Friday 0730

Conference Room

General Cresswell surveyed his group of officers in front of him. It was a group of highly respected, skilled and talented lawyers and officers that surrounded him. His life should have been much easier than it was. His officer group was not getting on for reasons he had not quite figured out. He had reluctantly conceded to Harm's TAD request because he felt a change, albeit temporary, might just be what they all needed.

'Let's get started,' he said passing on handouts to his staff. 'There's not much to cover. The first matter is the distribution of Commander Rabb's cases. Commander Rabb?'

'Sir, I have concluded the paperwork on completed cases and Lieutenant Taylor has them to file. There are two cases currently at trial – Ensign Woods and Petty Officer Lewis. Bud is second chair on both cases so I have handed the files to him. There are also several open cases, I have them here so you can hand them on to my replacement.'

'Thank you, Commander Rabb, very efficient. I'm sure they'll appreciate it at The Pentagon. We wish you all the best during your TAD.'

Mac sat there completely bewildered. Harm plus paperwork equalling efficiency was not normally a workable equation. She tried to suppress a vocalisation that was a mixture of humour and surprise at the General's comments.

'Something amusing, Colonel?' he asked.

She looked around her at all the deadpan faces. 'No sir, just a tickle in the throat,' she lied and then coughed for good measure.

'Very well.'

The meeting progressed and when it ended Mac returned to her office at a loss. She couldn't figure out when, how or why her relationship with Harm had changed from one of deep friendship to this, whatever it was, at the moment. She flicked through her desk calendar but it yielded no answers.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

'Mac, hey there.'

'Hi Sturgis.'

'Sorry to interrupt you.'

'No, it's okay. What can I do for you?'

'Well, I was trying to organise a get together for Harm tonight at Benzinger's. You coming?'

'No, I don't think so.'

'Why not?' Sturgis was surprised.

'Harm obviously has a problem with me. He isn't speaking to me, when he does he is rude and treats me like I'm nothing. I don't know what I'm supposed to have done.'

Finally the stress of the week caught up with her and tears cascaded down her cheeks before she could stop them.

'Mac, don't cry,' said Sturgis moving in and closing the door.

'Oh, I'm not cry…' she began to say and then realised that she was. 'Damn him!'

'Look, I'm sure whatever it is Harm will get over it. He just hasn't been himself lately.'

Mac went to reply but deep feelings of confusion and sadness washed over her and despite her best efforts she began sobbing in Sturgis' arms.

The door opened suddenly and Harm appeared.

'Mac, do you have the…' he began before taking in the situation.

'What's wrong?' he asked genuinely concerned. It took a lot to make Mac cry, especially in front of others.

'Nothing,' she said wiping her face with the Kleenex Sturgis offered. 'What do you need?'

'Don't worry about what I need. What's going on? Mac? Sturgis?'

'Nothing that concerns you,' she said as coldly as she could. 'Thank you Sturgis, I appreciate, well, you know.'

'Anytime, Mac,' Sturgis smiled and winked at her before excusing himself.

'You needed something, Commander Rabb, what is it?'

'The Law Journal you borrowed last month. I just wanted to know if you have finished with it.'

'Yes I have.' Mac picked it up from her desk and handed it to him politely suppressing the urge to roll it up and belt him with it.

'Anything else, Commander?'

'Ah, no that's it. Thanks.'

She sat back down and opened a file on her computer. Harm stood there a while longer.

'Something else?' she asked without looking at him.

'You're my friend and I'm worried about you. You don't normally cry and …'

'You…worried about me?' she asked incredulously, standing up. 'You bastard, after everything you've said and done to me this week you still have the nerve to consider us friends.'

'But Mac...'

'But Mac, nothing. I'm not your doormat. You can't walk all over me and then expect everything to be alright. I don't know what happened with us – with you. Things haven't been right for a while and I try to talk to you and you treat me like crap.'

'But Mac…'

'No, I'm not interested in excuses and as for us being friends I think you put an end to that yourself.'

'But Mac…'

'But Mac, but Mac… Is that all you can say?'

'No.'

'Well?'

'You wouldn't understand.'

'You never explained it.'

'Can I explain now?'