Harm's office, Monday morning

Harm signed the paper and handed it over to his legal man. The morning had started off busy, a contrast to the lazy weekend he'd just had. He had needed it. Both Mac and he had been rested when they left Beallsville. They had dropped by Jennifer and Victor's place when they got back inn to town to see the new addition to the family. It was great to see them so happy. He thought back to when Matthew was that fresh, and he felt that time flew by too fast. When they got home he'd had a long skype conversation with the kids'.

"Send Lieutenant Scott my way, will you?" he ordered.

"Yes, sir," the Petty Officer left him.

After returning a few emails there was a knock on his door and Lieutenant Scott reported as ordered.

"Lieutenant," he stood. "Come in."

"Sir," the Lieutenant stood at attention in front of Harm's desk.

"At ease. There was an accident during a training exercise at Quantico on Friday. I want you to head over there to investigate," Harm handed over a file. "Colonel Potter requested an investigation. Normally a minor mishap like this wouldn't require JAG involvement, but he wanted his men to see that accidents could have legal consequences. It's an inexperienced unit and there have been several other incidents. Colonel Potter wants to know if he has a problem among his leaders."

"So, it's not a real investigation, sir?" Lieutenant Scott asked with raised eyebrows.

"Treat it as any other investigation, Lieutenant. File a report and if there is a problem with leadership in the unit there will be consequences. Maybe not legal consequences, but at the very least Colonel Potter knows what changes needs to be made." Harm hesitated. "Colonel Mackenzie was the JAG overseeing the exercise on Friday. She was hurt during the incident. I'm sure you've heard about it. Now, you've worked with the Colonel, but I expect you to treat her as any other witness."

"Of course, sir," Lieutenant Scott promised.

"Good," Harm smiled. "Don't worry, you'll do fine."

"I hope so, sir," the Lieutenant stood at attention. "If there was nothing else, sir?"

"Dismissed," Harm said and looked past the Lieutenant at his yeoman standing outside the door hovering. "Petty Officer?" Harm looked curious at O'Neil.

"Sir," O'Neil smiled hesitantly as she stepped into the office, the paper in her hand.

"What's up?" Harm wondered.

"Have you read todays paper, sir?" O'Neil wondered.

"No, I didn't have the time this morning," Harm held out his hand. "What does it say?" he wondered.

O'Neil handed the paper over.

Harm read the headline and raised his eyebrows. "What the hell!" he continued to read. "This is…" his phone interrupted him. "Admiral Rabb? Yes, Mr. Secretary, I just read it," he waived O'Neil away.

A little later

Mac was sipping her coffee as she headed to her office. Her commanding officer met her halfway there.

"Colonel," he greeted her.

"Admiral," she stopped and studied him, wondering why he was looking at her funny.

"I take it you didn't read the newspaper this morning," he handed it over to her.

Mac almost choked on her coffee as she read.

"Colonel, are you okay?" the Admiral wondered.

Mac focused on her Commanding Officer. "Admiral, yes, I'm fine."

The Admiral looked at her with worry. "Are you ready to focus on your trial?"

"Admiral, this is ridiculous," she reassured. "I don't know where they got this, but it's silly. Petty Officer Coates was Admiral Chegwidden's yeoman, then General Creswell's. She's one of our closest friend's. She's my son's godparent. We're her daughter's godparent's. This article is based on assumptions, not truth."

The Admiral nodded. "I thought as much. Carry on."

"Yes, sir," Mac said and headed for her office.

Secretary of the Navy, John Carter's office

"I don't have to tell you that these are serious accusations, Admiral," SecNav said.

"Sir, that article is based on half truths and lies," Harm let out a sigh.

"Did this Petty Officer live in your building?" SecNav wondered.

"She did. She shared an apartment with my ward. She did run my office when I was stationed in London too, sir. Other than that, this article is a lie. I'm a happily married man," Harm pointed out.

"Well, that just makes it worse, Admiral. It makes it an even greater scandal," SecNav leaned over his desk. "Admiral, I need you to nip this in the butt."

"I've already written an official statement rebutting every accusation in the article. I talked to the editor and he'll publish a retraction. The journalist got fired," Harm looked thoughtful. "What I would like to know is who was their source in the first place. It's clear to me that I have an enemy out there."

SecNav nodded. "Any idea who?"

Harm hesitated. "Nothing I can prove, sir."

"Well, I'd watch my back if I was you Admiral. An enemy like that is dangerous," SecNav leaned back in his chair. "Very dangerous."

