Title: Dead To The World – The ReWrite

Chapter Three

By: LizD

Originally Written: October 2003

ReWritten: Spring 2009

Disclaimers: No disrespect to JAG's cast, crew or creators. With love and thanks.

0730 ZULU

Chegwidden Residence

McLean, VA

AJ Chegwidden was dead to the world when the phone wrenched him back to consciousness. He had just hung up with Rabb minutes before and fallen dead asleep. "SOMEONE BETTER BE DEAD!" He bellowed as only an admiral can bellow but quickly realized that he said the same thing before and someone was.

"Well, sir, two people actually." Bud's voice came tentatively over the wire.

"Lieutenant -," he was annoyed, he only had another two hours to sleep before he was getting on a plane to Naples to deal with the mess that was brewing over there. Then the "two" registered. "Explain."

"You know that Lieutenant Wendy Monroe was found shot in front of her hotel."

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir. Well Lieutenant Larry Dobbs was found dead in a park about 30 minutes ago, the cause and time of death has not been determined."

"Damn it," he sat up and rubbed his face with his hand. "Get me the SECNAV."

"Yes sir."

"And call Andrews and see if you can push up the departure. I'll be on the cell."

"Yes, sir."

0730 ZULU

JAG Offices

Naples Italy

"Murdered?" he looked at Mac quickly. She looked just as confused as he did. He turned his attention back to the Petty Officer. "Found? Found where?"

"Vesuvio Park – Parco Nazionale Del Vesuvio."

"Cause of death?"

"Unknown at this time, sir. Also unknown is the time of death."

"So why did you say he was murdered?"

"I just assumed that -."

"Don't assume Petty Officer," Harm scolded. "Find me Commander Jackson. Get him in here on the double."

"Yes sir."

"Lawry?" he called her back. "You better put a call in to the admiral, as well."

"Admiral Chegwidden has been advised."

"I meant Admiral Shenandoah."

She looked worried. "Yes, sir." Shenandoah was the base commander and no one liked him. No one wanted to call him for any reason much less to give him bad news.

"Thank you, Petty Officer," Harm closed the door.

"This case is getting out of control," Mac declared. "If Dobbs killed Monroe, then who killed Dobbs?" she was grateful to be able to concentrate on something other than the kiss they just shared, though it was a bit hard to concentrate.

"No one said Dobbs killed Monroe," Harm corrected.

"We are missing something, something big," Mac chose not to point out that Harm had suspected Dobbs of killing Monroe. "Who would have motive to kill both Monroe and Dobbs?" she continued.

"The two murders don't have to be committed by the same person? In fact one may not be a murder at all. It could have been accidental."

"Maybe, but I don't think so. I think they are related. I wonder if ... " Mac paced the room thinking out loud.

Her voice trailed off in his ears. He couldn't listen anymore. They were talking about murderers and motives when less than 60 seconds prior he was kissing her, wanting her, ready to take the whole thing to the next level. Something had switched on or off for Harm. He wanted her, he knew it and he was willing to show her just how much without fear or hesitation. In the four months of his self-imposed exile it has become very clear to Harm that Mac wasn't Renee, she wasn't Jordan and she certainly wasn't Annie. Mac was a serious woman and dissevered a serious relationship – not just some casual 'let's see how it goes' fling that he had offered Jordan, Renee and even Annie. He was kicking himself for losing her to Mic Brumby – how ridiculous to think that Mic Brumby knew Mac and what she wanted before he did. Harm wasn't about to let her get away again. In spite of his duty station and the current case that seemed full of landmines, he was not about to let the whole thing get swept under the rug. They had swept too much under the rug for too long. He was not going to move on without addressing it in someway. Not this time.

"... to determine the last time -."

"Mac," he said softly.

Mac kept talking but her mind was now on Harm. He was looking at her differently. Clearly he was not listening to her theories on the case, and if truth were told she was not listening to herself either. She was in full avoidance mode. If she had her way this time would be like all the other times when they got close to something and blew past it. She was scared; scared that it would mean more to her than to him; scared that it didn't mean anything at all; scared that she would be going back and it would all be gone again.

