CHAPTER 3: MISSED ATTEMPT

JAG HEADQUARTERS
Harm leaned in closer and was about to kiss her when the Admiral's voice boomed out. "Colonel? Commander? Planning on joining the staff meeting any time soon?"

Harm and Mac pulled apart to a safer distance, both unable to look at each other. They stood up and snapped to attention. "Yes, sir," they said in unison.

Almost everyone in the bullpen had been watching the two and their almost-kiss. Harriet thought that she could see traces of regret in Mac's eyes and Sturgis was inwardly laughing at his friend. He made a mental note to tell Keeter about the missed attempt, knowing that he too, would get a good laugh out about it.

Sturgis walked past Harm, following the Admiral and Bud. "Nice try," he whispered, smirking.

Harm was groaning inside, unable to look over at Mac. What would she think of it? He was sure that she knew what he was going to do, she certainly hadn't been pulling away. But he didn't have a chance to do or say anything to Mac. She shoved the files into his hands and headed to her office to drop her stuff off. Harm had caught her off guard, he had the first round. But she would be the one getting the next laugh.

When she joined the staff meeting minutes later, she was the last one to do so. She took her usual seat across from Harm and looked up at him. He had that smug flyboy grin on his face and she ached to reach across the table to wipe it off.

"Nice of you to join us, Colonel," the Admiral stated, not looking up from the file he was reading.

"Sorry, sir," she apologized.

"No excuse?"

"Just a late morning, sir."

"Something funny, Commander?"

Chegwidden finally looked up from his papers to see Harm smirking at Mac.

Now it was the Colonel's turn to laugh as Harm quickly got rid of his grin. With a sigh, the Admiral continued on with the meeting, keeping it unusually short. When all the business had been taken care of, he dismissed them all. Well, except for a certain two.

"Rabb, Mackenzie, stay behind," he ordered.

They sat back down, wondering what was up.

"I don't know what is going on between you two this morning, but I trust that you two will be able to behave professionally today. The SECNAV is supposed to be coming for a meeting and if he runs into anyone, physically or literally, I am certainly willing to change your case loads," he said meaningfully.

"Yes, sir." "Dismissed."

"Aye, sir." They both rose from the table and began to head out, running into each other before they reached the door. It was purely accidental but Chegwidden couldn't help but be amused as they both tried to go out the door at the same time, getting stuck. After several stubborn repeated attempts to push through, Harm finally stepped back and let Mac step through. Chegwidden looked down and missed the moment between the two.

Mac looked up to thank Harm when to her surprise, he winked at her. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "On a collision course this morning?"

She smiled back at him sweetly. "Only with you." That said, she turned and walked off to her office.

Harm couldn't help but smile, accomplishing this bet might be easier than he thought. She seemed to be in a good mood, especially compared to the past year. It was nearly lunchtime and they hadn't argued yet, that was a good sign. A frown crossed his face as he thought of reasons for her good behavior, hoping that it wasn't Webb.

AN: Sorry, no kiss. But did you really think that I would let Harm win the bet that fast?