Title: Old Friends

Chapter Fourteen

By: LizD

Written: June/July 2004

Disclaimers: No disrespect to JAG's cast, crew or creators. With love and thanks.

Old Friends - Chapter Fourteen
Open Mouth, Insert Big Fat Foot

0523 LOCAL Safe House Town Outside of Naples

"Harm, I love you." Mac stated clearly. "I told Webb that too. ... I told him that we were happy. ... We are happy, aren't we?"

"Yes." He said with that same unequivocal manner he had developed over the past few months.

She smiled. She was beginning to really appreciate his direct one-word answers. "Then tell me you love me and kiss me 'hello', sailor." She ordered.

She still wanted him. He felt it. Webb would not be a factor. She was his and he had won the day. Harm did as he was ordered to do.

"I should have married you years ago." Harm whispered into Mac's ear.

"What did you say?" She didn't pull away; she was just couldn't believe what she heard. The moment was broken for her.

He leaned back so he could see her expression. "It has always been you Mac. You are why I couldn't make a commitment to anyone else." He exhaled and pulled her back tightly to his chest. "I owe an apology to Renee ... and Annie ... and Jordan – if only I could ... hell I should apologize to Brumby too."

"Harm, we have work to do." She felt her irritation rise. "We have court in an couple of hours."

"That is all you have to say?" He gave her a sweet smile.

"What do you want me to say?" She stepped away from him and started back toward the house. It was not a real question; it was a dismissal.

"Mac?" Harm was confused. A minute ago, things were fine, better than fine; they were OUTSTANDING.

She turned back to him. "Harm."

"Don't you have something to say?" He and Mac had never openly discussed marriage before – not that he thought they needed to discuss it. It was understood, but frankly he was expecting a little more from her.

"We don't want to get into this now." She stated. "YOU don't want to get into this now."

"What exactly are we NOT getting into?" He couldn't believe that they were going to have a fight about something like his admission that he had always loved her and wanted to marry her.

"Let's just forget about it." She stated. "Tell me what your ideas are with the Lankersheim case."

"Wait just a minute, marine." He took her hand and led her back to the side yard away from the house. "What just happened here?"

"Nothing." She looked down and pulled her hand away.

"Don't tell me NOTHING, Mac." He got in front of her. "Something happened."

"I was just reminded about something." She flung at him. "That's all."

"Reminded about what?" He was getting really annoyed that he had to pull this out of her. "Mac?"

She was fighting with herself to not say anything.

"Damn it Mac, talk to me!"

'He asked for it.' She thought. "I was just reminded what an arrogant, egotistical, self-centered, narcissistic man you are." The words were better in her head, and she regretted that she was forced to say them.

He was blown back.

"At times." She added in an attempt to smooth them over. It didn't work.

"Where did that come from?" He was at a loss.

"From you."

"I tell you that I have always loved you and that makes me an arrogant, self-centered and ... and ... and narcissistic?"

"No ... you tell me that you should have married me years ago and that makes you arrogant, egotistical, self-centered and narcissistic." She started to turn away but turned back to make sure she was understood. "How presumptuous! What makes you think I would have married you years ago? What makes you think I would marry you now?"

"Mac -."

"Then you want to apologize to the women you STRUNG along as you were 'loving only me' and to the man I almost married ... what about ME? Huh? Don't I rate an apology? Didn't I get STRUNG ALONG for eight years? No, I guess not ... I am just the woman you 'should have married years ago' whether or not I have a say in the matter is irrelevant. Whatever the GREAT HARMON RABB wants, he gets."

"You want me to apologize to you?" He was still really confused how this turned into a fight.

"I don't want an apology, Harm. ... I want to be considered."

"I consider you." He defended.

"Not enough to ... to ... to ... I don't know ... ASK?" She said sarcastically.

"Ask what?"

She shook her head, more in disbelief. She was not going to give him the answer. If he had to ask ...

"You want me to propose to you? What like down on one knee ... diamond ring ... the whole bit?" He shook his head. "I thought we were past that, Mac."

"Past that?" She shook her head and smirked. "Harm, do not presume to know me or know what I am thinking, feeling or what I want."

"I don't." He stated.

"Right." She stated in utter contempt. "We are not going to talk about this here ... not here and not now. We have a client to defend and then there is that little matter of Nancy Hatfield to handle." She turned on her heel and marched up to the house.

