Thankyou to all those who reviewed! It is appreciated. This story is set in season nine, after the episode 'What If''. Some of the situations might not correspond with what happens after this episode, but that is all I have seen up to in Australia. Yes, we're like a year and a half behind- not fair!.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything…at all... though I wouldn't mind having a say in whoever creates the storylines- nine years we had to wait! Come on! And sorry about how long this is taking me to write- so many assignments; and it's only the first week!

May 2004

13:55 Zulu

JAG Headquarters

Admiral's Office

"Commander Rabb, calm down!" the admiral yelled at the man standing before him

"I'm sorry sir, I just. This is horrible!" Harm told AJ in disbelief.

"I know son, but we can't do anything other than damage control." He said

"What do you want us to do?" Harm asked the SecNav

"I have already discussed this with the admiral. We both agree that the best thing to do would be to manipulate the situation in our favour."

"How are we going to do that, sir? The pictures and the articles were pretty harsh." Commander Rabb was talking about the folder he now had in his hands. Inside the innocent looking envelope was pictures of various Harm and Mac outings, including a picture from last Fridays McMurphys get together. If this wasn't bad enough the reporter went to the trouble of interviewing Harm and Macs neighbours, old friends, academy teachers and instructors and various other acquaintances.

"The numbers of people joining the Navy and Marines has decreased significantly over the past two years. The secretary wants you and Colonel Mackenzie to be the new poster boy and girl to join. With all this publicity it will be a lot easier for you two." The SecNav smiled at Harm.

"What? I don't think Mac will like this, our lives have been dissected by some woman who got kicked out of the Navy and now you want us to pose on billboards! ". Harm's arms were flying around; helping him to prove his point.

"Commander! Keep your voice down. Look, I don't like this any better than you do. Do you honestly think I want my two senior lawyers gallivanting of to photo shoots?. This came from way above us." The Admiral explained to Harm and rubbed his hand over his face as he sat down.

"I would advise you go and tell your partner about what will be happening. I suspect you will both have problems with the paparazzi once you leave this office. Both report to me before you leave this afternoon." Harm nodded, made a perfect about face and left the office.

When he entered the bullpen, everyone stopped moving. He sighed and headed over to Harriet's desk.

"Harriet, Do you know where Mac is?" he asked her, trying to avoid the curious stares

"I think she is still in the restrooms sir. Uh, is everything alright? The colonel looked upset." Harriet touched his shoulder and gave him a concerned look

"I really don't know yet Harriet." He replied and walked away.

As he approached the bathroom he hesitated. After a moment he decided he would just see if she was alright.

"Mac, are you in there?" he got no answer

"Mac, can I come in?" he looked around and then stuck his head in the bathroom. After quickly jumping back outside and listening for any loud objects being throw his way, he opened the door and stepped inside.

"Harm! What are you doing here? This is the Women's bathroom!" Mac was on the opposite side of the room, sitting on… a sofa?.

"Whoa, look at this bathroom. Why do you have a sofa? And curtains…and pictures?" Indeed the women's bathroom was much more homely than the men's. There was a big red sofa on one side, various posters in frames of old movies like 'An Affair to Remember' and other 'women stuff'.

"Harm! You're not supposed to be in here, oh god. Harriet will kill me!" Mac jumped up walking towards him and trying to shoo him out the door.

"Mac what the hell?..what…ow!…what are you doing?" Harm was spinning around like a headless chicken trying to avoid her un-ladylike shoving.

"Ugh, forget it! What do you want?" she threw her hands in the air, and moved across the room to sit back on the couch.

"I came to make sure you were okay. Are you okay?" he moved hesitantly over towards her.

"I'm fine" she said

He gave her a 'yeh-right' look, and then moved to lean against the sinks near her.

"Mac c'mon, I'm involved in this just as much as you are-we're gonna have to stick together," he looked at her and sighed.

"I know this is bad, but maybe we can stay positive and try to make the most of it," the second he said it he knew she was going to blow

"Bad? Bad doesn't even being to comprehend how ridiculous this situation is! Harm, she has being following us! And interviewed people! She should be charged with an article 42; and you want me to make the most of it! And why the hell aren't you pissed off!" Mac was pacing back and forth; throwing her hands in the air.

"I am pissed off, Mac! What the hell are we supposed to do about it? everyone has read the articles and seen the pictures!" He sighed and sat down on the couch

"I know, I just hate this. Our credibility will go down the drain. We won't be JAG lawyers anymore; we'll be JAG/ reality-gossip-lawyers in funny hats wearing lots of badges!" She gave a frustrated grunt and sat down next to him. Harm rubbed her back; trying to calm her down

"God this is screwing stuff up. I still think we should file and article 42." She turned to look at Harm when his hand stopped moving. "What?" she asked

"I ah don't think we should do that," he said anxiously, stroking her spine slowly.

"Harm?" she turned around again to look in his eyes. He tried to avoid her gaze, looking like he was trying to penetrate the floor with his eyes. After a few moments, he looked up at her. She saw from the look in his eyes that she wasn't going to like what he had to say, "Harm?" She gave him a pleading look and he finally relented.

"The SecNav wants us to be poster-people for a new recruiting campaign. Something about manipulating the situation. And before you say anything I've already argued with him, they said 'It comes from above' whoever 'above' is. The Admiral isn't happy about this either; something to do with gallivanting and photo shoots." Harm looked at her again. She took a deep breath and turned around completely.

"Are you okay with this?" she asked

"I don't know yet, but either way we have to do it. And besides I wouldn't mind spending more time with my favourite marine, even if it meant I had to have baby oil smothered over my chest," he smiled warmly at her.

"I wouldn't mind spending more time with my favourite sailor anyway, even if you are a squid," she smiled back at him

"Shall we go milady?" he stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and stood up, but did not release his hand. They started walking towards the door, slower than usually trying to savour this moment of peace.

"Sooo how come you've got all this stuff in here," he waggled his eyebrows at her.

A strangled cry and a loud thud startled them, and Harm ran for the door; tugging Mac along. As he ran back into the bullpen he stopped abruptly, causing Mac to run into him.

"Harm! Wha…?" she stopped abruptly and raised her eyebrows at the situation in front of her. The whole JAG office was huddled around one area. And in the middle was…

(A/N Kidding!)

Harriet…who had someone in a headlock.

LOl...I wanted to end it funny. Well I laughed anyway! Hopefully I will be able to write another chapter on the weekend and post it on Monday (4 days from now) or early next week. But, I will hold any progress hostage (sorry, too much 24) until I get a decent number of reviews. Sorry about the shortness, I really need to do a maths and food assignment now. Until we talk again!