga

Somewhere in the Persian Gulf

Captain Garret was on the bridge when the helio landed and his two officers and the Marine got off. Ensign Masters was there to meet them, informing them the Captain wanted to see them. Smiling to himself, Ethan Garret left the bridge for his office, arriving before them. He was sure the moment they'd heard news of Rabb and O'Reilly's rescue, the whole ship had sighed in relief. After they walked in he shook the Cag's hand. "Good to have you back Harm."

"Thank you sir."

He addressed O'Reilly next. "Lieutenant Commander, I believe we have a promotion to officiate."

"Yes sir," she said grinning.

"Well than there's no time like the present. Attention to orders," he commanded and proceeded with the ceremony. Making her promotion official. Finally he shook her hand. "Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander."

"Thank you sir."

"Now that's over and done with," he addressed the Marine. "Lieutenant Galendez, thank you for returning my officers."

"No problem sir."

"Excellent, your men are waiting for you, Ensign Masters will show you to them."

"Thank you sir," he came to attention, saluting the officers and left.

"Now for you two, sit down, please," the Captain ordered Rabb and O'Reilly lightly and did so himself.

Both sat, thankful they'd gotten rid of the bulletproof vests before coming to the office.

"So how did the Australian's treat you?"

"Fine Skipper," Harm assured.

Garret had received a report stating both had suffered injuries after they'd punched out. "As soon as you leave here report to the flight surgeon, I want you both cleared ASAP."

"Aye sir," both acknowledged.

"Now," he sat back. "Scuttlebutt concerning you two has been flying around this ship faster then a Tomcat on full burn," he held up his hand stopping either from interrupting. "Wait until I'm finished, please. I doubt either of you are willing to through your careers away on an on board fling, so put some distance between yourselves, which I know isn't going to be easy for the duration of the tour."

"Sir, with all due respect," Harm began. "My relationship with Lieutenant Commander O'Reilly, for what it is, will no way effect our duty to the United States Navy or this ship. And after what we've been through together, it's normal to form a close friendship."

"I agree entirely, Cag," the Skipper surprised them, than added. "However if either of you feel the need to explore your friendship further, I surest you do it off this ship. If it progresses to the point where it effects your duty to the Navy and this crew, I will warn you both before I issue transfers, if not chargers. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir," both acknowledged.

"Excellent. Dismissed."

Standing both came to attention and than left the office, heading straight for sickbay, where both saw the flight surgeon, getting clearance. From there they went directly to the Ward Room, having been informed the squadron was waiting. Walking in they found more then just the Tyco Tigers, everyone stood and clapped, coursing them both embarrassment.

"Thank you everyone," Harm said, settling them all down.

Scott and Karen hugged them both, congratulating Katherine on her promotion before they sat together. Mark joined them, as did most of the Tyco Tigers.

"So did you miss us?" Katherine inquired.

"You went somewhere?" Mark teased her.

"I ran off with the Cag," she smirked. "We spent the night in an exotic motel in the desert."

"We had room service and everything," Harm added, straight faced. Not that it stop the laugher that erupted around the room as those under his command took it for what it was. A joke. Finally when all had stopped, he and Katherine managed to tell what had happened after they'd punched out and were rescued, including her promotion.

"It was a surprise to us too," Karen noted. "We weren't expecting it any more than you Kat," she then glanced at Scott. "You do realize you're going to have to salute her from now on?"

He groaned. "Not fair," he grumbled and they laughed some more.

"So kiddo, did the flight surgeon clear you to fly?" Mark asked Katherine.

"That's kiddo Ma'am, to you Tonka-Toy," she smirked. "And yes, both the Cag and I were cleared to fly the skies."

"God, out ranked by my best friend, who I consider a kid sister."

"At least your wife knows she doesn't have to worry about you being on carrier with woman, Tonka-Toy," Katherine remarked. "After all I did promise Janet I'd keep an eye on you."

"Thank you little sister dear."

"You're welcome big brother dear," she grinned and laughed along with everyone else.

"You guys went to the Academy together, didn't you?" Scott asked them. "Correct Ma'am."

Katherine chuckled at the jab. "We did and flight school, Mark married my roommate."

"Kat is Godmother to my children," Mark added.

"How many children do you have, Tonka-Toy?" Harm asked him.

"Two girls and a boy – Kris, Victoria and Anthony," the Marine answered. "Anthony was born a week after we arrived home from our last tour."

"Just in time huh?"

"Damn right."

"What about you Cag?" his RIO asked him. "What is Captain Harmon Rabb's story?"

He noticed all were listening. "I went to the Academy and flight school, was your typical fighter jock until my wings were clipped in a ramp strike," he informed and saw the expressions on their faces, all except Katherine's since she knew that part of the tale. "My RIO was killed and I had a long painful recover, that made me take a good look at myself and my career. In the end I decided to be a lawyer after I saw the JAG lawyers help me through the review of the accident."

