TITLE:  "Head to Heart"
          AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
          SUMMARY:  Head to Toe episode re-visited and shipperized.
          DISCLAIMER:  JAG belongs to CBS, Paramount et al.  No 
copyright 
infringement is intended with this work of fiction.
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and it 
would be much appreciated by both of us.  However, if your intent is 
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“Head to Heart”

 "Emergency landing" The words send a wave of fear through Harm and he 
 suddenly wished he hadn't encouraged Mac to fly with Lieutenant Donato 
on the 
 airdrop mission. He hadn't considered the dangers, just that it be a 
good 
 chance for Mac to see their client in action.
 
 "Sir, I'm sure they're all fine. They landed on a small air strip 
within 
 Saudi borders. As long as Lieutenant Donato and Colonel Mackenzie 
don't give 
the Saudi's any problem they'll be fine."
 
 "Like we can count on that" Harm groaned, knowing that if push came to 
shove 
 both women would exercise their freedom of speech. He knew that Mac 
had 
more restraint but than Lieutenant Donato, but he wasn't sure how much. 
She'd 
stunned him the day before as it was with her actions after they had 
met with 
Colonel Coffey.
 
PREVIOUS DAY

 "Nice outfit" he teased as they walked to the car. Colonel Coffey had 
called 
 with an offer for them but they had to meet her off base.
 
 "Yeah if I were my Grandmother" Mac sighed. "Let's just go and get 
this over 
 with."
 
 "What do you think the Colonel will want?"
 
 "To turn our client into a civilian."
 
 "That would save her benefits. Might be our best option" Mac 
countered.
 
 "Do you really want to do that to her Mac?"
 
 She's doing it to herself Harm" Mac said as they reached the car.
 
 "Mac"
 
 "She came here to serve her country, not express her opinions."
 
 "Mac"
 
 "It's not hers to chose which orders to obey."
 
 "Mac"
 
 "What?" she said with a long look of exasperation.
 
 "I have to drive. We're going off base." He held out his hand for the 
keys 
 and with a long sigh she handed them to him before walking around to 
the 
 passenger side.
 
 She started to open the front door when he looked over at her and 
pointed to 
 the back seat. With another long sigh she opened the back door and got 
in.
 
 "You're enjoying this way too much" she growled from the back seat.
 
 "I am not. And it's not my rules remember. I'd just as soon have you 
in the 
 front with me. You know we're not exactly the most well liked folks in 
town 
 here."
 
 "You worried sailor?" she teased. "Need the Marine up front to protect 
you?"
 
 "Cute Marine" he said with a quick glance back at her. "More like I'm 
 worried about you back there in the back seat alone."
 
 "Despite my appearance, I can handle myself" she assured him. "Course 
I'm 
 not sure how easy would be to get a good kick in with this thing on."
 
 "You'd manage" Harm grinned.
 
 "And you know I'm not sure why I'm even speaking to you" she said 
suddenly. 
 "I forgot, I'm still mad at you."
 
 "For what?"
 
 "Egging me and Sturgis on about seats to the Superbowl you supposedly 
had. 
 Making us kiss up to you cause we thought we had a chance to go with 
you."
 
 "Now wait. I never said I had tickets. You just all assumed."

"Seats, tickets, what the hell is the difference," she groused, trying 
to get 
comfortable in the back seat with the yards of fabric surrounding her.

"Big difference, not to mention I was going there to work, which I 
did."

"Flying to you is no more work than taking a bubble bath is to me," she 
retorted.  
"If you could, you'd pay the Navy.  I'm surprised you accept your 
flight stipend.  
Never mind.  Don't talk to me."

"OK."  He turned around in the seat and shot her one of his quick 
grins.  "I really 
do wish you were sitting up here you know.  I feel like I'm taking my 
mom's 
cleaning help home."

"You're doing that thing again," she pouted.  "Talking to me."

"I know I was being an ass about the whole Super Bowl thing," he 
laughed after 
thinking it over for a few minutes.  "It was funny at the time I guess.  
And at the 
time you did say you understood.  At least you told me good luck before 
I left."

