Where we left off...

"I just needed a wake-up call."

"Harm? Your awake " Mac couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her face, "God Harm I thought I'd lost you. You aren't allowed to scare me like that ever again."

"Aye; Aye Ma'am. I'll try not to."

Mac threw herself on top of him. Harm let out a small groan. This startled her, " Do you need a nurse?"

"No I'm fine, just a tad bit sore, all I want is to hold my wife."

He did his best to take her into his arms, without causing himself too much pain the door opening caused both of them to look over, Admiral Chegwidden walked in. "Cmder nice to see you've decided to join the land of the living again."

"Sir?"

"You were out of it there for while son, gave us quite the scare. What's the last thing you remember?"

Harm thought for a few minutes, "Stopping at a light. Then I've got nothing. Sir, what happened."

Mac and The Admiral both exchanged a look. "Harm you were in an accident, they called us, and when we got here we were told you were in a coma. Due to the concussion. You've been unconscious for a while now. Other than that, they say you're fine. How do you feel?"

Before Harm had a chance to answer, the door once again opened up, and in walked Trish and Frank. They both made a beeline over to Harm's bed. Trish sat down in the chair to the right of Harm. She noticed Mac being there, not Renee.

"Mom? Frank? Why are you both here?"

"Darling where else would we be? You're our son, you've been hurt, of course, we would be here."

Harm gave Mac a puzzled look," Admiral Chegwidden called them, we thought it was best, with what we were being told."

"I see, do they know?"

"No."

Trish watched the inaction between Harm and Mac, part of her knew that there was more going on than just Harm being in the hospital. The Admiral cleared his throat. "I think I'll just wait in the hallway" He stepped out of the room, knowing that Harm needed to explain some more personal things to his parents.

"Mom, Frank, you guys didn't need to make the long trip.."

"Darling it's fine, When Admiral Chegwidden called, he made it clear that he didn't know how bad you are, he left the decision up to us. Long ago myself and Frank decided that anytime you end up in a hospital we will drop everything and come. I can't risk almost losing you again."

Mac was starting to feel very out of place, she started to get up until she felt Harm's hand grip hers tighter. She knew he didn't want her to leave him. Still, she had this nagging feeling.

"Mac; I'm glad my son has you here with him."

Mac wasn't sure what to say, luckily for her, Harm spoke up."Where else would my wife be."

Trish gave her son an odd look, not quite sure she'd heard him right. "Wife? Harm darling when did you get married?"

"A few weeks ago, I decided I was tired of not being with the woman I love, the woman I want to be the mother of my kids. We decided to get married, we both love each other, and we want a life together."

Trish smiled, "Daring I've known for quite some time now, that you'd end up with Mac. It was just a matter of time."

Mac let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Relief washed over her. Now if things with Mic would be just as easy. Trish reached across and took Mac by the hand, "Welcome to the family darling."

"Thank you, Mrs. Barnett."

"Darling call me Trish.. Now, what's going on with Harm.?"

"He woke up just before you got here, I was going to page the nurse, but I think I'll just step out and try and find her. This way you can talk to Harm."

Harm tightened his grip on Mac's hand. "Baby you don't need to do that."

She leaned over and pressed a feather-lite kiss to his forehead, "Yes I do, you need to talk to your mom. I'll be right back, I love you."

Mac headed for the door, just glancing back as Trish took over the seat on the bed she'd just vacated. As she walked into the hallway, she slipped down the wall, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them., just sobbing.

Back inside Harm's room, Trish needed some small facts cleared up for her. "Darling, I thought you told me Mac was marrying the Australian officer that worked with you both? And what happened with Renee? She seemed like a very nice woman."

"Please mom, don't start with me."

"Harmon your still my son, I have a right to worry about you."

"I know that, can't you just be happy for me? I know what I want. It took me almost losing her, to finally let go of my past and see my future."

"Is Mac your future?"

"She is mom, I've known that for a while now. Do you think I wouldn't have asked you for Gram's ring if I wasn't sure?"

"At the time; you seemed so certain. What changed after that?"

"A lot mom, we drifted apart, mostly on a count of me. I thought if I could go back and be part of an active flight squadron, it would make it easier to pursue Mac, well it didn't. It backfired on me. We drifted apart."

"I see; as you pulled away, she moved on?"

"You might say that. I helped her without realizing it. Another one of my classic mistakes."

"This caused her to seek out the Australian officer. And also is this the reason you took up with Renee?"

"Two for two mom; you're on a roll."

"Darling you are your father."

"Mom?"

Trish laughed; "Trying to get your father to notice me was not a walk in the park, he noticed every other young lady but me. I often thought, he just looked at me as a friend nothing more. Until one night he saw me out on a date with another man. Well, he came right over took me by the hand, and led me outside of the diner I was at. I was furious with him ,

until he kissed me. Then I melted into his arms. You know what he said to me?"

"No; mom, what?"

