For some reason the first time I posted this story things got mixed up so I removed it and posted again

Disclaimer: not mine, Bellisario's

Your baby

Part one

July, 16th
La Jolla, California
"Damn**," the tall man cursed, seeing the smashed window of his car.

June, Saturday morning
Washington
Harm's loft
"Mr. Rabb?"
"Yes," Harm answered the woman standing in his door jamb.
"Mr. Rabb, social security number .46.16?"
"Yes," nodded Harm, getting more and more curious.
"I am Mrs. Vaughan from the Child Protection Services San Diego. I'm here with bad news, I'm afraid. Can I come in for a moment?"
Again Harm nodded and put a step back to grant the woman access. Inside he offered her a chair, which she took, and a drink, which she politely rejected. He himself sat opposite of her and waited.
The woman cleared her throat. "I'm sorry to have to tell you Courtney Tillman died of cancer two weeks ago in Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego."
Harm kept a complete blank face. The name meant nothing to him. A bit unsure Mrs. Vaughan continued. "As you are the father of her baby girl Wendy, I have to ask you whether you accept responsibility for her."
Now she definitively had Harm's attention. His jaw dropped. "I don't know a Courtney Tillman, or her daughter Wendy. And I'm definitively not the father."
Mrs. Vaughan didn't seem convinced. She dug into the large bag she was carrying and came up with a manila folder from which she produced a copy of a birth certificate and a photocopy of a driver's license, both of which she handed over to Harm. He wasted no time in scrutinizing them. And, low and behold, there was his name on the birth certificate, complete with his year and date of birth. And it was a copy of his diver's licence, with a note stapled to it telling this was the diver's licence of baby Wendy Maria Tillman's biological father.
Flabbergasted Harm shook his head. "I never … This can't be my baby!"
"The evidence says otherwise, Mr. Rabb," Mrs. Vaughan told in a stern voice. "So now I have to know whether you accept your responsibility. I have a colleague waiting in a cab with the baby. This is the paperwork you have to sign. You will have to contact CPS Washington as well, within 10 days." The woman produced more papers and a pen, pointing at the spot she wanted Harm to sign his name.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then the baby will go into foster care. Maybe she will be eligible for adoption but that's not sure yet. We have to do an extended search for relatives first."
This jolted Harm out of his bewilderment. In too many cases he had seen how wrong things in foster care could go. This little girl was not going that way, not before he had had a change to find out what had brought her on his doorstep. Still baffled Harm did as she asked and signed the various papers Mrs. Vaughan showed him.
Then she rose, walked out of the door, leaving it open behind her. Harm heard her use the elevator. Moment later she returned with a baby carrier in her arms, filled with seemed to be a yellow and pink blanket. Behind her a younger woman appeared, almost staggering under the weight of at least five bags.
"This is Wendy and that is her stuff," Mrs. Vaughan announced, placing the carrier on the table. The other woman gratefully dropped her load on the floor.
"Well, I guess we are done here." Mrs. Vaughan reached out to shake Harm's hand and in a daze he returned her handshake. "Don't forget to report to CPS Washington."
Both women marched out of the door, leaving Harm behind to take care of his new daughter.

It took Harm a few moments to recover, but a whimper from the carrier made him jump into action. He hadn't seen his new 'daughter' yet! Carefully he folded back the blanket and was rewarded with the sight of an adorable little face. The baby blinked against the light and let out another wail. With trembling hands Harm lifted her up and held her against his chest. The baby yawned and closed her eyes again, satisfied to be held. Despite the fact there was no biological connection between them, Harm felt a wave of love for the little girl. Carefully he carried her over to the couch and sat down.
"Well, little missy, it seems we are convicted to each other now," he smiled. "My God, you are one beautiful little lady." He sniffed "and one stinky one. I think I have to see what you brought with you." He placed the baby on the couch and used a pillow to ensure she couldn't fall. Then he headed for the bags. To his relief they contained everything he would need the first days, including two packs of diapers for newborns, bottles and formula – luckily there were directions on the label – and baby clothes. Thanking God he had babysat little AJ and Jimmy several times, he started with changing Wendy's nappy. Checking his watch he decided it was time to have some lunch and he was sure Wendy would like a bottle as well. He read the directions and managed to make his new daughter a decent meal. After feeding and having a bite himself, he tucked her into the carrier again and sat down to make a plan.
It was only now it dawned to him Mrs. Vaughan had taken all the paperwork with her again. He didn't even have a copy of the papers he signed. That was one thing on his to-do-list and a very important point. Next he needed help. Taking care of a baby when there was nothing else to do was one, taking care when you had to work fulltime and sometimes more than fulltime was another. He grabbed his cell.

