Benzinger's bar

Harm smiled at the waiter and ordered a beer. Bud had called and he was running late because of a flat tire.

"Well, sailor, fancy meeting you here."

Harm turned and faced defense attorney Lisa Bennet. They had battled in court on a few occasions while Lisa was a state prosecutor before she went into private law. "Didn't I just speak to you on the phone?"

"Small world." Lisa turned to the waiter and ordered two glasses of white wine. "Is the Colonel in the loop about what's going on?"

Harm nodded. "Yeah, she's hoping that the boys don't get locked away for the rest of their lives."

"You'd think she'd want that after what happened," Lisa was curious. "The younger one, Ray, got to her huh? I can see why. He got handed bad cards in life."

"That's what Mac thinks," Harm agreed. "Mac is grateful that you're taking this case."

"I try to take on as many pro bono cases as I can fit in," Lisa smiled. "Well, I better get these to my friend. Join us?" she suggested.

"Thanks, but I'm meeting a friend," Harm said just as Bud walked in. "He's here now."

Lisa smiled and left him. "Bud," Harm greeted. "A beer?"

"That sounds good," Bud found a seat while Harm ordered for him. "Was that Miss Bennet?" he questioned.

"Yeah, she's defending the two brothers from the robbery. Mac's personally involved so I try to be in the loop to keep her posted," Harm explained.

"As a witness, she has to stay out of it," Bud said knowingly. "What was it about the boys that got to her?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but she feels like they deserve a second chance." Harm sipped his beer.

"You don't?" Bud wondered.

Harm hesitated. "I do, but there's only so much we can do. They did commit a crime. Anyway, I think they'll get a second chance, and I think that's fair."

Bud nodded. "How's it like being a father in law?"

Harm chuckled. "So far it's going great. They got to the base and are settling in. Nathan is starting his training Monday morning. In a way I envy him. He's got an adventure in front of him."

"You'd like to go back, wouldn't you?" Bud questioned.

"You know, up until then, that was the best time of my life. I had worked hard and finally, I was in flight training. I do miss it, you know. Especially carrier life," he admitted. "But I don't regret anything."

"You know that time when you chose to go back," Bud sipped his beer. "I was sure that was it for your JAG career."

"Yeah, for a while I thought so too. And as hard as it is to admit, it wasn't the fact that I'd probably be stuck at lieutenant Commander that made me go back to JAG. It was my family there. I guess I realized just how different my life had become." Harm smiled. "But," he raised his beer. "That time of my life, in flight school. Getting my wings. Here's to Nathan. He has some fantastic moments ahead of him. A.J too."

Bud clinched his glass to Harms. "To Nathan and A.J."

Harm swallowed a mouthful. "And one day, soon, you'll be a father in law too."

Bud chuckled. "I don't think we're there just yet."

Wednesday morning

Harm got comfortable in his chair and put his coffee down. He was planning to get a lot done so that he could leave early to pick up Mac at the airport.

"Dad, Mr. Taylor is here. Here's the McCormac will. The contracts for Moore and Gardner Inc." Claire arranged the files on his desk. "If it gets too busy I can go get Mom."

"Cancel everything after 1400 today. I'm picking up Mom," he smiled.

"Okay," Claire turned to leave. "Anything else you need?"

Harm thought about it. "Not right now. Will you be home for dinner tonight? I'm making roasted chicken. Ice cream for dessert."

"Sounds good," Claire smiled and left him to get some work done.

A knock on the door made him look up again. "Yeah?"

"I got a phone call from Charles Costello," Harriet stepped into the office. "He can meet you at Calisto's for lunch."

"I can do that," Harm checked his watch.

"If you don't have the time I can reschedule," Harriet suggested.

"Nah, he's a busy man, and getting his firm would be good for our firm," Harm reasoned.

"Absolutely," Harriet agreed. "I'll confirm lunch then."

"Thanks, Harriet," Harm offered a thankful smile.

"Bud is getting ready to leave for court. He asked me to remind you to call Lori Granger back. She's been impatient about the contracts concerning the infantry helmets. She wants to lock the deal and get the helmets into production," Harriet said.

