TITLE: "Money Can't Buy Love " Chapter 1 AUTHORS: Anne R. and Pat Steiner SUMMARY: For all those who have ever dreamed of lottery richness. Be careful what you wish for. In this story, the events of Afghanistan have occurred but we will not deal with the Singer/Sergei/Lindsey story line. CLASSIFICATION/RATING: J/S/A/R [Harm-Mac] PG for language and 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, as well as the majority 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 simply click through any notice of adult content you may see-there are no R nor NC17 stories there. Other archives containing our stories: http://thearchive.mine.nu:85/exlibris/ or http://www.netroenterprises.com/exlibrisjag or BTL- http://www.wtv-zone.com/trgarchive/btl/ http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.} Much of our work is also featured at Http://www.capitalcitycollaborations.com ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Money Can't Buy Love" Ch. 1--- March 2003 EN ROUTE FROM NORFOLK "Harm you've got exactly two minutes to find a gas station or I'm not going to be responsible," Mac warned, squirming in her seat. "Well no one told you to buy a forty-four ounce drink when the human bladder only holds sixteen," he teased. "Look we're almost there. You can hold it." "Do you really want to risk that? Harm we've got over an hour to go. It's not going to happen. Now stop being such a typical man and get off this highway. Now." "OK but when I don't get home in time to watch the basketball playoff game with Sturgis I'm going to be upset. I'll get gas while you're inside. Bring me something." "Honestly you sound like little AJ," she groaned, her seatbelt off and her hand on the door handle as he stopped at the pump. He was waiting beside the car when she came out and deftly caught the fruit juice bottle she tossed him, her attention turning back to the little square of paper in her hand. "Let me guess, your horoscope?" "Lottery," she smiled sheepishly. "Are you serious?" "Of course. Mega Millions. It's up to thirty-six million this next drawing and when I saw the sign I realized I hadn't gotten mine for tonight." "I didn't know you were a gambler. What else do you do, run up to Atlantic City on the weekend, or maybe you play the bingo circuit and bet on the NFL?" "Harm where is all that coming from," she giggled. "It's a lottery ticket. A mere five dollar investment. You're going to say you never play?" "Honestly--no." "You never pay for your gas and grab a scratch-off even?" "Asked and answered Counselor," he growled. "It just seems such a waste or something I guess. Really I've never given it much thought. And as for the other gambling questions, sorry. I shouldn't have climbed all over you like that. Just that I knew a guy on the Henry who was an addict." "And because I'm an alcoholic you think I might have an addictive personality?" Her eyes narrowed as she spoke and her eyes pierced his. "Whoa OK no, this is not a good topic," he gasped, holding up his hands in surrender. "Sorry. Really. You want to buy lottery tickets it's none of my business." He opened the car door and guided her inside, adding just ahead of slamming it closed, "even though I'm the person on this planet who cares most about you." By the time he had gotten into the car on his side, her surprise at his comment was complete. "Sailor you can't just say something like that and not follow it up," she finally managed. "What did I say," he retorted. "Just stated a simple fact. There isn't anyone on this planet who cares more about you than I do. Right or wrong?" "I. . .well I. . ." "Witness will answer." "No." "No what?" "No there's no one else that cares as much about me as you do," she conceded. "I'm not lucky enough to have a mom or a grandmother like you do." He flashed her a quick grin as he gunned the engine and there was quiet on the drive back. ================ FOLLOWING MORNING JAG HQ KITCHEN "Well Colonel I'm surprised to see you at work, being a rich woman and all," Harm called out. "Colonel Mackenzie is rich?" Bud yelped. "Wow ma'am that's great. Someone die or something?" Mac ignored the young man and turned to Harm. "What the hell are you talking about?" "The lottery of course," he laughed. "You mean you didn't win?" "Actually I did." "What?" Harm's eyebrows raised to their zenith. "I won two dollars," she informed him. "And I'm spending every cent on myself thank you." "Well I guess I've been told. And here I thought you were going to ask me to dinner, but that won't even buy something from McDonalds." "Not that you'd ever eat there," she laughed. "Well I know is I got all excited for nothing," Bud muttered as he walked out. "I think Bud's disappointed" Harm laughed. "He was hoping he'd met the next millionaire." "It might happen. I reinvested my two dollars in the next lottery." "You don't really believe you're going to win do you?" "Harm someone always wins the lottery" she smiled. "Why can't it be me?" "Okay you have a point." "Don't worry I'll share if I do." "You'd share? With me?" "You sound surprised. Of course I would. It's not like I'd be able to spend all that money myself. And its not like I have a family to share it with." "You have a family here at JAG" he reminded her. "Yes I do and that's the family I'd share it with" she smiled. "It's fun to think about what you would do if you ever had that kind of money." "Buy a big mansion?" "No. I'm not the big mansion type. I'd like to have two houses instead. One in a warm place so I could escape when it gets cold here and one somewhere cool to escape to when it gets so hot in the summer." "Good thinking" he smiled. "You have this all figured out don't you?" "Harm you can't honestly you've never thought about winning a big amount of money" she laughed. "Honestly no. I never even thought about playing the lottery until you mentioned it. I just can't see throwing money away like that." "It's not throwing money away if you win" she countered. "For every one winner there's a million losers." "You have a point. But it's still fun to play. And imagine." "Well while you're imagining that, how about imagining dinner with me tonight" he said slowly. "You're offering to make me dinner?" "Yeah. Is that so strange?" "No. And I'm not one to pass up a good meal. So yes I can imagine dinner with you tonight. What time?" "Seven my place." "Do you want me to bring anything?" she asked. "No. Just you." "At least let me get desert" she offered. "No really it's fine. I have to stop anyway to get what I'm going to make for dinner. I'll pick it up." "And what are you going to make?" she asked. "It's a surprise" he smiled. *************** Harm's Apartment 6:55 PM "It smells wonderful in here" Mac sighed as Harm let her inside. "Are we at Olive Garden or what?" "Better" he grinned. "Chicken Alfredo Chef Rabb style." "I am impressed," she said as she noted the candle on the table and the soft music playing on the stereo. "Especially on a work night. How did you manage to whip all this up?" "Just talented I guess" he shrugged. "You did not make this though," she said as she caught sight of a large cheesecake sitting on the counter. "No I did not. One of my stops." "You stopped and got lottery tickets too?" she giggled when she caught sight of the ticket for the Big Game and a scratch game lying on the other counter. "They're for you," he grinned. "I was going to do flowers, but then I thought, no, these would be more fun. "Flowers eh?" She cocked her head and gave him a half smile. "You're trying to get in good with me in case I become wealthy aren't you?" "Half right," he smiled, turning quickly back to his sauce. "Now you have lost me. Are you sniffing cooking sherry or what there Flyboy." He gave a long sign and put down the wooden spoon. "I'm trying to get in good with you because. . .because. . ." "Spit it out," she smiled, her head still cocked quizzically. "Because. . " and the phone rang. She laughed loudly and shook her head. "I am so not surprised." "Commander Rabb. Yes