Title: Raising Amelia

Author: PreppyPrincess5103

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: One-night stands can have lifelong repercussions.

Notes: I'm still working on Giving Things Time. But the events of this story are based on a friend's real life situation, and I just can't help but think this would be fun to write for Harm and Mac, and wanted to get it going before my friend realizes he shouldn't put so much personal stuff on Facebook, and I forget all about it.

More notes: This takes place sometime in season five. I honestly haven't decided yet if Brumby and Renee will be a factor in this. I despise them both, and just want to ignore their existence, and some of the incredibly stupid storylines that came from their existence.

Part One

"Harm, we need to- "

Mac was cut off by a ringing phone. He shot her an apologetic glance, while reaching for the receiver. "Commander Rabb."

He listened for a moment, and frowned. He looked up at his partner and noticed her curious expression, and he shrugged. "The name doesn't sound familiar, but if you've determined she's harmless you can send her up. Thank you." He hung up the phone and returned his attention to his partner. "Apparently there is a young woman who desperately needs to see me. She's on her way up. And I have no idea who she is."

She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "This should be interesting."

There was a timid knock, and both looked at the door. Standing in the frame was an incredibly young woman and a very small baby. The woman couldn't have been more than twenty-one, and Mac's eyes widened as she looked at Harm. He subtly shook his head and stood. "I'm Commander Rabb. Are you Miss Ellsworth?" The young woman nodded. "Please, come in."

Mac stood and offered the visitor a tentative smile before glancing at Harm. "I'm going to get back to work." He nodded and she left the office, shutting the door behind her.

Harm turned his attention back to his young visitor. "Please, sit." She took the seat Mac had vacated, and he studied her. He had no idea who she was, but she did look vaguely familiar. "What can I do for you, Miss Ellsworth?"

Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, and she cleared her throat. "Call me Claire. Please." He nodded, and she took a deep breath. "Commander Rabb, I know you're not going to believe this, and I feel like I'm betraying my sister by telling you this," she looked at the baby that was strapped to her chest, and ran a hand over the soft blonde curls, "but this is Amelia. And she's your daughter."

His eyes widened. "I'm sorry, what?"

Claire took another deep breath, and exhaled slowly. "You and my sister had a one night stand a little over a year ago in Pensacola. Her name was Claudia Moore." She studied his face as she spoke, and was relieved to see the recognition at the mention of her sister. "That night resulted in Amelia."

Harm wiped his damp palms on his pants and forced himself to have a seat. "What happened to Claudia?"

She bit her lower lip and forced back the tears she had grown used to. "She died in a car accident about two weeks ago." The baby began to fuss, and Claire stood and began pacing to soothe her. He eyed the baby, trying to see any kind of resemblance. Claire noticed and offered him a tentative smile. "She's four months old, so she looks like any other baby right now. But Claudia had no doubts that she's yours."

"How can she be sure?" He asked, never taking his eyes off of the baby.

"Claudia told me about you the morning after it happened. Her ex-husband had been out of the picture for a while, and there wasn't anyone else after you. When she found out she was pregnant, she told me that the baby was yours." Amelia had stopped fussing, and Claire sat back down.

"Why didn't she track me down? Why didn't she tell me?"

Claire looked down at the infant and then back at Harm. "She didn't want to share her. I know it's not right. I actually tried to convince her to find you and tell you. But she was adamant that she could do it on her own without involving a guy she met at a bar." He winced, and she blushed. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't worry about it." He looked at the baby again. "So, what now?" Claire took a deep breath, but despite her best efforts, she began to cry. He moved around the desk to sit in the chair next to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Claire?"

She wiped her cheeks and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry to lay this on you. I'm sorry I can't do what my sister wanted and raise her myself. But I'm nineteen. I'm a sophomore in college. I'm in a sorority and have a boyfriend. I want to go to medical school. I don't want to be a mother. And I'm hoping that you will accept responsibility for this child, and be her father."

"Why did she name you guardian?" His voice was gentle. This young woman was still a child herself, and none of this was her fault.

"We don't have any family." She sniffed, and ran a hand over Amelia's back. "Our mother died of cancer, and our father was a police officer who died in the line of duty when we were children. Obviously, Claudia didn't expect to die so young. She named me guardian thinking I'd never actually have to do it."

Harm took a deep breath. "Claire, we'll need to do a DNA test to be sure. But if it turns out that I am her father, of course I will take responsibility for her." He glanced at his watch. "If you have a little time, let's run over to the medical center now."

Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Harm gave Claire directions to the medical center, and told her he would meet her there. He watched her leave, and ran a hand through his hair. This was not happening. He had always been so careful when it came to using protection. He remembered that night. Vaguely. He had used a condom, and Claudia had told him she was on the pill. He walked up to Mac's closed door and tapped gently before opening it.

"You look like hell."

He collapsed into her chair. "Thank you."

She pushed her files to the side and leaned on the desk, resting her chin on her folded hands. "What's going on?"

