AN: Thanks everyone who has in any way sent me feedback. I appreciate it more than words can tell. I hope you have liked my rate of posting these last weeks … Many great thanks to Cria for betaing, sometimes it's more needed than other … There's more AN at the end.

Part 22

Mac had prepared herself to come home to an empty house and was surprised to see Harm's car parked in the driveway. When Mac had told Isabelle that she was going to be at Harm's apartment for the Tuesday-evening, she had wanted to stay over at the apartment. It wasn't easy for her to see the father that she had just gotten to know move out again and she wanted to stay close to him.

Mac parked her car and walked up to the door. She realized that it was much later than she had thought, but the time this evening had passed so fast. Now it was dark outside and the lights were out in most of the houses. It sure was a time of the night when most people, adults and children, were supposed to be in bed.

Mac snuck into the house, wondering if Harm had gone to bed in his old room. The house was silent, but in the living room, she could now see that the lights were still on. Harm sat in 'his' armchair with his head resting uncomfortably against his shoulder. Mac walked over and touched his arm. He stirred and awoke looking at her.

"Hey," Mac said quietly. "What are you doing here?"

"What … what time is it?" Harm asked and then proceeded to look at his own watch. "Belle changed her mind about staying at the apartment, so we went over here. I didn't think you'd be so late."

"Neither did I."

"You could have called," Harm said slightly irritated.

"So could you. I didn't know you were wondering where I was," Mac answered slowly trying not to get upset.

They were silent looking into each other's eyes.

"So how did things go at the counselor's?"

"Good. We talked a lot. I think that I sort of realized for the first time, how much Jack and our relationship really gave me. How much we both learned from it. So regardless of this outcome, I don't have to regret anything."

"That sounds good," Harm said sincerely.

"I don't think we ever had such a good session when we were still trying to stay together, but now we … finally we're working for the same thing. We have distance to everything that happened back then," Mac was standing with her back against Harm looking out the window that faced the back yard. "I think we'll be OK," she made a small pause "We've both been so hurt. Much more hurt than we realized and now we're healing," She sat down on the couch and looked at Harm. "When we left the counselor's we weren't finished talking so we went out to have dinner. There was so much to say … that's why I was so late."

"I'm sorry about earlier. Of course you can stay out as long as you want to," Harm smiled "Even if it is a work night."

Mac smiled back at him "Oh thank you." Mac closed her eyes. She hadn't really felt how tired she was before "How was your day?"

"Wonderful if you like to read endless reports about petty thefts and young sailors going UA."

"Oh that wonderful," Mac smiled at him.

"It's just been two days and I'm already bored to death."

"I'm sure you'll be JAG's hotshot lawyer again sooner than you think," Mac tried to comfort him.

"I don't know about that. It's like Sturgis has no faith in me."

"I think you're wrong about that. I'm sure he has plenty of faith in you. He just doesn't want you to have any setbacks because you've taken on too much."

"You know what, I think it's just a matter of time before he wants me to look at next years budget …"

"Are you staying here tonight?" Mac said after she had been unsuccessful in stifling a yawn.

"No, I'll go back to the apartment. I think it's better that way."

"I guess you're right," Mac said thoughtfully "We'll still see you on Thursday, right?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then. Take care, Mac."

"You too, Harm."

TBC

AN: OK, so I hope you did enjoy getting this many parts in just two weeks, unfortunately I have to tell you that I won't be able to keep it up. I have volunteered to do mandatory military service in the Swedish army and I'm starting that on Monday, so for at least two weeks I won't be anywhere close to a computer. After that I'll be allowed to go home pretty much every weekend so you can at least hope for weekly postings then. I would be able to post another part before I go, but you should know that that part ends kind of cliffhangerish so I would like to know from you if you want it now even though you have to wait two weeks for the conclusion of it … It's up to you.