sir." "Admiral Chegwidden?" she questioned. He nodded as he listened. "Yes sir I understand. She is actually here with me. I'm cooking Italian and we're discussing the meaning of life. I understand. Good night." "Just what do you understand there mister. In other words, what trouble are we in?" "None yet," he smiled. "But there's a family at Pax that's got a five year old that's turned up missing. The parents are in the middle of a nasty divorce and custody fight, and the Pax C.O. has requested some help. The Admiral wants us to drive up there in the morning and see what's happening. Apparently there's enough reason to suspect this kid didn't just run off." "I see," she nodded quietly, biting her lower lip. "Mac you OK?" he reached out and covered her hand with his. "Yeah. Just suddenly brought back a rush of memories is all. I can't tell you how many times I ran to escape the yelling. But I always came back." "They didn't come looking for you?" he asked gently. "Hell no," she chortled. "I was lucky if they left the light on. One time--and once only--I stayed out all night to see if they would worry. I came home cold and wet about dawn, and both of them were sound asleep. To this day I have no clue if they knew if I was up in my bed or not." "Nice people," he muttered, impulsively lifting her hand to his lips and putting a soft kiss in the palm. "I would know if you weren't there. I always know where you are." "Thanks," she said quietly, her eyes not leaving his. "I need that right now. At this time in my life, I like feeling someone cares." "This someone does, very much," he replied, equally softly, not releasing her hand, and to her surprise, he leaned over to her. Despite her surprise, she knew at once what he was doing and a second later their lips touched in a soft and gentle kiss. "We didn't need mistletoe for that one," she whispered, still mesmerized by his eyes. "No we didn't" he grinned. "Not anymore. And before dinner gets ruined I'd better get back on track here." "Can we get off track later?" she teased. "We'll see. Dinner first. I know how that Marine stomach works." "Harm this is wonderful" she raved a short time later. "You are better than Olive Garden." "Thanks. If you came over more often I could make you some of my other great meals." "You have to invite me." "Fine. I can do that. It wasn't so hard to do." "Good. I'll be looking forward to Chef Rabb at least once a week from now on." "And I'll be looking forward to having you here." "You sure you're Harmon Rabb?" she teased. "You sure don't sound like him tonight." "I am and you know it." "I'm just surprised. Not that I'm complaining at all. I'm actually enjoying tonight a lot." "Being with me or the food?" he joked. "Both" she smiled. ***************** Mac's Apartment Next Morning "Right on time" she smiled as she hoped in his car. "Anything else from the Admiral?" "No. No sign of her yet." "It's a little girl," Mac said as the smile quickly left her face. "Yes it is" Harm sighed. "And with the woods around Pax it's not going to be easy to find her if she did run away. But its sounding more and more like that's not the case." "Who do they think took her?" "The father. He didn't show up for duty this morning. They've got everyone scouring the area for him and Alisha." "He could be anywhere by now" Mac sighed. "Including out of the country." "Not likely. He has no money. That was part of the nasty divorce. The couple had financial problems and apparently they have no money nor any credit cards that are open so it's unlikely he got too far." "Well that's a plus. So he might be hiding out in the area somewhere." "With who knows what on his mind" Harm frowned. "If he's down on his luck and he's losing everything he has he might not be willing to come in without a fight." "I just hope he doesn't hurt her before we can find him." A little over an hour later they reached Pax and immediately headed to the CO's office. "Commander, Colonel" Captain Roger Ellis greeted them as they walked into his office. "Thank you for coming so quickly." "Any news yet sir?" "We got a break. Petty Officer Simmons called his wife this morning." "He has the girl?" Mac asked. "Yes. And he's in the area like we suspected. He let her talk to Alisha for a minute but then he hung up." "Did he say what he wanted?" Harm asked. "Why he'd taken her?" "From what I gather, he's gone over the edge Commander. His life and his marriage is falling apart and he's holding onto Alisha because he's going to lose everything else he has." "Do you think he'll hurt her?" "I wish I could answer that Colonel. But I don't know Petty Officer Simmons personally. I do have his supervisor on the way so you might get a better feel from him what his frame of mind has been lately." "Where's Mrs. Simmons?" "I had my yeoman take her to the mess to get some coffee" Captain Ellis replied. "She's been up most of the night and she needed a break." "Sir what's the status of the search?" Mac asked. "Four choppers, and as many people as we could spare, plus some help from the state and county guys," he replied. "You just don't appreciate how much wooded area there is out there until you start realizing you're looking for a man who does not want to be found." "Wish we could just trust that he'll get cold and hungry and that he'll get tired of Alisha whining or something and give himself up," Harm mused. "Sir, and I'm sure you've thought of this, going in after him could make him get desperate." "Yeah and leaving him alone could allow him to feel like he has no choice," Ellis sighed and nodded toward the door. "And here's his unit supervisor, Senior Chief Conrad. Come in Chief, have a chair and share with us some insightful insight would you please." "Sir I wish I had some," Conrad said quietly. "I also wish someone had paid attention to the reports I've sent forward in the past three months on the guy." Ellis's eyes narrowed. "You've seen problems?" "Yes sir. His domestic situation has been getting worse and has been affecting his job." "Explain please," Mac urged. "Short temper, impatience with the others, distraction, losing things, not completing tasks timely--I put it all in writing just as I was supposed to do," Conrad sighed. "Obviously somewhere up the chain it got stopped." "And I plan to find out where," Ellis hissed. "I don't suppose you have any clue where he might go?" "No sir, but I understand he's got his daughter with him." He gave a helpless shrug. "Sir, his wife wants to leave him and take the girl. She's met someone else according to him. Thing is, I'm afraid he wants to hurt Marjorie real bad. And what better way than through their daughter." "Do you think he's that unstable?" Mac was almost hesitant to ask. "Last week he heaved a wrench across the shop. I know it was him, but no one would report him," the Chief answered. "If I thought he was actually throwing it at someone I would have filed charges anyway but I let it pass." "Well I fired a gun in a courtroom but that doesn't make me unstable does it?" Harm offered. "You I'm keeping a file on," Mac told him. "OK levity over. Bottom line we need to find him." Ellis was about to speak when there was a knock at the door and a young female Petty Officer entered at his behest. "Petty Officer Cohen come in." He made quick introductions and went on, "the Petty Officer here is Simmons's best friend in the unit, according to Chief Conrad, am I right?" "Yes sir," she flushed uncomfortably. "I'm not sure why I'm here please." "It's very simple Petty Officer," Harm spoke up. "And please relax. No one is going to question you as to the kind of relationship you had with the man. That's not what this is about. Do you have any idea where he might have taken the child?" "If I was heading the search, Point Lookout," she said at once. He liked that whole area, and a few times he would take Alisha down there camping just to get away from Marjorie. And once he took me. I could show you the area. It's pretty isolated and swampy, and heavily