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Part 4.

Mac sat at her desk, numb with shock, unable to concentrate on anything other than praying for Catriona's safety. It had been 6 hours since Clay had called to break the news that Randy Carter's body had been found, three miles from the site of the house. And they still had not found Catriona or her Mom, despite scouring the neighborhood. A quiet knock sounded at the door and Harm came in to tell Mac that the Admiral had excused them for the day.

"How about we go back to my place? We could order a pizza?"

"Uh, I don't think so. I want to be here, in case Clay phones," Mac replied, trying one last time to make some progress on the case report she had been working on all morning. After a few minutes, she realized that it was obviously a lost cause and threw down her pen. Harm, who was still in her office, opened her office door as she grabbed her cover and briefcase.

After entering the bullpen, Mac turned to Harm and told him, "Before we go, let's just let Tiner know that we'll be at your place, in case Clay calls with any news."

Harm nodded and they turned to go see Tiner before they left for Harm's apartment.

1355 Zulu,

North of Union Station,

Washington D.C.

The drive to Harm's apartment passed in silence and upon entering his place, Mac collapsed onto the couch, physically and emotionally exhausted.

"You want something to drink?" Harm asked her.

"I'll just have some mineral water," she told him then confessed, "I've never needed a good stiff drink more than I do now."

"That's the last thing you need, right now," Harm told her from the kitchen, "We'll get through this together, like we always do."

Upon returning to the living room, he saw that Mac was curled up on the couch, weeping quietly. He sat down beside her and pulled her in towards him, resting his chin on top of her head and stroking her hair gently, until she began to calm.

Reaching over to his radio, he flipped on the radio. Strains of the number 11 song in the Top US Chart filled the room, as Harm rose to his feet and held his hand out to Mac. She took it and Harm pulled her into his arms once more, wrapping his arms her waist. Mac wrapped her arms around Harm's neck and buried her head in his shoulder as they swayed slowly to the beat of the music, losing themselves in the lyrics…

OOOO

Harm and Mac woke to darkness by the ringing of the phone. Mac was curled up in Harm's arms in the end corner of the couch. Mac reached over and grabbed the phone, almost knocking it off the table in her haste. Harm took it from her and she was about to protest when she realized that it probably wasn't the smartest thing to answer the phone in Harm's apartment, late at night, especially if it happened to be the Admiral on the other end.

She let out a sigh as Harm answered the person on the other end of the line.

"No, Mom, there hasn't been any news, yet. Yes, I'm sure Mac'll be glad to hear that. Thanks Mom, I'll let you know, as soon as we hear from Clay…all right, then… Bye Mom."

He turned to Mac after hanging up the phone.

"Mom asked me to tell you that she and Frank are praying for Catriona and her Mom. She says that she'll be by the phone, if you'd like to give her a call, if you want to talk."

Mac smiled appreciatively, snuggling back into Harm's arms and closing her eyes.

"I'd just like to wait for a while, until we know for sure…I don't want to tie up the phone lines."

Harm nodded understandingly. Just then, the phone rang again and Mac felt her stomach drop. Harm grabbed the phone after the second ring.

"Rabb," he answered.

"Harm, it's AJ. I've got Clay with me."

Harm heard Clay distinctly in the background and realized that the Admiral must be talking on the speakerphone.

"What's the verdict, AJ? Is Cathy okay?" he asked, fear in the pit of his stomach.

"She's okay, Harm. She isn't hurt. A motorist found her walking dazed down the side of an interstate highway, six-miles from where the house was."

Harm quickly relayed this to Mac, who released a sigh of relief.

"And Mrs. Carter, Sir?"

"She's dead, Harm. They found her in debris nearby. Apparently, Catriona was with her when she died. Admiral And Mrs. Carter's bodies are being brought back to Washington D.C. for a full military burial. Catriona's being MedEvaced to Bethesda for a precautionary check up. She's probably already there. Webb and I are about to leave for the hospital."

"Mac and I will meet you there, Sir," Harm told him, before hanging up. He and Mac changed out of their work uniforms, Mac donning one of Harm's Navy sweatshirts and a pair of sweatpants. On the journey to the hospital, she impatiently drummed her fingers on the dashboard, while Harm pushed the speed limit, finally giving in and revving the engine.

0134 Zulu

Naval Hospital

Bethesda, Maryland

By the time that they got to the main reception, Mac was frantic, so Harm tried to get her to calm down, while he talked to the nurses on reception. They told Harm and Mac that Catriona was down in the ER, after been checked out and treated for cuts and scrapes. Harm and Mac rushed down to the ER, where AJ, Clay and Bud met them. They told Harm and Mac that they had checked both the ER reception and the waiting room, but had not found Catriona. Mac pushed her way through the emergency room crowd, searching for Cathy, frantic about what state she would find the girl in.

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