"So were you a good lawyer sir?" Ensign Carmichaels asked.

"I was Roadie."

"How did you come back to flying, Cag" Brain Michaels asked.

"I found out I was miss-diagnosed, they said I had night blindness, I didn't, I had blurred vision. Surgery corrected it and I decided to change designators and returned to flying. For five months I was assigned to the USS Patrick Henry and the Raptors." Harm revealed.

"So what happened?" Jeff Williams inquired.

"It was a case of too old and not enough traps, I returned to JAG and being a lawyer. I also found I had nothing more to prove."

"The Cag pushed his wingman to safety using his wingman's tailhook and his windscreen," Katherine announced.

"You did that?" Scott exclaimed. "Everyone had heard about that."

Harm shrugged it off. "I couldn't let my wingman eject in enemy territory."

"It earned you your second DFC," Katherine noted. "It was a gutsy move."

"How did you get your Silver Star?" Karen inquired, she, like the other members of the squad, had noticed the ribbons on his chest when he'd first arrived.

"I lead a nuclear warhead away from the USS Seahawk in a Tomcat."

Murmurs erupted around the group; this was what they'd wanted through, to know him.

"Did you actually leave the Navy, sir?" Ensign Lynch asked quietly.

He gave a nod. "But fortunately for all of you I came to my sensors and came back," he said lightly and they laughed. "So what's with playing twenty questions?"

They all looked a little guilty. "Well Cag, after you and Phantom were shot down, we realized we didn't know a lot about you, either of you and we decided when you got back we'd ask." Scott answered. Then looked at his driver. "It's your turn, Phantom, what's the Lieutenant Commander Katherine O'Reilly's story."

She was a little uncomfortable at tell her story, but Harm had, so she could too. "My dad died as you know, I was fifteen. I went to live with my Uncle Jack until I went to the Naval Academy after my mum kicked me out. At the Academy I meet Mark and his wife to be Janet, who was my roommate. They helped a scared seventeen year old get through her first few months at the Academy."

"You went to the Academy at seventeen?"

"I skipped a grade in High School."

"So why did you mum kick you out?" Ensign Carmichaels asked her.

"Because I was accepted to Annapolis, she didn't want me to become an aviator like my father."

"It must have been hard."

"It was, but my Uncle Jack was great and very supportive."

Harm heard the hurt in her voice and wanted nothing more to comfort her, but remained where he was, the Captain was right; they had to keep their distance. "Kat's Uncle also owns a pub, appropriately named O'Reilly's," he informed. "So boys and girls, I think we can safely say we can hold a Wetting Down there when we get into port."

They all agreed whole-heartedly.

"I'll warn my Uncle," Katherine declared, rolling her eyes. "Thanks Cag."

"You're welcome Phantom," he smirked, than stood. "Now if you'll excuse me I have work to do." All stood as he left.

Katherine decided to leave herself. "I'm going to change, promotion or not I feel more comfortable in a flight suite."

"You look good in one too, Phantom," Brain teased, good heartedly.

She shook her head and walked out.

Karen tagged along with her. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I don't take any notice of their bantering."

"That's not what I mean and you know it."

"Mouse, I'm fine," she assured, but knew exactly what her friend had meant.

Arriving at their stateroom Karen sat near the computer as Katherine change, she saw the dressing on her friends back. "What was it like?"

Pulling her t-shirt over her head, Katherine hesitated. "Scary at first, then the adrenalin started pumping, I didn't realize I'd been hit by shrapnel until after I was on the ground and ran over to the Cag."

"You were luckily," Karen noted.

She turned as she pulled her flight suit on. "You would of survived just as easily and the Cag was there."

Karen heard hidden meaning behind that. "Kat, did anything happen while you were alone with him?"

Sitting on her bunk, Katherine pulled on her boots. "No, nothing happened."

"Would it have, if you hadn't been injured?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "He's the Cag, Mouse."

Karen got up and sat beside her friend. "And you're a woman, given the right chance you'd jump his bones in a heartbeat."

Katherine hid her emotions well, damn right she would have, but she wasn't telling her friend that. "It doesn't matter what I feel, Mouse. On board this ship he's the Cag and that's all there is to it."

"But you weren't on board this ship, you were alone in the desert," her friend noted.

"And he was still my Commanding Officer," Katherine reminded and stood. "I'm going to check out my bird."

"Is the scuttlebutt true, Kat?" Karen asked her seriously.

She stopped for a moment, than walked out leaving the question unanswered.

Karen sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing, Kat," she said to herself.

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church Virginia

Washington DC.

