AN: Thank you all for the amazing reviews. It's good to hear from everyone who reads. I hope you enjoy the next installment.

They each gazed at each other for what seemed like eternity. They were lost in the other's eyes. This was a moment neither though would come. They thought they would never get another chance to make things right. Neither wanted to look away. Looking away would break the spell surrounding them. There was so much they needed to say, but words seemed inappropriate. Before they knew it, Harm's face was coming closer to Mac's. In anticipation of the kiss she hoped was coming, Mac licked her lips. This gesture caused Harm's heart to beat faster. Just before their lips would meet, they heard someone clear his throat. That broke the spell. Harm quickly drew away, but he left his hand on top of Mac's. Mac tried to not blush at being caught, but she couldn't.

"It's good to see you've decided to join the land of the loving Ms. Mackenzie. I'm Dr. Morris. I operated on you."

Mac's throat was so dry that she had difficulty finding her voice. She was about to ask Harm for some water, but she didn't have to. Harm seemed to have read her mind, because he was holding out a cup of water, straw included, for her. He held it so she could take a sip. She looked up at him and smile as he winked at her. It seemed words still weren't needed for them. Their hearts were doing all the talking. Once she had some water, she addressed the doctor. She looked at Harm as she said:

"It's good to be back."

Harm couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face, and Mac knew she was the reason. It felt so good to see him again. She remembered the last things they said, and she vowed to do something about making amends.

"You gave us quite a scare this morning. Do you remember what happened to you?"

"My memory is a little fuzzy, but I thing I was in a car accident."

Harm could sense the frustration in her voice, but he couldn't figure out why. Mac tried to not let her frustration show, but she knew Harm would hear it. She knew there was more to this accident than she remembers. Something she was told, but when? Mac had a feeling that something happened while she was asleep, but she couldn't remember. She could remember bits and pieces, but they made no sense. All she knew is that harm was there. Maybe he could help jog her memory. "Well, you're right. You got T-boned by a SUV and pushed into a light pole. You were hurt pretty bad."

"I gathered as much since I have a cast, a bandage on my head, and this tube in my side."

"You broke your arm, got 16 stitches to a cut on your head, and you have a chest tube. One of your lungs was punctured by one of your 3 broken ribs. It will come out in a day or so. I want to make sure your lung is ok. We also had to remove your spleen. It was damaged in the accident. What you may not know is that you sustained a pretty bad concussion, which is why you were in a coma. You also have a hairline fracture that extends from your hip to your femur. You may not feel it now but you will once you are up and about."

"My hip does hurt, but it's not bad."

"Well, if it gets worse, let me know. I'll give you something for it."

"I will."

"Do you have any questions for me?"

"How long will I be in here?"

"That depends on you, and how you feel. The chest tube will be out in a day or so. Your head wound is healing find. Your arm will be in a cast for 6-8 weeks. Your hip and leg will also take about 6-8 weeks."

"You mean I will be her for 2 months!"

"No. You can probably go home in a week. I want to make sure that there is no brain damage. There doesn't seem to be any, but I want to do some tests to make sure. If your tests come back normal, I'll send you home on one condition. You have to have someone with you. You can't be walking around on your hip and leg very much. I don't want to risk you hurting you hip and leg more."

Mac glanced at Harm and waggled her eyebrows.

"You mean I need my own, personal slave?"

"Well, someone has to take care of you. I can have a nurse help you if you want."

Mac knew she was torturing Harm. The look on his face was priceless. He knew he was scared, but there was no way he would allow a nurse to help Mac. He knew she was taunting him. She just wanted him to say what he wanted to do. He finally spoke up.

"Does it have to be a nurse?"

That brought a smile to Mac's face. He was so cut when he was nervous.

"Of course not. You could take care of her if you want. You would have to clean and dress all her wounds. She would also need help with daily activities such as cooking and showering. I don't want her standing for long periods of time. When she showers, her cast is going to have to be wrapped so it doesn't get wet. You may also need to help her shower since on arm can't be use, and her ribs are going to make it hard for her to move very much. Can you handle all that?"

Harm had to swallow the lump in his throat. He didn't mind cooking. He didn't even mind cleaning and dressing Mac's wounds, but helping her bathe? He didn't know if he could stand to see Mac naked and not do anything to her. He knew they had a lot to discuss, and taking it to the next level was definitely out of the question. He couldn't do that to her in her condition anyway, but he be damned if this maybe the death of him.

He almost said no, and Mac could see the doubt in his eyes. She was now starting to doubt herself. Was she wrong in thinking Harm loved her? She thought she saw that in his eyes earlier. She also didn't know if she could let Harm help her bathe without wanting to pull him into the shower with her. This would de a definite test of will power.

The doctor watched the emotions on the faces of the two people in front of him. He thought there was definitely some history there. He was about to ask if everything was ok, when Harm spoke up.

"I'll do it. I'll help Mac if she wants me to."

This definitely didn't go like she planned. The ball was back in her court. She didn't expect that. Harm could see the surprise in her eyes. He was inwardly laughing at the turn of events. He didn't expect, however, to have the tables turned on him.

"I couldn't thing of anyone else to help me, Harm. I won't ask you to do anymore that what you feel comfortable with."

They each thought that two could play at this game. It was a regular serve and volley till someone gives up. Well Harm decided to take it home. To add a little emphasis to his statement, Harm leaned in and locked eyes with Mac.

"I can do anything you want me to do. Now let's get you all better, so I can show you."

