A/N: You guys are awesome! Thank you for all of the fantastic reviews. They really make me smile when RL gets to be too much.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Wednesday; 1824 Zulu; JAG Headquarters; Falls Church, Virginia
Shortly after lunchtime Harm wove through the sea of desks in the bullpen towards Mac's open door. As he approached he could see her sitting with her head bowed diligently, the ever-present mountain of paperwork perched ominously off to one side. Sometimes he still found it hard to believe that Mac, Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, was not only his fellow JAG lawyer and longtime friend but also his roommate and mother of his child. Harm watched her for a moment just outside the doorway, observing the way the light glinted off her hair in the afternoon sun. It was funny how he'd never really noticed the pretty sight even though he'd watched her through this same door countless times before. His quiet knock echoed through the office.
Glancing up at him, Mac smiled. "Hi."
"Keeping busy?" He motioned towards the stack of paperwork on her desk.
"No more so than usual, although I promised Admiral Chegwidden I'd have this for him by the end of the day. What's up?"
"Not much. Just stopped by to see how you're doing." Harm plunked himself down in one of the chairs across from her desk.
"I'm fine, Commander." Leaning forward, elbows on the desktop, she clasped her hands together and looked at him wryly. "Same as I was when you asked me forty-two minutes ago."
"True, but when I asked earlier you'd just finished cross-examining Bud's star witness and had been on your feet most of the morning. There's a big difference between that and sitting in a nice comfortable chair behind your own desk," he countered.
"It was good exercise, and at least it kept you from spending more time in my office than in your own. Besides," Mac chuckled, "right after you left Bud came and made me an offer. Seems his client decided it was less risky to plead it out than to let the case go to a full court martial."
"Is that what you're working on now?"
She nodded. "It took a little negotiating, but we were finally able to reach a settlement. Now all I have to do is complete and file the paperwork."
"Exciting." Harm sniggered and rose. "I won't keep you from it then."
"Thanks."
Dropping her gaze back down to the folder in her hands, Mac refocused her attention on what she'd been doing. As he reached the doorway, Harm paused to look back at her, one hand on the wooden frame.
"Before I forget, keep Monday evening free. Okay?" Tying to keep his demeanor as nonchalant as possible, he didn't want Mac to get suspicious of his plans.
One side of her mouth curled in disbelief as she continued to scan the folder's contents. "That shouldn't be a problem. You'd be surprised what being thirty-three weeks pregnant will do to a woman's social life."
"You mean you actually have one when you're not pregnant?" What better way to throw her off the scent than to be a pain in the six?
"Ha ha, very funny." She stared up at him quizzically. "What's so special about Monday?"
"Nothing much," he replied, an ambiguous smile on his features as he stepped out the door.
"Hey, Harm?"
He stopped. "Yeah?"
"Would you mind grabbing me a Jello pudding cup from the fridge? One of the ones with chocolate and vanilla swirled together?" Her bright smile made him laugh.
"Only one?"
Thinking for a moment, she patted her swollen belly and grinned. "On second thought, make it two. We're hungry."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Harm brought her the requested snack cups a few minutes later, along with a glass of milk and several napkins. As he disappeared out of sight in the direction of his own office, Mac laughed out loud. While she normally didn't like being hovered over, a part of her enjoyed how protective and courteous Harm had been these last few months. He'd taken to stopping by her office periodically throughout the day to ensure that she had everything she wanted and was feeling all right. Would he continue to be this generous after the baby was born? A girl could get used to having her own personal Flyboy waiting on her hand and foot, Mac thought with an inward chuckle.
Grabbing a spoon out of the desk drawer, she reached for one of the pudding cups and skimmed off some of the top layer of chocolate pudding. Savoring the sweet taste, Mac allowed herself to sit for a few seconds staring whimsically out into the bullpen before her mind began to drift back to work. There were a million and one things that needed yet to be done, and she didn't want to have them hanging over her head when she left work that evening. Setting the pudding down with a determined breath, she turned her attention back to the paperwork in front of her. As her gaze dropped downward, her eyes lingered for an instant on the small calendar she kept on the desk.
Somewhere in the back of her consciousness a connection was made between the conversation she'd just had with Harm and the calendar in front of her. Doing a double take, she picked up the small cardboard chart to make sure she had indeed read it correctly.
