~~~~Part 13~~~~
1058 est
February 9, 2003
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
(Harm's POV)
I knock on the door to her apartment, two minutes early.
"Will wonders never cease?" She opens the door, "Hey, Harm. Early again, I see. You know, I'd watch it if I were you...people might start to raise their expectations and you'll have to be sure to make it wherever you're going at least two minutes ahead of schedule."
I feign dread at her words, then break into what I'm sure is a goofy grin. She steps aside to let me in. From behind my back, I pull out a bag of doughnuts.
"Mm...if there's a sprinkle one in there, it could be love." Well, then, I guess it's love.
"Harm, you didn't have to bring food, I already like you," she says teasingly.
"Oh, that's a relief," I reply. She opens the bag and pulls out the sprinkle doughnut I got her.
"Hmm...a sign?" "I've got a pot of coffee going right now, do you want some?"
"Uh, yes, please. Thanks."
We get our coffee and a few napkins and settle on the couch.
We sit in silence for a few minutes and then Mac says, "So, yesterday was fun."
I laugh, "Yeah, it was. AJ sure is something, isn't he?"
She laughs as well, "He's so much fun to watch. I always have a ball when I babysit for him."
"It was more fun with you, though."
I say, "Yeah, it's fun, but yesterday was a lot more fun, I think."
"Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing." "Weird."
"I actually have to confess something...I kind of liked it when people thought we were a family," I say hesitantly.
"Did I just hear him right?" She just stares at me inquisitively, a small smile playing at her lips.
"Can I ask why?" she finally says.
Oh, I didn't think that far in advance. "I just thought it was kind of neat that people really thought we made a good family. I guess it's just reassuring to know that I can do it, that it could really work."
"I really like this side of him. I wonder if there's a particular reason for him acting like this lately."
"Yeah, I kind of liked that, too." She smiles, and goes back to her coffee and doughnut.
Twenty minutes later, we've finished and we're ready to head out.
We get to the place where we're going to wash her car and she pulls into the closest empty stall. It takes about fifteen minutes between the two of us to wash and wax, and now we pull out onto the road to head back to her place.
"So, Mac...what do you want to do on Friday, besides dinner?"
"Hmm...with you? That's definitely not a safe question to ask if you want an honest answer that won't make you blush." Ooh, just thinking of the possibilities of what that might mean is making me blush. "I don't know, Harm. You're the one who made the date."
"Ooh, did I just call it a date? But we're not dating, we're just friends. Yeah, right, MacKenzie...you just keep telling yourself that."
"Oh, it's a date, now, is it?" I tease.
"I wish." "You know what I mean, Harm."
"I know what you mean. I already decided on dinner, so it's your turn to pick what we do afterwards...anything you want."
"Don't say anything, Harm."
"I mean, you know, within reason."
"Hmm...I wonder if that qualifies as being 'within reason'..." Wow, she's getting feisty. She's not making this any easier for me.
"Well, we could go out dancing...I know of a few clubs that are going 'ballroom' for Friday," she says cautiously.
"Please say yes."
I grin and say, "I think that's a great idea."
"Good, because it's the closest I'm allowed to get to him without us feeling awkward." Hmm, she has a point. That needs to change.
She pulls into the parking lot of her apartment building and we both get out of the car. I walk with her up to her place and we stop at the door.
"What do I do now? We already had coffee a little while ago, but there's really nothing else we can do." I can't really think of anything, either, so I say,
"Well, I guess that's the last of your errands you needed to run this weekend, huh? So I'll...see you tomorrow?"
"Damn, I really wish I could think of a good reason for him to stay, but there's nothing." "Yeah, that's all the errands. Hey, thanks again for letting me drag you along."
"Oh, it was my pleasure. And yesterday was a lot of fun."
"Yeah, I wish that five years would be done with already." Yeah, so do I. She just nods.
"Okay, then," I say, "I guess I'll go."
"Yeah, alright. I'll see you tomorrow, Harm." I wave goodbye as she closes the door.
