Christmas Surprise
By: Bree (virtualjag@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: Go ahead, sue me. See if I care. I know people headed for law school. Wait, on second thought sue someone else because I don't own these characters.
Notes: This is written with the assumption that Harm and Mac have been dating for a while. Don't blame me if it's cheesy. It came to me in the shower. The smell of tangerine soap must do weird things to my brain.

Dec. 23

Mac came back from court to find a festively decorated envelope on the center of her desk. There was nothing to indicate who it was from just "Open at 0800 Christmas morning." typed on it.

"Gunny, did you see anyone in my office while I was in court?"

"No ma'am. Not a soul." She missed the twinkle in his eyes.

She turned the envelope over in her hands. Who could it be from, she thought. Harm had left the day before to spend Christmas with his parents and had told her that they would celebrate Christmas when he got back. So it probably wasn't from him. He had wanted her to go to California with him but she had taken Thanksgiving to visit Chloe so she was on duty the day after Christmas. She was tempted to open it but decided not to since it was the only thing she was going to get to open Christmas Day.

****
Christmas Day
0730

She had been up for over an hour. She had eaten breakfast. Walked the dog and even tried to read a book but she was downright excited about opening that envelope. She had to keep herself occupied for the next half-hour. She decided to take a slow shower.

Suddenly she realized it was 0755. Hopping out of the shower the dried off quickly and slipped her flannel pajamas back on. She rushed to the living room and sat on the couch. She held the envelope in shaking hands. Finally her internal clock told her it was 0800. She opened the envelope and pulled out the paper. Typed right in the center were two lines.
Call 555-4981.
Give the person who answers your name.

She quickly dialed the number.

"Hello?" The voice sounded like someone who had just woke up.

"Yes. This is Lt. Col. Sarah Mackenzie."

"Is it already 0800 Colonel?"

"Admiral?" What did the Admiral have to do with any of this?

"Yeah, just a second Mac." She heard something but wasn't sure what it was. Chegwidden swore.

"Are you okay sir?"

"Yeah. I just stubbed my toe. Here it is. Okay listen close. What is the first name of Matt Damon's character in the movie he co-wrote with his best friend?"

"What?"

"Just answer the question Mac."

"Will?"

"Yeah. Got a pen and paper handy?"

"Got it."

"Okay. Call 555-5811. Oh, and write down your answer."

"Sir, what is this all about."

"Sorry Colonel. That's classified." With that he hung up.

"Okay. Let's call the next one," she said to herself.

She dialed the number the admiral had given her.

"Hello?"

"Harriet?"

"Oh, Colonel I was beginning to think you weren't going to call."

"Harriet, what do you know about all of this?"

"Not a thing ma'am. Not a thing. Got a pen?"

"Yes."

"Good. What do you call a female sheep?"

"A sheep."

"Colonel," Harriet whined, "play the game."

"Oh, fine. A ewe."

"Exactly. Write that and this number down. 661-555- 3758. Got it?"

"Got it. Merry Christmas Harriet."

"Merry Christmas ma'am."

Mac put the phone down and looked at what she had so far. Will. Ewe. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears as she realized where this could be going. Get a hold of yourself Sarah, she told herself, you have no idea who this is from or what it means. She picked the phone up and dialed the next number.

"Hello?" She didn't recognize the voice of the woman on the other end.

"Yes ma'am. My name is Lt. Col. Sarah Mackenzie and I was told to call this number."

"Oh, I was beginning to worry. Okay I'm supposed to ask you a few questions. Ready?"

"Yes," she said hesitantly.

"Number one: what birth do we celebrate at Christmas?"

"Jesus Christ."

"Okay. Number two: what was the name of Christ's mother?"

"Mary." Mac's voice and hands were shaking.

"Now put all of your answers, except the Jesus one, together and go open your door." She got up and headed to the toward the door saying the answers out loud.

"Will. Ewe. Mary." She flung the door open.

There stood Harm holding a sign with the word "ME" written on it. She just stood there for a second. Then put everything together.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes, Mac. Of course I will," he practically shouted. He dropped his sign, wrapped his arms around her, and swung her around the hallway. Putting her down reached into his pocket and pulled something out as he went down on one knee.

Taking her hand he asked, "Will you marry me?"

She bent down close to his face and whispered, "Yes, Harmon Rabb. I will." He moved in and met her lips. She pulled back.

"Everyone's watching," she whispered.

He looked and everyone on the floor was standing in their doorways watching the two of them.

"Let them." He moved toward her but she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside her apartment. He took the phone she still had in her hand. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to his chest.

"Hey, Mom. Yeah, she asked me to marry her and of course I had to say yes." He laughed. "I'll call you later." He turned the phone off and laid it on the table.

"No one's watching now."

The end.

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