TITLE: "Home is Where the Heart Is-Chapter 3" AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY: Harm and Mac live together. Platonically. Roommates. Separate bedrooms. For how long? Set during the spring/summer of 2002 however neither Sergei nor the events of Afghanistan are a factor. CLASSIFICATION/RATING: S/R/A PG for language, mild violence SPOILERS: In any of our work, any JAG episode may be referred to. FEEDBACK: If you're so moved but never expected nor begged for. Addy is ssbpmn@aol.com. Please however, we request you respect the work, and the effort that goes into writing it. NOTE: All parts of this story and previous chapters, as well as much of our other works, are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnniePatJAGstories The message archives are open to all registered Yahoo users-no subbing required. Please ignore any notice of adult content you may see-there is no R nor NC17 content there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or the Harm-Mac shipper archive at http://hmarchive.topcities.com/index2.html [sadly, not always up and running] or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} ============= Previously in Home---Harm and Mac settle into their new purchase, finding that a house with a history is not easy to cope with, nor is sharing same From Home 2, part 7-- "Stop it" Mac yelled again, this time grabbing Wes hard enough that she was able to pull him from Harm and onto his feet. He turned to her and this time she leveled a blow to his midsection, causing him to double over in pain. "Get out" she yelled as she grabbed his arm and led him to the door. He was still doubled over in pain and she gave him one last shove out the door and onto the porch. "Do not call me or come by here again" she said coldly before slamming the door. "Mac are you okay?" Harm asked as he pushed himself up. She didn't look at him or answer him, instead running up the stairs and to her bedroom, the door slamming a few seconds later. "And you're welcome," he groaned. He put a gentle hand to his face and let out a long sigh as he felt the warm blood from the cut on his lip. He grimaced more when he touched his cheek, the large bruise already forming. His hand was aching from when he'd hit it on the floor when Wes had knocked him down and with a groan he realized he didn't have any more of the pain medication from the hospital. Slowly he made his way up the stairs, his body aching from the many hits Wes had managed to land. He'd been at a disadvantage because of his arm and hand otherwise Wes Filopovich would have been a dead man. "Mac" Harm said softly as he knocked on her door. "Mac I want to talk." ***************************** Home is Where the Heart Is Chapter 3--- There was no reply and he tried again. "Mac we live together. You can't ignore me. Please open up so we can talk." She didn't answer and with a sigh he started to his bedroom. He knew she was probably mad at him for getting involved but there was no way he was going to stand by and let Wes do his thing to her. He'd reached the door to his room when her door opened. "Why did you have to do that?" she said quietly. "I told you I could handle it myself." "I'm sure you could have" he sighed without turning around, his hand gripping the door handle for support. "But I wasn't going to just walk away when I heard what was going on. I'm sorry but I care about you and I can't just ignore something like what I heard when I walked in." "I could have handled him" she repeated again. "And next time I would appreciate if you would let take care of myself." "Fine Mac" he said tiredly as he finally turned around to look at her. "Harm look at you" she gasped. "You're bleeding and you look like you're about to fall over." "You're very sharp Colonel," he said as he gripped the door handle harder. "Why didn’t you say you were hurt?" she said as she quickly reached for him and gently led him to his bed. "I'm not. He just got in a few lucky punches" Harm sighed. "I had a slight disadvantage. Which is now aching like hell." "Okay let's get you cleaned up and then we'll see about that hand" she said softly. "You sit while I go get some water and a washcloth." "Mac I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries," he said quietly. "But I wasn't going to let him hurt you." "So you let him hurt you instead?" she sighed. "That's better than him hurting you" he countered. "Mac what if I hadn't walked in when I did? What would you have done?" "Harm you don't honestly think the man would have forced me now do you? I mean I've been in those situations before. Some men are harder than others to get to accept no that's all. He would have gotten the message eventually." "Yeah with maybe a knee to the groin to emphasize what you were telling him," he muttered, wincing himself at the thought. "I would have handled it big brother," she called from the bathroom. As soon as she touched the wet cloth to his face he pulled back away from her. "Ooowww. Quit that." "No. It needs to be cleaned, and you've got a split lip as well. You're going to look great in court Monday. Not to mention what is Mallory going to think when Wes tells her the story?" "Now that's not likely," he muttered. "Wes confess to an attempted rape? Not likely." "Harm don't overstate what happened please," she begged. "He was just getting a little aggressive that's all. I had it handled. Until I had more help than I needed and hold still would you. I'm not sure you don't need stitches here." "Not while I'm conscious and don't change the subject. Mac he was not going to stop until he got what he wanted." "Yeah well I don't see it that way. Men all the time test the boundaries. Test how sincere a woman is. You've done it." He looked so startled that she pulled away from him. " Harm, you've not taken the first no a woman has given you haven't you?" "OK guilty--of not taking the first one," he admitted sheepishly, then took her arms and looked into her eyes to emphasize he was speaking seriously. "But I have never pushed beyond the second one, and I have no respect for a man who does." "Harm I was upset with him but we could have worked it out I think." "Or he might have raped you." "Harmon Rabb I'm a Marine here. For godsake give me some credit. I could have killed him with one hand if I'd wanted to. I was trying to end the confrontation without bloodshed thank you. And then there's the matter of your over-reaction. Raped? Please." "I know what I saw--and heard," he insisted stubbornly. "I know what that sonofabitch would have done to you if he could have." "And that's another thing. Harm you've never liked the man. Hell you've never liked any man that paid any attention to me. OK I can understand where you're coming from with that. But it's just not fair for you to call him a potential rapist." "I know what I saw and heard. And I'm glad he's gone. Tell me that you are too." "You heard what I told him. And I meant it. But that doesn't mean I'm any more happy with you." "OK. He's gone, let's drop it before we say something we can't take back. But if you're waiting for me to be sorry for what I did--for interfering, then you're going to have a long wait. He would have hurt you. And sure you probably could have prevented that, but I wasn't willing to risk that. I care--so kill me." With that he took the cloth from her. "Maybe we need to say good night." "I think that's probably an excellent idea," she nodded. "Before one of us says something that can't be smoothed over. Are you all right? Do you need anything?" "No thanks. How about you? You landed pretty hard on your back thanks to that jerk." "I'll live. It's just sore and I jarred the bruise where I fell off the ladder. Nothing for you to worry about." "Please do not tell me what I should and shouldn't worry about," he begged. "Good night Mac." She looked at him for a long minute and turned toward her room, finally calling a good-night over her shoulder. ================ It was about 3AM when the throbbing in his wrist woke him from what was a restless sleep at best. Deciding some Advil might help, he headed for the bathroom, only to stop as he passed the door that was open a few inches. At first he was not sure what the sound he was hearing could be. Coming from the opposite end of the hall, Mac's room it wasn't the sound of a nightmare but of. . .crying. His Marine was crying softly, the sound carrying in the silent house. "Sarah," he whispered, the sound ripping his heart out, and he stood in the center of the hall, undecided whether to go to her. Finally he walked slowly to her door and knocked gently. "Mac are you all right?" he called softly. Several seconds passed and he was about to open the door when it slowly opened, her tear stained face greeting him. "Did I wake you?" she asked as she wiped away the last remnants of the tears. "No my wrist did actually" he said with a small smile. "Are you okay?" "Yeah just in here feeling sorry for myself," she said with a long sigh. "Since neither of us can sleep why don't you join me for a cup of tea? That might help relax you." "I'm not good company Harm." "Neither am I" he teased. "But you look like you could use something and I know I do. And you can listen to me talk if you don't feel like joining in." "All right. Maybe I'll be able to sleep then" she sighed. "I'll join you as soon as I find the Advil bottle" Harm smiled. "How bad are you hurting?" she asked. "Nothing a few Advil won't cure so don't start worrying." "Like you told me, don't tell me what I should and shouldn't worry about" she countered with a small smile. "But I'll go start the tea kettle while you do that. Advil should be in the top shelf of the medicine cabinet." "Thanks. I'll be down in a minute." She was staring outside at the darkness when he reached the kitchen a few minutes later. "So are you still mad at me for