Chapter 7

Harm's Apartment

North of union station

2200 ROMEO

Harm and Mac had said good night to the girls and were now alone in Harm's apartment.

"If you don't mind Harm, I think I'm just going to go to bed," Mac said.

Harm had to admit she looked exhausted.

"That's fine Mac," he said, "just let me change and get a pillow and blanket."

20 minutes later Mac was asleep and Harm was reading a book on the couch. Around midnight Harm was about to put the book down and get some sleep when Mac started screaming and crying in her sleep. Like the night before he got up to try to comfort her. Halfway across the living room he was stopped dead in his tracks.

"NO HAAAAARM!" Mac cried in her sleep. Mac was having a nightmare for sure, but it wasn't about Clay as he thought the night before. It was about Harm, she was having a nightmare about him.

'I guess now I have the answer to the question of whether I give her nightmares.' Harm thought.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Mac screamed his name again,

"HAAAARM!!!"

"Shh Sarah I'm right here," Harm said as he sat down on the bed next to her thrashing form. He took her into his arms and she calmed right down. Harm decided it was best just to stay where he was. Getting under the covers he laid down beside her. Like the previous night she curled up next to him placing her hand on his muscular chest.

Harm bent his head and placed a kiss on the crown of her head.

"Good night," he said softly, believing she was still asleep "I love you Sarah. More than you will ever know."

In fact Mac had woken up as soon as she had felt his strong arms around her.

"I love you too," she answered, just as softly, "Night flyboy."

Harm was up, out of the bed and on the other side of the room faster than a tomcat off a carrier.

"I'm, I'm sorry Mac," he stammered, "I thought you were asleep."

"Never be sorry for saying that," she told him. She got up off the bed and approached him; "I'll never get tired of hearing it."

"And I'll never get tired of saying it," Harm responded, "but I don't want to push. I mean Clay just died and you may not have been in love with him but you did care about him."

"Believe me Harm if I think you're pushing you'll be the first to know." Mac told him.

"I just want to go slow," Harm said gently, "do it right."

"I'm all for taking it slow and doing it right," Mac said, "just don't take it too slow."

She reached up and pulled him in for a soft but loving kiss.

"Now come back to bed."

Both Harm and Mac heard a gasp and then a stifled giggle from the living room. It was then they realized they were standing in full view of the bedroom door. Harm and Mac looked over to see Mattie and Jen standing in the living room. Mattie was giggling into her hand Jen was obviously trying not to join her.

"How long have you two been there?" he asked. He wondered how much they had heard, and seen.

"Some where around 'never be sorry'" Jen finally found her voice, "sir" she added for good measure.

"Petty officer you did not see or hear any of that" Mac said using her drill sergeant voice, "Is that clear petty officer?"

"Yes Ma'am!" Jen replied snapping to attention, which was a pretty funny sight considering she was wearing cow print pajamas.

"Mattie," Harm began gently.

"You don't have to tell me," Mattie said, "don't tell anyone, it has an odd way of getting back to people."

"Now that that's taken care of. Did you girl need something?" Harm asked. Mac was amazed at how quickly he switched between commander mode and dad mode.

"I, um, left something in here this morning," Mattie said hesitantly, "Jen came to help look."

"It's on the desk," Harm said, knowing exactly what she was referring to.

"Thanks Harm," Mattie said, going to retrieve the item.

Mattie had never admitted to anyone but Harm and Jen that she couldn't sleep without the picture of her mother looking over her. Mattie retrieved the picture and she and Jen slipped out of the apartment with smiles on their faces. As soon as the door was shut behind them they burst into giggles.

"What was that about?" Mac asked.

"The giggles or why Mattie was in here?" Harm asked back, knowing what the answer would be.

"Why Mattie was in here," Mac answered, "I'm a girl, Harm, I know what the giggles were about."

"It was nothing," Harm replied. It wasn't his story to tell.

Mac nodded her understanding.

"Let's go back to bed," Mac repeated her statement from before they were interrupted.

She took his hand and led him to the bed. Harm climbed in first, Mac soon joined him and curled up to his side.

"Night flyboy," she said tipping her head up to look at him.

"Night ninja girl," he replied leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips, "I love you."

"Love you too," she mumbled into his chest.

Soon they both drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

TBC

Next part to be posted on Friday August 27th.