One balmy evening, while Harm and Mac were sitting around the fire ring, they began to talk about their life on the island thus far. It had been twenty-nine days since they'd been left on the shore. They gave themselves credit for all of the provisions they fashioned out of their meager supplies, and discussed the efficiency with which they now functioned in daily tasks. They worked like team, each doing their part to help out.

Harm was leaning on his side, with his head propped up by his elbow. His mood was relaxed and open, as he stared into the soft glow of the fire. Mac studied him from across the small flames, and curled her feet in the sand, thinking how much their relationship had improved since they had first arrived. She was glad to be on good terms with Harm once again. He would always be her best friend, even if he did infuriate her at times.

Harm reminisced about some of the adventures they'd been on in the past – Russia, Appalachian Mountains, under the Arctic Ocean in a submarine. They were in sinc and knew exactly what to expect from one another, like Batman and Robin, he mused.

"After all this time, being together 24-7, I'd say we're getting to know each other on a whole other level, wouldn't you say, Mac?"

"Yeah, I get to hear you talk in your sleep and step over your dirty clothes. We're like an old married couple."

"Hey, I do not talk in my sleep!" Harm challenged.

"How would you know? You're asleep when it is happening!"

"Keeter would have told me. I was his roommate, you know."

Mac smiled and said, "Well, granted he never mentioned that, but there were a few other things he told me once…"

"Wait a minute, what did he tell you?" Harm's curiosity was sparked.

Mac giggled to herself. "It's nothing. He was just joking. You know Keeter."

"Ma-ac, what is it? Did he say my feet smell or something?" Harm scrambled in his mind as to what Keeter could have possibly disclosed.

Mac couldn't restrain a laugh, but waved Harm off with her hands. "I can't tell you. You'll get mad, or embarrassed…one or the other."

"Spill it, or I'll come over there and wrestle it out of you!"

"These are my options?" she asked with sarcasm.

"Come on, Mac, tell me! I want to know…really." Harm's expression was emphatic.

"Okay," Mac acquiesced. "But I warned you; you're not going to like it!"

"Fine…what did he say?" Harm waited for her revelation with guarded interest.

"Well, I once asked him what it was like to live with you at the Academy…"

Harm interrupted with a teasing smile, "…You know, Mac, I have to wonder why you even asked him that…"

Mac just glossed over his comment, "Okay, so when I inquired about what kind of a roommate you were, Keeter said, 'Well, Harm snores, he's obsessively neat, stays up way too late reading, and, of course, I know the real reason why he developed night blindness.' "

"What?" Harm asked in puzzlement.

"You know…"

"No, I don't." Harm responded blankly.

"Um, you know,… the old saying…about why men go blind…"

Harm blinked and his mouth gaped open in surprise. Then he gave a spontaneous laugh. "I'm going to have to get back at him for that one!"

Mac couldn't help but joke with him a little more. He seemed genuinely amused by Keeter's comments. "So, let's see, you were on the Patrick Henry for six months…no girlfriend in sight…tell me more, Harm.."

"Ha, like you're gonna know…"

"I'm just curious..."

"Not a chance I'm going there, Mac!"

Mac just cracked up at how flustered Harm was getting. This was just too easy.

"So, I talk in my sleep…what on earth do I say?" Harm obviously wanted to change the subject.

"Are you sure you want the truth?" Mac's eyes glittered in mirth.

"Oh, come on! Don't tell me it's that bad…" Harm started to get uncomfortable with their conversation again. Mac thought she ought to help him out.

"No, it isn't. I'm just teasing you. Honestly, you just mumble once in a while. It usually doesn't make any sense. Once you said something about snakes and twine. Your guess is as good as mine!"

"Not a clue…"

"Don't snakes have some hidden, deeper psychological meaning…like being symbolic for evil, or something?"

"I couldn't tell you. I don't really have much of an opinion about snakes, or twine for that matter. Who knows? At least I wasn't rambling on about something more personal…"

"Well, I'll be on the alert for that, and put a sock in your mouth if you do, Okay?"

"Deal. Thanks, Mac. Just don't suffocate me!"

After a moment, Mac said pointedly, "About what Keeter said, I should also add that he described you as a great friend and one of the best pilots he's ever known. He said he'd trust you with his life."

