Title: SOLID

Author: Hollyjp

Disclaimer: JAG is the property of Bellisario Productions, CBS, and Paramount. I have borrowed their characters for entertainment purposes only. No monetary gain will result from their appearance in my story.

Sunday 1745 Local

Harm’s Apartment

North of Union Station

“Have a seat Tom. How are things going with Grace Aviation?” Harm asked the father of his ward.

“Better then last week…Harm I want to thank you again for agreeing to be a partner in Grace Aviation. You’re knowledge of aircraft and your legal expertise turned the tide on the bank agreeing to the loan,” Tom stated.

Tom Johnson had come to enjoy his daughter’s guardian and respected him as a person. He knew that a lesser man would not have put Mattie’s needs first the way Harm had done. He also knew that when the time came for Mattie to come home, it would be hard on Harm. He hoped that his involvement with Grave Aviation would help keep him in their lives. Harm’s quiet solid presence calmed Mattie and supported him in a way that made him feel respected and worthwhile…something he had forgotten until he had completed rehab and started reconnecting with Mattie and Grace Aviation with Harm’s support.

“Tom, you know you don’t need to thank me. I enjoy helping out when I can –whether it’s advice on the phone or giving you a reference or pitching in to get my hands dirty when I’m at the field. Mattie, you and I share a love of planes and flying. I know how much it means to Mattie to have Grace Aviation and you know I’ll do what ever I can for her.”

“Well, she feels the same about you. You were her rock when she had no one to hold on to,” Tom continued.

“I’m back! Stop talking about me!” Mattie laughed as she came in and dropped a kiss on Harm’s cheek as she perched on the arm of his chair. “So are we cooking or ordering out?” Mattie asked her two dads.

“What do you want to do?” Harm asked as he turned to look at her.

“I think we should fix something here.”

“Like what? I didn’t grocery shop this weekend.” Harm told her.

“That means there’s lots of rabbit food in the ‘fridge’. Let’s see what else we can find.” Mattie stood up and tried pulling the men with her to the kitchen. They of course went willingly and let her direct them.

Once in the kitchen Mattie started looking through the pantry and refrigerator shelves. She found a box of spaghetti, croutons, frozen broccoli, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, a bag of green peppers, lettuce, spinach, a two-pound package of grated cheese, a carton of light cream, an onion and some leftover chicken. Once she had everything out on the counter she looked at the men who were watching her in puzzled wonderment.

“All that stuff looks good, so how can we put it together to make a meal?” she asked them.

“You want us to solve this puzzle?” Harm asked as his eyebrows raised and his eyes got big.

“Yes.”

“Mattie, I’m not much of a cook…” Tom started.

“You’re a good cook Dad…and Navy Dad creates some interesting meals and most of them are good.”

“Mattie, I think we should just order out,” Harm tried to convince her.

“Come on you guys…be adventurous…live a little…be creative…” They heard a knock on the door as she continued, “I’ll get it…you get cooking!”

“Aye-aye! Ma’am!” Harm laughed as he looked back at Tom to try to solve the food situation and Mattie’s challenge.

Mattie meanwhile opened the door.

On the outside Mac heard the laughing from inside as she knocked on the door. Her resolve to seek out Harm and make a step toward him this evening began to waiver.

“I shouldn’t have come,” she thought to herself. She turned to go just as the door opened.

“Hi Mac!”

“Hey Mattie…sounds like you guys are busy again. I’ll just see Harm tomorrow…”

“It’s just me and my two dads…we’re getting ready to fix supper but they’ve got to figure out how to put it together. Want to come help?” Mattie asked, pulling Mac into the apartment with her before Mac could protest.

“I don’t know…”

“I’ve got help, guys. Looks who’s here.”

“Hey Mac…Tom you remember Colonel Sarah Mackenzie?”

“Sure do. How are you Colonel?”

“Fine thank you…but please call me Mac…”

“Okay Mac…Any ideas what we could make with this pile of food?” Tom asked.

Mac surveyed the ingredients on the counter and began sorting the food. The two men and Mattie watched as she separated the food into piles while they tried to figure out what she was doing. When she looked up smiling they were still puzzled.

“Mac, are you going to clue us in?” Harm asked.

