JAG and it's character's don't belong to me. I'm only playing in Mr. Bellisario's world. Any characters NOT taken directly from JAG or making cameo appearances from other televison shows DO belong to me.


A/N: Thoughts are in *'s

...


Chapter Three


"Good morning, Colonel! How was your weekend?"


Mac looked up from her computer and found Harm lounging in her doorway. "We had a blast, thank you." she smiled. "It was like the fight never happened and we just picked up where we left off."


Harm nodded. "So is she your best friend again?"


Mac thought about what Kate had said about friends. "Harm, you're my best friend. Maybe she's my best GIRL friend."


Harm didn't look convinced. "What did you guys do all weekend?"


"We sat up late, remembered all the trouble we used to get into, talked about what has been going on since high school, we went for a trail ride on Saturday..."


"Horses kind of trail ride?" Harm interrupted.


"What other kind is there? Of course horses. Kate's got six horses, four dogs - Jingo had a ball too! - a parakeet, rabbits and ducks." Mac smiled. "It's a good thing she's a vet. Her bills would be outrageous."


"I thought you didn't like horses?" Harm asked. "What is the deal with women and horses? Great big hairy beasts with brains the size of walnuts, for pete's sake."


"There's something about having all that muscle and power between your legs..." Mac smiled as Harm stared at here.


"I think it's time I left!" He turned and started out the door.


"I invited her to join us at McMurphy's Friday night. You might want to apologize." He stopped and turned to look at her. Then left the office without saying anything.


*****************************************************************************

Friday night


Harm and Mac walked into the bar, looking for their co-workers. Spotting Harriet and Bud, they worked their way over to the table. Mac looked for Kate but didn't see her.


"I thought you had asked Kate to be here," Harriet asked.


"Something must have come up. I haven't heard from her in a couple of days." Mac answered.


Harm went to the bar to pick up drinks for everyone. When he came back they all sat down and relaxed. It had been a long week. They talked some, listened to the music some. As they were beginning to get ready to leave, Kate managed to straggle into the bar.


"Hey, sorry Sarah. We had an emergency - two of the zebras got into a kick fight. One of them was torn up pretty good. Then I got stuck in beltway traffic, and well... you know how that is."


They all nodded sympathetically. Mac stood up and made the introductions. "You saw all of these guys when you were in the office, but just to make it formal," everyone smiled, " this is Lt. Commander Harmon Rabb, Lt. Bud Roberts and Lt. Harriet Sims-Roberts. The Admiral had other plans this week, but he usually joins us. Everyone, this is Kate Hadway, head vet at the National Zoo."


Kate nodded and murmured appropriate acknowledgment. "You guys looked like you were getting ready to leave, and I'm running late as it is. I really just wanted to drop by and let you know that I didn't forget. Maybe we can do this another time. " Kate smiled.


Harriet volunteered, "We usually meet here every Friday. You're welcome to join us whenever you like."


"Thank you, Harriet. I promise not to intrude too much, but I appreciate the invitation."


They all put on their coats and walked out together.


Bud asked, "Colonel MacKenzie said you had four children. How do you manage that being a single parent?"


Kate laughed. "I don't think I manage it very well at all. A lot of days we run on survival mode. Actually, I have a great couple helping me with the kids, the farm, the house..." I couldn't do it alone at all. You guys are all welcome to come out one day. Juan is a champion BBQ'er."


*****************************************************************************


Several months later, beginning of August. Kate was accepted by Mac's JAG co-workers. She joined them occasionally on Friday nights and they had been out to the farm on a couple of occasions.


******************************************************************************


Kate walked into MacMurphy's and waved at her friends. "Sarah, you have got to take vacation at the end of the month! Texas A&M is playing Navy at the season opener in College Station on August 23. I keep a standing reservation at the Hilton for all of the home games and I have season tickets in The Zone. Tell me you'll go - Jace usually goes with me, but he's got a scrimmage that night."


Harm looked at her sharply, "Shouldn't you be going to watch him play?" He had warmed up to her considerably since the first visit, but he was still willing to corner if an opportunity presented itself.


Kate laughed. "When the real season starts you couldn't keep me away. Actually I offered to skip the trip this time and he insisted I had to go. He's really the only one of my kids interested in ball, so if I'll have to go alone if Sarah won't."


Mac sighed. "I already put in for my vacation for the first of September and I've got reservations for a week in Florida."


Harm looked at her swiftly. "When were you going to share that with the rest of us?"