Harm was left with his confusion. Moments before they were happy and in love and now ... well now he had no idea what was happening between them.

Inside the house

Harm came in and saw the three men at the table, they looked up as he entered. Clay stood up to refill his coffee. Mac was nowhere in sight.

"Coffee is fresh, commander." Gunny said to break the silence in the room.

"Thanks Gunny." Harm walked over to get himself a cup.

Webb leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Knew you would screw it up, you just can't help yourself."

"Webb ... Go to hell." He said quietly.

"I'll save you a seat." He smiled and walked back to his place at the table.

"Rabb," the admiral called over to him. "We have a plan."

He nodded and joined them at the table.

0856 Local

Hearing Room US Naval Base, Naples

For the next couple of hours Harm's conversation with Mac, though limited due to the group they were in and the topics they were discussing, consisted of questions ... only questions. His voice was even and clear. He was not being sarcastic or rude, but he really wasn't listening to the answers either, well other than to get the facts. Most importantly he wanted her to know that he wasn't going to PRESUME anything and that he CONSIDERED her in all decisions. It got worse when it was the two of them discussing the case with Commander Lankersheim.

"Do you want some coffee? Or would you prefer tea?"

"Would you like the front seat or the back seat?"

"What concerns do you have with the plan to capture Hatfield?"

"Is there anything you would like to go over about Commander Lankersheim's testimony?"

"What were your impressions of Lieutenant Mallory?" (Mallory was the pilot who filed the complaint.)

"What did you find in the Lieutenant's personnel jacket?"

"Would you like me to take cross?"

"Do you have points you want me to bring out?"

He was being a jerk ... even more of a jerk than he normally was when he got into those wild hair moods. They finally had a moment alone before they walked into the courtroom.

"Stop it." She said grabbing his arm.

"What would you like me to stop, Mac?"

"Harm, I have a legitimate beef with you that we will resolve when the time is right, but if you continue in this vein it is going to turn into a much bigger thing than it needs to be and I can't guarantee that we will find resolution." She warned.

"I am sorry, colonel." He leaned in closer to her. "Was that a threat?"

"An observation." Her eyes narrowed. "Now go in there and pull the damn rabbit out of your hat, as you are so famous for doing and let's get the hell out of here."

She threw the door open and strode from the room.

Harm shook his head in disgust and followed along after her.

In the end, Harm did exactly that. He got Mallory to admit that he had it out for Lankersheim by exposing a prior liaison they had at flight school. Evidently they had had a brief encounter that she ended rather unceremoniously. She of course did not want this information to get out because she felt it would diminish her ability to lead and might reflect detrimentally on her next FitRep, which was why she didn't tell Mac. She was exonerated and sent back to active duty and Mallory would be brought up on charges of false swearing.

"Harm." Mac asked him after Lankersheim had left. "How did you know?"

"I didn't." He said coolly stepping around her.

"What made you suspect?"

He turned and looked back at her. "I recognized him."

"You know the lieutenant?"

"I have never met him before today."

"You recognized him?" She asked for clarification.

"I recognized the look in his eye." He stated. "I am very familiar with the look of a man scorned – saw it in my mirror for -."

"Go to hell." She cut him off.

"Your boyfriend is saving me a seat." He hissed through clenched teeth and stormed out of the room.

Mac would have followed but she needed a moment to discuss some things with Bud and Sturgis.

By time Mac made it outside, Harm was nowhere in sight. She looked to see where Gunny had gone. He was right beside her. She started to feel the irritation rise up in her.

"Gunny, the commander?" She asked trying to keep the exasperation out of her voice.

He nodded across the street. Harm was sitting in the driver's seat of the car with the motor running.

She exhaled loudly and nodded to Gunny to follow her.

Harm got out as soon as she approached. "Colonel, would you like to drive?"

She looked back at Gunny who wisely enough had remained out of earshot. "What I would like is for you to give it a rest. You are blowing this all out of proportion and you are really beginning to piss me off."

"How inconsiderate of me." He bantered back to her.

"Grow up, Rabb." She slid into the back seat.

Gunny came around and got in on the passenger side.

Harm rethought his actions and wondered if she was right. He got in, gunned the engine and headed back to the safe house.


