Title: Intervention
Author: Holly

Rating: PG
Prompt: Jerseygirl353

The prompt was pretty specific, so I've put it at the end of the story so as not to spoil.

***************************

HARM’S LOFT
NORTH OF UNION STATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.

“Hey Harm,” Mattie Grace called as she tapped on the door and opened it in one slow motion move on her way in after practice Thursday evening.

“Hey yourself! How was practice?”

“Cool. You’re home earlier then usual. What’s up?” Mattie slid onto the chair at the island as Harm prepared something for their dinner. It was too soon for her to be sure what it was.

“I’ve got to head out early in the morning for a case that’s being heard in Norfolk, so I’d thought I’d fix a decent meal for us tonight.”

Mattie had watched him mixing and dicing vegetables into some kind of pulp like mixture and whatever he was fixing wasn’t something familiar to her palate. “Oh yeah...so when did you change your menu to this?”

“Ow...I’m wounded...you’re as bad as Mac. I’ll have you know that this loaf I make is healthy nutritious and one of my favorites. Served with a baked potato and tossed salad it is an excellent meal.”

Mattie groaned. “Is this that toxic waste Mac told me about?”

“It’s not that bad,” Harm insisted as he shaped the pasty odd colored mixture into a loaf pan and slipped it into the oven with the potatoes already baking.

Harm had learned the recipe from a chef in training he had dated years ago. Her entry had won a prize in a contest and she had admitted she had made it for him due to his vegetarian tendencies. He’d made it for Mac the first time but had admittedly forgotten an important ingredient. He’d made it since then and she had eaten it and admitted it was not as bad as she made it sound after the first failed attempt.

Mattie watched him doubtfully, knowing full well that Mac had also admitted to his future attempts and they turned out to be decent after all. However, Mattie wanted to find out more about this relationship between Harm and Mac.

Ever since she had been picked up by Mac and brought to Harm at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Christmas eve, she had watched the two of them dancing back and forth around each other.

First Mac had declared in court that she wanted Harm to be the father of her children, but then she hadn’t joined them in church that night but rushed to Mattie’s rescue and convinced her father and the judge to let her be with Harm.

Harm was always talking about Mac, yet they didn’t seem to date and she needed to know if that was just because she was there or because they didn’t want to. They confused her and she wanted to know more.

Susan, her friend from school, had let her borrow a tape recorder so she could use it to try and get information from each of them. After listening to their answers together, they thought maybe they could figure the two military officers out. Susan came from a military type family and lost her own Dad. It had given them a point of reference to bound over - the loss of a parent.

Reaching her hand in her pocket to activate the recorder, she decided to go for it with Harm now as he was in a talkative mood.

“Harm, how do you know when you’re in love?” Mattie asked trying to be nonchalant with her question when her heart was pounding wondering if this would work.

“You’re too young for a boyfriend Mattie.”

“No I”m not...I’m fifteen...but this is just hypothetical so don’t get your knickers in a knot, Harm.”

“Mattie,” Harm warned with his look and tone.

“What? It’s a simple question. When will I know I’m in love? I want to be ready when it happens.”

Harm studied her a minute as he worked on their salad. He’d thought she was at an age where the tough questions had already been answered, like “What’s sex?” but this one seemed as bad to him at the moment, so Harm did what Harm did best when he was put on the spot. He asked a question in return.

“What do you think it would be like?”

“I have no clue. I wanted you to tell me...unless you don’t know. Have you ever been in love?”

“Yes...at least I think I was.”

“How did it feel? How did you know?”

“I’m not sure...I didn’t realize it until it was too late...and she was gone.”

“She move on waiting for you to decide?”

“No! Actually she was murdered.”

“Oh...” Mattie hadn’t counted on this. Well she hadn’t kept a business running at fourteen without having some gumption so she pressed on. “That’s the only time you’ve been in love?”

“No...why do you need to know?”

“Come on Harm...I’m trying to be prepared when it happens to me. I see kids at school claiming to be in love one day and not the next and then others that you just know are. How do they know and what kinds of things can trick you?”