"Damn, this is going to feel like a long time before Friday."
Yes, it most certainly will.
************************************************************************
The week crawls by, just as I had suspected it would. On Monday morning, the Admiral assigns Mac and me two separate cases that would take up most of our time and energy this week. We are both frequently away from the office conducting interviews and such, so we don't even get to see much of each other this week. By Thursday, though, my case is wrapped up. Mac has closing arguments tomorrow, though, so it looks like our Friday plans are still on.
************************************************************************
0720 est
Friday, February 14, 2003
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
(Harm's POV)
I pull into work forty minutes early, relieved that Mac's car isn't here yet. The guards look at me quizzically as I approach the entrance.
"Something wrong, gentlemen?" I ask.
One of them, a Lieutenant, says, "Well, no sir, Commander. You're just...well...early."
I smile and say, "Yes, I am, Lieutenant, thank you for noticing."
He nods his head, looking relieved that I didn't rebuke him for calling me on my frequent tardiness.
I pass through the metal detector, and set it off. I stop and pat my pants pockets to make sure that my keys aren't in there, then I realize what set it off. I empty my jacket pocket, and once the guards are satisfied that I'm unarmed, I head up to the office.
I quickly make my way to Mac's office, making sure that nobody is in the bullpen to see me. Out of my jacket, I pull a single, long-stemmed red rose and place it on the middle of her desk, then quickly walk back out.
I head back down to where I had just come in and nod to the guards as I exit the building, also adding a short, "Gentlemen."
They stare at me confused as I get back into my SUV and pull out of the JAG parking lot. I point the car towards the Starbucks down the street to grab my morning pick-me-up, and to wait for 0750 to roll around.
************************************************************************
I walk into the bullpen two minutes early, and the light is on in Mac's office, but she's not in it. I drop off my stuff at my desk and head for the breakroom, where she's probably getting her coffee.
I walk in, and sure enough, she's standing there sipping from her mug and staring thoughtfully at the rose she's holding in her hand.
"He's not even here, yet. Who could've left it? Who else would have left it?"
"Ooh, a rose. Where'd that come from?" I ask, startling her out of her reverie.
"Oh, hey, Harm. Uh, I don't know. It was on my desk when I got in this morning."
I nod, trying to look genuinely baffled.
She continues, "You, uh...wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"
"Me? I just got here."
"Uh-huh! He's lying." Damn, how does she see right through me? "Okay, Harm. Well, I might just have to ask around, see if anyone knows anything about it."
"I guess so."
"Man, I thought for sure that would get him to fess up. Oh, well."
At that moment, Harriet comes in, "Commander, Colonel, it's time for roll call in the conference room." She looks suddenly at the rose in Mac's hand, "Oh, wow, that rose is beautiful, ma'am...where did you get it from?"
"I wish I knew, Harriet, but nobody saw who left it sitting on my desk this morning. It was there when I got here."
"Wow, that is so sweet! Whoever did that must really think you're someone special."
They both look over at me pointedly. I roll my eyes and excuse myself from the room, and I hear them both laugh behind me.
None of us receive any new cases at roll call, thankfully. At 0915, Mac heads to the courtroom, and I don't really see her for the rest of the morning or at lunch time.
At 1600, I head over to her office. The Admiral let all of his staff leave an hour early today, and I just want to make sure that Mac and I are set on the time for tonight.
"Hey, Mac, it's time to go."
"Yeah, I know, I've just got to finish up this report and then I've got to give it to the Admiral. You come by to make sure we're still on for tonight?"
She can read me like a book. "Yeah, we agreed on 1845, your place, right?"
"Right."
"Okay...and wear something fancy."
"I've already got my outfit laid out and ready to put on." "And I can't wait to see the look on your face when you catch a glimpse of it." Oh, now I can't wait either.
"Alright. I'll see you then, Mac."
She smiles at me...her best, thousand-watt smile that could put the sun to shame, in my eyes. I give her one of my own dazzling smiles and leave her office to head home. Only two hours and forty-two minutes to go. I can't wait.
