A/N: Alright people – depressing news on the writing front. Um, some relatives of mine are coming over to stay for the week so . . . I might not be able to update during that course of time. Of course, I'll try my best to – but the chances are highly unlikely.

Major props go out to: Bite Beccy, Bail's Other Daughter, Steelo, Starryeyes10, Kitty X, martini1988, QueenOfAces, froggy0319, alix33, mjag, moonlight, nursejay80, AnMaDeRoNi, snugglebug, jaggurl, Anne, ficchic, dansingwolf, Radiorox, cbw, wishwaters, Rocket Rain, sgcgirl52, tlk29, JJScottishGirl, Blueangel, aj, French-navy girl, Marge, Jane, Tina Frank, highplainswoman, mac AND harm fan, Ali Baba, super ducky, tumblebuttons, AB, Abigiale, macandharmlover, jazzy, vhosek malacath, Britainy, MartiniMac, HighHeel Shoe Lover, Sirus 745, Fan, Pissed off Poet 1, southernqt, BrittanyLS, sugar230, K, Ilovemyselftoday, eggy weg, xobabygurlxo, Reni-Maniac, Cille, ForensicsFreak1988, HMtogether4ever, MaritzaCarmichael, Lara783, janessab, tizy, June, vrbinkaCZ, Cherise, DD2, Bekka, Lani-LoveNPain, Dessler, mommie, and daisymh!

Note: this chapter starts off in Harm's POV

Truth or Dare

I lean back in my seat, my sleepy eyes readily taking in the slow and gentle rock of the aircraft, the slow drift of the clouds and the clarity of the outside blue sky that I watch through my window. God, I miss this. I miss the air, I miss the sky and it doesn't matter where I live to see the sunset – there's nothing like the ones in America. It might be brighter or more colorful or perhaps even more picturesque than the American ones, but there is a certain sense of pride that accompanies a man when he looks out onto the sunset of his own country, a beautiful patriotism that fills his heart.

"Just twenty more minutes," Vera whispered in my ear. I look at her. Out of the Yankees baseball cap that she wears over her hair, long thick strands of bright pink hair can be seen. She yelled at Clay for hours last night – then promptly got him back by filling his deodorant stick with glue (the results were painful). Entertaining for Vera and I, but almost definitely painful for Webb.

She rubbed my arm comfortingly. Perhaps she saw the strong look of longing that appeared on my face as I stared out the window – perhaps for that exact reason she gave me the window seat. Or perhaps she knew how nervous I was, how anxious I was to step back onto American soil. But for whatever the reason, her voice calmed and soothed me – and I knew she spoke that way intentionally.

In twenty minutes we touched down. I loved the feeling that I got in the bottom of my stomach as the plane lurched onto the runway. The scream of the engines as they tried to slow down as it ran along the paved runway. I smiled to myself – I knew Mac hated it.

"Are we all ready?" Clay asked us, standing up to get his luggage. He had sat two rows behind us. Vera nodded and – seeing as we had all brought on carry-on luggage, we went right through passport controls and outside into the terminal.

My passport really was a thing of beauty. Mr. Franco Valvassori, a born and bread Italian with an unfortunately very American accent. It was not equipped with my best picture – but now that the passport agencies had signed off on the 'no smiling' rule, the pictures just kept on getting worse.

We headed on out into the visitors section.

"Isn't there supposed to be someone picking us up, Clay?" Vera asked, as Webb's eyes scanned the thick crowd that had gathered in the visitors' section.

"Yeah," Clay replied shortly, moving around to get a good look over the heads of the crowd. "But she's pretty short – and with this crowd it might take a while."

Of course, Vera only picked up on one word out of that entire sentence. "She?" Vera began but was almost immediately cut off by Webb.

"Catherine!" he exclaimed, over the noise of the crowd.

"Clay!" came a rather enthusiastic response.

Vera and I watched as Clay pushed his way through the crowd and immediately enveloped a small blonde woman in a friendly hug.

"That's Catherine," I explained to Vera as I took in her expression of stone – calm, cool, collected, but very obviously displeased. "Catherine Gale, she works with . . ."

"I know who she is," Vera cut me short. "We've met . . . before."

