Disclaimer: Guess what? Nope... not yet... I'm hopeful though..

A/N: Your wonderfully great reviews are the major reason this chapter is even up considering I'm going through a bit of a hard time with the story... it's a bit stuck... Hope you enjoy the story. As usual every kind of comment is more than welcomed, especially the detailed ones ;-)

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Harm threw the door open, not even bothering to check who it was. The rage filled him right down to his toes. Thankfully, all of it came out with his next expiration when he was met face to face with-

"Walter...?"

A short plump man stood with a confused look in Harm's doorway. He had thick glasses and a bald plate, all in all bearing a weird resemblance to a frog.

"Harm? Wha... what are you doing in my mom's apartment?" He even sounded froggish. He tried to look into the place and his eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of Mac. His arm came up to point at her and he began to stutter something unintelligible.

Mac saw and felt Harm's entire body sag in what she guessed was a mixture of relief and exasperation. His right arm gave him leverage as he leaned hard against the doorframe.

"Walter, we've been through this. This is my apartment. Your mom's apartment is one floor /up/."

Walter's head followed Harm's finger to the ceiling and understanding visibly spread across his round face.

"Oh, right... I'm.. I'm sorry, Harm. Won't happen again... One floor up..." Walter continued mumbling as he turned away from the door and started towards the elevator.

Harm closed the door and turned to Mac with half a smile, his composure regained.

"Not the sharpest tool in the shed, that one."

"Not the one with the best timing either." She returned as she stepped closer and he welcomed her back into his embrace.

He nudged her nose with his. "I don't think you can blame our ever annoying timing on poor Walter...". His strong hands slid from her hips to the small of her back, where he held her close.

"I believe it's already been proven that I can do whatever I want." She caught his lips with hers and kissed him fully, daring him to contradict her words.

Naturally, he didn't. Instead he started walking her backwards, never stopping the kisses. He felt her smile on his lips and a wave of something very deep washed over him. It's amazing how much can change in a couple of minutes. A minute ago he was sure there wasn't even a slim chance for them and now he's kissing her as if he does it on a regular basis. The feelings between them, the familiarity and shared experiences ran so deep and connected them on so many levels that the physical pleasures came as second nature.

Mac on her part was just thankful that she got through the brick wall he calls a skull, and even more so for Harm's arms supporting her, since she wasn't sure she could hold herself upright all by herself just now. So caught up in all that was him and all the thoughts that danced around to violins inside her head, she literally didn't see it coming and was truly startled when Harm picked her up from the floor. Instinctively she let out what could be categorized as a squeal and wrapped her legs around him.

"Was that a squeal I just heard, Jarhead?"

Getting over the shock she shot him a warning glare. "You're a sneaky little squid." She kissed him briefly. "Don't worry... you'll pay for that."

Effortlessly, he started walking with her. When she realized the direction she raised a brow and managed to bite the grin. "Presumptuous, aren't we?"

At the innocent angle look she got, Mac had the feeling she was going to have fun talking with his mom about Harm's childhood, and her laugh came straight from the heart.

"What? We have a couple of hours to sleep and I already told you, you get the bed."

She played along, "Oh, you're so considerate! Carrying me all the way to bed. My hero..."

"Of course, I'll have to stay with you and watch over you. You know, just to be on the safe side." He said with a hint of a smile.

"Right.. right. Can never be too careful with those monsters under the bed."

"Precisely! See, I knew you'd understand, Mac."

Since they'd had the entire conversation at the foot of the bed, and since Mac had nothing to add to the mature logical conversation, Harm couldn't find an excuse to keep her in his arms longer, and slowly let her down.

Mac kept her hands linked behind his neck, she didn't want to let go just yet, she was comfortable where she was. Staring into his beautiful eyes she felt a calm she didn't know settle and wrap her up. Lightening could strike, walls could crumble, the world could stop turning, she would be the last to notice.

Getting the hint, Harm picked her up again and placed her on the bed, following immediately as she still didn't loosen her hold on him. A few awkward moves finally brought them to plausible positions, with Harm lying on his back and Mac against him.

"Comfortable?" He asked after he managed to draw the sheets over and around them.

She sighed deeply and kissed his chest. "Very." Her eyes were already closed, her breath deep and steady.

His fingers traced up and down her arm, lulling her further to sleep.

"Did I already say I love you?" She mumbled in her sleepy state.

Elated, he kissed her forehead and whispered against it, "I love you, Sarah."

"I know..." She said in a small, barely there voice. After a few minutes of silence she added, "This is nice..."

"Yeah, it is. We should do this more often." She could feel his grin without seeing it.

She hummed an affirmative answer and hugged him to her.

"I should wish for things more often, they seem to come true."

She was more than half asleep, but Harm was thoroughly enjoying this open conversation and was intent on keeping it up as long as possible.

"What did you wish for?"

She breathed in deeply and smiled, "I wished you'd be there to hold me. I kept having these recurring dreams about you – sleeping in your bed with you. I really hope this isn't another dream, I hate waking up from them."

His grin couldn't possibly get any bigger. Or his ego for that matter. "I promise you this isn't a dream. Besides, whenever you want me to hold you, all you have to do is ask, I'd never say no."

"Promise?"

He'd never guessed Sarah MacKenzie would turn into a five year old girl in a sleepy state, must mean her guard was down. In any case he found her adorable in the literal meaning of the word and it only caused his need to be her protector to grow and swell inside him.

"I promise, Sarah."

It was becoming easier with every second that passed to believe that the small universe that held the both of them in his apartment was all that existed in the world. The rest would come later. Right now they were both where they wanted to be and nothing else mattered.

"Night, sailor." She breathed against him.

"Night, baby."

Finally completely relaxed he let his eyes drift shut.

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It's 10 am. Time to wake up.

How do normal people get along without an internal clock? I guess I'll never know, but they probably just don't.

I slept so well. I'm so warm and comfortable I have no idea how I'm going to get out of bed today. I can remember my dream vividly, Harm holding me.. lulling me to sleep... wait a minute! It wasn't a dream this time.

I open my eyes to the very welcome sight of my flyboy sleeping peacefully, one arm still around me. I pull back a bit and prop my head on my hand to get a better look. A true angel, golden wings and all. My angel. Without even thinking about it, my hand reaches out to trace the lines of his face – down the bridge of his nose, along his jaw, across his forehead. Who knew I had such freedom? The touch of my finger at his lips triggers a smile, but his eyes haven't opened yet.

"Watching me sleep?" he echoes my earlier words. Clever squid.

"Just thought I'd return the favor." He finally opens his eyes and they meet mine.

"Morning." He utters and I decide that warrants a brief kiss.

"Has been for a while now."

He sighs and passes a hand over his face. "You mean time didn't stop?"

"Sadly, no.. we have to get up now."

"Are you sure?" He's trying to drag it out, hopefully clinging to the last veils of slumber.

"Yup, come one flyboy, it's only a few hours. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave."

The look he gives me makes me want to forget what I've just said and stay in bed, consequences be damned. But he's up and dragging me along to the kitchen.

"Breakfast?"

"As if you had to ask..." I can not imagine a better way to wake up – to his arms and then his food. Life is bliss when you linger on the little details.

After breakfast and a quick shower we're out the door. Harm's already in uniform, professional mask intact. He has a lot to deal with, but I intend to be there for him every step of the way, when he realizes he needs the support, and especially when he doesn't. It's going to be okay.

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As I said, I'm not sure what's gonna happen with this story. Maybe an epilogue of sorts. Ideas are more than welcomed, as well as reviews of course.