"I was afraid not to," she admitted softly, her mind at once going back 
to that 
horrible night when she was afraid he had been lost forever to her.
===============
Harm swallowed hard and paced the area once again.  "Not antagonize the 
Saudi's," he breathed. "Please Mac, please Lieutenant.  Please watch 
yourselves.  
And please God watch over them."
===============
PREVIOUS DAY

They drove to the location of the meeting with Colonel Coffey and began 
to walk 
through the large room.  

"You see her?" she asked from beneath the fabric all but smothering her 
mouth 
and nose.

"You're kidding right?" he retorted, trying to keep his frustration 
level under control 
and he motioned for them to move ahead.

"It's like I'm not even here," Mac murmured to herself, her eyes wide 
as she made 
her way after Harm, unreasonably wishing that he was beside her.  She 
had never 
felt so alone--or invisible--in a crowded room.

Finally she called out to them.  A voice from a black robed figure who 
looked like 
every other black robed figure in the room.  "I'm sorry you had to come 
to me but 
I'm involved with negotiations with the Saudi's" she explained and 
proceeded to 
lay out terms of her offer.  "Lieutenant Donato is a disruptive 
presence."

Harm looked to Mac and above the black fabric her eyes locked with his, 
sending 
him an urgent message and he barely nodded his understanding, feeling 
her 
distress.  "We'll. . .we'll uh. . .discuss it with our client."

"No. No deal."  Mac spoke up and at the same time ripped the veil from 
her face, 
taking a long gasp of much needed air.

His hand went to her arm at once. "You OK?"

"Considering I feel like I'm about to suffocate, yeah sure," she 
snapped and fixed 
her ire on Colonel Coffey.  "No deal.  I'm sorry.  We're recommending 
to the 
Lieutenant that the matter be decided in court."  She took another long 
breath and 
again Harm looked at her with concern.  

"Sit still, I'm going to get you some water."

"Thanks," she sighed.  "Colonel that's our decision."

"Very well.  I need to get back anyway."

Harm nodded to Colonel Coffey as she left Mac and he handed her the cup 
of 
water, opening his mouth to speak.

"Don't.  Not here.  We'll talk back at the base."

"That's what I'm afraid of," he murmured.
 
 ***********************
 "We've got company," Lieutenant Donato said as she and the others 
climbed off 
the disabled aircraft.
 
 "Great" Mac murmured under her breath. What should have been a simple 
flight 
 was rapidly going from bad to worse. Fortunately Lieutenant Donato had 
been 
every bit the pilot Harm said she was and she'd managed to land the 
aircraft 
 without incident.
 
 "It's okay Lieutenant, they're local boys" one of the men said as the  
jeeps 
 approached."
 
 "Thank god" Mac whispered inaudibly. At that moment she wished she 
were 
 anywhere but in the middle of the dusty airstrip. Like in the arms of 
her 
 partner again. She closed her eyes and with a long sigh allowed 
herself to 
 remember that moment again.
 
 **************************
 Previous Day
 
 "Okay what happened there?" Harm asked as they walked into the office 
they 
 were using at Prince Sultan Airbase. "I was beginning to lean towards 
your 
 deal, dismissal without punishment."
 
 "I changed my mind" she sighed.
 
 "Without informing me? I'm your partner here remember. We're both 
supposed 
 to be on the same page."
 
 "I'm sorry. It was an impulse. You heard it when I felt it."
 
 "Felt what?"
 
 "The isolation you feel when you wear one of these things" she said 
 irritably as she threw the veil across the room. "You cease to exist."
 
 "You didn't cease to exist. I knew you were there"
 
 "But you didn't know what I was feeling" Mac groaned.
 
 "No and there's no way I could" Harm said softly. "But you've worn one 
of 
 these things before. Hell your Grandmother was Iranian. She probably 
never 
 went anywhere without one."
 
 "She never wore a veil" Mac countered. "It's changes everything Harm. 
You 
 speak but you're not heard."
 
 "Hey, calm down" Harm said gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how 
much 
 this upset you."
 
 "How could you?" she retorted.
 
 "Hey, I'm on your side" he said as he gently reached for her arm. "I'm 
not 
 the bad guy here. Calm down Marine. You're getting yourself way too 
upset 
 here."
 
 "With good reason."
 
 "Okay, time out. I want you to calm down."
 
