Rabb House, Saturday night

Mac looked in on Rose again. She was in deep sleep. She would be fine. She hoped. Who knew what a situation like they had experienced earlier in the day would influence a child? Mac noticed the door to the guest room was half open and she peeked inside. Nathan, Eve and Sophia were snuggled together in deep sleep in the big bed. Mac smiled. They had let Sophia sleep with them and it warmed Mac's heart. Nathan would be a good father and husband. The door to Kelly's room opened.

"Hi," Mac studied the girl with worry. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just need to use the bathroom," Kelly said with a shrug.

"Okay," Mac hesitated. "You'd let me know if you weren't okay, right?"

"Mom, I'm fine. Sure, today was scary, but we're all fine," Kelly headed for the bathroom. "Don't worry so much."

"It's my job to worry," Mac offered a sweet smile. "Good night."

"Good night," Kelly slipped into the bathroom.

Mac peaked in on Rose again before turning towards the master bedroom. She stopped by Matthew's room and looked in on him. He was sleeping soundly.

"Are you standing out in the hallway all night?"

"Not all night," she turned towards the master bedroom and found her husband studying her from the doorway.

Harm stepped inside their bedroom and waited for Mac to follow him before he sat down on the bed. Mac closed the door and crouched down on the floor leaning back against the door. He waited for her to say something, but when she didn't, he cleared his throat.

"You want to represent the man who held you hostage…" he let it hang in the air. She had told him earlier, but he hadn't had time to address it then. She had said it as if it was the most normal everyday thing.

"He can't afford a good lawyer," she reasoned.

"You have a hell of a lot of care for a man who pointed a gun at you, at our kids," he didn't understand her. He didn't want to.

"He never actually pointed the gun to the kids," she reasoned. "I was awesome today Harm. I did everything right. Kept the kids safe, kept the situation calm and under control. And it pisses me off that everyone was surprised that I pulled it off. If it was you in there everyone would be impressed and not surprised at all."

"Mac…"

"I'm not… Don't make this… Just…" she rubbed her face tiredly, unsure why she was so frustrated.

"No one was surprised, Mac. Detective Olson said what he said because he was impressed, not because he was surprised that you pulled it off. I'm not surprised, Mac. Not at all. You're cold in situations like these. Calm. Well trained and maybe a little too good at shutting off your emotions," he added. "And you won't let me in yet, because you need your process. It's fine. I'm just happy that you're here. But don't bury your emotions and put up walls. Don't think that you're alone. That you're the only one who can take care of you. If you need to go see Doctor McCool you do that, because I worry about your PTSD. I always do. This was a hostage situation, Mac."

"Not like with Sadiq," she argued. "And I'm not shutting you out, Harm. I was scared. When the kids were in there I was scared. But I knew I couldn't act on it."

Harm nodded. "About you representing this guy, Mac. You know that's not an option. The only way for you to help him is to testify. You're an important witness. We'll get him someone good to defend him, but that someone can't be you."

"I know, she let out a sigh. "I do." She stood slowly. "I think I'm going to go read for a while. I can't sleep. Too much adrenaline."

He stood too. "Come to bed with me. We can talk and you'll feel better."

"I'll come to bed in a while," she promised as she opened the door.

A little later

Mac read the same page once more and realized that reading the book was a waste of time. She was pumped up on adrenaline and couldn't focus. She looked up when she heard footsteps.

"What are you doing up?" she asked her son.

"I woke up because it was warm and I realized that I fell asleep with my clothes on," Nathan walked over and sat on the armrest.

"That's parenting," Mac smiled warmly. "I've fallen asleep like that more times than I can remember. You're a good father, Nathan. You'll be a good husband."

"I hope so, Mom," he hesitated. "But I'm just starting out. And training to become a pilot will take up a lot of my time. I know Eve is more than capable of figuring out what she wants, but I sometimes feel like I'm dragging her into something that will make her regret marrying me."

"You're right, the Navy will take up a lot of your time, but Eve is strong, and she loves you. Just be present and remember it's the everyday small things that matter," Mac put her book on the table and leaned forward taking his hand. "Promise me that you won't fall for temptation. Because women will throw themselves at you, especially after you get your wings. And it will be flattering. But remember what's important. Don't for a second think that the grass is greener on the other side because that's just not the case."

Nathan nodded. "I'll remember that."

"Good," she squeezed his hand. "I'm so proud of you, Nathan."

"Thanks, Mom," he smiled sheepishly. "I owe it all to you and Dad. I know I was a handful when I first came to live with you. And in High School too. But you never gave up."

"And we never will," she promised.

Nathan nodded. "Are you okay? After today?"

"Ahh… I don't know. I'm just happy everyone is okay," she hesitated. "You know, as soldiers, we're trained to handle difficult situations, but it doesn't mean that we don't get scared. Especially when it's someone that we care about. I was really scared today because I had Sophia, Rose, and Kelly there. I stepped in front of them today as if I could actually stop a bullet. It's not rational but what else is there to do."

"Whatever you did, it worked, because everyone is alive," Nathan smiled and stood. "I better get a night snack and water and go to sleep. You should too, Mom."

Mac nodded. "I will. I just can't…Too wired, I guess. But I'll go wake up your father and keep him awake with my thoughts. Maybe I can sleep eventually."

"Good night," Nathan said and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Good night." Mac stood and headed upstairs. She found her husband asleep and got into bed with him. "Harm?" she tugged on his hand. "Honey?"

Harm sat up abruptly. "What? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep," she reassured.

He rubbed his eyes. "Okay, want me to make us some tea and we can talk? Or just sit there. Whatever you want."

She smiled. "I love you."

He reached out and cupped her face. "I love you too."

"And I'm sorry about earlier," she kissed him softly. "I thought I needed to be alone, but I don't."

"I'm here," he pulled her close.

"I know you are," she relaxed into him.

"We'll figure out something to help that kid out, okay?" he kissed the top of her head.

"I just don't believe that he's all bad. I think he was handed a bad card and it got out of control," she reasoned.

"You're not having Stockholm syndrome, are you?" he wondered in a teasing tone.

She chuckled. "I'm pretty sure I'm not. I've seen evil up close and Ray isn't that."

"I'm glad he isn't because if he was today could have ended a lot worse," he hugged her closer. "I don't like that thought."

"Yeah, me neither. But you don't have to crush me," she poked his chest.

He laughed softly. "Just making sure you don't get away."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," she promised.

He hissed the top of her head again. "I'll say this for your premonitions, they are spot on."

"Don't call them that," she turned her head to look at him. "It's not like that."

"What else should I call them?" he wondered with a sweet smile.

"Hunches?" she suggested.

He chuckled. "Okay." he leaned in and kissed her.

"I have a hunch now," she said with laughter.

"Yeah?" he studied her with curiosity.

She nodded and kissed him again, moving over him. "Are you with me?"

"Definitely," he flipped them around.