Chapter 10

AN: Thanks again for the reviews! I know I said we'd be up to December by now, but I wasn't happy with this chapter so rewrote some of it. I'll try to get the next chapter up asap!

November
JAG Headquarters
1300

Harm looked up from his paperwork just in time to see Mac leave with a male Marine. He narrowed his eyes, feeling the jealousy rising. They didn't look 'dating' close he decided, and with the new friendship he and Mac had, he was sure Mac would have told him. He hoped so anyway.

Harm's office
1410

"Hi, do you have the Hawkins file?" asked Mac, entering his office.

"Yeah, it's right here," said Harm, rifling through some files and handing it to her.

"Thanks," said Mac, studying his face as she took the file. She didn't know what it was, but she could tell that something was bothering him.

"You okay?" she asked, as she sat down in the chair in front of his desk.

"I'm fine," replied Harm, avoiding her gaze.

"So how was lunch?" he asked, not quite sure why he was asking but unable to stop himself at the same time.

"Okay," replied Mac, still looking at him with concern.

"Who was the guy?" asked Harm. He tried hard to sound as though he wasn't really interested but the look on Mac's face told him that he had failed miserably.

"You're jealous," stated Mac with a smile. She tried to keep the satisfaction in her voice to a minimum. Even though she didn't want to be the reason there was something bothering him, somehow his jealousy showed her just how much he cared. They were clearly on the same page regarding a future relationship.

"I am not," said Harm quickly.

"You're cute when you're jealous," said Mac, her smile widening.

"Mac!" said Harm, now a little flustered.

"Harm, as flattering as it is to have you jealous, Colonel Phillips was a potential witness. He works at the Pentagon and was going to be in meetings all day so the only time to meet was during lunch," said Mac.

"Oh. Did it go well at least?" asked Harm, feeling the jealousy he'd felt earlier disappear only to be replaced by embarrassment.

"I'm going to put him on my witness list," said Mac, still looking amused.

"That's good. Listen Mac, I'm sorry," said Harm.

"Were you jealous?" asked Mac.

Harm sighed, colouring slightly. "Yes," he admitted.

"We do have an unspoken agreement between us. You know that I'm not planning on dating anyone, right?" said Mac, her eyes not leaving his.

"Yeah, I know. It's the same for me. I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, we both know that we've been working towards something," said Harm, holding her gaze.

"We have been. Don't worry about it, like I said, you're cute when you're jealous," said Mac chuckling.

"I am not," protested Harm, with an embarrased smile.

"You'd have a very difficult time getting any woman to agree with you there," teased Mac.

"Had your fun for the day?" asked Harm, now red with embarrassment.

"Yes," said Mac. "Permission to hug the Commander?"

"You know the answer to that," smiled Harm. Mac hugged him warmly.

"I'll see you later," she said, kissing his cheek.

"What time are you leaving?" asked Harm.

"About 1700," replied Mac.

"I'll walk you out," said Harm.

"Okay," said Mac with a smile as she left his office.

Mac's office
1624

"Hi," said Harm, standing at her door.

"Hey, come in," said Mac, motioning for him to enter. She stopped typing up her notes on the case she was working on, and smiled at him as he took a seat.

"I came to say goodbye, the Admiral has just informed Sturgis and I that he's sending us on an investigation," said Harm.

"Oh, how long will it take?" asked Mac.

"A week or so," replied Harm.

"Well, good luck," said Mac.

"Thanks. Money has been going missing from the base over a couple of months, and it's only been discovered now. It doesn't sound too bad from what the Admiral has told us so far, but we're probably dealing with a smart thief," said Harm.

"Interesting. Be careful though, both of you," said Mac, giving him a look.

"Yes ma'am," said Harm with a grin. "I'll be careful, I promise. I'm sure Sturgis will too," he added seriously.

"Good," said Mac.

"Anyway, I have to get ready to go, but I'll see you when we get back," said Harm.

"Okay, I'll see you then," said Mac.

Harm stood up from his seat just as Sturgis came to the door.

"Hey buddy, I thought I'd find you here. Hi Mac," said Sturgis.

"Hi Sturgis, good luck with the investigation," said Mac.

"Thanks," said Sturgis.

"I was just about to head back to my office to get my things ready," said Harm.

"Okay, I'll help," said Sturgis.

Harm nodded his approval and the two of them said goodbye to Mac, heading to Harm's office. When they'd gotten Harm's things together and Sturgis had grabbed his from his office, they passed through the bullpen towards the lifts, seeing Mac again as she chatted with Harriet.

"Just a sec Sturg," said Harm, heading over to Mac.

Harriet excused herself as she saw Harm coming, and Mac shook her head after her friend, knowing exactly why she'd disappeared.

