Author's Note: Kudos to Trinitystargazer3, Knight of Caeli, Bookworm0485, and JHsoccerchick for guessing the right song. Our favorite couple is going to sing "Bless the Broken Road". The first time I heard that song it was done as a duet (Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts during the American Idol finale) and I thought of Harm and Mac immediately.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. "Bless the Broken Road" belongs to Rascal Flatts.
Chapter Four: We'll Get This, I Promise
2018 ZULU
MAY 23, 2003
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
"Harm?" Mac knocked softly on his open office door.
Looking up from his computer screen, he smiled. "Come on in."
She returned his smile as she slipped into a chair across from him. "Are you busy?"
Harm shook his head. "Nope." Closing the computer program, he turned his full attention to her. "What's up?"
"Well, the talent show is a week away, and we've barely practiced."
"I know," he said apologetically. "I've been really swamped with the Gibson court martial. But now that it's over, I can concentrate on the show."
"Great. You want to come over for dinner tonight? We can rehearse afterwards."
He nodded. "Sure, Mac, sounds great. But why don't you come over to my place? I'll make my special meatless meatloaf."
Mac made a face, and Harm laughed.
"Just kidding! I'll make something you like, I promise."
"All right. I'm trusting you, Flyboy" She got up to leave, but stopped at the door and turned back to him. "What time should I come over?"
"19:30?"
She nodded. "All right, see you then."
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0532 ZULU
MAY 25, 2003
HARM'S APARTMENT
2812 M STREET, APT. 4
WASHINGTON, D.C.
"You've been there—"
Mac reached over and paused the CD player. "Harm, that's my line."
"Huh?" Crossing the room to the bookshelf, Harm pulled out the lyric sheet from "Bless the Broken Road." He had highlighted his lines on it, and he studied them again now. "You're right…Oops."
Sighing, Mac pressed the 'stop' button and turned to her partner. "Harm, we've been working on this for almost a week now. You still don't know your part?"
Harm tossed the lyric sheet on the coffee table. "Yes, I do! But it's after midnight and I'm tired. Can't we stop for the night?"
The truth was, they were both exhausted. They had been rehearsing almost non-stop since Friday night. They definitely sounded good together, but each was still nervous about performing in front of everyone from JAG. As a result, they were practically making themselves sick by practicing until all hours.
Mac stood up and stretched. "Yeah, sure. Should we get together again tomorrow?"
Harm shook his head. "Why don't we take a day off? We can rehearse again Monday after work."
"But—"
"No 'buts', Marine." He helped Mac into her coat, and handed her keys to her. "We've been working non-stop; our voices need a break. Relax. Read a book. Take one of those bubble baths you like so much."
Mac swatted his arm, but she was laughing as she headed for the door.
"Whatever you do," Harm continued, "relax. That's an order."
She raised an eyebrow. "An order? Um, last time I checked I was the senior officer."
"Yeah, yeah." Stepping up in front of her, Harm put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "We'll get this, I promise. We've pretty much got it down already; now all we need to do is fine-tune it." He pulled her to him in the quickest of hugs, before letting go and opening the door. "So I'll see you Monday morning, okay?"
Mac blinked; the hug—brief as it had been—had surprised her. "Um, yeah, sure. See you Monday."
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When she was gone, Harm closed the door behind her and leaned against it. It was getting harder and harder to stay professional around Mac. Not that they couldn't tease each other and joke around; that hadn't changed. But over the last few months, he was slowly becoming aware that he wanted more than just a friendship with Mac. It wouldn't be the first time it had come up, of course, but this time he was sure that this was what he wanted. The problem was, he wasn't sure how to tell her. He had been able to hide his feelings well enough while he figured it out, until this damn talent show.
Never in a million years had he expected her to say yes to a duet. It was just an idea that came to him, and he thought he'd ask. He'd been so flustered when she accepted, he had tripped over his own feet! And now, they were singing a song about two people who were destined to be together…It seemed almost like fate to him, the way the song had come on the radio that night. Now if he could just tell Mac how he felt…
Locking the door, Harm cut the lights and headed to his bedroom. That was a problem that would have to wait until morning.
