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Harm paced the room after his phone call with his mother had ended. Why didn't Melissa tell me? Did she think that I would not want to be apart of our child's life? Or was it because she felt I was too immature? Harm thought to himself as he walked from one end of his apartment to the other. He needed someone to talk to. Harm went back into his room and put on a pair of Navy sweatpants and a t-shirt. Turning out the lights of his apartment, Harm closed and locked the door. Instead of taking the elevator he took the stairs—he was too impatient to wait for the elevator.

When Harm got into his car, he had no idea where he was going, so he just drove. He ended up at a park in Georgetown where he and Mac occasionally jogged, when they were on each other's good side. He looked out at the deserted park and imagined what it would have been like if he had been in his daughter's life. If he had been able to watch her take her first steps, or to push her on the swings in a park. After sitting in his car contemplating all the what ifs for an hour, Harm once again started his car. This time with the intention of heading home, however he found himself outside of Mac's apartment building (well they do say home is where the heart is).

Harm got out of the car and made his way up to Mac's apartment. He stood in front of the door for a minuet considering all the ways the situation could go wrong. Well, let's see, there are a million ways Mac will try to kill me once I interrupt her sleep. Harm thought as he lifted his hand to knock on the door.

Inside the apartment Mac was sleeping soundly when she heard the soft knock on her apartment door. Whoever the hell that is, is going to wish they had stayed far away from my apartment. They will be facing the wrath of an angry marine, and most likely will not be able to see the light of day because of their two swollen black eyes. Mac said as she got out of the bed and put a robe on. Walking to the door, she ran her hand through her hair hoping that whoever it was would leave very soon. When she opened the door she was surprised to see a disheveled Harmon Rabb at her door.

"Harm, what are you doing here so late?" Mac asked her friend and confidant.

"Hey Mac, I needed to talk to someone, and you were the only person I could think of that would willingly talk to me at this hour with out killing me." Harm said tacking the last part on as a little joke.

Mac raised her eyebrow before she stepped out of the doorway, "And you thought that would be me?" Mac asked in amusement. "Come in."

Harm walked into the beige colored apartment and headed for the couch making himself at home. Mac could tell that something was bothering him, but she could not figure out what. She so desperately wanted to know what would cause a strong and sometimes arrogant lawyer to become someone so disheveled.

"Harm what's up?" Mac asked as she sat down next to him on her couch.

Harm looked at her sideways and smiled; whoever marries her will be one lucky man, Harm thought. You've just got to love the way she focuses on you when you come to her for help.

"My mother called me about an hour ago." Harm told her.

"Is everything all right Harm?"

"An old friend of mine died. We were friends for a while, then we dated and then we broke up." Harm explained.

"Oh, Harm I'm so sorry," Mac said not really knowing what to say.

"That's not all. Apparently, when we broke up she was pregnant and she decided not to tell me." Harm looked sideways trying to gage Mac's reaction. She sat there with calm and still façade while all the while on the inside she was screaming. "Mac, I'm the father of a fourteen year old girl. I don't know anything about being a father especially being a father to a girl."

"Harm, calm down and do not panic. Everything will be fine. It will all work out." Mac said trying to comfort a man coming to terms with being an instant father.

"Mac, what am I going to do?" Harm asked hoping that Mac had an answer (after all she is of the female species).

"First of all, you need a new apartment, or you could get a house because that small home of yours worked well for just you but that will not work well for a teenage girl. Trust me; she is going to want her privacy." Mac told him.

"You sound like my mother," Harm smiled as he looked her in the eye.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Mac asked.

"Good, she is one of the few women I love with all my heart." Harm told her gazing intently into her eyes.

Unable to keep eye contact Mac turned away. "When is she coming?" Mac asked looking down into her hands.

"Friday, after the funeral. I told my mom that I would go to get her, but she refused to allow me to miss work." Harm told her following Mac's lead of going back to the original subject.

"Okay then. You will also have to find a school. Do you know what she's interested in?" Mac asked.

"No, I haven't talked to her." Harm said regretting that he had not asked his mom if he could speak with his daughter.

"Well, you might want to start looking into the public school system to see how good they are. Also check out a few private schools, keep your options open." Mac said.

"Thanks Mac, I better let you get some sleep considering you have to be in court tomorrow." Harm said as he got up to leave.

Mac followed him to the door. Before Harm walked over the threshold and out into the hall, Mac said "Harm you never told me her name."

Harm looked back at his friend and smiled, "It's Nichole, Nichole Hannah Rabb."

Mac smiled, "Good-night Harm."

"Good-night Sarah." Harm closed the door to Mac's apartment and walked out to his car. He was grateful to have a friend like Sarah Mackenzie. He got in and drove back to his apartment and went to bed hoping to get at least another two hours of sleep before he had to be at work in the morning. Tomorrow I'll have to tell the Admiral. Harm thought as he turned the light off and fell asleep.

OKAY THERE WE GO. DON'T EXPECT THE NEXT CHAPTER TO COME AS SOON AS THIS ONE DID. THIS WEEK IS HOMECOMING AT SCHOOL. BEING IN SPORTS MED. I HAVE TO GO TO SOME OF THE GAMES SO, I WON"T BE ABLE TO GET TO MY COMPUTER. I HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE THIS IS GOING. BUT ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.THAT DOES NOT MEAN I"LL USE THEM ALL. OH PLEASE PRESS THAT LITTLE BUTTON THAT SAYS REVIEW.