Vukovic

APRIL 7TH, 2005

1630 EST
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

"Daddy, what's that?" Clara pointed to a word on the paperwork Harm was filling out.

"Admissible? That means a certain piece of evidence is allowed to be presented in court," Harm answered, sifting through another pile of papers to try and find the specific document he was looking for. Clara frowned, digesting the definition of a word that had more syllables than she could count. She could count up to three, her age, but after that things got a little fuzzy. She could ace her colors, though.

"What's that?" she pointed to another word. Harm glanced up.

"A defendant is someone who gets a lawsuit filed against them. That's Daddy's client."

"What's that?"

"A capital offense is a crime punishable by death-" Harm stopped himself. "It's a very bad crime," he corrected hastily.

"What's that?" Clara pointed with interest to a squiggly line at the bottom of one page.

"That?" Harm smiled. "That's my signature, sweetheart."

"Oh," Clara's eyes narrowed in thought for a few seconds. "'Kay. What's that-"

"Alright, why don't you color for a little bit and let Daddy get his work done?" Harm pushed his chair back and gently sat Clara down. As she walked around his desk, Harm said. "Why don't you draw a picture for Mommy? So she'll have something nice when she gets back from Iraq?"

"'Kay. I can do that."

"Do you know where Iraq is?"

"No. What's that?"

Mac did say it was a little early for her to learn geography.

Harm smirked. "It's a country. Mommy's there for work."

He watched Clara as she climbed into the chair on the other side of his desk, the one usually reserved for his clients. It seemed like yesterday she needed his help to get into that chair, but she didn't need it anymore. For the umpteenth time that day, Harm felt old. Clara growing up so quickly didn't help things. Not only was Harm getting gray hairs now, but he also had to watch his baby grow up right before his eyes-

"Daddy, I wanna color."

"Of course."

Harm opened his bottom drawer, which he'd marked off as his 'Clara' drawer. In that drawer, there was everything his daughter could possibly need to occupy herself while she was at work-well, his work. He pulled out a box of crayons and blank printer paper.

"Take it away, baby."

Clara instantly went to work, and Harm couldn't help but sit there and watch her for a few moments. Trish already had a big impact on her granddaughter, and Clara was already proving to be quite the little artist. However, being three required a lot of energy, so the next time Harm looked up from his paperwork, Clara was fast asleep, curled up in the chair. He also glanced over at the clock and noticed it was 1730.

The days where he would spend half the night working in the office were long over; it was time for Harm and Clara to go home.

As quietly as he could, Harm gathered up his papers into his briefcase, the final paper being the picture Clara drew for Mac. Harm looked at it, admiring the arrangement of colorful squiggles, blobs, and other shapes he couldn't even begin to name.

It was perfect, and there was no doubt in Harm's mind that Mac would somehow be able to decipher what it was. She had a knack for that.

Somewhat awkwardly, Harm managed to pick Clara up while holding onto his briefcase, his cover stuffed under one arm. He knew he could've woken her up, but did he really want to? Harm had quickly learned that parenthood was all about picking and choosing your battles-and having Clara walk from his office to his car was not the hill he wanted to die on that afternoon.

Clara would have to miss out on pressing the elevator buttons, something she absolutely loved to do. Harm figured she wouldn't be too heartbroken.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Harm heard someone call out, "Hold the elevator!"

Having nothing else available, Harm stuck out his foot to stop the elevator. When he saw who had called it, he kind of wished he hadn't.

"Hey Commander."

Harm smiled politely. "Evening, Lieutenant."

Perhaps if fatherhood hadn't mellowed him out, Harm would've given Lt. Gregory Vukovic a piece of his mind by now. At first, it was him flirting with Mac, but he'd abruptly stopped once he realized she was happily married, so Harm could only fault him so much for that. It was more of just an overall feeling Harm got; Vukovic just wasn't someone he liked. Mac believed it was because they were so similar, but Harm didn't personally see the resemblance.

"It's like magnets," Mac had told him. "The same poles repel each other."

Clara didn't even like Vukovic, as much as a three-year-old could dislike someone. When she first met Vukovic, instead of being her usual outgoing self, she'd hidden behind Harm's legs and had to be persuaded into saying hello.

Still, Harm was willing to be civil towards Lt. Vukovic.

"How's the Johnson case going?" he asked. He shifted Clara onto his hip, feeling a small pain shoot up between his shoulders. It wasn't that she was heavy; he was just old.

"It's going well," Vukovic nodded. "I'm pretty sure I have it in the bag."

Another thing Mac had said on the subject of Vukovic was, "He reminds me of you when we first started working together."

"That's good," Harm agreed. Clara stirred in his arms, lifting her head up from his shoulder.

"Daddy, I'm tired."

"I know baby, we're going home."

Clara settled back down, her cheek squished against Harm's shoulder, and Harm noticed Vukovic was watching the two of them.

"One word of advice," he said as he looked up. "Don't wait until you're pushing forty to have kids."

"Is it bad?"

"No," Harm shook his head. "You're just gonna be a hell of a lot more tired."