I would get to the bottom of that statement later. Clay had one arm looped over Catherine's shoulder as he led her to us. Catherine's hair looked even blonder than before – I suppose she had highlighted it – and as soon as she saw me she immediately pulled me into a bone breaking hug.

"Harm! My gosh, it's been so long! I didn't find out till today that you were alive, you know. Would have attended the funeral but a massive amount of paperwork came in at the office that day. You know how it is . . ." Catherine rattled.

"Do you mind?" Vera snapped. We all looked at her. Vera lowered her voice, "You're blowing our cover. Catch up when we're in the car."

Catherine looked rather flustered. "Yes . . . of course . . . I mean, I should have known better . . ." Catherine trailed confusedly.

"No, no it's alright," Webb cut her off, smiling warmly at Catherine. "No harm done. Just be a little more careful next time, okay?"

Webb flashes his most charming smile and Catherine returned one equally as warm. "Now, Catherine – why don't you and Rabb run ahead with the luggage? I need to talk to Vera for a sec."

I could guess what he was going to say – but I wanted to hear him actually say it, so though I promptly took Vera's luggage too, I lingered behind halfway to hear them. In one ear Catherine rattled on about a new dress she had bought at some sale next day and she got a way wonderful price for it and in the other I could hear – however faintly, the strong ringing tone of jealousy. Or was it just me?

Mac and Jake's apartment

Mac's POV

"Truth or dare, Mac?"

I lay sprawled on one of the longer couch in the living room, Jake's long six foot something body on the shorter one (aren't I evil?) and both of us filling our stomachs with greasy meat lovers pizza from the parlor a block away. Now, Jake knows how to eat. None of Harm's veggie delight – he goes for sausage, pepperoni, bacon, an extra layer of cheese and mushrooms.

"What?" I asked, beginning to munch on another slice. Now, I must admit – Jake was apprehensive about ordering two medium pizzas but by the looks of how much is left (not a lot) and the fact that Jake an I are still eating (however slowly) I estimate about two slices left.

"I said truth or dare," Jake repeated, taking a long swig of root beer. "Come on, you must have played this game some time when you were a kid."

"Well . . . yeah," I admitted, sitting up a little so that I wouldn't dribble coke down the front of my t-shirt. "But I was like fourteen and at a sleepover with a bunch of other hormonal adolescents."

"Hormonal female adolescents?" Jake asked with a glint in his eye.

"Forget it, Jake."

Jake sighed, grinning at me – I swear that smile could get him anywhere. "Oh, come on, Mac. Be a little fun. Truth or dare?"

I pause for a moment, considering my options. "Dare." Hey, I'm feeling wild.

Jake stares at me in obvious concentration – clearly that was not the answer he expected. "Alright, call Chloe up on the phone and tell her you're madly wildly passionately in love with the Admiral."

"No!" I immediately retorted in indignation, throwing a pillow at him. "And besides, how do you even know about Chloe?"

Jake gives me a pointed glare. "I sit at home all day with Harm and play go fish for quarters – I would die of boredom if it were not for some half-civilized conversation about you people."

"Conversation about us is only half-civilized?" I asked, my eyebrow rising.

Jake chuckled. "No, you're the half that's civilized. The other half Harm talks about himself."

I grin and we both laugh.

"Now seriously, Mac," Jake replied, handing me the phone. "Call up Chloe and tell her about your little crush on your commanding officer."

"Jake . . ." I trailed warningly.

Jake shoved the phone at me insistently. I pick it up and dial Chloe's phone number. "Hey, honey."

"Mac!" I'm greeted enthusiastically. "How's life?"

"Oh, good . . . good," I trail, staring at Jake who's making hand motions in the air for me to keep going. "Yeah, everything's good. Um, Chloe – I called to tell you something."

"Well, then go ahead," Chloe's voice is insistent.

I take in a deep breath and stare accusingly at Jake. "I am madly, wildly, and . . ." I stare at Jake and he mouths the word, "and passionately in love with the Admiral. Love you, honey, bye."