"It's the army who is stalling on those," Harm grabbed his phone. "I'll call her back right away," he reassured.

Harriet offered a nod and left the office. Harm dialed the number. His day was packed tightly and he wondered about taking Claire up on her offer to get Mac from the airport.

Later that day

Mac was surprised when it was her daughter who showed up to meet the plane. In a brief second, she wondered if everything was okay with Harm, but seeing Claire's face reassured her. He probably got busy, she thought.

"Hi there," Claire hugged her mother. "Dad got busy."

"It's good to see you," Mac smiled as they ended the hug. "I've hardly spent any time with you since you came home for the summer."

"I'll be around at the office all summer, so you'll get sick of me," Claire reassured. She was dressed professionally in a suit. She looked like an adult Mac thought.

"I'll never get tired of you," Mac reassured.

"Just hand luggage?" Claire assumed as she took Oliver from Jennifer. "Hi there little man," Claire smiled and hugged Jenn. "It's good to see you, Jenn."

"You too. You look too grown up," Jenn complained.

"Sorry," Claire said with a chuckle. "I have the car seat so I can drop you guys off at home."

"Sounds great," Jenn said.

By the time they arrived at the house, Mac was all caught up on what was going on both at home and at the office.

"Home sweet home," Claire stopped the car in the drive.

Mac got out of the car. "Looks like Harm is home too."

"He must have finished with everything work-related then," Claire grabbed her mother's bag from the car.

They heard noises from the back of the house and Mac walked around the house to the back and found Matthew and Rose throwing a ball with Max.

"Mom!" Rose hurried over.

Mac hugged her close. "I missed you guys. "She hugged Matthew too, then patted Max's head. "Mom!" Kelly said as she stepped out on the porch. She hurried over.

"Hi," Mac hugged Kelly too. "It's good to be home."

"How was San Diego?" Kelly asked.

"Warm, sunny, miles and miles of beaches," Mac smiled.

"How was Mattie's dress?" Rose wondered with excitement.

"It was beautiful," Mac reassured.

"I can't wait to see it," Kelly said.

"There you are," Harm said as he stepped out on the porch.

"I am," Mac hurried over.

Harm smiled and kissed her deeply. "It's good to have you home," he said when the kiss ended.

"It's really good to be home," she kissed him again. "You look tired."

"It's been a long day," he admitted. "But I did make dinner."

"Dinner sounds good," she smiled sweetly.

Later

"So she thinks Ray will get off easy?" Mac questioned as they were cleaning up after dinner.

"Yeah, she didn't feel like the prosecutor wanted them hung," Harm reassured.

"I've been thinking," Mac said thoughtfully. "I'd like Lisa to suggest to the prosecutor that he drop the charges if Ray agrees to enlist."

Harm raised his eyebrows. "Mac.."

"It could be his way out of the situation he finds himself in. He hasn't done anything really bad. Some small robberies. It's his big brother who's the one who got him into trouble in the first place. I really think Ray can rise to the occasion, Harm. He just needs some tools to reach his full potential," Mac argued.

Harm hesitated as he thought about it. "It might not be the worst idea."

"Really?" Mac was surprised.

"Well, Lisa Bennet seems to agree with your assessment of the kid. You obviously see something in him," Harm let it hang. "Yeah, maybe it's worth a try."

"Will you suggest it to Miss Bennet?" Mac wondered.

"I'll give her a call," he promised. "But Mac," he leaned on the counter and studied her cautiously. "How do you even know he'd be willing to enlist?"

"I don't," she admitted. "But I sensed in him an eagerness to get his life back on track."

Harm nodded. "Okay."

Mac smiled. "Thanks for being the middleman in this. I know it's a lot to ask."

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you," he said sheepishly.

"I know," she moved closer to him and leaned in and kissed him softly.

Harm moved his arms around her and deepened the kiss. "I missed you," he whispered as the kiss ended.

"I missed you too," she kissed him again then hugged him close.