2148 LOCAL

HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
WASHINGTON, DC

Harm stared at the phone. He should pick it up and call her. If he didn't ask… Well, not only would Mattie get mad at him, but Mac wouldn't come. He couldn't spoil Mattie's evening. But Mac was sure to be busy with Webb. Part of him wanted to hate the spook for taking Mac away from him, but Webb hadn't really taken Mac from him. She'd never really been his. Her comments at the taxi stand in Paraguay had cleared out all of his illusions about that.

Still, she'd helped him with Mattie. And Mac seemed to like his ward. Maybe, with Mattie wanting it, too, she'd accept. Maybe the dance would be a decent excuse to spend some time with his best friend. He'd almost accepted that it was all he could have. And Sarah Mackenzie's friendship was better than nothing.

He took a deep breath and started to reach for the phone. Just as he was about to pick it up, there was a knock at the door. "Harm? Ya decent?" Mattie's voice called.

Harm dropped his hand and quickly sat down on the couch. "Yeah. Come on in, Mats."

Mattie walked on and flopped down beside him. "Have you called Mac yet to ask her?"

"Um, not yet," he glanced at Mattie. "Hey, isn't that my shirt? And why aren't you in bed? I know your homework's done, but it's a school night, and you have to be up early--"

Mattie shrugged. "I stole it out of your drawer. It makes me feel safe, okay?" She looked down at her lap. "Andyouhaven'ttuckedmeinyet," she said in one breath.

Harm gave her a hug. "All you had to do was ask," he said softly. "I'll call Mac to make sure Webb isn't there, and then I'll tuck you in before I go over to ask her, all right?"

Mattie laid her head on his shoulder. "Why not just ask on the phone?" she asked.

Harm smiled. "Because it'll be harder for her to say no if I ask in person. If I got you a Patrick Henry shirt of your own, could I get mine back?"

Mattie shook her head. "Nope. It wouldn't be the same. Call her."

Harm sighed, picked up the phone, and hit speed dial. "Hello?" Luckily, it was Mac who'd answered it.

"Hey, Mac," he said.

"Harm," was the cautious response.

"Um, I wanted to know if I could come over for a few minutes. I've got a little problem that only you can help with."

He heard Mac sigh. "This can't wait until work tomorrow?"

"It wouldn't be… appropriate for me to ask at work."

"I guess. I'm up doing paperwork anyway," Mac said.

"Thanks, Mac," Harm said. "I'll be over as soon as I get Mattie settled." He suppressed a grunt as Mattie elbowed him in the stomach.

He could hear suppressed laughter in Mac's voice as she said her goodbyes. "Hey! What was that for?" he protested as he hung the phone up.

"You told," she said. "You're not supposed to tell. I'm too old to be tucked in."

"I'll make Mac promise not to spill the beans," he promised. "And as long as you want me to, I'll tuck you in. You're not too old, honey." Harm hugged her again. "C'mon, it's past your bedtime."

Mattie sighed and stood up. "All right," she grumbled.

Harm got up and followed her into the other apartment. A few minutes later, after pulling the blankets up around her and kissing her on the forehead, he'd grabbed his keys, locked both doors, and was on his way to Mac's place. It was funny, he thought, how tough Mattie wanted to appear. Sometimes it was easy to forget that she was only fifteen, and a very insecure fifteen at that.

But other times, like when she insisted on him tucking her in at night, he could still see the little girl lurking inside. Sometimes, he wished that he were really her father, that he'd been there for her since she were a baby. Then he wouldn't ever have to face the reality of losing her to her real father.

It was like someone had thrown his and Mac's personalities into a mixer, and the result was Mattie. He sighed as he pulled into the parking lot of Mac's building. He'd taken Mattie because she needed someone, but somehow having her was helping him as much as it was helping her. Harm climbed out of the Lexus, locked it, and hurried upstairs to Mac's apartment.

Shifting from foot to foot, he knocked on the door and waited. Mac opened it. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she looked irritated with him. "Come in," she said. "What couldn't wait until tomorrow?" She crossed her arms over her chest, drawing his attention to the cowboy pajamas she was wearing.

He licked his lips. If she weren't involved with Webb… 'Down, boy,' he chastised himself. She's made it abundantly clear that she didn't want him. It didn't matter how… sexy… she made those pjs look, she wasn't his. No meant no. Never meant never. She wasn't his, and she wouldn't ever be his. "Um," he turned around and studied her bookcase. "Mattie's been after me to ask, and I, well, I miss you Mac."

"Ask me what?" her voice was gentle as she turned him around.

Harm looked at the floor, then gave her his best beaten-puppy-dog-look. "Will you, um, gotothedaddy/daughterdancewithmeandMattienextFriday?" he asked in a rush. He could feel his face turning red. "Um, you know, the one that the officers' wives are sponsoring? Mattie and I would like you to come with us… and I'd like to spend some time with my best friend."