wooded too. But sirs, ma'am---if you go in there like the cavalry, he's going to do something bad." "How bad?" Harm asked. "Sir his whole life has fallen apart. He doesn't have anything left. I don't think I have to spell it out for you." "Will he listen to you?" Mac asked. "If you talk to him." "I'd be willing to try ma'am. I don't know if he will or not. But it's probably better than some armed guys coming after him." "Sir if it's okay with you, I'd like to take Petty Officer Cohen to where she thinks Simmons might be." "Unarmed?" Captain Ellis asked. "Yes sir. I think this would be the best way to approach this. We can have men waiting but it's probably not wise to come up on him with guns drawn." "All right. The Colonel will be joining you?" "NO" Harm said at the same time Mac said "Yes" "So which will it be?" Captain Ellis said with a slightly amused look. "I'll be going with them" Mac spoke up before Harm could. "Commander Rabb may have forgotten but I am the senior JAG on this and I'll be joining him and the Petty Officer." "Fine. But I want you to stay in contact with the security team. If Simmons is dangerous, I don't want you three out there on your own. As it is I'm not totally sure letting you go in unarmed is the right thing." "I don't think he'll hurt them sir" Petty Officer Cohen said softly. "I know he wouldn't hurt me." "I hope you're right Petty Officer" Ellis sighed. ************* "What the hell was that about?" Mac demanded as she and Harm headed to the BOQ to change. "What was about? You don't really think I want you going into the swampy woods to find some guy who may or may not be about to go over the edge." "In case you forgot, I'm your partner and I'm just as capable of handling this as you are. Actually I'm probably more capable. When was the last time you went trudging through a swamp?" "Okay so maybe this is your element more than it is mine. But I've dealt with deranged fathers before. And I managed to handle it without anyone getting hurt." "So there's reason for both of us to go" she smiled. "I'd much rather not have you on this" he sighed. "But I guess that's not an option." "No way. Now let's get changed and get out there so we can find him and Alisha." A short time later they headed towards Point Lookout with Petty Officer Cohen with a group of security personnel behind them. "I wish I'd known Sean was this upset" she sighed. "I had no idea he would do anything like this or I would have talked him out of it." "How bad were things with him and Marjorie?" Mac asked. "She had found someone else. But their marriage had been over for a while now. They were trying to stay together for Alisha but it wasn't working. They were so far in debt that Sean had no way of paying for child support or alimony if they had divorced." "So this has been like this for a while?" "Yes ma'am. They just never caught a break. Course Marjorie not working didn't help. She figured the allowance Sean got from the Navy was enough to cover everything. But it's not. I can barely cover myself on my E1 pay. And Sean is only an E2." "Do you know why she didn't work?" "She wanted to be with Alisha. She hated the idea of daycare. And so Sean didn't force her to work." "He told you all this?" Harm asked. "Yes sir. We became friends cause Sean didn't get along with too many others. He was a bit of a hot head but that's just because he had so much on his shoulders." "Well I feel bad for him but there were other sources of help. He should have started with his supervisor, and of course there's always the chaplain. But that's not going to help us now," Harm sighed. "Kelcie, did you and he share more than a friendship? Are you in love with him?" Mac asked gently but her tone made it clear she expected an honest answer. "Yes ma'am," she said shyly. "But we never. . .ma'am I know the penalty for adultery and so does he. He just didn't see a future for us. He would have been saddled with their debt, child support on top of that. When I would tell him that we could make it, he wouldn't listen." She gave a long sniffle and reached for a tissue. "I'm sorry. That's not going to help. I'm just so afraid. I'm afraid he's going to do something really rash. He does have a temper, though he's never shown it to me or Alisha. He doesn't even spank her and me he's never raised his voice to. You can help him can't you? You're both lawyers right." "Yeah well that's going to depend on how all this turns out," Harm told her adamantly. "If he hasn't hurt anyone, if Alisha has been well cared for, and if he comes back when we order him to, then yeah I can argue for extenuating circumstance and request he be reprimanded and get counseling for his problems." "Sounds to me like you just offered your services Sailor," Mac smiled and squeezed his hand. "Yeah OK I walked into that one. I'll let Capt. Ellis know. Kelcie, you can tell him that. But you can also tell him that if he makes this end badly, his daughter will be a grown woman before he gets out of Leavenworth." "Yes sir. I can do that." They fell silent as they drove, the road narrowing and the houses disappearing. "There is a lot of woods out there," Mac mused. "Yeah but he did have that one spot," Kelcie offered. "In fact Alisha loved coming here but that was summer. The wind is going to be cold now and so is the ground. Sir, watch now. There's a county road coming up, hang a left and then on your right about a mile down there's going to be a little dirt road that's going to dead end woods. It's a fire trail I guess. Anyway it's as far as the vehicle will go and we can hike in." Fifteen minutes later they parked as Kelcie directed, followed in shortly by the security team under the direction of Lt. Parks. "Lieutenant, your orders are to wait down here," Harm told him sternly. "I aim to end this without incident." "With all due respect sir, I think you're a fool," the young man spat. "What if you get up there and can't talk to him. What if you get up there and he fires on you. You've got two women with you." Harm drew his breath in sharply as he glanced over to Mac, busy putting on her hiking boots. For a long second he was tempted to tell the Lieutenant to follow. Finally he settled on a compromise of sorts. "Let me have a weapon Lieutenant. Just in case." He was handed a pistol, which he slipped in to the back waistband of his fatigues and backed away. "We'll stay in touch. But if you don't hear from us, and if we're not back in three hours, permission to come for us is granted." "Yes sir. Gladly." "Okay I think we're ready" Harm said as he made his way over to Mac and Kelcie. "They're staying behind right?" Mac asked. "If they don't hear from us or we're not back in three hours, then they'll come after us. Otherwise I've ordered them to sit tight." "Good. Let's go. There's a little girl out there who's probably scared to death." "I'll lead" Harm said automatically. "Excuse me squid but Marine here" Mac smiled. "Course Kelcie will need to direct me. You'll bring up the rear." "I don't like this" he frowned. "Rabb chill. Let's go." The trio started into the woods, Harm following closely behind Mac and Kelcie. "I can't believe he'd take his daughter out here" Harm mused as they made their way through the woods. "Sir he knows this area pretty well. Probably could get in and out of here with his eyes clothes." "He may have to help us out" Harm sighed. "Speak for yourself sailor" Mac chimed up. "I know exactly where I'm going thank you." "Dont forget there's some swamp land around here" Kelcie reminded her. "I'm not exactly sure where it was but I know it's around her somewhere." Mac nodded and they continued along on their trek. Mac had moved ahead of Kelcie and Harm, just out of their sight. "Mac ease up" Harm called. "You're leaving the Navy behind here." Her reply was a startled cry as her feet slipped on the wet ground. She attempted to keep herself upright but failed, rolling and sliding forward and landing in a patch of swampy water. "Mac" Harm shrieked as hurried