Episode
7 JAG summer season 9.5 Disclaimer:
JAG and it's characters are the property of Bellisarius productions,
CBS, and Paramount Studios. We're just having fun here guys! Honest
Feedback is always appreciated. AJ Chegwidden shifted in his
seat, adjusted his baseball cap, and glanced sideways at his
daughter. He let out a chuckle when he saw her rubbing the chill from
her arms. Just like her mother, any amount of shade, and she was
reaching for her coat. Without comment he shrugged off his Red Sox
jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She gave him an appreciative
smile. The day was beautiful and warm, but due to the early hour,
they had about another 30 minutes of shade before the sun shifted
over them. Francesca shivered again. "You okay?" "Yeah,
I just haven't totally warmed up yet." "Why don't you
go get a hot drink. The game doesn't start for another 15
minutes." She nodded and rose from her seat, heading up the
isle to the concession booth. AJ let out a happy sigh. The summer was
flying by, but going just as he had planned. The time he had already
spent with Francesca was exactly the tonic he'd needed. He sat up
straighter in his chair, as he saw the players begin to line up
before taking the field. He heard the familiar rumble of F-18s a
split second before a pair of them appeared in the sky. He
remembered the air show that was happening a few miles away, and
wasn't surprised to see a pair of Hornets doing a fly over while
the National Anthem began playing. He, removed his hat, and placed
it over his heart. A few notes into the anthem, something caught his
eye. He stared up at the Hornets as they approached the ball field.
Something wasn't quite right. Unable to draw his eyes away, he
studied their flight pattern, then jumped as he saw what looked like
the concussion of a small explosion in the cockpit of one of the
fighters. The fighter wavered, very nearly clipping the wing of its
companion. Then another larger explosion rocked the aircraft, a split
second later a third and final explosion ripped it asunder. It
disintegrated into pieces, turning into a ball of red and orange fire
that came hurling into the stadium. AJ instinctively dove,
screaming "Get down!" As he covered the body of the young child
sitting next to him. Shielding her from the shower of white-hot
debris, that careened into the crowd. Annihilating everything in its
path. ROLL
JAG CREDITS AND THEME SONG – ADD THE SCENE AT THE DINING OUT WHERE
MAC TAKES HARM'S ARM TO THE NORMAL
COLLAGE. Same
time Mac knocked twice on Harm's
door and then peaked her head inside. "Harm?" He moved
into her field of vision, and waved her in. He was talking on the
phone, pacing slowly around the kitchen with a cloth in his hand,
cleaning imaginary spots off of the counter tops. Mac immediately
went to full alert. Something was wrong. She came in and shut the
door. Then sat on the couch. Close enough to hear his end of the
conversation, but far enough away to give him some semblance of
privacy. "It's okay. Stop worrying about me. Of course
I'll miss you, but if you decide that's where you need to be, you
have my full support. You should know that by now. Yes, you're
always welcome to come ho…back to my place if things don't work
out. I won't be alone. I promise." He turned to where Mac was
sitting on his couch, and caught her eye. His expression was a
mixture of sadness and triumph. "I have Mac." Mac nodded and gave
him a small encouraging smile. He turned back to the counter, and
began to scrub another non-existent spot. "Okay, I'll always be
here, keep that in mind. I'm only a phone call away. Okay, anytime.
Love you too. Bye." Harm pressed his thumb to the off button
on his phone, and stared at it for a long minute. When he turned back
toward Mac, she could see moisture in his eyes. "You okay?" She
asked, staying where she was; giving him space if he needed
it. "I…don't know." Almost on autopilot he set the
phone back on the charger, and moved to sit next to her. "That was
Mattie." He looked her in the eye. She waited. "Her father has
been offered a job in St. Louis, and she is going to go with him."
