Adventures in Fatherhood II: Daddy/Daughter Rose Ball

By LauraBF

Disclaimer: If you think they're mine, you're sadly mistaken. I borrowed them, hugged them, squeezed them, and called them George and then gave them back like a good girl. Seriously, Harm, Mac, Mattie, and the TV series JAG belong to Donald P. Bellisario, Belisaurius Productions, Paramount Pictures, and Columbia Broadcasting Service Entertainment

Author's Note: Harm had Mattie for six-eight months, and saw her through some important milestones. TPTB made us miss a lot of those, and I don't see why Harm had to be exempt! It occurred to me that he might have seen her through an important one... and this was the result. This can stand alone, so it's not necessary to have read the first Adventures in Fatherhood first.

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2130 LOCAL

HARM'S APARTMENT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
WASHINGTON, DC

Mattie let herself in to Harm's apartment and threw herself down on the couch next to her guardian. "Harm?"

Absently, Harm wrote one last sentence in the brief he was working on and laid down his pencil, "Yeah?"

Mattie leaned against him. This wasn't something she'd normally ask, but Jen was sick, and the formal was next week. "Um, can you take me shopping? You remember--we're supposed to go to that daddy/daughter dance next week, and Jen's sick, and..."

Harm put an arm around Mattie and gave her a one-armed hug. "Whoa! Slow down, Mats. Of course I'll take you--how does tomorrow afternoon after your Alateen meeting sound?"

"Okay." Mattie laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm not real sure I want to go to this thing, Harm."

Harm kissed the top of her head. "I know, honey. But I am going to be there," he reminded her.

"Yeah. My friends have been talking about you since you brought me that stuff a while ago."

"I'm not sure I want to know," he said.

"Susan likes you," she said. "She's going to be coming, too, so I guess it can't be that bad."

"So what's the dress code?" Harm said, changing the subject.

Mattie grimaced. "Dresses. Fancy ones. And they're supposed to be pastel."

Harm shot her a grin. "I guess we'll almost match, then."

Mattie turned and gave him a tight hug. "Thanks, Harm," she said. She started to get up, but Harm's hand on her arm stopped her.

"Is your homework done?" he asked.

Mattie nodded. "Yeah. The math you helped me with was the last of it--I finished my English homework after school."

"Good." He hugged her again. If at the end of the six months, she ended up going back with Tom, he'd really miss her hugs. It'd been a long time since anyone had gotten close enough to him to allow that kind of contact. Not for the first time, he realized that without Mattie, his life would be pretty empty.

Mattie settled back next to him. "Is that mean old Admiral gonna send you anywhere?' she asked. "I hate it when you have to leave."

Harm held up his arm for her to settle underneath. "Not as far as I know. Mattie, honey, you know that I'm going to have to leave sometimes for investigations."

Mattie laid her head against his shoulder. "I know. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Harm gave her a squeeze. "I'll always come back," he promised. "You're not alone, kiddo. I promise."

"And you don't break your promises if you can help it," she said softly.

"Never. You're my little girl, Mattie. Nothing can change that."

"Even if the judge sends me back to my dad? I won't stay with him. I'll run away and come back here!" she said fiercely.

"It won't come to that, kiddo. If you want to stay with me, we'll work it out. You're old enough that the judge should listen to you about who you want to live with." Harm gave her a half-smile.

Mattie snuggled closer to him and yawned. "Good. I hate him."

"Don't, Mats. I've seen what that can do to somebody--ask Mac about her dad sometime. Her situation growing up was a lot like yours." Harm brushed a stray curl from Mattie's face.

"What happened?" she asked, interested.

"It's not my story to tell," he said softly. "You'll have to ask her."

Mattie yawned again. "Okay."

Harm glanced at the clock. "Bedtime for you, kiddo. You've got school in the morning."

"In a minute," she said. "I'm getting up, I swear."

Harm let her sit there until he noticed that she was starting to fall asleep. As much as he loved being her dad, he didn't want to try to carry her to bed. She was much too big for that. "C'mon, Mattie. Up."

Yawning, Mattie stood up and shuffled to the door. "After Alateen?" she said.

"Yeah. I'll be in to tuck you in a few minutes, okay?"

Mattie grimaced. "All right."

