Rating: G
Summary: What I think should have been added to the episode
Mac tapped lightly on Harm’s door before strolling into his office. “She wants to stay.”
Harm sat staring out the window, lost in his own thoughts. He hadn’t noticed Mac enter the room until she was practically standing beside him.
“You okay?” She dropped her hand on his shoulder, hoping he wouldn’t reject the effort yet again.
Glancing at her hand before looking up to her eyes. “Sorry, I was thinking about what Lt. Chang said about doing all she could for the little girl but it didn’t work.”
“Harm, this has nothing to do with Mattie. She’s going to pull through.” Mac walked around his chair to face him.
“I want to think so, but what do you do when the best medicine in the world still can’t make things right?” Tempted to reach out and touch her, his fingers distractedly began drumming on the edge of his desk.
“You keep hoping, and when it gets too hard, you let your friends help.”
Smiling half heartedly, “Is Chang going to take the deal?” Harm spun his seat around facing his desk.
“Nope. She wants to stay. She wants the chance to become as good an officer as she is a doctor,” Mac shrugged, walking around the desk and taking a seat. “You can’t blame her, Harm. You gave her an honest challenge.”
“I certainly can’t deny we need good doctors now more than ever. When Bud brought up the negligence on the CO’s part, I came within inches of withdrawing the charges and saving both their careers.” Momentarily glancing out the window again, he looked back to Mac, “Is she sincere?”
“I think so. I really do.”
“Then you’ve got a deal,” Harm sighed. “I’ll recommend dropping the charges, placing a letter of reprimand in each of their files to be removed if there’s no recurrence of infraction within the next year.”
Mac hesitated, unsure of what to say next. She could feel how vulnerable he was now and she so wanted to help. Brushing away some non-existent lint from her skirt,
“Uh, I know you’ll want to be going to the hospital to see Mattie after work, but... I was wondering, I mean, you do have to eat. Would you like to grab a bite first?” Mac clasped her hands together to stop herself from fidgeting.
Harm was all set to give his standard response of no thanks when the look in Mac’s eyes shot straight to his heart, squeezing it almost to a stop. What was he doing? Why was he pushing away one of the few people he truly loved?
“I, uh... hadn’t really thought about food. I usually just head straight to the hospital.” Damn, that wasn’t what he meant to say.
“Maybe another time.” Mac started to get up from the chair.
“Mac.” Harm spouted a little more loudly then he intended.
Sitting back down, “Yes?”
“Would it be okay if I…I stopped by for a late… snack before I head home from the hospital?”
Unable to hide the relief erupting inside her, she bit on her lower lip trying to stop the huge smile from spreading unabashedly across her face.
“Sounds like a plan. Come as late as you want.” Mac nodded, standing up from the chair. “I’m going to go tell my client she gets to stay in the Navy.”
Nodding his head at her, a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, it was time to do this right, to let her in. He needed her and she needed to know it.
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