Whiplash 1

March 30, 2004

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

Spoilers: Anything up to and including A Merry Little Christmas.

Author Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta readers. Feedback welcome at aerm1@aol.com

2115
December 24, 2003
Vietnam War Memorial

The longer I know her, the less I understand Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. When I went to ask her to vouch for me at Mattie's custody hearing, she practically bit my head off.

"There is no us," she said.

But when I reminded her that she had made sure of that back in Paraguay, she told me that I "didn't fight her on it." I wasn't kidding when I said I needed operating instructions. She tells me in no uncertain terms that "there will never be an us," right after mentioning that I suck all the joy out of life, and I'm supposed to fight her about that? I knew then that there was nothing left between us beyond JAG, not even the remnants of what had once been the best friendship of my life.

I honestly thought that after that last, disastrous conversation, we'd never speak again unless it was work related. Yet there she was, standing in the courtroom, telling the judge that I'd make an excellent guardian for Mattie -- that I was the kind of man she'd want for the father of her children. After the judge decided to wait six months before ruling, Mac even told me that she was sorry her efforts hadn't been enough. I began to think that there might be hope for us to be friends again after all.

And then Mac gave me the best Christmas present of my life. Somehow she not only convinced Mattie's father to give up the fight for custody but also convinced the judge to reverse her ruling about sending Mattie to a foster home. I have no idea how she managed that on Christmas Eve night, but she did. I should know better than to underestimate Mac, I guess. This would have been the best Christmas of my life if only she hadn't left me and Mattie here at the Wall to go keep her date with Webb. I can feel the pain once more as I watch her walk away yet again. I shouldn't complain, however. At least I've got Mattie. It feels weird to not be alone this time of night in this place.

"Harm." Mattie's voice interrupts my thoughts.

"You getting cold?" I release my grip on her to look down into her eyes.

She shakes her head. "No. What's up with you and Mac?"

"Nothing, Mattie. We're just old friends."

"Did you used to date or something?"

I think I've just had my first lesson in parenting a teenaged girl. They ask a lot of questions. "No, Mattie."

"Hmm." She looks up at me with a look I've only ever seen on Mac's face. "Why not? You're in love with her. She's in love with you. Seems like a no brainer to me."

I need to nip this line of questioning in the bud. "Mattie, we're friends. We used to be partners. That's all. Mac has a boyfriend."

"Webb?" She snorts. "Yeah, right. She may have a date with him tonight, but she doesn't want to. She wanted to stay with us."

I shake my head at her. "Mattie..."

"And don't tell me I'm too young to understand, or that I don't know her well enough since I just met her today. Harm, she almost cried in the courtroom when she said that you would make a good father. She pretty much said that she wanted you to be the father of her children."

"She said I'm the type of man that she wanted for the father of her children."

"I know what she said. I'm telling you what she meant." She looks at me and grins. "You know, I think I'm going to like living with you a lot."

I can't help but wonder if she's right about Mac. Could it really not be over? Not be too late? And if it's not too late, what do I do now? Mac said I didn't fight her over her decision. But how can I do that now when I've just acquired a ward? And not just any ward, but one who needs a lot of attention and reassurance that she is important to someone -- someone who happens to be me?

Mattie is tugging on my hand. "C'mon, Harm. I'm starting to get cold now. We can discuss strategy for getting Mac out of Webb's clutches -- who is he anyway?-- in the car."

"He works for the State Department." I lead her to the car, trying to figure out how to get her off this subject. "Here we are." I open the passenger door to my SUV and wait for her to get in. My steps are slow as I go around to the driver's side. She's grinning like the Cheshire Cat as I slide into the seat.

"Seriously, Harm. We need to get to work on a strategy."

"Mattie..."

"And the first step is to rescue her from this Webb guy. You should call her."

"I can't do that." I turn the key in the ignition and adjust the heat.

"You have to. You didn't thank her back at the Wall." She beams up at me, smugly satisfied with her own reasoning. "Didn't your mother teach you to thank people when they give you a present or do a favor for you?"

Oh lord, she's right. I was so stunned that I could barely speak. And then all I said was, "Where are you going?" I fish my cell phone out of my pocket and push #1 on speed dial.

Mattie pokes me in the ribs. "Ask her to dinner tomorrow while you're at it."

"You sure?"

"Yep. I think a stepmother could be a good thing." She gives me another evil grin and attaches her seatbelt.

Mac answers her phone on the second ring.

"Hi, Mac? It's me. Thank you. I don't know how to tell you how much it means to me that you did all that....I see. I know. Listen, if you don't have plans for tomorrow, would you like to have dinner with Mattie and me? Since I didn't plan on her being here, I don't have much to cook, so we'll probably have to find an open restaurant, but if you'd like to..." I hope that didn't sound as pathetic as I think it did. ... "Really? That's great. Listen, I'll call you tomorrow when I have some details. Thanks again, Mac. ... Merry Christmas." I hit end on the phone and turn to Mattie. "Satisfied?"

She gives me a blissful smile. "Oh yeah. It's gonna be a fantastic Christmas."

I put the car into gear and pull out onto the street, heading for home. "So how about some hot chocolate when we get home?"

"Sounds good. And while it's heating, we can talk about how you should ask Mac out for New Year's Eve."

I just shake my head. I'm a dead man. Between Mac and Mattie, I'll never be on top again.

The End.