Sorry it took me so long to finish. RL can be such a pain sometimes. Anyway, you'll all be pleased to know this is the final part! So, on with the show

Mac's Residence
Washington DC
0020 EST, October 8th
She had fallen into a light doze when a persistent banging startled
Mac awake. She glanced bleary around her bedroom, her internal clock reminding
her of the late hour. Beside her, Kaiden lay sprawled and she carefully
re-adjusted the quilt back over him. Mac had attempted to wait for Harm
to return but exhaustion had caught up with her and she wasn't surprised
she had collapsed into slumber whilst standing guard over her little charge.

Just as she was allowing herself to drift back to sleep, the banging resumed and, now alert, she realised it's source was someone knocking on her front door. Kaiden whimpered softly at the disturbance but rubbing his back reassuringly hushed him back to sleep. Once certain her little charge was calmed, Mac sat up from the bed and made her way from her bedroom to the front door, hoping her late-night visitor was Harm returning and perhaps with Kally in tow.

Instead, there stood the last person in the world Mac expected to
see on her doorstep...none other than Kayla Cameron.

"Eh, hi," was the only response Mac could frame. It sounded a great
more polite than the 'what the hell are you doing here?' she was thinking.
After adjusting to the shock of seeing Kayla, Mac reasserted the ability
to think rationally and, not wanting to seem rude, she invited the other
woman inside.

Truth be told, while Kayla had always been courteous to her and
obviously doted on her little niece and nephew, Mac could not adhere herself
to the FBI agent. It wasn't hate or anything so profound, she just
wasn't too fond of Kayla. Under different circumstances, the two women
could probably have been good friends, however neither had really made
any attempt of friendly salutation. Kayla's concerns lay with keeping her
family together whilst one of Mac's greatest fears of losing Harm was becoming
a very real possibility.

Determined to stop acting like an resentful schoolgirl and behave
more accommodating to the children's aunt, Mac smiled wearily at Kayla.
"Have you just got off work?"

"Yeah, work never ends," said the other woman, "you know how it
is."

"Only too well." She sighed. "I take it you and Harm never had much
luck."

Kayla frowned. "What do you mean? I came here hoping to find Harm
and the Scamp since they weren't home."

All her fortitude for new friendships and an improved easy-going
attitude drained away at Kayla's puzzled statement. Visions of Harm's previous
unease pervaded her mind as realisation hit her; he had taken off on another
one of his quests and as per usual he didn't have the sense to take back-up.
Mac would have liked to believe Harm wouldn't be so crazy and dense to
do something so fool-hardy now he had responsibilities to both his children
but she knew him only too well.

Had he not considered what would happen if he was hurt, or even
worse, killed? It was hard enough for Kaiden to cope with his sister's
disappearance but to be orphaned in the space of a few weeks would leave
the child devastated. What made matters worse was the fact Harm knew damn
well what he was doing otherwise he wouldn't have skipped off quietly behind
both her and Kayla's backs'. Mac calmed her temper with images of wringing
Harm's neck once she figured where he was and how to bail him out.

Judging by Kayla's equally incensed features, Mac had more than
a distinct feeling she had come to the same conclusions and the FBI agent
did not look in the least bit amused. A certain Naval commander was going
to have his ass kicked all the way to the moon and back.

Before the two women could compare their suspicions, little feet
could be heard padding around in the bedroom then Kaiden, holding a tight
grip on his stuffed toy, came bounding into the living room throwing himself
straight into his aunt's outstretched arms. For the dead of night, the four-year-old
certainly was ever-energetic and had the circumstances not been so dour
Mac would have spared a moment to just enjoy his innocence.

"It's quite late for you to be up, Scamp," Kayla said, lifting the
child into her arms.

"I'm a big boy, I don't need much sleep like babies," Kaiden replied,
matter-of-factly. He glanced at the two women then frowned. "Is Daddy gone
yet?"

Mac and Kayla exchanged knowing looks. "Do you know where has your
Daddy's gone, Kaiden?" Mac asked, gently so as not to alarm the toddler.

"Mm-hmm, Daddy's gone to get Kally and bring her home."

"He told you that?" Kayla said, smouldering anger tainting her voice.

"Yeah, he said to give you the letter when he was gone."

"What letter?"

Kaiden pulled his Pikachu toy closer and in the pouch located in
the stuffed animal's back was a scrunched up paper, which he handed to
Mac. "Here you go, it's from Daddy."

Mac skimmed through the letter, obviously scrawled in hastily in barely legible writing so unlike Harm's typical orderly style of handwriting. Just as she and Kayla had suspected; it explained that he had a tip-off relating to the identity of Kally's possible abductor and also he had the nerve to leave instructions for Kaiden's upbringing should events take a turn for the worse. Evidently, Harm hadn't considered the emotional repercussions for the boy if he were to lose his father too. Still, at the very least, Harm had enough sense to leave a contact that they could track down for an address as to where Kally might be held.

Seething, Mac passed the paper to Kayla. "Sometimes I wonder if
Harm's intelligence has occasional drops to the single digits."

"I just can't believe he would be so stupid as to go alone," said
Kayla, incredulously.

"I'll kill him this time," Mac stated, calmly. "I've warned him
before not to go off on his own and it's time I give him a more forceful reminder."

"You'll have to wait in line, it's been a while since my sidearm
has seen any action."

"You're going to kill Daddy?" Kaiden exclaimed, slightly startled
at the proclamation.

"No, no, Scamp," Kayla quickly assured her nephew, "Mac and Auntie
Kayla would never kill your daddy." She dropped her voice so it was only
audible to Mac. "I've always felt death is too merciful anyway." In a normal
pitch, she continued, "I'll get someone to take care of Kaiden then I think
it's time to find this Farmley woman and her psycho husband then retrieve
our boy. Let me tell you one thing, when I do, things are going to be...shall
we say, uncomfortable for him."

Mac was ready to whole-heartedly agree when Kaiden's lower lip quivered
slightly. "You're going away?" he asked, in a tiny voice so unusual from
the confident little boy they knew.

The kid was scared. Of course, why shouldn't he be? He was a motherless
four-year-old whose sister was missing and his father away on some personal
testosterone-induced quest. And so, as much as she wanted to be involved
in the search for both her wayward partner and Kally, Kaiden needed her
also and Mac had to put him first before her own needs and desires. Today,
she had learnt one of the first lessons in parenthood.

"You go ahead," Mac said to Kayla. "Kaiden and I will guard to fort
here."

