Disclaimer: erm, don't belong to me and all that jazz

The Con is dead, long live the Con. Sorry it took so long again for the update. You know... I keep saying that... depressing isn't it? Anyways, life's been rather hectic what with Aggiecon, graduation stuff, Air Force stuff, homework, etc. so I haven't had a lot of time to write. I tried to write during Con, I really did but the downside of being an officer is that you have to do all sorts of crap. Anyways, thanks to froggy, jaka, mjag, snugglebug, LiseGirardi, zeilfanaat, minorcadence, martini, eridani, Disaster Child, MichelleLee, TomcatGM, rainydays, Brittany, Radiorox, SailorGirl, starryeyes, jaggurl, Beach chick, harmfan, Dutchgirl, and anyone else I missed for the reviews, they're awesome!

So here's the new chapter, longer than previous ones. Partly 'cause I feel bad for not updating and partly 'cause I'm too lazy to break it into two. Anywho, read, review, and enjoy! I'm off to do... homework and sleep... maybe... stupid last week of school. Edited for some typos.

USMC Base Camp

0430 ZULU

Mac sat tensely in the front seat of the humvee, gripping the side. The vehicle had barely stopped moving before she was out of it, ignoring the pain in her ankle as she headed for medical. Everything in her was urging her to get to Harm's side as quickly as possible. She pulled up short when she heard her name, "Colonel MacKenzie!"

Mac winced slightly, she recognized that voice. Slowly she turned around, coming to attention as she faced Colonel Peterson, base CO. The Colonel eyed her for a moment, "Colonel… you were on base less than an hour before promptly leaving again with a squad of my marines. If I'm correct, that is somewhat against your orders."

She nodded slightly, refusing to apologize for doing what she'd had to, "Yes, sir."

Colonel Peterson's lips twitched slightly. He didn't really blame her for her actions; after all she was a marine. But then again, she had disobeyed orders, somewhat obliquely but disobeyed them nonetheless. However, it was out of his hands for which he was grateful, he didn't want to have to punish the Lt. Colonel for going after her partner. He fixed her with a firm look before nodding briefly, "I see. Well, General Cresswell will have to deal with it. You have new orders to Naples."

Mac blinked, "Excuse me, sir? I…"

He cut her off calmly, "You want to stay near the Commander. Yes, I'm aware of that, Colonel. Commander Rabb has been transferred to the hospital at Naples. He's already left."

She froze for a moment, feeling goose bumps run up her spine at the thought. Finally she nodded slightly, "Yes, sir."

Peterson handed her a piece of paper, "Your orders. You're in charge of the Commander's safety and welfare. Your plane leaves in forty five minutes."

"Yes, sir. Sir… do you know Commander Rabb's condition?"

He shook his head regretfully, a look of sorrow passing over his face. He answered softly, "I'm not sure, Colonel. Doctor Marks would have the specifics."

Mac grimaced, just the person she didn't want to talk to. Sighing she nodded slightly, "Thank you, sir."

He nodded, "Good luck, Colonel, and congratulations." Peterson flashed a brief smile then left after returning her salute. Mac watched him leave then glanced down at the paper in her hand, letting out a slow breath of relief. Well, she was out of trouble for the moment. Of course that would only last until she actually talked to the General.

She glanced up as Gunny approached, forcing a slight smile, "Gunny. How are your men?"

He sighed heavily, "One dead, one currently in surgery. The other two injured will be fine, one got hit in the leg and the other in the shoulder but they'll recover fully."

Mac dipped her head briefly, she hated that this had been the result. She wanted Harm free and well with all her heart but she hadn't ever wished any more Americans would die to do it. When she raised her head again Gunny could read the sadness in her eyes, "I'm sorry."

He shook his head slightly, "Don't be. We knew what we were getting into, when we volunteered for the mission to save the Commander we knew we could die. We felt it worth the risk."

Mac sighed softly. She glanced away briefly before meeting Gunny's eyes again, "I know, still, I'm sorry. I hoped it would not result in this. Your men didn't deserve to die any more than Harm did."

Gunny nodded, smiling gratefully, "I know, and we appreciate the sentiment, ma'am." He glanced down, noticing the paper in her hand for the first time, "What's that?"

