Disclaimer and other important information in Chapter 1

Chapter 5

They arrived at Harm's apartment. Harm carried Mac's bag up and sat it in his bedroom.

"A bit presumptuous aren't we commander?" she asked jokingly.

"Couch, remember," was Harm's reply. "What would you like for supper?"

"What d'ya got?" Mac asked.

"Check the fridge," Harm replied as he wandered back into his bedroom to change out of his uniform.

Mac opened the fridge, then the freezer. Her eyes grew slightly larger before she turned to speak to Harm.

"Ok who are you and what have you done with Harmon Rabb Junior?" she demanded.

"What?!" Harm's voice came from the bedroom. It was clear from his tone that he was confused about what in his fridge would provoke such a reaction out of Mac.

"The Harmon Rabb I know wouldn't be caught dead with dead pig and cow in his freezer," she answered, "Have you finally seen the errors of your ways and joined the living?"

"If you mean have I gone carnivore, no. But I do live with two, one of whom I'm required to feed." Harm replied as he emerged from the bedroom pulling a shirt over his head.

"So what, Jen's just left to fend for herself?" Mac asked. She knew full well that Harm wouldn't do that.

"No, she actually eats with Mattie and me most nights and she chips in for the groceries every month to make up for the extra cost." Harm answered.

"I see." Mac said vaguely, "It must kill you to have dead animal in the house."

"Mac I'm a vegetarian for health reasons not ethical ones." He explained. "I make meat for the girls and tofu for myself."

"It doesn't bother you to have to make two different meals?" she asked.

"Not two different meals just two different sources of protein," Harm said, "I don't mind. It's not like I didn't used to do it for you. You still haven't answered me, what do you want for supper?"

"I think I saw some shrimp in there, "Mac said, "how 'bout some of your famous seafood linguini?"

Mac finished off her sentence with a yawn.

"You look exhausted," Harm told her, "Why don't you take one of your pills and go lay down for a while?"

"I think I might just (yawn) take you up on the offer (yawn)," she said, "What about you?"

"I have some work I have to get done on the Dawson case," Harm replied, "I'll be nice and quiet, I promise."

"And you never make a promise you don't intend on keeping," Mac said with a smile, "night Harm."

"Good night Marine," Harm said as she went up the stairs to the bedroom.

Mac changed into a t-shirt and some sleep shorts. She went into the bathroom and took her pain medication before falling into bed. She was asleep soon after her head hit the pillow. Harm got his briefcase and got to work.

Over the next few hours Harm got up a few times to check on her and was glad to see she wasn't having any more nightmares. 'Probably because of the medication,' he thought.

A few hours later, around 1630 Mattie arrived home.

"Hey Harm what's up?" she asked, "I didn't think you'd be home."

"Shh," he said putting a finger to his lips, "Mac's asleep." He motioned toward the bedroom.

"Is she staying here tonight?" Mattie asked, catching a glimpse of Mac's overnight bag.

"Yes she is and before you get any ideas I'm sleeping on the couch," he said.

"Sure Harm," Mattie said sarcastically, "You finally told her how you feel, she feels the same and you're sleeping on the couch."

"Yes," Harm said simply.

"Ok," Mattie said not wanting to push the issue further.

Harm didn't say anything just continued to stir the sauce for the pasta.

"Anything I can do?" she asked.

"You can make the salad," Harm suggested.

"Sure," Mattie said and went about getting out the makings for a salad.

10 minutes later Mac awoke to the most wonderful smell. She pulled on some jeans and went to find the source. She walked down the bedroom stairs to a very domestic scene, one she wouldn't have thought possible only a year ago. Harm was ladling out sauce over the linguini. Mattie and Jen were setting the table. It just looked so natural. The sight brought a smile to her face. And Harm looked so happy, not just content but truly happy. She just hoped it would stay that way. Having Mattie in his life had really changed Harm for the better. She knew he'd be devastated if he lost her.

She still had the smile on her face when Mattie spotted her.

"Morning sleepyhead," Mattie greeted.

"Hey Mattie, Hi Jen," Mac greeting the people in the room, "Early supper?"

"Mattie has a volleyball game tonight," Harm explained as he set the plates on the table.

"You want to come watch Mac?" the teenage asked, "it's the city semi finals."

"Sure Mattie, I'd love to see you play," Mac answered with a smile. Then she dug into her pasta.

"You sure you're up to it Marine?" Harm asked concerned.

"Yes," Mac replied, "that nap really did me some good."

"Ok," Harm conceded, "but let me know if it gets too much."

"I will," Mac promised.

Mac was desperate to change the subject.

