Chapter 37

"Someone else, Sir?" Harm questioned with a confused look.

"Someone other than you!"

"No Sir! I never thought of Mac in that way!"

"You could have fooled me, Commander! For years I've been expecting the two of you to get together."

"No Sir. Honestly, Mac is not my type!"

"A beautiful, intelligent, sexy, brave, and honorable woman isn't your type?!" AJ demanded.

Looking at the Admiral with a speculative glance, Harm wondered if her CO might have been projecting his own feelings into this conversation. But it really was none of his business, so he said, "No Sir. I simply felt that the time was right. I have my twenty in and have bought a house where I'm hoping to start a family as well as open a flight school."

"Who are you planning on starting this family with, Commander?"

"I'm not willing to reveal that right now Admiral. But there might come a day when I can have everyone out to the new house. For now, I would like to leave as soon as possible. I have some leave time accumulated, but I will, of course, clear up my current case files."

They'd had their differences over the years, but Harm was still a good lawyer and officer. However, after all of the morning's events, AJ just couldn't bring up much of an effort to fight Harm's decision. "If you're sure this is what you want, Commander, you can start to clear your calendar. You can pass along the Maxwell case I gave you this morning to Sturgis."

Hoping to curry some favor with Lauren on his own project, Harm said, "Admiral, Sturgis has the Benson court marshal coming up. What about giving Maxwell to Lieutenant Singer?"

"Fine," AJ agreed, then added, "Let me know when your case load is wrapped up and you can start your leave time."

"Thank you, Sir," Harm said and left thinking that had been a lot easier than he'd thought it would be. He was surprised that the Admiral hadn't put up more of a fight to get him to stay in the Navy. Not that he would have changed his mind, but the attempt to have been persuaded would have been nice.

Lauren was pleased to get the new case and even offered Harm a rare smile as she thanked him. Then she reminded him to let her know when she could meet Harm's girl friend.

At 1156 that morning Harm poked his head around the corner of Mac's office door. Waiting until she finished the call she was on, he asked, "Hey, Ninja Girl, wanna catch some lunch with me?"

"You're in a good mood," she responded with a half smile.

"Yes, I am, and if you'll have lunch with me I might even tell you why!" he tempted her.

"Fine, but it better be someplace where I can get meat, Flyboy!"

"Carnivore!" he taunted.

"Herbivore!" she retaliated, then added, "I can be ready in three minutes. Meet you at the elevator."

He grinned and agreed.

Mac sat there in opened mouth shock after Harm made his announcement that he was leaving the Navy. "Why?!" was all she could gasp out.

"This isn't something that is easy for me to talk about, Mac. In fact, I only recently told my mom, but to openly be with the person I love I need to leave the Navy."

"Is it Coates? If you really love her, Harm, just have her transfer out of the offices!"

"It's not Jen. It's Keeter."

"Keeter? Your Academy roommate?" she questioned.

"Yes."

"But he's a…so you're…wow! I never knew! Did Kate, Annie, Jordan, and the video princess know? Was that why things ended between all of them?"

"No, I never told any of them. I was simply trying for a normal life, trying to fight the way I am. I just finally realized that Keeter really is the love of my life and that he is the one that I want to grow old with. The only problem we have now, is that we really want a child and since you and Tom are getting married I'm guessing our baby deal is off?"

"I'm sorry, Harm, but yes. Tom and I want to have children of our own."

"It's okay, and I am happy for you. We will just have to try another option. I've mentioned it to Singer, but she wants to meet my 'girl friend' before she will give her answer."

"Harm! Singer?! Are you crazy?!"

To be continued…..