tonight?" he asked as he gingerly sat down in one of the kitchen chairs. "You had no right," she said quietly as she turned around to face him. "I had every right. He was going to hurt you Mac. I could never stand by and let anyone hurt you. And I'm sorry if you don't understand that part." "Harm I do. But I could have handled it myself. I know you have this thing about being there for the damsel in distress but I can handle myself. I'm not like Annie and Renee and all the other women you've known." "No you're not" he agreed. "And I didn't walk in to the living room last night just to prove I could rescue you. And yes I know that you can handle yourself but sometimes I forget that. But from what I'd heard, I wasn't going to wait to see what he was going to do." "Harm we have to come to an agreement if we're going to be room mates. You can't just barge in on me in the middle of a date." "I don't plan to Mac. But if I'm here and I hear something like I did tonight, I'm going to do something about it." "You would have made a great big brother" Mac sighed. "You've got that protective mode down to a science." "Well I don't consider you a little sister," he said softly. "What would you call us?" she asked. "Wes asked me tonight. He said you were overbearing when it came to me." "Only cause I warned him not to hurt you" Harm muttered. "What? When did you do that?" Mac demanded. "Last weekend" Harm said slowly. "I told him how his little stories had upset you. And I warned him not to do anything that would hurt you." "I don't believe you did that" Mac sputtered. "You had no right to do that." "Yes I did. He was upsetting you with those stories and I wanted to make sure he didn't tell you any more of them." "So that makes it okay for you to tell him not hurt me? Who appointed you my keeper?" "Well if you wouldn't date such jerks you wouldn't need a keeper" he snapped. "Jerks. Why was Wes a jerk? Cause he liked me?" "Mac he was a Dalton clone and you know it. You can do better than that." "Oh so now you think you know who I need with me. Do tell Mr. Rabb. What kind of man would you find acceptable for me to date?" "One that won't attack you on the first date" Harm retorted. "Or doesn't just want you because you're a pretty face he can have with him at his side." "You know what never mind" Mac snapped. "I don't want care what you think. I can go out with however the hell I want. I don't need your approval or anyone else's. "No you don't. But don't expect me to always be there to bail you out when you get in over your head with these jerks." "Make that a promise and you've got a deal," she muttered. "You got it," he growled, getting up from the table so quickly the chair crashed to the floor and his wrist banged against the table. His lips parted in a small cry of pain and she looked at him anxiously despite her irritation. "Don't worry about it. I'm going to bed," he told her, cutting off any concern she might have expressed. ================= For a long time she sat at the kitchen table after he left, finally forcing herself up to bed. It was dawn before she fell asleep, hence she was sleeping soundly mid morning when the phone rang. "Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie," she answered automatically, if not sleepily. "Ma'am my name is Elaine Fitzwater from the hospital in Reston. We have Harmon Rabb here. You're listed as contact for him." "Oh my god yes I am what's wrong is he hurt what happened?" Her sleep fogged mind spewed her words as she sat up, trying for some semblance of coherent. "Ma'am slow down he's fine now," Elaine assured her. "But he drove himself here, and we can't let him leave unescorted." "Why the hell not? What happened to him?" she demanded, now on her feet and fumbling her jeans onto her legs. "His cast was damaged and we had to reset his wrist. For which we had to give him a shot, and he's pretty out of it. He can go home and sleep it off, but he can't drive. Would you be able to come pick him up?" "Yes of course," she sighed, falling back onto the bed, relief bubbling in her throat and wondering why he didn't wake her when he left. "Tell him I'll be right there. And you'd better keep an eye on him. He can be real stubborn and being told he can't do something may make him want to all the more. Just be careful he doesn't sneak out." She hung up and was trembling slightly while she finished dressing. The news had startled her from a sound sleep and she had immediately feared the worst. Now knowing it was not serious made her feel better but she was dealing with the after affects of the adrenaline surge. "Hang on Flyboy I'm coming." Thirty minutes later she was being shown into his cubicle where he was asleep propped into a half-sitting position. She stopped a few feet from the bed, staring quietly. "You are a piece of work," she whispered. A lock of his messed hair was hanging onto his forehead and she stepped forward, pushing it back and before she could stop herself she had placed a quick kiss on the spot she uncovered. His green eyes fluttered open about a quarter of the way. "Mallory?" "Sorry to disappoint you Flyboy" Mac retorted and at once his eyes flew open. "If I'd known you'd wanted bright and bubbly I would have called her. Unfortunately the hospital called me because I'm still listed as your emergency contact." "I'm uh sorry" he stammered. "For what. For wanting Mallory instead of me?" "Can we discuss this another time" he groaned. "When I can think straight and everything doesn't hurt." "Fine, let's just get your six home" she sighed. "I'm not in the mood to talk anyway." An hour later he was in his own bed sound asleep and with one last look at him Mac closed the door. They hadn't spoke on the way home from the hospital and she wasn't sure she was ready to talk to him yet anyway. The argument from the night before was still fresh in her mind and she wasn't ready to forget the scene he'd made with Wes just yet. She spent her afternoon cleaning and had just dropped onto the sofa when Harm emerged from upstairs. "Thanks for picking me up from the hospital" he said quietly. "I don't think I said that earlier." "You're welcome," she said just as quietly. "Mac we need to talk" he sighed. "Can we do that please?" "Oh I think you said plenty last night" she retorted. "Look I'm sorry. Sorry I care about you. I don't want to see you get involved with another jerk who's going to hurt you." "Isn't that my decision?" "I'm trying to stop you from making a bad one" he snapped. "I don't need you as my keeper" she snapped back. "Thank you Harmon Rabb but I am more than able to take care of myself. Besides don't you have more important things to worry about like Mallory." "We're not talking about me we're talking about you" Harm countered. "Harm we're done talking about this. It's none of your business who I go out with. I can go out with whomever I want. Including Wes." "You're joking right?" he gasped. "You'd actually go out with him again after last night." "Yeah. He didn't rape me like you seem to think he planned. He was just being aggressive that's all." "I don't believe you. You'd actually go out with him again." "Harm he didn't do anything that bad. It was you who jumped to all the wrong conclusions." "Jumped to the wrong conclusion" Harm shouted. "I walk in and find him on top of you and you telling him no and I jumped to the wrong conclusion." "You sure as hell didn't wait for an explanation" Mac scoffed. "So sue me for caring. I'm sorry but I saw the whole situation completely differently. And I acted because I didn't want him to hurt you." "You didn't need to act. I could have handled it." "Oh yeah that's right Ms. Marine can handle anything" Harm retorted. "Yes I can" Mac shouted as she stood up from the sofa. "I don't need you for anything Harm." She started past him only to stop when his good arm reached out for her. "Well maybe you don't need me but I need you" he whispered as he pulled her closer to him. Before she could protest his lips came crashing down on hers. She struggled against his hold for only a second before finally melting against him and wrapping her arms around him as they both got lost in the moment. The need to breathe finally separated them and Harm finally let go of her. "I'm sorry," he said breathlessly. "I don't know what happened there." "I don't either" she whispered. Before he could say anything else there was a knock at the door and Mac hurried to answer it. "Mac" Mallory said coldly. "Is Harm home?" "He's all yours" Mac said quietly. "Oh no. Don't you go anywhere. I want to know what happened last night and why Wes looks like he went ten rounds." "Your brother tried to rape her last night thank you," Harm told her, attempting to keep his voice calm. "Oh my god give it a rest," Mac yelped. "Harm he. . .I'm not even going to bother. Mallory you've been around enough men to know what happens sometimes. You say no, they don't hear it. You say it again, they don't listen. Or think all women put up a fight before giving in. Whatever BS you want to call it. That's what happened OK. A little kissing got out of hand that's all. I drew the line--he tried to cross it. I called him on it." "And then your Prince Charming arrived on his white horse and pounded him?" "You damn right I did." "Harm you hurt him. He's pretty banged up." "Well in all fairness so is Harm," Mac spoke up. "He had to have his wrist reset this morning. But that doesn't excuse his actions." "No it certainly doesn't," Mallory growled. "Harm he wouldn't have hurt her." "Yeah that's what she insists too, but I was there and that wasn't my assessment of the situation that I walked in on and further it wasn't something I was willing to wait around to have proved or disproved. I simply took care of it." "You don't think Mac was capable of handling it?" "Again, I wasn't willing to wait around to find