“Can I join you if I do?”

“Of course…”

“Well, we can cook up this box of spaghetti, the frozen broccoli, some of the fresh mushrooms, and four to six of the green peppers. While that’s cooking, we can break up the lettuce and spinach, dice up some onion, a pepper, a few fresh mushrooms and toss it with the croutons and some salad dressing. We can take and melt some grated cheese into the light cream and pour it over the spaghetti when its done. We can chop up the broccoli, and mushrooms and stir that into the spaghetti with the leftover chicken and then stuff the peppers with it. Then we can top the peppers with some more cheese and a slice of tomato and bake it for about twenty minutes.” Mac looked up triumphantly to see Harm making a horrible face and Tom frowning. Mattie however was grinning from ear to ear.

“You don’t like it?” Mac asked.

“Harm’s afraid he’ll have a heart attack because of all the cream and cheese,” Mattie explained. “And Dad doesn’t like green peppers.”

“Oh, is that all?” Mac asked grinning at Mattie again. We can serve Tom’s without the green peppers and for Harm we can save some out before we add all the good stuff.”

“Cool!” Mattie crowed with delight. “See I knew there was a good meal hiding in there somewhere.”

“Let’s get to work on this masterpiece then,” Harm announced. “And for this once, I’ll have what you’re having…”

“Good…just remember I ate your meatless meatloaf – and I know this won’t taste that bad.” Mac reminded him.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Harm insisted.

“Yes it was,” Mac returned with a smile as she started fixing the meal.

From that point on the four of them worked as a team preparing the food and setting the table. Mac and Mattie found a brownie mix on the shelf and made brownies. They had it mixed so the batter would be ready to put in the oven when the stuffed peppers came out.

Mac and Mattie worked together teasing the men, but particularly Harm. Harm and Tom tried to score points off the girls but had more fun watching Mac and Mattie having fun together. Harm and Tom had gone into the living room again until it was time to take the peppers out of the oven.

“Mattie misses having a woman to bond with…it’s good she and Mac have gotten close.”

“Yes…I think they need each other and if needling me makes them happy then I don’t care.”

“I know what you mean, Harm. You and Mac have known each other a long time, huh?”

“Yes.”

“She the one?”

“Excuse me, Tom?”

“Is Mac the woman in your life?”

“Not yet…but someday I hope she will be.”

“So what’s the hold up?”

“She’s not ready yet…she’s been through a lot this past year and needs some time for closure and to be sure what she wants.”

“Waiting is hell isn’t it?”

“Yes…You’re kind of going through it too waiting for Mattie to be ready to come home with you aren’t you?”

“I was, yes…but I know it will work out when its time.”

“Come get the peppers out of the oven Harm,” commanded Mattie.

“Be right there…Time for food Tom.”

They continued with the light-hearted fun while they were eating dinner. Their ‘stuffed peppers alfredo’ as they dubbed their concoction was a hit with all of them. Tom Johnson had removed the filling and not eaten his pepper, but claimed that it was one of the best meals he had in quite sometime. The only interruption had been to take the brownies out of the oven to cool.

“I think Mac’s been holding out on us,” Harm smiled as he watched her laughing and smiling naturally for the first time in a long time.

“Why?”

“Well, you managed to figure out a great meal from all that stuff without a cookbook, yet you don’t cook.”

“I cook…I’ve told you, I just don’t see the need all the time…not when I can get something just as good and I don’t have the time to enjoy what I’m doing.”

“Well, this is good…and I have to admit I was skeptical. It’s much better then my meatless meatloaf.”

“Wow! Hey Mattie, what have you done with the real Harmon Rabb?” Mac pretended to whisper across the table to Mattie.

“What do you mean, Mac?”

“Harm never use to admit to anything without some major arm twisting. I think this is a fake.”

“Maaaccc…” Harm protested which elicited good natured laughing from the others.

“Yes?” Mac returned.

“A man can change…” Harm and Mac’s eyes met and held. For a few moments it was like they were alone. Tom and Mattie watched the silent communication going on between the two and wondered what they were thinking. Tom finally broke the silence.

“Hey look at the time…I need to get headed back to Blacksburg.”

