A/N – It seems Lieutenant Troy is a guinea pig. My guinea pig. He has no emotions, no apparent personality – he's just…there. But I think he's funny anyway.

Hours Later

Over the Altantic Ocean

Mac glanced at a gently snoring Lieutenant Troy with disinterest, his head was propped slightly on his open palm, but his mouth gaped as his head lolled slightly. His arm fell to his side and over the armrest and brushed her side, but he didn't stir at the contact. She gently nudged his forearm over so it rested safely on his leg as he turned over and muttered something before ceasing to move again.

She glanced at her watch to see it was already 0100 back in D.C. Christmas morning. She fished through her pocket, not bothering to extricate herself from the tight belt, and managed to pull out the box Harm had given her earlier. She tugged at the end of the ribbon to untie it, and carefully peeled off the wrapping paper to reveal a plain black box that quite obviously housed jewelry.

Mac opened the top to reveal a bracelet that sat neatly between the cushioned interior. She pulled it out and admired it openly, as the woman to her left across the aisle shot an envious glare. The shining silver stood out against the ebony box, and curled around in a loose chain that came together on one end at a thick clasp. The other side twisted gently and in the middle of the two ends converged two hearts, one inverted, the other right-side-up.

Behind the bracelet sat a note, crisply folded and tucked into the corner of the box. Mac eased it out, careful not to rip it as she read it in her head Harm's scrawl:

This is the least I can do for you, for being there all these years. Thank you. I hope we can talk – get back to where both of us feel comfortable.

- Harm

She decided she didn't deserve it. If anything, she had made his life more miserable after Paraguay. She folded the note and put it exactly where Harm had placed it previously, put the bracelet back, and opened up her airbag that sat under her feet and pushed the box in amongst the folds of her emergency clothes.

She also realized he must have written the note before. Before the dinner, before the walk in the park, before they had agreed on talking. How long had he kept it in his apartment? It took her a moment to fight a sudden urge to rip the bag open again and wear the beautiful bracelet.

"I opened one of my presents a bit early, since I was going travelling. My husband gave me a wheelbarrow, a shoe brush," muttered the woman who had been eyeing her, "and a book by my favorite author."

"That's nice," Mac nodded uncertainly, unsure of the woman's acerbic tone.

"It was addressed to his mother. Apparently, she got my copy in the mail later when I was at the airport."

Mac cleared her throat and forced a smile. She turned away slightly and closed her eyes to get the sleep she very well needed. But thoughts of wheelbarrows and incorrectly mailed gifts arose several times before her mind drifted off.

New Year's Eve - 1200 Local Time

Mac had arrived at Dulles on her return flight with Troy in the early morning. After several hours of sleep, she had made her way back to JAG HQ, to report back to Cresswell. She had a feeling that she didn't look as fresh as she had hoped, despite hours of sleep on the plane and the rest she had at home; the attempts at salvaging the awry diplomatic relations between the Lebanese high officials and the American Marines had been draining.

"I'm impressed, Colonel," Cresswell said without looking at her. They both watched the TV as ZNN covered the improved situation in Beirut.

"There's still work to be done, Sir. I merely advised the ambassador and the other officials."

After a knock on the door, Harm walked in with a grim expression on his face. "Sir, you wanted to see me." He narrowed his eyes slightly upon seeing her, out of surprise or suspicion, she didn't know.

"Got back today," she explained, smiling slightly at seeing his strange reaction.

Cresswell cleared his throat and broke the sudden silence. "Hung jury?"

"Yes, Sir. They're going to continue their deliberations tonight and hope to come up unanimous before tomorrow. The Judge has deliberating sequestering them, privately of course, but I believe they'll be ready soon."

"Colonel, dismissed."

"Aye aye, Sir." She spun on her heel and left without a glance in Harm's direction. After going into her office, Mac sat down and pulled back slightly on her sleeve to reveal the bracelet. She brushed her fingers across the chain lightly to hear her door open.

"Like it?" came his voice through the office.

"It's about a million times better than what I got you." She sighed and got up.

"I loved your present." He rolled his eyes overtly and smirked. "Personally, I don't think bracelets are very becoming of me."

Mac stood up and met him, reaching out to grab his wrist. "Hand alright?"

"Never been better," he said, hooking their index fingers together. She saw the tiny, dark perforations where the doctors had removed the stitches.

"Dinner tonight?" she murmured, moving slightly closer and letting her other arm snake gently around his middle.

She felt selfish and rude to do this to him, to hold him without asking permission. After a moment, she shook it off. It was just strange, she realized, surreal even.

He inhaled deeply and she pulled back. "Can't say for sure."

"Why?" Her head snapped up.

"You know that capital murder trial I was working on? Lieutenant Chase?"

She stepped back and went back to her desk, shaking her head with irritation and annoyance. "That's what you were talking about with Cresswell."

"Unfortunately, yeah." He went on the other side of her desk and sat down. "I need to be there if they make a verdict. They'll finish tonight, hopefully. All have agreed to stay here for the decision making, after pressure from Congress hastened up the trial."

"On New Years, Harm? Half the office isn't even here – and neither should you."

He leaned back, closing his eyes tightly. "I'm sorry, Mac. Let's do something tomorrow, alright?"

"Don't worry about it," she sighed. "Duty calls."

He thought for a moment and brought his hand to his chin as he furrowed his brow. "Like the bat signal?"

"Sure," she drawled, pushing herself up and pushing her bangs to the side of her head. "But I'm just Robin."

He went to the door, throwing her a final grin before heading out towards his own office.

TBC…

First of all…the gift isn't quite as exciting as some of you reviewers expected it to be, and for that I apologize. Wouldn't if have been cool if he gave her keys to a rocket car or something? Uh…yeah…

And BTW, I didn't want this to be an actual TAD as you can see. More like a temp. assignment for Mac to go to, get things back under control and everything. We don't want her to miss New Years Eve, do we?