"Tiner. This is Captain Krennick."

"Good Morning, Captain."

"I was wondering if there was a reason, I hadn't heard back about the request I sent in 2 months ago."

"One second, Captain, and I'll look." Tiner pulled the folder he had continually shuffled to the bottom of the stack. "I have it right here, ma'am. He hasn't had a chance to look at it, but I'll make sure he sees it today."

"That's good, Tiner. I'd hate to wake the Admiral at home."

"Yes, ma'am." The phone clicked in Tiner's ear. He stared at the incriminating folder.

"Good morning, Tiner. Is that for me?" The Admiral looked in a good mood as he passed by Tiner's desk. Tiner got up and followed the Admiral.

"Yes, Sir. You have a meeting with Admiral Morris at 1000. And with Captain Lars at 1300. Here's today's mail. And I'm sorry, sir. This was misfiled a month ago. I just found it." Tiner turned over the folder. Hating himself, he walked out of the office. He knew the next words over the intercom would be, 'send in Commander Rabb.' Maybe the Commander has Court today. That would delay the inevitable longer.

Sure enough, Tiner heard the words he didn't want to hear. "Send in Commander Rabb, Tiner."

"Yes, Sir." Tiner got up from his desk and went on his search. He found the Commander in his office, studying a law book intently. "Sir?"

"What do you need, Tiner?"

"The Admiral would like to see you, Sir."

Harm looked up. Tiner was pale and sickly looking. "Are you alright, Petty Officer?"

"I'm fine, sir." Just hating the fact that I'm the instrument of sending you away.

Harm put on his jacket, the paper in his breast pocket crinkling slightly. "Let's go then, Tiner. We'd hate to keep the Admiral waiting."

"Yes, Sir." They both walked to the Admiral's office.

Harm stood at attention in front of the Admiral's desk while Tiner closed the heavy wooden door.

"Sit down, Commander." The Admiral said gruffly.

"Thank you, sir." Harm sat comfortably.

"I've just received a request from Captain Krennick in Naples. She has a position open for an XO, she thought that it might be suited to you." The Admiral watched Harm. Was that a slight tenseness in his face? "I was wondering if you had any objections before I approved the request."

"Sir, I'd rather not go to Naples. I'm happy here."

"This isn't a democracy, Commander. Unless you have some valid problems with the assignment, you're going. So is there a problem, Commander Rabb?"

"Sir. Captain Krennick and I do not get along well together."

"That is secondary to the job, Rabb."

"Sir. If I may." Harm pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it over to the Admiral.

"What's this, Commander?"

"My letter of resignation, sir."

"Are you unhappy with the Navy? With Jag?"

"No, Sir. I'd like to pursue a wife and family, sir. I feel that my current assignment hampers that, sir."

"A lot of Naval officers have children, Mr. Rabb."

"Yes, Sir. But I won't be able to provide for them on a Commander's salary, sir."

"So, this is about the money."

Harm swallowed thickly. It was a calculated move. The Admiral hated people leaving for civilian law firms. Harm would be out on his ass, no questions asked in 30 seconds flat. "Yes, Sir." He would never be able to talk to the Admiral again. At least not in a friendly manner.

"Fine. Your terminal leave starts today. Hand your case files over to Tiner and clear out your office before lunch." The Admiral's voice was filled with resignation.

"Yes, Sir."

"Dismissed."

"Aye, Sir."

"Mr. Rabb."

"Sir?"

"I thought you were made of better stuff than that, Commander."

"Yes, Sir." Harm left. Everything he wanted was ended with that letter. Well most everything. Harm walked to his office, the bullpen was quiet, most of the staff was off doing something and all the lawyers were in court. He could clear out before anyone knew he was gone.

Harm packed up his stuff in a box, and walked to hand Tiner his cases.

"Sir, do you need me to arrange shipment of your things to Italy?"

"No, Tiner. I'm not going to Italy."

"Sir?"

"Call me Harm, Tiner. I'm no longer in the Navy." Harm smiled at the young man's stricken expression. "I'll see you around." Harm turned to walk out of the office.

"Commander!" Harm turned around at the frantic call. "It was an honor serving with you." Tiner saluted crisply. Harm smiled and saluted back.

"You too, Tiner." Harm picked up his cover and box and left the bullpen without a single word. Some dreams must end. Harm remembered the thought that haunted him after he found his father's fate. It was something he heard in his dreams now. What was the second part? But a new one will take its place. I hope so. He thought.

@@

Mac entered Harm's apartment, her heels clicking on the hardwood flooring. She'd had to wait until after work to come ask Harm what was up. His desk had been cleared out and the Admiral had called her in to talk about reassignments for his cases. Bud was instructed to move back into Harm's office. The board had been cleared of Harm's name. 30 minutes after lunch it was as if Commander Harmon Rabb Jr., had never worked at Jag headquarters. Phone calls to Harm's home or cell phone had come up empty, so now here she was.

Harm was sitting in his desk chair, the box of stuff from his office on his desk. He looked normal, except he wasn't moving. His uniform was as neatly pressed, as it had been that morning. He was just staring at the picture of his mom standing next to his dad in his Dress Whites.

"Harm?"

"That picture use to sit next to my bed when I was growing up. He was everything I wanted to be." Harm looked up. "I resigned my commission today."

"What?" Mac stood there, stunned. "Why?"

"I told the Admiral I wanted a family, that I couldn't support one on a Commander's salary."

Mac noticed the qualification of telling the Admiral, which obviously wasn't the whole truth. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." Harm stood up and sighed. He smiled at her, not convincingly. "You should probably go home and take Jingo for a walk."

Mac smiled at him. "Why don't you change and come with me. We'll stop and get a Cappuccino and play on the swings."

"Yeah. I need to change." Harm looked pointedly at his uniform. Mac walked up to him and hugged him. He pulled her even closer, burying his head into her hair.

"Harm if you didn't want to go, why did you resign?"

Harm caught his breath. "Some dreams must end."

Mac let Harm hold onto her. She wanted to know more, but he wasn't up to it. "Come on, civilian. Let's get out of here before someone else comes looking for you."

Harm let her go and went and changed, they headed out of the apartment, ignoring the phone ringing on the desk.

"Hi you've reached Harmon Rabb. Leave a message."

"Commander Rabb? This is Bud. Are you all right, sir? I was told to move into your office. Did you go back to flying, Sir?" There was a sigh on the phone. "Call me back. Bye." The phone clicked off.

@@

Harm snuggled Mac, pressing closer to her. Silence reined and Mac started drifting off, when she heard the word.

"Italy."

"What?"

"He was going to send me to Italy."

"You resigned your commission cause you didn't want to go to Italy?"

"Not just for a case. I was going to be transferred. Krennick called in her many favors, and poof, everything I had worked for was gone."

"Harm."

"It was an XO position."

"That's a good thing. Why didn't you take it?"

"Besides the fact that I don't sleep well without you beside me?"

"Be serious."

"I would have never gotten any further. I would always be Krennick's XO."

"Did you try to talk to the Admiral?"

"Yes, but he wanted something I wasn't willing to tell him."

"Which was?"

"I wasn't going to call sexual harassment, Mac."

"Why not if that's what it was?"

"How many sailors would be confident with a lawyer that 'can't handle a woman'?"

"That's very sexist."

"I don't believe it, Mac. But you know half the Navy does. What does it say about me, to the people higher up, that a woman compromised me?" Harm sighed deeply and held on to Mac. "Either way my career was over. It was the minute Krennick made the request. I've lost everything I just got back."

"No you haven't." Mac reached up and touched his cheek. "You haven't lost me. I'm still here, flyboy."

"That's cause this is your bed." Harm chuckled.

"I'm here for as long as you need me."

"If I said I'd need you for forever?"

"Then, you have me."

"Thank you." Harm kissed her, softly on the lips, not willing to go further. The bed shook as Jingo jumped up and lay down, her body jiggling the mattress. Mac slid even closer to Harm to give the dog room. With her nose burrowed into his chest, Mac fell asleep. Harm held her. He couldn't sleep, but knowing Mac was in his arms. That made everything a little less painful. I'm sorry Dad. I wish I could've been more like you. Harm listened to little whimpers as Jingo chased drug dealers in her sleep. Maybe, if he closed his eyes, he could battle Mac in court again, or whip Brumby's ass. Maybe Frank would offer him a job in his dreams. Harm closed his eyes.

@@

Mac walked into her apartment, calling out to Harm. She stopped with her mouth open. Her entire living room had been rearranged. Harm stuck his head up from behind the sofa.

"Mac, you're early. I promise it'll be back in just a sec, I'm almost finished." The vacuum turned on. Wait, her vacuum had been broken for a month now. He fixed her vacuum? Harm finished, shut it off and picked up her vacuum, throwing it easily over the furniture. "When was the last time you vacuumed, Marine? You had things growing in your carpet." Harm walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her.

She looked up into his dust-covered face. "My vacuum was broken." She swished a dust bunny off the spikes of his hair. Harm bent down to kiss her. Mac backed away. "You're going to put my furniture back, right?"

"Now?"

"Now. While I go change."

Harm released her. "Yes, ma'am."

When Mac came back into the living room, her furniture was set right, and Harm was down on his hands and knees taunting the dog with a toy. Jingo looked at Harm and then Mac, walking up to be petted by Mac. She laughed at Harm's wounded look.

"So, Flyboy. You think you can handle a run after all that heavy lifting?"

"A run. Yeah I think I can handle that, seeing as how I did nothing today."

"Nothing?"

"I sent some resumes out. That was about it."

"What about cleaning my apartment and color coordinating my closet?"

"I didn't do that. Must have been the dog."

"Go change, sailor, and we'll go for a run."

@@

Mac looked up at Harm. They kept pace with each other, like they usually did. Harm followed her directions, slowing and checking for traffic. Sweat glistened on his face, his breathing as labored as her own. Yet his face didn't loose the tense look he had started the jog with. Whenever he had a problem they jogged until he figured it out. How do you figure out a new life that hasn't begun? How do you plan a future that might not happen?

Mac slowed her pace. Cooling them down. They couldn't figure this problem out tonight so they might as well not wear themselves out. She brought them to a walk. God this is like leading a horse.

"Mac what do you say we move in together. We could get a nice house, maybe somewhere like McLean."

Mac stumbled to a stop. Did he just say?

"Is something wrong, Mac?" Harm grinned at her, full flyboy smile, the squid. Without warning he took off like a shot. Mac followed hot on his heels. She knew he was heading for her place; she took a different path, stepping up her pace. She caught sight of him just up ahead. With a burst of speed she caught up to him, and tackled him. They both went down, Harm taking the brunt of the fall. Within seconds they were skidding down the soft slope next to the path, on a collision course for another jogging path. With a soft bump they hit the legs of another jogger and stopped. The man teetered but didn't fall. Harm looked up and started laughing.

"Sorry, Gunny."

Mac looked up from where she had been hiding her face, to see the Gunny's eyes twinkling at her. God this was going to be all over the office tomorrow. Forget the office, the Gunny was going to pay off some information debts with this tidbit.

"Sir, Ma'am." The gunny stated.

"Harm. Call me Harm." He insisted.

Mac leaned down and whispered in Harm's ear. "No one in the office knows that you resigned. They just know you're gone." Mac got off him and brushed herself off. Harm accepted the Gunny's offer of a hand and got up.

"Thanks."

"Sir?"

"Harm, Gunny. I'm on terminal leave."

The man looked at Harm stricken. "Harm?"

"Civilian firms were calling. You know the drill." Harm said flippantly but Mac and the Gunny noticed he wouldn't meet their eyes.

"My dust bunnies were calling, you mean?" Mac said her tone light.

"If you would clean your apartment more often." Harm chided.

"Shut up Commander, that's an order." Mac wanted to shut him up, but kissing him in front of the Gunny didn't seem appropriate.

"Who's a Commander here?" Harm asked, the laughter not quite meeting his eyes.

"Victor, wait up." A tall brunette came around the corner. Mac and Harm both noticed she was very well endowed. Mac elbowed Harm.

"Mac, I wasn't looking."

"That's good, Sir. Cause that's my sister." The Gunny laughed at the surprised faces on Harm and Mac. "Celia, I'd like you to meet Colonel Mackenzie and Commander Rabb."

"Harm." He insisted with exasperation. He turned towards the woman. "And thank you."

"What for." Celia asked.

"You were right, tea does taste the same going down as it does coming up." Harm said.

