Monday, July 11th
Harm whistled as he descended the stairs after taking a shower. He had been out for a run before dinner. He was starting to really look forward to their D.C trip in about a month, especially after talking with his grandma the previous day. He was also looking forward to seeing his plane again and taking her for a spin.
"Did you remember to arrange for our flight next month?" he asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"I did," Mac reassured as she opened the oven and took out a dish. "This is Persian."
Harm looked skeptical. "Is it now?"
Mac chuckled. "It's just chicken with some Persian inspired flavors," she reassured.
"Is that the Persian bread you make that I love?" he reached for a bite.
"Yes," she put the chicken on the table. "Tell Mattie that dinner is ready."
He smiled. "Yes, ma'am," he winked at her.
A little later they enjoyed Mac's cooking. "All these years I thought she couldn't cook," Harm told Mattie.
"I've made you this bread before," Mac pointed out. "And that cookie you love. Koloohcheh."
"Those are good," he looked at Mattie. "We should ask her to make those."
"Cooking is actually the one childhood memory I have that is only positive. My Mom was a great cook, and I was her helper," Mac shrugged. "When she ran off my Dad actually tried to make dinner and it was a complete disaster every time. It ended up being my job until I.." she hesitated. "Well, I ran off too."
"Where did you go?" Mattie wondered.
"Not far, but I stayed with Chris and I never went back home. My High School years were pretty crazy," Mac admitted. "It's a wonder I graduated at all. My advice is; Don't run off with the cute guy on a motorcycle."
"I'll remember that," Mattie looked teasingly at Harm as she said it.
"I'm locking you in until you turn eighteen," he threatened with amusement.
Mac chuckled. "Strict Harm. This is a new side of you."
"Hey, I can be strict," he defended himself.
"Naval officers lack command presence," she added with a sweet smile.
"Marines lack humor," he threw back.
"We tell a lot of Navy jokes," she teased. "And laugh about them."
"Oh snap," Mattie chuckled. "I wish I could come up with great comebacks as quickly as you do."
"I'm not sure the two of you should spend so much time together," Harm pointed between them.
Mattie and Mac shared amused smiles.
"See, I already feel ganged up on," he complained.
Wednesday, July 13th
Harm peaked inside the gym and saw that Mattie was already working with her physiotherapist. He noticed Mac on a chair in the corner with a book and headed in her direction.
"Hi there," he found a chair and moved it over to where she was seated.
"Hey," she smiled. "You made it."
"I sure did," he sat down and leaned in and kissed her softly. "Barely," he admitted. "The meeting ran late."
"It would be okay if you didn't come," Mac made a motion with her head in Mattie's direction. "She's pretty self-going."
"I know, but I've missed her three last sessions," he shrugged. "I wanted to be here."
"I wasn't implying that you didn't want to be here," Mac reassured and took his hand. "We both know how busy you are."
"Some things are just too important to miss," he smiled.
"I know Mattie appreciate you being here," she put her book down. "And I do too."
"Today has been busy," he admitted. "But it's strangely exciting to be in charge. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I do," he admitted.
"You're growing up," she teased. "No seriously, I'm so proud of you. I knew you'd do great though."
"I wasn't so sure," he chuckled.
Later
After taking Mattie and Mac out for ice cream he went back to the office to get a few things out of the way. On his way into the bullpen, he stepped into an argument between his XO and a frustrated Lieutenant.
"Sir?!" they both sapped to attention.
"Aren't the two of you on the same side?" Harm asked.
"Not entirely, sir," Lieutenant Shane was frustrated.
"I think we can win if we put our client on the stand," Commander Evens pointed out.
"And I don't," the Lieutenant looked frustrated. "The less our client says the better. He has no idea how much trouble he's in and putting him on the stand will just make him seem incompetent."
Harm hesitated. "Well, it looks like the two of you have a lot to discuss. But not here, somewhere private and acting like adults."
"Yes, sir," they agreed.
"Stop by my office when you've reached a conclusion," he added.
"Yes, sir," they both said again.
"Sir, SECNAV is on line one," Petty Officer Larsen handed him a file. "And this is Lieutenant Harper's preliminary report on the Saber case."
"Thank you, Petty Officer," Harm headed for his office.
Later that night
Harm finished packing and left the bedroom. He had been ordered to go out to the USS Theodore Roosevelt and join the 2nd Fleet on a training mission with NATO in the North Atlantic. He would be gathering all the fleets JAG officers and give them instructions on the rules of engagement.
"I'm ready," he dropped his bag by the stairs.
Mattie and Mac rose from the couch and walked over. "Don't go on any crazy missions," Mac warned.
