Chapter 4
Later that afternoon Mac's office JAG headquarters
Not sure what he was going to say to Mac, Harm ventured over to her office anyway.
Knocking lightly, "Got a minute."
"Yeah, sure." Mac closed a few files that lay open on her desk. "What's on your mind?"
"Feeling a little restless. How would you like to come with me to try out that new Italian restaurant they opened near the park?"
"Sounds delicious, could I have a raincheck?"
"Sure, got other plans?" 'Probably telling papa the good news,' he thought.
"It's been a busy week. I'm really tired. I thought I'd ask the admiral if I could secure early and go home and crawl into bed with a good book. Maybe even a nice glass of milk with some chocolate chip cookies." Her face practically glowed when she mentioned the part about the cookies.
'Mangos, toast, tears, and tired too.' Harm considered throwing up himself. Instead he prodded further. "No Webb?"
"No." The chocolate chip glow was immediately replaced with a downward glance.
"Alright, let me know if you change your mind." Pausing a moment at the door, he turned and walked back into her office.
"Ever wonder what things would be like now if you'd had children with Chris?"
"Uh, No." Of all the things she would expect Harm to contemplate standing in her doorway, this was definitely not one of them.
"I just wondered, if you'd had children with, Chris, or Dalton, or Brumby or even Webb, you do know I would be happy to help with babysitting and ....stuff?"
Surprised by the absurdity of the comment, Mac didn't quite know what to say.
"I'd have gladly helped with Lamaze classes if the Dad couldn't, or wouldn't, be there. I mean knowing I wasn't the father, well, couldn't be the father. Not that I couldn't be A father, just not THAT father. Anyway, the point is, I'd still be there for you." Harm stopped to catch his breath.
"Harmon Rabb what on earth are you babbling about?" Mac was cross-eyed trying to comprehend the course of his ramblings.
"I'm just saying if you already had kids when we met, or even if you had them after we met, I want to make sure you know, you could always count on me as your friend to be there. That's all."
"I know Harm, you told me all this in the car the other day, remember?" Seeing the defeated look in his eyes, "if it helps any, same thing goes for me."
Watching him head back to his office, she shook her head, smiling at him warmly. 'He definitely needs a vacation', she thought. ' A girl would be better, but a vacation would help.'
Returning to his office, Harm struggled with his own thoughts. "That weasley, conniving, no good, son of a bi..."
"I beg your pardon?"
Looking up from his little tirade, Harm found himself standing toe to toe with Admiral Chegwidden.
"Sorry sir, lost in thought."
The admiral chuckled to himself on his way to the break room, 'I wonder what Webb did this time?'
Stopping in his tracks, the admiral looked over in the direction of Colonel MacKenzie's office. His fists instantly clenched up in a ball at his sides. His real daughter Francesca, might live 5,000 miles away, but Sarah MacKenzie was just down the hall. If Clayton Webb had done anything to hurt Mac, the admiral wanted first dibs. Harmon Rabb would simply have to wait his turn.
Relaxing his hands, he shook his head and smiled, 'Webb wouldn't dare.'
Following Day JAG Headquarters
Harm spent the next day paying particular attention to Mac.
Break room 0900
"Don't you think we drink too much coffee?"
"NO." A grouchy marine replied, reaching for the sugar.
"Decaf tea would be much better for us." Harm tried not to look at Mac.
"Okay- let's get the ground rules straight- you eat rabbit food, I like dead cow. You want decaf tea – have at it. I drink coffee. REAL coffee." Mac patted the coffee pot and stormed out of the break room.
'Oh that went well.' Harm rolled his eyes, sighing heavily.
A few hours later, Harm spotted Mac carrying a box of files to the courtroom.
Lunging at her to grab the box, "why isn't someone carrying these for you?" Harm said in exasperation.
Pulling the box back from Harm. "I'm not helpless Harm, I can do this." Her irritation with Harm was obvious.
Thinking as quickly as he could. Harm, gently took the box back. "I know you can, but you're a Colonel in the Marine Corps, not a file clerk. You shouldn't have to be carrying these boxes around."
Mac wasn't all too convinced that Harm hadn't completely lost his mind.
"Well, sometimes being a lawyer involves carrying boxes. But thanks for the concern anyway. Just set the box on the table there." Mac pointed to the defense table.
"I'll make sure someone comes to get these when court is over." Before Mac could argue, Harm turned heading quickly out the door.