"Oh you were the Sailor who was sicker than a dog." Celia grinned evilly. The gunny coughed and looked away. Mac started to laugh and stifled it as Harm threw her a look. She laughed harder.

"What are you laughing about?" His voice was hurt.

"I'm sorry." Mac started to laugh again. "The Admiral and I were going through the reports this morning and the Janitorial staff was complaining because the Men's restroom floor was seeing too much traffic." She doubled over trying to stop the laughs. The gunny's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.

"It's not my fault the whole office came to watch me puke."

Celia busted up. Harm started to smile.

"We were just going to get dinner. Would you like to join us?" Celia asked.

Harm's face dropped.

"We'd love to. Wouldn't we Harm?" Mac rested her hand on Harm's arm.

"Mac, I can't I have that...Thing."

"One sec." Mac pulled Harm away from the Gunny. "Harm. I'm not going to let you go home and sulk, or clean or tear apart your apartment looking for something to do. You made a decision. Now deal with it."

"Mac."

"Listen up, Flyboy. If you don't go out to dinner with the Gunny, you will not be sharing the bed with Jingo and I."

"But Mac, I love sharing the bed with Jingo."

"What's your decision?"

Harm looked down into Mac's eyes, seeing her fiery temper. The brown snapped like a whip. He leaned down and kissed her, gathering her in his arms. Mac clutched at his shirt, surprised but enjoying every moment. They both heard the sigh. Breaking apart they looked at Celia who rested her head against her brother's shoulder, a dreamy look on her face. "Don't stop on my account." She called. Gunny hit her.

"Dinner?" Mac asked.

"Dinner, Colonel." Harm and Mac walked to the Gunny and his sister, their hands intertwined. "Well Gunny looks like you have two dinner guests. Smelly ones at that." The group laughed at Harm's joke and started down the path to a little pizza place just north of Union Station.

@@

Walter Avanaugh stepped off the elevator at Jag headquarters and into barely contained bedlam. He felt right at home in the wanderings of the large clerical staff of the navy's legal division. It felt like the warm atmosphere of his own firm.

"Excuse me?" He asked a petite blond woman.

"Can I help you?" She asked, her voice soft and gentle.

"Could you give me directions to AJ Cheggwidden's office?"

"I could show you to the Admiral's office, if you'll follow me."

"Thank you, Miss?"

"Lt. Simms, Sir."

"Lieutenant." He said letting the feel get comfortable on his tongue.

The woman happily turned him over into the hands of Petty Officer Tiner.

"Can I help you, Sir?"

"Yes I was wondering if I could have a moment of AJ's time. We went to Law School together."

"Your name, sir?"

"Walter Avanaugh."

Tiner typed a few buttons. "I'm sorry, sir. The Admiral's book is full today. I have an early morning appointment for 0730 tomorrow."

"Walter!" The Admiral's voice boomed as he neared his office Brumby in tow. "What can I do for you?"

"I wondered if I could pump you for information?" Walter asked.

"Commander, can this wait til later in the day." The Admiral asked Brumby.

"Of course, sir." Brumby excused himself and walked away.

"Come in. Tiner, hold all my calls."

"Yes, Sir."

The Admiral closed the door behind Walter's back and walked around to his chair. "Now, what can I do for you, Walter?"

"I was hoping you could tell me about one of your lawyers."

"Well that depends. Are you trying to steal him or her from me?"

"Well we received this impressive resume the other day. My partners and I were wondering if he was as good as he sounds and if so why'd you let him go?" Walter pulled the resume out of his briefcase and handed it over.

"Rabb. I should have known." The Admiral scoffed as he scrolled through the items listed.

"Does that mean that he's not as good as he sounds?"

The Admiral grunted and pushed the intercom button. "Tiner, bring me Commander Rabb's case record please."

"Yes, Sir."

"AJ?"

"He's better than he sounds. Damn man's too modest."

"So why'd he leave?"

"I have no idea." AJ sighed. "He pushed my buttons and I sent him packing without question. Stupidest mistake I ever made. Well one of the stupidest anyway."

"So he didn't give a reason?"

"It boils down to he didn't want to go to Italy. I don't know why he didn't; I don't buy his I want to start a family story. The idiot has been looking for a family since I've known him."

Walter chuckled. "So he's a good lawyer, looking for love and children? But no trips to Italy?"

The Admiral sighed and rubbed his nose. "Yeah. A Tomcat pilot, or he use to be. Two distinguished flying crosses. Damn good investigator, he's hell in court."

"You've gone up against him."

"Damn near wasted my client. He held the jury in his hand and then he shook a bit too hard, and lost it all. Idiot did it on purpose, too."

"He gave up a crucial fight?"

"He was the prosecutor. I've never known him to back down when it's for a client. He always gets them the best deals if they're guilty."

"And you let him go, over Italy? Do you know what we offer people like him if they want to leave?"

"More than his salary here. I should have offered him a ride in a Tomcat to stay."

"Sir?" Tiner opened the door with the file in his hand.

"Thank you, Tiner." The Admiral took the folder and waited til Tiner left before handing it over for Walter's perusal.

"Nice. Very Nice." Walter wrote down a few specs and handed the folder back to AJ. "So you don't mind if we offer him a Riverview and a salary bigger than yours?"

"Better snatch him up before someone else does."

Walter stood up and shook AJ hand. As he turned to leave, the Admiral breathed out, loudly.

"Walter. Make an appointment for lunch sometime next week."

"Certainly AJ. I'll let you know how Rabb turns out."

"Thank you, Walter."

"Your Welcome, AJ."

Walter walked out of office and headed back towards the elevator. He ran into the nice Lieutenant who had helped him. "Excuse me, Lt. Simms?"

"Yes, Sir?"

Walter pulled out a business card. "My firm is always looking for new helpful people. If you ever want to leave Jag, just give me a call."

Harriet took the card from him hesitantly. "Thank you, sir. But I'm only a reservist. I'm a mom full time."

"Just keep us in mind, ma'am." Walter left without another word and Harriet looked at the card and pocketed it. How flattering.

"Harriet!" Mac's voiced called to her.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to share my lunch with me. Harm...I mean I have more than plenty."

Harriet's eyes took on their soft tearful quality. "The Commander made your lunch? That's so sweet ma'am." Harriet got up and followed the Colonel out to the veranda. Mac started unloading the lunch box. Harriet's eyes widened at the amount of food Mac pulled out.

"Ma'am?"

"He was cooking when I got up this morning. The man has entirely too much time on his hands." Mac pulled out the napkin's that sat in the bottom. There was writing on the top one. It said 'Forever, Ninja Girl?' Mac's eyes started to tear up. Harriet grabbed the napkin from Mac's hand. She smiled sweetly at the message. The next Napkin down had the words 'Got Kleenex?' on it. Mac laughed. "He's going to drive me insane before he finds a job."

"Why did he leave ma'am?"

"He was going to be transferred to Italy."

"Oh. Krennick." Harriet said in sympathy.

"Yeah." Mac looked at the food in front of her. "Let's eat."

@@

Harm felt something lying on top of him. "Dammit Jingo get off!" He mumbled half asleep. He felt a tongue lick his face. "Cut it out, before you wake Mac." A cold nose snuffled at his hair. Harm opened his eyes, to see deep pools of cloudy reflections staring at him. Jingo rested on his chest, her many bony legs digging into places Harm didn't know could hurt. Her tail thumped rapidly against his leg, in the same spot. It felt bruised. Harm looked over at Mac who was curled up, her back against his side. She was gone.

"I suppose you have to go out, right this instant." Jingo stood up, her four tiny feet digging into Harm's body; he exhaled in pain. "Off. Off!" The dog pranced off his body. The bed shook as Jingo made a flying leap to the floor. Harm crawled after her, making sure not to disturb Mac by letting in the cold. Harm dressed slowly, glaring at the dog when she picked up one of his socks and ran for the living room. She appeared a moment later with the leash in her mouth.

The cold outside was shocking to Harm's sleep walking. He followed Jingo, letting her snuffle her way around the block. The click click of her toenails danced on the sidewalk. They made two rounds around the block before Harm noticed they had passed Mac's building. He pulled the dog up the stairs. She stopped to bang a paw on Mr. Jenson's door. The man had AIDS; Harm wasn't about to bust him for smoking Marijuana. Inside Mac's apartment, Jingo went to the couch, hopped up and was fast asleep before Harm finished hanging up the leash.

Harm undressed and slid into bed next to Mac.

"Where'd you go, Sailor?" Mac asked huskily, as she rolled her body over to drape across Harm's.

"Jingo decided that it was time for a walk." Harm said pressing a kiss to her hair.

Mac started to run her fingers along Harm's chest. She let them tangle in his chest hair, resting lightly over his heart. He covered her hand; with a light touch she started slow circles on his chest.

"Is this a problem, Flyboy?"

"Only if you stop." Harm murmured his voice rippling along her senses like warm buttermilk.

"You have been a good boy. Taking my dog out in the middle of the night." She said, taunting him with a slow kiss to his chest, her tongue swirling around on the pale skin.

"Yeah." Harm pulled her mouth up to meet his. His tongue started gently glazing her own lips, Mac smiled. His hands had purposefully moved to the edge of her nightgown. "Mac?"

"Yes?"

"Is it a bit warm in here?"

"Oh God, yes." Within seconds her nightshirt joined Harm's clothes.

@@

"Ninja Girl, you're going to be late." Harm said as he nibbled on her ear.

"Mmmm." Mac smiled, trying to make the night, last. Waking up next Harm was always a treat, waking up to him nibbling on her ear that was really good. Waking up on top of him, with his hands running up and down her back, nibbling on her ear, after a night like last night. Oh god, I'm obviously in heaven. "I should call in sick."

"I could come over and take care of you." Harm said, teasing her. "I hear I have a pretty good bedside manner."

"If I didn't have court, you'd have yourself a deal." Mac propped herself up. "So you'll be here when I get back?"

"I don't know. I have two interviews today. I should be though."

"Who with?"

"White, Whitman and Zither and another smaller firm. It's just starting out."

"I'm glad, I'm not sure my apartment or yours could take much more of Harmon Rabb out of work."

Harm pasted on his wounded look. "Hey, hey, hey. That's Harmon Rabb, Jr."

"Squid." She complained against his lips, her hands digging into his hair.

"That's why you let me sleep here." He whispered as his hands ran up along her sides.

"Hmmm. One of the many reasons, Flyboy."

"How much time do we have?"

Mac looked at the clock next to her bed. "None. I'm already late, dammit."

"Go. Kick Mattoni's ass." Harm said as Mac climbed out of bed and rushed to get ready. He met her at the door with a kiss, two warm pop-tarts and a commuter mug of coffee. "Have a good day."

"Good luck with your interviews. I'll see you later tonight." With a kiss Mac was gone. Harm closed the door.

Harm looked at Jingo relaxing on the couch. "So Jingo, you want to come with me to get ready for my interviews or do you want to laze around here?" Jingo got up slowly stretched with a growl and slid down to the floor. She padded over to Harm, yawning. Harm shook his head as he hooked up the leash and they left, locking the door behind them.

@@

"So you see, Mr. Rabb. We may be a small firm, but we're a family. Of course we can't pay what a larger firm could, but you'll get into the courtroom in a few years. I understand you'll need time to get use to the big leagues of civilian court." The pompous man stopped his lecture and turned to Harm.

Harm was gazing at the small office with disgust. The place was small, but there was no family here. Everyone was giving dirty looks to everybody else, not to mention that crack about the big leagues. "I'm sorry Mr. Li. I'm afraid your firm wasn't quite what I was looking for."

"Well why don't you take sometime, look around."

"Thank you." I wouldn't work here if it were the last paying option on earth. Harm forced a smile. "I'll let you know."

"You do that, Mr. Rabb." The man said shaking Harm's hand. "I think you'll find, we're offering the best position with your qualifications. There's not too much call for a man who used to defend drunken sailors."

"This is Washington Mr. Li. I'd think that that would be exactly what firms are looking for." Harm said swallowing the bitter tone.

Mr. Li gave a fake laugh. "Too true. Well, we'll be speaking soon. Have a nice day, Mr. Rabb."

"You too, Mr. Li." Harm left the small firm. Climbing into his car, he let his smile drop. What an asshole. The prick didn't bother to look at my resume. Drunken Sailors. His cell phone rung. "Rabb."