Mac grinned. "I'm taking Chloe to Disneyland on Labor Day. Want to come?"


"Ugh. I think not. I'll leave that up to you two."


Mac got an evil look in her eye. "Why don't you take Harm? He loves football and he graduated from Navy." Kate and Harm almost popped a crick in their respective necks as they gaped at Mac.


Kate was the first one to recover. "Hey, if he wants to go that's fine. I guess."


Harm wasn't convinced. "This is in Texas. How were you planning to get there? You have one room reserved and if College Station is as small as I think it is, getting another room at this date would be difficult."


Kate smiled. "Don't worry about transportation. That's all taken care of. I was going to take Jason, remember? As for lodging, that can be dealt with as well." **Maybe,** she thought, **I can use this to Sarah's advantage and put some well placed bugs in his ear. This could even be fun.** "We would leave Friday night after work and come back Sunday afternoon."


Harm was tempted. He was more than a little put out that Mac hadn't told him about her upcoming trip to Florida. How he could have managed to tag along, with Chloe much less, he wasn't sure. But surely there was some kind of payback due.


"Hey, we could fly up there in the Sarah, " he offered.


"I've heard about that plane, Harmon Rabb, Jr. I've also heard about all the disasters that seem to occur when you're flying. I think I'll pass. Don't worry - it's taken care of. You haven't said if you want to go, but I can meet you at JAG after work and drive out to the airport. I'm going to be off all day anyway."


Harm thought about it. **Why not? I haven't actually been to a game in several years.** "Sure, sounds like fun."


*****************************************************************************

August 22


Kate pulled up to the guard gate and presented her ID card. It was the first time she had returned to the JAG installation since spring, but this time she made sure the inside of the car was clean. She grinned as she remembered her last trip here.


She parked the car, she was driving the Expedition this time, and made her way into the JAG offices without any trouble. Harriet waved as she entered and pointed out Harm's office. Kate walked to the door and peeked in. "Knock, knock?"


Harm looked up. "Is it that late already? Hang on a sec and let me get finished."


"I'll go visit Sarah for a minute then."


As she walked over, Mac saw her through the blinds and waved. "You guys getting ready to go?"


"Whenever he manages to get ready," Kate replied. "You know, don't you, that you don't have anything to worry about from me this weekend?" she looked concerned.


Mac laughed, "If I thought that I wouldn't have suggested it in the first place. After talking to you and finding myself spilling my guts at the first question, I suspect this trip might be educational for all of us."


"That's exactly what I was planning," Kate chuckled. "He won't know what hit him. Oops, looks like he's ready. I'll call you Sunday night."


*****************************************************************************


Kate turned off into the driveway for Spectrum Air Services. Harm glanced at the name of the airport and looked back at Kate, confused. "You didn't do something stupid and charter a flight?"


Kate laughed. "Don't worry. I have it all under control.


She heard Harm mutter under his breath, "I have a bad feeling about this." Kate pulled into a parking space. She got out of the truck and begin to unload their luggage. Harm still looked confused as a gentleman left the building and began to walk toward them.


"Everything is ready, Miss Hadway. Just let me know when you get ready to leave." he turned and walked back to the offices.


"This way, Harm." Kate smiled. She was going to enjoy this. She led him around to the hangars and stopped by a Lear 35. She opened the side door and tossed her suitcase inside. You can ride in back or, since you're a pilot, you can sit up front if you like." Then she walked off and proceeded to double check all the preparations. She glanced and noted that Harm looked like he'd been hit by a train.


"But... how... You're a pilot?" he finally managed to find his voice.


"I thought Sarah would have told you. I took flying lessons in college with my husband. When I got this I had to go back and upgrade my license, but it was worth the effort."


"But this isn't your normal personal aircraft..." Harm was still looking like he didn't believe what he was seeing.


Kate laughed. "My grandmother left me a sizable inheritance. The last thing she said before she died was that I was supposed to use it for something incredible. Her exact words. She told me I would know it when I saw it. I put it away and pretty much forgot about it. Until a friend who's a large animal vet in Houston called me last year. When Enron went belly-up and they auctioned off all of their properties she was interested in some of their computer systems. She saw this and she called me. I knew then that this was it. I told her how much I could afford and she bid on it for me." Kate grinned like a kid in the candy shop.


Harm shook his head. "I'm not sure this is what your grandma had in mind, but it most certainly is incredible."


Kate finished her checklist and looked at Harm, "Are we ready?"