Title: "We're Just Partners...I Swear!"

Author: ash9445

Disclaimer: You guys know the drill, CBS, Paramount, DPB. 'Nuff said.

AN: Thank you guys so much for all the lovely reviews! Personally, I think this is probably one of the worst stories ever written, so thanks for your support :) There's a lot of things going on this summer, but I'll make my best effort not to leave you guys hanging for much longer!

From Chapter 6

Mac started walking back towards his bedroom when there was a knock at the door.

Harm opened the door.

"Oh. Hi, Renee." He smiled weakly.

"Harm?" Mac called from his bedroom. Still wearing only a towel, she saw who it was.

Ha! Guess it's time to start Phase Two! Bye-bye Blondie!

"Oh, nice to see you again Ms. Peterson!"

The boxer-clad Harm could only chuckle nervously as he realized what was about to happen...

2045 EST

EAST OF UNION STATION

HARM'S APARTMENT

"Why don't you--" Renee quickly breezed past him and walked into the kitchen. "come in..."

Oh boy. Way to go, Rabb. You've really stepped in it this time.

Harm took a chance and walked into the kitchen. Maybe I can calm her down.

The sound of Renee's palm on his cheek caused Mac to emerge from Harm's bedroom and watch from the steps. Way to calm her down, Flyboy.

"So I take it you forgot about our date tonight?" Renee glared in Mac's direction.

"Renee, really. Harm didn't even know I was here until--"

"Why don't you just shut your mouth? Or better yet, stick a nice bottle of liquor in it? I was talking to Harm. He's my boyfriend."

It took all of Mac's Marine training not to knock the blonde bimbo into next week. Stay calm, think happy thoughts...Renee's head on my wall over the mantle...Or the toilet, whichever.

"Hey. You leave her out of this. This is between us." Harm was beyond furious...he could barely even think straight.

Renee scoffed and walked around the kitchen. She noticed the scratches on Harm's back.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"Oh, it was nothing. Mic was here earlier and--"

"Oh, he kicked your ass, huh?"

"Ha, he wishes. Just a few scratches. Anyway, you wanted a date? FINE. I'll order in." He looked over to Mac, who was now sitting at one of the bar stools in front of the kitchen island. "Mic mentioned that you guys were looking for takeout over here, Chinese okay?"

"Sure, fine with me." He handed her the phone.

"Great, just get our usual, okay? I'm going to go take that shower now." He turned, nodded in Renee's direction, and walked off to the shower.

2115 EST

HARM'S APARTMENT

After stepping out of the shower, Harm toweled off, and walked to the sink. He fixed his hair and noticed something Mac has left by the sink.

Huh. So this is it? Not so bad up close. I should give this back to Mac when I get back out there. I wasn't gone for too long. Hopefully those two haven't clawed each other's eyes out by now.

After changing into some NAVY sweats of his own (a blue sweatshirt and some gray sweatpants, to be exact), Harm slipped the object into his pocket and carefully peeked around the shutters into the kitchen.

To his surprise, Renee and Mac were actually eating in somewhat peace, making small talk about this and that. Harm could have sworn he saw Renee actually smiling. Although he hadn't eaten in about five hours, so maybe it was just a hallucination.

"Ah, so he didn't fall and kill himself in there." Renee said chuckling.

Mac gave her a strange look and offered some food to the now squeaky-clean Harmon Rabb Jr.
Harm grabbed cups from the cabinet and handed them to Mac, who in turn poured them all some iced green tea from the fridge. It was natural for them; to work together so seamlessly.

After dinner they headed over to the living room and sat down on the couch. The awkward threesome talked about trivial nonsense for a few minutes, but all being careful to avoid the much bigger topic at hand. Renee decided to get this conversation over with and opened her mouth to say something when her cell phone rang.

She picked up the noisy device, looked at the Caller ID; recognizing the number at once. "Sorry, but if you'll both excuse me, I have to take this." She smiled, stood up, and went outside into the hallway; leaving the door open just a crack.

Harm and Mac were left alone on the couch while Renee chattered away on the phone outside. They didn't really say much, both far too absorbed by their thoughts.

Mac grabbed her now empty cup and stood up. "I'm getting some more iced tea, you want some?"

Harm stood as well. "Sure, I'll come with you." She smiled "that smile" at him and he could have sworn he felt his heart skip a beat. Of course, he is a man, so it was probably heartburn from the take out. Because they were just partners. Just partners. Riiight.

Suddenly, Harm remembered what he still had in his pocket. "Oh! I almost forgot." He set his now full glass on the counter and walked around to her side. "You left this by the sink in the bathroom."

Renee had ended her call and re-entered Harm's apartment. When she saw that the couch was bare she was about to call out when she noticed the scene in the kitchen. She crept over to the couch and watched the "partners"who looked about ready to jump each other.

Harm pulled out her engagement ring from her pocket and picked up her hand. He slid the ring onto her right hand and held it for a moment before letting it fall limply to her side. Embarrassed by such a move, he shoved his hands into his pockets and prayed that Mac couldn't see how furiously he'd been blushing.

Of course she was grateful, it was a fairly large diamond, and she wouldn't have known what to do if she'd lost it or had it fall down the drain in Harm's apartment.

"Thanks, Harm." Mac smiled sweetly and quickly gave him a hug. She slowly pulled away and looked up at him. Staring into his eyes was like being sucked into a black hole where nothing else existed except for the two of them. Harm met her gaze and cupped her cheek in his hand. He stroked his thumb across her face and before he knew it he was lowering his head... and drawing her face closer and closer until...

AN2: Another cliffhanger! I decided that since I was going to have to leave it as a cliffhanger, I'd at least give all the shippers out there something to smile about while I keep writing the rest. I'm not exactly sure where to go from this point, but there is an ending in sight...maybe after another chapter or two.

Any ideas? Tap that little purple button!