Throughout the day, just as Harm had promised, the phone calls kept coming. She did not find the courage to answer a single one of them. She simply did not feel capable of answering any questions yet. But she listened to every word eagerly and crying at all the love, care and concern pouring out on her person. For once the tears felt cathartic.

After Chloe, the next phone call came from Harriet and little AJ. "I love you, auntie Mac," the boy cooed and sent some smacking wet kisses over the phone to prove his statement. "I am so sorry, ma'am," Harriet took over then, "I was so busy with the kids that I pretty much forgot about the rest of the world. And I know, you would be the first to say that the family is always the top priority and you would be right, but you are my family too. Please, don't ever think otherwise. Perhaps, when you are feeling better, we could invite you to our house? Maybe you could stay for a few days and we could properly catch up? Please, take care of yourself. Or better yet, let Harm take care of you. The man was positively agitated when he talked to me last. You both deserve some peace and happiness. Oh, I wish for the two of you to have what I have with Bud! And you know what? You are the one person whom I need to be thanking for actually having a husband and kids. Remember all those months of our dating? I swear I was ready to kill him or ditch him like a hundred times. But you were always there, giving me advice, telling me to have patience. Heck, you even made sure we had time for each other, smoothed over some of our differences. Not to mention I may have called off the wedding had it not been for you! Just saying thank you will never be enough. I could never wish for a better godmother to my children either."

Jennifer Coates called barely ten minutes later: "Hello, ma'am. I apologize if this is going to be short, I am rather swamped with tasks and files right now and I thought about calling tomorrow, but Commander Rabb sounded like it was really really important to do it today. And it was not difficult to think about what I owe to you, ma'am. You didn't know me five minutes before inviting me into your home and letting me stay there. Just on one good word. It was the night my life changed for the better and you had a part in it. You have always shown me nothing but goodwill and support where others may have sneered at me. You are an inspiration for me, ma'am."

"Hello Sarah," a deep male voice could be heard from the machine sometime later. "Uncle Matt," Mac whispered as if he could hear her. How long has it been since they talked? She could hardly remember. It must have been months now. God, she was a good-for-nothing-relative! The man on the phone, however, seemed to have a different perception. He talked about her childhood, only of the happy moments he got to spend with her. And later about her teenage years and how they bonded over dinosaurs and the Marines. "I have always been so damn proud of you, Sarah. So proud! I still am. Did you know I have made a deal with a guard here? He keeps an ear on what goes on in JAG. Keeps me informed of your cases when they are public. And every single time I am so, so proud. Of your intelligence, your resilience, your commitment to duty and all the things I hold dear. I never had a child of my own, never gave you any cousins and I am sorry for that, especially now when family should gather around you, protect you. But you have been my child in every possible way and you have made me so delighted and happy as any child of my own body possibly could. Now, Marine, you hold onto that sailor of yours. Hold onto him tight. If there is one person who might love you more than I do, it's him. You owe it to me, to him and most important to yourself to get better. You can do it. You can do anything because you are you. You are my daughter. I love you."

She could hardly hear Gunny, who called next, over the sounds of her own sobbing. She still heard him telling her how much she changed his sour perception of officers, how much he enjoyed her company and working with her. How he prided himself of serving in the same chain of command for a time. And how he was forever grateful for saving his life when she did not have to. "Semper Fi, ma'am," he ended the call. "Semper Fi, Victor," she said in return to the empty room.

Mattie called. "Hey, Mac! Just a quick message: You matter, girl! You are important! And had it not been for you, I would be god-knows-where right now. Certainly not back home with a dad finally convinced he needs to stop drinking. I wouldn't be looking forward to visiting you and Harm soon. And even though Harm says he is now looking after you, I think we can safely assume you have done a lot of looking after him before that. If you ever need to talk, just call me. You have saved me and I just want you to always remember that."

She had almost forgotten that Harm had promised to call as well and was a bit startled when she heard his voice: "Mac? Jen has just told me she already called you and I hope some of the other people have as well. Has the Admiral called you? Wait. If he hasn't I've just ruined the surprise. Well, no matter now. He is coming back to DC for a few weeks and decided to throw a little party. We are invited, of course, but before you say anything, we do not need to go anywhere if you are not up for it. It's just something to think about, OK? I need to go now, Turner is kicking my sick at court today. Need to try some plea bargaining at the last moment. I promise I will be home as soon as I possibly can. Take care of yourself for me. I love you."

