First of all, thanks to everybody who has reviewed – the flood of people asking for more has definitely taught me that this was a superfluous question indeed! In my defense, I really wasn't sure whether sometimes a story might not be more powerful as a stand-alone. Yet, as I live to serve, I do as requested (or even ordered!)

Yes, I realize that my last line definitely has cliffhanger quality – I swear I didn't plan it that way; that line just sorta wrote itself:-)

It also made me wonder why it is automatically seen as a cliffhanger. She might have just gone out to buy fresh bagels for breakfast and return five minutes later? She didn't, of course, otherwise I wouldn't have a story, but she could have! Just teaches us how much the show has messed around with our poor, shippery hearts – we automatically assume the worst, don't we?

Anywho, I should just stop babbling now and dive right into it…

A/N: This is how this works: The story will likely go on for a couple of chapters now, and I'll be using a few scenes here and there from other episodes following Webb of Lies, while conveniently ignoring everything that doesn't serve my purpose. If necessary, I will let you know before each chapter to limit the confusion (or so I hope). For example, we'll be going from Webb of Lies straight to Silent Service (only by the next chapter though).

A/N: All times are EST.

See Chapter one for disclaimer.

Chapter 2: How to Deal

It was only 0658 when she arrived at headquarters. Thinking work would be the sole thing that could keep her mind occupied, well other than with thoughts about last night, that is, she had come straight here, only stopping by her apartment to have a quick shower and a change of clothes. The bullpen was still blissfully empty at this hour, and she was grateful she could grab some coffee and reach her office without having to talk to anybody. She closed the door, drew the blinds, and sunk into her chair. "What a mess," she sighed heavily to the wall.

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- - - Flashback - - -

When she woke up, it was only 0517 and 26 seconds. Dawn was just about to break; it was normal for her to awaken this early. Out of the ordinary was the fact that she felt blissfully happy. She was so relaxed that her limbs felt weak and even though she had only gotten a few hours of sleep, they had been sufficient to make her feel well rested. Okay, maybe it was not really the sleep that was responsible for her current state of delightful relaxation.

She was still laying half on top of him, with her head on his chest and their legs intertwined. His right arm was snaked around her lower back, his hand softly resting on her waist. She was immersed by the feel of his skin, his musky smell, his whole being. How could she not have realized sooner that she was in love with him? Being with him now, she felt whole. Their night together had been heavenly. She sighed contentedly, snuggled closer to him and spent the next minutes in simple enjoyment.

Reality snuck in early enough when she became aware that she needed to use the bathroom. Getting up was the last thing she wanted to do right about now. Yet another few minutes later, there was no choice but to do just that. Carefully so as not to wake him, she lifted his arm off her body, which immediately dropped heavily onto the mattress. She had to smile at that, and then she pushed herself off him, placed a tender kiss on his chest, and got up to tumble drowsily towards the bathroom. At the door, she had to turn around and gaze at him admiringly. Sprawled on the bed like that, he was a picture of male perfection.

She was still in the bathroom when it all hit her. She never even saw the onslaught coming.

Washing her hands, her gaze had wandered up to the mirror from where a sappily grinning Mac looked back at her. Chuckling at herself, she had left her own reflection and was about to make her way back into his inviting arms when her eyes fell on a lipstick, haphazardly left on the counter. It wasn't hers. That's when it hit her: Jordan.

From there, the thoughts started rushing through her head, tumbling and stumbling over each other, and she felt helpless to stop them. She wanted to ignore it all, did not want to be eaten up by her own insecurities, but it was impossible.

He had a girlfriend! For all intents and purposes, she had seduced a man that was in a relationship! Because there was no denying that it had been her who had actively initiated their, ehm, encounter. She must have seemed really needy that he had gone along. What had it meant to him anyways? They had not spoken a word throughout or since, and she was clueless about his feelings. Just because it had made her world revolve didn't mean it had been anywhere near as important to him. She badly wanted him to reciprocate her feelings, but the fact that he had a girlfriend spoke against that, didn't it? Was comforting her on his mind when they were making love? Or should she only refer to it as sex? He had been very giving, extremely considerate to her needs. She had bared her soul to him, well not with words but bodily at least, and it was probably only a meaningless one-night stand for him. Or comfort sex. How was she going to face him? How did other women deal with the morning-after of a one-night stand? Particularly one they'd have to face at the office every day. Oh gosh, the office!

