Chapter 5

AN: Thanks to everyone for the feedback, I appreciate it!

Mid July

"Admiral, where's Colonel Mackenzie?" asked Harm, noting Mac's empty seat at the staff meeting that morning.

"She called in sick. She's got the flu. Sounded terrible," said AJ.

Harm looked concerned and waited until the end of the meeting before asking AJ if he could go and check on Mac.

"Why?" asked AJ.

"She's a Marine sir and she'll act like one even if she's really sick. I want to make sure she doesn't need a doctor," said Harm.

"She did sound pretty bad. All right then, but I can only spare you for a couple of hours," said AJ.

"Thank you sir!" said Harm.

He left JAG quickly and was soon knocking on Mac's door. There was no reply, and by now very worried, Harm used his key.

"Mac, it's Harm," he called as he closed the door behind him.

Hearing nothing, he ventured towards her room and found her fast asleep, a pile of tissues on the bedside table and a tissue box on the floor. He sat down beside her carefully, knowing that she was likely to think he was an intruder and hurt him if he woke her suddenly. He pushed a lock of hair out of her face and withdrew his hand quickly, noting that she was burning up.

"Mac," he said.

Mac stirred slightly.

"Mac, you need to wake up," said Harm, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Mac opened her eyes drowsily. "Harm, why aren't you at work?" she asked, her voice scratchy.

"I came to check on you," said Harm.

"Does the Admiral know?" asked Mac, struggling to sit up.

"He said he could spare me for a couple of hours," replied Harm, helping her sit up.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Terrible," groaned Mac coughing.

"You're burning up," said Harm.

Mac simply closed her eyes again and leant back against the headboard of her bed. Harm left the room and returned with a washcloth he'd wet with cold water. Mac looked like she hadn't even moved and still had her eyes closed. He put the cloth on her forehead and she jumped, her eyes springing open.

"I'm sorry Mac, I didn't mean to startle you. You're going to need more than just a cold washcloth to get your fever down though," said Harm, using the cloth to wet the rest of her face.

Mac opened her mouth to speak but could only cough and Harm picked up the phone.

"Who are you calling?" asked Mac, as the coughing fit ended.

"Right now, the Admiral. After that, I'm calling to get you an appointment at Bethesda," said Harm.

"How is the Colonel?" asked AJ.

"In need of a doctor sir. She's pretty sick and burning up with a fever," replied Harm.

"Make sure she is treated Commander. Take care of her," said AJ.

"Will do sir," replied Harm.

Ending the call he then called to make an appointment for Mac, who didn't even have the energy to protest.

"Up you get, do you think you could go take a cold shower?" asked Harm.

"I think so," said Mac. Harm helped her up and taking some clothes, she entered the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later Mac re-entered her room fully dressed, after having stayed under the cold water as long as she could. She swayed slightly and Harm put an arm around her waist, guiding her back to her bed.

"Thanks Harm," she said, leaning back against her pillows.

"You don't need to thank me," said Harm.

Shortly after they'd returned from Bethesda with some medication for Mac and instructions to rest, Mac's phone rang and Harm answered it.

"How did I know that I'd find you still there?" began AJ in an annoyed voice.

"Sir," said Harm.

"Your couple of hours are up Commander, I expect to see you back here ASAP!" said AJ.

"Yes sir!" replied Harm, already grabbing his cover.

"Are you in trouble?" asked Mac, opening her eyes to look at him.

"I will be if I don't get back to Headquarters," said Harm.

"I'll come back here after work. Get some rest," said Harm, bending to kiss her cheek.

"You don't have to," said Mac.

"I want to. You're not getting rid of me until you're better," said Harm, smiling at her. Mac smiled back and held her arms out for a quick hug.

Harm returned to work for the afternoon and after stopping by his apartment after work for some supplies, he went back to Mac's. He found Mac fast asleep and her fever was still up. Mac stirred slightly when Harm put a wet cloth on her forehead, but slept on, and Harm got busy cooking soup in the kitchen. Harm heard a noise behind him as he took the soup off the stove and saw that Mac had come into the room.

"Hi, how are you feeling?" asked Harm.

"Hi. About the same," said Mac in a whisper as she leaned on the counter.

"Is your voice gone? It sounded like it was threatening to leave earlier," asked Harm.

"Gone," whispered Mac.

"Once the medication kicks in it should come back," said Harm.

"In the meantime, no talking," added Harm.

Mac mock glared at him and indicated to the stove.

"I made you some soup. Are you hungry?" asked Harm.

Mac nodded and moved to step over to the table, before grabbing the counter again for support.

"Are you okay?" asked Harm, anxiously rushing to her side.

"Just got a little dizzy," whispered Mac.

Harm put his arm around her waist and guided her back to her room where he helped her settle comfortably in her bed.

"You can eat in here. I'll just go get you a bowl of soup," said Harm. Mac nodded her thanks and closed her eyes tiredly.

"Don't fall asleep yet, you need to eat something and that fever still needs to come down," said Harm entering the room a few minutes later. Mac opened her eyes and sat up, smiling at him as he put the tray down on her bedside table.

"Harm?" she whispered.

"What happened to no talking?" asked Harm with a teasing smile.

"I'm really glad you're here. Thank you," whispered Mac.

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," replied Harm, kissing her forehead.

AN: I just wanted to respond to a review I recently received for chapter one:
Susanne – I'm definitely not a Harm hater and I like both characters pretty equally. I've always liked Harm's character just that little bit more. Harm and Mac have both made mistakes, I don't disagree with that. I'm not attempting to change the history of the entire show. I'm a shipper, and all I'm doing is writing an event in the way that I would have liked it to go. If you read the following chapters you'll see that it's been Harm who has been initiating the steps back to a better friendship for them first, not Mac. If I was a Harm hater I probably wouldn't even be a shipper nor would I write him the way I have in all my stories so far. Also, I'm sorry you feel Brumby was not abused enough in this fic, but I refuse to trash a character like that no matter how annoying they are.