Title: Reaching Out - Chapter 2

Author: Arian

Summary: There was simply no way I could celebrate Halloween without my favorite duo!

Disclaimer: Oh don't I wish they were mine, but alas it is not so.

A/N: See Chapter 1.

A/N2: Thanks to froggy0319, NavyCB, Maria, and aserene for the great reviews. They keep me writing when it's like pulling teeth.

JAG Headquarters
1230 EST

Harm herded Mac back into her office. She had hardly spoken a word since her behavior on the patio, and currently seemed preoccupied and nervous.

Closing the door behind him, he decided to hit this head on. "Okay Mac, what's going on?"

She jumped at the sound of his voice, focused her attention on him, and then shook her head. "Harm, really, it's nothing. I've just been watching too many Halloween movies."

"What just happened out there wasn't just some jumpiness from watching Psycho too much. You're too rational for that." Rather than restating his original question, he simply sat down to let her know he wasn't leaving. She had had random bouts of paranoia since her confrontation with Sadik last winter, but this didn't feel the same.

"Really, it's nothing." At his continued silence, she frowned. "I just had a dream last night, and it started off really nice. Then all of the sudden it became threatening and I... I saw this woman."

"And?"

"And she had blood on her and reached out to me. It was just a nightmare."

"What about just now?" Harm had learned in the past not to brush off Mac's nightmares as only that.

"I just thought I saw her again. It's just Halloween jitters." Mac threw her hands up in frustration, but at the same time was glad she had told someone about it. Harm could shake some sense into her and she could stop being all paranoid.

"What did you see? Someone that looked like her passing on the street?"

Mac felt a chill run up her spine. If it had only been that, maybe she wouldn't be so jumpy. "No, she was standing there again, with her hand out to me. She didn't move, other than to lift her arm. Seriously, Harm, I'm sure it's nothing."

Satisfied that this didn't seem to be linked to any after effects from the head games Sadik had played on them, he decided to let it go. "Alright, well, no more scary movies for you! What say I bring over something a little lighter tonight and we get this out of your head?"

While previously she might have objected, she didn't really want to be alone in her apartment with all of the morbid movies being shown on TV. She had a penchant for edge-of-your-seat thrillers, and it apparently was ratcheting her level of awareness up too high. Plus an evening watching a movie with Harm wouldn't be a bad thing. "Ok, but don't bring anything too stupid. I still haven't forgotten about that movie with the two guys that were supposed to be Siamese twins."

"Hey, I apologized for that. Is 0730 ok? Want me to pick something up for dinner?"

"Sure." Normally she would have negotiated where to get dinner from, but without even realizing it she was beginning to trust his decisions and didn't even think to question him.

"Alright, well I'm in court this afternoon, so I'll see you tonight." With a smile he ducked out of her office, once again whistling under his breath.

Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
2254

"That scene with the fountain and all of their silhouettes was just beautiful. So classic; I wonder if it was in the original movie." Mac sat back against the couch, enjoying the last remnants of the evening.

"I'm not really sure. We could probably get the original movie sometime; I thought this might be good because Ocean's Twelve is coming out soon. Maybe we can go see it in a real theater." Harm smiled, completely at ease. He and Mac had enjoyed a restful evening complete with takeout Moroccan food from a new place on his way over, and Harm had fulfilled his promise of a non-scary movie by bringing over the amusing and well reviewed "Ocean's Eleven."

They were suddenly startled by the ringing of Harm's cell phone. He quickly answered, "Rabb."

Mac didn't want to eavesdrop on his conversation, so she picked up their coffee cups (her's filled with a new chamomile tea Harm had brought with him) and took them into the kitchen.

"What? Are you ok?" Mac was surprised at the shock in his voice, and the level of worry. He had risen from the couch and was now pacing in front of the coffee table.

"Sure, I'll be home soon, I'll come right over. Have her stay there until I get home, then I'll drive her." Harm snapped the phone shut, and the turned to Mac. "That was Mattie. Coates just got a call that a friend of hers may have been killed. The woman didn't have any family in the area, and Jen has been asked to come in and identify the body. I'm going to head home, pick her up and take her to the station."

"Do you want company?" Mac knew it was late, but she didn't think she'd get much sleep with this ominous ending to their evening.

"It might be a good idea; maybe you could stay with Mattie while I take Jen?" Harm was collecting his jacket and grabbed Mac's while he was at it.

"Sure thing, whatever she needs." With that Mac grabbed her purse and they walked out of the apartment.

Mattie and Jen's Apartment
North of Union Station
2335 EST

Mattie sat on the couch randomly watching the television. Harm and Jen had left as soon as he had arrived, and they hadn't heard anything yet. Jen had been beside herself, crying and worrying, which had prompted Mattie to call for reinforcements. Now Mac sat with her, sipping a cup of tea.

"This has just come across the news desk. The station has recently received word that the body of a young female Navy petty officer was discovered this evening in an alley near Potomac Park. The identity of the victim has not yet been released, pending positive identification and the notification of family members. Anyone having information is asked to please come forward to the police." Mattie blinked at the TV, thinking about Jen down at the police station, at this moment possibly looking at the body of her dead friend. It hit a little close to home and a few tears fell down her cheek.

