AN: Sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not, in my case this delay was caused by writer's block.

CHAPTER 4: Just Harm and Sarah

He avoided returning to the group and waited patiently for a few minutes until the doctor returned.

"You can come see her now," Dr. Collins said.

"Thanks." Harm followed the doctor down the long white hallway to one of the more secluded, corner rooms.

"I'll be back to check on her in a few hours. If you need to get a hold of me, the nurse at the desk can page me."

Harm took a deep breath and opened the door. Mac was lying asleep on the small hospital bed, dressed in one of the cream-colored hospital gowns. Her hair was loosely spread out across the pillow, framing her pale, yet still beautiful face. She was hooked up to no more than three machines, their tubes feeding in and out of various parts of her body. He wondered briefly if she felt the same way he did now when he had crashed his plane into the cold ocean the night before her wedding.

No, the situation was totally different then. Even though both had been life-threatening situations, ones that threatened to take away some of the things they loved most, now they were together. They would go through this together, he decided. He wouldn't let her suffer though this alone.

Feeling a little stronger and more confident than he had in a long time, he pulled up a chair next to her bed and sat down. He reached out to gently take her hand in his and immediately felt the coolness of her ring against his skin. He twisted it around slowly, so that the diamond setting was centered on top as he let his thoughts drift back to their short, albeit sweet wedding.

It was one of her better days and since he had the week off from work, they had decided to spend it doing something special. They spent the early morning walking around Rock Creek Park, hands joined together as they shared their dreams, hopes, passions, childhood stories, never once mentioning any of their regrets or discussing the darker, tough times of their relationship.

Mac had noticed that Harm seemed a little nervous but ignored it, passing it off as just being tired. If only she knew the thoughts running through his mind at that moment.

Harm was tired but more nervous than any other time he had been in his life. He wanted to marry Mac, he had wanted to wed her for years, but he was afraid of her thinking that he was just doing it because she was sick. The truth was that there was just a calmness in their relationship that had never been there before; things felt right, the stars had aligned, planets were in place, fate had brought them together in a rose garden and Harm wanted the paths of their lives to be intertwined together forever.

He had had enough of their waiting and their dancing around, he was ready. He had carried the ring around in his pocket for days now, hoping that an opportunity would present itself and if it didn't, then it simply wasn't mean to be. It was as simple as that.

And then it happened. They were standing on a bridge, gazing out at the park and watching the kids playing, dogs running around, and adults relaxing. Harm held Mac in his arms, tightly but gently, not wanting to hurt her. Not a word was spoken, but none needed to be. The bright sunlight shone down on them, its rays shining through the branches of the leafy trees, dancing and glimmering upon the trickling water.

Mac felt Harm's arm move away and she turned around as he reached into his jacket pocket, searching for something. Her eyes widened and she let out a little gasp as he pulled out a small jewelry box and opened it up to reveal the most beautiful, perfect engagement ring she had ever seen. The sunlight flickered and reflected on the diamond, bringing forth a whole rainbow of colors.

She looked up to find his deep blue eyes focused on her intently.

"Marry me?" he asked.

"Why?" It wasn't a question mean to hurt him, just one to voice her own self-doubt. She needed some sort of reassurance of his actions.

"Because I love you," he answered simply.

She gave him a sweet smile as she nodded her head slowly. "Yes, because I love you."

Harm slid the ring on her finger and leaned down to brush his lips against hers in a sweet kiss.

Feeling more at peace than she had in years, she kissed him back and then turned around in his arms to look back at the park, leaning back against his chest.

"Let's do it today," she said impulsively.

"Do what today?"

"Get married. We'll find a justice of peace and a couple of witnesses and get married today."

"You don't want to wait?"

"Harm, it just feels right. I know we should be waiting and planning this huge event where we could invite all our friends and family, but I want to be married to you today. If everything goes well over these next several weeks, then we'll plan a bigger ceremony, but for now, I just want something small and simple," she pleaded with him.

"Fine," he found himself agreeing with her. "We'll go do it tonight."

And they did. It was what she wanted and he somehow managed to pull it all together that night. Roses were a must, that they both agreed on. They were going to have a small, simple, intimate ceremony so that they, Harm and Sarah, could get married. It wasn't going to be a huge production of Commander Harmon David Rabb Jr. marrying Colonel Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, it was just Harm and Sarah. He wore a simple navy blue three-piece suit while she found a cream-colored dress buried in her closet that was deemed perfect. It wasn't his dress whites and it wasn't an extravagant wedding gown but nevertheless it was perfect for their setting.

The minutes passed, the "I do's" were said, and they were soon married, and in the car, heading to his apartment. She had sold her place a few weeks ago and had moved in with him so that he could take care of her and help her when she was sick. Now his self-built bachelor pad was their home.

There was no honeymoon, just time spent together sharing their love. It was just Harm and Sarah.

AN: I know this isn't the grand and wonderful wedding that we've all dreamed of at one time or another for Harm and Mac but I was just thinking that maybe they just want to get away sometimes from all the military rules and regulations, get away from all their daily routines, and just be themselves, Harm and Sarah, for once. I know that I'd rather have them get married at the Naval Academy, full military wedding with dress whites and the archway, surrounded by all their loving friends and family, But more often than not, short and simple is much, much sweeter.