"Mr. Rabb. My name is Terri Caldwell, from Avanaugh, Babcock and Cordova, I'm calling in response to your resume. The partners would like to meet you later today if you're free."

"My schedule is clear after 14-I mean 2 o'clock."

"How does four o'clock sound?"

"That's fine." After he got directions, he pulled out. He had time to take Mac lunch, before he headed over to WW&Z.

@@

Mac walked into her office, intending to drop her briefcase off before she ran out for lunch. She found a Beltway's Burger bag on her desk. Written in dark ink were the words 'Have an appointment at sixteen hundred at ABC - H.' Mac looked out at the bullpen and noticed the Gunny was also eating from a beltway burger bag. She wandered out to talk to him.

"Did he bribe you to carry this up?" Mac asked with a smile.

"Ma'am?" The Gunny pasted on his most innocent face.

"Harm, bribed you with Beltways."

"Oh. Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you, Gunny." She turned away.

"It was my pleasure ma'am." Mac smiled as she went outside to enjoy the day with her lunch.

"What rates you a special lunch?" Caroline asked as she sat down with saltine crackers.

"A Flyboy out of a job."

"Mmmm. Have to remember that."

"I wouldn't recommend it."

Bud stood next to the ladies. "Ma'am, Commander Imes, May I join you?"

"Of course, Bud." Mac said. Caroline just swallowed more water.

"I have a problem ma'am."

"What's up, Bud?"

"I was assigned the Kershey appeal. It was Commander Rabb's case. Am I allowed to go ask him about it?"

"Bud. Harm's not the enemy. Of course you can."

"If he were the enemy, then Mac would be sleeping with the enemy." Caroline got a napkin in her face.

"Is he home now, ma'am?"

"No, he had a round of interviews today."

"Do you know when he'll be home?"

"No his last interview is at sixteen hundred. Do you want me to have him call you?"

"I can just leave a message on his machine."

"Better leave a message on Mac's machine too, then Lieutenant." Caroline said rolling her eyes.

"Ma'am? You and Harm are?" Bud started to stammer. "I mean. I know Harriet told me. But ma'am."

"Bud, calm down."

"I'm sorry Ma'am. I just can't believe that the Commander would sleep with a superior officer. Not after Krennick."

"Bud, haven't you heard, scuttlebutt. Harm was going to be transferred to Italy. Obviously there was a reason he wanted to stay." Caroline said, her exasperation evident. She pointed at Mac.

"Is that why he resigned?" Bud looked at Mac.

"You'd have to ask him, Bud." Mac wasn't about to tell the whole Jag staff what Harm admitted in the dark of their bedroom. Well her bedroom, but still it was functioning as their bedroom at the time.

"Yes, Ma'am." Bud got up.

"Should I tell Harm you need to talk to him?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

@@

Mac looked up from where she was working on a case when Harm opened the door. He looked tired. Jingo followed behind him, running to get love from Mac. Harm was in casual clothes, his briefcase in his hand.

"Hey there, Marine." He closed the door behind himself.

"Hey, Flyboy. How went the interviews?" Mac said getting up to follow him into the kitchen.

"The first two were busts." He took a jug of juice from the fridge. "They both told me that I would have to wait til I got use to 'the big leagues.'" Harm poured a glass of juice and leaned against the counter.

"What about the one you had at sixteen hundred?" Mac asked as she twined her arms around his waist. "Whose ABC?"

"Avanaugh, Babcock and Cordova. Nice Firm."

"What did they say?"

"Trial lawyer right off the bat, huge salary, and a river view."

"And?"

"I start on Monday." Harm smiled wider than he had since he had resigned. "Avanaugh is a friend of the Admiral, he went and asked about me. The Admiral actually said something nice apparently." Harm said moving into the living room.

"What did you expect? The Admiral is a softie. He wouldn't lie."

"I know. I just didn't expect him to give me a good recommendation."

"Harmon Rabb Jr. You are not the enemy, just because you left." Mac said pushing him onto the sofa. Jingo jumped off the couch, turning to bark at Harm. Mac wagged her finger in time with the barks. Harm started to laugh, bringing Mac down to rest in his lap. He kissed her, exploring with his hands, her clothing. His lips sucked on hers. With patience his tongue grazed every portion of her lips, sliding between them to tangle with Mac's. Mac pulled back to take off her shirt, her bra soon joined it on the back of the couch. Harm's mouth slicked down her skin, leaving arousing trails along her chest. The dog barked, and someone knocked on the door.

"Ignore it." Harm growled.

"Oh yeah."

"Colonel Mackenzie?" Bud's voice called from the other side of the door. "Are you home?"

"Bud." Mac sighed. "One second, Bud." She called louder.

"Ma'am?" Bud opened the door. Dropping his jaw at the sight before him. "Oh I'm sorry, ma'am." He turned quickly, leaving the door open.

"Bud, shut the door." Harm said, helping Mac back into her shirt. Bud complied. "Its safe now."

"I'm so sorry, Sir, Ma'am. I thought you said Come in." Bud said his face a brighter red than Mac's corvette.

"It's fine, Bud. No harm done." Mac grinned evilly at Harm.

"Very funny, Mac."

"Did I mention that Bud wanted to talk to you about the Kershey court martial?"

"Actually ma'am I came to speak to you about the Lindsey case." Bud stammered. Harriet was not going to believe what he just walked in on. No wait, she would believe it and then hit him for interrupting. Note to self, call before coming over from now on. Better yet, avoid talking to Colonel Mackenzie after hours without prior authorization/warning. Bud could already feel the sting of Harriet's gaze. "I'm in trouble."

"Why are you in trouble Bud?" Harm asked as he got up from the couch and grabbed Jingo's leash.

"Harriet's going to have my hide for not calling first, Sir."

"So don't tell her, Bud. Like Mac said, no damage done. Now if you'll excuse us. I'll take Miss Priss out for her walk. Jingo shook her body, avoiding the leash. "Yes, ma'am we are going for a walk. No more two am wake up calls."

"Harm." Mac placed a hand on Harm's arm.

"What?"

"You're arguing with my dog."

"So?"

"So she's a dog. No hablo English."

"It makes me feel better."

"To argue with a dog?"

"You don't understand, you didn't have her balancing all eighty pounds on her four tiny little paws on you. God she's heavy." Harm bent down to kiss Mac. "We're going down to get a newspaper." The door shut firmly.

"Okay Bud, what's up? The Lindsey case was months ago."

"I was wondering, well Harriet and I. Actually it was the Gunny's idea, and Caroline liked it."

"Lieutenant. Spit it out."

"We want to have a going away party for the Commander. You know, a sort of, you're gone but you're still here kinda thing."

"So what do you need me for?"

"We need you to get him there." Bud blushed a rosy pink.

"Where's there?"

"McMurphy's on Friday."

"All right, Bud."

"How did his interviews go today?"

"Good."

"Ma'am I'm really sorry."

"Go Lieutenant."

"Yes, ma'am."

@@

"Harriet! I'm back. The Colonel said she'd do it." Bud called as he opened the door. In the playpen, AJ laughed happily.

Harriet came out of the kitchen and Bud's heart stopped. In jeans and a t-shirt, she was more beautiful than that Barbie of Borg, Seven. Bud sighed happily.

"The Colonel said she'd do it?"

"Yeah."

"So was the Commander there?"

Bud turned blood red.

"What?"

"Nothing, Honey."

"Bud." Harriet's voice held that bridal warning tone. He knew when to fold.

"I accidentally walked in on her and the Commander."

"So, they're friends. They sleep together."

"No I walked in on her and the Commander." Bud said with more emphasis. "They were on the couch and well."

"Bud. You didn't!"

"I'm so sorry, Harriet. I promise to call in advance from now on." Bud stammered.

Harriet started to laugh. "I love you, Bud." She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close.

"I love you, too, Harriet." Bud kissed her, AJ blathered in the background. Who could ask for more than this?

@@

Mac opened Harm's door. "Hey, Sailor!" Mac stepped into the softly lit apartment. Her sneakers squeaked on the newly polished floor.

"Yeah, Marine?" Harm's muffled reply came from the closet. She noticed the pile of uniforms that Jingo was sleeping on. Harm peeked his head out from the closet area. "Wow, if it isn't Miss Sarah, the most gorgeous girl on the block. What do you think, Jingo?" The dog didn't move her head; her sigh was the only answer. "You have no taste dog."

Mac smiled at Harm's one-sided conversation. He had way too much time on his hands.

"So what's the occasion?" Harm asked as he walked down to meet her. He pulled her into an embrace.

"We are going to a party." Mac stated, looking Harm directly in the eye.

"We are?"

"Yep, so you better get dressed." Mac kissed him, lingering on his lips.

"Can't I just un- dress you?" Harm murmured, his tongue flicker along her earlobe, tangling in her earrings.

"Later. We have to go to this party. It's Caroline's I'm- so- happy- I'm- pregnant- and- he- proposed- over- the- video- conferencing- equipment- that- burnt- out- the- system- again, party."

Harm laughed. "Tiner?"

"Tiner. I could hear the Admiral's screams from the first floor, over Brumby's rather heated cross-exam."

"Did you beat him?"

"Of course." Mac let go of Harm. "Now quit stalling and go get dressed."

"Yes, Ma'am." Harm walked back to his bedroom. He pulled out a clean shirt. Mac walked over to the counter looking at the papers lying on the counter.

"So what did you do today?" Mac asked, scanning the papers, lighting on the housing section where there were red marks next to ads.

Harm walked up behind her. "I went looking for my other suit in the closet, I think I must have thrown it out sometime. Found some truly ugly ties that I have no idea where I got them."

"Looked through real estate ads?"

"Looked through some real estate ads."

"You were serious about buying a house?" Mac asked turning around to face him.

Harm wouldn't meet her eyes, as he reached around her to the papers on the counter. "I don't know. Maybe I was just looking for something to do. I really enjoyed fixing this place up."

"Harm this took you, what 2 years? Do you know how long a house would take?"

"I have different priorities now." Harm finally met her eyes. Mac was surprised to find determination, not sadness in the grayish-brown depths.

"Why don't we talk about this later? We need to get to McMurphy's." Mac sighed, as she raked her fingers through his hair.

"Let's go now, Ninja-girl, before I decide that un-dressing you is higher on my priorities list." Harm grabbed his jacket and turned out all but one light. Mac waited by the door. "Mac, tell me you're wearing a bra." Harm asked as he opened the door and locked it behind them.

"No, I'm not, why?" Mac asked innocently.

"That's what I was afraid of." Harm closed the rickety door to the elevator.

"Is there a problem, flyboy?" Mac smirked.

"Absolutely none." Harm said as he cornered her against the wall of the jerking elevator.

"Later. I promise." Mac whispered to him, her eyes warmer than milk chocolate.

"It's always later, with you." He yelped as Mac pinched him. "Hey."

"It could be much later?"

"No, ma'am. I'll behave now."

Mac smiled as she exited the elevator. He was so whooped.

@@

Harm opened the door to McMurphy's and let Mac enter in front of him. He stopped in the doorway as the Jag staff greeted him with a chorus of "For he's a jolly good fellow." Harriet came forward and between her and Mac's prodding, Harm entered the bar the rest of the way. Bud was standing on a chair at the back of the group. When the singing stopped the gunny called for silence.

"Commander Rabb." Bud called from his high perch.

"Bud, Bud, Bud. What have I told you about my name." Harm admonished, as the group in front of him laughed. A camera went off.

"Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr." The group laughed. "Harm."

"Bud are you going to get to the speech sometime tonight?" Caroline called out.

"Hush up. This is like a closing argument, it needs..."

"Finesse?" Mattoni supplied.

"No. That's not it." Bud said thoughtfully.

"Conviction?" Caroline asked.

"No. No."

"A surprise witness?" Mac catcalled.

"No." Bud replied thoughtfully. "I know. It needs an assault rifle shot off." The Jag staff laughed, except Brumby. "Just Kidding, Commander."

Bud sobered up. "I'll never forget when I first met you, sir. You and Lt. Pike stepped off the helo, in dress whites, and I was sure that you were the guy on the recruitment poster." The staff laughed. "I remember the way you looked climbing down from the cockpit of the Tomcat. You were my first experience at meeting a legal weenie. And I wanted to be just like you." Bud took a breath. "I just wanted to say, Sir, that I appreciate all you've done for me. Everything from giving me permission to use an Admiral's privilege on Webb."

