A/N Sorry about the late release today folks…had a tee time right after work for 18 holes. Missed my daily JAG dose too.

Chapter 25

Georgetown Mall
Saturday August 14, 2004

For the better part of the afternoon Harm had been dragged along from one store to another as Mattie, Jen and Mac shopped up a storm. Mac had suggested the Georgetown Mall when Mattie and Jen had invited her to go shopping with them, and the girls had readily agreed. He would never admit it to them, but Harm was actually having a good time. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the three of them gushing over shoes, outfits, everything that caught their eyes. Watching them shop brought back his conversation with Mac when she'd told him what she wanted in life. A good career, a good man and lots of comfortable shoes. Smiling to himself Harm stepped up and wrapped his arms around Mac and Mattie. Could this be a glimpse into what it would be like to have a wife and children?

"So girls. Have you maxed out my credit card yet?" he asked with a smile.

"Not yet." Mattie said with a smile.

Placing a kiss on top of Mattie's head Harm gave her a little push towards the smiling Jennifer. "Why don't you two go try on some more shoes or something. I was once told a woman can never have too many comfortable shoes."

"What are you and Mac going to do?" Mattie asked with an impudent grin.

"None of your business. Now shoo." Harm said with a mock frown.

As Jen and Mattie moved on to the next store arm in arm Mac grabbed Harm's arm. "What's up?" she asked.

Shrugging, Harm smiled at her and said "Just thought that we can talk. I was curious about something." Gently he guided her over to a bench with a hand on the small of her back. "We're being followed." He whispered.

"Where?" Mac asked just as quietly.

"Two o'clock…over by the fountain. Cheap suit…bad harcut."

"Got him. Do you recognize him?"

"No. Are the girls safe?"

"They're in the shoe store. Guess they took you at your word." Mac said with a smile.

"So speaking of shoes…how's your quest for comfortable shoes going?" Harm asked quietly.

"Not bad. That's not the part of the dream I'm having problems with." Mac said bitterly.

"Well maybe we can talk about that later. I mean, if you're having problems at work…"

"Very funny flyboy."

"I thought so." He said with a grin. "Is our friend still there?"

"Wait one…yeah there he is. He's on the other side of the fountain now. How long has he been following us?"

"Spotted him about an hour ago. I wanted to make sure it was us he was following before I said anything. Looks like he wants to keep us in sight, but doesn't want to stay in one place. Next time he goes to shift nudge me. Stay here…I'm going to try and get around him and then we'll find out what he wants."

"You sure?" Mac asked, the concern evident in her voice.

"You think I can't handle it Marine?" Harm asked with a smile.

"I know you can Harm, just be careful ok?"

"You know me Mac."

"That's what I'm worried about…he's moving, go."

Harm didn't bother answering Mac, just got up off the bench and merged with the crowd. There wasn't much he could do about his height, but he did his best. With his head down and sticking to the crowd he looked up through the people to see if he could spot his tail. There he was, standing in front of the computer store trying to look like he was window shopping, but he was spending too much time looking back towards the bench that he and Mac had been sitting on. As he walked by the man Harm 'accidentally' bumped into him.

"Sorry about that." Harm said with a smile and then grabbed the man's arm in a tight grip. "I wouldn't recommend sticking your hand in your pocket. It would be very rude, and I don't like rude people. Lets go for a walk."

Pulling the man towards a service corridor Harm glanced over his shoulder and saw Mac moving quickly towards him and the man. When they were in the corridor Harm shoved the man up against the wall and started patting him down.

"So…you seem like a smart guy. Why are you following my friends and me?"

"What are you talking about?" the man replied.

"Oh? You mean you haven't been following me and my friends? Just happen to be there every time I look for the last hour? What do we have here?" Harm asked as he found a .38 in the man's belt.

"How's it going Harm?" Mac asked as she came up to them.

Pulling the gun from the hiding spot Harm handed it to Mac. "Cover him."

"Listen, you don't want to do this." The man said as Mac casually pointed the gun at him, careful that the odd passer-by wouldn't see it.

"Oh I think I do." Mac said quietly.

Harm finally pulled out the man's wallet.

"Lets see who you are shall? Your taste is a little tacky for the spooks I know…and there you have it. Private dick." Harm said holding up the man's wallet with his detective's license exposed. "I'm going to ask this one more time and then I'm going to let my friend here scratch her trigger finger. You know what women are like…she hasn't qualified on a .38 in awhile and she's been thinking about that a lot. Why are you following us?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Wrong answer. Mac?"

"No no wait. OK I'll tell you what I know." The man said in a hurry at the grin on Mac's face.

"Talk." Harm said in a cold level voice.