1058 est
February 9, 2003
Mac's apartment
Georgetown
(Harm's POV)
I knock on the door to her apartment, two minutes early.
"Will wonders never cease?" She opens the door, "Hey, Harm. Early again, I see. You know, I'd watch it if I were you...people might start to raise their expectations and you'll have to be sure to make it wherever you're going at least two minutes ahead of schedule."
I feign dread at her words, then break into what I'm sure is a goofy grin. She steps aside to let me in. From behind my back, I pull out a bag of doughnuts.
"Mm...if there's a sprinkle one in there, it could be love." Well, then, I guess it's love.
"Harm, you didn't have to bring food, I already like you," she says teasingly.
"Oh, that's a relief," I reply. She opens the bag and pulls out the sprinkle doughnut I got her.
"Hmm...a sign?" "I've got a pot of coffee going right now, do you want some?"
"Uh, yes, please. Thanks."
We get our coffee and a few napkins and settle on the couch.
We sit in silence for a few minutes and then Mac says, "So, yesterday was fun."
I laugh, "Yeah, it was. AJ sure is something, isn't he?"
She laughs as well, "He's so much fun to watch. I always have a ball when I babysit for him."
"It was more fun with you, though."
I say, "Yeah, it's fun, but yesterday was a lot more fun, I think."
"Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing." "Weird."
"I actually have to confess something...I kind of liked it when people thought we were a family," I say hesitantly.
"Did I just hear him right?" She just stares at me inquisitively, a small smile playing at her lips.
"Can I ask why?" she finally says.
Oh, I didn't think that far in advance. "I just thought it was kind of neat that people really thought we made a good family. I guess it's just reassuring to know that I can do it, that it could really work."
"I really like this side of him. I wonder if there's a particular reason for him acting like this lately."
"Yeah, I kind of liked that, too." She smiles, and goes back to her coffee and doughnut.
Twenty minutes later, we've finished and we're ready to head out.
We get to the place where we're going to wash her car and she pulls into the closest empty stall. It takes about fifteen minutes between the two of us to wash and wax, and now we pull out onto the road to head back to her place.
"So, Mac...what do you want to do on Friday, besides dinner?"
"Hmm...with you? That's definitely not a safe question to ask if you want an honest answer that won't make you blush." Ooh, just thinking of the possibilities of what that might mean is making me blush. "I don't know, Harm. You're the one who made the date."
"Ooh, did I just call it a date? But we're not dating, we're just friends. Yeah, right, MacKenzie...you just keep telling yourself that."
"Oh, it's a date, now, is it?" I tease.
"I wish." "You know what I mean, Harm."
"I know what you mean. I already decided on dinner, so it's your turn to pick what we do afterwards...anything you want."
"Don't say anything, Harm."
"I mean, you know, within reason."
"Hmm...I wonder if that qualifies as being 'within reason'..." Wow, she's getting feisty. She's not making this any easier for me.
"Well, we could go out dancing...I know of a few clubs that are going 'ballroom' for Friday," she says cautiously.
"Please say yes."
I grin and say, "I think that's a great idea."
"Good, because it's the closest I'm allowed to get to him without us feeling awkward." Hmm, she has a point. That needs to change.
She pulls into the parking lot of her apartment building and we both get out of the car. I walk with her up to her place and we stop at the door.
"What do I do now? We already had coffee a little while ago, but there's really nothing else we can do." I can't really think of anything, either, so I say,
"Well, I guess that's the last of your errands you needed to run this weekend, huh? So I'll...see you tomorrow?"
"Damn, I really wish I could think of a good reason for him to stay, but there's nothing." "Yeah, that's all the errands. Hey, thanks again for letting me drag you along."
"Oh, it was my pleasure. And yesterday was a lot of fun."
"Yeah, I wish that five years would be done with already." Yeah, so do I. She just nods.
"Okay, then," I say, "I guess I'll go."
"Yeah, alright. I'll see you tomorrow, Harm." I wave goodbye as she closes the door.
