Author: usmgrad, hopefully better late than never
Subject: HBX Challenge January 2008 - Challenges (Part 1)

HBX Challenge - January 2008
Title: Challenges
Author: usmgrad

A/N – assume Harm and Mac started dating during season 7; the rest of the seasons happened more or less the same only Harm and Mac were together, supporting each other through it all (ignoring Paraguay, Mattie & the CIA, they didn’t happen). At the end of season 10 they married. This takes place 3 years after the end of season 10.



Part 1

Time had flown by for Harm and Mac, it seemed like it had only been yesterday when Mac proposed, not three years ago. Since then they faced many challenges, both personal and professional, some were conquered with easy; others took time, patience and lots of love. Their first professional challenge occurred just before the wedding, Harm was remaining at JAG and Mac was transferring out. Harm was concerned, how would this affect their marriage? As it turned out Mac was actually looking forward to the new career challenge. Recently they both had been transferred to Norfolk. Harm was still with JAG; Mac was now an instructor at the Naval Justice School. Much to her surprise she loved teaching. So far the only challenge they had been able to meet was the one to conceive a child, but they had not given up hope.

It was late on a Friday night and the house was quite. Harm was downstairs in the basement tinkering in his shop when he noticed the time. He shook his head and wondered why Mac hadn’t come to get him; he had been in the basement all night. As he made his way upstairs through the dark house to the bedroom Harm noticed a lone light on in the office. He entered the room and understood why he hadn’t seen Mac; she was sitting at the desk, her eyes glued to the computer, oblivious to the outside world.

“Hey, what are you still doing up?”

Mac jumped, “Harm you startled me. I thought you had gone to bed hours ago.”

“I was in the basement wondering why you hadn’t come to get me. What has you so involved that you forgot the time?”

Turning off the computer, “Nothing, let’s go to bed.”


Later that night:

Harm’s sleep was disturbed by something; as he reached to pull his wife close he found her side of the bed empty.

”Mac?”

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to wake you. I thought I heard something, but it was nothing. Go back to sleep.”

There was something in her tone, something about the words that gave Harm a chill. He got out of bed and headed to bring his wife back to bed. Mac was looking out the window, wrapped in a blanket as if she was cold. The closer he got the more of a déjà vu feeling he had. He touched her shoulder and gently turned her around, she was crying.

“Mac?”

Wiping away the tears, “I’m okay.”

“What’s wrong?” she was beginning to worry him.

“I’m okay really, nothing’s wrong.” She didn’t sound very convincing.

“But you’re crying.”

Taking his hand, she brought it to her lips and kissed it, “It’s nothing, let’s go back to bed.” Harm was sure something was bothering Mac, but let it drop for the moment and returned to bed with her.

Saturday morning came and like most Saturdays they went their separate ways. Mac had a list of errands to run and Harm needed to go to the airfield to check on Sarah. It seemed the only thing they did together the entire day was their Saturday night dinner date. It was something started when they first began dating and continued after they married, at least once a week, usually on Saturday they dressed up and went out. Sometimes it was to dinner, sometimes a movie and other times it was to a club for music and dancing. Harm noticed through out the evening that Mac seemed distracted. When asked she just waved her hand, fluffed it off and said it was nothing. Harm didn’t believe her but again let it slide.

Sunday was spent puttering around the house, Mac in the office preparing for the coming week of classes and Harm tinkering with the cars. Harm insisted they go for a ride in the corvette late in the afternoon; the weather was too nice to stay inside. Mac went along but remained quiet and contemplative the entire trip. The weekend came to a close with Mac quiet and Harm puzzled.

Monday was Mac’s heaviest day with classes back to back. Harm wasn’t in court so he was able to adjust his schedule to make sure he could call Mac the few times he knew she would be in her office. Harm was sure something was bothering Mac, but he had learned early in their relationship that he needed to let her come to him; he would get no where if he pushed. So he did what he could, he waited and made sure she knew he was there for her, whenever she was ready to talk.

Tuesday was a class light day for Mac, spending more time in her office for her students to make appointments so they could explain why they were failing her class. Harm called to take Mac to lunch but she had already committed to go to lunch with another instructor. So in a classic Harm maneuver he argued since she couldn’t go to lunch with him on Tuesday, she had to go out to dinner with him on Wednesday. Who was she to argue with him? It was a night out with a handsome sailor in the middle of the work week. She accepted.

By Wednesday, Harm had decided to take Mac away for the weekend. He had the whole weekend planned. They would get up Saturday morning and head toward Annapolis where he planned to take her antiquing, something she had wanted to do for a long time. They would stay at a bed and breakfast in town on Saturday night. Sunday they would head to the Eastern Shore and Monday they would return home; providing he could convince Mac to take off Monday. With the idea set, all he had to do was convince Mac.

Surprisingly it only took one short phone call, Harm persuaded Mac to give her students an assignment on Friday and by canceling class on Monday it allowed them plenty of time to spend in the law library doing research. Mac had actually already taken off Monday and was getting ready to call Harm to coax him into play hooky with her; only she didn’t let him know that. Besides his idea was better, this way they would have the whole weekend together. Their dinner date was confirmed and each returned to work ready for the day to be over.

