So did you guys miss me? Sorry for not getting that Christmas fic out to you guys, but I just had t have a break. Hope you guys like this one.

(Standard disclaimers apply, and this story line can be found anywhere before A Tangled Webb pt 1. Please read and review.)

(Harm's POV)

A knock on my office door interrupted me from the mountain of paper work on my desk. A moment later Sturgis stuck his head in the door.

"Hey, Harm the Admiral wants to see us ASAP in the conference room."

"Any idea why," I ask closing the file.

"No clue," he says and shuts the door.

I stand up after a second and take a minute to stretch my muscles before heading to the conference room, wondering why the Admiral would want to see us.

Mac, Sturgis, Bud, Harriet, Tiner, Coats, and the Admiral were already seated when I walked in.

"Well now that we're all here lets get right to it. I have a directive from the SECNAV to enlist some of my people to take part in a sort of big brother big sister program, which I am sure you are familiar with Colonel," he said and Mac nodded.

"So for the next four weeks, we will all take one of the children from the local foster care facility under our wing. It's no a direct order, you can refuse if you want, but the SECNAV asked for us personally. So I have to ask, does anyone not want to take part in this?"

No one objected.

"Very well," he said and passed us each a folder.

"This is a set of questions that will determine which child you will be paired with. I know the questions might seem somewhat personal, but they will help match you will the child. You can give them to Tiner as soon as you are done; I expect these to be finished by the end of the day, any questions?"

"When will we being seeing them?" Bud asked.

"Weekends; and since things seem to be pretty slow; depending on court schedules and other personal arrangements, evenings if at all possible. You'll get a call from," he looked at the note pad in front of him, "A woman named Carla Masters. She is head of the children's program and promised to get back to us as soon as she found all of us a match."

"Is the Navy the only one taking part in this?" Sturgis asked.

"As a matter of fact, no, Congress, the state department, the FBI, and even the CIA will be taking part in the program."

"Do you know who from those programs is taking part in this?" I asked.

"If you're asking if I know if Webb or Congresswomen Latham is going to be taking part in this, then the answer is no. You'll have to ask them for yourself," he said.

Since there were no other questions, he let us get back to work.

I answered the questionnaire quickly and gave it to Tiner. I was some what surprised at the whole thing, but I guess when the Navy needs good publicity and this would be a good way to get it.

But as I sat at my desk, I couldn't think of anything expect what I was getting into. I dropped my pen, and decided to go talk to my wife. Maybe Mac would have some idea about what was going to be happening in the next few weeks.

(Carla's POV)

I have never been in a military office before, so seeing all of these people doing what they do best was truly interesting. I was given directions to the Admiral's office, and after being cleared by Petty officer Tiner, whom I had to speak to, I entered the Admiral's stunning office.

"Ms. Masters," he walked over to shake my hand, "I expected you to just call. I didn't know you would make the trip all the way down here," he said and gestured me to sit.

"Well I was in the neighborhood and since I had the files with me, I thought would bring them by. That is, if you and your people have a few moments to talk."

"Of course," he said and sat down in the chair next to me.

I pulled out one of the files and let out a deep breath.

"When reviewing your answers to your questionnaire Admiral, I think I have matched you up with the perfect child from our foster care facility, his name is Stephen Lewis and he is ten years old," I said handing him a picture of the boy, "you can keep that. Both of his parents were military, and died in combat when he was 7. He has been moved from foster care home to foster home, but never has stayed in one place to long. No one just seems to want him. I have spent some time with Stephen and I know that he just loves base ball."

"Baseball?"

"Yeah, he just loves the Oriels."

"Ms. Masters, I think Stephen and I are going to get along just fine," he said and smiles.

"We are having a meet and greet in the Rec. center on Jefferson Sunday at three."

"I'll be there."

After leaving the Admiral it was on to Tiner.

"Petty officer Tiner, after reviewing you questionnaire I think I have found you the perfect little brother. His name is Seth Malloy and he is sixteen years old. Seth was found abandoned a local supermarket when he was eight and has been in the system ever since."

"That's awful," he said empathetically.

