"oh
yes"
there
are worse things than
being alone
but it often takes decades
to
realize this
and most often
when you do
it's too late
and
there's nothing worse
than
too late.
-- Charles Bukowski
Time was running out and he knew it. He had flirted with fire too many times, missing serious injury each time. He left, he pushed her away and yet, she always came back to him one way or another. She got engaged. He thought he was too late, but as it often did, fate intervened. And she came back to him again. He was leaning over the fire, his face closer than it had ever been. He was afraid of being burned.
Her brown eyes burned into his, like they often did. There was something about them. He wasn't sure if it was the shape, if it was the colour or if it was something that was hiding behind them. The fear, the confusion, the passion, the pride and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Harm?"
He blinked and gave her a small smile. "Sorry, you were saying?"
"Are you okay sailor?" Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him.
"Yeah…fine." Harm grinned and ran his hands through his short dark hair. Their files were finally signed off, both of them free for the holidays. He opened his mouth to make a comment before thinking better of it. She gave him a sideways smile.
"Yes?" She coaxed.
"Okay, just bite the bullet Harm. Just do it." Harm thought. He took a deep breath and looked at Mac. "What are you doing for the holidays?"
Mac shrugged. "Nothing. Spending some quality time with HBO. Why?"
Linking his hands behind his head Harm gave Mac a shy smile. "My mom and Frank are heading to Mexico…Mom is going to look at some painting. I was wondering…if…maybe you'd like to come along?" He looked at her hopefully.
"Harm…I'm not much of a Mexico resort girl." Mac said with a soft smile.
Harm shook his head. "No no, no resort. Frank's brother has a house in Mérida, it's a city in the peninsula. We'd be staying there." He studied her reaction and was three seconds away from whining before she gave him a small nod.
"Okay Harm. I guess it could be fun…and I need to get away anyway."
With a grin, Harm gave her arm a small squeeze. "Great, we leave at 0600 on Thursday. Pack at least one pair of pants, a long sleeved shirt and your hikers."
"Pants? I thought we were going to Mexico?"
"We are, but there are a few places I want to take you." Harm said standing up and grabbing his jacket. His face suddenly turned red. "Hey Mac…how 'bout you crash at my place Wednesday…we can ride together…if you want."
"Sounds good." Mac said with a grin. "As long as you supply dinner before."
The airport smelled like damp stone, the humidity covering them like a cheap and heavy blanket. They followed the small crowd to the customs line.
"Americanos y canadiences." Mac read the sign slowly, pushing her now damp hair off the back of her neck. "I think this is our line."
Harm nodded and pulled Mac into line with him. They stood behind a young girl who was nattering quietly on her cellphone in Spanish. Her conversation apparently done, she shoved it in her pocket and turned to the two officers.
"We've got the crazy officers today, so make yourself comfortable. They take their sweet ass time." She said rolling her eyes towards the line that was moving at a snail's pace. "Can't wait until I can go through the citizens line." She extended her hand. "I'm Lana Lacroix by the way. Do you guys speak Spanish?" She spoke at a fast click with an accent. "I live here, well, most of the time I do. They know me, so if you guys have any problems with those two pinheads up there, I can help you out."
Laughing, Harm shook her hand. "Thanks Lana. I'm Commander Harmon Rabb and this is Colonel Sarah Mackenzie. No, we don't speak Spanish, but we're all officers…aren't we?"
Lana took a few steps forward, following the line. "I suppose, but it depends with those two." The line was moving quicker than they anticipated, and soon they were at the front. They could hear Lana speaking quickly to the officer on the left when Mac was waved in to the other side.
"Passopuerto." He looked over Mac's passport. "Cunantos dias?"
Looking behind her Mac motioned to Harm. "Harm…how long are we staying?" She hissed, mentally slapping herself in the forehead.
"2 weeks." Harm placed his hand on the small of her back, placing his passport beside her.
The officer looked at their passports frowned. He scribbled a number before handing them back.
"8 days? We said we needed two weeks." Harm exclaimed shoving the passport back.
"Ocho dias."
Lana stopped and leaned over. Her voice raised a few decibels as she pointed angrily at the officer and back at their passports. With a sigh the officer grabbed their passports and rewrote a number and passed it back.
"21 days?"
"Take it." Lana whispered rolling her eyes. She hurried them out towards the baggage claim. Pulling a pen out of her bag she grabbed Harm's hand. "Here's my number in Mérida. If you guys have any problems, or want a tour around the city, give me a call. I don't have any checked baggage." She explained. "Hasta Lleugo."
Harm stared at his hand and gave a small chuckle. "Welcome to Mexico." He said shaking his head. Mac smiled and watched as luggage started to fall down the chute.
Frank and Trish Burnett stood waiting for Harm to walk out of the luggage area. Draping his arm around his wife he noticed Harm's 6'4 frame come into view. "There he is." They waved until Harm caught their motions. He grinned and turned his back for a second. Trish smiled to Frank when she noticed his partner adjusting her hiking backpack.
"Maybe my son has come to his senses." She whispered to her husband.
Frank rolled his eyes. "Don't bet on it." He walked up to the two and grinned. "Harm. Sarah, so nice to see you again dear."
Trish nodded. "Such a surprise Sarah!"
Grinning, Mac gave Trish a light hug. "Yes Ma'am. Your son convinced me that I needed a vacation, and for once I didn't argue."
With a grin Harm kissed his mom's cheek. "I like it when she doesn't argue."
The comment earned him a glare from his partner, and a round of laughter from Frank and his mom.
"It's gorgeous." Mac stood awestruck in the entrance of the house. To the open main room, to the brightly tiled floors to the indoor garden and waterfall…it was breathtaking.
Frank nodded. "Thom does have a taste in homes." He replied. "Just wait till you see the rooms and the backyard."
Harm shook his head and grabbed Mac's bag. "Where should we put these Frank?"
"First door to the left Harm. There are adjoining rooms with a shared bathroom, I hope that's alright."
"That's great Frank." Harm walked past the indoor garden and opened the door to the first room. "Mac, come claim your room." He called.
The first room was a bright yellow with a huge bed in the middle and a hammock hanging in the corner. A few baseball posters hung on the wall along with a small wooden cross above the door. The second room was the same size, with a matching bed. This room was green with white trim and had posters of airplanes and car models. Mac stuck her head in and laughed.
"Flyboy, I think you found your room."
Harm grinned. "I guess so, you're okay in the other room?"
"I think I can handle the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays, but I'll let you know if they act up." Her dark eyes flashed.
Frank knocked softly on the door. "I hope these are okay. They're Thom's son's rooms when they come down. His daughter's room is on the other side of the house if you want it Sarah, it's a little bit more feminine, but I figured that you and Harm would at least want to be close to each other."
Mac touched his arm gently. "It's great Frank. Thanks for everything."
He smiled and put his hands in his pockets. "We have a dinner meeting with some friends, you two are welcome to join us. It's very informal, we're just meeting for some drinks and some snacks."
Stepping into the room Harm looked at Mac who shrugged. "Sure, why not? First day, may as well get our bearings right?"
Nodding, Frank turned around to leave. "Just casual attire, and I'll let Hernán know that you two are coming."