forward past Kelcie. "Mac" "I'm okay" she managed as he reached her. "You look anything but," he said as he pulled her back onto firmer ground, his arms going around her at once. "You sure you're okay." "I'm fine. Honest. Stop looking so worried." "You screamed and I wasn't sure what had happened to you." "Sorry. Just stupid me not paying attention to what I was doing. I'm fine honest." "Good thing" he smiled. "We have those winning lottery tickets at home. It wouldn't be any fun to spend all that money myself." "You two won the lottery?" Kelcie asked as she stood over them. "No we didn't" Mac smiled. "My partner seems to think he's bought the winning tickets for the drawing on Saturday. We just like to dream. At least one of us does." "I just do it to humor her" Harm laughed. "Well you never know sir. It might happen." "Yeah and I may become President one day" he smiled. "Mac are you sure you're okay." "I'm fine. Just help me up." He got to his feet first before helping Mac to hers, a small grimace crossing her face as she put weight on her ankle. "You're not okay" he fretted. "What hurts?" "I think I may have twisted my ankle a bit. But it's okay." "Mac you can't keep hiking on your ankle if you twisted it" he groaned. "Harm it's okay. Kelcie how much further do you think we have?" "Not much ma'am. He should be in this area." "Mac please won't you sit down or let me take you back down or something," Harm begged. "I'm going to do what we came for," she said firmly, planting her hand on his shoulder. "Long as I can lean on you I'll be fine." "Anytime as much as you need," he replied, shaking his head at her stubborness and Kelcie gave a short sigh of envy. "You two are so lucky to have each other. With Sean and me, it's not going to happen." "You were smart not to engage in adultery," Harm told her, starting forward, his hand at the ready in case Mac faltered. "And if we can get this straightened out, it's possible you still could have a future." "Can you help him?" "Most probably," Mac spoke up and Harm sent her a sharp look, mindful of the close call she had just had. If the man was responsible for her being really hurt, he would help him all right. . .into Leavenworth. "We should be able to get him off with a reprimand, maybe confinement to quarters, and of course he'll have to complete a counseling regimen, to include anger management." "I would do it with him." Kelcie held her head high as she spoke, a new look of determination across her pretty features. "Then let's find him," Mac urged. "Call out to him Kelcie. Tell him it's you." She nodded and raised her voice in a shout of, "Sean where are you." "Here." The voice came from so close it startled them and Harm at once stepped sideways, partly shielding Mac, who promptly shoved him aside, none too gently. A second later a dirty disheveled figure moved from the cover of the trees, and another one followed, being held by the hand. Sean Simmons and his daughter. "Hi Kelcie," the little girl said shyly. "Hi Sweetie. Are you OK? Can you let go of Daddy and come over here? These are my new friends Harm and Mac. I bet you're cold and hungry." "Happy Meal," she said softly. "I want a Happy Meal and I want my Goober." "Goober is back at your house," Sean reminded her, his eyes fastened to the three adults. "Mommy is keeping it for you." He shrugged slightly and added, "it's a stuffed walrus. Kelcie what are you doing here?" "These two are with JAG," she said softly, taking a few steps forward. "I knew where you'd be. Conrad knew I'd know see. Because I know you. You want to tell me what you thought you were accomplishing with this little stunt? Other than to get yourself court-martialed maybe." "I just wanted some time," he said plaintively. "That's not so wrong. I came by the house to get a few things and lo and behold Alisha was alone in her room being ignored and I just told her to come with me. Marjorie was so busy downstairs with Bill Maitland that she didn't even hear me come in or leave with Alisha. That's why they thought Alisha might have wandered off." "OK enough." Harm held up his hand for quiet. "Petty Officer are you armed?" "No sir. That's not what this was about. I just wanted some time with Alisha. I was going to ask Marjorie in fact, but when I saw her and Maitland on the sofa I was so burned I just couldn't do anything but grab her and take off. Frankly if I stayed, I might have done something pretty drastic." "I'm glad you didn't," Kelcie said softly, closing the last of the distance between them. "You're not in bad trouble yet. Nothing that can't be fixed and they've promised to help. And you've got me for as long as you want me." "Yes we did say we'd help," Mac added softly, watching as Sean dropped Alisha's hand so Kelcie could step into his embrace. "We're now your attorneys and you're in our custody." "Don't screw this up Simmons," Harm added. "You've been given another chance here. And it looks to me like there's someone in your life who cares a helluva lot more for you that the woman you married." "Yes sir," he nodded, his head buried in the crook of Kelcie's neck. Harm meanwhile reached for Alisha's hand. "Let's start back down. You would not believe the paperwork that's going to follow this little escapade." He turned concerned eyes to Mac. "And how is that ankle holding out?" "Well it's hurting, but nothing something some being waited on hand and foot once we get back to DC won't cure," she smiled. "And maybe it was worth it." She gestured to where Kelcie and Sean were clinging together, Alisha now between them. "Well he's far from out of trouble" Harm sighed. "But that is a better picture than I imagined." "Sir I'm not a monster" Sean spoke up. "I know I should haven't taken Alisha like this but Marjorie just pissed me off." "I understand. We'll work something out. Right now I'm more concerned about getting my partner back and getting her ankle looked at." "What happened?" he asked. "Marine on a mission and not paying attention to where she was going" Mac smiled. "It's no biggie. It's just sprained." "I'm sorry." "It's not your fault" Mac said gently. "And it really is no big deal. Harm's just a bit of a worry wart sometimes." "When it comes to you yes I am. Now can we finish this discussion when we get back? There's armed security personnel who will be crawling all over this place if we don't get back soon." "How did you manage to come without them?" Sean asked. "I outranked them" Harm smiled. "And quite truthfully I was hoping you weren't someone we had to worry about." "Thank you sir. I didn't even think about that happening. Otherwise I wouldn't have brought Alisha out here." "I know you wouldn't have" Harm nodded. "And we'll talk more later." They slowly made their way back through the woods, Mac leaning more and more on Harm as they walked. "You need a break?" he asked a short time later when he noticed her grimacing in pain as she limped along beside him. "No. We're almost there. I'll be fine." Before she realized what was happening he turned and lifted her into his arms. "Harm what are you doing?" she demanded, her words causing Sean and Kelcie to stop and turn around. "I'm carrying you what does it look like I'm doing. You're ankle is bothering you and there's no reason for you to walk on when I can carry you." "You are not carrying me out of here" she complained. "Sorry Marine but I am. So just lay back and enjoy the ride." They were met at the edge of the woods by the security team, Lt. Parks immediately grabbing Sean and reaching for his handcuffs. "Sir" Kelcie wailed as she turned to Harm. "At ease Lieutenant" Harm ordered as he gently set Mac back on her feet. "He came willingly and peacefully and there's no need for that." "Alisha" a female voice cried and a moment later a young woman came running forward. "Hi Mommy" Alisha smiled as her mother hugged her tightly. "Daddy and I went camping. Did you miss me?" "Of course I did" Marjorie Simmons whispered. "Are you okay honey?" "Just hungry. Can we