"Mac," he stepped softly to her. There was no avoidance now.

"Harm, don't -," she said as a half warning. The look on his face stopped the force behind the words.

"Mac?" he smiled tentatively. "Mac?"

She looked away and shook her head as if to say 'not now'.

He would not be put off. He stepped closer, put his hand under her chin and tilted her face up to his. It was a very sweet, very gentle movement. Mac felt herself wanting to fold into is arms and resisted. She hated appearing vulnerable or needy in his eyes – like a little girl.

"Mac?" Their eyes met.

He wasn't looking at a vulnerable needy girl; he was looking at a desirable woman. Being desired by this man is something that she had always wanted. She nodded to let him know that she was OK; it was OK. That was all the leave he needed. He was not about to miss another opportunity; he kissed her again. She welcomed it.

"IS COMMANDER RABB IN HIS OFFICE?" a booming voice came from the bullpen. "NEVER MIND I WILL SEE FOR MYSELF," Harm let go of her quickly and stepped back behind his desk. Admiral Shenandoah slammed into the room. "RABB!"

Harm was at attention and so was Mac. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" the admiral spotted her right away but chose to ignore her for the moment. He turned his full attention – his full wrath on Harm. "So, Commander – you turned a simple fraternization case into a double murder. I knew you were bored here, but never thought you could sink so low."

"Lieutenant Dobbs death has not been listed as a murder, sir."

"Splitting hairs with me, counselor. The man is dead and your butt, your career, your future is on the line for this one."

Harm steeled his spine and remained at attention (his SOP since the second day he was on base). He took the beating well – as he had taken all the others at the hands of his new CO. Harm rarely gave the admiral what he wanted, which was to scare, shame or otherwise degrade Harm into respecting him. That was not going to happen.

"Do you understand what is at stake here commander?" the admiral continued.

"Yes, sir."

Shenandoah turned his attention to Mac. She was an easy target and Rabb would LEAP to her defense, the damned knight in shining armor that he was. "Who is this?"

"Sir, Colonel Sarah MacKenzie USMC, JAG Corps," Mac stated confidently taking her cue from Harm's body language.

"She is defending Lieutenant Dobbs, SIR." the SIR was meant to get the attention off of Mac. It worked.

"WAS defending, COMMANDER! The lieutenant is dead."

"Yes, sir."

"JAG Corps? DC? Did you tell me Chegwidden was sending someone from Washington, Rabb?"

"Yes sir, last week's briefing. Admiral Chegwidden felt that since Lieutenant Dobbs is the son of -"

"I know who the hell he is Commander. I don't need to remind you that the SecNav has a direct line to my butt. And I got it kicked pretty good this morning," he stormed. "I don't like having my butt kicked before I have had my first cup of coffee. Do you understand me?"

"Understood, sir." The target Rabb was not allowing himself to be hit – at least he would not acknowledge any hits.

Again, time to turn on the newbie. "Well thank you for coming Colonel. I am sorry that we couldn't keep your client alive long enough to stand trial," the sarcasm was pouring off the admiral in buckets. Mac wanted to steal a look at Harm, but did not dare. "I guess your trip was wasted."

"Sir, Admiral Chegwidden is en route," Harm stated – again diverting the attention.

"Chegwidden?"

"Yes, sir. He has detailed Mac – Colonel Mackenzie and I to investigate the murders." the 'MAC' was a slip and Harm knew he left himself open.

"He has, has he?"

"Yes sir."

"'Mac'? Is it?" he sneered at her. "Oh yes, you two used to work together at JAG HQ," he turned back to Harm. "Well don't I feel comforted. This is still my base, is it not, Commander?"

"Aye sir."

"And I get to give the orders."

"Aye, sir."

"So, now AJ Chegwidden coming," he scanned them both with a concentrated measure of disgust. "Must not put a lot of faith in his people. I can certainly understand why," the admiral finally noticed that Harm was wearing his formal whites. "And what the hell do you have on, commander?"

"Sir, I have been working all night, I have not had the opportunity to change my uniform from the embassy reception."

The admiral shook his head. He put his finger up to Harm's collar and then looked over at Mac. "Working?" he scoffed. "ALL night? HA." There was lipstick on his collar. "Make the time, Commander."