I hung up as quickly as I could – blurting out the words as fast as I can and then slamming the phone down on the receiver. I feel like a teenager all over again – one forced to blurt out some nasty little secret to someone else. It sends blood rushing to my face. I've almost forgotten how good that feels.

Jake grins at me overtop of his rootbeer can. "Bravo, Ms. Mackenzie! Why I do declare you are a natural."

"Shut up, Jake," I replied, grabbing another slice of pizza. He stares at me incredulously – okay, so I've eaten my medium pizza and a little of his – and I shrug in response. "So, Jake . . . truth or dare?"

I suspect that Jake could sense that I wanted to get him back for the last dare so he very wisely picked truth. I paused a moment for thought and then smiled considerately at him. "Jake?"

"Uh huh."

"Have you ever been in love?"

The question catches him totally off guard. He chokes a little on the root beer he was downing. "What?"

I repeat the question firmly, taking in his body language with my eyes. "Have you ever been in love?"

Jake draws in a long and deep breath, staring at me with bright blue eyes – a cool exterior and yet underneath those powerful ocean shells, I see a very small wave of hurt. "Yes," he replied hesitantly.

"Who with?" I asked immediately.

"You can't do that," Jake responded instantly. "That's two questions. My turn."

"Oh, come on, Jake," I plead with him. "This was a two part question. Your next question to me can be two parts too."

Jake stared at me, somewhat reluctantly, but conceded with a nod of his head.

"So, come on, Jake," I prompted quietly, staring at him almost wisely. "Who?"

Jake's eyes momentarily flicked to the ground. He mumbled the response.

"Who?" I asked louder.

He mumbled again.

"Ugh, Jake, I can't hear you," I retorted angrily. "Who did you say?"

"I said Vera!" he hollered back leaving us both in rather stunned silence.

Catherine's Car

Harm's POV

"So, I said like to Stacey – you remember Stacey, don't you, Clay?" Catherine asked, as she steered the car loosely into the next lane.

"Um, the name rings a bell," Clay responded wearily – enough conversation with Catherine could do that to you. "Which one is she again?"

"Ugh, silly," Catherine teased, shoving Clay lightly on the shoulder (they were both up in the front seats). "She's the one with the frizzy red hair and the big boobs. You know, the one who's always throwing herself at your feat."

From beside me in the back seat I can hear Vera snigger. Clay shoots her a contemptuous look over his shoulder.

Yes, almost surprisingly we made it through that entire car drive without killing each other. But I can already see how the day's shaping up. I am going to have two power hungry exotically beautiful women living with me . . . who are fighting over Clayton Webb. Can this unfortunate world I live in get any more bizarre?

Rrriiinnngg.

Vera unfolds her cell phone. "Azhad."

"Let me speak to Webb."

"Who is this?"

"Jake."

"Hey, Jake – what do you need Clay for?"

"Just put him on."

Jake's voice is clearly agitated. "Whatever you need to say to Clay you can say to me too."

"Dammit, Vera! Just put him on!"

"Alright, jeez . . ." Vera replies sarcastically and hands the phone over to Webb. "Jake, for you."

"What is it, Holter?" Clay droned.

"I don't wanna do it, Mac," Jake could be heard whispering. "Oh, come on – a little human empathy here . . ."

"Jake?"

A long pause and then . . . "I love you, Clay. I love you with all my heart. I love you so passionately that I just want to reach out and smother you in kisses."

And just like that the line disconnected. Webb looked at the phone in disgust. "What is going on over there?"

Mac and Jake's Apartment

Mac's POV

"Alright, alright, you dared me," Jake droned, putting the phone back down. "Now, because I have had both a dare and a truth question – you've got to answer a truth."

I sighed, taking another long swig of coke. "Hit me."

Jake looked me squarely in the eye. "Are you in love with Harm?"

The question hits me like a punch in the stomach. I literally deflate before his eyes. "What kind of question is that?" I asked, my nerves on end.

"A simple question," Jake retorted, his eyebrow rising. "Do. You. Love. Harm?"

I suck in a long breath. "Yes, but . . ."

Jake lets out a whoop of victory.

"No, but Jake, I need to tell you something," I whispered. Maybe it was the dead seriousness in my voice, or the tears that had formed in my eyes – unshed, but still there. He stopped in his tracks.