“What about the brownies, Dad? They’ll be warm, but so good…”

“Okay…I’ll have one before I go.”

“Great.” Mattie gathered the plates while Mac went to cut the brownies and Harm took out dishes.

“Who wants coffee ice cream on their brownie?”

“Me!”

“I knew you would Mattie. Tom?”

“No thanks…I’ll stick with just the brownie.”

“Mac?”

“Of course.”

“Coffee ice cream coming up,” Harm announced as he took the frozen treat from the freezer and served it on top of each brownie as Mac put them in the bowls.

They had just finished their desserts when Mattie looked at her father and nodded. Clearing her throat she looked at Harm and took a deep breath.

“Harm?”

“Yeah Mattie?”

“Dad and I talked a lot this weekend and…”she trailed off as her throat got tight.”

“What’s the matter, Mathilda Grace?” Harm smiled gently at his teenage ward.

“I don’t want you getting all weird on me…but Dad and I think that its time to reverse things a little.”

“What do you mean Mattie?”

“Well, in January I can switch schools after mid-year exams and not have to make up a lot of work. By then, Grace Aviation is going to keep Dad busy enough so that its going to be hard for him to come and get me on the weekends.” She paused to take a breath and Mac, feeling what was coming turned to watch Harm. “I’m going to move back to Blacksburg in January. I’ll go to school during the day and help out at the hangar after school and weekends…”

“Good for you Mattie…I’ll miss you…” Harm’s voice was thin, but to his credit he smiled and supported her decision.

“Harm, we hope you’ll still come down on the weekends…Mattie and I both need you in our lives.” Tom tried to assure him that his support was still important to both of them.

“I will…and we can talk on the phone.”

Mac could see the heartbreak in Harm’s face. She knew that look…and in that instant she understood so much more about the man.

Tom again stated that he needed to leave. After shaking Harm’s hand and saying her would pick Mattie up on Friday from school as usual, Tom left.

Mattie watched Harm and then Mac. After her father had left and they were cleaning up in the kitchen she realized that the atmosphere had changed. Harm was quiet and Mac was watching him although trying to keep the conversation going. She fought back tears. She didn’t want to hurt Harm. She loved him and she knew she still needed him. He could talk sense to her. There was a bond between them because they found each other at a time when they both needed someone. He was solid and strong and she could be a little girl again with him. With her own father she had needed to be strong. Now he was getting back on his feet and she was anxious to support his efforts as they worked to restore Grace Aviation.

When the phone rang, Harm answered it giving Mattie a chance to speak to Mac. “I didn’t want to hurt him…”

“I know…he knew this was coming.”

“I know…Mac, will you stay here with him awhile after I go back to my room?”

“I’ll try.”

“He’s trying to put up a good front for me, but I know this is hurting him.”

“Don’t worry Mattie…he won’t be alone.”

“Thank you.”

When Harm rejoined them he was even quieter. Mac finally asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, that was Bud. He wanted me to know that I’ll be alone in court tomorrow morning as he needs to take Harriet in for her appointment.”

Mattie looked up and Harm. “Hey, I’m going to go finish my homework and get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning, Harm.”

“Okay.”

“Night Mac.”

“Night Mattie.” They hugged and then Mattie stepped toward Harm. She slid her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest and held him for a few seconds.

“Good night Mattie,” Harm whispered as he hugged her back trying hard not to let his desperation show. She quickly turned then and walked away.

Mac had seen the tears on her face and noticed the damp spot on Harm’s shirt. She also saw the tears glistening in Harm’s eyes. The single tear silently sliding down his face catapulted her into action. She reached up and touched it drawing his attention to Mac instead of the door that just closed. Looking down at Mac and feeling her touch on his face he gave into impulse and reached for her. He held her to him and rested his face against the top of her head.

Mac could hear his heart beating strong and steady in his chest under her ear. She felt the warmth of his body seeping into hers. At some level she remembered that she had come here tonight to feel his arms around her, but her needs became minor to his needs at the moment. Harm needed her. He needed her warmth and her strength. For the second time that evening, and third time that day, Mac suddenly understood another piece of the puzzle.

“You want some coffee or tea, Mac?” Harm asked as he eased out of Mac’s embrace.

