Authors Note: This and the next chapter are a bit light on the action/romance I classified this story as, but they serve a purpose I promise. Rest assure that it will pick up a couple of notches in the forthcoming chapters and run that pace through the end. Thanks for the feedback!

Part II

"Oh my God Harm. I'm so very sorry. " She said weeping with him

Harms tears came back as he remembered his conversation with the detectives and how he lost it with them. It had seemed so unnatural to tear up and feel vial at the same time he was hearing the news. Telling them he would follow up with them in the morning he did the only thing he knew how; turned away someone who cared for him and let himself wallow in solace. He had no idea that Mac would be there for him. He should be angry that Mattie called her, but he knew he needed Mac. However he could get her, he needed her to be there for him.

W..what do the police know?" She asked unsure of how to proceed.

"Uh...not much. Their maid stopped by in the morning and found the bodies. She called the police and they relayed it to DCPD to inform me since I was their next of kin. "

"Was it a robbery?"

"No...They were shot by an intruder. Actually they were executed" His anger beginning to show "But nothing was taken. The police think that it might have something to do with my mother's gallery or Frank's business."

"But you don't?"

"No...I don't know. I haven't even processed what has happened yet!"

"I know I'm sorry I don't mean to push"

"No Mac, I'm sorry. You're right to ask and to push. Please push. You know how I get. If no one pushes me to deal I'll just bottle it up and do something stupid." Harm turned around and faced the window.

"Harm look at me. " Harm turned around and faced her. "It's me Mac. I'm here I'm not going anywhere and I'm going to get you through this. Ok?" Turning around to face her "Yeah ok."

"Look I know there is a lot to sort out and we'll take it step by step. Why don't you give me your address book and I'll start making calls why you take a shower. There is no reason for you to have to deal with all of this on your own."

"Mac this isn't your problem. You don't need to..."

She cut him off with her finger pressed to his lips "Yes I do" She stated matter of factly

He let out a breathe he hadn't realized he was holding "Thanks Mac. I...I swear I don't know how to thank you for being here especially after..."

"None of that Harm. We can't change the past, but I'll be damned if I let you go on believing that I don't care."

"Mac..."

"No Harm you need to know that no matter what you can trust me. You can trust I'll be here for you through all of this and you can damn sure trust that we will find the son of a bitch who did this!" It came out more intense than she intended but the intensity snapped Harm back to reality. He took Mac in his arms and gave her a long hug. Mac held on tightly knowing that he needed her and in a way she him.

"Thank you!" As he grasped her tighter. Pulling back slightly he held her cheeks with his hands and rested his forehead against hers as her arms remained tight around his waste. They looked each other directly in the eye both of them feeling tension that had always been there. But this was not the time for them. Not with so much unresolved baggage after Paraguay and their latest outbursts. Not with all of this death looming over them. He needed his best friend back and she needed hers.

"Remember Harm we're partners first...best friends always."

"You still consider me..."

"Absolutely and nothing will change that you understand me?" Smiling intently at him

"Yes ma'am" He said with a hint of a smile in return.

"Good now go shower...you stink."

"I think the Marine core just found its first comedian!" With that Harm quickly makes a be-line for the shower before Mac could make any comeback.

She watched him go to the bathroom "Damn I miss you Harm" She said to herself with a sigh. She picked up the phone and dialed

"Hello"

"Admiral it's Colonel Mackenzie"

"What's up Mac? In fact where the hell are you and Rabb for that matter? Been so busy this morning I didn't even bother with staff call. Only reason I noticed you were both missing is that no one is shouting in the bull pen."

"Sir I have some bad news. Commander Rabb's parents were found in their home murdered yesterday morning."

"WHAT!"

"The SDPD don't know much at this time. I got a call from Mattie last night and well I wound up here with Harm."

"Oh no. " AJ sits down at his desk. With all the combat he had seen and the orders he had given over the years, death still didn't come easy to him. Especially when it involved someone he cared about. "How is Harm doing?"

"Not good sir, but I'm doing the best I can to help. I'll need your permission to take a couple of days to help Harm. There is no way he should be alone and have to deal with all of this."

"Mac I understand you wanting to be there for him but there are responsibilities to attend to at JAG. "

"With all due respect sir, If Commander Rabb had not come for me last May in Paraguay we wouldn't be having this discussion right now. Not withstanding him being my friend and partner, I owe him. I will see him through this."

"Is that a fact Colonel?"

"Yes sir it is " She stated strongly awaiting the reprimand that was coming forth

"GOOD! I expect nothing less than that from you. Tell Commander Rabb that you and he are on personal leave effective immediately. I expect that you will want to go to La Jolla with him. "

"Yes sir."

"Alright. If I know Harm he's going to plunge head first into finding the bastard that did this. "

"You're probably right sir." She stated knowing that she would be right beside Harm during his quest"

"I understand his anger believe me, but be that as it may, it's not a JAG issue and someone will need to cover his six and pull him back, give him support and what not. I expect that you will do just that."

"Yes sir I will."

"Tell Harm I'll be by later after I get things settled here. Keep my informed Colonel."

"Aye sir. Thank you sir"

"Good luck" With that the Admiral hung up.

Unknown to Mac Harm had stood by his bedroom listening in on her conversation with the Admiral. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when he heard her getting defensive his curiosity overtook him. He was glad it did. She did appreciate his efforts. Damn he missed her. With that Harm went to take his shower.

During the next twenty minutes Mac managed to contact the SDPD for the names of the detectives working the Burnette murder. She managed to get some initial details after revealing that she was the Burnette's next of kin's attorney. After hearing some of the initial findings Mac felt like she was going to vomit much like Harm did this morning. It dawned on her. She never met Frank. She barely knew Harm's mother Trish, but they had been taken from him. Two key pieces of the Harmon Rabb puzzle had been forever lost and in a vile and undeserved manner. Her determination to find to killer almost overtook her concern for Harm. She knew that she had to stand beside him and get him through this and she knew Harm well enough to know it would not be a picnic. Still undaunted she would stand by him.

As she put down the phone their was a knock on the door. Seeing it was Mattie, Mac opened up to find her still a bit shaky.

"Hey Mattie" "Mac managed a half smile."

"Is he ok Mac?"

"I won't lie to you Mattie. You were right to call me."

"What happened?"

Oh...damn, she thought. How was she going to explain this needless tragedy to a teenager who had already seen too much loss in her life? "Harm's mother and stepfather died last night Mattie." She stated not sure of what else to say or how to proceed

"They were killed?"

"Yes"

"It wasn't an accident was it?"

"Why would you think that?"

"The look on Harm's face when he asked to be alone. It was like something had been violently torn away from him without reason. I'm right aren't I?"

Unable to lie to Mattie, Mac answered "Yes, but I think it's best Harm tell you the rest. Ok?"

"Yeah. So you stayed the whole night."

"I couldn't leave him."

"You care about him a lot don't you?"

"He's been there for me more times than I can count Mattie. That doesn't change just because we might not be getting along at the moment."

"Kind of puts the important things in perspective doesn't it?"

"Yes it does sweetie, yes it does."

TO BE CONTINUED...