Thank you all!!!

e-dog: LOL, oh, well...when you do take finals, hope all goes well, lol!! Yeah, but luckily my bro's finally on spring break and he sleeps in sooo much, lol. Only bad thing, he's on the computer a lot too :(....LOL, well, you planted a seed with the crossing the street bit, I hadn't really thought about anyone getting in trouble. But then it kept nagging at me and I knew I had to bring it up soon :D. Hehehe, thanks, I've been wanting a confession scene, and each time it just seemed to early to bring it in, but I had fun writing that, especially since I just went to confession last weekend. Since then, it's been rolling around even more in my head and I knew I wanted to write one in that chapter :). Yeah, I have to be careful with the Rabb/Grace/Palmer convo...oy...hope it turns out all right, lol.

Gillian-Marie: Hey, welcome back!!! Aw, and thank you, all those compliments really boost my confidence :). Thank you and see ya next week!

cmaf: LOL, thank you, I had quite a fun time writing the confession scene. And you're right, the whole time I was like, "this priest probably thinks she got pregnant or something" lol. But, luckily, priests don't have to ask that sort of thing :). Yes, it's a real, church, or basilica. There are some pics of it from the link in my profile if you want to check it out. It's a beautiful place :). LOL, well, I kind of need Harm and Mac to go poof, because then we'd go back to having just our one alternate universe and then the young Harm and Mac don't have to live missing everyone and everything from the future and stuff. Well, I'm so happy you find the time to read and review, your thoughts always mean a great deal to me :). Thanks and see ya next week!

NadaZimri: Well, here I go, answering your longest review yet! :) Yes, I'm deaf, blind...mute...um...I don't think that's possible. Though some ppl at my church probably think I'm a mute. I don't sing and I don't talk to many people, lol. ANYwho...AH! Chocolate Orly!!! Darn you, and I just went a whole 32 minutes and 17 seconds without thinking about chocolate-powder-covered-Orlando!!!! Grrr....*sigh*............*pop* okay, I'm back......*grins stupidly*....(not very hard, I know, haha, you're soooo funny, tuh)....YES! It has been proven!!! Harm DOES in fact eat cookies!!!!! And we thought he didn't know what a cookie was!!!! Ah! My neck itches!! Is that a bad thing?? It doesn't feel nice....anyway, what were we talking about?! Hey! And I happen to like SCRABBLED eggs very much, thank you!!! No, Grace isn't anorexic, she's doesn't like fatty meats and stuff. Anyway, quit pointing out my typos, I have two friendly-beta-reader-fairies here to help :D. Boy, this is your longest review response yet! Most of it doesn't make sense though...that's okay, fits us well :D.

DelphieKat: Omg, I'm soooo glad you said that, it's been a little difficult trying to determine which Harm is which and which Mac etc. I've been trying my best to separate the four, lol. Thank you and see ya next week!

DD2: Hiya! LOL, I'm happy that this is a worthy substitute for JAG :). Thanks and see ya next week! (new JAG episodes starts with "Hard Time" on April 2nd, I believe :D. Just a heads up).

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: WOW, that's a hard name to spell, lol. Anyway, lol, so glad you're back with us!!! Hehehehe, well, I've used a similar tactic with my own dad when I reeeally need something, lol. Puppy dog eyes always work...well, most of the time. He's learning my tricks, lol. Thanks and see ya next week!

CharmedMummy: *waves* Hiya! 1. (Grammar): I know, there were a LOT of grammar mishaps in the last chapter, I've been trying to fix them here on all the chapters and then re-upload them at the same time. Hopefully I'll get that done when I finished this story :). 2. (Leavenworth): *meep* that's a mistake...biggy. I messed that up big time and would probably never have noticed if you didn't point it out, lol. Thanks :). 3. (School): Actually, and I forgot to specify, the day that was written in that last chapter was a Saturday, and the day they'll spend in Kansas will be Sunday. School should start up by Monday :D. Hmmm...the kid's names...well, there isn't that much significance, or much of a story behind them, but I could stick one in there somewhere. Thanks for the idea :). You have a great weekend too and see ya next week!

SarahRabb705: LOL, thanks, the confession scene was fun to write :D. Teehee, well, your questions should be answered in this chappy. Thanks, Sarah, and see ya next week!

Mimmi: LOL, yeah, me like twists :D. Keeps me and hopefully everyone else on their toes ;). Yay! I really wanted to get the feeling across that this was one big happy family and they were starting to connect. I'm glad you felt that!!! Yes, bad Mr. Palmer is gonna come in and stir things up a bit—but not too much, I promise!! Ohhhh, and don't worry, Eric shall grace this chapter :). LOL, hey, obsessions can be fun :)...maybe not healthy, but fun :D. Thanks and see ya next week!