"See, it all happened when we were in Venice . . ."

A/N: I suppose you people have all now become accustomed to my everyday/every two days posting schedule! I'm so sorry we're going to have to pause the story . . . I'll update if I can over the week but I can't promise it, I'll be busy with my relatives. I swear I will post if I have time but I might just not. I hope you all understand and send me your thoughts on this chapter!

LaniXLoveNPainX: Yeah, well – I don't know who it will end up being protecting who. Jake protecting Mac or Mac protecting Jake! Lol, it'll be an interesting ride with two of them . . . thanx for reviewing!

Reni-Maniac: Vera and her pink hair, I forgot! Dammit, now I have to go insurt that somewhere . . . thanks for reminding me! Lol

Froggy0319: thanks for the compliments – this chapter was fun writing. I'll be distant this next week – but as soon as it's over, I promise, good long and fast chapters for everyone!

Radiorox: Ah, I promise – I'll lay of the crack. You can just put down the rubber hose . . . yes, that's it, put it down . . . lol. Humor chapters are way too fun to write.

Aj: thanks a lot – this chapter was for you!

Jaggurl: Ah, wouldn't we love it if life's that way? You're right – their reunion won't be that easy – but it'll be worth it in the end.

Abigaile: hoping they get together . . . you and me both. But it's never easy (doesn't that suck?). But Harm will definitely keep a low profile while in Virginia. As in – don't step out of the house – kind of low profile. Lol

Dansingwolf: Okay, I don't recall ever telling you this – maybe I did 'cause you've been reviewing me forever – but I LOVE your name. Seriously, I think it's just wickedly awesome. Anyways . . . I know what you mean on the Bollywood scale. My Dad is Indian and he's the biggest bollywood nut you'll ever meet. Him and my sister combined. Me – JAG any day. But my dad's in Indian so my sister wants me to take her to movies and I have no idea what's good any more (because believe me – I'm not sitting through a three hour movie just to watch a couple of people sing songs in a language I don't understand (can't speak Hindi for the life of me . . . okay, I can string together a few sentences)) But as for the stress I feel over this story . . . let's put it this way – I love reviews, I love getting reviews, I love long reviews (your last one was brilliant, by the way) it's just – the only draw back is when I write some six page chapter and I'm absolutely exhausted I have to probably type another three pages up of responding to twenty reviews from the last chapter! But it's a small price to pay for the feeling you get when you hear someone's appreciating your work.

Snugglebug: ah, believe me – in my mind I'm already forming the beautiful scene where Harm finds out about Mac . . . it's coming . . . you know, eventually. Lol

MartizaCarmichael: ah yes, the irony an author can put into the plot? Lol, hope you liked this chapter.

Alix33: I don't know if you watch NCIS but I do . . . Gibbs showing sentiment is one of the very rare moments of television history! Lol, yes, Harm plays the jealous card very well, doesn't he?

KittyX: Jake happens to be one of my favorite completely-created-by-me fictional characters (because of course Harm and Mac are my favorite fictionals) but I love Harm/Jake scenes and Jake/Mac scenes. I usually make them funny.

Starryeyes10: thank you.

Bekka: ah, vera and clay – my own little romance brewing. Don't worry – I've got a whole romantic plot laid out before them.

Mommie: wow, seriously . . . I mean, you were separated for three months? That's really harsh . . . I mean, I've never had anything like that happened to me – thank god – but . . . wow, yeah – it's good that you were able to talk to each other. I'm still going to keep Harm and Mac communication in the story but it's nice to know everything went okay with you. That's, that's really sad you couldn't see him for three months.

Smithknk: don't you just love Harm's reaction to everything? Keeps the story fast pace – especially when he's jealous.

Daisymh: hope you liked this chapter . . . not very long but hopefully it'll pass.

AB: a jealousy . . . a beautiful thing, don't you agree? Especially when it's harm who's developed the little green-eyed monster. Lol, good Harm-jealousy scenes to come. He doesn't know . . . yet.

Bite Beccy: Harm would have been nice – I mean, a touch impractical – but definitely nice. Lol, I hope you liked this chapter.