1842 LOCAL

Safe House Town Outside of Naples

The team discussed the plans again. Now that the case was cleared they could move on. It was decided that Mac and Harm would go to Afghanistan under the guise of a US liaison to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent as an independent team to investigate the ICRC's claims that the US was holding terror suspects in other locations. JAG could be relatively independent since the Navy was not typically involved with the detainees in the war. The added bonus for Harm and Mac was the nature of the assignment allowed them to be mobile. The plan of course had to go through the SecNav and various other channels up the chain to – more than likely – the top. That was what the admiral had been doing all morning. The fact that he was retired came up on more than one occasion not to mention how and why he was in Naples, but somehow he was able to convince the SecNav that there was something at stake that required his personal attention. When asked if it had anything to do with Rabb and MacKenzie, the admiral replied, "Sir, I am cleaning up. Consider it my final act as JAG." It was implied that he was cleaning up a mess that the SecNav had created. Authorization was granted.

It was further decided that the Gunny and the admiral would have to go as aides to Harm and Mac, which meant that the admiral could not longer be an admiral. He was reduced in rank. Not for a moment did anyone consider taking advantage of this ploy, even in jest.

Webb's role in this little ruse was unclear, since he was 'dead' there was little help the CIA could provide directly. He had never met Nancy Ellen Hatfield and didn't know if she was aware that he was not dead. To keep up the front, he had to work his operatives for information on the down low. He had gotten three reports that day and was waiting on confirmation. Two things were clear, Hatfield was still in Afghanistan and she was still thought to be working with the Red Cross.

They were set to leave at 2300. Harm excused himself to get some sleep. He and Mac had not shared a private moment nor did they do much talking to each other in the 'planning' meeting. What neither had noticed – or refused to acknowledge - was that they didn't need to speak to each other. They were in sync – 100 on the same wave length. What Harm suggested or commented on, Mac was about to and vice versa. Each would finish the other sentences or address the others concerns. It was as if they were of one mind. Webb noticed. Gunny noticed. The admiral noticed. Never before had he had Rabb and MacKenzie in a briefing where one or the other did not have some dissenting opinion or some zing to throw out. It was either the calm before the storm or ... well the admiral didn't want to venture a guess as to what else is could have been he just hoped it would last.

Mac was out on the porch finishing up the file from earlier that day.

"Heard Rabb did another magic show today." The admiral's voice came from the open door.

She looked back at him. "Yes, sir."

"Mac, please ... AJ."

She nodded.

He opened the door and came and stood near her looking out into the night. "Are you two going to be OK?"

"Harm and I will do what we need to do to bring Hatfield in." She stated clearly.

"That is not my concern, Mac." He turned to her. "I am concerned about the two of you."

"Thank you, AJ." She smiled slightly. "There is really no need."

He nodded and looked down. "Permission to speak freely." He asked.

"Of course, sir." She sat back and let the file drop to her lap.

"Frankly, I had always thought that you two – as a couple – was a bad idea." He shrugged. "Of course I am no one to talk, I can't pick the right cereal to get me through to lunch much less someone to share my life with."

"AJ."

"Please let me finish." He smiled at her. "Although I had my doubts about you together – there is one thing that was made painfully clear to me this past year." He paused. "You two can't be apart."

"Sir?"

"There is a spark and a life to each of you that only grows brighter when you are in the same room. Speaking as an outsider, I am draw to that spark – many people are. At times that spark ignites and blows up, taking a little chunk out of anyone that is standing by, but more often what happens is ... magic."

"Magic?"

"You two pull things out of the other - and those of us standing by - that are inspiring. Working together, working on opposing sides ... you two get the job done."

"Yes, sir, often we do."

"More than just in the courtroom or on an investigation." He added for clarification. "No two people I know are more loyal or self-sacrificing in the face of adversity either physically or emotionally."

"Sir." She thought he was giving them too high a praise.

"As for personally, I have never known two people who would and have suffered more at the hands of the other yet kept coming back for more." He laughed a little. "I am sure Gates would have all kinds of explanations, but in my mind – if you just accepted it ... accepted that you will never be out of each other's lives – for good or bad – and stopped trying to put other people between you or change each other – everyone would be better off."

The admiral's cell phone rang.

"Excuse me, I need to take this." He walked off to speak in private.

Mac stayed on the porch wondering how much of the fight they were in did she create. Was she wrong? No, she wasn't. Harm was being presumptuous and inconsiderate. Is that new for Harm? No. Did she need to get that upset? Not really. There was some merit to the fact that he was trying to be nice to her, trying to tell her how much he loved her, trying to acknowledge that he had made mistakes – in his own way. No, she didn't need to get that upset, particularly since they were so far from home and there too much time needed to pass before they could openly discuss her concerns. Yep, pretty much Mac was responsible for the fight they were in at the moment.