She followed his gaze then raised the page slightly, glancing at it, "Orders to Naples, to "take command" of Commander Rabb. I leave in 38 minutes."

Gunny smiled, "Well then I'll let you catch your plane. Take care of him, ma'am. And give him our greetings and well wishes, please?"

"Of course, Gunny. Thank you for all your help, I appreciate it and I'm sure Harm will also. Keep me posted on the status of your men?"

"Yes, ma'am." Gunny saluted then turned crisply on his heel and left to be with his men once more. Mac watched him go before turning to head towards the flight line. Along with way she met a young airman carrying her bag and crutches. Gratefully she took the crutches, happy to take the weight off her ankle. In silence she followed the airman to the waiting plane. She climbed aboard and waited tensely, she wanted to be with Harm now, not in a few hours.

NSA Naples

US Naval Hospital

0830 ZULU

Mac stepped out of the car in front of the hospital. She glanced around and took a deep breath. She felt vaguely giddy; soon she would be with Harm again. Entering the hospital she made a beeline for the front desk. Stopping she asked as calmly as she could manage, "Can you tell me where Commander Harmon Rabb is?"

The nurse glanced up and smiled briefly before turning her attention to the computer screen in front of her. She tapped a few keys and looked back up at Mac, "He's in surgery, ma'am. Third floor, the elevators are just over there." She pointed to a bank of elevators to Mac's right.

Mac nodded, "Thank you." Turning, she moved as swiftly as she could to the elevators, punching the up button and waiting impatiently. Returning the nod of the Naval Captain who entered the elevator with her she sighed softly and watched the numbers light up. She couldn't help but be vaguely angered by the large number of people wearing naval uniforms. Though it was an irrational thought, she felt somewhat bitter towards them for being free and able to wear those uniforms, oblivious to how much her own partner had gone through.

Shaking her head slightly she got off at the appropriate floor and looked around. Immediately she headed down the corridor to her left, following the signs that pointed to surgery. Turning the corner she stopped short at the sight in front of her. Frowning she continued forward, trying her best to ignore the man standing in the small waiting area. Unfortunately he wasn't going to oblige. Turning he grinned, moving towards her, "Sarah."

Mac sighed and stopped again, looking over. Her voice was cool and collected, "Clay. What are you doing here?" She watched him steadily, expression carefully neutral.

He shrugged slightly, glancing around casually as he answered, "Seeing as it was one of us who found him, and he is a friend, I felt it only logical to be here myself."

She didn't believe him for a moment. Silently she studied Clay for a moment. After a moment she commented neutrally, "I see."

"Come on, Sarah. A guy can't stop by to make sure his friend is going to stay alive?"

Mac didn't answer, instead turning to face the doorway as it opened. A doctor stepped out, glancing around quickly. Mac stepped over, asking anxiously, "Commander Rabb?"

The doctor frowned slightly, "He's been moved to ICU. He's taken quite a beating, ma'am. Do you know what happened to him?"

Mac closed her eyes briefly, forcing down the tears that threatened. Opening them again she stated quietly, "He was a prisoner for over a week."

The doctor sighed, "I see, thank you." He turned to reenter the surgery room.

Mac frowned and asked, "When can I see him?"

Turning back slightly the doctor replied, "Maybe later."

"How much later?"

"I don't know, ma'am. If you would like you may wait in the waiting area outside of ICU." With that the doctor turned and vanished through the door, leaving Mac glaring after him. Muttering under her breath Mac turned also and stalked towards ICU as best she could. Despite the crutches the look on her face was more than enough to cause people to give her a wide berth. Clay sighed and rolled his eyes, following her down the hallway.

Reaching the new waiting room Mac turned back to Clay, eyes glinting with anger, "So why are you really here, Clay?"

"I told you, Sarah, I'm here to see how Harm is."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"I don't know," he ground out, getting annoyed. Admittedly he had other reasons but damnit why couldn't she accept what he was saying? It wasn't like he didn't want to see that Harm was alright. He sighed, "Look, Sarah, I asked the others to look for him because Harm is a friend of mine, and I'm here because I want to see that he's alright, ok?"