She had to hold onto the sink to steady herself as she tried to get a grip on her revolving mind. Last night she had known exactly what she wanted and had gone for it. Why could she now not stand up to her decision? Yet she knew why. She loved him and she could not face the fact that he did not feel the same way about her. Maybe he still thought about Diane, had seen and thought about her when they were making…no, having sex? The thought almost made her sick to her stomach.

She had to leave. No way could she face heartbreak in his apartment, in her dishevelled state. She'd feel much more comfortable dealing with this properly clothed, on neutral ground. Postpone the inevitable until she felt less vulnerable. She knew that this was the insecure, non-Marine Mac speaking inside of her, the one that had no confidence when it came to men, the one that ducked or ran. In her professional life, she was in control. Yet in her private life, it was her that was controlled by the demons of her past.

Tears were stinging her eyes. Hadn't she cried enough lately? Almost fleeing, she left the bathroom, picked up her clothes that were strewn all over the floor, threw them on and left his bedroom. One last regretful look back told her that he was, thank goodness, still asleep.

- - - End of Flashback - - -

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Now all there was left to do was to dread meeting him. She wondered when he had woken up. She wondered what he would be thinking when he realized that she had left. She hoped he would be regretful, but that was her heart speaking while her head was whispering that he'd be relieved. A lot less hassle when the girl for one night was conveniently gone in the morning.

Annoyed with herself for having her thoughts dictated like that, she grabbed a couple of files and threw herself into her work.

O O O O

Her scent still lingered everywhere – in the sheets, in the air, on him, yet she had left. He could not believe that she had left just like that. Granted, they hadn't spoken, but he had believed that they had shared an understanding of what this was all about. He had always thought that that idea was a myth made up by romance novelists, but now he had to admit that not only did it exist but that it applied to him as well: Never before had he felt the way that he had felt being with her. And it just made it all the more shocking that she was no longer in his arms.

Had he done something wrong? She was so vulnerable last night, and while he had wanted her more than anything, he had also meant to give her everything she needed and more, to make her pain go away, to make her happy. And it had seemed to him that he had succeeded. So no matter how hard he tried, he could not wrap his head around why she had left.

Annoyed at her, himself, the world, he went for a shower. With cold water he tried to disperse all the images of her that were burnt into his mind; her beautiful face completely relaxed for once, her gorgeous body wringing under his caresses, his for the taking. It made no sense that she had left.

Never comfortable at meeting confrontation about his private life head-on, he decided to call Bud and, instead of heading directly to the office, wring Bud into accompanying him to investigate some lose ends left after Clayton's death. They decided on meeting at Webb's apartment.

O O O O

Later that day…

It was late afternoon and he had yet to show up at the office. According to Harriet, he and Bud were looking into a number of obscurities regarding Webb. All day she had been waiting for the inevitable moment when they would meet up again. She still didn't have a clue what to tell him, and she feared what she might read in his eyes. Nothing had become any clearer since this morning. With every minute ticking by, her jitteriness increased.

Suddenly, he was back. She could hear him talking with Bud. Their voices sounded rushed and strained, and Bud was researching on the computer. Something was definitely up. 'No time like the present,' she decided and, grabbing her coffee cup, headed into the bullpen to greet him.

"Hey, you're back." Gee, inventive, Marine! She didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed that Bud would be there for their first meeting 'after.' He turned his head in her direction but avoided direct eye contact.

"I went and saw Webb's mother." Ok, case-related; this she could deal with.

"How is she?" "Resilient," he answered, and then filled her in on what he had found out. She pushed her conflicted feelings to the back of her mind; they had work to do.

