On the Surface
rooster dawn
Pairing: Harm/Mac
Spoiler: Surface warfare ball
Disclaimers: The characters of JAG are the property of Donald Bellisario and Bellisarius Production, Inc. Used without permission. No copyright infringement intended. May be reproduce if unchanged, author given full credit, and no financial transaction is involved.
Summary: Harm and Mac return from an investigation involving Mikey Roberts. They get a surprise visit from Mic after they arrive at the ball.
Good feedback is good for one's soul and everyone's happiness.
Humor is the spice of life.
part one
1500 hours
12 May 2000
United Airlines
flight to DC from Miami
The Admiral, Harm, Mac, and Bud were returning from a training mishap. The originator of the mishap was one Petty Officer Mikey "the Screw up" Roberts. He had been accused of dereliction of duty when he nearly killed a boatload of marines.
The incident had eventually turned from an informal investigation by Lieutenant Bud "the Space Geek" Roberts into a Navy Marine war. Mac and later Harm were sent in to clear up the mess.
Even the Admiral had to get involved as two bird officers were more concerned with a spitting contest than the truth. (Note that's a Marine Colonel and Navy Captain) It was finally resolved when Harm discovered a group of environmental fanatics were responsible.
The Admiral cornered Bud in the back of the airplane. He had to give a speech tonight and he had expected Bud to come up with something three days ago. Now they were busy working on something that didn't seemed like it was a rush, ill conceived, and a poorly written speech.
They worked on it most of the way back to Washington. Bud was a little antsy. He didn't mind writing the speech, but he didn't care for the immediate supervision, instant critique, and constant interruptions that the Admiral brought to the endeavor.
But he understood the Admiral didn't want to look like a fool when he stood up in front of all the other big wigs. So he did his best to put up with him.
Meanwhile Harm and Mac were further up front in the airplane. They had spent the first hour talking before Mac fell asleep. It was the only way she could deal with flying for long periods. She didn't worry about the possibility of something going wrong when she slept.
Harm looked down at her and smiled. It had been a long time since they had flown together, but like always she had a knack of snuggling into him while she slept.
It had surprised him when they first started working together, but later on he became used to it, in fact he enjoyed her snuggling in his arms while she slept.
He leaned back in the seat to close his eyes. He thought back to the conversation they had earlier on the flight, in which he professed to her his desired to have a more intimate relationship with her.
One like the one she had asked him for a few months ago when they were on the ferry in Australia. He had been such a fool to deny her what she wanted. He had always dreamt about wanting more from her too.
She had surprised him when she had asked. He wasn't ready for that kind of conversation with her. What was worse, he had suddenly become tongue-tied. He couldn't say a word. He let her do all the talking.
And of course she interpreted his non response the wrong way. He was such an idiot. He should have made it clear to her that they should wait until they returned to the states before having that conversation.
It would have helped them avoid the pain between them for the last four months. He remembered back to their earlier conversation.
"Sarah, I want to ask you something ... that is ... if it's not too late." he had begun.
Mac had thought 'Wow! It must be something serious if he's addressing me by my given name.' She began to get goose bumps with anticipation. She took a deep breath before replying.
"What is it Harm? You know you can ask me anything."
"I wanted to ask you if your request on the ferry was still on the table. I miss spending time with you. I want to be with you Sarah." he had replied.
"What about Renee? You have been seeing her since we returned from Australia." she asked wondering what had changed.
"I only dated her because I was upset that you had Bugme's ring on your finger. I've come to the realization that I have no interest in her. I keep thinking about you when I'm with her, wishing it was you that I was with.
I'm thinking about telling her tonight that it's been fun, but I don't feel anything for her. She'll understand Sarah. She thinks I'm in love with you anyway." he had explained not realizing what he had said at the time.
"You love me?" she had asked. It was obvious that she had heard his faux pas.
"I think I fell in love with you after our first time flying in Sarah. I saw you at your worse and you were still so very beautiful to me. Not many women could have done what you did that day." he answered hoping that it wasn't too late.
"It's not too late Harm. I only took his ring because I didn't want him to feel totally rejected. I also wanted to light a fire under your six to let you know that if you weren't willing to have a relationship with me, then there were others that were. I love you too Harm." she had replied.
He had wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, but couldn't. They were in uniform and the Admiral wasn't that far away. He wasn't ready to have that talk with him yet.
Their celebration of their declaration would have to wait until later tonight when they could have some privacy.
1700 hours
airplane
The Admiral was finished with Bud. The speech looked pretty good. He had been sitting for a few hours and felt the need to stretch his legs. He decided to get up and walk to the front to see what Harm and Mac were up to.
At first glance he thought he saw Harm reading a file or magazine. What he saw when he got closer surprised him even more. He saw Mac sleeping, cuddling up very close to Harm. If she were any closer she would be in his lap.
Wasn't she supposed to be with Bugme. Wasn't the Commander supposed to be dating Renee Petersen. What was going on here? He stepped in front of Harm and noticed he wasn't sleeping.
"Commander, what is this?" he asked as he gestured with his hand.