"How was the visit with your Dad, Mattie?" Mac asked the teen.

"Good," Mattie replied cryptically.

"Just good?" Harm asked, he sounded worried, "what did you do?"

"We went to the park," Mattie said, "talked about some stuff. He's coming to the game tonight."

"Are you coming to the game Jen?" Mac asked.

"Jen has a daaaaate," Mattie said.

"Not anymore," Jen said, "he cancelled, something about having to go out of town. Personally I think he has a problem with my chosen line of work."

"What do you mean Jen," Mac asked.

"Well, he showed up while we were eating supper on Tuesday," Harm began, "I was still in my uniform. Jen wasn't ready so he and I talked a little."

"More like you gave him the third degree," Mattie amended.

"Anyway, it was evident right away that he didn't like me but at first I didn't know why," Harm continued with a sidelong glance at his ward, "I just made small talk, asked what he did for a living. We ended up talking about some of my cases."

"Then the case about Susan's brother came up," Mattie piped up, "and it turned out he's against the war in Iraq."

Mac kind of gave a questioning glance to Jen.

"I met him at a club," she explained, "I hadn't told him what I did."

"I didn't tell him what you do for a living either," Harm said before he could be accused of spilling the beans.

"I know sir," Jen said, "I told him. After we left that night he asked me how I could live with someone in the armed forces. I explained about Mattie but he asked how I knew the commander. And of course I had to tell him that we work together. So he found out what I did and that was that. I don't think I could have kept dating him anyways. Not with how strong his opinions about the war were. So long story short, I can come to the game."

Jen ended her explanation with a shrug.

"So what did you and your Dad talk about Mattie," Mac asked. She hoped the girl's answer would alleviate at least some of Harm's fears.

"Just stuff," Mattie replied, "what's going on in our lives. What to do next. Oh he said that he wanted to talk to you tonight Harm."

Harm swallowed audibly, "any idea what about?"

"Yes, but I promised not to tell," Mattie did her best to keep a straight face.

"Harm do you have any aspirin?" Mac asked.

"Of course," he replied, "why?"

"My back's acting up a bit but I don't want to take the other stuff, it puts me to sleep." Mac explained.

"I'll go get the bottle," Harm said as he headed for the bathroom medicine cabinet.

"Thanks Harm," Mac smiled.

"Ma'am have you had that looked at yet?" Jen asked, "Your back's been bothering you for a while."

"Ya," Mac answered her, "I had an appointment earlier this week, then a procedure yesterday."

"A procedure?" Mattie asked, "Like an operation?"

"I small one," Mac nodded.

"Ma'am?" Jen asked. It was her simple way of requesting more information without appearing to be too nosey.

"I guess I have to tell you at some point," Mac said.

Harm had heard everything from the bathroom where he was searching for the aspirin.

"You sure Mac?" Harm's voice drifted into the dining room, "I'm sure Mattie and Jen will understand if you wanted to wait."

The girls nodded their agreement.

"No," Mac said, "I have to start telling people at some point."

Harm nodded. He handed Mac the aspirin. He stood behind Mac's chair and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"The procedure was to see what was causing my pain." Mac explained, "The doctor had already determined that it wasn't coming from my back. She didn't want to speculate. She wanted to be sure. She found a tumor in my right ovary. It's ovarian cancer. It doesn't appear to have spread. She's pretty sure that with surgery and post surgical treatment I'll make a full recovery."

"Ma'am, I'm so sorry," Jen said as she choked back tears.

"No tears Petty officer," Mac said, "I'll be fine."

"Mac is there anything I can do?" Mattie asked, not wanting to lose another mother figure.

"Win that game tonight so I have something to celebrate," Mac answered, "Well something besides your guardian getting his head out of his ass and tell me how he feels."

"Ma'am, sir, should I pretend I didn't hear that last part?" Jen asked.

"Please do petty officer," Harm said in his command voice, "and any other similar comments you mar hear in the future."

"Yes sir!" Jen answered forcefully.

"Jen I'd also appreciate it if you kept my health issue to yourself," Mac said, "at least for now, until I figure out how to tell the others."

"Of course Ma'am," Jen answered, "But if there's anything I can do..."

"Mac will be over here a lot in the next few months," Harm said, "You guys can help out a lot by watching out for her when I'm not around."

"Harm I don't need babysitters," Mac said annoyed.

"I know you don't but I'd feel better if I knew someone was at least looking in on you once in a while." Harm said softly. He checked his watch, "we gotta get moving. Mattie go get your gym bag. Jen you mind helping load the dishwasher?"

"Not at all sir," Jen said getting up from the table.

"Let me help," Mac said as she began to clear the table.

TBC