AN: Sorry for the delay posting this one. I had some technical difficulties in addition to some writing process difficulties. I had everything all wrapped up into a neat ending and then well I just couldn't leave well enought alone. One more chapter after this (I think) Thanks for reading. - Dix

Chapter 15 - Whatever it takes

Harm knocked on Renee's door a little after 1900 hours. She opened the door and stood in the narrow gap.

"Can I come in?" He said when she said nothing at all.

"OK." She opened the door. He hung his jacket in the usual place, beside another jacket, too large to be Renee's, but familiar never the less. He saw it without thinking about it; concentrating instead on what lay ahead and joined her at the small round table in the kitchen. He looked her over carefully as he sat down. She didn't seem different, except perhaps more reserved than usual, not surprising given their break up. He didn't want to make assumptions.

They sat for a moment and looked at one another across the table. "What are you doing here?" She asked finally.

Harm tried all sorts of answers in his mind, but for the sake of whatever the future held, he came to the truth. "I heard you were pregnant."

"Did you now? Well good news travels fast." She gave him a wry smile.

"Is it good news?"

"Not really." She said.

"Whatever you need, Renee." He stopped and cleared his throat. "I want you to know I'll do whatever you need."

She bit her lip and looked away. "What would your girlfriend think of that?" He heard the anger rise in her voice.

"What ever you need." He said simply.

"What I need is a husband and a father for this child. Are you up for that?"

Harm cleared his throat. He'd thought about little else since Mic's revelation. He'd thought of what it was like to be a boy raised without his father. If Renee would allow him, he'd be all he could to this child. "If that's what you want. Yes."

"You're saying you'll marry me?" He indicated his willingness with a nod of the head. "Well Harm if I'd only known, I would have gotten pregnant when we were together." Her reply was filled with bitterness.

"Renee." She heard the tenderness in his voice and for the first time since the hospital room; she felt sorry for more than just herself. She couldn't blame Harm for the mess she'd created. She took a deep breath and let it out in a rush.

"Well Harmon Rabb, that's very big of you, but this baby isn't yours."

Harm heard her words, but the anger behind them confused him. He wasn't sure he believed what she was saying. "How can you be sure?"

She shook her head slowly. "Because I can count. You and I haven't been together in close to 8 weeks. This isn't your baby."

Harm's head swam. He steadied himself. Relief washed over him, but he tried not to show it. "Have you told the father?"

"As a matter of fact, I have, but it's really none of your business."

"I'd like to take a paternity test."

"Let it go Harm."

"Not for me, for Mac, so she'll know."

Tears welled in Renee's eyes. "She's lucky to have you."

"What will you do?"

"Not sure yet."

"OK." He pushed the chair back and came to his feet. "If there's anything Mac and I can do? Let me know." Harm picked up his jacket at the door and glanced again at the jacket hanging beside it. She'd been with someone after him; perhaps someone he knew. But, it was like she said, none of his business. He put it out of his mind, preferring to think ahead; to think of Mac and their future unsullied by the past.

Renee didn't get up. She didn't follow him to the door. When she heard the apartment door close, she crossed her arms on the table, laid her head down and wept.

Harm crossed the street and climbed into his suv. Daylight was beginning to fade, but he felt like celebrating. He dialled Mac's home number on his cell phone and when she didn't answer, he tried her cell phone and then the office. He drove to her apartment, wondering where she might be. She didn't answer the door buzzer or the phone when he tried again, so he went home feeling disappointed. He tried her numbers again when he got home. With each unanswered ring, the anxiety increased and so he slept restlessly.

When Rabb came in to work the next morning, he wasn't entirely surprised to find Mac's door firmly closed. He was just settling into his own office, when Tiner was knocking on the door.

"Good morning Commander Rabb."

"Morning Tiner. Do you know where the Colonel is this morning?"

"Out sick, Sir. The Admiral wants to see you A-SAP." Harm followed Tiner to the Admiral's office.

"At ease Commander." Admiral Chedwiggen said as Commander Rabb came to attention in his office. "Have a seat." Lieutenant Bud Roberts sat in the other chair.

Admiral Chedwiggen opened the file on his desk. He handed a single sheet of paper to Bud. "I know you both have a full case loads. but I'm going to need you to sort out Colonel Mackenzie's cases. That is a list of her pending cases. Roberts I'd like you to review the cases this morning and provide the Commander and myself with a status report. The Commander and I will reallocate personnel as required to handle the outstanding cases." Chedwiggen paused sweeping the reading glasses off. He looked directly at them before continuing. "Lieutenant. You're dismissed."

When Bud had left the room, Chedwiggen closed the file in front of him. "I had a telephone call from Colonel Mackenzie yesterday evening. And subsequent to that I've obtained the reports and witness statements of two MP's stationed at the guard house. The Colonel was involved in an altercation with Mic Brumby in the JAG parking lot yesterday afternoon."

"What sort of an altercation, Sir?"

"There were blows exchanged. As a consequence, Brumby is in the custody of the DC police. The MP'S sent Mac to hospital by ambulance."

"Sir?" Harm leaned forward.

Chedwiggen raised his hand to calm Commander Rabb. "I saw her last night in the hospital. She has some facial bruising. They kept her overnight for observation. I spoke with her 30 minutes ago. She is being released this morning."

"And Brumby, Sir?"

"The DC police and NCIS are wrangling over jurisdiction. In the short term they're running concurrent investigations. I spoke to the prosecutor this morning, he expects Brumby will be arraigned later today on assault charges and released if he can meet the conditions of his bail. The prosecutor thinks the judge will make Brumby surrender his passport."

Rabb nodded his understanding. "Sir." He asked, "If Mac's being released from hospital today, she should be able to resume her duties tomorrow. Is it necessary for Bud to review her files?"

"She's on leave pending the conclusion of a Jag-man investigation."

"Sir?"

"She left her post and was involved in a brawl on the property. That sounds like conduct unbecoming to me, but I'm keeping an open mind until I read the report. I'll decide then whether charges are necessary."

"Yes sir."

You're dismissed.

"Yes Sir." Rabb came to his feet. His hand was on the door knob before Chedwiggen said anything more.

"Rabb," Chedwiggen said from behind the desk. "Stay away from Brumby. If the prosecutor has his way Brumby's license to practice law and his green card will be forfeit. If you get involved it'll be an international incident."

"Yes sir," Rabb responded. It wasn't Brumby he was worried about. It was Mac. He wanted to see her, but it would have to wait. Back in his office, he called her apartment and left another message on the machine.

"Hi Mac. The Admiral just filled me in. I'll be over after I secure for the day." He paused while he considered saying "I love you." on to her answering machine. Finally the machine cut him off and saved him the debate.

AN: Thanks for reading - Dix.