Disclaimer: They are not mine…just playing.

I must say the reviews to chapter one were many and varied. There were several who obviously don't like the story or my writing in general and made that quite clear. So to those I must say life is short, why do you bother to read stories you don't like? I don't! This is a hobby, a world of fiction, some fun and relaxation, you don't like, don't read it's that simple. I'm sure your life is not so empty that you have nothing better to do than read and review things which you don't enjoy.

That said, I've disabled the anonymous reviews from my account. If you have anything to say about my work feel free to do so but don't be gutless put your name to it.

You gave me advice, and I'll give you some - Get a life! No one is making you read this. Skip my stories and read ones you do like. Better still put all your talent and insight into writing stories - that'd be a change.

I'll admit my first instinct was to say 'well, if that's the way you feel I won't be bothered posting the rest or anything else'. Then I read your comments again and actually laughed out loud. I realised I have made some wonderful friends through my writing on this site, friends who are supportive and critical - and they put their names to it.

So to those people, and you know who you are - the ones who review, pm and exchange emails with me, I do appreciate your support and no gutless wonders who review with such comments anonymously is going to change what I do.

End of matter.

-------------------------Blind Justice----------------------------

Harm arrived back at the Roberts Residence just on 1930, very tired and with his head spinning from being around the SecNav all day.

"Hi Harm, you're just in time for dinner," said Bud, ushering his friend into the house. "How did the meeting go?"

"It went and went. I didn't know one man could talk so much, Bud."

Bud laughed and headed for the stairs. "Harriet's in the kitchen, Harm. I'll be back down in a minute."

"Hi Harriet," Harm said, kissing her hello.

"Hi yourself, you look tired. Come and sit, dinner's ready."

"Thanks. Where's Mac?"

"In her room," answered AJ coming into the kitchen. "She said she'll be down soon."

"And you left her?" Harriet said, a concerned look crossing her face.

"No," replied the boy. "Dad's going to get her."

"Good," said Harriet as she returned to serving up dinner.

"Why does she need someone to help her down the stairs?" asked Harm.

'She just needs a little support since the accident."

"Why? What did she hurt? Her legs? Her back?"

"No," replied Harriet. "It's just a temporary thing. The specialist said it should fix itself up."

"Harriet, what is wrong with Mac?" Harm said, firmly.

"She's blind," answered AJ from the table.

"She's what?" Harm spun around, to be greeted by Mac and Bud in the doorway.

"I'm not blind, AJ. I'm visually impaired," said Mac, feeling before her for the table.

"Sorry Aunty Mac, visually impaired then," AJ said, putting the cutlery on the table.

"Mac, why didn't you tell me?" Harm asked taking her arm.

"I didn't want to worry you."

"Not worry me! But didn't you think…"

"Let's talk about this after dinner," Mac said, kissing Harm's cheek before pulling out a chair.

Dinner was a lively affair, four adults and a child all contributing to the noise level. When dinner was finished, Mac stood to clear the plates.

"No Mac, I'll do them," said Harriet.

"Harriet, we've had this conversation before. I might not be seeing so well at the moment but I'm not helpless."

'Yes, I know. It's just that I thought you and Harm would like some time to talk."

"Great idea!" said Harm standing from the table and taking Mac's arm. "I think we have a lot to talk about."

"Go into the study," Bud suggested. "You'll get a bit more privacy."

When Mac was seated on the sofa, Harm shut the sliding doors and stood and watched her.
"Aren't you going to join me?" Mac asked, patting the seat beside her.

Harm sat down and clasped her hands. "Now Mac, please tell me what happened?"

Mac drew a deep breath. She had been dreading this moment and wondered just how much she could get away with telling him. She knew the whole truth would cause him pain and didn't want to subject him to it.

"Mac?" Harm gently stroked her face.

"I was in my billet, late on a Wednesday night. It had been a really hectic time at work and the mail had stacked up. I opened the first few and there was nothing of importance. Then I came across a small package with a label which read 'Mrs Sarah Rabb'."

"Mrs Rabb?"

'Ah ha! It had no return label but a London postmark. I thought maybe it was from you, you know something for the wedding."

