A/N: Sorry I haven't written in a long time. Midterm exams, you know how they can be. Strenuous. Anyways, sorry the last few chapters haven't been very shippery. Shipperiness officially starts now. And, you know the drill. RR

Now or Never

Mac's sitting in my apartment, on my couch. Despite everything that has happened over the past few days, I find myself more drawn to her, more attracted to her than I ever have been (if possible). She's pouring over the files, completely oblivious to the fact that I can't tear my eyes off her. She's beautiful in every way. And I finally feel that we actually have a shot.

I can't help the fact that I feel she's a little attracted to me today. Okay, so even an idiot a couple hundred miles away could sense the sparks we're initiating. But I don't want to screw this up. This is Mac. This is different from any other relationship I've ever had. She's my best friend . . . she's more. She's always been more; I was just too blind to see it.

"Okay, Harm, take your pick," Mac says turning towards me and I quickly avert my eyes so that it doesn't look like I was staring at her. "Commander Jason Weaver or Commander Evan Hart?"

We're picking an identity for me. Out of those enlisted in year 1986, we've managed to find those that are described with the same features as me. Then, I just switch identities with one of them and I'm instantly a target for assassination.

"What are their descriptions?" I ask, peering over her shoulder, though I don't really need to. I'm tall enough to see the file from where I sit but any excuse to be closer to her, I take. And as soon as I come within one inch of her I'm infatuated with that smell that is so uniquely Mac.

"Tall, dark, and handsome," Mac said sarcastically, but smiling at me at the same time. "What do you think? They've got the same description as your file."

"They're six foot four?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"In the neighborhood," Mac said smirking. "No one's perfect."

You are.

"Both stations are in the DC area," she reported. "That way we'll be close and the Phantom doesn't have to go out of their way."

"Why don't we just string up neon lights over my apartment that says 'PHANTOM TARGET'," I say sarcastically. "That'll be so much easier."

"Hey, may I remind you that you volunteered for this," Mac said with extra emphasis on the 'volunteered' part. But I can see something in her eyes. Some sort of shadow, possibly worry.

"Well, we have to catch the Phantom some way," I defend myself.

"No, we don't have to catch the Phantom," Mac retorted. "The Phantom must be caught. I know why we were brought into this . . . I just don't think it's quite in the job description."

"I'd bet you'd love for your warming up to Riley being in your job description," I shoot back quickly. God, she makes it sound as if there's nowhere I'd rather be than in the pit of danger. For instance, I could be back with Mac . . . in her apartment . . . with her.

Yes, that last part was definitely the most important.

"You know what you're being a real ass about this," Mac suddenly snapped, her eyes meeting mine dangerously, angry enough to issue sparks. "I was never going to agree to this. You did for us. And now you make it sounds as if I want to do this."

I don't meet her eyes. I know she's right. I turn away, suddenly feeling something very powerful stinging me. An emotion that I've only experienced with one person. Mac. And from what everyone's described, it goes way beyond 'friendliness'.

"Harm, there's only one person I really care about," she whispered softly, standing up and positioning herself directly in front of me. She touches my chin with her finger, bringing my face up to meet her eyes. "And he's trying to get himself killed."

I stare at her hard. She's talking about me . . . I think. My eyes connect with hers and I can tell instantly . . . it's definitely me.

I trail my fingers over her cheek, then I trace them around her lips and then I bend my head in. We're generating so much heat I feel like I'm kissing her before my lips are anywhere near the same zone as hers. She tips her head up. I'm trying to kiss her . . . and she's letting me!

"Rabb, Mackenzie!"

I pause, my eyes closed, my forehead resting on Mac's. Dammit, it can't be. Not now.

"Colonel! Commander! Get your sixes in here now!"

Oh, yes, it can.

My God, we were so close. So close.

That's all I'm thinking about as I face the Admiral while sitting on Harm's couch. One inch away . . . probably less. And the Phantom has to interrupt us once again.

"We've received the call from Admiral Anders consenting to your presence in his squadron," the Admiral informed us. "I assume by now you have picked an identity?"

"Uh, yes, sir," Harm responds, completely disoriented. A near-kiss can do that to you.

"And that is?" the Admiral asked, his eyebrow rose.

"Commander Jason Hart," Harm babbled. I take in a sharp breath of air. The Admiral looks at the both of us funny.

"I wasn't aware he was one of the options," the Admiral said.

Then Harm realizes what he said.

"I mean, Commander Evan Hart," Harm corrects himself quickly.

"Good choice," the Admiral said, not entirely oblivious to our closeness. We had only a moment to dive onto the couch before the Admiral came into the room. And at that moment we were only an inch apart. "I trust you'll depart tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," Harm responded.