Vukovic smirked. "I'll keep that in mind."

The elevator floor dinged, and Harm stepped off with Clara, who was already back asleep.

"Have a good night, Commander."

"You too, Lieutenant."

1930 EST
MACKENZIE-RABB RESIDENCE
GEORGETOWN

Harm was in the middle of tucking Clara into bed when his cellphone rang.

"Just one second," Harm said, ignoring Clara's huff and protest. When it came to getting her bedtime story, there was very little she could put up with in the way of interruptions. Granted, if it was anyone other than Mac calling, Harm wouldn't have picked up.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself."

Harm grinned. He missed his Marine. "You were able to call."

"By nothing short of a miracle. How are things?"

"Good," Harm said. "We're shockingly able to manage without you. Clara's keeping me in check."

"That's my girl. Can I talk to her?"

Harm looked over to Clara's bed. She was already dozing, but Harm couldn't bring himself to say no. Especially since Mac was all the way in Iraq and hadn't been able to call all that week.

"Sure," Harm turned to Clara. "Clara, Mommy's on the phone. Do you want to talk to her?"

Clara might've been half asleep, but at the mention of 'Mommy' she shot out of bed at warp speed, rushing over to Harm in a blur of pink plaid pajamas and pigtails. Harm crouched down, holding the phone out for her, hearing Mac's excited, "Hi baby!" on the other end of the line.

"Hi Mommy. I miss you."

"I miss you too. What have you been up to?"

Due to him holding the phone, Harm was able to hear all of their conversation, but he didn't mind. He loved watching (or in this case, overhearing) interactions between his girls.

"I drew you a picture."

"You did? Oh, I bet it's amazing."

Clara nodded. "It is."

Harm and Mac both chuckled. Mac did always say that Clara had his confidence. So did Trish, the Admiral, and practically everyone else.

Mac ended up being the one to tell Clara a bedtime story that night, and once she was fast asleep, Harm and Mac got a chance to talk privately.

"You'll never guess who I managed to have a civil conversation with in the elevator today," Harm said as he sat down on the sofa, finally able to relax and be Harm after a full week of being Commander Rabb, and then Dad in his off hours.

"Who?"

"Lt. Vukovic."

Mac snorted. "I'm sure you were only being civil because Clara was there."

"Maybe, but it still counts."

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2021
1730 EST
JAG HEADQUARTERS

FALLS CHURCH VIRGINIA

"Hold the elevator!"

For once, Harm didn't have his arms full, so he was able to stick out his hand to stop the elevator. Imagine his surprise when it was Commander Vukovic who walked onto the elevator.

"Admiral," he greeted, eyebrows raising slightly in surprise.

Harm nodded. "Commander," he went to move his hand back, but before the elevator doors could close, Vukovic stuck his own hand out.

He smiled at Harm apologetically. "Sorry," he said. "Just hold on a second. Ava, baby are you coming?"

A little girl, who looked like she had just learned to walk, came toddling on to the elevator. Harm watched fondly as Vukovic scooped her up into his arms, placing a quick kiss on her forehead.

"I didn't take your advice," Vukovic said, his daughter playing with the medals on his uniform.

"What advice?"

"To not wait until forty to have kids."

"Oh," Harm chuckled. He noted that Vukovic had a little more gray hair than the last time Harm saw him, though by no means did he look old. Harm was at the age where anyone under the age of fifty was considered young.

"It was still worth it, though."

"I bet," Harm replied. "I saw you in court today, you did a pretty good job."

"Thank you. I saw you there."

"When I found out you were still working here, I was surprised," Harm said. Vukovic smirked.

"Yeah well, I just like it here," he said with a shrug. "I worked with NCIS for a few years, but I decided to come back. I liked the courtroom side of law a lot better. Then Ava came around a little over a year ago, so I decided to finally put down some permanent roots, you know?"

Harm nodded. "I know."

"So, what are you doing here, sir?"

"You didn't hear?" Harm asked, and Vukovic shook his head. "They offered me the JAG position a few years ago, and I took it. I haven't gone through your paperwork yet, so I didn't know you were working here again. Glad to see you back, Commander."

Before Harm could notice Vukovic's shocked expression, the elevator dinged. When the doors opened, Harm saw Clara waiting for him in the lobby.

"Hey Dad," she greeted with a wave. She was a little more dressed up than usual-at college she usually wore sweatpants and leggings. Her and Harm were going to dinner together that night, so she was wearing a dress and heels. Clara was only an inch shorter than Mac, so in heels she practically eye-to-eye with Harm. His little girl wasn't so little anymore.

"See you around, Commander," Harm said over his shoulder as he exited the elevator.

"Of course, sir. Have a nice evening," Vukovic replied, unable to hide his dumbfounded expression. Ava giggled at her father's shock.

As Clara and Harm walked out of the JAG office, she looked over her shoulder. "Who were you talking to on the elevator?"

"Commander Vukovic. You met him a long time ago."

"Is he going to be working for you?"

"Yes," Harm said with a grin. "I can't wait."

This was one of my favorites to write. Thanks for reading!

-Harper