1710 ZULU

Harriet had spent the morning fuming on her best friends' behalf. She had been hoping to do something nice for Harm and Mac by showing them how much all their friends approved of and supported their relationship. Now all that had been twisted and perverted by the vicious rumors that had been swirling around the building and Harriet was almost one hundred percent sure who was behind it. Despite the Admiral's warning about the gossip this morning, Harriet had still heard things floating around every time she had ventured out of the bullpen. She hoped that Harm and Mac knew that their real friends were behind them. She just hated the fact that there were people who still lent credence to that particular story by continuing to repeat it.

Harriet saw Carolyn exit the building with her lunch and motioned her over to the table she was sitting at. Taking the seat opposite Harriet, Carolyn jumped right in with, "I can't believe some of the things people have been saying this morning!"

Harriet shook her head sadly as she toyed with her sandwich's paper wrapper. "I just wanted everything to be perfect for them, Commander," she commented sadly. "I wanted them to know how happy we all are for them."

Carolyn put her hand on Harriet's arm and squeezed gently. "It's not your fault," she tried to reassure Harriet. "No one can fault you for being happy for your friends. I just wish I knew for sure who could even think such things about Harm and Mac, let alone spread such stories."

"I'm pretty sure I know," Harriet admitted, "but I don't want to say anything until Bud has a chance to talk to the Commander and the Colonel."

Carolyn understood completely. "It's up to them to deal with it and the last thing we need today is any more gossip and innuendo making the rounds. Anyway, if I were to lay odds, I know where I would place my money."

-----

Mac popped her head into Harm's office as he was closing the file on one of the witnesses they were going to interview this afternoon for the sexual harassment case they were prosecuting. "Hey," she said brightly, hoping to lift both of their moods, "are you about ready to go to lunch?"

Harm looked up and gave her a weak smile. The morning had been a long one for both of them. They had spent most of the morning sequestered in one of the conference rooms conducting interviews, but they had noticed the funny looks and the halted conversations every time one of them stepped out of the room. They had tried to ignore it, but it bothered both of them that this beautiful relationship they were managing to build with each other had been lowered by some to the level of cheap and tawdry. "I'm finished here," he said, getting up from his chair and grabbing his cover. "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing really special," she replied. "I just thought we could grab something from the cafeteria and take it out into the courtyard. It's a nice day outside."

Harm quirked his eyebrow at her, a questioning look in his eyes. He wasn't so sure that was a good idea and had been thinking more along the lines of driving somewhere else to eat. "Are you sure?" he questioned.

She knew where this was coming from. Hell, she had even tossed around the idea of disappearing for an hour herself. But no, they needed to face this head on. "We have nothing to hide," she added firmly. "I'm sure our friends know us better than that. As for everyone else, I feel sorry for them that they can't see how special this is."

Harm took a deep breath and sighed. He knew she was right. It was just that this was everything bad he had imagined over the weekend in living Technicolor. But if it would make her happy ... "Okay, the courtyard it is, Ninja Girl," he finally said.

As they headed downstairs, Mac reminded him, "Remember, we're trying not to let other people's opinions affect us. We will get through this."

Harm was about to reply when he noticed Bud heading in their direction, slightly out of breath. "Sir, Ma'am," he started, turning and falling into step beside them. "I'm glad I caught you before you left for lunch."

"Actually, Bud, we are staying here for lunch," Harm told him. "What is it?"

"Gunny told me something this morning that I think you both should hear."

-----

Harm was furious as he, Mac and Bud walked outside with their lunches. He had known she could be devious. After all, he just knew that she had been the one to put that file in Mac's car a few months back, the one that could have resulted in professional misconduct charges against Mac. But that was work. This particular incident was personal. That made it worse.

"Harm, try not to think about it," Mac whispered. "Let's try to enjoy ourselves, please?" She knew he was angry; she was herself. But there wasn't a whole lot they could do about the situation at the moment. Best to let it go for now.