"I'll be sitting in meetings all day tomorrow," he reassured.
"Let's hope that's true," Mac leaned in and kissed him. "Be careful."
"I will," he smiled. "I love you."
"I love you too," she kissed him again.
Harm let her go and hugged Mattie. "I love you."
"I love you too," Mattie smiled as she let him go.
"I better get going so I won't miss my ride," he leaned in and kissed Mac again. "I'll call when I can. I should be home on Friday."
Mac nodded. "Bye."
He took his bag and briefcase. "Bye."
Mattie turned to Mac as they heard the front door shut. "Looks like it's just us, huh?"
"Yeah," Mac smiled. "It's kinda strange being left behind."
"I didn't think Marines liked being out at sea," Mattie teased.
"I've gotten used to it," Mac hesitated. "I'm just used to having his back."
"He'll be okay, right?" Mattie wondered.
"Yeah, he'll be fine," Mac reassured. "How about a movie and popcorn?"
"On a Wednesday?" Mattie was amused.
"Why not?" Mac chuckled. "You find the movie and I'll get the popcorn ready."
"Deal," Mattie agreed.
Over the next two days, Mac and Mattie mostly spent time going over what Mattie had missed in school during her stay at the hospital and made a plan for what she should focus on before the school year started. Harm called a few times, but his travel home had been postponed until Saturday.
Friday, July 15th
Mac finished the pizza and put it in the oven. They had been out shopping earlier in the day and decided on homemade pizza that night. Mac had found an Italian recipe online and was eager to try it. Mattie was skeptical, claiming that they were American's and should eat like American's. Mac decided that it was time for Mattie to try something new and she was pretty sure that after having real Italian pizza in Italy later in the summer she wouldn't think that American pizza was the best anymore.
"Have you heard from Harm?" Mattie wondered as Mac joined her on the couch.
"Nothing today. He's probably busy," Mac reassured. "And he'll be home tomorrow."
"Are we still going to the beach tomorrow?" Mattie wondered.
"Sure, if you trust me enough to drive with me here," Mac chuckled.
"Is it really that different?" Mattie wondered.
"It's a little different, but Harm says that I'm doing good," Mac smiled.
"I guess I'll take my chances then," Mattie teased.
They enjoyed pizza and Mattie admitted that the Italian style was pretty good. The next day they drove out of town after breakfast and spent time at the beach.
Later in the day
After their time at the beach and doing some errands they walked into the house with grocery bags. Mac was hoping to hear something from Harm, but so far he hadn't called. Hopefully, he'd be home as promised. When Mac opened the door, she could hear guitar playing and she smiled widely as she let Mattie walk in before her.
"Harm's home," Mattie was just as happy.
Mac hurried to take the second bag inside, then closed the door before she followed Mattie into the house.
"Finally," Mac smiled as she saw Harm taking Mattie's bags from her.
"Hey," he smiled lovingly, then turned to the kitchen. "Did I miss a fun day at the beach?" he wondered.
"You did," Mac followed him.
"It was great," Mattie added as she too walked into the kitchen.
Harm put the bags down on the counter. "Maybe we'll go tomorrow as well," he suggested as he moved in to hug Mattie. "How was your session with Molly go yesterday?"
"It was fine," Mattie shrugged. "Same old."
"She's doing great," Mattie moved in to hug her husband. "We missed you."
"I missed you guys too," he leaned in and kissed her softly. "It's good to be home."
Mattie reached for her phone. "Can I still go to Nick's house?"
Mac nodded as she let her husband go. "Sure," she started unloading a bag.
"What do you guys have planned?" Harm wondered as he started unloading a bag too.
"Just to hang," Mattie shrugged. "Whine about how brutal Molly is."
Harm chuckled. "Don't be home too late."
"Nah, I'll be home in time for dinner," Mattie promised as she turned to leave. "Bye."
"So, how did it go?" Mac wondered.
"Well, it was the usual," he opened the fridge. "It was nice being out at sea again," he chuckled. "The smell of jet fuel…"
She smiled. "Yeah, I remember how that was like."
"The training exercise is progressing well. I got to go through a few issues with the fleet JAG's, they got to raise some issues as well. All in all, I'd say it was a productive few days," he finished putting away the groceries. "But, it's great to be home."
Mac put away the grocery bags. "It's really great to have you home," she smiled as she moved into his embrace.
He leaned in and kissed her deeply. "And we have the house to ourselves for a few hours," he reminded her.
"What to do about that?" Mac wondered as she leaned in and kissed him.
"I have a few ideas," he mumbled between kisses.