“Don’t you have an easy question for me?”

“Nope, not tonight,” Mattie laughed.

“Alright...let’s see...well, I guess when I take the time to think how I would feel if that person was never in my life again and it seems too painful to think about...I know that I have a bond with the person. Sometimes its just friendship though, unless you find that you want to be physically close to the person as well. I sometimes don’t always know myself at first but them when it hits you...well lets just say that when you find it in yourself to walk away from someone so they can find happiness when all you want to do it hold them close to you...you know.”

“You mean you want to kiss them and make out with them?”

“Mattie! You’re too young for me to discuss stuff like that with you.”

“No I’m not. Is that what happened with Mac? Did she want something she thought would make her happy so you let her go?”

“Yes...how did this become about me and Mac?”

“You do love her though right?”

“Yes...” Harm felt the sweat lightly coating his body. Mattie was getting into territory he wasn’t yet ready to accept. He had been so sure that he and Mac would be closer then ever when they left Paraguay right up until she said they would never work. His chest still hurt him when he thought of that moment.

Suddenly he needed to be alone. He didn’t want to hurt Mattie, but it was killing him to talk about Mac when they were so far apart these days.

“Mattie, go change out of your school clothes. Give me a half an hour or so, then come over for dinner.”

“You booting me out?”

“For a few minutes.”

“Can we talk more about this then?”

“Not tonight, Mattie.”

“Okay.” Disappointed yet recognizing when she’d pushed him too far too fast, she stopped the mini-recorder in her pocket. She wanted to hear what she’s gotten anyway so she hopped down and headed to the apartment she shared with Jennifer.

Harm held back his pain until Mattie closed the door behind her and then he walked out of his kitchen to his bedroom. Sitting on his bed he took the picture of him and Mac out of the bedside table and looked at it. They had been so close in the desert and then later in the hospital waiting to hear if Bud would make it. That whole year had been an amazing journey. He had realized that he wanted to commit to Mac more then anyone he had ever known. More then with Annie who had really been about having a family he had finally admitted to himself, the life his friend Lucas had lived until his tragic death. More then with Diane when he had realized it was too late for them to be a reality.

Harm had always felt close to Mac, but had put her in the category of someone you didn’t think about in ‘that’ way out of respect and because it just wasn’t right. When he had finally realized that he was suppressing those feelings, back when she was engaged to Mic, he had thought he was doing the right think by keeping quite and letting her find happiness with Mic. It wasn’t until her engagement party that he had given in and kissed her like his life had depended on it. Yet she had walked away from him to Mic.

When he had crashed and almost died trying to be there for her wedding, Mic had known what they hadn’t admitted to themselves until it was too late. Harm would always respect him for walking away from Mac knowing he wasn’t the man that would make her happy. He would also hate him for inflicting hurt on her...but then he hated himself at times for hurting Mac too.

Yet they had tried to put it all behind them at the Jag-a-thon and start over. They had reached the point where he was ready to risk it all with Mac, when things began to boil over with his new found half-brother and Lt. Singer. One wrong step after another had landed him in jail and Mac on an assignment with Webb, that he wasn’t sure they would ever recover from.

He hadn’t given it all up for Mac but she had rejected him. Yet he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he would do it all again for her...because he loved her. She was the most important person in his life now. If only he could get her to understand that maybe they still had a chance.

He knew that Mattie needed him, but he also knew that Mac needed Mattie just as much. When he got back from Norfolk tomorrow night, he was going to try to get Mac and Mattie together for a little bonding time.

NEXT DOOR
SAME TIME

“Susan, you should hear him talk about Mac. I’m convinced more then ever that he loves her. I’ve got to find a way to get Mac alone to ask her the same question.”

“You are going to record that too aren’t you? I mean how can I help you figure those two out if I don’t hear both sides?”

“You’ll hear what ever I get.”

“Good. Recording people is great isn’t it?”

“Yeah...when they don’t know it. I tried taping interviews one time and everyone sounded weird. Harm just sounds like himself.”

