A/N: I was reminded by a fellow writer that Mac should have just taken him to bed. I can't let her do that just yet. I might let her take him there, but I want to finish having my way with him first! Sorry this one is short, but it was a good place to break.

Andrews Air Force Base

0015 Hours

Harm inwardly smiles at Mac's empty threat. Even though she may want to deck him, they are both in uniform, so she will have to behave, for now. He might be safe at the moment, but he has absolutely no doubt that his Marine will retaliate when he is least expecting it. As he pulls the SUV onto the base, after handing the gate guard his credentials, he teases, "I've got a longer stride, you won't be able to catch me if I run."

She chuckles at his typical male selective memory, "Do you not remember that we tied during the JAGATHON?"

Harm stares at her with a cocked eyebrow, "Yeah! With you having a six-minute head start! We don't have time for that tonight. Our plane with be leaving in just a little bit more time than that. And here you claim to have any internal clock, tsk, tsk. You can chase me around the base when we get back, if you so desire!"

She glares at him with a challenge in her eyes, "I could catch you if I wanted to. Why wait to get back? I have a whole carrier I can chase you around on."

Harm smiles as he turns the SUV into a parking space, "I like this picture, the legal weenie chasing the pilot. Might be a little difficult with all the knee knockers on the ship, unless of course you are used to leaping over hurdles. I'm sure that Captain Johnson would totally approve. It might also give the other pilots cause to back off of flirting with you, even though I might take some good-natured ribbing over the whole ordeal. I'm not seeing any downsides to this for me, but be careful though, Colonel, we don't want to tarnish your reputation."

The minute Harm puts the car in park, Mac reels back, and smacks him in the arm, HARD. As he turns to object, she hits him again. He looks at her, mouth open, and she gives him a look that clearly tells him it would be best to keep his mouth shut! He thinks to himself, 'Oops, I guess her threat wasn't empty after all.' His comments though, have served the intended purpose to shift their focus away from their relationship woes, so that they can get their head in the game.

He wordlessly exits the SUV, and goes to the back to retrieve their sea bags. He slings his over his left shoulder, the one she didn't hit, and puts her bag in his right hand. She walks up to him, and starts to show the expression that she normally gives him before she breaks into her "I'm a Marine speech." Before she has a chance to say anything, he states, "Humor me."

Mac nods, and she starts heading towards their waiting transport, with Harm right behind her. Harm places his right hand at the small of her back, giving her a silent indicator that they are still ok. She normally feels a slightly warm feeling when he does that, but, after all the events that have occurred tonight, the simple gesture is making her blood boil. Thankfully, the steps to the plane are few. She sighs, silently thinking, 'this investigation can't be done fast enough.' Little does she know that Harm is thinking the exact same thing.

When they reach the plane, a Petty Officer salutes, and inquires, "Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie, I presume?"

Harm reluctantly removes his hand from Mac's back to return the salute, and replies, "That would be correct, Petty Officer."

The Petty Officer takes the bags from Harm and stows them in the cargo area. "Feel Free to take your seats. We are waiting on one more passenger, a last-minute addition, and then we will be on our way."

Harm and Mac climb aboard, finding the plane having several passengers already on the aircraft. They meander toward the back, and take their seats. They have just strapped themselves into the C-130, when the last passenger steps aboard the aircraft.

Secretary of the Navy, Alexander Nelson, surveys the plane until he spots them. He walks back,taking the seat across from them, and says, "Good evening, Colonel, Commander. You don't mind if I join you, do you?"

Mac responds, "Not at all, Sir. Welcome aboard."

As the plane takes off, Harm and Mac hold a conversation with their eyes that contains one simple phrase, "Oh Shit!"