AN: Nothing to say, see disclaimer all other chapters...

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The red blinking light of his answering machine was the first thing he noticed when he got home, balancing his cover, briefcase and mail precariously in one hand as he opened his front door with the other. He grinned, not having to guess who'd been calling him…let's see…27 times. Only 27, huh? So she wasn't nervous at all.

Just in case there were some other messages he needed to hear, he listened to all of them. Indeed, there was one from his dry-cleaners, where he'd left some of his shirts before flying to San Diego, one solicitors call from some insurance company he'd never even heard off (he deleted that one) and to his pleasant surprise, one from Skates, back in port for two weeks and inviting him to have a drink. He'd have to call her back on that, not knowing for sure if Mac would consider having a drink with another female officer an act of betrayal. Though he didn't think she would.

His friendship with his designated RIO was a valued one (he'd spent some nights with her in McMurphy's during the first few weeks of Mac's disappearance, in need of a shoulder to cry on), but it was and always remained strictly platonic.

Contrary to popular believe, he was capable of maintaining platonic friendships with people of the opposite sex, even treating his many female friends with the same depth of devotion as his male friends, the only difference being his born and bred chivalry. So sue him. And besides, Skates was closer to a being a tomboy than any other girls he'd ever known. Maybe with the exception of his jarhead, in fact.

Satisfied with his own justification, he listened to the ever growing anxiety clearly audible in the other 24 messages, indeed all coming from said jarhead. Varying from kind pleadings to call her back to straight-out orders to get on the phone ASAP, or face the consequences…and then something about keelhauling or hanging from the highest yardarm or, his personal favorite, walking the gauntlet buck-naked. Pity she didn't mention if she would be naked too…

Just for that, he would make himself dinner first. Then maybe file through his mail. Give Skates a call…

After dinner, deciding she'd been punished sufficiently for her impatience, he picked up his phone and dialed the all-familiar number.

She picked up at the very first ring, slightly out of breath.

"Harm?"

"I'm not even there and you're breathless…damn I'm good."

He chuckled and she easily laughed along with him, the tension clearing from the air.

"Don't get too cocky, Squid. It's not like I was waiting for you."

"Sure you weren't. I have two dozen or so voice-mails on my phone to contradict that."

"I plead the fifth…"

"Sure, if it wasn't for that fifth, huh?"

"Getting to a point, Commander?"

"Was there supposed to be one? And here I thought you were just happy to hear my voice."

Oh how he enjoyed egging her on, especially when he got her whining, which she was doing now.

"Harm…"

"Yes…?"

He mimicked her tone of voice in a playful manner, chuckling. He was in for it now.

"Do you really wish to be keelhauled?"

She tried to sound angry, but only got as far as sounding a tad annoyed. He'd anticipated that. She could never be mad at him when he was flirting with her. He'd learned that years ago, and always stored that knowledge in his mind for further reference.

"I liked that gauntlet suggestion better, actually. Only you didn't say if you were gonna be naked too."

She groaned audibly.

"Harm, would you please get your head out of the gutter and just tell me about the office."

"Hey, it was your idea…but very well, the office…"

He could hear her brace herself, slowly regulating her breath, though she still sounded so small, almost childlike. The mood changed so radically it unnerved him. As did Sarah's babbling.

"Were they…I mean…did they…"

No more teasing, she was slowly falling apart as it was. He answered her in a soft, soothing tone, hoping she could feel the warmth he was trying to let seep through.

"Sarah, sweetheart. It's okay. They were surprised of course, but they were all happy. Very happy. For you, for us…"

"And they still want to see me, know me? How much did you tell? Are they ashamed of me?"

"I told them you were working at a bar, I didn't give them any details about your…occupation. So there's no need to feel threatened by that. And yes, they still want you to come back. Harriet said that your friendship probably needed some mending, but, and I quote 'nothing was broken beyond repair'. You'll be fine, Mac."

He could almost hear the tears fall, no matter how much she was trying to hold them back. Knowing they were tears of relief, he allowed her some uninterrupted moments to compose herself. It took her a few minutes, but then another question came to him over the phone line.

"How about the Admiral? How did he react? Can he do anything for my reinstatement?"

Than, after a pause, she quietly asked:

"Does he even want to?"

"To answer your last question first: Yes, he does. I can't remember his exact words, but they were something like this: I think we can find some use for a well trained, intelligent Marine officer…"

"Was that before or after you told him about me…how much does he know, Harm?"

"AJ knows everything except for…your baby."

He still hated to name the situation for what it was, couldn't get the word out of his mouth.

"And he still…"

"Yes. He still. Why is that so hard to believe? Mac, he's a friend. I went over to his place Saturday night, approached him as a friend and a confidant. As someone I trust and whose opinions I value. And Mac? He didn't pass judgment, didn't even try to. He cares deeply about you. About both of us."

She sniffled, ridiculously happy at her CO's approval of her return. If AJ had wanted to, he could have made things very hard on her. So he must indeed care about her a lot. Now if she could only get rid of that last piece of shame and guilt she still felt.

As if reading her mind (he always did that), Harm added:

"Try not to feel guilty or bad about this situation any more, Sarah. It'll only set you back unnecessarily on your way to full reinstatement. As a friend as well as an officer. You might have to earn their trust again, but they're more than willing to meet you halfway."

"I don't deserve to be friends with them again."

"Hey, no more of that kind of talk, Marine. I won't have it. Promise me?"

He heard her sniffle again. He could almost picture her squaring her shoulders, telling herself to suck it up. She sounded remotely more at ease when she spoke again.

"Okay…I promise."

Dropping the subject for now, he laughed softly.

"Good. Now, let's get practical for a second. How about I come pick you up at my parent's place next Sunday? I'll take some days off, we can go home Monday or Tuesday, take the rest of the week to get you back, settled into your place again…agreed?"

"Sounds like a plan, Sailor."

They remained silent for a while, but it was an easy silence that didn't bother either of them.

"Harm?"

"Yes?"

"I just want to say…thanks. For everything you've done for me, getting me back, clearing the paths, letting me take some R&R at your parent's place…it's so beautiful here, they're so kind to me…thanks, Harm. From the bottom of my heart. I love you."

"Love you too, Sarah…but I don't need your gratitude. Just show me. Show me we're not doing this for nothing. Come back into our lives and triumph. That's all the reward I need."

"Really, Flyboy? That's ALL the reward you need? Too bad, I had some very interesting things in mind. Care to hear them?"

She sounded sassy now, and Harm braced himself for the already literally palpable effect she was having on him. Damned, with words only, on the other side of the country. She was good!

"Very funny, jarhead. Now I'm gonna have to take a cold shower before I embarrass myself."

"Payback's a bitch, Harmon Rabb."

"No, I'm beginning to think you are."

"I'll chalk that one up to you being a sore loser, Harm dear. But await your punishment."

"Something about me getting buck-naked again?"

"Count on it."

"I am, dear, I am." Laughing, they hung up, glad the air was all spotlessly clear again…for the time being.

Leaving you again...with thanks. Reviews welcome.