11 JANUARY 2005
1315 ZULU
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLS CHURCH, VA
"Hmm… so what's your take on that, Marine?" They made their way past Coates' empty desk and into the bustling bullpen.
"On what?"
"The fact that the General just insisted we take a chaperone along with us on an investigation."
Mac rolled her eyes. "Gee, I don't know… it couldn't have had anything to do with that seductive leer you just gave me right in front of him…"
"Leer?!" Harm realized too late he'd said that much too loudly and as a result, half the bullpen staff were now trying to inconspicuously glance at them through their peripheral vision. He took hold of her elbow and steered her into his office, closing the door behind him. "Leer?" He repeated with slightly less volume, "I did not leer at you – especially not seductively!"
"You did too! That whole 'looks like we might get a chance to shake those winter blues', line? It was like… your 'bedroom voice'!"
Harm crossed his arms in front of him. "And how would you know what that's like, Mac?" Shrugging, he pulled out one of his office chairs and reclined casually. "Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure I'd remember if you'd ever had an opportunity to experience that."
"Oh never mind…" Slightly flustered , Mac decided to skip over that whole thought entirely, "…you probably talk like that to women so often, you aren't even aware that you're doing it. Just do me a favour and don't talk like that in front of Creswell again – he knows way too much about my past to avoid jumping to conclusions."
Harm was astounded. It was also slightly disconcerting to him that someone was able to read his emotions so clearly – especially since at the time he'd said that, he actually thought he was doing a pretty good job of covering them up. "I… I'm sorry, Mac."
Her shoulders deflated as she looked at him. She hadn't meant to make him feel badly. "Look, Harm… just… whatever it is that's going on with us now… and I'm not sure I really know what that is… but whatever it is, I think it should be kept under wraps from the rest of the office, don't you?"
"Yes." He barely croaked out. He had butterflies in his stomach that were making him feel weak.
Mac noticed his sudden change of disposition. "What?"
Shaking his head, he stood and smiled in a slightly dazed manner. "Nothing… I'm just glad to hear you finally say that there's something going on between us…" He turned towards the door and his grin grew a little deeper. "… whatever it is."
12 JANUARY 2005
2135 ZULU
NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST
BOCA CHICA, FLORIDA
"You did that on purpose."
"What?" Harm picked up his briefcase and followed Mac out of the courtroom.
"Don't play innocent with me, Harm – I saw that stir stick on the defense table in there."
Harm shook his head wearily. "Mac, Petty Officer Foyle must have left that there – it wasn't mine… honest!"
"Yeah… right."
"Listen, Mac… why would I even be trying to distract you right now? The proceedings are barely under way?"
"You're trying to get me started on the wrong foot so I'll be discombobulated throughout the trial."
"Discombobulated?"
"Don't deny it, Harm – it's obvious."
Harm shook his head again. "Mac this is ridiculous. I've had that stir stick habit my entire adult life, and now I'm supposed to stop just because I suddenly find out it makes you want to flick your…"
"Don't… you… dare…!" Mac suddenly halted and turned to face him.
"What?"
"I can't believe you were about to say that!"
"C'mon, Mac – it's a common expression – how else do you want me to say it?"
"I don't want you to say it at all!" She turned quickly and resumed their walk to the cafeteria, shaking her head in incredulity, "You know, that's the last time I ever say anything nice to you. I only wish there was a way I could take it all back."
"Well, gee Mac – maybe you could retract your statement under the 'Excited Utterance Exception' – what the hell was that, anyway?"
She stopped and spun on him again. "I WAS NOT EXCITED!"
"Shhh, Mac… keep your voice down. You don't want people to get the wrong idea, do you?" He grinned and leaned closer to her, "And yes you were excited, remember? We were talking about it being 65 degrees… if I remember correctly, that's one of the things that gets you excited, isn't it? I mean… among other things…" He straightened up and purposely donned a perplexed expression. "You know, I can't quite figure out that whole '65' thing, Marine… now '69' I could understand…"
"That's it… I'm never speaking to you again."
Harm just smiled appreciatively as he watched her march away. This was going to be way too much fun.
14 JANUARY 2005
2135 LOCAL
NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST
BOCA CHICA, FLORIDA
Walking casually down the boardwalk, Harm explained the evidence he and Bud had uncovered that led him to believe Judge Pulone was the guilty party. By the time he had gone through his game plan for court the next morning, they found themselves strolling along an almost deserted stretch of beach.
"So, I guess you're telling me I have my work cut out for me tomorrow."
"Hey – no work to it, Mac. You just have to admit defeat and it'll be the easiest day's pay you ever earned."
Mac gave him a warning glare and strolled ahead. Having long ago kicked off her heels, she waded into the cool surf as it lapped on the shore. Harm stood watching her for a moment. In the darkness, he couldn't make out her features, but with the moon shining brilliantly off of the water he could easily see her silhouette. For at least the millionth time since he'd known her, he asked himself why he had never found a way to make this woman his.