"Hey!" Webb called from the bar, where he relaxed with a blond woman.

Bud continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "To taking away my gameboy when there were papers to finish. For making me dance with Harriet at the NATO ball and for making me apologize when I screwed up. You have always been like a big brother to me. You are my mentor, my friend and..." Bud stopped and the bar stood quiet. "It was an honor serving with you, Sir. So from the Jag staff to you." Bud executed a perfect salute. "We know you aren't leaving town, but we're still going to miss you." Bud got down, and crossed the room to Harm. He hugged Harm, whispering, "You could never be my enemy." Bud release Harm.

"Isn't this, suppose to be a party?" Harm called.

"Yeah. Where's the music?" Someone called.

"The beer?"

"The women?"

"Ixnay on the omenway." Harm said, pointing at Mac who looked indignant. The staff laughed.

@@

"Hey, there handsome. How about a dance with a lonely marine?" Mac whispered in Harm's ear as she leaned over to where Harm was sitting talking to Jackie Mattoni. Harm excuse himself and took Mac to the small dance floor, where there were several people coupled to a slow smoky tune.

"Thank you, Mac." Harm murmured into her hair. They danced close together; her arm's linked around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. His hands splayed across her back.

"Don't thank me, Harriet and Bud did most of it."

"I already thanked them. Now I'm thanking you."

Mac moved her hands, down from his neck, twining them around his middle, pulling him even closer.

"Do you really want to buy a house, Flyboy?"

"We can talk about this later, Mac."

"I don't care where we live as long as you promise that I get to have a say in it."

"I let you help me pick out my car, didn't I?" Harm whined. Silence greeted his point. Does that mean, I win?

"So what are you up to, tomorrow?" Mac asked suddenly, her head still resting on his shoulder.

"I have to go buy new suits. Wanna come pick out ties?"

"You mean I get to watch you get dressed and undressed all day long? Count me in."

"Jarhead." Harm complained, still swaying to the music.

"You wouldn't have me any other way."

"That's right." Harm rested his head on hers. I love you, Ninja Girl. The words whispered in his head. Mac didn't need the words, not yet.

@@

"Okay, What about this one? 'Three bedroom, three bath home, with fireplace'?"

"Mac, we're looking for something that says, charming, fixer-upper, or price to sell."

"Correction, We're looking for something that says, hot tub."

"Sir, could you stop fidgeting? I'm almost done."

Harm looked down at the man who held a tape measure to his inseam. "Sorry."

"It's understandable, sir." The man went back to his measuring. Harm caught Mac's glance as she raised her eyebrows and waggled at him. Harm grinned. "If I might suggest. Vienna Woods is a less expensive area, although perfectly nice."

"Thank you, Mr.?"

"Coggsdale, sir." The man said with a smile. The couple was delightful. They argued like professionals but without the pretentious tone most couples, in his experience, used.

"You don't have to sir him. He's not in the Navy anymore."

"Just wait til he's finished, Colonel."

"Promises, promises." Mac taunted Harm.

"I'm done, Sir."

Harm stepped down from the platform, carefully.

"See, Mr. Coggsdale. All talk and..."

Coggsdale turn around to see what had stopped the young lady's speech. He smiled. Young love. It came with all the passion and playfulness of youth. He smiled benevolently. The man turned around. Harry Coggsdale knew the look in the man's eyes. It's what his grandson called a whooped man. Coggsdale sighed. "Sir?"

"Yes, Mr. Coggsdale?"

"I think I have several suits that will, if you excuse the pun, suit your body type well."

Harm grinned and Mac slid her arms around Harm.

"Call him Harm. I'm Mac."

"Mac? Ma'am?"

"She's a big bad, Marine. She can beat us both up with one hand tied behind her back, then sue us for breaking her fingernail."

"Yes, sir." Marine lawyer, people always surprised him. "If you'll follow me?"

"Lead on, Good Sir." Harm gestured with respect in his tone. Coggsdale led the way into another room, where he seated Harm and Mac. Harm and Mac's ears perked up as they heard a familiar voice out in the shop.

"No, Celia. Absolutely not."

"Victor Galindez. You promised. I'm paying, you're getting measured."

Harm and Mac leaned out of the room, to better watch the action. Celia glared at the Gunny, her hands on her hips. The Gunnery Sergeant looked like he was about to go to war with the Admiral. Shoulders squared, his hands firmly tucked behind his back, his feet braced against the storm of his sister.

"Celia. There's nothing wrong with my dress uniform."

"No way. This is a big deal. I have to get a new monkey suit, so do you."

"Excuse me, may I be of assistance?" One of Mr. Coggsdale's associates stepped forward.

"Yes, my brother here needs to be measured for a tuxedo."

"Yes, ma'am. Right this way, sir."

"Just a moment." The Gunny stated. The man gave them a little space. "I agreed a tuxedo. You said nothing about buying it. Why can't we rent it?"

"Victor."

"Celia."

Celia reached up and grabbed the Gunny by the ear. He bent down in pain. "Listen up big brother. This is my event. You aren't wearing your dress uniform, which will get you mistaken for security. You aren't wearing a wrinkly, smelly suit, you are wearing what I tell you to wear, or so help me, I will call in Momma."

The gunny went to open his mouth but Celia pulled harder on his ear.

"I swear. I'll start to cry."

"Fine."

Celia let go of his ear. Mac and Harm eased back into their room, trying to blend into the scenery. Inside, they started to chuckle.

"Remind me to tell Tiner about the ear thing." Harm grinned at Mac.

"No way, flyboy. The gunny keeps Tiner on his toes."

"Excuse me, Sir? Ma'am?" I've brought a few selections for you to try.

Two suits later, Harm looked in a mirror. "I feel like a sissy."

"You don't look like one."

Harm turned to look at Mr. Coggsdale. "Do you have something in a heavier material."

"Sir, if I may?" The man stepped forward. "This is a summer suit. You don't wear your navy suits all year round. Think of this as your summer whites."

Harm sighed.

"Can we have a few minutes?" Mac asked quietly.

"Of course, madam."

"Harm."

"I know." Harm's eyes never lifted from his reflection. "It's a nice suit."

"Its not dress whites and gold wings." Mac speculated.

"It's a nice suit." I'm not going to admit, how much I miss it.

"You know, sailor. I meant what I said about dress whites and gold wings. They are overrated. They don't make you, Harm Rabb."

"It's a nice suit." Harm met Mac's eyes in the mirror. "What do you think?"

"I think I saw this really cool tie at the Warner Bros. Store that would look good with it."

"I'm not wearing Scooby Doo, or Bug's bunny." Harm said with a grin.

"Oh please, I have better taste than that."

"Let's hurry up. I bet that you're getting hungry about now."

"Beltways?"

Harm groaned.

"Well then how about Harvey's?"

"It'll have to do."

Mr. Coggsdale stuck his head in. "Have you decided?"

"Yeah, let's keep going." Harm said to his reflection in the mirror.

@@

Harm sighed as he placed the suits in Mac's closet. Some of them were Navy blue, some were double breasted, and some even were the same wool blend as his uniform. But nothing was like having that fruit salad on his chest or his shiny gold wings. No instead he got, power ties and ties with Batman on them. Harm grinned.

They had snuck out the door, so the Gunny hadn't seen them. Mac had taken him to the Pentagon City Mall. Three stories and she had looked through every store except the Black & Decker store. They had even picked up brochures on HUD homes. He had new ties, new suits, new shirts and... Harm laughed. A new Superman Pen. For when he felt the need to fly, Mac had said.

Harm shut the door to the closet. Life was...odd. "Hey Mac, what do you want for dinner?"

"Meat."

"That'll kill you, you know."

"Don't argue, flyboy."

"Yes, Ma'am." Harm sighed. Did life get better than this?

@@

"Jag Headquarters, Gunnery Sergeant Galindez speaking." Gunny spoke briskly into the phone.

"Vicky, you'll never guess who just moved his gorgeous ass into the office down the hall from mine."

"Celia. I'm at work. I don't care if the SecNav moved into the office down the hall, I have paperclips to count."

"Not even if it's the nice Commander we had dinner with last week?"

"Commander Rabb?" The gunny asked. Tiner who was striding by stopped at the Xerox machine not to far away, trying to look productive.

"Well he goes by the name Mr. Rabb here." Celia grinned. God, taunting Victor was just too much fun.

"What firm do you work at again?"

"How many times have I told you where I work?"

"Celia." The Gunny growled. "The only reason I'd call you at work is for an emergency. Then I wouldn't care who answered the phone."

"So why do you care where 'tight end' is working."

"Tight end?" The Gunny squeaked. Tiner's eyebrows shot up.

"Well that's what the receptionist dubbed him. You know cause his ass is just...Yummy." Celia licked her lips. She could see Victor's blush from here.

"Celia. He's taken. By a Marine. Warn the others."

"As long as we look and don't touch."

"I can't hear you Celia." Victor said, trying to control the heat that flushed his face. Tiner snuck another look at the Gunny and grinned. The man was not infallible after all.

"I've got to go. Paper clips to count and all."

"Wait Celia! Where do you work?" Gunny practically shouted. Caroline looked out of her office and decided to pay a visit to her old friend, the fax machine.

"I work at Avanaugh, Babcock and Cordova. ABC. Can you remember your alphabet big brother?" Celia asked dryly.

"When I have the motivation."

"Oh thanks. Got to go. Meeting to meet the new associate. I bet he gets Laura. She's married so she always gets the cute guys. Bye."

The Gunny swore as he set the phone into the cradle. Tiner moved away from copy machine back towards his desk. Mac walked by.

"Is there a problem, Gunny?" Mac asked seeing his face flushed and flustered, two words that never described the Gunny.

"I hate my sister, ma'am." Gunny replied in a dead voice.

"What? She pull your ear over the phone?" Mac asked a smile on her face.

"How did you know?" The gunny asked flabbergasted.

"It's been all over the office today. Something about calling your mom and crying too." Mac said. She smiled to herself, Caroline was close enough to overhear the conversation. Mac figured two seconds flat the whole office would know.

"I hate my sister." The Gunny laid his head in his hands.

"Cheer up, Gunny. It could be worse. Tiner has what 6 brothers and sisters."

Tiner walked by just then. "No ma'am. There are only 5 of us."

Mac laughed and walked back into her office. Within 5 minutes, Bud entered her office.

"I have that deposition you wanted, Colonel." He looked up from the papers he was examining. "Did you know the Gunny had a sister and that she pulls his ear to keep him in line? I would have never thought that would work." Bud handed over the file he was looking at. "Oh and Ma'am? Harriet wanted to ask if you and the Commander could come over for dinner tonight?"

Before Mac could answer Brumby entered, yelling back over his shoulder. "You have it lucky mate, my little sis, she puts on my dad's boots and kicks me in the bum. Let me tell ya, she can kick worse than a football player, well what you blokes call soccer." There were catcalls in reply but nothing distinct. Mac glanced past Brumby to see several office people centering on the Gunny's desk. They all seemed to be commiserating with him.

"Ma'am? Dinner?"

"What Bud? Oh I don't know about Harm, but dinner sounds lovely."

"Is he still wallowing his self-pity by cleaning your apartment, Sarah?" Brumby asked taking a seat.

"No, he started work at a civilian law firm."

"He certainly landed on his feet." Brumby laughed.

"Well you'll ask him, won't you, Colonel?" Bud asked.

"Sure thing, Bud."

Bud went to step out of the office. "What law firm did you say he went to?"

"Avanaugh, Babcock and..." Mac bit her lip trying to remember the rest.

"Cordova, ma'am." The Gunny stood just behind Bud.

"How did you know, Gunny."

"It was all over the office, ma'am." The Gunny replied with a bland face.

"Touché, Gunny."

"Yes, ma'am. If I may have a moment of your time, ma'am?" The Gunny indicated the crowded office. Bud left with a wave.

Brumby got up. "We'll go over the deposition later, Colonel?"

"Of course, Mic." Brumby closed the door after himself.

"Ma'am, may I speak freely?"

"Go ahead, Gunny."

"Ma'am, maybe you should mark the Commander in some way."

"Excuse me."

"My sister called to tell me that the Commander started work in her firm." Mac opened her mouth. "She's an office manager, ma'am."

Mac smiled slightly.

"She referred to the Commander as-"

"Harm."

"Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Call him Harm. I think it makes him feel worse when people call him by his rank."