Harm suppressed a chuckle as he watched her leave. As much as she pretended not to like it, she'd complained the few times he hadn't made it home in time to tuck her in. Mattie presented a tough façade to the rest of the world, but she wasn't as tough as she pretended. Harm had only guessed that her mom used to come in at night to make sure she was okay, so he was happy to continue the nightly ritual. He'd be Mattie Grace's father--for as long as she let him.

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1600 LOCAL

JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA

Harm shifted from foot to foot as he waited for Coates's substitute to let him into the Admiral's office. Usually, he'd just leave a message that he was securing early, but today, that just wasn't an option. They were too busy at the office for him to just take off without warning. "Commander," the petty officer said, interrupting his thoughts. "The Admiral can see you now."

"Thank you, Petty Officer," he nodded absently at the young man, walked into the Admiral's office, and came to attention in front of the desk.

Admiral Chegwidden looked up. "At ease, Commander."

Harm relaxed a little. "Sir, I need to secure early today--I have to take Mattie shopping for a dress for that Daddy/daughter dance that the officers' wives are holding."

The Admiral leaned forward, his eyebrows lifting into his non-existent hairline and peered over his glasses. "Commander, isn't there a female in your life that can take care of this for you? We're short handed around here, in case you haven't noticed. Why do you have to be the one to take her shopping?"

"Sir?" Harm clenched his hands behind his back. "Petty Officer Coates seems to enjoy shopping with Mattie, but sir, she's sick. Harriet's busy with her work around here as well as Jimmy and Little AJ, and well, you know as well as I do that Mac and I just can't seem to… connect lately. Mattie is my responsibility, sir,"

"I see." AJ leaned back a little. "Permission granted. Heaven knows that I wish I'd been around to take Francesca to more of those things."

"Thank you, sir." Harm came to attention again.

"Dismissed--and I'll expect you in early tomorrow." The Admiral gave him a sharp nod and turned his attention to the paperwork on his desk.

Harm executed a perfect about face and left the Admiral's office, breathing a sigh of relief. After a quick stop at his office for his briefcase and cover, he headed downstairs. Briefly, he wondered what the heck he'd gotten himself into--the thought of venturing into the women's section of the department store was vaguely disturbing. Especially if Mattie dragged him anywhere near the lingerie section.

Sure, he'd bought her the dress to wear to court, but, well, from her remarks afterwards, it wasn't exactly something her age. If he had it his way, the dress he'd be buying for her would be long sleeved, high-necked, and at least ankle length. If he had it his way, Mattie wouldn't be dating until she was thirty, or through the Academy. There was no way that he'd get her a dress that would be an invitation for teenage pregnancy. Not his daughter.

And when she did start dating, well, his service weapon always could use a cleaning. It was much, much more accurate than a shotgun. He climbed into the 'vette, started it, and headed to the Community Center where Mattie's meetings were held. Shopping. The women's clothing department. The more he thought about it, the more unsettling the idea was. He'd never let any of his various girlfriends drag him with them. Hell, he'd never even gone with his mom or Mac.

But for his daughter, he would. If just to pick out a completely modest dress for her that wouldn't give even Keeter ideas. And Keeter could pull sexual innuendo out of almost anything. He was determined to make sure that Mattie looked fifteen. A very innocent fifteen. And sometime soon, he'd have to talk to Mac about teaching Mattie to kick box. The faster she learned to beat up suitors, the better. He grimaced as he pulled up in front of the Community Center. He'd have to have the sex talk with her. Soon. Or more appropriately, the no sex until you're married talk.

Maybe even a no-sex-ever talk. Yeah, like that'd work. He just didn't want anybody getting… ideas about his little girl. She was growing up far too fast for his taste. He'd overheard her talking about boys the other night. As long as they kept their hands--and lips--to themselves, he supposed it was okay.

Harm knew that by the time she got out of the Academy, she might be sexually active, but it wasn't something he wanted to think about. If he had it his way, he'd be hand picking her husband when the time came--and he'd make sure that the guy knew better than to hurt her. His service weapon was a good tool. Much more accurate than a shot gun. Great for… convincing teenage boys and young men that Mattie wasn't to be messed with.

Harm pulled up in front of the recreation center and came to a stop. He climbed out of the car and started towards the door when Mattie came rushing out and bounded down the stairs. "Hey Harm!" she called.