out. So sue me." "You owe him an apology," Mallory told him. "Does he know you're here?" Harm frowned, ignoring that for the moment. "I mean come on the man is able to speak for himself I'm sure." "No he does not know I'm here," she snapped. "He's at his place with an ice bag on his ribs, hopefully he'll be able to work tomorrow. Harm look, I love my brother. He and I are all the local family we have. You understand." "Of course I do. But I also understand that I won't let anyone or anything hurt Sarah," he said quietly, keeping his eyes away from Mac as he flashed on the kiss they had just shared. "Mallory if you can see your way clear to do something tonight, I'd still like to. I have no quarrel with you. But know this--I'm not going to apologize." Mallory bit her lower lip as she thought. "Thanks but I think I'll pass. . .just for tonight. I don't know how I'm feeling about this just now and until I do, it's better that I step away. I don't want to break up over it, but I need to get past it. Good bye Harm. Mac." Mac had not moved, her eyes having enlarged at Mallory's 'break up'. As if she and Harm were in a committed relationship. They had only barely been out a few times. "All right then. Just as well. I wouldn't be good company either," Harm told her, walking her to the door. "Breaking up?" Mac screeched when he returned alone. "I didn't realize you and her had some kind of arrangement. This from the man who told me as soon as a man expressed interest I was there." "She didn't mean it like that. OK look it's you and me tonight. Now we have a choice here. We can make some dinner and be civil or we can each go to our rooms and be alone. Now me, I'd enjoy cooking some chicken on the grill and then whipping the bejesus out of you at gin, but that's me. Unless of course you're going to call Wes." "No I am not going to call Wes," she replied with an aggrieved sigh. "And chicken does sound good, long as you don't mess up the kitchen that I spent an hour spit- shining." "Do I ever make a mess?" Harm said with a small smile. "Sometimes" she returned. "But it does sound good especially since I'm not in the mood to do much else." An hour later they sat at the small patio table on the back porch of the house. "Thanks this is wonderful" Mac sighed. "No problem. I'm just glad we've managed to get through an hour without yelling at each other." "Harm I don't want to fight with you all the time" she said as she set down her fork on her plate. "Neither do I" he said quietly. "And I'm not going to bring up last night again. It's over and done with." "Thank you. And I hope we don't ever have a repeat of that." "Me too." "Why don't you go inside and rest and I'll take care of cleaning up" she said after a moment's silence. "How's your wrist doing?" "I'll live. And thanks for offering to clean up. I still want to play gin with you if you want." "Only if you're prepared to lose" she smiled as she stood up. **************** Three Days Later JAG HQ's 12:00 PM EST "Mac I'll see you later," Harm said as he stuck his head in her office. "I'm not sure what time I'll be back from Quantico so I guess dinner is on you tonight." "I guess it's frozen dinner time" she smiled. "You mean you're not going to have a nice piping hot meal waiting for me when I get home?" he teased. "Rabb get a life" she groaned. "Do I look like Suzy homemaker. If you want I'll order a pizza and put the leftovers in the fridge for you. Otherwise you're out of luck." "All right that sounds better than frozen yuck" he smiled. "I'll see you later." "Harm drive safely this time" she said as he reached the door. "I don't want any more calls from the hospital about you." "I will" he assured her. "Besides the Admiral will kill me if I damage another car." "I don't care about the car. I care about you." "I'll drive safe. You too. And keep the doors locked until I get home." "I'm a big girl" she reminded him. "I can take care of myself." "Of course" he said with a forced smile. "I'll see you later then." She watched him walk to the elevator and let out a sigh once he was gone. They'd manage to keep the truce in tact for the last three days by avoiding any more talk of Wes and the encounter. It was in the past and as long as it didn't happen again she wasn't going to harp on it any more. ***************** 8PM "Home sweet home" Harm sighed as he pulled the SUV into the driveway. He frowned at once when he didn't see Mac's car. It was after seven and she hadn't mentioned to him that she would be going anywhere. He went inside and found no remnants of the dinner in the fridge like she'd promised. His concern grew as he reached for the nearest phone and dialed JAG and got her voice mail. She wasn't working late and he tried her cell phone to see if maybe she was on her way. "Mac where are you?" he muttered when there was no answer there as well. He made his way to the living room and finally spotted the answering machine and noticed that there was a message on the machine that had been played but not deleted. He pressed the button and felt a surge of anger go through him when he heard the message. "Hi Sarah it's Wes. I wanted to apologize to you for the other night. And I want to do it in person. Will you please call me? I'm off tonight and I'd like to see and apologize for my behavior the other night. I was out of line and I hope you can forgive me. Give me a call please." "I guess I know where you went" Harm muttered. He should have known that Wes would try and smooth things over with Mac. And of course Mac had likely gone running to him. He ordered the pizza he wanted and paced the house waiting for her to return. The pizza came and he nibbled on a few bites before his concern for her got the better of him. Wes's Internet listing provided his address and without hesitation he drove there. "Where is she?" he demanded when Wes opened the door. "And if you've hurt her again I swear you're a dead man." "If you mean Sarah I have no idea where she is" Wes retorted. "I haven't seen or talked to her since last Friday. Thanks to you no doubt." "You called and left her a message and I know she got it." "Well she didn't come here. She didn't even return my call." "She didn't?" "No she didn't" Wes retorted. "Isn't that what you wanted? You know Rabb you're pretty pathetic. You're going out with Mallory to get a piece of something because you can't have what you really want. Sarah." "What Sarah and I have--or don't have--is not something you should be concerned about. Minding your own business would be more healthy for you in other words." "A threat Mr. Rabb? I would have thought that beneath you." Wes raised an amused eyebrow. "I don't threaten and I don't bluff," Harm said quietly. "I simply state intention and promise. So hear this--if you hurt her in any way--any way at all--you'll deal with me. I can make your worst nightmare look like a visit to Disney World." "Oh get a grip Rabb," he scoffed. "You can stand there and threaten me until the second coming and I'll just disregard it as the ravings of a jealous man." "OK look you're right that's pointless," Harm muttered. "And it's not helping me find Mac. I was sure she was here and she's not and I don't know where to look." "And that's another thing. She's a free woman. Maybe she went shopping or to get her hair done or maybe she just went jogging on the trail. Maybe she needed some space from you. That wouldn't surprise me at all. Why are you so worried about her?" "Because I love her that's why I'm worried about her," he exploded. "Never mind, you wouldn't understand." "Harm I'm sure she's fine," Wes tried. "And for that matter, I do know all about being in love." It wasn't until Harm heard his words flung back to him that he realized what he had admitted for the first time aloud. Not even to himself had he actually said the words. "I'm outta here," he grunted. "If you see her you tell her. . ." "That you love her?" he asked with a sly smile. "That I need to talk to her," he retorted, fire in his eyes and he turned on his heel, dialing Mac's cell as he trotted back to the car. ===================== SAME TIME FAIR OAKS MALL RUBY TUESDAY's Harriet wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. "Mac thank you. Thank you so much for this. You should be writing a book about the life you and Harm are leading off duty now. In fact you can call it that--Off Duty Lives, JAG Under Cover or something like that." "Yeah it's been a barrel of laughs," Mac sighed. "Actually for the most part it's fine. I don't miss my apartment that's for sure. Never am I moving back to the city. Harm and I just have to get used to being around each other so much. I really didn't think that part through I'm afraid." "What's to think through?" Harriet laughed. "I'd live under the same roof with a gorgeous man like that in a heartbeat." "Hey you already do." "Yeah well he's not gorgeous and he's not even there but I do love him," Harriet sighed. "You might want to admit that's the case with you and Harm." "Yeah I might want to," Mac sighed as well. "I might also want to lick my finger and put it into a lamp socket. God Harriet, like life wasn't already complicated enough." "You'll manage" Harriet smiled. "I could think of worse things than living with the Commander." "You don't know him very well then" Mac groaned. "And on that note I'd better go before he comes home and finds out I didn't get his pizza." "You didn't tell him you were going out with me?" Harriet asked. "No I figured he was going to be late coming back from Quantico anyway so it didn't matter." ************ As soon as she pulled in the driveway and saw his SUV parked she knew it did matter. She could see him in the window as if he were waiting for her return. "Hi" she said cheerfully as she walked in. "Sorry but I didn't get the pizza." "I don't care about the pizza," he said quietly. "Would it have