A/N: I know I've already said this on the reviews page, but I think it merits repeating: Thanks SO MUCH to Lydia who came to my rescue in the form of a French Translator. I hope I didn't offend anyone by butchering the language normally I would've asked my sister, but she is currently in France for a 7 week internship. Anyway thanks again to Lydia for being honest in pointing out the problem and willing to provide a solution.
Thanks to all those who read and doubly to all those who take the time to review. Enjoy the show.
~*3: Waiting the Wait*~
JAG HQ
1420
The next several weeks kept Mac on her toes. She was constantly tired and becoming more and more irritable. Her friends worried about her when after five weeks she still looked ragged around the edges. Harriet, giving into her innate maternal instincts, finally confronted the Colonel. "Ma'am," she approached gingerly, "Is there something I can do?"
"What?" Mac looked at Harriet. "I'm fine." MacKenzie snapped. Then she shook her head.
Harriet nodded, and looked at her shoes. "Well, if you need someone to talk to." she said and backed out the door.
"Harriet! Wait!" Mac called to her friend. Shaking her head she looked up at the sweet blonde and appologized. "Harriet, I'm sorry. I'm feeling lousy and well its just no excuse for how've I--"
"Ma'am," Harriet started and stopped, "Mac," she amended with a nod. "No one around here expected you to take his leaving well, but five weeks?"
"What?" Mac was suddenly confused. Harriet stared at her for a moment then closed her eyes and blinked. "You're telling me that eveyone—everyone—thinks I'm wound up over Harm?"
"Well," Harriet started in a sing-song tone. "That was about the time all this started."
"Oh. My. God." Mac buried her head in her hands. "The Admiral?" she questioned fighting back a wave of nausea. When Harriet didn't answer she looked up. "Oh. My. God."
"Were we all wrong, Ma'am?" Harriet looked at her quizzically and shrugged. "I don't know, there's always been this...undercurrent with you two. It was a natural assumption that his leaving really bothered you."
"Harriet," Mac said more gently than perhaps she should be, "You weren't all completely wrong." Mac ran a hand over her calendar at the edge of her desk. "I just need to find a few answers for myself." And I need to hear from Harm...badly. She thought. Harriet stood and reached across the desk to lay hand on her firend's shoulder.
"When you're ready to talk, Mac, let me know." When Mac looked up and smiled Harriet thought she saw the sheen of tears in the Marine's eyes, but they were gone as soon as they'd come.
As Mac packed up her things to leave for the day her phone shrilled insistently. Tired and grumpy she thought about letting it ring, but hoping against hope she picked it up. "MacKenzie." she greeted the caller. Static was audible on the line, but eve though the bad connection she recognized the voice.
"God it's good toher your voice." Harm said quietly.
"Harm." she said hoping her voice wouldn't break.
"I can't talk long—"static invaded-- "I'm just buying myself some more time on your deal." She could hear the smile in his voice and though she wasn't sure she could trust her own voice, she spoke.
"My time doesn't come cheap, Rabb."
"Things are good her, Mac. I'm hoping to wrap this thing up sooner rather than later."
"Harm, I need--" she started to confided, but held back. Reaching across her desk, she flipped the page in her date book and eyed the appointment note she'd made for two weeks from tomorrow. "We should--" She stopped. You aren't sure! Some dimly frieghtened voice in her brain whispered. I don't know when I'll hear from him again! A more urgent voice shouted. Always cautious, Mac listened to the whispered insistence.
"Sarah, I'm nearly out of time." he said looking over his shoulder into a crowded plaza.
"I need you." she finished quietly.
"As soon as I can." He smiled sadly at the longing in her voice. "Remember not to do anything crazy, MacKenzie." He ordered in a mockingly stern voice.
"Remember that you have a time table, Stickboy." she retorted through a rising wave of static. "Be careful." she finished all but yelling ove the din.
"I always am." he replied and could all but see her rolling her eyes to the ceiling. Suddenly the static was gone and his voice was clear as a bell. "G'night, Mac."
"Good night." she said and waited for the dialtone to tell her he was gone.