"Yes, sir."

"Immediately. I will not have you dealing with the police and the press looking like the morning after your junior prom." The admiral turned his attention to Mac. "As for you Colonel, I know you are new here, and I am sure you Marine Washington types want to believe that any place outside of the DC area is a combat zone, but the uniform of the day is not fatigues."

"Yes, sir," Mac stated.

"I want a full report and both of you in my office at 1100 hours."

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

"Where is Jackson?'

"He is following up some leads, sir," Harm was too quick to defend his friend from the tyrant CO.

"Leads my ass. Drag him out from whatever skirt he is under, I want him here."

"Aye sir."

The admiral took another moment to study Harm, and glanced back over to Mac and then looked back in disgust. "Wipe your mouth, commander. It's not your shade," he sneered. "My office, 1100, the uniform of the day – if it is not too much trouble."

"Aye, aye sir."

The admiral slammed out as he had slammed in, this time leaving the glass in the door rattling to near shattering. Harm breathed a sigh of relief and put his hand to his mouth to see if there really was lipstick there. There was. Disappointment washed his face. He hated how that man made him feel, the only solace he had was that he made sure that the admiral never knew that he got to him.

"Are you alright?" Mac asked.

"I'm fine. I need to change," he said flatly as he headed for the door.

"Harm?" she couldn't believe he was walking away from her.

"I'm sorry," he stopped by the door and tried to shake off that interaction off. "He is no AJ Chegwidden, is he?"

"No. More like Captain Bligh," she moved toward him.

"I guess that makes me Fletcher Christian."

"I thought you liked him, or he liked you or –"

"What I said was that he leaves me alone. Unfortunately, two murders under his watch will tend to get his attention – something you don't ever want," Harm sighed and gave her a quick smile. "I heard he has a plaque in his office that says, 'First let's kill all the lawyers.' Probably the only Shakespeare he has ever read. And, he has no love for naval aviators either, so as you can see, I am batting a thousand."

"Why did he assign you here?"

"He didn't, Admiral Chegwidden did. The last JAG quit after six months. I guess Chegwidden just wanted to stick it to me."

"You?"

"The admiral was not thrilled when I asked for a TAD," he shrugged.

"You are his favorite." she smiled. "He probably took it as a slap in the face."

Harm shook his head. "The admiral knew why I needed to leave, but he was still annoyed. I guess he didn't take it out on you though."

"I'm sorry Harm," she said honestly.

"It is not your fault, well not all your fault," he turned to her. "It is not your fault. Not any of it," he shook his head. "I just can't seem to make a right decision."

She reached out to take his hand. "That's not true."

He looked at her with a look she had never seen before. It was soft and gentle and real. Was it love? She didn't know. She wouldn't presume.

"Are we OK?" he asked hopefully.

She smiled and nodded. "We will be."

"This is not how I would have written it."

"Let's just get through this case."

Harm felt his stomach tighten. "And then what?" he watched her eyes. They had not closed off to him, at least not yet; a huge point in his favor.

"Well – after? We will – we will … I don't know," she had not shut him off. She had not closed the door. She was not backing away either. But she honestly didn't know what to expect, and she hadn't had time to reflect enough to know what she was hoping for. But she hadn't shut him off.

He seized this opportunity too and leaned down to kiss her. She tried to stop him. "Harm, we have work to do," he followed though with the desire. She was glad he did.

A hard knock came on his door. "Rabb! You in there?" It was Marc.

It was ludicrous. "Five minutes, are five uninterrupted minutes too much to ask for?" he whispered to her.

"After all this time, I would have thought it would last longer than five minutes," she said with a sly grin.

"Was that a gauntlet that just hit my foot, Colonel?" he played.

"RABB!" Marc called again.

"WHAT! ENTER!" He backed away from Mac and wiped his mouth.

Marc walked in. There was something in the air, and he knew exactly what it was. "Didn't make it home last night, eh Rabby?" he stole a quick glance at Mac and then whispered to the back of Harm. "Didn't think you had it in you."