 "Harm" she started.
 
 That was as far as she got, silenced by the kiss that caught both of 
them by 
 surprise. He had no idea why he'd suddenly pulled her into his arms 
and 
 kissed her, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. She didn't resist 
and it 
 was with reluctance that they finally parted.
 
 "I don't see any mistletoe" she whispered.
 
 "It was the only way I could think of to get you to stop for a moment 
and 
 relax" Harm smiled.
 
 "Well it worked," she said with a small smile.
 
 "You're not mad at me are you?" he asked. "I uh, hope I didn't 
overstep my 
 boundaries there."
 
 "No it's okay" she assured him. "I guess I was a little out of control 
there 
 for a minute."
 
 "Just a little" he smiled. "You think you're calm enough to talk about 
Lieutenant 
 Donato and our case now."
 
She swallowed hard and reluctantly forced herself to refocus, taking 
her mind from 
the very pleasant experience of the embrace and kiss.

"OK, let me try again," she began.  The regulations force herself to 
separate from 
men.  It weakens her Harm, it diminishes her authority, makes her be 
taken less 
seriously.  That's the issue.  The policy makes women ineffective."

"All right so how do we make that point?"

"We let the Lieutenant make it herself."

"No."

"Just hear me out."

He held up his hand, not wanting her to get revved up again.  "After 
you've had a 
cold shower."

Ignoring that remark, she plunged ahead.  

"When you turn. . ." he attempted part way through only to have her 
continue on.

"Talk about not being noticed," he murmured, another remark ignored.

When she finally stopped he nodded his agreement.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm willing to go along with you here."

"You're kidding right?"

"No not at all.  I'm willing to do it your way and see what happens.  I 
want to help 
her as much as you want to get the policy out in the open where it can 
be looked 
at."

"Then what am I getting all head up over?" she laughed.  "You want to 
get some 
food and see if we can't draw up a decent strategy here?"

"What about that cold shower?"

"Red light Commander."

He broke into a broad grin over that and draped a casual arm around her 
shoulders.  "Why don't we go talk about when the last time was we had a 
conversation with traffic lights involved."

Later in the courtroom Mac watched in quiet admiration as Harm led the 
Lieutenant with careful questions.  The man was in his element, even 
more so she 
thought than when he was in the cockpit of a Tomcat.  Colonel Coffey's 
cross 
examination did not seem too damaging and Mac breathed a sigh of relief 
when 
the day was done and they were back in their office wrapping up from 
the day's 
events.

"You OK Mac?  You're a little quiet there.  Having doubts here?"

"Um. . . .I guess it's just my Marine background kicking in, but 
there's a little voice 
that's saying orders are orders," she admitted with a sigh.  "And 
choosing which 
orders we obey.  I mean it's one thing to work for change to policy and 
directives 
and another to outright disobey.  I don't know.  Maybe I need that 
shower or some 
air or. . ."

"Or what we did before?" he asked softly and took a long breath.  "Hey 
if that's 
causing you to be having some issues. . ."

"Hey it's not like it was the first time or that I hated it," she 
scoffed.  "No.  I just 
keep hearing Colonel Coffey reminding her that she came here to fly, 
and that she 
didn't even think about any of this before."

Harm looked at his watch before he spoke.  "She's got an airdrop run in 
about 
thirty.  Why don't you go up with her?  You could see what she does on 
the job.  It 
might make things clearer for you.  Put you in a better position and 
perspective to 
advise her."

"I get sick."

He gave her a scornful look.  "Mac she's not doing loops in a fighter.  
Think of it as 
a tank as opposed to a race car.  You won't get sick aboard that any 
more than 
you do on a 747."
=================
It was with those words he had persuaded her to take the flight.  Words 
that he 
could well regret the rest of his life he realized as he slammed his 
fist into his 
palm.  It had been so easy to stand at the airfield and wave as they 
took off.  Now 
all he wanted was to be standing there to see them return.
==================
"Lieutenant Donato is in charge here," Lieutenant Zahar said to the 
Saudi man 
who'd met  the plane.
  
  "She must wear the abaya and veil then" the man retorted. "Her too" 
he said 
  with a glance in Mac's direction.
  