She arched an eyebrow, "Ok." It was clear she didn't believe him but chose not to push the topic for now. Mac turned her head as someone approached. Seeing it was a doctor she turned completely around, "Doctor? Do you know anything about Commander Rabb?"

The doctor stopped and looked at her for a moment before glancing down at the clipboard in his hand. After a moment he glanced back up and asked, "Yes, he's in ICU. Who are you?"

Mac frowned slightly, "Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie, Commander Rabb is my partner."

"I see; then perhaps you could tell us who we should contact about his condition?"

"You can tell me."

"Are you a relative?"

"No…" Mac was beginning to get irritated; she wanted to know his condition.

"Then I'm sorry, ma'am. All I can tell you is that he's in critical condition but stable for now."

Clay stepped forward, "Doctor, I'm Clayton Webb, CIA, could you please tell us exactly what's wrong with him?"

The doctor redirected his gaze from Mac to Clay, clearly even less impressed with the CIA agent then he had been with the Colonel. He could at least respect the fellow officer, but he had little use for civilians who thought they were important. But still his voice was calm as he asked, "Are you a relative?"

Clay blinked, "What? No."

"Then I can't tell you any more than I can tell the Colonel. If you'll excuse me I need to return to the Commander." Mac watched the doctor leave irritably. Clay seemed vaguely shocked; as if he couldn't quite comprehend that his status as part of the CIA had not gained him more information. And he disliked intensely the fact that he'd been so casually dismissed in front of Mac.

The doctor entered the hospital room with a sad sigh; it always pained him to be unable to tell people anything. He could tell that Colonel was very concerned, but he wasn't permitted to say anything. Not that there was much to tell. The doctor gazed at the patient stretched out in the bed in front of him, nearly every part of him covered in either bandages or casts. Frowning, the doctor swiftly moved to the Commander's side as Harm's heart rate abruptly began to increase.

Harm wasn't sure where he was. He drifted in and out of consciousness and was vaguely aware of the fact that he was warm and more pain free than he'd been in weeks. But his mind couldn't seem to process the change. He was terrified that it was simply a dream, that the feeling of safety was an illusion bound to disappear as soon as he awoke. Desperately he clung to the one memory that had kept him going. Softly he groaned, trying to move and finding himself unable to. His fuzzy mind began to panic.

His heart rate and breathing increased more, his eyes moving rapidly behind the lids. Harm moaned softly, desperately, "Sarah!" Softly the doctor tried speaking to him, stopping abruptly as he realized the sound of his voice was making it worse. Rapidly he called the nurse, trying his best to calm the Commander in the meanwhile. When the nurse came in he spouted rapid fire orders, calling for help in keeping the Commander immobile. After a few moments Harm began to calm as the memories faded for the moment.

Letting out a slow breath the doctor leaned back, relaxing slightly. This was the third time that had happened. A thought struck him and he glanced towards the door with a thoughtful frown. Coming to a decision he told the nurse to watch Harm before turning and heading back out to the waiting area. As the door opened Mac's head shot up and she took an immediate step forward. Stopping in front of her the doctor paused for a moment, ordering his thoughts. After a moment he spoke, sensing the swiftly growing impatience in the marine officer, "I'm Doctor Williams, ma'am." He paused again before plunging forward, "Do you know anyone named 'Sarah'? The Commander has been asking for someone by that name."

A sharp intake of breath was heard from Clay. Williams glanced at him curiously, puzzled by the reaction. Dismissing it he returned his attention to Mac, waiting for her answer. He could tell from her expression she knew who he meant. Softly she replied, "There's a couple, myself and his grandmother."

The doctor cocked his head, "Yourself?"

Mac's lips quirked in a slight smile, "Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie."

"Ah. Well it's worth a try," the doctor murmured absently.

"Doctor?"

"Oh sorry," smiling slightly he jerked himself back to the present. "The Commander is becoming agitated, calling for Sarah. I hope your presence might calm him."

"Of course," without hesitation Mac began limping to the door to Harm's room.

The doctor frowned after her, "Ma'am, are you alright?"

She stopped, glancing over her shoulder at him with an irritated frown, "Fine."

He sighed, realizing she wouldn't let him do anything for her whether she needed it or not. Or at least she wouldn't allow him to help her until after she had seen the Commander. Shaking his head to himself he moved forward, opening the door to the room for her. Clay took that opportunity to speak up, clearly annoyed, "What about me?"