The other woman regarded Mac dubiously for a moment before a smile
crept across her lips, a gesture which suggested that they were on their
way to finding common ground in friendship after all. Kayla transferred
her nephew into Mac's arms not before giving Kaiden a soft kiss.

"You be a good boy for Mac."

"I will, Auntie Kayla," the child promised, earnestly.

"I know you will, Kaid. And," This time her words were for Mac.
"I'll call as soon as I hear anything."

"Try to bring them both back safe," Mac said.

Kayla nodded curtly. Sparing one last smile for her young nephew,
she was gone leaving Mac alone with one now wakeful but confused toddler.
She was just grateful Kaiden seemed reasonably comfortable under her care;
there were no tears or temper tantrums at being left alone with someone
other than his father or aunt.

"Are Daddy and Kally coming back?" Kaiden asked, watching Mac with
his guileless but attentive eyes. She wondered if these were the enchanting
eyes Harm's mother had to look into when the young Harm no doubt asked
the same question about Rabb Senior.

"Yes," Mac said, firmly while internally berating her partner for
allowing his son to feel these insecurities, "yes, your Daddy and Kally
will be home soon."

"That's good 'cause I kinda miss them. Do you promise?"

Mac paused. "Yes, I promise." Kaiden smiled broadly and the Marine
felt awful for making such promises to the boy. "How about we try to get
some sleep? Then we'll be all fresh for when your Daddy returns." And all
the more capable to teach Harm the meaning of his nickname. "Isn't that
a great idea?"

Kaiden was not very impressed. "Hmm...I'm not very tired." The immortal
words from any four-year-old determined to avoid the dreaded bedtime.

His intermittent yawns belayed his declaration but Mac decided to
play along. "Okay, Scamp, how about we do something first? Watch some cartoons
or play a game?"

The toddler brightened at the suggestion. "Will you read to me and
Pikachu so the Monster doesn't come? A big, *long* story works best."

Judging from his mischievous grin, Mac highly doubted Kaiden actually
believed there were monsters lurking around. However, she pretended to
fall for his ruse. What was one story when the child was coping with the
disappearance of his family?

Tucking Kaiden back in her bed, Mac lay beside him, leaning on the
head post of her bed with the boy cosying against her. She opened the first
page of 'The Little Prince', the only book she possessed that was vaguely
suitable for young children, but before she could begin, Kaiden turned
up to gaze at her solemnly.

"You smell, y'know." Mac blinked, unsure of how to respond, when
Kaiden continued. "It's a good smell; you smelled like Mommy does. Kally
said it's 'cause you prob'ly both weared the same perf'oome but...I think
it 'cause you're both good and nice to us."

That was sweetest compliment Mac had ever received from a man before,
even if that 'man' was only four years old. Settling Kaiden back
down, it took only a few pages until he was once again soundly asleep and
safe from all the turmoil around him.

Taking in the small form she held in her arms, Mac felt a terrifyingly
intense surge of protectiveness towards her best friend's son. It was then
that she realised just the depth of the love she felt towards both Kaiden
and Kally...and she knew it would not just be Harm who would have difficulty
falling into the abyss of depression and hopelessness should anything happen
to Kally.

After that, her memories were blurred and hazy. She could vaguely
remember a strange smelling cloth being placed over her nose and mouth,
a man whispering platitudes to her. It didn't take Kally more than a brief
few seconds to realise what had happened- she'd been kidnapped and was
alone in the hands of some freak.

Kally might only have been ten years old however she wasn't stupid,
she knew what happened to kidnapped little girls. She had watched the late
night news and overheard Kayla discussing her cases with her mother enough
to know things were never pretty for such children. It was a sad fact but
the majority of children these days could give definitions for words like
'rape', 'paedophile' and 'molestation' and Kally was no exception. Her
mother had always warned her about evil men could do to little girls, Kally
usually tuned out the sermons thinking such things would never happen to
her.

Why was this happening? She'd already lost her mother, why was she
being punished further? She didn't want to die, not like this.

Now fully awake, the girl's heart pounded in pure, unadulterated
fear. Her eyes swam in tears of self-pity and panic, her throat choked
and terror twisting her stomach. Kally bolted up in the bed she lay in,
pushing aside the fleece blankets placed over her, only to have her attempts
to move away from the bed thwarted by a tug on her left wrist. She glanced
down to find her wrist shackled to the bedpost by a pair of handcuffs,
pulling futilely at the restriction.

"Okay...okay..." she breathed, attempting to calm herself.

Once in a more collected, if understandably jittery, state, Kally
surveyed the room, soaking in every detail. Oddly, the walls were painted
in candy pink with 'Barbie' motifs pasted here and there. A 'Barbie' duvet
cover had fallen to the floor and matching curtains hung from the moss-encrusted
window. On the surface of a cheap desk perched several 'Barbie' dolls,
already put to play Kally's trained eye noticed, and a silver-framed photo
of a smiling blond girl, who couldn't have been much younger than Kally
herself, mounted on a horse with a blond man standing by her.

Was it some sort of shrine? Did this psycho create all this to taunt
Kally, to show off his previous victim? Kally didn't recognise the photographed
girl from any news reports but Kayla had once said the FBI sometimes didn't
reveal information to protect victims' families. Maybe she'd been kidnapped
by some kind of serial killer.

It was the door, which caught her attention though. Even from the
bed, she could see the keyhole indicating she was locked in however, the
door seemed to be rotting away and the handle and lock looked to be rusting.
If she could free herself from the handcuffs, she might be able to push
the door open through sheer force. And if she could find her backpack,
the backpack, which also contained her grandmother's gun, the scales might
be tipped to her favour.

Completely immersed in her plans, Kally almost missed the sounds
of heavy footsteps approaching her room until shovelling could be heard
directly outside the door. Any courage she might have possessed flitted
away into nothing leaving behind the core of a frightened ten-year-old
child.

She slid up against the headboard, bringing her knees up to her
chest, as the door unlocked and the handle turned slowly. She inwardly
pleaded for it to be Harm or Kayla or Mac- *anybody*- coming to
tell her this was all a big mistake and she was safe yet she knew happy-endings
only occurred in fairytales and sugary Hollywood movies. Her life was anything
but a fairytale.

The girl blinked against the bright light, which poured into the
dim room, and she swallowed her screams of terror as the silhouette of
a tall, stocky man stood in the doorway. Kally tried in vain to choke back
her tears- she was damned if she was going to let this freak see her as
a weakling- but despite her effort, she couldn't prevent a soft whimper
escaping and a single tear from pooling over.

