As Mac starts to get up, Harm grabs her around the waist, "Sturgis huh?"

Mac shrieks, "Didn't we have this discussion earlier? Red light! You can hold me all you want later." The warmth she feels when he touches her, immediately dissipates when he lets her go.

Harm reluctantly releases her, "All I want?"

Mac replies with a twinkle in her eye, "Well as much as the instructor will let you at least. After all, I don't think we can dance together without touching. So, where did you want me to meet you for dinner?"

Harm scoffs, "Dinner? I thought you were going with Sturgis."

Mac teases, "Nah, I'll go with you."

Harm thinks for a moment before starting to get up, "Well, I don't want to be second choice, you know. I can get Sturgis for you."

Mac pushes him back into a chair, "Don't get your boxers in a twist, Flyboy! I just wanted to ask Sturgis, since he is a preacher's son, if he should happen to have the access codes for the gates into hell."

Harm outright laughs, "Ah, the smell of burnt Lieutenant in the afternoon. At least you didn't set off the fire alarm."

Mac pretends to seriously contemplate that idea, "Don't tempt me!"

Harm smiles, "There's my feisty Marine. I thought she had disappeared when I first came in here, but I'm glad to see she is back in full swing."

Mac laughs, "Oh, if you hadn't been in court this afternoon, you would have heard all about the feisty Marine. I'm shocked the Admiral didn't come in my office because I'm sure he heard at least part of my dressing down."

Harm chuckles, "I've seen that side of you firsthand. I just hope I'm never on the receiving end of your wrath."

Mac quirks her eyebrow, "And what makes you think that you are immune to my wrath?"

Harm grins, "Well, you have never dressed me down the way you did Singer or those Petty Officers on the Watertown."

Mac tells him, "Well, I'm only the Senior Officer by a few months, so it wouldn't be appropriate." Then she leans over and whispers in his ear, "Besides Squid, I reserve a special kind of dressing down for you."

Harm drops his jaw, "Now who needs the Red Light, Colonel?"

Mac smiles, "I have no idea what you mean, Commander. Now where am I meeting you for dinner?"

Clyde's of Georgetown

1830 hours EST

Mac is uncharacteristically running late. She must have tried on six different outfits, trying to find the right mix of alluring, and fit for dancing. She settled on a black halter dress that ties behind her neck, has an open back, and lands right about her knees. It should flare nicely when twirling. It has the added advantage of being able to feel the heat of Harm's hand on her bare back as he holds her. The outfit is completed with some light make-up, enhancing her eyes and lips; a crocheted shawl, and three-inch heels. Some women might have issues dancing in the heels, but she has salsa danced before, and is completely used to it.

When she arrives at the restaurant, the hostess invites her to glance around the restaurant for her party. Mac smiles, "That won't be necessary, just point me in the direction of the best-looking guy in the place that is sitting alone."

The hostess looks at her oddly, trying to decide if the patron is joking or not. In the three years she has been working here, it's the first time she has ever experienced this type of request. She thinks to herself, 'I might have to try that line one time' before telling Mac, "Not to be rude, Ma'am, but I'm not sure that is the best idea. First, we may have very different ideas of the most handsome guy in the place. Second, I don't want to upset another patron by choosing the wrong one."

Mac shrugs her off, "Ok, I'll find him myself, but I will stop by on our way out, and ask your opinion."

She finds Harm sitting in a booth towards the back of the restaurant. Her breath catches in her throat as he stands to greet her. He is dressed in a dark charcoal suit, with a light teal shirt, and a simple black tie. The shirt is bringing out the color of his eyes in full force, and he looks simply gorgeous.

Harm is equally captivated by her attire. When she reaches him, he leans over and gives her a quick kiss on her cheek, "You look beautiful, Sarah."

She smiles and tells him, "Thank you. You don't look too shabby yourself, Harm. You don't think we are overdressed for a night of dancing with your partner, do you?"

Harm motions for her to take a seat and quietly says, "Not at all, I am looking forward to it."

