Author: Nancy
Disclaimer: JAG and characters don't belong to me. This is purely for
entertainment
Classification: PG- 13 some violent content and mild language
Category: Harm/ Mac
Summary: Harm continues grow in his new role as Dad (from the
fanfic "In Another's Shoes") to Anna and Gabe as Mac plays a more
important role in their lives. Gabe's and Anna's adoption was
finalized, and Harm traded in his DC
apartment for a home in Falls Church.
Thanks to Carolyn and Anne for beta reading!
PART 2
Several days later JAG Headquarters Mac strolled into the bullpen and towards her office. "Mac, I'm glad you're back!" Harm stopped what he was doing and followed her into her office.
"Maybe I should go out of town on assignment more often. How are the kids?" Mac smiled. Harm seemed to be more attentive ever since he had become a father. Sometimes she thought he was so cute whenever he became overwhelmed with the duties of his new role. For some reason he turned to her for advice. 'I don't even have children,' she thought and motioned for him to sit.
"Anna, decided she doesn't like to wear clothes and will undress at the drop of a hat. The other day I took her to the Admiral's after work to drop off a file he wanted to take to Norfolk with him the next day. We were going over some of the figures while Anna was sitting on the rug playing with her furry toy friend Elmo. The Admiral starts laughing, and I hear this giggle and look up and there is Anna, in all her glory, streaking with Elmo. I thought the Admiral was going to die laughing" Harm shook his head in frustration while Mac's suppressed grin suddenly developed into full blown laughter.
"Oh Harm, what did the Admiral say?" She continued laughing.
"Oh you mean once he picked himself up off of the floor? 'Young lady, you are out of uniform', and then he made some comment about he should have known this would happen, after I 'misplaced' my dress whites before Bud and Harriet's wedding?" Harm began to smile and chuckle as he realized how humorous the situation sounded. "Mac, I don't know what I'm going to do with her." He added more seriously.
"You're doing a great job. My mother told me I went through a phase like that once." Mac looked sympathetically.
"You wouldn't still be in it by chance?" Harm raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Don't make a suggestion you don't intend to follow up on squid." Mac countered with a seductive smile.
Harm suddenly became uncomfortable and began to tap a pencil on her desk, "Mac what I really wanted to talk about was Will Morris. You remember the little boy at the baseball field?"
"Yea, did you get to talk with his parents?" Mac's tone took on a note of concern.
"He doesn't have a father. His Mom is ... well, she looks like a kid herself complete with her tongue pierced and tattoos. She offered me some sort of shooter. Will looked so embarrassed." Harm frowned in remembrance.
"Poor kid." Mac sighed.
"He went with us to the movies and had a great time. I wish there was something we could do." Harm looked at Mac as if maybe she would take the hint.
"We?" Mac looked uncertain.
"Come on Mac, I know you have a soft spot for kids." Harm looked pleadingly.
"Harm, I don't know. You could be opening a real can of worms here." Mac sounded doubtful.
"Mac, maybe his mother just needs someone to maybe mentor her. You know show her how to have some self respect and take care of Will." Harm looked directly into her soft brown eyes and could tell she was beginning to give in.
"So you want me to teach her how to be a mother. Me, who has no children and a terrible childhood." Mac responded shaking her head.
"Mac you are perfect. You could show her how to overcome her past and help her to be the wonderful person you are." He smiled his 'you can't say no to me' smile.
"Yea right." Mac knew when Harm was trying to sucker her into one of his plans. "Okay, but only if you are in there with me." Mac said seriously.
"Great! I invited her to come watch Will practice Saturday." Harm announced.
"You planned this." Mac swatted him on the shoulder. He smiled sheepishly.
"I knew I could always count on a Marine." He added with a twinkle in his eyes.
***************
Saturday Alicia showed up wearing a short black leather skirt complete with boots and a thin tight fitting pull over top that revealed the fact that she wore no bra. Smacking gum she waved enthusiastically at Harm who looked to Mac for reassurance that she wouldn't back down now.
Mac walked over to the young woman and introduced herself, "Alicia, right? I'm Sarah Mackenzie; my friends call me Mac. It's nice to meet you. We really enjoy having Will play with us." She smiled warmly.
"You're Coach Mac, I'll be damned!" She blurted out and giggled, "Will told me about you, but he never mentioned you were a girl." Alicia looked at Mac.
Mac smiled, "I guess it would be easy to make that assumption. I was wondering if after practice maybe you would like to go get some coffee. I understand you haven't lived in the area long."
Alicia looked tentatively at the woman who seemed so self-assured before her. "Sure, I'd like a latte at Starbuck's."
"Great, I'll bet Harm would like to take the guys to get ice cream." Mac smiled and headed back to the field.
**************
Harm couldn't wait to meet up with Mac after her afternoon with Will's Mom. Mac pulled into the drive of Harm's home to be met by Gabe who dragged her into the house. "You guys sure know how to make a girl feel welcome." She smiled. Harm suggested Gabe put in a baseball tape while he and Mac talked in the kitchen a little while, and then maybe they could start supper.
"Well?" Harm looked impatiently.
"Harm, she's really not that bad. I think she's made some bad decisions, but she really cares about Will." Mac said softly and turned to see Harm smiling at her.
"I guess this means that you two connected?" Harm asked gently.
"Yea, I guess we did. Do you think you could keep Will tomorrow night? I think I want to see if Alicia wants to go shopping with me." Mac said as her mind began to make plans.
"Sure, you know I usually at home. Where else would I be?" Harm said with a wink and walked out leaving Mac deep in thought.
***************
The next few weeks Mac managed to spend as much of her free time as she could with Alicia and Will. Alicia seemed to relax and open up more and more to Mac about her past. She was surprised that Mac had shared such a similar background. "Mac, I don't get it. Your life was no better than mine, but look at you. You're a success. Everyone respects you." Alicia blurted out one evening as she and Mac were preparing a meal at Mac's apartment.
"Alicia, you have the ability inside of you to be whatever you set your mind to do. You have so much talent. Take those stories you showed me, I was amazed. They were fascinating. Have you ever considered going to college and majoring in literature or journalism?" Mac looked at the younger woman earnestly.
"I could never do that. I didn't even finish high school." Alicia looked away with shame.
"You could take the GED and go to community college then transfer to a university. I'll go with you to find out where to start." Mac encouraged.
"You would do that for me? You really believe in me?" Alicia said as her eyes began to shine. "No one has ever believed in me." She added softly.
"Remember whom you are talking with. I told you about my past. You've got to want something more." Mac smiled.
"I don't have anything to wear." Alicia's eyes were wide with excitement.
"I'll call and find out where we need to pick up the applications, and then we'll go shopping." Mac responded.
"Will can finally be proud of his momma." Alicia grinned.
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