Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge December07 Flirting, love and fright.

They are not mine, but I'll use them in this story.

Flirting, love and fright


She arrived in D.C Thursday afternoon, and he picked her up at the airport. The reunion was like last time, filled with joy, happiness and passion. They spent the first night and most of the following day in bed, only leaving the bed to go to the bath room, and to open the door when the delivery guy came with their food. And off course they took a break to visit Mattie at the hospital. Mattie was still at the hospital linked to the bed, and she would remain in that condition for a long time. If they were lucky, she would be able to use her arms with time. She was scheduled to travel to San Diego on Monday, where she would be placed at a facility for people in her condition. It was one of the best places in the country, with Doctors and therapists in world class.

On Saturday morning they packed the rest of his things in boxes, only to end up without clothes in the middle of the living room floor. They had eventually managed to get the packing done, and got ready for his farewell party at Bud and Harriet's house. Oh yes, Harriet had insisted on a party, so that everyone got to say goodbye to him. When Mac had left there had not been time for a party, only a hasted goodbye at McMurphys before they had left to spend the first and last night together in weeks. Harm had to stay in D.C while he waited on his retirement papers to come through. His days in the NAVY was over, and his new goal was to help Mattie get as healthy as she could, and to spend as much time with Mac as humanly possible.

They were prepared to get questions about when and where their wedding would take place, but what their friends were not prepared for was that they were already married. That came as a surprise.

Four weeks ago when he had come to visit her, they had arranged a small ceremony at the beach. A priest and his parents were the only one present, that was the way they both wanted it to be. About them, and their love. Not about their friends and the military. They were both sad that Mattie was not able to be there with them, but if they were to wait until she could leave the hospital they would not be married in a long time. They wanted to be married as soon as possible, it was about time. That had been a great weekend, with long talks about the future and with a release of many years of hidden passion. When he had to leave on Monday morning they were both exhausted, but the happiest either one of them had ever been.

Off course their friends had been happy for them when they told them. Harriet even told them that she knew they would pull a stunt like that, before she gave them both a big hug. And soon gratulations went all around and the party was in full swing. The party had started out well, but as the hours moved along Vucovic tried all his charm on Mac to make her request him to San Diego to be in her staff. Off course Mac ignored his lame tries to flirt with her, but Harm was annoyed. He wanted to drag the Lt. outside and smash his face in. And he actually could do it now that he was a civilian, but he knew that if he did that Mac would be very mad at him. It was a win-loose situation. He knew that Mac was not impressed by men fighting for her attention, and he remembered her not so impressed comment to Bud at lunch, when he and the Lt. was on the same case. What had she said? Oh yeah, “This is what happens when two alpha mails get together Bud. Why can't men be more like you?” Yes it had been something like that. So he would not do anything stupid. In stead he walked out on the porch, to get some air.

“What are you doing out here Harm?” Mac interrupted his thoughts.

He turned towards her. “Nothing, just getting some air.” He tried to play casual and relaxed. Like that was going to work with her. Yeah right.

“You want to smash his face in, don't you?” She smiled at him, and stepped closer.

“No, I don't.” Who the hell was he kidding. “Yes I do. I'm sorry, but he is so annoying.” Harm tried to look innocent, but he knew he was failing the attempt.

Mac's smile widened. “I know, but just ignore him. Please?”

“Okay, I'll behave.” He took her hand and kissed it.

Mac relaxed a little. “Good man.” She stepped close to him, and kissed him. Then she released him and sat down on the porch railing. “I don't know why he wants to be under my command anyway. He should know that I would bury him in paperwork and boring cases until he begged me to ship him off to some other crappy command.” She got an evil gleam in her eyes at the thought.

He got a teasing tone in his voice. “I can tell you why. You are a good looking woman Mac. You're smart.” Then he bent down to her level with an evil gleam in his teasing look. “Of course you do have a tatoo...”

“There is no way for him to know that. And what the hell is your point?” She interrupted him a little annoyed.

“I'm just saying that he likes you. He thinks you're hot. And who could blame him?” He kissed her.

“Harm...” Her voice was warning.

“You should take what I'm saying as a compliment baby. I'm trying to say that I find you really beautiful and sexy and fascinating.” He sat down beside her. “I love you.”

“Every now and then I catch you being nice.” She looked up, and in to his eyes.

“Keep it to yourself ,okay? I've got a reputation to protect.” He whispered so low she could barely hear the words.

“Your secret is safe with me.” She kissed him, and then she stood. “We should join the party.” She took his hand, and pulled him up. “And for the record.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I love you too.” She smiled at him, and then dragged him inside.

The minute they entered the house again Lt. Vucovic was at Mac's side again. Harm stood by them and watched as the younger man flirted with his wife.

“Everything okay Sir?” Bud came to stand beside Harm.

“Have you ever wanted to hit someone Bud?” Harm's eyes were still on Mac and Vucovic.

“No Sir, not really.”

“Are you ever going to call me Harm, Bud.”

“No Sir, not really.”

“Okey then. What if someone was flirting with your wife Bud, would you hit someone then?”

“No Sir, nor really.”

Harm turned his look away from his wife and Vucovic and looked at Bud. “Why not?”

“What good would it do Sir?” Bud asked his mentor. “It doesn't solve anything Sir.”

“It would make me feel better.” Harm said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“But the Colonel would be mad. I don't know about you Sir, but personally I find the Colonel frightening when she is mad.” The words had just left Bud's mouth when...

“Oh my God Lt. I will not now or ever have you in my command. In my eyes you are useless, and to tell the truth if you were the last lawyer in the military I would rather do the job my self than have you working for me. Now if you will excuse me, I need to have a conversation with someone who doesn't make me want to kill myself.” Mac turned away from the Lt, and joined Harm and Bud.

The room fell in to silence, and everyone looked at the Lt. He shrugged his shoulders before he walked away.

Harm looked from Bud to Mac to where the Lt just stood, and then back to Bud. “You know Bud, I do to.” He started to laugh, and soon Bud joined him.