Disclaimer- I do not own JAG or is characters, but if I had it my way Harm would be all mine;) JAG belongs to Don P. Bellisario, Bellisarius, and CBS. I'm not getting paid for this...yada yada... The song "Into the Night" is performed by Benny Mardones
Note:This is one of my first JAG fics and its taken a lot of courage for me to post it. Please review it and be kind. I started it when I only saw a handful of episodes in season 2 and worked on it as I saw more and learned new things. So, if there are discrepancies in details, they are my fault. Other things,(like what happened to Brumby) are a figment of my imagination to make my story a little more interesting.
***WARNING***This is a Harm/Mac shipper story
.^.^. Into the Night .^.^.
(Dedicated to my #1 fans, Shanny and Chantelle)
Mac's Residence
Georgetown, MD
21:24 Romeo, MAY 26
Mac fixed her hair again. It just wasn't working tonight. She stared at herself in the mirror. Other than the hair, not bad, she thought. She wore a deep V- neck, spaghetti strapped burgundy camisole covered in tiny faux diamonds, black pants and basic black strappy sandals. It was nothing too fancy, but not too casual either. She looked chic and was comfortable, ok so maybe except for the heels. She had 5 minutes, 33 seconds before she had to be out the door. She could make it.
Just then, her dog Jingo came over to her whimpering and then went to the door. "Now? Can't you wait? Why didn't you want to go before?" she sighed. "Fine, I'll take you to the front of the building." She went into the other room to get his leash. It wasn't there. "Shit!" she muttered. She searched all over and finally found that the dog had hid it under the bed. Maybe he thought he wouldn't have to wear it if she couldn't find it. Jeez, now she was playing doggie shrink! She went into the other room and fastened it onto his neck collar. The dog whimpered. "You sneaky boy." She pat his head. She found her keys after a little searching and locked the door. She and the dog went out into the front of the apartment building on the sidewalk. "You're going to make me late now, Jingo."
She let the dog back in, grabbed a thin black jacket and took one last look in the mirror. She then headed out the door.
********
Mac's phone sprang to life, reciting it grating sound over and over until the machine finally picked up. Jingo's ears perked up.
It was Harm. "Mac, you're running late so I figured you're still home. I just wanted to let you know that Renée insisted on coming. She promised to be nice."
********
Mc Murphy's Bar
Washington, D.C.
21:45 Romeo
Mac parked her Vette and went inside. A group of men with tall empty mugs whistled and made comments about her, as she walked by them. She chose to ignore them. She spotted Harm, Bud and Harriet at the far end of the bar at a corner table. Bud Roberts and his wife Harriet Sims got up to dance.
"You're late." he said, as she approached. He stood up.
"Fifteen minutes, twenty two seconds."
He smiled at her. "You're amazing." He never ceased to marvel at her extraordinary ability to calculate time.
"Why thank you, Commander."
He held the chair out for her, and put his hand on the small of her back. She sat down. A Latin beat started playing and Mac was itching to dance. Harm sensed this.
"May I have this dance, Colonel?"
"I'd love to."
He took her hands and led her out to the dance floor. She felt so energized, like electricity was passing between their fingers. The music flowed inside them. The song was almost over, but she could have danced all night.
An outraged Renée entered the bar and found Bud and Harriet at the table. She didn't make her hatred for Mac a secret."What's she doing here?" she hissed.
Bud opened his mouth to speak, but Harriet ended up answering. "Uh, she and Harm won the case...together." Renée said nothing and stormed off.
Great, Mac thought, Satan's sister is here, as she saw Renée approaching. She recalled the scene when they had attended the wedding of a fellow officer, and Harm had brought Renée. Harm, always a great catch, caught the bride's garter. The bouquet practically sailed right into Mac's lap, when Renée pushed her, causing her to fall, only to snatch it herself. Harm had gotten so angry as his she-devil of a girlfriend for pushing Mac. Renée had vehemently denied that she did it intentionally, deeming that it "was just an unfortunate accident." Finally she gave a feeble apology to Mac after Harm insisted upon it.
"May I cut in?" Renée purred.
"The songs almost over." Harm said. Mac looked at him uncomfortably.
"That's ok."Anything to get the two of you apart, she thought.
"Mac?"he asked. She nodded it was fine.
He let go of Mac, and Renée literally wedged herself between them before Mac even had a chance to move. What was this, Renée thought, now he has to get permission from her to dance with me!
Mac returned to the table to join Bud and Harriet.
"Chased away, Colonel?" asked Harriet.
Mac smiled. "Something like that." Just then the waiter came over. Mac ordered a cheese burger, an order of special deluxe fries and a coke. Harriet got a salad and Bud sheepishly ordered a salad at his wife's insistence. Two songs later, Harm and Her Sleaziness came back.