"I just needed a wake-up call; to see what's right in front of me. Sounds like you did as well. Like father; like son." Trish patted him on the leg, "Get some rest; we'll see you in the morning."

"Thanks, mom." Trish smiled, as she stood up taking Frank by the hand and heading for the door, just as Mac was about to enter. With the nurse from earlier

"Please don't leave on my account."

"Darling he needs you, more than he needs me right now, trust me on this. Come along Frank."

Mac watched her mother and father-in-law walk out, she thought about going after them, but instead, she stayed in the room, walking back over to Harm's bed, she remained at the foot as she watched the nurse check him over."How are you feeling Cmder?"

"Apart from being sore, I feel great I guess you could say."

"How does your head feel?" She asked as she was checking the eyes

"Tad bit sore."

"That's normal it's caused by the concussion, I'm going to have the Doctor come and take a look at you."

"Should I be worried?"

"No I don't think so, I just want him to check you over. After all, you did have a head wound."

Harm smiled at the nurse as she walked out, he noticed that Mac had stayed quiet while the nurse had been in there."You remained quiet."

"I didn't know what to add, Harm I'm sorry, this is just hard on me, it keeps reminding me that I tend to lose the people I care about. I...I.."

Harm held out his arms to her, "Come to me" She went over to his waiting arms, "You've nothing to worry about, I'm never going to leave you,"

"Promise?"

"Promise"

They laid in each others arm's for the rest night, both their minds thinking about their future...

1 Day Later

Harm's Apartment

North of Union Station

After being given a clean bill of health, Harm had been discharged from the hospital, much to his happiness. Mac on the other was worried that it was too soon, she still had concerns about his head, but as Harm pointed out, he was fine after his concussion he got from the Hornet. Why should this be any different?

Now that they were back at his place, Mac had been hovering over him, not wanting her to hover anymore, he suggested that she should go get some more of her things, to bring over if she wanted to. Reluctantly she agreed to this. After she left Harm had made himself comfortable on the sofa, with a book. Until he heard knocking on his door, figuring it was his mom ( since Mac took the keys ) he went over to answer it.

"Well, it's about time Sailor!"

"Renee?"

"Who else would you be expecting?" She said as she pushed her way inside.

Harm looked towards the ceiling. there was just no way this wasn't going to end badly."Renee, we need to talk."

"Save it for later, I'm in need of other things from you, it feels like it's been weeks since we've been alone together. Haven't you missed me? I know I've missed you." She was playing with his buttons on his black shirt, trying to undo them. He grabbed her hands jerking them away.

"Renee; we really do need to talk."

"Why so serious all of the sudden?"

Harm looked up, there was just no easy way to put this. "I've been re-examining our relationship, I don't feel that we are both on the same page with what we are expecting from this."

"Harm, what are talking about? Of course, we are, we both want the same thing."

"You're right, we do want the same thing in life, I just don't want it with you."

Renee stood there, her heart breaking into a million pieces, he had said the words she'd been dreading, ever since the day he'd called her just this once couldn't she be happy? What was so wrong with her that men just couldn't love her, like she deserved to

be loved.

Determined to not let Harm break her, she decided to let him know how she feels. "So I guess I don't need to guess who you want your life with, after all, you spent her entire engagement part with her."

"Yes; Mac is the one..."

"Well too bad for you she's taken, so you'll just have to pine away after her."

"She; canceled the wedding, Brumby had to go back to Australia death in his family."

"Oh how convenient, now you can just swoop down and mend her broken heart."

"Renee, don't start..."

"Give me one good reason not to? I've been here with you for over a year, while she was with him. And the second she's free, you go running to her."

"RENEE, cut it out. Please."

"No Damn you; you don't get to treat me like nothing and get away with it."

"Look that's not what is happening here, I'm trying to explain everything to you."

"What's happening here? I know what's happening here, she's free and you're going after her. Tell me I'm wrong?"

"Mac isn't free, she's married, she married me."

Harm's words, hit her like a hard slap to the face, you know the ones that you see in movies, just after the guy and girl have a fight, only this time the movie was about her, and the slap was to her. She blinked her eyes, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall, no she wouldn't let him see, she needed to keep her pride. She owed herself that much.

Renee, mustered all her strength, gathered her wits, and walked towards the door, as she opened it, she turned and gave Harm one last look, "I hope she's worth all the heartache you've caused me." She opened the door walking out and slamming it shut behind her.

Sametime Across Town

Mac's Apartment

Mac had made a brief stop on her way to her apartment she'd promised Harm she wouldn't be gone that long, ( since both have been worried that Brumby would just show up ) She knew he was supposed to be back in town, however, he'd made no attempt to contact her, this worried her deep down.

Quickly gathering up some more of her personal belongings, she threw them into a bag and headed towards her front door, just as she opened it up. She was met face to face with Mic. "Luv, I'm home"

Fear suddenly took over Mac, she had no ideal what was about to take place. God help her, she wished Harm had come.