"Come now, Divia," the man murmured, in a surprisingly tender tone,
"why are you crying?"

It was then, as he stepped further into the room, Kally realised
this was the same man from the picture by the bedside. But why was he calling
her 'Divia' and why was he being so nice?

"W-who are you?" the girl asked, forcing the words past her frozen
throat.

"Don't you recognise me, Divia? It's Daddy."

If there was one certainty Kally could be sure of, it was PsychoMan
was most definitely *not* her father. Her mother might never have
always had good taste in men but she certainly would never had dated, let
alone bore a child with, someone who so obviously belonged in a room with
padded walls.

The question was, did she really want to shatter her kidnappers
fantasies and risk the consequences?

"I...I think you, uh, have the wrong kid, I know who my dad is and
you're definitely not him."

Suddenly, before Kally could react, PsychoMan grabbed her by the
shoulders and shook her as he spoke. "Those are lies, they want to take
you away from me, Divia. But you're mine."

"Lemme go," she struggled vainly against him, "you're hurting me."

He released her, stepping back. "You're mine," he whispered, "you're
mine. Your bitch mother tried to keep me from you but you're mine, no-one
can take you from me. No-one."

Kally could hear the mania in his voice, this man was not what one
could describe as stable. However, she was still suffering from the raw
grief of losing her mother and couldn't control her own impulsive anger
at hearing him dishonour her even if the child knew it wasn't really *her*
mother he was insulting.

"My name isn't Divia, you freak," the girl scowled, her eyes narrowed.
"And you're not my father! You're *NOT*!"

"No!" The man howled in rage, swiftly sweeping the trinkets of the
desk to the floor. Kally jerked back, pulling herself tighter in fear of
being struck but instead he calmed almost as quickly as his tempter ignited.
Slowly, his breathing still gruff, he bent down to pick up the photoframe
and set it back down. "*I* am your father, do you hear me?! I am
your father and no-one, not your grandparents or your devil mother, will
take you away from me."

He grabbed her harshly, holding in place by clutching her chin.
"Until you can learn to respect me and forget what brainwashing your mother
was trying on you, you're staying in here. Tomorrow morning I'll be taking
you up to my dad's old cabin in the mountains, your mother will never find
us there and we can be together forever."

He shoved her back down, stalking out the room and slamming the
door with such force Kally jumped in fright. Only when she heard to door
locking and PsychoMan retreating, did she draw her knees up to her chest
and cried for all she was worth, full gut-wrenching sobs, which shook her
whole body. She knew if the police didn't find her within the next few
hours, there was a definite chance she would never see Kaiden or Harm again...

Harm forced himself to inhale a deep, calming breath then shoved
his sidearm into his belt holster and fitted the small gun and holster
from his glove compartment around his ankle. He hadn't had the time to
requisition a kavlar jacket, not to mention it would have raised the suspicions
of Chegwidden if he had, but his own safety was secondary to him.

He just hoped that when Mac and Kayla did finally have their hands
on him, while they might never forgive him if he let his head be blown
off, they would understand his heart was in the right place. That, everything
including his life, was of little consequence when the life of one of his
children was at stake.

PsychoMan was sitting on a small stool, his stare boring into her
and his face contemplative. Kally held her breath, uncertain how to proceed.
The ball was in his court, as much as she wanted to scream, she knew her
fate was entirely in his hands.

Finally, he spoke in a soft paternal voice. "I thought you might
be hungry, Divia, so I cooked up some supper. It's your favourite, Southern
Fried Chicken and fries."

So he was still caught up in his fantasises. Kally decided now
was not the time to let him know chicken did not rank high on her list
of enjoyable foods. No, if she wanted PsychoMan to bring down his guard
then she had to play along with his madness.

Instead, she slowly sat up, when hiding her distaste she glanced
at the food. "Mmm, smells great."

Her voice was stilted and lacked any real joy but it was enough
to mollify her kidnapper. "I spent ages trying to make it just the way
you like it," he grinned.

"I'm sure it'll taste good." Kally strained to sit in a comfortable
position with her hand still handcuffed to the bed. Noticing her struggles,
PsychoMan reached forward and lifted her into place, the girl hoping he
wouldn't sense her disgust at his touch.

"Tell you what, if you promise to be a good girl for Daddy, I'll
take these handcuffs off. Do you promise?"

Kally's mind was working overtime at this prospect. "Yes," she quickly
answered, holding in her eagerness, "I promise." For extra coercion, she
added, "I'm sorry I was bad earlier, it was wrong and I'm sorry."

Upon hearing those words, PsychoMan smiled like a proud father.
"I knew you would get better, I knew it!" He lunged forward to bestow the
girl with a tight hug, his actions so swift she had no time to recoil.
"Oh, Div, no-one could come between us," he prattled as he fished for the
key in his pockets then proceeded to unlock the cuffs from Kally's thin
wrist. "Not even that damned nosy lawyer woman. I know she was in it,
she was working with your mother to keep you from me. But I saw to her,
I did. Soon we'll get your brothers back and we'll be a family again. Yes,
we will."

"What lawyer woman?" Kally asked slowly, already anticipating the
answer.

"That bitch who worked with your mother in the divorce, the one
who made them take the boys from me. She pretended you were dead but I
knew she was just keeping you for herself, your mother was in on it all.
But I took care of that lawyer, she won't be coming between us ever again,
not from where she is."

As he continued to chatter his repetitive nonsense, the full ramifications
of his former statement hit home. The man...the psycho was the same person
who had killed her mother, who had entered their house and shot her beloved
mom in cold blood all for some warped fantasy concocted by his deluded
mind.

For the first time in her young life, Kally recognised the true meaning
of hate. A deep-seated, soul-enveloping hatred. She wanted to hurt this
man, make him suffer every pain and torture possible. She wanted to grab
him and bash his head until his skull was little more than a shattered
goo of bone and blood.

But instead, she remained motionless, numbed. Kally was no position
to escape let alone hurt this man like he had hurt Kaiden and herself.
She could only allow her intentions of revenge and retribution fester in
her mind, her vivid imagination more than providing her with scenarios
of how to bring PsychoMan to his knees.

Oblivious to the viciously murderous thoughts of his victim, PsychoMan
ranted on completely unaware that every insult and slur he hurled at Alexia
Cameron's memory was fuelling the brutal rage of her daughter. How
she wanted to kill him.

