Chapter 19

July 23, 2004

Three weeks later

Dulles International airport

Mattie and Harm were sitting in the arrivals area waiting for his Mom and Frank to arrive.

"There they are," Harm said indicating an older couple that had just come through the sliding glass doors.

"Harmon," Trish greeted as she hugged her son.

"You must be Mattie," Frank said, "I'm Frank."

"Nice you meet you Frank," Mattie said shaking the man's hand.

"It's good to finally meet you dear," Trish said giving the girl a hug, "where's Mac?"

"I had Jen pick her up from chemo today," Harm said, "I figured I'd take you by the house first. By the time we get back to the admiral's they should be home."

"What a wonderful idea," Trish said, "I wanted to see the house before you boys did your redecorating."

It was the last day of this round of Mac's chemo. They had already had possession of the house for a week. A week that was taking up by professional installing various things. The coming week Trish was taking Mac and Harriet to the spa while Harm, Mattie, Jen and Frank, with some help from the rest of JAG finished the house. The plan was to have it all done by the time the girls got home the following Sunday.

Harm and Frank got the luggage and before long they were on their way to the house.

"Will Jennifer be moving in when you are?" Trish asked.

"She's moving her furniture in but she's going to stay at the admiral's until he gets home," Harm said, "it's to far to drive just to water the plants and pick up the mail even if we did bring Dammit here."

"I cannot believe the admiral named his dog that," Trish said.

"It just came to him one day," Mattie said, "and the dog likes it. Of course we had to give little AJ a speech about not saying the dog's name at school or in front of his friends parents."

Frank chuckled at this.

"I can just imagine how that conversation went," Franks said.

"According to Bud it was pretty funny," Mattie said.

"I can imagine," Frank said.

"We're here," Harm said pulling up to the house.

"Harmon it's beautiful," Trish said getting out of the car.

"Thanks Mom," Harm said, "we had painters come do the outside of the house for us while the security guys were wiring the inside."

"So let's see the inside then," Trish said nearly dragging her son to the front door.

Harm chuckled and unlocked the door. He turned off the alarm and ushered his parents and Mattie into the house.

Trish steps into the living room and gasps in appreciation, "there's so much natural light in here," she said, "are these the colours?" she picked up a paint chip and a swatch of fabric off a nearby chair.

"Yep," Mattie said, "Mac and I decided on all the colours and fabric and stuff. We couldn't have this place come out looking like Harm apartment."

"And what exactly is wrong with my apartment?" Harm asked jokingly.

"Harm you have to admit your apartment was a real bachelor pad," Frank said patting his step son on the back, "you have a family now. Now we better show your mother another room or she'll be standing here all day."

"Come on Mom," Harm said, "I'll show you the dining room." Harm then whispered something in Mattie's ear and she took off upstairs.

Trish was admiring the new tiles in the kitchen when she heard Mattie's disembodied voice.

"Harm," the voice said, "you didn't tell me the plumbing guys were coming today."

Harm walked over to the intercom in the kitchen and held the reply button.

"I thought I'd surprise you," he said, "they came this morning before Mac went to chemo. Now come back down here and help me finish showing your grandparents around."

"On my way," Mattie said. A minute later she was in the kitchen.

"Isn't that neat," Mattie asked Frank and Trish, "it doesn't matter where in the house we are we can talk to each other. There's an intercom in each bedroom, the main bath upstairs and Harm and Mac's ensuite, there's one in the kitchen, one in the front hallway and one in the back yard."

"There's one in the back yard?" asked Frank.

"In case we need extra towels or drinks," Mattie said, "this way someone can bring them out and we don't have to get the floors all wet."

Trish looks out the kitchen window at the pool, "aren't you going to put a fence around that thing Harmon?" she demanded, "a child could fall in and drown."

"Of course I am Mom," Harm said calmly, "It's just that I'm having a hot tub installed as a surprise for Mac. I can't have the fence put up before the hot tub goes in and the hot tub can't go in while Mac's still here. Satisfied?"

"More than satisfied," Trish said, "now show me the rest of this house."

Harm and Mattie complied they showed her the family room and the second story. Then they came to the attic door.

"And now for the piece de resistance," Mattie said dramatically. She opened the door and led Trish and Frank up the stairs. Mattie and Harm had spent their evenings that week finishing the construction work on the attic. They had put up the insulation, put up plaster board and installed a midnight blue carpet.

"Wow," Frank said, "you've done a good job."

