AN: thanks for the feedback :) I wrote this story a long time ago so if it's not up to par blame it on all the dust that is covering it.

Please review!

PART VI

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"In the end, it's only the moments that we have, the kiss on the palm, the joint wonder at the furrowed texture of a fir trunk or at

the infinitude of grains in a dune. Only the moments."

Girl in Hyacinth Blue; Vreeland

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FEBRUARY 2 Friday (a week later)

8:30 EST

JAG HQ

A week had passed and it was now Friday. The snowstorm the meteorologists had predicted had come and there was a good two feet on the ground, another expected to come. The roads for the most part were clear but, to Mac's dismay, were unpredictable at times. She was grumbling about them as she walked into the office that morning, running late and freezing.

"Hello Scrooge." Harm greeted her in the break room.

That brought forth another grumble from Mac. "It's not Christmas."

Harm smiled. He had a plan that would put her in a good mood. He wish he could enact it now, but it would have to wait. "Christmas is not a date, but a set of mind. Are you doing anything tonight?" He asked when they reached her office.

"No, but I really don't think I'd be much company today. I think I'll just go home, sulk, eat something fattening and read more of Jane Eyre. I'm really getting into it now. You should read in when I'm done."

Harm was glad to see she had stopped grumbling for a few sentences. "I don't care if you aren't in a great mood, I've dealt with you in all moods and like most of them, even if some are frustrating. But I planned something special for tonight. I'd really like for you to be there."

Mac glanced up and Harm and felt like saying no again. But the look on his face, a look of hope, changed her mind. "Ok . . . what's this special something."

Harm beamed, obviously pleased with himself. "Meet me at O'Tooles tonight at 7:00, ok?"

Mac gave in with a smile. "Ok."

"And dress nicely."

Mac shook her head. She was beginning to think he kept asking her to do stuff so he could see her dressed up. Not that she minded . . . if that was the case. "Alright, Rabb, I'll be there."

Harm grinned and left the office, wanting the day to end.

BELTWAY

6:30 EST

Mac sighed as she drove along the road. She was exhausted and had a headache the size of Mount Rushmore. She had been running late getting out of work, was currently stuck in traffic, and would probably not make it to the restaurant on time. The only thing that had pulled her through the extra-long day was this "special something" Harm was planning for her. The look in his eyes would have made her go out with him any night, even if she had the flu. 'How can you turn down a Rabb?' She thought to herself and smiled.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts she didn't see the ice patch in front of her. It took her a moment to react as her car began to spin and she tried to steer her car to safety, but her vet was busy doing a three sixty and not paying any attention to her.

It seemed to take an hour for the car to stop, but it really only took a few seconds. When it did, it was with a sickening crash against a cement barrier. Mac's head smashed into the side window and the last thing she thought about was Harm.

O'TOOLES RESTAURANT

8:00 EST

Harm had long ago begun to worry. It was an hour after Mac was supposed to be there. He had kept trying to tell himself she got caught up in traffic or maybe was spending a long time choosing the perfect outfit for tonight. But those thoughts grew old in the first fifteen minutes. Besides, she would have called him if she were running late. She had a cell phone and knew his cell phone number. Besides, she wasn't answering her cell phone, he had already tried calling it . . . every five minutes.

A couple of minutes later his phone rang and he flipped it open with a hurried flash.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Rabb?" An unfamiliar voice said.

"Yes?" His voice was breathy and fast.

"Mr. Rabb, you were listed in Ms. Mackenzie's emergency phone list. We need you to come down to Georgetown Hospital."

"Is everything alright? What happened?" 'God, please don't say something bad happened.' Harm could barely control his shaking, not to mention the questions racing through his mind at a pace that left him dizzy.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, Mr. Rabb, but Ms. Mackenzie was in a car accident. She was brought in a little while ago. We had trouble finding her emergency contacts –" Harm didn't hear anything else. He snapped his phone shut and was racing out the door, his heart pounding in his chest. She was all right. She had to be. If she wasn't . . .

TWENTY MINUTES LATER

GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL

Harm raced through the hospital doors, his sight slightly affected by tunnel vision when he saw the nurse's desk. He immediately headed over to it, ignoring anything that may be in his way.

"I was called for Sarah Mackenzie. She was just recently brought in from a car accident." Harm stammered out in a rush. He had never been here and didn't know what to say. He wished he weren't there. It wasn't right . . . it didn't feel right. He wanted to be at home right now, reclining on the sofa, holding Mac in his arms. This had to be a nightmare . . .

The nurse made a quick call before looking back up at him. "Head up to the third floor. There's a nurse's station right across from the elevators. Inquire for Nurse Kelly Marshall there."

Harm thanked her before dashing off towards the elevators, his anxiety rising with each level.

"Mr. Rabb, please take a seat over here…" 'before you have a heart attack.' She finished in thought. Then Kelly Marshall directed Harm to the waiting room. She had seen the handsome man all-but-run to the nurse's station and had immediately approached him. When she found out he was looking for Kelly Marshall, she told him he had found her.

"Miss Mackenzie is still in surgery, sir, but when she is out, I'll have the doctor come talk to you." Kelly said.

Harm nodded, the shock starting to wear off and the impact of everything suddenly started to sink it.

"Is there anything you need?" Kelly asked.

Harm shook his head.

"If there is something you need, I'll be at the nurse's station. There are some magazines." She waved her hand to a table beside him. "It could be awhile." She said sympathetically.

Harm thanked her softly before watching her walk away. Good. She was leaving. He wanted to be alone. To get a grasp on everything that had happened in the past hour.

He glanced uninterestedly at the magazines. He had no intention of picking one up right now. Not until he found out about Mac. He knew he should contact the Admiral and let him know, but somehow he couldn't summon the courage to get up, not to mention walking over to the phone.

He rested his head in his hands, his mind feeling muddled. The exhaustion from worry and anxiety lulled him into a restless doze and he didn't know how long he had been in a half-sleep, half-awake stage until a gentle hand shook his shoulder.

Harm snapped his eyes open, somehow hoping it would be Mac. No such luck.

"Commander Rabb?" The man before him asked.

Harm nodded.

"I'm Dr. Atwood, I performed surgery on Miss Mackenzie. She's out of surgery now and we have just moved her to her room."

Harm leapt up, eager to see her.

Dr. Atwood placed a soft but firm hand on Harm's shoulder. It wasn't until Harm looked into the surgeon's eyes he knew he didn't want to hear what Commander Atwood had to say.

"Mr. Rabb . . . Miss Mackenzie slipped into a coma shortly after her car accident. I'm sorry." Harm didn't hear much after that. The doctor was explaining what had happened, but Harm wasn't retaining much. Not that he was trying to. Mac was in a coma. He had heard that and it was enough for him. "She also sustained some damage to her abdominal area, which we have repaired with surgery." The doctor paused, seeing Harm's stunned expression. "Is there anyone we can call for you?" The doctor asked.

"I'll call them in later. Can I see her?" Harm asked, his voice holding a distinctly shaky tone.

Dr. Atwood paused then nodded. It wasn't likely his patient would improve greatly any time soon, if at all, and he sensed it would futile to keep the naval officer standing before him away.

He led Harm to the room and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Commander Rabb, I just want to prepare you. There are a lot of tubes and remember, she's just out of surgery, so she may not look like she normally does. But talk to her, patients in comas can sometimes hear what you're saying."

Harm nodded and waited for the doctor to turn and walk away before placing a trembling hand on the suddenly heavy wooden door. It was now or never . . .