The following Monday was February 14th: Valentine's Day.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Monday; 2316 Zulu; Harm and Mac's Home; Falls Church, Virginia
It was well after eighteen-hundred local time when Mac got home from the office. She'd been planning to leave work early only to find her good intentions thwarted by Harriet, who had come into her office at sixteen- thirty with an 'urgent' matter that simply could not wait until morning. After an hour and a half they were no closer to resolving the issue and Mac was starting to get antsy. She finally persuaded Harriet to call it a day, and they'd walked out to their vans together.
Concentrating on the awkward task of getting up the back steps, Mac didn't see the young female face peering out at her from the dining room window. Although it was cold outside, the temperature had held steady above freezing for the last few days, allowing the last of the ice and snow to melt away. Pulling out her keys, Mac had one hand on the doorknob before the small note taped to the door caught her attention.
This entrance is temporarily closed, it read. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thanks! -Management
What the hell? she thought. Black construction paper had been carefully taped on the inside of the glass-paned door, effectively preventing her from looking into the family room. Harm was definitely up to something! Frowning, Mac pulled the note off the door with a sigh before turning back to the driveway. Counting her blessings that the walkways were clear, she carefully eased herself back down the steps and made her way alongside the house to the front porch.
Voices could be heard echoing from the rear of the house as soon as Mac stepped into the foyer. Closing the door quietly behind her, she carefully hung her coat in the closet and slipped her shoes off her aching feet. Then, leaving her briefcase at the bottom of the stairs, she padded softly towards the kitchen. The voices grew louder. When she rounded the corner into the room, she saw Harm standing at the counter with his back to her.
"Harm, chill out. Everything looks beautiful," Mattie was saying as she climbed onto a stool at the breakfast bar. Her eyes met Mac's over Harm's shoulder as the tired Marine silently appeared in the doorway. Based on the way he was standing, it was apparent that Harm didn't realize he and Mattie weren't alone and that Mac was listening to every word. Struck with a sudden idea, Mattie looked at her guardian intently.
"So, tell me again why you haven't said anything to Mac yet?" she questioned.
"Mattie..." Harm sighed. "This may sound strange, but I honestly don't know how she feels. What am I supposed to say – 'Hey Mac, I love you,' and then pray that she tells me she loves me too? Somehow I can't see that happening."
Mac's heart caught in her throat. "You never know, Harm. It might work," she said softly.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
To be continued...
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Wednesday; 1824 Zulu; JAG Headquarters; Falls Church, Virginia
Shortly after lunchtime Harm wove through the sea of desks in the bullpen towards Mac's open door. As he approached he could see her sitting with her head bowed diligently, the ever-present mountain of paperwork perched ominously off to one side. Sometimes he still found it hard to believe that Mac, Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, was not only his fellow JAG lawyer and longtime friend but also his roommate and mother of his child. Harm watched her for a moment just outside the doorway, observing the way the light glinted off her hair in the afternoon sun. It was funny how he'd never really noticed the pretty sight even though he'd watched her through this same door countless times before. His quiet knock echoed through the office.
Glancing up at him, Mac smiled. "Hi."
"Keeping busy?" He motioned towards the stack of paperwork on her desk.
"No more so than usual, although I promised Admiral Chegwidden I'd have this for him by the end of the day. What's up?"
"Not much. Just stopped by to see how you're doing." Harm plunked himself down in one of the chairs across from her desk.
"I'm fine, Commander." Leaning forward, elbows on the desktop, she clasped her hands together and looked at him wryly. "Same as I was when you asked me forty-two minutes ago."
"True, but when I asked earlier you'd just finished cross-examining Bud's star witness and had been on your feet most of the morning. There's a big difference between that and sitting in a nice comfortable chair behind your own desk," he countered.
"It was good exercise, and at least it kept you from spending more time in my office than in your own. Besides," Mac chuckled, "right after you left Bud came and made me an offer. Seems his client decided it was less risky to plead it out than to let the case go to a full court martial."
"Is that what you're working on now?"
She nodded. "It took a little negotiating, but we were finally able to reach a settlement. Now all I have to do is complete and file the paperwork."
"Exciting." Harm sniggered and rose. "I won't keep you from it then."
"Thanks."
Dropping her gaze back down to the folder in her hands, Mac refocused her attention on what she'd been doing. As he reached the doorway, Harm paused to look back at her, one hand on the wooden frame.
"Before I forget, keep Monday evening free. Okay?" Tying to keep his demeanor as nonchalant as possible, he didn't want Mac to get suspicious of his plans.