“Yeah, when they don’t know you capture real feelings. My brother taught me that trick.”
“I’m glad. Now how can I get Mac alone to talk to her the same way?”

“Well, you said Harm is going away tomorrow...can’t you call Mac at work and set up a time after school to talk to her?”

“Maybe...I can try.”

“Use my cell phone tomorrow.”

“Okay...thanks.”


NEXT DAY
LUNCH TIME

“Colonel Mackenzie,” Mac spoke into the phone that she had answered on her desk as she tried to get through the mounds of paperwork on her desk.

“Hi...this is Mattie.”

“Hi Mattie. How are you? Were you trying to find Harm?”

“No...I mean I know he’s in Norfolk today on a case and won’t be back until late tonight...I was wondering if you’re busy later...if we could maybe get together and talk for awhile.”

“Sure...I can probably secure today by sixteen hundred...why don’t I pick you up and we go get a pizza together?”

“Okay...or you could pick one up and bring it over to Harm’s. We could eat it there.”

“Alright...if you’d rather. What do you like on your pizza?”

“Anything with meat!” Mattie declared.

Laughing Mac responded, “I hear you there. I’ll get a meat lover’s special and see you at Harm’s around sixteen thirty.”

“That’s five thirty right?”

“Sorry, but yes, you’re right.”

“See you later then.”

“Looking forward to it.” She had been hoping to get to know Mattie better and this was a perfect chance.

Her phone ringing again interrupted her thoughts.

“Hey Colonel.”

“Harm...where are you?”

“Norfolk still. I’m hoping this case wraps this afternoon as I thought it would. The members should get the case this afternoon and could be back shortly with a decision. It’s a pretty open and shut case.”

“And you’re winning right?”

“Mac, you can’t predict what the members will do.”

“I know. Hey, I had a call a few minutes ago from Mattie.”

“Really. Is she okay? Does she need me?”

“Relax Harm...we’re going to get together for pizza tonight...at your place. You okay with that?”

“Yeah...hey stick around after you eat and have coffee with me when I get home.”

“We’ll see how late it is.”

“Okay. I’m glad you and Mattie are getting to know each other better.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’d better warn you, she’s into asking questions lately. Don’t be afraid to shut her down if they get too personal.”

“Thanks for the warning...but I’m sure she just needs some girl talk and what you find tough, probably is right up my alley...don’t forget, I deal with Chloe’s questions...not talk about someone that can dig for information!”

“Yeah, I seem to remember her having you squirm a few times over the years...whoops..got to go. See you later.”

Mac stared at the phone after she hung up. This was an unexpected surprise. She missed the time she had Harm had been spending together. Mattie seemed like a good substitute for now - and much more interesting then figuring out how she felt about Clayton Webb.


LATER THAT EVENING
HARM’S LOFT

“He really fed you his meatless meatloaf?” Mac asked Mattie.

“Yes...and I hate to admit it, it wasn’t that bad. I think if it had a different name, I would like it better.”

“I agree. Maybe we should rename it for him.”

“We could try. I suggested a few things, but he stuck to his guns about it being, ‘Harm’s Meatless Meatloaf.’ Something about it winning an award with that name.”

Mac rolled her eyes. “So how are things going for you Mattie?”

Here , thought Mattie, was her chance. Reaching in her pocket to activate the recorded once again, she asked, “Mac, how do you know when you’re in love?”

“Mattie, with my track record, I’m not sure I do know anymore...at least I’m not sure if I can trust my instincts.”

“Why not?”

“Well, I’ve thought I was in love before, but each time, it wasn’t enough.”

“How did you know that?”

“It seems like there always something that’s pointed that out to me...I thought I loved my first husband...”

“You’ve been married?”

“Yes...when I was eighteen.”
“What happened?”

“We were too young and too drunk to have good judgement.”

“Did you divorce?”

“Not right away. There wasn’t a need...until I met someone else that I thought I loved...but before I could get a divorce, he found out and I don’t think he ever saw me the same way after that...you see...I ended up killing him in self defense.”