Harriet saw them and motioned them over to the table where she and Carolyn were chatting about a case with Alan, who had joined them just a few minutes earlier.

After the three officers sat down, everyone was quiet for a long moment, no one quite willing to be the first to speak. Finally, Harriet took a deep breath and said to Harm and Mac, "Sir, Ma'am, I want to apologize ..."

Mac smiled and quickly jumped in to reassure her friend, "You have nothing to apologize for, Harriet. You're not the one who is responsible for everything that is being said this morning. Don't worry about it."

Harriet didn't look convinced, so Bud took her hand and squeezed gently. She smiled weakly at him. "I just feel so bad," she murmured.

"We all do, Lieutenant," Alan added. "I can't believe anyone could even think some of the things I've heard this morning. If someone can repeat such lies about Harm and Mac, who's next?"

Mac sighed. So much for not talking about it, but she knew Alan had a point. This attack could have just as easily been aimed at someone else, especially considering the source. She glanced at Harm and he nodded slightly. He had come to the same conclusion. "We should probably tell all of you this," she started. "Alan does have a point. We're pretty sure we know who started it and you should all be warned, just in case."

"How sure is pretty sure?" Carolyn asked. She was curious to know if her suspicions were correct.

"We don't have anything concrete," Harm replied, speaking up for the first time, "but there is enough circumstantial evidence to be very compelling." He paused and looked around the table before continuing, "It was Lieutenant Singer."

While Bud and Harriet had already known, being privy to the same information as Harm and Mac, neither Carolyn nor Alan showed any shock or surprise either. "This is not the first time that woman has pulled a stunt like this," Alan said. "The list is long, but this has to be the worst. After all, everything else she has pulled as been work related. This is a personal attack on two highly respected and dedicated officers."

"Alan is right," Carolyn added. "Who is she going after next? If she can repeat such lies about you two, she could come after anyone of us, too. She has made no secret of the fact that she intends to be the first female JAG."

"Only if everyone forgets that both you and the Colonel outrank her," Harriet pointed out firmly. "That woman will never be half the attorney or person that the two of you are." As far as insults go, that was probably the worst thing any of them had ever heard Harriet say about someone else.

Mac looked at Harm and smiled as she clasped his hand in hers. She was beginning to feel better knowing that they did have the support of all their friends. He smiled back at her warmly. "True," he agreed with Harriet, "but how do we put a stop to this in the meantime? I don't think we all want to spend all our time watching our sixes."

There were nods all around the table. Nobody was safe as long as she was up to her tricks. "I hate to point this out," Bud said hesitantly, "but what if she goes outside of JAG with the story about the Commander and the Colonel? Especially since there is a relationship. I assume the Admiral was pretty understanding about that aspect, but others might not be. She just might do that if confronted about this."

"Damned if we do, damned if we don't," Harm said quietly. This was turning into an impossible situation. If they said or did something, Singer could cause even more trouble for them. If they didn't, then it would be like giving her free rein to go after others at JAG whom she saw as standing in her way.

"At the very least, we can all stand together," Carolyn pointed out. "Protect each other's sixes, as it were. We don't stoop to her level by being petty or vindictive, but we keep our eyes and ears open and try to head off anything else she might try. Strength in numbers."

There were murmurs of assent all around. Six against one did present a lot better odds. If she came after one of them again, she risked the wrath of all of them. "And I know I speak for the rest of us," Alan added, looking at Harm and Mac, "when I say that if this does go outside of JAG, all of us will back the two of you up one hundred percent. It will be harder for people to believe her if she is the only one making her ridiculous claims. Anyway, anyone who really knows you two is probably thinking 'It's about time.'"

Everyone found themselves chuckling at that last statement. It was about time. Harm and Mac looked at their friends gratefully. "It's nice to know we have such good friends," Mac said. "It means a lot to us. I just wish I knew how this all got started. What made her decide to suddenly start this rumor?"