been asking too much to leave me a note or a message as to where you were going?" "Excuse me? Since when do I need to let you know where I go?" Mac demanded. "Since you didn't mention you were going anywhere and it would have been nice when I got home to find a note instead of an empty place." "Sorry big brother but I don't think I need to tell you my exact whereabouts at all times. So just give it a rest would you." "Mac it's just common courtesy. I was worried about you not that it makes any difference to you." "Look I'm sorry" she sighed. "Harriet asked me to go out with her tonight and I didn't think it would be a big deal. I came home and changed and went out. Next time I'll put a post it note up and tell you I went out. Will that make you feel better?" "Yes it will. Then maybe I won't worry that you're out with Wes." "You thought I went out with Wes?" she said with a small smile. She'd purposely left the message on the machine knowing Harm would listen to it and would wonder if she'd called him back. "What else was I supposed to think?" he countered. "There's a message from the guy and you're gone. Of course I thought you were there. And when you weren't I was about to call the cops." "You went to Wes's to find me?" she shrieked. "Harmon Rabb what I do with my personal life is none of your business. And I mean it. Stay out of my affairs." "Mac" he started. "I mean it Harm. If you stick your nose in my business one more time, that's it. I'm out of here and you can figure out how to pay for this money pit yourself." She ran past him and up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door a few seconds later. "Rabb you are such an idiot sometimes" he groaned to himself. For the rest of the evening he debated whether to try and talk to her, finally deciding it might be best to give her some space. He's obviously overstepped his boundaries this time and if he weren't careful, he would push her away completely. ************* JAG HQ's Next Morning Mac hadn't waited for him and with a sigh Harm stepped off the elevator and headed toward her office. "Harm don't start," she said irritably as he walked in. "Whatever it is I don't want to hear it. I have the morning in court and I don't need any distractions." "Can we please talk about this at lunch then?" he said quietly. "I don't know if we'll be finished by then" Mac sighed. "You know how Singer is when she's defending. She objects to everything." "You'll recess at some point" Harm countered. "Please I really want to talk about last night. And apologize." "You're going to apologize?" she said sarcastically. "Mac I'm trying to be serious. Yes I want to apologize. Will you let me buy you lunch so we can talk about this?" "Fine. I'll let you know when" she said as she pushed past him. "Morning sir" Harriet smiled. "Morning Harriet" Harm murmured. "Sir is everything okay?" Harriet asked as she followed him into his office. "Peachy" he said with a forced smile. "Just peachy." "Are you and the Colonel fighting?" "Why would you think that?" Harm groaned. "Only because she came in without you and nearly bit off poor Tiner's head about where he filed something. And since she was in a good mood when she left me last night, I just figured that you two might be having some problems adjusting to living together." "We are not living together--we are house sharing," he exploded before he could stop himself, earning himself a look from everyone within fifty feet. "Sir I understand only too well," she smiled. "And it's that which we'd like to celebrate. Give you a chance to show off your work. Maybe Saturday evening. Housewarming we're talking here sir." He took a long breath, remembering that he and Mac were not on that even a keel at the moment. "I'm not sure. . ." "Please sir, at least ask the Colonel," she begged. "We'd really like to see the place again and it's not everyday someone does something like you two did." "Lucky for them," he muttered. "Oh come on now you're not sorry are you?" He gave a short laugh. "No really I'm not I guess. It's harder than I thought it would be that's all. Living with someone isn't the same as working with them." "Tell me about it," she smiled. "Much as I love Bud I'm not hating the time he's been gone. No one's needs to answer to except AJ's. Anyway sir please ask her if it would be OK. You guys don't have to do anything. We'll keep it simple." "I'll talk to her at lunch. Assuming we're talking." ============== Maison D'Crepes Tyson's Corner Virginia "Harm this is nice. I'm impressed," Mac smiled as led her inside, rubbing her back gently with his guiding hand. "When you plan an apology, you do go all out." He simply nodded, waiting until they were seated with their orders taken and their drinks in front of them before he brought it up. And when he did so, to her surprise, he reached across the table and took both her hands. "Mac I overstepped. I overreacted and I overstepped. I am sorry for that. When I got Wes's message I freaked. I figured you'd gone to meet him and it did bother me. For that I'm not sorry. The man. . .well he unnerves me or something. There's a reason why he's as old as he is, a doctor with money, and single." "Gee I know a great looking Navy guy--aviator too--who's pushing forty and is single," she countered, just the hint of a smile on her lips. "This is not about me," he growled. "Well it is about me making a fool of myself. . .to a point. I refuse to apologize for caring about you. I would do anything to keep you safe--to keep someone from hurting you." His eyes locked to hers as he spoke those words and she drew her breath in sharply, impressed at once by his sincerity. "And then of course when I got home and you weren't there, but Wes's call was, my imagination went into overdrive." "What would you have done had I been at Wes's?" she asked gently. "Which by the way, I haven't even returned his call yet." "I hope I would have ascertained that you were OK and then left you," he sighed. "But I guess I can't guarantee that I wouldn't have gone ballistic." "Well at least an honest answer." "Bottom line--all this could have been avoided with a ten-word note from you that you were gone with Harriet, or if you'd picked up your phone one of the twenty times I dialed." She opened her mouth to object and then gave a long sigh. "You're right. You're absolutely right. You know what, no one in forever has cared where I was or who I was with or when I was coming home. Not even Mic. He never worried about me. This is going to take some getting used to." "Does it bother you that I worry about you? More to the point, does it bother you that I care enough about you to worry?" He rubbed his thumbs across the backs of her hands as he asked his question. "No on both counts," she replied, lowering her eyes. "And what we need, after your apology, is a pact that we'll try to let each other know where we are so that the other one doesn't worry. It is common courtesy after all." "OK. Sounds workable," he nodded, squeezing her hands and then to her even greater surprise, placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry Sarah. I was out of line." "Woah who are you?" Mac smiled. "Because this is not the Harmon Rabb I know." "Yes it is. The guy who's been hanging around the last few days has been a real jerk." "Well I won't disagree with that" she smiled. "But it's not all your fault. I guess I didn't think about hard this might be." "Neither did I. But I don't want you to leave." "I don't want to leave. I'm actually getting used to the Bates Motel now." "So we're okay for now?" he asked with a small smile. "Until you do something stupid again and mess it all up" she teased. "Okay now that we've got that settled, next question. Harriet wants us to have a housewarming party this weekend. Nothing special, just the gang from JAG." "I suppose we could do that" Mac nodded. "You're cooking right?" "Of course. We'll have a cook out and I'll whip up something to go with the burgers and chicken. Nothing fancy." "Well it would be nice to show everyone what we've done with the place. Course the idea of Singer rummaging through our rooms doesn't sit well with me." "She is pretty nosy isn't she?" Harm sighed. "We could have a little fun with that" Mac grinned. "What are you thinking Marine?" "Oh just that it might be fun to play a little game with Lt. Singer. You know, give her something to think about." "Good idea" Harm grinned as well. "I like the way you think. So what did you have in mind?" "Oh you'll see" Mac smiled. "Just trust me. It will be fun." "You know I like it when we get along like this. I hate fighting with you." "Me too. So let's keep it this way shall we?" *************** Harm and Mac's Home Saturday Evening "Mac relax" Harm ordered. "You've been running around here all afternoon. Everything is under control. Now sit." "You sure?" she sighed as she sank into the chair. "Trust me. It's under control. This is supposed to be fun remember?" "Oh that reminds me," she said as she leapt from the chair and hurried upstairs. "Mac what are you doing?" he called as he followed her upstairs. "Mac." He found her in her bedroom, holding a pair of her lacy underwear in her hands. "Uh, I didn't know you wanted to change" he stammered. "I'll leave you alone." "You're so cute when you blush Rabb" Mac smiled. "I'm not putting these on. I'm leaving them for Singer to find." With that she walked out of her room and headed to Harm's bedroom. "In my bedroom?" "Of course" she grinned. "Where else would I leave them for her to find? You know that's what she's going to be looking for anyway. Some sign that you and I aren't just room mates." "And so you're going to leave it for her to find" Harm smiled. "You are so bad. Course when she goes running to the Admiral with it, you're the one who's going to do the explaining." "I can handle it" she assured