Harm smiled. "Hey, kiddo. Ready to go?"

Mattie skidded to a stop in front of him and shifted from foot to foot. "Yep! Susan, Linda, and Becky are going to be around, too, because they told me that their moms are taking them shopping for dresses today."

Harm gulped and opened the door to the corvette. "Um, okay. Is Linda the one I heard calling me hot when I brought you that, um, stuff you needed?" He got in and shut the door.

Mattie climbed into the car before she shook her head and fired him a mischievous grin. "Nope. That was Becky--but Linda agreed with her. They all think you're hot, for an old guy."

"Old?" Harm pretended to look affronted. He vaguely remembered how he thought that anyone over about twenty-five was old when he was Mattie's age.

"Relax, Harm," Mattie said as she leaned back in the seat. "You're not that old… for a dad."

Harm laughed and started the car. "Let's get to the store before your friends get all the good dresses."

Mattie rolled her eyes. "Ha-a-a-rm! It's a mall! There are plenty of places to find those!"

"I asked Jen last night," Harm commented. "She said to try JC Penny's first."

Mattie nodded. "Okay. She told me that, too."

Harm pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards the mall. "Penny's it is," he said. Inside, he breathed a sigh of relief. What Jen had actually said was that Penny's had some affordable formal dresses. That's what he needed. An affordable dress that fit in his budget, covered Mattie from neck to toe, and shouted hands-off to all the boys so they wouldn't get… ideas.

Maybe if he found one that was… green. Marine green or puke green. Yeah, that might work. "Mattie, what do you think of green?" he asked.

"Not my favorite color. And we're supposed to be wearing pastels," she reminded him.

Darn! Hm. Baby puke was sometimes a pale green. "Okay," he answered, his mind busy with ways to make sure that the opposite sex kept their distance from Mattie.

Mattie glanced at him. "Why? Wait--I know that look. I've seen it on Becky's dad's face every time a guy comes over to flirt with her. You want to make sure that none of the guys there get any ideas, don't you, Harm?"

Harm stopped at the red light and looked at her. Mattie's arms were crossed over her chest. "Guilty. I guess I just don't want you to grow up any faster than you already have," he said with a sigh. He'd had this discussion with her before. He wanted Mattie to have the chance to be a kid, not be thrust prematurely into adulthood again. The light turned green, so he stepped on the gas.

"All right." Mattie gave him a big smile. "You have permission to glare at anyone who asks me to dance until they keep their distance--and I also know where to kick if they try something."

Harm gave her a look. "Don't permanently injure them."

Mattie simply rolled her eyes.

"I think we need some ground rules--nothing backless, strapless, topless, skirtless, or sleeveless. I won't buy anything like that."

"Ha-a-a-rm! That's just what I wanted!" Mattie dissolved into giggles.

Harm refrained from rolling his eyes. "I'm serious, Mats."

"I know you are--I remember the dress you got me for the hearing. Harm, no offense, but it's something that my Mom might've dressed me in when I was six."

Harm reached over and tugged one of her curls. "You're my little girl, honey. I want you to stay little." He pulled into the mall parking lot and started searching for a parking space.

"You gonna start putting weights on my head when I sleep to make sure I don't grow?"

Harm laughed. "Hadn't thought of that. I'll take it into consideration… since you grow while you sleep…" He pretended to think about it for a few minutes while Mattie groaned and rolled her eyes. "Nope. I think if you want to be a pilot, you need to grow."

Mattie smiled as they pulled into a space. "I'm guessing that you're going to have a talk with every CAG and every Captain of every ship I serve on."

"Damn straight. They're not allowed to get you killed. If they do, I'll sue their asses. Then I'll hunt them down." Harm turned off the car, pocketed the keys, climbed out, and started towards the entrance.

Together, the two of them started towards the entrance to the mall, with Harm modulating his steps so that Mattie wouldn't have a hard time keeping up. "Harm?" Mattie said softly.

"Yeah, Mats?" he answered absently as he scanned the mall directory. His idea of shopping was more of a walk-into-store-and-grab-a-half-dozen-shirts-in-the-right-size thing. He didn't usually have to search stores for particular items. He didn't think he'd ever even been into JC Penny's.

"Um, are you trying to get rid of me?" she asked, her voice almost inaudible.

