Part Four

Harm watched Meg's chest rise and fall. Damn it, I should have pulled her out of this stupid undercover job…I should never have agreed to her doing it! Meg had collapsed after inhaling gas during an exercise at the Marine Boot Camp where she was undercover as Private MacIntyre when someone had yanked her gas mask off. She had stumbled outside and fallen to the ground in the rain. Harm was regretting letting her even come undercover.

'Hey Harm,' her voice ripped him out of his thoughts.

'Are you okay Meg?' He asked gently, a hand on her arm. Meg grinned.

'Fine sir, it wasn't serious, I was just resting when you came in,'

'Your eyes were closed,'

'I was asleep. I just inhaled gas Harm!' Meg replied.

'I want to pull you out from undercover, conduct this investigation in another way,'

'I'm this close Harm.' Meg argued. 'Give me twenty four more hours,'

Harm couldn't resist those pleading blue eyes. That and he knew she was onto something with the evidence she had already given him.

'All right, one more day Lieutenant. When we're done I want to take you somewhere,'

Meg nodded. 'All right,'

Meg shrieked as she began drowning in the quick sand after rescuing the private guilty of murdering a Private Shuler. The other private pulled Meg in. Her screams were heard by Harm and Carrington, one of the drill instructors. Harm pulled her out quickly, after arresting the murderer.

'All right there Meg?' He asked after introducing Carrington and the Major of the base to Meg. She nodded.

'I'm fine sir,' Meg replied.

'You did it Lieutenant…how can we thank you?' Carrington asked. Meg shrugged.

'I don't know…Lieutenant Commander Rabb; don't we have some paperwork to do?'

'You're right Lieutenant, let's go.'

'All right Harm, where…' Meg asked him commandingly, but failing to maintain her strong demeanour after what she had just been through.

'Shh Meg, just calm down. I'm not kidnapping you! It's to do with your father. I can sense part of you is still grieving,' Harm replied, giving her a pointed look. He was trying to do something for her.

'Meg, I can sense part of you is still hurting over losing your dad…and about your mom and brother…'

Meg tried to stop the car. 'Harmon Rabb if you even…'

'Cool it Lieutenant!' Harm said, swerving to avoid another car. She glared at him and folded her arms in defiance. Harm saw a tear slide down her cheek, and he felt guilty about making her cry.

'Hey, Meg…I'm sorry, I didn't meant to make you cry. Hey…I'll be right there if you need me,'

'Really?' Meg turned to him, her face tear-stained.

'Of course…of course Meg,' He stopped the car and Meg got out.

'The Vietnam War Wall…'

'And look who's there…' Harm pointed to her mother and brother and Meg ran to them, Ben hugging her tightly. Her mom however glared.

'Meg Austin, what is your problem? Turning up at home, these letters in your hand and then leaving as soon as we've read them? Do you have any idea how much pain they caused?'

Meg scowled. 'And I thought that I was doing the right thing. Dad would have wanted you to have them mom!'

Mrs Austin narrowed her eyes at her youngest child. Ben saw the tension.

'Mom, we came here to make peace with Meg, not drive a larger wedge between us,'

'Please mom…' Meg's voice was little and far away. Her mother looked at her carefully.

'Meg, you look tired! What does that Commanding Officer of yours have you doing?'

'Nothing – just the usual. I've had a lot of work lately.' Meg replied. Harm watched the family together, Ben still with his arm around Meg protectively.

'Benjamin, I've heard enough. You set this up with whoever is waiting in that car for your sister. I don't need to be reminded of your father's death. I am passed that. Meg honey, I'm not angry at you anymore. You should've called.'

'Sorry mom…I didn't…' they slipped away from Meg after kissing and hugging her. '…know how to tell you…' She fell to the ground in front of the wall and Harm ran over to her.

'Are you okay?' he asked her, kneeling in front of her. Meg nodded.

'Mom forgives me,'

'Good…that's good Meg…' he pulled her to her feet and watched as she searched for a name. Her dad's name, part of the only memory she had of her father. She traced the name with her finger as tears ran down her face again. She looked over to Harm who momentarily did the same for his father's name before hugging her reassuringly.

'What do you say I take you home? You need rest,'

'Thank you,'

When Meg arrived home from work a week later, a rather large and bulky parcel was outside her door. Meg picked it up frowning, but a grin spread over her face when she read the return address. Her mother had sent her the photos of her father and some other things. She put down her things, and without getting out of her uniform, ripped the parcel open. A note fell out amongst the other things.

Meg, I found the photos and other stuff you asked about,

Love Mom

Meg slowly went through the pictures until she came to the one she really wanted. It was of her and her dad the day before his deployment had left. I remember that day…Meg thought sadly. And the next day! A photo of her dad in his naval uniform holding his little girl was the next one. Meg wiped some tears away and began setting aside photos to frame and the others would all go in albums. When that was done she went through the rest of the stuff. Her dad's old watch, his wedding band, which Meg couldn't understand why her mother had sent it to her, and other bric-a-brac.

'Wow Mom, you guys really have moved on…' Meg whispered to herself. She put the stuff in the box with the rest of her father's belongings and put the photos for the albums on top. She dug out two old frames she had bought for photos months ago and framed the last two photos ever taken of her and her dad. She put them next to her bed so she could see her dad every night and every morning. She looked at her clock-radio. It was already 11pm, and she had to be in early tomorrow. Curling up in bed, Meg touched the photos gently.

'Night Dad. I love you,'