"Bud could you lift your end a little higher?" Harm hefted the mattress higher to accommodate the incline of the stairs. "I knew I should have waited to re-stain the floors."

"Sorry, Sir." Bud panted from the other side of the mattress.

"Not a problem, Bud. At least you waited for the mattress to wimp out on me. I thought the Gunny was going to drop that cabinet of mine on the way down the stairs." Harm ground his teeth as his hand was smashed against the small banister of the staircase. He felt the splinters rip up the back of his hand. Note to self. Sand and stain the banister soon!

Working with a few rests, Harm pulled the mattress into the master bedroom down the hall. Bud collapsed on the mattress as soon as it was in position. "Oh my back, sir. Tell me that was the last of it."

"That was the last of it." Bud sighed in relief. "Besides my couch." Bud groaned as he rolled over into fetal position. Harm patted the junior officers shoulder. "We have a few minutes while Mac decides if the bed's in the right place."

"Didn't she tell us here, Sir?"

"Didn't she tell us where to put the bed in the other room?" Harm replied with a smile.

"I heard that Harm." Mac came into the room carrying a box in her arms.

Harm took the box from her with a kiss. "Does the Mrs. approve?"

Mac stood silently contemplating the bed. "I'm not sure. The sun might wake us up early."

Harm groaned as he set the box down. "Mac we still have the couch. Please tell me, this can get us to the next weekend when we paint in here."

"It'll get us to next weekend, kind sir."

"Thank god." Bud moaned from the bed.

"Thank God what?" Harriet asked from the doorway.

"The men are complaining cause I'm out doing them." Mac said as she slid away from Harm.

"Out doing us, Colonel?" Harm's face took on a challenging look.

"Here are you two squids, barely able to move a mattress and I'm still going strong."

"I'll show you going strong." Harm took after Mac as she ran down the hall. Jingo looked up from her place on the hardwood floor in the sunshine. Barking she jumped up and followed after the couple that thundered down the stairs.

The Admiral, Gunny, Tiner, and Celia looked up from their various places sprawled in the living room. "Where the hell do they get their energy?" Celia asked, her body haphazardly draped over her brother's on the couch.

"I don't know but sign me up." Tiner put in from his place reclining against the fireplace.

"Celia would you please get off me. I'm hot."

"You're always hot, Vicky. Besides the only way I'm getting off you, is if you're getting me something to drink."

"No way, rug rat."

"I'll get you something ma'am. What would you like?" Tiner asked his muscles straining as he moved to get up.

"Anything cold."

"I'll see what I can do." Tiner slid down the stairs to the kitchen below.

"Gunnery Sergeant."

"Yes, Admiral." The gunny replied.

"Do not let your sister turn my petty officer into a blushing romantic. Is that understood?" The Admiral said his eyes closed.

"Yes, sir."

"Excuse me." Celia stood, her hands balanced on her hips.

"Harm, put me down. Now." Harm and Jingo re-enter the living room by way of the back stairs. Mac was slung over his shoulder, her rump firmly in the air. Harm let her slide to the floor. Harm saw the look Celia was sending out and he turned to tug Mac to the shelter of the stairs.

"You don't want to see this, Mac. It isn't pretty." Harm said.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Mac asked as she surveyed the room. Celia looked ticked...at the Admiral?

"The hands thing is not a good sign." Harm gestured at Celia.

Tiner came up behind Harm and Mac. "Ma'am, all Harm has is diet. Is that okay?" Tiner carried a cup in his hands, years with the Admiral made him oblivious to the tension in the room.

Celia looked thankful at Tiner and turned back to the Admiral. "I think you and my big body brother better get something through your military skulls. I'll date, kiss, sleep with whoever I damn well feel like. That includes your petty officer, Admiral." With that Celia turned on Tiner and kissed him. Long hard, and very passionately. Tiner dropped the glass of coke he was holding.

"My floor." Harm moaned.

"My sister."

"My petty officer."

"Did we miss something?" Harriet asked from her place on the stairs.

Mac started laughing.

"Hey Rabb. Mac. I've come to offer my services in moving." Clayton Webb stood in the doorway to the house, taking in the kissing couple and the bemoaning others and the bewildered Roberts. "Wow whose the 8.4 kissing the no name petty officer?" Clay never saw the punch the Gunny aimed at him.

@@

"I can't believe you talked me into this Rabb." Clayton Webb, his eye darkened, looked at Harm over the edge of his couch.