  "He wants you to wear the abaya" Lieutenant Zahar translated. "You 
too 
Colonel."
  
  "We don't have them with us" Lieutenant Donato replied.
  
  The man walked back to the jeep and returned with two large blankets.
  
  "This is his solution" Lieutenant Zahar said as the man walked over 
to Mac and 
Lieutenant Donato.
  
  "Tell him we don't have to cover up while on duty" Lieutenant Donato 
persisted.
  
  The Saudi man attempted to drape the blanket over Lieutenant Donato, 
only to 
drop to the ground when she sent an elbow into his gut. At once the 
other men 
  aimed their guns at them.
  
  "Not the move you should have made Lieutenant" Mac said quietly. "I 
was on 
your side here."
  
  "Ma'am you know what the rules say. When I'm on duty I don't have to 
wear 
  that thing."
  
  "Yeah well I don't think they agree with that," Mac said as they were 
  roughly grabbed and lead to the jeeps.
  
  ************
  "Commander, we have word" Colonel Coffey said as she walked into the 
small 
  office Harm was haunting.
  
  "Where are they? Are they on their way back?"
  
  "No exactly" Colonel Coffey sighed. "I've been informed they've been 
taken 
  to Rub Al-Kahli, the Saudi Military Base."
  
  "Why?" Harm demanded.
  
  "It appears your client hauled off and decked one of the men who met 
the 
  plane. He insisted she and Colonel Mackenzie cover themselves and 
Lieutenant 
Donato hit him."
  
  "So they're holding them?"
  
  "For the moment yes. Lieutenant Donato has really gotten herself and 
the others 
  into a mess this time."
  
  "They can't do that," Harm said as he stood up. "They have no grounds 
for 
  holding them there. And we're going to go and get them out."
  
  "Commander, I don't think that is a good idea right now," Colonel 
Coffey 
  said slowly. "They're likely to let them go in the morning and if you 
go in 
  there screaming you're only going to make things worse."
  
  "I'm not waiting until morning to get my partner out of jail" Harm 
retorted. 
  "Maybe you don't care about your people but I'm not leaving her there 
all 
  night."
  
  "Commander, I care about my people. And I'm sorry the rest of them 
are being 
  held because of Lieutenant Donato's behavior. But I'm telling you 
that the best 
  thing we can do is wait until morning for them to be released."
  
  "You can wait. I'm going down there and getting them out of there."
  
  "Commander, this isn't a good idea" Colonel Coffey sighed.
  
  "I'm not asking you to come with me. I'll handle this myself."
  
  ***********
  "Nice going Lieutenant" Mac sighed as she and Lieutenant Donato were 
led into 
the cell.
  
  "Ma'am, I'm sorry about this. But that guy deserved it."
  
  "Lieutenant comments like that will not get us out of here any 
sooner" Mac said 
as she sank down on the hard floor.
  
  "How long do you think they'll hold us?" Lieutenant Donato asked.
  
  "Well if they're waiting for you to apologize I guess we'll be here 
for a 
  while," Mac said sarcastically. "Sorry, that was uncalled for. But 
this 
  wasn't how I expected to spend my evening."
  
  "You'd probably rather be with that hot partner of yours" Lieutenant 
Donato 
  grinned.
  
  "Lieutenant" Mac groaned, at the same time turning away to hide the 
blush that 
had crept up on her cheeks. "That is no way to speak of the Commander."
  
  "Sorry ma'am. I tend to speak my mind in case you hadn't noticed."
  
  "No, really?" Mac said with a small smile. 
 ==================
    
 "Commander Really I wish you just wait before you risk inflaming 
what's an 
already tense situation," Colonel Coffee begged.
 
 "I'll risk a little tension thank you, before I'll risk anything 
happening to Colonel 
Mackenzie," he snapped.  "And don't worry, if there's any heat to be 
taken for this, 
I'll tell them you tried to stop me."
 
 Before she could speak further, he was out the door and had the car 
steaming 
toward the base.
=============== 
 At first his visit went well enough.  The officer in charge introduced 
himself as 
Nakesh and explained that they were being held overnight as a lesson in 
respect.  
"They are being treated well Commander."
 
 "In some cell here?" Harm demanded, trying to keep his voice calm.
 