Annebd: LOL, yeah, lots of typos in that chapters, didn't have much time to go over that part. :). Aw, thank you, I kind of liked that whole scene at breakfast, family scenes hit a soft spot, because family has always been very important to me :). Great chapter on Whose Baby, but PLEASE update that soon!!! Thanks and see ya next week!

Maggie: LOL, the confession was much fun to write, glad ya liked it :D. Yeah, Palmer tends to always get in the way :D. Thanks and see ya next week!

Girlgunner: Great to have you back! Thank you, Eric has quickly turned into one of my beloved characters and I'm glad you like him too :). Omg, lol, IMO, Palmer is one of the best television villains out there, and it's going to be interesting to write him. I've never written for his character before, so I hope I can portray him well enough :). Thank ya very much for all your nice compliments, they really boost my confidence :D. Thanks and see ya next week!

Lili: LOL, yes, daughters can be very persuasive. The puppy dog eyes is the ultimate weapon for getting what we want, LOL. I use it sparingly :). YES, Eric will have an appearance in this chapter, most definitely :). Thank you and good luck on your exams!!! Hmm, um...Saluti...my bit of Italian :D. Thanks and see ya next week!

Mars: Heehee, thank you. Ya, it would make things interesting if Eric could remember Grace, but he will have his own part to play in this story :). A pretty important part actually :). *cough* angst alert *cough*....Yeah, now it's kind of Papa Harm's turn to be disgruntled, lol. Hmmm...well, Palmer might TRY to go through time...I'm so evil, lol. You'll know soon enough :). Thanks and see ya next week! More of Eric to come :)

ArwenUndomiel: Hey, don't worry, you weren't the last to review! :) Yes, things are FINALLY starting to pick up a little bit, don't want it too fast, but yet I don't want it too slow!!! Hey, it's all right, stuff gets hectic, I completely understand. This chapter was sort of last minute too, had to do some quick tweaking :). Thanks for the wonderful compliments and see ya next week!

Winnie Bear: LOL, no, but suspense is so much fun!!! Well...for me it is, lol. Hope ya like this! Thanks and see ya next week!

Macicat: Hey! Thank you! Hmm...well, Mama Mac is a bit insecure all around right now, as you'll see in this chapter. She and Papa Harm have some major adjusting to do, as do the children. Hmm, but that's an interesting point you bring up, I'll see if I can work that into the flow, thanks :). Thank you and see ya next week!

Pissed Off Poet: Thank you! Oy, I just hope it's heading in the right direction! :) Thanks and see ya next week!

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(A/N): ^Hey look, I actually created a divider, easier on the eyes :D. Oh, I just amuse myself sometimes. :) Anyway, "PMT Airlines" is of my own creation and doesn't exist.

Chapter 8: Neurons, Protons, Electrons & Old Enemies

1430

Rabb Home

Georgetown, Virginia

 "Harmon Rabb Junior, have you completely lost your mind?!"

Grace cringed as she sat with her ear to her parents' bedroom door. Though you couldn't pick up any soft conversation from the other side, shouts could be heard quite easily.

"Mac, come on, it's no big deal!"

"No big deal?!  No big deal?! You're flying halfway across the country with my daughter to interview a sociopath from hell to get probably spurious information about time travel?! You're right, it's not a big deal—it's just plain stupid!"

Inside the bedroom, Sarah was pacing rapidly across the hard wood floor, her face red and her arm crossed tightly against her chest. Harm was leaning against the dresser, watching his wife fume and trying to reason with her.

"Look, Mac, it's going to be in a high security prison—"

Sarah threw her arms up. "That's hasn't stopped Palmer before!"

"Mac, that was nearly twenty years ago when prison security wasn't half what it is now!"

She sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "It isn't about that, Harm!" She murmured.

Harm sat down next to her, gathering her hand in his. "Well then, what is it?"

She bit her lip nervously. "It's...I just don't want him back in our lives. I don't want him to know anything about us, or the kids—"

Finally truly understanding his wife's concern, Harm wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "He won't. Mac, this isn't a social visit, we just need information."

She shook her head, staring down at the floor. "Harm, I have a bad feeling about this."

"Honey, everyone gets a bad feeling when it has to do with Palmer. Now, look, we'll fly out tomorrow, have the interview and get out of there. We'll be back before dinner time."

Mac thought this over a moment, giving a large sigh. "You better, I'm making that damned veggie lasagna of yours."

