It started with a kiss…
By Nettie
Disclaimer: I don't own them, just having fun.
I was looking to break this chapter but I didn't feel there was a right point without the next chapter being very short in comparison to the rest… Somehow though, I don't think anyone will mind.
This is for Michelle UK - thanks for always reading and reviewing.
-----------------------------Promises--------------------------------
HOTEL GRANGER
FRIDAY 0020
Breathless, Harm reached his room. "Mac?" he called out throwing open the adjoining door before stopping abruptly. "Mac, what is it?" She was sitting on her bed, her case packed beside her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she said waving a handful of phone messages at him.
He took the messages and scanned them quickly. "There was nothing we could do from here and I couldn't get a flight back til morning."
"But that doesn't answer my question. Why didn't you tell me?" Mac asked again, trying not to let her hurt show.
"I spoke to…" Harm began before she interrupted.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Mac was insistent and enunciated each word. Harm had been told his mother and step-father had been involved in a serious car accident and were being treated in hospital; their prognosis was uncertain. He contacted the airline to arrange an earlier flight back but it had been to no avail and that was when Mac had come out and found him in the foyer. "Harm?"
"Because there was nothing I could do and I guess I wanted tonight to be about something more than my parents. I didn't want to spoil it by sitting around stressing about it," he said quietly, not quite being able to look her in the eye.
"I could have helped you." Reaching out Mac took his hand and gave a gentle squeeze.
Harm smiled. "Oh, but you did, just being with you helped."
Mac stood from the bed and hugged him tightly, gently brushing his lips with hers. "Well Flyboy, we'll have a cab downstairs in five minutes and a flight out in ninety three minutes, so go grab your stuff."
The flight had been quiet and Mac had spent most of it in Harm's arms, wishing desperately that the circumstances had been different and they were still in London. After they had passed the halfway mark, Mac awoke to find Harm with his headphones on smiling at whatever he was listening too. She tried speaking to him but he didn't hear her, so she ran her hand up under his shirt and had his attention immediately.
"What are you listening to?" she asked. Harm removed his headphones and placed them over Mac's ears.
"It's for you," he replied before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Friends and Lovers
What
would you say if I told you
I've always wanted to hold you?
I
don't know what we're afraid of
Nothing would change if we
made love
refrain:
'cause
I'll be your friend
And I'll be your lover
Well, I know in
our hearts we agree
We don't have to be one or the other
Yes,
it's a chance that we're taking
and somebody's heart may be
breaking
but we can't stop what's inside us
our love for
each other will guide us
Refrain
I've
been through you
And you've been through me
Sometimes a
friend is the hardest to see
We always know when it's laid on
the line
Nobody else is as easy to find
So
I'll be your friend
And I'll be your lover
Well, I know in
our heart we agree
We don't have to be one or the other
Oh
no, we could be both to each other.
Mac smiled it was the perfect reprise to her music medley from the London Eye. When the song ended Mac removed the headphones and kissed Harm tenderly.
"I'm sorry we couldn't finish our evening in London," Harm said sadly.
"How would that have gone?" Mac asked, running her fingers down his cheek.
"Oh, some holding and kissing and touching and…" his voice trailed and he smirked.
"And?" she prompted, her hand moving down his neck onto his chest.
"Use your imagination," he replied, pulling her closer to him.
"I'd much rather you tell me," Mac replied, looking up at him all wide eyed and innocent.
"I'd much rather show you," he murmured, in a low husky voice.
"Go right ahead, Flyboy." Mac grinned at the colour rising in his cheeks.
"Not here, Mac," he replied flustered.
"Spoil sport."
St JOHN HOSPITAL, SAN DIEGO
FRIDAY 0515
By the time Harm and Mac had arrived at the hospital both were tired and concerned about the news they would receive. They approached the information desk and waited for the woman to conclude her telephone call.
"Morning sir, can I help you?"
"Ah yes, my mother and step-father were injured in a car accident last night and brought here. Could you please tell me where I can find them? Their names are Frank and Trish Burnett."
"One moment," the woman replied as she typed the details into the computer. "Burnett, sir. B-u-r-n-e-t-t?"