"Well she referred to the... Harm as tight end." The gunny colored slightly at the nickname.

"You don't think I can trust him?"

"No ma'am. I just think that, well scuttlebutt is that the Commander left because he didn't want to file a sexual harassment suit. I just thought it wouldn't come to that if they knew he was taken, ma'am."

"Especially by a big, bad marine."

"We are the best, Ma'am."

"Semper Fi Gunny. I'll think about it." Mac smiled. "Tight end? I never thought of that. Thank you."

"My pleasure ma'am." The Gunny got up and left.

@@

Harm sighed at the stack of papers Laura his assistant had set in front of him. His phone rang; both he and Laura went to answer it. She slapped his hand lightly.

"Mr. Rabb's office. Yes, ma'am, May I ask whose calling? One moment." Laura hit mute. "Sir? A Colonel Sarah Mackenzie."

"Give it here." Harm reached for the phone and hit the button. "Hey Mac."

Laura watched her new employer carefully. The man was nice, gorgeous and nice. He had had Terri in a puddle of drool the minute he stepped into the firm. By the tone in his voice though, she'd have to warn everyone he was taken, by a woman named Mac no less.

"Dinner sounds great, are we going to need to stop and buy something?" There was a moment of silence. "He is our godson."

"I'll be home by then. I'll see you. Bye." Harm hung up the phone. Laura noticed he hadn't said I love you. That's a bit of hope for the ladies.

"Sir?"

"Call me, Harm." He replied without looking up.

Laura paused, a little uncomfortably. "Sir. If you could make a list of people who you'd like put on your personal list, I'll put them straight through."

"I'll make a list later."

"Thank you, sir."

"Harm please. I promise not to bite."

"I'd like to keep things professional, sir."

"I'm cursed." Harm sighed as he scribbled his signature on the next contract; Laura took it from his grasp. Harm started reading the next one.

"What did you mean by cursed?" She asked hesitantly. Harm didn't look up from what he was reading.

"No one calls me Harm. Only Mac."

"What do they call you then, Sir?"

"Commander Rabb, Commander, Pappy, Hammer, Rabb, Flyboy, squid, stick boy, idiot, mate. I think the SecNav called me an assassin one time. But never Harm." He looked her in the eye and smiled. Laura looked away. She focused on a picture on Harm's desk.

"Who are they?" She asked innocently. Harm looked to the picture.

Pointing to each one, he labeled them. "That's Bud and his wife Harriet, their son and my godson, AJ...everyone calls him little AJ or Baby AJ, and that's Mac and that," Harm pointed at the plane in the background. "That is Sarah."

"Named after Colonel Mackenzie?" She asked.

"No. I named her after my grandma." Harm sighed.

"So you and the Colonel are..." Laura fished.

"They're lovers." A call came from the door. Harm and Laura looked up from the picture to see Celia lounging in doorway.

"Well if it isn't the Gunnery Sergeant's wayward sister." Harm called.

"I have a name."

"Yes, ma'am. Celia Galindez."

"Be nice to her, sir. She runs the office and orders supplies. If you're not nice, she gives you the crappy Kleenex." Laura smiled at him, the other two's teasing relaxing her slightly.

"Well Ms. Galindez, how would you care to be addressed? Rugrat? Pipsqueak?"

"Celia will do nicely...?"

"Harm. Call me Harm." He replied softly. Please someone call me by my name.

"Call me Celia, Harm." They smiled at each other. "Now as I was saying, Colonel Mackenzie is Harm's lover, and if you upset him, you upset her and then I get grief from my big brother, which I will have to take out on the entire office staff."

"Was that a long winded way of saying I'm hands off?" Harm laughed.

"My brother told me why you left. So I thought I'd spread it around and Laura here is the first person they'd go to for info."

"What do you mean you're brother told you why I left?" Harm asked suspiciously.

"We'll technically he said scuttlebutt, but that might as well be fact in any office situation." Celia said. Laura watched the conversation avidly. This was better than the soaps her mother was addicted to.

"What did he say?"

"Just that you didn't want to file a sexual harassment suit so you left instead." Celia threw out casually. Laura's eyebrows shot up.

"How the hell did they know that?" Harm demanded.

"I don't know. I just pressed him for info last Friday when I found out you got hired on."

Walter Avanaugh looked through the door. "Harm, are you up for dinner tonight with the wife, you could bring someone if you'd like."

Harm's face fell. "I'm sorry sir. I already have plans for tonight. I could cancel them if you like?"

"Nonsense. Why don't we make it for Friday and you can meet the rest of the Firm's family. Celia, you'll arrange a dinner for my group for Friday? Include yourself."

"Of course sir."

Walter retreated from room and Celia left with him. Harm turned back towards the papers. Laura watched him carefully. He signed it and she took it from him.

"Last one...Harm."

He looked up at her. His eyes wide in surprise. "Thank you, Miss Wilder."

"Laura's alright, sir."

"Thank you, Laura." Harm signed the last set of papers. She took them from him and left him alone in his office. It was large, with a bank of windows at his back, and a door that opened onto a deck overlooking the Potomac River. He could see the Kennedy center caddy corner to his office. It wasn't Jag, but it wasn't too bad either. No peeling brown paint, no windows facing the bullpen, and no Mac next door. Not too bad though.

"Mr. Rabb? I was wondering if you'd listen to my closing, see what you think." A man asked from doorway.

"Sure, come on in." Harm smiled warmly. The man smiled back and closed the door behind him.

"I really appreciate this."

"It's not a problem. Fire away." Harm settled back in his chair.

@@

Harm opened the door to his apartment. Inside Sarah Mackenzie lounged on one of the counter's barstools, her long sleeve shirt clinging to her back emphasizing the long line of her spine. She looked up with a smile as he put down his briefcase on the desk. She swung off the seat with a fluid motion and walked over to him.

"Hey there, big boy. How was the first day at the new school?" She leaned against him and kissed him. He pulled her closer, loving the way she embraced him. Slowly she slid off his jacket, casually throwing it to drape over his office chair.

"I had a very good day, but I missed you."

"Naturally." Mac started undoing Harm's tie, he watched with fascination as the garment slid from its knot. The sensation of it being drawn from around his neck was arousing. The tie joined his jacket on the chair. Harm gazed into her eyes as she concentrated on delicately removing the buttons from their holes. He shifted slightly as she tugged the shirt from his pants, a minute later his shirt slid down to puddle at his feet. He was left clad in his undershirt and his pants, Mac looked up at him, her eyes glowing in the dying light of the sun-streaked windows.

"We have to leave soon." Mac said, her voice soft and husky.

"How soon?"

Mac looked over at the clock on the answering machine. "Ten minutes if you want to stop and get AJ a gift."

"We could skip the dinner altogether and I could undress you."

"In your dreams, Flyboy." Mac said, distancing herself from him.

"Only the good ones." Harm replied, drawing her close and kissing her, his hands neatly sliding underneath her top. The phone rang.

"It's probably Harriet." Mac sighed.

"Bud. Harriet would never interrupt us."

"Harriet's not psychic, Harm. She wouldn't know."

"Does that mean that Bud is, cause he's got the worse timing. Get the phone, Sarah. I'll go change." Harm beat a hasty retreat as Mac picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Ma'am? Did I interrupt something?" Bud's voice asked from the other side of the line.

"No Bud, we were just planning on leaving."

"Harriet was wondering if you could stop off and get some French bread. She forgot and I forgot and well then I forgot to call you. And I'm sorry."

Mac watched Harm slink towards her, changed into his casual clothing. "Sure, Bud, we can stop off and get some." Harm wiggled his eyebrows at her. He pulled a soda from the fridge and leaned against the counter.

"Thanks so much, Colonel. I really appreciate it." Bud replied.

"You're welcome, Bud. See you in a bit. Bye."

"Bye."

Mac hung up the phone and looked over at Harm. "We need French Bread."

"Okay. It's on the way." Harm set the soda down on the counter. "So, Marine, what do you have planned on Friday?"

Mac thought a minute. "Well Friday I was planning on wiping the courtroom with Bud's six, then I thought I'd come home and relax with a handsome civilian attorney and look at the 'for sale' ads." She walked up to Harm and leaned into him, her arms sliding around him.

"Do you mind changing those plans slightly?" Harm asked.

"What did you have in mind?" She asked leaning her head against his chest.

"Well. You could still wipe the floor with Bud's six and then get dressed up for a dinner with a bunch of boring overpaid civilian attorneys."

"Dinner with the group already?" Mac asked sympathetically, her hands kneading at his back muscles.

"Yeah. So you'll come." Harm asked hopefully.

"You have to ask?" Mac said.

"Mac, I know we don't exactly have a commitment, here. But I-"

"Harm, you've got me for as long as you need me."

"Forever, Ninja Girl?"

"Forever, Flyboy." Mac hugged him close. I love you Harm, she thought. He didn't need the words just yet. "We better get going."

"Yeah, or else Bud will call again."

Mac laughed at him and went to grab her coat.

@@

"So, Com-Harm, what's it like at your new firm?" Bud asked from the couch, where he and Harriet sat watching Harm play with AJ on his lap.

"It's nice. Mr. Avanaugh is a great CO. And well Laura's no Bud or Harriet Roberts, but she's thawing out a bit."

"Laura, Sir?"

"My legal assistant. Basically what your positions at Jag were, except I don't have to share her with anyone else." Harm smiled at the group at large.

"Somebody is full of themselves tonight." Mac said from the doorway of the kitchen.

"Jealous?" Harm asked.

"Yes!" Bud and Mac replied together. "I swear, no one in the Navy wants to be a lawyer." Mac finished. "We haven't gotten any new aids, since Bud and Harriet."

"Well it's alright, I liked Bud and Harriet. I'm not so sure I like Laura. She's pretty cold, and it took an act of God to get her to call me Harm."

"Act of God?"

"Celia Galindez, trust me, she's an act of god." Harm said.

"I always knew it would take an act of God to move the Gunny." Bud snickered.

Harriet smacked him. "The Gunnery Sergeant is very nice."

"Yes, dear." Bud said meekly as Mac slid down next to Harm. Mac leaned against Harm's shoulder, resting her head and staring down into the slowly drooping eyes of AJ. Mac's eye's started to droop too. Bud and Harriet smiled to themselves as Colonel Mackenzie was subjected to the hypnotizing affects of AJ's eyes. Within minutes, Harm was holding both a sleeping marine and a sleeping baby.

"Was it something I said?" He asked innocently.

Bud and Harriet laughed.

@@

"Rabb." Harm picked up the phone, ignoring Laura's look of impatience.

"Harm, It's me. I'm going to be late, there was a snag in the case." She paused and Harm could hear her leaning back in her chair. "Do you still need me to come?"

"If it's going to be a problem, no. But you're going to need to eat anyway. Will this be a problem?"

"No, I just need to run down to archives later. I had to get a continuance."

"I'm sorry, Mac."

"It's alright. So what if I meet you. Where is it again?"

"The Alexandria House. Seven." Harm paused. "You sure, you can come? They'll understand, and I'll sneak out early."

"No. I'll be there."

"Okay. I love you, Marine. Bye." Harm said and quickly hung up. He waited with a smile for the phone to ring, again. Laura watched him suspiciously. The phone rang again. Laura went to pick up. Harm stopped her with a glance.

"Rabb."

"I love you too, Flyboy." Mac's voice sighed in his ear.

"I know. I'll see you tonight."

"Bye, Harm."

"Bye." Harm set the phone into the cradle. He looked up at Laura with a soft look. "Where were we?"

"You were talking about a precedent case for the Ninesaw Case."

"Oh yeah." Harm leaned back trying to get on track again.

"Do you need a moment, sir?"

"Yeah, why don't we take a break now." Harm said. Laura left, smiling softly to herself. She remembered that high of telling her husband she love him for the first time. A person was never quite the same.

When Laura reentered her boss's office, she found him contemplating the water out of his windows.

"I remember that case now." he said without turning around. "People V. McKay."

"Alright."

"What time is it?" Harm asked, his voice far away.

"It is..." Laura fished with her watched to read the time.

"Never mind. After you look up those cases you can go home for the day." Harm looked back at her. "Unless that's a problem Celia." Laura turned around to see that Celia had indeed, entered the office behind her.

"How did you know, I was here?" Celia asked.

"Naval secret." Harm said with a smile. Laura looked closely at the window and saw the faint reflection from the doorway. She smiled to herself.

