Title: 24/7: Monday

Disclaimer: puh-leeze

Summary: A week in the lives of our favorite should-be couple.

Spoilers: Boomerang II, A little of the one where Mac spills the beans to Sturgis, but nothing major.

AN2: Anyone who has ever been to Charlotte, NC knows that ‘Sport’s Page’ is the most awesome place. It’s like the ‘gathering place’ of the west side. Everyone in there knows everyone. It’s awesome. And the food. <Sigh> Anyhoo…

Harm groaned as his alarm went off. He pulled a pillow out from under him and covered up his head. “Too early.” he muttered. The alarm continued to buzz for a minute or two, before he finally reached over to turn it off. He got up, and headed to the shower. He stepped out of his boxers, turned the water on, and stepped under the warm spray when he noticed his shampoo bottle was empty. He groaned loudly. He had meant to pick some up at the store on the way home last night, but his fight with Mac had him so distracted, he completely forgot. “This is going to be a wonderful day.” He said. With a sigh, he picked up a nearby bottle and began to lather his hair with rose scented shampoo, the only thing left of Renee in the apartment.

***

Mac entered the bullpen and headed straight for her office. She saw Sturgis start to head after her and slammed her door before he could enter. His eyes widened and he sighed. ‘Guess I’m talking to Harm.’ He said to himself. Sturgis started to head towards his office when he saw Harm enter. He walked back to Harm’s office as quickly as possible.

“Not now Sturgis.” Harm said, and slammed his door as well.

Mac heard the slam and looked up. Looking in Harm’s office, their eyes met momentarily, before she scowled and turned back to her work.

Harriet walked over to him and smiled. “I warned you not to interfere with their relationship.”

His eyes widened, and he looked at her, a look of shock, and slight admiration on his face. “Excuse me? I didn’t interfere.”

She rolled her blue eyes and smiled. “Please. You don’t think setting Harm up with that Caroline chick, right in front of Mac is interfering?”

“Harriet, they’re not moving along by themselves. I heard that the best way harm shows emotion is when he’s jealous. I thought maybe Mac would too.”

She shook her head. “Way off there, buddy. When Mac gets jealous, she withdraws. She’s not going to move towards Harm. She’s been rejected by him once. She wants him to make the advances. Therefore, you should have set Mac up, not Harm.”

He looked at her, more then a little confused. “When did he reject her?”

“When they were in Australia.” She tells him. They began to walk over to his office. Sturgis opens the door for Harriet, shutting it behind him.

“What happened?”

“They were on the ferry. According to Mac, Harm made some asinine comment about how on New Years Eve, they spelt ‘Eternity’ out on the bridge in lights. She asked him if that’s how long they were going to wait, and he said he couldn’t let go, and that he was only like this with her.”

Sturgis rolled her eyes. “He’s such an idiot.”

Harriet smiled. “When it comes to Mac, I agree. That was the trip where Brumby proposed. Once Harm realized he had an actual chance of losing her, he was much more open with his feelings.”

He nodded. “Ok. Caroline was a bad idea.” He smiled. “Any idea who we could fix Mac up with?”

She lit up. She flashed him her killer smile and nodded. “Oh yeah.”

***

‘Irrational, jealous, childish…’ He mentally went through the list of adjectives he was currently using to describe Mac. He couldn’t believe she blew up the way she did.

He shook his head. Last night was definitely not one of their finer moments. He regretted losing his temper and calling her a bitch, and he definitely regretted her throwing her drink at him. He glanced over in her office and frowned. She was laughing and smiling with Harriet over something. ‘I guess she wasn’t as upset about Caroline as I thought she was.’

***

Mac smiled and continued to laugh. She wasn’t in the mood, but Harriet was trying so hard to make her feel better.

“Ma’am, what are you doing tonight?” She asked suddenly.

Shaking her head, “Nothing. Why, what’s up?”

Harriet smiled. “Have dinner with me tonight. Bud is spending some time with my cousin Jake tonight, so I thought maybe we could do something.”

To her pleasure, Mac nodded. “I’d love too. How about we meet at-”

“No.” Harriet said sharply. “Uh, I mean, can you pick me up? My car has been acting funny these past couple of days.”

Mac gave her a look, the look that meant she knew something was more then likely up, but she agreed anyways. “Ok. I’ll pick you up about 7:00.”

“Great.” Harriet said with a smile. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She nodded and smiled as Harriet left her office. ‘Take that, Harmon Rabb. No way in hell am I going to sit home crying over you.’ If the prick wanted Caroline, he could have her. ‘Maybe I’ll send her a sympathy card.’ She thought, another smile coming to her face.

***

Harriet smiled as she entered Sturgis’ office. “Its set. Mac is picking me up at 7:00. I’ll find someway to get Bud and Jake to join us at dinner. You make sure that you and Harm are at ‘Sports Page’ at 7:45.”