Both stopped dead. Mac blinked and glanced over at him, obviously having momentarily forgotten he was there. She was saved from answering by the doctor who spoke firmly, "You will stay out here."

"Yet you're letting her in."

"Only because I feel it would be in the best interests of my patient. Your presence however is not required." He looked back at Mac, dismissing the CIA agent once more, "Ma'am." Nodding slightly she entered the room, only barely noticing as the doctor closed the door behind her.

She stood frozen in place for a long moment, gazing at the man in the bed before her. His chest was almost completely wrapped in bandages. She could just make out the edges of the tape beneath the wrapping, where nearly all his ribs were taped. His right arm was lifted above the bed, resting in a sling, covered from mid-bicep to hand in a cast. His other hand rested on his stomach, bicep wrapped also. Harm's left wrist was also in a cast, though a much smaller one than adorned his right arm.

His right leg also hung in a sling, foot and calf covered in yet another cast. She could make out more bandages swathing his left leg nearly completely. A blanket was draped across his stomach and upper legs. They'd cut his hair into a standard military hair style and shaved off the beard. He looked so much more like the Harm she knew, and yet he looked so different. She could see the purple bruise spreading across his left cheek and there was a cut over his left eye.

"Colonel?" The doctor's voice jolted her out of her contemplation. Shaking herself slightly she moved forward. Reaching the side of the bed she set the crutches aside and lowered herself into the chair sitting there. Sitting on the forward edge of the chair she reached out tentatively to brush her fingertips across Harm's face, much as she had brushed the picture of his face in the General's office.

Distantly Harm registered the touch. For the first time since being rescued he didn't try to fight against it, instinctively sensing that there was no need. Slowly his mind dragged itself back to the surface. He was deathly afraid this was a dream, like so many dreams he'd had during his captivity. Finally, after an agonizing minute his eyes cracked open. Painfully he moved his head, murmuring in a voice barely loud enough to be heard, "Mac?"

She felt the tears roll down her face at his voice. Gently she brushed his cheek again, whispering softly, "Hey flyboy."

His eyes still slits he finally managed to focus on her, the light stabbing painfully into his eyes. He tried to smile but couldn't. He was so exhausted, in so much pain despite the painkillers. The darkness called softly to him, whispering seductively of a forever without pain. But he couldn't go to that forever just yet. He no longer cared if it was a dream, needing simply to tell her how he felt. Slowly he whispered, struggling to speak clearly enough to be understood, "I… love… you."

Mac closed her eyes briefly, feeling a tidal wave of emotions crash over her. She couldn't comprehend it. She was furious, elated, sad, ecstatic, and everything in between. She cursed herself mentally for not waiting for his answer, was furious for not telling him sooner. And she was pissed that he'd waited until now to tell her. Yet she was thrilled to realize that finally they were on the same page. Opening her eyes and smiling gently she murmured back, "I love you too."

She saw the smile the barely curved his lips then his eyes dropped closed again. Almost immediately his heart rate and blood pressure began to drop. Alarms began going off everywhere. Doctor Williams and the nurse leapt forward, one hitting the call button for help. Mac sat back in the chair, stunned. She couldn't believe it, he'd seemed alright and now suddenly they were losing him. She was losing him. Again.

Dimly she could hear the medical personnel talking quickly. But the sound that filled her ears was the progressively slower beeping of the heart monitor. Hearing her name called she blinked, trying to come back to the present. Slowly focusing through the tears she found the doctor crouched in front of her. Seeing that she had finally registered his presence Doctor Williams spoke slowly, hoping that she was listening to him, "Colonel, I want you to speak to him."

"What?" She couldn't understand. He was dying, what good was speaking to him going to do? He was dying and leaving her behind again, only this time it was so much worse.

"Colonel!" Williams snapped, deciding the only way to get through to her was to give her orders. He would deal with any repercussions later, right now he needed her to focus or he was going to lose Commander Rabb. Seeing her instinctively snap to attention he barked, "Talk to him! If you don't we will lose him!"