"Damn, this is going to feel like a long time before Friday."
Yes, it most certainly will.
************************************************************************
The week crawls by, just as I had suspected it would. On Monday morning, the Admiral assigns Mac and me two separate cases that would take up most of our time and energy this week. We are both frequently away from the office conducting interviews and such, so we don't even get to see much of each other this week. By Thursday, though, my case is wrapped up. Mac has closing arguments tomorrow, though, so it looks like our Friday plans are still on.
************************************************************************
0720 est
Friday, February 14, 2003
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
(Harm's POV)
I pull into work forty minutes early, relieved that Mac's car isn't here yet. The guards look at me quizzically as I approach the entrance.
"Something wrong, gentlemen?" I ask.
One of them, a Lieutenant, says, "Well, no sir, Commander. You're just...well...early."
I smile and say, "Yes, I am, Lieutenant, thank you for noticing."
He nods his head, looking relieved that I didn't rebuke him for calling me on my frequent tardiness.
I pass through the metal detector, and set it off. I stop and pat my pants pockets to make sure that my keys aren't in there, then I realize what set it off. I empty my jacket pocket, and once the guards are satisfied that I'm unarmed, I head up to the office.
I quickly make my way to Mac's office, making sure that nobody is in the bullpen to see me. Out of my jacket, I pull a single, long-stemmed red rose and place it on the middle of her desk, then quickly walk back out.
I head back down to where I had just come in and nod to the guards as I exit the building, also adding a short, "Gentlemen."
They stare at me confused as I get back into my SUV and pull out of the JAG parking lot. I point the car towards the Starbucks down the street to grab my morning pick-me-up, and to wait for 0750 to roll around.
************************************************************************
I walk into the bullpen two minutes early, and the light is on in Mac's office, but she's not in it. I drop off my stuff at my desk and head for the breakroom, where she's probably getting her coffee.
I walk in, and sure enough, she's standing there sipping from her mug and staring thoughtfully at the rose she's holding in her hand.
"He's not even here, yet. Who could've left it? Who else would have left it?"
"Ooh, a rose. Where'd that come from?" I ask, startling her out of her reverie.
"Oh, hey, Harm. Uh, I don't know. It was on my desk when I got in this morning."
I nod, trying to look genuinely baffled.
She continues, "You, uh...wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"
"Me? I just got here."
"Uh-huh! He's lying." Damn, how does she see right through me? "Okay, Harm. Well, I might just have to ask around, see if anyone knows anything about it."
"I guess so."
"Man, I thought for sure that would get him to fess up. Oh, well."
At that moment, Harriet comes in, "Commander, Colonel, it's time for roll call in the conference room." She looks suddenly at the rose in Mac's hand, "Oh, wow, that rose is beautiful, ma'am...where did you get it from?"
"I wish I knew, Harriet, but nobody saw who left it sitting on my desk this morning. It was there when I got here."
"Wow, that is so sweet! Whoever did that must really think you're someone special."
They both look over at me pointedly. I roll my eyes and excuse myself from the room, and I hear them both laugh behind me.
None of us receive any new cases at roll call, thankfully. At 0915, Mac heads to the courtroom, and I don't really see her for the rest of the morning or at lunch time.
At 1600, I head over to her office. The Admiral let all of his staff leave an hour early today, and I just want to make sure that Mac and I are set on the time for tonight.
"Hey, Mac, it's time to go."
"Yeah, I know, I've just got to finish up this report and then I've got to give it to the Admiral. You come by to make sure we're still on for tonight?"
She can read me like a book. "Yeah, we agreed on 1845, your place, right?"
"Right."
"Okay...and wear something fancy."
"I've already got my outfit laid out and ready to put on." "And I can't wait to see the look on your face when you catch a glimpse of it." Oh, now I can't wait either.
"Alright. I'll see you then, Mac."
She smiles at me...her best, thousand-watt smile that could put the sun to shame, in my eyes. I give her one of my own dazzling smiles and leave her office to head home. Only two hours and forty-two minutes to go. I can't wait.