A/N: Since that last chapter was so short I figured I'd give you an extra one today.

Chapter 10

Monday May 24

0920

JAG HQ

Falls Church VA

Harm had barely had time to open the Dawson file when there was a knock on him doorframe. He looked up to find Admiral Chegwidden standing in his doorway.

"Come in sir," Harm said closing the file in front of him.

"Mind if I close the hatch?" AJ asked.

"No sir," Harm replied.

AJ closed the door and sat down in one of the chairs facing Harm's desk.

"You told her how you feel didn't you son?" AJ asked point blank.

"Excuse me sir?" Harm asked shocked.

"Harm I'm not your CO anymore, anything you tell me stays in this room," AJ said, "now answer the question."

"I'm sorry sir what was the question again?" Harm was still in shock.

"Did you tell Mac how you feel about her?" AJ asked again.

"Yes sir," Harm said a little reluctantly, "Friday night."

"Well it's damn well about time!" AJ said.

"Yes sir," Harm agreed.

"So..." AJ prompted.

"So what sir?" Harm played dumb.

"So what now?" AJ asked, "What did she say, not that it's really a question."

"We're going to take things slow," Harm said, "do it right. And try our best to keep it to ourselves for as long as possible. I know eventually one of us will have to transfer but not just yet."

"I understand son," AJ nodded. "Does Mattie know?"

"That I told Mac I loved her? Yeah," Harm answered, "she's more than ok with it. Of course now that I'm adopting Mattie we'll have to find a house. And of course we have to figure out what Jen's going to do. I wonder how big of a house we should get, I mean if Mac and I work out..."

"You're adopting Mattie?" AJ asked, "What does her father have to say about that?"

Harm head jerked up to look at the admiral he had actually forgotten that AJ was there and was just thinking out loud.

"Oh sorry sir I forgot you were there," Harm said slightly embarrassed.

"Obviously," AJ said with a chuckle, "What does Mr. Johnson say about you trying to adopt his daughter?"

"Actually he's the one who suggested it," Harm said, "he and Mattie have reconciled but there's still a lot between them. Tom thinks that being with me is good for Mattie and said that he wouldn't contest if I

wanted to adopt her."

"When did this happen?" AJ asked.

"Saturday night at Mattie's volleyball game." Harm replied.

"Does Mac know?" AJ asked, concerned at how the colonel might take the fact that she wasn't the only woman in Harm's life.

"She was there," Harm said, "and she's happy for me and for Mattie."

AJ nodded. "You're planning on getting a house?" he asked.

"Well Mattie can't keep living across the hall from me if I'm going to adopt her." Harm explained.

"What kind of house were you looking for?" AJ asked.

"I don't know, something in the suburbs, probably with a yard," Harm said, "Mattie's been bugging me about getting a yard. I just don't know with all that's going on when we're going to have time to look. I kind of want to get out of the apartments as soon as possible."

AJ was silent for a minute and Harm could almost hear the wheels turning in his head.

"I've been looking for someone to look after Dammit while I'm gone," AJ said, "How would you and Mattie like to house and dog sit for me? It gives you a chance to get out of the apartments before you find a house."

"Really sir?" Harm asked, "That would be perfect, especially since it's so close to Bethesda."

Harm quickly kicked himself for mentioning Bethesda. "Forget you heard that last part sir."

"Well I won't forget it," AJ said, "but I won't ask about it either. Talk to Mattie about house sitting and let me know tomorrow at Little AJ's party."

"Yes sir," Harm said, "anything else?"

"I know your quals are coming up this month," AJ said, "please try not to give Admiral Williams and for that matter Mac a heart attack."

"I don't plan on it sir," Harm said.

"And try to be good," AJ requested, "Williams isn't familiar with your style of getting things done. I wrote her a memo about how this office operates but it would still probably be better to stay on the safe side."

"I'll try sir," Harm said with a half smile that said that was nowhere near a guarantee.

"I'll see you tomorrow Harm," AJ said getting up.

"Yes sir," Harm responded.

AJ opened the door and left Harm's office.

The next person AJ ran into was Lt. Harriet Simms.

"Admiral," she said, already seeming to get a bit choked up.

"Harriet," AJ said, "no tears now. I'll be at AJ's party tomorrow. I promise you can bawl your eyes out then."

"Yes sir," Harriet said with a sniffle, "sorry sir. Hormones."

AJ didn't say anything but he thought that pregnant woman used that excuse for just about everything.

"It's alright lt.," he said, "if I may make a suggestion?"

