Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
"So, what are we eating?" Mac asked, watching Harm prepare some vegetables for what looked to be some kind of salad.
"If I told you, I would have to kill you." Harm said. "Which would defeat the purpose of making dinner. So, you'll just find out when it's ready."
Mac smiled in response and headed towards the couch. "Harm, whatever happened to that TV that magically appeared on your coffee table?"
"It's in Mattie's apartment. I kept it in storage for a long time. I never watch TV and it was one less thing I had to buy."
"So, you gonna buy that DVD player Coates mentioned?" Mac asked, jokingly.
"I don't know. I'm still in shock that all of this happened so fast. I mean last week Mattie hadn't even begun packing and now she lives down the hall."
"Is that how it's going to stay?"
"No way. I'm actually looking for three-bedroom houses in Falls Church."
"Really? Any luck?"
"There were a few that looked nice, but I couldn't afford that. Besides, Mattie just moved in and I was thinking that maybe we should wait until the school year ends before we pack up and move. I figured it would be better for her studies and all."
"That's probably a good idea. When does the school year end?"
Harm thought for a moment before answering, "I think it ends the first week of June."
"That should be enough time to find a house."
"Hopefully. Alright, dinner's ready. Grab a seat and I'll set everything on the table."
Mac did as requested and watched as Harm set a salad and a pitcher of iced tea on the table.
"What kind of salad?"
"An everything-but-the salad."
"Everything-but-the?" Mac questioned.
"Yeah. Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. Meaning it's got all the vegetables and some meat." He explained. "Hmm. Can't say I've ever heard of it before. Must be a vegetarian thing."
"Must be." Harm agreed, serving her a portion, then himself. He waited for her reaction before taking a bite himself. "Well?"
"Mmm, very good. You know, if you ever have trouble finding a job again you could probably get a job as a chef in some high-class restaurant. That is, as long as you don't cook Harm's Special Meatless Meatloaf." Mac teased.
"Well, hopefully that won't happen any time soon."
They lapsed into silence while they finished their meal. Again, it wasn't an awkward silence it was more of a still sill silence. Both lost in their own thoughts. Harm, again, thinking about Mac. And Mac, thinking about how she hoped Harm never had to or wanted to find another job again; at least not in the near future. When dinner was over Harm put the leftovers in the fridge and the dirty dishes in the sink.
"Can I help you clean up anything?" Mac asked, already knowing what the answer would be.
"No, I'm just gonna put the dishes in the dishwasher."
"Okay. Well, I'm sure you've got a lot to do tomorrow, unpacking and all that. Thanks for dinner, Harm." Mac said, grabbing her purse and shrugging into her coat.
"Mac, about what you asked me at the store. Yes." Harm said, hoping she would understand.
"What did I ask you?"
"You asked if the reason why I've done the things I've done in the past in because I just want you to be happy. The answer in yes." Harm stated quietly.
Mac stood silently by the door as his words echoed through her head. He didn't stop her from almost marrying Mic because he wanted her to be happy. He didn't try and stop her when she left JAG and the military to work for Dalton's firm because he wanted her to be happy. Hundreds of different situations flashed in her mind; examples of his words.
Harm watched her as she mentally went through all the scenarios that proved what he said was true. He watched as she took off her coat and set her purse on the table by the door.
"What are you doing?" Harm asked.
"We need to talk, Harm." Mac stated evenly.
"So, what are we eating?" Mac asked, watching Harm prepare some vegetables for what looked to be some kind of salad.
"If I told you, I would have to kill you." Harm said. "Which would defeat the purpose of making dinner. So, you'll just find out when it's ready."
Mac smiled in response and headed towards the couch. "Harm, whatever happened to that TV that magically appeared on your coffee table?"
"It's in Mattie's apartment. I kept it in storage for a long time. I never watch TV and it was one less thing I had to buy."
"So, you gonna buy that DVD player Coates mentioned?" Mac asked, jokingly.
"I don't know. I'm still in shock that all of this happened so fast. I mean last week Mattie hadn't even begun packing and now she lives down the hall."
"Is that how it's going to stay?"
"No way. I'm actually looking for three-bedroom houses in Falls Church."
"Really? Any luck?"
"There were a few that looked nice, but I couldn't afford that. Besides, Mattie just moved in and I was thinking that maybe we should wait until the school year ends before we pack up and move. I figured it would be better for her studies and all."
"That's probably a good idea. When does the school year end?"
Harm thought for a moment before answering, "I think it ends the first week of June."
"That should be enough time to find a house."
"Hopefully. Alright, dinner's ready. Grab a seat and I'll set everything on the table."
Mac did as requested and watched as Harm set a salad and a pitcher of iced tea on the table.
"What kind of salad?"
"An everything-but-the salad."
"Everything-but-the?" Mac questioned.
"Yeah. Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. Meaning it's got all the vegetables and some meat." He explained. "Hmm. Can't say I've ever heard of it before. Must be a vegetarian thing."
"Must be." Harm agreed, serving her a portion, then himself. He waited for her reaction before taking a bite himself. "Well?"
"Mmm, very good. You know, if you ever have trouble finding a job again you could probably get a job as a chef in some high-class restaurant. That is, as long as you don't cook Harm's Special Meatless Meatloaf." Mac teased.
"Well, hopefully that won't happen any time soon."
They lapsed into silence while they finished their meal. Again, it wasn't an awkward silence it was more of a still sill silence. Both lost in their own thoughts. Harm, again, thinking about Mac. And Mac, thinking about how she hoped Harm never had to or wanted to find another job again; at least not in the near future. When dinner was over Harm put the leftovers in the fridge and the dirty dishes in the sink.
"Can I help you clean up anything?" Mac asked, already knowing what the answer would be.
"No, I'm just gonna put the dishes in the dishwasher."
"Okay. Well, I'm sure you've got a lot to do tomorrow, unpacking and all that. Thanks for dinner, Harm." Mac said, grabbing her purse and shrugging into her coat.
"Mac, about what you asked me at the store. Yes." Harm said, hoping she would understand.
"What did I ask you?"
"You asked if the reason why I've done the things I've done in the past in because I just want you to be happy. The answer in yes." Harm stated quietly.
Mac stood silently by the door as his words echoed through her head. He didn't stop her from almost marrying Mic because he wanted her to be happy. He didn't try and stop her when she left JAG and the military to work for Dalton's firm because he wanted her to be happy. Hundreds of different situations flashed in her mind; examples of his words.
Harm watched her as she mentally went through all the scenarios that proved what he said was true. He watched as she took off her coat and set her purse on the table by the door.
"What are you doing?" Harm asked.
"We need to talk, Harm." Mac stated evenly.
