Disclaimers: None of this is mine
Setting: Season 9

A/N: Adult content in this chapter. If that isn't your cup of tea, don't read any further.

2030 local time
Washington D.C.

Harm had just finished his third drink in as many minutes when somebody sat down next to him. Ignoring them, Harm signaled the bartender for another drink.

"I'll have one of whatever he's having."

The voice was familiar and Harm looked over, shocked, to find Jennifer Coates sitting next to him. She gave him a tentative smile then sighed in annoyance at the look the bartender was giving her. She pulled her ID, and a few crumbled up bills, out of her pocket, slapping both onto the counter top while muttering to herself.

"Can't believe I'm still getting carded."

Harm hid his grin, watching her pick her ID up as the bartender poured her a shot. Seeing that it was her military ID the urge to smile vanished and he scowled, reminded again why he was sitting in this bar getting drunk. He raised his glass to her in mock salute before knocking it back. Jen followed suit. Almost immediately her eyes started watering and she coughed a little, finding the drink a lot stronger than she was used to.

Again Harm signaled for another. The bartender complied and then quirked an eyebrow at Jennifer. After a moment's hesitation she nodded and the bartender poured her a refill too.

"What are you doing here Coates?" Again, he swallowed his drink in one gulp.

Aware of what she was getting into this time, Jen sipped hers a little more slowly. Even so, it burned all the way down. "I didn't want you to have to drink alone sir."

"It's Harm, Jen. I'm not in the Navy anymore, remember?"

"Sir...Harm." Jen corrected herself when Harm shot her a look. "I'm sorry the Admiral wouldn't let you come back."

"You said that earlier, remember?" Harm reminded her, cutting her off before she could say anything else. "Besides, you don't really have anything to apologize for anyway. It's not like you're a party to this situation."

Jen reached out and covered his hand with her own. "Still, I am sorry."

Harm placed his hand over hers and squeezed. "Thanks Jen."

He pulled his hand back, telling himself it was the alcohol, and not her hand on his, that was responsible for the spark he had felt.

At his words, Jennifer smiled at him. Gesturing for the bartender to bring them over a couple of draft beers, she changed the subject, trying to get his mind off of his situation. They talked for over an hour
and towards the end of it Harm had even started smiling again.

Although the alcohol might have something to do with it, Jen thought to herself. It was certainly affecting her, and Harm had had a head start on her. She stopped thinking about that, though, when she heard the song that was starting to play over the jukebox.

"Ooo! I love this song!"

Harm looked over at her. "Seriously?"

Jen smacked him. "It's not that bad."

Harm was quiet for a second, then he held out his hand to her, almost knocking over their empty beer bottles in the process. "Can I have this dance?"

"Harm! You can't even stand up!"

"Can too!" He insisted. And to prove it he got up from the bar stool, swaying a moment till he regained his balance. "See!"

"Harm, you can't be serious." Jen said, laughing as he pulled her off of her stool and they stumbled over to an open spot by the jukebox. "We're the only ones out here."

"So?" He said, awkwardly twirling her.

He drew her back close and Jennifer wrapped her arms around his neck as they awkwardly swayed to the music. Somehow they managed not to fall on their faces. As the song neared the end, Harm commented on that fact.

"See, this wasn't so bad."

Jen giggled. "We should try this again some time when we're sober."

As the last notes faded, Harm twirled her again and then dipped her. Their eyes locked and for a moment Harm forgot about everything except her. Finally he pulled her back up, his arms going around Jen's waist to pull her close to him. Jen's arms went around his neck again as Harm lowered his head and kissed her. After a moment they pulled back, staring into each other's eyes again. And then Harm was pulling her against him again. Her lips parted in silent invitation and Harm's tongue slipped in as he deepened the kiss. Finally they broke apart.

Harm rested his forehead against hers, gasping for air. "Your place or mine?"

"I have three roommates Harm. Definitely your place."

They moved off in the direction of the door. Once outside, Harm stopped long enough to pull his keys out of his pocket and assure himself that the security system in the Lexus was armed. That done, he put them back into his pocket and allowed Jen to lead him in the direction of the metro.

While they waited for the next train to arrive, Harm pressed Jen up against one of the support pillars, ignoring the occasional catcalls, plundering her mouth with his tongue. His hand cupped her cheek, his fingers threading through her hair. Jen's hands fell to his hips, tugging him closer to her. Harm groaned into her mouth, struggling to keep from grinding himself against her while they were still out in public.

Thankfully, their train arrived before his self-control gave out.

It was only a fifteen minute ride to Union Station and from there they walked the two blocks north to Harm's apartment. By unspoken agreement they kept their hands off of each other as they walked, both preferring to get somewhere more private as quickly as possible. As soon as the elevator door was closed, however, they were all over each other again. Jennifer pressed herself up against Harm and he wrapped his arms around her as he stumbled back into the elevator wall. One of Harm's hands moved down Jen's back until he reached the hem of her shirt. He slipped his hand underneath, encountering the smooth skin of her lower back. He felt Jen shiver at the skin on skin contact.

Before they could get any further, they reached Harm's floor. Without breaking off their kiss, Harm moved them over closer to the door. He reached out with his free hand and got the elevator's old-fashioned door open enough so they could stumble out and across the hallway to his door. While Harm fumbled for his keys and tried to get the door open, Jen started kissing her way across his jawline and down his neck. She had his shirt halfway unbuttoned by the time he finally got the door open. They stumbled inside and closed the door behind them.

