Thanks to a small car accident, it took them 20 minutes to reach the mall. But luckily there weren't many people there.
"I need to get a new pair of pants, a pair of shoes and a couple other small things," Trish stated, "Would the two of you like to join me or go off on your own?" Her statement was accompanied by a long sigh from Harm.
Mac glanced over at him quickly. Sometimes, he's such a typical man. She thought. "Thanks for the offer Trish, but I think we'll wander off on own."
"Harm has my cell number, so if you want to meet up just give me a ring." With that they parted and Harm and Mac began to wander through the mall.
"Sure you don't want to go shopping with Mom?" Harm asked after a few minutes. "It would probably be a bit more interesting than coming with me."
"Why would you say that?" Mac asked.
"Well, first of all I know you love shopping. And secondly, all I have to get is a light bulb."
"Works fine for me! I don't really need any new clothes anyway. Come on, let's go get that bulb." With that Mac grabbed his hand and started pulling him in the right direction. Harm just smiled and let her lead the way. After they arrived at the right shop, it took Harm all of five minutes to find the right bulb. He paid for it and they continued wandering through the mall. They walked by a CD store and Harm stopped in front of it.
"That reminds me!" He started. "I was looking for a new CD. Mind if we go in quickly?"
Mac smiled at Harm. "Of course not! Lead the way flyboy!"
Once inside the store, Mac quickly turned to Harm. "That reminds me, there is a certain song I'd like to buy. Do you know where the singles are?" Harm pointed her in the right direction and turned back to the rack to look for his CD. A few minutes later he gave up looking and went to look for Mac.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked her when he reached her.
"Yep!" She answered and held up a CD.
"Because of You" Harm read. "Doesn't look like something you would usually listen to Mac. Where did you hear the song?"
"You are going to laugh," She started, "I was flipping through the TV channels once and saw the video clip on MTV."
Harm gave a little chuckle and Mac punched him in the arm playfully.
"Oww!" he faked.
"I warned you! Always take a Marine's threats seriously." She laughed.
They proceeded to the cash register and paid for the CD.
After that Harm checked his watch and sighed. "We still have an hour left." He said. "Any suggestions on how to pass the time?"
"They have a good Chinese fast-food place somewhere here." Mac suggested.
"That's my Marine, always thinking with her stomach!" Harm laughed.
Mac smiled at the use of my Marine but decided not to say anything. They wandered through the mall to the fast-food place only stopping twice to look at a jewelry store and a model airplane. The rest of the time passed by quickly. They met up with Trish an hour later and drove back to Harm's apartment. There was a message on the answering machine from Frank and Sergei saying they were running late and would be home around seven. Trish checked her watch and saw that it was only five thirty.
"I think I'll go lay down for a moment since they won't be home for a while anyway. Shopping is certainly a tiring occupation." She said and headed off to the bedroom.
Umm, Harm," Mac started "Would you mind taking me by my apartment later on this evening?"
Harm looked over at her with a worried expression. "You're not planning on going back to your apartment, are you?"
She looked away from him and answered: "I just need a few things. I'm running out of clean clothes." The thing she hated most about the whole situation was not wanting to be alone. She didn't want to admit it, but there was something about Robert that scared her.
Harm instantly understood. She would never admit aloud to not wanting to be alone in her flat.
"Of course I'll take you, Mac. How about we go after dinner?" He said in a soft voice.
"Thanks Harm." Mac smiled at him and then headed off to the bathroom.