go to McDonald's?" "Sure honey. After we go home and get you cleaned up and changed. But first I need to talk to Daddy about why he did this." "You know why I did this" Sean sighed. "If you hadn't be so busy with Maitland maybe I would have told you." "You had no right barging in on me like that" Marjorie snapped. "It's my place too" he retorted. "Okay easy both of you" Harm said as he stepped between Marjorie and Sean. "I want him prosecuted for abducting my child. He took my child and I want him locked up for this. Him and his little mistress there. She was probably behind this." "Marjorie shut up" Sean snapped. "She is not my mistress. I'm not sleeping with her like you're sleeping with Maitland." "Okay enough" Harm said firmly. "Mrs. Simmons we will be reviewing what happened here and then we'll make the determination what charges will be filed." "And I can see who's side you're on" she snapped before grabbing Alisha's hand and pulling her away. "Bye Daddy" Alisha called. "I love you." "I love you too sweetie" he said softly. "I'll see you soon I promise." "Not before I see you in Hell," Marjorie hissed and Sean at once stepped forward toward her, with Mac and Harm both jumping to restrain him and Lt. Parks starting to reach for his sidearm. "You are at ease Petty Officer," Harm ordered and turned to the Lieutenant. "And you are dismissed. The Colonel and I will be taking him back to Pax, along with Petty Officer Cohen." "Sir are you sure?" "No Lieutenant, I often stand around in the woods while my injured partner freezes half to death so I can make jokes with junior officers who should be saying yes sir and getting the hell out of here." "Yes sir. I'm gone," he yelped and ordered his security contingent to depart. "Son don't--I repeat--don't, make me regret I did this," Harm threatened Sean. "You mess with me and you'll be one sorry Petty Officer." "Sir no sir," he gasped as Kelcie tightened her grasp on him. "Then into the backseat both of you," he ordered and turned to Mac. "And as for you, you are being left off at the infirmary while I deal with our prisoner." "I wouldn't argue with him right now ma'am," Kelcie spoke up, giggling softly. "He's on a roll." =================== INFIRMARY PATUXENT RIVER NAS "Harm here I am," Mac called, having seen him in the hallway looking around frantically. "Oh thank god," he gasped and hurried to her side, taking in the vision of her in a wheelchair, her leg propped up on the leg rest. "Mac no--how bad is it?" "Harm chill please. I'm fine. It's a bad sprain but that's all. I'm just supposed to keep it elevated for now. I've been released and I'm just waiting for you to take me home. Thing is, they gave me something for the pain and right now the room is kind of spinning. The doctor said I shouldn't be alone tonight. I'm sorry." "For what?" he demanded, taking her hand between his. "You were hurt in the line of duty. And I'm certainly not going to object to staying with you. Are you all signed out?" "Yeah I am. You can pull the car up and we can go." With some jockeying he managed to all but lift her into the seat, not missing her grimace of pain when the foot took any weight. "You're going to need to take it easy for a couple of days," he muttered, throwing the crutches they had supplied her into the back seat. "I'll be fine soon as my head stops spinning. I told them I didn't want anything but I guess I'm glad I had it when they X-rayed it five ways to Sunday and then wrapped it. But never mind that. I want to know what happened with Sean and Kelcie." "Well yours truly, being the brilliant attorney he is," he began as he started the SUV, "persuaded Capt. Ellis to allow Sean to be temporarily relieved of duty to receive counseling, with any charges to be held in abeyance pending the recommendation of psych services. I'm hoping that he can return to duty with the stipulation that he continue in counseling for his anger problem. Given a second chance in other words. And I want to help him with divorce and custody arrangements." "You're a good man Charlie Brown," she smiled as her eyes closed. "Sorry. I'm just really suddenly out of it here." "Sleep Marine. I'll have you home soon," he promised. ================ Mac barely stirred when Harm opened the car door, and without hesitation simply scooped her into his arms, taking her up to her apartment and depositing her carefully onto the sofa. Two hours later he was busy at her computer writing his report of the whole Simmons matter when she murmured his name and pushed herself into a sitting position. "Hey sleepy," he smiled and hurried to her. "How do you feel?" "Tired" she said with a long yawn. "And I must have been really out of it because I don't even remember you carrying me up here." "You were. And now that I've finished the report I'll be happy to make some dinner." "I'm not sure there's anything here to cook," she said sheepishly. "I'll go pick something up. Chinese, pizza or corner deli?" "Chinese" she said with another yawn. "You rest I'll go get the Chinese" he smiled. "Just promise me you won't move from this spot while I'm gone." "Then you'd better help me to the bathroom before you go" she sighed as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. "Easy" he said as he gently helped her to her feet, his arm going around her to help take the weight of her foot. He helped her down the hallway, hovering outside the door to help her back to the sofa. "Anything else before I go?" he asked. "Water, juice?" "I'm fine. And don't worry I won't be moving from this spot." She was in fact asleep again on the sofa when he returned from the nearby Chinese restaurant. For a moment he was tempted not to wake her but she stirred as his hand gently reached out to stroke her cheek. "Hi" she smiled. "Dinner here?" "Yes ma'am. How about some help to the kitchen?" She gratefully accepted his help once again and once in the kitchen sunk into the chair. "This sucks" she groaned. "I can't believe I was so stupid and fell like that." "Well until that gets better you should take it easy. In fact you should probably call the Admiral and tell him you're not going to be in tomorrow." "No. I'll be fine. I can sit at my desk with it propped up. I'll just need some help getting there." "Seeing as how I'm going to be staying here tonight that shouldn't be a problem. I wish you consider staying home and resting though." "It'll be fine. Besides sitting here watching daytime TV will drive me crazy. I have no clue how people who don't work can watch that stuff all day long." "So if you won the lottery you wouldn't be sitting home watching TV?" he grinned. "Heck no. I mean it's not like I'd quit the Marines." "Even if you won the big forty million?" "Well that's another story" she smiled. "I guess I'd resign. I don't know. I mean what would you honestly do with yourself all day long?" "With forty million I might be able to get my hands on my own Tomcat" Harm grinned. "And then I know what I'd do with myself all day." "It's forty million before taxes Flyboy" she laughed. "After you finish paying Uncle Sam you won't have enough to buy one of those." "You sure could buy a lot of everything else though." "That's for sure. And you always read about those lottery winners who spend it all and then they're flat broke. Spent it all buying a house in every state or something crazy like that." "You wouldn't do that?" he asked. "No way. At least I don't think I would." "I bet the worst part is having all the people you knew coming out of the woodwork to hit you up for money" he smiled. "You know you've gotten rather into this lottery thing sailor" Mac laughed. "Before a few days ago you didn't even think about playing the lottery let alone winning." "OK OK I confess to wondering what it would be like to have that kind of money," he smiled again. "But it's more money that a single guy would ever need. I think once you get over a couple million, the amount loses all meaning. Once you get more than a reasonable person could spend in a