 "We are not one of your American hotels," Nakesh smiled.  "They have a 
blanket 
and they will be fed in the morning.  Provided there are no more 
incidents.  One of 
them is very. . .I believe you say. . .mouthy."
 
 "Tell me about it," he groaned.  "Look I'm not leaving here until I 
see for myself 
they're OK."
 
 "Commander we would be most happy to have you as our guest, but seeing 
the 
prisoners is not possible.  Please stay, let me show you to the guest 
house and 
see that you are brought food and a robe to change out of your 
clothes."
 
 "I want to see that the Americans are OK," he persisted.  "That is not 
too much to 
ask of you."
 
 "At this late hour it is, very much," Nakesh retorted.  "This 
conversation is 
concluded.  Do you wish to stay?  If so, in the morning when we 
determine their 
fate, you may see them then."
 
 Harm ran a hand through his hair in distraction.  "OK yeah. . . .uh 
yes please.  
Thank you."
 
 "Follow me."
 
 Harm walked outside beside the Saudi, stopping before a building a 
short 
distance away that had two sentries at the door.  "Would this be where 
they are 
being housed?"
 
 "Our detention unit yes Commander," Nakesh replied with an impatient 
motion of 
his hand.  
 
 With a few orders in the native language to a young man inside the 
guest house, 
Nakesh bid Harm good night.  Harm was shown to a small sparsely 
furnished 
room, not much more than a cell itself.
 
 As soon as he was alone, he sprinted for the window, just as he had 
prayed, it 
was facing the back and he knew from the shape, the building nearby was 
the 
detention center.  Without a second thought he slipped through the 
window, 
making the six foot drop to the sand below easily.  Darkness surrounded 
him as 
he walked to his goal; nevertheless he kept in the shadows.  His luck 
held as he 
found an open door and let himself in, taking a deep breath as he 
realized he had 
no clue where to go from there.
 
 That decision was made for him a few seconds later as two men opened a 
door a 
few yards away with such suddenness he had no place to duck for cover.  
If he 
did not understand from their shouted words, he understood the meaning 
of what 
was in their hands, for their side arms were leveled at his chest and 
he slowly 
raised his hands.  
 
 More shouting from the guards, and figuring he had nothing to lose, 
Harm added 
his own voice.  A call of "Mac, Donato, where are you?  Are you all 
right?" echoed 
down the long corridor.
 ====================
 "My God that's Harm," Mac gasped, struggling from the confines of the 
blanket.
 
 Donato frowned as she sat up stiffly from where she had been resting 
against the 
wall.  "Why would he come. . ."  She paused and shook her head.  "Never 
mind.  
Totally stupid question."
 
 Mac ignored her as she pressed herself to the bars, the shouts 
alarming her.  
Fearing he could be hurt she screamed his name, adding, "Harm we're OK.  
The 
crew and the Lieutenant and I.  No one's been hurt."

  "Thank god" Harm murmured.
  
  "Harm" she called. "Are you okay?"
  
  "With the exception that I'm about to be shot, I'm fine" he yelled 
back.
  
  "Harm" she wailed.
  
  "Just kidding. I think I can explain to these nice guys that I was 
just 
  making sure you were okay."
  
  "Harm you don't speak Arabic. How are you going to explain that to 
them?"
  
  "Commander" the angry voice of Nakesh called. "What do you think you 
are 
  doing?"
  
  "I wanted to make sure the crew was okay" Harm replied. "And since 
you 
  wouldn't arrange it I took care of it myself."
  
  "You've arranged yourself a night behind bars as well," Nakesh said 
  irritably. "Take him to the others."
  
  "Harm" Mac called. "Harm are you okay?"
  
  "He is fine Colonel" Nakesh yelled. "He'll be spending the evening 
with the 
  others from the crew."
  
  The door slammed and there was silence again.
  
  "Please don't hurt him" Mac whispered as she sank back down on the 
floor.
  
  "You and the Commander seem to be pretty worried about each other" 
Lt. 
  Donato smiled as she looked over at Mac.
  
  "We'll we've been partners for a while now" Mac said lamely.
  
  "Yeah that's it" Donato scoffed. "With all due respect ma'am, I 
wasn't born 
  yesterday."
  