"Military men." Celia sighed. "Terri said there might be a problem with dinner tonight?"

"Does she listen in on everyone's phone calls?" Harm asked without malice.

"No, she didn't listen in, she just said that a Colonel Mackenzie called and she didn't sound good."

"Mac will be late. But she'll still be there."

"She's a marine, right?"

"You met her."

"So late for her is on time for the guys and early for the other women." Celia replied. "By the way, my huggable brother is coming as my escort." Celia said with a smile. Harm laughed, Laura felt left out of the conversation. Harm noticed.

"Her brother, Gunnery Sergeant Galindez, is one of the most uptight marine's I've met. He doesn't give an inch to anyone, except Celia here." Harm explained.

"That's not true. He has a soft spot for you and the Colonel as well. Otherwise, there's no way in hell you would have had dinner with us the other day."

"Maybe."

Laura smiled; she was rapidly discovering the man who she worked for was arrogant, modest and completely enigmatic. But always nice. She wondered how that would translate over into the courtroom.

@@

Harm smiled at the group of fourteen other people gathered around in the waiting room of the Alexandria House when he entered. He spotted Celia and the Gunny at the far end of the group talking with Mr. Avanaugh and a beautiful woman. Harm weaved through the group, smiling shaking hands and utterly forgetting most of the names of the people he talked to.

"Commander. It's good to see you again." The Gunny said formally as he held out his hand. Harm shook it warmly.

"It's Harm, Gunny. No more Commander."

"Sorry, Sir." The gunny smiled faintly.

"Harm." Celia smiled at him. Harm bent close to kiss Celia's cheek.

"Mr. Rabb, let me introduce my wife to you. Harmon Rabb this is my wife Sarah. Honey, this is the nice young lawyer AJ lost."

"Oh dear. It's so nice to meet you, Mr. Rabb." She said with a smile. "You didn't bring your wife?"

"I'm not married, but my girlfriend will join us soon." Harm said with a glance towards the door. "She was detained at work." Harm watched as the Gunny whispered in his sister's ear. She hit him, trying not to laugh. The other group looked at them oddly.

"Well then, why don't we have a seat while we wait. You can order for her, I assume Mr. Rabb." Sarah Avanaugh said with grace.

"Only if I want to sleep on the couch, ma'am." Harm said with a chuckle. The group laughed with him. With a word or two the group went to be seated. Harm kept the seat next to him empty and on the other side of that chair sat the Gunny and then Celia. Chitchat was tossed around the room.

"So, Harm, how long have you lived in Washington?" Some lawyer whose name Harm couldn't remember asked.

"Oh, since I entered law school, eight years ago."

"Before that?" A woman asked.

"I was stationed on the Sea Hawk for 2 years and before that I had duty stations around the states areas."

"You're originally from where?"

"La Jolla, ma'am." Harm looked up when a hostess touched his shoulder.

"Sir, there's a woman, who wishes to speak with you." The woman said quietly. Harm excused himself, and followed her to the lobby area. Where he saw Mac, shifting quietly on her heels, a vision in a dark blue dress.

"Hey." Harm said as he walked up to her. Her eyes caught and held his. Emotions firing across the surface like gunfire.

"I wanted to see you, before I went in." She said quietly. Harm pulled her into a hug.

"You don't have to do this. I can still make your excuses." Harm said quietly into her hair.

"I'm not weaseling out now. I just needed a hug."

"You got it, Ninja Girl." Harm held her tighter. "Want to talk about it."

"The damn man is guilty and Brumby pulled out rabbit from his hat, and I can't find anything to stop the guy from walking. He beat his wife, Harm. And I can't stop him from doing it again."

"You have a whole weekend to find something. I'll help. We can go house hunting another weekend." Harm pulled back from the embrace and cupped Mac's face in his hands. "Now Marine, are you ready to face an interrogation?"

"That bad."

"Well it just started so..."

"I love you, Flyboy."

"And I love you." Harm leaned down to kiss her. He led her back to the table. The men stood up as they approached, the cloth napkins covering their laps, still in place.

"My friend Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. This is Mr. Avanaugh and his wife Sarah..." Mac blocked the rest of the names; just nodding occasionally at the smiles people sent her way.

"Mac, It's good to see you again." Celia warmly told her over her brother's head.

"You too." Mac said with a smile.

The gunny didn't smile but his eyes were welcoming as he said, "Ma'am."

"Gunny."

"I heard you were detained at work, Sarah." Mrs. Avanaugh started as the rest of the group turned back to older conversations.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"What do you do, Sarah?"

"I'm a lawyer with the Judge Advocate General's office."

"That's the Navy court system, isn't it?" A man asked.

"Yes." Both Harm and Mac waited for rude comments.

"Have you ever worked at a civilian firm?" The man asked.

"I worked for Lowell, Hanson and Lowne, for a while."

"Is there much of a difference?" His wife asked

"Yeah, we do more work." Mac replied dryly.

"For less pay." Harm added.

"For a better class of clientele." Add the Gunny. The group around them laughed.

"Really though, the only difference is we aren't as specialized. One week I'll be prosecuting a murder case, the next I'm defending a sailor for dropping his trousers in public." Again the people laughed.

"So which is it this week, Colonel?" Celia asked. "Murder or indecent exposure."

"This week is getting my six whipped by Harm's protégé."

"Taught the boy well." Harm said with a smile.

"Six?" Mrs. Avanaugh asked.

"It's what pilots call their tails, ma'am." The Gunny put in. Harm and Mac both smiled remembering Harriet telling them the same thing.

"Were you a pilot, Sarah?" Mrs. Avanaugh asked.

"No, But you pick up the lingo when you work around one for years." Mac said, with a knowing smile at Harm.

"You know a pilot?" Mrs. Avanaugh questioned.

"Harm use to be a Tomcat pilot." Mac said. Around them, other conversations stopped and they turn to look at the man before them. Harm smiled sheepishly.

"Did you see any action, Harm?" David Willstern asked, snidely.

"A little." Harm said quietly.

"Kosov or the gulf?"

"Libya and Kosov."

"You were that flying lawyer that was in the news for weeks, a few years ago, something about saving a big wig after a fire fight?" Willstern's date put in.

"I was just saving my own six. The Cag happened to be in the plane with me."

"You got a distinguished Flying Cross for that, didn't you?" Avanaugh asked.

"Yes, sir." Harm replied softly, growing uncomfortable with the conversation.

"So you're good in a cockpit. But how's your courtroom combat, Rabb?" Willstern taunted.

"Well, I can't always use an assault rifle, but I had the Colonel here, ducking occasionally." Harm replied smoothly.

The Jag staff laughed, the rest of the group did not.

"I'm sorry, Sir. But I have to disagree. Marine's don't duck." The Gunny put smoothly.

"What do you call cowering under a desk?"

"Taking cover, Harm. And if you hadn't shot off the gun it wouldn't have been a problem." Mac replied with a smiling glance.

Willstern waved his hand around aimlessly. "Wait. Wait. Wait. You're saying he shot off an actual gun in a courtroom?"

"Is there a problem?" The gunny asked.

"Problem?" Willstern raised his voice slightly. "Are all you military people, a few bricks short of a load? You don't shoot weapons in the courtrooms." The smooth blond man was practically shouting, as he sloshed white wine over his polished Armani suit. His capped teeth and calculating eyes took in the three happily smiling Jag officers.

"It was a calculated risk, Billstern. And it only happened once." Harm put in his voice icing over.

"Willstern."

"So sorry." Harm's face froze in a fake smile.

"I'm going to be lead counsel on your first case with the firm. Crab."

"Then I guess I know where to aim the gun." Harm looked at the menu in front of him, effectively cutting off the conversation.

@@

Mac looked in the mirror; trying to discern if she needed any touch up's to her face. She turned away satisfied to see Sarah Avanaugh approaching.

"Sarah."

"Mrs. Avanaugh."

"Call me Sarah, dear. I hate formality. Walter does as well, but there are the occasional standards that have to be maintained." Mrs. Avanaugh looked in the mirror herself. "I wish I had your youth. I'm always afraid Walter will pick up one of those hot new legal aids at work."

"Call me Mac, ma'am. And I doubt Mr. Avanaugh would want to look anywhere else."

"He does love me."

"It shows, ma'am." Mac watched the woman touch up her features in the mirror.

"I like your Harm."

"I do too."

"Willstern is a pompous bastard. He makes a scene at everyone of these dinner things. Half the time we don't invite him."

"Harm isn't usually so undiplomatic." God save me from lying through my teeth, Mac thought to herself.

"Really. That's not what Congresswoman Delaney said."

"That's different ma'am. She was hampering an official investigation."

"So she told me. Let Harm know, the women of the group tonight appreciate his stance even if the men don't admit it."

"Yes, ma'am." Mac and Sarah turned to leave the lounge.

"Why do you like to be called Mac?"

"Ma'am?" Mac stopped.

"Mac? Why?"

"At first to fit in, you know the stereotypes of women in the military."

"And now?"

"Because it's what Harm calls me."

"Walter calls me Jerry." Sarah confided.

"Jerry, ma'am?"

"My maiden name was Jarrett. We were friends long before we were married."

"Yes, ma'am." They walked out of the bathroom together.

@@

Harm rolled over and stared deep into the brown eyes of Jingo. With a flick of her tongue, Harm's face was covered in drool. Jingo jumped off the bed and headed for the kitchen, Harm obediently following. Mac wasn't in the rest of the apartment either, Harm tripped over the sitting Jingo. She looked pitifully at her empty food bowel. With sad eyes she gazed at him.

"Yeah, I'll feed you." Harm bent down to pick up the bowl. Reaching under the counter he pulled out a can and started it on the opener. "I don't suppose you know where your beautiful owner went?" Harm asked the dog, one hip pressed against the cabinet for support. The can stopped spinning and Harm went to dump the contents into the bowl. The door opened, with lightening speed he ducked behind the counter, boxers were not something he wanted Bud or Clayton Webb or Gunny or anyone else besides Mac seeing.

"Don't you dare feed her that." Mac said as walked in the door, her uniform slightly rumpled. "And you can stop hiding." She smiled at him.

"Where were you? Especially in your uniform?" Harm straightened up. "Why shouldn't I feed her?"

"I fed her before I left, slowpoke." Mac meandered into the bedroom and started stripping out of her uniform. Harm's eyes followed her. Jingo leaned heavily against his legs.

"Half, you little mooch." Harm set the bowl with half a can down for the dog and went to follow Mac.

"You better hurry up. Bud and Harriet will be here any minute." Mac said as she stepped out of the bathroom, fully dressed.

"Bud and Harriet?"

"Remember, they wanted to go house hunting with us?"

"When did this happen?" Harm asked, pulling clothes out of his drawers.

"Wednesday. I know I told you." Mac followed him into the bathroom and took a seat, watching him get ready.

"Wednesday?"

"Yes."

"That was the night we spent in the tub, right?" Harm asked as he put the razor to his face.

"Right."

"I'm sorry, I forgot then, honey." Harm smiled wide at her, their exploits of Wednesday night foremost in his mind. "Would you like to remind me?" He leered at her, and put the razor down.

"Get dressed, Flyboy."

"Yes, ma'am." Harm pulled on his jeans leaving them unbuttoned and pulled on his shirt. Mac walked up to him.

"Let me help you with that." Her hands went down to button his pants, as Harm leaned down to kiss her and there was a knock at the door. "Bud."

"Bud." Harm sighed. "Go get it please." Harm walked out and grabbed the socks off the bed and started to pull them on as Mac opened the door to invite in Bud and Harriet.

@@

"So what do you think?" Harm asked from his seat on the fireplace. Beneath his six he felt a brick wobble.

"It's huge Harm. And it needs a lot of work." Mac looked at the split staircase, it's banister a whitish maple color.

"Yeah, but it has a hot tub." Harm cracked.

"A Jacuzzi, and it needs retiling."

"So does the pool. But the roof on this place is new." Harm let Mac stew a bit as he meandered through the house.

"It doesn't have a lawn."

"It doesn't have a window on the master bedroom. The lawn worries you?"

"You like this place, don't you?" Mac said rounding a bend and finding Harm in one of the rooms, staring at nothing. She walked up behind him, her arms sliding around his waist.

"I can just see us here."

"Yeah ten years and we'll still be cleaning this place up."

"It won't take that much time. The floors need to be redone, but the rest is mostly superficial. The biggest problem is the paint."