One side of her mouth curled in disbelief as she continued to scan the folder's contents. "That shouldn't be a problem. You'd be surprised what being thirty-three weeks pregnant will do to a woman's social life."
"You mean you actually have one when you're not pregnant?" What better way to throw her off the scent than to be a pain in the six?
"Ha ha, very funny." She stared up at him quizzically. "What's so special about Monday?"
"Nothing much," he replied, an ambiguous smile on his features as he stepped out the door.
"Hey, Harm?"
He stopped. "Yeah?"
"Would you mind grabbing me a Jello pudding cup from the fridge? One of the ones with chocolate and vanilla swirled together?" Her bright smile made him laugh.
"Only one?"
Thinking for a moment, she patted her swollen belly and grinned. "On second thought, make it two. We're hungry."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Harm brought her the requested snack cups a few minutes later, along with a glass of milk and several napkins. As he disappeared out of sight in the direction of his own office, Mac laughed out loud. While she normally didn't like being hovered over, a part of her enjoyed how protective and courteous Harm had been these last few months. He'd taken to stopping by her office periodically throughout the day to ensure that she had everything she wanted and was feeling all right. Would he continue to be this generous after the baby was born? A girl could get used to having her own personal Flyboy waiting on her hand and foot, Mac thought with an inward chuckle.
Grabbing a spoon out of the desk drawer, she reached for one of the pudding cups and skimmed off some of the top layer of chocolate pudding. Savoring the sweet taste, Mac allowed herself to sit for a few seconds staring whimsically out into the bullpen before her mind began to drift back to work. There were a million and one things that needed yet to be done, and she didn't want to have them hanging over her head when she left work that evening. Setting the pudding down with a determined breath, she turned her attention back to the paperwork in front of her. As her gaze dropped downward, her eyes lingered for an instant on the small calendar she kept on the desk.
Somewhere in the back of her consciousness a connection was made between the conversation she'd just had with Harm and the calendar in front of her. Doing a double take, she picked up the small cardboard chart to make sure she had indeed read it correctly.
The following Monday was February 14th: Valentine's Day.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Monday; 2316 Zulu; Harm and Mac's Home; Falls Church, Virginia
It was well after eighteen-hundred local time when Mac got home from the office. She'd been planning to leave work early only to find her good intentions thwarted by Harriet, who had come into her office at sixteen- thirty with an 'urgent' matter that simply could not wait until morning. After an hour and a half they were no closer to resolving the issue and Mac was starting to get antsy. She finally persuaded Harriet to call it a day, and they'd walked out to their vans together.
Concentrating on the awkward task of getting up the back steps, Mac didn't see the young female face peering out at her from the dining room window. Although it was cold outside, the temperature had held steady above freezing for the last few days, allowing the last of the ice and snow to melt away. Pulling out her keys, Mac had one hand on the doorknob before the small note taped to the door caught her attention.
This entrance is temporarily closed, it read. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thanks! -Management
What the hell? she thought. Black construction paper had been carefully taped on the inside of the glass-paned door, effectively preventing her from looking into the family room. Harm was definitely up to something! Frowning, Mac pulled the note off the door with a sigh before turning back to the driveway. Counting her blessings that the walkways were clear, she carefully eased herself back down the steps and made her way alongside the house to the front porch.
Voices could be heard echoing from the rear of the house as soon as Mac stepped into the foyer. Closing the door quietly behind her, she carefully hung her coat in the closet and slipped her shoes off her aching feet. Then, leaving her briefcase at the bottom of the stairs, she padded softly towards the kitchen. The voices grew louder. When she rounded the corner into the room, she saw Harm standing at the counter with his back to her.
"Harm, chill out. Everything looks beautiful," Mattie was saying as she climbed onto a stool at the breakfast bar. Her eyes met Mac's over Harm's shoulder as the tired Marine silently appeared in the doorway. Based on the way he was standing, it was apparent that Harm didn't realize he and Mattie weren't alone and that Mac was listening to every word. Struck with a sudden idea, Mattie looked at her guardian intently.
"So, tell me again why you haven't said anything to Mac yet?" she questioned.
"Mattie..." Harm sighed. "This may sound strange, but I honestly don't know how she feels. What am I supposed to say – 'Hey Mac, I love you,' and then pray that she tells me she loves me too? Somehow I can't see that happening."
Mac's heart caught in her throat. "You never know, Harm. It might work," she said softly.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
To be continued...
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---