A/N: I had this part all planned out in my head on Tuesday. I intended to write and post it on Wednesday, but RL decided to bite me in the six. I had an IEP meeting on Wednesday after school. Our school psychologist should up and the parents brought a psychologist; the meeting took three hours. I had no energy to write after that!



Disclaimer: If I owned JAG Mac and Harm would learn from their mistakes.


Harm and Mac's House

2003 Hours

02/12/2004


This has not been a good week. First I didn't get home until Monday night from the Patrick Henry. Coming home was kind of fun though. For the first time since Mic, I have someone to come home to and I like it. It's nice to have people who miss you when you're gone.


Of course when I got into work Tuesday I was behind because the admiral expected me back Monday. Then Harm gets sent out of town on an investigation yesterday. Guess this time the admiral thought it best to send a pilot to investigate a pilot. Nice to know that the admiral can learn from his mistakes.


Harm called about an hour ago to tell me his on his way home. Of course when he gets here I have to tell him that I'm on my way out of town. Actually I'm amazed that the admiral agreed to give me the time off to go do this. I don't have to worry about the kids because Harm doesn't have anything on his schedule but paperwork tomorrow. The admiral wasn't sure he'd be back before the weekend so he kept Harm's schedule open.


I've already arranged for a flight to Arizona. My bags are packed and ready to go. My flight leaves at 0900 tomorrow morning. I've already told Mattie and AJ that I have leave town again. Neither of them were very happy; we'd made plans for this weekend. I promised them AJ we'd rent a video, and Mattie and I were going shopping for a new outfit for the dance that's coming up.


AJ and Jimmy are both in bed already. Mattie's upstairs in her room working on some homework. Harm bought her a refurbished laptop to help her catch up on her work. The school has work out a deal with her where she can get make-up some of the work from before Christmas and get a full year's credit toward graduation.


I'm doing dishes when I hear the front door open.


"Hello"


"I'm in the kitchen."


"Hey, jarhead."



"Hey squid about time you got back."


"Yeah, I know. Whoa! You're making a salad?" I roll my eyes.


"I do know how to make a salad Harm."


"I'm sure you do; I just didn't think you ate them."


"I don't usually; this is for you."


"Thank you! I'm starving. Where is everybody?"


"Mattie's upstairs working on some homework and the boys are in bed."


"Okay I'll go see Mattie after I eat. Sit with me?"


"Sure, you can tell me about your trip." I sit and have a cup of tea while Harm eats his salad. We chat about work and Harm's investigation. It's almost like old times. After he finishes eating, Harm goes upstairs and spends a few minutes talking to Mattie. I may have great timing but I don't know how long Harm spends with Mattie because as soon as you comes downstairs the look on his face makes me forget what time it is.


"You going somewhere Mac?"


"Yeah, I've got a flight out of here in the morning. The admiral's already approved the time off."


"Where are you going?"


"I need to go to Arizona for a couple of days."


"Mac?"


"It's nothing Harm don't worry about it."


"It's nothing but you need to go to Arizona? You may have grown up there but you aren't one to go back and visit old haunts. Talk to me Mac."


"There's nothing to talk about Harm. It doesn't concern you."


"It doesn't concern me? You are important to me. If it concerns you, it concerns me. Dammit Mac! Haven't you learned anything?"


"Learned anything about what?" I can't believe Harm said that I'm important to him!


"Learned that we do the most damage to our relationship when we don't talk to each other. Let me list some examples: your marriage, your relationship with Farrow, my decision to return to flying, my investigating Singer, my resignation."



I hate to admit it but he's right. Anytime either one of us has decided to keep something from the other; our relationship has been damaged. At times it's been damaged almost beyond repair.


"I need to go to Cindy's funeral." Harm just looks at me. I think he's shocked I told him. He's also probably trying to figure out who Cindy is.


"Okay, who's Cindy?"


"Eddie's mom she died of breast cancer Tuesday night. I need to go to the funeral. Eddie can't go and I need to be there." I'm rambling but I can't seem to stop.


"Okay, relax Mac. I understand where you're coming from. Do you want me to go with you?"


"You can't Harm! Somebody needs to be here with the kids."


"We can figure out something. Do you want me to go with you?"


"Harm, what about JAG?"


"Non responsive counselor, answer the question."


"You'd do that for me?"


"Of course I would Mac. We're all family and family sticks together. I'm assuming they live in the same town and you're not looking forward to being there."


"Well yeah, and no I'm not looking forward to being there but I need to do this."


"I understand Mac, let me call the admiral and talk to Mattie and we'll see what we can figure out."


"Okay."


I sit in stunned silence while Harm goes off to make arrangements. I'm just shocked by the whole conversation. I think Harm clued me into his feelings more in that one conversation that in all our previous conversations combined. Before I realize Harm's back and sitting down next to me.


"Mac?"


"Yeah."



"I talked to the admiral. He said as long as my paperwork is on his desk by 1000 hours; he doesn't care where I work on it at. I also talked to Jason he's going to come stay with AJ and Mattie while we're gone."


"What about Jimmy?"


"I thought you might want to take him with us?" That's a good idea. It would give me something to concentrate on besides my nerves. Eddie's father, Mike, wouldn't have any problems with a baby at the funeral.


"I think that's a good idea."


"Well, I'm glad because I already called and got myself booked onto your flight in the morning."


"Harm, thank you." Harm reaches out and gives me a hug. As soon as his arms close around me the tears start. I start to pull away and apologize but Harm just tightens his grip.


"Go ahead Mac. It's probably overdue." So we just sit there and Harm holds me while I cry.