"You owed me after that remark about Celia." Harm grunted, his hands slowly losing their grip on the sofa.

"How was I supposed to know she was big bad marine's sister?"

"One day, Webb, you will learn to think before you open your mouth."

"This coming from the man that told the Romanian King to get out of the fire if he couldn't handle the heat."

"I meant every word of it."

"That's the problem Rabb. You meant every word of it."

"Will you quit bitching and hurry up. I'm about to drop this couch."

"It's not my fault that you're out of shape." Webb snickered.

"That's it. No more." Harm set his end of the sofa down and stalked away.

"Rabb? Rabb? Get your butt back here. You left me on the stairs." Webb called after him. "This is the last time I help you guys move anywhere."

"Clay? Do you need some help?" Mac appeared around the corner.

"Yeah your paramour just left me high and dry with this couch." Webb shifted the couch a bit.

Mac shimmed around to the other side of the couch. "What did you say to tick him off Clay?"

"How was I supposed to know questioning his stamina would tick him off?"

"Webb. This is the last piece of furniture, and the last box from two apartments. He's tired. Everyone else..." Mac grunted a bit as she got to the door. It didn't fit. "We're going to have to turn it."

"This isn't working."

"Let me go get Harm." Webb grunted as Mac set down her end of the couch.

"Hurry up, already." Webb called after Mac's figure disappearing into the Master Bedroom.

"Harm?" Mac called, looking at the empty room. She noticed the open window and went into the room further. She listened to the soft drone of the bathroom tap. The bathroom was large and airy, the free standing tub taking up one side of the bathroom, delicate light entered from the frosted window glass near it. Harm stood in front of the mirror, examining his right hand intently. "Harm?"

"Hmm?" Harm didn't look up from his hand to answer.

"Clay and I need help getting the couch into the room. He's not strong enough to lift and turn."

"I'll be there in a sec, honey."

She looked around his shoulder to see the reddened knuckles on his right hand. "Harm, what did you do to your hand?"

"I scraped it bringing in the mattress." He responded distractedly. He picked at one of the splinters embedded in his hands with...

"Harm where did you get those? Are those tweezers?"

"Mmmm, they were in my dad's moustache kit." He tried again to pick at the splinters, wincing in pain.

"Give me those." She took the tweezers out of his hands, gently grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room. "Come on where the lights better." Mac led him to the hall. "Clay, might as well put that down, we have walking wounded here."

Clay set down the end of the couch with a thump. "What'd he do now?"

"Watch the floor, spook. I just finished them." Harm complained, finally looking up from where Mac held his hand.

"Find me the first aid kit, it's in one of the boxes by the bathroom downstairs." Mac instructed, pulling Harm into the bedroom with her former bed in it. Sitting him down on the edge facing the large window, Mac sat next to him and held his hand up for examination. "You certainly did a number on this hand, flyboy." Harm bent his head to look at his hand again. Mac pushed him out of the way. "You're in my light."

The doorbell rang. "Webb get that." Mac bellowed at the top of her lungs.

"Fine! Make me do everything." They could hear the distant thuds of his steps.

"I'm sorry I left Webb with the couch. You shouldn't have had to lift anything with your hand." Harm replied guiltily.

"I love you, Harm." Mac leaned in close and kissed him on the lips, her hands gingerly holding his in her lap.

"I love you, Mac." Harm reached up with his left hand to caress Mac's face as he gently leaned down.

"Oh for crying out loud. You two are worse then newlyweds." Webb groused. A neat tan hand hit him squarely in the chest. "Ow, what was that for?"

Mac and Harm looked up to see Celia standing looking over Clay's shoulder. "Did you find the first aid kit?" Harm asked.

"No, Someone asked me to get the door."

"Webb?" Mac's voice was strained.

"Going. Sheesh, I'm never helping you two move again."

When they had heard him thump back down to bottom floor Celia turned to Mac and Harm. "State or Agency?"

"Both." Mac replied.

"I thought you left with all your moral indignation." Harm teased. Mac tapped his hand producing a hiss. "Hey, wounded."

"Don't pick on her."

"She's the one who melted Tiner's tidy whities, not me." Harm whined. Mac slapped him upside the head.

"Behave."

"Yes, ma'am. Sorry Celia."

Celia sat on the other side of the bed. "It's fine, Harm. I kinda deserved it. I came to apologize."

"You're forgiven for kissing Tiner." He pulled away from Mac.

