Later
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never were, never will be. I'm just taking them out to play for a minute.
ooOOoo
AN: I saw the episode Measure of Man few weeks ago, and this scene in Mac's cabin stayed in my head. I'm not really a writer, I don't have the creativity to develop a complete story, but this vignette almost wrote itself. It flew off my fingers on a flight tonight, so I posted it immediately, before I lost my nerve.
ooOOoo
"Yeah, I would… I would give her up"
The softy spoken words arrested Mac's departure and froze her in place as she was about to step into the corridor. She reached out her right hand to steady herself, taking hold of the door handle. For a moment neither of them moved, neither breathed.
Harm was facing away, his back to her, he was not certain that she had heard his admission. He prayed she had. But he was equally fearful of her reaction if she did hear him. Perhaps the silence confirmed that she hadn't.
He slowly turned, afraid that she would not be there, that she had left her cabin before he had answered her challenge.
His heart swelled to see her standing there, facing away, not moving.
"Mac" he whispered. Still she did not move
He reached out his right hand and gently took hold of her left elbow to turn her to face him. He needed to see her eyes, to gauge her reaction, to understand what she was feeling. He tenderly slid his hand down her arm and drew her wrist towards him. His action caused her to pivot towards him. Her right hand still lingering on the handle for a moment longer; the momentum of her turning closing the hatch behind her.
She was staring at the floor, afraid to raise her head and look at him. She struggled to process what he had just said. Had he truly just admitted that he would leave Renee for her? That she meant something to him? Something more than friendship?
He gave her time, watching her down-turned face intently. Truthfully he was giving himself time to process the implication of his words. His heart had spoken before his head had stopped it.
Slowly she gathered her thoughts. She fought her natural inclination to contradict him.
Harm held his breath, waiting. He realised that he was still holding her wrist and was both surprised and encouraged that she had not pulled away from him.
She raised her head, her eyes finding his… seeking truth.
His emotions lay bare on his face. No games, just affection. Perhaps even… love? She felt something stir deep in her heart as she sought to understand him. Something that had been buried for longer than she could remember. Feelings that she had never allowed herself to acknowledge.
Without words she sought confirmation from him and received not his cocky flyboy grin, but a warm smile that gave her assurance. She took half a step towards him, her hand moving of its own volition to rest on his strong forearm.
Time stood still as he lost himself in her chocolate eyes. He took a shallow breath, about to speak when the moment was shattered by a fist knocking on the other side of the hatch.
Mac stepped back quickly, dropping her hand as if she had been burnt. She closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself and called "Enter".
Harm's heart plummeted to the icy depths somewhere beneath the keel. He was so sure that they were finally on the same page, but now…
As the door started to open, Mac glanced at Harm, their eyes locked and she nodded. "Latter" she whispered. Then she instantly transformed herself into Marine-mode.
Harm's heart soared. He felt like he was flying on a crystal clear day in a perfectly blue sky. 'Later' filled him with hope.