A/N: I apologize for the delay but my internet has been down (and still is) so I'm currently posting this from Campus. Joy. Lol.

Tamk3: Aww thanks! It was my first time trying to write "the scene" Lol. So good to know it was hot. :] and yes, very sad at the end 

Lil-Miss-DiNozzo: Flaunt your hotness hahahaha. Thanks for your review love! You always make me laugh.

Achaon: Thanks?

Kelsey2010: ahahahahahah hit the sheets lol yeah only took them a decade and 21 chapters but they eventually did. :] so glad you're addicted. I love your reviews!

Karizmadreamer: That is the best compliment ever! Because I wanted to cry writing it and hoped the emotion would translate :] "Sweet and poignant" – yay :]

Hbabe702: Thank you SO much! I am the same way with long fics but here I am writing one. Ahhh what's happened to me? Lol I'm glad you love my style of writing. I hope you continue to enjoy!

Lawandordersvu1: I do my best. School, midterms, full-time job here. Gotta work with what I got. Lol.

Kiely: Thanks so much! Love that you got the symbolism behind the gesture. Was worried about people being like WTH why? Lol. And hahahaha "that's not possible" hehehehe love it!!! Your review is so perfect haha.

Shella-belle: Thanks for the review! I feel sad for them too..don't worry things will get better...eventually. lol. Gotta love the angst.

Windyg68: Thanks for the review! Hahah yes yes it could. The century...history of mankind..etc etc haha

Suzywallis: Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy. It's my first time taking on a story like this so I appreciate the feedback :]

On to the story!

Mac had debated back and forth about the gesture, feeling a bit twelve years old again handing a boy her phone number. In the end, she decided she didn't much care how it happened just as long as he had a way to reach her…just as long as this wasn't a real goodbye.

She clutched at him somewhat helplessly, willing herself to be the first to step out of the embrace.
Her gaze fell to the carpet as she took a step back, her hand coming up to brush a lock of hair behind her ear before looking up at him. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she was shocked to find his a bit more watery than usual as well.

He lifted his suitcase in his left hand, bending to pick up his carry-on bag with his right, before sending her a half-hearted smile of reassurance. Mac wanted to tell him he didn't have to pretend things were going to be okay…that sometimes things aren't okay and that is fine. A part of her however, a small part, had to believe otherwise so she could continue to breathe evenly.

She crossed her arms around her body, sending him a small tilt of her lips that could be described as a smile; if you were grading on a curve. He started to walk away from her and her heart hammered in her chest as the reality sank in. She bit back the urge to stop him. She wouldn't be that needy...that selfish. She couldn't be.

Mac watched as the patch of dark jean and polo disappeared around the far corner of the airport hallway. He was gone. She allowed her eyes to close a brief moment, foolishly standing there a few more minutes as if wishing alone would be enough to make him reappear.

Alas, she turned and walked back toward the doors and out to her car. He was gone.

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Harm made his way through the airport terminal, picking up his suitcase at the baggage claim and walking towards the place he knew she would be waiting.

He smiled at seeing her standing there, her back turned toward him, as she appeared to be scanning the crowd.

"Kim." He said finally.

She turned and a smile lit up her face.

"Harm!" She flung her arms around him and Harm was careful not to press against her too hard.
"I'm so glad you are home, how was your trip?"

He pulled away from her gaze, touching her belly softly. "It was…eventful." He told her distractedly. "But…we can talk about that later."

"How have you and the baby been? Have you been taking it easy like I asked?"

"Yes, Harm. Yes." She laughed. "You worry too much. Come on, being with child I was able to get us front row parking."

"Ahh, the perks." He teased half-heartedly as he followed behind solemnly. His heart wasn't in this. He missed Mac.

The ride back to Kim's house was spent with Kim talking a mile a minute as Harm stared out the passenger side door in almost complete silence, save the intermittent syllable of acknowledgment.

They arrived home and Harm set about unpacking as Kim insisted on taking his dirty laundry and starting it in the washer immediately. He might have appreciated her willingness to help if he wasn't so busy wishing she'd give him a few moments peace. Maybe he could talk her into letting him go back to his place for awhile.

His thoughts went back to the night before. How it had felt. How she had felt. How he had never experienced anything like it.

They had fit perfectly together…and somehow Harm always knew they would. He remembered her little gasps and moans; she had been so responsive to his touch. The look on her face when she—

"Harm!" Kim shouted from the laundry room.
Harm jumped a bit as he was shaken from his thoughts.

"What?" he responded as he walked to the laundry room, carrying the last of his dirty clothes to put them in the wash with the others.

"You getting ready to get in the shower?"

"Yeah, I need to freshen up. Get this airport grime off of me."

"Okay, go ahead and leave what you have on outside the door and I'll start it with this load."