  "Okay so we're a little more than just friends. But that's it."
  
  "You stick to that story ma'am"
  
  ************
  "Commander, what are you doing here?" Lt. Zahar asked as Harm was 
none too 
  gently shoved into the cell with the other crew members.
  
  "I was negotiating your release" Harm smiled.
  
  "So why are you in here then?" Zahar laughed.
  
  "They didn't like my technique" Harm sighed as he dropped to the 
floor. "I 
  demanded to see the crew and when they wouldn't oblige, I took it 
upon 
  myself to get in here."
  
  "I uh didn't know you were that worried about us sir" Zahar said with 
a 
  smile. "Or were you worried about the Colonel?"
  
  "Both. So what happened up there tonight?"
  
  "System problem. But Brooklyn did an excellent job getting us on the 
ground 
  in one piece."
  
  "Brooklyn?"
  
  "That's what I call Donato" Zahar smiled. "She's a hell of a pilot 
sir. And 
  this whole thing isn't fair. "
  
  "We're doing what we can do Lt." Harm assured him. "Course her 
hauling off 
  and decking someone tonight isn't going to help our case. But then 
again 
  neither is sitting in here"
  
  "How are we going to get out sir?"
  
  "Colonel Coffey I hope" Harm said with a small smile. "In the 
meantime we 
  might as well get some rest." He closed his eyes as he leaned against 
the 
  hard wall, his mind on the woman on the other end of the building. He 
knew 
  he'd been pushing his luck tonight, but he'd had to make sure she was 
okay. 
  Spending the night here was worth it.
  
  ******************
  "Commander Rabb" Colonel Coffey sighed as they were released from the 
cell. 
  "Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you caused?"
  
  "Where's Colonel Mackenzie" Harm demanded. "And Lt. Donato" he added 
lamely.
  
  "Harm" Mac called, hearing his voice.
  
  "Mac" he breathed as hurried to her, forgetting all protocol and 
taking her 
  into his arms.
  
  "I'm glad to see you too Flyboy," she whispered, trying without 
success for a 
teasing or sarcastic note and succeeding only in expressing her relief 
as she 
pressed herself to him.  "You worried me last night," she went on.  
"What were 
you thinking about bursting in here?"
 
 "I was thinking that someone I care about was being held here and I 
didn't know if 
she was OK until I could see for myself," he said into her ear.  "And 
this is after I 
was in agony waiting to hear about the plane."
 
 "Been there done that last May," she replied, swallowing hard as she 
took a step 
back.
 
 "Reunion over?" Colonel Coffey asked, just a trace of sarcasm in her 
voice.  
"Obviously you two are slightly more than just partners."
 
 "Yes ma'am they are,"  Donato smiled.  "They seem perfect for each 
other."
 
 "Lieutenant rather than worrying about affairs of the heart which are 
not your 
business anyway, you should be thanking your Maker that the man you 
hauled off 
and clobbered is not interest in vengeance.  You escaped a conduct 
unbecoming 
charge."
 
 "Yes ma'am, thank you.  I suppose I need to get back for my 32."  She 
smiled 
slightly in Mac and Harm's direction.  "If my attorneys are ready."
 
 "More than," Mac smiled.  "And hey, I should have told you yesterday, 
nice job on 
getting us down safe."
 
 "My job ma'am."
 
 "This way people," Colonel Coffey urged.  "Before they think of some 
reason we 
should be detained."   Under her lead, they walked to the waiting 
chopper and 
Harm gave Mac a boost aboard.  
 
 "Watch where you're putting those hands mister," she yelped.
 
 When Donato stepped past Harm to climb aboard he caught her arm.  
"Thank 
you."
 
 "Sir?"
 
 He gave her a sheepish shrug.  "For taking care of business up there."
 
 "Yes sir.  She's pretty important to you I can tell.  Of course you 
are to her."
 
 "We're working on it," he grinned before helping her aboard and 
clambering up 
after her.  
 
 "Tight quarters," Mac grinned as Harm lowered his large frame beside 
her.  "Not 
that I'm objecting."

