"Do you ever wish things had turned out differently?" Mac whispered, turning to look at the man sitting in the chair beside her.

Harm refused to let the tears fall. "Yes," he answered, holding her hand tightly.

She was lying back on the hospital bed, her face thin and pale. Her hair was spread out across the pillow, framing her still beautiful face. She was going in for another surgery, one that she might not make it through. No other treatments had worked so far, this surgery was the last option she had.

He had been there through it all with her; the times when she had hardly been able to get out of bed because it hurt so badly, the times when she had spent hours in the bathroom, unable to keep anything in her stomach. There had been good times too; times they had spent on the couch watching movies together. Harm had spent the last few weeks trying to make up for everything he had done, or hadn't done, over the years. He had been sweet, loving, and kind to her in ways she could never have imagined. He had always been with her, by her side, helping her when she asked and more importantly, even when she didn't.

"Thank you for being here," she continued her voice weak and soft.

"I will always be there for you," promised Harm.

"Are you going to go home when they put me under?"

"No," he assured her. "I'll be here waiting when you come out."

"If I come out," she corrected.

"Sarah, don't."

"Harm, you know I might not make it through this. I need you to accept that. I can't handle it...if...," she trailed off, her own tears threatening to spill over.

He broke down, burying his face in his hands. "I don't want to lose you, Sarah." The pain in his heart and in his soul was unbearable. He hated the feeling of not having control over the situation, of at least knowing that everything would turn out all right. He hated the unknown.

Mac smiled faintly and reached out to touch his head gently. She slowly ran her fingers through his short dark hair, caressing it. "You won't lose me, I'll always be with you," she softly told him.

"I love you," he told her, lifting his head up to look at her. The tender look in his eyes only confirmed his words.

She only smiled at him, unable to say the words he so desperately wanted to hear. She didn't know why she couldn't say them to him at that moment, she did love him. She had loved him since their first meeting in the Rose Garden and ever since. Even when he had rejected her in Australia, even when he left her and JAG to return to flying, she had loved him still.

"Come here," she invited hoarsely.

Harm gently gathered her up in his arms and hugged her tightly. They both gave in to their tears and cried; crying for lost chances, missed opportunities, and with the knowledge that this might be the last time they would be with each other.

The nurse stood in the doorway, watching the scene unfold before her. The doctor had sent her to prepare the Colonel for surgery but she decided that it could wait a few more minutes. Finally, she could wait no longer.

The light knock at the door startled the couple and Harm laid her back gently on the bed.

"Colonel Mackenzie? We're ready now," the nurse informed her.

Mac looked at Harm for comfort before nodding to the nurse. "Okay," she slowly answered.

"I'll be here waiting when you get out," he promised again, giving her hand a gentle squeeze and giving special emphasis to the word "when".

She gave him a sweet smile as the two orderlies and the nurse moved her onto the gurney and wheeled her out of the room. Harm followed by her side as she was wheeled down the hallways toward the surgery room.

"Sir, we'll have to ask you to stay here," the nurse firmly told him.

"I know," he responded, his eyes focused on Mac. He reluctantly released her small hand from his grasp and it fell back limply on the bed.

He watched as they began to move her inside the doors and then as she whispered for them to stop. She motioned for him to come forward and he hurried to her side.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I love you too, Harm," she told him, the words faint but her voice still held that quiet strength she had possessed for so many years.

He bent over her and leaned down, brushing his lips across hers in a sweet kiss. Before he pulled back, he whispered, "I love you, Sarah, and I'll be waiting." He flashed her a flyboy grin, the one meant only for her; trying to reassure her that everything would be okay.

She gave him one last smile and watched as he faded from her view, the large doors closing as she was wheeled away from him.

AN: I was only going to post just this chapter, but because of the many, wonderful reviews, I've decided to continue it. Hopefully you'll enjoy what is to come as much as you've all loved this!