CHAPTER 4: JAG HEADQUARTERS MAC'S OFFICE

Harm's plan was to butter her up, so to speak. It wasn't like he didn't mean any of the kind gestures, in fact, he loved any reason to dote on her. That's why he now held a Beltway Burgers bag in his hand to give her for lunch. He knew that she had a big day in court tomorrow and that on days like these, she usually worked right through lunch. Mac was at her desk, working hard to prepare for a case that was going to court the next morning when a knock at the door interrupted her.

"Hey, Jarhead. Had lunch yet?" Harm asked, sticking his head into her office.

"No, I was planning on raiding the vending machine in a few minutes," she said, finally looking up.

"Why?"

"I don't even want to think about the kind of food that's in there," Harm said, shuddering. Mac couldn't help but laugh. Harm was definitely standing up to his reputation as a "health nut".

"So, I thought that you might like this," he offered, stepping inside and holding out the bag.

"You went and got Beltway Burgers for me? Harmon Rabb, I can't believe that you would even consider buying meat," she teased him, taking the bag to look inside. "And you even got two burgers!"

"I can buy meat, when it's for a good purpose," he argued back.

"So, what's the occasion?" she asked casually. Surely he wasn't hoping that bringing her her favorite food for lunch wouldn't earn him his kiss.

"Just thought that you might be hungry," he said.

"Liar, you just want to butter me up so you can win your bet," she thought. But instead of voicing her thoughts out loud, she just smiled at him and stepped closer. A little teasing on her part would be perfect for him, it was time she caught him off guard.

"Thanks, Harm," she said softly, leaning in closer. "Mac?" he swallowed nervously, wondering what she was doing. She leaned in, went up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. It was short, but oh, so sweet and disappointingly, it was over before it even began. Best of all, she could see that it had caught him off guard.

For a brief moment, Harm caught a knowing look in Mac's eyes. Could it be that she knew about the bet? It might explain her behavior just now, but how could she know? She left him standing there and sat back down at her desk. After she had taken several rather large bites of the first burger, she looked back up at Harm. He was still watching her.

"Harm? Thanks, but I have work to do," she said, wishing that she didn't have to dismiss him but it was all for this stupid bet. If it weren't for this bet, he wouldn't be acting so ....so, well, so sweet to her. She just had to remind herself of that before she kept falling for him again. It wasn't what he wanted.

JAG HEADQUARTERS
Harm rushed out of the courtroom, glancing down at his watch and groaning. He was supposed to pick up Mattie at 4:30 after her volleyball practice but it was now nearly 40 minutes later. Judge Sebring had ended court late today but there had been nothing Harm could have done about it, much to his distress. Maybe she had found a ride but he would have to go check just in case, he hated when something like this happened. He hurried to his office, surprised to find that the lights were on and the door was slightly ajar. Sounds of laughter were drifting out of his office and Harm immediately recognized that Mac was in there. He opened the door and was shocked to find Mattie and Mac sitting in the two chairs in front of his desk, but both laughing so hard that they looked like they would fall on the ground any second.

This sight couldn't help but bring a smile to Harm's face. Two of his favorite women not only getting along, but also laughing like they were best friends. Instead of asking what was so hilarious, his first thought was to apologize to Mattie. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, Mattie, I just got out of court," he said, setting his things down on the desk. She was still giggling as she got up to hug him. At first she hadn't been real comfortable with things like hugs and the "sensitive junk" but surprisingly, it was just becoming more and more natural. "It's okay, I know you're busy. Mac came to pick me up and she explained it all."

Harm glanced over at Mac, the smile of gratitude on his face just enough to let her know how much he appreciated it. "So what did you two find so funny?" asked Harm, moving to sit down in his desk chair.

Mac and Mattie shared a guilty look. "Nothing," they said in unison.

There was a long pause as Harm eyed them both suspiciously, only causing them to burst into laughter once again.

"Harm?" Mattie gasped. "Did you really lose your dress whites to...to a..." But she was laughing too hard to continue.

Harm groaned, burying is face in his hands. Leave it to Mac to start sharing stories like that. He wondered what else she had told Mattie. "How much have you told her?"

She knew how embarrassed he became when that story was brought up but decided that a little more teasing wouldn't hurt. "Just a few stories. But she knows there's plenty more," she said conspiratorially.

Harm just shook his head at them.

The Admiral was passing by the open door, on his way out of the office. He looked in on the trio, without them noticing. It was a good sight to see Harm and Mac finally both smiling while in the same room. Maybe it would be Mattie who could and would finally bring those two to their senses. He smiled faintly, thinking of his own daughter off in Italy, and headed out.

"Oh, and Mac's joining us for dinner. I invited her and she said yes," Mattie added.

"If it was okay with Harm," Mac threw in, not wanting to intrude.

"Oh,, you did, did you? Does this mean that you'll be cooking dinner for us?" Harm asked, knowing how the teenager hated to cook.

Mattie groaned loudly and pulled a face. "That's the only way I could get her to come. She said that she didn't want to take any chances on having you make your famous "meatless meatloaf"," she teased.

"You told her about that too?" Harm said, turning to glare at Mac.

"No, I found out that she's already been warned about your 'toxic waste'," joked Mac.

Mattie saw that her guardian had had enough teasing from her and Mac and decided to switch tactics. "Come on, Dad, we don't want Mac getting too hungry. I've already heard about her bottomless pit she has for a stomach."

Mac would have continued in their bantering but the one word stopped her. Dad. She called him Dad. This one word seemed to have frozen Harm also.

"What?" the teenager asked, somewhat self-consciously, looking back and forth between the two.

Mac could see the look in Harm's eyes, the pride and love that he felt for Mattie so apparent. Harm just pulled her close and hugged her tightly, yet gently. He found himself speechless. Wanting to give them a moment alone, Mac quietly murmured something that neither heard and she snuck out.

"Are you sure, Mattie? I love hearing you call me 'Dad', but if you don't feel comfortable with it..."

"Yeah, I think you've earned it," she said, feeling embarrassed to be showing her sensitive and emotional side. They stood like that for several more minutes until Mattie finally spoke up. "Dad?"

"Yes?"

"You know what I'd really like?"

"What?"

"To find someone to call 'Mom'," she boldly said, pulling back to look at him.

AN: Sorry about that, I uploaded the wrong document. Please be patient, I'm new at this.