Six weeks later
Harm quietly let himself into Mac's apartment. He put his suitcase by the door, slipped his shoes off and put his cap away. He made sure the door was securely locked and quietly walked to the bedroom. He smiled when he saw her, as usual, she was on her left side. He usually spooned in behind her, more on her side than on his. She was beautiful, he thought. He as quietly as possible undressed and brushed his teeth before he slipped into bed and got close to her. She stirred, mumbled his name and moved closer to him. Sleep came to him straight away.
He woke up feeling kisses down his neck. He let out a groan and his body reacted straight away.
"Welcome home," she mumbled between kisses.
He helped her off with her nightgown. "It's a nice welcome," he stated before his body took what it had craved for two weeks. He had been away on assignment in Italy with Commander Manetti.
"Two weeks is just too long to be without you," he mumbled after his breath had returned to normal.
"At least you got to go to Italy, while I was stuck here in the snow," she complained.
"I did notice that the snow had fallen," he kissed her cheek. "God, you're beautiful."
She smiled. "So, how was Italy? Did Manetti work out?"
"Yeah, she's good," he lay on his back and put his head in the crook of her neck. "It was a tough case. It's clear to me that she hasn't been out in the field all that much, but she held her ground. It's strange having to break in a new partner. I've gotten so used to having you with me on assignment and I guess I've come to expect certain things. All in all, it's working out I guess."
"You miss me?" she teased.
"I do, and not just this," he pointed between them. "I miss your brain, I guess."
"It's good to know you're not just after my body," she joked.
He chuckled. "I have to admit that you have a particularly great body."
"You're such a smooth talker, Rabb," she put her hand on his chest and caressed it softly. "We better get up. I don't want to be late."
"Yeah, I have to report in with the Admiral," he leaned in and kissed her deeply. "I have to make sure I've gotten enough to last me through the day."
She smiled smugly. "Shower with me and you'll get some more."
He smiled brightly. "Yes, ma'am."
Harm smiled as he sat down by the conference table. He felt great and energetic, despite long flights and little sleep. He noticed the look Sturgis was giving him.
"You look well rested for a guy who's been traveling for twelve hours," Sturgis commented.
"It's nice to be home," Harm met Mac's eyes and they both smiled.
"Yeah, rub it in that you have someone to come home to," Sturgis teased.
Harm chuckled. "Is this place as crazy as Mac tells me?" he wondered.
"Have you seen your desk?" Sturgis wondered just as Manetti walked in with a tired look.
"Good morning," Manetti smiled politely as she sat down.
The Admiral entered. "As you were."
The meeting took some time, and Harm left the conference room with two more open cases. He decided to jump into things and hopefully get out of there so that they wouldn't arrive too late in Beallsville. Grams had promised them dinner when they arrived. They were finally fully staffed so the Admiral reassured them that things would calm down over the next week.
"The Hurt case," Harm held a file up as he entered Mac's office. "Are there documents missing?"
"What's missing?" Mac wondered.
"All that is in here is a report from the JAG who did the Jagman investigation. Nothing about the interviews that were conducted. And why did this land on your desk in the first place? The Petty Officer showed up late for his watch. That should be handled by his CEO, it's not a case for us."
Mac stood. "Let me see," she walked over to her filing cabinet and opened it."Hurt, Albert," she opened the file. "Hit a crewmate, came back from liberty drunk, late for his watch on six occasions," she closed the file and handed it to him. "I think you're right, there is more."
He smiled. "Okay then," he took the file from her. "This guy is going to have his wish come through, discharge."
Mac rounded her desk and sat down. "We should get out of here by 1700, right?"
"Sounds like a plan," he winked at her and went back to his office. He met Harriet in the doorway.
"Oh, sir, I left you the Oberman file on your desk," Harriet said.
"Thanks, Harriet. How's Bud doing?" Harm wondered.
"He's doing pretty good. He's bored and restless," Harriet shrugged. "Eager to get back to work."
"I can understand that. I hear he's working out with Sturgis, that's great," Harm was optimistic. "We all have great faith in Bud."
"And we appreciate that. We couldn't do it without everyone's support," Harriet smiled. "Well, I better get back to work. It's good to have you back, sir."
"Tell Bud I'll stop by after the weekend," Harm said and sat down by his desk.
At 1700 Mac stood in his doorway.
"Are you ready to go?" she wondered.
He hesitated, the closed the file and shut down his computer. "Yes, let's go."
"Are you all caught up?" she asked.
"Nowhere near, but that's for Monday. I think that after solving that murder case in Italy, I deserve a weekend to relax," he chuckled.
She smiled. "Grams has been really looking forward to this."
"I have too," he rounded his desk and reached for his cap and coat, put them on and took his briefcase. He walked over to her, leaned in and kissed her softly.
"Let's go," she tugged on his hand, then let it go as they entered the bullpen. They weren't hiding their relationship, but they didn't broadcast it either, especially in the office.
Grams had dinner ready when they arrived. She had a fire going in the living room and they had dessert in there. Harm felt totally relaxed and he felt the Jetlag caught up with him big time. He knew he wouldn't be able to stay up much longer.
"Well, I'm heading to bed," Grams stood. "When would you like breakfast in the morning? Harm looks like he should sleep in. How about nine?"
"We can make breakfast," Mac hurried to say.
"No, this is my chance to spoil you two, and I will," Grams insisted.