'Never mind vacation, definitely needs a woman.' She thought.
Mac's office 1600 hours
"Has Harriet mentioned anything to you yet?" Harm inquired.
"About the new baby, yeah. She'd better hurry up and tell the admiral before the entire building knows." Mac smiled.
Admiring her smile, "It's nice news isn't it?"
"Harriet having a baby, of course it is."
"Anyone having a baby is nice news." He was still smiling but unable to look her in the eye.
This was the second time in two days that Harm was in her office talking babies and Mac couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong, but she was sure something wasn't right.
'I smell a rat. I know. I bet he's panicking again about our deal. It's right around the corner now, and... Oh God, it's right around the corner!' She grabbed hold of the edge of the desk steadying herself. All color drained from her face.
At Mac's sudden loss of color, Harm rushed closer. "You okay marine?" Quickly running symptoms of pregnancy through his head searching for dizziness.
"Yeah, just... lost my balance is all." Mac slowly released the death grip on her desk.
'Sitting down she lost her balance, right. I must look really stupid.' Harm smiled anyway, refocusing on his original mission.
"Have you tried one of these lemon drops?" Harm asked popping one into his mouth. "They're pretty good. Harriet keeps them around to help with morning sickness. Want to try one?" He leaned the bag in her direction.
"Sure." Taking one of the proffered candies, "you're right, they're pretty good." She smiled up at him.
"Up to trying that new restaurant tonight." Harm pressed on.
"What about Mattie, don't you usually like to have dinner together?"
"She's shooting a video for an english project. They've been working every night at Janet's house. Her mom feeds the whole brood. So what do you say?" Harm hoped she wouldn't turn him down again tonight.
"I think I'd rather stay in," his disappointment obvious, "you want to do take out at my place?" she offered.
"Works for me. Got a preference?" Relieved, he couldn't hold back a satisfied grin.
"Well, pizza's Italian. We can order pizza then you won't have to stop and pick any thing up. How about 1830?"
"1830 it is." Leaning over, he plopped the bag of lemon drops on her desk. "Here, keep the bag." Pleased with himself, he left for his own office. 'Mission accomplished.'
Later that afternoon Mac's office JAG headquarters
Not sure what he was going to say to Mac, Harm ventured over to her office anyway.
Knocking lightly, "Got a minute."
"Yeah, sure." Mac closed a few files that lay open on her desk. "What's on your mind?"
"Feeling a little restless. How would you like to come with me to try out that new Italian restaurant they opened near the park?"
"Sounds delicious, could I have a raincheck?"
"Sure, got other plans?" 'Probably telling papa the good news,' he thought.
"It's been a busy week. I'm really tired. I thought I'd ask the admiral if I could secure early and go home and crawl into bed with a good book. Maybe even a nice glass of milk with some chocolate chip cookies." Her face practically glowed when she mentioned the part about the cookies.
'Mangos, toast, tears, and tired too.' Harm considered throwing up himself. Instead he prodded further. "No Webb?"
"No." The chocolate chip glow was immediately replaced with a downward glance.
"Alright, let me know if you change your mind." Pausing a moment at the door, he turned and walked back into her office.
"Ever wonder what things would be like now if you'd had children with Chris?"
"Uh, No." Of all the things she would expect Harm to contemplate standing in her doorway, this was definitely not one of them.
"I just wondered, if you'd had children with, Chris, or Dalton, or Brumby or even Webb, you do know I would be happy to help with babysitting and ....stuff?"
Surprised by the absurdity of the comment, Mac didn't quite know what to say.
"I'd have gladly helped with Lamaze classes if the Dad couldn't, or wouldn't, be there. I mean knowing I wasn't the father, well, couldn't be the father. Not that I couldn't be A father, just not THAT father. Anyway, the point is, I'd still be there for you." Harm stopped to catch his breath.
"Harmon Rabb what on earth are you babbling about?" Mac was cross-eyed trying to comprehend the course of his ramblings.
"I'm just saying if you already had kids when we met, or even if you had them after we met, I want to make sure you know, you could always count on me as your friend to be there. That's all."
"I know Harm, you told me all this in the car the other day, remember?" Seeing the defeated look in his eyes, "if it helps any, same thing goes for me."
