Once grounded on terra firma and completely stuffed with food, Harm and Mac retreated to their hotel room, provided with complements of the American Embassy from Bogotá. They flopped on their bed and absolutely delighted in the clean bedspread and soft mattress.

Being back in civilization was a bit overwhelming. The afternoon had been exhausting, with a barrage of phone calls, media coverage, medical evaluations, and police inquiries. They had spent hours dealing with people and politics – demanding, questioning, nearly assaulting them with blaring attention. It had been so long since they had been around others. It almost seemed strange to engage in lengthy conversations with the entourage of officials and curious well-wishers. The boat operators who were implicated in the ordeal were apparently long gone, leaving no trace of their illegal activities. Harm and Mac left that issue to rest, and accepted that they may never know the why's or the how's of their treatment. Colombian representatives made generous offers to pursue the case, but Harm and Mac skillfully begged off such pending investigations. They wanted the matter over, and conveyed as much to the people in charge.

In stark contrast to the island, mainland surroundings seemed unbelievably rich and plentiful. When Harm and Mac went shopping for new clothing and necessities, they were astounded by the immense variety and abundance of material items. Everything was available to them at their disposal. So many options…so little effort. After forty days of exile, the modern world confronted them with sensory overload. Yet, even with the hassles, Harm and Mac were left with a pervading feeling of thankfulness. With nearly two months of deprivation, they embarked together on a process of discovery and gratitude. They took in all of the sights, all of the development and nuances of society, with enormous appreciation. Life was an amazing gift. The conveniences, access to running water, prepared foods, fluffy towels, and yes, even the boundless people were remarkable treasures. They no longer took these things for granted. Harm and Mac saw the world with different eyes, and received each of the long-forgotten amenities as tiny miracles. They were grateful for it all.

So it was in a state of wonder and fatigue that Harm and Mac found themselves collapsed on their queen size bed later that evening. After the feast they had just inhaled, Harm and Mac nearly passed out together in drowsy satisfaction. Finally, they had been left alone.

Out of the companionable silence, Harm reflected on the events of the day. "You know, Mac, I didn't realize how much I would miss having air conditioning, or ice in my drink. Who would have guessed?" he asked, cool and comfortable, stretched out and staring at the ceiling.

"Yeah, and indoor plumbing. What a convenience! I can't get over that! " Mac exclaimed.

"Speaking of which, you want to take a shower first, or should I?" Harm inquired.

"Well, if you really don't mind, I'd like to get in now. I can't stand feeling this grimy."

"You don't look it, but go ahead. I'll just lie here and rest." Harm closed his eyes and covered his stomach with folded hands.

"Thanks," Mac said as she slid off the bed.

After a thirty-minute deluge of scalding water, Mac finally pulled the door ajar and let the steam out of the bathroom. Harm looked on from the main suite and enjoyed the view of Mac in a fresh white towel. He watched as she combed out her hair and applied unknown feminine products. She didn't need any of it, Harm thought, as he admired her beautiful silhouette going through the motions of daily life. His heart filled with such contentment. He loved her, and she was all his – every willful, adorable, sexy inch of her. Mac seemed to sense his perusal and glanced his way. Her open smile greeted his own, and their eyes met in mutual appreciation. Harm got up leisurely and filled the doorway with his long form. With arms crossed in front of his broad chest and body leaning against the frame, he was the picture of relaxed masculinity. Mac couldn't help but stare at him. She was still awe-struck by Harm at times. Harm's handsomeness had a way of sneaking up on her like that. Mac didn't know if she'd ever get used to his downright good looks. As he stood there with his natural grace, Mac was caught off guard once again. He was saying something to her, but all she had noticed was his charming smile.

"Can I get in there, Mac?" Harm repeated politely.

"Oh, yes, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hog the bathroom." Mac said apologetically, gathering her things in a fluster.

She moved out and let Harm pass her by, closing the door behind him. Mac got dressed and ready for bed, listening to the sounds of Harm's shower. A phone call interrupted her reverie. It was the admiral, and Mac was glad to finally touch base with him. As they talked at length, Harm came out and slipped under the covers beside Mac. He listened to their dialogue and realized who she was talking to. His eyes filled with interest as Mac informed the admiral of the change in their relationship status. The smile on her face shed light on the admiral's reaction from the other end of the line. Harm was pleased. There was no going back. As Harm took his turn with the call, Mac snuggled up to him and slunk her legs between his under the covers. Her subtle kisses and nips on his chest were a little distracting, but Harm finished up the conversation without making a total fool of himself. He hung up the receiver, and promptly pinned Mac beneath him. He smiled down at her. She was breathtaking, with her damp hair falling around her head on the pillow and freshly scrubbed face.

"You clean up pretty well, you know that, Mac?"

"So do you…" Mac replied, as she traced his cleanly shaven jaw with her fingers. His hair was spiked up wet, and he looked so amazingly attractive.

"I can't believe we are really here, in this bed—" Harm began.

"—with crisp linen surrounding us, and electric lights…" Mac interjected. "I know…it is surreal."