"She's sleeping Sir. She likes to use me as a pillow. She says it has something to do with her sleeping on her side when she's in bed Sir." Harm answered hoping it would end there.
"Commander, that's a fish story, I want the truth." the Admiral replied.
"It's how she sleeps on planes when we travel together Sir. I think it goes back to the days we first started traveling together. Being a good-looking man in uniform, I use to get a lot of special attention from the stewardesses.
They would treat me like royalty and ignore Mac. Her way of dealing with it was to give the appearance to the stewardesses that we were a couple. That I was already taken and to stop flirting with me. For all purposes it worked for her.
They stopped ignoring her and started treating her as my significant other. They just believe we're a military couple. And as you know Sir, you don't argue with a marine." answered Harm.
"It's about time squid. It took you long enough." interjected Mac as she slowly woke up and pushed herself off Harm into a sitting position.
"Sorry Sir, I tend to fall asleep on long flights. It makes it easier on my stomach. I sometimes get a little airsick."
All the Admiral could do was shake his head in amazement. These two were perfect for each other. Why did they waste time with other people? The only thing he knew was they were going to drive him into an early retirement.
"I was going to ask you Colonel how you were doing after this fiasco. I know the Navy and Marines don't always see eye to eye, but those two birds were ridiculous. I was about ready to write them both up for insubordination." smiled the Admiral.
"Very tired Sir. You're right, they were very difficult. I think we're going to have to come up with new rules for conduct during an investigation Sir." replied Mac.
"Yes Colonel, I think you're right. You can write something up implying that whenever a Jag lawyer shows up for an investigation anywhere, he or she isn't a lieutenant, commander, or colonel.
They are reincarnations of me. They are me, that is who I am, a two star. I'm glad I came up with such a great idea." smiled the Admiral as he turned and walked away.
Harm and Mac looked at each other and thank God that the Admiral didn't make an issue of how she was sleeping. Harm leaned over and gave Mac a quick kiss before resuming his reading. Mac went back to sleep resting her head on his shoulder.
An hour later Harm slipped out from under Mac. He left his seat to use the facilities. On his way back to his seat he stopped to see the Admiral.
"Sir, may I talk with you?" asked Harm.
"What is it Commander?" returned the Admiral.
"In private Sir." replied Harm.
The Admiral groaned as he got up out of his seat. They walked to one of the service area and began to talk.
"What is it Commander? What can't you talk about in front of the lieutenant?" asked the Admiral.
"What I have to tell you is a secret Sir. We don't want it getting around the office. I'm afraid Bud would tell his wife. And you know Harriet, there isn't a piece of gossip she doesn't like to spread like butter." replied Harm.
"What is this gossip and who is we?" asked the Admiral impatiently. It was like talking to Bud when he was afraid.
"Well Sir, last year before I left to return to flying, I went over to Mac's apartment to say goodbye. She had said a few things a couple of weeks before when Chloe left that I hadn't understood at the time.
It took awhile, but I finally realized what she was telling me, that she loved me. Since I have loved her almost since the day I met her, I decided to ask her to marry me and she accepted. I gave her a ring." sighed Harm.
"I don't understand Commander, if you two are engaged, why have you both been seeing other people?" asked a very confused Admiral.
"Well Sir, it's complicated. I guess the problem first started when she got promoted ahead of me. Then I found out she had gotten closer to Bugme. You know how much I hate him. It put a little strain on our relationship.
Somehow Bugme got the idea in his head that he had a chance with Mac. When he was shipped out I was ecstatic. I thought things would go back to normal, unfortunately tensions between us continued because Bugme kept e-mailing her. That's one of the reasons why we fought in Australia.
I beat him in court and pretty good in that warehouse. The reason Mac had dinner the last night with Bugme was to set him straight and say goodbye.
I guess I got pretty upset when she came back with that stupid ring. I guess that's why I dated Renee a few times over the last few months." moaned Harm.
"Is that why she went to Australia six weeks ago?" asked the Admiral beginning to understand.
"Pay back is a bitch Sir. But we've worked things out over the last few weeks. We're planning on getting married 24 September at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, four years to the day we met. Sir, we want to keep this information secret for a few more months." replied Harm.
"Congratulations Commander. I always knew that someday this would happen. I'm glad that you're giving me the heads up. I can square it away with the SecNav. Just do me a favor Commander. Stay out of trouble and keep it out of the office.
It's bad enough listening to the Roberts argue and carry on. Somehow I think your fights with the Colonel would be much worse. I expect an invite Commander." smiled the Admiral as he shook the Harm's hand before returning to his seat.
Harm returned to his seat to find Mac awake. He sat down next to her and took her hand.
"You're awake?" commented Harm a little surprised.
"My soft pillow disappeared. You told him." replied Mac. It was more a statement than a question.
"Yes, I informed him of our status and our plans for September." replied Harm.
"How did he take the news?" asked Mac.
"Surprisingly well. I guess he expected we would sooner or later. He seemed happy for us," smiled Harm.
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. Thirty feet away a couple of stewardesses smiled as a third one frowned.
"Pay up Shirley, we told you that they were a couple."