“Tea would be good…thanks.”

Mac watched Harm as he prepared their orange spice herbal tea. When it was ready Harm carried it to the living room and set it on the coffee table. Mac sat in the chair and Harm sat on the end of the sofa.

“You want to talk about it, Harm?”

“No…but I need to…she filled such a void in my life. She gave me a purpose – a focus when I had nothing.”

“I’m sorry Harm…”

“For what?”

“You lost everything to save me, and I never said thank you.”

“No need Mac…”

“I know you don’t need me to say it, but I need to say it. That’s one reason I came over tonight...”

“I never even asked what brought you here tonight…I was just glad you were here,” he admitted as he picked up her hand.

“Tell me why you knocked on my door tonight.”

“You said to tell you when I was ready to talk…and I didn’t want to be alone.”

“So talk to me, Mac.”

“I don’t want to ignore you needs…”

“You’re not. I need you to talk to me more then I need to talk tonight…”

“You sure…”

“Yes,”

Mac took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She looked at her hand being held in his and smiled. It felt good…it felt right. Then she plunged in to tell him what she needed to say.

“I’ve been so angry and jealous of you that I couldn’t think straight!”

“Why?”

“I wasn’t sure at first…but I think I do now…and it was unfair to you…It really influenced how I handled things.”

“Like saying never?”

“Yes…I’m not sure if I can explain it but I’ll try.”

“I’m listening.”

“Remember when you told Commander Lindsey that he suffered from the good child/bad child syndrome?”

“Yeah, he played by the rules and didn’t get recognized, but I pushed the limits and landed on my feet.”

“Yes…A part of me wanted to be as good as you – as brave – as heroic – as strong – and every time you pulled one of your students I was jealous that I couldn’t do what you did. You got to be the hero. I found myself looking for ways to remind you of your screw-ups…then I got myself caught in the trap.”

“Mac, I’m…”

“I know you want to apologize…but please wait…” Mac paused and Harm nodded that he understood and waited for Mac to continue. He let Mac talk, their hands still linked. “By the time we were in Paraguay I knew I should have said no to Clay, but I hadn’t and so I tried to take charge – I wanted my turn in the limelight. Instead of being the hero and rescuing Gunny I almost got Clay and myself killed. I heard Clay screaming and all I could do was close my eyes and pray you’d come for me. The longer I waited, the more I wanted you – needed you – and the angrier I got that you weren’t there. Mac paused and stood up. Harm let go of her hand and watched her walk to the window.

“When you did get there, I was angry with you but I still wanted to be the hero…so I went with you and trusted Gunny to get Clay the help he needed. Part of me thought that you and I together could handle anything…and the other part of me wanted you to wrap me in your arms and just hold on.” Mac stood with her arms crossed in front of her body as if she was hugging herself. She stood gazing out the window into the night.

“One minute I was helping you stop the terrorists and the next we were on the ground in an airplane with no wings…and you were out cold. I needed to get help for you and I wanted to make sure we had stopped them…so I took charge… but I got angry with you for leaving it up to me…I still wanted you to hold me – but I was determined that you had to do it without me telling you – I needed you to know what I needed – like you always seemed to know what everyone else needed – but I forgot you had a head injury and while I didn’t want you out of my sight, I got angrier and angrier with you for not giving me what I needed. Mac stopped. Her body trembled and she tried to regroup.

Harm quietly approached her from behind and without speaking did what he should have done in the hotel room in Paraguay. He loosely put his arms around her locking his hands at his wrist and resting them at her waist. He stepped close enough for her to lean against him if she wanted to, without forcing the issue. He was rewarded when he felt her body tilt back against him while she continued talking.

“Harm, I wish I could roll back time and do everything over again this last year, but I can’t. I think I understand now why you didn’t return my calls. You were trying to sort through all that had happened and in doing that you started to understand yourself…and me too.”

“Not really, Mac…it took AJ’s little visit at the hangar to really get me thinking…before that I was pouting…feeling sorry for myself.”