“Harm know about it?”

“Oh yeah...our friendship took a hit from that experience.”

“But you’re still friends.”

“I think so...hope so. There’s been a lot happen in our lives since then.”

“Mac, you and Harm...make a great team. So, have you been in love since then?”

“Yes. I thought I loved Mic...I did love Mic...but not enough. I couldn’t give him all my trust. He was right to walk away, but it really hurt.”

“It sounds like it hurts to be in love.”

“Sometimes it does...when you don’t know if the person you love loves you in return.”

“So do you just tell them how you feel and see what they do?”

“I use to...but its embarrassing when they don’t feel the same way. I hate that feeling.”

“So is there a way to tell when you love someone...and its real?”

“I think so...Mattie, I’ve discovered that sometimes it’s the idea of being in love that’s appealing. It’s important to weight the evidence. If you find that there’s someone you trust more then anyone else in the world and the words ‘I love you,’ seem like the most important thing they can say to you; when you get so mad you want them to go away for ever while at the same time all you want is for them to take you in their arms and hold you and take the loneliness away even when you’re mad at them; when the idea of losing them takes your breath and your desire to go on another minute without them while you want to fight to keep hope alive; when you feel them with you every second of the night and day even when you’re miles apart...sorry I got a little carried away.”

“You love Harm like that don’t you?”

“Yes. I could throttle him most of the time, but there’s no one like him.”

“Tell him how you feel.”

“No Mattie...he thinks I say the words too easily to anyone...he’d never believe me...and I can’t stand the hurt anymore.”

“So show him.”

“I’ve tried...and failed too many times...okay...enough of this. Look, I need to go. Tell Harm I’ll take a rain check on the coffee.”

“I’m sorry Mac...don’t go.”

“It’s not about you Mattie. This has been fun and I think we should do this often.”

“Me too.”

Mattie watched as Mac hurried from the apartment. She clicked off the recorder, picked up the left overs, left a note for Harm and returned to her place she shared with Jennifer. She couldn’t wait to hear what Susan could make of this recording!


THREE WEEKS LATER
MATTIE’S SCHOOL

Mattie patted the little recorder in her pocket. She needed to return it to Susan today. She planned to listen to the recordings one more time, with Susan, and then she would remove the tape. She had listened to them on the way to school this morning again with the earphones. A disturbance in the hall ahead drew her attention.

“I’m telling you he’s cheating on you,” Ellie was informing a teary eyed Susan.

“I want proof.”

“Good luck getting that.”
Susan spotted Mattie, “ I have an idea how I can get the proof...from him.”

“Good luck with it then.”

“Thanks. Mattie...did you bring it?”

“Yes. I need you to get him on tape admitting that he’s been seeing Barbie.”

“I’ll try.”

LATER THE SAME DAY
CAFETERIA

Mattie had her hands full when she heard Peter and Mark talking in the lunch line. “You’re going to get caught Pete,” Mark warned him.

“I don’t care.”

“You will if you lose them both.”

“Won’t happen.”

Mattie reached for her pocket to turn on the tape recorder. She followed the two guys to get the rest of their conversation.

“Barbie doesn’t care if she’s the only girl or not. She puts out for me...Susan doesn’t.”

“But you and Susan have been dating for years.”

“Yeah, and it was time to take it to the next level, but she’s not ready. Until she is, I’ll enjoy what Barbie has to offer and keep Susan in the dark.”

“Stupid move. What if she finds out?”

Just then Mattie bumped into the trash can as she tried to follow them to their seats and cut a corner too close. The tape player chose to click off at that second, when the cafeteria seemed to go silent. Mattie froze, but it was too late.

A teacher on duty heard the whole thing, and escorted Mattie to the office. “This young woman needs to learn a few rules about violating privacy rules. Is Mr. Marshall in his office?”
“Have a seat Mattie,” instructed the secretary. “I’ll tell him she’s here as soon as he gets off the phone. Do you have your right up ready Mrs. Weiss?”

