AN: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter, real life got in the way. Anywho, enjoy and review!

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Harm's POV

He had two more weeks off. He needed a plan. Meg was coming home today and the psychologist and trauma counsellor recommended that someone stay with her for the foreseeable future. Meg's mother couldn't leave the ranch in Texas and move to DC for any long period, so she was out of the equation. Harm had offered, and since Meg trusted him the most since her captivity, it was agreed that he would live with her.

But he hadn't thought it through. In two weeks he was due back on the Patrick Henry, he could resign his commission, but what would he do then. Maybe he was overthinking his situation too much. He needed to talk to someone. Maybe Bud? No, he wouldn't have a clue. That ruled out Harriet too. What about Skates or AJ? AJ might be able to take him back at JAG. They were understaffed.

Harm paced outside Meg's room as the doctors instructed her on medication she needed to take and break it to her that she wasn't fit for duty. That would be the big blow. AJ had given her a month's personal time, but her doctor had declared her unfit to work. Meg was protesting as usual.

A door crashed. "Harm, they are telling me I can't go back to work yet! Tell them I can." Her eyes blazed with subdued fury. "Tell them." She was mad. He tried to look her in the eyes, to explain it to her. She avoided his eyes. Harm knew that she understood and her pride saw this as a sign everything wasn't normal, and that she was weak. Meg Austin didn't do weak. Meg would fight with everything she had to regain her normal life. She wasn't going to play the role of the victim. No matter how effected she truly was.

"Meg you know they are right. Give yourself some time to heal, you will go back to work soon, just give it some time." She stared at her feet, but she was still angry, he could tell. "For goodness sake Meg, did you just expect to waltz back into work after being stuck in a cellar for days and being held captive? Use your logic Meg. Use your damn brain, people are doing this because they care about you. You can't even let the nurses and doctors get too close to you, what happens when it's a client? What then Meg? Huh? Cause if you can't work with strangers then what? Meg you have to give yourself time to heal, don't push yourself dammit!" Harm paused for breath. Meg looked shocked, like he had dumped a bucket of ice cold water on her head. Harm rubbed his hand through his hair. What had caused him to go off his rocker at her like that? "Listen Meg, I'm sorry…"

"Save it sir, I understand." She glared, but the fire had gone out of her eyes. Meg spun on her heel and walked back towards her room. Away from him. If only she wasn't so stubborn.

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Meg dumped the clothes out of her bag and onto the hospital bed. Harriet had been kind enough to bring her something to leave the hospital in. How dare Harm? How dare he point out her problem like that? She picked up the clothes and headed toward the bathroom. Didn't he understand that it was her deepest fear that she would be terrified of strangers for the rest of her life? Maybe she couldn't go back to being a lawyer because of some stupid creep. She shut the door hard. Tears burned in her eyes. She refused to let them fall; she could control her emotions in the least. They may determine her work and her life for her but she would control her reactions. She began to get dressed. Harm wouldn't make her cry, not today. Against her will a tear slipped down her face. She angrily brushed it away. Her hair swung in her face. "Damnit." Maybe he was right, maybe she needed time. She couldn't be stuck in this state of terror forever.

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Harm leaned against the hospital wall, waiting for Meg. He shouldn't have said what he did to her. He regretted it the minute he realised what he had said. He had tried to apologize, but Meg was taking none of it. She was aloof and distant. He wished she would talk to him. There was just so much going on in her life right now, she couldn't be as ok as she seemed.

He saw Meg almost run out of her room. Her eyes frantically scanned the opposite end of the hallway. She looked frazzled, but trying desperately not to freak out. He silently observed her. She was looking for something, or someone. She turned around and saw him. Relief filled her face. She also looked ashamed and embarrassed. She walked quickly towards him. "Harm. I thought you had left."

He saw her hands shaking. "Wasn't planning on it Meg." He took her bag from her, and gestured for her to go ahead of him. She hesitantly stepped forward. "By the way Meg, I am very sorry for what I said earlier." She turned around to face him.

"That's ok. It was all true." Meg studied her feet. "I can't work if I'm scared of strangers." Harm opened his mouth to protest. "Harm, just don't. Both you and I know it's true. Let's leave it at that." He paused.

"Sure." He placed her hand in his. Harm wondered for a brief moment if she would freak out at being touched by another person. But to his surprise she just squeezed his hand and they set off to take her home.

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She had fallen asleep minutes into the ride home. All those days of fighting off sleep and simultaneously the nightmare had left her exhausted. Harm was concerned about her, but at least she felt safe enough to fall asleep in his presence. He brought the car to a stop in front of her apartment.

It had been decided that because hers had a spare room and his didn't they would stay at hers. Also Harm hoped it would help Meg to relax. Hoped desperately, she was so high strung at the moment.

He left her in the car and opened her apartment up and put her bag in the corner of her room. Making sure her bed was ready he made his way back down to the car. Meg's face was peaceful. She looked so relaxed, the complete opposite of the past few days. The release from hospital had done her some good. Harm gently slipped his arms under her and lifted her up from her seat. Meg muttered a little but stayed asleep. One of her hands unconsciously gripped at his shirt. Harm gazed at it. Then shaking himself out of his thoughts, he carried her up to her apartment.

Carefully he laid her down in her bed. She snuggled into the pillow. He blonde curls were already out of their neat design. He pulled the covers over her. He quietly closed the curtains. He watched her sleep, her chest rose and fell with each breath. The face that she was alive continued to amaze him. For a while Harm had thought he had actually lost her. Now here she was safe and sound in his care. And now he realized something even more amazing, he loved her. Harm loved Meg. She murmured in her sleep, drawing Harm out of his thoughts. Smiling slightly he left the room to call the Admiral about getting his job back. Harm shut the door behind him, Meg's room was left in darkness.