He laughed. “Consider it done.” He looked at her and said, “This better work, Harriet. If something isn’t done soon, one of them will probably kill the other. And Harm is my best friend. I’d really miss him if he were dead.”

She laughed. “See you tonight.” She said, before leaving his office.

***

Mac walked up to Harriet & Bud’s apartment and knocked lightly on the door. Her friend opened it and they both smiled. “Hey, you ready?”

Harriet shook her head. “Just a few more minutes. Come on in.” Harriet held the door open wider for Mac and shut it once she was inside. Mac looked over at the couch and her eyes widened. Jake, if that’s who he was, was very good looking. Harriet noticed her reaction and smiled. “Mac, this is my cousin Jake. Jake, this is Sarah MacKenzie.”

“Nice to meet you.” He said.

Mac nodded. He had a great smile. “Nice to meet you too.”

Bud looked over at Harriet, then at Jake. Turning back to Harriet he frowned and stood up, going to talk to her. “Sweetie, this is not a good idea.”

She scowled. “It’s a perfect idea. Sturgis and I have it all planned out.”

“You shouldn’t interfere.” He whispered.

“If Harm would stop being an ass, we wouldn’t have to. Its ok. Jake is in on the plan. No one is going to get hurt. So are you going to help me, or are you sleeping on the couch tonight?”

Bud rolled his eyes and nodded. “I’ll help.”

She leaned in and kissed him. “Go ask Mac if the two of us want to join you and Jake for dinner at ‘Sport’s Page.’”

He groaned and did as she asked. Walking back to the living room, he mentally yelled at himself for agreeing to this. “Mac, how about you & Harriet join Jake and I at ‘Sport’s Page’ tonight?”

Harriet walked back in at that moment and shrugged. “Its ok with me.”

Mac smiled. “Sure. What the hell.”

***

“Sturgis, I just want to go home.”

Sturgis smiled at the hostess. “Two please. Non-smoking.” They followed her to their table. “Harm, I just want to apologize for setting you up with Caroline. I didn’t know it would piss you and Mac off that much.”

“Can we not mention her na-” His sentence died on his lips as he saw her. Her, Harriet, bud, and some strange guy. Some guy sitting very close to *his Mac*.

“Oh Lord.” Sturgis said. He tried his best to seem aggravated and hoped he wasn’t smiling. “We should probably go say hello.” he practically pulled his friend over to the small groups table. “Harriet, Bud, what a surprise to see you here. Hey Mac.”

Harriet smiled. “Good evening Sirs.” Her and Sturgis shared a look. “Commander Rabb, Commander Turner, this is my cousin Jake. Jake, this is Commander Harmon Rabb and Commander Sturgis Turner.”

Sturgis extended his hand. “Nice to meet you. You can call me Sturgis.” Them men shook hands, and Jake then extended his to Harm.

“Nice to meet you, Harm.”

Harm kept his arms folded against his chest. “You can call me Commander Rabb.” He scowled at the man, then at Mac. “Mac, may I speak to you for a moment?”

“Actually, *Commander*, I was in the middle of something.”

“It won’t take long.” He growled.

“Damnit Harm.” She pushed her chair out from under the table and followed it him outside.

Jake looked at the table full of naval officers. “I guess you made him jealous.”

***

“What the hell is that!” Harm practically exploded. “Trying to make me jealous. Are you going to accept a ring from him too? Wear it on your right hand for 10 months, Ina pitiful display to get my attention?”

Mac halfway expected him to start laughing, because she was sure smoke coming out of her ears would be a laughable sight. “Why in hell would I want to make you jealous. It’s perfectly clear that nothing is EVER going to happen with us, and I am SO sick of living like a nun. Even though it’s none of your damn buisiness, Harriet and I had plans, but Bud & Jake asked if we wanted to join them. I thought it would be fun, spending some time with my best friends.”

“So I’m not your best friend anymore?”

She scowled. “Right now, Singer is ranking higher then you. If you can go on a date, I can have dinner with friends, and a very nice man. My personal life is none of your concern.” She stopped to breathe, and once calm, looked at him. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going back inside. And for all I care, you can go to hell.” She walked back inside, leaving him standing in the parking lot, fuming. And more then a little hurt. His ‘date’ with Caroline was a set up. This obviously wasn’t. She had no clue he was going to show up.

Looks like you’ve lost her again, Rabb.” He said to himself. He sighed, and walked back inside. Sturgis quickly got up from the table and walked over to him.

“Are you ok?”

Harm shook his head. “No. I’m not. I’m gonna split. Go someplace and be very alone, and very drunk. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

Sturgis nodded. “Bye.” And walked back over to the table. He took the seat Bud had pulled up and smiled at them. “My dinner guest decided to split. Ok if I join you guys?” Everyone nodded except Mac. He looked at her, and leaned in to whisper something to her. “Mac, you ok?”

She forced a smile. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine. Lets order. I’m starved.”

End ‘Monday’

What’d ya think!!! Wanna know what happens in the office on Tuesday?