Disclaimer: Not mine, Bellisario's

Baby steps forwards
Set shortly after 'JAG-athon'

Part 1: The first step

Friday September 6th
It was just after noon and she was waiting outside for him to come. The investigation had been wrapped up, the culprit in custody and the weekend lay ahead of them. Harm was inside on the phone, briefing their CO.
Caught in her thoughts Mac rolled her shoulders to relax her stiff muscles. What was next? It was now two weeks ago they ran the JAG-athon. Two weeks after their fight, two weeks after their resolution they would start all over again. Being friends again. But how?
From the corner of her eye she saw Harm approaching the car. He smiled "The Admiral is satisfied; we don't have to report at the office anymore today. After all, it will be al almost 5 o'clock when we are back in DC." He hopped into the car, leaving it to Mac to drive.
After a few miles the silence threatened to become awkward again and Harm decided to tackle that immediately. With a slight cough he drew Mac's attention.
"Since we have the afternoon to ourselves, why don't we make a little d-tour? Maybe do something?"
"Like what?" Mac wanted to know.
"I don't know. Just leave the highway, stop where it looks nice. We can change into civvies in the next restroom."
Mac nodded "Sounds like a plan." To be honest, she was very relieved by his suggestion to spend time together. Maybe it was the first step towards resuming their friendship. A few miles later she spotted a sign and turned the car away from the highway. A small brick building was waiting for them. Harm took the first turn to change and Mac watched his back when he disappeared. This was the first step and a long way lay ahead of them. Despite their resolutions, would they be able to restore their friendship? She pushed the thoughts away, knowing if she went that way it would bring her nowhere. She needed to have some faith and give the doubts no change. Watching Harm come out, wearing a pair of jeans and a black polo, she headed for the ladies restrooms to change.
They drove on, Harm reading the map and plotting a route. Since they had no specific place to go, they decided to take the smaller roads, leading from village to village. Suddenly Mac let out a cry. "Look, a dinosaur exhibition. Can we go and look? Please?" Harm nodded "Why not?" It wasn't something he would have chosen himself, but he knew it was one of Mac's hobbies and he was happy to humour her.
The exhibition turned out to be more extended than they had expected. There were timelines, fossils and dioramas both dinosaurs in their own habitat as from excavation sites. They watched a movie about a large excavation and ended with a cup of tea and a piece of pie in the cafeteria. Mac started to share stories about how she and Uncle Matthew had gone searching for dinosaur footprints in the desert during the time he brought her there to sober up. Harm listened in rapt attention, very pleased she was ready to tell him some about her past.
While Mac visited the bathroom he wandered the little museum shop. Suddenly he saw a small pendant with a dinosaur footprint etched in it. He smiled. It was a perfect gift, connected to her stories but at the same time small enough not to embarrass. Luckily there were not many people and he managed to pay and hide it in his pocket before Mac returned.

It was almost 6 pm and it was still little over a 100 miles drive to Washington. Harm was driving now and suddenly he turned the wheel, steering the car into a side-road. Mac looked puzzled.
Harm laughed. "It's 6 pm and Washington is well over an hour and a half away. I saw the sign pointing to a mall and I'm sure we can find a restaurant there. I don't know how you feel about it, but I sure would like a bite." He winked teasingly, knowing her famous appetite.
Mac laughed and wagged her finger at him.
"You know me, stickboy. I like a bite every hour of the day!"
Harm just smiled but inwardly he was delighted she used his old nickname again.
The mall proved to house several small restaurants and they enjoyed a nice Greek dinner. Afterwards Mac suggested a bit of window-shopping "Not too long," she assured him with a pleading smile. Harm agreed and pointed towards a map of the mall. "Let's see what route to take," he suggested. He studied the map. If we walk that way we will end at a supermarket next to the parking lot," he pointed out. "We can finish with buying some groceries." Mac nodded, happy he didn't object.
Strolling through the mall, Mac suddenly stopped, looking at a small shop displaying a couple of evening dresses.
"O Harm, look. Can we go in, please? I will need a new gown for this winter's social events. Harm was happy to accommodate her. Inside Mac acted like a kid in a candy shop, not knowing where to look first and last. She rummaged through the racks, finally coming up with a dark red, well, not a gown but a dress. It had wide flowing sleeves and skirt embroidered with gold thread.
"Can I try this one, please?"
The sales lady nodded and showed her the fitting cubicle. When she emerged Harm had trouble keeping his jaw from dropping. She looked gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.
Mac twirled. "What do you think?"
"I think you will be the queen of the ball," was his honest reply. Happily Mac walked back to change again and then handed the dress to the sales lady to be bagged. After paying they left the shop and headed towards the supermarket. Suddenly Mac spotted a pharmacy and realised she needed some feminine hygiene products. Since she wasn't at ease with Harm watching her buy them she asked "I have to purchase some items here. Can you wait for a second?"
Harm nodded and walked over to the next shop. It turned out to be a jeweller's and while he wasn't really looking suddenly one item caught his eye. It was a set of filigree earrings, almost matching the embroidery on Mac's new dress to a T. Throwing a look at the pharmacy to make sure Mac hadn't reappeared yet, he entered the shop and quickly made his wishes known to the man at the desk. The earrings would be perfect as a Christmas present and he sincerely hoped they would be close enough again by that time that he would be able to give them. Wrapping and paying took only a moment and then he stood at the door, peeping out. Mac was standing a few feet away clearly looking for him. Now she walked in the opposite direction, facing the other side and Harm took his change to slip out. Pretending he had just been out of sight he called Mac "You're ready? Let's hit the supermarket!"