“It took me until Clay reappeared to really understand that I needed to get in touch with myself so I could figure out what I wanted…I knew what I didn’t want but when you asked me if it was what I wanted, I didn’t know. I wanted you to tell me or push me a little so I could run…but you didn’t. You just told me to let you know when I was ready…and walked away. Well a few weeks ago I thought I was ready and I came over but when I got here…”

“Alicia and Rachel were here for a working dinner with us and I put you off.”

“Yes…but I realized then that I had more work to do on my own.”

“Why?”

“…Because I was immediately angry at you again. I was ready therefore I expected you to be. I realized then that I expected you to drop what you were doing and focus your attention on me. It was once again what I needed…wanted…It was all about me – not you – not us.”

“What changed it?”

“I started adding things up…and remembering a few things.”

“Like?”

“I set the tone for any relationship by wanting things my way and I assumed you always wanted things your way – but I forgot that you are more about what other people need – not what you need – but if that was the case – then why weren’t you there for me when I needed you two different times and even came to you. It finally dawned on me that I never told you I needed you. I even hid the fact from you and then got mad when you wouldn’t figure it out.”

Harm held her a little tighter and rested his chin on her head. When she didn’t pull away he moved his face to press a light kiss against her temple. He felt her move then and thought he’d gone to far and she was going to push him away. Instead she turned in his embrace and slid her arms around his waist and whispered, “I need you to hold me Harm.”

“I am Mac. I’ll hold you as long as you need…” He closed his eyes and pressed another kiss against her temple. Locked together, without words, they began to heal.

Neither of them knew how long they stood that way. Mac finally murmured against Harm’s chest. “It’s getting late…I should be going…”

“You want to stay here tonight?”

“Yes, but I’m not going to…Harm…” she pulled back and looked up at him. “…I’m beginning to understand a lot about myself and about you and us…but I still have work to do.”

“How can I help?”

“You are…keep doing what you’re doing….and I’ll keep trying to get a handle on things…you see I was angry with you because you never said the words I wanted to hear…but then I never showed you what you were looking for. With Chris, Dalton, Mic, and Clay the words were always there but the action never supported it…only with sex. But not you…not Harmon Rabb Junior…you couldn’t say the words and you turned me down when I offered you sex, but over and over you showed me how much you cared for me…respected me…and you were willing to stand by me. You understand me better then I understand myself most of the time.”

“I’m ready to say the words if you’re ready to hear them…” Harm told her experiencing some overwhelming feelings at the way Mac was opening up to him.

“Not yet…Harm, I’ve fought saying the words to you for all the wrong reasons. I did it to punish you…now I need to be able to show you how I feel because the words when I’ve used them before were empty. When I finally say the words to you, I don’t want you to have any doubts.”

“I understand.”

“I know you do…” Mac yawned. “I guess I better go.”

“Promise me you’ll call me when you get home.”

“I will.”

“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Humor me.”

“Okay…I guess since I offered to let you talk tonight and then proceeded to talk about me all night, I owe you.”

“We’re not keeping score anymore Mac…we are two parts of a whole…we’re in this together for each other…for us.” Harm smiled down at the beautiful woman that had finally started opening up to him. Their eyes met and held. He felt her soft fingers caress his face again and her fingernail trace his bottom lip. Her hand slid down his chest, doing things to him that he was sure she didn’t realize - yet.

Harm helped Mac into her coat and with her arm around his waist and his around hers, they walked out to her car. Harm let her go so she could get in. She unlocked the door and then looked up to him and smiled. Harm leaned down and kissed her. It started like the quick kiss under the mistletoe, but Harm couldn’t help himself and deepened it. When Mac didn’t pull away, he let go a little more and teased her lips with his tongue seeking entrance. Mac stepped back then and slid into her car. Harm stood and watched her drive away, unable to keep the smile off his face.

As he got to the top of the stairs, he heard Mattie’s door open. “Hello?”

“It’s just me, Mattie.”

“You okay?”

“Yes…I just walked Mac to her car. It’s late…you should be in bed.”

“I was worried about you.”

Harm pulled Mattie into his arms for a quick hug. “I’m going to be fine, Mattie. I’ll miss you- a lot…but we are only a phone call away and I’ll see you when I come to Blacksburg.”

“Will you bring Mac too?”

“Probably. You okay with that?”

“Yes…you guys still working things out?”