"That's right!" Harm's fingers tapped quickly on the counter.
"Sir, we have no listing under that name," the woman replied scanning the screen again.
"Are you sure? Please check again." Harm held his breath as the woman scrolled through the patient list again.
"Sir, I'm sorry but…" she began.
"What do you mean you're sorry? How can they not be here? How can…" he yelled.
"Harm, stop!" Mac said forcefully pulling him away from the counter. "Calm down. It's not her fault. Go sit down and I'll see what I can find out."
"But…" he tried to protest but Mac firmly planted him in the red plastic chair.
"Stay." Mac turned around to talk to the woman. "I'm sorry it's just that we flew in from London as soon as we heard and now that we're here and tired and jetlagged and can't find them, Harm's a little stressed."
"That's understandable, ma'am," replied the woman tapping at the keys. "Look, we don't have any Burnett's but we have a F. Barnett listed."
"Which ward?" Mac asked quietly.
"The morgue, ma'am, I am sorry." The woman looked up sadly.
Mac took a deep breath. "Barnett you say. Is it possible it's a typo?"
BURNETT RESIDENCE
FRIDAY 0612
Forty minutes later, Harm and Mac were standing on the doorstep of his parents' house.
"Don't look so worried, sweetheart," Mac said squeezing his hand before bringing it to her lips. "They're both okay, safe and sound at home."
"I know but for a while there I thought the worst had happened and …" Harm's voice was a mix of pain and relief.
"It's okay now though," she kissed him quickly and rang the doorbell. It was just after 0600.
Frank opened the door slowly. "What on Earth…" he began before seeing them. "Harm! Sarah! Come on in, come, come." He ushered them into the lounge. "Trish, get down here, we have visitors."
"Who on earth would come at this hour of the morning?" she muttered before appearing at the top of the stairs. "Harmon! Sarah! Oh goodness, what are you doing here? Is there something wrong?"
"Wrong?" Mac and Harm answered in unison.
"You could say that," Harm continued. "We came as soon as we heard about the accident."
"What accident?" asked Frank, grabbing Mac's bag.
"We were in London and …" Mac began as Frank guided her to the sitting room.
"You came all the way back from London?" Trish asked moving to hug her son.
"Yes, I got a phone call from the hospital to say you and Frank had been involved in serious car accident. They were sketchy on the details so we got the first flight back," Harm explained.
"But your mother and I weren't involved in any accident, son," Frank answered.
"We know that now, Frank, after a long wait at the hospital. It seems that a couple by the name of Barnett were. They pulled the wrong patient file and contacted Harm and …well, you know the rest," Harm replied.
"So you came back for nothing, Harm," Trish said, holding him tightly.
"It wasn't nothing, mom, just seeing you both and knowing you're okay is something." He bent down and kissed her cheek.
Explanation over, an early breakfast served and by 0900 Mac was exhausted.
"Excuse me Trish," Mac said following her into the kitchen. "I don't mean to be rude but would you mind if I lay down for a while. It's been a very long night and I'm so tired."
"Of course, dear, I should have offered. Come with me." Trish took her upstairs and made sure she was comfortable before she departed.
Mac settled into the guestroom bed and smiled as she heard Harm chatting with his parents downstairs. She felt comfortable being in this house, with these people, with this family.
Before long she was being kissed awake by the man of her dreams. "Hi there Marine," he whispered.
"Hi yourself, are you joining me?" she asked hopefully lifting the covers.
"Ah, no," he replied, more than a hint of regret in his eyes.
"No?" she replied disappointed.
"I was just coming to see if you had plans to see daylight," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Oh god," said Mac sitting up. "It's 1536; Trish and Frank must think I'm so rude. I slept so well that I…" Harm kissed her to stop her talking.
"Relax Mac, Mom and Frank had some errands to run and …" Harm said when he finally pulled away.
"So you're all mine?" Mac grinned.
"…and they'll be back in a few minutes," Harm added.
"That's enough time." Mac pulled him down on to the bed with her, kissing him in such a way that Harm had to remember to breathe. Trish's knock on the bedroom door stopped them going any further.
"One day, I'll…" Harm began.
"It better be one day soon."