lifetime I mean." "So forgetting the Tomcat what would you do with it?" He shrugged and shook his head. "Set it so that I'd never be a burden to anyone in my old age, which isn't that far off. Maybe some kind of education fund for our godson and any other Roberts who might come along. Nice house for you and me. Warm place to go to in the winter, cool place in the summer like I said. Maybe some kind of business that I could really get off on, like restoring cars or planes. . .oh hell I don't know. It's just not even possible to conceive of. And right now I'm more concerned about you. Eat your mooshu." "Hey I'm going to milk this crutches thing for a while," she grinned. "Well you're lucky that's all that happened to you. When you screamed and I saw you fall I envisioned you falling down a fifty-foot cliff or that there was quicksand or something. Anyway, I was pretty scared." "Well I'm not going to object that you care." "Yeah well get used to it. I do. A lot. And I'll be staying here tonight. And if you're insisting on going to work, then I'll be chauffeuring you." "I'm not helpless," she objected, "but I won't mind the company. And I am going to work tomorrow. I can hobble. And who knows it might get me some sympathy. In case you've forgotten, we have opening arguments in the Wilson court martial. You're road kill Commander." "Well if that's the case, you don't need sympathy," he retorted. "Mac the man is guilty of being a Moron, but that doesn't make him derelict of his duty." "Yeah well Lt. Moron is going down," she smiled and at the same time squirmed uncomfortably, something he noticed at once. "OK back onto the sofa and you need a pill I think," he fretted. "Thank you Nurse Ratchett, but I'll save that for bedtime." =============== JAG HQ Following Morning "Tiner where is Mr. Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie? Now I realize that it's presumptuous of me to expect my senior staff to be here for staff call, but nevertheless that's Admiral's Privilege. Am I right?" AJ stood at the side of the young man's desk, rocking slightly back and forth, his arms crossed, having emerged from his office for the first time since his arrival. "Yes sir of course you are." Tiner at once got to his feet. "But I'm not sure what to make of this message from the Commander that the duty officer left on my desk. It's timed at 0630 hours." "I'm all ears." "Please tell the Admiral that I'm at Mac's place and I'm going home to dress for work and then we'll both be in. It was a long night." "Tiner are you making that up," AJ glowered. "Sir no sir," he screeched. "Sir maybe the Commander is being funny." "Oh he's a laugh a minute," AJ groaned. He was about to turn to his office when the elevator opened and Mac stepped off, using her crutches. "Never a camcorder when you need one," he added, seeing Harm following her, leaning over her slightly, his hands at the ready in case she would falter and fall. "Morning sir. Sorry we're late. You got our message right?" "I did Commander" AJ smiled. "Now I'm dying to hear how this happened." "Marine on a mission sir" Mac smiled. "And forgetting to keep her two feet on the ground." "I see. I take it since you're back here things worked out at Pax." "Yes sir" Harm nodded. "Our client still has some counseling to get through but at least he's on the right track. And sir if you don't mind, I'd like to get Mac to the courtroom before we're late." AJ nodded and Harm helped Mac as she hobbled her way to the courtroom. She sank into her chair and he immediately pulled up another chair so she could rest her foot on it. "Thanks" she smiled. "Though that's not going to look too good to Admiral Morris." "He'll understand. Now be prepared to get your six kicked Colonel." "So much for sympathy" she laughed. The morning in court went quickly, Mac handling her prosecution duties from her seat. Finally Admiral Morris called for a lunch recess and Harm made his way over to help her. "You hanging in there?" he asked as she pushed herself to her feet. "Kicking your six aren't I?" "Okay well maybe I'm taking it easy on you. But don't expect the same treatment after lunch." The afternoon went in his favor and he was smiling broadly when Admiral Morris called a recess until Monday morning. "Told you I was going to come back at you," he said as he made his way over to Mac. "You're lucky I wasn't at my best" she groaned. "Otherwise you wouldn't have had a prayer." "Is your foot bothering you?" he frowned. "I just need to go home and prop it up on something a bit softer than this chair" she sighed. "And take one of those pills and crash. And you know it's not necessary for you to stay with me tonight. You can just drop me off and I'll be fine." "I'll drop you off and make sure you're fed before I leave. Course if you're taking those pills that make you spacey maybe I should stay." "Harm I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm sure you miss your own bed." "I'm sure I'll be too worried about you to sleep if I'm not there with you" he countered. "So why don't we just plan on me staying another night. It's not like we have to be anywhere in the morning." "I can tell arguing is going to be pointless" she sighed. "You'll just be overruled" he grinned. "Now let's get you home so you can relax and get off that foot." "Hey we can watch the lottery drawing tonight," she said as he helped her to the car a short time later. "Except that I have no clue where I left those tickets you bought." "Oh great we probably won and you don't even know where the tickets are" he teased. "There somewhere. Did I leave them at your place?" "Probably. After the Admiral called our evening got a little messed up. And as I recall we were in the middle of something good too." "Maybe we can pick up later" she smiled. "Maybe. But first let's get you settled and figure out what we're doing for dinner. I should have stopped and picked something up but I wasn't thinking." "There might be something in the freezer if you look." "Or I could just order us a pizza" he smiled. "I'm not sure I'm brave enough to venture into your freezer." "I suppose yours doesn't have frozen dinners?" "Well it does, but they're not Swanson. I cook and freeze portions to grab for nuking." "Of course you do Martha Stewart," she groaned. "But instead of Pizza we can do Goldberg's deli food. The man is a treasure trove of salads and stuff and you can stop on the way. Turn left a block ahead of my place." ============== Dinner in one hand and Mac's arm in the other, Harm got both inside her apartment, settling her on the sofa with her leg propped up and her foot on a pillow. "You know if I'm laid up like this real long, and you and I keep doing food like this, I'm going to start popping out of my uniforms." "Just more of you to love." Harm tossed the line over his shoulder as he hurried to the kitchen, not letting out the breath he had gasped in the nano-second he heard his own words. Mac for her part was barely breathing herself. Ten minutes later Harm still had not returned and her heart was still pounding. "Harm It's OK. I know you were teasing," she called. "Well I was but it came out wrong. I mean. . .hell I don't know what I mean," he called back, knowing exactly to what she was referring. "Harm you were teasing," she repeated. "Relax. I didn't take it that you were asking me to marry you. Now bring the food. I'm starving." He let out a long sigh of relief as he dished up her corned beef sandwich and his pasta salad. He had not ruined anything. The movie they had put on after dinner finished and he flipped off the TV. Keying another button on the remote, he had the small apartment filled with soft music a second later. "If I didn't know you better I'd say you were planning a seduction Flyboy," she giggled almost nervously. "No that's tomorrow night's plan," he smiled, drawing her close. "And by the way, I've taken the phone off the hook. Now we were having a Hallmark moment the other night when the Admiral called I believe." "I