"Commander, I thought I would find you here." Captain Ingalls said.

"Skipper." Harm stood to attention.

"At ease Rabb." Harm relaxed. "So that's your quals over for another six months."

"Yes sir. Do you know when the next COD leaves sir?"

"That's actually what I want to discuss with you."

"Sir?" Harm questioned.

"A couple of the air wing have come down with ear infections and have been grounded until they clear up. Which leaves me two pilots short; I was hoping I could talk you into staying to help out."

"As much as I'd like to help skipper, but I have a large caseload on my desk waiting for me to get back to."

"I already talked to Admiral Chegwidden, he's willing to reassign it but he's leaving the decision up to you." Harm pondered the decision for a moment.

"Are you going to be the one who tells my wife I'm not coming home?" Harm asked.

"I can call her." Captain Ingalls offered.

"I'll call her sir, but if I end up with a bad back from sleeping on the couch, I'm holding you accountable sir."

"Very well. Report to the CAG for pre-flight for three hours."

"You knew I'd say yes didn't you sir?"

"Rabb. I've never known you to give up a chance to fly. You have a phone call to make."

"Aye aye sir."

~

"I'd thought you'd have left by now Hammer." Tuna said.

"Looks like I'm staying to help out for the rest of the week."

"How'd the Colonel take that?" Skates asked.

"I've still go to call her." Harm said hesitantly.

"Well suck it up sailor." Skates winked at him.

"I'm really feeling support there Skates." Harm replied.

"I'm just trying to follow orders Harm."

"Orders? He questioned.

"Mac emailed me and asked me to make sure you didn't do anything stupid."

"Sounds about right."

~

"Ma'am, Commander Rabb on line one." Jen informed Mac just after 0830 on Monday morning.

"Why am I getting a bad feeling about this?"

"I don't know ma'am, I'll go and get some coffee."

"Thanks Jen." Mac picked up the phone. "Hey squid."

"Hey Mac."

"I thought you'd have been home last night."

"That's what I need to talk to you about." Harm said after a second.

"Captain Ingalls wants you to stay." Mac concluded.

"A couple of the air wing have been grounded with ear infections, he needs another pilot. But he left the decision up to me."

"Harm, you've already said yes."

"Mac, I need to know you're okay with this."

"I'll have to be." Mac sighed. "Just be careful."

"I promise."

"Just to be sure I'll make it an order."

"Aye aye ma'am." Harm replied.

"I love you."

"I love you too. I'd better go someone else needs the phone."

"Bye." Mac hung up the phone. She started at it for a minute before picking up her pen holder and flinging it across the room where it hit the wall and landed on the couch.

"Is everything okay ma'am?" Jen asked.

"Damn him."

"Ma'am?"

"He's staying on the Patrick Henry for at least the rest of the week to fly with the air wing."

"I'm sure the Commander didn't ask to stay."

"No but he was given the choice."

"Ma'am, the Commander is never one to say not when someone asks for his help. It's a positive quality of his personality."

"It's damn annoying." Mac half smiled.

"Yes ma'am. You have court in fifteen minutes."

"Thanks Jen."

TBC