She piled up the files and went in search of Harm.

Harm was still sleeping. She let herself quietly into the room and watched him for a moment. She liked watching him sleep. In the past month or so they had been together - together all night - about half a dozen times ... maybe a little more, but not more than a dozen. The night she remembered ... the night she chose to remember and savor every detail of as she watched him sleep – as well as other times – was the second time.

A week after the first time was the night that changed her – changed them as a couple. Why so long? Life got in the way – mostly. Between Mattie and cases they were working, the timing just never seemed right. They could have found enough time to DO IT – but unspoken, neither wanted to just 'do it' ... they were too old for that, but try as they might it was hard to find the time to give the other their undivided attention.

It was a Wednesday – well, it started on a Wednesday. She spent the afternoon with a client who would not cooperate. Harm was in court. They talked briefly at lunch and discovered that it would be impossible to try to get together for dinner. Mattie had this thing at school and Mac would be hip deep in depositions until after midnight. Around 2330 Harm called.

"Hi, how's it going?" His gentle voice came across the line.

"Miserable ... I would give you twenty bucks to take this case off my hands."

"Ha. I have upped my rates."

"I'd pay anything." She said.

"For you - we could work something in trade."

She smiled at his adolescent humor. "How did it go with Mattie tonight?" She asked.

"Good, she is signing up for a couple of summer school classes."

"That's great." Mac was so impressed that Harm was really taking his time with Mattie. "She will have some of the summer to play, right?"

"I am not a slave driver, Mac." He explained. "One of the classes is horse back riding."

She laughed. "I see."

There was a brief pause as Harm screwed up his courage. He didn't really know why, but he was nervous. "Would you have dinner with me on Friday?"

Mac was still a little distracted to notice the change of timber in his voice. "Friday? Sure, I can bounce some ideas off of you." She said. "We can order in or go to that Chinese place where we can --."

"No, Mac." He said softly. He wanted to shut her off but not rudely. "This is not a working dinner." There was a long pause. "I was hoping I could take you to that new Japanese place."

Mac sat back. The new Japanese place was not the kind of place you take a colleague after work. It was very exotic, only the BIG people went there – Harm was planning on dropping a chunk of change. No, no – this was a date. "Oh, I see." She was at a loss for words.

"Are you free on Friday, will you join me for dinner?"

She was struggling to keep her breathing under control. "Yes." She smiled to herself. "I would love to join you for dinner."

"Good." He let the breath he was holding out. "I will pick you up around ... 1930?"

"Good." She was so nervous she didn't know what else to say. She actually had a ton of things to talk about to him, but for the moment, she could not articulate the words nor did she have the inclination.

"Good." He was pleased that it was so easy ... hell he should have asked her years before. "I'll see you then ... well I will see you tomorrow."

"You will."

"Good night, Sarah."

"Night."

Those were pretty close to the last words they spoke to each other before their date. He was in court all day Thursday and Mac was called to Norfolk. She was in very great peril of having to cancel their date. That was the message she left on Thursday afternoon. Harm was preparing himself to be very disappointed. But it didn't happen. Friday morning she left him another message telling him that she would be back in plenty of time. In fact she was able to secure early and go home around 1530.

When she arrived at her apartment, she found a fantastic arrangement of flowers waiting for her: irises, roses, lilies etc. They were beautiful and filled her apartment with an exotic perfume. The note read simply. "Looking forward to tonight. Love, Harm"

Wow, he was really pulling out all the stops for this. It actually gave her a little panic. What was she going to wear? She went to her closet and pulled out nearly every dress she thought might work, but nothing did. Checking her internal clock, she had enough time. She quickly drove down to her favorite boutique. This store never failed her. Carroll, a woman she had come to know well over the years, was there. Mac explained her situation as she flew through the racks looking for something to wear. Carroll politely excused herself and went to the back. She returned with a garment bag.

"Miss MacKenzie," she called to her. "I think you might want to take a look at this."

