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| "So..." Harm looked up at his friend. "So...?" "When are you going to tell her?" "Tell who what, Sturgis?" Harm asked. Sturgis rolled his eyes. This guy had 'idiot' stamped on his forehead. "When are you going to get your head out of your six and tell Mac you love her?" "This again? How many times a day do you have to ask me that?" "Until you--" Sturgis was cut off by a knock on the door. Harm looked up at Mac. "Hey, what's going on?" "We have a staff meeting in 5 minutes, 22 seconds. Did you finish the paperwork on the Braydon court martial?" "Yes, Ma'am, it's all right here," Harm replied sarcastically, patting the manila folder on his desk. "What's with the third degree?" Mac shrugged. "I like to tease you. You never do the paperwork when we work together." Harm crossed his arms. "Of course I do!" "You don't." "I do!" "You don't." "I--" "I hate to cut this off," Sturgis said, "but don't we have a staff meeting to go to?" Mac nodded. "3 minutes, 4 seconds," she replied, heading to the conference room. Sturgis rolled his eyes again. "You two bicker like an old married couple," he told Harm as he got up. Harm sighed. Sturgis was right. He needed to have that talk with Mac soon. He couldn't wait for another year to pass by for their deal. He wanted children now, with the woman he loved. ************* "Sturgis, you busy?" "Um, Harm, why are you calling me? Our offices are within walking distance." "I know that," Harm replied. "I just don't want Mac to know I'm talking to you right now." Sturgis leaned back in his chair. "Okay, I'll bite. What's this about?" "I'm in love with Mac." Harm was met with silence. "Stop it." "Stop what?" Sturgis asked innocently. "That stupid ass grin that is, no doubt, on your face." "I'll stop. What do you say we head out for lunch and I'll help your wayward heart win her over," Sturgis suggested. "Sounds like a plan. I have a few things to finish up," Harm said. "Is 1300 okay for you?" "That's good." Harm hung up the phone and smiled, leaning back in his chair. Hopefully, in a few days, Mac would officially know how he felt. "Penny for your thoughts, Sailor?" Her voice caught Harm totally off guard. *Not again,* Harm thought as he and the chair crashed to the floor. Mac was at his side in a second. "Nice one, Harm. I give it a 9.5." "Funny," he replied, wincing as he put pressure on his wrist. "Here, let me take a look at that," she said, taking his hand in hers. "I think it's just sprained. You should put some ice on it." "Excuse me, sir, ma'am." The two looked up to see Bud in the doorway. "Harriet's Mom is here with little AJ. He wants to see the two of you." Mac beamed. "We'll be right there, Bud." Harm smiled too. The look on Mac's face was priceless! ************ A few minutes later, Mac was playing with little AJ and Mrs. Sims had pulled Harm aside. "Commander, I know you were there the day Harriet was shot." Harm nodded slowly, not certain where she was going with this. "I want to thank you for taking care of her and not running off. Harriet and AJ really needed you and you were there. Some people say you have a lot more going for you than..." she trailed off, glancing at Bud. "Ma'am, I was there helping Harriet plan a party for Bud. I didn't do anything he wouldn't have done." "Maybe so, but the fact remains that you are going up in the world. You have so much going for you. You're good looking, smart, and wonderful with children." Harm held up his hand. "Stop. I don't want to listen to you bad mouth my best friend. Harriet and Bud are in love and you'll just have to accept that. You should really get to know the man we all know. Besides," he said, eyeing Mac, "I have someone I'm interested in." Mrs. Sims followed his gaze. "That woman? She's not the prettiest--" "NO!" Harm exclaimed. Everyone stopped what they were doing. Harm's face was beet red. Mac looked at him questioningly. "I need some air," he said, leaving the bullpen. "Mac," Sturgis said, "maybe you should..." She nodded. "Everyone back to work!" she shouted, then followed Harm outside. ************ "Someone not having a good morning?" Harm just shrugged, leaning against the wall. "You've been in an odd mood all day long. I take it Mrs. Sims said something to set you off." Harm nodded and told her what she was saying about Bud. "He's her son-in-law for God's sake! As well as the father of her grandson! Why can't she just shut the fu--" "Whoa there, Sailor," Mac said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "What's really the matter?" "What she said about you," he muttered, walking back inside. "Harm!" she called, running after him. He was waiting for the elevator. "What did she say?" He wouldn't look at her until they were both in the elevator alone. "If I told you, you'd deck her." "Tell me anyway," Mac replied, hitting the stop button. She crossed her arms. "Well." Harm was quiet. When he finally spoke he said, "It was rude and there was no truth in it so there's no point in repeating it." "You could repeat what she said about Bud but you can't tell me what she said about me?" "I wasn't telling Bud, I was telling you. Could you imagine how he would feel if he even knew she said something? He was having a rough time when he first met Mrs. Sims." Mac crossed her arms. "Okay, so you won't tell me. So what is up with this mood of yours today? One minute, you're grinning from ear to ear, and now you're ready to hit something." "This is not where I want to be talking about this, Mac. Are you free for dinner tonight?" "Dinner?" Mac asked. Her heart jumped into her throat. Were they going to have the conversation she'd been waiting for? "Yeah, I am, Flyboy." Harm punched the button to start up the elevator. "Great, my place at 1900, don't be late." "I never am." |