Rabb house, later that night

Mac had just put the pasta in the water when she heard the front door open and shut. She had been busy in court and hadn't had the chance to talk to her husband yet. She had looked for him during her lunch break, but he'd been at the Pentagon. He had sent her a text, saying that he had looked for her and that they'd talk later.

"Hey," she offered a sweet smile. "Bad day?" she assumed by his tired look.

"The worst," he started unbuttoning his shirt. "Sorry I missed you before you went to court. I tried to find you."

"I tried to find you at lunchtime, but you were with SecNav," she stepped around the counter. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just let me blow off some steam," he kissed her softly. "I need a run."

She nodded. "Okay."

He headed upstairs while Mac went back to the food. She had talked to Trish earlier to let her know what was going on. Then Mattie had wanted to talk, and she was furious about what was going on. A friend of her had sent her an email with a link to the news article and she had seen it on the news too later in the day. She had felt responsible because she had been the reason why Jenn had moved into the apartment next to Harm.

Harm came back after his run, showered and came downstairs. "I kept dinner warm for you," Mac said from her spot on the couch.

"Thank you," he headed for the kitchen, and came back fifteen minutes later. "Thanks for dinner," he slumped down on the couch.

Harm's less than happy facial expression didn't go unnoticed by her. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm pissed, and frustrated," he ran a hand through his hair. "Coates was pissed. She called the newspaper, threatening to sue them."

"Who can blame her," Mac put her hand on his arm and rubbed it up and down. "So, who's making up stories about you?"

"I have no idea," he leaned back on the couch. "Mac, do you think Krennick is capable of doing this?"

"No, she's too bright," Mac looked thoughtful. "There's no way she'd risk it. Besides, I don't get the feeling that she's that type."

He let out a sigh. "Me neither."

Mac smiled. "Hey, it'll be fine."

"I know it'll be fine, but I'm still pissed," he sat up straight and reached for the remote, flipping through channels. He stopped when he heard his name. "Admiral Rabb, I just have to ask you? So, how hot must this Petty Officer be if there's any point being unfaithful to your wife," Jay Lamaze, a comedian with his own talk show held up a picture of him and Mac from a formal function last year. Mac looked spectacular in the black dress she wore. "I mean, this is a solid ten, right guys?"

Mac slumped back on the couch with a huff. "Are you freaking kidding me!?"

"Now I think that this clears the Admiral of all charges," Jay continued to the cheering from the crowd.

Harm turned off the TV.

"Idiot?" Mac mumbled.

Harm reached for her hand. "I'm so sorry, I've been so focused on myself that I haven't even asked how you feel about all of this."

Mac moved her focus on to him. "Hey, I knew it was a lie. I never thought there was any hold in the accusations. I was more worried about who had come up with this. There's obviously someone with a grudge out there."

Harm nodded and offered a sweet smile. "I love you."

"I love you more," she tugged on his hand. "Did you talk to the kids'?"

"Yeah, Mattie was furious. She feels like it's her fault."

"I know, I talked to her too," Mac let out a sigh. "This whole thing is really something isn't it?"

"Yeah, something rotten," he leaned back on the couch. "I hate that I don't know who that journalist got this from."

"Yeah," she looked hesitantly at him.

"What?" he asked.

"It's just that, you could ask Webb," she said carefully. "He'd find out for you."

Harm looked thoughtful. "I don't know Mac. I don't want to ask a favor that would make someone do something illegal."

"It wouldn't be for him," she pointed out. "He would probably have that journalists email hacked in an hour and have the source."

Harm wasn't convinced. "Even if I knew who the source was, what could I do about it?"

"Confront it," Mac threw her arms out. "Come on Rabb, who knows what this person is capable of? Back in the day you would have turned every stone and gone to battle."

"Okay, you've been spending too much time at Quantico with your Marine buddies," Harm chuckled. "Power down Marine."

"Hey, no one messes with my man," she teased. "Let me ask Webb. Please? You know you want to know who this person is so that you can kick his or her ass."

Harm let out a sigh. "I think you want to kick his or her ass," he pointed out.

"Yes, I do. I don't like it when someone drags my man through the mud. What you did for Coates, helping her turn her life around, and for Mattie too, it just shows what a great man you are. I was so proud of you, still am," she tugged on his hand. "I hate that someone made it into something dirty and I want that person to get what he or she deserves."

Harm smiled. "Thank you. Partner," he leaned in and kissed her. "I like that you have my back."

"Always," she promised.

"I'll talk to Webb," he said after thinking about it.

Mac smiled. "He'll be glad to help you out."

Harm nodded. "I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"I'm taking a bath," she stood and walked around the couch. "You know," she removed her shirt in one swift motion. "You could join me."

Harm stood. "Right behind you sweet thing."