"So, now we're finally going to recall what it's like to sleep without sand in our underwear…"

"or leaky roofs, or mosquitoes…" Mac supplied.

"And, at last, we can enjoy other things in the comfort of a bed …" Harm raised his eyebrows suggestively. His hands traveled over Mac's collar bone above the sheets, as his mind conjured up the other marvelous things they would finally be able to do…

Mac smiled, but had to counter his enticing suggestion with a few pertinent facts. "We still don't have protection, so….we'll probably have to wait on that idea…."

"Ah, but you never know what you might find at the local souvenir shop, Mac!" Harm joked, as he dangled a little foil package in his hand high above her face. His eyes were lit with mischief.

"You're so sneaky! When did you ever get that?" Mac giggled in excitement.

Harm's bashful smile was endearing. "Oh, sometime when you weren't looking. I have my secrets…"

"I'll have to watch out for you! I never know what you've got up your sleeve!" Mac warned him.

They kissed and rolled over on the bed, with Mac initiating their lovemaking enthusiastically. That's my take-charge Marine, Harm thought, as Mac drowned him with eager kisses. They frolicked and teased each other, working up to a frenzy of desire and throwing off their clothing in a frantic heap. They'd had such extended foreplay on the island, it didn't take much to bring them to heightened state of arousal. When completely undressed, Mac took in the sight of Harm's form and smiled, so happy to be this open with each other. Harm felt her approving stare, and was imbued by the warmth of her expression. No other woman had ever made him feel this way – so loved, so embraced. Harm reached out to touch Mac's supple skin and lovely figure. His captivated eyes, filled with awe and devotion, conveyed how beautiful she was to him. After Harm took a moment to prepare himself, he paused to commit the milestone to memory. They had a second chance at this, the full event. He wanted to do it right, take it slow, and inundate Mac with loving attention. Once he was intimate with Mac, he didn't know if he was going to be able to think straight, but his heart was set on bringing her immense enjoyment.

Mac's gentle breath at his ear and tantalizing nibbles brought him back to an awareness of his position. He was about to discover the mysteries of Mac's body all over again. He felt the deep pull of his sexual drive, and gave over to the forces of instinct. He needed to be with Mac. It was where he belonged, and he didn't have to hold back. They were no longer constrained by the limitations of practicality. As they made love, Harm and Mac were set free by the realization that they could follow this through. Finally, they could fully express the passion they felt for one another with this ultimate union, without foreclosure. Somehow that knowledge made a difference. They shared intense pleasure with each other, and afterward, Harm held Mac tight in his arms, resting his head above hers. Mac ran her fingers over Harm's chest and was lulled by the sound of his heartbeat. His pulse was still erratic, but slowed down with each passing moment.

"I could get used to this," Mac said in delight. "You felt wonderful…so right."

Harm couldn't suppress the look of joy on his face when he heard her words. He kissed her forehead and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I love you, Mac. You've stolen my heart."

Mac smiled in happiness and said, "I love you, too." She curled around Harm and stared up into his face. She would never get over this incredible bond they had together. Her whole being swelled in contentment.

With a heartfelt honesty, she said, "I'm glad we were delegated to that island, Harm. It forced us on the right path. Who knows how long it would have taken before we got our act together?"

"Well, I guess we'll have to thank Mateo for that," he chuckled. Mac could feel the vibrations through his chest. "There isn't anyone I'd rather have been stranded with than you, Mac. We survived together." He squeezed her firmly for emphasis.

"I was awful to you at first though." Mac cringed in shame.

"Oh, you were just having a bad hair week or something. Don't worry about it. It's history."

"Marines don't have bad hair weeks, Harm. I was just pissed off about that girl at the bar. I should have behaved more maturely. Sorry about that."

"I don't blame you, Mac." He patted her shoulders gently.

"Well, at least we figured all of that out." Mac laughed to herself, and then let Harm in on the joke. "Don't you think it's ridiculous that it took us being abandoned on the shores of a deserted island to find each other? I suspect most people go about their courtships a little more…normally."

"As long as the end result is the same, I don't care." Harm moved down and kissed her sweetly on the lips. "We must have some bad karma regarding oceans…." Harm said out of the corner of his mouth.

"And planes…" Mac muttered between kisses.

"Right...and planes…" Harm conceded, kissing her again.

"And South America…" Mac added.

"Oh, yeah, the whole continent…" He kissed her once more.

"So, let's just stay away from planes, boats, and Spanish speaking countries for a while, okay? Once we get back to D.C., we'll have to be more selective about the TAD assignments we accept, " Mac suggested.

Harm stopped midway through his next kiss, and looked thoughtfully into Mac's beautiful eyes. "That's fine, because I'm never letting you out of my sight. You know that, don't you?" The intensity Mac heard in Harm's voice rattled her to the core, and warmth spread out to her toes. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his piercing stare. "You're stuck with me, Mac," Harm said possessively.

Mac gave Harm a glowing smile, which he returned in kind. "I can deal with that, as long as you don't make me eat fish for a long, long time."

They laughed and held one another close, affirming their love and sealing their fate. No matter where they ended up in life – in jungle, city, or castaway on an island – they would always find refuge in each other.

The End