AN: The fifth chapter already...Don't worry, this story will stretch out at least till twenty chapters, that is, if I still have readers ;-).

Disclaimer: Read the last chapter...and the one before that, and before that, and my other stories...

CHAPTER FIVE

He dreaded it. This feeling he still had in his guts, telling him she was about to make another run for it. That things were going too fast for her.

So much had happened in these past few hours. Maybe not in the more practical sense of the word, but emotionally, they'd been through an earthquake.

He knew he couldn't just show up with her at JAG Headquarters and have her reinstated the very same day. He wished he could, but there were many obstacles to tackle. And one of them was looking at him from the other bed with fear in her chocolate eyes.

"I've come up with a plan. I mean, I know you're not ready to come back to DC with me yet, and frankly, I think it's better if I went ahead and talked to all of them before dropping them a bomb like this one. Don't get me wrong, they'll be thrilled, like I said, but maybe breaking this to them easily might be a better way."

She just nodded, but a small part of the fear was fading and he was grateful for it.

"Here's the plan, or the headlines anyway. Tomorrow, I'll give my mom and Frank a call. They'll be happy to have you over as a guest. You can take some rest there, just think about some things, clear your head, while I'll fly back to DC to prepare them all. What do you think so far?"

"Your mom and Frank. Do they know…I mean, I won't be…"

"They know you've been…missing. They'll be glad to see you come. There's plenty of room in their house, they love to have guests. You won't be imposing and you don't have to tell them anything if you don't want to."

She nodded again, before, tentatively, asking another question.

"What about your…my…our…friends?"

Clearly, she wasn't sure if she could still call them friends.

"What about them?"

"What are you gonna tell them? They'll want to know how you found me…where you found me."

He sighed for a moment, having mulled over that particular issue himself. He wanted, no, needed to be honest with them, at the very least with his CO, but he also didn't want to hurt Mac by revealing the more…how to say this…revealing parts of her latest occupation? It might not just hurt her feelings, stain her dignity, but it might damage her career as well, if she was ever to be reinstated at all.

He decided to be honest with her.

"I'm not sure about that, Mac. I have to be as clear and honest as possible, at least with the Admiral. With the others, I can maybe just…brush over the details I guess. Just tell them you worked in a club. Not tell them what you were doing. If you choose to elaborate on any other occasion, you can do that yourself. But AJ…I'll have to tell him. He's my CO and I do not only respect him, I trust him too. With my life, and with yours. He's not a judgmental man, Sarah and I'm sure he'll do whatever it takes to make your comeback happen in a dignified manner."

"What comeback are we talking about Harm?"

There it was, THE question. The one he was still dreading. For he truly didn't even really know for sure if she even wanted to be a Marine again. But somehow, that idea had locked itself in his head as a certainty. He'd never known her in any other capacity than as a Marine. A damn fine Marine at that. It used to be her life and he just couldn't picture her doing anything else. Well, he could, he just had, but…well…you know…damn it, she just couldn't be anything else!

"One step at a time here, okay? First, let's focus on getting you back to DC…"

Somehow, he got on her nerves. The way he had just…walked into her life again, taking over, picking up where they'd left off…it irked her. He hadn't even asked if she wanted to go back. She just couldn't take it anymore. She was being left out at her own future planning, for crying out loud!

"Who says I even want to go back to DC? You haven't asked me anything so far, you just assume…"

Her voice trailed of as she felt her anger deflate as sudden as it had come up.

"Never mind me. I'm tired. And of course I do want to go back to DC. It's just that…I'm terrified Harm. There's so much to do, so many relationships I have to mend. A career I have to pick up, if there's anything left to be picked up in the first place. I have to live somewhere, get new stuff…"

She choked at the magnitude of things she still had to do to get her life back. The list seemed endless, and her usual Marine resolve had just gone AWOL.

She hadn't noticed Harm had moved from his bed until he was sitting next to her on hers, gently pulling her into the comfort of his embrace. Immediately, Mac felt herself relax again. How did he do that?

"Everything is still there, you know."

His words were muffled in her hair as he held her, so she misunderstood,

"I know they're all gonna be there, but…"

"That's not what I said, Sarah. I said, everything."

"What do you mean?"

She shrugged herself out of his arms, but held on to his hands, not wanting to miss the comfort of being near him, but wanting to look at him too. She had to know if she heard him correctly this time.

"I mean it literally. Everything you own is exactly where it has always been. We all have been chipping in to keep paying your rent and any other bills coming in. We've been taking turns keeping things clean and organized, and AJ has even kept track of your retirement funds. We just had no choice blocking your bank account. We weren't sure what had happened to you. But we've always kept some hope, some faith in our hearts."

"You've…you've all been saving my home for me? Have you been there, recently, I mean…"

Of course she knew she was rambling, but this was just too much to bear. They hadn't given up on her, they had even kept her apartment for her. How could she ever repay them?

If she was startled now, she was up to another shocking revelation, as Harm answered her last question with an honesty that rocked her world.

"I go to your place a lot. Whenever I feel the need to be close to you. I just sit there, not doing anything in particular, picturing you fumbling around in the kitchen, the bedroom…I even slept in your bed a couple of times."

He looked slightly embarrassed at that last piece of his confession, as if he had taken a step too close into her private zone. But, to her own disbelief, Mac felt herself being strangely attracted to the idea of Harm sleeping in her bed. Poor guy. She had no idea her leaving would effect him to that extend. Not at that moment when she left anyway.

Softly she caressed his cheek, just to let him know she understood, wasn't mad, just…shocked. And touched by his care.

He looked up when he felt her small hand on his face.

In movies, this is the moment where everything goes in very slow motion. But this was not a movie, as he found out a moment later as their lips met in a soft, sweet, delicate kiss.

It wasn't supposed to happen like that. They were supposed to fight, talk, run, talk and fight some more before they would get it right. That was just how things worked between them. Or rather, hadn't worked between them. So maybe, just maybe, this way was better.

He was done with the running, the fighting, the talking, the thinking. He was tired of it, had already spent too much time that way, time he could have spent with her in the way he wanted to, if only.

Harm let his mind go blissfully blank as he poured everything he had, everything he felt into that kiss. He'd been both at the giving and receiving end of kisses, good ones that should have lasted, bad ones that should have ended, but nothing like this. Cliché as it was, the difference was in the girl he was kissing. This girl, this woman, had his heart. Had always had his heart.

Eventually, the kiss ended, way too fast for his liking. But at the sight of her, he could only smile. Smile and feel happy. Her eyes were sparkling, her lips slightly parted and swollen, the blood coursing through them painting them a bright ruby red. And she too, was smiling.

Suddenly, holding onto her, things became as clear as a diamond for him. This was it, their beginning. No long talks, no fights…they just did it!

"Harm?"

"Huh?"

Okay, so he wasn't very coherent. You try to open your mouth after a kiss like that and see what comes out except for some drool.

"That was…"

"Yeah."

He could only grin like an idiot. A lovesick idiot. Before kissing her again. Another achingly sweet experience. Until, again, the need for something as mundane as oxygen tore them apart.

Lets keep them hanging in their little moment for now...knowing them, it won't be that easy after all, right? I'll be back soon. Meanwhile, you're welcome to let me know how you feel...thanks.