"I hardly think that's the biggest problem."

"Its an old house, Mac it might have lead based paint."

"Mr. Know-it-all. My lover."

"I like that title."

"Which one?"

"Both." Harm pulled Mac around to face him. "What do you think?"

"I like 'my lover.'" Mac kissed his chin.

"I meant the house."

"We really don't need this many rooms."

"Why not? Your Uncle Matt gets out soon; Chloe comes all the time, and my mom. Plus we need an office area."

"Harm, That's only two rooms in my estimation. This house has five bedrooms plus that Library."

"Jingo needs her own room."

"Why? She'd never sleep in it."

"This place has a huge backyard for her, plus you saw that running trail just outside the fence."

"Yeah." Mac looked again out the window; a really nice neighborhood greeted her. Large yards, nice older homes, this place even had a basketball area. "I suppose that it's a good thing that Bud and Harriet didn't join us today."

"No offense, Mac. Bud and Harriet couldn't afford this place. Besides, they fell in love with that little place in Vienna Woods."

"Yeah. By the way, how are we going to afford this place? Even with your huge salary. This is a lot of money."

"Frank."

"Excuse me?"

"Frank left me money, part of his life insurance. Plus, my apartment should pay a pretty penny."

"I thought you rented it."

"I bought it as a storage unit, and renovated it. How else do you think I could afford a Lexus?"

"Is there anything you haven't figured out yet?"

"Yeah, how many children we're going to have."

"You sure are sure of yourself, Sailor."

Harm kissed her softly. "That's why you love me."

"Mmmm. That and other things. There was that thing with the Chinese food." (AN: See Shipperhm story "Licking the Plate Clean")

"See I thoroughly enjoyed that, myself." Harm pressed closer to Mac.

"Mr. And Mrs. Rabb?" The agent called out.

"Is she ever going to get it, right?" Mac asked irritably.

"Mac! Rabb!" Webb's voice called out from the doorway. Mac and Harm both rushed to the stairs. "Nice to see you weren't doing the wall sex, guys." Clay said.

"Webb, what are you doing here?"

"Sorry, Harm, I was just passing by on the way to Mother's house and well I couldn't resist when I saw your car."

Harm closed his eyes in denial. "Your mother lives near here?"

"One street over."

"I'm sorry, we can't live here." Harm pulled at Mac's hand. She resisted.

"He's just joking."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are." Mac hit Harm. "We'd like to make a bid."

"Get it while the getting's good, Harm. You're only one street away from Great Falls. Prices are usually way higher than this."

"You missed your calling, Clay. You should have been a real estate agent."

"Who said, I haven't been." Clay smirked at them.

Mac and Harm groaned.

@@

"Hey, Celia. Do you know anyone interested in an apartment?"

"Yeah my big brother."

A puzzled frown crossed Harm's face. "I thought the Gunny had a place."

"Yeah Mine! He's been living with me. He can't find anything he likes for a decent price. Why is there an opening in your building?"

"I was planning to sell my place. It's just a bachelor pad. Only a shower, no garage and the elevator doesn't work sometimes."

"Sound perfect for my brother. When can we come look?"

"The Gunny's already seen it, but whenever you want, just give me a ring and if I'm not there then I'll meet you there."

"You just made my day. Thanks Harm."

"No problem." Harm stepped out of Celia's office.

Celia picked up the phone and called her brother at work.

"Judge Advocate General's office. Gunnery Sergeant Galindez speaking."

"Hey Vicky! I got a lead on an apartment for you."

"Celia we can talk about this later."

"No way big bro. I want you out as soon as heavenly possible."

"Later, Celia."

"Did you like Harm's apartment?"

"Commander Rabb's? Of course I liked it, it's a really nice place. Is there an opening in his building?"

"Better."

"Better?" The Gunny's voice sounded suspicious.

"Harm's selling his place. I wonder who he's moving in with?" Celia smiled her face as mischievous as a cat's.

"He's moving in with someone?"

"I'm not sure, but come on, I have Colonel Mackenzie's place and his place as home numbers."

"Really?"

"You are so slow, Vicky."

"That's another thing, quit calling me that." There was a thunderous voice in the background. "Got to go, Celia, we'll talk when I get home."

The phone clicked in her ear. "Bye to you too." Celia smiled to herself. Today was the day when she got rid of her big overprotective, no-one- sleeps- with- my- little- sister- brother. Life was good.

@@

Harm reached over Mac to flick the page in his book. She turned hers with a flick of her pinky. They were cuddled together each reading their separate books, just enjoying the feel of the other near. Mac sighed a bit as her book came to a happy conclusion. She laid the book down and turned back to her oblivious Sailor.

He was still reading his own thriller; the pages were turning faster. Mac sighed again. Her fingers idly drawing on his chest, tangling around his hair. He turned another page and grabbed her hand, kissing its palm. Holding it still over his heart. Mac ran her leg up his own, sliding over the sweat material, her knee stopping at his hip. As she slid her leg back down he caught it holding it under his own. He flipped another page.

"Why don't you have a bath?" Mac asked again.

"I never needed it before." He replied distantly. He turned another page. Mac kissed the side of his chest, feeling the soft rise and fall. He didn't respond. She swirled her tongue on the soft flesh enjoying the feel of his ribs, under her mouth. "Five more pages, Mac."

Mac pushed out of his arms and went to the bathroom. Harm continued reading. Mac decided to distract him. She stripped, turning on the shower, she let her flowery soap, as harm called it, drizzle in the steamy water. He didn't join her, Dammit! "Haven't you finished yet, Flyboy?" Mac called.

"I'm almost done, I'm just getting to the good part." He called back.

"I'll show you good part." Mac muttered to the empty shower stall. She toweled off and walked across the bedroom to the closet wearing nothing. Harm didn't even look. Mac sorted through her lingerie. I could try the garters. Naw, he's seen those. Mac searched and came up with one of Harm's dress shirts, button half way. It clung to her body in all the right places. Mac stalked to the bed. Harm flipped a page.

Mac got on the bed. Harm reached to pull her into his embrace, without looking at her. She straddled his stomach. "Your five pages are up."

"Actually I've got one more page." Harm looked up then, to see his marine, with her look of take no prisoners, wearing his shirt. "I was right, I'm just getting to the good part." He murmured as he dropped his book over the side of the bed, without marking his place.

@@

Harm flipped through his book, trying to find his place again. Why bother? Every time he picked up this book Mac interrupted him. Harm read a page he hadn't read yet, his fingers stretching out to stroke brown silky hair. His fingers gently caressing the skin underneath. Snoring erupted. Harm chuckled to himself, who knew she snored. Harm lost himself in the climax of the book again. The phone rang. Harm looked at the phone and at his book. Tossing the book into the trash he picked up the phone.

"Rabb."

"Hey Harm." Mac's voice echoed over the phone line.

"Hey, Marine. I miss you."

"Not as much as I miss you. I don't understand what these pilots are saying half the time. I spend most of my time going, what is that again?"

"At least you don't get lost on carriers."

"Anymore."

Harm chuckled. "So how much longer? Are you going to make it home in time for our escrow to close."

"We have another two weeks. I'll be home long before then."

"So how's the Gunny holding up?"

"He's doing great. He's happy he's not on the carrier with you, though. No one to interrupt every thirty seconds."

"Not to mention, you two question the same."

"What are you implying?" Mac's indignant voice rang clearly over the phone.

Harm sighed and stilled his voice. "I'm not implying anything Mac. You and the Gunny like to ask questions the same way, that's all. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Sorry, just been cranky. These sailors aren't very forthcoming. They're still pissed about Buxton."

"Buxton built his own coffin. They know that."

"Well they're pissed about Skates then. Someone has them pissed at me for some reason."

"It's probably just intense flight ops, or they were informed shore leaves were canceled."

"I don't know. All I know, is I want to be home with you. Not here on this damn carrier with really bad meatloaf. I swear it's worse than your meatless meatloaf concoction."

"Mac Stop! Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"I want you to just lean against the wall there by the phone, okay, I want you to loosen up your body." Harm paused, waiting. "Now I want you to take a breath and hold it. Count to ten then let it out." He heard her exhaled. "I love you. Now go show them why you're a Colonel."

"Thanks, Harm. So what were you doing?"

"I was curled up in bed with a gorgeous, mature woman with lovely brown hair."

"What happened to your book?"

"I finished it." Harm lied.

"In the trash can, huh?"

"Yeah." Harm laughed with her. He pressed the phone closer, listening to her soft breathing, wishing she were lying in the bed beside him. He yawned, trying to cover the mouthpiece so she couldn't hear.

"I'll let you get to sleep, now." Mac said quietly, knowing that it was late on the other end of the line.

"Yeah."

"If you want to stop the snoring...just flip Jingo, she only snores on her left side."

"Thanks for the advice. No wonder the Admiral didn't want to ever take care of her. She's louder than the catapult on a carrier."

"Almost but not quite. I love you, Flyboy. I'll be home soon. Night."

"Wait, Mac. Have Tuna call me when he gets a chance."

"Kay. Night Harm."

"Night." Harm set the phone down and turned out the light, curling around the rumbling back of Jingo. His fingers started to stroke the soft fur around her ears again, his fingers gently caressing the skin underneath.

@@

Mac disembarked the plane and headed for the gate. The Gunny followed her, his own duffle sliding along the narrow confines of the aisles easily. The investigation had been easy after a pilot named Tuna started talking to them, his voice carrying over the diners in the mess hall. Everyone had jumped in to help. Tuna apparently was the squadron XO. He also was Commander Rabb's former wingman and bunkmate. The Gunny had to wonder what had changed the pilots' minds.

Whatever it was, it had the Colonel steamed. She had silently seethed since Tuna's canary tune. And all her rage was directed forward at his sister and Commander Rabb, standing side-by-side, waiting for them. The gunny stayed behind her and motioned for Celia to move to the side. His sister didn't have the quick reflexes the military instilled. She wouldn't be able to dodge the punch the gunny was sure the Colonel was ready to aim.

"Mac, Gunny. How was your investigation?" Celia asked her voice annoyingly peppy even for her.

"How could you, Harm?" Mac accused her voice growling with intensity, as she stood before him in full Marine mode.

"What did I do now?" Harm asked, his voice as surly as Mac's.

"I don't appreciate you going behind my back, talking to your pilot friends and then poof my case goes on its merry way. Dammit, I was a lawyer before you, and I was a damn good one. You have no respect for me. I knew sleeping with you was a bad idea."

Celia glanced around nervously. "Perhaps we could continue this outside."

"Butt out, Celia." Harm and Mac replied in unison.

Harm turned his glare to Mac. "I didn't say a damn thing to Tuna. And if you think I'd influence your investigation just to get your ass in bed, I would have done it the first day rather than waiting." His face softened marginally. "And I know you're a damn good lawyer, or I wouldn't have asked you to defend me. And if you regret what we have, then tell me now so we can pull out of escrow and I can find a new place to live." Harm crossed his arms across his chest, his body outwardly relaxed. Mac stood there stunned. Harm never yelled, unless it was in the best interests of the case.

"We should get your guys' luggage." Celia put in softly, trying to defuse the tension.

"This is all that they have, isn't it?" Harm told her, as the Gunny and Mac nodded. "We should probably go now. We have to get back to the firm." Harm motioned the others in front of him. Celia hooked her arm through her brother's; ignoring the disturbed glances he shot her way. She hadn't done that since their father's funeral last year. Harm and Mac walked behind them, letting the flow of people separate them.

@@

Celia turned to Harm after they had dropped off Mac and her brother at home. He was driving carefully and controlled. In fact he didn't look angry at all. She looked at him again. He shot her a look.

"What?" He turned back to the road.

"You not angry?"

"No."

"I don't get it."

"Sometimes, to get her to realize, you just have to remind her of her position."

"Would you like to repeat that for the rest of the class?" Celia demanded.

"Mac's hard headed, like me. When she gets her head wrapped around something she doesn't like to consider possibilities that are different. Sometimes, telling her that you know she's good, that you respect her is all it takes to get her to calm down and look at it from other angles."

"What does it take to get you to see other angles?"

"A really hard bat." Celia and Harm laughed as he pulled into the lot next door to the firm. Harm sighed softly. "I'm gonna be here all night."

"That's why we pay you the big bucks."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Do you want me to let Mac know?"

Harm looked thoughtfully at the noonday sky. "No I'll call her later, if I do end up staying that late."