Mac looked over at Mattie sensing her reaction to the news story. She knew it was one of those moments when words weren't necessary, and simply opened her arms to the young woman. Mattie almost hesitantly crept to her end of the couch and let Mac hug her. After a while Mattie pulled back a bit, and started to look embarrassed. "Hey, sorry, I'm just being..."

"Don't say silly. You're allowed to be upset too. Do you want to talk, or go to bed?" Mac was planning on waiting up for Harm and Jen to get home, but there was no reason Mattie had to do the same.

"I don't think I could sleep. I just keep thinking about Jen. She's been upset because I'm spending more time with my dad, and now this. I don't think she knew Stacey that well, but they hang out with the same group of friends. I think they might be in the same psychology class or something. There's probably a picture around somewhere." Mattie stood up and began looking around the room as a sense of apprehension settled over Mac. i What if... /i

"Here it is. Stacey's that blonde in the front. I just hope it's not her." Mac looked warily at the photo and let out a breath when she didn't recognize the young woman in the picture. She had been worried Stacey would be the petty officer in her dreams, but that woman had been a brunette, and Stacey was very definitely fair haired.

At just that moment they could hear sounds out in the hallway. Mattie rushed to put the picture back just before Harm and Jen came through the door. Mac had hoped the fact she didn't recognize Stacey would mean Jen's friend would be safe, that there was a mistake. One look at her face however told Mac a different story.

The young woman's eyes and nose were red from crying, and Harm had a resigned look on his face. Jen to one look at Mattie and broke down again. "It was her. She's dead. Someone slit her throat and left her in that alley. Who would do this???"

Mattie rushed to her friend to hug her and guided her into her bedroom. Harm gazed at Mac quietly across the room, silently dejected. He never wanted anyone to have to go through this. Just as silently, and without any of the hesitation which had plagued her for the last year and a half, Mac crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him. "Is she going to be okay?"

Resting his chin on her head, he quietly said "I'm sure she will. Eventually. I don't think they were that close, but it's still a shock. I'm sure she'll need people around for the next few days." He pulled out of her hug, and looked into her eyes. "Your dream, what if it..."

Mac shook her head. "It's not. Mattie showed me a picture." Harm sighed as Mattie rejoined them.

"Jen's just going to go to sleep now I think. I'm getting pretty tired too. Thank you for coming over and driving her, I could have done it but Harm would have gone ballistic on me later." She grinned, still the precocious teen even under these conditions.

"Okay kiddo, you call me if you need anything. I'll be right next door." Grabbing their coats, Harm opened the door and watched as Mac gave her another hug.

"Me too Mattie, if you need me for anything just call."

"Thanks Mac, will do. Have a good night." Mattie closed the door behind them, and suddenly the night came crashing down on Harm. His shoulders slumped for a moment, and then he pulled himself back up.

"Well let's get you home, it's late and we've got work tomorrow." Mac could she he was tired, and the events of the night were draining him even further.

"If you don't mind, can I just crash on your couch? Then if you just swing me by my place in the morning we won't waste too much time." She wasn't really worried about time, but she didn't want Harm having to drive her all the way home and then drive back by himself. She could see he wasn't convinced, probably understanding why she made the suggestion. "Harm, I didn't sleep last night, I don't really want to spend tonight alone. Maybe just having someone in the next room will keep the nightmares away. Please?"

"If that's really what you want Mac. Come on." He unlocked his apartment, and hung his jacket on the hook by the door. Mac carefully put her things on the table next to it, as Harm shuffled across the room. "Mac you take the bed, I'll sleep on the couch."

"I don't think so. Your apartment, your bed, you sleep there. I will be perfectly fine on the couch mister. Besides, I actually fit on the couch, unlike yourself." She flashed him a mischievous grin, hoping to lighten his mood.

Obviously preoccupied, he mumbled, "Okay Mac, whatever you want" and shuffled up the stairs into his bedroom. She heard him moving around, brushing his teeth in the bathroom and then turning off the light. At that she moved to the edge of the stairs. "Harm?" she asked softly. When she didn't get a response, she climbed the stairs and looked into his room. He was already in bed, and apparently asleep. She slipped past him and into the bathroom to wash her face. Coming back out, she studied the way the moonlight poured through the window of the bathroom to spill across his bed. Concerned about his out of character behavior, she silently turned and made her way out to the couch.

TBC

Next chapter, on JAG...

"Harm. It's Mac, I need you to wake up and open your eyes. Don't move, just open your eyes."

Both of them released the breath they hadn't realized they were holding. Getting her apprehension under control, Mac shifted her arm and pinched Harm.

"Ouch!"

"Okay, we've established we're both awake. Now what the hell is going on?"

Harm raised an eyebrow. "Someone at NCIS invited us down to a crime scene?" he asked, unable to believe it.

"Yeah well, he sounds new. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Do you have time to go?"