Five weeks later
Harm opened the front door after Mac had unlocked it. Samantha and Lian ran past them and into the house. Harm put his seabag down and looked around the spacious hallway. It was good to be home again.
"Mattie will be here for dinner," Mac put her phone away and moved past him.
"Is she working too hard as usual?" he assumed. Their oldest daughter was working for the DA's office. She had followed in their footsteps and gone to law school. Because of a spinal injury as a teenager, she had to forget about her dream of becoming a pilot and joining the Navy.
"Pretty much," Mac smiled sheepishly.
Harm grabbed his bag and walked past her. "I'm taking a long shower and getting into civilian clothes. Be warned, I'm also considering not shaving for the next two weeks."
Mac chuckled. "I can handle it."
Harm found her in the kitchen twenty minutes later. She was looking out the window where the twins were playing with the dog, a beautiful Golden Retriever that they had to get when the old dog died a year ago. Harm stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"The mutt is getting big," he kissed her cheek.
She nodded. "He's going to be disappointed when he's kicked out of bed."
"You let him sleep in our bed?" he was amused.
"Sam and I have taken turns," she admitted as she turned in his arms. "I guess she can have him now that I have you."
"I promise you I'll be more fun than the mutt," he kissed her softly.
"I believe that," she let out a sigh. "We need to talk."
"Yeah?" he stepped back. "About what?" he asked cautiously.
"You should sit," she motioned for the barstools by the kitchen isle.
He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her. "What's up, Mac."
"I didn't want to tell you when you were out at sea," she started hesitantly.
"Mac, what the hell is going on?" he was losing his patience.
"I have a stalker," she rubbed her face tiredly and walked over to a drawer bringing out a letter. "It started with these letters…" she handed them over. "They have been checked so you can touch them."
He took them. "What else?
"Phonecalls," she shrugged. "And texts."
"Are the police involved?" he asked and opened a letter.
"The police, they are mostly useless unless I show up dead," she hesitated. "I hired a private investigator."
"You did?" he studied her thoughtfully. "I agree, that was a smart move."
She offered a slight smile and motioned for the letters he was holding. "Can you see me? That's what the texts say too, and when he calls, he tells me how he saw me walk to my car or where I had lunch," she hesitated while he looked over the letters.
"I don't like this, Mac," he finally said.
"Really, because I think it's great," she said with sarcasm.
He put the letters on the counter. "And you have no idea who this might be?"
"No idea," she confirmed.
He nodded. "How long?"
"Three months," she bit her lip hesitantly.
"Three months?" he ran a hand through his short hair. "And this is the first time hearing about it?"
"It's nothing you could have done out there anyway so I didn't see the point in giving you something to worry about," she reasoned. "Besides, I can take care of things."
"Mac…"
"Don't start, Harm," she warned.
He let out an annoyed sound. "I hate it when you do this."
"Do what?" she asked with annoyance.
"You try to handle everything alone," he accused. "Thinking you're invincible."
"What do you suggest I do, sit down and cry?" she suggested.
He let out a sigh. "Lean on your partner," he suggested.
"Well, instead of yelling, maybe you could just give me a hug and tell me that everything will be okay," she suggested.
He smiled and put the letter on the counter before stepping closer and wrapping her in an embrace. "I can do that."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she mumbled against his chest.
"I understand," he kissed her head. "But I'm home now and I'll get this guy and ram his teeth down his throat."
She nodded. "Okay."
He leaned back to look at her. "Does the kids know?"
"Yes, I told them. They needed to know why I drive them everywhere and pick them up," she touched his cheek. "I've become quite paranoid, just ask your mom and Frank."
"They know too?" he assumed.
"Yeah, they have to do half the driving around kids part," she leaned in and kissed him. "I'm glad you're here."
"Me too," he smiled.
Later that night
"Mac, why is the mutt so anxious?" Harm wondered as he stepped out of the bathroom. They could hear Jingo barking downstairs.