"Okay. If you're sure."

"Yeah."

@@

Celia watched Harm sort through depositions before him, consult the expert witness findings, turn back to the depo's and scribbles some notes on a pad.

"Harm?"

"Hmmm?" He answered distractedly.

"Did you call Mac?"

"Mumph." What his reply.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"Caesar Salad, nothing to drink. Thanks." He hadn't even looked up.

"Harm?" She stood staring at him trying one more time.

"Yeah?"

"Have you called Mac?"

"Yeah, I called a bit ago she wasn't home. I'll try again in a bit."

"Don't forget."

"I won't." Celia stepped away. "Does this mean I don't get that Caesar Salad, I just ordered?" Celia rolled her eyes. Being an office manager sucked on nights like tonight.

@@

Mac slid the new CD into player and hit play, the soothing tones drifting over the apartment. The apartment looked unloved in the unyielding florescent light. For once dishes sat dirty in the sink, the bed was rumpled and unmade and several plates lined on the floor as the testimony of Jingo's regular meals. She couldn't find the dog though, for the life of her. Jingo wasn't in her apartment, wasn't in his apartment. Wasn't at Bud and Harriet's. Where was Jingo and where was Harm?

@@

Darkness floated at the edges of Harm's office, like the dark sky that enveloped the moon every night. By his door, Jingo rested on her pillow, her small snuffling noises more rhythmic than music. A distant Jingling of the phone on another floor broke his concentration. He was supposed to call Mac. He looked at his watch; it was just closing in on 0100. Mac was probably asleep. Speaking of which, it was past time to go to bed. Harm packed up his work and shook the old dog awake. Jingo, used to the late night walk to the car, simply grabbed her leash and waited patiently in the hall for Harm to turn out the light and join her.

Harm droved slowly along deserted streets of the city, well, as deserted as the city got, Harm conceded. He rubbed his eyes slightly as the bright streetlights caused his eyes to burn and water. With none of his usual accuracy, Harm parked next to his apartment and he and the dog climbed stiffly from his car.

With slow, dragged movements Harm opened his door and Jingo headed straight for the bed. Harm took in the bright lights and looked for Mac. She was asleep, lying with her head resting on the desk. Harm clicked off the lights, the soft lighting from the moon filtering through the windows. The briefcase was thrown to the floor and Mac was swung into his arms. She didn't stir.

With experienced hands she was out of her clothes in minutes and into his Patrick Henry shirt. He was stripped, cuddling her body close to his. I hope she was here to forgive me and to forget, was the thought that haunted his dreams.

@@

Buzzing filled Mac's dreaming, half awake and half asleep, she couldn't figure why her alarm would be set for 0430. In fact that sounds more like Harm's alarm. It continued buzzing, the warm arm holding her securely not moving an inch. Mac hit the snooze button and turned in his arms.

She watched his face quietly, his mouth hung slightly open drool slowly pooling on the pillow beneath his head. Lines criss-crossed his face, like the lines on a map. She lifted a finger to follow the deep purple grooves just beneath his red-rimmed eyes. He never missed a heavy breath that issued from his mouth.

Mac reached up and kissed the tip of his nose. Not an eyelash batted. Mac slowly circled one of his small nipples, waiting for a slight moan, anything. He turned over. Mac sat up and watched him. He didn't wiggle into position; he just lay there. She leaned down to kiss his shoulder. The alarm started buzzing loudly. As Mac reached over to shut it off, Harm's arm flung at her in an angry arcing motion. Mac felt a fist slam down on her own fingers. She heard a sickening crunch, before she registered the pain.

With a howl of pain, Mac felt the tears well in her eyes. Harm was up in an instant, looking like a little boy lost in the large crowd in the Smithsonian.

"Mac?" He looked over and saw Mac's hands, a look of horror on his face. "What happened? Oh I'm so sorry." Mac didn't have time to think of anything else. Within seconds Harm had her dressed, himself dressed and was locking the door to the apartment as he led her down the stairs to his car.

@@

"Mac, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize...I mean I put you in the bed, but it's been a while and I forgot that you were there. Forgive me please?" Harm was sitting next to the bed she was sitting on.

"Harm, you broke fingers. What did you think you were doing? Hitting one of those bell games at the carnival?"

Harm looked at her sheepishly. "I was thinking the clock was one of the other lawyers at the firm. I wanted to smash him."

Mac laughed at him. "I'd get out of the way if I was him. You pack quite a punch, sailor."

The doctor entered then, and looked at the two of them. "Miss Mackenzie?"

"Yes?"

"What seems to the problem?"

Mac held up her smashed fingers encased in ice.

"What happened to you? If you don't mind me asking?"

Mac smiled. "My fingers got between a tired sailor and an annoying alarm clock."

"Excuse me?" The doctor looked from one to the other.

"Mac and I both went to hit the alarm at the same time, except I was out for blood and Mac's fingers got it instead of the clock." The doctor looked at Harm like he was pond scum.

"I'd like to examine Miss Mackenzie privately, please." The Doctor's voice was colder than an ice cube. Harm got up from the seat and walked out. The Doctor looked at Mac sympathetically. "Miss Mackenzie, may I call you Sarah?"

"I'd prefer Mac." Mac said a bit uncomfortably.

"Mac, I want you to know you can tell me anything. I can protect you from him. I can make it so that he'll never see the light of day."

Mac just looked at the Doctor. "You think Harm did this, on purpose?" She asked incredulously.

"These wounds are very serious, it looks like he held your hand against a table and pounded it with a hammer."

Mac started laughing. The Doctor looked perturbed.

"Doctor?"

"Aigger."

"Doctor Aigger, didn't you hear what Harm just told you what happened? He was tired, the damn alarm was annoying he was beating some guy to a pulp in his dream, my fingers just happened to be on the snooze when he woke up enough to hit the damn thing. Another thing. I'm a marine, if Harm did tried to beat me up, I'd whip his ass, and he knows it. He doesn't have the training I do."

"I understand you've been through a traumatic time, but I can help you. Let me in, Mac."

"Just fix my fingers Doctor, and get out of here. My mother was abused, I know the symptoms and I'm not exhibiting any of them, and if I was, I wouldn't tell you, you presumptuous bitch."

"I've never."

"Then perhaps you can see if another doctor could help me." Mac sat perfectly calmly, waiting for the doctor to make the next move. The Doc turned to leave. "Oh and send Harm back in."

Harm sauntered back in as if he hadn't been watched like a hawk by security for the last five minutes. Mac was giggling on the bed. "Mac?"

"She thought you were abusing me?" Mac said.

"Did you tell her, you're more likely to abuse me?"

"You wuss, Sailor."

"That's not what you said, when I was shooting off the gun in court." Harm said with a twinkle in his eyes. He sat down in the chair and rested his head on her thigh, as they waited for the second doctor.

"Harm." Mac looked down at his dark hair nestled on her leg.

"Hmm." He didn't look up.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday." Mac waited for a response, there was nothing but rhythmic breathing. She shook her leg.

"Hmm?"

"I said I was sorry and you were asleep."

"I knew you were sorry, Mac. You were at my place." Mac thought he had drifted off when his voice cut the serene room. "I love you, Mac."

"I love you, too, Flyboy." Mac ran her uninjured fingers through Harm's hair. He sighed in contentment.

"You're a great lawyer. I love to watch you in court." Harm's voice was a soft murmur. "Tuna bitched about the new Cag. That's what was bothering the pilots, not you."

"I should have figured that out, I guess. The man was an ass and a half."

Harm grunted in response and slid into a light slumber. He never heard the second Doctor enter the room. He was an older gentleman with soft features and bright eyes.

"Miss Mackenzie? There was some problem with Doctor Aigger?"

"How about she needs sensitivity training and another round at a battered women's shelter."

"Could you tell me the exact problem?"

"She took one look at my hand and immediately diagnosed that I was a battered woman."

"Well let's take a look at that hand." He gently took hand and prodded gently. "And how did this happen?"

"Harm was trying to kill the alarm clock and my fingers were on the snooze button."

The doctor started to laugh. "I've killed a few myself. My wife doesn't bother to try to turn them off anymore."

"Trust me, I've learned my lesson." Mac laughed back.

"We're going to need some X-ray's, but I think there's only two broken fingers. Pretty good, considering."

Mac slid out from under Harm; laying his head gently on the edge of the bed. Twenty minutes later, her fingers were bound together and straight, with strict directions on care.

"Harm?"

"Is the doctor here yet?"

"He's come and gone."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"I've been taking care of myself for thirty some odd years. I can have x-rays by myself."

"Mac, I'm sorry."

"We better hurry if we want to get to work."

"Yes, ma'am." Harm wiped his mouth and followed Mac out to the car.

@@

Mac sat in front of Admiral Cheggwidden, stiffly; her hands lay awkwardly on her lap. She finished her report and waited for the Admiral to hand over her next duty assignment.

"Colonel, there seems to be something missing in your report."

"Pardon me, Sir?"

"How did you hurt your hand?" The Admiral asked kindly.

Mac smiled. "There was a domestic accident this morning, Sir. It didn't happen aboard ship."

"Humor me, Colonel. What did you do, slam it in the shower door this morning?"

"No, sir. Harm and I both went to turn off the alarm at the same time."

"He broke your fingers?"

"On accident, sir."

"I suppose that's like 'I fell down the stairs.'"

"Admiral, you know Harm, do you honestly believe him capable of hurting me? Of anyone, who wasn't threatening his friends and family?"

The Admiral grunted. "Half the time, I don't believe he can shoot a gun, but then he does." The Admiral sighed and looked back to his work. "Take the rest of the day off, Colonel. Dismissed." Mac went to object when the Admiral shot her a scolding glance. Mac got up and headed to the door. "Oh. And Colonel? I would say that you broke your fingers in the shower. It'll save you a lot of hassle."

"Yes, Sir."

@@

"Your strategy isn't working Mr. Willstern. I want another option." The client faced Willstern as Harm watched from the sidelines. "I'm up on murder charges. I'm paying for the best, not something a public defender would come up with." With suddenness, that belied his age he turned to Harm. "Tell me, Mr. Rabb. Do you have any ideas?"

Willstern glared at Harm. "Mr. Rabb is new to the law."

"To civilian law, Williamsburg."

"Willstern."

"And yes, Mr. Rydal. I have suggestion. The way I see it..." Harm detailed the plan of attack he had worked on after hours.

"And you think this will work?"

"It's risky." Harm told the man with an understand look.

"Risky. It's suicide." Willstern put in from the other side of the table.

"If you'd like, we can consult with Mr. Avanaugh. He could provide another viewpoint." Harm stated logically. The client nodded.

@@

Harm opened the door to his apartment quietly. In his hand he carried a single plum colored rose. The same shade as Mac's lipstick. Harm waved at Jingo who didn't move from her place on the couch. Mac lay on the bed, the TV tuned to a PBS station. Harm lay beside her and pulled her into his arms, the rose still held gingerly in his fingers. Mac sighed, but kept her eyes closed. Harm traced the delicate petals over her forehead, nose, tracing her profile. He ran the soft silky petals down her neck and chest, dipping to kiss her neck softly as the rose ran down her legs and back up.

Mac sighed and smiled. "Your home early."

"Mmmm. Got a continuance." Harm murmured.

"Admiral gave me the day off."

"So I hear." Harm presented the rose to Mac's face.

Mac took the rose and set it on the nightstand. Turning in Harm's arms she faced him, with slow moves she undid his tie and tossed it on the floor behind him. "Right now, all I want to hear is you, telling me, you love me."

"How many times?" Harm asked, his own fingers, fiddling with the buttons on her blouse.

"As long as it takes to undress you."

"Mmmm. I think that could take a really long time." Harm kissed her softly. "I love you, Sarah Mackenzie."

"What's my name, Flyboy?" Mac dug her nails into scalp.

"Mac. I love you, Mac." Harm said as he bent to nip at her ear.

"I love you too, Harmon."

Harm's mouth and hands stilled. "Umm. Mac? Whose Harmon?" Harm winced as Mac's hand made contact with his head. "Speaking of pain...how are the fingers?"

"Fine as long as I don't hit you anymore." Mac said with a shake of her left hand.

"Here." Harm gently picked up her hand and kissed each of her knuckles on her left hand. "All better?"

"Mmmm. Could be better." Mac whispered.

Harm smiled as he kissed his way down Mac's neck. "Show me how."