Something changed in their relationship following Harm's bout with food poisoning. Perhaps it was because Mac finally admitted to herself that Harm was, in fact, an essential part of her life. After being angry at him for so long, she finally relented and allowed him completely back into her good graces. Ultimately, it was because she couldn't help but care about him. He had a hold on her, and try as she might, she just couldn't shake him. She wished that wasn't the case. In the future, once they were liberated from their island of captivity, she hoped that she could meet someone else and move on, as Harm apparently had. There was little chance of that though. Harmon Rabb, Jr. would always find his way back into her heart. In truth, he resided there permanently. Yes, it left her always wanting, waiting, and feeling foolish. She hated that. It was difficult to balance their friendship with her deeper aspirations, especially when she tried to protect herself. She longed for someone to share her life with, to marry and have children. Clayton Webb couldn't be that person, although he made his intentions clear to her. Sadly, she knew she wasn't in love with him. She had communicated as much to Clayton before she left for her TAD assignment. Now stuck on the island with the one person who could break her heart, actually already had, Mac simply tried to live within the bounds of reality. She fell back on the roles they've always played in a working, caring partnership. As much as possible, Mac fortified the rest of her vulnerable psyche against further hurt.
Mac was just beginning to feel comfortable with the new lines they'd drawn, when Harm had to go and push the boundaries a little farther. While on a hike together, Mac slipped and fell off of a rock, nearly plummeting down a sharp hill. Harm arrived at her side immediately, and gripped her in a tight embrace without hesitation. After establishing that she was truly okay, he then examined her ankle with great concern. He took off her shoe carefully, and wouldn't listen to any of her objections. He held her injured leg firmly in his hands, and seemed to trace every muscle and ligament with his fingertips. He was exceedingly tender and focused. Only when Harm was convinced that she wasn't likely to have broken her ankle did the look of apprehension leave his features. While he completed his inspection, Mac was transfixed by his penetrating gaze and strong hands. How long had it been since she'd actually been touched like that by Harm? It was a shock to her system. She literally shivered from his delicate probing. Harm insisted on carrying her back down the trail piggyback style, and she gave in like a stunned animal. He positioned her on his back with her legs wrapped around him, and slowly brought her down to the beach. All the while, Mac was left to revel in the solid muscles under his shirt as they moved and tensed with his exertion. She didn't want to lift her cheek from his shoulder or let go of her arms around his neck. She fantasized that it wouldn't end, that she could maintain this personal contact with his body indefinitely. Disappointment lingered when it was time to slip off. Hastily, Mac drove her juvenile yearnings to the back of her mind, and thanked Harm for his kindness. She joked about how relieved she was that he hadn't tried a fireman's carry. Actually, that wouldn't have been too bad either.
Over the next week, Harm and Mac became better friends, openly enjoying each other's company. They hiked together, prepared meals, and played mindless games around the campfire. Boredom was the only explanation as to why Harm would cooperate. Mac was finally able to convince Harm to take a stab at singing with her and goofing off with charades. It was quite entertaining. He had a pretty good voice and wasn't too shy about using it. It was amusing to watch Harm so silly and carefree. She rarely saw that side to him back in D.C. Mac also fashioned a chess board with little pieces in the sand, and coaxed Harm into a few rounds. They were fairly evenly matched. It was so good to have a mental challenge, in contrast to their daily responsibilities. Mac had always been impressed with Harm's intelligence and skill when it came to work, so it wasn't much of a surprise to her that he turned out to be a descent chess player. Just one more thing to appreciate about him. Mac loved the competition, but wanted to win. She was intent on beating Harm at something.
Harm was exceedingly pleased that they had become so comfortable together once again. It made the lengthy summer days on the isle pass so much easier. With Mac's bitterness long gone, it was gratifying to discover how compatible they actually were. Gradually, a certain familiarity developed between them. They swam with each other on the powdery beaches and hunted for seashells side by side. There was no need for the pretenses or formalities of civilization. They brushed their teeth together after morning breakfasts, and passed off bars of soap when one or the other headed off to bathe. When it rained, as it frequently did in the tropics, they passed the time inside their shelter by reading tattered novels and sharing anecdotes from their previous life on the mainland. The boundaries of their personal space grew more intimate. Mac eventually thought nothing of hanging her underwear up to dry, and likewise, in due time, Harm didn't even have to ask permission to retrieve Mac's hand held mirror for shaving. If one of them got up to use the makeshift latrine in the middle of the night, the other would be sure to awaken, usually setting the stage for quiet pre-dawn conversations – sleepy and uncensored. Sometimes they fell asleep out on the beach under the night sky, other times in the hut for protection. They slept near each other because they wanted to.
With refreshing ease, they moved into a warm and trusting relationship. Harm felt free enough to openly tease Mac about her limited cooking and fishing skills, and she spared right back with remarks about his not-so-Navy length hair. Well, it wasn't high and tight any more, but his hair wasn't full of dread locks either! Without missing an opportunity, Harm decided to enlighten Mac on how much he appreciated seeing her dance moves from afar. When he made that comment, Mac was at once the picture of self-consciousness, and Harm knew he had gotten her. Flabbergasted, Mac didn't know he was even watching when she listened to music. They laughed together in amusement. Their newfound friendship could handle a little sportive joking.
On some days, they took long walks on the beach, talking for hours about everything and nothing, returning at sunset to their palm-lined house. It was downright domestic, and it filled Harm with subtle contentment. He could get used to the life they had created. At night they engaged in conversations around the campfire and steadily became more open with each other, sharing past experiences and thoughts they had on a range of different subjects. It had been months, perhaps years, since Harm and Mac had really talked with such candor. Of course, they reflected on their work at JAG. But they also felt unrestricted enough to explore more personal issues, like Harm's recent murder trial and Mac's changing role in Chloe's life. Previous boyfriends and girlfriends also came up. Amazing as it seemed, they felt comfortable enough to disclose some of their impressions of former dating relationships. They even joked a little about first-time experiences in high school and college. However, they never tread on the more sensitive areas of their private lives. It was an unspoken understanding that topics such as Clayton Webb or current girlfriends were off limits.