"I wouldn't have done it, if I had known he was dating someone."

Mac smiled at Celia. "He surprised us all. We tend to think of him as the younger brother who sits at his desk all day and night."

"So whose the dweeby State/agency man? And what did he mean 8.4?"

"Clayton Webb. And he rates women by Richter scale. I think I only rated 7.3." Mac smiled.

"Hmmmm. A challenge."

"No. No no." Harm was shaking his head. "Don't do it Celia. Especially to piss off your brother."

"Oh please, just cause I jumped the poor Petty Officer, doesn't mean I'm stupid." Celia grinned evilly. "I'd just like to mess with his mind for a while."

Harm grinned. With a playful look he turned to Mac.

"Don't look at me that way, Harm. I'm all for it."

Clay came into the room. "Here, it was in the Master bathroom." He tossed the kit at Mac. He turned back to Celia. "And you are again?"

"Celia Galindez. I work with Harm." Celia smiled sweetly at Clay.

He looked suspicious. She held out her hand.

"Your brother is that Marine that hit me."

"You'll have to forgive Vicky. He's overly protective."

"Vicky?"

"Yeah he's a big Pussy cat." Celia threw a sexy look out the side of her deep brown eyes.

Clay touched his black eye. "Sure."

Harm and Mac laughed.

@@

"Are you sure you'll be home for the party?" Harm asked over his shoulder as he brushed his teeth in front of the mirror.

"I gave the Admiral the invitation. Besides I have court the week before."

"Did you give the Gunny and Tiner their invitations? They're the ones that run the office." Harm spit the toothpaste into his sink, rinsing his mouth he turned to face Mac where she lounged in a bubble bath.

"Let me put it this way. Everyone at Jag got their invitations, can you say the same for your office."

"I'm only inviting Celia, Laura and Walter." Harm watched as Mac wiggled a little further down into the water. He reached over and tested the water with his finger. "Ummm. I think it's time for reheat." Harm reached down into the sudsy water and flicked the switch. The water swirled around Mac's knees as the water emptied.

"Hey!" With Mac's indignant cry, Harm turned on the water and blessed warm water sent shivers through her body. "Oh Harm."

Harm flicked her a smile. "I'm good?"

"So good," She sighed.

"But?"

"Could you make me some more tea?" Mac reached over the side of the tub to pick up the mug. Harm eyed her.

"You want me to make you more tea? Nothing else?" Harm trailed his forefinger from Mac's instep to her knee.

"Didn't you say you had work to finish up, before your closing?" Mac asked seductively, shifting forward, where the bubbles didn't cover her chest.

"Didn't you say that you were going to distract me?" Harm asked, his eyes darkening as his hand drifted forward.

The phone rang. Harm hung his head in defeat. "Let it ring Flyboy, we set up the answering machine." Mac moved closer to the edge. She reached past Harm to shut off the water. It was a mistake, with the lack of noise in the small room; the couple could here the abrupt message on the machine.

Then of course the stupid and annoying beep. Then, "Come on guys, I'm sitting outside your house, pick up. I can see the light on. At least I'm calling before I ring the doorbell." The doorbell rang.

Harm sighed and straightened up. "I should've guessed Webb would have timing like Bud." He walked towards the door. "I'll bring you that tea in a few minutes, Mac."

"Thanks." Mac went back the book she had abandoned when Harm had come in to brush his teeth.

@@

Celia walked outside onto the deck, where Harm sat eating. "Hey, Flyboy."

Harm didn't answer.

"Hey, I'm talking to you. Isn't that what Mac calls you?" Celia took the last two steps and touched Harm's shoulder. He turned and she could see the earphones discreetly plugged in his ears. With a flick of his wrist, Harm took off the headphones and turned off the cassette player.

"Hi, Celia."

"What are you listening too?"

"Testimony."

Celia thought for a moment then picked up the tape recorder and flicked it on. A female voice echoed through the headpiece. "Okay, I give. Why are you listening to testimony?"

"She lied. I'm trying to figure out where."

"How do you know she lied?"

"Just a feeling."

Celia went to make the most obvious statement.

"You'd probably want to trust his feelings." Harm and Celia looked up to see Clayton Webb relaxing near them, sunglasses pulled down over his eyes, his hair fluttering in the river breezes.

"Webb."

"Can I hide out here for an hour?"

"Depends who you're hiding from." Harm answered swiftly. Hiding out in Jag from terrorists, was different from putting a civilian firm at risk.