think so," she nodded. "But Harm really, you and I. . . we're fine. At least from where I'm coming from we are. We're on the same page now. We want the same thing." "I want you," he said simply. "And I don't mean in my bed. Or at least only in my bed. We could have done that the first month seven years ago if that's all that we were meant to have." "Then where do you want me?" she asked, her eyes locked to his. "In my life Sarah," he responded at once. "Then that's exactly where you've got me," she told him, touching her finger beneath his chin to draw him to her. Their kiss was a repeat of the one they had shared a few nights before, still gentle and light and she snuggled into his embrace when they broke apart. "You do that remarkably well Sailor," she sighed. "Someday you'll have to show me what else you do that good." "Count on it," he promised, rubbing her back soothingly as he felt her relax in his grasp. "Rest now. You've got some healing to do." She fell asleep, the pill putting her into that stupor and he carried her to bed, crawling in behind her. Once he was assured she was sleeping soundly still, his arm went over her protectively and he allowed himself to sleep. The room was still dark when he felt her jerk beneath his arm, bringing him awake at once, his alarm at full throttle. "Mac honey what is it?" he whispered, trying to sound soothing but knowing he was not succeeding as she thrashed against him. "Mac wake up please. I. . .please. . .I don't know how to help you." With his free hand he groped for the bedside lamp and flooded the room with light. A second later she was still, blinking against the onslaught of brightness. "Harm?" "Mac? Talk to me honey, tell me you're OK," he begged. "Are you in pain?" "No I'm fine," she sighed, her voice slurred by sleep and the medication. "We were in the woods. In the woods with Kelcie and Sean and you fell. Fell like I did except. . .OK never mind. It was awful. I was holding your hand and you kept slipping away from me. Inch by inch. Like before." "Before?" he frowned as he gathered her more into his embrace, sweat beads of relief forming on his forehead. "The summer you were aboard the Henry," she whispered hesitantly, suddenly not sure she wanted to reveal that but knowing he wouldn't let go. "I felt you slipping further and further from me as the days passed." "You felt like you were losing me?" "Yes" she said softly. "That's over now" he whispered. "It's ancient history. We're back on the same page now Colonel. And that's how it's going to stay." "Good" she murmured, her eyes gently closing again. "I don't want to lose you." "Never" he whispered as dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Never going to happen." *************** Monday Morning JAG HQ's "Feeling better Colonel?" AJ asked as Mac and Harm stepped off the elevator, Mac now hobbling without the use of crutches. "Yes sir" she smiled. "I had a good nurse this weekend." "I'm not sure I want to know that you two spent the weekend together" AJ groaned as he walked away. "Way too much information." "He's just jealous" Harm smiled. "And now it's time to finish what I started on Friday. Prepare to lose Colonel." "Your client is history mister. The people will rest today and there will be no doubt whose going to win." "How much you wanna bet?" "Depends on what the bet is." "Dinner for the week. I win; you buy me dinner for a week. You win, I make you dinner for a week." "You don't want me to make dinner for you?" she smiled. "No" he grinned. "So is it a deal?" "Deal. Can't wait to get a weeks worth of your cooking. I do get to chose the meals if I win right?" "Oh yeah. And if I win I get to chose the places we eat." "I'm not sure I like the sound of that" she frowned. "I'm not going to go broke if I lose am I?" "No but you just might eat healthy for the first time in your life" he grinned. "I'd better win" she groaned. To Mac's relief the members sided with her, finding Harm's client guilty later that day. "I don't get it" Harm mused as he and Mac walked back from the courtroom. "I was so sure I had the members on my side. I do not get it." "Face it sailor you don't always win" she smiled. "And now I'd like to order up my first dinner of the week." "Let me guess, steak." "How'd you know? Sirloin please. With a nice big baked potato. Loaded with butter and sour cream." "As long as I don't have to eat it" he sighed. "I guess I'll drop you off and then go to the store." "Don't forget lottery tickets" she smiled. "Tomorrow's the big drawing. We may have blown last week but this week it could be ours. It's up to fifty million. Maybe you should by a whole bunch." "I'll buy two and that's it. One for you and one for me." "Will you share if you win?" she laughed. "Of course. Will you?" "Of course. Now stop babbling and let's get going. You've got a steak dinner to prepare for me tonight." ************* Tuesday Evening Mac's Apartment "Harm did you get the lottery tickets last night went you went to the store?" Mac asked as she flipped on the station that had the lottery drawing. "Yeah. Didn't I give them to you?" "No. Where are they? The drawing is about to come on." "I'm not sure" he frowned. "I thought I gave them to you. Unless I left them in the car. Or maybe I took them home with me this morning and left them there." "Well which is?" she asked. "I think they're at my place. Yeah that's it. I'd put them in my pocket. They're probably still there." "I guess I'll have to wait to find out if I'm a millionaire" she sighed as she wrote down the six numbers of the Mega Millions drawing. "Well I might be going out on a limb here but I'd say our chances are pretty slim" he laughed. "Like one in a billion." "One in a hundred million" she corrected. "I know cause I looked it up." "And we haven't bought that champagne yet?" he teased. "I'd take those odds in a heartbeat." He stooped to put the steak under the broiler and when he rose she was standing at the counter chopping lettuce for the salad. "Supposed to be me cooking," he reminded her. "Yeah I know but I can help," she smiled. "Look at us. We are so domestic when we do this kind of thing. We could be Bud and Harriet even." "Well we could but we don't have the little boy to make it complete," she smiled again. "Yeah but that deal is still on the table. It's almost a given." "You think?" she asked with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Yeah I do," he nodded. "Just call me slow on the uptake, but I think so. More than that, I know so and more than that I want it to be so." He slid his hand across the counter and stilled her chopping hand. "Do you?" "Yeah I do. Of course I do," she sighed and while the mood was right and courage was strong, she leaned down to place a small kiss on his lips. He swallowed hard to recover his surprise and then smiled brightly in pleasure. "It's going to happen for us this time. Finally." ================== JAG HQ Noon Following Day "For godsakes someone remind me why I signed on to this chicken outfit," Mac groaned, slamming a pile of folders on the lunch table and opening the fridge. "And so help me if someone took my leftovers I'm having them shot at sunrise." Bud and Harriet exchanged amused looks as her hand closed around the container she was looking for. "Bad morning Colonel?" This from Harm who spoke from the doorway, having heard her tirade. "How many years can you get for killing a client? Does that answer your question? And a lot the hell help you were. You think he's funny." "I think he's innocent," Harm yelped. "You want to draw and quarter the guy and you're supposed to be on his side." "Not by my choice," she groused and dropped into a chair, shaking her head. "Never mind. I'm just in a mood. My evidence in the Stickley case crashed and burned too. Now I have to start over." Harm gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze as he passed behind her, gesturing to Bud and Harriet who had their heads bent over something. "No that one with the three numbers is