“Just tell him what she did.”

“I’m sorry Mrs. Weiss, you know the procedure.”

“Fine.”

Mattie wanted to smile at the teacher’s attitude but knew it was the wrong move. Harm was going to be so upset with her if he found out...but maybe when she explained how she was trying to help her friend by proving her boyfriend’s infidelity he’d have mercy with her. As long as he didn’t actually hear the tape...hear his voice and Macs...Mattie felt a touch of hope.

It was short lived however, when Principal Marshall read the teacher’s statement and then rewound and listened to a few seconds of Harm’s comments, fast forwarded to hear more and then again to hear Mac. Mattie knew she was screwed before he ever heard what the boy had to say.


BETWEEN PAX RIVER AND WASHINGTON D.C.
SAME AFTERNOON

“Mac, I know things haven’t gone smoothly with us for awhile now, but I wish you’d spend some time with me,” Harm managed to get out the one line he had been practicing in his head for a few days waiting for a chance to use it.

“Harm, I do spend time with you. We’ve been together all day today.”

“But this is work. There was a time we spent time together as friends outside of work. I miss it.”

“I know...I do too sometimes.”

“But?”

“But what?”

“Mac, I heard a ‘but’ in your statement.”

“Harm, I can’t do this anymore...be friends...co-workers...I need time to get to know someone with the same goals I have.”

“And what would they be?”

“Someone that can put me first and lets me put them first at times too. Someone that wants a lifetime partnership with me that won’t be distracted by every blonde or pretty face that comes along. Some one...” Mac stopped hearing the cell phone ring before realizing it was Harms. “That won’t drop everything to play hero for someone and leave me alone.”

“Let me get this and we’ll continue this conversation...Commander Rabb....I see...no I understand...we’re on our way back from Pax River...it will be about forty minutes before we can get there....please tell her I want the truth when I get there.”

“Mattie?”

“Yes...I’ll explain in a minute. Mac, I’ve done a lot of thinking and growing this past year. I wish you could just give me a chance to show you I have changed for the better. Have dinner with me tonight...please?”

“Harm...”

“Please Mac.” Harm made it a plea.

“Okay...dinner...Now what’s up with Mattie?”

Harm released a sigh of relieve that Mac was going to give him the evening at least. He made a promise to himself that he would find a way to balance his parental duties and his need to be with Mac.

“It seems she was caught tape recording people without their knowledge. Mr. Marshall said that he felt I needed to hear the tape before we discussed the situation further. Look Mac, I know this isn’t what you agreed too, but would you come with me? You might have insights I don’t have.”

“Is that fair to Mattie?”

“She likes you Mac. I think she’s want you there.”

“I’ll go, but if I get the idea that she doesn’t want me involved, I’ll wait outside the office.”
“Fair enough.”

By silent agreement that tabled the rest of their conversation, both thinking about what Mattie had done and searching for a plausible reason for her actions.


MATTIE’S SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

Harm and Mac were an impressive sight walking into the school office in their dress uniforms. They used a strong stride with each step, allowing them to cover ground quickly without appearing to hurry. They appeared confident, squared away, and to a concerned Mattie, very united. Her heart sunk knowing her tentative relationship with Mac was about to take a hit.

Harm and Mac were shown into the Principal’s office without having a word with Mattie as the Principal had instructed.

“This is my colleague and friend, Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. I asked her to join us.”

“Are you called Mac by any chance?” Mr. Marshall asked.

“Yes...why?”

“Then its important that you’re here too as you’re involved.”

“I am? Would explain how?”

“In a moment it will become obvious. Have a seat and listen.”


Harm and Mac exchanged puzzled glances and the tape started. Harm heard his own voice on the tape saying, “You’re too young for a boyfriend Mattie.”

His heart sank...Mattie had taped that conversation between them weeks ago. The one that had made him think it was time to try once more with Mac. Frozen in his seat, he heard their words again.

