A/N: Lil-Miss-DiNozzo: whoa. 0_O hahaha thanks as always for the review!

Kelsey2010: I know, right?? Harriet totally ruined the thing they had going there. Lol. Love your reviews!!!! Hope you continue to love it :]

Tamk3: Aww, thanks so much and yes "HARRIET!" indeed. worst. timing. ever. I appreciate you reading and your feedback!

Alix33: hahahahahaha glad that made you laugh. Yeah my car is the same way (Chrysler sebring convertible) with the old-fashioned key in lock feature lol. And yes, horrible horrible timing. I tried to find what line you were referring to?? Can you tell me where it was and I can explain it. She may be afraid of how much she cares for him but she does not fear him because she thinks he will hurt or mistreat her. ??? let me know and I can put it in better context of what I was thinking.

Achaon: not sure what you are referring to but this is an angst story. There will be more of this before there are good times. Just the nature of my writing and it's not for everyone. Fluff and romance (without some anguish) are really just not my thing lol. Angst feels more real life to me. Thanks for reviewing :]

Kiely: Welcome aboard! SO glad you are reading and thanks for the feedback. I, too, don't know who my heart breaks more for. Hope you continue to read and enjoy!

Lawandordersvu1: had a long day doing projects for my nonprofit org course but will post a few parts tonight if people are reading and want them :] Thanks for reviewing and as you can probably tell from my icon – HUGE svu fan!

SwimERfanatic13: Thank you so much! I am glad you like it!

Japetn: I am so glad you do! Not a lot of people love the angst –I'm a huge fan. I think its more true to life and their characters. Thanks so much for your review:]

Leyte: Thank you! She was not dating Webb at the time because Harm only met Kim and became friends with her through his time at the CIA…the actual incident in the bar was afterward and around the time Harm and Mac started getting closer in part 1 of the story. Although, I agree. She still has no real right to be angry. Yet, she's always felt as if he was hers and vice versa. Gah, these two. Lol Thanks for the feedback! Love your thoughts on it!

Anothershipper: Thank you SOOOOO much for this review! It made my night and I appreciate it. I am very mindful and cautious of staying in character and making the emotions real and I am so happy that you think I am staying true to that. I hope you continue to enjoy it as the story progresses! Thanks again so much!

Whew. You all are so nice. Thank you. This part is a little short but if I can I'll post a few more parts before I head to bed if you guys want. Please let me know what you think .

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A few moments after the last chapter took place
Mac's apartment

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Mac crossed the room to pull out her cell phone, cursing phones and their timing as she flipped it open and pressed it to her ear in an agitated manner.

"Hello."

"Care to tell me what is going on, Mac?"

It was Sylvia.

Mac straightened her dress, her lips still a bit swollen from his kiss and she still felt a little out of sorts.

"You are going to have to be a little bit more specific, Sylvie."

Mac crossed the room to her bedroom, sitting on the bed and removing her shoes.

"I showed up at the dinner. Major Miller said you had been there a few minutes prior. With a man. A man you said you had worked with previously at JAG. ….He came here to see you, didn't he?"

Mac expelled a breath. She wasn't sure she wanted to get into this.

"Mac? It was him, wasn't it? Commander Rabb?"

"Yes, Sylvie. It was him."

"And?"

"And…what? " Mac's tone conveyed her frustration.

"Mac, come on. What happened??? What did he say? After all these months of not talking, you would think --wait. How did he even find you?"

"Sylvie….he…Harriet had something to do with I suppose. He just sort of…showed up at my doorstep earlier this evening. I'm not quite sure what is happening or what it means…but he is staying at a hotel. I am unsure when he is leaving. That's it."

"….That's it?" Sylvie's tone was incredulous.

"Come on, Sylvie..tell me how you really feel." Mac was starting to get angry.

"I'm sorry…" she hesitated.

Mac felt the anger leave her. "I am sorry too..I just..he was just here..things got out of hand…I'm a little... I'm confused. I don't know what came over me and I'm not sure what this means for us …"

Mac could detect the smile in Sylvia's voice when she spoke again. "Out of hand?"

"Sylvie. " Mac warned. She couldn't let her mind go back there. Not when it was still fresh… and she could remember how good it felt.

"Good for you." Sylvie approved.

Mac groaned self-deprecatingly.

"Maaac." Sylvie chided. "You are adults for Christ sake. You have known and have been attracted to this man for a decade….a lesser woman never would have made it this far." She chuckled. "Take me for example. Five weeks would have been my cut-off date."

"But Sylvie, I…this is different. This is Harm."

"Ah. The man you have measured all others against."

"He makes me feel things I didn't know I could feel." Mac sighed, letting her moment of weakness lead her to confession.

"Mac…go to him. Finish what you started. Tell him you want him to go. Tell him you want him to stay. Just talk to him. Don't let him go back to DC before you each have said what you need to say…."

Mac was silent on her end. "I…I need time to think Sylvie. I'll talk to you later?"

"Al right."

"Bye." Mac breathed into the phone, closing it shortly after and laying it on her bed, before letting herself fall back on the bed, her legs dangling off the edge of the mattress. She stared up at the ceiling.

What if Harm had planned to check out tomorrow? Was he planning to leave soon? Where did Kim think he was? 'Certainly not sitting on a couch being straddled by her.' Mac thought dryly.

She ran a hand through her hair, leaving her hand to rest on her forehead.

She didn't want him to go. Yet, she couldn't ask him to stay.

Harm needed to be near his child…for the babies birth, visitation, important events. He couldn't stay in San Diego pretending she was his only concern for much longer.

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Harm had decided to change and go back out to a bar near his hotel for a drink. He desperately needed a beer and being left alone with his thoughts right now was proving to be a disaster.

He entered Rick's Bar and Pub on the corner of 17th and Linder to a pretty packed house. Smoke filled the air giving it an almost fog like appearance.

Harm made his way over to a stool at the bar, ordering a draft beer and waiting for it to be placed in front of him.

"You in the military?" His attention was drawn to a blonde sitting on his left.

He smiled. "What makes you say that?"

She shrugged, a twinkle in her eye. "I've been around the type enough to know. So, let me guess…navy?"

"Right again." Harm chuckled. "What gave it away?"

"Your hair. It's much too long…and might I add, attractive to be marine issue. You don't appear to be Air Force and definitely not Army."

Harm smiled as he thanked the bartender for his beer and he took a sip, closing his eyes briefly as the liquid warmed him.

"Long night?"

"You could say that." Harm really had no interest in elaborating further.

"I'm sorry." She said nicely enough, taking a sip of her martini.

"You wanna dance?" She asked, her gaze shifting to the dance floor.

"No. I better not."

"Come on, sailor. Just one dance. It might make you feel better?"

He doubted it.

"Okay. One dance." He replied with a sigh, getting up to follow her to the dance floor.

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2 hours later…

He paid the cab and went inside the hotel to his room. He was slightly buzzed from the two beers, but he could still walk a straight line. It may just take him a bit longer.

He put the card into the slot, waiting for the red light to turn green before he pushed the handle down and was granted access to his room. He made his way to the bathroom, stripping down and turning the water on for his shower.

The hot water had felt quite nicely and it had helped sober him up a bit.
He shut the water off, grabbing a fluffy white towel off the rack and wrapping it around his waist.
'Was Mac asleep now?' He wondered. 'Did she regret what had happened?'

He made his way to his suitcase and put on a pair of boxers, before laying down and attempting to get some sleep. However, the thoughts that plagued him would not grant him that luxury. He tossed and turned for hours before sleep was allowed to claim him.

He had never even noticed the red blinking of the hotel phone on his night stand, alerting him that he had a message.