Harm chuckled, leaning his head down to kiss her. Mac pulled away, standing from the bed. "I'm still mad at you though, flyboy." But Mac's lips twitched into the smallest of a smile, which she hid from her husband.

***

0940

Rabb Home

 Isabel watched her mother carefully as the woman made breakfast.

"I want bacon." Isabel announced.

Sarah placed the bowl of cereal in front of her daughter, dropping the spoon next to it. "I don't have time for bacon."

"Why?"

"I have a lot to do today."

"Like what?"

"Clean the house, drop by the Tiners' to give them their belated baby shower gift and oh—geeze, and I have to get to the store too or else we won't have any dinner tonight."

Mac came into the kitchen yawning as she caught the last part of Sarah's reply.

"Morning." Sarah said quickly, without even looking at Mac.

"Hey."

"Morning, Macky!" Isabel greeted her cheerfully.

Mac made a half smile. Isabel had dubbed her "Macky" the day before and now used it faithfully.

Sarah buzzed about the kitchen in a blur, going from the refrigerator to the pantry and back again, making a list of the things she needed. When Mac finished her own cereal, she brought it to the sink and started to wash it. Sarah shooed her away though.

"I'm taking care of all of that stuff. Just don't touch it."

Mac backed away from the busy woman, giving Isabel a glance. The little girl seemed to find all of this quite normal and was reading the back of the cereal box, saying the words softly and slowly.

 Mac watched as Sarah finally put the list down, filled with dozens of needed groceries. The Marine strolled over to the counter, picking up the list. "You know, Sarah, I could go to the store for you."

The older woman stopped scrubbing the stovetop and turned her head to her younger self. Isabel looked away from the cereal box to watch. "No, I don't think so. Someone might recognize you." Sarah slowly went back to her scrubbing.

Mac merely shrugged a slender shoulder. "I'll go to a store outside Georgetown, I doubt I'll run into anyone you know."

Sarah made a sound something between a groan and a whimper. She looked around the kitchen nervously. After a couple days with just two added people around, the house needed a lot of work, and Sarah wanted it done before the weekend was out. She folded her arms tightly, biting her lip.

"...I guess you can go for me. I'll—call a cab for you."

Mac grinned, finally glad she could help.

***

0948

PMT Airlines (Private Military Transportation)

30,000 Ft. Above Sea Level

Saturday

 Grace yawned, shifting in the seat. She was having trouble finding a comfortable position. Giving up, the girl slumped down into the seat, and then mistakenly looked out the oval airplane window. She moaned softly, seeing the flat farmlands that resembled a quilt below. Grace turned away sharply, feeling her stomach knot. Her father noticed and looked over from his newspaper.

"You doin' okay?" He asked calmly.

Grace huffed a sigh, closing her eyes. "We're thousands of feet above the ground, I can't eat, and I'm running on four hours of sleep. No, I'm not okay."

Harm shrugged, his eyes darting back to the newspaper. "You're the one who begged to come."

"Yeah, yeah." She grumbled in response.

Grace tapped her fingers on the armrest, gripping the end of it whenever the plane vibrated a little from turbulence. "Amazing," She spat, staring hard at the back of the seat in front of her, "We've finally found the cure for the common cold, but we can't get airplanes to sit still."

Harm narrowed his eyes, looking up from the paper. "We had turbulence?"

"Didn't you feel it?"

"No."

Grace groaned leaning her head back, and she started to tap her foot. Harm looked at his daughter skeptically. "I can't believe a child with half of my genes hates flying."

"Mom hates flying."

"No, no, your mother hates flying in fighter planes."

Grace shrugged, giving her father a sarcastic countenance. "Well, maybe she hates commercial planes too and just never told you."

Harm smirked. "Unbelievable." He muttered under his breath.

"So I have Aviophobia, it's not my fault." Grace suddenly discovered if she continued to talk, it kept her mind off the fact that her feet were very far from the ground.

"So, um, this Palmer guy..."

"Mmhm." Her father replied, half listening.

"Why exactly is he in prison?"

Harm made a dry chuckle. "Let's just say he's committed a lot of federal crimes."

"Anything...specific?" Grace prodded.

Her father completely changed the subject, dodging whatever bullet he thought he should avoid. "Don't you have a math test on Monday?"

Grace rolled her eyes, but caught herself from looking out the window. "All right, Dad, I'll be honest with you. I heard Mom say she didn't want this guy back in our lives again. So what exactly was he doing when he was in your life?"

"You know, we're going to have to have a talk about all this eavesdropping you've been doing lately."

"Don't change the subject again!"

Sighing, Harm folded up the paper, shoving it in the pouch attached to the back of the chair in front of him. Grace tried to make herself comfortable for the story.

