Title: We Can't Start Over

Author: Tempus Meum

Rating:

Disclaimer: The characters and premise used in this story are unfortunately not owned by me. If JAG was mine…the possibilities.

Spoilers: Up to 'Boomerang'

Summary: An alternate conversation on the ferry in Sydney changes things considerably.

2. (Harm's POV)

Mac had grown silent, gazing out at the park. The excited voices and screams were drifting out across the water.

Pulling her in closer to me I wonder what she might be thinking.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Huh…sorry what did you say?" She asks shaking her head slightly.

"I was just wondering what you were thinking."

"Oh!"

"But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." I was hesitant at pushing our new relationship too far too fast. She was still staring at the park but she seemed to move closer to me.

"I've never been to a theme park before…"

Squeezing her shoulders and moving my hands to rub her back, I try to read her thoughts. I knew Mac had had a pretty bad childhood, I am wondering now if she ever went on family holidays, and if she did where they went. It was probably just somewhere else for her father to get drunk.

"There is always a first for everything, and tonight is all about you, anything at all you want to do we'll do it."

"Are you sure, anything?" She asked as she looked up at me with those big chocolate brown eyes that I loved so much.

"Absolutely anything! As long as I don't have to eat meat." Mac was smiling now, I'm glad I could cheer her up. "Come on we are just about to dock." Standing up I pull her up with me. "So Miss MacKenzie, are you ready to have some fun?"

"So much so that you are going to regret saying that we could do anything I wanted." She replied wrapping her arms around my waist and laying her head on my chest.

"Never going to happen, lets have fun." Kissing her on the forehead we walk towards the exit where a ramp is being pushed towards the wharf.

As we walk down the plank the crewman who had tied down the ramp addresses us "Have a great time at the park and we will see you on the ride back."

"Thankyou we will!" Mac replied to him.

"You're not from around here?" He asked rhetorically but I answered anyway.

"No!"

"Where do you call home?"

"Washington D.C.!" Mac replied, tightening her hold on my arm.

"Well enjoy yourself, it's no Disneyland but hey, we Aussies do know how to put on a good show."

"Thankyou I'm sure we will." I shook the young mans' hand before leading Mac in the direction of the entrance, a giant mouth.

Once inside I stopped and turned to her. "Okay Sarah what first?"

"Well first I want to buy one of those disposable cameras and then…" she looked down at the map she was holding before looking around at the rides nearby. "How about…the roller coaster?"

"Your wish is my command." I replied giving her a little bow, then taking her hand I let her lead me away.

After a ten-minute wait in the line we were seated and strapped in.

"Ready for the ride of your life MacKenzie?"

"Are you?" She replied holding on to the bar in front of us as the carriage started to move.

Coming up to the first drop I found myself grabbing at the bar also.

"Not scared are you flyboy?" Mac was grinning from ear to ear as her eyes went from my hands to my face.

"Not at all?" I replied but again I found myself holding tight to the bar as we sling shotted around a corner and down again.

Getting off the ride Mac was in hysterics at my expense. "You can handle an F14 at Mach 2 but you can't handle a little old roller coaster?"

"I'm fine." My body however is betraying me my legs feel like jelly.

"Come here Harm." Surprising me Mac opened her arms to me and I didn't hesitate stepping into them. "Feeling better?" she asked as she raised her head off my chest after a couple of minutes.

"So what's next."

"It's up to you, remember?" I replied.

"Well how bout the side shows, the dodgem cars, dinner and then the Ferris wheel?"

"Lead on…my lady…lead on." I said in my most formal tone, but copped a jab in the arm for my efforts.