Chapter 8
AN: The name of the restaurant is made up. I don't live in the US and even though I could have looked one up my lack of knowledge of the Washington area would probably mean I might have chosen one way too far from the area JAG is set in or something.
Harm and Mac's first date
Victoria's Restaurant
"You should have seen her face!" laughed Mac, telling Harm one of her many Chloe stories.
Harm was laughing too.
"Does she know about us?" he asked.
"Not yet, she has the usual pre-teen intuition that I'm not telling her something on the phone but I thought it would be better to tell her face to face when she comes to visit in a few weeks," said Mac, taking a bite of her meal.
"You'll have to take a picture of her face when you tell her," laughed Harm. Suddenly he sobered.
"Um, Mac, she will be okay with this won't she?"
Mac looked up at him. "Why wouldn't she be?" she asked.
"Well, I think she was kind of mad at me for not doing anything when you got engaged to Mic. I just really want her to like me I guess," said Harm.
"She thinks you're great, really. She tried to warm up to Mic because she had to but she's always had a big soft spot for you," said Mac, reassuringly taking his hand.
"I'm glad to hear it," said Harm, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it.
"Uh oh," he said suddenly.
"What?" asked Mac.
"Don't look but we've got company," said Harm.
"Who?" asked Mac, her eyes widening.
"Bud and Harriet," said Harm in a whisper.
Harm and I do not look like we're here on a working dinner, thought Mac, trying to look inconspicuous. Harm was engrossed in reading the drinks menu.
"Sir, Ma'am!" said Harriet in surprise as she and Bud were led by Harm and Mac's table. She had seen Harm kissing Mac's hand when she and Bud had come in and was just bursting to find out what it meant.
"Hi Harriet, Bud," replied Harm.
"Fancy meeting you both here, sir, ma'am" said Bud.
"You look beautiful Harriet," said Mac, admiring the dress.
"Thank you ma…Mac, you look beautiful too," said Harriet, quickly remembering that they were not at the office.
"Would the two of you like to join us?" asked Harm.
Bud looked at Harriet and opened his mouth to speak. Harriet discretely nudged him and he stopped.
"Thank you, Harm, Mac but maybe another time. We kind of planned on a romantic dinner alone," said Harriet.
"Of course. Well, we'll see you later then. Have a great night," said Mac as Harm said his goodbyes as well.
Mac tried to keep a straight face as they walked away and Harm was still intently studying the drinks menu.
He glanced up at her after a moment and chuckled.
"I'm not spending the rest of the night pretending this is a working dinner Sarah," he said.
Mac smiled back. "I'm not either."
Harriet and Bud's table
"Harriet! What did you do that for?" asked Bud, bewildered as they sat down.
"I wanted them to have time alone sweetie," said Harriet, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"They're here alone aren't they honey. They're just having dinner," said Bud.
"Oh, I don't think that's it. I think they're here on a…" Harriet said, lowering her voice to a whisper, "date".
"A date! The Colonel and the Commander wouldn't break regs," said Bud.
"They're in love, I just know it," said Harriet with a smile.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Harm and Mac holding hands across the table.
"What do you think about that?" she squeaked excitedly to her husband.
Bud was surprised. "You might be onto something honey but let's not make them uncomfortable by looking over," he said.
"We'll find out soon enough. Besides, I'm here to spend a romantic evening with my husband," said Harriet fondly.
Harm and Mac's table
"Did you see Harriet's face?" asked Harm with a laugh.
"She definitely loved this that's for sure," said Mac.
"I don't think we need to worry about them saying anything though," said Mac.
"No, Harriet will be keeping a closer eye on us but she won't say anything and Bud wouldn't either," said Harm.
"Anyway, I'm not planning on hiding being in love with Sarah Mackenzie," said Harm looking at her.
Mac smiled almost shyly. "You know, I really like hearing that. I'm in love with a certain Harmon Rabb too," she said.
Harm gave her his flyboy grin. "I really like hearing it too," he replied.
He leaned over and Mac met him halfway for a quick kiss.
Harriet and Bud's table
"Oh my God!" said Harriet, happening to catch the kiss.
"You noticed too sweetie?" asked Bud, a shocked look on his face.
"Yes, how wonderful! I wonder when they woke up to themselves. I'm so happy for them!" said Harriet.
"They do look happy," said Bud as he and Harriet went back to enjoying their dinner and time alone.
Harm and Mac spent the remainder of their dinner talking and laughing animatedly, enjoying spending time together.
"You know you're missing out don't you?" said Mac, as she dug into a slice of chocolate cake for dessert.
"Not really," said Harm easily.
"Come on, it's better than rabbit food," said Mac, holding the spoon out to him.
Harm merely shook his head with a smile before letting her feed him a bit of the cake.
"Good?" asked Mac when he'd swallowed.
"Not bad," conceded Harm.
Shortly after, Harm paid the bill and waving to Bud and Harriet, he and Mac left the restaurant.
"I had a really nice time tonight," said Mac outside as they waited for Harm's SUV to be brought out by the valet.
"So did I," said Harm.
Mac shivered slightly in the cool night air and Harm put his arm around her, holding her close. Mac smiled and snuggled closer to him. Both were disappointed when the SUV was brought out and they had to let go. Mac was looking out of the window of the SUV when Harm made a turn that didn't lead home to her apartment or even to his.
"Where are we going?" she asked, turning her head to look at him.
Harm looked back at her and not saying anything, pulled over to the side of the road.
"I had one more thing planned tonight but I don't know whether it's something you'd be up to," he said.
Mac looked at him quizzically.
"How are you holding up?" asked Harm, indicating to her rib area.
"I'm fine," said Mac.
"Really, I'd tell you if I wasn't," she continued at Harm's disbelieving look.
"Okay, but you have to promise that you'll tell me if you need me to take you home," said Harm.
"Promise," said Mac.
Harm smiled at her and pulled back out onto the road.
"Now, where are we going?" asked Mac again.
"The carnival," replied Harm.
"We're going to a carnival, dressed like this?" asked Mac indicating to her dress and his suit.
"Sure," said Harm.
"That's if you want to," he added.
Mac smiled at him. "I'd love to, it'll be fun," she said.
Read more in Chapter 9!