him. "It will just be worth it to see what Singer does." She casually dropped the lacy underwear on the floor beneath his bed and with a large grin walked out. "Anything else you want to give her to talk about?" Harm asked as he followed her. "That should do it for now" Mac smiled as she headed to the stairs. "Unless you'd like to leave a pair of those cute boxers you wear around the house somewhere in my bedroom." "Cute boxers. I didn't know you were looking." "Who wouldn't be?" she tossed over her shoulder before heading downstairs. "Just when I think I have you figured out" Harm murmured as he watched her head down the stairs. "You've got a long long way to go before you figure me out Sailor," she called back over her shoulder. "Maybe but you're not the only one who can enjoy the view," he murmured inaudibly, watching her long legs and trim backside, clad in short denim shorts below a halter top that skimmed the waistband. He watched her until she disappeared into the kitchen. Almost at once he recalled watching Mallory in much the same way and shook his head. Mallory was OK but. . . "Harm. HARM." Her voice echoed through the house, even over the music which he had put on the stereo. "Mac what's wrong? Where are you?" he yelled from the top of the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. "Mac answer me right this second," he screeched when he reached the bottom floor and did not find her. "Harm no it's OK," she called, her voice measurably more calm than it was earlier, and he could tell it was coming from the basement. "Why did you yell?" he demanded, striding to the open door at the back of the kitchen, "and what the hell are you doing down there anyway?" "It's called laundry. I keep telling myself that clean underwear is over-rated, but I haven't bought into that yet." "OK so that tells me what you're doing but not why you screamed for me." He heard the washer stop filling and the agitation start and a second later she appeared at the bottom of the steps, looking back over her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you but I was startled and yelling for you was the first thing that happened. It was an involuntary reflex." "This is still not telling me what happened," he growled. "Someone grabbed me," she whispered, barely audible. "Excuse me?" "I was leaning over the washing machine pulling out the first load and someone grabbed me from behind." At once he pounded down the steps, much to her amusement. "Harm whatever it was, it's not here now," she sighed. "But it did startle me enough to make me yell for you." His arm went around her and he looked around the room, keeping her close. "You're not going to see anything," she sighed. "As soon as I yelled and spun around, the hand was gone off of me. In other words I was letting this place get the best of me. . .again." "Can you show me what this hand did?" "Uh. . .I could but I don't think. . ." she began, blushing royally. "Just do it," he groaned. "OK but you'll have to go with it," she sighed, positioning herself with her back to his chest, then reaching for his arm, bringing it around front of her and clamping his hand over her breast, holding it there. "And then I screamed and a second later it was gone," she informed the now speechless Naval officer as she released his hand. "Harm you can let go now." "Thanks," he gasped, pulling away as if he had been burned. "You're telling me we have a ghost that was copping a feel." "Crudely yes," she smiled blushingly and ran up the steps. "I don't want you down here alone any more," he screeched after her, shaking his head in puzzlement. "And I'm going to refrain from reminding both of us that there is no such thing as ghosts." He was still shaking his head as he took a look around the room, eyeing the part of the room that was bricked up. Once twice its size, now the basement covered only half its former area. Making a mental note to return when he had the time, he pounded up the steps, stopping in the kitchen where she was setting out drink cups. "You OK?" he asked quickly, setting his hand on her arm. "Yeah like I said I was just startled. And yelling for you was pure reflex." "And that's what I want you to do when something happens," he told her. "Hey I'll be right down. I have something to take care of real quick before our guest arrive." A few minutes later it was done. On her nightstand rested the ripped open empty foil packet, with the words 'ribbed--for her pleasure' still legible. "What did you do?" she asked when he returned. "Nothing" he grinned. "Just giving our dear friend Loren something to flip about." "Do I want to know?" she smiled. "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. And speak of the devil looks who's the first one to arrive." "So she can case the place before the others get here I'm sure. So tell me are we going to give her the tour or just let her wander." "You're going to start giving her the tour, I'm going to yell that I need your help and you're going to leave her alone to find all the good things we left for her" Harm grinned. "Rabb you are so diabolical sometimes" Mac smiled as she headed to the door. She waited a second for the knock, opening the door with a wide smile. "I hope I'm not too early" Singer smiled. "No that's okay," Mac said as Singer walked in. "Harm's just finishing up in the kitchen." "Interesting place you have here" Singer said as she looked around. "A cross between the Amityville Horror and the Bates Motel. Course it looks like you've done a little work inside." "It's a slow process" Mac smiled politely. "But we're getting there." "Evening Lieutenant." Harm said as he walked out from the kitchen. "Nice of you to join us." "Oh I wouldn't have missed this" Singer smiled. "Pretty big place you have. How many bedrooms?" "Four actually" Harm replied. "Mac why don't you give her the tour while I finish cutting up the veggies." "I didn't know you were domestic Commander." "Harm does all the cooking" Mac smiled. "We share all the other chores. But let me show you around." Mac started downstairs and slowly made her way around, finally reaching the upstairs. "And this is Harm's room" she started as she led Singer towards his bedroom. "Mac" Harm yelled. "Where's the mix for the ranch dip?" "In the cupboard next to the fridge" Mac called. "I don't see it," he yelled back and Mac let out a long sigh. "Excuse me. The Commander has a hard time finding stuff that's right in front of his face. I'll be right back to show you the bedrooms." "Take your time" Singer smiled as she stood at the top of the stairs. "I'll just hang out here for a minute." Mac nodded and hurried down the stairs, turning enough to see Singer quickly zip from her post and into Harm's bedroom. "Did she fall for it?" Harm grinned. "Of course. She's in your bedroom right now." "Looking at your lacy underwear no doubt. You know she's probably got a camera and taking pictures for the Admiral." "Harm what if she does?" Mac gasped. "First off, does it matter what you and I do in our personal time?" he smiled. "And secondly, how would they know it was your underwear and not someone else's." "Okay, momentary panic over" she sighed. "Good. You'd better get back to our guest before she realizes we set her up." As he said the words they could hear the creak on the floorboards above, a signal that she was moving from Harm's room to Mac's. "I'll take my time" Mac smiled. "Don't want her to miss whatever goodie you left for her in my room." "A condom wrapper." "Harmon Rabb. You didn't?" "Why not?" Harm smiled. "She probably thinks we're sleeping together anyway. This will just further fuel her theory." "You are so bad," she said as she shook her head. "Now I have to go up there and face her after all this." "Oh trust me she won't say a word to you or me" Harm laughed. "Course I expect the Admiral will have a visitor in his office first thing Monday morning." "Should we warn him?" Mac smiled. "Nah. We'll see if she really has the guts to do it or not. If she does, we'll just explain to him it was all a set up." "I can't wait to see you do that" Mac grinned. "And I'm off to get our guest before she gets into any trouble." "Mac. . " he began and when she turned around he shrugged. "Nothing I guess." "OK." She started off again. "Be careful of her huh." That brought her up short. "Are you serious? Be careful of Loren Singer? What do you think she might do for crying out loud?" "Hell I don't know. I just had a sudden bad feeling I guess. I mean I'm not saying she's dangerous in a physical threatening way but she could. . .I don't know. Maybe be vindictive? I'd just hate for you to have any problems with her. You're five times the officer and attorney she'll ever be and I won't allow her to mess with you." She dropped a warm hand on his arm and impulsively reached up and kissed his cheek. "You're big brothering again but sometimes I like that you fret over me. On the other hand, she'd better not try anything with me--or you--because I'll take her down." "OK." Harm gave her a bemused smile, watching her climb the stairs. "Nice ass," he called softly. If she heard him, she did not give him the satisfaction of acknowledgment. "Loren you up here," Mac called sweetly. "Yes ma'am. Just admiring what you did with your room," she screeched. "You have a flair for decorating that I wouldn't have thought. I mean curtains even." "A Marine can still be a woman," Mac reminded her and thought of the lacy panties. "I mean I like nice things like anyone else. A little lace now and then you know?" "Yes ma'am I certainly do," Singer laughed. "A woman likes to dress for the man in her life doesn't she. By the way, my date is meeting me here. I hope that's OK." "Uh. . .date?" Mac stammered, confused. "Yes ma'am. His name is Teddy Lipinski. He's an aide to Congressman Walker. Harriet said it was OK. I met him at the Secnav's office because he's Walker's military liaison. It is OK isn't it?" "Well of course it is. If Commander Turner brings Congresswoman Latham they'll have a lot to talk about." As she was speaking, her eyes darted around the room. 