Title: The Icy Road.

Spoliers: Hail and Farewell part 1 and the flashback portions of H&F part 2, but nothing else in that episode, onwards.

Because of the date discussed in this fic; Yeah Baby, too and any episode that makes reference to Harm and Mac's baby-deal.

Also, I've changed Sturgis a little, though don't go into his feelings too much. I couldn't stand what TPTB made him into, in the ninth season, so thought I'd change him so that he didn't have a big(-er than normal) stick up his six.

Summary: What if Mac was not on that same stretch of road, on her way back from Norfolk, Christmas Eve? Could she and Harm still hold out hope for a Christmas miracle?

AN: I know that people are going to have problems with Harm's actions (or inaction) during this fic…all I can say is keep reading and keep an open mind.

Disclaimer: This is done purely for fun, so please don't sue me. No copyright infringement is intended at all.

Rating: T; Should be safe for most young adults. Rating just to be safe.

Don't know where this idea came from, but it wouldn't leave me alone until I got it written down…Here it is! I'll try and get the next part out asap!

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Part 1

Mac gave a sigh of annoyance, as she turned the car around. She was in the middle of nowhere, trying to get home after conducting interviews in Norfolk. But just when she thought she'd have a straight run all the way home, she'd hit a road barrier with a flashing light fixed to it. She would have to take a detour if she wanted to get home, tonight. The General was expecting her to update him on her case once she got back, so Mac gave him a quick call, to let him know she'd be delayed.

"No, Sir," she told him, two minutes later, "I don't see any problem with this going to court…We should be able to sort everything out, if we can just arrange a time for everyone to get together and agree on reparations of some sort…No, I don't anticipate any further problems, once we can get everyone to agree…It won't be a totally smooth road, but at least we can keep it out of court…Aye Sir, I'll see you in about an hour…"

After hanging up, Mac pulled a map of Virginia State out of her glove-box, so that she could find the quickest way around the road-block and get back on the route that would take her home. This time of night, on a snow-filled Christmas Eve, no less, nobody else was on the roads and it wasn't as easy as following somebody who looked like they knew where they were going.

Mac found a route that would take her through a nearby forest, but which she hoped would quickly get her back on track.

OOOO

"So why didn't you invite Colonel MacKenzie over?" Mattie asked, taking a sip of her drink and going back to her roast turkey dinner.

"She's in Norfolk," Harm told her as he tucked into his own meat-free option, "I told her she was welcome to join us at any point, but I don't really see her stopping by…"

It was a lot more complicated than that, but Harm had been thinking enough about it lately; he didn't want to get into all of that with Mattie…

"She'll probably just go straight home and get herself back into the warmth. It's really starting to come down, now."

Looking out of the apartment window, they both saw that the fall of snow had indeed picked up.

"I hope she's okay," Mattie mused, out-loud, thoughts of her own Mom on her mind, "Those roads will probably be slippery…"

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