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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

By:  slick1969

Summary:  Response to a JAG-a-thon fanfiction challenge:  use the word "frog" ten times in a story.

Rating:  GS Guidance Suggested - Contains some situations unsuitable for children

Disclaimer:  I own these characters ... yeah right, I wish I did.  I promise to play nicely with them, though.

Spoilers:  Anything up through Season 10 is fair game.

Harm's Apartment

"They're finally asleep." Harm tiptoed out from the bedroom and slid onto the couch next to Mac.

"Who knew babysitting for the Roberts would be such a challenge?" she whispered.  They had agreed to watch Jimmy and AJ Roberts that evening, while Harriet's parents watched the twins, so Harriet and Bud could have a well-deserved night out together.

"I know - I had to read The Frog Prince to Jimmy three times before his eyes started to close." Harm grinned. "I swear he knows every word of that story."

Mac chuckled. "He probably does." She smiled to herself as Harm nonchalantly slipped an arm around her shoulder.  It was okay - she wanted his arm there.

"So what shall we do with ourselves for the rest of the evening?" Harm asked.  He leaned over until their lips were barely touching, then-

"Uncle Harm!!" A cry came from the bedroom. Harm lifted an eyebrow and got up.  Mac heard murmuring from behind the partition and then he came back out.

"Where's AJ's bag?" he asked.

She pointed to it. "Why?" she asked, as Harm opened the bag and began looking through it.

"Because AJ is missing his stuffed frog.  He can't go to sleep without it." Coming up empty-handed, he started looking through Jimmy's duffel. "No frog here."

"He doesn't have it in bed with him?" Mac asked Harm.

"No." Harm picked up the phone. "I hate to do this, but I better call Bud and see where AJ's frog could be."  The conversation went quickly. "All right.  Since it's not in any of the bags, it's probably on AJ's dresser." Harm put on a jacket. "I'll head over to their house and see if I can find it there." He ducked into the bedroom and brought out AJ. "Wait here with Aunt Mac and I'll be back soon with Elvis the Frog."

The little boy nodded solemnly and curled up next to Mac on the couch, where Harm had been sitting.

Twenty minutes later, Harm was on his way back to his apartment, yellow frog in tow.  He opened the door and saw an adorable scene.

"And the frog came in and slept on her pillow till the sun came up." Two little boys were intently listening as Mac read the story.  Jimmy pointed at the page and said, "Frog!"

"Yes, it is, Jimmy." She turned the page and continued reading.

"And here I thought I'd be missed," Harm teased. He held up the frog so AJ could see it.

"You found Elvis!" He ran up and grabbed it from Harm's hands.  He started to run off, but Mac stopped him. "What do you say, AJ?"

"Thank you, Uncle Harm, for finding my frog."

Mac nodded. "Very good, AJ."  Jimmy tugged at her shirt. "Story?" he said.

"Of course, we'll finish the story." She looked up at Harm. "Jimmy woke up and couldn't find AJ, so he came out here."

"And then he wanted you to read the story," Harm laughed.

"Come join us," she offered. "Boys, make room for Uncle Harm." All four of them squished together on the sofa and Mac finished the story.

"And they lived happily ever after." She closed the book. "And now it's time for bed."  Jimmy went willingly, but AJ hung back. "Aunt Mac?"

"Yes, AJ?"

"Does it always work out like that?  Happily ever after?" She almost laughed, then saw the serious look on his face.

"Sometimes it does, AJ."

"How about for you?"

"Well, I don't know about 'happily ever after' yet for sure, but I kissed my frog and now he's a prince." She winked at Harm.

The End.