"And I've even got my own bathroom," Mattie said excitedly, "the plumbers came today and connected everything up. And Harm's going to build me window seats and a double bed with drawers under it. Actually they're more or less done already we just have to get them here and put them together. We've got to paint first though. My ceiling's going to be midnight blue with glow in the dark stars and the walls are going to be light yellow so it looks like moonlight. And we're going to put magnetic primer on the walls so that to hang up pictures and stuff I can just put magnets on my walls instead of using push pins. It's going to be very cool."

"It sounds very interesting," Trish said a little skeptically.

"Wait until you actually see it," Mattie said, "you'll love it."

Frank smiled at the girl's enthusiasm.

"We'd better get back if we want some say in what goes on the pizzas," Harm said. The group headed back down the stairs and out to the car.

45 minutes later they pulled into the admiral's driveway. Harm noticed that Jen's car was already there. He grabbed one of the suitcases out of the truck on headed for the house. Frank, Trish and Mattie followed with the rest of the luggage.

"We're home," he called as he opened the door.

"Hi sir," Jen said, "I was just about to order the pizzas."

"Jen this is my mother Trish and my step father Frank," Harm said, "Mom, Frank this is petty officer Jennifer Coates our current roommate and future tenant."

"It's nice to finally meet you Mr. and Mrs. Burnett," Jen said shaking their hands.

"Please it's Trish and Frank," Trish said, "where's Mac?"

"She's taking a nap before supper," Jen said, "the chemo takes a lot out of her. I got MASH and serendipity for the movies. Is that alright with you sir?"

"Jen for the hundredth time you can call me Harm when we're out of uniform," Harm said, "and yes the movies are fine. Is Michael joining us tonight?"

"No he's been on a business trip this week," Jen said, "he won't be back until late tonight probably. He said if he gets back before 11 he might stop by to say goodnight."

At Trish and Franks confused faces Mattie said, "Michael's Jen's boyfriend. Friday nights are family nights; we order pizza and watch movies or play cards or board games together. Going out is not allowed but boyfriends are allowed to come here. Mike usually comes and he and Jen get all cuddly."

"That's enough Mattie," Jen said before reaching out to tickle her 'little sister.'

"Ahh, Harm help," Mattie called.

"I'm not getting into this," Harm said, "Mom, Frank what do you want on your pizza?"

"I think with can share a Hawaiian," Frank said, "Alright with you Trish?"

"That sounds perfect," Trish said.

"I'll call the pizza place then I'll show you to your room," Harm said.

45 minutes later the pizza arrived. Harm set the boxes on the table, "Grab a plate and dig in guys," he said to Trish and Frank.

"Shouldn't someone wake Mac?" Trish asked.

"She'll be down in a minute," Mattie said, "If there's one thing that can wake up Mac it's the smell of food."

Mattie was right a few minutes later Mac emerged from the bedroom.

"Do I smell pizza?" she asked with a wan smile.

"You do," Harm said, "I got your favourite, meat lovers with mushrooms."

"What did I do to deserve you?" Mac asked leaning up to kiss him. It was when she turned around to get a piece of pizza that she noticed Trish and Frank.

"Trish, Frank what are you doing here?" Mac asked surprised.

"I thought after all you've been through you could use a week at the spa," Trish said, "while the boys finish the house me, you and Harriet are spending a week at the spa."

"That sounds wonderful Trish but I have to work," Mac said thinking about how lovely a spa vacation would be.

"No you don't," Harm replied, "I already cleared it with Leo and Fitzwallace. They'll call me first if anything comes up and if they can't get me they have the numbers for the spa and the hotel."

"So see there's no reason you can't come," Trish said with an air of finality.

"Exactly how long have you guys been planning this?" Mac asked.

"A while," was all Harm would say, "Now eat your pizza before it gets cold."

Mac grabbed a slice of meat lovers and a soda as they all settled down to watch MASH.

By the end of the movie Mac was asleep again, Michael had arrived and Mattie's sides were hurting from laughing so hard.

"That was such a great movie Harm," the teen said, "I'm glad you made me watch it."

"I'm glad you liked it, kiddo," Harm said, he turned to his parents, "we've been trying to introduce Mattie to the classics. They just don't make movies like they used to."

"No they don't," Frank agreed, "now why don't you and I leave the girls to their chick flick and go figure out a plan of attack for that house of yours."

"Sounds like a plan," Harm said as he eased himself out from under Mac who had fallen asleep with her head in his lap.

The next morning as planned Trish, Mac and Harriet left for the spa. Frank, Harm, Mattie, Jen and Michael packed up some sleeping bags, clothes and Dammit and headed to the house. They figured it would be easier just to stay at the house rather than driving back to the admiral's every night.