"I forgot something earlier," said Harm, stopping beside her.

"What did you forget?" asked Mac, with a curious smile.

Harm grinned and gave her a quick hug, placing a kiss on her cheek as he pulled back. Sturgis watched the interaction between his friends with interest and made a mental note to ask Harm about it later. He'd been at JAG long enough to know that there was something deep between Harm and Mac, but neither of them would admit it. Harm had skated around the topic when he'd asked shortly after arriving, but never came out and said it. Harriet was out of their immediate line of vision but stood discreetly watching them also, a happy smile on her face.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't forget that," teased Mac, as she leaned up to quickly kiss his cheek.

Harm smiled. "See you next week."

"See you then," said Mac.

Harm and Sturgis entered the bullpen one week and a couple of days later. Sturgis headed to his office and Harm peered towards Mac's office, heading over when he saw that she was in there working.

"Hey Marine," said Harm, knocking on her door.

"Hi…what happened?" asked Mac, standing up and looking at him worriedly.

"Nothing. Getting the suspect into custody just got a little out of hand," explained Harm, walking into her office.

His visible injuries were a black eye and a cut lip, and from the look on Mac's face seeing those injuries he almost didn't want to tell her there was one more. Sturgis also had a few cuts and bruises from the fight that had ensued once the suspect had been cornered. Mac moved around her desk to stand in front of him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, studying his face.

"I'm fine," said Harm. Mac touched the bruise around his eye gently.

"How about Sturgis?" she asked.

"A few cuts and bruises," said Harm.

"Was it the Corporal that you told me about in your last email?" asked Mac.

"Yeah," said Harm.

"How does he look?" she asked.

"About the same," replied Harm.

"Good," said Mac. She hugged him quickly and Harm's wince didn't escape her notice.

"What's wrong?" asked Mac, worriedly.

"It's nothing," said Harm quickly.

"Try again Sailor," said Mac, clearly not believing him.

"Uh, I also kind of have a gunshot wound on my arm," admitted Harm.

Mac was silent for a moment, trying to keep her shock to a minimum. "The Corporal better be in the brig because he is not in my good books right now," she said.

"He's in custody. Luckily too, or else he'd have a furious Marine after him," said Harm with a smile.

"You bet he would," said Mac. "How serious is it? I didn't mean to hurt you," she continued.

"It's nothing, it just grazed me. And don't worry, you didn't know. Besides, a hug from my best friend is worth a little pain," said Harm smiling.

"Which arm?" asked Mac. Harm pointed to a spot on his upper left arm, and Mac sighed.

"Was it treated?" she asked.

"Yeah, it was treated in sick bay. It's really nothing, not even the Admiral knows about it yet," said Harm.

"You could have called me," said Mac.

"I didn't want to worry you," said Harm.

"I'm going to worry either way," pointed out Mac.

"I know, I'm sorry," said Harm, reaching out with his uninjured arm to take her hand and giving it a squeeze.

"You're okay?" asked Mac, the concern in her eyes evident.

"I'm fine," said Harm reassuringly. "I do have an embarrassing question to ask though."

"What is it?" asked Mac curiously.

"Can you help me out with the eye? It looks awful," said Harm, smiling slightly.

"Sit down Sailor," said Mac, her concern now mixed with amusement as she pulled out her compact.

Harm sat down and Mac leant on the edge of her desk in front of him, starting to apply some make-up to cover the bruise. It did look awful and she couldn't blame him for wanting to cover it up. Harm chuckled.

"Ticklish flyboy?" asked Mac, stopping to see whether the color suited his skin tone.

"No, the idea of me wearing make-up is pretty funny though," said Harm with an amused grin.

Mac smiled too before quickly standing at attention as she saw the Admiral at the door. Harm stood hurriedly, turning to face his CO.

"I really don't want to know what's going on here," said AJ, glaring at them both.

"Sir, it's my fault. I wanted to cover up my bruise and obviously don't know how so I asked the Colonel," said Harm.

"Nice shiner Commander. I assume once the other half is covered up, I can expect to see you and Commander Turner in my office?" asked AJ.

"Yes sir!" said Harm.

AJ gave them a stern look and left them alone, struggling to contain his laughter at the situation until he returned to the confines of his office.

"The Admiral looked quite amused," commented Mac.

"It's a good thing he was amused and not irate," said Harm with a grin.

Mac got back to working on his eye, completely covering the bruise.

"There you go," said Mac. She showed him his reflection in the mirror of her compact.

"Thanks Mac, it looks like I don't have a black eye at all now," said Harm using his right arm to give her a quick hug.

"You're welcome," said Mac.