"And Colonel," the Admiral said, turning to me. "I've already sent a letter to NCIS saying that you're coming back."

I nod.

"Commander Riley said he would be happy to have you."

I take this moment to turn to Harm instead of replying. His face looks like it was etched of stone. But he knows . . . he knows I'd never go for Riley. Then again, didn't I say something like that about Mic . . . or Clay . . . oh my.

"Colonel?"

Thoughts come back to my head. "Yes, sir."

The Admiral stares at me intently, his voice suddenly growing quiet. "We want you to come back." He then turns to Harm. "We want you both to come back."

"And we will," I say a bit over confidently.

"Good," the Admiral responds, his voice as quick as a beat now, back to his own brisk manner. "Then I'll leave you now. We'll keep in touch."

He turns as if to go but then twists on his heels to face us again. "And maybe, in the mean time," he stares at us both intently, "you could work something out." His smile is replaced by his usual stern look. "Use a closet if you have to. And that's an order."

With a small smirk of content, he strode out of Harm's apartment leaving us a little open mouthed. I stare at Harm who looks more than a little disoriented now. In fact, he looks down right shocked.

"Well, I guess that proved what we already know," I said quietly, staring ahead of me.

"What?" Harm asks, turning towards me.

I meet his eyes, instantly forming unbreakable eye contact. "He isn't oblivious to us."

Us. I love the way she says it. Us. It sounds so right, especially coming from her lips. No, the Admiral isn't oblivious to us. No one is, not even us. God, there's that word again.

Mac's arm reaches over as though magnetically drawn to mine. It loops around my arm and her hand rests inside mine. She looks up at me, more beautiful than imaginable, and smiles at me. I give a Cheshire grin. "Now where were we?"

Mac grins back at me. "The files," she said and placed one in my hands, breaking our contact. "Study up, Evan."

"But wait," I call as she turns around. "You're leaving?"

"One of us has to make the first move," she says softly, with so much meaning in that phrase. "And this is your apartment."

"Stay," I say simply. I look out the window but there's no snow.

She walks up to me, staring into my eyes with her beautiful chocolate brown ones. "If I stay, I'm never going to leave."

"And what's so bad about that?" I whisper, tilting my head towards hers.

"Nothing . . ." she trails off. "Not yet."

She probably would have said more but she's exhausted, I can tell. I lean in and capture her lips with mine. We stare there, as if paused in time, her lips on mine, my hand gently stroking the small of her back. She moves her hand to stroke my cheek. Apparently we don't need air anymore.

She breaks away and then lays her head on my shoulder. She is exhausted.

"Come on," I said gently. "I'll drive you to NCIS tomorrow."

"Right," she says tiredly, but not without sarcasm. "Commander Hart, the next victim, is going to drive the person who's trying to catch the Phantom right into the Phantom's lair."

I pause, still holding Mac close to me. I don't want to admit it, but it's now or never. "I don't want you to go."

Mac raises her head from my shoulder. "What?"

"I don't want you to go," I repeat. "It's too dangerous."

A faint form of a smile creeps onto her lips. "Yours is much more dangerous than mine."

I stare down at the floor. "I don't want anything to happen to you Mac." I raise my eyes to meet hers. "Now or Never."

That sentence just hangs in the air. She smiles at me and places one tender kiss on my lips. "Ditto, Flyboy."

I hold her in my arms, rocking her back and forth. She yawns both tiredly and contently. "Hey, Marine, you sleepy?"

She has her head resting on mine. She nods.

"Come on," I said, and placing my arms around her, I pick her up. I can feel her snuggle in close to me. I place her on the bed, the left side of the bed and I take my usual spot, on the right. She burrows into me, her head coming to rest on my chest.

I look at Mac's sleeping form, snuggled in as close as she can to mine. "I love you, Mac."

I wake up to the smell of boiling coffee. I roll to my left sleepily and feel . . . air. I open my eyes. Mac's no longer beside me. In fact, she's nowhere to be seen.

"Mac!" I call, suddenly sitting up stiffly. I get out of bed. I'm still wearing the clothes I was last night. Something takes over me. Fear.

I exit my bedroom and enter the kitchen. The coffee maker's bubbling with freshly brewed coffee. And on the top of it is a note scrawled in Mac's neat cursive.

Thanks again for the wonderful sleep, Flyboy. Be careful.

Xoxo,

Ninja Girl

I stare at the message, a Mac-intended smile forming on my face. Be careful. Definitely. Because now I have something . . . someone to come home to.

A/N: Alright, I already apologized on the late posting of this chapter. But review anyways! Please . . . tell me if I should continue or not.