Author: Lace
Subject: HBX Challenge November 2008 Fighting words

HBX Challenge November 2008

They don't belong to me and all that...


Fighting words


Mac was happy to be back at JAG after four months at the Pentagon. After her and Harm's wedding three years ago she had been reassigned and given a position at the Pentagon, but Admiral Chegwidden arranged for a TAD assignment at JAG which lasted until about four months ago. Now she was TAD again and loving every moment of it. It was like being back with her family again; not that she didn't appreciate her assignment at the Pentagon, it was challenging and fulfilling, but it was all about politics. At JAG she could occasionally forget about politics and actually make a difference for someone.

Mac watched her husband walk by her office and sighted; they had been on bad terms lately. They were both busy with work; their two year old boy had been ill and needed special attention; Mac had overreacted when Harm worked on a case with a civilian lawyer, a good looking woman who knew how to flirt; Harm had been cranky since he felt that Mac didn't trust him and because of all that they hadn't said more than a few words to each other for about four days now.

Mac pushed her thought aside and looked up when Harm appeared in her doorway. “Here's the Forman file.” He dropped it on her desk before turning around prepared to leave again.

Apparently he was still angry. “Harm.”

He turned back to her. “What?” He sounded impatient and in a hurry to leave.

“How about we have lunch today?” Mac suggested.

“I can't, I need to go to Norfolk.” Harm turned to leave again.

He really was angry. “Will you be home for dinner?”

Harm stopped, but didn't turn towards her. “Probably.”

“I'm leaving early to pick up Henry and I thought I'd make dinner.” Mac focused on the picture of their son that she kept on her desk and smiled. “I thought it would be nice for all of us
to have dinner together.”

Harm turned to her with a less annoyed expression on his face. “I'll be home for dinner.”

Mac gave him a hesitant smile. “Good.”

“Good.” Harm repeated. “I have to go.”

“Drive carefully. The roads are icy.” Mac reminded him.

He relaxed completely and gave her a slight smile. “I promise.” He said before he left her office.


Later
Mac and Harm's house.

Mac watched her son make a mess with his spaghetti and meatballs. He had sauce all over his face and hands. Despite her bad mood she had to smile. “You are making a mess.”

Henry laughed and held is hands up. “Bagethi's good.”

“If you think it's so good why do you spread it all over the kitchen instead of eating it?” Mac rose to find something to wipe off the sauce with. “I wonder where your daddy is.” She mumbled. She had talked to Harm three hours ago; he had called to tell her that he was just about to leave Norfolk to come home.

“Daddy!” Henry yelled. “Daddydaddydaddy!”

“Maybe if you yell high enough he can hear you.” Mac started wiping his hands and face. “ How about we take a bath?”

Henry nodded with enthusiasm. “We take a bath.”

Mac lifted him into her arms. “Yes, we will.” Mac kissed her son's head.

Henry put his hands on each side of his mother's face. “My boat.”

Mac laughed. “We better not forget about that.” She grabbed the phone on the way to the bath room. “I better call your daddy again.” Mac mumbled. She had called him at least ten times, but she hadn't been able to get through. His cellphone battery was probably dead.


Twenty minutes later both mother and son were in the bathtub playing with Henry's boat. Mac loved these quiet moments where she could focus on her son. He was growing up too fast and she didn't want to miss out on anything. They had talked about adding another child to the family, but so far they hadn't had any luck. They had been trying for about three months, hopefully they would be successful in the near future.

“You are so special, you know that?” Mac pulled her son close and kissed his head.

Henry relaxed against his mother and closed his eyes.

“Are you getting tired sweetheart? You're still not one hundred percent after that cold are you?” Mac started to get up from the tub and wrapped a towel around herself and her son.

“Nighnight.” Henry said.

Mac chuckled. “We better get you into a diaper and your pyjama before we say good night.”

Mac hurried to dry them off, before she finished dressing both herself and her son. Soon she had put him to bed and made sure that he was asleep before she went downstairs. She called Harm's cellphone again, but she still couldn't get through. “Where are you?” She whispered to the empty living room.