"Yeah," Carolyn added, "and what about the timing? Is it just a coincidence that this rumor started at the same time that a relationship really developed between you two, or could she have possibly seen something innocent that she twisted for her own purposes?"

"It is hard to believe that this could be a coincidence," Mac stated, "but I don't know what she could have seen that she could have twisted to use against us. Until today, we've been careful to keep our relationship out of the public eye."

"Bud," Harriet said, turning to her husband, "when you were working with her on Saturday, did she say anything that even hinted that she was planning something against the Commander and Colonel?"

"Except about the case," Bud replied, "we didn't talk at all. We met, interviewed the witness, then parted."

"What about you two?" Carolyn asked Harm and Mac. "Did you go anywhere this weekend where she might have seen you?"

Harm and Mac looked at each other, comprehension dawning as they realized where she could have seen them. "It's possible," Harm told her softly.

"I know," Mac replied. "A lot of us from JAG hang out there. She could have been there and we just didn't see her."

Noticing the curious looks from everyone else, Mac explained, "We spent Saturday at the airfield while Harm was doing maintenance work on his plane. On our way home, we stopped at McMurphy's for dinner."

"So she could have seen you there, put two and two together and put her own spin on it," Carolyn pondered.

"Yes," Mac admitted, "but as far as the possibility of her seeing anything that she could use against us, we were just having dinner. We've been friends for years and it's hardly the first time we've had dinner alone together. As far as circumstantial evidence goes, it's pretty weak."

"Especially compared to Friday night, huh?" Carolyn added, getting a laugh out of everyone present, even Harm and Mac. Neither was surprised. They had known Harriet would pass on that tidbit to a few of their friends. They just hadn't expected everything else that had happened.

-----

1900 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

"Admiral, Dr. Walden is here to see you," Tiner said over the intercom.

"Send her in, Tiner," AJ said, grateful for the distraction. Aside from the unpleasantness of this morning, he'd had a long meeting with the SecNav and had been fielding requests from media interested in the sexual harassment case Harm and Mac were trying.

He got up and came from behind his desk to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. "Sit down," he offered. "It's good to see you. What brings you by?"

Sydney smiled. "You sounded a little down when I spoke to you on the phone at lunch, so I thought I would stop by on my way to a consult and say hi, maybe cheer you up a little bit."

AJ sat back down behind his desk with a sigh. He had definitely been lucky to find Sydney. "I had a long meeting with the SecNav and I've been fielding phone calls all day, both about a sexual harassment case going to trial next week. And there have been rumors going around all day long about two of my officers," he said.

"Rumors?" Sydney asked.

"Untrue rumors," AJ replied, "but troubling just the same, especially for the two officers involved if they go outside this office."

"I'm sorry," Sydney said. "How do you feel about dinner later?"

Before AJ could respond, Tiner interrupted on the intercom. "Sir," he said, "Colonel Mackenzie is here to see you."

"Send her in, Tiner," AJ replied. After Mac had entered and come to attention in front of his desk, he asked, "At ease. What can I do for you, Colonel?"

Mac looked at Sydney. She hadn't meant to interrupt. "Sir, I can come back if you're busy," she said.

"That's not a problem, Mac," Sydney assured her. "I can wait outside if you need to speak with AJ alone."

"No, it's okay, Dr. Walden," Mac responded. "It's nothing major. I just needed to clear something with the Admiral."

"Go ahead, Colonel," AJ stated. At least she wasn't in here to tell him things were already falling apart between her and Rabb.

"You remember my little sister Chloe, Sir?" she asked. At his nod, she continued, "Sir, she's coming to stay with us on Saturday for a month. She has expressed an interest in watching us work and Harm and I do have a case going to trial on Monday, so we were wondering if it would be a problem if we brought her with us to work."

He caught her use of 'we' and 'us'. What, are they already living together? he wondered. That was fast. He did think it was a positive sign that Mac was already thinking of them as a unit rather than two individuals. It boded well for their future together. He smiled at her as he replied, "I don't see a problem with that. Hell, she'll probably be better behaved than a lot of the media that will be attending the trial."