"We have been up all night dealing with la policiaand the Shore Patrol. You are taking over for the next hour. We need to shower, change, and get something to eat. We'll be back at 1000 to go over what we have and what we are doing. We have a command performance with Shenandoah at 1100 and Chegwidden will be here at 1500. You need to follow up with the police, get a probable cause of death for Dobbs and anything else they have on Monroe."

"I also need your notes from your meeting with Dobbs yesterday," Mac added.

"Do you think you can do that in an hour?" Harm asked.

"I can get a lot more done in an hour than you think – maybe you can too," Marc grinned. He was becoming unbearable.

"We'll see you in an hour," Harm led Mac out of the room.

0823 ZULU

Rabb Quarters

Naples Italy

Harm finished his shower. He couldn't explain it but he felt great. Two navy officers were dead. Chegwidden was on his way so the next butt chewing from his ultimate CO would be up close and personal. Shenandoah was ready to drop kick him into the Mediterranean (of course that's not news). The political pressure and the media attention that would focus on him would be unbearable. He had gotten no sleep, hadn't eaten in over eighteen hours and had a caffeine buzz to beat the band. It was shaping up to be a really lousy day. However, he felt great and didn't question why – and he didn't care why.

He shaved and did the pre-dress: pants, undershirt and socks. That was enough until he had gotten some much-needed coffee (got to keep the buzz going or risk a crash and burn) and some breakfast. He entered the kitchen to find Mac at the table furiously making notes in a file. Mac did not look up nor stop writing when she heard him enter.

"I have known whole platoons of women who take less time in the shower than you do," she stated.

"If I had known you were here I would have hurried," he paused. "Or invited you in."

"I made coffee," she ignored his comment.

"You don't mind if I make some fresh?" he dumped her sludge down the drain without waiting for a reply.

"Don't like my coffee, commander?"

"No, no, not at all, if I were chipping paint off the hull of a tender there is nothing better."

She hated her coffee too. "You said something about breakfast?"

"Pancakes or toast and eggs?"

"Eggs, I need all the protein I can get," she paused. "Don't suppose you have bacon or sausage in the fridge do you? Maybe a nice thick steak?"

"Could rustle up a Tofu hot dog," he said playfully. She shook her head and made a coughing sound. He set about making breakfast. "So, you just let yourself in?"

"Door was open."

"Still considered breaking and entering."

"Arrest me – and you can deal with Shenandoah, Chegwidden, and the Dobbs and Monroe families on your own."

"I'll let you off with a warning ... this time," he enjoyed having her in his kitchen and being so easy with him. "So, Colonel. Why are you really here?" he leaned against the counter and studied her.

She looked up, breathed a heavy sigh, recapped her pen and leaned back in the chair. "I thought before the fireworks began and we did not have a moment to think much less talk, we could discuss … you know."

"Ah, I thought it might be something like that," he turned back to continue making breakfast. "So?" he prodded handing her a fresh cup of coffee.

"Me?"

"Your idea."

"Mine?"

"This discussion is."

"You don't have anything to say?"

"I have plenty to say, but I don't think this is a single conversation."

"So we ignore it?"

"Hell no … but we can table it. We are going to be under some intense scrutiny over the next few days. We have to be above reproach. I don't believe this is the time to work through the practical issues. If I have to debate, discuss or otherwise analyze to death what goes on or doesn't go on between us, something is going to get short changed. I don't want that to happen – not to the people who died, not to the families and definitely not to us – we have come too far."

"Harm."

He turned to her. "Further more, I don't want to be walking around on egg shells around you anymore. I am too old for that, and quite frankly, you and I know each other too well."

"Harm."

"Mac please – for all the right reasons and most of the wrong ones – can't we just let it be what it is," he paused.

"What is it?" she pushed.

"It's what we both want," he stated daring her to disagree. "Can't we figure out the hows, whys and whats later?" he continued his argument. "I am not avoiding this … I am just asking for a continuance until we can - - - take the time and attention to do it right."

She watched him for a moment and could think of no reason to push any other agenda. "OK," she said softly.

"OK," he nodded; a minor victory for Harmon Rabb, Jr.

"There is one thing I need to know," she took a moment to choose her words carefully. "What do you expect to happen between us?"