"I work for a detective agency…but only the boss knows who hires us. He hands out the case with as much information as we need and nothing more. I just got a couple photos and some addresses where I could look for you and some instructions to photograph you two. I swear, I don't know anything else."

"Who would want us followed?" Harm asked.

"Harm…think about all the people who have a grudge against you or me or both of us for whatever reason. That's a pretty big list."

"How many of them would want pictures of us? How many would go through a detective agency. Give him back his weapon."

Mac emptied the rounds out of the six chambers and then handed the gun back. "You should be careful. Someone can get hurt with one of those." She said as she dumped the bullets into the man's suit jacket pocket.

Harm pushed the guy up against the wall again and reached into his jacket to pull out a digital camera. "Thanks. Now scram."

"What's the name of the detective agency?" Mac asked as the guy walked quickly back out into the mall.

"Bleaker Street Detective Agency. Would be a waste of time though." Harm said holding up the wallet. He knew what she was thinking when she asked the question.

"Why do you say that?"

"I have a feeling I know who hired these clowns. Come on, lets gather the girls up."

"What's going on Harm?" Mac asked, stopping him with a hand on his arm.

"Nothing. Trust me Mac. Now…can we go get our daughters and go home?"

"Our daughters?" Mac asked with a smile.

"Mac…you're as much their mother as I am their father. You spend as much time as I do with Mattie…maybe more. And you and Jen answer all those questions I'm not fit to." He said with a grin.

"I like the sound of that." Mac said as she wrapped her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. "Now who do you think hired that guy?"

"I'll tell you later; I want to make sure I'm right before I say anything. It doesn't happen often, but I may be wrong." Harm said with a smile to hide the anger he felt inside. He hoped he was wrong, otherwise he would be forced to wonder why Krennick was using a civilian detective agency to follow him and Mac.

"Oh I forgot to tell you, Harriet called and invited us over for an early dinner. I told her that we'd be there." Mac nervously said as they walked back out into the main mall area.

"When did she call?" Harm asked.

"While we were looking at shoes and you were thinking about flying." Mac said with a smirk.

"Ah. I guess we're going to Harriet and Bud's then. Did you tell them the girls were with us?"

"She said she'd have a few choice words for you if we didn't bring them." Mac said with a smile.

An hour later the four of them were pulling up to the Roberts house. Before they could make it to the door Harriet had it opened and was standing there with Jimmy in her arms. "Commander, Colonel…come on in."

"Harriet, please, call us by our names." Harm said with a smile.

"Of course Harm." Harriet said with a smile and a wink. Sometimes Harm thought she insisted on using their ranks in order to annoy then.

Laughing Harm gave her a hug before passing into the house.

"Harm!" Bud called when he saw Harm come past Harriet. "Can I get you a drink sir?"

"I'll have a water if its not too much trouble Bud. Thanks." Harm said shaking Bud's hand.

"I would like one too please Bud." Mac said as she came up next to Harm.

Behind Mac Harriet ushered the girls in and took them into the living room to show off Jimmy.

"UNCLE HARM!" AJ called out as he came barrelling out of the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Harm's legs. Harm smiled when he saw AJ still wearing the hat he sent back for him.

"Hey buddy. Whatcha doing?"

"Playin wit uncle Sturgy. Wanna play with us?"

"Sturgis is here? Starting to looking like a JAG barbeque here." Harm said with a smile.

"Harriet invited him over as well sir." Bud said with a nervous smile. Now what could cause Bud to be nervous Harm wondered.

"Lets go Uncle Harm." AJ said tugging on Harm's pant leg.

"Don't you want to say hit to Auntie Mac?" Harm asked.

"Yeah!" AJ said and then ran off to follow the sound of voices to the living room.

Walking out to the deck Harm saw Sturgis sitting on a deck chair with a beer in hand. "Hey buddy." Harm said as sat next to his old friend.

"Hey bro…how's it going?"

"Its…going."

"What's up?" Sturgis said sitting forward in his chair. He knew Harm long enough to know when something was bothering him.

"I took the girls and Mac shopping Georgetown this morning…and some guy was following us."

"Find out who he was?"

"Yeah. Some private dick."

Sturgis raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word. Bud and all the girls came wandering out of the house with drinks. Mac came over put a hand on Harm's shoulder and handed a frosted glass of water. Smiling up at her in thanks Harm sipped at the chilled water.

"So…someone schedule a barbeque and not tell me?" Harm asked with a smile.

"Something like that." Mac said with a smile. Harm looked over at Mattie to see her holding Jimmy in her arms with Jen standing beside her smiling.

"Actually buddy…we wanted to talk to you about something." Sturgis said slowly. He was obviously being cautious in what he said.