Sure enough, the Admiral called soon after, inviting Mac to his party personally. His voice was the only one that sounded a bit awkward at first as if he wasn't sure what tone to take with her. They have mended most of the bridges that burned before and after Paraguay, but the ease and trust they had once shared were irreparably dented. Eventually, though he simply sounded like a friend who cared. "Harm has told me you might not want to come, but Mac, I would really love to see you. In all my years as a JAG he may have been the un-official superstar on my staff, and certainly, the one who drew the most attention, but I somehow doubt he would have stayed as focused, as sharp or even alive, had it not been for you. And you made my job much easier than you think. You stood behind me on so many occasions and even when we had a rift, you remained loyal to me as steadfastly as few others did. I would like to talk to you again. I also realize I have never really thanked you personally and that too I would like to do."

She didn't think she could handle much more. After months and months of feeling lost, worthless and abandoned she was suddenly swept by a massive wave of love and caring. Logically she knew it has always been there. That those people she loved and treasure have still been there. But she convinced herself she was simply not as significant to them as they were to her. That she was a footnote in their life story, while they were whole chapters in hers. And now Harm came along and showed her she was reading the book wrong. She was loved.

She was startled when the phone rang again. Who else was left? Who else could possibly care? She tried hard to think, but when she heard the voice of the caller, she took a sharp breath in.

"Hi, beautiful."

Mic.

She watched the machine, transfixed. Mic. Harm had called... Mic. And Mic answered. Which of those two things more unbelievable?

"I still wonder whether or not this is a good idea, me talking to you again after all this time. The last time I saw you was at that airport the night when I decided my wishful thinking would only lead to both of us being miserable one day. It was not my proudest moments, but looking back, it was the wisest thing I have done when it comes to you. I was ... surprised when Harm called yesterday. ... Mac... Sarah... We were never meant to be and I am sure we both hurt a lot when we ended, but I want you to know that I never regretted a single moment of what I had with you. Falling in love with you, being in your presence, and those months during which I actually thought you were mine... all that I wouldn't trade for anything. I know now that you have given me everything you had to give. It was my own fault that I have not realized you have already given the rest to somebody else. I am in a relationship now. Not sure if I will ever marry, but that's OK. I am happy. I sincerely hope you can be happy too. I might still want to take a swig at Rabb, but I know he is the best man for you. Yeah, imagine me saying that. He knows you. Loves you. And he will never try and clip your wings. Sarah... whatever has happened to you that it broke you so, don't let it. You are wonderful. Always have been. You don't see it but the world does. I do. And next time a Rabb calls me I hope it will be you. Happy. Bye, beautiful."

She flew into his arms the moment he stepped into the apartment and all he could do in response was to drop the briefcase and squeeze her tightly.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you..." she repeated against his neck, trembling all over with emotion. It took some time to calm her down and steer her onto the sofa. He then listened as she kept talking about all the phone calls she received and about the people behind them. His heart was swelling with love at the sight of her. She was so animated, with so much life. She looked like his Mac again. Suddenly, in the middle of her speech, she just flung herself at him and kissed him. Long.

"You are... you are so..." she tried to find the right word when she finally let go. "So... wonderful."

"You don't know the half of it," he teased her with a smile, just as he gently brushed her hair out of the corner of her eyes. He then reached into his pocket and took out a folded paper. "Liliana couldn't call, but the embassy at Aceh has been kind enough to fax me a letter from her and her mother for you. And Bud refused to just call. You have a large bouquet of flowers coming from him tomorrow and he insisted that the moment you feel up to it he wants to visit you. Only told me to remind you his first daughter had your name and no matter what happened he is still proud that was the name they chose for her."

"Harm."

"Hmm?"

"I don't know what to do."

"What do you mean?"

"What is one supposed to do with..."

"With what?"

"With... so much love?"

"You share it, sweetheart."