"Of course sir," Harriet said.

"Admiral Williams is new and despite what she said at the ceremony I think she's a little wary of the family atmosphere around here." AJ said, "It might be a good idea to invite her to little AJ's birthday party. Let her get to know the staff outside of the office."

"That's a great idea sir," Harriet said with enthusiasm, "I'll go ask her right now. See you tomorrow sir."

With that Harriet turned and headed toward the admiral's office.

AJ smiled, he would miss the bubbly blond that ran his office for so long. He sighed and turned to the office nearest to Harriet's desk, that of her husband Lt. Commander Bud Roberts. Bud's door was closed but through the open blinds AJ could see that he wasn't with a client. Bud's head was bent over a case file his face held an expression of deep concentration. AJ watched him for a moment before knocking on the door.

"Come in," came Bud's muffled voice.

When Bud saw who was at his door he started to get to his feet.

"As you were commander," AJ said with a smile, it was nice to be able to call Bud commander.

"What can I do for you sir?" Bud asked.

"I just thought I'd drop by," AJ said, "I can't really say goodbye since I'll see you tomorrow at little AJ's party."

"You're still coming sir," Bud said with a grin.

"Of course," AJ said, "I can't miss my name sake's 5th birthday party. He'd never forgive me. Francesca doesn't get here until Friday."

"AJ'll be really happy to see you sir," Bud said.

"I'd like to ask somewhat of a favor of you Bud," AJ said.

"Of course sir," Bud said, "anything."

"You've been here as long as Harm and Mac," AJ began, "you know just how much latitude I like to give Harm and on occasion Sturgis and Mac. Keep an eye on the new admiral; let her know if she's giving them more or less slack than I would. Don't tell her she's wrong, just let her know what I would have done. Especially with Harm. Giving him enough rope but not enough to hang himself with is a delicate balance."

"Yes sir, I will sir," Bud said.

"Good man, Commander," AJ said patting the younger man on the shoulder. "Now I've got some more goodbyes to say. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes sir, thank you sir," Bud said as AJ walked back out the door.

Even though Mac's office was the next door he decided to see Sturgis first. However when he approached Sturgis' office he noticed the commander wasn't in. There was a note on the door saying that he had been called to a case in Norfolk. AJ turned and headed toward Mac's office.

He stood in Mac's doorway for a moment before he knocked. She seemed distracted and burdened like there was something heavy weighing on her mind. AJ thought, not for the first time that there perhaps was something more to her mood than just the death of Clayton Webb.

It took Sarah MacKenzie a few seconds to realize that someone was knocking on her doorframe.

"May I come in Colonel?" AJ asked from the doorway.

"Of course sir," Mac said, "let me just clear off a chair for you." Mac had cases spread all around her office including on the chairs in front of her desk. That was another thing that lent itself to AJ's theory; Mac's office was usually neat and squared away. This office looked more like Harm's.

AJ saw Mac wince as she tried to get up, "It's alright Mac, I'll do it." AJ said and moved a pile of papers.

"Have you seen a doctor about your back Mac?" AJ asked, "it's been acting up for a while now."

"Yes sir," Mac answered, "I had it looked at last week."

"Is there something wrong Mac?" AJ asked, "Something tells me this isn't just back pain is it?"

"No sir," Mac shook her head, "actually I was going talk to Admiral Williams about it as soon as she's free. I'd like to explain this as few times as possible so if you don't mind waiting..."

"Of course Mac I understand." AJ said, "Speaking of things I understand, you and Harm finally had that talk."

Mac noticed that it was more of a statement than a question.

"Sir have you been talking to Harm?" Mac asked.

"Yes I have," AJ replied and at Mac's worried look, "and I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I'm not your commanding officer anymore and anything you tell me will stay inside this room."

"Thank you sir," Mac said, "Yes Harm and I talked, he's really been there for me this past week. Things are going to get tough soon and I'm glad I know I'll have him to lean on when that happens."

"Mac I asked Harm to house and dog sit for me while I'm gone," AJ said, "does what's going on with your back have anything to do with why a benefit of my house was that it was close to Bethesda?"

"Yes sir," Mac nodded, "but I really don't want to go into any more detail until I see Admiral Williams."

AJ nodded, "well I still have an over zealous yeoman to see. I'll let you know when the admiral's free."

"Thank you sir," Mac smiled.

AJ rose from his chair and left her office. In his head he was going over the possibilities of Mac's health problem, each more horrifying than the next.

TBC