August 2005

Harm and Mac's house

Mac heard banging from the back when she walked into the house. She was late after a meeting ran longer than expected. She'd texted Harm that she wouldn't make it to see Mattie that night and that she'd meet him at home. She stepped into the hallway. It had just gotten the finishing touch the previous night. The house was beginning to look amazing. She put her briefcase down, slipped her shoes off, and put her cap on the table by the mirror before she walked into the house. She crossed the living room and peeked outside. Harm was busy putting the finishing touch on the deck. He was barechested and she admired how his muscles flexed as he moved around.

"It's looking good," she complimented as she stepped outside.

He turned. "Yeah, it's not bad," he smiled as he walked over. "I decided to finish tonight so I didn't make dinner yet." He kissed her softly.

"We can order in," she kissed him again. "Sorry about the meeting dragging on."

"That's okay," he reassured as he took a step back. "Did everyone RSVP to the barbeque?" he wondered.

"Yeah, they did. It'll be a full house," she smiled. They had invited the people working for her to a barbeque on Saturday. They could finally show people their house. "Jen and Graves will be here early to help out."

"Good," he bent down and put in another nail. "Mattie is looking forward to it." Mattie had been home the previous weekend and it had gone so well they had agreed that she should be home on weekends from now on. There was a little more work for Mac than Harm because Mattie was a girl she preferred to have Mac help her with the more intimate stuff. She was now able to move between her chair and her bed or the sofa on her own. She could stand on her own too, but she wasn't allowed to do that outside the rehab center yet. She needed some assistance getting dressed and when she showered, but most things she did on her own. What Mattie had been the most anxious about was the bathroom and shower situation, but with Mac's help, it had gone well. Mac and Mattie had created a great bond in the months since they moved to San Diego.

"What do you feel like eating? Chinese?" she questioned.

"Yeah, you decide," he stood after putting in another nail. "I'll get the table and chairs and we'll eat outside."

"I'll make the order and change out of this uniform," she smiled and left the balcony.

Later

After dinner Harm put a sketch in front of her.

"This is what it'll look like when it's completely done," he said and waited for her to have time to study it before he explained. "This will be the place where we have dinner. This will be a sitting group, with a sofa and everything we need to relax. And of course, I'm putting up a porch swing between those trees over there." He pointed at the big oak trees below the balcony. "It won't be a porch swing exactly, because it won't be on a porch, but you get where I'm going, right?"

"I can't believe you planned all this," she smiled sweetly.

"I've had some time now that I'm in the reserves and spend so much time at the hospital. Mattie had a few ideas too," he shrugged. "It's no big deal."

"It's a big deal to me," she pointed out.

He smiled and kissed her softly before turning back to his sketch. "Now, I'll build a deck, right?" he pointed. "Then put up a roof. I have to have Frank's nephew, Andrew, help me with the construction because it has to be strong enough to hold the swing and us, of course," he focused on her. "We can sit out there watching the kids play."

Mac hesitated. "You've thought about that?"

"Yeah, I figure we'll have two. One that we make, and then we can adopt one, " he reasoned.

"You know that the chance of that happening is almost zero," she reminded him.

He shrugged. "Sending people into space was also impossible."

She smiled slightly. "You really want to adopt?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I do. I figure we can provide a pretty good home and there are so many children who need that."

"I agree," she said after a little while. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately. The experience with Mattie has made me realize that having a child can be wonderful even if I didn't carry it myself."

"One thing doesn't have to exclude the other," he smiled and kissed her. "So, you like my idea?" he motioned for the sketch.

"I really do," she said with a clever smile and added. "All of your ideas."

He chuckled. "Good." Then he leaned in closer. "You want to go work on one of my ideas right now?" he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Smooth," she said with laughter.

He drew her closer and kissed her. They were definitely on their way.

Saturday

Mac walked out on the deck and saw Mattie with Jennifer Coates and Catherine Graves. The party was winding down. It had been a nice time and she had enjoyed seeing her staff in a more relaxed setting. It had been busy since she took over and they all deserved some fun.

Mattie, Jennifer, and Catherine were laughing, and having fun it seemed. Mac knew that Mattie had been nervous about being around so many people but it seemed like she handled it well.

