DINNER PLANS

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AJ'S OFFICE

AJ was not having a good week.  The wife of the Secretary of the Navy had been by more often then he liked.  Harm and Mac were the object of her visits and he was not thrilled at all.  He had spoken to Zoya the other night after several days of not hearing from her.  She told him not to worry, but the fact that she was staying at Webb's made him very concerned.  He actually liked Webb.  Webb was a decent and honest man who was very dedicated to his job.  He hoped that he would be as dedicated to protecting Zoya.  AJ smiled and realized it could be the other way around. Maybe Zoya was protecting Webb.

"Chegwidden," AJ said answering his private line.

"Admiral, this is Dorothy Nelson. How are you?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"Fine ma'am, how are you?" AJ replied.

"I'll make this quick," Mrs. Nelson began. "Tomorrow night I would like to invite you, Commanders Rabb and Turner, the Roberts and Colonel MacKenzie to dinner.  We will be meeting at Benihana's on M Street at 7 and it will be casual attire."

"That's very nice, however I don't know if they are available." AJ said.

"Make it an order," Mrs. Nelson laughed and hung up.

"DAMMIT!" AJ yelled.

"Sir is everything okay?" Tiner said running into his office. "I heard yelling."

"Get me Rabb and MacKenzie," AJ said.

"Right away Sir," Tiner said.

A few moments later Mac and Harm were in AJ's office.

"You wanted to see us?" Mac asked.

"Have a seat," AJ said. "I received a call from Dorothy Nelson."

"What did she have to say, Sir?" Harm asked.

"She is throwing another gathering. She would like all of us to be in attendance." AJ announced.

"Why all of us?" Mac asked.

"I thought you might know," AJ said.

"Sir, I have no idea." Mac said.

"Well, it's going to be casual dress and tomorrow night." AJ said. "I'll advise the rest at the morning meeting."

"Did she happen to mention where this gathering was going to be?" Harm asked.

"Benihana's Steakhouse on M Street," AJ said.

"That should be fun," Harm smiled.

"If I'm lucky the chef will slip and stab me." AJ sighed, "Dismissed."

"Aye, aye Sir." They replied in unison and left the office.

BULLPEN

"This is not good, what does that woman have planned?" Mac asked.

"Stop worrying," Harm smiled. ""She knows nothing, the Admiral knows nothing and we have been very quiet."

"What have you been quiet about?" Sturgis asked walking over.

"Nothing," They replied in unison.

"Interesting," Sturgis said and walked towards the conference room.

"Do you think he knows?" Mac asked.

"Nah," Harm smiled. "So are you coming over tonight?"

"Are you cooking?" Mac asked.

"Yes," Harm replied.

"Then I guess I'll be there." Mac smiled.

CONFERENCE ROOM

"One final note, we have been invited to a dinner at Benihana's restaurant tomorrow night by Mrs. Nelson." AJ announced.

"The SecNav's wife, Mrs. Nelson?" Bud asked.

"The one and only," AJ sighed, "Dinner at 7 at the M Street location, casual attire."

"Sir, I don't know if we can get a sitter on short notice," Harriet said.

"I am sure one of the petty officers would be more than happy to help you." AJ said.

"Sir, I take it this is mandatory," Sturgis said.

"You better believe it," AJ replied, "Dismissed."

They left the conference room and went about their work.  Harm and Sturgis went to Judge Sebring's courtroom for an Article 32 hearing.  Harriet went to Tiner to ask if he would baby-sit, to her surprise Coates offered to help as well.  Bud went with AJ to review the budgets and Mac went back to her office to review case law on a trial she would be hearing. 

MAC'S OFFICE

"Colonel MacKenzie," Mac said answering the phone.

"Mac, this is Dottie are you already for tomorrow night?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"Yes, we're all ready." Mac replied. "This is very nice of you."

"Nice shmice," Mrs. Nelson laughed. "I need my husband to see the two of you together in a social setting."

"Why is that necessary?" Mac asked nervously.

"Because by the time I am done, my husband will want to see you two together more than he wanted his first congressional appointment." Mrs. Nelson laughed.

"Oh, that's lovely." Mac said sarcastically.

"Mac, you sound worried, don't be worried.  I have everything under control." Mrs. Nelson said. "See you tomorrow night."

Mac hung up the phone.  This woman had nothing under control.  Things were beginning to spin completely out of control. Even if she and Harm were able to keep their new found relationship under wraps, Mrs. Nelson was going to bring it all crashing down.

BENIHANA'S-The next night

With great trepidation AJ walked into the restaurant.  Mr. & Mrs. Nelson were waiting at the entrance for the entire group to arrive.

"Good evening, Mr. Secretary, Mrs. Nelson." AJ said.

"I see everyone is prompt as usual." Nelson said with sarcasm.

"Darling don't be so official. This is supposed to be a fun evening, besides it's only five of." Mrs. Nelson replied. "AJ it's wonderful to see you. Please call me Dottie."

"Thank you for arranging this…" AJ began, "Evening?"

"Shall we wait at the bar?" Nelson asked.

The three went to the bar and waited for the rest of the group. AJ and Nelson discussed recent cases and situations while Mrs. Nelson tried in vain to change the topic to anything but shop talk. 

"Hello," Harriet said as she and Bud entered the bar.

"Well hello there," Mrs. Nelson smiled. "Where is everyone else?"

"We saw Commander Turner pulling in," Bud said.

"What about the Commander and the Colonel?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"I'm sure they will be here shortly," AJ stated.

"Good evening," Sturgis said joining them.

"Darling, be a dear and tell the hostess we will be ready for our table shortly." Mrs. Nelson said.

"Yes dear," Nelson sighed. "AJ walk with me."