Harm turned around. "Why would you think that, kiddo?" he asked as he brushed one of her curls behind her shoulder.

"Because you're trying to get me to talk to Tom," was her immediate response. "He'll try and get me back. I don't want to go back! I hate him. I want to stay with you, Harm!"

Harm slung his arm around her shoulder and gave her a one-armed hug. "I know. I'm not asking you to go back, sweetheart. I'm asking you to give him another chance to make things right."

"Same thing," Mattie said.

"No, it's not," he insisted. "Hating her father hurt Mac for a long time, and I don't want that to happen to you."

"What happened?" Mattie said curiously.

Taking one last quick glance to affix the location of the store into his head, Harm started walking down the mall. "Not my story," he said. "But you might be able to convince Mac to tell you one day."

"Okay." Mattie was silent for a moment as they got closer to the store. "So you don't want me gone?"

"Never. If I had it my way, Mattie, you'd be changing your last name and staying with me forever… or until you leave for the Academy," he said with a half-smile.

Mattie bit her lip and stared at her feet as they went into the store and walked through cosmetics. "But what if… well, what if I end up back with him anyway?"

"Depends on if it's what you want," he admitted. "If you want to stay with your dad, I'll support you. I want you to be happy, honey. But if you don't want it, I'll fight like hell to keep you."

Mattie grabbed his hand and pulled him to a stop before she threw her arms around him. "Thank you… Dad."

Harm returned the hug, momentarily forgetting where they were. Remembering, he pulled away, but not before he dropped a kiss into her hair. "C'mon, let's get you that fancy dress."

Mattie nodded. "I think it's upstairs." She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the escalator. "I want something blue," she informed him. "And nothing too frilly or anything. My mom used to make me wear frilly dresses when I was little. I looked like something off the top of a cupcake."

With some effort, Harm managed not to laugh. "Was that a good thing or a bad thing?" he asked.

"Bad. It was like all the ruffles, bows, and lace in the world had been thrown all over me." Mattie made a face. "It was awful."

Harm looked thoughtful. Before he could open his mouth to say anything, Mattie interrupted. "Don't you dare!"

He tried to look innocent. "What did I do?"

"It's not something you did, it's what you were planning on doing." Mattie said. "I want something simple. And I'm all for something modest. I don't want anybody ogling me."

"Good." Harm gave her a sharp nod. He gulped as the top floor came in sight. It was… lingerie. And he had to walk past it. He glanced at Mattie. Maybe she wouldn't make him go there. He sincerely hoped so. He'd rather walk through a mine field again than go into the lingerie section.

Walking through a mine field or letting a dirty nuke chase him would be easier and a hell of a lot less embarrassing than wandering into women's lingerie. Using his height to his advantage, Harm spotted the formal wear section as they stepped off the escalator. "C'mon, Mats, it's over there," he said, nodding in the correct direction.

"Okay. Tell you what, we'll grab some dresses and I'll try 'em on, so we can get out of here quick."

"All right." Mentally, he breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't look like she was planning on making him head into forbidden territory. It was a matter of minutes before they got there, and it didn't take long to locate dresses in Mattie's size. It was harder, though, to find some that met with the standards they'd agreed on. It seemed as if all the dresses in Mattie's size were strapless, or had spaghetti straps, or were two pieces and showed her belly button, or… They weren't something he'd ever buy for her, at any rate.

Grimly, he swore to himself that he'd never buy Mattie a bikini. Ever. As long as he had her, she's be wearing those racing suits he saw Olympic swimmers wearing. The kind that covered from neck to knees. Some of the "gowns" he'd seen weren't much better than a lot of bikinis.

"Harm!" Mattie called.

He hurried over. "Found anything?"

"Yep! There's a rack here with some that I can wear," she gave him a big smile.

Reaching out, he pulled one out and studied it. It was simple, but it wouldn't be skin-tight. It also was a whole dress, not like some of the others they'd seen. "See any you like?" he asked.

Mattie nodded, and added a couple of dresses to the pile on her arm. "Let's find the dressing room, and I'll try them on."

Harm nodded and silently took some of the hangers from her. Together, the pair walked towards the sign that said "dressing room." Harm's step faltered as he noticed that it was, of all places, in the middle of the women's lingerie section. He could feel his face and ears turning red at the thought of going among all those frilly, lacy things. He took a deep breath. He was a fighter pilot. Surely he could handle going into a section of the department store.

