A/N: I'd like to blame post-Covid brain for all the grammar and spelling errors, while I can.

3

Friday could not come soon enough for Harmon "Pappy" Rabb Jr. He tried to shake the annoyance at himself that was excited to see a friend, because although he had seen plenty of old friends to catch up on TDYs, the feeling he got when he thought about going back to DC to see Mac was different. Not even for any of the times he would see Diane, has he felt this anxious excitement. Like he was coming home to sleep in his own bed after months at sea, despite launching Tomcats at Mach 2.

He tried to rationalize it on his drive up to her apartment. He needed a break. He was exhausted with the early mornings and late nights. JAG was all-consuming, but in a different way. He was happy the instructors wanted to keep Fridays light. Most of his class stayed behind drinking at the bar to exchange and destress from the week, and he had one beer but rushed out. To DC. To Mac.

He hopped in his Lexus, not bothering to change out of his flight suit for the drive up to Mac's apartment. He sublet his apartment in DC, and his more formal uniforms sat in Mac's closet. The rest of his belongings were packed up by the Navy and in storage for his deployment, and awaiting his new permanent station once back from sea.

The three hours drive north took four and a half with some of the traffic, but he knew he'd still beat the Marine to her apartment. Likely, she would be in the office wrapping some things up, especially with her new position as Chief of Staff.

She told him to go straight to her apartment when they spoke the night before. He still had a key, after all. But he knew she would be hungry and — to show his appreciation for her, he decided he would cook dinner, so he swung by the grocery store by her place.

Her phone rang while he was cooking, and as a guest, opted to let the machine pick it up. He heard her voice message play, smiling at her greeting of Hey it's Sarah. Because it was an honor and privilege to be able to call her Mac.

"Hey it's me," Mac's voice rang through the machine. "Harm? I think you should be at the apartment now? If you are. Pick up?"

Harm took the kitchen phone off the receiver. "Hey."

"Hey, Pappy."

"Hey Marine."

"I wanted to call and ask if you wanted me to pick something up on the way home?" She asked. He could imagine her, packing her up her desk for the weekend, with her office phone balanced between her shoulder and ear.

"Actually," he grinned, checking on the stuffed mushrooms. He was cooking steak, with stuffed mushrooms, and baked sweet potato. "Dinner will be ready in about forty minutes."

There was a pause on the line.

"Meat?"

He sighed, then smiled. "Only this time. As a thank you for letting me crash, in your bed."

"On the couch," she corrected.

"Are you about to leave HQ?"

"I am," she affirmed. "Should I pick up dessert then?"

"Got that covered too," Harm responded.

"You know, Rabb. It's a wonder you're still single at almost forty."

"Ouch, Mackenzie."

"I'll see you in twenty?"

"See you in twenty."

Twenty minutes later, Harm was sitting on the couch with his feet propped up, reading a book. He was waiting for the rest of the baked sweet potato to cook and the steak to marinate.

"Honey, I'm home!" Mac exclaimed with a smile. Harm looked up at her, placing a picture of his father and mother as his bookmark.

He got up and walked the two steps to her door while she dropped her briefcase.

They stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do, so Mac decided to just go with her feelings and stepped up to hug him. Similar to the way that she hugged him in his office before he left.

She pulled away first, her stomach growling. "Miss me?"

She smiled at him as she walked towards her bedroom.

"Not on your life."

Mac let her hip stay a bit more as she walked to change her clothes. A moment later, she came out in shorts and a tank top, with no intention of leaving the home anytime soon.

"What time is dinner?"

Harm looked at his watch. "Fifteen minutes."

He tapped the tip of her nose. "Timer starts now."

She rolled her eyes at him as she got seated on the couch, her legs tucked under her. She noticed that he had brought her seltzer water in a glass.

"Thanks for this," she smiled as she reached over to take a sip of her water. "How has this whole… change in career been?"

"Just jump right in?" He said, sitting next to her. He noticed that her toes were painted red.

She sighed. "I just… It's been a long week."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Shoulder rub?"

"Maybe after dinner?" She asked him, as he started to reach over and rub her shoulders. She stretched her neck giving him a bigger opening. "What's for dinner, anyway?"

"Stuffed mushrooms, baked potatoes, and steak."

She shrugged his hand away and jumped up on her seat to look at him, eyes squinted in suspicion. "Steak, steak?"

He shook his head and sighed. "Yes… and some sparkling apple cider."

"Oo," she grinned.

"You lasted one whole week as Chief of Staff!"

"Damn right, I did."

Before she could respond, her stomach gave out a loud groan.

Harm smiled at her, shaking his head as he stood up and made his way to the kitchen.

"You eat at all today?"

"Define 'today'."

"In the last calendar day, counselor."

She followed him to the kitchen, not knowing why she didn't want to take some time to de-stress in her living room by herself, but craved his company instead.

"I had a lot of coffee."

He shook his head. "You know better than to skip meals, Marine."

She reached over and grabbed a stuffed mushroom and popped it in her mouth. She had to stop herself from moaning at the delicious taste. It had been far too long since she had a home-cooked meal like the one Harm was making her.

She attempted to reach over and grab another when Harm swatted her hand away.

"Ah-ah, Marine. You go set the table," he said turning back to putting the steaks on the cast iron skillet.

He had to hand it to her, Sarah Mackenzie had a knack for great kitchen appliances and toys. How much use did she get out of them? Well, not much.

"Medium—"

"Rare," Harm finished for her. "I know how you like your meat, Sarah."

The double entendre not lost on her, she rolled her eyes and muttered "we'll see" under her breath as she walked out of the kitchen with plates and silverware.

"I heard that!"

"You were meant to!"

Both had big smiles on their faces as they continued their tasks.

Damn, I missed him.

Damn, I missed her.

Having such great fun writing this one! I can't wait to write Harm in his dress whites.