When they reached Mac's place Harm courteously carried her bags to the door. It gave him the opportunity to slip the little bag with the pendant into her briefcase. 'The first step' he thought, hiding a smile. 'Too bad I'm not there to see her open it.'
Mac was a little nervous. What did he expect? Was she to ask him inside? She stifled a wry chuckle. There had been a time it hadn't been a question. While she unlocked the door, she couldn't decide whether it was relief or disappointment when he dropped the bags, declaring "You're home," and with a smile turned to walk to the elevator again. Looking at his disappearing back she realised it was definitely disappointment, but he was gone before she could act on her feelings.
She flopped down on the couch. Their little d-tour had been fun. She now admitted to herself how much she had missed a buddy to do stuff with. Not to date but just to hang out with. Someone to go to a movie or exhibition, play a game, go for a run … all those things she and Harm used to do together.
She straightened her shoulders, not prepared or allowing herself to talk herself into a depressed mood. There were things to be done, bags to unpacks, to begin with the groceries. She rose and carried the bag of food to the kitchen. Next she headed for the bathroom to take a shower and put on one of her flannel pjs. She pushed away the thoughts of Harm, who loved to see her in them. Then she brought her overnight-bag to her bedroom and unpacked, putting the dirty clothes in the hamper and repacking with fresh ones so she could put the bag back into her trunk again the next morning. Finally she went through her briefcase to see what could be removed and that was when she discovered a small unfamiliar package. Curious she squeezed it, trying to make out the contents. Since it was in her briefcase she opened it to find a small card and something wrapped in tissue. The card read 'a first step, H.' Mac smiled, curious what she would find next. She folded back the tissue and was speechless for a moment, feeling the tears sting.
After a moment she realised a 'thank you' call was in order and without thinking her fingers pressed the right numbers. It took Harm only a few seconds to answer. "Rabb speaking."
"Mac here. That necklace! Thank you so much. It's really beautiful."
"You're welcome." His voice sounded warm with a hint of relief. He must have been nervous about how she would take his present.
Mac felt it was up to her now to take the next step. She took a deep breath. "I'm sure you have to do chores tomorrow, like I have, but why don't we go for a run Sunday morning?"
"Already looking for a fight, Marine?" he teased
Mac laughed, too. "No, but if you want to make it a competition, I'm your woman!"
"Right, we'll see to that. Usual place, six o'clock?"
"That's fine with me. And now, sleep well, Flyboy."
"Sweet dreams, Jarhead."

Sunday September 8th

That Sunday morning found Harm and Mac in the park, both panting after their 5 miles run. As they had said before, it had been a bit of a competition, although a friendly one. Mac won, but only by a few feet. Now, having both bought a bottle of water at a stall, they were walking side by side. Mac was pondering about asking him whether he had plans for the rest of the day but he beat her in opening his mouth.
"I'm sorry I won't be around the rest of the day. I have a, well, the word chore doesn't quite cover it." Mac frowned, both from not understanding as from disappointment. Harm saw and hastened to explain. "A buddy of mine, Jack Overs, called yesterday evening. I know him from my baseball team. Jack has a cousin, Gerwin. He is military too, recently reassigned to Washington. He and his wife Lia have a son, a toddler named Harry, and Lia is pregnant with their second baby. Last Wednesday she was rushed to Bethesda hospital. Pre-eclampsia, he said. It has something to do with a way too high blood pressure and it can kill both mother and child. She has to rest, is not allowed to do anything and might be in for a long stay in hospital. Since they moved only weeks ago there is still a lot work to do on the house. But now, with Lia's condition, Gerwin won't have any time to do something and Jack stepped in, asking some friends to help him. Including me, for he knows I did some woodwork in my own house."
Mac nodded thoughtfully. "So you will be renovating today?"
"Yes," Harm agreed. He looked pleadingly "You understand? I couldn't say no to him."
Mac smiled, even though she was a bit down. "I understand. Don't worry, Harm. I always admired your willingness to help out if someone needed help."
It was almost comical to see his relief in the big grin now covering his face. "Thanks Mac. I will make up for it, I promise."