Kally was picking at her dinner, her eyes dark and contemplative,
and her captor was talking about reclaiming her 'brothers' when a piercing
wail filled the air. The girl frowned as PsychoMan started up to his feet,
his eyes darting around and instantly turning from loveable father to unstable
maniac in the space of a few seconds.

"W-what is it?" Kally whispered, uncertain if she wanted to voice
such a query when he was obviously descended into an unfit state of mind.

"The intruder alarm," was the curt response, "someone's come to try
and steal you." He reached down, his hand digging into her shoulder tight
and painfully. "But I won't let them, you hear, I'll kill any*body*
that comes between you and me."

Kally said nothing. Inwardly, she wondered if the police SWAT team
were the ones who had tripped the alarm, or perhaps her Aunt Kayla. She
couldn't just sit here while this lunatic hurt a police officer or, worse,
killed Kayla. She wasn't going to let him come near her family again, even
if she had to strike him dead herself.

PsychoMan reached to replace the handcuffs but Kally quickly hid
her hands, "Please don't, those things hurt." She put on her most innocent,
sweet little girl voice and pleaded, "I won't do anything...I promise,
Daddy." It sickened her to associate the word 'Daddy with this *thing*
but it had the expected effect.

"Oh, you really do love me, don't you?" he smiled, all anger gone
from his voice. He seemed thoughtful. "Okay, I trust you, Divia, and I
won't tie you up. Don't let Daddy down."

Kally nodded with a tight smile. "I won't."

"Now stay here, Daddy's going hunting." He grinned fiendishly, pulling
a gun from his belt.

The girl managed to keep a watery smile pasted on until he marched
off, when the smile fell into disappointment as she heard the door lock
behind him. Damn, she'd hoped he would have had more trust in her. Kally
wasn't going to be so easily disheartened. She quickly leaped from the
bed to the window.

Although the glass was of a cheap, low-grade quality, her plans
to smash the window and climb or jump out were dashed when she saw her
room was located on at least the second or third floor, and she wasn't
so desperate to risk breaking her neck quite yet. Just as Kally moved to
the door, a car parked in the distance caught her eye. It was a good few
hundred metres away yet the shape was unequivocal- the vehicle was most
certainly a dark-coloured SUV.

Kally gasped, her brow so furrowed that it hurt. There had to be
millions of SUVs in the area, surely it wasn't...No, it was completely
absurd to think Harm would come after her, he didn't even have a clue who
would take her. She assumed the police would have instantly moved in on
Logan when Harm reported her disappearance, especially since he had tried
to kidnap her once before.

But she remembered Harm *was* a lawyer and a great one at
that. And then there was that abused kid Mac had told her about during
one of their sleep-overs when she had pestered her for stories. If her
adoptive father was willing to risk his life for the sake of a kid who
wasn't even his, she could only imagine what extents he would go to in
order to protect her and Kaiden.

However, the question was, if he was alone or had the back-up of
the police and FBI. Mac had mentioned, in aggravated disapproval, all the
times Harm took matters into his own hands. Only this time, Kally worried
if he would under-estimate his enemy, would think just because he was a
civilian that he wasn't too dangerous. That he wouldn't take PsychoMan's
unbalanced but determined mind into consideration.

If so, would he pay for such a mistake with his life leaving her
brother an orphan?

"No," Kally murmured.

It was difficult to stay afloat, to not let the abyss suck her in,
after her mother's death. Kally knew she wouldn't be able to cope if she
lost Harm, the only man to ever shower her with the love and security of
a father. And he was her father, maybe not by the simplicity of DNA and
genetics, but in her heart Harm was more her father than Logan could ever
be.

With this in mind and her resolution renewed, Kally darted over
to the door and set to work. She would kill PsychoMan for taking her mother
and threatening her father, if it was the last thing she did, she would
be the one to confine his miserable hide to the depths of hell where he
belonged.

Slipping back to his training still fresh even after years of working behind a desk, Harm surveyed the large ground floor of warehouse. There were hundreds of neatly lined rows of merchandise, now all musty with months of neglect. Furthermore, it was hardly the place to hide a kidnapped child.

Spotting a small corner office in the back, Harm stealthily made his way through the rows of boxes, never once lowering his guard. The office was locked but a had shove against the cheap, rotting wood sent door swinging open, the locking device snapping from the doorway. Somehow, he was not surprised to find the room lit.

The state office itself made the shameful tip the kids had made with his bedroom look like Buckingham palace. Papers were piled on the desk and floor, files were sticking from the filing cabinet and there, amongst the sea of papers on the desk, was a cup of coffee. Harm moved forward, feeling the cup.

It was still warm.

And it was there, lying on the chair, was what caught his eye. A small sports rucksack, so very familiar given he had packed Kally off to school with one just like it the very day she disappeared. Harm manoeuvred around the desk to the chair, picking the bag up meticulously so as not to ruin any potential forensic evidence.

Sure enough, on the rucksack's identification tag, in Alex's precise print, were the words 'Kallinda Cameron, Cordell Elementary School'. He hadn't thought to update it yet. But all he was concerned about was the fact Kally was here or had been here.

Suddenly, the office and the entire ground floor was plunged into pitch darkness. Harm lurched into renewed vigilance, lifting his sidearm up, pointing it into the black shadows before him. It was a futile defensive tactic though, he couldn't see a foot ahead of him let alone track a perpetrator. He was, for all intents and purposes, a sitting duck.

Just as Harm considered a strategic retreat, a heavy force rammed into him at such a speed and impact both tumbled to the floor. His sidearm now lost in the scuffle, Harm reoriented himself in the dark when he realized his enemy's advantage; the flash of luminous red light much like the drug runners at the Texas air base four years previously. Farmley had infrared goggles.

"You're not getting her," Farmley screamed, hysterically, "she's *mine*!"

"You son of a bitch, you better not have hurt her."

Harm struggled against Farmley, striving to pull the goggles from him, but the nutcase had the upper hand from the start. Then the blast of a gun echoed through the warehouse, loud and hollow.

At first he wasn't aware he had been hit until a gnawing, gut-wrenching pain exploded in his left shoulder and he felt a numbness instantly travelling down his left arm to his fingers. For what seemed like an eternity, Harm's breathing sounded thunderous to his own ears and a lull seemed to calm his surroundings. He had never been shot before. It was surreal, like he was floating...

