Harm's Apartment
North of Union Station
Like in any relationship it must be given time to grow and take root in the ground of eternity. Of course along with a relationship growing the people in it must grow and change too, which helps them come closer together. This is how Harm and Mac have decided to take on the beginning of their relationship. Their dates are calm and lovely nothing out of the ordinary, and usually take place within in the comfort of their own homes. The changes that have occurred are Mac's hair growing longer and adding more curl. Harm has even slowed down his life a little, and begun to concentrate more on the woman he loves.
Mac laughs hysterically at Harm's best imitation of a hurt Australian naval man, Brumby. "Harm, stop please stop. I've got to get some air," she says through small fits of laughter.
"Okay I'll stop, but I was just trying to make you laugh and smile. Now come here." He signals her closer to him and stretches out his legs. She scoots closer to him almost in his lap, when he softly grabs a hold of her face. He leans in just a little closer and places a light kiss on the corner of her mouth. As he pulls back he notices her face with a red tint to it and begins to laugh.
"Hey what's so funny stick boy?" she asks clasping onto his hands.
"My big tough marine is blushing," he laughs showing off the twinkle in his eyes.
"So. I've never had a man kiss me like that before," she says defensively.
"Well I only kissed you like that because you had some pizza sauce on the corner of your mouth," he says pointing to where he had just kissed her.
"Oh thanks Harm!" she rolls her eye moving her hands back to her lap. "So now you're only gonna kiss me if I have pizza sauce on my lips," she says in a light pouty tone.
"No. I'll only kiss you like that when you have pizza sauce there. But when you don't have pizza sauce I'm going to kiss you like this." He moves his hands around her neck, and pulls her in for a more than tender; more than passionate, unexplainable, full of love kiss.
"Oh now those are the kind of kisses I love," she says smiling, as her face just lies inches away form his.
"I thought so," he says snaking his hand down her side and lets it rests on her hip.
"Harm, should we or shouldn't we?" she asks lying her legs against his thighs, and wrapping her arms around him.
"What?" he asks slowly nibbling at her neck.
"Should we or shouldn't we tell the Admiral?" she laughs as his hands softly tickle her sides.
"Not until we figure everything out," he says pulling away and starring into her eyes. "I mean if we have a plan on what we're going to do. Then the Navy and Marines won't have an argument about us being together." She smiles wrapping her arms around his waist and placing her forehead against his.
"Are you going to be like this from now on? Always the man with the plan," she laughs.
"Yeah why not?" he says, making her laugh even harder. He plants a small kiss on her lips as he laughs with her.
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac sticks her head in Harm's office door and watches him diligently working on one of his cases. She smiles at him and softly says, "Knock, Knock."
"Come in." she hears Harm say.
She walks in slowly seeing a smile appear on his face as he notices her out of the corner of his eyes. Mac shuts the door behind her; then walks over to the blinds to shut them. She sauntily walks over to him and smiles. "Hey I liked your message this morning flyboy," she says placing a light kiss on his cheek.
"Good. I was hoping you'd like it. Now tell me are you ready to go to lunch?" he
asks wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Yes. I'm starving. So you better be ready to cough up some money," she laughs walking out of his grasp and over to the coat rack. "Now come on."
He pushes himself away from his desk and walks over to Mac. She grabs his coat and helps him put it on. Adjusting the coat on his tall body, he turns around and plants a kiss on the top of her head. "I chose Panera, is that okay?" he asks opening the door for her.
"Sure," she says giving him a small smile.
They walk out of the bullpen and into the elevator, leaving two, shocked friend watching. Bud turns to Harriet with the widest eyes. "Do you think?" he asks in a barely audible whisper.
"Maybe? They've both changed a lot," Harriet comments still shocked at the sight.
"Who?" The Admiral asks scaring both Bud and Harriet about an inch into the air.
"Oh…uh…nobody sir," Harriet says nervously.
"Okay, then get back to work."
"Yes sir," they both says straighten up and saluting, before going back to work.
Roberts Residence
McLean, Virginia
Harm and Mac pull into the driveway of Bud and Harriet Roberts, right behind the admiral's car. He looks over at Mac and smiles as he watches her touch up her lip-gloss. "I guess this is where we part," he says sadly looking at her as she produces a small giggle.
"Awe my poor flyboy is he going to have withdraw from not being able to kiss his jarhead," she taunts moving over in her seat and plants a light kiss on his lips. After grabbing her present she exits his SUV and heads towards the backyard. As she walks away, she takes one last look back and smiles at him as she watches him exit the car.
Harriet sees Mac enter the backyard and quickly walks up to her to greet her. "Ma'am I'm so glad you could make it," Harriet says hugging her.
"Well I couldn't miss celebrating your and Bud's anniversary," she says handing off the gift in her hands. "And Harriet please we're not in the office now. So call me Mac."
"Okay Mac. Thank you also." She notices Harm walking into the backyard and waves, signaling him over. "Hi Harm," Harriet yells as Harm walks up to them both.
"Hi Harriet. Here this is for you and Bud," he says handing over a medium sized, neatly wrapped, box. Harriet smiles nicely and says thank you. "Hi Mac," Harm says giving her a small smile. Mac tries not to blush, and decides to change the subject.
"So Harriet where's out little godson?" she asks. As if on cue a small blue and blond blur comes running up to him.
"Uncwa Harm, Auntie Mac," little A.J. yells hugging them both around the leg.