“Yes…and I’m not saying anymore. Go to bed.”

“Night, Navy Dad…”

“Night Mattie.” Harm watched her return to her apartment. He shook his head thinking, “I guess we’re all growing up.”

Back in his apartment, he took care of the cups with the forgotten tea and shut off the lights as he moved toward his bedroom. His uniform was ready for work tomorrow so he went to use the head, stripping down to his boxers before climbing into bed. Before long, the phone rang.

“Rabb.”

“I’m home.”

“Good. Hey Mac?”

“Yes. Are you busy Friday night?”

“No…”

“Will you go out to dinner with me?”

“Like on a date?”

“Yes.”

“I’d like that Harm.”

“Good. See you at work in the morning.”

“Night.”

That began a weekly pattern that led Harm to a night he would never forget. He and Mac arrived about the same time at JAG Monday morning so he waited for her to walk her to her office, placing a quick kiss on her cheek while they were alone on the elevator. At lunch time, Harm had brought leftovers and shared them with Mac. Harm invited her to join him for dinner, but she declined due to a standing appointment on Monday evenings.

Tuesday morning, Mac left a note on Harm’s desk inviting him to join her for lunch and when she returned to her office she found a flower and a note that said he wouldn’t see her until later because he was off interviewing witnesses on a case. He promised to call in later in the day. He kept his promise and at lunch time he called.

“Colonel…are you busy?”

“Not really…I had hoped to have lunch with this guy I work with but he had to be gone today so I’m on my own.”

“That’s too bad…think you could see your way clear to join Mattie and me for dinner tonight…I went grocery shopping.”

“It’s tempting but how about you and Mattie come to my place…eighteen thirty?”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll see you then.”

Mattie tried to give Harm an excuse not to go, but Harm wasn’t having any part of it. “You don’t go – I don’t go.”

“Alright…you win.”

Despite her seeming reluctance, Mattie enjoyed spending time with Mac and Harm together. She got to see the easy banter between them. It reminded her of her parents before her father had started drinking. When they were ready to leave, Mattie decided she couldn’t wait and had to use the bathroom before they left. Harm shook his head seeing through her ruse.

“You know what she’s doing?” Harm asked Mac as he stepped close to her.

“Giving us some time alone?”

“Exactly.” Harm took Mac’s hands and held them in his. Leaning down he kissed her temples, her eyes, her nose, and eventually her lips…just as he heard Mattie returning. He looked down into Mac’s eyes and shrugged. “Ready Mattie?”

“Yes. Night Mac…Thanks.”

“No problem. See you at work tomorrow Harm.”

Harm took the good natured third degree from Mattie about whether or not he had put her absence to good use, and kissed Mac.

“Maybe…but I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Spoil sport…I bet you did. Next time I’ll take longer.”

“There won’t be a next time twerp,” Harm gave it right back to her.

Wednesday morning, Harm and Mac walked in together and met in the coffee room as they helped fix each other’s coffee. They were summoned to General Creswell’s office, where they were sent to Anacostia to investigate an attempted brig-break. They signed out a Navy issue car and drove together. They finally wrapped things up at sixteen hundred and when they called in to headquarters they were told they did not need to report in until Thursday morning. They decided to swing by JAG anyway to pick up their own vehicles. A message was on Harm’s windshield from Jen saying that she would pick up Mattie because they were planning to go out for pizza and catch a movie.

Finding himself at loose ends, he suggested that Mac join him for a bite to eat at Benzinger’s. She agreed. They listened to music and talked about comfortable things, not wanting to get into anything heavy in public. Sturgis and Varese came in not long after they were seated and stopped by to say hello. They placed their take out order and waited for it with Harm and Mac. Everyone stayed on their best behavior.

Harm and Mac lingered long after they ate. As they walked out to their cars, hand in hand, but hidden by the dark, they let go as they stepped under the street light.

“I wish we weren’t in uniform…I’d kiss you good-night.”

“I’ll take a rain check…”

“Good. I’ll collect.”

Thursday morning Harm and Mac were sent off to New Jersey to meet with the parties in a near riot between locals and the sailors at the base. They wrapped it up and headed home on Friday before noon. They returned to JAG Headquarters and reported in with the new JAG. They secured their offices and headed out for the weekend by seventeen thirty.