The double meaning of that statement wasn't lost on anyone in that room. The doctor had decided that these two need a little alone time, so he quietly left the room. Neither one of them noticed that the doctor had left the room. The spell had once again wrapped itself around them. Sheltering them from the outside world. Their eyes relayed what their mouths couldn't speak. Each wanted to freeze this moment in time and get lost in each other. It was Mac this time that was closing in to kiss Harm. Just before their lips touched, another person cleared his throat.

They both backed away quickly, but not before Harm whispered to her.

"Our timing sucks right now, but I promise it won't once I get you home."

The magnitude of that statement spoke volumes to Mac. She knew Harm never makes a promise he can't keep. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, and for once, it came out right. Finally something was going right. They both turned and saw Bud, Harriet, and AJ in the doorway.

"We went looking for you, Harm, and the nurses directly us to here."

"I'm so happy you woke up ma'am."

Harriet began to cry again. She really wanted to find the faucet and turn it off. It was really starting to annoy her. Bud grabbed his wife's hand, feelings of thanksgiving filling him, and made it over to the side of Mac's bed. AJ brought up the rear, and he stood at the foot of the bed. They all couldn't believe she was up. The nurse didn't tell them Mac had woken up. This was definitely a blessing.

"So, how are you ma'am."

"A little sore, but these pain meds are wonderful."

That brought a smile to everyone's faces. They thought they would never get to hear Mac's voice again, much less hear her joking. They knew they interrupted something when they walked in. It didn't take a genius to see that Harm and Mac were about to kiss. Damn their timing stinks.

"So, Mac, do you remember anything about what happened?"

Tension immediately filled the room. That was a question no one wanted to ask, but so desperately wanted to know the answer to. They all wondered just how much Mac remembered.

"Not a lot, unfortunately. My head got pretty bang up. All I know is that I was hit by a SUV. I didn't get a chance to get anymore details."

"I see. So you haven't told her what happened yet, Harm?"

"No, sir. I didn't get a chance. The doctor came in a few minutes after Mac woke up."

"Don't you think she should know?"

"Of coarse I do. I'm was just waiting for the right time to tell her."

"Harm, with your timing, we'll all be dead by then."

"Would you two stopping talking like I'm not here and tell me what's going on."

Everyone stood there for a moment motionless. You could hear a pin drop. This was it. It was time Mac knew what happened. Harm sat in the chair and grabbed Mac's hand with both of his. This gestured started to make her feel nervous. Something was definitely not right. Mac could see the nervousness in Harm's eyes. In everyone's eyes as a matter of fact.

"It's ok, Harm. I can handle it."

"I know you can. I just don't know how to tell you."

"One word at a time."

"Well, Mac...you see...uh...the person that hit you was..."

Harm's voice died out. He mentally kicked himself for chickening out. He would not back down again.

"Was what, Harm? He didn't die, did he?"

"No, Mac. He didn't. The person the hit you was Sturgis."

He paused to gauge her reaction. Her face went from shock, to pain, and finally to anger. No one would blame her for being angry. The last person you expect to hit you would be someone you know.

"You mean to tell me Sturgis did this to me?!"

"Yes, Mac, but there is a good reason why it happened."

"I don't give a damn about his reasons, Harm. I could have died tonight! Don't you all understand?!"

"Of course we understand, Mac."

Harm replied with conviction, but when next thing he said could barely be heard.

"We actually did lose you."

They had to strain to hear what Harm just said. Mac figured it out first, and her reaction clued the rest of them in.

"What do you mean by that, Harm. How did you lose me?"

Tears were threatening to fall from every eye in the room. Harm had to summon the courage to continue.

"You flatlined on us, Mac. Not once, but three times. That's what the doctor meant earlier by you giving us a scare this morning. You flatlined again. The amazing part was that you came back on your own. They didn't have to shock you. I was the most amazing thing I have ever seen."

"You were there?"

Harm had to look away. He could look into her eyes at this moment. The memories were too intense. It flooded him so fast that he didn't know what to do. Everyone else in the room waited with anticipation for what Harm would say next. They knew he was in the room when Mac flatlined. They knew that had to be the hardest thing to see. Each hoped that they would never have to experience that. Harm finally gained control of his emotions and answered her.

"Yes, I was."

"Oh my God!"

This was quickly becoming too much for her. She never thought Harm would ever see her like that. Her feelings were spiraling out of control. Tears started to fall from her eyes. She didn't want them to see her cry, but she couldn't stop them. Everyone wanted to reach out and hold her, but no one would dare. No one, except Harm. He climbed on the side of the bed and gently pulled her to him. She didn't fight him either. He just held her there and let her cry it out. Everyone else decided that now was a good time to leave these two alone. Mac had had enough excitement for one day. With a nod, AJ, Bud and Harriet left the room quietly.

After crying for a few minutes, Mac looked up at Harm.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I honestly don't know. I guess it's because I still haven't come to grips with it yet. I never thought I would see you like that, Mac. A part of me died each time you did. I didn't want to burden you with it just yet. You just woke up, and I wanted to treasure the present and worry about the past later."

"Oh, Harm. What am I going to do with you?"

"I have a few ideas, but I will save them for later."

"Sounds like a good idea to me."

"Mac, about Sturgis."

"Harm. I really don't want to talk about it now. I'm too upset to want to deal with him. I'm not even sure I want to talk to him at this point."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Sturgis poked his head in.

"Hey you two. Do you mind if I come in?"
Well there it is. Do I have a reason for not letting Mac and Harm kiss yet. Maybe I do. How will Mac react to Sturgis coming into her room? Stay tune for the next installment.

Ok, so I watch way too many cartoons. Oh well. So what did you all think? Let me know. All you have to do is hit that little lilac button and review. You know you want to. (evil grin)