Mac smiled at that as she thanked him and left. Sydney watched AJ for a moment and wondered about the smile on his face. "What are you smiling about?" she finally asked.

AJ shrugged. "I was just thinking that it's about time."

-----

Harm looked up at Mac as she entered his office after leaving the Admiral's. "So, did he run in terror at the thought of Chloe gracing this office with her presence again?" he teased as she sat down.

"No," Mac replied, smiling, "he actually said she would probably be better behaved than most of media planning to grace the trial with their presence. He gave his okay for her to come in with us on Monday."

Harm nodded. "Speaking of the media," he said, picking up a stack of phone messages Gunny had handed him after their last interview and showing them to her. "They've been calling all day requesting information, interviews, seats at the trial."

"Sexual harassment in the military is still big news," she reminded him. "Especially when it involves high ranking officers such as Colonel Mayhill. Look at that case with the Army that's been all over the news recently."

"The one with the female three-star general? That case involved two generals. This one involves a Marine Colonel and a 1st Lieutenant," he said. "Unfortunately, this is simply the kind of incident that seems to go on everyday in the military these days."

"Then again," Mac pointed out, "this one did take place at the Pentagon. That's sure to bring a lot of exposure to the case. And judging from the amount of time Admiral Chegwidden spent at the Pentagon this morning, the SecNav is all over this case, too."

"Just what we need," Harm complained, "SecNav breathing down our necks."

"Not the first time that's happened," Mac started.

"Yeah, nor will it be the last," Harm finished. "I know."

-----

2335 ZULU
SARAH MACKENZIE'S APARTMENT
GEORGETOWN
WASHINGTON D.C.

"I am just so glad this day is over," Mac sighed as they entered her apartment, having stayed late at work going over witness interviews for the Mayhill case then stopping off to pick up a pizza. "It can only go up from here, right?" She reached down and patted Jingo on the head as she went with him into the kitchen to feed him.

"Let's hope so," Harm replied as he put their food on the coffee table before heading for the bedroom to change out of his summer whites. "Unless something bad were to happen, say like Palmer escaping from Leavenworth, I don't think things could get any worse."

"Harm, don't talk like that," Mac called out. "I don't want to think about to think about psychotic ex-DSD agents, back stabbing lawyers or high profile cases. I just want a nice, quiet evening at home. Think we can manage?"

Harm came up behind her, now dressed in shorts and tank top, and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her ear. "Are you sure you want quiet?" he teased, a grin on his face. "After all, you're usually pretty noisy. . . ." he trailed off when she pulled out of his arms and swatted him playfully.

"I don't think you need to complete that thought, Flyboy," Mac insisted. "Think you can manage to behave and get us something to drink while I go change?"

Harm pulled her back into his arms for a quick kiss. "Only if you promise to hurry back," he vowed as he pressed her against him.

"Sorry, squid," she replied, "you're very tempting, but I'm hungry for food right now." She pulled out of his arms again and with a sultry glance backwards, she head for the bedroom.

Laughing, Harm got two bottles of water from the fridge and settled down on the couch to wait for her. "She's crazy, isn't she?" he told Jingo as the dog sat beside him, resting his head on Harm's leg.

"Aw, don't you two look cute together," Mac teased as she came back out, now dressed similarly to Harm. "I think he really likes you."

Harm raised an eyebrow at her as she sat down next to him. "Probably a good think since I'm pretty much living with you," he pointed out.

"Pretty much?" Mac shot back as she grabbed a slice of pizza. "Let's see, we've ridden into work together every day for the last week. We've gone to bed together and woken up together every day, also. Half of your wardrobe as well as all of your summer uniforms are currently in my dresser and closet. I don't see where 'pretty much' comes into it."

"Are you declaring us as having moved in together?" he asked, laughing, as he grabbed a slice of pizza himself.

She looked at him seriously as she swallowed the pizza in her mouth. "Do you have a problem with us living together?" she asked.

