"I have decided on a ruling. Please rise." Mac instructed. Harm, Sturgis
and Lt Halcroft rose. "Lt Halcroft, this court has found you guilty of the
charge against you. However due to the fact that you have made efforts
towards restoration your sentence has been reduced. You are sentenced to
barracks restriction for seven days with a loss of pay. Do you understand?"
"Yes your honour."
"Was there something you wished to say Cmdr Rabb?" Mac asked as Harm pulled a face.
"No your honour."
"Good. This court martial is adjourned." She banged her gavel.
~ ~ ~
"Mac can I talk to you for a minute?" Harm asked as he entered her office.
"Harm can we talk when we get home? I've got to go and pick Jenny up."
"Is she still at the crèche?" Harm enquired.
"No, Harriet took her home with her, I didn't think the court martial would have taken this long. She needed to go to bed."
"Okay. But can I ask you something first?" Harm asked.
"Yes I accepted your proposal and I'm expecting a very nice ring at some point." Mac said answering the question she knew he was about to ask.
"I think I can manage that. I'll see you at home."
"Yes." Mac kissed his cheek before heading out the door.
~ ~ ~
"So honestly what made you pick today of all days?" Mac asked as they sat curled up on the sofa?"
"Seemed a good a day as any. Besides you said you wanted to take things slowly, I thought three weeks was slow enough."
"It works for me. Harriet thinks it's rather sweet."
"She does?" He questioned.
"Don't get any strange ideas flyboy she agrees with me that you have bad timing. A rather subtle hint, don't ask me anything that requires great thought or a response before a trial. It could cause a problem with my train of thought."
"So that's why you found my client guilty?" He asked.
"No your client was guilty he just happened to have tried to make up for the incident so he got a reduced sentence."
"I see. Now you mentioned something about a ring?"
"It's traditional." She said seriously.
"Any ideas what you'd like?" Harm asked.
"You can pick, as long as it's not to big and clunky. I have to be able to wear it to work and with Jenny anything too big would just get in the way."
"So you're not going to help me?"
"Most men usually buy the ring before they propose. Besides I'd like it to be a surprise."
"Hey what can I say I'm different?"
"That you are. I do have a suggestion though."
"What?" He asked.
"Call Trish and Frank. They'd probably like to know, then your Mom can think about buying a hat."
"What is it with women, weddings and hats?" Harm asked.
"Tradition. Like women having a thing for men in uniform, law of nature."
"Why do women have a thing for men in uniform?" Harm asked.
"It's ingrained in our genes, it probably goes back thousand of years before this but think about it, do you know the story of St George and the dragon?"
"No."
"This village was being attacked by a dragon, they offered sacrifices like sheep but it didn't stop the dragon. So the village decided to sacrifice a women, lots were drawn and it was decided the King's daughter would make the noble sacrifice of dying to protect her village. So she was tied to a tree and had to wait for the dragon to come and eat her. St George came riding through and saw her, he killed the dragon and rescued the King's daughter."
"What's this got to do with men in uniform?"
"Noble men like that were usually knights, and knights wear suits of armour. So genetically ingrained in women is the fact that men in uniforms will protect and defend them. Not that we need them to these days."
"So it's a weakness thing?"
"No, but it could also be because they look hot. I mean some of those fire men?" Mac liked her lips. Harm began to tickle her. "Stop, I mean you look hot in you're dress whites and gold wings."
"That's better. I love you."
"I love you too."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: The idea about why women like men in uniforms is all my own. It's just a theory that's evolved over time.
"Yes your honour."
"Was there something you wished to say Cmdr Rabb?" Mac asked as Harm pulled a face.
"No your honour."
"Good. This court martial is adjourned." She banged her gavel.
~ ~ ~
"Mac can I talk to you for a minute?" Harm asked as he entered her office.
"Harm can we talk when we get home? I've got to go and pick Jenny up."
"Is she still at the crèche?" Harm enquired.
"No, Harriet took her home with her, I didn't think the court martial would have taken this long. She needed to go to bed."
"Okay. But can I ask you something first?" Harm asked.
"Yes I accepted your proposal and I'm expecting a very nice ring at some point." Mac said answering the question she knew he was about to ask.
"I think I can manage that. I'll see you at home."
"Yes." Mac kissed his cheek before heading out the door.
~ ~ ~
"So honestly what made you pick today of all days?" Mac asked as they sat curled up on the sofa?"
"Seemed a good a day as any. Besides you said you wanted to take things slowly, I thought three weeks was slow enough."
"It works for me. Harriet thinks it's rather sweet."
"She does?" He questioned.
"Don't get any strange ideas flyboy she agrees with me that you have bad timing. A rather subtle hint, don't ask me anything that requires great thought or a response before a trial. It could cause a problem with my train of thought."
"So that's why you found my client guilty?" He asked.
"No your client was guilty he just happened to have tried to make up for the incident so he got a reduced sentence."
"I see. Now you mentioned something about a ring?"
"It's traditional." She said seriously.
"Any ideas what you'd like?" Harm asked.
"You can pick, as long as it's not to big and clunky. I have to be able to wear it to work and with Jenny anything too big would just get in the way."
"So you're not going to help me?"
"Most men usually buy the ring before they propose. Besides I'd like it to be a surprise."
"Hey what can I say I'm different?"
"That you are. I do have a suggestion though."
"What?" He asked.
"Call Trish and Frank. They'd probably like to know, then your Mom can think about buying a hat."
"What is it with women, weddings and hats?" Harm asked.
"Tradition. Like women having a thing for men in uniform, law of nature."
"Why do women have a thing for men in uniform?" Harm asked.
"It's ingrained in our genes, it probably goes back thousand of years before this but think about it, do you know the story of St George and the dragon?"
"No."
"This village was being attacked by a dragon, they offered sacrifices like sheep but it didn't stop the dragon. So the village decided to sacrifice a women, lots were drawn and it was decided the King's daughter would make the noble sacrifice of dying to protect her village. So she was tied to a tree and had to wait for the dragon to come and eat her. St George came riding through and saw her, he killed the dragon and rescued the King's daughter."
"What's this got to do with men in uniform?"
"Noble men like that were usually knights, and knights wear suits of armour. So genetically ingrained in women is the fact that men in uniforms will protect and defend them. Not that we need them to these days."
"So it's a weakness thing?"
"No, but it could also be because they look hot. I mean some of those fire men?" Mac liked her lips. Harm began to tickle her. "Stop, I mean you look hot in you're dress whites and gold wings."
"That's better. I love you."
"I love you too."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A/N: The idea about why women like men in uniforms is all my own. It's just a theory that's evolved over time.