 *******************
 Several Hours Later
 
 "After reviewing the evidence I've determined that although a clear 
 violation of orders occurred, circumstances mitigate against 
recommending 
 this matter to a court martial. I don't want to see you back here Lt. 
This 
 hearing is adjourned."
 
 "Sir, ma'am thank you" Lt. Donato said as she shook both their hands.
 
 "You realize this probably won't change anything" Harm replied.
 
 "I know sir."
 
 "Commander, Colonel" Colonel Coffey said as she walked over to them. 
"Nice 
 job. And I hate to be the one to put a damper on things but I have 
word that 
 Admiral Chegwidden is waiting to speak to Commander Rabb."
 
 "Oh boy" Harm sighed. "I have a feeling he's not calling to 
congratulate us 
 on a job well done."
 
 "Word of your antics reached DC last night" Colonel Coffey smiled. 
"You 
 really do know how to cause a ruckus Commander."
 
 "Good luck sir" Lt. Donato said sincerely. "I hope you don't get in 
trouble 
 for what you did."
 
 "Well the Admiral's gotten used to his antics" Mac grinned.
 
 "Hey, I don't get that in much trouble" Harm protested and Mac rolled 
her 
 eyes. "Okay, so once in a while I have."
 
 "Well sir, if the Admiral kicks you out of JAG you can always fly with 
me" 
 Lt. Donato smiled. "I wouldn't mind having a veteran flying with me."
 
 "Hey, I'm not that old yet" Harm grinned.
 
 "Come on flyboy, you best not keep the Admiral waiting" Mac smiled.
 
 An hour later they boarded the transport back to Andrews, Harm's ears 
still 
 ringing from the Admiral's verbal lashing.
 
 "You didn't win any brownie points this time" Mac teased as they plane 
 lifted off.
 
 "That's Sturgis's department" Harm laughed. "I've never been in the 
 Admiral's good graces."
 
 "I wonder why" Mac smiled. "I still can't believe you did that last 
night. 
 You never cease to amaze me sailor."
 
 "Well since I'm on a roll how about this. What would you say to having 
 dinner with me Saturday night?"
 
 "Dinner as in like a date?"
 
 "You could call it that."
 
 "I think we could do that. Sounds harmless."
 
 "Cute Marine" he groaned. "Maybe we can go to a movie or something 
 afterwards."
 
 "Or we could rent one and kick back at my place?" she suggested.
 
 "That would work as well" he nodded. "So what do you think? I'll even 
let 
 you choose where we go."
 
 "You feeling okay flyboy?" she grinned as she teasingly reached her 
hand up 
 to touch his forehead. "They give you something last night when they 
had you 
 locked up."
 
 "No ma'am. Just thinking how nice it would be for us to work on that 
 beginning we talked about six months ago."
 
 "I'd like that" she said softly. "A lot."
 
 ****************
 Saturday Evening
 6:00 PM EST
 
 "Wow you look great" he smiled as he let him, his eyes admiring her 
long 
 legs that the mini skirt showed.
 
 "I guess after wearing that abaya and veil I needed to wear something 
a 
 little less restricting" she said sheepishly. "And you don't look so 
bad 
 yourself sailor."

"I do clean up nice," he grinned.  

"So where did you decide we should go?"

"I wish you had picked," he sighed.  "I'm not real good at this, and 
there wasn't a 
place that Renee took me that I really enjoyed.  Though Sturgis did 
tell me about 
an Afghan restaurant at Dupont. . ."

"No thanks.  What else have you got?"

"Actually we have reservations for 1789," he told her.  

"You're not serious," she gasped.  "Harm that's expensive and. . .why 
don't I just 
shut up and go with it.  Then back here for coffee and a movie?"

"Does sitting close together on the couch go with that?"

"OK Flyboy you and Sturgis have been in that garage too much.  The 
fumes are 
changing your personality."

"Well then it's a good change," he said softly as he took her coat from 
her and 
helped her into it.  "For the first time in a long long time I'm 
thinking about what I 
want.  The future, and who I want it with."

A slight shudder went through her, and his arm slipped around her.  
"Starving 
Sailor here and they won't hold our table.  But this is a conversation 
we're going to 
re-visit."

"Really?"  Her heard was pounding so hard in her chest she was sure he 
could 
hear it.

