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You Can Love Again

Part 3

Author: Mac

Disclaimers in Part 1

Author's Note: Please remember that I am not a medical doctor, nor have I known anyone with any form of cancer.

Dedication: This part is dedicated to the families of those with who have died of cancer.

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Mac smiled at Harm. They had just finished dinner and all business about the case had been discussed. She knew she'd have to tell him what she was feeling now or she'd never do it. "Harm, I want to talk to you about something?"

"What's that?" Harm asked.

"This is kind of hard for me to say because we've been working so closely the past few weeks. I think we really have something going."

He nodded. "So do I, Mac."

*Oh, boy,* she thought. *He doesn't think of me that way.*

"Mac? Earth to Mackenzie."

She shook her head and laughed. "Sorry, I must have spaced out there for a minute." Harm arched an eyebrow. "And you're wondering where I'm going with all this, I'm sure. I really like you and wanted to know if you'd like to pursue something a little more... serious."

Harm stared at her. It was scary how she was thinking the same thing as she was. Not only that, but Jenna still weighed heavily on his mind. He needed to sort through those feelings first. He knew Jenna would approve. She wanted him to be happy, she said so before she died.

"Sarah," he said, saying her name for the first time. "I'm definitely interested in this, but there's something you need to know."

"Well," she replied. "Hannah sort of told me about your wife."

He chuckled. "Did she? She's always looking out for me. I met Jenna my junior year in high school. We did everything together. After she graduated from med school, we got married and had Hannah two years later. A week after Hannah was born, Jenna was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went through every kind of treatment and shortly after she went into remission."

"Jenna became sick again just after Hannah turned 3. She was feeling so weak that I had to take a leave of absence to help around the house.

It was so hard, but I needed to be strong for Hannah. She just didn't understand what was going on. Of course she didn't, she was only three."

Mac placed her hand on his. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"No, that's okay," Harm said. "I needed to get this out anyway. Especially since we're going to be friends, and hopefully, something more one day."

"I'd really like that," she answered him, smiling.

************

Harm handed the baby-sitter some many. "Thank you for watching Hannah at the last minute, Franny, I really appreciate it."

"No problem, Mr. Rabb. It's really my pleasure."

When she had gone, Harm turned off the lights and headed upstairs. He opened Hannah's door and walked over to her. He smiled and bent over to kiss her forehead. "Daddy?"

"You tricked me! I thought you were asleep!"

Hannah giggled. "I wanted to know how your date went!"

"It wasn't date, Hannah," Harm protested. "It was a dinner meeting."

"Don't you like her, Daddy? She likes you."

Harm nodded. "I do like her. It's just..."

"Mommy?"

"Yeah, Mommy."

Hannah grabbed a frame from her nightstand and climbed onto Harm's lap. They looked at the picture together, each remembering the warmth of Jenna's arms around them. "She wants you to be happy, Daddy."

"I know, Hannah."

"So do I."