Afternoon tea was served in the lounge room and Mac was starved. She had missed lunch and breakfast was forever ago, she ate well.
"Sarah, when you're done, I was wondering if we could go for a walk," Trish asked quietly.
"Sure, some fresh air would do Harm and I the world of good," Mac replied.
"Oh not Harm, just you and me. There's something I need to talk to you about," she said.
"Okay, Trish, sure." Mac agreed, though she was a little concerned about what the topic would be.
They were two blocks from home when Trish began to talk about something more substantial than the weather and the cost of gasoline.
"Sarah, I don't know how to say this so I'll just come out with it," Trish began after several false starts.
"Okay." Mac nodded.
"I have always considered you to be family and it's just so pleasing to see you and Harm together," she continued.
"Thanks, I'm pretty happy about it too," Mac said wondering where the conversation was going.
"Is this …I mean…Are you…" Trish faltered.
"I'm not too sure where we are going. I'm hoping it's permanent but I guess once we finally take our relationship to the next level we'll know." Mac kept her eyes firmly planted on the sidewalk.
"Next level? How many more levels are there besides marriage, I mean after you've gotten together and slept together?" Trish blurted out confused.
"Well," Mac blushed.
"Well what? Don't tell me you haven't slept together," she asked incredulously.
Mac didn't want to tell her that, she didn't want to have this conversation with anyone, especially not Harm's mother. "We haven't."
"How on Earth is that possible?" Trish asked, "I mean for years now he's been in love with you and I'm sure you've been in love with him."
"It just hasn't happened." Mac shook her head vigorously. "Anyway, I'm sure you didn't want to take this walk to discuss my love life, what's up?"
They continued to walk and Trish continued to talk and by the time they returned home Mac had been sworn to secrecy.
"What took you ladies so long?" Harm said opening the door.
"We had lots to talk about, son," Trish said, patting his arm as she walked by.
"Like what?" Harm asked, looking from one to the other.
"You." Mac and Trish answered in unison and Harm cringed. He loved them both dearly but didn't want them exchanging stories, especially about him.
Not long after returning Trish disappeared into the study and Harm cornered Mac in the kitchen.
"So are you going to tell me about it?" he asked.
"No," Mac replied.
"Why not?" he asked earnestly, desperate to know what had happened.
"It's between your mother and me," Mac smiled kissing him and moving away.
"Is there anything I can do to change your mind?" he grinned moving closer to her.
"You can try." Mac arched her eyebrow invitingly. He lifted her up onto the kitchen bench and kissed her repeatedly. "That's not going to do it, Flyboy," she smiled and hopped down.
"How about this?" he grabbed her and kissed her with such intensity that she went weak at the knees, he lifted her up.
"Harmon, put that girl down," said Trish from the doorway and he did.
"Hi mom, we were just…" Harm began.
"I know what you were just doing, I'm not blind," Trish responded.
"Sorry mom." Harm dropped his head, all of a sudden he was fifteen again and had just been caught making out with Judy McGee.
"Do you have plans for tonight?" Trish asked, well aware they didn't.
"No mom," he said, still not quite looking at her.
"Great, be in the car in five minutes."
EXCELSIOR HOTEL
FRIDAY 1804
The car pulled to a stop in the driveway of the Excelsior Hotel.
"Are we having dinner here?" Harm asked from the backseat.
"No, son, this is for you," Trish handed him a room key. "Now get out," she smiled.
"I don't understand," Harm said looking at the key.
"We love you both dearly but we don't want you staying with us tonight," Trish answered.
"Huh?" Mac replied, just as confused.
"Get out and enjoy," said Frank driving off as soon as they were clear of the car.
Mac and Harm went up to the room, 1603.
"Wow," said Mac as she opened the door and took in the view. "It's gorgeous."
"It should be ma'am," replied the bellhop. "It is the bridal suite."
"The bridal suite?" Harm repeated.
"Yes sir, congratulations to both of you," the young man said brightly.
"Ah…" Harm began.
"Thank you," Mac cut in. She wasn't in the mood to explain anything to anyone.
The bellhop excused himself and when the door had closed, Mac moved towards the bed. On it was a pink envelope addressed to them both. Mac opened it.