"I didn't…"

"I know that now. But since we spent some of my last visit to London talking about it, I thought maybe..."

"I wouldn't have…"

"Anyhow, I started to open the package and before I had actually unwrapped the stupid thing, it blew up in my face."

"A letter bomb? A letter bomb did this to you?"

'Yep," Mac said quietly.

"Who sent it? Do they know? Have they…"

Mac put her fingers up to Harm's lips to quieten him.

"They have someone in custody. It's a pretty clear cut case. I don't think I'll even need to give evidence."

"Are they sure it's him? I mean I'd hate to think that…"

"Harm, it was him. Anyway, I spent a couple of days in hospital in San Diego and the doctors recommended an ophthalmologist at Bethesda, so here I am."

"So, what does the ophthalmologist say? Harriet said this is only a temporary thing."

"That's what we're hoping for. The bomb wasn't set properly and only part of the incendiary device blew, thankfully. I have some flash burns and scarring but they think when things settle down my sight should return."

At a loss for words, Harm kissed her forehead.

"Anyway, it's been a few weeks now and things are improving, very slowly though," Mac said, pressing into his body and holding onto him.

"What can you see?" he asked, kissing her head.

"Now, I can see shades and shapes but I can't make out much in the way of features or details. I was talking to one of the twins the other day and it turned out to be a foot stool." Mac laughed but Harm didn't see the humour in it at all. "It's not all bad, Harm," Mac said, squeezing his hand. "It's given me a chance to spend some time here and …"

"Trust you to see some positive…I mean, to find…" Harm stuttered.

"Harm, you can use the word 'see', I don't mind. I hope one day soon I'll be able to see again, but even if I don't, you can still use the word." She hugged him tightly, hoping he would ask nothing more.

"Mac, why didn't you tell me? You should have called and I would have come…"

"I didn't want you to come when there was nothing you could do. Besides, I knew you were very busy and you probably couldn't have come and then you'd just be sitting in London worrying," she said, kissing his chest.

"But you should have told me. I would liked to have known. I could have…" he began.

Bud knocked on the door and slowly slid it open. "You've been in here a while, we were just a bit worried."

"We're fine, Bud," Mac said, standing up. "But I am very tired. I think I'll head up to bed."

"But it's not even 2100 yet," said Harm.

"I go to bed much earlier these days," she said.

"I'll come up with you," Harm offered.

"No, it's alright Harm. You visit with Bud, I'm sure you have lots to talk about."

"Well, how about I just help you upstairs?" Harm asked.

"No, it's fine, Flyboy. Going upstairs is easy, particularly when the kids are all in bed and especially now the doors are coded," Mac giggled and left.

"What did she mean by that?" Harm asked Bud, who had turned a lovely shade of pink.

"Oh, nothing really. We just tied different fabrics around the door knobs so Mac knew which room was which."

"Bad experience?" Harm smirked at Bud's discomfort.

"Oh well, no. Well, not really, I mean…"

"What happened, Bud?"

Bud drew a very deep breath. "On Mac's third night here, she got up to go to the bathroom and must have become disorientated because she… Well, Harriet was in the nursery and I was in bed half asleep and Mac, well, she got into bed with me."

"Really? You were in bed with my fiancée?" Harm asked in his sternest voice.

"No, I mean I was but it was…"

'At ease, it was a misunderstanding."

Bud took a deep breath, relieved the tale was over. Harriet brought in a tray with four coffee mugs and a plate of cookies.

"Where's Mac?" she asked.

"She's gone upstairs, she was very tired," answered Bud.

"I guess the excitement of you being here has exhausted her," said Harriet, taking a seat beside her husband.

"Did Mac explain things to you?" Harriet asked, feeling uncomfortable being caught between the loyalty to Mac and her friendship with Harm.

"Mac explained a few things but I get the feeling she left out a few more. What do you two know about it? Who was the guy they arrested? Why did he do it?"

"Look, it's really not…" began Harriet, before Bud stopped her.
"Harriet, I think Harm deserves the truth, the whole truth, don't you?" Bud asked.

Harriet nodded slowly. Mac had made her promise she wouldn't tell Harm anything but if Bud hadn't made the same promise she wasn't going to stop him. She left the men to talk.