'Condom wrapper'. Now where would he have. . . Her gaze fell on Singer's hand, obviously closed in a fist over something. Wherever he had left it, it obviously worked. The mouse had taken the bait. She could not suppress a quick laugh and Singer looked at her quizzically. "Ma'am?" "Nothing Loren. And please let the ma'ams go while you're in my home OK." "Yes ma. . .thanks Mac. So tell me how is he?" "Excuse me?" "Commander Rabb. I mean how is living with Commander Rabb?" "We get along fine thanks. It's a good arrangement. We're both satisfied." "Now that I can believe," she laughed and breezed past Mac out the door in time to hear Harm call from below, "Loren your guest is here." "Hi Teddy" Loren smiled. "I take it you've met Harm." "Yes I have" he nodded. His gaze suddenly went to Mac as she came down the stairs and it wasn't until Loren grabbed his arm that he looked back at her. "Hi I'm Mac" Mac smiled as she introduced herself. "Teddy" he smiled as well as he admired her, much to Harm and Loren's annoyance. "Why don't I show Teddy around" Loren said as she grabbed his arm. "Nice meeting you Mac" Teddy called as Loren pulled him to the kitchen. "What a jerk" Harm muttered. "Why?" Mac smiled. "I thought he was pretty nice. And he's kind of cute." "Mac he's probably ten years younger than you?" Harm scoffed. "And that's bad?" she teased. "Okay you're just doing this to get to me aren't you?" Harm groaned. "Had you going didn't I?" Mac grinned. "You're dead meat one of these days Mackenzie. When you least expect. That's two I owe you for." "Two?" she frowned. "The morning you told me we'd slept together?" Harm reminded her. Loren and Teddy walked into the room just in time to hear 'slept together' and she quickly yanked Teddy back into the kitchen. "What?" he demanded. "Shh" Loren whispered. "I want to hear what they're saying." "Loren are you just here to spy on your co-workers" Teddy asked. "Because if you are, I'm leaving." "No of course not" she smiled as she turned to him. "Let's go visit with our hosts." An hour later the party was in full swing with the rest of the guests finally there. "Nice place Harm" Bobbi said as she weaved her way over to him. "You and Mac must be pretty cozy here." "It's not like that Bobbi" Harm smiled. "We're just room mates." "Is he giving you that we're just room mates speech again," Sturgis asked as he came up behind Bobbi and wrapped his arm around her. "Hey you" she smiled as she turned and gave him a quick kiss. "Yeah he's giving me that speech. You think he's practiced it in front of the mirror for us." "It's not a speech. Mac and I are just room mates." "Good thing cause it looks like Lt. Singer's date is hot for her" Sturgis laughed as he pointed to where Teddy was deep into conversation with Mac. Harm frowned as he followed the gaze. "I'd better go see if she needs rescuing. The poor guy is probably boring her to death and she's just being polite." He quickly made his way over to them and Mac shot him a grateful look. "Excuse me Teddy" Harm smiled. "I need to borrow Mac for a minute." "Thank you" she murmured as he led her to the kitchen. "I can't lose that leech for nothing." "Glad to help. You okay?" "Yeah I'm having a good time besides him hanging all over me. How about you?" "Well besides having to give the we're just room mates speech a hundred times, I'm fine." "You too huh?" she smiled. "I don't know why they don't believe us. I mean just because we're living together doesn't mean we're sleeping together." "Who's sleeping together?" AJ demanded as he walked into the kitchen. "No one sir" Harm said quickly. "Good. Cause I do believe you two told me that this was just a business deal." "Yes sir and that's what it is" Harm replied. "I thought so. Good party by the way. Excellent food." "Thank you sir" Harm smiled as AJ walked out of the kitchen and back to the party. "You think he believes us?" Mac asked when they were alone. "If he does now he won't after Singer goes ratting on us Monday morning" Harm smiled. "And I'll remind you that that was your idea Counselor." Before she could reply Loren walked into the kitchen, giving Mac a long glare. "Is something wrong Loren?" Mac asked. "Nothing except Teddy spending the whole night with you instead of me" Loren retorted. "I have no idea what all the guys see in you." "Obviously it's my charming personality," Mac smiled. "Not the way you fill out those tight shorts? I mean who'd you wear those for anyway? You don't have a date here do you. . .unless of course it's the Commander you're trying to impress, oh but then he's probably seen it before." "Of course he has," Mac smiled again as sweetly as she could and breezed past her to the back yard. "You could do better Harm," Singer sighed, brushing against him as she walked by. "Loren, go put a leash on your date," he muttered, seeing Teddy at once gravitate to Mac. Two hours later everyone was comfortably in the back yard, some more comfortable than others having visited the beer cooler a few times. "Harm-Mac, this is a great old house," AJ approved. "I'm sure it has some stories that go with it." "Uh yes sir it does," Harm spoke up with a wary eye to Mac. "But the stories are real unpleasant and we don't dwell on them." "Ghost stories?" Sturgis was at once interested. "Unpleasant stories," Harm reiterated. "Like all old houses that have had a lot of different families. And some of it is more legend than fact anyway I think." "I'd still like. . ." Sturgis began only to be cut off by a sharp booming sound in the background. "What the hell was that? Sounded like an artillery shell." "Close. People whose land backs to ours through the trees and down the hill are dynamiting stumps," Harm explained. "You know this because . . .?" Mac frowned. "Because while you were in the shower this afternoon, Mrs. Kane stopped by to tell me not to be alarmed. Sorry I didn't mention it." "Mrs. Kane, about five feet nothing, gray hair in a bun?" "No that would be the mother in law. This was Mrs. Kane about five-seven, blonde hair to her waist, 110 soaking wet, wearing a one piece navy swim suit with a white cover up," he grinned. "But then I didn't really notice." "Like hell you didn't," Sturgis roared. "About the only thing you didn't get was her bra size." "38 D," he grinned again, much to the amusement of everyone. "Hey I'm a trained investigator." "I think you should have invited them," AJ grinned. "I don't see AJ," Harriet squealed just as Harm was about to comment, another explosion punctuating her sudden panic. "Oh God he was right under the tree there." "Stay calm" Harm ordered. "I'm sure he's around here somewhere." "AJ" Harriet screamed hysterically. "AJ where are you?" "You know you really should take better care of your child" Singer sighed. "Shut up you witch" Harriet screamed. "You have no idea what's it like to take care of a child on your own." "Sir, you're not going to let her talk to me that way are you?" Singer demanded as she looked at AJ. "Next maybe you'll think before you open your mouth" AJ retorted. "Sir" Loren gasped. "You heard me right. If anyone should be apologizing it's you for that idiotic remark." "Excuse me" Loren snapped before turning and heading inside the house. "Harm come on," Mac said as she started towards the woods. "He probably wandered into the woods and got scared." "Harriet we'll find him" Harm assured the frantic woman. "Just try and stay calm." "Thank you" Harriet wailed as big tears appeared on her cheeks. "Bud would kill me if I let anything happen to him." "I'm sure he's fine. Probably just lost and scared like Mac said." With that he and Mac headed into woods calling for the little boy as they walked. Another dynamite blast made Mac jump and Harm reached for her hand. "It's okay. I'm sure he didn't go that far." "Harm what if he did" Mac sighed. "Hey don't think the worst. We'll find him." "Maybe we should split up. We'll cover a lot more ground that way." Harm nodded and had just taken a few steps in the other direction when Mac called him back. "Harm I found him" she said happily before reaching for the little boy. "It's okay sweetie, Aunti Mac is here." "Is he okay?" Harm asked as he hurried over. "He's fine," Mac said as she hugged AJ tightly. "Just scared like we figured." "Thank god" Harm sighed. "Let's get him back before Harriet has a stroke." ********** "Some party" Loren muttered as she wandered around the house. With everyone's attention diverted to the missing child she had free reign of the place. "Wonder what's in the basement?" she smiled to herself. Moments later she made her way through the damp dreary room, looking around for anything else she might be able to use against them. "We do our laundry together, how special" she murmured as she looked at the pile of laundry in the basket. "And the Commander wears boxers" she grinned as she picked up a pair. "Grey knit. No wonder the Colonel can't keep her hands off him." She dropped the boxer's back in the basket just as she felt a hand on her back that quickly traveled to the front. She whirled around, surprised to find no one there. She felt it again and this time she tore up the stairs to the kitchen, reaching the top just as Teddy walked in. "There you are" Teddy smiled. "What are you doing?" "Nothing" she managed as she slammed the door to the basement. "You're nosing around again aren't you?" he demanded. "Loren give it a rest. Harm and Mac are nice people. Why do you keep hounding them?" "You know what Teddy you're only here because I invited you" Loren snapped. "And all you've done all night is hang all over Mac." "Sorry. She's a fascinating woman" Teddy