He swallowed visibly as they crossed the linoleum-tiled aisle between formal wear and lingerie. Nope. He couldn't go in there. He stopped for a moment and stared at the underwear. Not in a million years. If Mac ever broke up with Webb and they finally straightened things out, he couldn't do it. That's what Victoria's Secret catalogues were invented for--so men didn't have to go into that section to buy a present for their girls.

"Harm?" Mattie tugged on his arm. "Please?"

She must've seen the panicked look on his face, because the next words out of her mouth were, "I know you don't want to go there, but please, Dad?"

Harm sighed as he looked at her upturned face. He was jello. He couldn't help it. When Mattie gave him that pleading look, he couldn't resist her big blue eyes. "Okay," he agreed finally, forcing himself to walk forward and into those--women's things.

Mattie stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks, Harm," she said.

Harm followed her in embarrassed silence to the dressing room, then handed the dresses to her before she disappeared inside. He sat down in the armchair outside and started flying traps in his head to take his mind off exactly where he was. He jumped, startled, when three more teenage girls and their moms walked up, chattering loudly. He stood up. "Ma'am," he said respectfully to the women.

Recognizing him, Susan's mom smiled. "Hello, Mr. Rabb."

He nodded again, then offered the women his chair. The moms ushered their daughters inside, then each made excuses and hurried back in the direction of formal wear. Harm sat back down, folding his tall frame into the small armchair. He fiddled with a loose thread on the arm of the chair, wishing that Mattie would hurry up so that they could pay for the damn gown and go home.

Unfortunately, it was Linda who emerged first. "So, you're Mattie's dad?" she smiled at him and gave him a flirtatious look. Before he could answer, she continued. "Wait--she said you're her guardian." She walked towards him, posing for a second so that he could see that the gown she was wearing was one he'd forbidden Mattie to have. She flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder and sank to her knees beside his chair.

Harm scooted unobtrusively away from the teenager. He didn't even have to remind himself that she was jail bait--she wasn't Mac. "Um, yes," he said. "Mattie's a nice kid who needed a break."

Linda smiled sweetly and moved a bit closer. "We're not kids," she said. "We're old enough for… a lot of things."

Harm raised an eyebrow at that last statement and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He considered getting up and leaving, but Mattie was inside, and would soon come out so that he could see her in one of the gowns she'd taken in with her. Before he could say anything, Susan came out from behind one of the doors to look at her current dress in the mirror. It was much like the dresses that he and Mattie had chosen--a whole dress that made Susan look fifteen instead of forty-five. "Hey Mr. Rabb," she said cheerfully. "I found Mattie looking for a dressing room, and she promised to be out in a few. I zipped up her dress for her."

He smiled, grateful to be able to ignore Linda's presence. "Thanks, Susan. Nice dress."

Susan smiled back. "Not too sure of the color, but Mom likes it. Oh, Linda, your mom is heading back this way. I'd get up if I were you."

With a muttered, "shit!" Linda got up and hurried back into the dressing room.

"I'd be careful of Linda, Mr. Rabb," Susan warned. "She goes through guys like candy and she doesn't like not getting her way; she gets mean when she doesn't get it. Her mom told her she couldn't have the dress she was wearing…"

Mattie came out, saving him having to reply. She was wearing the simplest dress that they'd picked out. It was classy, pale blue with lace edging on the collar, sleeves, and hem. It was also the most modest of the gowns that they'd found. It was… perfect. She looked fifteen. A very, very innocent fifteen. Harm stared at her, almost wishing he could find something to object to. She was much too pretty in that dress for his peace of mind.

"Harm?" Mattie began nervously. "Do I look okay?"

"Turn around," he requested.

Mattie obeyed, twirling in place. It fit too well. He couldn't refuse. "You look beautiful, honey. Is that the one you want?"

Mattie nodded. "I like the color--and it fits. Please, Harm?"

He took a deep breath. He was definitely going to need his service revolver when teenage boys started recognizing how beautiful his daughter was. Luckily, he wasn't planning on letting her date for another ten years. "All right," he agreed. "Go change, kiddo."

"Thank you!" Mattie leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, giving him a chance to notice that the neckline was high enough that even leaning over, nothing showed.

