Chapter 9

Vic knew that the two of them had dinner together last night and here Mac was leaving Chegwidden's quarters in the morning! He couldn't believe that she'd spent the night with a man she'd only met yesterday! Had she done it knowing that he would be on duty this morning? Was she trying to make him jealous? Or was she rubbing his nose in it that their relationship was really over?

He couldn't accept the last guess, because as firm as Mac was that they were done, she had never been cruel. Still he'd known her for quite some time before they'd started dating and she'd never been one to sleep around nor did she have the reputation of sleeping with a guy on the first date. Vic had thought from the first that he wasn't going to like Chegwidden, now he was sure of it!

"I'll see you tonight," Mac said softly as she started down the hall towards the turbo lift.

"Yes, until tonight," AJ called after her.

"She's good isn't she?" Vic asked as Mac stepped into the lift.

AJ paused before answering, then turned and looked Vic directly in the eye, "If you're trying to shock me by revealing you and Sarah have been together, then you failed. She told me that the two of you had a relationship and that it was over. If you're trying to intimidate me with the knowledge that you and Sarah had been lovers, then I have to tell you that I could never expect a woman of her beauty and passion to be a virgin. As long as we are faithful to each other once we become exclusive, that is all I can ask of her. Now if you'll excuse me, I do have some work to do." Without giving Vic a chance to respond, AJ went back into his quarters.

When Mac arrived at AJ's quarters for their dinner date that evening Vic had already gone off duty. What they didn't know was that he'd asked Collins to report to him how long Mac was with Chegwidden. Vic had told Collins that he was in love with Mac and Chegwidden was trying to steal her away. Collins, a hopeless romantic, promised to help Vic in any way he could.

AJ had ordered all of the ingredients that he would need from the replicator and had created Pasta Primavera that he had learned to cook while in Italy. Mac watched as he placed the incredible smelling dish on the table and asked her what she wanted to drink.

At the same time AJ and Mac were preparing to eat dinner, Jen Rabb was placing a plate of her husband's favorite vegetarian lasagna in front of him. "How was your day dear?" she asked.

"Oh the usual, nothing terribly exciting. Why?"

"No particular reason, I just wondered if yours was as interesting as mine was."

"It seems not," Harm said with a smile. "Why don't you tell me all about it, I can see you're dying to."

She grinned at his teasing, knowing he was right. Jen knew she could never keep a secret from him for long and this one certainly couldn't wait to be told. Plopping herself down in his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him soundly before she started her tale. "Well, when I got up this morning, I was feeling sick…"

"Jen!" Harm interrupted, "Why didn't you tell me!? You shouldn't have gone into work if you were feeling ill! Did you talk to Doc Webb about it? What did he say…"

Afraid he was going to get up and go find the doctor himself, Jen shushed him by placing her fingers over his lips. "Let me finish silly!" she demanded and at his nod, she continued, "Since it was the third time it had happened this week, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on. When I got to sickbay Doc Webb confirmed it…" she paused to draw out the suspense.

When he brought his fingers to her ribs to tickle the information out of her, she quickly continued, "We're pregnant!"

To be continued…..