"We don't often get to go to such relaxing destinations on assignment, Harm. I really needed this one."
Harm laughed, "Yeah, me too. Hey – we seem to have lost our chaperone. Do you think she'll report us to the General?"
Mac dropped her head backwards and stared at the sky. "Oh, I have no idea…" she laughed and kicked at the water with her toes. "… and more importantly I just don't care anymore. He already told me he's not 'watching me', so I'm just going to try and take him at face value on that. Right now, I just want to enjoy this beach for as long as I can." She made her last statement a plea to the sky, or whoever else might be listening. As she turned around, she was surprised to find Harm standing right by her arm. The look in his eye flustered her in more than one way – not all of them bad.
"Mac..." he cleared his throat and spoke quietly, "… I hate to keep bringing this up. It's just that I want you to know… some day... when the time is right... I'd like to take you some place like this. Maybe... you know... we could have a vacation from work... get rid of the pressures... just the two of us." Harm found that his heart was in his throat – this was probably one of the most important things he'd asked Mac – and more importantly, how she responded would give him an idea about whether he really had a chance with her anymore.
Mac was finding it hard to concentrate. Ever since the idea that a relationship with Harm may be less of a 'concept' and more something that had the potential to be 'imminent', she was finding it hard to be around him. The very idea that at some point in the possible near future, that mass of solid body before her could be explored in more ways than she'd ever imagined, even made breathing a difficult chore. "I thought you once said 'location doesn't change who we are'"
"It doesn't" he returned and stepped closer. He couldn't help himself – she was intoxicating. Leaning forward slowly, he took her lips and kissed her gently before she could object - hoping to God that the atmosphere of the beach, the ocean and the moonlight, would all conspire to sway her to his desires. When she responded to his kiss, he lost all sense of reason. It was like he was once again back on the Admiral's porch and all he wanted was to caress every inch of her, to finally know her inside and out. For the past 40 minutes, the more animalistic parts of his brain had been imagining ways to get under that dress she was wearing. The down-right caveman parts were too impatient for even that and had been devising a plan to just throw her over the nearest rock and hike it up around her waist. He still hadn't come to a conclusion which one he preferred when his lips touched hers and all was lost. Without even being conscious of what he was doing, Harm's hand skimmed down her side, over her hip and caressed the length of her thigh. Unfortunately, it was exactly that action that was his downfall, for it caused Mac to suddenly snap back into consciousness. When his fingers traveled ever so lightly back up her thigh and under the hem of her skirt, she had to break away from him entirely.
Mac just stood there for a moment with one hand on her lips and the other lightly placed over her whirling stomach. She couldn't believe how that had all happened so fast. One minute they had just been talking, the next she had been in his arms. And the scariest part was that while she was there, she had desperately wanted more.
"I'm sorry, Mac…"
"No, Harm… it's OK… I'm the one who's sorry. I just can't…"
"You keep saying that. Do you mean you can't or you won't?"
"I just can't… not yet."
Harm laughed lightly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Is this supposed to be some sort of divine retribution?"
"I'm just telling you how I feel, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Mac – it's my fault…" he wiped his fingers over his forehead. "I didn't mean to… I just couldn't seem to help myself…" He looked away in frustration, cringing at how lame that sounded even to himself. "Look…just tell me there's the hint of a possibility here. Tell me that I'm not beating a dead horse. Because if I am, I won't bother you again – I promise. I won't like it… but I'll respect your decision."
"Harm… I just need to have more time."
Harm nodded his head, but was still frustrated. "OK…" He took a deep, calming breath and released it. "…but I think in the meantime it's not a good idea for me to be alone around you. Maybe Creswell was right about this whole chaperone thing." He turned and started to walk away down the beach.
Mac suddenly felt ill. The last thing she wanted was for him to leave her there alone. And she certainly didn't want him to be upset with her. She silently damned the emotional frailties that kept her at arms length from this man. She had quickly come to realize that her body certainly didn't want to be at arms length from him, so why couldn't she just get over this fear and take the leap? Before she could even start to consider how awkward this was going to be at work tomorrow, Harm suddenly stopped and turned around.
Looking at her expectantly, he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Will you come on, Marine – it's getting cold out here."
Relieved that maybe he wasn't so mad at her after all, she quickly caught up and fell into step beside him, tentatively trying to gauge his mood. Harm noticed her out of the corner of his eye and knew exactly what she was thinking. Without saying a word, he playfully bumped her hip with his, and chuckled as she stumbled a few steps across the sand. Accepting his retaliation as a measured response, they continued forward in a content silence.
"Some day, Marine." He smirked at her.
"Some day, what?" she taunted him.
Without losing his grin, he shrugged slightly. "Someday you're gonna be sorry you waited so long."
Mac shook her head and laughed. "Oh I am, am I?"
"Oh yeah…" He replied seductively.
TBC