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Because I Know You

They made their exit a couple hours later as the jet lag from the long flight started to catch up with them. They'd flown in earlier this morning, their flight leaving London at 08:00 and getting into Washington at 14:30. By the time they'd been through security and rented a car for the duration of their stay they'd had just enough time to get back to the hotel and unpack before getting ready to head for dinner at Bud and Harriet's before the party began. With the five hour time difference it was only 11:30 according to local time, but it felt like 04:30 for the two weary travelers.

Bud and Harriet had offered to let them stay at their house, but Harm and Mac knew the couple had enough to take care of with their children, and they weren't certain yet what their own plans would be so they thanked them again and headed out onto the dark streets, promising to keep them updating on Mattie's situation and wedding plans.

Mac looked over at Harm as he maneuvered the car through Washington's streets. The streetlights chased away shadows for a few seconds at a time but she didn't think she'd ever forget what every portion of his face looked life, even if she had no sight. Her back was propped against the door so she was facing him and she smiled as he started to hum along with the radio. He noticed her staring and glanced at her under slightly closed eyelids.

"What are you smiling about?"

"I didn't know you were such a country music fan." She reached over and turned up the radio so that the soft ballad by Lonestar came through the speakers slightly louder. He clamped his mouth shut and glared at her.

"I'm not. I just decided to be magnanimous and since you picked the station and you play the whiny stuff all the time I've simply adjusted."

She nodded and they looked at each other for a moment until he smiled before turning back to the road and she sighed, her thoughts drifting.

"What did Mattie's doctor say when you called earlier?"

He skimmed through a yellow light and flexed his hand on the gearshift. "He said that Mattie's been doing very well and he thinks she's ready to come to London, but he's worried that once she gets there she won't be as motivated and she'll fall behind."

He flexed both hands on the steering wheel and Mac waited for him to speak again, not wanting to interrupt his train of thought. "I can see where he's coming from, I mean, I want Mattie to start walking again and get completely better and she's doing so well in San Diego that it might hurt her progress to move her at this stage…"

He fell silent as he turned a corner and Mac prodded him to continue "But…"

"But I want her to come live with us in London. I know that she'd keep working hard and I just miss having her around, especially know that it's official and I just…" He turned to look at her and she took in the expression on his face. More and more often now Harm simply laid his heart bare before her and most of the time she could see what he was feeling in his eyes, and tonight was no expression.

"You just want us all to be together." He nodded as he pulled into the hotel parking lot, looking for a space by the back stairs that led to their second floor room. He shut off the car and in the remaining silence took off his seatbelt and turned to face her in his seat, taking ahold of her hands.

"For once in my life everything good is happening at once. Before when I had Mattie, you and I weren't working out so great now we're together and planning our wedding and it just feels wrong without her there." He looked down at their joined hands. "It's strange you know. For such a long time she wasn't even part of my life, I didn't even know she existed. And now…" he sighed, "now I can't even imagine life without her."

Mac squeezed his hands and he looked up again. "So let's do it. Let's bring her back with us." She waited while he considered and barely blinked when he hauled her into his arms.

"How do you always know just what to say?" The whisper in her ear was slightly rough with the threat of tears and she smoothed a hand up and down his back while the other slid into the cool strands of his hair.

"Because I know you." She replied. After a moment they separated and stepped out of the car. He smiled at her over the top of the vehicle, the expression turning goofy after a few seconds and he shook his head as they walked up the set of stairs and Mac used her key card to get them into the quiet hallway of the hotel. He took her hand and intertwined their fingers as they walked past three doors before reaching theirs and Mac opened it.

She barely had the door shut and the lights turned on when he started leading her towards the phone. She laughed and tugged on his arm to make him stop.

"You can't call her tonight. You'll want to ask her about physio and she'll want to talk about plans for when we go visit and the conversation could go on for an hour. You're in no shape to talk on the phone for even a few minutes right now and besides, don't you want to tell her in person?" He gazed at her, the puppy-dog expression in his eyes in full force. "Come on Harm, you know I'm right."

He finally nodded and sighed. "I guess tomorrow morning is soon enough."

"Yes it is. But if we don't get some sleep soon we'll be sleeping the whole day away anyway."

He let go of her hand and walked over to the dresser that held his pajama pants. "I thought you were going to show me some Christmas gift that Harriet gave you." Mac was glad he spoke absently over his shoulder as he pulled out a pair of green and blue plaid flannel pants. Her smile would have given away just what kind of surprise she had in store for Harm.

"I'll just save it for another night when we're not so tired." He tossed her a nightie out of the same drawer and proceeded into the washroom, coming out a few minutes later with his face scrubbed and teeth brushed. "All yours," he pronounced. He placed his clothes with hers on one of the chairs by the suite's small desk and shut off the large overhead light before crawling into bed. She came out a few minutes later and slid under the covers and into his waiting arms, setting her head on his shoulder and hugging an arm around his waist. He reached and shut off the bed lamp and tightened his arms around her, finding her lips in the darkness to give her a final kiss goodnight. When they finally separated Mac sighed happily and closed her eyes. "Goodnight my love." A glimmer of moonlight sifted through the heavy curtains at the window and fell across them as they drifted into sleep together.