"Iwwwwwww!" Renée exclaimed, as she saw Mac's grease fest of a burger and chili cheese fries. "Are you actually going to eat that?!"
Mac popped a well embellished fry into her mouth for good measure. "Just did."She grinned, quite pleased with herself.
"When I was pregnant I craved stuff like that." Harriet chimed in.
"Mac, you aren't.....?" Renée asked, almost horrified.
"Nooo." Mac laughed, shaking her head. What the hell made her think that she could call her Mac? Well, the girl probably couldn't handle anything beyond a syllable or two, she reasoned.
"You gotta love Mac's eating habits." Harm said. Renée thought, What'so lovable about her anyway? She forced a smile. Harm continued, "She's got worse taste in men, though."
"Shut up! I haven't seen you pick any gems either stickboy!" Mac retorted smiling, insulting Renée to her face. She was slow to catch on, and once she did, she became angry.
"Until you, of course." Mac said. She was a gem alright, a faux gem! Bud and Harriet watched quietly in amusement, their heads turning back and forth to look at them,not wanting to miss a second of the action.
I need a drink, Renée thought. This is going to be one long night. "I'm sorry about what happened, your fiancé being a bigamist and all." she said to Mac. Mac smiled through clenched teeth.
"That walloby hopped off with an empty pouch and his tail, or lack there of between his legs." commented Harm with a grin. Mac shot a look at him and then smiled.
"Do walloby's hop sir?" asked Bud, his question hanging in the air.
"Drinks on me." Renèe said. How rare, the Witch was being hospitable for once. Mac craved a drink, a craving that came and went daily. "Bud? Harm?"
"Beer." they both responded.
"Harriet? Mac?"
"I can't. I'm breast feeding." Harriet announced.
Yes, please! "Um, no thanks." Mac said politely as possible.
"Come on, nothing?"
"I don't want anything."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yesssssss!" Mac snapped, getting annoyed.
"Renée, give it a rest! Leave her alone. She doesn't drink."
"Ok, ok. You didn't have to yell!" Renée said, sounding hurt. Apparently you do have to be yelled at, because you're so dense you can't comprehend things any other way, Mac thought.
Bud looked at Harriet. "Yikes," he said, softly.
********
Time flew by, and the tension had no way dissipated.
"Time for pool." Harm announced. They all stood up, except for, of course, Renée. "Don't you want to play?"
"No. I'll break a nail, honey."
Mac laughed inwardly. She'd love to see Renée try to survive 5 minutes of Marine training. What the hell did he see in that pastry anyway? A pastry was what she was; flaky on the outside, fruity on the inside. "Let's go, fly boy." she called to Harm, who was still trying to persuade Renée to join them. He gave up on her and went to them.
"How are we going to do this?" asked Bud.
"The women against the men, of course." Harm said.
"Me against you, Harriet against Bud." Mac said.
********
"Six in the corner."Mac held the cue steady, deep in concentration. She could make this shot. She and Harriet would no doubt win, their coordination not affected by alcohol like the men.
"I know why you wore that." said Harm.
"What?" Mac snapped, still eying the ball. She hit it and knocked it into the hole, which triggered other balls to go flying, delivering two into their respective holes.
"You wore that to distract the competition."he said, his words slightly slurred.
"Get off it, fly boy!" Mac leered at him. Just then, a burly man approached her.
"S'cuse me, little lady. Would you like to dance?" he asked her in his gruff voice.
"Not right now." she said, kindly as possible.
"Looks like a real keeper." commented Harm wryly.
"Shut up!" Mac said.
Bud yawned, obviously he was tired. The alcohol didn't help. "I think I better get this big boy home after the game." said Harriet.
"But Harriet!" he said. She looked at him and he shut up.
********
Renée fidgeted uncomfortably. Maybe I should have played, she thought. She hated this. She resisted the urge to go over there and bash Mac's skull in with a cue. She could have sworn that annoying little wife of Bud's was checking out her man, too!
********
The game was over, and the women had won easily as predicted. "Rematch next week!" Bud said, a little too loud. His wife took his arm.
"Come on, Bud, honey." she said, leading her husband away. "Good night, Commander, Colonel."
"G'night." Mac said. "Aren't you ready to go home yet, fly boy?"
"Nope. Shall we dance, jarhead?"
She couldn't help but smile. "Shouldn't you ask your girlfriend first?"
"I guess that's a good idea."
********
"Wanna dance?" he asked Renée, who was relieved he was back.
"No, the music sucks." she said.
So eloquently put, Mac thought, as she heard Renée's comment as he approached. She took a sip of her soda. The ice had melted and it was all watered down. She crinkled her nose. Yuck!
"Excuse me, while I go to the ladies room." Renée said, rudely pushing herself past Mac.
"You, me: dance." he said to her with a grin.