Mac unzipped the bag and discovered THE dress. It was in a deep, deep green – not a hunter or a forest, deeper than that, very nearly black with a subtle floral pattern to it that only gave depth and texture to the fabric. It was made of a silk/satin material. When she tried it on, it hung on her like it was made for her. It clung in places that were supposed to be clingy and it was flowy in places that should have been. Mac had to admit; this dress was hers and she looked damn sexy in it. The price tag was not made for a colonel's budget, but she could not get it. Carroll further suggested a very fine cashmere wrap that had some small flowers embroidered on it and a small handbag to match. Again – perfect.

"Shoes!" Mac thought she had no shoes that would work with the dress and she was running out of time.

Carroll put up her hand and made a phone call. Within in a minute someone from the store across the street was there with shoes that were exactly right – albeit three-inch spikes, but that was what was called for with the hemline and the slit.

Mac felt guilty. "Carroll, you put this whole ensemble together, were you going to buy this for yourself?"

"This dress was something special, I knew it the moment I saw it so I did a little accessorizing. But Miss MacKenzie, I was not saving it for myself. I had no idea who, but when you walked in today, I knew it was you."

"Thank you." Mac pressed the woman's hand.

"May I make another suggestion?"

"Of course." Mac laughed.

"With your hair long - like it is now – you will need to wear it up." She saw the look of panic on Mac's face. She was still not very good at doing her own hair. "Geoffrey will do it."

"Geoffrey?"

"At the salon in the next block. You head down there, I will call and set everything up and bring the dress and shoes down to you in an hour."

Mac was floored by this woman's generosity. She could do nothing but accept graciously.

Mac arrived home dress and shoes in hand, with fresh coat of pain on her nails and her hair and make up done by a professional. The whole experience enhanced the whole "date" scenario and she was feeling very beautiful. It was 1846. Harm would be there – exactly on time – and she had to get everything in order. Her bedroom was still covered with the discards from her closet.

At 1929 she was ready. She looked out the window and saw Harm's vette in the parking lot. She didn't know how long he had been there, but she knew he arrived early and was waiting to be exactly on time. He got out of his car and looked up to her window. He didn't see her. He actually looked a little nervous. He was wearing a dark charcoal suit, shirt and tie. He looked taller from her window. She was glad she got the three-inch heels. He was at her door in moments, but she waited to take a deep breath. She had to laugh at her self for being nervous.

She opened the door and saw immediately that he liked what he saw. 'Good.' She thought it was all worth it, although there was almost no trouble to it.

"Sarah, you are ... absolutely ... stunning." He waited in the hall taking her in.

"Thank you." She smiled. "Please come in." She stepped back. "Thank you for the flowers."

He wanted to say 'thank you for that dress' but chose to be more of a gentleman. "You are very welcome." He leaned down – though not as 'down' as he normally would have to and kissed her gently.

"Do you want to sit down, do we have time before the reservation?" She was a little lost for what to say, what to do, how to act.

Harm was too. "Actually I changed the reservation from that Japanese place."

"Oh?" She was not disappointed so much as she was curious.

"I heard of this great place – down on the water. It is supposed to have the best lobster south of Maine."

"Lobster?" She was impressed.

"They also have a chocolate soufflé to die for and ... it is very private."

"You don't want to be seen with me?" She asked coyly.

"I want you all to myself." He leaned in and kissed her softly again.

Mac deepened the kiss a shade more than she had wanted to, but she couldn't help herself. She felt loved and attended to and beautiful.

Harm reluctantly pulled back. "We'll miss dinner." He warned.

She actually thought about suggesting that they cancel dinner and order in – later, but changed her mind.

"Let's go." She handed him her wrap so he could put it round her shoulders.

Harm was an amazing gentleman to her: opening doors for her, holding her chair, placing his hand at the small of her back as they walked. His mother would have been so proud. They were there in time to enjoy the sunset before they sat down. It was all very romantic. The conversation at first was a little stiff and stilted. Neither wanted to talk about work or the past or the future. There was no need for small talk or 'getting to know you' talk. And neither wanted to bring up a subject that would cause debate. Eventually they worked it out. Dinner was fantastic and when the soufflé arrived, Mac thought she had died and gone to heaven. After dinner they took a little walk – as far as Mac's shoes would allow. Still Harm was attentive and loving. He suggested they take a drive to enjoy the night air, but Mac had had enough driving that day.

When they arrived back at her apartment, she offered to make tea. She kicked off her shoes silently cursing the man who invented spike heels and went to the kitchen. She thought about that whole 'change into something more comfortable' thing that women do, but it didn't feel right.