Unfortunately as Harm was getting ready to leave the office he received a new case that needed his immediate attention. After calling Mac and assuring her he wouldn’t be very late, Harm got to work. When he finally arrived home he was prepared for Mac to be upset but instead he found her sitting in the office looking out the window, deep I thought.

“Sorry I’m late” he told her as he leaned down to kiss her.

“I hadn’t noticed how late it was, I’m just getting caught up on some things.” She was quiet, reserved and didn’t appear to be getting ‘caught up’ on anything.

“Let me go get washed up and changed and then I’ll take you out to eat, you must be starved”

“I’m alright, I had a snack to hold me over, but your tardiness is going to cost you.”
Mac said with a smile.

Kissing her again this time on the forehead, “so I‘m guessing by the look on your face that jeans and a sweater are not going to be appropriate dress for where I’m taking you?”

Her smile getting bigger, “You got that right flyboy”

Shaking his head, he kissed her again and left to change. As he approached the door Harm turned to see if Mac would follow him to the bedroom, he found her once again starring out the window. ‘Sometime this weekend’, he thought ‘I’m going to find out what’s wrong’.

Thursday and Friday flew by as both Harm and Mac were looking forward to the weekend. Saturday morning finally arrived; they packed the car and headed out. It wasn’t long before they arrived in Annapolis. Just as Harm knew they would, they hit every antique shop in town. Mac was thrilled, she found an antique locket for Chloe's birthday in one shop and in another they found an anniversary gift for Frank and Trish.

After lunch Mac talked Harm into a self guided walking tour of Historic Annapolis. At first Harm was interested in the information Mac was reading from the guide book, but all it took was one comment about George Washington slept here and every stop after that Harm would make a joke about George Washington. It wasn’t that he was being disrespectful to the father of his country it’s just that Harm noticed Mac began to smile at the little barbs. Soon he had her laughing, it had been a long time since Harm had heard Mac laugh; it was good for both of them. One stop on the tour Mac took a particular interest in, the William Paca House and Garden. Harm didn’t know it but she was committing lots of ideas to memory for their own garden. As they passed by the Academy main gate Mac tried to get Harm to include it in the tour but Harm told her it wasn’t in the plans for this weekend, maybe the next time they were in Annapolis. He was determined this was to be Mac’s weekend, not a weekend reliving Harm’s past.

They ended the afternoon close to the harbor. Harm was nervous about his choice of accommodations for the evening. After all this was weekend was for Mac and she was a jarhead not a sailor. The bed and breakfast he promised had turned in to a boat and breakfast. While planning the weekend Harm found an ad for the Schooner Woodwind, a 74-foot schooner that offered “a unique way to stay on the water in Annapolis,” That’s what he wanted for Mac, something unique and special, just like her. He hoped she would like it.

Special was not what Mac was thinking when he parked the car by the boat docks and started to get the overnight bags, she was thinking he had lost his mind. Where was he expecting them to sleep on the dock? But the minute she was welcomed aboard the schooner she was thrilled. Not only were their accommodations for the evening different, they had arrived just in time to set sail on a two-hour sunset cruise on the Chesapeake Bay. With the captain of the boat in charge, Harm and Mac could sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Harm was pleased, Mac was more herself than she had been in weeks; maybe whatever it was that had disturbed her was behind her.

Returning to port, they changed into warmer clothes and headed to eat. Mac was in the mood for crab and whatever Mac wanted Mac got. A short walk after dinner and they were ready to returned to the schooner for the night. The cabin was a decent size, a little larger than a ship board billet Harm noticed, but Mac soon had his mind on other things. Later, his wife snuggled up beside him with her eyes closed and the gently rocking of the boat lulling them to sleep; Harm realized he was a very lucky man.

Sunday arrived bright and early, after a leisure morning, they headed to the Eastern shore. The weather was perfect for a day in the out of doors, communing with nature. It wasn’t to hot and wasn’t to cold, a perfect Indian summer day. The leaves were beginning to turn brilliant hues of red, yellow and orange; the sky was clear and the hiking trails were sparsely populated. As they started out on one of the trails Harm realized it had been a long time since they had spent this much time together.

“This is nice” Mac commented as they walked along the path. “I miss spending time with you like this”

“I know, I was thinking the same thing. We need to do more of this.” Squeezing her hand in agreement Harm lifted it to his lips and kissed it.

They were quiet again as they walked. After about an hour they decided to stop and rest. Harm found a spot and sat leaning against a tree. Mac made herself comfortable in front of him leaning back against him. Harm smiled and wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Kissing her neck he whispered, “I love you”.

Mac turned slightly to kiss his lips, “I love you too” and then settled into his embrace to enjoy the peace and quiet.

“Mac?” Harm spoke softly as he pulled her closer.

“Hum” Mac responded, but didn’t really want to talk.

In a voice of concern Harm asked, “Am I losing you?”