“Come on Harm...I’m trying to be prepared when it happens to me. I see kids at school claiming to be in love one day and not the next and then others that you just know are. How do they know and what kinds of things can trick you?”

“Don’t you have an easy question for me?”

“Nope, not tonight.”

“Alright...let’s see...well, I guess when I take the time to think how I would feel if that person was never in my life again and it seems too painful to think about...I know that I have a bond with the person. Sometimes its just friendship though, unless you find that you want to be physically close to the person as well. I sometimes don’t always know myself at first but them when it hits you...well lets just say that when you find it in yourself to walk away from someone so they can find happiness when all you want to do it hold them close to you...you know.”

“You mean you want to kiss them and make out with them?”

“Mattie! You’re too young for me to discuss stuff like that with you.”

“No I’m not. Is that what happened with Mac? Did she want something she thought would make her happy so you let her go?”

“Yes...how did this become about me and Mac?”

“You do love her though right?”

“Yes...”



Mr. Marshall stopped Harm’s voice and fast forwarded again. This time it was Mac’s voice they heard.

“...I’ve discovered that sometimes it’s the idea of being in love that’s appealing. It’s important to weight the evidence. If you find that there’s someone you trust more then anyone else in the world and the words ‘I love you,’ seem like the most important thing they can say to you; when you get so mad you want them to go away for ever while at the same time all you want is for them to take you in their arms and hold you and take the loneliness away even when you’re mad at them; when the idea of losing them takes your breath and your desire to go on another minute without them while you want to fight to keep hope alive; when you feel them with you every second of the night and day even when you’re miles apart...sorry I got a little carried away.”

“You love Harm like that don’t you?”
“Yes. I could throttle him most of the time, but there’s no one like him.”

“Tell him how you feel.”

“No Mattie...he thinks I say the words too easily to anyone...he’d never believe me...and I can’t stand the hurt anymore.”

“So show him.”

“I’ve tried...and failed too many times..”

“Stop the tape!” Mac stood, ready to run yet unable to move. It wasn’t Harm’s touch that held her in place, it was the potential damage she could do to Mattie emotionally if it wasn’t handle well. “I’m sorry...how many other people are on that tape?”

“Just the boys she was caught taping today.”

“Boys? What boys?” Harm asked going on full parental alert.

“It seems Mattie was taping them, without their knowledge, to get proof that one of them was cheating on his girlfriend that happens to be one of Mattie’s friends. The taped clicked off, the boys heard it raised a ruckus and told the teacher on lunch duty.”

“How much trouble is Mattie in with the school?” Harm asked.

“Mattie’s suffered enough waiting to hear what you have to say from my point of view. She’ll get off with a warning from me. The students will shun her probably, not trusting her not to record them too...or they could support what she tried to do for her friend. High school students are sometimes a challenge to predict.”

“So I’m finding out. So we can take her with us?”

“Yes, and I’ll expect her back in school tomorrow.”

“She’ll be here. Mac, are you okay?”

“For now...why don’t you take me home before you talk to her?”

“Because we have plans and she’s not going to ruin them. Besides, she needs to face both of us and then we need to talk...alone.”
Mr. Marshall watched the military couple walk out of his office knowing that Mattie would be dealt with fairly and in a meaningful way. He didn’t envy that young lady as she faced her actions.


Outside the office Harm kept walking past Mattie as he announced, “On my six, now young lady and not a word just yet.”

Mac gestured to Mattie to follow them, not sure the young girl would get the military vocabulary Harm threw her way. Mattie fell in behind them and quietly got in the back seat of the Navy issue car they were using.

Once underway, Harm glanced in the rearview mirror at Mattie. “I tend to lead with my emotions Mattie and say things that later I want to take back and can’t...so I expect you to go to your room when we get home and give me some time to cool off before we talk. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. We’ll come get you when we’re ready to talk and then you will face both of us and explain why you have done this.”

“Yes Harm.”

It was a silent ride back to their street, north of Union Station.


TWENTY MINUTES LATER
HARM’s LOFT

“Was that little speech for my benefit?” Mac asked.

