A/N: Well conferences are over and here's the next part as promised. Thanks to Chris for the beta.
"Ahn" is shit in Farsi. When you read the line you'll understand.
Harm's Office
1650 Hours
03/05/2004
"I hate Mondays." I tell Harm as I flop into a chair near his desk.
"Uh, Mac I don't know how to tell you this but it's Wednesday."
"I know that's what the calendar says, but trust me, this week has been nothing but Mondays in clever disguises." Harm laughs at this.
"Okay I do see your point. This hasn't been the best week. The Admiral's grouchy." Harm stops and looks at me for a minute. "Mac, if you raise your eyebrows any higher, they're going to disappear into your hairline."
"Well I can't help it if you suddenly have a gift for understatement."
"Okay, good point. Anyway between the Admiral, Sturgis and the racial bias charge, Mattie's English teacher, work, and AJ's sudden love affair with the word no, it has been a long week."
"Not to mention the phone call from Webb." Oops, I shouldn't have mentioned that.
"What did he want?" Wow, I'm impressed, he sounds calm and relaxed as he asks that.
"Me to be his official translator during some meetings with some diplomats. I told him no, but it's just one more thing that's made today a long week." Harm laughs at that comment.
"Okay that's it, time for you to get some stress relief Colonel."
"Not that I'm arguing but what have you got in mind Harm?"
"How about we see if Jen or Jason can stay with the kids and we go out to dinner and a movie. And I mean a grown-up movie nothing produced and/or directed by Disney."
"Sounds like a date."
"Yeah it does, doesn't it? Does that bother you?"
"Why would it bother me?"
"You are the one that said never."
"True but one thing I've learned lately is that things do change." I really hope Harm doesn't ask me to explain because I'm not sure I'm ready. I spent so much time convincing myself that things with Harm would never change and he'd never be able to give me what I need. Then Harm and I end up living together and not only do I learn about a side of Harm I didn't know was there; I
learn what I truly need isn't what I've spent my entire adult life looking for. I guess we've both been growing up. It's about time.
"True enough. So can I interest you in dinner and a movie?"
"Sounds wonderful but when are we going to do this?"
"Well let me go talk to Jen and Jason and see if I can get it set up for tonight." Harm leaves to go talk to Jen and Jason and I head back to my office to close up for the weekend. My computer has just shut down when Harm stops in my doorway.
"Okay, here's the plan. You head out and pick up the boys. I'm going to give Jen a ride to her place, she'll grab her seabag. I bring her to the house, she'll stay with the kids while we go out and I'll give her a ride home tomorrow. Work for you?"
"Sure. I'll see you at home." I grab my briefcase and close my office up. Harm's heading back to his office and I wave to him as I head for the elevator.
"See you later, Marine." I chuckle as I step into the elevator. This is going to be fun. I haven't had a night like this in so long. When I was seeing Clay we always went to four-star restaurants and charity events. We never just played together, and I'm finding I really need that.
Harm and Mac's House
2237 Hours
03/05/2004
Harm holds the door open as I step inside. I had so much fun tonight. Harm and I went to an Indian restaurant for dinner and then to a showing of Return of the King at the cinema. It was fun. We got to talk uninterrupted through dinner. We got to eat what we wanted, not what the kids would eat. We took a leisurely stroll around the mall and got to watch a movie without any interruption.
"Harm."
"Yeah, Mac?"
"I had a lot of fun tonight."
"Me too, Sarah." Harm's the only guy that I don't mind when he uses my given name. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug before we hear noise from the living room.
"We're home Jen."
"Commander, Colonel, did you have fun?"
"Yes we did. Thanks for staying with the kids. You didn't have to wait up."
"Actually ma'am I thought it might be for the best." Something's wrong. I can tell by the tone of her voice.
"What's wrong Jen?"
"Nothing's wrong but I don't think you're going to like the message from the admiral."
"Better tell me then."
"You're expected at CIA headquarters at 0900 to be briefed on a two week mission to Kuwait."
"I thought you told Webb no, Mac."
"I did tell Webb no. That ahn must have gone to the SecNav."
"He did ma'am. I brought up the kids and the Admiral said he couldn't do anything the orders came from the SecNav's office."
I don't believe this. The man can't take no for an answer. "I don't believe the nerve of that man! If I didn't have the kids to worry about I'd take my resignation over to the admiral now." I'm pacing back and forth
"Mac, calm down. It'll be okay." I stop and just stare at Harm. Jen takes this as her cue to leave the room.
"Who are you and what the hell have you done with Harmon Rabb?" He's laughing at me.
"I'm him. I promise. Go to your meeting tomorrow. Find out exactly what's involved and then if you still don't want to go, don't."
"Harm, we need the money."
"Mac, we have my salary. We have Bud and Harriet's benefits. I'm sure you could find something to keep you busy. You could even work from home. What I'm trying to say is if you want to resign, do, but don't make your decision based on money concerns or anything else. If you do resign, do it because it's what you think is for the best. Okay?"
"You're a good man, Harmon Rabb."
"Thanks. Get some sleep, Marine."
"I will. I really did have fun tonight." I take a step closer to Harm.
"Me too." Harm bends his head and gives me a gentle kiss on the lips.
"Good night, Sarah."
A/N: Before anybody decides to kill me for writing a cliffhanger I want you to think about one thing. Would a person who's been known to sign posts as the anti-webbie really send Mac off on a mission with Webb? Good point right?