Saturday afternoon
Harm's loft
Both nursing a cup of tea they sat on the couch. Mac still couldn't believe it. When Harm called and told her what happened, she had dropped anything and had rushed over to his place. There she heard the whole story once again. Taking a sip she fought another wave of jealousy. Harm having a daughter. Harm with another woman, having baby with her. She told herself it was not her business. They were best friends but not engaged or so. He had every right to have a fling. Or a girlfriend. In fact, he had had several. Annie came to mind, and Jordan and Renée. But then again, he had always been open about them; never felt the need to hide something from her. Not that he went into detail, but she knew. And hadn't she had relations as well? Dalton, an occasionally date and even being engaged to Mic. She had absolutely no right what so ever to be jealous.
Having waited patiently for her to digest the news, Harm now disrupted her thoughts. "Well, what do you think?"
Mac stayed silent for a few more moments. It was such a weird story. How could a woman, a complete stranger according to Harm, have all his details? It didn't make sense. But then again, Harm wasn't a liar. She realized she mustn't allow her jealousy to stand in the way of clear thinking and fair judgement. Slowly she shook her head. Harm felt his heart sink.
"No," she said "you could never have done that. I believe you, Harm. You're not Wendy's father."
Harm whooshed out his breath.
"Even if you had a fling with Courtney, you would have used protection. And you would never, ever abandon your child."
Next thing she knew Harm pulled her into a fierce hug. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear. Mac felt him tremble and was touched; she hadn't thought her faith in him meant so much to him. When he released her she said "well, what's next? Since this is not your child, it must be someone else's."
Harm nodded. "It must be, but I haven't the faintest idea whose. I guess I have to go to California but first on the list is calling Child Protective Services there. I hope they are willing to cooperate. Anyhow, I can't leave while the trial is still in process."
Mac nodded. "Did you notify the Admiral yet?"
"No, you think I should do that now or wait till Monday?
"I think you'd better do it now. If he knows, he might be able to help, or at least be more understanding when you need time off." She thought back at the time she really had let her CO down. At that time the Admiral had been even more disappointed by her not coming to him when things got rough than with her behaviour in itself. Despite his stern appearance Admiral Chegwidden had a warm heart, both for his subordinates as for children.
Harm nodded and reached for the phone. "Bud and Harriet will be here early this evening," he told her in the meantime. "They'll bring the boys' crib over, a bouncer, a bathtub and whatever Harriet thinks I need more."

That evening Bud and Harriet showed up, bringing the promised crib and anything else he might need. Harm greeted them warmly, again considering himself lucky to have such good friends. Again the whole story had to be told. By then it was time to give Wendy a bottle and have Bud and Harriet meet her.
At the pleading look of his friend he handed Wendy over to her and headed for the kitchen to retrieve the bottle. He knew the loss of baby Sarah a few years earlier was still a raw spot in her heart and how she loved to hold a baby. In the meantime he helped Bud to set up the crib in his bedroom.
Wendy safely back at sleep Harriet shared some advice about handling a baby. She had also called little AJ and Jimmy's day-care and arranged an emergency place so Harm could bring Wendy there the next Monday morning. With the upcoming trial he had to prosecute he couldn't afford to stay away from the office.

The two next weeks proved to be exhausting for Harm. Not only did he have to make long hours, Wendy took all of his free time. Especially feeding her at night turned out to almost break him. The second week he was so tired he almost felt asleep during staff meeting. Only Mac's quick reaction, a kick to his shin, saved him from a bawling out by the Admiral. That same evening Mac unexpectedly turned up at his doorstep, carrying an overnight bag in her left hand. She had to knock four times before he woke up and went to answer. When he opened the door she marched in announcing "It's enough, Sailor. I'm staying here for a few nights to help you out. You need sleep!"
Harm wanted to protest, tell her he didn't need help but a massive yawn betrayed him. His shoulders slumped. "You're right."
Mac took his shoulder and steered him towards the couch again. "Sit down while I make tea. Then we'll discuss logistics." Meekly Harm did as he was told. Inwardly he was relieved someone else took over the reins.
Each with a mug of tea, they agreed Mac would be on feeding duty that night so Harm could have his first full night of sleep in ten days. Next to that she would move in with him for a couple of nights a week so they could share the care for Wendy. Silently Mac was very happy. She was already fond of Wendy and 'playing house' for a while with Harm was a dream come true. If only it wasn't just for the time being …