They worked hard that weekend to get as much stuff done as possible. At some point or another the entire JAG crew was over helping, even little AJ did some painting. Harm had taken the week off so while the others went back to work on Monday he and Mattie continued to paint, wallpaper and decorate the house. By the time Friday rolled around the house was finished. All that needed to be done was move in their belongings.

Mean while at the spa Mac was enjoying the pampering. After three weeks of chemo the opportunity to relax, have a massage, facial and pedicure was heaven. She especially liked the yoga and relaxation techniques, some how it made her feel stronger, less frail. By the time Sunday came she was completely relaxed and felt like a new person. She had enjoyed her stay but she was anxious to see what the boys and Mattie had done to the house. Of course she, Mattie and Jen had picked out colors and fabrics but you never could tell with Harmon Rabb.

They pulled up to the house and even the outside looked different. There were curtains in the windows and someone had done some work in the garden. Harm and Mattie came out to greet her.

"How was your trip," Harm asked giving Mac a kiss.

"It was wonderful," Mac said, "I feel great. Like a whole other person."

"Great," Harm said, "how would you like a tour of your home marine?"

"I'd love one," Mac said taking the offered hand.

Harm and Mattie led her and Trish into the house. Mac gasped at how good a job the men had done. Not only was every room done in the colours and fabrics she had picked out but they had also managed to find the perfect balance of her and Harm to make the house feel like home.

There were even a few surprises, some new furniture, framed pictures of her and Harm and Mattie, little accessories in the rooms that fit perfectly. Her favourite of these were the three teddy bears that sat on the computer desk in the family room. One was dressed in marine greens, one in a sailor's outfit and one in a volleyball uniform. When she saw the bears she walked up and picked up each one. Harm walked up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist from behind,

"We'll add one for every new member of our family," Harm whispered in her ear. Mac had tears in her eyes thinking of the kids they'd have. They would have kids; Harm was right what he's said at the hospital months ago, family wasn't about DNA it was about love. If they didn't have biological kids they would adopt. She had made that decision at the spa that week.

"That's something I wanted to talk to you about," Mac said turning around in his arms.

"Later," Harm said, "I have one more surprise for you. Close your eyes."

Mac did as he asked. Harm led her out the back door into the yard.

"Open your eyes," he whispered in her ear.

She opened her eyes and gasped, "A hot tub?" she said, "is this why we couldn't put the fence in until this week?"

Harm nodded, "the fence had to go around the hot tub too so it couldn't go up until the tub was installed."

"It's wonderful Harm, Thank you," Mac said leaning up to hug him tightly.

"Mattie's spending the night at Susan's, what do you say we test it out tonight?" Harm said in a sultry voice.

"I like the way you think counselor," Mac said with a sexy smile.

"And that's our cue to skedaddle," Mattie said ushering Trish back into the house.

Later that night Harm and Mac we sitting cuddled up together in the hot tub.

"Oh," Mac groaned, "this is heaven on my back."

"Glad you like it," Harm said, "what was it you wanted to talk about before?"

"I came to a decision at the spa this week," Mac said.

"Oh, a decision about what?" Harm asked pulling her closer to him.

"Kids, family," Mac replied.

"What about them?" Harm asked.

"I want us to have one," Mac said, "you're right DNA doesn't make a family love does. Even if we can and do have our own kids I want us to adopt. I mean we're not exactly young so having a bunch of our own kids may be too much. I mean by the time they're in high school we'd be in our fifties."

"I agree we should adopt," Harm said, "but where are you going with this?"

"We both didn't have the perfect childhood," Mac said, "but they were better than a lot of the kids in the foster care system. I think we should try to adopt the kids that the system is having trouble placing. For what ever reason, emotional trouble, disability, older kids, siblings that want to stay together."

"It's a great sentiment Mac but are you sure about this," Harm said looking her in the eyes, "I mean emotionally disturbed kids are going to be a handful, we might find ourselves in over our heads."

"I'm sure," Mac replied, "everyone wants the cute little ones. But not that many people want to take on a challenge. That means that a lot of these kids end up in the system their entire childhood until they're 18. They become angry adults who more than likely end up on the street selling drugs or prostituting. That's no life for a kid. I want to help them, even if it's just one of them."

"Ok," Harm said, "if you're sure I'm behind you 100. Tomorrow I'll go down to child services and see if we can get our names on some waiting lists"

"Thanks Harm," Mac said, "I love you."

"Love you too babe," Harm said as they lapsed into a comfortable silence.