"Admiral, Mr. Nelson good evening," Mac said walking in.

"Colonel nice to see you, you look lovely tonight," Nelson said.

"Thank you Sir," Mac said with a weak smile.

"Mac, you wouldn't happen to know where Rabb is?" AJ asked.

"No Sir, I haven't seen him since this afternoon." Mac said.

"I suppose we could wait for him at the table," Nelson said and advised the hostess they were ready to be seated.  The group was taken to their hibachi table were Mrs. Nelson assigned seats.  She ensured that there was an open seat next to Mac.

"Now where is that Commander?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"Right here, sorry I'm late.  There was a back up…" Harm said.

"Save it Rabb," AJ said.

"Yes Sir," Harm said taking the only available seat.

The waiter came and took the orders.  Within minutes, the beverages were served and then the chef came over to start the meal.  It was quite a presentation.  The typical things, throwing knives and flipping a shrimp tail into his hat.  The group politely applauded and the chef went on to make the rice.  With a nod from Mrs. Nelson, he shaped the fried rice into a heart and stuck the spatula under it making the heart look like it was beating.

"We have happy couples here this night," The chef said looking directly at Mac and Harm.

"I need another drink," AJ grumbled.

The meals were served and Mrs. Nelson led the conversation.

"So Harriet tell me, how to you and Bud manage to work together and be married?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"We manage." Harriet smiled.

"No one has a problem with a husband and wife working together?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"My staff is professional," AJ said.

"So, if it happened again you wouldn't have a problem?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"Dorothy," Nelson said. "I don't think that is something AJ needs to worry about."

"You never know dear, you never know." Mrs. Nelson smiled.

"Mrs. Nelson, what do you do to occupy your time?" Sturgis asked.

"I am on the guild of the Smithsonian and I like to help my friends." Mrs. Nelson said looking at Mac and Harm.

"The Smithsonian," Bud said. "That must be interesting."

"Oh it is," Mrs. Nelson said. "So, how often do you all get together?"

"Harriet hosts a Christmas Eve party every year." Mac said.

"Sometimes we get together after work." Sturgis added.

"Sturgis helped me rebuild my vette," Harm said.

"You're all so wonderfully close," Mrs. Nelson said.

"AJ has created quite a team," Nelson said. "So how's the budget going?"

"Darling, I thought there would be no shop talk tonight." Mrs. Nelson stated.

"It's going well Sir," Bud smiled.

"That's right Roberts, you're the numbers wiz," Nelson said.

"Anyway, Mac and Harm did you enjoy yourselves at our home?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"It was very nice," Harm said.

"Yes, and you have a lovely home." Mac said.

"You should have seen them dancing. It was like they were made for each other." Mrs. Nelson said.

"Really," AJ commented. "Just how were they dancing?"

"They waltzed.  It was quite breathtaking to watch." Mrs. Nelson smiled.

"I didn't know you were Fred and Ginger," Sturgis joked.

"Oh they were more like Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse.  There was much more heat on the dance floor than a Fred and Ginger number." Mrs. Nelson said.

"Really," AJ said looking at Mac and Harm who were looking at their laps.

"Is anyone going to order coffee?" Harriet asked changing the subject.

"Coffee sounds wonderful," Mac said.

"We'll all have coffee," Nelson told the waiter.

After coffee was served and finished, Bud and Harriet said they wanted to get home to relieve Tiner and Coates.  Sturgis also got up to leave with Harm quickly getting up with him.

"Rabb, have a seat." AJ said.

"Well, thank you for dinner," Mac said standing up.

"Colonel, join us for another cup of coffee." AJ smiled.

"Yes Sir," Mac said and sat back down.

"Thank you for joining us," Nelson said. "AJ, I'll speak with you tomorrow."

"Looking forward to it Sir," AJ stated.

"We must do this again," Mrs. Nelson said.

They thanked the Nelson's and watched them leave.

"What the hell is going on?" AJ asked.

"I don't know Sir," Mac said.

"Exactly how were you dancing at the SecNav's home?" AJ asked.

"Sir, we danced one maybe two waltzes." Harm said.

"I see.  Well Mrs. Nelson seems to be under the impression that there was heat on the dance floor. Now what would make her think that?" AJ asked.

Mac and Harm both looked at their laps again. Neither could think of a good answer for him that would be innocent.

"Is there something you would like to tell me?" AJ asked.

"No Sir," They replied in unison.

"I don't know exactly what that woman has in mind, but I am strongly suggesting that you do not give her any more impressions." AJ said getting up.

"Yes Sir," They replied.

"And for god's sake, don't dance together anymore." AJ snapped and left them sitting there.

"More coffee?" Harm asked.

"Make it a double," Mac sighed. "That woman scares me."

"Well, she was right about one thing." Harm said.

"What's that?" Mac asked.

"We were rather hot on the dance floor." Harm smiled.

THE NELSON'S CAR

"Just what were you doing in there?" Nelson asked.

"Nothing, just moving the conversation along," Mrs. Nelson replied.

"Dorothy, I know you. You're up to something and it can't be good." Nelson sighed. "Please do not pull my people into one of your schemes."

"Stop worrying dear," Mrs. Nelson smiled. "The Colonel and the Commander make such a wonderful pair."

"They are partners," Nelson sighed.

"The Roberts have proved that personal and professional relationships can work." Mrs. Nelson said.

"What are you doing?" Nelson asked.

"Didn't you see how they sat together?" Mrs. Nelson asked.

"You assigned seats," Nelson said.

Nelson finally realized what his wife was up to.  While it was something he should stop, in 40 years of marriage he had yet been able to put his foot down where his wife was concerned.  The most he could do was warn AJ of her plans. He hated the idea of breaking up a winning team, but that's probably what would happen.