Harm smiled. "Go change." Mattie turned around and started back towards the dressing room. Vaguely, he remembered Renee complaining about having to buy shoes to match formal dresses for the various parties that she'd dragged him to. "Mats?"

Mattie turned around. "Yeah?"

"Do you have shoes, or do we need to get those, too?"

Mattie stood still for a minute, thinking. "Nope. I think the ones you bought me for the hearing will work. I don't want heels, because I'd probably fall and break my neck," she said.

Harm grinned. "Good. You don't need to be taller, kiddo. Now scoot! We'll grab some take-out on the way home, because it's too close to dinner time to start cooking now."

Mattie's face lit up. "Pizza?"

"We'll see."

Mattie nodded and hurried back into the dressing room. "You make me miss my Dad and my brother," Susan observed wistfully.

"Who's bringing you to the dance?" he asked gently.

"My grandpa," she said. "He and my mom are. I just really miss them, you know? Especially at stuff like this. Are you bringing anybody besides Mattie?"

Harm hesitated. He hadn't even thought about it. "I don't know," he said. "I might try to bring a friend of mine. She's said that she wants to get to know Mattie better."

"Girlfriend?" Susan questioned.

Harm simply shook his head. "No," he said softly. "She's one of my best friends, though."

Susan nodded. "See you later, Mr. Rabb. I gotta go change into a better color."

Harm smiled absently as she left. He supposed he could ask Mac. She was probably busy with Webb, but, well, he wanted his best friend back. No more fighting. It hurt too damn much. And he'd love to be able to dance with her again. It seemed like years since the last time he'd been allowed to hold her, even under the pretext of a dance.

He looked up as he heard one of the doors open. Harm hoped that it was either Mattie or Susan--not Becky or Linda. He'd never actually met Rebecca, but if she was anything like Linda, he didn't want to. He breathed a sigh of relief when Mattie bounded out of the dressing rooms, with her dress slung over her arm. "Ready to go?' he asked.

Mattie gave him a wide grin. "Yep! So are you gonna ask Mac to come with?"

Briefly, Harm wondered if she'd told Susan about him and Mac, but dismissed the thought. It was like pulling teeth to get her to talk about stuff sometimes, and he was sure that she wouldn't tell secrets to anyone. "I'm thinking about it," he said finally as he took the gown from her.

"Good. I'd like her there, too." Mattie started walking towards the cash register. "I mean, if it weren't for her, I'd be in foster care and I wouldn't have you for my dad."

"I'll ask," he promised.

"I mean, I don't think she really loves that guy Webb, because she wouldn't have said what she did at the hearing if she did." Mattie turned around and started walking backwards so that she could see him.

"Careful, Mats," he warned. "I knew a guy who broke his wrist doing that."

Mattie waved away the warning. "I know you lo--"

"Don't." he said softly. "She said never. No means no. Never means never. I'll invite her as my friend so we can all spend time together."

"But Harm!"

Harm pressed on, ignoring Mattie's protest. "You should really get to know her, Mattie. She's been through a lot of the same stuff you have, and I think it'd be good for both of you." They reached the counter, so Harm handed the gown to the sales lady and reached for his wallet.

"Harm!"

Harm pulled out his debit card and handed it over. "No matchmaking, Mattie."

Mattie was silent for a few minutes while he signed the electronic pad. "Is that why you wanted me?" she asked finally. "Because I reminded you of her? Is that why you asked the court to let me live with you?"

"A little," he admitted. "But mostly, I wanted you to come and stay with me because you needed someone. And because you're Mattie Grace. I'm thankful that she talked to Tom, because it means that you're my daughter." He put the debit card back in his wallet, folded the bagged dress over his arm, and stuffed the receipt and his wallet in his hip pocket before he gave her another one-armed hug. "No matter what happens, sweetheart, that'll never change."

Mattie hugged him back. "Okay," she said softly. "I love you, too."

Harm smiled and the two of them walked back to the escalator and headed out of the store. He'd talk to Mac about going later. In fact, he'd better go to her place soon if he wasn't going to chicken out. But he'd better call ahead of time to make sure that he didn't have to face Webb's smirk when he asked Mac to come with them. If he did, he was sure that he'd be facing charges, and at the very least, Webb would be facing another broken nose.

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