the best we're going to do," Harriet sighed. "Well it will buy us a McDonalds meal if nothing else." "Lottery?" Mac asked with a smile. "Yeah. But that escape island we're wanting to buy is going to have to wait at least a week," Bud sighed. "Harm that reminds me, did you check for those tickets this morning?" Mac sighed without looking up. "With as late as I was running? No way." Bud and Harriet exchanged glances and Bud gestured to the TV. "Uh ma'am--sir, that's why we were so excited." "How so?" Harm asked. "Because the noon news just a little bit ago," Bud fairly screeched. "The grocery store on the corner. Didn't you get yours there yesterday?" "Yeah when I bought the stuff I made for dinner last night," Harm frowned. "Counselor is there a point coming?" "The wining ticket sir. There was only one winner and it was sold there. That's why we were double checking ours. You know we stop there a lot. Easier than to pick up AJ from daycare and then try to get stuff done." For a long moment Harm and Mac looked at each other in silence, broken by Bud's voice again. "Here's the winning numbers. They look familiar?" He passed the sheet he had written them down on to Harm. "I uh. . .well I only glanced at the tickets," he stammered, "but . . .no OK it's not even possible. No." "How can you be sure?" Mac demanded. "Did you memorize the numbers?" "Of course not. I barely glanced at them before I shoved them in my pocket. But just because the winning lottery ticket was sold there doesn't mean it's the one at home." "It could be" she pressed. "Harm you have to run home and get the tickets. We could be millionaires." "I am not driving home in the middle of the day to get lottery tickets. No way. There's no way we won. Things like that just don't happen to people like us." "Harm I have this feeling" Mac continued. "And you know my feelings are usually wrong." "This time I have to say I think you're way off base Colonel. There is no way we won the lottery. And I'll prove that to you tonight when we stop by my place and get them. But not before then." "What's the fuss about?" AJ asked as he walked into the kitchen. "The Commander and Colonel may have won the lottery" Harriet piped up. "Only they don't know because the tickets are at the Commander's place." "We did not win the lottery," Harm said with a long sigh. "We bought tickets at the store where the winning ticket was sold. Like thousands of other people did. That doesn't make us a winner." "Sir you left out the part about the Colonel having this feeling" Bud picked up for his wife. "And sir, you know how on the Colonel is about things." "So what do you think Colonel?" AJ smiled. "I'm not saying another word on the grounds my partner will likely have me sent to Bethesda for a psyche eval" Mac sighed. "Mac I didn't say you were crazy" Harm groaned. "I'm just saying the odds are one in a hundred million and I'm not going to get my hopes up over something that isn't likely to happen." "But it could" Harriet smiled. "Wouldn't that be neat if you were the lottery winners?" "On that note, I'm out of here" Harm sighed. "You guys keeping living on fantasy island. I'm going to my office in the real world." Not another word was said about the tickets, Mac avoiding Harm for the rest of the day as she worked away in her office. Finally at the end of the day Harm made his way into Mac's office. "Hi" he said softly. "Hi" she said without looking up from her paperwork. "Is there something you want?" "I don't want you to be mad at me." "I'm not mad. I'm just keeping busy in here. I do have work to do. Lots of it I might add." "Mac I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to make you mad at me." "I told you I wasn't mad." "Okay you stick to that story. But for the record I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings earlier. I just thought everyone was getting a little out of hand in there and I wanted to bring us all back to earth." "Thank you Commander. We're all back on track now." "Mac" he sighed. "Please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you." "I'm not mad but since you want to make it up for me, what's your idea of how?" "I don't know. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it. You want me to cook you dinner?" "You're already cooking me dinner" she reminded him. "Remember the bet you lost." "Oh yeah. Sorry. Okay so what besides dinner can I do to make this up to you?" "You really want to know?" "Yes I do." "Help me with the Stickley case." "That's it?" he frowned. "That's what's bothering you? Not me?" "Well it's cute that you thought it was you" she grinned. "But quite honestly I wasn't avoiding you because of it. I was just in here trying to figure out what I'm going to do now that the evidence has all gone down the drain." "I don't believe it. You weren't mad at me about earlier?" "Harm it was no biggie. I mean it's nice to think that maybe I'd win the lottery one day but I'm not really naive enough to think that's the case. My feeling is probably just wishful thinking." "Hey I would not mind that kind of money at my disposal," he grinned and dropped down to the chair by her bed. "Bring Lt. Stickley home tonight and we'll see how we can hang her." "Thanks. . .and about earlier. I was POd a little. But then that's kind of a normal reaction to you most days," she laughed. "I just felt like you were making light of something that I consider we have as much chance at as any schmuck who buys a ticket. "Of course we do. And I was in fact hoping Bud and Harriet would win some. It's not going to be easy paying for college for AJ and surely they're going to try for another at some point." Mac nodded soberly. "All true, but college. . .well that's what the boy has godparents for." =========== JAG HQ Next Day It was not until lunch time rolled around again that the matter of the tickets came back up. Mac was still in court and Harm was warming leftovers for them in the microwave when Bud and Harriet arrived with McDonald's bags. "OK no, put that away. I've got a healthy bean and brown rice dish here and Mac is going to take a look at that stuff and want it instead," he objected. "Sir be careful. Telling us you care about what she eats is close to telling us how you feel about her," Bud laughed. Harriet gave her husband's arm a poke. "Bud wise up. We know how he feels. Though if he'd like to, he could certainly speak up. Commander Turner help me out here." Sturgis looked up from his newspaper, remembering a months-ago conversation with Mac. "No thanks. I'm not here." "Thanks buddy," Harm grinned. "Commander I'm sorry about the lottery," Bud spoke again. Thinking he was talking about the lunch conversation the day before, Harm shook his head. "No need. Mac and I hit a little rough patch but we got over it. It's probably good for a relationship." When he realized the word he had used he almost blushed. "That is, if we had a relationship." "Of course sir. But what I was really referring to is that you didn't have the winning numbers." "Oh you know what, Mac and I got dinner and worked on her case and we didn't think about checking them." He reached for his wallet and drew out a square piece of paper, tossing it to Bud. "Sturgis, a favor please. The paper has the numbers. Can you read them off please." "I'm going to start eating in my car," Sturgis teased. "Yeah OK. "Bud they're 2, 17, 19, 29 and 32." "Thank you now lunch can proceed," Harm sighed. "And don't worry, I'll break the news to Mac." "Tell Mac what?" Mac herself asked as she breezed through the door. "The lottery results ma'am," Bud said slowly, not believing what he was seeing, staring at the paper. "Congratulations." "Hey another two bucks partner," she giggled. "Swimming pools, movie stars." "No ma'am. It's kind of more than that," Bud gasped. Harm raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Lieutenant, just get it over with. How much more?" "Well sir in round figures, about fifty-five million more." ********************* CHAPTER 2 TO FOLLOW