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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