Admiral Chegwidden put the call on hold and looked at the anguish faces waiting to here what he knew. "Captain Rabb and Lieutenant Commander O'Reilly were found by Australian troops last night there time. They're both back aboard the Ticonderoga."

Harriet hugged her husband, Mac smiled, relief washed across her face, as it did with Tom Boone's and Sturgis Tuners.

"Were they hurt at all sir?" Sturgis asked.

"I'll let the Captain himself fill you in," the Admiral announced and took the call off hold and put it on speaker. "You're on Captain."

Harm's voice came over the speaker. "Afternoon everyone, well it is where you are, here it's oh nine hundred."

They all laughed, mostly in relief to hear he was fine.

"Are you all right, sir?" Harriet asked.

"Aside from four stitches in my forehead I'm fine, Harriet."

"And the Lieutenant Commander, sir?" Bud asked. They'd all be informed of the change in rank.

"I'm fine Lieutenant, other then the six stitches in my back," Katherine O'Reilly's voice came over the speaker.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, I didn't realize you were there."

"That's all right Bud."

"Don't you think you have enough excitement in your life without flying with Rabb, Kat?" Tom asked her.

She laughed. "What can I say Uncle Tom, I'm a risk taker."

Her addressing Tom Boone as 'Uncle Tom' surprised all, even though they were aware he knew her.

He chuckled lightly. "You certainly are, sweetheart," he commented.

"Admiral," Harm broke into the conversation. "There is someone else here who'd like to say hello."

The third voice came on. "Good Afternoon, Admiral."

They all said it at once. "Gunny!"

He chuckled. "Lieutenant actually."

"Congratulations Victor," Mac said first and they all did.

"Thank you, Colonel, sirs, Ma'am."

"Will we be seeing you in port, Lieutenant?" The Admiral inquired.

"Yes sir, my unit is rotating out, with Saddam's capture, we've been given the chance to go home."

"Hopefully all our troops will be home soon, Lieutenant," AJ stated.

"Yes sir."

"I hope we'll be seeing you and Kat when you get back to port, Captain," Tom Boone declared emphasizing Harm's rank.

"We'll be there for a few days, there's a Wetting Down to attend," Harm revealed cheerfully. "Than I have a promise to keep and Mum and Frank to see."

"We'll have dinner, Uncle Tom," Katherine promised. "Before I go visit dad's grave."

"I look forward to it sweetheart."

They heard a door open and a quiet conversation between Rabb, Galendez and the third party. Finally Harm announced. "We have to go Admiral, Phantom and I have a hope to fly and Lieutenant Galendez has to go sort his Marines out, they've challenged the Wolverines again, so it's going to be a long day."

"Understood Captain," AJ responded. "Take care."

"We will sir, goodbye," all three acknowledged and the call was finished.

AJ hung up and took the phone off speaker, sitting back in his chair. "I take it everyone can get a good nights sleep now."

"We can now we know they're safe," Bud declared.

"Well I for one am going to get a drink to celebrate my god daughters promotion," Tom informed. "AJ, care to join me?"

"I think I will," he agreed.

"I didn't realize Lieutenant Commander O'Reilly was your god daughter sir," Harriet stated. "Captain Rabb has never said, nor the Lieutenant Commander."

"She just doesn't like to brag, Lieutenant," he smirked.

AJ grabbed his cover and coat. "Colonel, I'm leaving the office in your hands, secure up for the night, then go home and get some sleep."

"Aye sir,"

"If you need us, we'll be at O'Reilly's," Tom announced.

"Understood sir."

"Good night sirs," Harriet and Bud bided.

"Good night Lieutenants," the Admiral said and so did Tom, as they left.

Sturgis followed Mac into her office. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she smiled, sitting she gestured for him to do so. "Why shouldn't I be?"

He sat down. "You just seem very comfortable with him coming home for a few days and then leaving."

"He has a right to see his family, Sturgis," Mac dismissed. She saw he wasn't going to let it drop. "Harm and I are friends, but nothing more. Not any more."

"I'm sorry to hear that, especially since he's in a different chain of command, you could have made things work."

Mac sighed. "No we couldn't, things changed for us after Paraguay. It's time to go forward, not backward."

"So you're not going to even try? You told me you loved him."

"I did love him, but things changed, I changed and so has Harm. We're two different people now."

Sturgis shook his head and stood. "Then I hope you find someone Colonel."

"So do I Commander," she stated. Especially since she had a feeling Harm had already found someone, even though that was something he would never admit to her. Not yet anyway.

To be continued…

(I was taking a break from writing but I found with this story I couldn't stop, I had so many ideas I just had to run with it. So I'm going to keep going until I run out of them, which could mean a dozen chapters more or only two. It just depends on how things go and how the reviews go. So happy holidays and see you all in the New Year. AS)