A/N: Most people are smart and run away for long weekends, I just sit at home and write. Alas, it's not the fun in the sun, but it's February, so it's too cold to go anywhere good within driving distance!


Mac can't help the outright laugh that bubbles out of her at Jada's last comment. As horrifying as some of the events that have occurred since she arrived at Bethesda tonight, there have been quite a few joyful ones as well. Shaking her head, she looks at the nurse and replies, "Not that the thought of doing just that hasn't crossed my mind before, but it usually isn't best to get into a dog fight with a fighter jock. They are usually prepared for the head on approach, I need something a little stealthier. Not necessarily subtle, but sneaky nonetheless."

Jada nods, "Ok, then the next time he is at your place, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom. Take a little longer than necessary, stay in his peripheral vision, and emerge wearing a little slinky number that will knock his boxers off!"

Mac chuckles, "Isn't that supposed to be his socks."

Jada laughs, "Now child, knocking his socks off will get you nowhere, it's what's inside the boxers that you want!"

Mac thinks about this for a moment, remembering the sheer burgundy baby doll that she bought on a whim at La Perla. Even at 80% off, it had cost her a bundle, but it was well worth it. The color was akin to a glass of finely aged Cabernet Sauvignon. The plunging neckline was held in place by a single satin thread that barely contained her ample cleavage. Below the thread, the material flared out to reveal her well-toned flat stomach. A very tiny g-string thong, that was hi-cut to her hip, completed the outfit. It was definitely the perfect ensemble for seduction. She tells her, "You know what, Jada, I think I have just the outfit that might work."

Jada gives her a coy smile, "Great! Now that we have worked out a plan, go get yourself another cup of coffee, and get back upstairs to your bodacious sailor. Make sure he gets plenty of rest while he is here, so you can work him out vigorously when he is released. In this case, the extra physical therapy will be worth it. After you have ravaged him senseless, I expect a call for lunch so I can hear all the juicy details!"

Mac stands up, and does something she rarely does with anyone outside of Harm, and gives Jada a heartfelt hug. She tells her, "Thank you for the ear, the java, and the advice. I will definitely keep in touch."

Jada returns the simple embrace, and tells her, "You're welcome, now get out of here. If I'm still on shift when he is ready to be released, I'll stop by, and advise Harm that I don't want to see his sorry six back around these parts any time soon!"

She places Jada's business card in the pocket of her scrubs, making a mental note to put it in her purse when she gets back to the room. She definitely doesn't want to lose her contact information. While Harriet is one of her closest friends, she feels that Jada is like the soul sister that she never had. As Mac heads towards the elevator to go back up to Harm's room, Harm is sitting in his room going over the course of his hallucinations tonight as the Admiral sits in the corner of his room silently keeping watch. Both Harm and Mac are equally pondering the comments from those that they were sitting with, and wondering if it's time to put the past in the past, and work towards building a permanent future.

Mac arrives back at Harm's room to find him idly flipping through channels with the remote, and notices that the Admiral has dozed off in the chair in the corner. She quietly teases, "Since when do you watch television, Harm?"

Harm gives her a full smile, "Only when I am biding time waiting for you. I had to find something to occupy my time because as you can see, my present company fell asleep." He looks down at the cups in her hands, and banters, "No wonder you were gone so long, you had to run to Dunkin Donuts™ to find a decent cup of coffee. Is one of those for me?"

Mac laughs, "Not a chance in hell, Flyboy, you are supposed to be resting. I brought a cup for the Admiral. And I didn't run to the store, a very nice Petty Officer did. Besides, you wouldn't like this stuff anyway, it's not fit for squids unless you are a Seal."

The Admiral shakes the sleep out of his head, and stands up, stretching his muscles. Mac walks over to him, and offers him the cup, "Thank you Colonel. I guess I was a little more tired than I gave myself credit for."

Harm chuckles, "Yeah, you have been sawing wood for at least the last fifteen minutes."

The Admiral responds, "I wasn't asleep, I was merely checking for light leaks."

Harm mutters under his breath, "Whatever you say, Sir."

The Admiral ignores Harm, and turns to Mac, inquiring "Everything ok?"

Mac nods, "I met a friend downstairs when I was looking for a decent cup of coffee."

Harm hitches his eyebrow in question, hoping she wasn't sharing a cup of coffee with his doctor. Harm really didn't care for the looks his doc gave his Marine.

Mac smiles, and looks directly at Harm with a cheeky grin, "Jada says "hello" and she asked me to remind you that you should be staying out of trouble, not getting into more of it."

Harm chuckles, remembering his former nurse that wouldn't take any of his crap, and would have given drill sergeants a run for their money. He jests, "I'm sure she had plenty more than that to say."

Mac just shrugs her shoulders, and gives him a non-committal "MMM" as she places her coffee on a table outside his reach, thus ending any further questioning about her discussion with Jada.

The Admiral walks over to the foot of Harm's bed, and says, "Well, if you two don't mind, I think I will head back home and try to catch a couple of hours of sleep." Mac nods her approval, her eyes silently stating "I've got the watch."

The Admiral turns to Harm, "Commander, I expect you to listen to both the doctor and the Colonel in my absence. Just remember that she outranks you."

Harm grumbles, "Ugh! Those three months are going to be held over my head until I make Captain."

The Admiral stoically asks, "What makes you think that you will ever make Captain?"

Harm smiles, "Well, I can't very well be your successor if I don't. The last time I checked, you were required to make Captain before Admiral. Unless of course I am deep selected, and get to skip a few ranks."

The Admiral just chuckles, glad to see that Harm's humor is intact after their deep discussion. He exclaims, "God help those that end up serving under you!"

Mac just sits in the corner chuckling, knowing that their Papa Bear CO definitely puts up with more than his fair share from the two of them and their antics.

The Admiral shakes his head as he walks towards the door, before yelling over his shoulder as a parting shot, "And by the way Commander, if I have to come back down here tonight for any reason other than to identify your body, there will be hell to pay upon your medical release."