Harm smiled warmly, letting the kind words soak in. "Yeah, he's a good man, even if he does spread vicious rumors."

"Of course, only ones that aren't the least bit true…" Mac had to duck at her last remark, as Harm hurled a ball of swim trunks her way, leaving her in a fit of laughter on the sand.

On the next scorching afternoon, Harm and Mac both found themselves hanging around the cooking area, bored and aimless. There was plenty of work to do, and they both knew it, but neither wanted to move their lazy bones. It was just so stiflingly humid. Harm watched Mac from his vantage point while he relaxed against a log. She was so pretty, with her hair damp and skin rosy from her recent swim. She wore very little make-up, if any at all, Harm noticed. She was a natural beauty. After all that they had worked through, Harm had to admit to himself that he wouldn't want to be stranded on a deserted island with anyone else but his Marine, partner, and best friend. As improbable as it seemed, Harm recognized that he felt happy, more so than he had been in a long time. Yes, they were stuck scratching out daily subsistence on their remote plot of earth. However, in a way it was a retreat from all of the stresses and hassles of modern living. Their life had become smaller but simpler. It compelled Harm to focus on what was really important and to live for the moment.

So, in a spirit of spontaneity, Harm came upon a great idea. He slowly got up and snuck over to Mac's side of the camp, making sure that Mac's form remained motionless as she rested on her stomach in the sand, head turned to the side. With his weapon well-hidden, Harm made his stealth approach on his unsuspecting victim. The bright sun broke through the shady trees in patches, and Harm patiently moved through the camouflage of shadows. When he finally stood over Mac, he took a moment to consider his attack. He also couldn't help but observe her trim figure and smooth skin, accented by her bikini. You know, he had never really noticed how sleek her spine was, how utterly feminine. Her back muscles were also exceptionally toned. What a shame to disturb such a lovely collection of curves. Oh, well, here goes nothing…

Harm lifted the cool water bottle high above Mac, and let the first drops fall on just the right spot at the small of her back. Mac screamed in shock, as more water fell on her exposed skin. In a flash, she jumped up and whirled around, ready for action. Harm laughed at the hilarious look on her face. Mac sputtered in amused fury, and then a wicked grin spread across her face. She paused for effect, then all at once she lunged at Harm and put her combat skills to good use. She nearly decked him, but Harm's lithe form stretched out of reach. She chased him towards the beach, and he allowed her to get close enough for retaliation. He wanted to be fair, after all. Mac squared off with him, and then dove towards his chest with a couple of hand slices. It was child's play to Harm, and he couldn't restrain a hoot. He was taken back when Mac pulled some agile moves and sucker punched him in his abdomen with a high knee kick. Any lower and that would have been really painful. They battled it out, and Harm was quite impressed at how strong Mac was despite her petite size. The look of determination on her features was priceless. She knew Harm was toying with her, but she wasn't going to back down. At the last moment, Mac found the water bottle and pulled it loose from Harm's grip. Now she had the upper hand, and Harm began stepping backwards with his arms up in mock surrender.

"Now, Mac, let's be reasonable…" Harm conjectured. "You know I'm way too much for you to take on."

Mac just sent him a saucy smile, and charged at him with gusto. She engaged his upper body in one offensive maneuver, while placing one leg behind his knee. To his absolute surprise, Harm found himself on his back quicker than he could formulate a thought. Oh yeah, Mac was good at this. Well, his weight should count for something. Harm grabbed her foot out from under her, and pulled her down to the ground. He threw himself on her and pinned her down, taking in all of her battle cries five inches from his face.

"Quit squirming and admit defeat!" Harm commanded.

Mac fought back gallantly, and rolled them over so that she was on top. She began to shake the water bottle over his face, and he yelled in protest. He wrestled her for the bottle, and they both laughed through their rough and tumble play.

Finally, after Harm had called truce, they both sat up and tried to catch their breath. Mac was a formidable opponent, and Harm made a mental note to never underestimate her. He turned to look at her, causing a couple of stray water droplets to fall from his doused hair. She seemed docile for a moment. Maybe it was a good time to make a treaty.

"Okay, let's call it a stand off…You're a pretty good match, Mac. You know that? I'd hate to come across you in the jungle, hell bent on eating me for supper."