"Meaning?" he placed a plate of eggs and toast down in front of her with a fork, knife and napkin.

"You know what I mean," she said.

"Mac, I need us on the same side for a change - for this case – for us - for all of it," he stated and sat down caddy corner from her with his plate. "We were always better together."

She let it sink in for a moment. His use of the word 'need' was very telling, but was it just for the case? No, she couldn't make herself believe that. "We were – but I don't think - "

He stopped her. "That's it Mac – don't think – at least don't think about the past or the future – just right now – here and now," he paused and hoped she would agree. She needed one more push to get her over the hump. "Can you at least try?"

"I don't know," she was relenting. "It's not in my nature."

"I know; believe me I know," he nodded. "Mac, all I am asking for is a truce and a little unfettered acceptance of reality."

"Reality? Yours or mine?"

"Ours, I think."

She finally understood; he wanted to skip over the hard part and get to the good stuff. Right then, so did she. "You have your stay – your continuance."

"Thank you, counselor."

He flashed her his grin, but some how this time it seemed special and for her alone. He wasn't working her or taking as much as he could and giving a little as required in return. She really did want this man for all the right reasons and most of the wrong ones. Where it would lead – if anywhere - was anyone's guess.

They ate in silence for a brief moment. "Why else?" he asked.

"Why else what?" she took a bite of her toast.

"Why else are you here?"

"No other reason," she said not so innocently.

"Really?" his sexy smile was broadening on his face.

"Really."

"You came here, broke into my house -."

"The door was open."

"- To set talk and you want me to believe that is all."

"Well I --," she blushed and looked away. "I came for breakfast."

"Mac."

"If you must know …" He nodded to say that he did. "I thought, maybe, we could find those five uninterrupted minutes."

Harm's face broke into a Cheshire cat grin. "Five minutes won't be enough."

"I agree."

"How many minutes do we actually have?"

"Twenty-three."

"Twenty-three minutes won't be enough."

"Twenty-two."

He nodded. "I haven't slept all night. Not really in top form."

"Harm," she stopped him with a hand to his mouth. "Stop talking," she pulled him to her and kissed him.

1245 ZULU

Grand Hotel Vesuvio

Naples Italy

Harm and Mac were walking up the steps to the only five-star hotel Naples had to offer. They were on their way to interview Senator and Ambassador Dobbs.

"So," Harm started. "This is how the other half lives."

"More like the other 1%."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Meaning what?"

"Well after last night --."

"You don't think I can't maintain my professionalism in the face of a small minded, rich bi-."

"I was just offering to let you out of this detail."

"I'll be fine."

"I am sure you are better than fine."

He opened the door for her and let her precede him into the hotel. Mac took note of his gallantry (again) and the comment.

They had just spent that last thirty minutes with Admiral Shenandoah and his accusations. The whole scene was very odd to Mac. All the admiral wanted to do was point out the dozen or so things that went wrong with this case and to find fault – justifiably or not with Harm, Mac and Marc. He didn't really want to know what they learned or what direction the investigation was going to go. He jumped on Mac any chance he got mostly because she was new, not because she was female. Marc did nothing; he let Mac swing in the breeze. Harm, however could not allow that. He would divert attention away from Mac at every turn (Mac took note of it all). Harm suffered the brunt of the wrath of Shenandoah and it was a pretty big brunt. Shenandoah seemed to like to personalize everything and Harm took some serious ego hits and kept a stiff upper lip. The reason for his defense of Mac was actually more about him than it was Mac. Harm was embarrassed by the admiral's behavior and because Mac was a visitor, his guest, his friend; he didn't want her to have a bad impression of his new home. It was way too late for that.

In the end they were told to; "SOLVE IT NOW" and left with a couple new orifices in their respective back ends. They didn't speak of the 'interview' with Shenandoah, but both knew the result of that meeting. Harm's days in Naples were numbered which meant Harm was up to be transferred to just about anywhere in the world at Shenandoah's demand and depending upon how this case was resolved, Chegwidden may not have a say in the matter. Not wanting to lose anymore time, they went directly to speak with the Dobbs.