"I don't know, I'll go check," she found her robe and put it on. "He's usually only like that when there are people outside the door."
Harm rushed past her and across the hallway.
"Harm?" she hurried after him when it dawned on her that he was chasing her stalker.
Downstairs the front door was open and both Harm and Jingo were missing. She hurried outside and saw Harm in their driveway while Jingo was barking in the street. Harm cursed loudly and called for Jingo.
"Harm?" Mac threw her hands up. "What the hell?"
Harm patted Jingo's head and they came walking back to the house. "There was someone outside."
"Did you see who it was?" she wondered as she patted Jingo. "Good boy."
"He was already at the driveway and he ran the second I opened the door," Harm let out a sigh. "He drove a red sedan. A Ford, I think. I couldn't read the license plate."
She took a letter from the staircase. "Maybe we should take this inside?" she suggested.
Harm rubbed his arms and headed inside the house.
"We'll call the police in the morning and they can check the video from the surveillance. I doubt he showed his face," she locked the door and made sure the alarm was set. "I'll put this in a bag," she slipped the letter inside a small plastic bag. "I doubt there are fingerprints."
"Probably not, but we should check the film," he turned upstairs. "That dog is worth every penny we spent on him," he mumbled.
Mac chuckled. "I heard it too Jingo. Daddy loves you."
"You're very calm considering that you have a stalker," he commented when they reached their bedroom.
"What should I do? Freak out? Run after someone in my underwear, unarmed," Mac closed the door and smiled to Jingo who was looking at her with the cutest expression. "Yes, you can sleep on the bed."
The dog jumped on their bed and got comfortable in the foot end. Harm was amused. "Okay, so," he reached inside his bag and found his computer. "I want to take a look and see who your stalker is. Hopefully, he showed his face."
Mac took off her robe and joined him on the bed. "It's some welcome home for you."
He shrugged. "I got a great welcome home," he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She smirked and snuggled close to him. It was great having him home again.
The next morning
Mac got up and let Jingo out, then went back to bed again. They hadn't been able to find out who had been outside their house the previous night so there was no point in calling the police. She had decided to call the detective who was investigating after the weekend, just to let him know, but she didn't expect much.
She got into bed and smiled as she snuggled close to Harm. It was hard to describe how great it was to have him home again. They had their ups and downs but through it all they were happy. Demanding careers and the kids would normally have pulled a couple apart, but they were good at enjoying the small things and taking time when there was time. It worked for them.
He pulled her closer and mumbled something about it being too early. When Harm had time off he really had time off. He was 100%, father and husband, and he was there for them and made them a priority.
It was past ten when they finally emerged after making love and taking a long shower together. The twins were outside with the dog. They had made breakfast. Having two parents working full time, one away for six months at a time, they had learned to take responsibility.
Harm walked outside to say hello while Mac brought their breakfast to the porch. Living in San Diego sure had been an easy decision to make. They loved the climate and the pool in the back yard. Having Harm's parent's close by had also been factored in, especially after the twins appeared after they originally had given up the idea of kids.
"What do you guys want to do today?" Harm wondered as he and the twins joined Mac by the table.
"Baseball park," Liam and Samantha said at the same time.
"We can do that," Harm agreed.
Mac nodded. "Okay."
"This is great kids," Harm reached for a pancake.
"We make breakfast all the time," Liam reached for a football and ran back to the lawn.
"I made dinner last week too," Samantha patted Jingo's head. "Come on, let's go play Jingo."
Harm looked at his wife. "They sure are getting big."
"They are great," Mac let out a sigh. "Sometimes I wonder if they are too responsible and not enough kids."
"Nothing wrong with learning to take responsibility," Harm argued.
"I guess," Mac shrugged.
Harm leaned back on the chair and sipped his coffee. "Man, it's good to be home."
Mac smiled sweetly. "It's great to have you home."