"Am I?" Mac wondered.

"Are you what?" he asked.

"Your best friend, still? We haven't been very nice to each other in a long time."

"Yes." Harm said simply. "I meant it. I never want to lose you."

Mac drew in a deep breath. "Okay," she said finally. "I'll go."

"We'll pick you up at twenty-thirty next Friday, if that's okay."

Mac nodded. "Sure." As he turned to leave, she stopped him. "Harm?"

"Yeah?" Harm stopped for a moment.

"Is the dance formal? Like the Surface Warfare Ball?"

He turned around to face her. "Yes. I had to take Mattie shopping for a dress this afternoon."

Mac grinned. "I would've liked to have seen that."

Harm rolled his eyes. "See you tomorrow, Marine."

"Bye, Harm," he heard he say softly as he left and started down the stairs. At least he'd get to see her for a while. He sighed as he left the building and climbed into his car. He could live without her love, but living without her friendship had damn near killed him. He'd spent hours over the summer replaying her messages just to hear her voice, but Beth had been right--when he'd talked to her, he'd known that there was no chance of anything more between them.

Things still weren't great. He wished that he could go back and relive a lot of the past two years. Maybe then they could've moved forward. Harm started the car, pulled out of the parking lot, and headed towards home. He still had Mattie. With her there, his life wasn't empty. And even when she inevitably went back to live with her real dad, he'd make sure that he was still a part of her life. It would have to be enough.

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1945 LOCAL
MAC'S APARTMENT
GEORGETOWN, VIRGINIA

Mac rifled through her closet, looking for something to wear that Harm hadn't seen before. It wasn't a date. Really. She'd only agreed to go because of Mattie. Harm had made it perfectly clear that he didn't want her when he didn't fight for her after Paraguay. She still loved him, was still in love with him, but sometimes love wasn't enough. She couldn't wait for him forever. So if she couldn't have Mr. Right, she supposed she'd settle for Mr. Right Now.

True, she'd tried it before with Mic, and it hadn't worked out, but Clay wasn't Mic. And Harm was back in her life. They hadn't really been getting along all that well, but he was there. Finally, she pulled a gown out of the closet and studied it. Perfect. It was cream-colored satin, overlaid in rosebud-embroidered chiffon. She'd bought it on impulse one day, but had never actually worn it except for trying it on in the store.

Mac slipped into the dress, zipped it up, and studied her reflection in the mirror. If she were trying to impress Harm, it might do it, she decided. It hugged every curve, and the spaghetti straps gave the illusion of barely being there. Briefly, she wondered if it were a bad idea to wear it, but she dismissed the thought. She looked damn good. If Harm had problems with it, that was his problem. She'd been to the hairdresser earlier; aside from pulling her hair into a bun, she wasn't really used to having long hair yet, and hadn't really known what to do with it.

Mac pulled a single strand of pearls out of her jewelry box, put them on, and looked in the mirror. It was just the right touch, she decided. She reached for her makeup bag, pulled out her makeup, and started applying it. By her calculations, she had thirty minutes, but Harm and Mattie might show up early. She snorted at the thought. And pigs might fly.

Harm had changed some since Mattie had entered into his life, but not that much. It was a rare occasion when Harm was actually on time for something like this. With Mattie to get ready, he was sure to be late, as always. Having Mattie around had been good for him, and he was a good dad. She smiled wistfully. Their five-year deal was coming due soon. While it was true that she still wanted to go through with it, her involvement with Webb made the deal null and void. Even if she hadn't been involved with Webb, the idea of having his baby when he didn't love her… She sighed, finished her makeup, and reached back in the jewelry box for her earrings.

Mac was just finishing putting them in when she heard a knock on the door. "Coming," she called. She hurried, still barefoot, into the living room, and opened the door, expecting to see Harm and Mattie. "Clay," she said, surprised.

"Sarah," Clay smiled at her, then leaned in to kiss her. "I missed you," he said.

Mac stepped back so that he missed. "When did you get in?" she asked.

Webb pushed past her and sat down on the couch. "A few hours ago. Why don't you go get your shoes, and we'll go out to eat--you're dressed for it," he suggested. "And then we can go back to my place for a real welcome home."

Mac bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Clay, but… I… can't. I didn't know you'd be home, and I have plans."

Webb scowled. "You're going out with Rabb, aren't you?"

"Sort of," she said, then hastened to explain. "There's a Daddy/Daughter dance tonight, and his ward wants me to come--she called earlier today to make sure I was coming."

"So his kid's going to be there the whole time?" Webb asked.

Mac nodded. "I need to finish getting ready," she said. "Call me tomorrow, Clay, and we'll go out, okay?"

Webb sighed and got up. "All right. I love you, Sarah."

"I know." Mac ushered him out the door and locked it behind him. Harm and Mattie would be there any minute, and she still had things to do before they showed up. She swallowed, hard, then headed back into her bedroom. They'd be there to pick her up soon.

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