"Okay." Harm replied absent-mindedly, stripping and giving her his shirt before going back into the bedroom and removing the rest of his clothes away from her gaze. He left them folded on the bed before crossing the room to the shower, and closing the door behind him.

Kim heard the shower running and came into the bedroom to get his clothes before taking them back to the laundry room. He was acting a bit uneasy around her and she wondered at what could be the cause.

She was reaching into the left and then right pocket of his jeans, checking for any loose change or small item that could damage the washing machine when her hand touched a small piece of paper in the right pocket. She pulled it out slowly, inspecting it before opening the folded slip. It was a phone number. She didn't recognize the area code.

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Harriet walked into JAG HQ that morning to find Commander Rabb already in his office, which aside from being highly unusual, she wasn't sure whether or not to take as a good sign.

He had spent a weekend there. Harriet's mind reeled with the possibilities. Had it been a disaster? Had he said the right thing? Done the right thing? Had Mac listened? Had they fought? Was anything resolved? She was working herself up into a panic.

Just when Harriet started to feel the makings of a headache, she caught Harm's eye and he motioned for her to come and see him.

"Yes?" She had peeked her head in.

"Harriet, you've been standing in the bullpen staring this way for almost five minutes," Harm smiled slightly. "Come in and close the door behind you."

"I'm, uh, sorry Sir. I didn't realize I had been standing there that long." Harriet sent him a sheepish look before crossing his office and taking a seat in front of his desk.

She clasped her hands in her lap, looking at him as if trying to gauge his demeanour.

"Harriet, you could always just ask me how it went." Harm chuckled softly at her behaviour, before his gaze fell to his desk.

"You...want to talk about it?" Harriet asked softly.

"No." Harm smiled sadly, "but I'm guessing I won't have any peace until I do."

Harriet let out a tired sigh, her gaze going to his bookcase on her right. "Why… isn't she here?"

" A lot of reasons, Harriet." Harm stated softly. Evenly.

He paused, before continuing on. "For one, she is assigned to be there."

Harriet let out a breath. "Which could be changed…"

"Alright…. Kim. That's a big one." Harm ran a hand over his face.

He looked down before meeting her gaze. "Deep down I think Mac has some delusion that if she takes herself out of the equation… Kim, I and the baby will be some happy family."

"Did you tell her how you felt?"

"In so many words…yes."

Harriet let out a sigh of complete exasperation.

"You wanted to say something?" He questioned sarcastically.

She gave him a look.

"Harriet…we uh… this was …good… for us. Thank you."

"She doesn't want to kill me?" Harriet smiled a bit.

"Not yet." He chuckled despite himself.

Harriet stood to leave, crossing the room to his door before he spoke again.

"Harriet…"

She turned to face him, her hand on the knob, a wary expression marring her features. "Yeah?"

"She knows I love her."

Harriet nodded slowly. "Good."

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Kim had been pondering the slip of paper throughout the day, despite her attempts to leave it well alone. She didn't want to pry into Harm's business but at the same time her curiosity had led her to investigate a bit.

She had looked up the area code in a Google search the night before as Harm made dinner. California. It made sense with his recent trip there, and could be any number of people, but somehow Kim felt as if it was more important than that. Why wouldn't he have just programmed the number into his cell phone?

The sprawling handwriting written on the simple white slip had piqued her interest. Surely there was no harm in calling the number just to see, she reassured herself. Finally, feeling fully justified and with a sideways glance about her to be sure she was alone, she reached for the phone and dialed.

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Mac arrived home from work, shutting the door behind her and immediately stepping out of her heels. She crossed the room to the kitchen to get a bottled water, twisting the cap off and having a sip when she heard her phone go off from the purse she had discarded in the entryway.

She set the water down on the counter, crossing the room to rummage through her purse before coming up with the ringing phone grasped firmly in her hand. She glanced at the caller ID. It wasn't a number she recognized…but the area code was alarmingly familiar. Washington.

Mac had a debate within herself before flipping the phone open and pressing it to her ear.

"Hello?"

There was a pause.

"Hello?" Mac repeated once more.

"Hi. I found this number in the uh, pocket of my boyfriend's jeans…do you know anything about that?" A woman's voice filled the line.

"Excuse me?" Mac pressed a hand to the opposite ear, wanting to make sure she had heard her clearly.

"His name is Harm. Hard name to forget…did you guys meet when he was on business in California last week?"

Mac felt her skin crawl. Oh God.

"Um…I…I think you have the wrong number." Mac managed, finding it hard to breathe under the weight of it all.

"So you say." There was another pause. "…just stay away from him, alright? And if it makes a difference to you, I'm pregnant with his kid…"

Unable to form words or possess any knowledge of what to say should the ability return to her, Mac snapped the phone shut and dropped it on the floor below her as if it had burned her hands.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

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TBC....