A/N: Okay I'm operating on the assumption that Paraguay and the fallout
from that mess caused some changes in Harm. I'm also operating on the
assumption that part of the reason Mac said never in Paraguay was that she
didn't think he'd ever change. She's starting to learn different.
Roberts' Living Room 2235 Hours 01/07/2004
I close up the file I'm working on and stick it back in my briefcase. I'm nowhere near done but I'm too tired to keep my eyes open any longer. I really hope Harm makes it back before morning. I don't think I can handle everybody all by myself again tomorrow.
Harm and I decided he should take the case in Norfolk. The thought was that since I got AJ yesterday he'd be expecting it today. It didn't work out that way. AJ was even worse than the yesterday. He yelled, screamed, and ran from me when I tried to get him ready to go. Harm couldn't even take Jimmy for me because he had to leave for Norfolk at 0600 to try and beat traffic.
It took me two hours to get AJ to the sitter and then when I took Jimmy out of his car seat to hand him to the sitter he spit up on my uniform. I had a spare uniform but I still had to take the time to change before going into JAG.
It was 0915 before I made it into the office and I was supposed to be in court at 0900. Captain Sebring was actually quite understanding. He did say if in 6 months I showed up late for court I'd better not use the boys as an excuse.
Court did not go well. Of course part of that was the fact my client was guilty and too stupid to plea bargain. Then I had depositions and other paperwork. I didn't make it out of work in 1750 and had to speed to get to the sitter's on time.
Then back to the house where I discovered that I was missing at least one ingredient for everything I could cook for dinner. So finally we decided to order pizza which showed up 20 minutes late and cold.
The AJ fought me on the bath and going to bed. Mattie needed help with her Math homework. Which I might have been able to give faster if I had Harm's engineering degree. Then when I finally get a chance to sit down and work when Jimmy wakes up.
I'm heading upstairs when I hear the key in the door. I turn to greet Harm as he come in the door.
"Hey you made it back." "Yep, just barely though."
"Hungry? There's some leftover pizza. It's just cheese not veggie."
"Sounds good. You guys order out?"
"Yeah, come on. I'll tell you about it while you eat."
So I proceed to tell Harm all about my day while he has some dinner. I finish my story right as he finishes his dinner.
"Harm, I'm not sure we can do this."
"What, raise the boys?"
"Yeah, I mean look at me. I'm not exactly mom material. I can't even get AJ to the sitter on time!"
"Mac, it's only been two days. Most moms have 6 weeks or more to get use to being a mom. You've had what, a week? Not only that but during that week, you've had to bury 2 friends, deal with Lydia Sims, start planning a move, and you broke up with your boyfriend."
"I never said Clay and I broke up."
"Yeah, sorry assumption on my part."
"Based on what?"
"The fact you left your dinner date before dinner."
"Okay so you know me too well."
"Nah, just better than most."
"But seriously Harm things were worse with AJ today than yesterday. If this keeps up what's Friday going to be like? Not to mention were short handed at JAG yet we can't put in 12-15 hour days and take care of the kids too." Harm just looks at me for a minute.
"I don't know but I do have a plan."
"Okay, and the plan is.."
"First I'm going to take the baby monitor tonight. You get a good night's sleep and go into work early. I'll take the boys into the sitter. I'm also going to call my mom and see if she can come out and stay for a week or two until we get a better handle on things."
"Harm! Where will she sleep?"
"In my room. You and I can share Mac."
"Mattie! What are you doing up."
"I got up to get a drink of water and heard you two talking. I just wanted to tell Harm hi."
"Hello, Mattie." Harm gives Mattie a hug.
"I was serious Harm. Your mom can have my room and I'll sleep in with Mac."
"We have to get your room set up first, Mattie."
"But we will."
"We'll talk about it later. Go back to bed."
"Okay, good night Harm. Good night Mac." As soon as we hear Mattie head back upstairs Harm turns back to our conversation.
"What do you think Mac? I know my mom would love to come spend time with the boys and Mattie. As for where she'd sleep, she can either take Mattie's room or she might decide to go to a hotel."
"Harm that's expensive!"
"So she can afford it. Look just let me call her and see what she thinks about coming out here. Most new moms have their mother around to help out while they get used to things."
"Yeah, well we'd have to find mine first."
"No need to. I'll loan you mine." I chuckle at that. He does have a point. If I'd had a normal childhood with normal parents I'd probably have my mom come help out for a while.
"Okay, Harm go ahead and give her a call."
"Will do. Now you get to bed. You look like you need the sleep. I'll clean up down here."
"Thanks Harm. Good night."
"Good night Mac."
I head upstairs to the guest room that I'm currently sharing with Mattie. After a quick detour to the bathroom I crawl into bed. Even though I'm exhausted I can't help laying awake and thinking. Harm is so different. He's calm, he's caring and he's thoughtful. He's not what I've come to expect at all.