Harm and Sarah, Have a wonderful night – hope the level is perfect, Love Mom and Frank.
"What does that mean?" Harm asked reading it over her shoulder. "What level?"
"This one," she turned and kissed him.
A long night of bliss ensued and when dawn broke both were still awake, caught up in the afterglow of what had been an incredible night. Mac repositioned herself in the king sized bed and draped her arm and leg across Harm, smiling.
"What are you smiling at?" Harm asked kissing her forehead.
"Everything," she said running her hand across his abdomen.
"Everything, hey? You know, I often imagined how this would go…" he said, absently tracing figure 8's on her back.
"And is this what you imagined?" Mac asked, moving to kiss his chest.
"Not quite," he admitted quietly.
"Oh, what was different?" Mac asked leaning on her elbow to get a better look at him.
"I haven't told you yet that I love you and I do love you Sarah MacKenzie," Harm said sincerely before giving her a soft, tender kiss.
"I wondered when you'd get around to saying it," Mac replied, before resting her head on his chest once more.
"Don't you have something to say?" he asked, gently nudging her.
"No, I'm good," she answered playfully.
"Are you sure?" he asked, somewhat confused.
"Yep, I told you I loved you on the flight to London," Mac grinned widely, still pleased with her antics on the outbound flight.
"But you were dreaming," Harm said.
"No I wasn't, I knew full well what I was doing." Mac pulled herself up so she could look at him.
"But you were muttering and dreaming when you said it," Harm continued.
"Harmon Rabb, I was fully awake and aware of what I was doing. I wanted to see if I could make you respond to me in some way," Mac reported.
"So you weren't dreaming?" he asked and watched as she shook her head.
"No, I know my dreams and while this was one come true I was definitely awake." She reached up to kiss him.
Harm smiled. "Speaking of dreams, Marine, there are a few things I'd like to do to you that I think you've never dreamed of."
"Oh really Flyboy?" Mac grinned, knowing there was very little she hadn't dreamed about when it came to her favourite aviator lawyer.
"Yep," he replied with a cocky grin.
"Like what?" she cooed.
Harm leant over and whispered in her ear. She smiled and tried to stifle a giggle. "Nope, I've dreamed that."
"Really?" Harm was surprised. "What about this?" he whispered again.
"Twice," she answered, "and in the same night"
"No way!" Harm looked stunned. "I bet you haven't dreamed of this," he again whispered. Mac interrupted before he had even finished.
"Commander Rabb, that's a stock standard dream – got anything else?" she asked, pretending to be bored by the whole conversation.
"Well, I bet you haven't got anything that I haven't dreamt of either," he answered, trying hard to keep the disappointment from his voice.
"Oh I don't know," she rolled on top of him and whispered to him.
"Sarah MacKenzie, why I never!" Harm was stunned.
"But I have – you want to try now," she asked, her hands already running down his body.
"Are you sure?"
Her actions left no words necessary.
When the front desk rang the room just after noon, Harm struggled to open his eyes.
"Yes," he muttered into the receiver. "Ok, yeah, right."
"Who was that?" Mac mumbled.
"Front desk, mom and Frank are downstairs for lunch with us, when we're ready of course," Harm yawned and stretched.
"So I guess we should get up then," Mac struggled to sit, exhausted by recent events.
"I already am." He pulled her to him and continued right from where they'd left off only hours before.
"Harm, we need to go downstairs," Mac finally said, pulling away.
"Why?" he asked, genuine confusion etched on his face.
"Your parents!" Mac prompted
"Oh yeah, I forgot." He grinned.
"Doesn't take much."
Monday 0735
JAG HEADQUARTERS
Harm and Mac stood in the elevator waiting for the doors to open and officially end what had been a perfect weekend.
"So you know we'll have to tell the General," Harm said.
"I know," she replied.
"What do you think we should say?"
"I think we tell him the truth."
"The truth?"
"Yeah, we tell him it started with a kiss."
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This is the end of the original story – the last line giving the title to the story. This story was written three years ago and at the time I received a lot of encouragement to write a sequel which I did. The next chapter which will be up after the weekend is set three months after this part of the story.