On the top floor they were directed to the Dobbs suite. Harm knocked and stood back. A young woman, a very beautiful young American woman answered the door. When she saw Harm a switch was flipped and she dropped into full flirt mode.

"Hello. How can I help you?" her voice was sticky and sweet.

"Colonel MacKenzie and Commander Rabb to see Senator and Ambassador Dobbs," Harm stated appearing unaffected by this female. Truth be told, he noticed but was not interested.

"I am sorry, Commander," she slurred with her perfect finishing school drawl taking no interest in Mac at all. "The senator and ambassador are not available."

"I believe that they will be available for us, we are investigating their son's death," Mac's voice was a surprise to this woman.

"This is all your fault!" A man about thirty stepped up to the door pushing the young woman out of the way. "He wouldn't have been in Naples if it were not for this STUPID frat case."

"And you are?" Harm said.

"I am Jake Stillwell Dobbs – Larry was my younger brother," Mac took note of his name, the same as his grandfather's.

"Our condolences on your loss."

"Save it for the papers, Commander."

"It is vital that we speak with your mother and father," Mac said unimpressed with the young man's attitude.

"And you are again?"

"Colonel Sarah Mackenzie -."

"Oh yes, the defense attorney. My brother felt he could get a better defense with a trained –"

"We are here to see the senator and the ambassador," Harm intervened sternly. "But if you have some information that you think might help us discover what happened to your brother, we would be interested to hear whatever you have to say that is relevant to his death."

Harm's unsympathetic demeanor and commanding tone shut this cocky brat down. Jake opened the door all the way and walked into the room. Harm stepped back to let Mac enter first. Again Mac took note of Harm's chivalry: protecting her from this man's wrath and the simple gentlemanly manners of 'ladies first'. What had gotten into him?

They sat down in the sitting area. Jake slouched into the chair. "Veronica, order some espresso and tell my parents that the JAGs are here." The flirty woman did as she was told.

"Would you care to speak to us without your parents being present?"

"They know everything I know."

"How close were you and your brother?" Mac asked.

"We were brothers, Miss MacKenzie," he deflected. "What are you getting at?"

"I believe Colonel MacKenzie has a valid question, how close were you?"

"I loved my brother," came his non-responsive answer. "We were as close as most brothers I imagine. A little sibling rivalry when we were kids, but well over that now. Between college and the Navy we have not had much time to spend together in the past seven or eight years. Holidays mostly."

"Did your brother ever talk to you about the women in his life?"

"No," the answer was too short and too quick for Mac's tastes.

"Did he talk to you about the sexual harassment charges?"

"Look, lady. I know that anything I tell you would be hearsay. I am a lawyer too."

"You are not a lawyer until you pass the bar," Ambassador Dobbs said from the doorway to her bedroom. Both Mac and Harm stood; Jake did not. "Hell, take the bar - I don't ever remember you graduating," she took another drink from her glass; she had all three sheets to the wind and was sailing at top speed. "You should be impressed though Colonel, he has been kicked out of some of the better law schools in the world."

"Our condolences on your loss, ma'am."

She nodded but clearly didn't care about their condolences. "I understand from my husband that I was rude to you last night, Colonel," Mac did not respond but maintained eye contact. "Accept my apology."

"Yes, ma'am."

"So who killed my son? Can't pin it on that little cu- woman that filed charges against my Larry."

Harm nodded to Mac to let her know that he was deferring to her in this questioning.

"Ma'am we understand that you saw your son last night before the embassy reception."

"I did."

"Can we ask you about that meeting?"

"I am his mother. It was the night before his trial. Of course I went to see him and what we talked about is personal."

"When did you see him last."

"It was just after eight."

"Did he tell you where he might be going after you left? Who he might have seen?"

"No, he told me he was in for the night."

"Ma'am, were you aware that your son and Lieutenant Monroe were involved?"

"Isn't that what the trial was supposed to determine?"

"Were you aware that Lieutenant Monroe was pregnant?"

Jake stood up and walked to the window. Harm watched him out of the corner of his eye.

"I am," she slurred.

"Did your son tell you that last night?"

"No, I knew before."

"May we ask how you found out?" Mac pushed.