"A long time ago, before you were born or before I was even married, Clark Palmer made it his mission in life to terrorize me—don't ask why, it's complicated," He said with a wave of his hand, "anyway, he did a number of things to make my life a living hell, and, eventually, he found himself at Fort Leavenworth." 

Grace's expression dropped a few degrees. "That's it?"

"I told you, it's hard to explain."

"No, you said it was complicated, there's a difference."

"Look, just, when we go in there, don't make eye contact with him, and don't provoke a battle of wits or anything. Palmer thinks he's the smartest guy on God's green earth and will do what he can to prove it."

Grace stared at her father quizzically. "You really don't like this guy do you?"

***

1012

Walgreen's Grocery

Washington DC

Mac stared down at her list, reading the numerous items to herself. She reached the refrigerated section and the lawyer pulled two gallons of milk out. When she carefully placed them in the cart, she then crossed the item off the long list. She then headed towards the canned foods aisle. So far, no one recognized her, and she hoped it stayed that way. The last thing she needed was to knock into an old colleague and give them the biggest "freak out" of their lives. Mac couldn't help but chuckle at the thought though. As a possible scenario played out in her head, she didn't notice the cart that was sitting in the aisle she turned into. The metal carts clashed and Mac shook, scaring herself and the person she'd hit.

"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry—"

Mac stopped. Her jaw slowly dropped as she watched the young man pick up the can of coffee beans he'd dropped. He gave her a polite smile of forgiveness.

"No problem, ma'am."

"E—Eric?" Mac choked out.

The man rose a dark eyebrow and gave a fleeting glance over his shoulder. "Um...yeah—I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Mac blinked in surprise. He wouldn't recognize her. Mac suddenly felt guilt form in her stomach. Grace's old boyfriend had become a very attractive young man. Inwardly slapping herself, Mac straightened her spine, clamped her jaw and moved her cart out of the way.

"I'm sorry, I—I gotta go." With that, Mac breezed past him.

Thoroughly confused, but also apparently intrigued, the man turned his own cart around and fell in step with her.

"How do you know my name?" He asked, both of their carts whirring down the aisle.

Mac made a small whimper. She had to get away from him. "I—I thought you were somebody I know, but you aren't." She lied.

"You mean I look like somebody you know who also happens to have the same name? Are you sure it's not me you're looking for?"

Mac sped up a little bit, her cart's wheels squeaking loudly. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Eric kept after her. "Are you one of my patients, perhaps? You see, I'm a doctor—"

"Really, sir, I need to be going," Mac turned at the end of the aisle and tried to disappear into a crowd of shoppers.

"Wait—" Eric caught her arm, stopping her.

Mac whirled around, her brown eyes locking with the young man's. "I'm sorry I bothered you, but you need to let me go." Mac said grimly.

Eric stuck up his chin. "You know me...aren't you going to give me your name?"

Mac shook her head. This was ridiculous. But she supposed if she gave him her maiden name, he wouldn't find her. "Sarah Mackenzie." With that, Mac gently loosened Eric's grip from her arm, and she squeezed herself into the checkout line. 

***

1030 Local Time

Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

 The interrogation room was cold and unwelcoming, like any in a prison probably was. Two small, barred windows high up the wall let some natural light into the room, but it didn't give any sort of comfort to the atmosphere. Grace shivered, feeling the cool metal tabletop under her hands. She was nervous. No—petrified. They were in the highest security cellblock—reserved for murderers. What did this Palmer guy do?

 Her father on the other hand looked perfectly content. Of the small rectangular table, Grace sat at the end of it with her father on the left side. Palmer would then sit next to him and across from her. Harm took some papers out of his briefcase and skimmed over them. He was in his regular military uniform, the bottom of his sleeves gleaming with his gold admiral bars. He peered over at his daughter, concern in his bright eyes.

"You sure you're all right?"

Pursing her lips, she nodded quickly. "I'm sure."

A loud buzz came from the door and Grace flinched. Locking mechanisms deep within the metal door unlatched loudly and the door opened. The clink of chains was heard as the prisoner was brought into the room, his hands and feet cuffed. Two guards led him in. The man had a sardonic smile across his face as he was pushed into the room. His hair, which carried hints of gray, was slicked back against his head and his eyes sparkled madly. The guards sat him down roughly, the chains on his hands chinking against the metal table. Harm nodded at the guards and they left to stand outside the door.

 For the first time, Palmer looked over at Harm. His jaw clenched and he made a short chuckle.