The violent brutality of Farmley soon brought him back to reality as the other man shook him harshly, Harm's teeth rattling in the process and his injured shoulder agonizingly painful as shards of fire ripped through it. He was shocked at how weak he had been rendered in a short pace of time. And as much as he desperately wished to give in to the enclosing darkness of unconsciousness, he knew if he let go now then he wouldn't wake up again.

Kally needed him...He wouldn't let her down even if Farmley pumped him full of lead.

Harm managed to sneak his right hand up and gouged his fingers into Farmley's throat with all his energy. Then he felt a cold, hard metallic object shoved under his chin, stilling his movements. His hand fell to his side. Farmley cocked the gun.

"No-one's going to take my daughter from me," Farmley whispered resolutely to Harm.

There was nothing he could do; he just prepared himself for what was surely coming. He was in God's hands now and readying himself for whatever path death would take him.

Without warning, the lights abruptly flashed to life causing Harm to wince as his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. Farmley shrieked, hurling the goggles from his face, blinded as the infra-red vision frying his eyeballs. Seeing his captor distracted, Harm struggled to muster enough energy to move, escape, anything.

A shadow stepped into his line of vision, standing above he and Farmley. With an feral growl of rage, the shadow heaved something down hard against Farmley. All Harm heard was a sickening thud as the sociopath fell to his side, clutching his head with a muffled groan, and the clatter of the gun when it fell from Farmley's grasp. As his sight cleared and adapted to the unexpected light, he was surprised to find Kally standing over him, a two-by-four plank dangling in her hand.

She might have been in better health than he, nevertheless, his first concern was for her safety.

Despite his pain, Harm managed to find the strength within himself to utter, "Run, Kally, run!"

Only Kally made no move to escape. She stepped back a few paces until she now stood over the fallen revolver. Swiftly, the girl reached down for the gun lying by her feet. As Farmley rolled on the floor, still reeling from the force of the assault, his eyes widened in shock when, with careful precision, Kally lifted the gun and aimed it directly at Farmley. There was confusion in her eyes, as if she wasn't in full control of her body, but her actions were rigid and determined and her features were devoid of emotion. To Harm, it seemed so unnatural seeing a deadly weapon in such small, innocent hands.

"D-divia...? What are you doing?" Farmley stuttered, as if truly stunned that the child would pull a weapon against him.

Harm ignored Farmley, focusing all his attention on Kally and everything else melding into the background. "Kally," he said softly, trying not to frighten the girl further, "give the gun to me."

Revenge seemed such a sweet option, especially to a grief-stricken child. But Harm knew he had to prevent Kally from killing this man, no matter how much either of them wished to see Farmley rotting in hell. There was little to deny the feelings of retribution would soothe Kally for a brief period, and no court in the world would convict a ten-year-old, in such circumstances, for shooting the man who murdered her mother.

However later on, when events died down, the guilt of taking the life of another would consume Kally, haunt her all her life. Harm couldn't allow Farmley to ruin his child's future more than he had.

"He killed my mom, Harm, he killed her."

"Please, Kally...give me the gun." In a sterner voice, he said, "Kallinda, now."

The girl shook her head in a quick fashion. "Mom always said you gotta save the people you love."

"Your mom wouldn't want you to do this for her, she wouldn't want you to hurt any more because of this scum. Please, Kally, don't let him hurt our family any more, give me the gun."

Pursing her lips, Kally frowned in uncertainty, her eyes darting from the gun to Farmley. Harm wondered what she was thinking. For a moment, alarm rushed through him as Kally's finger stroked the trigger then she exhaled heavily, a sigh filled with more weariness than a ten-year-old child should know.

"There's a gun in my schoolbag," Kally said, her voice on the verge of breaking. "Take it out and then I'll put this one down."

Harm didn't even take the time to question how a gun managed to make its way into the schoolbag of his daughter. Instead he hastily grabbed at the rucksack and opened it, fishing for the named gun. He was briefly surprised when he located the small revolver, tucked away in an interior side pocket, but that was a lecture for another time.

Once he was in position, stoically guarding over almost catatonic Farmley ready for the slightest movement, Kally inched past her kidnapper to Harm's side where she relinquished her weapon without hesitation. With Kally's now muted assistance, Harm secured Farmley with some plastic ties lying around the office, sello-taping his mouth shut for good measure.

Only when Farmley was no longer a threat and he moved Kally out of the office, did Harm have the chance to take a good look at the girl before him. Kally's normally soft, shining hair was limp and her eyes were dulled. He never thought he had seen the child so despondent.

Sliding down against the wall, drained and his adrenaline rush extinguished as the pain and blood loss of his injured shoulder caught up with him, Harm pushed back the distinct throbbing and held open his right arm.

"Oh Kally..." he murmured.

A choked sob escaped the little girl as she threw herself in Harm's arms with such force he grunted softly as his shoulder was jostled. He ignored the flare of pain and slide his unencumbered arm around Kally, rocking just as he knew Alex would do with her crying daughter. She wept heavily, cleansing sobs as the weeks of suppressed emotions poured out at last.

After some time, Harm wasn't sure exactly how long had passed, Kally calmed and her hold on him relaxed. She remained encircled in his arm but sat back.

"I...wanted to kill him, Harm," Kally mumbled. "Does that make me bad?"

"*No*, no, that doesn't make you bad, Kally," was her vehement reply. "You did nothing no other person would do in your position, only some people may not have had the courage to put the gun down."

"I hate him, I hate him so much." She glanced down, ashamed at this admission.

"That's fine, it's alright to hate him." Harm lifted her head up so they were eye-to-eye. He was always amazed at how when he looked at Kally, he saw Alex. And today, the child had proved just how she carried the mother's integrity and honour within her. "It's your right to hate, but if you *ever* feel that hate is bubbling and you're having problems dealing, I want you to tell me. I'm your father and it's my job to look out for you. You understand?"

Kally nodded. "It's okay now, I feel better. I'm glad I know who hurt Mom, that I helped bring him down."

"And I'll see that justice will be served for you and Kaiden, I'll make sure I do."

"Yeah, Mom always said you were the best."

Farmley was unlikely to face the execution, but Harm would see to it that he would never see the outside world again. Knowing that the psychopath who had obviously tormented his family and stolen a good woman from the world deserved no less than a life behind bars. And yet, had he lost Kally like Farmley had lost his daughter Divia, Harm wasn't one hundred percent sure he would have coped any better?