"Is that a promise or a threat, Commander?" A smile played on her lips. They went out to the dance floor and the next song started. One had to admit the place had a diverse taste in music.
~*~
She's just sixteen years old/ Leave her alone, they say/ Separated by fools /Who don't know what love is yet/ But I want you to know - //
~*~
The music swelled the room. Mac looked into Harm's eyes and then closed them.
~*~
If I could fly/ I'd pick you up/ I'd take you into the night/ And show you a love/ Like you've never seen - ever seen//
~*~
They danced dangerously close and Mac inadvertently rested her head on Harm's shoulder. He didn't mind as he protested none, as they swayed to the music. He enjoyed having her in such close proximity.
~*~
It's like having a dream/ Where nobody has a heart/ It's like having it all/ And watching it fall apart/ And I would wait till the end of time for you/ And do it again, it's true/ I can't measure my love/ There's nothing to compare it to/ But I want you to know -//
~*~
The sweet scent of her perfume intoxicated him. He wanted to drown himself in her sweetness. Mac lifted her head, losing herself in the deep azure of his eyes, the heat palpable between them. Both were so flushed and never wanted to let go of each other. They secretly wished the song wouldn't end so they could continue their forbidden dance forever. Reality crashed those fantasies as the song was soon to come to a close. He took her face in his hands and kissed her. She gladly reciprocated. It was a fierce, hungry kiss, as if they were both depraved of a needed element. She pushed him away, suddenly.
"I ..."he started He surprised her by taking one of her wrists in his hands.
"It's okay..." she said. She realized that he wasn't in his right mind, his judgement clouded by the alcohol. She didn't even want to pore over the fact that he had a girlfriend and she was not too far away. Where was she anyway? Mac felt like she was spinning, but she and Harm were frozen in the middle of the dance floor. "Just forget about it. It never happened." It was best to treat it that way.
~*~
If I could fly/ I'd pick you up/ I'd take you into the night/ And show you a love/ Like you've never seen - ever seen//
~*~
********
Renée exited the restroom. Her damn ring had fallen in the sink and gotten stuck in the drain. Fortunately, she was able to retrieve it after a lot of poking a prodding. She looked up in horror as she saw Mac and Harm practically alone on the dance floor. She couldn't trust Mac with her man for a second! She was almost positive it was Mac's idea to dance. The song was over and they parted, before she even got the chance to separate them. Her eyes stood transfixed on her nemesis like lasers.
Just then, the big burly man they had encountered before approached Mac. "It's now my turn, sweet thing." he drawled. He put his huge calloused hand on her shoulder.
"We were just about to leave." she said calmly. "Sorry."
"Not without a dance." He grabbed her roughly and she delivered a deft kick to one of his knees. The man screamed and went after her, sending her skittering across the floor. Harm jumped on his back and the guy turned around and punched Harm in the head. He fell to the floor, vertigo set in. Everything spun around. Renée tried to help him up, but he brushed her away.
Mac managed to get up, cursing the man who invented heels. The man had grabbed Mac again, taking her in a choke hold and Harm's fist found the man's jaw. A sickening crack ensued. The man screamed something along the lines of "You mother fucker!" Renée screamed. This scared her. As a TV producer, she was only used to TV and movie violence; fake violence.
The man loosened his grip on Mac and she tried to wriggle free. The man was heavily muscled and she waited to make her move. Harm pulled her away from the big brute and went after him. Harm managed to knock the big man down. He quickly got up, pushing Harm into the pool table.
Harm bounced back and punched the man in his head with his fist. The man turned to Mac, looking as if he were going to strike her."Didn't your mother ever teach you not to hit a girl?" she said. Mac then snuck up behind the fatso and kicked him behind his knees, sending him reeling onto the floor.
After a few moments, he got up and groaned loudly like those half naked guys in warrior flicks and turned to Mac. Harm kicked him in the back and Mac saved the best place for last, kicking him swiftly in the balls. Tears formed in the man's eyes and he surrendered.
"How does it feel to beaten by a girl?"she said to the whimpering man at her feet.
"Not just any girl, a Marine." said Harm.
"Watch it, I can kick your six any day." They walked away.
********
"Harm! Harm!" Renée yelled, but no one heard her.
"Are you alright?" Harm asked Mac.
"I'm fine. You're looking worse, flyboy." Mac gently took his hand in hers and examined it. "You're bleeding badly." She looked at his head, noting the small gash. Renée watched from afar, the sight of blood was nauseating to her. "Renée, ask the bartender for a towel and some ice."
"I'll be fine, Mac." Harm said. "Let's get out of here."
Mac turned to Renée, who reluctantly came over to them. She handed Harm the towel and ice. "We're leaving." Mac said.
"Put it on my tab." said Harm, as they passed the bartender. They walked out to the parking lot.
