TITLE: The Kitchen Interlude

AUTHOR: Vid Z.

PAIRING: Harm/Jen

TIMELINE: a week or two after the birth of Roberts twins

DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc of the TV show JAG are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fic. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I posted this with a SG-1 fic of mine, but reposting it here since it's the first new JAG fic over the mark.

This fic has namely reached over that magical mark.

100.

Yes, one hundred posted fics. 104 exactly. Who would've thought that I, a guy with a serious aversion towards typing, would ever get this far. Thank you all for sticking through the years with me, supporting me, cheering me on even when I was so disillusioned that I just wanted to give up and say to hell with it all.

My biggest thanks to Lynnp and her hubby and to Suz for sticking with me from the very first beginning, even when I didn't even know of ff. net, to the present. Thank you, ladies and gentleman, you have my eternal gratitude.

SUMMARY: Harmon Rabb... check. Jennifer Coates... check. Someone else's baby... check. A damn embarrassing situation... check.

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The party was in full swing when Harm stepped into the kitchen, looking for a Coke.

The last thing he expected was to find Jen standing inside the kitched, holding a baby in her arms.

The Roberts were having a party to make up for the lack of one on Christmas Eve and the whole bullpen staff along with senior staff was present.

He'd noticed a few minutes that Jen was not around, but thought nothing of it. She'd probably gone to the bathroom or something. In the end she would find him since he was her ride. He'd run out of Coke and had decided to make a run to the kitchen for it. He had really not expected to find Jen, holding the young Nikki with so much care and skill as if she was the baby's mother and proving wrong his assumption that all kids were already in their rooms.

She noticed him standing at the now closed door, looking at her questioningly.

"She couldn't sleep so Harriet asked me if I could get her to sleep while she attended to the guests."

Harm was surprised. "You do that often? Babysit the kids, I mean?"

Shaking her head she explained softly. "No. This is actually the first time. Nikki just seemed to like me when I held her earlier and was more quiet with me."

Harm nodded, he'd seen himself how Nikki had taken to Jen. Sometimes kids have great instincts and can sense a good person.

Retrieving for what he'd come to the kitchen he hesitated. Somehow the thought of going back to the party didn't suit him anymore. It was too noisy and humid. On the other hand, it was quiet and peaceful here in the kitchen. The large window was turned towards the backyard and only dark could be seen as it was night already.

Then his attention shifted to Jen and again he noted what a good instinct she had with kids. She was handling it like a pro. How was it possible that this amazing youg woman was still single and without kids? Were all other, not regs-restricted, men blind, dumb and stupid?

"You'll make an amazing mother to some lucky bastard's kids someday." he noted and Jen blushed at the compliment.

She was silent for a while, gathering her thoughts, until she spoke up. "D'you know Harriet's only a year older than me? She's 31 and she has 4 kids, a good husband and a career. Okay, she had a career until last year. Anyway, she has 4 kids and is only a year older. And what do I have? I've got nothing." her eyes mistened and Harm was seized by panic at the thought of Jen starting to cry.

The situation would've certainly ended with him drawing the short straw. The General was in the other room and if Harm would try to console Jen and their CO would come in, then they would be toast. On the other hand, if Jen started crying and he would keep his distance, adhere to the regs, then he would be accused of having made her cry when the others would notice her red eyes.

"Oh, Jen, you've still got time. But if you think that's bad, then look at me. 41 and not even a prospect of a family on the horizon." Harm joked, trying to get her to cheer up, but was shot down in his attempt when Jen grimaced and almost started crying again.

Harm cursed himself silently, he'd always known that Jen was an extremely compassionate woman and when it came to him she was almost emphatic. Somehow she could read his moods and had cued on to his desire to have a family when he'd taken Mattie in.

In the end he settled for putting a hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently. When he saw her body relax he patted himself mentally on his back for finding the right way to offer her comfort, but without ending up in court.

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