Harm took off his coat and loosened his tie. He knew in what direction he wanted the night to go, and God knows he had done it before with women, but that night had to be different, had to be special. He even thought about kissing her 'good night' and going home. But they were past that. He joined her in the kitchen.

"Dinner was wonderful." She said without turning around. "Thank you."

"Thank you."

They were silent for a moment with only the sound of the water heating and the clink of the cups filling the room.

He put his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her neck.

She melted back into him.

"You are an amazing woman, Sarah MacKenzie. I am honored to have you in my life."

"I can say the same to you."

He turned her in his arms and kissed her, gently at first but it quickly became more. Silently he asked and silently she answered. They were in agreement. He turned off the burner and moved the teapot off the stove. He took her hand and led her back through the living room to the bedroom. They made sweet passionate love until the wee hours of the morning. He was kind and generous and very in tune with her desires. The experience brought them intimately closer than they had ever been. Than either had been with anyone else in their lives. In the space of those hours, these two made one. When morning came it lingered with them for a while until life again got in the way. But ever since that night, they were measurably closer.

Mac was looking out the window into the Naples night. The moon through the trees was casting shadows across her face. Harm was sleeping. They needed to talk, they needed to apologize to each other and focus on the job ahead of them, but what would she say and was he prepared to hear it.

"You are stunning in moonlight too." Harm whispered from the bed.

She turned; surprised to see him watching her.

"There is only one other time that you looked as beautiful as you do right now." He continued.

"Oh?"

Harm rolled over on to his back. "The night I took you to dinner."

She nodded. "The lobster. That soufflé." She was still savoring the memory of the dinner.

"That dress." He smiled licking his lips playfully. "Drop dead gorgeous."

Mac stepped over and sat on the edge of the bed. "So you are saying that I am just as beautiful in marine green fatigues as I am in a million dollar dress." She smiled at him. "I should have saved myself the money."

"Worth every penny." He confirmed. "It doesn't have anything to do with the clothes." He took her hand in both of his. "It is a look in your eyes that lights you from within."

"I see." She laughed it off.

"What were you thinking?" He asked carefully. That question could have backfired on him six different ways to Sunday.

"Honestly?" She looked down. "I was thinking about that night."

"Me too." He said softly. "Actually I was dreaming about it."

Her face washed with concern.

"I am sorry, Sarah." He stated pressing her hand.

She looked up into his eyes. "I am sorry." She corrected.

"You can still make me crazy." He said.

"You too."

"I guess there is no danger of us falling into a rut, eh marine."

"A rut might be nice." She smiled.

He sat up and pulled her too him. "I am really sorry." He said again.

She pulled back to look at him. Words failed her. Their lips met for a kiss. The incident would be forgiven, if not forgotten – but it would be shelved for the moment.

KNOCK, KNOCK

Neither pulled away from the embrace, but the kiss had to stop.

"I'm awake." Harm said.

"We leave in 30 minutes, sir." Gunny called through the door.

"I'll be right down." He sat back.

"Does this plan have a chance in hell of working?" She asked.

He shook his head. "Don't really like the idea of being bait on a hook, but if Webb does his job – we will not be dangling out there for too long."

"He won't let us down." She claimed.

"From your lips to Gods ears." He rolled over and off the other side of the bed.

"Are you two going to be able to work together?" She asked sincerely.

"If he can learn to stay out of my face – particularly as concerns you – yeah, we will be fine." He was pulling his fatigues on.

"I'll talk to him." She said softly.

"Don't, Sarah." He stuffed his dog tags under his shirt. "This is between him and me. I'll take care of it."

Mac rolled her eyes and moved toward the door. "Men!"

"And you love us." He grabbed her hand before she could get away.

"I love you." She corrected.

"Good answer." He kissed her quickly. "Let's remember to talk about that more."

Again she rolled her eyes. "Your head will explode." She touched his cheek gently. "Let's go." She opened the door and escaped.

Harm looked back at the mirror to check that his hair was smoothed down – also to give her time to get down the stairs. They weren't fooling anyone, but there was no need to flaunt it.

He smiled at his reflection. He looked happy. He was about to go on a dangerous mission that could get him, the woman he loved or friend killed – adrenaline was starting to pump, muscles were constricting, his mind should have been working the plan over and over in his head, but all he could think was 'She loves me.' He was happy.