“Speech?”

“Yeah...about leading with your emotions?”

“Oh that...maybe a little be for you...but also to let Mattie know how upset I am. I don’t think hollering at her will help anything...and you know more then anyone how stupid I get when I’m upset.”

“You have done that a few times,” Mac admitted with a little smile. She knew Harm didn’t really intend to hurt her and that he felt bad when he did. Still it hurt when she thought about those gems, even now.

“Mac, I wish I could take those words back. I can’t, so please accept my sincerest apology and know that I am trying to work on that part of me.”

“I see you are. You’re a good dad, Harm.”

“I hope so. It’s times like this, that I just don’t know.”

“What bothers you the most?”

“You were embarrassed by it...and she shared privileged information.”

“Was it true...what you said?”

“Yes. What about you?”

Yes...I wonder what else you said?”

“Shall we listen to the whole tape?”

“I think we should.”

Together they listened to the tape as they prepared food for the oven and their dinner. When the tape ended, they looked at each other. Harm spoke first.

“After we deal with Mattie, you and I need to talk. It sounds like we’re on the same page but facing away from one another. You game to talk about this more later?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I want to know why Mattie felt she needed to do this.”

Harm decided to call her and tell her to come over as opposed to going to get her. Mac and Harm presented a united front when she walked through the door.

“Sit down Matilda.” Harm nodded to the chair. Mac sat on the sofa and Harm perched on the coffee table after the teenagers sat down.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re upset with me...”
“We are Mattie. I’m sure you are sorry...but what I want to know is why you did it?”
Harm waited never breaking eye contact with her.

“I wanted to figure out why you two weren’t really together.”

“Mattie, that’s our business, not yours. I’ve told you that when you’ve pried before.”

Mattie met Harm’s eyes even though he was intense and large as he loomed in front of her, his elbows on his knees, his hands gesturing at times. “I know...its just I wanted Susan to hear the kind of mixed messages you sent and I thought we could figure out a way for the two of you to work things out.”

“Mattie, I’m going to tell you again, its not up to you to pry into our feelings and thoughts, to record us with out our knowledge and then share that private information with other people. Do you know how embarrassing that was for Mac, to hear her thoughts played on a tape in front of not only strangers but a friend?”

“I think I have an idea,” Mattie mumbled feeling about as humiliated at the moment as she ever had.

Mac decided at that moment to intervene. “Mattie, why is it so important to you for Harm and I to work things out?”

“Because Harm’s not happy...not really...but when he talks about things you’ve done together, or cases you’ve worked on...he seems happier.”

“And that means a lot to you?” Mac asked gently.

“Yes...I mean, Harm’s done so much to make my life better...and you’ve made sure that it happened...I wanted to do something as important to help him.”

Harm and Mac exchanged looks. Mac saw Harm’s face soften and she knew that whether Mattie had gone about it the right way or not, things between the two adults in Mattie’s world was about to change.

“Mattie, do you understand that you’ve broken a trust that Mac and I both had with you?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t want you to ever pull a stunt like this again.”
“I won’t.”

“Alright then. I’m a firm believer in the punishment fitting the deed, so for the next two weeks you won’t use any device that involves recordings...not MP3 players, CDs, videos, DVDs, answering machine messages, voice mail...get the gist?”

“Yes Harm.”

“Good...then lets have dinner.”

“Can I take mine back to my room?”

“No. You’ll eat with us and then you can go after the dishes are done.”


TWO HOURS LATER
HARM’S LOFT

“Coffee?”

“I’d rather have tea I think...do you mind?”

“Not at all. Do you think I was too rough on Mattie?”

“Not really. Two weeks might be too long. See how it goes for a week and then if she sticks to it, you might loosen up a little for the second week.”

“Okay. What about you? Ready to talk about what we said?”

“Yes. Harm, when I said we would never work out...I didn’t mean I never wanted to have anything to do with you.”

“I know Mac...now...but I was so hurt. It took me such a long time to accept that what was between us was more then friendship and being partners. It shook my world to realize that I wanted you. I was afraid if you knew then I’d lose you completely...but then it seemed as if I had anyway.”

