Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story. CBS has all rights.

This is a Mature piece.

The Blueprint for a Hot Mess!

Chapter 1

Mac arrives home and immediately notices that something is off. She cautiously moves through her home prepared to pounce on any home invader that was unlucky enough to break in. She enters her room after slowly making her way through clearing areas safe in her mind only to find men's clothes in her room and someone in her shower. "What the hell?" Not wanting to just barge into her bathroom she begins to investigate the clothing that is laid across her bedspread. She turns to find a suitcase open and on the floor next to her bed so she begins digging through the contents for any clue as to who her uninvited guest is. Sifting through the clothes she begins piecing the puzzle together and soon realizes that the only logical explanation is that Harm had decided to take her up on her offer to come for a visit. "Well, not that I mind but a little heads up would have been nice Sailor."

Thinking back on the way they reconnected after that fiasco with the USS Allegiance and those spies that had infiltrated the USN she flashes back to the conversation she shared with Harm. Painful as it was, it opened their dialog once again after almost 12 years and for that she was extremely grateful. She took the time to call Harriet before Harm finished his shower to ask for a big favor. "Hey Harriet, how are you?"

"Pretty good Mac, just getting ready to go pick up the kids. How about you?"

"I'm goodl, that's actually why I am calling. I was hoping you could pick up my kiddos too, then take them back to your place for a while. I will bring dinner over for the eight of us. Oh hey, can you handle dessert?"

"Eight?, What do you mean eight? Are you dating someone? Who is it?" Mac begins to chuckle.

"Breathe Harriet…Harm is here!"

"What? Harm? Mac what's going on? Did you finally tell him?"

"Not exactly…remember when I told you about that case I helped NCIS: LA with about 4 months ago?"

"Yes but what does that have to do with Harm?"

"Well there are many aspects of that case that are classified but what I can tell you is that Harm's ship was involved and we were both…reintroduced…so to speak. After the case wrapped we shared a meal and conversation which led to continued correspondence when I returned home. We kind of rekindled the old flame via emails and video chats. I extended an open invitation to him letting him know that there were many things we needed to discuss and that he was always welcome to stay with me when he was ever in D.C."

"Wow! What are you going to do?"

"Not sure just yet but I need to ease him into everything. That's why I was hoping you could give me some time with him so that I can try to figure it out. I'm nervous Harriet! I know we all tried to get him involved but this could potentially blow up into the largest Rabb-Mackenzie smackdown ever."

"I'm nervous for you, but you know he could be upset with all of us, not just you! I mean Bud and I as well as Trish. Well, worrying about it isn't going to change it. I will pick up the kids and we will see you around what…7? And yes, I can handle dessert!"

"Sounds good, see you then. Wish me luck!" Mac hangs up and immediately puts in a call to her favorite Italian restaurant, Lorenzo's. Quickly, she orders veggie lasagna for 8, 2 loaves of garlic bread and a large salad to be delivered to The Roberts' residence at 755 Victor Lane, Falls Church at 6:30 p.m. 'Ok, now to welcome my guest…'

Mac makes her way back into her bedroom and finds that Harm is still in the shower. She begins to remove her uniform and decides on her course of action. Twelve years is a long time to wait, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Mac knows that her heart has wanted no one else since meeting Harmon Rabb Jr. all those years ago. She has had plenty of time to analyze the mistakes of her past as well as her reactions to his idiotic decisions and reasonings and in all that time she decided that she was smart enough not to make the same mistakes. This time there was too much at stake, they needed to deal with everything, the good, and the bad. Entering the bathroom she tells herself…'I'm not giving him the choice this time, no more running!' Quietly she watches him through the glass feeling the buried desire of long ago she opens the door and joins him. "Babe, Can you pass the shampoo?"