Uncomfortable with such thoughts and unwilling to jinx the happy outcome, Harm just tousled Kally's hair. "No, I think that title belongs to your mother, she would do anything to see a wrong turn into a right." There was one thing, which did puzzle Harm. "So, just how did you get here if you were locked in a room?"

"I, um, picked the lock," Kally said, sheepishly.

"Picked the lock?! How did you...?"

The girl shrugged. "Mac says she wasn't always a Marine."

"Yes, well, I'll be sure to have a talk to her about what you guys do when you're together."

In truth whatever disapproval he might have felt towards his partner was minute in comparison to his gratitude. He was thankful that whoever watched over little girls and Navy officers had kept them safe to see another day, he was thankful to Isabel Farmley for gathering her courage to turn in her ex-husband, and most of all he was thankful that Alex had given him such a precious and loving gift in her daughter.

The EMTs tried to persuade him to accompany them to the hospital for x-rays and a proper check-up but he stubbornly refused. All he wanted was the wound dressed, some antibiotics and a good dose of painkillers. Spending the night cooped up in some hospital did not fit into his plans. Tomorrow he would go live in the hospital if they wanted him to, today all Harm wanted to do was shut himself away from the world for a while taking his children with him where he'd be sure they were safe.

"Still insisting on being a pain-in-the-five," Kayla remarked, overhearing his arguments with the EMTs.

"It's 'six', Kayla," he corrected automatically, "the proper Naval term is 'six'."

"Five, six? What's the difference?" She sat beside him and judging from her all too cool, dismissive demeanour, she was not in the most pleasant of moods with him. "So, are you sure you're going to be okay?"

"Yes, it could have been worse." Harm knew better than to be taken in by her sweet, concerned tones.

And his suspicions were correct when she smiled tightly. "You're right, it could have been much worse but I'm glad to hear you'll be okay. Now using FBI proper terms, if you ever do anything so stupid and boneheaded again and I hear about it, I'm going to shove my gun so far up your *six* people will think Smith and Wesson's have entered the hat trade. Comprende?"

"Crystal," Harm said quickly, hating himself for sounding like a naughty schoolboy.

"Good...Oh, and don't think that you've gotten off scot free. I think Mac will be wanting to have a word with you as well and while I admit *I* have a temper, I sure wouldn't want to be in your shoes when she's through with you."

Harm couldn't have said it better himself, Mac was not going to be amused. She tolerated many of his weaker points like his affinity for perfection and his little obsessions, if there was one thing she hated, it had to be frequent habit of going off on his own. He winced when one of the EMTs began dressing his wound then smiled, perhaps Mac would be more forgiving if he played the sympathy card. Then again, she *was*a Marine and had a resistance to his charms.

"Harm, I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now." Kayla's voice took on a more sombre quality and he could sense her switching into 'serious' mood.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just...Harm, I've been offered a great position in California, in their Behavioural Support Unit. I'd be promoted to ASAC and it'd be a great opportunity for my career."

He grinned. "That's great, it's about time they moved you up in the ranks."

She smiled back. "Yeah, I do have to admit I was thinking of turning it down. I wasn't sure if you were ready to be completely alone with our pair yet but, you know, I think it's all going to work out."

Harm followed her gaze to where Mac sat with Kally, quietly talking to the little girl with a comforting arm around her shoulders. He mellowed, knowing his partner would probably be trying to take his still shocky daughter's
off this whole ordeal.

"You're going to be a wonderful father, Harm, my sister would be very proud and honoured to know what you're doing for her children. And if you do get stuck, you'll always have my support but I also know you've got some very good friends to help you. You're going to do fine, and it's time I let you get on with things."

"Thank you, Kay," he whispered, "I don't think I'd have got far at all without you."

She leaned forward, kissing him softly on his lips. It wasn't the passionate wilds of two lovers, but a gesture of love between two closer friends. She stepped back after a moment. "I'm going to check in on my niece, you be a good boy and let the paramedics fix you up."

"Yes, Ma'am."

When the EMTs finished up, forcing him into a sling with strict orders to rest his left shoulder until he saw his own doctor, Harm was finally left alone to think of ways to make peace with Mac. So absorbed in his pondering, he didn't realise the objects of his thoughts was standing not five feet away, studying him like a scientist would examine a specimen. It wasn't until she cleared her throat discreetly did he glance up with
a jerk to acknowledge her presence.

"Sorry," Mac said, when she saw his eyes crease slightly in pain at his sudden movements. Harm didn't think she sounded the least bit apologetic but he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. With a weary sigh, Mac sat down beside him in the back of the ambulance.

"Where's Kaiden?" Harm asked, a little anxious at his son being out of his sight but well aware Mac would never leave him with anyone unsavoury.

"Back at my apartment, I asked the Admiral to come around and watch him. The mood he was in when he found out what you were up to, let's just say no kidnapper would dare mess with him."

Great, now he would have to contend with a pissed-off ex-SEAL later. More so, Harm was stunned by Mac's choice of babysitter. One did not just drop in on one's superior officer for babysitting favours. "You left him with the Admiral?!"

"Harm, relax, the man is a former SEAL and the Judge Advocate General. I'm sure he can watch out for one little boy for a few hours without the world going into a global apocalypse. The man has got a daughter of his own and need I remind you he *did* deliver AJ Roberts single-handedly." She regarded his wounded shoulder and slinged arm. "So, are you sure you're not seriously hurt?" she asked, concerned.

"I'll be fine, it's a through-and-through," Harm assured.

"Good." With that, Mac delivered a swift cuff to the back of Harm's head.

"What the hell was that for?" Harm whined, rubbing his head pathetically.

"That's for being so stupid as to come here on your own in the first place, you could have been killed! What would I have told Kaiden then- 'sorry, your daddy paid for his own one way ticket to Heaven'?"

"I'm sorry, Mac, I didn't think..."

"That's right, you didn't." She sighed heavily. "That little boy was petrified, he wouldn't even let us out of his sight. I had to wait until he was in deep sleep before I could risk leaving him. Dammit, Harm, you of all people should understand what Kaiden must have felt losing his mother then nearly his father, and you only lost one parent. And at least you had the knowledge your dad died in war, not on some macho suicide mission."