Automatically moving to do as told it was only after she'd leaned forward that she realized what had just happened. A part of her was amused at the doctor another disgusted with herself. Shoving the thoughts of self recrimination aside she began speaking quietly to Harm, "Harm. Harm you can't go, you're needed here." There was no response except for the slow beeping.

"We're losing him!" she heard a nurse shout.

Something inside her snapped. Slipping into her command mode she started talking in a low, intense voice, "Damnit Navy you are not allowed to die. You will live or so help me I'll bring you back to life and kill you myself." The beeping decreased further. "God damnit, Harm! Snap out of it and get your ass back here where it belongs! You promised me you'd live! Are you going to break that promise now? After everything we've been through you're just giving up? Live, damn you, that's an order!"

She knew she was crying, even as she yelled at him. But she couldn't stop the tears. Almost as abruptly as the anger had erupted she felt it subside. Reaching out she grabbed his left hand clinging to it desperately. Squeezing her eyes shut she gripped his fingers in hers and whispered brokenly, feeling drained, "Damnit, Harm, you promised… you promised."

Distantly Harm felt something pulling at him. But it was pulling back towards the pain. He didn't want to go back that way. That way only was pain and suffering. He'd confessed his feelings to a closed door, knowing she had already left. He'd confessed them again, this time to a dream. In his dream she'd heard him, had spoken the words back. But outside the dream there were only beatings, broken bones and broken dreams. Annoyed he tried to ignore the tug, tried to block out the pesky voice that insisted he had to return.

He was almost there, almost to the blessed darkness that would mark the end of the pain forever. Emotional and physical pain would no longer matter. But there was that voice again, this time it sounded absolutely pissed. Vaguely he understood the words, and the voice niggled at him. He knew he should recognize it but it just didn't seem to matter, not when the painlessness was so close. And then the words hit him… "you promised."

He felt like he'd been sucker punched. The darkness continued to call him, but now he was listening, trying to focus on that voice. He only wanted to know what it meant, who it was. Once he knew that he could go. He heard the voice fade, heard the tears in it. He could feel his heart breaking but he didn't know why. The voice was keeping him from being free. Wasn't it? "You promised…" the words echoed in his mind, punching at his heart over and over.

What was it about promises? Why did it matter so much to him? He edged a little closer to the pain, trying desperately to remember. It was important that he could remember, once he remembered it would stop bothering him and he could go in peace. The voice, that voice that kept whispering the same words over and over, "you promised." His heart was shattering into a million pieces at those words, at that voice. The darkness became quieter, cautiously he moved back towards life. That voice was his lifeline, the only thing that was keeping him from giving up completely, the only thing that had kept him alive for days.

A name floated across his consciousness… Sarah… it clicked, the voice suddenly had a name. And the name had a face. He had solved the mystery. Contentedly he let himself drift back down, slipping closer to the edge. There was a dim roar somewhere in the distance but he dismissed it, it didn't matter, nothing did any more. "You promised you'd live…" He promised what? Why would he promise that? Then he heard different words, words he knew were only from his mind, I love you. And suddenly he knew why he'd made that promise, why he would keep that promise.

"We're going to lose him! Give me those paddles!" Doctor Williams barked, snatching the defibrillator paddles from the nurse, preparing to use them. Part of him recognized that the Colonel was still there, murmuring something over and over again. He knew that if he didn't succeed, he was going to have another patient on his hands. He was about to place the paddles on the Commander's chest; began to speak, "Cle…!" when the monitor sped up.

Steadily the heart rate increased until it had reached a normal level. Blinking in shock he lowered the paddles. Setting them back down he rubbed his eyes and looked from the now steadily beeping monitor to the man stretched in the bed. Though nothing outwardly appeared different suddenly everything was. Mac slowly lifted her head from where it had fallen on the side of the bed, also staring in shock at the monitor. Slowly a smile crept across her face and Doctor Williams thought he heard a whisper, "And I always keep my promises."

Additional a/n:

eridani: thanks for the advice! I'll keep it in mind!

Radiorox: kicking Vic's ass... it's on my list ;-)

SailorGirl: ok, I'll tell you he lives... now the question is, am I telling the truth:-P

harmfan: WHOOP!

And now it needs to be Friday, must... see... new... episode! Though I might end up annoyed with it... ah well.