AN: I'm back for my first weekend of leave. It's very nice to have some time to rest a bit, because it's been two very tough weeks. However I am enjoying most of it and I hope I will be for the next 14 ½ months as well. Great thanks to everyone who sent feedback on the story! It was wonderful to come back and read your reviews and e-mails. Many thanks also to Cria for helping me with the story!

Part 24

Mac hadn't been able to get a whole lot of work done during the day. She wasn't thinking about Harm and the phone message from yesterday all of the time, but it was impossible for her to focus on the things that were right in front of her. By lunchtime her colleagues had all noticed her mental absence, but so far no one had commented on it and Mac was very grateful for that. Tonight Harm was coming over for dinner as previously planned and Mac hoped that they were going to be able to behave just like they normally did around each other.

The rest of the workday passed just as slowly for Mac, but finally it was over and the three of them were sitting together at the kitchen table. They had promised Isabelle that for once they were going to have take out and Harm had picked up some pizzas on the way over. Most of the conversations went around Isabelle, but that was really not that unusual so she didn't notice anything different with her parents. After dinner Isabelle went and got her schoolbooks and first Harm helped her with her math assignment and when they were finished Mac helped her with English.

"Dad, is she your girlfriend?" Isabelle looked up from her English book and asked Harm. Mac had left for just a minute to go and put the things from the laundry machine into the dryer.

"What? Who?" Harm asked starting to get rather embarrassed. Of course he understood who she meant. "No, I just work with her," he then added.

"Does she want to be your girlfriend?" Isabelle continued to ask.

"I'm not sure, but she won't be because I don't want her to be my girlfriend."

"Do you want someone else to be your girlfriend instead?" Isabelle asked and right then Mac returned to the kitchen.

"Honey, I think you better get back to your work now and we'll talk about that some other time, OK?" Harm said and his voice told Isabelle it was time to stop asking.

When Harm came over for dinner he always stayed until Isabelle went to bed so he could be there and tuck her in and this evening was no different. After Isabelle had gone to bed and Harm had read her bedtime story to her, he came down the stairs. Mac was standing in the laundry room folding together some clothes and making one pile for herself and one for Isabelle. He stepped into the laundry room and Mac at once noticed his presence.

"She's asleep?" Mac looked up at him.

"Not quite, but she will be soon."

"You better get home then," Mac said and smiled.

"No, Mac. I think we better talk. We need to talk."

Mac swallowed "OK," she said knowing that she couldn't get out of talking to him about it if that was what he wanted to do and if she wanted to have a chance be able to stay his close friend.

They went into the living room and Mac sat down on the couch, but this time Harm didn't as usually sit down on the armchair and instead he sat down beside Mac on the couch.

"Harm, I'm sorry about the call yesterday. I honestly didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable or awkward or destroy any of that what we have with each other as friends and co-parents. I hadn't planned, it just kind of … happened."

"Mac, just stop for a while," Harm interrupted her "I … hearing that message from you yesterday was … so wonderful. And I honestly don't quite know how I managed to get through this day, or the hours together with you in this house for that matter, … but I wanted to see you when I told you," Harm stroked her cheek slowly with one of his finger. "Mac, I'm in love with you. I have been ever since I met you. I always will be in love with you, Mac, and only you."

Mac looked into his eyes. He could read a bit of disbelief and surprise, but most of all they mirrored a lot of happiness. His hand was still connected to her cheek and neck and he made small circular movements with his thumb trying to reassure her, that he was still there.

"I love you too, Harm," she said. She was fighting to keep her tears under control, but a few still escaped her eyes and traveled down her cheeks. They came from relief, but also from a great sadness that for a couple of seconds flooded over her. It wasn't just the lost eight years when Harm had been missing, but all the years before that that they could have had together if only they could have had this conversation years before.

Harm leaned closer to her and she brought her hands up to hold his head. The gap between their lips was getting smaller and smaller as they neared each other with slightly open mouths. They both jumped apart when the loud sound of the phone was heard. The moment was completely gone and besides Mac didn't want the phone to wake Isabelle up so she reached over to the kitchen table to get her phone.

"Hello," she said not quite able to hide her annoyance.

"No, it's OK. I was just …" Mac said. Harm motioned to her that he could step out if she wanted some privacy, but Mac put her hand on his leg saying that he should stay. "Actually I'm a little busy, Jack, so maybe I can call you back later."

"OK," Mac nodded even though Jack obviously couldn't see her "2 o'clock is fine. I'll see you there, Bye." Mac had hurried to finish the call.

"That was Jack," Mac said totally unnecessary. "Something has come up with our divorce-papers and we need to go in to the lawyer's office tomorrow."

"Oh, OK," Harm nodded "I hope everything works out OK." Jack's call and the message he had delivered had effectively changed the atmosphere between them. They had both been reminded that Mac was still legally a married woman and if there was going to be a chance for the two of them they needed to do things right from the start. Harm stood up from the couch and looked at Mac. She followed him out to the hallway where she remained standing in the entranceway while Harm got his shoes on.

Harm had grabbed the doorknob and looked and Mac with so much longing in his eyes, that she needed to grab hold of the wall beside her to remain at her spot and not rush over to him.

"I'll see you around, Mackenzie."

"See you around," she smiled at him.

TBC