He shook his head. "I don't really have time to get into the whole story right now. The short version is that she's claiming that the baby is a product of a one-night stand I had with her recently deceased sister." Mac's eyes widened, and he took a deep breath. "I'm meeting her at the medical center to have a paternity test done."

She opened her mouth a few times, but no words came out. "Harm, I am actually speechless."

"Yeah." He stood and walked over to the door. "If anyone asks will you cover for me? I shouldn't be gone long."

She waved a hand. "Of course. Go."

"Thank you." He grabbed his keys and hat from his office, and hurried to the parking lot. He made it to the medical center in record time, and found Claire and Amelia waiting in plastic chairs when he walked in. He made his way through the nearly empty waiting room, and took the seat next to Claire. "Will it be a long wait?"

She shook her head. "The nurse said maybe fifteen minutes or so." He nodded, and looked at his hands. "You must think I'm a really terrible person."

His head shot up and his eyes locked on hers. "Why on earth would I think that?"

Claire shrugged and swiped at fresh tears. "I'm asking a complete stranger to raise my sister's baby so I can have my old life back."

He shook his head. "You are not a horrible person. You're young, and this isn't your responsibility."

"I don't want to be a mother." Her voice was soft, and she smiled as Amelia reached for a strand of her hair. "I've never wanted to be a mother. I didn't even play with dolls when I was little. I would do it though, if I had to. Especially if I were older and settled. But right now, I just can't. I had to withdraw from my classes this semester, since I couldn't take care of her and go to class."

"It's not your responsibility," he repeated. "It took two people to make this baby, and you're not one of them."

Claire nodded. "Logically I know that." She glanced at Harm. "Are you married? Do you have kids? Will you even be able to take care of her?"

His eyes went back to Amelia and he shook his head. "I'm not married. I don't have children. I like kids, and I've always thought I'd have one or two someday, but right now I'm a bachelor. But if she's mine I will take care of her."

Claire nodded again. "Would you like to hold her?" He nodded slowly and watched as Claire freed Amelia from the carrier. She handed her to him, and showed him how to position his arms. Amelia looked up at him, and he felt something inside tighten. She watched them for a moment, and smiled. "You're a natural."

He offered Claire a smile before returning his focus to Amelia. "I have a godson not much older than her."

"Miss Ellsworth?" Both looked up at the nurse, and she smiled. "I'm Nurse Robbins. We're ready for you now." The both stood, and Claire took Amelia and secured her in the wrap and they followed the nurse to an exam room.

"So, we're here for paternity testing?" She looked over the paperwork and frowned before addressing Claire. "You're not the mother?"

Claire shook her head. "No ma'am, but according to my sister's will, I am the legal guardian. I have all of the paperwork with me."

Nurse Robbins made a note and nodded. "We'll be sure to make copies when you're checking out. This is very simple. Just a cheek swab, and we'll have the results in about three days."

The rest of the day had crawled by. After leaving the medical center, he had gone back to work and found Mac gone for the day. After work he had hurried home to change out of his uniform and into jeans, and now stood in front of her door.

She opened it after the first knock, and greeted him with a smile. "Come on in." She stepped out of the way so he could enter, and shut the door behind him. "How are you?"

He shrugged and collapsed on her couch. "Ask me tomorrow when the shock is gone."

She smiled sympathetically and sat next to him. "What's her name?" He cocked his head, and she smiled. "The baby."

"Amelia."

"That's pretty." Mac picked at something invisible on her pants. "And her mother?"

"Claudia." He sighed and leaned his head back. "We met at a bar my first night in Pensacola. She was in Florida on business. One thing led to another." He sighed and rubbed the heel of his hand over his eyes. "It was one night, and meant absolutely nothing. She was going through a bad divorce, and I was questioning my decision to leave JAG."

She was quiet while she did the math. "And now you potentially have a four-month-old daughter."

"Yeah." He stared at the ceiling, but lifted his head to look at her when he felt her shift.

"What are you going to do?"

"If she's mine, I'm going to step up." His eyes lingered on her face for a minute before he dropped his head back. "Claire, the woman you met today, is nineteen. She's in college. She doesn't want to be a mother. This is my responsibility."

"If she's yours, you know we'll all help however we can." She placed her hand on his shoulder and he covered it with his own.

"I know."

Three Days Later…

He reached for the received and tucked it between his ear and shoulder. "Commander Rabb." He swallowed as a medical assistant introduced herself, and asked for his permission to receive the results over the phone. "Yes, that's fine. Please, go ahead."

"The minor child in question is biologically yours. The results are being mailed to your home, but the profile showed a 99.98% probability that you are the child's father."

He swallowed again. "Thank you. Has Miss Ellsworth been called yet?"

"Yes sir. Another assistant is on the phone with her now."

He thanked the assistant again and made his way out of his office and into Mac's. He sat down and met her eyes. "I just got a call from the medical center. She's mine."

Mac let out a breath and leaned back in her chair. "What are you going to do now?"

He sighed and closed his eyes for a long moment. "I guess I have to figure out how to be a single father."

End Part One