"A lot of these stories are," I say handing him a recent picture of Seth.

"I know that Seth loves music preferably groups like; Nine Days, Vertical Horizon, Dashboard Confessional, the Goo Goo dolls, and Five for Fighting. Do you know any of the groups," I asked hopefully.

(A/N: Any one out there know these groups?)

"I love those groups," he said and smiled.

After telling him about the meet and greet, I went off in search of one of the other volunteers.

I caught up with Commander Turner just as he was coming out of court, and he suggested that we go and talk in his office.

"Ms. Masters I didn't think that you would get back to me so quickly," he said and motioned for me to sit.

"Well this new program has been at the top of my agenda, so I had a lot of time to work on matching up kids and volunteers."

"And am I to presume that you have found me a match?"

"Indeed I have," I said and handed him a photo.

"I feel like I'm on one of those game shows where you get sent on a blind date," he said.

I laughed and pulled out the file I was looking for.

"That young man's name is Caden Thomas, and he is seven years old. His mother died in childbirth, father took no interest in him. He was neglected taken out of his home at age 4, and been in foster care ever since."

"God, that's terrible. He said.

"I agree."

"So what do I do?"

"Well if you agree to want to meet him, then we'll set up, but if you feel like you wouldn't make a good mach, we can find you another-"

"No. I-I think I would like to meet him."

Smiling, I told him about the meet and greet.

After seeing most of the other people, Lieutenant Roberts about Troy, his wife about Becca, and Petty officer Coats about Abby, I was directed to Commander Rabb's office where I was told I could find him and Colonel Mackenzie.

"Commander Rabb?" I asked after being told to enter.

"I'm Commander Rabb," he said and standing up.

"And you must be Colonel Mackenzie," I said and she smiled.

"I'm Carla Masters with the-"

"Oh, with the big brothers big sisters program, please have a seat," he said gesturing to a chair.

"Thank you. I though I might talk to you both about the program."

"You found matches already" The Colonel asks in surprise.

"Indeed I have. Now am I to understand hat you two are married?"

"We are," they said in unison.

"Then would you mind if I discussed the child hat I have picked for each of you with the other present?"

"No," Harm said and sat down behind his desk.

"Well Colonel-"

"You can call me Mac," she said.

"And me Harm."

"Okay Mac, I know that you are familiar with the program and I was very impressed in what your former little sister had to say about you. And that brought me to want to introduce you to eight year old Ella. Her Father was an alcoholic, and died of drug overdose three years ago, and as far as we know, her mother abandoned family when she was two. I would completely understand if you wanted another little sister but I think this little girl is right for you,"

I watched as Harm sent her a worried glance, but she only smiled at him. I shook my head and continued.

"No, no I would like to meet her."

"She was seeing a child psychologist for six weeks, and he saw no evidence of psychological damage.

"That's good," Harm commented as I passed Colonel Mackenzie her picture.

Flipping through my stack of folders I picked up the one I wanted and opened it.

"Harm, I don't know what I was thinking when I considered you for this child, but for some reason, like your wife, this little boy just seemed right for you. His name is Andrew and he is six years old," I said and passed him the picture.

"He's adorable," Mac said.

"He certainly is, but unfortunately he is not as happy as he looks in that picture. Andrew's father died when he was 5, and mother died a year later in shooting. He stopped talking all together when placed in foster care. He has been seen by many psychologists and social workers, but he just hasn't talked. We've ruled out any psychological or mental damage, and have concluded that Andrew is what we call a selective mute. He could talk if he wanted to, but chooses not to."

"How long has he been in foster care?"

"Almost six months. He almost wasn't considered for this program, but some of my colleagues and I thought that he would benefit greatly from this. He is currently living with a single foster dad, but even he can't seem to break through to him."

"How did his father die?"

"A heart attack," I said dryly.

"I'll take him," he said firmly.

"Are you sure Commander? If you are not up-"

"I think Andrew and I will get along just fine," he said and took Mac's hand in his.

After spending a few more minutes talking with them, I hurried out the door. I was late for a meeting with my volunteers from the CIA. A man named Clayton Webb was first on my list.

TBC