As they got to their own cars, Harm reminded Mac that he would see her about nineteen hundred. He went home and showered, dressing in a pin-striped suit with a platinum shirt and matching tie. He decided to take the Corvette for his date with Mac. He stopped at the store on the corner and bought a single red rose to give her.

Harm knocked on the door, and Mac opened it dressed in a simple black dress with a modest neckline. Harm gasped audibly, however, when Mac turned her back to him to pick up her coat only to reveal the back of her dress was missing. He had been so stunned by the dress at first, that he had almost forgotten to give her the rose. He finally remembered and she buried her nose in it. She kissed his cheek and thanked him, choosing to carry the rose with them. He helped her on with her coat and guided her to his car, with one hand lightly placed on her back.

The evening flew by as they found they were able to talk about a lot of things over dinner. There was a jazz combo playing and several couples got up and danced near their tables. Harm stood and offered his hand to her which she took. Harm nearly came undone, when he felt her satin smooth skin slide under his fingers at her back, and when her body moved lightly against his to the music. He held his breath as long as he could and eventually felt he had regained control.

The restaurant was getting ready to close, when Harm finally paid the bill and escorted Mac back to his car. As he drove her home, he brushed her nylon clad leg each time he shifted. He could feel her eyes on him and he glanced toward her and smiled. She smiled back.

They finally stopped by her building and Harm jumped out to help her out of the car. He locked it up and escorted her back to her apartment. She unlocked the apartment and reached for his hand to draw him inside with her. Once the door was shut she leaned into his chest.

“I owe you a rain check from the other night…you ready to collect?”

“Oh, yeah…” Harm whispered as he lowered his head to capture Mac’s lips.

Mac placed her hands on Harm’s waist to steady herself as he licked, nibbled and tasted her lips before giving her a real kiss. They were both breathing rapidly when they broke it off. Harm studied her face and placed a couple of more quick kisses on her lips before taking a deep breath and resting his forehead against hers.

“Mac…it would be so easy for me to just let go with you tonight…but we both know its too soon…so I’m going to give you one more kiss and then walk out of here.”

“Okay.”

Harm lowered his head and let his lips find hers. Mac, slid her hands up Harm’s chest and around his neck, which brought her body tightly against his. Harm had deepened the kiss and Mac’s body against his was causing his body to react more quickly then he had anticipated. He put her away from him shaking his head no.

“I’ve got to go Mac…it’s too soon for more.”

“I know…thank you…”

“My pleasure….” He dropped one last kiss on her nose and held up his hands so that he wasn’t touching her. “I’ve got to go…”

“Call me when you get home.”

He did and made another date with her for Saturday night.

For the next three weeks, Harm and Mac went out on Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday evenings they all got together at Harm’s for dinner with Mattie and Tom. During the week, they usually had dinner at least once at Mac’s and once at Harm’s but Mattie was the chaperone that kept things under control.

The Marine Ball was on tap for Saturday night and Harm had promised to take Mac. Dressed in their formal uniforms they dined and danced and flirted while maintaining proper military decorum. By the time Harm had driven Mac back to her place and walked her to the door, he was uncomfortable anticipating what he hoped would happen. Mac had been hinting all week that she was ready to take the next step in their relationship. He fervently hoped that she was as ready as he was and he hadn’t simply misread her.

Mac opened the door to her apartment and stepped through assuming Harm would follow. She turned to step into his arms to see he was still in the hall.

“Harm…are you coming in?”

“That depends on you Mac.”

“What do you mean?”

“I told you that I would wait until you were ready before we took our relationship any further…but I don’t want to kiss you and walk away tonight…I want more. If you’re not ready, that’s okay…I meant what I said, but my will power is low tonight and if you aren’t ready then I’ll say goodnight from here…I don’t want to risk going too far too fast.” Harm watched as Mac smilingly walked toward him and reached for his hand, pulling him into the apartment and into her arms.

“I’m ready…are you?” Mac whispered.

Harm answered by lowering his head to kiss her and show her how ready he was.

It had taken time but they had built a solid foundation on which they could base their future.

The End