She returns the sentiment, "So am I."

When the waiter approaches to take their drink order, he can't keep his eyes off of Mac. Harm clears his throat, loudly, to get the waiter's attention. "I'm sorry, Sir. What can I get both of you to drink?"

Harm replies, "I'll take a mineral water, and the lady will have a club soda with a twist."

Mac inquires, "Harm, do you want to share the Hummus Plate as a appetizer?"

Harm adds, "That sounds good, we will have that as well."

The waiter replies, "Very well, I'll be right back."

When the waiter leaves, Mac is staring at Harm with a pointed glare. He sheepishly remarks, "What?"

Mac giggles slightly, "You know what."

Harm grins, "I know, you are a Marine and can take of yourself."

Mac smiles, "Very good, Sailor. Try to keep the green-eyed monster to a minimum tonight."

The waiter returns with their drinks, and Harm places their order. "I'll have the Maryland Day Boat scallops and she will have the NY Strip."

The waiter takes their menus and goes to place their order. He returns shortly with some appetizer plates and the Hummus. Harm and Mac converse lightly while waiting for their meals. "So, you know how part of my afternoon went, how did you fare again Sturgis?"

Harm sighs, "He's still got the upper hand for the moment, but I'm sure that the panel will be swinging my way before we are done."

Mac smiles knowingly, "Ace in your pocket or emotional appeal?"

Harm's eyes glint, but he remains cryptic, "Maybe a little of both."

Mac chuckles, "Poor Sturgis. Maybe I should have taken him out to dinner, he's going to need it."

Harm spits, "Bite your tongue, Counselor! I'll let him beat me in a game of basketball, and all will be good."

Mac chuckles, "Let him beat you, huh? I thought you two were pretty evenly matched on the court. Although in running, he has you dead to rights."

Harm grins, "But on the court, I have the height advantage, and I use it as often as possible!"

Mac barely has time to say, "I'll bet you do" as their main course arrives. The waiter ensures that they don't need anything else, and leaves them to their meals.

Over dinner, Mac tells Harm about the two idiots from her Bethesda case this morning. Harm inquires, "So do you think the convening authority will go for non-judicial punishment? It seems too lenient since they both ended up in the hospital."

Mac sighs, "I know, but I felt bad for them. They are just two stupid kids who didn't know how to properly behave when their testosterone went into overdrive. I gave the Admiral a three tiered recommendation. The first was non-judicial, the second was anger management classes and loss of pay, and the most stringent was to throw their butts in the brig for three months and make them take sensitivity training."

Harm grunts, "Sensitivity training, really?"

Mac replies, "Yep. They should make all you boys take it. None of you know how to behave with each other when a woman is involved. It's like your common sense goes straight out the window because you are thinking with the wrong head!"

Harm starts to argue before flashes of a forced boxing match in Australia go through his mind. "Ok, you might have a point there."

Mac smiles at her victory.

The waiter returns to see if they would like anything for dessert. Mac checks her internal clock and notes they have just enough time for dessert and coffee before they need to make their class.

Harm says, "I'm stuffed, so just a cup of coffee for me. Mac?"

Mac replies, "I'm pretty full too, but that Crème Brule looks divine. I think I will have that and a cup of coffee as well."

When the waiter leaves the table, Harm takes her hand and gives her a wink. "It's ok to over indulge a little, I'll help you work it off later!"

Mac decides to leave that comment alone for now, and just shakes her head at him.

Dessert and coffee finished, Harm pays for the check, and helps Mac with her shawl.

Harm has his hand resting lightly on Mac's lower back as they walk out of the restaurant. She makes sure they stop by the hostess desk on their way, and asks the girl from earlier, "Well?"

The younger woman blushes, "You were right."

Mac just nods her head in satisfaction, and proceeds out the door. Harm looks at her inquisitively, "What was all that about?"

Mac just gives him a coy smile with a twinkle in her eye. "That, my dear Flyboy, is classified. Let's get a move on, or we will be late!"