The next couple of weeks consist of Mac attempting to avoid Harm to the best of her abilities. She tries to stay professional, while keeping him at a distance. It's late on a Friday. She sits behind her desk, at the computer. She works on typing a witness list. She hears footsteps coming her way, and looks up from the screen. She finds Harm standing in her doorway with his arms folded across his chest.
"How long are you going to avoid me?"
She shrugs, "I didn't know that I was."
"Mac stop playing games. If you have something to say, then say it."
"Leave me alone," she responds.
"You don't mean that," he disagrees.
"You know why this never works?"
He takes a step into her office, "Enlighten me."
"Because we never want the same things at the same time."
"How long are we going to ride this merry-go-round that we're on?"
"Last time I checked, you were the one at the controls."
He shakes his in disbelief, "I am never at the controls."
"I disagree."
"Why can't we ever see eye to eye?"
"Maybe you should ask yourself that."
"Dammit, Sarah! Stop making everything to damn complicated."
She glances past him, into the bullpen. He looks behind him, and shakes his head, "There is no one else here. It's just the two of us."
"Why are you still here, so late?"
"Why are you?" He counters.
"I have work to do," she replies.
"You're not the only one."
"If you have work to do then why are you in here?"
"I thought that you might be hungry."
She rolls her eyes, "You think breaking bread will fix all of this?"
"My work can wait," he admits.
"Mine can't."
"Yes, it can. Stop being so stubborn," he pushes her.
"As soon as you stop being such an asshole."
"I didn't do anything to you."
"You gave me false hope. You pull me in, just to push me away."
His nostrils flare, "Now you know how I feel."
"I wish that you would just drop it."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I have to work with you every day."
"You could go fly F-14's and you wouldn't have to see me every day."
"Is that what you want?"
"What if it is?"
"I don't think you even know what you want."
"I want to stop spinning in circles."
"How do you propose we do that?"
"This is where I leave you."
He furrows his brow, "You're going somewhere?"
"I am getting off this damn ride. I don't want to be on it anymore."
"What are you saying?"
"I am done. I'm out. Do whatever the hell you want to do, I don't care anymore."
"I don't believe you."
"You don't have to, just know that I am not going to spend the rest of my life waiting for you. I am done waiting. I am over it."
"Mac I asked for time, not an eternity."
"Too bad."
"Mac, please. Let's start over."
"This is exactly why it won't ever work. You're saying, 'Let's start over.', and I'm telling you that it's too late."
"You never gave me a chance," he argues.
"I gave you a million chances, and you never took them."
"So now what?"
"We keep it professional."
"Fine," he relents.
"Is that all?" She cocks an eyebrow.
"Yes," he nods.
"If you don't mind, I have work to do."
He nods, and leaves the room. She watches him walk away. She finishes typing her witness list, and pushes print. She collects the list from the printer, and files it away. She grabs her belongings, and leaves the office.
A couple more weeks pass, and the tension between them only grows. Harm enters the conference room. He takes a look at his watch. The admiral sits at the end of the table. He looks up at him, questioningly.
"Where is Mac?"
"She's not coming in today."
"So who am I opposing?"
"Lieutenant Roberts, he'll be here in just a moment."
"Where is Sarah?"
"She's sick."
He furrows his brow, "Oh."
"Something wrong?"
"No," he shakes his head.
"What did you think I was going to say?"
"That she was assigned somewhere TAD."
"What would make you think that, Rabb?"
"Nothing, sir," he lies.
"You seem surprised that she's sick. Then again, maybe she's not. Maybe she is just sick of dealing with your antics."
"My antics?" He arches an eyebrow, "What about her antics?"
"I will tell her the same thing that I am telling you, I don't know what the hell is going on between the two of you, and I don't care to. Whatever it is, you need to fix it. If you don't there will be consequences."
"What kind of consequences?"
"If the two of you don't resolve this in a timely manner one of you will be reassigned."
"Sir!"
"That is the end of the discussion. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," he nods.
"Good."
"Do you really think that she's sick? She's like a robot I've never known her to be sick enough to call off work."
"Even robots get viruses now and then."
"Is that what she said?"
"I didn't take the call."
"What do you know?"
"She said that she was sick, and that is good enough for me. She has had perfect attendance. I am not going to question her for being sick, and asking for the day off. I don't want her here if she's sick. I don't need the rest of my staff catching whatever she has."
"If it's bad enough for her to call off, it's probably Ebola," he comments.