Disclaimer: I don't own them…I'm just playing with them…
A/N: So not quite as fast as before, but I'm working on it. Thanks for all the reviews and happy reading!
Chapter 4:
With some coaxing from Harriet, Mac agreed to spend the next hour at the picnic. Harriet introduced her to Jen and Tracy, knowing that both Harm and Mac were trying to avoid each other. While she did not agree the pair's avoidance of the issue, Harriet knew that there was nothing she could do…at the moment. Her attempts to steer the conversation away from Harm were successful until Tracy excused herself to speak with Sturgis. With only Mattie and Jen remaining, Harriet gave up and let them lead the conversation.
"So, Mac," Mattie addressed her employer. After the revelation of who 'Sarah' really was, Mac suggested that Mattie just call her 'Mac' to make it simpler for everyone, "When you were with JAG did you ever work with Commander Rabb?"
"I was his partner actually," she paused a beat, "Is he your guardian?"
"How did you know?"
"I'm lucky I guess," she forced a smile. Of course Harm would be her babysitter's guardian. Why do these things always happen to her?
'Fate' Harriet mouthed to her, but Mac just raised an eyebrow and gave a small shake of her head. Harriet responded with a look that said, 'You know I'm right.'
"I'm the lucky one," Mattie continued, completely unaware of the silent conversation, "Harm's the best thing to ever happen to me."
Me too, Mac responded mentally before she could stop herself, "How did Harm become your guardian?"
"My family owned this aviation company that did crop management and stuff. My dad was away, so I was running things by myself," Mattie explained, assuming Mac would understand the implied details, "Well, one day Harm was flying Sarah, his—"
"Biplane, I know," Mac cut her off before she could explain, "Let me guess he had to make an emergency landing because of a busted fuel line."
"Yeah, actually," she continued, wondering how Mac knew all of this, "I offered him a line from the garage, but he told me he always flew with an extra after an unfortunate incident caused by a busted fuel line in Appalachia."
"Unfortunate incident?" Mac scoffed, "I ended up getting shot by deranged poachers."
"Wait, you were the friend that was with him?" Mattie sounded genuinely surprised. When Harm first told her the story, he spoke of his 'friend' in a way that made Mattie think of her as a lost love, but in the last hour Harm hadn't said one word to his friend.
"I have the scar to prove it."
"Wow," she shrugged off her thoughts of whatever went on between Harm and Mac in the past, "Anyway, Harm and I got to talking and I told him about my situation and within a few months I was moved in with Jen."
"Mattie and I are roommates," the petty officer explained sensing Mac's confusion, "The commander lives down the hall. I agreed to stay with Mattie as a sort of co-guardian in exchange for a lower rent."
"Sounds like a good deal," Mac looked over to Talia who no longer appeared as happy in the playpen, "Well, it's after two and I really need to get Talia home for her nap."
"How did you do that?" Jen glanced down at her watch.
"What?"
"Know the exact time without looking at a clock?" she clarified.
"I've got excellent timing," she shrugged, "Mattie, where are the kid's car seats?"
"In Harm's car," she started to get up, "I can go get his keys."
"You stay," Mac knew that should have to talk to Harm and preferred to do it alone, "I'll get them,"
"Hey, Harm," Mac tentatively approached him where he was talking with Bud, "I need to get the car seats from your car."
"Sure," he turned to Bud, "Excuse us."
"No problem, sir," he looked back to his wife who was clearly happy their friends were talking alone.
"Welcome back," Harm told her as they walked to the parking lot.
"Thanks," she sighed.
"Get tired of Australia or something?"
"Or something."
"Where's Brumby?"
"Australia."
"Why?"
"He likes it there," she shrugged.
"Mac!"
"What?"
"Tell me what happened," he stopped in front of his SUV.
"We're over."
"I got that, what else?"
"That's it," she crossed her arms and leaned against the hood.
"How about why?" he prodded.
"He's not the man I thought he was."
"I could have told you that."
"I know," she snapped without meaning to, "Sorry."
"No, I'm sorry," he knew there was more, but he also knew she would not tell him anything else now, "Mattie introduced me to your kids. They're great."
"Thank you, I know," she smiled, "Although Talia's going to stop being so great if she doesn't get home for her nap."
"I'm on it," he unlocked the doors and they each unhooked a car seat.
"Mattie told me how you became her guardian," Mac led the way to her car, "I think it's great what you're doing for her."
"Well, I'm trying."
"From what I can see you're succeeding."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," she smiled and they silently strapped the seats into her car, "Well, I better go get the kids."
"Do you want to have dinner some time?" Harm asked suddenly, "You know, to talk?"
"Yes," she paused, "Is your number the same."
"Yeah."
"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Sounds good."
"You can't sleep either, Tali-babe?" Mac walked into her daughter's room just after midnight that night. She picked up Talia and sat down in the rocker, and looked around the room, which was small compared to the Nursery she had in Sydney. Unlike her old room, this one barely fit the rocking chair, changing table, and crib. Most of her clothes were in a trunk in Nat's room, which wasn't really that much bigger. The entire house was small, but cozy.
"You're lucky your so little," she began in a soothing voice, "You weren't bothered by the craziness of today. Things would not have been so bad if it wasn't for Harm. He makes everything complicated. Harm and I worked together long before I met Daddy and we became best friends. Neither one of us was willing to say it, but we liked each other, not just liked but liked.
"Then I met your father, and he had no problem telling me that he like me. At first he would tell me too much, but eventually he grew on me. Unfortunately, I liked Harm too, and one day I decided to put it all on the table. Do you know what he did? Nothing. He did nothing. Then Daddy proposed and I said maybe. After a while, Harm still did nothing, so I gave up and agreed to marry Daddy.
"Don't think I didn't love your daddy, because I did. It's just so complicated that even I have problems keeping it everything straight. Now we're here and Harm wants me to call him. What do you think I should do?" she looked down at her daughter who had drifted back off to sleep. Mac laid her gently back into her crib and stood there watching her steady breathing, "Sweet dreams."
A/N: Yeah, I know, I'm stalling again on the conversation…but you have to know that they would not get into everything in a public park in front of everyone…well actually, they may but there's been enough drama already, so they're being cautious this time.
Shalimar2…You'll put up with me forever? Does that give me permission to taunt you? Hehehe!
Jaggurl… The legitimate interaction is coming…don't worry there will be a dinner!
Macandharmlover…Your questions will be answered at dinner
BiteBeccy…I love your math system…hehehe! Unfortunately they're both lawyers, so their mathematic skills may be lacking…they like to do everything the long way.
Anita…I don't actually know if this was longer…but I'm doing my best!
Radiorox…Maybe my speed is a sign of a psychotic break…oh well…there is definitely more to the Bugme story…even when Mac starts telling people you know she's going to gloss over some stuff…she did gloss over her entire first marriage…
KittyX…Thanks, I hope you liked it.
Dansingwolf…the truth about Bugme will come out…all in good time…so you just have to try and be patient.
AJ…thanks for the encouragement!
Sam…I'm glad the story drew you in…it kind of did the same thing when it was floating around in my head to getting on the 'puter.
TheJag…I know what you mean…them being parted and meeting up again keeps going back to fate…
And anyone else I may have missed….THANKS!