McDaniels Family Residence
Appalachian Mountains, VA
21.30EDT
They sat around the dining room table talking and laughing like old friends.
They had shared a great meal, thanks to Casey and Mac's cooking and Harm and Clay had been put on washing up detail, although they were doing their best to get out of it.
"So how long have you and Mac been partners for now Rabb...3 years?" Clay asked.
Casey gave him a warning look, which Clay took great delight in ignoring.
Harm nodded.
"Yup three loooooong years" he said sighing.
Mac threw a bread roll at him,
"You think it's been long for you, Casey can you imagine having to put up with this egotistical idiot for longer than 2 days at a time?"
Casey seemed to consider the thought .
"Better than putting up with a stuffed shirt!!"
She said with a smile.
Clay pretended to be outraged.
"Stuffed shirt?"
Mac giggled.
She had never seen anyone tease Clay before and it was vastly amusing to watch his reaction.
She was beginning to think Harm might be right about these two.
Casey's happy and caring nature seemed to balance out Clay's reserved and sometimes abrupt nature.
Harm watched Clay and Casey banter back and forth across the dinner table, it was obvious to all that they were close friends, he and Mac had the same close relationship with their partnership.
But with Clay and Casey there was something else there...he was sure of it.
"Speaking of shirts and things work related did you unpack the suits from the car?"
Casey asked Clay.
"Yes, Your Highness I did, your suit is in your wardrobe. Lucky I had it at my place or you wouldn't have it at all."
He said giving Casey a smug smile.
Harm jumped on that comment.
"Wait, Casey you have clothes at his place? I thought you two were just partners?" He asked
Mac eyebrows were also raised at that comment.
"We are just partners."
Casey said with a smile, she knew what Rabb was getting at but she'd let Clay give the explanations... she could be just as smug!!
She got up from the table and began to clear the plates.
"Yep, just partners."
Clay confessed as Harm gave him his best lawyer-give-me-the-truth look.
"Partners that have clothes at each others houses."
Harm asked his face taking on a disbelieving look.
"Uh..huh"
Clay knew what Harm was getting at and shook his head.
"Do NOT go there Rabb, Casey and I are partners nothing else. The reason we have a suit at each others apartment is that we often get called out on duty at very short notice, so we found it was easier to each keep a change of clothes at the others house so we can pick it up depending on where we are and who's house is closest. That's all."
Harm looked at Mac who had risen to help Casey clear the plates.
"Think that would stand up in court Major?" he asked her.
"I doubt it!"
Mac said with a smile as she disappeared down the hall and into the kitchen.
Clay picked up the condiments from the table and began slowly making his way to the kitchen.
"We're just friends Rabb, jeez you and Mac have the same sort of relationship that Casey and I do."
Harm considered this for a second then shook his head.
"Nope , Mac and I don't have clothes at each others places." he said with a raised eyebrow.
Clay gave Harm a dirty look and decided to turn the tables on him.
"Rabb can I ask you a question?"
"Maybe? What about?"
"Mac?"
"What about her?" Harm asked feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Clay looked through the kitchen door at Mac and Casey laughing and talking as they cleared away pots and pans.
"It's been 3 years ,what are you waiting for?"
Harm gave Clay a lazy smile.
"I could ask you the same question."
"I'm not in love with Mac!"
Clay said being deliberately obtuse.
"Nope, but have you told Casey how you feel about her?"
Harm asked.
Clay smiled at Harm
"Touche` Rabb."
"Lets just drop the subject shall we?" Harm offered.
Clay gratefully accepted and they went into the kitchen to face the pile of washing up.
Mac and Casey sat in the living room drinking coffee, the stereo played softly in the background and the log fire crackled in the hearth.
"So" Mac said giving Casey a big smile "what's with you and your partner?"
Casey laughed.
"Nothing seriously!! We're just partners Mac"
"You missed him while you were away?" Mac asked
"Like a headache" Casey said without thinking.
Mac laughed
"Y' know I've know Clay for about a year and I've never seen him as relaxed and happy as he has been since you've been back. It's like the real Clayton Webb has emerged. I had no idea he could be so funny!!"
Casey smiled.
"That's Webb for you. Was he a total pain in the arse while I was away?"
Mac rolled her eyes and Casey laughed.
"Let me guess, he was manipulative , snappy ,boorish and always getting other people in trouble?"
"Yeah usually me and Harm!!'
Mac laughed.
"Ugh Sorry!" Casey said
"Well he seems really happy now, you two would make a great couple"
Mac said as innocently as she could.
"We're partners and best friends Mac, it would never work."
Casey pointed out.
"But what if it did? You would have him by your side all the time."
"Yeah 24 hours a day, he'd drive me insane. Besides, in our line of work, being involved with someone makes them a target for any psycho that wants to get to you. I couldn't handle that!"
"You love him don't you?" Mac asked quietly
Casey smiled a very sad smile.
"He's my partner! What about you and Harm?" she asked.
Mac smiled.
"I don't think I'm blonde enough to catch his eye." she said ruefully.
Casey giggled.
"Yeah I heard about that Psych he was dating, very bad form on his part! What was she like? Clay said she was awful"
Mac took a deep breath and let out a rasberry.
"Very blonde! And she whined constantly...ugh she drove me nuts!!"
"Must be how she racks up business." Casey volunteered. "ex boyfriends partners"
Mac laughed at that.
"Y' know it wouldn't surprise me. She actually accused me one night of coveting Harm. She told me that she only had him 'til I decided I wanted him. What a nerve!!"
Casey laughed.
"Sounds like the good Doctor could use some therapy herself!!"
"Yeah, electrical shock therapy!!"
Mac said and she burst out laughing as Casey did an impersonation of Parker having shock therapy.
Mac and Casey were still laughing when Clay and Harm came into the lounge room.
"What's so funny?" Clay asked.
Mac and Casey just kept laughing.
"Oh nothing...just girl talk!!"
Mac said between giggles.
"Yeah y' know the usual, nothing too 'shocking'!!"
Casey said with a giggle.
That just set them off laughing again and had Harm and Clay wondering what the hell was going on.