"Well, well—if it isn't Harmon Rabb Junior. Didn't think I'd be seeing your face ever again, Commander—oh, and I see it's 'admiral' now." Palmer added smugly, forming his fingers into quotation marks. Before Harm could respond, Palmer shot his gaze to Grace, his dark eyes narrowing. His lips formed a wicked smile.

"Ah, and who might this lovely young lady be?" The man asked, leaning forward and crossing his hands on the table.

Grace grimaced, looking away.

"She's none of your concern at the moment, Palmer," Harm said gravely, "and you'll direct your questions and answers to me from now on, you got it?"

Palmer made a theatrical sigh, tilting back into the chair and crossing his hands behind his head. "What do you want, Admiral?" Palmer asked tiredly.

"Seems you tried to stage your own little brig break, Palmer. Didn't work out too well."

Palmer rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Admiral, did you come here for a reason or just to mock me?"

"I could care less about you, Palmer, but I am here for a reason."

"Well then please get to it, Admiral, it's 'brunch day' down at the mess hall and I'd hate to miss it." 

Harm brought out a manila envelope and slid out a pile of photos. They were pictures of a cell wall filled with math equations. "I see you've been keeping yourself quite busy lately."

Palmer shrugged, tilting his head and proudly looking upon the pictures. "You have to when you're carrying a life sentence."

"So in all your spare time, you think you've discovered time travel." Harm said flatly, cutting right to the chase.

Palmer made a crooked grin, pointing a finger at him. "You know, you've always had a problem with keeping an open mind, Admiral."

"Yeah, well, the last time I had an open mind around you, I was almost pumped full of lead."

"You know, I think when you get down to it, you just have serious trust issues."

Grace watched her father's fist clench and she stepped in before it could turn into a brawl. "So just how have you discovered the secret to time travel, Mr. Palmer?" Grace asked suddenly.

The men quieted and two sets of eyes stared intently at the girl. Palmer chuckled. "See, now her I like."

Harm glared at Grace, silently informing her to shut her mouth. But Grace wasn't going to stand on the sidelines and watch these two fight. She needed answers. Now.

Palmer now ignored his enemy and focused on the girl. "What's your name, precious?" He asked wryly.

Harm kicked her foot. "Don't answer him—"

"Grace." The girl replied without much hesitation.

Something seemed to click inside the convict's head and he raised his chin, making a silent, "oh." His eyes darted to the naval officer and he leaned back in his chair, another goofy smile playing across his lips. "Well, I'll be," He murmured with a chuckle, "She's your daughter, isn't she?"

Harm didn't answer; he just glowered at the man. Palmer nodded. "Now why would you put you own kid at risk? That is unless she's stumbled upon time travel herself—isn't that right, Gracie?"

"It's 'Miss Rabb,' Mr. Palmer." Grace made clear.

"Ah...I know who her mother is now, too," Palmer muttered, "So tell me, sweetheart, just how did you come across time travel?"

Grace glanced over at her father, who nodded tentatively. Grace crossed her arms over the table. "I've been through it, Mr. Palmer."

The man was trying to decide whether he believed her or not. By her hard expression, he seemed to think she was telling the truth. "Go on."

Grace carefully and discreetly filled him in on the details of her going back, but she omitted the part about Harm and Mac coming forward. Her explanation took about twenty minutes and Palmer listened with great interest, not interrupting once. Harm also stayed silent.

"And now there are some 'complications.' We want to know if we can gain control over the timeline."

Palmer crossed his arms, biting his cheek. His eyes flickered from Grace to Harm. "You guys really don't expect me to do this without some sort of exchange, do you?"

Harm sighed. "Can you help us?"

Palmer shrugged a shoulder. "Maybe—but it'll cost you."

Harm scoffed. "Palmer, you're lucky to even be alive right now. You don't deserve any payment. Just tell us how it works!"

Grace watched the man carefully, waiting for his answer. After thinking about it for a moment, Palmer shook his head. "Sorry, Admiral. I want some benefit out of this. And I'm not sharing any information until I'm satisfied."

Harm's eyes flashed with anger. "Palmer—"

"Dad!" Grace warned. It took a moment, but her father's frame relaxed a little.

Palmer sniggered. "Still taking orders from women."

"Shut it, Palmer." Grace snapped.

The man glanced over at her in surprise, his expression quickly turning to disgust. Ignoring him, Grace turned her attention to her father and she leaned over, whispering to him. "Give him what he wants. The information is probably worth it!"

"We don't even know what he wants!"

"Give him a chance to tell us!"

Nodding to himself, Harm turned to Palmer, shrugging. "All right. What do you want?"

Palmer made that crooked smile again. "Freedom."

***

TBC

***

Sorry for grammar mistakes. I'll go through tomorrow and try to correct!