It was a low blow but nothing less than he deserved. Still, he had to explain even if it meant laying his soul bare. "It wasn't some macho thing," he murmured. He glanced down, feeling Mac's eyes boring into his skull at those words. "I did this because I had to. I'm in the damned military, Mac, unlike most parents of kids who go missing, I had the chance to bring my child home. No father would turn that opportunity down. The protective instincts I felt for Darlin were ten times more stronger, I wasn't going to stand back on this and if I got hurt or died then so be it. For these kids, I would do anything, I wasn't going to lose Kally like I lost Alex."

He blinked in surprised as Mac placed a gentle hand on his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze and their eyes lock- his bewildered blue and her compassionate brown. "I would never expect you to just sit back, your training and your instincts are too well honed to do nothing and I know that. I just wished you'd said something, *anything*. I don't want to be the one to come and ID your body in the morgue. I'm your partner and your friend, Harm, I would always back you up no matter how crazy I think your plans are, I hope you know that."

Harm reached his right hand up to clasp her hand. "I know, I didn't want to put you at risk in mission that involved my child. I just forgot that in some ways, you're now Kally's family as much as I am." Mac's eyes glistened at those words. To give her the time she needed to compose herself, Harm frowned mock severity. "I heard you taught my ten-year-old to pick locks?"

"That was an accident," Mac quickly responded, defensively, "I was trying to get my jewel case open and I'd lost the key so I resorted to the old hair pin trick. I didn't count on Kally would watching with such interest."

"Kally sees all, and God only knows what she intends to do with this 'knowledge'."

"Yes, and I wonder what she'll do with the knowledge that if her father can go off on crazed missions then she can too."

Harm snorted. "I get the feeling we'll have to watch we don't take stowaways on board when we go on our more interesting cases. But you don't have to worry now, there isn't going to be any more off-the-wall missions on my part. The Navy in me kind of enjoys them but the father in me knows better."

Mac smiled. "Well, it's good to hear a part of you actually uses that genius intellect of yours."

Just then, Kally strolled over and, for a child who was recently kidnapped, a very smug grin tugging at her lips. She was eyeing Harm and Mac far too scrupulously for her father's comfort. "Hi, guys," she greeted, her eyes regaining her typical sparkle.

"Don't get any ideas, Sport," warned Mac, pulling slightly away from Harm.

"I won't but my ideas always work out at the end."

Harm was at a loss, though he had a distinct vision of his daughter and her attempts to play Cupid. "What are you two talking about?"

"Girl stuff," answered his daughter and partner simultaneously.

"Yeah, right." Harm pulled his daughter into his arm with his unencumbered hand. "Are you doing okay, Kall?"

"Fine," replied Kally, for now content in the safety of her father's arm. "Does...does your shoulder hurt?"

"This- it's no big deal, I get more pain kick-boxing with Mac."

"He's right," agreed Mac, playing along, "he needs to learn kick-boxing with Marines is not a safe hobby."

"I..." Kally looked down. "I thought you might have been hurt bad, that I should have done more."

"No," Harm said, his voice so firm and absolute that Kally gazed back to him. "No, none of this was your fault, Sport. That man was sick and nothing you could do would have stopped him. You did very well, Kally, don't ever think otherwise and I know your mom would be very proud of you."

The girl beamed. "There *is* just one thing we need to talk about."

"Yeah?"

"From now on, Kall, let's leave the gun at home."

To her credit, Kally had the grace to look chastised. "I will, I promise. I was only-"

She was interrupted by a commotion from the front of the police lines. At first, Harm assumed some nosy vulture of a reporter had wind of Kally's recovery until Logan Raine's load, demanding voice cut through the hustle and bustle of the crime scene.

"Where's my kid? I have a right to see her." Raine caught sight of Kally sitting between Harm and Mac but his intent on zeroing in on the trio was halted by two police officers who stepped in his path, ready to contain him. "That's my daughter. Hey, Rabb, tell them who I am."

Harm, for his part, was perfectly willing to allow the police to cart Raine away and he probably would have kept quiet had Kally not been present. However, the child had been through enough today and he wasn't going to add to her emotional problems.

"It's okay, he's with us."

The police officers cast one last suspicious scowl at Raine before releasing him to run over and scoop Kally from Harm's side into his arms.

"Are you okay, Kallinda?" Raine asked, sounding almost like a genuine father. "That bastard didn't touch you, did he? Because if he harmed one hair on your head, I'll kill him myself."

"I'm okay, Logan." Kally clung to him for a moment before wriggling free and moving back to Harm. "Harm found me before anything could happen."

A flash of pain passed across Raine's eyes then he smiled tightly. "Just so long as you're okay, Kall."

"I am." Kally tugged Harm's uninjured arm. "I want to go home, Harm, I don't want to be here anymore."

She sounded so young and anxious as she spoke. Harm just prayed she could regain her confidence in time, nevertheless what she needed most at this moment in time was the safety and security his poky little apartment
provided. She needed her home and her family.

The two military officers stood up, Mac offering Harm a little assistance. "Sure, Sport, we're going home," Harm assured. He glanced over Kally's head to Mac. "Mac, can you take her back to the car? I'll be there in a minute."

Mac cast him a puzzled frown but nodded, taking Kally's hand in her own. "Come on, Kally, we'll go wait in the car, it'll be warmer there."

Harm waited until she had led the girl away before facing Raine. The two men studied each other until Harm broke the silence. "She's going to be fine, it'll just take some time."

"Yeah, she's always been a tough kid, too much of Alex in her."

"That's not such a bad thing," Harm said, almost defensively.

"No, no, it's not." Raine inhaled deeply. "You don't know how hard this is for me, Rabb? Having your only daughter look into another man's eyes and think of him as her dad when I'll always be just Logan to her."

He knew how much it cost the other man to utter those words, to his bitter rival no less. "Yes, I do...It's the same kind of pain when you look into the eyes of your only son and realise you've missed the first four years of his life, years that can never be reclaimed."

"Take care of my girl, Rabb." Ironically, it was a similar sentiment he had asked of Mac not three or four hours ago. With that, Raine stepped back and wandered off to wherever he had parked his car.

Harm watched him, comprehending what Raine had said and the undertone of his words. He had the feeling Logan Raine would not be spouting any more dirges about contesting Kally's custody. The man was finally putting his daughter's needs before his own wants. And maybe in time, Harm would even allow Raine to play some part in Kally's life again.

But for now, all thoughts of Logan Raine were pushed to the back of his mind as he turned to join Mac and Kayla; it was time to reunite his family.

Madison Park
Washington DC
1310 EST, April 18th
"Daddy, look how fast I can run!"