"Hey there A.J." Mac says picking him up and him close. "I missed you," she says as little A. J. notices Harm holding up a small toy boat.
"Tank You Uncwa Harm," he says grabbing the boat; then reaching out to give Harm a hug.
Later into the night the sun begins to set, turning the sky waves of orange, pink, blue, and glowing. Around the Roberts backyard people congregate on the small deck, except one, Harmon Rabb. Harm rests on a hammock in a secluded part of the yard, looking up at the beautiful sky. "Hey what are you doing flyboy?" he hears Mac ask, and turns his head towards her.
"Nothing just looking at the sky." She laughs under her breath then asks,
"Mind if I join you?" She sits down on the hammock next to him and wraps her legs around his.
"Mmm, I'd love it," he says making room for her as she snuggles up closer to him. As her hand lies across his stomach, his hand wraps around her and pulls her even closer to him.
He begins to run his fingers through her curly shoulder length hair. Taking in the lovely scent of kiwi and mangos. "Sarah. Have I told you how much I love your hair?"
"No, but thank you honey." He gives her a soft yet passionate kiss. They return to their normal positions staring up at the sky, but not without going unnoticed.
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Admiral Chegwidden sits at his desk staring at a picture, rubbing his pounding temple. "Tiner!" the admiral yells.
"Yes sir?" Petty Officer Tiner asks sticking his head into the office.
"Please have Commander Rabb and Colonel Mackenzie come to my office immediately when they arrive."
"Yes sir. Anything else I can do for you sir?"
"Two aspirins!" he demands walking over to his bookshelf.
Tiner shuts the door behind him and walks out into the bullpen, headed for the break room. As he passes the elevators, he hears the doors ding open and notices Rabb and Mackenzie walk out. "Commander, Colonel. The Admiral would like to see you right away," he says urgently walking up to them.
"At least let us put our stuff in our offices Tiner," Harm says with a little laugh.
"Sir, I think you should go straight in. I'll take your stuff for you." Tiner takes both their briefcases and heads to their offices. Harm and Mac look at each other and shrug their shoulders.
"I wonder what the admiral wants?" Harm asks leading Mac to the Admiral's office by a comforting hand on the small of her back.
"Maybe he's going to bust you down to Lieutenant (J.G.) for that stunt you pulled last week on the Patrick Henry," Mac laughs as they stop at the admiral's door.
Harm knocks lightly on the Admiral's door, waiting for the strong, loud, commanding, voice to bellow out, "Enter!"
"Sir, you wanted to see us?" Harm asks as they walk in and stand at attention.
"Please sit." The Admiral grabs the picture off his desk and makes his way around his desk. "I've noticed something going on in and out of the office between you two. I've had thoughts, but last night I found something that confirmed it.
"Excuse me sir?" Mac asks nervously tapping her fingers against her thigh.
"Last night I was walking around the Roberts backyard and I took a picture of you two," he says handing over the photograph to Harm.
"Um…Admiral we can explain," Harm states handing the picture over to Mac, letting her see the slight blushing in his cheeks.
"No need to Commander. I understand that love cannot be controlled by regulations. But I do ask that you keep it quiet until I can get things worked out."
"Yes sir!" Harm and Mac say together trying to hold back their nervous smiles that are trying to brake through their masks.
"Oh and one more thing. I'm glad to see that the Commander finally got his head out of his six, and told you how much he loves you," the Admiral says with a small smile giving relief to the two officers. "Dismissed."
"Aye Aye sir." Harm and Mac stand at attention and salute before exiting the office.
After Harm leaves the office the Admiral calls Mac to a halt, bringing back all her nervous feelings that she had before. "Sir?" Mac asks sitting back down.
"I'm guessing you and the Commander are probably worrying about me having to transfer one of you. Am I right?"
"Uh…yes sir," she says nervously as her eyes wonder around the room.
"Well I think I may have a solution for you. General Bradley is retiring in two weeks and the judicial circuit is looking for a replacement. I recommended you?"
"You did? But you didn't know about the Commander and I until last night."
"I had recommended you weeks ago. I've always thought you'd be a great judge. If not that then JAG, but since I'm not leaving anytime soon. Well you know," he says sitting down next to her.
"Yes sir, and I'd love to take the job." Mac loosens up a little as the Admiral gives her the good news.
"Good glad to hear it, I'll let them know this afternoon."
"Thank you sir, is there anything else?"
"No, you're dismissed." Mac gives a small salute and walks out of his office and heads toward hers.
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
Harm stands in front of the stove, slowly stirring the white creamy sauce, clad in a pair of briefs. As he leans over to take a small taste he hears the doorbell ring throughout Mac's apartment. "I'll get it," he yells turning down the stove and heading toward the door. Without looking through the peephole, he opens the door, and sees a very shocked lieutenant staring back at him.
"Sir…What are you doing here?" Lieutenant Roberts asks shocked as Harm quickly grabs his shirt that lies on the couch.
"Um…the Colonel wanted to go over some briefs," he says buttoning up his shirt. "Now what can I do for you?"
"Um…I'm here for the colonel, She…"
"Harm is dinner ready, yet? I'm starv…ing." Mac says coming out of the bathroom in a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. She notices Bud and stops dead in her tracks, her heart pounding faster along with her accelerated breathing.
"Mac, I think it's time to tell," Harm says signaling Bud inside and walking over to Mac, to give her a small, 'it's ok' kiss.