"What I want to know is why you attempted to mess with me in the first place, Squid?"

Harm shrugged, not trusting his partner's calm demeanor. "Oh, well…you looked entirely too peaceful lying around camp. If you're going to wear a bikini, then you better expect to get wet!"

Without warning, Mac pounced on Harm's chest and swooped him off-balanced to the sand again. She straddled his body and tried to fasten his hands above his head. Harm resisted and initiated plan B, which was to tickle her senseless. He got in a few good passes, but she evened the score by reaching down to tickle his waist. Harm howled in defense, and tried to squirm away from her, his T-shirt coming up slightly and leaving him more vulnerable. Oh, so he was a bit sensitive to tickling, Mac registered with amusement. She stored that valuable piece of information for future use. Of course, Harm counter attacked, and Mac shrieked with tortured delight. It was so freeing to get out all of their inhibitions and pent up emotions this way. Harm's side hurt from laughing so hard. At some point, their warfare died down. With unsteady breaths, they paused for another cease fire. Sand was enmeshed into their clothing, but neither cared one bit. It was nice to have fun together.

Gradually, Harm became aware of Mac's position, sitting across his lap in her bikini, her thighs locked against his hips. She was smiling down at him, and it was easy to imagine a more sexual connotation to their arrangement. Harm could feel the weight of her body pressing down on the front of his shorts. His hands were placed softly on her waist, right above the silky fabric that she barely wore. He smiled back at her. Mac was really cute when she got worked up, and….you know, her bikini top fit her remarkably well. Harm's attention was startled into focus. He knew well where his roaming thoughts could lead him, and of course, this was not a static situation. Harm considered it best to move out from underneath her, since he didn't think his reaction would go over too well. Harm delicately lifted Mac off of him, and positioned himself next to her with his knees pulled up. They continued enjoying the carefree moment between them with comfortable banter. While Mac carried on their repartee, a strange feeling of self-awareness developed within her. Mac's mind kept going back to the realization that she had just pressed intimately against Harm. It was the first time she had ever felt his form through his clothing. She hadn't meant to cross any inappropriate lines with their hand to hand fighting. It had been innocent enough, but somehow the familiarity changed things.

After a while, they both moved to get up, and Harm's knees creaked in dissent. "If you're going to wrestle me with wild abandon, Mac, next time give me a warning! I'm getting too old for this!"

Mac just chuckled in response, as they brushed off the sand and walked back to the camp. The unacknowledged sexual tension between them moved up a notch, but neither Harm nor Mac would openly admit it.

Mac tried to keep their conversation light, as they settled down in the sand near each other. Mac stretched out flat on her back with her hands resting on her bare midriff.

"Oh, what I wouldn't give for a Beltway Burger right about now…with piles of fries…and a shake…" She stared up at the broad azure sky and conjured up the delectable image.

"No, make that a deep dish cheese pizza, with heaps of onions and mushrooms…garlic bread and butter sauce on the side…"

"Thanksgiving turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, spilling off the plate," Mac countered. Her mouth was beginning to water.

"Thai vegetable stir-fry, with tons of noodles."

"Beef tacos and chicken enchiladas, smothered in cheese…"

"Pasta primavera…Fresh sushi…"

"Haven't you had enough of sushi here every day?" she asked incredulously.

"It is an entirely different culinary experience. You wouldn't understand."

"I can't believe you would fantasize about rabbit food…Don't you want to just sink your teeth into a juicy steak? You're supposed to be a hunter, for heaven sakes!"

"I can't help it if I crave healthy food, Mac. It's just the way I'm made."

"Oh, brother!" She just shook her head in disbelief. "You're something else! Next you're going to tell me you're drooling over peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!"

"That sounds appetizing to me!" Mac just rolled her eyes. Harm laughed and said, "Okay, okay,…we'll both agree on a huge bowl full of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, totally covered in chocolate syrup."

"Make it Chunky-Monkey, and you've got me!" Mac sighed in delicious reverie. "Mmmmmm, I can almost taste it." She closed her eyes, and whimpered longingly. Harm attended to her sensual expression and her idle hands circling her belly button. This was getting to be too much. He had to keep his primitive thoughts in check. All this talk about food just brought out his appetite for something else.