"Promise.  And you know I don't make ones I don't mean."

With those words her hand went instinctively to her belly and she 
deliberately kept 
her eyes from his as they walked.

"Hey speaking of Sturgis and the restaurant, I gather the date with 
Congresswoman Latham didn't go all that well," she smiled when they 
were on 
their way.

Harm shrugged.  "Well you know I don't see that they have a thing in 
common, but 
maybe it's that thing about opposites attract.  They did have a nice 
evening sitting 
with little AJ and watching TV but that's not quite as much pressure 
maybe."

"It's hard to imagine that woman as a nurturer," she laughed.  "But of 
course 
maybe she cultivates that barracuda impression.  Easier to get things 
done on the 
Hill."

"Hey what people say about you isn't all true either."  His laughter 
mingled with 
hers and she poked his arm.

"You're a regular Bob Hope you know that don't you."
===============
1789 RESTAURANT
Georgetown

"Reservation for Rabb," Harm told the Maitre D and stepped back to 
stand with 
Mac, having been told it would be a few minutes.

They were talking quietly in the shadows several feet away from the 
desk when 
they picked up a familiar voice.  

"I believe you have a reservation for Latham?"

"I don't believe what I'm seeing," Harm smiled as Mac stared.  

Sturgis and Bobbi.  Him in a tux and she in a long dress.  

"Now that's cleaning up nice," Mac laughed softly.  

"Should we say hello?"

"Of course," Mac told him, swallowing down any twinges of insecurity 
she felt 
where Harm and Bobbi were concerned.

"Turner I spent three hours with you this afternoon and you did not 
mention you 
were coming here," Harm called softly.

 "Rabb what the hell are you doing here" Sturgis groaned.
 
 "Do you people plan your weekends together?" Bobbi teased. "Last week 
Bud 
 and Harriet. This week Harm and Mac."
 
 "Honest, I had no clue Bobbi" Sturgis said quickly. "Harm never said 
he and 
 Mac were going out on a date."
 
 "We heard how well yours went so we decided to try it too" Harm 
grinned.
 
 "Does everyone know about our first date?" Bobbi whispered as she 
leaned 
 closer to Sturgis.
 
 "Yeah probably" Sturgis said sheepishly. "So are you two really on a 
date? I 
 mean this isn't business is it?"
 
 "Does she look like she's dressed for business" Harm smiled as he 
draped his 
 arm around Mac.
 
 "I'd say not" Sturgis smiled.
 
 "By the way, nice job you two" Bobbi spoke up. "I had my doubts about 
you 
 two defending Lt. Donato but in the end you worked it out."
 
 "You didn't hear how he got himself in jail though did you?" Sturgis 
 laughed. "Man you should have heard the Admiral yelling about you that 
day."
 
 "What did you do?" Bobbi asked.
 
 "It's a long story" Harm sighed.
 
 "Which I'll be happy to tell" Mac grinned.
 
 "Why don't we see if they can get us a table for four" Sturgis 
suggested 
 "Unless of course you two really want to be alone."
 
 "We'll be doing that later" Harm smiled as Mac blushed. "You don't 
mind do 
 you Mac?"
 
 "No of course not. I'm sure these two are dying to hear this one."
 
 Two hours later the two couples were still laughing about Harm's 
escapades 
 as they walked out of the restaurant.
 
 "How did this turn into the Harm bashing evening?" he groaned.
 
 "You do make for some good laughs" Sturgis smiled. "And I think we all 
had a 
 good time tonight."
 
 "And now if you'll excuse us, I'm taking this lovely lady back for 
coffee 
 and a movie" Harm said as reached for Mac's hand.  "You guys stay out 
of 
 trouble."
 
 "You too" Sturgis said as he took Bobbi's hand.
 
 "That was fun" Mac said when they were in the car. "I think they're 
actually 
 starting to hit it off pretty good."
 
 "I think so too" Harm agreed. "They make a cute couple. Almost as cute 
as 
 us."
 
 "Are we a couple?" she asked softly.
 
 "I'd like us to be" he whispered as leaned across the seat to place a 
gentle 
 kiss on her lips. "If that's what you want."
 
 "I think I could get used to that."
 
 "Me too" he smiled.
 
 
 The End