"You will find out anyway --."

"Sharon, please -." the senator entered from another room. "Don't say anything else."

"I have nothing to hide," she poured herself another drink.

"Slow down Mother." Jake said without turning around.

"My only son is dead! If I want a drink, I will damn sure have one," her vehemence toward her first born was off putting to say the least. "I knew she was pregnant because she told me when I went to pay her to drop these ridiculous charges."

"Sharon – shut up," the senator said sternly.

"Go to hell Lawrence."

"Ma'am, would you like your attorney present?" Harm asked.

"I have nothing to hide."

"You offered to bribe Lieutenant Monroe into dropping the sexual harassment charges?" Mac continued.

"I just said I did, and I will deny it in a court of law."

"Did she accept?"

She snorted into her drink. "No, the little piece of fluff turned me down," she shook her head and looked directly at Mac. "I offered her more money than her whole damn trailer park white trash family could make in a life time, and she turned me down flat."

"When did you make this offer, ma'am?"

"Last night -."

"Sharon, please don't say anything else," he husband warned again.

She laughed. "My husband thinks that I killed her."

"Ma'am?"

"I saw her yesterday around five or six o'clock," she glared at her husband. "This is for the record – I didn't kill her. Not that I didn't think about it, but someone beat me to it."

1318 ZULU

Rabb Quarters

Naples Italy

Harm entered and Mac followed. They needed to stop by his quarters to pick up the files they left there that morning. They were late to the 1000 with Jackson and the files were forgotten. I guess the twenty-two minutes was not enough though nothing more than some serious kissing transpired. That was a joint decision; after all this time, it – the big IT - would be done properly or not at all.

The hours since they left the quarters earlier that morning were very odd to Mac. Harm was tripping over himself to be solicitous, kind, sweet, and gentlemanly. He opened doors and said nice things, was very complimentary of her legal mind etc. It was very off putting to Mac. She didn't like it, but really couldn't put her finger on why. The other thing she noticed was that she felt very protective of Harm. Particularly during that meeting with Shenandoah, she felt herself wanting to shield Harm from that man's cold, cutting and vial remarks. She didn't of course, but the desire was there. This was all new and different and Mac was not comfortable with the feelings.

Mac stayed in the living room. She noticed Harm's dress white dinner jacket on the back of the chair. He had left it there to bring it to the base cleaners. There was indeed lipstick on the collar, but it was not hers. It was a tacky Certainly Red not the rich deep Cranberry Wine Red that she had worn. There was an unreasonable part of her that was ragingly jealous. Mac was normally not unreasonable nor was she the jealous type. She stored the information and checked her rage.

"OK, let's go," Harm said in a chipper – too chipper a fashion holding the files aloft. He was enjoying this – this working with her - way too much. "We need to get back to base before Chegwidden arrives and we need to talk with the coroner first," he checked his watch. "We may just make it."

Mac just nodded and went for the door.

"What? What are you thinking?" Harm asked.

"Me? I'm not thinking anything."

"You looked like you had something you were about to say," he pressed.

"No, nothing."

"Come on Mac, we are working this thing together?"

"No, nothing. I mean, I think we really need to talk to Carroll O'Leary again," Mac was reaching; she had no idea what she was saying. She just flashed on an image of Harm with Adriana and was incensed. It was not like her. She hated it. She stuffed it away.

"O'Leary? Why?"

"Well, her timing was just a little too convenient."

"She was right about Monroe being pregnant."

"But we don't know if Dobbs was the father," her voice got higher and the tempo was at breakneck speed. "And don't you think that story she told about Dobbs wanting to live on a ranch and raise horses and kids just a little too far fetched?"

"You saw that family, not sure there is anything I wouldn't do to get away from them."

"That's just it? It seems too predictable."

"How?"

"What if O'Leary was lying. What if Dobbs really was a – a – a womanizer?"

"A womanizer?"

"A philanderer. It is more reasonable to believe that he would try to cover up his harassment of women with a lie like that, than to believe he was a one woman man and in love – SO IN LOVE as to throw his life, his career and his family away in one fell swoop for a woman – just one woman." By now Mac was angry and it was written all over her face.

