Three days later

Mac looked up from the newspaper and smiled. Harm yawned widely and went straight for the coffee. He had been busy since the hostage situation at JAG, dealing with the investigation into the security breach that led to the Petty Officer bringing a gun into the building. Then there was the usual JAG business, and the media hanging over his head, both because of the hostage situation, and the rumors concerning the new JAG.

"Morning," he leaned down and kissed her, then sat down by her side.

"Good morning," she studied his tired face. "You need a vacation, handsome."

He offered a sweet smile. "I agree. You got up early?"

"I went for a run," she turned back to the paper again.

"You should have woken me up, and I could have exercised you," he said teasingly.

Mac offered a cute smile. "You looked like you needed the rest more than the exercise." Mac tuned back to the paper. "Listen to this. Secretary of the Navy John Carter raved about how acting JAG Admiral Rabb handled both the hostage crisis, and the questions about security that led to Petty Officer Muck taking a gun inside JAG Headquarters. The Secretary also made it clear that the way Admiral Rabb have handled the pressure from the press has been impressive. There still haven't been appointed a new JAG after the messy departure of Admiral Young, but the Secretary will not talk about who will be the next Judge Advocate General. Congresswoman Owen on the other hand questions the Secretary's delay when Admiral Rabb is the obvious choice."

Harm shrugged. "I still haven't heard anything."

Mac put the paper down and leaned in and kissed him softly. "I think you'll get it, Admiral."

Harm smiled and turned fully to her. "And how would you feel about that, babe?"

Mac rolled her eyes by him calling her babe. "I would be very proud of you. You deserve it, Harm."

"Thanks, but we'll just have to wait and see," he smiled and leaned in, almost meeting her lips with his. "We could retire and spend time in bed."

She smiled and let out a small laugh. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

He kissed her softly. "You bet, babe."

"Morning," Claire said as she joined them.

"Morning, sweetheart. Did you see your brothers?" Mac wondered.

"PlayStation," Claire said.

Mac stood. "I'll go get them."

"I better get going," Harm stood. "I have a lot to do today."

"Dad, when will you come watch me ride?" Claire asked.

Harm hesitated. "You know what? Let me know when your next lesson is and I will make sure I'll be there."

Claire smiled. "Okay Dad. It's on Monday at 1730."

"I'll pencil it in, sweetheart," Harm promised.

Later that day

Harm knocked on his wife's office door as the day came to an end. She had still been in court when he stopped by to ask if she had time for lunch and he'd decided to work through lunch just to be able to go home with her at a decent hour. He had decided to take the weekend off, and he felt like it would be well deserved after the work he had done since he became temporary JAG.

"Hi handsome," Mac said as she put her pen down and leaned back in her chair and smiled at him.

He smiled. "Ready to get out of here?"

"I am, are you?" she wondered.

"I'm taking the weekend off," he walked fully into her office.

She looked surprised. "Really?"

"Really," he confirmed. "I'm spending time with the kids and my beautiful wife."

Mac stood. "Your wife will be pleased," she teased as she started gathering her things.

"I'm planning on making sure she is very pleased," he flashed her a sexy smile.

"I'll hold you to that," she said as she took her briefcase and walked over to him. "Come on, Admiral."

Harm put his hand on the small of her back as he walked out with her.

Sunday night

Harm found Mac outside on the porch after he had said good night to the kids. It was warm for April, but still she had a blanket covering her feet as she moved her foot to make the porch swing go back and forth. He handed her a cup of hot chocolate and sat down by her side.

"Thank you," she smiled and sipped the content.

"It's a nice night," he sipped his own chocolate.

"I love spring," Mac let out a contented sigh.

"Me too. It's time to take Sarah out of storage, give her a spin," he smiled and let out a chuckle. "Nathan and Matthew has been after me for months. Matthew really wants to go up this year."

"I know," Mac grimaced. "I guess it's okay."

"I'll triple check the engine," Harm promised.

"He'll be so happy," she smiled.

Harm nodded. "Hey, Mac, we need to talk."

"Yeah?" she studied him curiously. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, sure," he looked thoughtful. "The new JAG will be decided this week or early next week, and we need to decide what I will do if I get it. And I don't think I will, because there's a lot of other officers standing in line."

"No one is better than you," she reached out her hand and touched his cheek. "You should make the decision, Harm."

"I want the job," he admitted.

"Then you should take it," she encouraged.

"I don't know, Mac," he put his mug on the table by the swing and stood. He walked over to the porch railing, then turned to her. "There's a lot to think about."

"Sure there is, but if you want to do this, you should," she reasoned.

"There's the kids to think about," he pointed out. And you."

"Me?" she smiled. "Harm, I support you."

"I know that," he hesitated. "SecNav mentioned that it might be problematic that you are on the judiciary."

"Is he worried about pillow talk?" she teased.

Harm chuckled. "I pointed out that you've been on the judiciary while I had command in Florida without it becoming a problem."

"And?"

"SecNav isn't worried about us, but more about how it looks on the outside. I assign the lawyers and they might appear before you, they report back to me and I advise them," Harm looked thoughtful.

"I can step down," she suggested. "I'm sure the Marine Corps can find something else for me to do."

"No way," Harm shook his head. "If that's the solution I'll rather stay where I am."

"Why do I get the feeling that SecNav is making a problem out of something that isn't a problem?" Mac wondered.

"Because this SecNav has a political agenda, he doesn't like bad publicity," Harm pointed out. "He's already had enough of that."

Mac sipped her chocolate. "Admiral Young made sure of that," she said with a shrug. "Hey, is it true that he used to put his hand on Petty Officer O'Neil's behind?"

"I'm not sure, but O'Neil was pretty jumpy around me for the first week. There's so many stories about Young going around that who knows what's true," Harm shook his head in wonder. "All I know is that when Lieutenant May came to me because Admiral Young had groped her when she came to deliver her report and I walked into Admiral Young's office to confront him, he was drunk. I took it all the way up the chain of command and the next day he announced his retirement. He got away honorably."

"Admiral or not, I would have decked him," Mac pointed out.

Harm chuckled. "He wouldn't even know what hit him."

"He was a personal friend of SecNav, so it had to have been a blow to the groin for him to see it end like this," Mac put her mug down and stood. "But you," she walked over to him. "Are the best and fairest man I know, and you are perfect for the job," she put her arms around his neck.

He pulled her close. "Okay," he leaned in and kissed her. "But if me taking the job results in you not being on the judiciary, I won't take it."

"Fair enough," she smiled. "Come on, let's go to bed. I'm beat."

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled.

Tuesday, Mac's office

Mac stepped out of the elevator and headed for her office. Her Commanding Officer, Admiral Wayne met her as she stepped into the bullpen.

"Colonel, I hear congratulations are in order," he said.

Mac looked confused. "Oh?"

"Harm got his third star," the Admiral said. "You haven't heard?"

"Nope," she smiled. "Good for him, and JAG."

"No arguments there," Admiral Wayne raised his eyebrows. "I think there's going to be a very happy staff today," he smiled. "Tell him I'll buy him a drink."

"I will, sir," Mac promised as she continued to her office. "Harm?" she was surprised to find him waiting in her office. "Congratulations!" she hugged him.

"Thanks," he smiled. "How did you know?"

"I met Admiral Wayne on my way here," she put her briefcase down. "He wants to buy you a drink."

Harm chuckled. "I've had a few more wanting that today. What I want is to buy you lunch."

"That sounds like something I would really want," she smiled. "I'm really proud of you."

"Thank you," he leaned in and kissed her. "I couldn't have done it without you."