smiled. "And I'm chopped liver? Go home Teddy. Now. And don't bother calling me again." "Fine" Teddy snapped before marching out. "Good night Loren." "Lover's spat?" Harm smiled as he walked into the kitchen. "None of your business" Loren retorted. "So did you find the little brat?" "My godson is safe and sound, even with no help from you," Harm nodded. "Hey I'm sorry about you and Teddy." "I don't need any pity thanks. And it's not your fault anyway. Colonel Hot Pants out there took care of him." "I'm not even going to comment," he groaned. "Mac is a beautiful woman and men do gravitate to her." "And that doesn't bother you?" "You don't see my ring on her finger do you Loren." "Not when you can get it without," she returned and Harm just shook his head. "By the way, your cute little prank in the basement didn't work on me?" "It didn't?" He asked innocently, ignoring her other comment. "Which one was that?" "The grabbing hand or whatever you fixed up down there. I don't scare easily Commander." "What the hell were you doing in the basement?" he demanded. "It's not the house's best feature first off." "I was uh. . .well you know looking for AJ," she stammered. "And no it's gross down there. I took a quick look around is all, but I swear something reached out and, well felt me." "Not my doing," Harm sighed, shaking his head, his mind going back to Mac's experience earlier. "There's no such things as ghosts." It wasn't until Loren's derisive laugh that he realized he had said that aloud. "Harm you in there?" Mac's voice cut off his next comment. "Yeah I am, talking to Loren." "Mallory and Wes are here." Loren caught the expression on his face. "Friends?" "Long story don't ask," he replied curtly. "And stay out of the basement," he flung over his shoulder as he hurried out. "Hi Harm and Mac, thanks for inviting us," Mallory chirped. "Sorry we couldn't get here sooner. My car is in forty pieces at the shop and the doctor here had an emergency. Had to rip out a body part or something." "I had to remove a spleen. Now I'm starving." "Well there's still plenty," Mac smiled, "come on this way Doctor Death. How have you been anyway?" "Commander I see your Colonel has a new friend," Loren murmured from somewhere behind Harm, noting and taking advantage of his glare. "Weren't you leaving?" Harm muttered. "Oh before they arrived I might have" Loren smiled. "But I think I'll stick around a little longer. And if you'll excuse me I'm going to get to know that cute doctor a little better." "Please do" Harm murmured as she walked out before following after her with a long sigh. "Hi I'm Loren Singer" Loren smiled as she walked up to Wes and Mac. "Wes Filopovich" he smiled back. "Do you work at JAG as well?" "Yes I do. And did I hear Mac say you were a doctor?" "Yes I am" Wes replied. "That has to be such fascinating work. I'd love to hear about it." "Loren where's Teddy?" Mac asked. "He left" Loren shrugged. "So Wes, tell me about this spleen you removed today." With that she took his arm and led him to a nearby table and Mac frowned as she watched Wes allow her to do so. "Wes made a friend how nice" Harm murmured as he walked up behind Mac. She turned and gave him a long look before realizing that he was happy that Wes's attention was elsewhere besides on her. "And you love that don't you" she sighed. "I can't help I don't like the guy" Harm groaned. "He just bothers me." "Well surprise surprise it looks like Mallory has made a friend as well" Mac smiled as she looked over to see Mallory deep in conversation with Tiner. "Tiner" Harm laughed. "I doubt that. She's probably just being nice and talking to him until I'm free to come over and save her." "You think rather highly of yourself don't you Commander" Mac laughed. "Because I'd bet a week worth of doing laundry that if you walked over and tried to "save" her from Tiner, she wouldn't go with you." "You're on Marine" Harm said as he held out his hand. "I'll take that bet." "Sounds good to me" she smiled as they shook hands. "Now watch and see" Harm smiled before making his way over to where Mallory and Tiner were talking. "Hi Mallory" Harm said as he walked up to the pair. "I see you've met Tiner." "You mean Jason?" Mallory asked. "Uh yeah Jason" Harm said as he looked at Tiner. "Anyway I thought you might like to get something to drink inside. I'll take you inside and show you what we got." "Actually if you'd just get me a Diet whatever that would be fine" Mallory smiled. "Thanks Harm." "Okay" Harm said slowly. "You sure you don't want to go inside with me and see what we've got a choice of." "No. Anything diet will work." "I'll take you inside" Tiner offered. "I was just going to get up and get something." "Sounds good" Mallory smiled and to Harm's amazement stood up and walked into the house with Tiner. "Looks like you'll be doing laundry this week" Mac smirked as she walked over to him. "If I didn't know better I'd say our Tiner has made a new friend." "Jason" Harm corrected. "And I don't believe it." "Losing your touch big guy" Mac said as she gave him a playful punch in the arm. "But if it's any consolation, I think you're cuter than Tiner." "Gee thanks" Harm murmured as he watched her walk over to where Harriet was sitting. He shook his head again as he watched Mallory and Tiner before heading over to Sturgis. "Nice party buddy" Sturgis said as Harm sat down. "Thanks" Harm sighed. "Glad you're enjoying it." "So tell me the truth. Are you and Mac really just room mates?" "Not you too" Harm groaned. "Yes Mac and I are just room mates. Why does everyone have such a hard time believing that?" "Okay. Just giving you a hard time." "Well don't. I get enough of that from Mac." "I bet living with you is quite an adventure" Sturgis laughed. "And I actually feel sorry for her." "On that note, I'm off to find a real friend to talk to" Harm glowered before walking away. He meandered around before finally gravitating to where Mac was sitting on the swing with little AJ asleep in her arms. "You look so perfect like that," he said softly. "You're going to make a great mom one day." "By the time that one day gets here I'll be too old" Mac sighed as she gently stroked the little boy's hair. "And seeing as how the only guy the least bit interested in me in the past year has been with Singer the entire time he's been here I think I'm out of luck." "No there's still time" Harm smiled. "And he isn't the only guy." "Teddy was a jerk" Mac scoffed. "I wasn't talking about Teddy" Harm said softly before turning and walking away. "Your Godfather will never cease to amaze me AJ" Mac murmured to the sleeping boy. "You know it's pretty sad when a woman comes to be with you and ends up with someone else," Sturgis observed catching up with Harm again and nodding to Mallory and Tiner who were laughing under one of the big trees. "Well at the moment it's not real important," he smiled and he did some nodding of his own, to Mac and little AJ still in the swing. "OK how hard is it to live in such close proximity to a woman you care about and can't touch." "I've touched her," Harm grinned mischievously, remembering how he had helped himself to a kiss. "Do tell," Sturgis laughed. "In fact let's get a beer and you can tell me more." "I don't think so." Harm shook his head, adding softly, "but you're right about one thing. What sounded so simple--share a house, live separate lives--is not. Not at all." "We just get stupider," Sturgis reminded him, spotting Bobbi talking animatedly to AJ. "I think I'd better go rescue our C.O." "How is that going?" Harm asked before he could get away. "When you kiss and tell so will I." ============== 4 Hours Later "Mac leave it. It's not so bad and we can clean it up in the morning," Harm urged, seeing Mac juggling party remains into a trash bag. "I don't mind," she shrugged. "Did you have fun? I'm sorry about Mallory by the way." Now it was his turn to shrug. "There's nothing there." "Excuse me?" "She's fun." "Like Renee?" "Sort of, except she and I haven't ever. . .I haven't wanted to sleep with her I mean." "Been kind of a long dry spell for you hasn't it Sailor," she smiled and shook her head. "Has it been about that same amount of time for you?" He could not suppress a hopeful note in his voice and she blushed before she answered. "Hell no. I've been getting some every night." His mouth dropped open and she pushed past him. "Close your mouth mister, you're going to catch flies like my mom always told me." "Maaa-aaac," he wailed, following her out to the back porch. "You are so easy," she chortled, dropping onto the old fashioned swing, hanging from replenished chains attached to the sturdy ceiling beam. "Sorry. Man with a couple beers in him here. Little slow on the uptake thank you. Can I join you." "Half your property," she smiled, sliding to make room for him. "You started to tell me about Mallory." "Nothing to tell," he shrugged. "Except that she's attractive and pretty and fun." "I see." She turned her head away quickly, not wanting to betray any emotion in her face. "And I also said there was nothing there remember," he reminded her, putting a gentle finger to her cheek and turning her back to face him. "There was an attraction there for a while but nothing that I want to pursue." "You want to tell me why?" "No, but I'll show you," he whispered, taking a deep breath for courage and leaning down to touch his lips to hers. "Harm," she managed just before she leaned into the kiss, which lasted until they were forced to breathe. "I guess that's a good enough answer," she panted and his arms opened in invitation to her. A second later she was settled against his chest, resting her head against his wide shoulder while dusk gathered around them. For a long while the only noise was the slight creak of the old swing mingling with their even breathing. "I think I'd better get you inside," he