"Harm, I should really take you to the ER." Mac said, gravely concerned about the injuries he'd sustained. She had gotten hurt too, but it wouldn't be more than a bunch of bruises.
"She's right." Renée chimed in. For once she had to agree with Mac. Renée was pale from the sight of blood.
"I'm fine." he said. "I just need a good nurse." Renée opened her trap, about to speak.
"Where's your car?" Mac interrupted.
"I got a ride with Bud. It's in the shop. I was counting on you for a ride."
"What am I, your taxi?"she asked playfully, and forced a smile, trying to hide her distress.
"I could take him home." said Renée.
"That's okay. I know you have to be up early for a flight tomorrow. Go home. Mac'll take me."
His words stung. If he wasn't hurt already, she'd slap him. How dare he say that? He might as well said flat out he didn't want her to be there right now, and would rather have Mac go with him. 'Mac'll take me.' Take him where? To her apartment ?To his? To the ER? "If you insist." she said mordantly. She stormed off to her car.
"Do you want to go home?"she asked, as they pulled out of the parking lot.
"Yeah." he said.
"Are you sure you don't want to go the hospital?" she asked, as if he were five.
"I'll be fine at home, as long as I have my nurse to help me."
"Alright." She switched on the radio, the silence unbearable.
********
Harm's Residence
North of Union Station
Washington, D.C.
23:49 Romeo, May 26
She unlocked the door and they entered the apartment. She hit a switch and light flooded the room. She loved Harm's apartment because it was big and open, without walls closing you in every few feet.
"Let me go get a clean towel and some more ice." She went into the kitchen. He went into his bedroom, wanting to change. With his one good hand, and great difficulty, he managed to take his pants off and slip on a pair of gray sweats and take his shirt off. Getting the new one on wasn't as easy. He gave up and threw it on the bed behind him His head throbbed.
Mac entered the room. "I told you to sit still, flyboy."
"Sorry." he said.
"Come into the bathroom." Once there, she took his injured hand and turned on the cold water. "This is going to hurt." She put his fist under the feeble stream of cold water. She dabbed a towel on it to dry it and set the bloodstained towel aside.
"It's not as bad as it looks."
She took some antiseptic and applied it to the cuts on his knuckles.
"What is that, battery acid?"he said, flinching.
"Something like that." She smiled. She unrolled some gauze and wrapped it around the wound. She wrapped the zip lock bag filled with crushed ice in a small towel and gently put it on his hand. "Hold this." she said.
The cut on his head had stopped bleeding and had already started to coagulate. She took a wet washcloth and gently cleaned the cut. "Not too bad." she said. She dried it and applied antiseptic.
********
She looked over him, at the finished product. He was adorned with gauze and tape on his head and hand. "Did you hurt yourself anywhere else?" she asked.
"Just bumps and bruises. I'll live. Thanks"
"You better. You're welcome."
"Thanks to a good nurse, I will."
"Now lets get you to bed."
"My thoughts exactly." He looked at her. She met his eyes.
She moved back the covers and he turned to her.
"Aren't we going to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?" she said cooly.
"Playing dumb isn't you."
"I thought we agreed to forget about because it didn't happen."she said uncomfortably, fixing a blanket; doing anything not to face him.
"But it did." he said. She stood silent. "And what if I don't want to forget about it? What if I want it to happen again?"
"Harm, you're being crazy."
" If I'm crazy because I want to kiss you again, then I'm crazy."
"Harm..." she said. "You're not thinking straight. You've been drinking." Did he even know it was her? Did he think she was Diane? Again? It certainly wouldn't be implausible. She remembered when she had gotten soaked and borrowed Harriet's uniform. She had come to understand that she and Diane beared an uncanny resemblance, and could be identical twins,so it was only natural for Harm to think it was Diane because of the Lieutenant's uniform. He'd kissed her, well Diane, so tenderly and Mac wished she was really Diane for a split second.
"Mac," he said, taking her out of her reverie and at the same time disproving the Diane theory. He came closer, daringly close. Too close. He kissed her and she did nothing to stop it. He knew full well that she wanted the same thing he wanted. The only thing was that she didn't have the guts to actually admit it. He was so gentle. He tasted sweetly of her all too familiar former vice and enemy. A hunger swept over her, but it was surprisingly not for booze, but him. An alarm went off in her, every part of her being knew that this was wrong. Yet at the same time, somehow it was strangely right. She didn't care, this is what they had both wanted so badly for so long.
He lay her on the bed and they were careful not to aggravate his wounds further. He tried to undress her, but had a hard time because of his hand. She helped him. She lay naked beneath him and it was relatively easy to slip off his sweat pants. They caressed each other and explored one another. He lowered himself onto her. She bit her lip in anticipation, waiting for him to enter her.
********
(The continuation/sequel is entitled "Repercussions" )