"I am not sure I follow," Harm was following he just didn't like where she was leading.

"The males of the species are NOT monogamous by nature."

"I see, is this from your years of study on the subject or did you see this on Oprah?"

"I have known – NOT in the biblical sense – many men and most of them have not been --- monogamous," she was checking her words so carefully it is surprising any of them got out of her mouth at all or they made any sense at all.

"I suppose you are including present company."

"This is not personal, Harm," she cut him off. "Don't feel you need to defend your whole sex."

"While you feel the need to castigate us? Or would you settle for quick and painless castration?"

"That's uncalled for," she snapped back.

"Really – well you have some agenda you are pushing and you are directing it at me."

"I'm not."

"Are you trying to tell me that this case and not something else is pulling this Men-are-from-Mars-Women-are-from-Venus attitude out of you?" he tried to keep his annoyance in check, but it was getting increasingly difficult.

"All I am saying is that we can't believe anything we have heard from anyone because we don't know what their motives are."

"Agreed."

"Agreed?"

"Yes, I agree with you 100% - as long as we are talking about the case and not anything else."

"We are."

"Well, I agree we need more facts."

"Fine," she looked away.

He had had enough. "What is going on Mac?"

"Nothing," she defended.

"Mac!" he commanded.

She closed her eyes. "Why are you being so – so – so gallant?"

"Gallant?"

"Yes, gallant. Why are you being so nice to me? Opening doors for me, defending – no protecting me from Shenandoah and the Dobbs'," she stood firm. "I don't need you to protect me."

"You don't need me to open doors for you either."

"No I don't," she agreed,

"Haven't I always?"

"Always what?"

"Opened doors for you? Defended you? Protected you - when I could?"

"No," she could honestly not remember if he had or not in the past.

"No?

"No, you haven't."

"I haven't always treated you like a lady and with the respect and dignity that goes with being a woman, a friend and a partner."

"No," she relented. "Not like this …"

"It is interesting that you should say that?" he was annoyed.

"Interesting?"

"Well, I just don't understand why you would want anything to do with me if I treated you so poorly," he stopped her from talking. "Nor why you would be so upset if I stopped treating you poorly. In fact it begs the question – do you want me to treat you poorly?"

"You are twisting this around."

"I think you are the one that is twisting this around. I am not surprised though. I knew it wouldn't take you long to pick a fight over something stupid like this."

"Something stupid? Something stupid?" she was raging. "You call another woman's lipstick on your collar stupid?"

Oops – Mac tipped her hand. This was going to be bad. If she could have swallowed her words she would have. If she could have run from the room she would have. But she had to stand there and take it. Harm was going to let her have it with both barrels and she had no one to blame but herself.

"The lipstick on my collar is from Adriana," he was very calm and very rational. He wasn't even going to let her have it with one barrel. "If you remember correctly, I was left in charge of her last night when you had to go back to work with Marcus," he waited for her to argue with him. "Adriana is pretty vindictive and she wanted something last night that she wasn't going to get. I can only assume that she marked me in hopes of raising your ire. Apparently she was not wrong, I am sorry to say." Harm was disappointed. The old Harm would have gloated and rubbed her nose in her jealousy. He would have taken some seriously sadistic joy in knowing that Mac's hackles were up over him with another woman. But the new Harm was just disappointed that she would try to pick a fight over something so silly. "Now, can we go back to work?" he opened the door for her and waited for her to walk out in front of him. He did not want a response. He did not want an apology. He wanted to forget the whole thing. Mac walked out in front of him and allowed him to open the car door for her.

They drove in stiff silence for a while. Mac could take it no longer. "I'm sorry. I must be tired."

"Must be," he dismissed.

"Harm?"

"Look Mac. I won't let you bait me into a fight so that you can prove that it won't work between us. I am not willing to punch out, but if you insist on picking fights with me, then you have made the decision for me."

"I didn't mean to – I'm sorry."

"OK," he looked out the window. "Let's concentrate on the case."

Both dropped back into silence. Mac knew that she caused some pretty big damage but it did not appear to be unrecoverable, at least she hoped it would not be unrecoverable – or maybe she did.