Harm, Mac and Mattie's apartment, Washington DC
Mac put the last box down and looked around. She let out a sigh. It was a mess. Harm's boxes were to the right, hers on the left, and Mattie's someplace in the middle. Their furniture was standing here and there and she would never understand how any of it would fit together when her style and Harm's styles were so different.
Harm's request to be Mattie's guardian had failed and to make sure he got the thing he wanted the most she had suggested a joint guardianship. That had landed her in a three-bedroom apartment living with Harm and Mattie. Mattie was a sweet girl, she was resourceful and self-going and on the surface, it seemed like she didn't need a lot. Of course, she needed more than she would let them know. Her mother dead and her father an alcoholic who was in no condition to take care of her, there were bound to be a few bumps in the road. Mac knew the ride wouldn't be bump-free. At least the one Harm and she were taking. They still hadn't dealt with the aftermath of Paraguay and she knew they had to eventually.
"This is the last one," Harm put the box down.
"It's a mess," Mac commented.
"We'll get it organized," he said with confidence. "At least Mattie won't have to sleep on your couch any longer."
"Yeah, this will work better," she agreed. "What room do you want?"
"It doesn't matter, you take your pick," he said with a shrug.
Mattie joined them. "I love the room. And the bed."
"It's better than my couch for sure," Mac said with a chuckle as she opened a box. "Kitchen supplies," she said and grabbed the box.
"Here's another one," Harm said and grabbed another box, and followed her to the kitchen. "We can fit a table in here."
"Yeah, we can use mine and put your dining table out there," she motioned for the living room.
Harm nodded. "Sounds like an idea." He studied her hesitantly. "Did I tell you how much I appreciate what you did for Mattie and me?"
"A hundred times Harm. I was glad to help," she reassured. "And we're in this together. Equal partners."
"That was the deal," he offered a sweet smile. "It's not going halves on a baby, but…"
She smiled. "You ever think about that?"
"Now and then," he admitted.
Mac's phone rang and interrupted her reply. "Webb?" she said as she answered. "You're in town then? I'll be busy this weekend but maybe we'll do lunch sometime in the upcoming week? Great. I'll see you then."
Harm had discretely started to empty one of the boxes while she spoke to Webb. He didn't understand Mac's relationship with the CIA agent. "How is Webb?" he asked.
"He sounded fine," Mac said with a shrug as she opened the other box.
"Did you tell him about this?" Harm motioned between them.
"Why would I?" she wondered as she opened a cabinet.
"I figured that was something one told one's boyfriend?" he said with amusement.
Mac let out a sigh as she opened a kitchen drawer. "Webb is not my boyfriend." She put the spatula in the drawer and closed it. "I'll help Mattie in the living room," she declared and left him.
Harm watched her go. Now he was confused. Mac had seemed annoyed. But he didn't understand why she was annoyed with him for assuming that Webb was her boyfriend. He knew they spent a lot of time together.
"Harm, we need your opinion about something," Mattie said from the doorway.
Harm nodded. "Yeah, sure." He decided to have a talk with Mac at a time when Mattie wasn't around. They needed to clear the air and they needed to be alone when they had that talk.
Two days later
Harm followed Mac out of the elevator. She was a little annoyed with him at the moment. He hadn't locked the bathroom door that morning and she'd walked in on him drying off after his shower.
"I'm just suggesting that you lock the door when you're in the bathroom. It's not much to ask, is it?" Mac wondered.
"I said I was sorry. I'm not used to living with people," he defended himself.
"It could have been Mattie walking in on you," Mac continued.
"I know," he said as they walked into the bullpen.
"And don't leave wet towels on the floor," she added and headed for her office.
A mildly amused Admiral suddenly stood in front of Harm. "How's joint custody working out Commander?"
Harm hesitated. "Well, sir, it has its ups and downs," he admitted.
"Figured as much," the Admiral smiled and turned to leave. "This out to be interesting," he mumbled as he walked away.
Harm considered walking after Mac but decided to wait. They had agreed to leave personnel matters out of the office.
Later that day
Mattie finished setting the table and turned to her guardians. Harm was busy feeding Mac with a spoon. They were a strange mix of flirt and tension the two of them, Mattie had decided. They had made it clear that they were just friends but sometimes she wondered.
"It tastes great," Mac complimented.
"Right?" Harm was pleased. The bathroom incident had been forgotten by the time they got home. He hadn't mentioned it and neither had she.
