Not Such a Bad Day After All
Author: sadisticferret
Rating: PG for talk of strip clubs
Category: Humor, Romance, Angst, and Fluff. Don't ask.
Disclaimer: They belong to many creative, intelligent people, none of whom are me.
Archive: Anywhere you like.
Spoilers: None.
Summary: Mac is sick of Harm's games and finds comfort in an unexpected source. Warning! Femmeslash! As in girl/girl! Don't read if this isn't your cup of tea.
Webmistress' Note: I was IMing with sadisticferret, when she complained about having writer's block. She also said she wanted to use the phrase "I'm not good at sympathy. Will you settle for cold-hearted indifference?" in a fic. I immediately set her a challenge: use the aforementioned phrase as the first line of a Harm/Mac fic, keeping the story under 1000 words. This is her response.
"I'm not good at sympathy. Will you settle for cold-hearted indifference?" Mac asked, tired of her boyfriend's constant pleadings.
The Admiral was on medical leave to recover from his latest Meredith-related misadventure, so she was once again acting JAG. This was an assignment she usually enjoyed, but Harm seemed determined to ruin it for her today.
"Maa-aac," Harm whined. "You don't understand! I know that my client is innocent! And even though I have no basis for it, I know that the evidence lies at the strip club I- he frequents! Please, Mac! My lawyer sense is tingling!"
"Harm, you don't have a lawyer sense. You hardly have any sense at all!" Mac snapped.
"Whatever. I just need to save the day and prove I'm right, okay? You understand, don't you?" Harm begged, trying to give Mac a puppy-dog look.
'Ugh, why can't he suck in the good way?' Mac thought bitterly. "Fine, Harm. Go to your strip club, find your crucial evidence, and save the day once again. And no, I won't tell the Admiral."
Harm beamed. "Thanks, Mac. I knew you'd come around. Hey, don't wait up for me tonight, okay? It will probably take a long time for me to find this evidence, you understand."
"Take as long as you need to, Harm," Mac said, "I won't wait up. I won't even be there when you get home."
Harm's jaw dropped. "What? Why not?"
Mac sighed. "It's just... I really don't think this is working out. We're just too different, Harm. I'm sorry."
"You mean you're breaking up with me?" Harm was shell-shocked.
"Basically, yes," Mac replied.
Harm stared at his hands for a few moments before saying in a small, pathetic voice, "I thought you loved me."
"I'm sorry, Harm. I never meant to hurt you."
'Maybe that will appease him,' she thought, hoping for as little drama as possible. That was the last thing she needed today.
"I thought that after eight years of waiting..." he trailed off.
"It must have been a sign," Mac said, wanting to get this over with quickly.
"But we've only been dating for two weeks!" Harm whined.
"...And you're going to a strip club! Doesn't that tell you anything?" Mac snapped, losing her patience.
"I told you, I need to look for evidence!" Harm said defensively.
"Oh, I know exactly what kind of evidence you're looking for, Harm," Mac sniffed derisively.
"Mac, don't be that way."
"This discussion is over, Commander. I suggest you leave now. Yes, Petty Officer?" Mac said, noticing Jen Coates standing at the still-open door, holding a few sheets of paper.
"Am I interrupting something? Because I can just come back later," Jen asked warily.
"No, don't worry. The Commander was just leaving," Mac replied, glaring at Harm.
"This isn't over, Mac," Harm growled, getting up and rudely brushing past Jen on his way out.
Jen shot a fearful glance towards Harm's retreating form, then quickly walked over to Mac's desk and handed her the folders.
"Are you all right, Petty Officer?" Mac asked, more concerned over the woman in front of her than Harm's implied threat.
"Yes, ma'am. It's nothing. I'm just... no, it's nothing. I just need you to sign a few of these statements," Jen replied, the quiver in her voice and her wide-eyed expression giving away the truth.
Mac set the papers down and stepped around the desk, unconsciously taking the younger woman's hands into her own. "Hey, don't worry. Harm's just being... well, Harm. He doesn't mean anything by it."
"Mm-hmm," was Jen's only reply. Her eyes were focused on her hands, which were being gently caressed by Mac's.
Mac followed the girl's gaze and realized what she was doing. To their surprise, she didn't stop, nor did Jen make any attempt to pull away.
"Ma'am?" Jen asked uncertainly.
"Mac. Call me Mac, for now," Mac smiled warmly at the young Petty Officer.
‘Why does she suddenly seem so beautiful? Why did I never notice before?' she mused.
Jen smiled softly, "All right, Mac. In that case, why don't you call me Jen? Just for now, of course."
"Of course," Mac grinned. "Jen, why don't you join me for lunch? There's a lovely Chinese restaurant just down the block from here. My treat."
"Oh, you don't have to--" Jen protested.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to. Do I have to make it an order?" Mac teased.
"Oh, all right. I'm paying for the next one, though," Jen replied, smiling widely, her earlier nervousness gone.
"Deal. Just let me sign these papers really quickly and we can go," Mac replied.
A few moments later, the two women stepped out of the Admiral's office.
"Harriet, Petty Officer Coates and I are going out to lunch. Hold all my calls until I get back, okay?" Mac said.
"Yes, ma'am. Have a nice time," Harriet replied, smiling cheerfully.
"Thanks, Harriet. I'll see you later," Mac said.
She and Jen walked towards the elevator, keeping at least two feet apart the entire time. Once the elevator doors closed behind them, however, Jen took Mac's hand in hers and gave it a soft squeeze.
Mac smiled at the dark-haired woman and squeezed back.
‘Maybe this will turn out to be a good day after all,' she thought, leaning against the back of the elevator.
Meanwhile, Harm was in his office, trying to look on the bright side.
"At least I no longer have to feel guilty about seeing Catherine Gayle on the side," he said aloud to no one in particular.
He smiled. All in all, it wasn't really a bad day.