"That's great, Scamp. Just don't go too far ahead, kids, stay where we can see you."

"Aww, Harm, I'm not a little kid no more..." was the expected protest from a young girl who was growing up fast, too fast for Harm's taste.

"I mean it, Kally," Harm replied in his stern paternal tone. She sighed but didn't argue.

"You're getting good at this," Mac commented.

"It comes with the territory."

If someone had told him a year ago that he was destined to become a father of two children in such dire circumstances, Harm would have laughed before committing them to a nice room with padded walls. Now, with more than half a year of fatherhood under his belt, he couldn't imagine life without Kally and Kaiden and, while he wouldn't recommend his situation as the most ideal route to parenting, he wouldn't trade his new and vastly adapted life for the world.

Life over the past seven months had changed so much for the sudden father and his children. The 'honeymoon' period was long over and Harm was seeing his pair in a new light. Kally, now coming up for her eleventh birthday, was not exempt from mouthing off, being immensely obstinate and generally showing Harm what was in store for him as she approached her teens.

As for the just turned five-year-old Kaiden, he certainly was no angel by comparison and Harm was learning exactly how manipulative his little son could be when it came to achieving his own way. In fact the boy's antics reminded Harm of another young Rabb at aged five, it was enough to make him almost beg his mother for forgiveness for the brat he must have been at times.

And he wasn't even going to go into how much his monthly expenditure had increased ten-fold since he'd 'inherited' a fashion-conscious pre-pubescent and a toy-obsessed tot. Not to mention the four bedroom, suburban house he'd splashed out on four months previously.

Of course, he was not alone as he battled through these trials of his adjusting family. Ellish always provided assistance as the adoring grandmother and his own mother was relishing her new grand-parenting role. Kayla often made trips from Los Angeles to visit her young niece and nephew since she had always been a huge part of their lives before, and Harm could never forget Harriet, who had put herself in charge of their children's after-school care.

And then there was Mac...While she would never take the place of Alex, she was wonderful confidant for Kally when the girl needed to talk to a female perspective in her life and she made Harm's transition from a practically never-ending work hours to a nine-to-five job easier, frequently babysitting the kids on those now rare occasions when he had to go out-of-town. Both Mac's practical and emotional support was one of the main reasons Harm and the children quickly settled into the whole situation; without her help, Harm wondered if he could ever have coped with Kally and Kaiden during those difficult few weeks in the beginning.

And so it was only fitting that she should join in the celebrations on the day the final adoption papers for Kally arrived and Harm could finally relax with the knowledge that his family couldn't be split up. Kally also needed that extra security after her ordeal at Farmley's hand. Although she had largely recovered with the resilience of a child, the papers provided her with proof that she was now Harm's daughter and no-one could take her from him.

After a celebratory lunch at Kally's favourite restaurant, Harm and Mac took the kids to the park to run off their energy. It was pleasant to enjoy a more normal day out after the upheaval and trauma of the last year and the adults enjoyed watching the children release their energy exuberantly.

"I'm going to be a pilot and fly big fat jets just like Daddy!" Kaiden announced, running ahead and giggling as his sister chased him.

"Yeah, I think I'd look good in the uniform," grinned Kally.

"We'll see about that," Harm murmured.

Mac smirked at him. "Did I actually hear those words come out of the mouth of Hotshot Pilot Harmon Rabb Junior? I'll have to inform the president."

He just smiled sheepishly. "Well, let's just say I'm beginning to see things from Annie's point of view. My kids are going to get nice safe jobs as teachers or country doctors."

"You obviously haven't seen that state of today's high schools." After a moment, Mac regarded him frankly. "You were really considering leaving the Navy for a while there, weren't you?"

They hadn't discussed this after he had first proposed the suggestion a while ago but Harm knew it still played on Mac's mind. In some ways, his best friend reminded him much of his young daughter; both were insecure at times and were prone to instances of being emotionally vulnerable, no matter how self-confident they appeared on the surface.

Kally's problems stemmed from being a motherless child who worried what place she had in Harm's life. On the other hand, although Mac might have been a grown woman, her troubled childhood led to her difficulty in trusting people. Harm was one of the first people to break down those walls and she probably felt resigned that she was going to lose another loved one had he actually left for Baltimore.

No doubt to her surprise, Harm didn't try to deny discharge from the Navy had been a possibility. "I joined the Navy to fly- which is something I can't do any longer- and I've found out what happened to my father. My life has been domineered by that since I was a kid, my whole life focused on how I could find him...Maybe it's time I learned to live a little. But a new career is a possibility I've put out of my mind for now. The kids are settled here now, I don't want to uproot them again. They deserve stability after everything that has happened, and I want to give them that."

"You don't sound too certain."

"I suppose the idea of living in Baltimore did have its good points," he admitted. "Practically, it wouldn't have been too hard for me to up and leave DC. There are a lot of good law firms in Baltimore and the kids would be able to return to their old school and be closer to their grandmother."

"And you could be closer to Kayla if she decided to come home?" Was that a hint of jealousy he heard in her voice? He couldn't be sure.

"I suppose." He smiled lightly, turning to Mac. "But I'm not looking for a relationship with anyone just now, Mac, least of all with Kayla. When the time comes, it will come...For now I just want to concentrate on the children. They need me to be there for them unconditionally."

Mac took his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Well, even if things do change, I'll stand by you in whatever you decide...and I'll be there for Kally and Kaiden too."

Harm smiled. "I know you will, just as we're here for you. You know, I think we have to make up the most unconventional family in the country."

Mac glowed at the idea of being included in his little family. "Yeah, unconventional but the best."

If there was one lesson Kally and Kaiden had succeeded in teaching he and Mac, it was that some times nature had to be allowed to take it's course without being forced. Perhaps, something more than friendship would blossom between them or maybe they were just meant to be nothing more than best friends...And, whatever the future held for them, their close-knit friendship was more than enough to satisfy them both. THE END

So, what did you think? Sorry that the format changed in the middle of the story, my computer had a wee accident and decided to change the file from html to txt. Anyway, this was more a story of Harm's life changing as he and the kids adjusted to each other with the murder investigation as a 'B' story. I bet everyone just loved the kids' names; I don't know where I came up with them. Kallinda is an actual name from the 'Star Trek: New Frontier' books but Kaiden was something that just came to me (it does sounds quite a Scottish name though). Also, thanks to all those people who emailed me with kind words and encouraged me to get a move on with this, I hope the wait was worth it!