"The Admiral." Clay sat opposite to Harm with his back to part of the building.

"Opps." Celia watched as said Admiral exited from the building behind Clay, and stride over to them.

"Admiral. What a nice surprise? Are you here to have lunch with Mr. Avanaugh?" Harm smiled at the gruff man standing before him.

"Yes. But I wanted to talk to you about how he," The admiral waved his hands dramatically at Webb. "Got this." With that the Admiral ripped off Webb's sunglasses.

Harm studied the black eye that Clay sported to match his earlier one. "The Admiral or Mac?" Harm asked with a smile.

"Mac." Webb said guiltily.

Harm crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "And what did you say to earn her fist in your face?"

"I asked her to go undercover as a prostitute."

"You told her she was perfect for the part, didn't you?" Harm asked knowingly, a huge smile lighting his face.

"He wouldn't." Celia countered. Webb looked guilty.

"I didn't mean it that way. She's pretty and she has the skills necessary for the job."

Harm started laughing. "Just how would you know that, Webb?" The Admiral was enjoying the show put on by the two men. Harm would get Webb to see the error of his words.

Webb looked affronted. "I've seen her shoot to kill before, not to mention that she's a kickboxing expert."

"But you told me she had the skills to be a prostitute, now how would you know that?"

"Oh for crying out loud Rabb. I never meant she had to take off anything." Webb glared at the still smiling Harm.

"Think maybe you owe her an apology?"

"Oh alright, I'll apologize. Are you happy?" Webb glared at Harm.

"AJ?" Walter Avanaugh entered the large deck and headed to the large group gathered around Harm. "Are you ready to go?"

"Of course, Walter. Just watching Webb here sweat." AJ patted Harm on the back and handed Webb his sunglasses. "Mr. Rabb, I do believe that was better than watching Mac punch him. I'll see you at the party."

"Yes, sir."

"By the way, Harm. Sarah told me that she was confirming as well." Walter told Harm, his smile warming. "She's really looking forward to it."

"Yes, sir." Harm watched the two men walk away. "Are you coming to the party?" The question was directed at Webb.

"What party?"

"Don't you ever check your State department mail?"

"I haven't checked it this week."

"Mac and I are having a house warming party."

"I don't know, last time, I almost had third degree burns from that water that you spilled. Not to mention I just got that paint out of my hair."

Harm watched Celia as she smiled widely. "Oh is that what that is?" Celia reached out her hand and picked at Clay's muted brown hair. His hand slapped down on hers, feeling beyond her fingers.

"I don't feel anything."

"I'll get it if you'll let me." Celia purred into Clay's ear. Harm rolled his eyes.

"Harm?" Harm looked back to his door, leading to the deck. Laura stood there. "The Colonel is on the phone, and Baxter says he thinks he found what you were looking for."

"Alright, Laura." Harm looked at where Celia was pulling strands of Clays hair from his head. "If you'll excuse me. Webb, don't forget to check your mail. Celia, be nice."

"Yes, daddy."

Harm walked back into his office. Sitting down in his chair, he picked up the phone, tapping the button that was blinking. "Hey Sweetheart. You should have seen Clay, realize what he implied." Harm listened to Mac's story; he turned to look at Celia and Clay, and almost dropped the phone. "Oh my god, she's kissing him!"

"Who?" Mac asked.

"Celia's kissing Webb." Harm said, ready to storm to the deck and punch both of them. "They have no sense."

"Okay, take a deep breath, flyboy."

"The Gunny's going to kill me."

"No he isn't, he'll kill Webb." Mac laughed.

"You're right."

"I'm always right, Harm."

"Hmmm. I'm not sure that's right, but I'll go with it for now."

"You're getting off early tonight, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good, I've got plans for you." Mac's voice dipped seductively.

"Plans?" Harm asked.

"Yep. Strenuous plans."

"Oh."

"Hey, Harm do you know who that guy kissing Celia is?" Baxter came into Harm's office without knocking. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's not a problem, Baxter. Mac, I've got to go. I'll see you when I get home."

"Bye, Harm."

Harm set the phone in the set. "I hear you found what we were looking for?" Harm asked Baxter, ignoring his initial question.

"Yeah, let me get my transcript." Baxter left. Harm snuck a peek out the window. Celia and Clay had left the deck, thankfully. I didn't see that. I wasn't paying any attention. Baxter came back. "See here."

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