Roberts' Living Room 2235 Hours 01/07/2004
I close up the file I'm working on and stick it back in my briefcase. I'm nowhere near done but I'm too tired to keep my eyes open any longer. I really hope Harm makes it back before morning. I don't think I can handle everybody all by myself again tomorrow.
Harm and I decided he should take the case in Norfolk. The thought was that since I got AJ yesterday he'd be expecting it today. It didn't work out that way. AJ was even worse than the yesterday. He yelled, screamed, and ran from me when I tried to get him ready to go. Harm couldn't even take Jimmy for me because he had to leave for Norfolk at 0600 to try and beat traffic.
It took me two hours to get AJ to the sitter and then when I took Jimmy out of his car seat to hand him to the sitter he spit up on my uniform. I had a spare uniform but I still had to take the time to change before going into JAG.
It was 0915 before I made it into the office and I was supposed to be in court at 0900. Captain Sebring was actually quite understanding. He did say if in 6 months I showed up late for court I'd better not use the boys as an excuse.
Court did not go well. Of course part of that was the fact my client was guilty and too stupid to plea bargain. Then I had depositions and other paperwork. I didn't make it out of work in 1750 and had to speed to get to the sitter's on time.
Then back to the house where I discovered that I was missing at least one ingredient for everything I could cook for dinner. So finally we decided to order pizza which showed up 20 minutes late and cold.
The AJ fought me on the bath and going to bed. Mattie needed help with her Math homework. Which I might have been able to give faster if I had Harm's engineering degree. Then when I finally get a chance to sit down and work when Jimmy wakes up.
I'm heading upstairs when I hear the key in the door. I turn to greet Harm as he come in the door.
"Hey you made it back." "Yep, just barely though."
"Hungry? There's some leftover pizza. It's just cheese not veggie."
"Sounds good. You guys order out?"
"Yeah, come on. I'll tell you about it while you eat."
So I proceed to tell Harm all about my day while he has some dinner. I finish my story right as he finishes his dinner.
"Harm, I'm not sure we can do this."
"What, raise the boys?"
"Yeah, I mean look at me. I'm not exactly mom material. I can't even get AJ to the sitter on time!"
"Mac, it's only been two days. Most moms have 6 weeks or more to get use to being a mom. You've had what, a week? Not only that but during that week, you've had to bury 2 friends, deal with Lydia Sims, start planning a move, and you broke up with your boyfriend."
"I never said Clay and I broke up."
"Yeah, sorry assumption on my part."
"Based on what?"
"The fact you left your dinner date before dinner."
"Okay so you know me too well."
"Nah, just better than most."
"But seriously Harm things were worse with AJ today than yesterday. If this keeps up what's Friday going to be like? Not to mention were short handed at JAG yet we can't put in 12-15 hour days and take care of the kids too." Harm just looks at me for a minute.
"I don't know but I do have a plan."
"Okay, and the plan is.."
"First I'm going to take the baby monitor tonight. You get a good night's sleep and go into work early. I'll take the boys into the sitter. I'm also going to call my mom and see if she can come out and stay for a week or two until we get a better handle on things."
"Harm! Where will she sleep?"
"In my room. You and I can share Mac."
"Mattie! What are you doing up."
"I got up to get a drink of water and heard you two talking. I just wanted to tell Harm hi."
"Hello, Mattie." Harm gives Mattie a hug.
"I was serious Harm. Your mom can have my room and I'll sleep in with Mac."
"We have to get your room set up first, Mattie."
"But we will."
"We'll talk about it later. Go back to bed."
"Okay, good night Harm. Good night Mac." As soon as we hear Mattie head back upstairs Harm turns back to our conversation.
"What do you think Mac? I know my mom would love to come spend time with the boys and Mattie. As for where she'd sleep, she can either take Mattie's room or she might decide to go to a hotel."
"Harm that's expensive!"
"So she can afford it. Look just let me call her and see what she thinks about coming out here. Most new moms have their mother around to help out while they get used to things."
"Yeah, well we'd have to find mine first."
"No need to. I'll loan you mine." I chuckle at that. He does have a point. If I'd had a normal childhood with normal parents I'd probably have my mom come help out for a while.
"Okay, Harm go ahead and give her a call."
"Will do. Now you get to bed. You look like you need the sleep. I'll clean up down here."
"Thanks Harm. Good night."
"Good night Mac."
I head upstairs to the guest room that I'm currently sharing with Mattie. After a quick detour to the bathroom I crawl into bed. Even though I'm exhausted I can't help laying awake and thinking. Harm is so different. He's calm, he's caring and he's thoughtful. He's not what I've come to expect at all.