Harm and Jen stared at each other for a moment, their breathing coming in ragged gasps. Jen took a step back from him and for a moment Harm thought she had changed her mind. Then she grasped the edges of her shirt and pulled it over her head, letting it drop to the floor by her feet. Harm stood there for a minute, drinking in the sight of her. Then she reached up and released the clasp on her bra, letting it fall to the floor with her shirt, revealing full breasts, her nipples hardened twin peaks.

"You're beautiful."

Jen blushed and stepped back into his arms. Harm groaned, the feel of her bare breasts pressing against him through his shirt making him even harder. He fumbled with the remaining buttons on his shirt, desperate to feel her breasts pressing against his bare skin. It quickly joined hers on the floor. Harm groaned again and recaptured her mouth with his. His hands reached for the buttons on her jeans and he felt her grin. She started backing away towards the direction of his bedroom, his grip on her jeans taking him with her.

Standing next to the bed, Jen stepped out of her jeans. As she slipped off her panties a part of Harm's mind noticed that they matched the bra that had been abandoned over by the door. Then all thought left him as Jen reached for his pants, stroking him through the denim before releasing the button and pulling the zipper down. He quickly stepped out of his jeans and boxers.

Harm was poised above her on the bed, just about to enter her, when a thought occurred to him.

Harm gritted his teeth, struggling with his self-control. His eyes met Jen's and he saw the unspoken question in her eyes. "I don't have any-"

In an instant she realized what he was worried about and shook her head, trying to reassure him. "It's okay. I'm on the Pill."

Relieved, Harm flexed his hips, thrusting until he was completely inside of her. She was tight, and Harm nearly lost it right then. He closed his eyes, struggling for control. When he opened them he saw Jen biting at her lower lip.

Concerned, Harm asked "Are you okay?"

Jen nodded. "Just been awhile."

"For me too." Harm waited, not moving, giving her body a chance to adjust to him, until Jen nodded that she was okay.

He started moving, quickly finding a rhythm that satisfied them both. He lowered his head to kiss her, lingering on her lips a moment before moving down to the spot where her neck and shoulder met. Jen gasped and clawed at his back and Harm grinned against her neck, realizing he must have found an extra sensitive spot.

All too soon Harm felt his release coming. Jen was right there with him. Her inner muscles contracted around him as she cried out his name and he let himself go. His whole world exploded and he collapsed on top of her, rolling off of her a second later so that he wouldn't crush her. Suddenly exhausted, Harm was barely aware of tugging Jen over to his side and pulling the sheets over them before sleep overtook him.

It was the headache that woke Harm. He blinked his eyes open, groaning when the morning light made his hangover feel worse. He started to get out of bed, intending to go find himself some aspirin, but couldn't because somebody's legs were tangled up with his own. Panicked, Harm turned his head and found Jennifer Coates lying next to him, still sound asleep. And in a flash the events of last night came flooding back on him: going to the bar to get drunk, Jen showing up, their kiss at the bar that had led to them coming back here. They had come together twice more during the night. And both times they had taken things slower than their first encounter, thoroughly exploring each other's bodies as they pleasured each other.

At that moment Jen stirred and stretched, blinking open her eyes. She groaned and rubbed at her temple and Harm knew that she too was suffering from a hangover. She looked over and grinned when she saw him watching her. She sat up a little, causing the sheet to fall around her waist, revealing her breasts, and tried to kiss him. Harm turned his head so the kiss landed on his cheek and not his lips. Jen pulled back, her brow furrowed in confusion. She clutched the sheet to her so her breasts were once again hidden from his view. Harm felt a flash of disappointment at that but he mentally smacked himself and told himself it was for the best.

"Jen, about last night..."

"Don't say it Harm." Jen said, shaking her head, still clutching the sheet to her body. "It wasn't a mistake. Okay, maybe the getting drunk first part was, but I don't regret spending the night with you. Last night, it meant a lot to me Harm."

"Jen?" Harm asked, for the first time seeing something in her eyes when she looked at him. Something, it slowly dawned on him, might have been there all along.

"It's okay Harm. I don't expect you to return my feelings." She started to get out of bed, pulling the sheet around her as she goes. "I probably should be going though. I need to go back to my apartment before reporting for duty."

Harm made a quick grab for one of the pillows, attempting to preserve his modesty even as a small voice in the back of his head reminded him that it was kind of pointless after last night. "Jen-"

"Don't forget to go pick up your car from the bar this morning." She said, interrupting him off as she started to gather her clothes from where they were scattered around on the floor.

Harm watched her for a second then reached down and grabbed his boxers off the floor, abandoning the pillow as he pulled them on. Getting up, he moved over to Jen. Her back was to him and he reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder.

"Jen."

She turned around. Harm's gaze was drawn to the mark he'd left on her - on her sweet spot where her neck and shoulder met. He reached out and ran his thumb over it. Jen closed her eyes and shivered at his touch.

"Jen." He said again.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Slowly Harm lowered his head and kissed her. A slow, tender kiss. Not like the desperate, hungry kisses of the night before. Jen dropped her clothes, and the sheet, so she could wind her arms around his neck. The feel of her bare breast against his equally naked chest, the nipples hardening at the contact with his skin, drove Harm crazy and he struggled to keep the kiss tender.

Finally Harm broke off the kiss. It was still there. That spark between them that he'd tried to convince himself last night was just the alcohol. He rested his forehead against hers, trying to find the words for what he wanted to say. Jen grinned up at him, understanding what he was trying to say without him needing to say anything.