"Practically speaking," he replied, "it does make sense for. . . ."

"Forget practicalities for a moment," Mac interrupted, setting her half eaten slice of pizza down and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Do you, Harmon Rabb, want to move in with me?"

Who could possibly think about anything practical with Sarah Mackenzie leaning close and looking incredibly sexy, her white shorts and tank top setting off her olive skin? Not me, Harm thought. "I'd love to live with you, Sarah Mackenzie," he replied softly, gazing into her eyes.

"You don't have a problem with living here instead of at your place?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter," he promised. "Anyway, with Chloe coming for a month, it's probably best to live in a place where our bedroom is behind closed doors."

"Agreed," she said, pulling away and picking up her pizza again. "Although Chloe is going to get a kick out of this. You know, she told me just before AJ was born that I was in love with you." Quickly, she recounted for him the conversation she and Chloe had the evening he had told her he was thinking of returning to the air.

"'Harm and Mac, sitting in a tree', huh?" Harm said, laughing. "I always knew I liked that girl. I've been wanting to ask her what fantasies you told her about me."

Mac laughed, blushing, as she remembered what Chloe had said when she had first introduced her to Harm. "You remember that?" she exclaimed. "I couldn't believe that she said that. I had wanted to strangle her at the time."

"Believe me," he replied, grinning, "I definitely wanted to know more."

"Yeah?" she shot back, wrapping her arms around him again, grinning herself, "Play your cards right, Flyboy, and I just might share some of them with you sometime."

-----

SATURDAY, 10 JUNE
1957 ZULU
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

"Since Chloe is only thirteen and traveling alone," Mac told Harm as they waited at the gate for the passengers to deplane from American Airlines flight 1688 from San Diego. "She'll be one of the last off the plane. A flight attendant will escort her and I'll have to show some ID so that they know I'm the one who's supposed to pick her up."

"After a six and a half hour flight from California," Harm joked, "she will have either charmed everyone around her or they'll be begging us to take her off their hands."

"Harm! That's terrible," Mac said, laughing.

"She is quite a handful," he reminded her as his eyes scanned the gate area. "She should be here any minute. It looks like most of the passengers are off."

By the door to the jet way, Chloe stood behind one of the flight attendants, searching the crowd for Mac. Due to his height, she caught sight of Harm first.

"Oh, Harm's here," Chloe said happily. Mac has to be somewhere near him, she thought, as she continued looking.

"Who's Harm?" the flight attendant asked.

"Oh, he's just the guy my sister is in love with," Chloe stated. "She just won't admit it." Finally, the crowd parted enough so that Chloe finally saw Mac. "Yes!" she cried exuberantly as she took note of Mac's arm around Harm's waist and the one he had draped over her shoulder.

"I think I hear her," Harm said as most of the people in the gate area turned to look in the direction of the shout. Harm led Mac through the crowd towards the doorway. Finally, they saw Chloe standing by the information desk next to a flight attendant. She was practically jumping up and down, she was so thrilled.

"Please tell me you finally came to your senses? Please?" she begged as she threw her arms around Mac and Mac pulled away from Harm to hug her while Harm laughed. She is worse than Harriet, he thought.

Chloe turned away from Mac and hugged Harm while Mac pulled out her military ID to show the attendant. "It's about time," Chloe teased.

Harm rolled his eyes as he sighed, "If I had nickel for every time I've heard that this week ..."

Chloe laughed with him at the joke as Mac finished with the attendant and turned back to them. "Come on," Mac said, taking Chloe's carry on bag from her. "Let's get you out of here before you say anything else."

"Hey," Chloe retorted as they walked towards baggage claim, "I'm the kid sister. It's my job to embarrass you."

"Yeah, well, do it in private at home," Mac insisted.

"Oh, yeah?" Chloe said, her eyes shining. "So where's home, your place or his?"

Harm and Mac shot each other a look over Chloe's head and sighed. This could end up being the longest month of their lives.

-----

To be continued…