Watching him head back to his office, she shook her head, smiling at him warmly. 'He definitely needs a vacation', she thought. ' A girl would be better, but a vacation would help.'
Returning to his office, Harm struggled with his own thoughts. "That weasley, conniving, no good, son of a bi..."
"I beg your pardon?"
Looking up from his little tirade, Harm found himself standing toe to toe with Admiral Chegwidden.
"Sorry sir, lost in thought."
The admiral chuckled to himself on his way to the break room, 'I wonder what Webb did this time?'
Stopping in his tracks, the admiral looked over in the direction of Colonel MacKenzie's office. His fists instantly clenched up in a ball at his sides. His real daughter Francesca, might live 5,000 miles away, but Sarah MacKenzie was just down the hall. If Clayton Webb had done anything to hurt Mac, the admiral wanted first dibs. Harmon Rabb would simply have to wait his turn.
Relaxing his hands, he shook his head and smiled, 'Webb wouldn't dare.'
Following Day JAG Headquarters
Harm spent the next day paying particular attention to Mac.
Break room 0900
"Don't you think we drink too much coffee?"
"NO." A grouchy marine replied, reaching for the sugar.
"Decaf tea would be much better for us." Harm tried not to look at Mac.
"Okay- let's get the ground rules straight- you eat rabbit food, I like dead cow. You want decaf tea – have at it. I drink coffee. REAL coffee." Mac patted the coffee pot and stormed out of the break room.
'Oh that went well.' Harm rolled his eyes, sighing heavily.
A few hours later, Harm spotted Mac carrying a box of files to the courtroom.
Lunging at her to grab the box, "why isn't someone carrying these for you?" Harm said in exasperation.
Pulling the box back from Harm. "I'm not helpless Harm, I can do this." Her irritation with Harm was obvious.
Thinking as quickly as he could. Harm, gently took the box back. "I know you can, but you're a Colonel in the Marine Corps, not a file clerk. You shouldn't have to be carrying these boxes around."
Mac wasn't all too convinced that Harm hadn't completely lost his mind.
"Well, sometimes being a lawyer involves carrying boxes. But thanks for the concern anyway. Just set the box on the table there." Mac pointed to the defense table.
"I'll make sure someone comes to get these when court is over." Before Mac could argue, Harm turned heading quickly out the door.
'Never mind vacation, definitely needs a woman.' She thought.
Mac's office 1600 hours
"Has Harriet mentioned anything to you yet?" Harm inquired.
"About the new baby, yeah. She'd better hurry up and tell the admiral before the entire building knows." Mac smiled.
Admiring her smile, "It's nice news isn't it?"
"Harriet having a baby, of course it is."
"Anyone having a baby is nice news." He was still smiling but unable to look her in the eye.
This was the second time in two days that Harm was in her office talking babies and Mac couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong, but she was sure something wasn't right.
'I smell a rat. I know. I bet he's panicking again about our deal. It's right around the corner now, and... Oh God, it's right around the corner!' She grabbed hold of the edge of the desk steadying herself. All color drained from her face.
At Mac's sudden loss of color, Harm rushed closer. "You okay marine?" Quickly running symptoms of pregnancy through his head searching for dizziness.
"Yeah, just... lost my balance is all." Mac slowly released the death grip on her desk.
'Sitting down she lost her balance, right. I must look really stupid.' Harm smiled anyway, refocusing on his original mission.
"Have you tried one of these lemon drops?" Harm asked popping one into his mouth. "They're pretty good. Harriet keeps them around to help with morning sickness. Want to try one?" He leaned the bag in her direction.
"Sure." Taking one of the proffered candies, "you're right, they're pretty good." She smiled up at him.
"Up to trying that new restaurant tonight." Harm pressed on.
"What about Mattie, don't you usually like to have dinner together?"
"She's shooting a video for an english project. They've been working every night at Janet's house. Her mom feeds the whole brood. So what do you say?" Harm hoped she wouldn't turn him down again tonight.
"I think I'd rather stay in," his disappointment obvious, "you want to do take out at my place?" she offered.
"Works for me. Got a preference?" Relieved, he couldn't hold back a satisfied grin.
"Well, pizza's Italian. We can order pizza then you won't have to stop and pick any thing up. How about 1830?"
"1830 it is." Leaning over, he plopped the bag of lemon drops on her desk. "Here, keep the bag." Pleased with himself, he left for his own office. 'Mission accomplished.'