O O O O

The next morning…

After Clayton had left, the two of them were left alone in his office. By now she had been filled in on how, after they had realized that Webb was still alive, Harm had found him; how they had both encountered Palmer and how Palmer had once again managed to escape. She also knew how Palmer had used Jordan to play with Harm's mind, claiming her life was in danger and making him feel responsible for whatever might happen to her. After already having lost Diane, he must have gone through hell and back thinking he might lose another loved one. He was now staring out the window with a look of such utter bewilderment that all she wanted to do was wrap him tightly into her arms. The thought of feeling him close to her body again made her knees go weak and hot flashes course through her.

Yet through the scuttlebutt she had also found out that he had spent last night at the Plaza with Jordan. And if she didn't have her answer before, she certainly had it now. She should just get it over with then.

"Harm, I know this is the last thing on your mind right now…," she started, then took a deep breath. She still did not know where she would be heading with this but she just had to trust herself to find the right approach somehow. "…But, about the other night…"

"Mac," he sighed, turning away from the window to face her.

"No, please just let me get this out." Boy, she really hoped he was going to buy this. Straight-faced lying was not one of her talents, especially not with him, who always gave her the feeling that he could see right through her.

"I'm… I know it was me who seduced you. And I don't regret it," she rushed to add. At least she did not want him to think it was meaningless to her, or that she considered it a mistake. She just had to hide her true feelings. He simply could not find out she was in love with him.

"It was a wonderful night, and I guess it was what we both desperately needed at the time – to find comfort with a person who knew exactly what the other one went through." She found it increasingly hard to stand still, and looking in his eyes was out of the question, so she began pacing.

"But there's also no belying the fact that you have a girlfriend and I feel guilty about that." At this, she sensed that he was about to interrupt her, but she waved him off.

"However, we are both grown-ups, so I think we should be able to file it away under 'one-time exception' and move on?" What she truly wanted was for him to rush to her side, kiss her, tell her that he loved her, and never let her go. 'Fat chance of that happening,' she thought.

"You are my best friend and I couldn't bear the thought that I might have ruined our friendship." Wrap it up, Marine. She needed to get away quickly, as the tears were threatening to overwhelm her again. She was surprised she had any left.

"Is that okay with you?" At that, she finally stopped her pacing and tentatively glanced up at him.

O O O O

He was completely dumbfounded by her stream of words. He definitely did not see that coming. Of all the things he had imagined her saying about their night together, claiming that it was only comfort sex was the last thing he had expected, not from her. He was shocked, hurt, disappointed. He had truly thought that her feelings ran as deep as his. Didn't she feel that their night had been special? But she had said it, unmistakably; they were best friends only, nothing more.

She was right; he had a girlfriend. But last night he had realized that she did not mean nearly as much to him as Mac. Yes, he was afraid for her when he thought her in Palmer's fangs, and if anything would have happened to her, he probably would not have been able to forgive himself for the rest of his life.

He had yet to work out how deep his feelings for Mac truly ran, but had she given him any indication now, he would have left Jordan in a heartbeat. Guess he had completely misread her.

So what was he supposed to answer her now? He was not going to lean out the window and give himself away when she obviously did not feel the same way about him. He became aware that he stood rooted to the spot just staring at her. A reaction, any reaction, was called for.

"Ehm, sure," he automatically replied, then shook himself out of his reverie. "Yes, that's fine. I had been thinking the same thing, in fact."

So she had been right about their night after all. Inside of her, her heart was breaking. Pulling up all the strength she had left, she gave him a tentative smile. Then, acting purely on impulse, she stepped up to him, placed her open palms on his chest, and leaned up to place a tender kiss on his left cheek. She took another second to linger in his scent,then turned around and quickly left his office.

Yet belying both their assertions, from that point on their relationship took a turn for the worse.

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A/N: Yeah, another cliffie, y'all like that, don't you! I know, not the most cheerful of chapters. Still, let me know, did you like? And remember, things always have to get worse before they can get better…

A/N: Next stop, what really happened in Silent Service (in the world according to me)!