"Bud, please!"

"The accused is a Major George Bennett, he was a …"

"I know that name," Harm interrupted.

"He was …"

"I put him away in 1997 for 7-10 years for grievous bodily harm and misuse of..."

"Explosives. Yes you did. He got out recently…"

"And came looking for me?"

"Not quite. He was Dishonourably Discharged but his brother, Gerald, was still in the service. Early last month Gerald was died in Iraq and the investigation was conducted out of San Diego. The inquiry found Gerald had committed suicide and George disputed that. Although I think it was due more to the fact he'd miss out on his insurance payout, than any evidence to the contrary. George Bennett turned up at Mac's office to question the findings and things got a bit heated and she had him removed."

"How does that end up in a letter bomb?" Harm rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair.

"The exchange didn't become heated until George saw the photos on Mac's desk."

"Which photos are they?"

"You and her from last summer on the boat and the one from your engagement at McMurphy's," Bud said almost apologetically.

"He recognised me?" Harm said, more of a statement than a question.

"It looks like it."

"He did this to Mac because of me?"

"Yeah, confessed it when he was picked up the day after she was hurt.'

"Bastard! I'll kill him!" Harm jumped up from the armchair.

"No, you won't, Harm. I got a call from Jennifer today. Apparently George Bennett hung himself in his cell yesterday."

"Does Mac know?"

"No, not yet."

"Why didn't you call me, Bud? I mean didn't you think…?"

"Harm, I'm really sorry but Mac made me promise. She was quite distressed at the time and I gave in to try and placate her. She was really insistent," Bud explained.

"But why? I love her so much and I would have dropped everything."

"That's why, I think. Look, Harm, at the time I thought it would only be a few days and then when we knew something more substantial I was going to ring you anyway…"

"So what happened…."

"Um, well, um."

"Bud?"

Harriet slid the door open. "How are things going?"

"Bud's trying not to tell me something," Harm said.

"Sweetie?" said Harriet.

"Harm wanted to know why we didn't call him," Bud said, looking pleadingly at his wife.

"Maybe Harm and I can chat about that while you go and read AJ his story," said Harriet. Bud left and Harriet took his seat and held Harm's hand.

"Harriet, what is it that no one wants to tell me?" Harm asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Most of the damage done to Mac's sight was due to the length of time it took to get medical attention. She opened the letter at about 2000 on the Wednesday but it was only when she was a no show for work that Jennifer Coates went to her billet and found her. She was on the floor with a cordless phone in her hand."

"Was she calling for help?" Harm asked with tear filled eyes.

"She…um…she had called for help but didn't get the answer she needed," Harriet said regretfully.

"What do you mean? She called 911 and no one came."

"No, she didn't call them."

"Who'd she call?"

"She called you," said Harriet closing her eyes, not wanting to see his face.

"She called me? What do you mean she called me? She never…" Harm was pacing the study.

"Harm, she couldn't see, she grabbed the phone and managed to hit your number on speed dial."

"When? When did she do that?" Harm was almost beside himself at the revelation.

"Two weeks ago, Wednesday night…"

"Oh God!" said Harm, realisation striking him like a lightning bolt. "I put her on hold, didn't I?"

"Uh huh."

"She said it was important and I told her to wait a minute and I'd be back to her."

"Uh huh."

"I thought it was about the wedding and it took me about five minutes and when I pressed the hold button she'd gone. I thought she may have been annoyed with me, especially when I tried to ring her back and got no answer. Oh God!"

"The battery had gone flat while she was on hold and before she could try anything else she passed out."

"Oh God, if I hadn't have put her on hold most of this could have been avoided." Harm slumped down into the armchair and buried his head in his hands.

"And that's why Mac didn't want you to know. She knew it wasn't your fault and didn't want you to feel bad about it."

Harriet moved to him and gently stroked his arm while he came to terms with the news.

"It's okay, Harm, let it all out," soothed Harriet. And before long the floodgates opened and all Harm's pent up emotion about Mac's injury, the perpetrator, the consequences, his homesickness and loneliness of his London posting came spilling out and he dropped his head to hide his tears. When he composed himself he went upstairs to Mac.