"You doing okay?" Mac wondered.

"Yes, it's going fine," Mattie confirmed and smiled brightly. "I'm out of the hospital, what can be better than that?"

"Let me know if you need anything," Mac said.

"Your house is beautiful, ma'am," Graves said.

"Thank you. It's been a lot of work, but we're finally getting there," Mac said. She was happy that she had let Harm talk her into buying the place even though it needed a lot of work.

"The last people just left," Harm said as he walked up behind her. He put his hand on her hip.

"Thanks for having me over, ma'am, sir," Catherine stood. "I'll help with the cleaning."

"Me too," Jennifer stood.

"It's not that much left, we can handle it," Harm reassured.

"Mac, can you help me?" Mattie moved the chair towards the entrance to the house.

"Sure," Mac said and followed Mattie.

"I'm tired, I think I'll just lie down for a while," Mattie said as she wheeled towards her room. They had prepared a bedroom downstairs for Mattie with a connecting bathroom designed for a wheelchair.

"Was it okay today?" Mac wondered as they entered Mattie's room.

"Yeah, it was fun. I'm just not used to it," Mattie said with a shrug. "Give me a few hours and I'll be ready for the movies tonight," she promised.

Mac smiled. "It'll be fun. It's been ages since I went to the movies."

"Me too." Mattie wheeled to the bathroom.

Mac helped her get on the toilet, then waited outside for Mattie to finish before she helped her get ready for bed. She left Mattie alone when the girl was comfortable in bed. It meant a lot for Mac that Mattie trusted her enough to let her help.

Mac heard laughing in the kitchen and found Graves and Jenn there.

"We carried in the rest and started the dishwasher," Jenn said. "Is Mattie okay?"

"She was tired and wanted to take a nap," Mac reassured. "Thank you guys for this."

"It's the least we can do," Graves said and grabbed her purse from the counter. "I better get going. I'll see you guys on Monday."

Jennifer waited until Catherine had left before she sat down on a barstool. "Mattie looks great, doesn't she ma'am?"

"She does," Mac agreed and sat down as well. "She's come a long way."

Jennifer nodded. "I'm just so happy I got to come with you, ma'am. Being far away from Mattie would have felt wrong."

"Mattie is lucky to have you, Jenn. And so am I," Mac smiled.

"I appreciate that, Colonel," Jennifer said sincerely. The Colonel, the Captain, and Mattie was the closest thing to a family she had. "The Captain seems to handle his new role well."

"He does, but he's had the house project and Mattie. I don't know what will happen now that the house is almost finished and when Mattie is back on her feet," Mac admitted. She had worries that Harm would get bored and regret it all. The last thing she wanted was for him not to be happy. "But we are talking about kids, so we'll see."

"That would be awesome," Jennifer said with a bright smile. "He's going to be a great father."

"Yeah, he will," Mac turned as she heard Harm walk into the kitchen.

She must have looked at him in a certain way because he looked questioningly at her. "What?"

"Nothing. Just happy," she said with a cute smile.

He flashed her a sweet smile. He walked over and joined them by the counter. "Is Mattie okay?"

"Yes, she was tired and she's taking a nap before the movies," Mac reassured.

He reached for her hand. "Good."

"I'm pretty beat myself," Jenn started to stand. "Tell Mattie I'll see her soon."

Mac nodded. "I will."

"Your staff is great, Mac," Harm commented. "Young but a lot of potential there."

"I agree," she hesitated as she studied him. "It could have been you."

He let her hand go and stood. "We don't need to go there. London wasn't an alternative. You know that."

"I know it would be difficult with Mattie, but not impossible," she reminded him.

He leaned on the counter. "Why are we even talking about this?"

"Because it's been on my mind," she admitted. "You've been amazing, Harm. Supporting me, this house, helping Mattie. What about you?"

"What about me?" he wondered.

"You gave up a lot," she pointed out.

"I gained a lot," he pointed out. "I don't spend much time worrying about not being in London," he pushed off the counter and stepped closer to her.

She reached out and grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer.

He smiled. "You want to take a nap?" he wondered.

She chuckled. "Yeah, a nap sounds great."

"Come on," he took her hand.

Mac smiled as she followed him. Yet again their serious discussion had been postponed.