"How was school, Mattie?" Mac wondered.
"The Dragon thinks I'm behind in English," Mattie complained.
"We'll talk to her," Harm reassured. "They probably didn't get your papers from Blacksburg."
"I'll set up a meeting," Mac promised.
"Did you meet anyone?" Mac questioned as they sat down to eat.
"Yeah, a few. They seem nice," Mattie said.
"That's good," Harm said and put the pasta down on the table. He sat down. It had only been a weekend but he enjoyed coming home to someone. "You should come to say hi to everyone at the office tomorrow before school."
"Yeah, you really should," Mac added.
Mattie nodded. "I'd like to see the place."
Harm smiled. "And speaking of seeing. Mom wants to come here. To meet you," he motioned for Mattie. "And to see the new place."
"When?" Mac wondered.
"This weekend," Harm clarified. "Frank too. They're staying at a hotel."
Mac nodded. "Okay."
"Have you met them? Are they nice?" Mattie questioned Mac.
"Yeah, they're great," Mac reassured.
"It's nothing to worry about," Harm added. "If anyone is to worry it's me. I haven't been completely honest with Mom about being out of the Navy for six months. And I just recently told her about this arrangement."
"You haven't told your mother about resigning your commission, being with the CIA and getting fired from the CIA, and returning to JAG?" Mac questioned.
"Well, by the time I got around to it I was already back with the Navy so…" Harm let it hang.
"And suddenly you're living with a woman and having a kid, and you didn't tell her?" Mac continued her questioning.
"Well, I'm not exactly with a woman, we're just living together, and Mattie is not a kid, really," Harm reasoned, but it sounded weak even to him.
"So what exactly is this arrangement?" Mattie questioned. "What happens if you meet someone?" she asked Mac. "Or you?" she asked Harm.
"I haven't thought about that," Harm admitted. "I won't meet anyone."
"You don't know that, you're not that repulsive," Mattie reasoned.
"Thanks," Harm said dryly and ignored Mac's amusement. "What I meant was that it isn't a priority."
"Did you even think this through? Am I some sort of project?" Mattie wondered. She was on a roll now with all her thoughts and questions. "And what's your role in this? I mean, you agreed to this agreement in a night." Mattie questioned Mac.
"We'll figure it out as we go. But I'm all in," Mac reassured. "This is a joint operation and we're both your guardians. You're stuck with us, kid."
Mattie smiled. "I figure I could do a lot worse."
Harm chuckled. "We'll figure everything out. Right?" he questioned both his female company.
"Right," Mac and Mattie said at the same time. They both giggled.
Harm smiled. "Eat before it gets cold."
The next day
Mattie spent most of the morning begging Harm and Mac to let her stay at JAG for the day.
"I'm six months behind, the Dragon pointed that out," Mattie said as she followed Harm and Mac into the bullpen.
"She has a real name," Mac reminded Mattie.
"I know," Mattie hesitated. "Fine, I'll go to school. Andrè needs me there anyway."
"Andrè?" Harm questioned.
"He's a math geek. He wants to be a navy pilot too," Mattie said.
"Too?" Harm was curious.
"Yeah, I figured I could be a fighter pilot like the old man," Mattie explained.
Mac was amused. "I better start the day. I'll let you show Mattie around, Harm."
"Okay, so this is the bullpen," Harm motioned around himself. "Want to see my office?" he motioned for Mattie to follow him. "Mac's office is in there. She's our chief of staff so she has a lot of cases go through her desk on a day-to-day basis."
"She's a higher rank than you?" Mattie assumed.
"She's senior by two months but we're the same rank. Chief of staff means that she's a buffer between the Admiral and the rest of his staff."
Mattie nodded. "I like that. Powerful woman and all. It's cool."
"When you see her desk you might change your mind," Harm said with a chuckle. "My office," he opened the door and let Mattie inside.
"So what do you do really?" Mattie asked as she looked around.
"I investigate cases, defend, prosecute, provide legal advice," Harm listed his main responsibilities. "Let's go see Mac's office, then you can meet Bud, Coates, and the others."
Mattie followed him.
Mattie and Jennifer hit it off and agreed to go shopping one of the first days. Mac got pulled in to see the Admiral so Harm got Mattie to school. When he got back he found out that she had gone to Langley and he wondered if she had business with Webb. He had to get to the bottom of Mac's intentions with Clayton Webb soon. He also needed to find time to sit down with Mac and resolve their issues regarding what transpired between them in Paraguay.