“I know Harm...and that’s not what I wanted at all. I needed to know that you wanted me...that you could love me...and that my judgement about men wasn’t all that bad.”

“But I kept doing and saying the wrong thing, didn’t I?”
“Yes. Did you mean it?”

“That I love you?” Mac nodded. Harm smiled slowly, “I do mean it. Have you really loved me all these years?”

“Yes...I just was waiting for you to stop seeing me as your pal and notice me as a woman...but please don’t call me Sarah.”

“It’s a beautiful name.”

“Thank you...but I’m your ‘Mac’...you’re the only one that says my name the way you do.”

“Are you really mine?” Harm whispered, hardly daring to believe what he was hearing, even after having heard her confession on Mattie’s tape.

“If you want me.”

Mac was never sure if she moved closer to Harm or if he moved toward her. She only knew that she was finally in his arms and he was kissing her again. Gone was the desperation of the kiss on the Admiral’s porch or the reserve of the kiss under the mistletoe. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was kissing her and not a ghost from his past.

When Harm lifted his lips from hers and looked into Mac’s face, he saw the love she had for him shining in her eyes. He couldn’t stop the thousand watt smile from lighting his own face.

“I love you Mac...and I know there are obstacles we’ll need to work out...but let’s get married.”

“Isn’t that suppose to be a question?” Mac whispered against his lips.

“Probably...but I’m a little afraid to ask in case you don’t have the answer I want.”

“What if I promise you’ll like my answer?”

“Okay...will you marry me?”

“Yes....I love you Harm...and Mattie.”

“Even after this stunt?”
“Maybe even more because of it.”

“Please don’t let her know that, Mac....where’s her tape recorder?”

“They gave you the tape and returned the recorder to her friend.”

“Good...I’m making her wait for two weeks before I tell her the results of her little escaped.”

“Does that mean we can’t announce to the world we’re getting married yet?”

“Sorry...we can tell the Admiral and get him started on finding new assignments for us.”

“What if we have to leave JAG?”

“Then its been a great ride, but it will mean its time to move on. IS that a deal breaker for you?” Harm still held Mac in his arms, but he loosened his hold to look into her face.

“No...I’ve wanted this for two long.”

“Yeah? I think I did too, Mac, but I just didn’t realize as soon as you did...not consciously at least. It kind of snuck up on me and hit me in the head.”

“Well we both have had some problems with language. Only you and me would have trouble with words like yet and never.”

“I think I know the perfect way to tell Mattie.”

“Really?”

“Yeah...I’m going to leave a message on her voice mail that she won’t be able to retrieve for at least a week...and if she gets it sooner, she’ll have to sit on it without telling anyone until the time’s up or she’ll give herself away.”

“You’re evil Harm!” Mac said laughing, “ But I love it.”

“I love you. We’re going to make a great family and I’m looking forward to adding to it.”

Mac reached for her pocket book and pulled out her cell phone. She punched in Harm’s number and stopped him from answering it so it would go into his voice mail.

“Harm, its Mac. I love you. Save this message to play anytime you have doubts.”

Harm wouldn’t need that message to remember. He’d have the memories of Mac in his arms as they loved the night away.

Lost in each other they missed the apartment door quietly closing and Mattie pumping her fist in the air as she hurried back to the place she shared with Jen smiling from ear to ear.

The consequences of her actions melted away knowing her intervention had worked like nothing had before. It was worth Harm’s wrath for a couple of weeks knowing he would be happier for it in the long run.

THE END


**********************

Prompt: Mattie Grace is at it again. She borrows a mini-tape recorder from a friend. She plans to ask Harm and then later, Mac, the question: When do you know you're in love? Secretly, she tapes the replies from Harm and Mac. A few days (weeks) later, she gets caught recording private conversations in school. the prinicpal calls Harm, Mac tags along for moral support The principal plays the recordings on the tape recorder, Harm and Mac listen to their answers.