The problem is that I'm stupid

Harm slowed down, and waited for the woman he was running with. It was a nice spring day, the sun had finally found it's way back after a long and cold winter.

Two months had gone by since he'd shown up angry at Mac's apartment, ever since they'd spent more time together, but still she wasn't ready for them to take the next step in the relationship. He understood that she needed time, and for now he was happy with things the way they were.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Alicia gasped as she reached him.

He just smiled. "Hey, you wanted me to help you train for the marathon."

"And I've regretted it ever since," she started stretching. "Can you believe I'm torturing myself like this to impress a man?"

Harm chuckled. "I just hope he's worth it?"

"Me too," she smiled. "How about you?"

"What about me?" he asked.

"The Colonel. Any progress?" Alicia made a move to start walking. "Let's walk to the cars."

Harm nodded and followed her. "We're spending a lot of time together."

"That's good."

"Yeah, it really is. She's been so supportive during Mattie's coma, I wouldn't have survived without her."

"I'm glad she woke up," Alicia said quietly. "I just hope she'll recover."

"The Doctors are optimistic, but I've been warned that she might not gain full feeling in her legs," he shrugged. "Either way I'll be by her side."

You're a good guy, Harm." Alicia complimented. "How's her Dad?"

"He's in rehab again. The state is in charge of Mattie's health care for now, but I want to file for adoption. It'll only happen if hell freezes over, but I have to try."

"What if you and Mac got married, wouldn't that improve your chances of adopting her?" Alicia asked.

"Sure, but I don't want to ask Mac to marry me so that I can adopt Mattie, I want her to marry me for me," he admitted.

"But it could be for you, and for Mattie." Alicia reminded him.

"If Mac suggested that I wouldn't hesitate, but I don't want to be the one to suggest it."

"I hope it works out for you."

"I do to," he said.

What Harm hadn't noticed was that Mac had been out jogging at the same place as them, and she'd turned and run in another direction before he could see her.

Later at the office Harm brought a muffin and coffee to Mac's office and put it on her desk.

"Good morning," he said cheerfully.

"I guess," she mumbled.

"Bad morning?"

"Something like that," she stood. "I have court."

"Dinner later?"

"No, don't bother," she walked past him and left the office, leaving a confused Harm behind.

What was going on with her. She'd been short with him all week, and he had no idea what he'd done to get her that way. They'd been getting along so well over the last two months, and now she acted like being in the same room as him was intolerable.

When Harm came to visit Mattie that night Mac was already there, and when he entered the room they were laughing about something.

"Hi, Harm," Mattie smiled widely when she noticed him.

"Hi," Mac stood. "I'll let the two of you have some privacy."

"Don't go. We could check out what the cafeteria has to offer?" he teased.

"I have a lot to do," she moved towards the door. "I'll see you tomorrow Mattie."

"See ya," Mattie said, before turning to Harm. "What did you do?"

"What?" Harm let out a snort. "I didn't do anything, but she's barely speaking to me."

"Come on, there has to be a reason," Mattie looked at him accusingly. "You have to fix this."

"I will," he promised.

"Now," Mattie pointed to the door. "Go after her, and find out what's wrong. I'll still be here tomorrow night."

"I just came here, I haven't even heard how your day has been."

"I woke up, I ate, I took a shower, then I ate, read a book, went to the gym, showered, ate again, then Mac came, and now you're here. Now, go!"

He shook his head in amusement. "You really want me to go?"

"Please," she smiled. "I really need you to go after her."

"Fine," he hugged her. "But tomorrow I'm staying the whole day."

"Okay, but now you have to hurry."

Mac had already left when Harm reached the parking lot, so he got into his car and headed for D.C. Driving back and forth to Blacksburg every day was something he'd gotten used to after Mattie's accident. Usually he had Mac's company, but this week she'd driven herself.

He reached her apartment building, and hurried inside.

"What are you doing here?" Mac asked when she opened the door.

He stepped inside the apartment. "Finding out what's the problem."

She closed the door and focused on him. "The problem is that I'm stupid."

"Didn't I say that only two months ago?" he studied her. "Why are you stupid?"

"Because I thought we were getting closer to a real relationship, and then you just move on without even telling me."

"Wow, wow, wow, hang on," he was confused. "Move on?"

"Yeah, you and Professor Montes. Not that I blame you, she's all your type."

"My type?"

"Blond," she snapped. "I should have known that you would chicken out. You don't really want to be with me, you never have."

"That's not true. And I'm not involved with Alicia," he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I've been helping her train for a marathon. She's dating a guy who runs a lot of marathons."

"Oh," she responded quietly. "Well, I didn't know that."

"You could have asked," he reminded her.

"And you could have just told me," she rebutted.

He chuckled. "This is so... Sometimes I don't understand us."

"Join the club," she shrugged. "Maybe there's just too much water under the bridge, Harm."

"Don't say that. That's just wrong," he leaned in and kissed her. "See how right this feels?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

Again he kissed her. "You can't say that we won't be a great couple, because we haven't tried yet."

"I guess," she put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

"So why don't we just stop thinking, and just feel?" he suggested.

"I can do that," she kissed him again.

The End