Thirty minutes later she was getting seriously scared that something had happened to him. Just as she was about to try his cellphone again she heard the front door open and she threw the phone on the couch before rushing to the door. “Harm!”

“Sorry that I'm late, but...” That was all he managed to say before Mac barged into his arms.

Mac hugged him close. “I was really scared. Why didn't you call?”

“My cellphone died as I was about to call. There was a big accident, six cars involved. It took some time before they managed to clear the road.” Harm kissed er head. “I'm fine.”

Mac stepped back and wiped away a tear.

“Hey, what's up baby. I'm okay.” Harm stepped close to her again.

Mac started rambling between sobs. “I just....We were fighting and you... I ...”

“Hey, shhh. Just relax. Breathe for me.” Harm pulled Mac close and rubbed her back.

Mac relaxed against his chest. “I...Can't.”

“Take it easy Mac, your heart is racing. Just breath slowly.” Harm kissed her head. “I'm fine, everything will be fine.”

After a few minutes Mac calmed down. “I'm sorry, it's nerves I guess.” She whispered against his neck.

“It's okay baby, I'm sorry I scared you.” He continued to rub her back. “I've never seen you like this before, what's going on?”

Mac buried her head even closer to his neck. “You didn't come home and I thought maybe something had happened. We've been on bad terms lately and I just wanted to be able to tell you how much I love you.”

Harm pulled back and made her look at him. “I always know how much you love me. Just because we fight, doesn't mean that anything has changed.”

Mac nodded. “I'm sorry I was so mad at you, I overreacted.”

Harm smiled and touch her cheek. “And I didn't handle it very well.”

“Are we good?” Mac put her nose close to his and rubbed it.

Harm chuckled. “We're good.” He gave her a sweet kiss. “How's our little man?”

Mac led Harm to the living room. “He's still not one hundred percent, but getting there. He just wants to sit in my lap and snuggle.”

“I'm going to change and then I will check up on him. I missed out on snuggle time with him and I hate that.” Harm kissed Mac. “I'll be right back.”


When Harm came back fifteen minutes later he was carrying a very awake Henry in his arms. “Someone was awake and jumping in bed, I guess he's healthier than we thought.” Harm kissed his son's head.

Mac, who were seated on the couch, smiled. “He slept for a long time at daycare today.”

“I'm wake now mommy.” Henry declared.

Mac had to laugh a little by her son's eagerness to be awake passed his bedtime. “I can see that honey.”

Harm sat down beside her with Henry in his lap. “I wanna'ave cookie and milk.” Henry crawled over to his mom and snuggled into her arms.

“It's a little late for you to have cookie and milk sweetie.” Mac ruffled her son's head and kissed his cheek.

“But I wanna'ave.” Henry whined.

Harm stood. “How about you have a banana instead buddy?”

“Ice cream.” Henry declared with a big smile on his face.

Harm laughed. “You are just like your mother.”

Henry yawned. “Mommy'nd me have ice cream.”

Mac lay back against the couch and pulled a blanket over her son. “How about we try sleeping.” Mac motioned for Harm to sit back down. “Let's forget about the food.”

Henry yawned again. “Ice cream.” And then his eyes closed and he was back in dream land.

Harm motioned for Mac to make room for him behind her, she did and he sat down and pulled her close. “Do you think we're ready for another one of these running around asking for ice cream.”

“I think so.” She kissed Henry's head. “Don't you?”

Harm put his hand on Henry's back. “I think we are ready for anything.” He kissed the top of her head. “Just look how great our first baby turned out.”

“He really is perfect.” Mac agreed.

“How about we put the little man to bed so that we can work on that little sister or brother?” Harm whispered in her ear.

Mac laughed softly. “I think I'd like that.”

Harm stood and reached for his son, he carefully took him into his arms before reaching for Mac's hand. “Let's go.”

Mac stood as well. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Harm kissed her softly.