"Nine is fine, Grams," Harm yawned and pulled Mac closer. "I'll turn in soon too."
"Good night," Grams headed for the downstairs bathroom.
"You should get some sleep," Mac suggested.
"Yeah, in a minute," Harm ran his hand up and down her back. "I like staying here with you."
"It's very cozy," Mac agreed.
"I've been thinking about Bud's hearing, mentally preparing," he hesitated. "I think we're facing an uphill battle."
"It would be a loss for the JAG Corps if we lost Bud," Mac studied Harm thoughtfully.
"It would," Harm agreed. "But they will focus on his physical challenges and that he will keep a fully functional JAG Officer from the billet. If he was only progressing with his running we'd stand a better chance."
"We'll just have to see, and have faith," she smiled.
"Yeah," he smiled. "Christmas is coming up. Harriet invited us."
"She did. You don't want to go home and see your mother and stepfather?" she wondered.
"I can't, I'm on duty on Christmas Eve. I thought we'd take leave in January and go for a long weekend. What do you think?" he wondered.
"Yeah, we could do that," she smiled. "So, you're taking me home?"
"Yes," he chuckled. "Why?"
"That's very serious for you," she suggested.
"Well," he met her eyes. "I'm serious about you."
She smiled and leaned in and kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too," he kissed her again.
Saturday
Harm saw that Mac was sitting by the fireplace reading a book. He hurried to the kitchen where his grandma was busy with that night's dinner.
"How's it going Grams? Need any help?" Harm wondered.
"Believe it or not, I actually enjoy making dinner when I have company," Grams smiled. "So, what is up with you? You have been wanting to get me on your own since you got here."
"Nothing goes by you, Gram," he reached into his pocket and took out a small jewelry box. He opened it. "What do you think?"
Grams eyes widened. "You're asking Sarah to marry you?"
"I am," Harm hesitated. "I've been thinking about it for months."
"It's perfect," Grams reached out and patted her grandson's cheek. "I can't believe you've found the one."
"I have," Harm put the ring away," I'm doing it on Christmas Eve. It's the perfect night."
"Giving the day a whole new and positive meaning," Grams smiled proudly. "I am so proud of you, son."
"It just feels right," Harm hesitated. "It is right, right?"
"Harmon, I have never seen you look at someone with so much love before. Sarah is perfect, in every way," Grams hugged him. "You'll be very happy."
"Thanks, Grams," Harm smiled.
They heard footsteps and both jumped to, looking very innocent as Mac walked into the room. "Can I help with something?"
"I just turned down Harm's help, dear," Grams smiled. "You two could go for a walk."
"I feel like I should do something," Mac looked at Harm. "A walk would be good, right?"
"Absolutely," Harm smiled and took her hand.
"Dress warmly, it's biting cold out there today," Grams warned. "Dinner in an hour."
"Yes, ma'am," Harm winked at Mac.
They went upstairs and dressed warmly, Harm slipped the ring back into his bag, hiding it behind all his clothes. They took the trail down to the lake so that Harm could check on the boat.
"It really is cold," Mac looked around. "It's beautiful, with the trees and the snow."
"You are beautiful," Harm took her hand.
"Smooth," she teased. The terrain opened up and the lake came into view. "Wow, it's even more beautiful when it's frozen up."
"Isn't it?" Harm walked towards the boathouse and opened it. "Looks like Edwin held his promise and got the boat up before the lake froze."
"Ah, the boathouse," Mac smiled sheepishly. "Remember?"
"Yeah, that is hard to forget," he leaned in and kissed her. "It's probably too cold now on the floor."
Mac chuckled. "Probably, besides, didn't you get enough this morning?" she kissed him again. "I love you."
"I love you more," he cupped her face. "Thanks for letting me share this place with you. It's special to me, just like you are."
"I love it here," she assured him.
"Good," he kissed her again. "Okay, we have to keep moving or we'll freeze. Let's walk a little further before we go back."
"Lead the way," she smiled sweetly.
Later
Mac was looking through an old album that Grams had found for her. There was a fire in the fireplace and Harm had brought her a blanket and put it over her feet. Grams was knitting. Harm was indulged in a book, one hand resting on her thigh. It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday night.
"That was Harmon as a boy," Grams explained, not even stopping her knitting as she looked at the album from her place in the rocking chair. "Harm is the spitting image of his father."
"I can see that from the pictures I've seen of him as a child," Mac smiled as she found a picture of Grams with baby Harm. "Baby Harm October 1963," she read. "That's so cute."
Harm tore his eyes away from his book.
"He was a few days old. I took the trip to see him. My first flight ever," Grams remembered.
Mac turned the page. "Oh, look at you."
Harm chuckled. "I've stretched a little since then. Chubby cheeks."
"He was a pretty baby," Grams chuckled. "I wouldn't worry about having babies with him, they'll be beautiful."
"I'll remember that," she nudged Harm with her foot.
Harm smiled. "With your looks and my brains, he'll be perfect."
Mac remembered their baby deal. "I can't believe we made a baby deal."
"You did what?" Grams wondered.
"We made a deal to have a baby together, four years ago," Harm explained. "That in five years, if either of us were in a relationship, we'd make it happen."
Grams smiled and shook her head with amusement. "So, in a year I can expect a great grandchild?" she teased.
Harm and Mac shared a look. "We'll see," Harm said and reached for Mac's hand, kissing it.