Harm had a sinking feeling he knew where this was going. "Go on." He said warily.

"Sir…we're worried about you." Bud said cautiously. "About what's going on in the office."

"With Captain Krennick sir." Harriet added.

"With Captain Krennick." Harm said with a sigh. "Listen, I appreciate the concern, but Krennick is my problem."

"With all due respect sir, I don't think we agree." Jen added. "She's still interrogating all of the female staff to see if they have ever been interested in you."

With a sigh Harm ran his hand through his hair. Why did Krennick have to come back after so many years, and not seem to have changed at all? "How bad is it?"

"Bad sir." Jen said sadly. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but morale is not exactly high since the Admiral left."

Holding up his hand Harm stood up and stepped out in front of where his friends had all gathered. "Guys…please. Understand that I appreciate your concern…and worry. But what are you hoping to do?"

"Harm…you know my feelings on the matter. Krennick is sexually harassing you, and you should make a formal complaint." Mac said seriously.

"Its not that easy Mac…and before you get mad at me again, please hear me out." Harm said stepping up and taking Mac's hand in his. When she nodded he continued. "Its not that I wish to offer myself up as a sacrifice on the alter of the Navy."

Smiling sadly Mac raised her eyebrow. "Really?"

"Really. It is a complicated issue to consider…harassment charges are a very serious thing, and they can impact officer careers on both sides."

"Harm, I witnessed her actions." Mac said incredulously.

"And I've heard some of the things she's said to you sir." Jen said quickly on the heels of Mac's statement.

"Commander, I too have witnessed some of her actions." Bud said standing up. Harriet smiled up at her husband.

"Its not that simple." Harm said quickly. "Not to mention that by this very gathering we are all treading the line of mutiny." He added quietly.

At his words every last one of his friends from work looked uncomfortable.

"And I won't allow you to do that. I admit something needs to be done about Krennick, but I will be the one to do it. Guys, I am touched that you were all worried enough about this to talk to me…but I won't expose any of you to danger."

"Are you sure Harm?" Mac asked quietly.

"I know you all only want to help, but let me handle it my way. I promise I will handle it."

All around they were all nodding. Everyone went back to chatting with each other, trying to return to a semblance of normalcy. After a few minutes Mac stepped up to where Harm was chatting with Bud and asked him to go for a walk. Nodding he followed her to the bench in the garden and sat beside her.

"Harm…I'm sorry about what I said the other day about you wanting to be a sacrifice."

"Its ok Mac…I've thought about it and I can see where you were coming from."

"I think there's something you're not seeing though." Mac added.

"What's that?"

"Harm…maybe you don't think its so bad because you're used to what Krennick is doing on some level."

"How do you mean?" Harm asked not sure he knew where Mac was going with this.

"I've known you about nine years Harm, and I've seen a lot of women throw themselves at you. You're a good looking man, and as much as I hate to admit it because of the impact its going to have on your ego, when you put yourself into a set of dress whites, most women would be hard pressed to contain themselves."

"You don't seem to have any difficulties containing yourself around me." Harm said with a hint of bitterness.

"Don't be so sure. I just have Marine discipline." Mac said with a frown. "My point is you've developed a bit of a blind eye to this. You've become used to women hitting on you…its hard not to when you get exposed to it as much as you do."

"So you're saying…" Harm said and then paused for her to continue.

"I don't think you see what Krennick is doing as seriously as we do." Mac said softly.

Harm reached down and took Mac's hand as he considered her words. Could she be right? Had he developed a blind eye? He was no stranger to women hitting on him…it happened a fair amount of the time. Sadly, there was really only one woman who he wanted to 'throw herself' at him…and she seemed to be immune to his charms. Most of the time.

Squeezing her hand lightly he looked down at her serious brown eyes. "Mac…can we agree to this…you and I leave for the Henry tomorrow morning. I guessing we'll be in the Gulf a week at the most…when we come back I will take care of everything."

"You'll raise charges against her for sexual harassment?" Mac asked dubiously.

"I will take care of everything. Trust me."

"Do you promise?" Mac asked with a sigh. He hadn't said he would press charges.

"I promise." Harm said with a reassuring smile. Absently he reached into his pocket and fingered the digital camera he had taken off the private detective. If he was right Krennick had the detectives following him and Mac, and she would only use a civilian agency for one reason. Blackmail. But he couldn't prove anything yet; he just had his suspicions.

"Mac…I'm going to see if Bud and Sturgis are up to helping with something. Can you take the girls home when you're ready, and I'll meet you guys at the apartment?"

"What are you going to do?" Mac asked suspiciously.

"Go see a detective." Harm said cryptically.