finally said. "It's late and I know you're chilly. I can feel it on you." "I am, but this is just such a good way to end the day. I've loved this old swing, but it's suddenly taken on a whole new dimension." "I think we should do this every night we can," he said suddenly. "Huh, swing like this you mean?" "Yeah that's not so odd is it? I mean what's wrong with coming out here just at dark and sitting together and connecting at the end of our day?" "I told our godson this afternoon I wouldn't ever figure you out," she sighed. "And now you go and substantiate that. You've got a sappy bone in there somewhere." "Getting older I guess," he shrugged. "I don't know. At least I got to share this time with you. Something Wes can't take away." "Harm, Wesley Filopovich is not a threat to you." "He's not?" Harm smiled. "Nope. Never has been never will." "Why's that?" "Because there's very few men who are like you Harmon Rabb" Mac smiled. "And that's good?" "Yeah that's good," she said softly before standing up. "I'm going to head on up to bed. You coming?" "I guess so" he sighed. "So do you think it was a good party?" "I think Tiner is going to love you forever" Mac grinned. "And Singer is probably plotting her next move as we speak." "Oh that's right. Is the bait still there?" "I didn't see it. So I'm guessing she took it. Literally." *************** JAG HQ's Monday Morning "Sir, ma'am great party" Tiner greeted them as Harm and Mac stepped off the elevator. "Thanks for inviting me and thanks for inviting Mallory." "So did you score a second date with her?" Harm asked. "Yes sir. I hope that's okay sir. I mean I know she was with you but.." "Tiner it's fine. Mallory and I were just friends. Nothing more. I'm glad you and her hit off so well. She's a great person." "Yes she is" Tiner smiled. "Too bad Gunny wasn't here to see this. He'll never believe me when I email him." "I'll vouch for you if you need a witness" Harm smiled as he and Mac continued to their offices. "Looks like Tiner's in love" Mac smiled. "Who would have thought Mallory would dump you for the Yeoman." "Hey. She didn't dump me. We were never going out remember." "Of course" Mac teased. "My mistake." "Comments like that are going to get you in trouble Marine" Harm threatened but the smile on his face was anything but threatening. "What kind of trouble?" Mac grinned. Before he could reply Singer walked over to them. "The Admiral would like to see you ASAP" she smirked. "And I mean ASAP." "Do you know what it's about?" Mac asked. "You'll find out" Singer laughed before walking away. "Why do I not like the sound of that laugh?" Mac sighed. "I wonder if this has anything to do with the little goodies we left out the other night." "She wouldn't have gone to the Admiral with that stuff. No way." "Well we'd best not keep him waiting in any case. And if this is about your little joke you'd better be the one explaining." "My joke" Harm scoffed. "You were the one that dropped your panties first." "Rabb, Mackenzie" AJ bellowed from Tiner's desk. "My office now." "This is your fault" she hissed before they both hurried off to the Admiral's office. "What in the hell is the meaning of this?" AJ asked as he pulled out a plastic evidence bag that now housed the condom wrapper Harm had left on Mac's nightstand. "Um, I'm not sure I understand the question sir" Harm replied. "What was this doing in your partner's bedroom?" "Maybe Mac should answer that question" Harm smiled as he and Mac both tried to keep straight faces. "Then maybe you can answer what these were doing in your bedroom?" AJ demanded as he held up Mac's lacy underwear using a pencil. "Sir where did you get this stuff from?" Mac asked. "That's not important. What is in important is that you two told me that you were just roommates. Nothing else. And then I find out you're more than room mates." "Sir we are just roommates" Mac said calmly. "Then how do you explain this stuff?" AJ demanded. "Because I know they came from your bedrooms." "Sir how do you know that?" Harm asked. "I don't have to reveal my sources. I just want some answers." "Sir, we intentionally left that stuff for Lt. Singer to find" Mac replied. "Because we knew she'd go rifling through our personal stuff. That is where you got it from isn't it?" "You're kidding. You did this on purpose." "Yes sir" Harm smiled. "We knew exactly what she would do and she did it. And we also figured she'd come running to you with what she thought was the goods to nail us." "So you're not sleeping together?" "No sir" Mac smiled. "I left my underwear under Harm's bed so she would find it. The condom wrapper on my nightstand was the Commander's idea." "God do I feel like a jerk" AJ groaned. "We could just walk out of here and pretend this conversation never happened" Harm offered. "Please do" AJ sighed and at once they both stood up and started to the door. "Colonel would you like your underwear back?" he asked when they reached the door. "Sure" Mac blushed as she walked over and took her underwear from the end of the pencil. "I didn't realize you were into lace Colonel" AJ commented and Mac blushed even more. "It was for a special occasion sir." Harm could not resist stirring the pot, then looked to Mac. "You want me to take care of that for you?" "Give it a rest Commander," she growled and looked sweetly at AJ. "Thank you sir. And by the way, even a Marine likes nice things." "Get out. Both of you." Harm and Mac managed to hold it together until they were clear of the Admiral's office whereupon both burst into laughter, laughter further exacerbated by the once over Singer gave them both as they passed her. "I thought maybe he would have said to send her back in," Harm mused, watching her go on her way. "Maybe he's got something planned for her," she sighed. "You know I really don't want to hate her--like I said--but she's just impossible to like." Harm nodded and leaned down to whisper to her, "What I want to know is when I'm going to see you modeling those lacy underthings?" "When you least expect it," she grinned, tossing her head saucily to march back to his office. "Now there's an image I'm not going to get out of my head easily," he murmured. ============= "Good you're both here. Not that that surprises me," AJ smiled as he breezed into the kitchen. "Yes sir, warming some leftover pasta. Care to pull up a plate?" AJ looked at the shriveled up sandwich he was extracting from the fridge. "This thing is two days old if it's two minutes. Don't mind if I do--long as you're sure you've got enough. Colonel you must be eating good with the Commander cooking." "Yes sir, every night it's a gourmet feast," she laughed. "Were you looking for us sir? Sir if it's about this morning and our living arrangements and. . .sir we know the regs." Harm took a long breath and looked to Mac for courage before continuing. "Sir we also know about discretion and propriety, and that if we were to ever decide. . ." "Please let's not get into what if's," AJ groaned. "I know if you were to. . .like I said let's not even go there. Where we are going is to Oceana." "I'm going to get to fly sir?" Harm fairly screeched and Mac at the same time paled, choking violently on the bite of pasta she had just popped into her mouth, so unnerved by the prospect of his flying that it did not occur to her that it would be scalding having just come from the microwave. "Hey you OK?" Harm's concern for her immediately replaced any thought of being in the air and he held her glass of water to her lips as he rubbed her upper back. "Just room-mates my six," AJ muttered to no one in particular. "Sorry, yes I'm fine," she managed, taking a long gulp of the water, her hand resting on his on the glass. "Colonel was it something the Commander said?" AJ asked with mild amusement. "Mac?" "I'm fine really," she protested, objecting to suddenly being the center of attention. "But if I am being perfectly honest, no--the idea of him flying after last May doesn't go down real easily." She kept her eyes averted from his, and was surprised a second later when she felt his hand give her arm a reassuring squeeze. "This is more in the way of public relations," AJ smiled. "Commander how's your speaking voice?" "Sir? You're not going to tell me you want me to make some kind of speech please." "Only to the groups touring the NAS," AJ smiled and sobered quickly. "There's been three of the tour guides found dead there in the past sixty days." "And you want to send Harm down there as number four?" Mac cried in alarm. "And here I was beginning to believe that line about there not being anything between you two" AJ sighed. "And no Colonel it's not my intention for Harm to become the fourth victim. Which is why you'll be going with him." "Sir isn't there someone else that could handle assignment?" Mac tried again. "Actually no. See Mr. Rabb has all the qualifications needed for this assignment." "Which are?" Harm spoke up. "You fit the description of the three other victims. Tall, dark hair and a Tomcat Pilot." "Sir" Mac gasped. "You can't be serious about sending Harm down to do this." "Very. Base security has come up with nothing so far and they're asking for our help. As soon as I saw the descriptions of the victims, I figured the Commander would be the perfect for the assignment. And with you covering his six, I'm sure he'll be fine." "Mac come on you're getting worked up over nothing" Harm assured her. "Sir I'm sure we can handle this." "Of course you can. Here's some information on the three murder victims. You'll both be undercover on this assignment. Only base security will know who you really are. You'll be working with Commanders Riley and Martin of base security. I trust there won't be a problem." "No sir" Harm nodded. "We'll get on this right away." "Good. Now how about some of that pasta." THE END Watch for Chapter 4 coming soon