Mac's eyebrows rose. "Are you okay with that?" "I
have to be don't I?" "No, you don't. You can't stop
her, but that doesn't mean you have to be okay with it." He
shrugged, and stared down at the floor, studying the grain of the
wood. "I'm okay with it. She needs to be with her real
family." "You're part of that family too Harm." "I
know," He said without hesitation. "I know she thinks of me that
way." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "And as much as
I hate to admit it, I think she's doing the right thing." Mac
reached out to stroke his back. He closed his eyes, and just for a
moment focused on the warmth of her touch. "It's just…" He
stopped, keeping a tight rein on his composure as his voice began to
shake. "It's just not easy to let her go." "I know
it's not," She replied softly. "She was afraid I'd be
alone if she left," He said in a low voice. "I'm glad
you know that you won't be," She said, moving her hand over his
back in lazy, gentle circles. Slowly he raised his head to
look her in the eye. He held her gaze for a long minute. The depth of
the sincerity in her eyes touched him right to the core. "I have
you," He said quietly. "You have me." His
expression softened. "Thanks for being here Mac," He said, as
their eyes locked and held. He began to lean toward her. "Always,"
She vowed, as she leaned in to meet him half way. Their mouths sank
together in a soft mesh of heat, and skin, and moisture. Suddenly
everything clicked in to place. For the first time, their universe
shifted, and righted itself. In slow motion Mac raised her hands to
his cheeks, holding him to her as she kissed him. Harm's arms
wrapped around her back, and then dropped lower. Turning slightly,
careful not to break the kiss, he slid his arm under her legs, picked
her up, and walked to his bed. In one, slow, fluid motion he laid her
down on top of the mattress, following her down until his body
covered hers. Releasing her lips, he rose up on his elbows, and
cupped her face in his hands. "This changes everything
Mac," He whispered.
Three Strikes
By TR
North of Union Station
"I'm
counting on it," She replied, and leaned up to kiss him
again. Fenway Park Fog, smoke. Too black, too dense to
penetrate. Shocked faces, people screaming, people frozen in place.
The bowl of the stadium seamed to pulse with the pounding of every
heart. Somewhere there was a siren. Only a few were alert enough to
try to help the injured and bleeding. Death, pain, blood everywhere.
The smell of burning flesh. Everything seemed to blur and slow, as
some ran to their loved ones, peeling sheets of scalding debris off
of their bodies. Horror. Panic. North of Union
Station Oblivious to the devastation going on elsewhere, Harm
and Mac lay wrapped up in each other beneath a dark blue flannel
sheet. Harm laid tiny gentle kisses on her face, as he moved over her
in a rhythm soft, slow, and tender. When his lips drifted down to her
neck, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, as her hands
caressed, then grasped at the rippling muscles of his back. Fenway
Park Paramedics hauled stretchers two by two down the isles.
Other emergency personnel followed closely behind carrying supplies,
and trying to weave through the throng of people to get to the
injured. While others raced down to the field to assist in fighting
the fires. As soon as she heard the explosion Francesca raced back
toward her seat. She pulled the collar of AJ's jacket over her nose
to shield herself from the smoke. She couldn't see anything in that
section. She heard a voice in her ear, screaming, it took a second
for her to realize it was her. Trying not to cough as she drew in as
much air as she could. She shouted for her father, but got no
response. A set of Paramedics emerged from the smoke in a near run,
almost knocking her over in their haste to carry their patient away
from the thick haze. She ran behind them, trying to steal a glance at
the man on the stretcher. It wasn't her father. She tried to ask
them where he was, but all they would tell her is that she should get
out of the way, and head to the hospital. No matter if he were dead
or alive, all patients would go there first. At that, she began to
weep. North of Union Station Mac lay on her back, idly
running her fingers through Harms hair. His arms were wrapped around
her body, his head cradled just beneath her chin. He shifted, and
snuggled in closer, and she couldn't help the pride that welled up
in her. Together they were beautiful. A small, satisfied smile formed
on her lips, as she stared unseeing at the ceiling.
TBC…